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Brasilia: Brazilian Vice-President Hamilton Mourao has called on actor Leonardo DiCaprio to visit the Amazon to see the reality of the situation there, as the government faces criticisms for rising destruction in the world's largest rainforest.

Mourao invited DiCaprio, an environmental campaigner, to go with him personally on a journey along a notoriously ill-maintained road in the remote far-western Amazon near the town of Sao Gabriel da Cachoeira.

Leonardo DiCaprio, left, was accused by Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro last year of paying to start the massive Amazon fires. Credit:AP

"I would like to invite our most recent critic, Leonardo DiCaprio, to go with me to Sao Gabriel da Cachoeira to do an eight-hour ride through the jungle between the Sao Gabriel airport and the Cucui highway," Mourao said.

"He will learn with each big pothole that he has to pass that the Amazon is not a flat land and understand better how things work in this vast region."
CAMBRIDGE  Two Cambridge men are facing a range of charges after a police investigation into a series of commercial break-and-enters in the city.

The men, both 32, were arrested Wednesday for possession of stolen property and suspected methamphetamine. A police search of a Cambridge storage locker led to the seizure of more stolen property, including high-end bikes, tools and a stolen dirt bike.

The men were charged with possession of stolen property, trafficking in stolen property, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, and driving while disqualified. They are both scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.
File image of Alexei Navalny (Reuters)

Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny is in a serious condition after suffering severe symptoms of what his spokeswoman said she believed was deliberate poisoning.

Navalny is unconscious, in intensive care and on an artificial lung ventilator, his spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, said on social media. "We assume that Alexei was poisoned with something mixed into his tea. It was the only thing that he drank in the morning. Doctors say the toxin was absorbed faster through the hot liquid. Alexei is now unconscious," Yarmysh said.

What happened?

Navalny is a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He started feeling ill while returning to capital Moscow from Siberias Tomsk on August 19. His aircraft had made an emergency landing in Omsk so that he could be rushed to a hospital. Before boarding the flight, Navalny had drunk tea at a cafe at the Tomsk airport.

The Interfax news agency has quoted the cafe's owners as saying that they were checking CCTV cameras to try and establish what had happened.

The Russian TASS news agency cited the head doctor at a hospital in Omsk confirming that Navalny had been admitted there and saying he was in a serious condition.

Yarmysh drew a parallel with an incident in 2019 in which Navalny suffered an acute allergic reaction that one doctor said could have resulted from poisoning with an unknown chemical. "Obviously the same has been done to him now," said Yarmysh.

She did not say who she believed may have poisoned Navalny, but said police had been called to the hospital.

Who is Navalny?

Navalny is a lawyer and anti-corruption activist and has served several stints in jail in recent years for organising protests against Putins government.

The 44-year-old has helped release investigations into what he has said are outrageous examples of official corruption.

Russia will be heading for regional elections in September. Navalny and his allies have been preparing for these polls and trying to get support for candidates they back.

In 2012 and 2014, the European Court of Human Rights had ruled that Russia's arresting and detention of Navalny were politically-motivated and violated his human rights.

(With inputs from Reuters)
By Nidha Parveen, TwoCircles.net

A recent report by the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) states that as many as 45 people were sexually assaulted by the Delhi police during a confrontation at Jamia Nagar on 10 February during protests against CAA, NRC and NPR. Women were molested by male policemen, who attempted to tear their clothes, punched their breasts or stomped on them with their boots, as well as tried to insert their batons into their vaginas. At least 15 women were stomped on in their private parts, and they suffered injuries in their vaginas, the report says.

Support TwoCircles



The report confirms the assault verified by the doctors who treated the survivors for cracked and fractured ribs, ankles and bones, adding that there was fierceness of assault on the victims.

This is not the first time where the Delhi police is accused of sexual violence and harassment against women.

The Delhi Minority Commissions fact-finding report also alleged sexual violence cases against Delhi Police. The report cites a complaint of a woman from Dayalpur, describing the Delhi Police busting a sit-in protest against the CAA in Chand Bagh, alleging, Police pulled their pants down and pointed their genitals towards the women stating that they wanted freedom and they were there to give them freedom and that this was their freedom.

Citing other complaints, testimonies and media reports, the report says that while rioters sexually assaulted Muslim women and attacked them with acid, the Delhi Police did not respond to calls begging them for help.

Furthermore, two women and a teenager and all residents of Subash Mohalla in North East Delhis North Ghonda neighbourhood, accused officials of Delhi Bajanpuras police station of beating and sexually assaulting them. A few days ago, Shaheen Khan, Shanno and her 17-year-old daughter from the same area went to Bhajanpura police station to file an FIR against communal slogans and harassment of Muslims in north-east Delhi by Hindutva goons on the night of Bhumi Pooja. They accused the policemen of beating and sexually assaulting them inside the police station. They said the policemen also threatened to kill them.

According to the testimony revealed by The Caravan, the girl said that police officials misbehaved in a very filthy manner, they touched her waist and sometimes near her chest.

Several instances including the aforementioned show how the police personnel who need to prevent crimes and ensure safety act like criminals, with a long record of heinous crimes.

Ground reports on crimes against Muslim women, including sexual violence and murder, were witnessed during the Northeast violence.

The so-called Progressive and Savrana feminists maintain shameless silence and sheer apathy in this dubious crime who otherwise fill their social media walls with gender issues. Interestingly, these feminists declare Muslim women-led struggle as all women struggle or feminist revolutionary movement and hail them for breaking patriarchy and appearing in public.

Erstwhile saviours including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is loquacious on saving Muslim women were mute spectators on large scale sexual violence against Muslim women in northeast Delhi. It is outrageous that no FIR has been filed to date regarding the injuries suffered in these barbarous acts. On the release of the report, activist Aruna Roy said that the independent fact-finding missions are critical because no one can trust investigation agencies in the current scenario.

Nidha Parveen is a BA Hons Sociology student at Hindu College, Delhi University
BISHKEK -- The Bishkek city court has upheld a lower court's sentencing of former Kyrgyz Prime Minister Sapar Isakov to 18 years in prison for corruption.

Isakov's defense lawyer, Bakytbek Avtandil, told RFE/RL that the ruling was announced on August 20 during a session held via video link due to restrictions prompted by the coronavirus.

On June 9, the Birinchi Mai district court found Isakov guilty of misusing state funds allocated for the renovation of Bishkek's National History Museum and a hippodrome in the northern town of Cholpon-Ata while in office.

That ruling came as Isakov had already been serving a 15-year prison term after being sentenced in December 2019 on corruption charges stemming from his involvement in a 2013 project to modernize the Bishkek Thermal Power Station.

The Birinchi Mai court sentenced Isakov to 12 years in prison, but the judge said that "in aggregate, taking into account his earlier conviction and prison sentence of 15 years, Isakov shall be sentenced to 18 years in a high-security penitentiary."

He also ordered Isakov to pay about $3.3 million in fines.

Isakov, 43, served as prime minister for nearly eight months, from August 26, 2017 to April 19, 2018. He denies the charges.

The probes against Isakov and several other high-profile figures were launched amid tensions between former President Almazbek Atambaev and current President Sooronbai Jeenbekov.

Atambaev himself is currently in prison, serving a sentence of 11 years and two months for the illegal release of notorious crime boss Aziz Batukaev in 2013. He denies the charge.
LONDON - A sheep farmer in Britain has been found guilty of planting baby food laced with metal shards in stores as part of a plan to blackmail a supermarket chain.

Prosecutors said Nigel Wright, 45, contaminated jars of Heinz baby food between 2018 and February, and sent dozens of emails and letters to Tesco in a bid to extort 1.4 million pounds ($1.84 million) in the online currency Bitcoin.

Wright claimed to be part of a group of farmers angry at the low price they were paid for the milk they sold.

Tesco had to recall about 42,000 jars of baby food after a mother reported discovering pieces of metal in one of the jars. A second mother later also came forward saying she made a similar discovery while feeding her 9-month-old.

Wright was caught on closed-circuit television planting one of the jars on a shelf, and was later tracked down to his home, where police found photos of contaminated baby food on his laptop. Officers also recovered about 100,000 pounds in Bitcoin which had been sent by undercover officers during the investigation.

A jury found him guilty of two counts of contaminating goods and three counts of blackmail.

A judged said Wright appeared to have a mental disorder and asked for a psychiatric report to be prepared ahead of his sentencing, expected in September.
Funding will assist long-time partner International Medical Corps with medical response for survivors of catastrophic explosion in Lebanon's capital city

International Medical Corps is coordinating closely with other responders to quickly provide help to overwhelmed hospitals and health facilities in Beirut

DUBAI, UAE, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Amgen Foundation today announced a $100,000 commitment to International Medical Corps to provide immediate support following the massive explosions in Beirut. The humanitarian aid organization has been on the ground working in Lebanon since 2006 and is a long-time partner of the Amgen Foundation for international relief efforts. In a city that already faces a crippling financial crisis and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, this latest grant will help survivors of the Beirut explosion access lifesaving care.

"The impact of the explosion in Beirut is devastating. We are grateful for the work being done on the frontlines by those who are providing much-needed aid for the overwhelmed hospitals and health facilities," said Mohamed Nasser, Amgen Middle East and Africa general manager. "Together with the International Medical Corps we will support deployment of critical medical staff, supplies and healthcare for those affected by the explosion."

Teams are mobilizing urgently needed supplies and staff, and are deploying mobile medical units to provide care to affected communities. Support also includes mental health services to survivors of this catastrophe.

"Amgen Foundation's generous support will help us provide critical, timely assistance to the families affected by the disaster in Beirut," said Nancy Aossey, president and CEO of International Medical Corps. "With staff, equipment and supplies already in country, we have been able to provide immediate medical careand will meet the longer-term needs caused by the explosion, including health and mental health services, and activities that help restart healthcare services in Beirut."

About International Medical Corps

International Medical Corps is a global humanitarian organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering. Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses, the nonprofit has no political or religious affiliation, and now has more than 7,000 staff members around the world, more than 90% of whom are local. International Medical Corps delivers emergency medical and related services to those affected by conflict, disaster and disease, no matter where they are, no matter what the conditions. With the flexibility to respond rapidly to emergencies, it also offers training to people at the highest risk, working to strengthen local healthcare systems and promote self-reliance.

For more information, visit InternationalMedicalCorps.org.

About the Amgen Foundation

The Amgen Foundation seeks to advance excellence in science education to inspire the next generation of innovators, and invest in strengthening communities where Amgen staff members live and work. To date, the Foundation has donated over $325 million to local, regional, and international nonprofit organizations that impact society in inspiring and innovative ways. The Amgen Foundation brings the excitement of discovery to the scientists of tomorrow through several signature programs, including Amgen Scholars and the Amgen Biotech Experience.

For more information, visit AmgenInspires.com and follow on Twitter @AmgenFoundation.

About Amgen

Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology.

Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people's lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the world's leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential.

For more information, visit www.amgen.com and follow on Twitter @Amgen.

CONTACT:

Darby Sedighan, 805-490-1179

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160606/376037LOGO

Related Links

www.amgen.com



SOURCE Amgen
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-21 06:04:09|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- France, Germany and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement on Thursday saying that they cannot support the United States in seeking to reimpose sanctions on Iran.

The U.S. sent a letter to the UN Security Council on Thursday requesting to initiate the "snapback" mechanism, which allows a participant to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) to seek the reimposition against Iran of the multilateral sanctions lifted in 2015 in accordance with resolution 2231, adopted by the UN Security Council.

"The U.S. ceased to be a participant to the JCPoA following their withdrawal from the deal on 8 May, 2018... We cannot therefore support this action which is incompatible with our current efforts to support the JCPoA," the statement noted.

France, Germany and the UK said they "are committed to preserving the processes and institutions which constitute the foundation of multilateralism. We remain guided by the objective of upholding the authority and integrity of the United Nations Security Council. We call on all UN Security Council members to refrain from any action that would only deepen divisions in the Security Council or that would have serious adverse consequences on its work."

Reiterating that they remain committed to the JCPoA despite the significant challenges caused by U.S. withdrawal, the three countries said they "believe that we should address the current issue of systematic Iranian non-compliance with its JCPoA obligations through dialogue between JCPoA participants, including through the Joint Commission and use of the Dispute Resolution Mechanism."

In order to preserve the agreement, they urged Iran "to reverse all measures inconsistent with its nuclear commitments and return to full compliance without delay."

The three countries also pledged to continue to work with all UN Security Council members and stakeholders to seek a path forward that preserves space for further diplomacy.

"Our efforts will be guided by the need to uphold the authority and integrity of the UN Security Council and to advance regional security and stability," they noted in the statement.

The JCPoA, also known as the Iran nuclear deal, was inked by Iran in July 2015 with Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States. However, the U.S., under President Donald Trump, withdrew from the deal on May 8, 2018, and reimposed sanctions on Tehran, despite objections from the international community.

A year after the U.S. unilateral exit, Iran stopped implementing some of its commitments under the deal and set a 60-day deadline for the Europeans to help the Islamic republic reap the economic benefits of the deal.

The European signatories still support the deal and have vowed to sidestep U.S. sanctions re-imposed after its withdrawal. Enditem
IOWA CITY, Iowa, Aug. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Medicinal services far and wide are changing radically, as an outcome more individuals will require medicines and the accessibility of assets is less. Cold Plasma treatment could hinder superinfections and decrease the risk of medical clinic staff getting contaminated with Coronavirus.



Data Bridge Market Research presents a large scale report Cold Plasma Market structured with the thorough market analysis carried out by a team of industry experts, dynamic analysts, skillful forecasters and well-informed researchers. In this market research report, industry trends are put together on macro level with which clients can figure out market landscape and possible future issues.

Cold Plasma market is expected to gain market growth in the forecast period of 2020 to 2027. Data Bridge Market Research analyses the market to account to USD 4.80 billion by 2027 growing at a CAGR of 15.65% in the above-mentioned forecast period.

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IMPACT ON DEMAND

Scientists are trying to use vaccines, medicines and other methods as a cure for the new Coronavirus. With no confidence in the exact treatment in sight, doctors around the world are working on the treatment of centuries-old cure for infections: infusion of blood plasma that is immune to molecules can help survivors beat the infection. The demand of plasma therapy is increasing due to their potential use in the Coronavirus treatment. The plasma therapy is the only therapy which shown positive results for the corona virus treatment. In addition to the US, China, Turkey, Spain, Italy, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, these are some of the few countries that are also looking at plasma therapy to more easily address the worldwide Coronavirus crisis. Even India joined the belt and started a trial for plasma therapy. In Delhi a hospital has successfully cured a COVID-19 patient using plasma therapy. The respiratory rate of the first patient was 30 which should be 15, and the oxygen saturation level was 85%, which should be 95%. After plasma therapy, the respiratory rate was 20 and the oxygen saturation level was 98%. This has been observed in all patients with increased respiratory rate and oxygen saturation level.

Get to Know COVID-19 Significant Impact and Post Opportunities on Cold Plasma Industry @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/covid-19-impact/global-cold-plasma-market

The Leading Market Players of Cold Plasma Industry Covered in this Report are:

Nordson Corporation

Plasmatreat GmbH

Enercon Industries Corporation

CPI Plasma

Terraplasma Medical GmbH

Vetaphone A/S

TheraDep Technologies

Adtec Plasma Technology

Europlasma, Henniker Plasma

Neoplas tools GmbH

Tomi Environmental Solutions

Tantec A/S

Bovie Medical

Wacker Chemie AG

Download Report along with full Access @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/checkout/buy/enterprise/global-cold-plasma-market

Regional Analysis Includes:

Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, and Southeast Asia)

(China, Japan, Korea, India, and Southeast Asia) Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, and Italy etc.)

(Germany, France, UK, Russia, and Italy etc.) North America (the United States, Mexico, and Canada.)

(the United States, Mexico, and Canada.) South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, etc.)

(Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, etc.) The Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa)

Healthcare Infrastructure growth Installed base and New Technology Penetration

Cold Plasma Market also provides you with detailed market analysis for every country growth in healthcare expenditure for capital equipments, installed base of different kind of products for Cold Plasma market, impact of technology using life line curves and changes in healthcare regulatory scenarios and their impact on the Cold Plasma market. The data is available for historic period 2010 to 2018.

Cold Plasma Market Scope of Report:

This Cold Plasma Market report provides details of new recent developments, trade regulations, import export analysis, production analysis, value chain optimization, market share, impact of domestic and localised market players, analyses opportunities in terms of emerging revenue pockets, changes in market regulations, strategic market growth analysis, market size, category market growths, application niches and dominance, product approvals, product launches, geographical expansions, and technological innovations in the market. To gain more info on Cold Plasma market contact Data Bridge Market Research for an Analyst Brief, our team will help you take an informed market decision to achieve market growth.

Visit to Entire Report Study @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-cold-plasma-market

Global Cold Plasma Market Development

Perricone MD announced the launch of their new Cold Plasma Plus+ Sub-D/Neck in February 2020 which is very suitable for all skin types. This is specially designed so they can offer fast and deeper absorption of ingredients such as encapsulated caffeine, peptides and DMAE. This launch will help them to meet the rising demand of the customer and strengthen their market position.

Global Cold Plasma Market Scope and Market Size

Cold Plasma Market is segmented on the basis of regime type, technology and industry. The growth amongst these segments will help you analyse meager growth segments in the industries, and provide the users with valuable market overview and market insights to help them in making strategic decisions for identification of core market applications.

Based on regime type, the Cold Plasma market is segmented into low pressure and atmospheric pressure.



Cold Plasma market has also been segmented based on the technology into remote treatment, direct treatment and electrode contact.



Based on industry, the Cold Plasma market is segmented into textile, polymer and plastic, electronics and semiconductor, food & agriculture and medical.

Do You Have any Query or Specific Requirement? Ask to our Industry Expert @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/inquire-before-buying/?dbmr=global-cold-plasma-market

Market Insights in the Report

To describe and forecast the Cold Plasma market, in terms of value, by process, product type, and industry.

Save and reduce time carrying out entry-level research by identifying the growth, size, leading players and segments in the Cold Plasma Market

To gain insights about the major regional insights in which the Cold Plasma is flourishing.

Recent industry trends and developments

Potential and niche segments/regions exhibiting promising growth

This Cold Plasma Market Research/analysis Report Focus on following important aspects: 

Manufacturing Technology is Used for Cold Plasma:  Undergoing Developments in That Technology, Trends Causing These Developments.

Global Key Players of Cold Plasma Market:  Their Company Profile, Product Information and Contact Information.

Status of Cold Plasma Market:  Past and Present information and Future predictions about Productions Capacity, Production Value, Cost and Return on Investments in Cold Plasma Market.

Current Market Status of Cold Plasma Market:  Market Competition includes both Company and Country Wise competition in this Industry. Market Analysis of Cold Plasma Market by Taking Applications and Types in Consideration.

Predictions of Global Cold Plasma Market Considering Production Capacity, and Production Value. What Estimation is expected for Cost Vs Profit? What Will Be Market Share, Supply and Consumption? What about Import and Export?

Cold Plasma Market Chain Analysis by Upstream Raw Materials and Downstream Industry.

Economic Impact on Cold Plasma Market:  What are Global Macroeconomic Environment Analysis Results? What Are Global and Chinese Macroeconomic Environment Development Trends?

Market Dynamics of Cold Plasma Market:  Challenges and Opportunities.

What Should Be Entry Strategies, Countermeasures to Economic Impact, and Marketing Channels for Cold Plasma Market?

Detailed Tables of Content Available @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/toc/?dbmr=global-cold-plasma-market

Browse Related Report

Covid-19 Impact on Plasma Therapy in the Healthcare Industry



Platelet Rich Plasma Market by Type (Pure p Platelet-Rich Plasma, leukocyte-rich platelet-rich plasma, pure platelet-rich fibrin, leukocyte-rich platelet-rich fibrin), Origin (Allogeneic prp, Autologous prp, Homologous prp), Application (Orthopedics, Dermatology, Dental, Cardiac muscle injury, Nerve injury, others), End-user (Hospitals & Clinics, Research Institutions), Geography (North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa)  Industry Trends & Forecast to 2026 https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-platelet-rich-plasma-market



by Type (Pure p Platelet-Rich Plasma, leukocyte-rich platelet-rich plasma, pure platelet-rich fibrin, leukocyte-rich platelet-rich fibrin), Origin (Allogeneic prp, Autologous prp, Homologous prp), Application (Orthopedics, Dermatology, Dental, Cardiac muscle injury, Nerve injury, others), End-user (Hospitals & Clinics, Research Institutions), Geography (North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa)  Industry Trends & Forecast to 2026 Plasma Fractionation Market By Product (Immunoglobulins, Coagulation Factor Concentrates, Albumin, Protease Inhibitors, Other Products), Application (Neurology, Immunology, Hematology, Critical Care, Pulmonology, Hemato-Oncology, Rheumatology, Other Applications), End User (Hospitals & Clinics, Clinical Research Laboratories, Academic Institutes), Geography (North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa) - Industry Trends and Forecast to 2026 https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-plasma-fractionational-market



By Product (Immunoglobulins, Coagulation Factor Concentrates, Albumin, Protease Inhibitors, Other Products), Application (Neurology, Immunology, Hematology, Critical Care, Pulmonology, Hemato-Oncology, Rheumatology, Other Applications), End User (Hospitals & Clinics, Clinical Research Laboratories, Academic Institutes), Geography (North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa) - Industry Trends and Forecast to 2026 Plasma Therapy Market By Type (Pure PRP, Leucocyte-Rich PRP, Pure Platelet-Rich Fibrin, Leukocyte-Rich Fibrin), Source (Autologous, Allogenic), Application (Orthopedics, Dermatology, Dental, Cardiac Muscle Injury, Nerve Injury, Others), End User (Hospitals & Clinics, Research Institutions), Geography (North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa) - Industry Trends and Forecast to 2026 https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-plasma-therapy-market



By Type (Pure PRP, Leucocyte-Rich PRP, Pure Platelet-Rich Fibrin, Leukocyte-Rich Fibrin), Source (Autologous, Allogenic), Application (Orthopedics, Dermatology, Dental, Cardiac Muscle Injury, Nerve Injury, Others), End User (Hospitals & Clinics, Research Institutions), Geography (North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa) - Industry Trends and Forecast to 2026 Mycoplasma Testing Market , By Technique (PCR, ELISA, Direct Assays, Indirect Assays, DNA Staining, Microbial Culture Techniques, Enzymatic), Product (Kits & Reagent, Instruments, Others), Application (Cell Line Testing, Virus Testing, End-Of-Production Cell Testing, Other), End Users (Hospitals and Surgical Centers, Clinics, Community Healthcare, Others), Distribution Channel (Retail, Direct Tenders), Country (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, Italy, U.K., France, Spain, Netherland, Belgium, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, Rest of Europe, Japan, China, India, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Rest of Asia- Pacific, Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East & Africa) Industry Trends and Forecast to 2027 https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-mycoplasma-testing-market

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Fierce Kremlin critic and opposition leader Alexei Navalny is in a coma as doctors fight for his life after he was poisoned Thursday morning, his spokesperson said.

The 44-year-old foe of Russias President Vladimir Putin felt unwell on a flight back to Moscow from Tomsk, a city in Siberia, Kira Yarmysh said on Twitter.

The plane made an emergency landing in Omsk. Alexei has a toxic poisoning, Yarmysh tweeted.

Navalny is said to be unconscious and was placed on a ventilator in an intensive care unit.

Yarmysh did not say who she believed may have poisoned Navalny, but said police had been called to the hospital.

The politician is in a grave but stable condition, hospital representative Anatoly Kalinichenko, deputy chief physician at the Omsk Emergency Hospital No. 1., said in a video shared by Yarmysh on Twitter.

Kalinichenko said all possible reasons for Navalnys sudden illness were being looked at, including poisoning.

Rally in support of political prisoners in central Moscow (Sefa Karacan / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Doctors are really dealing with saving his life right now, Kalinichenko added at a later briefing with reporters.

Yarmysh told Russian radio station Echo of Moscow there are tests being conducted to determine the nature of the toxin used. She said Navalny only had a black tea at an airport coffee shop before getting on the plane in the morning, and they believe that's how he could have been poisoned.

She said she was sure it was an intentional poisoning.

A year ago, he was poisoned in a prison, and I am sure the same thing happened here, she told the station. It's different symptoms, obviously a different toxin, but obviously this was done to him intentionally."

Last year, Navalny was rushed to a hospital from prison where he was serving a sentence following an administrative arrest, with what his team said was suspected poisoning.

Doctors then said he had a severe allergic attack and discharged him back to prison the following day

In 2017, he was attacked by several men who threw antiseptic in his face, damaging one eye.

Story continues

Pavel Lebedev was on the same plane as Navalny and posted an image of the politician drinking something out of a cup before the flight on his Instagram Stories. NBC News could not confirm that the photo shows the beverage that his spokeswoman believes may have poisoned him.

In a series of videos uploaded to his Instagram, Lebedev said he saw Navalny go to the bathroom after lift-off, and he did not return for a while.

I heard a commotion and took my headphones off, he added. It turned out that there was an emergency landing in Omsk, so I thought someone was feeling ill. Then I turned my head and I saw Alexei lying down.

Navalny rose to prominence in 2009 with investigations into official corruption and became a protest leader when hundreds of thousands took to the streets across Russia in 2011 to protest electoral fraud.

A few years later, and after several short-term spells in jail, Navalny faced two separate sets of fraud charges, which were viewed as political retribution aimed at stopping him from running for office.

In his only official campaign before his first conviction took effect, Navalny garnered 30 percent of the vote in the race for Moscow mayor in 2013.

Navalny also campaigned to challenge Putin in the 2018 presidential election, but was barred from running.

Navalnys anti-corruption foundation has conducted in-depth investigations into the highest ranks of Russian political elite, including his most famous investigation into former prime minister and president Dmitry Medvedev.

Last month, he had to shut down the foundation after a financially devastating lawsuit from Yevgeny Prigozhin, a businessman with close ties to the Kremlin.

Russia holds regional elections next month and Navalny and his allies have been preparing for them, trying to increase support for candidates which they back.
(Natural News) An employee at the Goodyear tire company has leaked a slide from a recent diversity training session depicting which political slogans are acceptable for company employees to embrace and promote, and which ones are not. And as we have come to expect, the acceptable ones are all far-left in nature.

Goodyears zero-tolerance policy, the slide indicates, rejects political movements like Blue Lives Matter, All Lives Matter, and MAGA Attire, referring of course to President Donald Trumps Make America Great Again slogan. These and other Politically Affiliated Slogans or Material are unacceptable at Goodyear, the slide further explains.

Political movements that are acceptable at Goodyear, however, include Black Lives Matter, or BLM, along with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride (LGBT). These are somehow exempt from Goodyears zero-tolerance policies concerning political slogans and material.

According to @goodyear tires, a MAGA shirt is a zero tolerance hate symbol, tweeted Mike Cernovich in response to the news. But Black Lives Matter is allowed, he added, BLM, as we have reported, being a full-blown religious cult.

According to WIBW, the image came from an employee who took the photo of the slide, which was presented at the Topeka (Kansas) plant by an area manager. The original source of the slide is said to be Goodyears corporate office, which is based out of Akron, Ohio.

The individual responsible for sharing this slide with the world has chosen to remain anonymous over job concerns. He or she did, however, issue a statement to WIBW that reads:

If someone wants to wear a BLM shirt in here, then cool. Im not going to get offended about it. But at the same time, if someones not going to be able to wear something that is politically based, even in the farthest stretch of the imagination, thats discriminatory. If were talking about equality, then it needs to be equality. If not, its discrimination.

Trump calls for Goodyear boycott

While Goodyear has not yet confirmed that it did, in fact, issue the slide and that it is authentic, company spokeswoman Melissa Monaco issued a statement to WIBW that contends Goodyear is committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace where all of our associates can do their best in a spirit of teamwork.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has gone public with calls for a nationwide boycott of Goodyears products.

Trump has chosen to focus on the MAGA prohibition element of Goodyears zero-tolerance policy, as it is personal to him, declaring that Americans can [g]et better tires for far less!

This is what the Radical Left Democrats do, Trump added in the parenthetical portion of this same tweet. Two can play the same game, and we have to start playing it now!

Once the nation learned about the fiasco and Trumps call for a boycott, Goodyear responded by issuing another press release via Twitter backing away from the obvious liberal bias in its diversity training.

Goodyear announced that after having become the focus of a conversation that created some misconceptions about our policies and our company, it has chosen to emphasize that its corporate policies have always wholeheartedly supported both equality and law enforcement and will continue to do so.

Interestingly, Goodyear chose to disable the comment section on this particular tweet, likely to prevent the inevitable onslaught of backlash that surely would have ensued.

The fiasco led to a rapid four-percent drop in Goodyears share values, reports indicate. The company currently employs about 63,000 people, which is roughly half of the number employed back in 1990.

For more related news about corporate pandering to the left, be sure to check out PoliticalCorrectness.news.

Sources for this article include:

Breitbart.com

NaturalNews.com

ZeroHedge.com
A female police officer at Charleroi airport in Belgium makes the Nazi salute as her colleagues swarm upon Jozef Chovanec in his cell. Courtesy of EurActiv



Belgium was in shock on Thursday after a video emerged showing a Slovak man being violently pinned down by airport police officers in images that recalled the fate of George Floyd in the US.



The CCTV images, seen by AFP, date to February 2018, when Jozef Chovanec was taken off a plane in Charleroi, Belgium, after refusing to show his ticket as he boarded.



Chovanec, who died in the wake of the incident, was taken to a holding cell where he is seen in harrowing footage banging his head against the wall until his face bleeds heavily.



Several police officers are later seen entering the room to handcuff Chovanec. When this fails to calm him, they return to hold him down, with one sitting on his chest for 16 minutes.



During this particularly shocking sequence, a female officer is seen in the cell dancing and making a Nazi salute.



Chovanec was afterwards taken to hospital where he died the next day, officially of a heart attack.



According to her legal team, widow Henrieta Chovancova chose to make the video public against their advice as she had grown frustrated with the investigation, which has dragged on for two years.



"Our client wanted to show these images to the world because she has no faith in the criminal investigation," said Lennert Dierickx, a member of the legal team that is led by Ann Van De Steen.



"She felt the case was not being taken seriously," he added.



Chovanec's death has been likened to the case of George Floyd, who died in May after a police officer knelt on his neck during his arrest in the United States.



"I am just sad," widow Chovancova told De Morgen newspaper.



"It makes me feel even more that they tried to sweep my husband's death under the rug, as if he were garbage that had to disappear," she said. (AFP)


The market corrected for the first time in the last four consecutive sessions due to weak global cues and a rise in Dollar index after Federal Reserve meeting minutes which raised worries over economic recovery in the US. Banking and financials stocks were at the forefront to drive the fall.

The BSE Sensex dropped 394.40 points or 1.02 percent to close at 38,220.39, while the Nifty50 declined 96.20 points to 11,312.20 and witnessed Doji kind of indecisive formation on the daily charts as closing was near to opening levels, indicating consolidation ahead.

"Though the major trend seems to be positive, Nifty requires to surpass recent swing highs to commence the next movement. Nifty has to hold above 11,250 to witness an upmove towards 11,500 while the support exists at 11,200," Siddhartha Khemka, Head - Retail Research at Motilal Oswal Financial Services told Moneycontrol.

Going ahead, the market volatility is likely to continue as investors remain cautious over the uncertainty regarding the global economic recovery, fresh US economic relief, the fallout of US-China tensions and worsening coronavirus crisis, he feels.

Shrikant Chouhan, Executive Vice President, Equity Technical Research at Kotak Securities said the strategy should be to buy on dips.

"Investors should buy Nifty if the index corrects further. Below 11,300 levels, the Nifty would halt at 11,240 with a final stop loss at 11,100," he detailed.

The broader markets bucked the trend today, with Nifty Midcap index was up 0.8 percent and Smallcap gained 0.66 percent.

We have collated 15 data points to help you spot profitable trades:

Note: The open interest (OI) and volume data of stocks given in this story are the aggregates of three-month data and not of the current month only.

Key support and resistance levels on the Nifty

According to pivot charts, the key support level for the Nifty is placed at 11,280.83, followed by 11,249.47. If the index moves up, the key resistance levels to watch out for are 11,352.53 and 11,392.87.

Nifty Bank

The Bank Nifty corrected 286.40 points or 1.29 percent to close at 21,999.50. The important pivot level, which will act as crucial support for the index, is placed at 21,897.43, followed by 21,795.46. On the upside, key resistance levels are placed at 22,090.63 and 22,181.87.

Call option data

Maximum Call open interest of 31.89 lakh contracts was seen at 11,500 strike, which will act as crucial resistance in the August series.

This is followed by 12,000 strike, which holds 22.55 lakh contracts, and 11,400 strike, which has accumulated 22.53 lakh contracts.

Call writing was seen at 11,300 strike, which added 9.68 lakh contracts, followed by 11,400 strike, which added 8.33 lakh contracts, and 11,500 strike, which added 7.96 lakh contracts.

Call unwinding was seen at 10,800, which shed 33,075 contracts, followed by 10,900 strike, which shed 3,750 contracts.

Put option data

Maximum Put open interest of 39.03 lakh contracts was seen at 11,000 strike, which will act as crucial support in the August series.

This is followed by 11,200 strike, which holds 21.35 lakh contracts, and 10,800 strike, which has accumulated 20.34 lakh contracts.

Put writing was seen at 10,800 strike, which added 3.14 lakh contracts, followed by 11,000 strike, which added 2.96 lakh contracts, 10,700 strike, which added 2.29 lakh contracts, and 10,900 strike, which added 1.35 lakh contracts.

Put unwinding was witnessed at 11,100, which shed 5.3 lakh contracts, followed by 11,400 strike, which shed 4.07 lakh contracts and 11,500 strike which shed 1.82 lakh contracts.

Stocks with a high delivery percentage

A high delivery percentage suggests that investors are showing interest in these stocks.

34 stocks saw long unwinding

Based on the open interest future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which long unwinding was seen.

47 stocks saw short build-up

An increase in open interest, along with a decrease in price, mostly indicates a build-up of short positions. Based on the open interest future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which short build-up was seen.

25 stocks witnessed short-covering

A decrease in open interest, along with an increase in price, mostly indicates a short-covering.

Bulk deals

Alankit: LTS Investment Fund bought 11 lakh shares in the company at Rs 17.63 per share.

Future Consumer: CLIX Capital Services sold 1,11,65,000 shares in the company at Rs 11.2 per share.

GSS Infotech: Thakar Ashish Bhupendra acquired 1.8 lakh shares in the company at Rs 26.7 per share.

Jain DVR Equity Shares: V T Rajan bought 1.04 lakh shares in the company at Rs 12.03 per share.

Ruchira Papers: Radhey Health Care acquired 1,28,095 shares in the company at Rs 60.19 per share.

Supreme Engineering: Sanjay R Chowdhari sold 1.6 lakh shares in the company at Rs 17.03 per share.

Suumaya Lifestyle: Pranith Realities LLP sold 1.44 lakh shares in the company at Rs 31.47 per share.

V-Guard Industries: SBI MF acquired 94,96,719 shares in the company at Rs 160.25 per share. However, Axis MF was the seller at the same price.

Vikas EcoTech: Alpha Leon Enterprises LLP net sold 18,55,361 shares in the company at Rs 10.6 per share.

(For more bulk deals, click here)

Results on August 21

Punjab National Bank, Union Bank of India, Oil India, Indiabulls Housing Finance, Coffee Day Enterprises, Automotive Stampings, Genus Paper & Boards, Harrisons Malayalam, Kolte-Patil Developers, Rossari Biotech, SMS Lifesciences, Suprajit Engineering, Venus Remedies, etc. will announce their quarterly earnings on August 21.

Stocks in the news

Jump Networks: The company shall be receiving firm, unconditional offer from Jump Networks, Inc, USA for investment on or before September 5, 2020.

Wipro: The company set up blockchain-based gas trading platform for Uniper Global Commodities SE.

Indian Overseas Bank Q1: Profit at Rs 120.69 crore versus loss Rs 342.08 crore, NII at Rs 1,412.32 crore versus Rs 1,288.46 crore YoY.

HealthCare Global Enterprises Q1: Loss at Rs 45.61 crore versus loss Rs 20.59 crore, revenue at Rs 193.46 crore versus Rs 268.88 crore YoY.

J Kumar Infraprojects Q1: Loss at Rs 20.81 crore versus profit at Rs 40.92 crore, revenue at Rs 285.25 crore versus Rs 667.74 crore YoY.

MOIL Q1: Profit at Rs 1.88 crore versus Rs 90.7 crore, revenue at Rs 152.3 crore versus Rs 280 crore YoY.

Premier Explosives: The company received an order from Israel Aerospace Industries, Israel (IAI) for development and supply of EDRM rocket motors for a total value of $520,000 (about Rs 3.90 crore). The order is expected to be delivered within 9 months.

GMM Pfaudler: The company signed definitive agreements to acquire a majority stake (54 percent) in the global business of the Pfaudler Group from Pfaudler UK.

FII and DII data

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) offloaded shares worth Rs 268.46 crore and domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold shares worth Rs 672.23 crore in the Indian equity market on August 20, as per provisional data available on the NSE.

Stock under F&O ban on NSE

Fourteen stocks -- Adani Enterprises, Aurobindo Pharma, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Century Textiles, Indiabulls Housing Finance, Vodafone Idea, Jindal Steel & Power, Manappuram Finance, Muthoot Finance, NALCO, RBL Bank, Sun TV Network and Vedanta -- are under the F&O ban for August 21.

Securities in the ban period under the F&O segment include companies in which the security has crossed 95 percent of the market-wide position limit.
Steve Bannon, Former Senior Trump Advisor, Arrested For Defrauding Trump Voters By Moon Of Alabama August 20, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - It is likely that U.S. President Donald Trump will soon says that he hardly knew his former campaign manager and senior advisor Steve Bannon and that he had always suspected that Bannon was a crook. Today the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Southern District of New York announced an indictment against Bannon and others: Leaders Of We Build The Wall Online Fundraising Campaign Charged With Defrauding Hundreds Of Thousands Of Donors Starting in approximately December 2018, BRIAN KOLFAGE, STEPHEN BANNON, ANDREW BADOLATO, and TIMOTHY SHEA, and others, orchestrated a scheme to defraud hundreds of thousands of donors, including donors in the Southern District of New York, in connection with an online crowdfunding campaign ultimately known as We Build The Wall that raised more than $25 million to build a wall along the southern border of the United States. In particular, to induce donors to donate to the campaign, KOLFAGE repeatedly and falsely assured the public that he would not take a penny in salary or compensation and that 100% of the funds raised ... will be used in the execution of our mission and purpose because, as BANNON publicly stated, were a volunteer organization. Those representations were false. The four indicted persons who ran the "We Build The Wall" campaign funneled donations into their own pockets: [STEVE] BANNON, through a non-profit organization under his control (Non-Profit-1), received over $1 million from We Build the Wall, at least some of which BANNON used to cover hundreds of thousands of dollars in BANNONs personal expenses. Bannon and the other three accused persons are now under arrest.

bigger Interestingly the indictments come from the U.S. Attorneys Office in the Southern District of New York which in June was involved in a spat with Trump: Geoffrey Berman, the powerful U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said late Friday that he had not resigned after Attorney General William Barr said he would be stepping down. Barr sent a letter to Berman on Saturday saying he had asked President Trump to fire Berman, and the president had done so. "I was surprised and quite disappointed by the press statement you released last night," Barr said in a statement. "Because you have declared that you have no intention of resigning, I have asked the President to remove you as of today, and he has done so." Berman's office had investigated some of President Trump's associates, including the president's former personal attorney Michael Cohen. There were at that time several known cases in the Southern District that involved people somewhat associated with Trump. But it still is not known why exactly Trump intervened in that office. Could it have been because of the case against Bannon which was not publicly known at that time? Probably not. Bannon and the others defrauded people who want to build the wall and are thereby on Trump's side. Trump is not probably not stupid enough to intervene in such a case. Then again ... The advisory board of We Build The Wall includes several other pro-Trump figures including mercenary salesman Erik Prince. CBS reports that Bannon was taken into custody by US Postal Inspection Service agents. In the announcement of the indictment Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, explicitly praises the USPIS for its support. In light of the recent dust up over alleged Trump moves against the Postal Service that deserves a chuckle. Bannon had recently worked with the Chinese crook Guo Wengui to build up a media company. As we noted a year ago: Miles Kwok aka Guo Wengui is a disgruntled Chinese oligarch. He is one of the men who finances the Hong Kong protests. Here he appears with Steve Bannon Miles Kwok & Mr Bannon: The 5 principles on Hong Kongs matter (vid). The Bennon-Guo media venture is also in trouble: A media company linked to former Trump political adviser Steve Bannon and exiled Chinese businessman Guo Wengui raised more than $300 million in a private offering this spring that is now being investigated by federal and state authorities, say people familiar with the matter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Wells Fargo & Co. have frozen accounts tied to fundraising for the company, GTV Media Group, some of these people said. Bank of America Corp. also closed an account for GTV Media's parent company shortly after it was opened in recent months, another person with knowledge of the situation said.

...

Soon after the fundraising, some investors began pushing for refunds after they said they never received official documentation verifying their investments in GTV Media, among other issues that led them to distrust Mr. Guo. Mr. Guo, a former property tycoon who is now one of China's most-wanted fugitives, and Mr. Bannon were two of the key people behind GTV Media's launch this spring, according to a company fundraising document and interviews. The document identifies Mr. Bannon as a company director, while Mr. Guo served as the public face for its fundraising. Associates of Mr. Guo are listed as GTV Media executives, while Mr. Guo is described as a company adviser. The FBI is on the case: The FBI had been examining Mr. Guo's work with Mr. Bannon even before the private placement this spring. The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, reported last month that FBI agents had been investigating Mr. Guo and the money he used to fund his media efforts in the U.S. for more than six months and that prosecutors from the U.S. attorney's offices in Manhattan and Brooklyn had been involved in the probe.

...

Earlier this month, Mr. Guo said in an online video that he had been subpoenaed and that he welcomed authorities' probes. A lawyer for Mr. Guo didn't provide comment on what information the subpoenas were seeking and whether Mr. Guo had complied with them. A 2017 Vice News clip has some background about Guo, his lies and his luxurious lifestyle in New York. Together with Bannon Guo ran a strong anti-China campaign. How that was or is related to Trump's anti-China campaign is not yet known. - " 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 Steve Bannon Arrested, Charged With Fraud Over 'Build the Wall' Campaign The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.
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LA Mayor Authorizes Disconnect of Power to House Over Parties

Authorities in Los Angeles shut off power to a house because several parties were held there, Mayor Eric Garcetti said on Wednesday.

With more than 2,000 Angelenosand over 170,000 Americanslost to COVID-19, we need every resident to undertake critical safeguards to stop the spread of this virus. That includes not hosting or attending parties that put themselves, their neighbors, and many others at risk, the Democrat said in a statement.

Despite several warnings, this house has turned into a nightclub in the hills, hosting large gatherings in flagrant violation of our public health orders. The city has now disconnected utilities at this home to stop these parties that endanger our community.

In a separate statement on social media, Garcetti claimed that parties can lead to rapid spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes the COVID-19 disease.

The mayor in early August announced he would order water and power cut from properties where parties were taking place, claiming the city attorney established he had proper authority to do so.

While we have already closed all nightclubs and bars, these large house parties have essentially become nightclubs in the Hills, Garcetti told reporters at the time.

The order did not target small and ordinary gatherings, he said.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti attends a protest in Los Angeles, Calif., on June 2, 2020. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

The order appeared to directly conflict with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power stating in March that it wouldnt disconnect water and power service during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Requests for comment sent to the agency have gone unanswered.

Police officers visited the home in question on Aug. 8 and posted warnings, letting people know that violations of the mayors order are subject to penalties, the mayors office said.

Another party was held on Aug. 14, prompting officers to again visit the house.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the home thats being targeted is on Appian Way.

Several parties were held at the house, which several people live in, including TikTok influencer Bryce Hall.

Hall couldnt be reached for comment.

Bryce Hall, left, and Giovanny Valencia attend an event in Los Angeles, Calif., on Aug. 11, 2019. (Araya Diaz/Getty Images for Beautycon)

Some other social media influencers have criticized Hall and his friends for holding parties.

Tagging four people in a tweet, YouTuber Tyler Oakley wrote on Sunday that anyone who has been partying with large groups should please consider social distancing, mask wearing, & using your huge platforms to encourage responsibility during a worldwide pandemic.

Elijah Daniel, another YouTuber, wrote on Twitter this week that he spoke to Garcettis office and warned the people who live at the house in question that the power and water would be shut off after Tuesday.

Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore told the Police Commission this week that police officials agree with other authorities that parties shouldnt be taking place during the pandemic, the LA Times reported. Authorities will take action against those who show blatant disregard, he said.

His remarks came after the Los Angeles Police Protective League, a police union, issued a statement saying Garcetti should send civilian staff, not police officers, to turn off peoples utilities.

Let officers deal with the rise in shootings and killings in LA, the union said. We need a leader and not a political contortionist.
India and China were unable to bridge their differences on the disengagement and de-escalation process along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) during diplomatic talks on Thursday, with New Delhi emphasising the need to resolve outstanding issues speedily.

People familiar with developments during the meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs dismissed an assertion in a readout from the Chinese foreign ministry that the two sides had positively evaluated the progress in the disengagement process.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava told a virtual media briefing the two sides will continue to work towards complete disengagement on the LAC. In this context, they agreed to resolve the outstanding issues in an expeditious manner and in accordance with existing agreements and protocols, he added.

Also Read: India must inflict costs on China, writes Brahma Chellaney

The WMCC meeting was co-chaired by joint secretary (East Asia) Naveen Srivastava of the external affairs ministry and Hong Liang, director general of the boundary and oceanic department of Chinas foreign ministry. This was the bodys fifth virtual meeting since the Ladakh standoff along the disputed border emerged in the open in May.

The people cited above, speaking on condition of anonymity, rejected the Chinese foreign ministrys assertion that the two sides had positively evaluated the progress in disengagement of troops at friction points on the LAC.

Thats their assessment. It isnt our assessment, said one of the people. The disengagement process is a work in progress and more needs to be done.

The people pointed to the external affairs ministry spokespersons comments on August 14 about some progress being made in the disengagement process, and that translating the principles of disengagement on the ground is a complex process that requires re-deployment of troops by each side towards their regular posts on their respective sides of the LAC. This, they said, continues to be Indias position.

Spokesperson Srivastava characterised the discussions during the WMCC meeting as candid and in-depth and said the two sides reaffirmed that in accordance with the agreements reached between the two foreign ministers and the two Special Representatives (SRs), the two sides will continue to sincerely work towards complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC in the western sector.

The two sides were in agreement that restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas would be essential for the overall development of bilateral relations, Srivastava added.

The two sides acknowledged the need to maintain close communication through diplomatic and military channels to ensure complete disengagement, and agreed to continue ongoing engagements, including the meetings of WMCC, he said.

The Chinese foreign ministrys readout, issued in Mandarin, said the two sides reviewed the situation in the border areas, positively evaluated the progress made in the disengagement of the frontline forces of the two countries, and had a frank and in-depth exchange on remaining issues on the ground.

The two sides agreed to earnestly implement the consensus reached by the two countries foreign ministers and Special Representatives on border issues, continue to maintain dialogue and communication through military and diplomatic channels, promote further relaxation and cooling of the Sino-Indian border situation, properly handle remaining issues on the ground, and jointly maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas, the readout added.

Experts believe India now has no other option but to prepare for deploying thousands of troops along the LAC during the winter as several rounds of talks at the military and diplomatic level havent led to the restoration of the status quo as it existed in April.

Christopher Clary, assistant professor of political science at the University at Albany, said: It has been over 100 days since the first clashes at Pangong Tso and more than two months since the Galwan clash. While modest progress has been made, and it is a good sign both sides are talking, the reality is India shouldnt expect talks will achieve much.

Indias strategy of having more video teleconferences with various Quad countries is probably insufficient to change Chinas cost-benefit calculus, he said.

India can hope the nasty winter of eastern Ladakh might nudge China toward somewhat more disengagement, but it seems more likely Indian troops are facing additional long, cold months of forward deployments to prevent future Chinese land grabs, Clary added.
After several failed mediation efforts as regional powers, leaders of the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) plan to visit Mali over the recent coup in the country, Reuters reports.

West African leaders, including President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday convened an extraordinary session to discuss the crisis in Mali after a military coup overthrew President Ibrahim Keita alongside the Prime Minister on Tuesday.

The regional bloc had immediately taken actions by banning the country from all its decision-making bodies with immediate effect and ordering member-states to shut their borders and economic trade against it.

However, new development following the crucial meeting of ECOWAS leaders shows that the bloc plans to send a delegation of presidents, including the leaders of Niger, Senegal and Ghana, to Malis capital, Bamako, to seek a resolution to the crisis, after several peace missions by ECOWAS mediator and former Nigerias president, Goodluck Jonathan failed.

The development came after the M5-RFP opposition coalition, which held mass protests to demand Mr Keitas resignation, joined the mutineers to reject foreign interference.

Following Tuesdays coup, the international community widely condemned the actions of the mutineers despite local celebration in Mali. China, U.S., UN, UK, and France from which Mali gained its independence, all voiced their opposition to the regime change by force in the West African state.

Yet, the M5-RFP opposition coalition alongside the mutineering soldiers who are in-charge in Mali said foreign interference is off the line.

The coalition condemned the initial response of ECOWAS leaders who fear the coup could set off unrest in the region.

(The leaders) are on an all-out drive to set ECOWAS against Mali, the M5-RFP spokesman, Nouhoum Togo, said

Buhari speaks

President Buhari at the ECOWASs virtual meeting said the political upheaval in Mali could destabilise the entire region and thus, called for measures to deescalate the situation and to restore democracy.

The events in Mali are great setbacks for regional diplomacy, with grave consequences for the peace and security of West Africa. It is time for the unconstitutional authority in Mali to act responsibly and ensure restoration of constitutional order, peace and stability, the Nigerian leader said.

He said Nigeria would support efforts by the regional bloc, the African Union and the United Nations in the adoption of strong measures to bring a speedy resolution to the situation.

A politically stable Mali is paramount and crucial to the stability of the sub-region. We must all join efforts, ECOWAS, the AU, the UN and other stakeholders, and work together until sanity returns to Mali with the restoration of Civil Administration, he said.

Mood in Mali

The mood in the country remained calm except for the insurgency-ravaged north. The mutineers spokesman, Ismael Wague, ordered people in Malis capital, Bamako, where the coup was staged, to return to work and go about their daily lives.

A Reuters reporter said the capital city was still calm two days after the coup.

A Malian political analyst, Cheick Doumbia, told PREMIUM TIMES that though the euphoria from the coup is still fresh, many people are still worried about the next steps.

Many are happy that the power was overthrown but most are worried about next steps, Mr Doumbia told PREMIUM TIMES.
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Shiv Kumar Trivedi, a second-year BSc student at the BHU, was picked up by the police on 12 February and taken to the Lanka police station in Varanasi. He has been missing since then

The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday took cognizance of a letter-petition addressed to the chief justice in relation to a missing BSc student of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), who allegedly disappeared from police custody six months ago.

The court issued notices to the district magistrate and senior superintendent of police of Varanasi and asked the government lawyer to file a counter-affidavit by the next date of hearing, which is August 25.

A division bench of Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Samit Gopal passed the order while taking cognizance of a letter written by Saurabh Tiwari, a lawyer.

In the letter, Tiwari highlighted the plight of the father, who has been unable to establish contact with his son Shiv Kumar Trivedi, a second-year BSc student at the BHU, since February 12.

The letter states that Trivedi was picked up by the police from the MP Theatre ground of the BHU on February 12 and taken to the Lanka police station in Varanasi.

Ever since, there has been no sign of the student, the letter says, adding that Trivedi's father made several complaints to senior police officials of Varanasi, but in vain.

It has been alleged in the letter that Trivedi was picked up from the ground on the basis of a 112 call made by a fellow student, who reported that the former had fallen unconscious.

However, the police kept denying that Trivedi was at the Lanka police station until the production of the 112 call details.

According to the letter, the police have now accepted that Trivedi was at the Lanka police station on the intervening night of February 12 and February 13. However, they have not given any further detail of the missing student.
TDT | Manama

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa received a cable of good wishes from His Royal Highness the Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa on the New Hijri Year 1442. HRH the Premier expressed heartfelt congratulations to HM the King, wishing him, Bahrain, and its people as well as Arab and Islamic nations many happy returns.

HM the King sent a cable of thanks replying to HRH the Prime Minister, wishing him abundant health and a long life. He also wished Bahrain, as well as all Arab and Islamic nations, many happy returns. His Majesty King Hamad also received a cable of good wishes from His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister.

HRH the Crown Prince expressed his heartfelt congratulations to HM the King, and wished him, Bahrain, and its people as well as all Arab and Islamic nations many happy returns. He also prayed to Allah Almighty to end the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and bless people with good health. HM the King sent a reply cable thanking HRH the Crown Prince, and wishing him abundant health.

He also wished Bahrain, as well as Arab and Islamic nations, many happy returns. HRH the Prime Minister received a cable of good wishes on the New Hijri Year 1442 from HRH the Crown Prince, who expressed his heartfelt congratulations to HRH the Premier. HRH the Prime Minister sent a reply cable of thanks to HRH the Crown Prince.

He thanked him for his noble feelings, and wished Bahrain many happy returns under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. HM King Hamad exchanged congratulatory cables on the occasion with GCC, Arab and Islamic countries leaders. HM the King expressed heartfelt congratulations to them, wishing their countries and peoples many happy returns.

He also prayed to Allah Almighty to protect all from the COVID-19 pandemic and return life to normal soon. HRH the Prime Minister and HRH the Crown Prince also exchanged congratulatory cables on the New Hijri Year 1442 with GCC, Arab and Islamic countries leaders.

Meanwhile, in line with the directives of His Majesty King Hamad, on the advent of the New Hijri Year 1442, the Royal Court started distributing its annual donations, through the Sunni and Jafari Endowments Directorates, to charity societies and Hussaini community centres.
A Kansas pastor's wife likely died of carbon monoxide poisoning after driving her car into a shipping container on her way to seek treatment for anxiety, police have said.

Marilane Carter's uncle discovered decomposing remains when he traveled to rural Arkansas to look for his niece and saw the door of the abandoned unit open on Tuesday.

The body has not yet been positively identified as mother-of-three Carter and the cause of death has not yet been confirmed, but authorities said the car is hers. A credit card bearing her name was also recovered inside the vehicle.

On Wednesday the Crittenden County Sheriffs Office said: 'Information gathered from family members concerning her mental and emotional state during her final communications, along with facts gathered from the scene, have led investigators to believe that Marilane Carter drove the vehicle into the container and in doing so caused her demise.'

Carter was last seen on August 2 when she checked into a Quality Inn hotel in Missouri for three hours on her way to Alabama to seek treatment for anxiety and visit relatives.

She later called her parents from the road, sounding confused and telling them she kept getting lost. Carter was never heard from again.

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A Kansas pastor's wife likely died of carbon monoxide poisoning after driving her car into a shipping container on her way to seek treatment for anxiety, police have said. Carter, a mother-of-three and married to Rev. Adam Carter of the Leawood Baptist Church in Kansas, had made concerning statements to her family

An uncle of missing Kansas mother Marilane Carter on Tuesday came upon this shipping container in an Arkansas field where he found a body believed to be his niece

The decomposing body was inside Carter's 2011 GMC Acadia, which contained her purse and credit card (pictured)

On Wednesday afternoon, the Leawood Baptist Church in Kansas, where Carter's husband is a pastor, posted a message on its Facebook page confirming Marilane's death.

'It is with very heavy hearts that we share that Marilane Carter has passed away,' the post read in part. 'Her vehicle and body were found Tuesday in the West Memphis area. Law enforcement says that foul play is not suspected.'

After a frantic two-week search, Carter's gray GMC SUV was found inside a shipping container in a remote field off Interstate 55.

The engine is said to have been left on and no foul play is suspected.

Carter, 36, a mom-of-three pastor's wife, vanished without a trace on August 2 en route to Alabama

Crittenden County Sheriff's Department Chief Todd Grooms told WREG that officers had searched that field before and seen several shipping containers, but did not think to look inside them.

'I just never would have dreamed that her vehicle would have been up inside one of them,' Grooms said.

On Tuesday morning, Carter's uncle, who stayed behind after a weekend search involving other family members, was driving and walking around the area where his niece's phone was last pinged when he came upon three shipping containers in the field.

He noticed that one of the containers was open and decided to take a look inside, discovering his niece's gray 2011 GMC Acadia with Kansas plates with a body inside.

The sheriff's chief said no foul play is suspected at this time in connection to the woman's death.

'I believe that anything that happened, happened by her own doing,' Chief Todd Grooms said.

The woman's decomposing body was taken to the state crime lab in Little Rock for an autopsy.

DailyMail.com found footage Wednesday in which Carter shared her love for children and passion for teaching in a touching video just three months before she vanished.

The two-minute clip was posted to a YouTube page on May 5, 2020.

Mother-of-three Marilane Carter shared her love for her children and her passion for teaching in a video application in May - three months before she vanished from her home in Overland Park, Kansas. DailyMail.com came across the video (pictured) on Wednesday, just after police announced that they had recovered a body believed to be Carter inside her car in a shipping container in Crittenden County, Arkansas

Carter, 36, (pictured with her husband Adam) vanished while travelling from her home in Overland Park, Kansas, to Birmingham, Alabama, to seek treatment for anxiety and to visit family

Officers had previously searched this field in rural Crittenden County, Arkansas, and seen three containers there, but had not opened them

Officials believe that for an unknown reason Carter ended up driving inside the container of her own accord

The last known movements of the missing mom-of-three and pastor's wife and the site where the body was found inside her SUV

Carter, the wife of Rev. Adam Carter, of the Leawood Baptist Church, left her home in Overland Park on the night of August 1 to head to Birmingham where her parents live and where she hoped to seek mental health treatment at a hospital where she once worked.

She was last seen alive on surveillance footage checking into the hotel in West Plains, Missouri, the following morning.

In the footage, Carter is seen walking across the parking lot of the hotel with her luggage before entering the building and approaching the reception where she is greeted by hotel staff.

She checked out of the hotel three hours later and left in her car.

The 36-year-old, who has two young sons and a daughter, was last heard from later that night.

Video showed Carter on August 2 as she checked into a Quality Inn in Missouri for three hours before vanishing on her way to seek mental health help in Alabama

In the footage, Carter is seen walking across the parking lot of the hotel with her luggage

She then entered the building and approached the reception where she was greeted by hotel staff

Her husband Adam said he had spoken with her on the night of August 2 and his wife's cell phone went dead.

A short time later, Carter spoke to her mom Marlene Mesler on the phone.

'We were in contact with her all the way, but then, partway through the trip, she started seeming confused and disoriented. She said she kept on getting lost,' Mesler told WREG.

Carter's phone went dead somewhere on the I-55 bridge.

This was the last time she was heard from and her credit cards have not been used since.



Her family were asking the authorities to search the Mississippi River around the bridge close to where the missing mom's cell phone last pinged.

Authorities said Carter had made concerning statements to her family in the lead-up to her disappearance.

'Our three kids miss her,' her husband Adam told WMC Action News. 'I miss her. We want to have her home.'
ATLANTA (Aug. 19, 2020)  The Carter Center commends the people of Belarus for their peaceful protest against an electoral process that is widely viewed as neither credible nor reflective of the will of the people. The Center urges the authorities of Belarus to begin peaceful dialogue with civil society organizations, trade unions, political parties, and other stakeholders to resolve the current crisis, with a view to conducting a new presidential election in line with international commitments and standards.

The fundamental purpose of elections is to enable the people  all of the people  to choose their leaders and representatives, said Paige Alexander, CEO of The Carter Center. This basic electoral function has broken down in Belarus and can only be restored by the Belarusian people through open and peaceful dialogue.

The Carter Center also calls on the authorities to end violence against protestors and to release people who were detained both before and after the Aug. 9 presidential election. An international human rights monitoring mission could be an important step in safeguarding fundamental human rights while political dialogue takes place.

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Contact: Soyia Ellison, soyia.ellison@cartercenter.org



The Carter Center

Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope.

A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The spokesperson for the forces led by Marshal Khalifa Haftar, General Ahmed al-Mesmari has said that the announcement of the lifting of the blockade of oil sites is only aimed at emptying the reserves of oil and its derivatives stored in the oil ports for export abroad and does not mean a resumption of activity in the sector
Police arrest stolen vehicle suspect who fled, entered occupied home

The homeowner was able to get out of the home safely, but Aberdeen police are now negotiating the surrender of the suspect.
A swan was shot in the neck with an air gun in south east London.

Greenwich Police launched an investigation after the swan was found bleeding in Southmere Park on Wednesday.

Pictures posted on Twitter show the bird's feather's stained with blood.

Killing or injuring a swan is classed as criminal damage, and officers have asked with anyone with information to come forward.

The bird was spotted on the banks of a park lake (@MPSGreenwich ) / @MPSGreenwich

A Greenwich Police spokesman said: "A swan was found suffering an air pellet injuries at Southmere Lake 19/08/20.

"All wild birds are protected from killing/injury/taking & police are appealing for information to identify the person responsible."

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Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting crime reference number 3911330/20.
Governor Whitmer Announces $65 Million in CARES Act Funding for Michigan Schools

Governor Whitmer Announces $65 Million in CARES Act Funding for Michigan Schools

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 19, 2020

Media Contact: Press@Michigan.gov

Governor Whitmer Announces $65 Million in CARES Act Funding for Michigan Schools

Funding will target districts most significantly impacted by COVID-19

LANSING, Mich. -- Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that she will allocate nearly $65 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act dollars to Michigan school districts, higher education institutions, and other education-related entities that have been most significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes schools in Michigans economically disadvantaged districts, and will help address the digital divide that has served as a barrier to remote learning for students and educators across the state. The funding comes from the Governors Education Emergency Relief Fund.

As we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and approach the start of the new school year, we must continue doing everything we can to protect our students, educators, and support staff. This funding will help us do just that, and ensure crucial support for our schools, whether its helping schools access PPE and cleaning supplies or helping students mitigate the impacts of learning loss in districts that need it most, said Governor Whitmer. This is a good start, but we still need the federal government to work together on a bipartisan recovery package to support all Michigan students and educators, as well as state governments, families, and small businesses.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on Michigans students, educators, and support staff, especially those in low-income communities. GEER funds are meant for districts that are determined to be most significantly impacted by COVID-19. To ensure these districts are targeted, the framework distributes $60 million to school districts based on the number of students in high-need student groups. Districts will receive funding based on their numbers of economically disadvantaged students, special education students, and English language learners. To be eligible for funding, the school districts concentration of economically disadvantaged pupils, compared to total district enrollment, must exceed 50%.

Its essential and appreciated that Gov. Whitmer is focusing these resources on districts with the highest need during this pandemic, said Michigan Education Association President Paula Herbart. Both from a public health and from an educational standpoint, economically disadvantaged communities need these additional funds to keep students safe and academically engaged. Equity in education funding is a critical issue and its encouraging to see Gov. Whitmer remain committed to addressing disparities so every student gets a great education no matter where they live.

MASB appreciates any assistance the state can provide to districts in the time of heightened need, said Don Wotruba, Executive Director of Michigan Association of School Boards. The earlier budget deal helped to prevent cuts for all school districts and provided them with needed funding for COVID safety costs. This new funding targets school districts that provide education services to children most at need.

The GEER funds announced today are a significant step forward in equitably meeting the academic, social, and emotional needs of our most at-risk youth, said Dr. Leadriane Roby, Superintendent of Grand Rapids Public Schools.

Recipient districts will be required to use GEER funds for any of the following goals:

Connectivity : Devices, internet access, access to remote services, or other similar purposes.

Student Mental Health : Funding would enhance access to remote and in-person student mental health services.

Addressing Learning Loss: Funding could be used by districts to offer supplementary content and intervention services to mitigate the impacts of learning loss.

Out-of-School-Time Learning: Funds could be used to support out-of-school-time learning. These expenditures would ensure students have safe spaces to participate in remote education.

Remote Learning Materials and Training (digital and non-digital): Funds could address both digital and non-digital content where remote learning continues as an instructional delivery model.

Teacher Training and Curriculum: Funding could be used to provide additional professional development and curriculum modifications that allow districts to effectively facilitate distance learning while expanding their knowledge of the science of teaching.

Other health, safety, and wellness needs identified, required, or recommended in the MI Return to School Roadmap.

$5.4 million will be distributed to other education related entities, and will be distributed for statewide mental health services, public television learning resources, implementation of teacher professional learning practices, and the Early On program to help reach more infants and toddlers through remote early intervention.

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'As we're all wearing face masks right now, what better way to start your make-up than with a bold eye?'

I'm 30 seconds into Lancome's latest livestream video, and I'm intrigued. Make-up artist Antonia Basile is explaining how to use her favourite Lancome beauty products to create the perfect Covid look, as viewers like myself tune in on our smartphones.

It is a little like watching a beauty tutorial on YouTube, but this is hosted by Lancome and, throughout the video, all the products Basile uses appear on the side of the screen.

'If you love anything you see me using, click on it, and it'll go right into your shopping bag!' she says.

A Lancome live stream. Make-up artist Antonia Basile explains how to use her favourite Lancome beauty products

By the time she's extolled the virtues of a copper eyeshadow and explained that the Teint Idole foundation is her go-to because it doesn't transfer on to a mask, I'm sold. With just a tap of my finger, I can add these products to my cart while continuing to watch her, and I can ask questions before purchasing, just as I would to a shop assistant in real life.

Welcome to livestream shopping  a new craze that could be the future of how we browse and buy. It's essentially social media meets QVC, streamed straight to your smartphone.

Livestreams typically consist of a video filmed in portrait mode (you can also watch it on a computer, if you prefer) showing people trying on products and chatting, with clickable images of the products appearing on a panel alongside the video as soon as they're mentioned. A quick tap adds them to your basket, with a simple option to select sizes and quantities.

You might never have heard of livestream shopping, but worldwide the industry is already worth $60 billion (46 billion), and that figure is expected to more than double this year.

The live events feature buttons with flash up with clickable links to products the make up artist or stylist is talking about

And it's not only clothes they are flogging, here Monki shows off home accessories during a live stream

Hugely popular in China, now it's capturing the imagination of shoppers here.

The L'Oreal Group recently launched live.lancome.co.uk, while the H&M Group's Scandinavian-inspired brand Monki was one of the first to start livestream shopping in the UK last year.

The 'streams' are designed to be watched live, but the most recent episodes are left on the website for viewers to tune into when they can.

'Livestreaming gives shoppers the chance to see a product being used, to ask experts questions and have real-time interactions from the comfort of their own home,' says Lex Bradshaw-Zanger, chief marketing officer of L'Oreal UK. 'Lockdown has seen our livestreaming trials really take off.'

Luxury brands such as Harvey Nichols and parenting shop Mamas & Papas are also offering one-to-one livestreams from the shop floor for customers who want a personalised virtual shopping experience.

Here Monki stylists are seen showing off a fur jacket (right) and a phone case, available to buy, during a live stream

Harvey Nichols began personalised livestreams back in 2018, and they can be accessed by customers anywhere in the world between store opening hours. It allows customers to connect directly with stylists.

Adam Levene, founder of Hero, a technology company that facilitates these livestreams for brands including Harvey Nichols, Oscar De La Renta and Deciem, says: 'Consumers today want access, authenticity and connection more than ever before, and both livestreaming and virtual shopping fit that bill.'

The platform has seen a 739 per cent increase in use since this time last year, and has found customers are 21 times more likely to buy when they virtually 'shop' with a store associate than if they were left to browse online.

Smaller brands also love the idea. Onimos, a vintage retailer with stores in London and Germany, began livestreaming on Instagram several months ago. Unlike a web-hosted livestream, viewers watch on Instagram TV but have to leave the page to make purchases.

The store's founder Birgit Niederhauser says: 'It's very popular with our regulars. It's like a hangout with everyone who loves Onimos Vintage.'

The Monki team wear co-ordinated outfits as they style their products for the viewers

They even have plans to host themed events, such as 'Noughties celebrity outfits'. It's a lot of work, requiring planning sessions and hiring influencers, but it's financially worth it.

'Whenever we host a livestream, we see online sales go up,' says Birgit.

'We get messages regularly asking when we'll host the next livestream shopping.

'Thinking about how fast [social media video platform] TikTok has been growing, I feel like livestream shopping will grow as a trend as well.'

The 'TikTok generation' (teenagers and those in their early 20s) are admittedly the biggest demographic currently using mass livestreams, but many experts feel that's going to change.

Sophie Freres, co-founder of LiSA, a web-based app that helps brands such as Lancome and SkinCeuticals host livestreaming events on their websites, agrees.

'Livestream shopping will become as commonplace as classic online shopping or posting on social media  just as it has in China,' she says.

To Sophie, it's another way for brands to reach customers  and she feels it can be popular with all age groups, depending on how it's used.

And with different companies all putting their own takes on livestreaming, it might not be long before online shopping means we're all watching videos from shop floors.
The Cabinet of Ministers has adopted an order "On the approval of an action plan to prepare for and mark the 29th anniversary of Ukraine's independence," which was drafted by the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy, according to the government's official website.

The program of the celebrations envisages the raising of the state flag in Kyiv and other cities, at foreign diplomatic missions and military units. It is also planned to hold ceremonial events, flower-laying ceremonies, art and media events, exhibitions and other events aimed at informing the general public about important events and personalities of Ukrainian history. State awards are also to be awarded.

Ministries and agencies were tasked with ensuring public safety and order during the celebrations, as well as taking anti-epidemic measures, given the requirements of the legislation to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease COVID-19.

The implementation of the plan will be financed from state and local budgets, as well as from other sources of financing not prohibited by law.

First Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Policy Rostyslav Karandieiev said at a government meeting on August 19 that Mykhailivska and Sofiiska Squares in Kyiv would be the center of this year's Independence Day celebrations.

"This year's celebration of the anniversary of Ukraine's independence has a somewhat unusual format. In particular, Kyiv plans to move away from traditional celebrations on Khreshchatyk and Independence Square, giving them a more spiritual component. That is why the centers of events in Kyiv will be Mykhailivska and Sofiiska Squares," he said.

On August 12, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed decree No. 318/2020 "On the Celebration of the 29th Anniversary of Ukraine's Independence," instructing the Cabinet of Ministers to draw up and implement an action plan to mark Ukraine's Independence Day, given the requirements for preventing the spread of COVID-19.

op
The Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition, Wednesday, called for an independent investigation into the leakage of examination papers of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to find the culprits towards ending the perennial problem.



The Ghana Education Service (GES) and WAEC, the Coalition said, should also provide a detailed report on the measures taken to prevent leakage of the 2020 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination papers.



A statement signed by the interim chair, Mr Joseph Homadzi, and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, expressed the Coalition's disappointment at the turn of events despite the assurances by the two bodies that adequate measures had been put in place to secure this year's papers.



The Coalition, therefore, urged WAEC to explain the cause of frequent breaches of its examination system leading to a report of leakage every year.



"The Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition is alarmed by recurring reports of leakage of examination papers and names of examiners in the ongoing West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (WASSCE)," the statement said. "It is our view that this is the time to find a permanent solution to this perennial issue to preserve the credibility of the examinations conducted by the West African Examinations

Council".



Two weeks ago, the statement said, WAEC sought to reassure stakeholders with regard to its vigilance

and measures taken to ensure the smooth conduct of WASSCE for school candidates.



" It indicated that it 'had alerted the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Police, and the National Security about the threats posed by rogue websites and WhatsApp groups,'" the statement said.



"The Ghana Education Service on the other hand dismissed the allegations as fake and assured the public that 'all efforts were being made to track those behind the purported leaked fake paper'.



" Notwithstanding, we have been hit again by allegations of copies of answered examination papers such as Social Studies, Core Mathematics, and Chemistry Practical examinations circulating on social media platforms and the same questions appearing in the ongoing examinations".



Meanwhile, WAEC, in a statement, said it had initiated investigations into a yet to be finalized version of an Examiners List for WASSCE School Candidates (SC) 2020 on social media".



The Council has initiated investigations into the disturbing development and reported the matter to the Cyber Crime Development of the Ghana Police Service," it said.



In a statement issued and signed by Mrs Agnes Teye-Cudjoe, Head, Public Affairs, Head of National Office, WAEC also apologised to all examiners, whose contact details were unintentionally circulated.



While apologising unreservedly to all Examiners whose contact details were inadvertedly circulated in the public domain, the Council wishes to reiterate its commitment to safeguarding the integrity and credibility of its examinations and certificates respectively," it said.



The Council said its monitoring of the ongoing WASSCE (SC) had indicated that the activities of rogue websites were in full force with several fake versions of questions being circulated on social media platforms.



Additionally, the Council said it also came to light that fake version of the Integrated Science (2and 1), Social Studies (2 and 1) Chemistry three, Practical Alternative A, and Economics 2and 1 papers were also shared on social media platforms.



"Again, snapshots of the Mathematics (Core) Paper 2 were posted on social media platforms after the release of the paper from WAEC Strong Rooms".



According to the statement, Investigations into this issue are ongoing, and gave the assurance that WAEC would continue to roll out various measures 'to deal with the illegal activities in order to ensure fairness to all candidates and maintain the integrity of examination'.



It assured its stakeholders and the public that its marking process, which had been tested over the years, ensured fairness, saying, these processes involve swapping of scripts across regions, vetting of scripts by Assistant Examiners by Team Leaders, vetting of Team leaders scripts by chief Examiners, among others.



However, the Minority in Ghanas Parliament has called on the WAEC, to act swiftly in canceling any leaked papers.



It is extremely worrying and a disturbing trend for names, email addresses, location, and contact numbers of examiners to be put in circulation on social media and the public space," it said.

Source: GNA









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LONDON - The brother of the suicide bomber who set off an explosion at a 2017 Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, killing 22 people and injuring hundreds, was sentenced Thursday to a minimum of 55 years in prison.

Hashem Abedi, 23, had denied helping plan the attack at Manchester Arena but was found guilty of murder, attempted murder, and conspiring to cause explosions. His sentencing had been postponed due to travel restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic.

His elder brother Salman Abedi set off the bomb in the arenas foyer at the end of the May 22, 2017 concert, as fans  including thousands of children and young people  were leaving the pop stars show. He died in the explosion.

Hashem Abedi refused to attend court for the two-day sentencing hearing, which heard powerful testimony from the families of the victims, many of whom fought back tears as they described their grief.

Judge Jeremy Baker said that the two brothers were equally culpable for the deaths and injuries caused by the explosion.

Although Salman Abedi was directly responsible, it was clear the defendant took an integral part in the planning, Baker said.

The judge said that had the younger brother been over age 21 at the time of the explosion, he would have been given a whole-life term. Instead, he was sentenced to serve a minimum of 55 years before parole may be considered.

The defendant should clearly understand the minimum term he should serve is 55 years. He may never be released, Baker added.

He added that there was a significant degree of premeditation and that the motivation for the brothers was to advance the ideology of Islamism.

The brothers were born in Manchester to Libyan parents. They had travelled to Libya the month before the attack. Salman returned to the U.K. on May 18, 2017, when he finalized preparations for the attack. Hashem remained in Libya until he was extradited to Britain and arrested at a London airport last year.

Prosecutors say he played a key role in the attack, including ordering chemicals for the bomb and arranging transport for the materials.

The Manchester bombing was the deadliest in a string of extremist attacks in London and Manchester in the spring and summer of 2017. Targets in London included Westminster Bridge, London Bridge, and a north London mosque.

Commenting on Thursdays sentencing, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the Manchester attack was a horrifying and cowardly act of violence which targeted children and families.

Those who were taken from us will never be forgotten, nor will the spirit of the people of Manchester who came together to send a clear message to the entire world that terrorists will never prevail, Johnson said.

The youngest victim who was killed in the attack was age 8.

Caroline Curry, mother of Liam Curry, 19, held up a photo of her son in court and addressed an empty dock Wednesday.

You took his future, my future, my familys future, she said. All we have now is heartbreak and dreams of what if.
All A-Level students will get a place at their first choice university if they have the grades and the caps on medical degrees will now be scrapped, ministers have announced today.

Thousands of students have this week been scrambling to get places at their first choice university after after Education Secretary Gavin Williamson scrapped the controversial algorithm system for A-level results after outcry.

Today the revised A level results were released and showed that the proportion of exam entries receiving an A grade or higher has increased to a record high for England, with 38.1% awarded the top grades - up from 25.2% on the original algorithm grades.

Universities had been struggling with the sheer volume of demand as 55,000 pupils who accepted a place at another university or got a new course at clearing tried to get into their top choice.

Today, the government has confirmed that students who did receive sufficient grades will be able to take up their place. If the school is full then students can be offered an alternative course or deferment to 2021.

The government had tried to ease the pressure on universities by removing the cap on admissions, but excluded medicine, dentistry and veterinary sciences, leaving medics uncertain if they would be able to claim their place this year.

However they have now agreed to lift the cap on medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and teaching courses following the U-turn.

The Department for Education (DfE) has also announced additional funding to increase capacity in medical, nursing, STEM and other high-cost subjects.

The proportion of A-level entries receiving an A grade or higher has increased to a record high for England, with 38.1% awarded the top grades (pictured)

Ofqual 'knew algorithm was doomed to failure' Watchdog Ofqual knew its algorithm was 'doomed' in June, a whistleblower claimed last night. Speaking on condition of anonymity, an adviser who helped to develop the software said it was evident 'there would be winners and losers' as soon as schools submitted teacher-assessed grades between June 1 and 12. 'There was a very specific point when it became doomed,' he said. 'There was clearly always a potential this could blow, because of the nature of it. There wasn't really even a need to discuss that point, because it was always lingering in the background.' In a further blow to Gavin Williamson, it was also claimed that the Education Secretary was personally warned about the algorithm's shortcomings last month. Sir Jon Coles, a former board member of the Department for Education who helped to found Ofqual, is said to have told Mr Williamson that the algorithm was only 75 per cent accurate. Mr Williamson and Sir Jon spoke about the issue in July but the minister decided to back the algorithm anyway, The Times reported. Labour peer Lord Falconer has reportedly said the algorithm was unlawful. Ofqual and the Department for Education did not respond to requests for comment. Advertisement

Dr Tim Bradshaw, CEO of the Russell Group, said: 'The Government's decision today to provide additional funding for high cost courses, such and chemistry and physics, and to lift the number caps on specialist courses, including medicine and dentistry, is a very positive step, which will allow us to increase capacity and help more students to benefit from a high quality education.

'Russell Group universities are working with government and will do everything they can to accommodate as many students as possible on their preferred courses this year and will continue to do so wherever this is practically possible. Where this isn't possible, our universities will look to offer deferred places or explore places on alternative courses where the student meets the entry requirements.'

A number top universities, such as Cambridge and Oxford, warned earlier this week they were already reaching capacity. It is expected a large number of students who did receive their top choice university may have to defer their place.

The University of Durham is offering a bursary and 'guaranteed college accommodation' to students who volunteer to defer a year due to capacity issues caused by the U-turn.

The Government's Higher Education Taskforce - made up of university sector leaders - agreed on Wednesday to honour all offers across courses to students who meet their conditions this coming year wherever possible, or if maximum capacity is reached to offer an alternative course or a deferred place.

Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of Universities UK, said: 'The policy U-turn on A-levels has created significant challenges for universities caused by late movement of students between institutions.

'The welcome additional medicine and dentistry places and confirmation of the additional teaching grant for high-costs subjects will help to support capacity.

'Government now needs to urgently confirm funding both to ensure the financial stability of institutions suffering from a loss of students and to offer further support to maintain and build capacity where needed.'

It comes as more than ten per cent of A-level students results have been upgraded to an A or higher after the algorithm was ditched for teacher assessed marks following an outcry.

The proportion of A-level entries receiving an A grade or higher has increased to a record high for England, with 38.1% awarded the top grades.

A number of A-Level subjects have seen large jumps in pupils receiving A or higher compared to 2019 results

Youth protests in front of the Department for Education as a new exam rating system has been introduced

When this year's results were first released last week under the controversial moderation system, some 27.6% of entries achieved an A or above.

Meanwhile, the overall pass rate for grades A* to E has also risen to an all-time high at 99.7% for England, up from the 98.2% who achieved the same in last Thursday's results, figures provided by the exams regulator Ofqual show.

It comes after the Government announced students would be able to receive grades based on teacher assessments, rather than an algorithm, after thousands of results were downgraded last Thursday.

The exams fiasco has piled pressure on Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, who is now under intense scrutiny to ensure students get back to school in September.

Prior to the Government's U-turn, exam boards had downgraded nearly two-in-five (39.1%) grades in England, according to data from Qfqual - equating to about 280,000 entries being adjusted down after moderation.

A total of 35.6% of grades were adjusted down by one grade, 3.3% were brought down by two grades and 0.2% came down by three grades.

Teachers were told to submit the grades they thought each student would have received if they had sat the papers, alongside a rank order of students, after exams were cancelled amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, exam boards moderated the grades to ensure this year's results were not significantly higher than previously and the value of students' grades were not undermined.

Meanwhile, approximately 15,000 students who were rejected by their first-choice university will now meet the offer conditions set for them to study after the grading U-turn.

Ucas (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) said universities had 'exercised flexibility' after it analysed the results from the four largest awarding bodies for 160,000 students who received upgraded A-level marks in England.

They showed that around 100,000 of those students had already secured a place at their first-choice university on results day last Thursday.

GCSEs at a glance: Key figures in 2020 results Here are the main figures in today's GCSE results. The numbers are for England only: The proportion of entries receiving the top grades (7 or above, equivalent to an A or above) has jumped to 25.9%, up by 5.2 percentage points from 20.7% in 2019 and a record high

76.0% of entries received a grade 4 or above (equivalent to a C or above), up 8.9 percentage points from 67.1% in 2019. This is also a record high

The overall pass rate was 99.6%, up from 98.3% in 2019. Again, this is a record high

The most popular subject this year was the science double award with 814,708 entries, followed by mathematics (734,301) and English (733,551). The least popular subject was engineering with 2,818 entries

The proportion of entries receiving top grades (7 or above) in mathematics rose from 15.9% to 19.0%, while in English it jumped from 13.9% to 18.7%

In three subjects, over half of entries received the top grades (7 or above): chemistry (53.2% of entries), physics (53.0% of entries) and biology (52.8% of entries)

The biggest jump in percentage points in the proportion of entries receiving the top grade in a single subject was in engineering, where the figure rose from 11.3% in 2019 to 26.4% in 2020. This was an increase in 15.1 percentage points

In total there were 5,182,991 entries for the exams, up by 107,316 on last year (a rise of 2%) Advertisement

Of the remaining 60,000 students, around one in four, approximately 15,000, will now meet the A-level offer conditions of their original first choice university, Ucas said.

It comes as the proportion of GCSE entries in England awarded top grades has surged to a record high after a U-turn meant results could be based on teachers' estimated grades amid cancelled exams.

Universities Minister Michelle Donelan said: 'This has been an incredibly difficult time for students and I want to reassure them that every effort is being made to make sure all those who planned to, can move on to higher education.

'I am delighted that the Government and the higher education sector have agreed that all students who achieved the required grades will be offered a place at their first choice university. I want universities to do all they can to take them on this year or offer alternative courses or deferred places where required.

'This pandemic has highlighted more than ever the importance of our fantastic healthcare services and the need to invest in them.

'So I am pleased we are removing the cap on these courses and providing additional funding so more students can take up their places now and become our future doctors and healthcare professionals. We're working closely with universities to support them, helping them to be flexible for students.

Students receiving GCSE results this summer will get numerical grades for all their subjects as all courses have now moved over to the new grading system.

Btec grades were not included in the original U-turn, but at 4.30pm yesterday - with just hours to go until results were released at 8am today - Pearson said it would regrade Btecs to 'address concerns about unfairness'.

The exam board told schools and colleges not to publish level 1 and 2 results in the vocational qualifications on Thursday to give them more time to recalculate the grades.

Schools minister Nick Gibb has apologised to students for the 'pain and the anxiety' they felt before this week's grading U-turn.

He told BBC Breakfast: 'To those hundreds of thousands of young people receiving their GCSE grades and the A level students receiving recalculated grades, I will say this to them, congratulations on what you have achieved.

This graph shows the proportion of students in England achieving an A/7 or above - and a C/4 or above - has shot up this year

Performing/expressive arts, engineering and economics saw the biggest increase in A grades in this year's GCSE results

'But also how sorry I am for the pain, the anxiety and the uncertainty that they will have suffered as a consequence of the grading issues we encountered last week. And to reassure them that we are doing everything we can to put these matters right.'

One headmaster likened the handling of the current results crisis to that of the post-Second World War education system.

Gavin Horgan, of Millfield School in Somerset, said: 'It is wonderful that in GCSEs today, and at A-level, students will now gain the best grades possible in the circumstances.

'They absolutely deserve that, and they never deserved the shameful approach that was taken to get to this point by the Government and exam boards.

'However, bigger hurdles are ahead. The results received by students and the hiatus in education for many across the country, means that we will have legacy issues which will, in all likelihood, last a generation.

'The pressure on the university system, the threat to post-92 universities, which are a vital element of our further education tapestry, and the knock-on implications of grade inflation for Year 11 students going into A-level studies this year and for those same students next year when they look to apply to university, cannot simply be written off in the same way that results have been this year. Sadly, we are just at the very start of the problem.'
Mokhles Abdulghani, his wife Hajir Saad Ghareeb and their children Razan, 6, Alwaleed, 3, and Asia, 2, arrived at their new home in Morden, Manitoba, from Jordan on August 8. The Iraqi family lived as refugees in Amman for five years before Abdulghani was picked by the City of Morden as permanent resident because his skills and knowledge as an engineer was needed in the community.

The From Jordan to Morden diary is an occasional digital series that documents the highs and lows of the familys new life in Canada.

Heres what they experienced the first two weeks settling in their home.

Dear diary,

We have to self-quarantine for 14 days and cant meet anyone. We are only allowed to go to the park across from our building when no one else is there.

Since arriving, Ive contacted the Manitoba Islamic Association to ask them about the availability of a mosque and Halal food around me. They welcomed me with open arms. In the next days, nice people from Muslim community contacted me by phone and added me to a WhatsApp group of more than 50 people! Some of them dropped welcoming gifts on my apartment door. I was so happy to make friends in the first days of my life in Morden.

We have no TV in the apartment. I used my laptop to play some YouTube videos for my kids. Im worried about my laptop because all my documents, research work, and basically my entire life is in this laptop.

I also have great news today! I got an email that said my third research paper has been accepted in an international conference in India.

The City of Morden contacted me and they found a volunteer to help us get our SIN number, find a job, get health cards and register the kids in school after we are done quarantine on August 24.

I also was able to get online appointments with a couple prospective employers to set up an interview for next week when the quarantine is over. I look forward to it.

 Mokhles Abdulghani

RELATED STORIES Star Exclusive From Jordan to Morden: Iraqi family thrilled to be in Manitoba under new program to resettle skilled refugees

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Nehemiah Adejor, Tolulope Arotile



The prime suspect who drove the car that killed Nigerias first female fighter helicopter, Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile,Nehemiah Adejor will be charged for culpable homicide and criminal conspiracy.

This is coming after two of the three suspects arrested in connection to the Air Force officers death, were set free by Kaduna State Magistrate Court 1.

Though the police noted that there is no premeditation in the death of Arotile, when the case came up on Thursday August 20, the prosecution Counsel DSP Martins D. Leo prayed the Court to discharge the 2nd and 3rd suspects, Folorunsho Igbekele Faith and Gbayegun Deji as their investigation did not find them wanting.

A legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution, Bayero Dari Esq which was read out in court revealed that there is sufficient evidence to prosecute the 1st suspect, Nehemiah Adejor for culpable homicide not punishable with death.



On the 14 day of July, 2020 the suspect all male of Auta Alkali Farin Gida, Mando Kaduna inside a Kia Sorento with Registration. No AZ 478 MKA Kaduna being driven by the 1st suspect sited the deceased (NAF/4512F Flying officer Tolulope Arotile) at NAF Base Kawo, Kaduna, whom they identified as their school mate at Air force Secondary school, Kaduna.

The 1st suspect, full of enthusiasm, recklessly reversed the car in order to meet the deceased and in the process ran over her consequent upon which the deceased lay unconsciously on the ground. The deceased was rushed to NAFX64 Base Hospital-for- medical attention but was later pronounced dead by the medical Doctors at the Hospital.

The suspects were arrested and taken to 461 NAF Hospital Kaduna for toxicology test and results were all negative. They were later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Kaduna on the 24th day of July, 2020 for further discreet investigation.

Police investigation reveals that all the suspects attended the same secondary school with the deceased and upon sighting her the 1st suspect recklessly reversed the car and eventually ran over the deceased which led to her untimely death.

The 1st suspect admitted in his cautionary statement that on the 14th day of July, 2020 he was together with the two other suspects in a car KIA Sorento he was driving, when he saw the deceased walking along the roadside of the Air force Base.

He informed the other suspects who screamed enthusiastically after which he stopped and started reversing the car in order to meet the deceased and exchange pleasantries. In the process of which he mistakenly ran over her and she later died. He denied having any premeditated plan to kill her.

The 2nd suspect also stated in his cautionary statement that on the fateful day he along with the 1st and 3rd suspect went on hangout and on their way back the 1st suspect cited the deceased whom they later saw and became extensively happy. That the 1st suspect stopped the car and began to reverse same in order to meet up with the deceased and exchange greetings since they have not met a long time.

That when he noticed the 1st suspect was driving speedily off the road he cautioned him, but unfortunately he got confused and ran over the deceased. He out rightly denied any arrangement to cause the death of the deceased.

He added that being a trained nurse he assisted in resuscitating the deceased at the hospital but all attempt proved abortive until she was pronounced clinically dead.

In his cautionary statement, the 3rd suspect corroborated the statement of the 2nd suspect in all material particulars as to the events of the 14th day of July, 2020, as it relates to the death of Flying Officer Tolutope Arotile at NAF Base Kaduna.

It is clear also from the investigation done; the 2nd and 3rd suspects were passengers and friends of the 1st suspect who was driving the vehicle.

From the foregoing there is sufficient evidence to prosecute the 1st suspect for the offence of Culpable Homicide not punishable with death contrary to Section 191 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 as there is no premeditation in the death of the deceased.

There is however insufficient evidence against the 2nd and 3rd suspects as the entire investigation did not disclose any offence against them other than being passengers in the vehicle of the 1st suspect.

To prosecute them therefore will be embarking on an evidential conjuncture totally unknown to our Criminal Justice System, they can be discharged accordingly pursuant to Section 125 (6) (e) of the Kaduna State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2017 and thereafter be used as prosecution witnesses in the trial of the 1st suspect.

It was further learnt that Nehemiah Adejor is going to be arraigned at the State High Court for culpable homicide not punishable with death on the 3rd of September, 2020.
The world today on World Humanitarian Day honours all humanitarians  many working in their own communities - who are going to extraordinary lengths in extraordinary times to help women, men and children whose lives are upended by crises and the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The dedication, perseverance and sometimes sacrifice of these real-life heroes represent the best of humanity as they respond to the COVID-19 crisis and the massive increase in humanitarian needs it has triggered.

First responders are often people in need themselves, refugees,members of civil society organizations and local health workers. They bring food, shelter, health care, protection and hope to others amid conflict, displacement, disaster and disease.

But humanitarian workers are being tested like never before, struggling with unprecedented movement restrictions and insufficient resources as needs are outpacing funds.

And all too often, they risk their own lives to save the lives of others.

In the past weeks alone, despicable attacks have killed aid workers in Niger and Cameroon and since the onset of the pandemic, scores of health workers have come under attack across the world.

According to Humanitarian Outcomes Aid Worker Security Database, major attacks against humanitarians last year surpassed all previous years on record. A total of 483 reliefworkers were attacked, 125 killed, 234 wounded and 124 kidnapped in 277 separate incidents. This is an 18 per cent increase in the number of victims compared to 2018.

This is the eleventh World Humanitarian Day, designated by the UN General Assembly. It falls on the day of the attack on the UN compound in Baghdad on 19 August 2003 which claimed the lives of 22 people including the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello. Since then, nearly 5,000 humanitarians have been killed, wounded or abducted, and the decade 2010-2019 experienced a 117 per cent increase in attacks compared to 2000-2009.

A surge in attacks against health workers was recorded in 2019, including strikes against medics in Syria and shootings of Ebola workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Most of the attacks occurred in Syria, followed by South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan and the Central African Republic. Mali and Yemen both saw a doubling of major attacks from the previous year. The UN condemns these attacks and calls for accountability for perpetrators and justice for survivors. Relief workers cannot be a target.

This year's World Humanitarian Day comes as the world fights the COVID-19 pandemic. To pay tribute to the efforts of humanitarians, OCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) in collaboration with IAA present the personal stories of some of the #RealLifeHeroes who are stepping up to meet the challenges, particularly local humanitarian workers.

Mark Lowcock, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator said: To humanitarians everywhere doing important, courageous work on the front lines we say Thank You. You are saving lives every day and as new challenges and crises are piling on to existing ones, your perseverance is an inspiration. Your protection is also paramount to making sure we can deliver to people most in need. The best way to pay tribute to humanitarians is by funding their work and ensuring their safety.

Echoing the sentiments, Srinivasan Swamy, Chairman & World President of International Advertising Association (IAA) said, there can be no supreme sacrifice than the work done by the healthcare workers. They know the extreme risk they take in assisting the humanity at times of health crises like the current one. IAA stands with them and want to offer respect and salute these extraordinary #RealLifeHeros.

It was a privilege for the IAA to partner with the OCHA team and engage our members in the development and activation of the #RealLifeHeros campaign. More than ever, the industry needs to collaborate more closely together to demonstrate how advertising can be a positive force globally , said Dagmara Szulce, Managing Director of IAA Global.

Read their inspiring stories here
russia probe

Ex-FBI lawyer admits false statement

WASHINGTON  A former FBI lawyer pleaded guilty Wednesday to altering a document related to the secret surveillance of a former Trump campaign adviser during the Russia investigation.

Kevin Clinesmith is the first current or former official to be charged in a special Justice Department review of the investigation into ties between Russia and Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign. Attorney General William Barr appointed John Durham, the U.S. attorney in Connecticut, to scrutinize decisions made by officials during that probe.

Clinesmith pleaded guilty to a single false statement charge, admitting that he doctored an email that the FBI relied on as it sought court approval to eavesdrop on former Trump campaign aide Carter Page in 2017.

The sentencing guidelines call for zero to six months in prison, but the punishment is ultimately up to U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who accepted Clinesmiths plea. Sentencing was scheduled for Dec. 10. Clinesmith resigned from the FBI before an internal disciplinary process was completed.

justice

U.S. wont seek death penalty against IS pair

WASHINGTON  The Justice Department has notified the British government that it will not pursue the death penalty against two Islamic State militants suspected in the beheadings of Western hostages, removing a hurdle in the potential prosecution of the men in the United States.

The decision could open the door to Britain to begin sharing evidence with federal prosecutors in the U.S. for any possible case against El Shafee Elsheikh and Alexanda Kotey. An earlier British court ruling had blocked the sharing of evidence with U.S. authorities because the U.S. had not offered assurances that the death penalty, which was abolished years ago in the United Kingdom, was off the table.

The British men, captured two years ago by a Kurdish-led, U.S.-backed militia, are accused of participation in a brutal Islamic State group known for beheadings and barbaric treatment of American aid workers, journalists and other hostages in Syria.

U.S. officials have not announced any charges against the men, but have spoken publicly about their desire to see members of the cell, nicknamed the Beatles by surviving captors because of their British accents, face justice.

wall street

Apple hits $2 trillion in market value

BERKELEY, Calif.  Apple has become the first U.S. company to boast a market value of $2 trillion as technology continues to reshape a world where smartphones are like appendages and digital services are like instruments orchestrating peoples lives.

The iPhone maker reached the $2 trillion milestone in Wednesdays early stock market trading when its shares surpassed $467.77.

The stock later backtracked to close at $462.83, but it didnt diminish a remarkable achievement that came just two years after Apple became the first U.S. company with a $1 trillion market value. It comes amid a devastating pandemic that has shoved the economy into a deep recession and caused unemployment rates to soar to the worst levels since the Great Depression nearly a century ago.

belarus

Leader threatens to get tougher on protesters

MINSK, Belarus  Belarus authoritarian leader threatened Wednesday to bring criminal charges against opposition leaders and called on his security services to get tougher on demonstrators  a possible harbinger of a renewed crackdown on the peaceful protests challenging the extension of his 26-year rule.

President Alexander Lukashenko also accused the West of fomenting the unrest as he sought to consolidate his grip on power amid widening demonstrations.

Lukashenko spoke as the European Union rejected the official results of the Aug. 9 vote that kept him in office and expressed solidarity with protesters. The EU said its preparing sanctions against Belarusian officials responsible for the brutal post-election police actions.

During the first four days of protests, police detained almost 7,000 people and injured hundreds with rubber bullets, stun grenades and clubs. At least three protesters died.

MALI

African, Western leaders condemn coup

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.

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.
(Photo : Unsplash) (Photo : Unsplash) (Photo : Pixabay)

The University of Bath's Department of Psychology recently published a study that tests the effects of screen-time and use of digital electronic devices amongst toddlers that are growing up and adapting to the world.

Scientists and researchers test the co-relation of smartphones and tablets to a toddler's development, whether they are beneficial or harmful to a child. The researchers from the University of Bath's Department of Psychology compared toddlers who have no to little screen time versus those who have high levels.

Birbeck, University of London's Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, conducted the study entitled "TABLET Project" (Toddler Attentional Behaviours and LEarning with Touchscreens), which then recruited infants aged 12-months old. These year-old toddlers have varying levels of screen time that has tested the scientist's hypothesis.

The research facility investigates the influences over an infant's development in their cognitive, social, and behavioral aspects. The study aims to provide data and findings to parents, policymakers, and scientists to understand the co-relation of the current generation's media usage in their development and the appropriate moderation of the use of such devices.

The University of Bath's study is published in the Journal of the American Medical Association-Pediatrics, entitled 'Saliency-driven visual search performance in toddler's with low - vs high - touch screen use.'

ALSO READ: MIT Professor Predicts the End is Looming for Humankind

The Study on Toddler's touch screen use

"The first few years of life are critical for children to develop the ability to focus their attention on relevant information and ignore distraction, early skills that are known to be important for later academic achievement. There has been growing concern that toddler touchscreen use may negatively impact their developing attention but this fear is not based on empirical evidence." said Professor Tim Smith of Birbeck's Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development.

The University of Bath's publication released a report on the group's findings on the toddler's touch screen use. Dr. Rachael Bedford, a co-lead researcher of the study, stated that this study aims to answer the ensuing debate that tackles the impact of screen time in the development of toddlers.

Apple Study

The group gathered 12-month old infants that they monitored in a span of 6 months to 2 and a half years. They asked the toddlers at the age of 18 months and 3.5 years to undergo a touchscreen test that asks them to find "red apples" amongst "blue apples."

The researchers found that high users were faster locating the apples than the low-users of the touchscreen. However, the next complex-level difficulty tasking toddlers to determine "red apple slices" from blue ones showed no difference in speed.

Dr. Bedford stated that they will still find whether the attention differences reflected in the study brings a considerable effect on the toddler's everyday life. "It is important we understand how to use this modern technology in a way that maximizes benefits and minimizes any negative consequences." she added.

Conclusion and Findings

The chief researcher of the study, Dr. Ana Maria Portugal, shared findings stating that the group was unable to point out the specific reasons as to why there were differences in the toddlers' tests. Differences in attention seen in the study cannot be directly attributed to touch screen use.

The study entails that the toddlers may be more attracted to bright and colorful objects that make them perform better.

ALSO READ: Study Reveals How Bacteria Adapts to Their Host and Become Even More Infectious

This article is owned by Tech Times





Written by Isaiah Alonzo

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In a setback to the Grand Alliance before the Bihar assembly polls, former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi-led Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) (HAM-S) has announced that it will leave the alliance.

The party, which is all set to join the NDA, will take a call on the issue in a couple of days. The partys executive committee has authorized Manjhi ji to take a call on the future course of action, HAM-S spokesperson Danish Rizwan said.

Sources in the party said that the HAM-S may either merge with the JD(U) or enter into an alliance with the party for the Bihar Assembly election. Politics is full of probabilities and possibilities, Rizwan added.

Manjhi, who was once critical of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, of late has been heaping praise on different decisions taken by the state government.

The party had contested the Lok Sabha elections as part of the Grand Alliance, but had issued an ultimatum for the formation of a coordination committee in the alliance by June 25, so that seat sharing talks could begin.

Manjhi, however, during the last couple of months had been exploring options of an alliance with different parties including Owaisi led-AIMIM.

Earlier, Manjhi had fallen out with Nitish Kumar after he was made to quit the CMs post in early 2015. He walked out of the NDA after a poor show in the 2015 Assembly polls.

HAM-S has one member each in the Bihar Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.

Sources in the party said that HAM-S becoming a part of the NDA is all but a formality. The party has laid no pre-conditions on seats, said a senior party leader, who wished not to be quoted.

NDA leaders feel that if at all Manjhi joins the alliance, the JD(U) will use it to silence the LJP, which of late has been embarrassing the government by raising different issues. If somebody shows trust in the NDAs leadership and policy, we do not have any problem with other parties joining, BJP spokesperson Nikhil Anand said.


Kenny Arnott B. G., Opalesque Geneva: The Arnott Opportunities Fund (Cayman) is up 16% YTD (to August, Month-to-Date). It has annualised more than 22% since May 2013, compared to 6.9% for the MSCI, according to documents seen by Opalesque. That good fortune comes from a strong focus on asymmetric investment opportunities. The fund went through the first months of 2020 by focusing on macro drivers for risk and opportunities. "We watched the risks of COVID unfold in January and reduced our small-cap exposure aggressively," says an Arnott presentation overviewed by Opalesque. "Then we positioned very short in our hedge book and financials into March and respected the power of liquidity the Fed provided in April. We lifted our index hedge and covered short financial positions no longer at risk." Since February, a global total of $3.9 trillion (6.6% of global GDP) has been magically created through quantitative easing, it continues. "We are witnessing the Great Monetary Inflation (GMI), an unprecedented expansion of every form of money, unlike anything the developed world has ever seen. There is no sign of it ending, and we expect more in September. And now Congress has become an additional critical player in driving money supply with its fiscal programs. This will have long-lasting consequences that will provide plenty of pitfalls and opportunities for many years to come." Strategy The strategy, which started in 1999, is equity long/short with a macro overlay. The universe is global equities. The portfolio will typically have 40 to 70 positions and occasionally trade global futures and options. The strategy aims to identify trends and opportunities using value investing principles and capture price oscillations around the underlying trend using trading skills. The investment approach centers around finding asymmetric themes; investing in the best stocks within those themes; focusing on macro drivers for risk and opportunity; and generating an asymmetric return profile. An asymmetric return is the set of possible results of an investment strategy where the upside potential is greater than the downside risk. "In 1990, I went to Memphis and worked for Paul Tudor Jones' uncle, Billy Dunavant. His style was to 'find asymmetric investment opportunities and when you do, bet big. And when you don't find those opportunities, don't bet'," says founder and portfolio manager Kenny Arnott. "That became the mission statement of Arnott Capital. And our results prove we have not deviated from that mission since I founded Arnott Capital in 1999." Arnott's maximum drawdown has been -9% from high-water mark (the highest peak in value that an investment fund has reached) since 1999, vs. the market's -50%. Mr. Arnott will present in the upcoming investor workshop webinar, The keys to asymmetric returns, on Tuesday 1st September at 10 am EST. Themes The current long themes are uranium, gold, "Connecting the future", Hong Kong, and agriculture. The short themes are core shorts, crowded defensive longs, August reporting season, equity index futures and puts. In the Connecting the Future theme, the managers argue that 5G is a transformational technology that is set to drive an explosion in the internet of things. Ericsson is forecasting a 350% growth in cellular-connected devices from 2020 to 2025. This is enabled by low latency, lower power usage and higher reliability than 4G. The volume of data generation would increase from 33 Zettabytes in 2018 to over 175 Zettabytes by 2025, that is, a 530% increase in data. One should consider innovative technologies connected by 5G such as autonomous vehicles, robotic surgery, smart cities, and robotic factories. "In this upgrade cycle, we believe the enablers, being telco operators and hardware providers, will claim increased economics, learning from their mistakes in the 3G to 4G upgrade cycle. These companies would have been unlikely to exist or be as dominant as they are today." The Hong Kong long theses finds inspiration in "The Death of Hong Kong". Indeed, since Fortune published this article in 1995, the Hang Seng Index rose 100% from 1995 to 1997. Given geopolitical uncertainty, the managers believe the same sentiment exists at the present time. The Immigration of US-listed Chinese ADR (American depositary receipt)'s onto the Hong Kong Bourse could potentially add US$557bn of market cap to the HS Index, raising >US$30bn of capital. Recent changes in the share structures of HS Index provide for a significant revamp of the index weighting, seeing a significant increase in technology weighting of stocks to this index. The Agriculture theme sees the agriculture sector as being uncoupled from the traditional business cycle, vital to the functioning of any country and deeply unloved by the investment community. The managers cite the ABARES (Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences) forecasting winter crop production of 44,520kt in winter 2020-21. Arnott Capital is based in Sydney, Australia. Arnott's other fund, Opportunities Trust (AUD), has similar returns to that of the Cayman fund.

Related article:

5 May 2020: The Corona Fighters Report 22: Asset managers who delivered in the downturn

Upcoming webinar: Investor Workshop: The Keys to Asymmetric Returns

Tuesday Sept 1st at 10 am EST

Details and free registration here: www.opalesque.com/webinar/
Spring ISD kicked off the new school year this week, albeit virtually, as students and families adjust from learning in a classroom to learning at home over a computer.

All students are beginning the year virtually for the first four weeks, Spring ISD Chief Operations Officer Mark Miranda said, before deciding if some students can go back to school using the districts operational decision meter, which determines how much the school can open depending on the number of coronavirus cases in the area.

Back to school during COVID: Some Spring ISD parents concerned over returning to school

Weve spent months getting ready for this day and its been quite a challenge, but I think our first couple of days have been a pretty good start of the new school year for us, Miranda said.

Miranda said there had been some challenges, but nothing unexpected, like password resets and login issues.

Weve had thousands of students logged in the first day, meeting new teachers, seeing their friends online and engaging in their classes, he said. We saw a lot of engagement yesterday (Aug. 17) and a lot of engagement today (Aug. 18.)

On HoustonChronicle.com: At Houston-area colleges, students and families face pared-down move-in experience

Some families may not have access to a computer at home, which is why Spring ISD has been distributing Chromebooks to families in need. Miranda said theyve handed out nearly 20,000 Chromebooks so far, in a district with an expected enrollment of more than 35,000.

Were continuing to trickle those out as we see families in need, he said. Were really trying our best to meet the needs of the community.

Spring ISD spent the last couple weeks training teachers for virtual teaching, Miranda said, with virtual professional development. While many teachers are teaching from their homes, Miranda said they also gave teachers the option to teach from their classroom if they felt they needed more equipment.

Some campuses have as many as 50 teachers in their classrooms, Miranda said. That was optional to support teachers who needed internet or peace and quiet. Thats been a huge benefit for teachers to have that option.

One Spring ISD parent, Tia Davis, said her twin children had been previously attending a small private daycare, but that transitioning to Marshall Elementary during the pandemic has been easier than she ever could have hoped.

I was able to register, pick up their Chromebook and talk to their teachers within a week, Davis said. The first day was rocky, because the twins are 5, but their teachers make the lesson interactive to keep them interested.

District relays semester plans: Spring ISD holds virtual town hall to answer reopening questions

One parent, Robyn Paiz said everything has been great except for one of her sons being counted absent during attendance because the teacher didnt hear him say here.

My son was sitting right next to him when he said here and said the teacher acknowledged him, however, hes been counted absent, Paiz said.

Celina Dugas has four children in school, two in high school and two in sixth grade, and said its been hard as she works full time and there have been some technical issues and slow loading times.

All I can do is cheer them on and say we will get through this, Dugas said.

Rachel Elizabeth said the first two days have been great for her two daughters, one in elementary school and one in high school.

I was just thinking at the end of spring break they didnt know what to do but tried to keep in touch with the kids and made sure meals were available, but in just a few months they overhauled their systems and put the teachers back to work with their students, Elizabeth said.

paul.wedding@hcnonline.com
Covid-19: Expert Group meets domestic vaccine manufactures

The National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration today met leading domestic vaccine manufactures - Serum Institute of India (Pune), Bharat Biotech (Hyderabad), Zydus Cadila (Ahmedabad), Gennova Biopharmaceuticals (Pune) and Biological E (Hyderabad), moving forward with the governments policy of making maximum use of locally available medicines and vaccines for treatment of coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic..

A health ministry release said the meeting was mutually beneficial and productive.

It provided the National Expert Group with inputs about the present stage of various candidate vaccines being developed by the indigenous manufacturers as well as their expectations from the union government.

As per the governments avowed policy, India will leverage domestic vaccine manufacturing capacity while also engaging with international agencies for early delivery of vaccines for the control of the coronavirus pandemic, the expert group on vaccine administration for Covid-19 said on Wednesday

The National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19, at its first meeting on Wednesday, deliberated on conceptualisation and implementation mechanisms for creation of a digital infrastructure for inventory management and delivery mechanism of the vaccine, including tracking of vaccination process with particular focus on last mile delivery.

Covid-19 vaccine candidates for the country will be selected on the basis of inputs from the Standing Technical Sub-Committee of National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI).

The group also deliberated on the procurement mechanisms for Covid-19 vaccine, including both indigenous and international manufacturing as also the guiding principles for prioritisation of population groups for vaccination.

The expert group discussed the procurement mechanism, including financial resources required for procurement of Covid-19 vaccine and various options of financing it.

Besides, the group deliberated upon the delivery platforms, cold chain and associated infrastructure for roll-out of Covid-19 vaccination as also strategy and follow-up action on all possible scenarios to ensure equitable and transparent delivery of vaccine. Issues related to vaccine safety and surveillance were also taken up and strategy for community involvement through transparent information and awareness creation were discussed.

Indias support to its key neighbours as also in low and middle income countries and development partner countries for Covid-19 vaccines were deliberated upon.

The committee also advised states and union territories not to chart separate pathways of procurement.
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China crushes over 3,000 groups of gang crimes in targeted campaign

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 16:55, August 19, 2020

Police in China have busted 3,291 groups involved in gang-related crimes since the launch of a targeted campaign in 2018, the national office against organized crime said Wednesday.

This included 453 groups with assets exceeding 100 million yuan (about 14.5 million U.S. dollars) each, said Wang Hongxiang, deputy director of the office.

During the campaign, police across the country have cracked over 364,000 criminal cases and arrested more than 410,000 suspects, said Wang, also deputy secretary general of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

By the end of July, courts across China had concluded 26,496 cases of gang-related crimes after the first trial, accounting for nearly 90 percent of all such cases, Wang said.

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Sales of offshore duty-free shops in China's island province of Hainan exceeded 5 billion yuan (about 720 million U.S. dollars) from July 1 to August 18, an increase of 250 percent year on year, local authorities said Wednesday.



Data showed some 740,000 customers visited Hainan's duty-free shops during the period, up 70 percent year on year.

Chen Xi, director of the provincial department of commerce, said the newly introduced duty-free goods were welcomed by customers, with mobile phones, liquor and tablets being the best-selling products.

Total sales of single products priced above 8,000 yuan reached nearly 1.2 billion yuan, surging by 420 percent year on year. "It has played an important role in winning back consumers who bought high-end products overseas," Chen said.

Starting on July 1, Hainan increased its annual tax-free shopping quota from 30,000 yuan to 100,000 yuan per person.

The range of duty-free goods has also expanded from 38 categories to 45, while the previous tax-free limit of 8,000 yuan for a single product has been lifted.

China released a master plan in early June on building the southern island province into a globally influential free trade port.
As part of measures adopted to consolidate efforts aimed at containing the security situation in the country, the Federal Government has approved the sum of N13.3 billion for the take-off of Community Policing initiative across the country.

Accordingly, the National Economic Council (NEC) at its virtual meeting on Thursday (the 6th in 2020), chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, with state governors, FCT Minister, CBN Governor and some federal cabinet officials in attendance, resolved that the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, with two other governors, meet with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Finance Minister and the Inspector General of Police to coordinate the proper utilization of the funding of the initiative.

The National Economic Council (NEC) Ad-hoc Committee on Security and Policing, had made a presentation on its assignment to the Council noting that engagement with key stakeholders on the operationalization of community policing in the country was in ongoing. The presentation was made by Governor Kayode Fayemi, who is also the Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum.

Other reports received by Council at todays meeting included reports on the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the country; flood disaster risk management in Nigeria for 2020, and the issue of compensation payments regarding Federal Highway projects across the country.

Responding to two presentations on the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria: one by NECs Adhoc committee interfacing with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, and the other by Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, the State governors commended the efforts and commitment of the Federal Government in containing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and supporting States response capacity through various interventions.

The NCDC report indicates that the positivity rate has fallen from 19.7% in June to 13.7% in August 2020, while number of states with testing laboratories increased from 2 to 32, including the FCT.

According to the status report presented to the council, the average tests per day has risen from 500 at the onset of the outbreak to 3,500 today, while the daily laboratory testing capacity increased to 10,000.

Council also received recommendations from the Adhoc committee some of which include:

 The states and FCT to look for ways of upscaling the communication at the grass-root level/ non-compliance to non-pharmaceutical interventions.

READ ALSO:

 The need for states and FCT to explore the suggested use of local networks and traditional institutions such as Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) to re-orient the people at the grassroots who had continuously lived in denial of the pandemic but rather chose to display nonchalant attitude towards all the laid down protocols.

 States and FCT should engage the services of the respected community influencers such as the heads of Area Boys, market women, and villagers, in disseminating the same message to the grass root using different modes/media that are common to such people and could easily attract their attention.

Other highlights of the meeting are as follows:

The Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning reported to Council that the under listed accounts as at 18th August 2020 were as follows:

i. EXCESS CRUDE ACCOUNT (ECA)

Balance as at 18th August 2020 = $72,408,119.44

ii. STABILIZATION FUND ACCOUNT

Balance as at 18th August 2020 = N44, 207, 377,110.34

iii. NATURAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT FUND ACCOUNT

Balance as at18th August 2020 = N144, 047, 195, 020.54

UPDATE BY THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL AD-HOC COMMITTEE ON SECURITY AND POLICING PRESENTED TO NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL (NEC)

Council received a presentation from Chairman National Economic Council Ad- Hoc Committee on Security and Policing.

Earlier, at the 95th National Economic council meeting, held on Thursday 20th June 2019, the National Security Adviser made a presentation on the security situation in the country.

Council had then deliberated extensively on the persistent security situation in the country especially the activities of Boko Haram insurgents in the North East, which had remained a delicate challenge.

Based on these, Council set up an Ad-Hoc Committee on security and policing headed by the Governor of Ekiti state.

The presentation to the Council today informed that the work of the Committee is ongoing with key stakeholders. Accordingly, the Committee would be meeting further as the need arises to update the Council on the progress being made to address insecurity and criminality in the country.

Council was informed that the President has approved a sum of N13.3B for the takeoff of Community Policing in the country. The VP then asked that a small team comprising of the NGF Chair, 2 additional Governors, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Finance Minister and the Inspector General of Police should meet to ensure that the FG funding is well utilized. A report would then be made back to the Council.

FLOOD DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA FOR 2020

Council received a presentation from the Hon Minister Sadiya Umar Farouq, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development on flood disaster risk management in Nigeria for 2020.

Global Disaster Statistics

According to the presentation, Global data indicates that in the last decades, natural hazards occurred more frequently than in the past and were more destructive. Weather related hazards continue to increase from an annual average of 200 per year between 1993-1997, to 331 per year between 1996-2002.

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The presentation stated that study already revealed that 25% of the worlds landmass and nearly 75% of its population is at risk

According to the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) conducted in Nigeria in 2012, flooding is considered the most common and recurring disaster in Nigeria by the National Emergency Management Agency. And this is a trend likely to continue.

Floods have been identified to affect more people and cause more economic losses than any other hazard, (Wisner et al, 2004).

The Minister then urged States

*To encourage relevant Federal Ministries, Department and Agencies to take necessary actions in support of the process

*Respectfully requested States to kindly take proactive and necessary mitigative measures in addressing the envisaged 2020 flood disaster even in the midst of COVID 19 pandemic.

Laolu Akande

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity

Office of the Vice President

20th August 2020
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- For many practicing attorneys, being named to The Best Lawyers in America once is a career achievement. Given that the prestigious listing recognizes just 1% of all U.S. lawyers, being named to Best Lawyers year after year speaks volumes about an attorney's stature among the top.

For Attorney Brad Koffel, Managing Partner at the Columbus-based criminal defense law firm of Koffel | Brininger | Nesbitt, that's precisely the case. Recognized by Best Lawyers for his practice every year since 2008, Koffel has once again been included in the latest edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Proven Attorneys Respected By Their Peers

Established in 1983, The Best Lawyers in America has become one of the country's most trusted attorney rating services. With a selection process based entirely on peer review, Best Lawyers solicits nominations, feedback, and votes from leading lawyers across the U.S., and vets candidates thoroughly via editorial staff research, to curate its yearly listings.

Because it's designed to elicit the opinions of attorneys who've been previously recognized and have seen nominees' work in person, Best Lawyers' selection process is renowned for its meaningful results. Attorneys who make the final cut have amassed a proven record of success in their practice areas, and have garnered the respect and esteem of their colleagues, clients, and communities in the process.

Attorney Brad Koffel's 14th consecutive year of inclusion in The Best Lawyers of America is a testament a successful career spent advocating for men, women, and youth who've faced life-altering allegations that threatened their freedoms and futures.

Over the course of his nearly 30-year career, Koffel has successfully represented thousands of clients facing charges ranging from DUI and drug crimes to serious felony offenses  all while building Koffel | Brininger | Nesbitt into one of Ohio's largest 100% privately retained firms.

Today, Koffel is known for his skill and extensive experience in challenging cases, and for his personal approach to guiding clients through difficult and daunting experiences. In addition to managing KBN and representing clients in matters of criminal defense, Title IX hearings, and professional licensing matters, Koffel is routinely featured as a speaker at CLE Seminars and by various media outlets. He is the host of a weekly radio show  "For the Defense"  on 610 WTVN. Visit www.koffellaw.com to learn more.

SOURCE Koffel Brininger Nesbitt

Related Links

http://www.koffellaw.com


Before the pandemic made touchless technology a matter of life and death, it was a matter of convenience. But convenience is something that Frank Yang, the founder and CEO of Simplehuman, takes very seriously. Yang, 48, immigrated from Taiwan with his parents in 1981, and started the Los Angeles-based company in 2000. Over the past two decades, Simplehuman has developed a reputation as the Apple of Housewares because its designs operate on the principle that technology should enable human behavior intuitively  and look good while doing it. The brands star product is its voice-activated trash can, which you can ask to open  or stay open  from six feet away.

In March, Simplehumans touch-free wares were nice-to-haves that became must-haves. Sales soared, and Yang quickly realized the role that touchless soap dispensers and trash cans could play in keeping families and frontline workers safe. So he marked down prices on all the touchless products and began donating products to healthcare workers.

Yangs vision for intuitively touch-free, design-centric environments has proven prescient, which is why we included him as one of 137 inspiring entrepreneurs on our July/August cover. You can read all about it in Jason Feifers editor letter. But since the issue came out, weve been catching up with our cover stars to hear a little more about how this unprecedented year has played out for them. We spoke with Yang about what he did or didnt see coming, how the company handled the surge in demand, and all the places he envisions Simplehuman products becoming a staple in everyday life, post-pandemic.

Before the pandemic, why did Simplehuman think that touchless garbage cans and soap dispensers were the consumer choice of the future?

Yang: We believe everyone loves convenience and less effort to get more done  to be efficient. To us, stepping on a pedal to open the can lid is not as effortless as saying open can and having our voice sensor open a lid instantly for you to toss trash from six feet away! It also reacts to a stay open command to keep the lid open for longer chores. All without touching. In the case of sensor pumps, we believe the ability to dispense soap without pressing on the often wobbly pump mechanism is not only more effortless but also, more hygienic. Our sensor technology can also dispense different amounts of soap or sanitizer based on your hand placement. When products are more effortless and smarter, it allows you to do more. We believe this is the future.

At what point did you realize that the COVID-19 outbreak was going to generate huge demand for touch-free disposal and sanitation products?

At the onset of the virus, we saw a tremendous demand for sensor pumps and soap. People wanted to wash hands more often and do it in a more hygienic way  no touch. Shortly after, as people spent more time in their home kitchens, our sensor cans started to see a spike in demand.

What were some of the challenges Simplehuman faced in responding to that demand?

Our supply chain could not have anticipated this level of interest and demand for our products. Consequently, our inventory was depleted. While being remote, we were working around the clock with our key partners to secure key components and fabricate new tools in order to increase production. We also experienced a high volume of customer inquiries compounded by domestic shipping delays. Our customer support team was pivotal in keeping customers updated and informed during this time.

How did the company make the decision to donate products to caregivers?

Our passion is fueled by knowing that our products are helping people, and that people love using them. So, when we realized that our products would be super helpful to healthcare workers working on the frontlines, the decision to donate products was an easy one. By partnering with like-minded celebrities we were able to donate more than 3,000 soap pumps and soap pouches to various hospitals and organizations across the country. As an added layer, we opened the floor for consumers to nominate charities to receive much-needed resources like sensor soap pumps and soaps  all in-kind. Additionally, all sensor and non-touch products were marked on sale as an effort to ensure these solutions were available at a discounted rate for families, homes and communities. We are continuing these efforts by designing limited edition 6-feet apparel and tote bags as a reminder to maintain social distancing until we get this virus under control. All profits from the first month of sales will be donated to All Clear Foundation  a nonprofit that provides critical resources to improve the life expectancy and wellbeing of first responders and their families.

Has COVID-19 caused Simplehuman to reconsider or reimagine the needs and possibilities of your products? If so, what are some examples?

COVID-19 has brought into clear focus a central benefit of our products in that they contribute to increased cleanliness of the living environment, and an overall sense of wellbeing. Purchase decisions are influenced by the incremental value it will bring to consumers health and ease of mind. To that end, we are expanding our efforts in touch-free technology, specifically our sensor soap pumps, by finding ways to make them more accessible beyond the kitchen or bathroom sink. We are considering wall mounts and stands to use as a permanent solution for central or high-traffic locations.

What are Simplehuman's priorities for the next year, and looking into the future?

Currently, were working to improve the digital experience of shopping on our website and upcoming app. While the physical in-store shopping experience is at a halt, we forecast that consumers will be driven to purchase products based on reviews and reputation in lieu of the traditional touch-see-feel model. Additionally, were always evolving our current products as well as introducing new products in the pipeline. There will be some great things on the horizon.

Related: Entrepreneurship Was Tough Before COVID-19. Now It's Testing ...

Related:

Trader Joe's is Renaming International Products After Petition Calls Out Racist Branding

Why Hiring an Expert Is Smart When Undertaking a Rebrand

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Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide please call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text TALK to 741741 or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.

The coronavirus has impacted every facet of American life, especially when it comes to the mental health of young adults. A survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that of the 5,412 participants, a full quarter between ages 18-24 contemplated committing suicide because COVID-19 while 10% of the overall participants (of all ages) said they considered it. Additionally, nearly 31% of the respondents experienced symptoms of anxiety or depression and 26.3% had a trauma or stress-related disorder.

Elaina Suarez is one of those young adults. Stuck at home in Austin, Texas instead of finishing her junior semester at college, Suarez worried frequently. Her parents had paid for an apartment for her at the University of Texas, San Antonio that wasnt being used and she feared that expense caused extra strain. She felt trapped and isolated because of the COVID-19 crisis. Sometimes, uncertainties flooded her mind. Other times, she just felt sad.

The pandemic kind of elevated the intensity of (my feelings) and I was super depressed and I was like I'm not going to make it out of here, the 21-year-old college senior told TODAY. I just didnt feel like myself.

Elaina Suarez felt anxious, afraid and depressed because of the pandemic. But she started a series of tips to help other college students cope and that has helped her mental health, too. (Courtesy Elaina Suarez)

She felt bad that staying at home made her feel anxious and depressed when other people seemed to be suffering more, such as those sick with the coronavirus or those who had lost a job.

It is still very stressful. I mean not really knowing whats happening next, she said. Thats the scariest part of it.

Suarez has social anxiety, general anxiety and depression. Therapy helped her manage the symptoms. At school, she was chapter president of Active Minds  a mental health education and awareness nonprofit for students across the country  and talking about mental health and empowering others provided another outlet for her. But the pandemic took away many of her traditional supports and for a while she felt hopeless. Shed get stuck in a pattern and beat herself up for feeling depressed and anxious.

Story continues

I was struggling at first because I was like No, I shouldn't struggle. Its not like anybody in my family has COVID or anything. So I almost felt wrong to admit that something was up mentally, she explained. There was a bad time.

COVID-19 and its impact on metal health

Suarez is not alone. Since the pandemic first started, experts feared mental health would worsen.

Most of us, if not all of us, have some sense of ongoing uncertainty and anxiety and stress and dread, Julius Boatwright, CEO and founder of Steel Smiling, a Pittsburgh based organization that connects people of color to mental health resources, told TODAY in March. We need, as individuals and as a society, for people to acknowledge the weight of this.

Experts encourage people to reach out for help if they notice a change in their thoughts or behavior. The pandemic has changed how people access therapy with most organizations offering teletherapy until in-person visits are safe. Several national organizations have help lines people can call to find local resources.

Texting HOME to 741741 for 24/7 support from Crisis Text line.

Calling the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 800-950-6264, which is staffed by volunteers who have mental health conditions.

Reaching out to warm lines, which also provide peer support on a local level. The state phone numbers can be found here.

Calling the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

Using the Disaster Distress helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or texting TalkWithUs at 66746.

Alcoholics Anonymous general service office recommends that AA clients attend digital meetings. People can find their closest group here.

'Things will get better'

Kristin Rusiecki, 23, has schizoaffective disorder and major depressive disorder. For the past year she has gone to therapy once a week and takes medications after years of being in and out of psychiatric hospitals because of self-harm and suicidal ideation.

I didnt believe there was going to be help for me, Rusiecki of Elon, North Carolina, told TODAY.

While Kristin Rusiecki has struggled with her mental health in the past, the pandemic has allowed her family understand her conditions better, helping her to be in a better place. (Courtesy Kristin Rusiecki)

While she was stressed out trying to find a job during the pandemic, COVID-19 has had an unexpected positive impact on her mental health. After spending more time together in quarantine, her family seems to understand her better.

People oftentimes think that schizophrenia is more like psychotic or a psychopath, and psychopaths are completely different, Rusiecki said. I want people to give people with mental illness a chance.

She wants to offer hope to others struggling with their mental health in the middle of a pandemic.

Things will get better no matter how much you are struggling, she said. I am doing so much better than I was.

Suarez is also doing better. She realized that if she were feeling depressed, anxious and scared, many of her classmates might feel the same way. She started working on a series of tips, that she shared on Zoom calls, to help others.

I use that platform (Active Minds) to help other people because if Im feeling this way other people probably are too, she said.

Her videos of tips included how to reduce anxiety and stress, develop a growth mindset, navigate losses, deal with changes and unpredictable outcomes and engaging in self-care first, to name a few. Helping people through Active Minds helps her grapple with her depression and anxiety. She hopes people reach out for help if they need it and remember they have people who love and support them.

I cant tell you how many people I know who have never gone through any mental illness but their mental health is being affected at this time and they dont even know where to begin, she said.If someone is struggling just talk to somebody, anybody.
The Indian monsoon brings along with it the most popular festival celebrated by Hindu women in the country, which is the festival of Hartalika Teej. According to the Hindu Mythology, this festival celebrates the union and marital harmony of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva.

Hartalika Teej is celebrated on the third day of the bright half of the North Indian Lunar month. This year it will be on Friday, August 21. There are different types of Teej celebrated throughout the nation, such as Hariyali Teej, Hartalika Teej, and Kajri Teej.

Hartalika Teej falls a month after the celebration of Hariyali Teej in India. To mark the festival, married women observe a fast and pray to Parvati and Shiva for marital bliss and good health of their family.

ALSO READ: Hartalika Teej 2020: Date and significance of the Hindu festival in India

Wishes

May Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati bless your life with peace, prosperity, happiness and good health. Happy Hartalika Teej!

Teej is the day which shows womans love. May your wishes come true and you get a loving husband like Lord Shiva.

May you and your partner get Goddess Parvatis blessings. Wishing you a long and happy married life. Happy Hartalika Teej!

May the festival of Hartalika Teej fill your life with joy and ecstasy, ensure the health and happiness of your spouse and children, and purify your body and soul. A very Happy Hartalika Teej to all!

If Hartalika Teej teaches us anything, it teaches us that you should follow your heart and marry the one you are meant to be with, for you deserve a God. Happy Hartalika Teej to all!

I hope your prayers and fasting go successfully and you have a very happy and successful Teej filled with blessings. May your marriage last long and be filled with blessings!

Heres a message for all husbands: fast with your wife and pray for her long life too, for what is the point of having a long life if you cannot enjoy it with your beloved wife? Happy Hartalika Teej!

May the blessings of God Shiva and Goddess Parvati bring joy and love into your marriage. Happy Hartalika Teej!

Maintain your fast diligently if you want to be with your husband for several lives. Happy Hartalika Teej!

May God Shiva and Goddess Parvati hear your prayers and bless your marriage. Happy Hartalika Teej!

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Asheesh Birla, SVP of product and corporate development at Ripple, has said that 20% of RippleNet transactions occur using XRP digital asset.

Our On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) product using XRP as a bridge currency accounts for nearly a fifth of all transactions on RippleNet, tweeted Birla, with the following chart:

Image



Source: Asheesh Birla's tweet

The transaction volume of RippleNet or ODL is not known. RippleNet solution does not leverage XRP by default, but customers have an option to use it. ODL, on the other hand, leverages XRP by default.

Last November, Ripple said more than two dozen customers use its ODL solution, including MoneyGram and Viamericas. But most of these customers receive incentives from Ripple for utilising the solution, as The Block reported recently.

The ODL solution currently supports Mexico, the Philippines and Australian markets. Ripple recently said that support for Brazil is coming soon, as well as additional corridors across Asia-Pacific (APAC), Europe, Middle-East and Africa (EMEA) and Latin America (LatAm) are in progress for this year.



Last week, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse, said: "Using XRP to solve a real-world, $10T problem, like cross-border payments, is working."





 2020 The Block Crypto, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
ST. JOHN'S, Antigua, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Imagine being able to choose between 365 beaches for a morning jog and then working while overlooking the ocean.

These are just a few of the perks to which anyone can look forward if they choose to reside in Antigua and Barbuda for up to two years. Economic Envoy for Antigua and Barbuda, Ambassador Calvin Ayre, says he fully supports of the Government's long-stay visa program designed for persons who can work remotely and are desirous of doing so from a safe Caribbean island. Details of the program will be launched on a dedicated government website shortly.

The idea behind this initiative is to grant eligible persons a special resident authorization that will be valid for up to two (2) years in the first instance. Antigua and Barbuda has successfully and impressively managed the COVID-19 pandemic, limiting infection and spread to comparatively very small numbers. Further, its reliable and fast telecommunications network offers a unique setting to work comfortably in an idyllic setting. All applicants would be subject to due diligence and COVID-19 pretesting.

According to the World Economic Forum, it is estimated that approximately 50% of "information workers" in the United States (US) are presently working remotely. Companies in Europe with a work from home policy are at a high of 88%, up from 4% that was reported prior to the health crisis.



With many technology-based companies, such as Twitter, becoming more open to the decentralizing of their workforce, many are supporting employees in working from anywhere in the world.

Antigua and Barbuda's long-stay program will allow persons and their dependents to reside in Antigua, enjoy the ease of working from a "COVID-controlled", luxury destination, and also be able to enjoy all the wonderful amenities that the island has to offer.

With one of the focuses of the Ayre Group being Real Estate, Ayre is ready to offer first-class accommodation, fully equipped with high speed internet and nearby to convenient amenities and, of course, the beach.

Having established his Ayre Group headquarters in Antigua and Barbuda, he strongly considers the island as a prime location for high net-worth individuals to be able to live and work. It is his hope that others, especially knowledge-based experts, will in turn, be motivated to invest and contribute to the diversification of the workforce, through a transfer of knowledge.

The recent passing of the Digital Assets Bill provides significant scope for such knowledge and skills sharing.

Digital Assets Bill

This Bill provides a framework for the establishment of digital asset companies in Antigua and Barbuda and improves the commercial prospect for existing local businesses.

These recent regulations provide an appealing environment for leading players and participants in the digital eco-system, as businesses will, in short order, be able to accept digital currency as a payment option.

Johnny Jaswal, General Counsel at The Bayesian Group, believes, "that the Antigua and Barbuda legislative framework hits the right balance of regulation and industry flexibility so companies can operate effectively. Governments will use Antigua and Barbuda's forward-thinking legislation as a benchmark for how to bring safe, credible and regulated digital asset businesses together to foster economic innovation."

Roy Bernhard, CEO & Chief Visionary of The Bayesian Group, added - "We were impressed to see the Government of Antigua and Barbuda pass such progressive and well-rounded legislation. It is clear that much thought for, not only, the current digital asset business & fintech industry, but also its many potential future uses, were taken into consideration."

Against this backdrop, Antigua and Barbuda offers the ideal remote-work solution.

Reports of issues in "unplugging after work", will no longer be, as persons will have enough motivation to step away from the desk and enjoy Antigua and Barbuda's rich recreational options. Get ready to #WorkWhereYouVacay.

P.O. Box W291, Woods Centre, St. John's, Antigua | +1268.484.6754 | ayre.ag

SOURCE Ayre Group
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 00:16:49|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- While visiting the flood-stricken residents in Funan County, east China's Anhui Province, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said Tuesday that he has always been concerned about the people in flood-stricken areas.

Xi also checked the water situation of the Huaihe River and learned about local measures for flood control, disaster relief and post-flood production recovery during his inspection tour in the province.

As China experienced a particularly tough test in flood control this summer, coupled with small, scattered outbreaks of the COVID-19 epidemic, the authorities have pooled resources to concentrate efforts to safeguard people's lives and property.

Since the start of the flood season, China has allocated central budgetary funds for disaster relief totaling 1.155 billion yuan (about 167 million U.S. dollars) for regions hit by floods as of July 13.

To ensure ample manpower in the fight against the floods, the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force joined in the flood control work, dispatching troops to 3,749 operations of flood relief and helping evacuate 137,000 residents affected by the floods as of July 28.

The key behind the country's strong actions to control the floods is its people-centered governing philosophy. In a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on July 17, Xi stressed putting people's lives and property first and taking more forceful measures to do a good job in flood control and relief work.

To help flood-hit regions overcome difficulties, the country has established a mechanism that allows local authorities to apply for a part of budgetary disaster relief funds before the tallying of disaster losses is completed, making relief operations more timely and efficient.

"This can effectively reduce the number of people who die or disappear in disasters, and save people's lives and properties to a much better extent," said Yang Xiaodong, an official with the Ministry of Emergency Management.

Regarding flood victims in post-flood recovery, local authorities were required to enhance support for them in terms of epidemic control, life assistance, production, hygiene and compensation to restore production and life orders. Workshops and recruitment campaigns were launched by local governments to ensure those who have shaken off poverty will not fall back to poverty due to the floods.

China's governing capability combined with its people-oriented approach has acted as a double-layer shield with a great degree of strength and resilience against the threats of floods and disasters.

Statistics show that the number of people dead or missing due to the floods since July was 82 percent lower than the average for the same period of the past five years, while collapsed houses and direct economic losses dropped 78.3 percent and 5.9 percent, respectively.

During his inspection tour in Anhui, Xi stressed that the country must improve its capability to prevent and combat disasters in its effort to build a modern socialist country in an all-round way. As enhancing capacity on disaster prevention is expected to be included in more of the country's policies such as the 14th Five-Year Plan, the shield can only become stronger. Enditem
More snow on the way in Pennsylvania; here's how much to expect
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-21 06:17:35|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday ripped Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden for his polices on trade, energy and immigration in a searing speech delivered near the former vice president's birthplace of Scranton, Pennsylvania, hours before Biden was set to formally accept his nomination.

"Tonight, Joe Biden will speak at the Democrat Convention - and I am sure he will remind us that he was born in Scranton," Trump told the crowed in Old Forge, Pennsylvania. "But here's what Joe Biden won't tell you: he left Scranton 70 years ago and he has spent the last half century in Washington selling you out and ripping you off!"

Born in 1942 in Scranton, Biden moved with his family to New Castle, a suburb of Wilmington, Delaware, at the age of 10.

Calling Biden "a puppet of the radical left movement," the president claimed that trade policies adopted by the Obama administration, in which Biden served as vice president, killed manufacturing jobs in Pennsylvania, and that the Green New Deal -- a proposal centering on clean energy that is championed by the progressive wing of the Democratic Party to counter climate change, but something Biden has actually never explicitly endorsed -- will strip Pennsylvanians of their energy supply.

He also slammed Biden for hiking taxes on Americans, implementing stricter gun control rules that would "eviscerate the Second Amendment," providing "free healthcare for illegal aliens," and expanding "deadly sanctuary cities," among others, while touting his own policies ranging from cutting taxes and building the U.S.-Mexico border wall to propping up workers in the traditional energy sector to emphasizing "law and order."

The president's highly political speech was part of his grander counterprogramming not only scheduled to coincide with the Democratic National Convention running from Monday to Thursday, but also chosen to be rolled out in key swing states that, in addition to Pennsylvania, also include Minnesota, Wisconsin and Arizona.

Adding to the speeches delivered by the president in the battlefield states is the Trump campaign's multi-million-dollar ad blitz occupying the homepages of YouTube and other major media outlets this week to smear the Biden campaign.

On the Democratic side, party luminaries addressing the DNC in the last three days rendered thinly-veiled critiques of Trump and his presidency in an effort to mobilize Biden's electoral base, with former President Barack Obama saying Wednesday that Trump has "shown no interest in putting in the work" of the president, and that he "hasn't grown into the job because he can't."

Dissatisfied with Trump, a number of high-profile Republicans have sided with Biden, including former Ohio governor and longtime Trump critic John Kasich, former President George W. Bush's Secretary of State Collin Powell, former Department of Homeland Security official in the Trump administration Miles Taylor, former New Jersey Governor Christie Whitman, among others. Enditem
A Navy bugler played out Taps and Navy pilots flew in formation over the funeral service for Nelson R. Charles on August 19, to pay respect to his long career and service to his country.

They had five airplanes fly over in a missing man formation, said Nancy Charles Columbia, Nelsons daughter. Both the Navy and the Air Force do this for admirals, or people who are highly decorated. And he certainly rated that.

Charles had retired from the Navy as a captain, after a long career that began not long before the American entry into World War II.

He was already enrolled in flight school when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbors naval base in 1941, and spent most of the war flying combat missions in the South Pacific Theatre. Among his many decorations, Charles received the Silver Star, the Navys third highest personal award, for valor during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, where he helped to sink a Japanese cruiser.

Charles continued to serve during the Korean War as commanding officer of a carrier-based squadron, and then later as a test pilot at Johnsville Naval Air Development Center in Warminster, as squadron and Air Group Commander aboard the USS Wright based in Norfolk, Virginia, and finally as Commanding Officer of Willow Grove Naval Air Station in Horshram.

While he was often out at sea during his career, Charles made the most of his time with his family when he was home.

He certainly did things the way he wanted to, thats for sure, said Jim Charles, Nelsons son. He always wanted to contribute. And he was a pretty dynamic individual. Growing up he was away at sea a lot, but when he got home, he was a good dad, really put out the effort to take care of the family and the kids.

An image of the commendation received by Nelson Charles, awarding him the Navy's Silver Star, signed by Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal. Charles was awarded the Silver Star following his actions during the Battle of Leyte Gulf during World War II.

Charles was born in 1919, and following the death of his mother to the Spanish Flu, was sent to live with his grandfather in Duncannon on the family farm.

He had a great life with them, Nancy said. It was hard work, everybody pitched in on the farm. And he ended up with a very strong body and a sense of family, and knowing how to work hard.

Nancy added that, like many of his generation, World War II would forever change the course of her fathers life - not only in his career with the Navy, but with his outlook.

He never thought that he would survive four years in the South Pacific, either, she said. So every day was a gift to him. He was an amazing guy. He touched lives right and left. He was always available to people who wanted to do something. His response was, how can I help you? I think that was true for a lot of the people in that generation that came back, and saw so many of their friends not come back. They wanted to live their best lives. I cant tell you what a great family it was to grow up in.

Both Nancy and Jim followed in their fathers footsteps as pilots, encouraged by their fathers example and support. Nancy retired from the Navy with the rank of Lieutenant Commander, and Jim from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel.

I was the black sheep, though  I was the one that went Air Force, Jim joked. My sister was a Navy pilot, like my dad. But he came to like me when I brought the first F-15 back in 78 into an air show at Willow Grove. It was the first time that an F-15 came to the air show in Philadelphia. He said, maybe hes okay!

He was always there for us for guidance, Nancy said. Especially for me, because I was in the Navy at a time when women pilots  I was one of the only. I recall, when I was having a bad time of it, the words integrity and honesty came across. And they helped me form a decision about how I would handle a situation."

Upon earning her Aircrew Badge - the wings given to those in the military who earn their flight qualifications - Charles gave Nancy his own wings to wear. She wore them for her entire career, adding that repeated polishing had nearly worn them down to the base metal.

It was his support that buoyed Nancy during a time when female pilots were nearly unheard of in the American military.

I think my dad thought I had lost my mind, she said. I had no idea what I was doing. He knew how hard it was going to be, and what the attitude was going to be like toward me [when I enlisted]. But his attitude was, hey, it will build character. Sometimes I would laugh with the girls and say, are we characters yet?

Upon his own retirement, Charles would remain active in his local community. He became Horsham Township Manager, worked as vice president of marketing for Martin Associates, founding member of the Horsham Rotary Club and subsequent president, volunteered for the Military Officers Association of America and Navy League, and served as president and on the board of governors for the Old York Road Country Club.

No matter what he did, he always strove to make it better, Jim said. He was a pretty crazy guy. He was a good man  thats all you can say to it. And it was a good send-off today, with the military showing up. I think they were proud to do it. How many of those guys are still left? Hes probably one of the last men standing from that era.

In addition to Jim and Nancy, Nelson Charles was survived by five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His wife Cynthia died in 2017; a daughter, Cynthia Anne, died in 1968.

Nancy said that even towards the end of his life, Nelson Charles was an active leader and organizer, helping to arrange a veterans memorial at Brittany Point Estates, the retirement community where he and his wife spent his last 18 years.

He was very quiet and unassuming, she said. He had great leadership and organizational skills. He knew how to get things done. He was kind in the way he spoke to people.

Jim added that while his father grew up with horses, and the familys Model A Ford (complete with manual windshield wipers), he would live to see a time when here in 2020, we have robots crawling across the surface of Mars. Its just amazing, what weve done in the last 100 years that hes been alive.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Students who gathered in a big group on the quad at Syracuse University on Wednesday should know better, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said today.

This isnt going to fly, McMahon said. We are very disappointed in the choices these kids have made.

Knucklehead central to do this on your first or second night on campus right in the middle of everybody for everybody to see.

He called the decisions students made on Wednesday boneheaded.

McMahon spoke after videos and photos posted to social media showed a large number of SU students gathering on the school quad, seemingly in violation of policies made to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The Daily Orange, SUs school newspaper, estimated over 100 students were involved.

McMahon said he was especially disappointed in some of the comments students made on social media in connection with the incident. One involved a student telling others to run because they cant get all of us.

The student should be sent home, McMahon said.

Thats just a mindset that we cant have in a pandemic, he said. Thats Animal House-type quotes there.

The crowd was largely freshmen. McMahon suggested some might not be ready for college yet and said there may be a number of students who should be sent home for the semester.

He said his office has heard numerous complaints from community members about the incident.

The gathering was not necessarily a surprise, McMahon added. And it came at a time when students on campus have all been through a recent round of testing for Covid-19, which found a low infection rate.

That should limit the gatherings risk of spreading the virus.

Thats whats saving these kids and my temperament right now, McMahon said. It was bound to happen. The question from these gatherings is what happens after.

McMahon urged students to be smart and said incidents like this one cant become routine.

He said he understood the new freedom students have and their desire to meet new people. They can, but they should do it in small groups and wear masks.

You have the opportunity, like the rest of us, to take on this virus and make history with all of us and to build on the success weve had in our community, McMahon said.

He also noted that the vast majority of students at SU are making responsible choices. About 12,000 have returned to campus and only a small fraction of them were on the quad.

The students in the video did not appear to be wearing masks or keeping their distance from each other, which violates school policies. SUs Stay Safe Pledge also asks students to limit gatherings to 25 people. Its unclear how long the students gathered before dispersing.

Mike Haynie, SUs vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation, issued a statement Thursday. He called the incident selfish and unsettling and said students involved ignored state law and knew what they were doing was wrong.

He also said those who could be identified would be referred to the schools student conduct process. Its possible the gathering could have done enough damage to shut down campus, he added.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources

Cuomos coronavirus rules: No dancing, no cornhole, no karaoke, no kidding

Videos show large gathering of Syracuse University students on quad as students return this week

Risky, problematic to open schools: Cuomo wonders if can they control UNC-like outbreaks

Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com

Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598
20.08.2020 LISTEN

Everybody has their own religious orientation. It is either a person is a Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, traditionalist, atheist among others.

Ghanaian actress and entrepreneur Efia Odo disclosed in an interview on Kofi tv that she is not religious.

She indicated that both her parents are Christians. But she is not but believes in God.

The actress stated she doesnt ascribe to any religion but she is spiritual and very prayerful.

She revealed she doesnt pray through anybody but prays directly to God.

In her final submission, the actress indicated that everything she has asked God through her prayers, she has had them.

See video below:

---odarteyghnews.com
CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2020 / Aurwest Resources Corporation ("Aurwest" or the "Company") (CSE:AWR) is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of up to 15,000,000 units ("Units") at a price of $0.05 per Unit for proceeds of up to $750,000 (the "Offering").

Each Unit will consist of one common share ("Common Share") of the Company and one Common Share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable into one Common Share at a price of $0.10 per Common Share at any time within 18 months following the date of issuance of the Warrant, or at a price of $0.15 per Common Share if exercised by the holder any time after the initial 18 months but before the date that is 36 months from the date of issuance of the Warrant. The Company has the right to force conversion of the Warrants, if at any time from and after the date of issuance, the daily volume-weighted average trading price of the Company's Common Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange, equals or exceeds $0.20 for ten (10) consecutive trading days.

The Offering will include an up to 20% over-allotment option, exercisable by the Company, which if fully exercised equates to an additional 3,000,000 Units and $150,000 ("Greenshoe"). If the Greenshoe is fully exercised, the total proceeds of the Offering will be an aggregate of 18,000,000 Units and gross proceeds of $900,000.

Price approval of $0.05 per Unit for the Offering has been obtained from the Canadian Securities Exchange. All funds are stated in Canadian dollars.

There is no minimum number of Units or minimum aggregate proceeds required to close the Offering and the Company may, at its discretion, elect to close the Offering in one or more closings

The Company may pay a finder's fee on the Offering. Closing of the Offering is subject to a number of conditions, including receipt of all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals. All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from the closing of the Offering in accordance with applicable securities legislation.

A portion or all of the Offering may be completed pursuant to Multilateral CSA Notice 45-313 - Prospectus Exemption for Distributions to Existing Security Holders ("CSA 45-313") and the corresponding blanket orders and rules implementing CSA 45-313 in the participating jurisdictions in respect thereof (collectively with CSA 45-313, the "Existing Security Holder Exemption"). As at the date hereof, the Existing Security Holder Exemption is available in each of the provinces of Canada, with the exception of Newfoundland and Labrador.

For subscribers utilizing the Existing Security Holder Exemption, the Offering is available to all shareholders of the Company as at August 18, 2020 (the "Record Date") (and still are shareholders) who are eligible to participate under the Existing Security Holder Exemption. Any person who becomes a shareholder of the Company after the Record Date is not permitted to participate in the offerings using the Existing Security Holder Exemption but other exemptions may still be available to them. Shareholders who became shareholders after the record date should consult their professional advisors when completing their subscription form to ensure that they use the correct exemption.

There are conditions and restrictions when relying upon the Existing Security Holder Exemption, namely, the subscriber must: a) be a shareholder of the Company on the Record Date (and still are a shareholder), b) be purchasing the Units as a principal (i.e. for their own account and not for any other party), and c) may not purchase more than $15,000 value of securities from the Company in any twelve month period, unless they have first received 'suitability advice' from a registered investment dealer and, in this case, subscribers will be asked to confirm the registered investment dealer's identity and employer. In the event that aggregate subscriptions for Units under the Offering exceed the maximum number of securities to be distributed, then Units will be sold to qualifying subscribers on a pro rata basis based on the number of Units subscribed for. Insiders may participate in the Offering.

In addition to the Existing Security Holder Exemption, a portion or all of the Offering may be completed pursuant to Multilateral CSA Notice 45-318 - Prospectus Exemption for Certain Distributions through an Investment Dealer ("CSA 45-318") and the corresponding blanket orders and rule implementing CSA 45- 318 in the participating jurisdictions in respect thereof (collectively with CSA 45-318, the "Investment Dealer Exemption"). As at the date hereof, the Investment Dealer Exemption is available in each of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick. Pursuant to CSA 45-318, each subscriber relying on the Investment Dealer Exemption must obtain advice regarding the suitability of the investment from a registered investment dealer.

There is no material fact or material change of the Company that has not been disclosed.

In addition to conducting the Offering pursuant to the Existing Security Holder Exemption and the Investment Dealer Exemption, the Offering will also be conducted pursuant to other available prospectus exemptions.

The Offering remains subject to approval by the Canadian Securities Exchange.

None of the securities issued in connection with the Offering will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "US Securities Act"), and none of them may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act.

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there by any sale of the securities in any state where such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.

On Behalf Of Aurwest resources Corporation

"Colin Christensen"

President and Chief Executive Officer

For additional information please contact:

Colin Christensen

Telephone: (403) 483-8363

Email: cchristensen@aurwestresources.com

About Aurwest Resources Corporation

Aurwest is a Canadian-based junior mining/exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of gold, silver and base metal properties in North America. The Company currently holds a 100% interest in the Stellar Project, located approximately 25 kilometres southwest of Houston, British Columbia. The Stellar project covers approximately 18,491 ha bordering the eastern, western and, perhaps most importantly, the northern interpreted extension of M3 Metals; Stars porphyry copper-gold-silver-moly discovery.

Forward-Looking Information

Statements included in this announcement, including statements concerning our plans, intentions and expectations, which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as "forward-looking statements". Forward looking statements may be identified by words including "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "expects" and similar expressions. The Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements, including without limitation those relating to the Company's future operations and business prospects, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such risks and uncertainties and should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, except in accordance with the applicable laws.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Aurwest Resources Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602512/Aurwest-Resources-Announces-Private-Placement
COMEDK UGET 2020 | Candidates can raise objections against the answer keys by 26 August. The final answer keys will be released on 31 August

COMEDK UGET 2020 | The Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMEDK) will release the provisional answer key of its Undergraduate Entrance Test (UGET) on 23 August on its official website comedk.org.

According to a report by Careers 360, candidates can raise objections against the answer keys by 26 August. The final answer keys will be released on 31 August.

COMEDK UGET 2020 result will be announced on 4 September.

As per a report by Hindustan Times, the helpline numbers are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and students are advised to send in their queries, if any, via email to studenthelpdesk@comedk.org.

The entrance examination was held on 19 August in two shifts. The first shift was from 9 am to 12 noon and the second shift will be from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm. The exam was conducted online across 300 centres for engineering programs which offer around 20,000 seats.

Candidates were asked to follow all the health ministry guidelines regarding COVID-19, including maintaining physical distancing and having Aarogya Setu app installed on their phones.

Examinees were also asked to carry their own gloves, face masks, and hand sanitisers.

Once the result is declared, shortlisted candidates will have to undergo counseling which will be conducted in online mode.

COMEDK UGET is conducted for admission to BE or BTech courses in colleges affiliated to the Karnataka Professional Colleges Foundation Trust.
Mali's new military junta said Thursday it would put in place a transitional government as its West Africa neighbours said they would dispatch envoys to help secure "the immediate return of constitutional order" and called for its ousted president to be restored to office.

Rebel soldiers seized power on Tuesday, detaining President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Prime Minister Boubou Cisse and other officials in a fresh setback for a country battling chronic instability and a jihadist revolt.

"We are going to set in place a transitional council, with a transitional president who is going to be either military or civilian," junta spokesman Ismael Wague said in an interview with the TV channel France 24.

"We are in contact with civil society, opposition parties, the majority, everyone, to try to set the transition in place," he said, adding that the transition "will be the shortest possible".

The comments came after the regional bloc ECOWAS voiced its support for Keita and "constitutional order."

"We have decided to immediately send a high-level delegation in order to ensure the immediate return of constitutional order," Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou said at the end of a video summit Thursday.

Issoufou said that through talks, ECOWAS would "convey to the leaders of the military junta that the times of taking power by force are over in this region."

The coup is Mali's second in eight years.

A putsch in 2012 was followed by an insurrection in the north of the country which developed into a jihadist insurgency that now threatens neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso.

Thousands of UN and French troops, along with soldiers from five Sahel countries, have been deployed to try to stem the bloodshed.

"Mali is in a critical situation, with serious risks that a collapse of the state and institutions leads to reversals in the fight against terrorism and organised crime, with every consequence for all our community," Issoufou warned.

Story continues

Keita's overthrow culminated months-long protests in which ECOWAS -- the Economic Community of West African States -- had tried to play a mediating role.

The bloc proposed setting up a unity government including opposition representatives, but also stood firmly by the 75-year-old Keita. The package was bluntly rejected by the opposition.

In addition to the president and the prime minister, the military detained Defence Minister Ibrahima Dahirou Dembele; Security Minister M'Bemba Moussa Keita; and the president of the National Assembly, Moussa Timbine, according to various sources.

They also arrested army chief of staff General Abdoulaye Coulibaly; the president's personal chief of staff, General Oumar Dao; air force chief General Souleymane Doucoure; and the head of the National Guard, Ouahoun Kone.

The African Union, the European Union, United States and UN Security Council have all condemned the putsch and demanded the release of detained leaders.

- Reports of deaths -

Calling itself the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, under the leadership of a colonel named Assimi Goita, the junta vowed on Wednesday to stage elections within a "reasonable time" and respect "all past agreements," including international anti-jihadist missions.

It also urged citizens to return to normal life and warned against acts of vandalism after some buildings were torched.

Soldiers were stationed in Bamako Thursday in front of the administrative centre which houses most of the ministries.

Markets were open and Malians, who seemed to generally welcome the change of regime, went about their business as usual.

The junta said that the country's land and air borders -- closed after the coup -- would reopen on Friday.

Amnesty International joined calls for the immediate release of all those arrested during the coup and for an investigation into the reported deaths of four people during Tuesday's events.

The NGO said 15 others were wounded.

"All the victims were hit by bullets in unclear circumstances and were sent to the Gabriel Toure hospital in the capital Bamako," Samira Daoud, Amnesty International's director for West and Central Africa, said in a statement.

The junta has denied that there were any casualties during the mutiny.

ECOWAS comprises 15 members, including Mali, but within hours of Keita's overthrow, the group announced it was immediately suspending the country from its internal decision-making bodies.

That statement also called for the immediate release of Keita and other detained leaders, said its members would close land and air borders to Mali and threatened sanctions against the coup leaders.

It also requested an "immediate buildup" of the ECOWAS Standby Force, a multidisciplinary force of military, civilian and police personnel.

ECOWAS has intervened in several crises in West Africa, including in The Gambia, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

- Public anger -

Keita won election in a landslide in 2013, putting himself forward as a unifying figure in a fractured country.

He was re-elected in 2018, defeating Cisse.

But public anger snowballed over his failure to roll back a bloody jihadist revolt, mixing explosively with frustration at Mali's moribund economy and perceptions of government graft.

On Wednesday, the June 5 Movement, a broad coalition of protest groups, said it "took note of the (junta's) commitment" for a civilian transition.

It promised to work with it on "developing a roadmap," and said it planned to organise large rallies on Friday to "celebrate the victory of the Malian people".

ck/jhd/erc/ri/pma/har
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2020 / Magna Terra Minerals Inc. (the "Company" or "Magna Terra") (TSXV:MTT) is pleased to announce that it has expanded the Great Northern ("Great Northern") and Viking ("Viking") Projects, located in Western Newfoundland via a combination of staking and an option agreement. The acquisition of these 5 mineral licences expands the property size by 2,900 hectares (30%) and adds additional strategic exploration targets in areas of known gold potential (Exhibit A). The Company has also initiated a systematic exploration program at the Great Northern Project that comprises prospecting, geological mapping, soil sampling and geophysical surveying in anticipation of a fall drilling program.

Project Highlights

12,675 hectares along 20 kilometres of strike of a regional-scale gold bearing structure - the Doucer's Valley Fault;

Newly Expanded Project is host to large untested gold bearing alteration systems: 1.7 kilometre zone at the Jacksons Arm Trend; 1.4 kilometre long geochemical anomaly at Little Davis Pond Trend; 3+ kilometre long by up to 40 metre wide deformation and alteration zone at the Viking Trend;

Host to existing Mineral Resources including: An Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of 5,460,000 tonnes at an average grade of 1.45 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold containing 255,000 contained ounces at a cut-off grade of 1.0 g/t gold at the Rattling Brook Deposit; and An Historical Indicated Mineral Resource of 937,000 tonnes at an average grade of 2.09 g/t gold containing 63,000 ounces of gold plus an Historical Inferred Mineral Resource of 350,000 tonnes at an average grade of 1.79 g/t gold containing 20,000 ounces of gold at a cut-off grade of 1.0 g/t gold at the Thor Deposit.



Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. All Mineral Resource Estimates were prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards (2014). Please refer to the NI 43-101 Technical Report with effective date January 23, 2019 by Harrington and Cullen (2019) as detailed below for the Great Northern Project and the NI 43-101 Technical Report with effective date August 29, 2016 by Copeland et al. (2016) as detailed below for the Viking Project. An Independent Qualified Person has not carried out sufficient work to classify the Thor Historical Mineral Resource Estimate as current and Magna Terra is not considering this Mineral Resource Estimate to be current. Magna Terra considers the Thor Deposit to have potential for expansion that will be addressed by the Company in future exploration programs. See further details on Technical Reports below.

"We are pleased to follow-up our recent acquisition of the Great Northern and Viking Projects with the strategic expansion of the property, acquiring additional untested gold bearing zones. These new, low-cost, acquisitions include land adjacent to the Rattling Brook Deposit, along strike from the Jacksons Arm Prospect, and at the Little Davis Pond Prospect that add substantial value. We have initiated a systematic geological, geochemical and geophysical program at Great Northern geared towards developing a fall drilling program on priority targets that will support continued news flow over the coming months."

~ Lew Lawrick, President and CEO, Magna Terra Minerals

Acquisition Details

At the Great Northern Project, 1 mineral licence (35 claims, 875 hectares) was acquired via map staking along the strike extension of the Jacksons Arm Trend. An additional 3 mineral licences (13 claims, 325 hectares) were acquired via an option agreement with a local prospector ("Vendor"), covering the along strike extension of the Rattling Brook Deposit. Under terms of the agreement the Company can earn a 100% interest in the option by paying to the Vendor a total of $30,000 and issuing $15,000 in MTT shares (subject to TSX-V and regulatory approval) or pay $15,000 in cash over a 2-year period. The Property is subject to a 2% Net Smelter Return Royalty ("NSR") payable to the Vendor with 1% NSR purchasable by MTT for $1,000,000 and right of first refusal on the remaining 1% NSR.

At the Viking Project 1 mineral licence (68 claims, 1,700 hectares) was acquired via map staking and covers an area of strongly deformed and altered Silurian volcanic and sedimentary rocks that are host to a 1.4 kilometre long geochemical anomaly (soil assays up to 530 ppb gold, and rock assays up to 22.15 g/t gold) from historic sampling at the Little Davis Pond Trend.

Exploration Program

The Company has started a systematic exploration program focussed on the Great Northern Project that will comprise collection of 1,600 B-horizon soil samples, systematic prospecting and geological mapping, ground Induced Polarization ("IP") and magnetic geophysical and airborne magnetic and electromagnetic surveys. The initial exploration program will be followed up with trenching and diamond drilling of priority targets in late 2020. The current program will initially focus on the Jacksons Arm Trend targeting the extension of a 1.7 km long by 40 to 400 m wide continuous alteration zone.

The Company has critically considered logistical matters given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure that this Exploration Program and all future programs are executed in a way that ensures the absolute health and safety of our personnel, contractors, and the communities where we operate.

The Company would like to thank the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for partial funding of the exploration program under the Junior Exploration Assistance Program.

About the Great Northern and Viking Projects

The Great Northern and Viking Projects comprise 2 separate claim blocks (12,675 hectares) that are located near the communities of Sops Arm, Pollard's Point and Jackson's Arm, NL.

The Projects are centered along the Doucer's Valley Fault, a significant geological control on, and host to, several gold deposits and untested prospects, including the Rattling Brook and the Thor Deposits, Jacksons Arm, Little Davis Pond, and Viking Trends and the Incinerator Trail Zone. Gold mineralization is hosted within a variety of rocks types that include Precambrian or Ordovician granites, or younger volcanic and sedimentary rocks, typically along splays off the Doucer's Valley Fault. Alteration consists of mesothermal style quartz  iron carbonate  sulfide veins and stockworks with 2 to 5% total sulfides consisting of pyrite, galena, chalcopyrite or sphalerite, and locally show trace amounts of visible gold.

The Jacksons Arm Trend is host to a 1.7 km long by 40 to 400 m wide continuous alteration zone, that is controlled by a north-south striking fault. The fault extends immediately to the north along strike with similar repeating fault zones to the east outlining a potential strike extent of an additional 4 kilometres.

Highlights of previous surface grab samples** include:

Assays up to 20.2 g/t gold and 1,232 g/t silver at the Boot N' Hammer Prospect;

Assays up to 56.7 g/t gold and 2.75 ounce per tonne silver at the Stocker Prospect;

Assays up to 7.2 g/t gold at the Shrik Prospect; and

Assays up to 13.6 g/t gold at the 954 Prospect.

**Grab samples are selected samples and are not necessarily indicative of mineralization that may be hosted on the property.

The Little Davis Pond Trend is underlain by strongly deformed and altered Silurian volcanic and sedimentary rocks that are host to a 1.4 kilometre long geochemical anomaly (soil assays up to 530 ppb gold, and rock assays up to 22.15 g/t gold) from historic sampling.

The Incinerator Trail Zone has been tested by four reconnaissance-style diamond drill holes in the 1980's and returned assays of 1.78 g/t gold over 4.0 m (hole RB-35) and 2.30 g/t gold over 4.05 m (hole RB-41).

The Viking Trend is host to a 3+ kilometre long by up to 40 metre wide deformation and alteration zone with gold grades of 0.45 g/t Au over 20.0 m in hole VK-16-151, 0.37 g/t Au over 16.5 m in hole VK-11-125, as well as local high grades as indicated by 7.43 g/t Au over 1.0 m in hole VK-16-155.

Qualified Person and Technical Reports

This news release has been reviewed and approved by David A. Copeland, P. Geo., Chief Geologist with Anaconda Mining Inc., a "Qualified Person", under National Instrument 43-101 - Standard for Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Widths from drill core intervals reported in this press release are presented as core lengths only. True widths are unknown. All quoted drill core sample intervals, grades and production statistics have been compiled from historic assessment reports obtained from either the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

^The Mineral Resource Estimate quoted in this press release regarding the Great Northern Project refers to the technical report: "NI 43-101 Technical Report and Updated Mineral Resource Estimate on the Rattling Brook Gold Deposit, Great Northern Project, White Bay Area, Newfoundland, Canada", (the "Great Northern Report") with an effective date of January 23, 2019, and authored by Matthew Harrington, P.Geo. (Independent Qualified Person) and Michael Cullen, P.Geo. (Independent Qualified Person).

^^The Historical Mineral Resource Estimate quoted in this press release regarding the Viking Project (Thor Deposit) is taken from the technical report: "NI 43-101 Technical Report And Mineral Resource Estimate For The Thor Deposit, Viking Project, White Bay Area, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, Latitude 49o 42 N Longitude 57o 00 W" prepared for Anaconda Mining Inc. by David A. Copeland, P.Geo., Dr. Shane Ebert, P. Geo. and Gary Giroux, P. Eng. M.ASc., August 29, 2016. An Independent Qualified Person has not carried out sufficient work to classify the Thor Historical Mineral Resource Estimate as current and Magna Terra is not considering this Mineral Resource Estimate to be current. Magna Terra considers the Thor Deposit to have potential for expansion that will be addressed by the Company in future exploration programs.

About Magna Terra

Magna Terra Minerals Inc. is a precious metals focused exploration company, headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Magna Terra owns two district-scale, advanced gold exploration projects in the world class mining jurisdictions of New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador. Further, the Company maintains a significant exploration portfolio in the province of Santa Cruz, Argentina which includes its precious metals discovery on its Luna Roja Project, as well as an extensive portfolio of district scale drill ready projects available for option or joint venture.

Forward Looking 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.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information

Some statements in this release may contain forward-looking information. All statements, other than of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization) are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words "may", "will", "should", "continue", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "intend", "plan" or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict, that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, without limitation, failure to establish estimated mineral resources, the possibility that future exploration results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, changes in world gold markets or markets for other commodities, and other risks disclosed in the Company's public disclosure record on file with the relevant securities regulatory authorities. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Magna Terra Minerals Inc.

Lewis Lawrick

President and CEO, Director

647-478-5307

Email: info@magnaterraminerals.com

Website: www.magnaterraminerals.com

For enhanced image, click here

Exhibit A: Great Northern and Viking Project acquisitions, property geology and gold occurrences

SOURCE: Magna Terra Minerals Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602509/Magna-Terra-Increases-Land-Position-and-Initiates-Exploration-at-Great-Northern-and-Viking-Projects
In June, the Karnataka Authority for Advance Rulings (AAR) for Goods and Services Tax (GST) ruled that Malabar Parota is not the same as ready-to-eat chappati/roti as it has be processed further for consumption, and hence should be taxed at 18 per cent and not 5 per cent (tax rate for chappati). There was outrage and, soon, memes around the ruling started doing rounds of social media.

Blame it on flaws in the way AARs are constituted or complexity of India's tax laws, the Karnataka AAR is not the only one that has been in news of late for wrong reasons.

Take the issue of tax on compensation paid to directors of an incorporated entity. Two state AARs - Karnataka and Rajasthan - came up with different interpretations and rulings on the issue earlier this year. The Rajasthan AAR said directors are not employees and so their fee should attract GST under the reverse charge mechanism (the company will pay the tax on behalf of directors). The Karnataka AAR, however, noted that an 'executive' director sells services as an employee, and therefore, his or her remuneration will not attract GST. However, it also said that remuneration to a non-executive director will attract GST. What is more perplexing is that the Karnataka AAR had, last year, given an opposite ruling on this issue. All this is adding to confusion of taxpayers.

AARs have been set up to help taxpayers seek clarity, in advance, on tax to be paid on certain transactions, and in doing so avoid long-drawn tax litigation that is so common in India.

However, the fact that every state/Union territory has one AAR, manned by 'junior' tax officials, means that the rulings at times lack maturity, consistency and are often pro-revenue, say tax experts.

Design Flaw

Every AAR has two members, one state and one central tax officer. They are mostly additional and joint commissioner level, too junior to handle complex matters that can potentially affect businesses across the country, say experts. Also, both are technical members (there is no judicial member). The composition of AARs is such that they are not fully independent or immune to government revenue pressures. "AARs should be such that they can resist the government's revenue pressures. Here, you have put two additional commissioner-level officers who know that after two-three years they have to go back to the department and work under the same commissioner against which they might be passing orders today," says Kamal Agarwal, Founding Partner & Governing Council Member, SARC & Associates, a chartered accountancy firm.

Experts say the rulings suffer from lack of maturity or consistency primarily because of absence of judicial members, who can be either retired Supreme Court or High Court judges, people from the Indian Legal Service, or senior lawyers. "If we look at the period prior to GST, we had a Central regime where there was a single AAR for customs, excise and service tax. It had both judicial and technical members. As the central AAR in the pre-GST era had judicial members too, its rulings were more reasoned and judicious," says Saloni Roy, Senior Director, Deloitte India.

However, she admits that having AARs in every state has ensured timely disposal of advance ruling applications. "The new system has improved the time taken for the rulings as there are so many benches. But the composition of the benches is such that most of the rulings are in favour of the revenue department," says Saloni Roy.

Take the case of Sanofi India where the Maharashtra AAR held that input tax credit would not be available on expenses on goods procured for sales promotion. Tax experts say the ruling clearly shows the pro-revenue attitude of the authority.

Again, in case of remuneration to directors, there are two rulings - one by the Karnataka AAR and another by the Rajasthan AAR - that directors are not employees and that services rendered by them to a company for which consideration is paid under any head will attract GST under the reverse charge mechanism. "Fueled by these contrived advance rulings, businesses are being served notices for payment of GST on all forms of remuneration to directors. Companies must note that an advance ruling is binding only on the person who has sought it and so does not have any binding efficacy, especially when it has been delivered in another state," says Ranjeet Mahtani, Partner, Dhruva Advisors LLP. As per the GST law, an advance ruling by an AAR is binding only on the applicant and the tax officer concerned. This means it is not applicable to other people in the state as well. Saloni Roy of Deloitte says a pan-India company with different GST registrations in different states may have to approach multiple authorities for clarity on the same issue.

"Because there was a central authority earlier, one decision was applicable across the country. But now, since each state has its own bench, the decision of one bench may not be binding in another state, though its ruling can be used as a precedent to convince the other bench," she says.

When Business Today talked to a member of a state AAR, he said on condition of anonymity (as he is not authorised to talk to the media) that AARs are quasi-judicial bodies whose decisions are not final. If a taxpayer or the tax department does not like the ruling, they can move appellate tribunals.

Each state/Union territory also has an Appellate Authority For Advance Ruling. These also have two members -- one central tax officer at the level of chief commissioner and one state commissioner-level officer. There is a question mark over their independence too as both are from the tax department. There is no judicial member.

The Way Forward

There have been talks of setting up a central AAR for over two years as the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs has had to intervene several times to clarify issues arising out of rulings by state AARs.

For example, after the Goa AAR ruled that alcohol-based sanitisers should be taxed at 18 per cent, all hell broke loose. People took to social media to criticise the move as sanitisers have become essential goods due to Covid-19. The government had to issue an explanation as to why a lower GST rate on sanitisers may prove to be counterproductive. A central AAR might save the government such blushes. However, despite the talks, there has been not much progress in this regard as yet. "Taxability of solar power plants, intermediary services, liquidated damages, etc, are a few examples where contrary advance rulings by different state authorities have added to the quandary of industry. Formation of a centralised AAR could perhaps provide some respite from the dilemma," says Harpreet Singh, Partner, KPMG.

However, a central authority alone may not make things better unless the government addresses the 'design' flaw of AARs.

"Unless the structure changes, this problem will persist. Amend the GST Act because this structure is in the GST law. It should not be under the Ministry of Finance. It should be under the Ministry of Law," says Kamal Agarwal of SARC & Associates. He further says that the state AARs should have at least one judicial member and two technical members. The appellate authority should be a national body headed by at least a high court judge.

Some experts believe that one should become a member of such a tribunal only after resigning from existing posts to maintain the independence of the body.

Saloni Roy of Deloitte says state authorities also need to have a slightly senior officer on the benches, at least a commissioner level officer.

Taxpayers and other stakeholders have been pointing out these shortcomings but no steps have been taken so far to address their issues. It is now up to the government and the GST authorities to bite the bullet and bring the needful reforms to make the advance ruling system work more effectively.

@dipak_journo
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The captain of a cargo ship that struck a coral reef near Mauritius was arrested and questioned about an alleged party that was said to be ongoing as the vessel ran aground.

The MV Wakashio struck a coral reef off the Indian Ocean island on July 25 and began spilling oil on August 6, prompting the government to announce a state of environmental emergency.

The spill spread over a vast area of endangered corals, affecting fish and other marine life in what some scientists have called the country's worst ecological disaster. Emergency crews removed most of the ship's remaining oil before it split apart on Saturday.

The Japanese-owned vessel's black box is being examined, and crew members are now facing questions about why the vessel, which had been heading from Singapore to Brazil, was so near to the shore, The Times reports.

A maritime official with knowledge of the incident, who asked not to be named, said the crew had been questioned about reports they were having a birthday party on board, but added it was not clear yet if the party had been held at the same time that the ship ran aground or earlier in the day.

The captain, identified by police as Sunil Kumar Nandeshwar, 58, and his first officer were charged with endangering safe navigation and appeared at court in Port Louis, a police spokesperson said.

An aerial view taken in Mauritius on August 17. The MV Wakashio struck a coral reef off the Indian Ocean island on July 25 and began spilling oil on Aug. 6, prompting the government to announce a state of environmental emergency

An aerial view taken in Mauritius on August 17 shows the MV Wakashio bulk carrier, belonging to a Japanese company but Panamanian-flagged, that had run aground and broke into two parts near Blue Bay Marine Park

An aerial view taken in Mauritius on August 17, shows the MV Wakashio bulk carrier, belonging to a Japanese company but Panamanian-flagged, that had run aground and broke into two parts

This aerial picture taken on August 16, 2020, shows the MV Wakashio bulk carrier that had run aground and broke into two parts near Blue Bay Marine Park, Mauritius

Aerial images taken of the Japanese cargo ship taken on Sunday show how the hull of the boat has completely split in two

The ship that has leaked more than 1,000 tonnes of oil in pristine waters off the Mauritius coast has split into two, as images taken on Sunday show

The Mauritius coastguard had repeatedly tried to reach the ship to warn that its course was dangerous but had received no reply, the maritime official said.

'The route set five days before the crash was wrong and the boat navigation system should have signalled that to the crew and it seems the crew ignored it. The boat did also fail to send out an SOS (when it ran aground), and did not respond to attempts by the coastguard to get in touch,' the official said.

The official confirmed that the crew had been questioned about reports they were having a birthday party, and denied media reports that the ship had sailed close to land seeking a Wi-Fi signal, saying that looking for a phone signal would not have required sailing so close to land.

A view shows Japanese bulk carrier ship MV Wakashio as it begins to break apart, after it ran aground on a reef in Mauritius, in this August 15 satellite image

Two men, near Blue Bay Marine Park, look at the vessel MV Wakashio, belonging to a Japanese company but Panamanian-flagged, on August 15

A picture taken on August 15, 2020 near Blue Bay Marine Park, shows the vessel MV Wakashio, belonging to a Japanese company but Panamanian-flagged, that ran aground near Blue Bay Marine Park off the coast of south-east Mauritius, on August 14

An aerial view taken on August 15 shows the vessel MV Wakashio, belonging to a Japanese company but Panamanian-flagged, that had run aground near Blue Bay Marine Park, Mauritius

The Mauritius National Crisis Committee confirmed the ship's breakage in a statement on Saturday. 'At around 4.30pm [12:30 GMT], a major detachment of the vessel's forward section was observed,' they said

The Japanese bulk carrier that ran aground on a reef in Mauritius last month threatening a marine ecological disaster around the Indian Ocean island has broken apart, authorities confirmed on Saturday

An aerial view taken on August 15, shows the vessel MV Wakashio as it starts to break up after it ran aground on a coral reef , above and below

The government made a statement earlier this week saying that they were seeking compensation from the ship's owner for clean-up costs, losses and damages, and for anyone whose livelihood was affected by the spill

The ship, which has already leaked some 1,180 tonnes of fuel into the sea, began leaking oil into coral reefs, mangrove forests and protected wetlands last week

A national television network had reported that the captain told the court the ship was sailing coastline to get a phone signal, something he had done before when sailing through those waters.

He was not in charge of the ship at the time, he said, the ship was not on autopilot and there was bad weather, according to the report.

Scientists say the full impact of the spill is still unfolding but the damage could affect Mauritius and its tourism-dependent economy for decades. Removing the ship is likely to take months.

The official noted it was the second accident in the area in four years and said the government might establish a signal station nearby to try to ward off future disasters.

Mauritius National Crisis Committee said on Wednesday it planned to scuttle the ship's remains at sea at a yet to be determined date. It would do so in a way that would avoid further pollution or interfere with maritime routes, it said in a statement.

Environmental group Greenpeace said the action would lead to more pollution.

In pictures, the hull of the MW Wakashio boat can be seen completely split in two. It's unknown what date the images were taken

In pictures, the hull of the MW Wakashio boat can be seen completely split in two. It's unknown what date the images were taken

A devastating oil slick from Japanese ship the MV Wakashio that ran aground on a reef off Mauritius two weeks ago spread 7.1 miles (11.5 kilometres) from Blue Bay Marine Park to the tourist island of Ile aux Cerfs on the east coast of the island

'Sinking this vessel would risk biodiversity and contaminate the ocean with large quantities of heavy metal toxins, threatening other areas as well, notably the French island of La Reunion,' Happy Khambule of Greenpeace Africa said in a statement.

Nagashiki Shipping said it would support the crew and their families.

'We sincerely apologise for causing a great deal of inconvenience to everyone involved, including everyone in Mauritius, due to this grounding accident and oil spill,' it said in a statement.

Scientists say the full impact of the spill is still unfolding but the damage could affect Mauritius and its tourism-dependent economy for decades. Removing the ship is likely to take months.

The MV Wakashio ran aground on a coral reef on 25 July with 4,000 tonnes of fuel.

The Mauritius National Crisis Committee confirmed the ship's breakage in a statement on Saturday. 'At around 4.30pm [12:30 GMT], a major detachment of the vessel's forward section was observed,' they said.

Pictures show the cargo ship torn in two parts, days after Japanese rescue teams managed to pump the remaining oil off the vehicle to prevent another massive oil spill into the pristine waters.

Earlier this week Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth confirmed that all the fuel had been pumped from the reservoirs of the Japanese-owned MV Wakashio and added that about 100 tonnes remained elsewhere on board the vessel.

The Mauritian government has been criticised for doing too little in the week after the ship crashed into the reef. According to SBSNews, the owner of the ship - the Japanese Nagashiki shipping company - took three weeks to attend the scene.

More than 1,000 tonnes of fuel has leaked into the pristine waters of the island from the MV Wakashio, with fears more could spill as the ship begins to split in half, spilling a further 1,800 left in the ship

The Wakashio hit a coral reef off the island on July 25 with 4,000 tonnes of fuel and some 1,180 tonnes of fuel has leaked into the sea

A huge crack pictured in the hull of the Japanese-owned MV Wakashio

Fishermen and skippers tend to a makeshift oil extraction device at the Mahebourg Waterfront in Riviere des Creoles, Mauritius

Volunteers prepare to place handmade oil barriers in the sea at the Mahebourg Waterfront in Riviere des Creoles, Mauritius,

In response to the company's delayed arrival, Greenpeace wrote: 'Many unanswered questions remain. Why was your vessel sailing so dangerously close to the reef? Why have you done so little since the ship ran aground? What will you do to reduce the damage to the environment, and the pain and suffering of those whose livelihoods depend on it?'

The government made a statement saying that they were seeking compensation from the ship's owner for clean-up costs, losses and damages, and for anyone whose livelihood was affected by the spill.

It stressed, however, the Mauritian government will not be accepting responsibility.

The ship's owner pledged to respond to requests for compensation over damage to the marine life around Mauritius.

It comes after more than 1,000 tonnes of fuel leaked into the waters from the MV Wakashio after it hit a coral reef off the island on July 25 with 4,000 tonnes of fuel.

The ship, which has already leaked some 1,180 tonnes of fuel into the sea, began leaking oil into coral reefs, mangrove forests and protected wetlands last week in a massive blow for the paradisiacal island popular among honeymooners and other tourists.

Who foots the bill? A Japanese bulk carrier struck a coral reef off the Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius on July 25, spilling about 1,000 tonnes of fuel oil and triggering a state of 'environmental emergency'. Scientists say the spill is the country's worst ecological disaster, killing wildlife and damaging pristine waters that attract tourists from around the globe. The full impact is still unfolding. As residents scramble to mop up the oil slicks, they are seeing dead eels and fish floating in the water as fuel-soaked seabirds limp ashore. The following lays out the legal implications. THE SHIP AND OPERATOR The owner and operator of the ship is Nagashiki Shipping, an Okayama, Japan-based private company that said Mauritius had requested compensation. It said in a statement that the cause of the accident was not known and would be fully investigated. The MV Wakashio, a nearly 300-metre Cape Size bulker used for carrying iron ore, with a deadweight of about 200,000 tonnes, was built in 2007, meaning it should be double-hulled and more protected against rupture. A worker holds out his arms covered in thick oil from collecting seaweed and straw mixed with leaked oil from the MV Wakashio, a Japanese owned Panama-flagged bulk carrier after it ran aground off the southeast coast of Mauritius With a crew of 20 sailors the Panama-flagged vessel was on course for Brazil to pick up iron ore, according to Mitsui OSK, which chartered the ship. The bulk carrier had dropped off a cargo in Tianjin, China, before it headed across the Indian Ocean. The operator has not explained why it was sailing so close to the reef. SPILL RECOVERY The ship was carrying about 3,800 tonnes of fuel oil along with diesel to power its engines. One of its oil tanks, containing about 1,000 tonnes of fuel oil, ruptured after it ran aground. The MV Wakashio passed an annual inspection in March without any problems, Japan's ClassNK inspection body has said. Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth said on Wednesday that nearly all the remaining oil had been removed from the ship confirming an earlier statement by Nagashiki that most of the oil that was still on board had been pumped off. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? Under the 2001 International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution damage, which is referred to as the BUNKER convention and has been administered by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) since it came into force in 2008, the owners of vessels are responsible for damage caused by oil leaks. That means Nagashiki rather than Mitsui OSK is liable. In a June 13 statement, Nagashiki said it would 'deal with compensation claims based on applicable laws'. Akihiko Ono, executive vice president of Mitsui OSK Lines, has apologised for the spill but a spokesman told Reuters it had no responsibility for the accident. LIABILITY Compensation amounts paid by ship owners are governed by the 1976 Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims and a subsequent amended convention agreed in 1996. The agreement also requires owners to ensure they have adequate insurance. According to Toda Law Office in Tokyo, Mauritius has ratified the 1976 version, which limits payments to 2 billion yen ($18.7 million) while Japan has signed the 1996 document which has an upper limit of 7 billion yen. It will be up to any court ruling on compensation to decide which one applies in this case. INSURANCE The Wakashio is insured by Japan Club, the country's only organization that underwrites protection and indemnity insurance for ocean going and coastal vessels. On Wednesday, a spokesman for Japan P&I said it was 'trying to make internal estimates' for how much the clean up would cost. Jugnauth's government has said it too has yet to come up with an estimate. Japan P&I could cover up to as much as $1 billion, because it can count on support from more than a dozen other shipowner insurance unions around the world, according to Koshiro Emura, an analyst at S&P Global Ratings. S HIP REMOVAL Removing the ship will be a delicate operation and is likely to take months. France, which once ruled Mauritius as a colony, has said it will assist with the cleanup, while Japan said it is sending experts. The International Maritime Organization is providing technical advice. Advertisement

Workers collect seaweed and straw mixed with leaked oil from the MV Wakashio, a Japanese owned Panama-flagged bulk carrier after it ran aground off the southeast coast of Mauritius

Satellite images on August 12 show the MV Wakashio off the southeast coast of Mauritius after it crashed into a coral reef

A volunteer wears protective clothing as they help to clean the oil spilled from the bulk carrier ship MV Wakashio

Volunteers line up barrels at the Mahebourg Waterfront in Riviere des Creoles, Mauritius, to help in the clean up of the oil slick

A man collects leaked oil from the bulk carrier ship MV Wakashio, belonging to a Japanese company but Panamanian-flagged, that ran aground on a reef, at Riviere des Creoles, Mauritius on Monday

A volunteer is seen in the leaked oil from the bulk carrier ship MV Wakashio, belonging to a Japanese company but Panamanian-flagged, that ran aground on a reef, at Riviere des Creoles, Mauritius on Monday

Workers clean a coastal area covered with oil in Mahebourg, Mauritius last week. About 1,800 tonnes of fuel remained onboard the fragile vessel

In this satellite image provided by 2020 Maxar Technologies on Friday, an aerial view of oil leaking from the MV Wakashio, a bulk carrier ship that recently ran aground off the southeast coast of Mauritius

A man scoops leaked oil from the vessel MV Wakashio, belonging to a Japanese company but Panamanian-flagged, that ran aground near Blue Bay Marine Park off the coast of south-east Mauritius

Local volunteers making absorbent barriers of straw stuffed into fabric sacks to contain oil from the MV Wakashio

The bulk carrier ship MV Wakashio, that ran aground on a reef, at Riviere des Creoles, Mauritius, is pictured above

People scoop leaked oil from the vessel MV Wakashio, belonging to a Japanese company but Panamanian-flagged, that ran aground and caused oil leakage near Blue bay Marine Park in southeast Mauritius on Sunday

A combination handout photo shows the waters near Pointe d'Esny before and after the oil leak from the bulk carrier ship MV Wakashio, in Pointe d'Esny, Mauritius, on August 1, 2020 and August 6, 2020 in these Copernicus Sentinel-2 imageries obtained by Reuters on August 9, 2020

A still image taken from a drone video shows a cleanup crew working at the site of an oil spill after the bulk carrier ship MV Wakashio ran aground on a reef, at Riviere des Creoles, Mauritius on Friday

Local volunteers clean up oil washing up on the beach from the MV Wakashio, a Japanese owned Panama-flagged bulk carrier ship which is leaking oil as it recently ran aground off the southeast coast of Mauritius on Sunday

An undated handout photo made available by the Office of the Reunion Region in Mauritius shows local volunteers making absorbent barriers of straw stuffed into fabric sacks to contain oil from the MV Wakashio

A photo provided by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation Ministry shows oil leaking from the MV Wakashi

Local volunteers making absorbent barriers of straw stuffed into fabric sacks to contain oil from the MV Wakashio, a Japanese owned Panama-flagged bulk carrier ship which is leaking oil as it recently ran aground off the southeast coast of Mauritius (issued Monday)

Thousands of students, environmental activists and residents of Mauritius were working around the clock trying to reduce the damage to the Indian Ocean island

The waterfront of Mahebourg has been entirely smoothered in oil

A drone image shows volunteers preparing to handle leaked oil from the bulk carrier ship MV Wakashio, belonging to a Japanese company but Panamanian-flagged, which ran aground on a reef, at the Riviere des Creoles, on the Mahebourg waterfront, Mauritius on Monday

A drone image shows volunteers preparing to handle leaked oil from the bulk carrier ship MV Wakashio, belonging to a Japanese company but Panamanian-flagged, which ran aground on a reef, at the Riviere des Creoles, on the Mahebourg waterfront, Mauritius on Monday
Lucknow, Aug 20 : Transgenders, recognised as the 'third gender' by the Supreme Court, will now get the right to inherit agricultural land in Uttar Pradesh.

The state cabinet has cleared an amendment to the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code of 2006 under which persons of the third gender will be recognised as members of a landowner's family and will have an equal right to inherit agricultural property.

A draft proposal for the law was submitted by the State Law Commission to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in March 2019.

Commission Chairperson Justice A. N. Mittal had pointed out that all inheritance laws mention 'sons', 'daughters', 'married', 'unmarried' and 'widow' which kept third gender children out of the purview of the law, who, as it is, face massive social boycott despite laws to protect their interests.

According to the official spokesman, in the new Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code (Amendment) Act, 2020, changes have been made to section 4(10), 108 (2), 109 and 110 to include people of third gender as members of the landowner's family to give them succession and physical rights over property.
Seven Virginia Tech students were suspended Thursday after local law enforcement alerted the university to reports of large groups of students gathered off-campus.

Virginia Tech remains steadfast in its commitment to expect all members of our community to follow all public health guidelines issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dean of Students Byron Hughes said in a message posted on Techs website Thursday afternoon.

He noted that public health guidelines  which include a recent Blacksburg ordinance limiting gatherings to no more than 50 people  are necessary to keep people safe.

Should the Dean of Students Office, the Virginia Tech Police Department, or the Blacksburg Police Department need to respond to concerns about noise violations or disruptive parties, a referral will be made to the Office of Student Conduct for their follow-up, Hughes wrote. Recent off-campus incidents that have occurred over the past week have resulted in seven students being placed on interim suspension.

Tech spokesman Mark Owczarski said in an email Thursday that the university can impose interim, or immediate, suspensions if such action is necessary to preserve the safety of persons or property.

The Office of Student Conduct received a referral from local law enforcement related to large gatherings of students not practicing social distancing, not wearing masks and being disruptive to the community, Owczarski wrote.

A student who faces an interim suspension has five days to request a meeting with administrators, according to the student handbook.

During the review, the student will be given an opportunity to demonstrate why his or her continued presence on campus does not constitute a threat to themselves, others, or property, the handbook states.

A separate student conduct hearing determines whether the student violated any university policies.

Owczarski said charges for the recent incidents could include endangerment and disorderly or disruptive conduct.

Radford University has suspended three students for endangering conduct and failure to comply with the universitys COVID-19 safety measures, The Roanoke Times reported Wednesday.

Community members in Blacksburg and Radford, as well as students themselves, have expressed concern that some students may not follow public health guidelines and could risk outbreaks of COVID-19, which has happened at universities nationwide.

Students living on campus at Tech began moving in Friday, and on-campus Radford students began moving in Aug. 1.

As classes begin Monday, we must be unrelenting and uncompromising in our commitment to public health, Hughes said in his message addressed to Hokie Nation.

This includes you. We will succeed together  or we will fail together.

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I also dont love how Licorice holds up a mirror to my shortcomings. Forgetting, for a minute, what my love of dogs (who slavishly adore you) over cats (who decidedly do not) says about my level of emotional neediness.

Ninety-five per cent of the time, when I approach him  sometimes crawling across the wood floor to him, slowly, and with half-closed eyes, so as not to be intimidating  his response is to shrug, and saunter off in whatever direction I am not in. Its such a steady stream of rejection, its like being back in Year 7.

What a privilege it is, to have an animal  an entirely different species to you, in a home with no other species like itself  trust you.

Because while I now cup Licorices sweet black face  with ears that magically pivot like a submarines periscope  with reverence, as though hes gods gift to living creatures, he, well, lets just say that he does not respond in kind.

There is also the matter of my main fear that proceeded getting a cat, besides the extra work one would entail. We had just renovated our house, and  Ill say it  I didnt want it scratched to hell.

Do I like that Im the kind of person that cares that much about their stuff? I snapped to my daughter, one day, after Licorice scratched the back of our newly refurbished 1960s sofa. No, I do not. But this is who I am, this is. Its cooked, I said, gesturing wildly to my torso, but referring to my inner desires that, after three kids  and the sacrifice parenting entails  have become more and more feverish about getting what's mine.

Hes really growing to love you, my 13-year-old son said to me the other day, while we patted Licorice. Jasper looked up at me with kind, but imploring eyes. Both he and his sister have expressed the fear that I might give Licorice away, one day, because of my frustrations with him.

But I would no sooner do that, than I would move to Afghanistan, and tell them so.

Because I love my family. And, though its not how I wanted a pet to be, I love Licorice. For five minutes, on most days, when Licorice laps water out of my cupped hands in the shower, I feel like all is right with the world. What a privilege it is, to have an animal  an entirely different species to you, in a home with no other species like itself  trust you. And, especially when it's such a discerning one.
- CS Matiang'i claimed NTV Kenya suggested in its news bulletin he called for Ruto's resignation when he appeared before the Senate security committee

- He said the news item was based on misrepresentation and could potentially cause friction within the Executive

- The CS, Kinoti and Mutyambai had been summoned to explain circumstances surrounding arrests of senators Malala, Lelengwe and Lang'at

The Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i has termed as false and malicious media reports that he called for the resignation of Deputy President William Ruto.

NTV Kenya allegedly suggested in its news bulletin on Wednesday, August 19, that Matiang'i demanded for Ruto's ouster when he appeared before the Senate security committee.

READ ALSO: Matiang'i makes reshuffle in Interior Ministry after consultations with Uhuru Kenyatta

Fred Matiang'i (middle) flanked by DCI boss George Kinoti and police inspector Hillary Mutyambai during the Senate meeting. He denied calling for Ruto's resignation. Photo: Fred Matiang'i.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Aisha Langoni: Late ex-Changamwe MP's daughter dies 2 weeks after her father succumbed to COVID-19

Misinterpretation

In a statement through his ministry, the CS said the news item was based on misrepresentation and could potentially cause friction between his office and that of the DP's if not corrected.

"The unverified report is a misrepresentation of the true record of the proceedings readily and publicly available, even to NTV, in Parliament's Hansard records. The net effect of such fabrications can cause disharmony in the executive arm of government,"the ministry stated.

Consequently, Matiang's instructed his lawyer to take up the matter with a view to seeking legal redress.

"The ministry is also aware that the Cabinet secretary has referred the matter to his lawyers for further action," the ministry added.

READ ALSO: Retired bishop Silas Yego's properties to be auctioned over KSh 143M debt

READ ALSO: Marc Jurado: Barca youngster hints he has joined Man United

Senate summon

Matinag'i, Directorate of Criminal Investigation boss George Kinoti and Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai had been summoned by the Yusuf Haji-led committee.

The three were invited to explain circumstances under which Senators Cleophas Malala (Kakamega), Steve Lelengwe (Samburu) and Christopher Lagat (Bomet) were arrested on Monday, August 16.

They were first summoned on the day of the arrest but Matiang'i told the team he was on recess which President Uhuru Kenyatta granted all Cabinet members.

READ ALSO: Mike Sonko says Ruto, Raila combination would be sure bet to State House

However, he joined his ICT colleague Joe Mucheru at the launch of a boda boda information management system as part of the wider reaching reforms to organise the sector.

When he finally honoured the invite following senators' protests, he reportedly asked to be grilled behind the camera.

As a result, journalists who carried their tools of trade to the parliament building had to switch off their cameras after being turned away.

What are you doing here? I dont remember inviting you here, go back we will call you later, Yusuf said.

Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news.

My grandmother sold me to men for beans and maize in exchange for sex | Tuko TV.

Source: TUKO.co.ke
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 20

By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend:

Representatives of Uzbek BMB Trade Group held a video conference with Abdul Aziz Al Qusaire, the head of Saudi Qusaire company, Trend reports citing Dunyo News Agency.

The sides discussed issues on introducing Uzbek products to the Saudi Arabian market and implementation of joint investment projects.

"Earlier, Al Qusaire took part in international business forums and exhibitions and held talks with a number of officials of Uzbekistan in 2019, as a result of which memorandums on implementation of investment projects worth $550 million were signed," the report said.

During the videoconference, Al Qusaire expressed readiness to cooperate with BMB Trade Group in development of export-import operations and implementation of investment projects.

Initially, it is planned to start with export of dried fruits such as raisins, dry apricots, almonds and nuts, from Uzbekistan to Saudi Arabia.

Following the negotiations, the sides reached an agreement to start exporting dried fruits in the nearest future.

---

Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini
Former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.), in her longest public remarks since suffering a severe brain injury in a 2011 assassination attempt, addressed the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday night with a call to action for voters seeking to end gun violence in America: "We can let the shooting continue, or we can act."

Why it matters: The third night of the DNC began with a strong emphasis on policy  first gun control, with appearances from Parkland Shooting survivor Emma Gonzalez and the parents of gun violence victims, and then climate change. Both consistently rank as key issues for young voters.

What they're saying: "I've known the darkest of days. ... Words once came easily; today I struggle with speech. But I have not lost my voice," Giffords said. "America needs all of us to speak out, even when you have to fight to find the words. We are at a crossroads. We can let the shooting continue or we can act."

"We can protect our families, our future. We can vote. We can be on the right side of history. We must elect Joe Biden. He was there for me, he'll be there for you too," Giffords said.

"Join us in this fight. Vote, vote, vote," Giffords concluded.

Between the lines: Democrats are unlikely to successfully pass gun control legislation under a Biden administration unless they reclaim the Senate and alter the chamber's rules to ban filibusters.
WHO official says COVID-19 situation in Lebanon "dangerous"

Iman al-Shankiti, World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Lebanon, warned on Wednesday that the COVID-19 situation in Lebanon is very "dangerous."

"The only solution is for people to take responsible and serious measures as recommended by WHO," al-Shankiti said, according to Elnashra news website.

Al-Shankiti explained that WHO has discussed with the health minister a plan to convert some hospitals into establishments dedicated to the treatment of COVID-19 and assign a special tariff for the treatment of the virus.

Also, field hospitals and medical teams which arrived in Lebanon to treat the injured people from the explosions that rocked Beirut's port on Aug. 4 will cooperate with governmental hospitals to increase hospitalization capacity.

The WHO official noted that people's negligence by not taking proper measures and the opening of the airport contributed in increasing the number of infections.

"We should all cooperate together to be able to reach satisfying results," she said.
For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL  August 20, 2020  Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses Airline, including American Airlines Group Inc. AAL, Southwest Airlines Co. LUV, Delta Air Lines, Inc. DAL, United Airlines Holdings, Inc. UAL and Alaska Air Group, Inc. ALK.

Link: https://www.zacks.com/commentary/1043877/airline-industrys-near-term-outlook-drab-due-to-coronavirus-woes

The Zacks Airline industry houses companies engaged in the transport of passengers and cargoes to various destinations across the globe. Most operators maintain a fleet comprising multiple mainline jets in addition to several regional planes. They operate with the help of their regional airline subsidiaries and third-party regional carriers. The industry participants make use of their respective cargo divisions for providing a wide range of freight and mail services.

The space includes legacy carriers like American Airlines, low-cost players, such as Southwest Airlines and regional operators, namely SkyWest. Within the low-cost segment, there are ultra low-cost carriers like Spirit Airlines.

Lets take a look at the industrys three major themes:

The Airline industry has been one of the worst-hit corners in the investing space due to the coronavirus pandemic that diminished passenger revenues. In fact, woes related to this deadly health peril had a much more severe impact on the recently released airlines second-quarter 2020 results than on the March-quarter earnings release. This was because the entire three-month period (April to June) bore the brunt of the meltdown in air-travel demand compared to only one month (March) in the last reported quarter. Due to shrinking top lines, heavyweight airlines including Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and United Airlines incurred losses in the June quarter. The million-dollar question after such a disappointing performance is whether the airline stocks can turn things around in their favor. The answer is unfortunately an emphatic no, at least in the remainder of the year. The spike in the coronavirus cases in some parts of the United States offset the improvement in air-travel demand witnessed since late May. For example, Southwest Airlines expects operating revenues for August to plunge 70-80% year over year as bookings decreased while trip cancellations increased.

Per the International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecast released in June, the aviation industry is estimated to suffer losses to the tune of $84.3 billion in the current year due to the coronavirus-induced crisis, which is indicative of bearing $230 million of loss per day (on average). With passengers still hesitating to board flights as they stand the risk of contracting the disease from their fellow flyers, the research firm anticipates that passengers taking to the skies will almost be halved to 2.25 billion (roughly equal to the levels recorded way back in 2006). Moreover, the industry is projected to lose $37.54 per passenger in the current year. Also, passenger revenues are predicted to tank more than 150% from the last-year levels to $241 billion. Further, load factor (% of seats filled by passengers) is anticipated to decline to 62.7% in 2020 from 82.5% recorded in 2019. The metric is expected to fall as the overall traffic decrease (54.7%) will exceed the capacity contraction of 40.4%.

The focus of most airlines on operating cargo-only flights in the face of drained passenger revenues is praiseworthy. Evidently, cargo revenues surged 36.3% year over year in the United Airlines during the June quarter. IATA expects cargo revenues to account for 26% of the aviation industrys top line in 2020 compared with a mere 12% in 2019. Cargo revenues are expected to increase 8.2% year over year to $110.8 billion in 2020 Low fuel prices also provide some relief to this beleaguered industrys stocks. The recent updates on cash burn by some carriers are also encouraging. Evidently, Alaska Air Group expects cash burn to improve to less than $125 million in August from approximately $175 million in July.

Story continues

Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Dim Outlook

The Zacks Airline industry is a 28-stock group within the broader Zacks Transportation sector. The industry currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #240, which places it in the bottom 5% of more than 250 Zacks industries.

The groups Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates dull near-term prospects. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperforms the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

The industrys positioning in the bottom 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries is a result of a negative earnings outlook for the constituent companies in aggregate.

Industry Lags Sector & S&P 500

The Zacks Airline industry has lagged the broader Zacks Transportation Sector as well as the Zacks S&P 500 composite over the past year.

The industry has declined 41.1% over this period against the broader sector and the S&P 500s increase of 5.4% and 15.8%, respectively.

Industrys Current Valuation

On the basis of the trailing 12-month enterprise value-to-EBITDA (EV/EBITDA), which is a commonly used multiple for valuing airline stocks, the industry is currently trading at 15.23X compared with the S&P 500s 12.78X. It is also above the sectors trailing-12-month EV/EBITDA of 10.29X.

Over the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 15.7X, as low as 3.22X and at the median of 5.63X.

Bottom Line

The near-term prospects of the airline industry appear to be dismal due to the massive slump in passenger revenues, thanks to tepid demand for air travel. In fact, IATA believes that global passenger traffic will not return to the pre-COVID-19 levels before 2024.

Moreover, the financial aid under the CARES act protects jobs at the airlines only through Sep 30, 2020. In fact, many airlines already warned of job cuts post the above date as they are grappled with the problem of overstaffing due to depressed revenues. In fact, airlines are looking at various avenues including more government funding to stay afloat. Per a Reuters report, airlines are seeking a six-month extension of the payroll support program as the desired rebound in air travel is no way a near-term possibility. Moreover, many leading carriers signed the letters of intent pertaining to their share of the $25-billion federal loan under the CARES Act.

Amid this economic gloom, the focus on cargo revenues and the fall in oil prices bode well for the industry participants as they devise plans to combat this unprecedented crisis.

Although the above-mentioned headwinds are likely to weigh on the near-term outlook, we are presenting three stocks from the industry, namely Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion, S.A.B. de C.V., Southwest Airlines and American Airlines. While Controladora Vuela presently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), Southwest Airlines and American Airlines currently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.



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Parliaments monsoon session, which is expected to commence from September 10, is likely to be stormy as the Congress plans to raise issues like the border standoff with China in Ladakh and Facebooks alleged nexus with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), party functionaries aware of the matter said. The Congress is also likely to target the government over the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, the economic crisis it has aggravated, job losses, and agrarian distress.

A Congress functionary said the party would demand a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the border row, especially after his remarks at the June 19 all-party meeting that there have been no intrusions by Chinese forces into Indian territory in Ladakh.

The Congress attacked Modi for refraining from naming China in his Independence Day speech, saying the government should tell the people how it proposes to push back the Chinese forces occupying Indian territory.

Military talks on reducing tensions along the disputed border in Ladakh have hit a roadblock with India adopting a tougher line in its efforts to restore status quo ante. The tensions escalated in June when 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a clash with Chinese troops.

Also Read: In absence of Parliament session, social activists start consultation on key policy issues

The functionary said they will also demand a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the Wall Street Journal report last week that claimed Facebooks Indian staff ignored its rules in handling hate speech by BJP politicians. The Congress has alleged an unholy nexus between Facebook and the BJP.

The Congress wrote to Facebooks founder Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday saying the social media company may be a willing participant in thwarting the rights and values Indias founding leaders had sacrificed their lives for. It called for an investigation into the report.

The functionary said the Congress will also take on the government over its mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic. When Rahul Gandhi flagged the issue as early as February, he was ridiculed by the BJP. See, where we stand now. We have become the third country in the world to cross over two million Covid-19 cases. We also saw an ill-conceived lockdown that resulted in a huge economic crisis and massive job losses, he said on condition of anonymity. The government has to tell us why and how it failed in containing the pandemic.

The functionary said the party will also raise the issues of job losses, agrarian distress, and the economic crisis. We will also seek a discussion on the PM Cares Fund in the wake of the Prime Ministers Office denying information [on it under the]...RTI [Right to Information Act]...We have been demanding transparency in the fund as it does not belong to any individual but the country.

The Centre set up the fund on March 28 as a public charitable trust with the primary objective of dealing with any kind of emergency or distress situation such as the Covid-19 pandemic. It is unclear how much money it has raised.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a plea seeking the transfer of money collected for the fund to the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF). A three-judge bench held the situation because of the Covid-19 and the requirement of financial resources to deal with the pandemic have necessitated the establishment of the fund and the court cannot object to it. The Congress criticised the order. It has said the fund is not transparent and questioned the need for a PM Cares fund when NDRF exists.

The Congress will also raise the issue of the sale of 32 Public Sector Undertakings and handing over railways and airports to private parties. The functionary said the party will talk to other like-minded opposition parties to present a united front in Parliament on all critical issues confronting the country. We will meet soon to firm up our Parliament strategy.

The monsoon session, which usually starts in mid-July, has been deferred due to the pandemic, which led to a sweeping federal lockdown from March 25. It is expected to be short. Unprecedented logistics and infrastructure arrangements will be in place during the session. The arrangements will include ultraviolet germicidal irradiation in air-conditioning systems to kill or inactivate microorganisms, 10 display screens for live proceedings, earmarked seats for top leaders, and special communication cables linking both Houses.

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But its not lost on her that discussions about school police are relatively new to Northside, one of the districts most selective high schools, where no students have been arrested on school grounds since 2017. More than 30% of Northside students are white, whereas the district overall is only 11% white, 36% Black and 47% Hispanic or Latino.
Sushant Singh Rajput's death case has taken a new turn after the Supreme Court ordered the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) to probe the case. As per the latest reports, the CBI investigation team recently reached Mumbai on Thursday (August 20, 2020). However, nothing much has been revealed about the investigation team and its members, so far.

To the uninitiated, the Supreme Court directed the Sushant Singh Rajput's death case to the CBI on August 19, 2020. The single-judge bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy also asked the Mumbai police to co-operate with the CBI inquiry and handover all the evidence collected to the new investigation team.

Sushant Singh Rajput's Death Case: Supreme Court Orders CBI Inquiry

The CBI investigation team is expected to start the probe on Sushant Singh Rajput's death case very soon. Reportedly, Mumbai Police Commissioner, Param Bir Singh attended a meeting with Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Thursday, in connection with the actor's death case. The Maharastra state government has ensured that all evidence will be handed over to the CBI team, very soon.

As per the updates, the CBI has registered FIR against Rhea Chakraborty and others immediately after the Central government accepted Bihar government's recommendation to transfer the case. More details on the CBI investigation is expected to be revealed soon.

Worried about your mental well-being or of someone you know? Help is just a call away. Reach out to the nearest mental health specialist at COOJ Mental Health Foundation (COOJ)- 0832-2252525, Parivarthan- +91 7676 602 602, Connecting Trust- +91 992 200 1122/+91-992 200 4305 or Sahai- 080-25497777/ SAHAIHELPLINE@GMAIL.COM

Also Read:

Swara Bhaskar Hopes The CBI Will Be Allowed To Conduct An Impartial Probe Of Sushant's Case

Sushant Singh Rajput Case: Director Rumi Jaffery's Statement Recorded By Enforcement Directorate
Craig Syphax of Arlington is one of the descendants of Arlington House slaves who requested Beyer take action. The Syphax family traces its roots to both Mount Vernon and Arlington House. In 1821, Charles Syphax married Maria Carter in a ceremony at Arlington House. It is now generally acknowledged that the unusual honor granted to that slave wedding is because Maria Carter was the illegitimate daughter of Parke Custis and a slave named Arianna Carter. Parke Custis later granted freedom to Maria Syphax and her children, and set aside 17 acres on the property for her family to live. Generations of Syphaxes achieved prominence in a variety of fields.
Marilane Carter, pastors wife who went missing, likely died of carbon monoxide poisoning: police

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Authorities said that the woman found in a vehicle who is believed to be Marilane Carter, the wife of Pastor Adam Carter who went missing in early August after struggling mentally, died from asphyxiation due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Information gathered from family members concerning her mental and emotional state during her final communications along with facts gathered from the scene have led investigators to believe that Marilane Carter drove the vehicle into the container and in doing so caused her demise, said the Crittenden County Sheriffs Office on Wednesday, according to Fox 4.

A positive identification of the body is still pending but a woman was found inside Carters vehicle, along with her purse and credit cards, in a shipping container in a West Memphis, Arkansas, field near the Mississippi River. The Crittenden County Sheriffs Office said the ignition was in the run position and theres evidence the engine had been running inside the container, leading them to their initial cause of death. Authorities do not suspect foul play.

The Overland Park Police Department said the 36-year-old pastors wife, who graduated from Samford Universitys Beeson Divinity School and was a mother of three young children, was last seen by her family around 8:15 p.m. on Aug. 1. She left her home that day to go to Birmingham, where her parents and sister live, al.com reported.

In a message posted to Facebook on Aug. 5, Marilane Carters brother-in-law, Paul Carter, said she had been considering getting psychiatric help when she left.

Over this past weekend (August 1st & 2nd), Marilane has been desiring to receive psychiatric help. She has not been seen since Saturday evening and has not been heard from since Sunday evening. She was last heard from in the Memphis, Tennessee area. Her intent was to get to Birmingham, Alabama. She was driving her 2011 dark grey GMC Acadia with Kansas plates 194 LFY, Paul Carter wrote.

Police first tracked her to Rolla, Missouri, where Carter stopped at a McDonalds, then she checked in to a hotel in West Plains, Missouri Fox 4 reported. Carter stayed there for just over two hours before checking out.

She later stopped at a convenience store in Hazen, Arkansas, then she traveled east to West Memphis where she was recorded on a gas station surveillance camera on Aug. 2.

Police said over the weekend, family members traveled to West Memphis to help search the Mississippi River and the surrounding area. They would eventually leave without success but her uncle stayed behind to continue looking.

On Tuesday, he was reportedly driving and walking around the area where Carters phone last pinged when he came across three big shipping containers in a field. The door on one of the containers was open and when he looked inside, he found Carters vehicle with a body in the drivers seat.

In a tribute to her sister, McKenzie wrote that "Marilane's faith in the Lord was always very important to her. Honestly, I don't know what any of us would do without that right now. She clung to her faith to the very end. The only way we can have peace in this is because we know she is safe with Jesus, and He makes all things new."
The murdered man

One Haruna Yau popularly known as Dangaru, has been arrested by the police in Kano state for allegedly killing his friend, Sani Ibrahim, following a disagreement over N500.

According to reports, the incident happened at Dan Tsinke Quarters of Tarauni Local Government Area on Monday, August 16.

Family members of the deceased said Ibrahim had given one of his friends, Aminu Ahmad, N500, and sent him on an errand but that Aminu decided to use the money for himself. An argument ensued when late Ibrahim asked for his money or the item. Haruna who is friends with late Ibrahim, arrived at the scene and took sides with Aminu. Both men got involved in a fight and in the process, Haruna picked up a pair of scissors and stabbed Ibrahim.

Ibrahim was rushed to the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano, where he was pronounced dead.

The mother of the deceased, Zainab Ismaila, said justice must prevail as her deceased son was the only one catering for her and his other sisters. She said he was based in Port Harcourt where he sold iron scraps and was only waiting for her permission to return to Port Harcourt when he was killed.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, said the alleged killer has been arrested and would be charged to court once the investigation into the case has been completed.
Sri Lanka's new parliament opened its first session Thursday with a murderer and an accused killer among its ranks

Sri Lanka's president vowed Wednesday to abolish a controversial constitutional provision restricting his powers as he opened a new parliamentary session following his party's sweeping election victory.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his elder brother, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, campaigned for voters to give their party a two-thirds parliamentary majority in the August 5 poll so they could roll back reforms brought in by the previous administration.

Their Sri Lanka Podujana Party (SLPP) won 145 seats and secured the support of six allies, one seat more than the minimum number needed to change the constitution in the 225-seat legislature.

"The people have given us the mandate we wanted for a constitutional amendment," Rajapaksa said in his address to parliament, adding it would be "our first task".

He also repeated a previous assertion, without giving further details, that he wanted an entirely new constitution to replace the current one introduced in 1978 when Sri Lanka changed to a presidential system.

The Rajapaksa brothers are adored by the Sinhala-Buddhist majority for spearheading the defeat of Tamil separatist militants in 2009 to end the bloody 37-year civil war when Mahinda was president and Gotabaya was secretary to the ministry of defence.

But they have also attracted criticism from the international community, with the security services they controlled accused of war crimes committed in the final months of the conflict.

Mahinda was ousted from the presidency after a decade in power when he lost the 2015 elections.

But with Gotabaya's election in the November 2019 presidential poll, and his appointment of Mahinda as PM, analysts warn that the brothers would try to ensure they do not lose power again.

- Murderer, accused killer in new parliament -

Gotabaya's remarks came as the new parliament opened its first session Thursday with a murderer and an accused killer among its ranks.

Story continues

One member of the new legislature was convicted of murder only after nominations closed for the August 5 polls -- allowing him to run for a seat -- while another is awaiting trial.

Premalal Jayasekara, a returning MP from the ruling SLPP, was found guilty in the killing of a political activist in 2015.

Jayasekara -- who did not appear in person for the first parliamentary session -- is appealing against the verdict as well as the death sentence he was given.

He is the first convicted murderer to serve as an MP in Sri Lanka, where there is no provision under the law to disqualify him until he serves six months behind bars.

Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, in parliament for the first time after winning a seat for a minor party in an alliance with the SLPP, was escorted from prison to attend Thursday's parliamentary session.

He is awaiting trial for allegedly killing a legislator during a 2005 Christmas mass.

Brushes with the law are no bar to a career in politics in South Asia.

More than 40 percent of lawmakers in neighbouring India's parliament face criminal charges -- some as serious as murder and rape - according to an electoral reform group, the Association of Democratic Reforms.

aj/grk/fox
Several prominent Indian-Americans have applauded Kamala Harris formally becoming the Democratic Party nominee to be the US vice-president, describing it as a historic moment in American politics and a quantum leap forward for the community. Harris, 55, scripted history on Wednesday by becoming the first Black and Indian descent individual to be nominated as a vice-presidential candidate of a major political party.

Kamalas story is the American story. Her acceptance of the vice-presidential nomination is a quantum leap forward for Indian-Americans, showing that we are taking our place in American history books, said Neil Makhija, executive director of IMPACT, a leading Indian American advocacy organisation.

After four years of incendiary anti-immigrant rhetoric coming from the White House, this milestone is a welcome moment that immigrant communities of all backgrounds can celebrate, he said.

Asian Americans are the fastest-growing bloc in the country, and Kamalas candidacy is energising and mobilising our communities in a way that will have lasting reverberations for decades to come, Makhija said.

Eminent Indian-American and Democratic fundraiser Frank Islam said that Kamala Harris is not only a great choice from an electoral standpoint but also a morally sound choice.

Kamala Harris is galvanising the African American community, Indian Americans and women in general, he said.

In 2016, America had a chance to elect a woman as the commander in chief. Now the country gets to elect a woman of colour  an African American and Indian American woman  as its Vice President. I am confident that this time around, America will get it right, Islam said.

Describing it as truly historic moment for Indian-Americans community leader Ajay Bhutoria from California said that it gives the community great pride and joy to be able to witness this important moment in history.

No matter where your parents come from, no matter what race, religion you belong to, if you work hard and have the right values and character you can rise to become the vice president and one day the President of the United States. Everything is possible for people who work hard in this country. Merit is recognised and rewarded, he said.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have the experience and leadership to lead us out of the economic and healthcare crisis which the Trump administration has burdened us with, Bhutoria said. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are the right partners who will move America forward and bring India and the US closer. Under their leadership Indo US relations will be Stronger Together! he added. This was a historic moment for the entire community, a profound reminder of just how far the diaspora has travelled in American public life in such a short amount of time, Ronak D Desai, a scholar at Harvard Universitys Lakshmi Mittal South Asia Institute, said. Although this is the latest milestone for the Indian-American community, it will certainly not be the last, he said.

Senator Harris proudly declared that her Indian heritage is an integral part of who she is, that her progress is the communitys progress and that her story is the story of both the American dream and the Indian diaspora. It is so utterly remarkable and yet so familiarly common at the same time, Desai said.

The story of Dr Shyamla Gopalan, Harris mother, and the ways she shaped her daughter is a poignant one that resonates deeply with the Indian-American community, he said, adding her journey is the communitys journey. And her daughter represents the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of so many within the community, Desai said.
Credit - Davis: Taniacontrasto/Redux; Shahidi: Courtesy Yara Shahidi

Actor and activist Yara Shahidi was born in 2000, three decades after Angela Davis began wielding her platform as a UCLA professor for radical activism. But their generational gap hasnt stopped them from becoming friends or uniting in their efforts to dismantle white supremacy. The pair reconvened on Zoom to discuss the global nature of their struggle and the value of voting, regardless of ideology.

Yara Shahidi: Dr. Davis, I know its been almost a year since our last meeting, and so much has come to light in that time. Many people are talking about how unprecedented what were going through is, when, in reality, there have been generations of precedent set. What is the importance of opening the conversation to involve many generations?

Angela Davis: It seems like this is the moment weve been struggling to reach for many decades. Its an extraordinary momentand when conjunctures like this happen, they happen almost serendipitously. But if we have been doing the organizing work over the decades, then we can seize the moment.

But at the same time, I think were formulating questions and addressing issues in ways that ought to have happened in the immediate aftermath of slavery. Were doing today what should have been started 150 years ago. Of course, beginning to eliminate or even minimize the impacts of racism on structures and institutions in our society is going to require a great deal of labor: intellectual labor, activist labor.

The focus has largely been on Black people. Im glad about this. But we should also acknowledge how essential it is to understand racism against indigenous people, and what you might call the unholy alliance of colonialism and slavery-produced, racist state violence. So that when we examine all the complex ways in which anti-Black racism expresses itself in this country, we also should look at anti-indigenous and anti-Latinx state violence.

Story continues

YS: It makes me think back to that event at the Underground Museum [when they first met], and how impactful it was for me as a high schooler to have a globalist perspective in regard to connecting our struggles here to our communities globally. Right now is another moment in which were witnessing a world visibly in crisis after generations of colonialism and imperialism. I was wondering, when facing what seems like many a problem, how we go about fighting for them all? Is there a perspective we can help cultivate that allows us to simultaneously dismantle systems of white supremacy that have happened globally?

AD: From the time I was very young, from the earliest period of my activism, I became convinced that our work has to be global. This insight came to me when I was in Paris for the first time. I was in college, and I went to France in search of a place without racism: I thought I would find Liberte, egalite, fraternite. Instead, what I found was the Algerian revolution. I joined demonstrations against the French government in support of their liberation.

In this country, Its difficult to persuade people to think about what is happening in Brazil, or Africa, or the Middle East, because such a U.S.-centric focus has been encouraged. But I think this crisis of COVID-19 and the fact that almost all of our public interactions are happening virtually allows us to understand how easy it is to be connected to what is going on in other places. I think we can learn a great deal from listening to people who are involved in other struggles.

YS: I go back to the words of James Baldwin, when he talked about how one of the greatest sins of white supremacy was taking away our global language and our ability to communicate with one another, making it harder to actively disassemble these common evils and racisms. I think what youve said about being virtual is also something my generation is trying to utilize to the best of its ability. It feels like I and some of my peers have received great benefit from being in direct connection with one another on social media, regardless of where we are. At the same time, social media also has the tendency to allow us to disappear things as trends pop up and then fade. Something Im trying to figure out is how we maintain consistent touchpoints and sustain conversations.

AD: Social media is very important. Unlike you, my formative years were not spent with these new technologies. My experience as an organizer involves knocking on peoples doors. Ill never forget when H. Rap Brown was in jail, we raised $100,000 for his bail by going door to door in Los Angeles, largely in South Central, asking people to donate coins! That sounds prehistoric at this point.

But its still important to try to encourage that kind of contact. I know how important it was back in 2014, when Ferguson happened, for people involved in the BLM movement to visit Palestine: To witness with their own eyes what was happening in occupied Palestine, after the Palestinians were the first to express solidarity with them.

I think Its so important to utilize the technologyto use it as opposed to allowing the technology using us. As a friend of mine pointed out many years ago, how many likes you have is not necessarily an indication of the organizing work youve done.

YS: I can look at every photo Ive posted and see how many people have shared it. It then creates a hierarchy of what we think makes an impact rather than what actually does. One question I had tangentially: Being a part of the social media world is often how one develops a political opinion. Do you have guidance for young people developing an opinion now, on how to develop a non-reactionary politic?

AD: As a person involved in education for the vast majority of my life, its so important to not to confuse information with knowledge. In this day and age, we all walk around with these cell phones that give us access to a vast amount of information. But that does not mean as a result that we are educated. Education relies precisely on learning the capacity to formulate questionswhat we call critical thinking. Learning how to raise questions not only about the most complicated issues, but about the seemingly simplest issues, so important.

This is one of the reasons I find the trans movement so important. When one learns how to question the validity of the binary notion of gender, one is questioning that which has persistently been the most normal context of peoples lives. The work of ideology happens in those seemingly normal spaces.

This is also why the police-abolition campaign has been so important. Prisons and the police state are assumed to have been with us forever. So we begin to ask questions about how we address issues of harm without replicating the violence: how we create safety by not resorting to the same tools of violence that are responsible for us being unsafe.

YS: I love the wording of questioning the most simple. This summer, I was going through an African philosophy canon, and what it highlighted for me is these Euro-centric or U.S.-centric norms that have been established. For readers who are submersed in Western media, are there other texts we should be turning to subvert these norms?

AD: Im reading this book now thats on my desk: Francoise Verges A Decolonial Feminism. Speaking of which, I know youre passionate about feminism. Im interested in how that passion is expressed in the social-justice work youve been doing over the last period.

YS: At first, my interest came from, How do I interrogate my own identity? I realized for so long that the primary prism through which I viewed most things was through being a brown and Black person in the world. Its been an ongoing process of being more honest in my experience and the ways my identities layer on top of each other. What does it look like to structure a movement strong enough to hold many of our truths in one, while still actively dismantling the lack of equity that is often tied to presenting as a woman?

How has the hetero-normative tradition influenced the rest of our trajectory? While I do voting work, what does that mean to know that the solutions presented to us on the ballot arent perfect? How do I engage with voting while engaging with this larger movement of equity in these spaces?

AD: So, how do you?

YS: The conclusion Ive come to is that it is by no means the only means of civic engagement. It is actively necessary to engage throughout the year in whatever way -possibleand the months of continued protests have helped nuance this conversation. There can no longer be this binary of whether to vote or not is the difference between having an equitable society and not.

AD: Or to assume there has to be a perfect candidate in order for us to participate in the electoral process. I was severely criticized when I suggested during the last election that we all needed to vote, even though the candidate was not the one we wanted. It was a difference between a candidate that would allow our movements to flourish, which would also include being extremely critical of that candidate once she was elected to officeor be faced with the alternative we have experienced. Im someone who historically has not been excited at all about the electoral arena. I was excited only to the extent I knew how important achieving the right to vote was, because I myself wasnt able to register in my home state of Alabama when I first attempted to. I always tended to vote for the other parties: The Communitist Party, the Peace and Freedom Party.

Now, and I hope I havent gotten less radical in my framework, but I think that we vote for our own capacity to continue to do the work that will bring about change. Individuals dont change history or create transformative moments. Every major change in this country has been a consequence of a kind of collective imagination. So we have to ask, Will this candidate enable that kind of arena or shut it down? In a sense, when we vote, were either voting for ourselves or against ourselves.

YS: I love the term imagination. One of the strategies of white supremacy is to take away the potential of the Black imaginary. Were in a moment right now of world buildingin which its time to build a world not based on precedent, or even in reaction to the systems that have been set up, but truly independent, based on these values of equity.

So I view this election as an opportunity to reclaim our space for imagination. We know the people we vote for will not be perfect, but we will dedicate our time to actively critiquing and moving forward. We know at the very least, that overt white supremacy wont be sanctioned. Not to say it wont be allowed. There just may be more space for us.

Moderated by Andrew R. Chow
Coronavirus: Greece, concerns over outbreaks in hospitals Restrictions in Mykonos and Chalkidiki peninsula

(ANSAmed) - ROME, AUGUST 20 - Health authorities in Greece are alarmed after an increase in Covid-19 cases in some hospitals, forcing all personnel to return from their vacations to take coronavirus tests before returning to work. According to Greek daily Kathimerini, at least 20 cases were registered in two hospitals in Larissa, in central Greece, while 14 others were reported at Ahepa hospital in Thessaloniki, which is closed until Saturday for disinfection procedures. Other infections have been reported in other health facilities in the city. In August thus far, a total of 70 health workers have tested positive for the virus. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis discussed the situation in a teleconference with health authorities, and called for strict respect of protocols. However, Kathimerini reported that the health ministry directive on tests upon reentry from vacation isn't easy to implement, because many small hospitals have to conduct the tests in external facilities. On Wednesday, the Hellenic National Health Organization (EODY) reported 217 new cases, of which 16 were found at the border, and three deaths. The total number of cases in Greece currently stands at 7,684, with 235 deaths. The increase in cases brought new restrictions in two of the most popular tourist areas in Greece, Mykonos and the Chalkidiki peninsula, in the north. Starting Friday and through August 31, religious processions, festivals, open markets, and gatherings of more than nine people are prohibited, both public and private. Face masks are required in all public outdoor and indoor spaces across Mykonos and the Chalkidiki region.(ANSAmed). (ANSA).




And I certainly dont think of the many similar signs in our neighborhood as an endorsement of Marxism, as some conservative opponents maintain. They base this claim on the political orientation of two of the founders of the Black Lives Matter Global Network and a portion of their what we believe page that says, We disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and villages that collectively care for one another.
Hashem Abedi, 23, was convicted of murder, attempted murder and conspiring to cause explosions.

The brother of a suicide bomber who killed 22 people at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, northwest England, in 2017 was on Thursday jailed for life.

Judge Jeremy Baker said Hashem Abedi, who was convicted in March of murder, attempted murder and conspiring to cause explosions, would spend a minimum of 55 years in prison.

Abedi, 23, refused to attend the two-day hearing at the Central Criminal Court in London, which saw emotional statements from families of victims of the May 22, 2017 attack.

Judge Baker said even though Abedis 22-year-old brother Salman carried out the bombing at the Manchester Arena, he was an integral part of its preparation.

He condemned the ISIL (ISIS) armed group-inspired attack  one of the worst on British soil in which hundreds of people were injured  as abhorrent to most followers of Islam.

The defendant and his brother were equally culpable for the deaths and injuries caused, he told the court.





The stark reality is that these were atrocious crimes, large in their scale, deadly in their intent, and appalling in their consequences.

The despair and desolation of the bereaved families has been palpable, he said, paying tribute to the tremendous dignity and courage of the victims and their families.

The judge said Abedi could not be given a whole-life term  ensuring he would never be released  because he was aged under 21 at the time of the offences.

But he said a whole-life term would have been a just sentence.

The more than three years that Abedi has already spent in custody would count towards the sentence until he was eligible for parole. But he added: He may never be released.

Prosecutors said Hashem Abedi was in Libya at the time of the attack but he became the first suspect to be extradited from the country to the UK in July 2019.
BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - Switzerland's trade surplus fell slightly in July with both exports and imports growing at slower rates, while the pace of decline in watch exports eased sharply after poor performance in the previous few months due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on global trade. The trade surplus modestly decreased to CHF 2.58 billion from CHF 2.74 billion in June, data from the Swiss Federal Customs Administration showed Thursday. In real terms, exports grew for a second straight month, up 2.3 percent year-on-year after a 8.1 percent increase in the previous month. Imports rose for a third month, up 1.1 percent following a 5.1 percent climb in June. The results remained sharply below the monthly levels in the same period last year, the agency said. Passenger car imports continued to gain traction and demand for chemicals and pharmaceuticals increased. Exports to Asia and North America grew by 5 percent each, the agency said. Elsewhere, data from the Federation of Swiss Watch Industry reported that watch exports declined 17 percent year-on-year in July, which was much slower than the 35.1 percent fall logged in June. Demand from China posted a second consecutive month of very strong growth, 59.1 percent, signaling the early recovery in this market and the gradual resumption of domestic rather than foreign sales. Exports to the United States were stable with a modest fall of 0.6 percent. Shipments to Hong Kong, Germany, Italy, France and Japan decreased. Meanwhile, demand from the UK grew 2.5 percent. 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 Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, says the lingering banditry in the North-West and North-Central Nigeria has an international undertone.

Mr Adamu said this during a town-hall meeting on peace and security held on Wednesday in Zuru, headquarters of Zuru Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

We have realised that most of the banditry has an international dimension. The bandits come from outside the country. We arrested Sudanese, Nigeriens and Malians, among other nationals.

We also believe that because of what is happening in the North-East and the fact that the military troops are doing a great job in the fight against insurgency there, most of the bandits are running toward the North-West of the country and we have evidence.

When we operated in Kaduna, Birnin Gwari, where we attacked a group of bandits, we realised that most of them came from Islamic State of West Africa, who are terrorists, kidnapping for ransom.

So, the issue is not at the level you are looking at it. It is a big issue and we must work together to address it.

This is why President Muhammadu Buhari does not rest because of these complaints coming from the North-West and North-Central on banditry, the IGP said.

He said he came with a high-powered delegation, comprising the heads of the intelligence community in the country.

This is because of the seriousness the president attaches to security and the rising security challenges that are happening in the North-West in particular.

During one of our briefings on security to the president, the issue of insecurity was seriously discussed as it affects the North-West in particular and we saw an emerging trend from Zuru Emirate.

And the president ordered us to move to Zuru and listen to the stakeholders and come up with a solution on how to bring lasting peace in Zuru Emirate and thats why we are here.

The security situation in the North-West, including North-Central, are issues that bordered on kidnapping, banditry and insurgency, he further said.

Mr Adamu urged every Nigerian to see the fight against insecurity as a collective responsibility.

He, therefore, underscored the need for people to continue to furnish the security agencies with genuine, reliable and intelligent information about suspicious elements in society.

He further said: When you look at what happened in Zamfara, it used to be the epicentre of banditry.

When we tried to know the cause of the problem, we identified the cause and we said ok, let us go for (a) solution.

What fuelled insecurity in terms of banditry in Zamfara is what is fuelling insecurity in Katsina and invariably the same here in Kebbi State.

When the situation was so bad in Zamfara, we brought all the stakeholders and, in another development, we met with all the governors from the North-West to Katsina.

A lot was discussed and we realised that Zamfaras situation was caused by the problem of Yan Sa Kai.

This is because there was no control of command of the activities of Yan Sa Kai.

When we moved to Katsina State we wanted to know what had been fuelling the banditry and reprisal attacks.

Again, it was the activities of Yan Sa Kai because they organised themselves genuinely to protect their environment, their communities and their families but there was no command of control, so they went out of control and that is what is happening now in Kebbi State.

Also, the Director-General, State Security Services, Yusuf Magaji-Bichi, appealed to the people of Zuru Emirate to remain calm and peaceful.

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There is no doubt that the people of Zuru are peace-loving, accommodating and determined to achieve results, Mr Magaji-Bichi said.

According to him, the result in this context is to have peace in Zuru Emirate.

If we extend this result to security agencies, I think we shall see light at the end of the tunnel, that means peace will reign in this Emirate by the grace of God Almighty.

On a lighter note, I used to tease the people of Sokoto, especially the elite.

I will always say nowadays we do not have Sokoto people, the learned are gone, everything of theirs is gone, you only have Zuru people or Zamfara people inside Sokoto township, Mr Magaji-Bichi said.

He described Zuru people as accommodating and loving, pointing out that people from Kano reside and do business.

Allegations

Earlier, the President of Miyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Muhammadu Kiruwa, appealed to the security agencies to investigate the extra-judicial killing of 68 Fulani pastoralists in Zuru, Sakaba, Fakai and Dango/Wasagu Local Government Areas under Zuru Emirate.

He alleged that the victims were killed by the Dakarkari Yan Sa kai group this year.

This dastardly act, which started on April 29, continued unabated and no one is being arrested or being held accountable for these killings.

The first murder took place in broad daylight at the premises of the Technical College, Zuru, where eight Fulani people were killed.

This trend continued in the communities of Danko, Maga, Ribah, Joli, Kadurga, Marafa, Kanya, Unashi and Ayyu, where 68 people were killed for no just cause other than being Fulani herders.

This murderous gang is getting bolder and bolder by the day and if care is not taken the crises in these areas might snowball into a larger conflict.

The silence and in-action of the traditional institution, the local and state government to deal with this lawlessness is capable of escalating insecurity in the North-West Region, Mr Kiruwa said.

He, however, said that the association had directed its Kebbi chapter to ensure that its members, affected in one way or the other, exercise restraint and allow the law to take its course.

As a responsible and law-abiding association, we will not allow the situation to deteriorate because we always believe two wrongs do not make a right, the president said.

Counter allegations

In a remark, the Chairman of Yan Sa Kai, Mani Giwa, said that the Zuru people were known for their hospitality and peace-loving attributes.

What is happening in Zuru today is that some people have taken up arms for the past three years, killing our farmers, destroying their farms and houses, raping, kidnapping and displacing them.

The lack of media focus might be the reason our voices were not heard until we resorted to self-defence, he said.

Mr Giwa, who described the emergence of the group as a self-defence group, said they only engage in arresting individuals that had direct or indirect links with criminal gangs.

We are not fighting against MACBAN members, rather we are fighting criminals who cut across all tribes and cultures within and beyond Zuru emirate.

We have agreed to handover any arrested suspect to the appropriate authorities and we will monitor the court proceedings to ensure justice, he said.

He thanked the state government, security agencies and all the traditional rulers for their untiring support and cooperation to Yan Sa Kai.

(NAN)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), center, with Rep. Joe Kennedy, second from left, during an event in Washington in 2017. (Larry French/Getty Images for WS Productions)

Pelosi Endorses Joe Kennedy in Primary Against Incumbent Senator

Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-Mass.) scored a major endorsement in his bid to unseat Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called on voters to choose Kennedy, in a video released by the congressmans campaign on Thursday.

Never before have the times demanded we elect courageous leaders as today. And thats why Im proud to endorse Joe Kennedy for Senate, Pelosi said.

In 2018, when we took back the House, Joe campaigned across America to make that victory possible. He knows that to achieve progressive change, you must be on the front lines, leading movements of people.

She did not mention Markey in the ad.

Kennedy told supporters in a separate clip that he is so grateful to Pelosi for the endorsement.

I am honored, I am touched, I am thrilled for a public servant that I admire so deeply, to have earned her support in this race, he said.

Markey said in a statement to The Epoch Times: Speaker Nancy Pelosi is a tremendous, effective leader who has shattered glass ceilings throughout her career. I had the privilege to work alongside Nancy in the House of Representatives for decades. Any candidate would be proud to have her endorsement, and I congratulate Congressman Kennedy on securing her support.

Voters will choose between Kennedy, 39, and Markey, 74, on Sept. 1. Political handicappers rate the seat solid Democratic, meaning the winner in the primary will likely secure the position.

Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) leaves the U.S. Capitol after the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump was adjourned for the day in Washington on Jan. 29, 2020. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Both candidates have racked up endorsements, highlighting how either one could win.

Markey touts on his website how hes supported by 100 former federal and state government officials, educators, and advocates, as well as groups including MoveOn, the Sierra Club, and the Progressive Democrats of America.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who is not facing re-election, endorsed Markey last year and penned a fundraising email for him last month.

Kennedy has the support of many House colleagues, including Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), the co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Kennedys announcement last year that he would run for the Senate took some by surprise. Markey has served in the Senate since 2013. He spent nearly 40 years in the House before that.

We have a senate that, instead of trying to harness the opportunity of every person in the country, they are trying to pull us back, Kennedy told supporters.

In several debates, Markey focused on what hes accomplished in Congress, while Kennedy said he would better represent the state.

The Republican primary for the seat includes features scientist Shiva Ayyadurai vying with lawyer Kevin OConner.
Kwaku Boahen, the Deputy Communications Officer of the opposition NDC, says the Ghana Police has been bought by President Nana Akufo-Addo and his government.



He particularly accused President Akufo-Addos appointees in the Police administration of doing the bidding of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).



His comments comes after the Police assured it will not shield any person found culpable in perpetrating violence during the voters registration exercise.



Speaking on UTVs 'Adekye Nsroma' programme, Kwaku Boahen described the Police approach as a lazy approach . . . the Committee, investigations and all that they are saying are just to deceive Ghanaians because the Police administration is now controlled by the NPP. The NPP is using the Police for their negative agenda.



During the voter registration exercise, we lost people. There were gunshots, motors and cars were burnt to ashes. People are still suffering injuries; almost one month down the lane, you are here saying we should exercise patience because of investigations . . . they are just taking us for granted.



So, they want to tell us that they did not see the Minister (Hawa Koomson) firing gunshot. Until when will they finish conducting an investigation or we should wait for the Police administration to collapse before they come up with their findings or arrest the culprits? I know their hands are tied by the Commander in Chief. In fact, the entire Police administration, especially those appointed by President Akufo-Addo have been bought, he added.



He appealed to the Police administration to execute their duties effectively and accordingly.

Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/[email protected]









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One of the most prestigious honors in the IT industry, the award acclaims Tripp Lites success and efforts in earning high solution provider satisfaction with the products and services it provides to channel partners.

Tripp Lite, a global manufacturer of power protection and connectivity solutions, is pleased to announce that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named it a winner in the 2020 CRN Annual Report Card (ARC) Awards. CRN has recognized Tripp Lite for Managed and Cloud Services in the Power Protection and Management category.

Now in its 35th year, the CRN ARC Awards recognize and celebrate best-in-class vendors that are committed to driving channel growth and demonstrating outstanding channel performance. One of the most prestigious honors in the IT industry, the award acclaims Tripp Lites success and efforts in earning high solution provider satisfaction with the products and services it provides to channel partners.

Tripp Lite offers more than 5,000 products to support IT infrastructure in a wide range of applications, from desktop to data center to edge computing.

It is an honor to be recognized by our channel partners for the support, products and services we provide, said Michelle Wang, Tripp Lites Director of MarketingNorth American Channel. We are always working to offer our partners the best resources possible to encourage their success and profitability. Our partner relationships are Tripp Lites top priority.

More than 3,000 solution providers in North America were asked to participate in this years ARC survey to rate their satisfaction with more than 60 vendor partners. Survey participants scored vendors in 24 major product categories, based on their performance across four criteria: product innovation, support, partnership, and managed and cloud services. This invitation-only survey of each vendors top channel partners was conducted by The Channel Companys research team.

Developing a successful vendor-channel partner relationship is dependent on how well vendors can meet their channel partners expectations, and were thrilled to be able to recognize these vendors who go the extra mile to make sure they are delivering best-in-class products and program offerings to their channel partners, said Blaine Raddon, CEO, The Channel Company. CRNs Annual Report Card not only offers tremendous insight into channel opinions of their vendor partners, but also provides vendors with actionable feedback that plays a pivotal role in shaping their channel strategy. Congratulations to the award winners and we look forward to honoring them at our XChange 2020 conference this August.

Winners of the coveted 2020 CRN ARC Awards will be recognized in the ARC Winners Circle during The Channel Companys XChange+ Virtual Experience taking place on August 20. Additional coverage of the CRN 2020 ARC results can be viewed online at http://www.crn.com/arc and will be featured in the October 2020 issue of CRN Magazine.

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Since 1922, Tripp Lite has established a global reputation for quality by providing reliable products and exceptional service to customers worldwide. From desktop to critical infrastructure, Tripp Lite products and solutions power and connect the computers, networking equipment and electronic devices that form the foundation of our digital world. Headquartered in Chicago, Tripp Lite manufactures UPS systems, cables, connectivity solutions, PDUs, racks, cooling solutions, KVM switches, console servers, charging stations, display mounts, surge protectors, power strips, network switches, power inverters and specialty products for data center, healthcare, government, education and digital signage applications. Learn more at tripplite.com.

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FP Trending

Update: On Thursday evening, after hours of outage, Google resolved the issues with Gmail, Google Drive and other G Suite services, and they are now functional. Google, however, did not reveal what caused the outage on 20 August.

Many users worldwide have been reporting issues while using G Suite services, but especially Gmail and Google Drive. Users reported trouble in uploading files.

Users have been filing reports since 11 am IST today (20 August).

The Google apps status page has also confirmed receiving reports of issues with Gmail and Google Drive. Gmail has acknowledged 'service disruption' and says that it is investigating the reports. Google also says that by 1.30 pm IST, it will share further details about the issue.

A look at Twitter and DownDetector, on the other hand, shows thousands of reports over the last hour or so.

Never imagined Ill see the day where Google servers go down.

2020 is really making history #Gmail #gmaildown pic.twitter.com/iIPw6LC2tU  Deepanshu Malhotra (@daddydeep7) August 20, 2020

Gmail server has down.....I m not getting to send mail.....  Krishna Raj (@Krishna71752818) August 20, 2020

At the time of writing the story, we were able to send and receive emails via the Gmail app, however, uploading a file leads to an error message.
A federal judge on Thursday cleared the way for Manhattan's top prosecutor to get President Donald Trump's tax returns, rejecting a last-ditch attempt by his lawyers to block a subpoena issued to his accounting firm in a ruling that was another legal defeat for the president.

Trump's lawyers immediately appealed U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero's decision to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. It is unlikely any records will become public before the presidential election this fall if at all.

President Trump called the case a 'witch hunt' when he spoke to reporters Thursday in the Oval Office at the White House.

'Well, the Supreme Court said if it's a fishing expedition, you don't have to do it, and this is a fishing expedition. But more importantly, this is a continuation of the witch hunt, the greatest witch hunt in history,' he said.

'There's never been anything like it, where people want to examine everything you've ever done to see if they can find that there's a comma out of place. No president has ever had to go through this,' he added.

The president predicted the case would end up back in the hands of the Supreme Court, which last month ruled the president could not claim immunity in the case and sent it back to the lower court.

'We'll probably end up back in the Supreme Court. But this is just a continuation of the most hideous witch hunt in the history of our country,' he added.

Trump complained prosecutor want to 'inspect every deal he's ever done.'

'This is the ultimate fishing expedition. Nobody has anything. We don't do things wrong. But they'll say let's go in and inspect every deal he's ever done. Let's get papers from 10 years -- every paper, every deal he's ever signed, maybe we can find with some lawyer made a mistake, where they didn't dot an 'i' where didn't put a comma down someplace, and then we can do something. This is a disgrace. This should never ever be allowed to happen again,' he said.

Federal judge rules Manhattan's top prosecutor can get President Donald Trump's tax returns but president's attorneys appealed decision

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. investigating extensive and protracted criminal conduct at the Trump Organization

The DA's investigation covers records in the time frame a hush money payoff was given to porn star Stormy Daniels, who said she had an affair with Trump; the president has denied the allegation

Marrero's ruling echoed his prior decision in the case that was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court last month.

The high court returned the case to Marrero to give Trump's lawyers a chance to raise other concerns about the subpoena issued by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., which is a separate case from the House Democrats pursuit of the president's tax records.

The case could ultimately end up back at the Supreme Court if the appeals process continues.

Messages seeking comment on the ruling were left with Trump's lawyer and Vance's office.

Trump, through his lawyers, has argued that the subpoena was issued in bad faith, might have been politically motivated and amounted to harassment of him, especially since the wording mimicked the language in congressional subpoenas.

Vances attorneys said they were entitled to extensive records to aid a 'complex financial investigation' and they cited in their papers public reports of 'extensive and protracted criminal conduct at the Trump Organization.'

Trumps lawyers said that the request for tax records dating back to 2011 was retaliatory after the presidents company, the Trump Organization, disputed the scope of a subpoena seeking records from June 1, 2015, through Sept. 20, 2018.

That time span pertains to an investigation related to payoffs to two women, including porn actress Stormy Daniels, to keep them quiet during the 2016 presidential campaign about alleged extramarital affairs with Trump. Trump has denied the affairs.

But Vance's office suggested in recent court filings they were also investigating potential bank and insurance fraud.

Manhattan DA investigating hush money payoffs to two women, including Stormy Daniels, during the 2016 election

The Manhattan DA has been seeking Trump's tax returns since since Trumps former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen (above), told Congress that the president had misled tax officials, insurers and business associated about the value of his assets

A page from Trump's 1995 tax records

In July, the Supreme Court rejected Trump's arguments that he can't even be investigated, let alone charged with any crime, while he is in office.

But the court left open the prospect that Trump could make new arguments in a bid to keep the subpoena from being enforced.

Last month, Trump reacted to the Supreme Court ruling by calling it 'NOT FAIR' and complaining: 'Courts in the past have given 'broad deference'. BUT NOT ME!'

Vance has been seeking Trump's tax returns from the president's longtime accounting firm, Mazars USA, for more than a year, since Trumps former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, told Congress that the president had misled tax officials, insurers and business associated about the value of his assets.

In the case, there are issues that could play out even beyond Trump's re-election  with the possibility that the tax information could be used to seek a grand jury criminal indictment if any wrongdoing is uncovered.

The New York Times, in an exhaustive story reported after the leak of Trump's father Fred Trump's tax returns by Trump niece Mary Trump - now the author of an excoriating family memoir - concluded the future president engaged in 'dubious tax schemes during the 1990s, including instances of outright fraud, that greatly increased the fortune he received from his parents.'
Australian Relations With China Deteriorate As Beijing Probes Wine Imports

By Phil Mercer August 19, 2020

China has launched an anti-dumping investigation into Australian wine imports, as trade tensions between Beijing and Canberra continue to fester.

Australia owes much of its recent prosperity to China, its biggest trading partner. Last year, two-way commerce was worth $170 billion, but cracks are appearing in this valuable relationship.

Australian wine growers are the latest to be caught up in escalating geo-political tensions. Exporters are accused of cutting their prices and taking market share from local companies in China. An anti-dumping inquiry has been requested by the Chinese Alcoholic Drinks Association. It will examine whether Australian firms are being supported by government subsidies.

Canberra has insisted wine sales to China have been fairly priced, and officials have said they would cooperate fully with the investigation.

Trade minister Simon Birmingham says Australian wine makers have done nothing wrong.

"We find these suggestions deeply troubling and quite perplexing. Australian wine is by no means subsidized, it is by no means sold at or below anything other than market rates in the world market. Indeed, Australian wine during the first half of this year proved itself to be the second highest priced wine sold in the Chinese market," Birmingham said.

The investigation comes against a backdrop of increasing friction between Beijing and Canberra after the Australian government called for an international investigation into the origins of COVID-19, which first emerged in Wuhan, China late last year.

China recently imposed tariffs on Australian barley, suspended some beef imports and told Chinese students and tourists it was not safe to travel to Australia because of allegations of racism. China is also suspected of orchestrating cyber-attacks on Australian institutions, allegations that Beijing strongly denied.

But Matt Canavan, a federal government lawmaker in Canberra, accuses China of economic coercion.

"It is a pattern of behavior we are seeing from China and I do not think they can be a trustworthy business partner anymore the way they are acting, and I think every Australian business must be very careful about how much they get exposed to a jurisdiction whose behavior is increasingly threatening and bullying" Canavan said.

China has insisted its anti-dumping investigation into Australian wine would be undertaken in a "fair and just way, according to the law." A foreign ministry spokesman denied suggestions it was politically motivated.

As bilateral tensions grow, analysts fear that Australia's lucrative iron ore and coal exports could be next to suffer.

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Press Release

20 August 2020

HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee - The U.S. hotel industry showed slightly higher performance from the month prior, but at overall low levels during July 2020, according to data from STR.

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In a year-over-year comparison with July 2019, the industry recorded the following:

Occupancy: -36.1% to 47.0%

Average daily rate (ADR): -24.8% to US$101.76

Revenue per available room (RevPAR): -52.0% to US$47.84

The absolute occupancy level was the lowest for any June on record in the U.S., but all three key performance metrics were up from June levels. August weekly data shows occupancy just below 50% due to a slow and steady rise in demand that has slowed.

Among the Top 25 Markets, Oahu Island, Hawaii, experienced the steepest drop in occupancy (-73.5% to 23.3%) and the largest decrease in RevPAR (-82.8% to US$39.69).

Seattle, Washington, posted the steepest decline in ADR (-49.8% to US$95.76).

All of STR's COVID-19 analysis can be found here.
Before Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or YouTube made their entry in the media market, the PatnaDaily had already registered its presence in...
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.20

By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:

Germanys Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) will very much welcome further expansion of cooperation between Germany and Kazakhstan, BMELs Spokesperson Bettina Irion told Trend.

Irion said that for more than ten years, BMEL has been working with Kazakhstan within the scope of bilateral projects in order to advance necessary reforms.

These projects include 'German-Kazakh Dialogue on Agricultural Policy (APD)' project; the 'Improvement of farm expertise for the sustainable development of milk production in Kazakhstan' project; as well as the project on support of the 'German-Kazakh Agricultural Center' (DAZ), which is meanwhile managed independently by the economic partners involved, Irion said.

The spokesperson emphasized that the ministry welcomes the fact that Kazakhstan is making great efforts to continue developing the agricultural sector.

In her words, this is crucial, on the one hand, to reflect Kazakhstans importance in ensuring food security in the region and globally. On the other hand, it is necessary to create income opportunities for the local population and, despite the expansion of production, to ensure that vital livelihoods and resources are protected.

Our ministry would very much welcome it if this cooperation between Germany and Kazakhstan continued to improve, she said.

---

Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh
Chennai: The BJP on Thursday (August 20) attacked the Tamil Nadu government for disallowing celebration of Vinayaka Chaturthi in public places and asked when liquor shops can be opened why Ganesha idols should not be put up.

Backing Hindu Munnani, which, about four decades ago, set in motion the now prevalent practice of public celebration of Vinayaka Chaturthi, Saffron party's Tamil Nadu president L Murugan asked: "In Tamil Nadu, the government which gave permission for opening TASMAC shops, did not allow putting up Vinayaka statues.Why?

Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation, a government entity, runs retail liquor outlets in the state. Vinayaka Chaturthi will be celebrated on August 22 in the state. The BJP's stand aligns with that of Hindu Munnani on this issue, BJP Tamil Nadu unit said on its official twitter handle and attributed the posts to Murugan.

On the stand of Munnani, State president Kadeswara C Subramaniam said, "we have a right to worship by following guidelines like social distancing to prevent the spread of coronavirus...We are holding talks with authorities."

A prominent Sangh Parivar outfit in Tamil Nadu, Munnani's chief told PTI: "We are seeking permission to put up Ganesha idols only in such public places that would be completely suitable to follow COVID norms and offer worship. We don't insist on any location which authorities considered as not acceptable taking into account the pandemic."

Already, the organisation has decided against public processions of Ganesha idols and made up its mind to confine the public celebration for only one day and stick to norms to reduce the threat of infection, he said.

Also, "the Munnani is for comparatively smaller idols like say five or three feet this year. The authorities should also ponder about the idols that have been made and the plight of artisans who made it."

Asked on his outfit reportedly saying that "government ban on public Ganesha worship will be defied," he denied he or anyone else making such a statement. "We did not say that we will violate or defy government orders.We are for following the norms to prevent the spread of the virus."

The state government, meanwhile, citing Centre's guidelines against public worship in view of the pandemic said the Madras High Court too had directed compliance with its directives.

The government has already issued an order banning "putting up Ganesha idols in public places, public worship and taking idols in a procession for immersion in water bodies."

The move is considering public good and to help prevent the spread of the virus, the government said and appealed to all to cooperate with it.
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In the aftermath of Hurricane Isaias, Dynegy is here to help. The company today announced a $10,000 donation to provide critical energy assistance for low income households.

"We understand that Isaias arrived in the shadow of a pandemic, adding yet another burden to the most economically vulnerable," said Brad Watson, senior director of community affairs for Dynegy. "For decades, Dynegy has served communities throughout the Northeast, and our commitment continues. As cities and towns work through the aftermath of this storm, Dynegy is here to help households struggling to pay their energy bills."

The $10,000 donation will directly assist residents in temporary crisis who are struggling to pay their energy bills.

$5,000 will go to The Good Neighbor Energy Fund, operated by the Salvation Army of Massachusetts .





will go to The Good Neighbor Energy Fund, operated by the Salvation Army of . $5,000 will go to the Fuel Fund of Maryland to help 40 low income families with utility bill payment assistance.

"With more people forced to stay, work and learn from home, energy consumption is at its peak and the Fuel Fund of Maryland is seeing an increase in applications for utility assistance," said Debbie Brown, Fuel Fund of Maryland director. "The generosity of Dynegy will allow us to provide assistance to dozens of low income households struggling to pay their utility bill during the COVID-19 pandemic."

"The financial resources of the individuals and families we serve have become increasingly tight, and irrespective of the current season, this will make a significant difference to those struggling with both the summer temperatures and the economic uncertainty as the colder months approach," said Douglas Ferguson, director of corporate and foundation relations for The Salvation Army  Massachusetts.

About Dynegy

For over 30 years, Dynegy has helped millions of Americans throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest power their homes and businesses. Dynegy delivers simple, price-protected electricity plans for residential, municipal aggregation, commercial and industrial customers alike. Dynegy is committed to the communities it serves and gives back through local partnerships. Visit dynegy.com for more. Dynegy is a subsidiary of Vistra (NYSE: VST).

Media

Jenny Lyon

214-875-8004

[email protected]



SOURCE Dynegy
In this article BCSF

The Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd. headquarters stand illuminated at night ahead of the annual November 11 Singles' Day online shopping event in Hangzhou, China, on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019. Qilai Shen | Bloomberg | Getty Images

The post-coronavirus retail industry will draw heavily from the online shopping trends already seen in China, analysts from consulting firm Bain said in a report released Thursday. Asia Pacific generates about three quarters of global retail growth, and about two thirds of online growth, according to the Bain report, titled "The Future of Retail in Asia-Pacific: How to Thrive at High Speed." Riding that growth are three Chinese retailers  Alibaba, JD.com and Pinduoduo  which together with Japan's Seven & I now rank among the top 10 retailers worldwide, according to Bain analysis. The firm noted that about a decade ago, only one or two Asia Pacific-based retailers made the top 10 list. "What's happening in China today is going to happen in other markets to a lesser or greater degree depending on the market," Kanaiya Parekh, expert partner, Hong Kong, at Bain, said in a phone interview. "People need to be looking at China, especially with regards to the future of retail."

Covid-19, which emerged late last year in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has since infected more than 22 million people worldwide and killed over 786,000 people. In an effort to limit the virus' spread, local governments have announced stay-home orders and limits on social gatherings, which have accelerated pressure on already struggling malls and brick-and-mortar stores. Even in China, where the coronavirus outbreak stalled in the first quarter, overall retail sales still fell 1.1% in July from a year ago. However, the share of physical consumer goods sold online climbed from about 19% last year to 25%, or a quarter, of retail sales this year, according to official data accessed through the Wind Information database. One of the trends that's taken off in China this year is livestreaming-driven online shopping. Everyone from farmers to professional internet personalities  known as a "key opinion leaders" or KOLs  can sell thousands of yuan worth of goods in just a few minutes through interactive streaming sessions on platforms such as Alibaba's Taobao Live, Kuaishou and ByteDance's Douyin. Parekh estimates livestreaming accounted for about 7% of China's online sales prior to the coronavirus pandemic, and could more than double this year. The report cited a Bain survey of 4,700 consumers in China in the spring, which found that respondents were now more likely to use livestreams and short videos to make online purchases than prior to the outbreak. Other analysts have estimated a lower share of online sales, and say it's less clear whether livestreaming will become more of a brand marketing tool versus a direct driver of what can often be impulse purchases.
New moderate income housing program could be on the way to Long Beach
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Press Club is honoring Linda Tirado, an author and freelance photographer, with a 2020 John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award, Club leaders announced Wednesday.

Tirado was taking pictures of a street protest in Minneapolis on May 30 when a policeman's foam bullet hit her left eye, costing Tirado most of her sight in that eye.

Tirado is suing the Minneapolis police department, and she faces mounting medical bills for her injury but has no health insurance.

"There's no way that they could have mistaken me  with a professional camera  for anything but working press," Tirado told CNN in June.

Despite what happened to her eye, Tirado told CNN she plans to keep reporting.

"There's absolutely no way this stops me," said Tirado, who wrote a book on life in the working class called "Hand to Mouth."

NPC President Michael Freedman said Tirado "exemplifies the courage and tenacity at the heart of journalism. She also manifests the risks that journalists often face just doing their jobs."

Angela Greiling Keane, president of the National Press Club Journalism Institute, the club's nonprofit affiliate, said Tirado's situation illustrates the risks freelancers, in particular, face.

"Freelancers like Linda Tirado do their jobs bravely despite the fact they often lack health insurance, legal help or other protections that full-time employees are afforded," Greiling Keane said.

The John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award recognizes people who relentlessly pursue truth in the face of harassment and danger. The National Press Club presents the Aubuchon honor each year to one person from the United States and another from overseas.

The 2020 international recipient is Maria Ressa, executive editor of Rappler, an online news site in the Philippines, and her colleagues. They have continued to report fearlessly amid fierce government repression.

The Club and the Institute plan to celebrate Ressa and Tirado later this year.

The National Press Club, the World's Leading Professional Organization for Journalists, represents more than 3,000 reporters, editors and professional communicators worldwide. The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes an engaged global citizenry through an independent and free press, and equips journalists with skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire civic engagement.

PRESS CONTACT: Lindsay Underwood for The National Press Club; [email protected], (202) 662-7561

SOURCE National Press Club
Russell Ledet didnt think going to college was in the cards for him because of how much it was going to cost.

After Ledet eventually made his way to higher education by way of the U.S. Navy, he worked at a Louisiana hospital as a security guard. Now, hes returned to that same hospital working on the front lines as a medical student during the CCP virus pandemic.

Russell Ledet, a medical student at Tulane University, stands outside Baton Rouge General Medical Center, where he formerly worked as a security guard. (Courtesy of Russell Ledet)

Raised by a single mom, Ledet told CNN his family was on food stamps in a poor crime-plagued neighborhood of Lakes Charles, Louisiana.

When it came down to the idea of college, it was never an option, he said. It was like only rich people do that. The only thing I knew how to do to get out of the neighborhood I was in was to go to the military.

Thanks to years of schooling, mentors along the way, perseverance, and support from his spouse, Ledet is two years away from adding an MD to his name.

Working on the front lines during the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, outbreak is a bit scary but also a privilege, Ledet saida privilege he isnt taking lightly.

I say its a privilege because I think at [sic] any opportunity you are given to care for people, you never take it for granted, he said. Its a bit scary because I have children and a partner to go home to. I signed up for this though, so Ill do my part with pride and dignity.

Baton Rouge General Medical Center. (Screenshot/Google Maps)

Returning to the Hospital as a Medical Student

When Ledet was 18, he joined the United States Navy Ceremonial Guard in Washington. After two years of service, Ledet moved back to Louisiana to attend Southern University and A&M College.

He then went on to get a doctorate in molecular oncology and tumor immunology from New York University and is currently working on his MD and MBA through a dual program at Tulane University, from which he will graduate in May 2022.

Its like a playground for me now that I understand and realize I can do all of these things, he said. Nobody ever told me it was OK or that I was capable.

At college, Ledet set out to pursue a social-work degree so that he could return to the neighborhood where he grew up and give back to his community. However, that plan changed when he memorized the periodic table of elements during a chemistry class and his professor took notice and convinced him to pursue medicinethus he took a chance on himself and changed his major.

While he was enrolled in school, Ledet landed a security guard job at Baton Rouge General Medical Center. During his shifts, Ledet said he would study organic chemistry note cards in his downtime and ask other doctors for the opportunity to shadow them.

Baton Rouge General Medical Center. (Screenshot/Google Maps)

Theyd be like, man youre a security guard, you cant ever be a doctor, he said.

Eventually, all that asking paid off when Dr. Patrick Greiffenstein, a surgery resident at the time, let Ledet shadow him without hesitation.

Majority of doctors were male and White, Ledet said. In my lifetime growing up, I didnt meet too many White guys who were nice to me, its just a rare thing. You gotta think about it, I grew up in the Deep South, a lot of the White guys were mean to me, theyd call me a [Expletive] or a little boy so it was hard to approach these people to help you.

Ledet said he just finished his surgery rotation and is beginning his pediatric rotation at Baton Rouge General Medical Center.

Its been surreal to go back and work in the same operating room I once escorted Dr. Greiffenstein to as a security guard, he said.

A Man With Many Titles

On top of being a husband, veteran, dad, medical student, and business school student, Ledet adds mentor to that list.

Ledet is the president and manager of 15 White Coats, a group of Black medical students from Tulane University that formed in 2019 on the heels of a visit to Whitney Plantation in Edgard, Louisiana.

During the trip, 14 students joined Ledet to pose for a photo in front of the former slave quarters in an effort to show how far African Americans have come.

The Tulane students hoped their group photo would make a difference for all Black students. (Courtesy of Sydney Labat)

The students, who wore their white coats for the occasion, hoped to put photos in schools across the country to inspire future generations.

Ledet said hes proud that over the years, 15 White Coats has been able to evolve and give out scholarship money for other deserving medical students. Half of the issue is people are in a corner saying, woe is me and they arent reaching out for any help, Ledet said.

If you reach out to 10 people, one of them will reach back out to you. Not everybody will, but someone will, he added.

Our big plans are to start a high school in New Orleans, he said. And then we want to find a big donor to pay for an entire incoming class of medical students around the country that are from marginalized communities.

As for his own personal goals, Ledet said he wants to be a triple boarder, which is someone whos board-certified in pediatrics, general psychiatry, and child and adolescent psychiatry.

The CNN Wire and Epoch Times staff contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi endorsed Democratic Rep. Joe Kennedy III on Thursday in his bid to oust Sen. Edward Markey in the Massachusetts Democratic primary, backing a young challenger against a veteran lawmaker with whom shes served in Congress since 1987.

By embracing Kennedy, grandson of the late U.S. attorney general and New York Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, Pelosi sided with a congressional upstart against one of Washingtons old guard. Both contenders are among Congress more liberal Democrats, but Kennedy, 39, has been in the House since only 2013. Markey, 73, has served in Congress since 1975, moving from the House to the Senate in 2013.

Joe Kennedy represents this partys future. He will help lead Democrats forward on the defining battles of our time, Pelosi said in a fundraising email for him.

The move to spurn Markey, whos been embraced by many progressives, angered Democrats left flank just hours before the final day of the partys convention, a virtual gathering aimed at rallying the sometimes fractious wings behind presidential nominee Joe Biden.

Pelosi said when Democrats were working to take back control of the House from Republicans during the 2018 elections, Kennedy stumped for candidates across the country.

From climate change to health care to racial justice, Joe has been a leader in our Caucus organizing us around our core values, Pelosi said in a press release. We need leaders who are willing to give every inch of themselves to the causes and concerns that unify Democrats. Joe Kennedy represents this Partys future.

A Pelosi aide said she was uncomfortable with remarks Markey had made assailing Kennedy and his familys long political legacy. In one campaign video, Markey paraphrases a famous quote by the late President John F. Kennedy, saying, We asked what we could do for our country. We went out, we did it. With all due respect, its time to start asking what your country can do for you.

The aide, who said Joe Kennedy didnt ask for Pelosis endorsement, was not authorized to publicly discuss the speakers decision and spoke on condition of anonymity. President Kennedy was Joe Kennedys great-uncle.

The winner of the hard-fought Sept. 1 primary will be strongly favoured to win the November election in the heavily Democratic state.

Pelosi has backed incumbent House Democrats who have faced primary challengers.

Her endorsements this year have included two members of the so-called squad of freshman Democratic women of colour: Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. Shes also supported centrist Democrats like Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas, who fended off a progressive challenger in his primary.

But some of partys highest-profile progressives were openly upset with her support for Kennedy.

This move reeks of hypocrisy, Alexandra Rojas, executive director of the grassroots group Justice Democrats, said in a statement. The party is setting one standard for progressives and one entirely different standard for the establishment.

Justice Democrats has recruited progressive challengers like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. Ocasio-Cortez is backing Markey, a fellow author of Green New Deal legislation aimed at curbing climate-altering carbon emissions.

No one gets to complain about primary challenges again, Ocasio-Cortez tweeted.

The Sunrise Movement, a pro-environment group, called Pelosis endorsement an embarrassment that showed she thinks its acceptable to support a candidate who has a rich and wealthy family.

And liberal Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., tweeted that Pelosis support of Kennedy helps make Markeys case against dynasty and smoke filled rooms anointing candidates. He predicted the endorsement would backfire and ultimately help Markey.

Kennedy welcomed Pelosis support.

She is a force and a changemaker, and Im beyond grateful to have her in my corner, said Kennedy, the lone member of the political dynasty currently in elected office.

The endorsement follows Kennedys support of Pelosi during her bid to regain the top position in the House in 2018. Pelosi was nominated as her partys choice for speaker by Kennedy.

Markey called Pelosi a tremendous, effective leader who has shattered glass ceilings throughout her career.

Any candidate would be proud to have her endorsement, and I congratulate Congressman Kennedy on securing her support, Markey said in a statement.
DARIEN  Police said they arrested a 34-year-old Bridgeport man in connection with a drive-by shooting that rattled the West Avenue neighborhood earlier this month.

Frantz Maignan, of Summerfield Street, was charged with seven counts unlawful discharge of a firearm Wednesday after he was arrested by Stratford police and turned over to authorities in Darien.

The charges stem from an incident on Aug. 1, when Darien police were called to West Avenue around 5 p.m. for an incident in which numerous gun shots were fired from a moving motor vehicle, possibly at another vehicle, police said.

Around the same time, Norwalk police reported a separate incident of shots fired.

Norwalk police were dispatched to Suncrest Road in the Colonial Village community around 4:45 p.m., where they found three vehicles hit by gunfire.

Police have not said if they believe the two incidents to be related.

More News Police investigating weekend shootings in Darien, Norwalk

Darien police said an investigation quickly identified Maignan as a suspect in the West Avenue shooting.

A Stamford judge on Tuesday approved an arrest warrant for Maignan for the Darien incident and he was taken into custody the following day, police said.

Maignan was also charged with criminal use of a firearm, criminal possession of a firearm and first-degree reckless endangerment. The prepared statement from police notes he has an extensive criminal history.

He was held on $150,000 bond and is due to appear in court Thursday.
After nearly a year of consideration and contentious debate, the fate of a proposed law on group homes in Butte has been decided.

It took Dave Palmer to do it.

Just like last week, commissioners were deadlocked Wednesday night on whether to nix a proposed ordinance that would require group and foster homes to get zoning permits to locate in residential neighborhoods.

And just as he indicated he would, Palmer  Butte-Silver Bows chief executive  broke the 6-6 tie this time by voting to kill the measure.

I too think that its probably best to place this one on file (kill it) and move forward and do some more research, if people are so inclined, and come up with another request at a later date after coming up with a better compromise some place along the line, Palmer said.

Separate votes last week, one to keep the proposal alive and another to put it to bed, also ended with 6-6 tallies but Palmer was unable to cast a deciding vote then because of procedural rules. That was not the case Wednesday night.

Palmer told The Montana Standard on Monday that if asked to break a tie this week, he was 99 percent sure he would side with concerns raised by County Attorney Eileen Joyce and Planning Director Lori Casey and vote to nix the proposal.

The permits cannot lawfully be denied in the end anyway because of state and federal discrimination and housing protections, Joyce and Casey say, and Palmer said he believed recent warnings that such a local law would result in discrimination lawsuits.

Voting to kill the proposal were Palmer and Commissioners Cindi Shaw, Michele Shea, John Morgan, Shawn Fredrickson, Dan Olsen and John Sorich. Voting against that move were Eric Mankins, Jim Fisher, Bill Andersen, Dan Callahan, Josh ONeill and Brendan McDonough.

Fisher voted to kill it last week and Shea voted to keep it alive, but they switched Wednesday night. The tally was still the same  6 to 6  before Palmer decided the issue.

The vote followed an hour of public testimony, through citizens calling in and letters that were read into the record, and another 70 minutes of debate among commissioners.

Mankins and other proponents said the proposal would allow residents to know about group homes, including recovery houses for drug or alcohol addicts, and their plans before locating in any Butte neighborhood.

The controversy began in September 2019 when residents of a west-side neighborhood were surprised and angry after learning of a groups plans to buy a house and use it as a transition home for alcoholics in early recovery.

They said it did not belong in their family friendly neighborhood or others in Butte because, among other things, it would lead to a steady flow of addicts, pose risks to residents and their children and drive down property values. Plans for the home in that location were abandoned.

Mankins, who lives in the neighborhood, then proposed that any licensed residential homes go through a zoning process so their plans are public. Under state law, they include foster homes or group homes for people with disabilities, among others.

County officials said fair-housing protections and other federal laws prohibit governments from discriminating against people with disabilities through zoning. Those protections extend to persons recovering from drug or alcohol addiction.

Joyce has also argued that by state law, individual foster homes would be subject to use permits, just like licensed homes for recovering addicts or alcoholics or those with other disabilities. Numerous foster home parents and advocates, among others, have spoken against the proposed ordinance.

Talk of lawsuits against the county emerged publicly in the past few weeks and Joyce has not dismissed the possibility.

There have been suggestions that language or enforcement exemptions be carved out for foster homes. Foster parents and advocates say sensitive information about foster children  some trying to recover from abusive environments  would become public under zoning requirements.

Joyce says any county ordinance must adhere to state zoning laws, and under those, she believes foster homes cant be exempted. And lawfully, she says, enforcement must be applied equally to all group and foster homes.

Mankins was among six commissioners who voted last week to keep the proposal alive by sending it to the councils Judiciary Committee, where there would be more discussion on precise language to put in the ordinance.

He suggested Wednesday night that Butte-Silver Bow should seek a legal opinion on the proposal from the Montana Attorney Generals Office before abandoning the measure. There were many unanswered legal questions, he said, including those regarding foster homes.

We are talking about preserving and strengthening neighborhoods, he said. Surely that is worth the effort.

But Joyce said the basics of the law were clear so she wasnt sure what to ask the attorney general, and no motion was made to seek an opinion before Shaw moved to kill the proposal and commissioners voted on that.

Fisher, who voted last week to nix the measure, said he switched sides Wednesday night because he didnt see the harm in working on some precise language. Shea went the opposite direction, voting this time to kill the proposal.

Shea said Thursday that shes listened to concerns and arguments on all sides and has been wavering back and forth on it the whole time.

She said she received more emails and phone calls from constituents and more legal analysis this past week and it became apparent that implementing and administering a permit process for such homes could not be done efficiently, effectively and without unintended negative consequences.

It felt like no matter how I tried to analyze it, it felt like we were trying to put a square peg in a round hole, she said.

Several commissioners commended Mankins for listening to and fighting for his constituents, a sentiment echoed in a letter signed by 90 residents who supported the proposal.

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LINCOLNWOOD, Ill., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- THE CARRINGTON AT LINCOLNWOOD, a rental senior living community located on Northeast Parkway, announces the appointment of Tom Whitaker as new Executive Director. Whitaker succeeds Jim Biggs, who will continue in his role as Chief Executive Officer of West Bay Senior Living, the company providing management and operational services to THE CARRINGTON.

Thomas W. Whitaker, Jr., MBA, Executive Director

Whitaker previously served as Director of Financial Services for THE CARRINGTON, a community offering Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care. With the sudden onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Whitaker's duties expanded to include coordinating daily communication updates for residents, staff and families, as well as procuring personal protective equipment and managing protocol documentation.

"Communication is critical," says Whitaker. "To maintain a relationship of trust, you have to not just be accessible, but also be proactive in providing information to residents and their families so they understand what we're doing, and why we're doing it." THE CARRINGTON continues to operate under the guidance of the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Going forward in his Executive Director role, Whitaker believes there are some important takeaways from the coronavirus pandemic, both for THE CARRINGTON and senior living as a whole. "What we learned as a community is that preparation, taking precautions and following protocols makes the community setting one of the safest places to be," says Whitaker. "Plus, there's a huge benefit in the social aspect of a community, as opposed to being isolated in a private home."

Whitaker grew up on Chicago's Northshore and currently lives in the Jefferson Park neighborhood with his family. He holds a degree in Business Management from Loyola Maryland, an MBA with a focus in Healthcare Management from Loyola Chicago, and is currently pursuing a Master of Senior Living Hospitality through the University of Southern California Leonard Davis School of Gerontology.

THE CARRINGTON features 251 Independent Living apartments, 71 Assisted Living apartments and 44 Memory Care residences. In addition, the community recently introduced Bridge Memory Carea dedicated neighborhood of 17 Assisted Living residences offering a structured daily memory loss support program.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Thomas W. Whitaker, Jr., MBA, Executive Director

The Carrington at Lincolnwood

3501 Northeast Parkway

Lincolnwood IL 60712

(847) 973-6262, Ext. 109

[email protected]

SOURCE The Carrington at Lincolnwood
Principal Kim D'Aloisio hosts a virtual meeting with staff at Oliver Wendell Holmes Middle School in Northridge on Aug. 18. (Los Angeles Times)

To the editor: In the past five months, I have been part of an effort to distribute close to 100,000 new book bundles to students in underserved schools throughout Los Angeles County. Two themes have emerged in this endeavor: There is a great inequity in our educational system, and school staff is committed to their community. ("'Are we ready?' LAUSD's first day back to school, online and on Zoom, is anything but normal," Aug. 18)

For many students we served, there was no access to books during the school closures last spring and over the summer. As I handed one student a book bundle through his car window, he told me, "This is the first book I've held since school closed."

While he will struggle for quality books, a reliable internet connection and a quiet place for schoolwork, other families will hire private tutors and survive with learning pods.

At every school, I have encountered principals and staff who are overwhelmed, scared and exhausted, and that was before school started. They are also deeply committed to providing quality instruction and a safety net.

There needs to be some solid recognition of the administrators and staff at schools. They have worked tirelessly since March to diminish the equity divide. I am so impressed and thankful for their efforts.

Rebecca Constantino, Los Angeles

The writer is founder and executive director of the literacy advocacy group Access Books.

..

To the editor: Having retired back in December 2018, I do not have to look far back at my 34-year teaching career in the Los Angeles Unified School District. So, I certainly empathize with teachers and students over the unprecedented conditions they will endure.

One thing is for sure: When things return to normal, and they will, it makes me a little sad to think the one place that students will not be excited to visit is the computer lab.

Joe Kevany, Mount Washington

..

To the editor: In addition to testing and tracing, another important step to consider for schools reopening is using outdoor learning where and when possible.

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In fact, there are excellent resources available to facilitate outdoor schooling. For example, there is the National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative. Also, environmental scientist Elizabeth Forys has developed logistics for outdoor learning, which are being used by her school, Eckerd College in Florida, and can be adapted to the local needs of school districts.

I do hope that outdoor learning will be used as much as possible.

Jack Holtzman, San Diego
The brutal flogging of a former British public schoolboy was last night condemned as inhuman by campaigners.

London-born Ye Ming Yuen, 31, was strapped naked to a wooden frame and caned 24 times after a last-ditch appeal against the brutal punishment failed.

Astonishingly, the judgment in that appeal was delivered to his lawyers yesterday  more than 24 hours after the beating was imposed.

As diplomatic tensions deepened last night, Parvais Jabbar, of the Death Penalty Project, an international charity which helped with Yuens legal case, said his family had not been allowed any contact with him and were desperately worried.

British public schoolboy Ye Ming Yuen, 31, was strapped naked to a wooden frame and caned 24 times in Singapore

The British High Commission in Singapore is understood to have made an urgent request to see him in prison, to check on his physical and psychological state.

Mr Jabbar told the Daily Mail: Ming received the highest possible sentence in terms of caning, in addition to a 20-year prison sentence.

It raises the question of whether it was really proportionate to his offence. International law clearly states that this is something considered inhuman and degrading.

'It is a form of punishment totally out of tune with any evolving standards of decency.

A prison officer demonstrates the caning procedure on a dummy inside Singapore's Changi Prison

Mr Jabbar added: Mings punishment has been inflicted but his family now wants to highlight the injustice of it, and the inhumanity of such a judgment.

'Singapore is an independent state and it can set and impose its own laws, but the international community now needs to work together to bring political pressure to bear.

The Foreign Office condemned the flogging and ministers are expected to raise concerns with their counterparts in Singapore.

Senior politicians including former foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt had appealed for leniency for Yuen, who went to 41,000-a-year Westminster School before moving to Singapore when he was 17.

The Foreign Office condemned the flogging and ministers are expected to raise concerns with their counterparts in Singapore

He was flogged in the former British colonys notorious Changi Prison, where he is serving 20 years for drug offences.

Human rights groups have condemned Singapores use of the cane on prisoners, saying it is a violation of international law and a breach of the UN Convention Against Torture.

It is not uncommon for prisoners to pass out from the pain after three or four strokes and many are left scarred for life.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: The UK strongly opposes corporal punishment in all circumstances and condemns its use in this case.

'The Foreign Secretary, Minister for Asia and the UK High Commissioner to Singapore have made our concerns about this case clear to the Singaporean authorities.

Ye Ming Yuen (pictured left and as a schoolboy, right) was flogged in the former British colonys notorious Changi Prison, where he is serving 20 years for drug offences

'Our staff continue to support the British man in question and his family.

Yuens family, who live in the UK, said he accepted he had broken the law and deserved to be punished, but appealed against the barbarity of the punishment.

Similar drug offences in Britain might result in a 12-month jail sentence, according to campaigners.

Yuens family hope Singapore will agree for him to be transferred to a British prison to serve the rest of his sentence.

Speaking before she became Home Secretary, Priti Patel condemned Yuens sentence, adding: It is astonishing to see these sorts of reprehensible punishments being given. This sounds like something from the Dark Ages.
After two nights of Democratic National Convention programming that has featured boldface Republican crossovers such as former Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former Secretary of State Colin Powell, California Rep. Ro Khanna tells Yahoo News that his party should be doing more to highlight its own rising progressive stars and less to celebrate conservatives who got us into wars.

All of this star power in the new generation  [Democrats should] showcase them, because they can connect so effortlessly with young progressives [and] with communities of color [and] help get that turnout, says Khanna, 43, a progressive congressman from Silicon Valley who co-chaired Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanderss 2020 presidential campaign and now co-chairs Californias delegation to the convention. I don't think we have fully deployed all of our talent yet.

Among those Khanna wants to see more of? He mentions Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., who spoke for a minute and a half on Tuesday  seconding Sen. Bernie Sanders nomination, as a formality  and several others who didnt get to speak at all: Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Missouri congressional candidate Cori Bush and New York congressional candidate Jamaal Bowman. Ocasio-Cortez, Pressley and Tlaib are all in their first terms.

As for Kasich, Powell, former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and the late Arizona Sen. John McCain  all of whom supported the Iraq War and were featured in prerecorded paeans to the bipartisan appeal of Democratic nominee Joe Biden  Khanna isnt convinced.

I think it's fine to include Republicans, but let's include Republicans who believe in ending endless wars, he says. I mean, the question is: What does our platform stand for?

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., speaks at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington in 2019. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

Khanna himself is viewed as a current progressive leader and possible future candidate for higher office. Asked whether, if Kamala Harris wins the vice presidency, he is open to being appointed to fill her U.S. Senate seat  a role hes been mentioned for  Khanna acknowledges that of course he would keep every opportunity open to serve and to be able to further the ideas I believe in.

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Khanna has become something of an emissary between the Democratic Partys young, emboldened progressive wing and the mainstream embodied by the 77-year-old Biden.

This week, for instance, Khanna made news by voting no on the partys platform because it doesnt include Medicare for All. Yet he tells Yahoo News that if Bidens plan to add a public option to Obamacare ever comes up for a vote in the House, he will vote yes.

Its not that I dont support  Joe Bidens plan is better than the status quo, Khanna explains. But I don't think that that's the aspiration of the Democratic Party. We have an aspiration that says we are for extending Medicare until everyone is covered. He envisions gradually lowering the age of eligibility for Medicare to 55, 45, 35 and then everyone else.

Likewise, Khanna is urging his fellow Sanders supporters not to stay home or to vote for a third party in November.

If you have a Donald Trump presidency, where he gets to appoint two or three more Supreme Court justices, we may not have Medicare for All for a generation, Khanna says. Even if we got a progressive president in 2024 and swept the House and the Senate, and we passed it, the Supreme Court likely would strike it down  a very conservative court.

He adds that its the same with so many issues that we care about. Just for the sake of preserving the possibility of progressive change, he says, we cant afford four more years of Donald Trump.

Khanna isnt buying the line of the left that Harris is a cop, either  or at least hes not buying the line that the former prosecutor, San Francisco district attorney and California attorney general is still too cautious on issues of racial and criminal justice.

What I know is, in the Senate, she has been a leader on issues of racial justice and criminal justice reform, Khanna says. And that to me is what's relevant. I mean, I don't know the details of her entire record, but you can find something people dislike if you look at any politician's entire career. And then what matters is: What do you stand for now, and how have you been in your current role?

Khanna hopes Harris can push Biden to the left.

I am hoping she will articulate a progressive vision for the country, Khanna says. The hope is that she will see where the energy of the party is.

On a personal note, Khanna, whose parents were both Punjabi immigrants, sees the nomination of Harris, the daughter of an Indian-American, Shyamala Gopalan, as a source of great pride. (Meanwhile, Harriss father, Donald, is Black and originally from Jamaica.)

The entire South Asian diaspora is incredibly proud of [Harris] and understands what an achievement this is, he says. I think she's breaking ground. I read somewhere that her Secret Service code name is Pioneer. I think that's very appropriate.

According to CNN, that is her code name, and Harris chose it herself.

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
Once again, the Republican party is using the boogeyman of widespread voter fraud as an excuse to suppress the vote. The presidents campaign is launching lawsuits across the nation aimed at states that are expanding their mail-in voting programs. One of those states is the presidents adopted weekend home, our beloved New Jersey.

Gov. Murphy did the right thing by automatically sending a ballot to every registered voter because, yknow, theres a pandemic and it would be a shame if you had to choose between exercising your right to vote and dying. Trump and his cohort find this expansion of voting rights untenable because, as we all know, the more people who vote, the more likely Republicans lose. Part of successful minority rule is suppressing the rights of the majority to maintain power. In this case, the freedom being suppressed is your right to vote safely.

The Republican argument against universal mail-in voting is the scourge of voter fraud, a virtually non-existent phenomenon conjured from the addled brains of the ruling class. Trump himself launched a voter fraud commission that eventually had to disband because of a lack of voter fraud. Theyll site a few examples of malfeasance from the past decade that amount to a fraction of a percent of the vote and try to use it as justification to ban mail-in ballots and dismantle the postal service.

The reality is that absentee ballots, mail-in voting or whatever you want to call it is safe and secure. Universal mail-in voting has been used in Utah, Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii for years now without incident. Trump and the Republican party arent afraid of mail-in voting, theyre afraid of voters.

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Army colonel Assimi Goita on Wednesday introduced himself as Mali's new military strongman a day after a coup that was condemned by the international community but won support from the country's opposition.

The African Union, European Union, the United States and the UN Security Council have all demanded the junta free President Ibrahim Boubacar, Prime Minister Boubou Cisse and others taken captive in Tuesday's coup that followed months of protests.

In the Malian capital Bamako, Goita said after meeting top civil servants that he was the leader of the "National Committee for the Salvation of the People" that has seized power.

"Mali is in a situation of socio-political crisis. There is no more room for mistakes," Goita, surrounded by armed military men, told journalists.

His entourage told AFP that Goita, who is in his forties, had until now headed Mali's special forces based in the centre of the west African country, torn for the last five years by jihadist and sectarian violence.

Several military men told AFP on condition of anonymity that Goita was the true force behind the coup.

Fellow coup chiefs meanwhile called on the public to return to normal life, warned against acts of "vandalism" and threatened to punish any soldier found guilty of extortion.

The opposition coalition M5-RFP said in a statement that "it took note of the commitment" the junta has made to "open a civilian political transition" and would work with it on "developing a roadmap."

The coalition's Choguel Maiga told journalists "we will organise the biggest patriotic rally on Friday" in Bamako and nationwide in order to "celebrate the Malian people's victory".

- 'Unconstitutional change' -

The dramatic events in one of Africa's most volatile countries began early Tuesday, when rebel officers mutinied at a base near Bamako and headed into the city, where they detained Keita and Cisse.

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Hours later, Keita -- beset by angry protests over economic stagnation, corruption and a brutal Islamist insurgency -- announced his resignation.

He said he had been given no other choice but to quit, and sought to avoid bloodshed.

Jubilant crowds had cheered the rebels on Tuesday as they arrived in the capital Bamako.

There were few visible traces of those events on Bamako's streets on Wednesday -- troops had not been deployed en masse despite the coup leaders announcing a night-time curfew.

The 55-nation AU blasted the "unconstitutional change of government" in Mali.

The bloc announced that it was suspending Mali -- a rare move that bars a member from attending all summits and meetings -- "until restoration of constitutional order."

It also called for the release of Keita and other officials, a demand also made forcefully by Brussels and Washington.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States "strongly condemns the August 18 mutiny in Mali as we would condemn any forcible seizure of power."

"The freedom and safety of detained government officials and their families must be ensured," he said.

The 15-nation West African bloc ECOWAS, which had tried in vain to mediate in the long-running political crisis, also said it would suspend Mali from its internal decision-making bodies.

It pledged to close land and air borders to Mali and push for sanctions against "all the putschists and their partners and collaborators".

ECOWAS said its leaders will meet on Thursday via video conference to discuss the coup.

- 'Take responsibility' -

The coup leaders had appeared on television overnight to pledge a political transition and new elections within a "reasonable time".

In a brief media appearance, junta spokesman and Air Force deputy chief of staff Ismael Wague called on Malians to "resume their activities in a healthy manner."

Civil servants were "invited" to return to work on Thursday, he said.

He added that no people had died during the coup, despite unconfirmed reports of several deaths.

- Anti-jihadist fight -

With Mali the cornerstone of French-led efforts to roll back jihadists in the Sahel, President Emmanuel Macron reiterated Wednesday his call to return to civilian rule.

"The fight against terrorist groups and the defence of democracy and the rule of law are inseparable," he tweeted.

Macron added that for French forces "to leave is to provoke instability and to weaken our fight. It is not acceptable."

Wague said "all past agreements" would be respected, including Mali's support for anti-jihadist missions such as the UN force in Mali (MINUSMA), France's Barkhane force, the G5 Sahel, and European special-forces initiative Takuba.

Swathes of Mali's territory are outside of the control of central authorities and years of fighting have failed to halt an Islamist insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives since emerging in 2012.

The failure to roll back the jihadists was a major factor in fuelling frustrations with Keita's rule, say analysts.

Tensions flared in April after the government held long-delayed parliamentary elections, the results of which are still disputed.

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Media houses, journalists, anchors and spokespersons must be held accountable for their actions and conduct: Congress

New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday urged the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) to issue an advisory to all media houses for enforcing a code of conduct to curb the "sensationalist and toxic nature" of televised debates.

A delegation comprising Rajya Sabha MP and Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi, another party spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill and AICC secretary Pranav Jha appeared before the NBSA and made the request for the advisory.

Media houses, journalists, anchors and spokespersons must be held accountable for their actions and conduct, a Congress statement quoted Singhvi as saying before the NBSA.

The delegation called for the "issuance of advisory by the NBSA to media houses for enforcing a code of conduct to curb the sensationalist, slanderous and toxic nature of televised media debates and strict adherence to the NBSA guidelines".

NBSA guidelines, dated December 13, 2012, had put an obligation on all media houses to ensure that their programmes do not become a platform to spread acrimony. The News Broadcaster's Association holds the authority to ensure compliance with its guidelines and instructions.

The delegation said that in the current political atmosphere, civil, respectful and factual temperament of television debates have been overpowered by on-air noise, friction and tussle, according to the party statement.

They sought for issuance of advisory, clarification on the term "acrimonious" and instruct anchors, panelists and media channels not to indulge in acts of "personal name-calling, instigation and mic control".

The News Broadcasting Standards Authority is an independent body set up by the News Broadcasters Association. Its task is to consider and adjudicate upon complaints about broadcasts.

Last week, Shergill had urged the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to take steps to restore "civility" in television debates and pitched for issuance of an advisory to enforce a code of conduct by news channels.

The Congress' demand for action against "toxic" TV debates comes after the death of party leader and spokesperson Rajiv Tyagi following a heart attack. He was 52.

Tyagi suffered the attack soon after participating in a TV debate from his residence in Sector 16 of Vasundhara in Ghaziabad.
A Chinese paramilitary police officer gestures as he wears a protective mask while standing guard at the entrance to the Forbidden City as it re-opened to limited visitors in Beijing, China, on May 1, 2020. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Provinces in China Offer Cash Rewards to Citizens Who Participate in Persecuting Spiritual Group

Chinese authorities across several provinces and cities recently rolled out programs to reward citizens with up to 100,000 yuan (approximately $14,300) for reporting Falun Gong adherents activities to local police. Some governments said the program is in effect for three years.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a mind and body cultivation practice with moral teachings centered on truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. In July 1999, as the number of adherents reached about 100 million, the communist regime deemed its popularity a threat to its rule and launched a sprawling persecution campaign. Hundreds of thousands of adherents have since been arrested, detained, and tortured within Chinas jails and prisons.

Early in the persecution, authorities incentivized ordinary citizens and officials alike to take part in the persecution by rewarding them for collecting intelligence on adherents and arresting them.

The latest government documents obtained by The Epoch Times show that such practices continue unabated.

In one document, authorities said the general public can report evidence such as banners, slogans, flyers, USB flash drives, and CDs related to Falun Gong.

Since the Chinese regimes suppression, many Falun Gong adherents have created and distributed materials to raise awareness about the persecution.

The orders come from the Political and Legal Affairs Commission (PLAC), a Party agency that oversees the countrys security apparatus, including courts, police, and prisons; local police departments; and the 610 Office, an extralegal agency established in 1999 expressly to carry out the Falun Gong persecution.

Shandong Province

According to Chinese news portal Sina.com, on June 1, during a special meeting of the Shandong provincial police department, officials decided to implement a program from June to August to crack down on believers.

On July 21, Chinese news site iqilu.com reported on a monetary award program from the Zouping County PLAC and police bureau with the goal of targeting heretical teachings such as Falun Gong. It called on everyone to join in the effort.

Those who are involved in publishing, distributing, publicly displaying, and televising Falun Gong-related information should be reported to police, according to the news report.

Hainan Province

The police department of Hainan Province issued a notice on June 15 offering a high monetary reward to those who provide leads on crimes and activities associated with Falun Gong. The activities deemed illegal include producing and distributing information in the forms of flyers, pictures, slogans, books, and CDs.

Authorities offered a reward of as high as 100,000 yuan (approximately $14,300).

Guangdong Province

The Guangdong provincial police department issued in March a pilot program to reward those who report crimes related to heretical teachings to the police. The reward is up to 100,000 yuan and is in effect for three years.

Zhejiang Province

On May 6, the police bureau of Yiwu city also announced a rewards program, where Falun Gong was mentioned six times. Criminals are recognized as those who interrupt radio and TV programs, install satellite TV receivers, use software to circumvent Chinas firewall, and browse banned websites.

According to U.S.-based website Minghui.org, Falun Gong practitioner Liu Chengjun from the city of Changchun was one of the practitioners who tapped into a local television network to broadcast information about the persecution of Falun Gong on March 5, 2002. Liu was soon apprehended and subject to torture in prison. After a year and nine months in detention, Liu Chengjun passed away on Dec. 26, 2003.

Anhui Province

On April 23, 2019, the 610 Office in Huangshan city issued a notice on its official Weibo social media account, entitled All people should participate in reporting heretical teachings. A 10,000 yuan reward is waiting for you. It also gave the following breakdown of how the rewards program works:

1. Reward of 100 to 500 yuan for those who find slogans, banners, flyers, CD, and books containing information on Falun Gong and report them to authorities.

2. Reward of 2,000 to 5,000 yuan for those who report local Falun Gong adherents who have produced materials publicizing the practice.

3. Reward of 5,000 to 10,000 yuan to those who report on gatherings and activities of local Falun Gong adherents.

Nationwide Kidnapping of Falun Gong Adherents During the Pandemic

According to statistics from Minghui.org, which serves as a clearinghouse on information about the persecution of Falun Gong in China, in the first half of 2020, Chinese police arrested and harassed at least 5,313 Falun Gong practitioners in 238 cities across 28 provinces, regions, and municipalities in the country. Due to the CCPs information blockade, the true numbers may be much higher.

The data also showed that in the first half of the year, at least 623 Falun Gong practitioners over the age of 65 were persecuted to death, sentenced to prison, abducted or arrested by police, or harassed by authorities.
SYDNEY New Zealand on Thursday reported five new confirmed cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours compared with six a day earlier, as the Pacific nation battles a fresh outbreak in its biggest city of Auckland.

An abrupt resurgence of infections last week in Auckland prompted the government to reimpose some lockdown restrictions on the citys 1.7 million residents.

New Zealand so far has reported just over 1,300 confirmed cases and 22 deaths from the virus. There are 101 active cases in the country.

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
[Follow our daily updates on the latest presidential election polls.]

WASHINGTON  There was a moment during his Democratic National Convention speech on Wednesday night when former President Barack Obama appeared on the edge of tears. Evoking American ancestors persecuted because of their race, religion or nationality, he said they had every reason to give up on democracy but did not.

In his telling, that is what is at stake at this hinge point in history, nothing less than the future of democracy, and he seemed emotional in a way that the famously stoic former president rarely allows himself to be in public. He talked of dark times and hardship and injustice and the meanness and the lies and crazy conspiracy theories. He declared that this years election will determine whether America lives up to its promise.

His excoriation of his successor was withering. The incumbent president, he charged, is lazy, uncaring and interested only in drawing attention to himself. President Trump, Mr. Obama said, acts as if he is above the law, uses his office to enrich himself and his allies, exploits the military as political props to be deployed against peaceful protesters, demonizes his opponents and the free press, and disregards science during a deadly pandemic in favor of just making stuff up. Whats more, he added, Mr. Trump is trying to suppress the vote to stay in office.

The 19-minute address, delivered in front of an exhibit titled Writing the Constitution at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, reflected a long journey from the hope and change of 2008 when Mr. Obama sailed into the White House on a fundamentally optimistic message that whatever the countrys problems, they could be solved by coming together. Twelve years later, he did not seem quite so certain. With Mr. Trump in the White House, Mr. Obama sounded more worried than perhaps at any point in his public life.
on Thursday denied reports of a rift with Saudi Arabia and said the two countries enjoy strong ties, amid reports of strain in their relations over Riyadh's reluctance to toe Islamabad's line on the Kashmir issue.

Foreign Office Spokesman Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said and Saudi Arabia have strong economic, political, security and military cooperation at all levels.

"Prime Minister Imran Khan's remarks and Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa's recent visit to Saudi Arabia attest to the unchanged fraternal relations and close contact between the two countries, Chaudhri said during his weekly press briefing.

" remains firmly committed to the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia," he added.

He said that Pakistan appreciates the Kingdom's role in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan has been pushing the 57-member organisation, which is the second largest intergovernmental body after the UN, for the foreign ministers' meeting since India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August last year.

However, there has not been any positive response from Jeddah-based OIC, the biggest bloc of Islamic countries in the world, to Pakistan's request so far.

A major reason behind the OIC's inaction has been Saudi Arabia's reluctance to accept Pakistan's request for holding a meeting specifically on Kashmir. Riyadh's support is crucial for any move at the OIC, which is dominated by Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries.

Pakistan has been unsuccessfully trying to drum up support against India for withdrawing Jammu and Kashmir's special status.

India has categorically told the community that the scrapping of Article 370 of the Constitution was its internal matter. It also advised Pakistan to accept reality and stop all anti-India propaganda.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, for the first time, criticised the Saudi government in a recent TV interview and threatened to call an OIC meeting by sidestepping the Gulf country.

Saudis avoided directly responding to Qureshi's remarks, but reportedly stopped renewing a USD 3.2 billion oil credit facility to Pakistan despite requests from Islamabad. Pakistan has also paid back USD 1 billion loan to Riyadh which, according to some reports, the Saudis had demanded.

In 2018, Saudi Arabia granted Pakistan a USD 3 billion loan and USD 3.2 billion oil credit facility to help its balance of payments crisis after Prime Minister Khan visited the country to seek financial support.

(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.)
Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce has flagged a gruelling year ahead for the airline and more job cuts as it faces a slower recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and fiercer competition from a relaunched Virgin Australia.

After revealing the second worst result in Qantas' history, a $1.9 billion statutory full-year loss, Mr Joyce said that continued state border closures meant he had thrown hopes held in June of domestic flying bouncing back to three-quarters of pre-pandemic levels by December out the window.

Alan Joyce said that will include further job losses on top of the 6000 announced in June, representing 20 per cent of the workforce. Credit:Louise Kennerley

International services will likely not resume before June next year, he said, with flights to the United States not expected until the end of 2021, after a vaccine can bring the virus under control there.

"There is still going to be more tough decisions to be made in the forthcoming weeks and months ahead," Mr Joyce said, describing the current environment the worst in Qantas' 100-year history.
/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/



VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A-Labs Capital I Corp. (the Corporation) (TSXV: ALBS.P), a capital pool company under Policy 2.4  Capital Pool Companies of the TSX Venture Exchange (Exchange), announces that it has entered into an amendment to the Definitive Agreement (as defined below) with BTC Corporation Holdings Pty. Ltd. (BTC) in order to extend the deadline for completion of and amend certain terms of the qualifying transaction (the QT) described in its news release dated February 19, 2020.

Amendment to Definitive Agreement

The Corporation and BTC have entered into an amendment to the Definitive Agreement to, among other things: (1) extend the deadline to complete the QT from April 30, 2020 to October 31, 2020; (2) amend the ratio of the Consolidation (as defined below) such that it is completed on the basis of one post-Consolidation Corporation Share (as defined below) for each 4.66667 pre-Consolidation Corporation Shares; (3) amend the Exchange Ratio (as defined below) such that the Corporation will issue 1,738 post-Consolidation Corporation Shares in exchange for each one (1) BTC Share (as defined below); and (4) update the proposed nominees for appointment to the board of directors of the Resulting Issuer (as defined below) at closing of the QT.

The amended Exchange Ratio was determined based on a respective valuation of CAD$1,200,000 for the Corporation on the basis of 5,600,000 pre-Consolidation Corporation Shares outstanding and CAD$34,289,002 for BTC (being AUD$36,005,425 using an agreed upon fixed AUD:CAD currency exchange rate of approximately CAD$1.00 : AUD$0.95233) on the basis of 19,729 BTC Shares outstanding immediately prior to completion of the QT.

On February 18, 2020, the Corporation entered into a definitive share sale agreement (the Definitive Agreement) with BTC, pursuant to which the shareholders of BTC will exchange 100% of the issued and outstanding fully paid ordinary shares of BTC (BTC Shares) for post-Consolidation common shares (the Corporation Shares) of the Corporation, resulting in BTC becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation. Pursuant to the Definitive Agreement, in consideration of the Corporation's acquisition of BTC, each BTC Share that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to completion of the QT was originally to be exchanged for 1,656 post-consolidation Corporation Shares with a consolidation ratio of one post-consolidation share for each 5.09091 pre-Consolidation shares of the Corporation.

Pursuant to the Definitive Agreement, as amended, in connection with the QT, the Corporation expects to complete a consolidation of the Corporation Shares on the basis of one post-consolidation Corporation Share for each 4.6667 pre-consolidation Corporation Shares (the Consolidation). In addition, on closing of the QT, the Corporation will (i) complete a continuation out of the federal jurisdiction of Canada and being governed by the Canada Business Corporations Act to become a British Columbia, Canada corporation being governed by the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the Continuation); and (ii) change its name to Banxa Holdings Inc. or such other name as BTC may determine, subject to approval from the British Columbia Registrar of Companies and the Exchange (the Name Change).

The Corporation has received shareholder approval of the Consolidation, the Continuation and the Name Change pursuant to an annual general and special meeting of the Corporations shareholders held on April 30, 2020.

In addition to the post-Consolidation Corporation Shares issuable to shareholders of BTC pursuant to the share exchange, at closing of the QT, pursuant to a consulting services agreement between BTC and certain financial advisors to BTC, the Corporation will also issue 1,186,500 post-Consolidation Corporation Shares to such advisors in connection with financial and related consulting services, including advising BTC on the Canadian capital markets and regulatory regime. See the prior press release of the Corporation dated February 19, 2020 for details regarding such advisors and the advisor fee.

Furthermore, in connection with closing of the QT, it is expected that the BTC Share purchase warrants issued to finders or advisers under the Convertible Note Financing (as defined below) and the Concurrent Financing (as defined below) will be exchanged for convertible securities of the Resulting Issuer at the Exchange Ratio, with a resulting adjustment in number and exercise price.

As previously disclosed, the Corporation is a capital pool company and it is intended that the QT, when completed, will constitute the qualifying transaction of the Corporation for the purposes of Policy 2.4  Capital Pool Companies of the Exchange.

BTC Financings

Pre-Transaction Placement

In multiple closings, with the final closing on July 23, 2020, BTC completed a non-brokered private placement of 1,641 BTC Shares at a price of AUD$1,550 per BTC Share for gross proceeds of AUD$2,543,550 (the Pre-Transaction Placement). Dominet Digital Corporation Pty Ltd., a company associated with Domenico Carosa, was issued 7 BTC Shares on July 23, 2020 as an advisor fee for assisting with the Pre-Transaction Placement. The BTC Shares were issuable pursuant to a capital raising agreement dated July 13, 2020.

Convertible Note Financing

On June 22, 2020, BTC completed a non-brokered financing of convertible notes (the Convertible Notes) in the aggregate principal amount of CAD$419,000 (the Convertible Note Financing). The Convertible Notes are non-transferable, bear compounding interest at a rate of 12% per annum, and will mature on June 22, 2022, provided that if the QT does not close by July 22, 2021, the maturity date of the Convertible Notes will be accelerated to July 22, 2021 and BTC will repay the principal amount of the Convertible Notes and any accrued and outstanding interest under the Convertible Notes.

On the closing of the QT, the holders of the Convertible Notes will be entitled at their sole discretion (except as noted below) and at any time after September 23, 2020 and prior to June 22, 2022 to convert some or all of the outstanding principal amount of the Convertible Note into post-Consolidation Corporation Shares at a conversion price of $0.85 per post-Consolidation Corporation Share (the Conversion Price). Provided that the QT has closed by July 22, 2021, then, at the maturity date, the Convertible Notes still outstanding will automatically convert into post-Consolidation Corporation Shares at the Conversion Price. Consequently, up to 492,941 post-Consolidation Corporation Shares are issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Notes.

In addition, upon the closing of the QT, each holders of Convertible Notes shall be issued such number of Resulting Issuer share purchase warrants (the Convertible Note Warrants) equal to the number of common shares of the Resulting Issuer that the Convertible Note would convert into at the Conversion Price as of the closing date of the QT. Each such Convertible Note Warrant will be exercisable into one common share of the Resulting Issuer at a price of $1.00 per share for a term of two years from the closing of the QT.

In connection with the Convertible Note Financing, Mackie Research Capital Corporation (MRCC) was paid finders fees comprised of: (i) a CAD$33,520 cash commission; and (ii) 24 BTC Share purchase warrants, with each such warrant allowing the holder thereof to purchase one BTC Share at a price of AUD$1,821 per share for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance.

Concurrent Financing

BTC intends to complete a non-brokered private placement of subscription receipts (the Subscription Receipts) at a price of AUD$1,825 per Subscription Receipt, for gross proceeds of a minimum of approximately CAD$2,000,000 (the Concurrent Financing) and up to a maximum of approximately CAD$4,000,000.

Immediately prior to the completion of the QT, subject to receipt of conditional approval from the Exchange in respect of the Qualifying Transaction (the Escrow Release Condition), the Subscription Receipts will automatically convert, without any further consideration or action on the part of the holder thereof, into BTC Shares on the basis of one BTC Share per Subscription Receipt.

The gross proceeds of the Concurrent Financing (the Escrowed Funds) will be held in escrow by BTC, or an agent appointed by BTC, pending the satisfaction of the Escrow Release Condition on or prior to December 31, 2020 (the Escrow Release Deadline). If: (i) the Escrow Release Condition is not satisfied or waived on or before the Escrow Release Deadline, or (ii) prior to the Escrow Release Deadline, the Definitive Agreement, as amended, is terminated or BTC publicly announces that it does not intend to satisfy the Escrow Release Condition, the Escrowed Funds will be returned to the Subscription Receipt holders on a pro rata basis and the Subscription Receipts will be cancelled without any further action on the part of the holders.

In connection with the Concurrent Financing, it is intended that MRCC will act as a finder, and will receive an advisory fee of CAD$26,250 (inclusive of GST), 10,000 common shares of the Resulting Issuer at a deemed price of CAD$1.00 per share, and will be paid an advisory commission of 2% in cash and 2% in broker warrants of the aggregate gross proceeds arising from the Concurrent Financing (collectively, the MRCC Advisor Fee). The broker warrants issuable to MRCC, as finder, will be exercisable into common shares of the Resulting Issuer at a price of CAD$1.00 per share for a period of 24 months from closing of the Concurrent Financing.

In addition to the MRCC Advisor Fee, BTC may pay additional finders fees in connection with the Concurrent Financing to certain eligible finders in the form of cash and/or securities.

Management and Board of Directors of Resulting Issuer

It is expected that, upon completion of the QT, Konstantin Lichtenwald, a current director of the Corporation, will be appointed as the Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of the entity resulting from the QT (the Resulting Issuer), and Doron Cohen, a current director and CEO of the Corporation, will remain as a director of the Resulting Issuer. With the exception of Mr. Lichtenwald (in the capacity as CFO) and Mr. Doron Cohen (in the capacity as director), it is expected that all existing directors and officers of the Corporation will resign and will be replaced by: (i) Domenico Carosa (Founder, Non-Executive Chairman and Director); (ii) Matthew Cain (Director); (iii) Holger Arians (Chief Executive Officer); (iv) Joshua (Jim) Landau (Director); and (v) Tony Gu Tao (Director).

Haozheng Jack Lu was initially proposed to become a director of the Resulting Issuer, as previously disclosed. However, pursuant to the amendment to the Definitive Agreement, Mr. Lu has been replaced with Tony Gu Tao, and an additional director, Joshua (Jim) Landau, has been added to the proposed slate for directors of the Resulting Issuer. The biographies of the two new director nominees are set out below.

Tony Gu Tao  Director

Mr. Tony Gu Tao is the Founding Partner of NGC Ventures, a large and global blockchain venture capital fund. NGC Ventures has deployed capital in more than 100 projects since 2017, and has been the major backer of a few leading blockchain technology companies, including BTC.

Mr. Gu Tao is also a Partner of Rhodium Capital, which is a Singapore-based global M&A and Buyout Firm. Mr. Gu Tao has been involved in multiple high-profile deals across the financial, education, consumer and TMT industries, with aggregated deal value exceeding $1 billion. One of the landmark deals that Mr. Gu Tao was involved in was the acquisition of BESI (which used to be the largest investment bank of Portugal), by Haitong Securities, the second largest investment bank of China, for $400 million in 2015.

Mr. Gu Tao has a bachelors degree in Computer Engineering from Zhejiang University, a masters degree from NTU and a dual-Executive MBA degree from INSEAD and Tsinghua University.

Joshua (Jim) Landau  Director

Mr. Jim Landau has over 40 years experience as a technology entrepreneur and mentor. He currently serves as a Chair for an Australian TEC group of managing directors from diverse industries and is a non-executive director of the private equity form Leading Technology Group and the debt mezzanine funder, Visage Invest.

Mr. Landau was the co-founder of one of Australias first listed software companies, Software Corporation of Australia, on the second Board of the ASX and was the managing director of Australias first main board listed IT services company, Datronics Corporation. He was the former chairman of Centricom, the developer of the Poli Payments platform, a director of Collaborate Corporation and many other cutting-edge technology companies.

Mr. Landau is based in Melbourne, Australia and holds Fellowships of the Australian Society of Certified Practicing Accountants, the Financial Services Institute of Australasia, and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

For additional information regarding the other proposed management and board of directors of the Resulting Issuer (Messrs. Carosa, Cain, Arians, Cohen and Lichtenwald), please refer to the Corporations news release dated February 19, 2020.

Further Information

Additional information concerning the QT, the Corporation, BTC and the Resulting Issuer is provided in the Corporations news release dated February 19, 2020, as updated by this press release, and will be provided in a filing statement to be filed in connection with the QT, which will be available under the Corporations SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com .

In accordance with the policies of the Exchange, the Corporation Shares are currently halted from trading and will remain so until such time as the Exchange determines, which, depending on the policies of the Exchange, may not occur until completion of the QT.

Completion of the QT is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, Exchange acceptance and if applicable pursuant to Exchange Requirements, majority of the minority shareholder approval. Where applicable, the QT cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the QT will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the transaction, any information released or received with respect to the 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 TSX Venture Exchange Inc. 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, contact:

Doron Cohen, CEO and Director of the Corporation

doron@alabs.co

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.

INFORMATION CONCERNING BTC, INCLUDING PROPOSED DIRECTORS OF THE RESULTING ISSUER, HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO THE CORPORATION BY BTC FOR INCLUSION IN THIS PRESS RELEASE.

THIS PRESS RELEASE, REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE CANADIAN LAWS IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES, AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO SELL ANY OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN IN THE UNITED STATES, THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN, AND WILL NOT BE, REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1993, AS AMENDED, OR ANY SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES OR U.S. PERSONS UNLESS REGISTERED OR EXEMPT THEREFROM.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about managements view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Forward looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, the closing of the QT, the Concurrent Financing and related transactions, including the proposed business of the Corporation after completion of the QT. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, including with respect to the closing of the QT and the Concurrent Financing, the timing and receipt of all applicable regulatory, corporate, shareholder and third party approvals and the satisfaction of other conditions to closing the QT and the Concurrent Financing, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Although the Corporation believes that the expectations reflected in forward looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statement will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Corporation disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward looking statements or otherwise.
Haeundae Beach in South Korea's southeastern city of Busan is crowded with vacationers on Aug. 16, 2020. Yonhap



South Korea said Thursday it has decided to close down Haeundae Beach and other beaches in the southeastern port city of Busan due to the soaring number of locally transmitted new coronavirus cases.



Under the decision, the Busan government will shut down the seven beaches in the city, effective from midnight, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. The enhanced distancing rules will be put into effect through Sept. 30.



The country's daily new virus cases jumped by triple digits for the seventh straight day Thursday as church-linked infections in the greater capital area continued to pile up, with more virus cases being identified across the nation.



The country added 288 more COVID-19 cases, including 276 local infections, raising the total caseload to 16,346, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).



Busan added 15 patients on Thursday, raising its virus toll to 246.













As the new daily cases spiked, South Korea decided to raise the level of social distancing in Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province by one notch to Level 2 in the three-tier system for two weeks from Sunday.



Starting Wednesday, the measure was expanded to Incheon, just west of Seoul.



But on Wednesday, the Busan city government decided to bolster its own anti-virus measures to prevent the spread of the virus in the city.



Incheon also suspended the operation of its beaches after the country enhanced the distancing rule in the region.



Under the Level 2 restrictions, outdoor gatherings of more than 100 people are strictly restricted. If they are held indoors, the ceiling is 50 people. So-called risk-prone facilities, including karaoke rooms, clubs, PC cafes and buffets, are ordered to close down as well.



The oceans ministry said other regions will also be requested to shut down their beaches should the government decide to expand the social distancing measures. (Yonhap)
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Linkedin Ivany Atina Arbi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 20, 2020 15:21 517 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066f49a6c 1 National Besipae,Pubabu,NTT,Timor-Tengah-Selatan,Jokowi,Independence-Day,baju-daerah-Jokowi,Walhi,AMAN,Komnas-HAM Free

To celebrate Independence Day on Aug. 17 at the Presidential Palace, President Joko Jokowi Widodo wore an indigenous outfit from Timor Tengah Selatan regency, East Nusa Tenggara. His choice of attire has brought attention to a land dispute that after years has resulted in the forced eviction of an indigenous community in the regency.

Several media outlets ran headlines drawing a connection between the outfit the President wore on Independence Day and the forced eviction, which occurred one day later.

Various organizations condemned the East Nusa Tenggara administration's repressive approach toward the Besipae indigenous community, who refused to give up their customary land in Pubabu forest, which the administration claimed as its own.

The Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN) said in a statement that joint personnel from the police and public order agency had destroyed dozens of Besipae community settlements built within the Pubabu forest in Linamnutu village of Manuban Selatan district, Timor Tengah Selatan.

The incident took place on Tuesday, causing 37 families to lose their homes.

"The security personnel verbally and physically abused the community during the forced eviction. They particularly targeted women and children. Witnesses heard three gunshots along the way," the statement said.

AMAN secretary-general Rukka Sombolinggi condemned the incident, calling it "a violation of human rights". She urged the administration to use a persuasive approach rather than a repressive one.

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) released a statement after meeting the community about the dispute recently. Komnas HAM commissioner Beka Ulung Hapsara vowed "to soon arrange a visit to the site" to help find a solution to the case.

The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) separately explained that similar violence had also occurred in February, in which joint security personnel forcibly expelled three families living in a building claimed by the East Nusa Tenggara administration as its asset.

The dispute had apparently lasted for years, after logging in Pubabu forest had depleted the clean water source of the community, a document from Walhi said.

The Besipae community on Aug. 17 in Timor Tengah Selatan, East Nusa Tenggara. (Courtesy of ITA-PKK/-)

In 2013, when an agreement between the community and the East Nusa Tenggara administration regarding use of the forest ended, the conflict escalated.

In 1987, the Besipae community, which had inhabited the forest for generations, gave authorities permission to use the land as a cattle farm, under a collaboration with the Australian government. The agreement was supposed to end in 2012.

Two years before the expiry date, however, local authorities proposed an extension. It was rejected by the community, which wanted to return the forest to its "Nais Kio" (prohibited area) status. Nais Kio, according to the Besipae group's customs, is intended as a habitat for wildlife and should not be managed by anyone. Hunting is prohibited on the land.

The administration issued in 2013 a certificate of right of use over a 3,780 hectare area in the forest, which eventually triggered a conflict with the community. Authorities then intimidated the community before forcing them to leave the land, Walhi said.

East Nusa Tenggara head of regional revenues and assets, Zeth Sony Libing, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday that the administration had provided 800 square meters for the 37 families to use.

They planned to use 3,780 ha to cultivate moringas and keep cattle. The administration holds a land certificate to use this land, he said, claiming that the 37 families had squatted on the land.

Besides the 800 sq m, East Nusa Tenggara Governor Viktor Bungtilu Laiskodat had permitted the 37 families to work on the 3,780 ha as long as they did not claim ownership of it.

Sony claimed that the 37 families were newcomers who wanted to profit from the land. He also claimed that the administration had the right to use the land after an indigenous figure, Raja Nabuasa, gave the land to the administration. Raja Nabuasa is dead now.

The Walhi head in the province, Umbu Wulang Tanaamahu, told the Post that the families were members of the indigenous community, not newcomers occupying the land like Sony claimed.

Djemi Amnifu contributed to this story from Kupang.
A social media influencer with tens of thousands of followers claims she is being "trolled, defamed and stalked" on platforms including Facebook and Instagram by anonymous posters.

Lisa McGowan, who runs the 'Lisa's Lust List' website claims that she and her business are the subject of the online harassment by unknown parties.

She has launched a High Court action aimed at helping her to identify the person or persons behind the posts.

The businesswoman says her site specialises in promoting various products including fashion items, beauty, health, travel and homeware items mainly produced by Irish-based small to medium enterprises, and has 300,000 followers.

Expand Close Lisa McGowan at the launch to announce the prize for the Best Dressed Lady at the Spring Summer Ladies Day at Naas Racecourse. Picture: Conor Healy / Facebook

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Whatsapp Lisa McGowan at the launch to announce the prize for the Best Dressed Lady at the Spring Summer Ladies Day at Naas Racecourse. Picture: Conor Healy

She has also acted as MC at a number of public meetings, live shows and charitable events.

Ms McGowan, from Tullamore in Co Offaly, started her online promotional work after she won the best dressed lady competition at the Galway Races in 2016.

In recent weeks she claims that she, and members of her family, have been subjected of online bullying, trolling and harassment by a number of anonymous posters on various social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram.

She also claims the posts contain untrue, personal and highly defamatory comments about her that are "extremely damaging" to her and her business.

She also said that some of the posts falsely accuse her of being involved in criminal and fraudulent behaviour.

The publication of these comments she claims are "designed solely to inflict reputation and financial damage" on her and her firm.

Represented by Matthew Jolley Bl, Ms McGowan and her company Lisa's Lust List Limited are seeking to find out the names of those persons behind the posts in order to stop the alleged abuse and harassment of her and her family.

Counsel said that given the nature of Ms McGowan's business "a certain amount of negative commentary is to be expected."

Since June counsel said she has been the subject of commentary from anonymous posters that ranges from being "trolled, bullied, harassed and defamed" to what counsel said were "sinister posts about her movements".

Counsel said that posters seem to know when Ms McGowan is physically present on the premises of her family's Insurance Brokerage business, where she continues to work part-time.

This monitoring of her movements amounts to stalking Ms McGowan, it is claimed.

In addition, untraceable and unknown parties have made phone calls to her family business asking to speak to her or her father.

Ms McGowan has reported this activity to the gardai, counsel said, adding that she has hired a private investigator and an IT expert as part of her bid to find out who are behind the posts.

Counsel said that his client wishes to take proceedings against those who are seeking to damage her good name and "intentionally hurt her."

In order to sue for defamation, she needs to identify who the anonymous posters are.

To do that Ms McGowan seeks a court order, known as a 'Norwich Pharmacal' requiring Facebook Ireland Ltd to provide her with details the social media company has in relation to the accounts making the controversial posts about her.

The details include the account users' identities, names postal addresses, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, IP address and ISP.

The user names of the accounts in question are 'contigo' and 'sickofthem' on Facebook and Instagram platforms, and all the contributors of the Instagram page 'mas_on_amission'.

Ms McGowan's application came before Mr Justice Anthony Barr, on an ex-parte basis, during Thursday's vacation sitting of the High Court.

The Judge, who noted the contents of the posts, said he was satisfied to grant the applicants permission to serve short notice of the proceedings on Facebook.

The judge made the matter returnable to a date next week.
By ANI

LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party MLAs held a protest against the Yogi Aditanath-led government outside the state Assembly over the issue of unemployment as a three-day assembly session began on Thursday.

The protesters were heard sloganeering and holding placards questioning the state government when will the youths get the jobs in the state.

Lucknow: Samajwadi Party MLAs hold protest against the state government, outside the state Assembly, as three-day assembly session begins today pic.twitter.com/xXwa40JQgB  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 20, 2020

Some of the protesters also alleged that the BJP government in the state is practicing corruption after coming to power.

Notably, the three-day monsoon session of the Uttar Pradesh assembly is underway despite the spread of the coronavirus in the state. The assembly administration is taking all the precautions to prevent an outbreak of the virus in the assembly.
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Senator Markey is trying to convince you that he is going to do something different in the next six years than he has done in the last 47, hes asking you to trust that he can lead a movement that he has never been a part of. Hes telling you that he deserves a mantle that he has not earned, Kennedy said at the news conference.
'Greece is a country that respects the rule of law, we've granted asylum to tens of thousands of people'

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has denied renewed claims of illegal pushbacks of asylum-seekers at sea and accused Turkey of peddling "misinformation" about his country's "tough but fair" border management.

"If there's any incident that needs to be explored, if there's any exaggeration at any given point, I'm going to be the first to look into it," Mitsotakis told CNN late Wednesday.

"Greece is a country that respects the rule of law, we've granted asylum to tens of thousands of people," the PM said.

The New York Times on August 14 said Greece was "abandoning" migrants at sea for the Turkish coastguard to rescue.

It said it had interviewed survivors from five such episodes, and cited additional evidence from independent watchdogs, two academic researchers and the Turkish coastguard.

Based on its research, the Times said more than 1,000 asylum seekers had been "dropped at sea" since March.

Mitsotakis said the reports "essentially originate from Turkey".

"Some of these reporters who do these types of exploratory journalism should be more careful in checking their sources," he said.

"These types of reports are also an insult to our coastguard (which) has saved literally tens of thousands of refugees and migrants at sea, and our islands have always provided shelter to those in greater need," Mitsotakis said.

Rights groups including the UN refugee agency have repeatedly called on Greece to investigate pushback claims.

"Such allegations have increased since March and reports indicate that several groups of people may have been summarily returned after reaching Greek territory," the UNHCR said in June.

Greece has repeatedly denied using illegal tactics to guard its borders, and has in turn accused Turkey of sending patrol boats to escort migrant boats into its waters.

In March, thousands of migrants flocked to the Greek border after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would no longer stop migrants wishing to get to the EU.

Days of chaos ensued at the border as Greek police fired tear gas at migrants and claimed Turkish police were helping them in trying to break through.

Ankara in turn accused Athens of beating migrants and firing live rounds at them, alleging that some died of bullet injuries.

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The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the livelihood of millions across India, but its the disadvantaged groups that are the most vulnerable. Movement is a problem, so is access to mobility. Add to it the risk of exposure to the disease in the midst of phased lockdowns, shutdowns and containment.

Under such a situation, a complex scenario has emerged in Odisha after the governments decision to make Aadhaar verification mandatory for pension accounts of the elderly, widows and persons with disability. There are two major schemesNational Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) and Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY)for which the state decided to implement Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Enlisted in these two schemes are a whopping 49 lakh beneficiaries who get a monthly pension in the range of Rs 500 to Rs 700. For them, it is food security and survival. However, the decision for Aadhaar verification could leave them high and dry as according to the governments statistics, at least 95% of NSAPs beneficiaries are verified whereas for MBPY, it is a tad lower at 80%.

In sheer numbers, Odisha has close to 22 lakh beneficiaries under NSAP and 27 lakh under MBPY. If Aadhaar verification is strictly followed, close to six lakh beneficiaries may find themselves in a struggle to access their entitlements. Besides the pension, there is the one-time Rs 1,000 ex gratia that they are entitled to. After the matter was raised, the state went easy on the process, but confusion exists at the bottom of the administrative pyramid with different interpretations.

Interestingly, three years ago, it was Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing his reservations about the implementation of DBT, which he thought could impact the beneficiaries of such welfare schemes. The intention behind agreeing to Aadhaar verification is to weed out ghost beneficiaries, which is welcome, but the government had time to complete the process that started last year in October. In March, it provided advance pension for the April-July period. Now, it must exercise caution and ensure the vulnerable groups are not pushed to any further risk.
Striking in the assault on Trump by the Democrats this week has been the degree to which policy differences have been subjugated to a more apocalyptic framing of the choice in November, a raise-the-stakes strategy that goes beyond what Hillary Clinton did in her unsuccessful campaign of 2016. Clinton argued then that Trump was not fit to be president, a charge that a majority of voters agreed with at the time but that nonetheless did not prevent some of them from voting for him and helping him win the election.
Principal Kim D'Aloisio holds an opening assembly Tuesday for sixth-graders in the auditorium of Holmes Middle School in Northridge, but all the students must attend from home via video conference because of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Principal Martha Gomez of El Sereno Middle School on the Eastside of Los Angeles flashed a smile as she pleaded with parents to stay positive during a first-ever school-wide online assembly.

"This is something new for all of us, she said. We ask for patience.

This week in the nations second-largest school district, parents and students powered up computers for some 1,400 Zoom assemblies. They met their teachers in online introductions Wednesday. On Thursday at 9 a.m. sharp, hundreds of thousands of children are expected to log on for class  as these early days of the new academic year reveal an imperfect, and at times poignant, picture of the distance-learning challenges confronting educators and families.

Mothers and fathers crouched with their children and smiled into screens. Children dwarfed by large office chairs waved at friends. A mother prepared a meal in the kitchen. And the most basic questions flooded into chat rooms:

When is the first day of school?"



Where do I get my PIN number?



Will there be textbooks?



I reported problems with my daughters keyboard, but I have not had a return call.

Across the massive Los Angeles Unified School District, a handful of recurring themes echoed throughout the week. Educators understand that many students, after campuses closed in March, stopped turning in work and were absent from hastily organized online classes. During assemblies this week, principals felt it was vital to repeatedly emphasize attendance and participation.

Many parents, meanwhile, said they were already having technology problems and asked about where they could get help. Others just wanted to know when children will be allowed to return to school  or at least to socialize with other children.



Educators did their best to answer the onslaught of questions, at times presenting a deluge of slides packed with information.

At Patrick Henry Middle School in Granada Hills, Principal Maria Elena Rico-Aguilera broadcast her assembly from the schools' library, where she sat alone with a can of watermelon soda. A campus wall calendar still showed March  the month of the shutdown  and staff members had stacked sets of books on long tables as a steady trickle of families came by to pick them up or to grab a computer for use at home.

Story continues

Rico-Aguilera opened her talk with a prerecorded, narrated video that showed her dashing through hallways and shouting out to staff: The kids are coming! The kids are coming!

But not long into the presentation, a few students hijacked the meeting's chat function for personal conversations, forcing the school to disable it. In an interview, she recounted how several especially eager students had been panicking because they could not sign on to classes. Formal instruction, she said in the interview and the assembly, would not begin until Thursday.

At Holmes Middle School in Northridge, Principal Kim DAloisio sat at a table in the cavernous auditorium for her virtual assembly. Other members of her staff were spaced apart in the far reaches of the room. DAloisio gauged students attention with snap quizzes on topics shed just gone over  such as digital citizenship and safety.

When should you meet up with someone you met online? she asked. The answer: cautiously with parent permission.

Students had about 10 seconds to answer each question, and the top five scorers won gift certificates to a fast-food restaurant.

You cant engage them when youre just delivering information at them, DAloisio said after the session. We cant really see their faces with 300 students, but we know from looking at their responses that theyre doing what theyre supposed to be doing.

Across the district, teachers and school leaders are looking for ways to ensure that students are present and engaged this fall. In the spring, some families talked of feeling abandoned by teachers and schools. Teachers recounted near desperate and ongoing efforts to contact families and keep students attending online sessions and turning in work.

To help change things, teachers and principals across the district have emphasized the importance of getting students to turn on their cameras to track participation. One high school principal issued a school rule for the online time: "Be appropriately dressed."

The biggest unknown is: Are the kids going to access the live instruction at the expected time? DAloisio said. And then, are we going to be able to reach out to 100% of the students to engage them in their learning? Normally, we can see them and see how they feel.

In a district-mandated training video for teachers, UCLA education professor Tyrone Howard reminded educators to emphasize compassion  and advised them not to obsess over whether students turn their camera on. Students might not want to be judged over their living situation. It may take some time for teachers to build the trust necessary for students to feel comfortable allowing video cameras into their home, he said.

In this moment were going to have to give our students a little more space, a little more mercy, a little more understanding, Howard said. We want to be a little less controlling in this environment.

At Manchester Avenue Elementary School on Wednesday afternoon, fifth-grade teacher Gladys Alvarez held a virtual meet-and-greet for students and parents from inside her classroom.

She wore a green Just Teach It school shirt with a black mask and headset. She had decorated her classroom to look just like it would have if students were there in person, with a giant U.S. map with yellow bus stickers across several states, instruction cards on how to properly listen, and manuals explaining literature genres such as nonfiction, science fiction and mystery.

I wanted them just to get the feel of being in the classroom, and having the background of our personal classroom just makes it a little bit more normal,Alvarez said.

As her students checked into the meeting, Alvarez played a virtual promotional video that provided a tour of the campus and highlighted some school successes.

During that first encounter, she and her students had to deal with technical glitches and inexperience  very likely a common occurrence throughout the vast school system.

A poll asking students how they felt about online learning did not pop up as expected, so Alvarez placed a link to the survey in a virtual chat. She then attempted to speak to students directly, but students initially forgot to unmute themselves.

Later, Alvarez emphasized to her students the importance of being in school.

Just know that we have to be present," she said. "We are in our virtual classroom and we have to be here every day.

At Panorama High School, new Principal Joe Nardulli smiled nervously as he explained to parents that the school was having technical difficulties with its online assembly.

There was supposed to be an option for Spanish translation, but it didnt immediately appear and then it didnt work. And when an administrator tried to play a video, he was denied access to it.

Still, Nardulli and his staff pushed through and tried to answer as many questions as possible.

Some students had concerns similar to what they'd have in any year  they wondered about the possibility of changing an elective and how best to contact advisors and counselors. But students and parents also had several questions about using the district's online learning platform, Schoology.

Nardulli did his best to assuage any fears. And he tried to remind students that they can still participate in extracurricular activities, even if they are from afar.

School should be fun and school should be a place that students want to be at," he said.

At El Sereno Middle School, the school on the Eastside where Principal Martha Gomez started her assembly with a plea for positivity and patience, administrators were quickly tested when, about halfway through the session, a few students took over the chat room.

Sad, one student said.

Is she thinking that we're little kids, another commented.

What up, Gio

Assistant Principal Virginia Oropeza admonished them to save the chat for questions they needed answered. But the students continued until the chat was disabled.

You need to be on your best behavior, please," Oropeza said into the screen. "Reach out if you feel overwhelmed.

Before signing off, Gomez returned to the message with which she'd started the meeting, reminding participants of the new school year motto: Practice patience and grace."
Swara Bhasker reacted to the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) inquiry in Sushant Singh Rajput's death case, which was ordered by the Supreme Court. The actress hopes that the CBI will be allowed to conduct their probe in a fair and impartial manner. She also questioned the lack of trust in Mumbai police and said that they should have been allowed to do their job.

"I don't think it is fair to suggest that the Mumbai Police were not doing a good job or were not being professional. I think that there is a problem right there that we did not trust the Mumbai Police, we should have. We have no reason to doubt their conduct. I hope the CBI will now be allowed to do their job in a fair and impartial manner," said Swara, speaking to Pinkvilla.

She added, "There is nothing new to add, I have said this before that the courts, the judicial system must be allowed to do their job, the police should have been allowed to do their job."

The Supreme Court settled the battle between the Mumbai police and Bihar police over jurisdiction of Sushant's case, by handing the case to the CBI on Wednesday, August 19, 2020. It also directed the Mumbai police to cooperate with the CBI on the case.

The Mumbai police came under a lot of criticism after Sushant's father KK Singh filed an FIR with the Bihar police with regard to his son's death. Alleged loopholes in the Mumbai police's investigation were called out by many.

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ALSO READ: Sushant Singh Rajput Case: Koena Mitra Hopes The Judiciary Doesn't Disappoint Sushant's Family

ALSO READ: Swara Bhaskar Says She Has Lost Work Because Of Her Opinions, Getting Trolled Bothers Her
Hyderabad, Aug 20 : AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi and MBT leader Amjedullah Khan have demanded the Telangana government to implement orders of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to compensate the families of fthe ive undertrials who were gunned down by the police in an alleged encounter in 2015.

Hyderabad MP Owaisi hoped that the state government will comply with the NHRC award on the Alair encounter.

He tweeted that by an order dated July 29, the NHRC directed compensation of Rs 5 lakhs within four weeks to the kin of those killed in the encounter.

Owaisi said the MLAs of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) had repeatedly raised this issue in the Telangana Assembly.

The Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) has also demanded implementation of the NHRC order and the arrest of all the policemen involved in the encounter.

MBT spokesman Amjedullah Khan welcomed the NHRC order directing the state government to pay compensations to the families of Viquar Ahmed, Syed Amjed Ali, Mohmmed Zakir, Mohammed Haneef and Izhar Khan who were killed on April 7, 2015 at Alair, Nalgonda district while being taken from the Warangal Jail to Nampally court in Hyderabad.

Khan recalled meeting then NHRC Chairperson Justice K.G. Balakrishnan during his visit to Hyderabad on April 21, 2015 and represented the matter.

He said all the five men shown as accused in three cases, including the killing of two home guards were later acquitted by the court.

Senior advocate Mohammed Osman Shaheed had lodged a complaint with the NHRC over the 'fake encounter'. He had sought monetary compensation and the departmental disciplinary action against the policemen involved.

The NHRC had awarded the compensation on September 12, 2018 but the government did not comply with the orders.

The advocate had complained about the non-implementation of the award to the NHRC, which directed in its orders dated July 29 that the compensation be paid within four weeks.

The commission has sought a compliance report along with proof of payment.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
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New coronavirus cases in the United States have dropped on average to the lowest in almost two months but deaths have been plateauing for three weeks now as states including Oklahoma, Tennessee, Louisiana and Nevada see an uptick in fatalities.

The average number of COVID-19 cases across the country per day was at just over 47,000 on Wednesday, which is the lowest it has been in seven weeks following the huge spike in infections in Sunbelt hotspot states.

The current daily case average is down considerably from the record high of 77,000 cases reported on a single day back in mid-July.

While infections have been steadily declining for a month now, deaths across the US have been plateauing for three weeks with an average of 1,000 Americans dying per day.

Deaths are a lagging indicator and can potentially rise several weeks after new cases start to decline.

The current daily death rate, while still high, remains below levels seen back in April when 2,000 people a day, on average, were dying from COVID-19.

Coronavirus infections in the US have now topped 5.5 million and more than 173,000 have died of COVID-19 since the pandemic started.

The average number of COVID-19 cases across the country per day was at just over 47,000 on Wednesday, which is the lowest it has been in seven weeks following the huge spike in infections in Sunbelt hotspot states

Deaths across the US have been plateauing for three weeks with an average of 1,000 Americans still dying per day. Deaths are a lagging indicator and can potentially rise several weeks after new cases start to decline

As deaths continue to plateau nationally, there has been an uptick of fatalities in some states including Oklahoma, Tennessee, Louisiana and Nevada.

All four states have reported record single day spikes of deaths in the last two weeks.

Infections in those states where deaths are currently rising have been on a downward trajectory since at least the beginning of August.

There has also been a spike in deaths in Kentucky and Iowa - two states where cases are currently plateauing and are yet to start trending downwards following the summer surge.

The daily death tolls in these states are well below the triple-digit rates reported in the populous hotspot states of California, Florida, Texas and Arizona and are not enough to reflect an uptick in the national trends.

It is the same for the handful of states that are currently seeing an increase in cases, including Hawaii, South Dakota, Kansas, Illinois, Maine, Vermont and Delaware.

In South Dakota, new cases have been increasing for a month now. The state's annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally drew more than 460,000 vehicles during the 10-day event last week.

Photos from the event showed a few people wearing masks and social distancing but many others packed close together at bars and rock shows throughout the event.

As deaths continue to plateau nationally, there has been an uptick of fatalities in some states including Tennessee. The state reported a record single-day spike of 42 deaths on August 6. Cases across the Sunbelt state have been declining since the beginning of August. The state currently has 137,800 cases and more than 1,400 deaths

There has been multiple single day spikes in deaths in Oklahoma this week. Deaths in the state have been increasing since the beginning of July, while cases have been decreasing since early August. The state currently has nearly 50,000 cases and over 690 deaths

Nevada has seen record single day spikes in the number of deaths in the last week. Cases have been declining across the state since mid-July. The state currently has 63,000 cases and more than 1,100 deaths

In Louisiana, deaths spiked to a record high on Sunday, bringing the state's total death toll to over 4,600. Cases have been declining since late July. Cases totals in the state are now at nearly 140,000

The South Dakota Department of Health issued a warning on Tuesday that one person who spent several hours at a main street bar in Sturgis had since tested positive for COVID-19 and may have spread it to others.

With people traveling to the rally from all over the country, the mass gathering has raised concerns it could become an epicenter of infections that are hard to track as rallygoers head home.

Hawaii, which had kept the virus at bay for most of the summer, has seen new cases spike considerably this month.

Governor David Ige said this week that he was extending statewide travel restrictions that require visitors to quarantine for 14 days in a bid to curb the spread. While initially due to be listed on September 1, Gov Ige has extended the restrictions until at least October as infections in the state surge.

The month-long national decline in cases is due mainly to the significant drop off in the hotspot states of California, Arizona, Florida and Texas after infections peaked there in mid-July.

Cases and deaths have been on a downward trajectory in Arizona for several weeks.

COVID-19-related hospitalizations in Arizona peaked about a month ago following Gov. Doug Ducey's lifting of stay-home orders in May. With Arizona then becoming a national hotspot, Ducey in late June re-imposed some restrictions and allowed local governments to impose masking requirements.

Florida's cases have been declining since mid-July but deaths are yet to follow after recording a single-day high of 277 deaths this time last week.

In Texas, there has been a slight uptick in cases in the last week and deaths appear to be plateauing. There is currently 557,000 cases and 10,500 deaths

Florida's cases have been declining since mid-July but deaths are yet to follow after recording a single-day high of 277 deaths this time last week. Cases are currently at 584,000 and the death toll is at just over 10,000

Infections in California surged last week partly due to a backlog of tests caused by technical glitches that the state says it has now cleared. Deaths in the most populous state appear to be plateauing following a spike last month. There is now 638,000 cases across the state and the death toll is at 11,500

Cases and deaths have been on a downward trajectory in Arizona for several weeks. There are currently more than 195,000 cases and 4,600 deaths

Infections in California surged last week partly due to a backlog of tests caused by technical glitches that the state says it has now cleared. Deaths in the most populous state appear to be plateauing following a spike last month.

In Texas, there has been a slight uptick in cases in the last week and deaths appear to be plateauing.

While the average daily death toll is still high, it remains below levels seen in April when an average of 2,000 people a day were dying from the virus - mostly in the original epicenter of New York.

Deaths surged in April in the weeks after coronavirus infections spiked mostly in the Northeast. The number of fatalities started spiking in Sunbelt states and across the Midwest after cases surged in June and July.

Health experts have indicated the death toll may not be as bad this time around possibly because a large share of the current cases are younger people, who are less likely to die, and because of advances in treatment and knowledge of the virus.

Experts have attributed the current decline in cases and deaths in the majority of states to policy and behavior changes in the hotspot states behind the summer surge where governors and local officials rolled back reopenings to curb the infection rate.

They say the widespread adoption of masks, social distancing and closing down bars all helped.

The decline in deaths and cases comes about a month after President Donald Trump, who for months refused to publicly wear a mask, urged Americans to cover their faces in public to stop the spread.

Coronavirus cases in the United States have now dropped steadily for the fourth straight week. Cases have been rising North and South Dakota, Hawaii, Kansas and Vermont for more than two straight weeks. In the last week, 14 states - including California, Maine and Vermont - saw an uptick in cases of more than 10 percent compared to the previous seven days. The majority of Sunbelt states that saw large spikes in June and July have seen a decrease in the last week
For years, companies have complained that they pay good money for online ads, only to see them end up near a racist post or an article promoting a conspiracy theory.

Now major advertisers like Clorox and Coca-Cola, along with a number of large advertising agencies, are pushing the Big Tech companies to give them more control over where and how their ads show up.

The effort follows the advertiser boycott of Facebook last month, when more than 1,000 companies stopped buying ads on the platform to protest its handling of hate speech and misinformation.

Ben Hovaness, an executive at Omnicom Media Group, a company that manages $38 billion in global marketing spending, said it was time for the tech giants to go by the rules that applied before digital platforms were dominant.

"Advertisers buying TV ads, print ads, radio ads have for many decades had control over which programs or which pieces their ads appear next to or within," Hovaness said. "Now that social advertising is a major portion of a lot of our clients' budgets, having control over adjacency is just something that we see as essential as the ecosystem matures."

Omnicom Media Group, known as OMG, has demanded that Facebook, Twitter and other tech companies do more than make promises that ads will be kept away from inappropriate content. It wants the big digital platforms to put systems in place to make sure that online ads will appear where companies are comfortable, and it wants proof that the systems work.

Hovaness also said that the reports on ad placement and ad performance provided by the tech companies were insufficient and should be supplemented by independent quarterly audits.

Greater control of ad placement and the independent measurement of ad performance were included in a list of proposals submitted recently to tech companies by the Council on Accountable Social Advertising, a lobbying group formed by OMG, along with dozens of clients, including Clorox.

Facebook, Reddit, Snap, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube have agreed to most of the proposals in principle, and OMG is monitoring the platforms to see if they update their practices.

Also Read | Big Tech's domination of business reaches new heights

The OMG campaign comes during a summer when tech companies have fallen under new scrutiny. In a congressional hearing last month, lawmakers interrogated the leaders of Amazon, Apple, Google and Facebook. Criticism has mounted over the proliferation of misinformation related to the coronavirus pandemic and the coming election on various digital platforms.

The ad industry is adding its grievances to the mix. In addition to the OMG-led effort, a newly formed coalition of trade groups, ad firms and companies, the Partnership for Responsible Addressable Media, is pushing back against planned changes from Apple and Google that are expected to disrupt how companies reach potential customers. IPG Mediabrands, an ad group, released an audit of nine tech companies last week.

But some industry watchdogs are sceptical of the efforts, especially at a time when companies spend more than half of their marketing budgets on digital platforms.

"It's for optics, so they can appear to be doing something," said Augustine Fou, an independent ad fraud researcher. "The only thing thats really going to have a long-term effect is when consumers or marketers revolt and actively stop using the platforms."

Tech executives have defended their dealings with advertisers and pledged to do better.

"We fundamentally believe that our advertisers should have control over what content a user sees before and after their ad," said Andrew Abbott, who is Reddit's liaison to OMG.

Facebook cited its work with the Global Alliance for Responsible Media, an advertising trade group created last year to address toxic online content, and said that it had spent billions of dollars to keep hatred off its platform.

Tara Walpert Levy, vice president of agency and brand solutions for Google and YouTube, said: "It is terrific to see Omnicom and others leaning in even further."

Does that mean there will be peace between the advertisers and the tech companies? Hovaness sounded optimistic. Sort of.

"Now the really fun part starts," he said. "The platforms are saying, philosophically, we agree with your construct of advertiser rights and remedies, and we think your clients are entitled to these features."

He added, "We see this as a month-long effort. Getting these partners to agree in principle is a key but early step. The odds of these platforms' first pass at solutions being perfect is pretty low. And that's fine."

c.2020 The New York Times Company
Federal prosecutors have charged Uber's former security chief, Joseph Sullivan, with obstruction of justice for attempting to hide the company's 2016 data breach from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The hack exposed the email addresses and phone numbers of 57 million Uber drivers and customers.

Instead of disclosing the breach to the FTC, which was investigating an earlier 2014 hack into Uber, Sullivan allegedly paid the culprits $100,000 in bitcoin. The Justice Department says the former executive tried to pay the hackers through Uber's bug bounty program. He also attempted to convince them to sign nondisclosure agreements. Uber later fired Sullivan in 2017 when the company's current CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, found out about how he had handled the situation.

In addition to obstruction of justice, prosecutors charged Sullivan with failing to share knowledge of a felony. In total, he faces up to eight years in prison if convicted of both charges.

"We expect good corporate citizenship," said US Attorney David L. Anderson. "We expect prompt reporting of criminal conduct. We expect cooperation with our investigations. We will not tolerate corporate cover-ups. We will not tolerate illegal hush-money payments."

Bradford Williams, Sullivan's attorney, told The New York Times there's "no merit" to the charges. "If not for Mr. Sullivan's and his team's efforts, it's likely that the individuals responsible for this incident never would have been identified at all," he said. Williams added that Sullivan and his team worked closely with other Uber employees and followed the company's policies.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Uber told The New York Times it continues to cooperate with the Justice Departments investigation into the 2016 hack. "Our decision in 2017 to disclose the incident was not only the right thing to do, it embodies the principles by which we are running our business today: transparency, integrity, and accountability," they said.

Sullivan may become the second former Uber employee to end up behind bars. At the start of August, Anthony Levandowski, the engineer at the center of the trade secret legal battle between Waymo and Uber, was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Correction, 8/26/20 9:30AM ET: This storys headline originally said that Sullivan was arrested; he was charged with obstruction of justice but was not placed under arrest. We apologize for the error.
August 19, 2020

Release

Readout of Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper's Meeting with Minister of Defense of the Republic of Iraq Jumaah Saadoon

Chief Pentagon Spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman provided the following readout:

Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper hosted an enhanced Honor Cordon and Bilateral Meeting in Honor of His Excellency Jumaah Saadoon, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Iraq, today. The two leaders discussed the bilateral security partnership and the importance of continuing to build the capabilities of the Iraqi Security Forces, such that they are able to prevent the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) from ever re-emerging and threatening Iraq, the region or the broader international community. Both leaders reaffirmed the continued cooperation between the Iraqi Security Forces and the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and their commitment to the ultimate objective of a secure, stable and prosperous Iraq.

https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2318633/

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Protesters are set to call for Gavin Williamson to resign and justice for BTec students amid ongoing exams chaos, as hundreds of thousands of pupils were still waiting for results.

GCSE students found out their marks on Thursday  days after a government U-turn said pupils could take teacher-estimated grades, if higher than moderated ones.

However, tens of thousands of BTec students due to get their grades were told on Wednesday that there would be a delay with their results, as the exam board recalculated their grade to match the governments change in policy for other qualifications.

A fresh protest is planned outside Downing Street at midday on Friday, and another at St Georges Hall in Liverpool an hour later, in support of BTec students.

Demonstrators meeting at St Georges Hall around 1pm said they also wanted a simple appeals process for students unhappy with their teacher-assessed grades.

There is currently no option for pupils to appeal their results.

One of the organisers of the London protest told The Independent they would be calling for the education secretary to resign over his handing of this years grading, which followed exams being cancelled due to coronavirus.

Gavin Williamson has resisted calls to quit, but has apologised to thousands of students for the distress caused.

Sophia Beach said organisers decided to go ahead with Fridays demonstration outside Downing Street even after Mr Williamson announced A-level and GCSE students could get their teacher-predicted grades following student protests.

The move came after it was revealed nearly 40 per cent of A-level marks in England had been downgraded in moderation.

Although the U-turn is a step in the right direction, it is a little bit too little too late, particularly as universities have already gone through clearing and have already given out the places, Ms Beach told The Independent.

An estimated 15,000 students got the grades for their first-choice university with their teacher-assessed results, after initially being rejected with their moderated grades, Ucas said on Wednesday.

While universities have vowed to do their best to accommodate these students, some institutions have warned places may have to be deferred until next year.

Ms Beach told The Independent the Downing Street protest would also call for justice for BTec students, who were not included in Mondays grading U-turn.

Obviously there has been a lot of anger among the students, the 21-year-old added.

Pearson, an exam board, has said it will regrade BTec results released last week  as well grades due to be released on the same day as GCSE results.

A Pearson spokesperson said this was to address concerns about unfairness in relation to A-levels and GCSEs and ensure no BTec student is disadvantaged.

GCSE results came out on Thursday, showing a record number of entries had received the top marks. Students have been given the higher of either a teachers estimated grade or a moderated grade.

Nearly 26 per cent of entries received one of the three highest marks this year, figures from exams regulator Ofqual show. This is a rise from around 20 per cent last year.

A Department for Education spokesperson said the ministry knew this BTec results delay would be disappointing, and the move was taken to make absolutely certain no student is inadvertently worse off due to changes in how grades are assessed.

They added: Ofqual, UCAS and the relevant awarding organisations are also working to ensure students seeking entrance to university are not disadvantaged, and we are working with colleges and other further education providers to make sure students looking to continue into further education can still do so.

Additional reporting by Press Association
Bengaluru, Aug 20 : The eight-day Monsoon Session of the Karnataka legislature would be held from September 21-30 at the Vidhana Soudha here, state parliamentary affairs minister J.C. Madhuswamy said on Thursday.

"The state cabinet has decided to hold the Monsoon Session of the state legislature in the city from September 21-30, as it got delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic," Madhuswamy told reporters here.

The Monsoon Session of the state legislative assembly and council was to be held in July, but the surge in Covid cases across the state forced the state government to postpone it to September.

"As per rules, the session has to be held within six months of the last date of its previous session. As the budget session was held till March 23, the next session has to be convened by September 23," said Madhuswamy.

In view of the Covid-induced guidelines to maintain social distancing in the 225-member state Assembly and 75-member council, the legislative secretariat will decide on the seating arrangements.

"Wearing mask, washing hands with sanitiser and keeping six feet distance between two members will be complied with," said the minister.

Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri and legislative council Chairman K. Prathapachandra Shetty will work out the modalities in consultation with the secretariat officials to comply with the guidelines of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the Union Health Ministry.

As the BJP government amended the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act and the Land Reforms Act through ordinances, they have to be passed through the legislature to ratify them to avoid them from getting lapsed.
Sleep.com supports the mind, body and spirit with advice from medical professionals and experts on health and wellness, design for restorative sleep spaces and the latest sleep technology to optimize for a restful night.

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In celebration of the site's launch, Sleep.com will premiere a brand film and a series of three mini documentaries exploring diverse ways people have discovered what makes them feel alive and recharged  nature, art and human relationships. Musicians and artists including Jackie Venson, Cruz Ortiz and Nina Martin will be featured on a VanLife tour from Marfa through Austin to San Antonio, Texas.

To promote the launch, Sleep.com is giving away sleep products for those who follow and share content on Instagram. Giveaways include one Queen Size Cocoon Chill Mattress by Sealy, one Malouf Supreme Performance Bundle with King Pillows and one PureCare Luxury Cooling Bundle with King Pillows (a more than $2,000 value in total). The contest runs through Thursday, Sept. 3, with winners announced on Thursdays. Visit the Sleep.com Instagram page to enter to win and for official rules.

A strategic shift to serve customers' holistic sleep needs

Sleep.com is a significant step toward Mattress Firm's vision to be America's most trusted authority on sleep and its commitment to solving America's sleep deficit with holistic sleep solutions. Sleep.com, which is an incubated brand within Mattress Firm, is also part of a larger investment in enhancing the customer experience.

"Sleep.com is an extension of the care and wisdom our Sleep Experts at more than 2,500 neighborhood stores provide our customers every day," said Eck. "Now, we will be able to go even farther in our commitment to our customers by helping them pursue a good night's sleep beyond the mattress selection."

About Sleep.com

Sleep.com, by the Sleep Experts at Mattress Firm, is a go-to resource for learning how to sleep better and feel better. With expert guidance, inspiring content, insightful data and curated products, the site is dedicated to caring for all people who want to achieve better sleep and greet the day feeling their strongest. To experience the community, join us at www.sleep.com .

SOURCE Mattress Firm

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Passengers arriving in the UK from Croatia, Austria and Trinidad and Tobago will now have to quarantine for 14 days, while Portugal has been added to the travel corridor list.

Here are the key dates in the UKs 14-day quarantine policy:

 June 8

Two-week quarantine rules for all UK arrivals come into force in efforts to guard against a second wave of coronavirus.

All passengers  bar a handful of exemptions  are required to give contact details and the address where they will isolate.

The latest measures come into effect from 4am on Saturday (Kirsty OConnorPA)

 July 3

The Government announces that quarantine restrictions for people returning to or visiting England from destinations such as Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Germany will be lifted from July 10.

The US is excluded from the list of 73 countries and territories, published by the Government, where English holidaymakers can visit without self-isolating on their return.

(PA Graphics)

The Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive decide on the same approach, while the Scottish Government produces a list of just 39 countries.

 July 10

Serbia is removed from Englands quarantine-free list on the day the air bridges policy is implemented.

The Government says that the Joint Biosecurity Centre and Public Health England have updated their coronavirus assessments of Serbia based on the latest data.

#Serbia has been removed from the list of countries exempt from FCO advice against non-essential international travel, based on the latest assessment of COVID-19 risk. The FCO now advise against all but essential travel to Serbia. Read more: https://t.co/ZJMf0dUEyW pic.twitter.com/qpIShabmmw  FCO travel advice (@FCOtravel) July 9, 2020

 July 24

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A further five countries are added to the list of Englands so-called travel corridors, with anyone coming from Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia and St Vincent no longer required to isolate for two weeks on arrival.

Popular holiday destinations including Portugal, Thailand and the US remain notable absentees from the list.

 July 25

Holidaymakers returning from Spain are told they must quarantine for 14 days after ministers removed the country from the UKs safe list.

All four administrations  England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland  opted to join forces over the move, which comes into effect from midnight.

 July 30

Luxembourg is removed from the travel exemptions list, the Government announces, with all passengers travelling to the UK from the country required to quarantine for two weeks.

 August 6

Travellers arriving in the UK from Belgium, Andorra and The Bahamas are told to quarantine for 14 days from August 8, after the three countries are removed from the list of travel corridors.

Data shows we need to remove Andorra, Belgium and The Bahamas from our list of #coronavirus Travel Corridors in order to keep infection rates DOWN. If you arrive in the UK after 0400 Saturday from these destinations, you will need to self-isolate for 14 days.  Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) August 6, 2020

 August 11

Travellers arriving in the UK from Malaysia or Brunei are no longer required to self-isolate for 14 days after being added to the Governments exemptions list.

 August 20

Croatia, Austria and Trinidad and Tobago are all removed from the list of exemptions, with those travelling to the UK from these countries required to quarantine for two weeks.

 TRAVEL UPDATE We have updated our travel advice to:  Croatia  Trinidad and Tobago Austria  https://t.co/TGl21UdpYS pic.twitter.com/6YNLbspfKl  Foreign Office  (@foreignoffice) August 20, 2020

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps says the measures come into effect from 4am on Saturday.

Meanwhile, passengers arriving in the UK from Portugal no longer have to self-isolate after it was added to the travel corridor list.

In Scotland, travellers from Switzerland will also be required to quarantine for a fortnight  the only nation of the UK to add the country to its quarantine list.
COVID-19 on Track to Become Third Leading Cause of Death in 2020

COVID-19 would only trail heart disease and cancer as the third most leading cause of death this year.

In a little more than six months, the coronavirus, or COVID-19, has claimed more lives than accidental drug overdoses, motor vehicle crashes and falls combined during 2018 putting this new virus on track to be the third leading cause of death in 2020, only falling shortly behind heart disease and cancer.

According to the National Safety Council's Injury Facts: "Typically, injury trends change slowly over time. Compared to 2017, in 2018 (latest data available) motor-vehicle deaths decreased two percent and preventable drug overdose deaths decreased four percent, though fall deaths increased three percent. While deaths due to causes like falls and overdoses are spread out fairly evenly throughout the year, the timeline for COVID-19 deaths is compressed, with one-day increase as high as five percent and currently increasing about one percent a day."

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. This would be 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.

In addition, COVID-19 has played its part in increasing opioid overdose and motor fatality rates as an indirect consequence of the pandemic. The NSC estimates that preventable injury death will likely drop to the fourth leading cause of death in 2020.

"NSC urges the U.S. public to stay vigilant and follow public health guidance around facial coverings, physical distancing and proper hygiene," the NSC said in a press release. "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."
MARGATE, England  When the artists Kelly Abbott and Victoria Barrow Williams heard that the Turner Contemporary Gallery was hosting an exhibition focused on art associated with the civil rights movement in the American South, they felt confused.

We thought they missed a trick by making it so Americanized, Ms. Abbott said in an interview. Theres a rich Black British history here.

So the two, who are also the directors of People Dem Collective, a Margate-based group that supports Black and brown people across Britain, approached the museum with an idea for an additional exhibit to accompany We Will Walk  Art and Resistance in the American South  one that would resonate more with the artists experiences as Black British women.
Stuart Gall has been the CEO of Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc (LON:MED) since 2009, and this article will examine the executive's compensation with respect to the overall performance of the company. This analysis will also look to assess whether the CEO is appropriately paid, considering recent earnings growth and investor returns for Intelligent Ultrasound Group.

Check out our latest analysis for Intelligent Ultrasound Group

How Does Total Compensation For Stuart Gall Compare With Other Companies In The Industry?

At the time of writing, our data shows that Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc has a market capitalization of UK36m, and reported total annual CEO compensation of UK246k for the year to December 2019. That's a slight decrease of 5.9% on the prior year. In particular, the salary of UK183.3k, makes up a huge portion of the total compensation being paid to the CEO.

In comparison with other companies in the industry with market capitalizations under UK152m, the reported median total CEO compensation was UK249k. So it looks like Intelligent Ultrasound Group compensates Stuart Gall in line with the median for the industry. Moreover, Stuart Gall also holds UK123k worth of Intelligent Ultrasound Group stock directly under their own name.

Component 2019 2018 Proportion (2019) Salary UK183k UK178k 75% Other UK62k UK83k 25% Total Compensation UK246k UK261k 100%

Speaking on an industry level, nearly 75% of total compensation represents salary, while the remainder of 25% is other remuneration. Intelligent Ultrasound Group is largely mirroring the industry average when it comes to the share a salary enjoys in overall compensation. If salary is the major component in total compensation, it suggests that the CEO receives a higher fixed proportion of the total compensation, regardless of performance.

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc's Growth

Over the past three years, Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc has seen its earnings per share (EPS) grow by 60% per year. It saw its revenue drop 11% over the last year.

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Shareholders would be glad to know that the company has improved itself over the last few years. The lack of revenue growth isn't ideal, but it is the bottom line that counts most in business. Although we don't have analyst forecasts, you might want to assess this data-rich visualization of earnings, revenue and cash flow.

Has Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc Been A Good Investment?

Given the total shareholder loss of 6.3% over three years, many shareholders in Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc are probably rather dissatisfied, to say the least. This suggests it would be unwise for the company to pay the CEO too generously.

In Summary...

As we noted earlier, Intelligent Ultrasound Group pays its CEO in line with similar-sized companies belonging to the same industry. At the same time, the company has logged negative shareholder returns over the last three years. However, EPS growth is positive over the same time frame. Considering positive EPS growth, we'd say compensation is fair, but shareholders may be wary of a bump in pay before the company logs positive returns.

We can learn a lot about a company by studying its CEO compensation trends, along with looking at other aspects of the business. We identified 3 warning signs for Intelligent Ultrasound Group (2 shouldn't be ignored!) that you should be aware of before investing here.

Arguably, business quality is much more important than CEO compensation levels. So check out 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.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has handed over almost half the civic schools that were being used as Covid-19 quarantine centres back to the education department.

With a gradual decline in cases, 34 of the 72 schools that were converted into quarantine centres have now been handed over to be used as schools, according to data shared by BMCs education department.

In P North ward (Malad), all 10 civic schools that were used as quarantine centres have been returned to the education department. The civic body has begun work on sanitising and cleaning the structures to ensure they can be ready for use when physical schools resume.

As schools are being returned, they are being cleaned and sanitised. Care is being taken to ensure that they are safe for use in the coming days, said an official from the BMC education department.

Work of sanitising 15 schools has already begun, while the civic body is in the process of starting the process for the remaining institutions.

In April, BMC issued guidelines for using schools run by the civic corporation as quarantine and isolation centres. In a circular issued the same month, teachers employed with BMC schools were also asked to work in these centres, in an administrative capacity.

While the state government is yet to decide on a revised timeline for reopening schools (after it failed to open them in July as per the earlier plan), the Central governments guidelines have tentatively scheduled it for September. Meanwhile, schools across the state are conducting online sessions for students. In BMC schools, however, 25% of students have still not been able to connect online due to unavailability of phones, migration, etc.
The Culture Research Center in Arizona introduced a survey of 2,000 American adults who found that only two-thirds believe salvation is through Christ. The survey has found some Christians may think it takes one to be a good person to be saved.

Conducted by Dr. George Barna, The Arizona Christian University updates a report on Instagram, "only 4 out of 10 Americans (41%) believe that the bible is the word of God and it contains no factual or no historical errors."

"You consider yourself to be a Christian; and when you die you will go to Heaven only because you have confessed your sins and have accepted Jesus Christ as your savior."

Most Christians agreed with the statement, that the Evangelicals are 72% and the Pentecostals are 55%.

Some effectively believed, "if a person is generally good, or does enough good things during their life, they will "earn" a place in Heaven (48%)."

The report also states, "having faith matters more than which faith you have."

Dr. George Barna, who led the research believes the American churches need awakening.

"Help the nation get back on track!"

"If you step back and look at the big picture painted by all of the outcomes in this research project it seems to suggest that people are in an 'anything goes' mindset when it comes to faith, morals, values, and lifestyle.

"Americans appear to be creating unique, highly customized worldviews based on feelings, experiences, and opportunities rather than working within the boundaries of a comprehensive, time-tested, consistent worldview."

Dr. Barna is often known as "the most quoted person in the Christian Church today."
Former President Obama on Wednesday delivered his most direct and scathing attack to date against President Trump, describing him as self-absorbed, incompetent and a danger to democracy in making the case for electing "my friend" Joe Biden.

Donald Trump hasnt grown into the job, because he cant, Obama said. And the consequences of that failure are severe: 170,000 Americans dead. Millions of jobs gone. Those at the top taking more than ever. Our worst impulses unleashed, our proud reputation around the world badly diminished, and our democratic institutions threatened like never before.

It was a departure for Obama, who for most of the last 3 years has been restrained in criticizing his successor in the White House, as has been traditional among former presidents. But that restraint vanished as he warned convention viewers what's at stake if Trump wins another four years in office.

Obama warned of moves by Trump and the GOP to make it harder for Americans to vote in the middle of a public health emergency, casting the 2020 election as a test of democracy itself.

This administration has shown it will tear our democracy down if thats what it takes to win, Obama said. So we have to get busy building it up  by pouring all our effort into these 76 days, and by voting like never before.

To underscore his view of the stakes, Obama delivered his remarks live from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, a city chosen because it was the site of the drafting of the Constitution and because of Bidens ties to Pennsylvania (he was born in Scranton).

Trump rebutted Obama in advance, telling reporters hours before the televised remarks that the failings of the Obama-Biden administration contributed to his own election in 2016. "They did such a bad job, that I stand before you as president," he said.

He also tweeted a video taunting Obama and Hillary Clinton, saying, "Welcome, Barack and Crooked Hillary. See you on the field of battle."

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Obama delivered his message just two days after his wife, Michelle, drew acclaim for a video convention speech that took aim at Trump in surprisingly blunt terms. The former president echoed her charge that Trump was dangerously out of his depth in the presidency.

For close to four years now, hes shown no interest in putting in the work, no interest in finding common ground, no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends, Obama said. No interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves."

Delivered remotely like all convention proceedings, Obama's speech lacked the theater and drama of his breakout 2004 keynote address to the Democratic convention when he was a state senator from Illinois running for the U.S. Senate. That address brought down the house and marked the beginning of his rise as a national figure. He alluded to the occasion in a fundraising email sent to Democratic supporters earlier in the day.

"Folks, sixteen years ago, the first time I spoke at a Democratic convention, I asked a simple question," Obama wrote. "Do we participate in a politics of cynicism, or do we participate in a politics of hope?... Joe practices the politics of hope."

Obama, in his speech Wednesday night, offered a personal message to voters who dont want Trump reelected but are not yet sold on Biden.

Maybe youre tired of the direction were headed, but you cant yet see a better path, or you just dont know enough about the person who wants to lead us there, he said. So let me tell you about my friend Joe Biden.

He described his 2008 search for a vice president, and his surprise at how closely he and Biden bonded despite differences in age and background: I didnt know Id end up finding a brother."

He made me a better president, Obama said. Hes got the character and the experience to make us a better country."




While the novel coronavirus has presented challenges that are unprecedented in our lifetime, there is another public health epidemic we as a society have been battling for generations: racism and white supremacy.

I understand that racism has become a subjective term, so lets first establish its definition as it will be used here. The Sociology Dictionary defines racism as any attitude, belief, or behavior used to explain and justify prejudice and discriminating against racial or ethnic minorities, on the basis of perceived inferiority. White supremacy, as I employ it, means the belief that white culture is and should be the dominant culture in all aspects of society.

Up until this summer, schools and school systems have gotten away with a failure to address the sordid racial history of our country while perpetuating harmful educational beliefs and practices rooted in white supremacy.

It was not until recent events that companies, corporations and school districts began to actively speak out against police brutality with the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter. It had become not acceptable but rather expected for leaders across industries to take an unequivocal stance against hate and racism.

As a young teacher, though, I faced criticism from my colleagues for my audacity to speak out about the problematic practices I witnessed at the school and district levels.

When I was a teacher in Brownsburg, I regularly observed and experienced microaggressions. Even in predominantly Black and brown school settings, the impact of racism and bias was rarely explored in any meaningful way. I worked for more than one principal who touted their schools percentage of Black educators, but when we challenged the policies and practices in our building or district, we were often ignored. This is the culture of many school environments.

Schools and districts expect for the sheer presence of teachers of color to increase the achievement data for their Black and brown student population, but this is not a sustainable solution. As long as oppressive systems remain in place, the background of the educator doesnt matter. The person upholding a racist system doesnt necessarily have to be a racist person; theyre just doing their job.

During a recent livestreamed conversation about education in Indianapolis, a local Black educator who is a member of the leadership team at a charter high school expressed his opinion that the Black community doesnt value education, as other Black educators and school leaders emphatically agreed with him. Later in that same show, the group began discussing best practices for anti-racist instruction.

It was interesting to me that these individuals could share opinions so very rooted in racism while believing they are agents of anti-racism in their schools and classrooms. I am sure these educators mean well and absolutely want what is best for their students, and even still they are perpetuators of beliefs rooted in white supremacy.

The reality is, far too many educators, whether they be teachers, counselors, principals or superintendents, share these beliefs about their students. The most articulate #BlackLivesMatter statement and social media post is meaningless when action and policy remain the same. So as school districts and charter networks engage their students and families this fall, it is imperative that those statements become policies of practices.

Leaders must interrogate the curriculum, the policies, the training and the unwritten rules within their buildings. Educators of color must be encouraged to challenge the systems as they stand in order to create a more welcoming and equitable school environment. If we continue to maintain the status quo after all that occurred over this summer, we have certainly wasted an opportunity to be better for our children.

Arrest Breonna Taylors killers.

Visit Thrivalindy.org to download our free Citizenship & Civics and Ethnic Studies curriculum. It is our goal that all students, particularly those who are part of historically oppressed communities, find their personal calls to action through these two courses. We are committed to developing the next generation of community and world leaders, and it starts with engaging them in anti-racist curriculum.

India Hui is the Founding School Leader and CEO of Thrival Indy Academy, an IPS Innovation High School. They are currently enrolling ninth grade students.

This is part of a series of columns. Consider reading parts 1, 2 and 3.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 22:11:21|Editor: huaxia

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Tanzanian Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Palamagamba Kabudi (R) and Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania Wang Ke attend the launch of a Swahili version book documenting history of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Aug. 20, 2020. China and Tanzania on Thursday launched a Swahili version book documenting history of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway titled "A Monument to China-Africa Friendship." (Xinhua)

DAR ES SALAAM, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- China and Tanzania on Thursday launched a Swahili version book documenting history of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway titled "A Monument to China-Africa Friendship."

The Swahili version book was jointly launched by Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, Wang Ke, and Tanzanian Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Palamagamba Kabudi, in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam.

Kabudi said the launch of the book was part of a wider approach of enhancing public diplomacy between the two countries.

"This book will certainly help to transcend the deep account about the China-Africa friendship to the majority of Tanzanians who are more conversant with Swahili than English," he said.

The construction of the railway itself was not easy and required a lot of sacrifice from Chinese government and people, said Kabudi.

"It is a history that the younger generation must know in order to emulate the courage and bravery of the founders. They must know in order to carry forward the Tanzania-Zambia Railway spirit and keep it afloat," he said.

Kabudi pledged that the government of Tanzania will continue supporting the Tanzania-Zambia Railway in making it more economically viable, efficient and cost effective.

In her remarks, Wang said the book, first published in Chinese, English and French languages in 2015, has presented a panoramic view of the historic feat and hard course of the building of the railway by Chinese, Tanzanian and Zambian people.

She said the book has been well received by Chinese and African readers. By translating this book into Swahili, more Tanzanians and Africans could learn that extraordinary period of history and cherish more the China-Tanzania and China-Africa friendships which have been forged with sweat and blood from both sides.

She said over 160 workers, including more than 60 Chinese, sacrificed their lives in building the 1,860-kilometer-railway from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania to New Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia. Enditem
TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CBD watchdog Leafreport recently conducted independent laboratory testing on 22 CBD-infused beverages in its further effort to educate consumers on the discrepancies in product quality and labeling. The results of the testing , conducted by Canalysis Laboratories , found significant inaccuracies in the amount of CBD in each product.

Among the report's key findings:

Beverages report summary

54% of the products (12 products) contained less CBD than advertised

Two products contained no CBD at all

81% of beverages (18 products) had CBD levels that were more than 10% higher or lower than what the label claimed

64% of beverages (14 products) had CBD levels that were more than 40% higher or lower than what the label claimed

Only 18% of tested drinks (4 products) had CBD levels within 10% of the claimed amount, which is equivalent to an excellent (A) rating

Unlike our first report, we didn't see a positive association between a company's overall reputation and their test results. That means that leading CBD brands were not more likely to score well on our tests than lesser-known companies.

"This is in line with our expectations because CBD beverages are difficult to formulate and contain relatively small amounts of CBD, which means that variations of even a few milligrams can have a big effect," said Lital Shafir, head of product at Leafreport.

Leafreport highlighted inaccuracies in CBD tinctures in another study , which showed that some CBD oil brands still sell products that contain much less or more CBD than advertised. According to cannabis industry experts , +/- 10% is a reasonable amount of variance for cannabis products, which means that a high-quality CBD product is expected to have CBD levels that are within 90110% of what's stated on the label.

Leafreport is working to bring transparency to the CBD industry and educate consumers as indicated in their previous report on CBD prices .

"The CBD industry is completely unregulated and there have been many cases of companies selling products that contain little to no CBD. That's why third-party testing is important for brands in this industry," added Shafir.

Leafreport's full study can be found here: https://www.leafreport.com/education/leafreports-independent-testing-of-cbd-beverages-finds-labeling-discrepancies-54-of-products-contained-less-cbd-than-advertised-6938

About Leafreport

Leafreport is a science-based, peer-reviewed website designed to help consumers navigate the confusing landscape of CBD products. The company's mission is to introduce transparency into the CBD industry through its patient-focused, educational content and medical reviews. The company medical review team consists of physicians, chemists, nutritionists, pharmacists, chemists and naturopaths.

Contact:

Lital Shafir

Head of product

[email protected]

SOURCE Leafreport
A family of treasure hunters have dug up two giant gold nuggets worth a total $350,000.

Brother-in-laws Brent Shannon and Ethan West discovered the gold, weighing a combined 3.5kg, near Tarnagulla, west of Bendigo in Victoria.

The pair, along with Ethan's father Paul, could even get up to 30 per cent more money if they sell the nuggets to a collector.

Brother-in-laws Brent Shannon (centre) and Ethan West (right), along with Ethan's dad Paul (left) discovered the gold near Tarnagulla, west of Bendigo in Victoria

'I thought we were in for a chance. I was pretty excited to see the ground because it was virgin ground, which means it's untouched and hasn't been mined,' Brent told Sunrise on Thursday.

'We pull the material out and put it up on the surface - and then we push it out very thinly and we detect it that way.

'We can recover more gold that way, and it's a better way to do it and a safer way to mine.'

Ethan said he has found 'thousands' of pieces of gold over the past four years he's been mining.

'These are definitely one of the most significant finds. To have two large chunks in one day is quite amazing,' he said.

'But for small pieces, I've picked up thousands. I'm very lucky like that.'

Brent said it's an indescribable feeling to dig up such a large chunk of gold.

The family of treasure hunters have dug up two giant gold nuggets (pictured) worth a total $350,000, weighing a combined 3.5kg

'It's a sense of relief and achievement and accomplishment. It is a feeling like no other,' he said.

'Nobody has seen these pieces of gold for millions of years and we're the first people to lay eyes on them. It is something that we love doing.'

The trio filmed their mining adventures as part of Seven's new series Gold Hunters, which airs on Thursday at 7.30pm.
The demonstrators spray painted windows on the building, broke several windows and shined laser lights at agents inside  prompting local police to declare the event a riot, meaning authorities could use tear gas and other riot control methods to break up the crowd, Portland police said in a statement.
PALM BEACH, Fla.  A pair of tropical depressions were forecast to approach U.S. shores as more potent systems by early next week, the National Hurricane Center said Thursday.

"We could actually have Laura AND Marco sharing the Gulf of Mexico on Monday, and both making U.S. landfalls on Monday," University of Miami meteorologist Brian McNoldy said.

One system, now dubbed Tropical Depression 13, was forecast to menace Florida as a hurricane by Monday. The current path for the system includes South Florida; the center of the cone of uncertainty cuts through the Keys on Monday into Tuesday before making its way into the warm Gulf of Mexico.

The other system, Tropical Depression 14, now in the Caribbean, was forecast to approach the Texas Gulf Coast on Monday or Tuesday as a strong tropical storm, though the track and force that far out remained highly uncertain.

Tropical Depression 13 formed overnight with the National Hurricane Center forecasting a ramp-up to a hurricane with 75 mph winds by early next week.

The forecast path of Tropical Depression 13 shows it approaching Florida as a hurricane on Monday.

As of 5 p.m. Thursday, the depression was about 615 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. It was moving west-northwest at 21 mph.

Tropical Depression 13 will become a tropical storm when its winds reach 39 mph. The next names on the 2020 hurricane list are Laura, Marco and Nana.

A tropical storm watch is in effect for Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands and several other Caribbean islands. A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

'Hyperactive': Atlantic hurricane season is set to explode with activity by end of August

The system will be steered by a Bermuda High as it slides along underneath the massive clockwise swirl of winds in the Atlantic.

While the U.S. forecast model, or GFS, and the reliable Euro model show the system dissolving into an open wave at the end of the five-day forecast period, the HWRF/HMON forecast the cyclone to intensify into a major hurricane.

Story continues

NHC senior hurricane specialist Jack Beven noted that the intensity forecast is more uncertain than usual.

Its ultimate strength is also dependent on what islands it thrashes along the way. With towering ranges in Puerto Rico and Hispaniola in its potential path, as well as Cuba, it could be disrupted enough to dissipate into a wave as forecast by the GFS and Euro.

As for Tropical Depression 14, the system was forecast to graze the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua and Honduras, then curve across Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula over the weekend, the Hurricane Center said.

As of Thursday, it was centered about 155 miles east of Cabo Gracias a Dios on the Honduras-Nicaragua border, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. It was headed west at 18 mph.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for portions of the coasts of Honduras and Nicaragua. A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are

expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case within the

next 12 hours, the Hurricane Center said.

USA TODAY Hurricane Tracker

Meanwhile, Hurricane Genevieve lost punch as it closed in on the southern end of Mexicos Baja California Peninsula, though it is still lashed the tourist region with heavy rains and strong winds in what was likely to be a close pass keeping the storm just offshore.

Genevieve had a been a powerful Category 4 hurricane Tuesday but had weakened to tropical storm strength by Thursday, the National Hurricane Center said.

Tropical Depression 13 formed the same day Colorado State University issued its two-week forecast through the end of August calling for above normal activity.

If Laura forms in the next few days, it would likely break another record for the 2020 hurricane season.

The current record holder is major Hurricane Luis, which formed on Aug. 29, 1995. If Laura beats out Luis, it would be the ninth storm this season to break a record for earliest formation.

Had to share this because I've never seen a fcst like this. The Canadian model is predicted 2 active tropical cyclones o/the Gulf of Mexico at the same time! Both landfall into the U.S.



In a side convo with @EricBlake12, we haven't seen 2 active GOMEX TCs in the satellite era. pic.twitter.com/0gvJ2kp59Q  MJVentrice (@MJVentrice) August 19, 2020

Contributing: Associated Press. Miller reported from Palm Beach, Florida; Rice from Bethesda, Maryland. Follow Kimberly Miller: @Kmillerweather

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Tropical Depression 13 path, track to Florida: Will it become Laura?
The Electoral Commission (EC) says it is constrained in facilitating the participation of persons outside Ghana's borders in the 2020 electoral process.

The Representation of the People's Amendment Act (ROPAA), when implemented, will give Ghanaian nationals in the diaspora the right to vote.

But according to the EC, a Constitutional Instrument (CI) submitted to Parliament to enable it to include Ghanaians living abroad is yet to mature.

Some Ghanaians abroad, notably members of a group calling itself aRTICLE 42 have been advocating for the inclusion of all eligible Ghanaians abroad.

But a Deputy Chairman of the Commission, Dr Bossman Eric Asare maintains there is little the commission can do until the maturation of the constitutional instrument.

The ROPAA issue has also come to the attention of the Commission. Since this is a matter before the court, I dont think we are in a better position to comment on it now. But generally, whatever the Commission must do to ensure that ROPAA is implemented at our level, we have done it. The Commission has a role to play. There are other organizations and agencies of state which also have a role to play. We have done what we are supposed to do as a Commission.

The court ordered the Commission to get ready a Constitutional Instrument (CI), which will be used to get Ghanaians abroad for registration and voting. The Commission has done that and the CI is in Parliament currently. It is the job of Parliament to hold a hearing on it (pre-lay ceremony) before it is laid. So as far as the Commission is concerned as ROPAA, we are very clean, Dr Bossman Asare said.

---citinewsroom
The mutant form of the novel coronavirus reported from Malaysia as being "10 times more infectious" is not a concern for India as it is widely prevalent here and isn't any more virulent than the strain originating in Wuhan, say scientists.

The D614G strain of the virus was discovered in Malaysia from a cluster, including a restaurant owner returning from India, the country's Director General of Health said in a Facebook post this week. His assertion that it was "found to be 10 times more infectious and is easily spread by an individual super spreader" created a flutter but scientists here dispelled fears and said there is nothing to worry about.

According to virologist Upasana Ray, the mutation may have just been reported in Malaysia but is not new for the world.

"We saw it happening in April and it eventually dominated many countries. It is new for Malaysia but is not a new mutation," the senior scientist at Kolkata's CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology said.

While some reports claim the mutation is capable of enhancing the infectivity of the virus, this is not well established and also does not necessarily indicate more virulence or harmfulness of the disease.

Ray said even a highly infectious and transmissible variant of the virus might actually have a lesser ability to cause disease in humans.

In July, a study in the journal Cell by scientists, including Bette Korber from the Los Alamos National Laboratory in the US, noted that a variant of the novel coronavirus, dubbed 'D614G', can infect more lab-grown cells than other strains.

The study said this mutant -- in which a molecule 'aspartic acid' (denoted as D) is replaced by another building block 'glycine' (G) -- had quickly taken over as the dominant strain across the world soon after it first appeared, and grew more rapidly in lab-grown cells. This mutation is part of the spike protein that the novel coronavirus uses to enter host cells.

The strain with the D614G mutation, dubbed the 'G clade', became widely prevalent in India even as far back as April, agreed Kumar Somasundaram, professor of Microbiology and Cell Biology at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore.

The 'G clade', or variant, currently makes up about 70-75 per cent of the cases in India, he said.

In June, Somasundaram's team published a study in the journal Current Science, analysing hundreds of samples of the virus in India.

"Back in April, if 100 patient samples were analysed in India, 40-50 per cent of them had the G clade virus. If you look at those analysed in June, almost 95 per cent are G clade, cumulatively if you add up all the samples that have been analysed over the months, the G clade makes up 70-75 per cent of the cases in India," he explained.

While the original "wild type" of the virus from the first epicentre of the pandemic in Wuhan, China, had the D clade of the virus, much of the outbreak in India began from infected people returning from Europe with the G clade.

"In February-March, the viruses we detected in Indian patients came mainly from Europe, and to some extent from the Middle East and Oceania. And Europe, even then, had an enrichment of the G clade virus. And then this strain started growing more and more in prevalence in India," Somasundaram said.

Unlike in several other parts of the world, such as the US, where other clades were initially present, the IISc microbiologist noted that in India the G clade was more prevalent even at the onset of the outbreak.

"Because this virus can grow faster, it was able to take advantage over the other types, and it has started taking over almost completely the other strains. This is true even in the worldwide scenario where it is dominating other strains," he added.

"Over a period of time, the G clade took advantage of its ability to spread and has occupied almost 95 per cent of the infected patients at a point," Somasundaram said.

However, he explained that the strain is no different compared to the wild type virus or the other strains in terms of COVID-19 disease outcome.

"The G clade virus does not have any different impact on disease severity or outcome. So that way it is no different from the wild type." Somasundaram said.

While studies, such as the one by Korber and her team, have demonstrated that the G clade virus has the potential to infect more lab-grown cells than other strains, some virologists argue this may still may not be evidence of increased transmissibility in humans.

Scientists, including Angela Rasmussen from the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health in the US, noted in a recently published commentary in the journal Cell that while lab tests can demonstrate the ability of a virus to infect a cell in culture, "it's not clear what it means for the ability to productively transmit to a new host".

"These assays don't account for the effect of other viral or host proteins and the parade of biochemical host-pathogen interactions that must occur to support infection and transmission," Rasmussen and her colleagues noted.

According to Somasundaram, the mutation in the G clade virus spike protein may also not have any implications for vaccine development.

"Initially, it was implicated that a vaccine developed against the wild type virus may not work against the mutant form. But this mutation may not have any difference in terms of how the immune system recognises the virus," he said.

"The mutant S protein containing virus can also be neutralised by a vaccine developed against the wild type virus," Somasundaram explained.

Rasmussen's team also noted the same. They said antibodies generated from natural infection with the D or G clade viruses could cross-neutralise, suggesting that "the D614G mutation is unlikely to have a major impact on the efficacy of vaccines currently in the pipeline".
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Google on Thursday said its Gmail service has been restored for some users and the outage issue will be resolved for all affected users "in the near future", hours after the popular emailing service faced a global disruption since this morning.

Some users faced issues like inability to log in, add attachments and receive messages, but the company is yet to specify a reason for the outage.

On Thursday morning, G Suite status dashboard - which provides performance information on various Google services - said the company was investigating reports of an issue with Gmail.

In its latest update at 1510 hours, the company said: "Gmail service has already been restored for some users, and we expect a resolution for all users in the near future.

Please note this time frame is an estimate and may change".

The company has provided multiple updates on the matter in the past few hours stating it is investigating the issue and that there is disruption in sending e-mails, Meet recording, creating files in Drive, posting message in Google Chat, among others.

While Google did not specify details around how many users were impacted and their locations, data from DownDetector (which provides outage updates on various online platforms) showed users from various parts of the globe, including India, were affected.

Users, in various posts on DownDetector, said they were facing issues around logins, adding attachments and receiving messages.

Netizens also turned to Twitter to air out their concerns around the issue with hashtag #Gmail featuring among the top trending topics.
China and India went to war over their disputed border issues in a 1962 conflict that spilled into Ladakh and ended with an uneasy truce. Since then, troops from opposing sides have guarded the undefined mountain border area, occasionally brawling. They have agreed not to attack each other with firearms. But on June 15, soldiers fought with clubs, stones and their fists, and 20 Indian soldiers died after succumbing to injuries in freezing temperatures. It was the deadliest fighting between the sides in 45 years.
The Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa, Canada has shutdown indefinitely after a female staff member was held hostage and subjected to physical abuse.

In a statement published on its website, the commission said it has suspended its various activities indefinitely until further notice due to lack of passport booklets and unruly behaviour of applicants.

Recounting how a female staff member was held hostage and subjected to physical abuse on August 14, 2020, the commission said the attack was carried out by a group who showed up and refused to allow embassy staff members to attend to those who had appointments.

The High Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Canada wishes to inform Nigerian communities in Canada and the general public that the mission remains closed to the public. The special intervention arrangement whereby emergency cases were being handled on a discretionary basis is hereby suspended.

According to the Commission, the system was set up to help Nigerians who had compelling passport renewal request and wanted to assist them.

It said it had devised a system in which citizens with emergency cases were attended to strictly by appointment that allowed a limited number of people into the chancery at a time in compliance with the laid-down rules of physical distancing.

Our citizens for some reason chose to abuse this system, they would show up at the chancery without an appointment and insist on being attended to even on days when we were not open to the public at all. On a number of occasions, people seeking passport renewal came to the chancery without an appointment and acted in the a most unruly manner, disturbing the peace and acting in an abusive manner, banging windows, it said.

It further stated that things got worse on August 14, when a group of applicants caused mayhem at the embassy, refusing people entrance and holding a staff member hostage for several minutes.

Matters came to a head on Friday August 14, when a group showed up at the high commission and refused to allow the embassy staff members to attend to those who had appointments. They insisted that we had to attend to everybody who showed up. They went as far as holding a female staff member who went to address them hostage for over 20 minutes and subjected them to physical abuse. This kind of conduct is considered unnecessarily hostile and totally unacceptable and no embassy would tolerate conduct that puts the lives of its staff members at risk.

We are closing down the embassy and we shall be considering ways to make our premises more secure and less susceptible to unruly behaviour and violent mob action, it added.

The commission also said the closure of the air space has impaired the transportation of passport booklets into the country.

For individuals trying to renew work and study permits, the commission asked them to apply for renewals online. At the appropriate time, applicants would be asked to submit appropriate documentation, the commission said.

If you do not have a valid passport when this happens you may ask for a 90 day grace period which would be granted. Nigerian citizens whose study or work permits have expired since March 2020 and who do not have a valid passport have a grace period that lasts until December 31st 2020. By this time we expect to have resolved some of the challenging issues that COVID-19 has created.

KanyiDaily had also reported how some Nigerians in Indonesia attacked the Nigerian Embassy in Jakarta over alleged discrimination and infringement of their rights by Indonesian immigration officials.
Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money.

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.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India is not only proximate to each other but together help shape Asia and the world, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday.

India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is not only proximate to each other but together help shape Asia and the world, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday while highlighting that ASEAN is one of the crossroads of the global economy.

India is the fifth-largest economy in the world. ASEAN is one of the crossroads of the global economy. We are not only proximate to each other but together help shape Asia and the world. It is important that at this juncture, we put our heads together, Jaishankar said at the sixth roundtable of ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks (AINTT). He said that the contemporary relationship between India and ASEAN was founded very much on our shared interests in globalisation. In Asia at least, ASEAN were pioneers of that process and helped bring India into it. But as it comes under stress today, we need to go beyond its economic and even social definitions, the minister noted.

Globalisation may be reflected as trade, travel and financial flows. But in reality, it is something very much larger. In fact, what the pandemic has brought out is the indivisible aspect of human existence that underpins globalisation. Whether it is climate change, terrorism or indeed pandemics, these are not challenges where those affected have a choice, he said.

The limitations of purely national responses or sometimes living in denial have become evident. It, therefore, underlines the need for the international community to work together much more sincerely in search of collective solutions, Jaishankar continued.

He said the concerns about global supply chains are sought to be mitigated at the very least through a greater emphasis on diversification and resilience.

For these reasons, it is incumbent on all of us to think through these challenges and come out with a more positive and practical model of cooperation, the minister added.

The irony, however, is that just when multilateralism was most in demand, it did not rise to the occasion. If we saw little leadership, it was not just due to the admittedly anachronistic nature of key international organisations. Equally, it reflected the intensely competitive nature of international politics, he said.

ALSO READ : Maruti Suzuki partners with IIM Bangalore to promote startups

Jaishankar underlined that trust is perhaps the most valued commodity in international relations.

If one goes beyond structures and organisations, this was even more evident in the individual behaviour of many states. A big issue confronts the thinking world is not simply the state of the economy, damage to societies or challenges to governance. It is actually a debate on future directions of global affairs and what kind of world order or disorder we are going to live in. As a result, the commodity is perhaps most valued in international relations is that of trust, he said.

Jaishankar further said, We have already seen in many quarters, national security being redefined to include economic security.

More recently, this then led to questions and concerns about technology security. The pandemic has now added to that the importance of health security. In fact, the concept of strategic autonomy that was once fashionable in a unipolar world has now assumed relevance once again in terms of global supply chains.

He stressed that whatever we may profess, the actions of nations during the times of crisis determines how the world really perceives them.

ALSO READ : Apple : First US company to hit $2 trillion market value
Cough has many remedies, but one of the most popular ones is honey, which has been used for centuries. Now, new research claims honey may be a better treatment for cough and colds than over-the-counter medicines.

A team of researchers at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom set out to see if honey was effective for the symptomatic relief of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), which has been used for years.

The researchers aimed to determine honey's effectiveness for URTIs since the over-prescription of antibiotics aggravates the problem of antimicrobial resistance. Further, honey is a well-known home remedy for cough and colds and has an emerging evidence base for its use. The research is published in the current issue of the journal BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine.

Antibiotic resistance

Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are the most common reason for an antibiotic prescription. Since most of URTIs are viral, an antibiotic prescription is ineffective and inappropriate. Antibiotic resistance is an emerging health threat today.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says that antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health, food security, and development today. The incidence of the misuse of antibiotics is increasing, and a growing number of infections are becoming hard to treat, including tuberculosis, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, to name a few.

"Antibiotic overuse is a key driver of antimicrobial resistance, rated by the UK government as one of the top 10 risks facing Britain. Furthermore, drug-resistant infections are associated with worse patient outcomes than antibiotic susceptible infections, underlining the impact of antimicrobial resistance on individual patients," the researchers noted in the paper.

Honey is one of the most appreciated and valued natural products since ancient times, and it is not only used as a nutritional product, but also in traditional medicine. For years, it has been used in treating clinical conditions ranging from wound healing, eye diseases, and bronchial asthma, to throat infections, and fatigue, among others.

Honey has antimicrobial properties, which can kill pathogens that cause infection, including bacteria and viruses. Apart from this, honey has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties.

Further, the healing property of honey is tied to its antibacterial property, its ability to maintain a moist wound condition, and its high viscosity, providing a protective barrier to prevent infection. Honey has antimicrobial property, which is due to the enzymatic production of hydrogen peroxide. It also has a low pH level and high sugar content with high osmolarity that is enough to block the growth of pathogens.

The study findings

To arrive at the findings of the study, the research team analyzed existing evidence to determine how the symptoms of URTIs responded to honey. The team performed a systematic review and meta-analysis by using Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, Cab abstracts, AMED, and LILCAS, among other sources.

The team has identified more than 1,300 unique records and 14 studies. Nine of the studies involved children, and most of the studies compared its use with more conventional treatments like over-the-counter medicines.

The researchers found that compared with usual care, honey improved the symptoms of URTI, including cough, nasal congestion, sneezing, and sore throat.

"Honey was superior to usual care for the improvement of symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections," the team wrote in the paper. "It provides a widely available and cheap alternative to antibiotics. Honey could help efforts to slow the spread of antimicrobial resistance, but further high quality, placebo-controlled trials are needed," they added.

Honey might, therefore, provide an alternative in treating URTIs, the researchers said. However, they warned that not all honey is made the same way and that it is a complex substance.

They added that only two studies in the group used a placebo, which needs further research before definitive conclusions are made. Comparisons with placebo are more limited and require more high-quality placebo-controlled trials.

Moreover, patients need to seek medical consultation for any illness and the plan to use alternative medicine for symptom relief, to prevent the risk of allergies and adverse effects.
The image hit the internet with the force of an explosion. It showed a slide from a mandatory diversity training event at the Topeka Goodyear plant. The slide identified Goodyear's zero-tolerance policy, which holds that Black Lives Matter and LGBT topics are acceptable in the workplace but that the claims that Blue Lives Matter and All Lives Matter are unacceptable, as are MAGA attire and anything that is a "political affiliated" (sic) slogan or sign.

President Trump promptly announced that if Goodyear could boycott MAGA, he and his supporters could boycott Goodyear. Goodyear has since tried to walk back the slide, but its denial only confirms that the slide is accurate.

The starting point is this photograph, which an employee took during a Goodyear diversity training session:

According to @goodyear tires, a MAGA shirt is a zero tolerance hate symbol. But Black Lives Matter is allowed. pic.twitter.com/1kWRqSDFQa  Cernovich (@Cernovich) August 18, 2020

For anyone who doubts the provenance of that slide, there's audio, too:

"Some people may wish to express their views on social justice or inequity or equity issues such as black lives matter or LGBTQ pride on their face coverings, shirts or wristbands. That will be deemed approved because it applies with a zero-tolerance stance," the speaker said during the meeting. "However if any associate wears all, blue, white lives matter shirts or face coverings, that will be not appropriate." [snip] The speaker does not specifically mention the Donald Trump's 'Make America Great Again' slogan shown on the slide, but did say political campaigns are a no-go. "Democrat. Republican. Trump. Biden. Sanders. Whatever. That will no longer be allowed in the plant," he listed off.

(You can listen to the audio here.)

The image might have wandered around the internet for a while and vanished. It didn't, though, because President Trump announced that Americans should no longer accept these slights. It's time to fight back:

Dont buy GOODYEAR TIRES - They announced a BAN ON MAGA HATS. Get better tires for far less! (This is what the Radical Left Democrats do. Two can play the same game, and we have to start playing it now!).  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2020

Here's just one example of someone who took the boycott seriously:

Just a note that I do not sell tires nor is this my shop. This is the owner of Balswick Tire Shop in California removing his Goodyear sign where he wrote Goodbye Goodyear! RIP  Rob O'Donnell (@odonnell_r) August 20, 2020

Goodyear scrambled to create space between itself and the slide. The following sounds like a denial, but, if you read it carefully, it's not:

Yesterday, Goodyear became the focus of a conversation that created some misconceptions about our policies and our company. Goodyear has always wholeheartedly supported both equality and law enforcement and will continue to do so. pic.twitter.com/oO6jUg2rTR  Goodyear (@goodyear) August 19, 2020

The weasel language begins with the paragraph claiming that "the visual in question was not created or distributed by Goodyear corporate ..." (emphasis added). This means that while the slide wasn't from the home office, it is a Goodyear slide. The same paragraph then continues to describe Goodyear's zero-tolerance policy. My comments are in the square brackets:

To be clear on our longstanding corporate policy, Goodyear has zero tolerance for any forms of harassment or discrimination. [So far, so good.] To enable a work environment free of those, we ask that associates refrain from workplace expressions in support of political campaigning for any candidate or political party [that knocks out MAGA hats, right?], as well as similar forms of advocacy that fall outside the scope of racial justice and equity issues. [And right there, with that woke language, Goodyear admitted that its zero tolerance policy allows full expression of leftist ideology  and what could be more leftist than BLM and LGBT?]

The problem is that Goodyear's woke management doesn't recognize that Black Lives Matter is a political entity, just as the LGBT spectrum is. It's one thing telling employees they may not discriminate based on race or sexual orientation. All of us would agree. It's another thing entirely to pretend that BLM and LGBT aren't advancing political positions that tie in with the Democrat party just as surely as MAGA and Police Lives Matter are on the opposite side politically.

Corporations are woke because, for the most part, management no longer comes from within. Instead, management consists of college grads. These graduates spent four years marinated in leftism, and they bring that leftism to corporations that then implement leftist policies that offend the bulk of the buying public. Go woke, go broke.

Image: Stripping tube on mandrel before sending to cure, Goodyear Tire Factory, by the Keystone View Company, c. 1928; Library of Congress No. 95507173, no known restrictions on publication, no renewal in copyright office.
Ho Chi Minh City offers some of the most luxurious residencies for less than regional competitors, Photo: Le Toan

Two premium projects located in Ho Chi Minh City  the Saigon Spirit and Empire City  were last week put on the list of being permitted by Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction to sell products to the market. The two developments currently have the highest price in the market.

The Saigon Spirit, a complex of commercial offices, services, residential apartments, and a hotel located opposite Ben Thanh Market was funded by Saigon Glory, a subsidiary of Bitexco Group, was permitted to sell from VND216 million ($9,400) per square metre.

However, an insider source said that the prices are based on capital mobilisation value only. The official rate would be higher at VND500 million ($21,700) per sq.m when the project is finished in 2023.

Another high-end project, Thu Thiem Observation Tower, is part of the Empire City project located at Thu Thiem New Urban Area in District 2. It was permitted to sell at a price of VND160 million ($7,000) per sq.m.

Empire City is funded with $1.2 billion from a joint venture between Tien Phuoc Real Estate JSC and Tran Thai Real Estate JSC, as well as two foreign investors (Corredance Pte., Ltd. of Singapore and Denver Power Ltd. of the British Virgin Islands) consisting of high-rise apartment buildings and a 88-storey tower  the highest building so far in Vietnam.

Before that, the Grand Manhattan invested by Novaland and Alpha City from Alpha Group were quoted from $8,000 to $10,000 per sq.m.

High potential

The luxury housing market in the country is projected to be active thanks to the rise of wealth across Asia as well as in Vietnam.

According to a Prime Future report released by Savills, the increasing number of super-rich people in Vietnam and other Asian countries has a positive impact on the development and consumption of luxury real estate in both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

There continues to be a market for luxury residential products as the Vietnamese affluent class grows and fuels demand, the report stated, while the number of high-net-worth individuals (HNWI) in Vietnam and their wealth has increased steadily since 2013 and is expected to continue an upward trend.

Meanwhile, the amended Law on Housing 2014 allowing foreign property ownership in Vietnam has been facilitating cross-border demand for prime property from regional countries.

Thanks to this policy, for the last five years many high-end projects have quickly sold their quotas of 30 per cent maximum to non-nationals. Foreign demand fuelled by the growth of HNWIs in Asian countries is expected to expand further.

Tran Khanh Quang, general director of Viet An Hoa Real Estate JSC, said that apart from attracting interest from international millionaires, the countrys luxury segment is also being tracked by wealthy Vietnamese individuals.

With the increase of the Vietnamese super-rich, the trend of moving into luxury apartments has hiking compared to previous periods thanks to the advantage of prime location, high amenities, and multi-layered security. Meanwhile, Asian super-rich entering the million-dollar housing market in Vietnam are targeting a large difference in the price of similar products compared to developed cities in the region.

According to Quang, currently the average selling price of luxury real estate in Ho Chi Minh City is still fairly low, from 25-30 per cent compared to other locations such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Tokyo, and Taipei.

With limited housing, supply in the central business districts of Ho Chi Minh City and the demand for high-value accommodation growing, the market has very good potential, Quang said.

Figures from Savills Vietnam show that luxury apartments in Vietnam are now sold from $7,000-10,000 per sq.m compared to $10,000-15,000 in Bangkok, $15,000-20,000 in Singapore, and $20,000-25,000 in Hong Kong.

Top quality

Talking about the classification of super luxury apartments in Ho Chi Minh City, Dr. Tran Nguyen Minh Hai, a real estate analyst at the Banking University, said that luxury apartment projects are currently classified by location and selling prices. However, those classifications, according to Hai, are not accurate. A so-called luxury project must meet the strict factors of location, architectural design, light space, residential community, general facilities, number of elevators, and many more. If calculating by all of those qualifications, the number of projects that fully meet the standards of a luxury apartment in Ho Chi Minh City can only be a few, he said.

Major clarifications for luxury properties, according to Hai, involve location, privacy, unique design, and green space.

Meanwhile, an expert from Indochina Capital, one of the leading developers in high-end property, said that benchmark projects include Holm Villas, the Cove Residences in Empire City, the Centennial Bason and the Vertex in Ho Chi Minh City, and Indochina Plaza in Hanoi.

Real estate is an industry where players must look at the long-term impact the sector will have on the community and future generations. Completed projects will stay in place for many years  their design and planning must be considered through the lens of climate change, future urban planning, and as we have seen in 2020, future public health crises, said the expert.

He further added that environmental responsibility and sustainability are concepts that should be a standard for all future premium developments. Key players in the industry should initiate the change while working with government organisations towards formal issuance of guiding principles to the market.
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal on Wednesday (August 19) said that a visiting CBI team will need to take permission for exemption from home quarantine if it wants to stay in Mumbai to probe Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput death case.

"If CBI team comes for 7 days they will be automatically exempted from quarantine and if they come for more than seven days period then they have to apply for exemption through our email id and we'll exempt them," Chahal told ANI.

It may be recalled that a few weeks ago, Bihar IPS official Vinay Tiwari was put under home quarantine by BMC under the coronavirus-related isolation rules when he had landed in Mumbai to probe this case.

Notably, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said that the CBI will investigate Sushant's death case. The apex court also said that the FIR filed in Patna was correct and the Bihar government is competent enough to transfer the case to CBI for investigation. The Supreme Court also ordered the Maharashtra government to assist CBI in the probe since this is a court-ordered CBI investigation.

Bollywood actress Rhea Chakraborty, who was in a relationship with Sushant, had approached the top court to seek transfer of the Patna FIR to Mumbai. She had raised questions over the manner in which the Bihar Police registered the FIR and argued that the matter has no connection with the FIR registered in Patna.

Sushant's father KK Singh had filed the FIR in Patna against her and six 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).

Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in his residence on June 14. The Mumbai Police has been probing the case since then. However, Sushant's family, friends and fans had been vocal on social media for quite some time demanding a CBI probe into his death.
Huawei is hardly finished. It says sales rose 13% to 454 billion yuan ($65 billion) in the first half of 2020. And China is one of the biggest markets. But after spending a decade and billions of dollars to become a leader in next-generation technology, the company that says it serves 45 of the top 50 phone carriers faces the threat of being shut out of many major markets.
Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies claimed that Lionel Messi refused to swap shirts with him after their Champions League quarter-final last week because he was too upset.

The Canadian defender starred as Bayern thumped Barcelona 8-2 last week, with the German club sealing their spot in the Champions League final with a 3-0 semi-final win over Lyon on Wednesday night.

Davies admitted that he did try to get a souvenir from his favourite player, but it wasn't meant to be.

Alphonso Davies (left) asked Lionel Messi for his shirt but the Argentinian forward said no

The defender (middle) shone as Bayern Munich beat Barcelona 8-2 in last week's quarter-finals

Speaking after the Lyon win, Davies said: 'I asked for it (Messi's shirt), but I think he was a little bit upset. Next time, maybe.'

Under UEFA guidelines, players are advised not to swap shirts due to coronavirus health and safety concerns.

Davies has had a breakthrough year at the German giants, making 45 appearances for Bayern, scoring three goals and registering ten assists in all competitions.

Davies starred again on Wednesday as Bayern beat Lyon 3-0 to reach the European final

Messi, on the other hand, is known as one of the greatest players of all time, having scored over 600 career goals for the Catalans.

Despite not getting Messi's shirt, Davies is still delighted with his recent form and that the opportunity to play against the Argentinian superstar is a big deal for him and his family.

Davies added: 'Honestly, I'm lost for words  (playing against Messi is) a dream come true.

Davies (second left) said the opportunity to play against Messi (right) was a dream come true

'My mum called me yesterday and then my dad hopped on the phone, and he was like: "So you're playing against your favourite player, I see."

'And I went: "Yeah." And then we both started laughing on the phone.

'And honestly we couldn't even believe it, because he knows that I looked up to Messi when I was younger, and now playing against him, it's really nice.

'Growing up, I used to watch him all the time and now I'm defending against him; it's going to be a whole different ball game.'

Davies' Bayern will take on Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday's Champions League Final in Lisbon.
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India has recorded more than 28.3 lakh cases of the novel coronavirus and 53,866 deaths, according to the Union Health Ministry's latest update.

Of these, more than 6.8 lakh are active cases while nearly 21 lakh have recovered.

With more than 6.28 lakh COVID-19 cases, Maharashtra has reported the highest number of infections, followed by Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

Globally, more than 2.2 crore infections and over 7.8 lakh deaths have been reported due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

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

Here are all the latest updates:

>> Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh ordered a series of emergency measures, including the extension of weekend lockdown with daily night curfew from 7pm to 5am in all the 167 cities/towns of the state from tomorrow. The CM also ordered a ban on all gatherings except weddings and funerals across the state till August 31. Government and private offices will work at 50 percent capacity till the end of this month, he said.

>> Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said that antibodies against COVID-19 infection have been found in 29.1 percent of people in the latest sero-prevalence survey in the national capital.

>> There may be at least six lakh people in Hyderabad who have been infected by the new coronavirus with a large number of them asymptomatic and need no hospitalisation, a study conducted by CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology and CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology said.

>> Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and is being admitted to a hospital on doctor's advice.

>> At least one in four people in India may have been infected with the coronavirus - a much higher number than official government figures suggest, Dr A Velumani, the head of Thyrocare said.

>> To minimise the spread of COVID-19 in eye care facilities, the Health Ministry issued guidelines that encourage teleconsultations and following an appointment system for those needing investigations and procedures.

>> The number of laid-off workers seeking US unemployment benefits rose to 1.1 million last week after two weeks of declines, evidence that many employers are still slashing jobs as the coronavirus bedevils the US economy.
A 56-year-old woman was staying with the dead body of her octogenarian father for at least two days till police recovered the body on Wednesday morning. The neighbours had complained of a foul smell coming from the house at Behala in south-west Kolkata, the police said.

Police and neighbours said that the incident was an eerie rerun of what the family members did twice, a year ago.

In February, when Debasis Chatterjee, 47, died, the old couple and their daughter didnt inform the police about their sons death. The police recovered the partially decomposed body of their son.

Later, in July 2019, Chaya Chatterjee, 82, Rabindranath Chatterjees wife, died. The old man and his daughter didnt inform the police and were staying with it until the police recovered the body.

Also read: Bengal government panel to probe corruption in Covid-19 procurement

On Wednesday morning we recovered the body of 86-year-old Rabindranath Chatterjee. He must have died two to three days ago. The neighbours informed us as they were getting a foul smell from the house, said a senior officer of the local police station.

The police said that while the woman, Nilanjana Chatterjee, was mentally challenged, her father was bed-ridden for more than a year. The police have sent the woman to a hospital.

This was not the first time that the family had lived with the corpses of their kin until the bodies started decomposing. So when the neighbours got a rotting smell from the house they were sure that something has happened and immediately informed the police, said Sandip Malakar, a local resident.

While the son, Debasis Chatterjee, used to work as a security guard and a courier boy for some time, he was unemployed during the time of his death. The family used to run on Rabindranath Chatterjees retirement benefits.

It is a very unfortunate incident. We have seen the family members dying one by one. The woman, Nilanjana Chatterjee, was mentally challenged and didnt understand that her mother had died, said Uttam Saha, another resident.

Last year, the local police had contributed some money to the family to help them.
- Citizens of Australia may be banned from flights, restaurants, and public transportation if they don't take a COVID-19 vaccine

- The Australian prime minister said he will make the vaccine as compulsory as possible

- The government hopes to get a coronavirus vaccine by early 2021

- Our manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

A report by Daily Mail indicates that the Australian government is considering banning citizens in the country from flights, restaurants, and public transportation if they don't get a COVID-19 vaccine.

Dr. Nick Coatsworth, the deputy chief medical officer, made the disclosure on Wednesday, August 19, at a press conference.

According to Coatsworth, health officials and ministers would discuss measures to encourage Australians to take the coronavirus vaccine.

He said: "Looking at specific things like not being able to go into restaurants, not being able to travel internationally, not being able to catch public transport... these are clearly policy decisions that will be discussed."

READ ALSO: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle secretly buy their first home

Australian government considers banning citizens who refuse to get COVID-19 vaccine. Photo credit: Nairametrics/UGC

Source: UGC

The deputy chief medical officer went on to add that there is currently no mechanism to enforce the rule.

Dr. Coatsworth said the people could be given certificates by the government to prove they have taken the vaccine.

Scott Morrison, the prime minister of Australia on his part speaking in a radio interview said he will make the coronavirus vaccine compulsory.

However, thousands of anti-vaxxers have now bombarded politicians when news of the vaccine broke saying they will not take it.

By early 2021, the Australian government hopes a coronavirus vaccine will reach the country as they have signed a deal to bring Oxford University's vaccine as soon as it is approved.

READ ALSO: Corona couldn't stop this interracial couple from saying "I do"

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that on Sunday, August 16, Chinese authorities granted the first patent for a COVID-19 vaccine named Ad5-nCoV.

The patent granted by the countrys National Intellectual Property Administration was jointly applied for by a Chinese biopharmaceutical company, called CanSino Biologics Inc and a research team with the Academy of Military Sciences.

The recombinant COVID-19 vaccine was developed by a research team, led by Chen Wei, an infectious disease expert, and researcher at the Institute of Military Medicine.

According to the patent abstract report, the vaccine can be produced quickly on a large scale to cope with a COVID-19 outbreak.

In a related development, Russia announced plans to launch its COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday, August 12, without the certification of the World Health Organisation.

The three phases of human trials by Russia have successfully been completed as the country plans to go into mass production.

It should be noted that the country has two test candidates. One is for a vaccine being worked on by the Vektor State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology while the second is being handled by the Gamaleya Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology in collaboration with the Russian Defence Ministry.

Source: YEN.com.gh
August 19

Frankly Toastmasters meets at Dennys

The Frankly Speaking Toastmasters Club meets most Wednesday mornings including Aug. 19 from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. in the private room at the back of the Dennys Restaurant in Spring. Sometimes the group meets online via Zoom.

All visitors are welcome and the group meets to encourage members to conquer their fear of public speaking and develop communication skills.

Dennys at I-45 North at Cypresswood is located at 20015 I45N in Spring. Learn more at www.https://www.facebook.com/ToastmastersFranklySpeaking

August 20

BBQ fundraiser to benefit food pantry

A barbecue dinner fundraiser event is set for 5 to 9 p.m. on Aug. 20 benefitting Stone Bridge Church Food Pantry at True Texas BBQ in Magnolia.

A 10 percent portion of all dine-in or take-out orders will be donated to the food pantry at the church.

True Texas BBQ is located at 7988 FM 1488 in Magnolia. Learn more at www.facebook.com/TrueTexasBBQMagnolia.

August 21

Chamber meets monthly at local Dennys

Bill Clark Pest Control, Inc. will be the speaker during the Our Town Community Update Breakfast held every third Friday of the month including Aug. 21 at 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Dennys on FM 2920 in Spring. Admission for chamber partners is $10 and $15 for non-partners.

The networking breakfast event for the Spring Klein Chamber of Commerce is one way to meet your neighbors and local business representatives and each attendee will have an opportunity to share and educate the group about their business with a 30-second commercial.

Dennys is located at 6504 FM 2920 in Spring. Learn more at www.springkleinchamber.org.

August 22

Church food pantry seeks new volunteers

Gateway Church, a Baptist church in Spring, offers a weekend food pantry volunteering opportunity from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on August 22.

Volunteers can help the church organize and distribute food to local families in the back parking lot of the church. Park outside the iron gate.

Gateway Church is located at 2930 Rayford Road in Spring. Learn more at www.facebook.com/DiscoverGateway.

Market returns to Towne Lake boardwalk

The Boardwalk at Towne Lake Farmers and Artisans Market returns from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 22 at the boardwalk.

Open to the public and surrounding communities, the event will feature more than 35 local vendors offering organic produce, artisan bread, locally sourced cuisine, famr fresh eggs, grass-fed fresh meats and handcrafted items.

The Boardwalk Towne Lake is located at 9945 Barker Cypress Road in Cypress. Learn more at www.facebook.com/yourneighborhoodfarmersmarket.

August 22

McDermott Band performs at Lone Pint Brewery

The Brandon McDermott Band will perform from 5 to 9 p.m. on Aug. 22 at Lone Pint Brewery in Magnolia.

Hailing from Galveston Island, The Brandon McDermott Band usually performs at the likes of Yaga Cafe or Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe. The quartet plays country-tinged hard rock in a familiar Texas music vein and sounds a little similar to the Old 97s.

Lone Pint Brewery is located at 507 Commerce Street in Magnolia. Learn more at www.facebook.com/brandonmcdermottband/.

Texas Trade Days offers many deals

Texas Trade Days presents a virtual market every second and fourth Saturday online including from 12 to 4 p.m. on Aug. 22, featuring small business vendors from around the state. Registration is $5.

The live shopping event is hosted using Zoom and there are vendor rooms, scheduled vendor demos and a main room where commerce can commence from a physical distance.

Learn more at www.texastradedays.com.

August 25

Republican women group to meet at smokehouse

The Yellow Rose of Texas Republican Women will meet for a general meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 25 at Harris County Smokehouse in Tomball.

Dinner is available before the meeting starts.

Harris County Smokehouse - Tomball is located at 14243 FM 2920 in Tomball. Learn more at www.facebook.com/yellowroserw.

August 27

County provides canoes at park

Harris County Pct. 4 Commissioners Office presents an afternoon canoe event from 5 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 27 at Burroughs Park in Tomball.

All equipment is provided including canoes, paddles and flotation devices. But you are encouraged to bring your own personal flotation life-jacket device.

Burroughs Park is located at 9738 Hufsmith Road in Tomball. Registration is required at www.hcp4.net.

County DA speaks at Magnolia meeting

Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon will speak during the monthly business luncheon of the Greater Magnolia Parkway Chamber of Commerce from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Aug. 27. The cost is $20 for members and $25 for guests and the luncheon is at the Magnolia Event Center.

Ligon has served Montgomery County as its District Attorney since his first election in 2008, and has won re-election twice since. According to his political campaign website, Ligon focuses on driving while intoxicated and internet crimes against children offenses. He also established a Public Integrity Division.

The Magnolia Event Center is located at 11659 FM 1488 in Magnolia. Learn more at www.facebook.com/GreaterMagnoliaParkwayCC.

August 29

Fleetwood Mac tribute band to perform

Nightbird - a locally-based Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac tribute band  is scheduled to perform at 8 p.m. on Aug. 29 at Main Street Crossing in Tomball. Tickets start at $20.

The band has played all over the greater region and have been nominated for various local music awards. Brooke Alyson leads the band as a convincing Stevie Nicks.

Main Street Crossing is located at 111 W. Main Street in Tomball. Learn more at www.mainstreetcrossing.com or call 281-290-0431.

August 30

Hayes Carll performs dinner at Dosey Doe

The Woodlands-native Hayes Carll will perform a dinner show at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 30 at Dosey Doe The Big Barn. Tickets start at $58 and includes dinner.

Access to a meet and greet VIP session is an extra $50. Its a rare in-person performance for Carll, who has been entertaining fans online during weekly performances he calls Alone Together.

Dosey Doe The Big Barn is located at 25911 I-45 North in The Woodlands. Learn more at www.doseydoe.com or call 281-367-3774.

Entertainment roundup is a weekly feature compiled by freelance writer Brandon Moeller. Send entertainment submissions to Brandon at moellerbrandon@gmail.com .
The passengers injured in the accident on Agra-Lucknow expressway were admitted to the Saifai Medical Institute, said Etawah SSP Akash Tomar

Etawah (Uttar Pradesh): As many as 16 people were injured after a bus carrying 45 passengers overturned on the Agra-Lucknow expressway in Uttar Pradesh's Etawah district on Thursday morning.

The injured have been rushed to PGI Saifai for the treatment.

"At least sixteen injured after a bus carrying 45 passengers overturned on Agra-Lucknow Expressway. Injured are being treated at PGI Saifai. The bus was en-route to Madhubani in Bihar from Delhi," said Etawah SSP Akash Tomar.

The other 29 passengers were given primary aid at a local hospital. No casualty has been reported so far in the accident.

This is a developing story, more details are awaited.
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors of pending deadlines in the following securities class action lawsuits:



Bayer Aktiengesellschaft (BAYRY)

Class Period: 5/23/2016 - 3/19/2019

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: September 14, 2020

SECURITIES FRAUD

To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-bayer-aktiengesellschaft-american-depositary-shares-securities-litigation

FirstEnergy Corp. (FE)

Class Period: 2/21/2017 - 7/21/2020

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: September 28, 2020

SECURITIES FRAUD

To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-firstenergy-corp-securities-litigation

Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation (COG)

Class Period: 10/23/2015 - 6/12/2020

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: October 13, 2020

SECURITIES FRAUD

To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-cabot-oil-amp-gas-corporation-securities-litigation

If you purchased shares of the above companies and would like to discuss your legal rights and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact us toll-free (844) 367-9658 or visit the case links above.

If you wish to serve as a Lead Plaintiff in the class action, you must petition the Court on or before the Lead Plaintiff Motion deadline.

About ClaimsFiler

ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.
MOSCOW - Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, one of Vladimir Putins fiercest critics, lay in a coma Friday at a Siberian hospital, the victim of what his allies said appeared to be a poisoning engineered by the Kremlin.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/8/2020 (517 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FILE - In this Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019 file, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny speaks to the media in front of security officers standing guard at the Foundation for Fighting Corruption office in Moscow, Russia. Navalny on Monday, July 20, 2020 announced the closure of his non-profit Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) over the court's order to pay massive damages in a controversial lawsuit, but said it would reopen under a new name.(AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)

MOSCOW - Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, one of Vladimir Putins fiercest critics, lay in a coma Friday at a Siberian hospital, the victim of what his allies said appeared to be a poisoning engineered by the Kremlin.

Navalny's organization was scrambling to make arrangements to transfer him to Germany for treatment; a German group said it was ready to send a plane for him and that a noted hospital in Berlin was ready to treat him.

The 44-year-old Navalny fell ill on a flight back to Moscow from the Siberian city of Tomsk on Thursday and was taken to a hospital after the plane made an emergency landing in Omsk, Navalny's spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, said on Twitter.

FILE- In this Dec. 26, 2019, file photo, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny speaks to the media in front of a security officer standing guard at the Foundation for Fighting Corruption office in Moscow, Russia. Navalny has been poisoned and hospitalized on Thursday morning, Aug. 20, 2020. His spokeswoman said on Twitter that Navalny felt unwell on a flight back to Moscow from Tomsk, a city in Siberia. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)

She told the Echo Moskvy radio station that he must have consumed poison in tea he drank at an airport cafe before boarding the plane early Thursday. During the flight, Navalny started sweating and asked her to talk to him so that he could focus on the sound of a voice." He then went to the bathroom and lost consciousness, and has been in a coma and on a ventilator in grave condition ever since.

In a video statement released early Friday in Omsk, Yarmysh said Navalny remained in critical condition and she called on the hospital's leadership not to obstruct us from providing all necessary documents for his transfer. It was not clear what the possible obstructions could be.

Other opposition figures were quick to suggest Kremlin involvement.

We are sure that the only people that have the capability to target Navalny or myself are Russian security services with definite clearance from Russias political leadership, Pyotr Verzilov, a member of the protest group Pussy Riot who ended up in intensive care after suspected poisoning in 2018, told The Associated Press. We believe that Putin definitely is a person who gives that go-ahead in this situation.

FILE - In this Saturday, July 20, 2019 file photo Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny gestures while speaking to a crowd during a political protest in Moscow, Russia. Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny was placed on a ventilator in a hospital intensive care unit in Siberia after falling ill from suspected poisoning during a flight, his spokeswoman said Thursday Aug. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)

Jaka Bizilj of the German organization Cinema For Peace, which arranged for Verzilov's treatment in Germany, said that at Verzilov's request we will send at midnight an air ambulance with medical equipment and specialists with which Navalny can be brought to Germany.

Omsk is about 4,200 kilometres (2,500 miles) east of Berlin, roughly a six-hour flight.

Doctors at Omsk Ambulance Hospital No. 1, where the politician was being treated, remained tight-lipped about his diagnosis saying only that they were considering a variety of theories, including poisoning. Local health officials said they found no indication that Navalny had suffered from a heart attack, stroke or the coronavirus.

Authorities initially refused to let Navalnys wife, Yulia, see her husband and have rejected requests for documentation that would allow him to be transferred to a European hospital for treatment, Yarmysh said.

FILE - In this Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019 file photo, Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny takes part in a march in memory of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov in Moscow, Russia. Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny was placed on a ventilator in a hospital intensive care unit in Siberia after falling ill from suspected poisoning during a flight, his spokeswoman said Thursday Aug. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)

Verzilov, who was flown to Berlin for treatment in 2018, said hospitals in Omsk or Moscow would not be able to treat Navalny properly and expressed concern about possible pressure from security services that doctors could be under in Russia.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was necessary to wait for test results showing what caused Navalny's condition, adding the authorities would consider a request to allow Navalny to leave Russia, which has not fully opened its borders after a coronavirus lockdown, for treatment.

State news agency Tass reported that police were not considering deliberate poisoning, a statement the politician's allies dismissed.

Reports about the alleged poisoning made waves in the West.

Anatoliy Kalinichenko, deputy chief doctor of the Omsk hospital of intensive care where Alexei Navalny is hospitalized speaks to the media in Omsk, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020. Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny is on a hospital ventilator in a coma, after falling ill from a suspected poisoning, according to his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Sofiychuk)

French President Emmanuel Macron said France was ready to offer Navalny and his family all necessary assistance ... in terms of health care, asylum, protection" and insisted on the need to clarify what happened.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking at a joint news conference with Macron, echoed that sentiment. What is very important is that it will be clarified very urgently how it could come to the situation."

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and the United Nations also expressed concern over what happened to Navalny, and Amnesty International demanded a full and thorough investigation.

The widow of Alexander Litvinenko, the Russian agent who was killed in London by radioactive poisoning in 2006, voiced concern that Navalnys enemies within Russia may have decided that its time to use a new tactic.

FILE - In this file photo taken on Monday, Dec. 25, 2017, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who submitted endorsement papers necessary for his registration as a presidential candidate, center, heads to attend a meeting in the Russia's Central Election commission in Moscow, Russia. Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny is in a coma and on a ventilator in an intensive care unit in Siberia after falling ill from suspected poisoning that his allies believe is linked to his political activity. (AP Photo/Evgeny Feldman)

Maybe they decided ... not to stop him just with an arrest but to stop him with poison. It looks like a new tactic against Navalny, Marina Litvinenko told The Associated Press from Sicily, Italy.

Like many other opposition politicians in Russia, Navalny has been frequently detained by law enforcement and harassed by pro-Kremlin groups. In 2017, he was attacked by several men who threw antiseptic in his face, damaging an eye.

Last year, Navalny was rushed to a hospital from prison, where he was serving a sentence following an administrative arrest, with what his team said was suspected poisoning. Doctors said he had a severe allergic attack and discharged him back to prison the following day.

Navalny's Foundation for Fighting Corruption has been exposing graft among government officials, including some at the highest level. Last month, he had to shut the foundation after a financially devastating lawsuit from Yevgeny Prigozhin, a businessman with close ties to the Kremlin.

Ambulances are parked outside the hospital intensive care unit where Alexei Navalny is hospitalized in Omsk, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020. Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny is on a hospital ventilator in a coma, after falling ill from a suspected poisoning, according to his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Sofiychuk)

Belarus' authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko accused Navalny last week of organizing unprecedented mass protests against his re-election that have rocked Russia's ex-Soviet neighbour since Aug. 9. He did not, however, provide any evidence and that claim was one of many blaming foreign forces for the unrest.

The most prominent member of Russia's opposition, Navalny campaigned to challenge Putin in the 2018 presidential election, but was barred from running.

He set up campaign offices across Russia and has been promoting opposition candidates in regional elections, challenging members of Russia's ruling party, United Russia. One of his associates in Khabarovsk, a city in Russia's Far East that has been engulfed in mass protests against the arrest of the region's governor, was detained last week after calling for a strike at a rally.

In the interview with Echo Moskvy, Yarmysh said she believed the suspected poisoning was connected to this year's regional election campaign.

Police officers detain a protester as he comes to support Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in front of the building of the Federal Security Service (FSB, Soviet KGB successor) in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020. The banner reads: "Navalny live!!! Politkovskaya? Nemtsov? Who is next? Putin is a thief" Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny is on a hospital ventilator in a coma, after falling ill from a suspected poisoning, according to his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)

Commentators say Navalny has become increasingly dangerous for the Kremlin as Putins approval rating has plummeted to a record low of around 60% amid the coronavirus pandemic and growing public frustration with the declining economy.

Navalny's ability to mobilize voters against pro-Kremlin candidates poses a particular challenge ahead of the 2021 parliamentary elections, said Abbas Gallyamov, a former Kremlin speechwriter-turned-political-analyst.

The Duma elections are particularly important for the Kremlin, as the new Duma will be operating in 2024, when Putins current presidential term expires and he may announce running for re-election, Gallyamov told the AP.

"Thats why controlling the next State Duma is crucially important for the Kremlin. Navalny really makes it harder for the Kremlin to establish that control, Gallyamov added.

At the same time Navalny, who rose to prominence by exposing corruption all over Russia, could have other enemies, Gallyamov said, and may have been targeted by people featured in one of his investigations, if he was indeed deliberately poisoned.

Navalny is not the first opposition figure to come down with a mysterious poisoning.

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Verzilov, who spent a month in a hospital recovering from his suspected 2018 poisoning, told the AP that Navalny's initial symptoms  loss of co-ordination, pain, fainting  were very similar to his.

Opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza was hospitalized with poisoning symptoms twice  in 2015 and 2017. Prominent journalist Anna Politkovskaya was also reportedly poisoned in 2004  two years before being murdered.

On Thursday evening, activists in several Russian cities held protests in support of Navalny. In St. Petersburg, a crowd of about 100 people gathered in the city centre, and several supporters were detained.

It was actually in the interests of the authorities to safeguard him," Yegor Batozhok, 34, a municipal deputy in St. Petersburg, told the AP. But for some reason a number of those who criticize the authorities get poisoned."

___

Associated Press writers Irina Titova in St. Petersburg, Angela Charlton in Paris, Pan Pylas in London, Alexander Roslyakov and Jim Heintz in Moscow and Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin contributed.
Two persons were electrocuted inside the Alipore Zoo in Kolkata on Thursday. Another was seriously injured and is battling for life in a hospital, said zoo authorities.

The dead have been identified as Tarini Ghosh, 31 and Pradip Das, 45. The accident took place around 1 pm when the three persons, all labourers of a private company, were repairing a hoarding in front of the elephant enclosure.

Repair work was going on inside the zoo when two labourers of a private company died after they accidentally touched a live wire. We are setting up an inquiry committee, said VK Yadav, member secretary of the state zoo authority.

The injured person, Litan Das, 37, was rushed to a private hospital where he had to be put on ventilator support as his condition was critical.

Rakesh Singh, a union leader of the zoo, said one of the labourers got electrocuted, the other two rushed to rescue him and got electrocuted too.

Alipore zoo is the oldest zoological park in India. It has been shut to visitors since March 17 because of the pandemic.

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Old School New Styles Barber Shop in Rio Rancho is struggling to stay open through the pandemic.

Manuel Rascon and his wife, Irene Leaton, have been the owners of Old School New Styles Barber Shop, which has locations in Rio Rancho and Albuquerque.

Leaton said it is challenging to be a business owner right now because of the uncertainty.

There is no consistency in industry, especially in our industry. And that is what is challenging, and right now we are at 25 percent and it is hard to do business at 25 percent, she said. You just lost a majority of your income.

The Rio Rancho shop opened in 2014. It normally produces about $200,000 a year, she said.

So far for 2020, the shop has made less than $70,000, Leaton said. At this point in the year, the shop should have $125,000 or more.

The landlords of their Rio Rancho location have been understanding and helpful throughout the hardships of the pandemic, she said.

They understand that we are all in the same boat, Leaton said.

The same cant be said for the couples second shop of the barbershop on Alameda Boulevard in Albuquerque, she said. Leaton said they have had problems with the landlord at that shop for some time.

The one in Albuquerque has been asking me to jump through hoops just to get some type of assistance to try and keep our doors open, she said.

Leaton applied for grants and loans, and has utilized resources like the New Mexico Small Business Development Center. She has applied for about 20 grants.

I am doing anything I can to try and keep our doors open, she said.

Depending on how much money is awarded to the business, the Albuquerque location is at risk of closing.

Leaton said this only adds to the pressure of being a small-business owner through a pandemic.

I am trying to find ways to keep my customers safe, my employees safe, and to adapt to this pandemic and adapt to the environment, she said.

The shop implements COVID-safe practices at both locations and takes the temperature of customers when they walk in.

She is also now concerned about staffing. The Rio Rancho location has lost four barbers, with a few going to Colorado for work, Leaton said.

If other states are allowing (businesses to open), we are losing people to other states, she said.

She understands the governor is trying to keep people safe.

If we can survive through the holidays, I think we will be OK, Leaton said.

Nonprofit

Rascon said this year has been hard because he doesnt know what they will be able to do for their nonprofit Caring Through Clothing, which partners with law enforcement to provide back-to-school clothes for children.

He said his favorite part about his business is being able to help the community. Rascon is an orphan and believes kids need to feel special.

The nonprofit holds three events for children every year.

The first event sponsors a Title I school, with school councilors choosing 25 children to be teamed up with positive role models, who are officers, community leaders, high school athletes and others.

The positive role models take the kids shopping for back-to-school clothes, to lunch with them and to a movie, Leaton said.

The second event provides 25 families with Thanksgiving meals. Families are again chosen by school councilors. A coat drive for kids and adults is also a part of the event.

The third event partners with Rio Rancho Fire Rescue to provide 100 kids with a gift while exploring a fire engine with Santa Claus, she said.

When starting our business, it was never about us; it was about the community we are in and how we can help them. Because we are nothing without our community, Rascon said.

For more information, call Old School New Styles Barber Shop in Rio Rancho at 440-6153; in Albuquerque, call 347-9377.
A pedestrian walks past a Victoria's Secret storefront closed and boarded up on Robson Street during the COVID-19 crisis on April 17, 2020 in Vancouver, Canada.

Here are the stocks making headlines in midday trading.

L Brands  Shares of L Brands rose 3.9% after the company reported a surprise quarterly profit despite Covid-19 business closures. Sharp demand for soaps and sanitizing products helped lift the company's Bath & Body Works business, while Victoria's Secret saw a 28% climb in online sales.

Estee Lauder  Shares of beauty company plunged 6.7% following its disappointing quarterly results. Estee Lauder reported a loss of 53 centers per share, far wider a loss than the 19 cents per share expected. Revenue also missed estimates. Estee Lauder made $2.43 billion in revenue, below the forecast $2.45 billion. Estee Lauder said it launching a two-year initiative to rebalance its investments, which will include a reduction in its retail footprint and increased emphasis on digital sales. It also plans to cut up to 2,000 jobs globally.

CureVac  Shares of the German biotech company nearly 16% after the company announced that it is in advanced talks with the European Commission to supply up to 405 million doses of a potential Covid-19 vaccine. The company's vaccine candidate is currently in phase one trials.

Tesla  Shares of Tesla jumped 6.6% to hit an all-time high of $1994.75, approaching the $2,000 mark. The electric car maker's stock has soared more than 20% this week alone, pushing its massive 2020 gains to over 370%. There were no apparent headlines on Thursday that could prompt the rally, but investors have been even more enthusiastic about the stock after Tesla announced a 5-for-1 stock split, which takes effect on Aug.31.

Synopsys  The semiconductor design company saw its stock rise 8.6% after reporting better-than-expected results for its fiscal third quarter. The company reported $1.74 in adjusted earnings per share on $964.1 million in revenue, while analysts surveyed by FactSet expected $1.94 in earnings per share and $894.1 million in revenue. The company said in a release that it was confident in its "outlook and resilient business model" and raised its forecasts for revenue and earnings.

Alibaba  Shares of the China-based e-commerce giant slid 1%, despite first quarter earnings beating analyst estimates on the top and bottom line. The company said that mobile users increased by 28 million during the quarter, bringing total mobile users to 874 million.

Shake Shack  Shares of the fast food chain traded 2.5% higher after Wedbush lifted its rating on the stock to outperform from neutral. "SHAK was the preeminent growth story within restaurants pre-COVID, and we believe the growth story is even more attractive post-COVID," the firm said. Wedbush's 12-month price target of $77 is about 40% above where the stock currently trades.

Intel  The tech stock rose 1.7% after the company announced an accelerated $10 billion stock buyback program. The company said it believes its shares were "well below intrinsic valuation." The stock had dropped roughly 20% over the past month.

Elanco  Shares of the animal health company rose 6.9% after Morgan Stanley upgraded the stock to overweight from neutral. The firm said in a note that it was bullish on the "long-term prospects" for the company and said that the company's earnings growth could be strong even if sales growth is only "moderate."

CNBC's Yun Li, Pippa Stevens, Maggie Fitzgerald and Tom Franck contributed to this story.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 14:07:41|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday that China is willing to continue providing help and support for Nigeria's fight against COVID-19 till the African country finally prevails over it.

In a phone conversation with Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama, Wang said Nigeria is a major country with important influence, adding that China attaches great importance to Nigeria's status and role on the international stage, always views and develops the China-Nigeria relations from a strategic altitude and long-term perspective.

China firmly supports Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari's efforts to lead the Nigerian people to develop their economy, improve their livelihood, maintain national security, and commit to peace and stability in Africa and the world, Wang said.

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease, China and Nigeria have been supporting, helping and looking out for each other, he said.

The Chinese side has provided Nigeria with anti-epidemic materials and shared its experience in epidemic prevention, and Chinese enterprises and civil organizations have also voluntarily offered supplies, Wang noted.

The friendship and mutual trust between China and Nigeria have been promoted and strengthened in the joint fight against the disease, he said.

Wang emphasized that at present, vaccine research, development and use have raised broad international attentions, with some powerful countries trying to seize the market and even to monopolize resources, which puts developing countries at an unfavourable position.

China has announced that once successfully developed, the vaccine will be used as a public good to provide assistance to developing countries including those in Africa, Wang said, adding that China will continue to push forward this process and strengthen vaccine cooperation with Africa.

Noting that for some time the United States and other forces have been constantly sowing discord in China-Africa and China-Nigeria relations, Wang said such attempt will never succeed.

China's friendly tradition with African countries including Nigeria has withstood the test of time and the international situation, he said, adding that their brotherly friendship will resist any interference.

Both sides will continue their firm support to each other on issues concerning each other's core interests, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries, he added.

Onyeama, for his part, said that Nigeria attaches importance to China's important role in international affairs, and appreciates the Chinese government and people for their generous support and assistance, which shows the close unity and brotherly friendship between Nigeria and China.

When it comes to vaccines, developing countries including those in Africa are indeed at an unfavourable position, he said, and the Nigerian side highly appreciates China's decision to treat any vaccine as an international public product, which demonstrates China's demeanor as a major country with global vision.

The Nigeria-China relationship and friendship are built on a solid foundation of mutual trust, and the two nations share long-term amity that can withstand the test of time and will not be interfered by any external factors, Onyeama said.

The two sides also exchanged views on the World Trade Organization and other issues. Enditem
Today in history, on August 20, 636, arguably the single most consequential battle between Islam and the West took place, that of Yarmuk. Not only did it decide whether the Arabian creed thrived or died; it became a chief source of inspiration and instruction for jihadis throughout the centuries, right down to the Islamic State. Yet very few in the West are even aware of this encounter's existence  much less how it motivates modern Islamic terrorists.

The contestants were the Eastern Roman Empire, under Emperor Heraclius, and the newly born Arabian caliphate, under the second caliph, Omar. After a couple of years of Muslim depredations in then-Christian/Roman Syria, the two forces met along the Yarmuk River. The pre-battle exchange between the two generals, the Armenian Vahan and Khalid bin al-Walid  Islam's much revered (and near cannibalistic) "Sword of Allah"  is worth relaying.

The Armenian commander began by diplomatically blaming Arabia's harsh conditions and impoverished economy for giving the Arabs no choice but to raid Roman lands. Accordingly, the empire was pleased to provide them with food and coin on condition that they return home. "It was not hunger that brought us here," Khalid responded coolly, "but we Arabs are in the habit of drinking blood, and we are told the blood of the Romans is the sweetest of its kind, so we came to shed your blood and drink it."

Vahan's diplomatic mask instantly dropped, and he launched into a tirade against the insolent Arab: "So, we thought you came seeking what your brethren always sought"  plunder, extortion, or mercenary work. "But, alas, we were wrong. You came killing men, enslaving women, plundering wealth, destroying buildings, and seeking to drive us from our own lands." Better people had tried to do the same but always ended up defeated, added Vahan in reference to the recent Persian Wars, before continuing:

As for you, there is no lower and more despicable people  wretched, impoverished Bedouins. ... You commit injustices in your own nation and now ours. ... What havoc you have created! You ride horses not your own and wear clothes not your own. You pleasure yourselves with the young white girls of Rome and enslave them. You eat food not your own, and fill your hands with gold, silver, and valuable goods [not your own]. Now we find you with all our possessions and the plunder you took from our coreligionists  and we leave it all to you, neither asking for its return nor rebuking you. All we ask is that you leave our lands. But if you refuse, we will annihilate you!

The Sword of Allah was not impressed. He began reciting the Koran and talking about one Muhammad. Vahan listened in quiet exasperation. Khalid proceeded to call on the Christian general to proclaim the shahada  that "there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger"  and thereby embrace Islam in exchange for peace, adding:

"You must also pray, pay zakat, perform hajj at the sacred house [in Mecca], wage jihad against those who refuse Allah ... and befriend those who befriend Allah and oppose those who oppose Allah," a reference to the divisive doctrine of al-wala' wa al-bara'. "If you refuse, there can only be war between us. ... And you will face men who love death as you love life."

"Do what you like," responded Vahan. "We will never forsake our religion or pay you jizya." Negotiations were over.

Things came to a head, quite literally, when 8,000 marching Muslims appeared before the Roman camp carrying the severed heads of 4,000 Christians atop their spears. These were the remains of 5,000 reinforcements who had come from Amman to join the main army at Yarmuk. The Muslims had ambushed and slaughtered them. Then, as resounding cries of "Allahu akbar" filled the Muslim camp, those Muslims standing behind the remaining 1,000 Christian captives knocked them over and proceeded to carve off their heads before the eyes of their co-religionists, whom Arabic sources describe as looking on in "utter bewilderment."

So it would be war: 30,000 Christian Romans against 24,000 Muslim Arabs along the Yarmuk river in Syria. On the eve of battle, writes historian A.I. Akram, "the Muslims spent the night in prayer and recitation of the Quran, and reminded each other of the two blessings that awaited them: either victory and life or martyrdom and paradise."

No such titillation awaited the Christians. They were fighting for life, family, and faith. During his pre-battle speech, Vahan explained that "these Arabs who stand before you seek to ... enslave your children and women." Another general warned the men to fight hard, or else the Arabs "shall conquer your lands and ravish your women." Such fears were not unwarranted. Even as the Romans were kneeling in pre-battle prayer, Arab general Abu Sufyan was prancing on his war steed, waving his spear, and exhorting the Muslims to "jihad in the way of Allah" so that they might seize the Christians' "lands and cities, and enslave their children and women."

The battle took place over the course of six days. On August 20, 636, the sixth and final day, a dust storm  something Arabs were accustomed to, their opponents less so  erupted and caused mass chaos, particularly for the Romans, whose large infantry numbers proved counterproductive. Night fell. Then, according to historian Antonio Santosuosso:

[T]he terrain echoed with the terrifying din of Muslim shouts and battle cries. Shadows suddenly changed into blades that penetrated flesh. The wind brought the cries of comrades as the enemy stealthily penetrated the ranks among the infernal noise of cymbals, drums, and battle cries. It must have been even more terrifying because they had not expected the Muslims to attack by dark.

Muslim cavalrymen continued pressing on the crowded and blinded Roman infantry, using the hooves and knees of their steeds to knock down the wearied fighters. Pushed finally to the edge of the ravine, rank after rank of the remaining forces of the imperial army fell down the steep precipices to their deaths. "The Byzantine army, which Heraclius had spent a year of immense exertion to collect, had entirely ceased to exist," writes British lieutenant general and historian John Bagot Glubb. "There was no withdrawal, no rearguard action, no nucleus of survivors. There was nothing left."

As the moon filled the night sky and the victors stripped the slain, cries of "Allahu akbar!" and "There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger" rang throughout the Yarmuk valley, writes the Arabian chronicler.

Mere decades after Yarmuk, all ancient Christian lands between Syria to the east and Morocco to the west  nearly 4,000 miles  had been conquered by Islam. Put differently, two thirds of Christendom's original, older, and wealthier territory was permanently swallowed up by the scimitar of jihad. (Eventually, and thanks to the later Turks, "Muslim armies conquered three-quarters of the Christian world," to quote historian Thomas Madden.)

But unlike the Germanic barbarians who invaded and conquered Europe in the preceding centuries, only to assimilate into the religion, culture, and civilization of Christianity and adopt its languages, Latin and Greek, the Arabs imposed their creed and language onto the conquered peoples so that, whereas the "Arabs" were once limited to the Arabian Peninsula, today the "Arab world" consists of some 22 nations across the Middle East and North Africa.

This would not be the case, and the world would have developed in a radically different way, had the Eastern Roman Empire defeated the invaders and sent them reeling back to Arabia. Little wonder that historians such as Francesco Gabrieli hold that "the battle of the Yarmuk had, without doubt, more important consequences than almost any other in all world history."

Moreover and as the alert reader may have noticed, the words and deeds of the Islamic State (ISIS) and those of its predecessors from nearly 1,400 years ago are eerily similar. This is intentional. When ISIS proclaims that "American blood is best and we will taste it soon," or "We love death as you love life," or "We will break your crosses and enslave your women," it is quoting  and thereby placing itself in the footsteps of  Khalid bin al-Walid and his companions, the original Islamic conquerors of Syria.

Similarly, ISIS's invocation of the houris, Islam's celestial sex slaves promised to martyrs, is based on several anecdotes of Muslims dying by the Yarmuk River and being welcomed into paradise by these immortal concubines. So too is the choreographed ritual slaughter of "infidels," most infamously of 21 Coptic Christians on the shores of Libya, patterned after the ritual slaughter of 1,000 captured Roman soldiers on the eve of battle.

Here, then, is a reminder that when it comes to the military history of Islam and the West, the lessons imparted are far from academic and have relevance to this day  at least for the jihadis, whose mindset many in the West still refuse to acknowledge.

Note: The above account was excerpted from the author's book, Sword and Scimitar: Fourteen Centuries of War between Islam and the West. Raymond Ibrahim is a Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center. For a more detailed exposition, see his Master's thesis on Yarmuk, written under the supervision of military historian Victor Davis Hanson.
New Delhi: It is that time of the year when devotees welcome Lord Ganpati home with utmost devotion and gusto. This year Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated on August 22, Saturday. It is believed that Bappa visits the abode of his devotees, stays there for a while and blesses them before taking leave but only with a promise to return the next year. The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated across the globe and majorly in Maharashtra.

The 10-day long festival will be celebrated this year with precautions as deadly novel coronavirus outbreak has affected the normal functioning. Social distancing, wearing masks and gloves is the norm of the day, today.

Devotees turn hosts to the Lord by inviting him to their homes. The freshness in the breeze and the picture-perfect weather strikes a perfect balance between mind, body, and soul. In order to please the Ganpati, and make him visit your abode year-on-year, we tell you how to perform the special Ganesh Chaturthi puja (prayer) at home.

Ganesh Chaturthi Puja Timings:

Ganesha Chaturthi on Saturday, August 22, 2020

Madhyahna Ganesha Puja Muhurat - 11:06 AM to 01:42 PM

Duration - 02 Hours 36 Mins

Ganesha Visarjan on Tuesday, September 1, 2020

Time to avoid Moon sighting - 09:07 AM to 09:26 PM

Duration - 12 Hours 19 Mins

Chaturthi Tithi Begins - 11:02 PM on Aug 21, 2020

Chaturthi Tithi Ends - 07:57 PM on Aug 22, 2020

(According to drikpanchang.com)

Sit down with folded hands and take a note of all that goes into invoking the divine power with traditional rituals and customary practices.

We start the Chaturthi puja by bringing the Ganpati idol home. The Chaturthi is believed to be the most auspicious day for getting the idol of our favourite lord home. However, when you set out to bring one, do keep the following things ready: Aggarbatti & Dhoop (joss sticks/incense), Aarti Thali (plate with lamps), Supari (areca/betel nuts), Paan leaf (betel leaf), a separate cloth for covering the Ganesh idol, another piece of Cloth for Sandli (made of sandalwood, used for carrying the lord), lastly Sandli.

Procedure of Ganpati puja:

The Ganapati idol puja starts with lighting the agarbatti-dhoop placed in an aarti thali. Then, place the paan leaf with a supari resting on top of it on the floor in front of the sandli. Dont forget to chant the golden mantra of Om Gan Ganpatiye Namah. If there is a pandit (priest) performing the puja for you, then do place some dakshina (offering) for him and also for the artisans, who beautifully create such murtis (idols). For people, who bring in the Ganesh idol home before Chaturthi, need to cover the face of the murti with a cloth, and take it off only on the day Ganesh Chaturthi puja is performed during murti sthapna (instalment of the idol). Now, once you have your lord with you and are eager to step inside the premises of your home, dont forget to ask one of the family members to bring a bowl of rice. Shower the rice (kacha (raw) rice) on the murti before bringing it inside. Also, on Chaturthi, before placing the Ganesh idol on his sthaan (pedestal), put some kacha rice on it and rest a Supari, Haldi (turmeric), KumKum (red coloured sacred powder), Abhil and Dakshina.

The main puja requirements:

After placing the newly-bought Ganpati idol home and that too following the exact ritualsthere are certain requirements necessary to be met with. For example, we need red flowers, druva grass blades, modak (jaggery filled sweet), coconut, red chandan (sandalwood paste), incense and aggarbattis.

Main Ganpati Puja Procedure:

The pious ritual of Ganesh Chaturthi puja starts with cleaning the entire house (and this is followed before the Ganpati idol is brought home). The entire family sitting for the puja should be ready after taking an early bath. It is better if you can invite a Pandit, qualified in performing pujas. The clay idol of the lord, which you placed on a clean, raised platform, will now see the mantras being chanted for invoking the God in it. The customary practice of Pran-Pratishtha (infusing life in idol) is one of the primary steps in this puja. Therefore, a specialised pandit is required to chant the holy mantras and invoke the lord in that murti.

The Pran-Prathista mantra in Sanskrit to be invoked is found in the Rig Veda and is part of Ganesh Suktha. After the pran-pratishtha of the murti is done with, the next step that follows is that aarti and lighting of the lamps and aggarbattis. If a pandit is performing this entire puja for you, then you have the privilege of asking him to perform the shhodashopachara, which are 16 forms of paying tribute to Ganesh. Soon after this, offer 21 blades of durva grass, 21 modakas (they say Lambodra loves them) and some red flowers to Ganpati.

Then, put the red Sandalwood tilak (mark) on the forehead of the lords murti. Remember an old saying that breaking a coconut is auspicious to ward off evil? Yes, you have to do the same here. Try and break the coconut placed right in front of the Lords idol, however, if you are unable to do so, worry not, just place it there. Besides, dont forget to keep some fried grains for Ganpatis carrierthe Mushaka (the mice which carry the lord on him). For your own good, try reciting the 108 salutations dedicated to Ganesh or read the Ganesh Upanishad. Also, while performing the Puja at home, there is always an option of flexibility. The rituals, which require a certain structure or many pandits for the chanting of mantras need not be done by you. Simply follow these steps and praythe rest Bappa will do. They sayeat, pray and love. The more you worship with an open mind and sanctimonious thoughtsthe more Ganpati will bestow you with wisdom, health, and prosperity.

Fold your hands and close your eyes, for the God is listening.

Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya!
Country

United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, 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Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
ROBYN BECK / AFP via Getty Images

Airline schedules continue to change throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting towns and cities across the globe, and Connecticut is no exception.

Southwest Airlines announced it would temporarily suspend nonstop flights to Denver and St. Louis from September until November. A nonstop flight to Orlando will be suspended until October as well.
Secured additional funding for Covid-19 testing and back-up drug discovery

LEIDEN, Netherlands, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hercules Pharmaceuticals, a Dutch biopharmaceutical company focusing on developing small molecule inhibitors of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) for treatment of cancer and viral infections, today announced the publication of promising preclinical in-vivo trial results, showing efficacy of its Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) inhibitor HP163 against Zika virus infection and potentially against Corona-virus infection. On top of this, the company secured new funding to test the efficacy of the compound against Covid-19 and to generate back-up AhR inhibitors.

A recent publication in Nature Neuroscience reported that Hercules' AhR inhibitor HP163 reduces viral replication in animals infected with Zika-virus and reduced microencephaly. In-vitro studies also showed efficacy of AhR inhibitors against Dengue, a related virus.

In addition, a pre-publication of an article on Research Square concludes that AhR inhibition may also be effective against Covid-19 and other corona virus infections via a similar mechanism.

It was found that virus infection triggers AHR activation, limiting the production of type I interferons (IFN-I), involved in antiviral immunity. Moreover, AHR activation suppressed intrinsic anti-viral immunity driven by the promyelocytic leukemia (PML) protein, resulting in increased viral replication. AHR inhibition with Hercules' HP163 blocked Zika virus replication and ameliorated newborn microcephaly in a murine model.

Successful development of AhR inhibitors could lead to oral treatment of patients with early stages of virus infection.

New funding by Pharma Connect Capital

Hercules will further investigate the potential of its AhR-inhibitors for treatment of Covid-19 infections and will generate additional novel AhR inhibitors for both anti-viral and cancer treatment. To fund this program, Hercules has received an investment from Groningen based Pharma Connect Capital and a grant from SNN (Samenwerkingsverband Noord Nederland). As part of the investment, Hercules will relocate to Groningen.

Bart Wuurman, CEO of Hercules Pharmaceuticals, comments:

"We are excited by the novel finding that the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor acts as a host factor for viral infections to allow viral replication. A remedy is urgently needed to treat zika and dengue infection, but mentioned studies also suggest that AhR inhibitors might be an effective oral treatment of patients with Covid-19, the virus which is holding our daily life hostage at this moment."

About Zika and Dengue

Zika virus is spread by mosquitoes and is related to dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile viruses. Zika can spread from a pregnant woman to her baby. This can result in microcephaly, severe brain malformations, and other birth defects.

Dengue fever is also a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms may include a high fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash. In some cases, the disease develops into severe dengue, also known as dengue hemorrhagic fever, or into dengue shock syndrome. About 390 million people are infected each year and approximately 40,000 die.

About Hercules Pharmaceuticals

Hercules Pharmaceuticals is a Dutch private biopharmaceutical company, focusing on developing small molecule inhibitors of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) for treatment of cancer and viral infections. AhR-inhibitors are known for enhancing anti-cancer immunity in the tumor microenvironment, and several AhR inhibitors are in clinical development for treatment of solid tumors. Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Hercules, Professor David Sherr is a key opinion leader in immunology related to the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor, based in Boston.

About Pharma Connect Capital

Pharma Connect Capital B.V. (www.pharmaconnectcapital.com) is an investment fund that finances early stage drug development. The fund is an initiative of Investerings Fonds Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen and the Noordelijke Ontwikkelings Maatschappij (NOM) and was launched in October 2017.

Contact:

For more information

Bart Wuurman, CEO

bart.wuurman@hercules-pharma.nl

Galileiweg 8, 3222BD Leiden, The Netherlands

Mob: +31-64-66-23-735

www.hercules-pharma.nl

LifeSpring Life Sciences Communication, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Leon Melens

T: +31-6-538-16-427

E: lmelens@lifespring.nl
Youth activists were the prominent voices to emerge from last nights DNC segment on tackling the climate crisis, calling on voters to give them a fighting chance by backing Joe Biden.

They were led by Alexandria Villasenor, a 15-year-old New Yorker, who has spent every Friday for the past two years striking on a bench outside the United Nations building in Manhattan.

The high school student picked up the protest baton stateside after being inspired by Greta Thunberg, the teen who began her "School Strike for Climate" outside of the Swedish parliament building on 20 August 2018 - exactly two years ago.

The teens have spent every Friday, come rain or shine, drawing attention to the climate emergency, nearly 4,000 miles apart.

One week even involved Ms Villasenor burrowing into a subzero sleeping bag as she protested in the middle of a polar vortex that descended on the city, the New Yorker explained last year.

Over the past two years, they have been joined by thousands of other young people from around the world in the movement leading to the massive 2019 youth-led global climate strikes.

However her Swedish ally was not the only thing that motivated Ms Villasenor to act, as she told the nation on Wednesday.

I was 13 when the Camp Fire, the most destructive wild fire in Californias history, broke out, the 15-year-old said in a pre-recorded message played on the DNC convention's livestream.

We were visiting family nearly 100 miles way but my asthma flared badly. I could hardly breathe.

She added: Climate change is impacting us now and its robbing my generation of a future.

Climate activist Katherine Lorenzo spoke about her experiences of pollution growing up in a low-income neighborhood at the 2020 Democratic National Convention (DNCC)

The clip also featured powerful statements from fellow youth advocates Katherine Lorenzo, an Afro-Latina activist who works with Chispa, a Latino-focused advocacy group, and Andrew Adamski, whose family have owned Full Circle Community Farm in Pulaski, Wisconsin for 120 years.

Ms Lorenzo, from Las Vegas, Nevada, began by saying: Not a lot of climate activists look like me" before going on to explain how her activism had been shaped by her childhood.

I grew up in a low-income neighbourhood where pollution rates are often higher than wealthier areas and a lot of kids have asthma," she said. Switching to renewable energy would mean cleaner air, better health and a steadier income for folks in neighbourhoods like mine."

Her message touched on a Biden campaign promise of tackling environmental injustices which disproportionately affect low-income, indigenous communities and communities of colour.

Mr Adamski addressed another tenant of Mr Biden's manifesto - the promise of a "clean energy revolution" - and appeared to nod to President Trump's dereliction of duty when it came to tackling the climate crisis.

Us farmers can see the effects of climate change happening right in front of us," he said. "So weve been trying to do our part by adopting sustainable solutions on my familys farm."

He added that the country needed leaders who are part of the solution, not part of the problem. We need them to commit to the science, not ignore it".

Andrew Adamski spoke about sustainability from his family's farm in Wisconsin at the DNC (DNCC)

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, at one point a rumored Biden VP contender, opened the climate portion of the evening.

The first Democratic Latina to be elected governor in US history, she has come out swinging to tackle the climate crisis since taking office. Her 2019 executive order set a goal of 2030 to reduce New Mexico's greenhouse gas emissions by at least 45 per cent.

During the segment, the Biden campaign also used a video clip to draw a direct line from America's space race of the 1960s, and the moon landing, to the kind of ingenuity and tech innovations needed to tackle the climate problems today. The first video clip, featuring a voice over from a union worker, also pushed the message that overhauling US energy systems equates to jobs, jobs, jobs.

Biden last month announced plans for a $2 trillion investment in clean energy over four years, with a goal of transitioning the nation's power supply from gas and coal to renewables by 2035.
Belfast and towns such as Newtownabbey, Ballymena, Larne and Carrickfergus are facing potential lockdowns as health experts fight to contain Covid-19 hotspots.

The Executive is due to meet on Thursday to discuss a strategy to stop the number of people being diagnosed with coronavirus from spiralling out of control.

Stormont officials were in discussions with councils on Wednesday night, with final decisions on measures expected to go down to the wire.

Health Minister Robin Swann and two of his top officials, the chief medical officer (CMO) and chief scientific advisor (CSA), have all warned that local lockdowns are potential tools in the arsenal to suppress the virus.

While they have refused to state which areas are under the spotlight, official figures highlight Belfast, mid and east Antrim and Antrim and Newtownabbey as the council areas with the highest rates of infection. Mid and east Antrim, which takes in Carrickfergus, Larne and Ballymena, has recorded 80 cases in the last seven days.

Seventy-two people in Belfast have been diagnosed over the week, while the number of positive cases in Antrim and Newtownabbey in the same period stood at 37 yesterday afternoon.

The figures have raised speculation that at some parts of the council areas may be subject to local lockdowns.

The news comes as a restaurant in Ballymena finds itself caught up in the towns outbreak.

Gattos Ristorante said it was informed on Monday morning that a casual kitchen porter had tested positive.

All other employees have since tested negative.

The restaurant said the Public Health Agency had advised that customers did not need to be tested and that, following a deep clean of the premises, it had been given the green light to reopen.

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It comes as CMO Dr Michael McBride and CSA Professor Ian Young are due to advise Executive ministers on Thursday on potential fresh Covid-19 restrictions.

They have said that regional measures, such as restricting family gatherings, were possibilities in addition to lockdowns.

The Executive is also due to consider the introduction of mechanisms that would enable a swift response to spikes in cases, according to Prof Young.

Both Prof Young and Dr McBride said they had not been able to identify patterns revealing sources of infection. They said the absence of such evidence was making it more difficult to decide which restrictions would be most successful in fighting the virus.

The Department of Health was asked to provide assurances that recommendations to be brought before the Executive on Thursday were likely to be effective.

It was also asked whether there were any concerns that the public would not adhere to fresh restrictions.

Meanwhile, Mr Swann refused to lift the threat of a full lockdown in the future.

I wont rule that out because the combination of flu and Covid-19 is something that will have a dramatic effect on us, the Health Minister explained.

I hope we dont have to get there. If people act responsibly now, we can arrest this spread of Covid-19 so we dont have to get into the place where we need the full lockdown again.

We could look at a series of incremental measures over a period of time that could be enforced or relaxed as we see the spread of Covid-19 either increasing or reducing.

I sincerely hope that we never get to the position again that we were in at the start of this year because we have put so much work into reducing the spread of Covid-19. That it is too valuable a prize to lose over the next couple of weeks.

Mr Swanns position was backed up by Dr McBride, who said he would recommend full lockdown if Northern Ireland reached the point of 80 cases per 100,000 head of population.

The Executive may wish to consider, and we may wish to advise, that we intervene even before that because, obviously,

if we intervene at an earlier stage, we can prevent the excesses of some of the measures that we had to introduce before, he told the BBC.

In a statement, the Department of Health said simple step such as hand washing and wearing face covering are scientifically proven to make a significant difference.

In addition the Health Minister will be asking Executive colleagues later on Thursday to consider fresh and concrete actions to prevent further spread of the virus.

Working together government and society as a whole have the power, through collective action and a collective spirit, to reverse the advance of this virus, it said.
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) lift a patient into an ambulance while wearing protective gear, as the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in New York City, New York, March 24, 2020.

The head of New York City's emergency medical services union said Wednesday the city is preparing to lay off hundreds of its members as the budget crisis grows amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Oren Barzilay, president of FDNY EMS Local 257, blamed Mayor Bill DeBlasio and his administration for the expected fallout.

said in a statement, "Even with the threat of a second wave of COVID-19 looming and two recent outbreaks in Brooklyn, Bill de Blasio and his team at City Hall wants to balance the city's budget on our backs, eliminating some 400 emergency medical responder positions and placing every New Yorker's life at risk."

A spokesperson for the FDNY referred an inquiry to City Hall. A spokesperson for Mayor Bill de Blasio did not immediately respond.

More from NBC News

"Yesterday, we were praised as heroes, essential workers saving lives," Barzilay said. "Today, the city government treats us like zeros. New Yorkers who lived through this deadly pandemic know otherwise."

De Blasio has said the city may need to cut as many as 22,000 employees as it grapples with declining contributions from the state and a tax base decimated by people leaving the city, a shuttered Broadway, and a nearly non-existent tourism industry.

The city's emergency medical technicians and paramedics responded to record call volume in March and early April, peaking at some 6,500 calls a day.

The EMTs and paramedics were not immune to COVID-19. At the peak, nearly 1 in 4 were out sick as the virus ravaged New York City, killing over 23,000 residents so far.
The Patripool bridge on the Kalyan-Shilphata stretch in Thane will be closed from 10 pm to 5 am till August 24. Thane traffic police had to announce this decision following the work of laying girders for the new parallel bridge.

In a notification issued on Wednesday evening, Thane traffic police said since the work of laying girders for the parallel bridge had to be done, the existing Patripool bridge, which is being used, will remain closed during night hours.

The 104-year-old Patripool bridge in Kalyan was dismantled in November 2018 before the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) took up the work of the new bridge. Several deadlines were announced for the completion of the bridge. However, none of them was met. Commuters and activists have been complaining about the delay in building the new bridge as they face traffic snarls on the existing Patripool bridge.

The new deadline set by the MSRDC for the completion of the project is August-end.

The work of the new Patripool bridge got a boost in May this year as the MSRDC officials planned to use the lockdown period to complete the project.

The bridge will remain shut as the work of laying girders will be undertaken. The existing bridge will be used to park the crane that will lift the girders and lay it for the new bridge. We have given alternative routes which should be followed to avoid any sort of congestion at the site, said Amit Kale, deputy commissioner of traffic police, Thane.

As per the notification from Thane police, heavy vehicles taking the Kalyan-Shil road will not allowed entry at Rajnouli chowk at Bhiwandi naka and will be diverted to Khategaon toll naka-Mumbra bypass road.

Small vehicles taking the Shil road will not be allowed entry at Durgadi chowk and will be diverted to Adharwadi chowk-Khadakpada chowk-Waldhuni bridge-Kalyan east.

Vehicles coming from Kalyan Nagar route will not be allowed entry at Subhash chowk and will be diverted from Netaji chowk to Waldhuni bridge. Those vehicles leading towards Patripool bridge from Kalyan-Shilphata stretch will not be allowed entry from Suchak naka.

Work on the most-awaited new, two-lane Patripool bridge came to a halt on March 23 after the lockdown to fight Covid-19 pandemic was imposed. However, it was resumed by April 2 with minimum workers at the site.

An officer from MSRDC , who did not wish to be named, said, The work for laying girders will take five days. It will be done during night hours while is no traffic movement.

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French President Emmanuel Macron will discuss the escalating coronavirus crisis with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a medieval island fortress Thursday as Europe struggles with a resurgence of the disease that threatens its recovery.

With Spain's government appearing rudderless during the latest uptick in infections, Merkel and Macron will face pressure to craft a convincing response to the public-health crisis, while not delivering another blow to economies decimated by lockdown measures.

France on Wednesday reported 3,776 new infections, the largest daily increase in three months, while Spain -- which has re-emerged as an epicenter of the pandemic on the continent -- recorded 3,715 new cases, the most since April 23. German infections increased by more than 1,000 for a third straight day on Thursday.

The uptick in cases in recent weeks has been blamed on social gatherings and travelers, but officials are reluctant to resort to the strict lockdowns imposed during the initial peak of the pandemic in March and April.

"We cannot shut down the country, because the collateral damage of confinement is considerable," Macron said in an interview with Paris Match magazine ahead of his meeting with Merkel at Fort Bregancon in the Mediterranean. Along with the pandemic, the two are set to discuss a range of issues including Belarus, Brexit and Mali.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, meanwhile, is on vacation with his family and hasn't addressed the public even as bad news piles up.

Governments across Europe are tightening restrictions to combat the spread. In France, masks must now be worn in busy outdoor areas of Paris and Marseilles. Toulouse will require general mask-wearing starting Aug. 21, Agence France-Presse reported, the first large French city to do so.

The country's response must be to "speed up vaccines, guarantee their access, and provide the best health response given what we know," Macron told Paris Match, adding that, if necessary, authorities should resort to local "targeted" lockdowns. Testing, tracing, isolating the infected and broadening the wearing of masks when necessary are also key, he said.

With Spain's tourism industry reeling and the economy on its knees, some voters are on edge and any perceived political indifference could hurt the weak minority government that relies on separatists to stay in power.

Sanchez's handling of the pandemic has been widely panned while Italy, which served as model for Spain in being the first to head into lockdown, appears to have a better handle on the crisis. Both countries are in deep recessions and had to try to balance the need to keep people safe with the desire to try and capitalize on a lucrative summer season.

Italy has also seen a pick up in new cases, albeit more contained than elsewhere. On Wednesday, the country reported 642 new infections, the biggest increase since May 23.

The government has closed nightclubs, banned dancing in public venues and made face masks compulsory from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in all places, including streets and squares, where crowds can gather.

Recent outbreaks have been traced back to parties in seaside resorts such as Porto Rotondo in Sardinia, as well as to people returning from vacations abroad.

The government could even move to isolate Sardinia, one of the country's busiest summer vacation regions, after a rise in coronavirus cases linked to the island, Corriere della Sera reported Thursday, citing unnamed ministry officials.

In the latest clampdown on travel within the region, Germany's Robert Koch Institute, which called the recent trend "very concerning," added two coastal regions in Croatia and part of Romania to its list of risk areas, while Luxembourg and three other Romanian regions were no longer seen as a concern.

The advisory requires people returning from those areas to quarantine for two weeks or present a negative test.
Russias Supreme Court permits opening case against ex-justice of peace from Moscow

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

16:04 20/08/2020

MOSCOW, August 20 (RAPSI)  The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation upheld a decision of the Higher Judges' Qualifications Board giving consent to the opening of a criminal case against former justice of peace in Moscow Nagatinsky 25th Judicial Sub-District Svetlana Samgina, RAPSI reports from the courtroom on Thursday.

The Court dismissed the administrative claim submitted by Samgina.

The hearings were held in camera since both the ex-justice and representatives of the Investigative Committee cited court materials protected by the secrecy of investigation.

This May, the Board gave its consent to open a case against Samgina on charges of serious fraud, attempted fraud, and mediation in bribery.

Earlier, mass media outlets reported that in 2017 Samgina acted as an intermediary in deal where a 500,000 euros was given to a St. Petersburg investigator.

The former justice denies she was involved in this crime.
I really think we need to consider what are all of the tools in our tool kit that we can use to construct a very strong case for suspending this (testing), Pacione-Zayas said. I really do not see this being writ-large beneficial to students, to educators, to school administrators. I really think we need to consider this long and hard.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

Albuquerque engineering and support services firm Fiore Industries Inc. won a 10-year, $130 million contract to provide protective services at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

Its the companys largest contract since launching in 1989, said Fiore founder and CEO Bill Miera.

Weve won up to a $50 million contract in the past, but this is the first time weve surpassed the $100 million level in a single contract, Miera told the Journal. Im out here right now working on the transition logistics to take over in October.

Fiore will provide campus-wide security and fire protection at the NASA facility.

Well provide dispatchers, guards, firefighters  all levels of emergency response, Miera said

Although well-known for its high-tech engineering expertise, the company has also provided protective services for government facilities throughout its 31-year history. Those services often accompany Fiores engineering and information technology contract work, since it uses its own employees on jobs to guard gates and manage security at facilities where it conducts testing and other operations.

Its also managed many stand-alone protective-service contracts for facilities, such as for NASA operations at White Sands Missile Range, where it was subcontracted for fire-fighting operations. And its provided protective services for Spaceport America in southern New Mexico for nearly a decade, winning three back-to-back, four-year contracts  the latest one awarded last year.

Fiores experience at Spaceport America boosted the companys standing with JPL.

Southern California is very competitive, there are lots of companies that can work this contract, Miera said in a state Economic Development Department news release Thursday announcing the contract. JPL checked our reputation at Spaceport America and in New Mexico  reputation is very important to JPL.

Fiore will hire about 60 more people under the JPL award, growing its total workforce from 140 now to about 200. Most new hires will be based onsite in Pasadena, but New Mexico-based employees will provide support services.

Economic Development Secretary Alicia J. Keyes said Fiores achievement reflects the New Mexico aerospace industrys growing national reputation.

It was a competitive bid among a huge number of companies across America, Keyes said in a statement. It speaks well toward growing the space industry here, as New Mexicos contractors and expertise are clearly recognized nationally. Fiores track record at Spaceport America was key to its competitive position with JPL.
FILE PHOTO: Finnish energy company Fortum sign is seen at their headquarters in Espoo

By Tarmo Virki

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Finland's biggest utility Fortum <FORTUM.HE> reported an 11% fall in its underlying second-quarter operating profit on Wednesday, dented by low power prices and the impact of the new coronavirus on its Russian business.

Fortum, in which the Finnish state owns a 50.8% stake, said its second-quarter operating profit fell from a year ago to 207 million euros ($247 million), missing the 301 million euros expected by analysts in a Refinitiv poll.

Fortum said Nordic spot power prices dropped 84% from a year ago because of high reservoir water levels in Scandinavia, although hedging reduced the hit.

Fortum said it has hedged 85% of its Nordic power generation at 34 euros per megawatt-hour for 2020 and approximately 65% at 33 euros/MWh for 2021.

The impact of the coronavirus was limited in Nordics, but the situation was different in Russia, Fortum said.

"In Russia, power consumption declined notably as a result of COVID-19 and lower demand from the oil and gas industries, pushing down the electricity market price," Fortum Chief Executive Markus Rauramo said in a statement.

The second-quarter results were the first to incorporate Fortum's holdings in German utility Uniper <UN01.DE>, of which it now owns 75%.

"My number one short-term priority will be to have a joint strategy for the consolidated group by the end of the year," said Rauramo, who officially took over as Fortum CEO on July 1.

Shares in Fortum fell 3.8% in morning trading.

(Reporting by Tarmo Virki and Anne Kauranen; editing by David Evans and Barbara Lewis)
Marquise 'Keese' Love, 25, is on the run from police and allegedly posting to Snapchat looking for money

A Black Lives Matter protester on the run from cops after being 'positively identified' as the man who kicked a truck driver in the face in Portland on Sunday is begging for cash.

Police are searching for Marquise 'Keese' Love, 25, after he fled the scene of a brutal attack on Adam Haner, who was knocked unconscious and suffered two black eyes in the vicious beating.

Haner was identified as the victim in a GoFundMe campaign, which claimed he was trying to defend a transgender woman from being robbed before he was set upon by protesters.

Since fleeing the scene, Love has been posting messages on Snapchat, according to The Sun.

'Might go to jail for murder tonight for a racist when all I did was fight him look it up on twitter put money on my books and come see me,' he allegedly sent from his account, alongside a selfie.

'On the books' is a reference to money held for inmates for the prison commissary.

The Portland Police Bureau say they have left Love, a recently fired security guard, 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.

He has a lengthy criminal record which includes charges for domestic assault, interfering with public transport, driving without a license, domestic harassment and guns charges.

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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) who remains on the run after the attack

LOVE'S CRIMINAL RECORD 2019: Failing to appear in court for driving with a suspended or revoked license 2017: Arrested for domestic assault and domestic harassment (not prosecuted) 2016: Two arrests for providing false information in connection with the transfer of a fire arm, domestic assault, criminal trespass Driving without a valid license and without insurance. Making unreasonable noise with a motor vehicle, driving with a suspended license, not having insurance, vehicle registration or plates. 2015: Interfering with public transport 2014: Involved in a domestic case that proved he was the father of a baby. He was also charged that year for violating probation in another case. 2012: Second degree theft and interfering with public transport and criminal trespass Advertisement

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.

In the footage, demonstrators are seen hauling Adam Haner 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.

In the video of the attack, a man believed to be Love is seen wearing a vest with the word 'Security' written across the front.

In a press release dated August 18, Star Protection, who Love worked for as a security guard, sought to distance itself from him, stating that the firm has not 'engaged this individual in any capacity' since March.

'We decry violence in all forms, and our hearts go out to anyone that has been injured.

Adam Haner (left) on Wednesday monring shared a selfie showing bruises under both his eyes following an attack on Sunday. Portland police are still searching for Marquise Love (right), who is suspecting of knocking Haner unconscious but he is so far evading cops

Video of the violent incident showed how the victim's truck collided with a tree and he appeared dazed as he was ordered out. He has been named online as Adam Haner

After the man, now thought to be Haner, was knocked out by the kick, other demonstrators came to glower over his motionless body and shout obscenities in the shocking video

'We hope for their speedy recovery and will fully cooperate with any law enforcement investigation to ensure justice is done,' COO Bryan Kettler said.

'Any use of Star Protection imaging or logos in connection with this individual is unfortunate and unauthorized.'

By the time police arrived on scene Love had disappeared and JHaner was unconscious on the ground. He was taken to hospital but has since been released.

Investigators added that Haner 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.

Early Wednesday morning, Haner, who works in demolition, shared a photo of his face following the attack with dark-purple bruises under both his eyes.

A further look into his recent social media activity revealed that on Sunday, a few hours before the altercation with Love during protests in Portland, Haner shared a meme that read: 'George Floyd was a 46-year old felon, high on Fentanyl, and he got 4 televised funerals and 70 days of riots. What does 5-year old Cannon Hinnant get?'

Just hours before the assault, Haner shared this meme referencing the killing of George Floyd and the shooting death of five-year-old Cannon Hinnant on social media

Haner, a laborer, previously shared memes that talked about the Black Lives Matter movement

The victim has not been publicly named by police, but a GoFundMe page identified his as Adam Haner. Haner's girlfriend, Tammie Martin (right), said she, too, was attacked Sunday

Cannon was shot and killed as he rode his bike in the driveway of his family's home in South Carolina last week. A neighbor, 25-year-old Darius Nathaniel Sessoms, is charged with first-degree murder in the boy's death.

Haner's Facebook photo gallery was found to contain at least two other memes poking fun at the Black Lives Matter movement and purportedly expressing animosity toward protesters, including one that reads: 'Would it be wrong to follow rioters home and burn down their properties? Asking for a friend.'

Haner's girlfriend, Tammie Martin, spoke to Fox 12 about the attack, arguing that the people who pulled her boyfriend out of his truck on Sunday were not there to protest against police brutality.

'They were just looking for a fight,' Martin told the news outlet. 'They were trying to fight people driving by. They were just looking to fight somebody.'

She said the couple were driving together in Haner's truck when he saw a transgender woman being mugged and stopped to help.

'He was trying to help and they called him a white supremacist, and then some black lady smacked him and he got in his truck,' Martin said.

Martin has launched a fundraiser seeking help for herself and her boyfriend

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

She added that when she followed her boyfriend out of the vehicle, she was punched several times and pushed down, leaving her with a fractured rib and bruises all over the body.

Martin said she did not witness the attack on her boyfriend because the couple had gone in different directions at one point. She later found him lying unconscious on the ground.

According to the girlfriend, as Haner was being loaded into an ambulance, bystanders hurled insults at her and told her they hoped her boyfriend died.

In the online 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.

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'

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.

Haner 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.'

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.
RIVERSIDE, Texas, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- While some summer camps were forced to close due to COVID outbreaks, Carolina Creek Christian Camps Executive Director Lisa Olson is celebrating a safe, fun and meaningful summer camp season with no camper COVID cases.

"Last summer we served nearly 10,000 campers. This summer, with COVID cases surging in Texas and new social distancing measures in place, our 100 staff took extra precautions and served over 1,600 campers, with no reported infections by our guests. And those campers had a blast!" Olson observed.

Dyer Howard, a dad of an 11-year-old son who attended camp this summer, said the first words out of his son's mouth when he picked him up were literally, "I'm coming back next summer!"

Mr. Howard went on to praise the camp for its care and organization. "I was so impressed from the moment we arrived. Better than that was the amount of staff on site. The entire property was clean and well maintained. As a facility maintenance manager for a state university, I must also brag on the diligence in upkeep of the grounds and structures alike. For me that speaks to what these folks are providing our kids, and how they achieve it. For the hour and a half drive back to our home, our son told us all about his week and the many, many fun games and activities he experienced."

As fall approaches - Carolina Creek is now offering 50% discounts for small groups wanting to host retreats, gatherings, or reunions in a safe, outdoor environment.

About Carolina Creek Christian Camps

Voted Best Camp in Walker County by readers of the Huntsville Item, Carolina Creek offers a variety of sports, arts, outdoor adventure and fun activities on almost 500 acres in an exciting environment where youth and adults can experience and know the love of Jesus Christ. Carolina Creek can serve up to 1,200 guests across three unique camp centers just 90 minutes north of Houston on the Trinity River. Since its founding in 2002, Carolina Creek Christian Camps has established a goal to offset the cost of registration to roughly 20% of their campers from urban/inner city, economically or otherwise disadvantaged communities, and to date, has awarded over $400,000 in scholarships each year.

Contact:

Wes Ward

1-936-594-4446

[email protected]

Media Kit: https://carolinacreek.org/press/

SOURCE Carolina Creek

Related Links

https://carolinacreek.org


Orit Sulitzeanu, director of the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel, said the number of attackers was horrifying but beside the point. Its a bigger issue, she said. Gang rape is just a manifestation of something very bad going on here, calling it part of a rotten culture.

The associations hotlines have been receiving an average of 250 calls from victims of gang rape each year since they started keeping count in 2014, 55 percent of them from teenagers.

In 2018, the group received 192 such calls, its records show. But the police reported only 19 complaints of gang rape that year, 12 of them from minors.

Ms. Sulitzeanu said that many victims decline to file police reports out of shame and stigma, but that a greater deterrent was the slim chance of an attacker being brought to justice: Nine out of 10 rapists go unpunished, and 84 percent of rape cases are closed without being prosecuted.

Overcrowded courts have forced prosecutors to pursue only the most surefire criminal charges, she said: They want to be positive theyll win or they close the file.

In one recent case, an 11-year-old girl said she was raped by several older boys last year, and the attack was captured on video, but prosecutors recently closed the case after failing to determine who had made the video.

Sexual assault cases are on the rise in Israel in general, according to Ms. Sulitzeanus group, with the number of complaints to the police climbing 15 percent from 2013 to 2018, and the number of calls to the groups hotlines up 40 percent in the period.
A former FBI lawyer pleaded guilty Wednesday to altering a document related to the secret surveillance of a former Trump campaign adviser during the Russia investigation. Kevin Clinesmith is the first current or former official to be charged in a special Justice Department review of the investigation into ties between Russia and Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.

Attorney General William Barr appointed John Durham, the US attorney in Connecticut, to scrutinize decisions made by officials during that probe. Clinesmith pleaded guilty via audio conference to a single false statement charge, admitting that he doctored an email that the FBI relied on as it sought court approval to eavesdrop on former Trump campaign aide Carter Page in 2017.

The sentencing guideline calls for zero to six months in prison, but the punishment is ultimately up to US District Judge James Boasberg, who accepted Clinesmith's plea. Clinesmith resigned from the FBI before an internal disciplinary process was completed. The case highlights broader problems with the FBI's surveillance applications on Page, an issue that has long animated critics of the Russia investigation.

Charging documents filed Friday say Clinesmith altered an email he received in June 2017 from another government agency to say that Page was not a source for that agency, then forwarded it along to a colleague. The document does not say which agency, but Page has publicly said that he had worked as a source for the CIA. The FBI relied on Clinesmith's representation in the email when it applied for a third and then final time to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to renew its secret surveillance of Page on suspicions that he was a potential Russian agent.

Information about any relationship Page had with another government agency would have been an important fact to disclose to the FISA court since it could have helped explain Page's interactions with Russians. Clinesmith mostly answered formulaic questions from the judge with brief responses, but he did elaborate to clarify the nature of his conduct and to make clear that he thought the information he had included in the email was factually accurate at the time he altered it.

At the time I believed the information I was providing in the email was accurate, but I am agreeing that the information I inserted into the email was not originally there and I inserted that information," Clinesmith said. A Justice Department inspector general report issued last December found significant errors and omissions in the four applications that the FBI submitted to eavesdrop on Page, and said officials failed to update the court after receiving new information that undercut the original premise that Page may have been an agent of a foreign power.

A Senate intelligence committee report Tuesday that examined links between Trump associates and Russia also identified flaws in the FBI's surveillance, including its reliance on a dossier of opposition research compiled by a former British spy whose work was funded by Democrats. Page was never charged with a crime and has denied any wrongdoing.

Former Justice Department officials who have testified before Congress in recent months have said they would not have signed off on the surveillance applications had they known then about the problems that have since come to light. It remains unclear what additional charges, if any, Durham might bring. Though Justice Department policy is not to take investigative action aimed at affecting an election, Barr has said that doesn't apply here since the investigation does not involve any current candidates for office, including Democratic nominee Joe Biden, who was vice president in the Obama administration when the investigation began.

The FBI said in a statement that it has been cooperating with Durham's investigation, including by providing documents and assigning officials to help his team.
SEATTLE (dpa-AFX) - Four Rockland brothers were charged with $19 million fraudulent invoicing scheme targeting Amazon's vendor system. Federal law enforcement agencies have arrested Yoel Abraham, Heshl Abraham, Zishe Abraham and Shmuel Abraham. Amazon said it has supported the lengthy investigation. It looks forward to working with law enforcement agencies to hold those bad actors accountable for their illegal activities. The U.S. Department of Justice alleged that the four brothers engaged in a scheme to systematically defraud Amazon.com, LLC. Through the course of the scheme, they manipulated Amazon's vendor system in attempts to fraudulently induce Amazon to pay for goods that Amazon had not ordered. The four brothers fraudulently attempted to obtain at least about $32 million and successfully obtained at least about $19 million, by the executing the scheme. The four brothers frequently shipped and invoiced for more than 10,000 units of an item when Amazon had requested, and the defendants had agreed to ship, fewer than 100. Once Amazon detected the pattern of fraudulent overshipping, it suspended the vendor accounts engaged in the fraud. In response, the four persons tried to open other vendor accounts and disguise their identities by registering them in fake names, using different email addresses, and using virtual private servers to obfuscate their connection to previously suspended accounts and frustrate Amazon's ability to detect and mitigate their fraudulent activity, the Justice Depart said. Wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and money laundering carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. 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.
BETHEL  The towns high school auditorium has received another upgrade.

GoodHouse Flooring Design Center donated a new stage to the school.

Words cant express how thankful we are for this wonderful gift, Principal Chris Troetti tweeted.

The Danbury-based company said it frequently donates work to the community in lieu of advertising.

Thank you Mr. Troetti for letting us help you and the community by providing this beautiful stage for years to come, the company said on Facebook. GoodHouse believes in giving back so instead of paying for advertising we give back to the community.

The auditorium was upgraded with new seating and carpeting a few years ago.
PARSIPPANY, N.J., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group is pleased to announce that firm founder Bari Z. Weinberger and Robyn Howlett, a managing partner at the firm, have been named to the 2021 Best Lawyers in America list, one of the legal profession's oldest and most respected peer-reviewed honors.

"Robyn and I are delighted to receive this incredibly meaningful recognition. It's a great honor to know that our work for our family law clients is held in such high regard by our esteemed peers in the New Jersey legal community," said Bari Weinberger.

Best Lawyers In America 2021 Best Lawyers In America Award

Ms. Weinberger is the founder of New Jersey's largest law firm dedicated to divorce and family law matters and is Certified in Matrimonial Law by the New Jersey Supreme Court, a distinction achieved by fewer than 2% of all attorneys statewide.

As a widely regarded family law expert, Ms. Weinberger's exceptional skill and dedication in advocating for her clients is routinely recognized and praised. Among her accolades, she has been named a Best Lawyer for Families by NJ Family magazine, NJ Law Journal Top Women in the Law, and New Jersey Super Lawyer, an honor she has received for numerous years. Outside the courtroom, This is Ms. Weinberger second consecutive inclusion on the Best Lawyers in America list. Ms. Weinberger is a published author and in demand media commentator on divorce and family law matters.

Robyn Howlett is a managing partner with Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group and is also designated by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Certified Matrimonial Attorney. Ms. Howlett is a family law expert specially trained in collaborative divorce, which enables her clients to avoid litigation through a non-adversarial settlement process. Ms. Howlett has been named by the American Institute of Legal Counsel as one of the 10 Best Client Satisfaction for Family Law in New Jersey and has been selected as a New Jersey Super Lawyers Rising Star for multiple years.

"Robyn is a star attorney and her leadership and dedication to her clients shines through. She fights for what's right with intelligence and skill, and with a keen eye towards swiftly bringing her clients and their children to a better place. I am thrilled to see her named to the Best Lawyers list," expressed Ms. Weinberger.

The annual Best Lawyers in America lists are compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation with over 83,000 industry leading lawyers eligible to vote on the legal abilities of nominated lawyers. Lists and peer reviews are based on specific practice areas.

"The best part of this achievement is that it's truly a reflection of the legal mastery and knowledge our team of attorneys freely share with each other. We all help each other in delivering our clients the very best in care. It's wonderful to have this recognized," Ms. Weinberger confirms.

About Bari Weinberger

Bari Zell Weinberger, Esq. is an award-winning family law expert and founder of Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group, New Jersey's largest divorce and family law firm, with locations in Bergen, Burlington, Monmouth, Morris, Somerset and Union Counties. Bari has carefully selected a high-performing team of family law attorneys, completely dedicated to safeguarding and protecting their clients' futures. Ms. Weinberger is a certified matrimonial attorney and experienced family law mediator. She is also a published author and frequent media contributor on divorce and family law for both local and national audiences.

Media contact:

Bari Weinberger

[email protected]

(888) 888-0919

SOURCE Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group

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The Pakistani terrorist named Danish was killed in the encounter on Wednesday.

Srinagar: A militant who was killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district along with a top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander was identified as a Pakistani ultra, police on Thursday said.

They said the Pakistani terrorist named Danish was killed in the encounter on Wednesday.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar said the killing of the two militants was a big achievement for the security forces.

Kumar on Wednesday had said that one of the slain militants was LeT commander Naseer-u-din Lone, who was involved in killing of three CRPF jawans at Sopore on April 18 and another three CRPF jawans at Handwara on May 4 this year.

He said an AK-47 rifle, which was snatched from a CRPF jawan after the attack at Vangam Handwara on May 4, was recovered from Lone. This proved his involvement in the killing of the three CRPF jawans, he said on Thursday.

Killing of Lone and Danish is a big achievement for the forces, the IGP Kashmir said.

The Kashmir Zone Police on its official Twitter page uploaded a CCTV grab purportedly showing Lone firing on CRPF jawans at Aahad Baba Chowk in Sopore on April 18. The police wrote "justice done" on August 19 in the tweet.

The encounter at Ganipora Kralgund area of Handwara in north Kashmir's Kupwara district started after security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.

The encounter was the second such operation on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, security forces killed two militants in Shopian district in south Kashmir.
President Donald Trump may rail against mail-in ballots in public, but state and local Republicans are quietly telling Americans thats exactly how they should vote.

In Iowa, the Republican Party mailed absentee ballot applications to voters without waiting for requests. In Pennsylvania, the GOPs website promotes voting by mail: "Vote Safe: By mail. From home. And in Ohio, the Republican Party sent mailers with Trumps photo saying Join President Trump and Vote by Absentee Ballot.

Tens of millions of Americans will cast their ballot for president by mail this year  many in Republican-dominated states and swing states where Republican turnout is crucial for Trump  as the coronavirus outbreak keeps Americans at home. And it wont be the first time. More than 33 million Americans  nearly 1 in 4  voted by mail in Trumps election in 2016.

Vote by mail really works well here in Utah, said Justin Lee, director of elections in Utah, where the Republican administration sends ballots to every voter in the state. We do feel its safe and secure. We dont feel there are any real instances of either widespread fraud or voter disenfranchisement.

Many Republicans are outwardly careful not to address Trump's remarks, but privately they worry his escalating accusations of fraud could scare reliable supporters from voting remotely. New polling has fueled these concerns and Democrats are outpacing Republican requests for absentee ballots in some swing states.

Trump frequently attempts to distinguish between mail-in ballots and absentee ballots, saying the latter has additional safeguards and go to only those who request them (election officials say the ballots look identical). He requested an absentee ballot himself to vote in this week's Florida primary, and his own campaign has been targeting counties in battleground states where absentee ballots made a difference in 2016, urging supporters through a website to request ballots and running Facebook ads that state "Absentee ballots are GOOD. I need you to get your application and send in your absentee ballot IMMEDIATELY."

Story continues

But across the country, the distinction between mail-in ballots and absentee ballots appears negligible.

Some states use the words interchangeably or use a single term for all mail-in ballots. In Florida, voters can request a mail-in ballot without providing a reason, but in Texas, voters must list a reason for remote voting. Yet in both states, all remote ballots are referred to as mail-in ballots. In Vermont, ballots are sent to everyone, while in Wisconsin, only ballot applications are sent to everyone. Still, all mail-in voting in both states is nonetheless called absentee ballots.

The president is making a false distinction and no, there are not more safeguards with absentee ballots, said Sean Morales-Doyle, deputy director of voting rights, elections and democracy at the Brennan Center for Justice. The safeguards available and in use to protect the integrity of elections are the same in either system.

Trumps full-fledged assault on voting by mail began in the spring when he started talking about massive fraud with little evidence. In recent weeks, he has expanded his criticism to the U.S. Postal Service, which he says cant handle the millions of extra ballots expected this year.

Democrats are sounding the alarm, accusing Trump of trying to undermine confidence in the election while curbing mail-in voting because of sinking poll numbers against Joe Biden.

The House will return Saturday to vote to give USPS an additional $25 billion and to ask Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a longtime Republican donor, about accusations he is trying to prevent mail-in voting by cutting employee hours and removing sorting machines. Trump initially threatened to withhold money from the post office in an effort to stymie mail-in voting. But in recent days, he said he would agree to $10 billion of the request, perhaps more. DeJoy has also pledged to pause planned changes to the Postal Service until after the election.

Democrats denied a $10 billion offer for the U.S. Postal Service by this president before they went on recess, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Wednesday. But now theyre back to pursue the latest Democrat-manufactured crisis. Its sad, but its clear where Democrats priorities stand.

More than two dozen states, run by both Democrats and Republicans, have already made voting changes to facilitate mail-in voting ahead of Novembers election. In the past, researchers have found universal mail-in voting doesnt privilege Republicans or Democrats, and election officials say its unclear whether either party might benefit in 2020. Yet some Republicans said Democrats have traditionally been more proficient at enrolling their supporters for absentee voting  and theyre trying to change that fact this year.

Democrats did a much better job than us to get voters to use absentee ballots, said Dave Millage, chairman of the Scott County Republican Party in Iowa. Millage said he is pushing voters this year to vote absentee in nightly meetings and on social media. But, he added, the states decision to send out applications has caused some confusion among voters, with some wondering why they received an application and others telling him they dont trust the Postal Service.

In 2020, four states  California, Vermont, New Jersey, Nevada  and Washington, D.C., plan to send ballots to all registered voters. Seven others, including Arizona, Wisconsin and Iowa, will send ballot applications. Some states will allow coronavirus as a reason to vote by mail, though voters in most other states can request a mail-in ballot without providing a reason.

Even before the pandemic, five states  Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Utah and Washington  conducted elections entirely by mail with few problems.

Terry Lathan, chairman of the Republican Party in Alabama, plans to urge absentee voting, even more than she usually does. Her state added coronavirus to the reasons voters can request an absentee ballot this year. But Lathan said she agreed with Trump that universal mail-in voting creates security risks, likening it to throwing ballots out the window of an airplane and letting everyone grab one.

While Trump has mostly criticized Democratic states for their voting policies, states with Republican governors and election officials have also expanded vote-by-mail programs.

Two weeks ago, during a visit to the White House, Republican Gov. Doug Ducey of Arizona pushed back when Trump suggested mail-in voting was riddled with fraud.

In Arizona, were going to do it right, Ducey said. It will be free and fair. It will be difficult, if not impossible, to cheat. And it will be easy to vote.

Nearly 80 percent of voters in Arizona generally cast ballots through the mail. This year, the state will mail applications to all voters.

Trump responded by switching the conversation to Nevada, led by a Democratic governor.

Experts say states scrutinize remote ballots before they are counted.

Each state has a process for verifying the voters eligibility and registration status, for matching the signature on the ballots envelope to the voters signature on file, verifying any identification requirement in state law, said Ned Foley, director of election law at the Moritz College of Law at Ohio State University. No envelope can be opened and no ballot inside removed to be counted unless these eligibility-verification steps are complete. That would be true for all mailed ballots.

Critics say the potential problems with mail-in voting are varied. Voters may have their ballot tossed out for not following directions, for not having a proper signature or for having a name that doesnt exactly match the information on file. Separately, they say, the voting rolls that determine who receives a ballot could be inaccurate, or ballots could be sent to the wrong address or lost in the mail.

But supporters of mail-in voting say these concerns can be addressed through funding, tweaks to the rules and voter education. In Utah, officials said sending ballots to voters has helped the state clean up its voter rolls because if a ballot is returned, the state can then take that person off the list.

We feel very good about the ballots getting to the right people, Lee said.

Still, Trumps campaign and the Republican National Committee have already taken to the courts dozens of times as part of a $20 million effort to challenge voting rules, including filing their own lawsuits in several battleground states, including Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Nevada.

Trump aides and outside advisers have also pondered possible executive actions he could take to curb mail-in voting. But Trumps options are severely limited by the Constitution, which gave states the authority to oversee elections.

IF YOU CAN PROTEST IN PERSON, YOU CAN VOTE IN PERSON! Trump tweeted Wednesday. Despite the focus on in-person voting, a White House official said the president still supports safe in-person voting and absentee ballots.

Trump has noted that Anthony Fauci, the governments top infectious disease expert, said there is no reason Americans cant vote in person as long as they follow social-distancing guidelines.

Still, there could be problems. Election officials are worried about long lines and a shortage of workers at in-person polling stations during the pandemic.

Some local and state officials say older voters or those who live in more rural areas  who tend to vote Republican  prefer voting by mail, which means they dont have to worry about replacing as many voting machines or finding as many poll workers.

Critics argue that states that want to switch to voting by mail need years to build up the infrastructure necessary to handle both the outgoing and incoming ballots.

To successfully implement it the way it should be implemented takes a five-year period, said Alabama's Republican Secretary of State John Merrill. Not five months, five years.
Kozhikode : , Aug 20 (IANS) Kozhikode district collector V. Sambasiva Rao on Thursday issued prohibitory orders in Ward 5 and 12 of Permabara after workers of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) clashed at the fish market here.

Around two dozen people were injured in the clash which occurred following tension between the two parties after a few workers of the IUML recently joined the CPI-M.

The IUML is the second biggest ally of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and has a strong hold in districts like Malappuram and Kozhikode.

Rao ordered the closure of the fish market until further orders and also directed the authorities to ensure that those involved in the clash are traced and put in quarantine.

He asked the authorities to test them for Covid after a week's quarantine.

Trouble began when the five former IUML members who had joined the CPI-M came to the market to sell fish. The IUML workers objected to this and the clash broke out when CPI-M workers and their youth wing members came to the spot.

Later the police brought the situation under control and the injured were admitted to the nearby hospitals.

The police have registered a case against those who were involved in the brawl.
WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Thursday vowed to retaliate if other countries were found to have offered bounties for attacks on U.S. troops in Afghanistan, but he gave no indication whether his stance toward U.S. intelligence reports outlining the bounties had changed.

Reports about U.S. intelligence findings that Moscow paid the Taliban to kill American troops in Afghanistan emerged in late June. Russia denied the reports, and Trump has made clear that he did not believe them.

CNN this month reported that U.S. intelligence had also indicated that Iran paid the Taliban bounties to target U.S. troops in Afghanistan as well. Reuters could not verify that story or vouch for its accuracy.

Trump, speaking at a White House event alongside the Iraqi prime minister, told reporters that if the reports were determined to be a fact, then we would hit them so hard, your head would spin."

Democrats in Congress and other critics have accused Trump, a Republican who is seeking re-election in November, of not taking intelligence information concerning soldiers deaths seriously enough.

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 settlement encompasses multiple lawsuits and cases filed against the state. It also will cover claims by residents who contracted Legionnaires disease because of their exposure. The deadly form of pneumonia spread through the city during the crisis and became one of the largest outbreaks of the disease in U.S. history. At least 90 people fell ill and 12 died  though one investigation concluded that the toll might have been far higher.
Pennsylvanias attorney general is suing an Amazon marketplace vendor for selling hand sanitizer at outrageous prices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

M&B Multiservices Inc. in Philadelphia sold at least 83 8-ounce bottles of Purell hand sanitizer at higher prices on Amazon marketplace: 49 bottles for $75.80 each and 34 bottles for $65.80 each, Attorney General Josh Shapiro said.

M&B may have sold more Purell at illegally inflated prices through other outlets, including its own store and website, prosecutors said.

Its illegal to rip off Pennsylvanians during a pandemic, and were holding price gougers accountable, Shapiro said in a news release. During a time when millions are out of work and millions more are struggling to pay for food and medicine, playing off peoples fears to rip them off is wrong, and illegal. M&B charged outrageous markups for hand sanitizer at the height of public anxiety, was asked to provide refunds, and refused.

Under the Price Gouging Act, a price increase of more than 20 percent during a declared state of emergency is considered price gouging. In June, the attorney generals office said it had received more than 5,000 complaints of price hikes during the pandemic.

The attorney generals office wants M&B to pay restitution to customers and civil penalties of $10,000 per violation, or $830,000 total, to the state. Prosecutors are also seeking an injunction to keep M&B from violating the Price Gouging Act and Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law going forward.

Consumers who purchased hand sanitizer from M&B on or after March 6, 2020 are encouraged to file a complaint with the Bureau of Consumer Protection, email scams@attorneygeneral.gov or call 1-800-441-2555.

Any instance of price gouging should be reported via email to pricegouging@attorneygeneral.gov.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com
Parts of downtown Casper will be open-container areas for the next three weekends, an effort by the City Council to stimulate downtown business.

The open-container times will be Aug. 21, 22, 28, 29, and Sept. 4-7, between 5 and 10 p.m.

The council first approved the idea in June, after a handful of residents approached the city about the possibility, according to City Manager Carter Napier. When passed in June, the ordinance put the impetus on private businesses to approach the city about activating the new law.

Mayor Steve Freel said Tuesday that hadnt happened, so instead the council has approved the open container area for the next three weekends as something of a practice run for next summer.

So at least we have some data this year as to whether this is a good idea to move forward with or not, Freel said.

The idea is that a person spending the evening downtown could buy a drink from any, or multiple, vendors and then walk in a certain area of downtown with it. The goal is to bolster activity downtown and Casperites quality of life, according to a May presentation from the Casper Police Department.

The open container area will cover a portion of 2nd and Ash Streets, with the intention of covering as many downtown businesses that serve alcohol as possible.

While the council did ultimately pass the measure, a handful of members were not in favor.

Councilman Ken Bates voted against the proposal, as he did in June, because of the overtime pay police officers will need to incur to patrol the areas.

I dont think I can justify $7,600 worth of police overtime for such a short period of time, Bates said, adding that he was supportive of the idea, but wanted to wait until the citys finances were in better shape.

Councilmen Mike Huber and Charlie Powell also opposed the idea  but for safety reasons.

I think the virus is still with us  were just asking for trouble if we sponsor these kinds of things and allow them to happen openly, Powell said, referring to the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact new cases attributed to community spread are still being recorded in Natrona County.

Huber, too, felt COVID-19 posed too great a threat to encourage large gatherings downtown.

I get around town and I do not see enough of our population taking personal responsibility he said, adding he thinks many in the community are practicing risky behavior, like not wearing masks or social distancing.

I just dont think this is the year to do this, he said. I also dont think doing it this late in the season is a productive thing.

Despite the opposition, the resolution passed. Freel and Vice Mayor Khrystyn Lutz referenced a concert scheduled downtown over Labor Day weekend that could draw 1,000 people, the maximum attendance allowed under the current state health order. The county health department has worked with organizers of that event, according to a press release from the department.

If the health department is not having a problem with 1,000 people at a concert for one night, I dont think theyre gonna have a problem with people having open containers in the downtown area, Freel said.

The health department could not be reached by deadline.

Follow local government reporter Morgan Hughes on Twitter @morganhwrites

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Ukraine is interested in concluding a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) with Turkey, which will help expand access to markets for goods and services.

This was reported by the press service of the Ministry for Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture following the conference entitled "Ukraine-Turkey: New Opportunities for Cooperation".

In 2019, Turkey ranked first among the countries of the Middle East region in terms of the volume of trade with Ukraine. At the same time, the potential and opportunities for expanding bilateral trade have not been fully realized. Ukraine is interested in concluding a comprehensive Ukraine-Turkey Free Trade Agreement, which will help expand access to the markets for goods and services, Deputy Economy Minister Taras Kachka said.

According to him, one of the main tools for enhancing bilateral cooperation in the economic sector is the Ukraine-Turkey Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation.

The deputy minister confirmed the readiness of the Ukrainian side to hold a meeting of the Commission in Odesa in September.

In the first half of 2020, trade between the countries reached USD 2.27 billion, which is 1.7% more than in the same period last year. At the same time, Ukraine is interested in increasing the export of finished products. In addition, among the main directions for the development of bilateral cooperation are IT, innovation, industry, energy and energy efficiency, logistics, transport infrastructure, tourism and the like.

ish


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A man who ditched his own wedding to go on the run while on bail is back behind bars after leading police on a 'ridiculous' car chase in a luxury Porsche.

Murat Shomshe, 38, originally made headlines in 2015 after he skipped town while his fiancee was in the shower and went on the run from police.

The father-of-two found himself back in court on Thursday for stealing a $300,000 Porsche and leading Victoria Police air wing through Melbourne's south-west suburbs at speeds of up to 230km/h.

Murat Shomshe, 38, originally made headlines in 2015 after he skipped town while his fiancee was in the shower and went on the run from police

Shomshe was granted bail over those charges to attend his wedding to Belinda Dulevski (pictured)

The court heard the mechanic has not held a driver's licence in more than ten years, according to The Herald Sun.

Shomshe was on a community corrections order for a 2014 incident when he discharged three bullets at the car of a woman in an argument over money owed for mechanic work.

Despite police noting his violent record and bikie links, he was granted bail over those charges to attend his wedding to Belinda Dulevski, which he had forked out a $6,000 deposit for.

However, while Ms Dulevski was in the shower, Shomshe went on the run, sparking a police manhunt which led to him being found at a pole dancing studio in Melbourne's north a week later.

During the search for him, videos emerged from his YouTube channel showing him rapping to the camera and drinking a Corona beer behind the wheel of car.

One video showed him dancing to a Beyonce song while mouthing the words - some of which he did not know - and downing the beer.

During the search for him, videos emerged from his YouTube channel showing him rapping to the camera and drinking a Corona beer behind the wheel of car

Shomshe was sentenced to three years in 2015 after he fired gun at woman's car

In another, Shomshe rapped about 'driving for hours' and how he was going to lose his 'mojo like Austin Powers'.

He was sentenced to three years in prison with Ms Dulevski also reportedly losing her $10,000 bail surety.

Ms Dulevski wrote a letter in support of Shomshe which was read to the court on Thursday despite the pair having split.

The court heard the police chase began at about 2am on January 2, 2019, and involved Shomshe running multiple red lights, dodging cars, and driving more than 140km/h over the speed limit.

His excuse to police was that he was test-driving the car for his job as a mechanic.

'As an example of appalling driving, it's hard to top,' Judge Kevin Doyle said.

He added while Shomshe had shown some insight in a letter to the court it was hard to see him being rehabilitated.

He pleaded guilty to the of charges of conduct endangering persons, theft of a motor vehicle and possessing ice and diazepam.

He was sentenced to 15 months prison but will be released next month having been in custody since the car chase.
Madam Sherifea Sekyere Tijani, Parliamentary Candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the Nkwanta South Constituency has presented 1,891 Mathematical sets to candidates writing this year's Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the area.



She said her gesture formed part of her commitment to contribute to the pursuit of quality education enterprise in the area.



She entreated the students to use the few days available to them to tighten the rest of the loopholes to place them in good stead to pass the BECE once and for all.



Madam Tijani asked them to avoid panicking but be resolute as the questions would be the normal things they have studied or answered before and expected them to come out in flying colours.



She appealed to the candidates to eschewed examination malpractices to avoid the cancellation of their papers to enjoy the free Senior High School.



Madam Tijani told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview that her gesture was to bear some of the demands on parents as a corporate responsibility.



The Parliamentary Candidate was accompanied by Mr Asunaba K, Owusu, Nkwanta South Party Secretary, Mr Robert Avedzida, Presiding Member, Mr Mohammed Abu Party Organiser and Mr Bright Lewah, Nkwanta District Supervisor of Education,



The candidates expressed their profound appreciation to Madam Tijani for her kind gesture.

Source: GNA









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Muharram 2020| Considered to be the first month in the Islamic calendar, Muharram marks the migration of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina

Muharram 2020| Considered to be the first month in the Islamic calendar or the Hijri calendar, Muharram is the second holiest month for Muslims around the world. The day is also known as Al Hijri or the Islamic New Year. The day also marks the migration of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina.

The Islamic calendar has 354 days divided into 12 months of which Muharram is the first month. The first month is followed by Safar, Rabi-al-Thani, Jumada al-Awwal, Jumada ath-Thaniyah, Rajab, Shaban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Zu al-Qadah, and Zu al-Hijjah.

Date of Muharram and significance

Depending on the sighting of the moon Al Hijri 1442 has fallen on 21 August in India, marking the first day of Muharram.

The word Muharram means 'not permitted' or 'forbidden'. Muslims around the world are prohibited from participating in activities like warfare and instead spend their time in prayer and reflection.

Muslims around the world observe a fast on this day, which is called 'sunnah' as Prophet Muhammad kept a Roza on this day after Prophet Musa or Moses as per the Sunni tradition.

Shia Muslims refrain from attending and celebrating occasions and observe a fast on the 10th day, commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.

History of Muharram

On the 10th day of Muharram, in the 61st year of the Islamic calendar, the Battle of Karbala took place between a small group of supporters and relatives of Hussain, and the army of Yazid I, the Umayyad caliph.

Hussain and his supporters were captures and deprived of water and food for three successive days following which they killed him and his 6-year-old son while taking the women as captives.

What is Ashura

The 10th day of Muharram is marked as Ashura by Muslims around the world. Voluntary fasting is done commemorating the day Noah left the Ark and the day Moses was saved from the Egyptians by God.

For Shia Muslims, Ashura is a day of mourning the martyrdom of Hussain in 680 AD at Kabala in modern-day Iraq.

Muslims mark the day with mourning rituals and plays re-enacting his death, while Shia men and women dressed in black take out processions through the streets slapping their chests and chanting. Some even emulate Hussain's suffering by flagellating themselves.
A new cinematic release date for Matthew Bourne's The Red Shoes has been revealed.

Utilising some of the most distinctive scores from the last century, penned by Hollywood composer Bernard Herrmann, the piece is based on the 1948 film of the same name. It follows a tragic romance between a conductor and an aspiring dancer.

Originally meant to be presented on the silver screen earlier this year, the hit production from the award-winning director and choreographer will appear in cinemas across the UK and Ireland from 30 September. The show was recorded live at Sadler's Wells in London.

The screening will feature performances by Adam Cooper, Ashley Shaw, Dominic North, Michela Meazza, Liam Mower and Glenn Graham. The piece is orchestrated by Terry Davies, with cinematic designs by Lez Brotherston, lighting by Paule Constable, sound by Paul Groothuis and projection design by Duncan McLean.

The newest revival of the production received a glowing review from WhatsOnStage, being described as "a real treat."

Bourne said today: "New Adventures may not be able to perform on stage this year, but I'm thrilled that the UK will be able to experience the magic of our award-winning production of The Red Shoes on the big screen. This show was in many ways a love letter to a life in the theatre for me and it seems particularly apt to be able to share it with you at this time. We are extremely proud of this film, which captures the excitement of live performance so powerfully and we trust it will bring a much-needed escape for our loyal audiences countrywide."

The company recorded a 12-minute version of the show recorded in lockdown  you can watch it here.
Mr John Boadu, General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has charged party members and supporters to work hard to retain the party in power to sustain the country's development agenda.

He said the country's pace to socio-economic transformation and development could only be sustained if the NPP stayed in government for a longer period.

Speaking at the launch of the Ashanti regional 2020 election campaign team in Kumasi, Mr Boadu pointed out that the NPP government was on course to build on its achievement in the first term to consolidate the transformation agenda of the country.

There was, therefore, the need for all party members to work hard in whatever area they would find themselves to tell the story of the government to enable Ghanaians appreciate and vote to retain the party into power in the December elections.

The regional campaign team is chaired by Mr Bernard Antwi Boasiako, the Ashanti regional chairman of the party.

Other members are; Mr Samuel Pyne, Regional Secretary, Madam Akosua Frema Osei Opare, Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Mr Kwabena Nsekyire, Regional first vice chairman, Mr Akwasi Kyei, regional communications director as well as all constituency chairmen of the party.

Mr Boadu said Ghana was at the crossroad and there was the need for a leader who had proven himself to deliver the industrialization agenda and transform the socio-economic lives of the people at all levels.

He charged members of the campaign team to lead the party members to work in all corners of the region to sell the good news of the government and its record achievements to win more souls for the party.

Mr Antwi Boasiako, on behalf of the members thanked the leadership of the party for the confidence reposed in the members of the team.

He said the enthusiasm with which the people in the region went out to register their names during the just-ended voter's registration exercise was a clear manifestation of the people in the region's resolve to go out to vote and retain the NPP in power to continue its good works.

Mr Antwi Boasiako said the campaign team had targeted to retain all its seats in the region and annex the other three seats, which were in the hands of the NDC.

GNA
CEDAR FALLS  The City Council on Wednesday put on hold a mask mandate that was patterned after one adopted this week in Waterloo.

Council members voted 6-1 to indefinitely postpone the resolution during the special meeting following two hours of discussion and public comment. Council member Kelly Dunn, a registered nurse, dissented.

For me, this is a public health issue and we need to treat it as such, she said. Wearing masks or other face coverings is intended to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, which causes the respiratory disease COVID-19.

But other council members voiced concern with enforcement of the resolution and how it would impact businesses, as some store owners called on them to vote it down. The measure would have required wearing a face covering indoors, with some exceptions, and outside if it wasnt possible to keep a six-foot distance from others.

If theres no way to enforce this resolution ... whats the point? asked council member Simon Harding, who noted that he regularly wears a mask in public.

The special meeting was requested through the councils referral process at the end of Mondays regular council meeting. The Waterloo City Council had approved its resolution earlier in the evening and the majority of the Cedar Falls council agreed to hold the special meeting to discuss a similar mandate.

A total of 17 community members weighed in on the issue during public comment, voicing both support and opposition. A number of business owners who said many of their customers and employees wear masks in their stores were among those opposing the mandate.

Im not anti-mask, Im anti- telling people what to do, said Jenny Bagenstos, owner of downtown business Heres Whats Poppin. I want all people to come in and feel welcome.

Catherine Zeman, a professor of environmental health science at the University of Northern Iowa, supported the resolution. She noted that COVID-19 has become the third leading cause of death in our country during the past six months.

While the World Health Organization recommends a virus testing positivity rate of under 5% for two weeks before relaxing restrictions, were at 9(%) or a little higher today in Black Hawk County, she said. So, I think for a short period of time ... this is something we should consider doing.

Black Hawk Countys public health department is working on a potential countywide mask mandate, and director Nafissa Cisse-Egbuonye was invited to address the council. She downplayed the enforcement aspect of a mandate in her comments.

I think one of the things that we have to take into account, its more along the line of education and compliance, she said, which a mandate helps to accomplish. Having that universal message is going to be key.

That provides space for public safety officials to participate in an educational push. Im not expecting law enforcement to be going out and ticketing, said Cisse-Egbuonye.

Some council members liked the idea of a focus on educating the public, but were sensitive to residents concerns with a mandate. Several suggested modifying the resolutions language to a recommendation. An amendment was put forward and seconded.

Council member Mark Miller said it was important for governmental agencies to have conversations on the topic, but added he was not ready to mandate masks.

I think a strong recommendation is the best way to go right now, he said. Ultimately, I dont want to put more strain on businesses.

Cisse-Egbuonye suggested that recommending masks would cause confusion. Maybe there needs to be more discussion around language, because I dont think its going to move the needle, she said.

After further discussion, the motion to amend the original resolution was withdrawn. Council members were advised by the city attorney if they didnt want to act now but but still have the option to revisit a mandate later, they should indefinitely postpone the resolution.

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SEATTLE (dpa-AFX) - Amazon.com expects to open eleven new sites across the Phoenix metro area in the state of Arizona by the end of 2020, creating more than 3,000 new full- and part-time jobs with a minimum $15 per hour wage and other benefits.



The new sites, which will support customer fulfillment and delivery operations, include seven delivery stations and two additional facilities that support fulfillment operations in Avondale, Chandler, Goodyear, Mesa, Phoenix and Tempe.



The e-commerce giant is also looking to add more sites in 2021, including a cross-dock facility in Goodyear and a delivery station in Surprise, adding more than 1,000 full-time jobs in the West Valley.



The delivery stations will create hundreds of permanent, full-time and part-time jobs as they power the last mile of Amazon's order fulfillment process. It will also offer entrepreneurs the opportunity to build their own small business delivering Amazon packages to enhance Amazon's last mile fulfillment in greater Phoenix.



Amazon also intends to open its first cross-dock facility by the end of 2020 in Phoenix with 1,000 full-time positions. The 600,000 square-foot building will support customer fulfillment by receiving large orders of inventory and redistributing products to fulfillment centers across the company's operations network.



Further, Amazon is constructing an 855,000 square-foot fulfillment center in Goodyear, where employees will work alongside Amazon robotics to pick, pack and ship small items to customers. The site, expected to launch by the end of the year, will create more than 1,000 new full-time jobs.



Besides a minimum wage of $15 per hour, full-time employees at these sites will receive full medical, vision, and dental insurance as well as a 401(k) with 50 percent match, the company said.



Amazon is also offering employees up to 20 weeks of maternal and parental paid leave as well as other benefits such as Leave Share and Ramp Back.



Additionally, Amazon has committed over $700 million to provide upskilling training for 100,000 U.S. employees for in-demand jobs.



This news to open eleven new sites follows Amazon's recent announcement of its Phoenix Tech Hub expansion at 100 Mill, which will bring more than 500 new jobs to the community.



Amazon opened its first fulfillment center in the state of Arizona more than 13 years ago with 300 full-time employees. It now has more than 17,500 full- and part-time employees.



Since 2010, Amazon has directly created more than 600,000 jobs in the U.S, and invested more than $350 billion across more than 40 states, including infrastructure and compensation.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
Syracuse, N.Y.  Peaches sold at Aldi stores have been linked to a Salmonella outbreak in nine states including New York.

Public health officials are warning people not to eat any bagged Wawona-brand peaches purchased from Aldis.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says consumers should discard any of the peaches purchased since June 1.

The peaches are the likely source of a Salmonella outbreak that has sickened 68 people, including eight in New York. Fourteen people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been no reported.

Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps six hours to six days after being exposed to the bacteria. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment. Children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness.

Aldi voluntarily recalled the peaches Aug. 19 and is participating in efforts to determine the source of contamination.

CDC investigators are working to identify other retailers who may have sold the contaminated peaches.

James T. Mulder covers health news. Have a news tip? Contact him at (315) 470-2245 or jmulder@syracuse.com
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The decision whether or not to end a regional Covid-19 lockdown in Offaly, Laois and Kildare will be made at a meeting of the National Public Health Emergency Team today.

Acting Chief Medical Officer Ronan Glynn confirmed earlier this week that the decision would be made on Thursday. Health officials and government met on Monday to discuss and introduce broader public health measures for the entire country. Those restrictions, including limits on household gatherings, will be in place until midnight on September 13.

Specific restrictions in Laois, Offaly and Kildare, including a ban on people taking unessential travel outside their own county, have been in place since August 7 and are due to lapse at midnight this Sunday, August 23.

Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, this morning met virtually with Offaly county councillors but did so before the planned NPHET meeting.

THE FIGURES

A decision on extending the restrictions in the three counties will be largely based on the figures which have been improving significantly in Offaly since August 7. Offaly has not recorded a substantial number of cases per day since last Friday. Since Saturday, Offaly has been included with a large group of counties making up the balance of the cases outside the current hotspots, usually one or two per day.

As of Wednesday, Offaly's 14-day infection rate had fallen to just over 20 per 100,000 of population.

The number of #COVID19 cases that we have now in Ireland is substantially more than we were seeing even just a few weeks ago.



On average over the past 5 days we have reported 96 new cases. Our 14 day incidence now stands at over 23 per 100,000. 1/12 pic.twitter.com/480rLpJFGy  Dr Ronan Glynn (@ronan_glynn) August 19, 2020

Despite being one of the three counties locked down, this rate is actually only the seventh-worst. Kildare's rate remains staggeringly high at around 100 per 100,000 of population. Tipperary, Carlow, Laois, Clare and Limerick all have higher 14-day infection rates than Offaly at this point. The rate in Kilkenny and Dublin is not quite as high but has been increasing in recent days.

Better still for Offaly, we have been improving day on day. We had the fourth-worst rate on Tuesday evening but had moved to seventh by Wednesday and are likely to fall further down the standings this evening as we move further away from our recent spike which was mostly associated with North Offaly-based workers of Kildare food factories.

Over 70% of recent cases in Offaly occurred in that North Offaly area around Edenderry but case numbers have fallen there too in recent days. A fresh round of testing took place at the Rosderra meat plant in the town last week but it's understood there were no positive cases detected. No significant case numbers were announced for the area in the days that followed.

However, 14-incidence rates in the three counties remain high when compared to some others. Offaly has had 105 cases in the last 14, although most of them came at the beginning of the lockdown. The rate continues to fall in the county. That puts our incidence rates at 134.7, a lot less than the 194.6 rate recorded in Kildare over the last two weeks. The vast majority of cases in all three counties can be traced to clusters.

WHO'S SAYING WHAT?

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly spoke about the restrictions in Laois, Offaly and Kildare on radio on Monday and said the "plan is for the current restrictions in those three counties to end at midnight on Sunday and that is still the intention."



Dr Ronan Glynn appeared less enthusiastic about the lifting of restrictions in his letter to Minister Donnelly following Monday's NPHET meeting discussing national restrictions. He specifically referenced the three counties' situation.

In the letter dated August 17, the acting Chief Medical Officer said: "Over the last ten days the number of cases in that region has remained high and the number of cases in other parts of the country has also increased." He made this point despite the vast difference in incidence rates between the three counties.

Speaking more generally, Dr Glynn said: "NPHET has considered that a cautious approach must be pursued." He then recommended the national measures largely adopted by the government on Monday.

Offaly councillors met virtually with the Minister for Health on Thursday morning and called for the lockdown in Offaly to be ended. The Minister gave no indication as to the next steps for the county ahead of the NPHET meeting this afternoon.

A decision on the lifting or extending of restrictions in Laois, Offaly and Kildare is expected this evening.
20.08.2020 LISTEN

The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) is kicking against calls by the Minority in Parliament to cancel the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) papers that leaked to students.

It is a lazy approach to solving a problem, the NUGS President, Isaac Jay Hyde, said to Citi News.

The union feels an undue burden will be shifted onto students.

It will not be fair on our part that while we have committed our time and resources to study for our exams, we will have to pay the price for the failures of an independent body like WAEC, he argued.

This sentiment comes after the Minority in Parliament began a push for the cancellation of the leaked papers.

The Minority fears the examination process has lost its integrity.

Like the National Association of Graduate Teachers, the Minority also called for an independent investigation into the leaks.

Though the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has started its own probe and reported to police, critics feel the Council is compromised.

The council has also been faced with the leaks of confidential examiner details.

NUGS in a further statement also warned that it was suicidal for the nation that many students are ending their secondary academic lives and potentially qualifying to be enrolled in tertiary institutions with the help of leaked question papers.

It said it was imperative that the leaks that have plagued WAECs examination process are plugged.

The National Union of Ghana Students strongly holds that the failure of authorities to end this cycle of paper leakages further perpetuates the already stark inequities and inequalities in our educational system, as students who can afford to obtain these leaked papers already have a superior advantage over those deprived ones who cannot.

---citinewsroom
Authorities have released the name of a woman found slain on a Birmingham-area interstate.

The State Bureau of Investigation on Thursday identified the victim as Christine Letourneau Summers. She was 53 and lived in Hazel Green, according to SBI. She has family in Pulaski, Tenn.

The discovery was made about 3:20 a.m. Wednesday on the side of the Interstate 59/20 near the Valley Road exit. Truck driver Ozell Johnson said he was driving on the interstate on his way to deliver a load to the Mercedes plant. He said he saw another 18-wheeler on the side of the roadway and looked, as he always does, to make sure it was about to pull out in his path.

It was then he noticed a woman  now identified as Summers  on the ground near her truck. He stopped and approached her to ask if she was OK, but she was unresponsive and bloodied.

He then called 911. Johnson said he assumed the woman had fallen from the trucks catwalk. The truck door was locked, and Summers had the truck key and a flashlight beside her.

Several different law enforcement agencies responded to the scene, but the State Bureau of Investigation is leading the probe. No arrests have been announced.

Authorities said once the investigation is complete, they will turn their findings over to the Jefferson District Attorneys Office.

Summers was driving a truck for RTR Transportation in Tennessee. Workers there declined to speak about Summers or her death because of the ongoing investigation.

Johnson said he was shocked to learn the death is being investigated as a homicide. Thats real sad,' he said. Me walking up and seeing that is mind-blowing.
DENVER, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CenturyLink Inc. (NYSE: CTL) today announced that its Board of Directors voted to declare a regular quarterly cash dividend of 25 cents per share. The dividend is payable Sept. 11, 2020, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Aug. 31, 2020. The ex-dividend date will be Aug. 28, 2020.

About CenturyLink

CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) is a technology leader delivering hybrid networking, cloud connectivity, and security solutions to customers around the world. Through its extensive global fiber network, CenturyLink provides secure and reliable services to meet the growing digital demands of businesses and consumers. CenturyLink strives to be the trusted connection to the networked world and is focused on delivering technology that enhances the customer experience. Learn more at news.centurylink.com.

SOURCE CenturyLink, Inc.

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The Odisha police have arrested a 68-year-old British citizen running an orphanage in the states western district of Jharsuguda on charges of sexually abusing a minor boy in his shelter home.

Police officials in Jharsuguda said John Patrick Bridge - who ran a child shelter home called Faith Outreach in the Cox Colony area of the town, where he provided education to the tribal students - was arrested following a complaint by a minor tribal boy about Bridge sexually abusing him.

In his complaint, the victim alleged that when he had gone with Bridge to his native place in Rayagada district for Christmas last year, the latter had fondled his thigh and private parts while returning in an SUV.

After a complaint was filed at Jharsuguda police station under section 341 of the IPC (Punishment for wrongful restraint), 10 POCSO Act (aggravated sexual assault ) and section 3(i) (r), 2 (va) of SC/ST (POA) Act, the accused was arrested. Further investigations are on, said Rahul PR, Jharsuguda SP.

Sources said the FIR against Bridge was lodged following an inquiry undertaken by Indian Embassy in New Zealand about misuse of funds given to Faith Outreach by a New Zealand-based funding agency. The issues of sexual abuse cropped up during the funds misuse probe following which police officials asked the victims to lodge complaints.

Bridge, along with his wife Delphine, started Faith Outreach 25 years ago in Jharsuguda to provide education to the tribal students. There is a Baby Care Center, which provides a home and care for abandoned babies as well as a childrens home that provides clothing, education, medical care and daily food to over 400 poor children. The organisation also has a training centre that prepares volunteers to work as social workers in the local communities.

The shelter home has been shut down since March this year following the onset of Covid pandemic. Officials of Faith Outreach did not comment over the arrest of Bridge.

This is the second such incident of abuse of minor children in Odisha in the last two years. In December 2018, Faiz Rehman, a pastor who ran Good News India Dream Centre, a child shelter home in Dhenkanal district, was arrested by police after allegations by the inmates that he physically and sexually tortured them. The minor girls in the shelter home had alleged that Rehman hugged, kissed and made them hold his sexual organs and whenever they raised any objection or protested, he threatened them to throw them out from the centre.

Rehman, who is in his 50s, studied theology in the United States and is now in a Dhenkanal jail since December. His bail applications were rejected by the Orissa High Court twice - in February and August - last year. Police submitted chargesheet in the case in January 28 last year before a designated POCSO court and trial in the case has already started.
A Church of England Bishop has said that focus must be on getting schools and universities open again after exams chaos.

The Lead Bishop of Education, Bishop of Durham, Paul Butler, has called for focus to be on opening school in September as students receive their GCSE results today.

He said that 'placing education at the centre of the Government's autumn recovery plans' will make sure schools and pupils will get the support they need.

The Lead Bishop of Education, Bishop of Durham, Paul Butler, has called for focus to be on opening school in September as students receive their GCSE results today

The Bishop of Durham added that students have 'shown immense resilience and character in unprecedented circumstances' and praised teachers as 'inspirational'.

He said: 'Today's GCSE results are an important moment of celebration for many, while for others this will be a time of uncertainty over next steps and future direction.

'However, the challenging situation around GCSE, A-level and vocational qualification results has risked diverting school leaders' time and attention away from the re-opening of schools for all students in September - a step which we fully welcome.

'This will involve particular practical systematic action to support those from disadvantaged backgrounds, ensuring that addressing the needs of the most vulnerable is the central aim of us all.'

This comes as GSCE students are awarded with the grades predicted by their teachers instead of an algorithm after Government u-turn on exam results.

A record high proportion of GCSE entries in England were today awarded the equivalent of A* or As - with 25.9 per cent getting a Grade 7 or above.

The Bishop of Durham added that students have 'shown immense resilience and character in unprecedented circumstances' as pupils across the country are awarded their GCSE results

The results were released at the same time as revised A-level results which showed more than 10 per cent of entries have been upgraded following the U-turn.

Pupils were able to take the higher of either their adjusted grade or their estimate mark after the regulator Ofqual confirmed England would follow steps already taken by Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The move comes just a week after A-Level students saw 40 per cent of their results downgraded due to a controversial algorithm used by exams regulator Ofqual.
When the pandemic first hit, many flashed on Contagion, the 2011 thriller about a world-engulfing plague. Months later, zombie movies  which divide the world into crudely opposing camps  can seem more apt. In Night of the Living Dead, the 1968 George A. Romero film that set loose the zombie hordes, a man teases his sister about her fears. Theyre coming to get you, he jokes right before a zombie staggers up, attacking him and sending the sister into a house that becomes her bunker.

The South Korean zombie movie Peninsula is a strange, preposterously resonant movie to watch now. Its scourge is an out-of-control catastrophe that ruins a country, leaving desperate citizen-survivors to fend for themselves. Like most zombie movies, it quickly turns into a cat-and-mouse chase with decaying flesh and a lot of chomp-chomp, bang-bang  with periodic nods at themes like family and community, the absence of the state and its possible substitute. Its a bleak, sometimes ickily funny Manichaean vision in which only the savvy and heavily fortified stand a chance. Mostly, though, it is about living and killing, and more living and more killing.

The director Yeon Sang-ho is best known for Train to Busan (2016), which takes place largely on a high-speed train that gets scarier and more claustrophobic with each deadly bite. Part of that movies unnerving, nail-chomping fun is the ways it conforms to, and deviates from, the genre template: As is often the case, its pleasures are less why than how it goes down. To that end, Yeon makes especially inventive use of the train cars, turning them into individual tableaus or mini-movies, each with a different massing of bodies and kinetic-action splatters. As the zombies attack, the living scramble from car to car and on and off the train, ratcheting up the momentum.

Set primarily after the events in Busan, the bigger, baggier, less formally inventive Peninsula opens with a quick look back at the apocalypses inception. Jung-seok (Gang Dong-won), a soldier, is driving his sister and her tiny family toward the safety of an evacuating ship. They board, but things go wrong, as they do on floating petri dishes. Four years later and Jung-seok is brooding in Hong Kong, where he now lives. Soon, a gangster taps him to return to South Korea where a truck filled with American cash waits, ripe for the plundering. Its one of those impossible missions defined by greed and danger that goes inevitably  and, fingers crossed, spectacularly  wrong.
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

Gareth Bale returns Real Madrid squad list

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

How to stay in shape after losing weight?

Turkey Central banks and UAE sign agreement worth almost $5 billion

Djokovic buys 80% stake of COVID-19 treatment researching company

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

Bichakhchyan scores spectacular goal against Zorya

Yoga, Zumba and other beauty secrets: Cher tells how to look young at 75

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

Actor Gaspard Ulliel dies after an incident

Talks between presidents of Russia and Iran start in Kremlin

Netflix shows teaser for Korean remake of Spanish Money Heist

Armenian FM: This is not first time Baku makes nonconstructive statements

Ombudsman: I urge not to give in to Azerbaijani manipulations, to visit Artsakh

What to do at the first signs of Omicron ?

Kamo Hovhannisyan moved to Astana

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

Tigran Barsegyan scores beautiful goal at Slovan's training session

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

Luis Suarez wants to play with Steven Gerrard

Karabakh ombudsmans office: Azerbaijans anti-Armenian, genocidal policy has clear chronology

Netflix to not renew Paris Hilton's cooking show

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

Dortmund CEO confirms there is no ultimatum for Erling Haaland

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

COVID-19 infected people show brain damage traces

All CSTO peacekeepers leaves Kazakhstan

Artsakh Foreign Minister: Unacceptable to bracket NKAO and NKR together

Dani Alves says his primary goal is to participate in 2022 World Cup

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

Nadal, 35, reveals secret to his fitness achievements

Artsakh FM: Azerbaijan attack on Karabakh will mean attack on Russia

Gold prices hardly change

Former Vogue editor-in-chief Andre Leon Talley dies

American professor angers Erdogan's son-in-law

Hovhannes Khachatryan is elected Armenia Central Bank Deputy Governor

15 years pass since Hrant Dink assassination

Barcelona football player undergoes surgery

563 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Guterres offers Merkel job at UN

Grammy Awards date announced

Armenian church revamped in Iran

World oil prices going up

Australian Open: Nadal advances to 3rd round

Newspaper: ECHR rulings increase after Armenia revolution in 2018

Newspaper: Armenia ex-President Sargsyan to give interview instead of press conference

Money Heist actor sends video message to Armenia comedian, actor, musician (VIDEO)

White bread can be dangerous for brain

Azerbaijan MFA falls into hysterical rage by France FM statement

La Liga: Cadiz play draw, Armenias Haroyan was among their subs

Coppa Italia: Juve reach quarterfinals

DFB-Pokal: Borussia Dortmund are out

Africa Cup of Nations: Gabon, Morocco are in Round of 16

The Pope to donate 100,000 to help migrants on border of Belarus and Poland

What kind of illness does sleep disorder indicate?

Fourth vaccine against COVID-19 is not enough for Omicron

PSG and Zidane reach final agreement

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

Dembele's agent: Barcelona only threaten

Russia wants to host Euro-2032

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

Federico Chiesa's surgery postponed due to health problems

Artsakh President meets representatives of non-governmental organizations

Avalanche kills person in Iran
By ANI

MUMBAI: Popular Mumbai-based artist Ram Indranil Kamath also known as Ramchandra passed away at the age of 41 on Wednesday, informed Matunga Police on Thursday.

According to a statement from Matunga Police Station, the painter was found unconscious in a bathtub at his Mumbai's Matunga residence around 3 pm on Wednesday.

Kamath was then immediately rushed to Sion Hospital where he was declared brought dead by the doctors.

An accidental death report has been registered in the case by Matunga Police and further investigation in the matter is underway.

The cause of death remains to be unknown as a post mortem report of the deceased is awaited.
Ghana has become the latest recipient of the worlds first-ever global safety and hygiene stamp, launched recently by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).



The stamp created by the WTTC in May this year, allows travellers to identify destinations and businesses around the world which have adopted the global standardised health and hygiene protocols.



A statement issued by the WTTC which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector said the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has welcomed the Safe Travels Stamp, which places the safety and hygiene of travellers as a top priority.



The WTTC President & CEO, Gloria Guevara said: Our Safe Travels Stamp continues to go from strength to strength and we are delighted to see even more popular countries and destinations from all corners of the world adopt our global health and hygiene protocols.



The stamp also recognises the introduction of new measures by governments around the world which positively impact the Travel & Tourism sector, and to that end, we applaud the government of Ecuador for implementing new measures at Quito airport.



The continued success of the WTTC Safe Travels Stamp demonstrates its importance not only to countries, destinations and businesses around the world, but crucially travellers, and the millions of people around the world who work in and depend on, a thriving Travel & Tourism sector.



The stamp is critical to re-establish consumer confidence in our sector and ensure travellers can rest assured that enhanced standards of hygiene are in place and they can once again experience Safe Travels.



Ghana's Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon Barbara Oteng-Gyasi said: We are delighted with this milestone of a Safe Travels Stamp for Ghana. Since 21 March 21, 2020, when our borders were closed, we have worked on creating a safe environment for our Tourism and Travel practitioners. The protocols we have put in place are borne out of a shared responsibility to create a hygienic and safe destination.



With the gradual easing of restrictions, we believe these measures will boost confidence in our tourism and hospitality sector. We congratulate the WTTC for instituting these Safe Travels protocols which is a welcome addition to the tourism industry.



Since the launch of the WTTC Safe Travels Stamp, destination countries and cities, around the world have now adopted WTTCs new protocols, including holiday heavyweights such as Tunisia, Indonesia, Egypt, Turkey, Portugal, Kenya, Mauritius and Dubai.



As part of its Safe Travels protocols, the worldwide measures provide consistency and guidance to travel providers and travellers about the new approach to health, hygiene, deep cleansing and physical distancing, in the new normal of COVID-19 world.



The protocols were devised following the experience of WTTC members dealing with COVID-19 and based on guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).



According to WTTCs 2020 Economic Impact Report, during 2019, Travel & Tourism was responsible for one in 10 jobs (330 million total), making a 10.3% contribution to global GDP and generating one in four of all new jobs.

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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LONG ISLAND, NY  As schools across New York are preparing to reopen, Long Island parents are expressing their opinions  and Patch spoke with two who have completely different reactions.

Earlier this month, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced all New York schools can reopen as long as coronavirus rates remains low. But first, all school districts are required to submit a reopening plan to the state Department of Health and the state Education Department. The DOH has the authority to reject plans, Cuomo said.

How each district decides to reopen is up to its own discretion, whether it's in-person or a hybrid plan that includes remote learning, he said. In addition, each school district must post three plans on its website: plans for remote learning, procedures for coronavirus testing and contact tracing. In addition, Cuomo said each school district must host three online discussion sessions for parents with questions by Friday.

As Long Island schools began to unveil their plans, parents are expressing their opinions on the plans and debating whether or not to allow their children to go back to school.

In North Babylon, the proposed plan will include students in grades K-6 going back to school five days a week in smaller classes. However, Geoffrey Cheeping, the parent of a soon-to-be first grader, says he was "extremely dismayed" by the options presented by the district.

"We were given an all or nothing option, either commit to at least 12 weeks of virtual learning, with no assurance of being able to have your child return to school after 12 weeks not to mention that should they be allowed back there is no assurance they will be in their normal school building, or commit to full day in person learning 5 days a week," he told Patch via email. "Again with no assurance that should circumstances change, virtual learning would be an option. Districts across the island have managed to offer hybrid options for K-6, yet North Babylon has in my opinion shirked there responsibility regarding our communities safety, by leaving parents with an all or nothing decision."

Story continues

In West Islip, the school districts announced elementary and middle school students would return full-time September 8, with students staggered by grade level. West Islip High School students would potentially return either September 8 or September 9, using an A/B schedule where only half of the student population will be in the high school at the same time. Local parent Diana DeLorenzo, who was happy with the plan the district presented, said she will "100 percent" be sending her children back to school.

"West Islip has taken a lot of time, thought and money to try and make entering back into school not only safe but as comfortable as they can considering requirements. I say that because some of the things they have planned is having plenty of supplies for those who need them, they have replaced air filters and have social distanced in the classrooms," she said via email. "They also purchased floor signs where kids can stand and extra washing stations for schools that need them. Part of their plan which I am happiest about is going back every other day for the first 4 weeks and during those 4 weeks working on the kids metal health not just academics. Mental health is something that often gets over looked and I am proud of West Islip in acknowledging its importance to getting back to school the right way."

What do you think? Are you happy with your school district's plan? Let us know in the comments below.

This article originally appeared on the West Islip Patch
Courtesy photo

Mayor Sylvester Turner and Houston City Council on Weds. announced the approval of $2 million in relief funding for members of Houston's arts community facing economic challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Individual artists will be eligible to apply for a grant up to $1,000, while nonprofit organizations will be eligible for financial assistance of up to $15,000. The funds will be distributed in Sept., according to the release.
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The project is shrouded in secrecy.

But 20 years after its development, 20 years of near misses and 20 years of sitting vacant, the city of St. Clairs 114-acre industrial park appears to have attracted a buyer.

For the entire parcel.

At its regular meeting Aug. 17, the city council approved a purchase agreement which calls for selling the parcel, which lies north of Yankee Road, east of Range Road and west of the CSX rail line, for $200,000.

Dan Casey, head of the Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County, said the project could create 150 jobs out of the gate and as many 300 to 350 once the project is fully built out. If all phases are constructed, Casey said the company would be among the countys top 10 taxpayers.

Jeff Bohm, chairman of the St. Clair County Board of Commissioners, said the firm would likely be among the top five taxpayers in the county.

The tax benefit of this will be massive, said Bohm. Its a homerun.

There could be a completed building on the site in a years time, said a spokesperson with the Innovo Development Group in Kalamazoo, the company developing the project.

After 20 longs years, after the city and state have spent a lot of money to develop the St. Clair Industrial Park site, we have finally received a good  better than expected  purchase agreement from a developer of a project thats in the works, said Casey. When the project first came to the EDA, we were immediately asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement. That agreement applies to myself, the board of the EDA and all of the employees of the EDA. Because of that, theres much about the project that I cannot discuss in the public arena until authorized to do so.

That includes naming the buyer and fleshing out the buyers intended project.

The project is going to the Michigan Strategic Fund Board for official approval of state and local incentives, said Casey, who expected a decision in late October. At that time, well be able to talk about it in detail.

Casey considered the county a long shot to land the project. He said the plant would be a relatively long way from the companys customers.

There were about 40 communities in multiple states in the running for the project, Casey said. We offered the standard 12-year tax abatement and the land.  I can say that if we did not provide the land essentially for free, we would not be here tonight.

The project appeared to rub resident Bill Klieman the wrong way.

How much do we have invested in that land? asked Klieman.

City Superintendent Warren Rothe said he didnt have that number handy.

At least a million, right, that we borrowed from the state? asked Klieman.

I dont know the number, said Mayor Bill Cedar.

We borrowed a million from the state a while back, plus everything else, said Klieman.

Yeah, said Cedar.

What about the wetlands? asked Klieman.

The wetlands were mitigated except for an existing ditch on the property, said Casey. Thats about 1.2 acres of wetlands that has yet to be mitigated.  It will have no impact on this project.

What about the lessees out there, the St. Clair Inn and the farmer? asked Klieman.

Notice was given to the St. Clair Inn that they are no longer going to be able to have that property, said Rothe. Additionally, the lease with the farmer has been terminated, as well.

Did you give the guy time to get his corn off? asked Klieman.

That was taken off by an agent of the city, said Rothe.

He wasnt allowed to take his corn off? asked Klieman.

In order to meet the development timeline, no, said Rothe.

Theres always been a concern about water out there for fire protection, said Klieman. Is that a concern?

At this time, no, said Rothe.

So were giving away property that we have $1.5 million invested in, said Klieman.

Theyre still going to pay taxes on it, said council member Mitch Kuffa.

At a 50% abatement, Mitch, how long do you think it will take to get the million and a half back? asked Klieman.

(Faster) than growing corn, said Kuffa.

Bohm said that in addition to the citys investment, the county paid $160,000 to have the land cleared about five years ago. The return on the investment, he said, would happen quickly.

This is going to produce a lot of money for a very long period of time, said Bohm.

Jim Bloch is a freelance writer. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
Back in May, Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes was slammed by defensive Aussies after making controversial comments about her adopted country in the ABC documentary series Almost Australian.

But now the 79-year-old actress, who holds dual citizenship with her native UK and Australia, has revealed her favourite city from the land down under.

She told the Daily Mail newspaper in July that she's a big fan of South Australia, in particular its capital, Adelaide.

Sightseeing: English actress Miriam Margolyes has revealed her favourite Australian city, after being slammed for labelling the country 'brutal' and 'greedy' in an ABC documentary series

'I'm fond of Adelaide. It's an elegant, quiet city,' she said of the peaceful SA capital, which has a population of more than 1.3 million people.

She added that Goolwa, a coastal town on the Murray River, was one of her favourite regional destinations.

'I warm to there being no people. Goolwa in South Australia is glorious,' she said.

Picture perfect: The 79-year-old actress, who holds dual citizenship with her native UK and Australia, said she was 'fond of Adelaide [because] it's an elegant, quiet city'

Idyllic: She added that Goolwa (pictured), a coastal town on the Murray River, was one of her favourite regional destinations

In May, Aussies slammed the British-born actress for comments she made about her adopted country in the docuseries Almost Australian.

She labelled the nation 'brutal' and 'greedy', after seeing the growing number of developments in Surfers Paradise, a tourist hotspot on Queensland's Gold Coast.

Many Australians angrily suggested on social media that Miriam could always go back to the UK if she preferred it there.

'Put your claws back in Miriam and be thankful for the surroundings of where you are living. If you are so incensed with Aussies, simply pack your bags and head back to England,' one critic wrote.

Causing a stir: In May, Aussies slammed the Harry Potter star for comments she made about her adopted country in the ABC docuseries Almost Australian

'One simple solution: f**k off out of Australia. This country has a lot to offer. Get rid of you and that means some other deserving human might take your place. I sincerely hope you are pressured to leave,' another added.

However, others agreed with Miriam's views on overdevelopment and foreign investment, and defended her right to express herself.

'Good on her... I'm ashamed of how Aussies act too... stop selling Australia offshore,' one supporter wrote on Facebook.

Miriam, who became a naturalised citizen seven years ago, travelled from coast to coast for her series Almost Australian, but the process left her feeling disenchanted with her adopted home country.

Familiar face: Miriam, who is best known for playing Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter film, became a naturalised Australian citizen in 2013

She made headlines at the time for saying she was horrified by the 'brutality' and 'greed' of modern Australia, and later declared in an interview with The New Daily that she wouldn't be making any apologies for her remarks.

She said her longtime partner, Heather Sutherland, a retired Australian professor of Indonesian studies, had warned her that 'Australians do not like criticism'.

'And they don't, so I knew that I was doing something quite risky by, you know, having an opinion,' she said. 'Because I think Australians are a bit tired of Brits mouthing off about Australia, and I don't blame them.'

'It's harsher than it was': She also sparked outrage by saying Australia was 'harsher' than she had first thought when she arrived in the 1980s

But despite this, she decided to throw caution to the wind and say what she really thought about Australia - regardless of the consequences.

'I hope people will not be too annoyed about the things I have to say, but in the end, to be honest, f**k 'em if they are. That's tough. I'm telling it like I see it,' she said.

Miriam, who is best known for playing Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter film series, also sparked outrage by saying Australia was 'harsher' than she had first thought when she arrived in the 1980s.

'We think we know what [Australia is] like, but we don't. It's quite complicated. It's layered. Lots of things happen. I do think I was right that it's harsher than it was. Maybe that's true in the world,' she told TV Tonight.

'There's a harshness about it, which I didn't expect.'

Opinion: Miriam said, 'We think we know what [Australia is] like, but we don't. It's quite complicated. It's layered. Lots of things happen. I do think I was right that it's harsher than it was. Maybe that's true in the world'

She said the most confronting part of the documentary was having to visit Surfers Paradise, a highly developed stretch of coastline on Queensland's Gold Coast popular with holidaymakers.

'There is a brutality there and a greed in Australia, which I don't like,' she said.

'You know, the developers. Those horrible structures along the coast, that people should be ashamed of living in. Surfers Paradise, it's disgusting. I think that actually shocked me because I don't go there. It's not my world and I don't want to go there.'
(RNS)  The vehicle of a Kansas pastors wife who has been missing for more than two weeks was found Tuesday (Aug. 18) in rural Arkansas with a womans body inside.

The Crittenden County Sheriffs Office did not confirm the body belonged to Marilane Carter but said her purse and credit cards were inside the car, according to local news reports.

Carter was last seen Aug. 2 in a video at a hotel in West Plains, Missouri, and her phone last pinged near Memphis, Tennessee.

The evening before, Carter had left her home in the Kansas City area, where her husband, the Rev. Adam Carter, is pastor of Leawood Baptist Church.

Marilane Carter, 36, was on her way to visit family in Birmingham, Alabama, and had made concerning statements to her family, according to the Overland Park Police Department in Kansas. The Carters family told Fox 4 Kansas City at the time the mother of three may have planned to get mental health counseling at Grandview Medical Center in Birmingham, where she previously had worked as a chaplain.

Carters disappearance caught attention on social media, where many have used the hashtag #FindMarilane.

A Facebook page titled Find Marilane, set up to share information about Carters disappearance, shared in a post this week that her vehicle was found, according to the Baptist Press.

The family asks for your thoughts and prayers right now and in the upcoming days, it said.

The search for Carter stretched across several states.

A relative searching the West Memphis area of Arkansas reportedly found Carters car Tuesday morning in an empty storage container on private property, according to local news reports. The sheriffs office said the medical examiner will confirm the identity of the female body inside and her cause of death, although it does not appear suspicious.

READ THIS STORY AT RELIGIONNEWS.COM.

Article originally published by Religion News Service. Used with permission.

Photo courtesy: RNS/Find Marilane Facebook Page
The recent activity in Chicago is tougher to categorize. In some cases, protests took a violent turn. In other cases, looters seemed to exploit the protests and unrest in the city. However, one would have to take into account the recent claim by Black Lives Matter Chicago organizer Ariel Atkins that the looting is political violence: I dont care if someone decides to loot a Gucci or a Macys or a Nike store, because that makes sure that person eats, Atkins said. This is reparations. Anything they wanted to take, they can take it because these businesses have insurance.
CAPF troops

Srinagar: The Centre ordered immediate withdrawal of about 10,000 paramilitary personnel from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

They said the decision was taken after the Ministry of Home Affairs reviewed the deployment of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in the union territory (UT).

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PhotoThe Home Ministry had last withdrawn 10 CAPF companies from the UT in May, while 72 such units were taken out in December last year.

A senior official said that a total of 100 CAPF companies have been ordered to be withdrawn immediately and they have been asked to revert to their base locations in the country.

As per the directions, a total of 40 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and 20 each of the Central Industrial Security Force, the Border Security Force and the Sashastra Seema Bal, will be taken out from Jammu and Kashmir by this week.

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The CRPF has been asked to make arrangements for air lifting of these units to Delhi and other locations, they said.

With the latest de-induction, the lead counter-terrorist force CRPF will have a strength of about 60 battalions (about 1,000 personnel in each battalion) in the Kashmir valley apart from very few units of the other CAPFs.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  Roger Penske will not pretend he is not disappointed he can't open the gates to spectators for his first Indianapolis 500 as steward of the iconic event.

Penske purchased Indianapolis Motor Speedway in January and spent an additional $15 million on capital improvements for an enhanced fan experience. He has had to close the sprawling facility to spectators because of the coronavirus pandemic. Without fans roaming the property and celebrating at downtown Indianapolis establishments, the buildup to Sunday's race has lacked the energy that elevates the Indy 500 into a world-class event.

Penske opened Thursday's media day for the field of 33 drivers by sending a letter to the Indianapolis fan base.

I will miss you on Sunday, the letter began. "I wanted you here. For Indianapolis and Indiana, in general, the Indy 500 means so much ... but given the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Marion County, running the race without fans was the right decision.

The letter reiterated that Penske, just the fourth owner of the speedway, purchased the property for future Penske generations and that hosting the 104th running in front of empty grandstands protects the health of the fans and the future of the Indy 500. No admissions or concessions sales means the Indy 500 will be a massive money loss for Penske, but it has been canceled only twice, during World War I and World War II. It has never been held without spectators.

The financial losses for hosting an empty race and paying out some $7 million in prize money is the cost that comes with Penske's emotional attachment to the Indy 500. His teams have won the race a record 18 times, including the last two years.

His affection for the speedway was clear in the letter to fans as he noted his father first brought him to the race as a 14 year old in 1951. Penske was hooked.

Lee Wallard won it. I was able to put on a helmet and sit in a race car. Ill never forget that experience, Penske wrote. "That special day shaped the rest of my life and made me who I am. Its why I care so much about the Speedway and IndyCar racing. Its why the fan experience will always be my top priority.

Story continues

Thank you for understanding, and I look forward to seeing you next May.

Penske then signed off: And drivers  start your engines.

A look at some of the Indy 500 storylines:

How Big is Indy?

The seating capacity at Indianapolis Motor Speedway has always been just a guess at the largest venue in the world. As a privately-owned property, the late Tony Hulman and his family never disclosed how many seats are in the speedway.

In a virtual news conference with executives from IndyCar sponsor NTT Data, new track owner Penske said the facility has 232,000 permanent seats. He did not reveal how many fans fill the infield or watch from suites, but capacity for the Indy 500 is typically well over 300,000.

Root Against Alonso:

Fernando Alonso is making a third attempt at closing out the final leg of motorsports' version of the Triple Crown and Sunday's race could be his final appearance.

The two-time Formula One champion is returning to that series next year and team Renault has said the Spaniard cannot race Indianapolis while in that two-year contract. But Alonso reiterated he's chasing an elusive goal by racing the Indy 500 and, if he ever wins, there won't be any need to return.

"If you want me here again, wish that I dont win on Sunday, Alonso said Thursday.

Alonso won the Monaco Grand Prix in 2006 and 2007 for the first leg of the Triple Crown. He added back-to-back wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2018 and 2019 for the second leg, leaving the American classic as the only missing race.

Graham Hill is the only driver to win the Triple Crown, closing it with a win at Le Mans in 1972.

Alonso will start in the ninth row, between defending race winner Simon Pagenaud and James Davison after Honda dominated qualifying. The bulk of the Chevrolet drivers start deep in the field.

I would never imagine starting next to Simon Pagenaud and Fernando Alonso on row nine, Davison said. Hey, 2020, I guess.

Pranksters in the Paddock:

Alexander Rossi awoke in the speedway motorhome l ot to find a prankster had removed the tires from his golf cart and left it sitting on concrete blocks.

He immediately vowed revenge.

The list of potential culprits can be extensive, Rossi said. But one thing is for certain, once I find out who it is, payback is going to be a painful lesson.

The investigation appeared thorough Thursday but likely suspects James Hinchcliffe and Conor Daly denied culpability. Hinchcliffe vowed to help Rossi identify the culprit.

Rossi teammate Zach Veach said the jack used to remove the tires had been left at his motorhome in an attempt to implicate him. But Veach said he would not have kept any evidence and shifted

Hildebrand Helmet:

J.R. Hildebrand has designed a helmet for the Indianapolis 500 that reflects on the national social and civil unrest over racial equality. He had decided on an all-black helmet for the event, then replaced his name with the message RIGHTS. JUSTICE. OPPORTUNITY. around the back.

Hildebrand said the unrest the past several months have led to reflection and the realization his experiences vary greatly from Black Americans.

I'm incredibly proud to be born here and to be an American citizen, Hildebrand said. "But at that same time, I recognize that not everyone here in this country has the same experience. We're here in August and everything is very strange right now. That's because of the things going on in the world that we just can't ignore.

It's our job as Americans to make sure these things are experienced and accessed equally. I've definitely come to realize that's not currently the case and we've got some work to do.

Message in a Bottle:

NBC Sports created a time capsule on Pagoda Plaza for the 33 drivers in Sunday's race to place a message in a milk bottle to capture their thoughts about this year's event.

A customized set of 33 lockers was placed on the plaza with an empty milk bottle inside. The drivers were provided with two questions  who are you racing for at this years Indy 500; why is this years Indy 500 special to you?  and the answers were sealed in the bottles.

The network will open the bottles before next year's race.
He made the statement at an online conference with leaders of health authorities in cities and provinces countrywide yesterday.



Vietnam recorded four new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, with its total of 994. The four new Covid-19 patients include two in the Central City of Da Nang, one in neighboring Quang Nam Province, and one in the Northern Province of Hai Duong.

The Ministry reported additional fifteen recoveries, bringing the total number of patients having beaten the virus to 533. Twenty-six Covid-19 patients have died so far, most having suffered critical underlying conditions.

Acting Health Minister Long said at the conference that thanks to the government and the Ministrys drastic actions, the Covid-19 outbreaks in Da Nang, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai provinces are step by step under control and the number infection cases has dropped lately.

Mentioning the Covid-19 spread in Hai Duong, Mr. Long said Covid-19 patient 867 travelled to an eatery from July 25 to 27 and the disease spread. Right after discovery of the first case, Hai Duong authorities have implemented measures to prevent the disease from further spreading; however, Mr. Long predicted that there may be more community transmission cases.

Also in yesterday, the Ministry sent its dispatch to leaders of departments of health across the country asking to increase prevention in medical facilities. The Ministry requested hospitals to cease allowing visits of patients relatives and no relatives are allowed to stay in infirmaries.

By staff writers  Translated by Dan Thuy
The Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol emerged as a focal point of attention for the information security world during August as the Chinese government updated its censorship tool, the Great Firewall of China, to block HTTPS traffic with the latest TLS version. The topic got even more attention when security researchers offered workarounds to TLS-enabled censorship and demonstrated potential TLS-based attacks at DEF CON: Safe Mode.

TLS is a widely adopted protocol that enables privacy and data security for internet communications, mostly by encrypting communications between web applications and servers. TLS 1.3, the most recent version, was published in 2018. TLS is the foundation of the more familiar HTTPS technology and hides communications from uninvited third parties, even as it does not necessarily hide the identity of the users communicating.

TLS 1.3 introduced something called encrypted server name indication (ESNI), which makes it difficult for third parties, such as nation-states, to censor HTTPS communications. In early August, three organizations  iYouPort, the University of Maryland and the Great Firewall Report  issued a joint report about the apparent blocking of TLS connections with the ESNI extension in China.

Using a simple Python program, the group discovered that the Great Firewall blocks ESNI connections from client to server and temporarily bans the IP addresses involved. The organizations say they have been able to find circumvention techniques that can be used either in apps or software or on the server side to thwart Chinas censorship blocks, but they consider these solutions temporary.

Domain hiding circumvents Chinese censorship
<p>A lawsuit filed on Tuesday in Manhattan's federal court alleges that the actor attacked the anonymous woman after meeting at a VIP lounge at Greenwich Village.</p><p>Gooding Jr denies the incident took place, according to his lawyer Mark Heller.</p><p>He said: "My client is totally innocent of any of these false allegations and we're confident it will be dismissed.</p><p>"She's probably just somebody who's looking for some glory to bask in the publicity and notoriety of Cuba Gooding Jr.'s case."</p><p>The lawsuit says that the woman agreed to go to a nearby Soho hotel with Gooding Jr, where they planned a meet up of their friends.</p><p>However, Gooding Jr apparently convinced the woman to go upstairs with him, under the guise of needing to change his clothes.</p><p>It is then alleged that he put on music and attacked the woman, removing her clothes and pinning her down while he raped her twice, despite her repeatedly saying "no".</p><p>The filing, which is seeking unspecified damages, says the woman was left with "emotional pain, suffering, and a loss of enjoyment and life".</p> <p><strong>:: Listen to the Backstage podcast on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/backstage/id1449619878" target="_blank">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3ByZWFrZXIuY29tL3Nob3cvMzI4NzI1MS9lcGlzb2Rlcy9mZWVk" target="_blank">Google Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5lUMl2swObUj56TGMibLzm" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/backstage_17" target="_blank">Spreaker</a></strong></p><p>Gooding Jr, who has appeared in films such as Jerry Maguire, appeared in Manhattan state court last week to plead not guilty to six other misdemeanour charges of forcible touching and sexual abuse, which, if convicted, could put him behind bars for a year.</p><p>Since the first allegations against him arose, more than two dozen women have made accusations against the actor.</p>
BASEL, Switzerland and BRANFORD, Conn., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

Quote from Matthew Hewitt, Head of Clinical Development and Personalized Medicine, Lonza:

"This collaboration between Lonza and IsoPlexis highlights the evolution of cell therapy manufacturing. As we continue to scale the manufacturing of cell therapies, it will be critical to characterize the quality and performance of these products with technologies such as IsoPlexis' IsoLight."

Quote from Sean Mackay, CEO of IsoPlexis:

"We are excited to collaborate with Lonza to shape the future of cell therapy manufacturing and quality analytics. As cell therapies continue to grow in therapeutic importance, manufacturing processes will require more precision relating to potency and performance. Alongside Lonza's novel platform, the IsoLight will play a key role in enabling that increased level of precision and insight into cell product performance."

IsoPlexis, the leader in single-cell functional proteomics products, today announced a collaboration with Lonza, a leading cell & gene therapy manufacturer, to use IsoPlexis' IsoLight platform. This automated functional proteomics analysis platform will provide quality analytics for cell therapy products generated on Lonza's Cocoon Platform, an automated, highly flexible cell therapy manufacturing Platform.

Lonza's Cocoon Platform allows for efficient centralized and decentralized manufacturing of novel cell therapies, and IsoPlexis' IsoLight Platform provides a solution for the functional characterization of the cell therapy product, to ensure correlative functional potency of the manufactured cell product.

Improved end-to-end automation on the Cocoon Platform minimizes the need for human involvement in numerous steps, and IsoPlexis systems provide functional phenotyping to characterize the cell therapy product from heterogeneous cell populations better. IsoPlexis' functional phenotyping has been published with a variety of leading CAR-T and cell therapy biopharma companies and academic institutions in areas ranging from research to process development and clinical biomarkers.

By using the Cocoon Platform's automated programming and on-board, real-time analytics, the collaboration will seek to significantly improve the biological understanding of starting material, process, and product analytics to enable more efficient manufacturing and higher quality cell therapies.

About Lonza

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Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Wednesday visited Ma'anshan city in east China's Anhui Province.

While visiting the Xuejiawa ecological park, Xi inspected the water situation of the Yangtze River, comprehensive renovation of waterfronts, as well as ecological and environmental protection and restoration.

He also visited Magang Group of China Baowu Steel Group to learn about the situation of business resumption and operation.
On Wednesday, the Special Adviser to Kwara State Governor on Health Matters, Wale Suleiman, resigned his appointment from the government.

Mr Suleiman is a professor of neurosurgery and spinal surgery and former chairman for the neurosurgery department and back and spine center at the Ochsner Neuroscience Institute in New Orleans.

The resignation comes at a time the state, like other parts of the country, is battling the scourge of the COVID-19 pandemic.

So far, Kwara State has recorded a total of 906 confirmed cases of COVID-19, out of which 186 are active while 687 have been managed and discharged.

Confirming his resignation in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday, Mr Suleiman said against his previous thoughts, he realised he would be more productive and effective out of government.

My passion in life is to create opportunities where there are none, and to give hope to the underprivileged using my skills, expertise, and professional network. I had hoped that I could accomplish these same goals as a Public Servant, but came to the realization that I will be more effective and productive out of government.

He said he remains committed to the efforts and aspirations of Mr AbdulRazaqs administration to emancipate Kwarans.

I will continue to support the much-needed change and transformation in Kwara State through philanthropic efforts, economic and social empowerment, as well as the promotion of investment opportunities and partnerships with Kwarans in Diaspora, he stated.

However, the governor has announced Adekunle Dunmade, a professor of otolaryngology and current Director of the University of Ilorin Stem Cell Research Centre, as his new Special Adviser on Health Matters.

On the resignation of the Special Adviser on Health Matters, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye said, while this is strictly a personal passion of Prof. Wale Suleiman, our doors remain open to him and other great minds like him in our commitments to rebuild a Kwara we would all be proud of.

Other appointments

Also, the governor has appointed a former military governor, Saliu Bello, as his Special Adviser on Security and Aliyu Muyideen, an intelligence and counterterrorism expert, as Senior Special Assistant on Security.

Mr Bello, a retired brigadier-general, who hails from Erin Ile in Oyun Local Government Area, was military governor of Kebbi State between 1993 and 1996.

He was a colonel general staff for the Nigerian contingent in Liberia, and Chief Instructor at Military School in Zaria between 1988 and 1992, among other roles.

Apart from other military courses in Pakistan and India, he attended Nigerian Military School Zaria and Mons Officer Cadet School Aldershot England and was commissioned into the Nigerian army in 1971. He retired in 1999.

Mr Muyideen, who retired as principal staff officer operations in the State Security Service (SSS), has a Masters degree in Peace and Strategic Studies from the University of Ilorin where he had earlier bagged a Bachelor of Arts in History.

A native of Ilorin, Mr Muyideen had training in advance investigation, intelligence analysis, counterterrorism, advance vetting, explosive ordinance, and detective basics, among others.
The map may say South America but it sure looks, feels like Europe

Walking along a narrow cobblestone street in Ciudad Vieja, the old city historic quarters of Montevideo, I am beginning to appreciate why so many people are so fond of Uruguays capital city.

It is a warm, sunny Saturday afternoon in March and for no special reasonother than the fact that its Saturdaythere is an almost festive atmosphere in the air.

Just up ahead is Plaza Matriz, a small, shady square. Montevideo seems to have many such mini-park squares. Plaza Matriz is overflowing with smiling people having a good timeparents playing with their children; friends and neighbors out for a walk and stopping to exchange a few words.

Bougainvillea tree in Colonia del Sacramento. (Don Mammoser/Shutterstock)

Along the squares tree-draped sidewalks, vendors are selling all sorts of small goodshandicrafts, figurines, bronze and silver works, wooden toys, and antiques.

As I walk through Plaza Matriz, my attention is drawn to the fountain that lies at its center. Its a splendid sculpture, with exquisitely detailed figures. For a moment, I feel as if I am revisiting Italy. Later, I learn that the fountain is the work of Italian sculptor Juan Ferrari.

Beyond the fountain, across the street from the square, I notice the elegant Cathedral of Montevideo, and for a moment, I feel as if I am revisiting Spain. Its twin bell towers remind me of so many splendid churches Ive seen in Spain.

This is what most visitors find most surprising about Montevideo and Uruguaythe map may say South America, but it sure looks and feels like Europe.

Harbor at Punta del Este. (Diego Zalduondo/Shutterstock)

Most Uruguayans are, in fact, of either Spanish or Italian descent. Nearly all those who arent are of other European stock. Montevideo, where nearly half of the countrys population of only 3 million lives, is a remarkably cosmopolitan, very European, city. Like all of Uruguay, it is a safe, pleasant, and friendly placeabout as safe and friendly a large capital city as you are likely to find anywhere in the world.

With a population of 1.4 millionabout one-third of Uruguays total populationMontevideo, thanks also to its strategic location at the confluence of the Atlantic Ocean and the Rio de la Plata, is the center of just about everything in the countryfinance, education, government, etc. It also keeps being ranked as having the best quality of life of any Latin American city.

Vintage car, Colonia del Sacramento. (Ksenia Ragozina/Shutterstock)

This isnt, however, the place in South America to go looking for indigenous people. There arent any. The guidebook placed my hotel rooms explained that one of the noticeable events (yes, noticeable, not notable) of the era of the Conquest in Uruguay was the peaceful conquest of the indigenous peoples. What made the conquest so noticeable, I suppose, was that all the Indians disappeared.

What was peaceful about it isnt quite clear: Uruguays Charrua Indians were systematically slaughteredabsolutely annihilated, except for the last half-dozen, who were shipped off to Paris where they were placed on display until they died.

Uruguayans have the highest per capita beef consumption in the world220 pounds. (Copyright Fred J. Eckert)

Something very noticeable as I walk along the streets of Montevideo this fine day is that a number of the people passing byand also a number of the people sitting on the park bencheshave a thermos bottle in one of their hands. In their other hand, they are holding something that looks like a gourd.

This is a common sight in Montevideo and throughout Uruguay. Its a national obsession. Uruguayans love their mate (mah-tay), an extremely high in caffeine tea made from the dried leaves and shoots of a South American holly tree. The dried-out gourds or gourd-like containers that they carry are filled with these leaves and stems. The thermos bottles hold hot water that they pour over the leaves to make their mate tea. A drinker of mate doesnt drink it the way people usually drink tea or coffee. He draws the aromatic tea from his gourd container through a decorative straw made of silver called a bombilla.

In Uruguay cattle graze only on the grassy plains and are not fed any peculiar additives, which explains why Uruguayan beef is so tasty. (Copyright Fred J. Eckert)

Mate is more than just a drink. It has significance far beyond its flavor. When an Uruguayan offers you mate, it is a warm and friendly gesture. The beverage is an acquired taste, although despite having twice visited Uruguay, I havent been able to acquire a taste for it.

Great Steaks at Bargain Prices

Another Uruguayan obsessionone for which I long ago acquired a tastecomes to mind as I draw near Mercado del Puerto (Port Market). Floating in the gentle breeze that is blowing my way is the wonderful aroma of seasoned steaks being grilled over wood embers.

The Mercado del Puerto, a century-old, block-long metallic structure with a three-story skylight, once served as the citys main market. Now it is Montevideos favorite gathering spot for another reasonit houses scores of restaurants and short-order grills known as parrilladas. On Saturdays, its particularly festive; craftsmen, artists, and street musicians are out in force.

It is not uncommon to see American cars from the 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s cruising along the streets of Montevideo. (Copyright Fred J. Eckert)

Uruguayans love meat, especially beef. Per-capita beef consumption here is the highest in the worldabout 220 pounds per year. Uruguay may be smaller than Kansas and have only 3 million people but its home to more than 10 million heads of cattle, and 65 percent of the countrys beef production is consumed domestically.

It must baffle vegetarians that Uruguayans enjoy the highest life expectancy in Latin America.

While the grills throughout the Mercado del Puerto also abound with chicken, pork, and coiled sausages, for lunch, I opt for beef. Its delicious and its a good feeling to realize that in Uruguay cattle graze only on the grassy plains and arent fed any peculiar additives. It is also a good feeling to realize that the price for the more than 16 ounces of top-quality beef is but a fraction of what Id pay back home.

Eating well is a national pastime, not surprising in a country where the dominant influence is a mix of Spanish and Italian. Next to grilled beef, Uruguayans are keen on pasta and on seafood drawn from the countrys extensive coastal areas.

Tourists who visit a ranch such as Estancia La Rabida enjoy performances of traditional gaucho dances and songs. (Copyright Fred J. Eckert)

City of Roses

A city of wide tree-lined streets with well-planned business and residential sections that contain lots of green spaces, Montevideo is nicknamed The City of Roses because of its many flower-filled squares and beautiful public parks.

But what it may be best noted forwhat locals seem to take the most pride inis its chain of beaches along the Rio de la Plata that surround a good part of the city. Much of the city has the look and feel of a resort.

Tourists addicted to following a checklist of must-see attractions need concern themselves with but few. Best is the Gaucho Museum, dedicated to the legendary South American cowboys, usually of mixed Spanish and Indian blood, who worked on the vast estancias (cattle ranches). Skillful riders who spent most of their time on horseback, gauchos wore a costume characterized by a wide silver belt, baggy trousers, and a bright scarf.

Another important attraction is the Legislative Palace, seat of the national parliament.

A gaucho ranch hand at a Uruguayan estancia (cattle ranch). (Copyright Fred J. Eckert)

Some people feel that Montevideos most interesting museums are operating on its streets. Who knows whywhether its because people here are the worlds greatest auto mechanics or just dont like to throw things away or cannot afford expensive foreign cars and are too proud and stubborn to buy the more affordably priced ones produced in neighboring Brazilbut to fanciers of old cars, Montevideo is a paradise.

It isnt uncommon to see American cars of the 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s cruising the streets of Montevideo. Even old Studebakers and Motel-T Fords rarely draw notice from locals who are so used to seeing them.

Montevideos Independence Square is marked by the statue of Uruguays national hero, Jose Gervasio Artigas, whose remains lie in a mausoleum built under the monument. (Copyright Fred J. Eckert)

More to Uruguay Than Montevideo

Most tourists who visit Uruguayand few dosee only Montevideo and maybe Punta del Este, 85 miles to the east, a ritzy Atlantic ocean resort with miles of fine white sand beaches.

Uruguay is blessed with long chains of first-rate beaches281 miles of them along Rio de la Plata and 137 miles along the Atlantic.

Punta del Este is world-famous and very nice. It has long been the destination of choice for well-to-do Argentinians who lack good beaches at home and can get here quickly by plane or hydrofoil. There is little about it that is unusual or even different. Its a lot like countless other luxury resort towns in the United States and throughout the world.

Far more interesting is Colonia del Sacramento, 110 miles from Montevideo in the opposite direction. Originally a Portuguese settlement, the Spanish and Portuguese fought over it for more than a century. This historic small town on the banks of the Rio de la Plata, directly across from Argentinas capital city of Buenos Aires, features a well-preserved historic quarter with interesting blends of Spanish and Portuguese architecture.

Gourds used for mate. (de Dios Editores/Shutterstock)

Galloping With the Gauchos

Perhaps the most interesting thing to do in Uruguay is to visit an estancia (cattle ranch); a number of estancia owners have turned to tourism as an alternative source of revenue.

They are sort of dude ranches with a foreign flavor, where you can ride, watch cowboys, pitch in and experience ranch life or just relax and enjoy the feeling of stepping back in time to a whole different era.

I visited a different estancia on each of my two visits to UruguayEstancia La Calera, a 21,600-acre working ranch, which is a long way from Montevideo and which caters to guests who stay a while, and Estancia La Rabida, a sprawling 2,470-acre, family-owned, century-old ranch which is close enough to Montevideo to cater to one-day cruise line shore excursions.

Visiting an Uruguayan estancia is fun for all ages. In a scenic setting, you can revisit childhood dreams of what its like to be a cowboy or cowgirl. Watch demonstrations of horsemanship by working gauchos. Try your hand at some gaucho chore. Maybe ride a horse. Enjoy traditional gaucho dances and songs. And while all this has been going on, the open-flamed barbeque grills have been lined with beef, chicken, pork, and sausage. If youre like me, you cant wait to savor some of the estancias beef. It surprised me that being grass-fed and with no peculiar additives added, Uruguayan beef is so much more delicious than I would have expected.

Just as it surprises me that a travel destination as nice as Uruguay remains largely undiscovered.

The Legislative Palace is one of the most impressive buildings in Montevideo. (lvalin/Shutterstock)

If You Go

Information: You can find what you need to know about visiting Uruguay by visiting Turismo.gub.uy/index.php/en/

Safety: Uruguay is considered a safe travel destination.

Best time to visit: March-May (fall) and September-November (spring) usually feature lovely mild weather.

Guidebook: Bradt Travel Guide Uruguay is a good choice.

Fred J. Eckert is a retired U.S. ambassador and former member of Congress. His writings have appeared in many leading publications, including Readers Digest and The Wall Street Journal. He is also an award-winning photographer whose collection of images spans all seven continents. See his work at EckertGallery.com
Lizbeth Flores was found dead on August 11, two days after she traveled from Texas to visit the father of her two young children.

The American mom-of-two who was found beaten to death with all of her teeth pulled out and part of her scalp removed in Mexico had been lured across the border by her killer, who told her that her boyfriend had been kidnapped, investigators say.

Braulio Trevino Martinez, 39, was arrested at his home in the subdivision of Molinos del Rey on Tuesday for the murder of 23-year-old Lizbeth Flores, a law enforcement official confirmed to DailyMail.com.

The official said the motive for the brutally violent crime was a robbery.

Trevino Martinez - a convicted child sex offender - was known by Flores and her family, DailyMail.com has learned, though the exact nature of their relationship currently remains unclear.

A source familiar with the investigation told DailyMail.com that Trevino Martinez allegedly lured her across the border by telling her that her boyfriend had been kidnapped and she needed to pay a ransom.

Flores was found dead on August 11, two days after she traveled from Brownsville, Texas, to the town of Matamoros where her boyfriend - who is also the father of her two young children - lives.

She died from a blunt-force trauma to the head after being struck with a rock that was found next to her body.

Trevino Martinez is a registered sex offender in Texas. He served four years in prison between 2006 and 2010 on one charge of child sexual assault and one count of indecency with a child. His address at the time was also in Browsnville.

Braulio Martinez was arrested at his home in the subdivision of Molinos del Rey on Tuesday for the murder of 23-year-old Flores

The official said the motive for the brutally violent crime was a robbery (pictured: Braulio Martinez is seen being led out of a police station by cops with his head down)

Flores reportedly died from a blunt-force trauma to the head after being struck with a rock that was found next to her body

Flores left her home in Brownsville on August 9 and walked across the Veterans International Bridge, crossing the US-Mexico border to Matamoros.

Later the same day she spoke to her mother, Maria Rubio, on the phone and said she would be returning home to Brownsville that night, however she was never heard from again.

Less than 24 hours later, Rubio called the Brownsville Police Department on August 10 to report her daughter missing. She was found dead the following day.

A Mexican government official told DailyMail.com that Flores' semi-naked, lifeless body was located on a grass field next to a construction site.

Officials say the stretch of land where Flores was killed, a vacant lot on the Emilio Portes Gil bypass, is notorious for robberies.

Crime scene images leaked on social media show Flores' body lying face up, with her shirt off, wearing just her bra, pants and shoes.

Law enforcement reported that a part of Flores' scalp had been removed and that all of her teeth had been taken out by force.

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

Maria Rubio has said learning of her daughter's brutal murder has been like having her heart 'ripped out'

Trevino Martinez is a registered sex offender in Texas. He served four years in prison between 2006 and 2010 on one charge of child sexual assault and one count of indecency with a child

He was detained in a state prison in Huntsville for four years after being found guilty of two counts of sexual assault on a child. The victim was listed as a 15-year-old female

Rubio has said learning of her daughter's brutal murder has been like having her heart 'ripped out', she told 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.'

Law enforcement say Trevino Martinez, who is originally from Brownsville, was known to Rubio and Flores though the exact nature of their relations is currently unknown.

Texas jail records observed by DailyMail.com show that Trevino Martinez was convicted of child sex offenses in Texas, in 2006.

He was detained in a state prison in Huntsville for four years after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual assault on a child, a 15-year-old female.

Trevino Martinez was released from prison in 2010.

Officials say the stretch of land where Flores was killed, a vacant lot in the Emilio Portes Gil bypass, is notorious for robberies

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.

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].
The only way for the Supreme Court to save face right now is if Bhushan apologises. If they don't sentence him for contempt, the message sent would be that the Court bowed to public pressure. If they do, then Bhushan becomes a hero and photos of him happily walking into prison are on the front page of every newspaper.

Prashant Bhushan was held guilty of contempt last Friday. The Supreme Court found that two of his tweets about the judiciary constituted publication that scandalised and lowered the authority of the court. What happened today (20 August) at his sentencing hearing, may have had consequences that the court probably did not foresee when they convicted him.

The law of contempt is justified on the grounds that courts being authorities that have to be respected, should be able to punish people who do things to lower their authority. For the power of courts only works on respect. They do not have an executive machinery to enforce their orders. The executive branch enforces the orders and they do so out of respect to the court and it is this respect that we call constitutionalism where authorities of the state bow to the law. The courts being the keepers and speakers of the law, must be respected if constitutionalism has to survive. So exists the law of contempt, to protect the Court and to preserve its dignity.

What played out today, was quite a pantomime if one may be permitted to use such a term. It was live tweeted thankfully so everyone got to hear what went on in the Supreme Court.

Prashant Bhushan Contempt : SC bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra to hear Prashant Bhushan @pbhushan1 on sentence for the offence of criminal content by scandalizing the court. On Aug 14, the SC had held him guilty for contempt of court over two tweets against CJI & SC. pic.twitter.com/UFwThBzgYZ  Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) August 20, 2020

Bhushan made a statement where he refused to apologise and quoted MK Gandhi and said he would accept any punishment willingly as he stood by his statement. The court wondered if this was an aggravation or mitigation when it concerned his sentencing. However, this statement puts the court and the entire system in a difficult position. For if they send him to jail, they will look like a Pontius Pilate, when he sent Christ to the cross. If they don't, then the entire country will feel that the "iron hand" (to use the language of the court) is nothing more than a rusty nail.

Which is perhaps why this entire contempt hearing should have never happened in the first place. Punishing someone for contemptuous tweets, as in the case of Bhushan, in the age of social media, means that whether one likes it or not, the trial will play out publicly. In this case, the accused may actually capture the public imagination. It's not hard to think of John Lilburne when one sees Bhushan's position. Some context is required here.

In Medieval England, there used to be a court called the Court of the Star Chamber. Those brought before that court were made to take what was called the Ex-Officio Oath. An oath that required them to answer all questions put to them, and to answer them truthfully. This put them in a peculiar position. If they answered, they could incriminate themselves. If they didn't. They could be held in contempt. If they lied on oath, religious people as most were back then, they would have committed a mortal sin. John Lilburne was pulled up before the Star Chamber for making "unlicensed publications" (he was against the Stuart Monarchy). He refused to take the oath and contented that he had a right as a freeborn. He said, while asserting his right not to take the oath "Another fundamental right I then contended for, was, that no man's conscience ought to be racked by oaths imposed, to answer to questions concerning himself in matters criminal, or pretended to be so."

For refusing to take the oath, he was found in contempt. He was fined 500 pounds (an obscenely large sum of money in those days), whipped, put on the pillory and imprisoned till he complied. While being taken to the pillory, he managed to make more statements and distribute more "unlicensed literature". The ruckus of repeatedly pulling him up to court and having him assert what were "freeborn rights" resulted in Parliament finally abolishing the ex-officio oath. Today that abolishment has become a part of the constitutional law of many nations and is called the right against self-incrimination.

Bhushan is a similar figure. Here, he has published tweets that are now in the judgement of the Supreme Court contemptus in nature. But rather than apologise and beg for mercy, he continues to assert his right to have made them. Today's hearing in the Supreme Court saw an unrepentant Bhushan who doubled down on his initial defence while the country followed along on twitter. Like Lilburne, Bhushan has been able to raise immense public support for his position. Many newspapers and leaders are reproducing his tweets verbatim in support of him. This activist lawyer, who till recently, enjoyed only limited support from some sections, has now been raised to a pedestal, where people are crossing political lines to come to his defence.

The Supreme Court today gave Prashant Bhushan three days' time to reconsider his statement. Bhushan declined the offer saying he was not inclined to reconsider, but they offered it to him anyway. Which may perhaps tell us, exactly where the Judiciary has managed to place itself. The only way for the Supreme Court to save face right now is if Bhushan apologises. If they don't sentence him for contempt, the message sent would be that the Court bowed to public pressure. If they do, then Bhushan becomes a hero and photos of him happily walking into prison are on the front page of every newspaper. Who knows, maybe some international human rights NGOs may also declare him a "Prisoner of Conscience".

Through the hearing, both on merits and on sentencing, the Attorney General for India, KK Venugopal was present as he had been issued notice to assist the court. On merits, he wasn't allowed to advance submissions. They let him say a few words today. He started with asking the court not to punish Bhushan and then referred to all the work that Bhushan did. The Court doubled down and said "We cannot consider your proposal(of not punishing him) unless he rethinks his statement". The Attorney General attempted to make more submissions saying he had a list of five judges who say democracy has failed. He was shut down.

Personally today, from what I read, it appeared to me that the only person with genuine concern for the future of the court was the Attorney General and he wasn't really heard at all. This entire thing that's played out before us, is something that should have never happened.

The Supreme Court after the emergency, had to re-earn the trust of this country and they have done a stellar job of doing it. But unfortunately, Bhushan's contempt case has managed to put the entire system on trial. All of this over a photo of the Chief Justice on a motorcycle and an opinion expressed on twitter. The Supreme Court while finalising his sentence in the matter, may just have to get ready to score one of the most phenomenal own-goals in judicial history. One really hopes and prays, that this can somehow still be avoided.

All is not lost yet. Till the judgement is signed, the case is still open and there is still time for all parties to see some semblance of sense and prevent what is perhaps going to become a landmark sentencing in the history of not just this country, but almost every country that follows the judicial tradition of the law of England.
Lindsay DeMoss of Elizabethtown didnt seem to have any good options. She has stage three breast cancer, putting her at high risk of COVID-19 complications, so her doctor urged her not to send her daughters, ages 8 and 4, back to school.

But she and her husband both work, and neither could stay home to teach their girls.
Xiaomi will soon be rolling out a new update to smartphones that came pre-loaded with apps that were banned by the Government of India citing national security reasons.

The update will roll out for smartphones that come under the three sub-brands i.e. Mi, Remi and Poco which came pre-loaded with banned apps such as Mi Browser, Mi Browser Pro/Mint browser.

The apps were amongst the 59 apps which were banned by the Indian Government two months ago in June.

 Reuters

Google did its part by removing the apps from the Indian Play Store, however, users with existing Xiaomi phones could still access these applications and MIUI did not allow users to delete them manually.



The new update rollout will not allow users to delete these pre-loaded apps, however, it will only be limited to applications that were banned.

At the moment, if a Xiaomi user launches one of the banned pre-loaded applications, they are met with a message that relays information about the recent ban:

"The Government of India has issued an interim order for blocking the Mi Browser Pro/Mint Browser App. As a responsible corporate, we have complied with this order by disabling all online content feed including news service and games centre, until further notice from the Government.

 Reuters

Xiaomi has said that the update will roll out for several models across all brands and the list includes the following devices:



Mi Mix 2, Redmi 6, Redmi 6 Pro, Redmi 6A, Redmi 7, Redmi 7A, Redmi 8, Redmi 8A, Redmi 8A Dual, Redmi K20, Redmi K20 Pro, Redmi Y2, Redmi Y3, Redmi Note 5 Pro, Redmi Note 6 Pro, Redmi Note 7, Redmi Note 7 Pro, Redmi Note 7S, Redmi Note 8, Redmi Note 8 Pro, Redmi Note 9 Pro, Redmi Note 9 Pro Max, Redmi Note 9, Poco F1, Poco X2, and Poco M2 Pro.

While this is a welcoming move to give users the ability to remove applications that are banned, it should not be limited to them exclusively.

Xiaomi branded phones are often loaded with bloatware and apps that may not be useful to every user; many of which cannot be deleted. Instead of offering the ability to delete selected apps; the new update should give the ability to remove every app deemed unfit by users.

Many users often complain that applications come pre-loaded on smartphones that take unnecessary memory and users prefer to use their own alternative and delete apps that they dont trust.

 MensXP

Xiaomi also tracks some of their users to serve adverts on their phones. The company has been serving ads on some of its core apps such as the video players, security apps and, at times, even in the settings menu which the company fixed much to its credit.



However, it is no secret that the Chinese company recommend ads on its devices using algorithms that may be a concern for users who are worried about privacy.
Thank you to Best Lawyers and to attorneys in the Princeton-Metro area for recognizing five attorneys from our firm

Szaferman, Lakind, Blumstein & Blader has five (5) attorneys included in The Best Lawyers in America 2021 list issued by BL Rankings, LLC* for their work in five legal sub-practice areas in the Princeton-Metro area.

The practice areas include Family Law, Commercial Litigation, Land Use & Zoning, Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs and Real Estate Law.

All of the Szaferman Lakind attorneys selected have been included in the Best Lawyers list for three years or more.

According to Best Lawyers, Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.

It is an honor to be included in the 2021 Best Lawyers list for the sixth consecutive year commented Managing Partner Barry Szaferman. I would like to congratulate my colleagues who are also included on this prestigious list. Thank you to Best Lawyers and to attorneys in the Princeton-Metro area for recognizing five attorneys from our firm. I would also like to thank our firms attorneys and staff for their continued hard work and professionalism.

Founded in 1977, Szaferman Lakind is a full-service, Martindale-Hubbell AV-Preeminent law firm that was listed among U.S. News  Best Lawyers Best Law Firms from 2014 through 2020. Based in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, Szaferman Lakind has 35+ attorneys who provide legal representation to businesses, investors, professionals, families and individuals in several areas, among them family law, general and commercial litigation, personal injury, estate and business planning and business law. To contact Szaferman Lakind please call 609.275.0400 or visit http://www.szaferman.com.

*The Best Lawyers in America list is issued by BL Rankings, LLC. A description of the selection methodologies can be found at bestlawyers.com/methodology. Szaferman Lakind was selected to U.S. News  Best Lawyers Best Law Firms list. The Best Law Firms list is issued by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers. A description of the selection methodologies can be found at bestlawfirms.usnews.com/methodology.aspx No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
NEW HAVEN  The city began will be installing three raised crosswalks on Long Wharf Drive Thursday in an effort to deter street racing, according to City Engineer Giovanni Zinn.

Zinn said the city built the food truck paradise area in 2016. Traffic speeds in the area have since decreased, but there have also been issues with illegal racing, he said.

This is sort of the next step in keeping the speeds down while theres a lot of people down here, but also (deterring) things like speed racing, Zinn said.

The crosswalks, installed near where food trucks gather on Long Wharf, are also meant to make the area safer for pedestrians, Zinn said. He noted the elevation makes people walking more visible to traffic.

Mayor Justin Elicker said the city will be finished installing the three elevated crosswalks Friday, and noted drag racing there has increased exponentially this year.

Long Wharf is a city road so we can do this more easily, Elicker said, as opposed to Ella T. Grasso Boulevard and Foxon Boulevard, where drag racing also has been a problem for a long time.

The mayor said starting on Friday and Saturday, a portion of Long Wharf Drive will be closed around dusk, but there will still be access to Interstates 91 and 95.

Elicker said the problems with big crowds and drag racing began on Fathers Day this year when someone threw open an invitation to come to Long Wharf to party - and people did.

There were 400 people on the street attending drag racing last Saturday, which took police resources away from other issues, he said.

Officers had to leave there to go to Rosette Street where six people had been shot; one of them, Dayshon Smith, was killed.

Its dangerous. Its disruptive, Elicker said Tuesday. We have significant challenges around public safety in New Haven and to put people at risk (by gathering and drag racing) ... not only puts people at risk of COVID by also puts a strain on limited police resources.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
Several more Air India pilots have moved the Delhi High Court challenging the airline's decision to terminate their services from August 13 onwards. Justice Jyoti Singh on Wednesday issued a notice to Air India Ltd on the four fresh pleas before her and sought the airline's response to them by next week.

The court also issued notice to the airline on the modification applications moved earlier by other pilots who had wanted directions to Air India to accept withdrawal of their resignations. The pilots have moved the modification applications to amend their petitions to challenge the August 13 order of Air India.

The court issued the notice to Air India seeking its response to the applications as the airline's counsel said it was opposing the proposed modification of the petitions. The court listed all the matters on August 25 when it will divide the several petitions into various categories and will take up the pleas category-wise.

Air India has already filed a reply to the earlier batch of petitions and has said that it has terminated the services of over 40 pilots who tendered resignations but later withdrew the same, as substitutes for them were engaged. The submission has been made in response to the several pleas moved by pilots seeking directions to the airline to accept the withdrawal of their respective resignations.

The pilots in their pleas said they had initially tendered their resignations over delay in payment of salaries and allowances, but had later withdrawn the same. Air India, in its reply, has said that it is already reeling under a debt of approximately Rs 30,000 crore and in addition to that it has outstanding liabilities to various banks, lessors, vendors and service providers to the tune of around Rs 11,000 crore.

Therefore, the delay in payment of salaries and allowances of pilots was not done with any malafide intention but was due to the airline's "precarious financial condition," it has said in an affidavit filed in the high court. The airline further said that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, its commercial functioning was greatly reduced and almost its entire fleet was grounded and since the substitute pilots were already engaged, it would have an excess of pilots if those who had resigned were also kept on board.

It has said that under the prevailing "exceptional circumstances", acceptance of the withdrawal of resignation "would be against the public interest." The court on Tuesday had sought Air India's reply on four fresh pleas by pilots challenging the national carrier's decision to terminate their services with effect from August 13.

Also read: Kerala opposes Trivandrum airport transfer to Adani group, 'will not cooperate'

Also read: Six senior executives leave GoAir as airline struggles to pay salaries
Chinese flags and American flags are displayed in a company in Beijing, China, on Aug. 16, 2017. (Wang Zhao/AFP/Getty Images)

Beware of Chinas Constant Deception in Its Relations With US

Commentary

On June 15, 2018, the U.S. government released a list of Chinese imports subject to additional tariffs, imposing an additional 25 percent duty on approximately $50 billion worth of Chinese goods. In retaliation, on June 16, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) announced that it would impose 25 percent tariffs on 659 types of U.S. goods, worth roughly $50 billion. The two sides formally started a trade war and a deteriorating relationship. Tensions have intensified following the Hong Kong turmoil and the CCP virus and finally led to the all-out cold war between the United States and China.

The CCPs diplomatic attitude towards the United States was initially tit-for-tat and reciprocal countermeasures. Halfway through it was the uproarious wolf warrior diplomacy, followed by an essay published on Aug. 7 by Yang Jiechi, member of the powerful Politburo and Chinas top diplomat. The United States remained indifferent, and the CCPs peace treaty strategy failed.

The CCP seemed to have finally understood the United States hardlined stance and has begun to adjust its strategy. Recently, there were two actions that deserve attention.

Anti-US Propaganda

State-run newspaper Global Times launched the results of an online survey, U.S.-China Relations Questionnaire, that was polled from August 10 to 11. More than 140,000 people participated in the vote, according to the news report.

About 96 percent of participants tended to have negative impressions of the United States, and 98 percent of participants believed that the attacks on the CCP was to incite disharmony between Chinese people and the CCP. More than 97 percent of participants supported the regimes countermeasures to counter U.S. provocation, according to Global Times.

It cited an expert who commented that the United States is the biggest troublemaker based on the poll results; the expert also claimed that this consensus among Chinese people represented firm support for the Chinese governments policies toward the United States.

If it were purely an ordinary poll, the Global Times propaganda work should have come to an end. But this is only the first half of the CCPs show, and the second half has to continue.

At a regular press briefing of Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 11, reporters at Global Times asked officials about the results of the poll. Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian obviously came prepared. The poll you have done is very good, Zhao said bluntly. I also noticed the poll results. I suggest that the United States should also take a look.

Zhao said that he hoped certain Americans would pay attention to the fact that Chinese people are clear about their ill intentions to undermine U.S.-China relations and create division. Zhao said that the perverse actions of these Americans will only make the Chinese people more united and firmer in their patriotism.

He further urged them to recognize the situation, face the reality, correct mistakes, and discard the fantasy of reforming China.

Zhaos remarks brought an end to the drama and fully exposed the CCPs true intentions in issuing that Global Times poll.

We cant help asking, in a country with internet monitored and controlled by police, troll armies, and censorship, what is the credibility of a poll run by the Partys media, and the authenticity of the 140,000 online participants? Can they really represent the total population of 1.4 billion Chinese?

We know that when asking someone to judge a matter, the person ought to be informed of the true situation and background of the matter in advance without being misled or pressured.

So, in China, where the media is ruled by one Party and full of false information, how many of these 140,000 participants really understand the reasons for the deterioration in U.S.-China relations? How many of them get to express their wishes freely? How many peoples opinions cannot be put on the table because of censorship and political correctness?

To put it bluntly, this so-called poll is just routinely coerced public opinion. The Party intended to fool Chinese people in the name of patriotism.

Implementing the Trade Agreement

I believe this summers Beidaihe conclave is focused on U.S.-China relations and factional infighting on relevant issues.

The particular complexity of the U.S.-China relationship is that current Party leaders and cadres are worried about how to preserve or lose as little as possible the huge assets that they have transferred overseas. After all, the United States recently sanctioned Chinese and Hong Kong officials for human rights violations, freezing their U.S. assets and barring Americans from doing business with them.

The CCP may have realized that it is no longer possible to seek peace. They must offer something concrete.

In July, China made its largest-ever purchases of U.S. corn and soybeans.

On Aug. 14, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang signed a State Council decree to publish a decision on intellectual property-related violations. One of the key U.S. demands during trade negotiations was for Beijing to stop its IP theft practices.

The decree stated that suspected IP crimes should be further investigated by police and other security organs.

We still dont know what was discussed among Party elite at the Beidaihe conclave, and its unclear what cards Chinese leader Xi dealt.

But the large U.S. agricultural purchases and the State Councils decision both reveal a trend that is, the CCP wants to take a more conciliatory stance.

In order to further show goodwill to the United States, the CCP is likely to take other actions in the future, such as making more concessions in terms of IP protection and ending currency manipulation.

But, please always remember, this is just a tactic out of many tactics the CCP uses for its own survival. It will appear to make changes, but never change fundamentally. It will never become good.

As President Richard Nixon wrote in 1967, The world cannot be safe until China changes.

And as U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in 2020: If the free world doesnt change, communist China will surely change us.

As The Epoch Times wrote in the 2004 editorial series, Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party: History tells us never to believe any promises made by the CCP, nor trust that any of the CCPs commitments will be fulfilled. Believing the words of the Communist Partyno matter what the issue may bewill cost ones life.

Shan Fengchen is an independent scholar who specializes in studying the history of the Chinese Communist Party.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The funeral service of Archdeacon Wayne Carney took place in St Mary's Cathedral Limerick on Saturday morning.

Birr town and the wider Church of Ireland community were plunged into grief last week after the sudden and unexpected death of the Venerable Wayne Carney, the Archdeacon of Killaloe and Rector of Birr. Archdeacon Carney died after suffering a heart attack at his home on Monday, August 10.

Saturday morning's service was overseen by the Church of Ireland Bishop of Limerick, Killaloe and Ardfert, Kenneth Kearon. Bishop Kearon began the service by quoting Christ's words, I am the resurrection and the life...We meet in the name of Christ. Grace and mercy be with you all. We are here to give thanks for the life of Wayne Carney, for all that was good and true about his life. We all knew Wayne in different ways.

He offered his deepest sympathy to Wayne's wife Norma-Jean and to their children Kathleen and Brian and to all his relatives and friends. Wayne was a very proud grandfather, he said, and he was a true and loyal friend...Our service this morning finds its meaning in the resurrection of Christ and the fact that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Having said that, as Christians, despite our faith in life after death we still feel deep sorrow when we are parted from others because of death. Jesus himself was moved to great grief and tears at the grave of his friend Lazarus.

The First Reading during the service was from St Paul's Letter to the Ephesians which advised its recipients to be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with each other in peace; in your anger do not sin; do not let the sun go down while you are still angry; let no evil talk emerge from your lips; and put away from your hearts all bitterness; be kind to one another; forgive one another.

The Responsorial Psalm was Psalm 121 which proclaims, I lift up my eyes to the mountains  where does my help come from?

Following this, the hymn Amazing Grace was played on the organ.

The Second Reading was from the First Letter of Peter which spoke of an inheritance which is imperishable and a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. It spoke of various trials testing our faith by fire and said people of faith believe in Him and rejoice with an indescribable joy.

Retired Reverend Janet Whyte Spunner, who is a good friend of Wayne's, gave the sermon. Rev Whyte Spunner referred to the difficult and strange times we are living in, where funeral services have to practise limited numbers, social distancing and the wearing of masks and visors. She said the service was being streamed worldwide, which would have pleased Wayne because he believed in a global brotherhood and sisterhood rather than a limited, particular humanity. She said the service was being watched on the internet by Wayne's relations in Canada. You can see us and we can sense you.

Wayne's life was a wonderful life packed with love, Janet continued. She quoted a poem which he wrote in 1991 when he was very low. It is a tribute to him. He wrote it during a period when he very nearly left the ministry which would have been an incalculable loss. The poem is called Resurrection: God is always here. God is always in charge. God knows what He is doing. God will lead me - if I let Him - into new beginnings, new creation, a new resurrection. God will supply all my needs, carry all my burdens, care for all my concerns. God will bandage up my wounds. God will carry me when I cannot walk alone. God will be my voice when I cannot speak. God will reach out to me when I cannot reach out to Him. When I feel far from Gods love, He will come in love of others. When I cannot love others, God will come, His spirit will fill me, and His love will reach out through me, even though mine cannot. When I cannot pray, God will still listen - to the prayers of others for me, to the unspoken prayers of my heart, to the cry of anguish in my soul. Every day is a new day in Gods love. Every day is the Day of Resurrection. Every day is a new chance to grow in faith. I need not fear consequences of the past. Gods son has died for me. I need not fear the present. God is working in it and through it. I need not fear the future. God has already been there and is waiting for me there. Gods love, expressed through Jesus our Saviour, will be my comfort and strength, now and evermore. Amen.

Janet said Norma-Jean and Wayne had been together since Norma-Jean was 15 and they were going to celebrate their 47th wedding anniversary this year. Norma-Jean and Wayne often welcomed me into their home after I emerged from my cocooning during the Lockdown. They made me feel as if I was part of a family. She said Norma-Jean and Wayne shared a number of interests and their children and grandchildren meant so much to them. She said Norma-Jean and Wayne shared a very strong, wonderful but never demanding love. You were a great example of the positive things about married life, about married love. You wisely took on board St Paul's advice and never let the sun go down while you were still angry.

Janet talked about Wayne's upbringing and education. He was born and grew up in southwestern Ontario, Canada and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto, before teaching in a primary school in Toronto for eight years. He received his Master of Divinity from Trinity College Dublin in 1984 and was ordained a Deacon in 1984 and a Priest in 1985. He served as Curate, Rector, and Associate Priest in the Diocese of Torontofrom 1984 to 1995 and became Rector of the Clonfert Group of Parishes in 1995 and served until 2003. He was appointed Archdeacon of Killaloe in 2002 and was installed as Rector of Birr in 2003 and was a member of the Chapter of St Patrick's Cathedral since 2012.

Wayne believed that the true missionary spirit meant that mission wasn't just for faraway peoples but for those on your doorstep; it meant reaching out in love and forgiveness to our neighbours. He knew that Christianity is best taught by the example of one's life, one's words and actions.

Wayne served on many committees. For example, he was President of the Diocesan Youth Council which meant he managed the spiritual programme during youth camps. He was a very popular spiritual leader during those camps. The children of Oxmantown School in Birr greatly enjoyed his Friday assemblies He was also a member of the Navigator's Club in Banagher which were fun evenings held on Wednesdays.

Wayne made a significant difference to many lives, as a Parish Priest, as a guide and mentor, as a friend and school teacher. He possessed much knowledge about many things, but he wore all of that very lightly. He was down to earth. He adhered to St Paul's advice to the Ephesians, advice which called on us to disregard our differences and instead shelter with everyone under an umbrella of universal love.

I remember a child asking Wayne, 'What is heaven like? Wayne replied, gently  'I don't know but I will tell you when I get there.' Wayne knows heaven now and I am sure it is far beyond any of his expectations. Wayne, you will be sorely missed. Well done thou good and faithful servant. The busy world is hushed now; the fever of life is done.
Phuket victims hold curse ritual for village molester

PHUKET: Angered by a lack of police action after two years, victims and family members of victims of sexual assault and attempted rape in Bara Para, Pa Khlok, yesterday held a ceremony to curse a man in the village accused of at least 20 counts of sex assault acts with children as young as 5 years old and minors up to 18 years old.

sexcrimepolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Thursday 20 August 2020, 09:49AM

The curse ritual was held at the Tha Sak Community Hall in Baan Para, Pa Khlok, yesterday (Aug 19).

The ceremony, which included the burning of salt and chilies in a pan and the burning of a curse written on paper, was held at the Tha Sak Community Hall in Baan Para yesterday (Aug 19).

The man accused, who they referred to only as Khai, is still seen walking around the village, the women said.

Khai was released on bail after one complaint was taken seriously by police, but has remained free for the past two years, the women added.

A 17-year-old girl at the ritual who asked reporters to call her Ann (not her real name) said that after her mother died, her father left her with her aunts family. However, there was no space in the house, and she had to find somewhere else to stay.

A friend introduced her to Khai, who later invited her to stay at his house, and he promised to give her some money. After Ann moved in, Khai forced her to help him masturbate, prompting her to flee the house as soon as it was safe, she said.

Later, when she returned to get her belongings, Khai tried to rape her, Ann added.

She managed to flee by kicking him, and went to Thalang Police Station, but police did not accept her complaint as she had no guardian to sign her complaint as a witness, Ann explained.

Also at the ritual yesterday, Chuanpit Ruengdet, 73, said that her granddaughters were molested by Khai two years ago. The children were 8 and 5 years old at the time.

Ms Chuanpit explained that at that time her daughter Sontaya, 20, visited her and let her children play together in front of their house next door.

Later when Sontaya came home, she saw her daughters with Khai, who immediately ran away. Then the daughters told Sontaya that Khai had touched their genitalia and he had threatened to kill them if they told anyone, Ms Chuanpit said.

Ms Chuanpit also explained that the ceremony was held because Khai today remains free on bail, and is still walking around the village.

We all hope that the relevant legal officers will deliver justice and send Khai to jail, Ms Chuanpit said.

We already went to Phuket Provincial Hall and talked to a Deputy Governor, who told us that we have to let police do their work and follow the legal process, she added.

If we do not see any progress, we will report this to the Pavena Foundation for Children and Women, Ms Chuanpit said.
West African leaders on Thursday said they would dispatch envoys to Mali to restore "constitutional order" following a military coup that has been condemned abroad but celebrated at home.

"Mali is in a critical situation," warned Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou at the end of a virtual summit on Thursday by leaders of the West African regional bloc Ecowas.

The acting president of Ecowas issued a statement saying the heads of state demanded that ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita be returned to power and would immediately dispatch a high-level delegation to Bamako.

The delegation, to be led by former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, has for mission to prevent Mali's collapse, which African heads of state fear could set a precedent in the region.

On Tuesday, rebel soldiers seized power, detaining the president, his Prime Minister Boubou Cisse and other officials in a fresh setback for a country battling chronic instability and a jihadist revolt.

Fears of repeat of 2012

Issoufou warned that unless the coup leaders were brought to heel, Mali risked being taken over again by terrorist and criminal organisations as was the case during its last coup in 2012.

President Keita's overthrow culminated weeks of protests in which Ecowas had tried to play a mediating role, albeit in vain.

The bloc proposed setting up a unity government that would include representatives of the protest movement, although it stood firmly by 75-year-old Keita. The package was bluntly rejected by the opposition.

Ecowas, made up of 15 members, including Mali, already suspended the country in response to Keita's overthrow, shutting off land and air borders to Bamako and halting financial flows.

Global condemnation

The regional bloc has also threatened sanctions against the coup leaders.

Ecowas joins the African Union, the European Union, United States and UN Security Council in condemning the putsch and demanding the release of the detained leaders.

Story continues

France, which is leading a military campaign against jihadism in the Sahel, has voiced special concern.

"We have clearly condemned this coup d'etat against a democratically elected president," French leader Emmanuel Macron said Thursday on the sidelines of bilateral talks with Germany's Angela Merkel.

"We have called for power to be handed over to civilians and for a democratic transition to take place as quickly as possible," Macron said.

Jihad fight

Thousands of UN and French troops, along with soldiers from five Sahel countries, are currently deployed in Mali.

French armed forces minister Florence Parly insisted Thursday that Paris would continue its Mali-based military operations against Islamist fighters despite the coup, which Amnesty International claims killed four people.

The junta has denied that there were any casualties during the mutiny.

Calling itself the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, under the leadership of a colonel named Assimi Goita, the mutineers have vowed to stage elections within a "reasonable time" and respect "all past agreements," including international anti-jihadist missions.

They also urged citizens to return to normal life and warned against acts of vandalism after some buildings were torched.

Junta support

Bamako residents have expressed widespread support for the coup and the capital was calm for a second straight day on Thursday.

This coup is a liberation... Organisations like Ecowas should support the people and not heads of state, said Brema Soumare, a 35-year-old architect.

Meanwhile, the M5-RFP coalition of opposition groups that spearheaded protests against Keita before the coup has since embraced the mutineers and rejected Ecowas's position.

If they want to come, they can come but we are not going to move, Cheick Oumar Sissoko, a coalition leader, told reporters. We are going to cross Ecowass red line.

Opposition leaders said they would hold a rally in Bamako on Friday to celebrate what they described as their victory.
By PTI

AHMEDABAD: An accused in the 2006 Kalupur railway station blast in Ahmedabad, who was on the run for 14 years, was arrested by the Gujarat Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) from a village in West Bengal close to Bangladesh Border, officials said on Thursday.

Based on specific inputs, a team of the ATS nabbed the accused- Abdul Razzaq Gazi- from a village in Basirhat tehsil of West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, the officials said.

Gazi was brought to the Gujarat ATS headquarters on Thursday, they said.

According to the ATS, Gazi gave shelter to Lashkar-e- Taiba (LeT) operatives Zulfikar Kagzi and Abu Jundal, who along with others were accused of planting a bomb between platform no 2 and 3 of Kalupur railway station in February 2006.

While the blast left several injured, no one was killed in it, the officials said.

It was alleged that the bomb was planted by Kagzi, Jundal and other members of the SIMI and LeT to "take revenge of 2002 Godhra riots, the ATS said in a statement.

Apart from giving shelter to Kagzi and Jundal after the blast, Gazi also helped them in crossing the Bangladesh border.

The duo then fled to Pakistan from Bangladesh, it said.

The ATS also suspects that Gazi, at the instance of Pakistan's ISI, also helped 2008 Bangalore blast accused in crossing the Bangladesh border.
A former Montgomery ISD police officer is accused of assaulting her fiance, a Harris County Sheriffs Office deputy, before showing up at the emergency room saying he choked her, officials said.

Diamond Watson, 24, faces a charge of assault on a family member in the Aug. 9 incident, according to Harris County district court documents. At the time, Watson was a police officer in the school district. She is no longer employed there, Sonja Lopez, assistant superintendent of Human Resources and communications, said Thursday.

Watson struck her fiance three times near his right ear and jaw, rupturing his eardrum, during a fight at their apartment at 1818 Fannin Speedway in Houstons Central Southwest district, according to a Houston police officer who investigated the incident.

Watson drove herself to an emergency room that night and told a nurse she was assaulted by her fiance, court records show. He became angry when she looked through his phone, she said. He threw the phone across the room, choked her with both hands and later punched her near her right eye, Watson reportedly said.

In one account, Watson said she was able to break free, while another time she said she could not remove his grip from her neck.

The investigating police officer, M.J. Glover, found no injuries consistent with the assault Watson described, he wrote in court documents. Watson had slight discoloration on the left side of her neck, but it did not appear to be bruising, Glover said. He found no injuries around her eyes.

The deputy told a different story. He said he was asleep when Watson accused him of cheating and struck him without warning. She then broke his phone on the bathroom floor, held it under running water and left the apartment, he told the police investigator.

Glover found redness around the deputys right ear and said the ruptured ear drum was confirmed when he visited an urgent care physician.

The deputy allowed Glover to search the apartment. The police officer said he found broken glass on the floor consistent with the smashed phone, but did not see signs of a struggle or recent repair.

Maverick Ray, Watsons attorney, said his client will plead her innocence.

She was just acting in self-defense, he said.

anna.bauman@chron.com
When youve got the last name Beldon, its no surprise that youre in the roofing business. But for Brad Beldon, its not just about meeting family expectations  he loves the work.

He returned to the city two years after graduating from University of Texas at Austin to take his spot working for the family-run roofing business in San Antonio.

In 2004, he took over from his father, Mike Beldon, who took over from his father, Morry Beldon, who started the company in 1946. Last year, Brad Beldons 24-year-old daughter, Mackenzie Beldon, joined the firm as its business development manager.

Over nearly 75 years, the business has done more than 100,000 commercial and residential roofing jobs. It also has divisions that specialize in the installation of gutters, windows, doors and fiber cement siding.

As a commercial contractor, theyve snagged national military contracts, but the residential side is what brings in the most contracts.

Heres an edited transcript of the interview where Brad Beldon talks about some of the biggest challenges in the roofing industry and how the coronavirus pandemic has affected the business.

On ExpressNews.com: Flux: Businesses have fundamental choice to make right now: Adapt or die'

Q: Can you tell me about your company and how it started?

A: My grandparents, theyre Bostonians. My grandfather was on Gen. (George S.) Pattons staff, and he did two tours of duty through Fort Sam (Houston). At the end of the war, my grandmother told me, she did not want to go back to Boston. She didnt like the cold winters, and they really enjoyed their time in San Antonio. They opened up a business here in 1946, and today were in our fourth generation.

Q: Always doing roofing?

A: No. We started out as a lumberyard for Ray Ellison, which is now (Los Angeles-based) KB Homes. Then that lumberyard morphed into a roofing company, and so weve been installing roofs for over 70 years.

Q: When did you take the reins?

A: I graduated in 86 and I went to work for another roofing contractor in the Washington, D.C., area for two years, and then came back here in 1988 and have worked with my father ever since.

I started in the summer of my 12th birthday. My dad brought me in and I got to cut the grass (at the office). We have about maybe 300 feet of grass, and he would come and complain about how I cut it, and then every night I would complain to my mom. Finally, we agreed that we were not creating Wimbledon grass, and that I would do the best that I could to cut the grass and he would leave me alone. Finally after that, we got along just fine.

Probably 14 years old was the first time I got up on a roof, and it was a metal roof. I learned every part of our trade in the summers. It was everything. Since I was a little kid, Ive always wanted to be in the business. My dad used to bring me when I was little. He said I used to ask him which office would be mine.

Q: You briefly had a tech startup called Roof Monitor. Would you do something like that again?

A: Well, yes and no. I think I was ahead of my time on using tech in the roofing industry, and a number of competitors just recently have come out with similar products. I dont think that the roofing industry has accepted the use of technology like many other industries. Not yet. I think its coming. There are sensors all over buildings. The roof is just the logical next place to see those sensors. Would I do it again? Probably, but Ive certainly learned a lot of lessons on what not to do.

It definitely created a lot of gray hair and certainly cost a lot of money. It was a very expensive lesson. I met a lot of great people through the process, and I learned a lot about how to get better at what we did as a roofing company.

On ExpressNews.com: Flux: FetchMD catches the telemedicine wave after shift away from house calls

Q: How has the roofing industry changed from when you first came on to now?

A: When I started, most of it was built-up roofing, which is multi-ply. A lot of labor, very labor-intensive. Now, a vast percentage of roofing products are single-ply and they go down as one layer, thus reducing that labor cost dramatically. I think that youre going to continue to see components put together in a way to reduce labor.

Q: Does it come with an extra sort of danger involved in being up on the roof?

A: Oh, sure, absolutely, but safety also has come a long way. We have devices today that make it considerably safer than when I started in this business, and those will continue to improve. From the outside looking in, it doesnt seem like an exciting type of business, but yet everything that we do changes every day. Thats whats exciting about it, is that no two days are ever the same, and no two buildings. Even if theyre built side by side, the buildings, just historically wear and tear is different on each building.

Q: How long are home and commercial roofs supposed to last? Has that changed over time?

A: The products have gotten a lot better. A typical residential roof with shingles will last 10 to 15 years. A typical commercial roof, youll probably get 20 years out of one (thats) well designed, if not longer if its well maintained. When I started in this business with the organic materials, 10 years was pushing the limit.

Q: What were some of the biggest challenges for the industry before COVID-19?

A: I mean, thats been our biggest challenge  labor, for the last 10 years, and it continues to be a problem. Immigration, you know, theres not a lot of people lining up that want these jobs, and solving the immigration problem I think will help the trades. Regardless of what construction trade, we all need a pool of labor to continue to do what we do best.

Q: Any newer challenges after COVID-19?

A: I think COVID-19 has made us look at our businesses differently. Before COVID-19, we used to think we couldnt do anything remotely. Even though we did a very good job of putting everything in the cloud, we still thought you had to be next to each other to be successful. I think what weve learned through COVID is that we can work virtually from anywhere, except for putting the roof on, but the support team can work from anywhere in the world. I dont think we actually thought we could do that before. Ultimately, what that does is it provides a happier workplace for more of our employees.

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Q: As far as the workforce issues, how are you overcoming these hurdles?

A: Prior to COVID, we started Beldon University, and its a training program to bring new people into our industry that have not had experience. We were doing quite well until COVID hit, and then we shut down the classes because we had an issue with social distancing. Once we have some sort of vaccine out there, we already have the curriculum built, the classroom is built, and well go back to putting together a program that will allow us to work with vocational students or others looking to get into the industry.

Q: How has the pandemic affected the revenue for the company?

A: Our revenue dropped dramatically because of COVID. Not only did the revenue drop, but the opportunities have slowed down. I think theres a tremendous drop in consumer confidence, as well as a lot of our commercial customers have had a fear of having somebody at their facility.

What we did, though, is every day we check everybodys temperature and we hand out a dated wristband so that everybody knows that their co-worker has been checked. We also have a four-question questionnaire that all of our team members go online every day and fill out, dealing with COVID-related issues.

Our goal is to create an environment at work thats safer than their environment at home. We work at that daily. Weve invested over $150,000 since COVID hit on safety supplies.

Q: You have offices in other parts of Texas?

A: Yes. Austin, Houston, Dallas and were headquartered here in San Antonio.

Well, from a commercial roofing standpoint, were licensed in 45 states and Puerto Rico. We travel all over the country installing commercial roofing. We just dont do residential roofing outside of the San Antonio area.

Q: Were you able to qualify for the PPP or for any of the support?

A: Yes, and that helped, especially when revenues were down. Were a large employer with 270 employees, and we wanted to make sure that everybody kept their job. Its difficult to do that when people arent calling you.

Laura Garcia covers the health care industry. To read more from Laura, become a subscriber. laura.garcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @Reporter_Laura
A Russian grandmother who woke up in a morgue after being wrongly declared dead has now died, as investigators say the stress of her experience may be to blame.

Zinaida Kononova, 81, was originally pronounced dead on August 14 following surgery to remove an intestinal blockage at a hospital in southern Russia.

She was taken to the morgue at 1.10am but awoke at some point during the night, falling off an examination table as she tried to escape.

Kononova was eventually found by a nurse at 8am and rushed to intensive care at a different hospital in the city of Kursk, but has now died.

Zinaida Kononova (pictured), 81, was pronounced dead on August 14 and taken to the morgue - but woke up a few hours later, and was discovered the following day

The Kursk Regional Healthcare Committee 'expressed its condolences to the woman's family and friends.

State investigators will now examine whether 'the stress of waking up in the morgue affected the health of the elderly woman, and if it contributed to her death'.

The family's lawyer Sergey Mezhevitin told REN TV: 'They want to seek justice, because people should not wake up from anaesthetic in a morgue. '

He expected damages for the blunder which led to her being put in a morgue and 'moral suffering'.

Doctors at the initial hospital insisted that Kononova was 'biologically dead' for one hour 20 minutes before being sent to the morgue.

Medical guidelines state that patients must be dead for at least two hours before being sent to the morgue.

A shocked nurse found Ms Kononova on the floor of the morgue (pictured) after she fell trying to escape, and was rushed to intensive care at a different hospital - where she has since died

Investigators are now looking into the possibility that the traumatic events at Gorshechensky Central District Hospital (pictured) were what caused her death

The chief of the hospital has since been suspended for suspected negligence.

After discovering Ms Kononova alive, the hospital called the grandmother's niece Tatiana Kulikova and told her: 'We have an unusual situation. She is alive!'

Ms Kulikova was delighted her aunt was alive but asked the doctors: 'How could this happen?'

She was told Ms Kononova had been registered as clinically dead, and was 'literally pulled back from the other world'.

Ms Kulikova said: 'She initially did not recognise me or recall that she had a surgery. But she talked about her old knee problem.'

Niece Tatiana Kulikova (pictured) recalled the moment she received a call from a senior doctor who told her: 'We have an unusual situation. She is alive!'

Relatives of the pensioner are planning to sue the hospital, according to reports.

Acting hospital head Alexander Vlasov said: 'For 30 minutes the patient underwent resuscitation measures.'

Ms Kononova did not respond, he said.

'As a result, the resuscitation doctor established biological death, ascertained it,' he added. 'The anaesthetist is very worried. She feels very bad and we are afraid for her.

'Every person makes mistakes. What will happen next with the career of this anaesthetist is still a question.'
Lightfoot is candid about the trouble on her hands. But she doesnt seem to have the answers yet. One sure tell is that Lightfoot declined to set measurable goals for the CPDs progress in managing the downtown demonstrations while solving the twin problems of violent agitators and looters  not to mention the more entrenched concern over handgun violence in the neighborhoods.
President Donald Trump is throwing support to people who believe in QAnon conspiracy theories.

These are people who love our country, Trump said during a White house briefing Wednesday. I understand they like me very much, which I appreciate.

According to the Associated Press, the QAnon conspiracy theory is centered on unsubstantiated claims of an anti-Trump deep state and a child sex trafficking ring run by satanic pedophiles and cannibals. Some extreme Trump supporters have embraced the cult-like group, which allegedly bases its beliefs on online posts purportedly by a high-ranking government official known only as Q.

Facebook announced earlier Wednesday it had removed over 790 groups, 100 pages and 1,500 ads tied to QAnon on Facebook and has blocked over 300 hashtags across Facebook and Instagram. The social media giant said it identified thousands of others identifying with QAnon that will remain on its platforms, but with some restrictions.

Trump responded to a reporters question Wednesday about QAnon allegations that Trump is secretly saving the world from a satanic cult of pedophiles and cannibals.

Is that supposed to be a good thing or a bad thing? Trump asked during a press conference. If I can help save the world from problems, Im willing to put myself out there. And we are actually.

QAnon started as a fringe belief in late 2017, but has picked up more mainstream support from Marjorie Taylor Greene, a House candidate who won a Republican primary and is likely to win a deep-red Georgia Congressional seat, and Laura Boebert, a right-wing candidate who recently upset a Trump-supporting five-term congressman in a Republican primary in Colorado. Both Greene and Boebert have voiced support for Q theories.

Trump called Greene a future Republican star on Twitter: Marjorie is strong on everything and never gives up - a real WINNER!

Others have expressed concerns at the presidents comments about QAnon, which the FBI labeled a domestic terrorism threat along with other conspiracy theory-driven domestic extremists who have spread baseless theories that led to Pizzagate and accusations against Wayfair.

Why in the world would the President not kick Qanon supporters butts? Nut jobs, rascists, haters have no place in either Party, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush wrote on Twitter.
Fate is on Fluff Bake Bars side.

The Heights bakery was able to surpass a $25,000 GoFundMe goal in a single day to stay afloat and pay for unexpected rebuilding costs. The fundraiser was launched on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

DINING: Bellaire relaxes restrictions on outdoor seating at restaurants

Rebecca Masson has been in the bakery business for nine years, operating for five years out of her bakerys midtown location until January, when she moved FBB to a larger Heights location.

Once Houston started to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in March, FBB had to pivot to curbside and pickup services. The bakery managed to survive until mid-July when Houstons planning department told her the permits she had for her grease trap, plumbing and restrooms were invalid.

Masson said officials from the planning department issued corrections totaling over $25,000. Masson said the department told her that she will not have to pay for new permits or the extra inspections, however she will still need to pay the additional renovation costs.

Masson asked for help through Facebook on Tuesday and it didnt take long for Sassani to set up a GoFundMe right after that.

According to Ben Sassani, who organized FBB's GoFundMe, the city instructed Masson to update all plumbing lines inside of the building to current code, remodel the bathrooms to have one for men and another women with a sink and toilet in each, replace the water heater with a larger unit, install a vent and move the grease trap from inside the building to outside.

Rebecca has put her blood, sweat, and tears into building this place and as a community, wrote Sassani in the GoFundMe.

Word spread about FBB needing help and within an hour they had raised $1,500.

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I was getting emails and I saw $500 come in. A $1,000 come in. $200 come in, said Sassani. Peoples names that I recognized in the food industry in Houston, Austin and around Texas.

When Sassani went to sleep on Tuesday, the GoFundMe was at $23,600. When he woke up on Wednesday, the GoFundMe reached its fundraising goal of $25,000  and it keeps on growing. Now its well past that at $27,030 as of 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 19.

I kind of expected it to get there, said Sassani. I didnt expect it to get there in one day.

Masson thought she would only be able to raise about $5,000. Her expectations were shattered.

I cried a lot of happy tears because a lot of these people just know me as the girl who makes cookies, said Masson. They dont like, know me. My little sister anonymously donated $100. The man who taught me to bake in the early nineties gave me $500, and I havent seen him in years. It was unreal.

Although Masson is grateful for reaching her fundraising goal, she still hopes other small businesses dontface the same issues she went through.

If all I can do is bring attention to something so the next small business owner like myself doesnt fall into a trap like this, then Ive done something good, said Masson. Im not really good at being a victim, Im really bad at it. I dont want to be a victim.

ryan.nickerson@hcnonline.com
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Barack Obama unleashed on President Donald Trump in his speech to the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday night, saying the administration would do anything to win even if it meant tearing down America's democracy.

He made a clear, concise argument on why he believes Trump was unqualified to serve in the Oval Office, sounding presidential as he made his case - but also painted a dark vision of the consequences of a second Trump term.

'This administration has shown it will tear our democracy down if that's what it takes to win,' he charged in his nearly 20 minute speech, a condemnation of a president by a previous one without historical precedent.

Trump fired back at Obama in an all-caps outburst on Twitter, claiming that 'HE SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN!' and deriding Democratic nominee Joe Biden as 'SLOW JOE'.

The president also said that Obama had 'refused to endorse' Biden until late in the Democratic primary and 'tried to get him not to run'

Obama told Americans last night that the only way to restore the country was to elect Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris in November.

'We have to get busy building it up  by pouring all our effort into these 76 days, and by voting like never before  for Joe and Kamala, and candidates up and down the ticket, so that we leave no doubt about what this country we love stands for  today and for all our days to come,' said Obama, his hair gray and demeanor serious.

He put aside post-presidential precedent to deliver an indictment of the man who succeeded him in the Oval Office, calling him lazy, dangerous, and corrupt, accusing him of abusing the military as props, of gassing peaceful protesters and of being willing to do anything for a second term.

And he tried to address Trump voters directly saying he understood why they felt government didn't work - but decried conspiracy theories, incompetence and the deaths of 170,000, saying: 'He hasn't grown into the job because he can't' and turning the presidency into 'a reality show for the attention he craves.'

Obama had swapped places with Kamala Harris to let her end the night - allowing his prosecution of Trump to be followed by her upbeat speech focused on her own story and a message of hope.

Harris introduced herself to voters and told them her story, an American story: her immigrant parents, her birth in California - a likely dig a Trump trying to once again promote 'birther' conspiracy claims - meeting her husband Doug on a blind date, her sorority sisters from a historically black sisterhood and her stepchildren, and most of all her late mother, an Indian immigrant.

Democrats made clear they were vying for female votes, filling Wednesday's program with women: actresses including Kerry Washington and Mariska Hargitay, who gave Joe Biden an endorsement, and Gabby Giffords, the shooting survivor who said: 'I struggle to speak, but I have not lost my voice.'

Both Hillary Clinton - the first female presidential nominee - and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi - the nation's first female speaker - spoke, but Pelosi got a higher billing.

And the night was capped off with Harris' nomination to the vice presidential slot. In her remarks, she also played the traditional role a running mate plays - she attacked the rival party's presidential nominee.

She didn't mention Trump by name but she made it clear who she was referring to.

She targeted Trump for his ''chaos, incompetence and lost lives' and joked, as she talked about her backstory as a prosecutor, 'I know a predator when I see one.'

But Obama led the attack on Trump. He spoke before Harris, a switch in the speaking order made at the request of the former president so he could hand off from his time as party leader to the next generation.

Barack Obama unleashed his most direct, harshest to date on the man who followed him into the Oval Office in his speech to the Democratic National Convention

Kamala Harris closed out Wednesday night's program and officially became the Democrats' vice presidential nominee

Joe Biden joined Kamala Harris on stage after she wrapped up her remarks; the two are now officially the Democratic ticket with Biden giving his speech Thursday night

The spouses also joined: Doug Emhoff and Kamala Harris with Joe and Jill Biden

President Trump responded to Obama's speech in a string of tweets written in all caps

Former President Barack Obama spoke from the Museum of the American Revolution Wednesday night as part of the virtual Democratic National Convention

TRUMP LIVE-TWEETS HIS RAGE AT OBAMA 'HE SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN, AND GOT CAUGHT!' Trump fumed on Twitter shortly after Obama stood in front of a stone engraving of Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution and cast. It was a reference to what Trump terms 'Obamagate' in near-daily attacks on the FBI and investigators who probed his campaign for Russia ties in 2016. Trump's online outburst came on a night when Obama delivered a critical speech where he went far beyond where any recent president has gone in repudiating his successor. Speaking from Philadelphia, Obama said Trump had 'no interest in putting in the work' and lacked sufficient reverence for the office he holds. A follow-on tweet sought to sow divisions on a night when Demoratic nominee Joe Biden is trying to unify a broad coalition behind him. 'WHY DID HE REFUSE TO ENDORSE SLOW JOE UNTIL IT WAS ALL OVER, AND EVEN THEN WAS VERY LATE? WHY DID HE TRY TO GET HIM NOT TO RUN?' he wrote. The 'SLOW JOE' attack was just the latest insult Trump has hurled at Biden's intellect, after unveiling a campaign ad that portrays him as falling apart. Obama remained neutral for most of the Democratic primary. In the run-up to 2016, he took steps that in many ways set the table for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to emerge as her party's front-runner. Biden ultimately begged off on running after the death of his son, Beau. Biden said during the campaign that he had asked Obama to stay out, but ended up outlasting rivals and ultimately defeating Democratic Socialist Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Advertisement

Obama's criticism was his most direct, harshest to date on the man who followed him into the Oval Office. Obama, on previous occasions, to the frustration of his fellow Democrats, had followed the unspoken rule that former presidents don't question or criticize the current office holder.

That rule went to the sidelines on Wednesday night.

Obama charged Trump hasn't grown into the job of president of the United States 'because he can't' and he's shown 'no interest in putting in the work' to be an effective leader.

'I have sat in the Oval Office with both of the men who are running for president,' Obama said, making a personal connection to the two candidates running for his old job.

'I did hope, for the sake of our country, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously; that he might come to feel the weight of the office and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care,' he said.

'Donald Trump hasn't grown into the job because he can't,' Obama said.

The former president said he understood why there was cynicism and despair in the United States under Trump's presidency, saying he understood 'why a Black mother might feel like it never looked out for her at all.;

He went on to mention some of the more disenfranchised groups, blocs that tend to vote Democrat when they vote.

'I understand why a new immigrant might look around this country and wonder whether there's still a place for him here; why a young person might look at politics right now, the circus of it all, the meanness and the lies and crazy conspiracy theories and think, what's the point?' he said.

But he warned that attitude was being fostered by President Trump to keep Americans from voting.

'This president and those in power  those who benefit from keeping things the way they are  they are counting on your cynicism. They know they can't win you over with their policies. So they're hoping to make it as hard as possible for you to vote, and to convince you that your vote doesn't matter. That's how they win,' he argued.

Barack Obama, like his wife Michelle, urged Americans to make a plan to vote

Michelle Obama told people: 'We have to vote for Joe Biden in numbers that cannot be ignored'

In her remarks opening the Wednesday session of the convention, Kamala Harris also emphasized the importance of voting

He urged Americans  like his wife Michelle Obama did in her speech on Monday night  to have a plan to vote.

'Do not let them take away your power. Don't let them take away your democracy. Make a plan right now for how you're going to get involved and vote. Do it as early as you can and tell your family and friends how they can vote too,' he said.

In her speech Monday night, where she too attack Trump in direct, harsh terms, Michelle Obama touched on Democratic fears that President Trump would try to delegitimize the election should Biden win.

'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,' she said.

Democrats fear voter disenfranchisement amid Trump's attacks on mail-in ballots as fraudulent - despite numerous studies that show that is not the case - and amid concerns about delays in the U.S. Postal Service could mean ballots do not arrive in time to be counted.

Kamala Harris, in a break with tradition, made short remarks at the beginning of Wednesday's session to plead with people to have a voting plan.

'So I think we need to ask oursvlves why don't they want us to vote? Why is there so much effort to silence our voices?' she asked. 'And the answer is because when we vote things change. When we vote things get better, when we vote we address the need for all people to be treated with dignity and respect in our country.'

Barack Obama, in his speech, also charged President Trump, the former star of NBC's 'The Apprentice,' with running a 'reality show' out of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue merely for the sake of his ego.

'For close to four years now, he's shown no interest in putting in the work; no interest in finding common ground; no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends; no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves,' Obama said.

Trump issued his response via Twitter  sending out messages in all caps as Obama spoke.

'HE SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN, AND GOT CAUGHT!,' Trump roared, referring to an FBI counter investigation into his 2016 presidential campaign to see if Russia was trying to influence the election.

'WHY DID HE REFUSE TO ENDORSE SLOW JOE UNTIL IT WAS ALL OVER, AND EVEN THEN WAS VERY LATE? WHY DID HE TRY TO GET HIM NOT TO RUN?,' Trump added.

Traditionally, the nominee of the other party stays quiet during their rival's convention week. Trump threw that rule out the window this week with his trips to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Arizona to criticize Biden. The president will give an interview to Fox News' Sean Hannity on Thursday night  the night Biden accepts the Democrats' presidential nomination - and he'll visit Pennsylvania that day too, making a stop near Biden's hometown of Scranton.

President Obama gave a cool, calm, structured argument that outlined why he believed President Trump was not qualified to serve in the Oval Office

Obama charged President Trump, the former star of NBC's 'The Apprentice,' with running a 'reality show' out of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue merely for the sake of his ego; above Donald Trump is seen with contestants from Season 13 of the show in October 2012

Barack Obama spoke from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, in front of an exhibit entitled 'Writing the Constitution,' in one of the few live speeches in the virtual convention

Obama spoke from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, in front of an exhibit entitled 'Writing the Constitution,' in one of the few live speeches in the virtual convention.

He gave a cool, calm, structured argument that outlined why he believed President Trump was not qualified to serve in the Oval Office.

'The one Constitutional office elected by all of the people is the presidency. So at minimum, we should expect a president to feel a sense of responsibility for the safety and welfare of all 330 million of us  regardless of what we look like, how we worship, who we love, how much money we have  or who we voted for,' he said.

'We should also expect a president to be the custodian of this democracy. We should expect that regardless of ego, ambition, or political beliefs, the president will preserve, protect, and defend the freedoms and ideals that so many Americans marched for and went to jail for; fought for and died for,' he noted.

Obama, a former law professor, began his remarks with a legal argument but transition to an endorsement of Biden's character and qualifications to be president.

He called his former vice president his 'brother' and spoke of his empathy.

'Twelve years ago, when I began my search for a vice president, I didn't know I'd end up finding a brother,' Obama said. 'Joe and I came from different places and different generations. But what I quickly came to admire about him is his resilience, born of too much struggle; his empathy, born of too much grief.'

He made his support the Biden/Harris ticket clear.

'For eight years, Joe was the last one in the room whenever I faced a big decision. He made me a better president  and he's got the character and the experience to make us a better country. And in my friend Kamala Harris, he's chosen an ideal partner who's more than prepared for the job; someone who knows what it's like to overcome barriers and who's made a career fighting to help others live out their own American dream,' he said.

Obama targeted Trump's most controversial moments as president when he noted a 'Commander-in-Chief doesn't use the men and women of our military, who are willing to risk everything to protect our nation, as political props to deploy against peaceful protesters on our own soil.'

Not only did he target Trump's response to the Black Lives Matter protesters, he slammed the president for targeting the media and for questioning the patriotism of anyone who opposed him politically.

And he said Trump simply makes stuff up.

'They understand that political opponents aren't 'un-American' just because they disagree with you; that a free press isn't the 'enemy' but the way we hold officials accountable; that our ability to work together to solve big problems like a pandemic depends on a fidelity to facts and science and logic and not just making stuff up,' he said.

He ended his speech with words of compassion.

'Stay safe. God bless,' he said.

Ahead of his remarks, convention organizers showed a video from the January 13, 2017 White House ceremony when then-President Obama honoured Biden with the Presidential Medal of Freedom  the nation's highest civil honor - in a move to highlight the close bond the two shared during their time in office together.

Obama, who spent most of his professional career in Chicago, has strong ties to Philadelphia. It was where he gave one of his most important speeches: when he talked about race when he ran for president in 2008.

President Obama gave one of his most consequential speeches of his Democratic primary fight against Hillary Clinton in 2008 in Philadelphia, where he spoke about race in America

President Obama will say in his speech he sat with both men in the Oval Office - he met with President-elect Trump on November 10, 2016

Then-President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden in the Oval Office in January 2015

Hillary Clinton is seen waving to supporters on the last night of her 2016 campaign in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

President Obama (left) appeared with 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton (right) on the last night of the 2016 campaign at an outdoor rally in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, just blocks away from where he'll address the 2020 DNC

Joe Biden (left) and Jill Biden (right), a Philadelphia native, greet throngs of supporters in Philadelphia in May 2019 as the former vice president kicked off his presidential campaign

Philadelphia was also the site of the Democrats' convention four years ago.

And Obama appeared alongside Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton and his wife Michelle, on the eve of election night in 2016, at a packed, outdoor rally on the campus of Independence Hall.

But that last minute stop didn't help her campaign.

Pennsylvania was the state that helped hand Trump the Oval Office - he was the first Republican to win it in more than 20 years. Biden, a native of Scranton, will try to put it back in Democrats' corner in November.

Kamala Harris officially becomes Democrats' VP candidate and launches assault on Donald Trump for 'chaos, incompetence and lost lives,' saying 'I know a predator when I see one' - and backs Joe Biden saying he will bring 'a better future' Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic nomination for vice president Wednesday night in Wilmington, Delaware, and was joined by Democratic nominee Joe Biden and their spouses onstage. Harris attacked President Donald Trump for his 'chaos, incompetence and lost lives' and joked, as she talked about her backstory as a prosecutor, 'I know a predator when I see one.' 'Right now, we have a president who turns our tragedies into political weapons,' the California senator said. 'Joe will be a president who turns our challenges into purpose.' She talked about her American story: her immigrant parents, her birth in California - a likely dig at Trump trying to once again push 'birther' rumors about a Democratic candidate of color - meeting her husband Doug on a blind date, her sorority sisters from a historically black sisterhood. 'She taught us to put family first - the family you're born into and the family you choose,' Harris said of her mother, the late Shyamala Gopalan Harris. And she talked about getting justice for George Floyd and for Breonna Taylor, two black Americans who were killed by white officers. Sen. Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic nomination Wednesday night in Wilmington, Delaware Kamala Harris only had reporters in her audience Wednesday night as the country continues to be impacted by the coronavirus crisis Harris' speech was the final addition to a women-fueled evening. Both Hillary Clinton - the first female presidential nominee - and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi - the nation's first femele speaker - spoke, but Pelosi got a higher billing. Actresses Kerry Washington and Mariska Hargitay made appearances, while 18-year-old, Billie Eilish sang. Sen. Elizabeth Warren gave her take on the economy. Harris also got a stamp of approval from President Barack Obama, who eviscerated President Donald Trump in his remarks. Obama called her an 'ideal partner, who is more than prepared for the job.' There was a lot of talk about Tuesday's anniversary that marked 100 years of the 19th Amendment, which allowed some American women to vote, but not everyone. 'Yet so many of the Black women who helped secure that victory were still prohibited from voting, long after its ratification,' Harris pointed out in her remarks. She also spoke of the inequities laid bare by the current coronavirus crisis. 'And while this virus touches us all, let's be honest, it is not an equal opportunity offender. Black, Latino and Indigenous people are suffering and dying disproportionately,' she said. 'This virus has no eyes, and yet it knows exactly how we see each other - and how we treat each other,' Harris remarked. 'And let's be clear - there is no vaccine for racism. We've gotta do the work.' Earlier, she bucked tradition and opened up her night at the Democratic National Convention, asking supporters to make a voting plan as has pushed the narrative that there will be widespread voter fraud. 'So I think we need to ask oursvlves why don't they want us to vote? Why is there so much effort to silence our voices?' she asked. 'And the answer is because when we vote things change. When we vote things get better, when we vote we address the need for all people to be treated with dignity and respect in our country.' The beginning of Harris' remarks served as her official introduction to voters who may not have paid attention to the early months Democratic primary, which she compete in. She spoke of her Indian mother who came to the U.S. to try to cure cancer and who met her Jamaica father at University of California Berkeley. 'They fell in love in that most American way - while marching together for justice in the civil rights movement of the 1960s,' she said. 'In the streets of Oakland and Berkeley, I got a stroller's-eye view of people getting into what the great John Lewis called 'good trouble,'' she said in yet another reference to the civil rights pioneer this week at the DNC. Lewis passed away last month. Harris also spoke of the grief she felt that her mother couldn't see that moment. 'And oh, how I wish she were here tonight but I know shes looking down on me from above. I keep thinking about that 25-year-old Indian woman - all of five feet tall - who gave birth to me at Kaiser Hospital in Oakland, California,' she said. Greeting: At the end of Kamala Harris' speech, Joe Biden walked on stage hand-in-hand with his wife Jill to congratulate his running mate 'My love.' Kamala Harris spoke of her marriage to Doug Emhoff, a Los Angeles attorney, and her delight in being 'Momala' to his children from his first marriage - who introduced her before she started speaking 'On that day, she probably could have never imagined that I would be standing before you now speaking these words,' she said with a. pause. 'I accept your nomination for Vice President of the United States of America,' Harris said. She spoke of the country her mother raised her to believe that it was. 'Today... that country feels distant,' she said. 'We're at an inflection point. The constant chaos leaves us adrift. The incompetence makes us feel afraid. The callousness makes us feel alone.' 'It's a lot.' 'And here's the thing: We can do better and deserve so much more,' Harris said. She then spoke of Biden - how she knew him as he served in office, but also as her friend Beau Biden's dad. 'And what also moved me about Joe is the work he did, as he went back and forth. This is the leader who wrote the Violence Against Women Act - and enacted the Assault Weapons Ban. Who, as vice president, implemented The Recovery Act, which brought our country back from The Great Recession,' she said. 'He championed The Affordable Care Act, protecting millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions. Who spent decades promoting American values and interests around the world, standing up with our allies and standing up to our adversaries.' She concluded by pressing the immense responsibility voters had to get Trump out of office. 'Years from now, this moment will have passed. And our children and our grandchildren will look in our eyes and ask us: Where were you when the stakes were so high?' she said. 'And we will tell them. We will tell them, not just how we felt. We will tell them what we did,' Harris said.

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BARACK OBAMA'S SPEECH TO THE 2020 DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION Good evening, everybody. As youve seen by now, this isnt a normal convention. Its not a normal time. So tonight, I want to talk as plainly as I can about the stakes in this election. Because what we do these next 76 days will echo through generations to come. Im in Philadelphia, where our Constitution was drafted and signed. It wasnt a perfect document. It allowed for the inhumanity of slavery and failed to guarantee women  and even men who didnt own property  the right to participate in the political process. But embedded in this document was a North Star that would guide future generations; a system of representative government  a democracy  through which we could better realize our highest ideals. Through civil war and bitter struggles, we improved this Constitution to include the voices of those whod once been left out. And gradually, we made this country more just, more equal, and more free. The one Constitutional office elected by all of the people is the presidency. So at minimum, we should expect a president to feel a sense of responsibility for the safety and welfare of all 330 million of us  regardless of what we look like, how we worship, who we love, how much money we have  or who we voted for. But we should also expect a president to be the custodian of this democracy. We should expect that regardless of ego, ambition, or political beliefs, the president will preserve, protect, and defend the freedoms and ideals that so many Americans marched for and went to jail for; fought for and died for. I have sat in the Oval Office with both of the men who are running for president. I never expected that my successor would embrace my vision or continue my policies. I did hope, for the sake of our country, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously; that he might come to feel the weight of the office and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care. But he never did. For close to four years now, hes shown no interest in putting in the work; no interest in finding common ground; no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends; no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves. Donald Trump hasnt grown into the job because he cant. And the consequences of that failure are severe. 170,000 Americans dead. Millions of jobs gone while those at the top take in more than ever. Our worst impulses unleashed, our proud reputation around the world badly diminished, and our democratic institutions threatened like never before. Now, I know that in times as polarized as these, most of you have already made up your mind. But maybe youre still not sure which candidate youll vote for  or whether youll vote at all. Maybe youre tired of the direction were headed, but you cant see a better path yet, or you just dont know enough about the person who wants to lead us there. So let me tell you about my friend Joe Biden. Twelve years ago, when I began my search for a vice president, I didnt know Id end up finding a brother. Joe and I came from different places and different generations. But what I quickly came to admire about him is his resilience, born of too much struggle; his empathy, born of too much grief. Joes a man who learned  early on  to treat every person he meets with respect and dignity, living by the words his parents taught him: No ones better than you, Joe, but youre better than nobody. That empathy, that decency, the belief that everybody counts  that's who Joe is. When he talks with someone whos lost her job, Joe remembers the night his father sat him down to say that hed lost his. When Joe listens to a parent whos trying to hold it all together right now, he does it as the single dad who took the train back to Wilmington each and every night so he could tuck his kids into bed. When he meets with military families whove lost their hero, he does it as a kindred spirit; the parent of an American soldier; somebody whose faith has endured the hardest loss there is. For eight years, Joe was the last one in the room whenever I faced a big decision. He made me a better president  and hes got the character and the experience to make us a better country. And in my friend Kamala Harris, hes chosen an ideal partner whos more than prepared for the job; someone who knows what its like to overcome barriers and whos made a career fighting to help others live out their own American dream. Along with the experience needed to get things done, Joe and Kamala have concrete policies that will turn their vision of a better, fairer, stronger country into reality. Theyll get this pandemic under control, like Joe did when he helped me manage H1N1 and prevent an Ebola outbreak from reaching our shores. Theyll expand health care to more Americans, like Joe and I did ten years ago when he helped craft the Affordable Care Act and nail down the votes to make it the law. Theyll rescue the economy, like Joe helped me do after the Great Recession. I asked him to manage the Recovery Act, which jumpstarted the longest stretch of job growth in history. And he sees this moment now not as a chance to get back to where we were, but to make long-overdue changes so that our economy actually makes life a little easier for everybody  whether its the waitress trying to raise a kid on her own, or the shift worker always on the edge of getting laid off, or the student figuring out how to pay for next semesters classes. Joe and Kamala will restore our standing in the world  and as weve learned from this pandemic, that matters. Joe knows the world, and the world knows him. He knows that our true strength comes from setting an example the world wants to follow. A nation that stands with democracy, not dictators. A nation that can inspire and mobilize others to overcome threats like climate change, terrorism, poverty, and disease. But more than anything, what I know about Joe and Kamala is that they actually care about every American. And they care deeply about this democracy. They believe that in a democracy, the right to vote is sacred, and we should be making it easier for people to cast their ballot, not harder. They believe that no one  including the president  is above the law, and that no public official  including the president  should use their office to enrich themselves or their supporters. They understand that in this democracy, the Commander-in-Chief doesnt use the men and women of our military, who are willing to risk everything to protect our nation, as political props to deploy against peaceful protesters on our own soil. They understand that political opponents arent un-American just because they disagree with you; that a free press isnt the enemy but the way we hold officials accountable; that our ability to work together to solve big problems like a pandemic depends on a fidelity to facts and science and logic and not just making stuff up. None of this should be controversial. These shouldnt be Republican principles or Democratic principles. Theyre American principles. But at this moment, this president and those who enable him, have shown they dont believe in these things. Tonight, I am asking you to believe in Joe and Kamalas ability to lead this country out of these dark times and build it back better. But heres the thing: no single American can fix this country alone. Not even a president. Democracy was never meant to be transactional  you give me your vote; I make everything better. It requires an active and informed citizenry. So I am also asking you to believe in your own ability  to embrace your own responsibility as citizens  to make sure that the basic tenets of our democracy endure. Because thats what at stake right now. Our democracy. Look, I understand why many Americans are down on government. The way the rules have been set up and abused in Congress make it easy for special interests to stop progress. Believe me, I know. I understand why a white factory worker whos seen his wages cut or his job shipped overseas might feel like the government no longer looks out for him, and why a Black mother might feel like it never looked out for her at all. I understand why a new immigrant might look around this country and wonder whether theres still a place for him here; why a young person might look at politics right now, the circus of it all, the meanness and the lies and crazy conspiracy theories and think, whats the point? Well, heres the point: this president and those in power  those who benefit from keeping things the way they are  they are counting on your cynicism. They know they cant win you over with their policies. So theyre hoping to make it as hard as possible for you to vote, and to convince you that your vote doesnt matter. Thats how they win. Thats how they get to keep making decisions that affect your life, and the lives of the people you love. Thats how the economy will keep getting skewed to the wealthy and well-connected, how our health systems will let more people fall through the cracks. Thats how a democracy withers, until its no democracy at all. We cant let that happen. Do not let them take away your power. Dont let them take away your democracy. Make a plan right now for how youre going to get involved and vote. Do it as early as you can and tell your family and friends how they can vote too. Do what Americans have done for over two centuries when faced with even tougher times than this  all those quiet heroes who found the courage to keep marching, keep pushing in the face of hardship and injustice. Last month, we lost a giant of American democracy in John Lewis. Some years ago, I sat down with John and the few remaining leaders of the early Civil Rights Movement. One of them told me he never imagined hed walk into the White House and see a president who looked like his grandson. Then he told me that hed looked it up, and it turned out that on the very day that I was born, he was marching into a jail cell, trying to end Jim Crow segregation in the South. What we do echoes through the generations. Whatever our backgrounds, were all the children of Americans who fought the good fight. Great grandparents working in firetraps and sweatshops without rights or representation. Farmers losing their dreams to dust. Irish and Italians and Asians and Latinos told to go back where they came from. Jews and Catholics, Muslims and Sikhs, made to feel suspect for the way they worshipped. Black Americans chained and whipped and hanged. Spit on for trying to sit at lunch counters. Beaten for trying to vote. If anyone had a right to believe that this democracy did not work, and could not work, it was those Americans. Our ancestors. They were on the receiving end of a democracy that had fallen short all their lives. They knew how far the daily reality of America strayed from the myth. And yet, instead of giving up, they joined together and said somehow, some way, we are going to make this work. We are going to bring those words, in our founding documents, to life. Ive seen that same spirit rising these past few years. Folks of every age and background who packed city centers and airports and rural roads so that families wouldnt be separated. So that another classroom wouldnt get shot up. So that our kids wont grow up on an uninhabitable planet. Americans of all races joining together to declare, in the face of injustice and brutality at the hands of the state, that Black Lives Matter, no more, but no less, so that no child in this country feels the continuing sting of racism. To the young people who led us this summer, telling us we need to be better  in so many ways, you are this countrys dreams fulfilled. Earlier generations had to be persuaded that everyone has equal worth. For you, its a given  a conviction. And what I want you to know is that for all its messiness and frustrations, your system of self-government can be harnessed to help you realize those convictions. You can give our democracy new meaning. You can take it to a better place. Youre the missing ingredient  the ones who will decide whether or not America becomes the country that fully lives up to its creed. That work will continue long after this election. But any chance of success depends entirely on the outcome of this election. This administration has shown it will tear our democracy down if thats what it takes to win. So we have to get busy building it up  by pouring all our effort into these 76 days, and by voting like never before  for Joe and Kamala, and candidates up and down the ticket, so that we leave no doubt about what this country we love stands for  today and for all our days to come. Stay safe. God bless. Advertisement

'I wish Donald Trump knew how to be president.' Hillary Clinton pleads with voters to back Joe Biden - accusing 2016 victor of 'stealing' 2020 election and boasting she got more votes - as Democrats make Nancy Pelosi the bigger star

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton touted Joe Biden's candidacy at the Democratic convention as she replayed parts of her own 2016 loss  and urged people to get out and vote so President Donald Trump doesn't 'steal' the election.

Speaking from her home in Chappaqua, New York, the former first lady and Democratic presidential nominee spoke admiringly about Biden and his policy agenda, and repeatedly mentioned his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris.

'And don't forget Joe and Kamala can win by 3 million votes and still lose  take it from me,' she said with a chuckle  pointing to her popular vote win that still didn't get her to the White House due to the electoral college system.

'So we need numbers overwhelming, so Trump can't sneak or steal his way to victory,' Clinton warned.

She was echoing concerns raised by Biden, on a day the White House refused to say definitively Trump would accept the election results.

But her placement on the night saw her speech run before the 10pm start of network television coverage, and before a min-documentary praising Nancy Pelosi, who gave the next speech, making the Speaker - not the 2016 runner-up - the bigger star of the house.

In her speech Clinton hammered Trump, who called to 'lock her up' during his campaign and continues to bring her up repeatedly.

'As Michelle Obama and Bernie Sanders warned us, if Trump is reelected things will get even worse. That's why we need unity now more than ever,' she said, wearing white as the convention marked the centennial of women's suffrage.

'Remember back in 2016 when Trump asked: 'What do you have to lose?' Well, now we know. Our health care, our jobs our loved ones. Our leadership in the world and even our post office,' said Clinton.

'But let's set our sights higher than getting one man out of the White House,' she said, breezing through Biden's policy agenda in her brief remarks.

Condemnation: Hillary Clinton launched an attack on Donald Trump and also rehashed her 2016 campaign

She said there was 'so much to vote for,' mentioning climate change, 'caregiving living wages,' emergency relief, and confronting an economy that allowed billionaires to get '$400 billion richer' during the pandemic.

She spoke for less than 7 minutes  longer than the time her husband Bill Clinton got.

The former first lady's remarks were followed by a video tribute leading into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's remarks. It showed the future congresswoman and pathbreaker as a child, with images of her family and her first run for Congress.

Pelosi, who has become the primary opposition to Trump, was quoted making her own 'marble ceiling' line upon assuming the speakership in 2007, predating Clinton's 'glass ceiling' line in 2016, with images of her first congressional win.

The Pelosi video also featured some of her battles with President Donald Trump that have made her an icon among the Democratic faithful. First was when she fought with the president during a December 2018 Oval Office meeting about a government shutdown. Afterward Pelosi walked out of the White House, wearing an orange coat and donning her sunglasses  an image that went viral.

The video also showed a photo from an October 2019 meeting in the White House that saw Democrats walk out over, charging Trump with having a meltdown. The White House released a photo showing Pelosi standing up, finger pointed at Trump. She made it her Twitter profile picture.

'As Speaker, I've seen firsthand Donald Trump's disrespect for facts, for working families, and for women in particular,' Pelosi said. 'But we know what he doesn't: that when women succeed, America succeeds.'

She also touted Biden's support for women.

Bigger star: Nancy Pelosi was given a documentary film treatment immediately after Hillary Clinton presenting her as a bigger star - a recognition that she is the most powerful woman in American history

Address: Nancy Pelosi delivered her speech from San Francisco, dressed like Hillary Clinton in white in recognition of 100 years of the 19th Amendment, the end of the long struggle for women's suffrage

'Joe Biden is the President we need right now: battle-tested, forward-looking, honest and authentic. He has never forgotten where he comes from and who he fights for,' she said.

'Our nation faces the worst health and economic catastrophe in our history: more than 5 million Americans are infected by the coronavirus,' Pelosi said. 'And who is standing in the way? [Sen.] Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump. Instead of crushing the virus, they're trying to crush the Affordable Care Actand its protections for preexisting conditions.'

During her speech, Clinton warned voters not to let 2020 be a 'coulda shoulda woulda election' and said people still come up to her they wish they had not voted for her 2016 rival.

Clinton told convention viewers people come to her to justify their votes for Trump or express that they didn't cast a ballot.

'For four years, people have said to me, 'I didn't realize how dangerous he was.' 'I wish I could go back and do it over.' Or worst, 'I should have voted,' Clinton said.

Hillary Clinton, with Joe Biden in the background, campaigning in Scranton. She will speak Wednesday about the 2016 election, saying people still approach her to say the didn't know 'how dangerous' Donald Trump was when they voted for him

'Well, this can't be another woulda coulda shoulda election. If you vote by mail, request your ballot now, and send it back as soon as you can,' she continues. 'If you vote in person, do it early. Bring a friend and wear a mask. Become a poll worker. Most of all, no matter what, vote. Vote like our lives and livelihoods are on the line, because they are.'

Clinton, speaking a night after her husband Bill Clinton gave a 5-minute video address, echoed a theme of the convention: Trump 'is who he is.' She is resurrecting a withering line by former first lady Michelle Obama, who also included a similar line in her well-received speech, after Trump used the phrase while explaining the thousands of coronavirus deaths in the country during the pandemic.

'I wish Donald Trump had been a better president. But, sadly, he is who he is. America needs a president who shows the same compassion, determination, and leadership in the White House that we see in our communities,' Clinton said.

'For four years, people have said to me, 'I didn't realize how dangerous he was.' 'I wish I could go back and do it over,' Clinton will say

Vice President Joe Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attend a portrait unveiling ceremony for retiring Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., in Russell Building's Kennedy Caucus Room, December 08, 2016

'Throughout this crisis, Americans have kept going  checking on neighbors, showing up to jobs as first responders and in hospitals, grocery stores, and nursing homes. Because it still takes a village,' she said, quoting her own book.

The ex-candidate who spoke of the highest 'glass ceiling' throughout her 2016 campaign also invoked the historic fight for the vote by women  at a time when Biden holds a big edge over Trump with women but trails among men.

Hillary Clinton accepts the Democratic Party nomination as their candidate for president on the final night of the Democratic National Convention, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 28, 2016

In this image from video, Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden smiles after the roll call vote during the second night of the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020

'100 years ago yesterday, the 19th Amendment was ratified. It took seven decades of suffragists marching, picketing, and going to jail to push us closer to a more perfect union. 55 years ago, John Lewis marched and bled in Selma because that work was unfinished,' she said.

Now it is Biden running mate California Sen. Kamala Harris who is positioned as the female politician with the perhaps the best chance of reaching Clinton's unfulfilled White House dream.

'There's a lot of heartbreak in America right now  and the truth is, many things were broken before the pandemic. But, as the saying goes, the world breaks everyone, and afterward, many are strong at the broken places. Joe Biden knows how to heal, unify, and lead, because he's done all of that for his family and his country.'

READ HILLARY CLINTON'S FULL CONVENTION SPEECH Good evening. After the last election, I said, 'We owe Donald Trump an open mind and the chance to lead.' I really meant it. Every president deserves that. And Trump walked into the Oval Office with so much set up for him: A strong economy. Plans for managing criseslike a pandemic. Yes, we Democrats would have disagreed with him on many, many things. But if he had put his own interests and ego asideif he could have seen the humanity in a child ripped from her parents at the border or a protester calling for justice or a family whose home was destroyed by a wildfire who happened to live in a blue stateif he had even tried to govern well and lead us allhe might have proved us wrong. And that would have been a good thing, for America and the world. I wish Donald Trump had been a better president. Because America needs a better president than this. America needs a president who shows the same compassion, determination, and leadership in the White House that we see in our communities. Throughout this crisis, Americans have kept goingchecking on neighbors, showing up to jobs at grocery stores and nursing homes. Because it still takes a village. We need leaders equal to this moment. We need Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Everyone has a story about Joe's thoughtfulness and empathy. I remember him calling after my mother, Dorothy, died. We talked about being raised by strong, no-nonsense women. When I walked with him through the house where he grew up in Scranton, he remembered every detailabout the house, the neighborhood, the people who lived there, and the values they shared. There is no better testament to Joe's character than his familyincluding his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, who has said she will keep her teaching job as First Lady. That's outstanding. And boy, did Joe, pick the right partner in Kamala Harrisanother daughter of an extraordinary mother. Kamala is relentless in the pursuit of justice, and uncommonly kind. When her press secretary Tyrone Gayle, a remarkable young man who had also worked on my campaign, was dying of cancer, she dropped everything to be with him in his final moments. Because that's who she is. I know a thing or two about the slings and arrows coming her way. Kamala can handle them all. This is the team to pull our nation back from the brink and build back better. But they can't do it without all of us. For four years, people have said to me, 'I didn't realize how dangerous he was.' 'I wish I could go back and do it over.' 'I should have voted.' This can't be another woulda-coulda-shoulda election. If you're voting by mail, request your ballot now, and send it back as soon as you can. If you vote in person, do it early. Bring a friend and wear a mask. Become a poll worker. Most of all, no matter what, vote. And convince everyone you know to vote. Remember in 2016 when Trump asked: 'What do you have to lose?' Well, now we know: our health, our jobs, even our lives. Our leadership in the world and, yes, our post office. As Michelle Obama and Bernie Sanders warned us on Monday: If Trump is re-elected, it will get even worse. My friends, we need unity now more than ever. But let's set our sights higher than getting one man out of the White House. Let's vote for the jobs Joe will create, and for emergency relief that lifts small businesses and hardworking people. Because it's wrong that the wealthiest Americans got $400 billion richer during the pandemic while 40 million people lost their jobs. Vote for parents struggling to balance their child's education and their safety. And for health care workers fighting COVID-19 with no help from the White House. Vote for paid family leave and health care for everyone. Vote to protect Social Security, Medicare, reproductive rights, and our planet. Vote for DREAMers and their families. For law enforcement that serves and respects communities of color. Vote for justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, because Black Lives Matter. Vote to make sure wenot a foreign adversarychoose our president. Vote for the America we saw in the roll call last night: diverse, compassionate, full of energy and hope. Vote like our lives and livelihoods are on the line, because they are. Remember: Joe and Kamala can win 3 million more votes and still lose. Take. It. From. Me. We need numbers so overwhelming Trump can't sneak or steal his way to victory. So text VOTE to 30330 and let's go win. One hundred years ago yesterday, the 19th Amendment was ratified. It took seven decades of suffragists marching, picketing, and going to jail to push us closer to that more perfect union. Fifty-five years ago, John Lewis marched and bled in Selma because that work was unfinished. Tonight I am thinking of the girls and boys who see themselves in America's future because of Kamala Harrisa Black woman, the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, and our nominee for Vice President of the United States. This is our country's story: breaking down barriers and expanding the circle of possibility. So to all the young people: Don't give up on America. Despite our flaws and problems, we have come so far. And we can still be a more just and equal country, full of opportunities previous generations could never have imagined. There's a lot of heartbreak in America right nowand the truth is, many things were broken before the pandemic. But, as the saying goes, the world breaks everyone at one point or another, and afterward, many are stronger in the broken places. Joe Biden knows how to heal, because he's done it himself. So come November, we will be strong together. We will heal together. We will redeem the soul and promise of this country together. We will elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harristogether. Advertisement

KAMALA HARRIS'S FULL SPEECH TO THE 2020 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION Greetings America. It is truly an honor to be speaking with you. That I am here tonight is a testament to the dedication of generations before me. Women and men who believed so fiercely in the promise of equality, liberty, and justice for all. This week marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment. And we celebrate the women who fought for that right. Yet so many of the Black women who helped secure that victory were still prohibited from voting, long after its ratification. But they were undeterred. Without fanfare or recognition, they organized, testified, rallied, marched, and foughtnot just for their vote, but for a seat at the table. These women and the generations that followed worked to make democracy and opportunity real in the lives of all of us who followed. They paved the way for the trailblazing leadership of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. And these women inspired us to pick up the torch, and fight on. Women like Mary Church Terrell and Mary McCleod Bethune. Fannie Lou Hamer and Diane Nash. Constance Baker Motley and Shirley Chisholm. We're not often taught their stories. But as Americans, we all stand on their shoulders. There's another woman, whose name isn't known, whose story isn't shared. Another woman whose shoulders I stand on. And that's my motherShyamala Gopalan Harris. She came here from India at age 19 to pursue her dream of curing cancer. At the University of California Berkeley, she met my father, Donald Harriswho had come from Jamaica to study economics. They fell in love in that most American waywhile marching together for justice in the civil rights movement of the 1960s. In the streets of Oakland and Berkeley, I got a stroller's-eye view of people getting into what the great John Lewis called "good trouble." When I was 5, my parents split and my mother raised us mostly on her own. Like so many mothers, she worked around the clock to make it workpacking lunches before we woke up and paying bills after we went to bed. Helping us with homework at the kitchen tableand shuttling us to church for choir practice. She made it look easy, though I know it never was. My mother instilled in my sister, Maya, and me the values that would chart the course of our lives. She raised us to be proud, strong Black women. And she raised us to know and be proud of our Indian heritage. She taught us to put family firstthe family you're born into and the family you choose. Family, is my husband Doug, who I met on a blind date set up by my best friend. Family is our beautiful children, Cole and Ella, who as you just heard, call me Momala. Family is my sister. Family is my best friend, my nieces and my godchildren. Family is my uncles, my auntsmy chitthis. Family is Mrs. Sheltonmy second mother who lived two doors down and helped raise me. Family is my beloved Alpha Kappa Alpha...our Divine 9...and my HBCU brothers and sisters. Family is the friends I turned to when my motherthe most important person in my lifepassed away from cancer. And even as she taught us to keep our family at the center of our world, she also pushed us to see a world beyond ourselves. She taught us to be conscious and compassionate about the struggles of all people. To believe public service is a noble cause and the fight for justice is a shared responsibility. That led me to become a lawyer, a District Attorney, Attorney General, and a United States Senator. And at every step of the way, I've been guided by the words I spoke from the first time I stood in a courtroom: Kamala Harris, For the People. I've fought for children, and survivors of sexual assault. I've fought against transnational gangs. I took on the biggest banks, and helped take down one of the biggest for-profit colleges. I know a predator when I see one. My mother taught me that service to others gives life purpose and meaning. And oh, how I wish she were here tonight but I know she's looking down on me from above. I keep thinking about that 25-year-old Indian womanall of five feet tallwho gave birth to me at Kaiser Hospital in Oakland, California. On that day, she probably could have never imagined that I would be standing before you now speaking these words: I accept your nomination for Vice President of the United States of America. I do so, committed to the values she taught me. To the Word that teaches me to walk by faith, and not by sight. And to a vision passed on through generations of Americansone that Joe Biden shares. A vision of our nation as a Beloved Communitywhere all are welcome, no matter what we look like, where we come from, or who we love. A country where we may not agree on every detail, but we are united by the fundamental belief that every human being is of infinite worth, deserving of compassion, dignity and respect. A country where we look out for one another, where we rise and fall as one, where we face our challenges, and celebrate our triumphstogether. Today... that country feels distant. Donald Trump's failure of leadership has cost lives and livelihoods. If you're a parent struggling with your child's remote learning, or you're a teacher struggling on the other side of that screen, you know that what we're doing right now isn't working. And we are a nation that's grieving. Grieving the loss of life, the loss of jobs, the loss of opportunities, the loss of normalcy. And yes, the loss of certainty. And while this virus touches us all, let's be honest, it is not an equal opportunity offender. Black, Latino and Indigenous people are suffering and dying disproportionately. This is not a coincidence. It is the effect of structural racism. Of inequities in education and technology, health care and housing, job security and transportation. The injustice in reproductive and maternal health care. In the excessive use of force by police. And in our broader criminal justice system. This virus has no eyes, and yet it knows exactly how we see each otherand how we treat each other. And let's be clearthere is no vaccine for racism. We've gotta do the work. For George Floyd. For Breonna Taylor. For the lives of too many others to name. For our children. For all of us. We've gotta do the work to fulfill that promise of equal justice under law. Because, none of us are free...until all of us are free... We're at an inflection point. The constant chaos leaves us adrift. The incompetence makes us feel afraid. The callousness makes us feel alone. It's a lot. And here's the thing: We can do better and deserve so much more. We must elect a president who will bring something different, something better, and do the important work. A president who will bring all of us togetherBlack, White, Latino, Asian, Indigenousto achieve the future we collectively want. We must elect Joe Biden. I knew Joe as Vice President. I knew Joe on the campaign trail. But I first got to know Joe as the father of my friend. Joe's son, Beau, and I served as Attorneys General of our states, Delaware and California. During the Great Recession, we spoke on the phone nearly every day, working together to win back billions of dollars for homeowners from the big banks that foreclosed on people's homes. And Beau and I would talk about his family. How, as a single father, Joe would spend 4 hours every day riding the train back and forth from Wilmington to Washington. Beau and Hunter got to have breakfast every morning with their dad. They went to sleep every night with the sound of his voice reading bedtime stories. And while they endured an unspeakable loss, these two little boys Always knew that they were deeply, unconditionally loved. And what also moved me about Joe is the work he did, as he went back and forth. This is the leader who wrote the Violence Against Women Actand enacted the Assault Weapons Ban. Who, as Vice President, implemented The Recovery Act, which brought our country back from The Great Recession. He championed The Affordable Care Act, protecting millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions. Who spent decades promoting American values and interests around the world, standing up with our allies and standing up to our adversaries. Right now, we have a president who turns our tragedies into political weapons. Joe will be a president who turns our challenges into purpose. Joe will bring us together to build an economy that doesn't leave anyone behind. Where a good-paying job is the floor, not the ceiling. Joe will bring us together to end this pandemic and make sure that we are prepared for the next one. Joe will bring us together to squarely face and dismantle racial injustice, furthering the work of generations. Joe and I believe that we can build that Beloved Community, one that is strong and decent, just and kind. One in which we all can see ourselves. That's the vision that our parents and grandparents fought for. The vision that made my own life possible. The vision that makes the American promisefor all its complexities and imperfectionsa promise worth fighting for. Make no mistake, the road ahead will not be not easy. We will stumble. We may fall short. But I pledge to you that we will act boldly and deal with our challenges honestly. We will speak truths. And we will act with the same faith in you that we ask you to place in us. We believe that our countryall of us, will stand together for a better future. We already are. We see it in the doctors, the nurses, the home health care workers and the frontline workers who are risking their lives to save people they've never met. We see it in the teachers and truck drivers, the factory workers and farmers, the postal workers and the Poll workers, all putting their own safety on the line to help us get through this pandemic. And we see it in so many of you who are working, not just to get us through our current crises, but to somewhere better. There's something happening, all across the country. It's not about Joe or me. It's about you. It's about us. People of all ages and colors and creeds who are, yes, taking to the streets, and also persuading our family members, rallying our friends, organizing our neighbors, and getting out the vote. And we've shown that, when we vote, we expand access to health care, expand access to the ballot box, and ensure that more working families can make a decent living. I'm inspired by a new generation of leadership. You are pushing us to realize the ideals of our nation, pushing us to live the values we share: decency and fairness, justice and love. You are the patriots who remind us that to love our country is to fight for the ideals of our country. In this election, we have a chance to change the course of history. We're all in this fight. You, me, and Joetogether. What an awesome responsibility. What an awesome privilege. So, let's fight with conviction. Let's fight with hope. Let's fight with confidence in ourselves, and a commitment to each other. To the America we know is possible. The America, we love. Years from now, this moment will have passed. And our children and our grandchildren will look in our eyes and ask us: Where were you when the stakes were so high? They will ask us, what was it like? And we will tell them. We will tell them, not just how we felt. We will tell them what we did. Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America. Advertisement
Five officer bearers of housing societies and a property dealer have been arrested by the Delhi Polices Economic Offences Wing (EOW) for duping 350 home buyers of 40 crore by making them invest in projects under the land pooling policy which is yet to be finalised by the Delhi Development Authority, the police said.

OP Mishra, the joint commissioner of police (EOW), identified the three housing societies as Rudra Welfare Society, Aerocity Dwarka and Eminent Officers Welfare Societyall of which are based in Dwarka and allegedly do not have the authority to develop these projects.

While the FIRs against officials of the first two societies were registered in January this year, the case against the officials of the third was filed in June.

A senior DDA official, requesting anonymity, said that so far no sector has been confirmed for land pooling policy in Delhi as the law requires at least 70% of land owners to give their consent for participation before the license for construction is given.

So far, we have received willingness from owners of 6,500 hectares of land in Delhi for the land pooling policy, but there is not even a single sector where the 70% participation requirement has been fulfilled. So, no licence has been issued so far, said the official.

The DDA had approved the land pooling policy in February last year to ensure sufficient homes in the city. While the policy is yet to be finalised, the builders allegedly took advantage of potential home buyers anticipation to start various fake schemes to rake in easy money, the police said.

The joint commissioner of police, Mishra, said that the arrested men had floated various attractive schemes among potential investors and had demanded money in the name of advance payments, registration fees, etc. One victim, for example, had revealed that he was promised a flat for 1,760 square feet for 51 lakh and he paid up over 20 lakh as a token for advance booking, said Mishra.

Our investigation has revealed that these illegal housing societies misused the idea of DDAs land pooling policy to portray that the projects are authorised by the government, said Mishra.

Police said that the builders were attracting home buyers by offering flats for very cheap prices in a place like west Delhis Dwarka where property prices are high.

They formed housing societies and created websites to lure buyers and sent bulk text messages to people in Delhi-NCR about housing projects which legally cannot be constructed, said Mishra.

Earlier in February, the EOW had arrested three office bearers of another society, Revanta Multi State CGHS Ltd, for a similar fraud, said the officer. While the scale of this fraud is yet to be ascertained by the police, Mishra said that the number of people duped could be thousands.

A DDA official, who did not wish to be named, said that the agency has been regularly issuing advertisements to deter potential buyers from investing in properties which dont even have the license yet. People are being made aware that no land has been allotted yet to any developer for any housing projects under this policy, said the official.

The police said that other victims of similar frauds could visit its EOW office in New Delhis Mandir Marg or email their complaints to dcp-eow-dl@nic.in.
Algeria will increase its non-energy products export to $5 billion next year from current $2 billion, The Algerian President said Tuesday as the North African looks to reduce dependence on energy earnings.

The President was speaking at the national conference on the socio-economic recovery plan of the OPEC member country.

Algeria is grappling with sluggish economy caused by a slump in energy export revenues which account for state funding, 94 per cent of the countrys total exports earnings.

Energy export revenues are expected to fall down to $24 billion this year from $33 billion in 2019 while foreign exchange reserves have fallen to $57 billion from $62 billion in January.

The President rejected allegations that the Algerian state is bankrupt due to lack of enough liquidity to cover the countrys needs and expects the private sector to invest in the economy in a move to avoid turning to the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (FMI) or rich Arab Gulf countries.

The financial state of the country is difficult, but it is not dreadful, we can hang in while waiting for your investments and the recovery of the national economy, he told the private sector businessmen attending the gathering.

The President, to lure investments from the private sector, announced plans to allow the establishment of private banks, air and sea transport companies for goods and passengers.

I see no objection to private investors creating air and sea freight and passenger transport (companies), as well as banks, he said.
As reported COVID-19 cases continue to climb in the U.S., Chicago-based parents Margaret Storey and Jonathan Heller have struggled with the decision to send their daughter, Josie, who's disabled, back to school. Josie, 16, was born with Aicardi Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that left her unable to walk or talk.

And while the decision to send children back to school weighs heavily on all parents, families of children with intellectual, physical and developmental disabilities are facing unique challenges and considerations.

"There's a lot of general information out there about return-to-school, but often when children have medical problems, families hear that information and think -- 'How does that apply to my kid?'" Dr. Carolyn Foster, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, told ABC News.

"This is an individualized decision for each family that depends on a child's medical conditions, but also the circumstances of the family," Foster said. "Even two children who on paper have the same medical condition, depending on the family circumstances, may have to plan differently."

While some children with disabilities likely would benefit from going back to school, others like Josie may have a harder time doing so safely.

PHOTO: A classroom aide helps a student using electronic magnifier equipment in Wellsville, New York, Jan. 30, 2020. (Universal Images Group via Getty Images, FILE)

"There is a lot of complexity involved with her daily care," said Storey, a professor and associate dean at DePaul University, who also advocates for children with medical complexities and disabilities. "We confront the challenges that I think many families like ours do, which come with needing to rely on other people to help you care for your child."

Luckily for Josie, her family is able to offer a lot of support. Because her parents' jobs allow them to work from home, Josie won't be returning to school this fall. She's on the Home-Based Services Waiver through Illinois Medicaid, which provides a range of supportive services from counseling and training of unpaid caregivers to technology and equipment provisions. This school year, an in-home caregiver will be leading Josie's remote learning four days per week, and Storey plans to manage a fifth day.

Story continues

MORE: Colleges rethink reopening: 'If these steps are not successful, we'll have to send students home'

"We're very fortunate to make that choice, and a lot of families are not in that position," Storey said.

Josie still faces challenges.

"She's just devastated to be away from her friends -- she loves to go to school," Storey said. "What we have tended to prioritize is her physical well-being."

While Josie will be participating in teletherapy during her remote school days, Storey noted that schools often provide vital therapy for children with physical disabilities who otherwise might "lie in bed all day or sit in a chair for eight hours [at home] -- that's terrible for them."

Many children with disabilities also rely on special education teachers who are specifically trained to help children with extra needs. These children also benefit from in-person by learning to grow emotionally, develop friendships and learn coping skills.

Other parents may decide to send their children back to school, which should help their developmental health but may mean risking a COVID-19 infection. Now, researchers from Syracuse have found that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities may be at a higher risk.

According to their study, overall cases of COVID19 in children with intellectual and developmental disabilities were higher in the 0 to 17 age group compared to those without these disabilities. Although overall the risk of death associated with the virus was low for each group, Children with IDD who tested positive were over 16 times more likely to die.

PHOTO: Children study with their dad while their school is closed following the Coronavirus outbreak in Washington, Mar. 20, 2020. (Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images, FILE)

Storey, a member of the school's PTA, notes that around 50% of families have elected to return to the classroom this fall at Josie's school.

In terms of practical return-to-school considerations, Storey and Foster both recommend that parents first talk with their child's pediatrician to understand what underlying conditions might be affected by a COVID-19 diagnosis -- and how to mitigate those risks.

"Pediatricians like me who care for kids with chronic conditions encourage parents to think about what we call disaster planning, and this happens to be a particular type of disaster," Foster said.

Next, Storey recommends families talk to their school to learn the degree to which the school is willing or able to meet those mitigation criteria. Some schools will be better equipped than others.

"Many families really rely on services that they get at school," said Foster, adding that pediatricians may be able to help facilitate creative solutions, such as hosting therapy at alternate sites if the risk of attending school is too high.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends families of children who receive speech, occupational or physical therapy, or other related services at school to familiarize themselves with how these services will continue during in-person return to school or virtual learning.

MORE: New Zealands renewed COVID crisis: Why scientists say the virus is hard to contain

"Keep a paper trail of how you've tried to contact the school, who you've contacted and when you've contacted them to build your case for your child's Individual Education Plan," Foster explained. "If you're having trouble getting in contact with your school, don't be shy to ask your pediatrician to join in, particularly if there are a lot of medical details that might come up as questions from your school." Social workers, if available, are another helpful resource for advocating for a child with special needs.

When it comes to receiving medical treatments at school, Foster explained that therapies such as breathing treatments may be safely transitioned to alternatives to decrease the risk of spreading COVID-19 through aerosolized particles around caregivers and classmates.

MORE: CDC to start surveying nation's wastewater

And, Foster urged, everyone at schools should wear a mask "for the sake of kids who can't" because of their disabilities.

The Child Neurology Foundation provides helpful mask tips for children with sensory-processing disorders. For children with anatomic limitations to masks, such as a tracheostomy or craniofacial differences, Foster encourages families to discuss creative solutions with their subspecialists.

Storey encourages parents of children with disabilities to reach out to patient advocacy groups within their child's disease, which can provide excellent resources. The Child Neurology Foundation has been creating webinars and videos considering a broad spectrum of children with diverse neurological conditions, such as how to discuss options with schools.

Molly Stout, M.D., a dermatology resident at Northwestern in Chicago, is a contributor to the ABC News Medical Unit.

Children with disabilities face additional challenges returning to school amid coronavirus originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
By PTI

AGARTALA: At least 130 people of Phuldungsei, a remote Mizo inhabited village in North Tripura district bordering Mizoram, have their names in the electoral roll of the neighbouring state, an official said.

Phuldungsei is part of a cluster of villages on Jampui hills of Tripura.

Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Kanchanpur, Chandni Chandran in a letter to North Tripura District Magistrate said on careful scrutiny of part 37 of Hacchek ST constituency of Mizoram it was found that names of 130 people of Phuldungsei village have been added to Hacchek ST constituency of Mizoram.

The SDM further said in the letter dated August 17 that Phuldungsei village council "has been added as part of Hacchek constituency of Mizoram as Zampui Phuldungsei."

The letter made available to media said, 130 voters, whose names figured in the electoral roll of Mizoram are residents of Tripura and their names also figure in the electoral rolls of Tripura and also in the Register of Residency (ROR) of Phuldungsei Village Council and they avail ration from Phuldungsei Ration shop under Kanchanpur Sub- division.

"Currently, the PWD road leading to Kawnpui border village of Jampui hill RD block is regarded as the boundary between Tripura and Mizoram in Phuldungsei where the Eastern side belongs to Mizoram and the western side is Tripura.

Traditional Phuldungsei VC as a whole (despite eastern side falling in Mizoram) has been accepted as a part of Tripura," the letter said.

The SDM in his letter said, "There is an urgent need to demarcate the exact boundary between Mizoram and Tripura incorporating the entire Phuldungsei VC in Tripura.

Tripuras royal scion Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma two days back had said that reports of Tripura's territories being taken away by a neighbouring state (Mizoram) has to be dealt with firmly.

"I have spoken to CM @BjpBiplab and the SDM Kanchanpur that reports of our territories being taken away by a neighbouring state has to be dealt with firmly. This report confirms it. We demand immediate response from the govt in this matter. Tripura boundaries are non negotiable," Debbaram had tweeted.

Debbarma is the chief of the Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (TIPRA).

He is also a former president of Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee.

He demanded an immediate response from the government of Tripura, in this matter.

Debbarma said, "Tripura boundaries are not negotiable and to those who were shouting against us I want to ask you one question, why are you silent when our state boundaries are redrawn? Als,o where are the indigenous political leaders and their position on this issue or are they only there to shout before elections? Speak up for this is our state. speak out as one".

Officials posted in Kanchanpur sub-division said, "People of the eastern side of Phuldungsei have a double ration card and double voter ID cards also."
SANTA CLARA, Calif. and SYDNEY, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Trianz, a global digital transformation consulting and technology services firm, has successfully renewed its membership in the prestigious Amazon Web Services (AWS) Managed Service Provider (MSP) Program with a top score.

As a recognized AWS MSP Partner, Trianz has demonstrated its capabilities in the areas of Strategy and Roadmap, Implementations, and Managed Services.

The renewal shows that Trianz remains committed to delivering next-generation innovation and accelerating its clients' digital transformation journeys. For instance, the firm recently released its new Athena Federated Query (AFQ) Accelerator that combines the advantages of AWS serverless services with a pay-as-you-go plan. Trianz's proprietary AFQ extensions offer faster time to market, a low-cost proof-of-concept, and a quick scale to production - all with fewer lines of code.

This recognition builds on Trianz's established track record of devising strategies, roadmaps, and implementations that will scale over time. The renewal has reinforced Trianz's relationship with AWS, in place since 2013.

"We are extremely proud of our top score and continued recognition in the AWS MSP Program," said Ganeshan Venkateshwaran, President at Trianz. "The recognition validates the excellent and consistent feedback we get from our clients as we leverage our unique methodologies, supported by the latest tools and technologies, to offer them business agility, which is critical in this digital economy. With this renewal, we're committed to ensuring that our technical capabilities and processes exceed the standards set by the AWS MSP Program and demonstrate alignment with AWS best practices and standards."

"We are delighted that AWS recognizes the strength, depth and quality of our AWS capabilities with this continued renewal," said Ingo Piroth, Senior Vice President and National Practice Leader - US, Trianz. "This validation underlines our proven expertise in helping customers transform their business by adopting agile and innovative practices. This recognition is impossible without our associates who constantly push themselves to learn new technologies to create secure and scalable IT environments for our clients. Our growth momentum will continue to accelerate as we are committed to investing heavily in our AWS capabilities and helping clients transform their businesses."

The AWS MSP Program is designed to validate and promote AWS Partner Network (APN) Advanced and Premier Tier Consulting Partners, providing end-to-end AWS solutions to customers. The AWS MSP Partners help customers solve complex business needs at any stage of their cloud adoption journey.

For more information about Trianz's AWS competencies, please visit https://www.trianz.com/partnerships/cloud/aws-consulting .

About Trianz

Trianz simplifies digital evolutions of companies from strategy through execution. Leveraging its global digital transformation database of over 1.5 million datapoints, Trianz provides digital maturity and benchmarking services, transformation strategy development and execution blueprint services. With a unique, multi-disciplinary and collaborative model, Trianz helps clients transition to new business models, digitalized processes and deliver great experiences utilizing Analytics, Digital, Cloud, Infrastructure and Cyber Security technologies. For more information, visit www.trianz.com.

Trianz Media Team

Media.Contact@trianz.com

+1-408-387-5800

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/626944/Trianz_Logo.jpg
Senator Kamala Harris painted a vision of America that celebrated diversity in her historic Democratic National Convention speech.

The senator from California, who made history when selected as Bidens running mate last week, spoke live from Wilmington, Delaware, on Wednesday. (The major political event was held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.) Harris said she was committed to the values that her mother, an immigrant from India, had taught her.

She raised us to be proud, strong Black women, Harris said of her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, who died of cancer in 2009. And she raised us to know and be proud of our Indian heritage.

Harris then spoke of a vision passed on through generations of Americans  one that Joe Biden shares. ... A vision of our nation as a beloved community, where all are welcome, no matter what we look like, where we come from or who we love.

Harris also criticised President Donald Trump  who has a long, ongoing history of racism  saying that Americans must elect a president who will bring something different, something better... A president who will bring all of us together  Black, white, Latino, Asian, Indigenous  to achieve the future we collectively want.

Harris, 55, is the second Black woman ever to serve in the U.S. Senate and is the first Black and first Asian American nominee for vice president by a major political party. If elected, she will also become the first female vice president in U.S. history.

A short video that played before Harris remarks Wednesday featured several Black women speaking about the senator, one of them describing Harris as someone who can fight for Black people, brown people, undocumented people, LGBT people, disabled people. It included a clip from an interview in which Harris said, The litmus test for America is how we are treating Black women.

Continue reading on HuffPost
Job Title: Annual

Survey Enumerator (26 Data Collection Jobs)

Organization: Catholic

Relief Services (CRS)

Duty Station:

Uganda

Reports to:

MEAL Manager (Survey Team Lead)

About US:

Catholic Relief

Services (CRS) is an international non-governmental organization (NGO)

supporting relief and development work in over 100 countries around the world.

CRS carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist

the poor and vulnerable overseas. CRS Catholic identity is at the heart of our

mission and operations; serving people on the basis of need, regardless of

creed, ethnicity or nationality. CRS works through local church and non-church

partners to implement its programs. CRS has worked in Uganda since 1965,

initially providing emergency assistance to Sudanese refugees living in the

north. Over the years, CRS has expanded its programming to also address

development needs in western, central and eastern Uganda. CRS projects in

Uganda currently include agriculture, health, microfinance, peace building and

youth. CRS Uganda implements its programs through partnerships with local

organizations, including the Catholic Church, other faith-based organizations

and community entities for maximum impact and sustainability.

About USAID Program:

CRS is leading a

consortium of six implementing and technical partners to run a five-year, $35

million USAID/FFP funded program called Nuyok to build resilience to shocks,

enhance livelihoods through improved food security and nutrition and promote

maternal and child health for vulnerable rural families in four districts of

Karamoja  Abim, Nakapiripirit, Nabilatuk and Napak. Nuyok seeks to strengthen

governance and gender equity, community capacity to manage shocks and stresses,

traditional and diversified livelihood opportunities and nutrition and health

(including improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) of pregnant and

lactating women, adolescent girls and children under five years of age.

Job Summary: CRS seeks to recruit 26 experienced annual

survey enumerators. The enumerators responsibilities will be on a

need-for-work basis and is not going to be a full-time job. The enumerators

will work under the supervision of Nuyok MEAL officers and will be responsible

for administering questionnaires to Nuyok participants (beneficiaries) in rural

communities of Abim, Napak, Nakapiripirit and Nabilatuk districts as well as

entering responses into CommCare Mobile Application, providing important

feedback on key issues of concern as they emerge during survey testing and data

collection. Enumerators will participate in a training related to the tool

before administering the survey in targeted households. The enumerators will be

primarily responsible for collecting data for the Nuyok participant based

annual survey at household level. The enumerators will be responsible to gather

and accurately record responses in the questionnaire uploaded in CommCare

Mobile Application. The jobholder will ensure that data entered into the system

is accurate and complete. The jobholder will recognize and give account of

problems in obtaining data and provide useful feedback from the field in the

course of the survey.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Pre-data

Enumerators duties:



Participate

in the training workshop for the survey questionnaire to understand the

requirements and contents;



Participate

in training workshop and orientation of the use of the CommCare based

questionnaire;



Participate

in a questionnaire pretest and trial-run of the data processing and reporting.

Data Enumerators

duties:



Conduct

face to face interviews with selected respondents using the survey

questionnaire;



Enter

responses to the CommCare application using data collection tablets;



Ensure

daily uploads of survey data into the server;



Report

key issues of concern during data collection and hand over to the team lead at

end of each day;



Exercise

high level of security measures to avoid data loss and theft of devices.

Post-Data

Collection duties:



Return

all data collection gadgets and materials to survey supervisor;



Answer

any questions from the supervisor regarding the data uploaded;



Maintain

confidentiality of all the information under your access;



Participate

in any post survey learning event Nuyok may organize.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:



The

ideal applicant for the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Annual Survey Enumerator

job must hold a bachelors degree or equivalent in in Economics, Social

Sciences or Development Studies.



Previous

experience conducting data collection using mobile devices is a must;



Highly

organized individual, capable of handling multiple priorities, meeting

deadlines, and managing time effectively;



Must be

available for the entire period.



Ability

to work independently as well as an effective team player;



Willingness

to work long hours to achieve set goals;



MUST be

fluent in the local languages Leb Thur, Ngakarimojong;



Working

English language proficiency;



Self-motivated

and willing to learn;



Experience

with development programming, preferably in one or more of the following

sectors: agro-enterprise and agriculture; DRR and resilience; irrigation and

natural resource management including farmer producer group (FPG) participants;

livestock and fisheries; nutrition-related SBCC activities; savings and

internal lending communities (SILC); and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH);



Knowledge

of CommCare Application is an added advantage but not a requirement.

Essential Traits



Honesty:

Enumerators should be able to show a high level of integrity and will not

fabricate responses or misrepresent Nuyok;



Ability

to Communicate: Confidently expresses self, able to clearly ask questions and

help the respondent understand what is needed from her/him;



Relationship

Building: Able to build trust with people at the rural level and maintain

confidentiality;



Cultural

Awareness: Must be aware of and sensitive to the cultural expectations of

communities in Karamoja;



Accuracy:

Must be able to interpret and record responses appropriately without distorting

the respondents meaning;



Endurance:

Must be able to work for full day working hours in the field across a number of

days.

How to Apply:

All candidates

should Email a cover letter and CV only to ug_recruitment@crs.org

NB:



Large

files and/or scans of documents will lead to rejection of your application.



In the

subject line of the email, copy and paste  ANNUAL SURVEY ENUMERATOR. All

applications that do not contain this subject line will be rejected and not

read.

Deadline: 23rd August 2020 by 5:00pm

For more of the

latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or

find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline
After the Democratic Convention ends Thursday night with Joe Biden officially accepting his nomination, more than 70 former Republican national security officials plan to endorse the Democratic candidate and condemn President Donald Trump.

'Trump has demonstrated that he lacks the character and competence to lead this nation and has engaged in corrupt behavior that renders him unfit to serve as president,' the 73-strong group plans to declare in a full-page ad in The Wall Street Journal on Friday.

'We have concluded that Donald Trump has failed our country and that Vice President Joe Biden should be elected the next President of the United States,' the copy adds.

The group, called Former Republican National Security Officials for Biden, includes many considered the most senior Republicans members of the U.S. defense and intelligence establishment and they have served in administrations spanning from Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and even under Trump himself.

Bob Tuttle, who served as director of personnel under Reagan and ambassador to the UK under Bush Jr., is a member of the national security group called Trump's handling of the coronavirus crisis had been 'abominable.'

'He's a malignant narcissist. He's a liar. He's a despicable human being and the worst president in American history - it's not even close,' he told Reuters.

A group of 73 former Republican national security officials will endorse Joe Biden on Friday and condemn Donald Trump as a 'liar,' 'abominable' person and a 'narcissist'

The group includes John Negroponte (left), the first director of National Intelligence and William Webster (right), the only man to serve as both head of the CIA and FBI

General Michael Hayden, who served as national security director and head of the CIA under George W. Bush, is also part of the Republican group

Another group member, James Glassman, an undersecretary of state in the George W. Bush administration, said Trump had created 'global chaos.'

'Lack of leadership has led to the deaths of 170,000 Americans,' Glassman said. 'There's no excuse in the country with the best health scientists in the world.'

Their full-throated condemnation of Trump and backing of Biden will come three days before the Republican nominating convention opens on Monday.

It will attempt to ipstage the four-day event by underscoring how the president has alienated some members of his own party, especially among intelligence and foreign policy veterans.

The group also includes the likes of retired General Michael Hayden, who served as national security director and head of the CIA; William Webster, the only man to serve as both head of the CIA and FBI; John Negroponte, the first director of National Intelligence; Michael Leiter, former director of the National Counterterrorism Center; and Mike Donley, former secretary of the Air Force.

The group is one of a number of Republican organizations opposing Trump's re-election in the Nov. 3 election  one of the most notable and vocal being The Lincoln Project, which is headed by Trump's Senior Counselor Kellyanne Conway's husband George Conway.

Collectively, the more than six dozen individuals object to Trump's alienation of U.S. allies abroad and his leadership at home.

Most recently they are critical of his response to the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 170,000 Americans and triggered a severe economic downturn.

The Trump campaign has described Republican-led groups campaigning for Biden, such as Republican Voters Against Trump, as 'the swamp' and disaffected former officials 'trying to take down the duly elected President of the United States.'

One of those groups is 43 Alumni for Biden, which includes hundreds of officials who worked for George W. Bush who oppose Trump's reelection.

Trump himself has expressed contempt, saying on Twitter last year that such 'Never Trump Republicans' are 'human scum.'

The group lays out a detailed charge sheet against Trump, including accusations that he is unfit to lead in a national crisis, undermined confidence in U.S. elections, aligned himself with dictators, preached a 'dark and pessimistic view of America' and attacked and vilified immigrants.

The national security group will launch a website on Friday and come under the umbrella of another anti-Trump organization run by Republicans, Defending Democracy Together. The former national security officials raised $140,000 among themselves to launch their effort.
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A Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) utility worker and a helicopter pilot have died while battling California's wildfires as at least 24 blazes continued to rage through the state on Thursday, threatening thousands of homes.

In central California, pilot Michael Fournier, 52, was killed while on a water dropping mission in western Fresno County Wednesday morning when his helicopter crashed.

Fournier was working with Fillmore-based Guardian Helicopters, which had a contract with the state fire agency to provide emergency services, said Zoe Keliher, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

First responders spent more than 6 hours recovering his body from the wreckage. The NTSB said an investigation is underway.

The PG&E worker died while assisting at a fire in the Vacaville area between San Francisco and Sacramento but the circumstances around his death weren't immediately clear.

The utility confirmed the death but gave no details.

In central California, pilot Michael Fournier was killed while on a water dropping mission in western Fresno County Wednesday morning when his helicopter crashed

Fournier was working with Fillmore-based Guardian Helicopters, which had a contract with the state fire agency to provide emergency services, said Zoe Keliher, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board

Fournier was piloting a helicopter that looks similar to the one above

According to KPIX-TV, the worker was found in a vehicle and CPR was performed but he was pronounced dead at a hospital, said a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection statement.

The fires, many caused by lightning and sometimes pushed by strong winds, had burned hundreds of thousands of acres as they chewed through brushland, rural areas, canyon country and dense forest to the north, east and south of San Francisco.

Fires also burned in the Sierra Nevada and Southern California wild lands. In addition to about two dozen major blazes, small fires kept erupting, though most were quickly stopped.

California had recorded nearly 11,000 strikes in 72 hours, Gov Gavin Newsom said Wednesday. Two fires in Sonoma County prompted evacuation orders for 8,000 residents near the Russian River Wednesday.

Residents of Healdsburg, which has a population of about 12,000, were warned late Wednesday night to be ready to flee.

Ash and smoke filled the air in San Francisco from at least seven fires  known as the LNU Lightning Complex Fires  that had burned more than 100 buildings, including some homes, and threatened 25,000 others in Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Yolo and Solano counties.

'Fires are making runs in multiple directions and impacting multiple communities. A critically dry air mass is moving over the area bringing strong winds,' Cal Fire statement said Wednesday night.

Travis Air Force Base ordered non-mission essential personnel to evacuate, officials said

A Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) utility worker died while assisting at a fire in the Vacaville area between San Francisco and Sacramento but the circumstances around his death weren't immediately clear. A PG&E firefighter is seen walking in Fairfield, California, on Wednesday

The fires, many caused by lightning and sometimes pushed by strong winds, had burned hundreds of thousands of acres as they chewed through brushland, rural areas, canyon country and dense forest to the north, east and south of San Francisco

A home burns in Vacaville, California during the LNU Lightning Complex fire on Wednesday night

Docked boats burn on Lake Berryessa during the LNU Lightning Complex fire in Napa, California on Wednesday

A firefighter rakes dry vegetation to the backfire during the Lightning Complex fire on Wednesday in Vacaville, California

Huntington Beach fire department members battle the LNU Lightning Complex fires on Serenity Hills Road

Smoke rises from the LNU Lightning Complex wildfires as seen from an AlertWildfire camera looking east from Mount St Helena, north of Calistoga, California

Residents in nearby Vacaville, a city of about 100,000, were roused before dawn Wednesday by orders to flee.

Karen Hansen had fled late Tuesday as flames approached her small farm.

'The whole sky was red orange and it was coming over the hill there and it was massive. I've never seen anything like it and it only took a few minutes to get here,' she said.

The family fled with some animals but had to leave two beloved horses. They returned Wednesday to find the house and barn destroyed, but Hansen was thrilled to see that her horses had survived.

John Gardiner, 60, stayed up all night after receiving an alert from a neighbor of oncoming fire just before midnight Wednesday.

'It was incredible  things swirling, winds just whipping through like a howling, ripping sound and then you could hear explosions going off,' he said. 'You can taste smoke in your mouth.'

His house survived  for the moment.

In eastern San Francisco Bay, a cluster of 20 separate lightning-sparked fires called the SCU Lightning Complex threatened about 3,800 buildings in Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties.

A bicycle and palm tree burn at a residence during the LNU Lightning Complex fire in the Spanish Flat area of Napa, California

A fire-damaged home is seen in the Pineridge subdivision after the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire passed through on Thursday in Bonny Doon, California

Peter Koleckar walks around a burned down home in his neighborhood after the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire passed through on Thursday in Bonny Doon, California

Charred vehicles are left behind after the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire tore through the area on Thursday in Bonny Doon

Fire crews were hampered by dense, dry brush in steep country, by smoke and haze that trapped heat, and by gusty winds, Cal Fire reported.

To the south of San Francisco in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, about 22,000 people were ordered to evacuate because of a fire burning in dense wooded parkland that threatened communities, Cal Fire spokesman Jonathan Cox said.

At least 20 homes had burned, fire officials said.

California State Parks announced full or partial closures of more than two dozen parks, including Big Basin Redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where the park headquarters and other facilities were damaged.

The park featuring magnificent towering stands of ancient coast redwoods dates to 1902 and is the state's oldest.

Some firefighters were working 72-hour shifts instead of the usual 24 hours.

'We're in the unfortunate position where firefighters are going to be spending several days out on the fire line,' Cox said. 'It's grueling, it's exhausting.'

In Southern California, firefighters worked in high heat to increase containment of fires in mountains north and east of Los Angeles.

A huge fire also burned in the remote Mojave National Preserve.
A classic car that's been in the possession of a local family for more than 100 years fetched 22,000 at auction yesterday.

The MacFlynns from Magherafelt sold their 1915 Hupmobile Model HA Tourer.

It had been estimated to sell for between 20,000 and 24,000.

The vintage automobile was sold online by H&H Classics in Warrington. Chief auctioneer Simon Hope began the bidding at 12,000, which was fought out between two interested parties before the hammer came down at 22,000.

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The vendor condition ratings described the Hupmobile's bodywork and paintwork as excellent; the engine, electrical equipment and interior as very good; and the gearbox as good.

The successful bidder will receive the car's original sales invoice and all of its early history.

The Hupmobile had been in the possession of the MacFlynn family since April 20, 1915.

Damian Jones, head of sales for H&H Classics, said it was a "rare opportunity" to buy such a vehicle.

After seeing a listing in a June edition of the Irish Times in 1914, the 'Hup' was ordered by William MacFlynn, a spirit merchant in Magherafelt.

In 2016 the family set about a full restoration of the vehicle, which was completed two years later. Hupmobiles were built from 1909 through to 1939 by the Hupp Motor Car Company.
By PTI

AIZWAL: The Mizoram government will open its border with Assam and Tripura besides the state's lone Lengpui airport only thrice a week from August 24 to regulate movement of people following a spike in Covid-19 cases, a home department official said on Thursday.

The order to this effect was issued by state chief secretary Lalnunmawia Chuaungo, who is also chairman of executive committee of State Disaster Management Authority, on Wednesday, the official said.

The order stated that Lengpui airport and two entry points- at Kanhmun on the Mizoram-Tripura border and Vairengte on the state's border with Assam - will be open only on every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for entry of people by flights and road transportation starting from August 24 until further order.

Mizoram has sealed international and inter-state borders barring a few entry points, which were opened for vehicles carrying goods, in March to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus.

Lengpui airport and inter-state border at Vairengte and Kanhmun were opened for movement of people since June, according to officials.

Among the selected airports in the country having tabletop runways, Lengpui airport is connected by flights to Kolkata, Guwahati and Imphal.

The state prohibited entry of trucks and other vehicles carrying goods barring essential commodities into the state since August 7 after a sizeable number of truck drivers and their helpers coming from outside tested positive for Covid- 19.

According to the health department, at least 129 truckers and handymen coming from outside the state have been diagnosed with the virus till the date. Mizoram Thursday reported 14 new Covid-19 cases, including 12 truckers.

The government latest order said that the surge in inter-state movement of people due to resumption of economic and livelihood activities has resulted in the spike of COVID- 19 positive cases within the state recently.

"As the quarantine and healthcare facilities of the state are currently overburdened by the influx of people and the rising positive cases of COVID-19, it is felt as necessary to regulate inter-state movement of people so as to calibrate it with the coping capacity of the quarantine and healthcare facilities of the state, the order said.

The states Covid-19 tally now stands at 874, including 148 females. There are 472 active patients, while a total of 402 people have already recovered.

Meanwhile, the state government extended complete lockdown imposed in the state capital to facilitate extensive tracing and testing of people till 4.30 am of August 24.
Brian Borchers was once again stuffing an overnight bag Wednesday with books, the kids first shoes, and a few changes of clothes, throwing skateboards and bicycle equipment into the trunk of his car.

Catastrophe had become a way of life for Borchers and so many neighbors in the Russian River town of Forestville west of Santa Rosa. When the Wallbridge Fire approached Tuesday night, he was accustomed to the drill, having endured the massive Kincade Fire last year. The procession of cars crawling eastward on River Road had a familiar, grim feel. The ashes that coated his deck the next morning were like an off-season snow.

Borchers even coined a name for them: Satans snowflakes.

Its an interesting time to be in business, Borchers said. Hes run a bike rental and repair shop in Forestville for seven years, knowing every fall the air fills with noxious particles, and customers stay away.

By sunrise Wednesday, the Wallbridge Fire, started in the coastal ridges of northwest Sonoma County, had burned 1,500 acres. It was among a cluster of blazes sparked by lightning and counted together as part of the 124,000-acre LNU Lightning Complex, which included fires in Vacaville and near Lake Berryessa  where homes were destroyed. For residents of the lower Russian River, it was the latest in a rinse-repeat cycle of disasters.

Wildfires choked the air with acrid smoke in 2017 and 2018. Last year in February, hammering rains filled the roadways of Guerneville, just west of Forestville, with brown floodwater that seeped into homes and businesses.

Then in October, the Kincade Fire tore through nearby Geyserville, prompting wide evacuations. Borchers pulled the plug on his bike rental and repair shop for four months, draining his savings to pay rent until the COVID-19 pandemic brought an upside in March, when he was deemed an essential business.

Thats the only thing thats saved my sanity, Borchers said, sitting in his shop Wednesday with a suitcase packed in his car outside. After his phone crackled with alerts all morning, Borchers, his wife and two children planned to stay with relatives near Sacramento.

Many residents now follow evacuation orders each fall, white-knuckling the steering wheel and hoping for an insurance payout if everything burns up.

The community anxiety is palpable, said Sonoma County Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, whose district spreads through the west county and along the coast.

Hopkins, who grew up in San Diego, eventually settled in Forestville for the same reason as so many others. She fell in love with the cathedral-like redwoods, rocky beaches and shingled bungalows. But now shes seeing an exodus as neighbors grow weary of seasonal floods and wildfires  complicated this year by the coronavirus.

People are just exhausted, Hopkins said, reflecting on all the residents who have moved out, and others who vowed to leave this year.

Now Playing: The LNU Lightning Complex Fire in Vacaville, CA has grown to nearly 50,000 acres, 0% containment. Chronicle photojournalist Scott Strazzante captures the fire burning along Pleasants Valley Road. Video: San Francisco Chronicle

It just breaks my heart, Hopkins added. Weve been through so much, and the cumulative trauma wears on a community.

Still, years of cursed autumns and winters cant destroy the appeal of the lower Russian River, with its offbeat resorts, artist colonies and working-class families. Its a paradise that draws people even if they have to commute to jobs in Santa Rosa or San Francisco, said Pip Marquez de la Plata, who evacuated Tuesday night from Rio Nido, a tiny patchwork of summer cabins, with a fire station.

He and his husband drove to Marquez de la Platas parents house in Novato, where they were anxiously watching the fires trail of destruction on social media.

Neither of them broached the idea of moving somewhere else, Marquez de la Plata said. He described the Russian River as a place for flinty characters with a deep attachment to their woodland communities.

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.

You gotta rough it in your daily life anyway, he said, either to commute to Santa Rosa  or if youre working within the lower Russian River, a lot of times youre starting a new business venture.

Real estate broker Herman Hernandez understands the visceral pull of the Russian River as much as anyone. Raised in San Franciscos Mission District, he arrived in Guerneville in 1970, back when the area was more rural and economically depressed. Over time, Hernandez watched it transform, beginning in the late 1970s when the late Peter Pender bought a sprawling ranch and turned it into a gay resort.

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

The gay renaissance lured businesses and tourists, allowing the area to thrive in spite of periodic floods; Hernandez lost all of his office furniture in the deluge of 1995, which submerged his building in 2 feet of water. Even so, he watched former city dwellers flock into the waterside hamlets, a trend that seemed to pick up for a while during the pandemic.

In the middle of May and June, the real estate market really started coming back, he said. Properties were getting multiple offers from people in the Bay Area, who wanted to live in a rural (place) as long as it had internet.

But living near the Russian River means grappling with Mother Nature again and again. It means buying flood insurance, heeding evacuation warnings and understanding that you will be inconvenienced, Hernandez said.

He left Guerneville with all the other evacuees Tuesday night, driving to a hotel in Santa Rosa. He stopped at a grocery store to buy yogurt, milk, and produce  enough to survive until Sunday, when he plans to return. Hes built deep roots in the area, founding an organization called Los Cien to help struggling Latino families and staying active in the local Rotary Club.

Are we going to come back? he asked. No doubt about it.

Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@rachelswan
A Cancun cop was shot dead at close range while he sat in his police department pickup truck, in a shocking ambush that was captured by surveillance cameras Wednesday afternoon.

Authorities have identified the shooter as Brian Mendoza, 25, after reviewing security cameras in the area.

Police officer Jose del Carmen Guerra was in the parked vehicle on a parking lot outside a local convenience store at approximately at 5pm when the gunman ran up to the driver's side window.

He can be seen aiming an assault rifle at the closed window and firing several shots before ducking down and fleeing the scene.

Authorities in Mexico have identified Brian Mendoza as the person who appeared in a surveillance video opening killing police officer Jose del Carmen Guerra on Wednesday in Cancun

Cancun police officer Jose del Carmen Guerra was ambushed while sitting in his unit vehicle and shot dead on Wednesday. No arrests have been made

Guerra was declared dead at the scene of tragic crime.

Authorities found the military-style weapon, a t-shirt and a motorcycle that were abandoned by the shooter in the municipality of Benito Juarez.

'Thanks to the technology we have in the state and the analysis of our cameras, this subject is the alleged person responsible for the attack carried out a few moments ago, where a fellow police officer loses his life,' tweeted Alberto Capella, the Quintana Roo state police chief.

'Anyone who commits a crime will pay and we are coming after you.'

A convenience store's security camera recorded Brian Mendoza (pictured) aiming his rifle and opening fire at a police officer in Cancun on Wednesday evening. The cop, identified as Jose del Carmen Guerra, was declared dead at the scene

A surveillance camera in Cancun captured the moment Brian Mendoza ran up to the police pickup truck and killed a cop identified as Jose del Carmen Guerra

Local media outlets reported that Mendoza was previously arrested with six other individuals by the Quinta Roo state police and public ministry police on August 5.

The group was being investigated for a series of crimes which included attempted murders and unlawful possession of firearms.

However, Mendoza was ordered released by a local judge due to the lack of proof to tie him to any of crimes.
Vietnam reported 14 new coronavirus cases while taking one patient off the national count following negative retests on Thursday, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

The country's tally has topped 1,000 cases since the virus first hit it in January.

Eleven of the additional cases were registered in Da Nang, one in neighboring Quang Nam Province, and two imported infections.

The patient in Quang Nam is linked to the cluster in Da Nang, a touristy city on the central coast.

The two imported cases include a 33-year-old Filipino expert who entered Vietnam from South Korea and a 27-year-old Vietnamese returnee from Equatorial Guinea. Both were quarantined upon entry, as per regulations.

The Filipino is treated in Khanh Hoa Province, located in south-central Vietnam, while the Vietnamese patient is receiving medical care in Ho Chi Minh City.

On Thursday morning, the Ministry of Health confirmed a 87-year-old man had tested positive for COVID-19 when hospitalized in Hanoi one day earlier.

But the ministry removed the patient from the tally in the evening following his three consecutive negative retests the same day.

Vietnam also announced nine recoveries on Thursday, all in Da Nang.

The Southeast Asian nation has documented 1,007 COVID-19 patients, including 666 local infections as of Thursday night, according to the health ministry.

A total of 542 patients have beaten the pathogen while 25 have died, most having suffered critical concomitant conditions.

A separate patient died on August 12 after having tested negative for the virus four times.

Five hundred and twenty-five domestic cases, most traced back to Da Nang, have been recorded since July 25, when the beach city logged the first locally-transmitted infection after Vietnam had gone 99 days without documenting any community transmission.

Vietnam has closed the border to foreigners since March to quell OVID-19 but the country grants exemption to foreign experts and skilled workers who are to be quarantined upon arrival.

The Vietnamese government has arranged for many flights to take home citizens stranded in other countries over virus-related travel restrictions.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
by Mathias Hariyadi

The novel coronavirus pandemic sunk the economy of the "land of the Gods". Losses in tourism are greater than those that followed the 2002 terror attack. Rapid tests are planned at the airport. For one resident, it will take at least four, five years to return to normal. Many Australians are still stranded on the island.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Bali, better known as the "land of the Gods", became over time Indonesias favourite destination for local and foreign visitors. hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, it could now reopen to international tourism by 11 September.

Both local and central government authorities have sought to limit the devastating impact caused by the viral outbreak on the islands economy. Economic losses have been "far greater" than those caused by the deadly terror attack of October 2002, which left more than 200 people dead.

The authorities are expected to reopen Indonesias airspace and allow international flights in the next few weeks. Bali Governor I Wayan Koster said that the tourism industry will be able to restart at full capacity on 11 September.

This is the third stage of a gradual reopening plan. The first stage came in July when some lockdown measures were lifted, allowing people to do their daily activities. In early August, the second stage began with Indonesians allowed to visit the island.

In order to contain the pandemic and avoid outside transmission, Indonesian authorities have prepared a series of rapid tests for passengers arriving at the international airport.

However, government officials and ordinary Indonesians are very much concerned about the economic consequences of the pandemic: "It will take four or five years to get back to normal, said Respatia, a Bali resident, speaking to AsiaNews.

The preparations to welcome tourists back "are still underway. There is a lot of activity in hotels and restaurants ahead of the official reopening, he added. "But the new normal will take a long time to revive the tourism industry and return it to the glories of the past".

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, indonesias tourism sector was brought to its knees. Bali is one of its most popular destinations as it offers an excellent mix of Hindu religious traditions and modern secular culture.

So far, for the island, monthly losses have reached US$ 65 million, Deputy Governor Tjok Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati reported. Locals "have had to change their lifestyle, he explained, and earn money in new and different ways, converting themselves into farmers and fishermen".

According to health authorities, the island has had 4,220 novel coronavirus cases so far; of these, 3,701 have recovered with 51 known deaths, 49 locals and two foreign tourists.

Bali is confronted by another emergency related to the tourism issue, namely the presence of scores of Australian tourists stranded by the pandemic, unable to go home because of travel restrictions and flights cancellations.

Before the viral outbreak, it was easy to travel from Perth (Western Australia) to Bali. A direct flight took three and half hours compared to five hours to Sydney, eastern Australia.

Today, Perth residents still on the island have to pay A$ 1,550 (US$ 1,110) for a three-leg economy flight home via Singapore.

A one-way economy ticket from Denpasar to Sydney on Thursday costs about A$ 5,300 (US$ 3,800) for a four-leg trip that transits through Taiwan and China.
RALEIGH, N.C. - A Republican who played a prominent role in drawing North Carolina districts that were declared gerrymanders by courts resigned Thursday from the state House after being accused of federal fraud and tax violations.

State Rep. David Lewis, chairman of the powerful House Rules Committee since 2015, conducted a scheme to transfer money from his campaign committee to help his ailing farm, prosecutors said.

Lewis, 49, entered a plea agreement with federal prosecutors in Charlotte. According to the agreement, he will plead guilty to making false statements to a bank and failing to timely file a 2018 tax return. Government prosecutors wont recommend active prison time.

The plea agreement signifies my commitment to put an unfortunate chapter behind me, Lewis said in a news release. These are my mistakes, and my mistakes alone. I am very sorry for these mistakes, and I apologize.

A formal plea hearing is scheduled for next week, a court record shows.

The Harnett County Republican already had announced last month he wouldnt be seeking a tenth term this November.

As rules chairman, Lewis served as a top lieutenant to House Speaker Tim Moore, controlling the flow of legislation within the chamber.

He was a chief legislative author of Republican redistricting plans in recent years and the resulting litigation that followed. One lawsuit involving congressional maps that went to the U.S. Supreme Court pivoted on Lewis public comments about attempts to keep 10 of the U.S. House seats in Republican hands.

A document released by prosecutors and signed by Lewis attorney laying out the facts for the agreement said that Lewis made $300,000 in transfers from his campaign account to his bank account for Lewis Farms between January and May of 2018. While the campaign was later repaid in full, the expenditures were not reported to the State Board of Elections.

In the summer of 2018, according to prosecutors, Lewis opened a bank account for an entity called NC GOP, Inc. and signed a document attesting it was a North Carolina corporation of which Lewis was president. But it wasnt a legal entity, the document says.

He subsequently deposited $65,000 from a Lewis campaign account, seemingly payable to the entity, into the NC GOP, Inc. bank account. Almost all of it ultimately went to Lewis Farms, the document says. Lewis later paid $65,000 from a personal bank account to the state Republican Party, in keeping with his campaign reports that described contributions to the state party, the court document said.

The State Board of Elections had no information late Thursday about whether it was investigating Lewis campaign committee.

Recent financial troubles had surfaced for Lewis, especially after Hurricane Florence in 2018, which he said last year had caused catastrophic damage.

Farming has been tough for me for the past six years in a row and the financial stress Ive been under has been tremendous, Lewis said in Thursdays release. However, that is the reality facing many family farms, and it does not excuse my mistakes.

By last fall, Lewis had taken out well over $1 million in loans to address his farm problems, including $500,000 from John Gray, a political consultant and fellow farmer, WRAL-TV reported last year. Gray was one of four people indicted during a federal investigation into attempts to bribe state Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey.

A jury convicted Gray in March and he was sentenced on Wednesday to 2 1/2 years in prison. There is no mention of Gray in Thursdays documents involving Lewis. Former state GOP Chairman Robin Hayes, who was among those indicted in the bribery case, accepted a plea agreement and received probation on Wednesday.

Moore, who has known Lewis since college, wished the Lewis family well moving forward from this.

While people make mistakes they must be held accountable, particularly as public servants, Moore said in a news release.

Democrats hoping to retake control of the House for the first time since 2010 in November jumped on the news about Lewis.

North Carolinians cannot trust ... Moore and House Republicans to legislate in the peoples best interest when key members of his team put their own personal interests first and foremost, Democratic state Rep. Graig Meyer said in a release.
Two new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Winona County Thursday by the Minnesota Department of Health, raising the countys total to 286.

No new deaths from the disease were announced in the county, leaving the total at 17.

While no information was released about the two new cases, the countys public health staff did release information about the countys first 284 cases Wednesday evening.

Of those people, only 24 remained in isolation Wednesday, with the other 260 no longer required to take such precautions.

The age range of the countys patients is younger than 10 to older than 100, with a median age of 34.

The countys 272 non-hospitalized patients have had the same median range, but have had a median age of 39.

Of the countys first 284 who tested positive, 28 are between 0 and 19 years old, 11 of which were diagnosed so far in August; 131 are between 20 and 39 years old, 18 of which were diagnosed so far in August; 51 are between 40 and 59 years old, nine of which were diagnosed so far in August; 42 are between 60 and 79 years old, 6 of which were diagnosed so far in August; and 32 are 80 or older, none of which have been diagnosed yet in August.

In the week prior to Wednesday, 19 of the cases were diagnosed, with eight of the cases being people in the 20 to 39 years old range, one being someone 19 or younger, seven being between 40 and 59 years old, and three being between 60 and 79 years old.

This trend of low diagnosis in older residents has occurred throughout the summer during the pandemic.

It was not announced how many people are currently hospitalized, but 12 residents in the county since the start of the pandemic have been admitted because of COVID-19.

Those hospitalized range in age from younger than 10 to 85, with the median age being 50.

No new people have been hospitalized in Winona County because of COVID-19 in the two weeks prior to Wednesday.

Three people have ended up spending time in an intensive care unit in the county because of the disease, with the age range for those residents spanning from 65 to 83 years old. The median age of these patients is 81.

One new death had occurred in the past week, which brings the median age to 85 for those who have died in the county because of COVID-19. The age range is 67 to older than 100.

This median age had dropped from 87.5 on the prior Wednesday.

The genders of the countys first 284 patients are 148 females  or 54% of the cases  and 136 males.

Eleven of the cases in the week leading up to Wednesday were females, while eight were males.

Of these patients, 230 live in Winona; 12 live in St. Charles; 15 live in Lewiston; and 27 live in unannounced locations.

In the county, 193 positive residents were symptomatic, while 44 were asymptomatic and 47 were not noted as being symptomatic or not.

The countys infection rate is at 0.559%, which is very much below neighboring Olmsted Countys 1.185%.

Winona Countys infection rate was higher than the prior weeks, though, which was at 0.522%.

Rates of other neighboring counties are at 0.370% in Fillmore County, 0.338% in Houston County and 0.476% in Wabasha County.

The 14-day case rate in the county per 10,000 people, based on the date range of July 26 to Aug. 8, is 8.85.

Based on the Minnesota Safe Learning Plans opening recommendations for schools, this currently puts Winona County near the top of the range for in-person learning for all students.

This does not currently affect the decision of the Winona Area Public Schools to have hybrid education for all students.

In Winona County, as of 4 p.m. Wednesday, 10,923 COVID-19 tests have been completed, with a positive rate of 2.7%.

This rate has not changed since the prior weeks reported rate.

The states rate of positive tests is at 5.5%, which is less than the prior weeks at 5.6%.

In Minnesota, 698 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed Thursday.

The cases bring the states total to 67,308, with 60,605 no longer needing to be isolated.

Of these positive cases, 7,479 are health-care workers.

Statewide, 1,322,220 COVID-19 tests have been completed, with 1,030,093 residents having been tested.

Seven new deaths were reported in the state, bringing the total to 1,745.

Of these people, 1,298 resided within long-term care or assisted-living facilities.

Statewide, 6,019 people have required hospitalization because of COVID-19, with 309 remaining in hospitals Thursday.

Of the currently hospitalized patients, 148 are in intensive care.

For daily Minnesota COVID-19 situation updates, visit the Minnesota Department of Healths website.

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San Francisco, 20 Aug 2020: The Report Medical Grade Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report, By Application (Total Hip Replacement, Knee Replacement, Shoulder Replacement, Ankle Replacement, Small Joints) And Segment Forecast To 2024

The global medical grade ultra high molecular weight polyethylene market size was valued USD 1.22 billion in 2015; it is estimated to develop by a high CAGR, in near future. The medical grade ultra high molecular weight polyethylene is recognized to show greater impact strength and resistivity, in comparison with existing thermoplastic. It has an extensive range of applications in electrical engineering, medicinal equipment, and components of the machine, filter equipment and galvanic engineering. Medical grade ultra high molecular weight polyethylene is becoming an appropriate material for the engineers; those are concentrating on improving efficiency of the equipment, resistance to wear and noise reduction. It delivers excellent resistance to impact and abrasion. Furthermore, it works, exceptionally, across a wide variety of temperature. Owing to such outstanding properties, medical grade ultra high molecular weight polyethylene is utilized in a range of procedures of handling the food items and medicinal applications. This material is capable to cut, turned and shaped easily using normal tools required for the wood working operations.

Increasing orthopedic surgical treatments and a growing number of illnesses, such as osteoarthritis, are projected to add to the development of the demand for medical grade ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, in near future. Growth in number of shoulder and knee replacement surgeries is expected to increase the demand for medical grade ultra high molecular weight polyethylene in near future.

Greater demand from the nations such as China, India, South Korea and Japan are powering the general market in Asia Pacific. The presence of a huge number of aged population in the nation like Japan, speedy urban development growing per capita disposable income, and initiative taken by the government to give excellent medical treatment, are the most important factors, fueling the development of the medical grade ultra high molecular weight polyethylene market, within the region.

Central & South America and Middle East & Africa regional markets are projected to come across a greater development in nearby future. The demand from North America is expected to develop by a 14.0% CAGR. The existence of highly developed medical infrastructure, elevated standard of living and preference for excellent medical treatment, are the most important factors, adding to the escalation of demand in North America.

The nature of the business is oligopolistic. Three topmost companies are holding above 50% share of the entire revenue. The manufacturing companies are taking initiative, for research to launch better variety of medical grade ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fibers; those are safe when it comes in acquaintance with the tissues.

Access Research Report of Medical Grade Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/medical-grade-ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene-uhmwpe-market

Further key findings from the report suggest:

The global medical grade UHMWPE market demand was 60.9 kilo tons in 2015 and is expected to reach 204.8 kilo tons by 2024, growing at a CAGR of 15.0% from 2016 to 2024

Knee replacement had the highest penetration in 2015, and this trend is expected to continue over the next eight years. This scenario is due to a high number of knee replacement surgeries, thus catering to an increasing demand for UHMPWE

PET fibers are being replaced by UHMWPE fibers, thus creating avenues for reduced device sizes. Such advents in Research and Development are expected to benefit the overall market growth

North America dominated the global industry and accounted for over 35% of total demand in 2015. Existing medical infrastructure and demand for replacement surgeries particularly in the U.S. are the primary attributed reasons for this scenario

Major market participants include Honeywell, DSM N.V., LyondellBasell, Celanese Corporation, Quadrant, Braskem, and Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation.

Access Press Release of Medical Grade Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-medical-grade-ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene-uhmwpe-market
The Assad regime has reported the changes to the heads of branches across the country, with those famed for brutality being elevated to the top writes Shaam Network.

The Assad regime carried out reassignments that affected a number of heads of security branches within its military intelligence, according to pro-regime pages. Reassignments occur periodically and lead to the promotion of a number of officers and the dismissal of others on the account of their crimes, torture, and killing of the Syrian people.

As a result of the new changes, Brig. Gen. Wafiq Nasser has been named as the head of the Military Security branch in Aleppo. The criminal is originally from Jableh, in Lattakia countryside, and belongs to an Alawite family. He moved into the spotlight when he took up the post of head of the Intelligence Branch in Suweida. His name was associated with acts of kidnapping, intimidation, murder, assassinations, and explosions, according to the Pro Justice platform.

In its report entitled Individual and Command Responsibility for Crimes Against Humanity in Syria, Human Rights Watch indicated that Brig. Gen. Nasser had arrested and tortured an officer who defected from the Republican Guard, including a person called Afif, who confirmed that Nasser was one of the main people responsible for his arrest and torture in Daraa.

Furthermore, Brig. Gen. Muhammad al-Muallim has been appointed as head of the Hama Branch. He is another criminal figure in the Assad regime, and led brutal military operations in the northern and eastern countryside of Hama.

Brig. Kamal al-Hassan was promoted to head the Mantika Branch, which is part of the regimes intelligence.

Brig. Gen. Imad Mihoub became head of the Homs Branch, Brig.General Ibrahim Abbas was appointed head of the Tartous Branch, and his counterpart Suleiman Kanna as head of the Patrols Branch in Damascus. It is known that they alternate leadership positions in the security branches and have participated in the killing and displacement of millions of Syrians.

The Ministry of the Interior and the Internal Security Forces had previously issued an official statement, in which they stated that a large number of police officers had been terminated and that a number of others would be promoted, according to a decree signed by the leadership of the regimes army, which takes place from time to time.

Earlier this year, pro-regime media outlets revealed that a large number of regime army officers had been promoted, coinciding with the letting go of a number of high-ranking officers, who shared pictures showing officers in the regimes army preparing to take up new positions.

The event was attended by high-ranking officers, in a scene described by some as role-swapping involving the most prominent figures that committed crimes against the Syrian people.

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.
Scranton, PA (18503)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early followed by periods of snow showers late. Low near 25F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 50%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early followed by periods of snow showers late. Low near 25F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 50%.
AMHERST, Mass. - The Geological Society of America's (GSA) Continental Scientific Drilling Division (CSD) has named University of Massachusetts Amherst geologist Julie Brigham-Grette as one of its two Distinguished Lecturers for 2020, which means she will be available to give online seminars on her Arctic drilling research to geologists anywhere in the world by request this fall and into spring 2021.

Brigham-Grette is a leading world expert in Arctic environmental change who has conducted Arctic research for more than 40 years, including eight field seasons in the Russian Arctic.

She says of the lecture series, "The idea is to promote scientific drilling for discovery and solution-based science. Because of COVID travel restrictions, I will be creating a 45-minute TED-style talk to be recorded by UMass Amherst videographers. This will be shared with interested institutions on request." She will follow each talk with a Q&A session in real time when possible.

Her lecture is titled, "Impact of Lake El'gygytgyn, northeast Russia, on our Knowledge of Polar Climate: This Changes Everything." It was at "Lake E" that Brigham-Grette, leading an international team, extracted the longest sediment core ever collected on land in the Arctic, which provides "absolutely new knowledge" of Arctic climate from 2.2 to 3.6 million years ago. It also shows that with estimated atmospheric carbon dioxide similar to today's levels, the Arctic was very warm in the past, with no ice sheets.

Brigham-Grette says of the GSA recognition, "It is a huge honor to be selected." The research she will be lecturing about was the basis for her UMass Amherst Conti Research Fellowship in 2011 and the UMass Award for Outstanding Accomplishments in Research and Creativity in 2017.

As Brigham-Grette explains, scientific drilling involves specific research targets to learn more about earth processes. This could involve volcanic systems or active faults to better understand how they work, or drilling into large, long-lasting lakes such as the Great Lakes or ancient marine systems such as the 2,500-foot-deep Cretaceous Seaway over the Great Plains from Mexico to northern Canada between 145 to 66 million years ago. Such cores help geologists to understand natural variability of climate change, she says. "The climate is dramatically changing now and we can learn from the earlier 'playbooks' of change to see how our future will be impacted in the coming century or more."

"Earth sciences research is vital if society is to address issues such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, landslides, distribution of essential elements and critical materials across and below the Earth's surface, climate change, changes to the global water cycle and relations between geology and biology," she adds.

In 2020 the National Academies released a "Vision for NSF Earth Sciences 2020-2030" that identified several science priorities that could offer new knowledge to routinely and accurately forecast unpredictable, devastating natural hazards in time to take steps to minimize risk and substantially reduce loss of life.

She says, "Climate change and natural hazards affect large parts of our population, as well as changing regional economics, agriculture and life styles. Climate change is probably the biggest threat multiplier of our times," referring to extreme weather and water shortages that security experts say increase the risk of political instability.

Brigham-Grette is a Fellow of the GSA and in October will begin a term as president of its Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division. Its members study modern earth surface processes and the Earth's surface evolution over the past 2.6 million years. The other GSA Distinguished Lecturer is John Eichelberger of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, with his talk, "Drilling to Magma."

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MERIDEN  The owner of a Wallingford business was ordered to pay more than $1 million in restitution after he was sentenced on a federal obstruction charge in court on Wednesday.

Donald Cariati Jr., 45, was sentenced to serve 12 months and one day in prison, followed by one year of supervision, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham.

Cariati also was ordered to pay a $95,000 fine, as well as more than $1 million in restitution.

The Meriden resident owns and operates Cariati Developers Inc, a snowplow and hauling business in Wallingford.

From 2013 to 2017, court documents showed, Cariati paid several employees with company checks, indicating they were independent contractors or subcontractors. Authorities said Cariati did so to evade the responsibility to withhold and pay over taxes to the IRS.

Cariati and his company did not issue 1099 tax forms to the employees they classified as subcontractors for certain years. He also told some individuals they were being paid off the books, according to federal authorities.

In late 2015, the IRS started an audit of Cariatis company. Investigators said they found fraudulent invoices to be made available to an IRS agent.

Investigators also found that the company paid an invoice related to products for Cariatis cigarette boat. During the audit, authorities said, Cariati told his accountant to give the IRS a false invoice to make it seem like the purchase was a business expense rather than a personal one.

The judge ordered Cariati to pay $1,077,048.99 in restitution. Officials said Cariati paid $1 million of that obligation on Tuesday.

He previously pleaded guilty to obstructing or impeding the due administration of the Internal Revenue laws on Feb. 28.

Cariati, who is free on bond, was told to report to prison in 90 days to begin his sentence.
The John Sevier Chapter of the Tennessee Society Sons of the American Revolution in coordination with the Thurman Family and Frostbite Farm Company will conduct a ceremony honoring Revolutionary War veteran Charles Thurman by unveiling a Patriotic Memorial marker at his grave site in the Old Lone Cedar Cemetery (In-Active), Bledsoe County at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29.The ceremony is open to the public. The land owner has requested those attending sign the Hold Harmless agreement that can be found on the John Sevier Chapter website. Sign in will be conducted at the noted linkup point prior to entering the property. Directions to the cemetery can be found at the John Sevier Chapter web site: https://johnsevierchapter.org/patriot-honors. (See the Linkup point download). Everyone attending should wear a face covering.The ceremony will feature a presentation of colors by the John Sevier TNSSAR Color Guard, bagpipe music and Taps, with members in Revolutionary War period uniforms.Patriot Charles Thurman is not only veteran of the Revolutionary War but also an early settler of Bledsoe County who has numerous descendants residing in the local region and in several states. Several direct descendants of Charles Thurman will be present for the ceremony. The family plans to conduct a reunion after the ceremony. A biography highlighting the Patriots service will be presented during the ceremony. A copy of the biography for the ceremony can be found on the John Sevier Chapter web.The Sons of the American Revolution is a national patriotic, historical and educational society whose members are direct descendants of the patriots who won the nation's independence. Other service organizations who would like to participate may contact the John Sevier Chapters point of contact noted below.For additional information on the ceremony contact John Sevier Chapter, TNSSARs Second Vice President Cliff Kent at dogwoodlodge@epbfi.com and put the following in your emails title: CTGMC29AUGinfo.
Leipzig/New Delhi. The airborne transmission of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 via aerosol particles in indoor environment seems to be strongly influenced by relative humidity. This is the conclusion drawn by researchers from the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) in Leipzig and the CSIR National Physical Laboratory in New Delhi from the analysis of 10 most relevant international studies on the subject. Therefore, they recommend controlling the indoor air in addition to the usual measures such as social distancing and masks. A relative humidity of 40 to 60 percent could reduce the spread of the viruses and their absorption through the nasal mucous membrane. To contain the COVID-19 pandemic, it is therefore extremely important to implement standards for indoor air humidity in rooms with many people, such as hospitals, open-plan offices or public transport, writes the research team in the scientific journal Aerosol and Air Quality Research.

According to the WHO, the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has led to at least 21 million infected persons and over 750,000 deaths worldwide in over half a year. The health and economic effects of the pandemic pose major social challenges for practically all countries. Worldwide, therefore, ways are being sought to stem the spread of the virus in order to avoid drastic measures such as lockdowns and contact restrictions. For a long time, the main transmission route of viral droplets was considered to be direct human-to-human contact, because of infected people sneezing or coughing and secreting the virus. Because these drops are relatively large and heavy, they fall very quickly to the ground and can only cover very short distances in the air. The recommendation to keep a minimum distance of 1.5m to 2m (social distancing) is based on this assumption. Recently, however, COVID-19 outbreaks have also been recorded, which seem to be due to the simultaneous presence of many people in one room (choir rehearsals, slaughterhouses, etc.). A safety distance of 1.5m is apparently not sufficient when infected and healthy people are together in one room for a long time. For example, Dutch researchers have now been able to prove that tiny drops of 5 micrometres in diameter, such as those produced when speaking, can float in the air for up to 9 minutes. In July, 239 scientists from 32 countries - including the chemist Prof. Hartmut Herrmann from TROPOS - therefore appealed to the World Health Organization (WHO) to focus more closely on the long-lived infectious particles suspended in the air. In order to contain the spread via the aerosol particles floating in the air, the researchers recommend not only continuing to wear masks but also, and above all, good indoor ventilation.

An Indo-German research team is now pointing out another aspect that has received little attention so far and could become particularly important in the next flu season: Indoor humidity. Physicists at the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) in Leipzig and the CSIR National Physical Laboratory in New Delhi have been studying the physical properties of aerosol particles for years in order to better estimate their effects on air quality or cloud formation. "In aerosol research, it has long been known that air humidity plays a major role: The more humid the air is, the more water adheres to the particles and so they can grow faster. So, we were curious: what studies have already been conducted on this," explains Dr. Ajit Ahlawat from TROPOS.

Therefore, they evaluated a total of 10 most relevant international studies between 2007 and 2020 by other researchers who investigated the influence of humidity on survival, spread and infection with the pathogens of influenza and the corona viruses SARS-CoV-1, MERS and SARS-CoV-2. Result: Air humidity influences the spread of corona viruses indoors in three different ways: (a) the behaviour of microorganisms within the virus droplets, (b) the survival or inactivation of the virus on the surfaces, and (c) the role of dry indoor air in the airborne transmission of viruses. Although, low humidity causes the droplets containing viruses to dry out more quickly, the survivability of the viruses still seems to remain high. The team concludes that other processes are more important for infection: "If the relative humidity of indoor air is below 40 percent, the particles emitted by infected people absorb less water, remain lighter, fly further through the room and are more likely to be inhaled by healthy people. In addition, dry air also makes the mucous membranes in our noses dry and more permeable to viruses," summarizes Dr. Ajit Ahlawat.

The new findings are particularly important for the upcoming winter season in the northern hemisphere, when millions of people will be staying in heated rooms. "Heating the fresh air also ensures that it dries. In cold and temperate climate zones, therefore, the indoor climate is usually very dry during the heating season. This could encourage the spread of corona viruses," warns Prof. Alfred Wiedensohler of TROPOS. The air humidity determines how much water a particle can bind. At higher air humidity, the surface of the particles changes considerably: a kind of water bubble forms - a miniature ecosystem with chemical reactions. The liquid water content of aerosols plays an important role in many processes in the atmosphere, as it influences the optical properties, leading for example to haze or altered effects of aerosols on the climate.

At a higher humidity, the droplets grow faster, fall to the ground earlier and can be inhaled less by healthy people. "A humidity level of at least 40 percent in public buildings and local transport would therefore not only reduce the effects of COVID-19, but also of other viral diseases such as seasonal flu. Authorities should include the humidity factor in future indoor guidelines," demands Dr. Sumit Kumar Mishra of CSIR - National Physical Laboratory in New Delhi. For countries in cool climates, the researchers recommend a minimum indoor humidity. Countries in tropical and hot climates, on the other hand, should take care that indoor rooms are not extremely undercooled by air conditioning systems. When air is extremely cooled, it dries out the air and the particles in it, making people inside the room feel comfortable. But the dry particles will remain in the air for longer duration.

From a researchers' point of view, more attention should be paid to indoor air to prevent future outbreaks of viral disease. The moisture content of indoor air is an important aspect but not the only one. Fresh air from outside can also reduce the risk of transmission. And of course, the measures already known and practised: Keep social distancing, having as few people per room volume as possible, and wearing masks. The lowest risk of infection still where there are no viruses in the air. Tilo Arnhold

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Publication:

Ahlawat, A., Wiedensohler, A. and Mishra, S.K. (2020). An Overview on the Role of Relative Humidity in Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Indoor Environments. Aerosol Air Qual. Res. (in press). DOI: 10.4209/aaqr.2020.06.0302 https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2020.06.0302

Media contacts:

Prof Alfred Wiedensohler (de.+en.)

Head of the Department Experimental Aerosol & Cloud Microphysics

Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS)

Phone +49 341 2717- 7062

https://www.tropos.de/en/institute/about-us/employees/alfred-wiedensohler

and

Dr. Ajit Ahlawat (en.)

Scientific staff (Post-Doc), Department Experimental Aerosol & Cloud Microphysics

Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS)

https://www.tropos.de/en/institute/about-us/employees

https://www.tropos.de/institut/abteilungen/experimentelle-aerosol-und-wolkenmikrophysik/ag-troposphaerisches-aerosol

and

Dr. Sumit Kumar Mishra (en.)

Scientist, Environmental Sciences and Biomedical Metrology Division,

CSIR - National Physical Laboratory

Phone +91-11-45609387

http://www.nplindia.in/users/mishrasknplindiaorg

or

Tilo Arnhold

Public Relations at the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), Leipzig, Germany

Phone: +49-341-2717-7189

https://www.tropos.de/en/current-issues/press-releases

Links:

Support for the appeal of protective measures against the airborne spread of Covid-19

https://www.tropos.de/en/current-issues/press-releases/statements/unterstuetzung-appell-bezuegich-covid-19

Exposure to ultrafine aerosol particles in German homes depends primarily on the people themselves (press release, 19 May 2020)

https://www.tropos.de/en/current-issues/press-releases/details/belastung-durch-ultrafeinstaub-in-deutschen-wohnungen-haengt-vor-allem-von-den-menschen-selber-ab

TROPOS long-term studies for particulate air quality

https://www.tropos.de/en/institute/departments/experimental-aerosol-and-cloud-microphysics/tropospheric-aerosols-workgroup/ultrafine-particles-and-air-quality

UBA Indoor Air Hygiene Commission

https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/en/topics/health/commissions-working-groups/indoor-air-hygiene-commission
Governor Cant Close Religious Schools If They Follow Health Guidelines, Kentucky AG Says

Kentuckys attorney general said Wednesday that state and local officials cannot order religious schools to close, as long as they are complying with social distancing and health guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement released minutes into Gov. Andy Beshears daily press briefing, Attorney General Daniel Cameron said that a forced closure of religious schools violates the First and Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and state law.

The law prohibits the state from mandating the closure of religiously affiliated schools that are complying with recommended health guidelines, said Cameron. Our courts have consistently held, throughout this pandemic, that religious entities are protected by our Constitution. Religiously affiliated schools are an important extension of faith for many Kentucky families, and the state cannot prevent them from operating so long as necessary health precautions are observed.

Cameron also noted that Kentuckys Religious Freedom Restoration Act states that the government may not substantially burden a religious belief without demonstrating a compelling governmental interest and using the least restrictive means to further that interest.

The AGs opinion comes after Beshear, a Democrat, said last week that he disagreed with schools that have decided to return to in-person learning as his state recorded a new single-day high of more than 1,100 positive tests of COVID-19 and asked them to reconsider.

During his Aug. 12 press briefing, Beshear recommended that schools wait until Sept. 28 to resume in-person classes. All were asking right now is one month, the governor said, urging schools and parents to use patience. One month to not make mistakes with the health of our children, their parents or their teachers.

Catholic schools in Kentucky, however, have signaled that theyre heading into in-person learning with no delays, reported Lexington Herald Leader. Superintendent of Schools for the Catholic Diocese of Lexington told the newspaper that 13 schools in the diocese would bring students back between Aug. 17 and Aug. 19.

In response to schools that defy his recommendation, Beshear said it was unlikely that he would issue an executive order to shut them down, but he would if there is a massive outbreak like the one that hit a Georgia school district, where more than 900 students and staff members were quarantined over fears of exposure to the CCP (Chinese Coommunist Party) virus, which causes the COVID-19 disease.

If somebody opens and has a huge outbreak and its threatening the lives of people, well take the steps we have to to protect our kids, he said. I want to get them back for in-person classes, but lets be wise about how we do it.
London Food Bank, The Food Bank of Waterloo Region and Rogers Step Up to the Plate to help almost 25,000 Southwestern Ontarians.

SWO food hampers will provide more than 524,000 local meals to support increased demand at food banks.

SWO food hampers will provide more than 524,000 local meals to support increased demand at food banks.

SWO food hampers will provide more than 524,000 local meals to support increased demand at food banks



Rogers employees in London and Kitchener volunteer to help organize, fill and distribute hampers

LONDON, Ontario, Aug. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stepping up to help address food insecurity facing many Canadian families, Rogers Communications Step Up to the Plate initiative with Food Banks Canada has arrived in Southwestern Ontario, delivering food hampers that will provide more than 524,000 meals for local food banks. These hampers will help fill the plates of almost 25,000 Southwestern Ontarians.

The Step Up to the Plate initiative started in June at Rogers Centre in Toronto, with Rogers employee volunteers and their families filling food hampers with non-perishable food items that provide an individual with a weeks worth of meals. Now, trucks loaded with hampers and pallets of food are on the move, destined for communities across Canada, where an unprecedented 8 million meals will be provided to Canadians when the initiative is completed this summer. On arrival in London and Kitchener, local Rogers employee volunteers are working with London Food Bank and The Food Bank of Waterloo Region to organize and continue stuffing thousands of food hampers for distribution to local food banks to help those who need it most.

Southwestern Ontarians are part of our extended family at Rogers, and when our family needs help, its our responsibility to step up and pitch in, through food donations, volunteering, and more, said Philippe Oille, President of Southwestern Ontario Region, Rogers Communications. Rogers has a long legacy of supporting our communities and giving back. This is our 60th year as a company  certainly a year like no other  and we are here to roll up our sleeves and get to work so we can come through this together.

Story continues

As the country begins to reopen, the economic impact of the pandemic continues to be significant, affecting food insecurity and demand at food banks. According to Food Banks Canada, which supports over 3,000 food banks and community agencies from coast-to-coast-to-coast - including the London Food Bank and The Food Bank of Waterloo Region  many local food banks have been severely impacted by COVID-19, from decreased volunteers and donations to having to adapt their operations, making it more challenging to meet their clients needs.

The partnership of the Rogers team through the Step up to the Plate program with the London Food Bank has meant that so many Londoners continue to receive the food assistance that they need through these uncertain times, said Jane Roy, Co-Executive Director, London Food Bank. The pandemic has created much stress and concern for Londoners facing food insecurity. If the summer has taught us anything, its that you cant quarantine hunger. Thanks, Rogers for being there when it counts!

COVID-19 has changed the way we live, work, and interact and has had a significant impact on the most vulnerable in our community, said Wendi Campbell, CEO, The Food Bank of Waterloo Region. With support from Rogers and the Step Up to the Plate initiative, we are able to provide pre-packed hampers to the community programs and agency partners, allowing them to focus on safe service delivery. Thank you to Rogers staff and family members that stepped up to help make an impact.

Thank you to Rogers and the London Food Bank for coming together to support individuals in need in our community, said Peter Fragiskatos, Member of Parliament for London North Centre. This is precisely the type of initiative that reflects the possibilities and potential of partnership. Food insecurity has been a challenge for many in our city, particularly during COVID-19. The Step Up to the Plate campaign is one example of how this reality is being confronted: by people volunteering in solidarity to help their fellow citizens.

The community support Step Up to the Plate is providing is phenomenal, said Hon. Monte McNaughton, Ontario Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development and MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex. I know the contributions of the volunteers from Rogers will mean so much for the 25,000 people benefitting from this generosity. This is amazing work.

The City of London is very pleased to welcome the Rogers 'Step Up to the Plate' program to our City, especially as it works in support of the outstanding efforts of the London Food Bank in distributing food to Londoners who need it most, said Josh Morgan, Acting Mayor and Councillor (ward 7), City of London. The tireless work of the London Food Bank on behalf of our vulnerable population has been particularly beneficial during the pandemic. The complementary work of the Rogers Step Up to the Plate program will greatly enhance the ability of our local food bank to serve Londoners, and we are very grateful to Rogers for this assistance.

Step Up to the Plate is part of The 60 Project , a year-long initiative to mark Rogers 60th anniversary by giving back and building a stronger Canada  from donations of time, money and fundraising support, to investing in Canada and the networks that keep our customers connected. We are bringing this commitment to life by partnering with community organizations like Food Banks Canada, Womens Shelters Canada, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Pflag; providing Ted Rogers Community Grants to support organizations that help youth succeed inside and outside the classroom; investing in a 100% Canadian-based Customer Service team and in our networks to help Canadas economy thrive and grow; and connecting the next generation to education and the support they need to build a bright future. The 60 Project is about making hope possible, right here, in the Canadian communities we call home.

And with Step Up to the Plate and other initiatives this year, our Rogers family  all 25,000 strong, including here in Southwestern Ontario  will come together to give back an unprecedented 60,000 volunteer hours. With action, we will stand together with those who need us most, to ensure that all Canadians have an opportunity to move forward to discover a new normal that is better than the one that came before.

About Rogers

Rogers is a proud Canadian company dedicated to making more possible for Canadians each and every day. Our founder, Ted Rogers, purchased his first radio station, CHFI, in 1960. We have grown to become a leading technology and media company that strives to provide the very best in wireless, residential, sports, and media to Canadians and Canadian businesses. Our shares are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI). If you want to find out more about us, visit about.rogers.com .

About Food Banks Canada

Food Banks Canada provides national leadership to relieve hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow in collaboration with the food bank network from coast-to-coast-to-coast. For 40 years, food banks have been dedicated to helping Canadians living with food insecurity. Over 3,000 food banks and community agencies come together to serve our most vulnerable neighbours who  last year  made 1.1 million visits to these organizations in one month alone, according to our HungerCount report. Over the past 10 years, as a system weve sourced and shared over 1.4 billion pounds of food and Food Banks Canada shared nearly $70 million in funding to help maximize collective impact and strengthen local capacity  while advocating for reducing the need for food banks. Our vision is clear: create a Canada where no one goes hungry. Visit www.foodbankscanada.ca to learn more.

For more information:

Rogers  media@rci.rogers.com , 647-747-5118

London Food Bank  Jane Roy, London Food Bank, jane@londonfoodbank.ca , 519-659-4045

The Food Bank of Waterloo Region - Jennifer Judges, jenniferj@thefoodbank.ca , 519-574-5489

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/461d3d4a-9c17-4855-a825-6f7586095388




Hundreds of high school students besieged Thailands Ministry of Education on Wednesday and harangued and booed the education minister when he came to speak to them, in the latest in a growing series of anti-government protests.

The students demanded a better education and said the administration of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha was not competent to deliver it and should resign.

About 400 students wearing school uniforms with white ribbons, a symbol of the protest movement, joined in anti-government chants and gave three-fingered salutes, a sign of resistance to oppression borrowed from the movie The Hunger Games. Some tied white bows to the gates of the ministry.

When Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan and his aides appeared, a rising chorus of jeers began. He tried to talk to some students near the front of the group, only to be roundly scolded and told he was late so should go to the back.

It was a remarkable response to an authority figure from students schooled in a system that stresses deference and respect for elders.

He did as instructed, going to the very back of the group, then sat down and listened patiently to those there, writing down their complaints and responding, while sweating heavily in the afternoon sun.

Six years ago, Nataphol took part in large-scale street protests that helped trigger the army coup that brought Prayuth to power. Some student protesters blew whistles as he spoke, a disruptive tactic his own movement had used in 2014.

Im happy that they dare to speak out and that they are interested in politics at this age, as long as their ideas are beneficial to the country, he said just before leaving. They are the future and my future depends on them.

Many pupils seemed unimpressed, jeering him again and making thumbs-down gestures.

Protests at high schools began last week with students showing support on their campuses for a growing wave of anti-government demonstrations led by university students.

If we carry on protesting just within our school grounds other people wont be aware of it. The wider we spread awareness the better for the cause, one 15-year-old said.

The student-led protests are becoming the most serious threat yet to Prayuths rule. As army chief, he seized power in the 2014 military coup and then retained it in a 2019 election widely seen as rigged to all but guarantee his victory.

But with key Cabinet posts still in the hands of former generals, people are weary of the militarys continuing influence on the running of the country and of Prayuths leadership and performance.

The economy has struggled to compete with its neighbors, even before the heavy damage inflicted by measures to counter the coronavirus pandemic.

The administrations image has also been tarnished by corruption scandals for which no one has been held accountable.

The student protests have declared three core demands: holding new elections, amending the military-imposed constitution and ending the intimidation of critics of the government.

Protest leaders triggered controversy earlier this month when they expanded their original agenda, publicly criticizing Thailands constitutional monarchy and issuing a 10-point manifesto calling for its reform.

Their action was virtually unprecedented, as the monarchy is considered sacrosanct and any criticism is normally kept private. A lese majeste law calls for a prison sentence of up to 15 years for anyone found guilty of defaming the king.

One of the activists who allegedly made critical remarks, Arnon Nampha, was arrested Wednesday and charged with sedition and violation of a public assembly law for participating in a Harry Potter-themed protest on Aug. 3.
New Delhi:

Law and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday hit back at Rahul Gandhi over his allegations that PM Narendra Modi was involved in corruption before becoming the Prime Minister.

Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that Narendra Modi as Gujarat Chief Minister had taken money from Sahara and Birla groups and demanded an independent inquiry into it, a charge BJP rejected as an attempt to divert attention from the AgustaWestland probe in which the names of Congress leaders and the family were coming up.

Here are the highlights:

#Humare Ganga ke saaman PM ke uppar bebuniyad aarop laga rahein hain? Ye saare aarop kheejh mei laga rahe hain



#Not a word was spoken by Rahul Gandhi on the series of stinking corruption which has become integral part of Manmohan Singh's Govt

#Congress did not spare the sky, space, land, under the land and even sea in corruption



#Congress' history stinks with Corruption; The saga of Cong govt is to promote looters of public money & to protect them



#Rahul Gandhi leading his party to repeated disastrous defeat; public doesn't think Congress is able enough to run municipalities

#Baseless allegations are being levelled to divert attention from the alleged involvement of Congressmen in AgustaWestland case

ALSO READ | Rahul Gandhi says Narendra Modi received Rs 40 crore from Sahara before becoming Prime Minister

#Rahul Gandhi leading his party to repeated disastrous defeat; Public doesn't think Congress is able enough to run municipalities

#Mr Rahul Gandhi is leading his party to repeated disastrous defeat and hence he is levelling baseless allegations in his sadness

Addressing a rally here in the prime Ministers home state, he alleged that in the I-T records there are notings of Sahara officials claims that they had paid 9 times to Modi between October, 2013 and February, 2014.



Gandhi said the documents in this regard were with IT department which had raided the company when Modi was Gujarat Chief Minister.



Similarly, as per documents with Income Tax department, the Birla group also paid Rs 12 crore to Modi when he was Chief Minister.



Wondering as to why there has been no probe in the matter so far, Gandhi demanded an independent inquiry.



Last week, Gandhi claimed that he had evidence of personal corruption of Prime Minister but he was being prevented from speaking in the Lok Sabha because it would cause an earthquake.



Reacting to Gandhis allegations, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said in New Delhi that the charges are baseless, false, shameful and mala fide and an attempt to divert attention from the AgustaWestland probe as names of Congress leaders and the family are coming up.



Party spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao said Gandhi was immature and was just indulging in bluff and bluster because people are not taking him seriously.



People of India have stopped taking him seriously. Rahul Gandhi is just bluff and bluster. There is no substance in what he says. He is just showing his and his partys incompetence, he said.



Gandhi said he was raising the issue on behalf of the country which needs answers over the questions raised against the Prime Minister.



PM Modi takes bribes and then shamelessly foists Demonetisation on Indians under the garb of fighting Black Money, Congress tweeted after the rally quoting its Vice-President Rahul Gandhi.



Rahulji asks if Modiji received this money from Sahara or not? If this document is with Income Tax, will Modi now investigate it?, tweeted party chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala.

(With inputs from agencies)

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PARK CITY, UT / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2020 / Phoenix Rising Companies (AKA Resort Savers, Inc) (OTCQB:RSSV) has reported second quarter results.

The Company is pleased to call attention to its recently filed second quarter results. The report shows a dramatic revenue increase over the first quarter. This occurred in the company's largest revenue generating subsidiary, Tieshan Oil.

During the first quarter results for TO were down drastically due to lack of gasoline sales in China. The first quarter lack of sales was directly caused by worldwide conditions. Second quarter results show a 400+% increase in revenue over the first quarter. This increase is attributed to higher demand for gasoline in China as fears diminished. Revenue has not reached the levels of 2019 in the second quarter but sales are showing a trend towards recovery.

CEO DS Chang commented "We are happy to see our core division returning to fiscal health. We hope illness does not revisit a damper on demand for fuel in China and that Tieshan Oil will continue to flourish and grow".

Furthermore, the Company is conducting ongoing due diligence on potential acquisitions of revenue generating, profitable enterprises.

In the instance of a certain infectious control company border closings and travel limitations have slowed the process by preventing onsite inspections from Company teams. Even so, other parts of the process continue forward.

The Wandi Mining acquisition has yet to close. The Company has tendered its share consideration to Wandi. However, Wandi has yet to deliver its shares to the Company as required to close the transaction. The Wandi shares are shown as "Subscription receivable for acquisition of Wandi" in the financial statements in our latest quarterly report. We anticipate that the Wandi transaction will close prior to the end of 2020.

For information on Phoenix Rising Companies visit www.phoenix-cos.com

contact ir@phoenix-cos.com

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Known and unknown risks may cause actual future results to vary widely. The statements are based upon Management's and Advisor's current expectations, estimates and projections; are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond Management's control and are difficult to predict. A reader of this press release should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Investors should understand investing in shares of RSSV involves a high degree of risk and should seek competent investment advice prior to purchasing shares.

SOURCE: Phoenix Rising Companies

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602591/Phoenix-Rising-Companies-CEO-Discusses-Dramatic-Recovery-in-Second-Quarter-Results
Chinese airlines are likely to recover faster than many of their peers as domestic travel within China has resumed at a quicker pace compared with other countries, according to several investors, CNBC writes in the article Chinese airlines could recover from coronavirus slump more quickly than their peers. The aviation sector has incurred significant losses after measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus  including border closures and restrictions on movement  halted much of global travel.

As a result, many airlines needed large amounts of financial support to stay afloat. China, the first country hit by the coronavirus, has in the last few months eased some restrictions allowing people to travel domestically as its outbreak stabilized.

For now, Chinese holidaymakers are opting for shorter distance leisure trips by car or train, and forward bookings are being made with a much shorter booking window (one week), Eastspring Investments said in a report.

Nevertheless, while the upturn in Chinese air travel is lagging road travel, Chinese airlines are still ahead in the recovery compared to their American and European counterparts, as they benefit from the recovery in domestic travel, it added.

The asset manager noted that most Chinese airlines derive a majority of their revenues through domestic travel. That means the airlines are likely to be more resilient than other regional airlines for the rest of the year, it said.

Investment ideas

Signs of recovery in Chinas air passenger traffic led HSBC to maintain its buy rating on the Hong Kong-listed shares of Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines.

Like many airlines globally, shares of the three carriers have plunged this year as they reported substantial losses in the first half of 2020. But those losses could narrow in the coming months, with passenger growth likely to help support ticket prices, HSBC said in a Monday note.

But improvements in domestic travel may not benefit airports, which rely more on international traffic for profits, added the bank.

We continue to expect domestic passenger traffic to recover sooner than international traffic, which is favourable for mainland Chinese airlines as they generate most profit on domestic routes, it said. On the other hand, airports generate most of their profit from international traffic, given aeronautical charges (passenger service charges and landing and parking charges) are usually higher for international traffic than for domestic traffic, and international passenger mainly drive duty free revenue at airports.
TEL AVIV, Israel and BETHESDA, Maryland, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cannabics Pharmaceuticals Inc. (OTCQB: CNBX), a leader in personalized cannabinoid medicine focused on cancer and its side effects, announced today that it is establishing a dedicated division for the development of its Antitumor Drug Candidate RCC-33 for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

SYNERGISTIC INTERACTION OF CANNABICS RCC-33 ON

The announcement comes as the company is gearing up to expand its clinical validation efforts for its RCC-33 formula, and is already preparing a plan for the next steps in its clinical validation path, including in-vivo experiments, collaborations with key medical centers, and the preparation of a product dossier with which the company plans to schedule a Pre IND Meeting with the FDA.

Eyal Barad, Cannabics' CEO commented: "The development of our drug candidate for the treatment of colorectal cancer based on our novel and proprietary formulation RCC-33 has become a central strategic activity for the company. Up until now we have conducted various POC experiments in our in-house drug discovery facility, and at this time, the company has decided to establish a dedicated division to centralize, coordinate and lead all aspects of the development of its drug candidate going forward. Our Scientific Advisory Board Member Dr. Erez Scapa has accepted the position of Medical Director for the new RCC-33 division and assist the company in its forthcoming plans for clinical validation. This is indeed exciting news for the company."

Dr. Erez Scapa commented: "I thank the company for their trust and am looking forward for the opportunity to drive a comprehensive clinical validation plan for the company's drug candidate RCC-33 for colorectal cancer. As a gastroenterologist, I am aware that currently over 65% of treated colorectal cancer patients survive for 5 years or more in the US. While we are still in the early stages of a long and challenging path, the mere possibility to demonstrate even a modest positive impact for these patients, gets me excited and motivates me to undertake the challenges ahead."

About Cannabics Pharmaceuticals

Cannabics Pharmaceuticals Inc. (OTCQB: CNBX) is a U.S public company that is developing a platform that leverages novel drug-screening tools to create cannabinoid-based therapies for cancer that are more precise to a patient's profile. By developing tools to assess effectiveness on a personalized basis, Cannabics is helping to move cannabinoids into the future of cancer therapy. The Company's R&D is based in Israel, where it is licensed by the Ministry of Health to conduct scientific and clinical research on cannabinoid formulations and cancer. For more information, please visit www.cannabics.com. For the latest updates on Cannabics Pharmaceuticals follow the Company on Twitter @Cannabics, Facebook @CannabicsPharmaceuticals, LinkedIn, and on Instagram @Cannabics_Pharmaceuticals.

Disclaimer:

Certain statements contained in this release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other U.S. Federal securities laws. Such statements include but are not limited to statements identified by words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "targets," "projects" and similar expressions. The statements in this release are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our Company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those outlined in the forward-looking statements. Numerous factors could cause or contribute to such differences, including, but not limited to, results of clinical trials and other studies, the challenges inherent in new product development initiatives, the effect of any competitive products, our ability to license and protect our intellectual property, our ability to raise additional capital in the future that is necessary to maintain our business, changes in government policy and regulation, potential litigation by or against us, any governmental review of our products or practices, as well as other risks discussed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, without limitation, our latest 10-Q Report filed July 14th, 2020. We undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statement or any information contained in this press release or other public disclosures at any time. Finally, the investing public is reminded that the only announcements or information about Cannabics Pharmaceuticals Inc., which are condoned by the Company, must emanate from the Company itself and bear our name as its source.

For more information about Cannabics:

Cannabics Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Phone: +1(877)424-2429

[email protected]

http://www.Cannabics.com

SOURCE Cannabics Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Related Links

http://www.Cannabics.com


Members of Asene Ghana Rice Farmers Group have lauded the Agriculture Department in Asene Manso Akroso District for introducing them to modern rice production.



Mr Asante Badu, the Chairman of the Group, told the Ghana News Agency at a demonstration farm at Asene in the Eastern Region that the group was taken through the various stages of modern rice production and the use of net instead of the tradition use of catapult and noise making to prevent birds from pecking the grains at the fruiting stage.



He said the use of the net had taken away the most difficult aspect in rice production and said that could reduce the cost of rice production and help increase their yields.

Ms Victoria Beyuo, the Agriculture Extension Agent in Asene urged the farmers to plant AGRA rice seeds, an improved high yielding rice variety.

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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SANTIAGO, Chile, Aug. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

Highlights

SQM reported net income for the six months ended June 30, 2020 of US$95.8 million .

of . Earnings per share totaled US$0.36 for the first half of 2020, lower than the US$0.57 reported for the first half of 2019.

for the first half of 2020, lower than the reported for the first half of 2019. Revenues for the first half of 2020 were US$850.5 million .

. Lithium sales volumes during the second quarter 2020 exceeded 12,600 metric tons, almost 50% higher than sales volumes reported in the first quarter of the year.

Second quarter iodine prices were stable, and hovered around US$35 per kilogram, while the business line contributed approximately 39% to our overall gross profit during the first half of the year.

per kilogram, while the business line contributed approximately 39% to our overall gross profit during the first half of the year. We began delivery of solar salts, selling over 60,000 metric tons during the second quarter. We remain on track to sell about 150,000 metric tons this year.

Plants continued operating without any material impact related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Published our audited Annual Sustainability Report

SQM will hold a conference call to discuss these results on Thursday, August 20, at 12:00pm ET (12:00pm Chile time).



Participant Dial-In (Toll Free): 1-855-238-1018

Participant International Dial-In: 1-412-542-4107

Webcast: https://services.choruscall.com/links/sqm200820.html

Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile, S.A. (SQM) (NYSE: SQM; Santiago Stock Exchange: SQM-B, SQM-A) reported earnings today for the six months ended June 30, 2020 of US$95.8 million (US$0.36 per share), a decrease from US$150.7 million (US$0.57 per share), representing a 36.4% decrease compared to the earnings reported for the six months ended June 30, 2019. Gross profit reached US$235.6 million (27.7% of revenues) for the six months ended June 30, 2020, lower than US$288.0 million (28.8% of revenues) recorded for the six months ended June 30, 2019. Revenues totaled US$850.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020, representing a decrease of 14.8% compared to US$998.4 million reported for the six months ended June 30, 2019.

The Company also announced earnings for the second quarter of 2020, reporting net income of US$50.8 million (US$0.19 per share) compared to US$45.0 million (US$0.17 per share) during the first quarter 2020 and US$70.2 million (US$0.27 per share) for the second quarter 2019. Gross profit for the second quarter 2020 reached US$127.8 million; lower than the US$142.5 million recorded for the second quarter 2019, but higher than the US$107.7 million reported during the first quarter 2020. Revenues totaled US$458.5 million, a decrease of approximately 7.2% compared to the second quarter 2019, when revenues amounted to US$494.1 million and an increase of 16.9% compared to US$392.0 million reported during the first quarter 2020.

SQM's Chief Executive Officer, Ricardo Ramos, stated: "The hard work and commitment of our team, especially in the north of Chile, during these difficult times, has allowed us to report a net income for the second quarter of approximately US$50 million. On top of this, as of today, we have met or exceeded all internal production goals which included record production levels of lithium carbonate.

"Although the downward lithium pricing trend continued during the second quarter, I would like to highlight that lithium sales volumes exceeded 12,600 metric tons, almost 50% higher than sales volumes reported in the first quarter of the year, in line with our goal of selling higher lithium sales volumes this year, when compared with last year, thus increasing our market share. In the iodine market, prices were stable, and hovered around US$35 per kilogram, and the business line contributed approximately 39% to our overall gross profit.

"We have been able to evoke change and promote efficiency resulting from the challenges and opportunities than have arisen amidst the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic. We have a diverse portfolio, a strong balance sheet, high-quality assets and great team. These company attributes will continue to help us successfully manage the turbulent times we are all facing."

About SQM

SQM is a global company that is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Santiago Stock Exchange (NYSE: SQM; Santiago Stock Exchange: SQM-B, SQM-A). SQM develops and produces diverse products for several industries essential for human progress, such as health, nutrition, renewable energy and technology through innovation and technological development. We aim to maintain our leading world position in the lithium, potassium nitrate, iodine and thermo-solar salts markets by:

Ensuring access to the best assets related to our current business lines by expanding our global presence;

Actively searching for attractive minerals allowing us diversification opportunities to replicate and expand our existing mining capacities;

Strengthening our operational, logistical and commercial excellence process from beginning to end, while looking to be a cost leader; and

Maintaining a conservative financial policy which allows us to successfully endure economic cycles that could impact the markets in which we sell.

We are a company built and managed by a culture based on excellence, safety, sustainability and integrity. We work every day to expand this culture through the attraction, retention and development of talent as well encouraging an inclusive and diverse work environment ensuring the unique knowledge and innovation needed to sustain our business. We strive for safe and accident-free operations by promoting conduct that favors the physical safety and psychological well-being of everyone who works directly and indirectly with the Company.

We position ourselves as leaders in sustainability and work to create a "green" image through the constant efforts to responsibly manage natural resources, care for the environment, form close and trusting relationships with our neighboring communities and through the creation of value. Within these communities, we support projects and activities with a focus on education, business development, and protection of the environment and historical heritage. We create value for our clients through established commercial models and the production and development of differentiated products that respond to their industry and market specific needs, constantly creating and providing a sustainable improvement in the quality of life. We will continue to create value for all of our stakeholders through responsible management of natural resources, sustainable expansion projects and improvement of our existing operations, with a focus on minimizing our environmental impacts by reducing our carbon, energy and water footprints and working together with our shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers and communities.

For further information, contact:

Gerardo Illanes 56-2-24252022 / [email protected]

Kelly O'Brien 56-2-24252074 / [email protected]

Irina Axenova 56-2-24252280 / [email protected]

For media inquiries, contact:

Maria Ignacia Lopez / [email protected]

Pablo Pisani / [email protected]

Tamara Rebolledo / [email protected] (Northern Region)

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: "anticipate," "plan," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "strategy," "should," "will" and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make concerning the Company's business outlook, future economic performance, anticipated profitability, revenues, expenses, or other financial items, anticipated cost synergies and product or service line growth.

Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are estimates that reflect the best judgment of SQM management based on currently available information. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that are outside of our control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated in such statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Readers are referred to the documents filed by SQM with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the most recent annual report on Form 20-F, which identifies important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on information available to SQM on the date hereof and SQM assumes no obligation to update such statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

SOURCE Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile, S.A. (SQM)

Related Links

http://www.sqm.com


Chikkamagaluru : , Aug 20 (IANS) The Karnataka Forest Department has busted a pangolin trading racket in the state's Chikkamagaluru district, and seized scales of the mammal which are much in demand in traditional Chinese medicine, officials said on Thursday. 10 people have been arrested so far.

"A 10-member pangolin trading gang was arrested on Tuesday. Right now we are hunting for the gang's 11th member, Ramesh, in Bengaluru," Chikkamagaluru's Deputy Conservator of Forests, N.H. Jagannatha, told IANS.

The 10 accused have been arrested under various sections of the Wildlife Protection Act and scales of three pangolins and six cell phones have been seized from them.

The arrested were identified as Abdul Rehman from Uppalli in Chikkamagaluru town, Naved Basha from Kalaspura, Dharmesha and Mallesha from Hosambala, Mahendra from Nagarahalli, Srinivasa and Pradeep from Sakrepatna, and Vishwanath, Sundaresh,and Mohan Kumar from Javagal.

Ramesh, who is being sought, was expected to deliver a consignment of pangolin scales to unknown persons in Bengaluru, Jagannatha said, adding that this could change between some more hands within the city and beyond as well.

"Developments in Bengaluru will prove to be of most crucial nature in this case," he said.

Forest officials are tracking if the consignment is destined for Bengluru or overseas.

According to officials, the racket came to light with the arrest of just one person, and they managed to connect the dots and nab all the other nine as well and start the hunt for the 11th man.

"We could not track Ramesh initially because of some gaps. We also do not have police like powers," Jagannatha said.

To reinforce their search efforts, the Forest Department sought the local police's help to track and trace phone calls between the poachers.

"I have requested Superintendent of Police, Hakay Akshay Machindra, and he assured his help. Still we need time to analyse the phone records and glean details such as from where the demand arose and who gave the money," said Jagannatha.

He said that the accused managed to get three pangolins from Muthodi forest area, Belur range and Kalasapura.

Jagannatha said the arrested persons themselves would have received the animals from some other unknown persons.

According to him, people buying the animals may eat their meat while some use its scales for treatment of arthritis, and they also much sought after in traditional Chinese medicine.

"Usually, pangolin scales are valued at Rs 1 to 1.5 lakh in the international market, but it fluctuates... sometimes it may be more or sometimes, it may be less," he said.
He said he put his own health at risk when he insisted on swabbing new arrivals, even though he was not issued a face shield. A stain a quarantined guest found on a doona in the Rydges hotel. "I wasn't comfortable doing that, but it had to be done. There was no testing going on, I had to really push it and I always put my hand up to do the swab. I thought it was very important," Mr Tait said. Mr Tait, who chose to stay in the hotel itself because he feared infecting his own family at home, said in one incident, the department told him not to swab someone who had COVID-19 as he had not had symptoms for three days and "will be leaving quarantine early". Nurses and returned travellers on Thursday gave evidence to the inquiry investigating the Victorian government's hotel quarantine program. More than 99 per cent of the state's current COVID-19 cases have been linked to travellers quarantined at two hotels: the Rydges on Swanston and Stamford Plaza hotel.

Nurse Jen worked at the ParkRoyal and Holiday Inn. Nurse Jen, who worked at the ParkRoyal Melbourne Airport, told the inquiry that the department effectively told a guest contemplating suicide to "stop being so dramatic". "They had specifically called this guest in the room and told them that they needed to stop threatening suicide just so they can get a cigarette," she said. A simple request for a kettle from a woman in extreme pain who wanted to boil water to prepare traditional medicince was refused by department staff who said anything electrical had to be "tagged and tested", nurse Jen said.

Their testimony also put a focus on the agency they both worked for, Your Nursing Agency, with both nurses saying they were no longer rostered on for shifts after they raised concerns. Nurse Jen told the inquiry there were enough nurses rostered on each shift at the ParkRoyal, but some who were designated mental health nurses were not qualified. She encountered some who were enrolled nurses but had not completed a degree to be properly qualified as mental health nurses. One nurse rostered as a mental health nurse was in distress after hearing about a guest who had taken their own life in another hotel and had tried not to be rostered on a mental health shift when she wasn't qualified, she said. Mr Tait said nurses were overwhelmed with the number of guests, with a ratio of one nurse to 100 or 150 guests.

Despite the challenges, he said he was proud of his work in hotel quarantine. Loading "I had a real sense of pride being part of a team that was tasked with the impossible ... we were really in it together," he said. Prominent human rights lawyer Hugh de Kretser, who was quarantined at the Rydges on Swanston, said his room was filthy despite his stay coming after the first outbreaks at the hotel and Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton issuing a full review of health protocols. Mr de Kretser said he found a plastic glove and a face mask under the bed, food crumbs on the floor and stains on the doonas.

A discarded glove Mr de Kretser found on the floor of his dirty hotel room. "We expected that our room would be thoroughly clean and smelling of disinfectant. It was the opposite," he said. He wasn't given a 15-minute fresh air break until day 12 of 14. Another returned traveller, whose identity was suppressed at his request, detailed how his wife, 28 weeks pregnant, was in tears when hotel staff said she could not go outside for fresh air, while it was up to him to organise his familys dietary requirements. He said he was told "You knew what you were in for".

Kate Hyslop and Ricky Singh, who were quarantined in April for 14 days in Crown Metropol, told the inquiry they weren't once given a fresh air break and nor were they ever tested for COVID-19. When they left quarantine, they weren't told to wear a mask and were able to hail a taxi to a hire car business before they drove interstate. The hearings continue on Friday with evidence from one of DHHS' authorised officers who worked in hotel quarantine and quit in disgust. The authorised officers were often public servants from other disciplines, such as sheriffs, gambling and liquor enforcement.
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorneys at Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman, PC have recently been honored by Best Lawyers. Five of the firm's attorneys are listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2021 Edition, and two attorneys gained Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch recognition for the first time. These are noteworthy accomplishments, as Best Lawyers is respected as the most unbiased, reliable publication in the legal community.

The Best Lawyers in America recognizes only the top 5% of practicing legal professionals in the country each year. Before a listing is awarded, attorneys are nominated and reviewed by their peers. The peer review includes an evaluation of each attorney's career history and demonstrated legal skills. Both new nominees and previous listees are evaluated in the same fashion for each edition, leaving only a final few with the distinguished recognition.

The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch recognition is given to attorneys who are in the second half of the first decade of their careers and are up to par with The Best Lawyers in America listees. Selection for Ones to Watch involves the same meticulous peer-review process, though only attorneys who have been in practice for 5 to 9 years of legal practice are considered.

Best Lawyers  and Our Attorneys

The Best Lawyers in America 2021 Edition listed Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman attorneys as follows:

Michael L. Baum

Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs



Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs

Ronald L. M. Goldman

Aviation Law



Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs



Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs

Timothy A. Loranger

Aviation Law



Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs



Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs

Clay Robbins III

Aviation Law



Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs



Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs

R. Brent Wisner

Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs

This is the first year Best Lawyers has selected Attorneys Robbins and Wisner to The Best Lawyers in America. On the other hand, Attorneys Baum, Goldman, and Loranger have been honored since 2016, 2013, and 2017, respectively.

The Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman, PC attorneys who gained 2021 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch recognition were as follows:

Pedram Esfandiary

Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs



Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs

Adam M. Foster

Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Plaintiffs



Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs



Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs

Attorneys Esfandiary and Foster were recognized by Ones to Watch for the first time, marking a great milestone in each of their legal careers.

About the Firm

Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman is a Los Angeles-based law firm representing injured clients in litigation against negligent, large corporations and manufacturers. The firm also represents whistleblowers and individuals and entities in class actions. It was ranked in Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms" by U.S. News in 2020 as a National Tier 1 firm for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions, a Metropolitan Tier 1 firm for personal injury litigation, product liability and mass tort litigation / class actions in Los Angeles, as well as a Tier 2 firm for aviation law. Moreover, the firm has been recognized by Martindale-Hubbell as an AV-rated firm, and many of its lawyers are recognized in Avvo.com, National Trial Lawyers Top 100, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Super Lawyers, and more.

To speak to an attorney, visit Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman at https://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/ today. Or visit Best Lawyers at bestlawyers.com to learn more about these recent accolades.

SOURCE Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman

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Us' new effort doomed to failure; those who left JCPOA cannot use Resolution 2231 mechanism: Iran

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Wed / 19 August 2020 / 14:49

Tehran (ISNA)  Iran's President called the new US attempt to use a mechanism of Resolution 2231 to undermine the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) already failed and stressed, "The United States is not a member of the JCPOA now to be able to use this mechanism, and all parties have already condemned this US attempt".

Speaking in a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, President Hassan Rouhani said, "The world knows what the result will be if the United States takes this dead-end? They have destroyed the bridge themselves and still think there is a bridge to cross".

The President stated, "The mechanism states that the parties to JCPOA or one of them can use this mechanism, but the United States, which has explicitly stated that it is not a part of the JCPOA and this is the worst pact, cannot use it, and this is one of the incorrect statements that Americans have made".

Dr. Rouhani emphasized that "the government has stood -and will stand- with all its might against this superpower and the countries that want to oppress this nation," and said, "Unfortunately, some say that if the foundations of the JCPOA were stronger, the United States could not withdraw from it, but why don't you see the stupidity of the enemy? Is there any agreement that this US government has not withdrawn from?!"

"Strange words are sometimes heard here and there that amaze you," he said, adding, "Now if, in your opinion, the foundations were not very strong, what can be said about the United States' withdrawal from the World Health Organisation, UNESCO, NAFTA and The Paris Climate Pact?"

Dr. Rouhani emphasized that "if the government is strong, it means that the system is strong, and if the government breaks, it means that the system is broken," adding, "We all know that the main burden is on the government's shoulders and it is the government that if one day breaks, the services provided to the people face problems".

"We know that these sanctions are causing problems for the people," the president said, adding, "We are standing up to these sanctions, which will come to an end. If anyone in Iran thinks that this tyrannical administration of the White House and these oppressive sanctions are permanent, they are mistaken, because both tyrants in the White House and the sanctions will not last forever".

Dr. Rouhani added, "Sanctions will break and will be lifted. We made it clear to them through our resistance that they were wrong, and the White House fully understood that they were wrong, but they were helpless in the way they took, and it was difficult for them to find a way out".

The President said, "The enemies have been committing crimes in this country since August 19, 1953, and have always acted against the nation, Iran, democracy and the legal government, and imposed a dictator and tyranny on this nation, and since then they have continued this wrong path".

Dr. Rouhani pointed out, "Although the enemy apparently achieved success in 1952, but on August 15 this year, even though they carried a begging bowl and was putting pressure on the countries until the voting day, they could not achieve victory even in appearance. I would like to thank the 11 countries that did not vote for the United States' wish, and the two friendly countries that decisively voted against it. Today, the United States is left alone and the Iranian nation enjoys greatness".

The president said, "The disgraceful defeats of the United States are due to the tactics of the regime and the government. If when the US withdrew from the JCPOA we did the same thing, it would have no cost for the US and all sanctions would return under the resolutions, but we acted prudently, which led to everyone taking a stand against the United States that year at the United Nations".

Dr. Rouhani pointed out, "The United States, which suffered two historic defeats in 2018 and 2020, has begun another attempt and, and in the meantime, foreign Persian-language media have appeared as mercenaries and traitors, expressing their happiness over the pressure on the Iranian nation, in which they will fail again".

The President said that the main concern of the government in the current situation is economic stability and peace in the country, adding, "We are trying to eliminate people's concerns about their future. On the other hand, in the year of 'Surge in Production', we are looking to accelerate the production sector".

Dr. Rouhani added, "Today, we are witnessing production growth in all sectors, just as we are witnessing a 9% growth in production in the industrial sector in the first four months of this year compared to the last year's quarter".

"The country is practically run with non-oil exports, and this is unprecedented in Iran's history, and this year only 10% of the budget relies on oil," said Rouhani.

End Item

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Milwaukee: Former president Barack Obama and the Democratic Party's 2016 nominee Hillary Clinton have pleaded with progressive voters to show up at the polls on election day, warning them that Donald Trump would try to cheat his way to victory on November 3.

The star-studded convention night made history with Kamala Harris' acceptance of the vice-presidential nomination. The party also displayed its commitment to female voters with appearances by Clinton, Nancy Pelosi and Senator Elizabeth Warren.

Former US president Barack Obama addresses the Democratic National Convention. Credit:Bloomberg

However, the dire warning from Obama about the threat to American democracy from Trump grabbed the attention of convention viewers. In a strikingly forceful speech in which he came close to tears, Obama said that Trump "will tear our democracy down if thats what it takes to win". Clinton said the President would try to "sneak or steal his way to victory".

"Do not let them take away your power, dont let them take away your democracy," Obama said on the third night of the Democratic National Convention.
- Offers over 14,000 cloud assets and over 200 industry cloud solution blueprints

BENGALURU, India, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today launched Infosys Cobalt - a set of services, solutions, and platforms that acts as a force multiplier for cloud-powered enterprise transformation. Infosys Cobalt helps businesses redesign the enterprise, from the core, and also build new cloud-first capabilities to create seamless experiences in public, private and hybrid cloud, across PaaS, SaaS, and IaaS landscapes. With Infosys Cobalt's community leverage, enterprises can rapidly launch solutions and create business models to meet changing market needs while complying with the most stringent global, regional and industry regulatory and security standards.

Expand innovation with the cloud community and its 14,000 cloud assets

Enterprises can leverage the full potential of the cloud ecosystem and Infosys Cobalt's thriving community of business and technology innovators to drive increased business value. Working grassroots up and extending seamlessly to partner with clients, the cloud community provides access to a catalog of over 14,000 assets to help businesses leverage the potential of the cloud ecosystem. An example is the Infosys payer B2B platform creating a disruptive marketplace for employers and providers to come together to manage the health of employees. The Infosys Cobalt cloud community, over time, will expand to include start-ups, partners, academia, gig workers and citizen cloud developers.

Speed-to-market with over 200 industry cloud solution blueprints and Infosys Cobalt Labs

With Infosys Cobalt, enterprises can have ready access to a growing portfolio of over 200 cloud-first solution blueprints. Infosys Enterprise Service Management Cafe, for example, is an AI-powered solution built over the ServiceNow cloud platform, that delivers ready-to-launch applications. With Infosys Cobalt Labs, at Infosys global digital centers, businesses can also co-create new solutions and accelerate speed to market. More broadly, Infosys Cobalt Labs works with the Infosys partner ecosystem to pre-configure partnerships to prototype industry solutions as well.

Secure the globally dispersed enterprise

With Infosys Cobalt, regulatory and security compliance, along with technical and financial governance comes baked into every solution delivered. Enterprises count on Infosys Cobalt to securely access cloud capabilities and innovations from various partners with the assurance of the Infosys single-point accountability for secure outcomes.

Salil Parekh, CEO, Infosys said, "Our clients are building cloud capabilities to gain business advantage in increasingly competitive markets. The future of enterprise cloud strategy will be shaped by three key factors - speed-to-market, innovation at scale, and security of the ecosystem - this is the foundational construct of Infosys Cobalt. With Infosys Cobalt, we will set up a proven and optimal foundation for cloud-led transformation that will accelerate the next phase of growth and market leadership for businesses."

Infosys continues to invest in a growing set of services, platforms and solutions. The company's acquisitions of Fluido and Simplus - both leading Salesforce partners and recognized leaders in cloud consulting and implementation - expand its enterprise cloud capabilities. Infosys Cobalt also taps into a rich ecosystem of startups and over 30 leading providers of public and private cloud infrastructure, SaaS, PaaS, applications and enterprise security.

Ravi Kumar, President, Infosys said, "Our clients operate in hybrid and multi-cloud environments. They want to modernize and innovate at scale. They are looking to leverage this heterogeneous landscape, make the most of SaaS and PaaS capabilities, and power on-demand business solutions. They need a strong pool of talent with specialist skillsets to solve these challenges. Infosys Cobalt, together with its rich ecosystem of partners and vibrant cloud community, is securely amplifying enterprise cloud ecosystems, enabling businesses to find faster, more innovative ways to respond to changing markets and drive business resilience."

For more details on Infosys Cobalt, visit us at infy.com/infosyscobalt. For a deep dive by experts on the evolution of cloud and Infosys Cobalt, watch these videos on InfyTV: https://www.infosys.com/newsroom/infytv/enterprise-evolution-guide/infosys-cobalt.html

"We are on a continuous journey to improve responsiveness to our customers. Migrating to a best-in-class cloud data warehouse built using Snowflake and Azure has transformed the way we unlock data capabilities to accelerate customer relevance. Infosys is partnering with us to deliver the cloud data and analytics blueprint by seamlessly bringing together their partner ecosystem, providing technical expertise and solution assets to execute on our strategy. This is unleashing significant value for us through actionable insights delivered securely," said Eric Nelson, Kraft Heinz, CIO North America.

Priya Almelkar, Head of Digital Leadership at GLOBALFOUNDRIES said, "As a part of GLOBALFOUNDRIES' digital transformation, we've partnered with Infosys to help us establish a hybrid cloud foundation that will enable application and data migration to the cloud. We look forward to working with Infosys to differentiate our business solutions and deliver value to our clients worldwide."

"The current times have emphasized, like never before, the need for digital acceleration using technologies like cloud," said Lance Y. Gokongwei, President and CEO, JG Summit Holdings, Inc. "As one of the largest and most diversified Filipino conglomerates, our vision is to be the leading digital business in Philippines. We are leveraging Infosys Cobalt to set up a secure and scalable hybrid cloud environment and transform our business using SAP S/4HANA. We are also building a modern digital workplace for our workforce to be able to collaborate meaningfully and deliver their productive best. This will accelerate our responsiveness to evolving business needs and offer better services to our end customers."

"Cloud provides a platform for businesses to move at speed," said Peter Bendor-Samuel, Founder & CEO, Everest Group. "We are seeing rapid adoption of hybrid and multi-cloud environments. However, this transformation journey can be demanding as enterprises are flooded with a bewildering set of new options and associated complexities. In many cases this new operating model is proving difficult to master and is slow to yield the competitive advantages it promises. Infosys Cobalt is an effective antidote to these complexities and challenges and allows clients to focus on capturing the business results at speed that the move to cloud promised."

"The cloud is the backbone of today's enterprise technology," saidTodd Lavieri, Vice Chairman of ISG and President, ISG Americas and Asia Pacific. "Among our clients, we are seeing accelerating cloud adoption, using a hybrid, multi-cloud approach across public and private clouds, to design, launch, and scale new business models. Solutions, such as Infosys Cobalt, help organizations rapidly develop the business solutions they need today while also leveraging a vibrant cloud community to continue to innovate for the future. Such capabilities are a critical part of growing business resilience through digital transformation."

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.

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WASHINGTON  Earlier this month, a sunburned Steve Bannon, holding a lit cigar and wearing a blue polo shirt with the collar turned up, stood in front of a camera on a yacht owned by his friend Guo Wengui, a Chinese billionaire.

A YouTube video shows Wengui putting his arm around Bannon as the former Trump campaign chairman denounces the Chinese government and extols the alleged benefits of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19. The vessel's lavish interior gleams in the background.

On Thursday, Bannon was arrested by federal agents on that same yacht off Westbrook, Connecticut, and booked into jail on fraud charges. Though the charges appear to have nothing to do with the Chinese businessman, the arrest puts a new spotlight on Bannon's relationship with Guo, a controversial figure with his own history of legal entanglements.

Multiple people familiar with the matter tell NBC News there is a separate federal inquiry involving a company linked to both men, GTV Media Group. As The Wall Street Journal first reported Wednesday, the FBI, the New York state attorney general and the Securities and Exchange Commission are examining whether securities laws were violated during a $300 million private offering by the company this spring, the sources say. In a memo to potential investors, according to The Journal, the company identified Bannon as one of several prominent directors.

Related: Bannon was aboard a 150-foot-long yacht, off the coast of Westbrook, Connecticut, when he was arrested, law enforcement sources said.

Last month, investigators with the Mercer Island Police Department in Washington state took an incident report from an unidentified victim who had become an investor in GTV Media Group Inc., with the promise it was launching a video-sharing platform, similar to YouTube, "that was supposed to go huge," according to an official familiar with the matter. The investor wired $500,000 to receive shares in the company by the end of May, but never received shares and wasn't able to get in contact with the reported suspect, the report stated. As of July 10, local authorities noted that no crime had been charged, and the FBI was investigating the matter.

Story continues

The Mercer Island PD incident report identified the suspect as Guo Wengui, describing him as a "billionaire" based out of New York, and noted there were other victims. When Mercer Island police contacted the FBI, local investigators learned that Wengui appeared "to be a target of a large investigation personally and pertaining to his business," according to an official familiar with the matter.

Steve Bannon pictured on a yacht on Aug. 19, 2020. (obtained by NBC News)

When they followed up, investigators in Washington learned FBI agents had been investigating the case for about a month. "The victims that have been calling the FBI, FTC, and local police agencies have been reporting fraud for a failure to return on promised investments," the official said.

Guo's lawyer declined to comment, and Guo himself could not be reached.

Guo, who sometimes goes by Miles Kwok, is a mysterious and polarizing figure  a self-styled crusader against Chinese Communist corruption who has drawn the ire of the Chinese government but has also been sued by other Chinese dissidents. A former female employee alleges in an ongoing lawsuit that he repeatedly raped her, a charge he disputes. And a former Trump aide, Sam Nunberg, is among many who have sued Guo alleging defamation; he denies the allegations.

"Utilizing his world-wide publicity, high profile, social media accounts, and seemingly endless financial means, Defendant Guo regularly uses his public platform and power to defame and harass his enemies," Nunberg's suit says. "In this case, Guo set his sights on destroying Plaintiff Samuel Nunberg's reputation and livelihood by filing baseless litigation against him and slandering Nunberg with malicious, false lies which discredit Nunberg both personally and professionally." Nunberg's suit is ongoing.

Guo, who by all accounts made his money in real estate and securities, portrays himself in interviews and court records as an exiled whistleblower, proving an inside account of breathtaking corruption at the heart of the Chinese system.

"Guo is a pioneer of using YouTube and Twitter to fight for the rule of law, human rights, freedom and democracy in China," his lawyers wrote in court papers in a federal lawsuit in Maryland against a self-described Chinese democracy activist. "Guo has exposed widespread corruption in the Chinese Communist Party ('CCP'), multiple senior officials of the Chinese Government, and their family members."

That lawsuit itself offers an illustration of the divisions of opinion about Guo: The defendant, Hongkuan Li, a well known dissident who says he participated in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, accused Guo on social media of being a "gangster," a "communist spy puppy," "a rapist" and of "suffering from schizophrenia," Guo's lawyers wrote, charges they say are all false.

That lawsuit purports to recount Guo's history, which includes a 1989 incident he says turned him against the Chinese government.

As police sought to arrest him for supporting the Tiananmen protests, the suit says, "Two drunken policemen raided Guo's office and fired their weapons directly at his young wife, who was holding his three-month-old baby daughter. His younger brothertried to protect Guo's wife and daughter and was shot twice in the altercation," the suit says.

Guo's brother was sent to the hospital, the suit says, but "the policemen who shot him instructed the doctors to refuse him any medical care and locked the door." As a result, he died, and Guo "vowed to become a persistent and brave advocate against the Chinese kleptocracy," the suit says.

As a New York Times magazine profile pointed out in 2018, that timeline doesn't appear to explain why Guo spent the next two decades growing rich in China through real estate development, a business that typically requires close cooperation with government officials even in democracies, let alone an authoritarian state like China. In nearly three decades after his brother's death, there is no record of Guo taking a public stand against the party he says caused it, the Times wrote.

There are darker allegations against Guo than hypocrisy, however. A lawsuit filed in New York state by a 28-year-old Chinese woman says Guo lured her to the U.S. from China to work as his assistant and then kept her prisoner for three years, repeatedly assaulting and raping her. The suit says she escaped while in London and went to the Chinese embassy, and that she filed a criminal complaint with Chinese authorities.

Guo's lawyers have denied the allegations in court papers. A lawyer for Guo told NBC News that Guo reiterated his denial of the allegations.

In a statement, the lawyer for Guo also said, Mr. Guo is aware of the situation involving Mr. Bannon who has been a strong ally in fighting for freedom and democracy in China. Mr. Guos past efforts with Mr. Bannon in fighting for democracy in China had nothing to do with the We Build the Wall organization or Mr. Bannons activities with that organization. Mr. Guo appreciates that unlike the Chinese Communist Party, the United States of America affords all individuals accused in the United States, including Mr. Bannon, the presumption of innocence and the right for a fair trial before an impartial judge.

In 2017, as Guo's public profile in the U.S. began to grow, a journalist from the Voice of America, a government-funded news service, arranged to interview him. The plan was to broadcast a live interview for three hours on social media, but top officials at Voice of America ordered it stopped after an hour and 20 minutes, according to documents and interviews, because they were concerned he was making unverified allegations.

Guo accused the VOA of having been infiltrated by Chinese intelligence, a serious charge that threw the agency into turmoil. But an investigation by independent journalism expertsand a separate State Department inspector general's inquiry  concluded that the decision was based solely on journalistic principles, VOA officials said. The journalist who arranged the interview, the chief of VOA's Mandarin Service, was fired.

In a 2019 tweet, the journalist, Sasha Gong, quoted Bannon as saying, "Voice of America tried to clear out all truth-tellers about China in Mandarin Service. VOA executives betrayed American people, Chinese people."

Earlier this year, a Bannon ally, Michael Pack, became the head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which includes the VOA, after a long confirmation delay in his Senate confirmation.

The veteran journalists in charge of the VOA, Amanda Bennett and Sandra Sugawara  both of whom were involved in the decision to stop the Guo interview  immediately resigned.
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NPP Parliamentary candidate of Akwatia constituency, Ernest Kumi has expressed confidence in the Ghana Police Service to bring to book all persons who violated the countrys laws during the voter registration exercise.



According to him, the Police are capable to arrest all the suspects.



His statement comes on the heels of a similar assurance given by the Police.



The Ghana Police Service has assured it will not shield any person found culpable in perpetrating violence during the voters registration exercise.



This is due to concerns by a section of the general public about the pockets of chaos that were recorded during the exercise which left two people dead.



Mr. Kumi urged the Police to be true to their word ensuring the culprits face the full rigors of the law.



Speaking on UTVs 'Adekye Nsroma' programme, he said, it is welcoming news and their decision is in line with their duties because it is their responsibility to protect citizens to reduce the incidents of crime in the country. If the Police are able to arrest all the culprits, it will serve as a deterrent to others. I have hope in the current police administration and believe they can do it because their works recently inspire confidence. They have been resourced enough by the government to help them execute their duties. Im optimistic the Police will work and bring all the culprits to book.









Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/[email protected]









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
At least four people were killed in a massive wildfire burning in Northern California that grew by more than 80,000 acres Thursday, the state firefighting agency said.

Three of the deaths in the LNU Lightning Complex fires occurred in Napa County, and the fourth person died in Solano County, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire, said in an update.

The three people dead in the fire in Napa County were found Wednesday and recovered Thursday, Napa County Sheriff's Office spokesman Henry Wofford said. They were found in a residence, but it is not clear if they were related and identification is pending, he said.

Earlier Thursday, Solano County Sheriff Tom Ferrara said in a fire update briefing that there has been one death, which he said was a man who lived in the county, but he gave no other details because next of kin has not been notified.

A PG&E utility worker died Wednesday while clearing infrastructure around the fire complex to make it safe for first responders, Cal Fire said in a statement earlier Thursday. It was not immediately clear whether that worker's death was included in the Cal Fire count of four fatalities in the LNU complex.

A helicopter pilot conducting water drops on a different fire, the Hills Fire in Fresno County, died when the aircraft crashed Wednesday morning, officials said.

The LNU Lightning Complex, which grew from 131,000 acres to 215,000 acres Thursday, has destroyed at least 480 homes and other structures, Cal Fire said.

There are 23 major fires or complexes burning across California, along with other blazes. At least 62,000 people have been evacuated, and 100,000 more were under evacuation warnings, Cal Fire said Thursday. An Air Force base was evacuated, and the fires covered large swaths of the San Francisco Bay Area in smoke.

"We are experiencing fires the likes of which we haven't seen in many, many years," Gov. Gavin Newsom said at a news conference Wednesday.

Story continues

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The PG&E utility worker was found unresponsive in a vehicle Wednesday afternoon and was pronounced dead at a hospital, Cal Fire said.

The helicopter pilot, identified by the department as Michael John Fournier, crashed while on a water-dropping mission Wednesday morning at the Hills Fire, around 9 miles south of Coalinga in the San Joaquin Valley. He worked for a private company contracted by Cal Fire.

The state is battling 367 fires, 23 of which are major fires or complexes, Newsom said Wednesday. Many were sparked by a large number of lightning strikes in California  about 11,000 over four days  as the state is in the grip of a heat wave.

The infernos are stretching the state's resources, the governor said. "The totality, when you consider 367 active fires we're aware of all across California ... that is a resource challenge where they are stretched in ways we haven't seen in the last few years."

The LNU Lightning Complex is burning across five Northern California counties  Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Yolo and Solano  and it was zero percent contained Thursday night, Cal Fire said. It is made up of several fires connected to lightning strikes in Napa and Sonoma counties.

There were 30,500 structures threatened Thursday night.

Related: Crews worked in blistering heat to beat back wildfires that ignited across Northern California, sending thousands of people from their homes into smoky air, briefly halting traffic on an interstate and killing a pilot on a firefighting mission.

Travis Air Force Base in Solano County, northeast of the Bay Area, ordered all nonessential personnel to evacuate Wednesday night.

Darcy Smith, 46, said she and her family operate Funky Chicken Rescue, with about 200 animals in their care, in Vacaville, a city of 100,000 people about 35 miles southwest of Sacramento. She said in a phone interview Wednesday that several fires burning in the area at first seemed far away.

As the blazes moved closer, the family was forced to evacuate.

"The wind picked up a bit, and we could tell that the smoke was headed our way," she said.

Smith said they packed as many animals as they could but had to leave over a dozen behind.

"That was completely heartbreaking. We were told to evacuate. You could actually hear people's propane tanks exploding, so we were rushed off before we could get everybody," she said, adding that her husband went back to their property to rescue more animals.

Image: LNU Lightning Complex fire (Noah Berger / AP)

Caroline Newell said she decided to evacuate her home in Winters, a town 30 miles west of Sacramento, after the smell of smoke in her home became overwhelming.

"When I went outside, I went to go check out what was going on, and there was so much ash," she said in an interview Wednesday. "It felt like it was snowing. It was super hazy, but inside my house was also very hazy."

Newell said she fled to her parents' house in Fairfield, about 24 miles south, but later had to evacuate again to Oakland.

Bay Area residents were warned to stay indoors because of smoke from more than three dozen fires in counties just outside San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland.

Spanish Flat Mobile Villa, a mobile home park in Napa, was flattened and nearly 100 people had to quickly evacuate Tuesday night as a fire ripped through, NBC Bay Area reported.

A 90-year-old woman who has hearing issues had to be rescued by a neighbor. Another neighbor, Marcia Ritz, told NBC Bay Area that everyone escaped to a resort on Lake Berryessa but that flames continued to draw closer.

"One of our friends had a pontoon, and there were 10 of us that got on it, and we were out on the water for about five hours," Ritz said.

More than 50 trailers in the mobile home park were destroyed.

Newsom said there have been 6,754 fires since the start of the year, compared to 4,007 at this time last year.

Image: LNU Lightning Complex fire (Josh Edelson / AFP - Getty Images)

A group of 20 fires being tracked as the single SCU (Santa Clara Unit) Lightning Complex  in Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties  grew by around 20,000 acres Thursday to reach 157,475 acres, Cal Fire said.

The complex is 5 percent contained. No structures have been destroyed, but 20,000 were threatened Thursday night.

Embers were being thrown as far as three-quarters of a mile, Cal Fire Capt. Stephen Volmer, a fire behavior analyst on the complex, said in a video Thursday. While humidity normally increases at night and slows the spread of fires, that has not been happening, "and that's allowing the fire to burn actively all day and all night out there," he said.

"We're looking at, just in the grass, the fire will move at up to 120 feet a minute, and that is also hampering the control efforts, because it's putting the fire moving faster than we can actually engage it safely," Volmer said.

Five fires in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties  dubbed the CZU August Lightning Complex  broke out Monday night and continued to grow Thursday, swelling from 40,000 acres to 48,000 acres, officials said. It was zero percent contained.

At least 50 structures have been destroyed, and Cal Fire Deputy Chief Jonathan Cox said he expects that the number will reach triple digits.

You are seeing what our air operations are seeing. Incredible. Destructive. Sad. #CZULightningComplex pic.twitter.com/1XfpgwkrHU  CAL FIRE CZU (@CALFIRECZU) August 21, 2020

Around 48,000 people have been evacuated, and officials said that people having left areas has helped firefighters in regions of small, winding roads.

More help has arrived, but Cal Fire incident commander Billy See said at a news conference that "it's still not enough."

"We're still drastically short for a fire this size," See said. He said firefighters saw growth of 700 to 1,000 acres an hour in heavy timber Thursday.

Sonoma County Sheriff Mark Essick said Thursday that he was concerned that many people were pulling over on the sides of busy highways and roads to view the fire and take pictures.

"We really urge you to fight that urge and continue to evacuate," he said. "When you pull over to take pictures, it creates secondary traffic hazards and problems for evacuations."
By PTI

MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday recorded the statement of film maker Rumi Jaffery in connection with a money laundering case probe linked to the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, officials said.

They said Jaffery reached the central probe agency's office at Ballard Estate here around 11:30 AM.

The director's statement, as per sources, is being recorded with regard to his reported plans of directing a movie with the late actor and the finances involved in this upcoming project.

Jaffery has earlier been questioned by the Mumbai Police which is probing the death of the actor under the accidental death report (ADR) procedure.

Rajput (34), was found dead at his home in a Bandra locality here on June 14.

Early this week, the agency had recorded the statement of Rajput's father K K Singh in this case.

ALSO READ | Sushant Singh Rajput death case: Here's a timeline of events that have transpired so far

The father had on July 25 filed a complaint with the Bihar Police in Patna against Rajput's friend and live-in partner Rhea Chakraborty, her family members including mother Sandhya Chakraborty and brother Showik, Rajput's manager Samuel Miranda and Shruti Modi and unknown persons accusing them of cheating and abetting his son's suicide.

The Bihar police had lodged a criminal FIR based on the complaint.

The ED case under the criminal provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) has been filed on the basis of this FIR.

Last week, the agency had also questioned Rajput's elder sister Meetu Singh. Rajput has four sisters.

The ED has also quizzed Rhea Chakraborty, her brother Showik, father Indrajit Chakraborty, Rajput's business managers, chartered accountants, house workers, his friend and flat mate Siddharth Pithani in the case till now and their statements have been recorded under the PMLA.

The CBI had re-registered the Bihar police's FIR as a fresh case and named the same people as accused.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave its nod to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to go ahead and launch its investigation in the case.

Singh has also alleged financial irregularities in his complaint to the police.

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.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: As many as 26 volunteers who reached the Air-India Express plane crash site in Kozhikode evacuated the injured passengers on 7 August, have tested positive for COVID-19

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Of the fresh fatalities, two each were reported from Kamrup Metropolitan, Cachar and Karimganj districts while one each was registered in Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Nagaon and Hailakandi, Sarma said.

The COVID-19 death toll in Assam mounted to 213 on Wednesday after 10 people succumbed to the disease, while the state's coronavirus caseload has gone up to 84,317 with 2,116 fresh infections, Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

The discharge rate in the state improved to 75.97 per cent after 2,973 patients recovered from the disease since Tuesday, it said in a bulletin. The total number of recoveries stood at 95,663.

West Bengal's COVID-19 tally rose to 1,25,922 on Wednesday following a single-day spike of 3,169 cases, while the death toll mounted to 2,581 with 53 more fatalities, the state health department said.

"You don't want to mandate and try and force anyone to take a vaccine. We've never done that," said Fauci, a member of the White House coronavirus task force, during a video talk organized by George Washington University.

Anthony Fauci, the United States' top infectious diseases official, said Wednesday the government wouldn't make any future COVID-19 vaccine obligatory for the general public  though local jurisdictions could make it mandatory for some groups, like children, reports AFP.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he wants all 25 million Australians to get the jab after the country secured access to a vaccine currently under development by AstraZeneca and Oxford University.

Almost 30 potential vaccines are currently being tested on humans across the globe in hope of ending a pandemic that has now killed more than 775,000 people and infected nearly 22 million, according to an AFP tally.

Australia's leader called Wednesday for coronavirus immunisations to be mandatory, wading into ethical and safety debates raging around the world as the race to develop a vaccine gathers pace.

The top court administration has informed bar body Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association (SCAORA) that three among the bigger courtrooms will be readied within that time for physical hearing, while adhering to the prescribed distancing and other norms and as per medical advice.

After nearly five months of restricted functioning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Supreme Court has decided to start physical hearing of cases within a week's time, though in a limited manner.

The move to open gyms, however, failed to get DDMA approval, said a Delhi government statement. The decision was taken in a meeting of the DDMA which was also attended by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal through video conference.

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Wednesday gave approval for the opening of hotels and weekly markets, a move that is expected to help revive the city's economy pandemic and months of lockdown.

This is a much higher percentage than we had expected. The presence of antibodies is uniform across all age groups, including children, Velumani told Reuters.

Dr. A. Velumani said an analysis of 270,000 antibody tests conducted by his company Thyrocare across India showed the presence of antibodies in an average of 26% of the people, indicating they had already been exposed to the coronavirus.

At least one in four people in India may have been infected with the coronavirus - a much higher number than official government figures suggest, the head of leading private laboratory told Reuters .

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, more than 9 lakh COVID19 tests conducted in the last 24 hours, while the positivity rate drops to 8 percent.

The global coronavirus tally rose to 2,22,62,946 while the toll crossed 7.84 lakh, according to the Johns Hopkins Universitys tracker. More than 1.42 crore people have recovered from the infection so far.

The ventilators are manufactured in the US and are compact, easy to deploy and provide India with flexibility in treating patients affected by the virus, the US embassy said in a statement.

The US on Wednesday handed over to India 100 ventilators, as part of President Donald Trumps offer of assistance to New Delhi in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, reports PTI.

India reports 69,652 cases in 24 hours, taking the tally to 28,36,925. The toll increases by 977 to 53,866. There are now 6,86,395 active cases, while as many as 20,96,664 people have been discharged after undergoing treatment so far.

The Jharkhand government will start a Special rapid antigen testing Drive in all districts of the state to identify coronavirus patients, says the state Directorate of Information and Public Relations.

Almost half of the total inmates of the Kadapa Central Prison in Andhra Pradesh have been tested positive for Covid-19, reports The Hindu.

A report in 'ESPNcricinfo' stated that Hossain returned positive during the second batch of tests at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium's academy building on Monday.

A Bangladeshi under-19 cricketer, Iftekhar Hossain, has tested positive for COVID-19 and will be in isolation for a week, according to a report.

The fresh infections have pushed the total number of active COVID-19 cases in the state to 9,456, while 16,566 people have recovered from the disease so far, he said. A total of 12,282 samples have been tested for COVID- 19 in the last 24 hours, the official added

Jharkhand's COVID-19 caseload rose to 26,300 as 967 more people tested positive for the infection, while 13 fresh fatalities pushed its coronavirus death toll to 278, a health official told PTI on Thursday.

About 27 percent of students dont have smartphones and laptops to access online classes amid the COVID-19 school shutdown, reports The Indian Express. The survey, conducted by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), covers 18,188 students studying in CBSE-affiliated schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) and Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVs).

The toll brings to 228,621 the number of infections in the country since the start of the pandemic, and reflects a trend of rising numbers of cases observed in other countries in recent weeks.

Germany has recorded 1,707 new cases of the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, the highest daily toll since April, official figures showed Thursday, reports AFP.

Rajasthan's COVID-19 case tally now stands at 65,979 with 690 new infections reported today till 10:30 hours. The total numbers of active and recovered cases in the state are 14,671 & 50,393 respectively. The toll is now at 915, according to the state Health Department.

The total cases of coronavirus infections mounted to 28,36,925, while the death toll climbed to 53,866 with 977 new fatalities being reported in a day, the data updated at 8 am showed. Case fatality rate has declined to 1.90 per cent.

India's COVID-19 caseload went past 28 lakh with a record single-day spike of 69,652 infections, while the recoveries increased to 20,96,664 on Thursday pushing the recovery rate to 73.91 percent, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

This is an increase of around seven percentage points compared to the previous sero-survey for which samples were collected between 27 June and 10 July.

After a second serological survey was conducted between 1-7 August, it showed nearly 29 percent of Delhi population has developed antibodies for COVID-19, said health minister Satyendar Jain on Thursday.

The total number of coronavirus cases in the state was 70,020 after 2,898 more individuals tested positive for the highly contagious disease. "Of the total, there are 22,651 active cases and 46,935 recoveries," said the health department.

After eight more deaths were reported in Odisha in the past 24 hours, the COVID-19 toll in the state climbed to 380, said the health department on Thursday.

He further said that the contraction of the world economy is expected to be the largest since Great Depression.

Speaking at the 6th roundtable of ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the impact of COVID-19 has put a "cumulative loss of approx 6.5 or 9.7 percent of the global GDP".

"World faces an unprecedented challenge. None of us have seen a crisis of this proportion before. Even after several months, the true extent of its destruction remains unclear," said S Jaishankar at 6th Roundtable of ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks on Thursday.

The respiratory parameters of Former President Pranab Mukherjee have shown slight improvement though he continues to be on ventilatory support. His vital and clinical parameters remain stable and are being closely monitored by a team of specialists, said Army Hospital (R&R), Delhi Cantt.

On Thursday, the first bus from Mumbai Central depot, where the MSRTC headquarters is located, left around 8.30 am for Chiplun in Ratnagiri district with six passengers boarding at the starting point, a transport corporation official said.

The Maharashtra government on Wednesday permitted the state-owned undertaking to re-start inter-district bus operations, which were stopped in March after the enforcement of lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Inter-district bus services of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) resumed on Thursday morning after a gap of almost five months, officials told PTI.

I am getting admitted to hospital based on doctors advice. I appeal to everyone who came in contact with me over the past few days to isolate themselves and get tested. he said.

Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat announces on Twitter that he has tested COVID19 positive. He will be admitted to the hospital. He is the sixth Union Minister to test positive for the highly contagious disease.

CSA had conducted 50 tests on players and support staff before the team's culture camp in Skukuza from August 18 to 22. The camp, focussing on the team's "identity, environment and performance goals", features 32 players.

Cricket South Africa (CSA), though, did not disclose the names of the two players, according to 'ESPNCricinfo'.

Two players of the South African men's cricket team have tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss a specially-arranged culture camp, the country's cricket board said on Thursday, reports PTI.

The ministry said that 272,804 people have recovered so far while 725 were in critical condition.

The Ministry of National Health Services also said the death toll in the country due to coronavirus reached 6,209 after eight patients died due to the infections in the last 24 hours.

Pakistan has reported 513 new cases of coronavirus, taking the toll tally of infections in the country to 290,958, the health ministry said on Thursday.

Five more people have been cured of the disease, taking the total number of recoveries in the state to 730, he said, adding six patients have died so far.

Fifty fresh infections were reported in East Khasi Hills district, seven in West Garo Hills, five in Ri-Bhoi and one in East Garo Hills, Health Services Director Aman War said. "Forty-one Armed Forces personnel and eight BSF jawans are among the new patients," he said.

Sixty-three more people, including 49 security personnel, have tested positive for COVID-19 in Meghalaya, taking the northeastern state's tally to 1,598, a health official told PTI on Thursday.

Dr Gupta told PTI that the patient's samples had been taken around midnight and the report came positive on Thursday.

A 41-year-old man, who died in a Kangra hospital within minutes of being admitted there around Wednesday midnight, was found coronavirus positive on Thursday, Chief Medical Officer Gurdarshan Gupta said.

The COVID-19 death toll in Himachal Pradesh reached 21 on Thursday with one more fatality while 29 fresh cases pushed the infection tally to 4,441.

Another ruling Biju Janata Dal MLA has tested positive for COVID-19, taking the number of lawmakers infected by the virus to eight in Odisha. Bhubaneswar (Central) MLA Ananta Narayan Jena on Thursday announced that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and is on home quarantine.

117 more police personnel found COVID19 positive while 2 have died in the last 24 hours in Maharashtra. The total number of corona positive police personnel in Maharashtra Police has now reached 12,877, including 2,255 active cases, 10,491 recoveries & 131 deaths till date.

"The uncertainties, surrounding the academic session and adoption of novel teaching practices, by educational institutions in India as well as in the US may have seemed in-surmountable. However, do remember, the age-old saying tough times don't last, tough people do," Sandhu said.

Speaking to over 50 Indian students in a virtual interaction, Sandhu said such unprecedented situations should instead inspire them to work harder and contribute towards a self-reliant modern, prosperous and happy India.

India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu has given a pep talk to Indian students here and urged them not to panic over the "uncertainties" surrounding their academic sessions, saying the COVID-19 pandemic is temporary, reports PTI.

"The special flights will be for Indian citizens in the UAE wishing to return home, and for residents of UAE currently in India to return to the UAE," the report said.

The Emirates airlines will fly repatriation flights to Bengaluru, Kochi, Delhi, Mumbai, and Thiruvananthapuram from 30 or 31 August, The Times of India reported.

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday extended weekend lockdown and daily night curfew from 7 pm to 5 am across the state.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in the state rose to 6,43,289, which includes 4,59,124 recovered cases, 1,62,491 active cases & 21,359 deaths till date, the state health department said.

"The uncertainties, surrounding the academic session and adoption of novel teaching practices, by educational institutions in India as well as in the US may have seemed in-surmountable. However, do remember, the age-old saying tough times don't last, tough people do," Sandhu said.

Speaking to over 50 Indian students in a virtual interaction, Sandhu said such unprecedented situations should instead inspire them to work harder and contribute towards a self-reliant modern, prosperous and happy India.

India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu has given a pep talk to Indian students here and urged them not to panic over the "uncertainties" surrounding their academic sessions, saying the COVID-19 pandemic is temporary, reports PTI.

The cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of coronavirus infection in the country has increased to 3,26,61,252.

India for the first time conducted a record number of more than 9 lakh COVID tests in a span of 24-hours on Wednesday and it is poised to see an exponential increase towards its resolve of testing 10 lakh samples daily.

"Although higher number of tests will push the positivity rate initially, but as the experience from several states and UTs has amply depicted, it will eventually lower when combined with other measures such as prompt isolation, effective tracking and timely clinical management," it stated.

With constantly increasing testing numbers, there has been a commensurate fall in the positivity rate, the ministry said.

With a record 9,18,470 tests been being done in a day, the cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in India have reached 3.26 crore even as the national positivity rate has fallen below 8 per cent, the Union Health Ministry said.

Recovery of 20,96,664 patients has been made possible because of effective implementation of the policy of testing aggressively, tracking comprehensively and treating efficiently, the ministry said in a statement.

Of the active cases of coronavirus infection, 1.92 percent are in ICU and 2.62 percent on oxygen support. The country's case fatality rate has further declined to 1.90 percent, it said.

Recoveries among COVID-19 patients in the country surged to 20,96,664 on Thursday, pushing India's recovery rate to 73.91 percent, while only 0.28 percent people of 6,86,395 active cases are on ventilator support, the Union health ministry said.

Bihar government puts a cap on charges of private hospitals treating #COVID19 patients. Different rates notified as per area - Category A applicable to Patna; Category B to Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Gaya, Purnia and Darbhanga; Category C applies to other parts of the state. pic.twitter.com/YW05CrHioz

Different rates notified as per area - Category A applicable to Patna; Category B to Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Gaya, Purnia and Darbhanga; Category C applies to other parts of the state.

The youngsters, who all stay around the airport area, had rushed to the accident site braving the heavy rains and COVID-19 fears and taken the injured to the various hospitals, drawing praise from various quarters, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

District Collector K Gopalakrishnan, Superintendent of Police U Abdul Kareem and 21 officials, including police and fire force personnel, also involved in the rescue operations, had also tested positive.

"As far as my information from the airport sources goes, as many as 26 localpeople, involved in the rescue operations, have tested positive for the virus so far and are now under medical care," the Malappuram District Medical Officer Dr K Sakeena told PTI.

As many as 26 volunteers who reached the Air-India Express plane crash site in Kozhikode evacuated the injured passengers on 7 August, have tested positive for COVID-19.

"The special flights will be for Indian citizens in the UAE wishing to return home, and for residents of UAE currently in India to return to the UAE," the report said.

The Emirates airlines will fly repatriation flights to Bengaluru, Kochi, Delhi, Mumbai, and Thiruvananthapuram from 30 or 31 August, The Times of India reported.

"Bangladesh has committed US$ 1.5 million to the fund. Foreign secretary informed Bangladesh PM Hasina about Indias efforts towards COVID-19 vaccine development and distribution. Both sides agreed to continue their discussions in area of vaccines and therapeutics," he added.

MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava on Thursday said, "India has provided COVID-19 related assistance to Bangladesh and has been organising capacity building courses for Bangladesh medical personnel following video conference of leaders of SAARC countries and creation of SAARC Emergency Response Fund for COVID-19."

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday extended weekend lockdown and daily night curfew from 7 pm to 5 am across the state.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in the state rose to 6,43,289, which includes 4,59,124 recovered cases, 1,62,491 active cases & 21,359 deaths till date, the state health department said.

Uttar Pradesh registered a record 95 deaths due to COV ID-19 on Thursday, taking the total fatalities in the state to 2,733. With 4,991 fresh Covid-19 cases, the state's tally climbed to 1,72,334, a government release issued said.

Coronavirus LATEST Updates: As many as 26 volunteers who reached the Air-India Express plane crash site in Kozhikode evacuated the injured passengers on 7 August, have tested positive for COVID-19.

"As far as my information from the airport sources goes, as many as 26 localpeople, involved in the rescue operations, have tested positive for the virus so far and are now under medical care," the Malappuram District Medical Officer Dr K Sakeena told PTI.

District Collector K Gopalakrishnan, Superintendent of Police U Abdul Kareem and 21 officials, including police and fire force personnel, also involved in the rescue operations, had also tested positive.

The youngsters, who all stay around the airport area, had rushed to the accident site braving the heavy rains and COVID-19 fears and taken the injured to the various hospitals, drawing praise from various quarters, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

With a record 9,18,470 tests been being done in a day, the cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in India have reached 3.26 crore even as the national positivity rate has fallen below 8 percent, the Union Health Ministry said.

With constantly increasing testing numbers, there has been a commensurate fall in the positivity rate, the ministry said.

"Although higher number of tests will push the positivity rate initially, but as the experience from several states and UTs has amply depicted, it will eventually lower when combined with other measures such as prompt isolation, effective tracking and timely clinical management," it stated.

India for the first time conducted a record number of more than 9 lakh COVID tests in a span of 24-hours on Wednesday and it is poised to see an exponential increase towards its resolve of testing 10 lakh samples daily.

The cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of coronavirus infection in the country has increased to 3,26,61,252.

This is an increase of around seven percentage points compared to the previous sero-survey for which samples were collected between 27 June and 10 July.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said that the contraction of the world economy is expected to be the largest since Great Depression.

Speaking at the 6th roundtable of ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks, Jaishankar said that the impact of COVID-19 has put a "cumulative loss of approx 6.5 or 9.7 percent of the global GDP".

India reports 69,652 cases in 24 hours, taking the tally to 28,36,925. The toll increases by 977 to 53,866. There are now 6,86,395 active cases, while as many as 20,96,664 people have been discharged so far.

With a record 60,091 people recovering from the novel coronavirus in a day, the total recoveries on Wednesday crossed 20 lakh, pushing the recovery rate to 73.64 percent, while the COVID-19 case fatality rate fell to 1.91 percent, the Union Health Ministry said.

The number of active cases in the country stands at 6,76,514, accounting for 24.45 percent of the caseload as the total recoveries have surged to 20,37,870, it said.

The total caseload increased to 27,67,273 as 64,531 people tested positive in 24 hours while the toll climbed to 52,889 with a spike of 1,092 deaths, the health ministry said in its morning update. India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on 7 August.

India tests over 8 lakh samples for second consecutive day

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a cumulative total of 3,17,42,782 samples have been tested till 18 August with 8,01,518 samples being tested on Tuesday.

"Focusing on the "test, track and treat" strategy, India has tested more than eight lakh samples for COVID-19 for the second consecutive day," said the health ministry in a statement. "The Tests Per Million too have seen a sharp rise to 23,002," the ministry said.

"It is only by aggressive testing that positive cases can be identified, their contacts tracked and isolated as well as prompt treatment can be ensured through timely medical care. The sustained level of high testing has played a key role in India's increasing rate of recovery, widening gap between the recovered and active cases, and also progressively declining fatality rate," the ministry said.

Dr Reddy's launches Avigan (Favipiravir) tablets

In another development, Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd announced the launch of Avigan (Favipiravir) 200 mg tablets in India.

The launch is part of the global licensing agreement with Fujifilm Toyama Chemical Co. Ltd. that grants the Indian drug maker the exclusive rights to manufacture, sell and distribute the tablets in India, Chief Executive Officer of Branded Markets (India and Emerging Markets), Dr Reddy's Laboratories, MV Ramana told news agency PTI.

Avigan(Favipiravir) has been approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19.

Avigan comes in a complete therapy pack of 122 tablets with a two-year shelf life. Ramana said that as of now, the company is importing the drug from Japan but will start manufacturing it in India soon.

Replying to query, he said they have already approached regulatory authorities of two or three countries including the US seeking approvals to sell the drug and seek fast track approvals from them once trials are completed. Dr Reddy's is set to launch another COVID-19 treatment drug, Remdesivir in the first week of September, he added.

Vaccine's emergency authorisation could be considered if govt decides: ICMR

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Balram Bhargava told members of the parliamentary standing committee on home affairs that phase-two clinical trial of two indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccine candidates have almost been completed and emergency authorisation of a vaccine could be considered if the Centre decides to do so.

He informed the committee that the vaccine candidates developed by Bharat Biotech, Cadila and the Serum Institute of India are at different stages of trial, an MP present in the meeting told news agency PTI.

The COVID-19 vaccine candidates coordinated by Bharat Biotech and Cadila are nearing completion of phase-two trails. The one being handled by the Serum Institute of India and developed by Oxford University will enter phase-2 (b) trials this weekend for which 1,700 patients have been identified at 17 centres across the country, the MP said.

According to MPs who attended the meeting, when asked how long people will have to live with the pandemic, Bhargava replied that normally the final trial takes about six to nine months but if the governments decides, an emergency authorisation could be considered.

Responding to queries by the panel about the saliva test cleared by the US FDA for the rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2, Bhargava said that taking samples from gargled water is already under consideration and further details will be available soon, said another MP who attended the meeting.

DDMA gives nod to reopening hotels, weekly markets

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) gave its approval for the opening of hotels and weekly markets but refused to allow gyms to reopen, said a Delhi government statement.

The decision was taken in a meeting of the DDMA which was also attended by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal through video conference.

The proposal to open gyms was not approved in the meeting headed by Lt Governor Anil Baijal. The LG said gyms can be allowed to open in the coming days. The weekly markets will be first opened on trial basis to assess the situation on the ground.

Hotels, weekly markets and gyms were closed in the city with the announcement of the lockdown in March in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. In the last week of July, the AAP government had decided to allow hotels and gyms to reopen in the city, and start weekly markets on a trial basis for seven days with social distancing and all other COVID 19 measures in place.

However, on 31 July the Lt Governor Anil Baijal "rejected" the Delhi government's decision, citing the fragile situation due to coronavirus pandemic in the city. The state government then sent a fresh proposal to the LG, arguing that the condition of Delhi was improving and the number of COVID-19 cases were coming down.

Delhi on Wednesday reported 1,398 fresh coronavirus infections, taking the case count in the city to over 1.56 lakh, while the toll mounted to 4,235 with nine fatalities. The positivity rate stood at 6.7 percent while the recovery rate was over 90 percent, said a bulletin issued by the state government.

Maharashtra, Arunachal Pradesh report record new cases

Maharashtra saw its highest single-day spike of 13,165 new COVID-19 cases, taking its tally to 6,28,642, while 346 fresh deaths pushed the toll to 21,033 Also, 9,011 patients were discharged from hospitals, taking the count of recovered coronavirus patients to 4,46,881. There are 1,60,413 active cases in the state at present.

Arunachal Pradesh added a record 133 COVID-19 new cases to its tally, taking the total caseload to 2,875. Twenty-nine paramilitary personnel and a health worker were among those found positive on Wednesday, said State Surveillance Officer Dr L Jampa. Fifty-five more people have been cured of the disease, taking the total number of recoveries to 1,949, the official said. Arunachal Pradesh, which had reported its first COVID-19 case on 2 April, has 921 active cases at present. Five patients have died so far, he said.

Sikkim reported its third fatality due to the novel coronavirus infection as a 57-year-old man succumbed to the disease while under treatment. Director General (DG)-cum-secretary in the department of health, Pempa T Bhutia said that the victim, a native of Pelling was admitted to STNM hospital on 14 August for cellulitis in his right leg with multi-organ dysfunction syndrome. He tested positive in the RT-PCR test and died on Wednesday.

In Uttar Pradesh, another state minister was among the 5,156 fresh COVID-19 cases. The cumulative case count in the state rose to 1,67,510. while the toll climbed to 2,638 with 53 fatalities. Minister of State for MSME, Khadi and Village Industry, Chaudhary Udaybhan Singh, tested positive for coronavirus and was admitted to Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, the institute's director Prof. RK Dhiman said.

Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Atul Garg, is presently undergoing treatment in a Ghaziabad hospital for coronavirus. Besides, two other state ministers Kamal Rani Varun and Chetan Chauhan had recently died of COVID-19

With inputs from PTI
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 11:16:36|Editor: huaxia

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BAMAKO, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The city of Bamako regained its serenity on Wednesday, after a mutiny at the Soundiata Keita military camp led to the forced resignation of Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on Tuesday night.

TRANQUILITY RESUMES

On Wednesday morning, businesses gradually opened in the Malian capital. But public services, banks and other financial institutions remained closed. Looting and vandalism that lasted all Tuesday night following the announcement of the arrest of Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse have stopped.

Taking advantage of the military mutiny, some people ransacked public and private buildings, including the office of the former prime minister and the home of former justice minister.

In a press release issued on Wednesday afternoon, the military-formed National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP) called on "citizens to go about their business and resume their activities." It also called on "public servants to return to work tomorrow, Thursday 20 August" by assuring that "all security measures are taken."

POST MUTINY

Following a mutiny early Tuesday in the Soundiata Keita camp in Kati, a town near Bamako, Keita and Cisse were taken to the same camp by the mutinous soldiers during the day. Keita then announced in the evening his own resignation, and the dissolution of the National Assembly and Cisse's government.

A few hours after Keita's forced resignation, the CNSP made its first ever public statement. Colonel Major Ismael Wague, as spokesman for the CNSP, announced a series of measures, including the immediate closure of the country's land and air borders and a curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

"We are not committed to power, but to the stability of the country, which will allow us to hold general elections within a reasonable time to enable Mali to develop strong institutions that are capable of managing our daily lives and restoring confidence between the rulers and the ruled," the spokesman said in the statement, saying that they were "favourable to a civil transition."

REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNATIONS

On Wednesday, associations and organizations of journalists and actors announced in a joint statement that they have taken note of "the political turn as well as the seizure of power by the CNSP." Nevertheless, they deplored the fact that the military made "no mention of the guarantee of fundamental freedoms, including those relating to the press and expression" in their first statement.

Some Malian political parties called it "the coup d'etat," appealing to the international community to help "restore constitutional order."

The mutiny was strongly condemned by several countries and regional and international organizations who opposed any attempt at unconstitutional change of government in Mali.

An emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation in Mali was held on Wednesday in New York at the request of France and Niger, current overseer of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The council strongly condemned the mutiny in Mali and the arrest of the Malian president, prime minister and several other members of government by the mutineers.

The regional bloc has decided to suspend Mali from all ECOWAS decision-making bodies, close all air and land borders with Mali, and stop all economic, commercial and financial flows and transactions between member countries and Mali. A video conference of ECOWAS heads of state and government will be held on Thursday to discuss the political crisis in Mali.

The African Union Commission also decided on Wednesday to suspend Mali from the pan-African body. Enditem
Days before the fourteenth death anniversary of shehnai maestro and Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan, the demolition of the room of his daily riyaz (practice) has drawn strong reactions from fans, musicians and political leaders.

As per reports, some of Ustads family members wish to build a commercial complex at the site. Samajwadi Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav called for the conservation of the room. He tweeted on Wednesday saying that the government should protect and preserve the place where Ustad Bismillah Khan used to perform riyaz every day.

Also read: PM to announce results of Swachh Survekshan 2020 at 11am

Saving it from going into the hands of bhupatis (builders), the government should conserve the place as a memorial where Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan used to do riyaz as worship. The people who do not preserve cultural heritage are forgotten not only by history but also the present, Yadav tweeted.

His tweet came after the roof of a room in Ustads house, situated in Hadha Sarai area of Varanasi, was demolished. Ustad Bismillah Khans awards, citations and shehnai were kept in the room. Ustads grandson Afaq Haider said Khans other grandson Chittain Hussain was planning to reconstruct the house for commercial purpose. He wanted to build shops on the ground floor. Ustads sons Kazim Hussain and Nazim Hussain were against the construction of shops by demolishing the house. Haider said that the house should be preserved as heritage.

Chittain Hussain is the son of Ustads eldest son Mehtab Hussain. Chittain, who is reconstructing the house, said that the house was in the name of Mehtab Hussain. As it was dilapidated, the citations and awards received by the Ustad from all over the world were getting damaged. Therefore, he planned new construction. Shops would be constructed on the ground floor and in the upper portion a room would be built as a memorial in which all citations, awards and other things belonging to the maestro would be preserved, he said.

Noted vocalist Padma Shri Rajeshwar Acharya also said that Ustads heritage should be preserved.
Sure, it might be warm Wednesday, but what about the rest of the week?
Many people visiting motels may have been inspired by Schitts Creek, the Pop TV series with impeccable timing  managing to zoom in on life in a motel just when motels were hitting their covid-19 stride. If you want to stay in the Rosebud Motel, made infamous on the show, youre up Schitts Creek  but there are plenty of motels that look just like that one, if you can get a reservation.
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The Midtown Sears is being converted to a tech hub. Crews are tearing down the Memorial City Sears in West Houston. Now, the freestanding Sears on North Shepherd, the last active Sears department store in the city, is set to close Aug. 30.

Once the nations dominant retailer  and now a case study in how not to adapt to a changing environment  Sears may soon fade from Houstons memory. But its real estate is being rethought for the future.

Mall owners such as Memorial Citys MetroNational are working to turn former Sears stores into profitable space at a time when enclosed malls across the country are foundering. Jason Baker, a Houston real estate broker and a principal at Baker Katz, said the Memorial City redevelopment offers an opportunity for MetroNational to build outdoor patios, bring in culinary destinations and draw more foot traffic from neighborhoods immediately surrounding the mall.

On HoustonChronicle.com: New future planned for Sears at Memorial City Mall

Im excited for them because this was, in my view, for a mall this age  this was the key piece to really unpacking the malls real potential, he said.

Not all redevelopments are as welcome.

Freestanding Sears sites like the one in Midtown have been accessible to lower-income neighborhoods, both in price point and geography, said Laura Solitare, an associate professor of urban planning and environmental policy at Texas Southern University. Many in that area dont have cars, she said, and so the Sears closure there leaves a neighborhood without a place to buy clothes and appliances.

Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

That area is losing a lot and not much necessarily is coming in, she said.

Transformations

The rise and fall of Sears, whose famous catalog made it the Amazon of its day, has been well documented.

Retailing moved online, Walmart took the low-end market, affluent shoppers flocked to boutique retailers and Target dominated the middle of the road.

Sears tried to be everything to everybody, said Bill Fulton, executive director of Rice Universitys Kinder Institute for Urban Research. In 2020, that model just doesnt work anymore.

Displaced as a retailer, the vast real estate legacy Sears left behind is now undergoing a transformation. Fulton said he expected to see high-rise residential developments cropping up in place of large, big-box stores.

Crews tearing down the former Sears building at Memorial City Mall are making way for a new outdoor lifestyle and retail district  phase one in a redevelopment process that focuses on consumer experience and walkability. In Midtown, Rice University readies to transform a former Sears into a $100 million tech hub, called the Ion, signaling another tectonic shift in the economy.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Baytown bids farewell to San Jacinto Mall

Elsewhere, the former Sears store in the Westwood Mall is now a car dealership, while the one at The Woodlands Mall lives on as a Nordstrom. The Wall Street Journal has reported that Simon Property Group and Amazon are discussing a deal to convert shuttered Sears and J.C. Penney locations in other markets to fulfillment centers for the e-commerce giant.

The North Shepherd store is owned by Seritage, a real estate investment trust spun off from Sears in 2015. At the time, Sears sold Seritage some 235 properties for $2.7 billion.

Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Seritage representatives did not return requests for comment about its plans for the North Houston space.

Baker, the retail real estate broker, said Seritage scooped up the North Shepherd property for its potential. It is desirable both because of its size and the growing area it sits in.

The old Sears store will likely get torn down, he said, with its redevelopment split between multi-family residential and retail uses.

It is good spacing for probably a lot of retailers, including things like Target, he said. Home Depot and Lowes are right there; this has been a good market for them.

Nationally, more vacant retail properties are turning over to warehouse space as e-commerce booms, with dead malls in Milwaukee, Cleveland, Chicago, Omaha and Dallas/Ft. Worth driving the trend, according to the CBRE, which tracks the real estate market. There are now 59 projects completed or underway since 2017, up from 24 in January 2019, a CBRE survey found.

On HoustonChronicle.com: The Ion on track for Q1 opening in former Sears building

These conversion projects are often located at freestanding big-box stores with large parking lots and multiple access points. The pandemic will only spur the phenomenon, the CBRE said, and property conversions could soon ripple into more areas in points to the West and Southeast.

But even as the pandemic accelerates trends away from brick and mortar, some Houstonians havent changed their shopping habits and are frustrated to see their neighborhood Sears store go.

B.R. Brooks, 74, has been shopping at the Sears on North Shepherd for more than 50 years. Its where she had her keys made and took her sons back-to-school shopping. She still takes her car to the Sears Auto Center next door and shops while she waits.

She doesnt have a computer and doesnt shop online, she said. Without Sears, she wont know where to go.

Its really heartbreaking that theyre closing, she said while leaving the store last week. Its a one-stop-shop. Whatever you needed, it was right here.

amanda.drane@chron.com
A food bank is about the food  but not just the food.

Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold is facing a crisis due to the cancellation of fundraisers over the past several months that has left it a half-million dollars short to fund its programs.

We rely heavily on the community and with fundraisers being cancelled due to the pandemic were about $500,000 short, said chief executive officer Betty-Lou Souter.

The programs  there are 20  include the food bank but also its medical program, housing and utility support, and others designed to help people struggling financially to become self-sufficient.

Back-to-school support is the buildup to its Christmas program, through which more than 3,000 registered households (which included more than 13,000 families and individuals from babies to seniors in 2019) are assisted each year with the communitys generosity.

The back-to-school program provides backpacks, new shoes and snacks for 1,300 children.

We are very concerned about what will happen in the coming months as CERB payments come to an end, said Souter.

CERB, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit  a temporary federal payout for people unable to work during the early months of pandemic shutdowns  will end in September.

This is uncharted water for all of us, said Souter.

There will be added pressure on people who will need support, she said. The numbers were already staggering: 2,450 kilograms of food is distributed to households in need every day, five days a week.

As well, the Niagara Nutrition Partners program co-ordinates student nutrition programs at elementary and secondary schools throughout Niagara. Volunteers and staff distribute snacks, breakfast and/or lunch to more than 17,000 students each school day.

This is a very stressful time for kids, and the parents are feeling anxiety as children head back to school because they really dont know how it will go, said Souter.

It was a such a nice surprise, she said, when Riders Protecting Children Niagara arrived at Community Care with two truckloads of food totalling 680 kilograms plus $500 in cash for the Snacks n Sneakers program.

Riders Protecting Children Niagara is a non-profit group of motorcycle enthusiasts whose mandate is child protection.

We were informed Community Care was extremely short on donations due to the pandemic and we wanted to help, said Mike (Highlander) Grant, president of RPC.

With the donations raised through our bike nights, social media and from people weve met over the last few months, we raised enough to purchase over $1,600 of food and another $500 for the backpack program which will cover 20 children in need.

Without our community and their donations, we wouldnt be able to help the way we can. They are the key to our success in making these kids happy.

To donate to Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold go to communitycarestca.ca/donation.
D onald Trump has hit out at investigators conducting "the greatest witch hunt in history" after a US judge lifted the final obstacle for New York prosecutors to release his tax returns.

District Judge Victor Marrero's on Thursday turned down a last-ditch legal challenge by the president's lawyers.

His ruling came after the Supreme Court ruled in July that Mr Trump was not exempt from being ordered to release his tax records through a subpoena.

Mr Trump has argued through his legal team that the subpoena by Manhattan district attorney for his tax records was made in bad faith, could have been politically motivated and amounted to harassment.

Lawyers for district attorney Cyrus Vance lawyers said they were entitled to the tax returns as part of a complex financial investigation - citing public reports of extensive and protracted criminal conduct at the Trump Organisation.

AFP via Getty Images

Mr Trumps lawyers said that the request for tax records dating back to 2011 was done as retaliation after the Trump Organisation disputed the scope of a subpoena seeking records from June 1, 2015 until September 20, 2018.

Those dates relate to investigation into alleged payoffs to two women, including porn star Stormy Daniels, to keep them quiet about alleged extramarital affairs with Mr Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Mr Trump has denied the affairs and said that he should be immune from this kind of investigation as president.

He said on Thursday: "The Supreme Court said its a fishing expedition. You dont have to do it.

And this is a fishing expedition, but more importantly, this is a continuation of the witch hunt  the greatest witch hunt in history. Theres never been anything like it, where people want to examine everything youve ever done to see if they can find that theres a comma out of place.

But Justice Marrero warned that Mr Trump's argument was "unprecedented and far-reaching as it is perilous to the rule of law and other bedrock constitutional principles on which this country was founded and by which it continues to be governed."

Stormy Daniels, to whom the investigation into Mr Trump is related / Getty Images

Mr Vance has been trying to get hold Mr Trumps tax returns from the presidents longtime accounting firm, Mazars USA, for more than a year, since Mr Trumps former personal lawyer Michael Cohen told Congress that the president had misled tax officials, insurers and business associates about the value of his assets.

Mr Trump's lawyers immediately appealed Thursday's ruling to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, which makes it unlikely investigators will get their hands on Mr Trumps financial records before Novembers presidential election.

Mr Trump is the only president in modern times who has refused to make his tax returns public. Before he was elected he promised to release them.
On the third night of the Democratic National Convention, a couple rather neglected topics came first in the proceedings  namely, gun control and climate change. Gabby Giffords, a former Democratic member of Congress from Arizona who was shot in the head in 2011, spoke movingly about her long and difficult recovery, and the need for reasonable gun control laws. Several scientists and activists similarly spoke about the stark need for aggressive climate policy to protect America from climate change.

It's nice to see the Democratic Party making room for these issues alongside newsier problems like the coronavirus pandemic and the economic collapse. A future President Biden will have more crises on his plate than any president since Franklin Roosevelt in 1933.

However, we should remember that unless the Democrats get rid of the Senate filibuster, there will be little or no progress on any of these issues, big or small. Republicans will almost certainly retain more than 40 seats in the Senate and, if the filibuster remains, be able to bottle up almost all legislation there as Mitch McConnell did for nearly the entirety of the Obama presidency. Moderate Democratic senators have long expressed reluctance about getting rid of the filibuster, but the truth is that unless it is abolished, America will remain nearly impossible to govern.

More stories from theweek.com

5 bitingly funny cartoons about the Democratic National Convention

A confused Kirsten Dunst asks Kanye West why he put her on his campaign poster

Joe Biden's incomparable presidential odyssey


AKRON, Ohio  Dozens of Goodyear workers, retirees, union members and supporters gathered at the United Steelworkers Local 2 offices in Akron on Thursday to denounce President Donald Trumps calls for a boycott of Goodyear tires.

Speaking to cleveland.com at the rally, Rick Nixon, president of United Steelworkers USW Local 2, noted that Goodyears stock dropped by about 6% after Trumps tweet on Wednesday, and that the call for a boycott could have a ripple effect throughout the company.

For him to come out and encourage people to boycott Goodyear tires, American tires  thats the opposite of what he should be doing, Nixon said. For him to encourage people to boycott Goodyear is like a knife in the heart.

Trump issued his call for a boycott via Twitter on Wednesday in protest of Goodyears policy against employees wearing political attire for any candidate or campaign, including apparel with messages of Make America Great Again, Blue Lives Matter and All Lives Matter. The president doubled down on his remarks during a Wednesday evening news conference, saying he is looking into replacing the Goodyear tires on the presidential limo and other federal vehicles.

Thursdays rally was organized by union representatives and state Rep. Tavia Galonski, whose district includes portions of Akron and Barberton. During the rally, she accused Trump of acting out of self-interest rather than concern for workers.

Yesterday wasnt about MAGA versus liberals  it wasnt really about that, Galonski said. He was arguing about a hat made in China. He wants you to buy that hat to put money back in his own pocket. He wasnt worried about the workers. He wasnt worried about you.

The crowd gathered at USW Local 2 in Akron in support of Goodyear. pic.twitter.com/K10ASPJ1n7  Robin Goist (@robingoist) August 20, 2020

The rally also attracted a Whos Who among the regions Democratic officeholders, but no Republicans spoke.

Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes, whose district includes portions of Akron, said that Trumps attacks on Goodyear are attacks on the entire community and the legacy of Akron, where her great-grandparents migrated from the south to work in rubber factories.

We are not going to let someone come and tweet irresponsibly, taking away good-paying jobs  3,300 jobs in this community away, Sykes said. Taking money out of peoples pockets, food out of childrens mouths, because he had a temper tantrum.

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles referenced the iconic Goodyear blimp, and said, I think the only thing in America with more hot air in it is Donald Trump. Its the presidents attitude and disregard for workers, Ryan said, that is harmful to the people of Northeast Ohio, where a General Motors plant in Lordstown shuttered under Trumps watch.

You are going out of your way to use the greatest bully pulpit in the world to attack 3,300 families in this community, Ryan said. We have enough challenges in our communities. We have enough hurdles. We are trying to figure out how to get our arms around a global pandemic, stabilize the economy, get our kids back to school, make sure people dont file bankruptcy. And now, in Ohio, almost 40% of our citizens are at risk of eviction. And this guy is using his bully pulpit to attack and try to kneecap Goodyear? It aint going to happen, Donald Trump.

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, a Niles Democrat who represents parts of Akron and Summit County, spoke Thursday in support of Goodyear workers at United Steelworkers Local 2 in Akron.

Other speakers included Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan, Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro, State Sen. Vernon Sykes and Bill Connor, subdistrict director of the local USW district.

Connor read a statement from USW President Don Conway, who said it wouldve been nice if the president had tweeted in support of Goodyear when it shuttered its plant in Gadsden, Alabama, due to an increase in imported tires in the market.

Nixon, the USW Local 2 president, said Goodyears dress code has been apolitical for as long as he has worked there, since most factory workers wear a uniform provided by the company.

Goodyear provides us with uniforms, and thats what the guys wear, he said. Ive worked for Goodyear for 27 years. Weve never worn political statement shirts, either Democratic or Republican. Basically, with the election coming up, I think Goodyear was reiterating that. They werent targeting Trump, but he took it that way.

Mike Noll is a USW member who works for a paper company in Newark, Ohio. He told cleveland.com he showed up to the rally in Akron on Thursday to show his support for Goodyear workers.

It was despicable, Noll said. Its not even about politics; hes attacking American jobs. Even the people in that plant who want to wear that [MAGA] hat, hes attacking their jobs, too  the very people who support him. He doesnt give any thought to it. He was reactionary, like a four-year-old child. Thats all this is about. He didnt like something, and instead of looking into it or dealing with it in an adult manner, he just pouted, threw a tantrum, and he sits in the greatest office in the land and throws tantrums  and they affect people. Sadly, its not surprising. Its astonishing what you get used to coming from that man.
HEFEI, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- A medical team departed from east China's Anhui Province to aid the anti-epidemic fight in South Sudan and the Republic of Guinea early Wednesday.

The team consists of eight experts in the fields of infectious disease prevention and treatment, respiratory disease treatment, intensive care and nursing. They will stay in the two countries for about 20 days to help fight COVID-19.

"We will bring China's anti-epidemic experiences to local communities, and share our prevention and treatment plans combining the use of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine to help them combat the epidemic," said Tong Jiabing, a respiratory physician of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine.

The eighth batch of Chinese doctors to conduct a one-year medical assistance mission in South Sudan also set off from Anhui the same day. Enditem




Victory: Elijah Burke, from Castlebar, Co Mayo, protested about his situation outside the Dail last month. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Education Minister Norma Foley is considering a High Court ruling in favour of Elijah Burke, who was refused Leaving Cert calculated grades because he was home-schooled by his teacher mother.

In a significant judgment, Mr Justice Charles Meenan said another teacher, or teachers, should be involved in place of his mother to provide estimated marks in each of his subjects.

Estimated marks awarded by teachers are the first step in the Calculated Grades process that replaced the June Leaving Cert exams this year.

The court heard another 10 students were in a similar position to the 18-year-old from Cloonsunna, Castlebar, Co Mayo, who is one of 10 siblings who have been educated at home by their mother and have all excelled academically.

Elijah had claimed the exclusion of students who were tutored by a parent or close relative at home from the Calculated Grades process breached his rights, was unfair and discriminatory, and that he was being punished for being home schooled.

He claimed that as a result of the State's decision he would not be able to progress to third-level education for at least another year. He wants to study either Biomedical Sciences or History with Music at NUI Galway.

The judge said the minister had refused to give Elijah a calculated grade for each of the nine subjects he had studied because he had been taught by his mother Martina Burke, a qualified teacher, which was deemed to be a conflict of interest.

The court said a system was in place in schools to deal with scenarios where a Leaving Cert student has been taught by a parent or close relative.

"I am satisfied that a non-conflicted or independent teacher or teachers ought to be involved in the place of Elijah's mother in the system for the award of the estimated mark in each of the teen's Leaving Certificate subjects," the judge said.

The process set out for the awarding of calculated grades to out of school learners can operate for Elijah, he added.

He said his ruling was not based on any achievements obtained by Elijah or his siblings. Such matters, he said, were irrelevant.

His decision was based on what the court believed were the correct legal principles, and was applicable to all students who found themselves in the same situation, he said.

The Department of Education said that "the minister and her Department will consider the judgment carefully and provide further comment in the coming days".
US Senator Kamala Harris has been nominated as Democratic vice presidential candidate for US elections 2020 on Wednesday at the Democratic National Convention held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.

She was joined by former US President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who together with Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, vowed to build an all-inclusive United States.

I am honored to accept the nomination for Vice President of the United States.



I do so, committed to the values my mother taught me and to a vision that @JoeBiden shareswhere all are welcome, no matter what we look like, where we come from, or who we love. #DemConvention  Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 20, 2020

Kamala Harris, the senator from California, whom Biden has picked as his running mate, accepted her nomination from Wilmington, Delaware.

Also Read: Were not told their stories, but as Americans we stand on their shoulders: Harris

She is the first Black American and also first Indian-American to fight for the vice presidential post from a major party.

In a series of tweets, Harris said the fight to fulfil the promise of equal justice under law has begun and added that the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor will not go in vain.

For George Floyd.

For Breonna Taylor.

For our children.

For all of us.



And for the lives of too many others to name, weve gotta do the work to fulfill that promise of equal justice under law. Because none of us are free until all of us are free. #DemConvention  Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 20, 2020

Harris in her acceptance speech lashed out as US President Donald Trump and said that Trumps policies has cost lives and livelihoods of US citizens.

Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren, speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, former Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords were also present in the event where Harris accepted the nomination. She will challenge US vice president Mike Pence when US goes to polls on November 3.
An open letter published on Wednesday and signed by 30 members of the National Book Critics Circle asks the organization's board of directors to make a number of changes related to the group's management as well as to issues related to diversity. The letter's publication follows major changes to the board and two months of diversity-related institutional reckoning.

"We are determined to make the NBCC an organization to which we are proud to belong," the letter states, adding: "All powerful American institutions are informed by, and victims of, white supremacy, even when materially benefiting from its structures. This includes the publishing industry. We believe that in order to be responsible critics, we must embrace the vast plurality of literary voices and traditions represented in literature. We must also acknowledge our own biases, understand the world in which literature is written, and recognize the systems that shape human experience."

Among the changes recommended in the letter are:

the establishment of a nonprofit advisory board in addition to the board of directors

a comprehensive demographic survey of NBCC membership

the easing of membership requirements and implementation of an income-based sliding scale for membership dues

transitioning "at least 50%" of membership meetings to video conferencing platforms and including ASL interpreters or using live-captioning

revising the NBCC's voting system and board election process

In addition, the group urges that the NBCC cancel the 2020 awards and ceremony. The 2019 ceremony had been pushed back to September from March, but earlier this week, the board voted unanimously to cancel the awards.

"As our organization seeks to address the harm caused by our country's legacy of anti-Blackness and white supremacy, we encourage the board to prioritize anti-racist labor, institutional accountability, and organizational restructuring immediately," the letter states. "We request a public response from the NBCC Board within one month of this letter."

Responding to the letter shortly after it was released, newly elected NBCC president and PW fiction reviews editor David Varno wrote in an email to NBCC membership that "when I saw the letter released on social media this morning addressed to the NBCC Board and General Membership and signed by a group of regular members, I took it in like a breath of fresh air."

He continued: "The board will meet soon to discuss the suggestions and requests made in the letter as part of its ongoing work to modernize the bylaws and empower the Diversity & Inclusion committee into action....Already, several fellow board members have weighed in to express gratitude for the many valuable suggestions and thorough degree of thoughtfulness that went into the letter and its corresponding proposals for action."

In addition, Varno pledged that a survey will be distributed to members following the NBCC's next town hall meeting, which is scheduled for August 20. The town hall will be followed by a special meeting on August 24, which is dedicated to putting to vote the potential removal of board member Carlin Romano.

This story has been updated with further information.
A $6.5 million donation for medical research from Springfield City Group to the Mater Foundation is more than just philanthropy for the developers deputy chair, Bob Sharpless.

Mr Sharpless and his wife contracted COVID-19 this year, after visiting their son in London.

Bob Sharpless from Springfield City Group recently recovered from COVID-19. His company is now donating $6.5 million to the Mater Foundation. Credit:Attila Csaszar

Although they have since recovered, Mr Sharpless said the situation made him think about the vital work medical researchers were doing in times of pandemics and beyond.

We were very fortunate that we never had severe symptoms, never had to go to hospital, we actually thought wed gotten food poisoning because we were both nauseous at the same time, he said.
A federal judge on Thursday rejected President Donald Trumps latest effort to block the Manhattan district attorney from obtaining his tax returns, dismissing Trumps arguments that the prosecutors grand jury subpoena was wildly overbroad and issued in bad faith.

The ruling by Judge Victor Marrero of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York is the latest turn in a yearlong legal fight over the subpoena, which has already reached the Supreme Court once and could end up there again if, as expected, Trump appeals.

The district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., a Democrat, has been seeking eight years of Trumps personal and business returns and other financial records as part of an investigation into the presidents business practices.

Marrero was appointed to the federal bench in 1999 by President Bill Clinton.

The Supreme Court, in a landmark decision in July, rejected Trumps initial argument that a sitting president had immunity from criminal investigation. But the ruling opened the door for the president to return to the lower court in Manhattan and raise other objections to the subpoena.

It has been known that Vance was investigating whether any New York state laws were broken when hush-money payments were made in the run-up to the 2016 president election to two women who said that they had affairs with Trump.

But Vances office suggested recently in a court filing that its inquiry was broader, also focusing on potential bank and insurance fraud.

The prosecutors, defending their subpoena for Trumps records, cited undisputed public reports of possibly extensive and protracted criminal conduct at the Trump Organization. Vances office made it clear in court recently that it viewed the tax returns as central evidence in its investigation.

The New York Times also has reported that Vances office issued a separate subpoena to the presidents longtime lender, Deutsche Bank, seeking records that Trump and his company provided to the bank when he sought loans. The bank complied with the request, The Times reported, although there was no indication the banks records included Trump's tax returns.

Vances subpoena for Trumps tax returns was sent in August 2019 to the presidents accounting firm, Mazars USA.

Trump quickly filed suit in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, where he made his initial argument about immunity.

Marrero, in a 75-page decision last October, rejected that position, calling the argument that Trump was immune from criminal investigation repugnant to the nations governmental structure and constitutional values.

In that ruling, Marrero also said that barring a stronger showing from the president, he did not believe the district attorney was acting in bad faith.

Eventually, the case reached the Supreme Court, which last month ruled against Trump by a vote of 7-2.

No citizen, not even the president, is categorically above the common duty to produce evidence when called upon in a criminal proceeding, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority.

Roberts said, however, that Trump still could raise objections to the scope and relevance of the subpoena, which resulted in the presidents new arguments before Marrero.

The Mazars subpoena is so sweeping, Trumps lawyers last month told Marrero in court papers, that it amounts to an unguided and unlawful fishing expedition into the presidents personal financial and business dealings.

Even if Vance were to obtain the tax records, they would be covered by grand jury secrecy rules and would most likely not become public. They might surface in public only if charges were later filed and they were introduced as evidence in a trial.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
California State UniversityFullerton students gather for a State of the Union watch party at the Dreamers Research Center on campus in Fullerton, Calif., on Feb. 5, 2019. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

CSU Students Will Be Required to Take Ethnic Studies Course to Graduate

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill on Aug. 17 requiring all students in the California State University (CSU) system to complete an ethnic studies course in order to earn their undergraduate degrees.

With the passage of Assembly Bill 1460 (AB 1460) into law, all CSU campuses statewide will be required to offer courses on race and ethnicity beginning in the 20212022 academic year. By 20242025, students will be required to take a three-credit ethnic studies course in order to graduate.

Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), who authored the bill, called the signing great news.

Today #AB1460 was signed into law by @CAgovernor! This bill reflects 50 years of student, faculty, and community advocacy for curriculum reflective of and responsive to our diverse state, Weber said in an Aug. 17 tweet.

Under the new stipulations, all CSU students will be required to take a course concerning one of four historically defined core groups: African Americans, Latino and Latina Americans, Native Americans, and Asian Americans.

Dr. Williamson Evers, senior fellow at the Independent Institute, a nonpartisan public-policy research organization, said the new curriculum is a detriment to the educational system.

The classes dont represent reality, Evers told The Epoch Times. The ethnic studies classes are a litany of grievance and victimization. We should not be happy with these indoctrination-type classes.

Evers said by excluding other ethnic culturessuch as Irish, Italian, Polish, and Armenian Americansthe CSU system is not taking a balanced approach to education.

By signing AB 1460, the governor overruled a July 22 CSU Board of Trustees vote that would have broadened the scope of the requirement, allowing students to take either an ethnic studies or social justice course to qualify for their undergraduate degrees.

Critics of the CSU Board vote felt that expanding the mandate to include social justice classeswhich would have offered students the option to learn about other marginalized groups including the disabled, the LGBTQ community, and the Jewish communitywould undermine the intent of the original requirement.

The board voted 13 to 5 on July 22 to implement the expanded requirement across all campusesbut with the signing of AB 1460 into law, the CSU mandate no longer applies.

The new law marks the first modification to the state universitys general education requirements in 40 years, and makes California the first state to require ethnic studies as part of its four-year public universitys core curriculum graduation requirements.

Governor Newsom, by signing AB 1460, has demonstrated his understanding of the power of a true Ethnic Studies graduation requirement to change peoples lives and to change the racial trajectory this state and country are on, said California Faculty Association President Charles Toombs in an Aug. 18 tweet.

The CSU system is home to 23 campuses statewide and provides education to approximately 482,000 students each year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CSU students this fall will begin taking all classes virtually, beginning in late August.

The CSU Chancellors Office in July estimated that AB 1460 will cost approximately $16 million to implement annually.
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Key Players:

The key players operating in the Global Glass Additives Market are DuPont. (U.S.), GILLINDER GLASS (U.S.), HAMMOND GROUP INC (U.S.) Potters Industries LLC (U.S.), Namibia Rare Earths Inc. (Canada), Torrecid Group (Spain), SCHOTT AG (Germany), Ardagh Group (Republic of Ireland), Lynas Corporation Ltd (Australia), METALL RARE EARTH LIMITED (China), among others.

Segmental Analysis:

The Global Glass Additives Market is bifurcated based on the Product and Application.

Based on Product, Global Glass Additives Market has been segmented into metal oxide, nano-particles, and polymers & rare earth metals.

Based on Application, Global market for Glass Additives is segmented into building & construction, electronics & appliances, packaging, automotive & transportation, and others.

Regional Analysis:

Based on the Region, Global Glass Additives Market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Latin America (LATAM), and the Middle East & Africa (MEA).

North America is one of the major markets for Glass Additives and is expected to witness remarkable growth over the forecast period. Developed countries such as the U.S and Canada are substantial contributors to the regional market share owing to the presence of established electronics and packaging industries in the region. Additionally, investments towards product innovation are expected to drive the market over the forecast period.

Europe has been assessed as the largest region in the Global Glass Additive Market. European countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Spain, and the U.K are expected to contribute substantially owing to established end-use industries and increasing expenditure on R&D activities for product innovation.

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Asia Pacific is likely to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period due to increasing demand from multiple application sectors such as automotive, building & construction, and packaging, among others. Emerging economies in APAC such as China, India, Malaysia, and Vietnam are significant contributors to the market owing to the rising automobile production and sales over the forecast period. furthermore, the rise in the working population has consequently raised the demand for ready-to-eat items has led to growth in the market of packaged foods, which is further expected to contribute the demand for long-lasting Glass Additives products in the packaging industry. In addition, comparatively low-cost labor, availability of raw material are favorable factors for the market growth in the region.

Latin American region is expected to witness moderate growth over the forecast period, owing to the market growth in developing countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru.

The Middle Eastern & Africa region is expected to witness steady growth over the forecast period, due to the increasing expenditure in the commercial, residential, and institutional construction sector in Middle Eastern countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE. This is attributable to the growing consumption of aesthetic glass in the region, which consequently contributes Global Glass Additive Market over the forecast period.

Market Analysis:

According to Market Research Future (MRFR), Global Glass Additives Market is predicted to grow at a moderate CAGR over the forecast period of 2016 to 2023.

The substantial growth of the Global Glass Additives Market over the forecast period is attributable to technological advancements, such as using lanthanum oxide as an additive to improve the durability and refractive index of glass materials, have urged the growth of the market and rapid urbanization. The increasing demand from the expanding building & construction industry is also expected to drive the demand for Glass Additives Market significantly.

Furthermore, growing investment in the packaging industry, along with the constant expansion of the building & construction industry globally, especially in the emerging economies, is estimated to fuel the growth of the market.

However, factors such as the growing adoption rate of plastic as a comparatively cheaper alternative to glass are expected to hinder the growth of the market over the assessment period.

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Im truly honored to receive this award and proud of what we are building at Patterson Law Group, say Travis Patterson, Co-Founder of Patterson Law Group

Nominated in Fort Worth Inc.s Entrepreneur of Excellence (EOE) Awards, Travis Patterson of Patterson Law Group stands to add a prestigious accolade to his name. Travis has built the firm to an already well-published and decorated business as a Best Business of 2020. His outlook in business and philosophy on his approach is why Travis received a nomination for the award.

The awards program highlights entrepreneurs in the Greater Fort Worth area. The nominations include individuals and their businesses who are independently judged on the following areas:



integrity,

financial performance,

growth,

risk,

leadership,

strategic direction,

innovation,

company values,

key employee initiatives and

community involvement.

The winners will be announced in front of peers, sponsors and fellow finalists from many industries at the Gala Dinner on September 10, 2020. The finalists interviews will be featured in Fort Worth Inc.s September/October issue.

Travis Patterson strives to excel in every aspect of the criteria of this award. He invests in the Tarrant County community where he was born and raised. He serves his clients offering modern solutions and caring about his clients interests above his own.

Im truly honored to receive this award and proud of what we are building at Patterson Law Group, says Travis. We have a very special law firm because we truly care about our clients. We work our tails off and the rest takes care of itself.

Travis was also recently selected as one of the top two personal injury lawyers in all of Tarrant County by 360 West magazine (along with his partner Tennessee Walker).

To learn more about the Patterson Law Group, visit https://pattersonpersonalinjury.com/about-us/.

Read more about ENTREPRENEUR OF EXCELLENCE 2020 list at https://fwtx.com/business/entrepreneur-of-excellence.

About Patterson Law Group

Patterson Law Group is a leading personal injury law firm dedicated to helping injured victims throughout Texas. Our headquarters is located in Fort Worth, Texas, with additional locations in Arlington, Texas, and San Antonio, Texas. The attorneys at Patterson Law Group understand the physical, emotional, and financial strain an injury can cause. Thats why we wake up every day with one goal  to get justice for those hurting. We are lean, efficient, and accessible.
The Supreme Court Thursday granted two days to activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan, who has been held guilty of contempt, to reconsider his 'defiant statement' refusing to apologise for his contemptuous tweets against the judiciary.

Bhushan told a bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra that he would consult his lawyers and think over the apex court's suggestion.

Attorney General K K Venugopal urged the bench, also comprising Justices B R Gavai and Krishna Murari, not to award any punishment to Bhushan in the contempt case saying he has already been convicted.

The bench said it cannot consider the request of Venugopal unless Bhushan reconsiders his earlier stand of not apologising for his tweets. The tone, tenor and content of Bhushan's statement makes it worse; is it defence or aggravation, the court told Venugopal.

The top court said it can be very lenient if there is realisation of mistake, and posted the matter for further hearing on August 24.

Bhushan's plea dismissed

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court rejected Bhushan's submission that the arguments on quantum of sentence in the contempt proceedings in which he has been held guilty be heard by another top court bench.

A bench gave assurance to Bhushan that no punishment will be acted upon till his review against the order convicting him in the case will be decided.

The bench told senior advocate Dushyant Dave, representing Bhushan, that he is asking them to commit an "act of impropriety" by saying that argument on sentencing be heard by another bench.

The top court on August 14 held Bhushan guilty of criminal contempt for his derogatory tweets against the judiciary, saying they cannot be said to be a fair criticism of the functioning of the judiciary made in the public interest.

Bar Association comes out in Bhushan's support

In a significant development, the Bar Association of India (BAI) has come out in support of the activist-lawyer, convicted for cntempt of court, saying that at a time the citizenry is facing huge challenges, the stature of the Supreme Court would stand enhanced by allowing criticism rather than taking umbrage at his remarks.

The Executive Committee of the BAI said it was deeply dismayed and concerned by the manner of exercise of suo motu contempt jurisdiction by the Supreme Court of India against a member of the legal profession in the case relating to Bhushan.

The BAI, in a statement said, it was of the view that the exercise of contempt jurisdiction by the court in this manner has potential for more self-harm than the avowed purpose of safeguarding the prestige of the institution.

Trenchant criticism, commentary, satire and humour help build institutions in a free society. Judgments that curb the exercise of freedom of speech and expression by a member of the Bar by resort to suo motu powers is conspicuously old fashioned.

The reputation of the Supreme Court of India cannot be dislodged by a couple of 'tweets'. At a time that the citizenry is facing huge challenges, the stature of the Supreme Court would stand enhanced by allowing criticism rather than taking umbrage at such remarks, it said.
US sanctions UAE companies citing ties with Iranian airline Mahan

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 19 August 2020 4:45 PM

The United States has imposed sanctions on some UAE-based companies, alleging they had ties with Iran's Mahan Air.

The US Treasury released a statement Wednesday, targeting the United Arab Emirates-based Parthia Cargo and Delta Parts Supply FZC.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin repeated the anti-Iran allegations that Mahan Air is "a tool to spread its destabilizing agenda around the world."

"The United States will continue to take action against those supporting this airline," he claimed.

The Treasury baselessly blamed the two companies "for their material support of Iranian airline Mahan Air."

"Parthia Cargo and Delta Parts Supply FZC are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Mahan Air," read the statement.

The sanctions are part of the Trump administration's so-called maximum pressure against Iran after the US unilateral withdrawal from an internationally backed nuclear deal.

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Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 20 : Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday came under fire from state Minister of Tourism Kadakampally Surendran for his support to the Centre's decision to lease out Thiruvananthapuram international airport to Adani Enterprises.

The state unit of the Congress party has also opposed the Centre's decision.

Tharoor's support to the PPP model comes at a time when Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating that the state will not cooperate in this decision.

Vijayan has called an all party meet on Thursday to discuss the issue.

However, Tharoor took to Twitter and said, "My position on the airport has been consistent since before the elections. I am not a politician who says one thing to the voters and something else afterwards for political convenience. Had my colleagues consulted me before taking a negative stand, I would have explained my views to them. I am speaking in the best interests of my constituency. As its MP, that is my job." "The people of Thiruvananthapuram want a first-class airport worthy of the city's history, status, and potential. In this context, a decision, however controversial, is preferable to the long delay we have suffered.

"The reality is that a private entity running the operations competitively is the only way this airport could flourish. Whoever it is, the ownership of the land and airport as well as the responsibilities of the ATC, Security, Customs and Immigration still remains with the Govt agencies," added Tharoor.

Surendran said it was a "shame that a personality like Tharoor is batting for cash rich business people".

"He should not have said this as the stand taken by him is tantamount to cheating and he will have to answer to the people," said Surendran.

The Centre decided on Wednesday to hand over this airport to Adani Enterprises, which is already working on Vizhinjam Port, coming up near the airport.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Minister Damien English launches new 5.5m Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme

Successful applicants will receive grants of up to 40k

Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Damien English TD, today launched a new 5.5 million Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme as announced in the Governments July Jobs Stimulus package.

The new fund will be administered by Enterprise Ireland, on behalf of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, and will support retail businesses to enhance their digital capability, drive online sales and grow their customer base.

Targeted at indigenous retailers with a pre-existing online presence, this fund will accelerate their online offerings to respond to both domestic and international consumer demand.

The grant can be used to fund fees for service providers, to develop and implement a digital strategy supported by in-house training, and to enhance the retailers website and related systems.

Successful applicants will receive a grant of up to 80% of project costs, with these grants ranging from 10,000 to a maximum of 40,000.

Speaking at the launch of the new scheme in Great Outdoors in Dublin, Minister English said:

The Government has been listening to retailers across the country and it is clear that the Covid-19 pandemic continues to make it an urgent priority for businesses to accelerate the growth of their online offering. For many retailers, developing their online sales channel for consumers has been a long-term goal prior to the pandemic. As Minister, I am determined to support that ambition and assist our retailers to increase their digital presence and boost online sales allowing them to target new and existing customers and shoppers in the online space. I know the difference grants such as these are making in hundreds of businesses throughout the country. Retailers are seizing the opportunity to significantly enhance their online shopfronts and complement their traditional presence. The increased customers and revenue make an important contribution to the bottom line. It also provides consumers with more opportunities to support local businesses in their community, even when shopping online.

Stephen Creaner, Executive Director, Enterprise Ireland, said:

Enterprise Ireland was pleased to see additional funding for the Online Retail Scheme announced as part of the July Jobs Stimulus package. At the beginning of July, the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment announced funding for 185 companies under the previous Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme. To see significant funding provided so rapidly again for this successful initiative will be warmly welcomed in the sector. This scheme is boosting retail businesses throughout Ireland. The last funding round saw more than two thirds of grants going to companies outside Dublin. It is an important measure as the retail sector throughout Ireland looks to reopen and provide a safe and secure shopping environment for customers, both in store and online.

Great Outdoors successfully applied for an Online Retail Scheme grant in a previous call. Derek Moody, Owner and Director at Great Outdoors, said:

The opportunities this scheme presented to our business have been eye opening. Prior to applying to the Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme, online business was already very important to Great Outdoors. However, we were at a stage where significant investment was required to take the business to the next level. This opportunity came at exactly the right moment and, as a result, we are much further ahead with our projected timeline for online development. The application process was incredibly straight forward and we are now working with a superior platform, we have developed our skillset and we are exploring new markets. We have also recruited two new staff members for the online team.

The Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme opens for applications on Monday, 31 August 2020 and closes at 3pm on Monday, 28 September 2020. Find further information and how to apply here: COVID-19 Online Retail Scheme

Back to Department News
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 19:23:00|Editor: huaxia

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MOGADISHU, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Two UN agencies on Thursday kicked off the distribution of the more than 1,500 metric tons of life-saving food aid for refugees and asylum seekers in Somalia.

The World Food Programme (WFP) and the UNHCR said the distribution has already begun in Mogadishu, Galkayo and Bosasso, and is expected to commence in Somaliland on Sunday.

"Distribution will be carried out in a single series of days or weeks depending on the number of those receiving assistance in each location," the two UN agencies said in a joint statement issued in Mogadishu.

The UN agencies said nearly two-thirds of the refugees and asylum seekers are in Somaliland, where the distribution is expected to take more time.

According to the UNHCR, Somalia's refugees and asylum seekers are mainly Ethiopians and Yemenis who fled conflict and persecution in their own countries, most of them settling in Berbera, Bossaso, Galkayo, Hargeisa and the country's capital Mogadishu.

The two UN agencies signed a three-month agreement in July to provide life-saving food assistance to some 30,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Somalia, mainly women and children.

UNHCR Representative Johann Siffointe said the outbreak of COVID-19 in Somalia has made life extremely difficult for the most vulnerable, including refugees and asylum seekers, with many at risk of going hungry.

"We have seen that since the pandemic, foreigners are sometimes stigmatized and among the first to lose their daily wages, making this partnership with WFP so vital in cushioning the blow they are facing," Siffointe said.

Somalia has confirmed 3,265 COVID-19 cases and 93 deaths as of Tuesday.

According to UNHCR, a vast majority of refugees and asylum seekers calling the agency's hotlines during the COVID-19 period have lost their only source of livelihood and are unable to meet their basic needs since March.

Prior to the loss of work, many refugees and asylum seekers in Somalia worked as casual laborers or small business owners.

WFP on its part will provide a three-month supply of food rations consisting of cereals, pulses and oil.

UNHCR's community-based NGO partners and WFP will carry out distribution in localities where the refugees and asylum seekers have settled.

"We welcome this partnership with UNHCR which gives WFP an opportunity to save the lives of the most vulnerable, including refugees and asylum seekers. We do everything we can so that no one is left behind particularly in this difficult time," said WFP Somalia Deputy Country Director Emmanuel Bigenimana.

The UNHCR said its cash assistance provided to vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers has not been enough to meet their basic needs in the context of the pandemic, underscoring the need for the one-time extraordinary food distribution. Enditem
A primary school headmaster has become the first in the country to make children wear face masks when they start the new term next month - and has warned coverings won't be enough.

All pupils above the age of five will be forced to cover their faces, according to the edict sent out by Warren Harrison, chief executive officer of the Premier Academy's Eaton Mill Primary School.

In a newsletter sent to parents on Monday, Mr Harrison slammed the government for 'doing everything on the hoof' and said the Premier Academy was acting with 'common sense, logic and reason' in the face of coronavirus.

All children in year one upwards who return to the school, in Bletchley, near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, on September 8 will have to wear masks or visors.

But the plan goes against government guidelines which state children under the age of 11 do not have to wear masks.

The newsletter - which was signed off with 'Stay safe, mask up and stay classy', states: 'All staff, children, parents, carers and visitors must don a mask when on site or they will not be allowed access.

'Face coverings are not acceptable. We recommend the N95 or surgical masks.

Children above year one at the Premier Academy's Eaton Mill Primary School will have to wear face masks when they return to the school

'Once in their bubbles, children and those members of staff in close contact with children will change from a mask to a named shield which will be supplied by the school. Anyone may however stay in a mask if they prefer.

'Reception aged children will not be mandated to wear a mask or face shield, however we would encourage you to encourage them to do so at the current time.

'When moving around the school, masks or shields must be worn - e.g visiting the toilets.

'When not in the classroom, masks may be removed for eating purposes and when outside the building during the bubble's daily walks. All cross bubble contact between children and staff and staff and staff will need all parties to don a mask.

'At dismissal time all shields should be left on desks with water bottles so that they can be cleaned efficiently.

'Children will be dismissed in masks to adults wearing masks.'

It went on to ask pupils and staff to try and maintain two metre distance and said face shields would be provided by the school.

It went on: 'Make sure that your child understands why they are wearing a mask.

'Teach them how to apply it and remove it and slip their arm through it up to their bicep for when they go to the dining hall or their daily walks.

Warren Harrison, chief executive officer of the Premier Academy's Eaton Mill Primary School, revealed the rule

'It would also be useful if they could practise wearing a shield over their face for a while at home to get them used to this too.

'Please note that the following steps are precautionary measures designed to protect everyone from C-19 and especially the more vulnerable members of staff. These measures will be reviewed monthly however we expect more schools to follow suit.'

The school is also cancelling breakfast and after school clubs.

And Mr Harrison went on to criticise the way the government had handled its response to the pandemic.

He said: 'If it goes well, you never know, it may catch on.

'From what we have witnessed so far, doing everything on the hoof doesn't really pay dividends.

'Especially given the fact that government is now scapegoating Public Health England which will be disbanded by Hancock who actually has direct control of PHE and is the same man who told NHS workers back in April that wearing masks made no difference.

'If this sounds too far fetched then please avoid talking to 18-year-olds about their exam results.

'Yesterday students protesting in London were demanding that the Prime Minister came out of hiding. Today a national newspaper has reported that he has gone on another holiday.

'Maybe he is thinking that if things don't improve, he can replace Dion Dublin on A Place In The Sun. Who knows?

'The WHO has said from the outset that we need to test, test, test and this would seem like the obvious way forward which would solve many of the issues and help reduce anxiety.

'If we could we would like to randomly test children and staff on a weekly basis and we do not understand why this is such a difficult strategy for the government to deliver on unless of course it knows something that we don't.

'Just like a vesper martini it would shake things up without stirring things up especially today which is so far the day when the highest number of C-19 cases have been confirmed globally.'

Mr Harrison's letter is titled 'The World Has Changed And So Have We' and also makes puns about Bond movies.

It states: 'Although this may sound like the title of the next Bond Movie, it is not. I do appreciate that it could have felt like the sky was falling in recently but tomorrow never dies and we have to look to the future.

'The quantum of solace that we have all faced recently seemed to be coming to an end until today when MK Council leader Pete Marland said that MK may soon need to go into lockdown!

'As it stands we are still planning to open on 8 September and to have all children back on site by the end of that week. There is no way of working Moonraker into this paragraph, however if the next Bond movie is set in SW1, I expect the title to be From Punch And Judy With Love!

'Need I say more?'

It comes after he wrote a message to parents several weeks back, saying: 'None of us can afford to be complacent.

'And if you are not taking Covid-19 seriously then we need to find you a school which better matches your view of the world. Maybe try Hogwarts.'

Mr Harrison is known for not holding back with his views.

In 2017 he hit out at then PM Theresa May's 995 leather trousers, telling her the pricey brown item didn't match her black jumper.

However at the time the comments led to raised eyebrows as his own salary was actually thought to be higher than hers at between 140,000 and 150,000 a year.

Some parents at the Ofted Outstanding-rated Premier Academy are not happy at all about the mask ruling.

One parent told the MK Citizen: 'I believe this makes them the first primary school in England to do this, and it is contrary to government guidance.

'We have applied to move our child due to this and their decision to cancel breakfast and after school clubs, which makes it impossible for us to get them to school.'

But others welcome it.

One said: 'It sounds extreme, but at least I know my child is protected. It will be very difficult to persuade a five-year-old to wear a mask or shield all day though.'

The school has been approached for comment.
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 city's handover from Britain to China. (Dale de la Rey/AFP via Getty Images)

Beijing Has Thrown Out the Rulebook in Hong Kong, Says Democracy Advocate

Recent events in Hong Kong have shown that Beijing has now abandoned any semblance of following the rules and is capable of anything to maintain its grip on power, says Gloria Fung, president of Canada-Hong Kong Link.

The Beijing and Hong Kong governments do not show any respect for rules as long as it serves their own best interests, they are willing to destroy all the rules that they have established themselves, and they can do it in any manner that they like, she said.

From abandoning promises of the one country two systems by imposing the new national security law, to mass arrests of democracy activists, to postponing the Hong Kong election, to disqualifying pro-democracy candidates who planned to run for officethese actions should serve as a lesson to the rest of the world that Beijings word cannot be trusted, says Fung.

If they could break promises to the Hong Kong people, they could do the same to other international allies in the future, she said.

Beijings national security legislation for Hong Kong, signed into law on June 30, stipulates punishment up to life in prison for acts of subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces. It also calls for the creation of a security agency in Hong Kong under the direct control of Beijing.

Gloria Fung, director of Canada-Hong Kong Link, speaks at a press conference on Parliament Hill on Aug. 30, 2016. (Jonathen Ren/NTD Television)

Since the security law came into effect, several high-profile democracy activists and influencers have been detained including outspoken media tycoon Jimmy Lai, owner of Hong Kongs Apple Daily, and pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow.

We are in a statusyou can call it a reign of terror, said Leung Kwok-hung, also known as Long Hair, a prominent democracy activist and former legislator, on The Epoch Times American Thought Leaders program on Aug. 19.

The consequence of the imposition of the security law in Hong Kong actually is like the rule of law in Hong Kong does not exist anymore.

As Hongkongers rights continue to be eroded and activists targeted, it has created an atmosphere of white terror in the city, Fung said.

We really feel that Hong Kong is going through a political and also human rights crisis now.

Yet, Fung is encouraged by the support for Hong Kong shes seen in Canada and the international community, as countries around the world have spoken out against the regimes actions. In addition, many countries, including Canada, have suspended extradition agreements with China in response to the security law.

Last week, Canada-Hong Kong Link joined rallies held across the country, calling on Ottawa to institute a Safe Harbour Program for Hong Kongers. This would include an expedited process to grant permanent residency status to Hong Kongers at risk of political persecution. The rallies also called on Canada to apply sanctions against specific Chinese and Hong Kong officials involved in instituting the national security law as well as other human rights abuses.

Over two dozen Canadian organizations and more than 70 Canadian politicians have signed a joint statement supporting a move to invoke Magnitsky sanctions against Chinese and Hong Kong officials who are directly responsible for the human rights atrocities happening in Tibet, occupied East Turkestan (Xinjiang), and Hong Kong.

Fung says she thinks Beijing decided to assert its control of Hong Kong during the global pandemic in hopes that other countries would be too distracted by their own challenges to fight back. She thinks China didnt expect the strong international condemnation it received, but democracies including Canada still need to do more to help Hong Kong before the situation deteriorates further.

Hong Kong is at the front-line fighting against the Chinese Communist authoritarian regime, which is a major threat to global democracy, she said, adding Canada needs to go beyond verbal condemnation and adopt concrete actions such as sanctions, to help halt Beijings encroachment on Hong Kongs freedoms.

Canada needs to work closely with international allies to institute a strong policy toward China and Hong Kong. It is time for Canada to take meaningful action to show leadership on the world stage.

What is happening in Hong Kong is not just a Hong Kong issue, she adds.

With 300,000 Canadians living there, and also hundreds of Canadian corporations operating in Hong Kong, this is also a Canadian issue.

With reporting by April Zhu
OC Judge Reassigns Case Involving Doctor and Girlfriend

SANTA ANA, Calif. (CNS)An Orange County Superior Court judge on Aug. 20 handed off the prosecution of a Newport Beach, California, doctor and his girlfriend, who are charged with drugging and raping several women, to the Attorney Generals Office.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Gregory Jones recused the office of Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer, who had no objection to his prosecutors being removed from the case against Dr. Grant Robicheaux and Cerissa Laura Riley.

I am confident that the states Attorney Generals office will resolve this case in a fair and just manner, Spitzer said in a statement released after Jones ruling was handed down.

This is a very good day for victims rights, said attorney Matt Murphy, who represents four alleged victims in the case.

Mike Fell, an attorney for another alleged victim, said, The victims are very pleased this case will be going forward and feel comfortable that a prosecutorial agency has finally been elected in order that they may obtain justice.

Jones sparred with defense attorney Philip Cohen over case law on recusal of prosecutors. Cohen argued that Jones could not legally disqualify Spitzers office and that only the defense could request a recusal.

Jones, however, said he had judicial discretion to remove Spitzers office from the case.

How is this any different than someone in the District Attorneys Office referring the case to another deputy in the District Attorneys Office? Jones asked Cohen.

Jones said the District Attorneys motion to dismiss the case has been denied, so that means the case is going to proceed. What difference does it make who prosecutes it.

Cohen argued that prosecutorial shopping is not appropriate, according to the law.

Lets be candid, Cohen said. What the conflict is in this case is the District Attorneys Office has said we ethically cannot proceed on this case.

The reason the conflict has arisen is because of this courts action to deny the motion to dismiss and now they are in a position that if they go forward, theyre breaching their ethical obligation, he said.

Jones countered that Cohen was arguing the wrong law. He pointed to another law that he said shows it is my obligation to guarantee the integrity of the process.

Cohen replied that the law Jones was citing is an amorphous section that says the court can do whatever it wants.

Jones said, this can go on and on, and invited Cohen to appeal his ruling.

The judge cited what he believed were inconsistencies in Spitzers public comments about the case when the DA said he ordered a review of his offices prosecution. Jones also noted that the prosecutors assigned to the case after Spitzer was elected never met with any of the victims to discuss the allegations.

The judge added, The victims were not contacted prior to the press conference indicating that the case would be dismissed in February.

All of the senior deputies in his office agree it should be dismissed, which leaves one to wonder who in the office would be left to prosecute the matter, Jones said.

The judge said any prosecutor in Spitzers office who won the case would be in a position of making his boss look foolish for saying the case could not be prosecuted. And any prosecutor who did not vigorously pursue guilty pleas would leave themselves open to discipline from the State Bar, Jones said.

I have serious questions about the District Attorneys ability to prosecute this case at this point. I think they are hopelessly conflicted, Jones said.

Accordingly, I am going to order they be disqualified  and I am going to order the case referred to the Attorney Generals Office.

Cohen complained again about how Spitzers predecessor, Tony Rackauckas, who filed the charges, said at a news conference that there were potentially thousands of victims and there was proof of it on video. The defense attorney said everyone agreed there is no such proof on the video seized by investigators.

Mr. Rackauckas is not the district attorney on this case at this point, Jones replied.

When Cohen tried to interject again, Jones said, Stop. The issue here is who can proceed with the prosecution? Were not going to talk about [Rackauckas]. It has no relevance.

Jones scheduled a hearing for Aug. 27 to discuss transferring the case to the Attorney Generals Office.

Spitzers prosecutors in February attempted to have the case dismissed because they argued they did not have enough evidence to prove their case.

However, Jones rejected that motion in June. The defense team has a pending appeal with another Orange County Superior Court judge on Jones ruling to refuse to dismiss the case.

A defense motion to recuse Jones failed when a Los Angeles Superior Court judge rejected it.

Jones intention and design is clearbecause it disagrees with the unanimous conclusion of District Attorney Todd Spitzer; his supervisory lieutenants; and the career sex prosecutors who are assigned to this case  regarding the strength of the evidence, the court is set on recusing the Orange County District Attorneys Office in hopes that the Attorney Generals Office, or some other prosecutorial agency, will see this case differently, the attorneys argued in a motion filed last week.

Despite the courts plain desire, it simply does not have the legal authority to recuse the District Attorneys Office under these circumstances, the attorneys argued.

The defense attorneys further argued, The only circumstance under which a district attorney can be recused is where there has been shown an actual likelihood of unfairness to the defense. Here, of course, there is no unfairness to the defense by Mr. Spitzers continued participation as prosecutor.

Indeed, the unfairness that the defendants have suffered, and continue to suffer, in this case has been in spite of Spitzers efforts, not because of them.

The defense attorneys in the past have indicated they might file a motion to dismiss the case due to outrageous governmental misconduct, owing to complaints with how Rackauckas handled the case.

Victims advocate attorney Murphy has alleged that the defense attorneys have been colluding with Spitzer to dump the case and argued for a recusal of Spitzers office from the case.

Charges were initially filed against Robicheaux and Riley in September 2018. At the time, the two were characterized by the prosecution as alleged sexual predators who used their good looks to lure unsuspecting women before drugging and raping the victims in the doctors Newport Beach home.
Books with Borders

Covid catches a book on love.

by Stephanie Sorter

Published in August, 2020

After years in the making, local writer Debotri Dhar's latest book, Love is Not a Word: The Culture and Politics of Desire, was supposed to be released in May. In August, Dhar had yet to see it. Covid-19 has broken supply lines, leaving the book in limbo.



Dhar, a U-M women's studies professor, says she's "always wanted to do a book on love." She started curating and editing the collection of essays that "analyze the politics of love" back in 2016, and the book should have been for sale in local bookstores by now. Instead, it's currently only available on Kindle in North America. Anyone looking for a physical copy will have to go to India, where her publisher is based. Normally, Dhar says, "you know when a book is out," as there are launch parties and other in-person publicity events. This time, she wasn't even properly aware the book had been released until she started getting requests for interviews.



Essays by Dhar and eleven other writers "juxtapose the personal and political" to pay tribute to all the different forms of love. While many of the essays in the book are written from an Indian point of view, the themes are relatable worldwide; topics range from fighting for LGBT+ rights to the ethical dilemma of writing love letters to trees on paper made from wood pulp.



Dhar compares the feeling of releasing a new book to what she imagines parenthood must feel like, saying holding a new book is "even better than a baby." Now, it's as if she's had a five year gestation and nothing to show for it.



Back in January, when the pandemic was barely making headlines, she was just happy the book was finally getting released. Now she's wondering if she should have waited longer. "It doesn't usually feel like borders are stopping books," she says. Publishing in a pandemic, however, is changing that. Dhar is hoping to finally touch a copy sometime in September.



[Originally published in August, 2020.]








The United States and China have agreed to hold trade talks in the coming days to review the progress of the Phase 1 trade deal, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday.

Ministry spokesman Gao Feng said in a weekly briefly held online that the two countries would meet to discuss the deal, which took effect six months ago, but did not offer more specific details on the meeting, Reuters reported.

Earlier in the week, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows had said no new high-level trade talks were on the calendar, but that the countries remained in touch about carrying out the Phase 1 deal after President Donald Trump had postponed an Aug. 15 review of the trade pact over disappointment in Beijings handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

I postponed talks with China. You know why? I dont want to deal with them now, Trump said during a briefing on construction of a border wall with Mexico. What China did to the world was not even thinkable. They could have stopped (the virus).

When asked by reporters on Tuesday if he would withdraw from the trade agreement with China, the president said, Well see what happens.

While the Jan. 15 deal was seen as a major step forward after a two-year long trade dispute, relations between the U.S. and China have grown increasingly tense due to the coronavirus pandemic and Chinas new national security law in Hong Kong. Both countries have issued a series of threats and sanctions on individuals and businesses as a result.

The deal set targets for China to greatly increase its purchases of U.S. farm and manufactured goods. While Chinas purchases have increased as its economy has begun to recover from a coronavirus lockdown, data suggests Chinas imports are not on track to meet the first-year target increase of $77 billion over 2017 purchases, Reuters reported.

More from National Review
"Girls are often pulled from school to help with cooking, washing and cleaning, or to start their own families," says Wendwossen Kebede, Cuso International Country Program Director in Ethiopia. "Girls who live in urban areas have an average education level of Grade 10, but that drops to Grade 8 for girls living in rural communities. Only 27 per cent of students at the post-secondary level are women."

Through U-Girls 2, adolescent girls will receive academic resources, training and tutorials, and a financial stipend to allow them to focus on schoolwork. Supports will also be provided to teachers and schools in providing gender-sensitive learnings.

"The practice of sexual and harmful traditional practices begins against women from their early childhood, while men are supported to have skills in economic development, leadership and politics. Women have limited opportunities to get uninterrupted education," says Solen Abera, Lecturer and Gender Focal Person in the Faculty of Health Science at Assosa University. "The U-Girls 2 project will help to address some of the disparities existing in girls' access to education. That, in turn, will contribute to better participation of women in leadership and politics in the region."

The U-Girls 2 project is being implemented in partnership with the Institute of International Education and is funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada.

"Cuso International has a long history of supporting education around the world. This project will enhance academic, social and soft skills for adolescent girls, including those with disabilities, and strengthen the capacity of teachers and education institutions to deliver quality and gender-sensitive education," says Glenn Mifflin, Cuso International CEO.

About Cuso International

Cuso International is a Canadian not-for-profit organization focused on ending poverty and inequality. Cuso works with local partners to amplify their impact in the areas of gender equality, women and girls' empowerment, and improved economic opportunities for youth. Learn more about Cuso's impact at cusointernational.org.

SOURCE Cuso International

For further information: Media Contact: Jessica Cunha, Communications Officer, [email protected], 613-829-7445 x 346 | 1-888-434-2876 x 346

Related Links

http://www.cuso.org


DAKAR, Aug 19 (Reuters) - The African Union has suspended Mali's membership in response to the ouster by soldiers of its president and government in a coup, the group's peace and security department said on Wednesday.

The suspension will last until constitutional order is restored, it said, demanding the release of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and other senior officials. (Reporting by David Lewis; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
By Express News Service

LUCKNOW: After a meeting of the members of Shree Ram Janambhoomi Teerath Kshetra Trust in New Delhi on Thursday, Trust general secretary and VHP leader Champat Rai claimed that iron would not be used in the temple construction. Rather copper sheets donated by the devotees would be used to build the temple.

As per an estimation, over 10,000 copper sheets would be used in temple construction, said Rai on Thursday.

During the meeting, the trustees decided to rope in Roorkee-based Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) and IIT-Madras to test the soil of Ram Janambhoomi premises and the temple site. The exercise, the trust said, was being assisted by the experts and engineers of Larsen and Toubro which is the key construction agency for construction of the temple.

The trust also took to Twitter to make some more announcements regarding the construction of the temple saying it was expected to be completed in 36 to 40 months (3 to 3.5 years) time.

The trust tweeted that the copper sheets to be used in construction would come handy in fusing stone blocks with each other. The plates should be 18 inches long, 30 mm wide, and 3 mm in depth. Over 10,000 such plates will be required for construction, the trust said exhorting the devotees of Lord Ram to come forward and donate such copper sheets to the trust.

As per a statement of Champat Rai, donors could engrave family names, place of origin, or their community temples names on these sheets. This way the copper plates will not only symbolise the unity of this country but also be a testament of the entire countrys contribution towards Mandir construction,

said the statement.

The trust also tweeted the details of the bank account where people can make donations, amid the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) plans of reaching out to over 3 lakh villages and 700 cities across the countries to crowdfund the project.

Earlier, L&T had constructed the pre-fabricated bullet-proof temporary abode for Ram Lalla. L&T is the main construction agency of the temple which will be built in the Nagara style of architecture by using ancient technology so that it could withstand natural calamities including earthquakes and have a life span of around 1,000 years.
Protesters and federal officers clashed for the first time in several weeks after crowds gathered Wednesday night at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office in South Portland.

Portlands protests in July took their most violent and destructive turn, when federal officers regularly clashed with protesters at two federal buildings in downtown Portland. At the time, federal officials said they were policing the protests to protect the buildings.

Federal officers havent been seen at protests since Gov. Kate Brown helped negotiate a deal in late July to move them out of the city and, instead, provide Portland police with reinforcements from Oregon State Police, who remained for two weeks.

Police declared the citys 84th night of protests a riot about 11 p.m. Wednesday, but tensions did not hit a fevered pitch regularly seen at the Justice Center just a month ago. Throughout the night, protesters tagged the ICE building with graffiti and broke several windows. The police response quickly developed a pattern as federal officers came out of the building and pushed protesters into the street, where Portland police arrived and directed the crowd back to Caruthers Park.

After several such rounds, officers -- it was unclear which law enforcement agency -- used the stun grenades and gas about midnight to break up the crowd. The action drew complaints from residents, some who complained they were having trouble breathing as gas wafted into their open windows.

Two people were arrested during the demonstration.

Protesters gather outside of the ICE building in South Portland on the 84th night of protests.Sean Meagher/The Oregonian

The night began at Elizabeth Caruthers Park, where people gathered in the middle of the park to hear several speakers. Neighbors milled around the perimeter, watching the crowd gather. Above, several windows displayed Black Lives Matter signs.

About 9:30 p.m., more than 200 protesters marched to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building on Macadam Avenue, where federal officers looked out of the windows as marchers got closer.

Demonstrators arrived, beating drums and playing guitars, chanting and singing. A dozen or so briefly pounded on the windows. Soon after, a Federal Protective Service announcement warned protesters against damaging the building or setting fires. Failure to comply, the announcement continued, could lead to arrest or crowd-control munitions.

Protesters then spray-painted expletives on the buildings windows, shoved traffic cones over security cameras and attempted to break windows. For much of the night, protesters blocked Bancroft Street, Moody Avenue and an off-ramp from Macadam.

About three dozen federal officers flowed from the building about 10 p.m., pushing the crowd into the street and shooting less-lethal munitions. A few protesters responded by throwing water bottles and toilet paper rolls at the officers. Police said glass bottles and rocks were thrown, as well.

About the same time, Portland police declared the gathering an unlawful assembly.

As Portland police began moving the group slowly north toward the park, protesters chanted Black Lives Matter and played Star Wars Imperial March over loudspeakers along with the Benny Hill theme song.

Danialle James, who has protested since the day George Floyd died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck, teased a Portland police officer as the crowd moved down the street. She said, Bet your mommas real proud.

The officer yelled back, My mommas brown!

A window was broken at the Federal ICE building in South Portland during a protest.Eder Campuzano/The Oregonian

Protesters eventually circled back and returned to the ICE building, where one protester took to a loudspeaker to describe Oregons long history of racism and racist policies. Just before 11 p.m., a few people broke at least three front windows, drawing federal officers back out.

Once protesters were in the street, federal officers again appeared to hand off to Portland police, who then pushed the group north. Police said officers were hit with thrown rocks, full soda cans and a hammer.

Because of the risk to life safety caused by these dangerous projectiles, police said, they declared the protest a riot. Police also warned media and residents to leave or go inside and announced that tear gas would be deployed.

Close to midnight, a crowd of about 100 gathered near Gaines Street and Bond Avenue, where protesters set a fire in the middle of the intersection. They tossed two restaurant benches into the blaze, drawing ire from some living in the dense neighborhood with low-income housing, market-rate apartments, high-end condos and a retirement/assisted living facility.

While some residents had yelled encouragement throughout the night, others began to order protesters to be quiet and some threw liquids out their windows.

After a third trip back to the park, officers used the stun grenade, deployed tear gas and appeared to detain several protesters.

Several protesters complained throughout the night that they had been hit by projectiles or unnecessarily shoved by police. Police said officers suffered minor injuries from thrown rocks.

Demonstrators gather at a park on the South Waterfront on Wednesday for the 84th consecutive night of protests in Portland.Sean Meagher/The Oregonian

Earlier in the night, before the march to the ICE building, Jamal Williams, a 50-year-old who said he was born and raised in Portland, lectured some of the people gathering for the night.

He said his group, Portland United for Justice and Equality, had regularly attended protests at the Justice Center in downtown Portland until it got too violent.

Theres a reason Im only one of two Black people down here. Theres a reason why Black people arent down here, Williams said. No justice, no peace. And this aint peaceful.

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
NEW YORK, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Jacob Fuchsberg Law Firm announced today that Eli Fuchsberg and Shannon Montgomery, both long-term associates of the firm, have become partners. This announcement coincides with the release of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch 2020 honoring both of these premier lawyers.

Managing Partner Bradley Zimmerman said, "The Jacob Fuchsberg Law Firm is looking to its future, and both Eli Fuchsberg and Shannon Montgomery will help steward our growth in the years to come. Eli is known for his outstanding work in medical malpractice, toxic torts, and personal injury cases. Shannon is one of the leading lawyers handling claims on behalf of people injured by the toxic debris left by the World Trade Center. Shannon is also responsible for our surrogate's practice, representing the families in some of our most serious cases. Both Eli and Shannon are compassionate, zealous advocates for their clients and strong leaders within the Firm. We could not be more delighted to welcome them into our partnership."

Eli Fuchsberg has been recognized as a Top-Rated Personal Injury Attorney in New York by Super Lawyers and as a Rising Star three years in a row. He has also been named one of 40 under 40 by the National Trial Lawyers Association. A member of the Brooklyn Bar Association and the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, Eli received his J.D. from New York University School of Law in 2013, and his B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Aside from her World Trade Center related work, Shannon Montgomery handles personal injury matters including medical malpractice and premises liability cases, as well as estate matters before the Surrogate Court. Nominated for the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 in both 2018 and 2019, Shannon is a member of both the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and the American Association for Justice. She received her J.D. from Western New England University School of Law, Springfield, MA in 2009, and her B.S.B.A. from Western New England University in 2006.

About the Jacob Fuchsberg Law Firm

The Jacob Fuchsberg Law Firm has successfully litigated civil rights, medical malpractice, and personal injury cases for over 40 years. The Firm represents seriously injured individuals and families in New York and the tristate area. In medical malpractice, their cases include traumatic birth injuries, delayed diagnoses and surgical errors, as well as mass tort litigations. Their civil rights work includes protecting prisoners from cruel and unusual punishment. Our lawyers also represent hundreds of first responders and individuals who became ill after the 9/11 attacks due to the toxic air and debris, and they have prevailed in whistleblower and consumer fraud actions in the healthcare industry. They have also handled class action matters when appropriate.

SOURCE Jacob Fuchsberg Law Firm

Related Links

https://www.fuchsberg.com


WATERLOO  A massive diesel spill evacuated a Waterloo neighborhood for much of Thursday after a tanker truck crashed into a house.

One resident was inside the Ridgeway Avenue home and escaped injury, but the driver remained trapped in the crumpled semi, which had rolled and cracked a pole holding up a high voltage line.

I was still in bed and boom. I thought, What the heck? said Andy Olson, a retired Waterloo firefighter who has been living at the house for 32 years. He was asleep in a lower level bedroom on the corner of the home where the tanker truck crashed.

I looked out what used to be my window, and all I could see was wreckage, Olson said.

The truck blocked his front door, so he fled through the back door.

The Kwik Trip tanker was holding more than 7,000 gallons of diesel fuel, which flowed down the street, prompting authorities to evacuate homes within a 1,000foot radius.

Waterloo Fire Rescues hazardous materials team was called to contain the fuel spill while other firefighters freed the driver with the help of an earth mover that shored up the debris.

We diked off the majority of the storm sewers in the area. DNR was called. We used pretty much all of our specialized equipment from airbags to some of our larger tools. We put down some foam for extreme caution, said Fire Chief Pat Treloar.

The driver was taken to MercyOne Medical Center for treatment.

Before striking the house, the semi apparently hit a minivan near the intersection of Ridgeway and Hammond Avenue  causing minor injuries to that driver  and then plowed into two parked SUVs in a neighboring driveway.

Police said the crash started with a bizarre call about a disturbance near the Kwik Trip fuel blending facility on West Ridgeway Avenue. The driver had apparently crashed a lone semi cab through a chain link fence at the compound and then became stuck in a group of trees.

He then climbed into the tanker truck and sped off down Ridgeway Avenue, according to police.

Officers began to search for the vehicle and spotted it near the intersection of Kimball and Ridgeway. As police turned to catch up and regained sight of the vehicle, it crashed into the house.

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(Natural News) A military veteran business owner in Northern California lit into his countys leaders at a board of supervisors meeting, warning that restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic are threatening the lives of his family and many others.

(Article republished from WND.com)

This is a warning for whats coming; its not going to be peaceful for much longer, Carlos Zapata told the Shasta County board in Redding, California, on Aug. 11.

Zapata, who said the families of business owners who have been shut down are starving, was one of about 80 citizens who spoke at the meeting.

Redding.com reported that after the meeting, officials in Shasta County, which tends to vote Republican, blamed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom for the restrictions.

Our local health officer has not made any restrictions over and above what the state of California has, so we are doing all that we can to keep the county as open as possible, said Donnell Ewert, the countys Health and Human Services Agency director.

At the meeting, nevertheless, Zapata directed his animus to the county board.

Im pretty appalled at whats going on. At first we sat as concerned citizens, and we all wanted to best figure out how to navigate our way through this COVID thing, he said. As we realized that its not as quite as dangerous as we thought it would be, I was absolutely appalled at the cowardice  and you guys are sitting here with your masks on  I dont blame you for wearing masks because I would be hiding my face if I was you for what youre doing, he said.

Im a business owner and Im telling you, our families are starving, Zapata continued. You guys can sit here with your jobs  youre gonna sit here and get paid to fall asleep in your chair like that gentlemans doing behind his mask right there, said Zapata.

He then issued a warning.

Right now were being peaceful, and you better be happy were good citizens, that were peaceful citizens, but its not gonna be peaceful much longer. And this isnt a threat  Im not a criminal, Ive never been a criminal but Im telling you real good citizens are going to turn into real concerned and revolutionary citizens real soon, he said. And nobody else is gonna say that. Im probably the only person that has the balls to say what Im saying right now.

See the speech:

https://twitter.com/RealBasedMAGA/status/1295750780423745542

Were building and were organizing and well work with law enforcement or without law enforcement, he said. but you wont stop us when the time comes because our families are starving!

Zapata said he went to war for the United States and is willing to fight again to save the country.

If it has to be against our own citizens, it will happen, he said. And theres a million people like me, and you wont stop us.

Open the county. Let our citizens do what they need to do. let owner of b do what they n to do to feed their families.

Zapata said he knows six veterans who have committed suicide after losing their jobs.

How do you feel about being complicit and perpetuating that  the greatest hoax ever perpetuated on the American people?

Read more at: WND.com
RTHK: Scientists raise alarm over melting Greenland ice

Greenland's massive ice sheet saw a record net loss of 532 billion tonnes last year, raising red flags about accelerating sea level rise, according to findings released on Thursday.

That is equivalent to an additional three million tonnes of water streaming into global oceans every day, or six Olympic pools every second.

Crumbling glaciers and torrents of melt-water slicing through Greenland's two-to-three-kilometre thick ice block were the single biggest source of global sea level rise in 2019, accounted for 40 percent of the total, or 1.5 millimetres, researchers reported in the journal Communications Earth & Environment.

Last year's loss of mass was at least 15 percent above the previous record in 2012, but even more alarming are the long-term trends, they said.

"2019 and the four other record-loss years have all occurred in the last decade," lead author Ingo Sasgen, a glaciologist at the Helmholtze Centre for Polar and Marine Research in Germany, said.

If all of Greenland's ice sheet were to melt, it would lift global oceans by seven metres.

Even a more modest rise of a couple of metres would redraw the world's coastlines and render land occupied today by hundreds of millions of people uninhabitable.

Until 2000, Greenland's ice sheet  covering an area three times the size of France  generally accumulated as much mass as it shed.

Runoff, in other words, was compensated by fresh snowfall.

But over the last two decades ago, the gathering pace of global warming has upended this balance.

The gap is widening at both ends, according to the study, which draws from nearly 20 years of satellite data. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2020-08-20. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- New Agent Authority* research from Nationwide* found that small business owners would benefit from more tailored and frequent insurance advice as they endure COVID-19's continued impacts and unmatched economic decline. While they value a local agent's expertise for their protection needs, many small business owners said they could use more support in understanding their policies and ensuring they have the right coverage for their needs.

According to the survey, more than half of independent agents (57%) said that their clients are too concerned about their business surviving the pandemic to talk to their agent about insurance needs. However, 6 in 10 small business owners disagreed; they want to hear from their agent.

Nationwide's study uncovered four key themes for small business owners and commercial agents:

Business owners would like more attention from their insurance agents. Business owners want personalized policies that fit their unique business needs. Business owners would appreciate assistance in better understanding what's in their policies. Economic guidance is welcome.

"Small businesses and the independent agents who help protect them continue to face unprecedented and evolving business adversity," said Cathy Allocco, vice president of Small Commercial Sales and Distribution at Nationwide. "The best agents will ensure clients continue to feel their presence, even virtually, by identifying new ways to strengthen relationships, solve problems and offer peace of mind to clients whose expectations for expertise are on the rise."

Out of Sync

The Agent Authority research revealed small business owners feel there are opportunities for agents to better support their needs. Small business owners were less likely than middle market business owners to agree that their agent is always available when they need them, able to offer the best prices or regularly check in on their needs. While agents believe they're meeting the needs of their small business clients, it appears business owners are looking for more support.

95% of insurance agents reported they're always there when customers need them, but 1 in 4 small business owners disagree (25%).

91% of agents said they can offer the best prices, but 31% of small business owners disagree.

94% of agents responded that they regularly check to make sure policies fit their clients' needs, yet 36% of small business customers disagree.

Quick tip for agents:

As small businesses continue to navigate change, identify ways to regularly check in with your commercial customers to understand their needs, ensure they're appropriately protected and assess whether you can add value through technical expertise or solutions like telematics.

Leverage digital marketing and social media to reach your customers where they are and elevate your thought leadership profile.

What Small Business Owners Want

While small business customers and agents agree it's important for an insurance agent to be trustworthy and cost effective, the data shows a small business owner places more importance on having an agent who knows and understands their needs.

Nearly 7 in 10 small business owners prefer to work with an agent located physically near them highlighting the value a local agent brings; 32% prefer to handle all insurance needs digitally.

Business owners ranked "being able to talk live to a person when you have an important issue or question" as the fourth most important attribute when buying or renewing an insurance policy.

Resource-limited business owners are also seeking guidance on topics beyond traditional insurance, such as disaster planning, loss control, retirement and cybersecurity. Additionally, a carrier's financial strength and stability is more important to business owners than agents may realize when buying or renewing a policy.

39% of small business owners are seeking guidance on business interruption or disaster planning.

35% of small business owners are interested in safety and loss control resources to mitigate risks.

18% of small business customers want information on cybersecurity and retirement.

Customers prioritize carrier financial strength and stability and name recognition when shopping for insurance; 91% of small business owners place importance on using a company that has strength and stability, and 82% value working with a well-established and well-known carrier.

Quick tip for agents:

The Business Solutions Center offers insurance and business guidance and resources to help small business owners protect and grow their businesses.

Ask your carrier partners for resources to talk to your customers about disaster and business continuity planning, safety and loss control, and products that could present cross-selling opportunities like cybersecurity, employee benefits and retirement solutions.

Nationwide's My Loss Control Services provides a variety of loss control resources and solutions.

Shared Challenges:

The research shows that small business owners are still struggling with understanding their insurance policy, and they appreciate an agent's assurance that they have the right insurance coverage and protection for their needs. Similarly, many agents grapple with understanding nuances between different industries and educating clients about the level of coverage they need Similarly, many agents struggle educating customers on the coverage needs for their unique businesses.

85% of small business owners agree insurance agents provide assurance that they have the right coverage and protection.

Understanding what is and what is not covered in their policy (46%), finding the best price for their protection needs (44%) and understanding the level of coverage needed (43%) are small business owners' top insurance challenges.

55% of agents say they struggle educating customers on the coverage they need and 46% of agents say providing the level of service customers demand is a challenge.

Many small business owners also wrestle with understanding different types of coverage, the time it takes to settle a claim and keeping up with new technology offered by the insurance industry.

Agents also reported challenges with adopting new industry technology, educating clients about different types of coverage, and helping clients with disaster preparation or mitigation.

Quick tips for agents:

Continue to elevate your expertise within the industries you serve and educate your customers on how COVID-19 may impact their business.

As you proactively reach out to customers, offer to discuss generally how their policy coverages apply and to help them understand potential gaps they may need to fill with business continuity planning, loss control and other measures.

Nationwide's Agent Blog offers information on insurance market trends and resources for reaching more customers through digital and social media.

An Economic Outlook:

Six in 10 small business owners feel the economy will be the same or worse in the next 12 months and many are taking steps to reassess their insurance needs.

55% of small business owners are unsure of how the economy will impact their insurance coverage needs

53% of small business owners are concerned about their business making it through the economic downturn

However, 82% of small business owners are taking measures to protect their business' assets

54% have reassessed or will be reassessing their insurance needs because of the economic uncertainty

33% have created a business plan to address the economic impact from the Coronavirus

Many small business owners are ready and willing to have these difficult conversations. However, 4 in 10 small business owners are not sure whether their agent is ready to discuss economic challenges.

36% of small business owners felt having these economic uncertainty conversations with their agent is uncomfortable; 55% of commercial agents feel their clients are uncomfortable talking about the economic uncertainty.

57% of small business clients thought their agent was prepared to discuss economic uncertainty compared to 75% of total business owners.

Quick tips for agents:

Ensure you have the training and resources to talk about the recession and economic conditions with your customers and offer potential solutions to help them.

Nationwide provides regular economic updates from the office of our Chief Economist to help agents have more informed conversations about the economy with customers.

*These and other important insights came out of the summer survey of the Agent Authority research series conducted by Nationwide, which includes samples of independent insurance agents, small business and mid-market business owners, and consumers. Nationwide also recently shared Agent Authority survey data on the agent-customer relationship and agents' top concerns through the pandemic.

Survey Methodology:

Nationwide commissioned Edelman Intelligence to conduct a 20-minute quantitative online survey among a sample of 2,600 U.S. independent insurance agents, small business owners, mid-market business owners, mid-market business owners with fleet vehicles, African American business owners, Hispanic business owners and general consumers between June 9  June 25 to understand what business owners and consumers value when buying or renewing insurance policies, explore the different challenges each audience faces around insurance, gauge perceptions of the economy and how each audience is managing uncertainty, and find out the actions business owners and consumer have taken as a result of COVID-19 and the conversations they're having with agents. As a member of CASRO in good standing, Edelman Intelligence conducts all research in accordance with Market Research Standards and Guidelines.

About Nationwide

Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, commercial, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; banking and mortgages; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.

Contact:

Mike Switzer

(614) 249-6349

[email protected]

SOURCE Nationwide

Related Links

http://www.nationwide.com


Russell Crowe in the movie "Unhinged." (Skip Bolen)

The Los Angeles Times is committed to reviewing new theatrical film releases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because moviegoing carries inherent risks during this time, we remind readers to follow health and safety guidelines as outlined by the CDC and local health officials. We will continue to note the various ways readers can see each new film, including drive-in theaters in the Southland and VOD/streaming options when available.

In the crudely sadistic schlock-o-rama Unhinged, Russell Crowe spends the better part of 90 minutes behind the wheel of a giant pickup truck, driving like a demon and killing like one too. His role is listed in the credits as The Man, which seems rather generous; it would be more accurate to say hes impersonating a very raw, very angry side of beef, a wrecking ball made flesh.

The Mans latest unfortunate quarry is a driver who ticks him off at an intersection one morning, and whom he decides to punish in the most painfully protracted manner possible. One way or another, he will see to it that she regrets her offense. He will extract his apology. He will make her eat Crowe.

Sorry, that was unnecessary. So is Unhinged. Mechanically directed by Derrick Borte (London Town) from a script by Carl Ellsworth (Red Eye, Disturbia), the movie  a nasty little PSA on the perils of road rage, the necessity of seat belts and the disposability of extras  is most notable for having attempted to exploit a health crisis to its own commercial ends. Already playing in theaters abroad, it has the dubious distinction of being one of the first new movies to open in American theaters since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, an ostensible selling point that its distributor, Solstice Studios, has been crassly touting for months.

Given the eagerness to be first out of the gate, it seems only fair to treat Unhinged as an early test case, to subject it to a moral and practical inquiry that film lovers will surely be conducting for the next several weeks and months: Is this movie worth risking your life to see? Much like the poor couple we see being murdered by The Man in the tightly framed opening scene, the question can be dispensed with swiftly. Since I couldnt in good conscience recommend that you go to a theater even for a great film, I cant begin to imagine a rationale for venturing out to see Unhinged.

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Caren Pistorius in the movie "Unhinged." (Skip Bolen)

Fortunately, if you insist on watching an Oscar winner slumming it and flooring it, mowing down innocent bystanders and sending giant trucks careening across a jammed freeway, you may do so in the relative safety of one of the drive-in venues where Unhinged will also be playing nationwide. Even so, proceed with caution and steer clear of parking-lot altercations: There could be no more freakily appropriate venue for a picture in which the stranger in the next car might turn out to be be a fugitive arsonist and ax murderer, lying in wait for the target of his next lethal grudge.

And as we can see from that hack-em-up, burn-it-down prologue, Crowes character can hold a grudge and then some: He has no scruples, no inhibitions and no apparent concern about whether he survives his reign of terror. That makes him a singularly unfortunate person for our harried heroine, Rachel (Caren Pistorius), to engage in a rush-hour rumble. A soon-to-be-single mom whose frequent tardiness has just cost her a steady hairdressing gig, Rachel is in a bad mood herself when she winds up stuck at a green light behind that giant pickup.

What happens next can be summed up in a series of cautionary warnings: Dont honk your horn aggressively. Dont lower your window when a creep beckons you to do so  a lesson that Rachel tries and fails to impart to her young son, Kyle (Gabriel Bateman), in the back seat. Dont stop for gas and leave your phone unattended so the creep can steal it and raid your contacts for their own personal hit list. Dont answer the phone the creep has left in its place, allowing him to taunt you incessantly like the psycho villains in Speed, Phone Booth and other noteworthy examples of homicidal-rampage cinema.

Russell Crowe in the movie "Unhinged." (Skip Bolen)

Viewers can of course supply their own lessons. Dont get too attached to the supporting cast. (The actors include Austin P. McKenzie, Lucy Faust and Jimmi Simpson.) Pay attention to any and all seemingly irrelevant chitchat, especially in the opening scenes, which will supply perfect narrative payoffs for the knock-down-drag-out endgame. Try to forget the pileup of cliches and enjoy the actual pileups, nimbly shot by Brendan Galvin, whipped into a frenzy by Mike McCusker, Steven Mirkovich and Tim Mirkovich (the Oscar-winning trio of editors on Ford v Ferrari) and amped up still further by David Buckleys killer-bees-humping-a-Land-Rover score.

Pistorius, doing her best as a character with a giant Kill Me sign attached to her bumper, shrewdly refuses to make Rachel too readily sympathetic or conciliatory a protagonist. (Personal frustrations and frazzled nerves aside, she appears to be a genuinely terrible driver, judging by her habit of going on her phone and treating the freeway shoulder like her own personal carpool lane.) The most bracing thing about Rachel is her stubborn refusal to cough up the apology that her stalker keeps demanding. Some might think she could have saved herself a lot of grief by saying Im sorry a lot sooner, but that dead look in the killers eyes  and the history of violent misogyny that emerges in brief flashes and slashes of backstory  gives the lie to such logic.

Despite its bullet-point nods to toxic masculinity and some glib armchair sociology about the rage-fueled society we have become, Unhinged doesnt have much on its mind. Its sharpest subtext derives from the casting of Crowe himself, whose malevolent glare and low, insinuating growl are scarily believable here, even as they suggest a self-conscious dig at his own past persona. Its been 15 years since the notorious phone-hurling incident that fueled his reputation as a celebrity rageaholic  a reputation that he has since done his part to dismantle with public displays of contrition and, over the years, a less brooding, more playful screen presence. If you saw his excellent turn in this years outlaw western True History of the Kelly Gang, you know that Crowe can embrace the light as well as the dark. If you havent, you can watch it now  at home.
Libya's oil ports may reopen to fix power cuts: Haftar associate

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 19 August 2020 8:51 AM

A rebel commander linked to Libya's military strongman Khalifa Haftar says the country's eastern oil ports could reopen in a bid to repair local power shortages.

The ports can dispose of fuel and gas stockpiles to fix power cuts in eastern Libya, according to a statement released late on Tuesday by Naji al-Maghrabi, who heads an oilfield guard linked to Haftar's so-called Libyan National Army (LNA).

Maghrabi did not explain whether normal production would restart at the oilfields.

Libya's state-run National Oil Corporation (NOC) had warned last week of power cuts in Libya's east, where a seven-month blockade of oil and gas facilities by the rebels has deprived electricity stations of fuel, leading to a loss of power lasting as long as 12 hours.

Haftar's rebels started the blockade on Libya's oil industry when they managed to take control of oil export terminals and fields in the east in January. Libya  which sits atop the largest oil reserves in Africa  has been forced to halt oil production as a result. It used to produce nearly 1.2 million barrels per day last year. That figure plunged to about 90,000 daily barrels since the rebel forces forced the halt to the operations at the oilfields and ports. The blockade has cost the North African nation at least eight billion dollars.

The rebels insisted last month that the blockade would only end when there was agreement to distribute revenue in a fairer way.

According to al-Maghrabi, Haftar met representatives from the NOC and a Persian Gulf oil company to try to "ease the suffering of citizens in all walks of life, safeguard the infrastructure at production and export sites, and maintain the existing oil facilities."

Since 2014, two rival seats of power have emerged in Libya, namely the internationally-recognized government, run by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, and another group based in the eastern city of Tobruk, supported militarily by Haftar's rebels.

The rebels have been fighting to unseat the government with support from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Jordan. Government forces have been receiving crucial support from Turkey.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 20)  The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has authorized big banks to extend even more property loans to borrowers.

BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said Thursday that the Monetary Board approved a measure raising the allowed real estate loan limit for universal and commercial banks to 25 percent, higher than the long-standing 20 percent ceiling.

The move is seen to unleash 1.2 trillion worth of credit to borrowers looking to acquire or develop their land. "It also encourages bank lending to households for the acquisition or construction of a residential real estate property," the Diokno said in a statement.

The loan exposure limit seeks to protect banks from the volatilities of real estate, which sometimes sees a spike or dip in property prices. It's a precautionary measure to prevent asset bubbles  or when there's a mismatch in supply and demand for housing units  which triggered the 1997 and 2008 global financial crises.

The relaxed rules require banks to comply with stress tests, which assume a 25 percent write-off of their exposures to the property sector. Banks should be able to maintain the required 10 percent capital adequacy ratio  or enough capital to cover risky exposures  despite increased lending for real property.

Stress test protocols have also been revised to exclude home loans to individuals using a mortgaged property as their residence, as well as foreclosed assets.

Banks and their trust departments had a 2.49 trillion exposure to the property sector as of 2019, the bulk of which was through loans worth 2.17 trillion. The remaining amount represents bets made on real estate investments.

READ: Property firm expects only half of new office space completed in 2020

Of the loans, 1.4 trillion was borrowed for commercial space while 764 billion was secured for residential units. The loans accounted for 19.84 percent of the banks' total loan books, hovering close to the old ceiling.

Soured loans, or those left unpaid for at least 30 days past due date, amounted to 37.3 billion or 1.72 percent of total bank loans as of December. This is deemed low, but could rise following the economic impact of lockdowns this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Banks have suspended mortgage collections during the lockdown period and gave a 1-month grace period for borrowers to settle their dues since quarantine rules have been relaxed.

RELATED: BSP warns one-year loan payments freeze in Bayanihan 2 bad for banks
Disposing of the plea, the apex court said that a separate substantive petition needs to be filed to assail the 6 August CBSE representation regarding compartmental exams

The Supreme Court of India of Thursday dismissed a plea seeking cancellation of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 10 and Class 12 compartment examinations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A report by Bar and Bench said that a three-Judge Bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and Sanjiv Khanna dismissed the petition. Alternatively, the petition had prayed for the declaration of the exam dates.

Disposing of the plea, the apex court said that a separate substantive petition needs to be filed to assail the 6 August CBSE representation regarding compartmental exams. The petition was moved by 809 students from across the country urging the top court to take suo motu cognisance of the decision of CBSE to hold compartment exams amid the pandemic.

The apex court said the petitioners have the freedom to challenge the CBSE notification of July 2020 that had announced the compartment exams for students who have failed in one of the five main subjects.

The exact date of the compartment exams are yet to be announced by the board.

As per report by Live Law, the plea pertains to 1,50,198 students of Class 10 and 87,651 students of Class 12 who have to take the compartment exams in order to be deemed as 'passed'.

The plea also urged the apex court to issue directions to CBSE to come up with a plan which shall ensure that neither the students are forced to appear the exam during the rising number of coronavirus cases, nor they be compelled to waste an entire year due to compartment in a single subject.

Earlier this month, the CBSE decided against cancelling the compartment examinations this year. It said that cancellation of the exam would affect the future of the students.

The board stated that all forms of precautions will be taken in order to conduct the exams.

As per a report by The Times of India, for compartment exams students from schools in India will have to pay Rs 300 for each subject. Those from schools outside the country will have to remit Rs 2,000 for each subject.
A rare sighting by Radio Free Asia of a Chinese nuclear-powered attack submarine, captured in a satellite image at the entrance of an underground base, hints at how China can marshal considerable undersea power on the doorstep of the disputed South China Sea.

Satellite imagery from Aug. 18 shows what appears to be a Type 093, or Shang-class, submarine in service with the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) outside an underground bunker at Yulin Naval Base, on the southern Chinese island province of Hainan. The bunker, accessed from the sea, is known for harboring submarine construction and repair facilities.

It offers an intriguing snapshot of what is a key home port for many ships and submarines in Chinas South Sea Fleet, which is predominately focused on the South China Sea  a venue of growing rivalry between China and the United States. China has shown an increasing determination to assert its sweeping sovereignty claims in those strategic waters, and the U.S. has been flexing its own military muscle in response.

Two tugboats are also visible in an Aug. 18 photo. In an Aug. 19 image, they appear to be pushing what looks to be the same submarine towards a pier.

Capt. Christopher Carlson, a retired officer of the United States Navy Reserve, who examined the image, said the Type 093 would have exited backward out of the tunnel entrance of the bunker, aided by the tugboats  a typical maneuver.

Given the narrow aperture of the tunnel, you are just asking for trouble for a submarine to leave the tunnel under its own power, he said, pointing out the tight fit would also make it unlikely the submarine could safely use its nuclear reactor.

"Most people don't realize submarines maneuver like pigs on the surface. With about half your rudder out of the water, wagging about in the air, this doesn't leave a lot of control surface to effect steering, said Carlson, who now works with a wargame publisher, the Admiralty Trilogy Group.

An image from Aug. 19 shows the Type 093 sub getting pushed towards one of Yulins piers. China has built-up its submarine force in recent years and greatly outclasses other claimants in the South China Sea, but still remains at a disadvantage to the United States. Credit: Planet Labs Inc. The Type 093 is one of Chinas more advanced submarines, although it is currently developing bigger, stealthier subs to replace it, including an improved version called the Type 093B. Experts say there are only known to be six Type 093 submarines in service with Chinas navy. The vessel is primarily meant to attack other ships and submarines, depending on which variant is deployed.

As part of Chinas military build-up over the past two decades, it has rapidly improved its submarine force, and now has about 70 submarines, dwarfing the fleet of any other country that abuts the South China Sea, according to the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agencys annual China Military Power Report.

But Oriana Skylar Mastro, a fellow at Stanford Universitys Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, believes that the U.S. still enjoys an edge over China in undersea warfare.

Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) is one of the last remaining U.S. strengths against China, she said in an interview, citing U.S. aircraft and other systems in the region that can locate submarines as they leave port.

Chinese submarines, as they become more advanced, are still noisier than U.S. submarines. But its not really a question of their submarines versus our submarines. Its their submarines versus our ASW, and our submarines versus their ASW. When youre trying to kill a submarine, being able to find them and track them is the most important thing, she said.

Both China and the United States have stepped up military maneuvers in the South China Sea this year, amid increasing rivalry between the two powers, as well as Washingtons growing opposition to what it calls Chinas bullying of Southeast Asian nations that have competing claims there.

As part of these maneuvers, the U.S. Navy has flown a number of maritime surveillance missions over the South China Sea in recent weeks. A U.S. Navy P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, which can be used to detect suspected submarines lurking beneath the surface, flew over the disputed waters just last week according to a report by CNN.

Mastro said part of the reason why the U.S. stays active in the South China Sea is that it is constantly gathering information about the undersea environment, enabling it track submarines.

A diagram of a variant of the Type 093 submarine from the Chinese state-affiliated magazine Shipborne Weapons () Credit: Shipborne Weapons Meanwhile, China has been conducting military exercises near and around Taiwan, which were reported by Chinese state media late last week. China claims sovereignty over Taiwan, which is self-governed as the Republic of China, and regularly threatens to unify it with the Chinese mainland by force.

"Submarines are probably primarily important for surface warfare or blockade operations. Usually we talk about [blockades around Taiwan] because blockades don't seem to be a huge part of China's playbook in the South China Sea," Mastro pointed out, although she didnt rule out the possibility of China using submarines to starve out other countries outposts in the South China Sea.

While China strives to conceal the activities of its submarine fleet, cracks occasionally show. Its subs have been periodically spotted in the East and South China Seas.

Japans Self Defense Force said it spotted a Chinese nuclear-powered attack submarine within 24 nautical miles of the Senkaku Islands in mid-June. The Senkaku Islands are administered and owned by Japan, yet claimed by China, and a frequent point of tension in the East China Sea. And an advanced Chinese Type 094 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine accidentally surfaced near a Vietnamese fishing vessel in September 2019, according to Forbes, which covered photos and videos of the incident circulating on social media.

Mastro said that while the U.S. may be able to track Chinese submarines, other countries in Southeast Asia cannot do so on their own.

There are indications that China is taking other steps to enhance the ability of its submarines to operate with stealth in the South China Sea. In June, China laid down undersea cables between its occupied features in the Paracel Islands, a string of rocks and atolls in the northern half of the South China Sea, likely as part of an undersea monitoring network that would detect any other vessels tailing their submarines.

Some of Chinas research and survey vessels, particularly those associated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute for Acoustics, are suspected of mapping the topography of the ocean floor to find safe routes for Chinese subs as they travel to nearby areas like the Western Pacific or the Indian Ocean. This concern was part of the reason India expelled a Chinese survey ship, the Shi Yan-1, from its waters in December 2019.

Chinas hydrographic surveys continue unabated  just last week the Dong Fang Hong 3 survey vessel was operating south of the Paracels, and passed through Vietnamese waters on Aug. 15. Chinas government operates the largest fleet of survey and research vessels out of any other country in the world.
Kumahood actor, Stephen Atanga, popularly known as Don Little, has expressed his profound gratitude to the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin for helping him foot the bills for his mandatory quarantine.

Don Little was among the celebrities who were stranded abroad as a result of the Coronavirus-induced closure of Ghanas borders.

Although the government evacuated some of its citizens from the United States of America and other places to Ghana, they were asked to pay the hotel charges for the mandatory quarantine  an amount Don could not afford to pay.

There are reports that upon hearing Dons story, Eugene offered to pay the bills for the actor.

In a video, Don Little is seen thanking the Eugene Arhin for the kind gesture.

Thank you so much Mr Eugene Arhin and Madam Afia Akoto, Deputy CEO of Masloc, he wrote on Instagram.

Don Little has starred in movies such as Hidden Gold, Cat and Mouse, Tom and Jerry, Mpaninfo Adesua, among others.

---Daily Guide
- Gretchen Ho is leading a bike donation drive to help those who need it for their job amid COVID-19 crisis

- According to Gretchen, the first recipient of their bike project is the teenager who used roller blades to deliver his food business

- Kean Ramos recently went viral because he was seen using roller blades while delivering food

- The 18-year-old delivery guy shared that he is helping his father who is sick and not capable of working

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Gretchen Ho shared that the first recipient of the donation drive she is leading is the teenager who went viral for using roller blades to deliver food.

KAMI learned that Gretchen is heading the #DonateABikeSaveAJob campaign amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Photo from Flickr

Source: Facebook

In a Facebook post, Gretchen handed over the bike to 18-year-old Kean Ramos. According to the celebrity, Kean decided to take over the job of his father as a Grab Food rider because he is sick.

Our first bike recipient. 18 y/o Kean Ramos receives a bike from the #DonateABikeSaveAJob project, she wrote.

Since his dad is sick & can't do his duties as a Grab Food Driver. Kean decided to take the reigns with his own coffee jelly business, she added.

According to Inquirer, the father of Kean is sick and unable to work. However, they have hospital bills to pay. Kean decided to have his own coffee and chocolate jelly business to help his father.

Ako po ay nag bebenta ng coffee and Chuckie jelly upang makatulong sa tatay kong may sakit (enlargement of prostate) na naka-catether and unable to work, he said.

Kean also shared that the roller blades were found by her aunt in Singapore and she gave it to him

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Now that there is still a COVID-19 crisis in the Philippines, many Filipinos ventured into online business as a means of earning income.

In an earlier report by KAMI, a food delivery rider saved a child from drowning in the swimming pool. The incident was caught on CCTV.

KAMI also reported that a man who used to earn a lot as a pilot has now become a food delivery rider for FoodPanda to earn money now that there are strict travel restrictions.

Please like and share our Facebook posts to support KAMI team! Dont hesitate to comment and share your opinion about our stories either. We love reading about your thoughts!

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A male and a female Aedes aegypti mosquitos are seen through a microscope at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation laboratory in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 14 August 2019

US authorities have approved a plan to release more than 750 million genetically modified mosquitoes across the Florida Keys, despite objections from local residents.

British-based firm Oxitec are behind the project, that will test whether the altered mosquitoes can work as an alternative to pesticides to control the spread of diseases, such as Zika, dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever, according to CNN.

The male mosquito, which is named OX5034, has been created to produce female offspring that die at larval stage, before they grow big enough to spread disease and bite.

Female mosquitoes bite for blood while they mature their eggs, but males do not carry the diseases as they feed on nectar, according to Sky News.

The mosquitoes will only be released in the Florida Keys in 2020, but will be expanded into Harris County, Texas in 2021, after the Environmental Protection Agency granted Oxitecs request for an experimental use permit.

Jaydee Hanson, policy director for the International Centre for Technology Assessment and Centre for Food Safety, released a statement on Thursday, where he criticised the decision.

With all the urgent crises facing our nation and the State of Florida  the Covid-19 pandemic, racial injustice, climate change  the administration has used tax dollars and government resources for a Jurassic Park experiment, he said.

Now the Monroe County Mosquito Control District has given the final permission needed. What could possibly go wrong? We dont know, because EPA unlawfully refused to seriously analyse environmental risks, now without further review of the risks, the experiment can proceed, Mr Hanson added.

Zika was declared an international emergency in 2016, and although it was later downgraded, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said it was still a significant public health challenge requiring intense action later that year.

While the WHO record around 390 million dengue infections each year, as half of the worlds population are at danger of being infected, according to Sky.

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This project will be the first of its kind in the US, but follows on from a similar trial in Brazil in 2016, where researchers recorded a decline in disease-carrying mosquitoes and found they did not cause harm to other insects.

Since the initial announcement of the project in May, more than 240,000 residents in the Florida Keys have signed a petition against the proposal, which was supported by more than 30 local physicians.

Local media reported that residents were unhappy to be treated as guinea pigs for the experiment, as the petition claimed that the GMO (genetically modified organisms) mosquitoes could pose major risks to fragile ecosystems.

This argument was echoed by Dana Perls, a programme manager at Friends of the Earth, who released a statement on Wednesday where she said she was concerned about the damage the mosquitoes may cause to the local ecosystem

The release of genetically engineered mosquitoes will needlessly put Floridians, the environment and endangered species at risk in the midst of a pandemic, Ms Perls said.

However, in a statement on Wednesday, Oxitec chief executive Mark Carnegie-Brown claimed that the programme will be beneficial to the area and said the company plan on working with local authorities during the project.

Were looking forward to working hand-in-hand with the Keys community to demonstrate the effectiveness of our safe, sustainable technology in light of the growing challenges controlling this disease-spreading mosquito.

Read more

Climate crisis may drive mosquito-borne Zika virus into Europe
What are believed to be two MQ-9 Reapers drones have crashed into each other in the skies over Idleb, before plummeting to the ground reports Al-Masdar.

The US military lost two drones over Idleb Governorate this week after they reportedly crashed into one another on Tuesday.

Citing a defense official, the Military Times reported that the US lost the two drones when they crashed into one another over northwestern Syria.

Images of burning aircraft crashing to the ground were posted to Twitter on Tuesday. There was speculation that the aircraft were MQ-9 Reapers  a remotely piloted aircraft used predominately as an armed hunter-killer drone, but also capable of surveillance and intelligence collection  and were shot down, Military Times reported.

They added that the defense official could not confirm the types of drones that crashed into one another at the time of the incident.

Opposition activists previously reported that the drones were shot down over Idleb, while others mistook the unmanned aerial vehicles as belonging to the Russian military, rather than the US.

Tuesdays incident marked the first time during the Syrian conflict that any US drones have crashed into one another.

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.
I just feel like the school is putting the responsibility on the day care organization, he said. I want to see an option in which the school is ensuring that my son will be getting a Williamsville education, even if its virtual.

Shira Klaiman has a child entering sixth grade and another entering ninth grade. She has grave concerns about the districts current plan.

The teachers will be in an impossible situation trying to manage both the students in the room with them and the students at home, she said. I think the kids at home need their own teachers and the kids at school need their own teachers."

Klaiman said she would like to see teachers heavily involved in formulating the district's plan. She said she does not know what an ideal plan would look like, but she trusts Williamsville's teachers to figure it out.

Ill stand behind the teachers, whatever they think should happen. Theyre the experts. This is what they do for a living, she said.

School Board President Teresa A. Leatherbarrow said she attended all the parent meetings, and board members will observe the meeting Thursday between the administration and teachers.
In a joint statement, the Catholic Church, Church of Ireland, Presbyterians and Methodists said while governments on both sides of the border have not made face coverings compulsory at services, they recommend they are worn.

As churches we are committed to maintaining two metre physical distancing between household groups and strict adherence to all government guidance on hand hygiene, cleaning, ventilation etc, the church leaders said in a statement.

It, however, remains our responsibility to ensure that our services of worship are safe places for all who join with us.

It has become increasingly clear that the wearing of face coverings, in conjunction with hand washing etc, is likely to reduce the spread of coronavirus, thus helping to protect others.

Their use is therefore one way in which we can evidence protection for the most vulnerable, support for our health workers, and practical love for our neighbours.

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Following further recent consultations with public health authorities, we join with Christian church leaders all over this island in formally recommending and encouraging the use of face coverings at all services of worship, along with the ongoing maintenance of two metre physical distancing, from Sunday August 30, 2020, and earlier if practicable.

The statement added: We understand that some people are exempted from the wearing of face coverings, as outlined in the two jurisdictions.

We also recognise that whilst it may not be appropriate for those who are leading from the front during worship, including preaching, to wear face coverings, they should at all times continue to maintain at least two metre physical distancing from one another, and four metre physical distancing from the front row of the congregation.

The statement was endorsed by the Catholic Archbishop Eamon Martin, Church of Ireland Archbishop John McDowell, Presbyterian Moderator David Bruce and President of the Methodist Church in Ireland Tom McKnight.
In late July, a young woman was shot and killed. A second person was also shot. A man was arrested. That this was a tragedy cannot be emphasized enough, however, what followed after was also important.

The reaction of the Peel Regional Police Association (PRPA), Chief Nishan Duraiappah of Peel Regional Police, and Chief Steve Tanner of Halton Regional Police Service warrant examination.

Chief Duraiappah said   the sadness I feel for the victim and her family is mixed with frustration for a complete failure of our justice system to protect her and called it a failure of systems to protect her.

The police association blamed the judicial system for allowing this to happen. Chief Tanner decried the institution of bail, tweeting It is time for our justice system to WAKE UP. Do NOT let dangerous repeat offenders back out to kill and injure others. Balance victims rights equally with those of accused persons. Listen to recommendations of crowns and police. Please

Police are entitled to their opinions. These views become a problem when the police become careless in what they express. Police hold a special place in society and as such they have a duty not to misstate the law.

Arguably, police should not advocate at all. Their roles include enforcement, de-escalation, investigation, collection of evidence, and crime prevention  although calls to defund the police question this.

The experience police bring may be important in how policy develops, but there is a line between their role as providers of data and advocates. Police are not equipped to do the latter. I am an officer of the court and often critical of legal rulings. When I do so, I endeavour to be intellectually honest. Police often fail to do so.

Chief Tanner simplified the issue into a call to not let dangerous, repeat offenders back out. The law of bail in Canada is complex and the chief forgets that reasonable bail is a right. There is no offence for which an accused cannot be eligible for bail.

Similarly, repeat offenders can be eligible for bail if they address the concerns of the court. Broad sweeping generalization that dangerous repeat offenders should not be let out is an uneducated take not befitting the office of the chief of police.

Chief Duraiappah also claims the failure in the system was that the accused was granted bail. Using tragedy to blame the system is distasteful. The fact is that during the pandemic, more people have been granted bail than prior to March. The Supreme Court of Canada has implicitly told us that not enough people are being released with reasonable bail conditions. The chief is forgetting that the expansion of bail has not led to an explosion in uncontrollable crime.

There will be times when people breach their bail. Judicial officers considering bail are not psychic. But Chief Duraiappah is guilty of intentionally using a tragedy to amplify a false narrative that more people charged with should be jailed.

Recall the recent protests in the GTA. Police services purported to be sympathetic to systemic change, yet Chiefs Duraiappah and Tanner revert to jail. They forget the presumption of innocence and the importance of treating people as such.

The worst offender has to be the Peel Regional Police Association, which irresponsibly called out the judiciary for this tragedy. They say judicial officers will not be named by the media and that the judicial system allowed this to happen. This attack on judicial independence must be condemned.

To say that independent members of the judiciary should be held accountable if a person they release on bail commits an offence is incorrect. Judicial officers cannot be expected to eliminate the risk of a breach of bail. The PRPA should be mindful of the fact that at times their own officers release accused persons from the station. If one of those people commits an offence, will they call for their own officers to be held accountable? Not likely.

Police have used their badges and their platforms to take aim at the judiciary. Tragedy can drive a conversation but it needs to be done responsibly. Peel Regional Police, PRPA, and Halton Regional Police need to take note.
STUDENTS at independent schools in the Henley area excelled in their A-level results.

This was despite the chaos and uncertainty caused by the Governments handling of how pupils should be graded  either by teacher assessment, mock exam results or using an algorithm based on a schools previous

performance.

The independents were happy with the results revealed on Thursday last week before Boris Johnsons U-turn on Monday that allowed all A-level students to be awarded grades estimated by their teachers.

The decision also applies to GCSE students who were due to receive their results yesterday.

After the summer exams were cancelled, the schools submitted centre-assessed grades for year 13 students.

At Shiplake College, the proportion of students achieving A* to C grades was a record 93 per cent. Fifty-five per cent of grades were A* or A, which was an improvement of 19 per cent on last year.

Art, chemistry, further mathematics and physics all recorded strong A* to B scores and there were also good performances in vocational subjects, such as business, music and sport.

Tim Pitman, of Bolney Road, Shiplake, acheived an A grade in economics, a B in geography and a distinction star in his business BTEC.

The 19-year-old will be studying business management at Exeter University and has his sights set on a career in investment banking.

He said: I am very pleased because it has allowed me to achieve my main goal of getting into university.

I was a bit disappointed that I got downgraded in geography because my school predicted that I was going to get an A.

I am not complaining though. There are a lot of people across the country who have been affected a lot worse than me.

Tim, who lives with his parents, Deborah and Chris, and sisters Steph, 26, and Alana, 24, first saw his results online but then went to the college to collect his brown envelope.

He said: I opened them with my mum and Steph. They were really pleased.

We have not really left the house because of the covid situation, so we just had a nice night in and a few celebratory drinks.

It has been quite hard not being at school because you feel like youre out of the loop. I have had to trust my teachers and show that I can get the higher grades and I think they knew I could.

They have all been a huge help and have supported me a lot. They are really good at keeping you calm and giving you confidence.

They gave us papers to do before school ended to show we were capable but it felt very different doing them at home.

Headmaster Tyrone Howe said: I am absolutely delighted with the results, the second best in the history of the school.

After such a challenging academic year, they are testament to the hard work and motivation of our pupils and also the commitment and professionalism displayed on a daily basis by our staff.

What gives me most pleasure is that, not only are we delivering top grades for our most able pupils, with increased numbers of A*s and A grades, we are also looking after the whole cohort, evidenced by 93 per cent of the year group achieving A* to C, the first time we have hit that milestone.

This has been a unique year which has presented real challenges and much confusion and anxiety for pupils, parents and schools.

I am proud of the 2020 leavers who have shown great resilience and remained engaged with our distance learning programme throughout lockdown. Our teachers stepped up to face the unique challenges with creativity, professionalism and endless positivity.

Mr Howe was disappointed that the Government algorithm used to adjust and moderate some of the results disadvantaged a small number of pupils in the lower grade brackets.

He said: The statistical system appears to use the spread of outcomes from previous years as a predictive model for this years grades and this years cohort compared to the previous year groups has received a similar stretch of results to achieve the same spread even though the subject set could be stronger overall.

While an indictment of their own process, the Department of Educations last-minute announcement to lock in mock results has counteracted some of these adjustments but there are still some anomalies in pupils results.

We will be looking at specific areas in which we feel that there is a just cause for appeal.

At Queen Annes School in Caversham, 87 per cent of students achieved A* to C grades, the same proportion as last year.

Forty-six per cent of pupils at the girls school were awarded

A* or A grade, an increase of two per cent on last year, and most secured places at their chosen university.

Twenty-three girls studied psychology at A-level  influenced by the schools neuroscience programme BrainCanDo  and 73 per cent achieved a B grade or higher.

Results in the humanities subjects were also strong, with 85 per cent of girls being awarded a B grade or higher.

Every drama and theatre studies student received an A* or A grade and every music student achieved at least a B grade.

All the girls who studied computer science achieved A* or A grade and 61 per cent of business studies students were awarded a B grade or better.

Headmistress Julia Harrington said: No one would have predicted the situation these girls have faced and it makes me especially proud that the class of 2020 has approached this unique situation in the Queen Annes way with strong spirits and fierce minds.

We are delighted with the overall results and so pleased for the girls who have secured their placements as they embark on the next stage of their lives and their learning. We are committed to supporting and working with our students as they continue to plan for their futures.

After an unprecedented year, we are especially proud of this particular group of students and all that they have achieved throughout the strangest of

circumstances.

Reading Blue Coat School in Sonning celebrated record-breaking results, with a 100 per cent pass rate.

Ninety-nine per cent of students achieved A* to C grade compared with 90.8 per cent last year.

The proportion of A* and A grades was 62 per cent, up from 41.5 per cent last year.

Eighty-five per cent of students have been offered their first choice of university.

Results were issued digitally via the school portal.

Jack Williams, from Caversham, was one of this years high achievers with three A*s.

The senior prefect said: I am thrilled but also relieved as the changes made by the Government provided some rather last-minute uncertainty.

I am also thrilled as I feel my hard work over the last two years has been recognised.

Jack said he was looking forward to starting at Bath University next month to study economics and politics.

In the meantime, I am just planning to keep enjoying the good summer weather and spending quality time with my friends, he added.

Pippi Heath, from Henley, also achieved three A*s.

She said: I was so pleased with my results. I was really nervous as the news of all the changes meant I didnt know what to expect.

Im now very excited to be going to Bristol University to study geography with innovation. I am really looking forward to my course and student life, although Im not sure what to expect in covid times.

New headmaster Pete Thomas said: I am delighted for the pupils and staff who have worked so hard over the last two years and had their efforts recognised with excellent results.

Reading Blue Coat is in fine health and its an exciting time to take over as head and work with the schools community to ensure it continues to thrive.

I was relieved to hear of Ofquals decision to award students A-level grades based on the centre assessment grades.

This goes some way to remove the unfairness felt by so many students at Reading Blue Coat and other schools, although the timing of the decision creates other difficulties securing university places that mean the difficulties are not yet over for everyone.

We will, in conjunction with UCAS and university admissions staff, continue to support our students and help them to secure the places that they deserve.

The Oratory School in Woodcote reported a year of substantial improvement in its A-level results.

Ninety per cent of students achieved A* to C grades, compared with 68 per cent A to C grades last year.

Fifty-three per cent achieved A* or A grades, which was up from 27 per cent.

Most gained entry to their first choice of university.

In English and physics, 66 per cent of results were A* or A grade while the proportion in mathematics was 50 per cent.

All students in art and design, Chinese, philosophy and photography achieved A* or A grade.

Harry Page, from Emmer Green, gained three A*s in English literature, art and product design and an A in geography. He will study industrial design at Loughborough University.

Harry, who turns 18 today (Friday), said: These were my predicted grades. There was a lot of scaremongering around results before they came out but they were what I was expected to get so I wasnt surprised, although there was relief.

I knew that I wasnt going to sit any exams and I couldnt have done any more to give me the grades that I wanted.

A couple of my mates didnt really get the grades that they wanted but they are still going to go to university.

He celebrated by going out to dinner with his parents, Rob and Michelle, and brother Cameron.

Headmaster Joe Smith said: For a year group which has suffered enormously through not being able to complete their time at school in the normal way, I am delighted for them at having achieved these excellent grades and very proud indeed.

Although these young men and women didnt ultimately sit the examinations, they have absolutely earned these results through their hard work over their time at the school, which allowed us to submit compelling, well-evidenced centre-assessment grades to the exam boards, which in the vast majority of cases have been upheld.

This has been an able and hard-working year group and I am delighted for them, for their parents and for their teachers, who taught them so well. I look forward to seeing these Oratorians in person before long to celebrate their fine achievements.

Sam Mortimer, from Peppard Common, achieved A*s in mathematics, further mathematics and physics as well as an A in chemistry.

The 18-year-old, who was a pupil at St Josephs College in Reading, will be doing a masters degree in electronic engineering at Southampton University.

Sam said: After hearing all of the reports about the grades being lower in Scotland, I was a bit concerned.

I was expecting grades closer to what I got in my mock exams, which would have still been pretty good, but not as much as I wanted. I am really passionate about electronics and when I was applying for universities I really liked the feel of the community at Southampton.

I have been doing lots of other projects this year, like doing coding on the computer or designing electronics to keep me interested.

His mother, Anna, who is the admissions officer at St Josephs, added:  Im really proud of what he has achieved and it has enabled him to do what he wants. He has always been into computing and electronics.
After Croatia saw the highest number of new coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, the Balkan nation may be next to join the UKs no-go list.

With 219 new cases in the 24 hours to Wednesday afternoon, the infection rate is four times higher than in the UK.

Ministers are expected to announce changes to the list of nations from which travellers need not self-isolation later today  a week after France, Malta and the Netherlands were stripped of quarantine exemption.

These are the key questions and answers.

What criteria do the government use to decide which countries are exempt?

It is not entirely clear, but the basic principle appears to be that if a country has a coronavirus infection rate significantly higher than the UK, as well as an upward trend, then it is likely to be struck off the quarantine-exempt list.

According to data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, coronavirus cases in Croatia have more than doubled in the past 10 days. The latest statistics reported by the Croatian Institute of Public Health, shows a surge largely in the Zagreb and Split areas.

Since the UK government does not distinguish between different regions in a country, the increase in infections looks likely to result in the Foreign Office warning against travel and the Department for Transport re-imposing self-isolation for UK travellers returning from Croatia.

What do the Croatians say?

Kristjan Stanicic, general director of the Croatian National Tourist Board, said: The whole of tourism industry in Croatia is behaving responsibly and adhering to the prescribed epidemiological measures.

He said the five million foreign tourists who have visited Croatian destinations so far this year confirm the fact that Croatia is perceived as a safe tourist destination.

Tomaslav Fain, a bar and restaurant owner in Zadar, told BBC Breakfast: We are a very safe country. Im sure Croatia cannot be on the list.

On the beach its one person on each 10 metres. Were not a crowded destination.

Until now we have had a good season. First Italy put us on the red list, then Austria, now we are talking about Slovenia and the UK.

The latest prevention measures in Croatia include closing nightclubs at midnight.

What happens if Croatia is removed from the quarantine-exempt list?

The estimated 20,000 British holidaymakers will face an uncomfortable choice between racing to get home, at great cost financially and in terms of stress, or staying on and completing the holiday  but with the prospect of two weeks in the closest most of us will come to house arrest.

At present, this is purely speculative. Until and unless there is any change, people should do no more than consider their options. If last weeks announcement is repeated, travellers will have 30 hours to be back in Britain or face two weeks in self-isolation.

It is not merely a matter of leaving Croatia, for example across the northern border to Slovenia.

What are the travel options?

Even though the Foreign Office might deem a country to be unacceptably high risk, there have been no airlifts organised in the past few months  and everyone is assumed to continue their holidays as planned.

The flight options from Croatia are looking challenging. On Fridays there are no direct flights from Split, Pula, Zadar or Dubrovnik to the UK  though there are plenty on Saturday and Sunday. The only flight from Croatia to the UK all day on Friday appears to be from Zagreb to Heathrow for 500 one way.

Some British travellers in the north of the country, particularly the Istrian peninsula, can aim for Trieste or Venice in Italy.

Where else could be placed on the no-go list?

The Czech Republic, Denmark, Iceland and Switzerland have relatively high rates of coronavirus infection  though they currently have far fewer British tourists than Croatia.

Turning to holidaymakers who have yet to go  what are their rights?

The standard advice for anyone booked on a proper package has always been: as soon as the Foreign Office warns against travel to a particular nation, all holiday companies cancel future departures and offer the choice between a full refund or an alternative holiday. That principle has been ignored by some online travel agents who say that they believe it is safe to go, and are declining refunds.

It will take a legal case to decide whos right.

If you have booked a DIY holiday, then if the airline cancels your flight you can claim a full refund. If the departure goes ahead, though, the best you can hope for is a voucher  and some airlines arent offering that.

Accommodation providers might offer deferrals or even refunds, but if the hotel or villa is still available then the fact that you dont want to take it up isnt their problem.

Travel insurance taken out prior to the coronavirus crisis may help, but it will depend on the precise cover.

Are some countries imposing similar restrictions on British travellers?

Starting on Saturday (22 August), travellers from the UK to Norway will need to quarantine for two weeks due to what the Norwegian authorities call high transmission of coronavirus. Finland, which has the lowest rates of any large European country, already bans all but its own citizens and residents.

Whatever happen to the threat by the French of reciprocal quarantine?

France is in no great hurry to reciprocate  the same happened in June, when the UK first imposed quarantine on France. Self-isolation was strictly voluntary.

What is all this chopping and changing doing to travellers confidence?

Its extremely costly emotionally for the traveller, and financially for the travel industry and, just when airlines, holiday companies and travel agents think things cant get any worse  they do.
Veracruz police director, 12 others arrested for CJNG ties

Paso del Macho, Veracruz  The police chief of Paso del Macho in the state of Veracruz was arrested along with 12 others due to ties with the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG). The arrests were made by elements of the Civil Force who report the detainment of Candelario N, who served as director of the municipal police of Paso del Macho.

The capture of the 13 occurred a few days after a security operation was launched in municipalities in the high mountains by the state secretary of Public Security, Hugo Gutierrez Maldonado. The director de la Policia Municipal de Paso del Macho Candelario N, was arrested along with two of his elements and 10 members of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion.

In addition to the director of the municipal police, Candelario N, municipal officers Patricio N and Jesus N were also arrested along with Jose de Jesus N, Daniel N, Tomas N, Jair N, Moises Alejandro N, Jose Carlos N, Gustavo Nicolas N, Gabriel N, Narciso N and Vadir Alexis N, all of them members of a criminal cell belonging to the CJNG which was protected by the municipal police.

13 arrested for Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion ties

Police director Candelario N and his two officers acknowledged that they were providing protection to the ten members of the criminal cell detained during the operation. The 13 are facing charges of drug trafficking, kidnapping, extortion and the recent death of a fellow officer in the municipality of Rio Blanco.

Upon their arrests by elements of the SSP and the National Guard, weapons, chargers, cartridges, tactical vests, drugs and vehicles were seized.
Burberry is launching its first collection of designer face masks.

On Thursday, the luxury British heritage label announced that it is releasing a range of reusable face coverings in its iconic vintage check print.

The masks, which are available to shop online from today, feature two different colourways of the Burberry check, one in beige and another in pale blue.

Recommended How fashion brands transformed the face mask into a matching accessory

The fashion brand adds that the masks are sustainably produced from revalued cotton fabric, provide Particle Filtration Efficiency (PFE) and are enhanced with antimicrobial technology. The company does not provide additional details on the medical credentials of this technology.

The masks come with a matching travel pouch, which is also treated with antimicrobial technology and additional styles are expected to launch in autumn.

As well as keeping you safe and elevating your stylish face-mask game, the coverings will also help support a great cause, with a portion of the sale of each mask being donated to the Burberry Foundation Covid-19 Community Fund, which continues to provide PPE, as well as assistance to food banks and healthcare charities globally.

We are proud to be donating 20 per cent from the selling price of each face mask to the Burberry Foundation COVID-19 Community Fund operated by The Burberry Foundation (registered charity number 1154468) to support communities impacted by the pandemic globally, the brand states.

The face masks are made from revalued cotton fabric (Burberry)

The organisation was established in April this year for employees and partners around the world to support local communities in need. To date, contributions have been made towards relief efforts in Asia, Europe, the Americas and Africa.

This isn't the first time Burberry has offered its support during the coronavirus pandemic.

The masks come with a matching travel pouch, which is also treated with antimicrobial technology (Burberry)

Earlier this year the company made donations to vaccine research, food bank charities and repurposed its Castleford factory in Yorkshire to manufacture non-surgical gowns for medical and care workers, while also sourcing surgical masks through its global supply chain. To date, more than 160,000 pieces of PPE have been donated.

The price of Burberrys face masks has not yet been announced, but the range is expected to be available to shop later today. You can sign up here for updates on their release.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  A nonprofit accused of stashing tens of millions of dollars aimed at passing House Bill 6  the focus of a massive federal bribery investigation  was summoned to court Thursday.

An attorney entered a not guilty plea on behalf of Generation Now before Magistrate Judge Karen Litkovitz in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati.

The nonprofit was indicted last month with former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and four allies on racketeering charges involving House Bill 6, the $1.3 billion bailout involving a former subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp.

Generation Now had been summoned for an arraignment hearing earlier this month, but no attorney appeared on its behalf. On Thursday, Robert Krapenc, an attorney for one of the others charged, Jeffrey Longstreth, entered the not-guilty plea. He could not be reached late Thursday afternoon.

A nonprofit, like any corporation, has similar constitutional rights as people, as it can be tried, convicted and forced to pay fines or face forfeiture proceedings.

Since Generation Now had its initial appearance before Litkovitz, Householder remains the only person who has not answered the allegations in the indictment. He is struggling to find an attorney to represent him, as many attorneys have conflicts in the case, according to court records.

Longstreth, a political aide to Householder and lobbyists Neil Clark, Juan Cespedes and Matt Borges, have denied the allegations.

The charges against the five allege FirstEnergy Corp. and its affiliates funneled more than $60 million in bribes through Generation Now, money that was used to back the effort to pass the bailout.

Generation Now was registered in Delaware in 2017 as a nonprofit with a social welfare purpose. Instead, authorities said, Householder handled it to help pass the issue.

In 2018, Householder and his allies spent FirstEnergy money, shipped through Generation Now, on 21 candidates backed by Householder, according to an FBI affidavit filed last month.

Other money went toward defeating an attempt by opponents to organize a statewide referendum to repeal the law that Gov. Mike DeWine signed in July 2019, according to the affidavit.

From July to October of last year, a former subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. sent more than $38 million to Generation Now to quash an attempt to repeal the law.

FirstEnergy and its affiliates have not been charged in the investigation. A spokeswoman said it is cooperating with the investigation.
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Linkedin Amelie Bottollier-Depois (Agence France-Presse) Paris, France  Thu, August 20, 2020 09:09 518 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066f3b62f 2 Environment Africa,animals,Djibouti,Somalia,elephant-shrew Free

For half a century scientists feared that the Somali elephant shrew had vanished from the face of the Earth. No one had seen so much as a whisker.

But the tiny mammal with its probing trunk-like nose was quietly thriving in the arid, rocky landscape of the Horn of Africa, researchers said Tuesday.

The elusive, insect-eating creature is neither an elephant nor a shrew.

It is a sengi -- a distant relation to aardvarks, elephants and manatees -- the size of a mouse, with powerful legs that allow it to run at speeds of nearly 30 kilometers an hour.

The Somali sengi has been lost to science since the 1970s, leaving just the 39 preserved specimens held in the world's natural history museums as the only physical evidence that it ever existed.

The Global Wildlife Conservation group even included it on its "25 most wanted lost species" list.

But during an expedition last year scientists found the animals still roaming the wild, discovering that the Somali sengi is not confined to Somalia at all.

The research mission was looking for different kinds of sengis in Djibouti, the small Horn of Africa coastal nation that borders Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea.

The team set up more than 1,250 traps filled with peanut butter, oatmeal and yeast extract in 12 areas in Djibouti, buoyed by speaking to local communities, where people could readily recognize the animals from photographs.

"Our interviews with local nomadic and pastoralist people indicated that they see sengis regularly and we were consistently told the same common name (Wali sandheer)," said Houssein Rayaleh, of Association Djibouti Nature, who was on the team.

The conservationist said he too had seen sengis during his 21 years doing fieldwork in the country.

But no one knew whether they were the long-lost Somali sengi.

"Without formal documentation, the species of the sengis in Djibouti was unknown," Rayaleh told AFP.

The team also included global elephant shrew expert Galen Rathburn, who had been studying the creatures for decades but had never seen a live Somali sengi, according to researcher Steven Heritage, of the Duke University Lemur Center.

"So when he opened the first trap and looked over at me, and he had seen the cute tufted furry tail of the animal and he looked at me and said 'I can't believe it, I've never seen one before'," Heritage told AFP. Rathbun died of cancer shortly after the expedition.

The researchers collected twelve specimens of the mammal.

Their findings prove that the Somali sengi "is currently extant" and lives far beyond the boundaries of Somalia, the researchers said in a study published in the journal PeerJ.

Read also: Local tours bring some relief to South Africa safari industry

'Least Concern'

The team, which plans a new expedition to learn more about the species, believes the sengi could be living across Somalia, Djibouti and Ethiopia.

And while they cannot estimate the size of the population, they believe the sengi is thriving.

"All the local people knew about this, so it could not be rare in any way," said Heritage, the lead author of the study.

"And its habitats are not threatened by agriculture and human development, in a very arid environment where there is no foreseeable future for agriculture."

As a result, researchers recommended that the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reappraise its classification for the Somali sengi on its list of vulnerable creatures, from "Data Deficient" to "Least Concern".

"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," said Robin Moore of Global Wildlife Conservation.

Other species rediscovered in recent years include Jackson's climbing salamander in Guatemala, the Wallace's giant bee in Indonesia, and the silver-backed chevrotain -- a deer-like species the size of a rabbit -- in Vietnam.

Moore said this raises hope for those species still thought to be "lost", including the Ilin Island cloudrunner, a cloud rat from a single island in the Philippines.
Police arrest two for kidnapping Punjab resident in Jammu

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Jammu, Aug 20: Police have arrested two people for allegedly kidnapping a Punjab resident from a hotel in Jammu, officials said on Wednesday.

Sunny Gill from Punjab's Ludhiana told police that he was staying at Hotel Ramada in Jammu when he was kidnapped by Balbir Singh, owner of Bawa Tour and Travels, and his associates at gunpoint last Thursday.

The officials said Sunny was kept at a house of Balbir Singh in Amar Colony of the Gol Gujral area. He was told to pay Rs 10 lakh or face dire consequences, they added.

2 UP students cook kidnapping tale to escape from punishment for skipping school

The accused allegedly extorted Rs 50,000 from Sunny, who managed to escape from there and informed police.

Contempt Case: SC rejects Prashant Bhushan's plea to defer sentencing | Oneindia News

A police team conducted raids and arrested the accused, Balbir Singh and Gurdeep Singh, they added. Police have also recovered the car used in the crime, a revolver, live cartridges and Rs 50,000 extorted from the victim, the officials.

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Story first published: Thursday, August 20, 2020, 9:45 [IST]
As President Barack Obama's second term came to a close, a dispute erupted between two of the Senate's most polarizing figures.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., squared off over Obama's nominees to the U.S. Postal Service's Board of Governors -- the powerful panel that oversees post office operations. When the two politicians failed to reach an agreement, all nine seats were left unfilled, laying the foundation for a controversy that now engulfs one of America's most beloved institutions and, some are alleging, could threaten the 2020 election.

"The unions were involved, presidential politics were involved," said Stephen Crawford, a former nominee to join the board of governors. "Politically, it was a very interesting microcosm of American special interest group politics ... and here we are now."

MORE: Amid political controversy, postmaster general's stock holdings come under renewed scrutiny

Sanders' decision in 2015 and 2016 to block two of the Obama administration's nominees -- made at the behest of powerful union leaders -- and McConnell's decision to block the rest in retaliation created a unique opportunity for President Donald Trump to appoint a full slate of picks to a panel that is meant to be comprised of bipartisan members serving staggered, seven-year terms.

That standoff over the appointees has emerged as a poignant example of the law of unintended consequences in Washington -- and Postal Service insiders now place it at the root of the current threat facing both the Postal Service and the upcoming presidential election.

PHOTO: A United States Postal Service worker sorts packages in his truck in the Manhattan borough of New York, Aug. 17, 2020. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters, FILE)

Critics say those Trump appointees, who lacked experience in the Postal Service, recently chose another outsider with no experience to be postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, who made "rash" cost-cutting decisions and alienated senior leadership.

"Unfortunately, the Postmaster General has never worked at the Postal Service," said Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del. "Complicating matters, we have a majority of appointees on the board of governors who don't have postal experience either."

Story continues

"So to think that the current leadership can come in and, over a few weeks, implement sweeping changes at an institution as vast as the Postal Service is naive at best and political malfeasance at worst," Carper continued.

Those cost-cutting measures, which include cuts to overtime pay and foregoing additional pickup and delivery trips, came as Trump railed against mail-in voting, sparking criticism that the voters turning to mail-in ballots amid the pandemic could be disenfranchised.

The Postal Service did not respond to a request for comment nor a request to speak with members of the board of governors.

MORE: Postmaster general agrees to testify before Senate, House lawmakers amid mail-in voting firestorm

Crisis at the Postal Service

As the outcry over delayed mail service ahead of the presidential election snowballed in recent weeks, the focus of critics' ire has been firmly trained on DeJoy, a longtime Republican financier and major Trump donor with no background in postal operations.

Since taking the agency's helm in June, DeJoy has enacted a series of cost-cutting reforms meant to streamline the Postal Service, which has long suffered financially. But in recent weeks, he has fallen under intense scrutiny after proposing those measures just as Trump was complaining about universal mail-in voting and issuing unfounded claims of the potential for widespread fraud.

PHOTO:Postmaster General Louis Dejoy arrives at a meeting at the Capitol in Washington, Aug. 5, 2020. (Alex Wong/Getty Images, FILE)

As DeJoy has been forced onto center stage, including appearances before Congress planned for Friday and Monday, members of the board, which has wide latitude over the service's course, have largely remained silent.

The board's most crucial task, experts said, is in appointing -- or removing -- the postmaster general and deputy postmaster general. On Wednesday, a group of Democratic lawmakers called on the board to exert its authority to remove DeJoy.

Less than 24 hours earlier, DeJoy acquiesced to mounting pressure, announcing that he would suspend some initiatives until after the election "to avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail." It was not immediately clear whether he would reverse actions already taken, such as the removal of mail-sorting machines in some facilities.

MORE: Amid political controversy, postmaster general's stock holdings come under renewed scrutiny

Presidents are ostensibly responsible for nominating members for vacant seats, but the job of identifying candidates is often outsourced to Senate leadership. Robert Duncan, the board's current chair, for example, is a longtime friend of McConnell. Members are recommended by Senate leaders of both parties, and they are supposed to be drawn from both sides of the aisle -- with no one party getting more than five seats.

"God love him, but [former Senate Majority Leader] Harry Reid [D-Nev.] if he could have filled the board with all Nevadans, he would have done it," said Jim Sauber, the chief of staff at the National Association of Letter Carriers, a postal workers union.

The arrangement was intended to ensure a bipartisan board, but the seats have historically been ripe targets for political patronage.

The board exerts significant authority over the massive agency. So when the board was left vacant in December 2016, on the eve of Trump's inauguration, panic set in at the Postal Service.

PHOTO: A United States Postal Service mail carrier delivers mail in Washington, Aug. 18, 2020. (Michael Reynolds/EPA via Shutterstock, FILE)

Stalled in the Senate

Late in the Obama administration, only one governor remained on the board as a backlog of five nominees accumulated in the Senate. All five had sailed through Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the committee of jurisdiction, but were left in limbo without a vote before the full chamber, according to several people involved in the discussion.

At issue, those people said, were two Republican nominees: James Miller III, a former governor who had been renominated to the board in 2013, and Mickey Barnett, another former governor who had lobbied for payday lenders in his home state of New Mexico.

MORE: As states threaten lawsuits, postmaster general suspends mail-handling changes until after election

Miller had served as the director of the Office of Management and Budget under President Ronald Reagan, and had at one point suggested privatizing the Postal Service -- a position that made him anathema to the powerful postal unions.

To quell Miller's nomination, Mark Dimondstein, president of the American Postal Workers Union, encouraged Sanders to block a vote on his nomination.

"We wanted good governors because good governors are good for the public postal service," Dimondstein told ABC News, "and we couldn't get it done."

Around the same time, Sanders scored a lucrative endorsement from Dimondstein's union for his 2016 presidential bid. In a press release announcing the union's endorsement of Sanders in late 2015, Dimondstein noted that Sanders "has already blocked the slate of nominees to the postal Board of Governors that includes the 'king of postal privatizers' James Miller and payday lending industry lobbyist Mickey Barnett."

PHOTO: American Postal Workers Union president Mark Dimondstein pumps his fist while speaking at a rally at Freedom Plaza, Washington, Oct. 8, 2018 (Andrew Harnik/AP, FILE)

A Sanders aide called it "offensive" to suggest he blocked the nominees in exchange for a presidential endorsement, and dismissed critics who labeled his blockade as being partially responsible for the current postal crisis.

"It is a total lie and a distortion of reality to assert that Bernie Sanders, one of the strongest defenders of the U.S. Postal Service in Congress, enabled Trump's efforts to destroy the Postal Service," said Warren Gunnels, a senior policy adviser to Sanders.

"Along with the American Postal Workers Union, the AFL-CIO and the NAACP," Gunnels continued, "Sen. Sanders did everything he could to stop two extreme right-wing Republicans from being appointed to the Postal Service's Board of Governors."

MORE: Mail-in voting rules in 46 states may leave some ballots uncounted, USPS warns

For his part, Miller claimed Dimondstein used him as a "whipping boy" to retain support of the union.

"[Dimondstein's] number one goal was to make sure I never got back on the postal board -- as if I knew there was a room in headquarters where I could flip a switch and it would suddenly be privatized," he said. "It was very frustrating. And the more frustrating it got, the more determined I was to see it through."

Miller's determination was matched by a powerful supporter -- McConnell. In retaliation for Sanders' hold on Miller's nomination, McConnell blocked votes on the three Democratic nominees.

"McConnell basically said, 'if you don't give me James Miller III, I'm not giving you anybody,'" Sauber said. "And that's what he did."

McConnell's office did not respond to a request for comment.

The slate of nominees included former Sen. Ted Kennedy's widow, Vicki Kennedy, and Stephen Crawford, an economic sociologist who served on Obama's postal service transition team in 2009. Crawford said the group of five often met over lunch to discuss their mutual frustration at the holdup.

PHOTO: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., speaks with reporters during a visit to the Boundary Oak Distillery in Radcliff, Ky., Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020. (Timothy D. Easley/AP)

"We were ready to roll up our sleeves and fix the Postal Service," Crawford said. "We had slight differences in where we were coming from, but we were ready to work together."

After Trump's election in November 2016, Crawford said he and the others remained hopeful that the Senate would approve their nomination during the lame duck session. He said, "right to the end there were signs that it might happen." But eventually Congress left Washington, and with a Republican arriving to the White House, their fate was sealed.

"We met for lunch once again for old times' sake," Crawford said. "But eventually that all faded."

A new president, a new board

The Postal Service had spent years in dire financial straits by the time Trump took office in January 2017. One month earlier, the final governor remaining on the board had seen his term expire and stepped down, leaving two Obama-era holdovers as postmaster general and deputy postmaster general to lead the agency until DeJoy's appointment earlier this year.

For the first time since President Richard Nixon established the Board of Governors, it was empty. Industry experts said this absence of leadership led to a period of paralysis at the agency, where the status quo -- which almost everyone agreed was not sustainable -- prevailed indefinitely.

MORE: Trump blasts McConnell over timing of Senate hearing with postmaster general

"We saw a real slowdown in terms of real initiatives during that time because the management did not have governors," said Stephen Kearney, the executive director of the Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers, a national network of nonprofits focusing on postal mail. "It was a real period of stagnation."

In early 2018, the president tapped Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to convene a task force to "evaluate the operations and finances of the USPS and to develop recommendations for administrative and legislative reforms that will enable the USPS to create a sustainable business model," the White House said.

PHOTO: Senator Bernie Sanders exits the Capitol after a vote in Washington, March 18, 2020. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images, FILE)

Kearney met with the task force and made the obvious suggestion: nominate a board of governors. He said it was "one of the main tools that the administration has" to create change at the agency, and it was compounded by the fact that there were no governors at the time and Trump had a "very unusual opportunity" to appoint a full slate.

The president took that advice, swiftly adding seven governors to the board. Industry experts say the new crop has enough tangential experience to justify their nominations, but most lack direct experience in mail and postal operations -- a troubling prospect given the overwhelming issues already facing the agency and completely without precedent, said Michael Plunkett, the CEO of the Association of Postal Commerce, a trade group for commercial mailers.

"Because this administration inherited a completely empty slate, for the first time ever we have all new governors," Plunkett said. "[It is] technically a bipartisan group -- but they all were appointed by the same president."

'The blind leading the blind'

The sitting board of governors comes from a diverse set of corporate backgrounds. Robert Duncan, its chairman, is a former banker and led the Republican National Committee from 2007-2009. Three investment bankers and two transportation and logistics company executives round out the rest.

"Do all of these guys have mail experience and postal knowledge? No," said Bob Rosser, the vice chair of the Mailers Technical Advisory Committee, a group of industry leaders who consult with the Postal Service on mutual interests. "Would we expect them to [have that experience] on any board? Probably not. But they've only been in the position a short time."

MORE: Photos appear to show mail sorting machines in parts in US postal facility

Rosser and others said that despite the current board's impressive private sector resumes, the collective dearth of government and postal experience sets them at a distinct disadvantage. The issue of experience was compounded by their selection of Louis DeJoy as postmaster general, an outside hire with no postal experience of his own, experts said.

"There is very little institutional knowledge among the governors because they're all so new. All these guys have been appointed in the last two years. So that's a potential problem," Plunkett said.

One Democratic Senate staffer leveled a blunter assessment.

"It's the blind leading the blind over there right now," the aide said, speaking on the condition he not be named because of the political sensitivities surrounding the issue. "DeJoy came in, he's got a board of governors that don't have postal experience."

PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump boards Air Force One as he departs on travel to Iowa and Arizona at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Aug. 18, 2020. (Tom Brenner/Reuters, FILE)

DeJoy's appointment as postmaster general almost immediately created fissures within the board of governors. David Williams, a former inspector general for the Postal Service who was later confirmed to the board in 2018, resigned in protest, according to three people with knowledge of his decision.

MORE: House Democrats push Saturday vote on $25B in Postal Service aid

Williams, one of the Democrats nominated by Schumer, was regarded as the only board member with relevant experience in the Postal Service at the time of his departure.

"[Williams] knows the Postal Service inside and out," Dimondstein said.

The Senate aide said it was Duncan who advocated for DeJoy to become postmaster general. Duncan served with DeJoy's wife, Aldona Wos, on the President's Commission on White House Fellowships.

Williams, who did not respond to a request for comment, is scheduled for an ad-hoc hearing before the Congressional Progressive Caucus on Thursday. Duncan has agreed to testify publicly on Monday alongside DeJoy before the House Homeland Security committee.

The cost-cutting rollout

One of the main issues confronting the Postal Service's rollout of the new cost-cutting measures, according to Plunkett, was its failure to convey how and why it was taking these dramatic steps.

"The Postal Service has not communicated effectively in implementing these changes, and that might be attributable to a lack of experience and a lack of ability to foresee how some of these changes would be perceived and how stakeholders would react," he said. "Because it should have been predictable ... and that's hurting them right now."

Several industry experts tied the current Postal Service woes directly back to the Senate stonewalling of the five Obama nominees -- two of whom had already served terms on the board.

PHOTO: A United States Postal Service mail carrier drives his vehicle past a collection box in Woburn, Mass., August 17, 2020. (CJ Gunther/EPA via Shutterstock, FILE)

"DeJoy comes in with no experience and starts making rash decisions ... and suddenly things start to blow up," the Democratic Senate aide said. "We would not be in the same position today if we had the Obama nominees in there trying to keep the ship straight under the Obama administration."

Others had more measured interpretations. Sauber, the chief of staff at the National Association of Letter Carriers, said more seasoned governors might have counseled DeJoy on the timing of his reforms, but stopped short of tying today's crisis to the 2016 Senate blockade.

"It is possible a more experienced board might have encouraged him to hold back and encourage him to wait to impose these changes until after the election, after the busy season," Sauber said.

MORE: Postal Service says it's going broke due to pandemic, Trump flatly opposes emergency aid

Crawford, one of those Obama-era nominees, suggested that Dimondstein might harbor some regret for instigating the senate stalemate, positing that the cost-cutting measures his union has publicly and loudly condemned likely would not have been enacted.

"I suspect Mark [Dimondstein] himself regrets that he torpedoed that board because I think we would have done a lot to restore the postal service to viability," Crawford said.

Dimondstein stood by his actions: "None of us have crystal balls," he said.

Sanders' aide says the senator, too, stands by his decision to hold fast on the appointments.

"We would have been in the same place we are today," Gunnels contended.

Years of turmoil at Postal Service governing board fueled political firestorm, critics say originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
(Natural News) We are being played! This is all a setup! Politicians are now calling for unrest in the streets before the election as the mainstream media continues to stoke the left/right paradigm divide and use predictive programming to cause an uprising this November.

(Article by Mac Slavo republished from SHTFPlan.com)

Your perception is being manipulated by the mainstream media and the puppets in government at the request of the banking cartel hellbent on world domination. They are all but coming out and saying that this election will be violent, contested, and vile regardless of who wins. Be aware, and preapre.

There needs to be unrest in the streets for as long as theres unrest in our lives, and unfortunately, theres plenty to go around, Massachusetts Democrat Ayanna Pressley said. Pressley is also a member of the so-called Squad told MSNBCs Tiffany Cross, according to The Washington Times. This is as much about public outcry and organizing and mobilizing and applying pressure so that this GOP-led Senate and these governors that continue to carry water for this administration, putting the American people in harms way, turning a deaf ear to the needs of our families and our communities, hold them accountable. Make the phone calls, send the emails, show up, she said.

We have already been warned, for those who have been paying attention, of the worst election in modern history.

he powers-that-shouldnt-be have already run models about which scenario would cause the most violent unrest. A contested election is definitely in their plans. Just how bad will it get? Well, theyve modeled it out, so take a look:

Another Secret Model: A Contested 2020 Election

The most destructive outcome was an Electoral College win for Trump with Biden winning the popular vote by 5 percentage points. This would be the second election in a row that the democrats would lose in that manner, and the outcome will be massive civil unrest and potentially widespread violence. SHTFPlan

Considering we dont choose the president, the Federal Reserve does, its easy to see what a rigged game this is. We are being played and set up to lose. We are not in control of anything other than our own actions. Its up to use to ensure this already decided election doesnt descend into violent chaos.

Please stop falling for the divide and conquer and the left/right paradigm. This is all being done to give us the illusion of choice. Focus on how you can prepare for the upcoming winter since weve been promised itll be a dark one. Most importantly, keep yourself in the right headspace and do not allow yourself to lose the war for your mind.

Read more at: SHTFPlan.com
As schools across Massachusetts start making plans for remote or hybrid learning in the fall, parents are starting to have to figure out what this means for childcare, tutors, technology and more.

Some churches in the state are looking to fill that gap while also being a safe environment during coronavirus pandemic.

We already had kids who were saying I need extra help on this particular subject, said the Rev. Kenneth Young, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Haverhill. Now we know that were going to need more people thats going to help our kids because they gonna need more help.

The nearly 150-year-old church is looking at a few ways to be innovative during this time, including setting up a small group of children at the church with adults who can help tutor them during the day, such as retired teachers.

The church is not currently being used in its traditional way as services are being held virtually due to the pandemic. All this space, Young said, would allow them to be able to social distance students and keep the building clean.

Young said hes been talking with local teachers and there are two main problems hes hoping his church can help address: keeping students engaged and lack of technology.

There may be more than one child in school thats in their house and if theyre only given one laptop or Chromebook, who gets on, when do they get on? he said.

The church recently received a $10,000 grant as part of a program at Gordon Conwells Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience, which they can use to help students if needed. Young said they will certainly be looking into getting some of their students laptops or hotspots.

We are just trying to be a beacon of hope in this very, very dark situation that were going through not only as a city but as a nation, he said.

But Young said its important for churches and the community to start talking about innovative ways to approach learning before the school year starts.

At the end of the (school) year was horrible and we were very retroactive in trying to figure out how to live, he said. And now we have to be proactive in trying to put programs and things together to help them get into the school year.

Its not just Calvary Baptist Church looking to get creative.

As school began announcing their fall reopening plans amid the COVID pandemic, other churches in Massachusetts confirmed to MassLive they were brainstorming similar plans but had not finalized anything. Another program pioneered by a Boston city councilor seeks to help support students with remote learning this fall through learning pods.

And while on the surface, church and education might not have the best relationship now, historically the church has been very involved in education, especially, Young said, in the Black community.

The system is not structured for Black people in America. And so the church has always historically been an institution of helps, Young said. So, if you dont have a clear understanding of what the teacher is saying, you go to the church and maybe a teacher thats there, or it may be an educator thats there, can help your child get through this misunderstanding or help your child understand what the teacher is trying to say.

Young said his ideas to help during the pandemic are simply building on whats already there.

What were trying to do is to build another system of helps, to build out a system to help our kids, he said.

And, he said, it might look different because were in a different time but its exactly what the church is called to do.

The church is not only a place for their souls to be uplifted, but also so that they can get the help that they need while theyre here on Earth. We dont want to just push them into heaven but we want to help them when theyre here on Earth.

Not all churches are going to have the ability to take in students who are remote learning, like Youngs church, but that doesnt mean the church cant help in other ways.

Most congregations are resource strapped as well, said Almeda Wright, Associate Professor of Religious Education at Yale, during a Facebook Live hosted by the Massachusetts Council of Churches on Wednesday.

For those places of worship, its as simple as realizing a child needs help in a certain subject and connecting them with someone, maybe a retired teacher, that can help.

Begin from there to create these things, Wright said. Put those things in place as the vision unfolds so that you can enable this kind of rich engagement or rich opportunity of sharing of resources or sharing of wisdom.

She warned congregations against the idea of holding off on helping people until the idea is perfect. Its important to just start doing.

Another example of ways churches can help families during this time, she said, is to share their Wi-Fi password.

We know the internets not everywhere, she said. Is there a way that you can just put a cardboard sign up say, Come in the parking lot. Come. Weve got picnic tables, whatever you need. Heres the password.

These ideas will come to you if you dont get bogged down in what you dont have, look at what you do have, Wright suggests.

Do you have a musician or artists? she said. Do you have elders or pastors who are willing just to read to kids?

Giving parents that extra time to get the dishes done, she said as an example, will go a long way.

Related Content:
GUILDERLAND - Crossgates Mall is suing six tenants, including the Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic, over $800,000 in unpaid rent since the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of the mall, which shut its doors back in March until it was allowed to re-open last month.

The six stores, which also include Athleta, Journeys and Journeys Kidz, are owned by publicly traded companies that have previously told investors they had suspended rent payments at locations where they were forced to close by government decree.

At the same time, the stores have been seeking to modify their leases as consumers increasingly shift their spending to online retailers amid virus fears.

Government rules implemented on reopening related to social distancing and other precautions have also had an impact, retailers said. Because of that, the companies believe their lease terms need to be re-negotiated.

"Upon the reopening of our stores, we are being subject to restrictions that no one foresaw before the closures, much less when the leases were entered," a spokeswoman for The Gap Inc. said in a company statement. "While we had hoped the infection rates would plateau and drop quickly all over the country, the reality is, infections are spiking, and regulations are evolving."

The Gap Inc. owns the Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic and Athleta store chains. A company called Genesco out of Tennessee owns Journeys and Journeys Kidz.

"We remain committed to working with our landlords on mutually agreeable solutions and fair rent terms, just as our industry and government partners have sat with us in good faith to shape the post COVID business landscape," the Gap spokeswoman added.

A spokeswoman for Genesco declined to comment on the suit, first reported by the Schenectady Gazette. The company said in its most recent quarterly report to stockholders that it withheld rent payments while its stores were forced to close.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

"While we are having ongoing conversations with landlords in various markets in seeking commercially reasonable lease concessions given the current environment, we have not yet confirmed significant concessions for the remainder of the year," Genesco said in the report.

Most of the stores being sued have made some rent payments after re-opening their doors to shoppers in the past two months, although Crossgates said that Banana Republic has remained closed even though the store does provide curbside pickup of items. Crossgates re-opened on July 10.

Rents are hefty at Crossgates. For instance, Banana Republic pays $37,552 in monthly rent. It owes $195,363, according to Crossgates, which filed lawsuits against the six stores in state Supreme Court in Albany on Aug. 18.

The Gap store owes $209,062 in back rent, the most of the six stores being sued, according to Crossgates' lawyers. The store failed to pay its $49,000 monthly rent from February to July when it re-opened, the mall's attorneys say.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-21 05:48:10|Editor: huaxia

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RABAT, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Moroccan King Mohammed VI on Thursday warned that a new and harsher lockdown could be imposed if the country fails to halt the rapid spike in COVID-19 infections.

If figures continue to increase, the COVID-19 Scientific Committee may recommend another lockdown, perhaps with even tighter restrictions, the king said in a speech on the 67th anniversary of the Revolution of the King and the People.

"The deterioration of the health situation today is unfortunate and does not leave much room for optimism," he said.

The North African country eased a nationwide anti-coronavirus lockdown in July.

"Once the lockdown was lifted, the numbers of confirmed cases, severe cases and deaths have increased more than threefold over a short period of time, compared to those registered during the lockdown," the Moroccan king noted.

Without strict, responsible compliance with health and safety measures, the number of cases and deaths will increase, and hospitals will no longer be able to cope, he warned.

Morocco registered 1,325 new COVID-19 cases and 32 deaths on Thursday, increasing the tally of infections since March 2 to 47,638 and the death toll to 775.

Activists and health workers have recently warned that public hospitals are in dire conditions due to the rapid surge of coronavirus infections since Aug. 1. Enditem
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani says that "all barriers and excuses have been removed" ahead of expected peace talks between the government in Kabul and the Taliban militants.

In a televised message to Afghan security forces on August 20, Ghani said his government had "met all conditions for a peace with dignity." He called on the Taliban to accept a permanent cease-fire and start negotiations with the government soon.

"We have shown our will and our commitment," he said, citing the release of thousands of Taliban prisoners, a major precondition for the peace talks sought by the United States.

Ghani's message comes amid new uncertainties over the start of the intra-Afghan peace talks. The government said it would not release the last 320 Taliban prisoners it holds until the militants freed more captured Afghan soldiers.

The decision goes against that of the Loya Jirga, a traditional Afghan council held earlier this month, and is likely to further delay the talks.

Ghani himself had announced on August 9 his intention to release the remaining 400 militants, many of whom have been convicted for deadly attacks on Afghans and foreigners.

Kabul had already freed 4,600 Taliban inmates out of the 5,000 pledged in a landmark U.S.-Taliban deal signed in February.

Afghan officials have described the remaining prisoners as the most dangerous, accusing them of masterminding attacks on embassies, public squares, and government offices, killing thousands of civilians in recent years.

Australia and France have urged the Afghan government not to free several Taliban fighters accused of killing Australian and French nationals.

Ghani also told a British newspaper that all NATO leaders would be complicit if there was an increase in the international drug trade caused by the release of the prisoners. Afghanistan has been the world's largest opium producer since 2001 and the Taliban is accused of using the drug money to fund itself.

In an interview with The Times, Ghani warned that a wave of narcotics could hit the West if the final batch of Taliban fighters was released from prison.

"If drugs go through the roof in the United Kingdom and Europe, all your leaders have been part of this," Ghani said in the interview published on August 18.

"If amphetamines reach the shores of the United States, we should know that these are the consequences, and if these people commit crimes, there's shared international responsibility."

The Taliban says it has freed all 1,000 government prisoners it had pledged in the agreement with the United States.

In addition to the withdrawal of U.S. and coalition troops, the U.S.-Taliban deal calls on the Taliban to guarantee that Afghanistan will not be used as a staging ground for terrorist attacks on the United States or its allies.

Meanwhile, near-daily attacks continue across Afghanistan. Officials said at least 13 security forces were killed in northern province of Takhar on August 20.

With reporting by Tolo News, RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan, dpa, and AP
As schools across the U.S. decide whether to reopen this fall, many are left wondering how to know if its safe. Public health experts say virus rates in the community should be low, but theres little agreement on a specific threshold or even a measurement.

The federal government has largely left it to state and local governments to decide when its safe to bring students back to the classroom. The result is a patchwork of policies that vary widely by state and county. Minnesota, for example, suggests fully in-person classes if a countys two-week case rate is no higher than 10 per 10,000 people. In Pennsylvania, its considered safe if a countys positive virus tests average lower than 5% for a week.

The uncertainty has become a source of tension among school leaders who say they are being pressured to reopen without clear guidelines on how to do it safely. Some school leaders say theyre left making decisions that should be made by health officials.

Parents, too, often say theyre being left to fend for themselves amid the void, scrolling through health department dashboards to scrutinize virus statistics and make decisions about whether they should send their children back to school in-person or virtually.

In Houston, a group of school district leaders pushed back this week against local officials who recommended that classes remain virtual until hospitalization rates and the trend of new confirmed cases flatten, along with a 14-day average of 5% positive tests.

The superintendents called the plan not attainable and said district officials have moved forward with their own plans.

Sarah Davidson was among the parents who supported her school superintendent, convinced that local authorities set the bar too high for a return to in-school classes. She looked up data on local hospitalization rates and spoke to neighbours who work as pediatricians before deciding her 5- and 7-year-old kids will be better off inside a classroom than with virtual lessons.

The district is starting the year with two weeks of virtual learning, and parents can decide to continue or send their kids back in person.

What really sealed it for me was to see how broken my 7-year-old was when I told him we had to do online to start the year, she said. He just sat there and you could tell on his face he was upset. Then he went alone to his room and he was just inconsolable.

Here is some of the guidance that schools and families are navigating at the start of the school year:

FEDERAL GUIDANCE

Amid President Donald Trumps calls to reopen schools, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Aug. 1 issued new guidelines urging schools to open unless there is substantial, uncontrolled transmission of the virus in their areas. But the guidance did not define what constitutes uncontrolled spread, saying only that schools should work with local health officials on any decision.

Pressed on the question later, the CDCs chief said exceptions should be made only for schools in hot spots, which he defined as places where the rate of positive virus tests is above 5%.

The White House separately issued its own guidance urging all schools to reopen, saying prolonged closures inflict massive harm on children. It said distance learning should be considered only for high-risk students or those with high-risk family members.

Earlier guidance from a White House task force laid out a phased reopening for businesses and schools. That plan said schools could reopen in phase two, after two consecutive 14-day periods with a decrease in documented cases.

STATE AND LOCAL ORDERS

Governors and mayors have issued a range of benchmarks to decide when its safe for schools to open. Many tell schools to consider the areas rate of positive virus tests, but the threshold deemed safe for classroom instruction ranges from 3% to 15%.

In New York, Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said schools can reopen in areas where the average rate of positive tests is below 5% during a two-week period. But in New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio has said schools can open only if the rate is below 3%.

Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds of Iowa, meanwhile, has ordered all schools to provide at least half of their instruction in-person unless they are granted a waiver from the state. Under her policy, schools are exempt from classroom instruction only if their countys test rate is 15% or higher, and if at least 10% of students are absent.

Many other states fall somewhere between New York and Iowa. Pennsylvanias Department of Education suggests classroom instruction when tested virus rates are 5% or below, and it recommends fully remote learning when the rate exceeds 10%. In between, it calls for a hybrid approach or fully online instruction.

In Arizona, schools are being told to delay classroom teaching until their counties see a two-week decline in new cases, and until their counties go two weeks with testing rates below 7% and coronavirus hospitalization rates below 10%.

OUTSIDE SUGGESTIONS

A range of other groups have issued their own advice on a reopening threshold. The World Health Organization advises schools to reopen only if positive test rates remain below 5% for two weeks, a metric that has been endorsed by many health officials.

Researchers at Harvard Universitys Global Health Institute have suggested a cutoff of 25 new daily cases per 100,000 people. The American Federation of Teachers, one of the nations largest education unions, has issued its own list of conditions schools should meet before reopening. It said average daily test rates must be below 5%, with a transmission rate below 1%.
Youd be forgiven for feeling lonely these past few months. Especially if youre in Melbourne. Where once we hoped for an employer flexible enough to let us work from home, now many of us hope for an employer (or a government) safe enough to let us back into the office.

Even before the pandemic there was an epidemic of loneliness, with a study by the Australian Psychological Society finding just over half the population feels lonely every week, with about one quarter feeling this way for a majority of it.

Remote or at home work can mean even those who work at head office experience increasing loneliness. Credit:iStock.

That explains why the federal government has acknowledged its an urgent problem Australia must resolve due to the proven increases in premature death, physical disability, mental illness, dementia and myriad other debilitating health outcomes that arise from social isolation.

Even beyond our borders, the British introduced a Minister for Loneliness in 2018 to combat the issue while the Kiwis, for the same reason, have launched a charity to directly address it.
The ministry of foreign affairs already announced on Wednesday that Germany would no longer consider Luxembourg an at-risk zone.

The Robert Koch Institute officially changed Luxembourg's status on Thursday morning, meaning the Grand Duchy is no longer part of the list of at-risk countries. The German ministry of foreign affairs warns that this change could still be reversed again according to new infections. Similar restrictions could also apply once more to Spain, Belgium, and Bulgaria.

Jean Asselborn issued a statement regarding the change of status: "Luxembourgers are effective immediately allowed to cross the border again without any restrictions." This applies to our neighbouring states Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate, which both stepped up to argue in favour of the Grand Duchy. Saarland's administration issued a statement on Thursday, welcoming the change of status and stating that Luxembourgers could enter without having to quarantine.

It remains unclear however if this applies to all German states, since the Robert Koch Institute also emphasised that any traveller coming to Germany, as individual states may apply their own restrictions.
Representative Image

India was already witnessing an unemployment crisis when COVID-19 sneaked into the cities, and worsened the situation. It hit urban India disproportionately hard, with unemployment rates tripling, and nearly 80 percent workers reportedly losing their jobs. The crisis, in turn, triggered a mass migration with millions travelling on foot to reach their home states.

In rural areas, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGA) as well as supply of subsidised food became useful buffers that helped offer some security. Largely driven by the migrant workers returning to their villages, demand for work under the MNREGA skyrocketed this fiscal, with 40 million people seeking employment in June, up from the average 23.6 million during the 2013-19 period.

Yet, despite this increase in demand, the gap between those who want work and those who get it is at an all-time high, with more than 33 percent workers still not receiving employment under the MNREGA. Even though Indias overall unemployment rate has declined in the last two months owing to the unlock, the urban unemployment rate  still higher than both the national and rural unemployment rate  remains a cause for concern.

This has brought to the fore an issue successive governments have continued to overlook  the vulnerability of Indias informal urban workforce and the situation this workforce finds itself in, every time a crisis hits. It also strengthened the case for what policymakers have been demanding for long  not piecemeal benefits, but a comprehensive policy in the form of an urban employment job guarantee programme that gives urban poor workers not just a legal right to employment, but also social security.

Because most poverty alleviation schemes in India are largely targeted towards the rural poor, they ignore the needs of the urban workforce, especially the poor.

It is an oversight that needs to be corrected, especially when one considers the size of this segment and its contribution to the economy, with 68.3 percent employed in the informal sector in a non-agricultural role.

Its not just necessary, but essential to think about their needs, since a majority  65 to 82 percent of them  have no access to benefits.

As per the Periodic Survey Of India (2017-18), only 41.4 percent workers have regular, salaried jobs, over 70 percent do not have contracts, 54 percent are not entitled to paid sick leave, and 49 percent do not have any form of social security benefits.

Whats more, any means to access welfare and other measures from the government remain considerably difficult, since our systems fail to effectively target the affected informally employed labour force in urban areas.

For informal migrant workers, things are even more difficult due to unfriendly State policies that prevent them from accessing jobs, education, welfare entitlements, housing and health benefits. As per the Interstate Migrant Policy Index 2019, low income migrant workers are unable to get benefits under any scheme, because they become ineligible for it outside their home states.

A well-funded urban job guarantee programme has the potential to fix all these issues, preventing workers from falling into poverty. Its benefits, however, go much beyond raised incomes and improved welfare. If properly implemented the programme can help revive urban economy by addressing underemployment, raise wage rates by providing workers a fall back option and slow down the exceedingly unsustainable concentration of migrant workers in only a few cities.

In fact, some states have already started experimenting with this model in a limited capacity. For example, Odisha has launched an Urban Wage Employment Initiative, and Himachal Pradesh has announced the Mukhya Mantri Shahri Ajeevika Guarantee Yojana which assures urban poor 120 days work. Punjab and Rajasthan have requested the support of the Centre for such a programme.

For the programmes to be truly effective and universal, however, requires the Centres assistance and support. If it cannot enact such a programme across the country, the Centre could offer financial support to states wishing to introduce such programmes. It can also empower states to take more capital-focused expenditures for urban informal labour to build more public infrastructure, besides increasing allocation for green jobs.

The way this needs to be viewed, however, is not as a dole for unemployed workers, but rather a long term investment in our public goods and services. In that sense, the present crisis hides in it a wonderful opportunity: that of modernising India's social safety net to meet the demands of a changing workforce. The move, if undertaken, can be a true game changer, staving off an employment crisis, and also setting us up against any further shocks in the future.

The time for an urban livelihood guarantee scheme has never seemed more right.
When it comes to a second round of $1,200 stimulus checks, there's good news and bad news. The good news: Both political parties have said they want to send Americans more direct payments. The bad news: Congress needs to agree on the next coronavirus stimulus package in order for that money to come through. Talks between top Democrats and the White House broke down because they could not come to a compromise on how much to spend on that legislation. Democrats have proposed more than $3 trillion in aid, while Republicans have said their target is $1 trillion. More from Invest in You:

A troubling tale of a Black man trying to refinance his mortgage

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Working women are in the 'bull's-eye' of the recession. Here's how to cope "Neither side wants to give the other side a victory right now," said Ed Mills, Washington policy analyst at Raymond James. The impasse prompted President Donald Trump to sign a series of executive orders earlier this month, addressing unemployment benefits, student loans, eviction protections and payroll tax deferrals. But other areas were left untouched, including state and local funding and aid for schools. Other initiatives with more popular support, such as the stimulus checks and aid for small businesses, could help bring politicians back to the negotiating table, Mills said.

The big question is how soon that could happen. Congress has a Sept. 30 deadline to come up with a budget for the next fiscal year. House Democrats are working on new legislation to provide support to the U.S. Postal Service, which some hope could help reopen stimulus talks. In the meantime, spending could slow down as household savings start to dwindle and with enhanced unemployment benefits only expected to last several weeks. When lawmakers do resume talks, stimulus checks are expected to stay in the package. "It's one of the only areas that truly has bipartisan support," Mills said. "The longer we go without enhanced unemployment, the longer we go with the economy still not fully reopened, the greater the economic need is for those checks."

How big could second stimulus checks be?

Image Source | DigitalVision | Getty Images

The second round of stimulus checks could be around $1,200 per adult, as they were in the first payments that went out earlier this year. Those first checks were authorized by Congress in March. They included up to $1,200 per individual or $2,400 per married couple, plus $500 per child under age 17. Full payments were sent to individuals who earned up to $75,000, heads of household with up to $112,500 in income, and married couples who file jointly making up to $150,000. But those payments were gradually reduced for income above those limits, and phased out completely for individuals with adjusted gross income above $99,000; heads of household over $136,500; and married couples above $198,000. Those who rely on federal support for income  such as Social Security, Supplemental Security Income or veterans benefits  also qualified for payments.

Both sides of the aisle have proposed some changes for the second round. House Democrats have proposed giving $1,200 checks again, but this time raising dependent money to $1,200 for a maximum of three children. Families would then be eligible for up to $6,000. The Democrats' plan also calls for eliminating the age cap on dependent pay. They also want nonresident aliens to be eligible for the money. Senate Republicans proposed a bill that called for $1,200 checks for adults and $500 for dependents. Their plan also calls for eliminating the age cap for dependents. One group of Senate Republicans  including Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Mitt Romney, R-Utah  put forward another bill that would change that plan to make the stimulus checks $1,000 for adults and dependents in order to give families with children more money. The bill also proposed allowing Americans who file jointly with spouses who are nonresident aliens (those who do not have Social Security numbers) to get checks.

How long could it take before checks arrive?

Rebecca Cook | Reuters
Marivian Munoz, a transgender woman, was 14 when she first fell in love. His name was Roniel, and they went out secretly for a year. It was hard to be openly LGBTQ in La Ceiba, a seaside city on the northern coast of Honduras.

A year later, Roniel  just 19  was murdered by Mara 18, also known as the 18th Street Gang, a violent transnational group. Munoz suspects Roniel was killed because of his sexuality, but the crime was never solved.

"The gang members went into his house and shot him, leaving him stretched out in the living room," Munoz wrote in her March 2018 asylum application. "I never had a serious relationship again."

The loss of her first love was harder to take because Munoz had no security at home. She said she was brought up in an abusive environment where no one  not family, not friends, certainly not the government  could be trusted to provide safety.

In over a dozen pages of her asylum deposition, Munoz, now 24, recounted how, starting from when she was a teen, she was verbally and physically abused by family and peers, even being raped multiple times. Munoz left Honduras on Dec. 27, 2017, and traveled overland for 55 days. She won her asylum case in June 2018.

Munoz is one of at least 4,385 people who have sought asylum in the U.S. since 2007 through a claim of anti-LGBTQ persecution in their home country, according to exclusive data obtained by NBC News through a Freedom of Information Act request to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

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"Walking on the streets in Honduras is a veritable hell for me, since I have to tolerate sexual harassment, insults, taunts, and violent acts by people who think they have the right to impose their anti-LGBTI ideas on me," Munoz wrote in her asylum application. "I came to the United States because it is a symbol of freedom. Here, I will be able to be the woman I want to be, without the constant fear of being killed or attacked."

Story continues

Immigration advocates, however, are warning that the days of America being a beacon of hope for those fleeing homophobia and transphobia abroad could soon be over.

'The death of asylum'

On June 15, the Trump administration unveiled "Procedures for Asylum and Withholding of Removal; Credible Fear and Reasonable Fear Review," a proposed overhaul of the rules that govern the intake of asylum-seekers at U.S. borders and ports of entry.

If approved as proposed, the rules would radically alter the American asylum system by making it harder to both enter the U.S. to seek protection and to win a gender-based claim in its immigration courts. Experts say the rules would empower officials in immigration courts and at the U.S. border to disqualify migrants from ever having their day in court.

In a comment filed against the proposal, Human Rights Watch wrote that the regulations "appear designed" to target three groups in particular: "Central Americans fleeing gang violence; women fleeing domestic abuse; and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people."

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy counsel at the American Immigration Council, a pro-immigrant rights group based in Washington, said "these proposals are accurately described as representing the death of asylum."

"They would drastically raise the standards for people to win protection and raise the screening process for asylum at the border to a heightened level that would make it very hard for people to ever get the chance to formally apply for asylum."

Reichlin-Melnick said what is clear is that if approved, the new rules would "have a dramatic effect on people with strong asylum claims, which covers many LGBTQ asylum-seekers."

In an email, Victoria A. Palmer, a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesperson, wrote "nothing has been finalized."

"DHS and DOJ are now conducting a review and analysis of comments and will then issue a final rule. The date of the final rule has not been determined," Palmer said.

The Department of Justice, which contains the Executive Office for Immigration Review, declined to comment.

LGBTQ immigration advocates like Katie Sgarro, co-founder and president of AsylumConnect, a digital platform where LGBTQ asylum-seekers can find resources to help pursue their claims, said if enacted as proposed, the rules would eliminate many of the legal avenues for textbook gender-based asylum claims.

"If you had an LGBTQ rights advocate who came to the U.S. after courageously advocating for LGBTQ equality or helping LGBTQ community members in their home country where it's extremely dangerous to be openly gay, that person would qualify for immediate deportation," Sgarro said.

Lee Gelernt, deputy director of the ACLU's Immigrant Rights Project, said the proposal to restrict a variety of legal avenues for asylum claims was just one part of the Trump administration's effort to create more roadblocks to all immigration, even as pandemic-related border restrictions and the "remain in Mexico" policy have for the past year stopped many asylum-seekers from ever crossing into the U.S.

"The asylum statute that Congress enacted allows asylum claims based on gender and sexual orientation, and the Trump administration is now trying to overturn years of considered case law by enacting regulations," Gelernt said. "The regulations, if not changed, will be challenged immediately in court because they are inconsistent with the asylum statutes and the case law properly interpreting those statutes."

America's history with LGBTQ asylum-seekers

For decades, America was an unwelcoming place for people fleeing anti-LGBTQ persecution. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1951 barred admission of aliens with "a mental defect," and a 1965 amendment to the act made Congress' intention clearer by adding "sexual deviation" as a medical bar to entry. Plus, homosexuality was considered a mental illness by American psychiatric manuals until 1973.

In 1980, then-President Jimmy Carter signed the Refugee Act, which defined "refugee" as someone who was outside of their home country and was "unable or unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion."

An asylum-seeker is largely the same as a refugee, but the main difference is when they ask for refuge: Refugees apply before they arrive in their destination country, while asylum-seekers apply after they arrive.

Since the Refugee Act of 1980 did not define what counted as a "particular social group," immigration judges were soon called upon to adjudicate.

Image: Marivian Munoz left Honduras in December 2017 and traveled overland to the Mexico-U.S. border in a journey that took 55 days. (Alyssa Schukar / for NBC News)

By 1985, the Board of Immigration Appeals issued the precedent-setting "Matter of Acosta," a ruling that began to define "a particular social group" as one whose members must all share a characteristic that they cannot or should not be required to change.

"The shared characteristic might be an innate one such as sex, color, or kinship ties, or in some circumstances it might be a shared past experience such as former military leadership or land ownership," the Matter of Acosta read.

The inclusion of that single word  "sex"  and an evolving legal and cultural understanding of what someone "cannot or should not be required to change" led to a series of pro-LGBTQ immigration rulings.

In 1994, Attorney General Janet Reno directed authorities to consider as precedent the Matter of Toboso-Alfonso, a 1990 decision that found that a Cuban gay man targeted for his sexuality qualified for asylum as a member of a "particular social group."

Then in 2000, an awkwardly worded federal appeals court ruling began to extend similar rights to claims based on gender identity  all based on the Matter of Acosta's inclusion of the word "sex".

Tracking LGBTQ asylum-seekers

By 1997, three years after Reno's directive made Toboso-Alfonso the standard, OutRight Action International (known then as the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission) estimated that over 100 people had by then applied for asylum in the U.S. based on a claim that they were persecuted because of their sexuality.

Since then, the U.S. government has released little, if any, data to the public about the number of LGBTQ asylum-seekers in the U.S.

Through a Freedom of Information Act request NBC News has obtained data on LGBTQ people who sought asylum in the United States for a decade spanning the Obama administration and a small portion of the George W. Bush and Trump administrations.

The exclusive U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data shows the number and countries of origin of 4,385 LGBTQ asylum-seekers who entered the United States from January 2007 to November 2017. LGBTQ asylum requests peaked in December 2016 and then subsided.

These LGBTQ asylum-seekers came from countries around the world  China, India, Russia, Brazil  but from 2007 to 2017 the largest share per capita came from Central America's "Northern Triangle": Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, three countries with high homicide rates that have in recent years sent thousands of migrants and dozens of caravans toward the U.S. border.

By comparing these figures to overall asylum figures contained within the Citizenship and Immigration Services' Asylum Division Quarterly Stakeholder reports, NBC News found that about 1 in 12 U.S. asylum requests from Hondurans came from those who said they had a fear of persecution because of their membership in a "particular social group"  the LGBTQ community.

Of all the asylum-seekers who presented at U.S. ports of entry with a claim of LGBTQ-related persecution, immigration officials rejected just 2 percent, finding that they had "no fear" of persecution. (These credible fear and reasonable fear interviews are typically the first step in the asylum process, but they do not necessarily mark the end of all legal recourse for an asylum-seeker.)

Reichlin-Melnick said this 98 percent approval rate for the credible fear and reasonable fear interviews of LGBTQ asylum-seekers is "significantly higher than everyone else," estimating that the general population passage rate has generally fallen from 75 to 90 percent.

'A really hard blow'

Munoz said she's grateful that she won her asylum case before Trump's restrictions came into effect. She now lives and studies English in Washington, D.C., and hopes to enroll in college soon.

"I think the USA gives me the assurance that at least I won't get killed for being LGBTQ," Munoz told NBC News. "Although there are radical groups, they don't damage minorities as much as they do in Honduras."

That doesn't mean the violence she fled still can't touch her. In late July, Munoz said she felt "destroyed" after receiving the news that her best friend of 14 years, Cristal Lopez, another trans woman, was killed in Honduras alongside her partner.

Image: Marivian Mu?oz shows a photo of her best friend, Cristal Lopez, a transgender woman who was killed in Honduras. (Alyssa Schukar / for NBC News)

"She always felt really unsafe in Honduras," Munoz said of her friend, whom she long ago gave up trying to persuade to emigrate to the U.S. That's because Lopez had a dream  she wanted to open a bar in La Ceiba.

Munoz said that just a week before Lopez was killed, she had helped her buy the land. "According to our plans, she was set to have everything done and to be in charge of the bar by May of next year," Munoz said.

Munoz said she spoke to Lopez every week, including just hours before her death. "Really, it's been a hard blow," Munoz said.

But sharing her friend's story is important to her. "Maybe this way we can find justice."

She said her best friend's slaying inspired a change of career. Before Lopez's death, Munoz wanted to be a nurse. Now, she wants to be a prosecutor so she can advocate for victims of violence.

"I think this has given me the strength," said Munoz, "to fight for people who are killed like this."

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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has expressed doubt that the review of the Free Senior High School Policy proposed by his main opponent, former President John Dramani Mahama will turn out well for the policy.



President Nana Akufo-Addo based his doubt on the fact that former President John Mahama has never said anything good about the Free Senior High School Policy which has been implemented.



Speaking to Skyy Power 93.5FM in the Western Region as he tours the region, President Akufo-Addo recounted that the Flagbearer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has vehemently opposed the Free Senior High School Policy at every given opportunity.



The President accused former President John Dramani Mahama to have said that the Free SHS Policy was not possible and also meant for public gimmicks.



He again said that former President Mahama in his disbelief of the Free SHS Policy said it can only be implemented in 20 years time.



Mahama vehemently opposed the Free Senior High School Policy. For him, it was not possible, it was public gimmicks and unless 20 years later . . . he never liked the whole idea of the system, he indicated.



President Akufo-Addo says he cannot recall former President Mahama saying anything good about the policy which has been enrolled, making him wonder why the sudden interest for him [Mahama] to want to review a policy he vehemently opposed.



Now, he wants to review it, someone that opposed it . . . we have not heard him say that the policy is good. We want to hear him say that the policy is good because he has never said anything good about it and so to say that he will review the policy makes me think that he has no good intention towards the policy, the President argued.

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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Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. (FILE PHOTO: AFP via Getty Images)

SINGAPORE  Parts of northwestern Singapore will become a nature park network, with new parks, eco-corridors and nature areas to be added to the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

In a media release on Wednesday (19 August), the National Parks Board (NParks) said the new Sungei Buloh Nature Park Network will cover over 400 hectares, which is more than triple the size of the current Wetland Reserve.

Other habitats to be added into the network are the Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat Nature Park, as well as Kranji Marshes. A new 18-hectare ecological link between the Wetland Reserve and the Lim Chu Kang mangroves will be conserved as the Lim Chu Kang Nature Park.

The Sungei Buloh Nature Park Network will safeguard a variety of wetland habitats, including mangroves, mudflats and freshwater marshes. The public can also look forward to more than 15 kilometres of trails to explore nature with the network by 2022.

It will be complemented by the upcoming Round-Island-Route, which will connect the various green areas in Singapore through trails and park connectors.The route is expected to be progressively completed by 2035.

This will be the second nature park network in Singapore after the 2,500-hectare Central Nature Park Network, which protects the rainforest habitats around and within the Bukit Timah and Central Catchment Nature Reserves.

New park to encompass historic bungalow

The new Lim Chu Kang Nature Park will also encompass the historic Cashin House, a colonial-era bungalow built in the 1920s by the Cashin family from Ireland.

The vacant building will be rebuilt to include facilities such as an exhibition space, seminar rooms for workshops and a sea-view terrace. It is expected to be ready by 2022.

The park also comprises a variety of habitats such as mangroves, woodlands, scrublands and grasslands. They provide homes to coastal birds such as the Grey-headed Fish Eagle and grassland dwellers like the Baya Weaver.

Extensive research before decision to safeguard habitats

Story continues

The decision to safeguard the wetland habitats around the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve was determined through extensive research, which established the ecological connectivity and complementarity between the sites.

For example, the Wetland Reserve and Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat Nature Park are important refuelling sites for migratory shorebirds along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. These habitats provide food sources and nursery grounds for numerous marine organisms, and also mitigate coastal erosion.

Studies show that as many as 279 species of birds has been recorded in Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and the surrounding complementary habitats. The nature park network will enhance conservation of these birds and the associated ecosystems.

More than 1,000 trees have also been planted over the past five years as part of the reforestation efforts at Kranji Marshes.

Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore

More Singapore stories:

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NEW YORK, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Klarna, the leading global payments and shopping platform, today announced a partnership with Beautycounter, the leader in safer skin care and cleaner cosmetics, to enable customers to shop for the products they love with financial flexibility through Klarna's four equal, interest-free installments. The partnership further expands Klarna within the beauty category and offers customers additional ways to shop at a time when consumers are prioritizing their health and personal care.

"Our mission is to get safer products into the hands of everyone with a commitment to educate consumers, formulate with responsibly sourced ingredients, and advocate for more health protective laws," said Gregg Renfrew, Founder and CEO of Beautycounter. "As the leader in clean beauty, partnering with Klarna means we are meeting customers wherever and however they like to shop through more financial control and convenience."

Data from the Klarna app show that Gen Z shoppers in the US have increased their spending on clean beauty by nearly 26% since the start of the pandemic, the most of any demographic group. Additionally, among the more than 2 million items that were wish listed on the Klarna app in the past year, personal care products such as sleeping masks, facial protective primers, concealers and peeling solutions ranked among consumers' top picks. For Beautycounter, the All Bright C Serum was the company's most successful product launch in its history during the height of the pandemic, selling out its six-month supply in less than three weeks.

"Consumers today and Gen Z in particular, are demanding increased transparency from brands, whether it's from ingredients in the products they buy to the payment solutions they choose," said David Sykes, Head of US at Klarna. "We're excited to partner with Beautycounter, the leader in clean beauty, to offer their customers alternative payment options to shop for the safer and cleaner items they want during these times."

Klarna recently conducted a consumer survey around holiday shopping and found that 79% of respondents would rather be healthy than wealthy this holiday season, a desire that dovetails with rising consumer interest in clean beauty. The survey also found that 56% of consumers think that malls will not return to their heyday, indicating that online shopping experiences will grow even more important. The popularity of Beautycounter's free virtual beauty consultations, The Virtual Counter, which have been booked out every day since launch, underscores this finding.

Klarna's partnership with Beautycounter is an extension of its wider push into beauty and skincare amid rising consumer demand for these categories. The company has recently partnered with Sephora, Augustinus Bader, Beauty Bay and OUAI among others in the beauty category.

About Klarna

We make shopping smooth. With Klarna, consumers can buy now and pay later, so they can get what they need today. Klarna's offering to consumers and retailers includes payments, social shopping and personal finances. Over 200,000 merchants, including H&M, IKEA, Expedia Group, Samsung, ASOS, Peloton, Abercrombie & Fitch, Nike and AliExpress, have enabled Klarna's innovative shopping experience online and in-store. Klarna is ranked number five on the 2020 CNBC Disruptor 50 list, is one of the most highly valued fintech in Europe, with a valuation of $5.5 billion, and is one of the largest private fintechs globally. Klarna was founded in 2005, has over 3,000 employees and is active in 17 countries. For more information, visit klarna.com.

About Beautycounter

Beautycounter is the leader in the safer skin care and cleaner cosmetics category. The Santa Monica, CA-based brand drives a national movement for improved transparency and accountability in the beauty industry, including advocacy to update federal regulations that have stood largely unchanged since 1938. The company's mission is to get safer products into the hands of everyone. Beautycounter develops and distributes approximately 150 products across skin-care, color cosmetics, advanced anti-aging, kids, baby, and personal-care collections. Beautycounter is a Certified B Corporation. Founded by Gregg Renfrew in 2011, Beautycounter launched in 2013 as a direct-retail brand that is available online at beautycounter.com, in retail boutiques in New York City, Denver, and a seasonal Nantucket pop-up, through strategic partnerships including Sephora, and through approximately 50,000+ independent Consultants across North America. Beautycounter has received numerous awards, including CNBC Disruptor 50, Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, Allure's Best of Beauty, Glamour's Beauty Awards, Refinery29's Innovators List, the NewBeauty Awards, WWD's 2019 Best-Performing Beauty Company (small cap), and the CEW's 2019 Indie Brand of the Year. For more information, visit www.beautycounter.com.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

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(Alliance News) - Fulham Shore PLC on Thursday said it has raised GBP2.3 million in equity, with its new GBP25.8 million bank facilities now unconditional, and said it has benefited from the UK government's "Eat Out to Help Out" scheme.

Shares in Fulham Shore were up 16% at 9.85 pence in London in morning trading.

Fulham Shore, owner of UK chain restaurants Franco Manca and The Real Greek, has completed its equity fundraise to raise GBP2.3 million and has admitted all 36.0 million new shares issued under the fundraise to trading on London's AIM market.

Moreover, due to director participation in the fundraise, Fulham Shore's new GBP25.8 million bank facilities are now unconditional in all respects.

In terms of trading, Fulham Shore said the government's Eat Out to Help Out scheme, which allows customers to get a 50% discount when eating out at restaurants, has "proved to be beneficial both for UK diners and Fulham Shore". The scheme runs from August 3 to August 31.

The company said trade in the first full fortnight in August was markedly higher compared to the same period a year before, with the company hitting one of its highest weekly turnover figures in the second week of the scheme despite some of its restaurants remaining closed.

Nearly all the company's employees have been taken off furlough, and Fulham Shore is recruiting and training more restaurant staff.

Since August 6, Fulham Shore has opened another two The Real Greek restaurants and plans to reopen an additional Franco Manca next week, this located next to the new Harrods store in Westfield London.

At that point, 50 out of 51 Franco Manca restaurants will be open and 16 out of 18 The Real Greek restaurants will be open, with only 3 total restaurants yet to open. Plans to open a new Franco Manca near Warerloo Station in London in mid-September are still on track.

In terms of its leases, Fulham Shore said: "After the closure of the restaurants at the start of lockdown in March, the company initiated conversations with all of its landlords regarding a reduction in the sums paid to them under the various leases. The group is pleased to report that it has reached agreement with more than 40% of its landlords to waive, defer and/or reduce the rent on the properties it leases from them.

"The company remains in discussions over similar arrangements with its other landlords. The board is grateful to those landlords who have engaged with the company and been supportive of the business in these difficult times."

By Anna Farley; annafarley@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
NEW YORK, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Victor Carlstrom, a whistleblower who uncovered one of the world's largest financial corruption and money laundering schemes, today announced that he is changing his name to Victor X. The change comes after a year of deep consideration and reflection.

"Because I stepped forward, I have lost everything in my life. I have lost my family, my children, my friends, my clients, my companies, my home country, my reputation  now I shed the final thing that once belonged to me, my name," he said. "I will share the deep and meaningful meaning of X when the timing is right, but for now it represents a new start, a new man, and a new day."

The name change will also make it easier for people worldwide to learn of his story and a corrupt global financial system. Victor X has brought a $4.2 billion lawsuit versus Swedbank, Folksam and some of the largest financial institutions in Sweden. Included in the lawsuit are Swedish agencies equivalent to the IRS and SEC in the United States and their directors general. The case outlines a $150 billion money laundering scandal, created and driven by the now-CEO of Swedbank, Jens Henriksson.

Since discovering widespread corruption, money laundering, bribery and other crimes in the Swedish financial system and government, Victor X has been forced to flee Sweden, first to Dubai, and then to the United States, where he has applied for asylum. There have been numerous death threats and attempts on his life as well. He currently switches locations several times a week.

The case has made international headlines, including a recent expansion of the lawsuit. Victor X, in his due diligence and investigations found that Swedish conglomerate Areim not only participated in the money laundering activities, but played a role in threats against Victor's life.

An Areim account in SEB, controlled by Binali Yildrim, a former Turkish prime minister with close ties to Turkey's President Recep Erdogan, was flagged by Victor X for illegal financial activity and was reported to authorities. Almost immediately death threats were levelled against him, originating in Turkey.

SOURCE Vinacossa Enterprises
Habitat for Humanity is set to host its first-ever hybrid live and virtual Raise the Roof event on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 12 p.m. The event will feature cameo appearances by special celebrity guests, as well as a welcome message from Jonathan Reckford, president and CEO of Habitat International.

Linda Brock of Real Estate Partners is the events presenting sponsor for the second year.

Ticket and table purchases will include a Raise the Roof party pack and lunch from Panera Bread delivered to each participants home or office. Those who support with a ticket or table will be able to watch the event live as Habitat has partnered with WTCI to record and stream the event. Habitat will make the recorded event available online later for a larger audience to enjoy at their own leisure.

Creating strong and stable communities is important now more than ever in these trying times, said Phil Trammell, vice president of development for Habitat of Humanity of Greater Chattanooga. We are living in challenging times, and because of that we are transforming this event to provide a first-rate experience for our sponsors and participants. Through fundraisers like Raise the Roof, we are able to continue to help Chattanooga families build strength, stability, and self-reliance.

This years event is a hybrid event, meaning guests can attend either virtually or in person. There will be a total of 14 tables at the event, each seating only four people. All tables will be properly spaced to meet CDC guidelines, and guests will be asked to wear masks when they are not eating. Guests will be given a time for entry and greeted at the door in order to avoid large crowds congregating together, and they will be asked to avoid socializing in groups during the event.

We are taking all the necessary precautions to make sure this event is safe for all in-person attendees, said Madison Bradford, Habitats development and communications manager. We want to prove that we can still hold fun events like Raise the Roof in person while being responsible and doing all we can to protect our guests.

Over the past 34 years, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga has built 278 homes and repaired over 80 existing homes, providing more than 1,000 women, men, and children with stability and the joy and security of Habitat homeownership.

Proceeds from Raise the Roof will go directly into funding Habitat for Humanitys mission of building more decent and affordable homes for deserving families in Hamilton County. Last years event raised over $100,000.

Tickets are $50 and tables are $500. To purchase tickets or tables, visit Habitats Eventbrite page or call 756-0507.


The efforts are part of NATO Trust Fund Demilitarization Project.

Ukraine has resumed the process of NATO-funded disposal of old and obsolete ammunition after the COVID-19-related interruption.

The efforts are part of NATO Trust Fund Demilitarization Project, managed by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), the Alliance's press service reported earlier this week.

Ukraine acquired vast amounts of weapons and ammunition after the Soviet Union withdrew from Warsaw Pact countries in the 1990s, UPI wrote.

The Trust Fund has been operating since 2005, founded at the request of Ukrainian government, to reduce the accumulation of unstable and potentially dangerous munitions.

Read alsoUkraine developing Navy in line with NATO standards  defense ministerA second phase of the project, which will dispose of 29,600 tonnes of ammunition, 2.4 million antipersonnel mines and 1,500 tonnes of other unserviceable ordnance by the end of the year, began in 2011 but was halted to deal with the pandemic, NATO reported on Tuesday.

The U.S.-led project aims to improve Ukraine's security and safety of the population, officials say.

The European Union, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Japan, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Switzerland, and Turkey are also contributing to the effort.

With the budget of $32.1 million, this is one of 10 NATO trust funds established for Ukraine.
Changes to disability laws rushed through by the Queensland government as COVID-19 restrictions were wound back effectively green-lit actions that would otherwise have been considered "criminal or tortious", an independent watchdog has warned.

Amendments to the Disability Services Act allow people with disabilities in care to be locked in their homes if a service provider deems it necessary for them to comply with health directions.

The Queensland Public Advocate says the laws raised 'genuine questions' about what it meant for the state to be a human rights jurisdiction. Credit:Izabela Habur

Outings into the community and access to services can also be frozen if they pose a risk to the health and safety of a person or others under changes to another act.

Queensland's Public Advocate, Mary Burgess, told a parliamentary committee hearing into the state's pandemic health response this was done "inexplicably" as restrictions were easing back.
Greenland lost a record amount of ice in 2019, researchers reported Thursday. Nearly half of it was lost in July, when the region roasted from an unusual heat wave.

The net ice loss of more than 530 billion metric tons was more than twice the annual average since 2003, the scientists said. In July, when warm air from Europe moved north, leading to temperatures that were well above normal and causing widespread surface melting of the ice sheet, the loss was roughly equal to the average loss in a full year.

Ingo Sasgen, a geoscientist at the Alfred Wegener Institute in Bremerhaven, Germany, and the lead author of a paper describing the findings in the journal Communications and Environment, said with the warmth last summer, he and his colleagues suspected that 2019 would be a bad one for the ice sheet.

They analyzed data from a pair of satellites that precisely measure the gravitational pull, and thus the mass, of the area they are orbiting over.
20.08.2020 LISTEN

The Business Development Minister, Hon. Alhaji Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Awal, has praised the Voiceless Media for its fair, objective and professional reportage since its inception.

Speaking during a short but colourful ceremony to honour the Minister for his leadership skills and humanitarian services, Dr. Awal encouraged the Voiceless Media and Consult to keep up the sacrifices and utmost dedication to the services of Mother Ghana for the benefit of all.

The Honorary award described Dr. Mohammed Awal Ibrahim as "a man who has exhibited extreme leadership and profound accessibility to all".

"Your various humanitarian services to all in society without discrimination deserves a recognition" - Voiceless Media Citation.

The Voiceless Media Awards began this year but was suspended temporarily because of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The awards package came with a Ghc100,000 Personal Accident Insurance cover from GLICO and some customised Voiceless Media nose masks.

It must be stated that Dr. Awal has been of help to many in the areas of education, health, business development, peace and support to religious organisations. He recently paid the medical bills of the late master Mohammed Alhassan Mutaru, who had a kidney problem and needed urgent monetary support.

It is the hope of the Voiceless Media that many in society would emulate the good gestures of Hon. Alhaji Dr Mohammed Ibrahim Awal for the benefit of all.

Present at the awards ceremony were members of the Voiceless Media and Consult led by Chief Akilu Sayibu and some officials of the Business Development Ministry.
Anunt de selectare a participantilor si participantelor la cel de-al doilea curs de instruire din cadrul Programului educational pentru dezvoltarea competentelor lucratorilor de tineret
The Government has been forced to clarify the number of people allowed to attend cultural venues following conflicting statements and widespread confusion over the new restrictions.

There have been calls for further clarity about Tuesdays announcement following confusion over the permitted number of people allowed to attend indoor and outdoor events.

The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht stated on Wednesday that events in venues like cinemas, galleries and theatres where there is physical distancing and controlled measures can continue under current guidelines.

There current limit is 50 for indoor events and 200 for outdoor.

However, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly later said that indoor concerts could not exceed six people from three different households.

This led to confusion, with the National Campaign for the Arts calling for the Department and the Government to provide better clarity about cultural events.

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In a statement from the Taoiseachs department on Thursday, a spokeswoman said: Following consultation with the Ministers of Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht and the Minister for Health, the following clarification applies to measures introduced with respect to the cultural sector:

Businesses/services such as museums, cinemas, theatres and art galleries are deemed to be controlled environments, with appropriate protective measures in place such as physical distancing between people.

These venues can continue to operate where appropriate physical distancing and all other protective measures can continue to be maintained. Individual groupings attending these venues must be limited to six people from no more than three households.

Overall attendance must adhere to an overall limit of 50 people.

All other indoor cultural events are subject to the six-person maximum rule. All outdoor events are subject to the new limits of 15.

These events are deemed as mass gatherings where there is a concentration of people at a specific location for a specific purpose over a set period of time.

These types of events provide opportunities for the virus to spread.
When U.S. Border Patrol agents enter a stash house, they come across something unique that cannot be missed.

The first thing is not what you see. Its what you smell, said Laredo Sector Chief Patrol Agent Matthew J. Hudak. Even 25 people packed in a house who have been smuggled across the river, smuggled through parts of Mexico, have probably not showered in days, if not weeks, thats usually what you encounter first.

Agents then see people sitting on the floor. In some cases, smugglers pack the immigrants in two or three bedrooms and keep the rest of the house for them to be able to use.

Imagine 25 people packed into one bedroom sharing at best one bathroom. Those are the kind of things that you see. And then, when you see that group and its a mixture of men, women, sometimes children, sometimes unaccompanied juveniles  in that group, for our agents, theres a human side of that. A lot of people dont realize that, but when you are a parent yourself as an agent, if you see kids, if you see people in those conditions, that hits you a little bit harder. To deal with that frequently, its a challenge, Hudak said.

He said those arrests have gone up due to collaborative efforts with the Texas Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security Investigations, among other local law enforcement agencies.

Placing people in a trailer, in the bed of a pickup or locked compartment, is of great risk to the immigrants, Hudak said. There have been cases where agents discover 10-, 20-, 50-plus immigrants locked in a container with no personal protective equipment, he said.

The smugglers clearly have no regard for their safety, Hudak said. We have situations where smugglers are putting them in what potentially could be a COVID-19 incubator.

Border Patrol has increased deployment of personnel to make arrests immediately at entry. Agents are also working with their counterparts to target stash houses.

If we can intercept a stash and get 20, 30, 50 people out of the stash house, thats 50 people that did not get into a tractor-trailer, that did not have their lives put in danger by the smuggler, Hudak said.

As of Monday, Border Patrol has busted 73 stash houses with more 900 immigrants this fiscal year.

To me, thats 900 people that thought they were put in danger getting here, we did not allow them to get into ... other dangerous situations, Hudak said.

Border Patrol encourages the community to report suspicious activity at 1-800-343-1994 or via the USBP Laredo Sector app.

Those are really life-saving tips that we get, Hudak said. A word of thanks to the community for being diligent in making these reports that certainly have helped us save lives. That cannot be understated. My appreciation for that.  Im tremendously proud of our agents. The work that they do every day despite the challenges of COVID-19, despite the humanitarian side of what they have to deal with, theyre professionals and they do a great job.
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP)  Former President Barack Obama warned that American democracy could falter if President Donald Trump is reelected, a stunning rebuke of his successor that was echoed by Kamala Harris at the Democratic Convention Wednesday night as she embraced her historic role as the first Black woman on a national political ticket.

Obama, himself a barrier breaker as the nations first Black president, pleaded with voters to embrace your own responsibility as citizens  to make sure that the basic tenets of our democracy endure. Because thats what is at stake right now. Our democracy.

Throughout their convention, the Democrats have summoned a collective urgency about the dangers of Trump as president. In 2016, they dismissed and sometimes trivialized him. Now they are casting him as an existential threat to the country. The tone signals anew that the fall campaign between Trump and Joe Biden, already expected to be among the most negative of the past half century, will be filled with rancor and recrimination.

Yet on the third night of the Democrats four-day convention, party leaders also sought to put forward a cohesive vision of their values and policy priorities, highlighting efforts to combat climate change and tighten gun laws. They drew a sharp contrast with Trump, portraying him as cruel in his treatment of immigrants, disinterested in the nations climate crisis and over his head on virtually all of the nations most pressing challenges.

Democrats also demonstrated a hope that Biden, a 77-year-old white man, can revive the coalition that helped put Obama into office, with minorities, younger voters and college-educated women blunting Trumps lock on many white and rural voters.

The evening marked a celebration of the partys leading women, including remarks from Hillary Clinton, the first woman to become a major ticket presidential nominee; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who challenged Biden during the primary and is now supporting his campaign.

Harris, a 55-year-old California senator and the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, addressed race and equality in a personal way Biden cannot when he formally accepts his party's presidential nomination on Thursday.

There is no vaccine for racism. We have got to do the work, Harris said, her words emphatic though she was speaking in a largely empty arena near Bidens Delaware home.

Weve got to do the work to fulfill the promise of equal justice under law, she added. None of us are free until all of us are free.

Just 76 days before the election, Biden must energize the disparate factions that make up the modern Democratic Party  a coalition that spans generation, race and ideology. And this fall voters must deal with concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic that has created health risks for those who want to vote in person  and postal slowdowns for mail-in ballots, which Democrats blame on Trump.

Democrats hope that Harris and Obama in particular can help bridge the divide between those reassured by Bidens establishment credentials and those craving bolder change.

The pandemic forced Biden's team to abandon the traditional convention format in favor of an all-virtual affair that has eliminated much of the pomp and circumstance that typically defines political conventions. It was completely silent, for example, as Harris took the stage to make history at the Chase Center in downtown Wilmington. She was flanked by American flags but no family, and her audience consisted of a few dozen reporters and photographers.

After two nights that featured several Republicans, the proceedings on Wednesday emphasized core Democratic values on areas like climate change and gun violence that particularly resonate with younger voters.

On guns, Biden wants to repeal a law shielding firearm manufacturers from liability lawsuits, impose universal background checks for purchases and ban the manufacture and sale of assault weapons and high capacity magazines. On climate, Biden has proposed a $2 trillion plan to invest in clean energy and end carbon emissions from U.S. power plants by 2035, even though his proposals dont go as far as activists preferred Green New Deal.

Wednesday night, former Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords reflected on her own journey of pain and recovery from a severe brain injury nearly a decade after being shot while meeting with constituents. She urged America to support Biden.

I struggle to speak, but I have not lost my voice, Giffords said. Vote, vote, vote.

It's Trump's turn next. The president, who abandoned plans to host his convention in North Carolina and Florida, is expected to break tradition and accept his nomination from the White House lawn.

In the meantime, he's seeking to take attention from Biden. Trump will stop near his Democratic rival's birthplace of Scranton, Pennsylvania on Thursday. He's also participating in a prime-time interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity.

Hillary Clinton, Trump's 2016 rival, implored Democrats to turn out in larger numbers in November to block the president's reelection.

For four years, people have said to me, I didnt realize how dangerous he was. I wish I could go back and do it over. Or worst, I should have voted, said Clinton, the first woman nominated president by a major party. Well, this cant be another woulda coulda shoulda election.

Vote like our lives and livelihoods are on the line, she added, because they are.

Obama spoke harshly of Trump, too.

Donald Trump hasnt grown into the job because he cant, Obama said, speaking from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, a backdrop chosen to reinforce what the former president sees as the dire stakes of the moment.

I have sat in the Oval Office with both of the men who are running for president, Obama continued, describing Biden as his brother. I never expected that my successor would embrace my vision or continue my policies. I did hope, for the sake of our country, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously.

Obama confidants say that the former presidents support for Biden is unequivocal, but he worries about enthusiasm among younger voters, particularly younger voters of color. Democrats concede that one of the reasons Trump won the presidency in 2016 was because those voters didnt show up in the same large numbers as when Obama was on the ballot.

Beyond the carefully scripted confines of the virtual convention, there were modest signs of tension between the moderate and progressive wings of Bidens Democratic Party.

In particular, some progressives complained that pro-Biden Republicans such as Ohio Gov. John Kasich have been featured more prominently than the partys younger progressive stars like New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Climate activists also complained that the party appeared ready to drop a provision in the platform that calls for an end to fossil fuel industry subsidies and tax breaks.

Sen. Warren, a favorite of progressives for demanding bold change, spoke for around five minutes.

And While Warren urged people to vote for Biden and gave a hearty endorsement for several of his economic and child care plans, she hinted that she would not retreat from her push for a more progressive agenda should her party retake the White House.

We all need to be in the fight to get Joe and Kamala elected, Warren said. And after November, we all need to stay in the fight to get big things done.

___

By Steve Peoples, Michelle L. Price and Alexandra Jaffe. Julie Pace contributed.
While visiting the flood-stricken residents in Funan County, east China's Anhui Province, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said Tuesday that he has always been concerned about the people in flood-stricken areas.

Xi also checked the water situation of the Huaihe River and learned about local measures for flood control, disaster relief and post-flood production recovery during his inspection tour in the province.

As China experienced a particularly tough test in flood control this summer, coupled with small, scattered outbreaks of the COVID-19 epidemic, the authorities have pooled resources to concentrate efforts to safeguard people's lives and property.

Since the start of the flood season, China has allocated central budgetary funds for disaster relief totaling 1.155 billion yuan (about 167 million U.S. dollars) for regions hit by floods as of July 13.

To ensure ample manpower in the fight against the floods, the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force joined in the flood control work, dispatching troops to 3,749 operations of flood relief and helping evacuate 137,000 residents affected by the floods as of July 28.

The key behind the country's strong actions to control the floods is its people-centered governing philosophy. In a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on July 17, Xi stressed putting people's lives and property first and taking more forceful measures to do a good job in flood control and relief work.

To help flood-hit regions overcome difficulties, the country has established a mechanism that allows local authorities to apply for a part of budgetary disaster relief funds before the tallying of disaster losses is completed, making relief operations more timely and efficient.

"This can effectively reduce the number of people who die or disappear in disasters, and save people's lives and properties to a much better extent," said Yang Xiaodong, an official with the Ministry of Emergency Management.

Regarding flood victims in post-flood recovery, local authorities were required to enhance support for them in terms of epidemic control, life assistance, production, hygiene and compensation to restore production and life orders. Workshops and recruitment campaigns were launched by local governments to ensure those who have shaken off poverty will not fall back to poverty due to the floods.

China's governing capability combined with its people-oriented approach has acted as a double-layer shield with a great degree of strength and resilience against the threats of floods and disasters.

Statistics show that the number of people dead or missing due to the floods since July was 82 percent lower than the average for the same period of the past five years, while collapsed houses and direct economic losses dropped 78.3 percent and 5.9 percent, respectively.

During his inspection tour in Anhui, Xi stressed that the country must improve its capability to prevent and combat disasters in its effort to build a modern socialist country in an all-round way. As enhancing capacity on disaster prevention is expected to be included in more of the country's policies such as the 14th Five-Year Plan, the shield can only become stronger.
LANSING, Mich. - A $600 million deal between the state of Michigan and Flint residents who were harmed by lead-tainted water is a step toward making amends for a disaster that upended life in the poor, majority-Black city, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Thursday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 20/8/2020 (517 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FILE - In this March 21, 2016, file photo, the Flint Water Plant water tower is seen in Flint, Mich. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says a proposed $600 million deal between the state of Michigan and Flint residents harmed by lead-tainted water is a step toward making amends. Officials announced the settlement Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, which must be approved by a federal judge. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)

LANSING, Mich. - A $600 million deal between the state of Michigan and Flint residents who were harmed by lead-tainted water is a step toward making amends for a disaster that upended life in the poor, majority-Black city, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Thursday.

State officials and lawyers for Flint residents announced the settlement, which Attorney General Dana Nessel said likely would be the largest in Michigan history, with tens of thousands of potential claimants. It's designed primarily to benefit children, who were most vulnerable to the debilitating effects of lead that fouled drinking water after Flint switched its source to save money in 2014 while under supervision of a state financial manager.

City workers followed state environmental officials' advice not to use anti-corrosive additives. Without those treatments, water from the Flint River scraped lead from aging pipes and fixtures, contaminating tap water.

The disaster made Flint a nationwide symbol of governmental mismanagement, with residents of the city of nearly 100,000 lining up for bottled water and parents fearful their children had suffered permanent harm. A criminal investigation that has resulted in only misdemeanour no-contest pleas so far was resumed last year.

What happened in Flint should have never happened, and financial compensation with this settlement is just one of the many ways we can continue to show our support for the city of Flint and its families," Whitmer, a Democrat, said.

Several judges must approve the agreement, which is intended to resolve all claims against the state. Residents can decline to take part and file separate lawsuits, but attorneys involved in the negotiations said they would urge their clients to participate.

"Its not perfect. But it is fair, its reasonable, its equitable, said attorney Michael Pitt.

Suits also have been filed against the city, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and two engineering consulting firms. They could join the state settlement by contributing agreed-on sums to the $600 million compensation fund.

A dog walker passes by a Flint sculpture in downtown Flint, Mich, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says a proposed $600 million deal between the state of Michigan and Flint residents harmed by lead-tainted water is a step toward making amends. Officials announced the settlement Thursday, Aug. 20, which must be approved by a federal judge. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

The agreement establishes a process for submitting claims. Amounts awarded will depend on the number of claims and the extent of damage a person sustained between April 25, 2014, and July 31, 2016.

Nearly 80% will be distributed to claimants who were minors, with the largest share  64.5%  going to those who were 6 or younger when first exposed to the contaminated water. About 30,000 children lived in Flint at the time.

Lead can harm people at any age but is especially dangerous to children, potentially damaging the brain and nervous system and causing learning and behaviour problems.

Some 18% will go to adults and the rest to businesses or other specified relief programs.

Corey Stern, an attorney who represents about 2,600 minors, said many children likely would receive payments in the high-five to low-six-figure range, with those badly harmed getting even more. He described it as the largest single settlement involving lead poisoned children in our nation's history.

Melissa Mays sued the state on behalf of her three sons, saying they have had medical and educational difficulties because of lead exposure.

You cant fix this with money," Mays, a social worker, said. "You can help make our lives a little less horrid because in no way, shape or form should traumatized victims be scraping by just to survive month to month. In no way is this going to replace my kids brains, their lungs, their livers, their learning ability.

At least $9 million will be earmarked to settle a case involving kids who weren't being provided with special education services, said Gregory Little, an attorney with the Education Law Center.

Flint had long purchased drinking water from Detroit, about 70 miles (113 kilometres) south, but switched to the Flint River in April 2014. It was among money-saving measures recommended by an emergency manager appointed by then-Gov. Rick Snyder.

Residents complained that the water was discolored and tasted and smelled bad. They blamed it for rashes, hair loss and other health concerns, but local and state officials insisted it was safe.

Researchers with Virginia Tech University reported in summer 2015 that samples of Flint water had abnormally high lead levels. A group of doctors subsequently announced that local children had high lead levels in their blood.

Snyder, a Republican, eventually acknowledged the problem, accepted the resignation of his environmental chief and pledged to aid the city, which resumed using Detroit water.

Many residents used bottled water for drinking and household needs for more than a year. Researchers said in late 2016 that lead was no longer detectable in many homes.

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Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, a Flint pediatrician who led the investigation that discovered the high lead levels in children, said it will take decades to restore trust.

"I am hopeful this settlement serves as a reminder of Flints lessons: where the perfect storm of environmental injustice, indifferent bureaucracy, lost democracy and austerity, compounded by decades of racism and deindustrialization, left a city powerless and forgotten," she said.

___

Flesher reported from Traverse City, Michigan. AP reporter Ed White in Detroit and researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York contributed to this report.

___

This story has been corrected to show that pleas to criminal charges were no-contest instead of guilty.
Mass. town paints over Noah's Ark display on playground after complaint

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The town of Ashburnham, Massachusetts, has painted over a biblical display on a library playground following a complaint from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, an atheist group.

Stevens Memorial Library had featured at its playground a turning picture game of Noah's Ark, which FFRF said violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Madeline Ziegler, a staff attorney at FFRF, sent a letter to Terri Antsiss, director of the library, on July 22 on behalf of a concerned community member.

Each section of the turning game contains a passage from the tale [of Noah's Ark], which is paraphrased from the book of Genesis in order to be more easily understood, Ziegler explained in the letter.

After citing legal precedent holding that permanent displays on public land are government speech and that the display of this biblical tale on public property confers government endorsement of religion, Ziegler complained that the biblical display has the effect of privileging one religion over others and alienates the nearly 26% of American adults who identify as nonreligious.

Ziegler urged the library to remove this turning picture game from the playground and refrain from approving any such displays in the future and requesting a written response detailing the steps taken to resolve this matter.

Ultimately, the town of Ashburnham responded to the FFRFs request. Thank you for bringing this matter to the towns attention, Ashburnham Town Administrator Brian Doheny wrote in an e-mail to the nonprofit organization. In response to your letter, the town has painted over both sides of the display with white paint so no symbolism is shown.

In response to the decision to paint over the biblical display, FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor claimed victory. Were pleased the town realized that allowing biblical preaching to children at a public institution isnt in keeping with our nations secular ideals, she said.

This is not the first time that a biblical playground display has been targeted by a secularist organization. In 2014, a similar playground display in Newark, Delaware, that also told the story of Noahs Ark, became the subject of a complaint against the city spearheaded by the D.C.-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State and its local chapter, Delaware Valley Americans United.

DVAU received citizen complaints from some atheist grandparents who did not want their grandchildren to see the Bible verses or the cartoon rendition of the Noahs Ark story, Janice Rael, vice president of DVAU, told The Christian Post at the time.

Like the complaint filed against the biblical display in Ashburnham, the complaint in Newark alleged that the playground equipment was in violation of the establishment clause in the U.S. Constitution, according to a city official who spoke with CP. Not long after DVAU issued the complaint, the city of Newark decided to remove the display, which was located at a childrens playground at Norma B. Handloff Park.

While secular groups continue to call for the removal of biblical displays in public places, not all of their efforts have been met with success. Three years after a federal judge sided with FFRF and another secular group by ruling that a cross at a public park in Pensacola, Florida, must come down, a panel of judges on the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the 34-foot tall cross could remain in place.

Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that a 40-foot tall cross erected to honor the memory of World War I soldiers in Bladensburg, Maryland, did not violate the Establishment Clause of the Constitution.
New York mayor Bill de Blasio insisted on Thursday that the city was prepared to reopen its public school district, one day after the citys largest teachers union threatened to strike if its demands regarding the reopening were not met.

Educators know kids are suffering right now. They need support, they need what educators can give them, they need positive adult role models and counselors.They need that desperately, de Blasio said at a press conference. It cannot be done the same way remotely even slightly.

The mayor continued, We may be talking about a whole school year we dont have a vaccine. Imagine kids going a full year without the best quality education that can only be provided in person, and the support that educators and school staff give.

De Blasio also noted that healthcare workers, transit workers, and other essential employees have gone to work throughout the pandemic despite the risks involved. Public servants show up and serve people: thats what our constituents depend on, the mayor said.

New York City public schools comprise the largest school district in the U.S., serving over 1.1 million students. Tens of thousands of those students qualify for free or reduced-priced lunch, and many rely on school cafeterias for hot meals.

The mayors remarks came after the president of the United Federation of Teachers, New York Citys largest teachers union with over 75,000 members, threatened to strike unless certain demands are met, including providing schools with N95 masks and requiring students to take antibody tests before entering school.

We dont believe it is possible for schools to open on September 10, UFT president Thomas Mulgrew said. It might be one of the biggest debacles in the history of the city.

The New York City Department of Education has been preparing for the reopening over the summer, implementing health plans and guidance that includes a nightly deep-cleaning of school buildings, installing HVAC air filters, and other measures.

Story continues

Schools will not reopen if the percentage of positive coronavirus tests in New York City is above a 3 percent seven-day rolling average. Currently, the citys testing positivity rates are remarkably low, with 0.24 percent testing positive on August 17, the lowest percentage since the start of the pandemic.

More from National Review
Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Leo Varadkar are on a collision course over the Government's approach to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The Tanaiste has become increasingly frustrated with the severity of the Covid-19 restrictions recommended by public health officials and the speed at which they are being implemented by the Government.

Fine Gael ministers have been privately criticising their Fianna Fail colleagues for taking "short cuts" before announcing new coronavirus rules.

"We can never find ourselves in this position again," a Fine Gael minister said, before adding: "TDs are furious because they are inundated with queries about the rules and they don't have a clue what to say."

Read More

In Fianna Fail, a senior party figure insisted the rise in new cases needed to be taken seriously and said Fine Gael should stop personalising the criticism towards Nphet or acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn.

The senior source was also critical of the lack of Fine Gael ministers publicly supporting the new measures aimed at stopping the spread of the virus.

"The new measures are aimed at preventing another lockdown but Fine Gael don't want anything to do with the controversial decisions, all they want to do is announce good news. Unfortunately that's not how government works," the Fianna Fail source said.

The war of words between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael was sparked by a tense Cabinet meeting ahead of new measures being unveiled.

Mr Varadkar believes the new measures are being rushed through Cabinet and more consideration should have been given to the coronavirus restrictions before they were announced.

Several sources at the meeting said the Tanaiste told the meeting: "If we keep doing business like this, we won't be doing business for long."

However, a Fianna Fail source insisted the Government had to act quickly to ensure the country was not "swamped" with hundreds of new Covid cases.

Meanwhile, government TDs said they have been inundated with contacts from the public who are highly critical or confused about the latest restrictions and advice.

Many have reported clogged email in-boxes and anger over the contradictions in the new rules, and say they can only offer their own interpretations, which may be wrong.

Kildare North Fianna Fail TD James Lawless said the messaging around the Government's restrictions had become "a little bit muddled" and there were "contradictions" around the advice.

However, Mr Lawless said: "I think the communication may not be as precise or convincing as perhaps it could be, but there is method behind the madness.

"Of course there are contradictions in balancing the advice from Nphet and to allow people operate their business and live their lives; but having read it all, including the public health advice, there is a thread of good sense there," he added.

Limerick Fianna Fail TD Willie O'Dea said there needed to be a more balanced approach to imposing new restrictions

"You can't just follow the advice of the health experts completely or there would be no reopening. We are spending all these billions, and all this money will have to be paid back eventually.

"You can only pay it back if you have a working economy and a working population," he said.

Robert Troy, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, said on Twitter: "I totally get people's frustration with the new Covid-19 measures announced." He added: "We need greater clarity on the rationale for restrictions to ensure buy-in."

A Fine Gael TD said: "There is a lot of bitterness in some emails, and some outright mockery - which I suppose we have to take because everyone can see there are anomalies. But absolutely nobody is enjoying any of this, and that includes the politicians, I can tell you."
Kareena Kapoors filmography is rife with characters who waste no opportunity to scream out every detail of note about themselves. Riana from Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu on the other hand feels like course-correction for both Hindi cinema and for the actress.

Kareena Kapoor is arguably one of the most talented actresses of her generation. At the same time, Kareena Kapoor is also one of the most frustrating actresses of her generation. The actress, a third-generational Kapoor from the most illustrious Bollywood family, is made up of contradictions  someone who is inherently gifted and somehow disinterested in always doing justice to her fullest potential. This is her 20th year in the Hindi film industry and through the decades, a pattern has long emerged in Kapoors filmography: her performances are either inimitable or instantly forgettable.

From the very beginning, Kapoor, who debuted with JP Duttas Refugee after having famously walked out of Rakesh Roshans Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai, displayed the wits of a mainstream heroine. Her initial roles were iterations of the familiar girl-next-door in big-budget romantic outings that had an A-list hero to boot (Yaadein, Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon, Mujhse Dosti Karoge). Her later filmography is scattered with instances of the actress playing second fiddle to male stars in factory-produced, and at times, unsubstantial roles (Aitraz, Ra.One, 3 Idiots, Singham Returns, Bajrangi Bhaijaan).

Kapoor liked being the arm-candy in studio-led productions as much as she liked being a part of an ensemble (Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Tashan, Ajnabee, We Are Family, Yuva, Golmaal, Good Newwz). In fact there is perhaps no other mainstream heroine working right now who can boast of starring in the number of forgettable movies that Kapoor did back in the noughties (Khushi, Bewafaa, Jeena Sirf Mere Liye, Asoka, Kyon Ki, Kambakkht Ishq) and still warrant the kind of wide-eyed devotion. This also meant that the few times that the actress resisted from playing safe in her 20-year-long career can actually be counted on your fingers (Omkara, Kurbaan, Udta Punjab, Talaash, Jab We Met, Veere Di Wedding).

In a way, a majority of the films that Kapoor chose to act in depended on what she could bring to the characters and werent necessarily roles that demanded something vital out of her capabilities as an actor. As a result, the effect of a satisfying Kareena Kapoor performance  boisterous and effortless in equal measure  is inextricable from the persona of Kareena Kapoor.

Two of Kapoors most enduring and career-defining turns  Poo in K3G and Geet in Jab We Met  are cut from this exact cloth. These two characters who look easy to play but are actually demanding to sell, have unquestionably benefitted from the fact that Kareena Kapoor played them. As several filmmakers have found out in the past few years, trying to replicate the essence of Poo or Geet is an altogether redundant exercise. The versions come across as second-rate caricatures simply because Kareena Kapoor didnt just essay Poo or Geet; she inhabited them to an extent where they fed off her real-life persona so much that it became perplexing to distinguish the line separating Kareena Kapoor and Poo or Geet.

The animated naivete veering between braggado and recklessness isnt unbearable when Kapoor hits those notes only because they arent curated or put-on; rather theyre an extension of her own personality. On the other hand, her more weighty performances like Dolly Mishra in Omkara or Rosie in Talaash stand on the other end, having had instantly recognisable traces of Kareena Kapoor meticulously cleansed off them. Theres no denying that they are elevated predominately by the fact that Kareena is unrecognisable as these women, consciously straying away from being herself on screen.

I suspect thats why my personal favourite Kareena Kapoor performance is one that delicately straddles both these parts  a less flashier character doing justice to the fact that the actor completely forgot herself while playing it. In Shakun Batras underseen Ek Main aur Ekk Tu, Kapoor is Riana Braganza, a spirited 27-year-old hairstylist who is integral to the metamorphosis of the films male lead from manchild to man. At first glance, it could feel like she was modelled on Geet, Kapoors most iconic character. But anchored by clever writing and an emotionally alert performance, Riana became an antithesis to the manic-pixie dream girl trope popularised by Jab We Met instead of being another copy of it.

When it released in 2012, Ek Main aur Ekk Tu was that rare Hindi romantic comedy that captured the kind of millennial authenticity that felt lived-in, comprising none of the pomp that accompanies a mainstream Hindi film even though it was produced by Karan Johar and featured two star kids in leading roles. Co-written by Batra and his frequent collaborator Ayesha Divitre, the genius of Ek Main aur Ekk Tu was that it was essentially a buddy film masquerading as candy floss romance.

Until then, the lexicon of Hindi film romance hinged on a certain vein of dishonesty. On the big screen, happily-ever-afters werent earned as much as they were freely distributed like candy. Falling in love became an inevitable event, larger than life itself, which is to say that the Hindi movie definition of romance was not only aspirational but also impossible to recreate in real life. So even as decades, plots, and leads changed, the eventual destination of almost every other Hindi love story remained indistinguishable. With Ek Main aur Ekk Tu, Batra set out to do the opposite: tell a story about love that wasnt burdened by the expectations of a happy ending. In that sense, Ek Main aur Ekk Tu is also a sly meta-commentary on the romantic drama itself, employing a degree of deceit to outsmart a genre reputed for peddling chiffon-adorned trickery.

The route that the film adopted to achieve this subversion was through Riana Bragazana. Most filmmakers, including Imtiaz Ali who brought the manic pixie dream girl to life on the big screen, treat her like an enigma: her inherent vivaciousness is just a device for the hero to develop an appetite for life. So naturally, her nonchalance is seen as nothing but a phase that she is meant to overgrow the moment it has fulfilled its purpose  that is ensuring that the hero comes-of-age. Its as if these films thrive on blowing out all life from its female protagonists just to afford their male lead an even ground, injecting their veins with borrowed personality.

Batra eschewed convention and refused to employ Rianas carefree abandon as a stepping stone for Rahul Kapoor (Imran Khan), the films 25-year-old hero who is a prisoner to both routine and his inability to stand up for himself.

So even as Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu initially stuck to the enjoyable beats of watching two different personalities grow closer as they find their way to each other, Batra used the films second half to overwrite the possibilities of that first half. In any other film, it would have led to romance: one person developing feelings for the other would have been a cue for realisations and ultimately, reciprocation to dawn on the other. But in Ek Main aur Ekk Tu, it just looked a lot like love. That was possible only because Batra took his time to see Riana, a character who displays a certain degree of manic pixie qualities via her zest for life, uninhibited independence, and steadfast denial to subscribe to societal expectations, as a person in their own right.

That is sublimely spelt out in the films most defining moment that comes toward the end and ends up as a masterstroke of subverting assumptions. In the scene, Riana is taking Rahul around her school after having convinced him to tag along with her on her New Years trip back to Mumbai, the city where both their parents live. Rahul, like the rest of us, sees this harmless offer as one that is loaded with romantic meaning. His expectations come to a head when she takes him to a secluded part of the campus, to show him the spot where she had her first kiss. Rahul takes it as a hint and responds to the information by leaning forward to kiss her. Taken by surprise, Riana leans away from him, confusion writ large on her face. Yet, she suggests moving on  misunderstandings like these happen between friends, she tells him.

On his part, Rahul is livid at the rejection, storming off and accusing Riana of leading him on. If one were to take every other romantic Hindi film as reference, youd be inclined to agree that he was right. In fact, watching the films breezy first half, its hard not to catch yourself predicting that they would probably end up with each other, only because thats how its always been in the movies. But thats precisely the reason Ek Main aur Ekk Tu ends up being the movie that it is.

In imagining a female lead who didnt exist to just be an object of affection, Batra gave us a coming-of-age tale in the truest sense of the word. The kind of film where the hero comes around to accepting that the women they love arent mandated to reciprocate their feelings, that rejection isnt an attack on their self-worth, and that infatuation can sometimes look like love.

Kapoor brings a vulnerability to this scene that is telling of how often women  even the ones in Hindi cinema  are forced to bear the brunt of men misreading standard niceness. What I especially like about the emotionally intelligent screenplay is that it understands the two sexes: The narrative could have easily taken an aggrieved turn but that it leaned toward reconciliation was proof that it intended to place the onus of succumbing to mixed signals on its hero.

That in turn, informs Ek Main aur Ekk Tus final sequence when Riana tells Rahul that shed like them to be friends, nothing less and nothing more. Throughout the film, Kapoor played Riana on a somewhat sombre note, between being her vivacious self and adeptly muting it down on request, but the beauty of her performance is the things left unsaid. By now, a manic pixie dream girl is an open book, someone you know by heart sometimes reading her better than you might see through your partner or best friend. But theres an air of mystery about Riana in the sense that even when she divulges information about herself, it still doesnt give us the full picture; just a trail of breadcrumbs.

It falls in line with Batras vision of not creating a female lead for the sake of solving her but I suspect that the ripple effect of tension that this creates is much to do with the quiet maturity that the actress brings to Riana.

Kapoors filmography is rife with characters who waste no opportunity to scream out every detail of note about themselves. Riana on the other hand feels like course-correction for both Hindi cinema and for the actress; someone who demands that men earn her trust instead of revealing herself for the sake of being liked. The actress does so much with so little here, conveying independence, asserting her point of view, and asking for her own space with mere glances, without as much as raising her voice or getting into an argument. That the film ends without Riana being the proverbial arm candy then, felt as good as a sign that maybe both Kareena Kapoor and Hindi cinema was perhaps ready to grow up.
HONOLULU, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Best Lawyers in America recognized five Davis Levin Livingston attorneys in the 2021 Edition and one attorney as a Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year." It is a great accomplishment to be honored in this manner, as only the top 5% of practicing legal professionals across the United States are selected.

Each listee in The Best Lawyers in America is put to a litmus test that is one-part third-party nomination, another part meticulous peer review. During the review process, nominees are evaluated by their peers in terms of their career histories, legal skills, and community influence. After all nominees are reviewed, only the most qualified attorneys are honored in the final list.

The Davis Levin Livingston attorneys listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2021 include:

Mark S. Davis

Insurance Law



Litigation - First Amendment



Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs



Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs

Michael K. Livingston

Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs



Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs

Thomas M. Otake

Criminal Defense: General Practice



Criminal Defense: White-Collar



Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs

Loretta A. Sheehan

Commercial Litigation



Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs

Matthew C. Winter

Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs

Each of these attorneys has been distinguished by Best Lawyers prior to the 2021 Edition, illustrating that they have been consistently conscientious in their areas of legal practice. Best Lawyers has recognized Attorneys Davis and Livingston since the 2011 Edition, Attorneys Otake and Sheehan since the 2019 Edition, and Attorney Winter since 2020.

Attorney Otake was also awarded as a Best Lawyers 2021 Criminal Defense: White-Collar "Lawyer of the Year" in Honolulu. The recipients of this esteemed merit comprises the nominees who scored the highest for their location and practice area during the peer review for The Best Lawyers in America. Thus, each year, only a single attorney for each region and practice area can obtain this title.

Located in Honolulu, Davis Levin Livingston's work includes the largest single compensatory judgment in Hawaii for a personal injury case, as well as the highest malpractice judgment against a military hospital in America. Its attorneys have been named in The Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers Guide and the Super Lawyers list, to name a few. The firm is also proud to honor Partner Mark S. Davis as the only Hawaii attorney to currently hold membership with The Inner Circle of Advocates.

To read more about Davis Levin Livingston and its renowned attorneys, please visit davislevin.com. Or visit bestlawyers.com for information on Best Lawyers.

SOURCE Davis Levin Livingston

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This will be the fifth dialogue since the standoff and the Indian side is expected to reiterate its call for complete disengagement of Chinese troops along LAC

New Delhi: India and China are expected to hold a fresh round of diplomatic talks on Thursday to carry forward the disengagement process to resolve the over three-month-long border stand-off in eastern Ladakh, people familiar with the developments said.

The virtual talks are scheduled to be held under the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs, and both sides are expected to deliberate on ways to ensure early implementation of the disengagement process, they said.

The Indian delegation at Thursday's talks is likely to be led by Naveen Srivastava, Joint Secretary (East Asia) in the External Affairs Ministry, they said.

In the last round of WMCC talks on 24 July, the Chinese side was headed by Hong Liang, director general of the department of boundary and ocean affairs under the Chinese foreign ministry.

After the talks, the Ministry of External Affairs had said both sides agreed that an early and complete disengagement of the troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in accordance with bilateral agreement and protocols was essential for overall development of bilateral relations.

Following the diplomatic dialogue, armies of the two countries held the fifth round of Corps Commander-level talks on 2 August with an aim to expedite the disengagement process.

However, the disengagement of troops from the friction points in eastern Ladakh has not moved forward as expected by India, according to military sources.

At the military talks, the Indian side insisted on complete disengagement of Chinese troops at the earliest, and immediate restoration of status quo ante in all areas of eastern Ladakh prior to 5 May when the standoff began following a clash between the two armies in Pangong Tso, they said.

The Chinese military has pulled back from Galwan Valley and certain other friction points but the withdrawal of their troops has not moved forward in Pangong Tso, Depsang and a couple of other areas since mid-July, the sources said.

The formal process of disengagement of troops began on 6 July, a day after a nearly two-hour telephonic conversation between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on ways to bring down tensions in the area.

Even as both sides have been engaged in diplomatic and military talks, the Indian Army is making elaborate preparation to maintain its current strength of troops in all key areas in eastern Ladakh in the harsh winter months.

Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane has already conveyed to all the senior commanders of the Army, overseeing operation of the frontline formations along the LAC, to keep up a significantly high state of alertness and maintain the aggressive posturing to deal with any Chinese "misadventure", the sources said.

The Army is also in the process of procuring a number of weapons, ammunition and winter gears for the frontline troops, they added.

The temperature in some of the high-altitude areas along the LAC drops to minus 25 degree celsius in the winter months.

The tension between the two sides escalated manifold after the violent clashes in Galwan Valley on 15 June in which 20 Indian Army personnel were killed.

The Chinese side also suffered casualties but it is yet to give out the details. According to an American intelligence report, the number of casualties on the Chinese side was 35.

Following the Galwan Valley incident, the government gave the armed forces "full freedom" to give a "befitting" response to any Chinese misadventure along the LAC.

The Army sent thousands of additional troops to forward locations along the border following the deadly clashes. The IAF has also moved air defence systems as well as a sizable number of its frontline combat jets and attack helicopters to several key air bases.
WHO said two-thirds of 103 countries surveyed between mid-May and early July reported disruptions to family planning and contraception services.

Millions of women and girls globally have lost access to contraceptives and abortion services because of the coronavirus pandemic. Now the first widespread measure of the toll says India with its abrupt, months-long lockdown has been hit especially hard.

Several months into the pandemic, many women now have second-trimester pregnancies because they could not find care in time.

Across 37 countries, nearly two million fewer women received services between January and June than in the same period last year, Marie Stopes International says in a new report  1.3 million in India alone. The organization expects 900,000 unintended pregnancies worldwide as a result, along with 1.5 million unsafe abortions and more than 3,000 maternal deaths.

Those numbers will likely be greatly amplified if services falter elsewhere in Latin America, Africa and Asia, Marie Stopes director of global evidence, Kathryn Church, has said.

The World Health Organization this month said two-thirds of 103 countries surveyed between mid-May and early July reported disruptions to family planning and contraception services. The U.N. Population Fund warns of up to 7 million unintended pregnancies worldwide.

Lockdowns, travel restrictions, supply chain disruptions, the massive shift of health resources to combat COVID-19 and fear of infection continue to prevent many women and girls from care.

A surge in teen pregnancies was reported in Kenya, while some young women in Nairobis Kibera slum resorted to using broken glass, sticks and pens to try to abort pregnancies, said Diana Kihima with the Women Promotion Center. Two died of their injuries, while some can no longer conceive.

In parts of West Africa, the provision of some contraceptives fell by nearly 50 percent compared to the same period last year, said the International Planned Parenthood Federation.

Ive never seen anything like this apart from countries in conflict, said Diana Moreka, a coordinator of the MAMA Network that connects women and girls to care across 16 African countries. Calls have increased to their hotlines, including those launched since the pandemic began in Congo, Zambia and Cameroon. More than 20,000 women have called since January.

Like others, Moreka predicts a coming baby boom in some parts of the world. The pandemic ... has taken us many years backwards in family planning services, she said.

Some countries didnt deem sexual and reproductive health services as essential under lockdown, meaning women and girls were turned away. Even after NGOs in Romania pressured the government to declare the services essential, many hospitals still werent providing abortions, said Daniela Draghici, a member of the IPPF European networks executive committee.

The impact in some cases is like what used to happen to young women during Communism, to get an abortion from somebody who claims to be a medical provider ... and pray, she said.

In Indias megacity of Mumbai, one woman was unable to find a pregnancy testing kit after the lockdown started in March, and then couldnt find transport to reach care in time, said Dr. Shewetangi Shinde, who attended to her in a public hospital. By then, medical abortion wasnt an option since the pregnancy was too advanced.

Full Coverage: Health

India listed abortions as essential services under lockdown but many werent aware, said Shinde, who is part of the India Safe Abortion Youth Advocates organization.

The pandemic has highlighted how difficult it already was for many women to safely access abortion services, said Dr Suchitra Dalvie, a gynaecologist in Mumbai and coordinator of the Asia Safe Abortion Partnership.

All these people ... the marginalized groups, the vast invisible majority. This is how life is, she said.

In January, India began amending laws to allow certain women to obtain abortions up to 24 weeks instead of 20. But the pandemic interrupted it.

No one expected the lockdown to continue for months, Dalvie said. Now many women face second-trimester abortions, which are more expensive and complicated, especially because everyone who is involved needs to wear PPE.

Abortion access has improved in India, but the pandemic resulted in abortion pill shortages in several states surveyed by the Foundation for Reproductive Health Services India. Only one percent of pharmacies in northern states like Haryana and Punjab had them, two percent in the southern state of Tamil Nadu and 6.5 percent in the central state of Madhya Pradesh. In Delhi, it was 34 percent.

Some contraceptives are still delayed by supply chain disruptions, said Chris Purdy, CEO of the DKT International social marketing organization for family planning products. Production is back online, but shipping routes are crowded and ports clogged with backorders, he said.

Meanwhile, womens health providers have scrambled to find solutions such as telemedicine, home deliveries of contraceptives and home-based medical abortions.

But even now, were hearing everywhere that numbers are down as public health facilities struggle because thousands of staffers have been infected with the virus, said Marion Stevens, director of the South Africa-based Sexual & Reproductive Justice Coalition. Her group and others wrote to the health minister about women turned away from care.

The real global measure of lockdowns effects will come when health ministries report annual data, experts say. But it will be incomplete. In Haiti, the health ministry reported a 74 percent drop in births at health facilities in May compared to the same period last year. Many women are delivering at home, but deaths there are not reported.

Small examples can tell us a lot, said Nondo Ejano, coordinator for the Womens Global Network for Reproductive Rights Africa. In Tanzania, he said, a major maternity hospital in Dar es Salaam was converted into a COVID-19 response centre. You can ask yourself, he said of women seeking care, where would they go?

At a school he visited last week in the town of Kigoma, five girls had become pregnant in the past few months. One school. Five girls. Definitely the rate of pregnancy is up, he said.

I feel like right now we just have a tip of the situation, and when lockdowns are lifted we will see things clearly, said Phonsina Archane, a coordinator of the MAMA Network. We should prepare ourselves for that time.
United Kingdom

MALVERN, Pa.

Aug. 19, 2020

June 16

July 1

John McNeill

Jody Brookes

Stephen Holgate

Donna Davies

Ratko Djukanovic

20 July 2020

AMERSHAM,and/PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Phlexglobal, a leading innovative technology and services provider for the life sciences industry, today announces that Synairgen  a drug discovery and development company developing novel therapies for respiratory disease  took just 16 days to go live with Phlexglobal's advanced PhlexTMF SaaS software to support a COVID-19 trial. Thanks to Phlexglobal's innovative technology and industry-leading Trial Master File expertise, Synairgen was able to quickly ensure compliance with regulatory mandates while maintaining an accelerated pace for its novel COVID-19 therapy SNG001 (inhaled interferon-beta).After being chosen by Synairgen as the preferred vendor for provision of an eTMF, Phlexglobal lost no time in implementing its widely adopted, best-of-breed SaaS eTMF software. As part of its ongoing contribution to helping fight the COVID-19 pandemic, Phlexglobal's corporate commitment is to provide complimentary services. The company's global team of TMF experts and highly experienced project managers applied its proven Gold methodology to go from project kickoff on2020, to go-live on2020  a total of just 16 days."Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Phlexglobal has provided extensive support for multiple biopharmaceutical companies developing effective treatments for those who have been impacted by the virus, as well as promising vaccines to prevent its spread," said, Chief Executive Officer of Phlexglobal. "We're honored to be able to provide critical software and services to help address the most important health crisis facing the world today."With 120 home-based patients to be recruited into the trial and 100 hospital-based patients already recruited into the trial, the ease of use of Phlexglobal's eTMF technology and support services were key factors in Synairgen's decision.Phlexglobal's advanced eTMF includes built-in best practices to improve TMF health, including embedded quality review, event management, wizard-driven completeness, intelligent placeholders, and more. This singular focus on customer-driven innovation frees life sciences companies to put more resources behind their primary goal: bringing safe, life-improving new therapies to patients faster, and with less risk.In addition, PhlexTMF features the industry's only AI-assisted TMF indexing technology, which reduces document processing time significantly. Leveraging pre-trained neural networks of sophisticated algorithms to identify and extract attribute values from TMF documents, the feature allows study teams to focus on critical tasks rather than on repetitive and time-consuming manual effort."Discussions with multiple people at Phlexglobal gave us the confidence that they were the right match for our company, our study, and our very tight timeline," said, Head of Clinical Operations at Synairgen. "Like us, they have a tremendous culture of innovation, and a spirit of genuine collaboration that has made a real difference in the project. Given the speed and quality of the service, going with Phlexglobal was absolutely the right decision."COVID-19 Support: Phlexglobal Resources to Fast Track Trials and Ensure Business Continuity If you have any questions regarding the impact of COVID-19 from a clinical or regulatory standpoint, you can submit them to Phlexglobal and we will provide answers within one business day. If you need support for your research, Contact us today to receive COVID-19 study help tomorrow.About Synairgen Synairgen is a respiratory drug discovery and development company founded by University of Southampton Professorsand. The business, focused primarily on lung viral defence in asthma and COPD, uses its differentiating human biology BioBank platform and world-renowned international academic KOL network to discover and develop novel therapies for respiratory disease. For more information about Synairgen, please see http://www.synairgen.com.About the Synairgen COVID-19 Study Synairgen's clinical trial in COVID-19 patients (SG016) is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The 220-patient trial comprises 100 patients initiated in hospital and 120 patients to be initiated in the home setting. The patients participating in the hospital setting, which completed recruitment in May, have been recruited across a number of NHS trusts and the trial has been adopted by the NIHR Respiratory Translational Research Collaboration. Synairgen announced positive preliminary results from the hospital setting on(https://www.synairgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/200720-Synairgen-announces-positive-results-from-trial-of-SNG001-in-hospitalised-COVID-19-patients.pdf).About Phlexglobal Phlexglobal is the leading technology and services organization for clinical and regulatory matters with a focus on helping clients to master their digital agenda via proven AI solutions. Phlexglobal combines software and leading expert services to offer a unique solutions portfolio with easy to achieve automation via data generation that lifts organizations to a new level of effectiveness.PhlexTMF is the company's Trial Master File software. Regulatory solutions including PhlexSubmission for eCTD and CTD, PhlexIDMP, PhlexEVMPD, and PhlexRIM are considered highly innovative in the industry for out-of-the-box best practices capabilities, automation technology, and user-focused design.PhlexDistiller, a machine learning platform that reads documents and converts unstructured content into structured data, achieves automation of regulatory and clinical processes and completes the end-to-end solutions offering from Phlexglobal.SOURCE Phlexglobal
If Republicans and Democrats will go back to Washington to vote for the USPS funding, White Chief of Staff said that the Republican lawmakers will look for an opportunity to discuss the new relief bill.

There is still a high possibility for the second round of stimulus payments and other relief aids as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called back the lawmakers to vote for the USPS funding. White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said Republicans would look for an opportunity to discuss the new relief bill.

If ever that relief bill will be discussed as lawmakers planned to back in Washington, the following will be discussed on the floor:

1. Funding for the Postal Service

Lawmakers plan to fund the US Postal Office for the upcoming election. Around 80 million people are expected to vote through the mail. The Democratic-led HEROES Act that was passed on May proposed an amount of $25 billion, but there seems to be a long debate on this amount.

The money is intended to continue meeting the delivery standards during the global pandemic. This is also to make sure that people will have the help that they need. Additionally, the amount is also to prepare the country for the widespread mail-in voting.

2. Unemployment Benefit

President Trump signed and issued the executive order that expanded the unemployment claims when the stimulus negotiations failed. The President mandated the Federal Emergency Management Agency to facilitate the approval and distribution of the fund to the states.

Qualified unemployed individuals are expected to receive an unemployment benefit worth $300 and an additional $100 from the state. However, some states chose not to counterpart or gave $100 due to the economic fallout.

3. Second Round of Stimulus Check

The first round of stimulus checks was sent to qualified individuals and families. Around 160 million people received stimulus checks. However, there are still many people waiting for their stimulus checks until today due to some problems.

The Republicans are proposing $1 trillion while the Democrats are proposing an amount f $3 trillion. The purpose of the Democrats is to make sure that more people will receive the money. Among the two proposed budgets between the two groups, one thing is just for sure; they are both willing to give the second round of stimulus checks.

4. Funding for Schools

The CARES Act did not include school funding, but the HEROES Act and HEALS Act do. The HEROES Act proposed an amount of $58billion for K-12 and $42 billion for Higher Education.

Meanwhile, HEALS Act proposed $70 billion to go to K-12 schools that open for in-person classes, $29 billion for higher education, $1 billion to the Bureau of Indian Education, and $5 billion at states' discretion, according to a published article in CNET.

5. Payroll Protection Program

The Payroll Protection Program is to help businesses in the country, rehire their employees amid the global pandemic. The Republican lawmakers will still include the PPP loan, and it will be offered to the hardest-hit businesses in the country.

Aside from these five programs, lawmakers will also discuss Liability protection against coronavirus-related lawsuits. Employee retention tax credit could help pay workers and Return-to-work payment of as much as $450 each week. It is still not clear if they will include eviction moratorium in the new relief bill.

Check these out:

Stimulus Payments Could Be $50,000 for Eligible Families If Bill Backed by Harris, Sanders Passes

US Unemployment Benefit: Uncertain, Might Decrease From $400 Down to $300

Stimulus Deadline for Eligible Social Security Beneficiaries With Kids Extended
South Africa: Hydrogen fuel cell systems power COVID-19 field hospital

Government, in collaboration with the private sector, is putting plans in place to roll out hydrogen fuel cell technologies in various parts of South Africa.

These will serve as alternative energy sources to the country's electricity grid.

Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) Director-General, Dr Phil Mjwara said that such partnerships will enable government to take alternative energy sources to rural areas while also contributing to the growth of the country's green economy.

Dr Mjwara was speaking at 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria on Wednesday, where government has set up a field hospital to prepare for the potential increase in COVID-19 patients.

The department unveiled seven hydrogen fuel cell systems as the primary power source for the field hospital, which has facilities for testing and screening, as well as life-saving equipment such as ventilators in the intensive care unit.

The project is a partnership between the DSI, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, the Department of Defence and private companies including, Bambili Energy, which is committed to commercialising intellectual property developed through the DSI's Hydrogen South Africa (HySA) Programme.

Mjwara said that Bambili Energy is working on an initiative to take some of these fuels cells to rural areas in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.

This is the start, but the idea is to roll the project out to various parts of South Africa," said Mjwara.

South Africa's Secretary for Defence, Ambassador Sonto Kudjoe said that the field hospital is now operating using only the fuel cell systems, while Eskoms electricity grid serves as back-up.

"It is encouraging that there was an opportunity to scale up the project. We can extend the systems to many parts of the country and relieve the burden on Eskom, while transferring skills in the development of hydrogen fuel cells in the country," said Ambassador Kudjoe.

The support provided to 1 Military Hospital will be complemented by hands-on training, involving government officials and unemployed college graduates with N4 electrical engineering (light and heavy current) qualifications.

Bambili Energy CEO, Zanele Mavuso expressed excitement at leading the deployment of the fuel cell systems to contribute to government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This is also an opportunity to demonstrate the potential role alternative energy sources can play in our everyday lives, given South Africa's growing energy challenges," Mavuso said.

Further contributions in the form of methanol and hydrogen for the fuel cell units were received from Air Products South Africa, Protea Chemicals and Sasol.

Protea Chemicals Interim Managing Director, Pieter Swart, said they are looking forward to the partnership, and to working with the Bambili group and the various government departments involved in the project.

Given its experience in the production and handling of hydrogen, which it uses to produce liquid fuels, fuel gas and chemicals, Sasol will donate 10 000 litres of methanol and 600 kg of hydrogen monthly until April 2021.

This will help to power the field facility.

"We are deliberately pursuing renewable energy sources through technology, innovation and collaboration, and sustainably produced hydrogen is integral to reducing our carbon footprint across our operations," said Sasols Human Resources and Corporate Affairs Executive Vice President, Charlotte Mokoena.

Other partners in the initiative include South Africa's HyPlat, Singapore's Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies, the US company Element One, and Powercell Sweden.

Hydrogen fuel cell technologies are globally recognised for their potential to decarbonise the energy and transport sectors.

Fuel cells produce electricity by means of a chemical reaction, using hydrogen as the basic fuel and platinum-based catalysts.

Besides being efficient and reliable, fuel cells can be deployed rapidly and scaled up easily as the need arises, and their maintenance costs are relatively low.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-08-20. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
In her Wednesday DNC convention speech, Hillary Clinton implied that a foreign adversary could sway the U.S. elections, and suggested that an electoral college victory without a corresponding popular vote win would render the victors election illegitimate.

Vote for honest elections, so we, not a foreign adversary, choose our president, Clinton implored viewers. And dont forget, Joe and Kamala can win by three million votes and still losetake it from me. So we need numbers [to be] overwhelming so Trump cant sneak or steal his way to victory.

Since losing the 2016 election, Clinton has repeatedly implied that President Trump has colluded with Russia both during and after his election victory. After Trump ousted former director of national intelligence Joseph Maguire in February of this year, Clinton accused the president of being Vladimir Putins puppet.

Putins Puppet is at it again, taking Russian help for himself, Clinton wrote on Twitter. He knows he cant win without it. And we cant let it happen.

During an election debate in October 2016, Clinton said that Putin would rather have a puppet as president.

Clinton went on, Its pretty clearthat you encouraged espionage against our people, that you are willing to spout the Putin line, sign up for his wish list, break up NATO, do whatever he wants to do, and that you continue to get help from him.

The FBI investigated the Trump-campaign throughout the election over allegations of collusion with Russian operatives, partly based on information compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele. Some allegations in the dossier are now considered to be Russian disinformation and more than two years of investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller rendered no evidence that the Trump campaign had colluded with Russia to compromise the election.

The Senate Intelligence Committees report on the FBIs Russia investigation concluded that former Trump-campaign officials, including Paul Manafort and George Papadopoulos, were dangerously vulnerable to exploitation by Russian intelligence. However, the report concluded that the Trump-campaign did not collude with Russian operatives to win the election and further found that the FBI gave too much credence to the unverified Steele dossier, which was used to obtain a warrant to surveil Trumps then-national security adviser Carter Page.

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US Presidential Elections 2020: Kamala Harris had invoked the names of African-Americans who died for the US, saying "there is no vaccine for racism".

Kamala Harris, who became the first African-American woman and South Asian woman to be nominated on a major partys ticket, invoked the names of African-Americans who died for the US, saying there is no vaccine for racism.

Harris, who accepted her party nomination for Vice President, said the Democrats will work to fulfil the promise of equal justice under law, CNN reported. There is no vaccine for racism. We have got to do the work, she said.

For George Floyd, for Breonna Taylor, for the lives of too many others to name, for our children and for all of us. We have got to do the work to fulfil that promise of equal justice under law. Because here is the thing. None of us is free until all of us are free, Harris said in her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention.

Also read: Galwan clash: India, China to hold WMCC meeting today

Also read: Karachi plane crash: Pak assembly panel calls for thorough investigation

Harris invoked several female civil rights and political leaders like Mary Church Terrell, Mary Mcleod Bethune, Fannie Lou Hamer, Diane Nash, Constance Baker Motley and Shirley Chisholm. We are not often taught their stories. But as Americans, we all stand on their shoulders, she said.

She added, Without fanfare or recognition, they organised, testified, rallied, marched and fought  not just for their vote, but for a seat at the table. These women and the generations that followed worked to make democracy and opportunity real in the lives of all of us who followed. They paved the way for the trailblazing leadership of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

Harris turned emotional and recalled her late mother Shyamala Gopalan, saying she was not there to see her daughters achievement of becoming the first African-American and South Asian woman nominated on a major partys ticket.

My mother taught me that service to others gives life purpose and meaning. And oh, how I wish she were here tonight but I know she is looking down on me from above, she said.

Harris said she often thinks what her mother must have thought when she gave first birth at the age of 25 years at Kaiser Hospital in Oakland, California, according to CNN.

On that day, she probably could have never imagined that I would be standing before you now speaking these words  I accept your nomination for Vice President of the United States of America, she said. Harris mother passed away due to cancer in 2009.

Also read: US hands over second shipment of 100 ventilators to India
Italy Suffers Most New CCP Virus Cases Since May: Health Officials

Italian authorities reported the largest increase in CCP virus cases on Thursday in about two months, coming after stringent lockdown measures were eased.

The countys health officials said that more than 840 new cases of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, a novel coronavirus that causes the COVID-19 disease, were reported over the past 24 hours.

According to The Local, the tally is the largest rise since the 875 cases that were recorded on May 16 when the country was still on lockdown. It also noted that 642 new cases of the virus were recorded on Wednesday.

We are not in as bad a position as France and Spain, but the current situation is not satisfactory, said Professor Massimo Galli, who is in charge of the Sacco hospitals infectious diseases department in Milan. The end of confinement has resulted in an excessive feeling of false security, he was quoted as saying by the publication.

Italy is one of the hardest-hit countries by COVID-19, and it was the first nation outside of China, where the virus originated, to suffer a widespread outbreak.

French officials registered 3,776 new CCP virus infections on Wednesday, although French President Emmanuel Macron ruled out implementing a new lockdown.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Lebanons President Michel Aoun wear protective face masks as they meet following Tuesdays blast in Beiruts port area, at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon, on Aug. 6, 2020. (Mohamed Azakir/Reuters)

All the indicators keep going up and the transmission of the virus is getting stronger among all ages groups affected, young adults in particular, the health ministry said in a statement, confirming the new daily toll.

Macron, meanwhile, said that despite the rise in cases, a lockdown will cause considerable amounts of collateral damage.

Zero risk never exists in any society, he said, according to an interview he gave with Paris Match. We must respond to this anxiety without falling into the doctrine of zero risk.

Germany recorded 1,707 new cases of the virus in the last 24 hours, which is its reported highest daily toll since April, according to the Robert Koch Institue, Reuters reported.

Spain saw 3,715 new cases of the CCP virus confirmed in the past 24 hours, said the countrys health ministry, Reuters also reported.

There is no doubt that if the incidence increases, mortality will end up rising to, Pere Godoy, the president of the Spanish Epidemiological Society, reported El Pais. It is to be expected that this rise is not as steep as that registered in the spring, given that many of the people being diagnosed now are young, healthy and even asymptomatic.

Reuters contributed to this report.
An accused in the 2006 Kalupur railway station blast in Ahmedabad, who was on the run for 14 years, was arrested by the Gujarat Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) from a village in West Bengal close to Bangladesh Border, officials said on Thursday.

Based on specific inputs, a team of the ATS nabbed the accused- Abdul Razzaq Gazi- from a village in Basirhat tehsil of West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, the officials said.

Gazi was brought to the Gujarat ATS headquarters on Thursday, they said.

According to the ATS, Gazi gave shelter to Lashkar-e- Taiba (LeT) operatives Zulfikar Kagzi and Abu Jundal, who along with others were accused of planting a bomb between platform no 2 and 3 of Kalupur railway station in February 2006.

While the blast left several injured, no one was killed in it, the officials said.

It was alleged that the bomb was planted by Kagzi, Jundal and other members of the SIMI and LeT to "take revenge of 2002 Godhra riots, the ATS said in a statement.

Apart from giving shelter to Kagzi and Jundal after the blast, Gazi also helped them in crossing the Bangladesh border. The duo then fled to Pakistan from Bangladesh, it said.

The ATS also suspects that Gazi, at the instance of Pakistan's ISI, also helped 2008 Bangalore blast accused in crossing the Bangladesh border.

READ | Noida: 10 Arrested, Over 1,700 Penalised For Violating COVID Curbs

READ | Delhi Police Head Constable Arrested For Killing Man
Check out the news you should not miss today:

Politics

 Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Vietnam Giorgio Aliberti on Tuesday joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General of Europe Department Dinh Toan Thang to kick off a dialogue on sustainable maritime development with the participation of experts from Vietnam and the EU in order to share perspectives, policies and practices from both regions, the EU mission in Vietnam said in a post on its verified Facebook page the same day.

Society

 Vietnam on Thursday morning reported one new COVID-19 case in Hanoi, increasing the countrys tally to 994 with 533 recoveries and 25 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

 A repatriation flight carrying 233 Vietnamese citizens stranded in South Korea due to COVID-19 landed at Can Tho International Airport in the namesake Mekong Delta city on Wednesday.

 Around 170,000 people under underprivileged circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Da Nang are in need of food support, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee in Da Nang said on Wednesday.

 Da Nang began free COVID-19 screening for sellers at all local markets on August 18 after the city detected a patient who is a seller at the Hoa Cuong wholesale market.

 From July 15 to August 14, police in Ho Chi Minh City detected 116 foreigners illegally entering Vietnam.

 Police in the northern city of Bac Ninh on Wednesday evening said they had arrested Nguyen Van Thien, 47, the owner of a restaurant in the city, after he allegedly forced a female customer to kneel and apologize for having said on social media that she found helminthes in foods served at the restaurant.

Business

 Vietnams import of automobiles increased significantly in July despite impacts caused by the latest wave of COVID-19, with a report from the General Department of Customs showing that the country imported 4,760 cars of various kinds worth US$107.7 million last month, the Vietnam News Agency reported on Wednesday.

Education

 Seventy-eight percent of Vietnamese youths agree that the quality of education in Vietnam is improving, according to findings shared in British Councils Next Generation: Vietnam report announced on Wednesday, the British Embassy Hanoi said in a post on its verified Facebook page the same day.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
UNITED KINGDOM : A 36-year-old man, who was extradited from India to the UK, was sentenced to life imprisonment in London on Thursday after being found guilty of carrying out a string of rapes and a murder at a trial.

Aman Vyas was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court, with a recommended minimum term behind bars of 37 years, less time already served in custody both in England and in India making his outstanding sentence to be served as 34 years, 312 days.

We are pleased with today's sentence which reflects the gravity of Vyas's crimes. At last the victims and their families have seen the man responsible for such terrible crimes brought to justice. This is a long sentence that recognises the cruelty and depravity of Vyas's actions," said Scotland Yard case officer Detective Sergeant Shaleena Sheikh.

Vyas carried out horrific and violent attacks on three women which, tragically, culminated in the murder of Michelle Samaraweera. He then did all he could to evade responsibility for his crimes and fled to India. He added further distress to those he hurt by subjecting them to a trial. I would like to commend the dignity and bravery shown by his victims and their families throughout this process, which has lasted more than 10 years," said Sheikh.

Vyas was also sentenced for grievous bodily harm with intent (14 years), for the rape of a woman (16 years and five months), for the rape of a second woman (18-and-a-half years), for the rape of a third woman (18-and-a-half years), and the rape of Michelle Samaraweera, the murder victim, (18-and-a-half years).

All sentences are to run concurrent with the sentence for murder.

Samaraweera's sister Ann paid tribute to her late thoughtful baby sister" and called on Vyas to confess and be truly sorry" for the pain he had inflicted on her and other families.

She said in a statement: Aman Vyas has had over 11 years to come clean and admit to raping and murdering my sister, and even longer to admit to all the other heinous crimes committed against all the other innocent victims.

He has also had all this time to reflect on his own life and address the issues that have turned him into the monster that he is but he didnt. Instead he has lied and fabricated stories for his own benefit. He will never understand what he put my mother, sisters, children, loved ones, friends and myself through," Ann said.

Vyas potentially spending the rest of his life in prison is not a punishment but a privilege, it will never be enough," she said.

Vyas had been found guilty last month after a trial at the Old Bailey Court in London and convicted of the rape and murder of Michelle Samaraweera and the rape of three other women.

The court heard that the offences took place at locations across Walthamstow in north east London between March 2009 and May 2009.

The court heard how his offending began when Vyas was 24 years old. He would go out in the early hours of the morning looking for lone women to target and covered a relatively small area of Walthamstow, centred around Markhouse Road.

It was established in July 2009, a month after Samaraweeras murder, that Vyas purchased a one-way ticket to India, leaving the same day.

A manhunt commenced to find Vyas and extradite him back to the UK.

In 2011, enquiries revealed at one stage that Vyas was in New Zealand, he then made his way to Singapore and the trail went cold.

The Metropolitan Police said that it was in July 2011 that they were informed by Indian authorities that they had arrested Vyas, an Indian national, at New Delhi Airport in India as he tried to take an outbound flight.

Extradition proceedings commenced at that time and in October 2019, Met officers escorted the defendant from Indira Gandhi National Airport in New Delhi to London Heathrow where he was formally arrested and charged thereafter.

Met Police Detective Sheikh said: Despite having DNA from the scenes of the crimes, Vyas was not on the database and this prompted a lengthy and complex investigation, which saw more than 1,100 DNA swabs taken and 1,815 addresses visited. We also issued more than 60,500 posters displaying an image of the suspect.

"The scale of this investigation has been remarkable and the case has lasted a decade, taking our enquiries to many different countries and resulting in a lengthy extradition process."

Vyas was found not guilty of only one count, that of possession of a bladed weapon.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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Statues of two historical Illinois figures with ties to slavery, Stephen Douglas and Pierre Menard, are slated to be removed from the Illinois Capitol lawn after a panel voted Wednesday to have them taken down and to begin a comprehensive study of artwork on the Capitol complex.

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan last month called for the removal of the statues of Douglas, a staunch defender of slavery, and Menard, the states first lieutenant governor and a slaveholder.

Capitol architect Andrea Aggertt, whose office has control over statues on the Capitol grounds, said she anticipates the pair of statues can be removed from the Capitol grounds within two to three months.

Pritzker extends emergency housing relief application period Deadline extended for Illinois renters to apply for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program until noon Friday, Aug. 28.

A movement to remove memorials and artwork depicting historical figures with connections to slavery from public spaces gained momentum earlier this summer after the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, which sparked nationwide protests against racism and police brutality against people of color.

The four-member board of the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, which is comprised of the clerk and assistant clerk of the Illinois House and the secretary and assistant secretary of the state Senate, voted unanimously Wednesday for the removal and storage of the statues.

The board directed the office to pursue a rule change that would allow for a the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. statue that is currently across the street from the Capitol in Springfield to be moved onto the statehouse grounds.

A statue of Douglas on the second floor of the Capitol was not included in Wednesdays vote, in part due to additional challenges connected with removing and storing the indoor statue, said Clerk of the House John Hollman, who presented the statue removal proposal.

Scott Kaiser, a board member and the assistant secretary of the state Senate, called it an inconsistency to not remove the indoor Douglas statue along with the one on the lawn, noting that statue inside the Capitol is in some ways even more prominent than the one thats slated for removal.

The office and the board will review artwork, including murals and statues located in public spaces inside the Capitol and on the grounds, through an update to its historic structures report. The study of the artifacts on the Capitol grounds will be an opportunity to discuss what happens to these statues were decommissioning, Hollman said.

Douglas represented Illinois in both chambers of the U.S. Congress, and famously took part in a series of debates with Abraham Lincoln during a U.S. Senate campaign. He lost the 1860 presidential election to Lincoln.

The University of Chicago last month announced it removed two displays honoring Douglas from campus and relocated them to a university collection. The university said, Douglas profited from his wifes ownership of a Mississippi plantation where Black people were enslaved. While it is critical to understand and address the ongoing legacy of slavery and oppression in this country, Douglas does not deserve to be honored on our campus.

Madigan said in a statement last month he planned to introduce a resolution to authorize the removal of a portrait of Douglas that hangs in the House chamber when lawmakers return to Springfield. Madigan said the painting should be replaced with a portrait of former President Barack Obama.

The fall veto session is scheduled to begin Nov. 17.

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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.com/NJ.com.

By Jennifer Sellitti

Culture eats policy for breakfast. The quote is attributed to consultant Pete Drucker but I first heard it when former Camden Police Chief Scott Thompson used it to describe why attempts at police reform often fail.

The NJ.com/Star-Ledger project reveals consensus among community leaders when it comes to transforming police policy and, make no mistake, policies aimed at reallocating resources, diversifying departments, minimizing use of force, and eliminating racial bias are essential. But if the New Jersey Black Lives Matter movement wants the reckoning it so clearly deserves it must aim directly at changing police culture. We must ensure police are held accountable to the public they serve.

Police accountability is the tie that binds all the proposed policy changes yet many advocates, including those featured by the Ledger, overlook transparency as a key component of accountability and thus, meaningful reform. Transparency, meaning public access to police misconduct records, is the only way to hold police accountable when they violate policy. The fear of actual accountability is what deters an officer from committing misconduct, and the only way to achieve this is for the public to know about the misconduct.

Currently, police in New Jersey operate with an anonymity unheard of in most other states. Absent extraordinary circumstances, civil rights lawyers, defense attorneys and members of the public cannot obtain information about police misconduct, so officers can rest comfortably knowing judges, juries and members of the public will never know about it.

In 2016, there were 2,679 NJ State Troopers. That year, 30 of them received what we call major discipline, meaning they were fired, demoted, or suspended for more than 5 days. We've never publicly identified those 30.



I said we should. Now 5 police unions are suing me.  AG Gurbir Grewal (@NewJerseyOAG) July 3, 2020

An example might be helpful. In 2017, the last year the State Police published major misconduct statistics, the State Police disciplined officers for among other things: falsifying motor vehicle stop records, falsifying police reports, illegally searching property, failing to report the misconduct of a fellow officer, providing false information during an Internal Affairs investigation, and more. Not one of the troopers was fired and, because of laws that shroud police records in secrecy, none were named.

This means troopers disciplined for lying, falsifying records, and conducting illegal searches are still making arrests and testifying in court without a judge or jury or member of the public ever knowing. There are people sitting in jail right now facing significant prison terms who do not and cannot know if the trooper who arrested them previously falsified a report or lied during an IA investigation.

New Jerseys broken legal process prioritizes the officers privacy over the accuseds interests. Specifically, the rules allow an attorney access only when she can prove a criminal defendants need to know outweighs the officers privacy. A liberty interest is not enough. The catch is, to meet the legal standard, an attorney must know there is misconduct in the officers background. Because New Jersey has never allowed access to police records, attorneys can rarely overcome that hurdle and make the showing. As a result, the records remain secret.

Prosecutors, who have an affirmative obligation to disclose information about prior misconduct if known to them, bury their heads in the sand so they can later claim ignorance. It is a cycle that keeps IA records shrouded in secrecy and insulates officers who commit misconduct at the expense of people threatened with lengthy prison sentences.

New Jersey is one of 20 states that fail to provide either limited or full public access to police internal affairs (IA) records, a fact that prompted Attorney General Gurbir Grewal to Tweet on July 3, 2020, [W]hen it comes to the transparency of police disciplinary records, were at the back of the pack. Its time for that to change.

Making IA records public is not an effort to shame or embarrass officers as police unions would have New Jerseyians believe; rather, it would ensure officers who violate the policies they are sworn to uphold are held accountable.

An officer who believes his past will never catch up to him has no incentive to comply with any policies or training he received. We can change policies, but until police are held accountable by name to the public they serve, the culture will always trump the policy when an officer is forced to make a decision on the street.

Legislation that will go a long way in bringing transparency and accountability to policing in New Jersey is Sen. Loretta Weinbergs S2656, which would access to law enforcement disciplinary records.

Every step we take to improve the quality of policing in our state is critical to taking us where we need to go, and the power of those standing shoulder to shoulder in this movement shined in the Star-Ledger last week. No reform is more important than another, but the movement must elevate the call for police transparency alongside other reforms.

Jennifer Sellitti is the training and communications director for the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender. In addition, she speaks nationally about trial advocacy and criminal legal system reform.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Heres how to submit an op-ed or Letter to the Editor. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
AKRON, Ohio  Goodyear Tire & Rubber responded on Wednesday to what it described as some misconceptions about its policies after President Donald Trump urged people to boycott the Akron-based company for not allowing employees to wear political attire.

But in a four-paragraph statement that did not refer specifically to Trump, the company does acknowledge asking that associates refrain from workplace expressions in support of political campaigning for any candidate or political party

At issue is a report Tuesday from WIBW-TV in Topeka, Kansas, which includes a photo sent by someone purporting to be an employee at a Goodyear plant. The photo shows a slide that lists acceptable kinds of attire, including Black Lives Matter (BLM) and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride (LGBT). Listed under unacceptable are Blue Lives Matter, All Lives Matter, MAGA attire and Political Affiliated Slogans or Material.

WIBW reported that the slide was generated from Goodyears corporate office in Akron, and that it was presented during a diversity training session.

Trump responded Wednesday on Twitter: Dont buy GOODYEAR TIRES  They announced a BAN ON MAGA HATS. Get better tires for far less! (This is what the Radical Left Democrats do. Two can play the same game, and we have to start playing it now!).

In its response, Goodyear denied that the image was created by Goodyear corporate or that it was shown during a diversity training class.

Here is Goodyears statement in its entirety, including the companys use of bold type:

Yesterday, Goodyear became the focus of a conversation that created some misconceptions about our policies and our company. For those not aware, a widely circulated image sparked a strong reaction, and we wanted to take the opportunity to provide some important context to the visual and our policies.

First, the visual in question was not created or distributed by Goodyear corporate, nor was it part of a diversity training class. To be clear on our longstanding corporate policy, Goodyear has zero tolerance for any forms of harassment or discrimination. To enable a work environment free of those, we ask that associates refrain from workplace expressions in support of political campaigning for any candidate or political party, as well as similar forms of advocacy that fall outside the scope of racial justice and equity issues.

Second, we appreciate the diverse viewpoints of all of our more than 60,000 associates, which are at the heart of many of the policies we establish. Fostering an inclusive, respectful workplace is important to establish teamwork and build culture, which is another reason we ask associates not to engage in political campaigning of any kind in the workplace  for any candidate, party or political organization.

Third and finally, Goodyear has always wholeheartedly supported both equality and law enforcement and will continue to do so. These are not mutually exclusive. We have heard from some of you that believe Goodyear is anti-police after reacting to the visual. Nothing could be further from the truth, and we have the upmost appreciation for the vital work police do on behalf of our shared communities. This cant be said strongly enough.
Some journalists and politicians have been saying that we just need to let the virus run and only worry about protecting the elderly or vulnerable. Given that would mean a lot more community infections  limited, it is hoped, to those at lower risk of death or severe infection  lets look at what it would take to try to protect those who need protecting.

The vast majority of healthcare workers who look after the vulnerable would have to stop having any type of social life. Credit:Jason South

The residents of aged care facilities have been hit particularly hard, so we would obviously have to focus a lot of energy on trying to stop COVID-19 from getting into their facilities.

That would mean anyone working there would have to do everything possible to avoid taking COVID-19 to work, given that they could spread it when they are in an asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic phase of the infection.

They would need to avoid public places such as supermarkets, shopping centres, parties, restaurants, bars or cinemas. And if they have children who are back at school, they would have to avoid all contact with them too. In fact, they would have to avoid contact with anyone who is going out into public areas that would lead to potential exposure.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump on Thursday reaffirmed his plan to withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq as quickly as possible as he met with the prime minister of Iraq to discuss ways to rein in pro-Iran militias in the country and counter residual threats from Islamic State sleeper cells.

We look forward to the day when we dont have to be there, Trump said during an Oval Office meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.

We were there and now we're getting out. Well be leaving shortly and the relationship is very good. Were making very big oil deals. Our oil companies are making massive deals. ... Were going to be leaving and hopefully were going to be leaving a country that can defend itself.

Asked about a timetable for a full withdrawal, the president turned to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who replied: As soon as we can complete the mission. The president has made very clear he wants to get our forces down to the lowest level as quickly as we possibly can. Thats the mission hes given us and were working with the Iraqis to achieve that.

There are more than 5,000 American troops in Iraq now. Last month, the top U.S. general for the Middle East said he believed the U.S. will keep a smaller but enduring presence in the country. Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, the commander of U.S. Central Command, said he believes the Iraqis welcome the U.S. and coalition troops, especially in the ongoing fight to keep IS fighters from taking hold of the country again.

McKenzie has not said how many U.S. troops might stay. But he said Iraqi conventional forces now operate on their own. U.S. and coalition forces continue to conduct training and counterterrorism operations, including with Iraqi commandos. Any final decisions, he said, would be coordinated with the Iraqi government.

Al-Kadhimi, who is backed by the United States, assumed office in May when Baghdads relations with Washington were precarious following the U.S. killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike at the Baghdad airport. The prime minister has my ear, Trump said.

Story continues

Al-Kadhimi has often had to walk a tightrope due to the U.S.-Iran rivalry. Asked if he was bringing any messages from Tehran following a recent visit there, al-Kadhimi told The Associated Press before he left for Washington, We do not play the role of postman in Iraq.

The U.S. recognizes the cultural and religious ties that exist between Iran and Iraq, but the administration wants to decrease Iran's destabilizing influence in Iraq, often exercised by pro-Iranian militias.

Al-Kadhimis administration inherited many crises. State coffers in the crude oil-dependent country were slashed following a severe drop in prices, adding to the woes of an economy already struggling with the aftershocks of the global coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. wants to make sure the Baghdad central government's limited resources also find their way to the Kurdish autonomous region in northern Iraq.

State violence used to quell the mass protests that erupted in October brought public trust in the government to a new low. Tens of thousands of Iraqis marched, decrying rampant government corruption, poor services and unemployment, leading to the resignation of the previous premier, Adel Abdul-Mahdi.

As al-Kadhimi held strategic talks with Trump, which were expected to shape the future of the U.S.-Iraq relationship, human rights monitors on Thursday sounded the alarm over a recent spike in killings targeting civil rights activists in the southern part of the county.

In addition, rockets have continued to strike at the seat of al-Kadhimis government. Iran-backed Shiite militia groups are widely suspected of being behind both types of attacks.

Pompeo, who met Wednesday with Iraqs foreign minister, Fuad Hussein, said the U.S. was committed to helping Iraq regain and maintain security, despite Trumps desire to reduce and then eliminate American troops' presence there. Armed groups are not under the full control of the Iraqi prime minister, Pompeo said. He said those groups should be replaced by local police as soon as possible and that the U.S. could and would help.

The Iraqi prime minister told Pompeo that Iraq currently does not need direct military support on the ground, and that the levels of help will depend on the changing nature of the threat. Three years since Iraq declared victory over IS, sleeper cells continue to stage attacks across the countrys north.

Pompeo and the Iraqi foreign minister expressed hope that as the security situation improves, there will be greater economic cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the energy sector.

On Wednesday, Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette announced energy agreements worth up to $8 billion between the Iraqi minsters of oil and electricity and five U.S. companies  Honeywell, Baker Hughes, GE, Stellar and Chevron. Brouillette said U.S. private investment will help Iraqi's energy sector and stressed a need for Iraq to reduce its dependence on energy from Iran.

___

Associated Press writers Matthew Lee and Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report.
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(Nikkei Asian Review)  As tensions grow between China and Australia, the superpowers main coal supplier, work is being stepped up in Pakistans largest coalfield on a project conceived to feed local power plants, but which some experts believe might provide Beijing with an option for an alternative source of coal.

After months of delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic, some 500 employees of Shanghai Electric Power arrived in Pakistan earlier this month to work on the $1.9 billion Thar Block-I integrated coal mine and power project located in the countrys southeastern desert region of Tharparkar.

Wholly owned by China, the project is a key component in the $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), itself a significant part of Chinese President Xi Jinpings flagship Belt and Road Initiative.

The project revolves around an open-pit mine capable of supplying 6.8 million tons of lignite annually to two onsite 660 megawatt power plants.

In 2011, the Thar Block-I coalfield was leased for 30 years to a Chinese company, Sino-Sindh Resources, that is now a subsidiary of Shanghai Electric.

The electricity generated will feed Pakistans national grid, with the first power plant due to come online by August 2022, and the second the following February.

The Thar coalfield covers more than 9,000 square kilometers of desert in Sindh province close to the border with India. It is Pakistans largest coal reserve with an estimated 175 billion tons, and is the worlds seventh largest lignite field. Pakistans long-term plan is to develop the entire Thar coalfield in 12 blocks. Work on four of these is already underway with Chinese involvement.

Pakistan urgently needs to develop indigenous energy sources to overcome a crippling 3,000 MW domestic power shortage at peak times and dependence on fuel imports. China is offering hydro, coal, solar and wind solutions through CPEC.

The development of energy plants is crucial for Pakistan as it wishes to industrialize and also to meet increasing demand due to its rapidly growing population, Zahid Ahmed, research fellow at Australia-based Deakin Universitys Institute for Citizenship and Globalization, told the Nikkei Asian Review.

The acceleration of work on the Thar Block-I project comes at a time when Chinas thermal coal imports from Australia are being curtailed by Beijing. A diplomatic spat escalated into a trade war earlier this year after Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for an independent investigation into the Covid-19 pandemic.

China, the worlds largest coal consumer, is struggling to wean itself off imported coal. Beijings main state planning body, the National Development and Reform Commission, has reportedly instructed state-owned utility companies not to buy Australian thermal coal.

Some wonder if China is in the market for a new coal supplier, but Imtiaz Shaikh, the energy minister of Sindh province, told Nikkei that Shanghai Electric has not expressed any intent to import Pakistani coal. He said the cost of the Thar Block-I project could be as high as $2.5 billion.

We are not currently operating at a size and scale to emerge as a player in international markets, Syed Abul Fazal Rizvi, chief executive of Sindh Engro Coal Mining, a private Pakistani company operating in Thar Block-II, told Nikkei. Our immediate focus is to indigenize Pakistans own energy mix so that we can reduce our countrys dependence on foreign fuels.

Some experts believe, however, that China can fall back on its investments in Pakistani coal to help meet domestic energy needs in the event of soured relations with existing trade partners or geopolitical tensions in the South China Sea.

Michael Kugelman, deputy director of the Asia program at the Wilson Center, a Washington think tank, said that it is natural for China to double down on its safest and strongest relationships to pursue its economic and energy interests when there are diplomatic tensions with a number of countries.

Pakistan is arguably Chinas closest ally, and so its a natural partner to look to  especially given the long track record of Chinese energy infrastructure projects [in Pakistan], Kugelman told Nikkei. Geography and geopolitics give China strong confidence about Pakistan as a supply route for coal imports. Its a bordering state, and its a state with a deep alliance with China.

Ahmed of Deakin University said that a full suspension of Australian coal exports to China is unlikely, but that does not preclude exploring alternative sources in Pakistan.

Monique Taylor, lecturer in world politics at the University of Helsinki, noted that the strategic value of Thar coal is seriously limited by its low quality. She said the Pakistani lignite has no export value because the cost of shipping per unit of heating value makes it uneconomic.

Its value is for use in power generation locally or close to the mine site, she said. Thar coal is not a replacement for the high-grade coal that Australia exports.

Contact editor Yang Ge (geyang@caixin.com)

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<! The Coup plotters: L-R, Colonel Malick Diaw, Brig. Gen. Dembele, Colonel Sadio Camara >

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Nigerian Government on Wednesday condemned the coup detat in Mali, West Africa, Africa.

Mutinous soldiers had on Tuesday detained President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in a coup plot in the already troubled West African country.

Keita was forced to resigned, as he announced this in a televised address on Tuesday, as the coup in Mali unravelled.

He also dissolved the parliament and the government headed by Prime Minister Boubou Cisse.

The turn of events followed a mutiny on Tuesday by soldiers, who later arrested him and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse, in what transformed into a coup detat.

I want no blood to be spilled to keep me in power, Keita said.

But the Nigerian Government, through the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, condemned the coup.

The government demanded the immediate and unconditional restoration of constitutional order.

The Nigerian Government unequivocally condemns the the coup detat that took place in Mali yesterday and demands the immediate and unconditional restoration of constitutional order.

We welcome the urgent activation of the ECOWAS Standby force, Onyeama said on his twitter handle.

The Nigerian Government unequivocally condemns the the coup detat that took place in #Mali yesterday and demands the immediate and unconditional restoration of constitutional order. We welcome the urgent activation of the #ECOWAS Standby force. @NigeriaGov @ecowas_cedeao  Geoffrey Onyeama (@GeoffreyOnyeama) August 19, 2020

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Iran plans second ocean port on Sea of Oman: PMO

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 19 August 2020 5:04 PM

Iranian port authorities say the country is planning to build a second ocean port as trade keeps booming in Chabahar on the Sea of Oman.

Head of Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) Mohammad Rastad said on Wednesday that the planned port just outside the Persian Gulf along Iran's southeastern coastline, an area known as Makran, would be capable of accommodating super-size ships.

"We have carried out studies to determine the best location for this port on Makran coasts and we have reached a general conclusion," Rastad told the semi-official Fars News agency.

The official did not elaborate on the potential location for the port although he insisted it would be built along the coast of the province of Hormozagn and just outside the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway responsible for nearly a third of global seaborne oil trade.

Iran has invested heavily in Chabahar, the only ocean port in the country located in the province of Sistan and Baluchestan.

Foreign investors have contributed to the development of Chabahar and its infrastructure as they expect it to provide a huge boost to trade between the Indian Ocean and landlocked countries to the east and northeast of Iran.

Rastad said the reason for building a second port on the Sea of Oman is to have a better and quicker link to Iran's road and railway networks.

"Through construction of this port we will have better access to deeper waters so that we can accept the largest of ships with a minimum cost," he said.

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TORONTO - A slowdown of immigration to Canada due to the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to derail a major source of economic and labour force growth, according to a report from the Royal Bank of Canada.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 20/8/2020 (517 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A young new Canadian holds a flag as she takes part in a citizenship ceremony on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, April 17, 2019, to mark the 37th anniversary of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. A report by the Royal Bank says a slowdown of immigration to Canada due to the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to derail what it says has been a major source of economic growth at least temporarily. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

TORONTO - A slowdown of immigration to Canada due to the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to derail a major source of economic and labour force growth, according to a report from the Royal Bank of Canada.

The shortfall jeopardizes the ability of the country to find employees needed in sectors such as health and elder care as the baby boom generation moves into retirement over the next few years, the report says.

It calls on the federal government to find new ways to encourage more immigrants to move to Canada.

"Canada does rely on having large numbers of people coming to the country to fuel growth and, if we see these large declines, one concern could be that people may decide maybe they don't want to come to Canada anymore," said report author Andrew Agopsowicz, a senior economist for RBC who studies labour trends.

"I think it's really important for Canada to ensure the process is clear and that we still put out this attitude that we are open and we want people from the rest of the world to come to our country."

Canada added 34,000 permanent residents in the second quarter, down 67 per cent from the same period last year, the RBC study said.

Meanwhile, new permanent residency applications to Canada were down 80 per cent and just over 10,000 new study permits were processed, down from 107,000 a year earlier.

Despite a recent recovery in the pace of immigration, the bank expects to see only 70 per cent of the originally targeted 341,000 new permanent residents at the end of the year, a decline of about 100,000 people.

The shortfall is particularly bad news for elder care as labour shortages have gotten worse in the wake of the pandemic's deadly sweep through the country's nursing homes, said Dr. Samir Sinha, director of health policy research at the National Institute on Ageing at Ryerson University and director of geriatrics at Mount Sinai Hospital.

"We've been having a huge struggle finding workers and retaining workers in this sector for years ... and we were only keeping it afloat by often recruiting immigrants who are willing to take on these jobs that we as Canadians didn't want to do," he said.

"The fact it's low paid and not valued also speaks to one of the reasons it's been incredibly hard retaining (staff)."

Sinha said higher wages are needed not only to recruit Canadian-born workers but also to keep ambitious immigrants on the job longer.

Canada's ability to attract immigrants with meaningful work as the economy struggles to rebound from the pandemic may be difficult.

A Statistics Canada report published Thursday finds that recent immigrants were harder hit by pandemic-related job losses, with 17 per cent becoming unemployed from March to April compared with 13.5 per cent of workers who are Canadian-born or immigrants who have been in Canada more than 10 years.

The percentage was higher, almost 20 per cent, for recent female immigrants.

The difference is significant, said Statistics Canada analyst Feng Hou, adding it is attributed mostly to recent immigrants having less work experience and earning lower wages.

"From past experience, when immigrants come during hard times, they tend to have a hard time finding jobs," he said, adding there's no data as yet to tell if that will happen in the current environment.

Travel restrictions that began in March and continue today make it difficult for people to physically come to Canada, Agopsowicz said.

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At the same time, the lockdowns in the early days of the pandemic slowed processing of applications in Canada and prevented potential immigrants from accessing programs to ease application in their home countries.

An unknown is whether the COVID-19 virus, which hits senior citizens hardest, will have a dampening affect on the desire of foreigners to come to Canada and leave behind their vulnerable elderly relatives, Agopsowicz said.

"There's a lot of uncertainty, I think, when people arrive already during normal times, so I think people are starting to work through what that means," he said.

"This may be somewhat of a lost year (but) is this going to be easy to recover from next year in terms of bringing increased numbers back?"

Only about 20 per cent of new permanent residents are former students or temporary workers, he pointed out, suggesting Ottawa could do more to try to convince those people to permanently reside in Canada to bolster numbers.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 20, 2020.
Conferencia de prensa del presidente @MartinVizcarraC para informar sobre las acciones que realiza el Gobierno frente al COVID-19. En vivo: https://t.co/LQ1BWGMoLz https://t.co/5tVOiYcS9y
PSD's (Social Democratic Party) motion of censure is "an astonishing exercise of irresponsibility," Dan Barna, leader of the Save Romania Union (USR), said on Thursday.

"We have a health crisis, we have an economic crisis and Mr Ciolacu insists that we also have a political crisis. How does the fall of the Government solve the number of ICU beds? How does a motion of censure reduce the deficit? Should they govern Romania, after they left behind the disaster we all know?" Barna wrote on Facebook.He urged the interim leader of PSD, Marcel Ciolacu, to let the elections decide who will govern Romania."Mr Ciolacu, let's let the elections decide who deserves to govern. It's not long before then. You still have time to give up the motion and focus on the real needs of the citizens of this country, which does not include a political crisis," added the USR leader.The PSD's motion against the Government was read on Thursday in the joint sitting of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
Editors note: NJ.com/The Star-Ledger is holding a webcast on police reform and making Black Lives matter on Thursday, Aug. 20 at 1 p.m. at Facebook.com/NJ.com. The live event will feature a keynote by Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and law enforcement and community leaders.

By Angela McKnight

When we talk about restoring community and police relations, the involvement of community members in the dialogue is now more critical than ever before to maintaining fair and just practices in neighborhood policing.

The rise in fatalities of Black men and women in police custody around the country has left communities in despair, feeling targeted and on the wrong side of justice.

The high-profile deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, and Sandra Bland are among too many others illuminating the dark corners of racial injustice in America.

The times we find ourselves in has called upon us to take a different approach to ensure equality for all under the law. Why not allow communities to have their say on the issues and concerns that affect their communities? The ability to receive resident input on policing in their towns would not only serve largely urban communities but all communities including suburban and rural areas.

Of the top 50 largest police departments, 24 departments have civilian review boards, all but nine departments are overseen by a review board that is majority nominated and majority appointed by the mayor or in combination with the head of the local police.

For example, New York Citys Civilian Complaint Review Board is comprised of 13 members, with the mayor and police commissioner appointing eight of the 13 members.

Last year, the City of Newark established a civilian police review board after federal authorities discovered police abuse and the excessive use of force by officers in its department. The board is composed of 11 members, seven of whom are nominated by civil rights, immigrants rights, and community-based organizations. The nominees are presented to the mayor, who then appoints the board members subject to the advice and consent of the Municipal Council.

The very purpose of the civilian review board is to bring everyone to one table to provide an avenue for residents insight and input from the community-at-large on incidents of misconduct that have historically gone unaddressed.

I have sponsored legislation (A-4272) to give residents that chance to get involved in matters of abuse or use of excessive force by law enforcement officers in their communities.

The bill authorizes every municipality and county to establish a civilian review board to review and investigate complaints against members of their police force. A civilian review board would consist of at least seven members who are appointed by the mayor or other chief executive officer of the municipality with the consent of the governing body of the municipality. To ensure effectiveness, under the bill, any civilian review board created would have the discretion to call individuals involved in occurrences before the panel to acquire information on the incident being investigated.

This legislation is one of several steps members of the states General Assembly are taking to enact social justice reforms. I want to be clear that social justice reforms involving policing do not blame all law enforcement officers for the bad acts of some. It is quite the opposite. Ensuring fairness and justice in policing protects both good officers who perform their duties and strengthens their relationships with the communities they are serving. Offending officers are still rarely held accountable for bad acts. In one survey from Pew Research, only 27% of police officers reported that poorly performing officers are held accountable for their actions.

We must begin to foster transparency and equality in the justice that is served and do more to nurture more positive relations between law enforcement and residents. We want to prevent bad interactions and loss of life on both sides. This should be what we all want; it is surely what our communities need right now.

We cannot ignore that since 2014 and the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri we have seen plenty of incidents of excessive use of police force, which has amplified the cry for more to be done externally to give the community a voice in these matters. It is time to answer the call.

Assemblywoman Angela McKnight represents the 31st Legislative District, which is comprised of parts of Hudson County.

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US Gives Iraq $200M in Additional Humanitarian Aid

By VOA News August 19, 2020

The United States is giving an additional $204 million in humanitarian assistance to Iraqi citizens, Iraqi refugees and refugee hosting communities, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday.

The top U.S. diplomat announced the pledge after meeting in Washington with senior Iraqi officials, who continue to face Islamic State threats.

"We're committed to helping Iraq achieve economic prosperity, freedom from foreign meddling in its internal affairs, and improve relationships with its neighbors as well," Pompeo said. "This is what the Iraqi people want too  a stable, prosperous, independent Iraq."

Pompeo urged Iraqi officials to intensify efforts to contain pro-Iran militia groups. Although Iraq declared victory over IS three years ago, IS sleeper cells continue to carry out attacks in northern Iraq.

Pompeo met with the Iraqi officials, despite President Donald Trump's desire to cut U.S. troops in the Middle Eastern country.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi will meet with Trump Thursday at the White House to finish a two-month strategic dialogue to reshape relations between the two countries.

Al-Kadhimi took office in May when U.S.-Iraqi ties were strained.

Four months before he assumed office, a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad killed top Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, prompting Shiite legislators to demand that U.S. troops leave Iraq.

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Two young women who flew into Perth from Adelaide without an exemption and then escaped hotel quarantine while waiting to be flown home have narrowly avoided jail after a tearful court appearance.

Isata Jalloh, 19, and Banchi Techana, 22, arrived at Perth Airport on August 17 and told authorities they wanted to holiday in WA and visit friends, despite border closures being in place since April.

The Novotel Hotel Perth. Credit:Cameron Myles

The pair were escorted to the Novotel Hotel on Murray Street to quarantine until a return flight to Adelaide could be arranged.

But about 1.30am they left the hotel through the emergency stairwell and ignored orders from security guards to return to their rooms, instead catching a taxi to a unit in Coolbellup, where two men were living.
The Quick SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR Kit is a real-time reverse transcription PCR (rRT-PCR) test used for the qualitative detection of nucleic acids from SARS-CoV-2 in upper and lower respiratory specimens. The test has been previously authorized by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) under an emergency use and it is widely used in the U.S.A. for the diagnosis of COVID-19. With a limit of detection as low as 15 GEC/reaction (250 GEC/ml of sample) and a robust control system, this test outperforms most SARS-CoV-2 molecular tests currently on the market; and unlike many other molecular tests, the Quick SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR Kit includes ready-to-use reaction mixtures reducing hands-on time and eliminating human errors during the set-up process. In addition, the test is fast and results are generated in less than 1.5 hours.

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In the summer of COVID, one of the fastest ways to safely break out of the shelter-in-place box while avoiding crowds is to rent a small boat at a Bay Area lake.

The transformation is immediate. The sensation of floating takes over, imploring you to relax. With a few strokes of the paddle, stress about coronavirus can fall away as easily as the tiny bubbles trailing your boat.

People want fresh air  to get out with a lot of room out on the lake, said Christina Ferrari at Shoreline Lake in Mountain View.

Boat rental companies are taking extra precautions this year to keep boaters safe. Paddlers in the same boat must share a household. Equipment, including life vests, is sanitized regularly. Those kinds of assurances make getting out on the water a breeze.

The Bay Area is home to dozens of lakes. Here are five excellent ones currently offering boat rentals and an easy escape from life in lockdown.

Jessica Christian / The Chronicle 2018

Stow Lake, San Francisco

Pretty Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park is one of the citys jewels, a spot where you can transform how you feel in minutes. Your trip starts at the historic Stow Lake Boathouse, where you can rent a rowboat, pedal boat or electric boat from $22 to $37 per hour. The pedal boats are great for parents and youngsters to bust free; pick a windless day and go. Man-made Stow Lake was created in 1893, and a trip here, floating and paddling around, is one of those must-do getaways that define the best of the city.

Stow Lake Boathouse, 415-386-2531, www.stowlakeboathouse.com.

Lake Chabot, Castro Valley

Lake Chabot is nestled in a pocket beneath a high ridge, where boaters can explore two lake arms with secluded coves. The trip starts where you head out past a small island, then choose to continue straight ahead to Bass Cove or to turn right and venture into Honker Bay. In these quiet waters, the rare becomes possible: You might see a bald eagle pass overhead or a giant bass swim right beneath your boat. The marina reopened this month with rentals including single and double kayaks, pedal boats, rowboats, boats with electric trolling motors and pontoon boats. Rates start at $27 for a rowboat or single-person kayak.

Lake Chabot Marina, 510-247-2526, www.lakechabotrecreation.com.

San Pablo Reservoir, El Sobrante

San Pablo Reservoir is tucked in a long, deep canyon, with a major lake arm, Scow Canyon, and a waterfowl preserve at its head. It is best known as one of the regions top fishing lakes, where warm temperatures have converted stocks to catfish for summer. During the pandemic, the rental fleet at the marina has been honed down to 10 deluxe motorboats, which are available for all-day rentals by reservation only. To reserve, phone 510-223-1661 one day in advance.

San Pablo Main Rec, Rocky Mountain Recreation Co., 510-223-1661, http://rockymountainrec.com.

Los Vaqueros Reservoir, Contra Costa County

Los Vaqueros is the biggest area lake  double the size of San Pablo Reservoir  that provides boat rentals. A key is to make sure the wind is down, a problem best solved by arriving early; always call the marina for a wind check. That said, a short venture into nearby Cowboy Cove (north of the marina) or West Fork Kellogg Creek can yield sightings of raptors, including golden eagles, bald eagles and red-tailed hawks. Bring binoculars or a spotting scope. The marina reopened this month with 30 16-foot electric-powered boats (some with canopies) and three 18-foot pontoon boats. Prices start at $25 for an electric boat, $65 for a pontoon boat; prices are 30% off Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Los Vaqueros Marina, 925-371-2628, www.ccwater.com/738/Boat-Rentals.

Shoreline Lake, Mountain View

Shoreline Lake is a small lake east of Highway 101 on the southern Peninsula, the gateway to a park with trails that lead to a marsh area near southern San Francisco Bay. The lake has a resident flock of Canada geese. In early summer, they are often entertaining when they lead their spring hatchlings, some just brown fuzzballs, around the near shore of the lake. Boat rentals feature rowboats, canoes, pedal boats, single and double kayaks, and an enclosed kayak; most rent for about $25 per hour.

Mountain View Shoreline Aquatic Center, 650-965-7474, www.shorelinelake.com.

Tom Stienstra is The Chronicles outdoor writer. Email: tstienstra@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @StienstraTom
Mr. Ambrose Dery, Minister for the Interior, on Thursday cut the sod for the construction of an office complex for Formed Police Unit (FPU) and International Relations Directorate of the Ghana Police Service.



The Office Complex at the National Police Training School at Tesano, Accra would be a one-stop-shop for capacity building and the holding of local and international conferences.



It would have a general office, ICT library, armory, logistics room, gymnasium, waiting room, and others.



The FPU among others is mandated to ensure public order management, protection of UN Personnel, and support Police operations that required a concerted response.



The FPU will however not respond to Military threats.



Speaking on behalf of Dr Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice President, Mr. Dery said Ghana since the 1960's had immensely contributed personnel to international peacekeeping operations.



He said in the quest of seeking peace, the country would not be found wanting in the deployment of personnel.



The Minister of Interior mentioned some of the countries that the Ghana Police Personnel had toured as Bosnia, Iraq, Kosovo, Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia adding that these personnel had served at all levels and even occupied strategic positions.



According to him, Ghana had been among the top 10 countries which contributed to the maintenance of peace at both International and local levels over the past two decades.



He said the FPU formed a minimum of 140 police officers who acted as cohesive unit capable of accomplishing policing tasks.



According to him, there were over 10,000 personnel in the various units of the FPU and that the current office had become inadequate to serve their services hence the need for an ultra modern facility to enhance their operations.



He reiterated government's continued support to the Ghana Police Service in maintaining law and order.



He tasked the contractor to meet the timeline of the project so that building would serve its intended purposes.



Mr James Oppong-Boanuh, Inspector General of Police (IGP),said there had been remarkable changes within the peace keeping environment in the area of deployment of appropriate troops in ensuring peace and security.



According to the IGP, these changes were as a result of technological advancement.



He said the changes had also brought about demanding tasks on host nations

Source: GNA









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The Victorian government has extended its ban on evictions and rental hikes until the end of the year as Melbourne continues to struggle through Stage 4 lockdown.

Premier Daniel Andrews announced the extension as the state recorded 240 new coronavirus infections and 13 deaths on Thursday.

'Just as JobKeeper has been extended by the Commonwealth government... We are today announcing the extension and the refinement of those important protections, both for families and individuals who are renting,' he said.

The Victorian government has extended its ban on evictions and rental hikes until the end of the year (stock image)

Two people walk through the rain in Melbourne during Stage 4 lockdown on Tuesday

Treasurer Tim Pallas said rental hikes as well as evictions for residential and commercial tenants would continue to be banned until December 31.

'Nobody should be worried about losing a roof over their head right now,' he said.

'Everyone in these difficult times needs to pull together.'

The laws were introduced in late March and were to end on September 29.

Mr Pallas said the extension was about striking the 'right balance' and ensuring tenants are given adequate safeguards during the pandemic.

Almost 26,000 arrangements for reduced rent have been registered with Consumer Affairs Victoria in the last four months, Mr Pallas said.

Treasurer Tim Pallas said rental hikes as well as evictions for residential and commercial tenants would continue to be banned until December 31. 'Nobody should be worried about losing a roof over their head right now,' he said

The Victorian Small Business Commissions has also answered about 8,000 rent-related inquiries.

Mr Pallas also announced there would be more support for residential and commercial landlords, including further land tax reductions and more grant funding.

Landlords that provide outright rent waivers of at least 50 per cent of rent payable for at least three months will be eligible for an additional 25 per cent land tax relief.

The Victorian government is also setting up a $60million fund for eligible small commercial landlords that will provide up to $3,000 per tenancy.

Support advocacy groups like VCOSS and Tenants Victoria will also receive funding through a new $600,000 investment package.

'And we're encouraging banks, of course, to continue to do the right thing by their customers to ensure that everybody gets the best opportunity to make it through to the other side of this event,' Mr Pallas said.

'So to get through this together, all of us - tenants, landlords, businesses, governments, banks - we need to work together.'
Berlin: A Syrian refugee in Germany has spoken of his relief after being able to testify at the trial of two ex-members of Syria's secret police who are accused of crimes against humanity, the first high-profile case worldwide against former officials during the long-running conflict.

Wassim Mukdad, who fled to Germany four years ago, is among more than a dozen victims testifying before a regional German court about the abuse they suffered at a Syrian government detention centre where thousands of opposition protesters were tortured.

Relieved: Syrian Wassim Mukdad at the Berlin offices of the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights. Credit:AP

The main defendant in the trial is Anwar Raslan, a former member of President Bashar al-Assads secret police, who is accused of overseeing the abuse of detainees at the notorious al-Khatib jail near Damascus, also known as Branch 251.

German prosecutors accuse Raslan of supervising the systematic and brutal torture of more than 4000 prisoners between April 2011 and September 2012, resulting in the deaths of at least 58 people.
The exit of American cruiser bike maker Harley Davidson from India is likely to trigger a fresh standoff between India and the US, and give fresh wind to the latter's charge of high import duties impacting prospects of American automakers in the country.

The company has often found itself in the crosshairs of diplomatic ties between the two nations. The US President Donald Trump has on numerous occasions berated India for high import duties on bikes which according to him, has adversely impacted the performance of the company here.

"India is probably the nation with the highest tariffs in the world. We have to stop that. I think we are understanding each other. Harley Davidson has to pay tremendous tariffs in India. When India sends its motorcycles to the US there are absolutely no tariffs. For the most part, there are absolutely no tariffs. I just said that is unfair and we are working it out," Trump had said during his visit to India in February this year.

In dire need of a restructuring, Harley has decided to trim its global product portfolio by 30 per cent and restrict its presence only to 50-odd profitable markets. India is unlikely to be one of those markets. The company has sold less than 30,000 units in a decade here and its operations are far from profitable. Its exit is unlikely to go unnoticed, especially with elections around the corner in the US.

ALSO READ: Five reasons why Harley Davidson failed in India

"President Trump is under pressure in the US and every politician likes to use a diversionary tactic to deflect attention from their failures. Harley Davidson could again provide him with one such topic," a senior commerce ministry official told Business Today. "We wont be surprised if he tweets or makes a few comments in the next few days like he has in the past. But Harley's problems are not because of our policies. Else they would not be struggling in other markets."

In over a decade, Harley Davidson has had an unremarkable stint in India so far with sales of less than 2,500 units a year that accounts for just about 1 per cent of its global tally. It mirrors the performance of compatriot General Motors (GM), which exited the Indian market in 2017 after a failed two-decade-long journey. Another US car major, Ford Motor Corporation, which is in the process of merging its India operations with homegrown Mahindra and Mahindra, is another example.

"For somebody sitting in Detroit or Milwaukee, India is a very alien market. It calls for perseverance and patience. The Americans have not really focussed on this market the way the Japanese or Koreans have," says an industry veteran who has worked with GM in the past. "I would even say they have been a bit arrogant. Products that do well in other parts of the world may not necessarily work in India."

Yet, it is the issue of tariff that attracts more attention. And it refuses to go away. Trump had first made a reference to it during his first address to the US Congress in March 2017. Then again in June 2018, he took a dig at Prime Minister Modi after India had reduced customs duty on imported motorcycles from high-end brands to 50 from 60 per cent for less than 800cc engine capacity and 75 per cent for the others. Further, the import duty on engine, gearbox, or transmission mechanism as a completely knocked down (CKD) kit in pre-assembled form of motorcycles, not mounted on a body assembly, was reduced to 25 per cent from 30 percent while the duty on import of engine, gearbox and transmission mechanism as a semi knocked-down (SKD) kit, which are not pre-assembled was hiked from 10 to 15 per cent.

ALSO READ: Harley-Davidson to focus on top 50 markets; looks for JV partner to hive off India ops

"When Harley Davidson sends a motorcycle to India, as an example, they have to pay 100 per cent tax," Trump had then said, adding, "Now, the Prime Minister, who I think is a fantastic man, called me the other day and he said we are lowering it to 50 per cent. I said okay, but so far we're getting nothing. So we get nothing, he gets 50 [per cent], and they think like they're doing us a favour. That's not a favour. You know what our tax is? Nothing. So I say we should have reciprocal taxes for a case like that."

The reality however is high tariffs have not really impacted Harley that much. The company had set up a 12,000 unit per annum assembly plant in Bawal in Haryana back in 2011, its first such facility outside the US at that time, which meant most of its bikes in India are assembled here.

India charges a customs duty of 50 per cent on two wheelers that are brought into the country in completely built unit form. On top of this there is a 28 per cent GST when the bike is sold to the consumer, and an additional cess of 3 per cent, taking the total tariff on these bikes to 81 per cent. The taxation is designed to discourage companies from importing directly.

Harley imports only four of its existing 17 bike portfolio in the country in this form (CBU). These are the Road King, Street Glide Special, Road Glide Special and CVO. They are priced between Rs 25.53 lakh and Rs 50.53 lakh, and cumulatively their sales accounted for just about 50 units in 2019. At an average of Rs 35 lakh, the total import of Harley bikes last year of was barely worth Rs 17.5 crore.

"We have never heard any Harley Davidson official complain about tariffs to us directly. It is only President Trump who keeps harping about this," says a senior bureaucrat with the Ministry of Heavy Industries. "He also loves to talk about China. Maybe he should look at how General Motors is selling both its factories in India to Chinese automakers. Who knows Harley might do the same with its factory. We want them to stay but we will not beg."

ALSO READ: Harley Davidson's 'Rewire' plan: Motorcycle-maker to cut 700 jobs worldwide this year
Coillte has just released new figures revealing that there was a large increase in visitor numbers to some recreation forests in Kilkenny.

Two of Coilltes recreation forests in Kilkenny - Jenkinstown and Coill na Fhaltaigh - track visitor numbers and these recorded 29,372 visitors between June and August. This was a significant increase on visitor numbers in April and May, during the height of Covid-19 travel restrictions.

During March and April 2020, when restrictions were at their most limiting, Coillte saw a large drop in visitor numbers as non-essential travel was restricted. However, since travel restrictions were lifted on June 19, visitors have begun returning to Coilltes forests across Ireland.

Coillte is Irelands leading provider of outdoor recreation activities in Ireland with more than 3,000 kilometres of trails, 260 recreation sites and 12 forest parks across the country.

Since restrictions were eased and people could move more than five kilometres from their homes, we, unsurprisingly, saw an immediate large increase in visitor numbers," says Imelda Hurley, Chief Executive of Coillte.

"In fact, there was a significant increase in visitor numbers in two of Coilltes Kilkenny recreation forests since lockdown restrictions were eased in June, Jenkinstown and Coill na Fhaltaigh. This continued, steady increase is heartening for all of those who cherish our amenities.

Access to nature is very important for the body, mind and spirit and that is why we work hard to maintain our tracks, parks and outdoor recreational facilities across Kilkenny.

As we approach the end of August, and people take time to enjoy our forests, we ask that visitors continue to adhere to the social distancing rule of two metres when meeting others outside of their household, as well as the other guidelines on outdoor gatherings announced by the Government. I want to thank the public for adhering to the Governments travel restrictions during the Covid-19 lockdown. If we continue to remain vigilant, we can all play our own part in protecting our communities.
Villanelle is an assassin whos not only good at her job, but also gets a real kick out of it. The more theatrical the murder, the better. And its one of the best parts of Killing Eve. But is there one kill that went too far? For Jodie Comer, there certainly is.

Villanelle (Jodie Comer) in Season 1, Episode 3 in Berlin, Killing Eve | BBC AMERICA/Sid Gentle Films Ltd 2018

RELATED: Villanelle Influenced Jodie Comer in a Way That Might Be Opposite of What Fans Expect

Villanelles first major kill in front of Eve was just a little too harsh for Jodie Comer

Villanelles first kill on camera takes place in Italy and involves a poisoned hairpin. In that moment, the audiences favorite assassin gets a sort of release from that murder; theres no remorse and she clearly enjoyed herself. She didnt care that his grandson was hiding in the bathroom or that his friends and family were just floors below. And thats a theme that viewers can see throughout the series.

Its really not until Season 3 when Villanelle kills her mother that remorse starts to creep into her otherwise psychopathic demeanor. And Comer is always rooting for the Russian assassin she portrays, as she told Gold Derby in 2018. But Episode 3 of the first season carried the worse kill.

I think the one time that I had in the series where I was like, Villanelle was when she killed Bill, Comer said. I remember when I was seeing that played back when we finished filming, I remember being like, Whoa, that was that was not very nice.

Bill followed Villanelle into a nightclub in Berlin and it was suspenseful beyond belief. Villanelle planned the brutal stabbing so that Eve could see her best friend die in front of her. But could do anything to stop it as there were tons of people in the way.

When speaking to Vulture in 2018 around the same time, Comer explained a bit more of what went into that scene.

We actually shot in a club in London. It ended up being like choreography  people have to be at a certain place at a certain time when the camera comes through. It was brilliant, but I didnt realize how sinister that actually was. I was like, Whoa, Villanelle! Did you have to kill Bill? Did you have to go and do that? It got me a little bit. With that shot, with the smile, it was just so brilliant!

Comer lets her emotions guide Villanelles facial expressions post-kill

After watching just one episode of Killing Eve, its very evident just how much of Comers performance elevates the impact Villanelle has on audiences. Without Comer, its hard to see this assassin pulling people in as easily. Like, who expected to root for an assassin? Well, Villanelle certainly makes you.

Comer told Vulture that the delighted expression Villanelle has after most of her kills isnt on purpose.

I always see her as an animal with its prize, Comer explained, then describing a similar cat vs. mouse dynamic for Villanelle and her prey. But I try not to think about what my face is doing too much. I really just focus on the emotions. It was so important for people to fear her, even if she does have a quick humor and personality.

Comer said that it was important to make Villanelle feel dangerous, which adds to the effect. And she definitely succeeds on that front.

Despite it all, though, Comer does see humanity in Villanelle

RELATED: This 1 Trait Makes Villanelle Different From Other Assassins, According to Jodie Comer

Even though Villanelle is a killer who enacts really harsh and brutal deaths on a lot of her victims, Comer still sees humanity in her, which is different from a lot of assassins on TV.

She goes against all stereotypes and I thought there was a lot of humanity in Villanelle, Comer told the Build Series in 2018. I feel like when I watch assassin movies or TV programs, theyre like superhuman. Theyre like some sort of mythical creature that you cant really relate to. Whereas I found a lot of humanity in her, in [her] humor.

And Comer points out that Villanelle is strangely relatable. Aside from the jet setting and murder, of course.

Stuff where she flicks the ice cream on the girl, I was like. Weve all been in situations where we may have thought to do something but never acted upon it, Comer said. She has no moral compass. There was so much fun in her and I thought it was unique and Ive never seen it.

And that nice mix of intrigue, relatability, and menace is what keeps audiences coming back.

RELATED: Does Villanelle Eat More Than The Average TV Character? Not According to Jodie Comer
LONDON, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Britain's opposition Labour Party wrote to trade minister Liz Truss on Thursday demanding answers over the circumstances of her meetings with a hardline Brexit think tank which were removed from the public record.

Truss's Department for International Trade reclassified two meetings and one dinner with the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) because it said she had attended in a personal capacity and therefore they did not need to be declared in transparency data published by the government.

In a letter seen by Reuters, Labour's trade policy chief Emily Thornberry wrote to Truss with a series of questions seeking to establish if she had broken the code of conduct which covers ministerial behaviour.

On Wednesday, the Department for International Trade said the meetings were initially included due to an administrative error, and it held no information about them. It declined to comment when asked how a meeting on trade and investment could be considered a personal meeting.

Thornberry's questions included whether a ministerial car was used to attend the meetings, whether they were held in ministerial offices, who else attended them, and whether any taxpayer-funded resources were used.

"I am sure you appreciate the seriousness of all the above questions in terms of your compliance with the Ministerial Code, and I hope that will be reflected in the seriousness, thoroughness and credibility of your answers," Thornberry said.

She highlighted a series of trade-related publications from the IEA published within the timeframe of the meetings between January and April and said she considered it "highly unlikely that none of these issues were discussed."

The ministerial code says meetings on official business should be arranged through a minister's office, and an official should be present. Any discussion of official business in another setting should be reported back to the department.

"Once you have provided those answers, I will turn to the reasons why, and circumstances under which, the official record was altered," she said.

(Reporting by William James and Andy Bruce; editing by Stephen Addison)
A Brisbane youth detention centre has gone into lockdown after a COVID-positive Ipswich woman worked five shifts while infectious.

The woman, aged in her 70s, tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday night.

"What you're going to hear today is a story of a woman who was sick and still went to work," Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

"Now a whole lot of contact tracing has to happen."
California voters will be asked to approve a return to affirmative action on Nov. 3 with Proposition 16, which would restore the right of the state's colleges and universities to consider race, ethnicity and gender in admission decisions.

Affirmative action is a contentious issue across the globe, hotly debated in countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Nigeria and Brazil, as well as in the United States. While the direct effects of affirmative action on college admissions are well known, new evidence from India shows that affirmative action has indirect benefits on the behavior of underrepresented high school students, who tend to stay in school longer when they know higher education is within reach.

In a new University of California San Diego study published in the Review of Economics and Statistics, researchers find minority students attain 0.8 additional years of education where affirmative action policies are in place. The study underscores previous theoretical work on affirmative action that shows the opportunity to be admitted to college may motivate students to graduate from high school, according to the study's author, Gaurav Khanna, assistant professor of economics at UC San Diego's School of Global Policy and Strategy.

"In the policy space, people have made claims that affirmative action lowers standards and the learning gains for underrepresented students who will 'no longer work as hard.' My research suggests the opposite," Khanna said. "Affirmative action makes going to a good college much more attainable, and actually encourages minority groups to work harder to get into such schools. Without affirmative action, many colleges may not appear attainable, and it may discourage students from even trying."

India's federal government instituted affirmative action policies in 1993, reserving 27% of government jobs that are highly sought after for Other Backward Classes (OBCs)--a collective term used by the country's government to classify castes which are educationally or socially disadvantaged. In 2006, reservations in colleges were implemented.

Other research shows how these affirmative action policies in India increased the representation of minority groups in top colleges, and how the graduates went on to perform well in college and in the subsequent labor market. However, the UC San Diego study explores if affirmative action incentivizes students to stay in school by looking at the educational attainment at pre-collegiate levels.

To answer the question, Khanna compiled a number of data sources, including the Indian National Sample Survey (NSS) to map the trends in educational attainment by birth cohort and social group. Those born before 1976 would be over the age of 18 by the time the federal government policy was implemented in 1994. Thus, he looked at education levels of minority students in this cohort and compared them to education levels attained by OBCs before the affirmative action policies were enacted.

The results show that after affirmative action policies were implemented, there was a marked increase in OBCs' educational attainment. While non-minorities were still more likely to pursue more education, wide-scale affirmative action helped bridge the education gap by about 40% over a decade and a half.

"The evidence suggests that aspirations respond to such laws and additional research also shows that if peers are seen to benefit from this policy, then a role model effect may encourage educational attainment," Khanna writes.

While affirmative action is a federal law in India, each state chooses a different level of application. This is defined by the fraction of seats reserved at universities and government job openings reserved for minorities, compared to their population in that state. For example, in the state of Karnataka the policy is stronger with more seats reserved in jobs and colleges, relative to the OBC population. Conversely, in the state of Madhya Pradesh fewer jobs and college seats are reserved for OBCs, as a fraction of their population. Khanna finds that states that had a higher intensity of affirmative action, in terms of the fraction of seats reserved per OBC, saw a sharper increase in the educational attainment of minorities.

Affirmative action: a contentious policy both at home and abroad

Today, in India these policies are an integral part of political platforms and election campaigns; the media covers the policies extensively, and any policy change is met with protests from different factions.

Similarly, in the U.S., the issue is divisive. For example, the Trump administration announced in 2018 that it was abandoning the Obama administration policies that called on universities to consider race as a factor in diversifying campuses. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos stated that "schools should continue to offer equal opportunities for all students."

Given the debate in both countries, the other question Khanna sought to answer: is this educational response from the minority groups rational in terms of the expected costs and benefits?

With education levels being important for the qualification criteria for government jobs in India, Khanna found that between 2000 and 2005, the fraction of OBCs in public sector jobs rose from 22% to 27%. These jobs are extremely lucrative, especially in rural areas, where they guarantee benefits and job security. As such, increases in the likelihood of getting such jobs can greatly influence the decision made by minority groups.

Khanna writes, "Yet even for members of the minority group who do not get government jobs, an increase in education may translate into benefits (like better health) and high wages as the estimated returns to education in developing countries are between 6% and 13%."

He concluded, "Indeed, lowering educational inequalities--and possibly wealth inequalities--may be intrinsically valuable to policymakers. In light of these results, policymakers should consider the externalities of affirmative action policies when designing them."

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One person has died and multiple people have been injured after going down a giant glass-bottomed slide 'too fast' in China.

Downpours occurred while the tourists were using the track, causing them to lost control of the speed and bump into each other, said the slide's operator.

Trending footage shows dozens of people lying on the ground following the accident at a 19million scenic spot in Liaoning Province yesterday.

Social media footage shows dozens of riders lying on the floor and waiting for medical attention (left) at the foot of the slide (right) following the accident yesterday in China

One person has died and multiple have been injured as a result of the accident, said the management of the site. The tragedy occurred yesterday afternoon in the Hugu Valley

The attraction in Liaoning Province said heavy rain 'suddenly' occurred while the tourists were using the slide, leading them to go down the track 'too fast' and collide into one another

The tragedy took place on Wednesday afternoon when tourists used the 986-metre-long (3,230-foot-long) slide to descend a mountain in the Hugu Valley.

The slide opened last August and was meant to provide an easy way for visitors to go down the Hugu Valley mountain.

A previous promotional video shows that the park does not provide tourists with any protective equipment when they use the slide - a selling point for the ride.

A video released by Hugu Valley last year through its official social media account shows tourists sliding down the 3,230-foot-long track without wearing protective harnesses

Videos circulating on Chinese social media and state media show dozens of riders lying on the floor and waiting for medical attention at the foot of the slide.

One clip released by Shenyang Radio and TV Station, the official outlet of the provincial capital, shows several wounded tourists awaiting treatment in a hospital.

A statement from the beauty spot today said that one person had been killed due to the accident while multiple others were injured.

The condition of those who were hospitalised was stable, said Liaoning Huilong Lake Tourism Cultural Industry.

The company said heavy rain 'suddenly' occurred while the tourists were using the slide, leading them to glide down the track 'too fast' and collide into one another.

It apologised for the matter but did not specify how many people have been wounded.

One clip released by Shenyang Radio and TV Station shows several wounded tourists awaiting treatment in a hospital. The site did not specify how many people were injured in the accident

The scenic spot has three other glass-bottomed attractions, including one observation deck and two bridges.

The local government have formed a special team to investigate the matter, according to the post.

Glass-bottomed attractions are extremely popular in China, but the low safety standards of some of them have sparked concerns among the public.

At least three tourists have died at such sites since 2017, including yesterday's fatality.

The park has three other glass attractions, including an observation deck and two bridges

There were around 2,300 glass-bottomed bridges across China as of last year, statistics show

In 2016, a 48million structure in southern China's Hunan Province - the world's longest and highest glass-bottomed bridge at the time - was forced to close 13 days after its grand opening due to safety concerns.

Between 2018 and 2019, the northern province of Hebei shut all 32 of its glass attractions - including bridges, walkways and viewing decks - to undergo safety checks.

There were around 2,300 glass-bottomed bridges across China as of last year, according to a tourism industry tracker.
A free counselling service has been launched aimed at providing coping skills and vital information to people who are caring for the estimated 2,000 stroke survivors living in Donegal.

The Irish Heart Foundation has urged people to apply immediately for the six-week service which gives them the ability to look after themselves and the strength to deal effectively with their loved ones care.

The free programme includes up to six, one-hour sessions giving participants an opportunity to share worries and frustrations in a confidential manner and learn practical tools to help them cope as a carer.

Becoming a carer for someone who has survived a stroke, is a huge undertaking physically, mentally and emotionally, said Tracy Egan, Patient Support Manager, Irish Heart Foundation.

When people are affected by stroke the new regime can be totally overwhelming for those caring for them.

It is important that carers take care of their own mental and physical health so that they can have a reasonable quality of life, provide the care their loved ones need and cope with the demands of life as a carer.

Counselling has taken the weight off the shoulders of mother of two Carol Beirne as she learns to cope with life alongside a stroke survivor.

When Eamonn suffered a stroke eleven months ago, the roles were suddenly reversed for 65-year-old Carol who, for a time, had been cared for by her husband when she had mobility issues.

"Sometimes there are things you just can't say to your children and my counsellor just listened. By the third week of the six week hourly sessions, I felt a weight was lifted off my shoulders, said Carol.

"The stroke left Eamonn with hidden disabilities. He has trouble processing his thoughts and some days, his speech is affected as he struggles to get the words out.

"Sometimes you want to finish his sentences but know not to as it's very frustrating for him, especially when he's talking to old colleagues who don't know that he had a stroke.

"I learned to handle Eamonn's emotions and frustrations and got an insight and understanding on how he must be feeling.

"Every time I walked out of a session, I was walking on air. A few years ago, Eamonn had cared for me when I had mobility issues and now I was all of a sudden helping him.

"The roles were completely reversed which was hard for both of us. I used to depend on him, but now we are working as a team.

"The counselling has also given me the confidence to write, which I give myself time to do in the mornings and in turn, it gives Eamonn his space to get emotionally ready for the day.

The free counselling supports are being made available to carers of people affected by stroke by the Irish Heart Foundation thanks to funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund. To avail of the free counselling please email carers@irishheart.ie or contact the Irish Heart Foundation on 01 668 5001.
Met Eireann has issued new Weather Warnings this Thursday morning as the tail-end of Storm Ellen crosses Ireland.

Separate Wind and Rain Warnings have been issued.

A Status Yellow Rainfall Warning has been issued for Laois and all of Ireland. It came into force at 9am today and is in place until 5am on Friday.

Met Eireann is warning of heavy, squally downpours and thunderstorms that will bring a risk of spot flooding at times today and tonight.

There is also a Status Yellow Wind warning for Dublin, Wicklow, Meath as well as Louth, Wexford, Cork, Kerry and Waterford.

Met Eireann is warning that very strong south to southeast winds later today, veering southwesterly overnight with the potential for further impacts and a continued risk of coastal flooding.

That warning is also in place until 5am on Friday.

Thousands of homes across the country are still without power after strong winds from Storm Ellen brought down powerlines.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks during her weekly news conference on Capitol Hill on July 9, 2020 in Washington. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Pelosi Tells Democrats: Its All Riding on Wisconsin

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and former Attorney General Eric Holder said in a video with Democrats during a virtual meeting that Wisconsin is a battleground state and will be a major factor in whether nominee Joe Biden wins the presidency in November.

No pressure, its all riding on Wisconsin, Pelosi said. No pressure.

The road to the presidency runs through Wisconsin, said Holder, the attorney general under former President Barack Obama, in the same video. The fate of the United States, the fate of the western world, is on your shoulders, he said, according to The Associated Press.

Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, alleged in the same meeting that Wisconsin has some of the most gerrymandered maps in the United States. And thats what this here election is riding on, he suggested.

Evers said that Republicans need to be denied six seats needed in the Wisconsin Legislature to have a veto-proof super majority before redistricting efforts are carried out in 2021, according to the AP.

I know Joe is going to win in November, but its also about maps, Evers said.

We need to make sure that Democrats have a seat at the table, Holder also said. This is an existential presidential election, I get that. But so are the races happening down the ballot in Wisconsin as well, and across the country.

Trump won Wisconsin by about 22,000 votes in 2016. Trump became the first Republican since Ronald Reagan in 1984 to win the state. Since then, Wisconsin has voted in favor of Democrats.

Former first lady Hillary Clinton, who lost the 2016 election to Trump, attempted to explain why she lost Wisconsin.

For example, some critics have said that everything hinged on me not campaigning enough in the Midwest, she wrote. And I suppose it is possible that a few more trips to Saginaw or a few more ads on the air in Waukesha could have tipped a couple of thousand votes here and there.

Clinton acknowledged in the book: If theres one place where we were caught by surprise, it was Wisconsin. Polls showed us comfortably ahead, right up until the end. They also looked good for the Democrat running for Senate, Russ Feingold. Feingold was defeated by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.).

Clinton said that more than 130 staff members were sent to the state, while $3 million was spent on TV ads.

If our data (or anyone elses) had shown we were in danger, of course we would have invested even more, she added. I would have torn up my schedule, which was designed based on the best information we had, and camped out there.
In April, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) launched the $2,000 Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) in response to the COVID-19 emergency. More than 8.5 million Canadians who lost their job because of the pandemic rushed to My CRA account to apply for the CERB. The CRA is estimated to spend almost $82 billion of taxpayers money on the CERB.

The emergency benefit has done its job in helping people during the lockdown. The CRAs next objective is to get Canadians back to work. It will end the CERB in September and launch a CERB alternative in October.

The CERB alternative coming soon

In July, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the federal government will replace the CERB with Employment Insurance (EI). He also said that the government will bring an alternative for part-time workers and self-employed who are not covered by the EI.

Trudeau did not give details about the EI program but assured that the CERB alternative will be enhanced to ensure no Canadian is left behind. You have to wait for the CERB alternative, which is coming soon.

What do we know about the CERB alternative?

The EI is not the same as the CERB. For a long time, the CRA has been offering the EI program to Canadians who lost their job for no fault of theirs. EI is like insurance. You only avail of the benefits when you pay the premium for a minimum period.

If you are working with an employer who deducts EI premium from your salary, you are eligible for EI. This was not the case with the CERB. Any working Canadian, who earned at least $5,000 last year or in the last 12 months, can get the CERB.

The CRA calculates the EI amount as 55% of your average weekly earnings, whereas the CERB is flat $2,000 for everyone.

You can get the EI between 14 and 45 weeks. The duration of the benefit depends on the number of insured working hours and the unemployment rate in your area. The higher these two numbers, the longer is the benefit period as the CRA has received that much EI premium. The CERB is only available for a maximum of 24 weeks.

Story continues

The various constraints of EI will leave many Canadians without the CRA support, and those who are eligible for the EI might get lower benefits than $2,000. Without a doubt, the CERB is the most generous benefit the CRA offers. It treats every Canadian equally.

What possible EI changes could the government introduce?

Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough has stated that the EI will seamlessly transition CERB users without benefit disruption. If you earned $4,000 per month from your former employer who offered EI, you wont face any change in the benefit when the CRA transfers you to EI.

However, if you earn less than $4,000 a month, your EI benefit could be lower than the CERB. The Workers Action Centre noted that the CERB alternative will halve the benefit amount for most workers. Hence, it is asking the government to increase the EI benefit percentage to 75% of weekly income.

The other major change that the government could consider is to reduce the minimum working hours requirement. At present, you need to work at least 420 hours in insured employment to be eligible for EI.

My CERB is better than the CERB alternative

There are many pre-requisites to the CERB alternative. A better alternative than the EI is a personal CERB. You can make My CERB pool by investing $100 a week in a high-growth stock like Lightspeed POS (TSX:LSPD).

Lightspeed launched its initial public offering in March 2019 and surged 90% in its first year. It provides point-of-sale solutions for physical stores. The company took a hit from the lockdown as its customers  retailers and restaurants  temporarily closed their physical stores. Many customers discontinued Lightspeed subscription.

However, the company adjusted to the changing business needs. It introduced features like curbside pickup, appointment booking, and local store inventory that promote social distancing. These features attracted new retail customers, sending the stock back to its pre-pandemic level. The stock can double your My CERB portfolio in a few years.

The post Canada Revenue Agency: $2,000 CERB Alternative Coming Soon appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

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Fool contributor Puja Tayal has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of Lightspeed POS Inc.

The Motley Fools purpose is to help the world invest, better. Click here now for your free subscription to Take Stock, The Motley Fool Canadas free investing newsletter. Packed with stock ideas and investing advice, it is essential reading for anyone looking to build and grow their wealth in the years ahead. Motley Fool Canada 2020
(Photo : Leroy Evans/Unsplash) Parents protest against Albion Colleges mandatory use of contact tracing app (Photo : Change.Org) screenshot of the Change.Org petition

As schools and universities reopened amid the current coronavirus pandemic, they had to convince students and their parents that the students are safe within the school premises.

To ensure they keep up with their promise, Albion College, a small liberal arts school in Michigan, requires their nearly 1,500 students to download and install Aura a contact-tracing app to prevent COVID-19 spread within the campus.

According to TechCrunch, this is part of the school's $2 million investment to keep the premises safe. It vowed also to have all their students and the staff tested upon their arrival and throughout the academic year.

Unlike other universities that switched to online schooling, Albion is only allowing classroom instruction. Meanwhile, classes would be smaller and the semester would end earlier than December, just in time for Thanksgiving.

Albion College President Dr. Mathew Johnson said the school "chose to take the tact of investing in our community," safety, good health practices as well as training and education of faculty, staff, and students," instead of completely going online.

However, the school is currently under fire as the app would invade students' privacy. The school's policy for mandatory use of the app triggered privacy concerns and parents started a petition to make the app optional for the students.

Currently, downloading and installing the app is now a requirement for admission, and failure to do so will result for a one-year suspension. Students will also face the risk of suspension or being kicked out if they turn off their location and if they violate the policy, according to Daily Mail.

The Aura app will track students' locations within the school 24/7 and alert the school authorities when they went out of the premises. They are only allowed to visit certain premises included in the list given to students, all within the five-mile radius. The app also alert the school when a student tested positive for COVID-19 while those who came close to the student will be advised by its contact-tracing feature.

Parents question the app's constant access to students' locations as it invades students' privacy. However, the administration defended the app that it is necessary in tracking the spread of any exposure.

In an online Q&A, the school noted that the "a student's location data will be accessed is if they test positive" or if they did not follow proper procedure when they leave the campus.

Read also: Fauci Warns over 'COVID-19 and Flu Convergence', Calls for 'Universal Wearing of Masks' at Schools

Aura App: loopholes and vulnerabilities

While it is sounded reasonable, the policy has loopholes as the staff and professors are allowed to travel in and out of the campus. One student told Free Beacon that it does not make sense to him. "I feel like I am being treated like a five-year-old that cannot be trusted to follow rules," Andrew Arszulowicz said.

Albion said in an online Q&A that the "only time a student's location data will be accessed is if they test positive or if they leave campus without following proper procedure." But the school has not said how it will ensure that student location data is not improperly accessed, or who has access.

Worse, at least two security vulnerabilities are found after the app was launched. The first one allows access to the app's back-end servers while the other provides access to a student's COVID-19 test results.

An Albion student dug dip into the app to find how it works and posted her findings on Twitter. Twitter user @Q3w3e3 said she found hardcoded keys for the app's backend servers, hosted on Amazon Web Services.

"These keys in the app exposes..... New Case info... testing info... and medical insurance info," she added pleading the school admin to reconsider the app's use.

She has reported her findings to the developer, but Nucleus did not return her messages.

Read also: Alberta's COVID-19 Contact-Tracing App Poses Security Risk on Apple Devices, Warns Privacy Commissioner

This is owned by Tech TImes.

Written by CJ Robles

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Activist convicted of assault on officer at illegal 2019 Moscow rally denied parole

 flickr.com/ TheOneShot (Gunnar Marquardt)

13:01 20/08/2020

MOSCOW, August 20 (RAPSI)  A court in Russias Nizhny Tagil has refused to release activist Kirill Zhukov, who had committed an assault on a National Guard officer during an unauthorized rally in Moscow on July 27, 2019, on parole, lawyer Alexey Bushmakov has told RAPSI.

A prosecutor also objected to parole basing on the convicts characteristics from a penal colony.

On September 4, 2019, Moscows Tverskoy District Court convicted Zhukov of the use of force against a representative of authority. The court found that the defendant knocked down an officer by butting him in the face.

Zhukov pleaded not guilty.

Protest actions began in Moscow in mid-July 2019 after election commissions denied registration of certain opposition members as candidates for the Moscow City Duma elections reasoning that documents submitted by them contained numerous violations.

The first unauthorized rally took place hear the Moscow City Election Commissions building on July 14 and looked like a provocation, according to law experts.

Unauthorized rallies in support of candidates seeking to become lawmakers of the Moscow State Duma but refused registration by the Election Commission were also held on July 27 and August 3 in central Moscow. Over 1,000 people were arrested for various violations as a result.

Following the 27 July rally, the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case over mass riots. Investigators believe that the protest action was held with the use of force against representatives of authority.
The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District on Monday lowered the risk level for school reopenings as the coronavirus slowly releases its grip on the city.

The risk level slightly declined from high-high risk to medium-high risk, which means San Antonio is still in the red zone. In-person instruction is still not recommended by Metro Health for Bexar County schools.

The risk level is calculated by the following health indicators: the positivity rate, the amount of days it takes for cases to double, and a two-week decline in cases of COVID-19.

On ExpressNews.com: Reversing course, TEA wont fund schools closed solely due to Bexar County coronavirus health orders

While the doubling rate has increased to 40 days and the 14-day case curve has shown a consistent decline, the weekly positivity rate of 11.3 percent is above where officials would like to see it. Metro Health is aiming for a local positivity rate of 5 percent or less, and it also noted daily cases are still up to several hundred each day.

During a Tuesday COVID-19 news briefing, Mayor Ron Nirenberg asked residents to "keep up the good work" and to continue social distancing.

"Those numbers are continuing to move in the right direction, but not very quickly," Nirenberg said.

On Tuesday, there were 143 new cases of the virus, pushing the total number of people who have tested positive in Bexar County to 44,265.

Metro Health's risk-level indicator for schools was first released Aug. 7 as local school districts prepared to start the fall semester. The recommendations, which are nonbinding and apply to public and private schools, are designed to help superintendents and school boards decide when and how to reopen for face-to-face instruction.

On July 17, Metro Health ordered public schools to keep students out of classrooms until Labor Day. However, Attorney General Ken Paxton issued new guidance shortly after, saying schools can't be closed solely based on an order from a local health authority.

Panton's opinion was followed by the Texas Education Agency notifying districts that they could lose funding if schools are closed solely on the basis of a health authority order.

On July 31, Gov. Greg Abbott moved to block local health authorities from shutting down classrooms before the school year started. Since then, he has repeatedly said in news conferences that he is trusting local school leaders to decide when and how to reopen their schools.

Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre
Gmail, Google Drive and other Google services have been partially resumed after suffering an outage for over three hours.

Google on Thursday said Gmail services has been restored for some users. The email service had suffered an outage for over three hours this morning. Users in India, Europe, US, and other parts of the world were affected.

Gmail service has already been restored for some users, and we expect a resolution for all users in the near future. Please note this time frame is an estimate and may change, said Google on its G Suite Status Dashboard.

It is worth noting that Gmail may still be causing errors to some users. Apart from Gmail, Google has also partially restored Drive, Docs, Meets and other services that suffered an outage this morning. Google has categorised the issues as service interruption.

Google services, especially Gmail, suffered an outage around 11 AM this morning. Soon, users took to Twitter share their grievances. Most of the users had complained about facing issues with uploading an attachment. Some also complained about log in errors as well as sending emails.

According to an updated report on down detector, over 60% of users reported facing issues with uploading an attachment. The number of outage reports dipped about an hour ago.

Never thought that even Google server would go down someday.

2020 is really making history.#Gmail pic.twitter.com/kj0mXJVvrW  Vishal Kumar (@vishalcasm__) August 20, 2020

*Waiting for #Gmail to upload my assignment as today is the last date of submission* pic.twitter.com/Kn6TmG2wod  Heisenberg (@methmemer) August 20, 2020

Todays outage is said to be one of the longest ever for Gmail. The email service had faced a similar outage in July. Last year in June, Google had faced a similar hours-long outage. The company had then blamed wrong configuration change for a small group of servers for the service interruption.
Police officers on duty in the vicinity of a center believed to be used for internment in Xinjiang's Korla city, Nov. 2, 2017.

The majority of tens of thousands of people from a southeastern prefecture of Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) who will be hired to do construction work in coming years are currently detained in internment camps, according to a source from the job center that is placing them.

RFAs Uyghur Service recently obtained a copy of a document which was circulated by the government of Bayingholin Mongol (in Chinese, Bayinguoleng Menggu) Autonomous Prefecture on July 13, stating that it plans to put 19,000 people in construction jobs over the next three years.

The document says that the plan was prepared by the XUAR government under the guiding light of Chinas President Xi Jinping as part of a strategy to bring stability and peace to the region, which has seen unrest and tensions between Uyghurs and a growing population of Han Chinese since the 1990s.

While it is not stated explicitly, certain details in the document suggest that the plan is, at least in part, a way of dealing with detainees from the XUARs vast network of internment camps, where authorities are believed to have held up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities since April 2017.

RFA called several government offices in Bayingholin and was able to speak with a Han Chinese representative with the prefectural Party Committee, who refused to comment on the work program unless it was in person.

If you need help with anything, bring your work authorization card to come see us, the representative said, adding, Lets not talk about this on the phone!

However, a Han Chinese staffer from the job center listed on the July 13 document confirmed the existence of the program and said that most of the 19,000 would comprise camp detainees, in addition to workers from several different fields and institutions.

Yes, there are people from the internment campsof course there would be people from the camps, he said, speaking on condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisal.

[But] there are also people from all kinds of institutions and schools.

When asked what percentage of workers will be from the camps and which ones, the staffer said he was unsure.

But asked whether the majority will be from camps, and if the plan was designed with the goal of relocating detainees from camps into the workplace, he answered, Yes, thats correct.

This program has not been officially launched on a large scale, he told RFA, adding that further details should be available by the end of the year.

If you want more information, ask the Housing and Construction Department. It was their decision to hire 19,000 people. Were just following the governments laws and policies.

RFA also asked the staffer which of four known camps in Korla (Kuerle), a county-level city in Bayingholin and the XUARs second-largest city, would provide the workers, but he said he was unable to answer because it was unrelated to his job duties.

He also referred a question about whether the plan was being executed because there isnt enough space for people to be held in internment camps to XUAR government officials, saying, we dont arrange these particular matters.

Over the past several years, RFA has received several tips that the number of detainees in Korla camps had grown so excessively large that jails and prisons had been repurposed to house the overflow.

Camp network

Beijing describes its three-year-old network of camps as voluntary vocational centers, but reporting by RFA and other media outlets shows that detainees are mostly held against their will in poor conditions, where they are forced to endure inhumane treatment and political indoctrination.

Amid pressure from the U.S. and, to a lesser extent, the European Union and the United Nations, experts believe that China has begun sentencing Uyghurs held in internment camps to prison, providing legal cover to the detentions.

However, growing evidence suggests some Uyghurs and other detainees are being relocated to factories inside and outside of the XUAR as forced labor, under the guise of gaining employment connected to their purported vocational training.

In a July 2019 press conference, XUAR Chairman Shohret Zakir told reporters that more than 90 percent of internees from so-called vocational training centers had graduated from their studies and been placed into jobs. In later statements, the Chinese authorities claimed that all centers had been closed.

However, the confirmation from Bayingholin that camp detainees will be part of a new work placement scheme directly contradicts these year-old claims, suggesting that camps are still operational and that many citizens are being held involuntarily inside them.

RFAs previous reporting has shown that Bayingholin was a center of vocational training in the XUAR.

Residential areas

It was not immediately clear whether the detainees to be placed in jobs under the Bayingholin program will be moved into forced labor settings or into residential areas like one RFA reported on earlier this month in the seat of Makit (Maigaiti) county, in the XUARs Kashgar (Kashi) prefecture.

In that report, sources told RFA that a special, restricted-access residential area had been established to relocate internment camp detainees accused of lighter offenses, which requires study of Mandarin Chinese, while employing detainees in several on-site factories.

Known as the 14th Neighborhood Committee, the zone permits detainees to live with their families, but otherwise differs little from the camps.

Residents are strictly monitored and made to attend mandatory political indoctrination classes, sources said, as well as sessions involving self-examinations and confessions, while entry and exit are prohibited without special permission.

Reported by Shohret Hoshur for RFAs Uyghur Service. Translated by Elise Anderson. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
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American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and Microsoft President Brad Smith at an Axios event on Thursday called for expanding access to broadband in the United States in order to close the digital divide in education.

What they're saying: "Broadband needs to be a fact of life in the United States and it needs to be free for everyone, and it needs to be regulated in a way that it can be made equitably distributed all throughout America," Weingarten said during a discussion on the Future of Employability.

"The kids that lack broadband connection in May are probably going to lack it in September as well. If someone was in a home that didn't have enough digital devices to go around, they may still be facing that same problem as they start school in a couple of weeks," Smith said.

"For a country for whom I think universal public education has been a defining value ... Let's build the kind of infrastructure that will enable all of our kids to do homework after school, and if we face another epidemic or pandemic we'll be prepared in a way we are not right now," he added.

The big picture: Schooling from home has highlighted unequal access to high-speed internet and a lack of devices for many American students, most often from low-income homes. While many schools are moving towards in-person classes this fall, others are continuing with virtual school, extending the issue into a new school year.

Editor's note: This Axios Event was sponsored by Microsoft.

Watch the event.
BAY CITY, MI - A local theater group is getting creative when it comes to taking to the stage during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Vanishing Elephant Players of Bay Citys Historic Masonic Temple will be presenting The Laramie Project in two-open air settings and in a virtual format from August 21 - 23.

Fridays performance will take place at the 3rd Street Star Bridge and Saturdays will be held at the Wenonah Park Pavilion, with a 7 p.m start time. Sundays performance will be streamed online at 3 p.m. as a virtual matinee. The Laramie Project performances are ticketed events, with tickets only available online for purchase. Fridays performances are sold out, but tickets are still available for Saturday and Sunday. Virtual audiences will be sent a link to the show and a password needed to watch the video.

Artistic Director Erica Tatum explained that the Laramie Project is a play that was written in 1998 after the murder of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard. The 2-hour-long play is based on interviews that were conducted by the playwrights with the people of Laramie, Wyoming.

Its a drama with a lot of humor and heartpeople trying to make the most of a terrible situation, said Tatum.

Tatum said that the Matthew Shephard case is often the first example of anti-gay hate crime those in the LGBT community learn about.

For those who arent old enough to remember the story, it caused a national outcry for legislative and societal change, she said And all of this media insanity descended on this one little town...it showed a spotlight on the parts of America where things like this too-often go unchecked.

The play has also served as a chance Vanishing Elephant Players cast members to reflect on society and the current state of the LGBT community.

The cast has marveled at how different things have gotten since Matthews death, but also how much still needs to be done in the name of civil rights, said Tatum.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Vanishing Elephant players were not able to conduct their play at their home facility of the Masonic Temple in front of a live audience. While indoor venues are considered risky, as it is during the pandemic, Tatum explained that an older building like the Masonic Temple doesnt have the best ventilation.

Outdoor performances allow for better air quality, she said. Besides the occasional plane flying overhead or a bird flying by the stage, it will be the same experience as indoor theater. Just bring your own chair.

Masks will be required and social distancing will be required for those who do not live in the same household. No concessions will be sold.

Conducting a theatrical performance during a pandemic requires some extra work - actors had to wear masks during rehearsals and they are required to wear them during the performances. The Vanishing Elephant Players actors also had to adjust to a unique kind of practice setup. Rehearsals were split between in-person and Zoom video conferencing methods, according to Tatum.

Weve also filmed some parts which will be played live during the show to accommodate remote actors, said Tatum.

Mandatory health check-ins and sanitizing of all props, doors, and seats are also required for actors.

Despite contending with the pandemic and a whole world of new protocols, the show must go on for the Vanishing Elephant Players. The group was founded in late 2017 and has since put on a variety of performances such as cabarets and full-length shows.

Tatum said, We have a special focus on storytelling and inclusivity in theater, and were able to do the types of shows that might not be feasible in a larger venue.

More local news:

Sinkholes cause 1st Street in Bay City to close for repair

Saginaw temporarily closing bridges across Saginaw River for annual cleaning

Bay City working with Midland Street businesses after shooting, other incidents

Bay City Schools moves start date to Sept. 1, postpones face-to-face learning

Low-income dental clinic to open in early September in Bay City

A new inclusive playground is taking shape in Bay Citys Veterans Park

Police refute false information of officer-involved shooting in Bay City

Police chase ends when suspects car crashes in Bay County
US President Barack Obama dispatched his deputy Joe Biden on an official visit to Jerusalem in March 2010, hoping to achieve a breakthrough in the stalemate between Israel and the Palestinians. A few months earlier, Israel had declared a freeze on construction in West Bank settlements, but negotiations were stalled. Biden, considered a veteran and proven Israel supporter, was supposed to nudge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into a series of goodwill gestures toward the Palestinians in order to cajole them back to the table.

As the visit began, Biden stopped for a solemn tour of the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, a customary stop for all official state guests. At the same time, the district planning commission announced approval for the construction of some 1,600 housing units in a Jewish neighborhood in predominantly Palestinian East Jerusalem. Although Jerusalem had not been included in the settlement freeze, the timing of the announcement even as Biden was bowing his head in memory of 6 million murdered Jews was perceived as a punch in his face.

The Americans were furious. Obama, according to his aides, was the angriest we have ever seen him, a senior White House official said. Then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recommended cutting short Bidens visit and recalling him to Washington at once. Obama was undecided. The phone lines at the White House, State Department and Bidens Jerusalem hotel suite were sizzling. Eventually, it was decided that the visit would continue, but Biden was two hours late for a festive dinner at the prime ministers residence. The next day, on a visit to Ramallah, Biden told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that the delay had been deliberate.

Following that humiliating incident, the already troubled relations between Netanyahu and Obama deteriorated into a deep crisis, with Clinton reading Netanyahu the riot act in a phone call that lasted for over 40 minutes over the incident. The Americans presented Netanyahu with a series of ultimatums, warning that unless they were met, the United States would take unprecedented steps against him. Essentially, Netanyahu won. He failed to accede to most of the demands, sending his people to negotiate with the Americans, and did what he does best  he launched a war of attrition. The crisis ended without any significant sanctions against Israel, and Netanyahu laughed last and best. This coming January, he could find Biden having the last laugh.

Looking back, a senior Israeli source speaking on condition of anonymity told Al-Monitor, The fact that it was Biden  a distinct, consistent and stable Israel supporter who does not tend to angry outbursts and hasty moves  was what saved Netanyahu from a true fiasco. The officials involved at the time in the Jerusalem-Washington channel  Middle East envoy Dennis Ross, US Ambassador Dan Shapiro, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren and adviser Ron Dermer  still believe the identity of the vice president at the time was instrumental in getting US-Israel relations back on track.

In the old days, the pro-Israel American Israel Public Affairs Committee lobby would have given Biden top marks for his pro-Israel positions. His record is not good or satisfactory, a senior source in the organization told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. Its perfect. You could not find a single significant vote at which he did not deliver and prove his commitment to Israels security and prosperity.

However, these descriptions were valid for the era that preceded Donald Trumps presidency. We are now at a completely different ballgame. The current president has dismantled all the paradigms relating to support for Israel and placed almost all senior Democratic lawmakers at a distinct disadvantage. Trump upended the US policy of the past half century that rejected the legitimacy of the settlements. Almost overnight, he turned Israels staunchest Democratic friends into what many Israelis jeeringly call leftists.

Paradoxically, Biden and Netanyahu have maintained a close, flourishing personal relationship for decades, ever since Netanyahu served as the deputy chief of mission at the Israeli Embassy in Washington (1982-84) and Biden as a young 10-year Senate veteran from Delaware. Although Biden was a classic Democrat and Netanyahu a distinct Republican, they became good friends and have remained so. Netanyahu could hardly have hoped for a better Democratic president nominee, which is not the case with his vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

Netanyahu is not alone. Biden knows, respects and keeps in touch with all Israels former prime ministers. Ehud Barak and Ehud Olmert both praise him at every opportunity and maintain a close relationship with him. His support for Israel is natural and clear, a senior Israeli diplomatic official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. He does not need any persuading. On the other hand, as far as the settlements are concerned, his position is still the traditional one of pre-Trump administrations. However, unlike other Democrats, who often harshly criticize Israel and preach to it, Biden will always make do with a friendlier question or comment. He will say something like, Why dont you reexamine this, but he will not deliver a harangue.

Bidens possible move into the White House in January 2021 was the catalyst for Netanyahus declared plans to impose Israeli sovereignty on West Bank Samaria settlements before his biggest Washington catch slips away. Meanwhile, he has had to bury that dream, but is praying for a Trump victory that would allow him to revive it. And if Biden wins? We will not mourn and we will not be keen," a senior political official in Jerusalem told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, We have been through worse disasters. The settlement issue is far less troubling than the Iranian one.

Indeed, US policy toward Iran is the rhinoceros in the room. Israeli officials are investing significant efforts in convincing Bidens current and future team on this issue, which Israel views as existential. The US maximum pressure policy is yielding fruit and pushing Iran up against the wall. Netanyahu and his associates are concerned that Biden might replace that policy, reduce tensions, pacify Iran with a goodwill gesture and renew negotiations on a nuclear agreement.

If you ask Netanyahu, such an option is disastrous. Senior defense officials  the military chief of staff, the Mossad chief, the head of Military Intelligence and commander of the air force  are not so sure. Iran as a signatory to a nuclear agreement is a far less dangerous Iran than the current one that has been violating the deal because the Americans withdrew from it, a senior Israeli defense source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. If Biden is sufficiently skillful in reaching an upgraded, longer term nuclear agreement, it would not be such a bad deal."

Either way, Netanyahus associates know that Biden is no Obama. A veteran Israeli diplomatic source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, Biden knows how to exert force and knows the importance of being willing to do so. He grew up in a tough neighborhood, he knows the Middle East and he is not naive like Obama was at the time.

Israel hopes to make the best of a Biden presidency  if that indeed happens  keeping Irans feet to the fire so that the regime is not allowed to evade sanctions without signing a new nuclear agreement, more persuasive than the previous one, or risk continued paralyzing economic pressure. Work on that task is already underway. Where Iran is concerned, Israel does not rely on miracles or coincidences.
The Renewed Uganda pressure group has condemned the arrest of its presidential candidate Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde.

Renewed Uganda wishes to condemn in the strongest terms possible the actions of Police in arresting its presidential candidate Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde who was conducting lawful consultations in Buikwe,reads the statement.

It adds that: We also condemn the actions of the Police in intimidating our candidate and the Taskforce by arresting the volunteers/mobilisers of the Taskforce.

Stories Continues after ad

The Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department (CIID) this week summoned Lt Gen Tumukunde to explain why he met army veterans to discuss his presidential bid.

In its statement, Renewed Uganda also challenged the Police to explain why it continues to clamp down on opposition activities while allowing ruling party politicians to freely operate.

Renewed Uganda also urged Ugandans to be vigilant in protecting their votes, saying that actions such as the arrests in Nansana and the police summons are intimidation tactics.

Meanwhile, Gen. Tumukunde is this morning expected City Hall court for hearing of his treason case.

Press Release Buikwe v190820_final
The development of agriculture and the food industry would diminish significantly important vulnerabilities of the local economy, namely high levels of the budget deficit and the current account deficit, which have not appeared as a consequence of the crisis, but were revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic, claims the deputy governor of the National Bank of Romania (BNR), Leonardo Badea.

From the perspective of the foreign balance there are many domains of the economy in which Romania "must act with priority to diminish the high dependency to imports and stimulation of exports," believes Leonardo Badea, mentioning that for two of these domains recently a very important step was made which, unfortunately, in the context of an intensification of the health crisis, was too quickly put in the background.

"We are speaking of the agricultural sector and that of the food industry, for which, at the level of the National Committee for Macroprudential Oversight (CNSM), there was work done in the first six months of this year in a multidisciplinary specialist group in view of elaborating a set of actions to diminish the commercial balance deficit in food items. I believe this step is one of the most positive recent examples of cooperation of the relevant factors of the state and the private environment in view of identifying and applying solutions to consolidate the local economy, and the moment is an extremely favorable one because it allows for the channeling and capitalization of resources mobilized at the national and European level to overcome the crisis generated by the COVID-19 pandemic by two domains of strategic interest for Romania," the quoted source explains on OpiniiBNR.ro.

In Romania, the stimulation of consumption together with an internal offer rigid in terms of structure and in many cases non-competitive by price or quality led to the accelerated increase of net imports and implicitly to the deepening of the commercial balance deficit, including in what regards commerce with food items. For example, in the 2013-2019 period, in the case of meat, fruit and vegetables deficits increased 2.5 times, in the case of products based on cereal 1.7 times, and in the case of drinks 2.2 times.

OpiniiBNR.ro is a forum platform where the specialists at the National Bank of Romania use to debate the main local and international macro-economic and financial developments. The opinions expressed are strictly personal, do not reflect the official position of the National Bank of Romania and do not imply or commit in any way the institution.
Islamic State West Africa Province fighters had stormed Kukawa town on Tuesday and took hundreds of hostages.

The Nigerian army on Thursday said it was in full control of a northeastern town where sources say hundreds of people had been taken hostage by rebels.

The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters stormed the town Kukawa on Tuesday and seized hundreds of residents who had just returned after fleeing their homes about two years ago, according to local residents and militia sources.

The terrorists on 18 August 2020 attacked troops location in Kukawa town in Borno state where the attack was vehemently thwarted, defence spokesman John Enenche said in a statement.

The situation in Kukawa is now calm with troops in full control, he said.

Kukawas residents had returned to their homes on August 2 under military escort on the orders of the state government.

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They had been living in camps in the regional capital Maiduguri, 180km (120 miles) away, where they fled following a bloody attack in November 2018.

The attack by the terrorists was  a deliberate attempt to reverse the milestone achievements recorded regarding IDPs [internally displaced people] in the areas of peacebuilding, reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement efforts by the government, Enenche said.

Three soldiers lost their lives, two were wounded while eight rebels were killed during the gun battle with the attackers, he added.

The decade-long conflict with the rebels in northeastern Nigeria has forced about two million people from their homes, mostly in the northern part of Borno.

Many have moved into squalid displacement camps in Maiduguri and rely on handouts from international charities.
Northern Berkshire School Union Opening in-Person, Remote

CLARKSBURG, Mass.  The four schools in the Northern Berkshire School Union are moving forward with in-person learning  or as least as much as possible.

The small schools of Gabriel Abbott Memorial in Florida, Emma Miller in Savoy and Rowe Elementary will open with students back in the classroom on Sept. 8; Clarksburg Elementary will begin the school year on Sept. 14 with a hybrid model.

Superintendent John Franzoni said the votes taken by each school committee were unanimous in support of their plans.

The size of the smaller schools made officials confident they could safely bring children and teachers back into the school buildings. Savoy has about 58 children in Grades K-5, Florida less than 100 in K-8, and Rowe about 60 in preK-6.

"Locally, we have very low transmission rates right now, especially in our small communities," said Franzoni. "That's why we've opened Florida, Rowe and Savoy because we can use outdoor learning spaces there, we can spread the kids out and we can certainly, with a small enrollment at those schools, reopen safely."

The number of cases for COVID-19 remain low in Berkshire County, with about 630 positive cases identified since March. The state's recent mapping on cases per 100,000 puts the county at the lowest transmission rates. Savoy and Florida have had fewer than five cases and Rowe none.

Clarksburg has been more difficult because of its enrollment  around 180  and issues with the aged building. An assessment of the structure found problems with the ventilation in the primary wing in that there is no ventilation.

Franzoni said this was not an issue if there was just a teacher but children couldn't be in the classrooms without air exchangers.

"Clarksburg, because it's a little bit larger, the plan is that we have to go with hybrid for a little bit until we have the building issues under control and then go from there," he said.

The school has ordered portable HEPA, or High Efficiency Particulate Air, filters at $6,000 a pop but they won't be delivered for four to six weeks.

Because those rooms cannot be used, only kindergarten through Grade 5 will return to classrooms and Grades 6-8 will be full remote for the first three weeks of school.

"This is a three-week plan, we're going to re-evaluate at the end of September to see if we received those units in for the primary wing and everything tests out," Franzoni said. "Then we'll move to a next phase ... probably a little bit of an extended hybrid getting [Grades] 6, 7 and 8 into the building."

Any further changes will be dictated by public health data. Clarksburg recorded the first case of COVID-19 in Berkshire County back in March but has since had only eight cases total and no positives in the last two weeks, according to the Department of Public Health.

There had been discussion of having Grades 3-5 and 6-8 taking turns being in the building but that was deemed too difficult, in part because it would also mean switching out the appropriate furniture.

"We also just felt like, want to get those youngest kids in the building first," he said. "It was only a three-week plan, so we felt like we get off to a good start by focusing Monday through Thursday, on the kids in Grades K through 5 for the in-person learning."

An area will be put aside in the cafeteria with technology for high-needs students who may need more help.

The schedule prepared by Principal Tara Barnes would have the students on a Monday through Thursday schedule the first three weeks with Friday as a professional development for teachers to evaluate progress and develop next steps.

All schools were required to submit plans for in-person, remote and a hybrid of both with the expectation they will be shifting models depending on the spread of the coronavirus.

In his letter to the school union community, Franzoni wrote that "We have reviewed numerous guidance documents from the state of Massachusetts outlining new safety guidelines that will be implemented with fidelity at each of our schools to help keep all students and staff healthy."

This will include masking, social distancing within the classrooms and buses, and limiting access to the schools to students and staff. Parents are being asked to keep children home if they have flu symptoms or don't feel well.

"We're really excited to open our schools. We think we can do it with our numbers ... it really plays into our strengths of being able to open our schools in person," Franzoni said. "So we're excited to open those schools on Sept. 8 for Rowe, Savoy and Florida and Sept. 14 for Clarksburg."
MUMBAI: The Mumbai Zonal Unit of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has seized 3056 Ecstasy pills - the largest seizure of the banned high-quality contraband ever. According to the NCB, the high-quality contraband was sourced from Brussels, Belgium and destined to Mumbai.

The drug was meant for supply in the party circuits of Mumbai. The seized MDMA pills were concealed in false cavities in the cardboard box containing a parcel of soft toys, the NCB said in a release.

A Mumbai-based couple who sourced the drug has been arrested in the case.

The NCB release said,  On 10.08.2020, acting on specific inputs developed, NCB, Mumbai Zonal Unit seized a total of 3010 of MDMA pills (969 gm), commonly known as ecstasy, sourced from Belgium on 10.08.2020 at DHL Express India (P) ltd, Goregaon (West), Mumbai.

The pills were seized from a parcel containing soft toys. However, contrary to usual Modus Operandi, the pills were not hidden inside soft toys; but they were concealed inside the false cavity in the cardboard box containing the consignment. In a quick follow up action, NCB team further recovered 46 tablets (17.5 grams) of MDMA from the Navi Mumbai residence of a couple who procured the drugs from Belgium. This couple, HA Choudhary and R Batharey, sourced the drug from Belgium was arrested and sent to Judicial Custody.

The high-quality ecstasy pills seized were in different colours - Orange, Pink and Green. The

NCB is investigating the linkages of this case to the wider syndicate trafficking supply of party drugs into India.

NCB also acknowledged the dedicated efforts of Ugam Dan Charan (Zonal Director, Mumbai and other officers associated to this case at NCB, Mumbai Zonal Unit.

MDMA (methylenedioxy-methamphetamine), commonly known as ecstasy, is a party drug that alters mood and perception is chemically similar to both stimulants and hallucinogens and produce feelings of increased energy and pleasure.

As per UNODC World Drug Report 2020, ecstasy continues to be manufactured primarily in Europe, most notably in Western and Central Europe.

Europe accounts for two thirds of the ecstasy laboratories dismantled worldwide. The current seizure of ecstasy is sourced from Belgium and have its sources in the Central Europe.

The total quantity of ecstasy seized worldwide has doubled over the period 2009-2018. This is also reflected in the rapidly increasing popularity of such synthetic drugs in India.
Neena Gopal By

To say that the political decimation of the parties that claim to speak for the Sri Lankan Tamils has been completed is an understatement. It was a rout. The Tamil National Alliance was all but swept away in the unprecedented flood of support that marked the return of the Rajapaksas to pre-eminence in the Sri Lankan polity.

But what was equally remarkable was the swiftness with which Prime Minister Narendra Modi called to congratulate the Sri Lankan leader, even as parliamentary poll results were coming in on August 7. It underscored Indias growing concern that in light of Chinas Ladakh ingress and the challenge posed to Indias land and maritime frontiers, Colombo cannot be allowed to slip back into Chinas zone of influence. But is India ready to heed the rise of Sinhala nationalism over the cause of the Tamil minority as geopolitical constraints take primacy?

Indias foot-dragging when Mahinda Rajapaksa, as president, was looking for investments to reboot his countrys post-war economy has not been forgotten by the new first family of Sri Lanka, which did not take kindly to being treated like a minnow left dangling by the big fish. Today, more so than ever, Colombos strategic importance to India, sitting as it does at a key intersection in its southern backyardwhere the sea lanes from the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea connect to the Indian Ocean, and where China has acquired one critical port after anothercan no longer be ignored.

In addition to the $400 million currency swap, the hungry minnow is asking for a $1.1 billion swap and a moratorium on a $900 million loan. These are requests that must be fast-tracked. In return, Delhi needs to ensure that the Rajapaksa regime dials down the anger of Sri Lankan workers over the Colombo Port East Container Terminal contract that was awarded to India (and Japan). Manufactured protests or not, it may take some doing.

As former Sri Lankan diplomat Dr Palitha B Kohona says, the manner in which former premier Ranil Wickremesinghe parcelled out real estate and parted with Sri Lankas crown jewels as part of his foreign policy balancing act is resented. The Colombo Port project was largely effected to assuage Indian concerns about both the Hambantota Port project being given to the Chinese by then president Mahinda Rajapaksa and the immediacy with which he was co-opted by Chinese President Xi Jinping into the signature Belt and Road Initiative.

Clearly, India cannot allow the Colombo project to slip through its fingers. It must also continue to stay invested in revitalising the Palaly airport in Jaffna and the Kankensanthurai port while building homes for displaced Sri Lankan Tamils across Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu in Tamil majority provinces. But the vote of no confidence in the TNAreduced to a mere 10 seats from 16and the victory of only a handful of luminaries like the former chief minister of Jaffna, lawyer-turned-politician C V Wigneswaran, who heads the Tamil Peoples Alliance, and the Ponnambalam legatee Gajendra Kumar Ponnambalam of the Tamil National Peoples Front reflects the rapidly shrinking space occupied by Tamil politicians.

The only opposition of any consequence, the newly formed Samagi Jana Balavegaya led by Sajith Premadasa, has a miniscule 54 seats against the 145 seats of President Rajapaksas Sri Lanka Podujana Perumana in the 225-member Parliament. Premadasa, whose father Ranasinghe Premadasa was assassinated by the LTTE, is unlikely to take up cudgels for the Tamils. Neither is former president Maithripala Sirsena and former PM and United National Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, both reduced to irrelevance.

As the Rajapaksa clan moves to secure a majority in the House, when Parliament convenes on August 20, to scrap the 19th Amendment that limited presidential powers by reaching out to like-minded smaller parties, the fate of the controversial 13th Amendment is lost in the din. The cornerstone of the Sri Lankan Tamils quest for greater devolution of powers to the provinces is an unnecessary imposition to the Rajapaksa government and the Sinhala majority, an intrusion in their internal affairs.

The 13th Amendment, part of the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord of 1987 that promised greater powers to the provinces, was repeatedly raised by Delhi with one eye on the domestic Tamil vote. But with a post-Jayalalithaa Tamil Nadus deafening silence to poll results, PM Modiwho needs the AIADMK to shore up his numbers in the Rajya Sabha and factors Indian Tamil sentiment into the BJPs electoral strategywill weigh whether voicing concerns over the amendment (and Indias Tamil fishermen routinely held by the Sri Lankan Navy) is worth rattling the Rajapaksa cage when it knows this does not sit well with Lankas new ruling family.

Gotabaya, validated by parliamentary polls, reflects the trust that the people of Sri Lanka have in the man who ended the 30-year reign of terror by the Tamil Tigers chief Prabhakaran. With a tough crackdown on the Muslim community vulnerable to radicalisation by the Islamic State Khorasan, who were behind the 2019 Easter bombings, his stock runs high.

One of his first moves to tighten direct control of the north and east could come now, from abolishing the provincial councils that run the provinces, making the 13th Amendment redundant. Dr Kohona says, The provinces have been administered for the last two years without provincial councils, which are anyway a huge drain on the exchequer. Its time we looked at abolishing them. The Modi government, aware that Sri Lanka is one of a handful of countries that has refused to comment on the changed status of Jammu & Kashmir to a Union Territory, may choose to say nothing; more so when the prickly issue of the disappeared is all set to be raised by the UNHRC early next year.

Rohan Gunaratna, professor of security studies at Nanyang University, Singapore, points to Gotabaya Rajapaksas brilliant ties with India when he was defence secretary, that enabled Sri Lanka to defeat the LTTE as a relationship the president wants to maintain, while building equidistance between a declining West, a rising China and a rising India. The trick for India will be on how to spin that equidistance to its advantage without completely vacating its advocacy of the Sri Lankan Tamils cause.

Neena Gopal

Independent journalist and author (neenagopal@gmail.com)
MOSCOW, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and his Belarusian counterpart, Roman Golovchenko, agreed in a phone call on Wednesday to further deepen their ties in a number of areas, the Russian government said in a statement.

"(They) discussed concrete challenges related to the expansion of Russian-Belarusian trade and economic ties and deepening cooperation in energy, industry and other fields," the statement said. (Writing by Polina Ivanova; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Biden says Putin will pay 'dear price' if he invades Ukraine
SHANGHAI, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- An analysis report by Ries Positioning Strategy & Consulting on the alcoholic spirits market has found that global consumption of spirits reached 21.4 billion liters in 2019. Over the past five years, the global spirits market has grown steadily at an average rate of 1.7% per year. At present, the world's top three spirits categories are baijiu, whiskey, and vodka.

Globally, alcohol consumption exceeded $1.04 trillion in 2019, with retail spending on spirits amounting to nearly $390 billion, or 40% of the total. In terms of volume, 21.4 billion liters of spirits were consumed across the world in 2019. The most widely consumed spirits were baijiu, whiskey, and vodka, which accounted for 23%, 17%, and 14% of total alcohol consumption respectively. Following these three spirits were "second tier" categories such as brandy, rum, tequila, and gin.

From 2014 to 2019, the global market for spirits grew steadily at an average annual rate of 1.7%. The consumed volume of baijiu, the world's largest spirits category, was largely stable despite a slight decline, whereas total baijiu sales value grew at a compounded rate of 9.15%, indicating that volume and value were moving in opposite directions. Annual consumption of whiskey grew at an average rate of 3.16%, making it the fastest-growing category among mainstream spirits. The global spirits market is expected to be saturated by 2025. While overall consumption is set to remain within a stable range, competition for market share between various categories of spirits will become more intense, with whiskey set to become a new driver of future growth.

Laura Ries, global chairman of RIES, said, "The global spirits market is becoming saturated and growth continues to slow. Market leaders should promote themselves as being the real thing, and new brands should promote themselves as being the choice of a new generation. Spirits companies can broaden their horizons by rolling out new products with new flavors and lower alcohol. And there is always the opportunity to launch new brands in new categories."

According to research by RIES on the mindsets that consumers have about the value of spirits, international consumers place the highest value on whiskey, followed by brandy. Whiskey and brandy are categorized as high-end spirits, while other categories are deemed "middle to low-end". Non-Chinese consumers know little about baijiu (i.e. They do not perceive baijiu as a spirit). Consumption of baijiu in 2019 was 5.2 billion liters, 99% of which was consumed in China market, making China the world's top consumer of spirit. Meanwhile, sales volume of baijiu accounted for 96% of the total volume of spirits sold in China, with the remaining 4% consisting of whiskey, brandy, vodka, and other spirits.

In China's spirits market excluding baijiu, brandy and whiskey were the most widely consumed spirits, accounting for about 74% and 15% of total sales respectively. In 2019, the market for brandy was worth roughly USD 2.67 billion, making it the top category of foreign spirits in China. However, the market was encumbered by sluggish growth rates. That same year, while Chinese brandy brand Changyu accounted for nearly 50% of the total sales volume of brandy in China, its revenue was only 4% of the country's total in this category. Meanwhile, China's whiskey market, worth roughly USD 52.6 million in 2019, has exhibited a relatively stable outlook.

"In China, consumers have far better awareness about spirit brands than about categories. It means that Chinese consumers don't have sufficient knowledge about such categories as whiskey, brandy, and vodka, but have partial recognition of specific brands, like Louis XIII, Martell, and Jack Daniels," said Emma Xiao, RIES China senior consultant, who advises international spirits companies. "Despite the huge differences in the perceptions by Chinese and foreign consumers, the China market still has great potential. At present, global mainstream spirits account for only 4% of the total sales volume in China. For international spirits companies that aim to make breakthroughs in the China market, they should prioritize category education over brand promotion so that they can 'embed' category of whiskey, brandy, and others in the minds of consumers. In addition, given the strong consumer perception of whiskey globally, whiskey will become a category with the highest growth potential in the China market."

Note

About Ries Positioning Strategy & Consulting

Ries Positioning Strategy & Consulting was founded in 1963 by Al Ries, founder of positioning principles. The headquarter is located in Atlanta, Georgia, the United States. For more than 50 years, Ries, as the pioneer and leader of strategic positioning consulting, has helped many Fortune Global 500 companies and innovative companies establish their strategic positioning and overcome bottlenecks that have limited their growth. Ries has offices in Asia, Europe, America and other regions, where partners with deep insights in the local market provide positioning strategy and consulting services for clients.

For more information, please visit its global website: https://www.riesglobal.com

SOURCE Ries Positioning Strategy & Consulting

Related Links

https://www.riesglobal.com


UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is scheduled to meet US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo on August 20 in his residence in New York. According to reports, a UN spokesperson has stated that the meeting between the two officials will take place at 2:30 pm local time and the meeting will take place at his residence because Guterres is currently self-isolating himself after traveling to Portugal.

In-person meeting in New York

As per reports, during the meeting with Guterres, Pompeo is expected to begin the procedures for snapback sanctions against Iran. The call for snapback sanctions against Iran comes after a US resolution in the UN Security Council for the indefinite extension of an arms embargo against Iran was soundly defeated.

The snapback sanctions which are outlined in UN Resolution 2231 concern the 2015 Nuclear deal with Iran and states that if any of the signatories find that another is not honouring its commitments as per the UN accord, then the UN Security Council can vote on whether to continue with the suspension of the economic sanctions against Tehran. During the Security Council vote, it=f the United States unilaterally vetoes the resolution as a UNSC permanent member then all sanctions again Iran prior to the 2015 nuclear deal will be reinstated.

Read: US Hits UAE-based Aviation Firms With Sanctions Over Iran

Read: UN Condemns Mali Mutiny And Urges End To Crisis

Iran Rejects US accusation

Iran has denied that it paid Taliban fighters to target US forces and its allies in Afghanistan. As per reports, Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh stated that the claims made by the United States were entirely false, he also added that the accusation were attempts by the US to hide its miscalculations in Afghanistan. Media Reports on August 17 stated that US intelligence agencies had concluded that Iran had offered bounties to Taliban fighters for targeting the US and coalition troops in Afghanistan.

Read: Iran Rejects US Accusation, Did Not Pay Taliban To Target US Troops In Afghanistan

Read: Pompeo Pledges Support For Iraq, Targets Pro-Iran Militias
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 22:40:52|Editor: huaxia

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JINAN, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Seven people were killed and nine others injured after a deflagration occurred in a coal mine in east China's Shandong Province on Thursday morning, local authorities said.

A total of 19 workers were down the shaft when the accident happened at 6:55 a.m. at the Liangbaosi Coal Mine in Jiaxiang County, according to the county government. They were lifted to the ground at 9:30 a.m., and 16 were rushed to hospital with injuries.

Among them, seven died after treatment failed, and nine others were still hospitalized, including one in serious condition.

The provincial government of Shandong has set up a team to investigate the cause of the accident. Enditem
As protests over the recent election result continue in Belarus, large crowds gathered on Wednesday in front of the Ministry of Internal Affairs building and the government house in Minsk.

Hundreds of thousands of people protested the election results across the country, where President Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus for 26 years, was re-elected with 80% of the vote.

During the first four days of demonstrations, police detained almost 7,000 people and injured hundreds with rubber bullets, stun grenades and clubs, with the sporadic violent clashes between protesters and police leaving at least three protesters dead.

Opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who lost with only 10% of the vote, branded the elections a sham, prompting widespread protests and strikes across the country.

Alexey Poroshin, a protester at Wednesday's demonstrations, said the decentralised protests were effective and authorities were struggling to stop them.

"Decentralised protest is a force under these conditions...authorities don't know what to do, we turn up in different places, and it all comes from the heart, from the desire to live in a free and legitimate country", he said.
Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Bloomsbury Publishing plc (LON:BMY) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. Our analysis will employ 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. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model.

See our latest analysis for Bloomsbury Publishing

The calculation

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. 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, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 Levered FCF (, Millions) UK150.0k UK16.7m UK15.4m UK14.6m UK14.1m UK13.8m UK13.7m UK13.7m UK13.7m UK13.8m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Est @ -5.06% Est @ -3.18% Est @ -1.86% Est @ -0.93% Est @ -0.29% Est @ 0.16% Est @ 0.48% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 7.2% UK0.1 UK14.5 UK12.5 UK11.0 UK10.0 UK9.1 UK8.4 UK7.8 UK7.3 UK6.9

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = UK87m

Story continues

After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond 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 1.2%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 7.2%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2030  (1 + g)  (r  g) = UK14m (1 + 1.2%)  (7.2% 1.2%) = UK233m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= UK233m ( 1 + 7.2%)10= UK116m

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is UK203m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of UK2.1, the company appears about fair value at a 19% 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

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 Bloomsbury Publishing 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 7.2%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.864. 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.

Looking Ahead:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. 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 Bloomsbury Publishing, we've put together three additional elements you should assess:

Risks: Be aware that Bloomsbury Publishing is showing 2 warning signs in our investment analysis , you should know about... Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for BMY'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. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the LSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks 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.
What do you read when youre working on a book? And what kind of reading do you avoid while writing?

The only thing I avoid reading while writing is anything that seems too similar, in topic or tone, to what Im working on.

Do you count any books as guilty pleasures? Or comfort reads?

No guilty pleasures, just pleasures. For comfort, I like to revisit Good Woman, by Lucille Clifton. The copy Ive had since I was 17 is so dog-eared and underlined that, at some point, I realized I just love every word, every page.

Whats the last book you read that made you laugh?

Heads of the Colored People, by Nafissa Thompson-Spires.

The last book you read that made you cry?

Homie, by Danez Smith, an absolute joy of a book.

The last book you read that made you furious?

Ive been so furious these past few months. The enormity of the losses that we are seeing right now, of lives, of jobs, of housing, of safety, of civil liberties is infuriating because things were already so brutal for so many and the fallout from this will only further brutalize. It never had to come to this. I am thinking of Eula Bisss On Immunity, where she writes, However we choose to think of the social body, we are each others environment. I am thinking of Matthew Desmonds Evicted, which shows us that eviction is a cause, not just a condition, of poverty, as we face a mass eviction crisis. Im thinking of Rachel Louise Snyders No Visible Bruises, where I learned that unemployment is one of the stressors that can turn domestic violence lethal as we face a mass unemployment crisis. I am thinking of Valeria Luisellis Tell Me How It Ends, as immigrants, refugees and migrants continue to be treated with naked, deadly contempt. I am thinking of Toni Morrisons On the Backs of Blacks, where she writes, A hostile posture toward resident Blacks must be struck at the Americanizing door before it will open, as I see fellow immigrants and their descendants on the sidelines of or opposing the movement for Black liberation. I am thinking that What you have heard is true (from Carolyn Forches The Colonel) as the president sends Homeland Security officers to round up B.L.M. protesters in Portland because it only further proves that this sham of a department should never have been established, deputized to use terror under the guise of combating terror. An inch that should never have been given has become a mile taken. Over 150,000 dead, over 30 million unemployed with cruel, despotic politicians (and the corporations who bought them) at the helm. How are we going to account for all of this loss? My fury is boundless, no book required.

The protagonist of Transcendent Kingdom is a neuroscientist who grew up in an evangelical community in Alabama. What writers are especially good on the tensions between science and faith?
All sanctions against Iran that were suspended under the 2015 nuclear deal will resume in 31 days under a process Secretary of State Mike Pompeo started Thursday, in a move that is exposing deep divisions between the United States and other countries on the U.N. Security Council and could spell the death of the landmark agreement.

Pompeo filed an official complaint with the president of the Security Council, accusing Iran of violating the 2015 nuclear deal, which President Donald Trump withdrew from two years ago. Under the agreement, that means sanctions will be "snapped back" into place next month unless the Security Council votes to keep them lifted - a move certain to trigger a U.S. veto.

The process includes an extension of an arms embargo due to expire in mid-October. A U.S. proposal to keep it in place was roundly defeated in a Security Council vote last week in which only the Dominican Republic sided with the United States.

"Our message is very, very simple," Pompeo told reporters after meeting with the Security Council's president and U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres. "The United States will never allow the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism to freely buy and sell planes, tanks, missiles and other kinds of conventional weapons."

The U.S. action, though long expected, drew sharp condemnation from Russia and the three European countries that were partners in negotiating the agreement, which lifted all sanctions against Iran in return for limits on its nuclear program.

France, Germany and Britain issued a statement questioning the authority of the United States to demand a snapback since it is no longer a participant in the agreement, which is known officially as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

The countries noted that the United States "ceased to be a participant to the JCPOA following their withdrawal from the deal on May 8, 2018," said the statement, which was issued in the name of the countries' foreign ministers. "We cannot therefore support this action which is incompatible with our current efforts to support the JCPOA."

They warned that the U.S. effort could undermine the U.N. Security Council.

"We remain guided by the objective of upholding the authority and integrity of the United Nations Security Council," the statement said. "We call on all UNSC members to refrain from any action that would only deepen divisions in the Security Council or that would have serious adverse consequences on its work."

The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said the unilateral U.S. withdrawal from the agreement means it cannot initiate snapback. "I will continue to do everything possible to ensure the preservation and full implementation of the JCPOA by all," he said in a statement, calling the agreement a pillar of nonproliferation and regional security.

Russia's U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, dismissed the U.S. move as "nonexistent," saying only a country that is still in the deal can legitimately trigger a snapback.

"He's not triggering a snapback," Nebenzia said of Pompeo, even before he arrived in New York. "Snapback can be triggered by a country that is a participant of the JCPOA, which the U.S. is not."

The U.S. decision to start the process toward the snapback of sanctions suspended almost five years ago now enters a murky phase. China and Russia, also signatories to the agreement, oppose the resumption of sanctions and want to sell weapons to Iran. The Europeans share many of the U.S. concerns over Iran's interference in neighboring countries. The JCPOA has been hanging by a thread since the Trump administration began reapplying a stream of U.S. sanctions, but the Europeans want to keep the deal alive.

The U.S. allies, several of whose officials spoke on the condition of anonymity out of what they said was a rapidly deepening Council divide, were taken aback at Pompeo's description of them, in his U.N. news conference, as siding with Iran's "ayatollahs" and privately thanking the administration for Thursday's action.

"We understand the views on Iran," said one European official. "But ultimately we take a different view on their ability to trigger snap-back." While acknowledging that the text of the resolution was not clearly written, this official and others said that it was clear to all that it was composed to deal with an Iranian withdrawal from the agreement, not for the withdrawal of one of the Western signatories. European reaction ranged from irritated to infuriated, while "Russia and China want to be talking about this as much as possible," the official said.

There is allied agreement that removing the conventional weapons embargo is a bad thing, although the Europeans say they are more concerned that Iran will use the situation to further enhance its nuclear capabilities than to buy more conventional weapons. Russia and China already flout U.S. sanctions regularly.

Europeans had made what they said were strenuous efforts in recent weeks to persuade both Moscow and Beijing to agree to extend the embargo. Those efforts, officials said, were ultimately undercut by U.S. rhetoric and insistence that only the snap back of all sanctions against Iran would suffice, and that it had the unilateral right to demand them.

Pompeo made clear that once the suspended sanctions return, the United States will go after any nation that violates them, whether friend or foe.

"We will continue to enforce the sanctions after these U.N. Security Council resolutions come back in place," Pompeo said. "The country is immaterial. If there's a violation of the sanctions, we'll do our level best to enforce them."

Except for a few allies, the United States is largely alone in its contention that it still has the authority to trigger snapback sanctions. The argument stems from a State Department legal opinion that any country that was a "participant state" in the original agreement has the right to trigger snapback even if it no longer is a participant in the deal.

"That right endures regardless of whether one views the United States as being in non-performance of the commitments it made under the JCPOA or as not currently participating in that political arrangement," the legal opinion said.

Pompeo said Thursday that the Security Council could have inserted language that excludes dropout nations from triggering sanctions. But it didn't, he said, and so the United States is still listed as a participant in the U.N. resolution that endorsed the deal and lifted U.N. sanctions.

Pompeo started the procedure with a letter to Indonesia's U.N. ambassador, Dian Triansyah Djani, who is president of the Security Council this month. Pompeo wrote that Iran had exceeded its limits under the agreement for uranium enrichment and heavy water production, as well as research on advanced centrifuges. He wrote that "exhaustive diplomacy" with Iran by the European countries that co-signed the pact with the United States - Britain, France and Germany - had failed.

"The United States is therefore left with no choice but to notify the Council that Iran is in significant non-performance of its JCPOA commitments," the letter states.

Now that the United States has started the procedure for returning to a pre-2015 set of sanctions against Iran, one of the big questions is whether Tehran will walk away from the JCPOA as Trump did.

Since the United States withdrew and began reimposing its own sanctions, Iran has gradually been ramping up its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. It has exceeded some limits prescribed in the agreement, but it has not given up on a deal Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has characterized as "half alive," and it continues to allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to monitor its activities. Numerous Iranian officials have said that invoking snapback sanctions would signal the death of the agreement.

In an ominous sign of a potential escalation in the confrontation between Tehran and Washington, Iran on Thursday unveiled two medium-range missiles, including one named after Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, whom Trump ordered killed in January.

Pompeo's plan to set into motion the eventual resumption of sanctions was heavily advertised ahead of time. He has been threatening to do so since the spring, and Trump announced Wednesday that he had ordered Pompeo to go to the United Nations to start the process.

- - -

The Washington Post's Michael Birnbaum contributed to this report.
Realpolitik reigns over the Middle East now more than ever, particularly when it comes to the Arab-Israeli conflict and what are described as historical facts that have directed the actions of Arab states.

The majority of regional countries stood against the late president Anwar Al-Sadats initiative over 40 years ago. As slogans resonated from one country to the other, Arab states opposed any potential settlements. Fast forward, the Middle East has suffered successive catastrophes, from the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, to the war on terrorism, internal conflicts, and the disintegration of central states.

The reality on the ground forced unorthodox changes in foreign policies and in relations between traditional rivals. Unexpected alliances are now a fait accompli after the world has seen parts of it throwing behind the principles of international law and successive UN resolutions.

Amid these changes, a tripartite agreement was sealed between the UAE, Israel and the US. The peace deal between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv gives the green light for cooperation between the two states in several fields. Under the terms of the deal, Israel has agreed to halt its plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank.

Soon after, many capitals reported Israel has started similar deliberations with other Gulf countries.

The UAE-Israel agreement led the majority of observers to stress the necessity of forging a comprehensive peace deal in the Middle East that is not solely based on Israels suspension of its annexation plan, but that invests in the rapprochement between the Gulf and Israel, which represents a massive change, towards a comprehensive settlement.

This step may not be possible if the Arab League is not active in the process. The league should become a platform for presenting viewpoints and positions and not for exchanging accusations of treason or setting off media campaigns seeking false gains in the Arab street that has been suffering from devastation.

Collective debate is the only means to put the legitimate rights of the Palestinians on the table. The region should build on the current rapprochement, while each country maintains the right to adopt the positions it deems appropriate amid the several regional threats, be they Irans regional expansion, Turkeys ambitious plan to exercise power in Sunni countries, or projects to dismantle countries by non-state organisations. The latter have become increasingly dangerous and a threat to stable and prosperous countries.

While Egypt respects other countries choices, as far as its foreign policies are concerned, it affirms the importance of comprehensive settlements that preserve rights, strengthen the Palestinians positions and put the eyes of Arab nations on their new realities, where the political bids of parties that are not involved in the conflict and that direct their money towards terrorist organisations instead of rebuilding Arab communities are futile.

Soft intervention is required on the part of international parties observing the Israel-Gulf rapprochement to contain the Israeli aggression, force Benjamin Netanyahu to respect the UAE move, and urge Israel to refrain from actions that induce anger  even if Israel is the stronger party against the Palestinians at present.

Israel may forge bilateral agreements that grant it recognition by and coordination with regional countries. However, on the longer term, ignoring the Palestinians rights will prevent popular rapprochement between Israel and the Arab world, increase hatred, and keep the conflict ongoing indefinitely. The Middle East cant afford this anymore.

Forging peace means accepting compromises to create a better future. It doesnt mean imposing a fait accompli through exploiting exceptional conditions or counting on the worlds super power.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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We are proud join the list of business leaders, who push the economy forward and stand up for business in Ukraine. It is honor to be a part of successful U.S.-Ukraine business community that changes the business environment

Intetics is glad to share that the Ukrainian branch has joined the proud list of American Chamber of Commerce (ACC) in Ukraine.

ACC in Ukraine stands among most active and efficient non-government, non-profit business organizations operating in Ukraine. The Chamber strives to work across political lines for the advantage of the internationally oriented business community.

The American Chamber of Commerce represents 600+ business leaders and experts of member organizations. ACC offers its members and partners to explore a range of projects and opportunities for business development.

We are proud join the list of business leaders, who push the economy forward and stand up for business in Ukraine. It is honor to be a part of successful U.S.-Ukraine business community that changes the business environment, says Sergey Kizyan, CTO Intetics.

The members of ACC divide to 5 levels:



Corporate A - large strategic and institutional investors

Corporate B - medium size companies

Corporate C - small companies

DF/ EI  donor funded / educational institutions

Affiliated parties

Being a non-governmental member-funded non-profit organization, it is without a doubt our members are in the spotlight of all Chamber endeavors, states ACC.

About American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine

The American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine is an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is Ukraines oldest international business association, operating since 1992. Being a non-governmental member-funded non-profit organization, the Chamber represents the biggest investors and largest multinationals operating in Ukraine which contribute greatly to the state budget and create opportunities for people in Ukraine to realize their potential. For 28 years, AmCham Ukraine has been delivering the voice of business at the highest level. The Chamber cooperates closely with Ukrainian state authorities to improve the business environment and attract Foreign Direct Investment into the economy as well as advocates for predictable, transparent and stable rules of doing business.

About Intetics

Intetics is a leading global technology company providing custom software application development, distributed professional teams, software product quality assessment, and all-things-digital solutions built with SMAC, RPA, AI/ML, IoT, blockchain, and GIS/UAV/LBS technologies.

Based on proprietary pioneering business models of Offshore Dedicated Team and Remote In-Sourcing, an advanced Technical Debt Reduction Platform (TETRA) and measurable SLAs for software engineering, Intetics helps innovative organizations capitalize on global talent with our in-depth engineering expertise based on the Predictive Software Engineering framework.

Intetics core strength is the design of software products in conditions of incomplete specifications. We have extensive industry expertise in Education, Healthcare, Logistics, Life Science, Finance, Insurance, Communications, and custom ERP, CRM, Intelligent Automation and Geospatial solutions.

Our advanced software engineering background and outstanding quality management platform, along with an unparalleled methodology for talent recruitment, team building, and talent retention, guarantee that our clients receive exceptional results for their projects. At Intetics, our outcomes do not just meet clients expectations, they have been exceeding them for a quarter of a century.

Intetics operates from 11 offices in 6 countries including US (headquarters), Germany, UK, Belarus, Poland, and Ukraine.

Intetics is ISO 9001 (quality) and ISO 27001 (security) certified and a Microsoft Gold and Amazon Partner. The companys innovation and growth achievements are reflected in winning prestigious titles and awards, including Inc 5000, Software 500, CRN 100, American Business, Deloitte Technology Fast 50, European IT Excellence, Best European BPO, Clutch and ACQ5 Awards, and inclusion into IAOPs Best Global Outsourcing 100 list.
Seamless coordination ensured that there are just 38 local terrorists active in Kashmir

Terrorist killed in Kupwara encounter is a Pakistani: Police

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Srinagar, Aug 20: A militant who was killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district along with a top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander was identified as a Pakistani ultra, police on Thursday said.

They said the Pakistani terrorist named Danish was killed in the encounter on Wednesday.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar said the killing of the two militants was a big achievement for the security forces.

J&K: One militant killed in encounter with security forces in Shopian

Kumar on Wednesday had said that one of the slain militants was LeT commander Naseer-u-din Lone, who was involved in killing of three CRPF jawans at Sopore on April 18 and another three CRPF jawans at Handwara on May 4 this year.

He said an AK-47 rifle, which was snatched from a CRPF jawan after the attack at Vangam Handwara on May 4, was recovered from Lone. This proved his involvement in the killing of the three CRPF jawans, he said on Thursday.

Killing of Lone and Danish is a big achievement for the forces, the IGP Kashmir said.

The Kashmir Zone Police on its official Twitter page uploaded a CCTV grab purportedly showing Lone firing on CRPF jawans at Aahad Baba Chow.

Contempt Case: SC rejects Prashant Bhushan's plea to defer sentencing | Oneindia News

The encounter at Ganipora Kralgund area of Handwara in north Kashmir's Kupwara district started after security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.

The encounter was the second such operation on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, security forces killed two militants in Shopian district in south Kashmir.

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Story first published: Thursday, August 20, 2020, 16:40 [IST]
By occupying key vantage points in eastern Ladakh in an operation backed by tens of thousands of troops in the rear, China has entered a dangerous new phase in its territorial expansionism. It has brazenly seized areas that were under Indias military control or patrolling jurisdiction.

In fact, China intruded into areas located beyond any claim line it has ever published, including its 1956, 1959 and 1960 claim lines in Ladakh. Demonstrating ever-expanding claims, its forces intruded into the Hot Springs-Gogra-Kongka La region and the Depsang Y-Junction and also up to the Galwan Rivers mouth and Pangong Lakes Finger 4.

India, facing up to what its defence ministry calls unilateral aggression, has made it clear to China that it will settle for nothing less than a full return to status quo ante. Indias message to Beijing is that refusing to roll back its encroachments will cast a growing shadow over the bilateral relationship. Publicly, too, India has cautioned that Chinas border hostilities will damage bilateral ties.

There has been no national debate, however, on Indias options to restore status quo ante. China seems determined to hold on to its territorial gains, which explains its statement that disengagement is mostly over. Indeed, it has used military and diplomatic talks to demand Indian acquiescence in the new status quo. The protracted talks have also helped it to consolidate its hold on the land grabs, including by building fortifications and installing fiber optic cables.

China has achieved its territorial gains in the same way it made territorial grabs elsewhere in Asia since the 1980s  below the threshold of armed conflict, without firing a shot. Today, it is trying to dictate a Hobsons choice to India, like it did when it captured Doklam: Go along with the changed status quo or risk an open war. Believing time is on its side, China is seeking to wear India out in order to present a fait accompli.

Against this background, Indias options are narrowing. The longer India has waited, the harder it has become to militarily push back the intruding Chinese forces and restore status quo ante. Imagine if India had dealt with Chinas incursions as soon as it discovered them in early May, instead of restraining its forces and entering into unproductive talks. Indian efforts to obscure the intrusions and troop clashes only led to newer Chinese encroachments. As an August 4 defence ministry note pointed out, China made fresh intrusions into Kugrang, Gogra and Pangong on May 17-18.

India has the worlds most-experienced army in hybrid mountain warfare. Contrary to the conventional wisdom that China holds a significant military advantage, several recent international assessments underscore that Indias air and ground forces have a qualitative edge over the Peoples Liberation Army. Indias weakness is a reactive and risk-averse strategic culture.

Indias failure to employ its counterattack capability undermined its negotiating position. Instead of a seize, hold and talk strategy to clinch an equitable deal, India brought little to the negotiating table, thus allowing China to reinforce its bargaining power. This is apparent from Chinas absurd new demands that India further retreat from Pangong and vacate the Kugrang heights.

India now faces crunch time. If it is not going to end up validating Chinas forcible realignment of the Line of Actual Control, India must inflict substantive costs on the aggressor. Imposing significant economic and diplomatic costs, coupled with the application of coercive military pressure, holds the key. India must speak from a position of strength. Its professional, battle-hardened armed forces, coupled with its trade and diplomatic leverage, give it that strength.

The only way China will roll back its aggression is if India begins exacting mounting costs that make its territorial gains unbeneficial to hold. The costs India has sought to impose thus far have proved woefully inadequate to make Beijing end its aggression.

A calibrated imposition of progressively escalating costs has become imperative. Economically, Indias main steps thus far  banning Chinese mobile apps and restricting Chinese companies access to Indian government contracts  need to be supplemented with informal trade sanctions. Chinese exports to India are still running at more than $5 billion a month, with July witnessing a surge. Now is the time for India to leverage its buying power to correct its massive trade deficit with China.

At a time when the international environment is turning hostile to Chinas ambitions, India must launch a diplomatic offensive to spotlight the Chinese aggression. Indias reticence to name-and-shame China seems unfathomable. Even amid its aggression, China has had no hesitation in raking up the Jammu and Kashmir issue at the United Nations Security Council.

As a warning shot across Beijings bow, India should rescind its 2006 decision allowing China to reopen its consulate in Kolkata, given Chinas designs on the Siliguri Corridor. That decision was made despite Beijings refusal to let India reopen its Lhasa consulate. The Kolkata and Lhasa consulates were shut following Mao Zedongs 1962 war against India.

Meanwhile, the highest-level visit by a United States cabinet official to Taiwan since 1979 has served as an example for India to loosen its own one-China policy by living up to then foreign minister Sushma Swarajs promise in 2014  that the one-China policy would henceforth be predicated on Chinas adoption of a one-India policy. For starters, the prime minister may like to meet the Dalai Lama and say he sought the Tibetan leaders counsel regarding China.

India, subscribing to hard-nosed realpolitik, has no choice but to impose costs that cumulatively outweigh Beijings aggression gains. Without such a course, China could not only escape scot-free but also reap rewards of aggression.

Brahma Chellaney is a geostrategist.

The views expressed are personal
PORT HOPE, ON, Aug. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cameco and Bruce Power announced today a series of initiatives  highlighted by the creation of a centre for next generation nuclear technologies  to leverage their existing partnership to help restart the Canadian economy, protect the environment and fight diseases like COVID-19 around the world. In addition, further to the Bruce Power Life-Extension Program and the existing long-term supply agreement, Cameco and Bruce Power have announced the additional supply of 1,600 specialized fuel bundles for Unit 6 scheduled for restart in 2024.

The two companies are industry leaders in Ontario, Saskatchewan and Canada, directly and indirectly employing 27,000 workers and creating $9-12 billion of investment annually in the Canadian economy. Bruce Power, Cameco and the entire Canadian nuclear industry remain at the forefront of science and innovation in the production of GHG emissions-free power and cancer-fighting isotopes.

Throughout the pandemic, Bruce Power and Cameco have been able to ensure the safe and reliable supply of GHG emissions-free electricity to millions of people in Canada, and will now leverage one of Canadas largest infrastructure projects, the Bruce Power Life-Extension Program, to help rebuild the national economy through innovation, including exploring project acceleration and other opportunities.

To expand on their important inter-provincial partnership, as founding members of the Nuclear Innovation Institute (NII), Bruce Power and Cameco are proud to announce the launch of the NII Centre for Next Generation Nuclear Technologies to identify post-COVID economic, environmental and health-care opportunities.

The new centre will focus on next generation nuclear technologies by advancing the existing expertise of suppliers, regulators and operators to support future economic, environmental and export opportunities for Ontario, Saskatchewan and beyond. Innovations in nuclear energy will help support new technologies like small modular reactors (SMRs), cancer-fighting isotopes and hydrogen development by using infrastructure investments that will drive the economy now and power the world of the future. It will also look at how the current Bruce Power site output can be further enhanced with new technologies and as foundational enablers.

Story continues

Todays announcement, along with the existing long-term arrangements between Bruce Power and Cameco, opens the door to assist the provincial governments in both Saskatchewan and Ontario with getting the economy back on its feet after six difficult months working to protect and keep people safe in both provinces, said Mike Rencheck, President and CEO of Bruce Power. Were extremely grateful to Premiers Ford and Moe, and the members of their respective governments, for realizing the positive impact that the nuclear industry has on the lives of Canadians.

Our focus, through the Centre, on next generation nuclear technology is anchored on the basis of building from our existing assets including life extension and efficiencies, partnerships and supply chain. This has the potential to fully leverage existing assets, reducing the need for more costly new generation in the future, creating a foundation for new medical isotopes and a hydrogen economy all while laying the foundation for new nuclear such as SMRs.

Cameco and Bruce Power will also be expanding their role in support of the production of life-saving medical isotopes. With its facility in Cobourg, ON, Cameco will contribute its expertise to the development of Bruce Powers new Isotope Production System being developed by its partner IsoGen that will help produce Lutetium-177, an isotope used to treat prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumors. Bruce Power aims to begin harvesting Lutetium-177 in 2022. Cameco is a key supplier of materials in the production of Cobalt-60, which is produced in partnership with Ottawa-based Nordion, used to sterilize medical equipment and treat breast cancer and brain tumours.

Medical isotopes and leveraging our existing infrastructure in a post-COVID world are an important part of the future of nuclear, and Bruce Power is a leader and innovator in this sector, said Tim Gitzel, president and CEO of Cameco. I am proud that Cameco is able to contribute to this important work, especially now when the need for sterilized medical supplies is so high.

Were pleased to have our Ontario and Saskatchewan Premiers join us in celebrating our announcement today as the strength of the nuclear industry is grounded in meaningful relationships across the industry and across provinces..

Through their work on the Retooling and Economic Recovery Council, Bruce Power and Cameco focused on helping to ensure their communities had the tools they needed to endure the pandemic and now the focus has turned to powering the recovery.

The Life-Extension Program will continue to be a key economic driver and today will see a new arrangement for start-up fuel to be provided by Cameco when Bruce Powers nuclear reactors are ready to return to service following Major Component Replacement, beginning with the Unit 6 reactor. Cameco will supply 1,600 specialized fuel bundles for the safe restart of Unit 6, scheduled for 2024. This builds on the existing fuel arrangements between the two organizations announced in 2017 which was estimated to be worth $2 billion at the time and over the life of the contracts.

This new initiative will help drive Ontario-made and Canadian-made innovation for these emerging technologies and support our provinces economic recovery, said Ontario Premier Doug Ford. I want to thank Bruce Power and Cameco for this important investment, as well as for their generous community and PPE donations to support our front-line heroes and those in need over the past few months.

Working together, we will ensure our communities can recover and our economy can come roaring back.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe also offered his praise for the strong partnership.

The announcement today from Cameco and Bruce Power underscores the importance of Canadas nuclear industry, which is world class in every respect, from mining to research to power production, said Premier Moe. In Saskatchewan, were grateful for the contributions Cameco and Bruce Power are making every day to Canadas economic and social well-being.

About Cameco

Cameco is one of the largest global providers of the uranium fuel needed to energize a clean-air world. Our competitive position is based on our controlling ownership of the worlds largest high-grade reserves and low-cost operations. Utilities around the world rely on our nuclear fuel products to generate power in safe, reliable, carbon-free nuclear reactors. Our shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges. Our head office is in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

About Bruce Power

Formed in 2001, Bruce Power is an electricity company based in Bruce County, Ontario. We are powered by our people. Our 4,200 employees are the foundation of our accomplishments and are proud of the role they play in safely delivering clean, reliable, low-cost nuclear power to families and businesses across the province. Bruce Power has worked hard to build strong roots in Ontario and is committed to protecting the environment and supporting the communities in which we live. Learn more at www.brucepower.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

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CONTACT: John Peevers Bruce Power 5193863799 john.peevers@brucepower.com




Ride-hailing apps have entered a new race  developing all-in-one apps.

After two years of operation in Vietnam, GoViet has been officially replaced by Gojek. Users now need to install the new app  Gojek.

Gojek made its debut in Indonesia in 2010, becoming the first super unicorn in Indonesia and the second in Southeast Asia, according to Global Unicorn Club.

When planning to penetrating Vietnam, its first foreign market, in 2018, Gojek decided to develop the GoViet brand and GoViet app specifically for the Vietnamese market. But now Gojek has replaced GoViet.

It seems that Gojek did not have a good presence on its first day in Vietnam. Many clients complained that they could not enjoy the promotions of the company. They also were not satisfied because Gojek set the automatic area code of + 62 (for Indonesia) instead of + 84 (for Vietnam).

A report from ABI Research shows that Grab is leading the Vietnamese market in the number of trips completed. Grab holds 73 percent of market share, while GoViet ranks third with 10 percent of market share.

Many clients gave 1 star to the app on iOS and Android app stores.

However, analysts believe that Gojek, with its green uniform, will be a big rival to Grab, a major player in the field which also uses green uniforms.

A report from ABI Research shows that Grab is leading the Vietnamese market in the number of trips completed. Grab holds 73 percent of market share, while GoViet ranks third with 10 percent of market share.

Besides Grab, Gojek will also have to compete with Be. The app provides two major services  BeBike (hailing motorbikes) and BeCar (hailing cars). Be plans to be in 15 cities and provinces by 2019 and 63 cities and provinces by the end of 2020.

As of the end of 2019, Be had 110,000 drivers and 6.6 million app downloads.

The Vietnamese ride-hailing market is believed to have great potential, but all players still have to bleed money to develop. According to ABI Research, big losses have forced players to cut operation costs and raised questions about the sustainable development of e-hailing apps.

Expanding market share and cutting costs are not enough for sustainable development, so companies have to expand their business in other fields.

Grab, for example, also delivers goods, ships food, and provides shopping services and a series of other services on the same app.

Be has launched a new service, beTaxi, with two options for passengers  4-seat and 7-seat cars. The service is the result of cooperation between beGroup and Vinataxi, the oldest taxi firm in Vietnam.

They have also developed their own e-wallets, and have also worked with e-wallets to establish special ecosystems. Grab has Moca, while Fastgo has Vimo.

Thu Ky

Traditional taxi firms lose ground as e-hailing taxi services boom Mai Linh and Vinasun, the two big traditional taxi firms, are losing their positions in the market as they have found it difficult to compete with e-hailing taxi firms.
For former finance minister Bill Morneau, this has been a dramatic week. For the rest of us, not so much.

Morneau went into the week as one of the most powerful ministers in Justin Trudeaus government. He left without a cabinet job and with his political career in tatters.

The reasons for his departure are murky. It has been reported he had major policy differences with the prime minister. In particular, he is said to have balked at Trudeaus desire to spend vast sums of money in order to get the economy moving again.

This is a possible scenario but not a plausible one. As finance minister, Morneau has been delightfully insouciant about running deficits.

He has argued convincingly that, regardless of the federal deficit and debt, Canada has plenty of room to borrow. He has said that if Canada is to make it through the pandemic, the government must be prepared to spend massively.

He has never portrayed himself as a deficit hawk. The idea that he would suddenly do so now beggars belief.

And yet that, it seems, is exactly what various unnamed sources would have us think.

Morneau was competent enough to see the country through the COVID-19 emergency, Trudeau said Tuesday. But now that its time to rebuild, it seems a different finance minister is required.

Trudeaus choice, Chrystia Freeland, is an obvious one. The deputy prime minister is a real force in the Liberal government. She is talented and hard working.

However, her description as Canadas first female finance minister is a bit overblown. And it might surprise some  including Carole James, British Columbias current finance minister; Janet Ecker, Ontarios finance minister in 2002-03; Joy MacPhail, B.C.s finance minister in 1998 and Janice MacKinnon, Saskatchewans finance minister in the mid 90s.

But then one of the purposes of this weeks show was to make it seem more memorable than it was. Thus we learned  drum roll  that the government will deliver a speech from the throne next month outlining its plans for the future.

What will those plans be? Trudeau wont say. But he insists they will be really something.

Given that Trudeau is governing in a hung Parliament, we can be sure that the throne speech will be crafted as a platform for the Liberals should a snap election be called.

We can also surmise, from Trudeaus repeated evocation of Joe Bidens clumsy campaign theme, Build Back Better, that the Liberals are desperately searching everywhere  including the U.S. Democratic Party  for ideas to put into this throne speech.

In particular, it seems they hope to align themselves with the strong anti-Trump mood among Canadian voters.

So, in sum, heres what weve discovered from this weeks events. Weve learned that it has been a bad few days for Morneau. My guess is that he is not being punished for policy offences. In policy, he faithfully echoed Trudeau.

Rather, he is being punished for political ineptitude. Specifically, he is being punished for failing to understand the optics of accepting gifts from WE Charity. Trudeau made a similar political misstep. But hes not about to fire himself.

For the rest of us, though, nothing much has changed. We have a new federal finance minister. However, she is expected to stay the fiscal course mapped out by Morneau.

We have a government that, as always, is looking for ideas it can sell to voters. And we have an opposition that while sanctimoniously baying for blood over the WE affair is not yet prepared to bring this minority government down.

Its all pretty much business as usual.
NEW DELHI: In yet another setback for noted lawyer Prashant Bhushan, the Supreme Court on Thursday refused his submission to defer the hearing on his sentence till his review petition against conviction for criminal contempt is filed and decided.

While passing the order, the Supreme Court said, You (Prashant Bhushan) are asking us to commit an act of impropriety that arguments on sentencing should be heard by another bench.

The apex court said that the judgement is complete only after the sentence.

The Supreme Court had on Friday (August 14) held advocate Prashant Bhushan guilty of contempt of court for his alleged tweets on Chief Justice of India Sharad Arvind Bobde and his four predecessors.

The apex court had on August 5 reserved its verdict in the matter after Bhushan had defended his two tweets, saying they were against the judges regarding their conduct in their personal capacity and they did not obstruct the administration of justice.

On July 22, the top court had issued a show-cause notice to Bhushan after initiating the criminal contempt against him after taking note of a petition.

While reserving the order in the contempt case, the top court had dismissed a separate petition filed by Bhushan seeking recall of the July 22 order by which the notice was issued against him in a contempt proceeding initiated for his alleged contemptuous tweets against the judiciary.

Bhushan had sought a direction to declare that the apex court's secretary general has allegedly 'acted unconstitutionally and illegally' in accepting a 'defective contempt petition' filed against him, which was initially placed on the administrative side and later on the judicial side.

Referring to the judgement, the apex court said that it had meticulously followed the law in entertaining the contempt plea and it did not agree to the submission that it be sent to another bench for hearing.

Dave arguing for Bhushan in the contempt case had said, "The two tweets were not against the institution."

In a 142-page reply affidavit, Bhushan stood by his two tweets and had said the expression of opinion, however outspoken, disagreeable or unpalatable to some, cannot constitute contempt of court.

Bhushan, in the affidavit, has referred to several apex court judgements, speeches of former and serving judges on contempt of court and the stifling of dissent in a democracy and his views on judicial actions in some cases.
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: 20 August 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 26,520 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 1,948 pence 25.60 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 1,930 pence 25.36 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 1,938 pence 25.47 USD Ticker: PSHD Date of Purchase: 20 August 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 16,012 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 25.50 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 25.40 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 25.44 USD Trading Venue: Euronext Amsterdam Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 20 August 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 23,628 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 25.55 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 25.30 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 25.43 USD

PSH will hold these Public Shares in Treasury. The net asset value per Public Share related to this buyback is 37.82 USD 28.56 GBP which was calculated as of 18 August 2020 (the "Relevant NAV"). After giving effect to the above buyback, PSH has 193,396,677 Public Shares outstanding, or 199,410,351 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 17,560,073 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/20200820005743/en/

Contacts:

Camarco

Ed Gascoigne-Pees Hazel Stevenson +44 020 3757 4989, media-pershingsquareholdings@camarco.co.uk
[Tuchong]

A senior expert underlined the importance of young women and girls early in puberty to be vaccinated against the human papilloma virus, which can cause cervical cancer.

"It's been clinically proven that the vaccines will generate the best prevention effectiveness if they are taken before a woman is sexually active," said Hua Keqin, a member of the standing committee of the Chinese Medical Association's branch of gynecology and obstetrics.

"Parents don't need to worry that the protective efficacy will drop significantly over the years if their girls get the vaccine at a young age," said Hua, who is also Party secretary and head of gynecology at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University in Shanghai, during an interview on Wednesday, which is also Chinese Doctors' Day.

She said the protective efficacy of such vaccines remains at a high level even five decades after they were given.

The World Health Organization suggests girls between nine and 14 years old who have not been sexually active as the priority individuals to receive vaccines against HPV infection.

Hua suggested females be vaccinated before the arrival of the first peak age bracket, 15 to 24.

Regular screening, which can discover early cervical cancer in patients who usually show few symptoms, twice a year was necessary even after taking HPV vaccines, experts added.

The WHO data showed that new cervical cancer cases around the globe reached 570,000 in 2018 with 311,000 deaths. The number of cases of this cancer was 106,000 in China, with nearly 50,000 deaths that year.

Besides HPV infection, other factors related to cervical cancer include the age when infected by the virus, immunity and smoking, according to experts.

(Source: chinadaily.com.cn)
- The local government of Manila ordered the closure of establishments that have been selling products with a label that Manila is a province of China

- The Manila Bureau of Permits said that the label was an insult to the capital city

- The establishments will be asked to present their necessary permits

- PBA Party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles welcomed the decision of City of Manila regarding the issue

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Manila Mayor Isko Moreno orders the closure of establishments that have been selling products with a label that claimed the capital city is a province of China.

KAMI learned that the decision of Mayor Isko came after Palace called the issue as kalokohan.

Photo from Getty Images

Source: Getty Images

In a report by ABS-CBN News, Manila Bureau of Permits director Levi Facundo said that Manila being labeled as a province of China is an insult.

"Wala pong Binondo sa China, ang Binondo sa Maynila. 'Yan ay isang malaking insulto sa atin at hindi tayo papayag," he said.

The bureau of permits will be asking the stores to present its permits from the Manila Health Department, Mayors Office, and the Food and Drug Administration.

"Do not misrepresent. Tingnan po ang binibili niyo, kayo po ang magiging liable d'yan dahil kayo ang nagbebenta," Facundo said.

"Tingnan natin kung ang ibinebentang produkto ay may lisensiya coming from FDA, higit sa lahat 'yung labels bantayan po natin, he added.

Earlier, PBA Party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles wanted an investigation over the manufacturers of the products that labeled Manila as a province of China. He welcomed the order of Mayor Isko to shut down the establishments.

"It is truly refreshing to know that Mayor Isko chose to take action even as some government officials simply dismiss this incident as a 'kalokohan' that must be ignored," he said.

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The issue stemmed from a post of a netizen who showed a photo of a hair product that claimed Manila is a province of China.

The Palace downplayed the issue and said that it was just a kalokohan that should be ignored. However, he said that the decision will be up to the FDA.

In 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte joked that China can make the Philippines its province and he called it: Province of Philippines, Republic of China.

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Source: KAMI.com.gh
The Samajwadi Party staged a protest against Yogi govt's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic before the Assembly session started on Thursday

Opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh are gearing up to corner the BJP-led government on the law and order situation in the state during the ongoing Monsoon Session of the state Assembly.

Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu, who is a sitting MLA from Tamukhiraj assembly constituency in Kushinagar district, told PTI, "The Congress will raise issues of the poor law and order situation in the state, women security, problems faced by the farmers and flood".

Samajwadi Party MLA from Mohanlalganj in Lucknow Ambrish Pushkar said, "The Uttar Pradesh government has failed on all fronts. Be it the law and order situation or the coronavirus crisis. It also fears that BJP MLAs may corner it on a number of issues, as its own MLAs are angry with it."

Just before the start of the brief Monsoon Session of the Uttar Pradesh Legislature, the main Opposition party Samajwadi Party staged a protest in the Vidhan Bhawan on Thursday against the poor law and order in the state and the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

SP legislators protested in front of the statue of former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh in the premises, holding banners against the state government while Member of the Legislative Council Naresh Uttam alleged that there was jungle raj in the state .

"Incidents like murder, loot, rape and kidnapping are taking place on a daily basis. It appears that criminals have no fear of law," he said.

A BSP legislator requesting anonymity said that the party will be moving adjournment notice in the backdrop of recent incidents in Azamagarh.

The killing of a village head of Basgaon in Azamgarh on 14 August triggered mob violence, which was further aggravated after a child was crushed to death by a vehicle, prompting rioters to set several vehicles and a police post in the area on fire.

The trouble began when 42-year-old Satyamev, the village head of Basgaon in Tarwan area of Azamgarh district, was shot dead by some miscreants during the day, prompting his supporters to take to the streets and unleash violence in the area.

Amid the rampaging mob, a child was crushed to death by a vehicle, further infuriating the people, who set many vehicles on fire. Subsequently, NSA was slapped against four people in connection with the incident.

In Lakhimpur Kheri, a 13-year-old girl was allegedly raped and strangled to death following which two men were arrested.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday released the crime statistics, according to which in 2020 (from 1 January to 31 July) 1,216 incidents of rape took place as compared to 1,692 for the corresponding period in 2019.

Similarly, 38 incidents of dacoity took place in 2020 as compared to 68 in 2019. As far as murders are concerned, in 2020, as many as 2,032 incidents of murders took place as compared to 2,204 in 2019.

In 2019, 1,379 incidents of loot took place, while in 2020, 792 incidents of loot took place. The state saw 23 incidents of kidnapping for ransom in 2019, while in 2020, it was 15.
Top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi will visit Busan on Friday and Saturday, Seoul and Beijing announced on Wednesday.

It is the first visit by a senior Chinese official since the coronavirus epidemic started.

Asked why Yang is visiting Busan instead of Seoul, neither country gave a clear explanation, but a Cheong Wa Dae official denied that the reason is a recent surge in infections in the capital.

Yang comes at the invitation of national security adviser Suh Hoon, Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok said. He then flies to Singapore.

Suh and Yang will "exchange opinions on matters of mutual concern, such as cooperation in response to COVID-19, bilateral relations including high-level exchanges, and the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and in the world," Kang added.

Yang's wishes were taken into consideration when his visit to Busan was arranged, a senior presidential official said. But that means Yang will not be seeing President Moon Jae-in during his stay because it would be against diplomatic protocol for a president to go out of his way to meet a lower-ranking official, even from China.

One major topic on the agenda will be a possible visit from Chinese President Xi Jinping "at an opportune time," the presidential official added.

Yang is expected to explain China's position on issues in conflict with the U.S., including Huawei, TikTok, and Hong Kong's new national security law.

Seoul is sitting on the fence on these issues but is under pressure from both sides to commit itself.
Wilkes-Barre, PA (18701)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of snow late. Low 27F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 70%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of snow late. Low 27F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 70%.
Often said to be one of the leading countries that is aggressively weaponising itself and filling its coffers with lethal arms capable of mass destruction, North Korea, under the aegis of Kim Jong-Un, is making the world uncomfortable with the amount of deadly ammunition it is said to have.



 Reuters

Thought to be a security threat to the entire world, with its worlds largest military force coupled with its missile and nuclear tests, North Korea is raising concerns globally. But if the latest reports are to be believed, the numbers for North Koreas nuclear weaponry prowess seem nothing less than terrifying.



Here are 7 facts about North Koreas massive nuclear stockpile that easily makes this country one of the deadliest opponents nobody would want to face in real life:

 Reuters

1. North Korea is also believed to have significant stockpiles of various chemical and biological warfare agents. According to a Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report from 2007, North Korea has a strong chemical weapons stockpile of nerve, blister, blood, and choking agents.



This includes VX, which is suspected to have been used by Kim Jong-un to assassinate his half-brother. Believed to be the deadliest nerve agent ever created, even a drop of the lethal substance can kill a human.

2. In 2012, the South Korean Ministry of National Defense guessed that North Korea had a stockpile of between 2,500 and 5,000 metric tons of chemical weapons, with an annual production at 4,500 tons approximately.

The US army believes that North Korea has the third-largest haul of chemical agents in the world and could use it in conflict situations.

 Reuters

3. Its also believed that North Korea has as many as 5,100 multiple rocket launchers and 4,400 self-propelled artillery pieces. Also, most of Pyongyangs artillery is expected to be capable of delivering chemical strikes.



4. Now, a recent US military report is suggesting that North Korea has up to 60 nuclear bombs and 5,000 tons of chemical weapons.

 Reuters

5. Estimates also suggest that North Korea is capable of producing six new devices every year while there is a strong possibility that the country could have up to 100 nuclear bombs by the end of this year.



6. The report also hints that North Korea might be in possession of weaponised anthrax or smallpox, of which the use of just one kilogram of anthrax could kill 50,000 people.

 Reuters

7. The report also claimed that North Korea's cyber warfare abilities can also pose as a major threat with more than 6,000 hackers, many of whom are based overseas, working for the Kim Jong-un regime.



We dont even want to imagine what nightmares North Korea is capable of unleashing if most of these reports are accurate.
Kim & Chang's office in Seoul / Korea Times photo by Wang Tae-seok



By Park Jae-hyuk



Kim & Chang has come under the spotlight ahead of the first hearing at the Delaware Chancery Court for the lawsuit between Mirae Asset Global Investments and Anbang Insurance Group over a disrupted $5.8 billion deal for 15 luxury hotels in the United States.



According to industry officials, Thursday, the largest law firm in Korea is representing the Chinese insurer, which is urging the Korean investment company to take over the hotels as it had agreed to in September 2019.



Anbang has regarded Mirae Asset's attempt to nullify the contract as a typical case of "buyer's remorse" amid the pandemic that has dealt a severe blow to the lodging industry worldwide.



Mirae Asset has claimed Anbang should cancel the contract and return the $580 million deposit claiming the seller had failed to guarantee its ownership of the properties without securing title insurance for them.



Unsurprisingly, both sides hired legal representation by elite law firms.



Mirae Asset hired international arbitration specialist Peter & Kim here and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan in the U.S. The Korean financial firm has also received legal advice from Korea's Yulchon and the U.S.-based Greenberg Traurig.



As for Anbang, reports focused on the Los Angeles-headquartered Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher which also offered legal advice to the Chinese insurer when it had signed the contract on the hotels with Mirae Asset.



However, Kim & Chang was also one of the top representatives of Anbang in this massive litigation process.



Sources familiar with the situation and reports said Kim & Chang lawyers here have talked with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher lawyers in the U.S. through teleconferences, because cross-border travel has been virtually impossible after the spread of the coronavirus.



This is not the first time Kim & Chang has worked with Anbang for big deals.



When the Chinese firm took over Allianz Life Insurance Korea in April 2016, the law firm offered legal advice for the M&A and helped its client wins the approval from the Korean government.



When Anbang Life Insurance acquired Tong Yang Life from Vogo Investment in February 2015, Kim & Chang also drafted the contract for the deal and provided the Chinese firm with various legal services including due diligence, negotiation, applying to the Fair Trade Commission for the merger and to the Financial Services Commission for changing the largest shareholder.



As a result, Kim & Chang enabled Anbang to get approval from the Korean government for its ownership of the two life insurance companies.



The Delaware Chancery Court set the trial date for August 24.



Although the amount of legal fee Kim & Chang received from Anbang is unknown, there is no doubt that the Korean law firm has already made lucrative profits regardless of the result of the lawsuit, according to sources.


New Delhi: A day after the Supreme Court gave its nod for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, the Special Investigation Team of the central agency arrived in Mumbai on Thursday (August 20, 2020) evening to initiate proceedings.

The SIT is expected to collect the case diary, all important documents and statements of all those questioned in connection with the case so far by the Mumbai Police.

The SIT team is led by CBI`s Superintendent of Police Nupur Prasad. The 5-member CBI team has arrived in Mumbai city with all the medical documents related to Covid-19 reports after a ruckus was faced by the Bihar Police team weeks ago.

The source said that the CBI team, after collecting the documents from the Mumbai Police, will meet the investigation officer, who handled Sushants case so far.

If required, the team will also speak to the Mumbai Police DCP, with whom the actor's family shared a WhatsApp message in February this year citing threat to his life.

The agency officers are also likely to visit Sushant`s residence in Bandra where he was found dead on June 14 and also call the first five persons who reached his flat after the death.

The team is also likely to meet Mitu Singh, the sister of Sushant to gather more details. Meanwhile, the Mumbai Police chief Parambir Singh has said that his team will extend full cooperation to the SIT in probing the case.

"Of course, we will cooperate," Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh said when asked if his team will cooperate with CBI.

The CBI on August 7 had taken over the probe into the death of the 34-year-old actor on the orders of the central government after the Bihar government recommended for the central agency probe.

The CBI registered a case against Sushant`s girlfriend and actress Rhea Chakraborty, her father Indrajit, mother Sandhya, brother Showik, Sushant`s ex-manager Shruti Modi and flatmate Samuel Miranda and unknown others on the basis of his father K.K. Singh`s complaint filed with the Bihar Police on July 25.

The CBI has also recorded the statement of Sushant`s father and his elder sister Rani Singh. According to agency sources, in their statement the family has maintained that it was not suicide but a murder.


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Meghan Markle admitted she 'didn't know' about the Commonwealth until she joined the Royal Family and gushed that it is an 'honour' to be continuing Her Majesty's legacy during a video call with young leaders from the Queen's Commonwealth Trust.

The Duke, 35, and Duchess of Sussex, 39, joined the discussion from their new $14 million mansion in Santa Barbara, California, on Monday, with a video of the call shared on the QCT YouTube channel today.

Both Meghan and Prince Harry spoke adoringly of the Queen, 94, whom they referred to as 'grandmother' during the video call, weeks after their rift with the Royal Family was laid bare in their explosive biography Finding Freedom.

Meanwhile the couple also gushed over the Commonwealth with Meghan saying she felt 'incredible pride' at being able to work with the QCT, revealing: '[Young people from across the Commonwealth] come with a question, they always offered a solution, and that's what I think is so inspiring and why I'm incredibly proud to be able to work with the QCT, but why it's the continuation of the legacy of your grandmother.'

Their loving comments for the organisation and the Queen come after the couple faced criticism for their last conversation with the group, in which they appeared to take a swipe at the British Empire by saying the history of the Commonwealth 'must be acknowledged', even if it's 'uncomfortable'.

The Duchess also spoke out about the impact of social media, saying: ' 'When you look at what these platforms are capable of with that reach, and what that propels in terms of trolling You can either train people to be cruel, or you can train people to be kind. It's really that simple.'

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took part in a video call with young leaders from the Queen's Commonwealth Trust today to discuss how social media can be a 'force for good'

The Sussexes have carried out several video calls with their charitable organisations since quitting the royal family and moving to the US in March.

Chief executive of QCT, Nicola Brentnall chaired the meeting, which was also attended by Brighton Kaoma - founder of Agents of Change Foundation in Zambia - Hunter Johnson, founder of The Man Cave in Australia, Rosie Thomas, co-founder of Project Rockit in Australia, and, Vee Kativhu, Study and Empowerment YouTuber and founder of 'Empowered by Vee'.

In the video call, which was released today, Prince Harry said: 'How can you shut down hate without sharing it, without fueling it?'

He said he felt it was vital to not just 'come to the table with a problem without a solution'.

Meghan, 39, spoke of her 'incredible pride' at being able to work with the organisation, which she described as a continuation of the legacy of the Queen

'Solutions are the most important thing, I learned in the Army, don't come to the table with a problem unless you've got a solution,' he said.

Prince Harry also heaped praise on his grandmother, saying the Queen has achieved everything she wanted to when she took on the 'huge responsibility' of the Commonwealth.

He said: 'No one could have predicted how the world was going to change in such a short space of time, especially with the digital space.

'But, hearing you guys, knowing the broad spectrum that the QCT engulfs, you guys are the definition of the 21st century Commonwealth and what it means to be part of it.

'You are there standing for equality and mutual respect and fairness, and I think that is something that every single one of you should be very proud of.'

Harry, 35, stressed the importance of not 'coming to the table with a problem without a solution'

Meanwhile Meghan admitted that she was 'newer' to the organisation, saying: 'I think from my standpoint, being newer to the world of the Commonwealth, I lived in Canada for several years.

'It wasn't until joining The Family that I was able to meet so many young people throughout the Commonwealth.

The 'woke' thought leaders inspiring Harry and Meghan: Who are Brene Brown and Tristan Harris? Brene Brown Brene Brown (born November 18, 1965) is an American professor, lecturer, author, and podcast host. Having spent her career studying the concepts of courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy and having authored seven books including five New York Times best-sellers, Brown hosts the podcast, and her talk, 'The Power of Vulnerability', is one of the most widely viewed Ted Talks of all time. She is the first researcher to have a filmed lecture on Netflix; The Call to Courage special debuted on the streaming service in April 2019. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband, Steve. They have two children, Ellen and Charlie. Tristan Harris Tristan Harris is the president and a co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology. He has been called 'the closest thing Silicon Valley has to a conscience' by the Atlantic magazine. Earlier in his career, he was Google's Design Ethicist, developing a framework for how technology should 'ethically' steer the thoughts and actions of billions of people from screens. Drawing on literature from addiction, performative magic, social engineering, persuasive design and behavioral economics, he is currently developing a framework for ethical persuasion, especially as it relates to the moral responsibility of technology companies. Rolling Stone magazine named Harris one of '25 People Shaping the World' in 2017. Advertisement

'They came with a question, they always offered a solution, and that's what I think is so inspiring and why I'm incredibly proud to be able to work with the QCT, but why it's the continuation of the legacy of your grandmother.'

The Queen remains head of the Commonwealth and in 2018, Harry's father Prince Charles was announced as her successor.

Meanwhile the Duchess also said many people's 'mental and emotional welbeing' is currently 'more fragile than ever' during the frank discussion about mental health.

She said: 'Everyone's mental and emotional wellbeing are perhaps more fragile than ever before, certainly with COVID and our dependability on devices right now in the absence of human interaction.

'People are going online more than ever before to feel community.

'When that community becomes decisive and isn't a pack for good, but is a pack of people ganging up on one another...what's challenging about that is that people don't feel an escape.

'It can probably feel very lonely in that space.'

She added that she felt 'sensitive' to what 'young girls are experiencing right now in an online space.'

Commenting on the reach of global platforms and the impact of the social media ripple effect, she aid: 'When you look at what these platforms are capable of with that reach, and what that propels in terms of trolling You can either train people to be cruel, or you can train people to be kind. It's really that simple.'

Meghan also said: 'I think that what's so key to it, as we talk about positivity and optimism and what a healthy online community looks like, is it's not an echo chamber. It is trying to build a healthy community so people feel safe heard and perhaps walk away with a different perspective.'

'Being able to have a healthy discourse and being able to disagree. That is so key.

'It's not trying to build a utopia, it's about building a healthy community so that people feel safe and heard and perhaps walk away with a different perspective which they hadn't thought at the onset.

'But that they have that interaction...that's what life is all about.'

During today's discussion the couple praised Hunter Johnson for for quoting mental health advocates Brene Brown and Tristan Harris - two people the couple say they 'love and absolutely adore'.

Hunter also talked about positive role models with a focus on addressing toxic masculinity and how showing vulnerability online can help shape new narratives of manhood.

He said: 'What we're trying to do is expose them to cool people they want to be like who have range in their identity.

'To show they can be strong and stoic, but the next day they can shed a tear, they can be emotional... They don't lose any of their masculinity doing that, but they do gain more of their humanity.'

The Duke observed: 'If we are all able to show our vulnerability that doesn't mean that you're weak.

'If anything, I believe, that's probably showing most of your strength.'

'If you're so in touch with your emotions and you know where you are on each day....that's a super power. If everybody else is stuck in the old way, then the new way is surely to be able to think different and be ahead of everyone else.'

Prince Harry added: 'Why not profit off compassion and empathy? It's definitely possible, everyone we've spoken to says it's possible. So maybe the time has come to be able to create the antidote, to create the alternative on a global scale.

'Whether you're on these platforms or not, whether you're a user or not, you're still plugged into this giant global nervous system of which the happiness and sadness of the world is felt universally.'

Harry observed that one factor underpinning positive digital progress is courage.

He said to the young leaders on the call: 'It takes a huge amount of courage for you to set up communities like you have but also for other people to stand up to hate.'

In the latest conversation, The Duchess saying she felt 'incredibly proud to be able to work with the QCT' weeks after the extent of their rift from the Royal Family was laid bare in a new explosive biography

He and Meghan finished the call by thanking participants for the work they are doing and pledged their ongoing commitment to supporting their work through QCT.

After joking that he and Meghan are 'too old' now to be considered young people, he went on: 'This is the world that you guys are going to inherit, I'm saying you guys because I'm predicting most of you are in your late twenties' to which Meghan added: 'And Archie.'

In his closing comments, The Duke said to young leaders on the call: 'It's on all of us collectively to make the world a better place  and we are.'

During the couple's last conversation with the QCT, the Duke faced criticism after he appeared to take a swipe at the British Empire by saying the history of the Commonwealth 'must be acknowledged', even if it's 'uncomfortable'.

As part of the discussion on 'justice and equal rights', Harry said the Commonwealth - of which his grandmother is head - needs to follow others who have 'acknowledged the past' and are 'trying to right their wrongs', and also admitted to having his own 'unconscious bias'.

Critics were stunned by the prince's comments, with London-based veteran royal photographer Arthur Edwards saying Harry criticising the one thing the Queen 'cherishes above all things' - which is preserving the Commonwealth - was an 'insult'.

The gushing remarks in support of the work of the Commonwealth today comes after weeks of controversy for the couple following the release of their explosive biography Finding Freedom.

Prince Harry and Meghan's previous comments on the Commonwealth drew heavy criticism from some, including a royal photographer

The book 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 rift between brothers Harry and William, 38, as well as the relationship between their wives.

The explosive biography also claimed Prince Harry and Meghan 'hurt' the Queen by unilaterally mapping out their future royal roles without her approval.

The Duke and Duchess 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 their departure.

Sources told Vanity Fair that the Queen will be the person 'most upset' by the new bombshell book.

A family source claimed: 'It's going to open old wounds at a time when everyone wanted to move on. I think the person who will be most upset about it all is the Queen.'
Australian winemakers already under financial pressure from COVID-19 restrictions could be hit with new tariffs in as little as two months if a Chinese anti-dumping probe finds reason to implement them.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Chinese investigation would take 18 months and at a time when Australias trade with China had "never been at a higher level".

Wineries in Australia have grown increasingly dependent on China for growth. Credit:David Rowe

"Despite the issues  the trade continues." he said.

But the Margaret River Wine Association told WAtoday on Wednesday that although China had one year to make a determination  with an opportunity to extend the probe to 18 months  tariffs could begin to be imposed on winemakers in just two months.
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Linkedin Alya Nurbaiti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 20, 2020 08:06 518 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066f39cf2 1 National IDI,Indonesian-Medical-Council,Indonesian-Medical-Association,Jokowi,Terawan-Agus-Putranto,Terawan,health-minister,health-ministry Free

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo inaugurated on Wednesday 17 new members of the Indonesian Medical Council (KKI), albeit to the dismay of medical workers associations who claimed that none of the chosen names had been among candidates proposed by the groups.

Jokowi inaugurated the new KKI members for the 2020-2025 period in a limited ceremony at the State Palace as he announced the 17 names appointed to the membership in accordance with Presidential Decree No.55/M 2020 on the termination and appointment of KKI members.

The 17 figures are Putu Moda Arsana and Dollar, representatives of the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI); Nurdjamil Sayuti and Nadhyanto of the Indonesian Dentists Association (PDGI); Pattiselanno Robert Johan and Achmad Syukrul A of the Association of Indonesian Medical Education Institutions (AIPKI); Vonny Naouva Tubagus and Ni Nyoman Mahartini of the Indonesian Educational Hospitals Association (ARSPI); Bachtiar Murtala of the Medicinal Collegiate and Andriani of the Dental Collegiate.

The public representatives in the state institution -- tasked as regulators of the medical profession -- are Mohammad Agus Samsudin, Intan Ahmad Musmeinan and Hisyam Said. Four others are Taruna Ikrar and Sri Rahayu Mustikowati, representatives of the Health Ministry; and Melanie Hendriaty Sadono and Mariatul Fadilah of the Education and Culture Ministry.

Prior to Wednesday's ceremony, however, medical workers associations wrote to Jokowi in protest against the chosen names on the list and called on him to cancel the inauguration.

Read also: Indonesia mulls over plan to develop medical tourism at home

Among the 17 newly appointed members, none are the names proposed by the seven associations, IDI chairman Daeng M. Faqih told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

As many as seven leaders of healthcare professional associations signed the protest letter to Jokowi on Tuesday, namely IDI chair Daeng M. Faqih, Academy of Medicine of Indonesia (MKKI) chair David S. Perdanakusuma, PDGI chair Sri Hananto Seno, Indonesian Dental Health Faculty Association (AFDOKGI) chair Nina Djustiana, AIPKI chair Budu, ARSPI chair Andi Wahyuningsih Attas and Indonesian Dental Collegiate Council (MKKGI) chair Chiquita Prahasti.

In the letter, the associations said they had submitted the names through the Health Ministry in accordance with Article 14 of Law No. 29/2004 on medical practice, which stipulates that the President assigns KKI members based on the Health Ministers proposal, which is the proposal from professional associations.

With all due respect, the names listed in the presidential decree are not names proposed by the professional associations, the letter said. The associations also demanded that Jokowi reconsider and postpone the inauguration of KKI members.

In response to the criticisms, Health Ministry spokesperson Widyawati said the ministry had asked professional associations to submit the names of the new KKI members in February 2019.

Read also: Airlangga University boasts of world's first COVID-19 cure, but experts urge caution

However, the proposed names did not meet the requirements as stipulated by law.

Among the unmet requirements was the absence of a statement letter to renounce ones post when appointed as a KKI member and a statement of temporary dismissal from civil servant status if the proposed name is a civil servant. Besides, one candidate should be proposed by only one element or association, while the already proposed names came from two elements.

Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto then decided to immediately inaugurate the new members this year considering the important roles of the KKI, such as registering doctors and dentists and establishing standards for health education.

If postponed any longer, it would impact the quality of education and health services, including doctors and dentists welfare, Widyawati said in a statement on Wednesday.

Therefore, Terawan changed Article 6 of Health Ministerial Regulation No.81/2019 on the changes in the procedure for proposing members of the KKI. The article stipulates that if the proposed KKI member does not meet the requirements, the minister can propose candidates to the President while still considering the representation of each element of the professional associations.
SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- England Logistics, one of the nation's top freight brokerage firms, has been awarded one platinum and two gold Hermes Creative Awards. This international awards competition is administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP) and recognizes creative professionals ranging from corporate marketing departments to freelancers for the concept, writing and design of materials. There were over 6,500 entries from the United States and 19 other countries this year. This is England Logistics' fourth year among Hermes Creative Awards recipients.

England Logistics was honored to be one of five companies in Utah to receive a platinum award. The platinum was received for England Logistics' blog, which was launched in September 2017. The goal of the England Logistics blog is to share the specialized services offered by each division. Blog articles also feature information on the company's culture, discussing internal events and highlighting individual employees. This is the third consecutive year that England Logistics' blog has received a Hermes Creative Award, this year a platinum and previous years' awards being gold. The blog can be viewed at www.englandlogistics.com/blog.

There were eight Utah-based companies who received gold awards. England Logistics' two golds were received for their development and launch of the England Logistics' company store, Base Camp, and their brand champion internal email campaign. The online store has created a more efficient way for internal employees to purchase England Logistics' branded products and clothing. The brand champion campaign was launched as a way for employees to get-to-know the England Logistics brand better and share posts and information on social media. The campaign involved weekly emails, scoreboards, and inspirational ideas.

"The talented individuals at England Logistics elevate each other and strive to excel in their work every day," stated Wendy Barclay, vice president of marketing and public relations. "Each project we focus on involves input from many key players in our company. From idea generation, to content development, to design and delivery, our products are truly an example our teams' coordinated effort."

The Hermes Creative Awards are judged by AMCP industry professionals who look for companies and individuals whose talent exceeds a high standard of excellence and whose work serves as a benchmark for the industry.

A complete list of winners can be viewed at https://enter.hermesawards.com/winners/.

About England Logistics

England Logistics offers a vast portfolio of non-asset based transportation solutions including full truckload services, intermodal, dry and temp controlled LTL, parcel, and complete supply chain management. The company is recognized among the "50 Best Companies to Sell For" by Selling Power magazine and "Training Top 125" by Training magazine. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT, the company also has offices in Atlanta, GA; Detroit, MI; Greeley, CO; Ogden, UT; and Portland, OR. For more information visit www.englandlogistics.com.

Media Contact

Lori Linford

801-656-2864

[email protected]

SOURCE England Logistics

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Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic nomination for vice president Wednesday night, cementing her status as a leader in a party staking its future on building a diverse coalition of voters as the first Black woman on a major party ticket. Kamala Harris addressed the Democratic National Convention's third night after former President Barack Obama warned that American democracy itself was at risk if President Donald Trump wins reelection this fall.

Harris, a 55-year-old California senator, issued an urgent plea for voters of all colours to rally behind Joe Biden and find a way to vote despite concerns about the pandemic and postal slowdowns.

Also read: US Presidential Polls: Kamala Harris to blast Donald Trump in her VP acceptance address

"Donald Trump's failure of leadership has cost lives and livelihoods," Kamala Harris, the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, said in remarks from a largely empty arena near Biden's Delaware home. She said she shares his vision of America, "where all are welcome, no matter what we look like, where we come from, or who we love."

Also read: US elections 2020: Indians erect banners, pray for Kamala Harris' victory

Kamala Harris closed a night in which some of the most prominent Democrats outlined in remarkably frank terms their views of the consequences of a Trump reelection. Obama, speaking from Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, warned that American democracy was at risk of faltering. Hillary Clinton, the party's 2016 nominee, said lives are at stake in an election being conduct against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic.

Harris called on supporters to have a specific "voting plan" to overcome obstacles raised by the pandemic and a postal slowdown Democrats and some Republicans blame on Trump. "When we vote things change, when we vote things get better, when we vote we address the need for all people to be treated with dignity and respect," Harris said.

Also read: US Presidential Polls: Kamala Harris' VP nomination a proud moment for immigrants in America: Nisha Biswal
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
Hamilton will allow HSR buses to fill up again in September  and run more often  as schools reopen after a five-month pandemic hiatus.

The transit service severely restricted passenger numbers at the height of the COVID-19 lockdown in April and bus capacity remained at two-thirds this summer as a precaution against viral spread. Most buses are also running on reduced schedules.

But the HSR announced it will return to the equivalent of 100 per cent seated capacity on most routes starting Sept. 6, just ahead of the reopening of Hamilton schools. That means about 30 people allowed on a regular bus or 50 riders on a longer bendy bus.

It does not mean buses crammed to the doors, said HSR head Debbie Dalle Vedove, who vowed to avoid the overcrowding that was once common on busy routes.

Under the new rules, the seat closest to the bus driver will remain off-limits, but otherwise riders can sit anywhere  including shoulder to shoulder. You can also stand, if you prefer.

Hamilton is not the only city returning to near-normal transit capacity. Calgary just announced it is lifting its COVID-related seating restrictions, while Ottawa has already done so.

Still, the idea of being unable to physically distance during the pandemic makes some travellers nervous, even as evidence slowly builds to suggest masks and other precautions have so far prevented mass transit COVID chaos.

Regional transit agency Metrolinx is dealing with that anxiety by adding clear plastic barriers between GO train passenger seats and offering hand sanitizer to riders.

Hamilton has installed shields to protect drivers, but is not considering passenger seat barriers or sanitizer giveaways at the moment, said Dalle Vedove  although the HSR has handed out free disposable masks.

Instead, the city will rely on a mandatory-mask rule and enhanced bus cleaning protocols to keep passengers safe  a plan reviewed and supported by public health officials, noted Dalle Vedove. Part of that confidence is based on bus driver reports that close to 90 per cent of riders are now wearing cloth masks.

If you cant physically distance, wearing that mask is going to be instrumental is ensuring your safe travel, she said.

Some leery transit riders have demanded the city deny entry to passengers who try to board the bus without a mask.

That is still not going to happen, said Dalle Vedove, despite the expected increase in riders. The reason: there are health exemptions to the mask rule and she said bus drivers cannot be expected to compel riders to prove a medical condition.

On the upside: so far, Hamilton public health says it has not linked any positive local COVID-19 cases to person-to-person contact on a city bus.

HSR bus drivers have also avoided any COVID cases so far, said union head Eric Tuck, who added drivers are largely satisfied with the reopening plan. I think weve taken every reasonable precaution, he said.

The HSR also announced it will generally increase bus frequency to a summer level of service starting next month in anticipation of growing ridership. Right now, bus capacity is about half what it is normally in late summer.

To see how this affects a particular route, check the citys schedule update at Hamilton.ca.
The second serological survey conducted in Delhi between August 1 and 7 has found that 29.1% of the citys population has developed antibodies against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), state health minister Satyendar Jain said on Thursday. The survey results also showed the prevalence of antibodies among women was more (32.2%) compared to men (28.3%).

The findings of the second survey show that the prevalence of antibodies among the people has increased by over 6 percentage points when compared to the first survey held between June 27 and July 10. As many as 22.86% of people were earlier found to have developed antibodies against Sars-CoV-2 that causes Covid-19. In the first survey, samples were collected from 21,387 people, whereas, in the second round, 15,000 samples were collected. Jain said the third round of the survey will begin from September 1 and would go on for a similar duration as earlier.

According to the second survey, prevalence of antibodies among those aged less than 18 was 34.7%, and 28.5% for those between 18-50. For those above 50, it was 31.2%.

Government officials said the latest findings that those aged under 18 were found to have the maximum antibodies compared to other age groups would play a crucial role in the Delhi governments decisions on opening schools and colleges. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, in his Independence Day speech on August 15, said that the government will not open schools until it is fully convinced about the citys Covid-19 situation.

Giving the district-wise break-up, the health minister said the southeast district has seen the biggest increase in people developing antibodies. The lowest increase was seen in northeast Delhi, which once had the highest number of Covid-19 cases.

Developing antibodies means a person contracted Covid-19, recovered, and subsequently developed them against the disease. Antibodies are found in high numbers anywhere between 3 and 8 months since the recovery of a Covid-19 patient. In the process, the person also develops T-cells because of which the chances of contracting Covid-19 again become extremely low, Jain said.

The report showed the southeast district has seen a maximum increase in the prevalence of antibodies among people when compared with the findings of the first and the second surveys. It was earlier 22.12% and this time it was found to be 33.2%. This is followed by the south district--from 18.61% to 27.2%. But, after the southeast district, the areas with the highest prevalence of antibodies among people are north district (31.6%), followed by central district (31.4%).

In the southwest district, 16.3% of the people have been found to have developed antibodies, which is the lowest of all the 11 districts in Delhi. The second-lowest was the New Delhi district (24.6%).

A day after the high court directed the Delhi government to do a comparative analysis of the two serological surveys conducted in Delhi so far, the health minister on Thursday said that the government would do the same.

When asked about a possible second wave, Jain said, We had expected that in the second sero survey the seroprevalence would increase considerably. But it has increased by around 6-7% since July. So, Delhi is heading towards herd immunity, but experts say that should be at least 40%. We cannot rule out a second wave because only yesterday India saw the highest ever spike in daily fresh Covid-19 cases.

Jain said Delhi has a population of around 20 million and the findings of the latest survey suggest that around 5.9 million have contracted the Sars-Cov-2 virus and recovered from the disease. It is relieving to know that around 29% of the citys population has recovered after being infected by the coronavirus. On the other hand, 71% of people in Delhi have not developed antibodies, which means that they are still vulnerable, he said. The people of Delhi are being very careful in taking precautions against Covid-19. So, this is a very positive development. It shows that the Covid-19 infection numbers are no longer rising exponentially in Delhi.

Jain said there was a time when the cases in Delhi were increasing by 4,000 daily and the positivity ratio was 30%. It is also reassuring to see that the positivity rate in Delhi has reduced to nearly 7%, which is much lower than the national average. The situation in Delhi is improving.

Charoo Hans, a former head of the microbiology department at Delhis Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, said if 71% of people are still vulnerable, it is quite a high number. It suggests that the government should continue with its efforts on aggressive testing, contact tracing, surveillance, isolation, and providing good treatment. It also suggests that people should continue ensuring strict compliance with social distancing, wearing masks, washing their hands frequently, and following respiratory etiquettes. There is no room for any complacency.
Kogi State offers one of the most promising economic corridors in sub-Saharan Africa. It is strategically located in central Nigeria, and provides a confluence of both human resources and economic opportunities spanning sectors such as agriculture, minerals, steel, oil and gas, marine transport and tourism. However, like other parts of Africa and Nigeria, access to electricity, which is an underlying factor, critical to the economic development of any society, is elusive in most parts of Kogi, especially the Kogi East Senatorial district.

This is why, the recent efforts by Governor Yahaya Bello to provide succour to rural Kogites in affected parts of Kogi East, home of the great and indefatigable Igala people, via the light-up Kogi East Project, is laudable. The programme, which was flagged off in June 2020, promises to upgrade critical electricity distribution infrastructure, to enable and enhance power evacuation from Itobe substation in Ajaokuta to most parts of Kogi East. This will increase the load capacity of evacuated power from 14.5 MW to circa 45 MW, thereby providing sustainable electricity to 24 communities spread across nine Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kogi East.

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Kogi East is home to many economically viable mineral deposits, waiting for commercial exploration. There is no doubt that electrifying the region, among other factors, will attract mining investments to the district. The benefits of such potential investment on the host communities in job creation and revenue contributions to the financial purse of Kogi State through internally generated revenue (IGR) can only be imagined. It is even more strategic to look inwards for revenue generation in this era of dwindling allocation from the federation account.

It is common knowledge that graduates and young people imbued with vocational and artisanal skills hardly stay in rural communities where there is no electricity and other basic social amenities of life. They tend to move to cities where some of the aforementioned facilities are in search of greener pastures which often times leads to urban congestion with its own attendant problems.

Electrifying such rural communities will no doubt keep the youths back home which in the long run will help in the development of the areas and also cut down the problems associated with urban congestion in the cities. Only a strategic and far-sighted leader like Governor Bello can think in this new direction: solving an inherent problem on one hand while also trying to prepare a better tomorrow for Kogites through his interventions today.

Aside the aforesaid, its a given that Kogites in diaspora who are business-inclined will readily want to invest in their communities when there is regular and adequate electricity, among other vital considerations. In that wise, capital flight will be halted, there will be job opportunities for the teeming youths who are qualified in addition to expanding the profile and economic potential of the state. This is one of the latent benefits of the Governor Bello-led rural electrification in Kogi East.

I am particularly excited about this great initiative of Governor Bello because it complements numerous rural electrification efforts of President Buharis Government through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), across Nigeria generally, and in Kogi state specifically. Given the structure of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), where power generation and distribution are privatized; and Transmission and Rural Electrification are still under government purview, the Rural Electrification Agency invests billions of naira annually to strengthen and extend the electricity distribution grid, build substations, install transformers, provide Solar Hybrid Minigrids (isolated and interconnected) to rural communities, provide Solar Home Systems to rural households, Solar Street Lights, provide access to electricity to Universities, Hospitals, Markets and Economic clusters.

Further, given that provision of electricity is still under the Concurrent Legislative List of Nigerias constitution, which allows both Federal and State governments to regulate and invest in electricity, our roles are therefore critical in creating the requisite enabling environment and funds necessary to attract private sector investments into the space. Governor Yahaya Bello understands and recognizes this role as a leader, especially in realizing the socio-economic potentials of his state and improving livelihoods of his people, which is why he initiated this massive multi-billion-naira rural electrification of Kogi East Senatorial District.

The governor also understands his role as a facilitator of opportunities and investments in the power sector from both Federal Government, Private Sector and Development Finance Institutions. He has demonstrated this over time, and I was especially impressed by his doggedness and commitment to see that programmes of my agency (REA) in his state enjoy full state government support from start to completion.

Two key examples stand-out: Firstly, is the Upake 100kWp Solar Hybrid Minigrid commissioned in 2019 in Ajaokuta, where the governor mobilized his state ministry of works to provide access roads leading to this extremely remote Upake village (the ancestral home of the Ebiras) 30 km away from the highway, and got a retinue of State government officials led by the Secretary to the State Government to represent the State during the commissioning.

Second worthy case, is his intervention and directive to provide all land title documents and expedition of payments of compensation at the Federal University of Lokoja permanent site, which the REA is providing 24 hours Solar Hybrid Minigrid for under the Nigerian Electrification Programme, funded by the African Development Bank. It is our hope that all things equal, all encumbrances on this land are sorted soon, so that we can commence implementation, and the Governor commissions this project in no distant time.

Lokoja is also host to our North Central Zonal office, which has enjoyed state government collaboration in implementing our various projects and programmes seamlessly.

In the spirit of the aforementioned, my pledge to the Governor is to continue to work with serious-minded states and Governors like Kogi and Governor Bello, to facilitate investments and rural electrification projects into the state, to justify our partnership and mutual objectives of universal access to electricity by 2030, in line with the sustainable energy for all goal 7  affordable and clean energy.

Let me commend the relentless vigor and push of the governor especially in regard to ongoing talks with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), so that planned Transmission Substations in Kogi East and Kogi West are built, as well as the Substation in Kabba Junction of Kogi Central, strengthened. This will free up load from Substations in Kogi Central and increase evacuation capacities of Kogi East and Kogi West, thereby incentivizing requisite private investments in power generation in the two senatorial zones, and complementing the efforts of the Governor in lighting up Kogi, and opening up the state for industrial revolution and economic development.

Hopefully, with all the efforts of both state and federal governments, especially with this light up Kogi initiative and the Siemens deal with Germany, complementing programmes of the REA, universal access to electricity will be one of the enduring legacies of the All Progressive Congress (APC), ably led by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Federal level and Governor Yahaya Bello at state level, long after they must have exited Government, as No tribe of human beings will ever forget a leader who gave them light when they needed it most!

Dr. Sanusi Ohiare has a PhD in Rural Energy Development, and is the Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund, Rural Electrification Agency, Nigeria. He writes from Abuja.
By Express News Service

GUWAHATI: The Assam Rifles has accused Mizoram government of violating the Centre's directions pertaining to COVIDd-19 protocol by allegedly denying the entry of troops into the state.

"The Mizoram governments denial of entry to armed forces into the state clearly violates the directions of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) which has serious implication for national security and is a cause of grave concern. It is not acceptable as the people of Mizoram fear Myanmarese nationals will cross over and spread the virus of COVID-19," the Assam Rifles said in a statement on Friday.

The statement comes following Mizoram governments charge that a team of Assam Rifles personnel had breached its COVID-19 protocol by refusing to undergo screening at the Vairangte check gate on the Assam-Mizoram border.

The Assam Rifles said the guidelines issued by the MHA during the imposition of nationwide lockdown had given exemptions to defence and central armed police forces. It said that the restrictions imposed by the Mizoram government on the operational movement of the personnel were seriously hampering the smooth functioning of the force, primarily border-guarding.

"The Assam Rifles has not caused any community spread of COVID-19 in the state and has been managing its patients at its own quarantine centre. It has not also caused any burden or dependency on the state government. However, there has been a continuous violation/dilution of orders of the MHA by the state government by restricting the entry of armed forces into the state which is not happening in any other part of the country," the Assam Rifles said.

It said the state government had been approached numerous times and requested to pass suitable instructions at all entry points to allow the movement of armed forces, unobstructed.

"The Assam Rifles has always assured the state government that all its personnel, entering the state, will be put through the mandatory COVID-19 quarantine protocol under the arrangements of the force. Also, the Assam Rifles has never refused any medical test by state medical authorities and in this particular incident, the Assam Rifles personnel were not asked to undergo any medical test," the statement added.

The paramilitary forces make up around 40 per cent of Mizoram's COVID cases. Last month, the states lone Lok Sabha member C Lalrosanga had petitioned Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking restrictions on the movement of troops in the state.
Babil Reveals Sanjay Dutt Was One Of The First Ones To Offer Help When His Dad Passed Away

Babil posted a picture of his late father with Sanjay Dutt and wrote, "Here's a secret; Sanju Bhai was one of the first people to offer help in all and every way when my father was diagnosed, after Baba passed, Sanju bhai was again one of the very first few people that held a pillar for support."

Babil Is Sure That Sanjay Dutt Will Be Smashing Hits Again

He continued in his post, "Please; I beg you, let him fight this without anxiety of media, you must remember we're talking bout Sanju baba here, he is a tiger, a fighter, the past doesn't define you but it sure does evolve you and I know this will be over with Sanju Baba smashing hits again."

Irrfan's Son Also Requested The Media To Avoid Speculations About Sanjay Dutt's Health

He wrote, "Writers must wonder how do I start', but I am not a writer so here it is; I humbly request journalists and human curiosity to ease on the speculation, the details. I know that's your job but I also know that a sense of humanity persists in our soul, so give Sanju bhai and his family the existential space they need."

Meanwhile, Sanjay Dutt's Wife Maanayata Recently Gave An Update About The Actor's Treatment

The star wife revealed that Sanjay Dutt will complete his preliminary treatment at Mumbai's Kokilaben hospital and the family will formulate further plans of travel depending on how and when the COVID-19 situation eases.

She also requested everyone to stop speculating the stage of Sanjay's health and let the doctors continue to do their work.
One day after the centennial of the 19th Amendment, the Democratic National Convention embraced that milestone for womens suffrage, with nods to the movements complicated history  only white women won the vote at first  and tributes to women who had broken the marble ceiling, in the words of the first female speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi.

Senator Kamala Harris, accepting the vice-presidential nomination, began by making note of the anniversary, lauding both the women who had fought and won, and those who fought but were themselves overlooked.

So many of the Black women who helped secure that victory were still prohibited from voting long after its ratification, Ms. Harris said. But they were undeterred. Without fanfare or recognition, they organized and testified and rallied and marched and fought not just for their vote but for a seat at the table.

The speakers who appeared before Ms. Harris on Wednesday sounded similar notes.

One hundred years ago yesterday, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said. It took seven decades of marching and picketing and going to jail to push us closer to a more perfect union.
It is to become mandatory that farmers wear face coverings at marts farm Monday, the Farming Independent understands.

The requirement is expected to be announced by the Department of Agriculture in letters issuing to marts today.

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 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.
Industry body TAIPA on Thursday warned the public about increasing cases of tower installation frauds, where scammers posing as agents of telecom firms dupe unsuspecting victims of lakhs of rupees by offering to lease out their land at exorbitant rents.

Drawing attention to such which are taking place especially in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, industry body Tower and Infrastructure Providers Association (TAIPA) said this is an "alarming situation", and needs to be addessed at the earliest.

"A group-marketing fraud in the name of a big telecom company has been enticing unsuspecting victims across the country, duping them of lakhs of rupees," TAIPA said in a statement.

These -- which are unique to India owing to its fast escalating mobile market -- trap victims by offering to "lease" out their land at exorbitant rents.

Outliningthe modus operandi, TAIPA said the fraudsters claiming to be agents of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) or any renowned telecom company, approach unsuspecting victims with lucrative offers.

They offer a productive monthly rent, offer free installation of towers, and even promise to waive the mandatory fees to the local municipal bodies.

Victims of the fraud are offered a one-time payment of Rs 2,00,000 to Rs 3,00,000 and gifts like iPhones.

"In return, the innocent, unsuspecting owner of the property deposits cash into the accounts of the fake company as tax under the Telecom Act for renting their premises to set up telecom towers. The innocent property owner is also issued a fake receipt," TAIPA informed.

Once cash is deposited, the fraudsters close their bank accounts and shift to another city, it added.

"There is an urgent need for the people to alert themselves about the installation tower taking place across the country. TRAI does not issue NOC (no objection certificate) for installation of mobile towers and whenever a fraudster approaches them with such a letter, they should directly report the matter to the concerned telecom service provider and call the police to take further disciplinary action," T R Dua, Director General of TAIPA, said.

TAIPA release said that the regulator has already issued a warning asking consumers to beware of lucrative offers of high rent from mobile tower installation.

"The regulator has clarified that it is not involved, even indirectly, in the installation of mobile towers. Fraudsters become unreachable after collection of money and issue fake 'No Objection Certificates/Permissions' for the installation of tower purportedly issued by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology," TAIPA cautioned.

(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 number of unemployed youths in Vietnam may double this year, while the employment prospects of 663 million young people in Asia and the Pacific face challenges as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.

An unemployed person files for unemployment insurance at Hanoi Job Centre in March, 2020.

The figures were revealed in a report entitled 'Tackling the COVID-19 youth employment crisis in Asia and the Pacific' by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) which was released on Tuesday.

The report estimated that unemployment among young Vietnamese people was between 10.8 per cent and 13.2 per cent this year, almost double last years figure of 6.9 per cent.

If the COVID-19 pandemic is brought under control soon, the number of young people in Vietnam to lose their jobs will be 370,000, equivalent to an unemployment rate of 10.8 per cent. This could reach 548,000 if it is contained within six months.

Vietnams youth unemployment rate in the first quarter of 2020 was estimated at 7.4 per cent, 0.5 percentage points higher than in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, the unemployment rate of adults in the first quarter of this year remained unchanged at 1.4 per cent compared with last years figure.

The sector that saw the largest job loss was the textile industry with 15 per cent, followed by hotels and restaurants, and agriculture with 13.6 and 10.6 per cent, respectively.

A survey from the General Statistics Office released in early July revealed that more than 30.8 million people aged 15 and above have been adversely affected by COVID-19 in the first six months. The service sector hit the hardest, with 72 per cent of people either losing their jobs or having their wages seriously cut.

Labour market disruption

The pandemic has triggered a massive disruption of labour markets and had a disproportionate impact on the employment of young people, said the report.

Youths aged 15-24 will be hit harder than people above the age of 25 in the immediate crisis. They are also more likely than adults to work in less secure, lower-wage jobs usually with limited legal rights and social protection.

Before the pandemic, young people were already facing challenges in labour markets resulting in high unemployment rates and large shares of youth being excluded from both school and work.

In 2019, the regional youth unemployment rate was 13.8 per cent compared to 3 per cent for adults, and more than 160 million youths were not in employment, education or training.

Four in five young workers in the region were engaged in informal employment, a higher share than among adults.

The pre-crisis challenges for youth are now amplified since COVID-19 hit. Without sufficient attention, out fear is that this risks creating a lockdown generation that could feel the weight of this crisis for many years to come, said Sara Elder, a lead author of the report and head of the ILO Regional Economic and Social Analysis unit.

Youth unemployment rates in the region increased sharply in the first quarter of 2020 from the last quarter of 2019. Compared to the first quarter of 2019, the youth unemployment rate increased in six of the nine economies with available data, including Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, and Vietnam, as well as in Hong Kong (China), which showed the largest increase of three percentage points.

According to the report, job losses among youths will continue throughout 2020 and between 10 and 15 million youth jobs may be lost across 13 Asia-Pacific countries.

One of the reasons young people in the region face greater unemployment risks and employment disruption than adults is that nearly half of them (more than 100 million) are employed in the four sectors hardest hit by the crisis: the wholesale and retail trade and repair; manufacturing; rental and business services; and accommodation and food services, said the report.

To minimise future scarring of more than 660 million young people in the region, the governments are called upon to adopt urgent, large-scale and targeted measures to generate jobs for youth, keep education and training on track.

The report recommended support measures, many of which should be directed at enterprises in the hardest-hit sectors where job losses are concentrated, to be prioritised include providing youth-targeted wage subsidies and public employment programmes and expanding job information and employment services targeted to young jobseekers. VNS

Vietnamese workers worried about losing jobs amid Covid-19 outbreak Every time a new coronavirus infection case is uncovered, Ngoc, 26, and her colleagues feel worried about who will be the next worker laid off.
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia - a group known as OPEC+ - should stick to full compliance of a deal to cut global oil production, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said.



In his opening remarks to an online meeting of OPEC+ energy ministers, Novak said the deal so far had been be successful and oil inventories held by OECD members had fallen in July.



Novak, who was tested positive for coronavirus earlier, also told the meeting that he was undergoing treatment and was feeling good, Reuters reported.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 10:49:50|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The deterioration of China-U.S. relations amid the COVID-19 pandemic is not only greatly hindering bilateral ties but also undermining confidence in the global economy, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai has said.

"Today, the China-U.S. relationship is going in the wrong direction, described by some as in a 'free fall,'" said Cui in a keynote speech at a webinar on issues related to China-U.S. relations at the invitation of President John R. Allen of the Brookings Institution on Aug. 13.

"Over the years, it has never been short of problems and difficulties, but alarmingly, there are attempts now to negate what has been built up so painstakingly by generations of Chinese and Americans over the decades and to deliberately push our two countries into conflict and confrontation," Cui said.

"All these are happening in the context of the raging pandemic and the consequently flagging global economy. They are happening when international cooperation is urgently needed, especially between major countries, and this situation is greatly hindering our cooperation," he said.

"The deterioration of China-U.S. relations also undermines people's confidence in the global economy, with serious consequences for both countries and the world," the ambassador said.

"It is natural for major countries to have differences and even competition, but they do not justify confrontation," he said. "Today, what pushes major countries to cooperate far outweighs what drives them apart. Stigmatization will not make anybody great. Ideological crusades will not solve any problem in today's world and is doomed to fail."

"Some people here and elsewhere are obsessed with great-power competition and strategic rivalry. But if we have a close look at the three major international crises in the 21st century, namely, the '9.11' terrorist attack, the global financial crisis and the current pandemic, they are all of a strategic nature, but not in the traditional sense of the word," Cui said.

"None of them could be resolved with the tool box of great-power competition. The world has changed," he said. Enditem
Mr. Verzilov was kept alive on a ventilator and later flown to Germany for treatment. Though doctors found no trace of poison, he said that he is convinced it was the cause, and that the Kremlin was responsible.

Image Pyotr Verzilov being transported to a hospital in Berlin in 2018. He claims he was poisoned by the Russian government. Credit... Reuters

Poison, though redolent of medieval intrigue, has been a favored tool of Russian intelligence agencies for more than a century. And critics of the Kremlin and independent analysts say the weapon remains in use today. While other countries, including the United States and Israel, have targeted killing programs, they are strictly limited to counterterrorism efforts. Russia, by contrast, has been accused of targeting a wide variety of opponents both at home and abroad.

The Soviet Union operated a secret laboratory to research tasteless and untraceable poisons that were tested on condemned gulag prisoners, security service defectors have said.

After a series of assassinations and attempted assassinations of dissidents, journalists, defectors and opposition leaders in Russia and abroad over the past two decades, researchers have concluded the post-Soviet government has turned to its poison arsenal as a preferred weapon.

Substances that have been identified or suspected in poisonings blamed on the Russian government include radioactive polonium-210; heavy metals; gelsemium, a rare Himalayan plant toxin; and Novichok, a military nerve agent lethal to the touch.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 20, 2020 19:53 517 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066f59ae8 4 City COVID-19,frontline-workers,medical-workers,financial-stimulus,health-ministry,Jokowi,coronavirus,virus-korona-indonesia,COVID-19-Jakarta,incentives Free

Medical workers treating COVID-19 patients in Jakarta have yet to receive the financial incentives promised by the government since March, after the country recorded its first confirmed cases.

The director of Koja Regional General Hospital (RSUD) in North Jakarta, Banjar, said he had submitted the required documents for staff to receive the incentive, including copies of medical workers' employee cards and accountability reports.

"But our staff have still not received any payments," Banjar said on Wednesday.

It has been the same for medical staff at RSUD Pasar Minggu in South Jakarta. The hospital's director, Yudi, confirmed the promised-incentives had yet to be disbursed.

"Please ask the Jakarta Health Agency for further information regarding the delay," Yudi said as quoted by kompas.com.

Read also: Government pledges to cut red tape to accelerate healthcare spending

The central government has reportedly set aside Rp 5.9 trillion (US$396 million) for incentives for front-line healthcare workers across the country. Medical specialists will receive Rp 15 million per month, physicians and dentists Rp 10 million, while nurses and other medical staff members will get Rp 7.5 million and Rp 5 million, respectively.

A total of Rp 300 million in compensation will also be provided in case of death.

Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto stated previously that the money would be disbursed starting from May yet progress has moved at a snails pace, drawing a rebuke from President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

In a video released by the President's press office in June, Jokowi delivered an uncharacteristically angry speech during a Cabinet meeting about the sluggish implementation of several policies, including the provision of financial incentives to health workers.

Read also: Administrative issues hamper COVID-19 budget disbursement: Sri Mulyani

Jakarta Financial Management Body (BKPD) head Edy Sumantri said the administration was supposed to have received around Rp 92.9 billion to be channeled to the city's medical workers.

"However, we have only received Rp 56.2 billion so far, which has caused the delay," Edy said, adding that he would seek the immediate disbursement of the remaining funds.

In the meantime, the BKPD will process the funds it has received and disburse it to health workers. "We will start to pay the incentives next Monday," Edy told kompas.com on Thursday. (vny)
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) on Wednesday announced the launch of a subsidiary for its international growth ambitions. The subsidiary, NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), will facilitate the body's "ambition" of venturing into newer international markets and co-create payment systems with other nations, as per an official statement.

The announcement comes a day after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) came out with guidelines for creation of other payment platforms with a view to de-risk the system. NIPL has been tasked with exporting NPCI's indigenously developed offerings and technological acumen to foreign markets and its focus will be internationalisation of the RuPay and UPI (unified payment interface) platform, an official statement said.

Also read: Banks expected to restructure loans up to Rs 8.4 lakh crore after RBI decision: IndRa

NPCI said its platforms have been cost effective, secure, convenient and instantaneous and several nations have displayed an inclination towards establishing a 'real-time payment system' or 'domestic card scheme'. "Several countries such as Asia, Africa and the Middle East have displayed interest towards replicating our model in their own nations," NPCI Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Dilip Asbe said.

NPCI, which is owned by local lenders, has appointed Ritesh Shukla as the chief executive of NIPL, it said adding that he joins from rival Mastercard's Middle East and North Africa (MENA) team. He will be supported by Anubhav Sharma, head of international business for partnership, business development and marketing, and Rina Penkar, head of international business for product development, in NIPL's core team, as per the statement.

Also read: COVID-19 impact: Around 40% of restaurants may not reopen again
A member of a ground crew walks past American Airlines planes parked at the gate during the CCP virus outbreak at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, on April 5, 2020.(Joshua Roberts/Reuters)

American Airlines to Suspend Flights to 15 Cities Amid Stalled Aid Debate

American Airlines has announced plans to suspend flights to 15 cities, citing low demand amid the pandemic and the expiration of air service requirements that were a condition of the company receiving billions in COVID-19 relief aid.

The suspensions go into effect in early October, the company said in a statement, adding that the move is the first step towards further schedule changes in the coming weeks.

The CARES Act gave federal transportation authorities the power to impose minimum air service requirements on airlines, with the Department of Transportation (DOT) setting service obligations through Sept. 30. As those expire, airlines receiving COVID-19 aid are sure to evaluate maintaining routes, particularly loss-making ones as the pandemic has slashed demand for travel.

The airline will continue to re-assess plans for these and other markets as an extension of the Payroll Support Program remains under deliberation, American said in the statement.

The CARES Acts Payroll Support Program set aside $25 billion in grants to U.S. airlines, strictly for employee compensation. Under the program, American received $5.8 billion in payroll assistance.

Congress has been weighing for weeks whether to give another $25 billion in payroll assistance to airlines, which would keep tens of thousands of airline workers on the job for another six months and extend minimum service requirements. But as Congress has struggled to reach consensus on a broader CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus assistance package, the debate over assistance to airlines has stalled.

Several airlines have privately warned lawmakers they would be forced to suspend service to some smaller airports unless they receive more aid.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Monday expressed doubts that Republicans and Democrats would be able to break the deadlock over the fifth relief bill.

The U.S. Travel Association has called for lawmakers to reach a deal to help protect jobs in the hospitality and travel industry, one of the hardest hit by the pandemic.

It is crucial that leaders in Washington return to the negotiating table immediately and continue the important work they started, said U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes, in a statement. Since March, more than half of the 15.8 million pre-pandemic jobs supported by the travel industry have disappeared, leaving workers and small businesses in every pocket of America vulnerable to the economic pain of this public health crisis.

In its announcement, American said it will cancel just over 700 flights to and from those 15 airports, warning that more cuts could be on the horizon. For now, Americans scheduling changes are only in place for the October schedule period, which runs through Nov. 3, with the full, updated October schedule to be released on Aug. 29.

Starting Oct. 7, American will halt flights to Del Rio, Texas; Dubuque, Iowa; Florence, South Carolina; Greenville, North Carolina; Huntington, West Virginia; Joplin, Missouri; Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, Michigan; Lake Charles, Louisiana; New Haven, Connecticut; New Windsor, New York; Roswell, New Mexico; Sioux City, Iowa; Springfield, Illinois; Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

The COVID-19 crisis has decimated the U.S. labor market, with unemployment at 10.2 percent and around 1 million Americans continuing to file for unemployment each week.
There were no reports of injuries from the midnight Tuesday blaze at the Poly-America complex in Grand Prairie, authorities said. No evacuations were ordered, but people with underlying health conditions were asked to avoid the area.

Fire officials had initially thought the fire would burn into Thursday. By 4 p.m. Wednesday, though, city officials posted a statement that the flames had been contained and that the fire was expected to be extinguished Wednesday night.

Missouri

Doc amputates toe on porch, loses license

JEFFERSON CITY  A western Missouri doctor has lost his state medical license after amputating a patients gangrenous toe on the porch of his rural office that doubled as a machine shed.

The Missouri State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts revoked John Ures physician and surgeon license in June, the Springfield News-Leader reported.

Ure, 73, had been practicing in Deepwater, located about halfway between Springfield and Kansas City. Documents filed by the board said Ure performed the amputation in May 2016 on the porch of his office, which doubled as a machine shed and lacked running water and restrooms.
CLINTON  Heavy duty work gloves, sturdy reusable totes, shopping list, mask. Ready. Set. Go.

When Jack Walker expertly wheels his cart into ShopRite he is ready to load it up with healthful, protein laden foods. And thats exactly what he does.

He tosses in frozen meatballs, tuna, chicken, rice and cereal, topping his cart. He knows what the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries needs and he delivers  every Friday for more than 15 years.

I first started doing this when my first wife was diagnosed with terminal cancer, the Clinton resident said. I went into the social services building and said, I need to do more for my community. I need to make a difference in this world.

Donations are always appreciated, but even more so since the start of COVID-19, said Lin Smith, manager of the Clinton pantry.

She pointed out that the pantry serves about 200 local families. Taking into account that each family has about four individuals, they are serving up to 800 people a week.

Were serving two to three times the volume of people that we did pre-COVID and the donations are what save us, she adds. If somebody brings in one can it makes a huge difference. Everything adds up and adds up and thats how we survive.

Walker knows, firsthand, what its like to need help from the community. In his youth, he and his family, which included five siblings, were the beneficiaries of social services and much kindness.

I grew up on food stamps, free lunches, the Guilford native said, standing in the basement of the First Church of Christ where he drops off the food every week.

Everything my mom could find in the dented can aisle was purchased, he added. It was humbling. Wed buy our clothes at the Hole in the Wall (consignment and thrift shop).

I saw some people that were quite well off that didnt need to help my parents and they did it, Walker said. They did it because thats who they were and that had a very profound effect on me.

On a recent shopping trip, the bill was some $300, of which Walker contributes about $200 and the rest is covered by donations from friends and strangers, alike, via PayPal or Venmo.

I never keep track of anything, he said. Im like a kid in a candy store. I go in and I used to  before Corona  go to the same cashier every time and she knew what my average was.

Some weeks this mission requires one trip, yet more often than not Walker shops on Thursday night, as well a return visit on Friday morning.

My mom gets credit for the grocery shopper that I am, said Walker. I know what the right price is on everything in the grocery store.

It is with this in mind that he checks the prices before loading up his cart.

It also helps that he is a numbers guy  selling floor covering to retail stores in Connecticut and New York for the last 33 years.

This 57-year-old scoots down aisle after aisle, taking multiple items to fill his cart. This weeks haul includes 105 pounds of chicken, 59 cans of tuna, 28 juice boxes, 20 pounds of pork, ground turkey, rice, cereal and frozen meatballs.

Yet, it is not just about the prices.

One of the things I do try to do is not buy sugar cereals, he said, standing in front of myriad cereal choices.

Sometimes I do, because I believe that every kid deserves a treat, he adds. But I really go out of my way to try to be healthy.

Sometimes being healthy is not as important as contributing what is requested by the recipients.

The food pantry director was basically begging for juice boxes, he explains. This was the third consecutive week and this week she only had one thing on her list for what was really needed and that was juice boxes, so I said, OK.

While the juice box prices are not great, he makes some decisions based on need. This is especially true when he stops to check out the chicken prices.

I dont make decision solely on price, especially when it comes to proteins, he explains, as he fills his cart with split chicken breasts with ribs.

Then its right back to searching for the deals and loading up his shopping cart.

First and foremost, the deal has to be right, he says. So, $1.77 for a box of cereal is a great price.

With COVID-19 affecting all aspects of life, including shopping, Walker sees the effects.

I never would have realized how in demand rice is, Walker said, checking out the rice prices. But it is a huge request and its hard to find.

Finding a good deal, he loads up on 15 of the 2-pound bags of extra-long grain, enriched rice.

I dont know if theres still a limit on rice, there very well could be, he said. Well find out when they wont scan anymore.

Smith said they are grateful for Walkers reliable donations.

Its absolutely wonderful what he does, she said. Its a large donation every week.

Walker knows not everyone can do what he does on a weekly basis, but every bit helps.

They dont need to do this, to help, said Walker, standing beside a shopping cart overflowing with food. Absolutely, not.

They could literally drop off five cans of tuna and that is appreciated and necessary as thoughtful as what Im doing, he added. The amount doesnt matter, its the act of thinking beyond yourself.

To donate, email jack_walker@comcast.net; to contact the Clinton Pantry call the First Church of Christ, 860-669-5735.
The Arakan Army's insignia is seen on the uniform of a soldier at an undisclosed location in an undated photo.

Government forces in Myanmars Rakhine state arrested six civilians including a female schoolteacher on Wednesday, accusing them of ties to the rebel ethnic Arakan Army and charging them under Myanmars counter-terrorism law, sources in the country said.

The detentions came as RFA learned of the first known arrest of a local Rakhine policeman for alleged affiliations with the AA.

the six arrested Wednesday were taken to a police station in Kyauktaw township for questioning, a local resident told RFAs Myanmar Service, speaking on condition of anonymity.

They were arrested because they refused to answer military officers when they were asked whether Arakan Army soldiers were present in their village, RFAs source said, adding that the men and woman declined to speak because of concerns that AA fighters might actually be there.

Four of the five men were later released, but one man and the schoolteacher remain in military custody, sources said.

The Arakan Army has been fighting a 20-month-long battle against government forces in western Myanmars Rakhine state, where it seeks greater independence for ethnic Rakhines and wants to establish a base.

The fighting has killed 274 civilians and displaced nearly 200,000 since December 2018, according to figures compiled by RFA.

As fighting continues in the region, Myanmars military has detained increasing numbers of civilians living or found in combat zones.

In an apparent first, the detainees also included a police officer arrested in Kyautphyu township on June 28, sources told RFA on Wednesday.

Ye Ko Naing has now been charged under sections 50(a) and 52(a) of the counter-terrorism law, which forbids association with ethnic armies or other groups deemed terrorist by central government authorities.

He is the first policeman to be charged under this law. It is because he got involved with the AA, Police Lieutenant Colonel Kyaw Zaw said.

Two others held

Meanwhile, two men from Zin Chaung Village in Kyautphyu townshipWin Naing and Maung Aye Naingwere detained and charged under the counter-terrorism law on July 7, Win Naings sister said, adding that her brother had run a shop selling mobile phones.

They were arrested separately, and we dont know what will happen with their cases next, she said. We want them to be freed if theyre not really guilty.

The police kept a computer, a photo printer, a mobile phone, and other related things from Win Naing, she said.

Both men were allowed to see their families on Aug. 17 during an appearance in court, Kyaw Lwin, a member of parliament representing Kyautphyu township said. As far as we know, no one arrested in Kyautphyu township was found with any weapons.

Persons charged under the provisions of Myanmars counter-terrorism law can be sentenced to prison terms ranging from seven years to life, depending on the specific nature of the offense.

Neither the policeman nor any of the other civilians detained had connections to the Arakan Army, AA spokesman Khine Thukha told RFA, adding that Myanmars army was arresting civilians because of a grudge it holds against the people of Rakhine.

The government doesnt stop them, and even orders them to do it, so both the government and the military are responsible for war crimes in Rakhine, he said.

Attempts to reach government spokesman Zaw Htay for comment on the arrests were unsuccessful Wednesday.

According to the Thazin Legal Aid Group based in the Rakhine capital Sittwe, 308 people have now been detained and charged in Rakhine under suspicion of involvement with the Arakan Army.



Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Richard Finney.
KYODO NEWS - Aug 19, 2020 - 21:58 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

A U.S. Navy report on the coronavirus outbreak aboard the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt showed that commanding officers had considered individually isolating the some 3,000 crew members, including over 1,000 who later tested positive for the virus, at U.S. military bases in Japan.

The envisaged move surfaced in late March, when infections among the sailors were first confirmed. U.S. forces had prioritized plans to airlift crew members to Okinawa until deciding at the last minute to isolate them instead at private hotels in Guam, their next port of call.

Related coverage:

Okinawa cab driver infected amid virus outbreaks at U.S. bases

U.S. base in Okinawa reports 36 more coronavirus cases: pref. gov't

The Okinawa plan was eventually abandoned due to concerns that moving crew to the southern island prefecture, which accounts for about 70 percent of the total acreage exclusively used by U.S. military facilities in Japan, would complicate relations with the Japanese government, the report said.

According to the report, the first sailors aboard the Theodore Roosevelt tested positive for COVID-19 on March 24, after the ship had departed from Danang in Vietnam and was under way in the western Pacific Ocean.

While in the Pacific, the vessel was within the operational chain of command of the U.S. 7th Fleet based at Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, which began considering locations to individually isolate the crew.

It narrowed down the choices to the U.S. bases in Okinawa and Atsugi, Kanagawa Prefecture, and private hotels in Guam.

During planning sessions with the Commanding General of III Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Courtney, the 7th Fleet calculated that the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and naval bases in Okinawa had approximately 3,000 rooms available, while Atsugi was also expected to have 400 to 600 rooms.

The United States had not been able to secure a sufficient number of rooms in Guam at the time.

On March 28, the 7th Fleet tasked Carrier Strike Group Nine and the Theodore Roosevelt to develop plans to proceed with airlifting crew members to Okinawa.

Although the group's commanding officer had proposed the Guam option, the plan was rejected as Guam was itself in a public health emergency at the time, making it difficult for the United States to ask for help.

But the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet was in the end not prepared to approve the 7th Fleet's Okinawa plan based on the increased infection risks the 9-hour flight to the island posed, as well as potential complications with the government of Japan, according to the report.

On April 1, the governor of Guam formally accepted the Theodore Roosevelt crew, among which infections had surged to 1,248.

The report does not make it clear if discussions were held between the Japanese and U.S. governments, or if local governments in Guam were notified before the decision was made.

But according to an official from the Foreign Ministry, Japan was not approached as the plan "was still in the planning phase."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 21:46:10|Editor: huaxia

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TASHKENT, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Uzbekistan plans to reward its citizens 65 to 544 U.S. dollars if they report corruption offenses, according to a draft government resolution initiated by the country's Prosecutor General's Office on Thursday.

According to the draft document, the size of the reward depends on the sum of the bribe money and its severity of damage to society and the state.

Also, it proposes to nominate people for the state awards for their contributions to the fight against corruption.

Since President Shavkat Mirziyoyev took office in 2016, Uzbekistan has taken a series of measures to promote economic reforms, including liberalizing its foreign exchange market, reducing taxes and offering preferential treatment for foreign investment.

In late June this year, Uzbekistan created an agency to combat corruption, which the Uzbek Ministry of Justice said is harmful to the country's economy and international image.

The agency reports directly to the president and is accountable to the parliament, the ministry added. Enditem
NEW YORK  A federal judge on Thursday cleared the way for Manhattans top prosecutor to get President Donald Trumps tax returns, rejecting a last-ditch attempt by his lawyers to block a subpoena issued to his accounting firm.

Trump's lawyers immediately appealed U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero's decision to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

Marrero's ruling echoed his prior decision in the case that was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court last month. The high court had returned the case to Marrero to give Trump's lawyers a chance to raise other concerns about the subpoena issued by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.

Vance has been seeking Trumps tax returns from the presidents longtime accounting firm, Mazars USA, for more than a year, since Trumps former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, told Congress that the president had misled tax officials, insurers and business associated about the value of his assets.

Trumps lawyers said that the request for tax records dating back to 2011 was retaliatory after the presidents company, the Trump Organization, disputed the scope of a subpoena seeking records from June 1, 2015, through Sept. 20, 2018.

That time span pertains to an investigation related to payoffs to two women, including porn actress Stormy Daniels, to keep them quiet during the 2016 presidential campaign about alleged extramarital affairs with Trump. Trump has denied the affairs.

Messages seeking comment on the ruling were left with Trump's lawyer. A spokesperson for Vance's office declined comment.

Trump, through his lawyers, has argued that the subpoena was issued in bad faith, might have been politically motivated and amounted to harassment of him, especially since the wording mimicked the language in congressional subpoenas.

Vances attorneys said they were entitled to extensive records to aid a complex financial investigation and they cited in their papers public reports of extensive and protracted criminal conduct at the Trump Organization.

In July, the Supreme Court rejected Trumps arguments that he cant even be investigated, let alone charged with any crime, while he is in office. But the court left open the prospect that Trump could make new arguments in a bid to keep the subpoena from being enforced.

Vance isn't the only one pursuing Trump's financial records, though his office's request specifically included the president's taxes. Congress has also tried to access Trump's financial records. Also in July, the Supreme Court kept a hold on banking and other documents about Trump, family members and his businesses that Congress has been seeking for over a year and returned the case to a lower court.

Thursdays appeal makes it unlikely investigators will get their hands on Trumps financial records before Novembers presidential election.

Trump is the only president in modern times who has refused to make his tax returns public, and before he was elected he promised to release them.
The Minister of Finance on Wednesday evening told Digi 24 private television broadcaster that he would prefer to come up with a budget for next year as soon as possible, and not to wait until December.

"We have prepared the financing for this year. We know exactly every chapter of the budget. I don't want to wait until the end of the year, I want to come up with a budget to present it as soon as possible for next year," said the Minister of Finance.He stressed that there are regular meetings with President Klaus Iohannis on European funds, on the package received from the European Commission."At all these meetings we are having very concrete talks, we come up with questions that we need to ask the Commission in order to make sure that, when the plan is drawn up and approved, there are no such projects that we cannot introduce because we didn't ask for the exact conditions. (..) We want to draw all this money. That's why we are looking at the budget burden for the next period," Citu explained.Regarding the 40 per cent increase in pensions, the minister reiterated that this would have created very big problems in terms of the Government's credibility in front of foreign investors, "because no one would have thought that we could finance yourself.""This year would have meant an additional 12 billion lei to the budget. This means 1.2 per cent of GDP this year alone. Next year would have been 30 billion lei and so on. Enormous additional amounts to the budget (...) We would have been downgraded immediately by the rating agencies if this had happened, and of course, all our international markets would have closed, but that does not mean that we will not get there with the increase in pensions, and it is very important to read the pension law, for it says very clearly that this growth should be staggered. So, in the end, we respect exactly the spirit of the law," pointed out Florin Citu.
Party-list Representative Jericho Nograles wants Chinese-made hair product Ashley Shine Keratin Treatment Deep Repair blacklisted from the Philippines, upon learning that its packaging says it was being distributed from Manila, Province of China.

*Gasps in Chinese.*

Nograles shared photos of the offending packaging in question to reporters today, along with letters dated Aug. 19 sent to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where he aired out his outrage.

The congressman said the product was being distributed locally by Elegant Fumes Beauty Products, Inc., a Binondo-based company which has since locked its Facebook account and could not be reached for comments.

The product bearing this information was manufactured in 2018 and is still distributed throughout the country. Succeeding batches of this product already omitted the declaration, but the offense remains the same, Nograles said.

He called on the DTI and FDA to immediately investigate this detestable and repulsive offense against the nation, and if legally justified, prohibit the continued distribution of these products in our country.

Any act to undermine our sovereignty must be taken seriously, the lawmaker added.

This isnt the first time that a lawmaker protested against Chinese encroachment in the Philippines. Earlier this year, Senator Risa Hontiveros expressed dismay over the airing of cultural program Wow China on state-owned Radyo Pilipinas and immediately called for its cancellation.

This is in stark contrast to public sentiments expressed by President Rodrigo Duterte, who in his recent State of the Nation Address said he was inutile when it comes to Beijings intrusion in the West Philippine Sea  despite the Philippines victory in an international court  because China has more weapons than the Philippines, and our leader couldnt afford to go to war with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jin Ping.

This article, Oops: Nograles cries boycott on hair product calling Manila Province of China, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters!
Nominees who failed to obtain the necessary absolute majority for the remaining 26 seats are to go to a run-off in September

A pro-government coalition led by the Mostaqbal Watan Party has secured a landslide victory in Egypts Senate elections, claiming, along with its allies, the majority in the newly reconstituted 300-seat council, the National Elections Authority (NEA) announced on Wednesday.

Amid protective measures against the coronavirus pandemic, Egyptians cast their ballots from 9 to 12 August to choose their representatives in the new chamber, whose members are chosen via the individual candidacy, the closed party list system, and presidential appointment.

One-hundred-and-seventy-four senators, representing different constituencies countrywide, have been officially named after receiving the absolute majority of votes during the first round of elections, while 26 seats are still up for grabs in a run-off in September, head of NEA Lashin Ibrahim told a press conference.

Ibrahim said that 8.95 million out of 62.94 million eligible voters cast their ballots during the four-day long voting period, a total turnout of 14.23 percent.

Valid votes were recorded at 7.5 million, 84.58 percent of the total turnout, and the invalid ballots numbered 1.38 million, 15.42 percent, he added.

A total of 797 candidates competed for the 100 individual seats of the upper chamber, while one list ran unopposed for the 100 seats reserved for party lists.

The 100 seats allocated for party lists in the Senate were won unopposed by the 11-party National Unified List, led by the Mostaqbal Watan Party (Future of the Homeland), after meeting the 5 percent threshold necessary to be declared the winner, according to the NEC.

Mostaqbal Watan has 59 candidates on this list, while 10 other parties have the rest.

Another 74 individual seats were won during the first round of elections, including 68 candidates from Mostaqbal Watan according to a statement by the party.

The remaining 26 seats, whose nominees failed to obtain the necessary absolute majority, are to go to a run-off in September, said NEA head Ibrahim.

The undecided 26 seats are distributed over 14 governorates: Qalioubiya, Menoufia, Kafr El-Sheikh, Giza, Beni Suef, Assiut, Sohag, Qena, Luxor, Aswan, Damietta, Port Said, Ismailia, and Marsa Matrouh.

The run-off election will be held on 6-7 September for Egyptians abroad and on 8-9 September for resident nationals.

The final result is set to be announced on 16 September.

Ibrahim noted that the first round of voting was supervised by judges and the polls were monitored by the media and civil society organisations.

The NEA received 49 appeals, but all of them were rejected, Ibrahim said.

He assured that the voting process went regularly at all polling centres, but some stations saw a delay in opening as some of the supervisory judges arrived late.

The NEA received some complaints but found that they did not affect the regularity of the election process, he added.

The Senate, which was created in accordance with constitutional amendments approved last year, will act as an advisory chamber to the House of Representatives. It will be in place of the Shura Council, an upper house of parliament that was dissolved in 2014.

The first session of the new council, where the senators are required to be sworn in, is set to be held in October. The first five-year term of the Senate will end in 2025.

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Thiruvananthapuram, August 20 : Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram constituency Shashi Tharoor on Thursday set the cat amongst the pigeons by coming out in support of the central governments decision to approve the leasing out of Thiruvananthapuram international airport to industrialist Gautam Adanis Adani enterprises ltd.

In a tweet, Tharoor said that the airport could flourish only if it was run by a private entity.

He also added that ownership of land and airport, and customs and immigration would continue to be handled by government agencies, insinuating that reservations expressed by the ruling LDF government and opposition UDF in Kerala over the privatization of the airport were unfounded.

Tharoors views on the issue are against the stated position of the congress party and are sure to raise the hackles of the congress leadership and party supporters.

Congress Kerala unit president Mullappally Ramachandran on Thursday took a thinly-veiled dig at the congress MP, saying that no congress leader had the obligation to be on the payroll of a bourgeois like Adani.

Terming as condemnable the privatization of the airport, the congress leader said that the congress should stage protests to force the central government to reverse its decision.

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala had also the other day strongly criticised the central government nod to lease out the airport to the Adani group.

Minister for cooperation in the LDF government Kadakampally Surendran slammed Tharoor for supporting the privatization of the Thiruvananthapuram airport, terming the congress MPs position as treacherous.

Tharoor should retract his stand, he said, adding that those supporting the privatization of the airport would have to apologise to the public.

The congress MP has also drawn flak on social media with several users alleging that Tharoors endorsement of the leasing out of the Thiruvananthapuram airport to the Adani group was further proof of his right-wing leanings.

The BJP-led central government on Wednesday cleared the leasing out of three airports including the Thiruvananthapuram international airport to Adani enterprises for a period of 50 years.

The move came despite the strong objections raised by the LDF government in Kerala against the privatization of the airport.
New Delhi: The auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated this year on August 22. It is a 10-day-long festival widely celebrated in Maharashtra with much fervour. Ganesh Chaturthi is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi. It is the day that marks the birth of Lord Ganpati. It is one of the major Hindu festivals.

Devotees bring Ganpati idols to their home and organise puja. The idols can be kept at home for a day or two and some families worship the God at home even for ten days, depending upon their own wish.

Meanwhile, huge Ganpati pandals are also set up, where people come and seek blessings. Special prasad such as modaks are prepared and offered to the Lord. This year the celebrations have been restricted to home and large gatherings have to be avoided due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Puja Timings and Shubh Muhurat

Ganesha Puja Muhurat: 11:05 am to 01:41 pm (August 22)

Chaturthi tithi begins: 11:02 am (August 21)

Chaturthi tithi ends: 07:57 pm (August 22)

Ganesh Visarjan on September 1

Time to avoid Moon sighting: 09:06 am to 09:25 pm (September 1)

(According to drikpanchang.com)

It is believed that Lord Ganesha was born during the Madhyana period (noon) and hence, the recommended Puja timing is in the afternoon.

After 10 days, Bappa's idols are immersed in water. Devotees bid a tearful adieu to him with a promise that he will return next year.

It is popularly believed that on the tenth day after visarjan, Lord Ganesha heads back to Mount Kailasha to his parents - Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati's home.

Puja Vidhi

Place a fresh piece of red cloth on a wooden platform and make sure the Lord's idol is placed there carefully. Meanwhile, light a lamp and incense sticks. Invoke Lord Ganesha in the idol and worship him.

Do remember that if your idol is made of Pancha Dhatu (a mixture of five metals) then, perform the Abhishekham with Panchamrit (made of banana/fruits, milk, curd, ghee and sugar/honey).

After the Abhishekham, wipe the Ganpati idol with a fresh piece of cotton cloth.

You can offer mouli (sacred thread) or a small piece of new cloth (preferably yellow) to the deity. Then put a Janeyu around his torso (make sure it rests on his left shoulder and diagonally goes around his body under the right shoulder. Later add a tika with haldi and kumkum on his forehead.

Offer red hibiscus or any other flower to the idol. Also, offer Durva grass (special green grass) during the puja.

You can recite the Ganesha Moola Mantra and offer Modak, fresh fruits (Guava, Pomegranate, Orange, Apple and Pear), Bananas, Coconut, Paan and Supari to the Lord.

Pray to him with folded hands and closed eyes, seeking his divine blessings.

Sing the Ganpati Aarti to conclude the puja.

Ganpati Bappa Morya!
Country, Metal, & TikTok: Former Sony Music Nashville VP Ed Rivadavia Talks Digital Trends

In this latest edition of How Music Charts Ed Rivadavia, former Sony Music Nashville VP of Digital Strategy, weighs in on some of the major music industry trends of the digital era, including TikTok, Country, and Metal.

Guest post by Rutger Ansley Rosenborg of Chartmetric

Most recently a VP of Digital Strategy at Sony Music Nashville, where he worked with some of the biggest names in Country, Ed Rivadavia has always been  and still is  a metalhead at heart. Originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil, he spent much of his early years in Europe and the United States, learning three languages, other than his native Portuguese, along the way.

Eds global and multi-genre experience imbues his perspective on digital trends in the music industry with nuance and prescience, and in this episode, we chat with him about Country music, Metal fandom, the future of TikTok, and music industry trends in digital marketing and digital strategy.

Whats particularly interesting about Eds career is how you can trace the trajectory of the role of marketing in the music industry, from radio promotion or old media marketing in the 90s, to trying to get a handle on ways to use the internet, or new media, in the early 2000s, and then to settling in to what we now know as digital marketing and digital strategy in the 2010s.

It was during this transition to digital distribution and new technologies that I feel like traditional marketing and real marketing started coming into the music industry a little more. Radio is a unique promo tool of the music industry. Up until the 90s, some people thought that the sum total of a marketing plan was handing the song off to radio and hoping for the best. Part of the music industrys transition to digital was also a transition to relying less on radio, incorporating more marketing practices, and, frankly, the other big change was starting to listen to consumers. A lot of what digital has become over these years is audience development and speaking to that audience.

From March 2017 until April 2020, Ed oversaw the audience development of Sony Music Nashville artists Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Kane Brown, Luke Combs, and Maren Morris. But dont let that recent Country bent fool you  in the mid-80s, Ed had his own Metal fanzine after becoming enamored of British Heavy Metal as a teenager in Milan, Italy.

Country artists, you can walk into a studio, theyll pull out a guitar, theyll jam, and theyre ready to go. They dont need too much remixing. Over the years, and Country was no different, I wouldnt say that being a metalhead necessarily helped me work Metal records more effectively than other genres. In fact, it may have hindered, because I had more preconceptions than what I had to learn to work a Christina Aguilera record or a Whitney Houston record. Metals in a funny spot. Most vital youth music  is about music that allows kids to rebel against their parents. Metal is one of the ultimate underground anti- genres. Metal actually belongs in the underground, and only gets corrupted when it becomes very popular, as happened in the Hair Metal and Nu-Metal era. Theres a ton of great Metal out there, its just flying under the mainstream radar.

While Pop and Hip-Hop rule the day on streaming services right now, TikTok  so long as it remains available in particular markets  can potentially offer unique opportunities for more niche consumption to take hold. According to Ed, thats largely because young consumers are continuing to democratize the music industry.

Everybodys talking about TikTok these days. Consumers on TikTok  generally very young consumers  they dont know format, they dont know age. You got hits breaking out of TikTok that are 40 years old, and many more that would have never landed on a major label in the first place. Consumers are basically determining that. Some of the biggest songs that have broken out of TikTok arent in English, and theyre from different countries. These kids arent getting excited about this music based on a full song; its a 15-second clip. Sometimes its just gibberish to them  but its a great clip that they can create something to, because its all about a meme. Its meme culture at its best. Its inevitable, as formats and barriers continue to crumble, youre going to have this Western dominance in music  its going to continue to erode, and you are going to have more artists from different countries who have global success. Long-term careers are going to be tougher and tougher, short-term bursts for a lot more artists are going to be a lot more frequent. I think were seeing this globalization in effect like never before.

Listen to Country, Metal, and TikTok: Digital Trends in the Music Industry With Former Sony Music Nashville VP Ed Rivadavia on your favorite podcast listening platform here.

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Ferrari is, without a doubt putting a major focus on hybridization, and at least half of the 15 new models by 2022 will, in fact, be hybrid. However, Ferrari has now confirmed that neither the entry-level Portofino nor the Portofino-based Roma have even a chance of going hybrid. Its not a move to please purists or fans on internal combustion, either, so dont go tooting your own horn quite yet.

The Ferrari Portofino Was Never Meant for Electrification And It Will Stay That Way

In a new report published by Autocar, which cites Ferrari officials during a press event for the Roma, it has been revealed that electrification was never meant for the Portofino  primarily because of the front-engine, rear-drive coupe design. As you can imagine, adding electric motors and extra battery packs to a platform and structure not meant for electrification wouldnt be an easy task. And, since electrification for the Portofino  and consequently the Roma  wasnt on Ferraris radar at the time, the company is forced to give the Portofino hybrid and Roma hybrid a big pass.

Now, what happens after the current Roma and Portofino bid farewell is a completely different story. The Portofino, for example, delivers a cool 591 horsepower from a 3.9-liter, twin-turbo, V-8, while the Roma bumps out 612 horsepower, a figure that the Portofino may come closer to come 2021. So, neither of these models were exactly hurting for power, but the hybrid powertrain could have improved, at the very least, fuel economy.

There is a good chance, however, the Portofinos successor will, in fact, be hybridized.

Lately, a number of camouflaged Ferrari mules have been cruising around Maranello, all of which had very interesting exhaust notes. Those notes were indicative that power was coming from Ferraris upcoming hybrid V-6  the engine that will first power the mid-engined successor to the F8 Tributo. This powertrain will eventually make its way into a number of other models, but the Portofino and Roma will be left out in the cold until a successor makes its appearance. So, if youre someone who fancies the thought of pure internal combustion, well the Roma and Portofino will be there for you.

Source: Autocar
That's the reason I got behind this badge, right? Because them officers that are afraid to step up, I want to be the one to step up. If I see wrong happening, wrong is not happening in my presence.

Williams short video has garnered more than 5.4 million views on TikTok, has more than 1.6 million likes and over 46,000 comments, mostly of people commending him for speaking out about the situation.

Despite the positive feedback, Williams posted a follow-up TikTok video late last week, saying the Greensboro Police Department placed him on administrative leave over the past two months to conduct an investigation into his TikTok.

After that investigation was done, I find out today, I was relieved of my duties from that certain job, Williams said in the video. Upset, confused  I felt all emotions.

On Wednesday afternoon, police department spokesman Ron Glenn denied that Williams was fired because of speaking out about Floyd in his TikTok video.
New Delhi: Markets ended in the red zone on Thursday tracking a massive selloff in global markets.

The BSE Sensex tanked 394.40 points or 1.02 per cent to close at at 38,220.39. The broader NSE Nifty slumped 96.20 points or 0.84 per cent to 11,312.20.

Major gainers in the Sensex pack were HDFC, Axis Bank, Bharti Airtel, M&M, Titan, RIL, ICICI Bank, IndusInd Bank, Ultrachem, Kotak Bank, ITC and LT, falling upto 2.35 percent. On the other hand, shares of NTPC, ONGC, Powergrid, Tata Steel and HCL Tech closed in green rising upto 6.87 percent.

Bourses in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seoul ended with heavy losses. Stock exchanges in Europe also witnessed robust selling in early sessions. Global oil benchmark Brent crude was trading 1.06 per cent lower at USD 44.89 per barrel.

In the forex market, the rupee settled at 75.02 against the US dollar, down 20 paise over its previous close.

In the previous session on Wednesday, the BSE Sensex settled 86.47 points or 0.22 per cent higher at 38,614.79. The NSE Nifty rose 23.05 points or 0.20 per cent to 11,408.40.
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hagens Berman urges GFL Environmental Inc. (NYSE: GFL, GFLU) investors to contact the firm now. The firm is conducting a proprietary investigation into possible securities fraud.

Relevant Holding Period: Before Aug. 19, 2020

Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/GFL

Contact An Attorney Now: [email protected]

844-916-0895

GFL Environmental (GFL; GFLU) Investigation

The investigation centers on whether GFL reports its true financial condition consistent with applicable accounting rules.

More specifically, on Aug. 18, 2020, Spruce Point Capital Management published a scathing report  "Green for Life; Red for Losses." According to the report, "[a]fter conducting a forensic financial and accounting review (inc. multiple former employees interviews), Spruce Point believes shares of GFL Environmental (TSX/NYSE: GFL), a cash degenerative North American roll-up of environmental service companies, are worthless." Spruce Point's report concludes, in part, GFL understates its debt by at least C$460 million, engages in aggressive revenue and EBITDA reporting, and understates its free cash burn by about 60%. In addition, the report questions whether the company hid related-party transactions with its CEO.

This news drove the price of GFL shares sharply lower.

"We're focused on investors' losses and whether GFL's financial disclosures were sufficiently transparent so as not to mislead investors," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.

If you are a GFL investor, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding GFL should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email mailto:[email protected].

About Hagens Berman

Hagens Berman is a national law firm with nine offices in eight cities around the country and eighty attorneys. The firm represents investors, whistleblowers, workers and consumers in complex litigation. More about the firm and its successes is located at hbsslaw.com. For the latest news visit our newsroom or follow us on Twitter at @classactionlaw .

Contact:

Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895

SOURCE Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP

Related Links

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US President Donald Trump said Thursday that American troops would leave Iraq but gave no timetable for the withdrawal, as he met the country's Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi for the first time in Washington.

The meeting comes with attacks on American targets by pro-Iranian fighters on the rise and the Iraqi government facing calls to expel the roughly 5,000 US troops deployed in the country as part of anti-jihadist efforts.

"So at some point, we obviously will be gone," Trump said alongside Kadhemi at the White House, adding: "We've brought it down to a very, very low level."

"But we have been taking our troops out of Iraq fairly rapidly, and we look forward to the day when we don't have to be there. And hopefully Iraq can live their own lives and they can defend themselves," the US president said.

Trump said that military considerations were on the agenda for his meeting with Kadhemi, who took office in May.

Kadhemi said at the White House that he was "grateful" for US support in the war against the Islamic State jihadist group, which "has built our partnership for the best interests for our nation."

The US military withdrew from Iraq in late 2011, leaving a small mission attached to the US embassy.

But additional American forces were deployed to the country a few years later to support Iraqi forces in their war against IS, which carried out a devastating offensive in the summer of 2014.

Opposition to the US presence remains high among pro-Iranian politicians and their supporters, especially following the US assassination of top Iranian commander General Qasem Soleimani at the beginning of this year in a strike that also killed Iraqi paramilitary leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Kadhemi told journalists in Washington that while the war against IS has ended, there is still a threat from sleeper cells.

On the issue of US troops, Kadhemi said: "We definitely do not need combat troops in Iraq, but we do need training and capacity building and security cooperation."

Story continues

A senior US administration official, who spoke Wednesday on the condition of anonymity, said that little about the American drawdown is certain at this point.

- Increase in attacks -

"There are no hard fast timelines, and there are no hard fast numbers but that certainly would be part of the discussion, as we evaluate what Iraq security requirements are, and what the United States believes it can do."

The official also described "armed groups" as "a persistent problem that challenges Iraqi security, has threatened US forces' interests in the region, and certainly it's a challenge to Iraq sovereignty."

Kadhemi said on Thursday that US officials "expressed some concerns about certain groups that operate in Iraq," later adding: "Any weapons outside the framework of the state will not be permitted."

The Iraqi premier faces challenges from factions of the Hashed al-Shaabi, a coalition of Iraqi Shiite paramilitary groups with close ties to Iran whose political representatives have called for American troops to go.

The Hashed denies any connection to a recent spate of anti-US attacks, but videos and claims on social media hint at its involvement, through groups operating under other names.

Kadhemi has angered armed groups by seizing border posts where they ran lucrative smuggling networks and imposed taxes on traders.

Attacks have risen in recent weeks, with the Iraqi army reporting another rocket attack on Tuesday evening targeting Baghdad airport, where US troops are based. The projectile did not cause damage or casualties, the army said.

From October to the end of July, Iraqi armed factions carried out 39 rocket attacks against American interests in the country.

But after the White House earlier this month confirmed that Trump would meet Kadhemi, the pace intensified.

Between August 4 and 18, 14 bomb and rocket attacks targeted Iraqi logistics convoys for the US military, bases housing US soldiers and the US embassy.

While the impact has been limited, the attacks have served as a show of strength.

wd/mdl
A colonel in Malis army has said he is now in charge of the West African country, declaring himself chairman of the junta that forced the democratically elected but unpopular president to resign.

Colonel Assimi Goita, one of the five military officers who announced this weeks coup on the state broadcaster ORTM, declared himself chairman of the junta now in power.

By making this intervention (the coup), we have put Mali first, Col Goita said in a broadcast that showed him meeting with the top officials of government ministries and urging them to resume work on Thursday.

Mali is in a sociopolitical and security crisis, he said.

Expand Close A spokesman for the soldiers identifying themselves as the National Committee for the Salvation of the People holds a press conference at Camp Soudiata in Kati (AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp A spokesman for the soldiers identifying themselves as the National Committee for the Salvation of the People holds a press conference at Camp Soudiata in Kati (AP)

There is no more room for mistakes.

Across Africa and around the world, leaders have strongly condemned this weeks coup, calling for an immediate return to civilian rule and the release of ex-president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and his prime minister Boubou Cisse.

The two leaders were detained by mutinous soldiers on Tuesday after they surrounded the presidents private residence in Bamako and fired shots into the air.

Under duress, Mr Keita later announced his resignation on state television, saying he did not want any blood to be shed to keep him in power.

Observers fear the political upheaval will allow Islamic extremists in Mali to expand their reach.

A power vacuum after a previous coup in 2012 allowed al Qaida-linked militants to take over major towns in northern Mali where they implemented their strict interpretation of Islamic law.

Former coloniser France, which maintains strong economic and political ties to Mali, later led a military intervention to oust them from power in 2013.

But those jihadists have since regrouped and launched relentless attacks on the Malian military, as well as UN peacekeepers and regional forces trying to stabilise the volatile country.

Expand Close Ibrahim Boubacar Keita appears on state television to announce his resignation on Tuesday (ORTM TV via AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Ibrahim Boubacar Keita appears on state television to announce his resignation on Tuesday (ORTM TV via AP)

The extremists have moved southward, inflaming tensions between ethnic groups in central Mali.

Col Goita, the new strongman, had been head of a special military unit based in central Mali.

He had also taken part in the annual Flintlock training organised by the US military to help Mali and other Sahel countries better fight extremists.

Mr 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 re-election five years later, but his political fortunes have tumbled in the past year.

While Malis Islamic insurgency started before Mr 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 have dramatically increased over the past year.

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Whatsapp People cheer as security forces and others drive through the streets of the capital Bamako (AP)

Opposition to Mr Keitas government rose further after legislative elections earlier this year that dozens of candidates disputed.

In a conciliatory gesture, Mr 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 ousting.

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.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 20, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan chaired on August 20 a consultation regarding the ongoing police reforms. The agenda of launching the new patrol service of the Armenian police force was discussed, the Prime Ministers Office said.

Minister of Justice Rustam Badasyan presented details on the process, namely the admission of applications from citizens willing to serve in the new department, the procurement of police cruisers and other technical equipment, the selection of trainers who will work with the cadets, etc.

Selected applicants will start training at the Police Academy mid-October, 2020.

Badasyan said the patrol service will be commissioned in Q1 2021 in Yerevan, and will further expand nationwide from Q1 2022.

The new patrol service is expected to comprise highly trained officers with new equipment, new skills and new mentality.

The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of the new patrol services development and accomplishment in Armenia and tasked the authorities to continue active works in accordance to the outlined timeframes.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Like every vice-presidential candidate, Kamala Harris will be judged in the coming weeks in a multitude of ways: Her ability as a campaigner, and her skill at drawing in Trump, debating Mike Pence and exciting turnout among voters etc

Kamala Harris stands before the Democratic Party as the bridge between a moderate generation of leaders and younger liberals on the rise, balancing the obligations of promoting Joe Biden while offering herself to someday lead the party into a post-Biden era.

Pressures, hopes, aspirations  this was the burden on Harris at the Democratic convention Wednesday, as she sought to introduce herself to a nation and a party that really barely knows her. But this is also the burden that will be on her for the next four years if she and Biden win in November.

Rarely has a vice-presidential candidate served under a presidential nominee who well may not seek a second term. As a result, Harris carries an extraordinary weight of expectations from her party to rise to the demands of leadership.

Thats a lot to put on the shoulders of a person, said Tim Kaine, the Virginia senator who was the vice-presidential candidate for Hillary Clinton in 2016. In the tumultuous tent that is the ever-changing Democratic Party, he said, there was no one person Biden could have chosen who would appeal to everyone.

Theres no way that youre going to get, in this broad family, like everybody like, Oh, you were my first pick, he said, even as he spoke enthusiastically about Harris.

If anything, the first two days of the convention were about the party trying to paper over any kinds of disagreements, aiming to present a united front of moderates and progressives, as well as some Republicans and democratic socialists. With elaborate videos and stage-managed speeches, Democrats showcased diversity  racial, gender, age  while nominating a 77-year-old White grandfather from Delaware as their standard-bearer. Party leaders gave small slots to liberals, though barely gave a platform to their policy goals like Medicare for All.

For the time being, the partys desire to beat President Donald Trump overrides all over factors. But if the Democrats succeed, Trump will be gone, and the challenge of satisfying the many constituent parts of the Democratic Party will become only more difficult for Harris, the figure who is supposed to be that bridge for generations and the face of the partys future.

Like every vice-presidential candidate, Harris will be judged in the coming weeks in a multitude of ways: Her ability as a campaigner, and her skill at drawing in Trump, debating Mike Pence and exciting turnout among voters  particularly younger voters and progressives  who might not be overly enthusiastic about turning out in a pandemic to support Biden.

But as a woman of colour seeking an office held only by White men so far, she may also be judged by some in ways that reflect deep-seated biases that remain strong in segments of the country. Harris, in remarks prepared for delivery at the convention, took this subject on directly for her Democratic audience, and it is probably not the last time she will need to address it in the months ahead.

We must elect a president who will bring something different, something better, and do the important work, she planned to say. A president who will bring all of us together  Black, White, Latino, Asian, Indigenous  to achieve the future we collectively want. We must elect Joe Biden.

She now faces some daunting tests as she steps into the biggest spotlight of her career at a pivotal moment for the nation and her party.

Can Harris, a former prosecutor and relatively moderate Democrat, navigate the complex political terrain marked by a rapid transformation in ideology, powered by the rise on the Left, and on the verge of a generational handoff?

Given Bidens age, does the first-term Democratic senator from California, whose career in public service began 16 years ago as the San Francisco district attorney, seem prepared to step into the Oval Office should that be necessary?

She would be the first Black woman and first person of Indian descent to ever serve as vice-president, and the power of such a historically symbolic choice was evident in the excitement that greeted her selection and has coursed through this convention (albeit virtually). After a primary that was dominated by two White men and one White woman, all over 70 years old, the election of a 55-year-old woman of colour signalled that the Democratic Partys leadership is catching up with the demographic changes that have swept the country.

She has shown herself to be a fierce debater and sharp speaker during her short-lived campaign for president and, even more, as a member of the Judiciary Committee questioning Attorney-General William Barr. There is little doubt in Democratic circles that she will live up to the tradition of vice-presidential candidates wielding the sword against the other side.

Trumps failure of leadership has cost lives and livelihoods, she planned to say. The constant chaos leaves us adrift. The incompetence makes us feel afraid. The callousness makes us feel alone. Its a lot.

But even the toughest campaign in California doesnt approach what its like battling on a national stage, particularly in a nation as polarised as this one, and particularly in the age of Trump. She has had competitive contests in California, but her presidential campaign collapsed early, beset by infighting and a lack of clear message from its candidate.

Patti Solis Doyle, who served as a campaign manager for Clintons 2008 presidential run, pointed to the surge of contributions that followed Harris announcement  $48 million in 48 hours  as a sign of the enthusiasm she infused into the presidential race, and evidence of what she brought to the ticket.

Its fair to say shes really energised the race, the ticket, and people  voters, Democrats  are excited at the prospect of the first African-American woman, the first American-Indian woman on a national ticket, said Solis Doyle of Harris, who is the daughter of immigrants from India and Jamaica.

Kaine said Harris could help the ticket expand its generational appeal, engaging Americans who feel its time for a new guard even as some older voters have indicated that they are comfortable with Bidens centrist views and promises to restore civility and stability to government.

Theres a segment of the Democratic vote, not all of this, but a segment that may be a little bit older that just wants competence and character and kind of old-time virtues to come back into the Oval Office, he said. You also want to have some excitement and energy. And Kamala really brings that.

But her bigger challenge  for Harris as a candidate, potential vice president and future party leader  is how she responds to the rising influence of the left wing of the party. Biden won the Democratic primary on his strengths with Black voters, older voters across the board and White suburbanites, but younger and more liberal voters overall were sceptical of his Centre-Left instincts and embrace of bipartisanship, of which they were reminded of with the awarding of prime speaking spots Monday and Tuesday to Republicans backing Biden.

And while Harris, as a product of California, is more fluent in the language of the Left than Biden, her selection did not reassure many liberal Democrats, wary of her record on criminal justice and policing issues.

Shes the choice of the party establishment to be the standard-bearer, but shes not the choice of the partys base, especially the next generation of Democrats, said Waleed Shahid, a spokesman for the prominent progressive organisation Justice Democrats. He praised her record on climate issues but said he was concerned that she had not denounced economic inequality and oligarchy with the vigour of Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont or another liberal candidate in the primary, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, one of the most prominent leaders of the progressive wing, never mentioned Biden or Harris when she spoke for 90 seconds nominating Sanders on Tuesday night.

That dissent has been largely submerged during this convention, testimony to the partys hunger to defeat Trump. But that will change if the Democrats win. Harris will need to finesse this divide or risk a primary from the Left should the time come when she is the one running for president.

The key issues for progressives are Medicare for All, a wealth tax, a commitment to free college tuition, said California Representative Ro Khanna, a leader of the Sanders campaign. The best way to win over progressives is to take bold positions on policy. Progressives, my experience, they are not as interested in the theatre of politics.

Varshini Prakash, the executive director of the Sunrise Movement, a youth-led group of climate activists, said Harris nomination was a historic moment that excited Democrats across generational and ideological spectra.

I think Harris could represent one way in which the future of the Democratic Party is headed, she said. But the Democratic Party has far more ideological diversity that goes beyond the Harris ticket.

Harris does not appear to have any such doubts. She has been elevated by Biden to national stature, embraced by many in the party, and celebrated at a convention. Things will surely get more difficult in the weeks and, should she win, the years ahead. But for now, addressing Democrats with a message about unity and the future in the midst of a pandemic, presenting herself as a new leader of the party to a nation facing an unnerving future, this was Kamala Harris moment.

Adam Nagourney and Katie Glueck c.2020 The New York Times Company
Cabinet has excluded members of the security forces from the unification of pensions regime thus keeping them on their old pension programmes, Mr Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, the Minister of Information, has said.



Accra, Aug. 20, GNA  Cabinet has excluded members of the security forces from the unification of pensions regime thus keeping them on their old pension programmes, Mr Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, the Minister of Information, has said.



He said the security services would therefore not be subjected or included in the programme to unify pensions; they would instead remain on their already existing pension programmes like the CAP 30 (Chapter 30 of the 1950 British Colonial Ordinances or Pension Ordinance No. 42) and the other pension programmes.



He said Cabinet at its 81st meeting held on Monday,17 August 2020, discussed a report on the unification of multiple public sector pension schemes as approved by the national pensions Act 766 and in particular its implication on the security services.



Mr Oppong-Nkrumah made the disclosure on Thursday in Accra, during the meet the press series to give an update on the COVID-19 pandemic.



He said the report apprised Cabinet of the progress towards the implementation of policy approved by Cabinet on the unification of multiple public sector pension schemes.



Cabinet considered the recommendations of the reports seeking two actions for the completion of the unification process; firstly, the exclusion of the security services; that is the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Immigration Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, the prison service as we as other security and intelligence agencies.



And the amendment of Act 766 to exclude the security services from the unification of pensions.



Cabinet granted approval for the above actions and directed the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations to commence processes to have the law amended to reflect this decision, Mr Oppong-Nkrumah stated.

Source: GNA









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Bryce Hall, left, attends Beautycon Festival Los Angeles 2019. (Araya Diaz / Getty Images for Beautycon)

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti ordered the power cut at a swanky Hollywood Hills residence that police say held parties in violation of public health orders aimed at slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus and is the home of several TikTok stars, including Bryce Hall.

The house on Appian Way was the site of at least two large gatherings in recent weeks, police said.

Garcetti, who had threatened to cut off power and water to homes that defy rules about large gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic, made the announcement Wednesday. His statement didn't include the address or details about its residents.

"With more than 2,000 Angelenos  and over 170,000 Americans  lost to COVID-19, we need every resident to undertake critical safeguards to stop the spread of this virus. That includes not hosting or attending parties that put themselves, their neighbors and many others at risk," Garcetti said.

Exterior of a party house in Hollywood Hills that was targeted by Mayor Eric Garcetti. (Kevin Rector / Los Angeles Times)

A phone call to a woman who helps manage the property, according to local residents, wasn't immediately returned Wednesday.

Social media stars living together in upscale Los Angeles homes and documenting their lives on TikTok have become a trend, with this most recent group involving Hall calling themselves the "Sway House." The group also held a party Friday night in Encino that drew police, a source said.

Police had twice visited the Hollywood Hills residence, first on Aug. 8 and then on Aug. 14 after complaints of noise, according to the mayor's statement.

A spokeswoman for Sway House declined to comment.

Hall, who has 12.9 million TikTok followers, released a video Wednesday showing him dancing, along with another young man, to the song "Electric Love."

"We will restore utilities when the order is made to do so," Department of Water and Power spokesman Joe Ramallo said.

Rob Wilcox, a spokesman for City Atty. Mike Feuer, said the office has received a criminal investigation and is reviewing whether to charge the owner of the Appian Way party house. The home is owned by Frangipani Properties, according to public records.

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Under the mayors directive, police officers who respond to a large party at a property can request the utilities be cut within 48 hours. Homes where parties regularly occur are the target.

Officials said this week that the city is considering cutting power to at least two other houses for violating coronavirus-related rules against social gatherings, according to police and city officials. Gatherings of any size of people from different households are prohibited under Los Angeles Countys coronavirus health order.

Los Angeles police officers issued citations for noisy gatherings at 13 homes last weekend, warning the hosts that they could have their utilities cut if they continued to hold parties.

Philip Enderwood, a member of the Bel Air-Beverly Crest Neighborhood Council, said the crackdown sends a message to scofflaws. Although this is a win for the residents nearby, continued enforcement of the mayor's directive in hillside communities will be a challenge, he said.

The rise in influencer houses comes amid reports of house parties at which revelers shrug off concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic and ignore warnings from public health officials that gatherings help spread the virus through the community.

Times staff writers Wendy Lee and Kevin Rector contributed to this report.
Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris thanked the women who helped her become the first Black American to fight for the post of US vice president in the upcoming November elections.

While accepting the nomination at the virtual Democratic National Convention held in Wilmington, Delaware, Kamala Harris thanked her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, for instilling values that would chart the course of her and her sister Maya Harris life.

In a tweet, she shared pictures of her childhood with her mother and said that she not only taught to put her family first but also think about the world.

My mother instilled in my sister, Maya, and me the values that would chart the course of our lives.



She taught us to put family firstthe family youre born into and the family you choosebut to also see a world beyond ourselves. #DemConvention pic.twitter.com/xU61nLrUXx  Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 20, 2020

Harris recounted how her parents met in Oakland during the civil rights movement and said she was a witness to the sufferings of the marginalised sections of the United States. She reflected how Shyamala, a single-mother, raised her and sister Maya, and how she made it look easy despite the hardships.

Harris said, She packed lunches before we woke up and paid bills after we went to bed. She worked round the clock to make it work.

She raised us to become proud strong Black women and raised us to know and be proud of our Indian heritage, Harris added.

While addressing the DNC, Harris remembered the sacrifices and contributions made by the likes of Mary Church Terrell, Mary Mcleod Bethune, Fannie Lou Hamer, Constance Baker Motley and Diane Nash to the civil rights movement in the US.

She said that these women not only paved the way for her but were also responsible for paving the way for former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Harris said, Were not often told their stories but as Americans we always stand on their shoulders.

Harris will fight against US vice president Mike Pence on November 3 alongside former Delaware senator and former US vice president Joe Biden.

She has been very vocal about Trumps policies and said that the current president has caused loss of life and livelihoods under his governance.
In a bid to monitor the movement of the Indian Army, China has upgraded its surveillance system as it realised, after the violent clashes along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Galwan Valley of eastern Ladakh, that the strength of India shouldn't be underestimated. Amid its border tension with India, China has increased its surveillance on the central sector of the Indian Army, according to intelligence report on Thursday.

The border tension between India and China escalated on June 15 when 20 Indian Army personnel were martyred after violent clashes with Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Galwan Valley of eastern Ladakh.

China has upgraded its surveillance system on the other side of Tun-Jun-La near Barahoti in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district. India's border is till Tun-jun-la, three kilometres ahead of Barahoti. During the current tensions between India and China, China upgraded its surveillance devices across the LAC.

According to the report, China has installed two cameras rotating up to 180 degrees near the LAC. It has also installed several kinds of poles in that area. China has also built a large solar panel and a windmill in the area.

A small hut has been built in the area where different types of construction materials have also been kept, including surveillance. A surveillance system was installed in Tun Jun La (Barahoti) in September 2019 which was upgraded in June. This system and camera have been positioned in such a way that the PLA of China can keep an eye on the entire area of Barahoti.

Meanwhile, India is working on making a new road from Manali to Leh, which will provide the third link between the high altitude mountainous Union Territory (UT) and the rest of the country, in an effort to rush troops and tanks to the Pakistan and China front in Ladakh without being observed by the enemy, according to news agency PTI.

India is also working on providing alternative connectivity to the strategically important Sub-Sector North including the Daulat Beg Oldi and other areas there for the last three years and work has already started from the world`s highest motorable road Khardung La pass.

"Agencies are working to provide alternative connectivity from Manali to Leh through Nimu-Padam-Darcha axis which will help in saving a lot of time in comparison with the existing routes passing through Zojila pass from Srinagar and the other route from Manali to Leh through Sarchu," government sources told PTI.

The road will save almost three to four hours journey time while travelling from Manali to Leh and will also not leave any scope for the Pakistanis or other adversaries to monitor the movement of the Indian Army while deploying troops and heavy weaponry like tanks and artillery guns to the Ladakh area from other locations, they said.

The route mainly used for transportation of goods and men is the one from Zojila, which passes through Drass-Kargil axis to Leh. The same route was targeted heavily by the Pakistanis during the Kargil war in 1999 and was subjected to frequent bombarding and shelling by their troops from positions in high altitude mountains alongside the road.

Sources said the work has already started on this project and the new road will connect Manali with Leh near Nimu where Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently visited during the ongoing conflict with China.

Likewise, to provide alternatives to the strategic Durbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldi road, India is working on further developing the old summer route on which caravans used to reach eastern Ladakh areas from the western side.

The new road will travel from Leh towards Khardungla and then move through glaciers including the Sasoma-Saser La-Shyok and Daulat Beg Oldi axis.

Senior sources said that the 14 Corps was given the responsibility of finding an alternative to the DSDBO road and check the road coming from near the Siachen camp towards the DBO area, and one unit was sent through there on a trial basis.

The Army unit travelled from Sasoma to Saser La in vehicles and the rest of the area on foot, on the route which is full of bones of double-humped camels which were used to ferry cargo, through the very rough Shyok river during the summers. The new route was earlier used by the Army also to maintain the Sub Sector North.
Over the years, Ive fallen in and out of love with the idea of digital citizenship. For me, the term still evokes the promise of empowered, online civic action. But so often, in practice, whats implemented in our schools as digital-citizenship education is watered down to a list of dos and donts for young people that is hyperfocused on etiquette, warnings about stranger danger, and the need to be kind online.

This certainly proved true this spring, in the transition to emergency remote education. I started seeing infographics describing how students might demonstrate digital citizenship in Zoom class meetings. Tips included turning their cameras on, making eye contact, and not eating during the meeting.

I, like so many educators and other professionals, practically lived on video-conferencing platforms this spring. And I didnt follow those rules. I dont always keep my camera on (hello, schoolwide faculty meetings!) and I certainly do sometimes have a bite to eat during a meeting, especially on those back-to-back-to-back Zoom days. But I still contributed meaningfully to those spaces.

If those dos and donts dont even accurately describe professional online etiquette, why are we holding them up as a model for students to emulate as if thats what good digital citizenship looks like?

This is just one example of a larger pattern: Digital-citizenship conversations tend to focus almost exclusively on establishing appropriate user behavior. The problem is that this framing papers over the actual challenges of participating in online spaces. In 2020amid the ongoing debate over content-moderation policies, distrust of expertise, conspiracy theorizing, growing attention on algorithmic bias, and radicalization by digitally savvy far-right communitiesour problems online arent just the result of users not being polite enough to each other.

We need to move beyond a moralizing digital-citizenship education and toward an ecologically-minded one."

In fact, many examples from the last several months have demonstrated the true complexities of participating online as digital citizens. An early spate of Zoombombing (in some instances, horrifically offensive and potentially traumatic) focused our attention on technical security failures and the need for informed user controls. Students of color have exposed their experiences of racism at private high schools via anonymous social-media sharing, spurring difficult conversations on campuses. Facebook and YouTube claim theyre taking swift action against false information about COVID-19, but networked misinformation campaigns have successfully sidestepped these policies to spread harmful medical advice and sow the seeds of distrust of a future vaccine.

Young Black creators who are turning to TikTok to share content in support of Black Lives Matter not only suspected the platform of suppressing their activist content but also faced racist feedback from other users. (The future of TikTok for American teenagers has grown even more complicated in recent weeks, as President Donald Trump ordered a ban on the app beginning in Septemberif the inevitable legal challenges from the company fail.)

Weve seen online organizing co-opted, in one instance by gun-advocacy and -lobbying groups to appear like a grassroots reopen the economy movement. In another instance, K-pop fans and TikTok users took credit for the low attendance at Trumps Tulsa rally in June, after reportedly coordinating to reserve thousands of tickets under fake names. And amid all of this, sudden remote learning has highlighted inequalities in home internet access .

The dominant messages of digital-citizenship education repeated year after yearbe kind, THINK before you post, beware of strangers, and, now, dont eat on camerado not prepare students to grapple with the type of participation that these examples illustrate. In fact, they miss the point entirely.

How, then, might we redefine digital-citizenship education to meet this moment?

The key might be in where we put our emphasis. In her book Disconnected: Youth, New Media, and the Ethics Gap , sociologist Carrie James draws a distinction between moral and ethical thinking: While moral thinking considers those close to us, ethical thinking demands the capacity to look beyond ones own interests, feelings, and empathy for close relations in order to make decisions that are in the interests of a larger group, public, or society.

The dilemmas users encounter online require this more abstract ethical thinking, yet popular digital-citizenship messaging focuses almost entirely on moral thinking.

The problem is that doing so trains students digital senses to only notice the intentional, immediate, or known impact of their choices. In reality, we may never know the impact of our actions online; we may never see where our content travels or understand how that meme we shared has been weaponized by others to target communities we arent a part of.

Ecological metaphors may better describe the digital landscape. Our network connections are as dense and robust as redwood root systems, writes communications professor Whitney Phillips . So, in addition to everyday best practices, we must also critically reflect on why the forest looks the way it does, how it was allowedindeed, how it was encouragedto become so polluted, and when these particular trails were blazed, by whom, and at whose expense.

To meet the needs of 2020, we need to move beyond a moralizing digital-citizenship education and toward an ecologically-minded one, one that not only asks students to deeply consider the many and varied implications of their own actions but also how the digital tools and platforms we use create an environment that encourages or discourages truly ethical and equitable participation. In other words, digital citizens must learn to not only be concerned with their own individual actions but also in how these actions fit together and interact within the larger ecosystem. Which means they also need to understand how that ecosystem works .

Of course, that is a more complicated conversation to have. But without this understanding of digital citizenship education, we are not preparing young people to navigate our increasingly digitally-mediated world.

The first step is simple: Lets stop calling conversations about etiquette and appropriate behavior digital citizenship, because its not.

True digital citizenship must be developmentally scaffolded and dynamic because the environment online is ever-changing. It will also necessitate an interdisciplinary approach, as we help students participate in an information-abundant, data-rich, historically situated, creative, and emotionally challenging digital ecosystem.

It isnt good enough to be simply well-intentioned within systems built on injustice and inequity. The same is true of our participation online. We can develop a digital-citizenship education that helps us face the limitations of good intentions and asks students to co-create a more ethical and just digital world.
20.08.2020 LISTEN

The challenges of gender inequality in Somalia has been raising on for decades, as the modern society has redefined the role of a woman, which is vastly different from what its used to be in the traditional society. However, patriarchy and gender inequality is always a touchy topic when it comes to Somalia because it is largely influenced by religious beliefs and the culture. In many Parts of Somalia, Women are still largely considered to be lowly to men, as women are only seen fit to be home keepers and child bearers.

Causes of gender inequality in Somalia

A. Improper Education

Knowledge is power. It might not be a strong point, but this is pointing more towards some parts of Somalia that are rejecting western views on women, to stick to cultural ones. Education is nothing if you leave all you learn in school and still behave like a savage when you get back home. In other words, it must be obvious that you are educated. There are two ways to this, a community thats poorly educated can never know the worth of women and a woman that is not educated cannot know her rights. It has also been noticed that parents dont usually encourage the education of their female children because they believe it will be of no benefit to them, as any money or success she earns in the future, due to her education, will be of her husbands, not theirs.

B. Tradition and Culture

Tradition is said to be the custom of a particular society, while culture is simply the way of life. Tradition and Culture do not allow women become a ruler among the ethnic groups. In fact, it is deemed an abomination in almost every tribal group. Thus, the typical cultural dogma has plagued many thrones and political seats in Somalia.

C. Mentality

Its hard to keep mentality as a standalone point, as it is largely influenced by culture and tradition. However, if you look at it from a subjectively, from a womans view, it stands alone. The reason that many women are not ambitious is that they believe top positions are meant for men. Even some ladies complain about having a female boss simply because they are used to having a male boss. It almost seems clandestine for women to want to occupy a political position or the hot sit in a company. Such a mentality is usually created and forged by a womans immediate environment.

D. Religion

Its obvious that religion is one of the top contributors to gender inequality in the world. Some religions or religious practices restrict the role of women to just domestic roles, making it impossible for them to even think about holding a political post. However, according to Islam women are not considered inferior to men. Men and women have similar rights and in some areas women actually enjoy certain privileges that the men do not. In terms of property, leadership and trqde women have been given rights and in fact at each turn they have been considered and provided for as appropriate. It is true to say that Islam gave women rights which are unparalleled in the history of women.

Allah has declared in the Holy Quran that He has created men and women as equal beings.

"He has created you from a single being;then from that He made its mate . ( Ch 39:V.7 )

Consider, for example, Aisha bint Abu Bakr who was a female scholar of great eminence and a voice of authority in Islamic jurisprudence almost 1500 years ago. By way of background, Aisha was the daughter of Abu Bakr, one of the Prophet Muhammads closest companions, one of the first converts to Islam and the first to assume leadership as Caliph over the Muslim community following the Prophet Muhammads death.

Now consider this: Prophet Muhammad fostered Aishas education and nurtured her intellectual pursuits. She was considered more knowledgeable than most of her male contemporaries in matters related to Quranic interpretation, poetry, medicine and history and men and women alike studied under her instruction. Aisha also rendered legal decisions (fatwa) and delivered speeches publically, powerfully and eloquently.

During the Prophet Muhammads lifetime, Aisha participated in the early battles fought by the new Muslim converts against the Arab pagans who persecuted members of the fledgling faith community. During the Battle of Uhud, for example, she distributed water bags to the Muslim combatants on the battlefield.Following the Prophet Muhammads death, Aishas role became increasingly important. When the third Caliph Othman ibn Affan was assassinated, the Muslim communitys underlying political system was jeopardized by internal division and conflict. Aisha raised a leading and quite public voice against Ali, the fourth Caliph, in 656 CE. She delivered a public address at a mosque located in Mecca where she swore to avenge the murdered Caliphs death. As a result, she garnered the support of many Muslims across Arabia, and eventually led an army into the Battle of the Camel. The speeches she delivered during the battle were noted for their force and candor.

In point of fact, Aishas life represents a powerful model for Muslim womens excellence in scholarship, political engagement and even military leadership. She excelled in public speaking, commanded an army on the battlefield and instructed both men and women in Islamic jurisprudence.

For those Somalis weary of Western feminism and where Islam continues to hold political, social and religious currency in the society, Aishas standard provides a culturally authentic paradigm for Muslim women seeking a leading role in the political, judicial or religious spheres. Her standing as the Prophet Muhammads beloved wife and the daughter of the first Caliph is incontrovertible among Sunni adherents as is her predominant role in government, academia and the law.

As noted above, such Islamic model can serve as powerful, culturally authentic tools in advancing the human rights agenda towards increased female empowerment in the political, social and economic spheres within Somali society.

Equality between Men and Women Ensures a Prosperous Somalia.

Equality between men and women is one of the core values of the Somali constitution. This value has been enshrined in Somali legal and political frameworks. Based on the constitution, Somali government is committed to breaking the vicious cycle of gender discrimination through developing gender responsive polices in different sectors.the government has taken different measures and a range of activities aimed at empowering girls and women, protecting their rights, transforming their lives and strengthening their voices as drivers of sustainable development.

The government wants to take further measures to ensure empowerment of A women. However, if the government is really determined to support women, it shall focus on young women as its central theme, and more particularly harnessing the potential of Somali youth. This also requires the government to reinforce the capacity of the youth.

The international community has commended the Government in its effort to promote gender parity with its women political participation policy . It aims to provide women 30% seats in parliament. However to build a just society devoid of discrimination, harness the full potentials of all social groups regardless of sex or circumstances, there still remains significant gaps in education and economic empowerment.

Somali women face numerous challenges to enjoy equality. Ensuring gender equality requires both the government and society to take bold and practical steps to curb gender discrimination. Somali government not only shall develop pro gender equality policies and laws but it shall put them in place. At the same time, Somali society shall dare to embrace the modern values and principles in terms of gender issues in the country. Reaching social equality is hard, but not impossible.
Ethan Hawke in the movie "Tesla." (IFC Films)

The Los Angeles Times is committed to reviewing new theatrical film releases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because moviegoing carries inherent risks during this time, we remind readers to follow health and safety guidelines as outlined by the CDC and local health officials. We will continue to note the various ways readers can see each new film, including drive-in theaters in the Southland and VOD/streaming options when available.

The past few years have brought a fresh resurgence of interest in the life and legacy of Nikola Tesla, the popularity of an Elon Musk electric car being only the best-known example. You can find Teslas tall, dark-suited frame and mustachioed frown in graphic novels and video games; you can hear his innovations extolled in the lyrics of rock songs and even a 2018 stage musical.

The movies have done their part to exploit his considerable mystique without necessarily drawing him in from the sidelines: David Bowie played him as the drollest of enigmas in The Prestige (2006), and Nicholas Hoult gave us a peek at Tesla the wily young upstart in the more recent The Current War. You could say that history itself consigned Tesla to a subordinate role, that of the tragically thwarted genius  remembered as much for his lopsided rivalry with Thomas Edison and his ill-fated dealings with various titans of industry as for his groundbreaking advances in the study of electrical power and wireless communications.

In their quietly entrancing new drama, Tesla, writer-director Michael Almereyda and his star, Ethan Hawke, have conspired to give this Serbian-born, American-made visionary his cinematic due. Their aim, superficially stated, is to illuminate how a turn-of-the-century iconoclast managed to anticipate and revolutionize a future that few of his contemporaries saw coming. But Almereyda, never one to embalm unconventional minds in conventional storytelling, has no interest in a mere recitation of his subjects accomplishments. As in Experimenter, his aptly titled, thrillingly unorthodox portrait of the social psychologist Stanley Milgram, he infuses classical narrative with an invigorating formal playfulness.

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Ethan Hawke in the movie "Tesla." (IFC Films)

If Tesla emerges a remarkably intuitive match of filmmaker, actor and subject, it is one that took its time coming together. Almereyda wrote the script decades ago (Polish filmmaker Jerzy Skolimowski was eyeing it in the early 80s), though it wasnt until recently that the stars aligned and the financing was acquired. There is nothing new about the challenges of bankrolling an intelligent drama for discerning adults, or about the oversights of a film industry where potentially great projects can languish for years. But they are especially worth noting in the case of Tesla, which is, in more than one sense, a movie about the uneven distribution of power. Its the story of a stubborn, uncompromising genius in conflict with a series of dubious benefactors, many of whom want to funnel his gifts into more conventional and lucrative forms.

Almereyda doesnt belabor the metaphor, and he probably would be the last person to describe himself as any kind of visionary. But it is hard to shake the sense that he and Hawke, who starred in his offbeat Shakespeare adaptations Hamlet and Cymbeline, have forged a kinship with their subject that goes beyond mere empathy. It is also hard not to view Tesla as the latest of Almereydas movies  including Experimenter and his melancholy futuristic drama Marjorie Prime  to explore the intrinsic connections between science and filmmaking, to treat the cinematic medium as a rich amalgam of the rational and the poetic.

It begins with Hawkes Tesla stumbling around a courtyard on roller skates, then a fairly recent invention  a funny, gently disorienting image of a wildly adventurous mind, forever chasing after new concepts and experiences while often struggling to master its environs. He is accompanied by his friend Anne Morgan (Eve Hewson), a superior skater and the movies shrewdly counterintuitive choice of narrator. Providing a rare woman's voice in a story dominated by the whims and aspirations of men, she adroitly navigates this story from one funny-sad vignette to the next while providing her own crucial perspective on Tesla, one that is by turns appreciative of his genius and critical of his shortcomings.

Kyle MacLachlan in the movie "Tesla." (IFC Films)

On occasion, Anne will neatly demolish the fourth wall by whipping out a MacBook and running a Google Image search on some of the movies real-life figures  including her wealthy father, banker J.P. Morgan (Donnie Keshawarz)  a nifty fact-checking gag that also ties Teslas moment to our technologically advanced present. Sometimes Anne informs us that something weve just witnessed didnt actually happen, just in case you were confused by that scene of Tesla and Edison (Kyle MacLachlan) attacking each other with ice cream cones  a deft, ego-deflating visualization of the rivalry that develops after Tesla asks the veteran inventor to finance his new project.

Since that project is a motor that makes use of alternate current, a more elegant and efficient means of harnessing power than Edisons direct-current methods, no such support is forthcoming. But if the movies Edison is arrogant, thin-skinned and easily threatened, MacLachlans witty, sympathetic performance resists the yoke of easy villainy. (Its an inspired reunion too: MacLachlan played Claudius to Hawkes Hamlet.) A similar emotional generosity informs Jim Gaffigans big-hearted turn as engineer and entrepreneur George Westinghouse, who supports Tesla and makes his AC innovations a force to be reckoned with  at least until the company faces bankruptcy and the two are forced to part ways.

Eve Hewson, right, in the movie "Tesla." (IFC Films)

Much of this narrative ground was covered in the 1980 Polish film The Secret of Nikola Tesla, a creakily effective dramatization best remembered for Orson Welles commanding turn as J.P. Morgan. But the two movies could hardly be more different in style and sensibility. For all its arch devices and anachronisms, including a wonderfully straight-faced, go-for-broke cover of a 1980s pop hit, the effect of Almereydas Tesla is hypnotic. Carl Spragues production design has a quasi-Brechtian spareness; the very air seems charged with a strange and lyrical intensity (deepened by John Paesanos delicately layered score). Cinematographer Sean Price Williams draws us into a world of dark shadows and richly burnished lighting, cast by candles as well as electric bulbs: We are reminded that this seemingly distant, technologically primitive moment was also a time of extraordinary, world-altering flux.

Tesla is an observer, agent and sometimes victim of that flux: His grand visions are the definition of "ahead of their time," at times leading him into eyebrow-raising realms of study. And Hawke, without exaggerating or diluting Teslas eccentricity, distills the characters strange, sometimes contradictory essence. He is a man apparently without greed who acquired enormous sums and lost them, a thinker who boldly reimagined the parameters of the possible but was ultimately stymied by those very boundaries. What comes through most in Hawkes brilliantly internalized performance is Teslas intense commitment to his work, as well as his weariness about having to continually explain and defend it to men of deeper pockets and lesser minds. The progress of human civilization can be infuriatingly banal, which doesnt mean our biopics have to be.
Airbnb is banning house parties worldwide as it tries to clean up its reputation and comply with coronavirus-related limits on gatherings.

The San Francisco home sharing company will limit occupancy in its rental homes to 16 people. It may offer exceptions for boutique hotels or other event venues.

Airbnb said it may pursue legal action against guests and hosts who violate the ban. Last week, for the first time, Airbnb took legal action against a guest who held an unauthorized party in Sacramento County, California.

Airbnb has always prohibited unauthorized parties, and the company said nearly 75% of its listings explicitly ban parties.

But after a deadly shooting at a California Airbnb rental last Halloween, the company has taken multiple steps to crack down on parties. Five people were killed in the shooting, which happened during an unauthorized party.

Last November, Airbnb started manually reviewing U.S. and Canadian reservations to weed out suspicious rentals, like a guest who booked a one-night stay close to their home. It expanded that program to Australia last week.

In July, Airbnb banned US and Canadian guests under age 25 with fewer than three positive reviews from booking entire homes close to where they live. It expanded that policy to the United Kingdom, Spain and France last week.

Airbnb said it also plans to expand a hotline for neighbors to report unauthorized parties.

Airbnb says around 2% of the 7 million properties listed on its site can accommodate 16 or more people. There are at least 53 in London, 277 in Beijing, 170 in New York and 116 in Los Angeles, according to the companys website.

Twelve-year-old Airbnb has been trying to shed its couch-surfing image and appeal to more types of travelers ahead of its initial public offering. Last year it announced an effort to verify all of its properties, for example.

Airbnb filed preliminary paperwork for a stock offering with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday. The initial public offering could take place later this year.

The company also said it wants to make sure its complying with public health mandates. Los Angeles County has a ban on gatherings of people from different households, for example.

Airbnb said the coronavirus-related closure of bars and nightclubs has led to an increase in big house parties, sometimes at its rentals.

We do not want that type of business, and anyone engaged in or allowing that behavior does not belong on our platform," Airbnb said in a post on its website.

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Michigan health officials announced 616 new coronavirus cases and nine new deaths Wednesday, Aug. 19.

In other coronavirus news: Catholic schools welcomed back thousands of students across West Michigan, University of Michigan professors have no confidence in administrations plan to contain COVID-19, and Michigans unemployment rate dipped below the national average for the first time since the pandemic began.

Heres all the latest on the coronavirus pandemic in Michigan going into Thursday, Aug. 20.

Michigan reports 616 new coronavirus cases, 9 new deaths

Both additions were fewer than the states current seven-day moving averages. Over the last week, Michigan is averaging 715 new cases per day and 11 new deaths.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Health and Human Services has tallied 94,278 confirmed cases and 6,349 deaths associated with the novel coronavirus.

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On Wednesday, the health department also updated the way it reports hospitalization data by separating confirmed and suspected cases, as well as separating data for adults and children. The move was made in an attempt to align with the new reporting requirements from the federal government, according to the health department.

As of Tuesday, the states health systems reported 418 hospitalized adults with known cases of COVID-19, 239 hospitalized adults with suspected cases, nine hospitalized children with known cases, and three hospitalized children with suspected cases of COVID-19.

Forty of Michigans 83 counties reported no new coronavirus cases Wednesday.

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So far, so good says principal as Grand Rapids Catholic school students returned to class

Months of planning paid off for Catholic schools in the Diocese of Grand Rapids as thousands of students returned for in-person classes amid the coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday, Aug. 19.

The school system  an alliance of 31 learning communities serving more than 6,340 preschool through 12th grade students across West Michigan  is offering full, in-person learning five days a week this fall.

Each student went through temperature checks and symptom screenings before being led to their classrooms by teachers.

Students were required to keep their masks on throughout the day except during meals, with K-5 students allowed to remove their masks only when seated in their classroom.

Despite some initial nerves, school leaders say they were surprised with how well students followed mask rules and social distancing throughout the day.

So far, so good, said Michelle Morrow, principal at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School, which serves about 260 K-8 students in Grand Rapids.

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University of Michigan professors have no confidence in administrations plan to contain coronavirus

Asymptomatic testing. Accountability, Listening. Respect.

Those are some of the things University of Michigan professors want from university administrators regarding the Aug. 31 reopening of campus for the fall semester, but think theyve not gotten thus far.

A few dozen UM professors and Ann Arbor community members gathered outside the Fleming Administration Building Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 19, to protest in-person classes this fall during the COVID-19 pandemic. Protest organizer Kentaro Toyama, a professor at UMs School of Information, led the group through chants before marching to UM President Mark Schlissels house.

Michigan State University switches fall semester to remote learning, tells students to stay home

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.

Toyama said he and many other professors, staff members and students simply have no confidence in UMs plan to contain the novel coronavirus, and many are hoping for more transparency from administrators.

We just dont understand the underlying, true motivation for the decision to reopen, Toyama said. I dont think anybody other than the university administration  and even then, probably not most people  fully understand the reasons.

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Michigan unemployment rate dips below national average for first time since pandemic began

Michigans unemployment rate continues to improve and slipped below the national average in July for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began.

Accounting for seasonal fluctuations, Michigans jobless rate was 8.7% in July, a 6.1% decline from June and 1.5 percentage points below the 10.2% national unemployment rate average, according to the latest Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB) data released Wednesday, Aug. 19. The improvement was slightly less than the 6.5% drop between May (21.2%) and June (14.8%).

Michigan added about 103,000 payroll jobs in July and 266,000 in June.

The good news comes as Michigan leaders announced the states unemployed will receive an additional $300 per week from the federal government to supplement Michigans maximum of $362 per week benefits.

COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.

Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.

Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued executive orders requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while in public indoor and crowded outdoor spaces. See an explanation of what that means here.

Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

For more data on COVID-19 in Michigan, visit https://www.mlive.com/coronavirus/data/.

Read more on MLive:

Gov. Whitmer announces $65M for schools amid coronavirus pandemic, targeting districts with disadvantaged students

Moving classes online was best decision for public health, Michigan State University president says

Outdoor gatherings in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti restricted to 25 people, health officials say
Yesterday (August 19), the Supreme Court of India ordered for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry in Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death. The decision of the apex court allowing CBI to take over the case was welcomed by the late actor's fans, friends and family members. For the unversed, Sushant Singh Rajput passed away on June 14 (Sunday), and his family, fans and close friends want the truth about his mysterious death to be revealed.

When SC passed its decision about Sushant Singh Rajput's death case, celebrities from the Indian film industry welcomed the verdict and sought justice for the actor. Tollywood star Nikhil Siddhartha also reacted to the same on Twitter and wrote, "Finally.. Now we will all know the Truth of what exactly happened. #SushantSingRajput #CBIForSSR."However, a senior journalist's Twitter interaction with a user named Pranav Mahajan caught Nikhil Siddhartha's attention, as he made a controversial comment on Sushant Singh Rajput's case. Journalist Sreenivasan Jain commented, "Pranavji, sadly it is personal biases (and political agendas) which have converted a tragic suicide into a national tamasha."This comment didn't go down well with Nikhil Siddhartha as he quickly responded to the senior journalist with a question. The Kirrak Party actor asked Sreenivasan Jain, "Sir How hav u arrived at a conclusion that it is a suicide? when the Supreme Court of India has allowed a CBI Enquiry suspecting FOUL PLAY. India wants 2 knw the truth. What bias do u hav frm letting an investigation happen?nd calling a fight 4 the truth a Tamasha! #CBITakesOver."

Nikhil Siddhartha's question to the journalist has grabbed everyone's attention, but the journalist has not yet replied to the same. Apart from Nikhil, Tollywood stars like Rakul Preet Singh, Payal Ghosh, Shiva Kandukuri and others reacted to SC's decision.

Also Read : Sushant Singh Rajput Case: CBI Team To Visit Mumbai Soon, Issues First Statement After SC Verdict

Now, let's see how CBI finds out the truth behind Sushant Singh Rajput's mysterious death!

Worried about your mental well-being or of someone you know? Help is just a call away. Reach out to the nearest mental health specialist at COOJ Mental Health Foundation (COOJ)- 0832-2252525, Parivarthan- +91 7676 602 602, Connecting Trust- +91 992 200 1122/+91-992 200 4305 or Sahai- 080-25497777/ SAHAIHELPLINE@GMAIL.COM

Also Read : Meera Mitun, Rakul Preet & Others Welcome SC's Decision Of CBI Probe In Sushant Singh Rajput's Case
Her 43rd birthday came and went last month without the traditional public celebrations because of the coronavirus crisis.

But Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden didn't let the pandemic rattle her today as she put on a regal display with her husband Prince Daniel, 46, during an outing in Stockholm.

Victoria opted for a fittingly elegant blue floral dress as she visited the Swedish hospitality industry employer's organisation at the Downtown Camper By Scandic hotel.

The royal did not opt for a face mask during her visit, which comes days after Sweden's top coronavirus expert argued wearing coverings is 'very dangerous' because it gives the impression it is safe to be in crowded rooms or on public transport.

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, 43, looked elegant in a blue floral gown earlier today as she stepped out for a royal engagement in Stockholm

And to add to her look, she opted for a pair of smart black sandal heels which were on prominent display as she walked alongside Prince Daniel.

Much like his wife, the prince - who is a former personal trainer - wore a smart grey pinstripe suit and blue tie.

The couple, who have been married since 2010, posed for a picture together in front of a backdrop of the Stockholm skyline.

They were then seen enjoying a group photograph outside the hotel with members of the organisation they were visiting.

Victoria opted for a fittingly elegant blue floral dress as she visited the Swedish hospitality industry employer's organisation at the Downtown Camper By Scandic hotel

The princess beamed as she also showed off a pair of gemstone earrings and a navy tote bag. To add to her look, she opted for a pair of smart black sandal heels

The royal opted not to wear a face mask during her visit, which comes after Anders Tegnell, chief epidemiologist at Sweden's Public Health Agency, expressed scepticism that face masks will control Covid-19 outbreaks.

The infectious diseases expert, who refused to follow European governments in locking down in March, also noted that countries with widespread mask compliance, such as Belgium and Spain, were still experiencing rising cases of Covid.

Dr Tegnell previously brushed off the prospect of compelling Swedes to wear face masks, and called evidence of their effectiveness 'astonishingly weak'.

Sweden, which has stood out among European countries for its low-key approach to fighting the coronavirus pandemic, recorded its highest tally of deaths in the first half of 2020 for 150 years, the Statistics Office said on Wednesday.

Much like his wife, the prince - who is a former personal trainer - looked pleased to be out and about and wore a smart grey pinstripe suit and blue tie

Covid-19 claimed about 4,500 lives in the period to the end of June - a number which has now risen to 5,800 - a much higher percentage of the population than in other Nordic nations, though lower than in some others including Britain and Spain.

The official outing comes after Princess Victoria, who is the eldest daughter of King Carl XVI Gustaf, 74, was pictured in stunning family portraits to mark her 43rd birthday last month.

Pictures taken on the heir's big day captured the mother-of-two looking elegant as she posed at Solliden Palace in Borgholm with Prince Daniel and their two children Princess Estelle, eight and Prince Oscar, four.

Later the couple and their eldest child headed to Borgholm Castle for an evening of music with a few guests.

Princess Victoria appeared in high spirits during the visit to meet with the organisation this afternoon

Due to the coronavirus crisis, the traditional public celebrations which accompany the heir to the throne's birthday were cancelled, and Victoria enjoyed an intimate day with her family instead.

Usually, Victoria's birthday is cause for national celebration and many public events take place during the around Solliden and the rest of the country.

However, due to the coronavirus crisis the event had to be handled differently this year, and the royals made sure to respect social distancing guidelines by staying at home.

The couple were also seen enjoying a group photograph outside Downtown Camper By Scandic hotel with members of the organisation they were visiting

Victoria's brother Prince Carl Philip, 41, and his wife Princess Sofia, 35 will celebrate with her, but Princess Madeleine and her family will not travel from the US for the occasion.

Swedish newspapers AftonBladet reported that Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel, their children and a few guests would be treated to a live concert at the Palace tonight to mark the event.

Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis joined the royal family for the evening of music at Borgholm Castle.
Technology and digitization are the most significant factors influencing development across industries. Developing and developed countries alike are highly dependent on the tech and telecom industries. This has led to massive growth for the telecom industry. However, industry players face one major challenge that could falter their growth. What could be a challenge in a growing market? The answer is market trends. As trends change, the market changes, which is why it is crucial to stay ahead of market trends at all times. Infiniti's industry experts advise market trend analysis solutions to grow companies in an evolving market such as the telecom industry. Market trend analysis enables companies to identify, forecast, and strategize for current and upcoming market trends. To further understand the importance of market trend analysis, and gain a competitive edge, request a free proposal

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200820005451/en/

Market Trend Analysis for a Telecommunications Service Provider (Graphic: Business Wire)

"The wave of changes relating to smart cities, IoT, and 5G connectivity are creating new and better opportunities for companies operating in the telecom industry as well as other related market segments. The challenge here lies in identifying telecommunications industry trends and capitalizing on opportunities to stay relevant in the future," says a market trend analysis expert at Infiniti Research.

Business Challenge:

The client is a multinational telecommunications service provider based out of Ireland. In the highly competitive telecommunications market, the client was struggling to gather relevant data regarding current and coming trends in the market. The client sought to achieve sustainable growth by focusing on developing trending services and needed to be flexible to adapt to market changes. To achieve this, and identify growth opportunities in the market, the client partnered with Infiniti's industry experts to leverage their expertise in offering market trend analysis solutions.

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Comparing the client's current behavior and dominant patterns of the market over time to identify consistent results

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Monitoring the client's business performance over an extended period to refine business decisions and strategies

Gain a comprehensive understanding of market trend analysis engagement by reading the complete article here.

Business Outcome:

With Infiniti's market trend analysis engagement, the client gained in-depth insights into the telecommunications market, consumer preferences, and the macroeconomic environment of the company. The client was also able to identify strengths and weaknesses in their business, cut down costs, and leverage effective strategies. The market trend analysis solution provided sufficient evidence for the client to achieve business success and be well-informed on market trends. Additionally, the telecommunications service provider was able to improve its profit margins substantially, which resulted in 7 million potential annual savings.

For more in-depth insights into the effect of market trend analysis solutions in the telecom industry, speak to our experts.

About Infiniti Research

Established in 2003, Infiniti Research is a leading market intelligence company providing smart solutions to address your business challenges. Infiniti Research studies markets in more than 100 countries to help analyze competitive activity, see beyond market disruptions, and develop intelligent business strategies. To know more, visit: https://www.infinitiresearch.com/about-us

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200820005451/en/

Contacts:

Infiniti Research

Anirban Choudhury

Marketing Manager

US: +1 844 778 0600

UK: +44 203 893 3400

https://www.infinitiresearch.com/contact-us
Myanmar & COVID-19 Myanmars Rakhine State Capital Under Partial Lockdown Due to Spike in Local COVID-19 Transmissions

The Fever Corner at Sittwe General Hospital / Min Aung Khine / The Irrawaddy

MANDALAYMyanmar health authorities imposed a partial lockdown in the Rakhine State capital, Sittwe, on Thursday after six locally transmitted cases of COVID-19 were found within four days this week.

The spate of cases, including a specialist doctor at the states general hospital, followed a 30-day period in which the country did not detect a single local transmission.

The first locally transmitted case was found in Sittwe on Sunday. Three more were found on Wednesday morning, and another two were reported on Thursday morning.

Lockdowns were imposed in parts of Sittwes Kone Tan, Myothagyi, Danyawaddy and Ywartaunggyi quarterswhere the confirmed cases liveand entry to those areas has been restricted.

The Rakhine State government decided to lock down the streets where the confirmed cases live. We will inform the public about the cases, and instruct them to wear masks when going out; those found going out without masks will be punished with a fine, said U Win Myint, Rakhine States minister of municipal affairs.

According to the Health Department of Rakhine State, those who have had contact with the confirmed cases have been traced and are being confined at quarantine centers and home quarantines.

One of the cases discovered on Thursday morning, listed as the countrys Case No. 395, is a 40-year-old doctor from Sittwe General Hospital who had contact with Case No. 375, an employee of CB Bank in Sittwe.

The superintendent of Sittwe General Hospital confirmed that the 40-year-old doctor is in isolation and being treated for COVID-19 at the hospital.

CB Bank issued a statement on Monday saying the process of disinfecting the Sittwe branch was complete and that all staff would be tested for COVID-19. The branch was closed for two days and resumed operations on Wednesday. The bank said it was cooperating with local authorities to make sure staff and the customers follow COVID-19 prevention measures.

Meanwhile, Myanmar National Airlines, on whose flight Case No. 375 traveled from Sittwe to Kyaukphyu on Aug. 2, has suspended all flights between Sittwe and Yangon for two weeks due to the outbreak of local transmissions in Sittwe.

Other scheduled flights and road transportation have not been affected but travelers will need to undergo health screenings at checkpoints, according to Minister U Win Myint.

As of Thursday, Myanmar had reported 396 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Most of those were imported cases, involving people who were in quarantine after returning to the country on relief flights.

However, the cases reported in Sittwe on Sunday were locally transmitted, and the patients had no history of travel abroad or contact with confirmed cases. All of the local transmission cases reported since Sunday have been in Sittwe.

Meanwhile, Yangon Region Minister for Social Affairs U Naing Ngan Lin posted on his Facebook on Thursday that the regional government is planning to require those who travel from Sittwe to Yangon to undergo a 21-day quarantine. The minister said the travelers may choose hotel or facility quarantine, and will have to submit to two swab tests.

In a statement issued Aug. 15, the Yangon regional government said it would take serious action against bars, karaoke lounges and nightclubs that reopen without authorities permission.

Until Sunday, Myanmar had in recent months seen relatively few new cases of COVID-19, and most of those were imported. As a result, locals have become more relaxed about following the COVID-19 preventive measures announced by the government. Some restrictions have been eased lately, including on domestic travel, and it has become common once again to see people going out without wearing masks.

The Myanmar government, in particular the Ministry of Health and Sports, has warned the public of the possibility of a second wave of COVID-19. The ministry has urged the public to wear masks when going out, avoid mass gatherings, wash their hands and limit contact with others as preventive measures against COVID-19.

The government even held a national-level tabletop exercisea simulated disaster scenario designed to boost disaster preparedness on Aug. 13, to prepare officials for a possible second wave.

You may also like these stories:

Three More Local COVID-19 Transmissions Reported in Myanmars Rakhine State

Myanmar Reports First Local COVID-19 Transmission in a Month
Eating Out

Restaurants revitalized Ann Arbor. Then came the pandemic.

by Josie Schneider

Published in August, 2020

"It was a dark and stormy Sunday night, and I met my friend Jennifer Conlin for dinner at Mikette," Micheline Maynard recalls. "We were browsing through the appetizers when I spotted the fried chicken. I love fried chicken, so that was a no doubter. I bit into a piece, and it was like a Disney movie, with bluebirds tweeting and shooting stars going off around my head. It was that good."



For M.B. Lewis, the "first time I ever saw or tasted purple sweet potatoes was in 2013 at the stylish Babo deli that catered to Ann Arbor's new high-rise dwellers from its big-windowed perch at Washington and Division. Opportunity to adore acai bowls came after Babo morphed to Fred's a few years later."



Sally Mitani met a friend weekly for breakfast ever since he helped her move a couch more than twenty years ago, most recently at the Classic Cup Cafe on Jackson Rd. But she hasn't seen him in months. He is "in his seventies, has COPD, and won't set foot in a restaurant until the pandemic is over," she says. And even if a vaccine is released tomorrow, they can't celebrate at the Classic Cup. Like Mikette and Wilma's--the last incarnation of Babo/Fred's--it was killed by Covid-19.



At least fifteen Ann Arbor restaurants have shuttered since March, and many others teeter on a cliff's edge. In a June Observer interview, Mainstreet Ventures president and CEO Kevin Gudejko predicted the locally based fine-dining chain would be operating at a loss for twelve months--and that as many as one in five local restaurants might not survive.



So it made no sense to try to publish our usual year-round guide to every restaurant and bar in greater Ann Arbor. Instead, we emailed four past and present Observer food writers to get their thoughts on the rise of Ann Arbor's restaurant scene, why it mattered, and what might come next.



---



"I miss my 70s restaurants: Whiffletree, La Pinata, the

...continued below...

Parthenon, Manikas, Steve's Lunch," writes Mitani, a restaurant reviewer from 1987-1993 and Marketplace Changes writer from 2012-2018. "But oh my God! The 80s were the revolution that's still with us ... Chinese split into a dozen sub-genres. Pizzas came on thin crust. We were eating raw fish! Escoffier was just like being in Paris! Zingerman's began making bread!"As chain restaurants kept expanding, diners also learned to cherish places that were "independent" and "chef driven"--owned by people, not corporations, and shaped by the head cook's convictions and passions more than market research."Chef-driven cooking is an art that brings pleasure, evokes memories, and provokes surprise and conversation," writes Lee Lawrence, who's been involved in the food business in one way or another for more than thirty years and has reviewed restaurants for the Observer since 2010. "It satisfies the body, soul, and spirit."Restaurant chefs are usually the first to introduce new ingredients, foods, and dishes from abroad, new flavor and texture combinations. What would life be like without cilantro, bacon in dessert, SE Asian influences? Eventually these innovations, ideas, and introductions go mainstream and broaden all our choices, but it's the independent chefs and restaurants that begin the long education process.""Yes, chef-driven restaurants are terrific," Mitani writes--with the caveat that they're "usually short-lived. A chef-driven restaurant is a place with an exciting and excitable cook who almost certainly doesn't know how to work with other people and burns out quickly. 'Independent' is a good thing, too--for the local economy. But there are independent restaurants that get their ravioli off the Sysco truck. Find a restaurant where the owner says s/he can't afford to deal with Sysco and you've probably found a good place.""I'm not as focused on chefs, because chefs bounce from place to place," says Maynard, who reviews restaurants for the Observer, oversees the Marketplace Changes column, and is working on a book about Zingerman's. "I'm a huge supporter of independent restaurants, especially when the owner makes the rounds of the dining room to check on customers. Ari at Zingerman's Roadhouse, Don at Knight's, Nick at Nick's House of Pancakes, Helen at Village Kitchen, Adam at Mani."---Mani Osteria owner Adam Baru also owned Mikette on Plymouth Rd. After briefly using it as a central takeout location, he closed it in June to focus on Mani and Isalita, which sit next to each other at the corner of Liberty and Division.Lawrence credits Mani and Isalita with breaking down the town/gown divide between Main St. and State St. in the early 2010s. Since then, she says, "all ages move freely throughout town."As the dining districts grew and overlapped, chefs and investors alike saw opportunity. Or at least imagined it."Restaurants are so romanticized in movies and on TV," writes Maynard. "There's the impression you'll rule the roost, and your creativity will win over an adoring audience. Likewise, some people love providing hospitality. They see customers as guests in their 'home,' and they want to celebrate with them.""American exceptionalism has always had a 'pull up by your bootstraps' and 'be the host of your own party every day' manifestation that can be motivation for restaurateurs," agrees Lewis, an Observer reviewer from 2010-2019. "In the best of times, this can make visions reality, sustaining ethnic traditions or values like vegetarianism."People open restaurants "because they're inspired, talented, driven, or because it's all they've known," writes Lawrence. "Because they love to cook or to share or to create. Because they have a vision. Because they love speed and energy and parties. Because they love to give back to the community."But, she adds, "Ann Arbor, particularly downtown, has been over-saturated with restaurants for years." Lawrence is "pretty sure the public will return to eating out as soon as it's truly viable, but I'm not sure the closed restaurants will reopen as new ones, or that landlords will bless the transformation of their buildings into eateries." When Arbor Brewing Company closed after twenty-five years, owner Michael Collins said he thought his landlord would be happy with a non-restaurant tenant."Even if someone is willing to take on the headache of starting a restaurant in the next two to five years, who's going to invest in it?" Lawrence asks."Lots of people will still dream of owning places, but it's going to be harder to get financing," agrees Maynard. "Four out of five failed in five years pre-pandemic. It is a very tough business and Covid will just make it tougher."How much tougher will depend on how long the pandemic lasts, and how long it takes to recover from the recession it triggered.We'll be following those questions in the monthly Marketplace Changes column. Stay tuned. [Originally published in August, 2020.]
SANTIAGO The release of 10% of Chilean citizens pension funds early to help withstand the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic has sparked an unexpected flurry of legal petitions for child support from the countrys army of indebted baby daddies.

Half a million petitions have been lodged for child support payments to be made by the four out of five absent parents - largely fathers  who are in default, according to the Ministry of Justice and prosecution service figures.

Pedro Maldonado, head of one of Santiagos four family courts, said the avalanche of cases highlighted a problem in need of a solution.

People think that child support is not an imperative like a bank loan," he told reporters. The large number of debtors are men because it remains the case that it falls on women to take care of their children."

The issue of absent fathers is far from new in Chile, where they even have a nickname: Papitas de Corazon," or Daddies of the Heart."

Figures from Chiles National Institute of Statistics show 42% of households are headed by a woman, above the regional 35% average estimated by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Despite Chile being advanced regionally terms in making child support obligatory, latency has become the norm.

It is one of the greatest moral dramas there is in this country," Carmen Dominguez, director of the Family Centre at Santiagos Catholic University, told Reuters.

Thousands of children have grown up with fathers who just could not care less. It is a completely naturalized reality."

TIP OF THE ICEBERG

Under Chilean law, child support is at the bottom of the debt hierarchy and attracts no automatic interest or adjustments, meaning people are more likely to stop paying it than another debt like a mortgage, said Dominguez.

The issue burst into the public domain this month after irate single mothers saw an opportunity with the release of $9.654 billion so far to 7.2 million people from the countrys private pension funds after a law proposing it swept through Congress and onto the statute books on July 24.

Since then, the prosecution service, which is responsible for mediating child support agreements between separated couples, has received 500,000 petitions relating to 300,000 old and new cases of child support debts in the hope they can be settled using the pension payouts, which average $1,350.

Dominguez said those who came forward to seek payments were the tip of the iceberg," with many mothers simply accepting they had to shoulder the childcare burden alone.

Among those seeking the pension payout of her former partner is Daneri Plaza, 40, who has been trying to obtain overdue alimony from her daughter`s father since 2005.

Over the years, the judiciary has attempted to help her claw back an estimated $11,250 of support owed using measures that included an attempt to arrest the father. But he was never home during the attempts and has not held a steady job for his earnings to be tapped.

Plazas daughter is now 20 and studying. Given the uncertain future of Chiles students amid persistent lockdowns and weak job market, she could still use the money, her mother said.

My daughter has the right to receive contributions from her father," Plaza told Reuters.

GUARANTOR STATE

Chiles Congress, invigorated by the widespread positive reception of the pensions bill, has passed more legislation in record time in recent weeks, including one last Wednesday to allow the pensions funds of parents who owe child support to be redirected to their children instead.

A move is also afoot to add defaulting fathers to the National Debt Registry.

However, with Chile`s unemployment rate at 11 percent and the economy projected by the Central Bank to contract between 5.5% and 7.5% in 2020, there are warnings that latent child support will only get worse if the government does not implement extensive reform.

Patricia Nunez, early child development officer for Unicef in Chile, said the move to seize released pensions was a good first step.

She added: The problem is that this ends up being treated as an individual situation, between private parties, but we must open the discussion on the role of the state as guarantor."

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
As Bishop Curtis Guillorys 20-year tenure as the head of the Beaumont Archdiocese draws to a close, he can sum it up by a single verse in Romans 8:28.

We know that all things work together for the good, for those who love God, who are called according to their purpose.

The New Testament scripture reminds him of what once was a difficult but instrumental time in his early years in seminary school. Guillory, a son of Louisiana sharecroppers, recalls a day where both of his parents were in the hospital during the harvesting season.

At the time, a 16-year-old Guillory felt a duty as the eldest of 16 children to come back home to Mallet, Louisiana to help his ailing parents with the harvest. But when he called his mother to tell her he was coming back from seminary school, she asked, Do you feel God is calling you to be a priest?

Guillory responded, I think so.

Guillorys mother told him not to come, do his part and pray for us.

It was very difficult and I felt guilty because I wasnt there to help, Guillory said. But when she said to pray for us and God will work it out, I did feel at peace.

Guillory draws hope from Romans 8:28, especially during stressful times. It has been his motto since he was installed as head of Beaumonts Catholic community on July 28, 2000, and defined his legacy at the Beaumont Diocese.

During his time as head of the diocese, Guillory has accumulated a slew of accomplishments to help grow the Catholic community.

He sought out the renovation inside of the St. Anthony's Basilica, saw the church elevated to a cathedral basilica, consolidated and centralized offices, expanded the Hispanic ministry office, created a chapel at Lamar University and facilitated the building of a new Catholic Pastoral Center.

While Guillory is honored to have been a part of all the renovation to existing buildings and the creation of new infrastructure, Guillory is most proud of the impact on the community and relationships he forged along the way.

I feel like I have been able to make a difference  a positive difference, Guillory said. I think people have had an impact on me and I think I have had an impact on them. But history is going to judge that. When you look back on things they may look different.

Before his installment as Bishop, Guillory was an auxiliary Bishop for the Galveston-Houston Diocese and wanted to familiarize himself with Beaumont. He made notes of the demographics, the parishioners, the community and the leaders of the faith to begin to understand what his best approach would be once he assumed his role.

I didnt really know much about Beaumont, Guillory said. I was in Houston and I would stop sometimes to get a cup of coffee, but that's really all I knew about Beaumont.

The Bishop introduced himself to members of the Catholic community, and asked the parishioners what improvements they thought the archdiocese could make. He looked to set the groundwork in his new home.

After several visits, Guillory was excited about the opportunity and within six months of moving to Beaumont realized its resiliency as a parish and as a community. As the Bishop would come to find out over the course of 20 years, being the head of the Beaumont Archdiocese meant being a vigilant leader during times of crisis.

While leadership qualities manifest in different ways, Linda Duhon-LaCour found Guillorys attentiveness when spoken to be one of his most effective characteristics.

Its hard to find people who really listen. People usually have their own thoughts, said Duhon-LaCour, Director of the Office of African American Ministry for the Beaumont Archdiocese. He really does listen. One of the things he does is he will repeat back what you said to make sure he fully understands what a person is saying.

In his 20 years, Southeast Texas has experienced five major tropical storms and hurricanes, a chemical plant explosion and a pandemic. It was not unusual to see Guillory volunteering in the community after hurricanes and visiting areas of the community most affected by the storm.

After Hurricane Harvey, Duhon-LaCour and Guillory along with many other volunteers were down at St. Johns the Evangelist Parish in Port Arthur distributing supplies. A few members of the parish came to the distribution to receive supplies and approached Guillory to speak with him. The conversations would last long enough that it began to hold up the line.

Eventually, Guillory blessed them and they went on their way. But Duhon-LaCour noticed something about the Bishops body language after that conversation.

I looked at him and when he turned around I could see the tears in his eyes, Duhon-LaCour said. Even though we see him dressed up on Sunday, this is who he is.

Throughout Guillorys time as bishop, the most marginalized communities were always some of the first the bishop looked to check on  especially during major storms. It was a point of emphasis for Guillory when he was first installed as bishop.

Jesus Abrego, was one of Guillorys first hires as the associate director of the office of Hispanic ministry  a position that did not exist until the begning of Guillorys tenure. Abregos hiring into the office of Hispanic ministry was message that a more concerted effort to reach out to both the Black and Hispanic communities in his parish would be made during his tenure.

Bishop Guillory understands the reality of being a minority (of any kind), said Abrego, who is now the director of the office of the Hispanic ministry. He relates to the U.S. born Latinos because his parents didnt speak English either. His first language was French. So when he talks to the first-generation (Latinos) he understands their perspective. I really admire and appreciate how humble he is enough to share his humble upbringings.

Guillorys sermons had a knack of keeping all in attendance engaged, including younger parishioners. Abrego remembers a youth mass in the Cathedral many years ago when the congregation was silent during the sermon. Noticing the detached audience, Guillory found a way to make everyone laugh and even the youth parishioners were engaged again.

To get kids interested in faith is really difficult, Abrego said. I admire his gift to talk to young people. Many young people will come to my office after a mass with the Bishop and speak to me about it."

Guillory will still be around, but in his new role as an emeritus bishop.

Similar to when Guillory was first appointed, the bishop said there will be some challenges Bishop-elect David Toups will have to face as his successor. One of the biggest challenges Guillory anticipates is the low number of priests. But Guillory thinks Toups is equipped to confront this problem.

I think he comes well prepared for it because he was the head of a seminary, Guillory said.

Guillory added that the most immediate challenge is navigating the pandemic and how to help alleviate some of the tolls it will continue to take on society.

Despite the challenges that lie ahead, it is only fitting that Toups will be using the same bible verse  Romans 8:28  as his motto to usher in a new era

When I first spoke with Bishop Toups, he mentioned it was his mothers favorite passage, Guillory said. He asked me if he could use it as his Bishops motto and it really touched me to see the continuity.

jorge.ramos@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/byjorgeramos
Although around 100 private hospitals in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad are treating COVID-19 patients, shortages of beds remain

Swati Patil cant stop crying. It has been ten days since she lost her mother  the unavailability of a hospital bed possibly being one of the causes of her death.

If only we had got a bed for dialysis, she would still be alive today, Patil said, holding her mothers photo close to her heart.

She recalls, There was nothing wrong with her. She was coughing the other day and the family doctor said that we should go for a COVID-19 test. All of us tested negative except my mother. It took us four days to find a bed in the municipal-run Kasturba Hospital in Somwar Peth, which has 25 beds allotted for COVID-19 patients. All the private hospitals said they were full. Two days after she was admitted, she was gone. I couldnt even meet her. Her mother was 61 and her death was recorded as having occured due to comorbidities.

As COVID-19 cases rise in Pune, the shortage of beds in both public and private hospitals is assuming serious proportions. This, despite there being around 100 private hospitals in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad which are treating COVID-19 patients.

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has launched an app as well as a dashboard which gives information on the number beds available and their location. But given the reluctance of private hospitals to depute their staff to collate and upload this information on the website, there is no guarantee that the data on the website is accurate. Private hospitals, in particular, are demanding that the PMC use its staff for this data entry work.

Jumbo care centres

Meanwhile, a jumbo COVID-19 care centre with 1,600 beds has been set up on the SSPMS ground near RTO and at the College of Engineering Pune (COEP) ground. Of these, 1,200 will be oxygen beds and 400 will be ICU beds.

Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar had directed the setting up of such care centres immediately to handle the sharp increase in the number of COVID-19 patients in the district. The Pune administration is considering two more sites, among them PCMCs Balnagari and auto-cluster which is being converted into a 1,000-bedded COVID-19 care centre. Both facilities will be operational soon.

Projections indicate that by the end of August, the number of novel coronavirus patients could well cross the two lakh mark in Pune city.

Follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak here

In the Wakad locality, which has reported a high number of coronavirus cases, some housing societies like Vedanta Co-operative housing society and Solana Housing society have stepped in to create quarantine zones within the premises to help tide over the problem of shortage of beds.

A 30-year-old employee of a cane manufacturing unit, who tested positive recently, said, I live with my wife in a two-bedroom house, so I have self isolated myself in one of the bedrooms. My wife prepares food and leaves it near the door. Members of my housing society who were informed of my condition have all helped, as have the doctors at Sahyadri Hospital and the municipal corporation's medical officers. The hospital provided me with a kit which includes an oximeter, thermometer, sanitiser and mask.

Lack of co-ordination a challenge

According to the official protocol, those with mild symptoms are home quarantined. But for some people who need hospitalisation, a shortage of beds remains a challenge, according to reports.

The Indian Medical Associations (IMA) hospital association, however, insists that most private hospitals are fully cooperating in fighting the pandemic. However, the IMA's Pune president Dr Sanjay Patil said that there is a lack of co-ordination and communication with various government offices.

Patil said, Almost all private hospitals are presently full. Although the recovery rate is good, the main problem is of managing asymptomatic patients at home, especially among poorer people."

Private hospitals and practitioners also report other challenges, including compulsory documentation and updating of data, poaching of staff by municipal hospitals, price caps leading to losses and the burden of more taxes for biowaste disposal.

Tussle over data entry

A private doctor in a clinic that is presently working with the PMC on COVID-19 cases said, "The number of patients is on the rise and we are treating them. But all this administrative work hinders our working hours.

Dr HK Sale, executive director, Noble hospital, Hadapsar said, All the tertiary care hospitals in the city are reeling under the pressure. We increased ICU beds from 24 to 31, but is it not enough. It is difficult to work in these conditions. We are following the new government protocols to discharge cured patients in less than ten days, after giving them a home care package. But this is not enough, given the rising numbers.

Dr Sale added that non-COVID-19 surgical patients have also increased in recent days, and these patients too have to undergo COVID-19 tests. Expectant mothers have to undergo COVID-19 testing five days prior to their due date.

Rubal Agarwal, Additional Municipal Commission in the PMC said, The civic body has till date conducted 3,02,945 tests. The recovery rate in the city has increased to 70.29 percent and mortality rate has decreased to 2.35 percent, said Rubal.

Dr Pavan Salve, PCMC health and medical officer, said that while cases in and around Pune are increasing currently, his assessment is that by the end of August, the increase in positive cases in the city will slow down. Although PCMC will be crossing the 30,000 active cases mark, cases will come under control in the next 15 days.

People in the city are keeping their fingers and hoping this prediction turns out to be true.

This article was first published in Citizen Matters, a civic media website and is republished here with permission. (c) Oorvani Foundation/Open Media Initiative.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews was put through an eight-minute grilling from a reporter over COVID-19 facts and statistics.

Mr Andrews was questioned during his press conference on Thursday after he previously claimed one in four Victorians weren't home during quarantine checks.

Victoria Police have since revealed the real figure is less than one per cent.

'If you're asking me why did I say one in four people weren't home? It's because one in four people weren't home. That's why I said that,' Mr Andrews said to begin the exchange.

'That's a fact and that's exactly why I made that point.'

Daniel Andrews (pictured) clashed with a reporter during Thursday's press conference

Mr Andrews noted that even though one in four people meant to be in isolation did not answer the door when ADF and Department of Health personnel knocked, it did not mean authorities assumed they were breaching their quarantine.

'I indicated they weren't at home. They weren't at home. We didn't issue on-the-spot fines. We referred it to Victoria Police,' he said.

'It is their job to determine and investigate whether people had a lawful excuse not to be at home.

'Just as I foreshadowed, we didn't assume that they weren't all doing the wrong thing. There was, as I said the time, it could be you choose not to answer the door.

'You might be isolating at another house. The address for you might be wrong. It might be as [the police] put it yesterday, you might be out the back in a shed. There are lots of different reasons.'

The journalist claimed Mr Andrews' numbers were 'misleading' Victorians into believing more people were breaking lockdown sanctions.

'How is it misleading to inform the community that when somebody from the army and somebody from the health department knocked on the door, there was no no-one who answered it? How is that misleading?' Mr Andrews responded.

'Having been the one who made the point I suppose I am uniquely qualified to put it to you that what I said was factual and what then happened was appropriate.'

A photographer is quizzed by police during stage four lockdown restrictions in Melbourne on Tuesday

Mr Andrews said the government have tried to be as honest as possible through the pandemic and small numbers of people doing the wrong thing shouldn't take away from Victorians doing the right thing.

'I don't accept the conclusion that you're drawing about blame. I don't accept any of those  they're not  they're not factual, in that they are your view,' he said.

'You're entitled to your view, I don't share that view. I try to be as frank and direct as I can.'

Victoria recorded 13 deaths and 240 new coronavirus cases on Thursday but there are fears the true total could be higher because testing rates are low in some areas.

There are 180 testing sights across Victoria - but one centre in Melbourne's northern suburbs has been testing as few as 20 people per day.

On Wednesday 20,279 tests were taken, down from a peak of 33,826 on 31 July.

There were only 16,109 tests done on Wednesday, which Mr Andrews blamed on 'far less people moving around the community'.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

Amid three recent school shutdowns due to COVID-19, the Board of Education decided Albuquerque Public Schools students will continue remote learning through the end of the semester, with some exceptions, namely students with special needs.

The APS Board of Education voted 6 to 1 to remain in the online model for longer than initially planned. Board President David Peercy emphasized that can be revised in the future, if needed.

The board revisited its reentry strategy on Wednesday night following a discussion earlier this month in which members made it clear they werent fully behind a plan to start in-person classes in September.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham had previously announced classes would take place remotely through at least Sept. 7. On Wednesday, she expressed hope that most elementary school students will be able to return to classrooms after Labor Day under a hybrid model, citing declining statewide rates of coronavirus infection. In a live video interview with Washington Post journalist Eugene Scott, Lujan Grisham said New Mexico is crushing it when it comes to containing the pandemic and meeting the states criteria for reopening the economy.

At the Wednesday APS meeting, multiple speakers, including teachers, asked the board to continue with remote learning for longer than the states timeline.

We should remain in the online learning mode until the schools conditions and resources make it safe, said Deborah Hill, school nurse and parent.

Others wanted doors to start reopening, including Heidi Pitts, who didnt think her high school child was getting enough schooling through distance learning, and educator Taveyah Griffon, who said its not efficient to operate online, especially for students with special needs.

According to data presented to the board, 56.3% of people who responded to a survey were very uncomfortable with their child returning to a school building.

Meanwhile, three schools in APS have recently been shut down  before they even opened to students  due to COVID-19 cases among employees.

Monica Armenta, an APS spokeswoman, said East San Jose Elementary had two employees test positive. The school was closed for cleaning Saturday after the first case and closed again Monday after the second case, she said. And Hayes Middle School and Hawthorne Elementary School each had one employee test positive, according to Armenta.

She said the three schools closed campus wide for at least three days for deep cleaning, adding that the district is following state Department of Health protocol.

She did not know how or when the employees tested positive and, citing privacy concerns, would not say if the employees were teachers or in what capacity they worked at the schools.

Armenta added that APS employees are required to be tested for the virus before coming back to work and must fill out a daily form acknowledging that they are not sick. If they do get sick, Armenta said they are required to self-report and get tested.

Acting Superintendent Scott Elder noted there are pros and cons to staying in remote learning.

For instance, families will have consistency over the next few months versus potential intermittent shutdowns when there are positive cases. Continuing with remote learning also allows APS to see what happens at other districts that do reopen in-person classes and it assures employees have a work-from-home option. Nearly 5,000 teachers and school staff have requested to work from home due to health concerns for themselves, students or household members, according to APS.

However, there are ripple effects. Elder said he is worried about the potential loss of staff who will not have duties during remote learning, such as bus drivers, and he is concerned about student wellness without teachers checking in on them face to face.

Ultimately, the board decided to put off in-person classes for most students at least through the end of December. Peggy Muller-Aragon was the lone no vote, voicing academic concerns among other things.

This decision will not make everybody happy, but I think what is important is that we know what the start date will be so people can plan accordingly, Elder said.

The Associated Press and Journal Staff Writer Matthew Reisen contributed to this report.
Called for a tan dog loose in Thursday morning traffic, Salisbury Township police found something else missing from its home.

Police Det. Charles Whitehead said a harnessed goat was found in the 1800 block of Broadway during heavy rush hour traffic. There was no ID on the animal.

Despite having a slightly awkward sounding baaaaa-rk and an enormous appetite for eating seatbelts in the back of a police car, she really is a friendly girl, the department said in a Facebook post.

The Bethlehem Township Volunteer Fire Department helped with wrangling the goat at the departments kennel.

By Thursday afternoon the owner was located, police said.

Whitehead said more than a year ago police were called for a loose potbellied pig, which chased him. Further back, police were called for a flock of sheep in the road, and two of them rammed an officer.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com
Mothercare plc: Transformation Plan Update

Mothercare plc ("Mothercare", "the Company" or "the Group") today provides the following update

Franchise arrangements

In recent months we have been in close discussion with both our international franchise and manufacturing partners to modernise and improve our commercial relationships to mutual benefit, with the objective of improving pricing and quality for our franchise partners and reducing financial and operational risk for our manufacturing partners. We are pleased to report that following these constructive discussions we have successfully launched a more sustainable and less capital-intensive business model going forward, with effect from the Autumn/Winter 2020 season. This new model results in our franchise partners contracting to pay for products directly to our manufacturing partners, thus removing the timing mismatch we were experiencing with the reduction in our payment terms and so improving the Groups working capital requirements. We believe this new way of working will ultimately have the added benefits of improving pricing for franchise partners, which in turn should better incentivise retail sales growth and assist our manufacturing partners in reinstating credit insurance for future seasons.

UK franchise

On 19 August we completed the detailed contractual arrangements for the appointment of Boots UK Limited ("Boots") as our UK and Republic of Ireland franchise partner. This will be for an initial period of ten years and the terms and royalty rates arrangements are commensurate with those of the Companys other franchise agreements.

Mothercare branded clothing will be available in a large number of Boots stores across the UK and Ireland from this autumn with home and travel products (including pushchairs and car seats) available in larger Boots stores, as well as online at www.boots.com.

Boots is at the heart of one of the largest healthcare businesses in the world and Mothercare will dovetail well as the specialist brand for parents and young children in both Boots stores and online.

Story continues

Alshaya Group

We are also delighted to have entered into a new twenty-year franchise agreement with the Alshaya Group, our most significant franchise partner. We highly value this long-standing and continuing strong commercial relationship, and we look forward to contributing to an extended period of mutually beneficial partnership growth in the future.

Other matters

As previously announced in March this year we emerged from the transaction and execution risks associated with the administration of Mothercare UK Limited and the associated restructuring of the business in November 2019. We reported on 23 January that the administration of Mothercare UK Limited had resulted in a substantial reduction in the amounts owed and, albeit with some potential claims still outstanding, we still estimate the shortfall that the Group may have an obligation to make good as some 10 million. Discussions continue with a number of parties in relation to the potential refinancing of the Groups debt facilities in line with the guidance given in our most recent announcement of 22 June 2020.

In the Transformation Plan Update on 22 June 2020 we also announced that we were reviewing the timetable for publication of our audited annual report and accounts for the year ended 28 March 2020. A combination of factors including the discontinued businesses and COVID-19, have complicated the audit process meaning that more time is necessary in order to finalise the audit and financial statements. As a result, the standard shareholder resolutions relating to receiving the audited financial statements and the auditors and directors reports, approving the directors remuneration report and the re-appointment and remuneration of the auditors will be tabled at a separate accounts meeting of shareholders to be held no later than 29 December 2020. Notice of the general meeting and publication of the annual report and accounts will be published in due course. The AGM will be held no later than 30 September 2020 and the notice of meeting will be circulated in due course.

Change of Registered Office

With effect from 4 August 2020 the Companys registered office is Westside 1, London Road, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 9TD.

Ends

For further information:

Mothercare plc

investorrelations@mothercare.com

Andrew Cook, Chief Financial Officer

Kevin Rusling, Chief Operating Officer



Numis Securities Ltd (Financial Adviser)

020 7260 1000

Luke Bordewich

Henry Slater



MHP Communications

07709 496 125

mothercare@mhpc.com

Simon Hockridge

Tim Rowntree

Alistair de Kare-Silver




Small size and ease in availability promoting its adoption in day-to-day lives and rise in prominence of cordless tools drive the growth of the global electric power tools market.

PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Electric Power Tools Market by Product Type (Corded and Cordless), and End-User Industry (Construction, Automotive, Aerospace, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027." According to the report, the global electric power tools industry garnered $23.60 billion in 2019, and is estimated to reach $39.14 billion by 2027, witnessing a CAGR of 8.5% from 2020 to 2027.

Drivers, restraints, and opportunities

Small size and ease in availability promoting its adoption in day-to-day lives, surge in implementation in the construction industry, and rise in prominence of cordless tools drive the growth of the global electric power tools market. However, high initial investment in high capacity batteries and brushless motors restrains the market growth. On the other hand, advancements in automation technologies create new opportunities in the coming years.

Covid-19 Scenario

Manufacturing activities have faced a major roadblock due to lockdown in many countries during the Covid-19 pandemic. Moreover, supply chain has been disrupted.

The demand from the construction sector has been declined significantly due to halt in construction activities in the commercial and residential sectors.

Associations in the electrical equipment sector such as National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) have released cleaning and disinfecting guidelines for tools to maintain safety.

Download Report Sample (317 Pages PDF with Insights) @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/6255

The cordless segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on product type, the cordless segment contributed to the highest market share in 2019, accounting for more than two-thirds of the global electric power tools market, and is expected to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Moreover, this segment is expected to witness the largest CAGR of 8.9% from 2020 to 2027. This is attributed to advancements in the battery technologies that helped in improving productivity of cordless tools. The report also offers a detailed analysis of the cord segment.

The construction segment to continue its dominance during the forecast period

Based on end-use industry, the construction segment held more than one-third of the global electric power tools market in 2019, and is estimated to continue its dominance during the forecast period. Furthermore, this segment would register at the highest CAGR of 9.4% from 2020 to 2027. This is due to convenience, ease in functioning, and improved efficiency of different tasks in the sector. The research also analyzes segments including aerospace, automotive, and others.

Get detailed COVID-19 impact analysis on the Electric Power Tools Market: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/6255?reqfor=covid

North America to maintain its highest contribution by 2027

Based on region, North America accounted for the highest share of more than one-third of the global electric power tools market in 2019, and is estimated to maintain its highest contribution by 2027. This is due to the widespread network of retailers and wholesalers that offer ease in availability. However, Asia-Pacific is estimated to maintain the highest CAGR of 10.0% from 2020 to 2027. This is attributed to surge in number of do-it-yourself (DIY) users.

Leading market players

Apex Tool Group

Atlas Copco AB

Hilti Corporation

Ingersoll Rand Inc.

Koki Holding , Co., Ltd.

, Co., Ltd. Makita Corporation

Robert Bosch GmbH

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.

& Decker, Inc. Snap-on Incorporated

Techtronic Industries Co., Ltd.

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Similar Reports We Have:

Power Tools Market- Global power tools market is projected to reach $48,677.0 million by 2027, registering a CAGR of 4.8% from 2020 to 2027.

Battery Power Tools Market- Global battery power tools market is projected to reach $44,062.0 million by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 8.5% from 2019 to 2026.

Hand Tools Market- Global hand tools market size was valued at $22,200.0 million in 2019, and is projected to reach $30,381.0 million by 2027, registering a CAGR of 4.1% from 2020 to 2027.

Hydraulic Tools Market- Global hydraulic tools market is projected to reach $2,347.0 million by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 5.9% from 2019 to 2026.

Brushless DC Motor Market- Global brushless DC motor market is expected to reach $71,942.6 million in 2026, growing at a CAGR of 9.3% from 2019 to 2026.

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Material Removal Tools Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019-2026

Hand and Power Tools Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027

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Om Birla, the Lok Sabha Speaker, attended the inauguration ceremony of the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament on Wednesday. This Inter-Parliamentary conference is being organised by IPU, Geneva, the Parliament of Austria and the United Nations. In view of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Lok Sabha speaker attended the ceremony virtually.

Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla attended the inaugural ceremony of the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament held on Wednesday. The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Geneva, and the Parliament of Austria with the support of the United Nations (UN) organized the conference. The Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament is being conducted in virtual mode, by the IPU, geneva and Parliament of Austria, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Om Birla attended this Inter-Parliamentary conference virtually.

Read | "India Will Move Forward On The Path Of Development With Able Leadership": Om Birla

The theme of the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament is 'Parliamentary leadership for more effective multilateralism that delivers peace and sustainable development for the people and planet'. For the purpose of this event, IPU telecasted a videos message from Om Birla, the Lok Sabha Speaker on its website and social media. As per reports, numerous other leaders will also grace the event with their presence in virtual mode.

Read | Kamala Harris Promises To Work Towards Justice, Says there Is No Vaccine For Racism'

According to a press release from the Lok Sabha Secretariat, this is the first time that such a large scale international conference like the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament is being organised virtually. The next part of this conference is set to take place physically in Vienna, Austria next year. Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla is set to express his opinion on `Improving governance by bridging the gap between Parliaments and the People' during the panel discussion which will be held on Thursday.

Read | LS Speaker Om Birla Says Women Empowerment Is Crucial For Building 'New India'

MPs Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Meenakshi Lekhi and the Lok Sabha Secretary-General, Snehlata Shrivastava will also be attending the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, as per the release. This conference is aimed at strengthening multilateralism and international cooperation in order to rebuild a better world, as per the release. As per reports, at the end of the conference, an outcome document underlining the parliamentary solidarity of the world amid the COVID-19 pandemic will be adopted.

Read | USFDA Clears Simple Saliva Test For Faster Detection Of COVID-19

(With inputs from ANI)
South Koreas coronavirus infections are back in full swing and spreading nationwide after members of a church attended a political demonstration, authorities said on Thursday, threatening one of the worlds COVID-19 success stories.

The Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reported 288 new cases as of Wednesday, marking a week of triple-digit daily increases, although down slightly from the previous days 297.

This is a grave situation that could possibly lead to a nationwide pandemic, Vice Health Minister Kim Gang-lip told a briefing.

According to KCDC deputy director Kwon Jun-wook, without aggressive contact tracing, the country could experience the types of spikes and continued infections witnessed in the U.S. and Europe.

Consider the COVID-19 pandemic now to be in full-swing.

South Korea was one of the first countries outside China to see an explosive spread of the new coronavirus, however intensive tracing and testing had brought infections under control and quelled a subsequent series of spikes.

The latest outbreak is driven by hundreds of infections among members of a church run by a far-right preacher.

They had attended an anti-government protest in Seoul on Aug. 15, the 75th anniversary of Japans World War Two surrender and the end of colonial rule.

Mr Kwon urged all demonstrators to get tested immediately at nearby public health clinics to protect the vulnerable around them.

The demonstration may have been a catalyst for the nationwide outbreak, as churchgoers chartered buses to the capital from their homes across the country, including the southern port of Busan, Mr Kwon said.

(Reuters/NAN)
Jessica, Silvia and Lucy Sanchez address the Democratic National Convention. (Democratic National Convention)

Instead of protecting us, you tore our world apart."

Estela Juarez read her words to President Trump on the third night of the Democratic convention as immigrants lambasted him for his policies that have upended lives of families who fear deportation or separation from their children.

"My dad thought you would protect military families. So he voted for you in 2016, Mr. President," 11-year-old Estela read from her letter. She believed her mother would be safe from deportation because her father, a Marine, was serving their country.

"Now, my mom is gone, and she's been taken from us for no reason at all. Every day that passes you deport more moms and dads and take them away from kids like me."

Another family appeared at the virtual convention to tell of their life in North Carolina. The family is mixed-status  Silvia Sanchez is in the country illegally, her daughter Jessica is a recipient of the Deferred Arrivals for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA, and daughter Lucy is a citizen.

"I work to help my community," Jessica, 25, said, "but ever since Donald Trump was elected, all our fears have returned."

Silvia brought Jessica, who was born with spina bifida, to the U.S. illegally in 1996, the 49-year-old mother said in a phone interview on Wednesday. Doctors gave the baby weeks to live if she didn't seek better care, so Silvia left her home in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and crossed the border.

"More than anything, it was to save her life," said Silvia, who now works in construction with her husband in Charlotte.

Lucy, 28, who was born in Texas, said she plans to vote for former Vice President Joe Biden on Nov. 3.

"I'm going to vote for my mother, my sister and my daughter. I will vote for a future where all of our lives have dignity and respect," Lucy said.

Silvia said she is confident Biden can create a pathway to citizenship for her and others like her. Although she was nervous about appearing onscreen at the convention for thousands of people to see, she said she felt it was necessary.

Story continues

"This platform is important so people get to know the 11 million undocumented who are in this country," she said.

Immigration has been a centerpiece of Trumps administration and his reelection campaign. Biden and Trump are on nearly opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to immigration, with Trump reshaping U.S. policy by restricting immigration through executive orders.

Immigration activists are quick to denounce the measures his administration has taken to reduce immigration to the U.S., including the more than 400 executive actions he has signed that range in scope from refugee resettlement, the Obama-era DACA program and immigration courts.

Bidens platform was shaped in part by a primary contest that pushed his campaign to adopt progressive stances. He was also confronted by immigration activists during the primaries, and he later expressed remorse for President Obamas immigration policies that resulted in the deportation of millions, including families, saying the administration "took too long to get it right.

Biden has promised to expand protections for immigrants and overturn most of Trump's policies. He has criticized Trumps zero-tolerance policy, which separated thousands of families at the border. Biden has said within his first 100 days in office, he would prioritize family reunifications of those separated at the border and reinstate the DACA program, which Jessica and millions of others are hoping will provide security.

He faces a challenge that Obama also faced during his tenure  working with Congress to establish comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship.




ATLANTA - New guidance from President Donald Trumps administration that declares teachers to be critical infrastructure workers could give the green light to exempting teachers from quarantine requirements after being exposed to COVID-19 and instead send them back into the classroom.

Keeping teachers without symptoms in the classroom, as a handful of school districts in Tennessee and Georgia have already said they may do, raises the risk that they will spread the respiratory illness to students and fellow employees. Multiple teachers can be required by public health agencies to quarantine for 14 days during an outbreak, which can stretch a districts ability to keep providing in-person instruction.

South Carolina health officials also describe teachers as critical infrastructure workers, although its unclear if any district there is asking teachers to return before 14 days.

Among the first districts to name teachers as critical infrastructure workers was eastern Tennessees Greene County, where the school board gave the designation to teachers July 13.

It essentially means if we are exposed and we know we might potentially be positive, we still have to come to school and we might at that point be carriers and spreaders, said Hillary Buckner, who teaches Spanish at Chuckey-Doak High School in Afton.

Buckner, secretary of the county-level affiliate of the National Education Association, said its unethical for teachers to risk infecting students. Only prekindergarten and kindergarten students are currently attending class face-to-face in 7,500-student Greene County, going two days a week for two-and-a-half hours a day. Teachers are instructing others online from their classrooms, Buckner said, but she said the local school board could soon mandate a broader in-person return.

Data kept by The Associated Press shows the coronavirus is spreading faster per-capita in Georgia than any other state, while Tennessee has the seventh-fastest spread. A few schools that reopened for in-person instruction in both states have already closed after cases were reported. Gordon Central High School in the northwest Georgia town of Calhoun switched to online instruction Wednesday citing a high number of teachers in quarantine.

At least five other school districts in Tennessee have given the designation to their teachers, seeking to exempt them from quarantine orders. Gov. Bill Lee on Tuesday blessed the move, with his administration saying it would accept the designation, citing the Department of Homeland Securitys Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency.

That agency on Tuesday issued its fourth version of who counts as a critical infrastructure worker, for the first time saying teachers should be on the list alongside nurses, police officers and meat packers. Such workers can be permitted to keep working following COVID-19 exposure provided they remain asymptomatic and additional precautions are implemented to protect them and the community, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states.

The decision is the districts, the Republican Lee said in a Tuesday news conference. If they make that decision, we have given them guidance that they must follow if they choose that critical infrastructure designation.

In Georgia, suburban Atlanta s Forsyth County has also designated teachers as critical infrastructure workers. Spokesperson Jennifer Caracciolo said that means they could be told to return to classrooms, but said the 50,000-student district will decide on a case-by-case basis.

A spokesperson for Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said his administration is evaluating whether it wants to incorporate the federal guidance into Georgias legal framework, which could spur more districts to act.

We have had some superintendents reach out to ask where the administration is on this topic, said Candice Broce, a spokesperson for the Republican Kemp. Were in the soliciting-input mode.

A lawyer for Kemp wrote an email Wednesday telling Georgias Floyd County district that teachers remain subject to quarantine orders until Kemp or health officials decide whether to incorporate the federal guidance. Floyd County said Thursday it would reverse its designation of teachers as critical infrastructure workers.

Critics in Georgia say the designation would ignore new health guidance issued to schools that says exposed teachers must quarantine for 14 days, even if they get a negative test.

Craig Harper, director of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, a non-union association, said it would be reckless and starkly contradicts the newest Georgia Department of Public Health guidance intended to protect student and educator health and curb spread of the virus.

Teacher unions and national school administrator groups couldnt cite examples in other states Wednesday.

NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garcia said in a statement that the designation has no legal merit and is more of a rhetorical gambit to give President Trump and those governors who are disregarding the advice and guidance from public health experts an excuse to force educators into unsafe schools.

American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten expressed similar sentiments, saying the Trump administration will always try to change the rules to threaten, bully and coerce.

If the president really saw us as essential, hed act like it, Weingarten said in a statement. Teachers are and always have been essential workersbut not essential enough, it seems, for the Trump administration to commit the resources necessary to keep them safe in the classroom.

___

Associated Press writer Kimberlee Kruesi in Nashville, Tennessee, contributed to this report.

___

Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.
The Bucharest Court of Appeal ruled on Thursday on an appeal filed by Liviu Dragnea against serving a sentence he was handed in the case of fictitious employment at DGASPC Teleorman, with the former Social Democratic Party (PSD) national leader requesting his release from prison on the grounds that he is being held illegally.

The former PSD leader said he was innocent, adding that if he continues to be held in prison "through a brutal human rights violation" means that the Romanian judiciary "could not withstand political pressure.""I say what I said before. I was sent to prison completely innocent. Basically, I was sent to prison by an illegal panel. The lawyer showed that Romania is a party to the European Convention on Human Rights, which is clear and unequivocal. I was sent to prison for non-compliance with the law and, if I am kept in prison through a brutal human rights violation, it means that in Romania the judiciary is not resisting political pressure," Dragnea said in court.This enforcement appeal is the last challenge used by Dragnea to get out of prison earlier, after receiving an unfavorable decision on June 9 at the court of first instance - the Bucharest Tribunal.In his court filings, Dragnea points to an appeal related to "habeas corpus" - a law of a constitutional nature, promulgated in 1679 by the English Parliament that guarantees a person's freedom.Lawyers to the former PSD national leader claim that he is illegally detained in the penitentiary, because the panel of three judges of the Supreme Court that convicted him was not specialising in corruption. The lawyers referenced an October 2019 decision of the Constitutional Court.On May 27, 2019, the Supreme Court handed Dragnea a final and binding sentence of 3 years and 6 months in prison for instigating abuse of office in the case of fictitious employment by DGASPC Teleorman.Dragnea made several attempts to get out of the penitentiary, by using extraordinary remedies in court, but his requests were all rejected.
MOSCOW, Aug 19 (Reuters) - The defence ministry of Belarus has ordered a ramping up of its military presence along the borders of Poland and Lithuania, the TASS news agency cited the ministry as saying on Wednesday.

The ministry plans to send a guided missile division, anti-aircraft military hardware and drones to the region, TASS cited the ministry as saying. (Writing by Polina Ivanova; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Kolkata:

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday lashed out at the Centre as she criticised the I-T raid at the residence of Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary P Rama Mohana Rao.

If a state government officer involved in corruption, Centre should inform state, but they don't; even raided TN Chief Secretarys house, this is unconstitutional, she said.

From this Midnapur, I challenge that either PM Modi or India will stay because people are the biggest God. Want to tell Narendra Modiji and all BJP workers that don't attack anyone, just arrest me and all your political revenge will be completed, she added.

ALSO READ | Mamata Banerjee terms I-T raid at Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary's residence as vindictive, unethical

Earlier on Wednesday, Mamata had called the I-T raids at Rama Mohana Raos home a vindictive and unethical act by the central agencies devalues the institution of head of the civil service.

Why this vindictive, unethical, technically improper action? Is it only to disturb the federal structure? Why do not they raid Amit Shah and others... she said in a statement.

Banerjee said corruption needs to be strongly condemned, but the raid on Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary by central agencies devalues the institution of head of the civil service.

ALSO READ | Income Tax raids at Tamil Nadu's Chief Secretary Rammohan Rao's residence

The proper procedure should have been to take the state leadership into confidence and removing him from the post prior to any preemptive action, based on information, she said.

The Income-Tax department on Wednesday conducted searches at over a dozen locations in connection with its tax evasion probe against the son and few other relatives of Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary P Rama Mohana Rao.

It is understood that the official residence of the Chief Secretary in Chennai was also raided.

(With inputs from agencies)

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Iran says holding UAE boat after fishermen deaths Iranian fishermen seen in this 2015 picture clean their nets after unloading their catch in the southern port of Chabahar

Tehran said Thursday it seized an Emirati boat following a Gulf incident in which two Iranian fishermen died, stoking tensions after the UAE said it would establish ties with Iran's arch-enemy Israel.

The Iranian foreign ministry said it also summoned the UAE charge d'affaires to protest the maritime incident, which took place on Monday.

UAE coastguard vessels had "opened fire on several Iranian fishing boats... leading to the deaths of two fishermen", a statement by the ministry said.

An "Emirati boat was seized by coast guards of the Islamic republic of Iran because it was sailing illegally in our waters, and its crew have been arrested," it added.

The official Emirati news agency WAM said eight fishing boats had violated its own territorial waters on Monday, without giving their nationality.

"The coastguard boats attempted to stop the fishing boats but they did not comply with the orders, therefore, rules of engagement were applied", WAM added.

Iran's foreign ministry said the UAE had on Wednesday expressed "its deep regret" and said it would provide compensation.

Iran and the UAE have longstanding economic links and the Emirates are home to a significant Iranian expatriate community.

But tensions have spiked between the two nations following last week's surprise announcement that the UAE has agreed to normalise ties with Israel under a US-brokered deal.

Iran condemned the agreement, with President Hassan Rouhani calling it a "big mistake" and warning "against opening the path of Israel to the region", without elaborating on what that would mean.

Rouhani's remarks were seen as "threats" by the UAE which on Sunday summoned the Iranian charge d'affaires in Abu Dhabi to protest "unacceptable and inflammatory" rhetoric.

The UAE, which downgraded its relations with Iran in 2016 amid fierce rivalry between Tehran and Emirati ally Saudi Arabia, said the remarks "had serious implications for security and stability in the Gulf region".

Story continues

- Missiles unveiled -

Establishing diplomatic ties between Israel and Washington's Middle East allies, including the oil-rich Gulf states, has been central to US President Donald Trump's regional strategy to contain Iran.

On Wednesday, Trump said the United States will activate a controversial mechanism aimed at reimposing UN sanctions on Iran known as "snapback".

This follows last week's defeat of the US at the UN Security Council where it failed to muster support for a resolution to extend a conventional arms embargo on Iran.

Tehran has been at loggerheads with Washington since 2018, when Trump unilaterally withdrew from a historic 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and reimposed US sanctions.

"Snapback" aims to restore all international sanctions against Iran that were lifted as part of the 2015 accord with Tehran.

Iran denies developing nuclear weapons.

But on Thursday, in apparent defiance of Washington, Tehran unveiled two missiles it said had an extended range, naming them after commanders killed in a US strike in January in Iraq.

One of them, unveiled as a ballistic missile, was called "Haj Qasem" in honour of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, while the other, a cruise missile, was named after his Iraqi lieutenant Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

ap/hkb/dwo
Chron.com is following the latest headlines on the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the Houston area

9 a.m.: The latest Houston, Texas numbers

Clocking in at 10.81 percent, the state's COVID-19 positive test rate, a metric local and state officials have repeatedly stressed as critical to slowing the pandemic down, on Wednesday reached the lowest level recorded since late June, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis of state data.

As of Wednesday evening, the number of COVID-19 cases in Texas increased from 570,583 to 577,132, while deaths increased by 303 to 10,923. This marks the fifth highest day for newly reported deaths since the pandemic began.

In the Houston region, cases increased by 1,844 to 137,206 cases total, while deaths increased by 62 to 2,527 total. It's important to note that some Houston-area counties are reporting backlogged data; for example, Montgomery County reported that of its 567 new cases since Friday, 402 were from June and July, per the Houston Chronicle's data team. Harris County reported 804 new cases and is now at 94,676 cases total.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston's Hispanics are bearing the brunt of the pandemic. Language barriers are a large reason why.

The Houston Health Department will hit the streets again this weekend going door-to-door in high-positivity, vulnerable neighborhoods to share critical COVID-19 health information with residents there, according to Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner.

The department first canvassed hard-hit neighborhoods in late July as part of its Better Together, or Todos Juntos. Mejor, campaign that seeks to fill information gaps with multilingual messaging. Minority groups such as Houston's Hispanic population are bearing the brunt of the pandemic and language barriers are a large reason why. The department is trying to combat the harsh statistics that show Hispanics are dying and contracting the virus at alarmingly high rates as compared to other ethnicities and racial groups.

NOTE: The numbers included in this report represent a one-day change in data from Tuesday, August 18 through Wednesday, August 19. 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 large fire believed to be ignited by a falling power line burned Wednesday at a Dallas-area factory that makes trash bags and other plastics, authorities said.

There were no reports of injuries from the massive blaze at the Poly-America complex in Grand Prairie, authorities said. No evacuations were ordered, but people with underlying health conditions were asked to avoid the area.

This is going to be burning late into tomorrow, Grand Prairie Assistant Fire Chief Bill Murray said during a Wednesday morning press conference. These are rolls of plastic sheeting, huge rolls, and theyre stacked sometimes eight feet high. Plastic is hard to put out and its just gonna burn.

Firefighters believe the blaze started when a power line fell near an area where plastic rolls were being stored, causing them to catch fire, Dallas TV station KTVT reported.

Poly-America is headquartered in Grand Prairie and specializes in products made from polyethylene, such as trash bags, drop cloths and plastic sheeting, according to the companys website.

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

Topics Manufacturing
Police in Hanoi are looking for a burglar who broke into a local gold shop in the wee hours of Tuesday and took 13 kilograms of gold and VND140 million (US$6,000) in cash.

Officers said on Wednesday they were cooperating with their colleagues in Son Tay Town to closely investigate a burglary at a local gold shop.

At about 3:00 am Tuesday, a young man wearing a helmet, a face mask, and gloves scaled a house next to Tuan Dat gold and jewelry shop on Phung Khac Khoan Street and climbed over into the balcony on the third floor of the shop.

The burglar broke through two layers of locked doors on the third floor and went down to the first floor to disable the security system before stealing gold inside the display cabinets.

He took 13 kilograms of gold and VND140 million in cash with the total value estimated to be VND13 billion ($556,800), according to Van Anh, the shops owner.

Tuan Dat gold and jewelry shop in Son Tay Town, Hanoi, where a burglary occurred on August 18, 2020. Photo: Van Anh / Tuoi Tre

At the time of the burglary, all members of her family were in their rooms with doors securely locked, Anh added.

After accomplishing the heist, the thief climbed back out, walked to a motorbike parked ten buildings away, and escaped on the vehicle.

The case is being further investigated.

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A German couple going swimming in the Grand Canal. An Austrian breaking the toe off a statue when he climbed on it for a selfie. A French woman writing her name in felt-tip pen on the Ponte Vecchio. A woman posing for a selfie on top of 2,000-year-old thermal baths in Pompeii. Italians badly want to revive the all-important tourism industry in the wake of COVID, yes, but not if tourists vandalize. But which will be more effective, education or harsher punishment?  The New York Times
MIDDLETOWN  A Portland man who is a registered sex offender was arrested this week for his alleged part in an incident involving a female walking near Portlands Arrigoni Bridge.

City police were called to lower North Main Street in Middletown Wednesday evening on the report of a person almost being hit by a car driven by an individual who attempted to drag a female into a vehicle, according to a police report.

Dennis J. Sanborn, 61, of Portland, reportedly was driving a gray Ford Escape on North Main Street, when officials allege he backed up his SUV to speak to a woman, asking her to be his friend.

The victim declined and continued walking, the report said. Police say Sanborn shifted his SUV into reverse at a high rate of speed, coming within inches of hitting the woman, then again asked the victim to be his friend.

She yelled no, authorities said, walked away, and Sanborn is alleged to have pulled up to the woman and yelled, get in the car! A witness reported hearing the victims screams, and video surveillance confirmed the account, the report said.

Portland police told city officers they had come into contact with the same vehicle and driver earlier in the day.

The victim positively identified Sanborn as the driver, police said.

Sanborn, who is on probation, is charged with first-degree reckless endangerment and second-degree breach of peace. He is being held in lieu of a $30,000 cash/surety bond and was due in Superior Court at Middletown Thursday.

Police say Sanborn is a registered sex offender and twice was convicted of fourth-degree sexual assault, and of drunken driving, threatening, narcotics possession, disorderly conduct and breach of peace.
Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic nomination for vice president, making her the first black woman on a major partys White House ticket.

In her Democratic National Convention speech, she accused Trump of turning our tragedies into political weapons." She urged Americans to vote for Joe Biden, a president who will bring all of us together."

Donald Trumps failure of leadership has cost lives and livelihoods," the former California prosecutor charged in her acceptance speech.

But there was something else in her speech which stood out - especially to her Indian-American voters.

Harris used the Tamil word, chithis. The word which translates to aunt sent Americans Google-ing what it meant, and for Indian-Americans and Tamilians watching from around the world, it came as a pleasant surprise - the first time someone spoke Tamil during an US Democratic speech.

Watching Kamala Harris speak with such pride about her South Indian mom, while I sit next to my Amma, and my nephew who calls me Chithi, is so special. https://t.co/hLMNKrBBte Aarthi Gunasekaran (@aarthikaran) August 20, 2020

Just hearing @KamalaHarris say chithi"! Im hearing Tamil on the TV and it is coming from the VP nominee of the US of the A. Shri (@shrishrishrii) August 20, 2020

Millions of Americans are googling chithi, so next time someone @ me that Kamala Harris isnt proud of her Indian heritage  Vipin Narang (@NarangVipin) August 20, 2020

Wow, I heard Chithi" during a convention speech in the US. how great is that! #Tamil Karthee Madasamy (@KartheeMadasamy) August 20, 2020

Familyis my chithis - Kamala HarrisEvery Tamilian signs up to vote  Anand Raghuraman (@AKRaghuraman) August 20, 2020

Shoutout to all the chithis!!!  Pavithra S. Mohan (@pavsmo) August 20, 2020

I literally have tears in my eyes. @KamalaHarris just said chithis which means auntie. My heart is so full right now Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) August 20, 2020

When @KamalaHarris gave a shout-out to her chittis" (ie, her mothers sisters)It was- Im pretty sure- the first time that #Tamil has been spoken at a US political convention. Jonah Blank (@JonahBlank) August 20, 2020

Kamala Harris used chithi in her DNCC speech, Tamilians RISE UP!!!!!! Minu (@MinuNagash) August 20, 2020

For non-Tamilians, it led people to looking up the word, trying to understand what it meant. After her speech, Google trends registered a huge spike in search terms for it.

Harris also posted a tweet about her mother, who hailed from Chennai in India.

My mother instilled in my sister, Maya, and me the values that would chart the course of our lives. She taught us to put family firstthe family youre born into and the family you choosebut to also see a world beyond ourselves," she said.

My mother instilled in my sister, Maya, and me the values that would chart the course of our lives.She taught us to put family firstthe family youre born into and the family you choosebut to also see a world beyond ourselves. #DemConvention pic.twitter.com/xU61nLrUXx  Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 20, 2020

Harris is half-Tamilian on her mothers side, and has fond memories of India, especially with her grandfather.

Harris Chittis, her mothers younger sister, and Harris aunt, Dr Sarala Gopalan, told CNN-News18 that the entire family was ecstatic after they heard about her nomination.

The entire family is so thrilled and happy after we heard the news. A friend of mine in the United States gave us the message at 4 am in the morning, and we have been up, since then," Gopalan said.

Asked about how she remembered Kamala as a child, Gopalan said that she was a very nice, kind and affectionate person, adding that she was speaking this despite the fact that Harris was her niece.

If I send her a message right now saying Kamala I need you, the next day she will be there. She is very caring and kind to people, and thats what I like about her most," Gopalan said.

Also Read: If I Need Her, She Will be Here Next Day: Kamala Harris Aunt in India Says Her Niece is Too Kind

Earlier, when she was fighting the elections for California Attorney General, she 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 where she used to walk with her grandfather.

Read all the Latest News and Breaking News here
Former President Barack Obama used his primetime speaking slot at the virtual Democratic National Convention to make the case for Joe Biden as the next president  and then argued against giving another term to Donald Trump, defying the tradition that former presidents avoid direct criticism of their successors.

"I have sat in the Oval Office with both of the men who are running for president, Obama said in a live speech from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia. I never expected that my successor would embrace my vision or continue my policies. I did hope, for the sake of our country, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously, that he might come to feel the weight of the office and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care. But he never did.

Obama, who has been the object of Trumps insults for years, has mostly refrained from responding. On this occasion, though, he delivered a blistering and direct rebuke of the sitting president.

Former President Barack Obama speaks during the virtual Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19, 2020. (via Reuters TV)

For close to four years now, he has shown no interest in putting in the work, Obama said. No interest in finding common ground, no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends. No interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves. Donald Trump hasnt grown into the job, because he cant.

And the consequences of that failure are severe, he continued. 170,000 Americans dead. Millions of jobs gone, while those at the top take in more than ever. Our worst impulses unleashed, our proud reputation around the world badly diminished, and our democratic institutions threatened like never before.

Trump was apparently watching Obama's speech, which was carried live on all major and cable networks. As he spoke, Trump lashed out on Twitter, reiterating the false claim that Obama "spied" on his campaign.

Story continues

HE SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN, AND GOT CAUGHT!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 20, 2020

The 44th president then made a pitch to voters to support his former vice president.

Let me tell you about my friend Joe Biden, Obama recalled. Twelve years ago, when I began my search for a vice president, I didnt know Id end up finding a brother.

The brotherly relationship Obama celebrated wasnt without tension. Former Obama administration officials have described an occasionally strained relationship between the men and between their respective staffs, particularly during the 2016 primaries. Bidens camp was reportedly irked that Obama threw his weight behind Hillary Clinton while Biden, still grieving from the recent death of his son, Beau Biden, was considering his own run for president.

Obama, who did not endorse any candidate in the 2020 Democratic primary, privately worried about Bidens candidacy. (Dont underestimate Joes ability to f*** things up, Obama told one Democrat during the race, according to Politico.)

Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama in the Oval Office in May 2016. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

Joe and I came from different places and different generations, Obama said on Wednesday night. But what I quickly came to admire about him is his resilience, born of too much struggle; his empathy, born of too much grief. Joes a man who learned early on to treat every person he meets with respect and dignity, living by the words his parents taught him: 'No ones better than you, but youre better than nobody.'

"Over eight years, Joe was the last one in the room whenever I faced a big decision, Obama said. He made me a better president. Hes got the character and the experience to make us a better country."

Obama, the nations first Black president, spoke before Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., the first Black woman to be nominated on a major party presidential ticket.

"Tonight, I am asking you to believe in Joe and Kamalas ability to lead this country out of dark times and build it back better, Obama said. And heres the thing: No single American can fix this country alone, not even a president. Democracy was never meant to be transactional: You give me your vote; I make everything better. It requires an active and informed citizenry.

I am also asking you to believe in your own ability  to embrace your own responsibility as citizens  to make sure that the basic tenets of our democracy endure, he said. Because thats whats at stake right now. Our democracy.

"Look, I understand why many Americans are down on government," Obama continued. "The way the rules have been set up and abused in Congress make it easy for special interests to stop progress. Believe me, I know. I understand why a white factory worker whos seen his wages cut or his job shipped overseas might feel like the government no longer looks out for him, and why a Black mother might feel like it never looked out for her at all. I understand why a new immigrant might look around this country and wonder whether theres still a place for him here; why a young person might look at politics right now, the circus of it all, the meanness and the lies and crazy conspiracy theories and think, whats the point?

President-elect Donald Trump and President Barack Obama conclude their meeting in the Oval Office on Nov. 10, 2016. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP)

"Well, heres the point: this president and those in power  those who benefit from keeping things the way they are  they are counting on your cynicism," Obama said. "We cant let that happen. Do not let them take away your power. Dont let them take away your democracy."

Like other speakers at the convention, Obama recalled Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., the activist and civil rights leader who died last month  and called on young Americans to continue his fight.

Whatever our backgrounds, were all the children of Americans who fought the good fight, he said. Great grandparents working in firetraps and sweatshops without rights or representation. Farmers losing their dreams to dust. Irish and Italians and Asians and Latinos told to go back where they came from. Jews and Catholics, Muslims and Sikhs, made to feel suspect for the way they worshiped. Black Americans chained and whipped and hanged. Spit on for trying to sit at lunch counters. Beaten for trying to vote. If anyone had a right to believe that this democracy did not work, and could not work, it was those Americans.

You can give our democracy new meaning, he told voters. You can take it to a better place. Youre the missing ingredient  the ones who will decide whether or not America becomes the country that fully lives up to its creed.

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
Pranab Mukherjee

New Delhi: Respiratory parameters of former president Pranab Mukherjee have shown a slight improvement, though he continues to be on ventilator support, the hospital said on Thursday.

Pranab MukherjeeMukherjee, who was admitted to the Army's Research and Referral Hospital on August 10, developed a lung infection on Wednesday.

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Doctors attending on him said his vital parameters remain stable.

Pranab Mukherjee "The respiratory parameters of Hon'ble Shri Pranab Mukherjee have shown slight improvement though he continues to be on ventilatory support. His vital and clinical parameters remain stable and are being closely monitored by a team of specialists," a hospital statement said.

Mukherjee was operated on for removal of a clot in the brain on August 10 at the Army Hospital in Delhi Cantonment. He was also tested positive for Covid-19.
Australian chocolate connoisseurs are confessing their love for Aldi's $2.99 Choceur range - with many of them saying it's the supermarket's 'best kept secret' and better than Cadbury.

When Adelaide mother Erin shared an image of the Choceur Hazelnut Creme block to Instagram she started a conversation about the brand and its likeness to Cadbury's Marble block.

This particular pack of Choceur has five mini chocolate bars inside - so it can be shared amongst friends - with a milk chocolate outer and hazelnut filling.

When Adelaide mother Erin shared an image of the Choceur Hazelnut Creme block to Instagram she started a conversation about the brand and its likeness to Cadbury's Marble block

'This is better than Cadbury's Marble and those old school seashell chocolates. Thanks Aldi for having the best chocolate,' she wrote

'This is better than Cadbury's Marble and those old school seashell chocolates. Thanks Aldi for having the best chocolate,' she wrote.

It's also 50 cents cheaper than the Cadbury block of the same vein, which is on supermarket shelves for $3.50.

It wasn't long before fans of hers responded, saying that 'Aldi chocolate is so underrated' and worth stocking up on.

The Hazelnut Creme creation is served differently in the 'Choceur Liviano' range, which features seven small bars for $2.49.

It has been likened to eating a Kinder Bueno bar, which is normally $1 per bar.

There are a number of Aldi chocolate fans on TikTok and Instagram (pictured)

Aldi has curated 19 different flavours in the range, with unique options like Rum, Raisin and Nut, Coffee and Cream and Salted Pretzel

'I think it's like a little secret that Aldi has the best chocolate ever and this is a dupe for Bueno - yum!' TikTok star Merna said in a video

In 2018 the Liviano bar featured in Aldi's Product of the Year awards because it had been so popular among customers.

The Choceur Milk and White Chocolate bar is a dupe for Cadbury's Top Deck, and they also sell a traditional milk chocolate and white chocolate on their own which rivals Cadbury's.

Aldi has curated 19 different flavours in the range, with unique options like Rum, Raisin and Nut, Coffee and Cream and Salted Pretzel.

There is a Facebook page called 'Aldi Chocolate' for those who believe the German supermarket sell the 'best' sweets - and it has more than 500 fans.




By Kim Se-jeong







Young environmental activists in Korea gathered outside Samsung's headquarters in Seoul Wednesday, adding pressure on the electronic giant's construction arm not to participate in a coal plant construction project in Vietnam.







Samsung C&T is currently considering participation in the Vung Ang 2, a 1,200-megawatt coal power plant construction project in Vietnam's Ha Tinh province.







"Coal is the biggest contributor to the world's greenhouse gas emissions. If humanity is wiped out from the Earth because of climate change what good would Samsung's quality goods and services be?" Nam Dae-hee, 18, a member of Youth 4 Climate Action in Korea, said during a press conference.







In a letter to Samsung C&T, the young activists argued: "With the help of the Green New Deal, the Korean government pledged to reduce 12.29 million tons of greenhouse gases by 2025. But the coal plant in Vietnam is projected to emit 6.6 million tons every year  more than 200 million tons in total for the next 30 years. If Samsung C&T decides to participate, it would mean the company has no awareness about climate change and its consequences."







Earlier this week, international environmental groups ran an ad in the Financial Times, a London-based economic daily, pressing the Korean company to stop its pursuit of the coal power project.







Specialized in power plant construction, Samsung C&T has many projects in and outside Korea. According to its website, it is undertaking power plant projects in the UAE, Singapore and Saudi Arabia.







A representative from Samsung C&T refused to comment specifically on the environmentalists' actions but said of the company's intentions, "We are only considering participation. We've not decided to participate. This is all we can say now."







Globally, Samsung has been under growing pressure over its business decisions' potential to pollute and emit greenhouse gases. Last month, Samsung Securities, a financial arm of the group, canceled a coal shipping port construction financing project in Queensland, Australia, in the face of a boycott campaign by local consumers.







According to eco-business.com, Standard Chartered Bank, OCBD Bank and DBS had been interested in the same project but withdrew from it because of "conflicts with tightened climate policies."





International environmental activists have come together recently in their campaigns to stop Samsung C&T from participating in the Vietnamese project. The website

is dedicated to this cause, urging visitors to act against Samsung.







Youth 4 Climate Action has been especially active recently. In May, it successfully influenced the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education to keep its money out of banks involved in coal financing projects.







Coal is blamed as a major contributing factor to greenhouse gas emissions and aggressive global campaigns are underway to reduce the world's reliance on it. The global trend isn't followed in Korea where coal is still the primary source of energy. Korea is one of the world's largest greenhouse gas emitters.




Kareena Kapoor Khan, who recently announced her second pregnancy, has started shooting again. Naina Sawhney, Bebos hairdresser, has come out with a picture of the actress and her favourite make-up artiste, Pompy, in what is reportedly the latters residence.

Kareenas cousin Ranbir Kapoor too is back in action. His photographs with his make-up artiste Ajay Kaloya went viral as his fan clubs shared them.

Another Kapoor was spotted at Versova on his way to shoot a commercial for a music app.

Anil is expected to be back on the film sets very soon, says a trade source.

Meanwhile, Ayushmann Khurrana will start shooting his new film in October. Ayushmann says, I have shot multiple things at my hometown and it has been super smooth, shooting with the crew who are also based in Chandigarh. Its refreshing to be on the sets, working after so many months. It took some time to get used to and control the paranoia around the virus, but I think Im fully focussed to work now, of course with all safety measures.

The actor feels, We have to all work towards restarting our industry, and hes glad to have taken a step in that direction.

As we reported earlier, Yami Gautam and Sonakshi Sinha are back at work too. Yami was shooting for what she described as a secret project. Actors Gumeet Choudhary and Sayani Datta are now in Jaipur to shoot the remaining parts of the horror film, The Wife, backed by Zee Studios.

Kunal Khemmu went to Nashik recently to shoot for the second season of his web-series, away from the maddening Mumbai crowds. Dangal girl Sanya Malhotra shot for a chocolate brand, stepping out of her parents home in New Delhi.

Like Raveena Tandon who shot for a sanitiser brand, she was happy that the entire crew was in PPE suits. Vidya Balan and Taapsee Pannu put on the greasepaint a few times recently, and Preity Zinta posted pictures of her make-up session in progress.It feels like we were all making movies in another lifetime, sums up Ayushmann.
The state is expected to announce a $600 million settlement in civil cases filed by Flint residents over the citys water crisis, a number that far outpaces other large lawsuits settled by the state in the last decade.

Flint City Councilman Eric Mays said the $600 million settlement, details of which would be announced soon, is primarily going to the kids who have claimed in lawsuits in state and federal court that they were poisoned by city water while state-appointed emergency managers were running the city.

Related: $600 million settlement likely coming in Flint water cases, councilman says

A $600 million settlement would be a historically large one for the state. According to data from the Senate Fiscal Agency, its more than the $546 million the state has paid out in court judgements and settlements for every lawsuit against it, combined, in the last 10 fiscal years for which data is available.

The money would need to be appropriated through the state legislature, according to a source briefed on the settlement but not authorized to speak publicly.

There is an existing fund the state sends money it wins from lawsuit settlements into and sometimes pays small settlements out of, but it will not cover a settlement of this magnitude, the source said.

The states rainy day fund, which covers emergencies like a shutdown, is hovering around $850 million after the legislature and governor recently withdrew from it to plug holes in the current-year budget caused by the coronavirus crisis.

The crisis has impacted state revenues. At the states May semi-annual Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference, officials concluded the state has billions of dollars less than anticipated in previous estimates. Officials are expected to update that estimate at a meeting next week.

The states total budget hovers around $58 billion, but much of that number is federal money or in dedicated funds that can only be used for specific things. The states General Fund is the most discretionary money at the legislatures disposal and clocks in at $10 billion.

Its not clear, yet, where the $600 million would come from.

House Appropriations Committee Chair Rep. Shane Hernandez, R-Port Huron, said he had not been briefed on the settlement but pointed out the state is already facing a budget shortfall due to revenues declining during the coronavirus pandemic.

Obviously, we already have budget challenges. Im sure that there will be conversations about rainy day fund and other options, he said.
Days after police said a man was shot near Encore Boston Harbor, authorities are now looking into a stabbing near the Everett casino that occurred early Thursday morning, according to WCVB.

Massachusetts State Police were called to Encore Boston at 2:20 a.m. for a report of a stabbing, the television station said. An ambulance was seen leaving the scene, the report said.

In a statement the casino told WCVB, The safety and security of our guests and employees is our highest priority. We are working closely with the Gaming Enforcement Unit of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and the Everett Police Department to fully address the situation.

The incident comes only days after a man in his 30s was shot near the casino, police said.

Police said the man was shot in the area of Sweetser Circle in Everett at around 3 a.m. on Sunday.

The victim, who authorities didnt public identify, was taken to a hospital where he was teated for injuries he sustained during the incident, authorities said.

Encore Boston Harbor reopened in July after shutting down due to the coronavirus.

Related Content:
Alabama election officials expect up to 150,000 absentee ballots this November  a new record if it happens.

Presidential elections draw the biggest turnouts, and the COVID-19 pandemic will keep thousands away from voting lines.

Thats why everyone has the same advice for absentee voters this year. In the words of the Alabama League of Women voters, Give yourself plenty of time. Apply for your absentee ballot early and return it early.

It isnt just Alabama. The prospect of a record absentee vote helped motivate U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to warn states including Alabama last week that the postal service might not be able to get last-minute absentee ballots to vote counters in time.

In Florida Tuesday, more than 2.3 million people cast mail-in ballots largely because of the pandemic. That compares to fewer than 1.3 million in the 2016 primary. The Associated Press reports that unlike 2016, when there were primaries for U.S. Senate that helped drive up Florida turnout, there were no statewide races on the August 2020 ballot.

DeJoy blamed the states late deadlines for absentee voting and financial belt-tightening at the post office.

As the Postmaster General recently reiterated, the Postal Service is in a financially unsustainable position, a postal spokesperson told AL.com Tuesday, stemming from substantial declines in mail volume, and a broken business model. We are currently unable to balance our costs with available funding sources to fulfill both our universal service mission and other legal obligations.

The Postal Service said absentee voters must not delay:

The Postal Service strongly recommends that jurisdictions immediately communicate and advise voters to request ballots at the earliest point allowable but no later than 15 days prior to the election date, the spokeswoman said.

The Postal Service recommends that domestic, non-military voters mail their ballots at least one week prior to their states due date to allow for timely receipt by election officials, the statement continued.

A reversal

After critics said cost-cutting at the Postal Service now would suppress voting and help President Trumps chances of another term, DeJoy reversed course Wednesday. The belt-tightening can wait until after the election, DeJoy said.

The Postal Services financial condition is not going to impact our ability to process and deliver election and political mail, the spokeswoman said.

Alabama voting law is an example of what DeJoy was worried about. It sets an Oct. 29 deadline to ask for an absentee ballot and Nov. 2 as the last day to return that ballot to the courthouse in person. A mailed ballot must be received by county election officials no later than noon Election Day, Nov. 3.

Mail route issue

Waiting until late October to ask for that ballot might not work, and the reasons go beyond the Postal Services financial problems or the volume of ballots.

For example, all mail posted in Huntsville and Tuscaloosa goes to Birmingham for processing before heading back to those cities. Mail from Montgomery goes to Atlanta. That means a ballot mailed one day in Huntsville wont get to the courthouse for at least two days.

Thats a problem, and its a problem all over the state, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill said this week, but its not a problem (President Trumps postmaster general) created. Its a problem weve had for a while.

Merrill thinks its time to revisit the absentee ballot deadlines. But not this year.

Merrill said he will ask the Legislature next year to leave the ballot return deadline at noon on election day but move up the deadline to request an absentee ballot to two weeks before the election.

Merrill said states were warned as early as 2016 that they needed to look at absentee voting.

Thats why in 2019, when we passed reform legislation in the absentee process, we actually changed the law to enable voters to return their ballot not only in person and not only through the U.S. Postal Service, but they could also return it through FedEx, UPS, DHL, or any other certified carrier in the nation, so they wouldnt be concerned about delivery, Merrill said.

Merrill does expect a record vote, and President Trump is the reason. People in our state are going to be voting for the president or theyre going to be voting against the president, he said. Thats it. Very few people are going to be voting for Vice President Biden or against Vice President Biden.

I expect that we will be somewhere between 2.5 and 2.8 million people going to the polls, Merrill said. Those numbers would be the highest in the history of the state. The highest weve ever had is 2.1 million and were going to be well north of that. The state has 3.5 million residents 18 or older and eligible to vote, according to the U.S. Census.

To help, Merrill said hes offered additional vote counting machines and workers to major metro areas like Huntsville.

Absentee voters do have another option than the postal service, Merrill said. They can bring their vote directly to the county courthouse and leave it with the circuit clerk. That may be the safest plan of all, he said.
DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ryanair's <RYA.I> Spanish pilots accepted on Thursday a 20% pay cut and work practice changes, the latest deal the Irish airline has struck with trade unions in exchange for a pledge to minimise job losses.

Europe's biggest budget airline warned it would have to cut up to 3,000 jobs if it could not agree pay cuts with pilots and cabin crew after the COVID-19 crisis grounded 99% of its planes from April to June and continued to hit business thereafter.

Ryanair had reached agreements with 85% of its pilots and 75% of cabin crew by the end of July, including in other major markets such as Britain, Ireland and Germany.

However, it said on Thursday it had failed to strike a deal with Spanish cabin crew unions USO and SITCPLA, making job losses among their members more likely.

Ryanair this week reduced its capacity by a further 20% during September and October after a reimposition of some travel restrictions led to weak bookings.

Criticising Ireland's strict restrictions that allow unencumbered travel to and from just 10 European countries, Ryanair Group Chief Executive Michael O'Leary warned on Wednesday of more jobs losses in its Irish operations.

While bookings were continuing to build in Germany, Italy and most other European countries, they were "terrible" in Ireland and certainly down 50% year-on-year, O'Leary told Irish national broadcaster RTE in an interview.

(Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Mark Potter)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 13:29:47|Editor: huaxia

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ULAN BATOR, Aug.20 (Xinhua) -- A cow has recently given birth to four healthy calves in western Mongolia, the owner of the cow told Xinhua on Thursday.

The cow gave birth to the quadruplets on Tuesday in Khovd city, the capital of the western province of Khovd, and the cow and her calves are now in good health. Multiple births are rare in cows.

"This is the cow's second birth. The cow gave birth to triplets last year," the owner added. Enditem
Women who give birth to a premature baby are much more likely to die young than other mums, warns a new study.

And the risk of an early death persists for up to 40 years after delivery, say researchers.

The study, published by The BMJ, shows that pre-term and early term delivery are independent risk factors for premature death in women.

Researchers say that their findings were not explained by shared genetic or early life environmental factors in families, suggesting that women who deliver prematurely 'need long term clinical follow-up for detection and treatment of chronic disorders associated with early mortality.'

Women who delivered their babies before 27 weeks were 2.2 times more likely than average women to die early, and those who delivered before 37 weeks were at 1.7 times greater risk, an Icahn School of Medicine study found (file)

Around one in nine of all births worldwide occur pre-term, defined as before 37 weeks of pregnancy.

Women who deliver pre-term or extremely pre-term, defined as after 22 to 27 weeks of pregnancy, have been reported to have increased risks of developing conditions including heart disease or diabetes in later life.

But, until now, little was known about their long term risk of death.

The research team led by Dr Casey Crump, at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, set out to examine the long term effect on life expectancy of pre-term delivery.

They analysed figures on length of pregnancy for more than two million women who gave birth in Sweden during the period from 1973 to 2015.

Deaths were then identified from the Swedish Death Register up to December 31, 2016, giving maximum follow-up time of 44 years.

Overall, 76,535 women died (3.5 percent), at an average age of 58.

After taking account of several other risk factors, the researchers found that women who delivered pre-term or extremely pre-term had 1.7-fold and 2.2-fold increased risk of death from any cause, respectively, during the next 10 years compared with those who delivered full term, equating to around 28 excess deaths per 100,000 person years.

The findings showed that whereas risks were highest in the first 10 years after delivery and then declined, absolute differences in death associated with pre-term delivery increased with longer follow-up times.

For example, there was a 1.5-fold increased risk / equivalent to 48 excess deaths per 100,000 person years - 10 to 19 years after delivery, and a 1.4-fold increased risk - equivalent to 143 excess deaths per 100,000 person years - 20 to 44 years after delivery.

Overall, an estimated 2,654 excess deaths in this population were associated with pre-term delivery, or one excess death for every 73 women who delivered pre-term.

Dr Crump said: 'Several specific causes of death associated with pre-term delivery were identified, including cardiovascular and respiratory disorders, diabetes, and cancer.

'What's more, these findings did not seem to be attributable to shared genetic or environmental factors within families.'

He said that premature delivery should now be recognised as a risk factor for early mortality in women that can remain raised up to 40 years later.

Dr Crump added: 'Women who deliver prematurely need long term clinical follow-up for detection and treatment of chronic disorders associated with early mortality.'
A nurse says Health Department staff overseeing hotel quarantine viewed detainees with serious mental and physical health issues as problematic, refused requests for medication from people in extreme pain and told someone to stop threatening suicide just to get a cigarette.

The whistleblower, known only as Nurse Jen, was one of two nurses who gave testimony to Victoria's inquiry into hotel quarantine on Thursday.

Nurse Jen, giving evidence to the hotel quarantine inquiry on Thursday, worked at a quarantine hotel.

Nurse Jen, who worked mostly at the ParkRoyal at the Melbourne airport over four weeks in May and June, alleged she had been blacklisted by the agency she worked for after raising concerns about what she had seen working at the ParkRoyal.

Michael Tait, who worked with some of the first arrivals into quarantine at Crown Metropol, spoke of a shambolic response, with personal protective equipment hard to come by for nurses, and not used properly by guards.
New Delhi: A day after the Supreme Court ordered a CBI probe into the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, the Mumbai police is now gearing up to handover all the case-related documents to the CBI officials.

According to sources, the Mumbai police will no longer be conducting a parallel investigation in the actor's death case. It will cooperate with the CBI officials probing Sushant's case.

Also, reports suggest that the Maharashtra government will not be filing the review petition against the SC order of CBI probe in Sushant Singh Rajput's death case.

Upon their arrival in Mumbai on Thursday, the CBI officers team will first visit the agency headquarters in the city and then meet the Mumbai Police cops who investigated the actor's death case. The CBI team will gather all the information from the police, including the case diary and electronic evidence. The post-mortem report will be collected from the hospital.

Meanwhile, the CBI team is also likely to visit Sushant's home for investigation and recreate the death scene. The officers can also meet those who were present in the house when Sushant died.

Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his Bandra residence on June 14, 2020.
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 on Aug. 17 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 (at)realDonaldTrump for your unwavering commitment to the state of Iowa.

Reynolds had filed an expedited presidential major disaster declaration seeking $3.99 billion.

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 farmland, 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Related:

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

Topics Agribusiness Iowa
California Senator Kamala Harris, on August 19, made a brief reference to India in her historic address while accepting the Democratic Partys nomination for vice president.

Harris is the first woman of South Asian descent to be on a major partys presidential ticket. Her family comprises her husband, Doug Emhoff, children, sister, nieces, godchildren, uncles, aunts and chithis, she said. Chithis translates to aunties in Tamil.

Family is my husband Doug, who I met on a blind date set up by my best friend. Family is our beautiful children, Cole and Ella, who as you just heard, call me Momala. Family is my sister. Family is my best friend, my nieces and my godchildren. Family is my uncles, my aunts and my chithis, Harris said on day three of the Democratic National Convention being held virtually amid the pandemic.

Harris mother Shyamala Gopalan was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Gopalan was a widely respected breast cancer researcher who immigrated to the United States from India in the 1960s.

Read more: Who is Kamala Harris? All about Biden's vice-presidential running mate

Talking about her mother who hailed from India, Harris said, My mother taught me that service to others gives life purpose and meaning. And oh, how I wish she were here tonight but I know shes looking down on me from above. I keep thinking about that 25-year-old Indian woman  all of five feet tall  who gave birth to me at Kaiser Hospital in Oakland, California.

My mother instilled in my sister, Maya, and me the values that would chart the course of our lives. She raised us to be proud, strong Black women. And she raised us to know and be proud of our Indian heritage, Harris added.



I literally have tears in my eyes. @KamalaHarris just said chithis which means auntie. My heart is so full right now

 Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) August 20, 2020

The Tamil reference did not go unnoticed. Several people, including celebrities, shared their thrill on social media.



A Tamilian moment amidst a historic night - so cool to hear shout out for chithis (auntie in Tamil) by @KamalaHarris - another reason to love #USA - not possible anywhere else #KamalaHarrisForVP  Ganesh Bell (@GaneshBell) August 20, 2020

Harris also spoke of her Jamaican immigrant father and getting a "stroller's eye view" of the civil rights movement as her parents protested in the streets in the 1960s

Democrats are hoping that Harris can galvanize their partys faithful -- who are divided between progressive and moderate wings -- and win over swing voters still deciding between Joe Biden and incumbent US President Donald Trump.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SalesLeads' industrial market research team, shows 140 new planned Industrial Manufacturing projects tracked in July.

Industrial Manufacturing Projects:

Type

Manufacturing/Production Facilities - 127

Distribution, Industrial Warehouse - 67

Scope

New Construction - 35

Expansion - 55

Renovations/Equipment Upgrades - 75

Location

Ohio - 9

- 9 Texas - 8

- 8 Florida - 8

- 8 Michigan - 8

- 8 New York - 7

- 7 South Carolina - 7

- 7 California - 7

- 7 Indiana - 6

- 6 Virginia - 5

- 5 Kentucky - 5

Largest Planned Project

SalesLeads research identified 5 new Industrial Manufacturing facility construction projects, estimated value $100+M.

Largest project, owned by SK Innovation, planning to invest $940 million for construction of a 430,000sf manufacturing facility in COMMERCE, GA.

Top 10 Tracked Projects

INDIANA:

Pharmaceutical company is expanding and investing $112 million for construction of a 72,000sf processing, laboratory facility at their manufacturing campus BLOOMINGTON, IN.

PENNSYLVANIA:

Aluminum can, glass bottle manufacturer to invest $366 million for construction of a 908,000sf manufacturing, warehouse, laboratory, office facility in OLYPHANT, PA. Received approval.

GEORGIA:

Mattress manufacturer is planning to invest $21 million for renovation, equipment upgrades on recently leased 520,000sf manufacturing facility, MCDONOUGH, GA. Seeking approval.

KENTUCKY:

Home appliance manufacturer is planning to invest $62 million for expansion, equipment upgrades to manufacturing facility, LOUISVILLE, KY. Completion early 2021.

NEBRASKA:

Medical device manufacturer is planning to invest $70 million for expansion, equipment upgrades to manufacturing facility, BROKEN BOW, NE. Received approval.

OHIO:

Aluminum supplier recently started construction of a 240,000sf warehouse, manufacturing facility, NORTON, OH. They will consolidate operations upon completion.

VIRGINIA:

Medical device manufacturer is planning to invest $35 million for expansion, equipment upgrades of their warehouse, manufacturing facility, LYNCHBURG, VA. Received approval.

CONNECTICUT:

Aerospace components manufacturer is planning the construction of a 100,000sf manufacturing facility, MILFORD, CT. Currently seeking approval. They will consolidate operations upon completion.

ILLINOIS:

Electric truck manufacturer is planning an expansion of warehouse, manufacturing facility, NORMAL, IL, 472,000sf. Currently seeking approval. Completion slated for early 2021.

MICHIGAN:

Automobile seat manufacturer is planning to invest $15 million for renovation, equipment upgrades of their manufacturing facility, DETROIT, MI. Project includes 20,000sf expansion, LANSING, MI.

SalesLeads, Jacksonville, FL provides accurate and timely Industrial Market Intelligence on planned capital projects throughout North America. Sell to the right accounts at the right time. www.salesleadsinc.com 800.231.7876

Media Contact: Cherise Kennerley, 847-201-4300

SOURCE SalesLeads, Inc.

Related Links

www.salesleadsinc.com


The Democrats are having their virtual convention, and few people are watching. Sorry, but I am confused. I thought there was a hunger in the country to hear everything Anti-Trump. Didn't Senator Bernie Sanders say on the opening night that once radical views are now mainstream?

Something went wrong because, according to the AP, people are not watching:

Preliminary estimates show that viewership for the first night of the Democrats' virtual convention was down compared with the opening of Hillary Clinton's 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, opening night drew just under 26 million viewers. Nielsen's preliminary numbers did not include streaming or networks like PBS and CSPAN; a more comprehensive estimate is due later Tuesday. MSNBC and CNN, which aired the Democrats' two-hour prepared telecast essentially in its entirety, were rewarded with the biggest audiences. MSNBC had 5.1 million viewers and CNN had 4.78 million, roughly twice what the broadcast networks reached.

The numbers are not final, but don't expect a big rush from PBS or C-SPAN.

So what went wrong? My impression is that the speeches were boring and so predictable. In other words, did you need to watch Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to know that the lady hates the country?

Then there was that great call for abolishing the police and ICE. That's a great message for the people in the inner cities devastated by riots and looting.

This is not your dad's Democratic Party, or so they say. It is more true this year than ever.

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.

Image. DNC
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump delivered a wide-ranging political indictment of Joe Biden on Thursday in a speech near his Democratic challenger's Pennsylvania birthplace, just hours before Biden accepts his party's nomination for president.

Trump argued Biden would be a disaster for Americans on taxes, gun rights, aid to migrants, abortion, energy production, school choice and police protection.

"If you want a vision of your life under a Biden presidency, imagine the smoldering ruins of Minneapolis, the violent anarchy of Portland and the bloodstained sidewalks of Chicago  and imagine the mayhem coming to your town and every single town in America," Trump said.

The president delivered his remarks at a building products company in Old Forge, Pa., about a 10 miles from Scranton, where Biden was born and grew up.

Trump in Pennsylvania: Live updates: At Pa. campaign stop, Trump says Biden has failed America for half a century

Trump, who originally planned to focus his Pennsylvania speech on trade and manufacturing, said Biden left Scranton 70 years ago, and "he has spent the last half century in Washington selling out our country and letting other countries steal our jobs."

Seeking to link Biden to "socialist Bernie Sanders," Trump said the former vice president will erase economic gains of recent years and "impose a permanent lockdown combined with a socialist takeover of the U.S. economy."

President Donald Trump arrives to speak outside Mariotti Building Products in Old Forge, Pennsylvania, on August 20, 2020.

Pennsylvania Democrats said Trump's management of the pandemic has already wiped out the economy. They said Trump is attacking Biden because he has no plans of his own for the economy, the COVID-19 crisis, or anything else.

Sen. Robert Casey, D-Pa., said Trump's speech is "just smears" of Biden.

Trumps remarks amounted to a pre-buttal of Bidens acceptance speech Thursday night at the Democratic National Convention.

"I'm sure he'll knock 'em dead," Trump said sarcastically. Later, he said the only way Democrats would beat him "is by a rigged election."

Story continues

Democrats described Trump's site selection as a meaningless stunt, but one they welcomed as a way to contrast the two candidates.

What the American people are looking for is a plan to get this virus under control. My guess is that is not what theyre going to get, said Kate Bedingfield, a Biden campaign spokeswoman. Theyre going to get the same old divisive attacks, these recycled political hits that Donald Trump and his campaign have tried to throw at Joe Biden since the moment he got in this race over a year ago.

Symone Sanders, a senior adviser to the campaign, said Biden would offer a hopeful vision for the future and Trump wont.

We actually appreciate President Trump going out there because the American people will get to see a tale of two presidents, Sanders said.

Two presidents: Barack Obama called out Donald Trump in his DNC speech, and the current president was not happy

President Donald Trump steps off Air Force Once at the Scranton airport en route to a speech in Old Forge, Pa. Aug. 20, 2020.

It's rare for a presidential candidate to schedule a high-profile event so close to his opponent's convention speech, analysts said. But Trump has proven time and again he likes to do things differently.

"It's classic Trump," political analyst Stuart Rothenberg said. "It always has to be about him. He can't let it be about someone else."

Trump himself is being preempted by other news events.

His speech came shortly after the arrest of former Trump adviser Steve Bannon on fraud charges, as well as a judge's ruling that the president's financial records must be turned over to a grand jury, analysts pointed out.

"Trump wanted to step on Bidens message today, but Bannon and taxes were not what he had in mind," said political analyst Rich Galen.

Terry Madonna, a political scientist at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa., said Trump drew sharp contrasts with Biden but focused largely on issues important to the region, such as steel and manufacturing. Trump did not get "personal" against his opponent, he said.

"If he had attacked Biden personally, that would have been a mistake," Madonna said.

Trump delivered his remarks in a state that is emerging as a key battleground in the upcoming election.

For decades, Republican and Democratic presidential candidates have fought for blue-collar votes in and around the Scranton area, a politically important region in a state with 20 electoral votes. Biden represented neighboring Delaware in the Senate for three-and-a-half decades before his eight years as vice president.

Four years ago, Trump became the first Republican since 1988 to carry Pennsylvania, a major pick-up in his Electoral College victory over Hillary Clinton. But this year, Biden holds a 6.4 percentage point lead over Trump in Pennsylvania, according to the Real Clear Politics average of polls.

Democrats argue case for Joe Biden: Now what would a President Biden do?

President Donald Trump arrives at the Wilkes-Barre Airport ahead of a rally in Old Forge, Pennsylvania on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020.

Trump supporters  and opponents  started gathering outside Mariotti Building Products, where Trump delivered his remarks, hours before his arrival.

Steven Andrew Gasdik, an electronics technician who lives in Old Forge, said he has never attended a Trump event before. So when he heard a rumor the president was coming to his small town near Scranton, he was like, Really? Really?! Are you serious?

He took the day off work to attend, and was outside the speech site at 8 a.m., having a great time with his family while waiting for the president's arrival. Among those with him: Gasdik's 100-year-old Aunt Dorothy, who plans to vote for Trump.

Gasdik said he supports Trump because of the economy. Im worried about my kids. My kids need jobs, and Donald Trump will bring them jobs, he said.

Gene Stilp of Middle Paxton Township, who said he has many postal worker friends, was displaying a Save the Post Office, cancel Trump sign. He said hes concerned the Trump administration has slowed delivery of mail. Stilp said he thinks Trump is a racist and a traitor.

Trump's visit to Old Forge caps a week-long series of speeches across the country designed to counter-program the virtual Democratic convention  and hammer Biden.

During travels to battleground states Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Arizona, Trump has accused Biden and the Democrats of wanting to raise taxes and impose regulations. He also claims, without evidence, that they want to seize guns  "they will be taking away your Second Amendment"  and coddle criminals.

Contributing: Candy Woodall and Kathryne Rubright, USA Today Network Pennsylvania

DNC takeaways: Kamala Harris makes history, Obama accuses Trump of treating presidency like a 'reality show'

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump hits Biden for 'selling out' at campaign stop in Pennsylvania
Wealth-X, the worlds leading provider of data and insight on the wealthy, today released "The Global Luxury Outlook 2020: A World of Changing Preferences" which explores the interlocked relationship between wealth growth and the development of the luxury goods and services industry.

The new report takes a holistic view of the world of luxury, seeing it as its own category that includes luxury goods and lifestyle services, fine art, private jets, yachts, cars, travel, real estate and other assets. The Global Luxury Outlook uncovers how wealthy individuals approach luxury in their lives and how this relationship is changing in the face of COVID-19.

Within the Global Luxury Outlook is the Global Luxury City Index which benchmarks cities on specific criteria to find the worlds top 15 cities where wealth, luxury retail and a luxury lifestyle are most deeply entwined. The report also provides a detailed analysis of the wealthy populations affinity for luxury, gaining an insight into how the level of propensity to own luxury assets varies among cities and according to certain key characteristics such as wealth source, gender and age.

Other key highlights from the Global Luxury Outlook 2020, include:



New York leads the Global Luxury City Index, followed by Tokyo and Hong Kong

Asia dominates the Index, with eight of the top 15 cities located within the region

COVID-19 is changing the luxury habits of the wealthy, with an increased premium on privacy and flexibility

Notable differences in the ultra wealthy owners of private jets, yachts or art collections

For the complete findings, download the full report at http://www.wealthx.com/insights-resources/

About Wealth-X

The global leader in wealth information and insight, Wealth-X partners with prestige brands across the financial services, luxury, nonprofit and higher-education industries to fuel strategic decision-making in sales, marketing and compliance. Wealth-X has developed the worlds largest collection of records on wealthy individuals and produces unparalleled data analysis to help organizations uncover, understand, and engage their target audience, as well as mitigate risk. Founded in 2010, with staff across North America, Europe and Asia, Wealth-X provides unique data, analysis, and counsel to a growing roster of over 500 clients, worldwide.
Vice President, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia 's claim that the $270 million cost of the Circle interchange was bloated in comparison to other interchanges in the country smacks of dishonesty as he failed to recognize in his analysis, the variety of the type of materials, ancillary projects, and other relevant factors.

This is the view of former Deputy Communications Minister and stalwart of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Felix Ofosu Kwakye.

According to him, it was disappointing to see the Vice President engage in pedestrian arguments during the government's recent town hall and results fair in Accra.

He said while Dr. Bawumia was attempting to accuse the NDC of inflating the contract sum for the construction of the Kwame Nkrumah Circle interchange by comparing the cost of that project to the sum of four other interchanges under construction, he failed to take into cognizance the fact that the scope of each project was different and therefore could not be fairly assessed without considering all the variations.

He [Bawumia] is an intellectualbecause of that he is not allowed to be pedestrian in his analysis All that he did is to suggest that all interchanges must cost the same irrespective of their scope or size.

What you expect an intellectual to do is first to look at the scope of work of the projects; if they are the same and the prices vary widely then there is a basis to say there is no value for money, Ofosu Kwakye said on The Point of View on Citi TV.

He explained that while the Kwame Nkrumah Circle Interchange project was made of composite steel, the Tamale Interchange which Dr. Bawumia cited amongst the list of other cheaper interchanges was made purely of concrete and the Pokuase Interchange was also without the number of ancillary projects the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange project has.

He added that the Circle Interchange project came with other ancillary works such as the construction of a bridge over the Odaw River, construction of two bus terminals, a police post, the Kwame Nkrumah fountain among others, while the other projects Dr. Bawumia attempted to use for his comparison did not have as much construction components that would make for a better comparative analysis.

To do the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, they had to sink 40,000 meters of piles. In addition to this, two bus terminals were constructed at Odawna and Neoplan station, all part of the project. The Kwame Nkrumah water park, there is a police station, there is a fire station that has an ambulance and there are [adjoining] roads .The construction type of this project is what they call composite steel that forms the base of the asphalt. Again, the technology used was such that it fastened the process so that the traffic congestion while the construction is going on does not become too much, he said.

The Obetsebi Lamptey interchange has just two bridges, and they all add up to 1,120 meters. They won't use piles. The Tamale interchange is all concrete, there is no metal, it doesn't use composite steel. Its total length is 840 meters [and] the Pokuase interchange has no ancillary projects like the Kwame Nkrumah interchange, he added.

Ofosu Kwakye said the situation was a demonstration of the government's dishonesty in assessing the work done by the erstwhile John Mahama administration.

He further told host Bernard Avle that the NDC has a superior record when it comes to infrastructural development in the country contrary to claims by Dr. Bawumia that the NPP government in the last three and half years has outperformed all governments since independence based on the number of infrastructural projects imitative within its first term.

Meanwhile, spokesperson for Dr. Bawumia, Gideon Boako says the NDC does not have evidence to prove its supposed projects undertaken when it was in office.

He said unlike the NPP government which has enumerated all the projects on a website for easy tracking and verifying, there are no pointers to the works the NDC claims it has done.
Actor Rhea Chakraborty should not forget that she is an accused in the case related to the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, said Director General of Police, Bihar Gupteshwar Pandey on Thursday.

The top cop said that he had used the word 'aukat' for Chakraborty, as she had made some baseless comments against the Bihar chief minister despite being an accused in the case which was under the Bihar police. He also said that he would apologise to the actor if she was hurt by his words, but advised her to fight the legal battle.

"The meaning of 'aukat' in the English language is stature. Rhea Chakraborty does not have the stature to comment on Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. She should not forget that she is a named accused in FIR in Sushant Singh Rajput case which was under me and is now with CBI," Pandey said.

"If a political leader comments on Bihar CM, then I am nobody to comment over it. But if an accused makes some baseless comment on Bihar CM then it is objectionable. She should fight the battle legally," he added.

Pandey also said that everyone should be happy that the matter is being investigated by the CBI.

Earlier on Wednesday, while holding that the FIR registered in Patna over the death of Sushant Singh Rajput was legitimate, the Supreme Court directed the CBI to investigate the case.

The single-judge bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy also said that the Bihar government was competent to recommend transferring the case to the CBI.

The apex court also asked the Mumbai Police to hand over all the evidence collected so far in the case to the CBI. The state of Maharashtra refused the option to challenge the order, Justice Roy said.

The CBI has registered an FIR against Rhea Chakraborty and others in connection with the actor's death after the Centre accepted Bihar Government's recommendation to transfer the probe in the matter from Patna.

An FIR was registered in Patna on a complaint filed by K K Singh, Rajput's father, under sections related to abetment to suicide. Rajput was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14.
DALLAS (SMU) - Weighing up to 8,000 pounds, hadrosaurs, or duck-billed dinosaurs were among the largest dinosaurs to roam the Earth. How did the skeletons of these four-legged, plant-eating dinosaurs with very long necks support such a massive load?

New research recently published in PLOS ONE offers an answer. A unique collaboration between paleontologists, mechanical engineers and biomedical engineers revealed that the trabecular bone structure of hadrosaurs and several other dinosaurs is uniquely capable of supporting large weights, and different than that of mammals and birds.

"The structure of the trabecular, or spongy bone that forms in the interior of bones we studied is unique within dinosaurs," said Tony Fiorillo, SMU paleontologist and one of the study authors. The trabecular bone tissue surrounds the tiny spaces or holes in the interior part of the bone, Fiorillo says, such as what you might see in a ham or steak bone.

"Unlike in mammals and birds, the trabecular bone does not increase in thickness as the body size of dinosaurs increase," he says. "Instead it increases in density of the occurrence of spongy bone. Without this weight-saving adaptation, the skeletal structure needed to support the hadrosaurs would be so heavy, the dinosaurs would have had great difficulty moving."

The interdisciplinary team of researchers used engineering failure theories and allometry scaling, which describes how the characteristics of a living creature change with size, to analyze CT scans of the distal femur and proximal tibia of dinosaur fossils.

The team, funded by the National Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs and the National Geographic Society, is the first to use these tools to better understand the bone structure of extinct species and the first to assess the relationship between bone architecture and movement in dinosaurs. They compared their findings to scans of living animals, such as Asian elephants and extinct mammals such as mammoths.

"Understanding the mechanics of the trabecular architecture of dinosaurs may help us better understand the design of other lightweight and dense structures," said Trevor Aguirre, lead author of the paper and a recent mechanical engineering Ph.D. graduate of Colorado State University.

The idea for the study began ten years ago, when Seth Donahue, now a University of Massachusetts biomedical engineer and expert on animal bone structure, was invited to attend an Alaskan academic conference hosted by Fiorillo and other colleagues interested in understanding dinosaurian life in the ancient Arctic. That's where Fiorillo first learned of Donahue's use of CT scans and engineering theories to analyze the bone structure of modern animals.

"In science we rarely have lightning bolt or 'aha' moments," Fiorillo says. "Instead we have, 'huh?' moments that often are not close to what we envisioned, but instead create questions of their own."

Applying engineering theories to analyze dinosaur fossils and the subsequent new understanding of dinosaurs' unique adaptation to their huge size grew from the 'huh?' moment at that conference.

###

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science provided the fossils for study. Other co-authors include Aniket Ingrole, Luca Fuller and Seth Donahue from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts; Tim Seek from the Mechanical Engineering Department of Colorado State University, and Joseph Sertich from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

SMU is the nationally ranked global research university in the dynamic city of Dallas. SMU's alumni, faculty and nearly 12,000 students in eight degree-granting schools demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit as they lead change in their professions, communities and the world.
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Moscow, Aug 20 : Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow was worried about foreign interference in the ongoing crisis in Belarus that stemmed from the results of the disputed election held earlier this month, which were in favour of the country's President Alexander Lukashenko, "Nobody hides that it is all about geopolitics, about the struggle for the post-Soviet space," Lavrov said in an interview with television channel Russia 1 on Wednesday.

"We saw this struggle in the previous stages of the development of the situation after the Soviet Union ceased to exist," he said.

Belarus is engulfed in mass protests after Lukashenko won a sixth term during the August 9 elections, with the opposition refusing to recognize the results, reports Xinhua news agency.

Lavrov said he hopes that Belarusians will be able to sort out their own affairs themselves and not be led by "those who need this country solely in order to master the geopolitical space in order to promote the well-known destructive logic: You are either with Russia or with Europe".

"I see no lack of readiness on the part of the authorities for dialogue.

"I hope that the same readiness will be shown by those who, for one reason or another, are not satisfied with the election results," the Minister added.

In the election, Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, won 80.1 per cent of the votes, while the main opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya garnered only 10.12 per cent.

Tikhanovskaya, who left for Lithuania after publicly denouncing the results, insists that where votes were properly counted, she won support ranging from 60-70 per cent.

In a video message released on Monday, Tikhanovskaya said she was ready to become a "national leader" in order to restore calm and normality, freeing political prisoners and preparing for new elections.

Lukashenko has sought Russian help, saying President Vladimir Putin has promised to provide comprehensive assistance in the event of any external military threat.

In a conversation on Sunday, the two leaders discussed "the situation in Belarus, taking into consideration the pressure the republic was being put under from outside", the Kremlin said.
A federal appeals court on Thursday reinstated a lawsuit by Oracle accusing Hewlett Packard Enterprise of enabling its customers to access Oracles copyrighted Solaris software.

Oracle, based in Redwood City, alleged in the 2016 suit that Hewlett Packard Enterprise of San Jose had joined with maintenance company Terix Computer to make Solaris patches available to customers who did not have contracts with Oracle. Oracle acquired rights to the software when it purchased Sun Microsystems in 2010.

HPE denied responsibility for any unauthorized installations. U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar of Oakland dismissed the suit in January 2019, saying Terix, which had downloaded 11,500 copies of Solaris patches, had contractual relationships with Oracle customers. Tigar said Oracle had no evidence that HPE itself had installed the software for its customers.

But the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said an Oracle witness had identified 210 instances in which Hewlett Packard Enterprise records showed that Solaris software had been installed on its customers equipment when Oracle no longer authorized the installations.

While HPE argued that someone else, such as the customer or Oracle, had performed the installations, customers specifically paid HPE to support their Solaris software, Judge Milan Smith said in the 3-0 ruling. A reasonable jury could find that HPE performed patch installations for direct customers.

Smith said HPE could be held responsible for any copyright violations since May 6, 2012, under the statute of limitations.

Terix, sued separately by Oracle in 2013, agreed to pay more than $57 million to settle the case in 2015.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Oracle spokeswoman Deborah Hellinger said Thursdays ruling reaffirms the broad protection that copyrighted software enjoys and that all unlicensed copies, including downloads, are prohibited. Oracle looks forward to trying its claims to a jury.

HPE company representatives could not be reached for comment.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@

sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
NOERVENICH, Germany - Germany has welcomed military aircraft from Israel to its airspace for their first joint combat exercises in German territory, a milestone which both air forces praised Thursday as a sign of the intensive co-operation between the two countries.

It was very emotional for us when, one after the other, the first Israeli jets arrived here in German airspace, a spokesman for the German Luftwaffe told German news agency dpa.

Nowadays, we have a very intense partnership with the Israelis, spokesman Thorsten Weber said. We work closely together, we do exercises together, German soldiers are being trained in Israel.

Israeli Air Force pilot Lt. Colonel O., who didnt give his full name in line with the military branchs regulations, said that during the exercises he remembered the difficult past of Germans and Jews while also looking to the future.

During the Third Reich, Nazi Germany murdered 6 million European Jews and others in the Holocaust. Relations between Israel and Germany were difficult in the first decades after the end of the war, but have been growing closer together over the years.

I think all of us are feeling it right in the heart how deep the past is, O. told The Associated Press. But were looking into the future and are happy for the opportunity of flying together.

He added that the co-operation of the two air forces was a good thing for both countries.

Nowadays, Germany is one of Israels staunchest supporters.

Still, most interactions between the two nations carry a deeper symbolic significance because of the horrors of the Holocaust, which ended 75 years ago when Germany surrendered in World War II.

The Israeli pilots arrived at the base in western Germany on Monday for two weeks of exercises. They are conducting training with the German air force for the first week, and also with planes from the Hungarian air force in the second week.

Their planes include a group of six F-16s, two Gulfstreams and two Boeing 707 tanker jets. A total of around 180 Israeli personnel are involved.

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Israel main focus of cooperation will be on the following sectors: sustainable agriculture, irrigation systems, education, citizen security and defense, innovation and start-ups, among others; these areas are fully aligned with the actions of Honduran Government for the countrys development.

In 2019, Honduras opened a trade and cooperation mission in Jerusalem as an extension of the Embassy of Honduras in Tel Aviv to reassure and strengthen the diplomatic ties, friendship and good relations between the two countries.

In the multilateral sphere, Honduras has supported Israel in resolutions within the framework of the United Nations. The Central American country has a strong record of support in the field of candidacies of Israel in different international organizations.

An Israel mission, headed by Gabi Ashkenazi, Israels Minister of Foreign Affairs and other high ranks government officials participated in the inauguration via Zoom.

SOURCE Government of the Republic of Honduras
Ben Affleck is putting his cape back on, set to reprise his role as Batman for The Flash.

The Berkeley-born actor played the part of Bruce Wayne in Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice and Justice League, earning mixed reviews for his take on the moody crime-fighter.

But apparently Affleck, 48, signed onto the DC Comics project after receiving the script late last week, according to Vanity Fair.

Back in black! Ben Affleck is reprising his role as Batman in DC's upcoming project, The Flash. Ben is seen in 2016 above

Despite his time as the Dark Knight being divisive, The Flash director Andy Muschietti thinks Ben is the perfect one for the 'masculine' but 'vulnerable' character, telling Vanity Fair: 'He knows how to deliver from the inside out.'

'His Batman has a dichotomy that is very strong, which is his masculinitybecause of the way he looks, and the imposing figure that he has, and his jawline but he's also very vulnerable,' Muschietti - who directed It and the followup It 2 - told the magazine about the film, which is slated for a Summer 2022 release.

'He knows how to deliver from the inside out, that vulnerability. He just needs a story that allows him to bring that contrast, that balance.'

While the story will focus on speedy superhero The Flash, AKA Barry Allen, Affleck still plays a key role.

'He's a very substantial part of the emotional impact of the movie. The interaction and relationship between Barry and Affleck's Wayne will bring an emotional level that we haven't seen before,' Muschietti explained.

Lots of opinions: The Berkeley-born, Boston-bred actor played the part of Bruce Wayne in Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice and Justice League (above), earning mixed reviews for his take on the moody crime fighter

Speedy: The Flash is being played by Ezra Miller and is planned for a summer 2022 release

'It's Barry's movie, it's Barry's story, but their characters are more related than we think. They both lost their mothers to murder, and that's one of the emotional vessels of the movie. That's where the Affleck Batman kicks in.'

Muschietti is also happy to be working with Affleck because of his experience as a director, saying: 'I'm glad to be collaborating with someone who has been on both sides of the camera, too. He understands.'

The movie, which stars Ezra Miller as The Flash, is based off of the DC's 2011 Flashpoint series, which sees Barry breaking into other dimensions where he'll come face to face with different versions of the classic heroes.

This means Ben isn't the only Batman who is back. Michael Keaton, who starred in Tim Burton's camp-tastic 1989 adventure, will return to the role in what Muschietti described as a 'substantial' part.

Still, the director seen Affleck as an anchor, seeing as he already fought alongside The Flash in Justice League.

His vision: The Flash director Andy Muschietti thinks Ben is the perfect one for the 'masculine' but 'vulnerable' character, telling Vanity Fair: 'He knows how to deliver from the inside out.' Muschietti is seen in 2017 on the set of It above

Multiverse: Michael Keaton, who starred in Tim Burton's camp-tastic 1989 adventure, will also return to the role in what Muschietti described as a 'substantial' part

'He's the baseline. He's part of that unaltered state before we jump into Barry's adventure,' Muschietti said. 'There's a familiarity there.'

Ben almost returned to the role in a standalone film called The Batman, which he was set to star in an direct.

But the project came at a tough personal time for the actor, who was coping with his split from Jennifer Garner and also dealing with alcoholism.

'I showed somebody The Batman script,' Affleck told the New York Times earlier this year. 'They said, "I think the script is good. I also think you'll drink yourself to death if you go through what you just went through again."'

The Batman is now being directed by Matt Reeves, with actor Robert Pattinson in the starring role. The project is currently on hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic but is slated to start shooting again come fall.
Yellow, ash-filled skies blanketed the Salinas Valley fields that supply much of the nations lettuce, strawberries and other fresh produce as wildfires from all sides blazed.

But the raging wildfires dont stop the harvest, and many farmers said they had no choice this week but to plow on through the smoke to put food into stores and onto tables. That means farmworkers had to work in conditions already made extremely difficult by the heat wave and pandemic.

The crops are ready today, and you cant wait until tomorrow, because these are succulent fruits and vegetables that have to be picked when theyre ready and when theyre ripe in order to get them to the market, Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner Henry Gonzales explained. We have to harvest every day ... because people eat every day.

Produce needs to be at a certain quality for the supply chain, and farmers have only a short window to achieve that, explained Norm Groot, executive director of the Monterey County Farm Bureau. If you miss that window, he said, you probably have to abandon the field.

Brent Stirton / Getty Images

Unfortunately, we do have to keep the crews moving so that we keep food in the supply chain, he said. Thats really always been the challenge, even with COVID.

This year, farmworkers have already had a host of problems to deal with  as essential workers, theyve had to work through shelter-in-place orders and coronavirus concerns, as well as the heat wave sweeping through California.

The workers are already performing physical work, so its already difficult physically, Gonzales said. Its really serious here. ... This is just a very unique situation with just a combination of factors.

Keeping farmworkers safe from the smoke means making sure they have masks, said Pete Maturino, agricultural director for United Food and Commercial Workers Local 5, which represents retail clerks, supermarket stockers and food processors in Northern California, including about 1,000 farmworkers.

The states Division of Occupational Safety and Health requires employers of outdoor workers to protect employees from wildfire smoke by monitoring the air quality and providing employees with N95 masks when air quality reaches unhealthy levels.

On Wednesday, some parts of Monterey County  mostly affected by the River Fire  reached Air Quality Index numbers in the unhealthy for sensitive groups range. The Monterey Bay Air Resources District recommends that residents stay indoors with the doors and windows closed at this level.

If the workers do not have a mask, then theyre not going to be able to work, Gonzales said, because it can become overwhelming.

Pete Maturino

Beyond that, there arent any specific rules about working conditions in smoke, Maturino and Gonzales said.

Nobody really thought about it, because it hardly ever happens, Maturino said.

But even getting masks is no easy task. While most workers are already wearing a face covering because of the pandemic, only N95 masks filter smoke out of the air. The pandemic has shortened supply of this protective equipment, Groot said.

On Monday, the Monterey County Agricultural Commissioners office started diverting its supply of N95 masks, usually reserved for workers applying pesticides in the fields, to farmworkers dealing with smoky conditions, Gonzales said. His 10,000 remaining N95s already went out, and he placed an order for another 100,000 from the countys Office of Emergency Services.

But hes still worried about having enough masks. There are about 30,000 farmworkers in fields in Monterey County at any given time, he said, and each of them needs one N95 mask per day, which means theyll go through the new supply quickly.

From the reports Ive been hearing, the fires arent going to be under control until sometime after August, he said, so we need a lot of masks.

Preston Gannaway / Special to The Chronicle 2013

Farmers  who have already taken a financial hit, with schools and restaurants closing as a result of the pandemic  are also scrambling to adjust to the ever-changing conditions, Groot said. Many are changing which fields theyre harvesting to avoid the smoke as much as possible, adjusting hours and considering abandoning any fields where its simply too dangerous.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

It really presents the farming operation with a really tough choice, he said. Particularly in a year where nobodys making much money, its even more impactful.

The economic strain on the industry also means fewer hours for farmworkers, Maturino said.

Theyre out there because of necessity, not so much because theyre making thousands of dollars, he said, noting that they receive minimum wage.

And for the farmworkers who are undocumented, complaining about conditions or asking for more protection is often too risky, and they have no government safety net.

Its the threat of deportation or not being able to get another job, Maturino explained.

But to Gonzales, times like this highlight how important the often unnoticed farm labor really is. When labor is scarce, it can raise prices or cause scarcities, he said, but at the same time, workers must be protected, or there will be no harvest.

You go to the grocery store and you see vegetables and you buy them, Maturino added. Nobody ever really thinks about the farmworker.

Danielle Echeverria is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: danielle.echeverria@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DanielleEchev

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Lucknow, Aug 20 : The Congress in Uttar Pradesh turned 'blue' on Thursday, leaving several red faces in the party.

When UPCC President Ajay Kumar Lallu, earlier in the day, led a delegation to Azamgarh to visit the family of slain Dalit sarpanch Satyamev Jayate, majority of the party leaders were seen wearing blue 'gamchas'.

The shade of blue was strikingly similar to the shade of blue that is the colour of Bahujan Samaj Party.

The blue 'gamchas' evoked a strong reaction from within the party.

A Congress MLA said: "It now seems that we are being sub-let to the BSP. Our leaders normally wearing tricolored 'gamchas' but they have opted for blue. We do not know what message our leaders are trying to send by doing this." When contacted, at least, two party spokesmen refused to comment on the issue.

UP Congress media convenor Lalan Kumar, however, reacted strongly and said: "The BSP does not have the copyright over blue colour, or for that matter, any other colour.

"The Congress has always fought for the rights of Dalits. Has Mayawati reached out to the family of the Dalit sarpanch who was shot dead last week? "The blue colour represents the ideology of Babasaheb B.R. Ambedkar and is also a part of the Congress ideology."
The U.S. suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong and ended reciprocal tax treatment on shipping with the former British colony, the latest salvo in escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing.

The moves are part of the Trump administration's efforts to pressure China over the imposition of a national security law that has led to charges against more than 20 pro-democracy activists. They follow up on an executive order to end preferential trading treatment for the city, which President Donald Trump and his team say is now essentially just another Chinese city.

China urged the U.S. on Thursday to cease its "wrong moves" toward Hong Kong, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian reaffirming Beijing's position that the city's affairs were a domestic matter. Hong Kong's government said it "strongly objects" and "deplores" the Trump administration's decision, repeating its vow to take up the complaints at the World Trade Organization.

The end of reciprocal tax treatment on shipping was most likely to affect companies such as Orient Overseas (International), which could be subject to tax on income hauling cargo to the U.S.

"The financial impact from this for shipping companies may not be big, but it has more of a symbolic impact," said Jason Chiang, a Singapore-based director at Ocean Shipping Consultants. "This is ultimately targeting China."

The U.S. decision on fugitives follows a half-dozen other countries -- including Australia, Germany and the U.K. -- that have suspended extradition agreements with Hong Kong following China's imposition of the law in late June. The Trump administration has also sanctioned 11 senior officials who oversee Hong Kong including the city's leader, Carrie Lam, who has said she has had difficulties with credit cards.

China has responded with retaliatory measures against U.S. senators and human rights activists, although Beijing has so far avoided senior White House officials.

More broadly, the Trump administration has engaged in an expanding clash with Beijing over everything from apps such as TikTok and 5G wireless technology to a blame game over Covid-19 and arms sales to Taiwan. Tensions and rhetoric have escalated recently as the global pandemic worsened in the U.S., China ramped up pressure on Hong Kong and as the U.S. election draws closer.

The agreements terminated Wednesday "covered the surrender of fugitive offenders, the transfer of sentenced persons, and reciprocal tax exemptions on income derived from the international operation of ships," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said.

"These steps underscore our deep concern regarding Beijing's decision to impose the National Security Law, which has crushed the freedoms of the people of Hong Kong," Ortagus said.
The Associated Press

Apple has become the first US company to boast a market value of $2 trillion as technology continues to reshape a world where smartphones are like appendages and digital services are like instruments orchestrating peoples lives.

The iPhone maker reached the $2 trillion milestone in Wednesdays early stock market trading when its shares surpassed $467.77.

The stock later backtracked to close at $462.83, but it didnt diminish a remarkable achievement that came just two years after Apple became the first US company with a $1 trillion market value. It comes amid a devastating pandemic that has shoved the economy into a deep recession and caused unemployment rates to soar to the worst levels since the Great Depression nearly a century ago.

But Apple and other well-established tech giants such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Facebook and Netflix have thrived during the upheaval as the pandemic has forced millions of people to work, attend classes, shop and entertain themselves at home. That, in turn, has made technology even more crucial, a factor that has caused investors to snap up the stocks of the industrys biggest players, as well as relative newcomers, such as video conferencing service Zoom, which has seen its shares quadruple so far this year.

Apples stock has climbed nearly 58 percent this year. In recent weeks, the rally has been bolstered by excitement over a four-for-one stock split that Apple announced late last month in an effort to make its shares more affordable to a wider swath of investors.

The broader boom in tech stocks also has helped the benchmark S&P 500 index reach new highs after steep declines earlier in the year. Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook and Googles parent company, Alphabet account for nearly 23 percent of the S&P 500s entire value.

Apple isnt the first company in the world to reach a market value of $2 trillion. That honor belongs to energy producer Saudi Aramco, which attained it in December 2019. Saudi Aramco now trails Apple with a market value of about $1.8 trillion.

Now that technology has clearly become the oil of the 21st century, other industry leaders could soon be joining Apple in the $2 trillion club, now that it is clear technology has become the oil of the 21st century. Many industry analysts are predicting Amazon, Microsoft and Alphabet could eclipse the milestone in the upcoming months too.

But regulators and lawmakers looking into allegations that Apple, Amazon, Google and Facebook have been illegally abusing their power to stifle competition could spook investors if their investigations result in moves that undercut the companies profits.
Lorraine Riesenbach, 88, of Cherry Hill, a former teacher who at age 60 became an artist and an advocate for other artists in Philadelphia, died Saturday, Aug. 15, of complications from cancer at Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital.

Mrs. Riesenbach created and ran the Artists House Gallery in Old City for 22 years. The showplace at 57 N. Second St. helped fledgling artists launch careers by displaying their works in a prominent setting.

During her tenure, the gallery staged 200 exhibits, displaying the work of artists primarily from the Philadelphia area. Most were graduates of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA).

Its really hard for artists to get into the art world, because there are so many good art schools in Philadelphia, and there are good artists coming out every day, she told the Temple News in 2013.

The gallerys mission was to offer art lovers and collectors the chance to buy at affordable prices, as well as to introduce the young artists.

From 1991 to 2013, she was instrumental in launching the careers of hundreds of local artists, many of whom have progressed to national and international success, her son James said in an email.

Scott Noel, a professor of painting and drawing at PAFA, described Mrs. Riesenbach as a calm, generous person who formed close relationships with the artists she represented and maintained the ties even if their work wasnt selling.

Every time I encountered her, she was unfailingly kind and loyal  a force for good in the art world, he said. She had a real heart in a courageous way for the community she believed in, and an agency for making that community more tightly woven and supportive of each other. She was just a person of abiding decency.

David Graeme Baker, a painter now living in Maine, said Mrs. Riesenbach reached out to him in his second year as a PAFA student. She asked me if I was willing to put two pieces in the Artists House Gallery, he said. After that, she became a champion of mine.

Nobody outside of PAFA said, Hey, you can do this, you have some talent. That was meaningful to have someone to advocate for me, to say, I see value in what youre doing.

Baker said the mentor-protege relationship deepened over the years into friendship. The way she approached developing a relationship with me is the gold standard. No one has ever exceeded it, Baker said.

In 2017, PAFA recognized her with the Alumni Distinguished Service Award.

And in 2018, she was invited to curate a show, Passion and Desire, at the Stanek Gallery in Old City, where she showcased 13 of her artists, including Frances Wolf, wife of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf.

Gallery owner Katherine Stanek said she knew Mrs. Riesenbach as a fellow gallery owner. She had a desire to see good art advanced, Stanek said. Passion and desire  its what drove Lorraine. Im eternally grateful for her advice and support, and working with me on that exhibition.

Born in Paterson, N.J., Mrs. Riesenbach earned a bachelor of arts degree from Pennsylvania State University and a masters degree in reading education from Rowan University.

She married Marvin Riesenbach in 1952. They had four sons, whom they raised in Cherry Hill.

In 1971, she became a reading specialist in the Haddonfield public schools. She took courses from 1983 to 1987 at Moore College of Art and Design, and then switched to PAFA, graduating in 1991. She wanted a second career in the arts.

She worked from studios at home and in her gallery. Her artwork includes oil paintings in deep, rich colors.

Her works are in the collections of Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Camden, and Temple Emanuel, Cherry Hill; and in corporate offices and private homes as far away as Japan.

Besides her son and husband, she is survived by sons Lawrence, Robert, and Andrew; six grandchildren; and a brother.

A celebration of life will be held once the coronavirus pandemic has waned.

Memorial donations can be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation via michaeljfox.org.
She's pregnant with her first baby with fellow former Love Island contestant Jamie Jewitt.

And Camilla Thurlow, 33, admitted there have been 'ups and downs with her pregnancy' but that she's 'very happy' while talking to Andi Peters on Lorraine on Thursday.

She also discussed struggling to open up to people after working as an explosive ordnance disposal specialist in Afghanistan and Cambodia.

'There's been ups and downs': Camilla Thurlow discussed her pregnancy on Lorraine on Thursday and admitted to feeling 'social dislocation' after working as a bomb disposal expert

She said: 'The biggest part of it is about the work I did with the [chaity] Halo Trust.

'Before Love Island that was the work I liked doing and I was lucky enough to travel to Afganistan and Cambodia, and during that time I learned a huge amount.

'As I travelled across several different countries, it changed in different places, but the work was majority in landmine clearance.

Happy families: She is expecting baby number one with model Jamie Jewitt who she met on Love Island in 2017

'You might clear land that can then be used for people to farm land for food for their family. Every country had different challenges, but it was an amazing experience.'

Camilla has written a book called Not The Type: Finding My Place in the Real World

The memoir is not just about finding the courage to go out and deal with lethal threats at work, but the courage to confront one's own fears and anxieties.

She said: 'I feel like I had got to a point where I had enough space to reflect on those times with Halo that were perhaps trickier and have the opportunity to turn that into something I could explain to others.

New project: Camilla has written a book called Not The Type: Finding My Place in the Real World - a memoir about finding courage at work and in her personal life

'I've always wanted to write a book and the last few years have been about working out how to do that.

'I came back from Afghanistan and I struggled with social dislocation, and was struggling to process the events I'd seen.

'I was struggling to connect with my friends and family. I couldn't work out how to balance everything.

'I knew at that point I wasn't maintain healthy relationship and I was trying to figure out a balance between the two.

She told Andi Peters: 'I came back from Afghanistan and I struggled with social dislocation, and was struggling to process the events I'd seen'

Exciting time: Camilla has been sharing lots of bump pictures on social media and said she is 'very very happy'

She said: 'I was approached by one of the [Love Island] researchers, and just went through the process, it was going on in the background while I was really struggling.

'So when they asked if I'd be in the opening cast I think if you're struggling with socialising, Love Island offers quite an immersive experience to talk and there are no other distractions.

'I had seen some episodes I think I tried to watch a few when they first contacted me, it was really interesting.

'You can watch the show but when you're in it it's an entirely different experience, you forget about the cameras and what you see and what it's like.'
Johnson & Johnson is planning to start a late-stage clinical trial of its experimental coronavirus vaccine in up to 60,000 people worldwide in late September.

If the company hits the enrollment aim, which was reported on a US government database, it would be the largest-ever study looking at a possible immunization for the virus.

Rival companies, such as Moderna Inc and Pfizer Inc, are only recruiting half as many volunteers, about 30,000 each for their respective late-stage studies.

A J&J spokesman told The Wall Street Journal the company wants 'to enroll a robust number of participants who are representative of those populations affected by COVID-19.'

Johnson & Johnson plans to start its late-stage trial for its experimental coronavirus vaccine in September with up 60,000 people. Pictured: A lab technician fills a test tube during research on coronavirus at Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceutical in Beerse, Belgium, June 17

The enrollment aim is much larger than rival companies, such as Moderna, that have enrolled about 30,000 people for their studies. Pictured: Johnson & Johnson headquarters in New Brunswick, New Jersey, August 1

According to The Journal, the trial will be conducted at 180 locations in the US and eight other countries including Brazil, Chile, the Philippines and South Africa.

In the US, locations will be in 28 states such as California, Florida, Texas, the states with the most cases and among the highest transmission rates.

The spokesman said the New Jersey-based company hopes the trial will also determine safety, efficacy and the proper amount of dosing.

Subjects will be followed for at least two years but preliminary results will be published much sooner.

Dr William Schaffner, who is not part of the trial, a professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, said determining if the jab is effective could be easier with more subjects.

'It will certainly speed up the evaluation process,' he told The Journal.

The timeline is quite surprising given that J&J only recently began phase I clinical trials, testing safety and efficacy for a one-dose and two-dose jab, in the US and Belgium.

This places the company behind others such as AstraZeneca, Moderna and Pfizer, which have started phase III clinical trials looking at large-scale volunteer use and examines if the vaccine is better than what's already available.

J&J's vaccines combines genetic material from the new virus with the genes of the adenovirus - which causes the common cold - to induce an immune response.

It is the same technology the company used to make an experimental Ebola vaccine for people in the Democratic Republic of Congo in late 2019.

Shares of the company rose marginally on Thursday, paring their earlier losses, after The Journal first reported the news.

The developments comes on the heels of news that US government will pay J&J more than $1 billion in exchange for 100 million doses of its potential coronavirus vaccine.

It's the latest move by the Trump administration as it stocks up on inoculations and drugs in an attempt to tame the pandemic that has killed 173,000 Americans.

The latest contract is priced at roughly $10 per vaccine dose, including a previous $456 million the government promised to J&J for vaccine development in March.

That compares with the $19.50 per dose the US is paying for the immunization being developed by Pfizer and German biotech BioNTech SE.

Meanwhile, the jab being developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford is estimated to cost between $3 and $4 per dose.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 100 COVID-19 vaccines are under development around the world and at least 23 are in human trials.
Another 1.1 million Americans filed for unemployment insurance last week as a U.S. economy ceaselessly battered by the coronavirus pandemic tried to recover the tens of millions of jobs lost since March.

Thursdays number would be staggering during normal times. The prior week was the only point since mid-March that weekly claims for benefits dropped below 1 million. The latest figures from the Department of Labor show that the economy has a long way to go in recovering from an economic crash that has wiped out a decades worth of job growth.

New unemployment claims filed by Californians stayed nearly the same, with 201,640 filing for benefits last week. The state accounted for nearly a fifth of the nations unemployment claims despite representing only about only 11% of the workforce.

The Employment Development Department said Thursday that California has paid out $67 billion in benefits since the onset of the pandemic in mid-March. The department has processed more than 10 million claims in that time, including regular unemployment claims and special programs created for the health crisis, like Pandemic Unemployment Assistance for gig workers and the self-employed.

With an added $600 a week in federal benefits for the unemployed having dried up in July, more dark clouds could be on the horizon.

Things are improving and they are terrible, said Heidi Shierholz, a senior economist with the nonprofit Economic Policy Institute in Washington, D.C. She said while the long-term trend in job losses is downward, the situation remained dire.

The insured unemployment rate dropped only slightly in the past week, from 10.6% to 10.2%.

What were seeing is more normal recessionary losses, Shierholz said, rather than immediate job losses caused by the pandemic or shelter-in-place orders. Some businesses are seeing demand plummet particularly now that expanded unemployment benefits are gone, she said.

Theyre realizing the demand for their stuff has gone down because people have less money to spend, Shierholz said. Without more federal rescue money, well really start to see this real pullback in spending, she added.

Thrift has already become a must for some Californians. Many who are eligible for unemployment benefits and filed for them months ago are still waiting to receive them.

Patti Rollins worked part-time as a contractor for a real estate office in Yountville before losing her job in March. She filed for unemployment insurance and received two weeks of payments in April before being told they had been made in error and she needed to file under the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program because she was not a W-2 employee.

Its just a catastrophe, Rollins said. Ive worked for 45 years and paid a great deal of money into my lovely state and federal government for all the years that Ive worked.

Rollins was considering borrowing money or selling her house when two weeks of payments appeared in her account this week. She is still waiting for a months worth of retroactive benefits, but said in an email it was a relief to just be acknowledged.

Many like Rollins are still out of work. The number of new filings rose 13.9% across the country last week. There remains no clear trend toward recovery despite the patchwork of reopenings across the U.S., according to John Johnson, CEO of Edgeworth Economics.

There is not a consistent pattern to this economic recovery that has emerged at all, Johnson said. He pointed to the inextricable link between reining in the virus and economic normalcy.

The health crisis is still not in control, Johnson said, adding that until coronavirus cases drop significantly, it would be difficult to make any predictions about a recovery.

Even with a robust public health response, Johnson said the economy could still be badly scarred if the federal government does not step in to prop up state and local governments that have seen revenue plummet during the crisis.

Theres a lot of dominoes that could fall and, if they do, this could get a lot worse, He said.

Johnson also pointed to a recent study by the California Policy Lab that showed many claimants had filed for benefits previously in the pandemic, likely returning to work after initial lockdowns lifted only to be out of a job once again.

Johnson said the study showed incredible volatility in the unemployment claims data and labor markets that made it even more difficult to determine just how strong the economic headwinds the country faces are.

With a turbulent wildfire season adding another variable to the states challenging job market, some out-of-work Californians are looking elsewhere for work.

Ryan Parsons is a Marine Corps veteran originally from Palo Alto whose last job was as a civilian contractor at Moffett Field in Mountain View. Parsons said he has been unable to find a job because of the pandemic and is considering looking outside of California for work and a more affordable standard of living.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Michael Short/Special to The Chronicle

The chances of me finding a job in California right now are slim to none, said Parsons, who deals with chronic respiratory problems and a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Parsons said without the help of family and friends, Id probably be on the street.

Along with the health challenges he faces, Parsons also had to battle to receive unemployment payments from the state Employment Development Department after filing around the outset of the pandemic.

After weeks of calling and emailing the department to determine the status of his claim, Parsons reached out to the office of Assemblyman Marc Berman, D-Palo Alto. He praised staffers there for contacting EDD on his behalf and helping to eventually unlock his benefits in June.

Parsons was getting over $1,000 a week in benefits until the federal funds ran out last month. The EDD recently asked him to file more paperwork, including proof of his identity, before telling him his new weekly benefits would amount to $167 a week.

More Information 1.1 million U.S. unemployment claims filed last week 201,640 Claims filed in California 18.2% California's share of U.S. claims $67 billion Benefits issued by California since mid-March See More Collapse

No one can live on $167 per week, Parsons said.

He reached out to Bermans office once more and staff is looking into the issue. In the meantime, Parsons is remaining positive.

If you need to get your local representative involved (to receive benefits), do that, he said. I just want to tell people theres hope.

Chase DiFeliciantonio is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: chase.difeliciantonio@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ChaseDiFelice
With theaters closed around the country, some companies are making their productions available online. Below, you'll find our weekly update of productions, videos, and other theater-related streaming content from across the US and elsewhere. Some streams are free, while others may charge a fee or request a donation. Either way, you're sure to find something to scratch your theater itch. Theaters may be dark, but the shows go on.

This Weekend



* An online reading of the new play Judgment Day, written by Rob Ulin and directed by Matthew Penn, will premiere on Saturday, August 22, at 7:30pm ET, and be available for viewing through Tuesday, August 25. The reading will star Tony Award winners Jason Alexander, Patti LuPone, and Santino Fontana, and Grammy Award winner Michael McKean. Proceeds from the reading will benefit the Barrington Stage Company and the Actors Fund. Access to the show is available with a donation of $35 or more. To reserve your spot, click here.

Patti LuPone

( David Gordon)

* PBS's Great Performances is now streaming an encore presentation of In the Heights: Chasing Broadway Dreams through September 4. The program showcases the 2008 musical that launched Lin-Manuel Miranda's rise to stardom. To watch the full episode, click here.

* Roundabout Youth Ensemble presents a virtual play written and produced by New York's youth. Hidden Truths, inspired by Shakespeare's Othello, brings to light injustices the black community faces. The show will be available on YouTube August 14-28. Written by Jaden Tench, Nicaulis Mercedes, and Xavier Chavez and directed by Tyia Boteng, the play addresses issues faced in 2020 with a post-pandemic twist. For more information, click here.

Upcoming

* The Acting Company will stream a reading of Maria Irene Fornes's Letters from Cuba August 26-30 as the next installment of its Alumni Spotlight Series, a free virtual program of readings and concerts celebrating the multiple talents of Acting Company alumni actors. To watch, click here.





* The Latino Theater Company will present an archival video showing of its 2009 production of Evelina Fernandez's Solitude. Inspired by The Labyrinth of Solitude, a collection of essays on Mexican thought and identity by Nobel Prize winner Octavio Paz, Solitude explores love, death, destiny and family through a contemporary lens, accompanied by live music from cellist Semyon Kobialka. To learn more, click here.

* A free live-streamed reading of Gooodnight, Tyler by B.J. Tindal (they/them) will take place on Thursday, August 27 at 7pm ET, and remain online through Monday, August 31, at 7pmET. Goodnight, Tyler' is the ghost-love story of Tyler Evans, a Black boy who wants to be remembered for who he was rather than how he died. The reading will feature Jelani Alladin, Johanna Braddy, Michele Shay, Danielle Deadwyler, Jack Quaid, and Alex Gibson. Donations to support the National Black Theatre are encouraged. To watch, click here.

* Rattlestick Playwrights Theater will present a benefit concert of Soldiergirls, a new two-person musical with book and lyrics by Em Weinstein and music by Emily Johnson-Erday. The show uses real letters and a collage of found and original text to look at love, liberation, and lesbianism in the Women's Army Corps in World War II. This free online benefit will raise money for SPART*A (Service Members, Partners, Allies for Respect and Tolerance for All) and will take place on Monday, August 31, at 7pm ET. To reserve your spot and donate, click here.

* Great Performances: Romeo and Juliet will premiere on Friday, September 11, at 9pm ET on PBS (check local listings), pbs.org/gperf, and the PBS Video app. This film adaptation of Shakespeare's masterpiece takes legendary Royal Ballet choreographer Kenneth MacMillan's 1965 ballet out of the theater and into the streets of a cinematic Verona, offering a passionate reimagining of this timeless love story set to Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev's original score.

* MCC Theater has announced that its annual gala, Miscast20, will take place on MCC Theater's YouTube Channel on Sunday, September 13, at 8pm ET. Performers will include Beanie Feldstein'';, Tony winner Heather Headley, Tony nominee Joshua Henry, Tony nominee Rob McClure, Nicolette Robinson, Tony nominee Phillipa Soo, and Tony nominee Adrienne Warren. The evening will also include appearances from Lucille Lortel and Outer Critics Circle Award winner Jocelyn Bioh, Tony nominee Raul Esparza, and two-time Emmy and two-time Tony winner Judith Light'''. Watch the gala here.

* On Monday, September 14, Red Bull Theater LIVE will have a free online reading the Jacobean masterpiece The Revenger's Tragedy, adapted and directed by Jess Berger. Part dark comedy, part social satire, this gleefully macabre thriller also contains a searing examination of humankind's social need for justice versus our animal desire for vengeance. To reserve your tickets, click here.





* That '70s Show stars Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith will reunite for an online streaming preview of the new play Three Viewings. Presented by Barrington Stage Company, Jeffrey Hatcher's play will be broadcast September 23-26 for a minimum donation of $25. The streaming edition replaces an in-person staging, which was set to take place September 9-20. Directed by Barrington artistic leader Julianne Boyd, an in-person production is expected to happen at a later date.

Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith

( David Gordon/Gage Skidmore)





* The musical Romantics Anonymous will stream on Saturday, September 26 at 4pm EST. Romantics Anonymous has a book and direction by Emma Rice and score by Christopher Dimond (lyrics) and Michael Kooman (music), and is based on the film Les Emotifs Anonymes. The show will be filmed live from the Bristol Old Vic, with the cast and creators each being tested for coronavirus before forming a bubble in Bristol. These rigorous measures mean that they will be able to perform the entire show without social distancing. For tickets and more information, click here.





* John Kevin Jones will bring his one-man stage production, Killing an Evening With Edgar Allan Poe, into viewers' homes this year. Jones will again bring four of Poe's best-known works to life from the Merchant's House Museum, New York City's only 19th-century family home preserved intact. This year, nine haunting performances will be streamed online, October 31-November 8. Tickets are priced at $45 and include the performance and post-show event. To find out dates and purchase tickets, click here. Ticket buyers will receive an event link by email on the day of the event.

Streaming Channels

* Amazon will release Julie Taymor's Gloria Steinem biopic The Glorias, written by Taymor and Sarah Ruhl, on its Prime Video platform beginning September 30. Spanning five decades, the film has multiple actors playing Steinem at various ages: Ryan Kira Armstrong as Young Gloria, Lulu Wilson as Teen Gloria, Alicia Vikander as Gloria ages 20-40, and Julianne Moore as Steinem through the present. The cast also includes Bette Midler as Bella Abzug, Janelle Monae as Dorothy Pitman Hughes, Timothy Hutton as Leo Steinem, Lorraine Toussaint as Florynce Kennedy, Enid Graham as Ruth, Kimberly Guerrero as Wilma Mankiller, Monica Sanchez as Dolores Huerta, and Margo Moorer as Barbara Jordan.

Julianne Moore in The Glorias

( Dan McFadden)

* The documentary We Are Freestyle Love Supreme is currently streaming on Hulu. To subscribe to Hulu and Disney Plus, click here.

* Lin-Manuel Miranda's blockbuster musical Hamilton streams on Disney Plus, featuring the original cast, led by Miranda as Hamilton, Leslie Odom Jr. as Aaron Burr, Daveed Diggs as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson, Renee Elise Goldsberry as Angelica Schuyler, Christopher Jackson as George Washington, Jonathan Groff as King George, Phillipa Soo as Eliza Hamilton, Jasmine Cephas Jones as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds, Okieriete Onaodowan as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison, and Anthony Ramos as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton. To find out how to watch, click here.

* In Dominique Morisseau's play Pipeline, a public school teacher (Karen Pittman) must face the trauma of her son (Namir Smallwood) as a young black man when an incident threatens to get him expelled from a prep school. Pipeline streams on BroadwayHD. Read our critic's review here.

Namir Smallwood and Karen Pittman in Pipeline.

( Jeremy Daniel)





* Spike Lee directs a filmed version Antoinette Nwandu's provocative play Pass Over, which tells the story of two young black men (Jon Michael Hill and Julian Parker) dreaming of escape from a racist world. A startling and disturbing riff on Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot, Pass Over now streams on Prime Video. Read our critic's review here.

* Tony and Pulitzer Prize nominee Anna Deavere Smith wrote and stars in Notes From the Field, her solo play in which she probes the lives of students, parents, and teachers caught in the school-to-prison pipeline. The show streams on HBO.

Available for a Limited Time



* The final three episodes of the world premiere digital musical A Killer Party: A Murder Mystery Musical have been released and will be available for purchase through October 1. The company includes Jessica Keenan Wynn as Detective Case, Michael James Scott as Varthur McArthur, Krystina Alabado as Lily Wright, Carolee Carmello as Justine Case, Drew Gehling as Cameron Mitchelljohn, Jackie Burns as Joan McArthur, Laura Osnes as Vivika Orsonwelles, Jarrod Spector as George Murderer, Alex Newell as Shea Crescendo, Miguel Cervantes as Clarke Staples, and Jeremy Jordan asJeremy Jordan. The nine-episode series can be purchased for $12.99 here. Also available: a 20-track original cast recording from Broadway Records.





* Deric Rosenblatt, renowned voice teacher whose clients include Grammy, Tony, and Emmy Award-winners, has launched Vocal Power Presents, a digital subscription-based program to share his vocal training techniques with singers across the world. The new program will offer unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to lessons with his current roster of clients, providing access in a real and raw way so that singers can learn from their own homes by watching how successful professional artists work. Subscriptions to Vocal Power Presents start at $25 per month (or $35 for one-off video purchase) and are currently available at here.

* PBS's Great Performances is streaming the Public Theater's 2019 Shakespeare in the Park production of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. This bold interpretation of Shakespeare's comedic masterpiece features Danielle Brooks and Grantham Coleman as the sparring lovers Beatrice and Benedick. Tony Award winner Kenny Leon directs, with choreography by Tony Award nominee Camille A. Brown. Available through September 11. To watch, click here.

Grantham Coleman and Danielle Brooks star in Shakespeare in the Park's 2019 production of Much Ado About Nothing.

( Joan Marcus)





* Bette Davis Ain't for Sissies streams through September 24. Written and performed by Jessica Sherr, this new 80-minute live streaming version is directed for the small screen by Karen Carpenter. Tickets are $19.50 each and are available here.

* Geffen Playhouse has extended The Present, its world-premiere live, virtual, and interactive theatrical experience written and performed by master illusionist, storyteller, and Geffen alum Helder Guimaraes. The show will now run through October 10. A mystery package will be sent to you inside a USPS Priority Mail box before the show, so you must purchase tickets at least seven days in advance. To purchase tickets, click here.

* The world premiere of The Gifts You Gave to the Dark, written by Darren Murphy specifically for digital media in reaction to the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis, premiered on Wednesday, May 27 at 6pm ET and will remain online through October 2020. For more information, click here.
India on Thursday asserted that Kulbhushan Jadhav should be represented by an Indian lawyer as Pakistan seeks to implement the International Court of Justice (ICJ) judgement of 2019 to review the case.

Addressing a press conference, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said that India is in touch with Pakistan through diplomatic channels as it believes for a free and fair trial in keeping with the letter and spirit of the ICJ judgment in Kulbhushan Jadhav case.

"Kulbhushan Jhadav should be represented by an Indian lawyer. We are in touch with Pakistan through diplomatic channels. We believe for a free & fair trial in keeping with the letter and spirit of ICJ judgment in Kulbhushan Jhadav case. However, it is important that Pakistan needs to address the core issues; these issues involve the provision of relevant documents and providing unimpeded consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav," said the MEA spokesperson.

In May, Pakistan had come up with an ordinance to implement the ICJ verdict. Under the ordinance, India on behalf of Jadhav can file review for the case but despite that New Delhi wasn't given legal document in the case nor power of attorney from Jadhav.

Pakistan had moved to Islamabad High Court asking the court to appoint a lawyer in the case and the court said India should be given a chance to appoint its lawyer.

Jadhav was abducted by Pakistani agencies from Iran and New Delhi was first informed about his custody by Pakistani authorities on March 25, 2016, after which in 2017, Islamabad announced that military has awarded death sentence to him.

Speaking on diplomatic ties talks with China, the MEA spokesperson said that India and China has agreed to resolve outstanding issues in an expeditious manner, on diplomatic talks between the two sides. Srivastava said that both the countries had an in-depth and candid exchange of views on the existing situation in border areas.

He added that both the nations reaffirmed to sincerely work towards the complete disengagement of troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the western sector. Both the nation also acknowledged the need to maintain close communication through diplomatic, and military channels to ensure complete disengagement, added the MEA spokesperson.

"India, China reaffirm to sincerely work towards complete disengagement of troops along LAC in the western sector. India, China had an in-depth, candid exchange of views on the existing situation in border areas India, China acknowledge need to maintain close communication through diplomatic, military channels to ensure complete disengagement. India, China agree that restoration of peace, tranquillity in border areas is essential for the overall development of ties," said the MEA.
NEW YORK  President Donald Trumps former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, was pulled from a luxury yacht and arrested Thursday on allegations that he and three associates ripped off donors trying to fund a southern border wall, making him the latest in a long list of Trump allies to be charged with a crime.

The organizers of the We Build The Wall group portrayed themselves as eager to help the president build a big beautiful barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border, as he promised during the 2016 campaign. They raised more than $25 million from thousands of donors and pledged that 100% of the money would be used for the project.

But according to the criminal charges unsealed Thursday, much of the money never made it to the wall. Instead, it was used to line the pockets of group members, including Bannon, who served in Trump's White House and worked for his campaign. He allegedly took over $1 million, using some to secretly pay co-defendant Brian Kolfage, the founder of the project, and to cover hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal expenses.

Hours after his arrest, Bannon pleaded not guilty during an appearance in a Manhattan federal court. He is the latest addition to a startlingly long list of Trump associates who have been prosecuted, including his former campaign chair, Paul Manafort, whom Bannon replaced, his longtime lawyer, Michael Cohen, and his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn.

Trump has also made clear that he is willing to use his near-limitless pardon power to help political allies escape legal jeopardy, most recently commuting the sentence of longtime political adviser Roger Stone.

Bannon was taken into custody around 7 a.m. by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service on a 150-foot (45-meter) luxury yacht called Lady May, which was off the coast of Connecticut, authorities said. The boat is owned by exiled Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui and currently for sale for nearly $28 million. According to Marine Traffic, a commercial tracking service, the vessel's transponder signal went dark on June 17, shortly after it departed a port in Connecticut en route to Miami, potentially indicating its beacon was inoperable or had been turned off.

At his hearing, Bannon appeared by video with his hands cuffed in front of him and a white mask covering most of his face. He rocked back and forth on a chair in a holding cell with his lawyers on the telephone. The magistrate judge approved Bannons release on $5 million bail, secured by $1.75 million in assets.

Neither Bannon, nor his spokesperson or attorney responded to requests for comment Thursday. Kolfage did not respond either. Also charged were Andrew Badolato and Timothy Shea, the owner of an energy drink company called Winning Energy. The companys cans feature a cartoon superhero image of Trump and claim to contain 12 oz. of liberal tears. Shea appeared at a brief virtual hearing in Denver.

Other prominent members of the wall group included former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, its general counsel; Erik Prince, founder of the controversial security firm Blackwater; former Republican Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado; and former major league baseball pitcher Curt Schilling. They were not named in the indictment.

After the arrest, Trump quickly distanced himself from Bannon and the project.

When I read about it, I didnt like it. I said this is for government, this isnt for private people. And it sounded to me like showboating, he told reporters at the White House, adding that he felt very badly about the situation.

An immigration plan unveiled by Trump last year included a proposal to allow the public to donate toward his long-promised wall, as the Kolfage group had originally said was its mission before shifting its focus to private construction. But Trump later denounced the project publicly, tweeting last month that he disagreed with doing this very small (tiny) section of wall, in a tricky area, by a private group which raised money by ads and claiming, It was only done to make me look bad.

Attorney General William Barr told The Associated Press he had been made aware of the investigation into Bannon months ago but did not say whether the president had been informed.

According to the indictment, the defendants used fake invoices, another nonprofit and sham vendor arrangements to try to hide their efforts to siphon money. Under the arrangement, Bannon and his co-defendants allegedly paid Kolfage $100,000 up front and an additional $20,000 monthly, all while claiming they served as volunteers and that Kolfage was not paid.

The indictment said Kolfage went so far as to send mass emails to his donors asking them to purchase coffee from his unrelated business, telling donors the coffee company was the only way he keeps his family fed and a roof over their head.

Kolfage eventually spent some of the over $350,000 he received on home renovations, payments toward a boat, a luxury SUV, a golf cart, jewelry, cosmetic surgery, personal tax payments and credit card debt.

Charges included conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Originally called We the People Build the Wall, the campaign launched in December 2018 and raised approximately $17 million in its first week. But it soon drew scrutiny, according to the indictment. The crowdfunding site that hosted the campaign suspended it and threatened to return donations unless the money was transferred to a legitimate nonprofit. Bannon was brought in around that time.

Dustin Stockton, who helped start the campaign and then left the project to work on the upcoming presidential election, said it seemed clear that prosecutors were attacking political infrastructure that supports President Trump right before the election. He was not charged in the case.

Benjamin Harnwell, who with Bannon launched an institute in Italy to train future populists, called the indictment spurious and evidence that the forces of darkness would stop at nothing to destroy the combative Bannon.

A voice of nationalist, outsider conservatism, Bannon led the conservative Breitbart News before being tapped to serve as chief executive officer of Trumps campaign in its critical final months. He later served as chief strategist during the turbulent early days of Trumps administration and was at the forefront of many of its most contentious policies, including its travel ban on several majority-Muslim countries.

But Bannon, who clashed with other top advisers, was pushed out after less than a year. And his split with Trump deepened after he was quoted in a 2018 book making critical remarks about some of Trumps adult children. Bannon apologized and soon stepped down as chairman of Breitbart.

Bannon, who served in the Navy and worked as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs and as a Hollywood producer before turning to politics, now hosts a pro-Trump podcast called War Room, which began during the presidents impeachment proceedings and has continued during the pandemic.

A day before the indictment was unsealed, Kolfage was a featured guest on the show and solicited donations.

_____

Long and Colvin reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Jennifer Peltz in New York, Nomaan Merchant in Northbrook, Illinois, and Cedar Attanasio in Santa Fe, New Mexico, contributed to this report.
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SALEM, Ore. (AP)  Oregonians still waiting for their unemployment benefits can apply for a one-time payment of $500.

The $35 million relief check program, that was approved by lawmakers in mid-July, could help up to 70,000 Oregon residents facing financial hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic.





. . .
Kim Foxx doesnt have the experience or judgment to run an office I think in regular times, and in times where there are events which obviously would test anyone, she certainly has failed that test, OBrien said. There certainly is more of a feeling that Im getting from business leaders and from individuals that they are sick and tired of favoring the criminal at the expense of the victim of crime, and that theyre ready and willing and able to elect a Republican for states attorney.
U.S. President Donald Trumps former political adviser, Steve Bannon, was on Thursday arrested in connection with an online fundraising scheme, authorities said.

Mr Bannon and three others, Brian Kolfage, Andrew Badolato, and Timothy Shea, were indicted for their roles in defrauding hundreds of thousands of donors in connection with an online crowdfunding campaign known as We Build the Wall.

According to a statement from the U.S. Attorneys office in the Southern District of New York, Audrey Strauss, the fraudsters raised more than $25 million.

However, they have all been arrested.

As alleged, the defendants defrauded hundreds of thousands of donors, capitalising on their interest in funding a border wall to raise millions of dollars.

Under the false pretence that all of that money would be spent on construction, Strauss said.

They had all been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, each of which carried a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

(dpa/NAN)
Education experts have criticised the 'staggering' number of A grades in the revised A-level results as modern foreign languages, maths and classics are revealed as the subjects with the highest rate of A or A* grades in England.

Results based on teachers assessed grades showed more than 10 per cent of entries have been upgraded following a U-turn on the way results are awarded, with 38.1 per cent of students gaining an A or A* this year, compared to 25.2 per cent of original grades.

The surge follows Education Secretary Gavin Williamson scrapping the controversial algorithm system for A-levels and GCSEs following a mass outcry from students and parents.

The backlash prompted ministers to concede teachers' predicted grades must be used to mark pupils who could not sit their exams due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ministers also announced today that it will scrap the cap on numbers of students admitted to take medical degrees and every student will be guaranteed a place at their first choice university if they have the right grades.

Nearly three in four (74 per cent) pupils taking A-levels in languages other than French, German or Spanish achieved an A* or A - the biggest figure of any subject.

Other languages available for students to study at A-level include Italian, Chinese, Russian, Arabic, Greek, Gujarati, Japanese, Persian, Portuguese, Turkish and Urdu.

One of the reasons for this being at the top is that many students are likely to already have the subject as a native language, and so would be expected to perform well.

And subjects that attract academically bright students also recorded high numbers of As with 71.1% of students getting an A in Further Mathematics and 49.15 in Mathematics,

It comes as:

A record high proportion of GCSE entries in England were today awarded the equivalent of A* or As (grade 7, 8 or 9);

Ministers and universities said all A-Level students with the correct grades will get into their first choice;

The Government also said it will scrap the cap on student numbers for medical degrees including dentistry;

500,000 BTEC students must wait another week to get their grades after the exam board axed results;

Some frustrated students and parents were left waiting for GCSE results after their email failed to arrive at 8am;

Schools minister Nick Gibb apologised to students for the 'pain and the anxiety' they felt before the Government's U-turn;

Ministers have admitted they were warned six weeks ago that the exam algorithm was badly flawed;

The appeals process for students unhappy with their results is still unclear following the U-turn.

After other modern languages, the next subject with the highest A/A* rate is further maths at 71 per cent, a figure which might be expected because it is often taken by students who are expected to perform very well in the standard maths A-level.

Other modern languages have the highest rate of A/A& grades at 73.8 per cent, followed by further maths at 71.1 per cent, German at 58.3 per cent and Spanish at 54.5 per cent

More than 10 per cent of A-levels were upgraded after a U-turn on how results are awarded, with 38.1 per cent of students gaining an A or A* this year, compared to 27.6 per cent in 2019

Which A-level subjects have the highest rate of A or A* grades in 2020? Other modern languages (Italian, Chinese, Russian, Arabic, Greek, Gujarati, Japanese, Persian, Portuguese, Turkish and Urdu) 73.8%

Further Mathematics 71.1%

German 58.3%

Spanish 54.5%

French 53.6%

Classical subjects (Latin, Greek and classical civilisation) 53.1%

Mathematics 49.5%

Performing / expressive Arts 43.8%

Chemistry 41.9%

Music 41.4%

Art and design subjects 41.3%

Physics 41.2%

Economics 41.0%

Other sciences 40.0%

Political studies 39.7%

Drama 39.2%

English literature 37.7%

Biology 36.8%

History 36.7%

Computing 36.2%

Religious studies 36.1%

Geography 36.0%

Design and technology 32.6%

Physical education 31.2%

Psychology 29.0%

All other subjects 27.6%

Sociology 27.5%

Law 26.9%

Business studies 25.1%

English language & literature 23.4%

Media, film and TV studies 23.4%

English language 21.8% Advertisement

Following behind are the three standard modern foreign languages of German (58 per cent), Spanish (55 per cent) and French (54 per cent).

Other subjects towards the top included the classics - compromising Latin, Greek and classical civilisation - which had an A*/A rate of 53 per cent.

Further subjects not far behind include standard maths at 50 per cent, performing arts at 44 per cent, chemistry at 41 per cent and art and design subjects also at 41 per cent.

Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at Buckingham University, described the percentages of top A-level grades as 'staggering and no help at all to university admissions tutors having to take difficult decisions'.

The education expert told MailOnline today: ''Other modern languages' is at the top, because these languages are often taken by native speakers, but the exams have been set for those learning them as a second language.

'German, Spanish and French are so high because the exams have been made easier in order to encourage more to take them. Languages, like maths and classical subjects, which also have very high percentages, are exams where there are right answers so it is possible to see whether someone is good at the subject.

'Those taking them also tend to be brighter. The subjects at the bottom tend to be subjective and taken by the less brainy - English language (the brighter do English literature), media, PE etc.

'The rank order of the subjects by grade tends to be very similar year by year, and this year the teachers have been extraordinarily generous. We do need exams to be able to tell who really deserves the grades.'

Education adviser and former Kent headteacher Peter Read also told MailOnline: 'Modern foreign languages will have a proportion of native speakers taking the A-level of their own language and so will tend to perform highly.

'In order to be fair to other candidates, grades have to be set high. Otherwise they would perform badly in those subjects and apart from other consequences entry numbers would fall sharply.

'Further maths will primarily be taken by highly able mathematicians who are likely to perform well across the board and again, to keep their grades balanced, a high proportion of A grades are awarded.'

But at the other end of the scale, the lowest rate of A*/As in A-levels was in England language (22 per cent), then media, film and TV studies (23 per cent).

The subjects with the biggest change in A/A* grades this year were other modern languages (up 22.3 percentage points), followed by music (up 22.1 points) and drama (up 21.2 points)

More than 10 per cent of A-levels were upgraded after a U-turn on how results are awarded, with 38.1 per cent of students gaining an A or A* this year, compared to 27.6 per cent in 2019

Others towards the bottom of the A*/A range included English language and literature (23 per cent), business studies (25 per cent) and law (26.9 per cent).

The subjects with the biggest change in A/A* grades this year were other modern languages (up 22.3 percentage points), followed by music (up 22.1 points) and drama (up 21.2 points).

Others just behind were performing and expressive arts (up 19.8 points), Spanish (up 19.6 points), classics (up 18.7 points) and computing (up 18.6 points).

It comes as thousands of A-level entries have been upgraded following a major U-turn on the way results are awarded.

Lewes Old Grammar School students smile after receiving their GCSE results this morning

The proportion of A-level entries receiving an A grade or higher has increased to a record high for England, with 38.1 per cent awarded the top grades.

When this year's results were first released last week under the controversial moderation system, some 27.6 per cent of entries achieved an A or above.

Meanwhile, the overall pass rate for grades A* to E has also risen to an all-time high at 99.7 per cent achieved the same in last Thursday's results, figures provided by the exams regulator Ofqual show.

It comes after the Government announced students would be able to receive grades based on assessments by schools or colleges, rather than an algorithm, after thousands of results were downgraded on August 13.

Bristnall Hall Academy pupils in Oldbury in the West Midlands receive their GCSE results today

Prior to the Government's U-turn, exam boards had downgraded nearly two-in-five (39.1 per cent) grades in England, according to data from Qfqual - equating to about 280,000 entries being adjusted down after moderation.

A total of 35.6 per cent of grades were adjusted down by one grade, 3.3 per cent were brought down by two grades and 0.2 per cent came down by three grades.

Teachers were told to submit the grades they thought each student would have received if they had sat the papers, alongside a rank order of students, after exams were cancelled amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, exam boards moderated the grades to ensure this year's results were not significantly higher than previously and the value of students' grades were not undermined.

Students discuss their A-Level results after getting them at the Norwich School last Thursday

Meanwhile, about 15,000 students who were rejected by their first-choice university will now meet the offer conditions set for them to study after the grading U-turn.

Ucas (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) said universities had 'exercised flexibility' after it analysed the results from the four largest awarding bodies for 160,000 students who received upgraded A-level marks in England.

They showed that around 100,000 of those students had already secured a place at their first-choice university on results day last Thursday.

Of the remaining 60,000 students, around one in four will now meet the A-level offer conditions of their original first choice university, Ucas said.

In addition, the proportion of GCSE entries in England awarded top grades has surged to a record high after a U-turn meant results could be based on teachers' estimated grades amid cancelled exams.

Sixth form students look at their A-level results at the Hemel Hempstead School last Thursday

Hundreds of thousands of youngsters received their GCSE results today following major changes.

More than one in four (25.9 per cent) GCSE entries in England scored one of the three top grades this year, up from just over a fifth (20.7 per cent) last summer, figures from exams regulator Ofqual show.

The proportion receiving at least a 7 - the equivalent of an A grade - is a record high based on available data following the decision to award grades based on teachers' assessments, rather than an algorithm.

Figures from Ofqual show that 6.3 per cent of entries in England were awarded a 9 - the highest grade under the new numerical grading system - this year.

More than three in four (76 per cent) entries were awarded at least a 4 - which is broadly the equivalent of a C - in England, which is up 8.9 percentage points on last year when 67.1 per cent achieved the grades.
Earlier today, the Russian FSB claimed it had prevented Ukraine's attempt to kidnap one of Donbas warlords.

Any operations on foreign soil are beyond the scope of the SBU security service's functions, the agency's spokesperson said, commenting on the latest allegations voiced by the Russian FSB security service over the "foiled abduction plot" targeting a Donbas militant, a Russian citizen who had fought against Ukrainian army in eastern Ukraine.

"I think it is better to ask the GUR [military intelligence] about this, not us," SBU spox Olena Gitlianskaya said in response to UNIAN's request for comment.

External operations are beyond the scope of our competence

Asked why the FSB statement refers to a certain SBU operative, she noted: "Of those who have been named, there are no SBU operatives. And in general, if you read the law on the Security Service, we are engaged in the protection of internal security. External operations are beyond the scope of our competence."

Andriy Cherniak, a GUR military intelligence spokesman, told UNIAN that the agency "will not comment" on the issue.

"There is no information either about us or about our employees," he said.

"If they write about intelligence, then Ukraine's military intelligence of Ukraine does not comment on any special operations, even if they are imaginary or virtual. That is, we will neither deny nor confirm the report."

We will neither deny nor confirm the report

FSB allegations

Earlier today, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) says it exposed an operation by Ukrainian intelligence to kidnap and bring to Ukraine one of the Donbas warlords, a Russian citizen, who had taken an active part in hostilities against the Ukrainian Army.

Ukrainians reportedly hired Russian criminals to do the job for a monetary reward and coordinated the operation.

Read alsoUkraine's special operations forces detain "commander" involved in MH17 downing (Photo)Seven Russian nationals allegedly hired by Ukraine were detained in a sting raid, the FSB reports.

The FSB has also named Ukrainian citizens Andriy Baydala and Ihor Mishchenko as suspects who had allegedly masterminded the abduction attempt, adding that they had been acting upon instructions of the SBU (the Security Service of Ukraine).

The FSB went further to claim that Baidala had been earlier detained in Ukraine for "illegal carry of firearms" in what Russia says was a mock operation to provide him an alibi for the kidnapping job coordination.

The case is being investigated as an "abduction attempt by an organized group".
The new tranche of assays includes Drill Hole ELR20-008 which intersected 96.0m of 1.22g/t Platinum, 1.63g/t Palladium, 0.61% Copper and 0.34% Nickel from 326.8m-423.0mm downhole, including 18m of 2.29g/t Platinum, 3.2g/t Palladium, 1.17% Copper and 0.76% Nickel from 391.8m-410.0m downhole.

ELR20-008 is a 50m step-out north from previously reported Drill Hole ELR20-003 (reported June 17, 2020) that returned an assay interval of 78.9m of 1.66g/t Platinum, 2.17g/t Palladium, 0.80% Copper and 0.41% Nickel from 359.5m-438.4m downhole, including 20.0m of 3.30g/t Platinum, 4.49g/t Palladium, 1.54% Copper and 0.84% Nickel from 395.5m-415.5m downhole (Figure 1).

Abraham Drost, CEO of Clean Air Metals stated that "the assay results from Drill Hole ELR20-008 extends the strike length of the deposit to the north at a greater thickness than the original Rio Tinto discovery holes. Holes 009 and 010 intersected mineralization over intervals of up to 14m likely defining the lateral edges of the mineralized conduit.

It is encouraging that drill targeting, based on previous drill results and recent geophysics, has allowed us to accurately identify a high-grade core as seen in previous Drill Hole ELR20-004 (reported July 15, 2020) and thicker keel of the deposit as seen previously in Drill Hole ELR20-003.

Drilling will now extend 650m north towards a previously drilled 2010 intersection in Rio Hole 10CL0003 which returned an assay interval of 27.3m of 1.15ppm (g/t) Platinum, 1.3 g/t Palladium, 0.43% Copper and 0.22% Nickel."

All intercepts are estimated to be > 95% of true width based on drill hole inclination

95% of true width based on drill hole inclination Mineralized intervals calculated at 1 ppm Pt+Pd cutoff

The Escape Lake Zone mineralization identified thus far is located at a depth of approximately 325m-425m vertical depth within the Escape Lake Intrusion. The objective of the ongoing program is to define the magnitude of the Escape Lake Mineralized Zone to support the calculation of a mineral resource estimate and mine plan by Nordmin Engineering Ltd., ("Nordmin") (announced August 11, 2020) for the Escape Lake horizon in addition to the Current Lake deposit, the subject of an Historic Estimate referenced below.

Historic Estimate  Current Lake deposit

The Escape Lake Intrusion and magma conduit which is the Company's present focus in Phase 1 drilling (Table 1), appears to be a standalone, separate twin structure to the Current Lake Intrusion ('Current Lake') and magma conduit on the Thunder Bay North Project on which there exists a historic estimate of 9.8 million Tonnes (Indicated). The Historic Estimate is from pit constrained and underground sources (Table 2).

The estimate of the Current Lake Deposit at the Thunder Bay North Project is considered by Clean Air Metals to be historic in nature. No Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 has completed sufficient work for the Company to classify the historic estimate of the Current Lake Deposit as current and the Company is not treating the historic estimate as current. The Company's QP has verified the data but no resampling of core or any other tests on the analytical procedures has been performed by the Company to-date. Confirming the historic estimate at Current Lake and tradeoff studies on possible underground mining methods will be a concurrent priority for Clean Air Metals.

Thunder Bay North Pit-Constrained Historic Estimate

The pit-constrained Historic Estimate is reported at a cut-off grade of 0.59 g/t Pt-Eq within a Lerchs-Grossman pit shell optimized on Pt-Eq. The strip ratio (waste: ore) of this pit is 9.5:1. The platinum-equivalency formula is based on assumed metal prices and overall recoveries. The Pt-Eq formula is: Pt-Eq g/t = Pt g/t + Pd g/t x 0.3204 + Au g/t x 0.6379 + Ag g/t x 0.0062 + Cu g/t x 0.00011 + Total Ni g/t x 0.000195 + Total Co g/t x 0.000124 + Rh g/t x 2.1816. The conversion factor shown in the formula for each metal represents the conversion from each metal to platinum on a recovered value basis. The assumed metal prices used in the Pt-Eq formula are: Pt US$1,595/oz, Pd US$512/oz, Au US$1,015/oz, Ag US$15.74/oz, Cu US$2.20/lb, Ni US$7.71/lb, Co US$7.71/lb and Rh US$3,479/oz. The assumed combined flotation and PlatsolTM process recoveries used in the Pt-Eq formula are: Pt 76%, Pd 75%, Au 76%, Ag 55%, Cu 86%, Ni 44%, Co 28% and Rh 76%. The assumed refinery payables are: Pt 98%, Pd 98%, Au 97%, Ag 85%, Cu 100%, Ni 100%, Co 100% and Rh 98%.

Thunder Bay North Underground Historic Estimate

The underground Historic Estimate is reported at a cut-off grade of 1.94g/t Pt-Eq. The Pt-Eq formula is: Pt-Eq g/t = Pt g/t + Pd g/t x 0.2721 + Au g/t x 0.3968 + Ag g/t x 0.0084 + Cu g/t x 0.000118 + Sulphide Ni g/t x 0.000433 + Sulphide Co g/t x 0.000428 + Rh g/t x 2.7211. The assumed metal prices used in the Pt-Eq formula are: Pt US$1,470/oz, Pd US$400/oz, Rh US$4,000/oz, Au US$875/oz, Ag US$14.30/oz, Cu US$2.10/lb, Ni US$7.30/lb and Co US$13.00/lb. The assumed process recoveries used in the Pt-Eq formula are: Pt 75%, Pd 75%, Rh 75%, Au 50%, Ag 50%, Cu 90%, and Ni and Co in sulphide 90%. The assumed smelter recoveries used in the Pt-Eq formula are Pt 85%, Pd 85%, Rh 85%, Au 85%, Ag 85%, Cu 85%, Ni 90% and Co 50%. Ni and Co in sulphide were estimated by linear regression of MgO to total Ni and total Co respectively. The regression formula for Nickel in sulphide (NiSx) is: NiSx = Ni - (MgO% x 60.35 - 551.43). The regression formula for Cobalt in sulphide (CoSx) is: CoSx = Co - (MgO% x 4.45 - 9.25).

Nordmin Engineering Ltd. Work Program

Nordmin will provide the following items within its scope of work:

Work Package 1 (WP1) Resource Validation:

Validate and approve the existing geological model and historic estimate on the Current Lake deposit;

Supervise and approve the development of a preliminary geological model of the Escape Lake project in co-operation with the database geologist and Vice-President, Project Manager;

Supervise and approve the development of the drilling database and preliminary resource model for the Escape Lake project in co-operation with Clean Air Metals' database geologist; and

Develop a global resource estimate for the Thunder Bay North project.

Work Package 2 (WP2) Early Tradeoff Studies:

The WP2 early tradeoff studies for the Current Lake deposit will be conceptual in nature, at an order of magnitude that is comparable with a scoping/preliminary economic assessment level of study. The principal parameters for a conceptual study are mostly assumed and/or factored. Accordingly, the level of accuracy is plus or minus 35 per cent. Nordmin will incorporate risk, peer and environmental reviews, following the ESG principles, into each of the following mining trade-off studies:

Underground ("UG") ramp access;

UG mining method;

UG geotechnical review;

Metallurgical/preliminary flowsheet design;

Tailings management option analysis and initial design;

Electric vehicle study;

Surface works and infrastructure study; and

Simplified, pretax cash flow analysis to be included in applicable trade-off studies.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

Clean Air Metals uses ALS Global ("ALS"), a well-established and recognized mineral assay and geochemical analytical services company. The Thunder Bay laboratory holds ISO-9000 accreditation; the Vancouver facility holds ISO-17025 registration.

Quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) statistical checks were performed on original, ALS-certified analytical data for all 8 holes in Table 1. Selected core intercepts from historic (RT) holes in Table 1 were relogged and resampled and compared with historic data. Mr. Andrey Zagoskin, P.Geo., Ontario, a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 and employee of the Company, led the validation exercise and has approved Table 1 assay results.

All NQ-sized drill core is cut with a diamond-tipped saw blade with half of the core submitted to ALS for sample preparation and analysis. Core samples from selected intervals are individually bagged and tagged, gathered up in larger sealed poly bags and shipped to the sample prep facility in Thunder Bay, ON under custody of Clean Air Metals' personnel at all times. Sample preparation is completed at the ALS sample preparation facility located in Thunder Bay, ON and analysis is completed at the primary ALS assay laboratory located in Vancouver, B.C.

Clean Air Metals follows a documented quality control procedure for its core assay sampling program consisting of the insertion of blind blanks, duplicates, and certified Palladium-Platinum and Copper-Nickel standards into the sample stream. The insertion procedure results in a minimum of 11% to 12% control sample frequency depending on the length of the sampled interval.

Gold, platinum, and palladium are analysed using fire assay (FA) with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) finish. Samples with grades above the optimal ICP-MS detection limits are analysed using an optical emission spectroscopy method (ICP-OES).

Also, thirty-three (33) elements of each sample, including copper, nickel, silver, chromium, cobalt, and sulphur, are analyzed by a multi-element analytical method using the atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) technique following four-acid digestion of the sample. When samples have grades above the optimal detection limits for this analytical method, they are re-analysed using a high-grade method consisting of either ICP-AES or atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) techniques.

COVID Policy

Clean Air Metals has adopted COVID-19 avoidance and personal protection measures for its geological staff, drilling contractor and service suppliers. Personnel are required to maintain physical distance, use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), self-monitor and self-isolate or elect to work from home. Management had previously eliminated plans for a camp setup to service a planned diamond drill campaign on the Escape Lake Project. The Company is aware of Thunder Bay Health Unit guidelines that provide for "mandatory" self-isolation for returning overseas and inter-provincial travel. The guidelines previously also "strongly recommended" self-isolation after travel into the Northwest region from other areas of the Province. Mineral Exploration and Development has been deemed an essential service in the Province of Ontario (http://www.netnewsledger.com/2020/03/23/ontario-covid-19-business-allowed-to-remain-open-list-march-23-2020/). The Company has procured the services of a locally staffed and serviced diamond drilling contractor to complete the Phase 1 and Phase 2 diamond drilling programs.

Mr. Allan MacTavish, P.Geo. a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 and VP, Project Manager of the Company, has reviewed and approved all technical information in this press release.

Clean Air Metals and its wholly-owned subsidiary Panoramic PGMs (Canada) Ltd. acknowledge that the Escape Lake and Thunder Bay North Properties are on the traditional territories of the Fort William First Nation, Red Rock First Nation and Biinjitiwabik Zaaging Anishnabek, signatories to the Robinson-Superior Treaty of 1850. The parties have entered into a Communication Protocol and are committed to ongoing updates and dialogue around the Thunder Bay North Project.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Abraham Drost"

Abraham Drost, Chief Executive Officer of Clean Air Metals Inc.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections.

SOURCE Clean Air Metals Inc.
Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) and the Africa Office of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) think government is hesitant in implementing the Right to Information (RTI) law.

In a virtual national dialogue organized by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and supported by the European Union (EU) and the Multimedia Group Limited, officials of the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) took turns to express their thoughts on government's approach to the implementation of the RTI law.

On the panel were Madam Linda Ofori-Kwarfo, Executive Director, GII; Ms Wihelmina Mensah, Director, Africa Office, CHRI; and Ben Abdallah Bandah, Chairman, Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament with Samson Larry Anyenini, a lawyer as the host.

Held under the theme Right to Information, the dialogue sought to discuss Ghana's progress in implementing the RTI law and its effectiveness in the country's socio-political landscape.

Lack of Information

Contributing to the discussion, Ms Mensah stated that public officials felt reluctant in giving out vital information to the citizenry.

This, she condemned saying, The default stance of access to information is that information should be proactively disclosed.

She said that CHRI organized some people to request information from some public institutions and a chunk of the feedback was that they were made to pledge not to use the information against the state.

On her part, Madam Ofori-Kwarfo urged that with Ghana's pedigree in democracy, government should ensure that information was made accessible to all, adding that there should be no fear on the part of government in giving out information.

However, Mr. Banda said that it was not all information that could be put out for public consumption.

He said the law obligated every public institution to put together a manual that contained the classes of information that they generate and process and also determine which information to give out to individuals.

Transparency

The CSOs accused the Ministry of Information (MoI) of lack of transparency and leaving out the CSOs who contributed in the roadmap towards the passing of the bill into law.

Ms Mensah said that when the law was passed, the MoI had a roadmap it developed with the contribution from CSOs but were left out when the ministry later decided to change the contents of the roadmap due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Madam Ofori-kwarfo stressed that as CSOs that contributed to the passing of the law, we should not be left out of the processes in implementing the law.

Information Commission

The CSOs again accused the MoI of performing the functions of the Information Commission as required by law when in fact the commission in itself had not been officially inaugurated.

According to Mr. Bandah, the MoI organized some training for designated information officers in some parts of the country where about a hundred information officers were recruited; and about 400 were reported to have been recruited last year.

He explained that the MoI being a responsible ministry has to put some processes in place by taking charge of some duties of the commission since it is not fully operational yet.

However, Madam Ofori-Kwarfo of the GII objected, saying the MoI could not perform such functions of the Information Commission, since the constitution does not give it any merit to do so.

---Daily Guide
Americans confidence in the news media has been waning for years, but an increasing number have lost trust in the medias ability to inform viewers with objective reporting and feel the press is now actively driving the countrys current partisan divide, according to a biennial report by the Knight Foundation and opinion poll giant Gallup.

The report, which sought to analyze Americans attitudes toward the media and what connections they have with their political views, discovered that while virtually all respondents think its very importantif not criticalfor the media to provide accurate and fair reporting (92 percent), a majority also reported seeing increased levels of partisan bias in the news.

About half of those surveyed (49 percent) said they currently see a great deal of political bias in news coverage, up from 45 percent reported during the last iteration of the Knight/Gallup study conducted two years ago. Nearly three-quarters of Americans said they now consider media bias to be a major problem (73 percent), up from 65 percent in the 2017 study.

More than half of respondents (56 percent) admit theyve even noticed at least a fair amount of bias in the news sources they rely on most. Paradoxically, however, a majority (69 percent) said theyre more concerned about potential bias in news sources consumed by others as opposed to bias in their own preferred media channels (29 percent).

Nearly eight in 10 Americans (79 percent) said they think news organizations exhibit this bias because theyre trying to persuade the public to adopt a certain viewpoint, while three-quarters (75 percent) are worried that media owners are willfully influencing their companies coverage. Only 12 percent believe the media are trying to report the news accurately and fairly but are simply unable to do so. In other words, a majority believe the perceived phenomenon of inaccurate news is intentional, either because reporters are misrepresenting the facts (54 percent) or because theyre making them up (28 percent). Eight percent said they believe some media outlets are deliberately trying to ruin the country.

As usual, respondents political affiliations were a strong corollary in determining their attitudes toward the press performance and what levels of trust they have in the news media.

Overall, nearly three-quarters of respondents identifying as Republican (71 percent) said they have an unfavorable opinion of the news media, compared to only 22 percent of Democrats. Nearly the same number of Democrats (70 percent) said they think the media are unjustifiably under attack. Nearly two-thirds of Republicans, meanwhile (61 percent), believe those attacks are warranted.

It also appears that the more conservative Americans lean, the more palpable their disdain for the media: one in five Americans who identify as very conservative believe certain media outlets are deliberately trying to ruin the country, compared to only one in 10 who identify as moderate conservatives.

Overall, nearly half of those polled (48 percent) think the media bears a great deal of blame for the countrys polarized political climate, while more than a third (36 percent) believe the media bears a moderate amount of blame. That said, respondents said they still value the news medias role in a free society, as an overwhelming majority (84 percent) said they believe the media is criticalor at least very importantto a democracy.

The Knight Foundation/Gallup report, American Views 2020: Trust Media and Democracy, was based on survey data from more than 20,000 U.S. adults collected between November and February.
Maple Leaf Foods Suspends Pork Exports to China After Employees at 2 Plants Test Positive for COVID-19

Maple Leaf Foods has temporarily suspended its pork exports to China after employees at its Brandon, Man., and Lethbridge, Alta., plants tested positive for COVID-19, the company said in a news release on Tuesday.

The meat processor said the decision was made due to a new protocol by China that requires any plant that reports a COVID-19 case to suspend exports to China temporarily.

We respect Chinas new import protocols for Canadian products and are working cooperatively with Canadian and Chinese authorities to resume exports quickly, Maple Leaf president and CEO Michael McCain said in the release.

The company told CBC that as of Wednesday, there were 60 cases of COVID-19 at its Brandon plant and one in Lethbridge.

The company also said its own investigations along with those of public health officials indicate there is no evidence of workplace transmission occurring at the plant.

An employee at the Brandon plant, however, who did not want his name and department identified, said he felt depressed and unsafe in an interview with The Brandon Sun on Aug. 12.

During the work, its OK, he said, adding that the washroom and break room can be crowded sometimes making physical distancing difficult, and workers sometimes dont wear masks when they should.

Many people are changing in there  some dont wear the mask and some take it off when they change clothes, said the man, who has worked at the plant for a decade.

In the cafeteria, he said, there is no social distancing. Space is less than one metre.  The distance is very close and we have to take our masks off to eat.

The company maintained that it has taken safety measures to protect its employees.

Maple Leaf Foods is taking to provide a safe work environment and prevent workplace spread of COVID-19, including temperature and health screening, face coverings, barriers between workspaces where possible, social distancing, monitoring and enforcement protocols.

As for the potential for food to transmit the virus, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says on its website theres no evidence of that happening.

There is no evidence to suggest that food is a likely source or route of transmission of the virus, it says. At this time, there have been no reported cases of food or food packaging being associated with the transmission of COVID-19.
Mainly continuing instability in Mali and, further afield, in Libya, where years of turmoil have opened up smuggling routes and access to weapons. A French military intervention in 2013 dealt a heavy blow to jihadist groups that partnered with ethnic Tuareg rebels to seize control of northern Mali a year earlier. Deprived of their urban bases, the jihadists resorted to bombings and hit-and-run attacks, targeting army posts and the 15,000-person United Nations peacekeeping mission. They extended their operations to Burkina Faso, which faces its worst-ever humanitarian crisis as 1 million people have been forced to flee their homes. There have also been intermittent attacks in Niger, including a high-profile ambush in 2017 that claimed the lives of four American soldiers and the murder of six French tourists this year. The jihadists have exploited and fueled age-old tensions between farmers and cattle herders who compete for land and scarce resources in Mali, Burkina Faso and Nigeria, recruiting members of aggrieved communities to their cause.
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SEATTLE  An industrial building at 1414 S. Director St. in South Park has sold for a little under $8 million, according to King County records.

The buyer was USPF Director LP, associated with EverWest Real Estate Investors of Denver, which has been actively buying in our market.





. . .
We just love it when a big-ticket international film, that has a talented Indian actor, gears up for its launch. This time, around, its Ali Fazal in Death On The Nile, whose trailer dropped in earlier today, that has fans going all bonkers.



Now, although Alis presence in the trailer was more of a blink-and-you-will-miss-it kind, we have to say, that style-wise, Ali looks dapper AF.

 20th Century Studios

In fact, the styling of the film is very quaint and opulent. For people who have seen the trailer, there shouldnt be any doubt that the film is aesthetically on-point  immaculate, very detailed and bewitching.



 20th Century Studios

Gal Gadot, and Emma Mackey from Sex Education, both are seen in some intricately designed gowns. We will not be surprised if this film kicks off another renaissance of the pre-World War II, 1930s aesthetics.



 20th Century Studios

Last year, a few leaks from the film revealed much of Ali Fazals look and aesthetic for the film. A proper, shapely moustache, and dark strip three-button suit with a muffler, made Ali look superb.



 20th Century Studios

The white tuxedo with broad peaked collars also looks dapper.



However, the one person, who definitely has set some really dapper grooming goals sometime in the future, is Kenneth Branaghs double handlebar moustache.

 20th Century Studios

Now, fans of Agatha Christie and her Hercule Poirot novels will know that Christie has often described Poirot to be a bubbly, stout European man in his 50s, who has a funny-looking moustache, twirled into a handlebar.



 ITV Studios

Caption: Hercule Poirot, as imagined by Agatha Christie, played by David Suchet, for a British TV series on the stories of the Detective)



The film does take liberty with Poirots moustache here, and were kinda glad that they did. It would be a little difficult for audiences to take the detective seriously, if they went for the original version, as Christie had suggested in her books.

It, in fact, looks better when compared to the last Hercule Poirot film, Murder on the Orient Express. The overall styling of his suit as well, the double-breasted waist jacket, and the single-breasted jacket is immaculate, and awe-inspiring.

 20th Century Studios

The trailer makes the film look very promising in terms of style and fashion from that period. There is a lot to unwrap, especially when you start taking a good hard look at the minor characters.



 20th Century Studios

All in all, just like any other good, murder mystery films, this one will be a great film to watch. Oh, and if youre a fan of fashion from the 1930s, well, youre in for a treat.


Sharad Pawar

Mumbai: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday said the Maharashtra government will fully cooperate with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for probe in the case of actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death.

Sharad PawarPawar said he was sure that the Maha Vikas Aghadi government will respect the Supreme Court's order upholding transfer of Patna Police FIR in the case to the CBI.

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Pawar also said that he was hopeful that the investigation in the actor's death will not be carried on the way it happened in rationalist Narendra Dabholkars murder case, which has remained unresolved.

"I am sure the Maharashtra Govt will respect the judgement of the Supreme Court to handover Sushant Singh Rajputs case to the CBI and fully cooperate in the investigation process," Pawar tweeted.

Sharad Pawar tweet

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"I hope the investigation will not be carried on, as was done with Dr Narendra Dabholkars murder case also under investigation by the #CBI which commenced in 2014 and remains unresolved, the former Union minister said.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the transfer of the FIR, lodged in Patna against Rhea Chakraborty and others for allegedly abetting Rajput's suicide, to the CBI.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

In late July, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that school districts would operate remotely through at least Sept. 7, saying state data regarding the coronavirus was far too problematic to allow for in-person education.

However, the states authority doesnt extend directly to private schools, and several independent institutions in the state are forging ahead with opening their doors, required to operate under the same rules as a business.

While each private school the Journal spoke with has precautions in place, measures vary, including interpretations of a 25% occupancy limit in the current health order.

For Sunset Mesa School in Northeast Albuquerque, classes started Wednesday for roughly 300 preschool through fifth-grade students.

That means five days, full time, all students here, President of Sunset Mesa School Alan Mask said.

The maximum number of students that will be in a classroom at one time is 16, according to Mask. And, at most, staff meetings brought 20 people together, he added.

Mask said the school has increased the number of classes for social distancing and put student screening processes into place, in addition to extra cleaning and face-covering requirements.

We do have a lot simpler situation to make it safe than a big public school, Mask said.

Thats the thought process at Hope Christian School as well, which resumed in-person classes on Monday. Head of School Terry Heisey said the school is better poised to react to the pandemic than a bigger district, adding that officials used the summer to plan.

Both Albuquerque private schools are operating based on their reading of a section in the public health order that targets private schools directly, stating they shall operate with a maximum occupancy of 25% of any enclosed indoor space, in addition to other guidance.

Sunset Mesa calculated occupancy based on campuswide learning spaces. At 25% capacity, the school can have about 260 students on its elementary school campus at one time, though its slated to have about 230.

I see Walmart, and theres people all over the place. Its almost as full as Christmas. The parking lot is almost full. Twenty-five percent is actually a pretty liberal number it appears to me, Mask said.

Hope Christian is using building capacity per the fire marshal.

New Mexico Department of Health spokesman David Morgan told the Journal that schools cant exceed 25% capacity based on an entire buildings fire code.

Heisey said about 150 people gathered for all-staff meetings in the gym, which has a full occupancy of close to 1,000 people. He said the meeting was socially distanced and masks were worn.

Morgan thinks that falls within the health order as currently written, but its not without risk.

Any time you get any number of people into a confined space, the potential of community spread of COVID-19 exists. Even with the best precautions, the potential still exists, Morgan told the Journal.

Other precautions at Hope Christian include the addition of portable handwashing stations and Plexiglass barriers in high-contact areas, according to Heisey. Masks are required for the roughly 1,000 students and for staff, too. To allow social distancing, Heisey said some students will do school work remotely in such places as the gym or outside, and some elementary classes will be held at nearby churches.

Classrooms have anywhere from 10 to 18 students, depending on square footage.

For the overall social, emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing of our students, we feel it is very important to be on campus, Heisey said.

Morgan said guidelines and oversight for private schools span across state agencies.

The Department of Health can understand how this would lead a private school to read the public health order and, in some cases, draw their own conclusions, but to date law enforcement has not seen any violations of the standing orders at this time, he said.

According to New Mexico State Police, both schools have received health order complaints, but the Department of Health did not give the Journal details on what those entailed.

In general, enforcement is largely reactionary to complaints because there isnt enough manpower to proactively monitor compliance, according to Morgan.

Meanwhile, private schools in Santa Fe have given families the option of attending classes in person or online. At Santo Nino Regional Catholic School, nearly two-thirds of the schools 137 students will attend in-person classes starting next week.

Classrooms were fitted with various social distancing measures to keep students apart during the day. Santo Nino Principal Robin Chavez said many parents wanted in-person learning for students religious education.

Chavez said the school will follow the Archdiocese of Santa Fes reopening guidelines, which include a requirement to wear masks unless students are 6 feet apart.

At Santa Fe Waldorf, a mix of in-person and online schooling will occur, with elementary school students attending class in person only a couple of times a week. High schoolers, on the other hand, will attend in-person classes five days a week.

As for the 25% capacity rule, Waldorf is approaching that classroom by classroom.

School administrator Gerson Perez said a majority of Waldorfs parents, who pay between $14,000 and $22,000 in tuition and fees each year, responded in a survey that they preferred an in-person option for school.

Perez and Chavez said they believe their schools are following the guidelines in the public health order.

Were actually following what the state has recommended to do  the only thing is were doing that a little bit earlier, Perez said.

Should an outbreak occur at a school, Morgan said the response, including shutting down some or all of a school, depends on how many cases there are, in what area of the school those people worked and their contact with others.
Seven News political reporter is US bound, joining the US Bureau.

He replaces Paul Kadak who returns to Seven in the Sydney Newsroom after two years in the US.

For the past 17 years Lester has been a fixture in Canberra across a number of networks, the last six years working with Seven. He began his broadcast career in 1982 and has served as a foreign correspondent in the Middle East, South East Asia and the Americas.

Lester joins US Bureau from October, alongside Bureau Chief Ashlee Mullany and David Woiwod, just ahead of the US Election.

Seven is yet to announce his replacement in Canberra.
Vietnam Airlines is requesting special assistance from the state Photo: Le Toan

Taking office as newly-elected chairman of Vietnam Airlines in a historically difficult period, Dang Ngoc Hoas face has been full of anxiety because of the increasing responsibility in helping the countrys leading wings recover from a tough year.

The first thing that I did as the new chairman was to encourage our staff to move ahead. We already have different scenarios for future developments of the pandemic, Hoa said. Necessary measures and solutions have been taken, including cost-saving, restructuring the aircraft fleet, and more.

However, the national flag carrier believed it cannot recover without strong support from the government. Vietnam Airlines, at the general shareholder meeting on August 10, officially sought future solutions, with financial support of VND12 trillion ($521.7 million) being a focus.

Dang Ngoc Hoa - Newly-elected chairman, Vietnam Airlines The improvement of core business activities is the key task now. Specifically, we will practice thrift, increase labour productivity, and streamline the apparatus as requested by the government, as well as intrinsic requirements. The most important task for Vietnam Airlines is to ensure absolute safety for operation of the group, as well as of passengers. Leaders volunteer to not get a salary, and we arrange aircraft for cargo transportation instead of for passenger transport. With the unpredictable development of the pandemic, all scenarios should be prepared, but we believe we will overcome the difficulties, recover, and develop sustainably in the future.

The group proposes the state, which holds a controlling stake of 86 per cent, to issue special supporting policies. The airline has so far submitted 15 documents to authorised agencies in this regard.

The government has asked the Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises (CMSEC) to work with Vietnam Airlines on the completion and submission of necessary procedures to the highest Vietnamese authorities (the National Assembly/Politburo) in order to decide the supporting policies, with the additional loan of VND4 trillion ($173.9 million) from the state and an increase of equity by VND8 trillion ($347.8 million) being the key solution, Pham Ngoc Minh, former chairman of Vietnam Airlines, said.

Industry insiders said that the aviation sector is in urgent need of special supporting policies to soon deal with the difficulties. Senior economist Tran Dinh Thien said that legal barriers that could delay the issuance of the policies could make the situation more serious. In some cases, the policies were issued when businesses were exhausted, or lost the opportunities to recover.

Nguyen Hong Hien, representative from the CMSEC noted that shareholders, especially strategic stakeholders and state agencies, should urgently work together to help the airline overcome the crisis, keep growing, and increase investment value for shareholders.

The time that the government will take in making moves will be decisive for Vietnam Airlines. Without the government support, Vietnam Airlines may not be able to hold out for long, depending on the time to control of the pandemic both at home and abroad. Meanwhile, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecast that the international aviation market is not likely to bounce back until 2024, meaning severe difficulties ahead for airlines.

Vietnam Airlines plays an important role in the domestic aviation sector, which greatly contributes to the countrys GDP. The group, which includes Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, and VASCO, holds a total domestic market share of 50 per cent.

The air transport industry, including airlines and its supply chain, is estimated to support $2.6 billion of GDP in Vietnam, while spending by foreign tourists supports a further $9.9 billion of the countrys GDP, totalling $12.5 billion.

Looking ahead, air transport in Vietnam is forecast to grow by 178 per cent in the next 20 years under the current trends scenario. This would result in an additional 82.2 million passenger departures by 2038. If met, this increased demand would support approximately $35 billion of GDP and around 2.4 million jobs.

In spite of the importance, Vietnam Airlines is still waiting for the long-awaited support while regional giants have received some funds. In particular, Vietnam Airlines Japanese strategic partner ANA attained funding of $10 billion, Singapore Airlines was offered support of $13 billion, Malaysia Airways received a loan of $1.2 billion, and Thai Airways was given $1.8 billion in support.

The Hanoi-based carrier has taken a number of measures to keep its footing. In the short-term the giant is focused on cargo transport, chartered flights, and cutting costs. In the long term, it plans to restructure its aircraft fleet.

We have negotiated to delay new aircraft purchases and rent deals and even cancelled unnecessary ones. We will sell the long-used aircraft and divest investment from subsidiaries, joint ventures, and associated companies, said Duong Tri Thanh, CEO of Vietnam Airlines.

The national flag carrier has suffered its largest-ever loss. In the first six months of 2020, it made revenues of VND24.8 trillion ($1.07 billion), down 50 per cent on-year, and incurred after-tax losses of VND6.64 trillion ($288.7 million).

To maintain operations, the airline increased long-term loans from VND5 trillion ($217.4 million) to VND9 trillion ($391.3 million) while negotiating with lenders to extend the payment period.

Worse still, the new recent COVID-19 infection cases have crushed hopes of a possible recovery for the domestic market this summer. In July, when the country reported no new cases, Vietnam Airlines conducted 500 domestic flights daily, up 40 per cent on-year. However, since late July ,the number fell to 109 flights a day, a similar fall to that in May.

In the wake of the adversity, Vietnam Airlines expects to make consolidated revenues of VND40.58 trillion ($1.76 billion) in 2020, down 60 per cent on-year, and after-tax losses of VND15.17 trillion ($659.56 million), with a plan to announce no dividend payouts in 2019.
Firefighters ride in the back of a pickup truck while battling the LNU Lightning Complex fires Sunday, August 23, 2020, in unincorporated Lake County, California. Noah Berger/AP

At least seven people have died and thousands were evacuated due to wildfires in Northern California.

Two of the blazes, the SCU Lightning Complex and the LNU Lightning Complex Fires, are the second and third biggest wildfires in California history.

Better weather this week has made the fires easier to contain, Cal Fire said on Wednesday.

Climate change is increasing the length and severity of wildfire season: Nine of California's 10 most destructive wildfires have occurred since 2000.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Nearly two weeks after almost 11,000 bolts of lightning sparked hundreds of wildfires across California, firefighters are making progress in battling the state's 20 largest blazes.

Two of those fires, the SCU Lightning Complex and the LNU Lightning Complex, have become the second- and third- biggest in California's history, after growing to nearly 369,000 acres each.

As of Wednesday morning, 625 total fires in the state had collectively spread across more than 1.6 million acres, or around 2,000 square miles  an area larger than Delaware. They've destroyed more than 2,260 structures, though officials with California's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said the number could rise to more than 3,000 once they're able to inspect burned regions more thoroughly.

However, Cal Fire said "favorable weather conditions," including cooler, wetter air and a respite from lightning and wind, have allowed firefighters to make considerable progress. The two biggest blazes are more than 33% contained, and several other major fires are at more than 50% containment.

"The threat of lightning and gusty and erratic winds that accompany thunderstorms passed, so that is going to be good news for the firefighters out there," meteorologist Cindy Palmer told The Mercury News on Monday.

At least seven people have died in the fires: two residents of Solano County, three in Napa County, a pilot who was on a water-dropping mission in Fresno County, and a 70-year-old man in the remote community Last Chance, according to the Associated Press.

Story continues

The blazes started early last week, primarily because of the lightning storm, though Gov. Gavin Newsom said gusty winds and a heatwave exacerbated the fires. A statewide emergency has been in effect since August 18.

Where California's fires are burning

The biggest of California's fires is the LNU Lightning Complex Fire, which has burned about 368,870 acres in Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Yolo, and Solano counties, according to Cal Fire. Five people have died, and two emergency workers and two civilians have been injured. At least 1,080 buildings have been destroyed and more than 270 damaged.

The complex fire  the term for multiple fires in one region  is the second-largest in California's recorded history, though it's only 200 acres bigger than the state's other giant blaze, the SCU Lightning Complex Fire. It's 33% contained.

The SCU Lightning Complex Fire, meanwhile, is located southeast of San Francisco. The blaze, which began August 18, has expanded to encompass nearly 368,670 acres across six counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Joaquin, Merced, and Stanislaus. It has injured at least five people and prompted evacuation orders in five of the six affected counties. (Contra Costa is the only one currently without such orders.) The fire is 35% contained.

In San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, yet another wildfire, the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire, prompted evacuation orders for 64,600 people, killed at least one person, injured three, and destroyed more than 160 structures. The fire began in the Santa Cruz Mountains and has expanded to more than 81,000 acres. It's at 21% containment.

Flames from the LNU Lightning Complex Fire burn in Napa County, California, on August 18, 2020. Noah Berger/AP

Two additional fires in Monterey county, the Carmel and River Fires, have grown to over 55,000 acres collectively, though both are over 50% contained. More than 100 structures have been destroyed and at least four people injured. The blazes also prompted thousands of evacuations.

And farther north, the Butte/Tehama/Glenn Lightning Complex Fire has burned more than 55,000 acres, destroyed two structures, and injured one person. It's 30% contained.

COVID-19 outbreaks in prisons led to firefighter shortages

A California Department of Corrections crew builds a containment line along Highway 9 to prevent the spread of the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire, August 22, 2020, in Boulder Creek, California. Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP

California has relied on incarcerated people to fight wildfires for decades; the state has 3,500 inmate firefighters, making up approximately 25% of the state's total of 15,500 firefighters.

But the state has fewer incarcerated firefighting crews this year than usual, largely due to COVID-19 outbreaks in some prisons and an early release program by Newsom to protect at-risk people in prisons from COVID-19 outbreaks.

"What we have typically is 192 CDCR [California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation] fire crews statewide," Cal Fire spokesman Brice Bennett told Insider on Monday. "When COVID-19 came around, we went down to 90."

By Monday, the state's number of inmate crews had gone back up to 112, Bennett said.

Still, the size and strength of the fires are stretching California's firefighting resources, according to the LA Times. Governors in Nevada and Arizona have agreed to send crews to help, and Newsom authorized the hiring of 800 additional seasonal firefighters, Bennett said.

Poor air quality throughout the region

Much of California has felt the fires' impacts in the air over the last week, though many regions saw some relief on Wednesday and Thursday.

Most of the state's northern and central counties have reported unhealthy air quality on and off, with some reporting hazardous outdoor air. Bay Area residents have seen falling ash, according to SFGate. The area's Air Quality Management District issued "Spare the Air" alerts through Friday, which prohibit residents from burning wood.

Ashy skies were reported last week as far away as Shasta Lake, more than 200 miles north of Napa and Sonoma counties.

Usually when air quality suffers, fire-safety experts recommend staying inside as much as possible and wearing N95 masks when outdoors, since those filter out smoke particles. But given the a nationwide shortage of N95s, many Californians lack effective masks.

A burned-out vehicle is left in front of a fire- ravaged residence as smoke from the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire fills the sky, August 22, 2020, in Boulder Creek, California. Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP

Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of wildfires

The wildfires erupted toward the end of a heat wave across the western US, which caused temperatures to top 100 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of Northern California.

Climate change increases the likelihood of extreme heat events: The 10 warmest years on record overall have all occurred since 1998, according to NOAA. After a heat wave in Europe killed 70,000 people in 2003, researchers calculated that climate change made such a heat wave four times more likely.

Of the 10 most destructive wildfires in California's history, nine have occurred since 2000.

The hotter and drier land gets, the likelier fires are to occur. A recent analysis by Stanford University found that average temperatures during wildfire season in California have risen by more than 2 degrees Fahrenheit, while precipitation has dropped by 30%. Those conditions have more than doubled the state's total number of extreme wildfire risk days in autumn.

But the trend isn't limited to one state. Large wildfires in the US overall now burn more than twice the area they did in 1970. In the western part of the country, the average wildfire season is 78 days longer than it was 50 years ago.

Rhea Mahbubani and Frank Carber contributed reporting.

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The number of coronavirus infections identified by the national test and trace service has increased by almost a third in a week, new statistics show.

According to new data published today, 6,616 new people tested positive for Covid-19 in the week to 12 August, an increase of 27 per cent compared to the week before.

This increase comes despite a 2 per cent drop in the number of people being tested.

Positive pillar 1 tests  those carried out in NHS labs  jumped 34 per cent in a week, the first notable rise in NHS-run labs since test and trace was launched. Pillar 2 tests are those carried out in the community, such as at care homes or drive-in sites.

Officials say that while testing is being targeted at hotspot areas where more people may test positive, the data shows a general creeping up of infection rates across the country since July.

While the numbers testing positive are rising the NHS has so far not seen a significant impact in terms of patients being admitted or dying.

The Office for National Statistics said this week that it believed infections were levelling off after its community based study of households showed no significant rise.

Paul Hunter, a professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, said: The fact that positive diagnoses have risen at a time when the number of tests are remaining fairly static does suggest that the incidence of Covid-19 in the community is now beginning to rise again. The additional sharp rise in pillar 1 tests being positive in particular supports this assumption. Because pillar 1 tests are done in NHS facilities they are more likely driven by clinical need than are pillar 2 tests and are a somewhat better indicator of the number of people becoming ill enough to seek medical attention.

Clearly if this trend continues the demands on the test, track and trace service and on the NHS will increase over coming weeks.

Across parts of England, cases have been rising in some areas such as Oldham in recent weeks, putting it at risk of a Leicester-style lockdown.

A spike in cases in Birmingham has also prompted concerns the city could face restrictions if numbers keep increasing.

Matt Hancock, the health secretary, was in Birmingham on Thursday morning to chair a so-called gold command meeting to discuss the citys rising infection rates, while earlier this week the leader of Oldham council admitted there was a very real threat of new restrictions.

Cases of coronavirus are also rising in Scotland where First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the country had seen the highest number of daily coronavirus cases in almost three months.

Speaking during the Scottish governments daily briefing, she said 19,534 people had tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up by 77 from 19,457 the day before.

No new coronavirus deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours, she said.

In England, a further five people who tested positive for the coronavirus died in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths in hospitals in England to 29,485.

In the week to 12 August, 4,803 people who tested positive were transferred to the contract tracing system, of which 79 per cent were reached and asked to provide information about their contacts.

A total of 16,897 people were identified as coming into close contact with someone who had tested positive and of those, 71 per cent were reached and asked to self-isolate.

Of these close contacts, 10,960 were handled by the centralised test and trace service and only 6,434 were reached, a performance which means 41 per cent of contacts were not reached.

Around 2,000 people were not reached because there were no contact details for them available.

Between 6 August and 12 August, 5,937 complex cases handled by public health teams locally were identified of which 5,619, 95 per cent, were reached and asked to self-isolate.

Less than two-thirds of people who were tested for Covid-19 in the latest week at a regional site or mobile testing unit received their result within 24 hours.

This is down from 70 per cent in the previous week and 93 per cent at the beginning of July.

Boris Johnson had pledged that, by the end of June, the results of all in-person tests would be back within 24 hours.

He told the House of Commons on 3 June he would get all tests turned around within 24 hours by the end of June, except for difficulties with postal tests or insuperable problems like that.

But some experts say the measures used to determine local lockdowns, which have been set as 50 cases per 100,000 population, are not sustainable.

Professor Carl Heneghan, from the Centre for Evidence Based Medicine at the University of Oxford, argued in a blog post that a new approach was needed.

He said cases were now falling in Oldham and there were only nine patients in hospital across the area.

We consider the red alert bracket line definition of 50 per 100,000 of cases in the population  does not support a sustainable long-term strategy and is not based on sound evidence.

Disease measures such as Covid hospital admissions and beds occupied in those with active Covid infection (ie in the last 28 days), or symptomatic cases detected, should be the main driver for lockdown measures.

According to the latest statistics a total of 57,457 people who tested positive for Covid-19 in England have had their cases transferred to the test and trace contact tracing system since its launch at the end of May.

In total, 45,037 were reached and asked to provide details of recent contacts, while 10,827 were not reached.

A further 1,593 could not be reached because their communication details had not been provided.

Additional reporting by agencies
EXTON, Pa., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Atopic dermatitis (AD), commonly referred to as eczema, affects millions of patients across the globe. In 2017, Sanofi/Regeneron's Dupixent, an IL-4/13 blocker, became the first commercially available biologic to treat adults with moderate to severe forms of the disease in both the US and the EU. Two years later, the FDA and European Commission approved Dupixent's label expansion into the adolescent (aged 12 to 17) population. In May of this year, the brand was also approved in the US for use in children (aged 6 to 11) with moderate to severe AD.

According to Spherix's Q3 report included in their RealTime Dynamix: Atopic Dermatitis (US) service, nearly all of the 103 sampled US dermatologists are users of the first-to-market biologic for treatment of the adult population, a figure that has remained stable quarter over quarter since early 2020. Although the breadth of current users prescribing to the adolescent population is much less than those prescribing to adults, progressively more dermatologists have begun prescribing to patients under the age of 18. Additionally, Dupixent share for both of these patient populations have experienced significant growth year over year, and comfort prescribing the agent to adolescents has been slowly increasing since the brand formally gained the indication.

Despite Dupixent's second AD label expansion to include children, the majority of dermatologists report low comfort levels prescribing the biologic to this patient population. Subsequently, treatment share and brand use in these patients are minimal. On the other hand, Spherix experts found that the expansion does boost overall safety perceptions for the drug, which may bode well during the current COVID-19 pandemic  especially given physicians' growing hesitation to prescribe immunosuppressive drugs (for which Dupixent is not) for the sake of mitigating risk of infection.

Despite the brand's overwhelming success and favorable reception among prescribers, the market is still just a one-man show. As such, nearly 60% of US dermatologists agree that Dupixent does not work for all patients with moderate to severe AD, implying the brand is leaving gaps in the market and shedding light on the opportunity for pipeline assets to fill that void. Dermatologists commonly identify these patients as those with extremely severe disease, those with comorbidities, who are non-compliant, and often who have facial involvement (an area Dupixent seems to struggle in). Over 90% of Dupixent users stated that they would be willing to switch at least one of their Dupixent patients to a new biologic/small molecule agent once approved.

According to the most recent report included in the RealTime Dynamix: Atopic Dermatitis (EU) service, surveyed EU5 dermatologists (n=251) are in alignment with their US counterparts on Dupixent's shortcomings and estimate that a similar percentage of current Dupixent patients would be switched to a new advanced systemic agent if available. In Spherix's large scale patient chart audit (n=1,003) via their RealWorld Dynamix: Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis (US) service, those patients that have previously been treated with Dupixent were assessed to determine which patient type would be appropriate for pipeline assets. The audit revealed that many of the discontinued Dupixent patient characteristics matched those of the physician-reported attributes mentioned above, implying these patients need an agent that will tackle severe forms of the disease.

Dermatologists in the states and EU5 estimate the biologic/small molecule candidate pool for moderate to severe adolescent and adult AD patients to be substantially larger than those currently treated with Dupixent. Despite an extremely robust pipeline, US and EU5 dermatologists overwhelmingly select JAK inhibitors as having the greatest potential to treat moderate to severe AD and most commonly select a pipeline JAK inhibitor as their top choice for FDA or EMA approval. This is likely a result of the MOA's unique administration, perceived efficacy, and imminent projected launch in AD. However, looming safety concerns surrounding JAK inhibitors will likely trickle to the AD market if/when approved for treatment. Fortunately for manufacturers with JAKs in the pipeline, according to Spherix's large-scale patient audit, the majority of moderate to severe AD adult patients are at no obvious increased risk for malignancy or cardiovascular events and present with good to moderate overall health.

Although the majority of dermatologists believe the safety profiles of oral and topical JAK inhibitors will be very different, a potential black box warning could impact possible prescribing behavior for both US and EU5 dermatologists. Regardless, topical JAKs are expected to be used prior to oral JAKs and are more likely to be prescribed to patients under 18. The majority of US and EU5 dermatologists estimate a high likelihood of prescribing a topical JAK after a patient has failed an average of three topical steroid agents. On the other hand, oral JAKs will likely be prescribed within the injectable biologic space, with a focus on adult patients.

When prompted with a blinded profile based on AbbVie's Rinvoq (upadacitinib) Phase 3 clinical trial data, one-half of US dermatologists report a higher likelihood of prescribing the 15 mg dose over the 30 mg dose to both adult and adolescent patients. Nonetheless, when assessing Dupixent's risk benefit ratio compared to the 15 mg and 30 mg of Rinvoq, the former is perceived substantially more positive than the two doses of Rinvoq. In fact, one-half of US dermatologists report a low likelihood of prescribing the oral JAK over Dupixent once commercially available, and nearly 60% of US respondents report the current safety profile hinders potential prescribing. This highlights the need for oral JAKs to not only overcome safety concerns, but to also prove their efficacy against Dupixent and potentially LEO's tralokinumab (which is slated to gain FDA approval early next year). Regardless, according to the Spherix chart audit, half of the patients considered candidates for biologics/small molecules are deemed good candidates for Rinvoq.

About RealTime Dynamix

RealTime Dynamix: Atopic Dermatitis (US) is an independent service providing strategic guidance through rapid and comprehensive quarterly reports, which include market trending, launch tracking, and a fresh infusion of unique content with each wave (n=100 US dermatologists). A parallel service, RealTime Dynamix: Atopic Dermatitis (EU), tracks the evolution of the AD market in the EU5 (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK) though bi-annual reports (n=250 EU dermatologists).

About RealWorld Dynamix

RealWorld Dynamix: Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis (US) is an independent, data-driven service unmasking real patient management patterns through annual reports based on chart audits of ~1,000 patients. The report uncovers the "why" behind treatment decisions, includes year over year trending to quantify key aspects of market evolution, and integrates specialists' attitudinal & demographic data to highlight differences between stated and actual treatment patterns.

About Spherix Global Insights

Spherix Global Insights is a hyper-focused market intelligence firm that leverages our own independent data and expertise to provide strategic guidance, so biopharma stakeholders make decisions with confidence. We specialize in select immunology, nephrology, and neurology markets.

For more information contact:

Kristen Henn, Business Development Manager

Email: [email protected]

www.spherixglobalinsights.com

SOURCE Spherix Global Insights

Related Links

http://www.spherixglobalinsights.com


Jennifer Gaskin of Worcester said her whole family gets the flu vaccine annually. Though she describes herself as pro-vaccination, Gaskin feels a mandate announced by Massachusetts health officials this week requiring nearly all students to receive a flu shot before the end of the year is morally wrong and called the decision a slippery slope.

I understand why this mandate was put in place given the current pandemic and potential impact on hospitals, Gaskin said. However, I think it is morally wrong to take away the right to a choice for parents for a vaccination that has minimal efficacy in most cases."

On Wednesday, the state Department of Public Health announced the new requirement. All children aged 6 months or older who are attending Massachusetts child care, pre-school, kindergarten, K-12, and colleges and universities are required to get the flu vaccine by Dec. 31 for the 2020-2021 flu season unless either a medical or religious exemption is provided.

Students in K-12 who are homeschooled and higher education students who stay completely off-campus and are engaged in remote learning only are exempt. Elementary and secondary students in districts and schools that are using a remote education model are not exempt, the department said.

DPH said the decision is a step to address flu-related illness and respiratory illness during the coronavirus pandemic. Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders, at a press conference with Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday, clarified that this requirement will be instituted each year from now on.

While Massachusetts has higher vaccination rates than most of the country, Baker said Thursday that the state hopes to ease the burden on an overtaxed health care system.

Gaskin said there should have been a discussion with the community.

This is a very slippery slope and raises concerns that we may be further mandated to give our children the COVID-19 vaccine, which would not have been fully tested prior to release. We wouldnt know long-term effects or anything based on the proposed timelines, Gaskin said.

Within minutes of the announcement Wednesday, online comment sections filled with both criticism and praise over the mandate. Those against the decision wrote that it is government overreach. Some questioned the effectiveness of the flu vaccine. Others in support of the decision wrote that other states should follow suit.

Candice Edwards, the executive director of Health Choice 4 Action MA, believes the requirement could lead to a loss of education for students across the state. Health Choice 4 Action MA has been leading lobbying efforts in opposition to bills relating to vaccines and exemptions, including Bill S.2763, An Act Promoting Community Immunity.

With the current influenza mandate, children who are up-to-date with every other vaccine will be denied access to education if their parents make the reasonable decision to forgo influenza vaccination. Many families will be left without choice, as homeschooling is not a viable option for many families, especially those from disadvantaged socio-economic circumstances and those whose children have special needs, Edwards wrote in a statement Thursday.

We have already seen this during the months-long time when schools were closed, the statement continues. When crafting public policy we need to take into account total harms, not just the risks that are easiest to measure and categorize. At a time when our country and commonwealth are grappling with realities of institutionalized disadvantage and discrimination, we are enacting yet another policy that may further marginalize vulnerable populations.

Medical decisions should be left to a patient or parent and a physician, Edwards wrote.

An online petition from Health Choice 4 Action MA to repeal the flu shot mandate started circling on Wednesday and has 13,864 signatures as of 11:30 a.m. Thursday.

A protest against the measure is also planned for Saturday, Aug. 29, at 10 a.m. outside the Massachusetts State House, reads a Facebook page promoting the event.

We recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic has had an enormous toll on citizens of our commonwealth and throughout the globe. We recognize that public health authorities are concerned about healthcare resources during the coming flu season. We fully support educational and public health campaigns that promote voluntary uptake of flu vaccine for those that want it, Edwards wrote in the statement. But to predicate access to education on a medical intervention that has uncertainty with respect to the real-world benefit for children and lack of robust safety data is not only unwise, but unconscionable. The children of our commonwealth, along with their families, have already lost so much by not having access to school since March. We need a systems-based approach to public health policy that includes assessment of the long-term impact of loss of access to education and the denigration of free and informed consent. Reflexive action that strips parents and children of their right to choose and their right to education is not the answer.

State Rep. Michael Soter, a Republican representing the 8th Worcester District, in a Facebook video called the new requirement extremely scary.

We need to stop using scare tactics to put an agenda forward, said Soter. Many of you know Im blunt, Im straight to the point. This vaccine mandate should not and cannot move forward ... Im calling on the governor to step back from this mandate, step out of the room of the DPH and think about the average person.

Soter told viewers that he plans to write a strong letter and hopes colleagues will sign on. He said oversight, hearings and a study on the flu vaccine should be necessary when considering such a mandate.

I understand the governors concern. I support this governor and what he has done, Soter said, noting that coronavirus has stayed relatively controlled in Massachusetts, but I do not support this mandate. I respectfully disagree.

Update on Mandatory Influenza Vaccines for Students in MA Aug. 20th Update on Mandatory Influenza Vaccines for Students in MA Posted by State Representative Mike Soter on Thursday, August 20, 2020

Soter said that he gets very ill from a flu shot and that it is difficult for people to get a medical professional to sign off on a medical exemption for the vaccine.

Luckily Im able to afford the right to get some good doctors and understand what the problems are but a doctor wont give me a medical exemption, Soter said in the video. They tell me to go get a religious exemption because its easier. Because the doctors dont have any coverage. Im sorry. Im a very religious person but Im not going to use my religion to lie to get out of what medical doctors should have the courage and should be able to do.

Soter said he has dealt with issues the pandemic has caused in the community every day.

So, for those that think that Im this crazy anti-vaccination person, youre dead wrong, Soter said. I am level headed on this one. But this one angers me so much because theres a personal side to this. Flu vaccines, COVID vaccines, should not be mandated. Were going to have more strains. Strains are going to change constantly. People should have control of whats injected into their body.

Dr. Robert Finberg, an infectious disease expert with UMass Medical School, said he believes the decision to require the flu shot is a smart one.

Older people and infants younger than 6 months old face the highest mortality from the flu, said Finberg, who added that studies have shown children respond well to the vaccine.

Theres an analogy here to COVID-19. Young people can carry this virus and then they could give it to older people and the older people could die, so by immunizing our children we will, one, prevent them from getting the disease and, two, and equally important, we will prevent them from spreading it because their parents and grandparents are much more likely to get sick, Finberg said.

The flu shot is about 40 to 60% effective, a percentage that varies by year, based on the Centers for Disease Control definition, Finberg said.

Finberg, who said he encourages everyone to get a flu shot, added that the vaccine is a dead product, not a live virus, and a person cannot get the flu from having the shot.

Tkanishalee Rivera-Alonzo, a parent in Springfield, said her daughter gets sick every time she has had the flu shot.

She starts to feel weak and hot and get the flu-like symptoms, Rivera-Alonzo said. Its not a medication that I approve of ... its not working.

Rivera-Alonza said she is spiritual and plans to use a religious exemption so that her daughter will not need the flu shot. Springfield is starting the school year remotely and Rivera-Alonzo said she plans to keep her daughter at home for the year even if school goes back into session.

Local school districts are responsible for ensuring compliance with immunization requirements. Parents and guardians can show a medical exemption, written by a doctor and documenting a contraindication, or a religious exemption, written by the parent or guardian stating how the vaccine conflicts with the religious belief.

There are students across the state who have religious and medical exemptions for vaccines, though rates vary by county, with pockets of higher exemption rates in the western and southeast parts of the state, particularly the Cape and Islands.

A map by county of Massachusetts students with an immunization exemption. Image courtesy of the Department of Public Health.

The amount of kindergarten students with religious and medical exemptions combined is at its highest Dukes County at 7.5%, according to DPH data as of February. In Franklin County, its 6%. The statewide average is 1.3%.

Rates of kindergarten students with an exemption and no vaccines also vary by county. That category included 3.5% of students in Franklin County and 4.4% in Dukes County, with a state average of 0.6%, according to DPH data.

The state said that many students have an exemption to only one or two vaccines and otherwise have immunizations.

Some residents are in support of the decision.

James R. Hoyne, an education advocate in Massachusetts who said he has pre-existing health conditions, said that he has had experiences with people contracting the flu and spreading the infection to himself and others in school.

Due to the risk to those who have pre-existing conditions, I wholeheartedly support the announced rule as I believe that given the state of the world amid the pandemic, anything that can be done to help mitigate the spread of the flu should be done, Hoyne said. Our hospitals have their hands full enough fighting COVID, they dont need additional patients who have the flu.

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The American University of the Caribbean (AUC) School of Medicine has provided support for local schools at the primary and secondary school level with school furniture and a wide array of stationery. Teachers and students in Sint Maarten have been working remotely and weathering the new protocols from COVID-19; as some transition back to in-person teaching there is a need for school supplies, and AUC is helping meet those needs.

Please find here a full release on this support and the photos of the donation, and we hope this will be of interest to your readers.
New Delhi, Aug 20 : As millions of people began another busy weekday mostly working from home, Google services especially Gmail and Drive suffered a massive outage on Thursday globally, including in India.

Those affected took to social media, reporting issues with opening attachments, failed logins and emails not landing in their inboxes.

After spending several hours in the dark, the services started resuming globally in the evening, with Google saying that Gmail has been restored for some users.

"Gmail service has already been restored for some users, and we expect a resolution for all users in the near future. Please note this time-frame is an estimate and may change," the tech giant informed on its Apps Status page.

The statement, however, clearly indicated something big has affected the Google backend servers, but the tech giant was yet to reveal what exactly hit its G Suite services.

For Google Drive, the main issue was file syncing that failed to happen.

The outage was mostly concentrated in the UK, India, Greece, Spain, Germany, France, Japan, and Malaysia, according to the DownDetector map.

Google Gmail is the dominant online email service with over 1.8 billion global active users, with millions in India.

Google video conferencing app Meet that is now integrated with Gmail has grown by around 30 times in the pandemic times.

The affected ones had nowhere but various social media platforms to go to and report their sufferings as their workflow got hampered.

The DownDetector portal that tracks outages showed 62 per cent people facing problems with attachments and 25 per cent reporting issues with log-ins. Thousands of people also took to the DownDetector website to report issues.

The social media platforms were soon flooded with messages.

"GMAIL IS DOWN. I can't decide if this is wonderfully liberating or wildly stressful," posted one user on Twitter.

"Can't send emails, at the same time when you try to compose an email, saving to draft fails too," another commented.

This is the second time in two months that Gmail suffered such a massive outage.

In July, Google users had a harrowing time in India as Gmail services went down for hours.

"Only can send emails with nothing in them (no text or attachment) - a blank email with a title gets through. I've tried different accounts, different networks, different equipment," posted another Twitter user.
A report by a globally renowned research institute on the impact of Happiness Curriculum in Delhi schools has noted that these classes have shown improvements in relationships both inside and outside the classrooms, the Delhi government said on Wednesday.

The report by Brookings Institute has pointed out that students are more reflective with their peers and more insightful in understanding home dynamics, according to an official statement by Delhi government.

Happiness Curriculum was started in July, 2018 with a vision to strengthen the foundations of happiness and well-being for all students through a 35-minute class conducted every day for all student in kindergarten to grade eight across 1,030 government schools in Delhi.

Knowing if you are happy from within or not is very important because when your actions are driven from this state of happiness nothing seems to be a burden. Brookings team conducted student and teacher interviews and surveys to understand the impact of Happiness curriculum on overall wellbeing of students and teachers, the statement quoting Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said.

The report has been co-authored by Esther Care and Aynur Gul Sahin from Brookings and Vishal Talreja and Sreehari Ravindranath from Dream A Dream. Students are more reflective about small arguments with their peers, and more insightful in understanding home dynamics. School leaders, teachers and students all express enthusiasm for the philosophy and internalisation of Happiness Curriculum in classrooms. At its heart, the happiness curriculum is designed to ensure that the well-being of students and their teachers is front and center in learning and thriving. Happiness Curriculum is envisaged to create a model of improving happiness and well-being through the school education system, which can be then be replicated across different systems, nationally and internationally, Sisodia said.

Brookings study mentions that moving education systems towards more holistic outcomes like happiness has begun and it is just a matter of time before we can learn to evaluate them effectively to support all our students to thrive in this new, fast-changing world, the statement said.
The pandemic has naturally disrupted industry events, however, we recognize that in order to continue to drive innovation and automation in the way media inventory is bought and sold, we need to keep having these vital conversations

Matrix, today announced the Media Ad Sales Summit Candid Conversation Series. The new series is a spin-off of Matrixs Media Ad Sales Summit, an annual event now in its 5th year. The Summit brings together media industry executives to discuss and advance how media advertising is bought and sold. In lieu of an in-person event this coming January 2021, the company has decided to shift the content and discussions that would have been presented at this years Summit to a virtual platform, making each topic available in a monthly webinar series that kicks off September 22, 2020 at 2PM EST.

Each monthly Candid Conversation will be 30-40 minutes, featuring key industry leaders examining relevant topics that are impacting the media industry today with an opportunity for audience questions at the conclusion. Such topics will include: Programmatic Ad Sales, ATSC 3.0, Dynamic Pricing, Ad Sales Automation & AI, and more.

The opening Candid Conversation, Addressable Advertising will be presented on September 22nd and moderated by Matrixs CRO, Brenda Hetrick with panelists Kim Kelleher (President, Advertising Sales & Partnerships, AMC Networks), Gina Mingioni (SVP Strategy & Operations, Comcast), and Kelly Abcarian (General Manager Nielsen Advanced Video Advertising Group, Nielsen).

The pandemic has naturally disrupted industry events, however, we recognize that in order to continue to drive innovation and automation in the way media inventory is bought and sold, we need to keep having these vital conversations shared Mark Gorman, CEO, Matrix. We are excited to be able to pivot our annual Summit to continue delivering the valuable content that would have been discussed at our in-person summit.

After the initial Candid Conversation Series kick-off on September 22, 2020, the remaining conversations are scheduled the third Tuesday of each month, at 2pm EST, through April 2021. The company is hoping to host an in-person event upon its conclusion in New York City in May 2021. The in-person Media Ad Sales Summit originally for January 2021 has officially been postponed until January 2022.

To learn more, visit here or contact summit@matrixformedia.com.

About Matrix Solutions

Matrix Solutions makes media happen by helping media companies to better monetize their content. Its flagship product, Monarch, is the only global ad sales platform built for media  transforming chaotic data into actionable sales information that delivers the insights necessary for prospecting, managing, evaluating, and closing business. The company manages more than $13 billion in media ad revenue, offering its best-in-class analytics, sales intelligence, media-specific CRM, and sales tools to more than 10,000 media sellers to more efficiently manage their workflow. For more information, please visit matrixformedia.com.
These include a temporary suspension of cooperation on extradition issues.

Ukraine has several options for a "mirror" response to Belarus for the hand-over to Russia of the mercenaries with the Wagner Private Military Company (PMC), detained earlier.

A source in diplomatic circles told the RBC Ukraine news agency such options include a temporary suspension of cooperation on extradition issues, cancellation of the Forum of the Regions of Ukraine and Belarus in Grodno scheduled for October, as well as freezing the work of various bilateral groups.

According to the source, suspending the extradition deal would be a mirror response to Minsk's demarche in the matter of Ukraine's appeal to extradite Wagner PMC mercenaries who had fought against Ukrainian Army as part of Russian occupation forces in Donbas.

At the same time, the diplomat said Belarusian law enforcement address their Ukrainian counterparts with inquiries more often than Ukrainians do.

Wagner PMC in Belarus: background

On July 29, a group of PMC Wagner troops were detained in Belarus  32 were apprehended outside Minsk and another one  detained in the country's south. Among them were those who had fought against Ukraine in the Donbas war.

According to Belarusian law enforcement agencies, they had been tipped about the deployment of over 200 fighters to destabilize the country amid the election campaign.

Belarus turned to the Ukrainian authorities to verify the detainees' involvement in crimes committed in Ukraine. On July 30, Ukraine began consultations with Belarus on their extradition.

On August 7, President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus said Ukraine had to prove the guilt of the detained mercenaries to seal the extradition. On August 9, Lukashenko said he had received a five-page letter from Vladimir Putin with information on the situation around the detention of Wagner troops.

On August 11, the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine sent inquiries to their Belarusian counterparts, seeking the extradition of 28 PMC Wagner fighters. All 28, including nine citizens of Ukraine, had been charged by the Ukrainian authorities with participation in a terrorist organization.

On August 14, Belarus extradited 32 Wagner members to Russia.
One of the most difficult tests facing schools this fall is how to pull off widespread intervention and assistance for students who begin the 2020-21 school year with learning loss.

The challenge is not a new one. American classrooms have always been heterogeneous, serving students of vastly different backgrounds. But those gaps will be intensified due to the disparities in access to health care, the internet, and robust teaching wrought by COVID-19 since last March.

Historically, efforts to catch kids up have been disappointing, with so-called turnaround programs and even much-heralded approaches like Response to Intervention producing mixed results in practice.

Still, researchers and educators emphasize, there are ways to mitigate the damage that will inevitably be done to students as the pandemic rages on. Many are rooted in centuries-old practices and common sense but require considerable planning and finesse to make them work.

All the approaches depend on having a few key elements already in place: a solid curriculum; a commitment to grade-level teaching; and strategies to engage students, including tracking them down and contacting them if they arent showing up for remote or hybrid learning.

By far the most effective intervention for students who have fallen behindintensive tutoringhas high start-up costs. While there are ways to lower some of them, severe budget cuts could put it out of reach for all but a fraction of districts. Indeed, the federal governments feckless response to the pandemic means that leaders cant count on additional help to defray the cost of doing more for students who will return to school with less.

For this installment on how to address students learning losses, Education Week interviewed two dozen researchers, teachers, and principals, and reviewed hundreds of pages of empirical studies and planning documents to identify interventions that are well supported by researchand other approaches that are unlikely to move the needle.

About This Project Sixth in a series of eight installments. These times are unprecedented. Through eight installments, Education Week explores the steps administrators need to take to ensure the safety of students and faculty. How We Go Back to School is supported in part by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.



The pieces in this part of our series all come with a caveat: They are extrapolated from studies conducted during traditional, in-person schooling. Superintendents and principals bear the difficult responsibility not only of deciding which of these options are technically and financially feasible, but also adjusting them creatively to the realities of fully remote or hybrid schooling.

Stephen Sawchuk

Downloadable: A Guide to Help Students Catch Up

FOUNDATION

Interventions and services aimed at restoring lost learning are most likely to succeed when schools are layering them on top of a solid academic foundation.

That means districts should prioritize several things first: grade-level teaching for all students, a way to track each students whereabouts, a curriculum synched across schools and delivery methods (in-person and remote), plenty of uninterrupted teaching time, and schedules that benefit the students most likely to need additional help.

Deep Dive: COVID-19s Harm to Learning Is Inevitable. How Schools Can Start to Address It

CLOSE TRACKING

The first step in an effective intervention is identifying the students who need extra help. Early-warning systems can be interwoven with the individual teacher-led gauges of student learning. These systems track indicators like attendance and quarter grades throughout the year and identify students who are slipping and need extra academic or social-emotional assistance.

But districts must be creative to adjust some of the indicators in these systems to the realities of remote or hybrid learningespecially as things like attendance take on new meaning.

Deep Dive: Remote Learning Is Tough for Many Students. How Early-Warning Data Can Help Schools Support Them

TUTORING

Study after study identifies intensive, one-on-one or one-to-two tutoring as the most effective way to help students who are falling behind in their learning to catch up. The challenge for districts is figuring out how to pay for this expensive approach, and how to make it translate in a remote setting.

Research suggests that using paraprofessionals and volunteers can be effective. Beginning with slightly larger tutoring groups may also be an approach to consider.

Deep Dive: High-Dosage Tutoring Is Effective, But Expensive. Ideas for Making It Work

EXTENDING TIME

Extending learning time in creative ways, such as weeklong academies during spring or fall breaks or Saturday sessions, show promise for significant learning gains. These so-called acceleration academies are showing real promise in a group of districts in Massachusetts.

In targeted, small group environments, teachers use research-based strategies to improve students foundational skills and content and to build strong relationships. Districts will have to take the lead in administering and planning for the extra teaching.

Deep Dive: Students Lost Time and Learning in the Pandemic. What Acceleration Can Do to Help


We are excited to bring continuing education and opportunities for personal connections right to our audience. Although well miss seeing each other in person, we hope that our educational design will allow even more advanced practitioners to participate this year.

In this era of online events, the JADPRO Live conference, taking place from October 1523, 2020, with encore showings through November 6, will push audience expectations for a virtual meeting experience. Immersive and enriching, with all of the tailored educational presentations and networking opportunities that advanced practitioners (APs) expect from the conference, the new virtual format is designed to disseminate practice-changing information and generate discussion on a wide variety of topics in oncology and hematology.

We are excited to bring continuing education and opportunities for personal connections right to our audience, said Laura Zitella, MS, RN, ACNP-BC, AOCN, Associate Clinical Professor and nurse practitioner at University of California, San Francisco, and Chair of 2020 JADPRO Live Virtual. Although well miss seeing each other in person, we hope that our educational design will allow even more advanced practitioners to participate this year.

In its eighth consecutive year, JADPRO Live is the largest oncology conference created specifically for APs (nurse practitioners, PAs, pharmacists, and advanced degree nurses). The meeting was inspired by the Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in Oncology (JADPRO), the first peer-reviewed journal written by and for oncology and hematology APs. JADPRO Live is held in conjunction with the annual membership meeting of the Advanced Practitioner Society for Hematology and Oncology (APSHO), a society of more than 1,600 highly specialized clinicians who are on the front lines of care for patients with cancer.

This years theme, Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow, reflects the leadership roles that APs accept in their everyday practice to provide patient-centered, evidence-based care. This function has become even more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, as APs have spearheaded telehealth visits, assured continuity of care for the vulnerable oncology population, and fostered collaboration to navigate unprecedented challenges.

This years virtual format allows JADPRO Live attendees to learn and connect with one another from the comfort of their home or office. Attendees will able to:



Earn up to 16 credits/contact hours through educational sessions offering timely, clinically relevant information on the management of patients with cancer

Interact with speakers through live Q&A

Participate in unique virtual networking opportunities, including Braindates, a peer learning experience where attendees can post a topic and connect with other attendees experiencing similar challenges or with similar interests

Navigate the virtual exhibit hall and talk with industry representatives.

More information about the conference is available at http://jadprolive.com/.

About JADPRO Live

JADPRO Live is a medical conference inspired by the Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in Oncology. This years meeting will take place from October 15 through 23, with encore showings of select presentations from October 26 through November 6.

About APSHO

The Advanced Practitioner Society for Hematology and Oncology (APSHO) is a society for advanced practitionersnurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, clinical nurse specialists, and other oncology health-care professionals. The mission of APSHO is to promote oncology patient care that is high quality, cost effective, and delivered through collaborative practice models by optimizing the role of the advanced practitioner as an integral member of the care team.

About Harborside

Harborside is the foremost medical communications company that oncology clinicians turn to for accurate content, news, and education. The company is based in Huntington, New York, and is the publisher of the Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in Oncology (JADPRO), The ASCO Post, JNCCNJournal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, and the JCO Oncology Practice. Harborside designs educational resources for nurse practitioners, PAs, pharmacists, and other advanced practitioners by publishing JADPRO, organizing the JADPRO Live conferences, and providing the management services for the Advanced Practitioner Society for Hematology and Oncology. Harborside also manages the advertising sales for ASCOs suite of publications, including JCO Oncology Practice, JCO Global Oncology, JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics, and JCO Precision Oncology.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 15:30:55|Editor: huaxia

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PYONGYANG, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un has pledged to unveil a new five-year economic development plan at the next congress of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) in January, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Thursday.

Kim made the announcement at a plenary meeting of the Party's Central Committee in Pyongyang on Wednesday, KCNA said.

"The meeting discussed as the major agenda the issue of convening the eighth Congress of the WPK to set forth a new line of struggle and strategic and tactical policies on the basis of the requirements of our developing revolution and the changed situation, and to further strengthen the Party organizationally and ideologically," according to KCNA.

Kim said the eighth Party Congress would review this year's work and the work of the Central Committee of the Party in the period under review and "set forth a new five-year plan for national economic development," including next year's orientation of work, KCNA reported.

At Wednesday's meeting, Kim analyzed the subjective and objective environments this year in which the country has faced unexpected and inevitable challenges in various aspects, and the situation in the region surrounding the Korean Peninsula, assessing the achievements and shortcomings that have been seen in the Party and state affairs for the past four years since the historic seventh Party Congress.

Members and alternate members of the WPK Central Committee and members of the Party Central Auditing Commission attended the plenary meeting on Wednesday. Officials from departments of the Party Central Committee were present as observers. Enditem
Belarus' Lukashenko says opp. attempting coup with formation of transitional council

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 19 August 2020 5:55 AM

Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko has accused the opposition of attempting to stage a coup by forming a council to supposedly oversee a political transition in the country.

The opposition, which contests the re-election of Lukashenko in the August 9 presidential vote, announced the formation of the 70-person "coordination council" on Tuesday.

The council, which includes the representatives of political parties and cultural figures, is meant to be "a single representative body of the Belarusian society," according to the opposition.

Aides to the self-exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya also said she was ready to serve as a "national leader" until a new election was arranged.

Lukashenko, who has already ruled out holding a repeat election, said on Tuesday that he "definitely consider[s] this as an attempt to seize power."

Attending a meeting of Belarusian Security Council, he warned that "adequate measures" would be taken against those who "joined this headquarters," referring to the opposition council.

"But strictly in accordance with the constitution and the law. We have enough of those measures to cool some hot heads," he added.

He said that the council comprised "the formers, the sore, who had a taste of power in the past; as well as deliberate Nazis."

Lukashenko won Belarus' presidential election earlier this month by a landslide, securing a sixth term in office. But his political opponents organized protests and claimed electoral fraud. The allegations were echoed by Western states.

The Belarusian president has expressed concern about foreign meddling in the internal affairs of his country. Last week, he also warned about potential military action by NATO against Belarus.

"(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," he said on Sunday.

In his Tuesday remarks, Lukashenko said Belarusian troops along the country's western border had been put on full combat alert.

Referring to the alleged military buildup near Belarus' borders, he said, "We can see quite clearly that these are absolutely coordinated actions. It's not the peak yet. Events will be developing accordingly, but we understand in what direction."

Lukashenko turned to Russian President Vladimir Putin for help who promised to help protect Belarus' security if necessary.

Meanwhile, the European Council is set to hold an emergency video summit on Wednesday to discuss Belarus.

EU foreign ministers threatened last week to prepare new sanctions against Belarusian officials over what they described as "violence, repression and the falsification of election results."

Tsikhanouskaya pleads with Europe for support

Later on Wednesday, Tsikhanouskaya called on European countries to respect what she called the choice of the Belarusian people.

Speaking in a video address, Tsikhanouskaya urged the European Council not to recognize the results of presidential elections, which she described as fraudulent.

Lukashenko, who has led Belarus since 1994, has rejected allegations of vote rigging.

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Men in Ireland can consume their weekly low-risk guideline limit of alcohol for less than 8 while for women, it will cost them less than 5, according to Alcohol Action Ireland.

The charity, which is an independent advocate for reducing alcohol harm, state that alcohol is so cheap in Ireland that men can drink their weekly low-risk limit of 17 drinks for as low as 7.65, whereas women can drink their weekly limit of 11 for as little as 4.95.

The figures come from the groups annual Off-Trade alcohol market review and price survey, which does not include licenced premises.

Alcohol Action Ireland claims that this shows the exceptional affordability of alcohol to everyday shoppers as they call for the minimum pricing of alcohol products to be implemented to ensure the strongest, cheapest alcohol at very low cost is taken off the shelves.

Commenting on the findings of the 2020 Survey, Eunan McKinney, head of communications at Alcohol Action Ireland, said: The exceptional affordability of alcohol from off-trade sellers, across a retail landscape dominated by a few major corporations, continues to sustain Irelands excessive use of alcohol. As long as alcohol can be purchased at pocket money prices, and so easily, the public health objectives to reduce alcohol harms will not be reached.

We are now almost two years on from the enactment of the Public Health [Alcohol] Act and inertia marks the implementation of the central policy measures on pricing, promotion, and product information.

The survey was conducted over two weeks in July across three nationwide locations  one urban and two regional centres. It highlights that cider products remain the cheapest, strongest alcohol products available to the off-trade consumer, with beer coming in as the second cheapest ahead of wine and spirit products such as gin and whiskey.

Dr Joe Barry, adjunct Professor of Public Health Medicine, said: Throughout the Covid-19 crisis we have witnessed a significant shift in alcohol use, with hyper-competitive pricing fuelling a massive surge in off-trade sales and an increase in domestic drinking. This temporary behaviour may well become a permanent lifestyle for many, which in time will only add to the already enormous public cost burden to care and manage the corrosive impact on individuals, their families, enterprise and across the whole of our society of alcohol harms.

According to the survey, an Irish consumer can spend, on average, as little as 44c for a standard drink of cider, 52c for a standard drink of beer, and 59c for a standard drink of wine. Spirits come in as slightly more expensive, with a standard drink of vodka and whiskey costing 62c and gin at 69c.

Professor Frank Murray, chairman, Alcohol Health Alliance Ireland, said: The Taoiseach, Micheal Martin, has demonstrated, since his own innovative tenure as Minister for Health, that he has a strong commitment to objectives of public health alcohol policy.

"The findings of the Alcohol Action price survey must act as a catalyst for the new government and Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, to honour, without further delay, its longstanding commitment to introduce minimum pricing of alcohol products."
As a 21-year-old Marine I was one of thousands wounded during the 1968 Tet offensive in Vietnam. After receiving last rites I was medically evacuated to St. Albans Naval Hospital, in Queens, where I joined countless other young Americans who had been shot, paralyzed, burned or blinded in the war. We received superlative medical treatment, most of us recuperated and after we finished active duty many continued care with the Veterans Administration.

The VA is designed to address the medical needs of all veterans and it routinely provides former service men and women with prescription medications, at no cost. The Associated Press reports the VA fills "about 80 percent of veteran prescriptions by mail, which translates to almost 120 million prescriptions a year, with deliveries arriving daily to about 330,000 veterans across the country."
India withdraws from RCEP negotiations in November last year (Source: internet)

Jakarta - The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has entered the legal scrubbing phase and is expected to be signed soon without India, according to the Indonesian Trade Ministry.

Deputy Trade Minister Jerry Sambuaga said the participating countries now comprise the 10 ASEAN member states, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand, but the door is still open for India in case it decides to join the negotiations again.

India withdrew from RCEP negotiations in November last year, he said.

India is Indonesia's fifth-largest export market. According to data from the United Nations International Trade Statistics Database, Indonesias top export to its South Asian peer is coal, with value reaching 4.81 billion USD in 2019.
QBE has announced the appointment of Harpreet Mann as head of global credit and surety for its North America division. In her new role, Mann will develop and promote the strategic vision for enhancing the companys credit and surety book of business in North America. She will report to Nicky Ablett, global head of credit and surety, and Steve Gransbury, head of specialty insurance for QBE North America.

Since joining QBE North America in 2008, Mann has held a variety of leadership roles, including vice president and technical underwriter for Global Credit & Surety, corporate counsel for structured trade and political risk, and associate general counsel in the legal department. Prior to joining QBE, she was deputy general counsel for Exporters International. She has also served as a research associate at the Council on Foreign Relations. Mann holds a juris doctorate from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. She is a licensed attorney in New York and New Jersey.
Local authorities in China are scrambling to implement a presidential political campaign against food waste, as the country struggles to address food security concerns.



Authorities in Shanghai recently set-up a reporting hotline for anyone to inform on wasteful practices at restaurants, banquets, or lavish catering events.



The move came after ruling Chinese Communist Party secretary Xi Jinping ordered local governments to begin a nationwide crackdown on food waste under the party's "spiritual civilization-building" program.



Spot-checks, tip-offs, and inspections will target business banquets, weddings and funerals, celebrity-related events, and other potentially wasteful events, the Shanghai municipal spiritual civilization-building committee said in an announcement on Aug. 16.



A Shanghai resident surnamed Ma said much of the wastefulness at official and corporate events is linked to corruption.



"There is a lot of corruption that is hidden ... and it's hard to go after the rich and powerful," she said. "Ordinary people are very economical."



"It's not that we want to be. We simply can't afford to be wasteful," Ma said.



Independent scholar Wu Zuolai said largesse is a key part of official entertaining, whether in official institutions or commercial companies, and could be addressed through market forces, rather than through a political campaign reminiscent of the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976).



"Xi Jinping was born in the Cultural Revolution and has background in the Red Guards," Wu said. "Now he is employing the same sort of political campaign approach to supervising things."



"He could have picked a market-oriented, more civilized way of solving the problem, but this is likely to be crude and political," he said.



The legislative work committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) standing committee is to study how best to prevent food waste, including whether criminalization and coercive penalties like administrative detention are appropriate, media reports indicated.



Broader concerns over food security



The food waste campaign comes against a broader background concerns about food security.



While China recently reported a bumper grain harvest in spite of disastrous flooding in the Yangtze river basin, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences has also warned that the country will see a food deficit of 130 million tons by 2025.



According to U.S.-based economist He Qinglian, Beijing's concerns about food security date back to 2014, when China was the world's largest importer of grain, but have been sharpened by recent world events.



In a commentary broadcast on RFA's Cantonese Service, He said that the country is still easily able to meet food demand using imported sources.



But the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recommends a 90 percent self-sufficiency rate for major grains, and China's rate is currently at 82.3 percent, He said.



China ranks 40th out of 113 countries in the World Food Security Indicators and 17th out of 25 countries in the Economist Intelligence Unit's ranking of sustainable agricultural development.



"China's food security is a problem, but because there has been no major international conflict for nearly 30 years, the food supply has been stable," she wrote.



China has established agricultural supply chains around the world with the United States, Brazil, and more than 100 countries and regions, including Southeast Asia and Taiwan.



It does this increasingly by investing in overseas agricultural land and facilities, and is one of the three most active agricultural investors worldwide, He said.



But she said international instability caused by the trade war and the coronavirus pandemic have hit China at the same time as disastrous flooding, putting food security once more at the top of the government's agenda.



Reported by Gao Feng and Wang Yun for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
She has jetted back to the UK after enjoying sun-soaked getaways to both Rome, Italy, and Mykonos, Greece, in recent weeks.

And Louise Thompson was reminiscing on her recent holidays on Wednesday, as she shared a series of throwback snaps to her Instagram page.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 30, flaunted her ripped physique in a pretty pink floral bikini top, which was teamed with clashing leopard print bottoms.

Strike a pose! Louise Thompson was reminiscing on her recent holidays on Wednesday, as she shared a series of throwback snaps to her Instagram page

Louise's scanty two-piece showcased her washboard abs as she posed up a storm against a rocky backdrop, while accessorising with a selection of gold chain necklaces.

The fitness brand owner wore her blonde locks in a loose straight style, while highlighting her pretty features with a full pallet of make-up.

She simply captioned the snaps with a surf board emoji.

Wow: The former Made In Chelsea star, 30, flaunted her ripped physique in a pretty pink floral bikini top, which was teamed with clashing leopard print bottoms

Glam: Louise's scanty two-piece showcased her washboard abs as she posed up a storm against a rocky backdrop, while accessorising with a selection of gold chain necklaces

Impressive: On Tuesday, the TV star declared she felt 'fricking amazing' as she hosted her first live workout this month

On Tuesday, the TV star declared she felt 'fricking amazing' as she hosted her first live workout this month.

Louise said on her Stories: 'Just going to host my first live workout which feels like months but has probably been two weeks.

'I'm feeling a bit tired so I've just popped a mint in my mouth and I'm going to jump in the shower.

All smiles: The fitness brand owner wore her blonde locks in a loose straight style, while highlighting her pretty features with a full pallet of make-up

Beach babe: She simply captioned the snaps with a surf board emoji

'I'm back where I belong, I feel fricking amazing! I have a really busy day ahead of me today. Instead of getting overwhelmed, I'm going to write a schedule. This is an affirmation to myself to tell myself that I'm lucky to have work coming in.'

London native Louise was encouraged to embark on a healthier lifestyle when she first started dating Ryan in 2016, and has since adopted her own love for fitness.

In April, the blonde beauty left fans in awe as she unveiled the results of a three-month challenge.
Moga: Doctors at the Moga civil hospital have been accused of running a racket in connivance with agents to conduct early Covid-19 tests, especially of non-resident Indians (NRIs), in lieu of money.

Charanjit Singh, a resident of Dehadka village in Ludhiana district, has submitted a written complaint to deputy commissioner Sandeep Hans alleging he paid a bribe of 3,500 for each test of nine of his NRI family members to get the reports early.

In the complaint, he said his parents are residents of Hong Kong and they were stranded at India for the last six months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Our flight to Hong Kong was scheduled on August 4. We had only 72 hours to get the test reports. When I reached the Moga civil hospital along with my parents and my sister-in-laws family on August 2, the doctors informed they cannot conduct our tests that day due to long waiting. In the meantime, one Om Parkash of Moga came to me and said that if we paid 3,500 each the tests would be done that day. We had no option but to pay 31,500 for the nine tests.

I demand a probe to unearth this racket so that no other NRI should be looted by agents and doctors. My call details and the CCTV footage should be checked to confirm my claims, he said.

On Wednesday, Om Parkash also submitted an affidavit to the deputy commissioner, claiming he had given 1.7 lakh to district epidemiologist Dr Naresh Amla to get reports of 48 NRIs early.

He said that Dr Amla assured him that if any of them is tested positive, they will be given a fake negative test report.

The voice recordings of the calls with the health official were also submitted by Parkash, it is learnt.

Deputy commissioner Sandeep Hans said, The complaint was forwarded to the police for investigation and appropriate action will be taken after confirming the facts.

Civil surgeon Dr Amarpreet Kaur Bajwa said the police are investigating the matter and the guilty will be punished.

Dr Amla denied the allegations, claiming he has never met Om Parkash.
(Natural News) Rioters in Seattle held a rally against the Seattle Police Officers Guild (SPOG) on Saturday, August 15. This demonstration turned violent when several officers were injured by improvised explosive devices thrown at them by the violent mob.

SPOG is the main police union that promotes the interests of rank-and-file Seattle police officers. It is being targeted by Antifa and the Black Lives Matter movement because it has led the fight against the Seattle City Councils decision to defund the Seattle Police Department (SPD).

At around 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, a small crowd of 100 demonstrators met at the light rail station in central Seattles Chinatown-International District. From here, they marched south into the SoDo neighborhood, accompanied by several vehicles, in order to stage a rally in front of SPOGs main office building.

Before 10:00 p.m., a rioter set off a large explosive device and attempted to break the window of an SPD patrol car. This event sparked off a series of other chaotic incidents during that night that resulted in six SPD officers being injured and 18 rioters getting arrested.

While the chaos of the situation may be difficult to analyze, footage from various social media recordings as well as from body-worn cameras are supporting the fact that the SPD officers were putting their lives on the line to make sure the riot didnt turn into another wave of mass looting and criminality.

Explosives thrown at police

After the explosive was detonated, the SPD began ordering the crowd to disperse. As the mob was being pushed by the SPD north, back towards the Chinatown-International district where they first gathered, they launched a variety of projectiles at officers, such as fireworks, rocks and bottles. (Related: OBEY: Owners of Seattle shops are expressing support for BLM even as their businesses are attacked.)

Two officers were injured in the initial barrage, with one suffering an eye injury that was serious enough to require hospitalization, and another being taken to a hospital for an unspecified injury. The officer in the latter case has still not been released from the hospital, and the officer with the eye injury was immediately taken to the nearby Harborview Medical Center.

During later clashes with the rioters, one officer suffered a minor burn to the neck after being within the vicinity of another thrown explosive device. Three other officers would receive injuries throughout the evenings events.

Despite their best efforts, the SPD was unable to properly scatter the crowd until the gathering was declared a riot. Police were eventually able to use pepper spray and blast balls  grenades that release pepper spray upon detonation  in order to end the chaos.

The riot ended just before 11:30 p.m., when the SPD was finally able to clear out most of the crowds  but not before police officers had to deal with several more explosive devices being thrown at them throughout the night. Eighteen rioters were arrested and booked into the King County Jail.

In one instance, a female live streamer recorded a large explosion happening right behind SPD lines. After the explosion, the mostly White Antifa and Black Lives Matter mob could be heard taking advantage of the officers momentary disarray by strengthening their own line of rioters.

In another explosion, captured by SPD body cameras, a squad of bike patrol officers was forced to briefly disperse after an explosive was lobbed at their formation.

In a third explosion, a large squad of SPD officers was forced to retreat under an unrelenting barrage of explosives.

The weapons used by Antifa and BLM are getting more and more deadly. Learn about all of the times they could have caused a lot of innocent casualties by reading their latest exploits in crime-ridden cities like Seattle and Portland at Rioting.news.

Sources include:

KIRO7.com

FoxNews.com

Twitter.com
Silhouettes of laptop users next to a screen projection of binary code in this picture illustration taken on March 28, 2018. (Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo/File Photo)

Aussie Small Business Enters Fight Against Cyber Threats

The Australian government is recruiting small businesses to join the fight against cyber threats, while at the same time, accelerating its burgeoning cybersecurity industry.

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the countrys small businesses, particularly those involved in the defence industry, will receive funding to develop ambitious, game-changing capabilities for the Australian Defence Force.

Under the program (Industry Competitive Evaluation Research Agreement or ICERA) a small business will be eligible to receive $300,000 if their proposal is accepted.

The program, announced on Aug. 19, is funded by a defence innovation fund established in 2016.

A participant takes part in Seccon 2016, an international cybersecurity contest in Tokyo on Jan. 28, 2017. (Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)

Australias strategic context is changing significantly and our defence strategy is responding to these changes, Price said, pointing to the recently released Strategic Update, which was created in response to Beijings increased posturing in the Indo-Pacific region.

Our small business sector has a more important role than ever in contributing to Defences science and technology research priorities that support ADF capability needs, Price said.

Which is why I welcome that the first focus of the ICERA initiative is targeting on cyber defence and cyber security, she added.

Later rounds of ICERA are expected to focus on other priority areas, including surveillance and reconnaissance, medical countermeasures (against potential public health emergencies), space, and trusted autonomous systems (including drones).

Despite the economic challenges brought on by the COVID-19 lockdown, the federal government has continued to invest heavily in the defence industry.

A CH-47 Chinook from the 5th Aviation Regiment is seen deploying from Townsville, Australia on January 05, 2020 (Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

The new Strategic Update saw the federal government ramp up its defence spending to $270 billion (US$196 billion) over a ten-year period. Following the announcement, Defence Minister Linda Reynolds warned of increased risks from grey zone activitiessuch as foreign interference and cyberattacks.

AustCyber estimated a month-long cyberattack on Australia could cost the economy $30 billion and over 163,000 jobs (mostly in the private sector).

Small to medium businesses were found to be particularly vulnerable to cyber threats including malware, scam emails, ransomware, and phishing attacks.

Matt Warren, professor of cybersecurity at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, told The Epoch Times on Aug. 19, that the announcement would go towards creating a secure ecosystem for start-ups, and small to medium businesses.

A person delivers a computer payload while working on a laptop during the 11th International Cybersecurity Forum in Lille, France, on Jan. 22, 2019. (Philippe Huguen/AFP/Getty Images)

The government identified that small to medium enterprises as a whole were the weakest link in Australias cyber defences he said.

The announced program allows Australian enterprises to work with defence, to build new relationships, understand the cybersecurity problems that Australian Defence faces, and build future partnerships, he added.

The program would also have the intended side-effect of accelerating Australias cybersecurity industry which sold $3.9 billion (US$2.8 billion) worth of products and services in 2018. An 8 percent increase on the previous year.

The Indo-Pacific is currently a hotspot for cyberattacks, with a recent report identifying a significant number of businesses in the region looking for cybersecurity solutions.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday left for a two-day visit to China to attend the second round of the China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers Strategic Dialogue.

In a video message released before his departure, Qureshi said he was going on a "very important trip to China" and that he had a discussion with Prime Minister Imran Khan before leaving, reports Dawn news.

"I am leaving on a very important visit to China. I had a discussion with the Prime Minister regarding this visit yesterday (Wednesday). My delegation will represent the stance of the political and military leadership of the country.

"I am hopeful that my meeting with Foreign Minster Wang Yi will prove to be beneficial for both countries," he was quoted as saying in the video.

Qureshi, who is accompanied by senior officials, will visit China's Hainan province where he will lead the Pakistani delegation in the dialogue, according to a Foreign Office statement.

State Councillor and Foreign Minster Wang Yi will lead the Chinese side during the dialogue.

"During the dialogue, both sides will discuss cooperation on Covid-19, bilateral relations and regional and international issues of mutual interest," Dawn news reported citing the statement as saying.

"The visit will play an important role in further strengthening Pakistan-China 'All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership' and deepen strategic communication and coordination with China on a range of issues."

The first round of the China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue took place in March 2019.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  Ohioans can now get print-on-demand temporary tags at home without going into a Deputy Registrar office.

Customers can place their order for the temporary tag and pay for it through OPLATES.com, the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles said in a release on Thursday. The driver can then print out a temporary tag number for the vehicle.

The service is available now, the bureau said. The new print-on-demand temporary tags also are being issued at most dealerships.

Drivers will be able to utilize all 45 days of the temporary tag and will not lose time by having tags mailed to them, the BMV said.

This is another example of how our administration is changing the culture of state government to be more customer-service friendly, Lt. Governor Jon Husted said in a statement. You can run government more like a business and deliver convenience to your customers.

Husted announced the change during Gov. Mike DeWines Thursday press conference.

Ohioans who buy vehicles through private sales, new residents who are in the process of getting an Ohio title, and customers who bought a vehicle from a dealership that does not sell temporary tags can take advantage of this new service.

Deputy registrar locations will continue to issue temporary cardboard tags until January 2021, the BMV said.

Customers are encouraged to either put their temporary tag in the rear window of their vehicle or place it in a plastic sleeve in the license plate bracket to protect it from the elements.

The BMV has expanded many of its services online through BMV Online Services, making it possible to complete transactions without visiting a BMV office.

The pandemic forced the state to implement a series of BMV restrictions. The state created some leeway for drivers. It automatically extended expiration dates for licenses, ID cards, or vehicle registrations  including your plates and stickers  that expired on or after March 9, 2020 for 90 days after the state of emergency ends or Dec. 1, 2020, whichever comes first.

The BMVs other innovative service, Get In Line, Online, is a virtual queuing system that allows customers to check into the deputy registrar location online and advance in line without physically waiting in the office.
People sit far apart at a food court in Seoul Station, Thursday, in line with the government's social distancing measures amid the spread of COVID-19. Yonhap



By Bahk Eun-ji



The government is facing growing calls to place stricter social distancing guidelines on the greater Seoul area, as daily new COVID-19 infections in the country soared by triple digits for the seventh consecutive day Thursday.



Some even worry that the situation is worse than the mass infections linked with the Shincheonji religious sect or Itaewon nightclubs in the early stages of the pandemic.



The recent resurgence of new cases is more serious due to a high risk of the virus spreading at a faster rate due to the likelihood of a large number of asymptomatic carriers or those showing only mild symptoms who are going about their daily lives in the densely populated capital while unaware that they have infected.



Epidemiologists warned that if the number of cases keeps increasing, it is highly unlikely that the government's quarantine measures will remain effective.



"The virus spread in the Seoul metropolitan area is much faster than we initially expected. It will be better for the health authorities to place tougher social distancing measures proactively from the current Level 2 to 3, but I understand it's not easy to make such a decision mainly due to economic reasons," said Jacob Lee, professor at the Infectious Disease Department of Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital.



With the daily number of new cases nearly 300 a few times over the past few days, Lee said the health authorities' contact tracing work will become too difficult.



"In a sense, I strongly advise people to keep the social distancing rules as if they were under Level 3," he said.



The highest level measure can only be issued when the number of daily virus cases reaches a two-week average of 100 to 200 or the doubling of new COVID-19 cases occurs more than twice a week. Under Level 3, all meetings of 10 people or more will be banned and all students will be prohibited from attending school.



The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reported 288 new infections, Wednesday, including 276 local infections, raising the total caseload to 16,346. Most domestic cases linked to churches were reported in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. Of new cases, 135 were reported in the capital city of Seoul, 81 in Gyeonggi Province and 10 in Incheon, west of Seoul.



The daily new virus cases have been in the triple digits since last Friday when 103 new infections were detected. More than 1,500 cases have been newly identified over the past week.


A huge art project will be taking over some prominent intersections in Kansas City next month. Black artists will create six street murals, reflecting the statement "Black Lives Matter." One of the artists said his vision is about hope and not protest.You can find Michael Toombs' artwork all over Kansas City and throughout the state.
Capsa Healthcare, a Portland, Oregon-based provider of healthcare delivery solutions for hospital, senior care and pharmacy settings, acquired RoboPharma, a pharmacy automation leader based in Waalwijk, The Netherlands.

The amount of the deal was not disclosed.

RoboPharma delivers customized high-speed prescription filling solutions for community pharmacies, hospitals, wholesalers, and central fill operations.

The acquisition of RoboPharma is Capsas fifth major brand addition in the last 10 years, and second specifically in the pharmacy automation industry. Capsa also acquired the venerable Kirby Lester brand in 2014. RoboPharmas management and engineering teams will remain with the company to maintain continuity across its strategic focus, innovative momentum, and inventive vision. Its Netherlands facility will continue operations and will be leveraged to expand Capsa Healthcares international reach.

Led by Avi Zisman, President and CEO, Capsa Healthcare is a worldwide leader in developing and delivering innovative healthcare solutions for a wide spectrum of care providers. It offers a broad range of products including medication carts, medical carts, mobile computing, and pharmacy automation solutions. The company has over 400 employees with management, sales, and production offices throughout the world.

FinSMEs

20/08/2020
Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.



(Falcon)

Beetaloo Operational Update

20 August 2020 - Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. (TSXV: FO, AIM: FOG) (Falcon) provides the following operational update on the Beetaloo project in the Northern Territory, Australia.

Kyalla liquids-rich gas play

In February 2020, the Kyalla 117 N2-1H ST2 well (Kyalla 117) was drilled to a total measured depth of 3,809 metres, which included a 1,579 metre lateral section in the Lower Kyalla Formation. Results obtained demonstrated good reservoir continuity, conductive natural fractures and continuous gas shows.

In March 2020, operations in the Beetaloo Basin were paused in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ensign rig was secured and maintained locally, and by mid-May all personnel had left the Kyalla 117 well site.

Subject to COVID-19 related conditions, fracture stimulation of Kyalla 117 is expected to commence in Q3/Q4 2020 with extended production testing of the well to follow. Initial results from the production test are expected during Q4 2020 with final results expected by the end of Q1 2021. These results will inform the decision to either further evaluate this liquids-rich gas play or commence activities in the Velkerri liquids-rich gas play.

Construction of the Velkerri 76 well lease pad was completed in early December 2019 and environmental approval to drill and fracture stimulate the Velkerri Flank well was granted in late December 2019.

Philip OQuigley (CEO of Falcon) commented:

We look forward to the next phase of operations with the fracture stimulation of the Kyalla 117 well and will update the market as results become available.

Ends.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. +353 1 676 8702 Philip O'Quigley, CEO +353 87 814 7042 Anne Flynn, CFO +353 1 676 9162 Cenkos Securities plc (NOMAD & Broker) Neil McDonald / Derrick Lee +44 131 220 9771

This announcement has been reviewed by Dr. Gabor Bada, Falcon Oil & Gas Ltds Head of Technical Operations. Dr. Bada obtained his geology degree at the Eotvos L. University in Budapest, Hungary and his PhD at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He is a member of AAPG.

About Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.

Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd is an international oil & gas company engaged in the exploration and development of unconventional oil and gas assets, with the current portfolio focused in Australia, South Africa and Hungary. Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd is incorporated in British Columbia, Canada and headquartered in Dublin, Ireland with a technical team based in Budapest, Hungary.

Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited is a c. 98% subsidiary of Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.

About Origin Energy

Origin Energy (ASX: ORG) is a leading Australian integrated energy company. Origin is a leading energy retailer with approximately 4.1 million customer accounts, has approximately 6,000 MW of power generation capacity and is also a large natural gas supplier. Origin is the upstream operator of Australia Pacific LNG, which supplies natural gas to domestic markets and exports LNG under long term contracts.

www.originenergy.com.au

Glossary of terms

JV Joint venture between Origin Energy and Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Ltd.

LNG Liquefied natural gas

MW Megawatt

Advisory regarding forward looking statements

Certain information in this press release may constitute forward-looking information. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as may, will, should, expect, intend, plan, anticipate, believe, estimate, projects, dependent, potential, scheduled, forecast, outlook, budget, hope, support or the negative of those terms or similar words suggesting future outcomes. This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Such information may include, but is not limited to, comments made with respect to the type, number, schedule, stimulating, testing and objectives of the wells to be drilled in the Beetaloo Sub-basin Australia, the prospectivity of the Middle Velkerri and Kyalla plays and the prospect of the exploration programme being brought to commerciality, risks associated with fluctuations in market prices for shale gas; risks related to the exploration, development and production of shale gas reserves; general economic, market and business conditions; substantial capital requirements; uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of reserves and resources; extent of, and cost of compliance with, government laws and regulations and the effect of changes in such laws and regulations; the need to obtain regulatory approvals before development commences; environmental risks and hazards and the cost of compliance with environmental regulations; aboriginal claims; inherent risks and hazards with operations such as mechanical or pipe failure, cratering and other dangerous conditions; potential cost overruns, drilling wells is speculative, often involving significant costs that may be more than estimated and may not result in any discoveries; variations in foreign exchange rates; competition for capital, equipment, new leases, pipeline capacity and skilled personnel; the failure of the holder of licenses, leases and permits to meet requirements of such; changes in royalty regimes; failure to accurately estimate abandonment and reclamation costs; inaccurate estimates and assumptions by management and their joint venture partners; effectiveness of internal controls; the potential lack of available drilling equipment; failure to obtain or keep key personnel; title deficiencies; geo-political risks; and risk of litigation.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive and that these factors and risks are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. Falcon assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward looking-statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to Falcon. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in Falcons filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com , including under "Risk Factors" in the Annual Information Form.

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.
PHILIPSBURG:---The CFT was again unable to establish that Sint Maarten has met the conditions for the second tranche of liquidity support. This means that no talks will commence with Sint Maarten about the provision of the third tranche of liquidity support. If Sint Maarten still wants to have this conversation, the country will first have to demonstrate to the Council of Ministers via the CFT that all the conditions set for the second and third tranches have been met. The Kingdom Council of Ministers will then assess the request, based on the circumstances at that moment, whereby it will, in any case, be examined, whether there is still a need for liquidity support. A statement by State Secretary Raymond Knops.

Minister of Finance Ardwell Iron in response to that statement on Wednesday told members of the media that St. Maarten received Naf 24 million, the first part of the 2nd tranche after accepting the conditions set by the Kingdom Council of Ministers.

Iron said in a letter of June 30th CFT, wrote that it had recommended that St. Maarten receive Naf 53 million for the period May 15th through June 30th. Naf 29 million would be made available after the following conditions were met:

A minimum contribution from employees of 20% for the Payroll support program;

An adjustment of the graduated scale for the payroll support program to a one on one method as it relates to the loss of revenue;

The adjustments were to go into effect as of May 2020. (Just to be clear, not June, not July, but MAY 2020).

The letter further provided more detailed explanation as to the application of the conditions.

Irion further explained that in a letter addressed to State Secretary Knops on July 21st, 2020 and copied to him among others, the CFT informed the State Secretary that St. Maarten had satisfactorily met the conditions of the payroll support adjustments. Considering the adjusted conditions of the payroll support would go into effect as of June1st and not May 15th as stated in the conditions, the amount would be reduced to 2/3 of the Naf 29 million, which is Naf 19.3 million.

Based on the meeting of the Kingdom Council of Ministers of August 14th

The Cft cannot establish that SXM has met all the conditions for the second tranche of liquidity support. This means that no talks can be held with Sint Maarten about a third tranche of liquidity support states State Secretary Knops to the Kingdom Council of Ministers.

If Sint Maarten still wants to have this conversation, the country will first have to demonstrate to the Council of Ministers through the Cft that all the conditions have been met. This request will then be assessed by the Kingdom Council of Ministers on the basis of the circumstances at that time, whereby it will, in any case, be examined whether the need for liquidity support still exists.

Irion said that what was stated by the Minister Plenipotentiary during last Fridays KCOM meeting, which is that at the time of the decision regarding the second tranche conditions, a substantial part of the applications for May had already been processed. The implementation of the adjustment as of June 1st was reasonable given the date of decision-making.

Therefore the adjustment of the conditions of the payroll support program was not successful on May 15th 2020, and because of that the Naf 29 million was cut by 9.7 million guilders.

No consideration was given to the fact that St. Maarten started the program later than the other islands.

No consideration was given to the fact that the decision to adjust the payroll program was made in mid-May by the KCOM.

No consideration was given to the fact that the Payroll Support Program was agreed and budgeted for three months, April, May and June;

Maarten covered the May Payroll from its already scarce liquidity as no consideration was given to the fact that a previously introduced (payroll) program could not simply be changed in the middle of implementation and the principle of legal certainty that is violated by the immediate amendment of the program in accordance with the advice of the Cft.

During the meeting of August 14th St. Maarten requested to accrue the deducted funds which were cut because of the 2 week delay in implementation of the adjustments to the payroll support.

Conditions for the second installment second tranche

Sint Maarten has a fundamental difference of opinion with the Cft about the validity of the legal reforms approved by Parliament, recently adopted by the Governor and published in the National Gazette.

This concerns reforms for which significant legislative changes were necessary. It is noteworthy that Sint Maarten has nevertheless succeeded in having such reforms approved and declared applicable.

These reforms are:

Savings for the remaining part of the SSRP not funded by the Netherlands. We have made the adjustments, which form part of the budget amendment 2020. The deadline was July 15th which we did not achieve;

Total salary and emoluments of Members of Parliament and Ministers must be cut by 25% per years and until further notice, as of July 1st Additionally no indexation is to be applied until further notice and the savings are to be booked in general resources. The Cft is of the opinion that the 10% salary cut already taken in April is not to form part of the 25%. Cft refers to a motion passed by parliament on March 28th in which an additional 5% salary cut and 20% material cut is supported. Finally, the savings are to be embedded in the budget amendment, which has not yet been presented to Cft, and as such Cft cannot evaluate yet whether the required amendments are related to the conditions that have been included.

the retirement age increase for the civil servants from 62 to 65 years and to replace the final salary regulation with the median salary regulation. The statutory regulation was approved by Parliament on June 3, 2020, and adopted by the Governor on June 18, 2020. Published in the National Gazette as of July 1st 2020;

AOV/General Old Age Pension: Increase of the age from 62 to 65 years, approved on July 15, 2020, by Parliament and adopted by the Governor on August 11, 2020. Published in the National Gazette on August 12th, 2020. At the time the advice was made by Cft it had not been published and consequently determined not completed as per the required condition for the second tranche.

These reforms will lead to savings for the 2020 budget and to a cost savings of the salaries and benefits package for government officials. In other words, the enforcement of these reforms will affect the working conditions of the public servants and will lead to savings in the 2020 budget.

Not counting these reforms could further complicate the successful conclusion of the negotiations with the Unions and the acceptance of the 12.5% reduction in the employment conditions package.

5% annual reduction of the salary and benefits package of civil servants and workers in the (semi) public sector, if financed for at least 50% by government, until further notice. No indexation to be applied either until further notice.

St. Maarten presented a document in which it described the application of this condition:

Reduction in vacation allowance;

Additional expenses on training, uniforms, meals, travel expenses (no further specification)

Additionally:

Reduction of the pension premium

Cft has indicated that these two items are not to be considered part of the reduction of the 12.5% as they stem from previous KCOM instructions in 2015 and 2016.

The legislative trajectories have started but not yet completed and there are still negotiations with the Civil Servants unions have not yet been concluded, as such there are no formal decisions.

The CFT, therefore, concluded that St. Maarten had not complied with the 12. 5% reduction.

Maximizing of salary & benefits at 130% of the Prime Ministers salary (after the reductions mentioned earlier) for government-owned companies and entities and for the (semi) public sector which is financed for at least 50% by the government. The same is valid for consultants.

The calculation, which was submitted, included the reduction of the pension premium, and as such, the condition is considered not completed.

Sint Maarten is of the opinion that these implemented reforms should form part of the reductions, particularly the 12.5% reduction in terms of the employment package, and the Cft does not think so and therefore assumes a total discount of 20.5%. The Cft does not judge with due regard to the local context. In that case, discussions with Cft are complicated.

This difference of opinion leads, among other things, to the fact that Sint Maarten is of the opinion that it meets the conditions set for the second tranche, while the Cft cannot determine this.

Third Tranche:

Starting the discussions about the third tranche of liquidity support is important, sooner rather than later.

We will continue communicating with Cft, in fact, my cabinet has a meeting today at 3:00 pm.

Conclusion:

The government is currently working on responding to all the concerns expressed and will make all effort possible to ensure that we have a seat at the table. It does require, however, cooperation from all ministers, all government departments, civil servants, unions, relevant high councils, and once the legislative amendments reach parliament also parliament.
India recorded biggest ever spike of 69,652 new COVID-19 cases and 977 deaths in the last 24 hours. The current spike in coronavirus cases in India took the overall COVID-19 tally to 28,36,926, including 6,86,395 active cases, 20,96,665 recoveries and 53,866 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's latest data.

The higher number of coronavirus cases can be attributed to increase in daily COVID-19 tests; India conducted over 9 lakh tests in the past 24 hours. The Indian Council of Medical Research's (ICMR) latest data suggests the total number of samples tested up to August 19 is 3,26,61,252, including 9,18,470 samples tested yesterday.

India had crossed 20-lakh cases on August 7. And, in just 13 days, the country has registered more than eight lakh new cases.

Coronavirus case tally in Maharashtra has breached six lakh-mark, and the active cases stand at 1,60,728 while death tally at 21,033. Delhi's active cases stand at 11,137, and the state has reported 4,235 deaths. Active cases in Andhra Pradesh stand at 86,725. The state's death tally has risen to 2,906.

World over, coronavirus cases have surged to 22,580,254, including 791,002 deaths. As many as 15,301,278 have also recovered across the world so far. The US tops the tally with 57 lakh COVID-19 cases, followed by Brazil with 34.6 lakh cases. India is the third most affected country. Experts suggest if cases continue to rise with the current pace, India could soon surpass these countries.

Also read: Coronavirus vaccine: Serum Institute to start Phase 3 trials of Oxford vaccine on Aug 22

Here is the state-wise active coronavirus case tally:-

Andaman and Nicobar Islands 1045

Andhra Pradesh 86725

Arunachal Pradesh 923

Assam 23756

Bihar 27546

Chandigarh 1014

Chhattisgarh 6139

Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu 389

Delhi 11137

Goa 3838

Gujarat 14282

Haryana 7307

Himachal Pradesh 1400

Jammu and Kashmir 6965

Jharkhand 9638

Karnataka 81113

Kerala 17442

Ladakh 633

Madhya Pradesh 10717

Maharashtra 160728

Manipur 1973

Meghalaya 806

Mizoram 489

Nagaland 1844

Odisha 19814

Puducherry 3309

Punjab 12460

Rajasthan 14416

Sikkim 440

Tamil Nadu 53155

Telengana 21509

Tripura 2205

Uttarakhand 3915

Uttar Pradesh 49645

West Bengal 27678

Total 686395

Also read: Oxford coronavirus vaccine: Serum Institute to begin COVID-19 trials this week; all you need to know

Also read: Coronavirus vaccine: Oxford vaccine to be India's first shot; Australia to offer doses for free
Many other grapes are making delightful wines in Germany. They include pinot blanc, known as weissburgunder in German; blaufrankisch, which in Germany is generally called lemberger; silvaner, often rendered sylvaner; and trollinger, better known in Italian as schiava.

Youll also find wholly obscure grapes like elbling and blauer portugieser, which have no aliases of note.

Riesling is still the benchmark in Germany, the way Burgundy or Bordeaux is in France, said Stephen Bitterolf, whose import company, Vom Boden, specializes in German wines, rieslings and beyond. But I think what is happening is the realization that all of this other stuff has a deeper value that should be brought to the attention of the greater public.

It wasnt that long ago that a great wine homogenization seemed to be occurring around the world. Countries like Italy and Spain, rich with traditional wines, seemed to reject their indigenous grape varieties in favor of internationally known grapes like cabernet sauvignon, merlot and chardonnay.

In the last 20 years or so, these countries and many others  even the United States  have rediscovered the diversity of their grapes and wines, the breadth of which now seems to be cherished worldwide.

Germany, though, lagged behind. Riesling was always on an elevated plane, but other grapes, for the most part, were given the back of the markets hand. Mr. Bitterolf calls it a vicious circle of cheap wines.

You planted the grapes in the worst area, farmed them badly, then you say, These are terrible wines, he said.
An employee shows the new Mavic Pro 2 drone in a DJI store in Shanghai on May 22, 2019. (Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty Images)

US Should Sanction Chinese Drone Maker DJI for Sending Data to China, Report Says

U.S. think tank Heritage Foundation is calling on the Trump administration to impose sanctions on Chinese drone maker DJI because the data it collects could fall into the hands of the Chinese regime.

The report published on Aug. 19 said the data collected by Chinese drones flown in the country would include precise location of critical infrastructure and sensitive information, including locations of civic leaders, their movements, and interactions.

Due to Chinese laws, Chinese corporations are unable to deny data requests from the Chinese government. Given the  data that is collected, the risk is that such information is going back to Beijing, report co-author Lora Ries told The Epoch Times. She is a senior research fellow at the think tank.

The Heritage Foundation called on DJI to be placed on the Entity List, a U.S. trade blacklist that bars American companies from doing business with them, unless they obtain special licenses, due to security vulnerabilities in its products that harvest user data, as well as DJIs involvement in the persecution of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang.

Drones made by DJI, a private company headquartered in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen and the worlds biggest maker of commercial drones, are extremely popular in the United States.

According to data by market researcher Drone Industry Insights, DJI had a U.S. market share of close to 77 percent as of October last year, followed by U.S. tech giant Intel with 3.7 percent. Another Chinese drone maker Yuneec came in third with 3.1 percent.

There are now more than 385,000 commercial drones in operation in the United States, according to the report. This is compared to 2016, when there were only 50,000 commercial drones, according to data from the U.S. Federation Aviation Administration, which requires drone operators to register their drones.

Many of these drones are used by U.S. government agencies. According to a March report by the Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College, 1,578 state and local police, sheriff, fire, and emergency services agencies in the United States are believed to have acquired drones.

More than 970 U.S. public safety agencies used drones made by either DJI or Yuneec, according to the report.

The U.S. Army, Pentagon, and Department of Interior have banned or grounded Chinese-made drones over spy risks.

In August 2017, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a warning in an unclassified bulletin, saying that DJI was providing U.S. critical infrastructure and law enforcement data to the Chinese government. DHS issued a similar warning again in May 2019.

Security Concerns

The Heritage Foundation highlighted DJI drones security flaws, as detailed in two recent studies by Paris-based IT security firm Synacktiv and Washington-based cybersecurity company River Loop Security.

Synacktiv, in a report issued in July, reverse-engineered the Android version of a mobile app called DJI Go 4, which allows users to control DJI drones through their electronic devices. It found that the app was collecting a vast amount of personal user data, including the serial number of the phones SIM card, the phones identity number IMEI, and the phones IMSI, a unique number that telecoms companies use to identify a SIM.

This data is not relevant or necessary for drone flights and go beyond DJI privacy policy, stated Synacktiv. It then warned that these data can be used by intelligence agencies or malicious people to later track individuals or eavesdrop communications.

Synacktiv also found that the DJI software could order a users phone to install a forced update and then execute whatever commands it wishes. Given that operating the DJI app requires granting it access to a devices camera, geolocation, contacts, and other data, the DJIChinese servers have almost full control over the users phone, the firm concluded.

Moreover, Synacktiv found that even after users closed the app, it continued to run in the background, making network requests.

River Loop reviewed another DJI app called DJI Mimo, which allows users to edit their photos and videos captured on cameras attached to DJI drones. In a report issued in May, River Loop found that the app sent data via insecure means to servers located in China, without user consent.

Whats more, River Loop found that the apps terms of use agreement allowed DJI to share user data with the Chinese regime.

When installed, the DJI Mimo app requests users to give access to much of the phones data, such as location, SMS messages, and WiFi state.

Those findings should worry any company or government agency using DJI technology, as well as policymakers working to secure critical infrastructure, the Heritage Foundation concluded, referring to the two reports by Synacktiv and River Loop.

DJI did not respond to a request for comment as of press time.

State and Local Governments

The Heritage Foundation said that though the U.S. federal government has recognized DJIs threats, regional authorities are not prepared.

State and local agencies have smaller budgets, Ries said, noting that DJI has slashed its prices to basically elbow out any other competition.

The company has also donated drones to law enforcement and first responder agencies. This April, DJI said it distributed 100 drones to 45 police, fire, and public safety organizations in 22 states, in an effort to help the United States battle against the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

This sensitive data collected by the Chinese-donated drones can be accessed by the drone manufacturerand, thereby, the Chinese government, according to the report.

The think tank said there could be a more nefarious motive behind DJIs gesture: Beijing has a history of imbedding surreptitious endeavors into seemingly good-natured or even charitable transactions by its government and/or Chinese corporations.

Heritage also recommended that the U.S. Department of Justice and DHS inform state, city, and county agencies of the threat and the potential repercussions from employing Chinese drones.

The American Security Drone Act of 2019, a bill introduced in both chambers of Congress last year, would ban federal departments and agencies from buying any commercial off-the-shelf drone or small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), either manufactured or assembled in countries deemed a national security threat to the United States, such as China and Iran.

The Senate introduced the bill (S.2502) in September 2019 and the bill passed the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in March. The House version (H.R.5125) was introduced in November last year.

The House in July passed a measure to ban federal agencies from buying and using Chinese-made drones as part of the annual defense spending bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Both chambers will reconcile any differences and finalize the NDAA in a conference later this year.

The think tank urged quick actions to address the threat since technologies now available on large drones used by the U.S. military, such as more advanced surveillance capability, could soon be found on smaller drones.

The technology is advancing rapidly, and the capabilities currently found in large drones is now being miniaturized and will likely migrate to smaller drones in the near term, which will significantly broaden the threat, Heritage concluded.

Cathy He contributed to this report.
Of the 72 high schools in the Chicago Public Schools system that had police last year, 17 voted to remove them. The votes came after a longtime movement by youth in Chicago, primarily led by Black student activists, who have been organizing to get police out of schools. Yet only seven of the schools that succeeded are south of Madison Avenue, and only three have student bodies that are at least 35% Black.
New Delhi, Aug 20 : The online nomination process for Sardar Patel National Unity Award - the highest civilian award in the field of contribution to the unity and integrity of India - has now been extended till October 31, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Thursday.

The nominations are being received online through the MHA website nationalunityawards.mha.gov.in.

The Central government instituted the award in the name of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The Award seeks to recognize notable and inspiring contributions to promote the cause of national unity and integrity and to reinforce the value of a strong and united India.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 14:20:29|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, consoles the family members of those who died fighting floods while visiting a floodwater diversion zone in Feidong County, Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, Aug. 19, 2020. Xi inspected Hefei on Wednesday afternoon. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

HEFEI, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Wednesday visited families of those who died fighting floods in east China's Anhui Province.

Xi consoled the family members of three deceased persons when he visited a floodwater diversion zone in the county of Feidong.

Xi told them that their lost loved ones are heroes and deserve respect from everyone.

"Every time a calamity occurs, heroes charge forward. This embodies the great spirit of the Chinese nation," Xi said, asking the family members to take good care of themselves. Enditem
India on Thursday gave a befitting reply to Pakistan at the 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, and asked the international community to isolate Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism.

The Indian Parliament, led by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, exercised its Right of Reply to underline that Pakistan PM admitted there are nearly 40,000 militants on its soil. Pakistans aggressions against J-K in 1965, 1971, 1999 (Kargil), attack on Mumbai and Parliament, Uri, Pulwama etc. show Pakistans state-sponsored policy of terrorism as evident in the inaction against the likes of Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar and Ehsanullah Ehsan.

The Indian authorities also said that Jammu & Kashmir has been and will remain an integral part of India. We call upon Pakistan to end cross-border terrorism. Our overtures should not be taken as a sign of weakness.

Indias strong reply comes amid Pakistan PM Imran Khans continued attempts to call an OIC meeting on Kashmir despite being snubbed by the Saudi kingdom. Khan is also believed to be aligning with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to form a new Islamic axis against India.

At the conference, organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Geneva, and the Parliament of Austria with the support of the United Nations (UN), Indias reply came during the special event on Countering Terrorism and violent Extremism: The perspective of victims today. The reply reads:

India exercises its Right of Reply to a statement by Pakistan, a country whose PM glorified dreaded terrorist Osama Bin Laden as a martyr from its Parliament, said the Indian response.

Indian Parliament also highlighted that the UN Analytical Support Sanctions Monitoring Team mentions Pakistan as the leading exporter of terror with more than 6,000 nationals currently engaged in terrorism.
Torgbiga Adamah III, Makorsor of Some Traditional Area in the Ketu South Municipality has called for an amendment to some sections of Ghana's laws to ensure sanity in the country.



Torgbiga Adamah observed that the ills in Ghanas politics such as violence, insults and disrespect for the elderly and those in authority, which poses a threat to the peace and orderliness in the country, could partly be blamed on some provisions of the 1992 Constitution.



The Markorsor of Some made these observations, when Mr John Dramani Mahama, the Flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and his entourage called on the Chiefs of Some to seek their support for the Party in the December polls.



He said laws that banned chiefs from active politics and vesting too much power to politicians should be amended because that had dwindled public trust in the system and given rise to impunity.



Torgbiga Adamah specifically mentioned that appointments of heads of the Judiciary-Chief Justice, the Police Service-Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Electoral Commission (EC) by the President could stir distrust among members of opposition political parties for these key public institutions.



The Article 70 of Ghanas Constitution provides that the President shall, acting in consultation with the Council of State, appoint among others, chairpersons and other members of the Public Services Commission which include the Civil Service, the Judicial Service, the Audit Service, the Police Service and the Legal Service.



Torgbiga Adamah said it was about time change was made to some of these provisions to allow for an independent system of appointing leaders to such sensitive institutions to enable the citizenry to have some level of trust in the public institutions.



This country experiences some tension every election year by way of inciting comments, threats and violence. Were witnesses to what happens during elections. Rival political parties always suspect each other, and these suspicions are fueled by the fact that the EC Chair, who is the referee in this electioneering game is such an example.



Again, we tie the hands of our police officers such that they may be unable to enforce the laws and bring perpetrators to book, where politicians are involved because their head, the IGP is a political appointee. And where the case goes to court, there may be political interference in justice administration. There must be some neutrality for people to have faith in our institutions, Torgbiga said.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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An alleged pedophile accused of kidnapping and raping two children has gone missing in Western Australia.

Michael Robert Carroll was due to appear in Albany District Court, south of Perth, on Monday on 12 charges, including two counts of sexual penetration against minors.

A warrant was issued for the 47-year-old's arrest when didn't attend the trial, which was postponed indefinitely on Thursday.

Prosecutor Sean O'Sullivan told the court on Tuesday that 'considerable' effort was put in to hunting the alleged rapist down, noting: 'He could be anywhere.'

On Wednesday he said there was 'some indication' Carroll might be found soon, but police searches revealed he had likely left the Albany region, The West reported.

The alleged offender faces three counts of sexual penetration of a child under 13 and two deprivation of liberty offences (stock image)

Officials at checkpoints along the Western Australian border confirmed Carroll had not left the state, but Mr Sean O'Sullivan conceded he was 'actively avoiding police'.

The alleged offender faces three counts of sexual penetration of a child under 13 and two deprivation of liberty offences.

He also has four charges of indecently dealing with a child under 13 against him, and one with a child aged over 13 and under 16 between 2011 and 2013.

Two counts of threat with intent to prevent/hinder a person are also among the 12 charges.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions told the court 'significant effort' should be put into tracking him down.

'The failure of the accused to appear at his trial has also had substantial impact on the complainants and witnesses who were prepared and waiting to give evidence,' the DPP spokeswoman said.

Carroll first appeared in Albany Magistrates Court on April 11, 2019 for three alleged crimes.

He pleaded not guilty for all three on October 17.

The remaining charges were brought forward at a hearing in the District Court on June 30.
A Pakistani national and two American citizens have been charged in the US with moving dollars collected as a religious tax from America to Iran on behalf of the Iranian Supreme Leader in 2018 and 2019.

Ali Chawla, 36, a Pakistani national, and Muzzamil Zaidi, 36, a US citizen, both residing in Qom, Iran and Asim Naqvi, 36, a US citizen who lives in Houston, Texas were all charged with violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Zaidi was charged with acting in the United States as an agent of the government of Iran without first notifying the Attorney General.

The maximum penalty for a violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act is 20 years. Prosecutors said on Wednesday that the charges stem from the defendants' "campaign to transport US currency from the US to Iran on behalf of the Supreme Leader of Iran" in 2018 and 2019.

Both Zaidi and Naqvi were arrested in Houston Tuesday. "Disrupting Iran's ability to raise US dollars is key to combating its ability to sponsor international terrorism and destabilise the Middle East, including through its military presence in Yemen," Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Demers said.

He added that Zaidi, Naqvi, and Chawla allegedly raised money in the US on behalf of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is also a religious figure, and illegally channelled these dollars to the government of Iran. Acting US Attorney for the District of Columbia Michael Sherwin said that the case is significant on many levels "since the defendants have considerable operational links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)", which the State Department has designated a foreign terrorist organisation.

"The life-blood of these terrorist operations is cash and the defendants played a key role in facilitating that critical component." Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Washington Field Office James Dawson said the charges demonstrate America's commitment to preventing agents of hostile foreign governments from having access and freedom to operate within the borders of the US.

The affidavit in support of the criminal complaint said that Zaidi "offered his services to the Supreme Leader of Iran" in July 2015 and said that he could serve the "Islamic Republic in the socio-political or another field." The complaint alleges that Zaidi travelled to Syria around June 2018 and while he was there, flew to an active war zone in an armed Iranian military or intelligence aircraft.

It added that Zaidi had access to bases under the command of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including a 'Sepah Qods' (IRGC Qods Force) base. The US designated IRGC as a terrorist organisation in April 2019. Qassem Soleimani, a Major General in the IRGC, was commander of the Qods Force until he was killed in a US airstrike in January this year in Iraq.

According to the complaint, in December 2018, Zaidi and other members of an organisation known as 'Islamic Pulse', including Chawla, received the permission of the Supreme Leader of Iran to collect khums, a religious tax, on the Supreme Leader's behalf, and to send half of that money to Yemen. In July 2019, Islamic Pulse released video soliciting donations for its purported Yemen campaign that showed money moving from the US and other Western countries to Yemen through Iran.

The complaint alleges that Chawla replied to donors' concerns about how the campaign was able to get money into Yemen by stating that the matter could not be discussed over email. The complaint further alleges that Chawla sought US dollars specifically,stated that Islamic Pulse could not accept electronic transfers, and admitted that it was not a registered charity. The complaint alleges that in summer and fall 2019 Zaidi and Naqvi continued to collect US currency in the United States and have it transported it to Iran, sometimes via Iraq, structured in such a way as to avoid reporting requirements.

Prosecutors said in the complaint that during his current stay in the United States, which began in June 2020, Zaidi has "exhibited behaviour that is consistent with having received training from a foreign government or foreign intelligence service, such as the government of Iran or IRGC." According to the complaint, that behaviour includes a reluctance to discuss matters over the phone, or even over encrypted applications, because Zaidi claims that doing so could be dangerous.
Nina Dobrev appears to be on cloud nine.

The 31-year-old actress posted a slew of Instagram snaps and video on Thursday, as she enjoys a dreamy vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Meixco, with her new boyfriend, Olympic snowboarder, Shaun White, 33.

Shaun has also been posting snaps from Cabo, though the pair have not been showing off any PDAs together on their social media accounts.

Pinup girl: Nina Dobrev, 31, kneels on on a chaise lounge chair wearing a pinup-style blue and white striped bikini while on vacation with her boyfriend Shaun White in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Posting a funny perspective shot of herself in front of the ocean, she captioned the image 'who told this lady she can stand on my hip' referring to the woman walking on the beach in the distance.

Nina wore her signature brown hair down in beach waves as she showed off her model-like figure. The nautical bikini she was wearing had a retro feel to it, with a wired bustier adorned with big bows in the back.

The matching bikini bottom came with a cover-up of the same print, almost appearing attached when Nina jumped in a playful Instagram story.

Nina completed the look with a simple necklace, a small pair of hoop earrings and rose tinted gold-framed glasses.

To infinity: Nina showed the extent of her vertical jumping abilities as she playfully jumped for Shaun in an Instagram story

Paradise: Nina She enjoyed a mojito as the couple chowed down on Mexican food with an idyllic view during their stay at The Cape Hotel in Cabo San Lucas

In a playful Instagram story taken by her boyfriend Shaun White, Nina shows the extent of her vertical jump, her long legs acrobatically thrown behind her.

She captioned the post, 'To infinity' - a reference to Toy Story's Buzz Lightyear.

A few hours later Nina posted from the same beach view, this time a shot of her long legs in an orange bikini. She rested a mojito between her thigh gap as the couple chowed down on Mexican food with an idyllic view.

Tulum pitstop: Nina poses in front of one of the main attractions at the Ahau Tulum hotel on the eastern coast of Mexico.

Baywatch 2: Shaun in red shorts jokingly captioned his series of Instagrams, 'Baywatch 2 lost in Cabo!???' tagging both The Rock and Zac Efron

Peacock Play: Nina was seen playing with peacocks at dusk as she was draped in a long floral gown and glamorous straw hat



It seems as if the lovebirds found a way to make the most of their vacation, stopping in Tulum which is on the eastern coast of Mexico, before heading west to Cabo.

Nina posted a photo of her in front of a large sculpture from the iconic Ahau Tulum hotel in active-wear, as the couple took a break from the scenic beaches to do some adventuring.

Tulum is known for having hotels with ornate and often life-size art installations at the various resorts.

Decisions: an Instagram post challenged Dobrev's Vampire Diaries character to 'make a choice' between her ex-boyfriend Ian Somerhalder and in-show love interest Paul Wesley

On their magical Mexican vacation Nina was seen playing with peacocks at dusk as she was draped in a long floral gown and glamorous straw hat.

Earlier this week Nina had a hilarious response to an Instagram posted by E!.

The post challenged Dobrev's Vampire Diaries character to 'make a choice' between her ex-boyfriend Ian Somerhalder and in-show love interest Paul Wesley.

She answered 'the bourbon'.
Washington, D.C., Aug. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The threat that climate change poses to our world, our ecosystem and our health demands bold policy solutions, and, as the devastating impacts of a warming Earth mount, the push for the development of robust and comprehensive federal climate policy is gaining traction. Organic agriculture can be a part of the solution and help tackle climate change through its ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, store away huge amounts of carbon, and enable farmers to be resilient in an evolving climate.

The Organic Trade Association on Thursday released a major report on organic and its ability to mitigate climate change, identifying policy opportunities to elevate the role of organic in the climate change discussion, support organic farmers and encourage transition to organic farming. Reflecting close dialogue with organic stakeholders and the associations membership, the white paper, Advancing Organic to Mitigate Climate Change, incorporates the key principles identified by the Organic Trade Associations Board of Directors to achieve meaningful climate policy solutions.

The trade association also recently announced the launch of a Climate Task Force, open to all Organic Trade Association members. The task force will amplify the Organic Trade Associations voice in climate policy discussions by advocating for policies that address the associations core principles and sharing recommendations with lawmakers and key stakeholders.



Our climate crisis is real, is immediate, and affects us all. It is clear that urgent action is needed to help us mitigate and adapt to this crisis, said Avi Garbow, Organic Trade Association Board member and Environmental Advocate for Patagonia Works. While the nations conventional agricultural sectors emissions and practices contribute to our worsening climate, there is a time-tested climate solution that regenerates our soils, nourishes our communities, and safeguards our environment from harmful synthetic chemicals: organic agriculture.



Garbow, a nationally recognized environmental leader who served as the General Counsel at the Environmental Protection Agency from 2013-2017, added, The Organic Trade Association, through the work of its members, the Climate Task Force and its research and analysis, will ensure that organic is well-positioned to play a leading and cost-effective role in stemming and ultimately reversing the effects of our changing climate.



Organic priorities in the climate change fight

Organic agriculture provides a critical opportunity to mitigate climate change and at the same time create economic, environmental and health benefits for all those involved in our food system--from the grower and the processor, to the distributor and the consumer. But although public and private initiatives to support organic as a climate mitigation tool exist, stronger federal support is needed for organic to reach its full potential to fight against climate change.



The Organic Trade Associations Board of Directors early this year determined that organic had to be elevated in the climate change policy discussions that are increasingly taking place in the halls of Congress, in government offices, in corporate boardrooms. The Board also agreed that the Organic Trade Association, as the leading voice in the nation for the organic sector, should spearhead the effort to advance organic as a solution to climate change and to protect organic from the risk of climate change. A climate task force consisting of seven Board members was formed with the goal of developing principles for good climate policy to guide organics engagement in climate policy discussions.



In June at the associations annual meeting, the Board unanimously endorsed ten principles for climate policy. The Organic Trade Association will engage in smart climate policy solutions that:



1. Advance organic agriculture. Any policy that addresses the role of climate change in food and agriculture should advance the opportunity for organic to be a climate change solution, allow organic to be successful, and not undermine organic.



2. Are science-based, data-driven and verifiable. Policy solutions should be based on and supported by science and data, with strong verification measures to meaningfully reduce agricultures impact on climate change.



3. Focus on outcomes and continuous improvement. Policies should reward the outcomes of good agricultural practices and enable a system of continuous improvement that achieves specific positive outcomes over time.



4. Promote soil health and carbon sequestration. Improving soil health is an important and central component in addressing agricultures role in climate change. Policies should include provisions for advancing soil health and carbon sequestration. .



5. Lower the use of fossil-fuel based chemicals: Chemical fertilizers and pesticides are a key source of greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture. Climate policies should minimize the use of and eliminate the dependency on fossil-fuel based inputs, especially synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.



6. Provide solutions for mitigation and adaptation: Policies should provide the resources to not only mitigate the impacts of climate change but also help the agricultural sector adapt to a changing climate.



7. Incentivize farmers and businesses: Farmers should not have to bear the brunt when making transformational changes. Public and private sector programs should provide tools and resources to achieve outcomes through market-based incentives or financial payments that encourage conservation practices or ecosystem services.



8. Decarbonize the economy: Policies that increase greenhouse gas emissions or rollback progress in decarbonizing the economy and reducing emissions should be opposed.



9. Foster agricultural diversity and innovation: Climate policies should foster diversity and innovation in farming systems, and provide incentives for increasing diversity in cropping systems.



10. Address equity and inclusion: Policies should address the environmental and economic inequities caused by climate change, and include ways to support disadvantaged communities in adapting to climate change.

Among the many threats posed by the climate crisis, perhaps the greatest is the potential it has to impact food production. The good news is that organic farmers are already focused on building soil health and eliminating the use of synthetic fertilizers, two steps that can help agriculture shift from being a source of greenhouse gas emissions to being a net sink, said Britt Lundgren, Director of Organic and Sustainable Agriculture at Stonyfield Farm and member of the associations Board. At Stonyfield we are excited to be working with the Organic Trade Associations Climate Change Task Force on advancing organic agriculture as a climate change solution. The climate change principles adopted by the association provide a roadmap for how federal policy can support climate mitigation and adaptation in agriculture.



Recommendations to support organics battle on climate change

Incorporating the Organic Trade Associations guiding principles to fight climate change, the new white paper offers specific recommendations for policymakers to support organic farmers and encourage transition to organic farming as a key strategy for climate change mitigation.



As a company that has made organic food for over 30 years, Amy's has witnessed firsthand the inherent benefits of organic agriculture on the health of the planet. The Organic Trade Associations Climate Change White Paper, through scientific research, provides a practical set of policy recommendations to make organic agriculture a bigger and more meaningful part of the climate change solution. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of this important work, said Paul Schiefer, Senior Director of Sustainability at Amy's Kitchen and member of the associations Board of Directors.



Specific policy recommendations in the white paper include:

Elevating organic as a key voice in climate-smart agricultural policy;

Establishing a national program to support transitioning organic farmers by reducing financial risks, improving market infrastructure development and increasing access to land;

Developing a competitive grant program to provide technical services to organic and transitioning farmers to create better access to information about organic production methods that sequester greenhouse gases and improve crop yields;

Creating a federal Healthy Soils pilot program, based on existing programs at USDAs Natural Resources Conservation Service and the California Healthy Soils Initiative.

Extreme weather variability, caused by climate change, is the greatest challenge facing farmers, said Doug Crabtree, Montana organic farmer and member of the Organic Trade Association Board of Directors. The (over)use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers is agricultures most egregious contribution to climate change. Organic farmers demonstrate that farming systems can be productive, profitable and a significant part of the solution to climate change by avoiding synthetic nitrogen, building soil organic matter and sequestering carbon in the soil. I am proud that our trade association is taking the lead on illustrating the key role of organic food and farming in managing climate change.



U.S. communities, economies and ecosystems are under threat from climate change, said Laura Batcha, CEO and Executive Director of the Organic Trade Association. Federal policies can help advance organic as a key solution by encouraging the adoption of organic practices and maximizing benefits for mitigating climate change. The Organic Trade Association and our members stand ready to engage and support federal lawmakers in advancing these recommendations.



To download the white paper and for more information on the associations new Climate Task Force see OTA.com/climate.

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for organic agriculture and products in North America. OTA is the leading voice for the organic trade in the United States, representing over 9,500 organic businesses across 50 states. Its members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers' associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, retailers and others. OTAs Board of Directors is democratically elected by its members. OTA's mission is to promote and protect ORGANIC with a unifying voice that serves and engages its diverse members from farm to marketplace. The Organic Trade Association does not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, national origin or ancestry, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation or military status. Persons with disabilities who require alternate means for communication of program information can contact us at info@ota.com.

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Ben Miller is the associate editor of data and business for Government Technology. His reporting experience includes breaking news, business, community features and technical subjects. He holds a Bachelors degree in journalism from the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno, and lives in Sacramento, Calif.
Authorities are asking for the publics help finding family members for two people who died in recent weeks.

No foul play is suspected in the deaths of Gloria Fuller Seale, 78, and Mark D. Whittman, 57. However, their bodies are ready to be released for burial and the Jefferson County Coroners Office has not been able to locate the next-of-kin.

Seale, a white female, died Aug. 9 at her home in the 8500 block of First Avenue South. She was discovered about 5:45 p.m. that Monday during a welfare check at the request of a concerned neighbor. A search of her residence and public records did not turn up any known family members, said Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates.

Whittman, a white male, lived in Pensacola. He was found dead at 2:04 p.m. on Aug. 14 in the 5300 block of Beacon Drive. He died at a friends home.

Yates said Whittman was visiting a friend in Irondale when he died. They believe he possibly has a sister living in Gary, Indiana. No other family members have been identified or located.

Relatives, or anyone with information on relatives, are asked to call the coroners office at 205-930-3603.
All India Solar Industries Association (AISIA) on Thursday urged the government to impose at least 50 per cent BCD (basic custom duty) on for sustenance of domestic manufacturers.

AISIA in a statement said that following the coronavirus-related disruption, the Indian solar manufacturing sector has witnessed a major downfall with exports witnessing a decline.

"AISIA urges the government of India for immediate implementation of BCD for sustenance," AISIA said.

It further added that, this is also the time when the government can further give impetus to the Prime Minister's Vocal for Local movement and help the local manufacturers strengthen their position in the domestic market.

While Safeguard Duty and the recent decision by the government to provide land near ports to set up manufacturing units has been a step in the right direction, solar manufacturers are imploring for an immediate respite, it said.

"The survival of manufacturers requires the government to look into restructuring of existing policies like implementation of at least 50 per cent BCD, ALMM (Approved List of Models and Manufacturers); without which the future of the domestic solar module manufacturers seem bleak and dwindling," AISIA Chairman Hitesh Doshi said.

The country's dependency on China for solar imports in FY20, was recorded at imports worth USD 1.3 billion.

This shows the potential the sector holds for the domestic manufacturers to contribute to the GDP, should the focus be shifted towards enabling the domestic players, Doshi said adding that the weaning off dependency on China and other international markets will also save foreign exchange.

Also, provision for pass though or grandfathering for imports of modules does not give options to buy solar modules from local manufacturers, the body said.

'Grandfathering' is a provision in which an old rule continues to apply to some existing situations while a new rule will apply to all future cases.

"So far more than 32,000 MW PPA (power purchase agreement) are allotted for which approx 45,000 MM modules will be imported in next three years if the same benefits are given to local manufacturers, we will not save thousands of jobs but huge foreign exchange also," it said.

Developers will have the option to buy from India and Indian manufacturers will survive, it 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.)
Fernando Alonso has admitted he is unlikely to complete his target of securing the 'triple crown' this weekend.

The two-time world champion, who is returning to Formula 1 with Renault next year after a two year sabbatical, only needs victory at the Indy 500 to add to his previous Monaco and Le Mans wins.

Currently preparing in Indianapolis, it is his third visit to the fabled oval Speedway, having retired from the race in 2017 and failing even to qualify last year.

This year, he has qualified just 26th as he again races with a McLaren-linked team.

"I came to try to win - I came to win, which is a huge challenge," Alonso told Spanish media this week.

"I could have gone to Barcelona to be with Renault but I came here, just like I went to Dakar.

"I know how difficult it is to be competitive here, which we saw in qualifying, but it doesn't change my perspective for the race."

Alonso thinks his 2020 chances were affected by his practice crash a week ago.

"In my case it (the grid position) is perhaps understandable after the accident, which forced us to rebuild parts of the car and work more carefully," he said.

"I have a lot to do in this race, I know that, but we are going to try because luck can still smile on us," he added.

(GMM)
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government on Thursday called an all-party-meeting to discuss and protest against the Centre's decision to hand over of the management and operation of the Thiruvananthapuram airport to the Adani group.

The meeting called by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will be held at 4 pm today and will be through video conferencing, a statement from the CMO said.

The Union Cabinet had on Wednesday approved the proposal for leasing out airports at Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram through public-private partnership (PPP).

Adani Enterprises had won the rights to run six airports  Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, and Guwahati  through the PPP model after a competitive bidding process in February 2019.

Vijayan has already written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention and to reconsider the decision as it would be "difficult" for the state to cooperate.

The State'srepeated requests to entrust the airport managementwith the special purpose vehicle (SPV) in which the state governmentis the major stakeholder was also ignored, Vijayan had stated.

"In view of the unilateral decision taken by the Government of India without giving credence to the cogent arguments put forward by the State government, it will be difficult for us to offer cooperation to the implementation of the decision, which is against the wishes of the people of the State," Vijayan said in the letter.

The ruling Left and the opposition Congress have also come out against the Centre over its decision to lease out three airports to the Adani group, accusing it of privatising all PSUs while the country was battling COVID-19.

"Thiruvananthapuram airport privatised to Adani rejecting the claim of Kerala govt, even after offer to match Adani's rate. PMO's promise to accept Kerala proposal broken. People of Kerala will not accept this act of brazen cronyism. #Airportprivatisation," State Finance Minister Dr Thomas Isaac tweeted on Thursday.

Opposition Congress Leader Ramesh Chennithala said "the dictatorial act" cannot be allowed and "must be resisted".

"The Union Government's decision to award operations of Trivandrum Airport to Adani Group on a 50-year lease amidst the COVID crisis is a deplorable move. The airport is the state's property, and must not be privatised," he tweeted.

"The decision to go for PPP mode despite state govt's readiness to operate and manage the airport shows how the Central Govt is trying to use the COVID pandemic to hand over all PSUs to the private sector," Chennithala said in another tweet.

KPCC President Mullappally Ramachandran said the move to privatise the airport was "deplorable".

"We need to protest in order to force the centre to withdraw this decision. None of us need to be in the payroll of these corporate giants," he said onThursday.

Taking a different stand from that of his party-- Congress leader and former Union minister, who is also Thiruvananthapuram MP, Shashi Tharoor has come out in support of the Centre's decision and said "a private entity running the operations competitively is the only way this airport could flourish."

"The people of Thiruvananthapuram want a first-class airport worthy of the city's history, status, and potential. In this context, a decision, however controversial, is preferable to the long delay we have suffered.

"The reality is that a private entity running the operations competitively is the only way this airport could flourish. Whoever it is, the ownership of land and airport as well as the responsibilities of ATC, Security, Customs & Immigration still remains with the Govt agencies," Tharoor tweeted on Wednesday.

Slamming Tharoor, State Minister Kadakampally Surendran, said his stand was "treacherous" and asked him to withdraw it and apologise.

"Tharoor's stand, as a representative of Thiruvananthapuram, is treacherous. He has been batting for this businessman. Why is a people's representative supporting this corporate? Even the Congress party does not have such a stand. Tharoor is taking a shameless stand for Adani. He should withdraw the statement and apologise to the people" Surendran said.

Meanwhile, former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh also attacked the Centre's decision and said the Airports Authority of India could mean Adani Airports of India.

"First, the airports in Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Mangalore were sold off. Now, it is the turn of Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram. All six sold to one private company. At this rate, AAI (Airports Authority of India) could well mean 'Adani Airports of India'," Ramesh tweeted.
French President Emmanuel Macron threw open the doors of his official holiday retreat fort de Bregancon to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday as the pair sought to tighten collaboration on the myriad crises threatening global stability.

Perched on a tiny island off the coast of the Mediterranean, Merkel barely had time to appreciate the fort's stunning backdrop of blue seas and rocky coastlines before having to grapple with some of the hot topics that had taken her there.

From the Covid-19 pandemic to crises in Mali, Lebanon, Belarus, the east Mediterranean not to mention Brexit, the holiday atmosphere did not last long.

Working holiday

The international agenda is particularly busy at the end of summer," the Elysee presidential palace said ahead of Merkel's visit.

Macron and Merkel were due to hold bilateral talks followed by a joint press conference and a working dinner as they looked to coordinate policy on the mass protests in Belarus following President Alexander Lukashenko's disputed re-election and the fallout from Mali's military coup.

"Today, the Macron-Merkel bond has become very strong," said Clement Beaune, secretary of state for European affairs, in the newspaper Le Parisien.

The pair will look to push ahead with a 1.82 trillion Covid-19 recovery deal and budget for Europe secured at last month's EU summit, which was seen as evidence that the Paris-Berlin engine is driving Europe again.

The Franco-German rapprochement is also expected to come in handy in getting EU member states to agree on joint coronavirus measures and restrictions.

Both Macron and Merkel have said they want to avoid a mentality of "every man for himself".

Differences

The pair however do not see eye to eye on topics like Turkey, whose oil exploration of the eastern Mediterranean has put it at loggerheads with Greece and France.

Story continues

Macron believes his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is leading an expansionist policy. Germany, for its part, is trying to mediate between Greece and Turkey, but has so far come a cropper.

"There are no deep divisions between Paris and Berlin," said the Elysee palace.

Bad environment

Talks were also slated to focus on climate change, as Germany, currently at the helm of the EU, wants to get the 27-member bloc ready to become the first continent to go climate-neutral by 2050.

On Thursday morning Merkel met climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, who again blasted the political inaction of European governments.

Merkel is the third leader to pay an official visit to the 17th century chateau in Bormes-les-Mimosas. Russian President Vladimir Putin passed through in 2019 a year after the then-British prime minister Theresa May in 2018.
Women hold flowers while lining up during a demonstration against violence following recent protests to reject the presidential election results in Minsk on Aug. 20, 2020. (Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters)

Belarus Launches Criminal Case Against New Opposition Body

MINSKBelarus launched a criminal case on Aug. 20 against a new opposition body, accusing it of an illegal attempt to seize power, a day after President Alexander Lukashenko threatened to sweep the streets of protesters who reject his reelection.

Belarus has been facing its biggest political crisis since the breakup of the Soviet Union, with tens of thousands of demonstrators rejecting Lukashenkos victory in an Aug. 9 vote his opponents say was rigged.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council in Minsk on Aug. 18, 2020. (Andrei Stasevich/BelTA/Handout via Reuters)

Opponents of Lukashenko, a gruff former collective farm boss in power for 26 years, unveiled the Coordination Council on Aug. 18 with the stated aim of negotiating a transfer of power.

Its dozens of members include a Nobel Prize-winning author and the ousted head of Minsks main drama theater, as well as exiled presidential candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, whose followers say she won the election.

The general prosecutors office described the body as designed to seize power, calling the act of setting it up a threat to national security, Russias RIA news agency reported. No individuals were named as suspects in the case.

People sing as they attend an opposition demonstration to protest against presidential election results in front of the Janka Kupala National Academic Theater in Minsk on Aug. 20, 2020. (Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters)

The council issued a statement rejecting the accusations and saying its efforts were lawful.

The accusation is completely baseless and without foundation. Our goal is to resolve the crisis without conflict. We are not calling for the seizure of power, council member Syarhei Dyleuski, leader of a committee of striking workers at the Minsk Tractor Factory, told Reuters.

After days of huge rallies drawing tens of thousands of demonstrators, protests were diminished on Aug. 20, but not halted.

Lukashenko announced on Aug. 19 that he had ordered police to clear the streets of the capital, although no action was taken against hundreds of protesters who staged a rally in front of the police headquarters later that day. By lunchtime on Aug. 20, there was still no sign of a decisive security operation.

Bigger rallies are expected again over the weekend.

Tsikhanouskaya, a 37-year-old political novice who emerged as the consensus opposition candidate after better-known figures were barred from standing, including her jailed activist husband, has fled to neighboring Lithuania.

Lithuanias Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis met her at his office in Vilnius on Aug. 20.

He assured her that the government, together with its partners in Poland, Latvia and Estonia, are doing and will do everything so that there are free and fair elections in Belarus, and so that her children could as soon as possible hug their dad in freedom, he wrote on Facebook.

That drew a thinly veiled rebuke from the Kremlin, which said Moscow would view any contact between foreign officials and the Belarus opposition as interference in Belarusian affairs.

The crisis in Belarus, Russias most loyal neighbor, is a test for the Kremlin, which has to decide whether to stick with Lukashenko or try to manage a transfer of power.

It also poses a challenge to Western leaders trying to avert violence six years after a popular uprising in neighboring Ukraine drew Russian military intervention and triggered Europes deadliest ongoing conflict.

Of all Russias former Soviet neighbors, Belarus has the closest political, economic, and cultural relationship to Moscow, and its heavily fortified borders with Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland are major frontiers of NATO.

The European Union has rejected Lukashenkos reelection and announced sanctions on Aug. 19 against some Belarus officials it blames for election fraud and abuse of protesters.

EU members bordering on Belarus have called for a tough line toward Lukashenko, but European officials are wary of strong action that might provoke Moscow into a military response.

By Andrey Makhovsky
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP)  The European Union must step up its response to Turkeys escalating aggression in the eastern Mediterranean because its directed against the entire 27-member EU and not just some member nations, Greeces foreign minister said Tuesday.

Greeces Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias criticized Turkeys deployment of warships to support a Turkish research vessel engaged in an illegal hydrocarbons search in waters where EU members Greece and Cyprus claim exclusive economic rights.

The escalation of Turkeys aggression is directed against the European Union and consequently, it follows that Europes response must also be stepped up in order to counter it, Dendias said after talks with Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell is expected to present to the foreign ministers of the blocs 27 member nations later this month a list of options for new possible sanctions against Turkey, he said.

The issue will again be taken up when the leaders of the seven Mediterranean countries in the EU meet in September and then at a full EU leaders summit.

Turkeys actions are an escalation and an unacceptable militarization that betray the dead-end nature of its own choices, Dendias said.

Greece has deployed its own warships to the area between Cyprus and the island of Crete where Turkey restarted prospecting for oil and gas this month. The Greek and Turkish navies have been shadowing each other in a high-stakes game of brinkmanship for over a week.

Greece and Cyprus say Turkeys moves breach international law and flout repeated EU and US calls to cease and desist. Turkey says it wont stop defending its rights and those breakaway Turkish Cypriots to hydrocarbon deposits in the region.

Christodoulides said EU members agree that the unfolding developments in the eastern Mediterranean will determine the future of EU-Turkey relations. He renewed an EU-supported call to Ankara to negotiate a maritime border deal with the Cypriot government.

Story continues

Turkey doesnt recognize ethnically divided Cyprus as a state and claims 44% of the Mediterranean island nation's exclusive economic zone as its own. Another sizable chunk of that zone is claimed by a breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in the islands north that only Turkey recognizes.

Christodoulides said Cyprus supports a carrot and stick approach to the EUs relations with Turkey, one in which cooperation is counterbalanced by a substantive reaction when EU principles are violated.

Both Dendias and Christodoulides underscored a willingness to open a dialogue with Turkey to serve the regional cooperation interests of all involved.

Were always in favor of dialogue, but dialogue cant take place if it isnt in line with international law, the law of the sea and good neighborly relations, Dendias said.
NIGERIA: Three teenage boys have been arrested by men of the Katsina state police command for allegedly gang-raping and drowning a 13-year-old girl to death in a pond in the state on August 14.



Spokesperson of the state police command, SP Gambo Isah, who paraded the boys before newsmen, said the suspects were aged between 15 and 16.



On Friday 14th 2020 around 3:45pm, based on the tip off, the command succeeded in arresting the trio.



All from Danmusa town, they allegedly conspired, attacked and gang raped a 13-year-old girl from Dutsen-Dadi village in Danmusa Local Government Area in their farmland on August 14, 2020.



The suspects are Mubarak Lawan 16, Anas Ibrahim, 15 and Aliyu Mika, 15; all from Danmusa local government, he said.



He added that after raping the victim, they threw her into a nearby pond, as a result of which, she drowned.



Isah said the victims body was later discovered and taken to Danmusa Hospital, where she was confirmed dead.



He said the suspects have all confessed to committing the crime.

Source: LIB









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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday called on the country's medical workers to make unremitting efforts in improving their medical skills and services to further promote the reform and development of China's health sector.

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks in an instruction on the occasion of China's third Doctors' Day.

In the instruction, Li lauded the contributions made by medical workers in protecting people's lives and health amid the COVID-19 epidemic, and expressed his respect for them.

Li called for efforts to further coordinate epidemic control and economic and social development, as well as efforts to step up training of medical workers. He also urged fostering a sound social environment that respects the medical profession.

A symposium was held on Wednesday morning at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to mark Doctors' Day. Vice Premier Sun Chunlan attended the event and delivered a speech.

Sun, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, extended greetings to medical workers, and called on them to further promote the spirit they have demonstrated in fighting COVID-19 to protect people's lives and health.

Sun also praised the outstanding roles of medical workers in securing "major strategic achievements" in China's COVID-19 response, and called for efforts to always stay alert in maintaining response measures on a regular basis.

She called for efforts to better publicize the actions of medical workers, and put in place and implement incentive policies for them.
The virus behind the current COVID-19 pandemic, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is known to spread more efficiently than the earlier pathogenic coronaviruses, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV. However, the case fatality rate so far has been much lower, at 2% to 5%, compared to 10% in SARS and ~ 40% in MERS. Scientists think the virus is inhibited by interferons (IFNs), even more than the earlier viruses. In fact, IFNs are currently being used to reduce the severity of COVID-19.

Now, a new study published in the preprint server bioRxiv* in August 2020 shows that under conditions resembling those in vivo, IFNs may promote efficient viral invasion instead.

This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (round magenta objects) emerging from the surface of cells cultured in the lab. SARS-CoV-2, also known as 2019-nCoV, is the virus that causes COVID-19. The virus shown was isolated from a patient in the U.S. Image captured and colorized at NIAID's Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML) in Hamilton, Montana. Credit: NIAID

What are IFITMs?

Interferon-induced transmembrane proteins (IFITMs 1, 2, and 3) are proteins that are considered to be inhibitory of a variety of viruses, including the SARS-CoVs. Most of the evidence for this has come from studies that used cells that overexpress these proteins and are infected by pseudoviruses.

The investigators looked at innate immune effectors directed against SARS-CoV-2 entry into the target cells. Viral entry involves spike-mediated recognition of the host receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) 2, triggering an irreversible conformational change of the spike protein to its fusion form by proteolytic cleavage into S1 and S2 subunits. The cleaved protein fuses to the plasma membrane and gains entry to the cell.

IFITMs are a family of IFN stimulated genes (ISGs) is known to prevent this fusion, in the case of influenza A viruses, rhabdoviruses, and HIV.

IFITM Overexpression Inhibits Pseudovirus S Binding

Previous work has shown that when these proteins are expressed at excessively high levels, pseudoparticles expressing the spike protein of SARS and MERS are unable to enter the host cell. The mechanism of inhibition might reduce the rigidity and curvature of the plasma membrane such that fusion cannot happen. While IFITM1 is only the plasma membrane, IFITM2 and 3 are localized on lysosomal membranes within the cell. Many scientists think that such viruses cannot replicate in cells where these proteins are expressed.

However, some studies have shown that IFITMs can actually increase the intensity of infection with some human coronaviruses. At the same time, mutant IFITMs could enhance infection with many viruses from this family, including SARS.

The current study shows that the overexpression of IFITMs specifically reduces the entry of SARS-CoV-2 spike-mediated pseudoparticles, by two orders of magnitude for IFITM2 and IFITM3 in particular, and less potently by IFITM1. Infectivity of these pseudoviruses was not reduced, however, and in fact, it was slightly increased in one case, since it may increase the rate at which the spike protein is built into the pseudovirus.

The initial tests showed that both SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins expressed in pseudoviruses are inhibited efficiently by IFITMs, the first even more than the second. The mechanism of such inhibition appears to be via ubiquitination and palmitoylation.

In all cases, they found that IFITMs reduce cell-to-cell fusion mediated by the spike-ACE2 binding. The depletion of these proteins led to a 3- to 7-fold increase in spike-mediated infection by all pseudoviral particles. Further testing in a cell line lacking IFITM expression showed that the number of S-ACE2 binding foci leaped upward by four- to ten-fold. These findings strongly imply that IFITM proteins are efficient inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 S-mediated viral entry.

The question is whether this susceptibility to IFITM-induced inhibition of S-ACE2 binding is shared by SARS-CoV-2 even after its leap across the species barrier to infect human hosts.

Figure S1 (related to Figure 1). VSV-G-mediated infection by VSVpp is not significantly inhibited by IFITM proteins. (A) Quantification of VSV(luc)G*VSV-G entry by luciferase activity in HEK293T cells transiently expressing indicated proteins and infected 24h post transfection with VSV(luc) G*VSV-G (MOI 0.025) for 16 h. Bars represent means of n=3SEM. Lower panel: Immunoblot of the corresponding whole cell lysates (WCLs) stained with anti-IFITM1, anti- IFITM2, anti-IFITM3, anti-PSGL-1, anti-ACE2 and anti-actin. (B) Immunoblot analysis of whole cell or supernatant lysates of HEK293T cells transiently transfected with SARS-CoV-2 S VSVpp and increasing doses of IFITM1 expression construct. Blots were stained with anti- Spike, anti-VSV-M, anti-IFITM1 and anti-actin. (C) Quantification of VSV(luc) G*VSV-G particles by luciferase activity in Caco-2 cells infected with the supernatant from HEK293T cells transiently transfected with VSV-G and empty control or IFITM expression vectors. Bars represent means of n= 3SEM. (D) Exemplary immunoblots of whole cell lysates of Calu-3 cells transiently transfected with control siRNA (si.NT) or siRNAs targeting IFITM1, 2 or 3 as indicated. Percentages indicate signal intensity of the three IFITM proteins relative to those observed in the presence of the control siRNA (100%).

IFITM Reduces Viral Loads

The scientists found that in response to interferons, IFITMs are produced in the lung, which is the primary site of infection by SARS-CoV-2. It is also induced in other infected tissues. IFNs have both positive and harmful effects on the tissues, and may even worsen the disease and trigger severe COVID-19. They also activate a cascade of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, with as yet unknown effects on the disease.

The experiment was repeated using authentic SARS-CoV-2 on a cell line expressing the ACE2 receptor alone or along with IFITMs. They found that when IFITM1 or 2 was overexpressed, viral RNA loads decreased dramatically by over 30-fold and 136-fold. However, IFITM3 produced a fivefold inhibition.

Endogenous IFITM Enhances SARS-CoV-2 Infection on Calu-3 Cells

IFITM2 AND 3 are expressed constitutively at low levels on primary human lung bronchial epithelium, as well as on Calu-3 cells which express both ACE2 and all the IFITMs. The expression of all IFITMs was enhanced by treatment with IFNs, but to different levels depending on the cell type. IFN- and IFN- were most efficient at increasing IFITM1 and IFITM2 in bronchial epithelial cells and IFITM1 in Calu-3 cells, respectively, while IFN- was active in intestinal organoids.

The investigators tested the effect of IFITMs on the Calu-3 cell line. They found that when the wildtype virus was used to infect a human lung cell line, Calu-3, endogenous IFITM expression enhanced the infection, both with and without interferon. The most important IFITM for this process was IFITM2, which increased viral entry and production by several orders of magnitude. However, IFITMS failed to enhance SARS-CoV-2 infection in HEK cells at different levels of expression.

When these endogenous proteins were silenced by siRNA knock-down, authentic SARS-CoV-2 replication took a steep nosedive, by 3-4-fold with IFITM1 and IFITM3, and by 22-fold when IFITM2 was absent. At 24 hours, IFITM2 reduced the viral load by over two orders of magnitude.

Thus, the endogenous expression of IFITMs does not restrict but rather increases the entry and replication of this virus in human lung cells. Treatment with IFN- caused a 22-fold reduction in viral RNA levels at 48 hours from infection while silencing the IFITMs further reduced them by 4- to 68-fold.

The infectious titer was examined by cytopathic effect (CPE) assay on Vero cells. This confirmed a radical decline in infectious potential upon silencing all the IFITMs. If only IFITM1 or IFITM3 was depleted, the CPE was modest and occurred only at low dilutions. With the depletion of IFITM2, CPE was abolished, proving that the lack of this protein reduced the yield of infectious viral particles by over four orders of magnitude.

Implications and Future Directions

They concluded that IFNs enhanced the baseline expression of IFITM proteins in lung cells and other tissues infected by SARS-CoV-2, enabling viral spread in vivo. Calu-3 cells are, therefore, a good model for studying this infection.

In other words, the researchers say, IFITM expression is critical for efficient SARS-CoV-2 replication in Calu-3 cells. [The virus uses this protein] to achieve efficient replication and spread under physiological conditions. This may also contribute to severe COVID-19 since the antiviral factors allow the virus to infect the cells of the lower respiratory tract efficiently.

This study also shows how essential it is to confirm observations of antiviral effects under in vivo conditions. Previous investigators may have missed the enhancing effect because it is specific for endogenously affected IFITMs in human lung cells infected with the wildtype virus. Antibodies to these proteins may be an interesting and novel therapeutic avenue for this infection.

*Important Notice

bioRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
President Donald Trump uses a mobile phone during a roundtable discussion on the reopening of small businesses in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., June 18, 2020.

The White House asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to reverse a lower court ruling that said President Donald Trump's practice of blocking critics on Twitter ran afoul of the Constitution's First Amendment.

The request to the high court renews a debate about the nature of the president's use of social media.

A federal appeals court ruled last year that the president used his account as "an official channel of communication." On that basis, the unanimous three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Trump has effectively created a public forum, and was forbidden from blocking users based on their political views.

The full appeals court declined to revisit that decision in March.

But in a petition submitted to the justices, acting Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall told the court that the appeals panel inappropriately failed to distinguish the president's official communications on Twitter from the personal nature of his decision to block users he disagreed with.

"President Trump's ability to use the features of his personal Twitter account, including the blocking function, are independent of his presidential office," Wall wrote. "Blocking third-party accounts from interacting with the @realDonaldTrump account is a purely personal action that does not involve any 'right or privilege created by the State.'"

Wall said that Trump's decision to block users does not prevent them from criticizing the president, noting that they could still view his tweets while not logged into the social media platform and post screenshots of the messages.

Wall said the appeals court ruling will hamstring public officials' ability "to insulate their social-media accounts from harassment, trolling, or hate speech without invasive judicial oversight."

The case was originally brought in 2017 by the The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, which sued on behalf of seven users whom the president blocked after they had replied to one or more of his tweets.

Jameel Jaffer, the Knight Institute's executive director, said in a statement on Thursday that the case "stands for a principle that is fundamental to our democracy and basically synonymous with the First Amendment: Government officials can't exclude people from public forums simply because they disagree with their political views."

"The Supreme Court should reject the White House's petition and leave the appeals court's careful and well-reasoned decision in place," Jaffer said.

If the Supreme Court agrees to hear the case, it would likely do so in its term beginning in October. A decision would come by June, months after the November contest between Trump and Democrat Joe Biden.

While Trump is not the first president to use social media, he has deployed it with more enthusiasm than his predecessors, often using his Twitter feed to signal political positions, terminate officials and threaten military action.

The case is Trump v. Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, No. 20-197.
Too lazy to type? Now, Android users can use Google Assistant to send an audio message to a contact. Here is how the feature works.

Google now allows users to send audio messages to contacts through Google Assistant. The feature works with both SMS (if compatible) and WhatsApp.

To send an audio message through Google Assistant, simply say Hey Google, send audio message or Hey Google, send an audio message to <contact name> saying <your message>. On our phone, Google showed two options  SMS and WhatsApp. Once you select WhatsApp, Assistant asks you to record the message. The process is completely voice-enabled.

In case you have not enabled the Hey Google voice command, you can manually launch the Assistant to send the audio note to a contact.

ALSO READ: Chromecast support is the best addition to Google Meet

Voice-messaging is the modern day walkie-talkie. For me, sometimes its the easiest way to send a quick note to my friends and family. You can now send audio messages with Google Assistant on Android smart phones--without holding down the little mic icon The feature is available in English-speaking countries around the globe, as well as in Portuguese in Brazil, wrote Mark Regan, Product Manager, Google Assistant in a blog post.

The feature can come in handy to send quick voice notes to a contact. Say you are in a hurry or just feeling lazy to type, you will not need a longer process i.e. opening WhatsApp, scrolling the contact, and then sending the audio message.

ALSO READ: Google Assistants 6 features every user should know

Bonus

Google has also highlighted five other interesting features of its Assistant. For instance, Google Assistant can read web articles out loud. To do so, just say Hey Google, read it. You can also say Hey Google, read this page.

You can also use Google Assistant to take a quick selfie. Hey Google, take a selfie, Assistant will launch your phones front-facing camera and take a picture on the count of three.

Other voice features include finding restaurants offering delivery or takeout, call or text a friend, and share your favourite content with your friend.
Efforts to hold Eversource accountable for storm preparation and response that left thousands without power  some for a week or more  got going this week, with state utilities regulators responding to a joint request by Ridgefield and Newtown for an investigation.

But for the grace of God no one lost their life in this storm, or as a result of emergency medical services not being able to get to them, Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi said Friday.

But, believe me, we had close to if not 200 roads in Ridgefield that were blocked, and we needed help, Marconi said. And we got nothing for almost four days  a little over four days.

The state Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) issued orders Thursday requiring Eversource to improve communication with officials in both towns, spelling out specific steps to be taken, according to Ridgefields Office of Emergency Management.

But that seems only the start of a longer process.

We need to keep this on the burner and keep it hot, Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi told fellow selectmen Wednesday night.

Marconi was seeking support  which he got in a 5-to-0 Board of Selectmens vote  for a joint action with Newtown to push PURA for an investigation of the Eversources response to Tropical Storm Isaias, with the two towns participating as intervening parties.

I think its important that the Board of Selectmen agree to move forward, that were united in this, Marconi said.

Ridgefields Office of Emergency Management said in release Friday that PURA had ordered Eversource to work with Ridgefield and Newtown officials to identify areas where health and safety risk to residents is amplified by the power outage and prioritize power restoration efforts in these areas.

PURA also ordered Eversource to provide communities with accurate, timely and consistent information on restoration efforts following storms, in keeping with its long-standing emergency response plan, Ridgefields emergency management office said.

Other municipalities have reacted to Eversources storm response in various ways, including talk of lawsuits, as heated reaction to outages that lasted from Aug. 4 to Aug. 11 comes to a boil.

The Mayor of Danbury filed a legal suit for reimbursement of damages. Weve been advised we should first file this, Marconi told fellow selectmen Wednesday night.

...Our attorneys have advised us its best that we allow the PURA investigation to take place to get the information, Marconi said, ...and then look at the next step.

Joint plan

Marconi said the joint action with Newtown developed from a conversation with Newtown First Selectman Dan Rosenthal.

Redding already filed on Monday, on their own, as well as Bridgeport. Marconi said. I spoke with Dan. We were the towns with the highest outages. He said: Were host to Eversource to Eversource operations center there in western Connecticut  and they had from Indiana 24 or 30 trucks that sat for over 24 hours without an assignment... 

We saw that over and over, there were multiple crews in town, Marconi said.

But Marconi made it clear Wednesday night that the town may eventually go beyond participation in the PURA investigation, and bring a lawsuit against Eversource. He recalled an inadequate PURA investigation after storms in 2011, when Dannel Malloy was governor.

As we saw in previous storms Irene and Snowtober, Governor Malloy asked for an investigation, and it was really a very very high level  no detail, Marconi said. There were some recommendations which came out of it, like the emergency operations plan  which they obviously have violated, clearly.

Lawsuit?

Marconi left the door open for a lawsuit, possible by the Western Connecticut Council of Governments, or WestCOG.

Why are we doing this? he said. ...We can take advantage of this investigation to make a determination whether Ridgefield, or the COG, or a class action suite  to make sure we have standing. To go into court at this point, it may get thrown out because we dont have complete information. Thats what the attorneys are advising us to do.

We want to get to the detail to see if we have a case to make for all the businesses that have lost thousands and thousands, he said.

PURA orders

A release Friday from Ridgefields Office of Emergency Management summarized PURAs response to the filing by Ridgefield and Newtown:

PURA issued the following orders, it said.

1. Eversources appropriate incident commander or municipal liaison shall, within six hours of this ruling, communicate with each of Ridgefields and Newtowns Office of Emergency Management including, but not limited to, speaking directly with the Towns Emergency Management Director. This communication shall identify the additional resources to be made available for storm response in each respective town and provide detailed estimates for the remaining power restoration efforts in the respective town.

2. Eversource shall coordinate with the officials of Ridgefield and Newtown to identify areas within the towns where the health and safety risk to residents is amplified by the power outage, and Eversource all prioritize power restoration efforts in these areas, as consistent with Eversources approved Emergency Restoration Plan (ERP).

3. Eversource shall comply with its obligation under its ERP to provide its communities with accurate, timely, and consistent information by regularly updating the towns on its restoration progress. Specifically, Eversource shall immediately notify the towns of any delays to the estimated restoration times.

Two critical steps

In a phone call Friday to The Ridgefield Press an angry Marconi outlined what he said are two critical steps Eversource should immediately take.

If Eversource wants to improve it relationship with municipalities  and thats up to them  then I would, whenever they could, have a meeting and have two things, very simple, that will not cost them a lot of money, that they need to change, now:

...Those two changes come with a program called make safe  and what that is, is as soon as the storm hits or even six or seven or two hours before, if they can, stage a crew  meaning and man and a truck  that would be assigned to each municipality for the purpose of neutralizing downed trees and wires, and allowing our highway (department) to open up a road for emergency service...

The second area of immediate change that we need is communication, Marconi said. There was no communication of any value between the liaison assigned to our community and the Town of Ridgefield.

And let me clarify. We could call the liaison at any time of the day, and talk to them, he said. But for day after day after day, they continually said We cannot give you any information. They would not report how many crews were in our area, if at all. Nor would they allow us to give them a priority list that we had already assessed, with eyes and boots on the ground  our Police Department and Fire Department  we had verification, we had pictures, and yet we could do nothing with that information.

Those two items are the most crucial, and need to be addressed today, because we are in the middle of hurricane season, Marconi said. And if we have another storm in two weeks  which is possible  we will experience the same thing again.

And we cant, he said.

One team

We ask that Eversource work with us, not against us, he said. In emergency situations were all on the same team, and they should play as a team  not what they demonstrated in Storm Isaias.

If Eversource wants to be able to have the spirit of collaboration to show PURA that its willing to improve, that will go a long way in helping them in this entire investigation, Marconi said. But to retreat back to Berlin, Connecticut, or Boston, Massachusetts, and again remain silent, will not bode well in the future.

Many parties will be looking to get involved.

Youre going to have legislators looking into it. DEEP (Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection) will be doing a hearing. Youll have everyone in Hartford attempting to have a hand in this, Marconi said. And what we need are solutions

And that is the make safe protocols, as well as factual, accurate continuous information through the liaison program, Marconi said.

God forbid we get another storm in a week, in two weeks, in six weeks because if its handled the way its being handled now, were in a lot of trouble.
Police arrested a 37-year-old on Wednesday for hurling stones at a hospital, a Covid-19 facility in Chandannagar, as he was upset with the clanking of oxygen cylinders at the facility.

The incident was reported on August 17. The arrested accused has been identified as Ganesh Dnyaneshwar Gade (37), a resident of Pandharinagar, Kharadi.

The said centre has been dedicated as a special Covid-19 treatment facility for the citizens since June by the Pune PMCs health department. A doctor from the hospital lodged a complaint with the police.

Muralidhar Mohol, Pune mayor, said, Covid-19 centres have been sanctioned as per the policy of the PMC and we expected citizens from all sections of the society to fully co-operate with the hospitals and at the same time it must be ensured that the citizens too are not disturbed in their respective areas.

Ramesh Krishnamurthy Iyer, general secretary, Congress, said, Residents must follow the law and not resort to physical violence. The hospital authorities must also remember that the loading and unloading of oxygen cylinders make noise.

The accused has been arrested under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging duty), 341(wrongful restraint), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of Rs 50), 504 (intention insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.

Additional commissioner ( Crime ) Ashok Morale, said, Citizens must abide by the law and ensure that they dont violate the pandemic guidelines at any cost.
TechnipFMC (NYSE: FTI) (PARIS: FTI) has been awarded a large(1) contract for Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Installation (EPCI) through a competitive contracting process, by Petrobras, the leader and operator of the Libra Consortium, which was formed by Petrobras, Shell Brasil, Total, CNPC, CNOOC Limited and Pre-sal Petroleo SA (PPSA), for the pre-salt Mero field, located in the Santos Basin (Brazil) at 2,100 meters deep.

The contract covers engineering, procurement, construction, installation and pre-commissioning of the infield rigid riser and flowlines for production, including the water alternate gas wells. It also comprises the installation and pre-commissioning of service flexible lines and steel tube umbilicals, as well as towing and hook up of the FPSO(2).

The Company will leverage synergies with the Mero 1 project Subsea EPCI, utilizing in-house rigid and flexible lay vessels and its significant local footprint in Brazil, including a spoolbase, logistics base and engineering capabilities. The offshore campaign is scheduled to start in 2022.

Arnaud Pieton, President Subsea at TechnipFMC, commented: "We are delighted to have been awarded another EPCI contract by the Libra Consortium, which reinforces the long-standing relationship between Petrobras and TechnipFMC. By executing and delivering this new flagship project, we are looking forward to supporting Petrobras's ambition in the pre-salt region and contributing to the development of Brazil."

For TechnipFMC, a "large" contract ranges between $500 million and $1 billion. FPSO: Floating Production Storage and Offloading unit

Important Information for Investors and Securityholders

Forward-Looking Statement

This release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The words "believe", "estimated" and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which are generally not historical in nature. Such forward-looking statements involve significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations or projections. For information regarding known material factors that could cause actual results to differ from projected results, please see our risk factors set forth in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, which include our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any of our forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law.

About TechnipFMC

TechnipFMC is a global leader in the energy industry; delivering projects, products, technologies and services. With our proprietary technologies and production systems, integrated expertise, and comprehensive solutions, we are transforming our customers' project economics.

Organized in three business segments Subsea, Surface Technologies and Technip Energies we are uniquely positioned to deliver greater efficiency across project lifecycles from concept to project delivery and beyond. Through innovative technologies and improved efficiencies, our offering unlocks new possibilities for our customers in developing their energy resources and in their positioning to meet the energy transition challenge.

Each of our approximately 37,000 employees is driven by a steady commitment to clients and a culture of project execution, purposeful innovation, challenging industry conventions, and rethinking how the best results are achieved.

TechnipFMC utilizes its website www.TechnipFMC.com as a channel of distribution of material company information. To learn more about us and how we are enhancing the performance of the world's energy industry, go to www.TechnipFMC.com and follow us on Twitter @TechnipFMC.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200819005670/en/

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Linkedin Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, August 21 2020

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.

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WESTON  With the return to schools around the corner, Weston parents continue to worry how a new approach to schooling may affect their child.

In a virtual forum earlier this week, the Board of Education and school officials tried addressing the concerns, but cautioned a perfect plan may not be feasible.

Like I said last week, nobody is going to be completely happy with the way in which we re-enter schools, BOE Chair Tony Pesco said at a school board meeting Tuesday. But ... Ive lived in Weston for 28 years, and I can assure you every administrator, every staff member, is working overtime to make sure that our students are safe and their needs are met in every way.

Pesco said conversations about school protocol will continue over the next couple of weeks, but he said he hopes parents will become more comfortable with the new model.

School officials have received an influx of emails from parents since presenting its hybrid reopening model last week, according to Superintendent William Mckersie. The district has since posted a list of frequently asked questions on its site and will continue to update it as school draws near.

Weston principals and administrators each took turns addressing what they described as several common themes in the questions they had received by parents.

Kenneth Craw, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, tackled questions about the voluntary distance learning model.

Craw said once the district knows which students are chosing that option, they will be assigned their respective teachers. Students under the voluntary distance learning model will stream into their classrooms, he said.

We are striving to be as interactive as possible with those students and I think thats important to note, Craw said. The one way we are going to start that during the day is with our morning meetings.

He said the streaming will continue to become more interactive over time as teachers also become more familiar with the process.

Families also had a number of questions regarding special education services. Tracy Edwards, director of pupil personnel services, said the district has a new template for delivering services it has called the learning model IEP implementation plan.

That has to be developed for each individual student in the district who has an IEP, she said. The purpose of that document is, again, to outline not a difference in service time, but how that service may be implemented differently within our different modes of instruction  be it full distance learning, voluntary distance learning or hybrid.

School officials outlined several changes to accommodate students including hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes for classes and back-up masks available as needed.

Philip Cross, schools director of finance and operations, said students will be required to ride with the same groups on the bus in the morning and afternoons. Buses will be cleaned between each run and students will not be allowed to change seats during transit, he said.

To alleviate social distancing pressures on buses, the district will strongly encourage parents or guardians to transport their child to school, Cross said.

In the past week, every family in the district was also sent detailed updates from their childs principal. Mckersie said communication would continue as the first day of school draws near.

We anticipate we will keep getting questions as we roll into the fall because, as I have to keep repeating, none of us have ever done this before, he said.

dj.simmons@hearstmediact.com
Not many court verdicts bring cheer to a state. So, if the Madras high court telling the Vedanta group that it cannot reopen its Sterlite Copper plant in Tamil Nadus Thoothukudi evoked merriment in various spheres, including politics, there is a history.

Right from its inception, the mega smelter project has been embroiled in legal tangles, besides earning public ire.

Despite a well-oiled PR machinery whirring continuously, the company could not endear itself to the local people, who had been opposing it. Besides, the environmentalists were also at its jugular.

The unprovoked, calculated police firing at peaceful protestors on May 22, 2018, that left 13 innocent persons dead, however, came as the last straw in changing the public perception all over the state. Sterlite Copper became a symbol of state tyranny for the people, who had earlier seen it as a typical environment versus development row.

For, the companys closure in 2010 following a high court order was due to alleged violation of pollution control norms and the 100-day public protest that culminated with the police firing, too, was started against alleged degradation of the environment.

But the vignettes of the 2018 police action, beamed live on television, impelled the people to see Sterlite Copper as evil, all its propaganda on making India self-reliant on copper or the plethora of livelihood opportunities it offered for locals notwithstanding.

That was why the local people, who had anyway vowed not to let the company open again, welcomed Tuesdays verdict as justice rendered to the sacrifices of the 13 martyrs.

On the flipside, Sterlite Coppers history has made many fear its emergence like a phoenix as in 2013 when the Supreme Court allowed its reopening with a fine of Rs 100 crore under the polluter pays doctrine.

That the EIA 2020 seeks to enforce such doctrines and the BJP was the only political party that did not welcome the high court verdict only adds to their concerns.
The United States will demand Thursday that all United Nations sanctions be reimposed against Iran, President Donald Trump announced, a move that follows the USs embarrassing failure to extend an arms embargo against Tehran.

The administrations insistence on snapping back international sanctions against Iran sets the stage for a contentious dispute. It is possible that the US call will be ignored by other UN members  an outcome that could call into question the UN Security Councils ability to enforce its own legally binding decisions.

Its a snapback, Trump said at a news conference on Wednesday.

Trump said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to New York on Thursday to present the US demand to reimpose the sanctions, accusing Iran of significant non-compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal.

The Trump administration wants to reimpose all international sanctions that had been eased under that deal. Other nations claim the US has no standing to make the demand because the Trump administration pulled the US out of the Iran nuclear deal two years ago.

Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, Trump said.

Pompeo defended the US decision to invoke the snapback provision [Petr David Josek/Pool via Reuters]

Pompeo and Trump have made no secret of their intention to invoke the rare and controversial diplomatic move in the wake of its defeat at the United Nations last week on extending the arms embargo. The US won just one other yes vote, with China and Russia opposed and the 11 other members abstaining.

As with the arms embargo, Russia and China bitterly oppose reimposing sanctions on Iran. So do other Security Council members, including US allies, the UK and France, a dispute that could result in a battle over the legitimacy of the UNs most powerful body.

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Irans support for its proxies in Syria only helps to bolster the Assad regime and undermine the UN process, said US Ambassador Kelly Craft in remarks at Wednesdays council meeting on Syria. How will giving Iran access to more weapons serve the interests of international peace and security?

The Trump administration seeks to reimpose all UN sanctions against Iran under the so-called snapback mechanism that was approved with the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and six major powers. Under the deal, Tehran received billions of dollars in sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme.

The snapback mechanism was created in the event Tehran was proven to be in violation of the accord.

Trump called the 2015 Iran nuclear accord a ridiculous deal and noted that sanctions have crippled Irans economy.

When I win the election, within the first month, Iran will come to us and seek a deal, Trump said, noting how sanctions have crippled Irans economy.

UNSC members doubtful

While other members of the UN Security Council said the US no longer has any say regarding the Iran deal, the Trump administration argues that it retains its standing as an original participant in the accord and as a permanent member of the Security Council that endorsed the agreement.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that, since the US is no longer a party to the nuclear deal, it has no right to demand the Security Council to activate the rapid reinstatement of sanctions mechanism.

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the Trump administration of unleashing a politically motivated campaign against Iran and called for universal condemnation of the US attempt to impose a permanent arms embargo on Iran.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Pompeo defended the US decision to invoke the snapback provision. Its unclear whether other members of the council can stop it through technical procedural means.

This will be a fully valid enforceable Security Council resolution and we have every expectation that it will be enforced just like every other Security Council resolution that is in place, said Pompeo, who is to meet on Thursday with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at his residence. We will be in full compliance with that and we have every expectation that every country in the world will live up to its obligations.

Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted his agreement with former US National Security Adviser John Bolton, who says the US has lost its snapback standing [Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation/Handout via Reuters]

Contentious position

The US argument is highly controversial. Not only has it been ridiculed by the Chinese, Russians and Europeans, not even the biggest Iran hawks in the United States all agree with it.

Former Trump National Security Adviser John Bolton, who has long held anti-Iran positions, has said the US lost its snapback standing when it withdrew from the deal and that moving ahead is not worth the damage it could do to US veto power in the council.

In a rare moment of agreement, Irans Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif praised Bolton this week. At least he is consistent  a trait notably absent in this US administration, Zarif tweeted.

And, former US Under-secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman, a lead negotiator of the nuclear deal during the Obama administration, said: It was never expected that someone who withdrew from the (deal) would have standing to, in fact, bring the snapback provision.

Whether any other council member will respond to the US move by introducing a resolution to extend sanctions relief is an open question. Some UN experts believe the others will just ignore the Americans, leaving the Trump administration in the possible position of having to introduce its own resolution to extend sanctions relief for the sole purpose of vetoing it.

We dont know if any country will do that, said Richard Gowan, the UN director of the International Crisis Group. If the general view of the council is that the US doesnt have standing, its quite possible that no council member will even engage at that level.

The US could actually table a resolution of its own and then veto it, just to show that it is going through the procedural motions, although that would look a little bit farcical, Gowan said.

Trump expects Saudi Arabia to join Israel-UAE deal

Separately on Wednesday, Trump said he expected Saudi Arabia to join the agreement announced last week by Israel and the United Arab Emirates to normalise diplomatic ties and forge a broad new relationship.

I do, Trump replied when asked at a White House news conference if he expected Saudi Arabia to join the deal.

Under the accord, which Trump helped broker, Israel agreed to suspend its planned annexation of areas of the occupied West Bank. The agreement also firms up opposition to regional power Iran, which the UAE, Israel and the United States view as the main threat in the Middle East.

In Saudi Arabias first official comment since the agreement was announced, its foreign minister said on Wednesday the Sunni kingdom remained committed to peace with Israel on the basis of a 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.

Saudi Arabia, which does not recognise Israel, drew up the initiative by which Arab nations offered to normalize ties with Israel in return for a statehood deal with the Palestinians and full Israeli withdrawal from territory captured in 1967.

Earlier in the news conference, Trump called the UAE-Israel accord a good deal and said that countries that you wouldnt even believe want to come into that deal. He did not name any other countries besides Saudi Arabia.
She may look effortlessly glamorous in her glossy bikini photos.

But Natalie Roser has revealed just how much work goes into making even the most naturally beautiful model look picture-perfect.

On Thursday, the 30-year-old was spotted on set of a swimwear shoot in Manly, Sydney, surrounded by assistants - including a makeup artist who was responsible for rubbing bronzer on her chest.

It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it! Natalie Roser (right) couldn't help but laugh as a male makeup artist (left) rubbed bronzer on her chest during a bikini photo shoot in Manly

The blonde, who looked sensational in a blue patterned bikini, shared a laugh with her makeup artist as he dusted the powder across her cleavage.

Proving her willingness to go the extra mile for the perfect shot, Natalie was also seen climbing a tree and posing on one of the branches.

The move was particularly risky, as the terrain below was covered in sharp rocks.

Having fun: Posing against a tree wearing a blue patterned bikini, the blonde shared a giggle with her makeup artist as he dusted the powder across her cleavage

Dedicated: Proving her willingness to go the extra mile for the perfect shot, Natalie was also seen climbing a tree and posing on one of the branches

After she achieved the desired shot, an assistant rushed over to help her descend from the tree while avoiding injury.

Looking every inch the Aussie beach babe, Natalie sported a deep bronze tan and styled her hair in loose waves.

She wore a full face of makeup, including false lashes, gold eyeshadow and peach-toned blush.

Just beachy! Looking every inch the Aussie beach babe, Natalie sported a deep bronze tan

Primped: She wore a full face of makeup, including false lashes, gold eyeshadow and peach-toned blush

On the move! Later on, Natalie moved to a large flat rock where she sat down and struck a variety of sultry poses

Later on, Natalie moved to a large flat rock where she sat down and struck a variety of sultry poses.

At one stage, she seductively threw her head backwards as the photographer snapped away.

She also modelled a white one-piece swimsuit, while covering her bottom half with a blue-and-white striped towel.

She's a natural! Natalie oozed sex appeal while working her angles

Sizzling hot! She seductively threw her head backwards as the photographer snapped away

Don't fall! At one stage, Natalie was seen gingerly making her way across the rocky beach

Following a busy few hours of shooting, Natalie and the crew were spotted sitting together at a nearby cafe.

Natalie sipped on her coffee and scrolled through her phone as she toasted to the end of a hard day's work.

The sighting comes after Natalie revealed why she was grateful to have started her modelling career in Australia, as opposed to New York or Paris.

Nautical and nice! She also modelled a white one-piece swimsuit, while covering her bottom half with a blue-and-white striped towel

Kicking back: Following a busy few hours of shooting, Natalie and the crew were spotted sitting together at a nearby cafe

'I'm pretty lucky. I'm supported with my body shape and my size [in Australia],' she told The Sunday Telegraph in February.

'Having Australia as my introduction into the modelling industry was so much luckier than if I was to start out in New York or Paris,' Natalie continued.

'I think as the industry has grown, it is gravitating towards a healthy shape.'
RICHMOND  The Virginia Senate adjourned Thursday and will return to Richmond next week to continue work for the special session.

The Senate worked through dozens of bills in just a few days, while the House of Delegates has yet to begin debating its legislation. The House is planning to vote Sunday to transition to an all-virtual session and then it will begin deliberations. Its unclear how long the special session will last, but it will likely extend at least into Septembers first week.

Because of the Houses delay, the senators decided to go home and return once the lower chamber catches up on its work. In the meantime, the House Appropriations and Senate Finance committees are continuing to work on the biennium budget, which is the primary reason the governor called the General Assemblys current special session.

Lawmakers are also discussing legislation on other pandemic-related issues, as well as criminal justice and police reform, spurred by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

The Senate has moved a batch of criminal justice and police reform bills for a floor vote, including a comprehensive bill that would limit the use of chokeholds, make it easier to decertify officers for misconduct, prohibit officers from shooting at moving vehicles unless they or other people are in danger and improve information sharing among law enforcement leaders to ensure those with a history of misconduct arent hired.

Sen. John Edwards, D-Roanoke, chairman of Judiciary Committee, called the bill a landmark piece of legislation. John Jones, executive director of the Virginia Sheriffs Association, said the groups leadership supported the bill. The bill advanced from the committee on a party-line vote of 9-5 with Sen. Richard Stuart, R-Stafford, abstaining.

The committee also advanced a proposal from Edwards to expand crisis intervention training for police officers so they are better equipped to respond to people who are experiencing a mental health crisis or have a developmental or intellectual disorder.

It shot down a bill from Edwards to abolish mandatory minimum sentences, as lawmakers said the topic was too complex to handle during a special session.

The Judiciary Committee backed a proposal to eliminate the mandatory minimum sentence of six months for assaulting a police officer.

The bill also says that if someones mental illness or developmental disorder contributed to the assault on the officer, or if the officer is not physically injured, the offender could be convicted of a misdemeanor rather than a felony.

A Senate panel defeated bills from Sens. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin, and Steve Newman, R-Lynchburg, that would prohibit police from forming unions to collectively bargain.

During the regular legislative session earlier this year, the General Assembly passed legislation to allow local governments to engage in collective bargaining with their employees.

Republicans have been concerned about police unions becoming involved in disciplinary issues in a way that shields bad officers from punishment and accountability. Floyds death sparked discussion about police unions preoccupation with defending and preventing discipline against officers who kill or wound civilians.

If there was no union that protected Derek Chauvin, a bad cop in Minneapolis, most likely George Floyd would still be on this planet today, Stanley said.

Chauvin, who was fired from his job, has been charged with second-degree murder in the May 25 death of Floyd; three other fired officers are charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter.

Democrats opposed an outright prohibition on police unionizing. Sen. Lionell Spruill, D-Chesapeake, said there are bad cops in Virginia now, where there are no police unions.

If theyre bad, theyre bad, Spruill said.

The Senate put the brakes on legislation that would block evictions until next year.

It also defeated a bill to require some Virginia businesses to provide paid sick leave to employees during a public health emergency out of concerns over cost to businesses.

Sen. Barbara Favola, D-Arlington, carried a similar bill during the regular session, but it died in the Senate prior to the COVID-19 outbreak because of its burden on the state budget .

This was not a business-friendly idea during the regular session, Sen. Tommy Norment, R-James City, said. It is a less friendly concept now.

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Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Three New Mexico school districts filed a motion in state District Court on Tuesday, claiming the Public Education Department violated state law when reporting funding data to the federal government.

Gallup McKinley County Schools, Grants Cibola County Schools and Zuni Public Schools filed the motion for a temporary restraining order against Education Secretary Ryan Stewart, which aims to forbid the secretary from presenting evidence regarding Impact Aid to the U.S. Department of Education.

Impact Aid is federal money given to school districts that have tax-exempt lands within their boundaries, such as military bases or tribal land. All three districts in the motion include tribal land.

State law requires the Public Education Department to take exactly 75% of the Impact Aid funding that districts receive and give those districts whatever remains.

But the motion alleges the PED told federal officials that it takes up to 75% of Impact Aid funding, and on average takes just 17.96% of a districts allocation.

The PED has knowingly engaged in illegal conduct in providing financial data to the USDOE that does not follow the provisions of state law, the motion states, adding the state has never had such a system in place.

The U.S. Department of Education ruled in April that the PED was not funding school districts equitably and that it could not deduct Impact Aid from a districts funding, a decision PED later appealed.

Gallup McKinley Superintendent Mike Hyatt told the Journal he believes the PED has been intentionally changing the numbers to allow the agency to take more money from districts.

Theyre spending a lot of time trying to take this money  primarily from the most impoverished parts of the state  and redistributing it to more wealthy parts of the state, he said.

He said his district usually receives $29 million in Impact Aid per year, of which PED takes $22 million.

A PED spokesperson said the department does not comment on pending litigation. A hearing for the motion is set for Sept. 2 in the 1st Judicial District Court.
When Fred Bowering lights a sacred fire at dawn on Friday, it will be the start of three days he hopes will bring the community together and help it heal.

It will also be three days of personal healing.

Son of a Metis mother and Mohawk father, Bowering is a fire keeper in the local Indigenous community. Hes been asked by Indigenous elder Grandmother Renee (Renee Thomas-Hill) to conduct a sacred fire below the Burgoyne Bridge. The fire is meant to help the spirits of people who have died by suicide to move on, help the families and friends who remain on earth come to terms with the deaths, and get the community talking about mental health and addiction.

I was always taught to use sacred fires to unite people, in good times and bad, said Bowering.

The request, which Bowering said he is humbled by, is also helping him move on from some recent trauma experienced when he came across the body of a young woman he knew. Bowering, who has battled his own mental health issues, said the fire has given him purpose again and helped him refocus his energy in a positive way.

Theyre so healing for me, healing for others, and most importantly it brings people together, he said.

Sacred fires typically last four days and are primarily fuelled by tobacco, sage, sweetgrass and cedar, what Bowering called the four medicines. Community members can also bring items to add to the fire, such as a letter to a loved one who has died or a lock of hair, to signify moving on to a new chapter in life.

Its how we pray to God, how we pray to our ancestors, and how we offer prayer to Mother Earth, said Bowering, who has previously hosted sacred fires in Centennial Park to honour Canadas missing and murdered Indigenous women and on the one-year anniversary of the disappearance of his cousin, Ashley Simpson.

Bowering said the community needs to have a conversation about suicide, mental health and addiction, which continue to be issues in St. Catharines and Niagara as a whole.

The best way to address this is to come together, he said. Thankfully, the light can still shine when the darkness takes over.

As fire keeper, Bowering will keep the fire lit from Friday at sunrise to Sunday at sunset. Friends in the Indigenous community will stop by throughout, and Bowering invites anyone whos struggling, who has lost a loved one or who wants to have a conversation about mental health or addiction to come by.

The fire will be located by the St. Catharines fire department training site on Renown Road, below the bridge.
Incessant rains over the past one week has delayed the work at the jumbo Covid-19 facility being prepared at College of Engineering Pune, Shivajinagar, which will now be ready by August 24, said officials from the civic administration.

Earlier, the administration had claimed that the work is going on at war footing and the facility will be ready by August 19. However, the incessant rains delayed the work.

On Wednesday, Pune Member of Parliament Girish Bapat along with local Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Bhimrao Tapkir and Mukta Tilak visited the facility at College of Engineering Pune, Shivajinagar and inspected the work. Bapat, who had previously planned an agitation to protest against the delay in the work, cancelled the protest saying that this isnt the time for confrontation.

We know that the city is witnessing rains. Pune divisional commissioner Saurabh Rao has now told us that facility will be ready by August 24, said Bapat.

The PMC and state government together are spending Rs 84 crore for the jumbo Covid-19 facility, which will have 800 beds.
Azerbaijani Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov will pay an official visit to Russia, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Leyla Abdullayeva wrote on her Twitter page on August 20, Trend reports.

Spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova informed during a briefing that Bayramov will visit the country on an invitation of Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov.

"The heads of the foreign ministries of the two countries will hold negotiations, during which it is planned to discuss a wide range of issues of bilateral relations, regional and international agenda, Zakharova said. Meetings of the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister in the government and in the Federal Assembly of Russia are also planned to be held".
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According to Market Research Future (MRFR)s analysis, the global barrier systems market is anticipated to market a steady CAGR over the forecast period 2016 to 2021. The growth of the market is poised to be dictated by the acceleration in revenue creation witnessed in the automotive and construction industries. In addition, the increasing economic activities in the transportation industry is also expected to reflect on the proliferation of the barrier systems market in the forthcoming years.

The exponential increase in the number of road accidents has raised concerns globally. It has led to rising investments in safety barriers such as crash barriers, moveable highway barriers, etc. On average, according to the World Health Organization, (WHO), 1.25 million people lose their lives in fatal road accidents annually. In order to curb the high death rate in road accidents, governments and other organizations are emphasizing on safety measures. This, in turn, is prognosticated to augment the global barrier systems market in the upcoming years.

The focus on railways and roadways expansion projects coupled with increasing investments signify growth opportunities for the barrier systems market. Furthermore, the innovations and developments being brought by the key players are expected to motivate the expansion of the market over the next couple of years.

Market Segmentation:

By material, the global barrier systems market has been segmented into metal, plastic, concrete, and others.

By type, the barrier systems market has been segmented into guardrails, bollards, beam barriers, and others.

By function, the global barrier systems market has been segmented into active and passive.

By application, the global barrier systems market has been segmented into railways, roadways, residential, and others.

Regional Analysis:

The global barrier systems market, by region, has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World (ROW). Asia Pacific is expected to capitalize on the economic and structural growth. It is poised to retain the pole position over the assessment period. The infrastructural developments in the fast-developing nations such as India, China, etc. is likely to drive the growth of the regional barrier systems market over the next few years. In addition, the market is anticipated to attract massive foreign investments which are poised to expedite its expansion over the review period. North America is also expected to exhibit positive growth through the forecast period.

Competitive Dashboard:

The major players of the barrier systems market profiled in this MRFR report are Delta Scientific Corporation, Bekaert SA, Gibraltar, Tata Steel Limited, FutureNet Group Inc., Trinity Industries Inc., Automatic Systems SA, Hill & Smith Holdings PLC, Lindsay Corporation, Barrier1 Systems Inc., Valmont Industries Inc., FutureNet Group, A-Safe Ltd., and Avon Barrier Corporation Ltd.

Industry News:

In March 2019, Byron Shire, located in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia, has presented an assessment which reveals that around 50% of the barrier systems used in the area are in poor condition. It would require an investment of USD 2 Mn for bringing them to proper condition.

In February 2019, SigmaRoc, a building material company that has acquired a license in the U.K. for concrete traffic barrier system made in the U.S., has added a moveable highway barrier to its product line.

In January 2019, the skyway that connects that connects Holland Tunnel to Lower Manhattan  the Pulaski Skyway  has got Valentine F350, a median barrier system, for increasing its lifespan.

In January 2019, the officials in the Ocean city of the U.S. have initiated the next phase of the project named Boardwalk access control where a series of semi-permanent and permanent barrier systems are being explored.
Last week, we witnessed what might be the most dramatic and positive news to come out of the Middle East in many years. The United Arab Emirates and Israel agreed to sign a peace treaty and fully normalize relations. In exchange, Israel suspended its plans to annex parts of the West Bank. This is the first time in a quarter of a century that an Arab state has agreed to normalize relations with Israel. The implications of this could be revolutionary in their effect on the broader region.

The leaders involved  Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed of the UAE, U.S. President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu  deserve much credit for sealing the agreement, and they stand atop a long list of winners. Indeed, the Netanyahu doctrine comes out the biggest winner of all. In its outline, that doctrine holds that peace between Israel and the Palestinians must go through the rest of the Arab world first, rather than waiting for Palestinian approval. Israel is done taking risks and making concessions for an elusive peace that hovers on the horizon, always just out of reach.

Opposite a long list of winners stands only one real loser. It is not the Palestinians, or at least it doesn't have to be. Rather, it is the failed belief that Israeli-Palestinian peace is the key to regional stability, and that it is Israel that must be pressured to achieve that peace through territorial and other risky concessions.

The Annexation Dilemma

A key part of Netanyahus doctrine is to minimize risks. The downside of that is reaping few rewards. Netanyahu has stayed true to this approach since 2009, carefully navigating regional challenges and opportunities to help Israel move slowly, but in a positive direction  economically, militarily, and diplomatically. Trump's arrival provided Israel and Netanyahu with new opportunities. It is doubtful Trump would pressure Israel to make dangerous concessions to the Palestinians, as previous presidents did. For all of his unorthodoxy and lack of experience in diplomatic affairs, this might be one of the few areas where it served to everyone's benefit. For too long, capable and knowledgeable diplomats and policy experts have "known" what a solution to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict would look like: two states, with a Palestinian state on nearly 100% of the West Bank (with some land swaps); all of Gaza; possibly even a shared Jerusalem. Israels being the stronger party was taken to mean that it should be pressured to make concessions. Lastly, the overarching belief held strong that the road to peace in the region ran through Ramallah.

Those parameters no longer reflect domestic or regional realities. Israel made far-reaching peace offers in 2000 and in 2008 to the Palestinians, and it unilaterally disengaged from Gaza in 2005. Far from encouraging peace and inviting counter-offers or reciprocal concessions, these moves were met with more violence and foot-dragging from the Palestinians.

However, the Israeli hard rights solution of annexation is also risky. Yes, it fulfills an ideological dream, but with few strategic benefits and many risks, including strained relations with many of Israels friends; getting off on a bad foot with a potential Biden administration; widening the rift in relations with American Jewry; creating chaos in the Palestinian areas; and halting progress made with the Gulf Arab states.

The Trump Plan And Emirati Initiative

The Trump peace plan proposed earlier in 2020 gave an important boost to Netanyahu and his doctrine. It offered what amounts to a revolutionary element to the peace process. The plan began changing the consensus of the two-state solution we all imagine it, and also pressured the Palestinians for the first time by suggesting they would get a worse and not a better offer the next time.

It offered a two-state solution that was in reality far less. It gave Israel most (but not all) of what it wanted and asked it to make fewer risky concessions. It recognized a few important realities, including the shift that has taken place in Israeli politics and demographics. Israel is more right-wing than it was in 2000 and 2008, and there are now 100,000 settlers beyond the security barrier who arent going anywhere.

Therefore, if making concessions to an elusive two-state solution and giving in to Palestinian demands time and again is a mistake, and annexing parts of the West Bank is a mistake, the obvious choice should be to do nothing for now  especially as Israel already controls this territory.

It is not clear whether Netanyahu sought to go ahead with annexation, and if so, what territories he would have moved to annex. If not, was this only a political move to outflank his competition to the right? Would the Trump administration have allowed this to go through? None of this was clear.

It is here that the UAE, the Trump administration, and Netanyahus team get a lot of credit for creatively capitalizing on an opportunity. In late June, the UAE, through its ambassador in Washington, Yousef al-Otaiba, reportedly made an interesting proposal to Jared Kushner and peace envoy Avi Berkowitz: The Emiratis would move to normalize relations if Israel held off on annexation. The UAE and most of the Arab world have long understood the situation on the ground. They get that Israel has tried to compromise. They get that the Palestinians have rejected those offers. They get that seven decades of rejecting and fighting Israel have not helped anyone, especially the Palestinians, and that Israel is far from the source of the regions troubles. It seems the UAE  and more quietly, a lot of other countries  get that its time to try a different approach. They are also keenly aware of their dependence on Israel to push back against Iranian aggression in the region.

Basically, Netanyahu saw and seized upon an opportunity to be rewarded for not annexing land which he already controls, and where official annexation would harm Israel's interests.

There are many winners and a few losers here.

The big winner is Netanyahus doctrine. Israel should not take stupid risks as it has done in the past. Israels gain came perhaps ironically as a result of threatening to act on its hubris. The results could alter the region well beyond Israel-UAE relations. Bahrain is touted as the next Arab state that could normalize relations with Israel. Oman, Kuwait, and Morocco might soon follow. But it is not unrealistic to consider scenarios where Saudi Arabia, and even the likes of Sudan, become open to warming diplomatic ties, as official statements from these countries leadership and a press-statement from Trump hint. Moreover, most of these countries have noticeably warmed their relations with and softened their tone on Israel in recent years. Even Lebanon, which shares a tense border with Israel, spoke more openly than in the past about such a possibility.

Ironically, we can credit the Obama administrations Middle East approach for inadvertently planting the seeds of this move. That administration tried to distance itself from Israel and the Gulf Arabs in an attempt to woo Iran. It refused to militarily confront Iranian aggression, creating a dynamic that pushed these relations forward. Moderate Sunnis know they need Israel to confront the Iranian threat, and Netanyahu has deftly capitalized.

Netanyahu himself comes out a big winner too. Its a much-needed win as he faces unprecedented political pressure over a combination of his corruption trial and mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The UAE comes out a major winner here. By being the first Arab country to take the Israel leap since Jordan and Egypt, the UAE formalizes what many felt was going to happen anyway in the coming years. The UAE can now fully reap the rewards. These include what will surely be closer defense and intelligence cooperation with Israel against Iran, as well as access to state-of-the-art Israeli arms and to groundbreaking Israeli tech in cyber and water. For example, when the coronavirus broke out, Israel managed to gain access to medical equipment from the UAE, and there are already reports on medical cooperation regarding Covid-19 research. The UAE might also get access to higher-grade American arms through this move, hoping its new relationship with Israel would lift Washington's limits on what arms it supplies to the region..

Israeli tourists are expected to begin flocking to the UAE when the skies open, and Emirati tourists to Israel, including to its Islamic holy sites. Of course, a lot of this has been happening quietly and behind the scenes, but allowing this relationship to fully develop will benefit the UAE greatly.

On a regional and international level, this will boost the UAEs stature as it vies for regional supremacy (alongside Saudi Arabia) with Turkey. If other regional players follow suit, they will enjoy many of the same benefits listed above.

The United States also comes out a big winner here. Trump can claim a real diplomatic win, being the first world leader to facilitate an Arab-Israeli peace treaty in 25 years. A process that began with a much-ridiculed recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital, and continued with recognition of Israels control of the Golan, could radically and positively overhaul the Middle East for decades.

Joe Biden and centrist Democrats win too. If Israel had gone through with the annexation and buried the two-state solution, centrist Democrats, who have courageously defended U.S.-Israel ties against the criticism of progressive Democrats for years, would have been placed in an impossible situation. They would likely have had to adopt a more critical approach to Israel. This logic holds true for most of Israels friends in Europe and beyond.

Even the Palestinians are counted among the winners, as strange as it may sound. The Palestinians have long been victims of their own delusions and have been encouraged by the international community, rejecting real-world concessions in favor of fantasies. The truth is that the world and the region have moved on. Nothing was achieved by pressuring and isolating Israel while humoring Palestinian intransigence. Israel only became more entrenched in its positions. The Trump plan is far from what the Palestinians ostensibly desire to achieve vis-a-vis the Israelis, but apparently so were the far-reaching 2000 and 2008 Israeli offers that were rejected by Ramallah.

The UAEs move, at the very least, offers Abu Mazen (or whoever comes after him) a lifeline and buys them more time. The Palestinians now have a chance to be more pragmatic. After all, the Emirati move was meant to stave off annexation, which would effectively kill any chance of a two-state solution. Sure, they wanted more, but it seems this is the most Israel is willing to offer in the foreseeable future. And time is on Israels side.

There are of course a few losers.

The biggest loser is the Palestinian strategy, long built around what they had convinced most of the world to believe: that Israel must first make peace with them, on their terms, before it has peace with the region. Mind you, this doesnt have to mean the Palestinians come out as losers, but it must mark the end of that approach. This move neutralizes the biggest piece of diplomatic leverage the Palestinians possessed over Israel.

Palestinian radicals, chief among them Hamas, also come out as losers here. They, of course, wont accept normalization with Israel in any scenario  they are firing rockets at Southern Israel as I edit this  and this move leaves them increasingly isolated and weakened.

Turkey, Iran, and Hezbollah also end up in the loser category, being among the main driving forces of Islamist radicalism in the region today. Increasing cooperation between Israel and the Gulf countries undercuts their regional aspirations. Turkeys opposition seems strange, as Ankara continues to maintain diplomatic relations with Israel. Turkey has taken a leading role in favor of the Palestinians in recent years, but its reluctance might have more to do with its rivalry with the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

The global hard left will also surely chafe at this move, which upends its vision effort to pressure and isolate Israel into capitulation through diplomatic and economic boycotts. The far-left vision of obtaining what it calls justice for the Palestinians by bringing an end to Israel as a Jewish state just took a major blow.

The Israeli hard right also ends up a loser, though not as much as it thinks. While having to abandon its dreams of annexation, at least for now, the far right is also not being asked to give up anything concrete. Even before the UAE deal was announced, it was not at all clear Netanyahu would have annexed any territory of significance, and Israel currently controls the territory on which settlements are built anyway. The window of opportunity to annex territory was not as open as the Israeli right had imagined.

The normalization of Israel-UAE ties is a significant and positive development on a number of levels. But the most important point, and perhaps the most overlooked one, is that it is completely dependent on Israel simply reining in its own hubris. As the UAE said in June, Israel can have annexation or normalization, but it cannot have both. The Netanyahu doctrine, the big winner here, tells us not to take big risks. This goes both ways  dont take big risks for peace, but also dont take big risks that shut the door to peace. Yet it was the willingness to embrace the same Israeli rights march toward annexation  or at least the appearance of such willingness  that spurred this revolutionary move. Embracing the regions new realities, rather than holding on to past illusions, can benefit all sides, and this move is an important first step in that direction.

Dan Feferman is a Major (res.) in the Israel Defense Forces, where he served as a foreign policy advisor, assistant to the deputy chief of staff and an intelligence analyst. He researches, writes and speaks on Israel and the Middle East and is co-host of the Jewanced Podcast.
LOWER LAKE, Calif., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Effective August 17th, Shannon Ridge Family of Wines announced the acquisition of Steele Wines, of Finley, California. Shannon Ridge has purchased the Lake County winery facilities and their diverse portfolio of brands and trademarks, including Shooting Star, Stymie, and Writer's Block.

Clay Shannon, founder of Shannon Ridge, now the largest winery in Lake County with his acquisition of Steele Wines. Founder of Steele Wines, Jed Steele, (right), congratulates new owner, Clay Shannon (left), on the promising future of expanded wine production in Lake County, CA.

"This merger represents the perfect solution for both parties," says Shannon Ridge founder and President, Clay Shannon. "Strategically, the increased production capacity and storage space allows us to continue our expansion goals while providing the Steele Wines family of brands a local partner to further their market distribution." Shannon Ridge can now easily surpass its 310,000 annual case volume and continue to champion 21st-century winemaking methods for high-elevation varietals.

Beyond strategic value, the acquisition of Steele Wines epitomizes the pioneering spirit of Clay Shannon. His mission since 1996 has been to promote Lake County as a premier wine-producing region in California, combined with an unwavering commitment to sustainable operations. To underscore this point: only 45% of the winery's 2500 acres have been converted to vineyards, preserving the rest of the property for natural wildlife to pass through peacefully.

Shannon Ridge plans to use the newly acquired facilities not only for the increased winemaking capacity and storage - 2,500 tons and 6,000 barrels, respectively - but also for introducing a new on-site property experience, 'Shannon Mercantile,' at the current Steele tasting room in Kelseyville. In addition to the Shannon Ridge and Steele wine portfolios, the planned Lake County establishment will offer the ranch's grass-fed lamb, farm eggs, and other home goods and merchandise. Shannon remarked, "We aim to make Shannon Mercantile a family-friendly destination where folks can enjoy their wine with a picnic lunch on the lawn, movie nights on warm summer evenings, and festivities to celebrate various holidays throughout the year." Shannon aims to make the mercantile a go-to destination in Lake County and is tentatively scheduled to open in spring 2021.

Steele Wines celebrated its 28th anniversary in 2020 and has spent nearly the last three decades specializing in producing high-quality, small-batch, (under 1,000 cases), varietals sourced from the finest vineyards in Lake and Mendocino Counties. After 50 years of winemaking in California, founder Jed Steele will assume a supporting role in the winery, assisting in the production of Steele Wines and enjoying retirement at his properties in Lake County, Montana, and Florida.

Shannon ridge was advised in this transaction by former and now retired Shannon Ridge CFO, Don Chase of Don Chase Wine Industry Management Services.

About Shannon Ridge Family of Wines: Shannon Ridge was founded in 1996 in Lake County, CA, and has been dedicated ever since to making top-quality wines at affordable prices. Their high-elevation vineyard sites are sustainably farmed to preserve the natural habitats of local wildlife. The Shannon Ridge Family of Wines portfolio includes Buck Shack, Clay Shannon, High Valley, Old Pearl, OVIS, Pistol Grip, Playtime, Urgency, Vigilance, Shannon Ridge, and Shannon Reserve. For more information on Shannon Ridge Family of Wines, please visit ShannonRidge.com or call 707.994.9656.

Media Contact: Roxanne Jackson, Marketing & PR Manager, 707-994-6956, [email protected]

SOURCE Shannon Ridge Family of Wines
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - Maple Leaf Foods Inc. says it has temporarily suspended pork exports to China after a few dozen workers at one of its plants tested positive for COVID-19.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/8/2020 (518 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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A Maple Leaf Foods employee walks past a Maple Leaf sign at the company's meat facility in Toronto on Monday, December, 15, 2008. Maple Leaf Foods Inc. says it has temporarily suspended pork exports to China after a few dozen workers at one of its plants tested positive for COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - Maple Leaf Foods Inc. says it has temporarily suspended pork exports to China after a few dozen workers at one of its plants tested positive for COVID-19.

The Mississauga, Ont.-based company says in a statement late Tuesday it continues to have rigorous safety measures at the Brandon, Man., plant to prevent workplace transmission, and the plant continues to operate.

It notes public health officials have said there is no sign the coronavirus was spread in the workplace.

The company says it voluntarily suspended its pork exports to China after the Chinese government adopted new protocols that require Canadian processors who report a positive COVID-19 case to do so.

RBC Dominion Securities analyst Irene Nattel says in a note to clients that the news "is a slight negative" for Maple Leaf.

She says the pork originally intended for export to China can likely be sold domestically or exported elsewhere  though at lower margins  and that price forecasts already assume some coronavirus-related disruptions.

Maple Leaf says it is seeing short-term increases in absenteeism, but believes this is a short-term situation rather than a material financial event.

CEO Michael McCain says the company is confident in its promise to provide customers with safe food.

"But we respect China's new import protocols for Canadian products and are working co-operatively with Canadian and Chinese authorities to resume exports quickly."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 19, 2020.
He's known as one of Wall Street's longtime bears.

But David Rosenberg appears to exude more optimism than pessimism these days.

The chief economist and strategist at Rosenberg Research sees signs the economy doesn't require a second coronavirus aid package right now.

"Maybe we don't need to have another stimulus package this quickly because the first one was so huge," he told CNBC's "Trading Nation" on Thursday. "We still have a personal savings rate in the U.S. of 19%. It's almost triple what it was in the pre-Covid norm."

Rosenberg builds his case on proprietary research that shows only half of the stimulus checks issued in the spring have been spent.

"There's a lot of dry powder left over from the first package. So, that's one of the reasons why I think ... the stock market hasn't had a conniption because of the stalemate in Washington," he said. "It's because of the knowledge that the household sector is still sitting on a tremendous amount of cash."

The cash, according to Rosenberg, is what's helping mega-cap growth stocks surge during the pandemic.

"They're not catering to a booming economy, he said. "Whether it's Home Depot or Walmarts or Targets, they're really geared towards they stay-at-home and work-from-home economy."

Rosenberg, who served as Merrill Lynch's top economist from 2002 to 2009, acknowledges his outlook is a departure from his normally bearish tilt.
With warnings from the Ministry of National Defence and Ministry of Public Security, the HCM City Real Estate Association (HOREA) believes that it is not the right time to allow foreigners to owns condotels and tourist villas.

HOREA, reviewing sales of real estate products to foreign individuals and institutions in the last five years (2015-2020) by 17 large real estate firms, estimates that the transactions of the 17 firms accounted for 70-80 percent of total transactions with foreigners, about 14,800-16,000 products.

Of these, the top five real estate firms sold 10,500 products, or 85.7 percent of the total products sold to foreigners. HCM City attracted the most foreign buyers, with 80 percent of total transactions with foreigners.

Meanwhile, a report of the Ministry of Construction about the property market in the last 10 years (2009-2019) showed that 5,000 housing projects with 3.77 million products were built. As many as 787,000 products could be developed in each 5-year development period.

As such, if noting that foreigners bought 16,000 products in the last five years, the figure accounts for only 2 percent of total supply in the market.

HOREA said that there was no wave of foreigners buying houses in Vietnam in the last five years.

Only high-end and modern urban areas and apartment buildings with sufficient facilities, located in advantageous positions for transport, can attract foreign buyers.

According to the association, housing project developers have been strictly following the regulation on selling no more than 30 percent of total apartments in projects to foreigners.

At projects where sales to foreigners have hit the ceiling of 30 percent, other foreigners have to sign long-term lease contracts valid for 50 years.

The Ministry of Public Security has also warned about management of the sale and purchase of condotels, tourist villas and officetels. Real estate developers often sell these products as they cannot meet conditions, thus raising risks for buyers.

As the real estate market has been facing difficulties because of the pandemic, the Ministry of Construction has proposed amending the 2014 Housing Law and Real Estate Business Law, increasing the number of products that foreigners can own in every apartment building, and allowing foreigners to own tourism real estate in Vietnam.

Regarding the proposal, HOREA said one should not be under the illusion that foreigners will rush to buy housing in Vietnam. Statistics show that transactions related to foreigners just account for 2 percent of total transactions.

The Ministry of Public Security has also warned about management of the sale and purchase of condotels, tourist villas and officetels. Real estate developers often sell these products as they cannot meet conditions, thus raising risks for buyers.

HOREA has said foreigners should not be allowed to buy and own condotels, tourist villas and tourism townhouses at this time.

Thuan Phong

Condotels no longer hot, farmstays the rising star After several years of witnessing the strong rise of condotels, Vietnams real estate market is now seeing a new trend in farmstays.
Concept artist Jamsan, who worked on "It's Okay Not to Be Okay" storybooks featured in the smash-hit drama series, poses after an interview with The Korea Times at his office in Seoul, Tuesday. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk



By Kwak Yeon-soo



Cable network tvN's series "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" wrapped up its 16-part run earlier this month, but is still making headlines because of the children's storybooks that appeared in the smash-hit drama.



Following the massive success of its fairy tale romance, the production company has decided to publish five storybooks: "The Boy Who Fed on Nightmares," "Zombie Kid," "The Cheerful Dog," "The Hand, the Monkfish" and "Finding the Real Face."



Jamsan, a concept artist who joined the hugely successful TV series, said he is still overwhelmed by the overnight success of the drama both at home and abroad, which caused his career to take off.



The benefits have continued even after the end of the drama.



All five of the storybooks shown in the series are currently listed in the top 20 bestselling books of the month, according to the Kyobo Bookstore and YES24 websites.





Jamsan's concept art sketch for "Finding the Real Face," featured in tvN's drama series "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" / Courtesy of Jamsan

In the series, Seo Yea-ji plays Ko Mun-yeong, a children's storybook author who suffers from antisocial personality disorder. She writes cruel fairy tales full of dark themes and grotesque scenes.



Ko falls in love with Moon Gang-tae (played by Kim Soo-hyun), a caretaker who works in a psychiatric hospital and takes care of his older brother Sang-tae (Oh Jung-se).



Apart from the healing romance between Ko and Moon, the drama shows how three adults  traumatized by parental abuse and murder when they were children  learn to recover from their past traumas.



"It's Okay to Not Be Okay," which earned popularity overseas through streaming on Netflix, is recognized for its visual storytelling that includes concept artist Jamsan's illustrations in Ko's body of work.



His dark, grotesque drawings entwined with screenwriter Jo Yong's stories about family and love resonated with drama fans.



"It's been a while since the series ended in Korea, but I'm surprised that people continue to express their interest in and love for it," he said during an interview with The Korea Times, Tuesday. "My follower count on social media has increased dramatically and I still get a lot of messages from drama fans."



Jamsan said he happily accepted the challenging task of illustrating all of Ko's storybooks seen in the series.



"I've worked with producer Park Shin-woo before on tvN's Encounter, starring Song Hye-kyo and Park Bo-gum," he said. "Last year, he told me he's preparing a dark drama about a psychopath. I expressed my desire to join the project, sharing my personal interests in zombies and cruel fairy tales."





The book cover illustration of "The Boy Who Fed on Nightmares" / Courtesy of Jamsan



Compared with "Encounter," in which he created a fairytale-style rendering of the introduction and ending of the series, Jamsan had to build illustrations for each of the episode in "It's Okay to Not Be Okay." The 47-year-old artist said he changed the overall feeling of the illustration styles to reflect how characters overcame their fears and bad memories.



In Ko's early storybooks such as "The Boy Who Fed on Nightmares" and "Zombie Kid," the artist used dark colors to express the emotional damage suffered by the character. As the story develops and Kim Sang-tae debuts as an illustrator with "Finding the Real Face," Jamsan captures scenes filled with color and vibrancy.



"In the beginning, I pretty much focused on defining the dark mood and appearance of lonely characters. But for Sang-tae's drawing, I wanted to create his world in watercolor to give a warm and friendly feel to it, just like The Little Prince and Alice in Wonderland," he said.



According to Jamsan, the illustrations made him feel proud because his work has proven that cruel fairy tales can become bestsellers.



"Personally I really loved this project because Ko Mun-yeong's storybooks becoming instant bestsellers has opened up new opportunities to concept artists and illustrators like me. In the past, publishers were reluctant to release cruel fairy tales, saying such stories would not appeal to a wider audience," he said.





The book cover illustration of "Finding the Real Face" / Courtesy of Jamsan



Jamsan was among many concept artists who focused on work that delivered warm, fuzzy feelings. However, he grew tired of bright, mystical and fantasy-themed illustrations after experiencing a career slump.



"After working as a concept artist for more than 20 years and experiencing the ups and downs of life, I realized that life isn't beautiful," he said. "After going through a career slump, I found joy in drawing zombies and fairy tales with dark twists. However, the fact that I tell stories though images and symbols remains the same."



Jamsan shared that he had a visceral love for art and comics from a young age, dreaming of becoming a cartoonist. He studied oriental painting at an arts high school and then majored in cartoon illustration and animation at Kongju National University. He worked as an animation and art director until he quit to pursue a career as an illustrator when he was in his late 20s.



"I've always been interested in visualizing emotions and expressing feelings through art," he said. "I think good art is different from well-drawn art. Good art requires turning one's thoughts and feelings into art."





Jamsan's concept art sketch for tvN's drama series "Encounter" / Courtesy of Jamsan
Ryanair's Spanish pilots accepted on Thursday a 20% pay cut and work practice changes, the latest deal the Irish airline has struck with trade unions in exchange for a pledge to minimize job losses.

Europe's biggest budget airline warned it would have to cut up to 3,000 jobs if it could not agree pay cuts with pilots and cabin crew after the COVID-19 crisis grounded 99% of its planes from April to June and continued to hit business thereafter.

Ryanair had reached agreements with 85% of its pilots and 75% of cabin crew by the end of July, including in other major markets such as Britain, Ireland and Germany.

However, it said on Thursday it had failed to strike a deal with Spanish cabin crew unions USO and SITCPLA, making job losses among their members more likely.

Ryanair this week reduced its capacity by a further 20% during September and October after a reimposition of some travel restrictions led to weak bookings.

Criticizing Ireland's strict restrictions that allow unencumbered travel to and from just 10 European countries, Ryanair Group Chief Executive Michael O'Leary warned on Wednesday of more jobs losses in its Irish operations.

While bookings were continuing to build in Germany, Italy and most other European countries, they were "terrible" in Ireland and certainly down 50% year-on-year, O'Leary told Irish national broadcaster RTE in an interview. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
MR Rangaswami, a California IT entrepreneur turned philanthropist, said he was punching himself in excitement when he heard Kamala Harris utter the word chittis in her speech accepting the Democratic Partys nomination for vice-president on Wednesday night.

Chittis is Tamil for aunts. Rangaswamy is of Tamilian descent, just like Harris mother Shyamala Gopalan Harris. And chittis was totally a surprise. I was punching myself, Rangaswami said, adding, Indians and Tamilians would have felt a connection with Kamala during her acceptance speech when she addressed her aunts as chittis. The Biden campaign spelt it chitthis in a copy of Harris prepared remarks distributed to reporters.

Harris uses the word frequently for her aunts, said a Biden campaign adviser who wished not to be named. And specifically for an aunt who lives in Canada and who, according to this adviser, had joined Harris on the stage when she announced her run for the White House in Oakland in January 2019.

Also read| Democrats pound their message: To oust Trump, you must vote

Shekar Narasimhan, who heads the AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islanders) Victory Fund that is focused on Asian-descent candidates and voters, said Harris was not sending out any signals with the use of the word chittis though.

This is authentic her - this is her, Narasimhan said. She did not use that word for some two votes here and two there.

Her acceptance speech, he added, was a landmark event for him and his family. It was a very emotional and powerful moment for us who came to this country as immigrants and never really dreamt this could happen.

There are an estimated 4mn Indian-Americans, of whom only 1.2mn are voters, because of age and immigration status. They are being wooed by both Democrats and Republicans, especially in the battleground states where they can make a difference.
The film will be written by Katie Silberman (who worked on Olivia Wilde's directorial debut Booksmart), with Rachel OConnor and Amy Pascal producing, making it a female-led project.

Actor, filmmaker Olivia Wilde has been signed by Sony Pictures to helm and develop a female-centric Marvel film for the studio.

For the currently untitled project, the actor-turned-director will reunite with writer Katie Silberman, who worked with Wilde on her critically-acclaimed directorial debut Booksmart in 2019.

According to Variety, there have been speculations about Sony developing a movie around the character of Spider-Woman.

Several Marvel comics have held the title of Spider-Woman with Jessica Drew in the 1970s. Besides Drew, Mary-Jane Watson and Gwen Stacy have also been a part of the title. The Spider-Gwen version of the character has most recently appeared in the animated feature Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, voiced by Hailee Steinfeld.

Wilde seemed to confirm her participation in the project, tweeting an article by Deadline, which was first to report the news, and a spider emoji.

Check out her tweet here

The new female-centric film will be bankrolled by Amy Pascal. The executive producer for the film will be Rachel O'Connor.

Wilde's next directorial venture is the psychological thriller Don't Worry Darling for New Line, starring Florence Pugh, Shia LaBeouf and Chris Pine.

Sony has a number of films set in the Spider-Man space in different stages of development, including Tom Hardy's Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Jared Leto-starrer Morbius. Both are expected to hit the screens next year.

(With inputs from agencies)
Guaidos popularity in national polls has fallen to below 30 percent, its lowest level since he claimed the presidency after Maduro was reelected in a 2018 vote the United States and many other countries say was rigged. Initial public enthusiasm dimmed last year as an effort to force humanitarian aid over the border and provoke a military uprising quickly fizzled, as did a plot to turn Maduros inner circle against him. After operatives close to Guaido struck, and then canceled, a deal with a former U.S. Green Beret to kidnap Maduro, an apparently rogue mission the contractor launched in May ended in abject failure.
New York, US (PANA) - The United Nations continues to monitor the ongoing situation in Mali, where soldiers arrested the President and several members of his cabinet in a military coup on Tuesday
CLEVELAND, Ohio  The downtown Cleveland Heinens grocery store location, which sustained damage during protests-turned-riots in May, wont re-open until fall, the Downtown Cleveland Alliance said.

The nonprofit shared the message Wednesday on behalf of the Warrensville Heights-based high-end grocery store chain. The statement said that the company is taking this opportunity to revisit the design and offerings of our unique store to meet the needs of our customers.

The statement did not specify a re-opening date.

We are as committed today as we were six years ago to help with the revitalization of downtown Cleveland and look forward to welcoming you back this fall, the statement reads. The company also put the statement on its Facebook page last week.

[Downtown Store Update] Thank you for your patience. We know our downtown store is an important option for many people.... Posted by Heinen's on Thursday, August 13, 2020

The Downtown Heinens opened in 2015 in the historic Cleveland Trust Building at Euclid Avenue and East 9th Street. It quickly became popular with downtown residents who had a shortage of grocery-shopping options and office workers who patronized it for lunch.

Rioters smashed windows and looted the store May 30, the day thousands of people converged downtown to show their collective anger against the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer.

Protesters surrounded the Justice Center on the west side of downtown for several hours before dozens broke off and damaged property while making their way east.

Mayor Frank Jackson enacted a curfew in downtown and parts of Ohio City following the riots. State and federal prosecutors brought charges against people they said caused some of the damage.

The president of the Downtown Cleveland Alliance said in July that downtown business and property owners lost an estimated $6.3 million - $3.38 million in physical property damages and a little under $3 million in lost revenue.

Downtown business owners said the riots were another economic gut punch, as the damage came the same year they lost money as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Months later, much of the damage has been fixed, though boarded-up windows are still scattered among the citys central business district.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAWS

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, July 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Erdene Resource Development Corporation (TSX:ERD | MSE:ERDN) (Erdene or the Company) is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of approximately C$20 million (Private Placement), led by a $15 million strategic investment from Mr. Eric Sprott. Paradigm Capital acted as lead financial advisor to Erdene on the transaction. Haywood Securities acted as co-advisor.

We are very pleased to have Mr. Sprott as a significant shareholder of Erdene, said Mr. Peter Akerley, Erdenes President and CEO. His investment is a strong endorsement of Erdenes high-grade Bayan Khundii Gold Project and the prospectivity of our 100% owned Khundii Gold District. Funds from this financing will be used to initiate early construction works at Bayan Khundii and continue exploration to expand our high-grade resources.

The Private Placement will consist of the sale of 33,333,333 subscription receipts (Subscription Receipts) at a price of $0.45 per Subscription Receipt, to an entity controlled by Mr. Eric Sprott and the concurrent sale of up to 11,111,111 units of the Company (Units) at a price of $0.45 per Unit. Each Subscription Receipt will be convertible into Units, and each Unit consists of one common share and one Warrant (Warrants), with each Warrant exercisable into one common share of the Company within two years of the closing date, at a price of $0.60 per share.

Proceeds of the Private Placement will be used by the Company to advance exploration and development of the Bayan Khundii Gold Project (Project), as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes. Proceeds from the sale of Subscription Receipts will be placed in escrow on the closing date, to be released to Erdene on the receipt of all necessary shareholder and regulatory approvals, and the approval of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the Approvals). Upon receipt of the Approvals, each subscription receipt will automatically convert into a Unit, for no additional consideration. In the event that the Approvals are not obtained by October 31, 2020, each Subscription Receipt will be cancelled, and the subscription funds will be returned. Mr. Sprott currently does not own any securities of the Company.

All securities to be issued pursuant to the Private Placement will be subject to a four month hold period from the closing date under applicable securities laws in Canada.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any securities in the United States. The securities being offered in the Private Placement have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Erdene

Erdene Resource Development Corp. is a Canada-based resource company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious and base metals projects in underexplored and highly prospective Mongolia. The Company is advancing the high-grade, low-cost and low capital intensity Bayan Khundii Gold Project targeting first gold production in early 2022. The Project is located in Southwest Mongolia where the Company has interests in three mining licenses and three exploration licenses in the highly prospective 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.

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 (including the Approvals), the completion of the Private Placement, 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
Online GP booking website HealthEngine has been fined nearly $3 million after the Federal Court found the company had engaged in misleading conduct by sharing the personal information of patients with private health insurance brokers, and by publishing misleading patient reviews and ratings.

The $2.9 million fine was handed down on Thursday. HealthEngine co-founder and chief executive Marcus Tan issued an apology on the company's website.

HealthEngine co-founders Adam Yap and Marcus Tan.

"When the ACCC commenced legal action against HealthEngine nearly a year ago, we acknowledged that our rapid growth over the years had sometimes outpaced our systems and processes," he said.

"We sincerely apologised that we had not always met the high expectations of the community and our customers."
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Chinese state media has defended a party which saw thousands of people pack out a water park in Wuhan, calling the festivities payback and condemning critics as 'sour grapes'.

Pictures showed Wuhan Maya Beach Water Park being jam-packed by mask-free revellers as they stood shoulder to shoulder in water over the weekend despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Global Times, an English-language newspaper backed by the Chinese Communist Party, has hit back at critics who saw the party as a slap in the face to the rest of the world.

The paper championed the testing of its nearly 11 million residents in Wuhan and the city's strict lockdown measures, saying the massive pool party was 'payback'.

Chinese state media have defended a party which say thousands of people pack out a water park in Wuhan on Saturday as the former coronavirus ground zero edged back to normal life

Global Times, an English-language newspaper backed by the Chinese Communist Party, has hit back at critics who saw the party (pictured) as a slap in the face to the rest of the world

The park - which local media says has capped attendance at 50 percent of normal capacity - is offering half price discounts for female visitors. A performer on a stage at the front of the water waves at the crowd at the Wuhan park on the weekend

Its story, 'Wuhan's after-pandemic pool party sends a message to world: strict anti-virus measures have a payback', was published on Tuesday.

The story read: 'Wuhan, the city where COVID-19 was first reported and the one hit hardest by the virus, is now welcoming an influx of tourists, and its economy is reviving, which local residents believed should not only be seen as a sign of the city's return to normalcy, but also a reminder to countries grappling with the virus that strict preventive measures have a payback.'

Global Times said the park took measures to protect visitors' and employees' safety, including temperature tests and disinfection, and capped the number of entrants to half of the pre-pandemic era.

The outdoor amusement park reopened in June after Wuhan gradually lifted a 76-day lockdown and strict restrictions to try and control the spread of the virus.

The outdoor amusement park reopened in June after Wuhan gradually lifted a 76-day lockdown and strict restrictions to try and control the spread of the virus. Thousands of partygoers are pictured packing out the Wuhan Maya Beach Water Park

Pictures reveal the popular Wuhan Maya Beach Water Park being jam-packed by mask-free revellers as they stand shoulder to shoulder in water over the weekend despite the pandemic. None of the visitors at the park are seen to be wearing masks

The park - which local media says has capped attendance at 50 percent of normal capacity - is offering half price discounts for female visitors.

A performer in a stage show at the front of the water waved at the crowd, packed close and waving their arms back, some snapping photos on phones protected in plastic pouches round their necks.

Another performer on a water jet board entertained his audience by hovering above them with sparks shooting from his back.

Some of the crowd had donned life jackets, but none of the tightly-packed partygoers were seen to be wearing face masks as a DJ in bright yellow headphones played on stage.

Other images see visitors smashing a giant block of ice with hammers or scrambling to pick up watermelon balloons during group games offered at the water park.

The outdoor amusement park reopened in June after Wuhan gradually lifted a 76-day lockdown and strict restrictions to try and control the spread of the virus. A performer on a water jet board entertained his audience by hovering above them

The park - which local media says has capped attendance at 50 percent of normal capacity - is offering half price discounts for female visitors. Visitors are pictured playing a group game as they smashed a giant block of ice with hammers together

It comes after tens of thousands of Chinese visitors have swarmed to tourist attractions across Wuhan despite the global pandemic after officials made dozens of them free to enter. The picture taken on Saturday shows a group of visitors scrambling to pick up watermelon balloons in the water during group games offered at the water park in the city of Wuhan

It comes after tens of thousands of Chinese visitors have swarmed to tourist attractions across Wuhan despite the global pandemic after officials made dozens of them free to enter.

Earlier this month, the provincial government of Hubei has offered citizens free entries to visit over 20 tourism destinations in the former coronavirus epicentre.

Social media footage shows large crowds of people standing together closely as they queue outside local scenic spots. Some even ditched wearing face masks.

China appeared to have largely brought the coronavirus outbreak under control through a series of lockdowns and restrictions.

But the country has recently seen a new spike of infections in the north-western province of Xinjiang and the north-eastern city of Dalian. Both regions have used draconian measures to fight the disease.

Earlier this month, the provincial government of Hubei has offered citizens free entries to visit over 20 tourism destinations in the former coronavirus epicentre. The picture shows people at a large swimming pool as they enjoy the weekend at the park

China appeared to have largely brought the coronavirus outbreak under control through a series of lockdowns and restrictions. Thousands of Chinese partygoers have packed out the Wuhan Maya Beach Water Park as the former coronavirus ground zero edges back to normal life. The picture shows a Chinese man and a child playing at the park's pool on Saturday

The first known cases of COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan late last year, a city of 11 million people, before the virus spread across the world, killing hundreds of thousands and crippling economies.

The lockdown was lifted in April, and there have been no new domestically transmitted cases officially reported in Hubei province, where Wuhan is the capital, since mid-May.

To try and boost the local economy, the Hubei government has been offering free entry to 400 tourist sites across the province.

China has largely brought its domestic epidemic under control, but sporadic outbreaks and a summer of severe flooding have exacerbated the economic fallout.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have always been under fire for living lavishly as royals.

For the past few years, the royal family members' expenses kept skyrocketing, so much so that some people see the monarchy as a financial burden to the U.K.

While some royal fans theorized that the growing number of the royal family caused the growth in expenses, some pointed out that the reckless spending of the royals is the main culprit.

This time, netizens slammed Prince Harry and Meghan for being "extravagant" royals who are living above their means and aspiring to have a billionaire lifestyle in the U.S.

Over the weekend, some royals fans flocked Reddit and pointed out that it seems like the Duke and Duchess of Sussex aim to live a "billionaire lifestyle" despite not having such wealth.

"[Harry and Meghan] seem to want a billionaire lifestyle. They don't have the money. Money is going to be the real sticking point over time," the thread began. "Many a British royal has run into trouble because they want a lifestyle beyond their means."

Another netizen agreed to the statement and compared the Sussexes' situation to what Prince Andrew went through.

"Yeah.. Look at Prince Andrew. He got money from his mum and taxpayer funded security but his lifestyle made him went above and beyond to associate himself with criminals and oligarchs," the Reddit user continued.

It is worth mentioning that the Duke of York appeared in an ill-judged BBC interview last year, which invited questions and criticisms over his possible ties with the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

Meanwhile, they also talked about how debt in the royal family is not new anymore. In fact, the Queen Mother herself was also in debt, and Queen Elizabeth II had to repay those after her death.

With that said, Reddit users questioned how Prince Harry and Meghan thought of having a billionaire lifestyle when they could not even survive independently in the long run.

Prince Harry, Meghan Living Impossibly Beyond Their Net Worths

Prince Harry and Meghan ignited widespread criticism in mid-2019.

During that time, several royal documents disclosed how Meghan spent around $300,000 to $500,000 in new clothes during her first year as a royal member. In the past few years, Duchess Meghan sported a $2,000 Stella McCartney dress and a $1,390 Sentaler coat.

Several estimations also divulged that she spent more on clothing compared to other royal family members. For comparison, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, only spent around $85,000 that same year.

Not long after, the U.K. taxpayers also called them out for recklessly spending their funds on renovations for their home, Frogmore Cottage. According to BBC, they irresponsibly used $2.8 million in taxpayers' funds to restore a single royal residence.

As of 2020, the former actress' net worth is estimated to be around $5 million -- a small percentage of the billion lifestyle they want.

Seeing such difference, it is only natural to see royal watchers raise their eyebrows at Prince Harry and Meghan.

READ MORE: Royal Headaches: 3 Times Prince Harry and Meghan Markle RECKLESSLY Used Taxpayers' Money
When newly named Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and Justin Trudeau appeared together earlier this week to give a preview of their lofty, optimistic vision for the future, Freeland used that phrase that is music to so many progressives ears: build back better.

It was an allusion to the grand vision that environmentalists are pushing here in Canada and that progressive leaders, including U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, are promoting around the world  an aspiration to recover from the pandemic in a way that is greener, more equitable and more prosperous. For the federal Liberals, it will be the driving policy focus behind their throne speech in September and their upcoming budget decisions.

But so much of getting there depends on how successful they are right now in keeping the economy afloat from one day to the next.

Freeland and Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough announced their fix for income support on Thursday, a package that will affect more than four million people still out of work and how they make ends meet over the next few months.

Theyre making a $37-billion bet that by enhancing the Employment Insurance system and setting up parallel benefits for the self-employed, sick leave and people who need to take care of their kids or parents, they will put a floor under the economic damage done by the pandemic shutdowns. And from there, they hope to launch their bigger plans for the future.

Building back better requires the people who were hit hardest by the pandemic economy to be on solid ground first. Unless income support is designed to make sure low-income families and precarious workers dont fall through the cracks, the foundation of any building-back-better initiative will be too weak for it to succeed.

So many of the aspirational proposals eye environmentally friendly construction of infrastructure and emissions-reducing retrofits of homes. One coalition of environmentalists in Canada, for example, proposes federal spending of $109 billion over the next 10 years, which would leverage about seven times that amount from the private sector to invest in retrofits, electric vehicles, electricity infrastructure and environmentally friendly urban infrastructure. Millions of jobs would flow from there, and emissions would drop.

Those all sound like fabulous ideas, but the reality is that more than 4 million people are still collecting the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, and many of those people arent equipped to work in construction or manufacturing. More often than not, they worked in service-oriented industries, or theyre struggling to take care of their children and cant figure out how to return to work full time. Retrofitting homes wont help.

The path from here to there, the federal Liberals hope, is made easier by the $37-billion package that would transition unemployed Canadians from the emergency response benefit back into the regular Employment Insurance system.

The package is certainly broad and generous. It plugs some of the holes in the antiquated employment insurance of pre-pandemic days, is easier to qualify for and is flexible enough to allow for working while on claim so that theres no penalty for taking a part-time or low-paid job.

But will it actually be the launch pad for more jobs and a sustained resumption of economic growth? That depends partly on politics, partly on the private sector, and partly on what else the Liberals have up their sleeves to help parents trying to work from home.

On politics: The $37-billion package wont become a reality unless at least one opposition party votes in favour of supporting legislation set for the end of September. The Liberals argue they wont have a problem getting the votes they need, and theyre probably right, but why take the chance and subject these measures to minority-government brinksmanship instead of keeping the House of Commons running through the summer and passing them right now?

On the private sector: Companies need to hire back their workers for a true recovery to take hold. As a bonus for employers, Thursdays package included a freeze on Employment Insurance premiums and modifications to minimize any disincentives to go back to work. But the Canadian Federation of Independent Business was quick to say the benefits are too generous and will encourage workers to stay home. Lets hope thats not the case.

On parents: The package is designed to tide over dads and mainly moms who suddenly need to take care of children, but its not designed to help them find safe, affordable care or schooling for their kids so they can get back to work. Freeland was quick to recognize that problem on Thursday and hinted heavily that there would be a lot more to come on that front. But school starts next week in Quebec and next month elsewhere, even as parents fret about class size, contagion and whether its responsible and safe to send their kids back.

Watch this space, Freeland said.

Parents, and anyone who wants to see a build-back-better attempt succeed, are certainly watching.
Retrieve information about all installed disks, including the disk type and the amount of free space on the disk

Create, start, and terminate a new process and its primary thread

Search, read, write, move, and execute files

Get and modify file or directory timestamps

Change the current directory for a process or file

Delete malware and artifacts associated with the malware from the infected system.

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The United States Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has published a new report warning companies about a new in-the-wild malware that North Korean hackers are reportedly using to spy on key employees at government contracting companies.Dubbed ',' the advanced remote access trojan acts as a backdoor when installed on compromised computers.According to the FBI and CISA, North Korean state-sponsored hackers Lazarus Group , also known as Hidden Cobra , are spreading BLINDINGCAN to "gather intelligence surrounding key military and energy technologies."To achieve this, attackers first identify high-value targets, perform extensive research on their social and professional networks, and then pose as recruiters to send malicious documents loaded with the malware, masquerading as job advertisements and offerings.However, such employment scams and social engineering strategies are not new and were recently spotted being used in another similar cyber espionage campaign by North Korean hackers against Israel's defense sector."They built fake profiles on Linkedin, a social network that is used primarily for job searches in the high-tech sector," the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs said."The attackers impersonated managers, CEOs and leading officials in HR departments, as well as representatives of international companies, and contacted employees of leading defense industries in Israel, with the aim of developing discussions and tempting them with various job opportunities."In the process of sending the job offers, the attackers attempted to compromise the computers of these employees, to infiltrate their networks and gather sensitive security information. The attackers also attempted to use the official websites of several companies in order to hack their systems."The CISA report says that attackers are remotely controlling BLINDINGCAN malware through compromised infrastructure from multiple countries, allowing them to:Cybersecurity companies Trend Micro and ClearSky also documented this campaign in a detailed report explaining:"Upon infection, the attackers collected intelligence regarding the company's activity, and also its financial affairs, probably in order to try and steal some money from it. The double scenario of espionage and money theft is unique to North Korea, which operates intelligence units that steal both information and money for their country."According to this report, North Korean attackers did not just contact their targets through email, but also conducted face-to-face online interviews, mostly on Skype."Maintaining direct contact, beyond sending phishing emails, is relatively rare in nation-state espionage groups (APTs); however, as it will be shown in this report, Lazarus have adopted this tactic to ensure the success of their attacks," the researchers said.CISA has released technical information to aid in detection and attribution, as well as recommended a variety of preventive procedures to lower the possibility of this kind of attack significantly.
Earlier this month, Google launched the second iteration of its budget Pixel. However, the Pixel 4a did not debut alone, as Google also announced the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5. Now, a new leak suggests that Googles next flagship phone, the Google Pixel 5, will launch on September 30.



What we see in the system is

Pixel 5 5G (black and green)

Pixel 4a 5G (black)

- September 30 Pixel 4a 5G (white)

- October  Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) August 19, 2020

According to known tipster Jon Prosser, the Google Pixel 5 5G will arrive on September 30 in a black and green colour option. Prossers tweet also suggested that the Pixel 4a 5G will also debut alongside the Pixel 5. Additionally, he also wrote that the Pixel 4a 5G in the white colour option would be available in October.

While Google has not confirmed the specs of the Pixel 4a 5G or Pixel 5, we know the former will be a 5G version of the recently launched Pixel 4a. The Pixel 4a 5G is priced at USD 499 (Roughly Rs 37,600). During the Pixel 4a launch, Google confirmed that both 5G Pixel devices will be limited to select 5G markets and wont arrive in India and Singapore.

Since Google has not confirmed the launch date for the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G, we suggest taking this information with a pinch of salt. Moreover, Prosser has got it wrong on quite a few occasions. The Google Pixel 4a will be launching in India in October this year and will be available through Flipkart.
More than 500million was wiped off the value of Britains top builders as figures showed house prices had started to fall before the virus lockdown.

Shares sank after data was released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the Land Registry, revealing that house prices went into reverse in April.

In an ominous warning, the ONS said the figures reflected agreements that were struck before the Government announced lockdown. This is because it typically takes six to eight weeks to complete a purchase, it explained.

Property slump: Shares in Britains top builders sank after data was released by the Office for National Statistics and the Land Registry, revealing that house prices went into reverse in April

The UK house price index showed prices dipped by 0.2 per cent from March to April, compared with a rise of 0.7 per cent the same time last year.

Prices still increased annually  by 2.6 per cent to an average of 234,612, however this was also a slower rate of growth than Marchs yearly rise of 3.5 per cent.

Experts are now keenly awaiting figures from May to see the scale of the damage caused by a government freeze on the housing market, put in place at the end of March.

The market was reopened in mid-May and Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a cut to stamp duty in July, to revitalise sales.

Stock Watch - Water Intelligence Water Intelligence surged after the firm sold its leak-detection services to a major American insurer. The technology pinpoints water leaks quickly, helping to reduce the damage they cause  and the size of insurance claims made. Tackling the problem can cut the 9.8bn annual cost of water damage claims. Water Intelligences deal is the fourth that subsidiary American Leak Detection has done with a major US insurer. It rose 7.9 per cent, or 25p, to 341p.

Since then, many housing firms have reported surging demand and say prices remain robust for the time being.

But Laura Suter, personal finance expert at AJ Bell, warned that the stamp duty holiday could spark a rush of people trying to move house and if there is a spike in job losses she said it would paint a fairly bleak picture for house prices in 2021.

Shares in many of Britains biggest housing firms fell. Barratt was down 2.2 per cent, or 11.8p, to 522.6p, and Persimmon dropped 2.5 per cent, or 70p, to 2752p. Bellway fell by 1.6 per cent, or 40p, to 2455p.

Bovis Homes owner Vistry Group dipped 2 per cent, or 13p, to 628p, Redrow fell 3.1 per cent, or 14.2p, to 450p and Countryside slid 2.8 per cent, or 9p, to 315.6p.

The downward pressure was of little help to the FTSE 100 as it climbed only 0.6 per cent, or 35.36 points, to 6111.98 despite news of US stocks reaching record highs in early trading.

And the rallying pound was also seen as bad for many of the indexs multinational members, making it more expensive for them to repatriate foreign earnings.

Sterling has effectively erased its losses against the US dollar for the year  hitting a high of $1.3267  as uncertainty over Novembers US presidential election grows.

There was some upwards momentum though, with grocer Morrisons rising 1.2 per cent, or 2.3p, to 198.5p after it struck a deal to make its goods more easily available on Amazons website.

Primark owner Associated British Foods was up 1.9 per cent, or 37p, to 2009p after an upgrade to outperform from broker RBC. And packaging company DS Smith rose 2.9 per cent, or 8.1p, to 284.3p.

But the FTSE 250 slipped into the red, dipping 0.2 per cent, or 39.63 points, to 17,583.39.

It was led by top fallers including lab equipment maker Oxford Instruments, which was down 2.8 per cent, or 42p, to 1458p, and transport provider National Express, which fell 4.3 per cent, or 6.1p, to 135.5p after news that boss Dean Finch would depart on August 31 for Persimmon, where he will take over as chief executive.

However, in good news for savers, IT equipment provider Softcat was up 0.2 per cent, or 3p, to 1332p after it announced it was planning to resume paying a dividend because profits were slightly ahead of its expectations.

Engineer Avon Rubber rose 7.1 per cent, to 245p, to 3675p after being awarded a ten-year contract by western defence alliance Nato to supply masks, air systems, filters, spare parts and accessories.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)  U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy announced Thursday that he has tested positive for the coronavirus and is experiencing some COVID-19 symptoms. He said he is quarantining in Louisiana.

The Republican senator, 62, who is running for reelection on Nov. 3, is experiencing mild symptoms that began this morning, from COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, his spokesperson Cole Avery said. Cassidy is at least the 13th member of Congress known to have tested positive for the coronavirus and only the second senator.

Cassidy, a physician from Baton Rouge who regularly wears a mask when in public and on Capitol Hill, said in a statement that he was tested after being notified Wednesday night that he'd been exposed to someone infected with the virus. The senator said he is adhering to medical guidance and notifying people with whom he may have come into contact.

Video: Sen. Cassidy says we absolutely must reopen schools

I am strictly following the direction of our medical experts and strongly encourage others to do the same, he said.

A few hours later, the senator posted a short video on Twitter to thank folks for their concern and to let them know I'm OK. He also made a pitch for his legislation seeking more money for coronavirus testing.

Cassidy's announcement came a day after he was in north Louisiana, visiting a veterans hospital in Shreveport, where he posted a photo with an official from the facility.

His positive test comes as some Senate Republicans have pressured Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to boost testing for senators. McConnell and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have remained firm that there should be no special access for lawmakers as long as the general public doesnt have widespread workplace testing. They have both said that equipment and tests should instead be directed to front-line workers.

McConnell has also said he doesn't see the need for mask mandates in the Senate, where work spaces are more spread out and most members and staff have faithfully worn masks. In July, Pelosi and Capitol officials set broad new mask mandates after a Republican who had been walking the halls without a mask tested positive.

Story continues

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, was the first senator to contract the virus. He received a positive test in March but was asymptomatic. Paul, who is also a doctor, has since refused to wear a mask on Capitol Hill because he says he has already had the virus. It is not yet clear whether a person can contract the virus again.

Cassidy faces 14 opponents on the November ballot but is favored to win election to a second term in a deep red state where he has the backing of President Donald Trump and a $6 million campaign account. His highest-profile opponent is Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins, a Democrat.

___

Jalonick reported from Washington.
tvN's upcoming variety show "The Sixth Sense" is ready and shared behind-the-scenes with viewers.

The new show will let the cast and guest celebrities visit locations or figures with unusual backgrounds finding the fake among the real by unleashing their "sixth sense". Directed by Jung Chul Min, who is the former director of the hit game show "Running Man" will reunite with MC Yoo Jae Suk as the only male head host. The cast includes Oh Na Ra, Jun So Min, Lovelyz's Mijoo, and Jessi.

Aside from the top five stars, a guest celebrity will grace the show each week as they go out, explore places and try to unleash their "sixth sense".

In the new released stills from the first episode, Oh Na Ra shows off her dance moves while Jun So Min, Jessi and Mijoo follow in doing their own style of dancing matching each other's energy level. As for Yoo Jae Suk, he stands at the side while trying to calm the intensity of the ladies like Mijoo's fun and upbeat dance.

The first guest of the show is actor Lee Sang Yeob from the drama "Once Again". The whole cast starts competitively thinking of the winner's prize leaving Lee Sang Yeob unattended. At the end of the activity, the whole cast was shocked when they learned which is fake among the real ones. Their faces look so interesting leaving the viewers excited to watch the outcome.

Yoo Jae Suk shared his excitement with his co-stars as he mentioned that all them start off well in chemistry and fun.

The ladies gave a 99 percent score of their bond together in the show and enjoyed each moment while filming. Their chemistry gives the show more laughter and anticipation each time a new guest arrives.

According to PD Chul Min, the whole cast showed great teamwork and chemistry which added fun to the segment. The new concept will bring anticipation for the viewers each episode while enjoying watching the cast. He shared that the production crew work hard to create new and surprising ideas for the viewers.

The upcoming show "The Sixth Sense" will premiere on September 3 at 9 PM KST. Watch the teaser here;
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 00:25:18|Editor: huaxia

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HAIKOU, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's island province of Hainan plans to open three new offshore duty-free shops this year, authorities said at a Wednesday press conference.

To encourage moderate competition and meet the demands of tourists, Hainan will set up three new duty-free shops in the resort city of Sanya, taking into account the number of tourists, traffic and business infrastructure, said Chen Xi, director of the provincial department of commerce.

One of the new shops will be located at the airport, with two others in downtown Sanya. Bids will be invited for the operation of the shops.

The provincial government has recently approved two local enterprises to conduct offshore duty-free business.

Chen Xin said the move would help Hainan to gradually create diversified business activity and differentiated competition, and better meet the needs of tourists, adding that Hainan welcomes enterprises across the country to compete in the market.

Hainan currently has four offshore duty-free shops, with two in Haikou, one in Qionghai and one in Sanya. Enditem
SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bridge , the award-winning learning and performance management platform from Instructure, has been named the winner of a Stevie Award in both the Achievement in HR Technology and Most Innovative Use of HR Technology During the Pandemic categories in the fifth annual Stevie Awards for Great Employers.

"Today's market conditions are transformational and it is more important than ever to focus on learning and performance management so your employees remain connected and engaged with work," said John Knotwell, general manager of Bridge by Instructure. "What we once knew as normal will never be the same again, and businesses that are transforming to compete in the changing world are thriving."

Bridge received recognition by the award judges because of its work with the National Health Service (NHS), the publicly funded healthcare system of the UK. Bridge technology allowed the NHS to upskill doctors quickly and efficiently, resulting in better learning, better performance, and better patient care. The Bridge platform gave the NHS the ability to create a standardized learning program and deliver scalable, compelling, engaging, and purpose-driven learning programs.

The Stevie Awards for Great Employers recognize the world's best employers and the human resources professionals, teams, achievements, and HR-related products and suppliers who help create and drive great places to work. More than 700 nominations from organizations were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of HR-related categories.

"In the fifth edition of the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the judges were impressed by the Stevie winners who - during the crises we've confronted this year - continue to dedicate each day to make the lives of their employees and teams better through training, software, work-from-home plans, and more. We are pleased to celebrate them in 2020 and look forward to what they will accomplish in 2021," said Maggie Gallagher, president of the Stevie Awards.

About Stevie Awards

Stevie Awards are conferred in eight programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.

About Bridge

Bridge is a Learning & Performance platform that uniquely combines learning management, career & skill development, and performance management, all in one solution. With Bridge, you can turn stale and ineffective learning & performance review programs into a seamless, dynamic, and engaging experience for employees and managers alike. Used by more than 800 companies worldwide, Bridge helps companies achieve their strategic people development goals by facilitating connection, alignment, and growth across the entire organization. Learn more at www.getbridge.com .

CONTACT:

Rachel Parkinson

Communications Manager

Bridge

801-953-2239

[email protected]

Follow Bridge on Twitter or connect with us on Facebook or LinkedIn .

SOURCE Bridge
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NTPC share price gained over 3 percent intraday on August 20 after L&T Hydrocarbon Engineering signed MoU with the company for CO2 to methanol plants.

The stock was the top index gainer and was trading at Rs 97.45, up Rs 2.80, or 2.96 percent. It has touched an intraday high of Rs 98.00 and an intraday low of Rs 94.45.

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.

Vikas Jain, Senior Research Analyst at Reliance Securities has recommended buy with a target of Rs 108. 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 said.

Global research firm Morgan Stanley has an overweight rating with target at Rs 138 per share. The company reported profit beat which was driven by a lower rebate to SEBs (state electricity boards).

CLSA has a buy rating with target at Rs 140 per share. It is of the view that the company can exceed its FY30 RE target and can match/exceed Indias COP21 commitments of 40 percent non-fossil capacity.

: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
A teenager who bashed a schoolgirl at McDonald's and drunkenly attacked a taxi driver is set to be released from detention.

The 16-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been on six month crime spree across Adelaide before being put into youth detention by police.

She was taken into custody in February after a fast food fracus which was so brutal she concussed the 13-year-old girl and left her with memory loss and spinal injuries.

But she will be released from jail immediately, after pleading guilty to the string of offences which took place between December 2019 and May 2020.

The 16-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been on six month long crime spree across Adelaide before being put into youth detention by police

Her victim's front teeth were knocked out during the assault which was also filmed and put on social media

She was sentenced to six months youth detention, suspended after five months after appearing at the Adelaide Youth Court on Friday.

Magistrate Luke Davis condemned the girl's behaviour which resulted in wide-spread media coverage at the time, but had ordered her immediate release from detention, ABC news reported.

'You were a wild, dangerous and angry young woman,' he said.

'Your vicious and cowardly attack in broad daylight in a public venue, where families go to simply enjoy themselves, has caused alarm and outrage within the community.

'The community at large is shocked that someone so young could inflict such an injury.'

The teenager also assaulted a stranger at Rundle Mall in December after her friend got into an argument which turned physical.

Two months later she confronted the 13-year-old schoolgirl at McDonald's, claiming the girl had posted racial comments about her on social media.

A 13-year-old girl (pictured) was left needing surgery after the brutal bashing at McDonald's

The teenage victim underwent significant surgery after the attack

Two months later she confronted the 13-year-old schoolgirl at McDonald's in Gilles Plains, in Adelaide's north-east (pictured)

She pulled the girl to the ground by her hair and punched her while a friend kicked her in the face.

A video of the attack was then published on social media to the horror of her friends and family.

The magistrate dismissed excuses the assault was retaliation after racist comments were published about the attacker on social media, reported 7 News.

'Surely something you've heard second hand, maybe on social media, is no excuse to do what you did,' he said.





The school girl told media at the time she couldn't remember what happened during the violent attack

When she was on bail awaiting sentencing to the assault she also drunkenly assaulted a taxi-driver at Evanston with two friends before stealing the taxi for a joy ride.

The trio hit the 20-year-old driver over the head with a beer bottle then took off, drunk-driving 200km to Berri where they were arrested by police.

Magistrate Davis told the girl he believed she was remorseful over the offences, and was actively working to get her life back on track.

He said she had 'stuffed up really badly' but because of her young age, it was important for her to know society hadn't given up on her.

Mr Davis' also took into account the teenager's lack of prior convictions and upbringing in sentencing.
Mumbai, Aug 20 : Actress Shweta Tripathi Sharma says she is always on a lookout for opportunities that challenge her creatively, and that is what attracted her towards her upcoming series, The Gone Game.

"As an actor, I am always looking to do creatively challenging work. 'The Gone Game' is something I was always confident of, only because of the makers of the show," Shweta said.

Set amidst lockdown, starts with the mysterious disappearance, and the story then unravels. Along with Shweta, the limited series also stars Sanjay Kapoor, Arjun Mathur, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Rukhsar Rehman, Lubna Salim, Indraneil Sengupta and Dibyendu Bhattacharya.

All the actors shot separately from different locations due to lockdown, which incidentally is how the story also unfolds. The show was executed through remote direction, ingenious cinematography and using limited equipment.

"I just loved the concept when I heard it and I instantly decided to take it up. The entire experience has been one of a kind. It is not easy to bring out emotions when you are shooting remotely but the creators of the show impeccably brought alive every emotion on screen. I loved the experience and I hope the audience loves it too," she added.

Talking about the project, Sanjay Kapoor said: "Creating a show from home has been an incredible experience. We had to take care of everything from makeup to costumes, on our own. The family members became our crew companions and tirelessly helped us put a great show together." He added: "Our director Nikhil (Nikhil Nagesh Bhat) has done a phenomenal job in managing all of us virtually and the outcome is fantastic. Shooting for 'The Gone Game' has been one of the best experiences and I hope the audience enjoys watching it as much as we enjoyed making it." Arjun Mathur said: "I never thought of shooting for a show remotely, but I am so glad that I was a part of the crew that made it happen. It was not an easy task coordinating with so many people virtually, but we made it happen." For director Nikhil Nagesh Bhat, working on the show, which streams on Voot Select, came with a lot of learning and unlearning.

"We also had to use some innovative techniques to ensure that the performances do not suffer because of the constraint of physical proximity. We learned and unlearned many aspects from our test shoots as due to the conditions, the process was limited, but it also gave the actors and the technicians a lot of freedom to innovate. It has been an unconventional journey and we hope that the audience will appreciate our vision," he said.
FILE PHOTO: A health worker takes the temperature of a person standing in line for mass testing in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Kibera slum of Nairobi

By Elias Biryabarema and George Obulutsa

KAMPALA/NAIROBI (Reuters) - Africa is beginning to slowly "bend the curve" of COVID-19 infections as measures like mask-wearing and social distancing slow down the spread of the pandemic on the continent, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday.

Although the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak was slow in Africa in the early stages of the pandemic, the rate of infection gradually accelerated especially in South Africa, which now accounts for more than half of its case load of more than 1.1 million.

On average, there were signs of a decline in new infections across the continent over the last two weeks, said John Nkengasong, head of Africa CDC.

"So I think that is really some sign of hope that we are beginning to bend the curve slowly. We take this news with cautious optimism," he said.

"It's very, very early, we're dealing with a very delicate virus that spreads very quickly but it's important to recognise those slight tendencies that are positive."

Last week Africa reported a total of 73,000 new cases compared to 55,000 cases the previous week, with the reduction mostly driven by South Africa, World Health Organisation (WHO)Regional Director, Matshidiso Moeti, told an online press conference on Thursday.

Although pressure was building in some countries to open up schools, Nkengasong said it was proper to delay such a move until infections have declined substantially.

He cautioned a hasty re-opening of schools in Africa could repeat experiences of other countries like Israel where they were re-opened and then shut down again after infections spiked.

Africa's caseload has remained relatively low compared to other continents, a factor that has been attributed to its relative isolation.

Low levels of testing in many countries also means infection rates are likely to be higher than reported, according to some experts.

Moeti said the slowing infections in Africa was encouraging but that "we cannot be complacent. Cases are continuing to increase in some countries particularly as borders, businesses and schools are opening up."
New Jerseys largest police union has endorsed President Donald Trump for re-election, as lawmakers and state officials continue to debate policing reforms in the wake of George Floyds death.

The New Jersey State Policemens Benevolent Association, which represents about 33,000 people, made the announcement Tuesday.

PBA President Pat Colligan said he was concerned Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, isnt in charge of his campaign, and in the pocket of groups hostile to police officers. Biden had ignored calls from the National Association of Police Organizations, Colligan said, despite a decades-long relationship between the former vice president and the union coalition.

Im not going to say we dont need change, Colligan told NJ Advance Media Thursday, but Im concerned some of the ideas that are being put out there will profoundly affect policing.

Union officials met with Trump and Vice President Mike Pence late last month.

Were in trouble, PBA Executive Vice President Marc Kovar told the president July 31, according to a transcript provided by the White House.

Our governor turned a back on us about a year ago. Our attorney general has turned their back on us, and lawmakers are throwing crazy bills at us, he said.

Colligan lamented calls to defund the police and proposals to limit when officers can use force.

Trump said he had their backs.

You know, what people dont understand is that the people, the voters, are with you guys 100 percent, Trump said. This radical-left movement is stripping you of everything. And were not going to let that happen.

The union made the endorsement on its Facebook page, above a Trump banner that read, Make America Safe Again.

The group also threw its support behind a list of Republicans, including current U.S. Reps. Jeff Van Drew and Chris Smith, Congressional challengers David Richter, Rosemary Becchi and Tom Kean, who is also the state Senate Minority Leader, as well as state lawmakers running in special elections: Sen. Anthony Bucco and Assemblywoman Aura Dunn, both R-Morris.

They ignored races dominated by Democrats, such as Sen. Cory Bookers re-election campaign.

After Floyds death by a Minnesota police officer, Gov. Phil Murphy said: There is no doubt that the centuries-old stain of systemic racism is far from being erased from the fabric of this country. He angered union leaders a year ago when he put the state in charge of investigating fatal police shootings instead of local prosecutors.

New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal is in a court battle with unions over a plan to name some disciplined cops, and state lawmakers have already passed a handful of police training and recruitment bills, but is still debating broader changes, such as making internal affairs records public.

Colligan said he was supportive of many of the bills, but he was especially wary of giving subpoena power to civilian investigators.

On Wednesday, the state Supreme Court said current law limits citizens ability to investigate local cops, setting up a fight in the Legislature over whether civilian complaint review boards should be able to force departments to turn over documents.

Another union, the New Jersey State Fraternal Order of Police, will choose presidential and Congressional candidates to endorse next month, President Robert Fox wrote in an email. The national organization endorsed Trump in 2016.

Editors Note: A previous version of this article overstated the share of full-time police officers represented by the PBA.

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A woman who is struggling to come up with $7,500 to remove her breast implants has revealed how they made her so sick that she lost her job, failed her college classes, and faced eviction.

Annie Reynoso, 35, from New York City, shared her story with Cosmopolitan, explaining that she was 32 when she went under the knife in the Dominican Republic to get $4,500 implants that took her from a C-cup to a D-cup.

She had originally saved up for a tummy tuck, not breast implants, but was told she wasn't a good candidate for the surgery because she had uterine fibroids. When her doctor suggested she undergo breast augmentation, instead, to give herself the physical boost she was looking for, she went for it.

Looking back: Annie Reynoso, 35, from New York City, went from a C-cup to a D-cup when she underwent breast augmentation in the Dominican Republic three years ago

Sickness: A few years later, she developed debilitating symptoms, including crippling fatigue and dizzy spells, but she can't afford the $7,500 it will cost to get her implants removed

For a while, her perky breasts did make her feel better about her body, but then she started developing mysterious symptoms. She battled crippling fatigue, dizzy spells, sudden shortness of breath, and night sweats that drenched her mattress.

Reynoso's breasts swelled to a G-cup, and she suffered from a number of even more confusing ailments. She would get nausea if she ate before noon. She had pain in her chest, neck, ears, and jaw that felt like excruciating sunburn. To cope, she covered herself in Aspercreme pain-relief ointment all day long.

In 2018, she had blood tests, biopsies, MRIs, mammograms, CT scans, and more, but doctors were unable to give her a conclusive answer as to what was wrong with her.

At the time, Reynoso worked as a full-time mental health advocate while also going to school. She had good health insurance because of her job, but her co-pays and meetings with out-of-network specialists were still costing her hundreds of dollars.

Her unexplained illness eventually caused her to lose her job  and her health insurance. Trying to manage her bills without any income led her to fall $7,000 behind in rent on her apartment.

She was faced with eviction notices taped to her door, and her car was almost repossessed. She cashed out her 401(k) to try and stay afloat.

Impossible situation: Bailey Martindale, 30, is also struggling to pay for explant surgery to remove her breast implants after being diagnosed with Hashimotos thyroiditis

The stress that Reynoso was under affected every aspect of her life, including school. She was unable to graduate after failing four of her classes. She was unemployed, without her degree, and still didn't know what was wrong with her.

After a friend told her that her health improved after she got her implants removed, she realized that they may be the source of her health problems.

According to a rheumatologist she had met with, her implants may have led her to develop Sjogrens syndrome, an autoimmune disease characterized by dry eyes and dry mouth.

Reynoso knew she wanted to get her breast implants taken out, but any relief she may have felt now that she finally had a potential answer to her ailments was short-lived.

When she consulted with a doctor in New Jersey about having what is known as explant surgery, she learned the procedure would cost $7,500, and even if she did have health insurance, it most likely wouldn't cover any of it.

Reynoso found work and started saving up for the surgery, but her plans were once again derailed when she lost her job during the coronavirus pandemic.

Only option: Lauren Dearman, who got breast implants when she was 20, had to dip into her savings and take out a personal loan to cover the cost of her $9,000 explant surgery

Right choice: Dearman suffered from extreme fatigue and a lack of focus, among other ailments. She said her health improved after she got her implants removed last November

Her story isn't unique; according to Cosmopolitan, insurance companies typically don't cover explant surgery, even if the person is sick.

There's not even an official medical term for the worrisome health symptoms that are believed to be caused by implants. It has been dubbed 'breast implant illness,' but doctors rarely warn patients about it because many don't even think it exists.

Much of the evidence of is anecdotal, with women like Reynoso sharing their stories online and in Facebook support groups.

However, a 2018 study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology found that women with silicone breast implants had more than a 20 per cent increased risk of being diagnosed with an autoimmune or rheumatic disorder.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reported that nearly 34,000 women had their implants removed in 2019. The procedure costs between $7,000 and $10,000, leaving many women who are sick in an impossible situation.

Bailey Martindale, 30, told Cosmopolitan that she got breast implants to correct a genetic condition that caused her breasts to grow long and narrow.

BREAST IMPLANT ILLNESS Neither the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) nor the NHS acknowledge a single condition called breast implant illness. They do, however, provide long lists of potential  and publicly known  side effects of having breast implants. Implants are not designed to last a lifetime, the FDA says, and the longer a woman has the implants in her body the higher the risk of complications occurring. Complications occur in around one per cent of all patients and can happen at any time after the surgery. As well as changes to the appearance and feel of the breast some potential side effects include pain, infection, swelling or irritation, swollen lymph nodes, skin rashes, or bruising. Reported symptoms of BII include fatigue, chest pain, hair loss, chills, headaches, light sensitivity, chronic pain, anxiety, brain fog, sleep disturbances, and depression. Source: FDA and NHS Advertisement

She was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease Hashimotos thyroiditis six years later. Doctors advised her to remove her implants to improve her health, but the type of explant surgery she requires costs $16,000 and is not covered by insurance.

Like Reynoso, she has yet to figure out a way to pay for the pricey surgery.

Cosmopolitan also spoke to Lauren Dearman, who had explant surgery last November after falling ill.

She got C-cup breast implants when he was just 20 years old after her parents offered to pay for the $8,000 surgery.

Dearman's health began to deteriorate six years later; she was plagued with fatigue, abdominal issues, and terrible chest pain that was so alarming she went to the ER.

She had difficulty focusing and struggled to walk up the stairs to her third-floor apartment. She learned about breast implant illness in a Facebook group filled with a number of women who shared stories just like her own.

A surgeon in Chicago confirmed that her implants couldn't be causing her symptoms, but she was left in tears after learning how expensive the explant surgery would be.

In order to pay for the procedure, she withdrew $2,500 from her savings and took out a personal loan for $6,500 to cover the remainder of the cost.

Dearman will be paying $190 a month for the loan for the next three years, but to her, it is worth it because her health has finally improved.
When people in the U.S. or Europe think of crowdfunding and medical expenses, sites like GoFundMe, where people fundraise around specific predicaments, come to mind. But today comes news of how another approach -- a platform based around crowdfunding and mutual aid that pays out when its members fall into medical dire straits -- is picking up some significant steam in its growth, and its financial backing.

Waterdrop, which goes by Shuidihuzhu in China (translated as "water drop mutual help"), today said that it has raised $230 million in a new round of funding jointly led by two strategic investors, the insurance giant Swiss Re and returning investor Tencent, whose WeChat platform is used to sign up users and buy products using a quick QR code scheme.

Previous investors IDG Capital and Wisdom Choice Global Fund also participated in the Series D. The startup is not disclosing its valuation, but when the round had partially closed at $200 million earlier this month, PitchBook noted that its pre-money valuation was $1.8 billion, which puts the valuation now at just over $2 billion.

This may also mean that plans for an IPO that were reported in July are being put off for the moment. Update: Indeed, a Waterdrop spokesperson responded a day later to state: "The company currently has no IPO plan or timeline."

Previous to this, Waterdrop had raised about $252 million, including a $145 million Series C in June 2019. It has a longer list of previous backers that also include Yuri Milner, ZhenFund and Boyu Capital, the VC firm co-founded by the grandson of former long-time Chinese president Jiang Zemin, a link that underscores the power structure that exists around tech funding and the businesses that are given the financial engine to grow.

This latest round of funding will be used not just to keep growing the platform, but incorporating partnerships with others in the healthcare ecosystem, from pharmaceutical companies and insurance businesses, through to hospitals and pharmacies, and other clinical care facilities, in part by way of a new service called Haoyaofu, to provide members with lower-cost medications and treatments.

Story continues

Waterdrop has also been looking at how it can get more involved in facilitating other services such as medical consultations and providing overseas medical treatment, as well as cancer screening and routine exams, preventative cornerstones of how many insurers operate today.

We are excited about the huge growth potential that lies ahead of us. Our long-term goal is to become a leading online healthcare platform in China with an ecosystem that includes insurers, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and drug stores, as well as nursing institutions and rehabilitation institutions," said Peng Shen, founder and CEO of Waterdrop, in a statement. "We are committed to not only helping users with financing issues but also providing them with integrated healthcare services along the way.

Beijing-based Waterdrop noted that this is Swiss Re's first investment into an insurance startup in China, and the largest private fundraise for an insurtech company so far this year in any market, which it says was spurred in part by the global surge not just in the attention that healthcare is getting as a result of the coronavirus health pandemic, but the push toward better tech-based solutions to meet a new set of demands across the ecosystem, from healthcare providers through to those working on medicines and other innovations, through to the needs of patients.

As a leading online insurtech company, Waterdrop is well-positioned to tackle the pain points of traditional insurance and pave the way for future breakthroughs in the industry, such as the accelerated technological innovation and digitalization of the industry worldwide that we have witnessed during the COVID-19 situation," said Ning Zhou, head of principal investment and acquisition for Asia for Swiss Re.

Indeed, the same uncertainty that COVID-19 has brought to many industries has ironically been a boost for insurance startups. Lemonade, the U.S.-based insurance tech startup, raised more in its IPO, $319 million and currently has a market cap of $3.5 billion.

The "water drop" reference in the startup's name comes from the basic premise behind the business model, requiring low buy-in (i.e. just a drop of water) from its customers.

One part of the Waterdrop business -- which today is live only in China, with a beta version of an international site launched in April 2019 -- focuses on mutual aid for medical conditions. In one part, users contribute very incremental amounts money, starting as low as half a cent, toward a mutual aid scheme, where Waterdrop then pays out up to 300,000 yuan (about $43,000) when members unexpectedly find themselves struck with a major medical setback.

Children, middle-aged and young people have a list of 106 conditions that are covered, including cancer. Other age groups (and presumably other categories of users such as those with pre-existing health conditions) have a smaller and different list of conditions that are covered.

The other part of that business focuses on mutual aid for those who suffer an accident that results in a permanent disability or death, which pays out up to 100,000 yuan ($14,500) in these cases.

Those sums may not sound like much, but in a country where some 600 million people earn as little as only 1,000 yuan ($144) each month, these can be significant sums, either in place of having other more costly insurance programs, or as a complement to these. (The average monthly per capita income, it should be noted, is much higher, at 30,000 yuan.)

Another part of the business focuses on more traditional health insurance services, with monthly payments again starting at low amounts of money, such as a long-term serious health insurance that starts at 4 yuan ($0.58) per month.

A third part is a more traditional crowdfunding platform for healthcare costs.

Waterdrop has not been without bumps, as you would expect. An expose in December unveiled how employees, under pressure to meet aggressive growth targets, were cutting due diligence corners in sign-ups and in some cases lying on application forms. (The company in response said it fired the team responsible and worked to put in place better measures to block things like this from happening again.)

It has also built public lists to name and shame those who have tried to scam others on its crowdfunding platform, which points to a persistent problem of that also getting abused.

Despite that, all together, the Waterdrop businesses have seen a lot of growth.

The Insurance Mall now has 120 million unique insurance enrollees, with a written premium of US$865 million in the first half of 2020, which is close to the total written premium for full year 2019 (essentially saying business has doubled to date). For the full year 2020, Waterdrop Insurance Mall expects to record a total written premium of $2.0 billion, or more than 100% year-on-year growth, with a total earned premium of $865 million, or 300% year-on-year growth. Waterdrop Crowdfunding, meanwhile, has raised $4.6 billion from 320 million unique users over 1 billion+ donations as of the end of July 2020. And Waterdrop Mutual has paid out $233 million to 12,819 families so far.

As a point of comparison, in April 2019, Waterdrop claimed 78.8 million users with payouts of 440 million yuan, or $65.34 million, to 3,100 families so far.

The Swiss Re investment is significant not only for the funding itself, but because Waterdrop is not alone in the market, with another major competitor backed by Alibaba called Xiang Hu Bao (which translates less prosaically and simply as mutual protection") that is hot on its heels for growth.

We will continue to build on our solid partnership with Waterdrop and together we will support the ongoing development of the insurance industry and promote digital innovation," said Russell Higginbotham, CEO Reinsurance Asia and Regional President, Swiss Re, in a statement.

For investor Tencent, having a significant stake in a healthcare company that ties in its services with its WeChat messaging platform is one way to continue to have leverage in this growing area against one of its big rivals in the country.

Amid the rapid expansion of the Chinese commercial health insurance market, Waterdrop has seized the market opportunity very well and used the power of technological innovation to help tens of millions of families," said Yu Haiyang, MD of Tencent Investment, in a statement. "Tencent continues to be a long-term supporter of Waterdrop and will help it build an even better user experience.
But he never did. For close to four years now, hes shown no interest in putting in the work; no interest in finding common ground; no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends; no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves. Donald Trump hasnt grown into the job because he cant.
Got a question for you: If you were in a hospital, in desperate need of a blood transfusion, would you ask whether the blood had come from a Caucasian, African-American, Asian, Hispanic or Middle Eastern person?

When a cardiothoracic surgeon opens someone up to perform open-heart surgery, do you suppose he or she is concerned about whether the patient is African-American, Hispanic, Caucasian, Middle Eastern or Asian?

The answer to both questions is  or should be  an emphatic, No. Because on the inside, all human beings are the same. Blood and plasma are the same, regardless of the race or ethnicity of the donor. On the inside, we each have a heart, a liver, kidneys, lungs, intestines, and all that other stuff. And they all function in the same ways  it doesnt matter whether you come from a rich family or poor, what language you speak, or whether your skin color is naturally dark or you have to lay in the sun or a tanning booth to get that way.

So why in the world do we continue to remain so hung up, so obsessed with the amount of pigmentation  or lack  of someones skin?

I think Ive mentioned this before, but vividly remember the time I was meeting with a young African-American man, his first name was Rhon. We were early in a discipling relationship, and one day out of the blue he asked, Bob, if Jesus were to come up and stand in front of me, would He see a black man?

Thankfully, I didnt have to fumble for a response. A verse I had recently read came immediately to mind: There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28). Although I believe God created different skin colors and ethnic features, perhaps simply for the sake of variety, just as He created cardinals and eagles, blue jays and robins, barred owls and sparrows, He doesnt regard us differently because of our skin, status or sex.

In fact, 1 Samuel 16:7 states this emphatically. After the prophet Samuel had become frustrated after examining each son of Jesse and finding none to be of Gods choosing for the next king of Israel, God told him, The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

Elsewhere, speaking about motives but also referring to the folly of judging solely based on externals, Proverbs 21:2 tells us, All a mans ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart. Similarly, The lamp of the Lord searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being (Proverbs 20:27).

Today our nation is once again embroiled in racial strife. Factions are demanding an end to racism, sometimes through acts of violence and hatred. Which is like trying to put out a house fire with a blowtorch.

Without intending to sound simplistic, the real answers to racism, prejudice and ignorance are not found in more legislation, or other forms of governmental force. Its by learning to do as the Bible instructs  to stop concentrating on outward appearances, whatever they may be, and discovering how to look inward, to the heart. Recognizing one another as Gods creations and, potentially, as His children. Its offered to all who respond to the gracious gifts of salvation, forgiveness and reconciliation, provided through the shed blood of Jesus Christ on a crude cross 2,000 years ago.

On this page Ive included an image of white and black hands clenched together, with an American flag in the background. I dont know its artist, but it wonderfully captures the spirit and hope we all should seek to show toward one another.

With forces in our society pressing to keep us separate and perpetually at odds, intending to destroy and divide, only in Christ can we achieve true and undisrupted unity. As Philippians 2:1-2 declares:

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

Did you notice that the key word in this passage is if? A tiny word, yet its significance looms as large as the entire world. Jesus Christ gives us the capacity. Are we willing to implement it?



* * *
Northern bottlenose whales stranded at Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal. Photo: Thomas and Louise Coleman and the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group

Seven northern bottlenose whales who became stranded on a beach in Co Donegal yesterday had tragically died last night.

The pod came ashore at Rossnowlagh early yesterday.

Dr Simon Berrow of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) said that eight whales were involved in the mass stranding.

He said: "This is the largest mass stranding of this species ever in Ireland."

However, the prognosis had not been good for the stranded whales.

Prone

Earlier yesterday, Mr Berrow explained: "To be honest, there is very little we can do about it because the average whale weighs about three tonnes so they are not really good candidates for refloating.

"We know very little about them but they are prone to mass strandings."

The IWDG confirmed last night that seven of the whales had died.

It also appealed to members of the public not to travel to the beach in Rossnowlagh to take pictures of the whales. It is understood that people had gathered at the shoreline.

A spokesperson said "Unfortunately, IWDG are receiving upsetting news from our members on site from Donegal where crowds of people are going out to see and take selfies with the only surviving northern bottlenose whale.

"Although we understand people want to see this large whale, we strongly urge members of the public to keep a safe distance from this whale and to be respectful, allowing our trained members on site to do their job."

Yesterday, palliative care was being given by trained members of the group to the stricken whales.

Staff from the IWDG and the National Parks and Wildlife Service were on-site.

The deep-diving offshore species of whales is the largest member of the beaked whale family.

All were alive initially but were stressed with high breathing rates, according to the IWDG.

The volunteers provided some first aid on the beach.
It is not the first time the hospitals nurses have threatened a strike. The nurses planned a strike in 2017 over the contract thats now expiring, but it was averted when the hospital and union reached an agreement. Three years before that, the union and hospital reached a similar eleventh-hour deal that averted a strike.
Mr. Trump and his allies will parse and prevaricate forever. Ignore them. If it wasnt already overwhelmingly clear what was going on, it is now. As the Democrats on the committee put it in an appendix to the report: This is what collusion looks like. Alas, the Republicans refused to join in on this straightforward assessment, stating in their own appendix that we can now say with no doubt, there was no collusion. That is to insist that up is down.

But call it whatever you like: The Intelligence Committee report shows clear coordination between Russians and the Trump campaign, though there is no evidence of an explicit agreement. The evidence the report lays out suggests Mr. Trump knew this at the time. Whether or not it can be proved that he ordered this interference or violated the law in doing so, the fact remains that neither he nor anyone else in his campaign alerted federal law-enforcement authorities, as any loyal American should have.

And remember: Mr. Trump tried this scheme again. The president was impeached for his efforts to invite foreign interference in the 2020 election, this time by Ukraine, again on his behalf. Part of that requested interference involved an attempt to smear Joe Biden. But the other part involved pinning the 2016 election interference on Ukraine rather than on Russia. Who was almost certainly one of the primary sources spreading that claim in the media, according to the senators report? None other than Konstantin Kilimnik.

There has never been any reliable evidence that Ukraine interfered in 2016; the Senate committee concluded as such, in line with all previous investigations.

Russia is now attempting to help Mr. Trump again this November, according to American intelligence assessments reported in The Times. For any normal president, that would be a top-of-mind concern, and he or she would be marshaling all available resources to thwart it. What has Mr. Trump done? On Sunday night, he retweeted Russian propaganda that the U.S. intelligence community had already flagged as part of that countrys efforts to skew the election.

On Monday, Miles Taylor, a former chief of staff at the Department of Homeland Security in the Trump administration, wrote that the president showed vanishingly little interest in subjects of vital national security interest, including cybersecurity, domestic terrorism and malicious foreign interference in U.S. affairs. He added, the country is less secure as a direct result of the presidents actions.

Theres no way to sugarcoat it. In less than three months, the American people could re-elect a man who received a foreign governments help to win one election and has shown neither remorse nor reservations about doing so again.
A TikTok video that went viral earlier this week showed the two men bullying a young man with special needs, scaring him by ordering their dog to attack him several times

Egypts prosecution ordered on Wednesday the detention of two young men for four days pending investigation into bullying, intimidation and assault charges.

A TikTok video that went viral earlier this week showed the two men bullying a young man with special needs, scaring him by ordering their dog to attack him several times.

The video showed the dog trying to bite the terrified young man as he pled with the dog owner to stop the attack.

The video received angry reactions among social media users who demanded the arrest of the two men for bullying the helpless young man.

Earlier this week, parliament approved amendments criminalising bullying in the country for the first time, introducing penalties including fines and jail terms.

The amended law states that a defendant charged with bullying is sent to a six-month jail term and/or fined no less than EGP 10,000 and no more than EGP 30,000.

If the incident involves more than one defendant, the penalty is increased to at least a year in jail and/or fined no less than EGP 20,000 and no more than EGP 100,000.

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Photo: Chinese Submarine Spotted Entering Hidden Cave Base

Sputnik News

19:21 GMT 19.08.2020

A recent satellite photo managed to capture a Chinese submarine entering a cave base on Hainan Island, at the northern end of the South China Sea.

On Tuesday, a photograph of the sea outside of Yulin Naval Base by private Earth-imaging company Planet Labs captured an unusual scene: a large submarine positioned just outside the mouth of the cavernous Chinese citadel.

The photo was first posted on social media by Radio Free Asia, a US government-funded media outlet that is part of the US Agency for Global Media. In the image, a submarine flanked by two small surface vessels sits just outside the mouth of the cave leading to the base, facing toward it.

The Drive noted the barren seas around the base are themselves unusual, calling the situation "exceedingly rare based on our monitoring experience."

According to Radio Free Asia, the sub is probably a Type 093, also called the Shang-class nuclear-powered attack submarine. The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has six Type 093 subs, which are roughly equivalent in size and capability to the US Navy's Los Angeles-class submarines.

Situated on the southern coast of Hainan Island facing the South China Sea, Yulin is home to the PLAN's nuclear submarine fleet. Although it has been under construction since 2000, little is known about the subterranean sanctuary.

China isn't the only country to use a sea cavern to hide its naval forces inside of mountains. Sweden's Musko naval base, about 20 miles south of Stockholm, was once a highly secret facility with three docks for destroyers and submarines. The Soviet Union maintained a similar facility at Balaklava, in Crimea, to service submarines based in the Black Sea.

A Sputnik

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Some residents of the Florida Keys are furious over plans to release more than 750 million genetically modified mosquitoes in the region to combat disease.

The Florida Keys Mosquito Control District gave final approval Tuesday to the plan, which will be rolled out in 2021 and 2022.

The transgenic insects, classified as OX5034, have been modified to help cull the population of Aedes aegypti, a mosquito known to carry Zika, malaria, dengue, yellow fever and other illnesses.

However, residents and local wildlife groups worry the 'Jurrasic Park experiment' could just introduce a new breed of mosquito.

State officials have attempted to calm their fears, stating the transgenic bugs will provide a safer, cheaper alternative to spraying the Aedes aegypti with insecticides.

Scroll down for video

A closeup of an Aedes aegypti on human skin. On Tuesday the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District gave final approval to a plan to release more than 750 million genetically modified versions of the insect to help decrease its numbers in the Keys.

The mosquitoes are all male, altered so that any female offspring they produce die in the larval stage well before they are big enough to bite and spread disease.

Only females mosquitoes bite for blood, which they need to mature their eggs. Male offspring would pass along the 'defective' gene.

Dengue fever results in 390 million infections per year, according to the World Health Organization, with a more-than-30-fold increase in reported cases the last 50 years.

The disease causes high fever, severe headaches and joint pain and can result in lethal complications - it also kills up to 25,000 people every year.

A woman outside the Florida Mosquito Control District Office protesting the use of transgenic mosquitoes. Critics say the altered insects could actually create generations of heartier hybrid mosquitoes that are more resistant to pesticides

The transgenic mosquitoes, all male, have been designed to sire female offspring that would die as larva, long before they could bite and spread Zika, dengue, yellow fever and other pathogens. Only female mosquitoes bite for blood, which they need to mature their eggs

The Florida Keys faced major dengue outbreaks in 2009 and 2010, with smaller ones reported this year.

But residents and environmental groups say not enough is known about these transgenic mosquitoes.

They worry the program could just introduce a new breed of mosquito that's more resistant to insecticides.

Jaydee Hanson of the International Center for Technology Assessment accused the EPA, which gave the project the thumbs up in May, of failing to seriously consider the risks.

'With all the urgent crises facing our nation and the State of Florida - the COVID-19 pandemic, racial injustice, climate change - the administration has used tax dollars and government resources for a Jurassic Park experiment,' Hanson said in a statement on Wednesday.

Officials hope the altered mosquitoes can provide a safer, cheaper alternative to spraying the Aedes aegypti with insecticides. Neither the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District nor Oxitec has publicly announced exactly when or where the releases will occur

'What could possibly go wrong? We don't know.'

In 2016, voters in Key Haven, Florida, rejected a proposal to release the genetically modified mosquito in their town.

More than 230,000 people have signed a Change.org petition against the current plan.

Officials hope the transgenic bugs will provide a safer, cheaper alternative to spraying the Aedes aegypti with insecticides.

Neither the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District nor Oxitec has publicly announced exactly when or where the releases will occur.

The transgenic Aedes aegypti has also been approved for release in Harris County, Texas, next year.

These mark the first time genetically modified mosquitoes will be used in the US. But scientists monitoring a similar effort in Brazil say it has backfired.

Researchers from Yale University investigated the impact of Oxitec's transgenic mosquitoes in Jacobina, a popular ecotourism destination.

A woman in Brazil breastfeeds her son in a bed protected by a mosquito net. Scientists from Yale say Oxitec's transgenic mosquitoes released in the country have created generations of hardier hybrid insects

In a study published last year in Nature journal Scientific Reports, they found 'clear evidence' that the genetically modified mosquitoes gave rise to new generations of hardier, hybrid insects.

'The claim was that genes from the release strain would not get into the general population because offspring would die,' said senior author Jeffrey Powell, an ecologist and evolutionary biologist at Yale. 'That obviously was not what happened.'

Oxitec slammed the study as 'false, misleading and speculative' and said it had 'successfully provided significant suppression of the wild Aedes aegypti in Brazil.'

Originating in Africa, Aedes aegypti can now be found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world.

They have white markings on their legs and a marking in the form of a lyre on the upper surface of their thorax.
(CNN)  Lava tubes beneath the surface of Mars and the moon could be, respectively, 100 and 1,000 times wider than lava tubes on Earth, which could provide shelter and create exploration opportunities for astronauts in the future, according to a new study.

Lava tubes are caves created by lava as it flows from a volcanic vent beneath a hardened surface. On Earth, these lava tubes can be found in Hawaii, the Canary Islands, Australia, and Iceland. They range in diameter from 33 to 98 feet.

Lunar tubes on the moon and Mars could be longer than 25 miles, according to a new study using satellite images, radar data, spacecraft observations of features called skylights belonging to collapsed lava tubes, and digital terrain models of lava tubes on the moon and Mars.

The researchers compared these to lava tubes on Earth and found that lunar caves could reach 1 kilometer in diameter, or 3280.84 feet -- which could accommodate the tallest buildings on Earth.

Lower gravity, and how it effects volcanism, the scientists believe, could explain these exceptionally large tubes.

The lava tubes beneath the moon's surface are so large that they could, in fact, hold Padua's entire city center, said Riccardo Pozzobon, study coauthor and planetary geologist in the department of geosciences of the University of Padua in Italy.

The study published this month in the journal Earth-Science Reviews.

The lava tubes beneath the surface of the moon have also remained largely intact due to low gravity. Any collapsed lava tubes on the moon are likely due to asteroid impacts, the researchers said. And those skylights could actually provide access to the tubes.

These lava tubes could help shelter astronauts, as well as provide new information about the moon and Mars.

"The existence of stable huge voids below the Moon subsurface, potentially accessible through skylights, could change the paradigm on how we approach planetary exploration in terms of mission design, planetary human outposts and scientific research," said Pozzobon and Franceso Sauro, study author and professor in the department of biological, geological and environmental sciences at the University of Bologna.

"Accessing these caves and (analyzing) this type of subsurface environment will present new technological challenges but also could provide unexpected scientific discoveries."

Exploring caves on the moon and Mars

For astronauts exploring the harsh environments and fluctuating temperatures of the moon and Mars, the lava tubes could provide natural shelter from radiation, impacts by micrometeorites and unstable temperatures.

Micrometeorites pose a danger not only to astronauts, but the habitats and life support equipment they'll need on the moon and Mars. The caves could be used to live in and store equipment.

It's even possible that the tubes could provide access to water ice reservoirs, the researchers said.

"But the challenges in order to access these caves and sustain human activity are nonetheless massive," the researchers said.

The caves also present dangers and risks of their own.

The tubes will likely contain boulders, sloping floors and shifting rocky material. If future missions plan to utilize the tubes, cranes or tethered descents may be needed to access the entrances because they're likely to be more like vertical shafts.

"Once below, we should not be too confident to find a flat floor (although it is possible) but instead piles of collapsed boulders from the ceiling or the walls, which are razor-sharp and could harm inflatable modules and spacesuits," the researchers said.

Astronauts would also need to be able to properly illuminate their space because the rocks inside the caves will likely be pitch-black. But power is a precious commodity, especially when traveling to the moon or Mars, so developing the right kind of illumination will be key.

Studying the inside of these caves could reveal what volcanic activity was like on the moon and Mars and when it occurred. What's more, such research could provide key insights about the interior composition of these planetary bodies.

The lava tubes' interiors could also reveal "niches that could be ideal for hosting life (on Mars) or could have preserved signs of past life, not obliterated by the sterilizing and ionizing UV/cosmic radiation that affects the surface and the near subsurface," the scientists said.

Preparing astronauts for the journey

Astronauts preparing to explore such caves would need training in traversing vertically developed environments and cave exploration. These expeditions would also require preparation for the challenges of exploring a natural environment with uneven terrain, sharp rocks, rock falls and other unpredictable hazards, the researchers said.

This would involve training for normal exploration operations and emergency situations as well.

Some of this is already being studied and astronauts are training through the European Space Agency's CAVES and Pangaea programs.

Since 2012, These programs have trained astronauts how to explore underground caves and understand planetary geology, including lava tubes on Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands.

"So far, 36 astronauts from five space agencies have received training in cave hiking; moreover, six astronauts and four mission and operation specialists have received geological field training," said Jo De Waele, study coauthor and speleologist at the University of Bologna.

Sauro, who is also a speleologist studying caves and the head of the CAVES and Pangaea programs, said the ESA is looking for new technologies that would allow for the future exploration of these caves through the agency's Sysnova platform.

"It is for sure a big challenge, but it is now clear for all space agencies that while we have already a good knowledge of the surface of the Moon, one of the main steps forward for space exploration would be to demonstrate the capability of exploring the subsurface of a planetary body," Sauro said.

The call for ideas from universities and the space industry is seeking new technologies that could be developed to land on the moon and explore lunar caves.

Next, the researchers want to learn more about these tubes, including the creation of 3D laser scans and understanding their chemistry.

"When we (have) a figure of their subsurface development through remote sensing, then we will be able to provide the most promising targets for future space robotic or human mission to start the exploration of these features," the researchers said.

Massive lava tubes on the moon and Mars could be used by astronauts
HEFEI, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Zhuangtai is a residential area on raised ground that functions as a safe haven from river floods. A type of elevated village that is unique to the Huaihe River Basin, zhuangtais have long been serving as a type of Noah's Ark, offering villagers shelter from flooding. The Huaihe River originates in central China's Henan Province and traverses some 1,000 km through several provinces, including Shandong, Anhui and Jiangsu. It used to flood a vast area of land, mainly in Anhui Province, every three to four years on average. Created in 1953, alongside the Wangjiaba hydrological station, the zhuangtais in the Mengwa flood buffer zone are located dozens of meters above sea level, either on naturally occurring low hills or artificially built structures. Altogether, they provide homes to 195,000 residents of four townships in Funan County of Anhui. At present, there are 131 zhuangtais in the Mengwa buffer zone of Funan County, including 77 scattered in the middle of the area like islets and another 54 along the river embankment. During the flood diversion period, zhuangtais in the middle are like islets surrounded by floods, and daily living supplies need to be brought in by boat from outside. On July 20, three days after the first flood this year following torrential rains, spillways at the major flood diversion facility of Wangjiaba were opened in a move to reserve capacity in flood zones. Water roared through the diversion area at a rate of 1,360 cubic meters per second, in the midst of pouring rain, inundating local farmland and turning the zhuangtais into isolated islets. A total of 375 million cubic meters of water, 20 times the water volume of the West Lake, was stored in the Mengwa buffer zone this year, submerging an area of more than 180 square km. The move is expected to alleviate the pressure from both the upper reaches and downstream sections of the swollen Huaihe River. The spillways of the Wangjiaba hydrological station have been opened to divert floodwater 16 times since it was put into use in 1953, with the last time being in 2007. Enditem


Is Once Ambitious Japan's IR Project Falling Apart?

Published August 20, 2020 by Lee R

High profile dropouts and Covid-based revenue disruptions among high profile private partners are stalling the IR movement in Japan.

The once ambitious Japan IR movement is stalling in the wake of Covid.

Changing the Schedule

The realization comes on the heels of Japan Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

Kazuyoshi Akaba's announcement of impending changes to the timetable regarding casino resorts in the country.

The IR Regions

Originally scheduled for between January and July of 2021 the IRS were targeting four locales in Japan: Yokohama, Osaka, Nagasaki and Wakayama; however the virus caused delays in proposal (RFP) applications for a government already generally reluctant on publishing IR policy, leaving local governments and partners to wait until the first half of 2021 to apply for casino-building licenses.

Market Departures

Covid-related disruptions to the private sector have precipitated dropouts from prominent partners in the regional movement already, led by Las Vegas Sands departure from the Yokohama's IR in May, and with Wynn re-exiting soon after.

The Sands departure definitely could affect perceptions of investability in Japan's IRs.

The decision came directly from founder billionaire Sheldon Adelson, a close ally of US President Trump. The pullout underpins general concerns about IRs, and the availability of contributions of significant investment that are needed after the Covid revenue disruptions.

Losing the Adelson Factor

This renders the unique licensing requirements for the Japan jurisdiction all the more challenging, with Adelson formerly a central figure.

Adelson actually proved to be one of the driving interests in granting Japan's first three IR licenses. Reports had Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Trump meeting with Adelson in Washington on it in February 2017, with Adelson attending a breakfast with Abe and other American CEOs.

Delay Impact

The news of delays offset the key date of July 30, 2021, in Japan, according to Tokyo-based Bay City Ventures Managing Director Joji Kokuryo:

Assuming that travel restrictions are eased enough within the next two months, there is just enough time for local governments to select their IR partner and come up with a reasonably sound business plan to submit to the central government said the casino expert in an April interview.

Outlook

Meeting that selection process date with fully educated prospective partners prepared to work effectively with the Japan government remains a barrier that has been delayed again.
H illary Clinton has urged voters to support Joe Biden to prevent Donald Trump from being able to "sneak or steal his way to victory".

Addressing the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday from her home in Chappaquiddick, New York, Mrs Clinton said she hoped Mr Trump would put his ego aside and be the president America needs, but that hasn't happened.

"I wish Donald Trump knew how to be a president because America needs a president right now," she said.

"For four years, people have said to me, 'I didnt realise how dangerous he was.' 'I wish I could go back and do it over.' Or worst, 'I should have voted.'

"Well, this cant be another woulda' coulda' shoulda' election."

Hillary Clinton speaks as Kerry Washington, serving as moderator, listens during the third night of the Democratic National Convention / AP

But "he is who he is," Mrs Clinton added. "America needs a president who shows the same compassion, determination, and leadership in the White House that we see in our communities."

The former presidential candidate reminded people of her 2016 loss despite winning 3 million more votes than Mr Trump.

Recalling a moment when Mr Trump asked Black voters in 2016 what they had to lose by supporting him, Clinton said: "Now we know."

As the first woman nominated for president in America, Mrs Clinton is also recalling the 100-year anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment.

Billie Eilish performs 'My Future' during the third night of the Democratic National Convention (AP) / Democratic National Convention/AP

Mrs Clinton said she knows about "the slings and arrows" that vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris will face as a Black woman on the ticket."Believe me: This former district attorney and attorney general can handle them all," she added.

Democrats also broadcast videos highlighting Mr Trump's crackdown on immigration, opposition to gun restrictions and his decision to pull out of the Paris climate accord.

Nancy Pelosi, the first woman Speaker of the US House of Representatives, told the convention she had seen firsthand Trump's "disrespect for facts, for working families, and for women in particular a disrespect written into his policies toward our health and our rights.

"But we know what he doesn't that when women succeed, America succeeds."

The first two nights of the four-day Democratic convention showcased statesmen and rising stars in the party who said Mr Biden's election would repair a pandemic-battered United States and put an end to the chaos of Mr Trump's four years in office.

The Republican National Convention, also largely virtual, takes place next week.

Additional reporting by Associated Press.
EAST HANOVER, N.J., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Novartis today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Kesimpta (ofatumumab, formerly OMB157) as an injection for subcutaneous use for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS), to include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease, in adults. Kesimpta is a targeted, precisely dosed and delivered B-cell therapy that has shown superior efficacy with a similar safety profile compared with teriflunomide and is a first-choice treatment option for RMS patients.1 Kesimpta is the first B-cell therapy that can be self-administered once monthly at home via the Sensoready autoinjector pen.3

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8706051-novartis-kesimpta-fda-approval/

"This approval is wonderful news for patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis. In the key clinical studies, this breakthrough treatment produced a profound reduction in new brain lesions, reducing relapses and slowing underlying disease progression,"1 said Professor Stephen L. Hauser, Director of the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences and co-chair of the steering committee for the ASCLEPIOS I and II studies. "Through its favorable safety profile and well-tolerated monthly injection regimen, patients can self-administer the treatment at home, avoiding visits to the infusion center."1

One of the goals when managing RMS is to preserve neurological function to slow down the worsening of disability.4 Despite the availability of several disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for the treatment of RMS, the majority of individuals with RMS continue to experience disease activity.5 Evidence suggests early initiation of high-efficacy treatment can improve long-term outcomes for patients with RMS.6

"Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex disease, and response to disease modifying treatment will vary among individuals," said Bruce Bebo, PhD, Executive Vice President of Research at the National MS Society. "This makes it important to have a range of treatments available with different mechanisms of action and routes of administration. We are pleased to have an additional option approved for the treatment of relapsing forms of MS."

Traditionally, B-cell treatments, which bind to and deplete B-cells associated with disease activity in MS, have predominantly been available in hospitals or infusion treatment centers, which can add costs to the healthcare system and present a lifestyle burden for some patients.7,8 Kesimpta provides patients the flexibility of self-administering via once-monthly subcutaneous dosing requiring no premedication, eliminating the need to travel to an infusion center. The positive results from the APLIOS studyan open-label Phase II study to determine the bioequivalence of subcutaneous delivery of Kesimpta via a prefilled syringe and a Sensoready pen in patients with RMSand the ASCLEPIOS studies show Kesimpta to be a highly effective B-cell therapy that can be easily self-administered at home.1,3

"At Novartis, we challenge treatment paradigms and strive to offer the best treatment choice for patients," said Marie-France Tschudin, President, Novartis Pharmaceuticals. "When treating patients with RMS, Kesimpta is a meaningful treatment option that delivers both high efficacy and safety with the ability for patients to have more freedom in managing their disease. The development of Kesimpta is a great example of our commitment, knowledge and understanding of multiple sclerosis, which enabled us to identify a targeted treatment that can significantly improve patient outcomes and experience."

Ofatumumab was first approved by the FDA in 2009 for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) as an intravenous infusion with a high dose, administered by a healthcare provider. Ofatumumab was then investigated in an entirely new development program in RMS, as B-cells are known to play a critical role in the development of autoimmune diseases, such as MS.7 The clinical development program for ofatumumab in RMS took 10 years and has involved more than 2,300 patients around the world as part of rigorous studies that were reflective of the broad patient population. Kesimpta was found to work through a distinct mode of action, and the treatment regimen (dosing)which was specifically designed for RMSplays a critical role in the outcome.9 This is a different dosing regimen and route of administration than was previously approved for the CLL indication.

The approval of Kesimpta is based on results from the Phase III ASCLEPIOS I and II studies, in which Kesimpta demonstrated superiority versus teriflunomide in significantly reducing the annualized relapse rate (ARR, primary endpoint), 3-month confirmed disability progression (CDP), and the number of gadolinium-enhancing (Gd+) T1 and new or enlarging T2 lesions.1 Results from these two studies were recently published in the August 6, 2020 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.

Kesimpta is expected to be available in the United States in early September.* Additional regulatory filings are currently underway across the world, and regulatory approval for Kesimpta in Europe is expected by Q2 2021.

*Time of availability may vary as healthcare providers integrate Kesimpta into their practices.

About ASCLEPIOS I and II studies

The ASCLEPIOS I and II studies are twin, identical design, flexible duration (up to 30 months), double-blind, randomized, multi-center Phase III studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of Kesimpta 20 mg monthly subcutaneous injections versus teriflunomide 14 mg oral tablets taken once daily in adults with RMS. The ASCLEPIOS I and II studies enrolled 1,882 patients with MS, between the ages of 18 and 55 years, with an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score between 0 and 5.5.1 The studies were conducted in over 350 sites in 37 countries.10 Kesimpta demonstrated a significant reduction in ARR by 51% (0.11 vs 0.22) and 59% (0.10 vs 0.25) compared with teriflunomide (P<.001 in both studies) in ASCLEPIOS I and II, respectively (primary endpoint). Kesimpta also showed a relative risk reduction of 34.4% (P=.002) in 3-month CDP compared with teriflunomide in a pre-specified meta-analysis, as defined in ASCLEPIOS.1

Kesimpta showed significant reduction of both Gd+ T1 lesions and new or enlarging T2 lesions. It significantly reduced the mean number of both Gd+ T1 lesions (98% and 94% relative reduction in ASCLEPIOS I and II, respectively, both P<.001) and new or enlarging T2 lesions (82% and 85% relative reduction in ASCLEPIOS I and II, respectively, both P<.001) vs teriflunomide.1

Kesimpta had a similar safety profile to teriflunomide, with the frequency of serious infections and malignancies also being similar across both treatment groups.1 Upper respiratory tract infection, headache, injection-related reactions, and local injection site reactions were the most commonly observed adverse reactions with Kesimpta (incidence greater than 10%).1 A separate post hoc analysis demonstrated that the odds of achieving no evidence of disease activity (NEDA-3; no relapses, no MRI lesions, and no disability worsening combined) with Kesimpta versus teriflunomide were >3-fold higher at Months 012 (47.0% vs 24.5% of patients) and >8-fold higher at Months 1224 (87.8% vs 48.2% of patients).2

Overall Kesimpta, an antibody targeting CD20 positive B-cells, delivered superior efficacy and demonstrated a safety profile with infection rates similar to teriflunomide.1

About APLIOS study

The APLIOS study is a 12-week, open-label, Phase II bioequivalence study to determine the onset of B-cell depletion with Kesimpta subcutaneous monthly injections and the bioequivalence of subcutaneous administration of Kesimpta via a prefilled syringeas used in ASCLEPIOS I and IIand a Sensoready pen in patients with RMS. Patients were randomized according to injection device and site including the abdomen and the thigh. B-cell depletion was measured nine times over 12 weeks and Gd+ lesion counts were assessed at baseline and at Weeks 4, 8 and 12. Regardless of injection device or site, Kesimpta 20 mg subcutaneous monthly injections resulted in rapid, close to complete and sustained B-cell depletion; the proportion of patients with B-cell concentrations of <10 cells/L was >65% after the first injection by Day 7, 94% by Week 4, and sustained >95% at all following injections. Kesimpta treatment reduced the mean number of Gd+ lesions from baseline (1.5) to 0.8, 0.3 and 0.1 by Weeks 4, 8 and 12, respectively; the proportion of patients free from Gd+ lesions at the corresponding time points were 66.5%, 86.7% and 94.1%, respectively.3

About Kesimpta (ofatumumab, formerly OMB157)

Kesimpta is a targeted, precisely dosed and delivered B-cell therapy that provides the flexibility of self-administration for adults with RMS. It is an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (mAb) self-administered by a once-monthly injection, delivered subcutaneously.1,3 Initial doses of Kesimpta are given at Weeks 0, 1 and 2, with the first injection performed under the guidance of a healthcare professional. As shown in preclinical studies, Kesimpta is thought to work by binding to a distinct epitope on the CD20 molecule inducing potent B-cell lysis and depletion.9 The selective mechanism of action and subcutaneous administration of Kesimpta allows precise delivery to the lymph nodes, where B-cell depletion in MS is needed, and preclinical studies have shown that it may preserve the B-cells in the spleen.11 Once-monthly dosing of Kesimpta also allows rapid repletion of B-cells and offers more flexibility.12 Ofatumumab was originally developed by Genmab and licensed to GlaxoSmithKline. Novartis obtained rights for ofatumumab from GlaxoSmithKline in all indications, including RMS, in December 2015.13

About Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system characterized by myelin destruction and axonal damage in the brain, optic nerves and spinal cord.14 MS, which affects approximately 2.3 million people worldwide,15 can be characterized into four main types of MS: clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), relapsing remitting (RRMS), secondary progressive (SPMS) and primary progressive (PPMS).16 The various forms of MS can be distinguished based on whether a patient experiences relapses (clearly defined acute inflammatory attacks of worsening neurological function), and/or whether they experience progression of neurologic damage and disability from the onset of the disease.14

Novartis in Neuroscience

Novartis has a strong ongoing commitment to neuroscience and to bringing innovative treatments to patients suffering from neurological conditions where there is a high unmet need. We are committed to supporting patients and physicians in multiple disease areas, including MS, migraine, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and have a promising pipeline in MS, Alzheimer's disease, spinal muscular atrophy and specialty neurology.

Indication

What is KESIMPTA (ofatumumab) injection?

KESIMPTA is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) including clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease.

It is not known if KESIMPTA is safe or effective in children.

Important Safety Information

Who should not take KESIMPTA?

Do NOT take KESIMPTA if you have active hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

What is the most important information I should know about KESIMPTA?

KESIMPTA can cause serious side effects such as:

Infections. Serious infections can happen during treatment with KESIMPTA. If you have an active infection, your healthcare provider (HCP) should delay your treatment with KESIMPTA until your infection is gone. KESIMPTA taken before or after other medicines that weaken the immune system may increase your risk of getting infections. Tell your HCP right away if you have any infections or get any symptoms including painful and frequent urination, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, fever, chills, cough, or body aches.

Serious infections can happen during treatment with KESIMPTA. If you have an active infection, your healthcare provider (HCP) should delay your treatment with KESIMPTA until your infection is gone. KESIMPTA taken before or after other medicines that weaken the immune system may increase your risk of getting infections. Tell your HCP right away if you have any infections or get any symptoms including painful and frequent urination, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, fever, chills, cough, or body aches. HBV reactivation. If you have ever had HBV infection, it may become active again during or after treatment with KESIMPTA (reactivation). If this happens, it may cause serious liver problems including liver failure or death. Before starting KESIMPTA, your HCP will do a blood test to check for HBV. They will also continue to monitor you during and after treatment with KESIMPTA for HBV. Tell your HCP right away if you get worsening tiredness or yellowing of your skin or the white part of your eyes.

If you have ever had HBV infection, it may become active again during or after treatment with KESIMPTA (reactivation). If this happens, it may cause serious liver problems including liver failure or death. Before starting KESIMPTA, your HCP will do a blood test to check for HBV. They will also continue to monitor you during and after treatment with KESIMPTA for HBV. Tell your HCP right away if you get worsening tiredness or yellowing of your skin or the white part of your eyes. Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML). PML may happen with KESIMPTA. PML is a rare, serious brain infection caused by a virus that may get worse over days or weeks. PML can result in death or severe disability. Tell your HCP right away if you have any new or worsening neurologic signs or symptoms. These may include weakness on one side of your body, loss of coordination in arms and legs, vision problems, changes in thinking and memory, which may lead to confusion and personality changes.

PML may happen with KESIMPTA. PML is a rare, serious brain infection caused by a virus that may get worse over days or weeks. PML can result in death or severe disability. Tell your HCP right away if you have any new or worsening neurologic signs or symptoms. These may include weakness on one side of your body, loss of coordination in arms and legs, vision problems, changes in thinking and memory, which may lead to confusion and personality changes. Weakened immune system. KESIMPTA taken before or after other medicines that weaken the immune system could increase your risk of getting infections.

Before you take KESIMPTA, tell your HCP about all your medical conditions, including if you:

Have or think you have an infection including HBV or PML.

Have ever taken, currently take, or plan to take medicines that affect your immune system. These medicines could increase your risk of getting an infection.

Have had a recent vaccination or are scheduled to receive any vaccinations. You should receive any required 'live' or 'live-attenuated' vaccines at least 4 weeks before you start treatment with KESIMPTA. You should not receive 'live' or 'live-attenuated' vaccines while you are being treated with KESIMPTA and until your HCP tells you that your immune system is no longer weakened. Whenever possible, you should receive any 'non-live' vaccines at least 2 weeks before you start treatment with KESIMPTA. Talk to your HCP about vaccinations for your baby if you used KESIMPTA during your pregnancy.

Are pregnant, think that you might be pregnant, or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if KESIMPTA will harm your unborn baby. Females who can become pregnant should use birth control (contraception) during treatment with KESIMPTA and for 6 months after your last treatment. Talk with your HCP about what birth control method is right for you during this time.

Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if KESIMPTA passes into your breast milk. Talk to your HCP about the best way to feed your baby if you take KESIMPTA.

Tell your HCP about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

How should I use KESIMPTA?

See the detailed Instructions for Use that comes with KESIMPTA for information about how to prepare and inject a dose of KESIMPTA and how to properly throw away (dispose of) used KESIMPTA Sensoready pens or prefilled syringes.

Use KESIMPTA exactly as your HCP tells you to use it.

Your HCP will show you how to prepare and inject KESIMPTA the right way before you use it for the first time.

Do not inject into areas where the skin is tender, bruised, red, scaly or hard. Avoid areas with moles, scars, or stretch marks.

KESIMPTA may cause serious side effects including:

Injection-related reactions. Injection-related reactions are a common side effect of KESIMPTA. Injecting KESIMPTA can cause injection-related reactions that can happen within 24 hours (1 day) following the first injections and with later injections. Talk with your HCP if you have any of these signs and symptoms: at or near the injection site: redness of the skin, swelling, itching, and pain or that may happen when certain substances are released in your body : fever, headache, pain in the muscles, chills, and tiredness.

Injection-related reactions are a common side effect of KESIMPTA. Injecting KESIMPTA can cause injection-related reactions that can happen within 24 hours (1 day) following the first injections and with later injections. Talk with your HCP if you have any of these signs and symptoms: Low immunoglobulins. KESIMPTA may cause a decrease in some types of antibodies. Your HCP will do blood tests to check your blood immunoglobulin levels.

The most common side effects of KESIMPTA include:

Upper respiratory tract infection, with symptoms such as sore throat and runny nose, and headache.

Headache.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see full Prescribing Information including Medication Guide.

Disclaimer



This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as "potential," "can," "will," "may," "could," "expected," "committed," "commitment," "promising," "pipeline," "addressing," "underway," "to include," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals, new indications or labeling for Kesimpta, or regarding the timing of availability of Kesimpta in the United States, or regarding regulatory approval of Kesimpta in Europe, or regarding potential future revenues from Kesimpta. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that Kesimpta will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labeling in Europe or in any other markets, or at any particular time. Neither can there be any guarantee that Kesimpta will be available in September, or in any other time frame, in the United States. Nor can there be any guarantee that Kesimpta will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, our expectations regarding Kesimpta could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally, including European regulatory authorities not approving Kesimpta in the expected time frame, or at all; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures and requirements for increased pricing transparency; our ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; general political, economic and business conditions, including the effects of and efforts to mitigate pandemic diseases such as COVID-19; safety, quality, data integrity or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Dr. Hauser's statements reflect his professional opinion and not necessarily the views of The Regents of the University of California. Nothing in his statements shall be construed to imply any support or endorsement of Novartis, or any of its products, by The Regents of the University of California.

About Novartis

Located in East Hanover, NJ Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation  an affiliate of Novartis  is reimagining medicine to improve and extend people's lives. As a leading global medicines company, we use innovative science and digital technologies to create transformative treatments in areas of great medical need. In our quest to find new medicines, we consistently rank among the world's top companies investing in research and development. Novartis employs about 15,000 people in the United States. For more information, please visit https://www.novartis.us.

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For questions about the site or required registration, please contact [email protected].

References

Kesimpta Prescribing Information. East Hanover, NJ : Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp; August 2020 . Hauser S, Bar-Or A, Cohen J, et al. Ofatumumab versus teriflunomide in relapsing multiple sclerosis: analysis of no evidence of disease activity (NEDA-3) from ASCLEPIOS I and II trials. Eur J Neurol. 2020;27(S1). Bar-Or A, Fox E, Goodyear A, et al. Onset of B-cell depletion with subcutaneous administration of ofatumumab in relapsing multiple sclerosis: results from the APLIOS bioequivalence study. Poster presentation at: ACTRIMS; February 2020 ; West Palm Beach, FL. Winkelmann A, Loebermann M, Reisinger EC, Hartung HP, Zettl UK. Disease-modifying therapies and infectious risks in multiple sclerosis. Nat Rev Neurol. 2016; (4):217-33. The Multiple Sclerosis Coalition. The use of disease-modifying therapies in multiple sclerosis: principles and current evidence. Accessed August 12, 2020 . http://ms-coalition.org/the-use-of-disease-modifying-therapies-in-multiple-sclerosis-updated/ Cree BA, Mares J, Hartung HP. Current therapeutic landscape in multiple sclerosis: an evolving treatment paradigm. Curr Opin Neurol. 2019;32(3):365-377. Lehmann-Horn K, Kronsbein HC, Weber MS. Targeting B cells in the treatment of multiple sclerosis: recent advances and remaining challenges. Ther Adv Neurol Disord. 2013;6(3):161-173. Dieguez G, Engel T, Jacobson N. Site of service and cost dispersion of infused drugs. Accessed August 12, 2020 . https://www.milliman.com/insight/2019/Site-of-Service-and-Cost-Dispersion-of-Infused-Drugs/ Smith P, Kakarieka A, Wallstroem E. Ofatumumab is a fully human anti-CD20 antibody achieving potent B-cell depletion through binding a distinct epitope. Poster presentation at: ECTRIMS; September 2016 ; London, UK . Kappos L, Bar-Or A, Cohen J, et al. Ofatumumab versus teriflunomide in relapsing multiple sclerosis: baseline characteristics of two pivotal phase 3 trials (ASCLEPIOS I and ASCLEPIOS II). Poster presentation at: ECTRIMS; October 2018 ; Berlin, Germany . Smith P, Huck C, Wegert V, et al. Low-dose, subcutaneous anti-CD20 therapy effectively depletes B-cells and ameliorates CNS autoimmunity. Poster presentation at: ECTRIMS; September 2016 ; London, UK . Savelieva M, Kahn J, Bagger M, et al. Comparison of the B-cell recovery time following discontinuation of anti-CD20 therapies. ePoster presentation at: ECTRIMS; October 2017 ; Paris , FR. Genmab Press Release: Genmab announces completion of agreement to transfer remaining ofatumumab rights. December 21, 2015 . Accessed August 12, 2020 . https://ir.genmab.com/static-files/9d491b72-bb0b-4e46-a792-dee6c29aaf7d Guthrie E. Multiple sclerosis: a primer and update. Adv Studies Pharm. 2007;4(11):313-317. Multiple Sclerosis International Federation. Atlas of MS 2013-Mapping Multiple Sclerosis Around the World. Accessed August 12, 2020 . http://www.msif.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Atlas-of-MS.pdf National MS Society. Types of MS. Accessed August 12, 2020 . https://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS/Types-of-MS

Novartis Media Relations E-mail: [email protected] Eric Althoff Jamie Bennett Head, US Corp & Country External Comms, Director, US Media Relations Global Media & Corp Communications +1 862-217-3976 +1 646 438 4335 [email protected] [email protected] Novartis Investor Relations E-mail: [email protected] Sloan Simpson +1 862 778 5052

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New York, Aug 20 : Invoking powerful memories of her mother, "the most important person" in her life, California Senator Kamala Harris made history as the first black and South Asian woman to accept a spot on a major US party's presidential ticket, a moment that set off wild celebration across communities of colour and especially women in the country.

"Oh how I wish she was here tonight, but I know she's looking down on me tonight", Harris said of her mother, accepting the Democratic Party's vice presidential nomination on Wednesday night at the party's ongoing national convention at the Chase Centre in Wisconsin.

Harris' mother Shyamala Gopalan, from Tamil Nadu, India, died more than a decade ago but she remains a powerful force in the Senator's life.

Gopalan found repeated mention in one of the most important speeches of the California Senator's political life.

Dressed in a deep burgundy coloured pantsuit, Harris made her case to a national audience on a night filled with rockstar candidates including former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, incumbent House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Representative Gabby Giffords.

Harris spoke about the values her mother taught her: "To walk by faith, and not by sight, and to a vision passed on through generations of Americans, one that Joe Biden shares." Harris' parents met as doctoral students at the University of California, Berkeley, in the early 1960s.

Her father, a Jamaican named Donald Harris, came to study economics. Her mother studied nutrition and endocrinology.

Citing her heritage, Harris in her address said: "...That I am here tonight is a testament to the dedication of generations before me.

"Women and men who believed so fiercely in the promise of equality, liberty, and justice for all.

"I accept your nomination for Vice President of the United States of America." Harris' Convention address is consequential at several levels.

Apart from headlining the start of a bigger role in national consciousness, her elevation in American politics today could well mean she likely takes her spot as the party's most influential politician in 2024, should Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden win this election and choose to retreat from active politics in 2024.

Pelosi praised Harris as "brilliant" and the "vice president we need right now".

Harris first made a surprise appearance early during the Wednesday programming's opening moments and called on Americans to think through their voting day plans, and giving them a series of simple digital to-dos to overcome the obstacles posed by postal slowdowns.

"When we vote things change, when we vote things get better, when we vote we address the need for all people to be treated with dignity and respect.

"So each of us needs a plan, a voting plan," she added.

Obama spoke ahead of Harris and handed off to her sister Maya, niece Meena and step-daughter Ella Emhoff who introduced the Democratic Vice Presidential nominee on a historic night, their voices thick with emotion.

With barely 76 days to go before the presidential election, America leads the world in coronavirus cases and deaths.

More than 5 million have been infected by the virus and more than 172,000 Americans are dead because of it.

For three straight days, Democrats at the convention have slammed President Donald Trump's coronavirus response as scary, disastrous and self serving.

Harris skewered Trump too.

"The constant chaos leaves us adrift, makes us afraid...it's a lot," Harris said, speaking of Trump's mismanagement of the virus response.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
San Francisco failed to meet two of Californias six coronavirus thresholds Thursday and remains on the states watch list, despite Gov. Gavin Newsoms prediction a day earlier that the city could be removed.

The disappointing news represented dashed hopes for some businesses and private schools, which might have seen a faster path to reopening if Newsoms forecast had held true.

San Franciscos coronavirus case rate is 122.9 per 100,000 during a 14-day span, while the states threshold is 100, according to government data. San Francisco also has only 17.2% of its intensive-care unit beds available, compared with the state threshold of 20%.

Many indoor activities were banned after San Francisco was placed on the watch list last month amid rising coronavirus cases. Those include shopping at malls and nonessential office work. Counties must meet the states six coronavirus thresholds for three consecutive days to come off. Other requirements include adequate ventilators and a hospitalization rate increase below 10% for the past three days. However, the state has not issued guidelines for when businesses can reopen after counties come off the watch list.

Schools seeking to reopen while the city remains on the watch list must apply for a waiver, demonstrating safety standards. Those include a virus prevention plan, testing plan and virtual learning program for at-risk students who cant attend classes in person, wrote Tomas Aragon, San Franciscos chief health officer, in a letter sent Thursday to school administrators.

Both the city and state must approve the waivers. Aragon wrote that some elementary schools planned to apply for waivers, but it wasnt immediately clear which schools those were. San Francisco Unified School District plans to hold classes online, pending final approval from teachers and the school district.

In order to be removed from the states watch list, we all must work together to decrease the transmission of the virus. For the public, this means wearing face coverings whenever leaving the house, social distancing, frequent hand washing, and staying home when sick. At the same time, the city is diligently testing, performing robust contact tracing investigations, and initiating vaccine trials, San Franciscos Department of Public Health said Thursday.

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.

Chronicle staff writer

Dominic Fracassa

contributed to this report.

Roland Li is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of the Christ Embassy Church has described clergymen who have refused to reopen their churches as unbelievers.



The religious centers were closed in March as a part of measures to contain the spread of Coronavirus. The Federal and state governments have given religious organizations the go-ahead to reopen for worship. The approval came with conditions such a mandatory social distancing, wearing of masks, and other protocols.



Despite the approval, some church leaders like Pastor Tunde Bakare of Latter Rain Assembly Lagos; Pastor Sam Adeyemi of Daystar Christian Centre Lagos; Pastor Poju Oyemade of Covenant Christian Centre Lagos, and Pastor Paul Adefarasin of House on the Rock, Lagos, have refused to reopen their centers.



While preaching in his church on Wednesday, August 19, Oyakhilome said such pastors have denied the faith and are no longer believers. In his words



If you refuse to open church for fear of being infected, you were never a believer. This is a great concern because there were churches that were thought to be churches until recently.



We find a lot of ministers who were thought to be advocates of the gospel advocating for shutting down the churches because they cannot guarantee safety.



It is pressure like this that reveals what is a church and what is not. Do they really believe in God, the same God of the patriarchs in the Bible?



When you get to that point where you are afraid of opening churches for fear of being infected, you have denied the faith. You never believed.''





Source: LIB









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Linkedin I Wayan Juniarta (The Jakarta Post) Denpasar  Thu, August 20, 2020 17:14 517 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066f558dc 1 Art & Culture #art,#culture,#ArtsandCulture,#Bali,#artists,#health,#COVID19,#masks Free

Abdes Prestaka remembered vividly the day the idea descended upon his restless mind. It was early in June and he had spent the last three days struggling against a paralyzing sense of frustration.

"I kept saying to myself 'we work in the creative industry, we call ourselves creative people, so how are we not able to find creative ways to cope with this crisis?' while pacing back and forth in the living room of my house," he recalled.

At that time, the pandemic was in full swing, inflicting a heavy toll on KITASATUBALI, a premium marketing communication company he founded in 2002.

As most of its clientele were based in Australia and Japan, KITASATUBALI had suffered the impact of the pandemic months before the other Bali-based agencies. The fate of its 10 employees hung heavily on his mind.

"Thats when the idea to create masks featuring artworks of Indonesia's best visual artists lit my mind. My frustration ended instantly and in its place was a drive, an urge to make the idea a reality. I started making a few calls to my artist friends," he said.

Island home: A special edition mask featuring 'Homeland', I Made Arya Palgunas contemporary interpretation of Bali and the many changes that have reshaped the island. (Courtesy of KAF/-)

An art collector himself, Abdes has made a lot of friends in the visual art community and soon the idea turned into a concrete initiative called Kita Art Friends (KAF). Today, it has grown into a collective of 21 visual artists, including some of the country's brightest stars, such as Made Wiradana, Made Arya Palguna, Sujana Kenyem, Uji Hahan, Kun Adnyana, Klowor Waldiyono, Soni Irawan, Ismanto Wahyudi, Mira El Amir, Nana Tedja and Aurora Santika.

The initiative is in line with Abdes' passion to make art more accessible to the general public.

"Galleries and museums are still limited in their reach while the price of artworks is still beyond the means of many of us. Arts should be celebrated in every aspects of our life and having hundreds or probably thousands of people wearing masks adorned with artworks is a big step in that direction."

The response from the art community has been generally positive, although, Abdes admitted, several artists were reluctant to participate. Some out of concern that the mask would put a dent on the value of their artworks, others because they did not believe in the mask's efficacy in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

In mid-June, the production of KAF's Artist Series masks began, providing a fresh stream of work for KITASATUBALI's otherwise out-of-work employees.

Abdes and his wife, Nirmala Trisna, are responsible for selecting the artworks and mounting a social media campaign designed to promote not only the masks but also the profiles of the artists.

Using the heat transfer printing method and the best available fabric, KAF has managed to churn out premium masks with high-quality reproduction of the artworks.

"I have a responsibility to the artists to present their works in the most accurate manner possible. The colors, lines, brushstrokes and shapes printed on the masks must be an exact reproduction of the original artworks," he said, adding than once he threw away a large stock of fabric because it failed the quality check.

Original work: 'Bersatulah Negriku' (Unite My Country), a 2020 painting by I Made Wiradana, is the original source for the Independence Day special edition mask. (Courtesy of KAF/-)

Painter Made Wiradana, whose painting Bersatulah Negriku (Unite My Country) was selected for KAF's Indonesia's Independence Day special edition, revealed that Abdes' respect for his artwork was the main reason he agreed to participate in the initiative.

"He is a meticulous person. During the production process he regularly sent the mask samples to me to find out whether the color reproduction was accurate or not," the artist said.

Wiradana said he was quite happy with the quality of the end result. He also praised the initiative as a novel effort to bring visual arts to the larger masses.

"Its good from a health perspective and its good from an art perspective."

Wiradana's paintings could command a price well above Rp 20 million (US$1,357). A mask featuring his Bersatulah Negriku artwork could be purchased for a fraction of that price: Rp 50,000.

KAF's Artist Series is available on Tokopedia for Rp 110,000 for a set of three masks. For each set sold, KAF donates Rp 8,000 to the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI). By the end of July, KAF had donated Rp 6 million in cash to the PMI.

Paper to fabric: Abdes Prestaka shows the result of the heat transfer printing method during which specific designs are printed from ink-imbued paper onto fabric. (JP/I Wayan Juniarta)

"The demand for the masks is quite surprising and we have received bulk orders from Japan, Singapore and Austria. Djarum Foundation has just placed an order for 1,500 masks. Business-wise, it is a good project," Abdes said.

More importantly, a growing number of art collectors have approached KAF, requesting the initiative feature their collection in a future Artist Series. Yet, the most joyful moment for Abdes was when two participating artists texted him about the initiative's "side effect".

"They were contacted by art collectors who said they saw their works for the first time on the masks." (ste)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Tearful family members of people killed by Joseph DeAngelo assailed him Thursday for stealing away their loved ones as he escalated his attacks from burglaries and rapes to a series of horrific murders that terrorized California four decades ago.

Today the devil loses and justice wins, Debbi Domingo McMullan?, the daughter of one victim, said during the third day of a sentencing hearing for the 74-year-old man known as the Golden State Killer.

Earlier in the week, a judge heard testimony from rape victims who endured sadistic, hours-long assaults by DeAngelo, a former police officer whose serial crimes began in Northern California. He later moved to Southern California, where his rapes followed the same pattern of binding couples he surprised while they slept and assaulting the woman as the man lay helpless.

By then, his assaults routinely ended in murder and his identity  hidden behind a ski mask  remained a mystery until investigators used a new form of DNA tracking to arrest him in 2018.

DeAngelos ex-wife broke her silence in the case when she submitted an impact statement to the court saying she had been deceived by her husband and that living with the knowledge that his attacks harmed so many people has had a devastating and pervasive affect on my life and my family.

Many victims have wondered how Sacramento attorney Sharon Huddle could not have known about her husbands double life, but she said he simply lied to her.

I trusted the defendant when he told me he had to work, or was going pheasant hunting, or going to visit his parents hundreds of miles away, Huddle wrote.

DeAngelo pleaded guilty in June to 13 murders and 13 rape-related charges stemming from crimes in the 1970s and 1980s. A plea deal with prosecutors will spare him the death penalty when he is formally sentenced Friday to consecutive life prison sentences.

The sentencing will follow days of excruciating testimony from his victims and their loved ones.

Prosecutors walked through his slayings in near-chronological order on Thursday in what one relative called a timeline of horror  from three early Northern California victims killed when they interfered with his assaults on women, to his 10 known Southern California murders.

DeAngelo was dubbed the Visalia Ransacker when he killed 45-year-old Claude Snelling on Sept. 11, 1975. The journalism professor in the San Joaquin Valley was slain while thwarting the attempted kidnapping of his 16-year-old daughter, Elizabeth Hupp.

My dad died saving my life that night and he is my hero, Hupp said as she broke down in tears.

DeAngelo was known as the East Area Rapist by Feb. 2, 1978, when he fatally shot Katie Maggiore, 20, and Brian Maggiore, 21, as they walked their dog around their Rancho Cordova neighbourhood in Sacramento County.

You lurked in the dark so you could prey on innocent victims, Katies brother, Ken Smith, told DeAngelo. Well, now you are prey, DeAngelo, and you can look over your shoulder the rest of your life in prison.

Debra Manning, 35, was raped and killed along with 44-year-old Robert Offerman on Dec. 30, 1979, in Santa Barbara County.

In a letter to the court, Mannings friends Natasha Holliday and Roseanne Howard remembered her as a beautiful and brilliant doctor while blasting DeAngelo for the obsessive madness that led him to beat and shoot the couple before he bizarrely ate some of their Christmas turkey leftovers.

Cheri Domingo, 35, and Gregory Sanchez, 27, were killed on July 27, 1981, also in Santa Barbara County.

I had watched my mom and Greg dance carefree across our living room for the last time, Domingos daughter, McMullan?, who was just 15 at the time, recalled through tears while DeAngelo sat expressionless, as he has throughout the hearings.

The bodies of Charlene Smith, 33, and Lyman Smith, 43, were found March 16, 1980, in their Ventura County home.

They are part of DeAngelos legacy of sadism, cruelty, moral and physical depravity, Jennifer Carole, the daughter of Lyman Smith, told the court even as she urged people to focus on making positive changes.

Finally, there were four slayings in Orange County.

Keith Harrington, 24, and Patrice Harrington, 27, were young newlyweds living in Dana Point when his father found them bludgeoned to death on Aug. 21, 1980.

Ron Harrington, a brother of the victim, called DeAngelo the poster child for the death penalty and criticized Gov. Gavin Newsom for imposing a moratorium on executions.

The slayings led Bruce Harrington, another brother, to champion Proposition 69, passed by California voters in 2004, that expanded the collection of DNA samples from prisoners and those arrested for felonies and has since led to more than 81,000 suspect identifications.

In DeAngelos case, however, investigators pioneered a new technique that builds family trees from publicly available DNA websites as investigators try to identify a suspect.

Manuela Witthuhn, 28, of Irvine was raped and murdered on Feb. 6, 1981. Her brother-in-law, Drew Witthuhn, said in court that DeAngelo pounced on the tiny woman in her bed as if she was nothing more than prey to the predator.

DeAngelos last and youngest known murder victim was 18-year-old Janelle Cruz of Irvine. She was raped and killed on May 5, 1986, after a five-year gap that DeAngelo has never explained.

Michelle Cruz recalled that DeAngelo beat her sister beyond recognition, forcing a closed casket funeral.

Hes a selfish, sadistic, calculating, cruel, pathetic piece of scum, she said.
Rating Action: Moody's changes Rite Aid's outlook to stable; affirms Caa1 CFR

Global Credit Research - 20 Aug 2020

New York, August 20, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service, ("Moody's") today changed the outlook for Rite Aid Corporation ("Rite Aid") to stable from negative. All other ratings including the company's Caa1 corporate family rating and its Caa1-PD probability of default rating are affirmed and there is no change in the company's SGL-3 speculative grade liquidity rating.

"Rite Aid has proactively addressed a large portion of its 2023 maturities which is a credit positive but operational and competitive challenges remain", Moody's Vice President Mickey Chadha stated. "The change in outlook to stable reflects our expectations for a modest improvement in credit metrics and positive free cash flow over the next 12 months, however, the retail pharmacy space remains under pressure and new management initiatives will take time to show results in the midst of the uncertain business environment", Chadha further stated.

Affirmations:

..Issuer: Rite Aid Corporation

.... Probability of Default Rating, Affirmed Caa1-PD

.... Corporate Family Rating, Affirmed Caa1

....Senior Secured ABL Bank Credit Facility, Affirmed B2 (LGD3 from LGD2)

....Senior Secured Bank Credit Facility, Affirmed Caa1 (LGD4)

....Senior Secured Regular Bond/Debenture, Affirmed Caa1 (LGD4)

....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture, Affirmed Caa3 (LGD6)

.... GTD Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture, Affirmed Caa2 (LGD5)

Outlook Actions:

..Issuer: Rite Aid Corporation

....Outlook, Changed To Stable From Negative

RATINGS RATIONALE

Rite Aid's Caa1 rating incorporates it's weak market position as it lacks the scale or the balance sheet to compete effectively with much larger and well capitalized competitors like CVS Health and Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. in the changing pharmacy landscape as scale has become increasingly more important in today's competitive pharmacy sector. Moody's expects Rite Aid's lease adjusted debt/EBITDA to be at around 5.5x for the fiscal year ended March 2021 despite the uplift from robust front end sales in March and April due to pantry loading during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic given the competitive pressures Rite Aid is facing. The rating also reflects Rite Aid's weak interest coverage with EBIT/interest of under 1.0x. Positive ratings consideration is given to Moody's expectation that new management will focus on cost reduction, inventory rationalization, store remodels, growth in the Elixir PBM business, increase the level of script growth through increased traffic and file buys and strategically target participation in limited and preferred networks to boost revenue, earnings and free cash flow. Rite Aid's adequate liquidity, and the relative stability and positive longer term trends of the prescription drug industry are other positive rating considerations.

Story continues

Rite-Aid's rating takes into consideration increasing social risks stemming from changing consumer preferences and spending patterns. The retail environment has been undergoing a structural shift toward e-commerce which has increased pressure on retailers. The rating also takes into consideration the litigation risk associated with prescription drug usage especially opioids. Rite Aid's financial strategies have remained balanced with the company using cash received from asset sales to repay debt.

The stable outlook reflects Moody's expectation that management initiatives including expense rationalization will improve operating performance and credit metrics in the next 12 months.

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

Ratings could be upgraded if the company demonstrates a sustained improvement in operating performance. An upgrade would require improvement in operating margins, continued script volume growth and positive comparable front end sales. Ratings could also be upgraded if the company demonstrates that it can maintain debt/EBITDA below 6.0 times and EBIT to interest expense above 1.0 times. In addition, a higher rating would require Rite Aid to continue to maintain at least an adequate liquidity profile, including positive free cash flow.

Ratings could be downgraded should the likelihood of a default increase for any reason or if Rite Aid experiences a decline in revenues or earnings or increases debt such that debt/EBITDA is likely to remain above 6.5 times and EBIT to interest expense is likely to remain below 1.0 times. Ratings could also be downgraded should liquidity weaken including free cash flow remaining negative or the company does not get any traction on new PBM contracts or if prescription volumes decline.

Rite Aid Corporation operates 2,464 drug stores in 18 states. It also operates a full-service pharmacy benefit management company (Elixir). Revenues are about $22 billion.

The principal methodology used in these ratings was Retail Industry published in May 2018 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1120379. 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.

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FLINT, MI  The $600 million settlement for the families impacted by the Flint water crisis is a step forward in the healing process, and will likely be the largest in the history of the state, according to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Nessel announced some details of the deal, which would set up a claims process for Flint residents harmed by lead or bacteria in their water, on Thursday, Aug. 20.

With this financial commitment, the state will have contributed more than $1 billion in aid to the city of Flint as it recovers from one of the most challenging periods in its history, Nessel stated in the nearly five-minute video.

Nearly 80 percent of the settlement, which state officials said is likely the largest in Michigan history, would be paid to children who were younger than 18 when they were first exposed to Flint River water, which contained elevated levels of lead and bacteria in 2014 and 2015.

This settlement provides $600 million for the people of Flint and if we agreed to by the plaintiffs and approved by the courts, it will likely be the largest settlement in the history of the State of Michigan, Nessel said.

Nessel vowed to share more details of the case with the public and have conversations with the community in the weeks ahead.

Related news:

Youngest Flint water crisis victims to get 80 percent of historic $600 million settlement

The money is not justice: Flint mothers express relief, skepticism about water crisis settlement

$600 million settlement likely coming in Flint water cases, councilman says

$600M Flint water crisis settlement is more than the state has paid out for the last decades worth of lawsuits combined

Flint water crisis lawsuits for kids 6-12 go to front of the line in federal court

As Flint was slowly poisoned, Snyders inner circle failed to act
Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

A detailed analysis report of the Global IoT Telecom Services 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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In Sages case, the principal and operations director indicated she was not eligible for a leave of absence, but they encouraged her to check for other openings in the archdiocese and added: Of course, it goes without saying that we would also welcome you back to teach at our school if there is a time that you feel safe returning to in-person instruction, or our schools needs have changed such that virtual instruction opportunities are available.
Chennai, Aug 20 : Citing the Covid-19 pandemic and the Central government ban on religious congregations, the Tamil Nadu government on Thursday advised people to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi within their homes.

In a statement issued here, the government said orders prohibiting the installation of Ganesh idols in public places and taking them in processions, are to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The Madras High Court has also ordered that the government order should be followed while hearing a batch of petitions on the matter, the statement added.

Latest updates on Ganesh Chaturthi Festival 2020
A Native American tribe in Michigans Upper Peninsula on Wednesday announced plans to create a tribal marijuana market independent of state oversight.

It will compete with Michigans existing medical and recreational marijuana market that is projected to generate $1.5 billion in sales over the next year.

Bay Mills Indian Community, which is comprised of about 2,200 Native Americans from the Ojibwe tribe based in Brimley, where it also operates the Bay Mills Resort and Casinos, intends to break ground on a 10,000-plant indoor grow facility south of Sault Ste. Marie as early as January of next year, Bay Mills Indian Communities Board Chair Bryan T. Newland said.

The grow operation will eventually supply stores near the tribes casino and on land it owns close to Gaylord, Port Huron and Flint. Bay Mills Indian Community hopes to expand its marijuana operation into a cooperative with Michigans dozen tribes, so we can share the burden of doing this and the benefits can flow to different tribal communites, Newland said.

Bay Mills Indian Community would provide marijuana and other related products for sale on cooperating tribal lands.

The Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency, which oversees the states medical and recreational marijuana markets, declined to comment on the Bay Mills Indian Community plans.

Since Native American lands are not subject to state law, tribal marijuana would be exempt from state sales and excise taxes, which currently total 16% for recreational marijuana sales in Michigan.

Look, were sovereign governments, Newland said. Were not giving up our right and our authority to regulate what goes on on our lands and were certainly not going to pay the state of Michigan taxes for what we do on our lands.

Governments dont tax other governments and they dont ask other governments for permission.

The tribe will also be exempt from state licensing, application and renewal fees. In order to be licensed as a 10,000-plant grow facility under the state licensing system, a business would be required to pay $206,000 in application and licensing fees up front with a similar but variable renewal fee each year.

If you plant a seed and turn it into a product and sell it on tribal lands, youre outside the states taxing authority, Newland said. So we expect that will allow us to be competitive on pricing.

Newland said tribal representatives reached out to the Marijuana Regulatory Agency nearly a year ago to discuss some sort of a cooperative agreement, but the discussions were rejected by state officials.

Newland said the tribe previously attempted to collaborate with three different marijuana companies that are currently operating in Michigans licensed market.

The state of Michigan and the Marijuana Regulatory Agency has effectively scared off those companies and any companies working on tribal lands under tribal regulations, Newland said. Newland said due to professional courtesy and non-disclosure agreements he would not disclose the names of the companies.

The Bay Mills Indian Community voted in 2019 to legalize marijuana in a similar fashion to the legalization law passed by Michigan voters in 2018.

The tribe intends to create its own regulatory system to ensure safety and quality control.

On quality and price, well be competitive with anybody else in the state, Newland said.

The grow facility will be located on a 110-acre tribal plot near the intersection of Interstate 75 and M28, a several-minute drive south of Sault Ste. Marie.

Well take advantage of the summer tourism market near our casino to do this, Newland said, but it is also important to note that our tribe has landholdings across the state of Michigan.

And its our intention to grow this business, grow this venture, and bring it statewide.

More on MLive:

Michigan businesses licensed tow grow over 500,000 plants

Marijuana thrives in market changed by the coronavirus

Spouses of licensees may be able to work for government

A prior marijuana conviction could be a good thing
Sen. Godswill Akpabio

People who live in glass houses should not throw stones, which means no one vulnerable to criticism regarding an issue should criticize others about the same. However, hypocrisy runs unbridled while people who like to call out others on bad behaviour turn around and do the same things.

For instance, shortly after Godswill Akpabio completed his tenure as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, he came under investigation following accusations that he diverted over N100 billion from the state between 2007 and 2015. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) interrogated him for several hours over the allegations on October 16, 2015. Even though Akpabio has denied these allegations, top officials of the EFCC insist that the case against him is still ongoing. Amidst the allegations of corruption, Akpabio defected to the ruling party. Afterward, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, the supervisory Ministry of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). A President who came into office based on the promise to fight the 16 years of corruption backtracked and appointed Akpabio as a Minister, a man who used to be in the opposition and is under investigation for graft.

Meanwhile, the plaster saint ministerial appointee, Godswill Akpabio called out the former leadership of the NDDC for using the NDDC as an ATM where they plucked money. Yet, findings from the investigation of the House Committee into the activities of NDDC under Akpabios supervision proved that his actions at the NDDC bare more semblance to a man using NDDC as an ATM. The former Managing Director of NDDC, Joi Nunieh alleged that Akpabio asked her to change all the $120,000,000 million in the account of NDDC and even demanded $1million cash. As if that was not bad enough, under Akpabios supervision, the House Committee investigation unearthed that NDDC spent N81 billion in just six months. This shocking disclosure made the House Committee on NDDC to invite the Acting MD of NDDC, Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei, and Godswill Akpabio for further clarification.

Expectedly, the outcome of the investigation followed the infamous path of kettle calling the pot black. First, the Chairman of the House Committee, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, had to recuse himself from the investigation following allegations of his involvement in corrupt practices in the commission. The Deputy, Thomas Ereyitomi took over the probe but did not fare any better. The panel bombarded the Acting MD with so many questions that the man 'fainted' on live television. When they toed a similar path with Godswill Akpabio, he dropped a bombshell; Akpabio publicly alleged that NDDC awarded 60% of its contracts to members of the House of Assembly. This unsettled members of the committee that the Chairman of the committee pleaded with Akpabio, Honourable Minister, it's okay! it's okay! off your mic."

Dieziani Alison-Madueke

Speaking of mic, one person who should have actually off-ed her mic and not speak of corruption is a former Minister of Petroleum, Dieziani Alison-Madueke. EFCC has accused her of stealing $2.5 billion and seized properties worth billions of naira from her. Corruption allegations against her are the stuff of legend. A riveting and highly fascinating life story of corruption, which appears to be unbelievable. Like the PBS News Hour segment that alleged that, the former Petroleum Minister might personally have organized a diversion of $6 billion (N1.2trillion) from the Nigerian treasury. Instead of providing answers to these weighty allegations, she fled into self-imposed exile since 2015. It was from her country of refuge that the Ijaw National Development Group invited her to deliver a lecture at a virtual event. At that event, the former Minister lamented that societal values have disintegrated to the extent that online fraudsters, otherwise known as Yahoo boys, have become role models in Nigeria. She even referred to the situation as a travesty of an unfolding tragedy.

Meanwhile, the complete and utter travesty is that these people do not only make a mockery of the way the justice system is supposed to operate, they rub it in our faces.
Syracuse, N.Y -- A large group of Syracuse University students gathered on the school quad on Wednesday night in violation of school rules to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The students did not appear to be physically distanced or wearing masks, and they were gathered in a group that the schools student newspaper, The Daily Orange, estimated at more than 100, far larger than groups of 25 that the school allows.

On Thursday, Syracuse University responded with a statement, promising those identified in videos of the event would be referred to the student conduct process and saying the gathering could have done enough damage to shut down campus.

Here is Syracuses full statement from Mike Haynie, the schools vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation:

Dear Students:

Last night, a large group of first-year students selfishly jeopardized the very thing that so many of you claim to want from Syracuse Universitythat is, a chance at a residential college experience. I say this because the students who gathered on the Quad last night may have done damage enough to shut down campus, including residence halls and in-person learning, before the academic semester even begins.

Make no mistake, there was not a single student who gathered on the Quad last night who did not know and understand that it was wrong to do so. Instead, those students knowingly ignored New York State public health law and the provisions of the Syracuse University Stay Safe Pledge. Even more selfish and unsettling is how the actions of those students willfully undercut the efforts of those who have worked tirelessly over the summer to set the conditions for the continuation of residential learning. Even more selfish and unsettling is how the actions of those students may prevent our seniors from claiming their final year of college on our residential campus. Even more selfish and unsettling is how the actions of those students could force a situation where some of their classmates may have to vacate the most safe and stable and supportive living situation they have ever known.

A full investigation of last nights incident is underway. The Department of Public Safety is reviewing security camera video from the Quad, and individuals that can be identified will be immediately referred to the student conduct process.

All this said, I want you to understand right now and very clearly that we have one shot to make this happen. The world is watching, and they expect you to fail. Prove them wrong. Be better. Be adults. Think of someone other than yourself. And also, do not test the resolve of this university to take swift action to prioritize the health and well-being of our campus and Central New York community.

Sincerely,

J. Michael Haynie Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation

Contact Chris Carlson anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1639
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Linkedin Dyaning Pangestika (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 20, 2020 18:45 517 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066f586bc 1 City COVID-19,COVID-19-Jakarta,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,coronavirus,COVID-19-patient,isolation,virus-korona-indonesia,swab-test,rapid-test Free

Hana Puspita never thought that she would become a COVID-19 patient, until she and 20 of her relatives tested positive for the viral disease in July.

The Jakarta-based journalist detailed her experience with COVID-19 on her Instagram account @puspitahana on Wednesday, allowing The Jakarta Post to quote her post for this article.

She recounted that she first suspected she contracted the disease after suffering fever and joint ache on July 28. She underwent a rapid antibody test for COVID-19, which showed a non-reactive result.

Hanas condition did not improve following the test, so she took a second rapid test later and obtained a non-reactive result yet again, despite her high fever and intense coughing.

An X-Ray examination later showed white spots on her lungs, prompting health workers to list her as a possible COVID-19 patient.

Hana was later admitted to Tarakan General Hospital in Central Jakarta after receiving treatment at a private hospital.

It was there that medical staff tracked her breathing with an oxygen tube.

I dont know whether its a psychosomatic symptom from sharing a room with 10 COVID-19 patients, but my body temperature went up to 40 degrees [Celsius] and my coughing got worse upon arriving at the intensive care unit, Hana wrote.

Read also: COVID-19 is no laughing matter, says mayor as more local leaders test positive

Her condition improved several days later, although Hana tested positive for COVID-19 following a swab test at a community health center.

The journalists father passed away on Aug. 8 due to COVID-19. Her relatives, however, did not immediately inform her of the news because they were afraid that it would affect her condition.

I only learned about his death on Aug. 12. I cried as hard as I could that day. I was only able to see my fathers body through a picture taken by my doctor, said Hana.

Her extended family, who mostly live near her house, underwent swab tests following her fathers death.

All of them, almost 20 people, tested positive, including my mother, my husband and my children. We live near each other. Whats worse was my mother and grandmother were sick and showing symptoms, she said.

Hana added she was also struggling with staying in an isolation ward alone.

I wanted to hug my husband and children but I couldnt, she said.

Read also: The faces behind the numbers: Remembering COVID-19 victims

Doctors allowed her to go home on Tuesday evening after her conditions saw improvement, though a final swab test still yielded a positive result.

A new regulation allows patients to be discharged from the hospital if they do not show any symptoms for 11 days.

Hana said she was required to undergo self-isolation with her husband, who had also tested positive for the coronavirus disease.

As of Thursday, there are 31,610 confirmed cases in the capital, with 1,048 deaths and 21,795 recoveries. Governor Anies Baswedan is considering putting a stop to the gradual reopening of essential services as COVID-19 cases continue to soar in Jakarta.
President Christopher F. Roellke, PhD, Stetson University Creating challenging and meaningful opportunities for students both inside and outside the classroom is the key to Stetsons growth and success.

For the sixth consecutive year, Stetson University has been recognized as one of the leading undergraduate institutions in the country by Princeton Review. This honor is given to only about 15% of four-year colleges in the United States, and appears in the 2021 edition of The Best 386 Colleges.

Creating challenging and meaningful opportunities for students both inside and outside the classroom is the key to Stetsons growth and success, said Stetson University President Christopher F. Roellke, PhD. What sets Stetson apart is its focus on helping students grow intellectually, and honing their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, while continuing to honor our liberal arts tradition. A Stetson degree is made more valuable by our deep commitment to experiential learning through internships and research, as well as the opportunities provided for international study. I am always pleased to see others recognize our curricular innovation and the hard work of our students, faculty, staff and community partners.

Published annually since 1992, The Best 386 Colleges 2021 edition contains detailed profiles of each college including excerpts from student surveys and rating scores in seven categories including Academics, Admissions Selectivity, Campus Life, and Tuition and Aid, among others. Stetson University also appears on the publications list of 2021 Best Colleges: Region by Region for the Southeastern Region.

In its profile on Stetson University, The Princeton Review praises Stetson for its extra layer of focus on student well-being through a low student-to-faculty ratio, which survey respondents note is allowing me to work closely with my professors and developing a unique relationship with some of the best professionals in my field of study. This level of individualized aid is built into university life, with the school offering so much support to [its] students. Between one-on-one tutoring, career counseling, the Writing Center, and professors who want to know their students, Stetson does an amazing job making sure we are never alone.

Among student comments regarding academics: Stetson professors inherently care about our paths and experiences and always want to enhance them in the best way possible, which often means that they encourage outdoor activity rather than remaining in one environment to learn. As one student puts it, They truly care about making sure that students understand the material, and are willing to go out of their way to make that happen.

Students describe Stetson as a diverse, engaged campus with mixers and social networking events designed for commuters, as well as clubs and organizations to support all religions, faiths, races and orientations. There is a lot of emphasis on the outdoors as well, whether that comes from the Hollis Center (the on-campus gym), which has a program called SOAR where they organize outdoor activities or just from students in general: If its a nice day out, I and other students typically grab lunch and eat under the trees. As for the weekend, nearby downtown DeLand is known for having a surprisingly ... nice nightlife thats fun, even if low-key, and of course, theres always room to take trips to the beach together.

The Princeton Review does not rank the colleges from 1 to 386 in any category. Instead it uses students' ratings of their schools to compile lists of top 20 colleges in 62 different categories in the book. The lists in this edition are entirely based on The Princeton Review's 85-question survey of students attending the colleges listed.

About Stetson University

Founded in 1883, Stetson University is the oldest private university in Central Florida. Stetson focuses on intense learning experiences in a supportive community that allows students to develop their voice in a connected, inclusive environment. Stetson University ranks No. 5 on U.S. News & World Reports 2019 list of Best Regional Universities (South), and has been recognized as one of The Princeton Reviews 386 Best Colleges, 2021 edition. Stay connected with Stetson on social media.


'The much-awaited decision could be a welcome change at a time when the Indian armed forces are crying for self-reliance and the defence industry is looking forward to more indigenisation,' notes Nitin A Gokhale.

IMAGE: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launching 15 products developed by Defence Public Sector Undertakings and the Ordnance Factory Board as part of Atmanirbharta Week celebrations in New Delhi, August 13, 2020. Photograph: ANI Photo

On May 16, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).

With over 40 ordnance factories under the OFB, it's a huge asset that has been a laggard since inception.

The finance minister was specific, that it wasn't privatisation, but corporatisation.

The establishment would be run like public sector undertakings.

Fifteen OFB units will be corporatised in the first phase.

Overall, the step should give the ordinance factories more autonomy, while enforcing greater accountability.

The shares of the factories would be listed on the bourses, thus bringing in greater transparency in their functioning.

The way ahead is not easy, but a determined thrust could lead to a more profitable restructuring of the OFB.

IMAGE: An armoured tank produced by OFB India. Photograph: Kind courtesy OFB_India/Twitter.com

The issue of corporatisation is not new.

The Modi government wanted it done in its first term but it was not until now -- till Rajnath Singh took over as defence minister -- that this process has gathered pace.

OFB employees have opposed the Centre's proposal of converting ordnance factories into public sector entities to introduce greater professionalism in their management and increase the export potential of defence equipment.

However, OFB employees have opposed the idea for various reasons.

Hopefully, the plan will be executed and followed up in due course for privatisation.

Need for Restructuring

Before getting into the arguments on both sides, it is essential to take a look at the history of OFB and the way it has evolved.

The Indian Ordnance Factories organisation -- a family of 41 ordnance factories under the aegis of its corporate headquarters, Ordnance Factory Board, Kolkata -- is a mammoth industrial setup which functions under the department of defence production of the ministry of defence.

The OFB comprises the world's largest defence equipment manufacturers, producing troop uniforms, tents and boots to parachutes, ammunition, tanks, artillery guns and armoured vehicles for the armed forces.

The OFB is over 200 years old.

It traces its origins to the Gun and Shell factory set up by the East India Company in Cossipore, near Kolkata, in 1801.

Since then it has made steady progress and forms an integrated base for indigenous production of defence hardware and equipment, with the primary objective of self-reliance in equipping the armed forces with state-of-the-art battlefield equipment.

Ordnance factories were set up as 'captive centres' to serve the needs of the armed forces, but have been facing performance issues for a long time.

Concerns have been raised in various quarters over the last few decades regarding the functioning of the OFB which, according to its critics, lacks a professional attitude as required from a manufacturing organisation like OFB.

Today, the board receives annual budgetary support of over Rs 20,000 crore (Rs 200 billion), has over 80,000 employees and holds over 60,000 acres of land.

More than 80 per cent of the OFB's orders come from the army, though the cluster of 41 factories meets barely 50 per cent of the army's requirements.

Once called the 'force behind armed forces', it has lost its lustre because of its peculiar organisational structure.

The present set-up and methods of OFB are inconsistent with the requirements of industry conglomerates that call for agility and flexibility at top managerial levels.

Every decision relating to them, from the modernisation of plants and machinery to entering into joint ventures with other companies, are subject to government rules and regulations, which reduces the leverage and flexibility of a professionally-run company.

IMAGE: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat launches a portal for 'Opportunities For Make In India In Defence' as part of the Atmanirbharta Week in New Delhi, on August 14 2020. Photograph: ANI Photo

Being an arm of the government, the OFB and its factories cannot retain profits and, hence, do not have the incentive to make any.

OFB in its present avatar of a departmental organisation may not be appropriate for carrying out production activities and competing with rivals in the sector who have all the managerial and technical flexibility.

According to the defence ministry, there are a few key issues concerning ordnance factories which impinge on its performance.

Monopoly supply

OFB has all along supplied products to the armed forces -- the captive customer -- on a nomination basis which has its inherent disadvantages.

Because of monopoly, there is no incentive for OFB to improve the quality of its products or to implement a dynamic system of getting customer feedback on both quality and on-time delivery issues.

Budgetary support is provided from the Indian Army's budget

Cost of items issued to the armed forces/CAPFs etc form part of its income.

(Figures in Rs crores) 2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020 Income is based totally on receipt received from Armed Forces (on issues made to them) and budget available with them. In 2018-2019, there was a sharp decline in the army's budget, resulting in a dip in OFB income A. Total Revenue Expenditure 16,403.34 14,562.82 13,689.92 B. Total Income 15,476.82 14,709.41 13,370.66 Net Revenue Budget (A-B) 926.52 -146.58 319.26

IMAGE: An armoured vehicle produced by OFB India. Photographs: Kind courtesy, ofb.gov.in

Quality issues

Poor quality of OFB products have been a consistent cause for concern.

It's an open secret that the armed forces routinely take up issues concerning the poor quality of ammunition manufactured by the ordnance factories, pointing out that it has led to several fatal incidents.

High cost

The high cost of OFB products due to high overhead charges in OFB, including high maintenance charges, high supervisory and indirect labour charges, are major concerns.

This also results in high overhead charges being loaded onto OFB products, with minimal innovation and technology development taking place.

According to the Additional Controller General of Defence Accounts Report of 2016, the OFB was overcharging the army several hundred crores in cases ranging from battle tanks to clothing to general stores.

In the case of the T-90 tanks built under licence from Russia at the Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi, the OFB was charging the army Rs 21 crore per tank, nearly 50 per cent more than what an import would cost.

Lack of innovation

There is minimal innovation and technology development in OFB.

Low productivity

Generally, there is low productivity of plant and machinery and manpower.

Furthermore, working under the umbrella of government procedures and being the sole service provider for the armed forces, there is no penalty for delayed delivery to the customers.

How the c orporatisation plan progressed

Over the past two decades, the subject of restructuring/corporatisation of OFB has been examined by various committees.

The T K A Nair Committee (formed in May 2000) suggested corporatisation -- the conversion of the Ordnance Factory Board into the Ordnance Factory Corporation Limited.

It was further observed that maintaining the status quo of ordnance factories as cost centres in a government department would prove expensive, financially and strategically.

With a strong board consisting of senior officials from the government, army, research wings, public sector undertaking and from industry, the corporation can start its long journey of relying on its strengths, revenues and surpluses, for growth.

The proposed structure would also enable appropriate future changes in line with the dynamic, fast-changing global environment related to the production of defence goods.

In 2004, the Vijay Kelkar Committee also recommended the same, suggesting that it be accorded the status of a Navratna, along the lines of BSNL.

Corporatisation does not necessarily mean privatisation.

It was observed that the formation of a corporation alone would ensure that ordnance factories get the desired functional autonomy and make them accountable and responsible for their operations and performances.

Later, in April 2015, Vice Admiral Raman Puri Committee observed that it is essential to change the current functioning of OFB as an attached office of the ministry and a budgeted entity as it is completely incompatible with the modern methods of production and quality control.

It recommended corporatising the OFB and splitting it into three or four segments, with each one specialising in a distinct area like weapons, ammunition and combat vehicles.

The first moves to end the OFB monopoly came last year when the government notified 275 non-core items which the armed forces could buy from the open market.

In the past, the services had to buy these items exclusively from the OFB.

Modi government's initiative

The first move to open up the OFB was started in September 2016 when it was assessed that the OFB was not meeting the Army's requirement.

This led to a series of policy decisions that gradually came to the present stage: whittling away the OFB's monopoly.

The corporatisation of ordnance factories was listed as one of the 167 'transformative ideas' to be implemented in the first 100 days of the Modi government's second term.

These ideas were proposed in early July based on the recommendations of the sectoral group of secretaries in consultation with the relevant groups of ministers.

OFB's top officials were called for a meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and ministry officials on July 18 last year, during which a decision to finalise the plan was taken.

Officials say a Cabinet note to give effect to corporatisation had been prepared and circulated to stakeholder ministries for consultation.

Finally, on the call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 12 for a 'Self Reliant India' amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on May 16 announced that the Ordnance Factory Board would be corporatised.

However, Sitharaman emphasised that it did not mean privatisation and the corporatised OFB will remain under government control, indirectly implying the ministry of defence having control over its functioning on the lines of defence public sector undertakings.

The much-awaited decision could be a welcome change at a time when the Indian armed forces are crying for self-reliance and the defence industry is looking forward to more indigenisation.

Nitin A Gokhale, one of South Asia's leading strategic analysts, is an author, media trainer and founder of the specialised defence-related Web sites BharatShakti.in and StratNewsGlobal.com.

His books include Securing India, the Modi Way; Rashtriya Rifles: The Home of the Brave; Beyond NJ 9842: The Siachen Saga; 1965: Turning the Tide: How India won the War; Sri Lanka: From War to Peace, The Hot Brew and R N Kao: A Gentleman Spymaster.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
Dubais unique investment opportunities and incentives have made the city a favourable destination for medical investment, said Humaid Al Qutami, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).

Dubai provides an ideal environment for the development and success of international and multinational private hospitals, he said, according to a WAM report.

Al Qutami made the statement during his visit to Clemenceau Medical Centre, which began operating early this year at Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA) with a capacity of 100 beds offering several specialities and centres of excellence including heart; digestive disease; liver; mother and child; haematology and oncology; neuroscience and spine; and orthopaedic surgery. Clemenceau Medical Centre is the first hospital in Dubai Healthcare City Phase 2 and the free zone`s 4th general hospital.

Al Qutami stressed that the DHA considers the private healthcare sector to be its strategic partner and that the authority spares no effort in attracting more international specialised medical centres and hospitals to Dubai to boost the healthcare system in the emirate and provide the public with a variety of health services that meet their needs.

During his hospital tour, Al Qutami met with senior officials from the hospital and was accompanied by Jamal Abdulsalam, CEO of Dubai Healthcare City Authority.

Jamal Abdulsalam, CEO, DHCA, said: "It makes us proud to add to the Dubai Healthcare City portfolio yet another globally-recognised name in the health industry. By choosing to set up in our free zone, Clemenceau, our first hospital in DHCC Phase 2, has demonstrated the trust that healthcare organisations around the world have in our standards and progressive regulations. We will continue to work towards enhancing healthcare delivery in the UAE." -- Tradearabia News Service
Google has made a slight design to change to its Podcasts web page layout by making subscriptions more easily accessible. As reported by 9to5Google when you go onto Google Podcasts on the web your subscriptions are now shown on its home page.

It was back in 2019 that Google Podcasts began offering personal recommendations. Since then Google has been quite quiet on its Podcasting service. Until March this year when the company redesigned the service offering a number of new features.

These included a new Activity tab which housed a new Your Queue feature. This allowed users to organize the order they wanted to listen to their podcasts. This slight change to the web design is not as wide-ranging as this but for many, it will be a welcome addition.

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Google Podcasts make subscriptions easier on the web version

As the above screenshot shows, the web versions now lets you directly browse subscriptions. Previously, users could only access their shows by navigation drawer and tapping Subscriptions.

Upon launch, the Podcasts homepage offered suggestions with carousels for top and trending shows. Then this was refined to become more personalized. It added categories and suggestions based on your listening habits.

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Ths subscriptions list is now the first carousel on the homepage, the idea being to make it as easy as possible to find your shows. It displays five at a time which may seem quite meagre given how many podcasts we often listen to these days.

This actually means for many accessing their shows through the previous route is more convenient. This is because you can see more of your shows at once. Fortunately, this route is still available. Simply go to the navigation drawer and tap Subscriptions as you normally would.

Accessing Google podcasts has also become easier. Podcasts has been added to the web app launcher located at the left of the profile avatar. This appears on every Google service.

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Google Podcasts for Android gets some small changes

This update also includes some small changes and new features for Android users. The bottom bar now has labels: Home, Explore, and Activity.

This is a very minor change as there were only every three categories. This meant that confusion was always unlikely. However, additional clarity is always nice.

Overall, although this is hardly a revolutionary change to the service it is always positive to see companies making refinements. These certainly make the service better and slicker albeit on a minor scale.
The post-pandemic world may provide "a good opportunity" for China and the United States to bolster cooperation in international macroeconomic policy and reforming global governance, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai has said.

"It will be a very different world. Technological progress and other factors will lead to restructuring of the global economy and the supply chain," said Cui in a keynote speech at a webinar on issues related to China-U.S. relations at the invitation of John R. Allen, president of the Brookings Institution on Aug. 13.

"There will even be some changes in the guiding economic philosophy, and greater priority will be given to social issues like public health and contagious diseases," he said. "A new situation presses for better international macroeconomic policy coordination and reform of the global governance system, especially in social sectors such as public health."

"Facing this major task and severe challenge, China and United States should make the right choice, on the basis of mutual understanding and respect, play a positive role for a 'post-pandemic' world order and global governance system, and build a more forward-looking, stronger and more stable relationship between our two great countries," he said.

China has been an active participant, supporter and contributor to the current international system, the ambassador said, adding that meanwhile, as a major country with an ancient civilization, China's integration would "inevitably bring changes to the international system, which needs to make adjustments accordingly."

"This is only logical and natural, like a kind of chemical reaction. Yet our intention is not to have a revolution or start up an entirely new system. While China has been trying to integrate into and adjust to the international system, we do hope the system could make necessary reforms in light of the varying circumstances," he said.

"Will the United State be ready to work with China and other countries to ensure that the international order and global system will meet the needs of the entire international community, and address various global risks and challenges?" he said.

"Or instead, will the U.S. remain obsessed with zero-sum game and major-power competition, let the situation spiral out of control and fall into the 'Thucydides Trap'? This is a fundamental choice the United States has to make," he said.
Maharashtra on Thursday recorded its highest single-day spike case, second in a row, with 14,492 Covid-19 cases on Thursday. With the first daily caseload in excess of 14,000, the states case count now stood at 643,289, while active cases were at 162,491, nearly 25.25% of the total cases reported so far. On Wednesday, 13,165 cases were reported.

The death toll of the state reached 21,359, after 326 deaths were reported. Of them, 231 were reported in the past 48 hours, another 63 deaths from past one week, while the rest 32 deaths were from the period before that, the health officials said.

The surge in cases in Maharashtra is not going not down even after 165 days from the first case of Covid-19 detected on March 9. In fact, the average number of cases per day have increased to over 11,000.

In 20 days of this month, the state has reported 221,610 cases, which accounts for 11,080 per day, on an average.

For the month of July, it was 7,980 cases per day as the state has recorded 247,392 cases in that month, while in June it was 3,405 cases a day as cases recorded were 102,172.

Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray in a meeting with district-level officers held on Tuesday had said parts of Maharashtra have reached their peak of Covid-19 cases, while some parts are close to getting there.

State health minister Rajesh Tope, too, has 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 plateaued and now the downward trend is expected after mid-September, he said on Tuesday. Most parts of the state are witnessing their peak as a result increased in daily caseload is observed. We are hoping for downward trend only in September as two festivals  Ganeshotsav and Muharram  are falling on August 22 and August 30 respectively, said a senior official from health department, wishing not to be named.

We have also been doing aggressive tracking and testing following the government orders, which ultimately led to spurt in daily cases, he added.

This can be further explained as most of cases used to come from the 19 cities declared as red zones in the past. The scenario was situation changed ever since the lockdown was eased with Mission Begin Again starting from June 3.

Statistics showed that on June 3, the 19 cities had 67,885 cases, which was 90.68% of the total cases. While on August 20, they accounted for 412,402 cases (64.10% of the total cases). This suggests the rest of the areas have also started contributing in daily cases to a large extent.

The 19 cities are Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivli, Ulhasnagar, Bhiwandi-Nizampur, Mira-Bhayander, Vasai-Virar, Pune, Solapur, Aurangabad, Nashik, Malegaon, Dhule, Jalgaon, Akola, Amravati and Nagpur.

On Thursday, Mumbai recorded 1,275 cases, second-highest cases in the state, taking its tally to 132,822. Of them, active cases were 18,172. The citys toll stood at 7,314 after 46 deaths reported on Thursday.

Pune city continue to contribute maximum infections in the daily caseload as it recorded 1,682 cases on Thursday. Its tally stood at 84,589 cases. Pimpri-Chinchwad, satellite city in Pune Metropolitan Region (MPR), recorded 1,000 cases, third-highest contributor in the state. Its tally goes up to 37,736. Apart from them, Nagpur city and Jalgaon district have recorded 924 cases and 515 cases respectively.

High number of casualties has become another cause of concern for the state.

In the last 20 days, the state has reported 6,365 deaths, which indicates that it is going to record highest number of casualties his month. Maharashtra still has highest number of deaths across states in the country.

The case fatality rate (CFR) of the state was recorded at 3.32% on Thursday. It is slightly less than Gujarat, which has the highest CFR in the country as present. On Wednesday, Gujarats CFR was 3.46% with 2,837 deaths (81,942 cases), according to the statistics shared by the state medical education department.

Dr Subhash Salunkhe, public health expert, who is also heading the communicable diseases prevention control and technical committee of the state, said Covid deaths are their biggest worry and there is a need for concentrated efforts to bring them down. Number of deaths are our biggest worry as it is increasing. It is related to the spike in cases because if cases have risen, then a certain percentage of number of deaths will also increase at the same time. This needs concentrated efforts such as early hospitalization, identifying senior citizens and patients having co-morbidities, which I dont see happening, Dr Salunkhe said.

As many as 459,124 infected patients have recovered and been discharged from various hospitals across the state till date. On Thursday alone, 12,243 recoveries were reported, taking the recovery rate of the state to 71.39%, against the national average of 73.91%.

On Thursday, it has conducted 76,961 tests and total number of tests conducted so far are 3,414,809.

Currently, 37,639 people have been kept at institutional quarantine facilities and 1,176,261 people were home quarantined across the state.

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WASHINGTON: Steve Bannon, an architect of President Donald Trump`s 2016 election victory, has been charged with defrauding Trump supporters in a campaign to help build his signature wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, prosecutors said on Thursday. As a top adviser to Trump`s presidential campaign who later served as White House chief strategist, Bannon helped articulate the right-wing populism and fierce opposition to immigration that have helped define Trump`s 3-1/2 years in office. Trump fired Bannon in August 2017.

Bannon was among four people arrested on Thursday and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in an indictment secured by federal prosecutors in Manhattan. Prosecutors accused the defendants of defrauding hundreds of thousands of donors through a $25 million crowdfunding campaign called "We Build the Wall," the Justice Department said. They each face up to 40 years in prison.

Prosecutors said Bannon received more than $1 million of that money through an unnamed nonprofit organization. Bannon heads a nonprofit organization called Citizens of the American Public that received more than $4.4 million in contributions in 2018, government filings show.

The famously disheveled entrepreneur and activist headed the right-wing Breitbart News before running Trump`s campaign. He later returned to that job, but quit after angering Trump. He has also tried to promote a variety of right-wing causes and candidates in the United States and abroad.

"I feel very badly. I haven`t been dealing with him for a long time," Trump told reporters at the White House. Trump said he did not know much about the project. Bannon represents the latest close Trump associate to face criminal charges, a list that also includes former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone, former national security adviser Michael Flynn and former campaign deputy chairman Rick Gates. Trump last month commuted Stone`s prison sentence, using his power of executive clemency to benefit a political ally.

A lawyer for Bannon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump has struggled to build his signature wall along the U.S.-Mexico border - a key 2016 campaign promise - in the fact of court challenges, logistical hurdles and opposition from Democrats in Congress.

In the meantime, more than 330,000 supporters have donated to private fund-raisers and profiteers who have promised to build the wall on their own, according to a 2019 Reuters investigation https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-borderwall-business-special-repor.... Those efforts likewise have met with limited success.

The indictment comes as Trump trails in opinion polls behind Democratic challenger Joe Biden ahead of the Nov. 3 presidential election. Also charged were Brian Kolfage, 38, Andrew Badolato, 56, and Timothy Shea, 49, who prosecutors said were involved in the effort.

Kolfage took $350,000 for his personal use, according to the indictment. A triple-amputee U.S. Air Force veteran, Kolfage formerly ran a company that made millions of dollars running right-wing media websites. He first pledged to send donations to the U.S. government when he launched the effort in December 2018, but then said he would use the money to hire private contractors and build the wall on their own.

More recently, Kolfage started a business to sell protective face masks to protect against the novel coronavirus. He could not immediately be reached for comment. The donors thought the money would go toward helping to build a border wall, prosecutors said. But Kolfage, whom they described as the public face and founder of the operation, received thousands of dollars that he used to fund a lavish lifestyle.

Trump fired Bannon after the adviser publicly disagreed with the administration`s North Korea policy. Trump later said Bannon had "lost his mind." Board members of We Build the Wall include Erik Prince, a former government contractor and brother of U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, and former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling.

Kolfage is due to appear in federal court later on Thursday in Florida, while Bannon is set to appear in federal court in Manhattan. The other two defendants are due to appear in courts in the Middle District of Florida and Colorado. The charges are being handled by the same federal office that prosecuted Trump`s former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, and is investigating his current lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani.

The office`s top prosecutor, Geoffrey Berman, was abruptly ousted by Attorney General William Barr earlier this year. The charges were announced on the same day that Trump faced another legal setback, with a judge dismissing his lawsuit trying to shield his personal and corporate tax records from release.
A man who was on parole when he killed two men in Lebanon County will spend the rest of his natural life in prison after he was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences on Wednesday.

Gilberto Torres Reyes, 37, went in front of Lebanon County Judge Bradford H. Charles on Tuesday, who handed down the sentences on the first-degree murder charges and other charges related to the case, according to Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf.

According to court documents filed in the case, Torres Reyes had just robbed a bank in Wyomissing on April 9, 2019 when he enlisted Alexis Perez-Garcia, 27, and Jelson Dejesus-Ortiz, 34, to give him in a ride out of Berks County.

While the group was on Route 72 in Cornwall, Lebanon County, Reyes shot both men in the back, with Dejesus-Ortiz also suffering a gunshot wound to the head. The car crashed, and Torres Reyes eventually ran away from the scene.

During the sentencing hearing, Graf argued for consecutive sentences due to the heinous actions of Torres Reyes.

Our victims died alone, in the rain, on a dark roadway, Graf wrote in a statement. Each man gasped for air choked on his own blood and ultimately died as a result of (Torres Reyes)s heinous actions.

Graf pointed to Torres Reyes lack of remorse, saying he sat stone faced and cold (sic) while the jurys verdict was being read.

According to Graf, Torres Reyes has seven robbery convictions that pre-date the murders.

In addition to the sentences on the murder convictions, Torres Reyes was also sentenced to an additional 15 years on illegal firearms possession and flight to avoid apprehension charges.

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"I do think it's a sad event," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "I haven't dealt with him at all now for years, literally years."

Bannon, an architect of the nationalist populism that has defined Trump's presidency, has been charged with defrauding Trump supporters in a campaign to help build the president's signature wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

"I feel very badly. I haven't been dealing with him for a long period of time," Trump said.

Bannon was among four people arrested on Thursday and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in an indictment secured by federal prosecutors in Manhattan. Prosecutors accused the defendants of defrauding hundreds of thousands of donors through a $25 million crowdfunding campaign called "We Build the Wall," the Justice Department said. They each face up to 40 years in prison.

"I know nothing about the project other than I didn't like, when I read about it, I didn't like it. I said, 'This is for government, this isn't for private people,' and it sounded to me like showboating," Trump said.
A member of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) says there are still 'considerable concerns' about the spread of Covid-19 in the midlands.

A NPHET meeting is underway to consider whether the lockdown in Laois, Offaly and Kildare should be lifted.

The restrictions are due to end on Sunday, after being in place for the past two weeks.

Speaking before attending this morning's meeting, Dr Mary Favier said the situation remains worrying.

"There are considerable concerns about community transmission all over the country but particularity in some of those counties (Kildare,Laois and Offaly). So it will need to be looked at in detail later this morning before a decision is made.

"Then of course that advice is sent to the Cabinet and they make the ultimate decision of what restrictions are imposed or relaxed."

Cluster of cases

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This comes as yesterday a further two deaths and an additional 54 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in the Republic.

Nineteen of the new cases were recorded in Dublin, eight in Kildare, five in Tipperary and the rest of the cases were in Carlow, Clare, Donegal, Kerry, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Waterford and Wexford.

Over the past month there have been a number of clusters in the Midlands, primarily stemming from meat factories. The likes of Carroll's Cuisine in Tullamore, Co Offaly had seven confirmed cases of Covid-19 recently.

Elsewhere the Irish Dog Foods plant in Naas, Co Kildare, shut down after more than 30 Covid-19 cases were found while OBriens Fine Foods, which runs the Bradys Ham plant in Timahoe, Co Kildare, also confirmed that their factory would remain closed recently.
Students in a meeting with Panjab University officials on Thursday refused the varsitys proposal for payment of fee in three to four installments and demanded complete fee waiver.

Dean students welfare (DSW) SK Tomar and dean university instructions (DUI) R.K Singla attended the meeting, which was boycotted by leaders of various student organisations.

This was the second meeting of students with PU authorities amid growing demand for semester-fee waiver.

During the meeting on Thursday, officials put forward the suggestions of allowing students to pay semester fee in instalments and giving scholarships to needy students. However, they failed to convince students.

A university official, who attended the meeting, said, We proposed the suggestions made by a panel, but students did not accept it. We had also suggested to them that a coordination committee will be formed with representation from students, but they refused that as well.

PU students have held multiple protests on campus this month, prompting the varsity to extend the last date to deposit semester fee to August 31 and constitute a committee to find a solution.

The panel has suggested many solutions for students, but maintained that complete fee waiver is impossible for the varsity, which is already staring at revenue loss due to pandemic.

Nikhil Narmeta of National Students Union of India (NSUI), said, We have rejected the proposal of the university. We demand that students be given relief as many are not in a situation to pay fee.

We have demanded complete semester fee waiver and will continue protesting unless the university makes a decision in the best interest of students, said Chetan Chaudhary of Students Organisation of India (SOI).

PUs DSW, SK Tomar, said, We have made many offers to students and given them opportunities according to what the university can afford. We will communicate their demands to the university authorities and seek relief for them.
Fabric, a Los Angeles-based startup that helps brands deliver social and immersive augmented reality experiences to customers in real-time, closed a $1 million angel funding round.

The round was led by Win Churchill, with participation from Ford Seeman, Julie Zwissler, Shai Robkin and others.

The company is using the funds to expdn its development efforts.

Founded in 2018 by Saul Garlick, and Sarah Kass, Fabric is a social augmented reality (AR) platform that offers businesses a new medium of communication to bring people, places and experiences to their customers wherever they are. It offers brands, media, organizations and universities various solutions to fit each brands needs, including: white label custom embed in any app, second screen immersive experiences and in-app customer communities. Fabric is available via iOS and Android.

The company has dev offices in Israel.

FinSMEs

20/08/2020
China and the United States have agreed to hold trade talks "in the coming days" to evaluate the progress of their Phase 1 trade deal six months after it took effect in February, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday. Ministry spokesman Gao Feng made the comments at a weekly briefing held online, but did not elaborate.

They followed Tuesday's remarks by White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows that no new high-level trade talks were scheduled, though both sides were in touch about implementing the Phase 1 deal. The deal, reached on Jan. 15, and seen as a major breakthrough after a two-year long trade dispute between the world's two largest economies, set ambitious targets for China to sharply boost purchases of U.S. farm and manufactured goods.

But ties quickly soured in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic and China's imposition of a new national security law in Hong Kong. Both sides traded threats and sanctions on individuals and businesses, such as Chinese video platform TikTok. Official data also suggests China's imports of U.S. farm and manufactured goods, energy and services are well behind the pace needed to meet a first-year target increase of $77 billion over 2017 purchases.

China's purchases have increased as its economy recovers from this year's coronavirus lockdown, however. On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters he had postponed an Aug. 15 review of the trade pact, in frustration over Beijing's handling of the virus pandemic.

Also read: US terminates extradition, tax exemption agreements with Hong Kong

Also read: Unusual for US to get any cut from TikTok sale, says WH Economic Advisor
KERALA, INDIA / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2020 / The increasing dependence for people working from home and commencing their own businesses in the year 2020 has created a newfound demand in the hosting business. With several choices to increase their stream of income, the question of having a strong host to bolster your online presence is one of the most important. If you're looking for a rock-solid host to have your back, FastComet is the one that could work for you. A name that is well known in the hosting market, FastComet takes after its name and provides a stellar performance.

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Prince Harry has praised his grandmothers work through the Commonwealth, weeks after facing criticism when he said the organisation needed to acknowledge its past.

Harry and Meghan joined a conversation with people involved with the Queens Commonwealth Trust (QCT) to discuss using digital for good, about a month after speaking to other members of the trust about justice and equal rights.

The Duke of Sussex, who remains president of the QCT despite stepping back from senior royal life, said the Queen had achieved what she set out to do when taking over the commonwealth.

Harry said: I think everything my grandmother wanted to achieve when she took this huge responsibility on, shes managed

No one could have predicted how the world was going to change in such a short space of time, especially with the digital space, but hearing you guys, and knowing the broad spectrum that QCT engulfs, youre the definition of the 21st century Commonwealth, and what it means to be part of it.

You are there, standing for equality, for mutual respect, and for fairness.

Meghan and Harry with Queen Elizabeth II at the Queen's Young Leaders Awards Ceremony at Buckingham Palace in 2018. (Getty Images)

Read more: Why the Crown will never feature Meghan, Harry or Prince Andrew  according to the creator

Harry, 35, was widely criticised in July when he talked about needing to acknowledge the history of the Commonwealth before being able to move forward.

In a conversation earlier this week, he and Meghan, who is vice president of the QCT, spoke to the organisations chief executive, Nicola Brentnall, and Vee Kativhu, a study and empowerment YouTuber. Also on the call were Hunter Johnson, founder of The Man Cave and Rosie Thomas, co-founder of Project Rockit both from Australia and Brighton Kaoma, founder of Agents of Change Foundation in Zambia.

Meghan, 39, also referenced joining the Royal Family, saying that it wasnt until that happened that she had met people linked with the Commonwealth, despite living in Canada for several years.

She said she was proud to work with the Commonwealth Trust, and said to Harry it was a continuation of the legacy of your grandmother.

Story continues

Harry and Meghan after a roundtable discussion on gender equality with The Queens Commonwealth Trust (QCT) and One Young World at Windsor Castle in Windsor in October 2019. (AFP)

Read more: Meghan Markle 'excited' to join voting couch party held by Michelle Obama's organisation

Harry also discussed how there was a lot of noise describing an attention economy which is a shouting match.

Speaking to Thomas, who founded an anti-bullying organisation, Meghan praised her work, and said: When that community becomes divisive, when it is not a pack for good, but is a pack of people who gang up on one another, whats challenging is people dont feel an escape, and it can feel very lonely in that space.

It is about knowing your worth.

She also encouraged people not to share something they consider horrible but to stop it right there.

Read more: Is Prince Harry right to take a pop at the Queen's Commonwealth?

The couple appeared on the video call from their new family home in California, which they bought and moved into early last month.

Social media and using online networks for good is likely to be something the Duke and Duchess of Sussex focus on when they set up Archewell, their non-profit, expected next year.

They have spoken frequently on the topic over recent weeks and even in their time as senior royals.

Writing in Fast Company, Harry said he and Meghan called business leaders, heads of major corporations, and chief marketing officers of companies to ask them to drop their advertising at Facebook in July, because they felt it necessary to say our part about the rise of an unchecked and divisive attention economy.

The Commonwealth Day service in 2020 was the couple's last engagement as senior royals. (WireImage)

Read more: 9 things the Queen has said about the Commonwealth she gave 'heart and soul' to

Discussing online news when taking part in a virtual summit for The 19th*, Meghan said: Whats so fascinating, at least from my standpoint and my personal experience the past couple of years, is that the headline alone, the clickbait alone, makes an imprint.

There is so much toxicity out there.

The Commonwealth, a voluntary organisation involving 54 nations (the highest membership it has ever had), is understood to be the achievement the Queen is most proud of from her reign. She has visited every nation bar two, Cameroon and Rwanda, which joined more recently.

Harry and Meghan are president and vice president respectively of the QCT. The QCT says it does not represent the views of anyone in the Royal Family.
Mariska Hargitay will be casting a vote for Joe Biden after working alongside him to end the backlog of rape kits.

Hargitay, who has been playing detective Olivia Benson on Law & Order SVU for more than 20 years, revealed she was 'shocked' to learn how many adults and children were victims of sexual assault when doing research for her role.

During her appearance at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, Hargitay, 56, said she would be voting for the former Vice President after seeing him work 'tirelessly' to end the backlog of rape tests.

'The Vice President has worked tirelessly by our side': Mariska Hargitay will be casting a vote for Joe Biden after working alongside him to end the backlog of rape kits

Appearing on camera in a black blouse with her hair styled into sleek waves, Hargitay said: 'When I started doing research to play detective Olivia Benson on Law And Order SVU order 20 years ago, I was shocked to find out how many people including children experience physical or sexual abuse.

'The statistics fueled my resolve and I committed myself to the movement to end this violence.'

Mariska founded the Joyful Heart Foundation in 2004, which aims to support the healing of survivors and alter society's response to sexual assault.

'I created the Joyful Heart Foundation to help survivors heal and to change the way our society responds to sexual violence,' she said.

'The statistics fueled my resolve': Mariska founded the Joyful Heart Foundation in 2004 to help survivors of sexual assault

For the children: Mariska stated the powerful reason she would be voting for Biden

'The Vice President has worked tirelessly by our side to end the backlog of hundreds of thousands of untested rape kits. And our work will continue because testing kits not only makes our country safer, but it sends a vital message to survivors that what happened to them matters.'

Mariska stated the powerful reason she would be voting for Biden.

'I'm voting for Joe Biden for my daughter, for my sons, for all of our children,' she said.

'It sends a vital message to survivors': Hargitay discussed the imperative of getting rape kits tested

Running for president: Biden is the Democratic party's nominee for president

Mariska has been heavily involved in supporting the victims of sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence.

In 2010 the Joyful Heart Foundation launched the End the Backlog initiative, which aims to 'end this injustice by identifying the extent of the nations backlog and best practices for eliminating it; expanding the national dialogue on rape kit testing through increased public awareness; sharing groundbreaking research; engaging communities and government agencies and officials; and advocating for comprehensive rape kit reform legislation and policies based on our six pillars of reform,' according to its site.

The rape kit backlog was the focus of Mariska's 2017 documentary I Am Evidence, which won an Emmy for Best Documentary.
Sharon Goldie, 45, left her dying daughter to go to the pub before returning home to find her slumped across a sofa - and even then told paramedics the dead teenager was 'faking it'

A callous mother left her dying teenage daughter to go to the pub before returning home to find her slumped across a sofa - and even then told paramedics she thought the dead schoolgirl was 'faking it'.

Robyn Goldie, 13, had begged her mother Sharon Goldie to get her medical help in the days leading up to her tragic death, complaining she was 'hurting all over'.

But the 45-year-old, of Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland, accused her of 'attention seeking' and told her to 'get in' when she ran to the neighbours begging for help.

Unbeknown to Goldie, Robyn was suffering from a burst stomach ulcer - a condition doctors said she would have been expected to survive had it been discovered.

But on the day of daughter's death, instead of helping her, Goldie went down the pub.

She returned to find her unresponsive teenage daughter slumped across the sofa.

But she went to the fridge, got a drink and went outside with a friend. When the friend checked on Robyn, she was found to be dead.

An ambulance was called - but Goldie told paramedics: 'She's at it.'

On then being told her daughter had passed away, a suddenly 'wailing' Goldie stated: 'No, she cannot be.'

The shocking details emerged as Goldie appeared at the High Court in Glasgow.

Goldie appeared before the court to plead guilty to a charge under the Children and Young Persons Act of wilfully ill-treating and neglecting Robyn.

Prosecutors accepted Goldie's not guilty plea to the culpable homicide of her daughter. She will learn her fate next month.

Robyn Goldie, 13, had constantly begged her mother Sharon Goldie to call for medical help in the days leading up to her tragic death, complaining she was 'hurting all over'

A judge heard today how the schoolgirl had suffered a year of horrific neglect before her death including being forced to ask someone for a 1 to get food.

Robyn had lived with Goldie until she was four before moving in with her gran.

She had earlier been put on the child protection register after Goldie was found to be drunk while supposedly caring for her daughter.

Robyn had also once been forced to call a gas company complaining of being cold.

This lead to her living a 'stable life' staying with her gran until 2017.

Robyn then returned to her mum due to a number of reasons, including starting secondary school. But, the court heard social workers continued to monitor the pair.

Prosecutor Ashley Edwards QC said: 'Goldie was offered - on various occasions - the opportunity to attend parenting classes. She declined to attend.'

Goldie's drinking became an issue causing 'friction' with her daughter. Miss Edwards: 'Goldie asked for (Robyn) to be removed from her care.'

Social workers visited the pair - often un-announced - with arguing between them described as 'common'.

The house was also said to be stinking of cat urine and, in March 2018, Robyn was then found to have a rash caused by fleas. Robyn was also described as 'thin, dirty and unkempt'.

Miss Edwards: 'On an occasion (at the pub), Goldie was heard to say: 'I am f***ing sick of her. I wish she would go back and stay with her gran'.'

The court heard Robyn would also film Goldie - who slapped and bit her daughter - screaming at her.

The child told friends how drunken Goldie would offer her cannabis and alcohol while 'constantly' insisting she did not want her in the house.

The week before her death, Robyn was given painkillers after complaining of a sore stomach and legs.

On July 21, Goldie then told staff at the Melody Bar she had 'locked' her daughter in the house 'so she could not get out'.

On July 21, Goldie told staff at the Melody Bar she had 'locked' her daughter in the house 'so she could not get out'

The next day, Robyn complained to a friend she had been ill and not eaten for days.

But, on July 24, Robyn texted her gran claiming she felt 'a lot better'.

However, a friend of Goldie saw the 'drained' girl that day and told the mum: 'She's just not well.'

That night, Robyn told Goldie to get help as she had 'pain all over', but the court heard she refused to get her daughter an ambulance.

Another friend of Goldie said he would go instead with Robyn in a taxi to hospital - but stopped him claiming the girl was 'attention seeking'.

The next day, Robyn begged a neighbour to get her an ambulance as she could not breathe, only for her mother to yell at her to 'get in'.

On July 26 - the day Robyn passed away - it is 'thought likely' an ulcer in the teenager's stomach burst, the court heard.

Robyn was found to have died from peritonitis as a result of a perforated ulcer - which doctors say she would have been 'expected to survive'

That morning, Goldie had turned away a social worker through her letterbox, telling her that Robyn had been 'unwell since last Thursday'.

But despite her daughter being ill, Goldie went to the pub. When she returned home with a friend to find an unresponsive Robyn slumped on a sofa.

Miss Edwards: 'Goldie and the man got another drink from the fridge and went outside 'because the weather was nice'.'

The friend later checked on Robyn again and discovered she was dead. An ambulance was called - but Goldie told paramedics: 'She's at it.'

It was only when paramedics told her that her daughter was dead that a 'wailing' Goldie said: 'No, she cannot be.'

Goldie later told police she thought Robyn had a bug, but had been getting better. She again claimed to think her daughter had been 'trying to wind her up'.

Miss Edwards: 'She said she had told Robyn that ambulances are for people with heart attacks.'

Robyn was found to have died from peritonitis as a result of a perforated ulcer.

A senior medic concluded that had the teenager been treated during her illness, she would have been 'expected to survive'.

The court heard Goldie - who still lives at the same house in which Robyn died - had suffered a brain injury following a car accident when she was a child.

In 2003, she was an in-patient for mental health issues, but stopped taking her medication.

The hearing was told she does not appear to have had further treatment.

Lord Beckett continued her bail meantime. He told her: 'It is a serious case, but I want more information before deciding what to do.'
Met Eireann has issued new Weather Warnings this morning as the tail-end of Storm Ellen crosses Ireland.

Separate Wind and Rain Warnings have been issued.

A Status Yellow Rainfall Warning has been issued for Kildare and all of Ireland. It came into force at 9am today and is in place until 5am on Friday.

Met Eireann is warning of heavy, squally downpours and thunderstorms that will bring a risk of spot flooding at times today and tonight.

There is also a Status Yellow Wind warning for Kildare's neighbouring counties of Dublin, Wicklow, Meath as well as Louth, Wexford, Cork, Kerry and Waterford.

Met Eireann is warning that very strong south to southeast winds later today, veering southwesterly overnight with the potential for further impacts and a continued risk of coastal flooding.

That warning is also in place until 5am on Friday.

Thousands of homes across the country are without power after strong winds from Storm Ellen brought down powerlines.
Last season Peter Dos inspiration was the final girl in horror films  the last survivor who perseveres through adversity and somehow manages to come out of it looking strong and sleek. Shortly after, by happenstance, a global pandemic forced everyone to adapt and survive a frightening new reality.

With large gatherings and numerous brands on pause, a few issues stemming from the pandemic and specific to the fashion industry have included the future of fashion weeks and what clothes will look like post-lockdown.

Regarding the former, as a brand born from social media, Peter Do has never followed a traditional fashion model, opting out of fashion weeks to hold market appointments during Paris mens week. Its no surprise, then, he decided on another unconventional route to debut his spring 2021 collection through Instagram TV. A video of models walking one at a time through head-to-toe and closeup frames was accompanied by a link to a thorough virtual showroom for buyers and press to view individual items in more detail. Do is but the first of many designers who will be playing with new presentation methods for what will inevitably be an experimental fashion season.

As for the clothes, even quarantines influence on more casual attire couldnt sway this posh brand too much. In a balance of last seasons final girl aesthetic with a newfound necessity for comfort, the overall mood was tough yet undone, softening codes without sacrificing the strong silhouettes Do has built over the last two years. Prime examples were the brands signature detachable bolero jacket cut in mixed media more like shirting, and a version of his spacer dress from season one that could be wrapped and tied into a cape top. That transitional element was effective elsewhere, notably on dresses that could be worn backwards with reversible tank tops for a new take on evening and a side of lightness the designer hasnt shown before. Its a smart approach to open pieces up and allow for various open-ended ways to wear, providing a convincing reason to buy.

Story continues

Silhouettes stemming from quarantine included a croc-embossed leather apron to replace the work suit while at home, and handbags through a collaboration with Italian brand Medea that include the baguette to fit a sandwich, the oversized laundry tote, and the airport bag to fit a laptop once travel is allowed. And, like many designers during resort, Do utilized some stock and scrap fabrics, including in a cool asymmetrical pleated skirt consisting of three skirts that didnt make it into development, and a shaggy patchwork coat of repurposed swatches.

Here, the designer shares more on his quarantine process and his take on the future of fashion.

WWD: A lot has happened since we last spoke. What have you tried focusing on the past few months, either in general or specific to the brand?

Peter Do: I feel like since the beginning weve always been focused on e-commerce. The past few months with stores closing everywhere its been really important for us to focus on our virtual showroom and our e-commerce site. We really wanted to have that direct dialogue between us and the fan base on Instagram and stuff like that.

WWD: How has e-commerce been doing during this time?

P.D.: Its good. People are still shopping. If you can shop, you still shop. We still do really well. It pays the rent, helps out here and there. Thats always been the plan since the beginning. Its a substantial part of our business.

WWD: I know in the beginning you wanted to make e-commerce a smaller offering. Has that stayed the same?

P.D.: We actually expanded to more. We tested the ready-to-wear collection last season and it did really well for us. Knitwear is uploading. The shoe has been really successful. We had a waiting list; it hasnt hit our online shop yet and theyre all pretty much sold out.

WWD: When does it hit stores?

P.D.: This month supposedly, but with COVID-19 our factories were shut down for three months. They got back and worked really hard and theyre finally going to be in stores this month.

WWD: You and your team have been very vocal and transparent about race and diversity issues as they apply to your company and society at large. Why is it important for you all to speak up and factor that into your business?

P.D.: When COVID-19 just started in America, as we witnessed as Asian Americans or Asians in the U.S., we were faced with a lot of hate and racist attacks around the country. I think thats when I realized we wanted to speak out more. Thats kind of the beginning of it. Internally, individually, we all shared our thoughts over Instagram, but we decided to come together as a team on the brand account to announce that and have an active plan on how we can help and how we can speak out against it.

WWD: Part of your proceeds went to different charities the month of June. Have you continued with that charitable component?

P.D.: Yeah. Two weeks ago we started doing this raffle where there are organizations that we love and we support that we had leftover archive pieces that we put up for raffle. People donated and the money went towards those organizations. I think you saw the shearling jacket, we did the archive spacer T-shirt. I think well continue to plan stuff like that as we go forward.

WWD: What do you think the role of a designer is at a time like this?

P.D.: I feel like as designers, we are doing what we have always been doing. My job is designing and making clothes. The way we show it is different. I think the Internet changed a lot of things and for young brands these days its not just about making clothes and doing campaigns. Instagram is a campaign. There are so many things happening. My job pretty much is the same, but just how we do it is different.

WWD: Can you elaborate on why IGTV was the right medium to show the collection this season?

P.D.: Thats where we started. Spring 2019, we kind of just debuted on Instagram. As an outsider, I feel like thats the one platform that I feel like I have direct communication with the people who watch and are loyal and have followed us for so long. Its just nice that they can get that first view I guess.

WWD: What were some challenges designing and working from home?

P.D.: I mean, lots of challenges. You know us. We work in the studio so much. I think that that physical, in real life experience is really important. I dont sketch, everything is very hands-on, draping. Zoom fittings and meetings were great, but theres only so much you can do. I think when we got back to the studio and saw each other in person, touching fabrics, playing with fabrics, dress forms, machines, making clothes again, I think thats when the magic happens again. And thats when this collection started happening. Zoom can only replace so much. You need a combination of both.

WWD: How did the Zoom fittings work? Who was a part of that?

P.D.: The whole design team. And the factories, whether its overseas or in the city. Everyone was staying home. In Italy, they had a model over there. A lot of the time in the Zoom meetings, its just like holding it up on a form.

WWD: Did you get to see how it draped and fell on the body during that process?

P.D.: Yeah. Its difficult. Its definitely not the same and its not my favorite thing, but its allowed like, how does it feel?, how does it fit?, a lot of pictures back and forth and in between. But we adapted.

WWD: In terms of this collection specifically, were you designing with the frame of mind that the world would be open by the time it was available?

P.D.: There are definitely some looks in there that I feel like were wishful thinking, like you have somewhere to go, someplace to be, an event or even traveling again  we have a bag called the Airport bag. There are definitely elements of us being hopeful. Thats what keeps us going: being positive, optimistic and hopeful. Thats what gets us through this really hard time as a family as a unit.

WWD: Lets talk about the collection. What was the starting point?

P.D.: We started back in February. I was thinking about comfort and cooking, because you know I love to cook. There was so much going on and I really wanted a moment of peace and being at home. And then the lockdown hit and all we did was stay at home. Everything was about comfort and people were just wearing sweatpants and nobody was wearing pants anymore. For a little bit, it seemed like the suit that we were making didnt have a purpose. I think as the lockdown continued, the main thing that I talked about with people was that people started to get dressed up, put on pants and go to the grocery store, put on shoes and just have a moment to think about being hopeful, a moment of normalcy where you feel like things are getting better.

When we got back into the studio, I think that is when it started to happen. Last season was the final girl, as you know, with the horror film and she had a lot to prove and she was strong. The question is what is next? Whats the next step for us, this woman? For me, it was really interesting to find a new way to show strength without things weve been doing, like the structured suit. We started to experiment with softer fabrics. Things opened up more. We re-looked at things, cut them out and opened them out. You see a shirt that opens, you see knitwear and dresses that completely open in the back and are worn backward. The world was upside down, inside out, and there were uncertainties about it that I wanted to play and open up and destroy the codes that we had been building. So thats kind of like the process behind it.

A lot of things you can wear back-to-front and inside out to show you that you can do so much with your clothes and you can wear them however you like. There are a lot of pieces you see that reflect that change, things from past seasons that we revisit, a dress turned into a tank top, you can wear things different ways, a tank top is now worn backward. Theres an important sense of play.

WWD: Last time we spoke, you had to hold off on adding new retail partners because you wanted your factories to be able to grow with you. How has quarantine affected them, and ultimately, your growth plans?

P.D.: We still say no, even though some stores happened to go out of business, which is really unfortunate. A lot of our factories were having a rough time but came out of it stronger. We work closer with them. We were one of the few people that stayed with them and it wasnt easy. It was very difficult at first. One of my designers is the only one that speaks Korean so she was on the phone with the patternmaker every single day translating the notes we had from Zoom to him. So thats the kind of thing you had to do. You just do what you have to do to support each other during tough times. Were keeping the same factories, our factory here is doing well and everyone is healthy and theyre back to work.

WWD: During quarantine, theres also been a lot of talk about realigning seasons with deliveries better. Since the brand launched two years ago, youve never followed a traditional calendar (opting to show womens collections during Paris mens week). Why did you decide on that model from the beginning?

P.D.: At the beginning we made a lot of choices because as a small startup you have limited funding and everything is boot strappy and crafty. We decided to show off-schedule because we have more space in the factories mapped out for us because its a slower season, and we show during pre-seasons because the buyers have more budget. We show in Paris because all the buyers go there and we hit all the stores at the same time. So those were the decisions we made as a company that makes sense for us and has been working for two years. As COVID-19 hit for the last few months, weve shifted a little bit; still not quite the main season of fashion week, but we talked to our stores so whenever theyre ready and whenever were ready to work out a calendar that works for us. So whatever calendar we do, it makes sense for our partners, our stores, our fabric mills and us. It may not work for other people, but its been working for us.

WWD: What do you see as the way forward for fashion weeks?

P.D.: We never followed fashion weeks and its been working for us, so I think everyone should just do what they want to do and what works for them. What works for you may not work for other people. I like that people are following their instincts and structures, one collection a year or four or six, whatever works for you, and not have to feel like you have to do so much to fulfill some industry standard.

WWD: Belated congrats on your CFDA nomination (for Emerging Designer of the Year). Can you share what your reaction was when you first heard?

P.D.: Honestly, when I saw that e-mail on my phone I thought it was spam. Were all surprised and humbled to be recognized. Ive told you so many times I still feel like an outsider in New York, doing our own things every year, like in the clothes that we make and the internal culture, the things that we like to do. Sometimes it feels like youre just doing your own thing in Brooklyn and not where the conversation is happening somewhere else, so its nice to be recognized. Were just happy and humbled to be a part of it.

WWD: Have there been any other silver linings for you during quarantine?

P.D.: I feel like me and my team have gotten even stronger. If we can design a collection through a pandemic, I feel like we can take on the world. We can do anything. It has strengthened us more as a family. The communication has been really great. We Zoom every day. Even though we miss our dinners and stuff like that, I think we have gotten stronger as a family. We havent quite survived it yet because its still happening, but we feel like we are getting out of it, which is the light at the end of the tunnel.

Launch Gallery: Peter Do RTW Spring 2021

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The United States has no right to trigger the reimposition of all UN sanctions on Iran, the Iranian foreign minister said in a letter to the United Nations, calling on Security Council members to reject Washington's move.

"The US push to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran will have dangerous consequences ... Iran has exercised restraint in good faith ... Now it is the international community's turn to counter the unlawful push by the United States," Javad Zarif said in the letter.

Iranian state TV said the letter was sent to the head of the UN Security Council by Iran's UN envoy Majid Takhteravanchi.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump has directed him to trigger the 'snapback' of all UN sanctions on Iran at the Security Council in New York on Thursday.

In a bid to reimpose the sanctions, the United States will submit a complaint to the 15-member body about Iran's non-compliance with a 2015 agreement on its nuclear program, even though Washington quit the accord in 2018.

Zarif said Washington had no right to trigger the snapback mechanism as it was no longer a party to the pact.

Russia backed up the Iranian stance.

Russia's UN ambassador rejected US plans to restore UN sanctions on Iran as "nonexistent," saying only a country that remains in the 2015 agreement can trigger the return of the sanctions in a process known informally as "snapback."

"We will not take it as snapback," Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told reporters, rejecting Pompeo's expected announcement.

"He's not triggering a snapback. Snapback can be triggered by a country that is a participant of the JCPOA, which the US is not," he said, referring to the accord by its formal name, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

"We consider snapback as nonexistent. We will not take it as a snapback," Nebenzia added.

When asked if Russia would reimpose UN sanctions on Iran, the Russian ambassador replied: "How can Russia reimpose UN sanctions on Iran if the resolution 2231 continues?"

He was referring to the UN Security Council resolution that enshrined the nuclear deal between Iran and six major powers: Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.

That deal aimed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons by restricting its atomic activities in return for wide relief from economic sanctions.

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KANPUR: The Uttar Pradesh Police may interrogate slain gangster Vikas Dubey's sons with regard to the Bikru encounter that took place last month, Kanpur Rural SP Brijesh Srivastava said on Thursday.

Both the sons of Dubey were present in Bikru village with their mother Richa Dubey one day before the encounter. Gangster Dubey had misbehaved with former SI Vinay Tiwari in the presence of his sons that day.

Gangster Vikas Dubey was the main accused in the encounter that took place in Bikru village in Chaubeypur area of Kanpur, in which a group of assailants opened fire on a police team, which had gone to arrest Dubey. Eight police personnel were killed in the encounter that took place last month.

Dubey was arrested by the Madhya Pradesh Police on July 9 from the premises of the Mahakal Temple in Ujjain after he was on the run for some days following the encounter in Kanpur, where eight policemen were killed.

The Uttar Pradesh Police killed Dubey in an encounter on July 10 after he 'attempted to flee' while being taken to Kanpur from Ujjain.
Dublin, Aug. 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Fresh Durian Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2020-2025)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global market for fresh durian is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 10.6% during the forecast period 2020-2025.



Asia-Pacific occupied the largest share in the market for fresh durian in 2019, with Thailand contributing to the major chunk in the market share. The rising global demand coupled with the zero-tariff Free Trade Agreements between Thailand and 16 countries such as China, Australia, Cambodia, India, and Singapore, among others, have helped augment the domestic production of durian in the country.



Asia-Pacific was also the fastest growing region for fersh durian in 2019. The growing popularity of the Mon Thong variety in China with an expansion in the offering of Mustang variety from Malaysia in specialized stores and street markets are expected to drive the consumption of fresh durian in the region, during the forecast period.



Key Market Trends



Asia-Pacific Dominates the Market for Fresh Durian



Asia-Pacific dominates the market for fresh durian with Thailand and Malaysia contributing to the major share in the total production in the region. Thailand exported a total volume of 496,915 metric ton of fresh durians in 2018, a significant increase when compared to 48,673.0 metric ton in 2017 and 402,660 metric ton in 2016. Thailand has a greater comparative advantage in terms of trasportation cost for exporting to China, the world's largest importer of fresh durians, which has helped boost the domestic production in order to meet the surplus requirement for thre export market.



Moreover, a survey conducted by the Bank of Thailand (BOT) revealed that the area under durian cultivation has incerased considerably since 2016 with fresh durians accounting for 95.8% of the total share in exports. The Government of Thailand has been emphasizing on strengthening the distribution channel for stimulating consumption of durians among the Thai by recording a memorendum of cooperation with the giant retailers such as Tops Market, The Mall, Big C, Tesco Lotus, Makro, and Tai Market.



In 2019, the Malaysian Department of Agriculture, along with the Malaysian Agricultiural College, donated 900 durian trees consisting of grades D99 (Small Coffee), D159 (Manthong), D200 (Ochee), D175 (Red Shrimp), and D197 (Musang King) to boost the clone production of durians in the country. The aforementioned factors are further expecetd to boost overall production in the region, during the forecast period.



Asia-Pacific: The Fastest Growing Region



A new-found demand for the creamy texture of the Malaysian Mustang King variety along with the ever-growing demand for Mon Thong in China has led Asia-Pacific to become the fastest-growing region for fresh durians. China accounted for 65.0% of the total share in import value in 2018, with a total imported quantity of 431,940 metric tons of fresh durians during the year, as compared to 224,382 metric tons in 2017.



With an expanding base of health-conscious consumers and middle-income households, the market for durians is further expected to get a boost in the country as the fruit is a rich source of nutrients such as Iron, Vitamin C, and Potassium. The demand for the fruit has reportedly emerged as an essential topping on pizzas and hotpot broths along with an increased usage of durian pulps and pastes in the food service industry. Thus, the market for fresh durians is expected to register a rapid growth in the region, during the forecast period.



Key Topics Covered



1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Study Deliverables

1.2 Study Assumptions

1.3 Scope of the Study



2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY



3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



4 MARKET DYNAMICS

4.1 Market Overview

4.2 Introduction to Market Drivers and Restraints

4.3 Market Drivers

4.4 Market Restraints

4.5 Value Chain/Supply Chain Analysis



5 MARKET SEGMENTATION

5.1 Geography

5.1.1 North America

5.1.1.1 United States

5.1.1.1.1 Production Analysis

5.1.1.1.2 Consumption Analysis

5.1.1.1.3 Import Market Analysis (Volume & Value)

5.1.1.1.4 Export Market Analysis (Volume & Value)

5.1.1.2 Canada

5.1.2 Europe

5.1.3 Asia-Pacific

5.1.4 Middle East & Africa



6 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/wnkjy4

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Opposition leader should go beyond symbolism



Kim Chong-in, interim leader of the main opposition United Future Party (UFP), stole the spotlight Wednesday by kneeling down and bowing his head for about 15 seconds in front of a memorial tower at the May 18 National Cemetery in Gwangju.



He paid his respects to those who lost their lives during the 1980 Gwangju pro-democracy movement. He also apologized for denial, distortion and denigration of the movement by some of his party members. Furthermore, he begged for forgiveness from the victims and the people of the southwestern city, a symbol of South Korea's democratization and liberal politics.



We view Kim's act of kneeling and his apology positively, even though it came too late. It is reminiscent of former German Chancellor Willy Brandt who knelt before a monument to the Nazi-era Warsaw Ghetto Uprising during his visit to Poland Dec. 7, 1970. Brandt's gesture of humility and penance made headlines across the world. It is still remembered as a true apology for Germany's World War II atrocities.



We hope Kim's gesture, which came as a surprise, will help heal the wounds of bereaved families and Gwangju citizens. We also want to see Kim and his party boost national reconciliation by advocating for the spirit of the movement. The UFP should change its stance in a move to uphold democratic values and better protect human rights.



Wednesday marked the first time that any conservative party leader has knelt when it comes to the May 18 uprising. The UFP has so far come under criticism for being reluctant to acknowledge its responsibility for the brutal military crackdown on the pro-democracy activists which led to more than 200 deaths. When the predecessors of the UFP were the ruling party, former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye refused to attend anniversary ceremonies for the May 18 movement.



Even some of the party's right-wing members had tried to disparage the movement and defame pro-democracy protesters. They included then-legislators Kim Jin-tae, Lee Jong-myeong and Kim Soon-rye who organized a public hearing at the National Assembly in February 2019 in an attempt to distort facts about the uprising. They unabashedly described the protesters as "mobsters" and "insurgents," while calling the civil uprising a "riot."



The party, then called the Liberty Korea Party, took advantage of such anachronistic views in an apparent bid to attract conservative voters before the April 2020 general election. But voters turned their back on the party which became rudderless after former President Park was impeached for corruption and abuse of power in 2017.



The May 18 uprising has already established itself  officially, legally and historically  as a pro-democracy movement against the Chun Doo-hwan-led military junta which took power after the 1979 assassination of authoritarian former President Park Chung-hee. Now is the time to end reactionary attempts to discredit the uprising.



In this regard, UFP leader Kim's gesture should go beyond symbolism. Some might question his true intention, saying that he is only trying to garner support in Gwangju and its surrounding North and South Jeolla provinces ahead of the 2022 presidential election. Thus, Kim should do everything he can to back up his one-time gesture with further sincere acts.



Most of all, Kim and his party should cooperate with the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) in passing three bills related to the May 18 movement to better honor its victims and promote its spirit. The UFP should enshrine the pro-democracy movement in its platform.




President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Abuja joined ECOWAS Heads of State and Governments in calling for immediate release of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of Mali, and a return to constitutional order in the country.

Speaking at a virtual ECOWAS Extraordinary Session on the Situation in Mali, the president noted that removal of the Malian leader could spiral into more crises in the country, with devastating consequences for the West African sub-region.

Indeed, it saddens me greatly as we meet today to discuss the turn of events in Mali, which commenced on Tuesday this week, where President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, his Prime Minister and senior members of his government were arrested, resulting in the forceful resignation of the President as well as the dissolution of the Parliament, President Buhari said.

ECOWAS interventions, through series of efforts by Ministers, the Special Envoy and Chief Mediator and a group of Heads of State of our Organization as well as an Extraordinary Summit did not yield positive results. Today, Mali has not only descended into political chaos, but also socio-economic and security disaster with potential tragic consequences to Mali and the sub-region, he added.

President Buhari commended the African Union, United Nations and other international bodies for condemning the military coup in Mali, urging them to work with ECOWAS in restoring peace and order in the country by insisting on the supremacy of constitutional provisions.

According to him, I am pleased that ECOWAS, African Union, UN and others issued strongly worded statements against the action of the Malian military. The events in Mali are great setbacks for regional diplomacy which have grave consequences for the peace and security of West Africa. I am pleased, therefore, that this Extraordinary Summit, holding to discuss pathways to the debacle we face today in Mali, is most timely and appropriate.

We need to isolate series of sanctions-regimes that can create and sustain sufficient pressures on the military to force a return to the status quo. The critical issues for resolution in the Malian crisis had been aptly captured as the four-point pathways to peace. Within that context, and if all parties to the crisis were to abide by those recommendations, the developments now on ground would have been avoided.

The president also said Nigeria will continue to support the decisions of ECOWAS.

The action of the military in Mali has regrettably hoisted on us as a sub-region, the need to decide the options that will be consistent with the provisions of the Protocol on Good Governance and Democracy, which ECOWAS, AU, and the UN subscribe to. In this context, therefore, Nigeria subscribes to the under-listed recommendations for action by our Organisation:

(a) President Keita and other detainees should be released unconditionally and with immediate effect. (b) Nigeria supports the efforts of President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, for wider regional and continental consultations, especially on the possibility of detaching ECOWAS and AU troops with the UN Mission in Mali, to protect State Institutions and also act as first layer of defence in the country to help preserve and protect lives and property.

President Buhari said a politically stable Mali is paramount and crucial to the stability of the sub-region.

ECOWAS, the AU, and the UN should not stand by, while the situation deteriorates. Thus far, their strong statements of condemnation are sincerely appreciated and I urge them to continue to walk this route together with us until sanity returns to Mali with the restoration of Civil Administration, he noted.

The Nigerian leader also condoled with President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger on the tragic attack his country suffered earlier in August, while commending the Chairman of ECOWAS for his continued effort in Malis political situation since the results of the parliamentary elections were announced in March.

Among the Declarations of the summit were: firmness on the restoration of Constitutional order; release of President Keita and all those arrested; stoppage of economic relations with Mali, with exceptions granted to staple foods, fuel and medication, for the sake of the people; continued engagement with all parties to the crisis, while the Special Envoy appointed to mediate, former President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, along with Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, President of ECOWAS Commission, are to visit Mali to convey the decisions of the West African leaders.
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Cara McClure is an activist, community organizer, an Alabama state coordinator for Black Voters Matter, and a co-founder of Black Lives Matter Birmingham.

Law enforcement in Huntsville, Mobile, Hoover, and roughly 100 other U.S. cities have tear-gassed crowds protesting police brutality over the past few months. Yet demonstrators arent deterred. As a co-founder of Black Lives Matter Birmingham, Ive seen brave women and men gather to demand greater police accountability and reform. These activists have been willing to risk injury or arrest to demand an end to police brutality and call for equal justice.

Tragically, our political leaders dont seem to feel the same urgency. Senate Republicans and House Democrats have introduced separate policing reform bills -- and both have stalled because lawmakers wont compromise. If they dont reach a consensus before the November elections, they may permanently lose the chance for real change.

Alabamans are well aware of police brutality. Local police forces killed 138 people between 2013 and 2019. Almost 40 percent of those killed were Black, even though Black residents account for only 26 percent of the states population. Across the country, Black men are 2.5 times more likely to die from police violence than white men.

Sen. Doug Jones appears to understand that this status quo is unacceptable. Hes even been willing to reach across the aisle to fight for the necessary reforms to improve policing and protect Black Americans.

When Republican Sen. Tim Scott, the sole Black Republican senator, introduced his police reform bill, most Democrats immediately shut it down. They denied Scott the 60 votes needed to debate, amend, and vote on the bill.

Jones was one of only two Democrats who voted to discuss it. His willingness to stop playing politics and get things done is commendable -- and its a shame that other lawmakers arent following his lead. Scotts bill doesnt fulfill Democrats every demand, of course. But it is a valuable step in the right direction that contains many worthwhile reforms. The measure would make lynching a federal hate crime, require police departments to collect data on the use of force, and withhold funding from police departments that dont ban chokeholds and report no-knock warrants.

However, the bill doesnt prohibit chokeholds and no-knock warrants on a federal level. So House Democrats crafted their own bill, which bans chokeholds and no-knock warrants in federal drug cases and limits qualified immunity for cops, making it easier to sue police officers for inappropriate use of force. Obviously, Democrats and Republicans dont see eye to eye on these issues. They probably never will. But politics is all about compromise.

That's not as hard as it sounds. Both parties actually share many of the same goals: Collecting more data from police departments and limiting the use of excessive force.

A bipartisan bill could tie federal funding to increased accountability. Officers could be required to report the use of force alongside demographic data on arrests. Or it could create a National Police Misconduct Registry that makes department-level misconduct data available to the public and informs police hiring decisions.

Both parties also support reforms on training. A bipartisan bill could invest in police training on mental health and addiction.

Jones is gearing up for a tough fight in November. In his first campaign ad he noted that, The road to racial justice has taken far too long -- but its a journey that we must make and we must make it together.

We cannot let this moment pass, he continued.

The millions of Americans demonstrating for policing reforms and racial justice understand this. Its a shame that so many of Joness colleagues apparently dont.

While there is much, much more to be done, we appreciate Jones commitment to advancing the Black Lives Matter movement. We encourage him to honor the Black Americans killed by police  and the countless people of all colors who have joined to fight for justice and equality in recent weeks  by working to pass meaningful legislation in the Senate that produces lasting change to policing in America.

Cara McClure is an activist, community organizer, an Alabama state coordinator for Black Voters Matter, and a co-founder of Black Lives Matter Birmingham.
Ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival on Saturday, most idol-makers have been worried about their livelihoods getting hit because of the restrictions in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But Niloy Mitra, a post-graduate in fine arts, is upbeat, saying their concept-based idols like ones showing Lord Ganesha as a destroyer of Covid-19 has been doing the trick by fetching them higher prices. Mitra has set up a workshop along with several artisans to make idols in Lucknows Talkatora Industrial Areas Labour Colony this festive season .

You have to think differently to sell your products. The pandemic has hurt us economically, but has not hit our creativity. It has brought out more creative ideas out of my team, said Mitra. Thinking about creativity in idol making, we decided to relate the subject of idols with coronavirus. We thought Lord Ganesha could be our saviour and we are praying that he destroys coronavirus. With a bit of creativity, we can sell the idols at a higher price.

Mitra said there are idols in which one can see Ganesha as destroyer of coronavirus. In some, he is defending Ladakh from evil forces, he said, referring to the India-China border standoff in Ladakh. Some idols show him as God of prosperity while in others he is blessing everyone for development.

Mitra, whose father was an idol-maker and an artist, said he set up his own workshop here and roped in more fine arts students.

Subrot, another artisan preparing idols of Ganesha, said due to ban on pandals, puja samitis (committees) are not purchasing idols. Only individuals are coming to purchase idols of Lord Ganesha and they are appreciating new concepts and are ready to pay more for them.

He said Ganesh Chaturthi, Durga Puja and Diwali were boom time for them but the pandemic has hit their sales. But idols with a concept are selling at higher rates.

Lucknows additional municipal commissioner, Amit Kumar said last year over 100 pandals of Ganesh Puja were set up across the city. But this year setting up of pandals is not allowed due to the pandemic. Gatherings in parks or pandals will not be allowed.

Anurag Sahu of Lucknows Daliganj Ganesh Puja Samiti cited government orders and said they were not going to set up their pandal on the banks of Gomti on Nadwa road. But we will offer prayers to Lord Ganesh at the temple.

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By James Oliphant

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The third night of the Democratic National Convention featured a lineup of high-wattage political star power: former President Barack Obama, 2016 presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and, lastly, 2020 vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

Here are takeaways from Wednesday's program:

THE BATTLE IS JOINED

It was a night set aside for Harris' history-making turn as the first Black woman and Asian American on a major U.S. presidential ticket, but Obama's blistering indictment of President Donald Trump left the biggest mark.

Dispensing with any notion of civility between those who have held the office, Obama painted his successor as a venal self-dealer and an existential threat to democracy. It was the kind of language that Obama four years ago avoided employing despite his deep concerns about Trump at the time.

Biden may be on the ticket in 2020, but the dynamic between Obama and Trump remains powerful theater. Trump's political career was driven by his false accusations that Obama was an illegitimate president, and he has spent much of his own presidency trying to undo Obama's accomplishments.

Trump made clear earlier in the day he still viewed Obama as an adversary. "See you on the field of battle," he tweeted. A few hours later, Obama met him there.

WOMEN HEADLINING - AND WATCHING

Women dominated the convention's first two nights as speakers and moderators - and did so again on Wednesday.

The program closer was Harris, who was formally nominated as the vice presidential nominee and delivered a speech assailing Trump for a failure of leadership. She also celebrated the efforts of generations of women before her who fought for equal rights and praised her mother for raising her to be strong and purposeful.

For Harris, a rival of Biden's early in the nominating process, it was the most consequential address she had given  and served as a preview of the role she is likely to play ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

Story continues

Harris was preceded by Clinton, who empathized with the slings and arrows Harris will face in the campaign. "But believe me, this former district attorney and attorney general can handle them all," Clinton said.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi highlighted the growing ranks of women serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. Senator Elizabeth Warren, who also ran for president, recalled how childcare struggles nearly sank her professional ambitions.

Biden's work in support of women, including his advocacy for the Violence Against Women Act while in Congress, was praised by Harris and others.

Watching at home: millions of women voters in swing counties who likely will determine who the next president is going to be.

CLINTON OFFERS WARNING

If Clinton had her way, she would have been speaking this week as the U.S. president seeking a second term.

Instead, she urged voters who regret putting Trump in the White House over her four years ago not to make the same mistake in 2020, and to back Biden.

I wish Donald Trump knew how to be a president, because America needs a president right now, Clinton said.

Ironically, the person who may miss Clinton as much as anyone is Trump. He has had a difficult time demonizing Biden the way he did Crooked Hillary, taking advantage of the antipathy some swing voters held toward her.

More irony: After losing the 2016 election, Clinton was pilloried for having done little campaigning in Wisconsin, which helped propel Trump to the presidency. Now with COVID-19 canceling the in-person convention in Milwaukee, she could not make it to the state for her scheduled appearance.

GUN-CONTROL MESSAGE

Democrats opened the night with a plea to end gun violence.

Highlighting the issue were former U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords of Arizona, a victim of a mass shooter in 2011, and Emma Gonzalez, who became an activist after the 2018 mass shooting at her high school in Parkland, Florida.

During the Democratic nominating race, Biden frequently talked about gun control, an issue his party has embraced as a winning campaign message.

Biden spoke of being entrusted as vice president with finding solutions for gun violence by Obama after the killing of 20 schoolchildren in 2012 by a gunman in Newtown, Connecticut. He spoke with pride about taking on the National Rifle Association as a senator when he helped pass a since-expired ban on assault weapons.

Even amid the coronavirus pandemic and the economic downturn, gun rights could still be a flashpoint for some voters in the election.

Republicans will likely devote significant time to hammering Democrats on the issue at their own convention next week. It is one reason why a St. Louis couple who waved guns at Black Lives Matter protesters in June have been invited to speak.

(Reporting by James Oliphant; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Peter Cooney)
A global liberation professor with expertise in "global theologies of liberation and de-colonial theory"

A Latin Patristics professor who can apply the insights of Augustine of Hippo to race, ethnic, and indigenous studies

An Asian religions professor working on "critical approaches to race, gender, sexuality, social hierarchies, and inequality, and power struggles and political movements."

The process can take 5 or 6 years for new colleges. Also, institutions cannot begin the process until they have students. To attract students, however, an institution needs to show that it is accredited

It is expensive and time-consuming: it costs around $1 million to participate in a review

The agencies require "adequate" physical and technical infrastructure to support its operations. This penalizes newcomers who are either still in the building stage or experimenting with online models. Only 6 percent of regionally accredited colleges were newly accredited between 2007 and 2016.

Focus on high school students COVID-19 has presented education reformers with a wonderful opportunity-if they choose to take it. If high schools struggle to reopen this fall, parents will look for different options. Independent academics should be ready to offer their services. They can create online versions of Aristotle's Lyceum and teach a classical liberal arts curriculum. In so doing, they will provide students with a vision of education that is devoid of an activist agenda and perhaps start a grassroots demand for reforming university curricula. Rediscover the private junior college Rather than lobby the government for policy changes, lobby philanthropists to set up private junior colleges like Deep Springs College, where equal emphasis is placed on classical study and work. Private junior colleges had their heyday in the 1930s and 1940s, but most were wiped out with the rise of publicly funded community colleges.

In their recent Martin Center policy brief , Joy Pullmann and Sumantra Maitra get much right about the activist professor problem in academia. These professors are dominating the profession in a way I wouldn't have thought possible three or four years ago. Their control has led to an ideological monoculture, which suppresses freedom of thought and creative inquiry.One need not look further than the job boards to see how the cycle perpetuates. Here is a sample of some of the positions advertised in my field ( religious studies ) this year:But as much as I support their diagnosis, I strongly disagree with their proposed solutions. They advocate for the same tactics as the activist professors in order to right the sinking ship of higher education.I don't believe that approach will produce any long-lasting reform. Instead, it will further stoke the animosity between liberals and conservatives on campus. A better way for reform lies in targeting accreditation, bypassing the governance issues completely.Their first proposal is to limit public funds for activist disciplines through regulation.How would they propose regulating such a quagmire ? The federal government gives over $75 billion to higher education annually. State investments amount to another $87 billion. Not to mention the $1.5 trillion of government-backed student loans.Let's also not forget that universities have already been forced to hire administrators to keep up with the government rules that come with its monetary support. Most universities devote between 20 percent and 60 percent of their yearly budget to administrative costs. Compelling them to hire even more administrators to decipher those new "anti-activist clauses" in federal grants would only drive up the spiraling costs of education.Second, they want governing boards to increase scrutiny on departments for ideological bias.That sounds like another name for a diversity czar, the latest administrative fad at universities. The czar's job is simple: monitor departments to see whether they are taking steps to actively promote diversity on campus and then "restructure" those that aren't sufficiently abiding by their standards.How would Pullmann and Maitra's independent think tanks-tasked with "discovering, measuring, and producing reports" about ideological bias-be substantially different from the committees some Princeton faculty members now want toI certainly agree that it is important to quell active discrimination against those who hold minority views in academia. Surveys suggest that only 4 percent to 8 percent of professors in the humanities feel comfortable self-identifying as conservative . Creating agencies to "review" academic research, however, would just lead to more overreach. Any board investigating ideological bias would, by default, be ideologically biased themselves.Their third proposal is to return to a selective, traditional conception of academia.While professors should have more say about what they teach, I strongly disagree that returning to a traditional academic model means focusing on vocational job training. The point of a liberal arts education has always been to educate the leaders of tomorrow. Students must be encouraged to major in history, philosophy, and literature even if they are not profitable fields. We only have to look at our current government to see the dangerous consequences of having elected officials with no understanding of our heritage and traditions.Finally, Pullmann and Maitra want to crack down on ideology and limitations on academic freedom.The University of Chicago has been a leader in this regard. As their former president Hanna Holborn Gray observed (a quote included in the report ):Looking at what happened at Williams College when they tried to adopt the Chicago Principles, it might be necessary to pass laws protecting academic freedom. Yet, I remain skeptical about turning to the government for a solution to a problem they have actively aided and abetted.Rather than develop a strong-armed approach, reformers should instead focus on supporting business endeavors that offer sidelined scholars a platform to teach and present their research. Of course, bringing the free marketplace to higher education is easier said than done. Companies like Udemy  which allow anyone to create, upload, and sell online courses-are not allowed to issue degrees.That trouble leads to the real problem with higher education: an overly stringent accreditation process.Accreditation agencies are "independent" commissions that develop minimum standards for colleges. Their ostensible purpose is to hold universities accountable  to ensure that students are not wasting their money on diploma mills and other scams.But here's the kicker: the members of the agencies that determine whether universities are in compliance are from those very same institutions. And consequently, the rules they have established concerning tenured faculty, campus facilities, and governing boards make it very difficult for innovative challengers to enter the field Some of the main issues with accreditation include:So how do we get around that roadblock? A couple thoughts:With tuition costs skyrocketing, more people might begin to take more interest in two-year degree programs. Junior colleges also tend not to be subject to as many licensing regulations as four-year institutions. Thus, they have the potential to be a space for both pedagogical ingenuity as well as the revitalization of the classical liberal arts curriculum.With the added pressures of COVID-19, the ship of higher education is sinking. Plugging a few holes as Pullmann and Maitra suggest won't stop it from going down. It's time to think about what lifeboats we need to deploy.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG) today announced it will report the results for the second quarter of fiscal 2020 on Friday, August 28, 2020. The company will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday, August 28. A webcast of the call will be available through the Investor Relations section of its website at http://www.biglots.com/corporate/investors/. An archive will be available on the Investor Relations section of the company's website at http://www.biglots.com/corporate/investors/ through midnight Friday, September 11, 2020. In addition, a replay of the call will be available through September 11 by dialing 877.660.6853 (Toll Free) or 201.612.7415 (Toll) and enter the Replay Conference ID: 13707540.

About Big Lots, Inc.

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG) is a neighborhood discount retailer operating 1,406 stores in 47 states, as well as a best-in-class ecommerce platform with expanded capabilities via BOPIS, curbside pickup, Instacart and, now, PICKUP with same day delivery. The company's product assortment is focused on home essentials: Furniture, Seasonal, Soft Home, Food, Consumables, Hard Home, and Electronics, Toys & Accessories. Big Lots' mission is to help people Live BIG and Save Lots. The company strives to be the BIG difference for a better life by delivering unmatched value to customers through surprise and delight, being a "best place to work" culture for associates, rewarding shareholders with consistent growth and top-tier returns, as well as doing good in local communities. For more information about the company, visit www.biglots.com.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and such statements are intended to qualify for the protection of the safe harbor provided by the Act. The words "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "objective," "goal," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "will," "should," "may," "target," "forecast," "guidance," "outlook" and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. Similarly, descriptions of objectives, strategies, plans, goals or targets are also forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to the expectations of management as to future occurrences and trends, including statements expressing optimism or pessimism about future operating results or events and projected sales, earnings, capital expenditures and business strategy. Forward-looking statements are based upon a number of assumptions concerning future conditions that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. Forward-looking statements are and will be based upon management's then-current views and assumptions regarding future events and operating performance and are applicable only as of the dates of such statements. Although the company believes the expectations expressed in forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of knowledge, forward-looking statements, by their nature, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, any one or a combination of which could materially affect business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

Forward-looking statements that the company makes herein and in other reports and releases are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, current economic and credit conditions, the cost of goods, the inability to successfully execute strategic initiatives, competitive pressures, economic pressures on customers and the company, the availability of brand name closeout merchandise, trade restrictions, freight costs, the risks discussed in the Risk Factors section of the company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and other factors discussed from time to time in other filings with the SEC, including Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. This release should be read in conjunction with such filings, and you should consider all of these risks, uncertainties and other factors carefully in evaluating forward-looking statements.

You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures the company makes on related subjects in public announcements and SEC filings.

SOURCE Big Lots, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.biglots.com


Once the global headquarters of General Electric, the 66-acre property in Fairfield is now housing Sacred Heart University students quarantined due to COVID-19.

The schools guest house on Easton Turnpike is being used to quarantine students coming from states on Gov. Ned Lamonts travel advisory list. Once the rest of the students arrive next week, those who test positive for the coronavirus or have been exposed will also self-isolate there for 14 days if they are unable to return to their familys home.

Other Connecticut colleges plan to follow a similar process by quarantining students in a specific building or area.

At the University of Connecticut, at least 30 students have been quarantined for either testing positive for the coronavirus or having been exposed. The school announced Wednesday four new positive cases.

There are eight on-campus students and three living off-campus who have tested positive for the coronavirus. There are also two COVID-19 cases among faculty and staff.

Stephanie Reitz, a UConn spokeswoman, said the school has set aside space in residence halls where those who become sick can recover and receive care. She said there is also space for students who believe they have been exposed to the virus to self-quarantine while they await test results.

Some UConn students have also been removed from campus housing as the school investigates a dorm party that may have violated COVID-19 safety measures.

At least one UConn student says the safety precautions have not been taken seriously since the campus reopened last weekend.

As an overarching theme, the precautions themselves are reasonable, but its the student bodys lack of following them thats the problem, freshman Luke Udell told Hearst Connecticut Media.

Although its been less than a week, Udell wonders if having students on campus was the right move.

UConn is doing what it can to make us safe, but the best solution would have been for us to not be on campus at all, he said.

Some schools nationwide like the University of North Carolina and the University of Notre Dame have suspended in-person classes after spikes of coronavirus cases. But schools in Connecticut say switching to remote learning will likely be a decision made in coordination with the local or state health departments.

For now, most Connecticut schools are still awaiting students to arrive for the semester.

A spokesman for the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities  which includes Western Connecticut in Danbury and Southern Connecticut in New Haven  said all of their schools submitted detailed plans about how they would handle possible cases.

In general, the universities have set aside at least 10 percent of residence hall space to accommodate residential students who need to quarantine, said Leigh Appleby, director of communications for the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities. The universities also have contact tracing programs in place to mitigate the spread on campus.

For example, Western Connecticut State University has a detailed plan for what happens if someone tests positive. According to its plan, the school has cleared out a residence hall, Fairfield Hall, to accommodate those who need to be isolated or quarantined.

The layout of the building allows for the safe, physical separation of the two groups, the plan reads.

The university is encouraging students who test positive to isolate at home. Fairfield Hall is reserved for those with demonstrated and/or documented hardship. Those isolated in the facility will be monitored daily through telemedicine visits administered by WCSUs Health Services Department. The university is seeking an agency to conduct the observations on weekends.

Southern Connecticut State University also has reserved facilities for COVID-positive students needing to isolate. According to the plan, SCSU has designated 36 units to house students who need to be quarantined. The units  which can each house up to four students with two students per bathroom  have a total capacity for 144.

If additional space is needed, Residential Life will work with the COVID-19 coordinator to determine how to meet the need, the plans reads. Students will not share a bedroom space or bathroom if their health condition warrants private accommodations.

At the University of Bridgeport, all residential students will be tested as they move onto campus or are required to provide a negative test result within 14 days of arrival. Additionally, all faculty and staff who work directly with students will be required to test on campus, or provide a negative test result.

Like most colleges, UB will test 10 percent of the campus population each week.

At UConns Stamford campus, capacity at student residences  which is usually capped at 450  is now limited to 265.

Students have been placed in a precautionary quarantine before classes begin Aug. 31 and all students have been tested for COVID-19.

Students also take a daily symptom survey. Those without symptoms are able to leave their residence to pick up meals from designated dining halls, and engage in limited outdoor activities with other members of their designated family pods beginning Thursday.

Staff writer Peter Yankowski contributed to this story.
top story

Wednesday's coronavirus updates: Two Mahomet elementary students test positive; classmates who came in 'prolonged close contact' to be quarantined, superintendent says
Islamabad, Aug 20 : It was the statement of Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi against the Saudi-led Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), pertaining to the Kashmir dispute, which attracted irked response from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

And while Pakistan's military establishment is focused on mending the dented ties between the two Islamic nations, Prime Minister Imran Khan's recent statement, coupled with the visit of Qureshi to China, is signalling at Islamabad extending allegiance and inclination towards Beijing.

Qureshi, accompanied by senior officials, will be in Hainan, China, from August 20-21 to take part in the second round of China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue.

As per the Pakistan Foreign Office, "The Chinese side will be led by State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi." "During the dialogue, both sides will, inter alia, discuss cooperation on Covid-19, bilateral relations and regional and international issues of mutual interest. The visit will play an important role in further strengthening the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and deepen strategic communication and coordination with China on a range of issues," said a Ministry of Foreign Affairs press release.

Qureshi's visit comes a day after Prime Minister Imran Khan said that Pakistan's future is tied with China, indicating visible signs of Islamabad's intended inclination towards its trusted friend and partner China.

"It should be made clear that our future is tied with China, which has stood by Pakistan through thick and thin. Both countries recognise each other's importance and are further strengthening mutual ties," Khan stated in a television interview.

"Unfortunately, western countries are using India against China," he added.

Khan also rejected what he called rumours about "rifts" with Saudi Arabia, saying "they have their own foreign policy".

It is pertinent to mention here that while Pakistan has not been happy with the performance of OIC, specifically on the Kashmir issue, Beijing has taken its side on raising the issue of Kashmir at global platforms like the United Nations.

With Pakistan cozying up with China, experts believe that Islamabad may be sliding away from the financial dependency and alliance with Saudi Arabia.
IntelliSense.io and BASF Venture Capital (BVC) 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 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.
Black girls are more likely to receive harsh punishment that their non-Black classmates. A new education guide seeks to remedy that with robust research. (Getty Images)

This year, reports have shown that devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic overlaps with racial disparities within health care, housing, policing  and education is no different. When ProPublica Illinois broke the story of 15-year-old Grace, who was sent to a juvenile detention center because she failed to submit her online schoolwork, it prompted petitions, outrage on social media and protests in support of the young girls release. As of this month, her case was finally closed but not before spending 78 days imprisoned for what experts call a subjective offense.

Nationally, young Black girls like Grace are both more likely to be punished and receive harsher punishments than their white peers. Throughout the years, studies have shown that Black girls were seven times more likely to be suspended and over four times more likely to be arrested at school than white girls  and that even in preschool, despite Black girls composing just a fifth of the girls enrolled, they account for over half of girls suspensions. Studies have found that these educational inequities have little to do with differences in behavior but are instead a direct result of harmful policies and biases of the adults around them.

In response, the Education Trust, an organization promoting social, emotional and academic development through an equity lens, has collaborated with the National Womens Law Center for the Aug. 20 release of a new guide  And They Cared: How to Create Better, Safer Learning Environments for Girls of Color  providing parents, educators and other decision makers with tools that can be used to create better, safer learning environments for girls of color.

"And They Cared" is the new guide, released Thursday, by the Education Trust. (Education Trust)

Black girls face some of the greatest barriers to educational opportunities because of racial and gender biases embedded within school discipline policies, dress codes and codes of conduct that target their cultural identity, Nicolle Grayson, director of communications for the Education Trust, tells Yahoo Life. These biases manifest as punishments that have more to do with who these girls are rather than what they do.

Story continues

The guide is the result of research conducted in hopes that it will be used to reform exclusionary discipline policies and improve school climate to help address the needs of girls of color, because, as Grayson notes, This is particularly timely. In the past few weeks, she points out, weve seen horrific headlines of a Florida elementary school student in handcuffs, students suspended from virtual learning and dress codes for at-home learning, adding that during the current uncertainty of a global pandemic and the beginning of a historic public reckoning on racism in the United States, school districts  must make intentional and specific policy and financial decisions to address the systemic anti-Blackness that is folded in our nations fabric.

The publication offers a roundup of guidance born of data collected from directly from schools and students, including a vital glossary and a checklist to help ascertain privilege in a schools rules.

This morning we're proud to release in partnership with @nwlc, our new #SchoolDiscipline guide which aims to provide decision-makers with a common language & practices that can be used to reform exclusionary discipline policies https://t.co/w7PnOYa9rB pic.twitter.com/fSqZB4bCGb  The Education Trust (@EdTrust) August 20, 2020

What the research uncovered

Researchers Adaku Onyeka-Crawford and Kayla Patrick spoke with Yahoo Life about the importance of their findings, with Patrick explaining that the guides title, And They Cared, is from a participants comment about educators. She says she felt it was imperative to not only highlight, but lead with it, because, in the policy analysts years of research, Black girls have often told her that they just dont feel like the educators charged with helping them to grow and learn really care about them. And thats really important to them.

Echoing that sentiment, Onyeka-Crawford, director of educational equity at the National Womens Law Center, tells Yahoo Life, What we wanted to do was to show that for too long Black girls arent thought about when were talking about school safety  [or] when were talking about how to create learning environments that just are better for all students. We took a look at some of the school districts  where policies seemed like they were working  and one of the girls said that people care about whether they were learning, felt safe and felt included in school.

Furthermore, Patrick says that this simple guide is also important to help provide a common language to both students and the adults who are supposed to help them navigate the most formative years of their lives. She recalls that as early as the first grade, she would go home with complaints about things that were not fair at school. Now, as a Black woman who does this work, I realized what I was trying to communicate was that I was actually experiencing racism and sexism in my classroom, she says. Its really important that we engage students in this work, so that they know and have the language to communicate whats happening to them, rather than allow unfair school policies to silence their identity within their culture.

Across the country, many of these exclusionary rules (including but not limited to hair discrimination and dress codes) have made headlines after being called out for race and gender biases, but, as Patrick explains, racism and sexism is baked into the code of conduct policies that end up sending the message to students  and particularly girls of color  that they actually dont belong in schools. She continues, We are hoping that whether you are a parent, teacher or an advocate, you print out the policies that your school has around dress codes or suspensions and compare it to our checklist at the end of the guide to see if your policies are targeting Black girls.

The new guide also highlights districts in Oakland, Calif., and Chicago as examples of those that have been proactive about creating better policy for marginalized students.

In Oakland, they have school-based health centers that give students the support in health care to make sure that they have what they need to learn, so if you need glasses or dental care, you can get that from your school, Patrick says. Those things are really important for our communities that are most likely to be underserved. Although the support is uncommon, the theory behind it is not unfamiliar  as, in 2016, a Baltimore-based program called Vision to Learn showed that providing students with free eyewear could boost their grades.

Patrick adds that were on the cusp of potentially the biggest eviction crisis that weve ever seen, so one of the things were really concerned about is the increase of homelessness among students, and we want to make sure that they have the support they need, whether theyre physically in school buildings or distance learning.

Still a long way to go

One of the most upsetting revelations, says Onyeka-Crawford, was realizing that even the places where there are positive steps being made, theres still so much work to do. She notes that, although Chicago was praised in the report for its efforts in policy changes, the district is still spending $33 million on school police during a pandemic where students arent even going to be in school. Those funds, she says, could be better spent on guidance counselors, school psychologists and nurses rather than folks who are in schools to arrest Black and brown girls. The amount of resources spent on criminalizing [these] girls knocked me off my feet.

Onyeka-Crawford says that this problem aligns with calls to defund policing, saying that, especially right now, when were talking about distance learning, that money would be better spent on a Wi-Fi hotspot or device  something to actually help students learn, instead of another officer. But racism doesnt end just because theres a pandemic, and this is one of the ways that its arising. I think that we really need to push schools and other officials to unpack some of these things that have become common practice in schools heavily attended by students of color.

Additionally, Onyeka-Crawford says the need to reconsider the notion that police only arrest bad guys, explaining that not only have Black girls been arrested in school for minor infractions but that, within their findings, some girls reported being sexually harassed by officers on campus. She adds, If you put a police officer at school, theyre going to find a way to use their authority to criminalize students. Its not that Black girls misbehave more frequently. Its that we are criminalizing common, childlike behavior.

Patrick agrees, further explaining that many adults dont give [Black girls] a lot of space and opportunity just to be children because of whats known as adultification bias. As just one example, the researchers found that Black and brown girls are most likely to see themselves as leaders, but that something subjective  like being too inquisitive or too loud  could be met with punitive measures instead of encouragement. In 2017, a groundbreaking study by the Georgetown Law Center on Poverty and Inequality produced data showing that adults view Black girls as less innocent and more adult-like than their white peers, especially in the age range of 514, finding that many believed that Black girls required less nurturing, protection, comfort and support. It also found that Black girls are expected to be more independent and know more about adult topics  including sex.

Patrick says, School should be a place where students feel safe and they have the opportunity to grow, but we know that things like suspensions, expulsions and arrest dont really help students to grow at all. The study points out that there are both short-term and long-term effects as a result being suspended from missing out on critical class time to the fact that students who attend schools with higher rates of suspension are more likely to have future interaction with the criminal legal system. On the flip side, it also highlights that students who attend schools with lower suspension rates are less likely to interact with the prison system as adults and also more likely to attend a four-year college.

Onyeka-Crawford says she remains hopeful that school districts, school leaders and policymakers will start to listen to Black girls because there is evidence to show that reductions in exclusionary discipline, while incremental each year, show encouraging results when looked at over time.

She adds: If nothing is taken away from this report, we want folks to listen to Black, brown and indigenous girls when they say, [More police] doesnt make me feel safe. What makes me feel safe is having a caring adult in the building, knowing that I can talk through my issues with somebody and knowing that I can make mistakes without getting suspended or arrested. If you make school better for Black and brown girls, you make school better for everybody.

Read more from Yahoo Life:

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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 OPEC+ group has as much as 2.31 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil production above the collective quota for May-July to offset in August and September, Reuters reported on Thursday, quoting an internal OPEC+ document it had seen.

OPEC+ launched in May a record 9.7 million bpd production cut in response to the crash in demand in the pandemic. The cuts are being eased to 7.7 million bpd as of August 1, a month later than initially planned. Non-compliant members promised to offset their poor compliance between May and July with extra cuts in August and September.

The internal document Reuters has seen does not explain in detail how those extra cuts would be distributed in August and September. The estimates from OPEC+ show that Iraq was overproducing at a rate of 851,000 bpd between May and Julythis was the least compliant member of the pact. Iraq has promised to cut much more to offset poor compliance, but its July production rose by 39,000 bpd to average 3.752 million bpd, according to OPECs latest Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR).

Nigeria was also overproducing a lot between May and July, pumping 315,000 bpd above its ceiling, according to the OPEC+ document seen by Reuters.

Russia, the leader of the non-OPEC group in the OPEC+ coalition, was also producing above its quota  283,000 bpd more than it should be in order to be in full compliance.



Related: Saudi Oil Minister: Oil Demand Could See A 97% Recovery By The End Of 2020

The Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC), which met on Wednesday, said it had requested other underperforming participating countries to submit their plans for implementation of the required compensation for the overproduced volumes to the OPEC Secretariat by the end of next week, August 28.

The Committee emphasized that achieving 100% conformity from all participating countries in the DoC and compensating for the shortfalls in May, June and July 2020 is not only fair, but vital for the ongoing rebalancing efforts and to help deliver long-term oil market stability, OPEC said at the end of the video meeting.

The OPEC+ panel also admitted that the pace of recovery appeared to be slower than anticipated with growing risks of a prolonged wave of COVID-19.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
As the US-China "tech war" widens, investors are betting on China's efforts to replace US technologies with indigenous applications to run networks in the state sector. In recent months, local governments and state firms such as China Telecom have announced plans and procurements aimed at fostering a home-grown tech ecosystem to displace gear from the likes of Intel, Microsoft, Oracle and IBM. An index tracking Chinese IT stocks has jumped nearly 30 per cent this year, doubling blue-chip gains. "We're seeing more US actions against China, and the future ...
TikTok is the latest social media platform to peel back the curtain on its efforts to fight hate speech. Since the beginning of the year, the company says its taken down more than 380,000 videos and 64,000 comments in the US for breaking its hate speech rules. TikTok has also banned more than 1,300 users as part of the policy.

The update is the first time TikTok has shared details of its content takedowns since it first added hate speech to its community guidelines in January. While these numbers may not reflect a 100% success rate in catching every piece of hateful content or behavior, they reflect both our commitment to action and to building a community that is more positive and welcoming than on other apps, TikToks Head of Safety Eric Han wrote in a blog post.

Han also noted that TikTok has taken steps to block hateful content from appearing in the apps search results, and the company is training our moderation teams to better understand more nuanced content like cultural appropriation and slurs.

TikTok, already facing scrutiny over alleged ties to the Chinese government, has repeatedly come under fire for its moderation policies. The company has been criticized for censoring content critical of the Chinese government, such as when it hid a video that criticized its treatment of Muslims (TikTok apologized for the incident). The Anti-Defamation League has also said TikTok doesnt do enough to combat white nationalism, extremism and anti-semitism.

The company has taken a number of steps to try to assuage these concerns, The company formed a Content Advisory Council earlier this year, and plans to open a transparency center that will give outside experts more visibility into its security and moderation policies.
The study also found that adults who had experienced neglect or physical, sexual and emotional abuse as children were over three times more likely to report poor health, widespread pain, frailty and loneliness

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines child maltreatment as the abuse and neglect that occurs to children under 18 years of age and includes all types of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, negligence and commercial or other exploitation, which results in actual or potential harm to the childs health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power".

The long stream of child maltreatment data provided by the WHO indicates that the impact of this type of abuse is immense and multi-generational. The data shows that someone who is abused during childhood is more likely to abuse as an adult. The violence gets passed down from one generation to the next as a vicious cycle of violence. Breaking this cycle is not just necessary to eliminate child maltreatment, but also the lifelong physical and mental health repercussions that a survivor goes on to endure.

A recent UK-based study published in the Journal of Comorbidity throws much-needed light on this lifelong impact of child maltreatment on the physical and mental health of the survivors.

Childhood maltreatment and risk of multimorbidity

Led by scientists at the University of Glasgow, the study aimed to examine the link between four types of child maltreatment and the presence of multimorbidities (or multiple health conditions) in adult life. It analysed data provided by 1,57,357 participants based in England, Scotland and Wales.

It found that those adults who had experienced all four types of child maltreatment - neglect, physical, sexual and emotional abuse - were five times more likely to suffer from four or more long-term or chronic health issues.

The participants also proved to feel more socially isolated, and were over three times more likely to report poor health, widespread pain, frailty and loneliness.

Experiencing more types of childhood maltreatment was also linked with increased prevalence of mental health disorders.

Multimorbidity is clearly a huge challenge, both for the patients as well as the global healthcare system. The greater the number and severity of chronic health conditions one suffers from, the lower is their quality of life. This research underlines that adverse childhood experiences (ACES) can result in an increased risk of chronic diseases in adulthood due to two mechanisms.

ACES affect mental health, and may later lead to the adoption of unhealthy behaviours like smoking, alcohol abuse and eating or sleep disorders. These unhealthy behaviours are risk factors, if not direct causes, of many chronic diseases including heart disease, liver disease, depression, and dementia.

ACES lead to toxic stress, which is the prolonged or excessive activation of stress response systems in the body and brain. Toxic stress can increase the rate of wear and tear of the body, and shorten the chromosome telomere length which can impair the development of neurological, endocrine and immune systems of the body. These impairments and increased rate of breakdown of the body can also lead to chronic diseases in adulthood.

The study stated, While the detailed understanding of these biological pathways requires further clarification, there is enough evidence for the impact of childhood adversity on long-term health to justify intervening.

Communities and public healthcare systems investing more in the prevention of child maltreatment and support for survivors of childhood abuse can go a long way in ensuring better health outcomes in the future.

For more information, read our article on Chronic illness and mental health.

Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, Indias first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health.
We export our iron ore, curb Chinese steel import. So costs are up and exports are uncompetitive

Chennai: Rising steel prices have hit export of value-added products and made them less competitive in the international market. Along with increasing iron ore exports, curbs on import of steel from China, Vietnam and South Korea are boosting domestic steel prices.

Against the backdrop of restrictions on imports from China, Vietnam and South Korea, Indian steelmakers have raised prices across product categories. This has sent raw material cost for user industries sky high. This is making engineering exporters non-competitive in the international market, the Engineering Export Promotion Council of India has said.

Pig iron and steel prices went up by Rs 3,000 per tonne in the local market in July. Further, hot-rolled coil prices have moved up by Rs 700-750 per tonne on an average, cold-rolled coil prices by Rs 500-550 per tonne, steel pellets by Rs 300-350 per tonne and iron ore fines and lumps by Rs 200-250 per tonne.

Iron ore exports have been increasing of late. Though they started exporting when demand was low in the domestic market, it is continuing even after demand picked up. Lower import of steel from the international market is also making steel producers hike prices, said Mahesh Desai, chairman of EEPC India.

According to Desai, international prices of some of the categories used by Indian steel product manufacturers are less than domestic prices.

But the government had imposed anti-dumping duty on imports of certain types of steel products from China, Vietnam and South Korea for five years. Duties ranging from $13.07 per tonne to $173.1 per tonne have been levied on imports of flat rolled product of steel, plated or coated with alloy of aluminium and Zinc from these three countries.

MSMEs are not in a situation to use advance authorization scheme to z steel at higher duties.

''In such a scenario, the dependence of Indias engineering industry on the domestic steel market is only expected to increase in the coming months, said Desai.

The export of value-added products, including automobile components, industrial machinery has been down in the past few months. Higher steel prices will further affect the competitiveness of Indian value-added products, finds EEPC.

EEPC wants government intervention in ensuring availability of steel at the export parity price for MSME engineering exporters.
A home burns in Vacaville, California, during the LNU Lightning Complex fire on Aug. 19, 2020. (Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images)

Helicopter Pilot Killed in Crash While Tackling California Wildfires

A helicopter pilot tackling the California wildfires died on Aug. 19 after his aircraft crashed during a water-dropping mission in Fresno County, officials said.

The pilots aircraft crashed about 160 miles south of San Francisco, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said in a statement.

Hundreds of fires were burning across California on Wednesday, including 23 major fires or groups of fires that Gov. Gavin Newsom blamed on extraordinary weather and all of these lightning strikes. He said the state has recorded nearly 11,000 lightning strikes in 72 hours and knows of 367 fires.

Thousands of people were forced to flee their homes into smoky air as crews worked in blistering heat to beat back the wildfires.

The pilot, whose name has not been released, was killed Wednesday at around 8:45 a.m. when his helicopter crashed about an hour from New Coalinga Municipal Airport. He was the only person aboard the aircraft, which was one of six fighting the Fresno County fire.

He was working with Guardian Helicopters, based in Fillmore, which had a contract with Cal Fire to provide emergency services as needed, said Zoe Keliher, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board.

Robert Satz, a pilot and safety manager at the company, said he received word about the crash around 10:30 a.m. He said he had no further details and declined to identify the pilot.

The Fresno County Sheriffs search and rescue team was summoned shortly after 11 a.m. to recover the body of the pilot.

Theyre trying to methodically and safely get them in and hopefully not get exposed to the fire, department spokesman Tony Botti said.

Officials told the Los Angeles Times that the helicopter crash sparked a small brush fire that grew to roughly 50 acres and spread toward the Hills fire.

We are experiencing fires the likes of which we havent seen in many, many years, Newsom said at a press briefing Wednesday, noting that he had requested out-of-state help to tackle the fires.

At least 50 homes and other structures were destroyed by the fires, and another 50 properties were damaged, according to CalFire.

A firefighter sprays retardant on a utility pole as the LNU Lightning Complex fire burns in Fairfield, California, on Aug. 19, 2020. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Officials said four people have suffered burns, however it is not yet clear how severe their injuries are.

An investigation into the crash is being carried out by the National Transportation Safety Board and Cal Fire.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Elms College has announced the appointment of Tyra Good as the colleges first faculty director of the Center for Equity in Urban Education.

The college in Chicopee has also introduced Justin Monell as its director of career services.

Monell will provide resources to help determine Elms students career path, find internships in their field of study, prepare for graduate school, or look for employment.

Goods hiring advances one of the colleges newest and most innovative programs.

I am pleased that Dr. Good, a nationally recognized educator, has joined Elms College to become our first full-time faculty director of the Center for Equity in Urban Education (CEUE), Elms College President Harry E. Dumay said.

In her work experience, she has addressed the persistent issue of learning gaps among students from various socio-economic, race, and ethnic groups in the Pittsburgh area and I look forward to working with her to decrease the achievement gap here in western Massachusetts.

In this new position, Good is responsible for the strategic oversight and management of the colleges efforts to address this issue.

The CEUE was launched last September to increase the number and diversity of qualified teachers in the Chicopee, Holyoke, and Springfield school systems. In these school systems, the racial and ethnic composition of teachers is not representative of the students.

This area also experiences an 800-teacher annual gap across K-12 schools, especially in specific roles such as special education, English language learners, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Educators with training and skills pertinent to urban education, whose conditions can be unique to those found elsewhere, will be developed through the Elms program.

Through a partnership with philanthropists, school districts, and charter school networks, and with a re-imagined curriculum, Elms College and Good aim to increase the pipeline of teachers, including teachers of color, who are culturally prepared to inspire the students whom they teach.

I am elated to be leading the CEUE with students, staff, faculty, school leaders, foundations, and community members, who are also committed to creating educational equity and justice, Good said.

Through culturally responsive course work and experiential learning experiences, a graduate of the Center for Equity in Urban Education will have expertise in both content and cultural knowledge to teach and lead in an urban setting, as well as within rural and suburban settings.

Good has more than 10 years of experience teaching education, and, most recently, she was assistant professor of practice in education at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Penn. She is the founder and chief academic consultant for GOOD Knowledge Connections and the founder of the Black Educators Network (BEN) of Greater Pittsburgh.

The BEN is a strategic team of K-12, Higher Education, and community educators working across school district and community lines to help ensure the academic and personal success of African-American youth from underserved communities.

She was awarded a 2019 National Deeper Learning Equity Fellowship through Big Picture Learning and Internationals Network for Public Schools. Deeper Learning Equity Fellows are exceptional leaders, education practitioners, policy advocates, and committed to improving public education opportunities for underserved communities.

Good received her bachelors in business management from Howard University, a master of arts in teaching from Chatham University, and a doctorate in educational leadership and evaluation from Duquesne University.

Monell, the new career services director, holds a bachelors degree in sociology and political science from the University of Connecticut and a master of education in student affairs administration from Springfield College.

His duties include serving as a resource for alumni seeking assistance with job searches, networking, or planning for a career change.
Over 500 more Vietnamese citizens return from RoK and Taiwan

More than 500 Vietnamese citizens from Taiwan and the Republic of Korea were brought home on two repatriation flights which landed safely at local airports on August 19.

Vietnamese citizens in Taiwan wait for the repatriation flight on August 19. Photo by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.



According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the flights were arranged by local authorities of the three countries, the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, and the budget carrier Vietjet Air.

From Taiwan (China), 290 Vietnamese citizens were flown home on a flight of Vietnam Airlines which landed at Cam Ranh International Airport in the central province of Khanh Hoa.

The same day, 230 others in RoK boarded a Vietjet Air flight which landed at the Can Tho International Airport in the southern province of Can Tho.

Passengers include children aged under 18, the elderly, the ill, pregnant women, workers with expired visas and labour contracts, students without accommodations, stranded tourists, and those in disadvantaged circumstances.

After landing safely at the airport, all passengers and crew members were given health check-ups and sent to quarantine areas in line with regulations.

Over 100 repatriation flights have been arranged by Vietnamese authorities since April 10 to help over 26,000 local people stranded abroad due to Covid-19 return home, the ministry said.
BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - U.K. stocks fell sharply on Thursday as minutes from the Federal Reserve's latest meeting signaled considerable concern about the outlook for the U.S. economy. The benchmark FTSE 100 dropped 74 points, or 1.2 percent, to 6,037 after gaining 0.6 percent the previous day. Weaker metal prices pulled down miners. Chilean miner Antofagasta slumped 4.3 percent after it posted a 22.4 percent plunge in first-half core earnings. Anglo American tumbled 3.3 percent and Glencore lost 3.2 percent. BP Plc gave up 1.6 percent and Royal Dutch Shell declined 1.7 percent as oil prices drifted lower on demand concerns. Premier Oil plummeted as much as 20 percent after it reported a pretax loss of $334.8 million for the six months to 30 June 2020 compared to profit of $119.9 million, prior year. Intercontinental Hotels Group rose over 1 percent after reports that it examined a merger deal with France's Accor. Building supplier CRH dropped 1.5 percent after reporting a fall in first-half pretax profit. 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.
Sudan's foreign ministry spokesman has been dismissed after making allegedly unauthorised comments indicating there were contacts with Israel regarding normalising ties.



The development on Wednesday comes after the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel announced last week that they were to establish diplomatic ties, a deal denounced by the Palestinians as a "betrayal" of their cause.



The agreement makes the UAE only the third Arab nation - after Egypt and Jordan - to have full ties with Israel.



Sudanese acting Foreign Minister Omar Qamar al-Din "has dismissed Haidar Badawi from his position as spokesman and head of the media division" at the ministry, a statement by the official SUNA news agency said on Wednesday.



It came a day after Badawi said Sudan was "looking forward to concluding a peace agreement with Israel".



What's behind the agreement between UAE and Israel?



"There is no reason to continue hostility between Sudan and Israel," Badawi was quoted as saying by Sky News Arabia.



"We don't deny that there are communications" with Israel, he added, saying both countries would gain much from a deal.



Badawi's remarks immediately drew a pledge from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "do all that's needed" to wrap up a deal.



Qamar al-Din sought to distance himself from Badawi's comments, saying they were received "with astonishment". He insisted his ministry had not discussed the issue of ties with Israel.



In February, Netanyahu met General Abdel Fattah Burhan, the head of Sudan's transitional government, during a secret trip to Uganda, where both leaders agreed to pursue normalisation of ties, according to Israeli officials.



A senior Palestinian official at the time had denounced the meeting as a "stab in the back of the Palestinian people".



"President Burhan put Sudan on the right track with his meeting with the Israeli prime minister," Badawi said.



'Communication' between the two states

Israeli Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen told Israeli news site Ynet in an interview that he believes the talks with Sudan will lead to a deal.



"There is communication between the two states and I believe that it will develop into the advancement of an agreement between the countries. But we need to look, we need to wait. Is it right for Israel and Sudan? The answer is yes," he said.



A Sudanese government official told The Associated Press news agency on Tuesday that deliberations between Sudanese and Israeli officials have been going on for months, with help from Egypt, the UAE and the United States.



"It's a matter of time. We are finalising everything," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to reporters.



"The Emirati move encouraged us and helped calm some voices within the government who were afraid of backlash from the Sudanese public."



An Israeli deal with Sudan would mark another setback for the Palestinians, who have long counted on the Arab world to press Israel to make concessions to them as a condition for normalisation. That wall of Arab support had long served as one of the Palestinians' few points of leverage against Israel.



Sudan, a majority Arab nation, hosted the landmark Arab conference after the 1967 war where eight Arab countries approved the "three no's": no peace with Israel, no recognition of Israel and no negotiations.



But in recent years, those hostilities have softened.



Israel previously considered Sudan a security threat, due to Iran's suspected use of the country as a conduit for overland smuggling of munitions to the occupied Gaza Strip.



However, since longtime President Omar al-Bashir was removed from office last year, Khartoum has distanced itself from Iran and no longer poses such a threat, Israeli officials say.



Sudan is now on a fragile path to democracy after a popular uprising led the military to overthrow al-Bashir in April 2019. A military-civilian government rules the country, with elections deemed possible in late 2022.



At the time of the Burhan-Netanyahu meeting, the Sudanese military said the talks with Israel were an effort to help end Sudan's status as an international pariah state.



"History!" said Netanyahu, who had been fighting for his political survival back home, in a tweet at the time.



Sudan is desperate to lift sanctions linked to its listing by the US as a state sponsor of "terror". That would be a key step towards ending its isolation and rebuilding its battered economy. The US and Israel are staunch allies.

Source: aljazeera.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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Telehandlers Market: Global Industry Analysis 2015-2019 & Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030

A recent market study published by FMI on the telehandlers market includes the global industry analysis of 2015-2019 & opportunity assessment for 2020-2030, and delivers a comprehensive assessment of the most important market dynamics. Our analysts have conducted thorough research on the historical as well as current growth parameters of the market to obtain growth prospects with maximum precision.

Telehandlers Market: Segmentation

By Maximum Lift Height Upto 30'

30'-60'

More than 60' By Ownership Rental Service Providers

End Use Industries Construction Agriculture

By Region North America

Latin America

Europe

East Asia

South Asia & Pacific

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-4934

Report Chapters

Chapter 01  Executive Summary

The report initiates with the executive summary of the telehandlers market, which includes a summary of the key findings and statistics of the market. It also includes the demand & supply-side trends pertaining to the telehandlers market.

Chapter 02  Market Overview

In this chapter, readers can find the definition and a detailed taxonomy of the telehandlers market, which will help them understand the basic information about the telehandlers market. Along with this, comprehensive information about the telehandlers and its properties are provided in this section. This section also highlights the inclusions and exclusions, which help readers understand the scope of the telehandlers market report.

Chapter 03  Key Market Trends

The telehandlers market report provides key market trends that are expected to significantly impact the market growth during the forecast period. Detailed industry trends are provided in this section.

Chapter 04  Key Success Factors

This section includes the factors that have emerged as key successful factors and strategies adopted by key market participants.

Chapter 05  Global Telehandlers Market Demand Analysis 2015-2019 & Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030

This section also explains the global market volume analysis and forecast for the telehandlers market in the forecast period of 2020-2030.

Chapter 06  Global Telehandlers Market Pricing Analysis

Pricing analysis of the telehandlers market at the regional level has been provided in this section.

Chapter 07  Global Telehandlers Market Demand (in Value or Size in US$ Mn) Analysis 2015-2019 & Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030

This section explains the global market value analysis and forecast for the telehandlers market for the forecast period of 2020-2030. This chapter includes a detailed analysis of the historical Telehandlers market, along with an opportunity analysis for the future. Readers can also find the absolute $ opportunity for the current year, and incremental $ opportunity for the forecast period.

Chapter 08  Market Background

This chapter explains key macro-economic factors that are expected to influence the growth of the telehandlers market over the forecast period. Along with the macroeconomic factors, this section also highlights the value chain, supply chain, forecast factors, and value chain analysis for the telehandlers market. Moreover, in-depth information about the market dynamics and COVID-19 impact analysis on the market have been provided in the successive section.

Chapter 09  Global Telehandlers Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030, by Maximum Lift Height

Based on the maximum lift height, the telehandlers market is segmented into Upto 30', 30'-60', and More than 60'. In this chapter, readers can find information about the key trends and developments in the telehandlers market and market attractiveness analysis based on the maximum lift height.

Chapter 10  Global Telehandlers Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030, by Ownership

This chapter provides details about the telehandlers market based on the ownership and has been classified into rental service providers and end use industries. End use industries segment is further divided into construction and agriculture. In this chapter, readers can understand the market attractiveness analysis based on the ownership.

Chapter 11  Global Telehandlers Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030, by Region

This chapter explains how the telehandlers market will grow across various geographic regions such as North America, Latin America, Europe, South Asia & Pacific, East Asia, Oceania, and Middle East & Africa (MEA).

Chapter 12  North America Telehandlers Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030

This chapter includes a detailed analysis of the growth of the North America telehandlers 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 vehicle type and countries in North America.

Chapter 13  Latin America Telehandlers Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030

This chapter provides the growth scenario of the telehandlers market in Latin American countries such as Brazil, Mexico, and the Rest of Latin America. Along with this, an assessment of the market across target segments has been provided.

Chapter 14  Europe Telehandlers Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030

Important growth prospects of the telehandlers market based on its end users in several countries such as Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic, Russia, Poland, and the Rest of Europe are included in this chapter.

Chapter 15  South Asia & Pacific Telehandlers Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030

This chapter highlights the growth of the telehandlers market in South Asia & Pacific by focusing on India, ASEAN, and the Rest of South Asia. This section also help readers understand the key factors that are responsible for the growth of the telehandlers market in South Asia & Pacific.

Chapter 16  East Asia Telehandlers Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030

In this chapter China, Japan, and South Korea are the prominent countries in the East Asia region that are the prime subjects of assessment to obtain the growth prospects of the East Asia telehandlers market. Readers can find detailed information about the growth parameters of the East Asia telehandlers market during the forecast period of 2020-2030.

Chapter 17  MEA Telehandlers Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030

This chapter provides information about how the telehandlers market will grow in major countries in the MEA region such as GCC Countries, South Africa, Turkey, Northern Africa, and the Rest of MEA, during the forecast period of 2020-2030.

Chapter 18  Oceania Telehandlers Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030

This chapter highlights the growth of the telehandlers market in Oceania by focusing on Australia and New Zealand. This section also help readers understand the key factors that are responsible for the growth of the telehandlers market in Oceania.

Chapter 19  Market Structure Analysis

In this chapter, readers can find detailed information about the tier analysis and market concentration of key players in the telehandlers market, along with their market presence analysis by region and product portfolio.

For Information On The Research Approach Used In The Report, Request Methodology@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-4934

Chapter 20  Competition Analysis

In this chapter, readers can find a comprehensive list of all the prominent stakeholders in the telehandlers market, along with a detailed information about each company, which includes the company overview, revenue shares, strategic overview, and recent company developments. Some of the market players featured in the report are Terex Corporation, Haulotte Group, Oshkosh Corporation (JLG Industries, Inc.), Linamar Corporation, Manitou BF, J C Bamford Excavators Ltd., MAGNI Telescopic Handlers Srl, Doosan Bobcat, CLAAS KGaA mbH, Wacker Neuson SE, and Xtreme Manufacturing Llc, among others.

Chapter 21  Assumptions and Acronyms

This chapter includes a list of acronyms and assumptions that provides a base to the information and statistics included in the telehandlers market report.

Chapter 22  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 telehandlers market.
By Kang Seung-woo



The specter of nationalism is rapidly surfacing in Korea, raised by Heritage of Korean Independence (HKI) President Kim Won-woong, who denounced alleged "pro-Japanese traitors," including the nation's first head of state.





Heritage of Korean Independence President Kim Won-woong / Yonhap
BROCKTON, Mass., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Porter and Chester Institute has opened a new campus in Brockton, MA to accommodate students from surrounding towns such as; Abington, Bridgewater, Canton and Holbrook.

The new campus, located at 609 Belmont St. in Brockton, MA, is consistent with Porter and Chester Institute's new campus model, has an efficient educational design and is visibly accessible to the public. The 40,000-squanre-foot institution will allow students the chance to grow and work in an expansive learning environment.

The Brockton location offers industry modeled labs and an array of technical programs including; Medical Assisting, Dental Assisting, CADD Technology (Computer-Aided Drafting and Design), Computer and Network Technology (CNT), Career HVACR (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration), Automotive Technology and Career Industrial, Commercial and Residential Electrician.

Under the Covid-19 state of emergency (SOE) in Massachusetts, Porter and Chester Institute has transitioned to a blended learning structure with the didactic (lecture) portion of courses offered online and the hands-on lab portion of courses offered in person on campus.. Blended learning will continue while the SOE is in effect, including for the fall term, beginning Oct. 19.

For more information on Porter and Chester and the programs offered you can go to, www.porterchester.edu.

Porter and Chester Institute also has two other campuses serving Massachusetts. These campuses are located in Chicopee and Worcester as well as six additional campuses serving Connecticut.

Porter and Chester Institute (PCI), a private sector, post-secondary technical institution with nine campuses throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts, featuring twelve different career programs, supports committed students in achieving the technical and professional skills essential for their chosen career through industry-modeled, student-centered education and training. For more information, please visit PCI at www.PorterChester.edu or call (800) 870-6789.

Contact: Ann Baldwin

[email protected]

(860) 985-5621

SOURCE Porter and Chester Institute

Related Links

https://porterchester.edu


Omar Abdullah, former Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) chief minister, has claimed that the Narendra Modi government is currently focussed on breaking up the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and because of which its chief Mehbooba Mufti continues to be in detention, according to a recently released book.

Mehbooba has been detained under the National Security Act (NSA), 1980, following the scrapping of Article 370, which granted special powers to J&K, on August 5, 2019.

In an interview with US-based authors, Pradeep Chibber and Harsh Shah, for their book, India Tomorrow: Conversations with the Next generation of Political Leaders, Abdullah also did not rule out some amount of cooperation with once arch-rival Mehboobs party PDP in the larger interests of Kashmir.

Also read: Agree with Rahul that non-Gandhi should be Congress president, Priyanka in new book

At the moment, it appears as if the entire effort of New Delhi is focused on breaking up the PDP. Because of this, a new political formation call the Apni Party is largely made up of people from the PDP. This may explain why Mehbooba Mufti has been kept in detention longer than I have because they (the Modi government) havent met with the same success in breaking away people from the National Conference (NC) as they have with the PDP, he told the authors.

Abdullah (50) was released from detention on March 24 after seven months.

Also read: Centre withdraws 10,000 soldiers from Kashmir to send a message

Well wait and see how that plays out. But obviously some amount of cooperation, some amount of working together with the PDP in the larger interest of general Kashmir cannot be ruled out, the former Union minister added.

After the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) withdrew support to the PDP in June 2018, the then Governor Satya Pal Malik had placed J&K under Governors rule and kept the assembly in suspended animation.

However, in November, the NC and the Congress had offered their support to keep Mehbooba in power, but Malik ordered to dissolve the state assembly after the Peoples Conference (PC) led by Sajjad Lone staked a counterclaim, saying it had the support of 25 BJP legislators and more than 18 others.

In her letter to the Governor, Mehbooba had claimed the support of 56 legislators in the 87-member assembly. The PDP had 28 members in the assembly, the NC (15), and the Congress (12). The bloc also had the support of an independent lawmaker.

However, Malik later claimed that he had not received the communication via facsimile from Mehbooba, as it was a holiday.

Asked if he was disappointed with the responses of his partys old allies such as the Congress to the abrogation of Article 370, Abdullah said that there should have been at least a token resistance because the states special status was the legacy of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

I understand that you dont want to oppose the revocation, but at least own it. But more than the revocation of 370, I think the thing that disappointed me more was the silence at J&K being humiliated the way it was converted into a union territory (UT). In all the years since independence, this was the first time a state has been downgraded. Otherwise, UTs have always been upgraded to states, he said.

Abdullah expressed disappointment with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for not opposing the move to convert J&K into a UT.

My father left his own election to campaign for N. Chandrababu Naidu, and he was one of the first people to jump straight off with the BJP and say, we support you on everything. These are betrayals that I will not forget easily, he said.

The former CM said the general population in Kashmir is angry about what happened on August 5 but didnt react the way they did in 2008, 2010, and 2016 because there was a far larger presence of security forces this time.

Militancy is something you can control. What you cant do is force the people to feel more Indian than they feel. You cant force a sense of isolation, bitterness, anger, or a sense of separatism, out of people. And I dare say that in spite of the BJP and their voices in the media patting themselves on the back that the events of August 5 will end separatist sentiment in J&K, I think it will have no such impact. If anything, those who are sitting on the fence are probably feeling more isolated and more separatist than they were before August 5, 2019, he said.

Abdullah also claimed that after 2014 there has been no engagement with the people of J&K.

The NC leader reiterated that he is unlikely to participate in any electoral politics in J&K till it is a UT.

My party wont boycott elections. Im talking purely about myself. I dont see myself as a member of the assembly of the UT of J&K. Ive been CM of one of the most empowered assemblies of this country. Im not going to be CM of a UT, where, perhaps, I cant even decide which peon I want to work in my office. Thats not for me, he said.

Asked about personal regrets in his political career, Abdullah said there were two major incidents, which he wished had been handled differently when he was the J&K CM. He recounted the allegation of rape and murder of two women in Shopian in 2009 and the 2010 summer of discontentment in which over a hundred people had died.

That continues to haunt me and always will. Besides, my failure was in not being able to convince the Indian government that hanging Afzal Guru is not going to win them any votes in the general election and, in fact, would push J&K back to the fringes. I wasnt able to convince them, and that is something I will always regret, he said.

The book features 20 prominent young politicians from different political parties such as Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sachin Pilot, Smriti Irani, Akhilesh Yadav, Asaduddin Owaisi, Aaditya Thackeray, Devendra Fadnavis, Milind Deora, Varun Gandhi, Supriya Sule, and Rajyavardhan Rathore.
Tultepec (Mexico):

A massive explosion gutted Mexicoas biggest fireworks market, killing at least 29 people and injuring 70, authorities said.

The conflagration, in the suburb of Tultepec, set off a quickfire series of multicoloured blasts and a vast cloud of smoke on Tuesday that hung over Mexico City.

The market was packed at the time with customers buying pyrotechnics for traditional end-of-year festivities. Christmas and New Yearas parties in many Latin American countries very often wrap up with clattering firework blasts.

#WATCH :Explosion in a fireworks market in Mexico City,26 people have been killed (Source: Reuters) pic.twitter.com/N3F8MZyHL8 a ANI (@ANI_news) December 21, 2016

aWe recovered 26 bodies at the scene of the incident,a Mexico state prosecutor Alejandro Gomez told reporters at the site.

Federal police, who had reported an initial death toll of nine, said on Twitter that 70 people were hurt and were being transported to emergency rooms.

Fire crews struggled for three hours before bringing the blaze under control.

The head of the civil protection service, Luis Felipe Puente, said they had to wait for all the fireworks explosions to stop. The damage was beyond vast.

aThe entire market is gone,a he said.

He added that several of the injured were in adelicate condition,a and searches were under way for more casualties in the scorched area that looked like a scene from a post-apocalyptic film.

Homes and vehicles nearby were also damaged. The military was deployed to help emergency crews transport casualties to hospitals by ambulance and helicopter.

Mexicoas President Enrique Pena Nieto tweeted his condolences to the families of those killed and his wishes for recovery for those hurt.

A local resident, Alejandra Pretel, told AFP: aThe sound of blasts started to go off and we thought it was a nearby fireworks workshop.a

But minutes later it became evident that it was the market being destroyed. aMy neighbours said they felt everything shake, but I didnat realise because I was running away,a she said.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
In October, the White House may well be holding an event it has not seen for a quarter of a century: an Arab-Israeli treaty normalising relations. A month away from the presidential elections, US President Donald Trump will be able to watch on Mohamed bin Zayed, the crown prince of the UAE, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, sign their names to the treaty.



In March 1979 Jimmy Carter oversaw the signing of the groundbreaking Egyptian Israeli peace treaty. In 1993 Bill Clinton hosted the signing of the Oslo Accords. A year later came the signing of the Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty. Clinton went on to try hard, but failed, to secure a final Palestinian-Israeli deal and a Syrian-Israeli deal.



Clearly, this is going to be a big day for Trump. He could claim that he had secured a breakthrough in Arab-Israeli relations that had eluded his predecessors for 25 years despite endless rounds of negotiations, said one Middle East-based foreign diplomat whose country has been involved in the history of the Arab-Israeli struggle since the 1948 Nakba.



He added, however, that the real crux of the issue will not be holding an impressive signing ceremony, or even securing further Arab-Israeli normalisation treaties, but ensuring such treaties impact positively the complex situation prevailing in the Middle East.



Last week, to the surprise of many around the world, not least the Palestinians, Trump broke the news: Israel and the United Arab Emirates had agreed to start normalising relations. The deal between the two countries, which have neither a common border nor a history of armed conflict, was trailed by those involved as helping to secure Middle East peace by virtue of securing a temporary suspension of Netanyahus plans to annex 30 per cent of the West Bank in line with the Trump peace plan, and encourage Palestinians to agree to resume negotiations suspended for over a year due to Israels settlement policies.



The news of the signing of a normalisation agreement received immediate support from several capitals, with Cairo giving a nod to the planned signing. President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi used his Twitter account to praise the work that had led to the upcoming agreement and expressed the hope that it would help bring about peace and prosperity in the region. Several Gulf capitals, especially those considering normalisation with Israel like Manama and Muscat, also praised the political development.



For his part, Netanyahu promised that normalisation on the basis of peace for peace would go beyond the agreement with the UAE and, in press statements, insisted it would get the Palestinians back to the negotiating table.



The Palestinians seemed more than dismayed by the news. A communique issued by the office of Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas called on Abu Dhabi to reverse course. Palestinian officials and politicians from both the PA and Islamist resistance groups for once were on the same page, qualifying the deal as a betrayal of Arab support for the Palestinian cause.



In a rare show of its displeasure the PA withdrew its ambassador to Abu Dhabi for consultations. And in an equally rare aggressive statement, PA senior negotiator Saeb Erekat called on Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abul-Gheit to issue a statement to denounce the agreement or resign.



Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Shettayah called on the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to reject the agreement and pressure the UAE to cancel plans for its signing, saying the treaty violates the principle of land-for-peace set out in the Arab Peace Initiative.



But as a Ramallah-based Palestinian source said in a telephone interview, The PA, and all Palestinians, know very well this will not happen. Nobody is going to support the Palestinians on this matter.



Arab countries that have traditionally supported Palestinian demands, such as Algeria and Sudan, are unlikely to speak out against the agreement, and not just because of Abu Dhabis influence across the Arab world. The fact is that many other Arab capitals are weighing up the possibility of reaching similar agreements with Israel, some as early as this year.



Neither the PA nor the Hamas leadership seem to have a plan about what to do next. Speaking from Ramallah, a Palestinian source said that Palestinian groups considering their next move believe it will depend largely on whether or not Trump is re-elected.



Trump has taken very harsh measures against Palestinian rights, including moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem and issuing an extremely unfair vision for settlement. We will have to wait and see, he said.



According to a number of foreign diplomats in the region, the desire of some Arab capitals to improve Trumps election chances may be one reason behind the UAE-Israel deal, but it is not the most important, playing second fiddle to UAE interests.



Anwar Gergash, the UAEs minister of state for foreign affairs, has insisted the agreement was prompted by national security interests, as by the UAEs wish to give a push to the long-stalled peace talks.



It is an open secret that Bin Zayed and Netanyahu enjoy an excellent working relationship covering a wide range of regional and international issues. The agenda of mutual interests includes pressuring Iran, suppressing Islamist resistance groups and political Islam in general, and supporting strong regional leaders willing to do business with Israel.



In remarks earlier this year a UAE government source said that the time has passed when the Arabs could have pressed for a full Israeli withdrawal from the territory it occupied during the 1967 War and it would be best for everyone, especially the Palestinians, to try to salvage whatever is left, before there is nothing left at all.



This is why a number of Arab capitals, together with Israel and the US, want to see Abbas replaced by someone who is more realistic, capable of cutting a deal with Israel and benefiting from the economic support that the US and the Gulf countries are willing to offer, said a Cairo-based European diplomat. Whether this is going to be possible is another story, he added.



In the view of many current and former Middle East diplomats, there are serious questions about the prospects for Middle East peace and for Palestinian statehood, with or without this deal.



Beirut-based Palestinian writer Jean Said Makdisi is willing to contest this projection, arguing that the dream of a Palestinian state has nothing to do with the current events.



Makdisi, born in Jerusalem in 1940 only to be forced from her homeland, is certain this Palestinian dream is not a dream in the sense of being unreal.



On the contrary, it is very real in the minds and hearts of Palestinians; it has been for three or four generations since the Nakba.



It is only the Palestinians who can realise their dream, says Makdisi, by resisting surrender.



Resistance is not just an act for politicians; it is also for artists, writers we see resistance every day, from men, women and children, despite the coercion of the Israeli occupation.



I dont know how and I dont know when, but I know that no matter what that Palestinians will dream  it is very real.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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New Delhi, Aug 20 : Around 21 crore man-days employment has been provided under the Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhiyaan (GKRA), said an official statement on Thursday.

According to the Ministry of Rural Development: "GKRA is taking action on mission mode to provide employment to migrant workers who have returned to their native villages of six states namely Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The Abhiyaan is empowering villagers with livelihood opportunities in 116 districts of these states." By the seventh week itself a total of about 21 crore man-days employment has been provided and Rs 16,768 crore has been spent so far, said the statement.

In the pursuit of the objectives of the Abhiyaan, a large number of structures have been created including 77,974 water conservation structures, 2.33 lakh rural houses, 17,933 cattle sheds, 11,372 farm ponds, and 3,552 community sanitary complexes, said the Ministry.

In addition, 6,300 works have been taken up through District Mineral Funds, 764 Gram Panchayats have been provided Internet connectivity, and 25,487 candidates have been provided skill training through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) during the Abhiyaan, as per the statement.

The GKRA's success so far can be seen as the convergent efforts of 12 departments and State governments, which are giving a higher quantum of benefits to the migrant workers and rural communities.

The Abhiyaan was launched to boost employment and livelihood opportunities for migrant workers returning to villages and similarly affected citizens in the rural areas, in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Presley Gerber created some cause for concern earlier this year, over a face tattoo and some other alarming behavior.

And the legacy model is continuing to live on the edge, as he attempts some death-defying outdoor activities.

He showed off some scrapes on his inked-up arms Wednesday, as he took to his Instagram Story after a trip to the hospital, over a mountain biking accident.

Biking accident: Presley Gerber showed off some scrapes on his inked-up arms Wednesday, as he took to his Instagram Story after a trip to the hospital, over a mountain biking accident

The 21-year-old revealed his injuries and a hospital ID bracelet in a mirror selfie, writing: 'Went mountain biking today.. and to the hospital...'

He appeared to be in good health, following it up with a video of himself biking down a winding trail on the side of a hill.

Gerber celebrated a milestone birthday last month, as he rang in his 21st trip around the sun with family.

Supermodel mom Cindy Crawford, 54, posted a sweet throwback of herself cuddling a baby Presley, writing: 'Always and forever my little boy! Happy 21st birthday @presleygerber.

Hospital visit: The 21-year-old revealed his injuries and a hospital ID bracelet in a mirror selfie, writing: 'Went mountain biking today.. and to the hospital...'

Extreme day: He appeared to be in good health, following it up with a video of himself biking down a winding trail on the side of a hill

'Where did the years go? So grateful for the time weve had together the last few months. I see your heart and your growth and Im so proud of you! Excited to see whats next!'

A source told E! News back in March that she and husband Rande Gerber, 58, were worried about their son.

The insider said: 'It's tough for them to see and has caused great concern. They know these statements are some kind of cry for attention or help. But Presley is an adult and is finding his place.'

Milestone birthday: Gerber celebrated a milestone birthday last month, as he rang in his 21st trip around the sun with family

Proud mom: Supermodel mom Cindy Crawford, 54, posted a sweet throwback of herself cuddling a baby Presley, writing: 'Always and forever my little boy! Happy 21st birthday @presleygerber'

Disturbing behavior: Presley previously debuted a face tattoo in February that read 'misunderstood,' which he explained on Instagram Live: 'I don't feel very understood I guess'

Presley previously debuted a face tattoo in February that read 'misunderstood,' which he explained on Instagram Live: 'I don't feel very understood I guess.'

He later clapped back at haters, stating: 'I just wanted to come on here and be like, if anyone has s*** to say to me about this or anything else and my family or how I grew up or anything. I will give you my address, I promise, and you can come say it to my face.'

As of May, he's reportedly doing well, working at his father's Malibu restaurant Cafe Habana with girlfriend Sydney Brooke.

A source told People: 'He and Sydney work together. They try to work the same shift. Presley still lives at his parents guest house and Sydney spends time there as well. Presley has slowed down the partying.'
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2020 / Progressive Planet Solutions Inc. (TSXV:PLAN) ("PLAN" or "Progressive Planet"), an emerging leader in the commercialization of natural pozzolans to reduce the carbon footprint of cement production, is pleased to announce that it has signed a second Collaborative Research Agreement with the University of Alberta in order to complete final testing on PLAN's Natural Pozzolan Blend which we intend to produce to compete with fly ash as a substantially greener supplementary cementing material.

Throughout the world, fly ash is generated as a by-product of burning coal for electricity generation. Fly ash is used as a supplementary cementing material in blended cement mixes. The supply of fly ash is directly related to the amount of coal which is combusted in power plants which in many parts of Canada, and the world, are scheduled for decommissioning or are already being decommissioned.

In December 2019, PLAN announced its first Collaborative Research Agreement with the University of Alberta to conduct work with respect to improving the rheology (slump) of the Natural Pozzolan from its Z-1 Quarry so that it possessed similar rheology to commercially available fly ash. Final rheology results of the Z-1/pulverized glass blend were superior to the rheology of the fly ash blend.

Before launching our Natural Pozzolan Blend commercially, we need to assure ready mix and pre-cast concrete businesses that concrete which contains this Natural Pozzolan Blend can withstand the conditions which concrete must withstand in Canada. This second Collaborative Research Agreement covers five tests including the following:

Compressive strength (CSA A3004-E1),

Alkali-silica reaction (CSA A23.3-28A),

Sulphate resistance (CSA A3004-C8),

Air void (ASTM C462), and,

Freeze thaw resistance (ASTM C666, as referenced in CSA A3004-E1).

"We were very pleased with the results achieved by Dr. Vivek Bindiganavile and his team of concrete experts on the first Collaborative Research Agreement. If we achieve successful results from these additional tests, we will have completed all the testing required to give the ready mix and pre-cast concrete industries confidence to use our Natural Pozzolan Blend. With a fully functional comminution plant in place to pulverize Natural Pozzolan from the Z-1 Quarry and to pulverize post-consumer glass, we intend to introduce this product during the 2021 construction season," stated Steve Harpur, CEO.

ABOUT PROGRESSIVE PLANET

Progressive Planet is an emerging leader in supplying solutions for a livable planet by developing low carbon, pozzolan-based, cementing products which replace equivalent amounts of Portland Cement and fly ash in concrete. The production of Portland Cement is the second largest global generator of CO2 emissions.

Progressive Planet operates its flagship Z1 Zeolite Quarry in British Columbia and is earning an 100% interest in the Z2 Natural Pozzolan Property near Falkland, BC and earning a 100% interest in the Heffley Creek Metals and Natural Pozzolan Property. All three properties are within a one- hour drive of Kamloops, BC, an industrial hub with rail access to Canadian and US markets.

For further information or investor relations inquiries, please contact us:

1-800-910-3072

Investors@progressiveplanet.ca

www.progressiveplanet.ca

Forward-Looking Statements:

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Progressive Planet Solutions Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602580/PLAN-Signs-Concrete-Testing-Contract-with-U-of-Alberta
Kim Won Hae, known for his role in the drama "Strong Woman Do Bong Soon", has been confirmed to have been infected by the virus.

According to reports, the actor himself confirmed the positive diagnosis through his statement. Following this, his agency announced it as well. Kim Won Hae is 51 years old, which he is needed to be closely monitored.

"It is confirmed that actor Kim Won hae has tested positive for Coronavirus. The actor was part of the cast member of the musical play "Jjambbong" wherein another cast member was confirmed to have the coronavirus. Although he was not part of the identified in contact with the infected person, he went into self-isolation and decided to take the test. However the results arrived and it was determined that Kim Won Hae tested positive. Immediately all his scheduled appointments were cancelled. The actor continued to self-isolate and will be transferred to the hospital once a space is available for him. His manager also took the test and the result was negative," said Double SG Company.

Kim Won Hae has worked with Seo Sung Jong who was the first actor tested positive for the virus. Furthermore, Heo Dong Won also was part of the cast in which the three actors are all now confirmed diagnosed with coronavirus.

In their hopes to stop the spread of the virus, two Korean dramas where Seo Sung Jong and Heo Dong Won are suspended. While the musical play team decided to stop the show where Kim Won Hae is part of the cast. All the staff that had been in contact with the three actors for the past days will undergo testing and monitoring.
Detectives arrested a man accused of fatally shooting his brother-in-law in front of his children during a family dispute in Northwest Albuquerque on Tuesday night.

Carlos Moya-Morales, 44, is charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence and extortion in the death of 55-year-old Jorge Gonzalez-Cera.

Gonzalez-Cera was critically injured and later died at the hospital. His death pushes the citys year-to-date homicide total past last years. There have now been 48 homicides this year, according to Journal records. In 2019  a record-breaking year  there had been 47 by this same time.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court:

Officers responded around 9 p.m. to gunfire in the 5200 block of Hanover NW, a few blocks from Coors and Interstate 40. Police found Gonzalez-Cera shot outside his home and he was taken to the hospital where he later died.

Gonzalez-Ceras wife told police her brother, Moya-Morales, had been having ongoing issues with her husband over Moya-Morales asking Gonzalez-Cera to pick up his children. She said Moya-Morales wife and children had a restraining order against Moya-Morales  who had been on the streets and using drugs.

A security camera showed the two men arguing before Moya-Morales pulled out a gun, hit Gonzalez-Cera with it and then shot him. Moya-Morales walked to his bicycle and rode off as Gonzalez-Cera staggered to the front door and collapsed.

(Gonzalez-Cera) is yelling something and you hear his children scream as they get to the door, a detective wrote.
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Linkedin Eisya A. Eloksari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 20, 2020 15:39 517 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066f4b720 1 Business Prudential-Indonesia,insurance,life-insurance,sharia-finance,sharia-insurance,#Indonesia75 Free

Life insurance company Prudential Indonesia expects to tap deeper into the sharia insurance market amid rising demand.

President director Jens Reisch said sharia products were suitable for everyone, because they were not only a religious positioning but also carried a gotong royong (working together) spirit.

Prudential Indonesia sees high demand for sharia-based insurance, he said on Wednesday during the webinar Reimagining the future of Indonesias economy, which is part of The Jakarta Posts Jakpost Up Close webinar series.

He noted that sharia-compliant insurance was the companys fastest growing business.

Despite having a mostly Muslim population, Indonesia still lags behind other countries in sharia finance market penetration. Sharia finance, which includes banking and insurance services, accounted for less than 9 percent of the countrys total financial assets in March, Financial Services Authority (OJK) data show. The nonbanking industry, which includes sharia insurance, only accounted for 4.34 percent of total assets.

Total sharia insurance assets amounted to Rp 45.45 trillion (US$3.06 billion) last year, up 8.44 percent annually, according to the Indonesian Sharia Insurance Association (AASI). Sharia life insurance assets, meanwhile, grew 8.74 percent to Rp 37.48 trillion.

Reisch said the country still needed to raise awareness about the importance of life insurance, as only 19 million people in Indonesia had a life insurance policy.

We need to increase the insurance penetration rate, as we are not progressing at the speed we need to. I personally wish that we will see more people having insurance in the next 25 years, he added.

One way to trigger demand for insurance was to create partnerships and innovation, especially during the pandemic, which helped increase the publics awareness of health and financial protection, Reisch said.

He said he also expected the insurance industry to take part in investing in state infrastructure programs, citing that the sector carried around Rp 600 trillion in assets that could be channeled into longer-term projects.

Prudential itself carries around Rp 30 trillion, and it is important that we channel this money correctly into the sharia economy or invest in infrastructure, he stated. As the insurance industry, I think, we need to play a bigger role, because right now we have not maximized our potential to the fullest.
BLOOMINGTON, Minn., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SkyWater Technology, the trusted technology realization partner, today announced the company's President, Thomas Sonderman will present a keynote address, "Manufacturing Leadership in the Era of Artificial Intelligence," at the 2020 virtual Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Conference (ASMC) at 9:00 am EDT on August 24th. The presentation will discuss trade and technology dynamics pressuring the manufacturing sector and how a new foundry model can streamline productization for disruptive technologies to enable next-generation edge and cloud-computing infrastructure.

As 5G networks are scaling up, the IoT is rapidly scaling with it and the world is seeing an explosion of IoT devices and unprecedented volumes of data. Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies with varying sophistication will be critical throughout this expanding ecosystem to realize the value of these data and will rely on continuously progressing compute performance to do so. However, as the industry sees transistor scaling providing diminishing returns, current IC paradigms do not appear suited to deliver the economics or performance the market requires and new dimensions must be pursued including new materials, new architecture, and heterogeneous integration. From a manufacturing standpoint, this is a challenge. Most conventional foundries are not organized with appropriate operational models, tooling, or business processes to innovate efficiently in these new dimensions.

Sonderman's keynote will address this challenge by presenting a Technology as a Service (TaaS) for microelectronics manufacturing concept that has been demonstrated to facilitate foundry engagement at earlier technology and manufacturing readiness levels and ultimately accelerate time to market. According to Sonderman, "The industry is at an inflection point and the semiconductor manufacturing industry faces a choice between continuing down a known path with reducing returns or chart another path to find new technologies to meet the incessant market demand for more computing performance. The TaaS model is already driving significant innovation in the foundry space for next-wave quantum, cloud, and related computing technologies that will allow the industry to realize the future state of hierarchical AI throughout the IoT ecosystem."

To attend Sonderman's presentation, please visit ASMC's registration page. For more information on SkyWater's advanced technology and volume manufacturing services, please contact: [email protected].

About ASMC

ASMC is the leading international technical conference for discussing solutions that improve the collective manufacturing expertise of the semiconductor industry. Solving the challenges presented by semiconductor manufacturing is a combined effort by device makers, equipment and materials suppliers, and academics. ASMC provides an unparalleled platform for semiconductor professionals to network and learn the latest in the practical application of advanced manufacturing strategies and methodologies.

About SkyWater Technology

SkyWater is the only U.S.-owned and U.S.-based pure play semiconductor foundry and is a DoD-accredited Trusted supplier, specializing in custom technology development services and volume manufacturing for integrated circuits and micro devices. Through its Technology Foundry model, SkyWater's world-class operations and unique processing capabilities enable mixed-signal CMOS, power, rad-hard and ROIC solutions. SkyWater's Advanced Technology Services empower development of superconducting and 3D ICs, along with carbon nanotube, photonic and MEMS devices. The company serves customers in growing markets such as aerospace & defense, automotive, biomedical, cloud & computing, consumer, industrial, and IoT. For more information, please visit: www.skywatertechnology.com/.

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The Minerals Commission says it is set to organise a training programme for Police Prosecutors and some Judges to improve their knowledge and understanding on the Amended Minerals and Mining Law, Act 900, enacted in August 2019.



The amended law prescribes stiffer punishment to offenders who engaged in illegal mining and makes it deterrent for both Ghanaians and foreigners to engage in the act.



Mr Josef Iroko, Assistant Manager in charge of Legal Affairs at the Minerals Commission, told the media at Aburi in the Eastern Region, during a media workshop on Thursday.



He said the Commission realised that there was a huge gap in the enforcement of the mining law, therefore it was imperative to train personnel of the law enforcement agencies and adjudicating institutions to be abreast with the law.



He said this would ensure that the spirit and letter of the law is duly enforced.



Mr Iroko mentioned an instant case in the Volta Region where a judge sitting on a case involving illegal small mining had no clue about the amended Minerals and Mining law and was relying on the old law, Act 703, 2006.



A provision in the amended law states that "A foreigner who undertakes small scale mining operation, contrary to the provision of the Act commits an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than 30,000 penalty units and not more than 300.000 penalty units or to a term of imprisonment of not more than 25 years or both".



Mr Eric Bukari, a Principal Mining Officer, Minerals Commission, who made a presentation on the Small Scale Mining and Community Mining Sub sector, said, the nation accrued 2.1 million ounces of gold from artisanal small-scale mining in 2018, representing 43% of the country's total gold production.



He said there was the need for collective and holistic cooperation of all stakeholders including the regulatory bodies, the media, NGOs and traditional authorities to tackle the problem head on.



Mr Bukari said, to this effect all district personnel of the Commission had been trained as drone pilots to monitor the activities of illegal mining.



Mr Antwi-Boasiako, the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, in his welcome remarks, said the future of the nation hinges on mining and urged journalists to follow up on government mining policies, provide feedback and ensure objective reportage of mining issues.

Source: GNA









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US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale told reporters "long term assistance" to Lebanon will depend on a government program of "reform and change."

Hale, who visited Beirut last week, is the highest ranking US official to visit Beirut since the Aug. 4 blast, which killed more than 170 people, injured thousands more and plunged Lebanon into a fresh political crisis. The United States has offered more than $17 million in initial relief aid, but like other donor governments, wants to see the small Mediterranean country enact a long list of policy changes before releasing further funds.

The government of Prime Minister Hassan Diab resigned in the wake of ongoing protests demanding accountability for the explosion, which officials blame on a stockpile of highly explosive ammonium nitrate stored improperly at Lebanons most vital port.

Asked what type of reform the US is expecting, Hale referred to "overdue fiscal and economic measures" that have been proposed by the IMF in longstanding discussions with the Lebanese government.

Hale commented on his conversations with Lebanese civil society and their frustrations with the present government leaders.

The devastation in the Lebanese capital came as the country was already dealing with its worst economic crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war. Before the blast, the World Bank estimated that 45% of the country could fall below the poverty line if current trends continue.
Dr Kingsley Kwadwo Asare Pereko, Vice President of the Ghana Red Cross Society (GRCS), has said inadequate resources was militating against its quest to achieve its mandate including responding to emergencies.



He has therefore appealed to corporate and benevolent organisations to channel some of their resources to the Society to enable it discharge promptly its duties effectively.

He said the GRCS had done a lot in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and responding to other emergency situations and could perform better if more funding was available.



Dr Pereko said this at the launch of MasterCard Foundation Support for COVID-19 in Ho.

He said, the Red Cross is alive and working, thus the call for support to enable it execute its core mandate promptly and timely.



He commended the MasterCard Foundation for the support as it would enable the Society to supply communities, schools, markets and institutions with the necessary COVID-19 preventive materials to limit its spread.



Mr Kofi Addo, Secretary General, GRCS, said the Society quickly activated its responsive and preventive mechanisms when the country recorded the first case of COVID-19 in line with its mandate to respond to emergency situations that threatened the country's safety.



He said the GRCS was part of the National, Regional and District platforms that were created to map out COVID-19 Response strategy and implementation to stem the spread of the pandemic and was working unremittingly to ensure that the pandemic was contained in the country.



Mr Addo said the Society was currently operating under five National Response Strategic Pillars - Social Mobilisation and Risk Communication Strategy, Hardware Support, Sustainable Wash, Livelihood Support and Organisation Development and Capacity Building for its officials.



He said the strategies were being rolled out and implemented in all the 16 Administrative regions, aimed at having a resilient and healthy community against the ferocious and devastating effect of the novel coronavirus.



Mr Addo said to be able to ensure that the desired objective of the strategic pillars were achieved, GRCS launched a one Million dollar appeal, however based on responses and support, the amount was raised to two million dollars, which MasterCard a Canada based organization had provided 645,0000 US dollars.



He said the MasterCard support would be carried out in four regions - Volta, Ashanti, Western, and Central so we can make the maximum impact, in winning the fight against the pandemic.



Mr Addo said the GRCS put in place Community Engagement and Accountability System in order to understand the beliefs, fears, rumors, questions and suggestions circulating in the communities about the novel coronavirus and use them to provide clear answers and inform the response.



He said the GRCS was providing effective training to its staff and volunteers to equip them with the requisite knowledge and skills so they could carry out their legitimate duties professionally and have organisational and communities resilience to Public Health Emergencies.



Dr Senanu Kwasi Dzokoto, Deputy Regional Director of Health in charge of Public Health, who presided, commended MasterCard Foundation for the support and urged other organisations to follow suit.



He said COVID-19 pandemic was a crisis that threatened to stall the country's socioeconomic development, therefore a collective effort was required to tackle it.



Dr Dzokoto lauded GRCS for their livelihood empowerment project, which aimed at improving the living standards of people as the pandemic had negatively affected the livelihoods of a number of people.



The GRCS used the opportunity to present some COVID-19 preventive items such as nose masks and hand sanitizers to traders at Ho-Ahoe market.



Mr Gershion Koffi Dzokoto, Volta Regional Manager of the Society, urged the traders to endeavour to observe the protocols of social distancing and wearing of masks to avoid the spread of disease.



Madam Ernestina Glalah Deh, the market Queen was grateful to the Society for the support, saying the items would help them overcome the pandemic.

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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Mostly, viewers wanted Jill Biden to sit down. To settle into a chair, relax and tell her story. Instead, she was on the move, with hands chopping the air, arms outstretched as if she was trying to wrap them around some unwieldy task.

Still, the second night of the online Democratic convention belonged to her.

She began her speech walking down a hallway at Brandywine High School in Wilmington, Delaware.

She turned into a classroom as she was describing the familiar sights and sounds of the school day that have disappeared as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Wearing an emerald-green coat dress, she stood amid rows of empty desks. She kept talking. She remained standing. She was the hardworking teacher at the front of a classroom educating us on Joe.

"When I taught English here at Brandywine High School, I would spend my summer preparing for the school year about to start filled with anticipation. But this quiet is heavy.

"You can hear the anxiety that echoes down empty hallways," Ms Biden said. "There's no scent of new notebooks or freshly-waxed floors. The rooms are dark."

Ms Biden sketched out the story of her life with her husband, former US vice-president Joe. She talked of building a family with him after the death of his first wife and daughter. And she connected the story of fighting through that tragedy with what it means to pull the nation out of its heart-wrenching circumstances.

"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," Ms Biden said.

"You show up for each other, in big ways and small ones, again and again. It's what so many of you are doing right now."

Her message was brief: let Joe Biden rebuild the American family in the same way that he rebuilt his own. It was a message that explained emotions with examples but was not itself stippled with them.

"The burdens we carry are heavy, and we need someone with strong shoulders," Ms Biden said. "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."

Did Jill Biden reveal something most voters don't know about Joe? For a man who has been in public life for 50 years, there's little that remains private. When he came into view to offer a hug and sing her praises, it was as though a gust of raw emotion had blown through. The teacher delivered the lesson on the healing nature of love. The former vice-president brought it to life.

So many people were charged with selling the glories of Joe Biden. The Democrats brought out two former presidents, a couple of Kennedys and a senator, Chuck Schumer, pumping his fists from Brooklyn with the Statue of Liberty in the background.

But ultimately, the most compelling message may well have been delivered by Jacquelyn Brittany. The elevator operator encountered the former vice-president when he paid a visit to the New York Times. They took a selfie. The photo ricocheted across social media. And in her short speech putting his name into nomination, she simply said: "Joe Biden has room in his heart for more than just himself." That's not all it takes to lead, but it was a reminder that so much of what gets attached to politics is just extra and unnecessary.

Instead of a roll call held in a packed convention centre with delegates costumed in red, white and blue regalia, this online convention offered a road-trip view of America.

As each state, each territory and the District of Columbia cast its votes, viewers got little snapshots of the country, its scenery and its citizens - in all of their eccentric, earnest, grass-roots glory.

Once Mr Biden was officially the nominee, he said his thanks into the camera.

 Washington Post
Reimbursement claims made against the town of Adams, Mass., by the towns workers compensation insurer are not subject to the two-year statute of limitations established in a Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA) regulation, a Massachusetts Appeals Court has ruled. This ruling upholds an earlier decision made by the DIA reviewing board.

The case comes after a town employee suffered a fatal industrial accident in 1976, and Royal Insurance Company began paying weekly benefits to his widow until at least 2016.

Beginning in 1986, Royal also paid supplemental cost of living adjustment (COLA) benefits to the widow and was initially reimbursed for the COLA payments by the Workers Compensation Trust Fund, according to the appeals court opinion document.

At some point before July 1, 1992, the town joined the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association (MIIA), a licensed self-insurance group, and became responsible for paying new workers compensation claims. Effective July 1, 1992, the MIIA opted out of participation in the trust fund. Royal continued to receive reimbursement from the trust fund for the widows COLA benefits for various periods of time, including a period in 2008 to 2009, the opinion document explained.

In 2012, however, the trust fund notified Royal that because of the MIIAs opt-out, it would not pay Royals pending or future claims for reimbursement of the COLA benefits. Royal continued to submit claims to the trust fund, but the claims were not paid.

As a result, Royal submitted COLA reimbursement claims directly to the town in 2016 for periods from 2007 to 2016 and continuing, excluding the 2008-2009 period that was already reimbursed. The town agreed that as a member of the MIIA, it was liable to Royal for reimbursement of the widows COLA benefits for the period following the MIIAs opt-out, but the town argued that Royals claims were subject to the two-year limitations period established by a DIA regulation.

A DIA administrative judge initially agreed with the town and ordered the town to reimburse Royal for the COLA benefits only for two year period prior to Royals 2016 claim and continuing. Royal appealed to the board, which decided that the regulation containing the statute of limitations was not applicable in this case, ordering the town to pay all of Royals claims. The town then filed an appeal.

On appeal, the town claimed that the board erred in making this decision, but didnt point to specific errors in the boards reasoning, the appeals court opinion document stated.

That reasoning appears to us to be well-grounded in the plain language of the statute and regulation, Associate Justice Peter Sacks wrote in his opinion. The town identifies no ambiguity in the language of either, let alone one that could support a ruling in the towns favor.

The town also argued that limitations periods serve valuable purposes as a policy matter, and many types of claims are subject to some limitations period. It contended that applying a limitations period in this case would protect municipalities.

However, the appeals court contended that even in the workers compensation context, not all claims are subject to limitations periods. Therefore, it affirmed the reviewing boards decision that the DIA regulations statute of limitations does not apply in this context.

The towns policy concerns are most appropriately directed to the DIA, insofar as the regulation is concerned, Sacks wrote in the opinion. As for the statute, any inconsistencies are for the Legislature to remedy.

Topics Legislation Claims Workers' Compensation
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has asked the decentralized departments under the local governance system to open up for collaboration with the University.



This, according to the University authorities, was necessary to find an antidote to development concerns inhibiting the countrys progress.



Our position as a University is this, there is no meaning or use for our research if it does not impact the lives of the people that we serve better, Professor (Mrs) Rita Akosua Dickson, the new Vice-Chancellor, noted.



Consequently, the decentralized departments should present to the University with their problems, so that, together they work to address them.



Let us hear from you. Let us have the problems and solve them together, to improve the quality of life of the Ghanaian people, she said, stressing that the KNUST was endowed with the technical expertise needed for the countrys growth.



Prof. Dickson, speaking at a meeting with the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr. Osei Assibey-Antwi, whilst on a working visit, said the KNUST existed to solve problems.



Our focus is to find answers to the development challenges in society. Therefore, let us hear where the issues and concerns are, she appeale d.



The University, according to Prof. Akosua Dickson, had envisioned running more short courses in the next four years.



We have been doing this, but we are going to up our game, she remarked.



Prof. Dickson said the University intended to make the contents of its short courses client-tailored to benefit those who patronized them, especially civil servants.



We would be flexible in our approach to the courses as we seek to make them client-friendly, the Vice-Chancellor assured and invited the KMA to come on board as it sought to train and develop the skills of its staff to be more efficient on the job.



Mr. Assibey-Antwi said the KMA was happy to have been working with the KNUST to address development issues in the metropolis.



He underscored the need for the Assemblys decentralized departments to work with their KNUST counterparts in the interest of the nation.





Source: GNA









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A record-breaking number of NHS staff were off sick during the height of the Covid-19 crisis, official figures show.

NHS Digital statistics released today revealed 6.2 per cent of health service staff in England were absent on any given day in April, on average.

At that point hospitals were battling an extraordinary influx of Covid-19 patients and up to 1,000 Britons were dying to the disease every day.

It marks the highest monthly sickness absent rates since modern records began, stretching back more than a decade to 2009.

One ambulance trust in the South East of England reported 12.8 per cent of its staff took sick leave during that month, the equivalent of around one in eight workers.

More than one in 20 (5.4 per cent) of NHS staff were off ill in March of this year, when the virus began to spiral out of control and spread exponentially.

The last time NHS staff absence rates were as high was in January 2018, when 5.03 per cent of staff took ill following a bad outbreak of Aussie flu.

The South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust recorded the highest number of staff off sick in April, at 12.8 per cent. Hillingdon Hospitals Trust in the West London borough saw 11.4 per cent of its workers off on sick leave during that month

Frontline workers were disproportionately struck down by Covid-19 at the height of the pandemic, with some estimates suggesting half could have been infected.

Others were forced to take sick leave and quarantine because they were suspected of having the illness or came into contact with someone who later tested positive.

NHS workers were not routinely tested at the time and many struggled to get their hands on protective gear, with some resorting to making their own.

The NHS Digital report showed trusts in London  formerly the UK's coronavirus epicentre  had more staff off sick than anywhere else.

Almost one in 13 healthcare workers (7.2 per cent) in the capital were off in April, compared to 4.5 per cent in the South West of England, the lowest in the country.

The North West had the second highest number of absences, at 6.9 per cent, followed by the South East (6.5 per cent) and the East (6.3 per cent).

Six out of 10 infected staff did NOT self-isolate because they had no idea they had the disease More than half of NHS maternity staff who had Covid-19 never self isolated because they were unaware they were infected, a study has revealed. Researchers conducted testing of 200 workers on maternity wards at University College London Hospital and St George's Hospital. One in six had Covid-19 antibodies in their blood, which signalled they had already had the disease. But 59 per cent of them - one in six - did not self isolate and continued to work in the hospitals, potentially but unknowingly putting mothers, babies and other patients at risk. A third said they had no symptoms at all, otherwise known as 'silent carriers', while others did not fit the self-isolation criteria. The government's advice during the height of the pandemic was to self isolate only if you or someone you lived with had a high temperature or a new, continuous cough. But a loss of taste and smell was the most common symptom among maternity staff, and this was not acknowledged by the government as a Covid-19 sign until mid-May. The study, led by anaesthetist Dr Sam Bampoe from the University College London, was published today in the journal Anaesthesia. It examined infection rates among anaesthetists (40), midwives (108) and obstetricians (52) on two maternity wards. They had no previously confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19 before being given antibody tests between 11 May and 5 June 2020. The paper said: 'We found that one of every six frontline, obstetric healthcare workers had been infected with SARS-CoV-2.' Advertisement

The Midlands (6.1 per cent) and the North East and Yorkshire (5.9 per cent) reported a similar number of absentees.

Ambulance trusts had the highest sickness absence rate at 7.3 per cent followed by acute trusts, which provide services such as A&E departments, at 6.5 per cent.

The South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust recorded the highest number of staff off sick in April, at 12.8 per cent.

The finding is curious because the South East of England largely avoided a major crises, but many staff were being told to go off as a precaution.

Hillingdon Hospitals Trust in the West London borough saw 11.4 per cent of its workers off on sick leave during that month.

West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust saw 11.3 per cent of its staff absent from the three hospitals it encompasses in the East of England.

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust in London and Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust in the North West each had about one in 10 off sick on any given day.

Healthcare assistants were the group most likely to be off ill during April, with 8.2 per cent of them off at any one time.

They were followed by hospital cleaners and cooks (8.1 per cent), nurses (7.4 per cent) and ambulance staff (7.1 per cent).

One of the UK's top medics, Sir Paul Nurse, told MPs last month that almost half of all NHS staff have had Covid.

Sir Paul, director of the renowned research centre, the Francis Crick Institute, said 'up to 45 per cent' of healthcare workers were infected in April.

But a lack of testing meant most cases went under the radar because the majority of workers were asymptomatic.

He told the Health and Social Care Committee: 'At the height of the pandemic, our own research, and of course that only backs up what's been done elsewhere, is that up to 45 per cent of healthcare workers were infected.

'And they were infecting their colleagues, they were infecting patients, yet they weren't been tested systematically.'

Professor Sir John Bell, a medicine expert at the University of Oxford, told the same committee that NHS trusts avoided testing staff for the virus en masse because they was afraid thousands would have to go off sick and leave swamped hospitals without workers.

Sir John said: 'As time went on, there still wasn't a real push to do healthcare workers and indeed, all patients in the hospital. And it sort of went on, and on, and on.

'And indeed there was a suspicion, which I think is probably correct, that NHS institutions and the NHS were avoiding testing their hospital workers because they were afraid they would find [high levels of infection] and they would have to send everyone home, and as a result not have a workforce.

'That in my view is not an ethical approach to the problem. You can't not test people because you're worried about a human resources issue. But I think that was a pretty central issue in that failure to test hospitals.'

It comes after 10,000 healthcare workers have signed up to take part in a Government study which aims to solve the mystery of whether people can get reinfected with Covid-19.

Public Health England researchers will follow volunteers for at least a year, regularly swabbing them for the virus and taking blood samples to search for antibodies.

Participants are a mix of frontline NHS staff of all ages from hospitals dotted across England, many of whom will have already had coronavirus and recovered.

Recruitment in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will begin in the coming weeks and PHE told MailOnline today it hopes to eventually recruit 100,000 volunteers.

Preliminary results from the study, known as SIREN (SARS-CoV-2 Immunity and REinfection EvaluatioN) are expected before the winter  when experts fear Britain will be hit by a second wave.

There is currently no scientific consensus about how long natural immunity against Covid-19 lasts because the disease hasn't been around long enough.

The European Centre for Disease Control estimates survivors are protected for up to a year, depending on their age and how good their immune system is. This is in line with common colds and seasonal flu, which is why people are urged to get a new influenza jab every year.

But the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in the US says its research indicates that immunity lasts just three months, the same as other human coronaviruses.

Scientists need to iron out the burning question of Covid immunity to inform public health policies  like who is safe to go back to work and which vulnerable groups must continue to shield.

It also would mean that any protection from a vaccine may not be very long lasting and a jab may need to be reformulated every year.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan says President Donald Trumps call to boycott Akron-based Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. over its workplace ban on political attire including MAGA hats isnt equivalent to the cancel culture that Jordan and Trump decry among Democrats.

In an interview with cleveland.com the day after Jordan published a cleveland.com column that urged Ohioans to reject the so-called cancel culture by supporting Trump, Jordan said Goodyear - not Trump- engaged in cancel culture.

Its Goodyear thats involved in trying to cancel all the people who would like to wear Blue Lives Matter masks or hats or T-shirts, or would like to wear Make America Great hats T-shirts or masks, Jordan, a Champaign County Republican, said in the interview.

He accused the company of discriminating against conservatives by letting employees wear apparel with Black Lives Matter or LGBTQ messaging, while blocking messages favorable to conservatives.

The President was calling out what I was calling out in the column, he said. Why are people trying to cancel one point of view out there, and its always the conservative point of view?

Jordans column said the left that controls Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and virtually all of the Democrats in Congress, censors views it disagrees with rather than challenging and debating them. It predicted that if Biden, a former Democratic vice president, defeats Trump in November, the cancel culture will only get worse. None of your liberties will be safe.

Dont buy GOODYEAR TIRES - They announced a BAN ON MAGA HATS. Get better tires for far less! (This is what the Radical Left Democrats do. Two can play the same game, and we have to start playing it now!).  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2020

A few hours after Jordans column went live, Trump urged his supporters not to buy Goodyear tires in light of its reported ban on the Make America Great Again (MAGA) hats his campaign distributes. His tweet continued: Get better tires for far less! (This is what the Radical Left Democrats do. Two can play the same game, and we have to start playing it now!).

Trumps action was spurred by a report on WIBW-TV in Topeka, Kansas that said a Goodyear employee sent the news station a photo of a slide from a company training presentation, which shows a zero-tolerance policy for certain kinds of attire. The presentation said Black Lives Matter (BLM) and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride (LGBT). were acceptable, but Blue Lives Matter, All Lives Matter, MAGA attire and Political Affiliated Slogans or Material were not.

Goodyear subsequently posted its own Twitter statement that said the slide in question wasnt created of distributed by Goodyear corporate, nor was it part of a diversity training class. The company also said it asks workers to refrain from workplace expressions that support political campaigning for any candidate or political party, as well as similar forms of advocacy that fall outside the scope of racial justice and equality issues.

Fostering an inclusive, respectful workplace is important to establish teamwork and build culture, which is another reason we ask associates not to engage in political campaigning of any kind in the workplace - for any candidate, party or political organization, its statement continued.

Yesterday, Goodyear became the focus of a conversation that created some misconceptions about our policies and our company. Goodyear has always wholeheartedly supported both equality and law enforcement and will continue to do so. pic.twitter.com/oO6jUg2rTR  Goodyear (@goodyear) August 19, 2020

Trumps tweet provoked outrage among Ohio Democrats like U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, who sent out a fundraising email that accused Trump of attacking an iconic American company that employs 64,000 workers to fuel his petty political grievances, and promised Trump will pay the price in Ohio and across the country for betraying U.S. workers.

A statement from Biden said Trump doesnt have a clue about the dignity and worth that comes with good-paying union jobs at places like Goodyear, and that to Trump, those workers and their jobs arent a source of pride, just collateral damage in yet another one of his political attacks.

Jordan said Goodyear should support free speech by allowing its employees to wear any sort of political messages they want. When asked if he endorses the boycott Trump suggested, Jordan responded: I think what Goodyear did is wrong, I think the presidents right and I think there are 63 million Americans who agree with the president.

We know that over half the state agrees with the president, for goodness sake, he continued. You know the president won Ohio by 8 and a half points, so I think the presidents right to call them out on it.

Jordan says Goodyear used to have a facility in his district, but sold it to another company. While Trump has discussed removing Goodyear tires from his presidential limousine, Jordan said hes not sure whether the Honda CRV he personally drives has Goodyear tires.

When asked whether boycotting Goodyear could hurt its Ohio employees, Jordan said he believes the companys workers would agree with Trump.

My guess is the vast majority of the people who work at Goodyear dont like the position that was taken by the leadership of the company, Jordan continued. They dont like being told what positions you can and cant have.

More coverage:

President Donald Trump calls for boycott of Akron-based Goodyear tires after reports of policy prohibiting MAGA, Blue Lives Matter attire

Post Office says it will hold off on changes until after November election

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
Hong Kong: Meat smuggling syndicate smashed

The Customs & Excise Department today announced that it smashed a cross-boundary frozen meat smuggling and money laundering syndicate and seized about $190 million worth of meat and assets involved.

The total value of the items seized is the highest among similar cases in the past five years solved by the department.

In an enforcement action on August 13, customs officers intercepted a barge and a tugboat in the waters off Lung Kwu Chau and seized a batch of smuggled frozen meat on board the barge.

After a follow-up investigation, the officers raided 13 premises across Hong Kong, including residential premises, offices, a wharf and a container yard.

Thirteen people, aged between 40 and 65, were arrested in connection with the case. They included the syndicate mastermind and directors of the companies involved.

The seized frozen meat, weighing about 160 tonnes, carries an estimated market value of $25 million. Assets of the syndicate worth about $18 million were also seized, including cash and valuables.

The department has made arrangements to freeze $27 million in deposits at 76 bank accounts held by the syndicate members.

It noted that it is also pursuing an investigation into the aspects of money laundering and criminal proceeds according to the Organized & Serious Crimes Ordinance.

Upon conviction, it will consult the Department of Justice and apply to the court for confiscation of eight properties and three parking spaces under the syndicate members' names worth about $120 million.

Members of the public may report suspected smuggling or money laundering activities to the Customs' hotline 2545 6182 or email [email protected]

This story has been published on: 2020-08-20. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The Bombay high court on Thursday granted bail to Kapil Wadhawan and Dheeraj Wadhawan of Dewan Housing Finance Limited (DHFL) in connection with the Yes Bank fraud, saying the enforcement directorate (ED) filed a charge sheet against them a day after the stipulated period of 60 days for doing so.

The Wadhawan brothers will not be able to come out of the prison immediately as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is investigating them in the same case. ED is separately probing other pending cases against them.

ED initiated proceedings against the Wadhawans on the basis of a case registered by CBI on March 7 against Yes Bank promoter Rana Kapoor, and his family members. They have been booked for conspiracy, cheating and also under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

Yes Bank is alleged to have invested 3,700 crore in short term non-convertible debenture of DHFL between April and June 2018. Kapoor allegedly received 600 crore as kickbacks from DHFL in terms of loan advanced to two firms, DOIT Urban Ventures (India) Private Limited and Morgan Credits Private Limited. While Kapoors three daughters hold 100 stakes in DOIT, Morgan Credits is controlled by his wife.

Also Read: Decoding the YES Bank crisis | HT Editorial

Justice Bharati Dangre granted bail to the Wadhawan brothers in lieu of 1 lakh bond each, and on the condition that they will surrender their passports to the investigators. The court observed that an accused cannot be kept in custody even for a day after they have the right to default bail.

Justice Dangre said there is a period prescribed for filing of the charge sheet. The right to default bail is for the accused if an investigating agency fails to file the charge sheet within the period prescribed by Section 167 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Additional solicitor general Anil Singh urged the court to stay the bail order at least for two weeks. He said what the high court has ruled was a pure question of law and since different courts have taken different views of the point of default bail, ED would like to test the view held by the high court before the Supreme Court.

Justice Dangre refused to accept the request. The judge said the settled legal position is that once the right of default bail is due, the accused cannot be kept in custody thereafter even for a day.

The apex court has recently held that no court can extend this period and therefore after the custody period of 60 days was over, the Wadhawan brothers were required to be set free immediately, the judge said.
LONGVIEW, Texas, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Seven trial lawyers with high-stakes commercial litigation and intellectual property law firm Ward, Smith & Hill are being honored in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, the nation's oldest peer-review listing of top attorneys in their practice areas.

Since 2016, firm founder Johnny Ward has earned Best Lawyers honors for his work in intellectual property litigation. Name partner Wesley Hill and Of Counsel T. John Ward also received the same recognition, with name partner Bruce A. Smith singled out for his work in personal injury litigation for both plaintiffs and defendants. Mr. Hill received additional honors for his patent law practice.

Firm partner Charles "Chad" Everingham IV earned recognition for intellectual property and patent litigation. This year, for the first time, partner Claire Abernathy Henry is being listed for her patent litigation expertise.

Firm partner Andrea L. Fair was selected for the inaugural listing of Best Lawyers' "Ones to Watch," honoring attorneys early in their careers who exemplify professional excellence.

The Best Lawyers in America is compiled through a process of independent nominations, with prior nominees voting on the candidates, and editors making the final selections. For the full listing, visit https://www.bestlawyers.com/.

Ward, Smith & Hill is often recognized for its intellectual property and patent litigation expertise, receiving honors in Texas Super Lawyers and the 2019 legal guide IAM Patent 1000  The World's Leading Patent Professionals 2019, which features top global patent law firms.

Longview, Texas-based Ward, Smith & Hill, PLLC, has tried more than 350 cases to verdict, earning a national reputation in high-stakes claims involving complex commercial litigation, intellectual property law, oil and gas matters, bad faith insurance claims, and serious personal injury claims. The firm frequently assists lawyers nationwide in complex cases before Texas juries. To learn more about the firm, visit http://www.wsfirm.com.

Media Contact:

Sophia Reza

214-559-4630

[email protected]

SOURCE Ward, Smith & Hill, PLLC

Related Links

https://wsfirm.com/


Description

GIS  20 August 2020: A first group of 26 fishermen received, today, their Fishermen Registration Cards during a ceremony held at the LIC Building, in Port-Louis. The fishermen were also offered certificates for having successfully completed a General Course for Fisher. The Minister of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping, Mr Sudheer Maudhoo, was present at the ceremony.

The General Course for Fisher is a foundation programme that has been designed and developed to meet the needs of artisanal fishermen, enabling them to operate outside the lagoon and in particular around Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs). The training, which ran over a period of eight weeks, was held at the Fisheries Training and Extension Centre (FiTEC) at Pointe aux Sables and included theory sessions and practical sessions at sea.

The The training comprised a component on good fishing practices based on the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries. aim was to provide fishermen with the knowledge, skills and attitude to fish responsibly, efficiently and safely around FADs.The training comprised a component on good fishing practices based on the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries. The modules covered related to fisheries in general, fishing techniques, basic navigation, seamanship, protection and conservation measures, legislations and safety at sea.

In his address, Mr Maudhoo, expressed Governments firm commitment in providing the necessary assistance to the fisher community. On this score he recalled that some 90 Fishermen Registration Cards have been issued since 2015 adding up to the 26 fishermen who received their cards today. A total of 1909 fishermen will also receive their Fishermen Registration Cards shortly, he announced.

The Minister indicated that, through these Fishermen Registration Cards, the fisher community will avail of several benefits namely: Bad weather allowance; Discount on road tax; Loan facilities from the Development Bank of Mauritius; Insurance Cover; and Funeral grant. The children of those fishermen will also reap from other advantages under the Fishermen Welfare Fund.

Furthermore, Mr Maudhoo outlined that various measures have been implemented for the welfare of the fishermen which include a 100% increase regarding bad weather allowance. For the month of July 2020, he underlined, all fishermen were allocated an allowance of Rs 10 200. With regards to the MV Wakashio incident, the Minister reiterated Governments support to those fishermen and boat operators who work in the afflicted regions. These people will also receive an allowance of Rs 10 200 to help them in their daily livelihoods, he added.
Facebook took down groups, pages, and ads linked to QAnon. The right-winged conspiracy theory is claiming that a "deep state" is allegedly plotting against President Trump and his supporters.

The social media giant made the announcement Wednesday. They said that they had expanded their policy. It is meant to thwart organizations and movements that are considered risks to public safety. The policy change also affects pages, groups, and accounts tied to militia organizations and those encouraging riots.





QAnon-related groups, page, and ads were removed

Facebook took down more than 790 groups, 1,500 ads, and 100 pages tied to QAnon. More than 300 hashtags across Facebook and Instagram were blocked. Additional restrictions were also imposed. It includes more than 1,950 Facebook Groups and 440 Pages. Over 10,000 Instagram accounts were also included.

Facebook also took action against militia organizations and anarchist groups. It included some who may have identified themselves as Antifa. Facebook removed 980 groups and 520 pages. Also removed were 160 ads. It also restricted more than 1,400 hashtags associated with these movements.

Facebook explained that the groups affected do not meet their strict criteria. Hence, they cannot be banned outright from Facebook. To address this, Facebook updated its rules. The new policy restricted these group's ability to use Facebook as a platform to organize.

Facebook outlined the actions it has taken and will take in the future against movements and organizations. One is to remove associated accounts and pages discussing potential violence. Those not removed will not eligible for group or page suggestions.

Moreover, Facebook will soon have them ranked lower in the News Feed. And any related hashtags and title will have limited searchability.

Read also: First-Time Oculus Users to Be Required to Have a Facebook Account to Login Beginning October

Facebook will prohibit them from running ads and selling products. And soon, it will prohibit running ads and fundraising to praise, support, or represent these groups.

This is not the first time Facebook took action against QAnon. In its April report, Facebook removed accounts, groups, and pages promoting QAnon conspiracy theories. They also removed accounts linked to Russia and Iran. It was the first time that Facebook publicly declared its crackdown against QAnon public.

Facebook said it would continue to review its policy to "keep people safe." It warned that it would remove content from these groups that do conform to the policies. It includes deleting fake accounts, harassment, and hate speech. Meanwhile, they will limit the visibility of content meant to disinform. Lastly, Facebook will ban any non-state actor or group deemed dangerous.

What is QAnon?

QAnon is a far-right conspiracy theory. They allege that the country is controlled by a "deep state" that wants to bring down Trump. NBC reported that QAnon-related pages and groups have over 3 million members and followers. In early August, it was reported that Facebook had discovered thousands of related groups and pages.

President Trump distanced himself from the QAnon conspiracy theory. On Wednesday, he said that apart from knowing that they like him, he doesn't know much about them.

Read next: Facebook to Apple: In-App Fees Are Hurting Small Businesses During the Pandemic
Ryan Gallagher and Charlotte Crosby called it quits in February, after a short-lived romance that began on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! at the start of the year.

And it appears that Ryan, 31, is back on the dating scene and looking for love online.

On Thursday, the former Married At First Sight star's Tinder profile was discovered by Daily Mail Australia.

Guess who's back (on Tinder): I'm a Celebrity's Ryan Gallagher (left) has been spotted using dating apps after his jungle romance with Charlotte Crosby (right) ended in February

Ryan's profile featured a series of selfies and photos of the hunky mechanic.

In one photo, the reality star is rugged up in a cream beanie and red jumper, and in another he is sporting a black T-shirt while smiling at the camera.

A third picture that is sure to have many women swooning shows the handsome tradie hugging an adorable baby while posing shirtless.

Back on the dating scene! On Thursday, the former Married At First Sight star's Tinder profile was discovered by Daily Mail Australia

Looking good! Ryan's profile is filled with selfies of the tattooed hunk

His appearance on the dating app comes after he opened up about his split from Charlotte in April.

They had hooked up on set of the Australian version of I'm a Celebrity, which is filmed in South Africa, but ended things shortly after production wrapped.

Speaking to NW magazine, Ryan said that 'reality hit pretty quickly' once they were outside the bubble of the jungle camp.

More selfies! Other selfies of Ryan show him posing with a kangaroo and in front of an engine

Single and ready to mingle: His appearance on the dating app comes after he opened up about his split from Charlotte in April

'Everything is obviously so isolated in the jungle and all of your emotions run at a high,' Ryan explained.

'While we were great in there, when we got out reality hit pretty quickly. It was clear it was never going to work.

'We are two very different people who also live on the opposite sides of the earth.'

Jungle romance: Ryan and Charlotte had hooked up on set of the Australian version of I'm a Celebrity, which is filmed in South Africa, but ended things shortly after production wrapped

UK-based star Charlotte confirmed in April that she was no longer in contact with Ryan after they'd had a falling out.

The pair had promised to remain friends after their break-up in February, but Charlotte said things quickly turned sour.

Speaking to Studio 10 via video link, the former Geordie Shore star confessed: 'I don't think Ryan really likes [me] as a person anymore.

'I did try quite a lot to speak with him the last time I was in Australia, but he kind of just ignored [me].'
Lufthansa has expanded its repatriation programme to include further flights between Frankfurt and Johannesburg/Cape Town as well as biweekly flights between Zurich and Johannesburg by Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS).

Flight schedule

Safety

By working closely with both the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Embassy of Switzerland in South Africa, as well as local government, the Lufthansa Group will continue to operate repatriation flights to enable South African nationals to return home while transporting German and Swiss nationals, European Union members and Schengen State residents to their respective homes. Also, the Lufthansa repatriation flights will permit employees of the German and EU business community, including technical experts, to travel to South Africa for special work purposes.Currently, repatriation flights are the most essential service that an airline can provide in a country where travel bans remain in place. As South Africa is a key trading partner to Germany, Switzerland and Austria, it is important that the Lufthansa Group remains actively present in the market and maintains strong relations between South Africa and Europe. We are glad to continue servicing the local market in this way until travel bans are lifted and all Lufthansa Group carriers are given permission to resume its scheduled services to Johannesburg and Cape Town, says Dr. Andre Schulz, general manager sales, Lufthansa Group, Southern Africa & East Africa.The next SWISS repatriation flight from Johannesburg to Zurich will take place on 22 August while Lufthansa will operate a repatriation flight on 26 August from Frankfurt to Johannesburg returning on 28 August from Johannesburg to Frankfurt.Both airlines have also released their September repatriation schedules. Additional SWISS repatriation flights will take place on 5 September and 19 September.Lufthansa will operate a total of eight repatriation flights over September. The Frankfurt to Johannesburg route will depart on 9 September and 23 September and return from Johannesburg to Frankfurt on 11 and 25 September. In addition, Lufthansa has also scheduled repatriation flights between Frankfurt and Cape Town. Flight LH576 will depart Frankfurt for Cape Town on 6 September and 20 September, returning Cape Town to Frankfurt on flight LH577 on 8 September and 22 September.Lufthansa repatriation flights can be booked dedicated microsite , whereas SWISS flights can be booked on the regular website For the Lufthansa Group, safety and travel has always gone hand-in-hand, with the utmost importance placed on the safety and security of passengers and crew. Lufthansa continues to follow its stringent hygiene guidelines and practices in order to ensure that the onboard experience protects the health of passengers. All airlines of the Lufthansa Group require that passengers wear a facial mouth/nose covering for use while on board their flights and it is recommended that passengers wear this protective covering throughout their entire journey at the airports. For passengers travelling via Frankfurt, Lufthansa in cooperation with different medical partners offers its passengers Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests with results delivered within a few hours in a dedicated walk in testing centre at the airports in Frankfurt, Munich and Hamburg.The Lufthansa Group remains committed to the South African market and connects our countries also during this unprecedented crisis. For all repatriation flights, the safety and health of our passengers and employees are a top priority for us. Therefore, all procedures throughout the entire travel chain will be constantly reviewed in order to guarantee the safety of everyone. says Schulz.
Fitness to plead issues are expected to be raised in the case of a mother-of-three accused of murdering a man in a knife attack in Dublin.

Christina Anderson's defence said the issue "will arise" after the DPP issued directions for her to face trial for killing father-of-seven Garreth Kelly.

Judge Carol Anne Coolican adjourned the case and further remanded Ms Anderson (38) in custody in her absence, as she was too unwell to attend court.

Ms Anderson is charged with murdering Mr Kelly (39) last February 25 on the street outside her home at Brownsbarn Wood, Kingswood, where he was stabbed after trying to start his car.

She has been unable to attend court since she first appeared on the charge in February and has been detained at the Central Mental Hospital (CMH).

A state solicitor told Dublin District Court yesterday that the accused remained at the CMH, and formal directions had been issued by the DPP for prosecution on indictment.

Defence solicitor Jenny McGeever said there was consent to a two-week remand in custody.

The state solicitor asked if the defence could confirm if there was a fitness to plead issue, and said this could be raised on the next court date.

"I think it certainly will be a matter that will arise," Ms McGeever said.

She asked if the prosecution expected the book of evidence to be ready on the next date.

The state solicitor said this was unlikely.

Judge Coolican adjourned the case to September 2.

The court previously heard the garda investigation was a complex one involving 140 witness statements and electronic evidence.

In a hearing last month, def-ence solicitor Michael Kelleher had queried the length of time it was taking at that point for the DPP's directions to be given.

Any charge of this nature was complex, but he did not think his client's case was "particularly complicated" for this type of offence.

"We have somebody in custody who is not terribly well, there should be some level of priority," Mr Kelleher said.

Gardai believed there was no undue delay, referring to the complexity of the case.

Assessed

Legal aid was previously granted after the court heard the accused's husband was working and they had three children. There was no garda objection.

A judge had earlier ordered the accused to be medically and psychiatrically assessed.

On the first court date last February, Det Sgt Dara Kenny said Ms Anderson made no reply when charged.

Mr Kelly, from Tallaght, had been living in Clondalkin and was believed to have been staying over at a house in Brownsbarn at the time of his murder.
The National Recruitment Agency (NRA) will remove the hurdles of multiple exams for central government jobs through the Common Eligibility Test (CET), said Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday.

In a tweet, Shah said it is a landmark day for Indias youth.

A landmark day for Indias youth! I thank PM @NarendraModi ji for approving the creation of #NationalRecruitmentAgency (NRA) in todays cabinet. This transformational reform will remove the hurdles of multiple exams for central govt jobs through Common Eligibility Test (CET), he said.

NRA will provide equal opportunities to all sections of the society as each district will have an exam centre, test will be in multiple languages and CET score will be valid for 3 years. Single test will also reduce the financial burden, which will greatly benefit the candidates, he added.

Shah said that NRA is an unprecedented step taken by the Modi government.

#NationalRecruitmentAgency is a unprecedented step taken by Modi govt as it would create an uniform transformative recruitment process. PM @NarendraModiji has given the due right to the job seeking youth of the country by ensuring transparency and ease in the recruitment process, he said.

A government release said the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister has given its approval for creation of National Recruitment Agency (NRA), paving the way for a transformational reform in the recruitment process for central government jobs.

The government has sanctioned a sum of Rs 1517.57 crore for the National Recruitment Agency.

The expenditure will be undertaken over a period of three years. Apart from setting up the NRA, costs will be incurred for setting up examination infrastructure in the 117 aspirational districts, it said.
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Linkedin (Reuters) Athens, Greece  Thu, August 20, 2020 15:07 517 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066f48530 2 News greece,Mykonos,COVID-19,coronavirus,pandemic,travel Free

Greece will extend restrictions in the popular holiday island of Mykonos and the coastal area of Chalkidiki in northern Greece to contain the spread of COVID-19 infections, Civil Protection authorities said on Wednesday.

The measures include a complete ban on live parties and festivities, a limit of nine people in all public and private gatherings and compulsory mask wearing in closed and open spaces.

No more than four people can be seated at the same table in restaurants unless they are very close relatives, in which case the limit is increased to six people.

The restrictions will go into effect from August 21 to 31.

On Tuesday Greece recorded 269 COVID-19 infections, its highest daily tally since its first case was detected on Feb. 26.

Read also: Greece reopens islands to flights in bid to save tourism season

The government has been rolling out restrictions to fight the recent spike in coronavirus infections, limiting public gatherings, shutting down bars and restaurants from midnight and urging young people to wear masks as they return from holidays.

On Tuesday, Deputy Civil Protection Minister Nikos Hardalias told reporters that despite rising infections, Greece continued to be in a "better situation" compared with other European countries.

Greece, he said, ranked 180th in terms of deaths per million inhabitants, noting that 83% of recent infections were due to domestic dispersion of the virus as people did not observe proper social distancing.

At Mykonos, with a reputation as a party island that never sleeps, congested beach parties during the peak summer season have led authorities to clamp down.

Based on the latest data up to Tuesday, Greece has recorded a total of 7,472 COVID-19 infections and 232 deaths.
A knifeman who stabbed an Arsenal fan to death at a Tube station because he 'looked at him' across the tracks has today been jailed for life.

Alex Lanning, 22, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 25 years at the Old Bailey in London after killing photographer Tashan Daniel at Hillingdon station in west London last September.

His co-defendant Jonathan Camille, 19, was jailed for six-and-a-half years after being convicted of a lesser charge of manslaughter.

Lanning stabbed Mr Daniel, 20, to death with a 200 German-made military blade he had taken from the set of the latest Fast and Furious film.

He had been out on licence from HMP Rochester prison at the time of the murder, after stabbing another victim seven times in a row over drugs.

Alex Lanning, 22, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 25 year at the Old Bailey in London after killing photographer Tashan Daniel (pictured) at Hillingdon station in west London

Mr Daniel had been on his way to see Arsenal take on Nottingham Forest in the third round of the Carabao Cup when he was murdered on the afternoon of September 24 last year.

Lanning and Camille, 19, had been on the opposite platform at Hillingdon Station as Mr Daniel and his friend Treyone Campbell waited for their train.

The 22-year-old decided to pick a fight after accusing the victim and Mr Campbell of 'looking at him' across the tracks.

The two defendants allegedly got angry when Mr Daniel told him to 'be quiet and get on your train' when Lanning had asked him aggressively: 'What are you looking at?'

During the fight, Lanning pulled out a 5.5 inch Aviator 1 blade used by the German military to cut through vehicle windows and seat belts and stabbed Mr Daniel once to the chest.

The whole incident lasted just 34 seconds. Paramedics battled to save Mr Daniel but he died from his wounds.

As the pair fled the scene, Lanning was seen by two separate witnesses apparently laughing about the attack.

Lanning and Camille hid the knife beneath paving stones in a nearby housing estate and stole towels from a washing line to wrap around their heads to disguise their appearance.

They were not tracked down until 10 days later in central London.

Judge Mark Dennis, QC, said: 'The assault took place on a station platform and in the presence of members of the public who were shocked and frightened by the violence that occurred close by them.

Lanning (left) was jailed for life while his co-defendant Jonathan Camille (right), 19, was jailed for six-and-a-half years after being convicted of a lesser charge of manslaughter

Pictured: The Aviator 1 knife Lanning used to kill Mr Daniel. He had taken the film prop because he wanted it as 'memorabilia' of his time working at the Warner Bros studio

'The defendants ran from the scene and made attempts to evade arrest. They covered their heads in clothes stolen from a nearby clothes lone and hid the knife.

'It is plain these events had a profound and lasting effect on Tashan's family and those who knew him as a friend.

'This was a dreadful display of violence for which there was no possible justification or excuse.

'Alex Lanning, your reaction after the event reveals no sense of regret for the person you had just stabbed to the chest.

'Twice you were seen laughing as if what you had just done meant nothing to you.'

The blade was designed as an emergency rescue knife for the crews of NATO military aircraft, with the capacity to saw through laminated glass and cut through seat-belts.

Lanning said he had taken the film prop home because he wanted it as 'memorabilia' of his time working at the Warner Bros studio.

The knifeman was convicted of murder earlier this month by a jury after six hours and 19 minutes of deliberation. Camille was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter.

Pictured: Lanning and Camille at Hillingdon tube station on the day Mr Daniel was killed

Lanning had been out on licence from HMP Rochester prison at the time of the murder, after stabbing another victim seven times in a row over drugs.

He was jailed for four years at Lewes Crown Court in July 2016 after admitting stabbing William Goodfield in Brighton on March 5.

Mr Goodfield, 26, was attacked after a fight broke out over class 'A' drugs at Regency Square. Lanning stabbed him in the torso, groin, back of the head and hand.

He was released from HMP Rochester prison in March 2018 after serving half of his four year sentence.

Mr Daniel's sister Oceanna, 15, described her brother as 'kind' with a 'good soul' in a victim impact statement read out at the Old Bailey.

'This was a horrific crime committed by heartless individuals,' she said.

'Tashan was a kind person, with a good soul, and that is why I am proud he is my brother.'

His godmother, Laura Kitto, added: 'The barbaric actions of Alex Lanning on that day have left a community feeling sickened.

Mr Daniel's sister Oceanna (left with their mother Cecia), 15, described her brother as 'kind' with a 'good soul' in a victim impact statement read out at the Old Bailey

'He went out of his way, looking for trouble, armed with a lethal weapon and proceeded to use that weapon to end the life of a beautiful human being.

'This truly is the most evil crime.'

Prosecutor Jonathan Rees described the murder as 'completely senseless.'

'That is the sort of person you are dealing with who carries a lethal weapon on him and is able to laugh in the wake of a horrific incident,' Mr Rees said.

'It seems that the catalyst for the violence that led to the stabbing was that Mr Lanning thought Tashan Daniel was looking at him across the rail tracks.

The victim was a talented athlete who trained three or four times a week at Hillingdon Athletics Club and was working as a photographer.

Mr Daniel was described as 'a popular young man who made friends easily and was devoted to his family.'

Lanning stabbing Mr Daniel with the weapon after he took the 'rash decision' to take it from his bag - but claimed he did not intend to kill him.

He denied but was convicted of murder, having previously admitted manslaughter.

Camille was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter. He denied the charges.
The Director of Environment and Natural Resource Research Initiative (ENRRI), Professor Wisdom Akpalu, has called on the government to limit the number of canoes fishing along the countrys coast to make the sector more sustainable and attractive.



He explained that the current number of over 12,000 canoes in the fishing industry would have to be reduced to at least 9,000 to ease the burden of activities on the sea, especially illegal fishing.



The move will increase the annual tonnes of fishing as well as help agencies responsible for carrying out development interventions to thoroughly monitor the fisheries sector and the industry for the overall development of the economy, he said.



Professor Akpalu said this at a stakeholders forum held in Accra on Tuesday.



The forum was on the topic managing capture fisheries in Ghana: challenges and opportunities.



He said the annual tons of fisheries produced in the country, kept reducing despite the governments efforts of subsidising about 60 per cent of premix fuel to improve the fisheries industry.



He explained that the limitation on the number of canoes in the coastal areas had become necessary, following the overcapacity on the seas to save Ghanas fishing stock from collapsing.



Professor Akpalu said the government could make a profit of $271 million annually from the fishing industry than the current profit of $169 million only if the size of traditional fisheries were reduced.



The trawler industry should also be reduced from its current number of 75 to 50 since most of them continued to engage in dubious fishing which is also hindering the sector.



Currently, profits from the trawling industry had reduced from 78 million dollars annually to 57 million dollars whiles consumption of fish per each Ghanaian had also reduced from 27 kilograms annual to 21 kilograms,  he said.



In 20O6 the consumption per each Ghanaian was 27 kilograms per person annually. In 2015 it reduced to 21 kilograms, a situation that compelled government in 2016 to import about 211 million dollars of fish.



In 2015, government spent over GH 150 million to subsidies premix fuel for fish men but the overcapacity of artisan fishing had become difficult for the initiative to be sustainable, hence the need to streamline the fishing industry especially with regards to numbers, he said.



The Western Regional Secretary of the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council, Mr Mike Abaka said trawler industry in 1993 was producing about 3,000 tons of fishes annually, but due to over dependence on the marines, the trawling industry was currently producing about 500 tonne.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









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A popular Ocean County diner has been cited eight times for allowing indoor dining this summer, but can remain open for outdoor dining and take out, state officials said.

Lakeside Diner in the Forked River section of Lacey has been cited eight times since June 5 for allowing indoor dining, including two citations this past week, health department and State Police officials have said.

Owner Brian Brindisi previously told Patch the diner was allowing limited indoor dining when outdoor tables were fully booked as a measure to stay afloat during the pandemic, but they were taking safety precautions. He did not respond to NJ Advance Medias request for comment.

In an order dated July 31, the diner was told to stop allowing indoor dining by the Commissioner of the Department of Health Judy Persichilli. The order cited the first four violations on June 5, and July 1, July 24, and July 28.

Two additional violations of the executive order barring indoor dining happened this past week, State Police Col. Pat Callahan said at Wednesday afternoons coronavirus press briefing.

The state can take measures to prevent further indoor dining, such as locking the doors to the diner, an Aug. 13 filing with state Superior Court in Mercer County said.

If the diner continues to allow indoor dining the owners face civil and criminal penalties, the health department order said.

But despite the repeated violations and the court order, the diner can remain open for outdoor dining and take out, the health department says.

The purpose of the closure order is to gain compliance with public health requirements and ensure public health pursuant to the emergency health powers act by requiring the diner to operate consistent with the dining Executive Order, a state Department of Health spokeswoman said.

The Ocean County Prosecutors Office did not respond to NJ Advance Medias request for comment. The county health department declined to comment.

Outdoor dining was allowed to resume in New Jersey on June 15, after all dining was barred in mid-March to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Indoor dining was set to begin again on July 2, before Gov. Phil Murphy abruptly canceled the reopening.

Murphy has not yet said when indoor dining is expected to resume but has said he hopes it will be sooner rather than later.

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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 19:30:21|Editor: huaxia

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BANGKOK, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Forty-five people have been arrested throughout Thailand on charge of possessing illegal firearms and three others on charges of manufacturing and distributing them, said a police commander Thursday.

Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police in Thailand raided a house in Song Phee Nong district of Suphan Buri province, seized 120 illegal firearms, including 22 Magnum revolvers, 22 long rifles, some 2,200 rounds of ammunition and other parts of the guns, and arrested three males on charges of manufacturing and distributing them via a Facebook account, called "Jai Jeb, Jeb Jai," said CSD Commander Pol. Maj. Gen. Chiraphop Phuridet in Thursday's press conference.

The three suspects of illegally making and distributing guns were identified as Khantri Kaeokhunnok, 37, Thanathanan Nanchaiwong, 26, and Kanokphol Rakton, 19.

The 45 other people, arrested by CSD-led police units in 39 provinces throughout the country in connection with the three suspects, are those who have allegedly purchased the illegal firearms from them for prices ranging from 9,500 baht (about 303 U.S. dollars) to 22,000 baht (about 701 U.S. dollars) each, according to the CSD commander. Enditem
The meeting took place on Thursday in Cairo and was attended by Commander of the Egyptian Navy Forces Vice Admiral Ahmed Khaled

Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi discussed cooperation with Peter Lurssen, the CEO of the German shipbuilding company Lurssen, on ships, frigates, and destroyers.

The meeting took place on Thursday in Cairo and was attended by Commander of the Egyptian Navy Forces Vice Admiral Ahmed Khaled, the Egyptian presidency said.

El-Sisi and Lurssen discussed the transfer of shipbuilding technology to Egypt in cooperation with the Egyptian Navy and Marine Industries and Services Organisation.

The talks tackled training the technical Egyptian staff and raising the standards of Egyptian cadres to meet international quality standards, added the presidency.

President El-Sisi asserted at the meeting the importance of cooperation with the German company, being one of the world's biggest shipbuilding companies.

Lurssen owns eight shipyards around the world and has recently signed a deal to manufacture destroyers for the German Navy with a cargo hold of 11,000 tons.

Lurssen's CEO said Egypt enjoys stability, security, and opportunities of foreign direct investments, particularly following the improvements the Egyptian government introduced to the country's infrastructure.

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The Coordination Council was earlier initiated by Svetlana Tikhanovskaya who had proclaimed herself leader of the united opposition.

The Prosecutor General's Office of Belarus has opened a criminal investigation into the seizure of state power in the country.

"The creation and activities of the Coordination Council are aimed at seizing state power, as well as harming the national security of the Republic of Belarus. Into this fact, a criminal case was initiated under Article 361 of the Criminal Code," Prosecutor General of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Konyuk told journalists, Euroradio wrote on Telegram.

In turn, the press service of the Coordination Council told Onliner it had not yet received such information and would comment on it as soon as they found out the details.

Read alsoCoordination Council of Belarusian opposition voices requirementsThe Coordination Council was on August 14 initiated by Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, long-time leader Alexander Lukashenko's rival in the latest elections, who had proclaimed herself leader of the united opposition, to ensure a "peaceful transfer of power."

Lukashenko, in turn, delivered an emotionally-charged response to the idea: "They [the opposition] are throwing the other side at us. And they demand as much as to hand them power. So, we perceive this unequivocally: it is an attempt to seize power with all ensuing implications," Lukashenko replied.

It is an attempt to seize power with all ensuing implications

On August 19, the Council elected a presidium, which included, in particular, famous Belarusian politicians and writers.

Belarus protests: background

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.

On August 14, the European Union announced it did not recognize the outcome of the presidential elections in Belarus and on August 19 leaders reportedly agreed on sanctions to be introduced over election rigging and violence against protesters.

The March of Freedom, the largest protest in the history of Belarus, took place on August 16 in Minsk. Hundreds of thousands of people joined in.
AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Invicti has launched a new partner portal to support both Acunetix and Netsparker partners. The Invicti Partner Program features a revamped partner portal, deepened global channel support, and the expansion of its offering to include Netsparker, the leading Enterprise DAST solution. Going forward, partners will be able to sell both products to their customers, allowing for even more flexibility to meet their clients needs. Acunetix and Netsparker joined together under the Invicti Security umbrella in 2018.

During the first half of 2020, Invicti added several leading global software distributors to the program, including SYNNEX Corporation (U.S.), Lidera (Spain and Portugal), Prianto Global (Europe and French-speaking Africa), Alpha Generation (United Kingdom), and brainworks (Germany). The company has also introduced Acunetix in Mandarin, with future plans to add more languages to assist partners to further localize the product.

Designed to accommodate each partner's unique goals and requirements, the Invicti Partner Program offers tiers based on the needs of distributors, resellers, and strategic partners. These tiers offer partners access to certification, deal pass-through, and access to MDF.

"We've made significant investments in terms of increasing the internal resources to support our partners," said Kevin Abela, Vice President of Global Channel Sales for Acunetix. "Qualified partners can benefit from pass-through margins on opportunities that we transact through them while benefiting from an increased margin for leads they bring to us to co-sell."

To support its partners at scale, the company has launched an automated web portal in conjunction with the new partner program . The portal enables partners to quickly and easily register and track deals, create custom-branded marketing materials, and access various training materials.

"We're proud to offer a best-in-class solution that makes sales, support, and renewal easy and rewarding for our partners," said Abela.

"We have seen a growing demand for security solutions among our customers to address stricter requirements for data protection and privacy," said Stuart Reay, Director at Alpha-Gen. "The number of web-related cybersecurity threats is increasing as more content moves to the cloud, and Invicti Security's DAST solutions are the gold standard in web application security for companies of all sizes."

About Invicti Security

Based in Austin, Texas, Invicti Security provides web application security for organizations across the world. Invicti was founded in 2018 by bringing together Netsparker and Acunetix, two brands that identify web vulnerabilities to prevent costly data breaches and other security incidents. Netsparker is the only web application security solution that delivers automatic verification of vulnerabilities with its proprietary Proof-Based Scanning technology. This best-in-class web application security solution identifies vulnerabilities from the early stages of application development through production. Known for its speed and accuracy, Acunetix is a global web security leader and the first-ever automated web application security scanner. A privately held company, Invicti is backed by Turn/River Capital.

SOURCE Invicti
A Russian deputy ambassador to the U.N., Dmitry Polyansky, shot back on Twitter: Looks like there are 2 planets. A fictional dog-eat-dog one where US pretends it can do whatever it wants without cajoling anyone, breach and leave deals but still benefit from them, and another one where the rest of the world lives and where intl law and diplomacy reign.
As wildfires rip across California, tens of thousands of people are now faced with another unprecedented challenge this year: Evacuating amid a pandemic, when both uncontrolled blazes and a potentially deadly virus pose threats to their lives.

More than 320 wildfires, extreme heat and rolling blackouts piled on top of the coronavirus this week, amounting to one of the greatest tests of Californias emergency response system in recent history. The compounding crises also created a nightmare situation for residents who cannot go back to their homes, where they have the best shot of protecting themselves from the virus.

Im 72. If I get it, Im a goner, said Gary Browne, a retired Marine, who was among the evacuees huddled outside the Ulatis Community Center in Vacaville on Wednesday afternoon.

Typically during mass evacuations, emergency responders would turn spaces like community centers and school gyms into overnight shelters, where evacuees can eat, sleep and wash up until they find somewhere else to go. But due to the pandemic, such shelters were not an ideal option for evacuees like Browne, who said he was hesitant to go inside  even though everyone was wearing a mask.

Thats why mostly Im staying outside, he said.

Jennifer Adrio, the CEO for Red Cross Northern California Coastal Region, said the agency is trying to avoid opening up shelters where groups of people are together for extended periods of time. Instead, she said, they are turning to hotels, dorm rooms or other sites where people can distance from each other inside or parking lots where people can sleep in their cars.

She said that any congregate shelters will have strict protocols in place  like mandatory personal protective equipment for staff, temperature checks at the door, tables 6 feet apart, masks and hand sanitizer.

We are as prepared as we can be, she said. Obviously since March weve been thinking about how to prepare for a wildfire or any other disasters that may happen during the pandemic.

By Wednesday afternoon, she said the Red Cross had not opened any overnight shelters  but individual counties might have. But that caused some confusion for people like Browne, who werent sure where they would spend the night.

At the Ulatis Community Center, Browne said he spotted only one cot in the room where evacuees sat around spaced-out folding tables. Still, Browne was taking the double whammy of a pandemic and wildfires in stride: Theres pizza, he said. Its cold, but at least I wont starve.

Experts, emergency responders and legislators all feared Californias wildfire season would collide with the pandemic. The states resources have been stretched to the brink over the past week, as a record heat wave caused rolling blackouts, and 10,000 lightning strikes over 72 hours ignited at least 327 fires by Wednesday.

In Sonoma County, State Sen. Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, said some evacuees should be able to move into hotel rooms which, in a normal year, would be full of visitors.

Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle

He said authorities were seeing some fatigue among evacuees as many people who ran from the 2019 Kincade Fire  and other wildfires in the past five years  are fleeing again. Thousands of people have already lost homes and jobs.

The emotional toll has wreaked havoc on our communities, McGuire said. The North Bay cant catch a break and its been incredibly challenging to say the least.

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.

Meanwhile, smoke from the North Bay wildfires hovered over the Bay Area Wednesday, creating poor air quality across the region. The unsafe conditions prompted concerns that people could become even more vulnerable to respiratory issues  like those that develop with COVID-19.

Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, said the wildfires and the pandemic have created a situation where there are two competing threats to health, and people must quickly decide how to minimize the health risks.

But no matter what, he said, people should not hesitate to evacuate from the path of a wildfire  regardless of the coronavirus risk.

There is no way to make the risk zero, and you have to look at it like you are trading off risks, he said. But smoke inhalation, burns and trauma from a fire are really things that you cannot sustain.

Mary Grimshaw, a Vacaville resident for 36 years, and her husband had little time to think about the coronavirus risks as they fled from their home at 2 a.m. Wednesday. When they arrived at the shelter, they were comforted by all of the safety protocols in place.

Its all safe, Grimshaw said. We havent had any nasty rebellious people refusing to wear masks or anything like that.

Grimshaw said she even enjoyed being able to talk to people  even at a distance  after five months cooped up at home.

Trisha Thadani, J.D. Morris, Dustin Gardiner and Michael Cabanatuan are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com, jd.morris@sfchronicle.com, dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com, mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 19:18:33|Editor: huaxia

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LAGOS, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- A multinational force comprising troops from Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria, have handed over to Nigeria's Borno state 94 persons who were rescued from Boko Haram captivity in the fringes of Lake Chad, a state official said Thursday.

In a statement released by the state governor's spokesman Isa Gusau, the victims, 37 adult males, 17 adult females, and 40 children were rescued by the troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) during a major offensive against the insurgents around Lake Chad.

Gusau said the MNJTF commander Ibrahim Yusuf handed over the victims to the Borno government at a brief ceremony in the northeastern city of Maiduguri.

Yusuf was quoted in the statement as saying that some of the captives voluntarily went to the Headquarters Sector 1 of the MNJTF in north Cameroon.

Kakashehu Lawan, the state commissioner for justice, who received the victims, said in the statement the state will profile, debrief, de-radicalize, and reintegrate the rescued persons to live a normal life with their families.

Boko Haram has been trying to establish an Islamist state in northeastern Nigeria since 2009, extending its attacks to countries in the Lake Chad Basin, posing enormous security, humanitarian, and governance challenges to countries including Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Benin, and Niger. Enditem
European stocks closed lower on Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve struck a pessimistic tone over the country's economic recovery prospects.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed almost 1.1% lower, with basic resources shedding 2.9% to lead losses as all sectors and major bourses slid into negative territory.

Minutes released Wednesday from the Federal Open Market Committee's last monetary policy meeting showed that central bank policymakers see the U.S. recovery from the coronavirus-induced downturn as "highly uncertain."

Markets seemingly shrugged Thursday morning after the Chinese commerce ministry announced that Washington and Beijing will be back around the negotiating table in the coming days. Scheduled talks last weekend had been postponed.

Geopolitical tensions remain on the agenda after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Russia and China not to contravene the reimposition of UN sanctions on Iran. Pompeo has been instructed by President Donald Trump to trigger the measures at the UN Security Council in New York on Thursday.
(Photo : Downdetector) Gmail and Google Drive Outage Experienced Worldwide, But Not Everyone Is Affected (Photo : Stephen Phillips - Hostreviews.co.uk/Unsplash) Google wrote is is continuing to investigate this issue.

Thousands of Gmail users have reported having errors in sending emails, attaching files, and logging in to the website.

As of 12:32 a.m. ET, DownDetector received 30 complaints against Gmail. After an hour, it reached 1,800, peaking at 1,911 at 1:30 a.m. before starting to dwindle down. Based on the users' reported issues, 61% involve attaching files, 21% have issues logging in to Gmail while 17% had problems receiving messages.

Based on the comments on the DownDetector website, the outage is being experienced worldwide. One user from Los Angeles, California said he cannot compose, attach, or send e-mails while "errors keep popping -up." He said that he tried it again and it worked, but the first one remains on the draft.

Another user Kenya, East Africa reported that they "are not able to send emails via Gmail, especially ones with attachments." He added that Gmail returns the email with error messages. "Please resolve it urgently," he added.

Meanwhile, another user tweeted that the outage has "created a mess in my work life" since he needed to send reports. "At this point, I realised that "Dependency is a curse," he added.





At this point, I realised that "Dependency is a curse" #Gmail #googleisdown#motivational Google - Gmail, Google Doc was down 30 min before and it created a mess in my work life. I need to send the reports but couldn't do that because of Issues in google services.At this point, I realised that "Dependency is a curse" #Google  Harshit Agarwal (@1997agarwal) August 20, 2020

However, as pointed out by Engadget, not everyone is affected by the outage. Some users said they were able to report plain text emails, although when they tried attaching files, then Gmail appeared to have a slow upload process before showing the "Oops, something went wrong" error message urging users to check their network.

This is particularly disastrous as millions of people now work from home and are highly dependent on the Google network, particularly with Gmail and Google Drive. However, there are also reports that the outage is also affecting Hangouts, Blogger, GSuite, and even YouTube.

Read also: Here's How To Disable Google Assistant If You've Had Enough Of It

Google investigates the outage

With the persisting errors in the Google services, a GSUite status has been posted on the dashboard at 1: 29 a.m. saying: "We're investigating reports of an issue with Gmail. We will provide more information shortly." It comes with an orange button that refers to service disruption.

However, the issue seemed unresolved as shown in another status. "We are continuing to investigate this issue," Google wrote. It also promised to resolve the problem and provide another update at 4:00 p.m. with detailed information about the issue.

As of this writing, the issue has not yet been resolved. We will provide updates once available.

Read also: Tab Groups Is The Best Update For Google Chrome In Years! Here's How To Use It!

This is owned by Tech Times.

Written by CJ Robles

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Rajasthan reported 690 fresh Covid-19 infections and five deaths due to the disease on Thursday, taking the caseload to 65,979 and the number of fatalities to 915, according to an official report.

Three deaths were reported from Jaipur and one each from Ajmer and Bikaner. Ajmer recorded the maximum number of fresh coronavirus infections at 138.

Bhilwara district reported 106 fresh cases, followed by Alwar 100, Jaipur 99, Udaipur 82, Nagaur 50, Bundi 38, Jodhpur 36, Chittorgarh 22, and Pratapgarh 19 cases.

A total of 50,393 Covid-19 patients have recovered and there are 14,671 active cases in the state at present.

Rajasthan health minister Raghu Sharma said the state government is trying to bring down the Covid-19 case fatality rate from current 1.3 per cent to zero.

We are trying to increase the recovery ratio and bring down the death rate to zero in the state, he said.

The minister said that vulnerable groups -- people with ailments, children, the elderly and pregnant women -- will be given special attention in efforts to contain the virus.

He said all activities under national healthcare efforts such as the TB programme and vaccination drive will continue during the coronavirus pandemic.
Alexei Navalny, Russian President Vladimir Putin's most prominent critic, was rushed to the hospital Thursday after he became suddenly ill on an flight back to Moscow from Siberia. "The plane made an urgent landing in Omsk," tweeted Kira Yarmysh, the press secretary Navalny's anti-corruption organization. "We suspect that Alexei was poisoned by something mixed into [his] tea. It was the only thing he drank since morning. ... Doctors are saying that the toxic agent absorbed faster through the hot liquid. Right now Alexei is unconscious" and on a ventilator in intensive care.

Videos shared on social media, including by news organizations tied to Russian security services, record Navalny howling with pain on the airplane and being wheeled to the hospital on a stretcher once the plane landed.

This is video allegedly showing an unconscious @Navalny being removed from a plane during an emergency landing in Omsk, shared by the Mash Telegram channel. The Russian opposition leader is now in intensive care in serious condition, doctors say. pic.twitter.com/twUeeJ2ZtN  Matthew Luxmoore (@mjluxmoore) August 20, 2020

Navalny, 44, has frequently been jailed by Russian state prosecutors, but he's also had run-ins with poisoning, including a mysterious allergic reaction to food in a Russian jail last year and a green astringent substance thrown at his eyes and face in 2017. "One year ago, Alexei was poisoned when he was in jail," Yarmysh wrote. "Clearly the same thing has happened again."

Critics of Putin have been poisoned in recent years, fallen to their deaths from balconies, and been assassinated in European cities. Opposition leader and former Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov was shot dead within sight of the Kremlin in 2015, and former FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko died in 2006 after drinking tea laced with polonium-210 in Britain, where he had defected. "One of the men accused in his poisoning is now an MP in Russia's parliament," The Guardian notes.

Navalny had been in Siberia campaigning for opposition candidates in upcoming local elections, and possibly gathering information for an investigation of local lawmakers from Putin's United Russia party.

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The Chairman of the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC), Yomi Dinakin, says the local council election in the state will hold on August 22.

Mr Dinakin gave the assurance while briefing journalists at the ODIEC office in Akure, the state capital on Thursday.

He said 10 political parties indicated to participate in the election which would hold in 18 Local Government Areas of the state.

He said all necessary materials for the election, both sensitive and non-sensitive, have been provided by the commission.

He said non-sensitive materials had been distributed to all the local government areas about a month ago, while the sensitive materials would be distributed by Friday.

The chairman said the voters register for the state had been obtained from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which would be used for the election.

He said that ODIEC had recruited enough ad-hoc officers for the election.

Mr Dinakin said: We have recruited and trained ad-hoc staff that we require for the election.

Security agencies assured us to protect officers and the electorate during the election.

Non-sensitive materials such as ballot boxes and furniture had been distributed to all the 18 local governments.

Ballot papers and forms will be distributed about 38 hours to the election.

Weve made provision for Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) recommendations including face masks for our staff. We will enforce two-metre social distancing.

(NAN)
TRURO, England, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Parnall Group, which operates a diversified portfolio of brands and investments, welcomes the arrival of Darren Cates who joins as CFO. Cates makes the move from Dyson, where he was Global Finance Director, and has relocated from Dyson's Singapore headquarters to join Parnall Group at its base at Trelonk, on The Roseland near Truro, Cornwall.

Darren's arrival signals with a key moment for Parnall Group as it accelerates the delivery of a number of innovative projects in Cornwall, including the development of a 10m state-of-the-art plant sciences laboratory, a CO2 Super Critical Nutraceuticals Extraction Plant and a retail Nutraceutical Oil brand.

Darren Cates says, "Parnall Group is rapidly becoming an important economic driver in the region, with market disrupting product and service offerings positioned to make a global impact. It's great to be joining Parnall Group at the very moment its quiet ambitions emerge as a roar."

Cate's experience at Dyson will also be instrumental in helping take Parnall Group's small electric boat, the prototype of which was recently unveiled at Trelonk where it has been designed and built, to commercial scale production. Parnall Group's companies additionally include a law firm, a working farm where advanced agri-technology practices are being tested and deployed, and a bio-technology concern extracting, researching and making use of plant-based oils and fibres.

Parnall Group has established a highly regarded internship and trainee programme, through Parnall Foundation, which aims to expand the pool of local employees with the high-tech skills and entrepreneurial attitude required to fill a variety of mission critical roles within Parnall Group's innovation led businesses.

Nick Buckland OBE, Chairman of Parnall Group, says, "Parnall Group has put environmental, economic and social sustainability at the core of its strategy and operations. By training young people in the skills they'll need tomorrow, we're investing not only in their futures, but our own as well."

About Parnall Group:

Parnall Group is a diverse range of innovative Cornish companies built from the platform of Parnalls Solicitors Limited based in Launceston. Parnall Group's Trelonk Innovation Campus near Truro is rapidly emerging as a nucleus of innovation, investment and high-tech employment for the region.

Some of the World's leading specialists in the research of biological extracts for clinical and medicinal use will support Parnall Group subsidiary, Trelonk Ltd, in its journey as a burgeoning agri-tech business with end-to-end capabilities in the growth, extraction, scientific analysis and the commercialisation of novel plant remedies and over-the-counter health products. Focused on science, innovation and collaboration, we're building the industry to grow a better future.

More information at: https://parnall.net
Farmers have been urged to check the serial numbers of second-hand tractor GPS kits following a recent surge in thefts of the expensive guidance systems.

Across Europe, thefts of tractor GPS systems have risen due to the products' prominence in modern agriculture.

Many of the stolen systems are John Deere StarFire receivers and cab display units  but other systems are increasingly being stolen.

In the UK, thefts have spread from East Anglia, where they first became commonplace, and police and insurers are now dealing with thefts all across the UK.

Just last week, a Sussex farmer said he was left 'devastated and demoralised' after an organised crime gang stole thirteen GPS systems worth around 200,000.

In recent weeks, NaVCIS, the police agricultural vehicle theft co-ordination organisation funded by NFU Mutual, is being alerted to multiple GPS thefts from farms and machinery dealers almost every day.

To help stamp out the crime wave, farmers are being urged to rigorously check that any GPS kit offered for sale outside dealer networks has not been stolen.

Bob Henderson, NFU Mutual National Technical Engineering Manager, said having tractor GPS kit stolen during harvest is 'hugely disruptive'.

"Not only do replacement units  which can cost 8,000 and more  have to be sourced, fitted and programmed, but modern farms cant work effectively during the vital harvesting period without them.

As the main insurer of the UKs farmers we are working with police and tractor manufacturers to tackle this worrying new crime trend.

To help the checking process, John Deere has a system enabling farmers to call their local dealership to check the serial number of its popular StarFire GPS system.

The companys database includes a marker for stolen equipment  but stresses that not all John Deere thefts are reported to it, and that the system cannot provide proof that equipment offered for sale online is legitimate.

If a farmer is unfortunate to have John Deere stolen, the theft can be reported to local John Deere dealers so it can be logged in the system.

To make it more difficult for criminals to sell-on stolen StarFire GPS systems, John Deere included a PIN security feature in its StarFire 6000 series, launched in February 2019.

Superintendent Andy Huddleston, national police lead for machinery thefts, said: Making careful checks on the provenance of any GPS kit offered for sale outside the dealer network can stop criminals making money.

The service introduced by John Deere dealers makes these checks easier by enabling farmers to quickly check if a StarFire serial number is on their database of stolen systems.

He also urged farmers to be very wary of buying GPS kits which have had serial number stickers removed.
Professor Wazi Apoh, Development Archaeologist and Heritage Expert, Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies, University of Ghana, has said it is important for the country to make conscious efforts to conserve its heritage sites.



He said well conserved heritage sites, relics, and buildings could become excellent educational resource centres, which would have a positive influence on its foreign exchange earning and becoming an economic game-changer.



Professor Apoh made these statements when the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana, awarded a 155- year-old church building to Fabmon Limited, a construction firm for rehabilitation into a modern relic in Ho.



The rehabilitation work was facilitated by Professor Apoh in collaboration with Reverend Dr. Cyril Fayose, General Secretary of the Christian Council, Ghana, with funding from Gerda Henkel Foundation, Germany.



Professor Apoh said the project cost 96,000 Euros and would be completed within four months to make the facility become a potent driver for tourist attraction.



The Archaeologist said the facility when completed, would have a reception, printing press, bookstore, museum, archive to contain books about the Church, a library with books to help students undertake their studies.



Professor Apoh said he became interested in adding value to the facility after he brought his students from the Archaeological Department to undertake some archaeological studies on the building.



He called on the Tourism Authority to put all necessary mechanisms in place to ensure that the country's heritage sites and buildings were properly preserved to enable the country to generate foreign exchange through tourism.



The Archaeologist charged scholars, heritage experts, and archaeologists to visit communities with heritage sites and buildings and partner with owners and traditional authorities to renovate them for societal development.



Reverend Dr Seth Senyo Agidi, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana said the building was constructed in 1865 by the Bremen Missionaries, which had touched so many lives.



He said the Bremen Missionaries came to the country in 1847 and started missionary work at Peki, and the building was one of the facilities they used for the seminary work.



It is Bremen mission house as it was called, was a rallying point for the people. It even became safe havens when people's lives are in danger. It is a place where we look up to the representative of God on earth, he stated.



Reverend Agidi expressed joy for the renovation work, saying, it would have a positive impact on the lives of the people, the church, and the environment.



He commended Professor Apoh and Dr Fayose for facilitating the process as well as the Gerda Henkel Foundation for their support, and the technical team chaired by Togbe Howusu XII, the warlord of Asogli State.



Togbe Howusu said the technical team would continue to monitor the progress of work to ensure that the work was done qualitatively and within the stipulated time frame.

Source: GNA









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Combining immense creative skill, patience, and a stroke of luck, a photographer in southwestern India has captured a breathtaking feline phenomenon. A spotted leopard is shadowed by her black panther companion in a moment of incredible contrast and color.

The shot, for 32-year-old wildlife photographer Mithun H., was a once-in-a-lifetime win.

Mithun, from Bangalore, captured the remarkable, rare moment between the leopard and black panther as the pair stood side by side in a forest clearing. Both leopard and shadowy counterpart, as if one, meet the photographers gaze head-on.

Mithun H.s viral photograph of Saaya and Cleopatra (Courtesy of Mithun H.)

The photographer, armed with his camera on what he called a surreal morning, snapped the picture on day six of a winter trip to Nagarhole National Parks Kabini Forest in Karnataka. He uploaded the striking image to his Instagram page on July 19, titled The Eternal Couple, and the photograph quickly went viral.

Big cats Saaya and Cleopatra, Mithun explained, have been courting for four years. Cleo, as the photographer affectionately calls the stunning female leopard, is the dominant personality.

Wildlife photographer Mithun H. (Courtesy of Mithun H.)

I can still close my eyes and relive that moment every single day of my life, Mithun told The Epoch Times. You dont see that often. Probably a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Patience, he explained, was the key. Mithun waited six days in the same spot before being rewarded with everything he had hoped for and more.

I could hear the panther and Cleopatra mating about 100 meters away in the thick undergrowth but could not see them, due to limited visibility, Mithun described. They had made a large kill and would not move until it was over.

Saaya luxuriating in the nook of a tree (Courtesy of Mithun H.)

Cleopatra pictured approaching a watering hole (Courtesy of Mithun H.)

Years of acquired knowledge of how to track wild cats from a safe, respectful distance came into play in capturing the perfect shot. Mithun waited by one of Saayas favorite paths, and eventually, Saaya appeared. He did after six days, said Mithun; I could wait for six years for a moment like this.

Mithun first picked up a camera in 2009 and quickly discovered that his new hobby had the potential to become his lifes work. Photography, he says, is a means to immortalize the moments I see in the wild, and it helps him cement his reverence for the incredible bounty of the Indian jungle.

Saaya exemplifying the prowess of the black panther (Courtesy of Mithun H.)

There are dangers associated with wildlife photography, Mithun conceded, but studying animal behavior and knowing ones limits are the very best safeguard against accidents and injuries.

These beautiful creatures are generally more scared and shy than we think, Mithun explained. Give them space and let them get comfortable with you, and you realize how close and personal you can get with their world.

The secret is patience and respect.

Another of Mithun H.s favorite photographs of black panther Saaya (Courtesy of Mithun H.)

Mithun, whose primary passion is big cats, has even worked with National Geographic on a documentary titled The Real Black Panther, featuring Saaya. The welfare and longevity of wild cats such as this majestic panther and his leopard companion remain at the forefront of Mithuns mission as a wildlife photographer.

There is a lot to learn from these beautiful creatures, Mithun shared. They live by the day. All they are bothered about is their next meal, the immediate safety of their loved ones  We as humans need to appreciate the beautiful life and celebrate it every day, just like these amazing animals.

As for what happens next for the talented photographer, Mithun has his eye on the rare and elusive Siberian tiger. Im forever in the quest of finding something new and unique, he said.

Wildlife photographer Mithun H. (Courtesy of Mithun H.)

This story was last updated in August 2020.

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Processing contracts are ideal for foreign investors looking to manufacture their products in Vietnam without setting up an entity.

As Vietnam looks to emerge as a leading China plus one manufacturing destination, companies are increasingly looking to diversify their supply chains balancing costs and taking advantage of free trade agreements.

Still, investors should involve thorough due diligence to see whether setting up an entity or using a local manufacturer suits their business operations and strategy.

While Vietnam has several legal structures that can be used as a necessary building block to a successful Vietnam sourcing strategy, it can often be difficult for companies (particularly those new to Vietnam) to decide on the optimal solutions needed to support their mainland sourcing activities.

With so many quality control and trading agents available offering one-stop sourcing services and business-to-business (B2B) online platforms that allow direct contact with suppliers, many will argue that it could be just as effective to utilize a subcontracting agreement and intermediate parties to get the job done.

Many foreign investors diversifying their supply chains are choosing Vietnam to manufacture and export their products. However, these supply chain shifts can bring new challenges to a business, including labor problems, poor factory conditions, or product quality issues.

This is especially true for brands that manufacture in Vietnam and export their products using unreliable suppliers or factories. It is imperative for businesses to evaluate suppliers to prevent any supply chain issues that may affect business as normal.

Why having the right contract matters

Foreign investors looking to manufacture in Vietnam should also ensure they have proper contracts in place to avoid business disruptions down the line. There are various types of contracts depending on the business purpose of the foreign company.

For example, a sales of property (goods) contract may be appropriate for an investor buying goods from a domestic company during normal business operations. However, a processing contract may be more appropriate for a foreign company that wants to import raw materials to Vietnam for processing and manufacturing and re-exporting to another market. The foreign company or supplier pays the local manufacturer for services of manufacturing or processing the product.

A processing contract is ideal for investors looking to use a domestic entity (rather than setting up their own facility) to manufacture or process goods to export to another country, their home country or sell to another entity.

What is a processing contract?

As per Vietnamese law, a processing contract is an agreement between parties whereby a processor carries out work to create products at the request of a supplier and the supplier receives the products and pays the relevant fees.

Suppliers or the foreign investor would supply the raw material including the agreed quantity, equipment, including documents, and instructions on how to manufacture the product.

Processing contracts involve the exchange of raw materials, supplies, equipment, and/or funds to be acquired before the final product is made.

A processing contract also has provisions for the return of excess raw materials and therefore the raw materials can be tracked accurately allowing the supplier or investor to ensure a return on their investment.

In addition, the manufacturing party is not allowed to hold materials, supplies or equipment as ransom in exchange for payment if they do not fulfill the service as per the processing contract. This removes a lot of ambiguity that is found in a general supply contract making it easier for the foreign investor to be assured of their investment.

The supplier thus gains more control over what the finished products are as they can reject the goods if they are not made as per the quality desired. In this case, the supplier owns the goods, raw materials, materials and pays the local manufacturer for the service which is either processing or manufacturing the product.

Processing contract requirements

A processing contract must be made in writing and at a minimum must include:

Name and address of contracting parties and the direct processor;

Names and quantities of products to be processed;

Processing price;

Payment time limit and mode;

List, quantities, and values of imported raw materials, auxiliary materials and supplies and home-made raw materials, auxiliary materials and supplies (if any) for processing; use norms of raw materials, auxiliary materials, and supplies; norms of supplies consumption and wastage rates of raw materials in processing;

List and value of machinery and equipment (if any) hired, borrowed or donated for processing;

Measures to treat waste materials, scraps and faulty products and principles of disposal of hired or borrowed machinery and equipment and unused raw materials, auxiliary materials and supplies after the termination of the processing contract;

Place and time of goods delivery;

Trademarks and appellations of origin of goods; and

The validity duration of the contract.

Tax implications

Thang Vu, Associate Manager, Tax at Dezan Shira & Associates Ho Chi Minh City office notes that there are no customs duties on imports of imported materials for performing processing services. The local processing or manufacturing facility will also be entitled to zero percent Value-Added Tax (VAT) for processing the exported goods.

However, customs authorities must be notified with the following declaration forms:

Export Processing Enterprise (EPE): Form E11 for importing materials and form E42 for exporting the final product;

Ordinary local processing facility: Form E21 for importing materials and form E52 for exporting the final product.

The local manufacturing facility can claim a refund of creditable input VAT on the portion of their exporting income under certain conditions.

In a sale of goods contract, the Vietnamese processing or manufacturing facility must purchase and import the raw materials using form E31 which is also exempt from customs duty and VAT on imports. However, imports under such forms are subject to stringent checks by customs authorities. In addition, the markup cost for the final products can be higher for foreign investors.

Set up local manufacturing facility or use a local manufacturer?

Foreign investors that set up a local manufacturing facility are eligible for certain tax incentives and benefits depending on the industry and location. Nevertheless, investors should do a cost-benefit analysis to see whether setting up a manufacturing facility or using a local manufacturer is feasible.

Investors that do set up a local facility are eligible to the following benefits:

Corporate Income Tax (CIT) incentives for certain business sectors as well as certain geographic conditions. If the processing facility is established in certain locations which undergo socioeconomic difficulties, investors may be eligible for up to four years of CIT exemption and nine years of reduced CIT;

VAT refund for new investment projects;

VAT refund for creditable input VAT, apportioned by exporting income under certain conditions;

Exemption of customs duties and VAT on imports for imported materials, which is processed into exported products;

Zero percent VAT on export revenue; and

Exemption of customs duties and VAT for EPEs, but these are subject to stringent checks by customs authorities.

Global manufacturing shifts

Globalization has led to sharp rise in cross border production, with an associated increase in the value of goods sent abroad for processing.

The production process for several industries such as oil, garments and textiles, electrical goods, and motor vehicles is increasingly spreading to more than one country to reduce costs and to take advantage of government incentives as well as free trade agreements.

In the context, Vietnam appears to be a promising manufacturing destination regardless of whether investors set up their own manufacturing facility or use a local manufacturer to process their goods.
According to Grau, since the new truce entered into force, the number of ceasefire violations has dropped to the lowest-ever level.

The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Heidi Grau, has urged the sides to continue making all necessary efforts to keep a sustainable and comprehensive ceasefire in Donbas.

"I encourage the sides to continue making all necessary efforts to keep a sustainable and comprehensive ceasefire," she said in a press statement after the regular meetings of the TCG and its Working Groups held through video conferencing on August 19, 2020.

Read alsoRemains of Russian occupation victims exhumed from unmarked grave in Sloviansk"The participants of today's TCG meeting unanimously noted that the 'Measures to strengthen the ceasefire' agreed upon by them four weeks ago, have been working successfully," Grau said.

According to the official, since the entry into force of the "Measures" on July 27, 2020, the numbers of ceasefire violations have dropped to the lowest level ever recorded by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission.

"The security situation in the conflict zone has improved significantly, which in turn has had a positive impact on the civilians' daily life. This proves once again that concrete results can be achieved provided there is political will," she said.

In addition to this topic, participants of the meeting of the Security Working Group were engaged in developing an updated demining plan.

"They came close to agreement upon 20 demining areas, including areas near the entry-exit crossing points. I call on the participants of the TCG meeting to sign and implement this agreement without further conditions. Let us not forget that this is a matter of human lives," Grau said.

The Economic Working Group discussed current issues of water supplies in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, as well as environmental matters, focusing on the environmental condition of coal mines on both sides of the line of contact.

"The discussions of the Humanitarian Working Group focused on the mutual release and exchange of conflict-related detainees. All those responsible shall demonstrate goodwill to reach an early agreement on this issue," she said.

In addition, participants discussed in a constructive spirit the technical possibility of delivering humanitarian cargo in the Luhansk region across the line of contact.

Read alsoDonbas truce: Ukraine reports three ceasefire violations by enemy forces on Aug 19"The discussion of the Political Working Group was mainly devoted to the Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine No. 795-IX 'On the appointment of regular local elections in 2020.' I regret that, for this reason, participants were unable to discuss the issues on the agenda, aimed at the implementation of the Minsk Agreements," she added.

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.
Dallas liquefied natural gas company Energy Capital Vietnam has taken a step forward with plans to develop an LNG project in that country.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc recently announced that ECV's proposed natural gas-fired power plant and a supporting offshore LNG import terminal project in Binh Thuan Province will be added to the country's power development plan.

If the project obtains a permit and secures financing, the power plant will need to import 3 million metric tons of LNG per year to produce up to 3.4 gigawatts of electricity.

LNG: Singapore company sets up shop in Houston

The project comes as several companies are vying for a share in the nation's rapidly growing power market.

As it moves away from coal, Vietnam will to need to import large amounts of natural gas from the United States and elsewhere to meet its expected 100 gigawatts of electricity demand by 2030.

French utility company EDF, Virginia power company AES and Singapore liquefied natural gas company Delta Energy Offshore are seeking to build power plants and LNG import terminals in the Southeast Asian nation.

Fuel Fix: Get daily energy news headlines in your inbox

Energy Capital Vietnam CEO David Lewis said there is enough demand to support multiple projects.

"It's a win-win for everybody," Lewis said. "Vietnam wins by getting power from clean-burning natural gas. And industry wins by being able to develop projects that make strong returns for their investors."
A 32-year old painter who sodomized a 14-year old boy has been granted a GH 20,000 bail, with three sureties, one to be justified, by a Kumasi Circuit Court.



Foster Nyarko Batious pleaded not guilty to the charge and would reappear before the court presided by Mrs Patricia Amponsah on August 27, this year.



Police Chief Inspector Mercy Quaye, prosecuting, told the Court that the complainant, Mabel Gandaa, mother of the victim, is also a prison warder stationed at Kumasi Central Prisons, and resides at South Suntreso.



She said the accused is a painter and also a resident of South Suntreso.



Inspector Quaye said, in April 2020 this year, the accused met the victim who was then going to buy bread and established acquaintance with him.



She said they exchanged contact numbers, and the accused told the victim to call him anytime he wanted.



The prosecution said the next day around the same time, the accused called the victim to visit him.



Inspector Quaye said, the victim accepted this invitation and went to the accuseds room.



She said in the room, the accused undressed and masturbated until he discharged and then collected the sperms into his palm and rubbed it on his penis.



The prosecution said the accused later told the victim to undress, which he did, made the victim to stoop whilst he stood behind him and inserted his penis into his anus, and had anal intercourse with him for about ten minutes, until he discharged.



She said the accused then threatened the victim not to tell anyone or else he would die and repeated the act with the victim in his room the next day.



Inspector Quaye said the complainant got wind of it when she spotted the victims love messages with males on social media.



The prosecution said the victim later narrated his ordeal to the complainant and the case was reported to the Ashanti Regional Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) where the accused was subsequently arrested.



She said the accused in his cautioned statement denied the offence but after Police investigations, he was charged with the offence and brought before the Court.

Source: GNA









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Its been a long time coming but it looks as though free roaming across six Central African countries  for nationals of those countries  is going to be a reality from the start of 2021 with the formal adoption of the measure by the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC).

CEMAC is made up of six countries: Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Chad, Equatorial Guinea and the Central African Republic. It was established in 1994. Its aim is to promote economic integration among countries that share a common currency  the CFA franc. The presidency of CEMAC rotates each year and is held by a head of state.

The community regulation on free roaming between CEMAC countries had already been adopted in principle on 28 February this year in Douala, the economic capital of Cameroon.

The measure was formally adopted this month. From the start of next year, when traveling in the CEMAC area, nationals of countries in this community area will have access to mobile services (calls, SMS and internet) on their own phones at no additional cost.

But this deadline is still a few months off and, until then, a Cameroonian in roaming mode in Gabon, for example, will still have to pay hefty roaming charges for receiving a one-minute phone call. By contrast the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), agreed to remove roaming fees for its 15 members back in 2017.
Schools and colleges have been told not to issue BTEC results to students on Thursday following a last-minute U-turn on grading.

On Wednesday  with less than 24 hours to go until results day  exam board Pearson asked schools and colleges not to publish level 1 and 2 results in the vocational qualifications to give them more time to recalculate the grades.

It follows the announcement that GCSE and A-level students would this year be able to receive grades based on their teachers estimates.

BTEC students grades were not included in the original announcement, but now Pearson has said it will be regrading BTECs awarded last week  as well the grades that were due to be released tomorrow.

It comes after education unions and the Labour Party called on the Government to provide clarity on why BTEC students had been left out of Mondays grading U-turn.

Following @ofquals announcement A Level and GCSE students are to receive centre assessed grades, we will now be applying the same principles for students receiving BTECs this summer. This means we will be regrading all #BTECs. Please read our statement:https://t.co/Uxn2xY7SUG  BTEC (@teachBTEC) August 19, 2020

A spokeswoman for Pearson, the provider of BTECs, said: Following Ofquals announcement that A-level and GCSE students are to receive centre-assessed grades, we will be applying the same principles for students receiving BTEC results this summer.

We will be regrading BTECs to address concerns about unfairness in relation to A-levels and GCSEs and ensure no BTEC student is disadvantaged.

She added: We know this could cause additional uncertainty for students and we are sorry about this.

Our priority is to ensure fair outcomes for BTEC students and we will work around the clock to provide revised grades as soon as we can.

The Government must urgently set a clear deadline for every young person to receive their grades Kate Green, shadow education secretary

A Department for Education (DfE) spokesperson said: We know this delay to BTEC results will be disappointing for students and understand their frustration.

The awarding organisations have decided to take more time in order to make absolutely certain no student is inadvertently worse off due to changes in how grades are assessed.

Critically, no student will see their result downgraded as a result of this review, so results already issued will either stay the same or improve.

The relevant awarding organisations have assured us that students will receive their results as soon as possible.

Ofqual, Ucas and the relevant awarding organisations are also working to ensure students seeking entrance to university are not disadvantaged, and we are working with colleges and other further education providers to make sure students looking to continue into further education can still do so.

Kate Green, Labours shadow education secretary, said: This latest chaos is totally unacceptable.

For some young people to find out less than a day in advance that they will not be receiving their grades tomorrow is utterly disgraceful.

Its appalling that thousands of young people should face further confusion and uncertainty because of the Governments incompetence.

This repeated chaos is simply no way to run a country. The Government must urgently set a clear deadline for every young person to receive their grades.

On Tuesday, exams regulator Ofqual said its moderation algorithm used in A-levels and GCSEs was not used in the majority of vocational and technical qualifications (VTQ)  including BTECs.

But in a statement on Wednesday night  just hours before results were due to be published  Englands exams watchdog said some exam boards, including OCR and Pearson, will need more time to recalculate results.

Those students wanting to move onto further or higher education will be most worried about losing out on places David Hughes, chief executive of Association of Colleges

It said: OCR have said that their Cambridge National results will issue next week.

Pearson, which initially did not think there would need to be significant changes made, has now decided to revise its arrangements to ensure that students qualification-level results better reflect the unit-level results that students have already secured through internally assessed units.

Ofqual added: Everyone is working as quickly as possible to confirm results as soon as possible, recognising the impact that delays are having on schools, colleges and students.

No learners result will go down as a consequence of regrading.

David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges (AoC), said: The timing is worrying, because thousands of students were due to get their results in the morning and others have already got results which we know will not go down, but which might improve.

So it is vital for students that this is sorted in days rather than weeks so that students have the chance to celebrate and to plan their next steps. It is a stressful time and this delay will extend the uncertainties.

He added: Those students wanting to move onto further or higher education will be most worried about losing out on places.

We are in close communication with DfE, Ofqual and Pearson to particularly make sure that BTEC students applying for universities can still be treated fairly.

Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Layla Moran said: It seems the Conservatives, bumbling from one crisis to the next, simply forgot about a half a million students awaiting their BTEC grades, and had to pull the results at the last minute.

She added: This summer has been a disaster for the Government, it has left students panicking about their future and colleges in turmoil. Williamson must resign and Boris Johnson must return to deal with this crisis.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 20)  A high-ranking official of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has admitted that the early disbursement of cash advances for COVID-19 to hospitals prior to its effectivity in June was illegal.

Rodolfo del Rosario Jr., senior vice president for legal sector, admitted this during the fourth joint committee hearing on Thursday of the House Committees on Pubic Accounts and Good Government and Public Accountability.

The admission came after del Rosario was interrogated by Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta about the release of some interim refund mechanism (IRM) funds to different healthcare facilities months before its effectivity date.

Marcoleta noted that based on the official circular, the IRM would only take effect from its publication in a newspaper in general circulation and three copies to have been furnished the Office of the National Administrative Register (ONAR) of the UP Law Center.

It was was published in the Manila Bulletin on March 21 based on PhilHealths website.

But Del Rosario said that from the document presented by Sen. Panfilo Ping Lacson during the Senate hearing on Wednesday, it appeared that ONAR was only furnished with the copies on June 11.

It would appear that those funds were not released based on the pre-requisite set by the circular, del Rosario said. I agree with the chairman that it is illegal, referring to Anakalusugan Partylist Rep. Mike Defensor finding.

PhilHealth Circular 2020-0007 established IRM that aims to ensure that healthcare facilities will have access to PhilHealth benefits and assistance to help in rebuilding their system to provide continuous healthcare services to Filipinos.

Total IRM disbursed to healthcare facilities is currently at about P14 billion, of which only P2.7 billion have been liquidated.

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Jesus Crispin Remulla queried del Rosario if his appointment as SVP for legal sector was validated.

Del Rosario said he believes he is qualified, but added "the legal sector will benefit from a more experienced legal person.

Dennis Mas, PhilHealth senior vice president for management services sector, said the qualification for his post is generic. It only needs five years in a position involving management and supervision, among others, he said.

Meanwhile, Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy questioned the appointment of PhilHealth EVP and COO Arnel De Jesus due to reports that the agency changed the requirements for the position in February 2020 when De Jesus was appointed.

Mas said PhilHealth chief Ricardo Morales requested the amendment in 2019, and was later approved by the Civil Service Commission. However, Dy said it would seem like the qualifications were amended to fit those of De Jesus'.

When Dy was about to grill del Rosario on the same issue, the hearing was told del Rosario lost his Internet connection.

Del Rosario was not able to physically attend Thursday's hearing due to health problems. He was also excused on Mondays hearing for the same reason.
About 2,600 of the strandings were on UK beaches (SMASS/PA)

More than 16,000 dead harbour porpoises have been found on coastlines around the North Sea over almost three decades, according to a new study.

The research, led by Utrecht University in the Netherlands, also shows a significant rise in the annual number in southern areas since 2005.

It included harbour porpoise strandings from five countries between 1990 and 2018, with dedicated schemes from Scotland, England, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark all contributing data.

Expand Close A bottlenose dolphin tossing a harbour porpoise up in the air at Chanonry Point in the Moray Firth (Jamie Muny/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp A bottlenose dolphin tossing a harbour porpoise up in the air at Chanonry Point in the Moray Firth (Jamie Muny/PA)

Lonneke IJsseldijk, who co-led the research, said: The harbour porpoise is the most abundant species of cetacean in the North Sea.

Most countries hold records and investigate strandings of the species at a national level but harbour porpoises are a highly mobile species and move independently of these national borders.

It therefore makes sense to examine these data at a scale that is ecologically relevant and collate data from all individual countries for a population-level overview.

The study examined seasonal and inter-annual variation in stranding numbers across the North Sea area.

About 2,600 were on UK beaches.

Seasonal patterns were different across the regions, yet they were consistent throughout the 28 years covered by the study.

Variation in stranding frequencies can be driven by a number of factors including variation in abundance, distribution and mortality of animals.

They are a particularly difficult species to monitor Principal investigator Mariel ten Doeschate

The study also involved the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS), part of Scotlands Rural College.

Mariel ten Doeschate from SMASS and principal investigator in the study said: Harbour porpoises are one of the smaller and more elusive species of cetacean.

Animals most commonly live alone or in small groups and spend very little time at the surface.

This means that they are a particularly difficult species to monitor and gathering information on even the most basic population metrics is very challenging.

She added: Surveys of live animals are being done to try to estimate abundance and distribution of the species but these are often logistically restricted.

Stranded animals, on the other hand, are being found all around the coastline and are reported year-round, and the schemes contributing data to this study have provided a systematic approach to strandings surveillance in their respective countries.

Examination of stranded individuals additionally allows us to gather information on parameters like age and sex class, which are indicative of population structure and habitat use  vital data that is very difficult to obtain via surveys of live animals
Anon Nampa is a leading figure in recent anti-government demonstrations. The democratic movement also wants the resignation of the government, the end of the military dictatorship and a new constitution.

Bangkok (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Police yesterday arrested human rights lawyer Anon Nampa, for his role in recent anti-government demonstrations. On 3 August, during one of the many protests that are rocking the country, Nampa had asked for a reform of the monarchy. He was first detained by the police on 7 August, along with student leader Panupong Jasnok.

Nampa's attack on King Vajiralongkorn is an extraordinary occurrence: the sovereign is a sacred figure in Thailand, and offenses against him are punished with up to 15 years imprisonment.

In recent times, also due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, public pressure on Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has increased. The former commander-in-chief of the army came to power six years ago in a military coup.

Prayuth has led a civilian executive since last year, but his critics accuse him of rigging the elections that decreed the formal end of the military junta.

The demonstrators, mostly young students, are calling for the resignation of the government, the end of the dictatorship, a democratic reform of the Constitution and a review the monarchys political role.
Hill Street Studios | DigitalVision | Getty Images

Some taxpayers are getting a surprise in the mail from the IRS: a notice indicating that they still owe money, even if they've paid. Earlier this spring, when many IRS workers  as well as many other employees  were told to work from home due to the coronavirus pandemic, the mail began to pile up. At one point this summer, there were 12 million pieces of unopened mail at their offices, according to House Ways and Means Committee chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass. That correspondence included paper returns, as well as payments remitted to the federal government to pay taxes owed. IRS workers are now winnowing the backlog.

Here's the problem: Taxpayers are finding out that money orders and checks they've submitted to the IRS are still sitting with piles of other unopened mail. "They're freaking out," said Kathryn Morgan, an enrolled agent at Puzzled by Taxes in Haughton, Louisiana. "For many, the payments are sitting in a tractor-trailer full of mail. "The IRS still has a huge mail backlog." Indeed, one of her clients filed his 2019 income tax return online but chose to send a cashier's check to the IRS. The bank writing the check said it had to be used within 60 days, so by the time the agency got to it, it was expired, said Morgan. "He had to get another cashier's check and the whole time he's accruing penalties and interest," she said.

An accumulated backlog

The Internal Revenue Service's offices in Washington, D.C. Adam Jeffery | CNBC

Lawmakers have called on the IRS to temporarily halt sending notices to filers who may be caught up in the backlog. "Instead of sending potentially erroneous notices, [House Ways and Means chairman] Neal suggested the IRS establish an online portal for taxpayers to alert the IRS that they previously had mailed their tax payments," the committee said in an Aug. 19 statement. "These notices impose unnecessary stress on taxpayers who, upon receipt, must contact the IRS for assistance," Neal said. The IRS is aware of the backlog and will process mailed payments as of the day they were received, rather than the date they were processed, according to an Aug. 13 notice from the agency. More from Your Money, Your Future:

'Super savers' make these sacrifices to achieve goals

Avoid making these investment mistakes, the pros warn

What's ahead for your taxes if Biden wins the election Taxpayers who had a check go stale in the IRS mailroom will get relief from bad check penalties, provided the check was received between March 1 and July 15  the deadline for 2019 income tax returns and payments. "Although we do say, 'interest and penalties may still apply,' and there are some situations where that's true, it's not going to be the case for individuals who file on time  by July 15  and pay the full amount due," said Eric Smith, a spokesman for the IRS.

Call your tax pro

AndreyPopov
A Vietnamese coast guard officer photographs a Chinese coast guard vessel in disputed waters in the South China Sea on May 14, 2014. (Hoang Dinh Nam/AFP/Getty Images)

Vietnam: Chinese Bomber on Disputed Islands Jeopardises Peace

HANOIThe presence of Chinese bombers on the disputed Paracel islands in the South China Sea jeopardises peace, Vietnams foreign ministry said on Thursday, in another sign of disapproval in the region of Beijings increased military activity.

China, which has for years been locked in maritime disputes with other coastal states in the South China Sea, has in recent months boosted its presence and exercises in disputed parts of the strategic waterway, at a time when other claimants are battling coronavirus outbreaks.

The fact that relevant sides sent weapons and bombers  not only violates Vietnams sovereignty but also jeopardises the situation in the area, ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said at a briefing, when asked to comment on the presence of at least one Chinese bomber on the Paracel islands.

Vietnamese and Chinese media have reported that China has recently deployed fighter jets and at least one bomber, the H-6J, to the Paracels, one of two groups of South China Sea islands that China claims historical ownership of.

Hang did not say when the bomber was seen at the Paracels.

Chinas foreign ministry referred questions to the defense ministry, which did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters for comment.

Chinas defense ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang late last month said H-6G and H-6J bombers had participated in high intensity training in the area.

Those included takeoff and landing exercises, long distance strikes, and the hitting of targets above the surface of the sea, Ren said.

China has this year also deployed survey ships, along with coast guard vessels, to waters off Vietnam and Malaysia.

Late on Thursday, Chinese coast guard vessel Zhongquo Haijing 5204 was seen around Block 06.1, an oil and gas extraction area within Vietnams 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone, according to data from ship tracking website Marine Traffic.

By Phuong Nguyen and Khanh Vu
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Linkedin Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Bandung  Fri, August 21 2020

State-owned aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) in Bandung, West Java, is set to hand over the Gatotkaca N250 Prototype Aircraft 01 (PA01) to the Dirgantara Mandala Central Museum in Yogyakarta.

The N250 was the first aircraft produced from the grand strategy of technology development launched by the late president BJ Habibie when he was the research and technology minister.

PTDI corporate communications and promotion manager Adi Prastowo said the transfer of the aircraft was stipulated in Air Force Chief of Staff Decree (SKEP) No. 284/2020.

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'Today we concluded talks with the European company CureVac to increase the chances of finding an effective coronavirus vaccine,' EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said

The European Commission said on Thursday it had concluded exploratory talks with CureVac regarding the purchase of 225 million doses of the German biotech firm's potential COVID-19 vaccine.

"Today we concluded talks with the European company CureVac to increase the chances of finding an effective coronavirus vaccine," EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said.

The EU will now begin talks on a contract with CureVac aimed at securing the supply of its potential vaccine for all 27 EU member states should the shot prove safe and effective against COVID-19.

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The Kenyan Bishops Conference and 26 pro-life groups call for the withdrawal of a Reproductive Health Care Bill, saying that promotes illegalities and practices that are not acceptable.

By Fr. Benedict Mayaki, SJ

Kenyan Bishops, alongside several pro-life groups in the country, have pushed against a 2019 Reproductive Health Care Bill currently before the senate of the east African country.

In a collective 17 August memorandum to the countrys Senate Committee on Health, the groups asked for the bills withdrawal entirely without amendments following fresh calls for public participation in the proposed law.

The memorandum was signed by the leadership of 26 groups including the Kenyan Bishops Conference (KCCB), Catholic Members of Parliament in Kenya, Kenyan Christian Professionals Forum (KCPF), Franciscan Friars Kenya, the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya (EAK) and the Kenya Catholic Doctors Association, among others.

Concerns raised

The groups listed various concerns regarding the proposed bill arguing that it is pushing for illegalities and practices that are not acceptable as they will make abortion on demand legal - which, they said, is contrary to the spirit of our Constitution of 2010 and the Penal Code.

Besides, the groups allege that the bill is sponsored and championed by foreign NGOs that have continually pushed for it online, through media and also through holding workshops with a number of legislators. All of these, they claim, are aimed at making abortion legal in all of Africa, beginning with Kenya.

Also, they said that proposed law pushes for surrogacy without offering a clear framework on how this can be practiced and with all of its negative effects including harm to the best interests of the child and the spirit of Article 45 of the Constitution. They also said that the bill leaves loopholes for same-sex unions and related practices which are currently illegal in the country, and it aims at legalizing Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in the name of adolescent-friendly education.

Kenyan Bishops against the bill

The Catholic Bishops in Kenya have been vocal in their campaign against the proposed law.

On 23 June, the Bishops explained their opposition to the Bill in a letter to the countrys Catholic Members of Parliament. They listed various concerns including the deliberately ambiguous wording of the bill, and its contravention of the teachings of the Gospel, especially concerning the right to life and the protection of children and the family.

In particular, the Bishops contested the definition of pregnancy as the presence of a foetus in the womb - a definition which, according to them, does not recognize the right to life of everyone, and that the life of a person begins at conception. They also pointed out that they are aware that a proposal to legalize abortion has been presented in parliament.

As Bishops, we respond to our belief that regards abortion as the intentional killing of human life, read the Bishops June statement.

Also, in a collective statement on 5 July, the Bishops reiterated their push against the Reproductive Health Care Bill, underscoring their dedication to defending the right to life, the dignity of children and the family as an inseparable unit.

And, as an alternative to a clause in the bill that provides justification for the "termination of unwanted pregnancies," the Bishops propose a proactive approach that involves mentorship and behavior change programs, life skills and human sexuality programs.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has warned coronavirus is circulating in Sydney as the state reported five new infections on Thursday.

Of the new cases, two were in returned travellers in hotel quarantine, while three infections are residents in south-western Sydney.

One of the locally acquired cases is a household contact of a previously reported infection linked to the July funerals outbreak. The cluster has now climbed to 74 cases.

New South Wales reported five new coronavirus cases on Thursday. Pictured: People walk outside the Sydney Opera House on Wednesday

NSW Health said they are investigating the two other infections - an outpatient in her 60s at Liverpool Hospital and a man in his 20s.

Ms Berejiklian urged all residents in south-western Sydney with 'the mildest of symptoms' to get tested immediately.

'Because we know the virus is circulating in those communities and our anxiety is that we want to reduce the number of unknown cases,' she said.

There are currently 111 active coronavirus cases in NSW, including eight patients in intensive care and five on ventilators.

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said NSW Health is investigating whether the infection at Liverpool Hospital is associated to previous cases linked to the hospital.

Dr Chant said there were 28,767 tests conducted in the 24-hour reporting period until 8pm on Wednesday.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has warned coronavirus is circulating in south-western Sydney

A health worker conducts a coronavirus test at the Bondi Beach drive-through testing clinic

Authorities are still investigating how a security guard at the Marriott Hotel in Circular Quay contracted the virus, but have no indication there had been a quarantine breach.

Genome sequencing has linked the security guard's infection to a returned traveller who was in quarantine at the Marriott and tested positive on August 2. The guard worked at Flemington Markets on August 9 and overnight on August 11 and 12.

All people who attended the markets at those times have been told to monitor for respiratory symptoms and self-isolate for 14 days.

The man, who worked on the same hotel floor as the infected returned traveller, is also believed to have worked at Parramatta Local Court while infected.

Ms Berejiklian was questioned over when she would look to open the border with Victoria.

Pictured: Commuters practice social distancing at a Sydney train station on Wednesday

The premier did not give a timeline but said she cannot please everyone during the pandemic.

'I still remain anxious about the unknown cases we have in south-western Sydney. We know the virus is circulating, but certainly I think to date we can look back and think the decisions we made at those times were the right ones,' she said.

'I remember getting criticised when we closed the Victorian border because I'd waited too long and now I'm getting criticised that the border is there at all.

'So I've accepted and acknowledged, in a pandemic, I'll never be able to please everybody all the time. And that's OK. I'm completely comfortable with that.'

Ms Berejiklian said she understood certain communities would suffer as a consequence but the decisions made are for the 'safety and well-being' of residents.

'We're trying our hardest to get the right balance,' she said.
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.
The Bauchi State Commissioner of Commerce and Industry, Alhassan Sadiq, on Wednesday resigned his appointment in the Bala Mohammed-led administration.

Mr Sadiq, a staunch ally of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, announced his resignation at the Bauchi State Executive Council meeting that was held yesterday.

The former Speaker, Mr Dogara, had earlier in the month defected to the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) in what confirmed his falling apart with the incumbent governor, Mr Mohammed. It is generally believed the former played a key role in the latters election during the 2019 general elections.

Mr Dogara, a founding member of the APC, had in the wake of the 2019 elections, defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, under which he recontested his re-election while serving as the Speaker of the 8th Assembly.

The now ex-Commissioner of Commerce and industry came into the government of Mr Mohammed, as a nominee of Mr Dogara. Political analysts in Bauchi said his exit was not surprising as it was expected that most of the ex-speakers loyalists are expected to follow the steps of their chief political benefactor.

Sources at the meeting said the former cabinet member simply tendered his resignation to the governor at the beginning of the executive council meeting.

He later announced his resignation on his Facebook page, late Wednesday night.

The Facebook post reads, Alhamdulillah, Masha Allah, Every beginning has an end. Today, the 19th day of August 2020, I have honourably tendered my voluntary resignation as a Commissioner (Ministry of Commerce & Industries) and a Member of the State Executive Council in the Government of Bauchi State.

It was a rare privilege and opportunity to have served my state in such an exalted position. I thank H.E the Executive Governor  Sen. Bala A. Mohammed (Kauran Bauchi) for the wonderful opportunity accorded to me. In the same vein, I must appreciate my boss, H.E, the Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara for his usual support and the role he played in influencing same.

I sincerely thank all my colleagues in the EXCO and the Ministry, whom we have worked with as a formidable team. I have enjoyed the Understanding of my family at such a trying time, he further wrote.

I beseech God to forgive all my wrongs and the general public/colleagues to pardon me.

I urge you to help me pray God to grant me success, contentment and peace of mind in my new endeavour. Thank you all and remain blessed.

Mr Sadiq hails from Dass LGA, which is one of the three local governments being represented by the former Speaker.

READ ALSO:

Those conversant with his political journey said Mr Sadiwq had enjoyed the backing of Mr Dogara in getting political appointments and elections including membership of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Chairman of Dass LGA as well as a legislative aide and his last appointment a Commissioner.

Mr Sadiqs exit is the second of such resignations since Mr Mohammed assumed office as governor of Bauchi state. Last year, a former commissioner of Finance, Nura Manu, unceremoniously announced his resignation amidst unclear circumstances.

His resignation was followed by that of the Chief of Staff, Abubakar Kari, and then his former political adviser, who was relieved of his duty early this year.
Octavius "Tay" Nelson learns to cook by watching videos on YouTube to honor his late father. Now, he owns a restaurant and has employed 60 people. Growing up, he used to wash dishes in the restaurant where his father had worked as a cook.

Good food that has brought joy

Nelson had always seen how the food his father had cooked brought joy to so many people outside of their family. He wanted to honor his late dad and brother by being engaged in their shared passion.

Learned skills by watching "how-to" videos

The only problem was that Nelson did not know how to cook. Thus, he decided to turn to YouTube and watch endless videos to learn. He watched "how-to" videos that taught him kitchen skills. He told GNN that he watched every video he could find. He said that in doing so, he was able to learn everything from cooking different types of meat to running a restaurant to business-related tips.

See also: Police and Community Help Illinois Teen Boys Raise Almost $4k After Lemonade Stand Got Robbed

Eventually, Nelson launched a line of all-natural seasonings at home in Fountain Inn, South Carolina. He was inspired by his late dad's recipes. However, opening a restaurant was his ultimate dream. He, therefore, searched everything he needed to know on YouTube about running a food business.

At first, Nelson started a catering business. In 2018, he was finally able to make his dream come true by opening a restaurant. He named his restaurant after his dad and brother. "Bobby's BBQ" has already provided dozens of jobs for people in his community.

See also: Texas Mom Holds Newborn Baby First Time, 20 Days After Giving Birth [Heartwarming Story]

More than 35,000 people have already tested the house-made rub seasonings that he used to make his barbecues. Nelson is incredibly grateful that they have managed to be open despite the pandemic.

He said that they want to continue having a positive impact on their community and to keep his staff employed.

See also: School Best Friends Born with Extremely Low Survival Rate and Disability Graduate from High School

For the past months of being in lockdown, many restaurants have already been forced to close down. Many people have no choice but to learn how to cook for themselves. Restaurants who could still cope with the unbearable loss are lucky enough.

According to Reuters, many Americans are cooking meals at home as what is seen in a survey. The outlet suggests that the health crisis has made people save leftover food, which could have a good impact on climate change if many will do the same.

The US Department of Agriculture estimates that about 30 to 40 percent of American food is wasted before the pandemic happened. Based on the Waste FAQs page, the government agency noted that the 31 percent food loss equates to about 133 billion pounds. It is roughly $161 billion worth of food in 2010.
Oregon lawmakers did not address coronavirus liability protections for businesses, schools, hospitals and other organizations during a one-day, 15-hour special session on Aug. 10.

The omission came as a surprise, given that the consideration of liability protections appeared to be a key issue coming out of the first special session in June.

But Sen. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, who has been involved in two work groups considering liability protections, said the groups simply didnt have enough time to come to an agreement on the language for potential legislation ahead of the August special session.

It just wasnt ready, Prozanski said. There was no agreement.

The goal is to have legislation ready in time for a possible third special session this fall, Prozanski said. Senate President Peter Courtney echoed that sentiment last week, saying he anticipated bills to limit the liability of businesses and other entities facing coronavirus lawsuits and to ensure workers compensation for people who contract coronavirus at work to be taken up in a third special session.

Gov. Kate Brown has not said whether she will summon lawmakers for that third session, or, if she does, when it might take place. If a third special session isnt called, liability protections couldnt be addressed until the regular session begins early next year.

Prozanski, who is heading a work group considering coronavirus liability protections for medical providers, said the group is close to sending their ideas to the Legislative Counsel to draft legislation. He said that legislation could serve as a framework for the liability protections that another work group is considering for businesses, schools and other entities.

Prozanski, who has also been sitting in on meetings with the second work group, said the group is still trying to determine how legislation for schools might need to differ from legislation for businesses. While many schools will not reopen this fall due to the pandemic, Jim Green, the executive director of the Oregon School Boards Association, said last month that liability protections are needed for schools to even consider reopening because their insurance providers arent offering communicable disease coverage.

A coalition of more than 50 businesses, schools, government entities and nonprofit organizations have been pushing the Oregon Legislature to act quickly to enact liability protections that shield entities from coronavirus-related lawsuits, except in cases of gross negligence or reckless, wanton or intentional misconduct.

Health care organizations have pushed for similar protections. Those organizations have said they could be vulnerable to lawsuits stemming from the need to delay certain surgeries and ration personal protective equipment during the pandemic.

Republicans lawmakers, industry groups and 10 Democratic members of the Oregon House of Representatives pushed for liability protections for businesses during the special session in June, prompting House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, to convene a work group to look into the issue. Republicans refused to enact a rule change to speed up the June special session until Kotek committed to forming the work group.

There wasnt the same outcry when liability protections werent addressed in the second special session, but House Minority Leader Christine Drazan, R-Canby, said that her commitment to seeing the legislation brought to the floor hasnt changed.

Drazan, co-leader of the work group that is considering liability protections for businesses, schools and other entities, said it is imperative that businesses and schools that are following health guidance are shielded from frivolous lawsuits so they can safely operate amid the pandemic. She said she worried that negotiations over liability protections were being used to serve partisan purposes, rather than being seen as a priority.

I think the politics of this issue are unnecessarily slow, Drazan said. I think as people drag their feet to an agreement, we are continuing to expose organizations and schools to the potential for lawsuits that they have no real protections against.

At least 11 states have already implemented liability protections for businesses and other entities amid the coronavirus pandemic.

But opponents of the legislation argue that businesses that are implementing reasonable safety measures are already protected from lawsuits under current law.

Arthur Towers, a lobbyist for the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association said last month that new legislation would take away the incentive for entities to enact stringent COVID-19 safety measures and would limit the rights of people to hold entities accountable for subpar safety standards.

The type of lawsuits that the liability protections would address have, thus far, been rare in Oregon and nationwide.

According to the law firm Hunton Andrews Kurth, 4,280 coronavirus-related lawsuits had been filed in the United States as of Wednesday.

Those cases include 19 personal injury suits from consumers, 50 wrongful death suits and 76 suits related to conditions of employment. There have been just 27 coronavirus-related lawsuits in Oregon, only three of which fall under those same categories, according to the law firm.

If Oregon puts off liability protections until next year, Prozanski said that businesses and other entities could be exposed to more legal costs if lawsuits start to materialize before then. But he said that even under current law, plaintiffs would have a difficult hurdle to clear to prove that they contracted COVID-19 at a certain establishment.

No matter what happens regarding the limited liability protections that businesses and others are looking for, theres still a major hurdle for a plaintiff, and that is the causation, Prozanski said.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
20.08.2020 LISTEN

The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) wants the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to be held accountable for the leakage of the examination questions and examiners list in the ongoing 2020 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

NUGS says the unfortunate leakage of the papers is as a result of the willful negligence by the examination management body which must be comprehensively investigated.

In a statement, the Union insisted that the phenomenon is against all efforts towards building a meritorious society.

It, therefore, urged WAEC, the Ghana Education Service (GES) and other relevant authorities to intensify efforts aimed at  reversing this worrying trend."

The National Union of Ghana is shocked and disgusted that examination papers continue to leak in the ongoing West African Secondary School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) as a result of the willful negligence of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), and wishes to by this medium, call on WAEC and other stakeholders such as the Ghana Education Service (GES) to put in place strict measures to end this spectacle of exam leakages.

There have been allegations that some of the questions in the ongoing WASSCE leaked on social media.

Already WAEC has admitted snapshots of the Mathematics (Core) 2 paper were posted on social media platforms although it happened after the release of the paper from its strong rooms.

The Council also acknowledged that the list of its examiners has also been leaked to the public and have thus reported the issue to the police cybersecurity department for investigations.

The Council has assured it will continue to roll out various measures to deal with these illegal activities in order to ensure fairness to all candidates and maintain the integrity of the examination.

While the Minority in Parliament has called for the cancellation of the leaked papers, other stakeholders including the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) are demanding an independent probe into the matter.

The National Union of Ghana Students is, therefore, once again, calling on WAEC, the GES and all other stakeholders to put in place measures to end the leakage of exam papers in the ongoing WASSCE examinations, the NUGS statement added.

---citinewsroom
Google users in Australia started seeing a warning pop up on their search pages this week: a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark inside it, and a message that said The way Aussies use Google is at risk. Those who clicked on the popup were taken to an open letter from Mel Silva, managing director of Google Australia, which warned users about a new Australian law Silva said will hurt how Australians use Google Search and YouTube. According to the Google executive, the proposed legislation, known as the News Media Bargaining Code, would force us to provide you with a dramatically worse Google Search and YouTube, could lead to your data being handed over to big news businesses, and would put the free services you use at risk. Silva said that the new law would force Google to give an unfair advantage to one group of businessesnews media businessesover everyone else because the code would require it to notify publishers about changes to its algorithms. The head of YouTube in Australia also wrote his own post suggesting that paying big publishers for content would mean less money for other creators on the service.

The Australian government didnt waste much time firing back. The countrys competition commission, which drafted the law after months of investigating anti-competitive behavior by Google and Facebook, released a letter accusing the search company of misstating the facts. According to the commission, Googles statement contained misinformation about the proposed law: the company would not have to charge anyone for free services, it said, and would not be required to share any user data with news businesses unless it chose to do so. The proposed code would allow Australian news businesses to negotiate for fair payment for their journalists work that is included on Google services, it said, and would address a significant bargaining power imbalance between Australian news media businesses and Google and Facebook. Free TV Australia, an industry body that represents the countrys over-the-air networks, called Googles letter and marketing campaign a cynical ploy designed to mislead and frighten Australians.

So where does the truth lie? One thing that seems obvious is that Google sees whats happening in Australia as a line in the sand, and is fighting with whatever tools it has, including a PR campaign involving its users, to soften the proposed legislation (discussion continues on the law until August 28, the commission has said). Just before the code came out, Google announced that it was going to pay publishers in certain countries, including Australia, but those payments have reportedly been suspended. The search giant also fought against legislation requiring it to pay publishers in Spain, Germany, and France, but it may be even more determined in Australia: the regulations in those other countries are based on copyright law, whereas Australias is a product of antitrust, which has the potential to affect Google in much more serious ways than copyright (US regulators are also currently investigating the search company for anti-competitive behavior). For its part, Facebook seems to be keeping its head down and saying as little as possible.

ICYMI: Calling out your colleagues on Twitter can get results. But it also has risks.

Both sides at the negotiating table in Australia could be accused of ratcheting up the rhetoric. Google mentions the potential threat to YouTube multiple times in its letter, not to mention the entire blog post from the head of the service in Australia, perhaps in part because it knows that YouTube creators will raise a stink on social media (which they have). And yet, as one news article points out, the draft code never even mentions YouTubeit is focused on Googles search and news products. Its also a little ridiculous for a company that has revenues of more than $160 billion to suggest that paying publishers pennies for their news articles is unfeasible. The commission, meanwhile, makes a point of saying that a healthy press is essential to a well-functioning democracy, but doesnt mention that the code would primarily benefit billionaires like Rupert Murdoch, who controls a significant chunk of the countrys media industry, and that the proposed law only applies to media organizations that can show revenues of more than $150,000.

The idea that Google has made billions by stealing content from news publishers is an appealing one for media companies, and one that Murdoch has been pushing for a decade. (City University of New York journalism professor Jeff Jarvis called the proposed code pure Murdoch protectionism.) So the idea that Google might be forced to pay news outlets has a certain taste of revenge. And yet, rapacious ownersincluding the hedge funds that control much of the US industryhave done at least as much to injure the business models of their papers as Google or Facebook have. How does putting more money in the pockets of the Murdoch family or the Packer family improve the overall news landscape in Australia? Thats something the competition commission might want to address instead of trying to paint Google as the sole source of the countrys problems.

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Heres more on Google and paying publishers:

Misdiagnosis: An editorial published by Bloomberg argues that forcing Google and other platforms to pay for news articles is the wrong solution to what ails the industry . Journalisms business model wasnt broken by digital platforms. The internet unbundled many of the servicesclassified advertising, job postings, movie listings and so onthat newspapers once provided, while eroding the local or regional monopolies that made them so profitable, it says. It offered consumers a wealth of free news and opinion and gave advertisers options and audiences that traditional publishers havent been able to match. Its true that Facebook and Google have capitalized on these trends, but they hardly caused them.

Patronage : In a feature article in 2018, CJR looked at the history of tensions between Google and the media industry in a number of countries, including Spain, where Google removed the entire nation from its Google News index after the country implemented legislation that would have forced it to pay publishers. For more than a decade, the search giant has balked at paying news outlets directly, and instead has focused on efforts like the Google News Initiative, which the company says is designed to give away $300 million in grants and other funding to publishers and others in the industry. Facebook launched its own similar effort, which it calls the Facebook Journalism Project, in 2017 and promised that it too would spend $300 million on grants and other funding for news entities.

The Spanish case : Researchers who looked at the news experience in Spain following Googles departure from the country found that news consumption fell afterwards , although the impact was more severe for small publishers rather than large ones. Overall news consumption fell by 20 percent, they found, and traffic to non-Google news sources fell by about 10 percent. This decrease is concentrated around small publishers while large publishers do not see significant changes in their overall traffic, the researchers said. We further find that when Google News shuts down, its users are able to replace some but not all of the types of news they previously read. Post-shutdown, they read less breaking news, hard news, and news that is not well covered on their favorite news publishers.

Other notable stories:

ICYMI: Why did Matt Drudge turn on Donald Trump?

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Mathew Ingram is CJRs chief digital writer. Previously, he was a senior writer with Fortune magazine. He has written about the intersection between media and technology since the earliest days of the commercial internet. His writing has been published in the Washington Post and the Financial Times as well as by Reuters and Bloomberg.
Ukraine is in a much more vulnerable position than the European Union to voice too harsh a reaction, the source claims.

The Office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sees a direct connection between Ukraine's position on the Belarusian conflict and Russia's moves in the Donbas warzone.

Sources of the RBC Ukraine news agency in the President's Office say reaction too harsh may turn into a yet another escalation at the front line and undermine truce deals.

According to a source, Ukraine is in a much more vulnerable position than the European Union member states such as Germany.

Read alsoLukashenko warns Zelensky against "fomenting riots" in Belarus"We have Donbas on the one hand, Crimea on the other, also Moldova and Transnistria, as well as more than a 1,000 kilometer-long border with Belarus in the north. And in all cases, we are dealing with one geopolitical player  Russia  which poses as a de facto 'manager' of Belarus developments. Therefore, we can afford less than the EU can," the source said.

Belarus protests: background

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.

Belarus elections: global reactions

On August 14, the European Union announced it did not recognize the outcome of the presidential elections in Belarus and on August 19 agreed to slap sanctions on Belarus over electoral fraud and violence against protesters. The EU has called on the Belarusian authorities to find a peaceful way out of the crisis by ending violence and starting a comprehensive national dialogue

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.

Canada and Ireland said they did not recognize election results and called for another election to be held.

U.S. President Donald Trump on August 18 said he would talk to Russia about the Belarus protests. "I like seeing democracy," he told reporters, according to Reuters. "It doesn't seem like it's too much democracy there in Belarus."
Led by Emerging Markets Debt Specialist David Orbay-Graves

NEW YORK, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- REDD Intelligence ("REDD"), an online fixed-income intelligence and analytics platform focused on emerging markets, today announced that David Orbay-Graves has joined as Managing Editor of Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CEEMEA).

He oversees a team of three other new staffers in London and reports into Gabriel DeSanctis, Global Editor in Chief and CEO of Asia, who he will work in tandem with, alongside Latin America Managing Editor Maria Fernanda Blaser.

This expansion comes on the heels of REDD's first institutional financing which is being partly used for this new CEEMEA coverage that rounds out REDD's Global Emerging Markets offering.

The new London team members who report to Orbay-Graves are:

Jason Carey , London Bureau Editor

, London Bureau Editor Rob Hartley , Senior Reporter

, Senior Reporter Mark Bohlund, Senior Analyst

"We are thrilled to have assembled such an experienced team under David's leadership and are confident they will replicate our highly successful Asian and Latin American research offerings as we now provide a truly global platform," said Group CEO and Co-Founder Valeria Morozovsky Girimonte.

"With Covid-19 taking an indiscriminate toll on economies in every corner of the globe, access to unbiased and high- quality news, research and analysis - backed by on-the-ground insights and intelligence -- has never been more timely and valuable," added Orbay-Graves. "I am proud to join this stellar team and lead this new charge so we can continue providing unmatched value to our clients."

Key Local CEEMEA Additions

REDD also announced that it is adding reporters in Cape Town, Istanbul and Kyiv to ramp up local CEEMEA coverage in core African, Middle Eastern and Eastern European hubs. Further details of those team members will be announced in the coming weeks.

London Team Backgrounds

David Orbay-Graves has been working in London as a financial journalist and editor specializing in emerging markets since 2014. Prior to joining REDD, he was deputy editor of Debtwire's CEEMEA product. David has a MA (Hons) in Medieval History from the University of St Andrews and a MA in Multimedia Journalism from Glasgow Caledonian.

Jason Carey has more than twenty years of editorial experience gained at LexisNexis, Bloomberg News, Debtwire and S&P Global where he covered law, economics and finance. He graduated in philosophy from King's College London and is proficient in French and Japanese.

Rob Hartley has a wide range of experience in financial journalism and has been published in the Financial Times, Reuters, Euromoney Magazine and IFR, among other publications. He specialises in capital markets and the former Soviet Union and has previously been posted in Moscow , Hong Kong and Washington DC . Rob has a MA in Politics from Sheffield University and a BA in Business from Nottingham Business School.

Mark Bohlund is an economist and sovereign risk analyst with previous experience covering Africa , the Middle East and Asia for Bloomberg Economics, IHS Global Insight and Business Monitor International (now Fitch Solutions). He has a Master's in Economics from Uppsala University and is a CFA charter holder. He is fluent in English, French and Swedish and proficient in German and Spanish.

About REDD Intelligence

Headquartered in New York, Risk Event Driven Distressed Intelligence (REDD Intelligence) is a leading provider of material intelligence on emerging market event driven special situations.

Through an online platform and mobile applications, REDD delivers real-time news and analytics on more than 1,400 emerging market companies. REDD's recognized team of journalists and analysts continuously reports on trading catalysts, allowing bankers, asset managers and advisers to focus on opportunities relevant to their unique market or business needs.

For REDD Intelligence

Christie Tan

contactus@reddintelligence.com

Media Contact:

Matt Yemma

+ 1 (909) 633-9396

myemma@PeaksStrategies.com
Mike Pompeo said at the United Nations it would be an "enormous mistake" not to extend the arms embargo on Iran - Bloomberg

Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State, accused America's European allies of "siding with the ayatollahs" over Iran on Thursday after he initiated a controversial procedure to reimpose UN sanctions on Tehran.

Britain, France and Germany said the US did not have the legal right to trigger the so-called "snapback" of sanctions because it withdrew from the Iranian nuclear accord in 2018.

"No country but the United States has had the courage and conviction to put forward a resolution. Instead, they chose to side with the ayatollahs," Mr Pompeo told reporters.

Mr Pompeo said at the United Nations it would be an "enormous mistake" not to extend the arms embargo on Iran, adding the US will never allow Iran to freely buy and sell conventional weapons such as tanks.

The US formally began the process of activating a controversial mechanism aimed at reimposing sanctions on Iran, a contested move that widens a rift with its European allies and threatens the nuclear deal with Tehran.

The letter, delivered personally to Indonesia's UN ambassador - who currently holds the Council's rotating presidency - in New York triggered the beginning of a disputed procedure called a "snapback."

The procedure, never before used, comes after the US suffered a humiliating defeat at the Security Council last week when it failed to muster support for a resolution to extend a conventional arms embargo on Iran.

The "E3", as the UK, France and Germany are known, said they cannot support the US move to restore UN sanctions on Iran, saying the action is incompatible with efforts to support the Iran nuclear deal.

"In order to preserve the agreement, we urge Iran to reverse all measures inconsistent with its nuclear commitments and return to full compliance without delay," the three nations said in a joint statement.
South Africa: Government launches platform to unpack taxi industry matters

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has called on taxi operators, taxi drivers and civil society to engage government on a plan that will see the taxi industry as an integral part of the formal economy.

The Minister made these remarks on Thursday during the launch of the National Taxi Lekgotla Public Discourse platform, which is effectively a dialogue with industry and civil society on topical issues that require resolution.

The National Taxi Lekgotla will be a platform where we will consolidate consensus on sustainable ways to formalise and regulate the industry. This will be underpinned by an economic empowerment model that must benefit every single taxi operator, and not just those in positions of leadership, the Minister said.

He said the public discourse platform will provide an opportunity to stakeholders and civil society at large to contribute to the solutions that will place the country on a sustainable footing to deliver an industry of the future, able to sustain itself.

The Taxi Lekgotla Public Discourse is intended to create a platform for sustained momentum and public engagement towards the National Taxi Lekgotla, planned to take place at the end of October 2020.

The launch will then be followed by a staggered release of discussion documents and a structured roll-out of debates across all digital platforms to sustain the conversation and engage stakeholders in robust discussions on all identified themes of the National Taxi Indaba. These conversations will be led by the Minister and the MECs in various provinces.

The launch of this public discourse platform is an invitation to the taxi industry, workers, commuters and the rest of civil society to engage with the discussion documents and take the opportunity to participate in formulating the blueprint for a taxi industry of the future, the Minister said.

The discussion documents that will inform the content of the public discourse and discussions in the Provincial Makgotla and ultimately the National Taxi Lekgotla will cover the following themes: unity and leadership; industry regulation; industry empowerment model; professionalisation; road safety; customer service and commuter safety as well as Gender Based Violence.

Industry empowerment model

The Minister said the Taxi Lekgotla must emerge with an empowerment model that truly empowers the industry with the real beneficiaries being individual operators.

We have committed to re-imagining the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme such that the real beneficiaries of this massive public investment are taxi operators, rather than commercialbanks, retailers and other corporates, he said.

To date government has spent in excess of R4 billion and will spend more over the next five years.

The end game is a taxi industry that is able to recapitalise itself and benefits of this business cascading down to the last operator on the ground.

Discussions on the industry empowerment will include the establishment of corporate entities as empowerment vehicles of choice to ensure economic benefits reach all operators in the industry.

Industry regulation

Discussions about regulation will primarily revolve around operating licences and law enforcement.

The challenges experienced over the years relating to the issuing of operating licences, which includes challenges of no responsiveness of municipalities to applications resulting in saturation of routes as these operating licences are issued without due regard to transport planning.

The current planning framework and the extent to which it affects the issuing of operating licences will also come under scrutiny with a view to emerge with a model that advances our objectives, the Minister said.

The discussions will also look at strong disincentives aimed at those who operate illegally with penalties that include monetary penalties, impoundment of vehicles, suspension of drivers licences or a combination of measures.

Gender Based Violence

The Minister said the prevalence of Gender Based Violence in the taxi industry remains a source of serious concern.

This discussion has been muted for too long and it is time it is confronted head-on, and active measures must be put in place to address this decisively.

Such measures must also include safety of women and children in the taxi environment, with particular emphasis on the girl child, he said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-08-20. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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At the last meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) on resolving the situation in Donbas, the Russian Federation delivered an ultimatum that the Verkhovna Rada should change the resolution on the appointment of local elections in 2020 to comply with the Minsk agreements, head of the Ukrainian delegation to the TCG Leonid Kravchuk said, but assured that he will never sign documents relating to the sovereignty, state independence of Ukraine and the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

"They raised this question. I have one task: to remove any possible blocking, if it does not concern the sovereignty, state independence of Ukraine and territorial integrity. I will never sign such documents and I will not apply to anyone," Kravchuk said in an interview which was broadcast on the Ukraine 24 TV channel on Thursday.

The ex-president explained what the requirement for Ukraine is.

"It is as if the Ukrainian law deviated from the Minsk agreements, from the Steinmeier formula. This was the main reason. I will tell you more. Whatever issue they discussed - and it was in the working groups, and yesterday at the general discussion in the TCG - they ended any issue as follows: we can agree, but it is imperative that it be written that this document, which we are agreeing, will enter into force only after the Verkhovna Rada makes a decision, and the law or the content of the law will correspond to the Minsk agreements and the existing agreements," he noted.

The ex-president of Ukraine added that the contradiction of this resolution is that "elections cannot be held there [in the occupied territories of Ukraine in the Donbas] now, but only throughout all Ukraine." "They do not object against holding elections all over Ukraine, but without writing that this cannot happen in these territories. That is, to remove this very provision from the Verkhovna Rada. And then our work, our movement forward will be unblocked," he said.

Kravchuk stressed that through the efforts of the President of Ukraine Zelensky and the head of the President's Office, "we have got the main issue underway  the ceasefire [the ceasefire regime in Donbas]." "And today I will say: heavy weapons have not been used for 25 days in a row. For 25 days, none of the soldiers died from the enemy's weapons. There were deaths, but someone stepped on a mine, the territory is mined. But today we can say: we got the most important issue underway," he said.

"If this process, which got underway very actively, continues, it will mean that we are moving forward towards the main task: peace in Donbas ... This is the most important thing for the people, for the president, and for the entire Ukrainian government. And then this question arose on the way - the law on local elections," added the head of the Ukrainian delegation to the TCG.

According to him, the resolution should indicate that local elections are taking place "in Ukraine." "They happen in Ukraine. That's all. End of story," said Kravchuk.
Kuwaiti aircraft leasing company, Alafco, has said it reached an agreement with France-based global aircraft maker, Airbus, to delay the delivery of the jets it has ordered.

Alafco in the bourse filling did not say how many aircraft are involved in the order but airbus website currently says the multinational company has 43 A320neo and 10 A321neo jets on order to be delivered, Reuters reports.

Advance payments to be made between now and the next three years will instead be due from 2024 onwards, the Kuwaiti company also said.

The decision comes amid global difficulty for the aviation and travel industry hit by the covid-19 pandemic. Though several airlines have resumed operating, recovery is expected to take several years.

Alafco, early this month, reduced to half its order for 40 Boeing 737 after it scrapped its legal claim over a cancelled order for the planes.
The majority of black, Asian and ethnic minority (BAME) people feel there is bias against them within police forces and that they are treated more harshly in courts, a charity survey suggests.

Around two thirds (65%) of ethnic minority communities in Britain surveyed for Hope Not Hate feel members of the police are biased against them.

Four out of five respondents of black and Bangladeshi heritage felt this way, compared to around half of those of Chinese and Indian backgrounds.

The research suggests the majority do not believe the issues are systemic, with 64% agreeing that any issues were down to a few individuals within forces.

Meanwhile, three quarters of black people, 71% of Bangladeshi people and 53% of Indian respondents felt they are dealt with more severely in the courts.

Almost three-quarters of respondents said they support the recent Black Lives Matter protests (pictured in Tottenham, north London earlier this month), but there were fears that they might prompt a backlash from sections of the white population

Responses from around a thousand BAME adults, surveyed between July 3 and 10, also revealed widespread anger about the Government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, and feelings of political alienation.

Detective Inspector Andy George, interim president of the National Black Police Association, said the results confirmed its concerns around trust and confidence in UK policing.

He said: 'Building strong relationships with ethnic minority communities makes us more likely to understand new and emerging crimes in the community and more likely to receive community intelligence which will allow us to target those causing most harm in the community.

'Now is the time to acknowledge the evidence produced in this report and build long-term strategies to increase trust and confidence in BAME communities.'

More than half of respondents (57%) said the Government has not done enough to protect BAME communities from Covid-19.

Action to address BAME communities' concerns must not wait, given the imminent threat of a second wave, the report argues.

It reads: 'Given the devastating impact this first wave of coronavirus has had on BAME communities, the Government must do more than simply reflect on what went wrong.

'They must act to put protections in place that directly support those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups, and to put a greater emphasis on addressing structural racial disparities as part of an economic recovery plan.'

Labour MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, quoted in the report, said BAME communities had been treated as 'cannon fodder' in the war against coronavirus, adding: 'These people's lives are not, and should not, have been dispensable.'

Chinese people were most likely to list Covid-19 as one of issues most important to them, which the report said might reflect the impact of anti-Chinese sentiment.

Asked about their experiences over the past 12 months, more than half of the BAME respondents said they have witnessed or experienced racist comments being made in public, racism on social media, racism in the press or racial abuse.

Almost three-quarters (73%) said they support the recent Black Lives Matter protests, but there were fears that they might prompt a backlash from sections of the white population.

And while 65% felt statues of slave traders should be removed from public squares and put into museums, 60% felt the ensuing debate has distracted from important discussions about racism.

Just under half (48%) said public figures can be admired for their achievements, even if they also held racist views, with a quarter disagreeing with this.

And there was strong support for calls that the Government should pay reparations to the descendants of black slaves.

A spokesman for the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) said it had 'invested significant time and resources into working out how we can better engage with communities of all backgrounds', adding: 'The NPCC and the College of Policing are developing a plan of action to address racial inequalities in policing. We will take any action necessary to implement positive changes.'

A Government spokesman said: 'Earlier this year we published our two-year update on the Lammy Review, setting out a comprehensive programme of work to address inequalities across the criminal justice system.

'At the same time, we are working with the police to improve equality and diversity, and have seen real gains in recent years.

'But we are clear that we are not there yet, and are committed to ensuring progress is accelerated and our forces are more representative of the communities they serve.'
Finding a six-foot-long python inside the house is quite disturbing and may require a professional snake catcher's service to get rid of it. Usually, the household would be shocked or alarmed by sight.

Thus, it is quite surprising to see how a family calmly take the situation, ignoring the huge reptile, and just continue watching TV.

In a video shared by Redland's Snake Catcher on Facebook, its owner Tony Morrison went to a Cleveland home to remove the serpent seen inside the living room on Wednesday, Aug. 19.

According to Daily Mail, Morrison was expecting homeowners to be hysterical like his other clients. However, he was surprised to see the family steadily watching TV while the snake hides behind the TV cabinet just a few meters away from them.

Morrison pushed the furniture a little to show the snake while the family is caught on video while calmly sitting on the couch.

"The interesting part about this is that it's not just a little snake ... he's a good-sized snake,' Morrison told Daily Mail Australia. He was stunned seeing the family just sitting on the couch watching TV while "they were waiting for me to arrive" to remove the snake.

"That not the usual response from people when they find a snake," he noted adding that his other clients usually wait for him in the kitchen. While Pythons are not venomous, it is advised to call a snake catcher when they see one inside their home.

Like Morrison, Facebook users were also amazed at the family's reactions. "I can't believe they're still watching TV," one fan said.

Another person asked: "How can such a big snake get in the house without being seen?" Redland's Snake Catcher added that the family was just sitting in front of the TV when the snake went in unnoticed.

Read also: 'Jurassic Park Experiment' Set to Kick Off in Florida Keys to Prevent Spread of Dengue, Zika, and More

Some things to know about pythons

According to Live Science, pythons are usually found in Africa, Asia, and Australia. Python both refers to the family Pythonidae and the genus Python, found within Pythonidae. According to the Reptile Database, there are 41 species of python found within the family Pythonidae, while 13 of them are considered threatened species.

They are nonvenomous snakes, which are considered as Old World snakes since they are not native to North or South America. Pythons and boas are both large constrictors but under separate families.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises washing their hands after each contact with a reptile or its prey as they can spread Salmonella spp and other pathogens. Also, children below five years old or people with compromised immune systems should avoid handling pythons.

Meanwhile, when a python was able to enter the house, Morrison gave some advice on how to handle the reptile. First, do not try to pick up the snake, but call a snake catcher instead. Morrison also added people should never kill it.



Read also: New Study Reveals How Bacteria Becomes Even More Infectious and How They Adapt to Their Host



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Written by CJ Robles

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A 30-year-old Natick man was arrested after police say he stabbed another man inside Encore Boston Harbor in Everett early Thursday morning, according the Middlesex District Attorneys office.

David Guante, 30, will to be arraigned in Malden District Court in Cambridge on Thursday on a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, the district attorneys office said.

Police responded to the casino at around 2 a.m. after report of a stabbing. After arriving, they found a 24-year-old man from Lynn suffering from a stab wound in the lobby of Encore Boston Harbor, according to 7News.

The victim was not publicly identified but was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital with minor injuries, the report said. The incident took place in the casinos main cashier area.

Guante was later found in the parking lot and taken into custody, the report said.

In a statement, the casino told WCVB, The safety and security of our guests and employees is our highest priority. We are working closely with the Gaming Enforcement Unit of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and the Everett Police Department to fully address the situation.

The incident comes only days after a man in his 30s was shot near the casino, police said.

Police said the man was shot in the area of Sweetser Circle in Everett at around 3 a.m. on Sunday.

The victim, who authorities didnt publicly identify, was taken to a hospital where he was teated for injuries he sustained during the incident, authorities said.

Encore Boston Harbor reopened in July after shutting down due to the coronavirus.

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Beach Energy says it was only made aware of the West Australian governments plan to introduce a new gas export ban after Premier Mark McGowan announced it.

The new policy bans all onshore gas extracted in WA from being exported east or overseas, except for one project: the Beach Energy and Mitsui and Co Waitsia joint venture.

WA Premier Mark McGowan refused to answer questions about whether he had discussed Beach's exemption with Kerry or Ryan Stokes before the gas export ban was announced. Credit:Hamish Hastie

The exemption means the joint venture can sell its product to more lucrative overseas markets where prices arent forced down by the state governments domestic gas reservation policy.

Beach Energys share price jumped 6.8 per cent on Monday thanks, in part, to the exemption, as well as stronger-than-expected yearly results.
A rare sighting by BenarNews of a Chinese nuclear-powered attack submarine, captured in a satellite image at the entrance of an underground base, hints at how China can marshal considerable undersea power on the doorstep of the disputed South China Sea.

Satellite imagery from Aug. 18 shows what appears to be a Type 093, or Shang-class, submarine in service with the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) outside an underground bunker at Yulin Naval Base, on the southern Chinese island province of Hainan. The bunker, accessed from the sea, is known for harboring submarine construction and repair facilities.

It offers a snapshot of what is a key home port for many ships and submarines in Chinas South Sea Fleet, which is predominately focused on the South China Sea  a venue of growing rivalry between China and the United States.

China has shown an increasing determination to assert its sweeping sovereignty claims in those strategic waters and the U.S. has been flexing its own military muscle in response.

Two tugboats are also visible in an Aug. 18 photo. In an Aug. 19 image, they appear to be pushing what looks to be the same submarine toward a pier.

Capt. Christopher Carlson, a retired officer of the United States Navy Reserve, who examined the image, said the Type 093 would have exited backward out of the tunnel entrance of the bunker, aided by the tugboats  a typical maneuver.

Given the narrow aperture of the tunnel, you are just asking for trouble for a submarine to leave the tunnel under its own power, he said, pointing out the tight fit would also make it unlikely the submarine could safely use its nuclear reactor.

Most people dont realize submarines maneuver like pigs on the surface. With about half your rudder out of the water, wagging about in the air, this doesnt leave a lot of control surface to effect steering, said Carlson, who works with a wargame publisher, the Admiralty Trilogy Group.

The Type 093 is one of Chinas more advanced submarines, although Beijing is developing bigger, stealthier subs to replace it, including an improved version called the Type 093B. Experts said there are only six Type 093 submarines known to be in service in service with Chinas navy. Its primary mission is to attack other ships and submarines, depending on which variant is deployed.

As part of Chinas military build-up over the past two decades, it has rapidly improved its submarine force and has about 70 submarines, dwarfing the fleet of any other country that abuts the South China Sea, according to the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agencys annual China Military Power Report.

Satellite imagery shows a Type 093 sub getting pushed toward a pier at Chinas Yulin Naval Base, Aug. 19, 2020. [Planet Labs Inc.]

But Oriana Skylar Mastro, a fellow at Stanford Universitys Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, said the U.S. still enjoys an edge over China in undersea warfare.

Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) is one of the last remaining U.S. strengths against China, she said in an interview, citing U.S. aircraft and other systems in the region that can locate submarines as they leave port.

Chinese submarines, as they become more advanced, are still noisier than U.S. submarines. But its not really a question of their submarines versus our submarines. Its their submarines versus our ASW, and our submarines versus their ASW. When youre trying to kill a submarine, being able to find them and track them is the most important thing, she said.

Both China and the U.S. have stepped up military maneuvers in the South China Sea this year, amid increasing rivalry between the two powers, as well as Washingtons growing opposition to what it calls Chinas bullying of Southeast Asian nations that have competing claims there.

As part of these maneuvers, the U.S. Navy has flown maritime surveillance missions over the South China Sea in recent weeks. A U.S. Navy P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, which can be used to detect suspected submarines lurking beneath the surface, flew over the disputed waters just last week according to a report by CNN.

Mastro said part of the reason why the U.S. stays active in the South China Sea is that it is constantly gathering information about the undersea environment, enabling it to track submarines.

Meanwhile, China has been conducting military exercises near and around Taiwan, which were reported by Chinese state media late last week. China views Taiwan, which is self-governed as the Republic of China, as a rogue province, and regularly threatens to unify it with the Chinese mainland by force.

Submarines are probably primarily important for surface warfare or blockade operations. Usually we talk about [blockades around Taiwan] because blockades dont seem to be a huge part of Chinas playbook in the South China Sea, Mastro said while not ruling out the possibility of China using submarines to starve out other countries outposts in the South China Sea.

Submarines spotted periodically

While China strives to conceal the activities of its submarine fleet, its subs have been spotted periodically in the East China Sea and South China Sea.

Japans Self Defense Force said it spotted a Chinese nuclear-powered attack submarine within 24 nautical miles of the Senkaku Islands in mid-June.

The Senkaku Islands are administered and owned by Japan, yet claimed by China, and are a frequent point of tension in the East China Sea.

In addition, an advanced Chinese Type 094 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine accidentally surfaced near a Vietnamese fishing boat in September 2019, according to Forbes, which covered photos and videos of the incident circulating on social media.

Mastro said that while the U.S. may be able to track Chinese submarines, other countries in Southeast Asia cannot do so on their own.

There are indications that China is taking other steps to enhance the ability of its submarines to operate with stealth in the South China Sea.

In June, China laid down undersea cables between its occupied features in the Paracel Islands, a string of rocks and atolls in the northern half of the South China Sea, likely as part of an undersea monitoring network that would detect any other vessels tailing their submarines.

Some of Chinas research and survey ships, particularly those associated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute for Acoustics, are suspected of mapping the topography of the ocean floor to find safe routes for Chinese subs as they travel to nearby areas such as the Western Pacific or the Indian Ocean. This concern was part of the reason India expelled a Chinese survey ship, the Shi Yan-1, from its waters in December 2019.

Chinas hydrographic surveys continue unabated the Dong Fang Hong 3 survey ship was operating south of the Paracels and passed through Vietnamese waters on Aug. 15. Chinas government operates the largest fleet of survey and research ships of any other country in the world.
A day after the Supreme Court (SC) ordered CBI probe into the Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput death case, Shiv Sena on Thursday (August 20) slammed Bihar government in its mouthpiece Saamana and supported Mumbai Police.

The Sena's mouthpiece asserted that Bihar Police's decision to probe Sushant's death is an insult to the federal structure of the country. It defended Mumbai Police, saying it was doing its job honestly and the case was transferred to the CBI at a time when Mumbai Police was in last stage of its investigation in this matter.

It is to be noted that a CBI team would reach Mumbai on Tursday to formally takeover the charge of the case.

Sushant was found hanging at his apartment in suburban Bandra in Mumbai on June 14 and Mumbai Police was probing the case since then. Mumbai Police, however, did not register an FIR in the case and was investigation the matter as 'accidental death'. but didnt register an FIR in the case.

The case took a new turn when Sushant's father KK Singh filed a case against the late actor's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, accusing her of abetting his sons suicide, keeping him in wrongful confinement, and defrauding him of crores of rupees. Singh also named Rhea's parents Indrajit Chakraborty and Sandhya Chakraborty, brother Showik Chakraborty, and friends Samuel Miranda and Shruti Modi as accused in the FIR.

During the hearing on Wednesday, the SC also said that the FIR filed in Patna was correct and the Bihar government is competent enough to transfer the case to CBI for investigation. The SC has also ordered the Maharashtra government to assist CBI in the probe since this is a court-ordered CBI investigation.

Rhea Chakraborty had approached the top court to seek transfer of the Patna FIR to Mumbai. She had raised questions over the manner in which the Bihar Police registered the FIR and argued that the matter has no connection with the FIR registered in Patna.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have tasked leaders of Gwagwalada community to take safety measures to forestall possible flood as September and October approach.

NEMA Assistant Chief Planning Officer, Abuja Operation Office, Reuben Babatunde, gave the charge at a sensitisation programme for the residents of the community.We must all do everything possible to avert the dangers caused by flooding, he said.

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According to Mr Babatunde, Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and Nigeria Hydro-logical Services Agency (NIHSA) have predicted a lot of rainfall, hence the need to sensitise the people to the dangers of possible flood.

Gwagwalada was among the towns in Abuja listed as being in danger. We dont want what happened in 2012 to repeat itself where lives and properties were lost. There is a need for us to take precautions.

We are here to sensitise you on what to do to guard against the flood. You must stop dumping refuse inside drainage. Those who have houses close to waterways must leave immediately to safer locations.

The effect of the flood will not only affect the community but everybody because flood is very devastating. Prevention is better than cure, Mr Babatunde said.

He also called on the leaders to enlighten the community on the need to adhere to Coronavirus protocols as directed by NEMA and FEMA personnel.

FEMA Deputy Director, Forecasting Response and Mitigation, Florence Wenegieme, also advised the leaders of the community to involve town criers in information dissemination to save the community.

According to Ms Wenegieme, NEMA and FEMA are doing their part because they are the first respondents to an emergency in the FCT.

We are calling on the leaders to do their part and ensure that the information goes round.

The heavy downpour is coming; government does not want to lose any life in the same Gwagwalada and Giri communities.

Ms Wenegieme also spoke on the novel Coronavirus(COVID-19) pandemic, and stressed the need for the people to adhere to the preventive measures to prevent further spread of the disease.

Coronavirus is real; we must wash our hands regularly, use hand sanitiser and keep some distance away from our neighbours, she said.

(NAN)
BJP MLA from Dwarahat Mahesh Negi, who has been accused of rape by a woman, has given his statement to police, an official said. The MLA recorded his statement late on Wednesday night, Dehradun Circle Officer Anuj Kumar said. However, he refused to share the content of the legislator's statement.

A woman who claims to be the MLA's neighbour had filed a police complaint against him on Sunday accusing him of raping her several times between 2016 and 2018 at Mussoorie, Nainital, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Nepal.

She had also alleged in her complaint that the MLA is the father of her three-month-old daughter, insisting on a DNA test of the child to bring out the truth.

When asked whether the MLA is ready for a DNA test, the police officer refused to say anything.

DG Law and Order Ashok Kumar said the investigations in the case are underway and nothing can be said as of now.

The legislator's wife on the other hand has already registered a case against the woman at the Nehru colony police station, accusing her of blackmailing her husband.

Meanwhile, Pradesh BJP president Bansidhar Bhagat said if the charges levelled against him are proved to be true, action will be taken against him.

"The MLA's wife has registered a case of blackmailing against the woman who has also lodged a police complaint against him. Any action will depend on the outcome of the investigation," Bhagat said.
The GERD reservoir is expected to take 18.4 billion cubic metres of water in the second phase of filling, Ahmed said

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on Thursday his country will start the second phase of filling the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) during the rainy season of August 2021.

The announcement was made despite the fact Ethiopia is still in talks with downstream countries Egypt and Sudan over the disputed hydropower project.

The three countries have been engaged in negotiations mediated by the African Union (AU) to reach a legally binding agreement on GERD -- a demand Egypt and Sudan have repeatedly stressed.

In its Thursday statements reported by Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya news website, Ahmed said the second-phase filling target is expected to reach 18.4 billion cubic metres of water.

He added the work progress on the dam from September to August 2021 will be crucial for completing the construction of the dam by 2023.

The Ethiopian announcement was made during a meeting Ahmed held on Thursday with GERD officials and workers on the occasion of completing the first year filing target of the mega dams 74 billion-cubic-metre reservoir.

In July, Addis Ababa declared it achieved the first-year filling (4.9 billion cubic metres) due to the rainy season flooding of the Blue Nile.

The move has angered Egypt and Sudan that have reiterated their rejection of any unilateral action that may undermine the path of the tripartite negotiations.

The Ethiopian step stalled the current AU negotiations for one week, from 27 July to 3 August, as Egypt and Sudan have been seeking a legally binding agreement before the dam was filled.

During Thursday meeting, GERD project manager Kifle Hora told the Ethiopian prime minister that 78 percent of the total work on the dam was finished, while the completion of the construction work has reached 75 percent.

Hora noted that the project has so far cost the upstream country nearly $3.3 billion, up by $1.1 billion from the initial cost allocated for the project.

He expected the final cost to reach $4.4 billion by the end of the project.

Renewed AU-sponsored talks over the dam resumed on Sunday after Sudan had requested the suspension of talks for one week in rejection of the proposal put forward by Addis Ababa containing only guidelines on filling the dam -- as opposed to the bases to which Cairo and Khartoum agreed to participate in the current talks.

The downstream countries are seeking a legally binding, comprehensive deal on the filling and operation of the dam.

Two legal and technical representatives from each country are currently working on compiling proposals from the three sides on the filling and operation of the dam with the aim of reaching a draft agreement.

The draft agreement is set to be presented to the ministers of irrigation of the three countries by Friday to continue the negotiations.

The mega-dam, built 15 kilometres from the Ethiopian border with Sudan, has been a source of contention between the three countries.

Cairo fears the project will significantly cut its crucial water supplies from the River Nile, while Sudan fears it could endanger the safety of its own dams.

Ethiopia says the massive project, which it hopes will make it Africas largest power exporter, is key to its development efforts.

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Russia, leaking to the media a document demanding to cancel the Verkhovna Rada's decree on the impossibility of holding local elections in the temporarily occupied territories, made it impossible not only to do this, but also to raise such an issue in the parliament, well-known journalist Serhiy Harmash, invited by the Ukrainian side to join the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) work as a representative of the certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions (ORDLO) has said.

"It is obvious that the leaking to the media the document (note, prepared one for a meeting of advisers, and not for the TCG) demanding the Russian Federation to cancel the Verkhovna Rada's resolution on the elections, Moscow made impossible (even theoretically) not only to fulfill this requirement, but also to raise such an issue. Thus, Russia deliberately stalemated the situation, blocking a future meeting of the Normandy Four advisers, which Kozak [Deputy Head of the Russian presidential administration Dmitry Kozak] had previously openly opposed," Harmash wrote on his Facebook page on Thursday morning.

According to the journalist, the Russian Federation wants to disrupt the meeting, block the work of the institution of advisers, but shift the responsibility for this to Ukraine.

"Further, referring to the ineffectiveness of the institution of the Normandy Four's advisers, Moscow will put forward a demand to transfer the decisions of all issues to the level of the TCG, which does not have France and Germany, but there is ORDLO. This is the goal of the Russian Federation, and not the abolition of the Rada's decree. The decree is just a reason," he said.

Thus, Harmash believes that in the future one should expect either an attempt to subjectivize the ORDLO, or an aggravation at the front, or diplomatic pressure from the West on the Russian Federation, a sign of which will be the meeting of the Normandy Four at the level of foreign policy advisers.

"It is bad that the subject of such bargaining between the West and Moscow can be just the subjectivization of ORDLO," the journalist said.

Harmash also said that he would later publish a post with his attitude to what is now happening in the Minsk process.

Earlier, the media circulated a copy of the Russian document that the Russian side presented during the negotiations within the TCG. In the draft of the final document of the upcoming meeting of the Normandy Four advisers, Russia set out its demands on the Ukrainian side, in particular, to cancel the decree of the Verkhovna Rada, which does not allow holding local elections in the occupied territories.
20.08.2020 LISTEN

The age-old saying that all professions can boast but the teacher taught all of them remains incontestable. The Ghanaian teacher is being treated as a doormat by political leaders of this country particularly the incumbent government led by President Akufo-Addo.

There is one thing that is conspicuous particularly in the era of COVID-19. Parents of school-going children can attest without an iota of hesitation that the Ghanaian teacher is of significant importance not only to the students but also to the parents.

It is therefore unfathomable why the Akuffo Addo led government takes delight in taking teachers to the cleaners in this country. It is sad that President Nana Addo and his likes have progressively turned Ghanas public education into mental prisons for the vast majority of the youth. We, therefore, need the sort of progressive education and mental transformation that will eliminate the cancer of ignorance and the yoke of professional discrimination.

Since the inception of the NPP government, there has not been any teacher-friendly policy that has the potency of benefiting the Ghanaian teacher. President Nana Akuffo Addo who thinks he is supremely more important than the mortal embodiment of wisdom and of intelligence is taking teachers for granted and that must be condemned in uncertain terms.

What is more denigrating and embarrassing to the teacher is the COVID-19 package Nana Addo's government has for Ghanaian teachers. The president in his latest COVID-19 address to the nation made a loud and clear pronouncement that the teacher would be given a hot meal to enable them to enforce and observe the COVID-19 precautionary measures in their respective schools. Meanwhile, we have the frontline health workers and some security agencies being paid allowances as well as enjoying some tax waivers.

Why is the teacher unqualified for either of these? The best thing teachers can get for teaching students in this Coronavirus era is just a hot meal. Oh my God! What an insult to the teachers. No matter how you belittle the Ghanaian teacher, some of us believe that teachers have superior knowledge which naturally makes them wise and smart. It is good that we are in an election year. Our elders have a saying that it is only a fool whose testicles are stepped on twice. Ghanaian Teachers will certainly prove that they are worth more than a hot meal in extraordinary times.

Furthermore, the shameful attempt to rob the poor teacher of his meager salary was initiated by the Akuffo Addo led government when they deliberately deducted Ghc10 from each teacher's salary even without the consent of the teacher. This shows how grossly disrespectful and insensitive this government is to the teacher.

Again, we had Nana Addo, the then-presidential candidate for NPP made mouthwatering promises to the Ghanaian teacher and Ghanaians at large. The teacher trainees of the various colleges of education were blatantly hoodwinked to fall prey into the cunning deceptive policies of Nana Addo and the NPP in the 2016 electioneering campaign. I am without a modicum of uncertainty that teacher trainees wouldn't have allowed their fattened cow to be exchanged with a dry skinny goat if they could foresee this wicked intention these people had for them. In fact, they would have jealously protected this invaluable cow of theirs but for the convenient game theory of political deception by the NPP.

As of today, we have lots of newly posted teachers who receive national service allowances instead of the normal fat salary a professionally trained teacher should be receiving. They could not foresee that their salary would be short-changed with meager national service allowances.

It is also a naked fact that these students never knew that they would be tasked to do mandatory national service. It took them by surprise and the union leaders for teachers virtually could do anything to save these newly trained teachers from doing national service. The worst of it all was that these teachers in the making were made to write licensure exams before they could be posted after the mandatory national service. What was unfortunate is that these trainees could not reverse the power they gave to Nana Addo and the NPP who are now the managers of this country.

More pathetic of these innocent newly trained teachers is that some of them have all the three certificates (DBE, Licensure certificate, and national service certificate) yet they remain unemployed. That is the level of frustration the Nana Addo led government can cause the Ghanaian teacher. It is worthy of note that President Akufo-Addo is a slimy historical revisionist, whose tendentious political and trademark rhetoric belittles Ghanaian teacher because his children and family members do not attend schools in Ghana.

Now we have virtually all the teachers regretting for voting for this wolf in sheep's skin. But that is the price we have to pay for believing in sweet talks. Our elders do say that if you follow too much the sweetness of honey, you will find its bitterness. That is exactly what we are experiencing now.

In conclusion, I want to use this opportunity to call on my friends in the chalk fraternity to reconsider their decision this year as we journey towards December 7. God has given you another chance to decide who you think cares for you and has you in mind. Thank you
None of the leaders of the President's Office, including its chief, could or had any opportunity to postpone or cancel anything.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an anti-crisis communications advisor to Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak, has called out as "fiction" the reports about the alleged disruption of what media said was a secret operation of Ukrainian special services to detain Wagner PMC mercenaries who had committed crimes in Donbas warzone.

"The information absolutely does not correspond to reality... The report by the [occupied] Crimea's Komsomolskaya Pravda was the primary source of this version," he told UNIAN.

According to Podolyak, there were no meetings held at the President's Office in the composition that has been claimed in the report.

Read alsoUkraine decries allegations of "special operation" to arrest Wagner PMC troops as "fake story""Consequently, there was no discussion of any hypothetical operations. And, of course, none of the leaders of the President's Office, including its head, could or had the opportunity to postpone or cancel anything," he said.

Moreover, Podolyak said it was physically impossible to do that since "logistics and details of any operation at the final stage are never discussed." He called out as fiction the operation aimed "to abduct three dozen military professionals from the territory of Belarus on a Turkish plane."

When asked whether, as media put it, the president fired military intelligence chief Vasyl Burba for allegedly demanding a probe into the possible leak from the president's office, Podolyak said: "The reasons for Burba's dismissal have a completely different justification. Burba made no demands of this kind. Of course, all this was already a media thing following his dismissal as an attempt to defend himself if new intelligence leadership were to conduct a major audit of his work in office."

Essence of allegations

On August 18, editor-in-chief of the Censor.Net outlet, Yuriy Butusov, took to Facebook to allege, citing unnamed sources, that the situation with the emergence of Wagner PMC's mercenaries in Belarus was part of a secret operation conducted by the SBU Security Service of Ukraine and the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, aimed to arrest and prosecute the men who committed crimes in the Donbas warzone.

The plan allegedly was to first trick them into boasting of own crimes and then lure them into one group under the pretext of another contract job overseas where they would travel transiting Belarus before eventually make a plane carrying the group land in Ukraine to detain the men.

The mission, Butusov alleges, has failed after Belarusian law enforcers arrested the whole group as the men were allegedly waiting for a transit flight.

Reactions

The SBU Security Service of Ukraine has refuted the allegations, saying the agency "does not comment on rumors, does not support media information operations of the enemy, and does not participate in public discussions of various fictional scenarios. Especially when such spins are aimed at harming Ukraine."

At the same, the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine (SZR) in a statement posted on its website on Wednesday pointed to the Russian origin of the special information operation titled "Wagner Group in Belarus".

As per the SZR, the goals of such operation are as follows:

Destabilizing Belarus on the eve of and during the presidential election;

Accusing Ukrainian special services of involvement in plotting and conducting an operation on the Belarusian soil and, as a result, dragging Ukraine into an international row and undermining its international image; and

Compromising Ukrainian leadership to undermine popular ratings of the incumbent authorities on the eve of local elections.

Wagner PMC troops detained in Belarus

On July 29, 2020, a group of militants with the Wagner PMC were detained in Belarus, 32  outside Minsk, another one  in the south of the country.

Among them were those who fought against Ukraine in the Donbas war.

According to Belarusian law enforcement, they had been tipped about the deployment of over 200 militants to destabilize the country amid the election campaign.

Belarus turned to the Ukrainian authorities to verify the involvement of the detainees in crimes committed in Ukraine. On July 30, Ukraine began consultations with Belarus on the extradition.

On August 7, President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus said Ukraine must prove the guilt of the detained mercenaries to seal extradition.

On August 9, Lukashenko said he had received a five-page letter from Vladimir Putin with information on the situation around the detention of Wagner troops.

On August 11, the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine sent inquiries to their Belarus counterparts appealing for the extradition of 28 fighters with the Wagner PMC.

All 28, including nine citizens of Ukraine, had been charged with participation in a terrorist organization.

On August 14, Belarus handed 32 Wagner troops over to Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Belarus' move a "strange, politically incorrect, and definitely unacceptable thing to do in friendly interstate relations."
Chevron Marine Lubricants takes temperature of 2020 fuel switch

After over half a year of low-sulphur fuel operations for international shipping, Chevron Marine Lubricants has distilled its experiences of working with new fuels and lubricants into a new whitepaper published last Monday.

Taking the Temperature of the 2020 fuel sulphur switch includes findings based on work with ship operators worldwide to manage the transition from traditional high-sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) to very low-sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO)  the most widely used means of complying with IMOs 2020 regulation. The paper also explores what these experiences mean for shipping as it prepares for even greater changes in the future, as decarbonisation and other sustainability targets further influence fuel choices.



Chevrons observations show that most ship operators managed the transition very well, says Ian Thurloway, Brand, Marketing and Business Development Manager for Chevron Marine Lubricants. Fuel quality has been less variable than expected and accurate recommendations on cylinder lubrication helped prevent the worst fears from being realised. But there have been engine condition concerns and rigorous monitoring remains a fundamental of any fuel change  particularly faced with a whole new range of clean fuels to choose from.



Chevron notes in the whitepaper that VLSFO in general has a higher energy content than HSFO, offering good value for users. But its rapid ignition has caused problems for some older engines. Meanwhile the practice of flushing high-sulphur residues from tanks ahead of the regulations entry into force also contributed to an increase in cylinder condition challenges early in the year.



The lower sulphur content in marine fuel also reduces the safety margin between normal piston running, with a limited but manageable level of corrosion, and damaging abrasive or adhesive wear. To detect these conditions before they lead to irreversible engine damage Chevron recommends that operators employ a robust onboard drip oil monitoring programme, supported by frequent onshore laboratory analysis. Chevrons own DOT.FAST service now includes a separate indicator for abrasive/adhesive wear in its onshore laboratory analyses.



Ship operators can use the DOT.FAST onboard kit to check if total iron in the drip oil rises, says Luc Verbeeke, Senior Engineer, Chevron Marine Lubricants. The deeper laboratory analysis then identifies if the drip oil contains greater levels of magnetic iron particles. This would indicate abrasive/adhesive wear, meaning that operators should adjust either the base number or the feed rate of their cylinder lubricant.



The whitepaper can be downloaded here.




HARTFORD  Investigators seized thousands of bags of heroin from the apartment of a man authorities say will serve six years in federal prison on charges linked to drug trafficking in the city.

Francisco Gordo Leon, 41, was sentenced Wednesday to 72 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

The charges against Leon stemmed from an investigation into heroin trafficking and illegal gun possession, according to a news release from the office of U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham.

Back in June 2018, Hartford police got a tip that Leon was selling large amounts of drugs from a Maple Avenue apartment. The next month, investigators made a controlled purchase of heroin from Leon, authorities said.

On July 9, 2018, investigators searched Leons apartment, seizing about 9,700 bags of heroin, various drug paraphernalia and a loaded gun, officials said. Leon was arrested on state charges that day.

At the time of his arrest, authorities said, Leon had access to a U-Haul storage facility on Capitol Avenue. When investigators searched a storage unit under Leons name, they found 9 kilograms of heroin, two more guns and a variety of ammunition, according to authorities.

Leon has a criminal history that includes multiple state convictions linked to possession and sale of narcotics.

He pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on March 28, 2019.

A judge ordered Leon to forfeit $13,980 that was seized from him during the investigation.

Leon, who was released on $250,000 bond, was told to report to prison on Oct. 29.
Lawyers for indicted Chicago Ald. Edward Burke alleged in a court filing Thursday that federal investigators bungled the wiretap of Burkes phones and improperly tried to set him up in a scheme involving the Old Main Post Office that forms the backbone of the case.

The allegations came in a motion to suppress the evidence gleaned from the wiretap on Burkes cell phone and City Hall office, which allowed the FBI to monitor thousands of conversations the alderman made and received over the course of nearly a year.

The 71-page motion accuses prosecutors of directing then-Ald. Daniel Solis to have scripted interactions with Burke and lie about the Post Office deal in an effort to curry favor w/the government. At the time, Solis had himself been recorded committing a number of different crimes, the motion stated.

Burkes attorneys want U.S. District Judge Robert Dow to declare the wiretapped calls inadmissible at trial.
Former Chairman of separatist party Hurriyat Conference in Jammu & Kashmir Syed Ali Shah Geelani has rejected Pakistan's highest civilian award Nishan-e-Pakistan.

The Government of Pakistan had conferred the award to him on August 14, 2020, the day the country gained independence but surprisingly Geelani refused to accept the award and made an announcement on August 19, 2020.

According to a report on India Defence Research Wing - a website focused on defence news concerning India - Geelani said his representative Abdullah Gilani was sidelined when in fact the award was received by the same people responsible for his exit from All Parties Hurriyat Conference.

This did not amuse Geelani and hence he rejected Pakistans highest civilian honour.

The Hurriyat Conference in Pakistan, however, has said that "it is a fake letter which has been attributed to Geelani, as per the report.

On July 27, Pakistans Senate had passed a resolution asking the government to confer the countrys highest civilian honourNishan-e-Pakistan  on Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

The resolution also called for Geelanis life story to be included in the school curriculum.

The 90-year-old, who has been under house arrest, last month stepped down as the chairman for life of the Kashmiri separatist grouping All Parties Hurriyat Conference.

In his two-page letter, Geelani referred to inaction by the Hurriyat members post-abrogation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, and the division of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories.

Nishan-e-Pakistan is awarded to citizens of Pakistan for highest degree of service and to foreign nationals as well.

In the past, the award has been conferred to prominent personalities such as Queen Elizabeth II, Nelson Mandela, Xi Jinping.

From India, Former Prime Minister of India Morarji Desai received the award in 1990.
BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - Premier Oil plc (PMO.L, PMOIY.PK) reported a pretax loss of $334.8 million for the six months to 30 June 2020 compared to profit of $119.9 million, prior year. Loss per share from continuing operations in cents was 78.9 compared to profit of 12.4. EBITDAX from continuing operations was $352.4 million, compared to $680.2 million, prior year. The Group recorded exploration expense and new venture costs of $242.1 million compared to $8.7 million, previous year. Excluding the effect of non-cash charges, loss after tax would have been $32.4 million, for the first half period. First half sales revenues declined year-on-year to $530.6 million from $871.3 million. Production averaged 67.3 kboepd compared to 84.1 kboepd, prior year. The company said the reduction was predominantly due to an unplanned 20 day shutdown on Catcher, the disposal of the Pakistan business, and the cessation of production from Huntington and Kyle. Looking forward, the company reiterated 2020 guidance of 65-70 kboepd (before any contribution from the BP Acquisitions). 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.
United Nations: US allies Britain, France, Germany reject Trump administration's demand to restore UN sanctions on Iran.

A security council meeting at United Nations. Credit:AP

The United States moved to restore all UN sanctions on Iran on Thursday, arguing Tehran was in violation of a nuclear deal it struck with world powers in 2015 even though Washington itself abandoned that agreement two years ago.

The United States submitted a letter to the 15-member UN Security Council alleging Iranian non-compliance, in theory starting a 30-day process that could lead to the "snapback" of UN sanctions even though major powers like Russia reject the US stance and say they will not restore the penalties.

Reuters, AP
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- HeroX , the social network for innovation and the world's leading platform for crowdsourced solutions, today launched the crowdsourcing competition "Protecting the Natural Flavor of Catfish" that calls on the global community of solvers to offer cost-effective and innovative methods that prevent blue-green pond algae from delaying catfish harvesting.

USDA and HeroX Launch Challenge to Protect the Natural Flavor of Catfish

This competition is launched on behalf of the U.S. Department of Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) and seeks to benefit catfish farmers across the nation. For the last 30 years, USDA-ARS research has shown that catfish exposure to certain varieties of blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, can cause a delay in harvest for roughly 50 percent of catfish ponds each year. Annually, this delay can also cost catfish farmers $15 to $20 million in lost revenue and expenses to maintain the fish and its natural flavor.

While numerous methods to combat this issue have been identified, they are only partial solutions that require repeated treatments. There is also no guarantee of successfully eliminating the blue-green algae's effect on the fish.

"The Agricultural Research Service is committed to finding solutions to agricultural problems that affect Americans every day," said ARS Administrator Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young. "We are excited to see the innovative strategies and suggested new technologies for the Catfish Challenge from the global community."

"I look forward to seeing our innovators solve a challenge that has stumped scientists and experts for years," said HeroX Chief Executive Officer Christian Cotichini. "Identifying a solution here protects our food supply and the livelihoods of these catfish farmers."

The Challenge: In the United States, nearly 400 million pounds of farm-raised Channel and Blue catfish are harvested annually, primarily in the Mississippi Delta region. Unfortunately, exposure to compounds from varieties of blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, can cause an "earthy" or "muddy" taste in catfish. If a sample fish is found to have these off-flavors, catfish farmers may wait to harvest and retest the fish after several months to see if the off-flavors have improved, or treat the pond water to remove the algae before harvesting can proceed. Both approaches result in lengthy harvest delays, anywhere from a few weeks to several months. These harvest delays cost the industry roughly $20 million annually.

The Prize: A grand total of up to $60,000 US will be awarded to the Challenge's top nine respondents. Judges will evaluate submissions for the best overall approach submitted and award prizes to the top nine responses. One First Place and up to two Second Place winners will be recognized in each of the following three categories:

Pre-harvest management practices

Pre-harvest treatment technologies

Post-harvest treatment technologies

How to Become a Solver: The prize is open to anyone aged 18 or older participating as an individual or as a team. Individual competitors and teams may originate from any country, as long as United States federal sanctions do not prohibit participation (some restrictions apply).

To accept the challenge, visit herox.com/catfish

ABOUT HEROX

HeroX is a social network for crowdsourcing innovation and human ingenuity, co-founded in 2013 by serial entrepreneur, Christian Cotichini and XPRIZE Founder and Futurist, Peter Diamandis. HeroX offers a turnkey, easy-to-use platform that supports anyone, anywhere, to solve everyday business and world challenges using the power of the crowd. Uniquely positioned as the Social Network for Innovation, HeroX is the only place you can build, grow and curate your very own crowd.

Explore the latest challenges at www.herox.com

Media Contact:

Alexandra Pony

[email protected]

250.858.0656

SOURCE HeroX

Related Links

https://www.herox.com


Maharashtra minister Vijay Wadettiwar on Thursday said the CBI team that arrived in Mumbai to probe the Sushant Singh Rajputs death case should undergo a Covid-19 test.

The CBI team reached the metropolis on Thursday evening. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced that it has been exempted from home quarantine.

The CBI officers will be staying in Mumbai and meeting several people. They should undergo antigen test as a precautionary measure to curb the spread of coronavirus, the Relief and Rehabilitation Minister said.

The state government should take precaution and the CBI should also follow the Covid-19 safety rules, the Congress leader added.

A BMC official earlier said that the central investigation agency had applied for exemption from the home quarantine rule.

The civic body had quarantined Bihar IPS officer Vinay Tiwari earlier this month after his arrival to oversee probe in the actors death case.

The Supreme Court had on Wednesday upheld the transfer of an FIR, lodged at Patna against actress Rhea Chakraborty and others for allegedly abetting Rajputs suicide, to the CBI.

Rajput was found hanging at his Bandra apartment on June 14.
Unlike the Supreme Court decision that decided the 2000 election, or the Russian interference through hacking and social media in the 2016 election, the 2020 presidential election has the potential to be delegitimized by Americas own institutions. Serious gaps in our nations election laws combined with the challenges of voting during the COVID-19 pandemic mean the integrity of the election is in grave danger unless Congress acts soon.

Already, the Electoral College has avoided one potential minefield. The U.S. Supreme Court decided in July that states could restrict the ability of faithless electors to vote for candidates that they hadnt promised to support. Although the decision removed a modest amount of legal uncertainty, three major sticking points remain:

 Increased partisan fighting may spur some contested states to name two different slates of electors if different branches of government  say, a governor and a legislature  promote different outcomes. The prospect of dueling electors is especially pronounced in battleground states where control is split between Republicans and Democrats, such as North Carolina and Wisconsin, and where disputes over the validity of mail-in ballots could be intense. Legal wrangling over a substantial number of electoral votes then could cause a significant delay before the Dec. 8 deadline to name members of the Electoral College.

 If electors arent named by the deadline because of recounts or other legal challenges, most states dont have an immediate solution. Even states that do have legal guidance risk undemocratic results. In North Carolina, for example, the General Assembly can name electors if a governor hasnt approved them by the deadline. If the General Assembly fails to agree upon a slate of electors, the governor can name them without being challenged by courts.

 Finally, if a candidate cant muster the required 270 electoral votes, the decision would be made by the newly elected House of Representatives with each state delegation given a single vote. Currently, Republicans hold a majority in 26 delegations, Democrats control 22, and two large states  Pennsylvania and Michigan  are split. A slight change in the composition of a few House seats could determine who becomes president.

The three potential Electoral College minefields are complicated by the global coronavirus pandemic, expected to spur a record number of mail-in ballots during the November general election. Congress has taken modest steps to alleviate complications from mail-in ballots, having dedicated $400 million of a $2.2 trillion pandemic relief measure to help states process votes and promising a $10 billion line of credit to the U.S. Postal Service. In addition, the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives passed legislation in May that would provide $3.6 billion to states for election assistance. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, however, has so far refused to bring that bill to the Senate floor.

In addition to ensuring states have the resources they need to ramp up vote-by-mail programs, Congress must clearly outline how to resolve disputes about the presidential election. Currently, electoral disputes are governed by the Electoral Count Act of 1887, which political scientists both from that era and today consider impossibly unclear. Rather than waiting for disaster, Congress should act now to clearly outline the process for resolving a dispute rather than waiting until after the election, when any attempts to clarify the rules appear partisan.

Spurring a polarized legislature to action will not be easy, but Congress needs to recognize reform as an exercise in self-preservation. Our democracy is built largely upon the integrity of our elections; that holds as true for congressional elections as presidential contests. Even amid a global pandemic that has prematurely claimed the lives of more than 160,000 Americans, there can be no higher priority for our democracy than ensuring the integrity of our presidential election.

Daniel G. Newman is president of MapLight and author of the new graphic novel Unrig: How to Fix Our Broken Democracy.
China faced demands on Thursday to explain why a state-backed firm claimed it had vaccinated dozens of staff against the coronavirus before sending them back to work at a mine in Papua New Guinea.

The China Metallurgical Group Corporation (MCC) -- which controls a major nickel mine in the country -- warned local authorities that 48 staff who returned from China this month may test positive for the virus because they had received a vaccine.

In response, Papua New Guinea authorities called for "immediate clarification" from Beijing and blocked a charter flight full of Chinese workers that was due to land Thursday.

The pandemic has disrupted operations at several lucrative mines in Papua New Guinea, one of the Pacific's poorest nations.

While moving its staff into place, MMC's subsidiary firm Ramu NiCo told Papua New Guinea authorities that any positive coronavirus test results were "the normal reaction of the vaccination and not due to infection", according to a Chinese and English-language statement obtained by AFP.

The 48 members of staff at its multi-billion-dollar mine had "been vaccinated with SARS-COV-2 vaccine" before their return, it said.

China has previously indicated that it would test vaccines on military personnel and staff at state-backed companies, but it is not clear whether these tests were carried out on workers heading overseas.

"It takes around seven days to produce antibodies in the vaccine recipient's body after being vaccinated," the statement reads.

"If they need to be tested again for COVID-19, it is suggested to be conducted at least seven days after the vaccination date."

Papua New Guinea's pandemic tsar David Manning told AFP he wanted answers and had blocked the arrival of a flight with around 150 Chinese workers on board due in Port Moresby on Thursday.

"I am demanding an explanation from the Chinese ambassador as to how this has happened," he said.

"I have written to the Chinese government through the Chinese ambassador -- to explain how these 48 employees of this state company were vaccinated."

- Call for clarity -

There are growing concerns that Ramu NiCo staff may have circumvented arrival quarantine procedures, that the vaccinations may have been administered unlawfully in Papua New Guinea, or that they were tested on Papua New Guinea citizens.

Anyone arriving in Papua New Guinea must receive a coronavirus test before boarding their flight and undergo quarantine on arrival.

In a letter from Manning to the Chinese ambassador, also seen by AFP, he demanded "immediate clarification" and stated that Papua New Guinea "does not currently acknowledge a vaccine" for coronavirus and will not until national regulators and the World Health Organisation have given their approval.

He also issued a decree banning coronavirus testing, trials and unapproved vaccine treatments in Papua New Guinea.

Chinese ambassador Xue Bing told AFP: "We don't have any comments for the moment. However, one thing is for sure, China is not doing (coronavirus) tests here in PNG."

Papua New Guinea -- which has an already under-resourced health sector -- had largely dodged the worst of the virus outbreak until recent weeks.

The country saw 12 new cases on Thursday taking its total to 359, with 159 active cases amid low rates of testing. At least three people have died from the virus.

Coronavirus clusters recently forced the closure of major mines including the vast Ok Tedi copper and gold mine.

China's Ramu NiCo is no stranger to controversy and was temporarily shuttered in late 2019 after spewing slurry into the Bismarck Sea and turning parts of the surrounding coastline ochre red.

Nickel is a highly prized metal widely used in batteries, including for electric cars.

str-arb/al/kaf

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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After the Cabinet approved the proposal for leasing out Thiruvananthapuram airport through Public-Private Partnership (PPP), Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing the inability of the state government to offer co-operation in this regard and urged his intervention so that the decision is reconsidered.In view of the unilateral decision taken by the Government of India without giving credence to the cogent arguments put forward by the State Government, it will be difficult for us to offer co-operation to the implementation of the decision, which is against the wishes of the people of the State, read the letter by Vijayan. I request your goodself to intervene at this stage so that the decision taken now is reconsidered, he stated.

The Chief Minister said that the Union Cabinet has decided to hand over the management and operation of Trivandrum International Airport to a private bidder ignoring the repeated requests of the Government of Kerala for entrusting the same to the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in which State Government is the major stakeholder.

He said that the present decision is in contravention to the assurance given by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, in 2003.

The assurance was that as and when induction of a private player is considered, the Government of India would factor in the contributions made by the State Government to the development of the Trivandrum Airport. There was further assurance in this regard when we had a personal meeting in New Delhi, read the letter.

The State Government had earlier transferred 23.57 acres to the Airport Authority of India, free of cost for construction of the international terminal, subject to the condition that the value of the land would be reflected as Government of Keralas share capital in an SPV which would be set up, he said.

ALSO READ : Loans worth more than Rs 1 Lakh crore disbursed under ECLGS

Vijayan said that the state government had requested delinking the Trivandrum International Airport from the proposal to operate in PPP mode or allow the SPV of the State Government to have the right to the first refusal in order to match the quote of the highest bidder.None of these has been considered, he said.

In my letter dated June 10, 2020, the request to hand over management and operation of the Trivandrum International Airport to the SPV in which the State Government is the major stakeholder was reiterated.

This has not been considered and the present decision has come even while the litigation in this regard is pending before the Honble High Court of Kerala as per the direction of the Honble Supreme Court, read the letter.

On Wednesday, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the proposal for leasing out three airports namely Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram airports of AAI through PPP.The Cabinet accorded its approval for leasing of three AAI airports namely, Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram for Operation, Management and Development to M/s Adani Enterprises Ltd, who is declared as the successful bidder in a Global Competitive Bidding conducted by the Airports Authority of India, for a period of fifty years.

ALSO READ : Satya Pal Malik takes oath as Meghalaya Governor
Thirty-seven-year-old Facebook engineer Behdad Esfahbod has made the same wintertime trip every year since 2015.

Yet this past January, the 37-year-old programming whiz's visit to Iran to see his family took a wildly different turn.

Within days of his arrival, the Iranian-Canadian dual national and graduate of Tehran's top Sharif University had been thrown in jail and was being pressured by Iranian security forces to become an informant.

Esfahbod said that on January 15 he was approached on the street in the Iranian capital by four plainclothes agents. The men showed him a judiciary warrant for his arrest on charges of acting against the clerical establishment's security and working with the country's enemies.

Esfahbod froze when he saw the name of the feared intelligence unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as the plaintiff on the warrant. That unit has been behind the arrests of scores of activists, intellectuals, environmentalists, dual nationals, and others, some of whom have been sentenced to lengthy jail terms on what many dismiss as trumped-up charges.

He said he felt there was no point in resisting. "I thought, 'I will never leave this tunnel' and my life was over," he said.

Contacts Stripped

The agents took him to a ward of the notorious Evin prison controlled by the IRGC where he was held in solitary confinement with no contact with the outside world for a week.

His captors confiscated all of his devices and downloaded his private information and contacts from all his social-media accounts and communications applications, like Telegram.

He said he was subjected to daily interrogation sessions and asked mainly about his contacts with groups that provide anti-filtering tools to help Iranians bypass the country's strict Internet censorship.

Esfahbod, a renowned software engineer who used to work for Google, believes photos he posted of himself next to activists at the 2016 RightsCon human rights conference in San Francisco put him on the radar of the IRGC's intelligence branch.

"I had posted a photo on social media with several political activists who are seen by the Islamic republic as opposed to the establishment, and the sensitivities started there," he said.

After a week, he said, his interrogators let him go only after he agreed to become an informant. "Stay friends with your [contacts] and let us know what they're up to," he said he was told.

Not Going Away

He left Iran a few days later. Esfahbod said the experience left him paranoid and traumatized for months. He quit his job at Facebook and moved in with his family in Canada. "My life was turned upside-down, and I wasn't able to do my job anymore," Esfahbod said.

In mid-June, the IRGC contacted him on Instagram. "I'm a friend of your cousin in Tehran. You were our guest in Darakeh" -- a neighborhood in northern Tehran -- "and we had soltani," the message said, referring to a popular Iranian dish that includes lamb and chicken kebab.

Esfahbod ignored it. He said he never intended to collaborate with the IRGC. He just wanted to escape their clutches. "I agreed to that deal under coercion because I knew I needed to get out of that country alive in order to have a chance to survive and tell my story. Also to reunite with my partner," Esfahbod said.

The IRGC went on to message him on Whatsapp, Telegram, and Signal. He kept ignoring them. They even contacted his sister, he said. She told them that she had passed on their messages but that she didn't have any control over her brother's activities.

Meanwhile, Esfahbod was getting ready to publicize his ordeal and expose "his professional abusers."

On August 17, he posted his account on Medium, where he detailed what he had been through and shared a screen grab of the message he said the IRGC sent him on Instagram.

He later also spoke to Persian-language media based outside the country, including RFE/RL's Radio Farda and Netherlands-based Radio Zamaneh.

He said he never expected to become a victim of Iran's intelligence services. "I always thought, 'I'm not politically active and if they arrest me I will explain it to them and they will let me go,'" he told RFE/RL's Radio Farda on August 18.

What's Next?

Esfahbod's plight echoes other accounts of the repressive methods used by Iran's intelligence bodies to pressure citizens -- including Iranians living abroad -- with little or no accountability.

"While they aim to scare people, to paralyze activists, to chill the populace, this story tells you how they are frightened of cyberspaces and [the] resentment of brave Iranian youth who fight the regime's censorship," Saeid Golkar, an assistant political-science professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and a senior fellow on Iran policy at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, told RFE/RL.

"The cycle of arresting people, putting them under pressure, getting their username and passwords, using their information against them and others, and based on that information arresting others. And the cycle goes on. Some collaborate, others not -- like Behdad [Esfahbod]," Golkar added.

For his part, Esfahbod said he didn't know how the IRGC might react to his claims and his public refusal to collaborate. "I posted bail with a two-bedroom apartment I own in Tehran that is my sister's family residence. That I have written off," he wrote earlier this week.

"But what inhumane thing they will do to my friends & family I don't know," he added.
ISTANBUL, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Turkey is in talks with Russia, Germany and China about conducting Phase 3 trials for coronavirus vaccines developed in those countries, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Wednesday.

Germany and China have applied to conduct the Phase 3 trials in Turkey and have presented pre-clinical trial results, while Ankara wants to see pre-clinical results from Russia before the trials, Koca said.

Speaking at a news conference in Ankara, he said there were 13 vaccines being developed in Turkey, three of which have gone beyond the animal testing phase.

Turkey's coronavirus cases have been on the rise in recent weeks. On Wednesday, Turkey recorded 1,303 cases, the highest daily level since the end of June, according to official data.

A total of 253,108 COVID-19 cases have been recorded in the country. The number of those who have recovered stood at 233,915 as of Wednesday, while 6,039 have died.

Turkey mostly lifted a partial lockdown on June 1. For three weeks last month, new cases had hovered just under 1,000.

Ankara recently imposed fines for those who do not wear masks and maintain social distancing in public. (Reporting by Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Giles Elgood)
A list of national sanctions against the Belarusian regime has been drawn up.

Lithuania is to impose a travel ban on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

This was announced by Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius, the news outlet Delfi reported.

Read alsoCoordination Council of Belarusian opposition voices requirements

According to him, Lithuania has prepared a list of national sanctions against the Belarusian regime. It was submitted for approval to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It lists the names of more than three dozen people.

"We will not disclose the names. I will only say that there are 32 names, including Alexander Lukashenko and other officials from those structures that are to be liable  security forces, i.e. OMON (riot police), the KGB, the election commission," the minister said.

The sanctions include travel bans, and the country's Interior Ministry is to enact them.

Belarus protests in brief
Workers at popular dumpling restaurant chain Din Tai Fung were systemically underpaid thousands of dollars, denied days off and given fake timesheets, the Fair Work Ombudsman has alleged.

DTF World Square - the operator of restaurants inside Melbourne's Emporium, Sydney's World Square and Westfield Chatswood shopping centres - is now facing a multi-million-dollar fine after alleged serious breaches of the Fair Work Act.

The restaurants are among 11 Australian sites in the DTF Group, which boasts it is 'globally known to serve the world's tastiest dumplings'.

Workers at popular dumpling restaurant chain Din Tai Fung were systemically underpaid thousands of dollars, denied days off and given fake timesheets, the Fair Work Ombudsman has alleged

Reminiscent of the 7-Eleven wage scandal, DTF WS and a related entity are accused of creating two versions of payroll records for 17 underpaid employees.

One set of records showed workers' exact entry and exit from the workplace and their 'payroll hourly rates' while a false version pretended workers were getting the award rate and penalty rates and doing no overtime, a statement of claim before the Federal Court alleges.

The restaurants are also accused of requesting or requiring employees to work 100 hours a fortnight without paying overtime, failing to give the minimum eight days off a month and not recording that some employees were partially paid in cash.

The FWO claim states cash payments ceased in the weeks after investigations began.

A full-time cook in Sydney was underpaid $50,588 over four years while 16 cooks, waiters and other workers are entitled to a share of $107,000 over work performed in the eight months to June 2018, the regulator alleges.

Former DTF WS director Dendy Herjanto, DTF Group general manager Hannah 'Vera' Handoko and a human resources manager have been named as accessories to the alleged contraventions.

Justice Anna Katzmann last week authorised the FWO to serve the claim on Mr Herjanto in Singapore, where the Indonesia-born man is now understood to reside.

The judge was satisfied the claim had been brought to the attention of the two managers, despite them not yet acknowledging receipt.

No defence has been filed with the court by any of the five respondents.

Din Tai Fung has been contacted for comment.
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Then Andrew Ivy from the American Medical Association came up with a solution. He'd been present at the Nuremberg trials, and they gave him an idea. Maybe America should do what the SS did during World War II! Before a flurry of fists hit his face, Ivy hastily clarified: No, he didn't mean that; he meant Americans should all get tattoos stating their blood types, just like Nazis did. That way, after an attack, with people unconscious and no identifying paperwork anyway, doctors would easily be able to match donors to recipients and keep people alive.

And so the tattooing began, with pilot programs in specific towns. The tattoos were on the waist or chest rather than the more obvious spot of the arm because limbs have an annoying habit of getting blown off and lost during war. Kids were tattooed in schools. Today, these grown-up kids recall the process as painful but say no one really objected to it, considering it "very progressive." Also tattooed: newborn babies. At the time, it was believed that newborn babies felt no pain.

Tim Bish/Unsplash Those are tears of laughter.

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Considering that your grandpa's only tattoo is of an anatomically correct Donald Duck, you can figure out that the plan to turn everyone into "walking blood banks" didn't spread nationwide. Tattooing everyone would take too much money and time, and there was always the chance burns would render the letters unreadable. As for Dr. Ivy, he was eventually disgraced when it turned out that a quack cancer cure he was peddling was just a dumb placebo and not, as people had hoped, a miracle chemical derived from horse blood.
This will happen faster if there is a "flourishing, shining, and successful Kherson region" bordering the annexed peninsula, president believes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Crimea, which is temporarily occupied by Russia, will definitely return to Ukraine.

"[Ukraine's] Kherson region [neighboring Crimea] has everything except one thing; it has no other way but to become a diamond of the Ukrainian south. And this is our task rather than our will... The Ukrainian Crimea is very close, and it will definitely return to us," Zelensky said during a visit to the city of Kherson, when presenting the development strategy for the region, as reported by an UNIAN correspondent on August 20.

Read alsoUkrainian banner on balloons launched over occupied CrimeaThe president expressed confidence that the return will happen much faster if there is a "flourishing, shining, and successful Kherson region bordering Crimea."

Russian occupation of Crimea

Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea in March 2014 after its troops had occupied the peninsula. An illegal referendum was held for Crimeans to decide on accession to Russia. De-facto Crimean authorities reported that allegedly 96.77% of the Crimean population had voted for joining Russia.

On March 18, 2014, the so-called agreement on the accession of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol to Russia was signed in the Kremlin.

The West did not recognize the annexation in response to which sanctions against Russia were introduced.

Read alsoUkraine sends Russia list of illegally detained Crimean Tatars for next swapUkraine's parliament voted to designate February 20, 2014, as the official date when the temporary occupation of Crimea began.
A third of the 85,400 people immigrating to Ireland in the past year were returning Irish nationals, new Central Statistics Office figures have revealed.

This was the highest number of returning Irish nationals since 2007.

The CSO figures also showed an increase in Ireland's ageing population, with 720,100 people aged over 65 years resident in Ireland in April of this year, a 14.3% increase since April 2016.

In April 2020, 644,400 non-Irish nationals were estimated to be resident in Ireland, accounting for 12.9% of the total population.

Overall, the population of the Republic of Ireland was estimated to be 4.98m in April 2020, a 1.1% increase compared to last year.

The number of immigrants coming into Ireland in the past 12 months was estimated to be 85,400, and the number of emigrants was 56,500, with 50% of these emigrants being Irish nationals. This resulted in net inward migration of 28,900 which was a 14.2% drop compared to the previous year.

According to the CSO, 35.6% of immigrants came from countries outside the EU, representing the majority at 30,400.

The next most common cohort among immigrants were the Irish, with 28,900 people returning to Ireland during the same period, with 700 more Irish women than men coming home.

Some 11,400 people came from the EU 15-27, which comprises Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Croatia.

Fewer came from the EU 14 (excluding Ireland), which are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Portugal. Only 9,200 people arrived from these countries.

As for the UK, 5,500 Britons arrived in Ireland during the past year, which was a decrease of around 2,000 people when compared to previous years.

The majority of people coming to Ireland were aged 25-44, with 48,300 belonging to that age group. The same age cohort represented the highest proportion of emigrants.

The majority of immigrants were highly educated, with 56,900 having a third level qualification. The second most common level of educational attainment was higher secondary and below, with 14,300 people having this type of education.

As for emigrants, a higher number of those with higher secondary level and below left Ireland, at 16,900. Some 26,300 people with a third level qualification left the country, the majority of these being women (15,400) as opposed to men (10,900).

The Dublin region also expanded the most in terms of population, increasing by 22,100, or 1.6%. The population of Dublin in April 2020 was estimated to be almost 1.42 million, equating to 28.5% of the total population of the country.

There were 58,300 births in the past 12 months, and 31,200 deaths. This resulted in a natural population increase of 27,100. This is the lowest level of natural increase recorded since the 2001 population estimates.

The statistics covered a period of 12 months to the end of April 2020.

Statistician James Hegarty said: "As much of the reference period predates the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the impact on todays figures is limited and the majority of the impact can be expected to be seen in the 12 months to April 2021."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 01:57:35|Editor: huaxia

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DAMASCUS, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- A Russian officer was killed and two soldiers were wounded on Tuesday by an explosion in eastern Syria, state news agency SANA reported.

The explosion was caused by an explosive device that ripped through a military convoy in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour, said SANA, citing a military source.

The military convoy had just been returning to Deir al-Zour when the explosive device went off, it added.

It said the Russian convoy was conducting "humanitarian operation" in the area. Enditem
The KCDC requested mobile providers SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus for lists of users who were present for more than 30 minutes in Gwanghwamun on that day.

Kwon Jun-wook, the deputy chief of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Wednesday, "We may see more transmissions among those who took part in the protests."

About a dozen had joined followers of the Presbyterian church's rightwing leader in an anti-government rally in downtown Seoul on Aug. 15. Some 989 members or those who came into contact with them refuse to be tested or cannot be found.

Korea reported 297 new COVID-19 infections on Tuesday bringing the total to 1,288 cases over the last six days. Some 88.9 percent of new infections occurred in the Seoul metropolitan region, 623 of them among members of Seoul's Sarang Jeil church.

"Tracking and isolation can only do so much to stop the spread," Vice Health Minister Kim Gang-lip told reporters. "I believe this week marks a crossroads where we find out if this resurgence turns into a nationwide crisis or if we can contain it."

Kwon urged residents of the Seoul metropolitan area to stay at home and venture outside only for essential purposes like work, buying food or going to hospital.

The KCDC said infections were detected in 44 offices, 33 schools and private crammers and nine hospitals across the country. Concerns are mounting of a shortage of hospital beds. Among church members who have been infected, more than 40 percent are high-risk patients over 60, and an increase in people with serious symptoms could result in a shortage of beds at designated medical facilities.

A lawmaker with the ruling party blamed the anti-government protest for the resurgence. "On the first day the government raised social-distancing rules, a violent protest took place in Gwanghwamun," Ko Min-jung wrote on Facebook. "Quarantine regulations were not observed, triggering mass infections."

But some medical experts say the latest surge must date from before the rally since the virus is thought to have an average incubation period of around five days.

"The incubation period of the coronavirus accepted by the medical community is 5.2 days on average," wrote Uhm Chang-sub at Korea University. "But cases started rising on Aug. 14, so the source must date back to at least Aug. 9 or even July 31, 14 days prior or the maximum two-week incubation period."

Kim Woo-joo at Guro Hospital said, "The chances of transmission outdoors are significantly lower than indoors. And it rained on the day of the protest, so the rate of infection was probably even lower."

Until Aug. 14, the day before the rally, new confirmed cases were below 50 a day, but they already surged by 155 on Aug. 15 and 267 on Aug. 16. Ma Sang-hyuk of the doctors' association in South Gyeongsang Province said, "The biggest cause of transmissions was probably increased human traffic during the summer holidays."

Korea again reported triple-digit cases of new infections with 288 as of Thursday morning, tallying 1,576 cases over the week and bringing the cumulative total to 16,346.
It wasnt exactly a secret that Josh Egle wanted to grow hemp in Wyoming.

He and his mother Debra Palm-Egle stood next to Gov. Mark Gordon in March 2019 for the signing of a bill legalizing hemp production in the state. During the previous three years, mother and son both lobbied for the legislation and promoted the industry as a way for struggling Wyoming farmers to grow a potentially lucrative new crop.

In November, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation agents swarmed their farm near Albin, where Egle was curing a small test crop of hemp. Five months later, the mother, son and two...


Further High Grade Volcanogenic Massive Sulphides Results

Sydney, Aug 20, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Cobre Limited ( ASX:CBE ) is pleased to provide an update on its latest drilling program at the Perrinvale Volcanic-Hosted Massive Sulphide (VHMS) Project located in Western Australia.As announced to ASX on 10 June 2020, the Company was undertaking its third Diamond Core (DC) and Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling program at the Perrinvale Project with the twin aims of extending current VHMS mineralisation and drill testing new VHMS targets.Both the RC and DD programs were recently completed, with RC drilling of 2,883m (including 120m of pre-collars for core holes) and the DC drilling of 2,086 metres (refer Figure*).Assays from this third drill program have been received for all but the last three DC holes while the results received to date are encouraging. The latest drill results have:1) confirmed the high VHMS grades at the Schwabe Prospect;2) identified further mineralisation along the Zinco Lago - Lago Rame gossan trend; and3) delivered positive results at the Costa del Islas, Piega del West and Ponchiera Copper prospects.Drilling at the Schwabe ProspectThree objectives were achieved following the most recent drilling at Schwabe including the:1) generation of mineralised core samples for sighter metallurgical testing;2) expanding upon previously drilled massive sulphide mineralisation; and3) step out drilling to test for mineralisation at depth and along strike.The drill hole location details and mineralised intercepts for all holes are included in Tables 1 and 2* of this announcement, with relative collar positions shown in Figures 2, 5 and 6*.The first DC drill hole at Schwabe as part of this campaign, 20PVDD007, intersected 7m of sulphide mineralisation as two sulphide zones separated by 3 metres of internal basalt, and generated the following assay intervals: (as previously reported to ASX on 20 July 2020).Step out drilling at Schwabe has demonstrated that VHMS mineralisation extends along strike for 500m, which includes the previous drill area. The variable copper and zinc mineralisation is associated with narrow interflow sediments between the mafic pile. Figure 2* shows the holes and significant intercepts to date.A single deep DC hole (20PVDD015) intersected some vein halo and disseminated mineralisation 200 metres down dip from the high grade massive sulphides drilled near surface, as shown on Figure 3*. Assays are yet to be received for this deep hole.Drilling at Zinco Lago, Zinco Rame and Lago Rame ProspectsGeologically, the Zinco Lago, Zinco Rame and Lago Rame prospects are located along the same stratigraphic horizon on the western side of a broad syncline. The Schwabe prospect is located ~2km away on the eastern side of this syncline in the same stratigraphic position.In total, 6 DC holes and 2 RC holes were drilled at Zinco Lago, Zinco Rame and Lago Rame as part of this drill campaign (refer Figure 5*). Assays have been received for 4 of the DC holes and the 2 RC holes to date as reported herein.Mineralisation Intersected at other Drill Targets within the Perrinvale ProjectAssays have confirmed intersection of mineralisation with the maiden drill programme at three of the four new prospects. The Company has completed RC drilling of the fold nose at Ponchiera Copper, Ponchiera North, Costa del Islas, and Piega del West prospects within the Perrinvale Project (refer Figure 4 and 6*). Only Ponchiera North failed to deliver some level of mineralisation in the RC assays.Next Steps in the Exploration ProgramFinal assays from the recent drill program are expected in the next two weeks. The positive results from the new Perrinvale prospects supports a continuation of mapping and surface sampling with the aim of defining further drill targets.The DHEM survey is expected to be completed within the next week, and these results will be integrated into existing datasets in order to assess further drill targets.The Company's DC drilling contractor, Westralian Diamond Drillers, are scheduled to return to site in the coming week, with a second deep hole at Schwabe initially planned. In addition, this will enable the Company to immediately move to testing any priority targets which are identified from the ongoing DHEM work.Cobre's Executive Chairman and Managing Director, Martin Holland, said in relation to the results from the third drilling program at the Perrinvale Project:"The continued high-grade VHMS results at Schwabe are encouraging to see. In addition, we are pleased to have identified other VHMS potential in the area, which validates our strategy to unlock the full potential of the 381km2 Perrinvale Project.We expect to report additional assays shortly, with DHEM surveys also underway. Drilling will recommence with a second deep hole at Schwabe to further test the down dip potential. I look forward to providing further updates from the Perrinvale Project as they become available."To view tables and figures, please visit:About Cobre Limited

Cobre Limited (ASX:CBE) is a copper and base-metals explorer with projects in Western Australia and Botswana. The Company recently discovered a new high-grade VMS deposit enriched in Copper, Gold, Zinc and Silver in Western Australia, and is currently exploring approximately 8,100 km2 of tenements within the Kalahari Copper Belt (KCB) in Botswana.
When more employees return to downtown workplaces they are likely to be on staggered schedules, so on any given day the restaurant will see far fewer customers, she said. In a June CBRE survey of large companies nationally, 70% of respondents said some portion of their workforce will be allowed to work remotely full-time and 61% said all employees would be allowed to work outside the office at least part-time.
A senior detective investigating Don Harwin was told to fine him for a COVID-19 breach despite the officer's concerns that the Arts Minister had a good excuse for being at his Central Coast home.

In a series of emails between senior NSW Police on April 9, the day after Mr Harwin was photographed at his Pearl Beach home, Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Bell said legal advice should be sought on whether a warning or infringement should be issued.

Don Harwin returned to the ministry after his fine for breaching COVID-19 restrictions was dismissed. Credit:Jacky Ghossein

But just hours later, Chief Inspector Bell issued Mr Harwin with a $1000 fine, which forced the minister to quit cabinet. Mr Harwin has since been reinstated after the fine was dismissed in court.

The entry in the NSW Police IT system said that legal advice was "sought and advice was received to issue Harwin with an infringement notice". But NSW Police on Thursday night told the Herald no advice was sought or received before the fine was issued.
ALTON  Multiple police cars responded to reports of shots being fired Thursday afternoon in Alton.

At about 1 p.m., Alton Police could be seen collecting evidence, include shell casings, from the street in the 2000 block of Central Avenue following police radio reports of shots fired at the location.

No injuries nor arrests were reported. The call brought nearly a dozen police cars and an Illinois State Police motorcycle trooper to the area, criss crossing neighborhoods in and around Central Avenue seeking a burgundy vehicle believed to have been involved in the incident.

Police broadcasts indicated the same vehicle was allegedly involved in criminal activity earlier Thursday in East St. Louis.
ENDEAVOUR ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

George Town, August 19, 2020  Endeavour Mining (TSX:EDV) (OTCQX:EDVMF) is pleased to announce that Joanna Pearson is joining the Company in the coming months to assume the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective early 2021. In the interim, Henri de Joux will continue to act as Interim Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President for People and IT.

Commenting on the appointment, Sebastien de Montessus, CEO of Endeavour, said: I am very pleased to welcome Joanna to our team. As our audit partner for the past six years, Joanna has a deep understanding of our business and has routinely visited our mine sites, which will enable her to quickly integrate with the team and the role. Given her extensive expertise in reporting, assurance, governance and internal controls in the mining industry, she will be an invaluable addition to our team.

Ms Pearson joins Endeavour after a successful career at Deloitte LLP (Canada) with more than ten years experience as an audit partner, including six years as the audit partner responsible for Endeavour, and over 20 years experience serving clients in public practice, with a focus on multinational mining clients. A graduate of the University of British Columbia, Ms Pearson is a qualified chartered accountant and Canadian CPA, and speaks French.

In accordance with auditor independence regulations and to avoid any possible conflict of interest, Deloitte has resigned as the auditor for Endeavour following the publication of its Q2-2020 results and Endeavour has filed a Notice of Change of Auditor in respect of this change pursuant to National Instrument 51-102 under its profile on SEDAR. Deloitte will continue to work with Endeavour on other non-audit related consultancy projects, including providing advice to Endeavour on reporting in accordance with the Taskforce for Climate-related Financial Disclosure ("TCFD"). Having commenced an audit tender process, Endeavour expects to appoint new auditors in the coming weeks, ahead of the preparation of the Companys Q3-2020 results.

Story continues

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

Attachment




Secured additional funding for Covid-19 testing and back-up drug discovery

LEIDEN, The Netherlands, August 20, 2020 / B3C newswire / -- Hercules Pharmaceuticals, a Dutch biopharmaceutical company focusing on developing small molecule inhibitors of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) for treatment of cancer and viral infections, today announced the publication of promising preclinical in-vivo trial results, showing efficacy of its Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) inhibitor HP163 against Zika virus infection and potentially against Corona-virus infection. On top of this, the company secured new funding to test the efficacy of the compound against Covid-19 and to generate back-up AhR inhibitors.

A recent publication in Nature Neuroscience reported that Hercules AhR inhibitor HP163 reduces viral replication in animals infected with Zika-virus and reduced microencephaly. In-vitro studies also showed efficacy of AhR inhibitors against Dengue, a related virus.

In addition, a pre-publication of an article on Research Square concludes that AhR inhibition may also be effective against Covid-19 and other corona virus infections via a similar mechanism.

It was found that virus infection triggers AhR activation, limiting the production of type I interferons (IFN-I), involved in antiviral immunity. Moreover, AhR activation suppressed intrinsic anti-viral immunity driven by the promyelocytic leukemia (PML) protein, resulting in increased viral replication. AhR inhibition with Hercules HP163 blocked Zika virus replication and ameliorated newborn microcephaly in a murine model.

Successful development of AhR inhibitors could lead to oral treatment of patients with early stages of virus infection.

New funding by Pharma Connect Capital

Hercules will further investigate the potential of its AhR-inhibitors for treatment of Covid-19 infections and will generate additional novel AhR inhibitors for both anti-viral and cancer treatment. To fund this program, Hercules has received an investment from Groningen based Pharma Connect Capital and a grant from SNN (Samenwerkingsverband Noord Nederland). As part of the investment, Hercules will relocate to Groningen.

Bart Wuurman, CEO of Hercules Pharmaceuticals, comments: We are excited by the novel finding that the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor acts as a host factor for viral infections to allow viral replication. A remedy is urgently needed to treat zika and dengue infection, but mentioned studies also suggest that AhR inhibitors might be an effective oral treatment of patients with Covid-19, the virus which is holding our daily life hostage at this moment.





About Zika and Dengue

Zika virus is spread by mosquitoes and is related to dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile viruses. Zika can spread from a pregnant woman to her baby. This can result in microcephaly, severe brain malformations, and other birth defects.

Dengue fever is also a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms may include a high fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash. In some cases, the disease develops into severe dengue, also known as dengue hemorrhagic fever, or into dengue shock syndrome. About 390 million people are infected each year and approximately 40,000 die.

About Hercules Pharmaceuticals

Hercules Pharmaceuticals is a Dutch private biopharmaceutical company, focusing on developing small molecule inhibitors of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) for treatment of cancer and viral infections. AhR-inhibitors are known for enhancing anti-cancer immunity in the tumor microenvironment, and several AhR inhibitors are in clinical development for treatment of solid tumors. Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Hercules, Professor David Sherr is a key opinion leader in immunology related to the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor, based in Boston.

About Pharma Connect Capital

Pharma Connect Capital B.V. is an investment fund that finances early stage drug development. The fund is an initiative of Investerings Fonds Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen and the Noordelijke Ontwikkelings Maatschappij (NOM) and was launched in October 2017.

Contacts

Hercules Pharmaceuticals

Bart Wuurman, CEO

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Galileiweg 8, 3222BD Leiden, The Netherlands

+31 64 66 23 735

www.hercules-pharma.nl

LifeSpring Life Sciences Communication, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Leon Melens

+31 6 538 16 427

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Keywords: Animals; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection; COVID-19; AHR protein, human; Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; Microcephaly; COVID-19 diagnostic testing; Interferon Type I; Drug Discovery; Disease Models, Animal; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Coronavirus Infections; Virus Diseases; Virus Replication; Antiviral Agents;

Published by B3C newswire


There is no dancing allowed in New Yorks bars and restaurants, even at a wedding reception, according to the New York State Liquor Authority.

To control the spread of the coronavirus, Gov. Andrew Cuomos liquor authority has also specifically banned darts, pool, cornhole, karaoke and exotic dancing.

Somehow, a place that allows customers to throw axes and drink beer is reopening Friday. There was no word from the liquor authority on how that fits in to safety protocols.

No kidding. Cuomo has also banned comedy shows.

The intent is to reduce the number of people congregating in bars. If you go to a bar, you must sit at a table or move along, according to the liquor authoritys guidelines.

I dont let people dance, said Dan Palladino, who owns Heritage Hill Brewhouse in Pompey. I think its kind of sad, but I dont want to risk my license.

Even live music is in question after the liquor authority surprised bars and restaurants with new language this week on its Frequently Asked Questions page. The state now says music should be incidental and not a concert with paid ticketholders.

Heritage Hill hires bands to play to customers seated outdoors on the weekends and charges a $5 cover. Palladino said it helps him pay the band and to control the crowd. Having people pay to watch a band actually limits the number of customers who turn over tables, he said.

I have to say: Whos asking the why? Palladino said. Where are these regulations coming from? We know that our cases are declining, yet we continue to come out with more and more regulations, putting a tourniquet on businesses.

Palladino took away the cornhole games early on to avoid the appearance of congregating. But he disagrees with the rule when people are outside and playing with people they know.

Middle Ages Brewing, in Syracuse, hosts live music on weekends on its loading dock.

Owner Isaac Rubenstein has to remind people not to dance to it.

You will get people who want to get up and dance to Grateful Dead, he said. Its kind of weird to say you cant dance by yourself in the middle of nowhere. They generally listen.

Rubenstein has already stopped advertising his events to keep the crowd small. He also holds the concerts in the afternoon. Theres no charge. He said he wants everyone to stay safe and he wants to stay open.

While it might be a pain in the ass to enforce and suck for the individuals, especially for weddings, I do understand the overall purpose, he said.

The restrictions have cut into business for Jonathan Paduano, a DJ who owns Classy Cat Entertainment. Some of the small restaurants where he played music can only offer take-out. Dance clubs have not reopened, he said.

Paduano has found a clever way to keep things hopping at weddings, though.

Hes designed a bride and groom trivia game guests can play on their phones.

I think the no dancing is fine partly because were able to find other ways to entertain our clients friends and family, he said. Before Covid, wed use it as a way to call people up to the buffets.

The table that guessed the correct answer first got to go to the buffet.

Now, there are no buffets either.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources

New NY state rule bans ticketed music events at bars: This is devastating

In 3 CNY holdout towns, theyre trying football: To play anything at this point is awesome

Local gyms can reopen but a heavy lift remains: Its almost like starting all over again

Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com

Contact Michelle Breidenbach | mbreidenbach@syracuse.com | 315-470-3186.
VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Trilogy Metals Inc. (TSX: TMQ) (NYSE American: TMQ) ("Trilogy Metals" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the positive results of its Feasibility Study ("FS") for the Arctic Copper-Zinc-Lead-Silver-Gold Project ("Arctic" or the "Arctic Project") in the Ambler mining district of Northwestern Alaska. The Arctic Project is held by Ambler Metals LLC ("Ambler Metals"), the joint venture operating company equally owned by Trilogy and South32 Limited ("South32"). The FS was prepared on a 100% ownership basis, of which Trilogy's share is 50%. All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.

Trilogy Metals will host a conference call on August 20, 2020 at 8:00am (Pacific Time) or 11:00am (Eastern Time) to discuss these results. Call-in information is provided in this news release and on our website at www.trilogymetals.com.

Highlights of the Arctic Feasibility Study

Pre-tax Net Present Value ("NPV") 8% of $1.6 Billion and an Internal Rate of Return ("IRR") of 31% for the base case.

After-tax NPV 8% of $1.1 Billion and after-tax IRR of 27% for the base case.

At current spot metals prices of $2.94 /lb copper, $1.09 /lb zinc, $0.89 /lb lead, $2,001 /oz gold and $28.89 /oz silver, the pre-tax NPV 8% is $1.8 Billion and IRR is 33.8% and after-tax NPV 8% is $1.3 Billion and IRR is 29.6%.

The FS describes the technical and economic viability of establishing a conventional open-pit copper-zinc-lead-silver-gold mine-and-mill complex for a 10,000 tonne-per-day operation for a minimum 12-year mine life. The base case scenario utilizes long-term metal prices of $3.00/lb for copper, $1.10/lb for zinc, $1.00/lb for lead, $1,300/oz for gold and $18.00/oz for silver.

Tony Giardini, President and Chief Executive Officer of Trilogy Metals comments, "Arctic is a special project due to its unique high-grade polymetallic nature. The only other time that I've seen a project of this quality where the grades were similar was in an underground mining scenario. However, Arctic is mineable in an open pit scenario. I also want to highlight that Arctic contains a significant amount of gold and silver. At current spot metal prices, the precious metals output represents almost 20% of its revenue. The annual gold equivalent (gold and silver) payable output is about 80,000 ounces per year."

Jim Gowans, Director of Trilogy Metals and the Company's representative on the Board of Ambler Metals comments, "Arctic is located in the extremely prospective Ambler Mining District, in a mining friendly jurisdiction, in Alaska, USA, where solid environmental regulations and a balanced permitting process is established. I am also very pleased that we are working with NANA Regional Corporation, Inc., who understand mining and have an established record of working at the Red Dog Mine."

The salient details of the FS are displayed in Tables 1, 2 and 3 below.

Table 1. Metal Production and Assumed Metal Prices

Annual Payable Metals Production

Copper ('000'lb) 155,369 Lead ('000'lb) 32,367 Zinc ('000'lb) 192,023 Gold (oz) 32,165 Silver ('000'oz) 3,382 Metal Price

Copper ($/lb) 3.00 Lead ($/lb) 1.00 Zinc ($/lb) 1.10 Gold ($/oz) 1,300.00 Silver ($/oz) 18.00

Table 2. Operating and Capital Costs

On-Site Operating Costs

Mining ($/t milled) 18.48 Processing ($/t milled) 18.31 G&A ($/t milled) 5.15 Surface Service ($/t milled) 0.68 Road Toll ($/t milled) 8.04 Total Operating Cost ($/t milled) 50.65 Capital Expenditure

Initial Capital ($ million) 905.6 Sustaining Capital ($ million) 113.8 Mine Closure & Reclamation ($ million) 205.4 Total Capex ($ million) 1,224.7

Table 3. Financial Results

Financial Summary

Pre-tax NPV ($ million) at 8% 1,550.9 After-tax Cash Flow ($ million) 2,843.4 After-tax NPV ($ million) at 8% 1,134.7 Cash Costs, Net of By-product Credits ($/lb Cu payable) 0.32 All-in Cost, Net of By-product Credits ($/lb Cu payable) 0.98 Pre-tax IRR (%) 30.8 Pre-tax Payback Period (years) 2.4 Post-tax IRR (%) 27.1 Post-tax Payback Period (years) 2.6

The FS was prepared on a 100% ownership basis, under National Instrument 43-101 standards by independent consultant, Ausenco Engineering Canada Inc. ("Ausenco") of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and the full technical report will be filed on SEDAR and EDGAR within 45 days of this news release. The Company also engaged Wood Canada Limited ("Wood") to complete mine planning and SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. ("SRK") to complete tailings and waste design, hydrology and water management studies.

The FS forecasts an average annual payable production to be more than 155 million pounds of copper, 192 million pounds of zinc, 32 million pounds of lead, 32,165 ounces of gold and 3.4 million ounces of silver. Total life of mine 12-year production is projected at 1.9 billion pounds of copper, 2.3 billion pounds of zinc, 388 million pounds of lead, 386 thousand ounces of gold and 40.6 million ounces of silver.

The Company's current mineral reserve and mineral resources tables can be found on the Company's website at the following link https://trilogy tables. There has been no material change to the mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates for the Arctic Project as reported in the Company's previous technical report entitled "Arctic Project, Northwest Alaska, USA, NI 43-101 Technical Report on Pre-Feasibility Study" with an effective date of February 20, 2018. However, there is a slight decrease in contained metal due to additional mining dilution.

The FS is based on a 10,000 tonne-per-day open-pit mining with a conventional milling and flotation process that results in the production of copper, zinc and lead concentrates. Based on the feasibility level metallurgical work on the sulphide mineralization, the average recoveries are projected to be 89.9% for copper, 90.6% for zinc and 79.0% for lead, in their respective concentrates. Over 60% of the recovered payable silver and gold report to the lead concentrate at 95% payable. Life of mine strip ratio is approximately 6.9 to 1.

Initial capital expenditure of $906 million and sustaining capital of $114 million for total estimated capital expenditures of $1,020 million. In addition, closure and reclamation costs are estimated at $205 million. The Arctic FS offers a favourable capital intensity ratio on initial capital of approximately $6,432 per tonne of average annual copper equivalent produced. Estimated pre-tax and after-tax payback of initial capital of 2.4 years and 2.6 years respectively. Estimated cash costs of $0.32/lb of payable copper (C1 cash costs include on-site mining and processing costs, road tolls and maintenance, transport, royalties, and is net of by-product credits). Total "all-in" cash costs (initial/sustaining capital, operating, closure costs and is net of by-product metal credits) estimated at $0.98/lb of payable copper.

NANA Agreement

Under the Exploration Agreement and Option to Lease ("NANA Agreement") with NANA Regional Corporation, Inc. ("NANA"), NANA has the right, following a construction decision, to elect to purchase a 16% to 25% direct interest in the Arctic Project or, alternatively, to receive a 15% Net Proceeds Royalty ("NPR"). This FS was carried out on a 100% ownership basis and does not include the impact on Trilogy Metals if NANA elects to purchase an interest in the Arctic Project under the NANA Agreement or, alternatively, the impact on Trilogy Metals and the Arctic Project if the NPR becomes applicable. The FS does include the 1.0% Net Smelter Royalty to be granted to NANA under the NANA Agreement in exchange for a surface use agreement.

Joint Venture with South32 Limited

The Company commenced work on the Arctic FS in 2019 and subsequently, on December 19, 2019, South32 exercised the right to form a 50/50 Joint Venture with respect to the Company's Alaskan assets, including the Company's Arctic Project. In February 2020, the Company transferred its Alaskan assets, including the Arctic Project, and South32 contributed $145 million, to a newly formed 50/50 joint venture named Ambler Metals LLC. This FS was carried out on a 100% ownership basis and does not take into account South32's interest in the Arctic Project. The information generated from this FS will be provided to Ambler Metals for its use as it carries forward advancing the Arctic Project. For more information on the Trilogy Metals and South32 Joint Venture see the Company's press releases on December 19, 2019 and February 11, 2020 at www.trilogymetals.com/news.

Additional information on the NANA Agreement and the joint venture with South32 is included in the Company's 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is available on SEDAR and EDGAR.

Conference Call

Call-in details for the conference call to be held on August 20, 2020 at 8:00am (Pacific Time) or 11:00am (Eastern Time) are:

Canada and USA Toll-Free: 1-800-319-4610

International Toll Dial-in: 1-604-638-5340

Australia Toll-Free: 1-800-423-528

UK Toll-Free: 0808-101-2791

Callers should dial in 5-10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time and ask to join the call.

Participants can access the Company's presentation by a live webcast of the conference call at the following link:

http://services.choruscall.ca/links/trilogy20200820.html

A replay of this conference call will be available on the Company's website at www.trilogymetals.com.

Qualified Persons and NI 43-101 Technical Report

The FS for the Arctic Project was prepared by Ausenco and the contributors listed below each of whom is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101")

A technical report containing the FS and prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 will be available on SEDAR and Edgar within the time frames prescribed under applicable securities laws.

FS Contributors

Qualified Person Scope of Responsibility L. Paul Staples, VP and GlobalPractice Lead, Minerals and Metals

Ausenco Plant and infrastructure design and consolidation of the capital costs and operating costs and the overall financial model Dr. Antonio Peralta, PhD, P.Eng, Principal Mining Engineer

Wood Mine design and mineral reserve estimates Calvin Boese, P.Eng, M.Sc., Principal Consultant

SRK Tailings and waste design Bruce Murphy, P.Eng., Principal Consultant, Rock Mechanics

SRK Pit slope design Dr. Tom Sharp, PhD, P.Eng,

Principal Consultant, Water Management and Treatment Engineering

SRK Hydrology and water management Bruce Davis, FAusIMM, President

BD Resource Consulting, Inc. and

Robert Sim, P.Geo,

SIM Geological Inc. Mineral resource estimates Jeffrey B. Austin, P.Eng, President

International Metallurgical & Environmental Inc. Metallurgy and recoveries AJ MacDonald, P.Eng, Vice President, Operations Integrated Sustainability Consultants Selenium water treatment plant design

Data Verification

Messrs. Staples, Peralta, Boese, Murphy and Davis have visited the site of the Arctic Project. The FS Contributors have had discussions with relevant site personnel and Company management and have reviewed supporting documentation. Additional information can be found in the technical report.

Qualified Persons

The FS Contributors prepared or supervised the preparation of the information that forms the basis of the FS disclosure in this press release and have reviewed and approved the disclosure regarding the FS contained herein.

Andrew W. West, Certified Professional Geologist, Exploration Manager for Trilogy Metals Inc., is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. West has reviewed and approves the disclosure contained herein.

About Trilogy Metals

Trilogy Metals Inc. is a metals exploration and development company which holds a 50 percent interest in Ambler Metals which has a 100 percent interest in the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects ("UKMP") in north-western Alaska. On December 19, 2020, South32, which is a globally diversified mining and metals company, exercised its option to form a 50/50 joint venture with Trilogy. The UKMP is located within the Ambler Mining District which is one of the richest and most-prospective known copper-dominant districts located in one of the safest geopolitical jurisdictions in the world. It hosts world-class polymetallic volcanogenic massive sulphide ("VMS") deposits that contain copper, zinc, lead, gold and silver, and carbonate replacement deposits which have been found to host high-grade copper and cobalt mineralization. Exploration efforts have been focused on two deposits in the Ambler mining district - the Arctic VMS deposit and the Bornite carbonate replacement deposit. Both deposits are located within land package that spans approximately 172,636 hectares. Ambler Metals has an agreement with NANA Regional Corporation, Inc., a Regional Alaska Native Corporation that provides a framework for the exploration and potential development of the Ambler mining district in cooperation with local communities. Our vision is to develop the Ambler mining district into a premier North American copper producer.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including, without limitation, the future price of copper, zinc, lead, gold and silver; the timing and amount of estimated future production; net present values and internal rates of return at Arctic; recovery rates; payback periods; costs of production; capital expenditures; costs and timing of the development of projects; mine life; the potential future development of Arctic and the future operating or financial performance of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding perceived merit of properties; exploration plans and budgets; mineral reserves and resource estimates; work programs; capital expenditures; timelines; strategic plans; market prices for precious and base metals; or other statements that are not statements of fact. Forward-looking statements involve various 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. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include the Company's ability to finance the development of its mineral properties; assumptions and discount rates being appropriately applied to the FS, uncertainty as to whether there will ever be production at the Company's mineral exploration and development properties; risks related to the Company's ability to commence production and generate material revenues or obtain adequate financing for its planned exploration and development activities; risks related to lack of infrastructure including but not limited to the risk whether or not the Ambler Mining District Industrial Access Project, or AMDIAP, will receive the requisite permits and, if it does, whether the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority will build the AMDIAP; risks related to inclement weather which may delay or hinder activities at the Company's mineral properties; risks related to the Company's dependence on a third party for the development of its projects; commodity price fluctuations; uncertainties relating to the assumptions underlying resource and reserve estimates; mining and development risks, including risks related to infrastructure, accidents, equipment breakdowns, labor disputes, bad weather, non-compliance with environmental and permit requirements or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in development, construction or production; the geology, grade and continuity of the Company's mineral deposits; the uncertainties involving success of exploration, development and mining activities; permitting timelines; risks pertaining to the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19); government regulation of mining operations; environmental risks; unanticipated reclamation expenses; prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services; uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results and geological tests and the estimation of reserves and resources; the need for cooperation of government agencies and native groups in the development and operation of properties as well as the construction of the AMDIAP; unanticipated variation in geological structures, metal grades or recovery rates; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; unexpected cost increases in estimated capital and operating costs; the need to obtain permits and government approvals; uncertainty related to title to the Company's mineral properties and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2019 filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and in other Company reports and documents filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time. The Company's forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

Cautionary Note to United States Investors

This press release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. Unless otherwise indicated, all resource and reserve estimates included or referenced in this press release have been prepared in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM)CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council, as amended ("CIM Definition Standards"). NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Canadian standards, including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and resource and reserve information contained herein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term "resource" does not equate to the term "reserves". Under U.S. standards, mineralization may not be classified as a "reserve" unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the reserve determination is made. The SEC's disclosure standards normally do not permit the inclusion of information concerning "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" or "inferred mineral resources" or other descriptions of the amount of mineralization in mineral deposits that do not constitute "reserves" by U.S. standards in documents filed with the SEC. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of "measured" or "indicated resources" will ever be converted into "reserves". Investors should also understand that "inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. Under Canadian rules, estimated "inferred mineral resources" may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies except in rare cases. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. The requirements of NI 43-101 for identification of "reserves" are also not the same as those of the SEC, and reserves reported by Trilogy Metals in compliance with NI 43-101 may not qualify as "reserves" under SEC standards. Arctic does not have known reserves, as defined under SEC Industry Guide 7. Accordingly, information concerning mineral deposits set forth or referenced herein may not be comparable with information made public by companies that report in accordance with U.S. standards.

SOURCE Trilogy Metals Inc.

Related Links

www.trilogymetals.com


Vedanta Resources Ltd on Thursday said it has raised USD 1.4 billion (around 10,500 crore) via bonds, which would be primarily used to fund the delisting of its Indian flagship firm.

"Vedanta Resources Ltd (VRL) hereby announces the successful pricing of senior secured bonds. The issue size was USD 1.4 billion, comprising three-year amortising bonds, with an annual coupon rate of 13%," the company said.

Funds from the bond issuance will primarily be used to support the intended offer to buy out the equity shares of Vedanta Ltd (VDL) that are held by public shareholders, the statement said.

The bond issuance follows the commitments for USD 1.75 billion that VRL had received earlier for a three-month term loan facility, taking the total amount of debt to USD 3.15 billion across global debt markets.

Billionaire Anil Agarwal-controlled Vedanta Ltd has already received shareholders' nod for delisting the company.

The issuance size was increased to USD 1.4 billion from initial indication of USD 1 billion in order to provide VRL with additional flexibility to also redeem a portion of its USD 670 million outstanding 2021 bonds, it said.

"Upon completion of all payment obligations as required under the delisting regulations, any balance funds available shall be used to fund either (a) a potential tender offer of the 2021 bonds at par or (b) a repayment of the 2021 bonds at maturity," the statement said.

"This completes VRLs planned fund-raising programme in preparation for the proposed delisting of its subsidiary VDL, as we believe this is the maximum incremental leverage we can consider in our capital structure," it said.

The proceeds of the bonds will be deposited into an offshore escrow account pending a successful conclusion of the bidding process under the delisting regulations, resulting in delisting of VDL's shares and will be used to redeem the bonds in the event that the delisting is unsuccessful by a certain long-stop date, the company said.

The bank debt package will also be unwound in the event of an unsuccessful delisting, it added.

The proposed financing package will support a fair offer to shareholders while balancing the needs of VRL's debt providers and other stakeholders.

VRL will at the appropriate times take the necessary steps to proceed with the delisting offer as required under the delisting regulations, it said.

"The bonds are being offered and sold in a private offering to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A of the US Securities Act and non-US persons outside the United States under Regulation S under the US Securities Act," the statement said.

"Approval in-principle has been received from the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (the 'SGX-ST') for the listing of and quotation of the bonds on the SGX-ST," the statement said.

Admission for the listing and quotation of the bonds on the SGX-ST is not to be taken as an indication of the merits of the offering, Vedanta or the bonds, the company said.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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A petition has been organised to show support for the expansion and development of a 40m meat processing facility, outside Banagher while the IFA seeks a full explanation in relation to the stalling of the proposed development.

The online document, hosted by Petitions.net, notes details surrounding the 40 million project, spearheaded by Banagher Chilling Ltd, including how planning permission for the venture was granted last month by Offaly County Council.

However, an application by the project's investors for residency under the Immigrant Investment Programme (IIP) was rejected with reasons given for the decision including that the project doesn't align with the government policy in relation to the beef processing industry.

The petition, which was created on Saturday, August 8, is titled: I the undersigned am supportive and would like to see the new meat plant at Banagher, Co Offaly being built. It claims: Taking into consideration that this proposed plant is to supply beef exclusively to the Asian markets and the operation will be run by a new player entering Irelands beef processing sector, it has the potential to tackle two key areas as regards the current unsustainable beef prices being paid to Irish beef farmers.

This, the document says, includes: the need for new markets with Brexit looming; and the need for competition in Irelands beef sector. The survival of rural Ireland is heavily dependent on the survival of the family farm. It is heavily dependent on Irelands beef farmers. Rural Ireland is now under threat and, with a new application to the IIP pending, this is an opportunity for you to give it a fighting chance, the petition concludes.

It is understood that the aim is to reach 10,000 signatures, with farmers, and the wider public, asked to support the document. At the time of writing this article, there were 1, 266.

Meanwhile, Offaly IFA Chairman Richard Scally is seeking a full explanation in relation to the stalling of a proposed development of a 40m meat plant in Banagher.

This could be very significant for the area, in terms of jobs, economic activity and another outlet for farmers. The development has been approved by An Bord Pleanala, but we understand an application by the investor under the immigrant investor programme has not been approved, he said.

One of the reasons given is that it is not Government policy to increase processing capacity in the sector. The Government must clarify their position on this immediately. The Golden Circle that the sector had become has to be challenged, he continued.

We badly need new entrants in the sector to shake things up. We see cattle being processed in Northern Ireland at far higher prices than here and higher prices being paid for finished stock in marts. It is clear that we need more competition, he stated. The Government must clarify their position on this immediately. They cannot operate a closed shop for new entrants to beef processing.

IFA has contacted the Minister for Justice Helen Mc Entee whose Department oversees the Immigrant Investor Programme and we are seeking to meet a representative of the applicant. It is important to establish the full facts here. It is clear that we need more competition in the beef sector and that we need new markets, he concluded.
As investors turn to crypto assets amidst market turbulence, Europe's largest crypto asset management firm sees rise in XBT Provider line of Exchange Traded Products.

SAINT HELIER, Jersey, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CoinShares, Europe's largest digital asset manager, today disclosed that it has crossed the $1 billion in assets threshold through its XBT Provider products. The firm's XBT Provider family of crypto exchange traded products (ETPs) provide investors throughout Europe with a simple way to access digital assets via their existing broker or platform.

As the macroeconomic landscape has changed over the past six months, investor appetite for cryptocurrencies has grown exponentially following news of adoption from financial services firms, institutional investors, and investment banks. The rapid growth of AUM within CoinShares' XBT Provider family illustrates the increased drive from investors of all types to adopt cryptocurrencies into their investment strategy.

CoinShares Chief Revenue Officer, Frank Spiteri, who heads up the XBT Provider platform commented on the news, "Bitcoin and other digital assets continue to fascinate and intrigue investors. As the investment environment changes and the need for alternative stores of value rises, an ever-increasing number of institutional investors are contacting us to discuss how digital assets can fit within a portfolio. Traditional banks, brokerages, and asset managers are responding to the needs of their clients, and their clients want bitcoin." The XBT Provider products aim to track price performance of bitcoin and ether (less fees) with minimal tracking error, and provide investors with an easy, cost-effective way to add crypto exposure to their investment portfolio via their existing brokerage or asset management platforms. XBT Provider launched the first exchange-traded bitcoin ETP in 2015, and the first Ethereum ETP in 2018.

CoinShares CEO Jean-Marie Mognetti added "We see this $1 billion dollar level as a validation of our belief that Bitcoin and other digital currencies have a role to play in investment portfolios. If we compare with gold (which has over $200bn of AUM globally), we believe bitcoin is better positioned to react aggressively to current easing in fiscal and monetary policy. Our recent reorganisation of our Passive Asset Management business unit has yielded tangible results, and we are actively working towards our next targets"

This news follows several major growth milestones for CoinShares. In May, the firm launched its Capital Markets and Trading Services brand, with their capital markets desk continuing to see record trading volume quarter over quarter. In 2019, the firm traded $3B in crypto assets, with 2020 poised to be an even stronger year, as the firm is on pace to triple this volume by the end of the year. CoinShares continues to see rapid growth across the trading ecosystem, especially in services such as prime brokerage, trading tools and insured custody, all of which pave the way for the further financialization of bitcoin and digital assets.

About the CoinShares Group

At CoinShares, our mission is to expand access to the digital asset ecosystem while serving as trusted partners for our clients. We believe that Bitcoin and blockchain networks are landmark innovations that will fundamentally reshape the global financial system, and that investors should be able to participate in this transformation. We achieve this mission by providing institutional-grade investments products and services for digital asset investors. The CoinShares Group is a pioneer in digital asset investing and manages hundreds of millions in assets on behalf of a global investor base, with offices in Jersey, Stockholm, London, and New York.

For more information on CoinShares, visit: https://coinshares.com/

Media Contact

Megan Carey

646 859 5953

mcarey@mgroupsc.com
The West of Ireland can seize the opportunity to renew itself by attracting thousands of young professionals and families to make new lives in the region.

Thats according to the Western Development Commission which today (Wednesday) launches a new campaign called More to Life to showcase the growing number of career and lifestyle opportunities available in Leitrim and the West.

With more and more people working remotely due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the WDC is encouraging people to make a permanent and viable move to the West.

Movers can avail of the many job options open across multiple sectors and enjoy housing costs that are among the lowest in Ireland.

As well as the new More To Life campaign, the WDC has launched a new website westerndevelopment.ie to showcase the resources and supports available to those thinking of a new role, to work remotely or those thinking of starting a new a business.

It includes information and success stories about the 72 million Western Investment Fund (WIF) that provides loans and equity to business and local communities in the West.

A stunning new video series also shows scenes of home, work and life up and down the West of Ireland  and declares: This is more than just a place. This is a way of life. Its where work/life balance flourishes. This is the West of Ireland, where there is more to life.

Among those featured in the video series are:

John Savage who swapped an office in Dublins Dawson Street for the Atlantic coastal delights of Rosses Point, Co Sligo. John and his wife already have a two-year-old son and the family is expecting a second child in November. He now works in Sligo for US tech firm Overstock and says of Sligo: We are loving the space, the views, and the friendly village.

Nathelie Mayono also features in the WDCs More To Life video series. Nathelie moved to Foxford, Co Mayo in March this year and is a translator who works remotely from her new base in Co Mayo. Originally from France, Nathelie had lived in Dublin since 2002.

As part of the campaign, the WDC is launching a new platform to help attract talent for hard to fill roles across all sectors.

This Talent Tool will allow job seekers to register for alerts on new roles and give companies information on talent looking to move West. The WDC believes this will help attract more investment from companies and also showcase the range of roles available across the region.

A podcast series called Pulse of The West will feature insights from the WDC, industry and academia.

In addition, through the Atlantic Economic Corridor (AEC) initiative, the WDC is building a network of over 100 Hubs that support remote working, community enterprises and the development of second sites in the region for businesses. This will include an online booking engine for remote working spaces from Donegal to Kerry, which will be rolled out in the autumn.

Commenting on the new campaign, Western Development Commission CEO Tomas O Siochain, said: The phrase More to Life has never been more true and now is the time for the West of Ireland, one of Europes great regions, to write a bold new chapter.

Out of adversity comes opportunity and the West of Ireland has a big opportunity to renew and reinvigorate itself. There are now an unprecedented number of career options in the West, some of them caused by the unexpected events of 2020 and the global pandemic.

We also enjoy much more affordable living costs which means money goes further and people can enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle for themselves and their families. There is More to Life and we hope our campaign will clearly show people that to be the case.

We have put together our resources to make it easy for people to see what is on offer for them in the Western Region. We are also telling the stories of real people who have made the move out of more congested, expensive urban centres  and thrived.

Founded in 1997, the Western Development Commission is a statutory agency that seeks to foster and promote social and economic development in the Western Region. It does so by raising the profile of the region, collaborating with others on projects across several counties and lending and investing through its 72m investment fund.

Commenting on new campaign, WDC Communications Manager Allan Mulrooney, said: We really want people to feel and sense what its like to live in the West. We also want people to have access to the best quality information and tools, so they can make the extremely rewarding decision and find out there certainly is More To Life.

WesternDevelopment.ie puts the needs of the user first and makes planning a move west easy. The site features unique local content and information on housing, childcare, education and more across the region.

Our Talent Tool will become a one stop shop for job seekers in the west across multiple sectors including remote roles. Were also developing a new image bank of industry specific shots to help agencies and stakeholders showcase the challenging careers on offer.

Find out why there is More to Life at www.westerndevelopment.ie and #MoreToLife
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 20)  The lack of tuberculosis services, which have taken a backseat due to the COVID-19 pandemic, would result in as many as 28,300 deaths in the country if left unresolved, the World Health Organization in the Philippines said Thursday.

The service interruption to TB could result in approximately 95,000 additional cases of TB and maybe up to 28,000 excess deaths over the next couple of years, WHO Country Representative Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe said in an online forum hosted by the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines.

He presented a slide with figures as high as 95,300 excess tuberculosis cases and 28,300 deaths.

The government has recorded 88,662 new and relapse TB cases from January to March this year. However, the Department of Health earlier noted a 20-percent decline from the 30,728 reported cases in February to 24,782 in March, when the government imposed the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine, marked by stay-at-home rules and suspension of public transportation.

Abeyasinghe called the dramatic drop worrying since it means people are not getting diagnosed and treated.

"We are hoping that we can have a rebound in the access of TB treatment over the next couple of months and if we can do that we may be able to prevent the increased mortality that may follow because of these difficulties in accessing treatment for TB," Abeyasinghe said.

The National Tuberculosis TB Control Program also saw a 50-percent reduction in the number of patients who started TB treatment in the country since March. Restrictions have been eased, but the entire country remains under varying degrees of community quarantine.

There was a setback of at least five to seven years in the fight against TB due to the COVID-19 pandemic, National Tuberculosis TB Control Program head Anna Marie Celina Garfin said, citing the results of another study.

WATCH: Tuberculosis amid COVID-19 pandemic

Tuberculosis, an infectious bacterial disease, is spread through the air once an infected patient coughs, sneezes, shouts, or spits. The Philippines is among the eight countries that account for two-thirds of all tuberculosis cases worldwide. It reported 372,000 cases in 2018, but experts say an estimated 219,000 may have gone undetected.

Each year some 26,000 people, or around 70 per day, succumb to the contagious disease.

Yung ating strategy ngayon (Our strategy now), we do screening and we will be doing active case finding. We will go to the communities or we will bring the services closer to the people, Garfin said.

She added that health professionals are now using chest x-rays for detection, since it was recently found that 90 percent of tuberculosis cases have x-ray findings.

While the country grapples with the novel coronavirus which has infected more than 178,000 people, the WHO stressed that "the challenge of TB is as important as the challenge of COVID."

The DOH has repeatedly called on the public to not be afraid of seeking medical treatment for other diseases, saying infection control and prevention measures are being observed in hospitals.
C3 CEO Rick Mancinelli The fact that we are now celebrating our 10th anniversary and still growing at an impressive rate is a testament to our amazing team, diverse portfolio of products and services, and relentless dedication to the success of our clients.

Cloud Computing Concepts, an award-winning provider of technology and communications services throughout North America, today announced that it has been named to Inc. Magazines 2020 list of the 5000 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.

It is truly an honor to be recognized by Inc. Magazine, commented Rick Mancinelli, CEO of C3. The fact that we are now celebrating our 10th anniversary and still growing at an impressive rate is a testament to our amazing team, diverse portfolio of products and services, and relentless dedication to the success of our clients.

Not only have the companies on the 2020 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but the list shows staggering growth compared with prior lists as well. The 2020 Inc. 5000 achieved an incredible three-year average growth of over 500 percent, and a median rate of 165 percent. The Inc. 5000s aggregate revenue was $209 billion in 2019, accounting for over 1 million jobs over the past three years.

The companies on this years Inc. 5000 come from nearly every realm of business, says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. From health and software to media and hospitality, the 2020 list proves that no matter the sector, incredible growth is based on the foundations of tenacity and opportunism.

About C3

C3 is an award-winning provider of technology and communications services to organizations throughout North America. The company currently owns and operates a geo-diverse VMware Cloud Verified infrastructure that provides secure, compliant, and high performance Infrastructure, Virtual Desktops, Backup, and Disaster recovery solutions. C3 also operates a state of the art Broadsoft powered Hosted PBX, UCaaS and CCaaS platform as well as a nationwide SD-WAN network based on industry leader VeloClouds technologies. C3 maintains an extensive list of wholesale carrier relationships for private, internet and wireless connectivity, and also has a broad portfolio of technology related authorizations and certifications. C3s expert team of certified network engineers design and implement complex solutions and its bilingual service center is available for support 247. Additional information about C3 is available online at http://www.c3cloud.com or by calling 561-939-4000.

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.
BUCHAREST, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Central European stocks tracked global markets lower on Thursday after Federal Reserve minutes highlighted doubts about the U.S. economic recovery, while the Romanian leu shrugged off rising fiscal risks. By 0845 GMT, Prague's bluechip index was 1.2% lower on the day and Warsaw's down 0.8%. "The morning starts in a risk-off mood after mixed impressions from FED meeting minutes," Komercni Banka fixed income trader Marek Lesko said in a daily note. In Romania, lawmakers rejected a government decree on Wednesday that would have raised child benefits by less than originally planned, piling pressure on the cabinet as it grapples with the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Even before the pandemic, Romania was struggling with a widening budget shortfall, eroded by years of political instability and fiscal largesse during a previous Social Democrat government. Three major credit rating agencies have Romania on their lowest investment grade with negative outlooks. The current centrist minority government is trying to lower already approved hikes in child benefits and state pensions via emergency decrees, but parliament could ultimately change course. The opposition Social Democrats have also filed a no confidence vote against the cabinet. The Romanian leu was flat against the euro at 4.8390 on Thursday. "So far, the leu has been reasonably unaffected by the political upheavals, but we urge caution," Commerzbank said. "The risk of a rating downgrade continues and the question is when the underlying risks will be more heavily reflected in the leu exchange rates." Elsewhere in the region, the Czech crown edged 0.1% lower against the euro, while the Polish zloty rose 0.2%. Hungarian markets are closed on Thursday and Friday for a national holiday. Polish industrial output rose 1.1% year-on-year in July, above forecast. The Polish government will announce an amended 2020 budget later on Thursday. Before the pandemic, Poland had planned to have its first balanced budget in three decades in 2020. CEE SNAPSHO AT MARKETS T 1100 CET CURRENC IES Latest Previou Daily Change s bid close change in 2020 Czech <EURCZK= 26.0770 26.0700 -0.03% -2.47% crown > Hungary <EURHUF= 351.050 348.410 -0.75% -5.67% forint > 0 0 Polish <EURPLN= 4.4010 4.4060 +0.11% -3.29% zloty > Romanian <EURRON= 4.8390 4.8425 +0.07% -1.05% leu > Croatian <EURHRK= 7.5300 7.5305 +0.01% -1.12% kuna > Serbian <EURRSD= 117.500 117.600 +0.09% +0.06% dinar > 0 0 Note: calculated from 1800 daily CET change Latest Previou Daily Change s close change in 2020 Prague 887.66 897.450 -1.09% -20.43% 0 Budapest 36043.5 36043.5 +0.00% -21.79% 6 6 Warsaw 1817.46 1833.22 -0.86% -15.47% Buchares 8691.35 8687.24 +0.05% -12.89% t Ljubljan <.SBITOP 860.21 861.69 -0.17% -7.09% a > Zagreb 1591.35 1593.75 -0.15% -21.12% Belgrade <.BELEX1 668.81 670.04 -0.18% -16.57% 5> Sofia 438.54 434.46 +0.94% -22.81% Yield Yield Spread Daily (bid) change vs Bund change in Czech spread Republic 2-year <CZ2YT=R 0.1250 -0.0170 +080bp -1bps R> s 5-year <CZ5YT=R 0.6330 -0.0810 +131bp -8bps R> s <CZ10YT= 0.9810 -0.0250 +146bp -2bps 10-year RR> s Poland 2-year <PL2YT=R 0.1660 -0.0230 +084bp -2bps R> s 5-year <PL5YT=R 0.7550 -0.0260 +143bp -2bps R> s <PL10YT= 1.3360 -0.0310 +182bp -2bps 10-year RR> s FORWARD 3x6 6x9 9x12 3M interba nk Czech 0.36 0.36 0.41 0.34 Rep <PRIBOR= > Hungary 0.77 0.80 0.87 0.61 Poland 0.22 0.23 0.25 0.23 Note: are for ask FRA prices quotes ********************************************* ***************** (Reporting by Luiza Ilie in Bucharest, Robert Muller in Prague and Alan Charlish in Warsaw; Editing by Mark Potter)
Anthem, Inc. ANTM recently collaborated with Quest Diagnostics DGX to bring about improved health outcomes for several consumers across the United States

Both the healthcare providers have started offering services jointly from Aug 1. The tie-up is primarily focused on consumers in California, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Anthem and Quest have collaborated to utilize a diverse range of tools and programs. The partnership is not only expected to reduce healthcare costs but also provide operational efficiencies and pricing transparencies.

By teaming up, both the healthcare providers intend to reach out to all the communities they serve with their innovative solutions.

Providing such services during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is certainly assuring for the companys clients. It also reinforces the companys commitment to offer improved care delivery for its members.

Anthem has also undertaken several measures to help members in the best possible way amid this pandemic. To this effect, the healthcare provider has been eliminating certain out-of-pocket costs required for treating clients who are suffering severely from the coronavirus and designing certain policies that can ensure efficient treatment of patients by providers.

It has repeatedly urged its members to increasingly adopt its telehealth services, which has poised Anthem well for growth. In fact, if there is an industry that is likely to have gained from the COVID-19 fallout, it is the telehealth industry. With observance of stringent social-distancing measures on account of the novel coronavirus, patients have been left with telehealth services as the only feasible option to seek medical help. This, in turn, enhances demand for telehealth market eventually.

Among other stocks in the medical space, Magellan Health, Inc. MGLN and Humana Inc. HUM have also developed telehealth services.

Story continues

Shares of Anthem, which carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), have gained 5.9% in a year compared with the industrys growth of 20.5%. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Other Initiatives Bode Well

The healthcare provider makes constant efforts to look after the interests of its stakeholders. Two months back, Anthem had launched an array of digital tools to provide convenient, reliable and aggregated information for stakeholders, which in turn, will help them in making informed decisions during such pandemic-ravaged times. The new C19 Explorer and C19 Navigator, which comprise data-driven dashboards and predictions, will aid public health officials and business leaders as they plan to reopen workplaces.

Anthem has been actively undertaking acquisitions and collaborations for enhancing its expansion process. The companys buyout of Beacon Health, which is the largest independently held behavioral health organization in the country, in March is likely to reinforce its position in the healthcare industry.

The companys Medical membership has been rising over the last several quarters on the back of its Medicare and Medicaid businesses. Anthems acquisitions of Missouri and Nebraska Medicaid plans of WellCare Health in January 2020 also added around 300000 Medicaid members under its coverage.

Lastly, Anthems top-line growth has also been impressive in the second half of 2020. The figure improved 18.3% year over year on the back of strong Medicaid and Medicare businesses.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 00:13:36|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Wednesday urged African governments to rapidly scale up surveillance, testing, contact tracing and care for people with COVID-19 amid rapid spread of the virus across the continent.

The Africa CDC, a specialized healthcare agency of the African Union (AU) Commission, made the urgent call in its latest Public Health and Social Measure Implementation in Africa report that was published on Wednesday, which analyzed major trends in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Africa during the past week.

According to the report, the number of new COVID-19 reported cases decreased by 23 percent during the past week when compared to the previous week, while new deaths increased by 10 percent in the same timeframe, consistent with the lag in mortality typically seen with COVID-19.

Amid the spread of the report across the continent, the Africa CDC also stressed that "governments should continue efforts to rapidly scale up surveillance, testing, contact tracing and care for people with COVID-19, collaborating with the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Partnership to Accelerate COVID-19 Testing (PACT) in Africa."

It also called on African governments to prevent stigmatization surrounding COVID-19 and encourage people to seek care, increase community engagement efforts.

"Much of the recent decline in new cases and increase in new deaths can be attributed to South Africa, where data indicates the epidemic may be peaking in provinces hit earliest by COVID-19," the report read.

The report also stressed that the number of tests performed per positive case has remained low, at around 6 tests per case, indicating cases are "likely going undetected."

Meanwhile, the report also noted that tests per case has remained stable or decreasing over the past month-indicating the decrease in new cases may be due to actual epidemiologic trends, not simply poor testing.

"Low tests per case ratios, which indicates poor testing capacity, signals that many cases are likely not being detected, such as Algeria, the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC), Egypt, Madagascar, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan," the report read, adding that reported decreases in new cases "should be interpreted with caution in many countries."

The report also noted that traditional media and social media users have continued to criticize governments for implementing public health and social measures through force in some countries, and others report of police brutality.

On Wednesday, the Africa CDC disclosed that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa surged to 1,136,246 as the death toll from the pandemic rose to 26,289.

The continental disease control and prevention agency also said the number of people who recovered from their COVID-19 infections is also increasing, as the number of recoveries reached 859,488 as of Wednesday.

South Africa currently has the most COVID-19 cases, which hit 592,144. The country also has the highest COVID-19 related deaths, with the death toll currently standing at 12,264, according to the Africa CDC.

Egypt came next with 96,753 COVID-19 cases and 5,184 COVID-19 related deaths followed by Nigeria which has so far recorded 49,895 COVID-19 cases and 981 deaths, it was noted.

The Southern Africa region is the most affected area in terms of confirmed cases, followed by Northern Africa and Western Africa regions, according to the Africa CDC. Enditem
Upcoming Telugu action-thriller V becomes the first mainstream star-studded Telugu film to head for direct-OTT release, it was announced on Thursday. The film will premiere on September 5 on Amazon Prime. Actor Nani took to Twitter to make the announcement via a note. V happens to be his 25th film and he will be seen playing the antagonist.

To my fans, well wishers and extended family here. These are not regular times and this is not going to be a regular experience. My 25th is special and now it is even more so for many reasons. Lets make it a memorable one. Lets celebrate V this September 5, he wrote.

These 12 years you came to the theatres for me and it is time I come home and say thank you! I will be as excited and nervous to hear from you all on the release day, he added.

Nani confirmed that his next film Tuck Jagadish will only be released in cinemas.

V, which has reunited Nani with filmmaker Indraganti Mohan Krishna for the third time, also stars Sudheer Babu, Nivetha Thomas and Aditi Rao Hydari in key roles.

The first glimpse of Nanis character in the film was released recently. When it was announced that Nani plays a negative role in the film, he took to twitter and wrote: He introduced me as a Hero in my 1st film. Today he is all set to introduce me again in my 25th film. But, this time its different. Your friendly neighborhood bad ass joins the party

Also read: Sushant Singh Rajput, Sara Ali Khan were in love during Kedarnath, she broke up with him post Sonchiriya failure: Samuel Haokip

Nani was last seen on screen in crime comedy Gang Leader. The film, directed by Vikram Kumar, saw him share screen space with actors Lakshmi, Saranya Ponvannan and Priyanka Arulmohan.

Nani was last shooting for Shiva Nirvanas Tuck Jagadish. Being produced by Sahu Garapati and Harish Peddi, the film also stars Aishwarya Rajesh and Ritu Varma as the leading ladies. The shoot of the project has been stalled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He also has a project titled Shyam Singha Roy in the pipeline. To be directed by Taxiwaala fame Rahul Sankrityan, the film will feature three heroines. Sai Pallavi has been confirmed as one of the leading ladies. The makers are yet to finalise the rest of the cast and crew.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop
Seoul: Kim Jong-un has acknowledged that North Korea's development goals have been "seriously delayed," in the latest sign that sanctions, flooding and the coronavirus have dealt a triple blow to the country's already anaemic economy.

Kim told the first gathering of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea's Central Committee in eight months that the country "faced unexpected and inevitable challenges in various aspects," the state-run Korean Central News Agency said on Thursday.

"Planned attainment of the goals for improving the national economy have been seriously delayed and the people's living standard has not been improved remarkably."

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, centre, attends an emergency Politburo meeting in Pyongyang last month. Credit:KCNA/AP

The statement was the latest in a series by Kim complaining about the pace of key policy goals, a striking admission for a state built on the infallibility of Kim family rule. In recent months, Kim has lashed out at cadres over what he saw as lax virus management and blasted the people responsible for constructing his showcase Pyongyang General Hospital, saying they were flouting party policies and being "careless" with spending.
An elected Waller County constable said he was racially profiled Tuesday when a 911 call, in which a driver contends the lawman brandished a gun in traffic, led to him being pulled over and handcuffed on the Beltway.

Waller County Pct. 3 Constable Herschel Smith, 60, who is Black, said the report was false and denies pulling a gun on a driver. He is not facing any charges.

The report of a gun prompted a high-risk traffic stop by the Harris County Pct. 5 Constables Office on the Beltway near the Memorial exit, according to Pct. 5 Constable Ted Heap. Smiths license plate and vehicle matched the description given by the caller, he said. The deputies drew their guns  which officials say is protocol for high-risk stops  and handcuffed the constable for one minute and 47 seconds before releasing him.

The Texas Rangers have been asked to continue the criminal investigation, Heap said.

At the time, Smith said he was in uniform driving an unmarked, county-owned Chevy Tahoe with Texas exempt license plates. In a press conference Wednesday, Smith said he believes the original caller made a false report because he is Black. Further, he said the deputies ignored his uniform and credentials when they handcuffed him.

I think they lack the training, Smith said of the Harris County deputies during the press conference. Had they just asked me for my ID  and my ID says who I am  had they just looked for my badge  we wouldnt be standing here today.

Smith, in his second term, also said the deputies actions reflect the culture of law enforcement.

The culture of doing wrong has always been with the police, he said. And it takes people who are in charge to hold people to a higher standard. But as long as we keep covering up, and conspiring to cover this up, we will never see change in America.

Heap held his own press conference Wednesday and rehashed the 911 call and a video of the traffic stop. He said the caller did not provide the mans race, so his deputies did not know the man was Black before the stop. He said the deputies actions were textbook and did not appear to violate any policies.

Its hard to racially profile somebody when you dont have any idea who youre pulling over, Heap said, adding, We handled this just as we would handle it with any other individual, and I have not seen anything so far from body cameras or any tapes that would be any concern on the way Precinct 5 handled this situation.

Heap said deputies spoke to the original caller after the incident, and he stood by his account. The man wanted to pursue charges against the constable, he said.

Heap on Wednesday called the Harris County District Attorneys Office, which advised him to turn the case over to the Texas Rangers.

The 911 caller and Smith provided different accounts of what happened.

According to Heap, the caller said the driver of an unmarked Chevy Tahoe flashed the vehicles emergency lights behind him on the Beltway around 6 p.m. Tuesday. The caller said he slowed down to pull over when the Tahoe pulled up next to him. The Tahoes window was rolled down as the driver yelled profanities, the caller said. The driver of the Tahoe then pointed a gun, according to the caller. The caller said he hit the brakes to avoid the weapon, and the Tahoe driver continued down the Beltway.

At the time, Smith said he was driving home from an extra security job. He said he flashed his red and blue emergency lights to prompt two speeding drivers to slow down on the Beltway. He never intended to pull either driver over, he said. He denies the callers claim that he pulled a gun and yelled profanities.

I went on about my business going home and thats when Precinct 5 got behind me, he said.

When Precinct 5 deputies spotted him on the Beltway, Heap said they could not verify that he was driving a law enforcement vehicle. He said the current owner was listed as Enterprise Holdings, and the previous owner was a car dealership. Also, he said the vehicle showed up in a suspicious vehicle report from June earlier this year.

Very seldom do you ever see an exempt plate on an unmarked car to be begin with, Heap said.

Smith said Enterprise is the agency from which Waller County leased the vehicle.

They had no reason to disrespect me like they did, Smith said.

julian.gill@chron.com
In this file photo, LEAP Academy University Charter School first graders (from left) Angelina Le, Angel Rivera, and Amir Reason-Dallas await ceremonies inducting them into a scholarship program. Read more

Camdens oldest charter school has dropped plans to reopen its classrooms on Monday and instead will start the school year virtually after teachers raised health and safety concerns.

The announcement by the LEAP Academy University Charter School came hours after teachers began a campaign urging the board to reconsider plans to offer parents a choice of in-person or online learning for about 1,500 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Half-day classes were going to be held five days a week.

Instead, all students will learn from home beginning Monday and until Oct. 4, the school said in a statement. After a reassessment, in-person classes could begin Oct. 5 for parents who choose that option.

 READ MORE: Gov. Murphy says N.J. schools will be permitted to start the year remotely for health, safety reasons

Stephanie Aspenburg, president of the LEAP Academy Teachers Association, said she was relieved by the decision. The union, representing about 45 teachers and support staff, flooded board members with emails Wednesday expressing concerns about HVAC systems not working in some buildings, and classrooms that still looked as they did when schools were abruptly shut down by the coronavirus in March.

Never have I felt so much anxiety about starting my first day of a new school year, wrote Aspenburg, a sixth grade English teacher. I have spent countless nights asleep wondering how I can ease the minds of the members I represent.

LEAP, which opened in September 1997, was among the first 17 charter schools in the state after then-Gov. Christine Todd Whitman signed legislation authorizing them. Today, it is one of the largest charter schools in New Jersey, with six campuses on Cooper Street in downtown Camden.

 READ MORE: Camden's first charter school, LEAP Academy, marks 20th year

About 40% of LEAPs parents had planned to send their children to school for in-person learning, according to the school. The remainder had opted for virtual learning.

About one-third of New Jerseys 87 charters plan to begin the 2020-21 school year with remote-only instruction, said Harry Lee, president of the New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association. About 55,000 students attend charters.

Across the state, at least 139 of New Jerseys traditional public school districts have said they will not be able to meet health and safety guidelines for in-person classes and want to start the year with virtual learning, said Michael Yaple, a state Department of Education spokesperson.

Yaple said that number could increase as nearly 600 operating school districts, charter, and Renaissance schools  and 140 private schools that enroll students with disabilities  finalize their plans. Most schools open Sept. 3.

Some districts, including Camden, scrapped plans to reopen with hybrid models of in-person and virtual learning after Gov. Phil Murphy announced last week that districts could switch to remote instruction only, as long as they can show why they cannot safely reopen for students.

Districts must resubmit their reopening plans to the state for approval to offer only virtual classes. They also must provide a timeline for restarting in-person instruction.

I think the numbers are going to continue to go up, said Steve Baker, a spokesperson for the New Jersey Education Association, which has urged the state to require remote instruction.

 READ MORE: Getting kids to school safely in a pandemic is one thing. Retaining bus drivers is another

The state last week also released new guidelines for how schools that reopen their buildings must operate and how to handle any COVID-19 cases .

Under the health rules, an entire school could be shut down if two or more people in different classrooms test positive for the virus. Anyone who came into close contact with an infected person would be required to quarantine for 14 days.
The presence of COVID-19 on U.S. fur farms is a serious animal welfare and public health concern. According to a press release issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Aug. 17, scientists confirmed the first case of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans) in mink at two fur farms in Utah. The conditions on fur farms are typically extremely unhygienic, with animals kept in cramped, dirty cages  optimal conditions for the spread of disease among animals and, potentially, to humans as well.

SARS-CoV-2 infections in mink have already been documented on numerous fur farms in Europe.

Angela Grimes, Born Free USA CEO, says, "Born Free USA is extremely concerned about the developing situation in Utah  a situation that was all too predictable given the conditions in these facilities. As we have seen in Europe, the disease spreads quickly across fur farms. If it is on two farms in Utah today, there is a good chance it could be on 10 next week, and moving into different states shortly after that."

In June, authorities in Denmark, the Netherlands, and Spain killed more than 1.5 million animals on fur farms, concerned that the animals could harbor the illness and spread it indefinitely. With the virus now present on fur farms in the U.S. it is possible that U.S. authorities might follow suit and turn to killing animals as a means of controlling the spread of the virus.

"The animals currently languishing in fur farms in the U.S. will be killed either so their skin can be used as a fashion accessory or, possibly, to prevent the spread of this outbreak," says Grimes. "In either case, thousands of innocent animals will pay with their lives and that is unacceptable. In the interests of animal welfare and public health and safety, fur farming must be outlawed. The U.S is now trailing behind other countries on this issue. The time to act is now."

As Born Free USA's 2009 fur farm report, Cruelty Uncaged, demonstrated, fur farms in the U.S. are significantly lacking in oversight and transparency. The oversight that is in place is governed by an inconsistent array of laws and regulations that vary from state to state. More than a decade on from the report's publication, Born Free USA has discovered that little has changed or improved on U.S. fur farms.

This lack of regulations makes relying on existing laws inadequate for addressing the developing COVID-19 situation. Instead, U.S. authorities should look to end the fur farming industry, an industry that has come under fire in recent years as awareness grows among members of the public about the cruel conditions in these facilities.

"To truly act in the best interests of the animals and of people," Grimes says, "fur farms should be shut down. The fur industry is a dying one, with more and more consumers making the compassionate choice to go fur-free. Now is the time to push for an end to this cruel industry once and for all."

About Born Free USA

Born Free USA works to ensure that all wild animals, whether living in captivity or in the wild, are treated with compassion and respect and are able to live their lives according to their needs. We oppose the exploitation of wild animals in captivity and campaign to keep them where they belong  in the wild. Born Free USA's Primate Sanctuary is the largest in the United States and provides a permanent home for more than 450 primates rehomed from laboratories or rescued from zoos and private ownership.

We're social: www.bornfreeusa.org , www.twitter.com/bornfreeusa , www.facebook.com/bornfreeusa , www.instagram.com/bornfreeusaorg .

MEDIA CONTACT:

Heather Ripley

Orange Orchard

(865) 977-1973

[email protected]

SOURCE Born Free USA

Related Links

http://www.bornfreeusa.org


The Showcase was downstairs, below the Happy Medium, and it was jammed practically every time I was there. During ballads, youd sometimes feel the relentless thump of disco music from the Happy Medium above, but mostly youd get lost in the thrill of bebop masters unleashing torrents of sound onstage. Once when I was sitting in the front row, I noticed that the ash on saxophonist Sonny Stitts cigarette had gotten so long it looked as if it might drop to the floor and instantly start a fire. Stitt apparently noticed the same thing a few beats before his next solo. He stared at my cold glass of beer, and I realized I needed to make the supreme sacrifice. So I stuck out the glass, Stitt tapped his cigarette atop it, and the ash landed safely in my Schlitz. It was an honor.
Two women were arrested for trying to extort money and jewellery from a showroom owner in Jind by impersonating income tax (IT) officials, police said on Friday.

The accused have been identified as Swati of Kaithal and Saveta Verma of Delhi.

A spokesman of Jind police said the duo had visited at the jewellers store on Wednesday evening, claiming to be from the IT department.

They accused the showroom owner of tax evasion and demanded money from him. Then they sought some jewellery from the owner. He got suspicious and informed the police. The women showed us fake identity cards, but we asked them to get their senior on phone. The man who posed as their senior corroborated their story, but we still had our doubts. We arrested them and they later confessed that they were not IT officials, the spokesman added.

The police have registered a case of robbery and cheating against the women and started an investigation, he said.
The Eastern Regional branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has pledged to cover all the constituencies in the region in the upcoming general elections.



Regional Secretary, Mr. Jeff Konadu explained that there are six orphan constituencies targeted by the party.



He told Peace News during a presentation of sixteen (16) motorbikes by former Energy Minister, Mr. Boakye Agyarko to the orphan constituencies.



The gesture according to Mr. Agyarko is to reinforce the orphan constituencies by giving them the needed support to help canvas voted for President Nana Addo and as well win many seats for the NPP in the region.



The leadership of the regional executives lauded the kind gesture from the former government appointee and noted the arrival of the motorbikes will help in their campaign.



They also call for a united front to help the NPP win the upcoming general elections

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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Ms. Faustina Amissah, District Chief Executive for Obuasi East, has praised candidates in the ongoing West Africa Senior High School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in the District for the high level of comportment so far, in the exams.



She said the students have so far exhibited a high sense of maturity and comported themselves well that there had been no incidence of examination malpractice in the area.



Ms. Amissah gave the commendation when she led a delegation to visit some of the examination centres in the District on Monday.



The centres included Christ the King Senior High, St. Margaret Senior High, Father Murphy Senior High and Artic Senior High Schools, where a total of 893 candidates were writing the examinations.



Mrs. Amissah said the visit was to witness the situation on the ground and encourage the candidates to write the exams confidently, so as to be able to pass well and continue their academic journey.



She commended authorities of the schools as well as the supervisors and invigilators for conducting themselves very well to ensure incident free exercise in the area.



Ms. Amissah also advised the candidates to learn hard and put out their best to complete the exams successfully.



Mrs Leticia Obeng, District Director of Education, urged the candidates to remain focused and study hard to achieve their goals.

Source: GNA









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Six Auburn University faculty members have been selected for the 2020-21 SEC Academic Leadership Development Program.

Duane Brandon , the Taylor Professor and director of the School of Accountancy in the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business

, the Taylor Professor and director of the School of Accountancy in the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business Paul Holley , professor in the McWhorter School of Building Science in the College of Architecture, Design and Construction and director of the Center for Construction, Innovation and Collaboration

, professor in the McWhorter School of Building Science in the College of Architecture, Design and Construction and director of the Center for Construction, Innovation and Collaboration Christopher Chris Lepczyk , professor of biology and wildlife conservation in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences

, professor of biology and wildlife conservation in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Mallory Lucier-Greer , associate professor in the Department of Human Development and Families Studies in the College of Human Sciences

, associate professor in the Department of Human Development and Families Studies in the College of Human Sciences Elizabeth Beth Hiltbold Schwartz , associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Sciences and Mathematics

, associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Sciences and Mathematics Bill Walton, professor in the School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences in the College of Agriculture and director of Auburns Shellfish Lab

The Auburn Family is very proud of these six outstanding faculty members and congratulate them on their accomplishments, said Bill Hardgrave, provost and vice president for academic affairs. Their dedication to achieving excellence in research and in the field enhances the university now and for future scholars and students.

The SEC Academic Leadership Development Program seeks to identify, prepare and advance academic leaders for roles within SEC institutions and beyond. It has three components: a university-level development program designed by each institution for its own participants; two SEC-wide three-day workshops held on specified campuses for all program participants; and a competitive fellowship designed to provide administrative growth opportunities for former fellows.

Duane Brandon

Duane Brandon joined Auburns faculty in 2003. His research focuses on auditor judgment, audit quality and auditor liability. His work has appeared in Contemporary Accounting Research, Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory, the Journal of Accounting & Public Policy and Behavioral Research in Accounting, among others. He has received multiple internal and external research grants, including a grant from the Center for Audit Quality, with Jennifer Mueller and James Long. With respect to teaching, Brandon has been recognized and honored for outstanding teaching in a number of ways, including receiving the Lowder Teaching Award in the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business, the McCartney Award twice, the Outstanding MAcc Teacher Award, the Outstanding Teaching Award in the School of Accountancy twice, and the Camp War Eagle Faculty Honoree twice. He earned a bachelors degree from Christopher Newport University and both a masters degree in accounting and a doctorate from Virginia Tech.

Paul Holley

Paul Holley is beginning his 19th year at Auburn, following 14 years in the commercial construction industry. His current research interests are prefabrication in the built environment and mitigating the contamination impact of washwater from concrete construction. Holleys wife, Jacque, also works at Auburn, in Development for the Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center. They have two children, a daughter who is a junior at the University of Alabama and a son at Auburn High School. Holley earned a bachelors degree in building construction from Auburn, an MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a doctorate in education from Auburn. He also received a Management Development Program certificate from Harvard University.

Chris Lepczyk

Chris Lepczyk is an ecologist and conservation biologist with a focus on collecting data to aid in management and policy decisions related to nature. His passion for conserving nature stems from a lifelong interest in the environment and many years spent outdoors. Lepczyk began his faculty career at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee as a visiting professor, after which he was an assistant and associate professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. In 2014, he moved to Auburn's School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences. Lepczyk originally hails from the Midwest, where he grew up in Michigan before attending school at Hope College, where he earned a bachelors degree in biology and geology. Later, he earned a masters degree in wildlife ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a dual doctorate in fisheries and wildlife, and ecology, evolutionary biology and behavior at Michigan State University.

Mallory Lucier-Greer

Mallory Lucier-Greer is an applied research scientist focused on the well-being of families, particularly military families, with a clinical background as a licensed marriage and family therapist. She currently teaches graduate and undergraduate courses on family stress and resilience and research methods. Her research has been funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force. Currently, she is the principal investigator of Military REACH, a DoD-USDA partnership grant that translates military family research into practical and accessible tools and resources for military policy makers and service providers, and she is the co-investigator for an Air Force project focused on evaluating their personal financial readiness program. Lucier-Greer is an award-winning educator and mentor with expertise facilitating student classroom and research engagement. She earned two bachelors degrees in psychology and speech communications from the University of Georgia, and both a masters degree and a doctorate in human development and family studies from Auburn.

Beth Hiltbold Schwartz

Beth Hiltbold Schwartz joined Auburns Department of Biological Sciences in 2012. She is an immunologist, and her research program is centered around the interactions between bacteria and host immune cells. Schwartzs work over the last 10 years has focused on the development and function of antigen presenting cells and how they respond to bacterial infection. More recently, her group has been focused on the contributions of microbiota to immune cell function in the gut and on the role of the immune response in sickness behavior. Schwartzs major role in teaching at Auburn has been in immunology coursesImmunology, Immunology Lab and Perspectives in Immunologythat primarily serve large numbers of undergraduates in the colleges popular biomedical sciences major. Her first experience with administration began in 2019, when she took on the role of Undergraduate Program Officer in her department. Schwartz earned her bachelors degree from Auburn and her doctorate from Emory University.

Bill Walton

Working along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico at Auburns Shellfish Lab in Dauphin Island, Alabama, Bill Walton conducts applied research with local shellfish farmers, commercial and recreational shellfishermen, and national and local organizations. Before moving to the Gulf, Walton did similar work along the coast of Massachusetts. His interests include all aspects of marine invertebrate fisheries, restoration and aquaculture. Walton earned a bachelors degree in biology from Tufts University, a masters degree in ecology from Rutgers University and a doctorate in fisheries science from the University of Maryland.
Two Los Angeles County sheriff's captains are accused in separate cases. (Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department)

Two Los Angeles County sheriff's captains are on administrative leave following allegations of sexual misconduct, officials and public safety sources said.

Capt. Marc Lucio, who serves on the Chino City Council, was accused in July of sexual assault involving a child, but prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence to file charges, according to the San Bernardino County district attorney's office.

Capt. Donald Rubio's case has been under review by prosecutors since January, the L.A. County district attorney's office said. Two public safety sources say he was accused of rape by intoxication. The sources requested anonymity to discuss the case candidly.

Neither captain responded to a request for comment.

It's unclear when each captain was placed on administrative leave. Both were recently promoted by Sheriff Alex Villanueva, with Lucio tapped in February to lead the Transit Services Bureau, which provides police services to Metro buses, trains and properties. Rubio headed the Community College Bureau.

The allegations against Lucio were leveled in July to the Chino Police Department, which referred the case to Ontario police to avoid a conflict of interest, a spokesman for the San Bernardino County district attorney's office said.

"Based on a lack of sufficient evidence, we are unable to proceed with filing criminal charges against Lucio at this time," the spokesman said.

In a statement, the Sheriff's Department said Lucio is on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal administrative investigation, and declined to comment further.

The allegations against Rubio stemmed from an off-duty incident with an ex-girlfriend in May of last year, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation. He was still a lieutenant at the time.

The Sheriff's Department said its Internal Criminal Investigations Bureau referred the case to the district attorney's office, which will determine whether to file charges. Rubio is on administrative leave pending that decision and the outcome of the administrative investigation, the department said.
STRATIS is uniquely-positioned to capture much of this growth by capitalizing and monetizing solutions in the multi-family sector. I have always enjoyed growing businesses by bringing financial and strategic insight and stewardship.

As STRATIS, PropTech industry leader continues to dominate at the cusp of exciting Multifamily IoT innovations, Liyan Shen joins as the Chief Financial Officer, with ten years of experience in financial leadership, focused on entrepreneurial, high-growth companies.

Shens deep expertise includes experience with startups and PE-backed portfolio companies. Her most recent experiences include launching an e-commerce startup with strong recurring revenues and growing an innovative educational organization. She joins the team at a pivotal time where her insight and guidance will be invaluable to scale the business to the next level.

Felicite Moorman, CEO and CoFounder of STRATIS, said, To say weve been trying to fill this role for some time would be an understatement. Our need to hire for the highest intellectual prowess and an understanding of and ability to deliver exceptionally nuanced financial strategies in a nascent market, proved a daunting task for our Leadership Team. Liyan brings all of these capabilities and so much more to STRATIS, including a tremendously strong add to our culture. I am simply thrilled.

Shen said, IoT software solutions are poised to grow rapidly as hardware integrations become cheaper and more widely available, which in turn makes real-time analytics possible and valuable for maximizing business efficiencies. STRATIS is uniquely-positioned to capture much of this growth by capitalizing and monetizing solutions in the multi-family sector. I have always enjoyed growing businesses by bringing financial and strategic insight and stewardship. I am super excited about the opportunity to drive our business forward with the existing team.

Shen joins the company on the heels of major recent milestones, including STRATIS making Inc. Magazines prestigious Inc. 5000 list for the 3rd year in a row. This recognizes the countrys fastest-growing private companies, and calculated STRATIS growth rate as 710.46%. Placing 3 times on the list confirms the companys position as the industry leader, and is an honor that only 1 in 8 companies that rank on this list claim.

Additional recent milestones include STRATIS deployment in 1 in 5 new developments in the U.S. in 2019. The company continues to take advantage of this momentum by forging strategic international partnerships with U.K. specialist Internet Service Provider ASK4, Japanese telecommunications operator KDDI, and launching STRATIS Sustain for intelligent building resource monitoring.

ABOUT STRATIS

STRATIS enables Smart Apartments and Intelligent Buildings. It is the only platform of its kind built for the complexities of Multifamily and Student Housing. STRATIS is an Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company in America and one of Entrepreneur Magazines Best Companies in America. For more information visit http://www.STRATISIoT.com
SHANGHAI and NANJING, China, Aug. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Junshi Biosciences (HKEX: 1877; SSE: 688180), a leading innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapies, and Impact Therapeutics, a privately held clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company devoted to the discovery and development of targeted anti-cancer therapeutics based on synthetic lethality, annouced today that they reached a strategic agreement to establish a joint venture focusing on the research and development and commercialization of PARP inhibitor, a small moleule anti-tumor agent.



Under the agreement, Junshi Biosciences will contribute at most RMB 300 million in cash, representing 50% of the registered capital of the JV company. Impact Therapeutics will contribute by way of injection of the IMP4297 asset in the collaboration territory (Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao), representing the other 50%. Both parties will work closely together to develop IMP4297 in the collaboration territory including conducting the clinical studies of multiple indications, manufacturing and commercialization preparation.

"Impact Therapeutics is a leader among domestic targeted anti-tumor drug discovery companies. We are excited to have the opportunity to partner with Impact to bring domestic innovation to benefit patients in China and beyond. Data showed that Senaparib (IMP427) has superior safety and has the potential to be the best-in-class, which means that IMP427 has great potential as a monotherapy as well as in combination with other agents," said Ning Li, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Junshi Biosciences.

Dr. Jun Bao, CEO of Impact Therapeutics, stated that, "Junshi Biosciences is an emerging innovative pharmaceutical company who has achieved a great deal in anti-cancer therapeutics. We are delighted to establish the collaboration partnership with Junshi. We believe both Impact and Junshi will take advantages of each team's strength to expedite the clinical development of IMP4297 and explore additional indications to bring more benefit to the patients."

About Senaparib (IMP4297)

Senaparib (IMP4297) is a novel agent targeting PARP (poly-ADP ribose polymerase) developed by Impact. The company is finishing two Phase I studies of senaparib in China and Australia, respectively. The preliminary Phase I data was first presented in ASCO 2019. The updated results of two Ph1 studies will be presented at upcoming world-class clinical conference. So far, over 100 patients with advanced solid tumors were treated with senaparib. Initial clinical results showed that comparing to other PARP inhibitors currently on the market and in clinical trials, senaparib has a wider therapeutic window and a better safety profile. This potentially makes senaparib more suitable for patients taking the drug chronically such as in maintenance therapy. It could also make combination therapies with other anti-cancer agents more tolerable for patients. Therefore, senaparib has the potential to be the best-in-class PARP inhibitor. In China, Impact is conducting a phase II pivotal study of senaparib monotherapy in treating advanced ovarian cancer patients with BRCA mutation who have received at least 2 prior lines of standard treatment (Study SABRINA)and a Phase III study of senaparib as the first-line maintenance treatment in platinum-sensitive advanced ovarian cancer patients (Study FLAMES). Outside China, the Company is also conducting a Ph1/2 study of senaprib in combination with temozolomide in treating advanced small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients who have received at least 1 line of standard treatment.

About Junshi Biosciences

Junshi Biosciences (HKEX: 1877; SSE: 688180) was co-established in December 2012 by alumni of famous universities of China and the United States. The founding team has extensive and solid experience in the cross-border transformation of scientific and technological achievements and substantial expertise in the pharmaceutical industry.

Our priority is researching and developing therapeutic antibodies. We are committed to researching, developing, and industrializing innovative monoclonal antibody drugs and other therapeutic protein drugs. The company has established a diversified R & D pipeline comprising 19 innovative candidate drugs and 2 biosimilars, with five therapeutic focus areas covering cancer, autoimmune diseases, metabolic diseases, neurologic diseases, and infectious diseases. Junshi Biosciences was the first Chinese pharmaceutical company that obtained marketing approval for PD-1 monoclonal antibody and clinical trial approval for anti PCSK9 monoclonal antibody from NMPA. The world's first in human anti-BTLA antibody for solid tumors was officially approved for drug clinical trials by the FDA and NMPA. From this year onwards, Junshi Biosciences pooled its efforts with Chinese science institutions to co-develop JS016, China's first neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies against SARS-Cov-2, that has entered clinical trial, part of our continuous innovation for disease control and prevention in China and beyond. We have about 2,000 employees in San Francisco and across Maryland in the United States, as well as Shanghai, Suzhou, Beijing, and Guangzhou, China. For more information, please visit: http://junshipharma.com .

About Impact Therapeutics

Impact Therapeutics is a privately held clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. The Company dedicates to the discovery and development of targeted anti-cancer therapeutics based on synthetic lethality. Impact has assembled the most comprehensive DNA damage response (DDR) global pipeline of novel drug candidates generated by in-house discovery platform and is expanding to other novel synthetic lethality targets to broaden its pipeline. Since inception, Impact has been funded by well-recognized venture capital firms including Lilly Asia Ventures.

Contact Information

IR Team:

Junshi Biosciences

info@junshipharma.com

+ 86 021-2250 0300

Impact Therapeutics

info@impacttherapeutics.com

+86 021-6841 1121

Solebury Trout

Bob Ai

bai@soleburytrout.com

+ 1 646.378.2926

PR Team:

Junshi Biosciences

Zhi Li

zhi_li@junshipharma.com

+ 86 021-6105 8800

Impact Therapeutics

Yi Xu

xuyi@impacttherapeutics.com

+86 021-6841 1121




"Show us Blacks the justice in this white democracy, when you can execute us without a trial while we're held in custody."

They could be words painted on a Black Lives Matter placard, but these are the lyrics from a track on Kev Carmody's debut record, Pillars of Society, released in 1988 and widely considered one of the greatest protest albums of all time.

A collection of Kev Carmody's songs have been reworked for the rerelease of his 2007 tribute album, Cannot Buy My Soul. Credit:Janie Barrett

So many of Carmody's songs, taking aim at environmental vandalism, Indigenous dispossession and police brutality, could easily apply to the current political climate, and a handful of Australian performers are channelling that with Friday's rerelease of Carmody's tribute album, Cannot Buy My Soul.

"It's a little bit disconcerting that stuff I wrote over 40 years ago is still relevant," says the acclaimed singer/songwriter. "But the young ones are picking it up and reinterpreting it in their own way, and it's fantastic to see that because it becomes our music. It's like a musical family then and we're all contributing."
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 20 : The CPM-led government in Kerala, which is in the dock over the sensational gold smuggling case and the Life Mission housing project, continued its criticism of M. Sivasankar, the former principal secretary to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Already two state ministers -- Kadakampally Surendran and G. Sudhakaran -- have targeted Sivasankar and on Thursday it was the turn of state Law Minister A.K. Balan.

"We were not able to deal with Sivasankar properly and we realised that very late. There are a few like him here. We do not know if the Congress-led UDF had dealt with him, as he during their tenure was engaged in a huge loss-making power purchase agreement," said Balan.

Vijayan's pet project 'Life Mission' is a scheme to build homes for the homeless and landless and he has always praised his government's initiative, but it has come under a cloud similar to the gold smuggling racket.

The prime accused in the gold smuggling case - Swapna Suresh - was also involved in this project as she is alleged to have received a huge commission for ensuring the participation of the UAE-based Red Crescent group and had routed it through the UAE consulate in Kerala, where she was a former employee.

Vijayan lost his cool a number of times when this question was posed to him by the media as more and more revelations have come out including the manner in which Swapna Suresh got a huge sum as commission.

The Congress and BJP have been demanding Vijayan's resignation alleging this was a fraudulent deal done with the knowledge of top officials.

Vijayan, who is presently under self-isolation, has now asked for all the files pertaining to the Life Mission project to be brought to his official residence.

In a related development, the NIA will be asking the CEO of Life Mission - a senior IAS official - to appear before it.

The Rs 20 crore Life Mission project is coming up in Thrissur district and local Congress legislator Anil Akara on Thursday accused Vijayan of "telling lies" about this project right from day one.

"Right from day one when this controversy surfaced, Vijayan has been telling lies and now all his lies have fallen flat. More and more things will again come out on the way the government has handled this project," said Akara.

The gold smuggling racket was unearthed when P.S. Sarith, a former employee of the UAE consulate here, was arrested by the Customs Department on July 5 when he was facilitating smuggling of 30 kg gold in diplomatic baggage to Thiruvananthapuram from Dubai.

The case turned murkier as Swapna Suresh's links with Sivasankar surfaced. IAS officer Sivasankar was subsequently removed from both his posts and then suspended by Vijayan.
French President Emmanuel Macron says France is ready to offer hospitalised Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny all necessary assistance after a suspected poisoning.

Macron told reporters Thursday, We are extremely worried and saddened by what happened to Navalny, and that France offered the opposition leader and his family help with medical care or other unspecified protection. Macron insisted on the need to clarify what happened.

Navalny's allies believe his sickness is linked to his political activity. The 44-year-old critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin has faced multiple legal problems, and had supported opposition candidates in upcoming regional elections.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel. speaking at a joint news conference with Macron, said Germany also will insist on transparency regarding Navalny's illness and expressed support for him.

Obviously Germany will let him have all the medical help that is needed also in German hospitals, Merkel said. But that must of course be a wish expressed from there. What is also very important is that it will be clarified very urgently how it could come to the situation, Merkel 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.)
Brendan J. Lyons Times Union, Albany, N.Y. (TNS)

Albany, N.Y.  The union representing New York state troopers filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging the legality of New York City codes that criminalize certain restraint techniques used by State Police and other law enforcement agencies.

The civil complaint, filed in state Supreme Court in New York City, alleges the city's new codes limiting the type of force officers or correction officers can use to restrain a person conflict with state laws that give police the authority to "use physical force when and to the extent he or she reasonably believes such to be necessary" to make an arrest, prevent an escape, or employ in self-defense or to defend a third person. The unions representing state correction officers, park police, university police and environmental conservation officers are also petitioners in the case.

The lawsuit contends the city's codes conflict with state Executive Law, among others, and that applying the rules to state troopers operating under the authority of the superintendent "is inconsistent with their statewide authority, contravenes the legislative purpose for the creation of a State Police force and is incompatible with state troopers' training and statewide arrest and apprehension authority."

The unions for state troopers and investigators raised concerns last month when New York City adopted the codes, saying the bans on certain restraint techniques conflict with their training and would expose troopers and other law enforcement officers who patrol New York City to prosecution for a misdemeanor crime.

Troopers PBA President Thomas H. Mungeer characterized the adoption of the New York City codes as an "ill-conceived, knee-jerk reaction by lawmakers (that) has left our members vulnerable to criminal and civil liabilities for doing they job they were trained to do."

It is inconceivable to us that a trooper can initiate a traffic stop on the border of New York City, and if a violent confrontation arises, the arrest technique will vary depending on whether it ensues at the front bumper or the back bumper of the patrol car, Mungeer said

The changes adopted by the New York City Council and Mayor Bill de Blasio were intended to largely influence physical confrontations between civilians and the New York Police Department. They codes make it a misdemeanor crime for a police officer to use any neck restraints or to put their knees on the back or stomach of a person.

State Police leaders issued a directive to the agency's members last month cautioning them about the city's ordinances.

Ronald Pierone, vice president of the union representing State Police investigators, told the Times Union last month the codes would conflict with years of training and create more dangerous situations if a person who is combative cannot be restrained and their behavior escalates to the point the trooper may need to use a Taser, baton, pepper spray or even deadly force if their life becomes endangered.

You have guys down there that have made hundreds of arrests and some of the arrests go simple, no issues, Pierone said. Its going to be a difficult process to tell yourself, Well, Im in one of the five boroughs of New York City and I cant do that now.

The roughly five restraints banned by New York City  including sitting, standing or kneeling on a person's back or chest  are considered a proper restraint by other police agencies across the state and authorized under state law. Police consider the methods "non-violent restraining techniques" that they said safely subdue people who are combative with the least amount of force.

The codes directed at the NYPD were adopted following a series of highly publicized cases in which people have died during physical encounters with police, including some who succumbed after being placed in chokeholds. Still, police officials said many of those cases involved officers who may have used improper techniques and that New York police agencies already ban the use of chokeholds.

New York City and many other municipalities across the country began changing or debating police use of force techniques in the wake of protests that followed the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. He died after a police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes as Floyd was handcuffed and complaining that he could not breathe. Many police use-of-force experts have said that officer, who has been charged with murder, was using force that was unjustified and is not part of their training.

Mungeer had previously issued a statement demanding that state troopers be removed from New York City "and cease any law enforcement activities within that jurisdiction." But there is no indication that troopers will be removed from New York City, where many patrol airports, bridges and tunnels.

State Police officials are arranging for troopers and investigators assigned to New York City to receive additional training on the restraint laws, a spokesman said.
Some 240 million years ago, a dolphin-like ichthyosaur ripped to pieces and swallowed another marine reptile only a little smaller than itself. Then it almost immediately died and was fossilized, preserving the first evidence of megapredation, or a large animal preying on another large animal. The fossil, discovered in 2010 in southwestern China, is described in a paper published Aug. 20 in the journal iScience.

The ichthyosaurs were a group of marine reptiles that appeared in the oceans after the Permian mass extinction, about 250 million years ago. They had fish-like bodies similar to modern tuna, but breathed air like dolphins and whales. Like modern orca or great white sharks, they may have been apex predators of their ecosystems, but until recently there has been little direct evidence of this.

When a specimen of the ichthyosaur Guizhouichthyosaurus was discovered in Guizhou province, China in 2010, researchers noticed a large bulge of other bones within the animal's abdomen. On examination, they identified the smaller bones as belonging to another marine reptile, Xinpusaurus xingyiensis, which belonged to a group called thalattosaurs. Xinpusaurus was more lizard-like in appearance than an ichthyosaur, with four paddling limbs.

"We have never found articulated remains of a large reptile in the stomach of gigantic predators from the age of dinosaurs, such as marine reptiles and dinosaurs," said Ryosuke Motani, professor of earth and planetary sciences at the University of California, Davis, and coauthor on the paper. "We always guessed from tooth shape and jaw design that these predators must have fed on large prey but now we have direct evidence that they did."

The Guizhouichthyosaurus was almost five meters (15 feet) long, while the researchers calculate its prey was about four meters (12 feet) long, although thalattosaurs had skinnier bodies than ichythyosaurs. The predator's last meal appears to be the middle section of the thalattosaur, from its front to back limbs. Interestingly, a fossil of what appears to be the tail section of the animal was found nearby.

Predators that feed on large animals are often assumed to have large teeth adapted for slicing up prey. Guizhouichthyosaurus had relatively small, peg-like teeth, which were thought to be adapted for grasping soft prey such as the squid-like animals abundant in the oceans at the time. However, it's clear that you don't need slicing teeth to be a megapredator, Motani said. Guizhouichthyosaurus probably used its teeth to grip the prey, perhaps breaking the spine with the force of its bite, then ripped or tore the prey apart. Modern apex predators such as orca, leopard seals and crocodiles use a similar strategy.

###

Coauthors on the study are: Da-Yong Jiang, Min Zhou, Xue Wang and Hao Lu, Peking University, China; Andrea Tintori, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Italy; Olivier Rieppel, The Field Museum, Chicago; Cheng Ji, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, China; and Zhi-Guang Li, The Geoscience Museum, Hebei GEO University, China. Funding was provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the National Geographic Society.
Wyomings State Loan and Investment Board awarded Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County nearly $4.5 million in Coronavirus Relief Grants.

The board met Thursday, Aug. 6 to discuss and award grant applications.

CEO Irene Richardson said the hospital is thankful for the additional grant funding.

Our No. 1 goal has always been to keep our patients, staff and community safe. This grant funding will help us tremendously in enhancing our efforts to help manage COVID-19, she said. We are truly grateful to Gov. Mark Gordon, his team, the Wyoming Office of State Lands and Investments,...
PM Khan: Pakistan can't recognize Israel until Palestine gets its rights, state

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 19 August 2020 9:29 AM

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan says his country will never recognize Israel until the issue of Palestine is resolved days after the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reached a normalization deal with Israel.

In an interview with the private Dunya News television network on Tuesday, Khan said Islamabad will not follow suit in recognizing Israel, in a reference to Abu Dhabi, which has reached a highly controversial deal with Tel Aviv to establish full diplomatic ties.

"Our stance is very clear from day one and Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had said Pakistan can never accept Israel until the people of Palestine get rights and state," Khan said.

The Pakistani prime minister further noted that recognition of Israel equals to abandoning Pakistan's stance on the Muslim-majority Kashmir region.

"The case of Palestinians is similar to people of Kashmir and their [Palestinians] rights have been snatched and they have been suffering from Israeli atrocities. Both issues have a similar background," Khan pointed out.

The Himalayan region of Kashmir has been split between India and Pakistan since their partition in 1947. The countries have fought three wars over the territory.

The Indian-administered part of the region, known as Jammu and Kashmir, enjoyed autonomy until August 2019, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government revoked that status.

On 13 August, US President Donald Trump announced the peace deal between the UAE and Israel brokered by Washington.

The UAE claims the deal  which the Palestinians have rejected as backstabbing  was designed to stave off Tel Aviv's planned annexation of the occupied West Bank.

Supporters of the Palestinian cause, however, reject that claim, saying normalization attempts have been in the offing for a long time.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also reaffirmed that the regime's annexation has been delayed but is not off the table.

Anger is boiling in the Middle East and the entire Muslim world over the agreement.

In Pakistan, tens of thousands of people joined protests organized by political and religious activists in various cities on the weekend to condemn the UAE.

The protesters voiced strong support for Palestine and the liberation of Jerusalem al-Quds, stressing that compromise with the occupiers is a great betrayal of Palestine and the entire Islamic world.

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Bangladesh: Needs free trade agreement with the UK

August 20,2020 | Source: The Daily Star

Bangladesh needs to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the UK if it hopes to increase bilateral trade and private sector investment between the two countries, according to various local businessmen.



The UK is Bangladesh's third-largest export destination with last year's shipments amounting to nearly $3.5 billion, of which garment items accounted for more than 93 per cent. In fiscal 2018-19, Bangladeshi exports to the UK totalled $4.8 billion. However, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has disrupted trade between the two countries. Aside from being a major export destination, the UK acts as a hub for Bangladeshi shipments to other parts of Europe. Besides, the UK provides a considerable about of foreign direct investment (FDI) for Bangladesh as more than 200 British companies currently have $2.5 billion invested in the country.



It is for these reasons and the significant historical relationship between the two nations that the UK is an integral part of Bangladesh's global trade. More than seven lakh Bangladeshis now reside in the UK for education or business-related purposes if not as naturalised citizens. Subsequently, a large number of citizens of Bangladeshi origin are involved in important business and political procedures in the UK and so, the island nation has turned into a very important trade partner for Bangladesh.



Since the Bangladeshi population in the UK is quite considerable, the demand for local food items like rice, fruits and fish has risen there. And so, the time has come to sign an FTA with the UK so that Bangladesh can take full advantage of any potential business deals when Britain exits the EU trade bloc at the end of the year. Although the British government has already assured that Bangladesh will continue to enjoy zero-duty benefits even after Brexit due to its status as a least-developed country, local businessmen want the two nations to sign an FTA to secure future benefits.



"We have to diversify our exports to the UK. Pran has been active in the UK and other foreign markets for many years now," said Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, chairman and chief executive officer of Pran-RFL. The demand in the UK for his company's products such as bread, biscuits and other locally produced food items is on the rise due to the massive ethnic diversity present there. Moreover, Bangladesh is the highest bicycle supplier to the UK, he said, adding that Pran-RFL exports 40,000 units to the UK every month.



"Therefore, we need signing an FTA with this vital market," he said at a virtual discussion on 'exploring trade and FDI opportunities with the UK', organised by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI). Faraaz A Rahim, executive director of Rahimafrooz Storage Power Business, relayed his company's success story of exporting batteries to the UK. "We have enough scope to widen our exports to the UK. Apart from apparel items, my company's success in exporting batteries is an example. So, we need to form a strategic partnership with the UK soon."



Besides, creating a platform for battery manufacturers and trading partners of Bangladesh and the UK is essential to increasing outgoing battery shipments. As it stands, the global market for batteries is currently worth more than $59 billion, which leaves plenty of room for Bangladesh to grab a greater share, Rahim added. Very few local companies export pharmaceutical goods to the UK even though the demand for cheap medication is very high there, said Abdul Muktadir, chairman and managing director of Incepta Pharmaceuticals. Similar to other products, the UK could act as a bridge for Bangladeshi pharmaceuticals to reach other European countries as the country's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is well recognised in the region.



If Bangladesh's pharmaceuticals companies are registered with the MHRA, it will take Bangladesh's drug manufacturing sector to new heights. After Incepta was registered with the MHRA, buyers in the UK paid $11 per pack for the same medicine that buyers from the UAE offered $3 for, Muktadir said. Most of the generic medicines available in the UK is produced in India. Therefore, Bangladesh could also benefit from the UK market if it builds a strong relationship with the country, he added.



Apart from apparel products, Bangladesh could export a lot of other items like jute goods, pharmaceuticals and footwear to the UK, said Hossain Khaled, managing director of the Anwar Group of Industries. The UK's imports amounted to $692 billion in fiscal 2019-20 and so, as a leading export nation, Bangladesh can grab a greater share of this market. Khaled also urged British entrepreneurs to invest in Bangladesh's automotive industry while adding that the country needs to improve its ranking on the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Index. In fiscal 2019-20, 13 per cent the country's total software exports were destined for the UK, said Syed Almas Kabir, president of the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS).



While third in terms of overall export, the UK is the second-largest export destination for locally developed software. But still, Bangladesh can export 10 times more than the existing trend to the UK.



Kabir also asked the government to provide British investors with the scope to establish industrial robotic software companies at the high-tech parks in Bangladesh. Asif Ibrahim, a director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, urged British investors to relocate their businesses to Bangladesh and establish more man-made fibre textile factories.



Investors from the UK could invest in Fintech, a listed financial services company of Bangladesh, he added. Seeing as Bangladesh enjoys duty-free benefits with China, British investors could take advantage by setting up their factories here, said Abul Kasem Khan, chairman of the Business Initiative Leading Development. This is why signing an FTA is very important for Bangladesh, he added.



Bangladesh needs to find out whether signing an FTA is indeed crucial at this juncture as the country already enjoys preferential duty privileges with several developing and developed countries due to its classification as a least developed country, said Sharifa Khan, additional secretary (FTA) to the commerce ministry. Besides, these facilities will continue until 2027, the final year of Bangladesh's graduation to a developing country. The UK government also previously announced that tariffs would be cut substantially next year.



The existing import tariffs will come down from a maximum of 20 to 10 per cent to 5 or 2 per cent depending on the product's nature. "So, we need to take advantage of this change," Khan said. The country has tremendous potential to do business with the UK, said Robert Chatterton Dickson, the British high commissioner to Bangladesh. However, there is a wider issue at hand: Bangladesh's need to improve its ease of doing business ranking, he added.



In 2018, FDI from the UK to Bangladesh stood at $370 million, which is 10 per cent of the amount that flew in that year, said Selim Raihan, executive director of South Asian Network on Economic Modelling, while presenting a keynote paper. Although FDI from the UK to Asia totalled 186.46 billion in 2018, Bangladesh's share of that amount was just 0.37 per cent, Raihan said. Some of the obstacles for the country to attracting FDIs from the UK are its narrow export basket, inadequate policies and strategies, weak collective action from non-garment sectors, weak enforcement of intellectual property rights, high cost of doing business and slow implementation of infrastructural projects.



The chambers of commerce in Britain are not aware of Bangladesh's potential as a supplier, said Saida Muna Tasneem, Bangladesh's high commissioner to the UK. She went on to call for the establishment of strong trade and investment-related relationship with the UK to address the issue as Bangladesh has the opportunity to export light engineering products and other value-added garment items to the market.



The UK is the second-largest foreign investor in Bangladesh, registering accumulated an FDI stock of about $2.45 billion as of March, said DCCI President Shams Mahmud, who moderated the discussion. He also asked the concerned agencies of both the countries to undertake the necessary steps and dialogues to sign an FTA with a focus on comprehensive economic integration. Md. Shahriar Alam, the state minister for Foreign Affairs, said that his government will soon form a Bangladesh UK (BG UK) Commission for holding a day-long business dialogue every year in a bid to boost trade and investment between the two countries.
Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc steers his car during the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona on August 14, 2020 ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix.( photo: Bryn Lennon / POOL / AFP )

"The FIA (F1's governing body) and Formula 1 can today confirm that all 10 teams have agreed to the new Concorde Agreement," a statement confirmed.

"The agreement will secure the long-term sustainable future for Formula 1," it noted, and will help usher in the top item in any F1 fans' wishlist - better action on the track.

"All our fans want to see closer racing, wheel to wheel action and every team having a chance to get on the podium," said F1 boss Chase Carey.

"The new Concorde agreement, in conjunction with the regulations for 2022, will put in place the foundations to make this a reality and create an environment that is both financially fairer and closes the gaps between teams on the race track."

The first team to publically declare they had committed to Concorde was McLaren who in a tweet suggested: "This is the right deal at the right time for the sport, its owners, its teams and, most of all, the fans."

Another famous F1 outfit Williams are pinning their hopes on the deal to help revive their fortunes.

"The Agreement is a major milestone in the development of Formula One, and also represents a significant opportunity for Williams to continue on our journey back towards the front of the grid," said deputy team principal Claire Williams.

Ferrari, the only team to have contested every season since F1's launch in 1950, said the result of the grid's rare show of unity would be "stability and growth" for the sport.

FIA president Jean Todt said that in a time of "unprecedented global challenges" from the coronavirus pandemic he was proud of how the sport's stakeholders had worked together.

- Mercedes u-turn -

Wednesday's announcement did not look remotely close earlier this month when world champions Mercedes said they weren't prepared to sign.

It got the green light only after the German constructor executed a u-turn, announcing they were on board after changing their minds at last weekend's Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.

Team chief Toto Wolff explained they had accepted that it was impossible for the teams to be united  and so a pragmatic and singular approach would be best.

"Everybody tries to achieve some little deals outside. There's a blame culture in the media so we've decided to move forward with Liberty," Wolff said.

Eventual concord and the sport's safe return under strict COVID-19 health protocols were testament to the whole sport, the F1 statement acknowledged.

"Closer racing will attract more fans to the sport, benefitting every team, and continuing to increase the global growth of Formula 1," it added.

Carey said sealing the deal set the scene to "work together to ensure F1 is even more spectacular and attractive for the hundreds of millions of fans from around the world who love this sport."

The agreement is named after the Place de la Concorde in Paris where the first deal between the teams, the sport and its ruling body was completed in 1981.
A federal judge on Thursday rejected President Trumps latest effort to block the Manhattan district attorney from obtaining his tax returns, roundly dismissing Mr. Trumps arguments that the prosecutors grand jury subpoena was wildly overbroad and issued in bad faith.

The ruling by Judge Victor Marrero of Federal District Court in Manhattan marked another setback for the president in his yearlong fight to block the subpoena.

The conflict has already reached the Supreme Court once and could end up there again as Mr. Trumps lawyers quickly filed papers saying he would appeal. The legal wrangling means an ultimate decision is unlikely before the November presidential election.

The district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., a Democrat, has been seeking eight years of Mr. Trumps personal and business returns and other financial records as part of an investigation into the presidents business practices.
Burma Monk Granted Bail in Myanmar Military Lawsuit

U Sein Ti Ta talks to the media after his hearing on Thursday. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy

Mandalay  A Buddhist monk facing a lawsuit filed by a military officer in Mandalay was granted bail on Thursday as the court in Pyigyitagon Township begin the hearing.

Lieutenant Colonel Thant Zaw Oo filed an additional lawsuit against Sayadaw U Sein Ti Ta under Article 500 of the Penal Code for allegedly defaming the military in Facebook posts on March 18, 2019.

The courts spokeswoman, Daw Kyipyar Sint, told journalists that bail of 3 million kyats (US$2,200) for the new lawsuit was granted to U Sein Ti Ta.

On Thursday, the court heard testimony from the plaintiffs witness.

The monk has also been facing a lawsuit under Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Act since September 2019.

At the next court hearing on Sept. 9, both of the lawsuits will be heard.

In May 2019, Lt-Col Thant Zaw Oo tried to file a lawsuit under Article 505(b) of the Penal Code against U Sein Ti Ta.

However, the Pyigyitagon Township court dropped the charges in July 2019, saying it was an inappropriate lawsuit. The officer then filed the Telecommunications Law lawsuit in September 2019 and an additional lawsuit under Article 500 at the same court.

U Sein Ti Ta posted on Facebook that military leaders were using force for their benefit and failing to provide security for the country, undermining the dignity of the military.

What Im talking about and writing is for the benefit of the country and the rule of law. I have no intention to defame the military. I want the military leaders to understand this. The [military-controlled] Ministry of Home Affairs has responsibility for these lawsuits. I dont want to talk about these lawsuits which are happening under a democratically elected government, U Sein Ti Ta told journalists after the court session.

U Sein Ti Ta was one of the leaders of the so-called saffron revolution in Pakokku Township, Magwe Region, where thousands of monks marched on Yangon, Mandalay and other big cities in September 2007.

He was arrested after helping the victims of Cyclone Nargis in 2008 and released with a presidential pardon in 2011.

Being a strong supporter of State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy, U Sein Ti Ta used to criticize the military-controlled government and the armed forces.

The military has repeatedly used Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Act to sue its critics. Most of those on trial also face additional lawsuits under Articles 505(a), 505(b) or 500 of the Penal Code.

Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Act carries a threat of three years in prison while Article 500 of the Penal Code carries up to two years in prison.

In Mandalay, two other monks are also facing the same lawsuits at different courts filed by military officers over Facebook posts criticizing the armed forces.

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Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. offered reassurances that its presence in the US is benign, in a bid to remove itself from the cross hairs of President Donald Trump.

As the worlds largest e-commerce platform, Alibabas primary commercial focus in the US is to support American brands, retailers, small businesses and farmers to sell to consumers and trade partners in China as well as other key markets around the world, Chief Executive Officer Daniel Zhang said on an earnings call.

We believe global trade will continue, and Alibabas active pursuit of our mission to make it easy to do business anywhere is fully aligned with the interests of both China and the US, he said.

Earlier this month, the US president signed two executive orders targeting Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok and messaging app WeChat. Trump later said he was considering taking action against other Chinese companies.

Washingtons Clean Network program announced by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also urged US companies to cut ties with Chinese firms, including cloud providers such as Alibaba, Tencent Holdings Ltd. and Baidu Inc., for sensitive American data.

But this week, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross told Fox Business News that no formal proceedings are underway against Alibaba at this time.

Zhang said the company is closely monitoring the latest shift in US policies toward Chinese companies, which he described as being in a very fluid situation.

We are assessing the situation and any potential impact carefully and thoroughly, and will take necessary actions to comply with any new regulations, Zhang said.
Priya has extensively worked for over two decades with the Dutt family-run Cancer foundation

Earlier this week, actor Sanjay Dutt made headlines when he was diagnosed with lung cancer.

There were rumours that the actor will be flying abroad for the treatment, however, owing to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the actor has begun his preliminary treatment at Kokilaben Hospital in Mumbai.

Since Maanyata Dutt has been quarantining at her residence, Sanjays elder sister and politician Priya Dutt has been taking care of Sanju in the hospital.

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 also seen her mother battle this illness, has been our incredible torchbearer, while I will hold the fort, says Maanyata.

She also adds that Sanjay is not only her husband and father to their children but he has also been a father figure to sisters Anju and Priya, after losing their parents. Additionally, Priya has extensively worked for over two decades with the Dutt family-run Cancer foundation.

Responding to Sanjays travel plans for further treatment, Maanyata clarifies that it can only be decided when the pandemic eases.

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, she informs and urges Sanjays fans to not speculate anything related to his health.

Sanjay has been through many ups and downs in his life but his fans adulation and support has kept him going through every tough phase.

Says Maanyata, 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. He is the heart and soul of our family, she concludes.
But shares of gold mining firms have fallen sharply due to heightened political risks.

Companies mining gold in Mali say they are operating as usual while monitoring a political crisis that shut the countrys borders and hit their share prices on Wednesday.

President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita resigned on Tuesday and dissolved parliament hours after soldiers detained him at gunpoint and seized power in a coup.

Barrick Gold, the biggest miner in Mali, said its Loulo-Gounkoto mine complex  which analysts at Scotiabank estimate will account for 9 percent of the companys production this year  had not been affected.

B2Gold, Resolute Mining, AngloGold Ashanti, Hummingbird Resources and Cora Gold said operations and staff were unaffected, but traders sold shares because of increased political risk.

Resolute Mining shares fell 11.7 percent, Hummingbird dropped 9.4 percent, B2Gold fell 8.8 percent, AngloGold Ashanti lost 4 percent and Barrick fell 2.7 percent. Cora Gold shares were down 9.3 percent.

I have always monitored how much exposure I have in West Africa and in each country in the region because there is more risk and this coup reminds you of that, a London-based gold investor said, asking not to be named.

Gold operations in the vast, land-locked nation are located in the south and west, hundreds of kilometres from the capital Bamako where the coup took place. Many miners continued to operate during a 2012 coup.

Heavy reliance on mining

However, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has ordered the closure of land and air borders with Mali.

That complicates logistics for the mining sector, which accounted for 9.7 percent of Malis GDP in 2019.

It was not immediately clear whether miners would be able to export their gold  typically flown out of Mali to be refined  while air borders are shut. Mines would also likely be unable to import supplies until borders reopen.

Barrick said Loulo-Gounkoto had adequate inventory for its requirements and management had taken steps to secure its supply lines.

B2Gold said its Fekola mine had sufficient supplies to maintain activities through the end of the third quarter and beyond if needed.

One of Africas biggest producers of gold, Malis output rose to 71.1 metric tonnes in 2019, the government has said, and the state earned revenue of 403.6 billion CFA ($734m) from gold mining companies.

Analysts said future production and investment were in doubt.

In the longer term, there are more clouds for mining investors as this is the second coup in eight years. It will add to an already very high-risk premium that people associate with Mali, Vincent Rouget, analyst at Control Risks Group said.
BRIDGEPORT  A local man accused of ripping off a Texas veteran and others across the country for thousands of dollars before being arrested following an armed standoff in a Fairfield bank was sentenced Thursday to three years in prison.

Im just sorry about everything and it will not be repeated, Carl Myers said Thursday via video conferencing from a room at the Bridgeport Correctional Center during his sentencing hearing in state Superior Court here.

Judge Kevin Russo said the 47-year-old Myers could have been facing more prison time if the victim, a 91-year-old WWII veteran, had not gotten most of his money back.

He then sentenced Myers, who previously pleaded guilty to first-degree larceny, risk of injury to a child and interfering with a police officer, to 12 years, suspended after he serves three years in prison and followed by five years of probation.

I hope when you are discharged from custody, you will turn your life in a different direction, the judge told Myers.

Because he has already served 18 months while awaiting disposition of the case, Myers, of Exeter Street, could be released in another 18 months.

Police said the 46-year-old Myers, identifying himself as the owner of a Texas construction company, From Start 2 Finish Construction, tried to steal $128,000 from the 91-year-old Houston man on the pretext of building a waterside residential complex in Stratford.

When Houston police contacted the veteran, police said, they determined the man suffers from dementia and said he was sending checks to Myers because he believed Myers had served with him.

Senior Assistant States Attorney David Applegate told the judge that the veterans bank became suspicious of the transactions and froze his account after about $4,000 had been paid to Myers.

Applegate said there may be other victims of Myers in other parts of the country but his office has no jurisdiction in those cases.

On April 19, 2019, police said they were alerted by the manager of the Sasco Hill Road, Fairfield, branch of the Bankwell Financial Group that Myers was in the bank attempting to cash a large check from a Texas bank.

When officers confronted Myers, they said he identified himself as the owner of a construction company but could provide no information on where he intended to build in Stratford or who was financing the project. He was not charged at that time.

However, four days later, police were called back to the bank.

Police said Myers had entered the bank with his young son and had gone into an office with a bank employee. When Fairfield police detectives approached him, police said Myers stood up with a gun in his hand which he began waving around asking, What did I do wrong?

Detectives pulled out their guns and demanded Myers drop his as Detective Fred Caruso ran over, grabbed Myers son and took him outside the bank.

Police said Myers eventually placed the gun on the teller counter. But police said he fought with officers who tried to handcuff him and was Tasered.

To say it was a tense situation is an understatement, Applegate said. He said Caruso suffered a career-ending injury when he grabbed the child. The police used a lot of restraint here.

Myers lawyer, Joseph Elder, told the judge that his client had no intention of injuring the officer and just wanted to return to his family.
Egypt has dispatched a military plane loaded with a third shipment of aid to Sudan, the country's military spokesman said in a video statement, in the wake of major flooding in the country.

The shipment, which includes both medical supplies and food, was prepared in coordination with a number of Egyptian organisations and institutions.

The plane left Egypt on Thursday, heading for Khartoum.

According to the statement, Sudan has expressed its deep gratitude for the Egyptian efforts to support the country during this difficult time.

Sudan was hit by heavy rains and floods this week, destroying houses and displacing many people.

At least 63 people have been killed by seasonal storms since July, while over 14,000 homes and 119 public buildings have been destroyed.

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BANGKOK Thai police said on Thursday they had arrested eight more activists, including two popular rappers, in a crackdown after more than a month of protests against the military-backed government that have also challenged the powerful monarchy.

The eight arrested overnight and on Thursday are charged with breaching internal security laws over a July 18 protest and defying an emergency decree that banned public gatherings to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, police said.

The arrests of the leaders that organised such activity are being processed based on the law," Jirapat Phumjit, deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau told reporters. He said there were warrants for another four activists over that protest.

Among those arrested on Thursday was Dechathorn Hockhacker" Bamrungmuang, 30, from the Rap Against Dictatorship group, which surged to popularity online last year. The other rapper held, Thanayut Na Ayutthaya, 19, also known as Elevenfinger.

All eight were later released on bail, a lawyer said.

Protests have been held almost daily since mid-July to call for a new constitution, the departure of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha - a former junta leader - and an end to the harassment of government opponents.

Some protesters have also called for curbs on the power of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, until recently a taboo.

Prayuth rejects protesters accusations that last years election was manipulated by the army in his favour. He has said he is ready to speak to the students, but that criticising the monarchy goes too far.

Three other activists had been arrested earlier. They include Anon Nampa, a human rights lawyer who was the first to call openly for reforms at the palace. He was arrested on Wednesday for the second time this month over different protests and also released on bail.

Six arrest warrants have also been issued over a demonstration last week at which students set out 10 demands for reform of the monarchy.

The return of protests to Bangkok streets has unsettled investors by reviving memories of more than a decade of colour-coded clashes between supporters of they establishment and their populist opponents before Prayuth took power in a 2014 coup.

The Thai baht fell to a three-week low of 31.44 per dollar on Thursday and though the move was exacerbated by gains in the greenback it was the sharpest daily drop in a month.

A small group of supporters of the detainees gathered at the criminal court in Bangkok where the activists pre-trial detention and bail requests were being processed.

(Additional reporting by Tom Westbrook in Singapore; Editing by Martin Petty and Alex Richardson)

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
A fishing boat is seen from an aircraft of the Ecuadorian navy - REUTERS

Ecuadors naval forces said about half of the 325 vessels from a predominantly Chinese fishing fleet operating near the Galapagos Islands have turned off their satellite systems and cut communications to prevent their activities from being tracked.

Some vessels have also changed their names to avoid being monitored, the navy said.

It is a breach [of protocol] on the high seas, because they do not want us to know what they are doing and the activities they carry out, said Ecuadors defence minister Oswaldo Jarrin.

He also said that turning off satellite systems violated international rules that govern fisheries management meant to promote sustainable fishing.

Ecuador has been working to prevent unsustainable fishing off its coast in efforts to protect the delicate ecosystem around the Galapagos, while trying to avoid a row with China, one of its biggest trade partners.

The South American nation has also been keen to resume exporting shrimp to China after authorities halted trade upon detecting coronavirus in recent shipments. China previously blocked seafood imports from other countries, including Norway, amid fears contaminated packaging or food was linked to new outbreaks.

A person protests at the Chinese Embassy in Quito, Ecuador - Shutterstock

Environmentalists have said Chinese vessels fishing near the Galapagos are endangering the ecologically sensitive area by throwing plastic waste overboard, polluting the ocean and nearby pristine beaches.

Such plastic can kill ocean wildlife by blocking their airways if ingested, or poisoning animals. The waste is also a threat onshore to land birds, iguanas and other animals.

After environmental concerns were raised, China promised a zero tolerance policy toward illegal fishing and authorised the Ecuadorian authorities to supervise vessels. It is unclear whether Chinese vessels have engaged in more sustainable practices since.

Since 2017, a Chinese fishing fleet has arrived each summer near the Galapagos, attracted by abundant marine life, such as the giant squid and hammerhead shark, an endangered species.

On Wednesday, the foreign ministry in Beijing did not respond to Ecuadors allegations, instead claiming that China was a responsible major fishing country".
By Trend

Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 37 times, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

Armenian armed forces were using large-caliber machine guns.

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.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Michael Rainey Jr. showcases star power in STARZs Power Book II: Ghost

To understand the current hype around STARZs Power Book II: Ghost, you should understand the impact that the original show Power, starring Omari Hardwick caused, which is directly linked to the immortalizing of his character James Ghost St. Patrick. Its an almost Herculean task for any actor to step into Omaris shoes, but series creator and showrunner Courtney A. Kemp and Curtis 50 Cent Jackson believed in Michael Rainey Jr. so much that they fine-tuned his character, and handed the franchise  Power Book II: Ghost to the youngster.

STARZs Power Book II: Ghost follows the journey of Ghosts now grown son Tariq, (Michael Rainey Jr.) who murdered him in the series finale. The series picks up with his mother, Tasha (Naturi Naughton) in prison, and Tariq desperately trying to free her.

In the King James Version of the Bible, Ezek.18 pushes into the troubling issue of sin: The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. Amen, youve now gotten the direction of STARZs Power Book II: Ghost.

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The sins of Ghosts past will find their way to Tariq, threatening his future as he falls under the mentorship of drug boss Monet Stewart (Mary J. Blige), who sees Tariq as untapped (and controllable) potential.

STARZ only sent two episodes to review but what I can gather, Tariq St. Patrick is going to have serious difficulties in his new world; his father is dead and his mother, is facing charges for that murder. As this is the story of the next generation, Tariq is enrolled in an Ivy League university and Tariq has conditions put in place before he can acquire his inheritance.

Alone, for the first time in his life, hes torn trying to find the space for his studies and hustling to pay for defense attorney Davis MacLean, a fame-obsessed man and Tashas only hope of getting out of jail and escaping prosecution by newly minted U.S. Attorney Cooper Saxe.

Whats that saying  dont hate the player, hate the game? For Tariq, he appears to be feeling a bit of both. Nonetheless, he sits at the table to play a game that he thinks that he understands and thats the drug game. Fast cash, double-digit cash with deadly consequences. Not always the best judge of character, God Bless his little soul, he turns to Monet Stewart Tejada, who is a cold and calculated killer.

As Tariq tries to balance his drug operation with keeping his GPA high, he struggles to find ways to avoid the same fate as his father. Heres a hint, dont have a son like him. Tariq not the brightest character created, but certainly an interesting choice.

Trying to catch magic in a bottle again in STARZs Power Book II: Ghost is Naturi Naughton as Tasha St. Patrick, Mary J. Blige as Monet Stewart Tejada, Shane Johnson as Cooper Saxe, Gianni Paolo as Brayden Weston, Quincy Tyler Bernstine as Tameika Washington, Daniel Bellomy as Ezekiel Zeke Cross, Paige Hurd as Lauren Baldwin, and Cliff Method Man Smith as Davis MacLean.

STARZs Power Book II: Ghost is executive produced by series creator and showrunner Courtney A. Kemp through her company End of Episode and Curtis 50 Cent Jackson through his G-Unit Film and Television. Also serving as executive producers on the series are Mark Canton through his Atmosphere Entertainment MM, End of Episodes Chris Selak and Danielle De Jesus, Shana Stein, and Bart Wenrich. Lionsgate TV produces the series for STARZ. Upcoming Power universe-set series include Power Book III: Raising Kanan, Power Book IV: Influence, and the Tommy Egan (Joseph Sikora)-fronted Power Book V: Force.

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Michael Rainey, Jr. took some time to speak with the Los Angeles Sentinel about stepping into STARZs Power Book II: Ghost.

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL: Michael Rainey Jr. you play the character of Tariq the son of the cold-blooded, a psychopath with the charm of Casabivam James Ghost St. Patrick but some delusional fans of the show, Power cant always separate the two.

MICHAEL RAINEY JR.: (laughing) True, so true.

LAS: In fact, Method Man told a little birdy (which, is me) that actor, Omari Hardwick had to make some calls to ensure people that hes alive and well.

MR: True, some of the fans are that passionate, for sure.

LAS: So, Tariq is spiteful, right?

MR: Honestly I feel like Tariq isnt the spiteful kid that everyone thought he was.

LAS: Ok. He killed his father. He killed Ghost. Thats pretty spiteful but maybe  its just me. Sorry. Continue, please.

MR: Obviously, he acted up . he was upset at his parents, his family, and his fathers actions.

LAS: Duh. He killed him. Sorry. Please, continue. And the consequences are?

MR: Theres like a whole lot of things laying on his chest. Hes forced to become a grown man now. Its a different world now.

LAS: Lets leave on a high note. You grew up working on this show. How does it feel now?

MR: (pause) It was bittersweet. Weve been working with each other for six years and these people are like a family to me. We put together a good show for six years, the fans loved it, so we did a good job.

LAS: Correction, you all did a great job. Good luck with the second half of your journey.

MR: Thank you.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Residents in the small town of Paddock Lake got together to make a 13-year-old girls day a little brighter after she had her bike stolen. Locals pitched in to buy her a brand-new ride.

Earlier this month, the young Wisconsin girl, Bella, called the police to inform them of her stolen bike. When locals heard about the unfortunate incident, they got together and decided to intervene.

On Aug. 13, the local good Samaritans called the Kenosha County Sheriffs Department, which then asked Deputy Vyhnanek to present Bella in person with the new bike on behalf of the community. The generous donors wished to remain anonymous, however, a press release stated.

Upon receiving her new wheels, Bella was speechless.

The deputies also decided to chip in and buy Bella an Amazon gift card so she could order a new helmet and a bike lock.

A photo was taken of Deputy Vyhnanek and Bella, smiling, with her new ride, and the Sheriffs Department posted it on their Facebook page. Next to the photo, they captioned how much the gesture meant to Bellas family:

Bellas family was very appreciative as her fathers hours at work had recently been reduced due to COVID-19. The family was thankful of KSD for helping but even more appreciative of the residents of Paddock Lake that came together to help get Bella a new bike.

The residents of the Paddock Lake community and our deputies went above and beyond to make this girls day a little brighter.

Meanwhile, many people online shared words of praise and thanks for the community and deputies in the comments section.

Good job citizens of Paddock Lake nice to know we still have caring people in this world, wrote one Facebook user. And hats off to that officer and please stay safe 

Another person wrote: Thank you all so much again  shes still smiling. 

We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - August 20, 2020) - The Stock Day Podcast welcomed Vemanti Group, Inc. (OTC Pink: VMNT) ("the Company"), a technology-driven multi-asset company that seeks to be active in high-growth and emerging markets. Strategically, it focuses mainly on opportunities involving blockchain applications combined with other technologies such as machine learning/AI and aims to grow through innovative startups that have market viable products. CEO of the Company, Tan Tran, joined Stock Day host Everett Jolly.

Jolly welcomed the Company for the first time on the Stock Day Podcast, and asked for a brief overview of their background and current projects. "We go and find early-stage, post-revenue companies in the FinTech sector, make an early investment, get them developed, and then work on getting them additional capital," explained Tran, adding that as these FinTech companies expand, the Company's valuation and investment portfolio grows.

Jolly then congratulated Tran on the Company's success with institutional investors, and asked about their strategy in securing these funds. "It comes down to fundamentals," said Tran. "Unless your business model is sound and solid, no institutional investor is going to give you money," he continued, noting that these types of investors have a long list of criteria that must be met to qualify for an investment. "Then the due diligence starts," he added. "They do risk management analysis on everything in terms of people, assets, and operations," explained Tran. "The secret is very simple, Everett. You just have to pass everything."

"So, what does this mean for us as a company? It means that we are a company that is able to meet professional and institutional standards, which makes us different from many other early-stage companies. This is something that we're very proud of," shared Tran.

"Now that you have capital to grow your company, are you putting it to work right away?" asked Jolly. "The idea of getting more capital is to generate more revenue and profits. Especially in this industry, it makes no sense to have funds sitting idly," said Tran. "Our mission is to make a positive economic and social impact by helping SMEs and middle-class entrepreneurs grow and sustain their businesses," he shared.

"If we don't put all the capital we have to work right away, we're missing the whole point of why we're doing this," said Tran. "So, yes, we're going to deploy this as fast as we can."

Jolly then asked about the possibility of a gold refinery investment and acquisition. "What I can say at this point is that there is a lot of traction and the negotiation is moving along nicely," said Tran. "Once the terms and conditions are confirmed, we'll have more information to share with the public," he added, noting that the company is located near one of Barrick Gold Corporation's mining operations in West Africa. "Our target is to have at least 20% equity in this company with options for more," said Tran. "We expect the equity exchange to take place quickly, but the later steps require bringing in an investment banker, so it will take some time to get everything finalized."

Tran then elaborated on the potential of this partnership. "This is going to be a long-term, revenue-driven investment for us," said Tran, adding that the Company will look to utilize blockchain technology to help the refinery better manage supply chain challenges and possibly tokenize their gold as a currency and payment form. "We have access to some of the best blockchain engineering talents, so this is something we can actually make happen, not just a talking point."

To close the interview, Tran encouraged listeners to consider the potential of the Company's numerous assets. "There's a lot going on behind the scenes that we haven't told the market about. We're constantly looking for new opportunities to be involved in," said Tran. "If you're looking for something as an investment, and not just a stock to flip, you should take a look at VMNT."

To hear Tan Tran's entire interview, follow the link to the podcast here: https://audioboom.com/posts/7662347-vemanti-group-inc-ceo-tan-tran-is-featured-on-the-stock-day-podcast

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 Vemanti Group, Inc.

Vemanti Group, Inc. (OTC Pink: VMNT) is a technology-driven multi-asset company that seeks to be active in high-growth and emerging markets. Our core strengths are in technology development and investment. We drive growth through acquisition and investment in disruptive and foundational technologies by targeting early-stage companies that have market viable products or by starting a new subsidiary of our own. Strategically, we focus mainly on fintech applications combined with other emerging technologies, including blockchain and machine learning/AI.

Legal Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27a of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and section 21e of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Those statements include the intent, belief or current expectations of the company and its management team. Forward-looking statements are projections of events, revenues, income, future economics, research, development, reformulation, product performance or management's plans and objectives for future operations. Some or all of the events or results anticipated by these forward-looking statements may not occur. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Accomplishing the strategy described herein is significantly dependent upon numerous factors, many that are not in management's control.

Contact Information

Vemanti Group, Inc.

Investor Relations

(800) 768-1288

ir@vemanti.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/62206
Texas Christian school plans to hold in-person classes despite county ban

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A Christian school in Texas plans to hold in-person classes with social distancing measures despite a county-wide ban on in-person public and private school classes to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.

Laguna Madre Christian Academy in Port Isabel, a K-12 school, intends to resist an order enacted by officials in Cameron County, with the stated plan to reopen on Aug. 31 for in-person instruction.

Jeremy Dys of the First Liberty Institute, a legal nonprofit that represents the academy, sent a letter on Tuesday to Cameron County Chief Legal Counsel Juan Gonzalez about the matter.

LMCA certainly appreciates the delicate situation presented by COVID-19, wrote Dys. Nonetheless, we must insist that Cameron County respect the laws and fundamental freedoms of this state and nation.

Dys cited guidance issued by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in July stating that private schools are exempted from orders closing in-person public school instruction.

We need not restate General Paxtons legal analysis, nor the copious citations he made to cases from the Supreme Court of the United States and the Supreme Court of Texas that outline a fundamental principle that cannot be neglected, even in the face of a worldwide pandemic, continued Dys.

 private, religious institutions retain the freedom to determine when it is safe to resume in-person meetings or instruction, not the State of Texas, nor Cameron County. Cameron Countys order must yield.

The academy plans to implement public health measures, including limiting the facility to students and essential staff, checking temperatures and wearing facemasks.

Last Thursday, Gonzalez rejected the Academys plan to reopen and rejected the guidance provided by Paxton earlier this year.

Cameron county is of the opinion that Paxtons guidance is not grounded in legitimate or correct legal analysis, wrote Gonzalez, as reported by local media outlet KVEO. Further, it is nothing more than an opinion and does not have controlling legal authority over the situation.

In his July 17 letter to private schools, Paxton argued that even if a county government has a compelling interest to shut down schools, blanket government orders closing all religious private schools are not the least restrictive means of achieving that interest.

Thus, as protected by the First Amendment and Texas law, religious private schools may continue to determine when it is safe for their communities to resume in-person instruction free from any government mandate or interference, Paxton wrote. Religious private schools therefore need not comply with local public health orders to the contrary.

Dys told KVEO that if the county decides to take action against the school, well have no choice but to make a very vigorous defense.

The law is fairly clear on this, while the county can certainly ask and make requests, and provide good information useful to the decision-making process of these religious institutions, [the schools] are entitled to a degree of autonomy under Supreme Court law and in the law of the state of Texas as well, Dys said.

Dys' letter comes as religious schools in California have filed a lawsuit over Gov. Gavin Newsom's order that closes both public and private schools in California as part of the state's continued lockdown in response to the novel coronavirus.



In Maryland, Gov. Larry Hogan issued an emergency order earlier this month clarifying that private schools are exempt from orders mandating the closure of schools until October.
Xi stresses importance of living in harmony with nature

HEFEI, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) --Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has underlined the need to live in harmony with nature, calling on people not to compete for development space with nature.

Xi made the remarks Wednesday afternoon during his inspection tour in east China's Anhui Province.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 11:02:16|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- China's national observatory on Thursday continued to issue a yellow alert for rainstorms in the country's central, eastern and southern regions.

From 8 a.m. Thursday to 8 a.m. Friday, torrential rains are expected to lash parts of Guangxi, Hainan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Chongqing, Hunan, Hubei, Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu and Shandong, the National Meteorological Center said.

The center warned that certain areas of Hunan, Hubei and Henan will experience downpours.

According to the forecast, some regions are likely to see over 60 mm of hourly precipitation, accompanied by thunderstorms and gales.

The center advised the public to stay vigilant for possible flooding, landslides and mudslides, and suggested halting outdoor activities in disaster-prone areas.

China has a four-tier, color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe, followed by orange, yellow, and blue. Enditem
Scott Cam has left The Block fans devastated after delivering some sad news about this season's open house inspections.

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing Melbourne into a six week lockdown, Scott revealed on Thursday that the much-awaited inspections have been axed in 2020.

The annual event was scheduled to take place in the Melbourne suburb of Brighton.

'Unfortunately open for inspections have been canned, that's pretty obvious,' the 57-year-old told Hit FM's Fifi, Fev and Byron.

'We normally get around 20,000 people there,' he continued, adding: 'There's nothing happening at the moment because of your lockdown.'

The TV tradesman confirmed that even individual inspections are not on the cards.

Canned: The Block's Scott Cam, 57, (pictured) has confirmed that this year's open inspections have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

He also revealed that Channel Nine has so far ruled out the idea of having a virtual online inspection.

And as for the all-important live auction, scheduled for November, Scott admitted: 'We're not sure what's going to happen.'

'We haven't sort of gone to a plan B yet, we're just going to wait and see, and cross that bridge when we get there,' he added.

'We normally get around 20,000 people there': Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing Melbourne into a six week lockdown, Scott told told Hit FM's Fifi, Fev and Byron it would be impossible to hold the inspections at the moment

Fortunately, the cast and crew managed to complete the homes to finish filming before Melbourne's second lockdown in July.

Production was first brought to a grinding halt back in March, with the cast and crew returning to the show's new $15million site in Melbourne's Brighton in May.

Earlier this week, Scott explained how the 2020 season will be different in an interview with The Daily Telegraph's Stellar magazine.

No plan B yet: As for the all-important live auction, while it's scheduled for November, Scott admitted: 'We're not sure what's going to happen' Pictured: Shelley Craft, Scott Cam

He said: 'Our show is a construction and real estate show, but this year I think it's also a bit of a documentary about what Australia has gone through.

'We did five weeks [of filming] and shut the whole thing down for six weeks, which has never been done before, and then we had to work out how to come back.

'That was a really difficult thing, so when we do come back, it's a very different show again.'

In the nick of time: Fortunately, the cast and crew managed to complete the homes and finish filming before Melbourne's second lockdown in July. Pictured is the 2020 cast of The Block

Extra precautions were taken on set as a result of COVID-19, including a full-time nurse, regular temperature checks, flu shots and hand sanitiser stations, Scott told Stellar.

For this year's season, five rundown houses dating from the 1930s to 1960s were relocated to a $15million plot of land in Brighton.

Teams have been tasked with renovating one of the old properties, bringing it into the 21st century.

The Block premieres Sunday at 7pm on Channel Nine
If Oxford brings to mind cobblestones, study rooms at the top of winding stone stairs, and kettles at the ready, then Carolyn Webers memoir, Sex and the City of God: A Memoir of Love and Longing, will bear out every thought youve had about the place. Following up on her 2013 memoir, Surprised by Oxford, Weber returns to the beloved school where she received her PhD in literature and met her husband, identified only as TDH (Tall, Dark, and Handsome).

She writes of her years as a young adult, turning over events like the stones she has walked on to reveal some of the crud, yes, but ultimately the rich soil beneath them. While including sex in the title is a bit misleading (theres certainly nothing how-to in the book), it is a recurring theme, however vague, as Weber makes the point that physical sex foreshadows our ultimate union with Christ. As Augustine put it, The sexual intercourse of man and woman, then, is in the case of mortals a kind of seed-bed of the [heavenly] city.

Webers story begins with an emotionally and physically complicated scene involving an ex-boyfriend. Shes home from Oxford for her birthday. Its stormy out, and they are in her familys run-down spare vacation cabin. She has just become a Christian. There is a bed. They are on the bed. She knows the bed should be off limits. There is a knock on the door. It is her father (or, ahem, the Holy Spirit). She quickly buttons up her blouse. Thus, Weber sets the stage for the account of her dating years at Oxford and her journey toward a mature faith, a story shaped by many literary works that influenced her at the time.

One of the enjoyable things about a book written by a PhD in literature is that poetry ...

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A new study from Federal Reserve Board economists argues that the rising market power concentration of American companies has contributed to a host of economic ills, including rising inequality and financial instability.

The study published earlier this month by Isabel Cairo and Jae Sim, titled Market Power, Inequality, and Financial Instability, uses mathematical modeling to examine the impact of monopoly power.

The authors identified a decline in competition, with large firms controlling more of their markets, as a common cause in a series of important shifts over the last four decades.

Those shifts include stagnating wage growth, a 'dramatic increase' in corporate profits, rising disparities in income and wealth, rising household debt and greater risk of large-scale financial instability.

A new study from Federal Reserve Board economists argues that the rising market power concentration of American companies has contributed to a host of economic ills (stock image)

'The rise of market power of the firms may have been the driving force' in all of these trends, Cairo and Sim write in the paper.

The study suggests that inequality has risen as the owners of assets such as stocks and property benefit from market concentration, while wage earners have suffered.

Struggling with stagnating wages, workers have borrowed more, creating rising debt that raises the risk of systemic financial instability, the study says.

The authors suggest that new government policies including higher taxation and increased spending on safety-net programs could remedy some of the ills and reduce the likelihood of financial crises.

They posit that if the tax on dividend income had been gradually raised from zero to 30 percent over the past three decades, it 'might have been effective in preventing almost 50 percent of buildup in income inequality, credit growth and the increase in the endogenous probability of financial crisis.'

The charts above show six trends in the economy examined by the study

Wage growth has stagnated while corporate profits rise

The authors write that real wage growth has stagnated behind productivity growth over the last four decades and, as a result, the labor income share has steadily declined.

At the same time, the before-tax profit share of U.S. corporations has shown a dramatic increase in the last few decades, according to the Fed study.

The two trends are highly negatively correlated, meaning that as corporate profits rise, labor's share of profits declines.

'This correlation suggests that the rise of the profit share and the fall of the labor share may have been driven by a common cause,' the authors write.

Income and wealth inequality have risen in the past four decades

The income share of the top 5 percent households has been steadily rising from 21 percent in early 1980s to more than 34 percent on the eve of the financial crisis in 2008, according to the study.

The authors suggest that the first two trends, stagnating wages and rising corporate profit share, may be factors in rising income inequality.

'To the extent that the major income source of wealthy households is the profits of the firms and the major income source of the working class is labor income, the first two trends explain the trend in income inequality,' they write.

'This suggests that income inequality, too, may have been driven by the same factor behind the decline of the labor share and the rise of the profit share.'

Meanwhile, wealth inequality has also been exacerbated during the last four decades.

According to the Survey of Consumer Finances, the net worth of the top 5 percent households has increased about 186 percent between 1983 and 2016, the study says.

'The rise in wealth inequality is not simply the result of rising income inequalitythough related, since a bulk of the rise is due to capital gains,' the authors write.

Political cartoon from the Chicago Labor Newspaper in 1894 criticizing the Pullman Company

Household debt has increased, raising risk of instability

The household sector credit-to-GDP ratio was 45 percent at the beginning of 1980s, according to the study.

Since then, the ratio steadily increased and reached almost 100 percent in 2008 on the eve of the financial crisis.

'This suggests that a growing share of national income has been allocated to income groups with low marginal propensities to consume,' the authors write.

Consequently, the study finds, the risk of financial instability has risen in recent decades.

'The secular rise of financial instability is clearly linked to credit expansion over the last few decades,' the authors write.

The issues taken up in the study have received increased attention from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers in recent months.

Last month, the U.S. House of Representatives antitrust panel held hearings that put four of America's most prominent tech CEOs in the hot seat.

Facebook Inc's Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon.com Inc's Jeff Bezos, Google owner Alphabet Inc's Sundar Pichai and Apple Inc's Tim Cook - whose companies have a combined market value of about $5 trillion - parried a range of accusations that they crippled smaller rivals in their quest for market share.

The videoconference hearing was the first time the four CEOs have appeared together before lawmakers.

Though it was Bezos' first congressional testimony, he appeared the least fazed.

Cook drew fewer barbed questions than Bezos and handled them efficiently.

Zuckerberg suffered the most damage, stumbling at times when confronted with internal emails.

Pichai, CEO of both Alphabet and Google, took the most heat from conservatives on the panel and looked the worse for it, as he repeatedly told lawmakers he would be happy to look into various situations and get back to them.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has documented a multimillion-dollar corruption scheme in the procurement of inventory items for the repair of Ukrzaliznytsia's passenger rolling stock.

As reported in a message on SBU website on Thursday, according to a preliminary investigation, the corruption scheme was organized by the management of the Passenger Company branch of Ukrzaliznytsia through affiliated commercial structures, including those with signs of fictitiousness.

The SBU reported that during 2019-2020, the branch allocated over UAH 60 million for the purchase of inventory items for the repair of passenger rolling stock, and the structures controlled by the organizers became the winners of the tender.

An examination initiated by SBU showed an unjustified overstatement of the products cost, which caused damage to the state in the amount of almost UAH 12 million.

Now SBU, together with the National Police, are conducting a series of searches in the offices of Ukrzaliznytsia and the offices of commercial structures in Kyiv and Vinnytsia.

As reported, at the end of July, the Security Service of Ukraine documented a large-scale theft of funds by Ukrzaliznytsia by means of purchasing low-quality spare parts for UAH 200 million in 2018-2019.
Paddy Hansard, 73, suffered serious head injuries and broken bones in his neck at around 2.30am on August 17th, at the Courtney Place flat complex in Ballybough, Dublin 3.

The retired scaffolder was on his way home, with his partner June, from a night out at the Clonliffe House pub.

After he was injured, he was rushed to the Mater Hospital by emergency services, in a critical condition. He was later moved to the Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital, in Finglas, Dublin.

The incident featured on RTEs Crimecall programme last September.

James ONeill with an address at Courtney Place, Ballybough, was charged in March and had been granted bail with conditions.

He is accused of causing serious harm to Mr Hansard, contrary to section four of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

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He appeared again at Dublin District Court on Thursday and was served with a book of evidence.

The Director of Public Prosecutions had directed trial on indictment and requested a return for trial order.

Judge Carol Anne Coolican consented and made the order sending Mr ONeill forward for trial at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where he will face his next hearing on October 30th next.

He was remanded on continuing bail with conditions.

Mr ONeill, who has not yet indicated how he will plead, was warned he had to notify the prosecution if he intended to use an alibi in his defence. An order was made for disclosure of video evidence.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 22:20:27|Editor: huaxia

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BERLIN, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Cities and municipalities in Germany paid around 700 million euros (827 million U.S. dollars) annually to clean parks and streets of rubbish, empty public bins and dispose the waste, Ministry for the Environment (BMU) and the Association of Local Utilities (VKU) announced on Thursday.

The disposal of cigarette butts alone accounted for around 225 million euros of the total cost, according to a joint statement by BMU and VKU. The disposal of drinking cups made of plastic cost another 120 million euros every year.

"The results illustrate the extent of the amount of plastic waste generated in public places," said VKU President Michael Ebling.

Almost 140 liters of waste per person were disposed from public bins, roads and parks every year, according to the VKU study which was the first one to provide representative and detailed data on costs and different types of waste.

A large share of the waste collected by German municipalities, more than 40 percent, were products made of disposable plastic and packaging, according to the study.

In June, the German government passed a regulation to ban disposable plastic products such as plastic plates and cutlery as well as Styrofoam cups, which will take affect from next summer onwards.

The new regulation transposes a directive of the European Union (EU) into German law. From July 2021, the production of disposable plastic will be banned throughout the EU. Enditem
An emergency summit of the West African bloc ECOWAS called Thursday for the reinstatement of Ibrahim Boubacar Keita as Mali's president after he was deposed in a military coup on Tuesday. West African leaders said they would soon head to the country amid growing concerns about regional stability.

West African presidents plan to fly to Mali as regional powers escalate efforts to block a coup-driven regime change, two sources said, after an opposition coalition there joined the junta in rejecting foreign interference.

Leaders of the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) convened over the crisis on Thursday, after it suspended Mali, shut off borders and halted financial flows in response to Tuesday's overthrow of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

The bloc plans to send a delegation of presidents including the leaders of Niger, Senegal and Ghana to Mali's capital, Bamako, to seek a resolution to the crisis, a regional diplomat and a senior official told Reuters.

It was not immediately possible to confirm the information.

The coup, which has rocked a country already in the grip of a jihadist insurgency and civil unrest, has been met with almost universal condemnation abroad.

Within Mali, the M5-RFP coalition of opposition groups said it was working with the mutineers. It labelled ECOWAS's initial response to the coup over-reaction stemming from some regional leaders' fears that it could set off unrest in their countries.

"(The leaders) are on an all-out drive to set ECOWAS against Mali," said M5-RFP spokesman Nouhoum Togo.

The capital Bamako was calm for the second straight day on Thursday, a Reuters reporter said, as people appeared to heed earlier calls from junta spokesman Colonel Ismael Wague to return to work and go about their daily lives.

Marc-Andre Boisvert, an independent researcher on the Malian security forces, said the senior mutineers were all respected army colonels.

Story continues

"It was a coup led by combat-experienced, not personality-driven officers," he said "I expect they were selected to be the image of the coup as they are respected and close to the (ordinary) soldiers."

ECOWAS is expected to release a statement outlining its next steps later on Thursday.

In July, an ECOWAS delegation failed to broker an agreement between Keita and the opposition, who were leading large-scale protests against the government.

Leaders attending the bloc's virtual summit said the political upheaval in Mali could destabilise the entire region.

"The events in Mali (have).. grave consequences for the peace and security of West Africa," Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari tweeted.

The coup has fuelled concerns it could disrupt a military campaign against jihadists linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State operating in northern and central Mali and West Africa's wider Sahel region.

France will continue its Mali-based military operations against Islamist fighters, its armed forces minister said on Thursday.

Landlocked Mali has struggled to regain stability since a Tuareg uprising in 2012 which was hijacked by al Qaeda-linked militants, and a subsequent coup in the capital plunged the country into chaos.

(REUTERS)
Brazzaville, Congo (PANA)  The unprecedented and prolonged school closures aimed at keeping students safe from COVID-19 are harming them in other ways, World Health Organization (WHO) and UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Thursday, urging governments in Africa to promote the safe reopening of schools while taking measures to limit the spread of the virus
An Instagram-loving bodybuilder who set his father's car on fire in a bid to claim insurance money was caught after his phone was found nearby with online searches about how to start the blaze.

Stefan Anthony Vicelic, 27, torched the vehicle in the car park of the upmarket Golden Door Spa & Health Club on the Gold Coast's Main Beach on the night of September 4 last year.

Once fire crews had extinguished the flames, police found an iPhone left on a concrete wall nearby with a pair of ear buds, a court heard.

Stefan Anthony Vicelic, 27, has pleaded guilty to arson and breach of bail after torching his father's car in an attempt to claim insurance money

Vicelic burned his hands and ankles starting the blaze and left an iPhone nearby on a concrete wall, which a court heard contained searches for jerry cans and which petrol was best for fire-starting,

When investigators analysed the phone they found Vicelic - who burned his hands and ankles during the blaze - had searched for information about jerry cans and the most flammable petrol.

Vicelic and his father had left the car at the health club earlier that day after it had broken down.

'[The] phone also contained some vaguely incriminating text messages and it also had video of gas lighter being activated,' crown prosecutor Gary Churchill said.

Vicelic's father - who has not been charged - initially made an insurance claim before admitting his son was behind the fire, The Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

Police noticed the burn marks when the bodybuilder signed in for bail on unrelated charges.

Vicelic, who has 26,000 followers on Instagram, on Thursday pleaded guilty to both arson and breach of bail at Southport District Court.

Police noticed the ankle and burn marks when the bodybuilder (pictured) signed in for bail on unrelated charges

A judge said the arson was 'idiotic'.

Detectives combing through his phone had also found he violated his bail conditions imposed for charges unrelated to the arson by using social media.

The 27-year-old was given a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence and will be eligible for release on December 20 having already been in prison for seven months.

Defence barrister Marty Longhurst said the plan had not been well thought out and gave to the court a letter Vicelic had written to express his remorse.
A conman duped a German woman of 5,000 (Rs 4,93,000 approxiamtely) by pretending to be The Fast and the Furious star, Vin Diesel. The fraudster made the woman believe that he loved her before demanding money from her.

According to Daily Star, it all started with the conman contacting the woman named Katja Lorenz online. The 45-year-old woman did not find it strange as she claimed that she worked with actors.

Lorenz asserted that she met Diesel at the Berlinale a few years ago, adding that she followed him on Instagram.

However, the woman wondered why the actor did not contact her from his official Instagram account. She asked this to the conman and he responded by saying, "I can't write to strange women via my official account. My management team would notice that immediately."

With each passing day, the fraudster made her believe that he liked her by calling her "babe" and "darling" and sending her messages on Google hangouts and Instagram.

To win her trust, he even told her that he wanted the relationship to develop and promised her to send money. The conman sometimes called her from exotic locations and talked to her about shoots and future plans.

"We wrote to each other every day. I felt trapped and desired," the woman told German newspaper Bild.

A few days before demanding money, the fraudster told her that he was off to South Africa for a secret photoshoot

Then, one day he told her that his briefcase had been stolen and he had been attacked. Citing the incident, he started making demands for money.

The woman obliged and sent him money every time he asked. "I took out a loan for it, and didn't give my children anything for Christmas," she stated.

But, when Lorenz later realized that she had been cheated, she asked him who he really was.

The man revealed to her "I am 23 years old, a medical student, and I finance my studies this way. I'm sorry."

Police are investigating the matter and have not divulged any details about the case.
Dr. Aamir Bharmal will never forget the first COVID-19 case he and his team traced  a traveler who had arrived from Iran in late February. While the eyes of the world were focused on East Asia, this case was troubling.

"Suddenly this told us that COVID was a lot more widespread than anyone had really thought," said Bharmal.

At the time, Bharmal, a medical health officer for Fraser Health  the biggest health authority in the province  managed a team of 14 contact tracers. There weren't yet restrictions on cross-border travel and international flights were still landing as normal in Canada when Bharmal learned the virus was not just in China.

He quickly realized he'd need to build a "disease detective army," bringing in more nurses, health inspectors, even speech and language pathologists, to create a team of 250 in case infections spiked.

Fraser Health

Six months on and counting, Bharmal says his team has tracked more than half of the province's total cases tallied up to mid-August.

Communicable disease nurse, Christine Kumar, couldn't even guess how many of those calls were hers, saying simply, "So, so many."

She says her experience contact tracing for measles, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted infections, taught her how to build trust quickly on the phone in order to learn the intimate details of a person's life.

"It's kind of a microscopic exam of all of the behaviours that individual cases do at each setting," said Kumar.

Painful personal moments

The work itself can take an emotional toll.

Often, Kumar is the first person to break the news to someone that they are infected.

Sometimes she has to interrupt a grieving son, daughter or spouse in the days, or even hours, immediately after a death to make sure the surviving loved one is isolating until their own symptoms clear.

Ben Nelms/CBC

For Kumar, those calls are the worst part of the work.

"That was a loved one to somebody and they're no longer here, " she said.

Story continues

Bharmal also spoke about the skills needed for the job:

"A contact tracer is a mix of a nurse with a social worker with being a disease detective or epidemiologist and a bit of a therapist as well," he said.

Bharmal and Kumar are both in their thirties and belong to the demographic health officials have blamed for the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in B.C.

Despite the amount of work it takes to investigate each possible exposure, the duo live by the public health ethos to support people, rather than cast blame.

CBC News

"It's easy to say how reckless of you," Bharmal said. "We want people to share information and that requires us to take the approach of supporting people rather than stigmatizing them."

To hear CBC Vancouver's Jodie Martinson interview Fraser Health COVID-19 contact tracers, tap here.
Melting from Greenland's ice sheet broke records last year  losing a total of 532 gigatonnes of mass overall, analysis of satellite data has revealed.

Experts led from Germany found that the ice loss in 2019 was 15 per cent higher than the previous worst year on record  which was 2012.

However, they also noted that favourable conditions in 20172018 meant that melting was lower than in any other two-year period between 20032019.

Researchers can assess how fast ice mass is lost by tracking changes in gravity as recorded by the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (Grace) missions.

Melt from the Greenland Ice Sheet is one of the largest contributors to sea level rise and presently contributes an increase of around 0.03 inches (0.76 mm) annually.

In total, sea levels rose by around 0.14 inches (3.5 mm) each year from 2005 to 2017, researchers have calculated.

The findings come a week after a study revealed that Greenland's glaciers have already passed what researchers have called the 'point of no return'.

This, experts warned, means that the ice would now continue to melt away even if global warming could be completely stopped.

Melting from Greenland's ice sheet broke records last year  losing a total of 532 gigatonnes of mass overall, analysis of satellite data has revealed. Pictured, icebergs float away to sea near Kulusuk, Greenland, in this file photo from August 16, 2019

Experts led from Germany found that the ice loss in 2019 was 15 per cent higher than the previous worst year on record  2012. Pictured, the extent of Greenland's ice loss over time as recorded by the Grace missions. The annual fluctuations represent summer and winter

In their study, glaciologist Ingo Sasgen, from the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, and colleagues analysed data taken from the two satellite missions operating from 20032019.

The researchers found that Greenland experienced unusually low levels of melt in both 2017 and 2018, followed by record-breaking levels of around 532 gigatonnes in the following year.

In comparison, the melt back in 2012 was just 464 gigatonnes, the team noted.

Based on simulations using a regional climate model, the authors suggest that the low melt levels in 20172018 may have been due to their having been cold summers in western Greenland coupled with high levels of snowfall in the east.

According to the team, there is 'an abrupt transition from a reduced rate of mass loss in 2017-2018 (58 per cent lower than 20032018 average) to a strongly enhanced rate of mass loss in 2019 (July mass loss rate 5 per cent above 2003-2016 average)'.

'A similar but inverse transition occurred between the record melt year of 2012 and the near-balance year of 2013,' they continued.

In addition, the researchers found that the overall ice loss last year exceeded the previous record loss measured by the satellite back in 2012.

This means that '2019 exhibited the largest mass loss on record', following a trajectory of increasing ice loss since the late 1990s.

Based on simulations using a regional climate model, the authors suggest that the low melt levels in 20172018 may have been due to their having been cold summers in western Greenland coupled with high levels of snowfall in the east. Pictured, the average high-latitude temperatures around Greenland in both 20172018 (left) and 2019 (right)

'It is crucial to understand and closely monitor the changes in mass balance of the Greenland Ice Sheet,' said earth scientist Yara Mohajeran of the University of California, Irvine, who was not involved in the present study. Pictured, crevasses form on Greenland's Helheim glacier

'It is crucial to understand and closely monitor the changes in mass balance of the Greenland Ice Sheet,' said earth scientist Yara Mohajeran of the University of California, Irvine  who was not involved in the present study.

'Sasgen and colleagues take an important step in that direction.'

'To put this 2019 Greenland melt rate into context, 532 gigatonnes in one year is equivalent to around six Olympic-sized swimming pools every single second of the year,' added climate scientist Ed Hawkins of the University of Reading.

'It is devastating that 2019 was another record year of ice loss,' commented environmental scientist Twila Moon of the University of Colorado at Boulder. Pictured, an antenna at the New York University base camp overlooking Greenland's Helheim glacier as seen in August 2019

'It is devastating that 2019 was another record year of ice loss,' commented environmental scientist Twila Moon of the University of Colorado at Boulder.

'In 2012, it had been about 150 years since the ice sheet had experienced [a] similar melt extent, and then a further 600-plus years back to find another similar event.

'We have now had record-breaking ice loss twice in less than 10 years  and the ice sheet has lost ice every year for the past 20.'

'The research further confirms that we are in a dire state of ice loss in Greenland. This ice loss translates directly to rising seas around the world.'

The full findings of the study were published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment.
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Both the Democratic National Convention and the Republican National Convention will feature speakers connected to the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 people dead  although the speakers have "wildly divergent views," the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

On Wednesday night, 20-year-old survivor and March For Our Lives activist Emma Gonzalez will urge stricter gun laws in a 40-second video airing during the Democrat's convention. "People affected by everyday gun violence have to walk by the street corner where their best friend, their brother, their mother, their nephew, where they themselves were shot," Gonzalez says in the video, her voice breaking with emotion. She adds, "Until one of us or all of us stand up and say, 'I can't do this anymore, I can't sit by and watch the news treat these shootings like acts of God'  gun violence isn't just going to stop until there's a force fighting harder against it, and I'm going to do something to prevent it."

Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter, Jaime, was killed in the massacre, previously spoke for the Democrats on Tuesday night, endorsing nominee Joe Biden while announcing Florida's votes during the roll call. "When my daughter was murdered in Parkland, Joe Biden called to share on our family's grief," he said. "I quickly learned about his decency and his civility, but I also learned about his toughness and how he's beaten the NRA."

Andrew Pollack, whose 18-year-old daughter, Meadow, was also killed, will speak next week to endorse President Trump. While the Republican National Convention hasn't offered more details about Pollack's appearance yet, the father is an outspoken critic of Biden and has called Trump "the PEACE president." He's also slammed the pro-gun-control student activists behind March For Our Lives in the past, claiming "they just got famous off the death of these kids. Their agenda was to get famous and spew more of their liberalism ways without looking at the facts."

More stories from theweek.com

5 bitingly funny cartoons about the Democratic National Convention

A confused Kirsten Dunst asks Kanye West why he put her on his campaign poster

Postal Service agents reportedly arrested Stephen Bannon


ABA 2020 is now receiving registrations at www.aba2020.vn

With a prestigious 14-year history and enhanced professionalism at this year's awards, ABA 2020 is an opportunity for all businesses in the region to be honoured, cementing their position while enhancing competitiveness and integration. Businesses can also promote their image and brand within the region and reach out to the international arena, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to exert a heavy impact on the global economy.

The ABA 2020 award system is divided into nine categories built on the inheritance and distilled essence of ABA in previous years. It has developed award categories suitable to the socioeconomic situation of the region today, including:

1. Priority Integration Sectors

2. SME Excellence

3. Young Entrepreneur

4. Woman Entrepreneur

5. Family Business

6. Skills Development

7. Friends of ASEAN

8. Inclusive Business

9. Combating COVID-19

The event has been playing an important role for the ASEAN business community as an annual activity at the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC). In 2020, under the ASEAN chairmanship of Vietnam, the role of ABA 2020 is even more pivotal as ASEAN businesses are required to unite and share, not only to overcome difficulties but also take advantage of an opportunity to develop post-pandemic, while continuing to contribute to ASEANs economic growth and prosperity.

Earlier, at a dialogue between the ASEAN BAC and leaders of member states in the framework of the 36th ASEAN Summit, Nguyen Thi Nga, member of ASEAN BAC Vietnam and chair of ABA 2020, reported to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and ASEAN leaders that ABA 2020 will honour businesses in the bloc that have made outstanding contributions to the prevention of the ongoing pandemic and have overcome its negative impacts on socioeconomic life in the region.

ABA 2020 is now receiving registrations at www.aba2020.vn until the registration period for the whole region ends on September 30. At that point, the valid records will be synthesised and selected in the judging round and evaluated in order to pick the winning business in each category. This will be carried out in October by the Judging Council, which includes a group of 10 experts, study authors, and leading economists representing ASEAN member states.

The ABA 2020 ceremony is scheduled to be held in November in Hanoi, within the framework of the 2020 ASEAN Business & Investment Summit. This will be held adjacent to the 37th ASEAN Summit, with the participation of government leaders from Vietnam and other countries in the region.
Think of images, phrases, actions and inactions collected around the coronavirus; put up, if you will, your own mental collage.

Lots of choices, right? Front line nurses and docs. Body bags stacked in NYC. Shuttered businesses and restaurants. Then packed bars and beaches.

How about President Donald Trump saying the virus would disappear, like a miracle, even as death counts climbed? Then later, in response to Americans dying at a rate of 1,000 a day, saying, It is what it is.
She shot to international fame on the hit Netflix program 13 Reasons Why, Katherine Langford has since undergone a stunning makeover.

Posting to Instagram on Thursday, the 24-year-old shared a picture that showed off her brand newly-bleached blonde hair.

In the photo, the Australian actress looked almost unrecognisable after swapping her trademark sleek brunette locks for beachy blonde waves.

Before and after: Katherine Langford has showed off her stunning hair transformation after swapping her long brunette (left) locks for beachy blonde waves (right)

Katherine looked casual chic in a patterned shirt, which she accessorised with sunglasses, a gold necklace and matching ring.

She showed off her natural beauty wearing minimal makeup as she soaked up the sun.

She captioned the post: 'Feeling grateful for these big small moments amidst everything going on these past few days, months, year....It's been a second. How is everyone feeling?'

Fame: Last month the Perth-born beauty told Stellar Magazine that 13 Reasons Why was 'the worst, but greatest, first role' in preparing her for a life in the spotlight

The Cursed star shared her transformation alongside a series of nature photographs showing a wharf, berries and various plants.

Last month the Perth-born beauty told Stellar Magazine that 13 Reasons Why was 'the worst, but greatest, first role' in preparing her for a life in the spotlight.

'In many ways it was the worst, but also the greatest, first role to have. The reactions afterwards were, and will always be, really special to me,' Katherine explained.

Breakout role: The Perth-born actress shot to international fame in 2017 with her starring role as Hannah Baker (pictured) in Netflix's controversial teen drama series

The star, who had no prior acting experience, received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress for her role in the controversial teen drama.

Katherine played American high school student Hannah Baker, who committed suicide after struggling to fit into her environment and a battle with mental health.

She went on to reveal to the magazine that fame has changed how people perceive her.

'What I realised is that it didn't change me, but rather how people saw me,' she said.
MOSCOW - Before his flight to Moscow departed, Alexei Navalny sipped a cup of tea at a cafe in Russia's Tomsk airport. Later, the prominent Kremlin critic was moaning in pain, prompting an emergency landing with an ambulance waiting to race him to intensive care.

The drama Thursday in Siberia left Navalny in a coma and doctors offering scant public information about the cause. But his spokeswoman and others had no hesitation, speculating that the 44-year-old activist was the latest foe of President Vladimir Putin to be poisoned - perhaps in the tea he drank at the airport cafe.

Even with many questions still unanswered, the stricken Navalny quickly became a rallying point for Russian opposition groups and others who accuse Putin's government of plots to silence its foes, including similar poisonings in the past.

Navalny's possible poisoning also could open new rifts with the West, where Navalny is among the best-known opposition figures in Russia. A German medical team was ready to transport Navalny from Russia for treatment.

Doctors in the Siberian city of Omsk had Navalny on a respirator.

In Washington, President Donald Trump said his administration was looking into the possible poisoning, and national security adviser Robert O'Brien called the incident "extraordinarily concerning."

"If the Russians were behind this . . . it's something that we're going to factor into how we deal with the Russians going forward," O'Brien told Fox News in an interview.

Navalny once ran for mayor of Moscow and faced arrest multiple times for leading street protests. He also has angered Putin and his oligarch allies with a popular YouTube channel that discloses alleged corruption and extravagant excesses.

Kira Yarmysh, Navalny's spokeswoman, asserted on Twitter: "This is Putin."

"Whether he personally gave the order or not, the blame is entirely with him," she added.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that an investigation will be opened "if [Navalny] was actually poisoned," adding that he wished Navalny a "speedy recovery, just like any other citizen of our country."

For Navalny's backers, parallels were immediately drawn with other cases of apparent retaliation against Kremlin opponents.

In 2006, Alexander Litvinenko, a former spy and prominent dissident, died of polonium-210 poisoning in London, identifying Putin as responsible while in his hospital bed. The polonium was in his tea.

More recently, Sergei Skripal, a former double agent, and his adult daughter, Yulia, were poisoned in 2018, after they came into contact with a deadly Soviet-era nerve agent known as Novichok.

Pyotr Verzilov, a member of the Pussy Riot protest group, accused Russian military intelligence for his suspected poisoning in 2018. He wrote on Twitter Thursday that both his and Navalny's alleged poisoning were "certainly sanctioned personally by Putin."

"In Russia, operations of this level are not carried out without the consent of the first person," he said.

The chief doctor for the Omsk Emergency Hospital No. 1, where Navalny is in the intensive care unit for toxicology patients, told the state-run Tass news agency that Navalny was in serious condition. Another physician at the hospital, Anatoli Kalinichenko, told local reporters that "there is no certainty that the cause of Navalny's condition is poisoning."

"Doctors are working to save his life," Kalinichenko said, adding that Navalny is "stable."

Yaroslav Ashikhmin, Navalny's longtime physician, told the Russian news outlet Meduza that the opposition leader "needs to be taken to Europe" for treatment because a Western clinic had a higher chance of identifying what might have poisoned him. Yarmysh said the Omsk hospital had yet to offer a diagnosis.

An ambulance aircraft with a team specialized in treating coma patients is due to leave Germany to pick up the stricken Navalny, Berlin-based human rights activist Jaka Bizilj told the German Bild newspaper.

But it's unclear whether Navalny will be released because of possible complications in paperwork to transfer out of the country. When Navalny's wife arrived to visit him, she was initially denied because she didn't have a marriage license with her to prove their relationship, Yarmysh said. She was later permitted to see him.

Yarmysh said she suspects a poisonous substance was slipped into Navalny's tea because it "was the only thing Alexei drank this morning," she wrote on Twitter.

The manager of the Tomsk airport coffee shop where Navalny drank the tea told the Interfax news agency that he is "looking into all circumstances and studying [security camera] footage."

In one video, shot during the flight and later posted to social media, Navalny can be heard moaning in pain.

Navalny traveled to Tomsk to meet with activists and opposition candidates for regional elections next month. Navalny and his allies have encouraged voters to back anti-Kremlin candidates as a message of discontent over Russia's sagging economy and the unchecked power of Putin, who has the potential to stay in office until 2036 under constitutional changes approved this year.

A year ago, Navalny was hospitalized with an "acute allergic reaction" a week after being detained, and at the time, Yarmysh said he may have been affected by an unknown chemical substance, citing a physician who observed Navalny at the hospital. In 2017, Navalny was attacked with an antiseptic green dye that damaged vision in one of his eyes.

Navalny, who was barred from running for president in 2018, has frequently been jailed and harassed. In March, authorities seized the contents of his bank account as well as the accounts of his wife, son and daughter. Last month, Navalny was forced to close his Anti-Corruption Foundation because of a lawsuit filed by oligarch Yevgeniy Prigozhin, a close associate of Putin. The foundation exposed graft and other wrongdoing by Russia's elite for more than a decade, making Navalny an even bigger target for attacks.

In 2018, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Russia's arrests and detention of Navalny from 2012 to 2014 violated his rights and appeared to be part of a broader effort "to bring the opposition under control." Moscow disagreed with the decision.
WESTBROOK  Members of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and federal law enforcement agents arrested Steve Bannon, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, on a yacht anchored off the coast of Westbrook Thursday morning, charging him with fraud.

Bannon was one of four men taken into custody and charged with defrauding hundreds of thousands of donors to an online crowdfunding campaign called We Build the Wall, which raised more than $25 million, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office in the Southern District of New York. Bannon pleaded not guilty to the charges in a federal court in Manhattan.

At his court hearing, Bannon had his hands cuffed in front of him while a large, white mask covered most of his face. He rocked back and forward as he sat on a chair in a holding cell, from where he appeared via video as his lawyers were on the telephone. The magistrate judge approved Bannons release on $5 million bail, secured by $1.75 million in assets.

Lt. Jennifer Sheehy said seven agents, as well as an officer with the Coast Guard Investigative Service, left from Coast Guard Station New London. Sheehy said the Coast Guards role was limited to bringing the Justice Department officers to the yacht, which she said is named the Lady May.

Evan Cusson of Atlantic Outboard on the Boston Post Road said the yacht had been anchored off West Beach since Tuesday, and left about 2 p.m. Thursday. The boat was mint, beautiful, new, Cusson said. Definitely the biggest boat Ive ever seen in Westbrook.

Gov. Ned Lamonts chief of staff, Paul Mounds, said they were not contacted beforehand about Bannons arrest but found out on the news like everyone else.

When asked whether he believed Bannon quarantined for 14 days if he traveled from a state on Connecticuts travel advisory list, Lamont said, my guess is he probably did not. When asked whether he was pleased Bannon was vacationing in Connecticut, Lamont chuckled.

The New York Times reported the yacht is owned by an exiled Chinese billionaire, Guo Wengui. He and Bannon have teamed up to criticize the Chinese government, declaring a New Federal State of China. Guo faces allegations in China of bribery, fraud and money laundering, which he has denied, according to the Washington Post.

Federal and New York state authorities are investigating a private offering this spring by a media company linked to Guo and Bannon, which raised more than $300,000, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The indictment against Bannon, 66, of Washington, D.C., and the others said Bannon received $1 million in the alleged scheme through a nonprofit 501(c)4 organization, which is required to devote its mission to social welfare. The others indicted were Brian Kolfage, 38, of Miramar Beach, Fla., the founder and public face of We Build the Wall, Andrew Badolato, 56, of Sarasota, Fla., and Timothy Shea, 49, of Castle Rock, Colo.

Kolfage lost both legs and an arm while serving in Iraq and received a Purple Heart, according to the Washington Post.

A release posted on the U.S. Postal Inspection Services website said the arrest was carried out by postal inspectors, as well as special agents of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York. Southern District spokesman James Margolin said Bannon was taken directly to New York and did not need to be brought to court in Connecticut because the two districts are contiguous.

Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said in a press release, While repeatedly assuring donors that Brian Kolfage, the founder and public face of We Build the Wall, would not be paid a cent, the defendants secretly schemed to pass hundreds of thousands of dollars to Kolfage, which he used to fund his lavish lifestyle. We thank the USPIS for their partnership in investigating this case, and we remain dedicated to rooting out and prosecuting fraud wherever we find it.

New York Division Inspector in Charge Philip Bartlett said, The defendants allegedly engaged in fraud when they misrepresented the true use of donated funds. As alleged, not only did they lie to donors, they schemed to hide their misappropriation of funds by creating sham invoices and accounts to launder donations and cover up their crimes, showing no regard for the law or the truth. This case should serve as a warning to other fraudsters that no one is above the law, not even a disabled war veteran or a millionaire political strategist.

In a press release, Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale said, The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to identifying and investigating anyone who exploits others for their own benefits. We are proud to work alongside the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York and I thank them for their partnership in keeping our communities and our vulnerable populations safe from financial exploitation.

The organizers of the We Build The Wall group portrayed themselves as eager to help the president build a big beautiful barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border, as he had promised during the 2016 campaign. They raised more than $25 million from thousands of donors, using their ties to Trump to build legitimacy, and pledged that 100 percent of the money would be used for the project.

But, according to the criminal charges unsealed Thursday, little of the money actually went to the wall. Instead, it was used to line the pockets of group members, including Bannon, who served in Trumps White House and worked for his campaign. He allegedly took more than $1 million, using some to secretly pay co-defendant Kolfage, the founder of the project, and to cover hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal expenses.

The indictment describes how Kolfage promised on social media that All money donated to the [We Build the Wall] campaign goes directly to wall!!! Not anyones pocket, and Im taking nothing! Zero. The indictment states that Kolfage sent mass emails to donors asking them to buy coffee from his company, saying the sales were the only way he keeps his family fed and a roof over their head.

In fact, the indictment states Kolfage used the $350,000 he received for home renovations, payments toward a boat, a luxury SUV, a golf cart, jewelry, cosmetic surgery, personal tax payments, and credit card debt.

Bannon, his spokeswoman and an attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday, nor did Kolfage.

Other prominent members of the group included former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, its general counsel; Erik Prince, founder of the controversial security firm Blackwater and brother of U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos; former Republican Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado; and former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling. They were not named in the indictment.

The arrests make Bannon the latest in a list of former Trump associates who have been prosecuted, including his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, his longtime lawyer, Michael Cohen, and his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn.

Trump quickly distanced himself from Bannon. I havent been dealing with him for a long period of time, he said Thursday. The president said he felt very badly about the situation.

I think its a very sad thing for Mr. Bannon, and I think its surprising, he told reporters at the White House, adding that he knew nothing about the project and never believed in a privately financed barrier.

When I read about it, I didnt like it. I said this is for government, this isnt for private people. And it sounded to me like showboating, he said.

Trump tweeted in July that he disagreed with doing this very small (tiny) section of wall, in a tricky area, by a private group which raised money by ads.

It was only done to make me look bad, and perhaps it now doesnt even work. Should have been built like rest of Wall, 500 plus miles, he said.

White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany also weighed in, saying Trump has not been involved with Steve Bannon since the campaign and the early part of the Administration, and he does not know the people involved with this project.

According to the indictment, the defendants used fake invoices and sham vendor arrangements to try to hide their efforts. Under the arrangement, Bannon and his co-defendants allegedly paid Kolfage $100,000 up front and an additional $20,000 monthly. Kolfage claimed he was not paid.

Some donors wrote directly to Kolfage saying they did not have a lot of money and were skeptical of online fundraising campaigns, the indictment said. Kolfage would reassure the donors that nobody was being compensated, according to the indictment.

Kolfage eventually spent some of the more than $350,000 he received on home renovations, payments toward a boat, a luxury SUV, a golf cart, jewelry, cosmetic surgery, personal tax payments and credit card debt.

The defendants learned last October from a financial institution that the group may have been under federal criminal investigation and took additional steps to conceal the fraud, it said. Charges included conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

A phone at the office of Bannons lawyer went unanswered Thursday. It was not immediately clear who would represent Kolfage at an initial court appearance, and his phone was unanswered.

We Build the Wall, launched Dec. 17, 2018, originally promoted a project for 3 miles of fence posts in south Texas that was ultimately built and largely funded by Fisher Industries, which has received about $2 billion in funds for wall contracts. The companys CEO, Tommy Fisher, did not respond to calls for comment.

In 2019, Kolfage and Fisher successfully constructed a half-mile of bollard-style border fence on privately donated land in New Mexico near El Paso, Texas. We Build The Wall used early construction to raise more cash and more private land donations along border states.

Construction faced resistance from local authorities in New Mexico and Texas and drew accusations of improper permitting. In May, federal officials found that a section of Fishers privately funded wall violated flood construction standards along the Rio Grande and caused erosion.

Dustin Stockton, who helped start the campaign but left the project to work on the 2020 presidential election, said it seemed clear federal prosecutors were attacking political infrastructure that supports President Trump right before the election. He was not charged in the case.

Bannon led the conservative Breitbart News before being tapped to serve as chief executive officer of Trumps campaign in its critical final months, when he pushed a scorched-earth strategy that included highlighting the stories of former President Bill Clintons accusers. After the election, he served as chief strategist during the turbulent early months of Trumps administration.

The combative Bannon was the voice of nationalist, outsider conservatism, and he pushed Trump to follow through on some of his most contentious campaign promises, including his travel ban on several majority-Muslim countries. But Bannon also clashed with other top advisers, and his high profile sometimes irked Trump. He was pushed out in August 2017.

Bannon, who served in the Navy and worked as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs before becoming a Hollywood producer, has been hosting a pro-Trump podcast called War Room that began during the presidents impeachment proceedings and has continued during the pandemic.

A day before the indictment was unsealed, Kolfage was interviewed by Bannon on War Room. He discussed a dispute with a fundraising platform and encouraged future donors to go straight to their website.

Bannon asked him whether he thought the wall could get built for Trump to fulfill his campaign promise. I think we stand in a pretty good spot, as long as he gets elected, Kolfage said.

According to the Sarasota Herald Tribune, Bannon used Badolatos address to register to vote in Florida in 2016, even though he was also registered in New York. The two have a two-decade-long relationship, the newspaper reported.

The Lady May, a 151-foot-long yacht built in 2014, is listed for sale by Moran Yacht & Ship for $27.9 million. Built by Feadship, its interior is an elegant blend of white marble, bleached oak, stainless, and Macassar ebony that creates a modern yet warm and welcoming environment, according to a listing on Boats International. The yacht also has an aluminum hull and superstructure, making the boat instantly recognizable in every port and anchorage.

The two-deck yacht weighs 406 tons, displacing 352 tons, has a maximum speed of 19 knots and a range of 3,000 nautical miles, according to the listing. The website vesselfinder.com reports that a yacht called the Lady May, sailing under the flag of the Cayman Islands, is anchored off the East Coast.

The Postal Inspection Service, the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Postal Service, investigates fraud and other financial crimes committed through the mail.

edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  A Guatemalan man who had been living in a makeshift migrant camp while waiting to petition the U.S. government for asylum drowned in the Rio Grande near Brownsville, Texas, aid workers said Wednesday.

Edwin Rodrigo Castro de la Parra, 20, died Tuesday, according to Sister Norma Pimentel, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley. Pimentel said she spoke with Castro de la Parras family, but the conditions surrounding his death are unclear.

Castro de la Parra had gone to the rivers edge because some pregnant women he knew had become desperate and were attempting to illegally cross the river, Pimentel said.

Its unclear whether anyone saw the moments leading up to his death many migrants don't speak up for fear of persecution. But Pimentel said his body later floated to the riverbank.

Castro de la Parra was seen as a leader within the Guatemalan migrant community at the camp, according to Pimentel. She said the loss was felt throughout the camp and mourners had been gathered throughout the day crying in disbelief that he had died.

It hurts my heart to see the families crying, Pimentel said. To hear them say please get me out of here, I am scared. I cant take it any longer.

Pimentel said Castro de la Parra is survived by his wife and child. She said he was one of many who escaped violence and feared for his life and arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border and had been waiting for nearly a year to legally petition for entry to the U.S. on grounds of asylum.

Andrea Rudnik, co-founder of aid organization Team Brownsville, said Castro de la Parra loved to help around the camp and had been distributing tents to fellow migrants the day before he died. She said he will be remembered as a vibrant, intelligent young man who spoke Spanish and an indigenous language fluently and was a leader for his community.

Really, he died because our administration doesnt allow people to freely cross to seek asylum, Rudnik said. So, that quest to request asylum cost him his life.

Story continues

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and the City of Matamoros did not immediately respond to a request for comment at the time of publication.

More than 1,000 migrants waiting to seek asylum are estimated to be in the camp, which sits along the rivers edge in Matamoros, Mexico, across from Brownsville. The camp grew significantly last October after the Migrant Protection Protocols  known as President Donald Trump's Remain in Mexico policy  rolled out along the U.S.-Mexico border. Some families are waiting for court appointments in the U.S., while others have yet to present themselves to U.S. authorities while the border remains closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

___

Acacia Coronado is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2020 / VanGold Mining Corp (the "Company" or "VanGold") (TSXV:VGLD)(OTC PINK:VGDLF) is pleased to announce it has signed an option agreement (the "Agreement") to re-purchase three underlying royalties on ... Vangold Mining Corp.

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2020 / VanGold Mining Corp (the "Company" or "VanGold") (TSXV:VGLD)(OTC PINK:VGDLF) is pleased to announce it has signed an option agreement (the "Agreement") to re-purchase three underlying royalties on its El Pinguico silver and gold project located 7km south of Guanajuato, Mexico.

CEO James Anderson stated: "We are thrilled to have reached this Agreement with the Dorado family, the original venders of the El Pinguico project. Upon closing, this Agreement will eliminate the burden of a substantial portion of both near term and long-term royalty obligations for the Company, and more closely align the interests of our Mexican partners with the interests of all VanGold shareholders."

In order to exercise the option (the "Option"), the Company will pay C$1,680,000 cash (C$5,000 paid) and issue 3,750,000 units of VanGold (as described below) to Exploraciones Mineras Del Bajio S.A. de C.V. ("EMBSA"), the original vendor of the property in order to eliminate three underlying royalties from the El Pinguico concession. VanGold has until December 31, 2020 to exercise the Option.

Hernan Dorado, a director of VanGold and Managing Director of EMBSA said "We are very pleased with this Agreement. All of us are working extremely hard toward the success of El Pinguico, and we view that success as just a first step in transforming VanGold into a significant player within the Mexican precious metals mining community."

Upon exercise of the Option, VanGold's Mexican subsidiary, Obras Mineras El Pinguico, S.A de C.V., will own its undivided 100% interest in the El Pinguico silver and gold project free from royalties, save for a 15% net profits royalty in favour of EMBSA solely on the existing above ground and underground stockpiles of mineralized material. There will be no other royalties, net smelter returns or otherwise, on the El Pinguico project including the existing stockpiled material.

Story continues

Under the Agreement, VanGold has the Option to repurchase the following royalties from EMBSA:

a 4% Net Smelter Royalty (NSR) on all broken material' within both the above ground and underground stockpiles; a 3% Net Smelter Royalty (NSR) on all newly established in-situ material discovered on the El Pinguico property; and a 5% Net Profits Interest (NPI) on all newly established in-situ material discovered on the El Pinguico property.

In order to exercise the Option and re-purchase the above-noted royalties, VanGold has until December 31, 2020 to pay an additional C$1,675,000 cash and issue 3,750,000 units of VanGold ("Units") to EMBSA. An upfront option payment of C$5,000 has been paid to EMBSA with the execution of the Agreement. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share and one non-transferable common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant") of VanGold. Each Warrant will entitle EMBSA to purchase one additional common share of VanGold at a price of $0.175 within five years of closing.

Hernan Dorado Smith, a director of VanGold is also the Managing Director and a principal shareholder of EMBSA, and as such the Agreement constitutes a "related party transaction" for the purposes of Multilateral Instrument 61-101, Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). VanGold intends to rely upon exemptions from the requirement to obtain a formal valuation and seek minority shareholder approval for the Agreement on the basis that the fair market value of Mr. Smith's interest in the Option, if exercised, will be less than 25% of VanGold's current market capitalization.

The Agreement is subject to the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The El Pinguico Project:

El Pinguico is a high-grade gold and silver deposit that was mined from the early 1890s until 1913. Toward the end of that period it was mined exclusively by The Pinguico Mines Company of New York City, whose shares traded on the Boston and New York Stock Exchanges. The mining was done principally from the El Pinguico and El Carmen veins, which are thought to be splays off the Mother Vein, or Veta Madre'.

The Veta Madre is associated with a mega fault that outcrops for 25 kilometres and is the most important source of precious metal mineralization in the region. The Veta Madre may cross VanGold's property at depth, underneath the high grade El Pinguico and El Carmen veins. Very limited drilling has been done on the property and no drilling has attempted to encounter the Veta Madre at depth.

Hernan Dorado Smith, a director of VanGold and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

About VanGold Mining Corp.

VanGold Mining is an exploration and development company engaged in reactivating high-grade past producing silver and gold mines near the city of Guanajuato, Mexico. The Company's flagship El Pinguico project is a significant past producer of both silver and gold located just 7km south of the city. The Company remains focused on the near-term potential for development and monetization of its surface and underground stockpiles of mineralized material at El Pinguico, and in delineating silver and gold resources through underground and surface drilling on projects located in this historic mining camp.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"James Anderson"

Chairman and CEO

For further information regarding VanGold Mining Corp, please contact:

James Anderson, Director, +1 (778) 989-5346

Email: james@vangoldmining.com

Continue to watch our progress at: www.vangoldmining.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.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance (including, but not limited to, the Option to buy back certain existing royalties on the Company's El Pinquico project in Mexico from EMBSA and the proposed work programs, and potential for near term monetization of existing stockpiles of mineralized material, at El Pinguico) and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected including, but not limited to, market conditions, availability of financing, currency rate fluctuations, actual results of exploration and development activities, environmental risks, future prices of gold, silver and other metals, operating risks, accidents, labor issues, delays in obtaining governmental or regulatory approvals and permits, and other risks in the mining industry. In addition, there are no assurances that the Company will exercise the Option to repurchase the royalties set out in the Agreement on the terms contemplated therein or at all. There is also uncertainty about the spread of COVID-19 and the impact it will have on the Company's operations, supply chains, ability to access El Pinguico or procure equipment, contractors and other personnel on a timely basis or at all and economic activity in general. All the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required by law.

VANGOLD MINING CORP.

PH: +1(778) 989-5346 E: info@vangoldmining.com W: vangoldmining.com

CA: Suite 2820 - 200 Granville Street, Vancouver B.C. V6C 1S4

MX: Carretera - Guanajuato - Silao km 5.5, Int 4, Col. Marfil CP36250, Guanajuato, Gto., Mexico

SOURCE: VanGold Mining Corp.





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/602541/VanGold-Options-Back-Royalties-to-Streamline-El-Pinguico-Ownership-Structure




KYIV. Aug 20 (Interfax-Ukraine)  The initiative of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to raise the minimum wage is supported by the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine, First Deputy Chairman of the Joint Representative Body of Trade Union Associations, Deputy Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine Oleksandr Shubin has said.

"Regarding the proposals made by the head of state today, the trade unions have analyzed these indicators, and here, analyzing these figures, we rely on the provisions of the General Deal, which we signed in 2019 with the government authorities and employers. Due to the norms of this General Deal, when determining the level the minimum wage we proceeding from two indicators: the first is that the minimum wage cannot be lower than the actual subsistence rate of an able-bodied person. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Social Policy, the actual subsistence rate is UAH 5,150, " Shubin told Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday.

He said that the first step to be considered by the parliament on 25 August will be to raise the minimum wage to this level. The second step will be to increase, according to the president's initiative, the minimum wage from January 1, 2021 to the level of UAH 6,000.

"With the third step, which is envisaged in the middle of 2021, we should actually get closer to the next indicator, which is the benchmark in the General Deal. This is a European indicator that is guided by the recommendations of the European Parliament in 2008 and says that the level of the minimum wage in the country should to be no more than two times less than the average wage in the country. That is, the minimum wage should be at least 50% of the average wage," Shubin said.

Thus, the Federation of Trade Unions believes that Zelensky's initiatives are fully consistent with the previously reached agreements between the government, employers and workers.

As reported, on August 6, Zelensky submitted to parliament a bill on amendments to the 2020 national budget, which plans to increase the minimum wage to UAH 5,000 from September 1.

Last week, the government approved a macroeconomic forecast for 2021, which also provides for a two-stage increase in the minimum wage to UAH 6,000 and UAH 6,500 in 2021.
Tourism businesses are at boiling point over the lack of uncertainty due to coronavirus restrictions, and jobs are on the line, a Senate inquiry has been told.

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Jenny Lambert has told the inquiry an immediate fix for the sector is to ensure business is confident of a way forward.

She says business confidence has been rocked by decisions made after Victoria's virus outbreak, particularly on border closures on the basis of a small number of cases.

'The frustration of the business community is boiling over,' she said on Thursday.

'Businesses will hang on - they'll keep remortgaging their house, they'll keep doing whatever it takes to hang on if they see a future.

Australia's tourism industries are at boiling point after tough COVID-19 restrictions forced borders to shut (pictured tourist in the Whitsundays)

'But if they don't see an immediate future then it's very hard for them to hang on and that will mean many, many thousands of jobs lost in tourism in the next month or two.'

ACCI has warned 172,000 businesses only have two weeks left of financial reserves.

Tourism groups are frustrated state governments haven't stuck to the coronavirus roadmap and are urging for national guidelines on when borders can close and reopen.

Australian Tourism Industry Council chief Simon Westaway has suggested state borders reopen after 28 days of no community transmission.

Without public confidence, there will be no sustainable tourism industry in the future.

'This is the critical elixir,' Mr Westaway said.

Queensland's border closures alone has cost $21 million and 173 jobs a day.

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has warned 172,000 businesses only have two weeks left of financial reserves due to the pandemic (pictured couple wear face masks in Melbourne this week)

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will discuss border controls with premiers and chief ministers when national cabinet meets on Friday.

The Senate inquiry also heard from hospitality workers who expressed frustration about the impending JobKeeper rate reduction.

United Workers Union member Josephine Annink told the inquiry she had no choice but to drain her superannuation account to stay afloat.

It comes as Qantas announced they will not begin flying internationally again until at least July 2021 as it records a $2billion loss in the 2020 financial year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At least 6,000 staff lost their jobs and another 20,000 were stood down as the embattled airline's profits plunged by 91 percent after the crisis grounded almost all international travel in early 2020.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the second half of 2020 was the toughest few months in the Flying Kangaroo's illustrious 99-year history - it turns 100 on November 16th - and called on state premiers to reconsider tough border closures.

Qantas will not begin flying internationally again until at least July 2021 as it records a $2billion loss in the 2020 financial year due to the COVID-19 pandemic

'The impact of COVID on all airlines is clear. It's devastating and it will be a question of survival for many,' he said.

'We don't understand why states with zero cases still have borders closed to other states with zero cases... If it's safe, we need to reopen them.'

A statement released by Qantas on Thursday morning described 2020 as 'the most challenging period in its long history'.

Bosses confirmed Qantas' international flights were unlikely to restart until at least July 2021, and domestic travel would be at 20 per cent of its usual levels.

Victoria has recorded 240 new cases in the last 24 hours and 13 more deaths, taking the national toll to 463.

A woman who works at a youth detention centre in Brisbane has tested positive for coronavirus, with authorities busily testing residents.

Western Australia is planning to put ankle monitoring bracelets on anyone in hotel quarantine who is deemed to be at risk of absconding.

Deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth has encouraged state and territory leaders to be as transparent as possible about their decision-making over border closures.

'What I would say ... is it's a general principle of medicine when you're doing anything to treat a problem is 'first do no harm'.'
After Ramadan or Ramzan, Muharram is considered to be the most sacred month in Islam and it marks the beginning of the lunar calendar which Islam follows. Unlike the Gregorian calendar that consists of 365 days, Islamic calendar has about 354 days divided into 12 months. Muharram is the first month in Islamic calendar followed by Safar, Rabi-al-Thani, Jumada al-Awwal, Jumada ath-Thaniyah, Rajab, Shaban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Zu al-Qadah and Zu al-Hijjah.

The Islamic New Year, also known as Al Hijri or Arabic New Year, is celebrated on the first day of Muharram as it was in this holy month that Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Medina. However, the 10th day of the month, known as Ashura, is mourned by Shia Muslims in the rememberance of the matryrdom of Prophet Muhammads grandson, Hussain Ibn Ali.

ALSO READ: Muharram 2020: WhatsApp messages, Facebook status, quotes and SMS to wish Islamic New Year or Al Hijri 1442

Date

Depending on the sighting of the moon, Al Hijri 1442 will fall on August 21 in India, marking the first day of Muharram. The word Muharram means not permitted or forbidden hence, Muslims are prohibited from taking part in activities like warfare and use it as a period of prayer and reflection.

Observing a fast on this day is considered a sunnah since Prophet Muhammad to kept a roza on this day after Prophet Musa or Moses as per the Sunni tradition. On the other hand, Shia Muslims refrain from attending and celebrating all joyous events in this period and observe the fast on the tenth day of Muharram, commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain who was the son of Hazrat Ali and the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.

Significance

It was in the month of Muharram that Allah saved the Children of Israel from Pharaoh. As a sign of gratitude to Allah, Prophet Musa fasted on this day that is the 10th of Muharram. In 622 CE, when Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Medina in the month of Muharram, he learnt from the Jews that they fasted on this day following the ways of Prophet Musa. Wanting his followers to show the same gratitude to Allah, Prophet Muhammad decided to observe a two-day fast - one on the day of Ashura and the day prior that is the 9th and 10th day of Muharram. These are the traditional customs of Sunni Muslims.

The Shia community remembers the massacre on the 10th day, Ashura, when Imam Hussain was said to be beheaded in the battle of Karbala. To mark public mourning and remembering the pain given to their great leader and his family, members of Shia community puts on black clothes, observes abstinence, fast and take out processions on this day.

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A member of a cheque cloning gang making fraudulent withdrawals from the bank accounts of government and non-government organisations was arrested in Lucknows Vibhuti Khand area on Wednesday night, police officials of the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UP STF) said on Thursday.

The gang was operational in different cities of the state, as well as other states, the officials added.

Inspector general (IG) of police, UP STF, Amitabh Yash, said a gang member identified as Jaunpur resident Arvind Tewari was arrested but three key members Shadab Anwar Sheikh, Ashraf Alam Khan and Manish Maurya, as well their associates, were still out of police reach.

He said the gang withdrew nearly 40 lakh from the bank account of Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) by cloning four cheques in July. The chief manager of Bank of Barodas Vibhuti Khand branch, where UPEIDA has its account, lodged an FIR with the Vibhuti Khand police station on August 8 after detecting the fraudulent withdrawal of the amount, Yash said.

Another STF official said the gang similarly cloned cheques of the bank accounts of Dr Shakuntala Mishra National Rehabilitation University and Uttar Pradesh State Ayush Society but failed to get them cleared. He said the gang was operational for the past few years and it was suspected to have withdrawn money from the bank accounts of some government and non-government organisations by using the same method.

The STF official said the gang exploited loopholes in the cheque truncation system (CTS) or the image based clearing system of cheques implemented by Reserve Bank of India from August 1, 2013.

After implementation of this system, cheques are no longer sent for clearance. Only their digital images are sent. This system was implemented to cut down the time required in cheque clearance. It also helps banks in maintaining the data of cheques cleared through the centralised image archival system, he said.

The official said the fraudsters used the sent images of cloned cheques, which could not be detected digitally as they carried correct details of the bank, account holders, account number, cheque number and the balance in the account in question.

The gang used to procure cheque books of various banks through their sources within the banking system after paying them some money. The gang used to prepare the cloned cheques with the help of printers and laptops and fill them in with details of account holders that they already had procured with help of insiders, he said.

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Intertrust Group, a global provider of tech-enabled corporate and fund solutions, today announces the creation of a new global offshore law firm, Intertrust Law, managed from the Cayman Islands. This represents a new landmark moment in the company's 68-year history and promises to set the new benchmark for service providers in the region.

Intertrust Law will provide Cayman Islands legal advice covering the practice areas of investment funds, corporate and fund finance, structured finance, litigation and private clients with business development teams based globally. The expansion into legal advice will further strengthen Intertrust's market position in this key region.

Intertrust Law will be a Cayman Islands general partnership led by Managing Partner Ian Gobin and operated and managed independently from Intertrust Group.

Stephanie Miller, CEO of Intertrust, commented: "Adding legal advice to our service portfolio further strengthens our position in this strategically important market. We have already built a leading market position in this region and, with Intertrust Law, we can now offer an even more holistic solution to our clients to help them invest, grow and thrive."

"We always strive to meet the evolving needs of our clients and there is clear demand for a service provider who can combine legal advice in all the major fund jurisdictions around the world with the specialist suite of complementary services offered by our fiduciary and fund services teams, which is a cornerstone of our expertise and reputation," said James Ferguson, Head of Americas at Intertrust Group.

"I am excited to join Intertrust and play a key role in offering clients a new, compelling, proposition. We have seized the opportunity to build the next generation of Cayman law firm from the ground up, utilizing the latest technology and client experience from day one, unrestricted by legacy. And we are combining that with the greatest talent in the market," said Ian Gobin.

Intertrust has offices in over 30 countries, including the United States, China and the United Kingdom, and more than 3,800 staff. Its clients include 60% of the top 10 Fortune Global 500, and 80% of the top 50 Private Equity International 300 firms. Its wholesale clients focus on direct investment into property infrastructure, private equity, debt, and venture capital investments.

Attachment
Representatives from Hyundai Motor Group, Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) and Fortescue Metals Group (FMC) sign a memorandum of understanding Thursday to jointly develop innovative hydrogen technologies. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group



By Kim Hyun-bin



COVID-19 has taken a toll on global automakers, but that has not stopped Hyundai Motor Group from taking the initiative to invest in research and development for future cars, hoping to become a leading player in the future industry and better prepare for the post-COVID era.



Last year, Hyundai announced its 2025 strategy, revealing a plan to inject 20 trillion won into future businesses. In the autonomous vehicle field, the carmaker plans to invest 9.7 trillion won within the next six years.



To speed up the process, the country's leading carmaker has been inking partnerships and joint ventures with foreign companies with specialization in the field.



Hyundai Motor Group joined hands with Ireland-based self-driving technology startup Aptive to establish Motional. Each company invested $2 billion.



Hyundai is pinning high hopes on Motional and has sent key personnel from the company's autonomous department to the newly established entity.



According to Hyundai, Jang Woong-jun, vice president and head of the Autonomous Driving Center, will also hold the position of chief strategy officer (CSO) of Motional.



In 2017, Jang gained the spotlight after being promoted to an executive position at age 37. He has led efforts in autonomous research and establishing the joint venture with Aptive.



"Jang will concurrently hold the position in Hyundai and as the CSO of Motional," a Hyundai official said. "The dispatch of key autonomous driving-related personnel to Motional is to create synergy for robotaxis. We will be focusing on developing autonomous driving vehicles."



Starting this year, Motional is scheduled to test fully autonomous vehicle systems and technologies and plans to supply the system to robotaxis and other mobility businesses in 2022.



Hyundai says it will provide its combustion engine vehicles, electric vehicles (EVs) and hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) to the joint firm for research and road tests.



Hyundai's initial goal was to develop a Level 4 autonomous vehicle by 2024, but the plan was advanced to 2022 after the establishment of Motional, with the company aiming to become the world's first to release such technology.



According to the Society of Automotive Engineers International, there are five levels of driving automation. At Level 4, a vehicle can drive itself under limited conditions. At Level 5, the automated driving features can operate in any conditions.



Hyundai Motor is also scheduled to unveil a next-generation EV battery platform next year through a partnership with U.S. EV company Canoo.



The two companies plan to expand the battery platform on the bottom of the EV, which will open up opportunities to develop diverse concepts and designs for the vehicles.



Starting with the IONIQ5, set to be released next year, Hyundai plans to unveil three other EV lineups by 2024, with the goal of creating 560,000 annual vehicle sales by 2025.



Hydrogen partnership



On a related note, Hyundai inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) and the world's fourth-largest iron ore production company Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) to develop hydrogen production technologies and products, Thursday.



The three companies will jointly develop innovative hydrogen technologies as well as cooperate to establish hydrogen supply infrastructure.



"The innovative hydrogen supply infrastructure and technology will help vitalize the hydrogen economy in Korea and Australia," said Chi Young-cho, president of Hyundai Motor Group. "Through the MOU we will form the foundation for clean hydrogen infrastructure."


The US-based National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will assist Indias aircraft accidents and incidents investigating agency, the Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), in the latters probe in the Kozhikode Air India Express aircraft crash on August 7. The crash killed 18 people on board, including both the pilots.

NTSB is an independent US-based government agency investigating accidents.

As per the requirements of Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents & Incidents) Rules 2017 & ICAO Annex 13, AAIB, as the agency from the State of Occurrence has notified the NTSB, which is an agency from the State of Manufacturer about the accident.

Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (ICAO), reflects the standards and recommended practices covering aircraft accident and incident investigation. It also stipulates that the State of Occurrence shall institute an investigation into the circumstances of the accident and be responsible for the conduct of the investigation and allows State of Manufacture to participate in the investigations.

The Air India Express plane involved in the accident was a Boeing 737 aircraft, manufactured in the US.

Also Read: Royal Aeronautical Society fellow asks for court of inquiry into Kozhikode crash

The flight, operating as IX 1344 from Dubai to Kozhikode International airport, overshot the table top runway in rainy conditions and fell into a 35 ft valley after crashing into the airport fence wall.

Confirming the development, AAIB said, NTSB has appointed Accredited Representative and Technical Advisors to assist in the investigation as per ICAO Annex 13 protocol. The investigating team is co-ordinating with the Accredited Representative/Technical Advisers appointed by NTSB. As and when any assistance is required by the investigating team, the same will be intimated to them.

Also Read: 26 who helped passengers of crashed plane in Kozhikode contract Covid-19

Meanwhile, AAIB has appointed a five-member team headed by Captain SS Chahar to probe the accident. Other team members include operations expert Ved Prakash, senior aircraft maintenance engineer Mukul Bharadwaj, aviation medicine expert Group Captain (Dr) Y S Dahiya and AAIB deputy director Jasbir Singh Largha. According to Aurobindo Handa, director general of AAIB, the team has been instructed to complete the investigation and submit the report in five months.

A senior official from the ministry from civil aviation said the investigation will be thoroughly conducted and the report is expected to be submitted before the internationally accepted time limit of one year.

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A Pakistani court on Thursday issued a bailable arrest warrant against former prime minister in a 34-year-old land allotment case in which he was accused of misusing his power when he was chief minister of Punjab province in 1986.

The accountability court in Lahore ordered police to ensure serving of the summons at all known addresses of Sharif in the land case.

Jang/Geo media group owner Mir Shakilur Rehman is also facing charges in the case and has arrested in March.

During the proceedings, police told the court that the summons could not be served at the Model Town and Jati Umra residences of Sharif because of his unavailability.

Judge Asad Ali directed police to serve the summons here and abroad residences of Sharif.

The judge also extended judicial remand of Shakilur Rehman till September 3.

Sharif has been declared an absconder in this case for his "continuous non-appearance" before the investigation team.

The three-time premier had left for London in November last year after the LHC granted him a four-week permission to go abroad for treatment.

He had submitted an undertaking to the court to return to Pakistan citing his record of facing the law and justice within four weeks or as soon as he is declared healthy and fit to travel by doctors.

Sharif was also given bail in the Al-Azizia Mills corruption case in which he was serving a seven-year prison sentence in Kot Lakhpat Jail.

He was also given bail in another money laundering case to facilitate his travel abroad.

Three weeks ago, Sharif submitted his latest medical report in the Lahore High Court stating that doctors have asked him to avoid going outside as he may contract COVID-19 therefore he could not return 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.)
A six-year-old boy who melted the hearts of Queensland's police force has succumbed to a terminal brain illness with his loving parents and family by his side.

Travis Heery was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma - an incurable and inoperable tumour of the brain stem in December 2019.

After hearing about the boy's diagnosis 'Special Junior Constable' Travis was formerly inducted into Queensland Police Service on July 3.

Police said he was an exceptional boy that had a heart of gold and the soul of an angel.

Queensland Police Force Special Junior Constable Travis Heery (pictured) has tragically died aged six

The brave young man was formally inducted into the Queensland police after being diagnosed with a terminal illness

Travis was diagnosed with with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma in December 2019 - an incurable and inoperable tumour of the brain stem

Officers in Brisbane's west held a special induction ceremony for their 'beloved little brother' at the Police Mounted Unit in Moggill, fulfilling his lifelong dream of becoming a QPS officer.

Weeks before he had a 'low key' visit by police who gave him an inside look at a cop car.

From that moment on brave Travis would wake up every morning, put his police cap on and tell his mother: 'I'm going to be a policeman.'

When Queensland Police found out about his desire to join their ranks, they thought his courage and strength would be a great addition.

Every morning Travis would wake up, put on his police cap and tell his mother: 'I'm going to be a policeman'

Police said he was an exceptional boy that had a heart of gold and the soul of an angel

Brave Travis died on Sunday August 16 with his loving parents and family by his bed side

The devastating tumour slowly attacks the nervous system removing the body's ability to function.

But over the course of nine months Travis endured 30 radiation treatments which successfully gave him full motion for 'two blissful months.'

Travis got to be a normal six year old boy again but eventually the tumour returned and the young boy entered a state of degenerative progression.

'Travis was one of us, he was part of our QPS brotherhood and sisterhood,' Queensland police said.

Travis is pictured on top of a police horse after being inducted in the Queensland police Force

Queensland police said Travis showed courage beyond his years and was 'one of us'

'He was our hero and most of all, we are so honoured and privileged to call him our little brother.

'Rest in peace Travis, our little brother and hero, through adversity you lived with the utmost courage and honour.'

Travis was six years, 10 months and 20 days old at the time of his death on Sunday, August 16.

Travis was six years, 10 months and 20 days old at the time of his death after battling the devastating illness for nine months
The Ministry of Education has said that Ontario school boards can tap into reserve funds to plan for back to school. Some of that money should be used to facilitate more outdoor learning.

So far, class sizes, space for physical distancing and PPE have been the focus of discussions. No one seems to be thinking seriously about using the outdoors as an integral part of the plan.

However, just as the return to restaurants started with dining on patios, the return to school should put more emphasis on outdoor spaces. Many schools already have some outdoor classroom space and more could be created if there is a will and available funds.

Open-air learning was part of the response to tuberculosis a century ago. According to TVO, W.E. Struthers, chief medical officer of the Toronto Board of Education, visited early forest schools in Germany and England before setting up the citys first forest school in the east end in 1912.

The article goes on to say that The Star reported that the school  where children spent hours in the fresh air playing, learning, and napping  was such a success that officials were inundated with applications for the next year.

While the weather would become more of a challenge as the fall turned into winter, spending as much time outdoors early on would help students and staff adjust to being with groups of people. It would also bring us closer to a potential vaccine and understanding more about the viruss transmission.

There are also educators who are well versed in safely leading open-air learning all year round. The TDSB, for example, has an entire outdoor education department with expertise in helping children learn outdoors in all weather conditions. Outdoor educators should be an integral part of back-to-school planning and their expertise must be shared widely.

I was disappointed when I heard the initial plans for high school students eliminated lunch, trips and even sports. While I understand the logistical issues that prompted these decisions, I also understand that these are the things that were missed most since remote learning became the norm. Including more outdoor time could help make up for these losses.

School is not just about the instruction of curriculum. The social skills and connections that come with all of the other aspects of going to school are just as important. The worldwide pandemic response has interrupted schooling for over a billion students with the UN calling it a generational catastrophe.

We must use every tool at our disposal to ensure we respond as effectively as possible and using outdoor spaces to advantage would be a step in the right direction.

One hundred years ago, open-air learning focused on helping vulnerable children regain their physical health. Modern outdoor education could help this generation of students reconnect with each other, their communities and give everyone the chance to reimagine where learning can happen.
New Delhi:

In reply to the BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasads rebuttal of Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhis allegations, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala addresses nation on the matter on Wednesday.

Randeep Surjewala said that Ganga has already been contaminated, hence there has been purification programs in practice.

"Credibility, honesty and integrity of PM Modi at stake; We (Congress) have great respect for PM Modiji. PM Modiji must come forward and say whether or not he took money from Sahara and Birla," said Randeep Surjewala.

Earlier, Ravi Shankar Prasad had said that our Prime Minister is pure like river Ganga and all the allegations are baseless against him.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhis alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Rs 40 crore from Sahara before becoming Prime Minister.

"IT Department raided Sahara Company on 22 Nov, 2014. The records are with IT Dept for last 2 and half years yet no action has been taken. An independent enquiry must be initiated. As per record with IT, Rs 2.5 cr was given to PM Modi on 30 Oct '13; Rs 5 cr on 12 Nov '13; Rs 2.5 cr on 27 Nov '13; Rs 5 cr on 29 Nov '13. Entries showed Rs 5 cr given to PM Modi on 6 Dec 13; Rs 5 cr on 19 Dec 13; Rs 5 cr on 13 Jan 14; Rs 5 cr on 28 Jan 14; Rs 5cr 22 Feb 14," said Rahul Gandhi.

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A dust haze blanket has descended on south-east Queensland, with dry and gusty conditions set to drive fire danger ratings up to 'very high' over the weekend, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

The air quality in areas across Brisbane, Ipswich and the Gold Coast was also rated as 'very poor' on Thursday, according to the Department of Environment and Science data.

The dust haze shown on satellite images on Wednesday night off the NSW coast before reaching Queensland on Thursday. Credit:Bureau of Meteorology Queensland - Twitter

Meteorologist Kimba Wong said dry and windy conditions were expected to linger and peak in the state's south-east on Saturday with "very high fire dangers" across a number of districts.

"Were expecting fresh winds to continue over the next couple of days, peaking on Saturday when well get another pulse of westerlies coming through," she said.
Los Angeles County health officials found promising numbers in their fights against the novel coronavirus on Wednesday, especially in deaths among Latinos.

According to a Los Angeles Times report, coronavirus deaths across all demographics in the county are "narrowing" gaps. In terms of race, Latino and Black people contribute to fewer deaths than earlier into the pandemic.

Los Angeles Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer noted that the coronavirus hit the hardest Black and Latino residents, who live in lower-income neighborhoods. They are also at higher risk of contracting the disease, as most of them work in the essential workforce.

In this work environment, people lacked the right protective equipment, such as masks, when the pandemic first hit the United States. Aside from the nature of their work, officials said there was also limited access to testing among these communities.

Ferrer walked through statistics that showed how differently Latino, Black, and Native Hawaiian-Pacific Islander residents were affected by the pandemic.

She said that a recent number showed signs of progress in closing the gap among ethnic groups. These developments are both in terms of new cases and deaths, according to NBC.

"All of this shows that we are slightly narrowing the gap for the populations that have really been the hardest hit," Ferrer said.

Latinos who are dying from coronavirus declined from 2.4 per 100,000 to 6 per 100,000.

In a statement, the county said while going down, the number is still 2.5 times higher than the death rate for white residents of Los Angeles.

Ferrer knows the county still has a long way to go before the gaps get significantly reduced. She remains hopeful, though, that the little progress will continue.

Access to testing is one of the areas the Ferrer believed to be playing responsibility in closing the gap among different groups.

"It allows people to be identified early on as being positive and they're able to isolate and their close contacts are able to quarantine," she said.

As people are informed early that they have the virus, it reduces the risks of spreading the disease to others. Ferrer also gave credit to the work of business owners in making sure that they meet health protocols.

L.A. Reports 60 Additional Deaths

Ferrer announced 61 deaths, five of which reported from Tuesday by health officials from Long Beach. There were four more coronavirus deaths from Long Beach reported on Wednesday, said the CBS Los Angeles.

Overall, since the pandemic began, there have been 5,396 people who died from the virus in Los Angeles. New cases in the county were also recorded at 1,956, bringing the total case numbers to 225,910.

With the progress in containing the virus and preventing deaths, health experts reminded people to stay alert.

"We can't let that progress allow us to become complacent," said state Health Services Director Dr. Christina Ghaly.

With a heatwave coming over California, some medical professionals are concerned that heat and smoke from fires will worsen the symptoms of those infected.

Ferrer advised those who have difficulty breathing to contact a health provider or to call 911 if needed.

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Trump, Iraqi Leader Meet to Discuss US Future Role in Iraq

WASHINGTONPresident Donald Trump on Aug. 20 hosted Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi at the White House as part of a strategic dialogue to increase Iraqs defensive capabilities and help reduce its dependence on Iran.

They also discussed the future role of U.S. troops in Iraq.

We have been taking our troops out of Iraq, fairly rapidly, Trump told reporters during the bilateral meeting with Kadhimi. We look forward to the day when we dont have to be there. And hopefully, Iraq can live their own lives, and they can defend themselves, which theyve been doing long before we got involved.

U.S. troops have been training and equipping Iraqi security forces and advising them in the fight against the ISIS terrorist group.

Weve been in Iraq for a long time, Trump said. And now were getting out, well be leaving shortly. And the relationship is very good. Were making very big oil dealsour oil companies are making massive deals.

When asked about a timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, As soon as we can complete that mission.

The president has made very clear he wants to get our forces down to the lowest level as quickly as we possibly can, he added.

President Donald Trump (L) welcomes Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi to the White House in Washington, on Aug. 20, 2020. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

A former intelligence chief, Kadhimi came into office in May amid a political crisis and ongoing unrest in the country. An opponent of Saddam Hussein, he lived for several years in exile in the UK and the United States, establishing good connections in both countries.

Iraqs economy currently faces a possible collapse as plummeting oil prices and the pandemic have caused severe economic hardship for the country.

The United States helped Iraq enormously in defeating ISIS and also in toppling the Saddam Husseins regime. We are working on building a strong relationship based on joint interest and economic interest, Kadhimi told reporters during the bilateral meeting.

The dialogue is aimed to bolster Iraqs defensive capabilities and improving its stability and security, which includes preventing the reemergence of ISIS, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters ahead of the meeting.

The Trump administrations goal is also to ensure that Irans malign and destabilizing influence is no longer present and affecting the stability, political, and security environment inside of Iraq, the official said, adding that the meeting with the prime minister is to assist him to be able to get to that point.

Kadhimis visit came a week after Trump announced Israels peace accord with the United Arab Emirates, a major breakthrough in the effort to advance peace in the Middle East.

Trump on Aug. 19 touted the accord, saying that other countries also want to come into the deal. He said he expects Saudi Arabia to join as well.

The Trump administration believes that there is much to be done to improve and expand Iraqs relations with the Arab Gulf states. According to Ranj Alaaldin, visiting fellow at the Brookings Doha Center, Iraq needs to form closer ties with other Arab countries to have a sustainable path to recovery.

With U.S. support and leadership, Iraq can become re-integrated into the Arab world, re-invigorate a relationship with the Gulf that is based on mutual interests to help revive the Iraqi economy, and reduce its dependence on Iran in the process, he wrote for the Brookings Institute.

The U.S. government also is pushing the Iraqi government to reach a sustainable budget deal with Iraqs Kurdistan region. Under the Iraqi constitution, the Kurdistan Regional Government in Erbil is entitled to a share of the national budget but that arrangement collapsed in 2014.

Washington also announced additional humanitarian aid of $204 million for food and clean water for Iraq.

In the afternoon following the meeting of Trump and Kadhimi, the U.S. State Department issued a statement supporting the rights of peaceful Iraqi protesters urging government reform: We are outraged by the targeted assassinations of civil society activists and attacks on protesters in Basrah and Baghdad.  We urge the Government of Iraq to take immediate steps to hold accountable the militias, thugs, and criminal gangs attacking Iraqis exercising their right to peaceful protest.
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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The City of Flint Water Plant is illuminated by moonlight on January 23, 2016 in Flint, Michigan.

Michigan will pay $600 million to compensate Flint residents whose health was damaged by lead-tainted drinking water after the city heeded state regulators' advice not to treat it properly, an attorney involved in the negotiations told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Details will be released later this week, according to the attorney, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about it ahead of an official announcement. The settlement was first reported by The Detroit News, MLive.com and WXZY-TV.

It is intended to resolve all legal actions against the state for its role in a disaster that made the impoverished, majority-Black city a nationwide symbol of governmental mismanagement, the attorney said.

The offices of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel have been negotiating for more than 18 months with lawyers for thousands of Flint residents who have filed suits against the state.

Ryan Jarvi, a spokesman for Nessel, declined to confirm the reports of a deal Wednesday night.

"We and the other parties are bound by a federal court order to maintain the confidentiality of detailed settlement and mediation communications until we reach a certain point," Jarvi said. "We have not yet reached the point where we can discuss a potential settlement."

Flint switched its water source from the city of Detroit to the Flint River to save money in 2014, while under control of a state-appointed emergency manager. State environmental regulators advised Flint, located about about 70 miles (112.65 kilometers) north of Detroit, not to apply corrosion controls to the water, which was contaminated by lead from aging pipes.

Residents of the city with a population of nearly 100,000 people used bottled water quickly began complaining that the water was discolored and had a bad taste and smell. They blamed it for rashes, hair loss and other health concerns, but local and state officials insisted it was safe.

Researchers with Virginia Tech University reported in summer 2015 that samples of Flint water had abnormally high lead levels. Shortly afterward, a group of doctors announced that local children had high levels of lead in their blood and urged Flint to stop using water from the river.

Then- Gov. Rick Snyder eventually acknowledged the problem, accepted the resignation of his environmental chief and pledged to aid the city, which resumed using Detroit water.

Residents used bottled water for drinking and household needs for more than a year. Researchers said in late 2016 that lead was no longer detectable in many homes.

Lawsuits against the state are being overseen by U.S. District Judge Judith Levy, who would have to approve the settlement.

Under the deal, the state would establish a $600 million fund and Flint residents could file claims for compensation. The amount awarded per applicant would be based on how badly they were harmed, the attorney told AP.

It calls for devoting 80% of the money to people who were under age 18 during the period when Flint was using river water, the attorney said.

If approved, the settlement would push state spending on the Flint water crisis over $1 billion. Michigan already has pumped more than $400 million into replacing water pipes, purchasing filters and bottled water, children's health care and other assistance.

Other suits are pending against Flint, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and private consultants that advised the city on water issues.
Casper City Council tabled an ordinance Tuesday night that would have banned the feeding of feral cats and other non-domesticated animals in the city, among a number of other changes to the animal code.

The vote has been postponed to Sept. 1.

About 20 protesters demonstrated outside City Hall prior to the councils meetings, asking that the ban be tabled. Those protesters had planned to appeal to the governing body during the regular meeting, but the council agreed to table the ordinance before the meeting even began.

Many of the demonstrators still took the opportunity to address the council, focusing on the feeding ban and proposed changes to the amount of time dogs can be tethered outdoors.

Presented with a handful of proposed amendments ahead of the regular meeting, the council opted to table the law until the new ordinances could be discussed.

Councilman Ken Bates proposed the new amendments. The amendments include one that would exempt feral cats and dogs from the wildlife feeding ban, alterations to the timeline for tethering and the inclusion of ducks in the citys existing allowance for chickens within city limits.

Many on the council seemed unaware new amendments had been proposed at all, until City Attorney John Henley went through each during the pre-meeting. The list of amendments had been included in the councils meeting packet, which members receive each Friday before their meetings. Multiple council members seemed to have not read their meeting packet.

Bates said as much during the pre-meeting.

This all went out in our packet on Friday, we all had plenty of time to read it, Bates said of the councils trepidation to pass the new amendments.

Regardless, the council hoped to discuss the changes before passing them into law, particularly because the ordinance would have been on third reading, giving residents very little time to hear the amendments as well.

The council has been working to update the citys animal care and control ordinance for the last month. The updates were meant to match the city code with Metro Animal Control officers work experiences.

Feral cats appear to be a large portion of that job.

In 2019, Caspers Metro Animal shelter took in more than 1,500 cats, 941 of which were captured by animal control officers. The shelter euthanized nearly 500 of the animals, according to its annual report.

Metro estimates on average 25% of its feline intakes are feral. Feral cats cant be adopted, and the shelter has said most feral cats it takes in are euthanized.

Metro officers, the local game and fish office, and a representative of the regional Audubon society have all advocated for the feeding ban.

Local animal advocates, however, have balked at the proposal, calling it cruel and ineffective. Backed by the national organization Alley Cat Allies, local advocates are hoping to start their own trap-neuter-return program in Casper.

The benefit of this approach, advocates say, is it greatly reduces the number of cats by limiting their ability to reproduce, eventually leading to sharp declines in feral cat populations, without having to euthanize the animals or deprive them of food.

Details of that effort are still in the works, said Jamie Jenkins, who was among the demonstrators Tuesday. Jenkins is the founder of Temporary Home Animal Rescue and has been organizing fellow animal lovers in the city to oppose the feeding ban.

There is the beginnings of a (local) organization coming together to facilitate a trap-neuter-return program, Jenkins said Tuesday.

Follow local government reporter Morgan Hughes on Twitter @morganhwrites

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Its getting more deadly to have a baby in America than it used to be.

American mothers had a better chance of surviving for a year after giving birth 25 years ago than they do today.

That makes the nations survival rate for new mothers worse than some third-world countries and worse than any other developed country.

Worse, instead of getting better, the United States is one of 13 countries that have seen their rate of maternal mortality increase in the last few years.

From 1991 to 2014, the rate of mothers dying within a year after giving birth in the U.S. increased from 10.3 per 100,000 live births to 23.8 per 100,000 live births, according to the Harvard Business Review.

And perhaps worse still, mothers of color are more than twice as likely to die within a year of childbirth as white mothers.

These disturbing statistics were revealed during a joint hearing by the Pennsylvania Senate and House Democratic policy committees on Aug. 12.

The hearing was at the request of state Sen. Judy Schwank, D- 11th Dist.; and state Reps. Mary Jo Daley, D-148th Dist. and Morgan Cephas D-192nd Dist.

The increasing rates of maternal mortality in the United States were extremely concerning before the coronavirus pandemic hit, but as we continue to fight the spread of COVID-19, we need to make sure that we are continuing to work for policies that give new moms and babies the healthiest outcomes possible, Schwank said.

Whats most disturbing is how preventable so much of this is, said state Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-18th Dist., who chairs the Senate Democratic Policy Committee. This is not just a womans issue, it affects whole families.

Pennsylvania has an alarming maternal morbidity rate, and the pandemic is highlighting the barriers and inequity in care, said Daley, adding, I am hopeful (the testimony) will transition to statewide policies.

What struck me most are the racial disparities, said Daley. Black women are more likely to suffer maternal mortality, and just think how that impacts a family.

Race in Medicine

Race, poverty, limited access to healthcare, drug addiction are all among the factors in Americas high death rate for mothers.

Now that the coronavirus pandemic has made seeking medical help seem more dangerous, those factors have only been exacerbated, said the experts testifying.

They included Mark Woodland, chairman of the obstetrics department at Reading Hospital.

Women dont just die immediately after giving birth. They die weeks and months later, and we are missing that, said Woodland, who added, there is such a thread of racism through all this.

Bias in health care is one of the deadliest threats to maternal and child health care, said Kimberly Seals-Allers, maternal and infant health strategist and founder of Irth app. Until we address bias, were not looking at this problem holistically, or looking at the problem at its core.

And the scope of the problem is not just measured in death, Seals-Allers said. Too many black and brown mothers have a story.

She said Black and Latina infants get worse care. Doctors give different treatment to women with the same symptoms depending on the color of their skin.

Implicit bias often shows up in healthcare settings when healthcare providers do not acknowledge pain, when providers restrict traditional cultural birthing practices, or ultimately take on a hierarchical decision-making role because of the stereotypes they hold or deeply-rooted biases, said Zahada Gillette-Pierce, a trainer at the sexual and reproductive health organization AccessMatters.

African-Americans are four times more likely to die in connection with pregnancy, according to Aasta Mehta, medical officer of womens health at the Philadelphia Department of Public Healths, Division of Maternal, Child and Family Health.

She is involved in providing training to re-educate providers to create a safe space and help eliminate bias.

The pandemic has exacerbated these issues and exposed the structural racism and health disparities, testified Robert Ferguson, chief policy officer for the Jewish Healthcare Foundation.

This is a fundamental issue of reproductive justice. We have to be honest about the racism and gender-based violence during this crisis, said LaTasha D. Mayes, president and CEO of New Voices for Reproductive Justice.

If our country is having a reckoning, we must dismantle the institutional against women who just want to have children, said Mayes. Race or zip code should not determine if someone has a healthy birth or not.

Those testifying said these disparities have existed for decades and, like so many inequities, have been made worse by the coronavirus pandemic.

Among the most obvious impacts are the economic damage to health providers.

Birth Options Closing

On Aug. 12 at 2:28 p.m., Adalyn Grace Grippo became the last baby born at Pottstown Hospital.

Delivered by Charles Touhey, Adalyn Grace weighed in at 7 pounds, 5 ounces, and measured 20-inches in length. Mom and baby were discharged at 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 13, just hours before Tower Health closed the maternity ward for good in a cost-cutting measure.

It will be the first time in more than 100 years Pottstown has not had a health facility dedicated to birth.

Thats not the only maternity facility thats been closed by Tower Health.

The Reading Birth Center was also closed, Nicole Chaney, a midwife who worked at the center, told the legislators during testimony.

Profits were prioritized over the lives of our mothers, said Chaney.

Chaney said midwifery is not only a preferred birth experience for families, but is less expensive to maintain. Its easier to support mid-wifery than open a maternity ward, she said.

Emily McGahey, associate clinical director of The Midwife Center for Birth and Womens Health, said a recent study found birth centers have better outcomes. She said they cost about 21 percent less than maternity wards and 16 percent fewer of their babies die in the first year of life.

The pandemic offers an opportunity to re-think how we fund resources around maternal health, said Cephas.

The economy is not just affecting health care providers, but their patients as well.

That those who are unemployed no longer have health insurance is a harrowing fact, said Schwank. Even before COVID-19, one quarter of women were unable to access the recommended number of prenatal visits.

I know we have a lot of work to do, said Schwank.

A video of the testimony is available on Boscolas website.
S torm Ellen is set to bring strong winds of 75mph to parts of the UK as Britons are told to expect travel disruption and power cuts.

People on camping holidays have been warned that trees could easily come down as Storm Ellen sweeps across Ireland and western parts of the UK.

With strong winds of 75mph due to hit the coast in Northern Ireland, forecasters said the storm is signalling conditions that are more akin to autumn and winter.

It follows days of heavy rain, flash floods and thunderstorms from Storm Kyle.

A Met Office yellow weather warning for wind stretches from the north of Scotland down to the Cornish coast and is in place until the early hours of Friday.

The Strand in Tramore, Co Waterford, Ireland is closed due to the weather conditions / PA

Warnings of potential travel delays and the possibility of power cuts will extend eastwards on Friday to also include central and northern England, as well as all of Wales.

Forecaster Luke Miall said Ellen will be felt for the next couple of days and is not going to move through really quickly so we will continue to see a really big area of low pressure through the rest of this week.

Northern Ireland is expected to face the worst of the winds, with inland gusts up to 65mph, and top speeds of 75mph on the coast.

People in western Scotland down to the south-west of England will also see winds of up to 65mph, which the Met Office forecaster described as fairly strong for the time of year.

Weather Forecast 19/08/2020

This is fairly unusual for August, wed usually see this through the autumn and winter months, Mr Miall said.

Given that the trees are still in leaf and a lot of people are on the holidays in the UK there could be some impacts of trees coming down more easily than what they would in the winter.

With people camping, impacts are likely to be a bit greater.

The stormy conditions come just a week after scorching temperatures across the UK with the mercury hitting 34C for six consecutive days.

Mr Miall said: We have gone from one extreme to the other, the first thing that springs to my mind with these sorts of events is climate change.

We are likely to see these swings in extreme events more frequently. Although I couldnt necessarily say these two events were directly caused by climate change, its likely that these sorts of swings in our weather will become more frequent.

Additional reporting by PA Media.
Its a given that anything owned by royalty will bring in the big bucks at an auction. But a set of chairs belonging to Charles X of France, which sold for 1 million, may be the most unexpected auction success yet (although definitely less unusual than the Queens Mickey and Minnie Mouse dolls).

The worlds most expensive seats included two armchairs and two regular chairs that were commissioned in 1778 by Charles Philippe, then the Count of Artois, and later King Charles X of France.

According to Artcurial, the French auction house that sold the pieces, the chairs were designed to furnish Charles bedchamber at his Chateau de Bagatelle. During the French Revolution, the furniture was confiscated and later sold, and Charles sought political asylum in Britain.

Artcurial

Charles later returned to his homeland in 1814 where he reigned as king from 1824 until 1830 when he abdicated the throne after riots that prompted the July Revolution.

Despite missing their seats and backs, the chairs were estimated to earn 450,000 when they were listed by the Swiss collector who owned them.

Artcurial

But after a bidding war, the chairs brought in 1.06 million with fees. Lets just hope the lucky bidder saved some money for those seat cushions.
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Website jingsourcing.com uses latest and advanced technologies like: JQuery and Boostrap. It is very popular on the web, it's within the 1 million most visited websites of the world at position 485384 by Alexa. It supports HTTPS and GZIP compression. The main html page has a size of 153970 bytes (150.36 kb uncompressed) and 24455 bytes (23.88 kb compressed).

This CoolSocial report was updated on 2021-12-17, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.
Mumbai, Aug 20 : Two flagship Aditya Birla Group companies - Hindalco Industries and UltraTech Ltd - have entered into a memorandum of understanding to deliver 1.2 million tonnes (MT) of red mud (also known as bauxite residue) annually to UltraTech's 14 cement plants located across 7 states.

With this, Hindalco will become the world's first company to achieve 100 per cent red mud utilisation across three of its refineries.

Red mud generated in the alumina manufacturing process is rich in iron oxides, along with alumina, silica and alkali. The cement industry has developed the capability to process red mud as a replacement for mined minerals such as laterite and lithomarge in its process.

So the waste of one industry will be used as an input material in another to strengthen a circular economy.

Hindalco is supplying red mud to UltraTech's cement plants where it has been proved to be an effective substitute for mined materials, successfully replacing up to 3 per cent of clinker raw mix volume.

Use of red mud reduces the cement industry's dependence on natural resources and promotes a circular economy, a statement from Hindalco said.

Hindalco's alumina refineries are currently supplying 250,000 metric tonnes of bauxite residue to cement companies every month, making Hindalco the world's first company to have enabled such large-scale commercial application of bauxite residue, the statement added.

In the current year, Hindalco aims to achieve 2.5 million metric tonnes of bauxite residue utilisation.

Satish Pai, Managing Director, Hindalco, said, "Hindalco has been working with cement companies to develop high-grade inputs for the construction industry. Hindalco has built a strong customer base and supplies red mud to over 40 cement plants every month. We have achieved 100 per cent red mud utilisation at three of our refineries and our vision is to achieve zero-waste alumina production across our operations. Hindalco's actions underscore our commitment to embracing solutions that have the potential to deliver long-term sustainability impact and transform the future." Globally, 160 million metric tonnes of red mud is produced annually and stored in large tracts of land which is a serious industry challenge. To find a sustainable solution, Hindalco invested in infrastructure and collaborated with cement companies, with UltraTech Cement being a key partner.

K.C. Jhanwar, Managing Director, UltraTech Cement, said, "UltraTech has been among the early adopters in India on the use of alternative raw materials and fuels in manufacturing and invested to build storage, handling and processing facilities. Use of waste like red mud as an alternative raw material for manufacturing cement requires infrastructure and process modification to ensure a win-win for both business and the environment." Last year, UltraTech consumed about 15.73 million metric tonnes of industrial waste as alternate raw material and about 300,000 metric tonnes as alternative fuel in its kilns.

Jhanwar added, "With an annual supply of 1.2 million metric tonnes of red mud from Hindalco, we expect to conserve more than 1 million metric tonnes of mined natural resources like laterite in our manufacturing process. Enhancing our contribution to the circular economy by strategically increasing the use of waste as raw material and fuel in the cement manufacturing process, is in line with our aim to achieve our long-term sustainability goals."
A few days ago, my colleague David Jones wrote a fascinating piece about East Grinstead, identifying it as 'The Town That Went Sects Mad'.

Not only is East Grinstead home to the European headquarters of the Church of Scientology, but there is a vast Mormon temple in a village nearby.

On top of all this, the West Sussex town is said to act as a magnet for Rosicrucians, Druids, Satanists and members of Opus Dei, the obscure and secretive Roman Catholic sect.

At least this has diverted attention from the town of Umbrage, recently twinned with the towns of Brouhaha in Germany and Pique in France. For over a century now, Umbrage has been the go-to destination for some of the angriest people in Britain.

Along with its outlying villages  Huff, Uppity, Grudge and Peevish  it has established itself as the perfect place to let off steam.

For over a century now, Umbrage has been the go-to destination for some of the angriest people in Britain

The BBC's Question Time programme has been broadcast from Umbrage. Gordon Ramsay has his finishing school there, teaching young chefs to berate their apprentices.

Local bigwig Lord Prescott was recently appointed President of the Umbrage Trade Association, motto: 'Non Nostra Culpa' ('Not Our Fault'). Arriving in Umbrage last week, I turned right at the Kenneth Noye School of Motoring.

I then drove past the Harold Pinter Theatre, internationally renowned for its annual production of Look Back In Anger, past the Beggars Belief public house and straight on until I reached the Very Crossroads, with its imposing statue of Henry VIII towering above the sign 'I SAID KEEP OFF THE GRASS', and, next to it, another sign: 'CAN'T YOU READ?'

When I arrived at the Umbrage Visitor Centre, I was greeted by Chief Tourist Officer Frank Bickering.

He was standing outside, looking ostentatiously at his watch and sighing loudly. 'What time do you call this, then?' he said.

I apologised for being two minutes late. 'Two? More like three,' he replied. 'And don't forget to wipe those shoes. Heaven knows where they've been.'

As Mr Bickering guided me into the centre, he informed me that I was entering at my own risk and that, furthermore, any breakages would have to be paid for. It was opened in 2015 by John Cleese, in a rousing speech delivered through a megaphone.

He began the speech on a characteristically light note. 'I'm only doing this because I need the money for my divorce,' he said, before adding: 'And since you ask, jokes are extra.'

The Umbrage Visitor Centre 'was opened in 2015 by John Cleese, in a rousing speech delivered through a megaphone'

I asked Mr Bickering if he could explain why Umbrage has become home to quite so many angry people. 'Angry? Who says we're angry? They've got a bloody cheek.' He said he preferred the term 'disgruntled'.

And we've got plenty to be disgruntled about. 'I mean, the sheer lack of respect these days. It makes you want to kick people.' He told me that a great many famous residents agreed with him, among them Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher.

When Liam appeared at the Umbrage Music Festival last year, he sang the first few lines of All You Need Is Love before pointing at the audience and barking 'Who you lookin' at?' and storming off stage.

I plucked up the courage to ask Mr Bickering if the townsfolk had ever thought of investing in counselling for anger management. 'Typically stupid question,' he replied.

'We pride ourselves on our Anger Management Centre  and make sure you spell that C-E-N-T-R-E, not C-E-N-T-E-R, which, let's face it, should be banned as a disgusting Americanism.'

He told me that the Umbrage Anger Management Centre (motto: Don't Get Me Started) trained hundreds of people every year to manage their anger.

'If you manage it successfully, you can increase it by up to 500 per cent. We'll show you how to make a minor irritation blossom into a bit of a gripe and from there into a fullscale temper tantrum.

'A high proportion of our former students have since become late-night phone-in hosts on leading radio stations. The others are the guests.'

In these uncertain times of Brexit, Covid, Trump and Cancel Culture, the previously quiet town of Umbrage has been a howling success, with thousands flocking to live and work there.

Mr Bickering even suggested that there are plans to annex Umbrage with the neighbouring town of Chipping Sourpuss, which is now acknowledged as a leader in online grievance, supplying up to 22 per cent of the world's insults and complaints.

'Makes you feel proud,' he said. 'Though not you. People like you don't know the meaning of the word.'
While a family from north-west Delhi was away at native village late last month, to perform the last rites of the head of the household who died of Covid-19, two men broke into their home and made off with 10 lakh cash and jewellery. After a harrowing investigation, in which their team braved flood waters and a boat capsize, the Delhi Police on Thursday said they have nabbed the suspects and recovered a part of the loot.

A part of the cash and jewellery was recovered from one of the suspects house in Maharjganj district of UP and some of it from a water tank atop the house of another suspect in Delhi, said Vijayanta Arya, deputy commissioner of police (north-west).

Police said the burgled house in Shakurpur in north-west Delhi belonged to 51-year-old Madan Kishore Pathak, an astrologer and a temple priest, who lived with his wife and three children.

Pathaks son Vedank said, On May 1, my father was diagnosed with Covid-19. He had kidney ailments as well and died on May 10. On the day we cremated him, my mother, my two older sisters and I were found positive for the virus.

After remaining in home isolation for a fortnight, the family left for their native village in Ayodhya to perform Pathaks last rites. On July 30, my neighbours saw the windowpane of our house broken and lights inside switched on. They alerted me and we returned to Delhi on June 1, Vedank said.

The family found the house ransacked and 10 lakh cash and gold and silver jewellery missing. The cash was for my fathers kidney transplant and the jewellery was for my sisters wedding that was scheduled for November, Vedank said.

When the police began their probe, the CCTV footage showed two suspects ,with their faces covered, walking away from the house. Later, they uncovered their faces, and this helped us identify them, a senior investigator said.

Our probe revealed that the suspects may fled Delhi. One of them, 19-year-old Nageshwar, belonged to Maharajganj district of Uttar Pradesh, the investigator said.

The police team reached Maharajganj to find the streets under water following heavy rain. On August 13, the team had to use a boat to ferry their car and themselves from one village to another. But the rain swollen river was difficult to navigate and the boat toppled. The policemen had to swim to safety, the officer said.

Eventually, the police were able to recover 3.1 lakh in cash and some jewellery from Nageshwars house. The police were then tipped off about the suspects fleeing to Delhi. On August 14, we arrested Nageshwar and his 21-year-old accomplice, Mohammad Chand, from Shakur Basti. At their instance, we recovered more cash and jewellery hidden in a water tank atop Chands house, the officer said.

The police have so far been able to recover 12.10 lakh in cash  a little more than what was reported stolen  and some jewellery, the officer said.
Manama

Bahrains Ministry of Health today reported that the Kingdom had conducted over one million COVID-19 PCR diagnostic tests. In an update on the Kingdoms COVID-19 response, Bahrains Minister of Health Faeqa bint Saeed Alsaleh, confirmed the milestone figure had been reached as part of the Trace, Test, Treat strategy that has involved proactive testing on a scale well above many other countries.

The Minister highlighted this strategy has resulted in Bahrain conducting 675 tests per 1,000 people, one of the highest rates in the world. Equally, with only 4.8 % of positive cases from total tested, Bahrain is recording cases well below the WHOs determination that an effective testing policy should identify no more than one positive case per 11 tests.

With a high recovery rate of 92.2%, the Minister explained Bahrain has been able to capture positive cases from those who are asymptomatic or with minor symptoms and has been able to quarantine and trace more effectively, minimising the potential for onward transmission.

The Minister of Health, HE Faeqa bint Saeed Alsaleh, said:

Passing the one million test mark is an important milestone for Bahrain. From the outset our mantra has been test, test, test. This achievement has only been made possible by the dedicated efforts of all frontline medical staff and first responders.

We will not rest on our laurels, and will continue to vigilantly monitor local, regional and international COVID-19 developments, amend our precautionary measures accordingly and expand our capabilities to ensure we continue to rise to this challenge and safeguard the health of every citizen and resident here in the Kingdom.
Then vice presidential candidate Joe Biden takes a selfie with a supporter in 2008. (Steve Helber / Associated Press)

Just days before the Democratic National Convention started this week, Michael Cohen, President Trumps former bagman and fixer, posted the foreword to his tell-all memoir.

Though Cohen refers to Trump as his onetime soul mate, he ends up describing a repulsive alliance based on seduction, betrayal and mutual exploitation. Its hard to imagine what soul mate even means when applied to the man for whom Cohen claims he did unspeakably dirty work, some of which landed him in prison and now house arrest.

From golden showers in a sex club in Vegas, to tax fraud, to deals with corrupt officials from the former Soviet Union, to catch and kill conspiracies to silence Trumps clandestine lovers, I wasnt just a witness to the presidents rise  I was an active and eager participant, Cohen wrote.

Cohen has a surprising gift for prison lit, with a voice-crying-in-the-wilderness cadence. He also knows readers are likely to loathe him, and he makes no effort to persuade them otherwise, except by offering keen, self-lacerating observations: I was so vulnerable to [Trump]s magnetic force because he offered an intoxicating cocktail of power, strength, celebrity and a complete disregard for the rules and realities that govern our lives.

Trump denies it all. But Cohen is persuasive. Besides, Americans have been witness to cruel and exploitative relationships such as this one since the start of the Trump administration.

In fact, looking at Trumps unholy partnerships with Atty. Gen. William Barr, Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and, for heavens sake, Russian President Vladimir Putin (whom Trump once aimed to make his "new best friend"), its sometimes hard to remember that real friendships still exist in politics, relationships in which neither person is regarding the other as an instrument of personal power.

Fortunately, friendship of that kind has been on display at the socially distanced, Zoomed DNC, in a series of sentimental and even heart-opening videos that show Joe Biden connecting with people again and again.

Story continues

Ill speak for myself. I didnt expect to cry  actually ugly cry  at the sight of Bidens onetime commuter train. But I did.

As a widower and first-year senator in 1973, the story goes, Biden began commuting daily on Amtrak between Washington and Delaware, so he could spend bedtime and breakfast with his newly motherless sons. During the 30-plus years he took the train, Biden got to know his fellow passengers and especially the Amtrak crew, buying rounds of coffee and treating them as important people.

He was very interested in my life, my children, as time went on, my grandchildren, Gregg Weaver, a retired conductor, said on the video.

The weeping really started when the voiceover explained that, after Biden stopped taking the train, Weaver had a heart attack.

I was in a barber shop in New York City, Weaver said, and the phone rings. And sure enough it was Vice President Biden, asking me how Im doing. He wanted to know the whole story.

He wanted to know the whole story. Suddenly I saw Biden  and any good officeholder in a working democracy  as, above all, a keeper of other peoples stories. Pretty square-one stuff, but, after so many years under the leadership of an undemocratic president, were at a square-one moment.

The Biden friendships kept coming. On Tuesday, another video chronicled Bidens across-the-aisle friendship with the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). It too dated to the 1970s, and continued until McCains death two years ago. With Joe Biden, his colleagues knew that your points were equally valid to him, said Ronald Klain, Bidens onetime chief of staff.

Maybe it shouldnt be exciting to progressives in 2020 to see two old centrist white dudes joking and calling each other son of a gun. But its been a long time since weve seen politicians in a relationship that doesnt consist of grinding each other to a pulp so that money can be printed on whatevers left behind.

The winning friendship entry featured Jacquelyn Brittany, a 31-year-old elevator operator in a blue shirt and light orange necktie. Brittany is the woman who made social media waves in December when she blurted out I love you to Biden while they rode up in her elevator together.

On Tuesday, Brittany did the actual nominating of Biden. But first she recalled their elevator interaction.

In the short time I spent with Joe Biden, I could tell he really saw me, that he actually cared, that my life meant something to him, she said. I knew, even when he went into his important meeting, hed take my story in there with him.

He wanted to know the whole story. Your points were equally valid to him. Hed take my story in there with him.

Nobody could keep track of all the stories that need telling of people beaten down in Trump times. And its too much to expect any leader to address, much less alleviate, the complex suffering they would reveal. But Biden has shown he can at least listen, that he sees and hears others needs, not just his own.

On Wednesday night at the convention, President Obama heaved a sigh while discussing his own warm friendship with Biden. It seemed to foretell a collective exhale we might get if Trump is voted out in November, and Biden gets his chance to bring back leadership thats simply more humane.

Son of a gun, during this four-year drought of compassion, thats no small thing.

@page88

For the record:

4:35 PM, Aug. 20, 2020: An earlier version said Bidens first year in Congress was 1972; he was elected in 1972 and began serving in 1973.


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Last March, on the last day of in-person classes, Canoga Park Elementary School teacher Daisy Leon sent each of her students home with an iPad -- and a promise.

"This is not a break," Leon told her fifth graders. "Starting on Monday, I'm going to keep teaching you. And you're going to keep learning."

Leon worked hard to keep her end of the bargain -- holding daily Zoom classes, meeting virtually with parents, preparing recorded video lessons.

But across the Los Angeles Unified School District, a lot of students saw less of their teachers last Spring.

HOW MUCH HAS LAUSD LEARNED FROM LAST YEAR?

Live video lessons weren't mandatory and expectations weren't always clear. As a result, parent surveys and LAUSD's own data show Black, Latino, English learner and special education students were far less likely than their peers to engage in distance learning.

This school year, a new distance learning agreement with LAUSD's teachers union will aim to ensure more consistent, real-time interactions between teachers and students. Today, new daily class schedules based on these new rules begin in earnest after two days of online orientation.

For some, the new distance learning rules aren't much of an improvement. A group of parents and two advocacy groups -- Parent Revolution and Innovate Public Schools -- have been exploring legal action against LAUSD over how last spring's distance learning played out.

In an Aug. 11 letter, the parents' attorney argued the new guidelines fail to "provide sufficient guardrails to ensure that students receive the education guaranteed to them by the California Constitution."

But unlike last spring, when the coronavirus pandemic forced schools to close suddenly, LAUSD officials say many teachers will benefit from having had time to prepare.

Leon volunteered to teach summer school classes so she could get used to leading two hours of daily, real-time lessons. She's worried about whether kids will show up and whether the technology will still work -- but she's optimistic about how distance learning will go.

"If we really understand what our kids need," she said, "we can hone in on what those needs are."

A 7-year-old second grader in Bartlett, Ill., completes a distance learning lesson on May 1, 2020. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

'AM I GOING TO HAVE TO DO FIFTH GRADE AGAIN?'

I first met Daisy Leon -- virtually -- last March, two weeks into the lockdown. I called her back recently to ask how the rest of her year went.

On a typical day, at 9 a.m. she'd hold an hour-long Zoom session with her class. She'd often lead with a lesson -- for example, sharing her screen and teaching a math concept using a white board app on her iPad.

She always set a little time aside at the end to catch up with her students.

"They looked forward to it," Leon said. "Even though they're fifth graders and they wouldn't want to admit it, you could tell they were excited. You could tell."

And often, they'd beg her not to end the call and stay on a little longer. So she would stay on to chat -- about the lesson, about video games, about her cats.

Underneath the small talk, Leon realized each of her students needed these Zoom check-ins for their own reasons.

One student was so upset by just being out of school, Leon said, "to the point that it would give her almost like an anxiety attack. She was so worried about falling behind. She's like, 'Am I going to have to do fifth grade again?'"

Or the fifth grader left home alone -- with no one there to help: "My parents have to work, and I can't connect, I'm here by myself, I'm so bored."

Leon's class would then spend their rest of the day off Zoom. (She suggested a schedule for them: math or language arts from 10 to 11, lunch at noon, reading in the afternoon...)

Those morning calls became more than a mental health break, or her one daily moment to teach the whole class a concept. Leon said those live video chats were her chance to ensure students were still engaged with all of their work.

The Zoom calls were "a little bit of everything. It wasn't as structured as I wanted it to be -- but if that's what it took to have that kid [engaged] ... then I'd do it."

Most weeks this spring, >75% of white #LAUSD students logged online and meaningfully "participated" in #distancelearning.



Now look at Black & Latino kids' participation ratesthe 2 charts on right. Definitely lower. This is straight from @LASchools data: https://t.co/pMvtlcHavL pic.twitter.com/8iPPR5s8Cd  Kyle Stokes (@kystokes) July 21, 2020

'NO REAL LEARNING INVOLVED'

Last spring, what Leon was doing was optional -- LAUSD didn't require video lessons. As a result, the amount of instruction that students received varied widely.

A parent survey by the advocacy group Speak Up found Black and Latino students were less likely than white students to have daily video lessons. LAUSD's own data suggests similar racial gaps. A district report also found English learners and students with disabilities were nearly twice as likely to not participate online at all.

"It was to the point," said parent Akela Wroten, Jr., "where I had to hire a private tutor so my baby can learn how to read in the first grade."

Wroten has three kids in LAUSD, two of them in an elementary school in Carson. His son, who was in second grade last year, had a great experience with distance learning, with a teacher willing to go the extra mile. But Wroten said his daughter, then a first grader, saw very little of her teacher.

The teacher would send texts and emails, "but that was it," Wroten said. "There was no real learning involved, and when she did Zoom, it was at the end of the day and only one hour or two hours out of the week."

Hence the private tutor, who cost $400 a month -- not easy for a single father to swing. Wroten works as a youth pastor and in facilities for the L.A. Community College District.

Wroten is one of the parents who's joined with Parent Revolution and Innovate Public Schools to explore legal action against LAUSD.

"My daughter," he said, "was denied her constitutional right to a firm education [because of] ... the district dropping the ball."

School districts in Southern California are struggling to achieve distance learning with students who don't have access to computers or broadband connections. (John Moore/Getty Images)

WHAT'S IN THE DISTANCE LEARNING AGREEMENT

LAUSD officials say this year will be different.

In most grades, each day, students can now expect at least 90 minutes of live "synchronous instruction" -- a term that covers not only video calls, but any type of interaction where a teacher is standing by to offer real-time feedback.

When LAUSD students aren't receiving synchronous instruction, they'll be expected to work on assignments independently from 9 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. each day.

The standards by grade are spelled out in LAUSD's agreement with the teachers union. The district and United Teachers Los Angeles negotiated the document to respond to a new state law that mandates "daily, live engagement" between students and teachers -- and also requires daily attendance to be taken.

Those considering a lawsuit against LAUSD says the agreement still falls short. In his Aug. 11 letter, attorney Mark Wolscher, with the firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP, criticizes the district for not mandating "sufficient synchronous learning time" and failing to set standards for how teachers spend their "asynchronous" time.

"There is nothing in the agreement," wrote Wolscher, "that prevents teachers from choosing a less supportive and poorly defined method, like 'students work independently,'" as opposed to a high-quality pre-recorded video lesson -- which is also an "asynchronous" teaching method.

District officials haven't formally responded to the group's legal threats.

United Teachers Los Angeles officials have said the agreement represents a solid foundation for the new year.

"This [agreement] is not an end-point, it's a beginning," said UTLA president Cecily Myart Cruz in a Facebook Live appearance earlier this month. "We must invest more resources to create healthy and safe schools and to build on this [memorandum of understanding] with responsiveness to feedback from educators, parents and students."

"We never wavered," added the head of UTLA's bargaining team, Arlene Inouye, "from what we thought was the best crisis distance learning program possible."

Page 10 of LAUSD-UTLA Distance Learning Tentative Agreement 2020-21 - Aug. 3, 2020



Contributed to DocumentCloud by KPCC Documents of Southern California Public Radio  View document or read text



THERE'S AN UPSIDE

Leon says teaching summer school in distance learning mode taught her a lot.

She discovered she can teach for two hours straight on Zoom. Though students' attention did tend to wane by the end, she and the students were able to manage it -- with a few stretch breaks.

That matters because on every day except Mondays, LAUSD's new ground rules expect Leon to offer two hours of synchronous instruction -- twice as much as she scheduled last year.

Leon says leading online classes has made her more organized. She also found that it was easier to manage disruptive behaviors.

When Leon was teaching in person, "if you have like 30 kids, you're walking around, you're on the east side of the room and when you go to the west side of the room, all of a sudden, the kid's not on task anymore."

This summer, when kids became disruptive -- "I could just turn off their mics."

Leon says she's always nervous at the start of a new year -- but she's as ready as she'll ever be.
HKEX to launch new futures products on broad-based MSCI Taiwan 25/50 Index

Confirms early Opening Hours and 100% trading fee waiver for MSCI Taiwan Index Futures

Programme to support open interest migration and deliver optimized latency to customers

HONG KONG, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) is pleased to announce today (Thursday) new products and microstructure enhancements to its MSCI index derivatives suite, further supporting global investors in managing risk and optimising their portfolios, as well as facilitating open interest migration to HKEX.

HKEX's wholly-owned subsidiary, Hong Kong Futures Exchange Limited (HKFE), has expanded its licensing agreement with MSCI Limited to include the broad-based MSCI Taiwan 25/50 Index, and plans to launch US-dollar (USD) denominated MSCI Taiwan 25/50 Index Futures and MSCI Taiwan 25/50 Net Total Return Index Futures (collectively, "MSCI Taiwan 25/50 Index Futures") on 28 September 2020, subject to regulatory approvals.

HKEX Head of Markets, Wilfred Yiu said: "HKEX's MSCI Taiwan equity index futures are geographically the closest offshore traded futures to the Taiwan market, offering investors the opportunity to optimize latency and enhance price discovery."

"With these latest products, we will complete the current phase of the MSCI futures suite and actively help support our customers in migrating their open interest to HKEX. This reflects HKEX and MSCI's commitment to building Hong Kong's derivatives market and to supporting the global trading community in the region," Mr Yiu added.

To facilitate price discovery of the existing MSCI Taiwan (USD) Index Futures and MSCI Taiwan Net Total Return (USD) Index Futures, a pre-open trading session for these contracts will be introduced starting at 8:30 am Hong Kong time and the opening of the trading session will be advanced to 8:45 am starting on 28 September 2020, subject to regulatory approvals.

The 100% trading fee waiver for the MSCI Taiwan (USD) Index Futures and MSCI Taiwan Net Total Return (USD) Index Futures, effective on 17 August 2020, as well as the new opening hours, will also apply to the MSCI Taiwan 25/50 Index Futures after the contracts are launched.

In addition, HKFE is working with the Securities and Futures Commission to enhance its Capital-Based Position Limit (CBPL) framework, targeting late August 2020, subject to regulatory approvals. The enhancements will ensure the risk exposures of Clearing Participants are commensurate with their financial strength whilst providing more capacity for activities such as migrating their book of MSCI index derivatives to Hong Kong.

In May 2020, HKFE signed a licensing agreement with MSCI to license a suite of MSCI indexes in Asia and Emerging Markets for the launch of 37 futures and options contracts in Hong Kong. So far, 33 of these contracts have launched on HKEX. HKEX is adding two more products to allow investors to migrate open interest to HKEX ahead of February 2021, as part of the expansion of the number of MSCI-linked derivatives listed on HKEX.

HKEX expects the MSCI Taiwan 25/50 Index Futures to be eligible for Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) certification in the US, and to be offered to US persons shortly after launch.

Subject to the CFTC certifications, US persons including Regulated Investment Companies (RIC) in the US may trade the new futures contracts on HKEX. The MSCI Taiwan 25/50 Index takes into account certain investment limits that are imposed on RICs under the current US Internal Revenue Code. The new futures products will enable investors around the world to gain exposure to roughly 85 per cent of Taiwan's listed companies by free float market capitalisation.

HKEX plans to complete the listing of all MSCI futures contracts in the current phase on 28 September 2020. It expects the three non-USD futures products, namely the MSCI Singapore Free (SGD) Index Futures, MSCI Japan (JPY) Index Futures, and MSCI Japan Net Total Return (JPY) Index Futures to launch on 28 September, subject to regulatory approvals.

About HKEX

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) is one of the world's major exchange groups, and operates a range of equity, commodity, fixed income and currency markets. HKEX is the world's leading IPO market and as Hong Kong's only securities and derivatives exchange and sole operator of its clearing houses, it is uniquely placed to offer regional and international investors access to Asia's most vibrant markets.

HKEX is also the global leader in metals trading, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, The London Metal Exchange (LME) and LME Clear Limited. This commodity franchise was further enhanced with the launch of Qianhai Mercantile Exchange (QME), in China, in 2018.

HKEX launched the pioneering Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect programme in 2014, further expanded with the launch of Shenzhen Connect in 2016, and the launch of Bond Connect in 2017.

www.hkexgroup.com

SOURCE Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX)

Related Links

http://www.hkexgroup.com


However, senior Government figures are understood to be reluctant to consider the idea of another full lockdown.

Senior sources told The Irish Times that the possibility of another full lockdown came up during informal discussions in the last few days.

Government figures cited social and economic reasons as to why another lockdown could not happen.

Lockdown

The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) did not recommend a full lockdown in its advice to Government on Monday.

However, senior sources told The Irish Times that the question of a full lockdown will resurface if the number of new cases continues to increase.

NPHET are certainly making it clear that if this [the measures announced earlier this week] doesnt work, its back to lockdown, said a source close to Government.

Two further deaths and 54 additional Covid-19 cases were confirmed in Ireland yesterday.

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The death toll stands at 1,775 from a total of 27,547 cases.

Of the new cases, 67 per cent are aged under 45, and 27 are associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case.

Nineteen of the new cases were recorded in Dublin, eight in Kildare, five in Tipperary and the rest of the cases are in Carlow, Clare, Donegal, Kerry, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Waterford and Wexford.

Responding to concern over the rising numbers of infections in Ireland, acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn gave a breakdown of where cases had been coming from over the past two weeks.

In a series of tweets, Dr Glynn said: "Workplace outbreaks have been well documented and the large ones in meat and other food businesses account for about 360 of the cases reported in recent weeks.

"Another 40 cases have been linked to the construction sector recently. As you may be aware, we also had six clusters linked to direct provision over recent weeks, with about 90 cases linked to these clusters.

"However, these outbreaks are just part of the story. For example, while they account for approximately 500 cases between them, we have had over 1,200 cases reported in the last 14 days alone.

"So where are the rest of the cases coming from? Well last week we had approximately 75 clusters in families or extended families.

"About 3% or 36 cases over the past 14 days have been travel related, over 200 have been confirmed as community transmission and a further 200 remain under investigation."

Dr Glynn said it was a "collective problem that requires collective action".

He added: "We also need employers and organisations all across society to step up once again and ensure that they have the proper measures in place to create a safe environment for their workers, customers and members alike."
The UN Security Council yesterday held a videoconference on the political situation in Syria during which the Vietnamese representative stressed the need to ensure security to promote political solutions in the country

in line with the UNSCs Resolution 2254.

Participants in the UNSC videoconference on the political situation in Syria on August 19 (Photo: VNA)

At the monthly meeting, the UN Secretary-Generals Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen said preparations are being made to convene the third session of the Small Body of the Syrian-owned, Syrian-led, UN-facilitated Constitutional Committee in Geneva, Switzerland, on August 24.

After a nine-month hiatus, caused by differences over the agenda until March this year and then by COVID-19 restrictions, the Constitutional Committee meets on the basis of an agreement between the government and the opposition that guides its work, he noted, affirming that he will make efforts to encourage all committee members to come to Geneva ready to engage in earnest on the substance amid millions of Syrians continuing to face immense suffering.

According to Pedersen, the calm brought about by Russian and Turkish efforts in the countrys northwest continues to largely hold.

However, he also voiced concern over complex security developments in this region, including terrorist groups growing activities and hampering of joint Russian-Turkish patrols in Idlib. The worrying situation has also been seen in the northeast of Syria, where an improvised explosive device attack killed a Russian General in Deir-ez-Zor on August 18 and an altercation between Syrian Government and US forces was reported earlier this week.

Besides, the special envoy expressed concern over the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Syria as the number of infections is growing, already reaching 2,114.

Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of Vietnams permanent mission to the UN, underlined the need to ensure security to promote political solutions in line with the UNSCs Resolution 2254.

He called on members of the Constitutional Committee to take part in negotiations with a goodwill and constructive spirit, considering the resumption of talks after a long hiatus as an important milestone to boost the comprehensive political process in Syria.

The diplomat also appealed to the international community to increase support for Syria, especially in the face of socio-economic challenges and severe impacts of COVID-19.

Instability and conflict in Syria are now in their tenth year, causing one of the most serious humanitarian crises in history with hundreds of thousands of casualties and millions made homeless and seeking refuge.

The Constitutional Committee was founded in September 2019 with a view to stepping up negotiations on the revision of Syrias Constitution between the countrys government and the opposition on the basis of the political process outlined in the UNSCs Resolution 2254.

Vietnam calls for peaceful dialogue to restore stability in Mali

Vietnam supports efforts made by the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the international community in promoting dialogue to achieve peaceful solutions between stakeholders, bringing the situation in Mali back to normal, said a Vietnamese diplomat.

Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnamese Permanent Mission to the UN, made the statement at a video meeting held by the UN Security Council (UNSC) on August 19 to discuss the recent developments in Mali.

Quy expressed his deep concern about the situation in Mali, and urged related parties to restrain and avoid use of force and foster dialogue to seek peaceful political solutions in line with the Constitution and laws of Mali in a bid to restore stability and social order in the country.

In a report delivered at the meeting, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Jean-Pierre Lacroix said that the recent security instability in Mali has been rooted in the political uncertainty in the country over the past months.

He called on all stakeholders to refrain from using violence and guarantee the rights of all people in the African country.

Representatives from UNSC member nations highlighted the importance of restoring the constitutional order and complying with the 2015 Peace Accord, and applauded the efforts of the UN, leaders of ECOWAS and AU, especially the mediation role of ECOWAS, to promote stability in Mali.

In the afternoon of the same day, the UNSC issued a Press Statement, emphasising the need to resolve the crisis in Mali through dialogue and early restore the rule of laws towards restoring the constitutional order. It also reaffirms support for the efforts of ECOWAS, AU and the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali./.VNA
A heartbroken mother has been left unable to be with her son during his battle against leukaemia due to Queensland's tough border rules.

Keegan, 28, is in Brisbane preparing to undergo an aggressive form of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer this week.

His mother, Kate, is desperate to be by his side but she lives in Narrabri, a small town in northern New South Wales.

Because of Queensland's tough border restrictions, she might miss out on seeing him during his time of need.

'My son is in hospital with leukemia that was diagnosed yesterday. As a mother I want to be with him,' she told A Current Affair.

'How would they like it if their child was in another state, just diagnosed with cancer and they could not be with him. It's just cruel.'

Kate (right) has been left heartbroken as she is unable to be with her son Keegan (left) during his battle against leukaemia due to Queensland's tough border rules

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk tightened the state's border restrictions on August 8, shutting the border to all of New South Wales in an attempt to stem the spread of the deadly respiratory infection.

Despite living in a small town 521 kilometres northwest of Sydney, Kate must still apply for exemption to cross the border and would have to quarantine for 14 days once she arrives.

'What I find contradictory is that they may allow me over the border under compassionate grounds but then they're going to imprison me in a hotel for 14 days when I can't see my son,' Kate said.

Ms Palaszczuk has come under fire for her tough border rules, earning her the nickname 'Comrade Anna'. But she has stood firm on her decision.

'We've got to put the health of Queenslanders first, the safety of Queenslanders first,' she said.

'There is a global pandemic.'

On Tuesday she announced Queensland will keep its hard border lockdown in place until New South Wales and Victoria completely eliminate community transmission of coronavirus.

Motorists are seen at a checkpoint at Coolangatta on the Queensland- New South Wales border

Kate must apply for exemption to cross the border and would have to quarantine for 14 days once she arrives

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.

Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) has been slammed for saying Queensland hospitals were 'for our people only' after a mother was denied access to the state to visit her sick newborn

Motorists are seen approaching a checkpoint at Coolangatta on the Queensland- New South Wales border earlier this month

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.

'It's 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.'
NTPC jumped 6.97% to Rs 101.25 after the company said it will bring down cost of coal at Kudgi plant in Karnataka with a newly constructed bridge.

In a press release dated 19 August 2020, NTPC said it would be able to reduce the transportation cost of coal to fuel to its NTPC Kudgi Super thermal power station in Karnataka, to around Rs 200-500 per metric tonnes (MT) thereby bringing down the cost of electricity generation and also reducing the transit time by 8-15 hours.

"The newly constructed 670 meter longest bridge in South Western railway is beneficial to NTPC Kudgi as it helps in reducing the cost of generation of electricity and it also helps the railways by handling more material with the available infrastructure. Besides, with the availability of double lines, travel time from Sholapur in Maharashtra to Gadag in Karnataka will be reduced, saving time for the passengers", it added.

NTPC has provided assistance on doubling of the lines on the existing tracks from Hotgi, Maharashtra to Kudgi, Karnataka (134 Kms) and provided support in the construction of two bridges on the river Bhima.

The company is currently awaiting for the final approval from the South Western Railway and will start the operations as soon as it gets clearance.

In the past one month, the scrip has added 15.89% as against 2.26% rise in the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex.

In the derivatives market, NTPC 27 August 2020 futures were trading at 101, at a discount of 0.25 points compared with the spot at 101.25.

The NTPC option chain for 27 August 2020 expiry showed maximum Call OI of 42.52 lakh contracts at the 100 strike price. Maximum Put OI of 27.75 lakh contracts was seen at 90 strike price.

NTPC is a maharatna company operating in the power generation business. The principal business activity of the firm is electric power generation through coal based thermal power plants. It also engages in the business of generation of electricity from hydro and renewable energy sources.

As of 30 June 2020, the Government of India held 51.02% in the PSU company.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Democratic Party concluded the third night of its convention on Wednesday, culminating in the official nomination of California Senator Kamala Harris as the vice-presidential candidate of Joe Biden.

Wednesdays proceedings were in line with the inane and insipid character of the event as a whole. Various reactionaries and multi-millionaires, from Hillary Clinton to Nancy Pelosi, declared the urgent need to elect Biden, the corrupt corporate shill from Delaware recast as a living saint, to right all wrongs and restore America to the path of prosperity and righteousness.

No actual program was advanced to deal with the massive social and economic catastrophe produced by the coronavirus pandemic and the bipartisan response of the ruling class to it. Everything was reduced to the fictionalized narrative of the life of Biden and his comrade in arms, Kamala Harris.

The selection of Harris was presented as a historic moment in American politics. This appraisal was based entirely on the fact that Harris is the first African American and Indian American woman selected by the worlds oldest political party to run for vice president. There were the inevitable proclamations that young girls throughout the country will conclude from this fact that they too can someday be vice president of the United States of America.

All of this is, if we can be permitted to use Bidens catchphrase, malarkey. Harris has already proven herself as a trusted servant of the interests of the rich and powerful at the expense of the working class. The Wall Street Journal wrote last week that Wall Street financers had breathed a sigh of relief at Bidens pick of Harris. Industry publication American Banker noted that her steadiest stream of campaign funding has come from financial industry professionals and their most trusted law firms.

Just before she ended her bid for the presidency in December 2019, Harris campaign boasted the most billionaire backers, including oil fortune heir Gordon Getty and vulture capitalist Dean Metropoulos.

As San Francisco District Attorney from 2004 to 2011, Harris pursued an agenda that included the implementation of a law to fine and jail the parents of truant students for up to a year. As Californias attorney general from 2011 to 2017, she warned parents across the state that they would face the full force and consequences of the law if their children missed out on too many days of school.

During her tenure, Harris also oversaw Californias resistance to a Supreme Court order that it release prisoners from the states overcrowded prisons. Her attorneys (for the people, as Harris put it last night) argued in court that releasing too many prisoners would deplete the cheap labor pool of inmates who fight the states notorious wildfires for less than $2 a day.

Serving as the junior senator from California since 2017, Harris sits on the committees overseeing the federal budget, the judiciary, homeland security and the intelligence agencies.

Through her position on the Intelligence Committee, Harris has been privy to the most sensitive information about American imperialisms criminal operations all over the world. In this role, she has backed the Democrats anti-Russia campaign aimed at pressuring the Trump administration into taking a more hostile posture towards Moscow.

She also supports the persecution of WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange, who faces 175 years in a US prison for exposing American military war crimes, declaring that the organization had done considerable harm to the US.

While feinting to the left as a proponent of cutting the Pentagons $750 billion-plus annual budget, in July Harris voted against a proposal by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders that would have cut funding by a meager 10 percent, saying she supported the idea but that any cuts to the military should be done strategically.

Harris represents the Democratic Party, a party of Wall Street billionaires, the intelligence agencies and the military. Her nomination Wednesday came just one day after the Democrats paraded a number of Republicans who endorsed Biden, including Colin Powellthe first African American chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and a chief architect of the 2003 war in Iraqand the widow of the notorious warmonger, Senator John McCain.

Harris closing remarks at the convention last night were preceded by those of Obama, of which we will have more to say later. Suffice it to say that Obama, the first African American to be nominated by the Democrats and win the presidency, proceeded to bail out the banks, continue the wars of George W. Bush, implement a policy of drone murder, and deport more immigrants than any of his predecessors.

It was the right-wing policies of the Obama administration that paved the way for the ascension of Trump to the presidency.

The Democrats hope that the endless celebration of the trite, empty symbolism of Harris candidacy will serve as a repeat of Barack Obamas run for president in 2008, deploying identity politics to cover over the right-wing content of her record and that of the Democratic Party. This is the logic of the reactionary politics of racial, ethnic and gender identity, promoted incessantly by the pseudo-left opponents of Marxism.

However, the elevation of an increasing number of women, African Americans and other ethnic minorities into positions of power, from city councils, to mayoral offices, police departments and the presidency itself, has done nothing to advance the interests of the working class. In fact, over the last four decades wealth inequality has grown most rapidly within racial groups, as a small layer of the population has been elevated into positions of power and privilege while conditions for those of all races and genders in the bottom 90 percent have deteriorated.

In addition to Obama, the likes of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, national security advisors Condoleezza Rice and Susan Rice, and Secretary of State Hillary Clintonand, one might add, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and German Chancellor Angela Merkelhave shown that women and racial minorities can pursue the interests of the financial oligarchy as ruthlessly as any other representative of the ruling class.

There is something fitting in the selection of Harris to co-lead the Democrats ticket. The response of the Democrats to the mass multi-racial and multi-ethnic protests against police violence that erupted earlier this year was to divert them into the politics of racial division, using the reactionary and false claim that what was involved was a conflict between white America and black America, rather than a conflict between the working class and capitalism. This effort now culminates in the selection of the former top cop of California as the Democrats vice presidential candidate.

This is aimed at blocking the emergence of a powerful, united movement of the working class. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the criminal indifference of the entire ruling elite to the lives of the working class. As was shown with the near unanimous passage of the trillion-dollar CARES Act bailout, their concern is for their stock portfolios and corporate profits at the expense of more than 175,000 people who have now died and the more than 5.5 million who have been infected by coronavirus.

The fight to advance the interests of the working class will have to be waged through the methods of class struggle, in opposition to the Democrats and Republicans and the capitalist system which they defend.
By Akbar Mammadov

An Armenian national in Ukraine has been detained for providing false information to police about alleged bombing of the buildings of the US and Turkish embassies, the Prosecutor Office of Kyiv reported in its website on August 18.

The suspect made two phone calls to the hotline of the law enforcement agency from his own mobile phone and gave a false message that bombs were planted in the two embassies buildings.

Law enforcement officers found that there were no explosives or devices in the premises.

The 46-year-old Armenian citizen faces up to six years in prison for the crime.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
The rise in coronavirus infections that Spain has been seeing in recent weeks has prompted a spike in the number of Covid-19-related deaths due to the serious pneumonia that the pathogen causes. According to the data released on Wednesday by the Health Ministry, 131 people with the coronavirus have died in the last seven days, a figure that is twice that released by the ministry on Tuesday, and 11 times greater than the 12 deaths that were reported in the third week of July, just a month ago.

The deaths being caused by the virus are, however, even greater in number, but the delays in the notification of the data that the regions send to the ministry and that are subsequently made public mean that changes in trend are trickling through slowly.

There is no doubt that if the incidence increases, mortality will end up rising too Pere Godoy, president of the Spanish Epidemiological Society (SEE)

Regions such as Aragon and Catalonia have been reporting much higher numbers of deaths than those communicated by the ministry for the last three weeks now. The former, for example, reported on July 30 that 15 people had died in its hospitals and residences over the last seven days due to the coronavirus. The figure had shot up by the next week to 35 and last week the number was 72. Catalonia, meanwhile, has registered between 52 and 75 weekly victims since the end of June.

Pere Godoy, the president of the Spanish Epidemiological Society (SEE), believes that this increase in mortality is the expected result in the rise of the circulation of the virus registered in recent weeks, with a number of outbreaks and community transmission present in a number of areas. Despite this, these sudden increases in mortality can also be due to delays in notification, the expert explains.

But there is no doubt that if the incidence increases, mortality will end up rising too, Godoy adds, saying that it is to be expected that this rise is not as steep as that registered in the spring, given that many of the people being diagnosed now are young, healthy and even asymptomatic.

Daniel Lopes, a researcher from the computational biology and complex systems research group from the Catalan Polytechnic University, also predicts that the mortality will grow because the number of cases has grown and it has done so with a delay because people who die do so an average of 18 days from the start of symptoms. It is to be expected, however, that the number of deaths in relation to cases is lower than in March, adds Lopes, given that then there were a lot of people who did not get the treatment they needed, something that is not happening now.

Madrid is still at the top of the list of new positives, with 2,207 in total and 1,535 in the last 24 hours

Other experts, however, are not hiding their fear should the situation get worse over the coming weeks. Thats the case of Santiago Moreno, the head of infectious diseases at the Ramon y Cajal hospital in Madrid. First the young people have been infected, given that they are the ones who have moved around the most and have had social interaction, he explains. Its true that they dont normally have problems with the infection, but my fear is that they will have infected their parents, and that they will have infected their grandparents in turn. This can even happen if the grandchild has taken care not to go and see [their grandparents]. This could cause a growth in cases over the coming weeks in people who have a much more delicate prognosis.

The Health Ministry also reported 6,671 new infections on Wednesday, as well as increases in the remainder of the data indicators. Madrid is still at the top of the list of new positives, with 2,207 in total and 1,535 in the last 24 hours. In all of Spain, the new cases detected on Tuesday and reported on Wednesday came in at 3,715.

Wednesday saw the second-highest number of infections since the deescalation of confinement measures, with the highest registered last Thursday, with 7,550. In total, the Health Ministry has recorded nearly 371,000 infections since the pandemic took hold in Spain, and 28,797 official victims.

The data from the ministry not only shows that Spain is facing a complicated situation in August due to the circulation of the virus, but also that it continues to have problems with, and delays to, the notification of the data from the regions that allows for a snapshot of the situation to be taken. Day after day, the figures being supplied by the ministry are lower than those offered by the press offices of the countrys regions, which have been in charge of controlling the epidemic since the end of the state of alarm, when full regional powers were returned from Madrid.

The data supplied on Wednesday indicate that a second wave of the epidemic is starting to take hold in Spain

One example of this is the figure of 3,715 new cases reported on Tuesday, a number that seems very high if it is compared with that offered by the Health Ministry in previous days. But the figure is not so great once the fact is taken into account that the average of new infections the previous week was 5,000 a day, and that what is happening is that nearly half of the tests carried out in one day end up being reported with several days delay.

Whatever the case, the data supplied on Wednesday indicate that a second wave of the epidemic is starting to take hold in Spain. The incidence over the last 14 days has now risen to 136 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, five times more than on Tuesday and 40 times more than a week ago. And the number of people who have developed symptoms over the last 14 days, one of the most relevant indicators for the experts, has reached a new high since this data point began to be recorded, with nearly 19,000 patients.

After several days that suggested the figures were stabilizing, the number of new cases has begun to rise once more according to the ministry report. The experts consulted by EL PAIS, however, believe that more time is still needed before it can be determined whether these variations are due to real changes in the trend or are down to problems related to the system used to notify the data. Part of this rise, however, is not necessarily negative if it is due to the mass random testing that regions such as Catalonia and Madrid are carrying out in some neighborhoods and municipalities. This allows for the detection of asymptomatic cases in young and healthy people, and interrupts the chain of infection before it reaches vulnerable sections of society.

Pressure on hospitals

The latest data does, however, show a clear rise in the pressure on the healthcare system. Hospitalizations in the last week have risen 55%, with 1,336 new patients, while intensive care unit admissions have gone up by an even greater 71%.

These rises, the experts say, were predictable due to the significant growth in cases detected in the last two weeks, given that patients usually take between five and 12 days to develop serious symptoms that require hospitalization.

After the 2,207 cases in Madrid, Catalonia reported the second-highest number of new infections, with 1,016, followed by Aragon (632), Andalusia (590) and the Basque Country (475).

In terms of the cases detected on Tuesday and reported on Wednesday, Madrid saw 1,535, the Basque Country 472, Aragon 466, Andalusia 261 and Catalonia 244.

English version by Simon Hunter.
As the Covid-19 lockdown continues, consumers are forced to navigate an evolving reality and the range of emotions that it creates. Brands need to remain agile in their response to these new and constantly shifting needs, as well as the emotional bandwidth of consumers.

When it comes to advertising, 82% of consumers expect brands to acknowledge the Covid-19 lockdown, with millennials voicing this most strongly, according to our latest omnibus survey conducted with a representative sample of 1000 South Africans. Of course, should all brands respond to this call in a similar way, a trend highlighted by YouTube creator Sean Haney (April, 2020), there is a risk that your advertising will get lost in the noise, or worse, confused with government communications.Thankfully, all is not lost and brands can cut through. According to the consumers we spoke to, adverts have stood out because they:In particular, consumers cited health and personal care brands doing this well, most notably Lifebuoy soap for its succinct claim of being 99.9% effective again the coronavirus., i.e. brands who have supported frontline workers, engaged with communities and focused on raising awareness. A good example is Old Mutuals #OMHereForYou campaign, which conveys the gratitude of the brands employees towards frontline workers.In general, consumers want brand advertising to be sincere but avoid evoking fear or scepticism. An inspiring or hopeful message will resonate much more. Within healthcare, banking and insurance (those industries that offer pandemic-specific products and services), advertising must be more serious to allay the health and financial concerns and anxieties of consumers. For insurance brands specifically, this sentiment has changed over the course of the pandemic, with consumers initially wanting to hear what relief efforts brands are providing, and later shifting to a need to know that those brands are doing the right thing and delivering on their pay-out promises. There is a clear need here for brands to remain agile and respond to changing consumer sentiment.In personal care, homecare, telecoms, food and drink, retail and hospitality, consumers want more excitement, fun and a reason to be cheerful. Chicken Lickens #SoulfulNation advert is a great example of this, with our consumers applauding its relatability to South African culture (resilient, entrepreneurial), its acknowledgement of lockdown realities like social distancing, curfew and cigarette bans, and its humorous sincerity through stereotypes, memes and faux pas. The overall tone is feel-good, which is exactly what South Africans need from some brands right now.The trend across all of these successful ad campaigns identified by our survey respondents is their acknowledgement of the crisis, whether thats in providing a relevant product or service, supporting those on the frontline, or by addressing the situation in relation to the brand message. Consumer research allows you to explore consumers evolving experiences, needs and expectations, and feed these into your brand advertising. It can ensure that your advert hits the right emotional tone, whilst staying true to your brand strategy and voice. Finally, it delivers a clear view of ROI if undertaken in the long-term. Its a complicated landscape for brand advertisers in South Africa to navigate right now, which is why understanding consumer needs and testing ads is key. Brand advertising must acknowledge Covid-19 to cut through.
(Natural News) Over a million California residents suffered power blackouts last Friday evening. High temperatures caused consumer demand to exceed the available power, which forced California utility companies to implement rotating outages to reduce demand.

The rolling blackouts highlight the poor state of Californias power grid, widely considered the worse in the nation; a grid whose reliability may have been further compromised by the green energy policies pursued by the state.

Green energy not enough to supplant traditional energy sources during heatwave

On August 14, Friday, at around 6:30 p.m., Pacific Gas and Electric, the states largest utility, began shutting off power in rolling outages to force a reduction in demand. In addition, South California Edison also instituted blackouts, starting just before 7:00 p.m.

In the wake of the blackouts, the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), the non-profit that oversees the operation of Californias bulk electric power system, declared a Stage 3 Electrical Emergency, the first since 2001. As a result, spot power electricity prices soared to over $1,000 per megawatt-hour, more than 10 times the usual price.

Part of the reason for the increased demand during the heatwave is because of the high number of households using solar power. Data from 2018 shows that at least 19 percent of Californias power came from roof-top and utility-scale solar installations, the highest percentage in the country. By 6:30 p.m. each day, however, that solar output plunges down to zero, while the demand for electricity  fueled by the need to run air conditioners during the heatwave  does not.

The state currently does not have enough reliable generation capacity to supply run the air conditioners during hot summer evenings when solar power isnt available.

Californias power system is the least reliable power system in America. According to data by Eaton Corporation, the state leads the country in power outages every year, with more than double that of the next highest state, Texas, over the last decade. (Related: If green energy is so amazing, why is Californias power grid about to crater?)

The situation is being made worse, however, by the states efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Since the state established its Emissions Performance Standard in 2006, 11 coal-fired plants have been closed with an addition 3 converted to biomass fuel. In addition, the state has also slashed imports of electricity generated from coal plans while also slowly phasing out its nuclear power plants and shuttering gas-fired plants as well.

The problems California is facing with its power supply will likely get worse. In September of 2018, then Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill committing the state to obtain 100 percent of its electricity from clean energy sources by 2045. This means that grid reliability will continue to erode as the state phases out coal, nuclear and natural gas generators.

Further outages halted, but for how long?

For now, power conservation efforts seemed to have staved off any further blackouts in California. At around 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, CAISO declared a Stage 2 power emergency and urged residents to conserve energy as much as possible.

Tuesday represented the second day in a row that homes, businesses and government agencies banded together to sharply curtail their electricity use. This helped prevent what would have been the third round of rolling blackouts since the heatwave started on Friday.

It was stunning, CAISO CEO Steve Berberich said of Mondays conservation efforts.

Tuesdays efforts, however, were bolstered by a boost in wind energy production which helped prevent the state from reaching a Stage 3 emergency, which would have started the rolling blackouts.

For his part, Berberich has resisted suggestions that the switch to renewable energy is to blame for the shortages. In fact, hes stated that California should invest in even more clean power. The latter includes large numbers of batteries that could store solar power for use when the sun isnt shining.

We need to be more thoughtful about what the grid looks like now, Berberich said. The grid looks very differently than it looked 10 years ago.

Californias utilities commission already has rules in place to account for the fact that solar production declines in the evening. In light of the current crisis, however, officials are now looking at adjusting the regulations further. Commissioners have also ordered 3,300 megawatts of new power to support the states grid, however, this will not be available until next year.

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the commission has confirmed that the agency is still trying to understand how the recent shortage happened.

In addition, others are also pointing to how the heatwave is affecting other states. The increase in demand in other states has prevented California from relying on out-of-state power to close its energy shortfall.

According to the National Weather Service, the heatwave may begin to abate on Wednesday with significantly lower temperatures expected for Thursday. This should lower demand and free up more power for the grid, for now.

Follow Electricity.news for more on the current and future blackouts that California may be facing.

Sources include:

WattsUpWithThat.com

LAist.com

Finance.Yahoo.com

NPR.org

SFChronicle.com
Hard-hit areas may be better protected in a second wave.

The city has reached its lowest percentage of positive virus tests, 0.24 percent, since the pandemic began, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Wednesday. But Mr. Cuomo that same day said the figure was 0.8 percent.

Despite the discrepancy, both numbers indicate that the city has largely tamed the virus. Still, health experts are warning of a second wave, and much is unknown about the protection that coronavirus antibodies provide.

But there may be some good news for neighborhoods like Corona, Queens, that were ravaged by the virus in March and April: Some researchers are hopeful that herd immunity would require about half of the community to be immune.

In one ZIP code in Corona, 51.6 percent of people tested had antibodies.

Large households were especially vulnerable.

The hardest-hit ZIP code in the city indeed belonged to Corona, which is home to many construction and restaurant workers who continued with their jobs through the height of the virus crisis. The neighborhood also has an especially high rate of household crowding, which may have contributed to greater rates of infection.

The tight-knit Hasidic Jewish community in Borough Park, Brooklyn, was also severely affected. The neighborhood, where larger households are also common, recorded the citys second-highest rate of positive antibody tests.

Children were more likely to have antibodies.

More than 32 percent of children who were tested were positive, making those 17 and under the most likely age group to have antibodies.

However, children were the least likely age group to be tested for antibodies, so this data doesnt add much insight on whether the citys public schools should reopen.
The 14th annual Meals On Wheels fundraiser will be a Radiothon that will take place tomorrow (Friday, August 21) from 9 AM to 11 AM on STAR 92.7 FM.

Ron Patel, co-chair for the Meals on Wheels Fundraiser, was Thursdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day.

Due to pandemic-related concerns, the Radiothon is being held in lieu of MOWs very successful annual outdoor dinner and auction event.

The two-hour broadcast will be hosted by Mark and Maryann and will feature interviews with members of the MOW team, major MOW sponsors and Darrel Slocum, the Executive Director of the Sonora Area Foundation (SAF), which is offering a $50,000 matching grant in support as well.

Sierra Senior Providers, Inc. (SSPI), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established in 1996, has operated the Meals on Wheels program since opening its doors. MOW provides five home-delivered meals weekly to qualified Tuolumne County residents age 60 or older who are unable to drive, shop or cook safely and consistently. Over the past 13 years, 715,630 meals have been delivered to almost 2,700 homebound seniors.

The meals promote health by providing a third of necessary daily calories, and moreover, each meal delivery involves social interaction  perhaps the only contact some seniors have all day  and an opportunity for drivers to check on seniors safety. Meals on Wheels also provides pet food and newspapers, and delivers library books in conjunction with the Tuolumne County Library.

The program is praised by clients and their families, according to Meals on Wheels Coordinator Kelli Kleinhans, and thats been especially true during the pandemic. Drivers are hailed for going above and beyond, and are deemed lifesavers and heroes. One clients family member had this to say: Thank you so much for your service. What you provided for our mom wasnt just meals, but also a sense of security knowing she was checked on daily.

SAF is pleased to offer a $50,000 matching grant for MOWs Radiothon to encourage community support of this outstanding and vital program. SAF has a long history of supporting SSPI and MOW: SAF in the past 20 years has granted SSPI nearly $750,000, and honored the nonprofit with the 2019 Irving J. Symons Community Impact Award. The matching grant will be funded through SAFs Community Recovery Fund, which was created to assist Tuolumne County communities response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Clarke Broadcasting Corporation is providing air time and on-air talent for the Radiothon. Clarke Broadcasting Corporation is owner and operator of radio stations KVML AM 1450/FM 102.7, KZSQ STAR 92.7 FM and KKBN 93.5 FM, as well as the regions most-visited community website www.mymotherlode.com.

Donations to be applied to the matching grant are being accepted now through the end of the Radiothon.

To donate online, click the Radiothon logo, located in the upper right corner of the mymotherlode.com homepage.

Listeners can also call Sierra Senior Providers, Inc at (209) 533-2622. Credit cards will be accepted.

Both Oak Valley Community Banks in Sonora and east Sonora, will accept donations as well.

Checks may be made payable to and mailed to Sonora Area Foundation (362 S. Stewart St., Sonora, CA 95370), with SSPI/MOW in the memo line.

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.
In Punjab, the prevalence of COVID-19 antibodies was highest at 40 percent in Amritsar district, followed by 35.6 percent in Ludhiana, and 33.2 percent in SAS Nagar

India's COVID-19 caseload crossed 28 lakh with a single-day spike of 69,652 infections, while the recovery rate reached 73.91 percent with a total of 20,96,664 recoveries, according to the Health Ministry data.

The total casesload mounted to 28,36,925 on Thursday, while the toll from the virus rose to 53,866 with 977 new fatalities being reported in a day, the health ministry added. In the meanwhile, the case fatality rate has declined to 1.90 percent.

Of the total, there are 6,86,395 active cases in the country, which is 24.20 percent of the caseload. India's COVID-19 tally had crossed 20 lakh on 7 August.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a cumulative total of 3,26,61,252 samples have been tested up to 19 August, with 9,18,470 samples being tested on Wednesday. With constantly increasing testing numbers, there has been a commensurate fall in the positivity rate, the ministry said.

"Although higher number of tests will push the positivity rate initially, but as the experience from several states and UTs has amply depicted, it will eventually lower when combined with other measures such as prompt isolation, effective tracking and timely clinical management," it stated.

The health ministry added that only 0.28 percent patients are on ventilator support. Additionally, 1.92 percent are in ICU and 2.62 percent are on oxygen support.

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat tests COVID-19 positive

Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said he has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. In a tweet, the minister said he is being admitted to a hospital on the advice of doctors.

"I underwent a coronavirus test after developing symptoms and the report has come positive. I am getting hospitalised on the advice of doctors. I request all who have come in my contact in the past days to isolate themselves and get tested," Shekhawat tweeted in Hindi.

The minister had held a meeting on the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) on Thursday. While Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh attended the meeting virtually, his Haryana counterpart ML Khattar was physically present with Shekhawat and his deputy in the ministry, Rattan Lal Kataria, as well as senior officials.

Kataria was also present for another meeting alongside Shekhawat in a virtual conference with Tamil Nadu chief minister EK Palaniswami.

Meanwhile, Khattar tested negative for COVID-19 on Thursday, but has decided to go into home quarantine for the next three days as a precautionary measure. Khattar underwent the coronavirus test on Wednesday.

Punjab extends weekend lockdown amid surge in cases

Amid rising coronavirus cases, the Punjab chief minister ordered a series of emergency measures, including extension of weekend lockdown, with daily night curfew from 7 pm to 5 am in all 167 cities and towns in the state from Friday.

Singh also ordered a total ban on all gatherings except weddings and funerals across the state till 31 August.

The government and private offices will work at 50 percent capacity till the end of this month, as per the directives issued by the chief minister.

Punjab has been witnessing a surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths for the last several days.

Meanwhile, the state's first exclusive sero survey conducted in five containment zones showed a prevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 virus in 27.7 percent people. The survey was conducted from 1 to 17 August among a systematically selected random sample population of 1,250 people.

There were earlier surveys, but they were more generalised and conducted by the state government in coordination with the ICMR, according to a government statement.

"A total of 27.7 percent of the people in Punjab's containment zones are found to be positive for COVID-19 antibodies, indicating that they have already been infected and have recovered from the coronavirus," the findings said.

The findings showed the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) antibodies to be the highest at 40 percent in the containment zones in Amritsar district, followed by 35.6 percent in Ludhiana, 33.2 percent in SAS Nagar, 19.2 percent in Patiala and 10.8 percent in Jalandhar district.

Latest sero-survey in Delhi shows antibodies in 29.1% people

The Delhi government also released its latest sero-survey which showed that antibodies against COVID-19 have been found in 29.1 percent of people.

Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain said that 15,000 representative samples were taken between 1 and 7 August from 11 districts, and the next exercise will begin from 1 September.

"In the previous survey, it was found that over 22 percent people had developed antibodies. Now, the August survey shows it is 29.1 percent, meaning they had got infected and recovered," Jain said.

The minister also said that prevalence of antibodies found in males was 28.3 percent, and in females 32.2 percent in the latest survey.

The previous sero-prevalance survey done from 27 June to 10 July by the Delhi government in association with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), had used 21,387 samples and found that around 23 percent of the people surveyed had an exposure to the novel coronavirus.

"The rise, rather than the exponential rise, is not there. So, people are taking safety precautions it seems. But, we cannot afford to be be complacent and lower our guard, even though positivity rate at present is 7 percent," Jain said.

The exercise was undertaken in the first week of August for a comprehensive assessment of the COVID-19 situation in Delhi and to formulate strategies based on its findings.

About 15,000 samples were collected as part of this exercise, spanning different areas and age groups, gender and economic class, he said.

'Malaysia strain' no cause for concern, say scientists

The mutant form of the novel coronavirus reported from Malaysia as being "10 times more infectious" is not a concern for India as it is widely prevalent in the country and isn't any more virulent than the strain originating in Wuhan, say scientists.

The D614G strain of the virus was discovered in Malaysia from a cluster, including a restaurant owner returning from India, Malaysia's director general of health said in a Facebook post this week.

His assertion that it was "found to be 10 times more infectious and is easily spread by an individual super spreader" created a flutter but scientists dispelled fears and said there is nothing to worry about.

According to virologist Upasana Ray, the mutation may have just been reported in Malaysia but is not new for the world.

"We saw it happening in April and it eventually dominated many countries. It is new for Malaysia but is not a new mutation," the senior scientist at Kolkata's CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology told PTI.

While some reports claim the mutation is capable of enhancing the infectivity of the virus, this is not well established and also does not necessarily indicate more virulence or harmfulness of the disease.

State-wise COVID-19 cases and deaths

Maharashtra, Punjab, Gujarat, Meghalaya, and Madhya Pradesh were among states that reported their highest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases on Thursday.

While 14,492 new cases were reported in Maharashtra, taking its total to 6,43,289, Punjab reported 1,741 new cases, taking the tally to 37,824 in the state.

Gujarat reported 1,175 new coronavirus cases, taking the tally to 83,262. Madhya Pradesh registered 1,142 coronavirus cases, taking the overall count in the state to 49,493.

Meghalaya on Thursday also recorded the highest single-day jump of coronavirus infections when 126 persons tested positive.

Tamil Nadu recorded 5,986 new cases on Thursday.

Of the 977 fresh deaths on Thursday, 346 are from Maharashtra, 126 from Karnataka, 116 from Tamil Nadu, 86 from Andhra Pradesh, 53 each from Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, 23 from Punjab, 18 from Madhya Pradesh, 17 from Gujarat, 15 from Jharkhand, 14 from Uttarakhand, 12 from Rajasthan and 11 each from Bihar and Jammu and Kashmir.

Ten fatalities each have been reported from Assam, Haryana, Odisha and Telangana, nine from Delhi, eight from Goa, seven from Kerala, six from Puducherry, three from Chhattisgarh while Sikkim, Chandigarh and Ladakh have registered one fatality each.

Of the total 53,866 deaths, Maharashtra has reported the maximum at 21,033, followed by 6,123 in Tamil Nadu, 4,327 in Karnataka, 4,235 in Delhi, 2,906 in Andhra Pradesh, 2,837 in Gujarat, 2,638 in Uttar Pradesh, 2,581 in West Bengal and 1,159 in Madhya Pradesh.

So far, 921 people have died of COVID-19 each in Punjab, 910 in Rajasthan, 729 in Telangana, 572 in Jammu and Kashmir, 567 in Haryana, 487 in Bihar, 372 in Odisha, 277 in Jharkhand, 213 in Assam, 182 in Kerala and 178 in Uttarakhand.

The health ministry stressed that more than 70 percent of the deaths occurred due to co-morbidities.

With inputs from agencies
For Belarusian police officer Yegor Yemelyanov, the brutality was too much to take. Alarmed at the violent response to his countrys biggest popular uprising in modern times, hes turned his back on his career, been detained and now hopes for a better future.

Seventeen years of service are over. My conscience is clear. Police are with the people, he wrote in an Instagram post last week, alongside a photo of his police ID, badge and commendation letter.

He quit the force two days after the Aug. 9 election that sparked a popular revolt against the regime of Alexander Lukashenko. His post came at the height of a violent crackdown on protesters, who loudly called for the end to the strongmans 26-year reign.

IMage: Former police officer Yegor Yemelyanov from Belarus.

Where previously there was fear and obedience, workers at a state-run tractor factory this week jeered a visibly angry Lukashenko and laughed at his defiant claims to power.

In the late hours of Aug. 10, Yemelyanov, 36, said he came back from a night shift, talked to his wife and made the decision to quit as images of protesters being beaten and detained by police on the streets of the capital, Minsk, were flooding social media channels.

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I feared the most that I would be sent into the thick of it and I would have to fight my own people, he told NBC News from the town of Novopolotsk, 150 miles north of Minsk, where he lives with his family.

I expected some sort of reaction [to protests] from the security forces, he added. I expected that they would be tough, but not to this extent.

On the election night and the night after, the images and videos that emerged showed riot police beating the protesters with batons, firing rubber-coated bullets and using stun grenades after thousands took to the streets to show their discontent with the results of the election the opposition said was rigged.

Thousands were detained. Two protesters have died, and dozens were injured.

Image: Demonstrators participate in an anti-Lukashenko rally on Aug. 18, 2020 in Minsk, Belarus. (Misha Friedman / Getty Images)

Reports from protesters released from detention centers have detailed accounts of severe beatings, mistreatment and humiliation.

Story continues

The brutality I saw has not allowed me to wear my uniform anymore, Yemelyanov, a soft-spoken man, said, reflecting on the violence.

Yemelyanov, who served with the security department of the Interior Ministry in Novopolotsk, said he had asked to resign on the morning of Aug. 11, but was denied and told to remain on duty.

So he did not turn up for work and was officially dismissed, as documents he shared show.

Before returning his badge, he posted the photo announcing he was quitting on Instagram. That post has since been liked nearly 400,000 times and received 27,000 comments, mostly from strangers expressing respect for his decision and saying thank you.

But after signing dismissal papers, Yemelyanov said he was detained without explanation for two days, eventually charged with conducting an unsanctioned event on the internet and using a photo of his badge to express his personal feelings, court documents he supplied show. He said he does not understand the charges.

The court closed his case after not finding his conduct criminal, according to the document he supplied.

He said he has not faced any threats or reprimands from Belarusian authorities about his decision since.

In the meanwhile, my photo has gone viral around the world, he said.

The press office of the regional police force confirmed Wednesday that Yemelyanov was a staff police officer who relayed his intention to resign and was eventually dismissed last week.

Image: Former police officer Yegor Yemelyanov from Belarus.

As Lukashenko clings to power amid pressure at home and abroad, there are signs the security forces on which he has staked his quarter century rule are now turning on him.

A ministry spokesperson acknowledged in a public statement Tuesday that some police officers had quit amid the protests.

We will not judge the small proportion of police officers who have today left the service out of personal convictions, the statement said.

It also pleaded with others not to quit, saying the public would be left unprotected if the entire police force today takes off its badges.

On Tuesday, Lukashenko issued an order rewarding around 300 employees of the interior ministry for impeccable service.

It was not immediately clear if the order, dated Aug. 13, included any law enforcement officials who played any part in the crackdown on protesters.

As for Yemelyanov, he plans to stay in Belarus and look for another job, possibly in the fitness industry.

At this point, I am almost sure that everything will end well, he said, reflecting on the political situation in the country.

I support holding a new election, he added. I am not for or against any candidates. But the election was obviously not fair and falsified, so we need a new election for sure.
Actress Kirsten Dunst is confused about why Kanye West features her in a new campaign promo. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

We all know Kanye West is trying to run for president. But Kirsten Dunst wants to know what it has to do with her.

On Tuesday, the rapper tweeted a mockup for a "Kanye 2020 Vision" campaign poster, prominently featuring the "Spider-Man" actress. Vogue Editor in Chief Anna Wintour also makes an appearance as well as several activists and other figures.

"Whats the message here," Dunst shot back on Twitter Wednesday night. "And why am I apart of it?"

A representative for Dunst confirmed to People magazine that she had not agreed to the use of her image. Neither had Wintour, said a source close to the editor.

Whats the message here, and why am I apart of it?   Kirsten Dunst (@kirstendunst) August 20, 2020

West launched his unlikely bid for the presidency on July 4, and since then has petitioned to appear on the ballot in at least 14 states. On Tuesday evening, the Wisconsin Elections Commission cautioned against the rapper's name appearing on the ballot, with a decision to come on Thursday morning.

Illinois and New Jersey have officially denied West's paperwork (the Illinois Board of Elections found 1,928 invalid signatures), while Arkansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Utah and Vermont have accepted it.

Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Montana, Ohio and West Virginia have yet to decide.

The new campaign poster also comes amid swirling concerns that Republican officials are aiding West in an apparent attempt to siphon Black support away from (now-official) Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris.

Dunst, for her part, endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders back in March.
By Akbar Mammadov

Azerbaijan is Chinas largest trade partner in the South Caucasus region and the two countries have been developing ties in the political sphere in recent years.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has said that there is a high-level political dialogue between Azerbaijan and China based on mutual understanding and trust.

Bayramov made the remark at the meeting with Chinas Ambassador Guo Min in the Foreign Ministry on August 19.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on further expansion of cooperation in bilateral and multilateral formats, as well as within international organizations.

Bayramov expressed satisfaction with the development of relations between Azerbaijan and China in the political, economic, trade, humanitarian and healthcare spheres.

Furthermore, the sides emphasized that the visits at the level of heads of state gave impetus to the development of relations between the two countries. The principled position of the sides on respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the states was also underlined.

Informing the Chinese envoy about the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Bayramov touched upon the pre-planned provocation by the Armenian armed forces in the direction of the Tovuz district of the Azerbaijan-Armenia border on July 12. The minister said that this provocation served the military-political goals of Armenia and aimed to hinder substantive talks on the settlement of the conflict.

The ambassador stressed China's firm position on respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

Additionally, Guo Min said that China highly appreciates Azerbaijan's activities during its chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement, especially a number of global initiatives put forward by the President of Azerbaijan over COVID-19.

The sides also stressed the importance of international cooperation and solidarity amid the fight over pandemic.

Emphasizing the technical support provided by China, Bayramov noted that it is a clear example of commitment to the traditions of friendship between the peoples of Azerbaijan and China, and expressed gratitude for the support and solidarity shown in these difficult times.

It should be noted that on February 12, Azerbaijan sent medical supplies to Xian and Mianyang cities of China as part of friendship and cooperation relations between Azerbaijans Sumgait city and Chinese cities. On April 3-23, and May 21, Azerbaijan received the sets of medical supplies sent by the Chinese government in accordance with the assistance act signed between the two countries on April 2.

Along with the help of the Chinese government, within the framework of assistance to Azerbaijan, the relevant medical supplies were sent by Sichuan province, Xi'an, Minyan and Chudzhou cities, Jiangjin district of Chongqing city, funds of Alibaba and Jack Ma, Huawei and other various structures.

On August 4, via the special flight organized by the Azerbaijani Airlines, a group of ten Chinese doctros visited Azerbaijan to help the countrys fight against COVID-19. Humanitarian assistance consisting of medical equipment was also delivered through this flight to Azerbaijan.

The two countires have also been developing trade relations.

On 11 August, Azerbaijan presented its products under "Made in Azerbaijan" brand at the 4th China High-End Wine and Spirits Expo 2020, which has become the first alcoholic beverage exhibition in China held in 2020 with the participation of the world's leading wine producers such as France, Spain, New Zealand and Chile attracted more about 35,000 visitors.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Members of Student Innovation Ireland and Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) advocates are encouraging second-level schools in Kildare to register and take part in the 2020/21 F1 in Schools education programme this autumn.

The F1 in Schools STEM Challenge raises awareness among schoolchildren all across the globe of STEM through Formula 1; it encourages students to think creatively, improve their skills, and gain confidence.

It is the only global multi-disciplinary challenge in which teams of students aged 9 to 19 deploy CAD/CAM software to collaborate, design, analyse, manufacture, test, and then race miniature compressed air powered cars made from the F1 model block.

Four Irish teams will compete in the F1 in Schools world finals in Melbourne next March.

Ruth Conway, who oversees sponsorship and logistics at F1 in Schools says the competition has been beneficial to various aspects of her life:

It was great for personal development. I gained interpersonal and communication skills, greater confidence, and organisational skills from participating in the competition in Transition Year. F1 in Schools was also the deciding factor for me in choosing to study business and engineering for the Leaving Certificate. The experience also made me realise that I want to pursue a career in Formula 1.

Aaron Hannon, Co-Founder of F1 in Schools, is calling on schools to enter this years challenge:

F1 in Schools gives second-level students the opportunity to learn how to be a leader, an engineer or a businessperson in a fast-paced, exciting and competitive way. Through participating in the challenge, Irish students have earned a once-in-a-lifetime trip to represent Ireland at the F1 in Schools World Finals, where they will meet like-minded students from all around the globe.

We are delighted to work with new schools and new teachers to help bring these opportunities to even more students. We urge all schools to contact us at info@f1inschools.ie or visit www.f1inschools.ie to find out how to enter the 2020/21 F1 in Schools season.

Registration for F1 in Schools Ireland 2020/21 will close on November 15, 2020, with Regional Finals taking place in February 2021. The 2021 Irish National Final will be held in April/May 2021.


President Moon Jae-in speaks during a virtual meeting with heads of local education offices at a high school in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap



By Kim Rahn



The approval ratings for President Moon Jae-in and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) have stopped falling and rebounded slightly, a Realmeter poll showed, Thursday.



The change could be a result of the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic here and the massive rally conservative religious groups held last weekend in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, which became a hotbed for the virus, the poll agency said.



According to the survey conducted on 1,506 people from Tuesday to Wednesday, Moon's job approval rating increased by 1.8 percentage points from the previous week to 45.1 percent.



The negative assessment declined by 0.3 percentage points to 52.3 percent.



The support rate for the DPK was 38.9 percent, up 4.1 percentage points, surpassing that of the main opposition United Future Party (UFP), at 37.1 percent. In the previous week's poll, the conservative UFP overtook the liberal DPK in the support ratings for the first time since October 2016, when a massive corruption scandal emerged involving former President Park Geun-hye from the conservative party.





Protesters pack the streets in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, Aug. 15, during an anti-government rally organized by Sarang Jeil Church. Pastor Jun Kwang-hoon from the church gives a speech on the podium. He tested positive for COVID-19 two days later. Yonhap
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- In a strange evolution of events in an already bizarre year, bowling alleys and gyms (as of Sept. 2) can open but dining rooms cannot. Long Island and Upstate dining rooms are operational at 50 percent capacity -- but not in New York City.

It is a situation that several restaurant owners consistently have expressed as disheartening.
El Shafee el-Sheikh (L) and Alexanda Kotey (R), posing for mugshots after being detained by the Syrian Democratic Forces in Syria - AFP

Britain may struggle to hand over evidence on the Islamic State "Beatles" in time for an October deadline, legal experts says, raising concerns the notorious terror suspects may be executed in Iraq.

Bill Barr, the US Attorney General, this week assured the Home Office it would drop the death penalty for Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh if the UK shares "important evidence" it has on the pair by October 15.

The Trump administration believes it will be difficult to launch a successful prosecution of the two members of the four-man cell nicknamed The Beatles in the US without the materials, which includes wiretaps, voice analysis and 600 witness statements gathered by the Metropolitan Police.

Mr Barrs office raised the prospect that the Londoners could be handed over to authorities in Iraq - where they are currently being held in US military custody - if the UK does not act quickly. Such a move would be problematic as Baghdad also has capital punishment, which the UK objects to.

Legal experts raised concerns about whether Britain would be able to work through the challenges in the case in time.

US Attorney General William Barr - AFP

Can we give them the evidence quickly? Yes. I think in practical terms the UK is prepared and ready to hand it all over. But theres an outstanding appeal over whether it can. Id be extremely surprised if the government then went against the court, Ben Keith, a barrister specialising in extradition and human rights, told the Telegraph.

There will be a discussion now to see if they can send the evidence even with an assurance. It will require at the very least for the High Court to say thats OK.

The Supreme Court ruled in March that the US government's demand to use crucial evidence from the UK was unlawful, in a case brought by Elsheikh's mother.

It is unclear when the court, which only returns from recess on October 1, will issue its final order. Even if it decides to allow the evidence sharing, further litigation could ensue, as Mr Barr pointed out this week.

Story continues

Time is of the essence, the attorney general wrote in a letter to Priti Patel, Home Secretary, on Tuesday. Further delay is no longer possible.

El Shafee Elsheikh, right, pictured as a 15-year-old with his mother Maha Elgizouli and younger brother Mahmoud - Washington Post

A source close to the case in the US told the Telegraph they too had concerns about how long the extradition process was taking.

"They (the US) sees this as Britain's problem and is tired of the holdups," he said. "They've given them a date but things have moved so slowly in the case so there are worries the UK may stall and the US will give up patience."

Elsheikh, 32, and Kotey, 36, have also been stripped of their British citizenship and banned from returning to the UK. They are appealing the decision.

Shamima Begum, a former schoolgirl from Bethnal Green who left the UK to join Islamic State in Syria, won her own appeal earlier this year.

You have the citizenship case and the data case at the Supreme Court. Both issues could hold up any extradition I would have thought," Mr Keith said. "They cant go anywhere unless Elsheikhs mother loses her appeal and the timings arent clear.

Diane Foley, the mother of American journalist James Foley, who was held hostage and brutally killed by Islamic State militants, on Thursday called on Ms Patel to work with the US to bring the pair to trial.

She said it has been a "long journey to even find any people to hold accountable for these crimes", adding: "These two men are only two of hundreds of people who've been involved in terrible human rights atrocities in Syria."

Ms Foley told the the BBC: "I feel that the death penalty is too easy, it allows them to be martyrs, if you will.
In this episode, senior journalist Jacqueline Maley joins national science reporter Liam Mannix to unpack the Morrison government's decision to sign a letter of intent with British-Swedish big pharma company AstraZeneca to make 25 million doses of their coronavirus vaccine for Australia.

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Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada, says Nigeria has over 60 per cent products under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS).

He also said the country also had over 2,400 companies and 6,900 products under the scheme.

Mr Dada said this at the opening of the National Consultation Workshop on the ECOWAS Post 2020 Vision on Thursday in Abuja.

The workshop was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning (MBNP), in collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission.

He said the authority of Heads of State and Government during its Ordinary Session in June 2007, had adopted the transformation ECOWAS vision 2020.

He said it was aimed at setting clear directions and goals to significantly raise the standard of living of the people through conscious and inclusive programmes.

Mr Dada stated that the ECOWAS had established a roadmap to come up with a post 2020 vision for the sub-region.

He added that the objective of the workshop was to assess the ECOWAS vision 2020 and to ensure that the ECOWAS post vision reflected the countrys national interest and regional aspiration.

The goal of the workshop is to articulate the views of various stakeholders on the impact of ECOWAS vision 2020, the expectation of the people of Nigeria with regards to the formulations of ECOWAS vision 2050 document, he said.

Mr Dada said remarkable achievements have been recorded in the past years.

Positive developments in the West African Countries, including continuous efforts being made to carry out political, constitutional and security sector reform, to improve good governance and democracy, among other achievements, he said.

The Permanent Secretary of MBNP, Olusola Idowu, represented by David Adeosun, Director Macroeconomic Department in the ministry, said that the workshop would hold in the six geopolitical zones in the country.

Mrs Idowu explained that the workshop would have presentations on economic, social and political challenges affecting ECOWAS member countries and the sub-region in general.

She said, The consultation is to ensure that the post 2020 vision reflects the needs and aspirations of the citizenry.

It will also bring the people together in a Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) forum to share ideas.

The Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, Finda Koroma, explained that during the period of implementation of the post 2020 vision, remarkable achievement was recovered.

Mr Koroma was represented by Halima Ahmed, Commissioner for Finance in the ECOWAS Commission.

He said the launch of the ECOWAS common passport, brown cards, ECOWAS National Biometric Card and all other travel related documentations would allow community citizens to move freely without visa from one country to another within the region.

Consolidation of our custom union with the implementation of the Common External Tariff (CET) and other trade facilitating instruments have contributed significantly to growth in both formal and informal trade in our region, among others Mr Koroma said.

(NAN)
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Linkedin Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Bandung  Thu, August 20, 2020 15:24 517 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066f4a8d7 1 National PTDI-aircraft-industry,N250,N250-Gatotkaca,PT-Dirgantara-Indonesia,Museum,Yogyakarta,Habibie,BJ-Habibie,Soeharto Free

State-owned aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) in Bandung, West Java, is set to hand over the Gatotkaca N250 Prototype Aircraft 01 (PA01) to the Dirgantara Mandala Central Museum in Yogyakarta.

The N250 was the first aircraft produced from the grand strategy of technology development launched by the late president BJ Habibie when he was the research and technology minister.

PTDI corporate communications and promotion manager Adi Prastowo said the transfer of the aircraft was stipulated in Air Force Chief of Staff Decree (SKEP) No. 284/2020.

The handover of the N250 to [the museum] is a way to safeguard state assets since the N250 has high historical value, Adi said in a statement on Thursday.

The aircraft, he said, marked the establishment of the aerospace industry and thus it was expected to provide educational and motivational value for younger people visiting the museum. The PTDI had dismantled the aircrafts access panels in the main parts, including the engine and propeller, as well as the main structure, consisting of the body, wings and vertical stabilizer, he said.

Dismantling the aircraft would reduce the risk of damaging the aircraft's parts, which would be transferred by land, before they were reinstalled in Yogyakarta, Adi added.

A number of officials from the PTDI and the military, including Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, Air Force chief of staff Air Chief Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo and PTDI president director Elfien Goentoro, are scheduled to attend the reception on Aug. 25 at the museum.

In 1989, Habibie introduced the N250 turboprop aircraft at the Paris Airshow, Le Bourget, France. On Nov. 10, 1994 it left the hangar and was taken by 50 employees of the Nusantara Aircraft Industry (before becoming PTDI).

The name Gatotkaca was given by then-president Soeharto. He also named three other three prototypes, namely the Krincingwesi, Koconegoro and Putut Guritno.

On Aug. 10, 1995, the N250 under the PK-XNG registration successfully made its first flight, witnessed by Soeharto and then-first lady Tien Soeharto, as well as then-vice president Try Sutrisno and his wife Tuti Sutiawati.

Following the monetary 1998 crisis, the certification of the N250 was hampered as the International Monetary Fund, while lending funds to Indonesia, included the terms of the N250 project termination.

National Technology Awakening Day is now celebrated every year on Aug. 10. (syk)
CORAL GABLES, Fla., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Rasco Klock Perez & Nieto, P.L. is pleased to announce the creation of its Rasco Klock Mediation Group. Rasco Klock Partner Alfonso Perez, Esq. and Senior Counsel Read McCaffrey, Esq.  who are both among the most experienced commercial dispute counsel in the U.S.  lead the group.

Rasco Klock Perez & Nieto, P.L.

Mediation has become a valuable method of alternative dispute resolution. Due to the effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on judicial dockets and tribunal schedules, binding mediation has become more popular. Mediation, whether it be "instructive" or binding, is very adaptable to remote sessions.

The group has the ability to conduct "instructive" non-binding mediation, as well as binding mediation in English or Spanish. It conducts all mediation efforts only after all parties execute a confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement. Sessions usually involve one introductory meeting involving all parties and their counsel, followed by "breakout" individual meetings between each party and the mediator.

Mediation is a process of dispute resolution that involves a trained third party who works with both sides of the dispute in an informal discussion to help resolve the dispute. It does not occur in a courtroom or involve the deliberations of an arbitral tribunal.

Designed to reach an amicable resolution by negotiation with "give and take," mediation is used in many business disputes, including labor negotiations, business contract litigation, and employment disputes.

Mediation may be "instructive" in which parties have the benefit of a third party's objective view of the dispute, which ultimately may lead to a settlement. Alternatively, the parties may contractually agree that the mediation result will be binding, thus avoiding the significant costs, energies, stress and unknown aspects of litigation, whether it is judicial or arbitral.

"The most effective and successful commercial dispute mediators are attorneys with experience in the prosecution and defense of such claims and often the negotiation of a resolution of such claims," said Ramon E. Rasco, firm managing partner, founder, and head of the firm's Business Law Department. "We are very pleased to launch our mediation group, and to have two seasoned attorneys  Alfonso and Read  leading the group. In many cases, mediation is a smart choice, especially with the effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the judicial system."

Perez is a seasoned and certified Florida Circuit Court mediator with many successful dispute resolution results. McCaffrey's experience has been largely international; one example is his being one of five comprising a court-appointed group to negotiate the settlement of the claims of families of victims murdered on board Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland with the Government of Libya, resulting in a settlement and payment of $2.7 billion.

Rasco Klock's mediator fee is reasonable. There is no minimum amount of time involved. Mediations take place in Rasco Klock's Coral Gables offices, located at 2555 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Ste 600, Coral Gables.

The administrator of the Rasco Klock Mediation Group is Luis Oviedo. For more information about the group, please visit www.rascoklock.com/2020/07/10/the-rasco-klock-mediation-group, or contact Oviedo at [email protected], or (305) 476-7100, ext. 7110.

About Rasco Klock: Rasco Klock, a minority-owned law firm, provides well-reasoned, efficient and practical solutions to the diverse business needs of market leading companies and high net worth individuals who invest or do business in South Florida and the Americas. Nearly half of Rasco Klock's lawyers have been recognized for their legal excellence by independent third parties such as Chambers, Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, and Top Lawyers. Their experience ranges from structuring offshore investment in the U.S. to the day-to-day operations of a going concern, including distribution, licensing, leasing, taxation, government procurement and employment issues.

Its attorneys represent individuals, private and public corporations, and major financial institutions in all aspects of corporate transactions (including mergers, acquisitions, financing, and placements), lending, commercial litigation and arbitration, employment litigation and compensation, bankruptcy and bankruptcy litigation, foreclosures, taxation, trademark monitoring, trademark and trade dress infringement, copyright infringement, false advertising, and infringement of the rights of publicity and internet domain disputes. Led by a joint J.D./Ph.D. in marine biology, they have handled complex environmental cases. They also represent individuals and families domestically and internationally regarding the management, taxation, preservation, and transfers of wealth, as well as the use and administration of trusts and estates.

The New York office is located at 555 Fifth Avenue, 17th Floor; and the Florida office is located at 2555 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Ste 600, Coral Gables. For more information, visit www.rascoklock.com.

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954-723-9350 T

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SOURCE Rasco Klock Perez & Nieto, P.L.

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The Nasdaq closed at yet another record, shrugging off higher US jobless claims

Wall Street stocks shrugged off weak US labor data Thursday, while European equities were pressured by worries over spiking coronavirus cases in several countries.

The Labor Department reported a worse-than-expected 1.1 million new claims for unemployment benefits, a jump from the prior week that underscored the continued weakness of the US economy.

But Wall Street pushed higher anyway, led by large technology companies that have benefited during the coronavirus, which has kept consumers at home and boosted e-commerce and streaming services.

Led by Apple, Facebook and other giants, the tech-rich Nasdaq rocketed to yet another record and was joined in positive territory by the Dow and S&P 500, which won more modest gains.

Earlier, bourses in Paris, London and Frankfurt all fell more than one percent.

A note from Charles Schwab said recent upticks in new COVID-19 cases in European countries are "continuing to drag on sentiment."

While Italy registered 845 new cases on Thursday, its highest daily tally since May, France reported 4,700 fresh infections -- a massive increase on the previous day. While Spain's daily increases topped even those of France, Germany was examining its own resurgence.

Despite the rise in cases, a top World Health Organization official said additional lockdowns should not be necessary.

"With the basic nationwide and additional targeted measures, we are in a much better position to stamp out these localized virus flare-ups," the head of the WHO's European branch, Hans Kluge, told reporters.

"We can manage the virus and keep the economy running and an education system in operation," he added.

Among individual companies, ride-hailing companies Uber Technologies and Lyft surged 6.8 percent and 5.8 percent, respectively, after a California appeals court gave them a reprieve from being required to reclassify drivers as employees in their home state of California.

Shortly before the appeals court decision, Lyft said it would suspend its rideshare service in the state rather than treat drivers as employees entitled to benefits.

Story continues

American Airlines dropped 1.4 percent as it announced it will eliminate service to 15 smaller US markets as cash-strapped carriers downsize their operations to cope with the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

- Key figures around 2045 GMT -

New York - Dow: UP 0.2 percent at 27,739.73 (close)

New York - S&P 500: UP 0.3 percent at 3,385.51 (close)

New York - Nasdaq: UP 1.1 percent at 11,264.95 (close)

London - FTSE 100: DOWN 1.6 percent at 6,013.34 (close)

Frankfurt - DAX 30: DOWN 1.1 percent at 12,830.00 (close)

Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 1.3 percent at 4,911.24 (close)

EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 1.3 percent at 3,273.98 (close)

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.0 percent at 22,880.62 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 1.5 percent at 24,791.39 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 1.3 percent at 3.363.90 (close)

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1860 from $1.1838 at 2100 GMT

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 105.78 yen from 106.12 yen

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3215 from $1.3098

Euro/pound: DOWN at 89.74 pence from 90.38 pence

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.8 percent at $42.58 per barrel

Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 1.0 percent at $44.90 per barrel

burs-jmb/cs
L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis and L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti sought to bolster Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's image as someone who can bring back jobs erased by the coronavirus pandemic during the third night of the Democratic National Convention.

"American workers need a fighter now more than ever," said Solis, who served as secretary of Labor under President Obama. "And Joe Biden is that person, because he has done it before. Ive seen it firsthand."

Southern California is facing high unemployment numbers, shuttered storefronts and alarming homelessness count figures amid the pandemic, and Democrats locally and nationally are hoping voters will seize on criticism of President Trump's management of the health crisis.

Economists said earlier this summer that California is unlikely to recover its pre-coronavirus prosperity over the next three years even as the state claws back from its strict restrictions.

Solis' district, which extends from northeast Los Angeles to Claremont, takes in communities hardest hit by the pandemic, including Black and Latino residents and those living in lower-income neighborhoods, which are among the most ravaged by the virus in Los Angeles County.

She contrasted gains on jobs she said were won under Obama and Biden to now, telling viewers that "because of Donald Trumps failures, we must once again rescue a sinking economy."

"Millions of Americans are out of work, and communities of color are the hardest hit. Millions of essential workers are putting their lives at risk with little protections. And millions more are just plain tired," Solis said.

Solis said that Biden and vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris have a recovery plan, one that "will build back better."

Along with job creation and the economy, other themes Wednesday night included gun control, equal pay and health protections for women and climate change.

Both Solis and Garcetti spoke during the economy portion, with the L.A. mayor appearing alongside Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown and Rep. Cindy Axne from Iowa.

Story continues

Garcetti, who serves as a national co-chair for Bidens campaign, warned about the loss of Main Street as he spoke with L.A. restaurant owner Lien Ta. Ta's popular Koreatown eatery, Here's Looking at You, announced last month that it would close for the foreseeable future, and she's struggling to keep another restaurant in Silverlake open.

"At this point I don't even see myself in business next month," Ta said in the taped segment.

"Restaurants are among the hardest businesses to succeed at, but I was going to do it in a way that was going to provide a successful career for not only myself but 100 employees," Ta said, talking about having to furlough her workers.

"We don't ask for much from government, but catch us when we're falling," Garcetti told Ta. "And I know that it must feel like you're falling right now without a net."
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Philip Morris (PM). Shares have added about 3.6% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.

Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Philip Morris due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.

Philip Morris Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates, Decline Y/Y

Philip Morris International reported second-quarter 2020 results, wherein adjusted earnings per share came in at $1.29, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.09. However, the bottom line declined 11.6% year over year. On excluding currency, earnings per share fell 7.5%.



Net revenues of $6,651 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6,492 million. However, the top line decreased 13.6% from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter. Net revenues, on excluding currency headwinds, declined 9.5%. This was due to adverse volume/mix mainly stemming from soft cigarette volumes, somewhat made up by greater heated tobacco volumes. The company also received some respite from favorable pricing variance.



During the quarter under review, revenues from combustible products were down 19.1% to $5,045 million due to declines in all regions. Revenues in the RRPs improved 9.5% to $1,606 million. Total cigarette and heated tobacco unit shipment volumes dropped 14.5% to 170.1 billion units. Cigarette shipment volumes fell 17.6% to 151.4 billion units in the quarter, while heated tobacco unit shipment volumes of 18.7 billion units rose 24.3% year over year.

Adjusted operating income fell 12.7% to $2,802 million. After excluding currency, adjusted operating income dropped 9.5% year over year. Adjusted operating margin expanded 0.4 points to 42.1%, while it remained flat on a constant-currency or cc basis.

Region-Wise Performance

Story continues

Net revenues in the European Union dropped 4% to $2,475 million. Revenues slipped 0.1% at cc due to adverse volume/mix, largely countered by favorable pricing variance, courtesy of improved combustible pricing. Total shipment volumes in the region fell 9.8% to 44,544 million units. In Eastern Europe, net revenues fell 4.7% to $783 million, while it grew 5.6% at cc. The upside can be attributed to favorable pricing and volume/mix. Total shipment volumes dropped 3.7% to 28,783 million units.



In the Middle East & Africa region, net revenues declined 29.9% (down 28.3% at cc) to $704 million due to adverse volume/mix, partly made up by favorable pricing. Further, total shipment volumes fell 15.5% to 27,373 million units. Revenues in South & Southeast Asia fell 28.8% (down 25.1% at cc) to $889 million. The downside was a result of adverse volume/mix as well as pricing variance (mainly in Indonesia). Shipment volumes collapsed 28.1% to 33,346 million units.



Revenues from East Asia & Australia fell 5.9% (down 5.1% at cc) to $1,432 million due to unfavorable volume/mix, partly compensated by pricing gains. Total shipment volumes slipped 5.1% to 21,147 million units. Finally, revenues from Latin America & Canada slumped 30.2% (down 19.2% at cc) to $368 million due to adverse volume/mix, somewhat compensated by improved pricing. Moreover, total shipment volumes declined 19.7% to 14,874 million units.

Other Developments & Guidance

The company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $4,200 million. Also, it had long-term debt of $27,043 million and shareholders deficit of $10,120 million. During the quarter, Phillip Morris announced a quarterly dividend of $1.17 per share. On Jul 7, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a version of IQOSs marketing as a modified risk tobacco product (MRTP). Also, on Mar 30, the company submitted a supplemental premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) with the FDA for the IQOS 3 tobacco heating device. Notably, total users of IQOS as of the end of the second quarter were estimated at about 15.4 million, including roughly 11.2 million who have shifted from smoking to IQOS.

Philip Morris has been on track to lower COVID-19-related business disruptions. The company notified that it currently has adequate access to inputs and is not encountering any major supply-related hurdles. Most of the companys production facilities are operational as of now, including all heated tobacco unit factories. However, some cigarette manufacturing facilities have been temporarily affected by government-imposed shutdowns or production limitations. They form about less than 5% of the companys total cigarette production capacity globally. Considering all factors and the current sales trends, Phillip Morris does not anticipate any out-of-stock situation in any core operating income market.



The company doesnt expect any national lockdown recurrence in any of its core international markets in the second half of 2020. It does not expect a near-term recovery in the duty-free business due to travel-related uncertainties. Further, the company expects complete enforcement of requirements for minimum retail selling price in Indonesia at the earliest by September 2020. Additionally, total cigarette and heated tobacco unit shipment volumes are likely to fall around 8-10% (on a like for like or LFL basis) in 2020, mainly due to the duty free business as well as situation in Indonesia. Management also anticipates total industry volumes to decline roughly 7-9% (excluding China and the United States). For 2020, Phillip Morris expects net revenues (at cc) to drop in low-single digits (on an LFL basis). The same is expected to grow in low-single digits on excluding Indonesia and the duty free business. CC-adjusted operating margin on an LFL basis is likely to jump more than 150 basis points.



All said, the company envisions adjusted earnings per share to be $4.92-$5.07 in 2020 compared with $5.13 reported in the year-ago period. At cc, adjusted earnings per share are expected to grow 2-5% to $5.23-$5.38. For the third quarter, the company expects earnings per share to be almost in line with the second-quarter figure. This is likely to be backed by sequential revenue improvement, offset by factors like timing of various costs.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?

In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in estimates review.

VGM Scores

Currently, Philip Morris has a great Growth Score of A, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with an F. However, the stock was allocated a grade of C on the value side, putting it in the middle 20% for this investment strategy.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of B. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

Outlook

Estimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Notably, Philip Morris has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.



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In brief: Lyft on Thursday confirmed that at the end of today  at 11:59 p.m. Pacific, to be exact  the company will suspend all rideshare operations in the state of California. The move comes after months of uncertainty for freelancers in the Golden State.

Back in January, lawmakers in California enacted Assembly Bill 5 (AB5) which impacts how businesses in the state can classify independent contractors and freelancers. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra in May sued ridesharing providers Uber and Lyft over the matter and earlier this month, a judge sided with the state, putting the companies on the clock to make a change.

Lyft in announcing its decision said they have been advocating for a way to offer benefits to drivers while maintaining the independence that contractors enjoy. Instead, what Sacramento politicians are pushing is an employment model that 4 out of 5 drivers dont support, the company added.

According to Lyft, under the proposed changes, 80 percent of drivers would lose work and others would see capped hourly earnings and scheduled shifts.

Simply put, Lyft said its the sort of change that cant simply happen overnight, so they are having to suspend operations in California for now.

Uber is expected to make a similar announcement sometime today although as of this writing, nothing has been made official.

Image credit: Allmy, Jonathan Weiss
One of the highest-ranking female pilots in the U.S. Air Force berated and belittled her subordinates, reducing them to tears at times, according to an internal investigation that led to her firing.

Maj. Gen. Dawn Dunlop was the first woman to become a fighter test pilot, fly an F-22, and command a test wing.

A 1988 graduate of the Air Force Academy, Dunlop has logged more than 3,500 hours flying aircraft including F-15, F-16 and F-22 fighters, according to the Air Force.

After graduating from the academy, she was the top graduate from her class at the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB.

Maj. Gen. Dawn Dunlop was director of the Special Access Programs Control Office, or SAPCO

Dunlop was the first woman to become a fighter test pilot, fly an F-22, command a test wing

Recently, Dunlop was featured alongside other female Air Force aviators in recruiting videos shown alongside the film, Captain Marvel, released in March.

The film featured Brie Larson as Captain Marvel, whose alter ego is an Air Force F-16 pilot.

Dunlop from August 2018 led the Pentagon office responsible for overseeing some of the military's closest-held secret programs, but was fired in May 2019.

Dunlop was removed as director of the Special Access Programs Control Office, or SAPCO, and now serves as the Air Force's director of capability requirements.

A January 2020 report by the Inspector General, obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request made by the Air Force Times, laid bare the reasons for Dunlop's removal.

A few weeks after taking over the SAPCO office, witnesses said Dunlop began treating subordinates there disrespectfully, according to the IG report.

The belittling occurred on roughly a weekly, but sometimes daily, basis, the report said.

Dunlop, center, featured in a USAF recruitment campaign, coinciding with Captain Marvel

In Captain Marvel actor Brie Larson plays an Air Force pilot who is also a superhero

Dunlop commonly demeaned her subordinates when they failed to live up to her expectations, was unprofessionally insulting, and regularly implied they were stupid, said witnesses.

Several of them used terms like 'dictatorial' and 'borderline abusive' to characterize her leadership style, and described her as treating subordinates like a 'parent scolding a child.'

'That's the environment we were in, nothing was ever right,' said one unidentified witness.

Witnesses also described Dunlop is an extraordinarily talented and accomplished officer who meant well and wanted the Air Force to succeed.

She believed that SAPCO was a broken organization that she was meant to come in and fix.

But her leadership style caused several witnesses to say they lost respect for her and question how she had reached the level of major general.

In a statement provided to Air Force Times, Dunlop's lawyer, Gary Myers, suggested that Dunlop's efforts to reform SAPCO led to the IG complaint against her.

'Throughout her career, Maj. Gen. Dunlop has brought a clear sense of integrity, excellence and a strong desire to serve airmen and the nation,' Myers said.

'She has always been willing to work with others to take on difficult change where needed to deliver results in support of these values.'

In the nine months she ran SAPCO, Dunlop made staff cry and left them trembling with fear

Dunlop 'is committed to incorporating these lessons learned as she moves forward in her current position,' her attorney said, after publication of the damning IG report

After she was assigned to lead SAPCO, 'she endeavored to identify and undertake actions to better align the SAPCO enterprise with the Secretary of Defense priorities and SAP community needs,' Myers continued.

'Her implementation of these efforts resulted in an inspector general complaint in May 2019. The IG allegations and report of investigation do not reflect who she is as a person, her values or her dedicated service of over 30 years.'

Myers said that Dunlop is grateful that the Air Force considered her response alongside the IG report when deciding to allow her to continue serving.

Dunlop 'has gained invaluable insight and perspective from this experience, and by reading the feelings of others clearly expressed in the IG report,' Myers said.

The report lists several incidents where Dunlop publicly berated subordinates, including by calling someone's work 'crap' in the middle of a meeting and publicly denigrate the quality of people's writing.

Her behavior crushed morale in SAPCO, the report said.

Dunlop was described as 'dictatorial', 'borderline abusive', and like a 'parent scolding a child'

Dunlop is pictured at the back of the room, behind Obama, during an Oval Office visit

Several people began having trouble at work, including 'being afraid,' losing sleep, quitting or seriously considering quitting, and not wanting to speak up at staff meetings.

Some people physically shook from fear when they had to deal with Dunlop, a witness said.

People also retreated from weekly meetings of a working group of top Special Access Programs officials to avoid provoking her ire.

One witness called Dunlop a 'prize fighter' who relished 'be[ing] in the middle of the ring and  slug[ging] it out.'

Dunlop presided over a toxic environment in her nine months in the senior Pentagon role

Several witnesses said they tried to talk to Dunlop about the way she was acting in meetings and the climate in the SAPCO office, but found her unreceptive to the feedback.

Dunlop's confrontational leadership style reached a boiling point on Jan. 4, 2019, when she grabbed a shocked subordinate's hand without her permission to get her attention during a dispute over her calendar and a visitor coming in for coffee.

The subordinate told investigators that Dunlop 'just went ballistic' when she found out a visitor, with whom Dunlop had a coffee appointment, was first going to stop by her office.

Dunlop scolded the subordinate for not telling her the visitor was coming up and said she was concerned the visitor would see bare walls in her office and askew coat hangars and papers on her desk.

Dunlop allegedly raised her voice and told the subordinate: 'Look at me, look at me please.'

Several witnesses said it was 'completely inappropriate' and 'unbecoming' for a general officer like Dunlop to put a hand on a subordinate like that.

'If it were a male general, he might be done that day  if he had grabbed a 115 pound lady like that,' one witness said.

The IG concluded Dunlop's confrontation with her subordinate, over a minor issue, 'compromised her standing as an officer,' and caused her subordinate to recoil in shock.

Dunlop is pictured during her assignment with Nato from 2016 to 2018 in Germany

Dunlop is pictured at the change of command ceremony in Geilenkirchen in 2018

Her behavior, they ruled, was indecorous and in violation of rules barring conduct unbecoming an officer.

In May 2019, Dunlop provoked another senior officer to storm out of a meeting in tears.

Dunlop was irritated because three Air Force officers had showed up to a meeting to prepare slides to brief senior military leaders, but Dunlop only thought one Air Force briefer was necessary.

In a separate IG report, dated November 2019, witnesses said Dunlop improperly had her subordinates perform personal services for her while serving as the commander of the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force at Geilenkirchen, in Germany.

She served in the role from 2016 to 2018.

Subordinates helped Dunlop by swapping out the summer tires for winter tires, and vice versa, on her personal vehicle four or five times, as well as getting an oil change done and making personal lodging arrangements.

When Dunlop was transferring back to the United States in August 2018, a subordinate helped Dunlop get her car shipped back by driving it around until it had burned off enough fuel to qualify for shipping, and also sold her winter tires for her.

The IG report concluded that having subordinates do these personal tasks for her were violations of Defense Department ethics regulations and part of a 'pattern of personnel misuse' during her command in Germany.

In his statement, Myers said that Dunlop regrets accepting those services from her subordinates, and said they were unintentional violations.

'She is committed to incorporating these lessons learned as she moves forward in her current position,' Myers said.
LONDON  European leaders endorsed sanctions on Belarus after an emergency summit on Wednesday as protests against its embattled president, Alexander Lukashenko, intensified following a contested election.

The European Union said it did not recognize the election results, which gave incumbent Lukashenko a landslide win, and would shortly impose sanctions on those who were involved in electoral fraud and repression of protesters, the European Council chief said.

"Our message is very clear: Stop the violence," European Council President Charles Michel said.

At least two demonstrators have been killed and thousands detained during a crackdown on protests, during the unfolding political crisis.

"What we have witnessed in Belarus is not acceptable. The Aug. 9 elections were neither free nor fair," Michel said in an invitation letter to the 27 leaders, establishing the virtual meeting.

He told reporters after the summit that a "substantial number of individuals" would be targeted by the sanctions and that a list of names would be released in due course. Sanctions against Lukashenko would be "deliberated," he added, giving no further details.

The E.U. also said it would reroute 53 million Euros earmarked for Belarus away from the government and towards civil society, victims of the state crackdown and the country's fight against the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

During the summit, Lukashenko, 65, said Western leaders should instead focus on their own domestic problems.

"I would just give them a piece of advice: instead of pointing the finger at us, they should discuss the yellow vests movement in France, the terrible riots in the USA," he said, according to the national Belta news agency.

Speaking from neighboring Lithuania, Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya, appealed to E.U. leaders on Wednesday to reject what she called a fraudulent presidential election.

"Mr. Lukashenko has lost all legitimacy in the eyes of our nation and the world," Tsikhanouskaya said, speaking in English for the first time in a video address.

Story continues

"I call on you to support the awakening of Belarus ... I call to respect the sovereignty of Belarus and the choice of Belarusian people."

Tsikhanouskaya, a 37-year-old political novice who emerged as an unexpected opposition candidate after better-known figures including her activist husband were jailed or barred from standing in the election, says she is the rightful winner of the presidential election in the former Soviet republic.

In the short video, she also called for fresh elections to be held under international supervision.

Belarusian opposition figures set up a council on Tuesday to negotiate a transition, a move denounced by Lukashenko as an attempt to seize power.

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Russia, an ally of Belarus, is likely to play a decisive role in how the crisis plays out.

President Donald Trump speaking on Tuesday said he would talk to Russia "at the appropriate time," in the wake of protests that he said appeared mostly peaceful.

"I like seeing democracy," he told reporters. "It doesn't seem like it's too much democracy there in Belarus."

Trump gave no further details about when he would hold talks with Moscow, adding that he would also speak to other people.

On Tuesday, the Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin had warned European leaders against foreign meddling in Belarus' affairs.

Belarus and Russia share deep historic and cultural ties, but Lukashenko and Putin have a somewhat frosty personal relationship, say analysts. Despite this, Putin has offered Lukashenko "assistance" if needed in the wake of the unrest, according to the Kremlin's official transcripts.

Image: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council in Minsk, Belarus (Andrei Stasevich / BelTA / Reuters)

Thousands of Belarusians have taken to the streets every day since Lukashenko's contested victory, as calls for his departure grow after a violent crackdown on demonstrators.

Often called "Europe's last dictator" the demonstrations pose the biggest challenge to Lukashenko's 26-year hold on power  he denies rigging the election to secure a sixth term.

After videos appeared online showing some police officers throwing their uniforms into dustbins, the Interior Ministry acknowledged on Tuesday that some police had quit.

The E.U. wants to avoid a repeat of what happened in neighboring Ukraine six years ago, when a pro-Russian leader was ousted in a popular uprising, triggering a Russian military intervention and Europe's deadliest ongoing conflict.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Each year, the U.S. spends an astounding $100 billion on beer. Between pints over brunch and after-work sessions, beer holds a prominent place in the American lifestyle, comprising 85% of the countrys alcoholic beverage market. But the obsession with beer doesn't stop with the average consumer, as sharing a round of brews has come to epitomize comradery, celebration, or just simple enjoyment across the worlds of entertainment, politics, sports, and business. Over the last few decades, the beer landscape has evolved considerably with the rise of craft breweries and the consolidation of major brands. In 2018, America had over 7,000 breweries producing almost 195 million barrels of beer. This wasnt always the case. In fact, as recently as the 1970s, many beer lovers feared that big brewers would completely dominate the industry with their cheap, flavorless lagers and that Americas best beer-making days were long behind it. Those little producers, the craft and microbreweries, saved the industry and made Americas beer industry the largest and most innovative in the world. For reference, a craft brewery is defined as making less than 6 million barrels per year and a microbrewery produces less than 15,000 barrels annually. To help understand how these changes impact average beer drinks, Stacker analyzed average price data for 16-ounce malt beverages from 1995 to 2020 along with CPI changes from 1952 to 1995 for at-home consumption of beer, ale, and other malt beverages, both provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The national CPI was used to adjust for inflation, and finally, the contextual information on the number of breweries each year from the Brewer's Association was added in to complete the analysis. Read on to rediscover a time where you could get a refreshing pint for under a quarterand you had to work a little harder to find a brewery to call your own.
A student is vaccinated against HPV at a clinic in Juungar Banner, Ordos, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, on August 1. [For China Daily/Yang Yan]

Students Offered Free Shots to Prevent Cervical Cancer

Guo Cunlan, 51, a farmer in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, knew nothing about cervical cancer until a few years ago, when the local government offered residents free examinations for the disease.

"In our village we were not in the habit of undergoing such examinations. I only go to the hospital if I feel really sick. Otherwise, I just endure the pain," she said.

Guo and her husband, 54, work more than 10 hours a day during summer in Nianfang Qushe Village, Juungar Banner, Ordos, planting corn, potatoes and millet, as well as raising a pig and some 10 chickens.

In winter, her husband does odd jobs such as other agricultural work and bricklaying, while their son is employed at a coal mine and daughter, Hao Ye, 15, attends middle school. The family's annual income is less than 30,000 yuan ($4,320).

Hao's school recently told parents that female students ages 13 to 18 could have free vaccinations against human papillomavirus, or HPV, which causes cervical cancer.

"We were thrilled to hear the news. Women of my age are too old for the vaccine, but my daughter can have it to eliminate a hidden danger in her life," Guo said, adding that she and her husband had no plans to have Hao vaccinated at their expense.

The girl, who was vaccinated on August 1, said all female students in her class had applied for the shots. "Some classmates said they have relatives who have developed cervical cancer, but I'm not afraid of the disease after being vaccinated," she added.

Early this month, Juungar Banner became the first area in China to offer female students free vaccinations against HPV. About 11,000 young women are expected to benefit from the policy.

Wang Genhou, director of Juungar Banner Health Commission, said free cervical and breast cancer examinations conducted among local women ages 35 to 64 over the past 10 years had found high HPV infection rates.

Cervical cancer is mainly caused by HPV, and vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the disease, Wang said.

In late April, at the fourth session of its 17th People's Congress, Juungar Banner approved a 10-point plan to improve people's livelihoods. "Promoting the health of girls on campus" was second on a list of priorities after offering the elderly free vaccinations against flu and pneumonia.

Wang said, "The aim is to look after women's physical and psychological health and improve their quality of life," adding that the local government is increasing investment in people's livelihoods in tandem with "substantial economic development".

Wang said the new policy received a "great response", and about 5,000 people had been vaccinated. "It has helped raise awareness of self-protection among women," he added.

A nurse in Wuhan, Hubei Province, displays the first batch of domestically produced HPV vaccine in May. [Xinhua]

'A Good Thing'

Wang Er'rui, 39, who also lives in Juungar Banner, said she used to know little about cervical cancer and was unaware there was a vaccine for it. She had a physical examination for the disease in 2018, and her 15-year-old daughter has been vaccinated along with other female students at her school.

"She doesn't know what it means, but I believe it's a good thing," Wang said. "We parents have discussed the vaccinations, and some are concerned about possible side effects. But at the end of the day, it's good to know that the government cares about us. If it hadn't introduced the free vaccinations, I would never have paid for them, as they're too expensive."

Lyu Ping, director of the Juungar Banner Maternity and Childcare Hospital, said three injections are needed against two types of HPV, costing a total of 1,770 yuan. There is a service fee of 20 yuan for each inoculation. "This is no small amount for the residents," Lyu added.

The hospital is among those designated to conduct the free vaccinations program in Juungar Banner, along with health centers in towns and communities. From August 3 to August 9, 749 girls were inoculated at Lyu's hospital.

He said a survey conducted at schools found that more than 10,000 girls qualify for the vaccinations, and some 80 percent of them said they were willing to take part in the program. The hospital plans to complete the first round of injections before the end of October.

"The program is in such demand that people often have to wait in line," Lyu said, adding that each vaccine is given a specific code to provide a record of the company producing it and the person it is administered to.

From 2011 to last year, the hospital gave free breast and cervical cancer examinations to more than 80,000 women, of whom 55 were confirmed to have cervical cancer.

"We carried out a huge number of preliminary examinations during this time and enhanced awareness of the disease and prevention measures among the public. I think most women already had some knowledge of it," Lyu said.

Zhang Zhanjie, director of Longkou Town Health Center in Juungar Banner, said the facility will administer free HPV vaccinations to about 600 primary and middle school students. The first batch of 200 vaccines was used within four days from August 1, and the center is waiting for a second batch of 400. All the vaccines are imported.

Some local students studying elsewhere are returning home to be vaccinated, and the total number of those receiving the shots may reach 800, Zhang said.

The service is available seven days a week and is conducted by four medical staff members. Parents must register, sign a consent form and learn about possible side effects. "Just one student felt slightly dizzy, the temperature of another rose to 37.5 C, but all the others were fine," Zhang said.

"Parents are rushing to get their children vaccinated in case supplies run out. Every year, women are confirmed to have contracted cervical cancer in the town. Awareness of the disease is improving, although many patients still only see a doctor when their condition deteriorates and they are already in the terminal stage, which also places a considerable financial burden on a family."

Zhang said the local government attaches great importance to issues related to people's livelihoods, such as culture, education and health. For example, the center, which covers 4,000 square meters and boasts advanced medical equipment, recently recruited more doctors.

Liu Zheng, deputy director of the Ordos Health Commission, said that following the vaccination trial in Juungar Banner, free HPV shots will be offered to females ages 13 to 18 throughout the city.

"The program aims to promote women's health, improve people's quality of life, sense of happiness, and contribute to the strategy of 'Healthy Ordos, Healthy China'," Liu said, adding that there is a high incidence of cervical cancer in the city.

One of the most common and fatal tumor diseases affecting women in China, cervical cancer caused 47,739 deaths in 2018. In the same year more than 100,000 women nationwide contracted cervical caner, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The number is about 20 percent of the total worldwide.

Qiao Youlin, professor of epidemiology at the Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College's School of Population Medicine and Public Health in Beijing, said the incidence of and deaths related to the disease have risen over the past two decades in China. This is because sexual intercourse is taking place at a younger age than in previous generations, increasing exposure to potential HPV infection, Qiao said.

The World Health Organization regards vaccination as the primary method to prevent cervical cancer. In 2018, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, its director-general, called for action to eliminate the disease and recommended that girls ages 9 to 14 get HPV vaccinations.

Qiao said most Asian countries and regions, including China, mainly target middle school students ages 13 to 15 for vaccination.

The WHO has a target for all member states to provide HPV vaccinations to 90 percent of girls under 15 by 2030, he added.

At the launch of the vaccination program in Ordos on August 1, Li Yinuo, chief representative of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's Beijing office, said that fewer than 1 percent of Chinese girls ages 9 to 15 may have received the vaccinations.

Li said cervical cancer kills more than 270,000 women worldwide every year and is the third most-common cancer among Chinese women ages 15 to 44.However, it is also the only malignant tumor that can be effectively prevented by vaccination, she added.

"The program in Juungar Banner will provide direct and effective protection for girls and prevent them contracting the disease," she said, adding that it also shows that society cares about women, especially those from low-income families.

Challenges Ahead

The first HPV vaccine was put on the market in 2006. Since then, 104 countries have provided free inoculations for groups of young women, according to media reports.

However, the vaccine still faces challenges such as limited supplies, pricing and public awareness, Li said.

"Juungar Banner will set an example for other regions, and the program will also help promote health throughout the world," she said, adding that the foundation is working with the WHO and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization to promote HPV vaccines in middle-and low-income countries.

"Only through government investment and the immunization program making progress can vaccines become accessible for everyone, especially the poor," Li said. She called for efforts to be made by the authorities, private institutions and charities to achieve this goal.

Tao Lina, a former vaccine expert at the Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said other regions, especially those with strong economies, can learn from the experience in Juungar Banner to conduct similar programs.

"The area has set an example, but whether the practice can become popular depends on financing and ideas from decision-makers," he said, adding that it may be possible to conduct programs in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai.

Late last year, China approved its first domestically produced HPV vaccine for females ages 9 to 45, providing an alternative to products from overseas drug makers, according to the National Medical Products Administration.

The vaccine went on the market in May, with each dose costing 329 yuan, compared with about 600 yuan for imported vaccines. Girls ages 9 to 14 only need two doses of the domestic vaccine, but three doses of imported products are required.

Yu Luming, a national political adviser who submitted the proposal in May to offer girls ages 9 to 14 free HPV inoculations, said supply shortages and the high price of imported products are affecting the popularization of HPV vaccines, but using domestic alternatives means that more women can afford them.

He added that being vaccinated costs much less than the medical treatment for cervical cancer.

Yu also suggested increasing supplies of domestic HPV vaccines by optimizing the approval process, reducing dependence on imported products and giving financial support to developing regions.

(Source: China Daily)
- By Ishan Majumdar





Investors have had mixed expectations from Square, Inc. (NYSE:SQ) prior to its recent quarterly results. Given the fact that Covid-19 has adversely impacted many small-time retailers and merchants, the expectations of Square's seller ecosystem were particularly low, but this was expected to be offset by a strong performance by the company's online payment wallet platform, Cash App.





Square ended up delivering solid results on both counts with visible initiatives from the management to help its seller ecosystem cope with the pandemic situation.

Square has excellent long-term growth prospects, in my opinion, and is on track for a bright future ahead as it continues to cash in on the cashless trend in the U.S. and the rest of the world.

Company overview

Square is a commerce ecosystem company that revolves around the provision of point-of-sale solutions to sellers and helps them grow their businesses. Its offerings include both hardware as well as software products to the merchant community.

Its hardware solutions include the magstripe reader and the contactless and chip readers for reading card payments, the Square Stand (which helps an iPad to be used as a payment terminal), the Square Register (which combines its hardware, point-of-sale software and payments technology) and the Square Terminal (a portable payments device that replaces keypad terminals for accepting various payments).

On the software front, the company's offerings include Square Point of Sale, Square Virtual Terminal, Square Appointments, Square for Retail, Square for Restaurants, Square Invoices, Square Online Store, Square Loyalty, Marketing and Square Dashboard.

Square employs close to 3,835 people and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Recent financial results

Square had a solid quarter where it reported revenue of $1.92 billion, significantly above the analyst consensus estimate of $1.13 billion. This was an increase of 241.8% in the top-line over the corresponding quarter of 2019. This growth was driven largely by the exceptionally good performance of the company's Cash App, which compensated for the drop in revenues of the point-of-sale solutions and the sellers' ecosystem.

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The company's total gross profit was $597 million, up 28% as compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Square reported adjusted Ebitda of $98 million, showing a 28% growth, while its earnings per share (EPS) came in at 18 cents, well above the analyst consensus estimate of a loss per share of 5 cents.

The company managed to process around $873 million in paycheck protection payment (PPP) loans in the second quarter, while overall quarterly gross payment volumes grew 17.5% to $26.8 billion.

Square: Helping Merchants Weather the Storm

The fact that Square managed to deliver such solid top-line growth and beat estimates in a tough business environment is a big deal, and the market has already increased the stock rise by a phenomenal 80% since March.

Helping merchants counter the Covid-19 pandemic

The company's base of merchants was bound to face tough challenges and poor business conditions on account of the economic downturn but Square managed to provide support to them in going online and increasing revenues through its new offerings.

Being a service provider to merchants, mostly small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), Square's quarterly results could have been badly hit by the pandemic, which has ended up destroying many SMBs.

However, Square has managed to find a counter strategy in helping SMBs cope with the crisis and adapt themselves to the new normal. Among the new tools provided by Square to SMBs to improve their online presence and facilitate easy ordering by customers is the Square Online Checkout, which allows merchants to sell online without building their own e-commerce platform. The other major assistance to merchants is with respect to the delivery of the products, which Square has taken care of through its new On-Demand Delivery platform. The platform provides merchants with access to a variety of third-party delivery apps. The merchants benefit from economies of scale by operating through Square's On-Demand Delivery platform, which helps them get better margins and minimize the cost of deliveries, unlike the case where they directly use other third-party delivery services without involving Square.

The outcome was visible through the Gross Payment Volume (GPV) from online channels rising by more than 50% as compared to 2019. The company was not only able to help its existing merchant base but also acquire many new sellers on its platform.

Also, it is worth highlighting that the company's new merchants generated higher gross profit in their first five weeks after onboarding than those who joined the platform during the same period a year ago.

Despite all these countermeasures, the seller ecosystem generated revenue of $723 million (a 17% drop) and a gross profit of $316 million (a 9% drop) as compared to the previous year. However, the fact that Square is providing value-add services to its merchants in such tough times should help them build resilience.

Final thoughts

The pandemic has certainly acted as a strong catalyst for a cash-free society. With people being forced to carry out more of their purchasing activity online, there is a gradual migration towards the use of e-wallets, and Square has definitely benefitted from this changing consumer behavior.

The company's Cash App offering had a solid performance in the quarter as it generated revenue of $1.20 billion with $281 million in gross profit. In fact, it has now crossed 30 million monthly transacting active customers with over 7 million spendings on Cash Card.

With such a formidable product performance and some expected recovery in the seller ecosystem, Square investors can continue to be optimistic about the future, in my view.

Disclosure: No positions.

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CHICAGO, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Lung Association offered new resources for educators, activists and community members to guide conversations on health, climate change and air quality through the Healthy Air Activist Toolkit, which features easy-to-share social media content and resources for hosting virtual screenings and discussions of clean air short films. The toolkit is part of the American Lung Association's Stand Up For Clean Air initiative, which highlights the health impacts of climate change and poor air quality facing Americans today. The health impacts of climate change particularly affect vulnerable groups such as children, older adults and people with existing health conditions, and disproportionately impacts low-resourced communities of color.

"As our nation faces the pandemic, many Americans are seeing this moment as an opportunity to reflect on the threat of climate change," said American Lung Association President and CEO Harold Wimmer. "Climate change isn't far off in the distanceit already impacts our health and the health of those we love today. That's why through Stand Up For Clean Air, we are offering trusted information and science-based resources to guide these conversations  and inspire action."

The Healthy Air Activist Toolkit is designed to make it easy to encourage conversations about the health impacts of climate change and air quality, including the disproportionate burden on low-income communities and people of color in low-resourced neighborhoods. The toolkit is a resource for those for those engaged in or interested in climate and healthy air activism and environmental justice, as well as educators, parents, organizations, and communities, encouraging everyone to:

Host a film screening - whether virtual or in-person - with short films focusing on the health impacts of air quality and climate change, followed by facilitated conversations with provided discussion guides. Films available in the Healthy Air Activist Toolkit include:

"Unbreathable: The Fight For Healthy Air": From American University's Center for Environmental Filmmaking and Director Margaret Burnette Stogner , this film is a timely, powerful look at fifty years of the Clean Air Act and the challenges the nation still faces to ensure healthy air for everyone. Weaving historical milestones with current day stories of environmental injustice, the film is an excellent catalyst for engagement and action. "Asthma Alley": From The Groundtruth Project and Directors Dan Levitt and Beth Murphy , this film follows the experience of a young Latina girl with asthma living in New York's South Bronx neighborhood, which has incredibly high asthma rates, who finds hope in music when poor air quality and worsening pollen seasons make it hard for her to breathe. "THE HUMAN ELEMENT"  Air section: An Earth Vision film production in association with Earth Vision Institute, this documentary inspires us to reevaluate our relationship with the natural world, highlighting the health impacts facing families living with unhealthy air quality.

Share social media GIFs and images to convey the health impacts of climate change and healthy air  from wildfire smoke that can travel thousands of miles, to the threat of mold left behind from the floodwaters of climate-driven severe storms.

To kick-off the Healthy Air Activist Toolkit, in partnership with American University, the American Lung Association hosted a live-streamed screening of "Unbreathable: The Fight For Healthy Air" on August 19 followed by a panel discussion featuring climate and healthy air activists Shashawnda Campbell, Ruhan Nagra and Lana Weidgenant.

Weidgenant is a prominent climate justice activist who has seen firsthand worsening air quality from wildfires in Brazil and health threats from hurricanes in Florida.

"Climate change is a health issue, and it's important to know that climate change is actually worsening our air quality, especially for those communities disproportionately burdened," said Weidgenant, who also serves as a climate activist advisor for the Lung Association. "I am honored to stand with other climate activists to raise awareness about climate change and health, and I hope others will continue the conversation in their communities through a film screening and discussion."

The Lung Association has long served as the nation's champion of lung health, and in honor of 50 years of the Clean Air Act launched Stand Up For Clean Air - inviting everyone to pledge to take collective action.

"I am deeply inspired by the climate and healthy air activists who are taking a stand for their health, and for the health of all generations to come," Wimmer said. "This year we celebrate the Clean Air Act, which continues to save hundreds of thousands of lives every year. The American Lung Association has and will continue to champion clean air for all and a livable planet."

Learn more about Stand Up For Clean Air and the Healthy Air Activist Toolkit at Lung.org/air. For journalists seeking to schedule a media interview about air quality and lung health, contact Stephanie Goldina at [email protected] or 312-801-7629.

About the American Lung Association

The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Gold-Level GuideStar Member, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org.

American Lung Association  55 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 1150  Chicago, IL 60601

1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Ste. 1425 North  Washington, D.C. 20004

1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) Lung.org

CONTACT: Stephanie Goldina | American Lung Association

P: 312-801-7629 E: [email protected]

SOURCE American Lung Association

Related Links

https://www.lung.org


President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the renewal of the appointment of Joseph Chiedu Ugbo as the Managing Director of Niger Delta Power Holding Company and Messrs Babayo Shehu and Ifeoluwa Oyedele as Executive Directors respectively.

This renewal will take effect from August 25, 2020, for a period of four (4) years, a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande, on Thursday, revealed.

The appointment of three additional directors have also been approved for more effective and efficient coverage of the companys areas of activity, the statement highlighted. The details of these directors, however, were not revealed.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 20, 2020) - Nextleaf Solutions Ltd. (CSE: OILS) (OTCQB: OILFF) ("Nextleaf", "OILS", or the "Company"), Canada's most innovative cannabis extractor, is pleased to provide the following update:

Operations Update

Nextleaf is pleased with its operational progress as the oil refinery system has thus far performed consistently with the commissioning and scale up plan. To date, nearly 2 tonnes of biomass have been processed in the commissioning phase. Optimization has been consistent with planned timing. The current realized per shift capacity of turning cannabis biomass into refined oils is approximately 200kg. The Company's Metro Vancouver extraction plant is well on its way to meet its design capacity. Given the current stage of optimization, Nextleaf is confident that by adding additional shifts it can process approximately 600kg per day.

"While scale is important as our industry grows domestically and internationally, much more important is the efficiency and margins that are derived from that scale, system and IP. We are quite pleased with the economics we're seeing from our commission and optimization phase. We believe we are well positioned to be a focused, economical B2B supplier of bulk cannabinoids - now and in the future," stated Charles Ackerman, Chief Financial Officer at Nextleaf.

Launch of Commercial Partners Program

The Company recently launched the OILS Commercial Partners Program as a focused solution for Canadian cannabis farmers requiring economical extraction and distillation services. Health Canada reported over 620 tonnes of unpackaged dried cannabis in inventories across the country as of April 30, 2020. With the largest cannabis harvest in history expected this fall, Nextleaf has designed this accretive program to make it easier for cultivators to monetize a greater percentage of their harvest. Under the program, licensed cultivators supply cannabis biomass to Nextleaf for processing into refined and distilled THC and CBD oils. Nextleaf will monetize the bulk oils through downstream manufacturing partners as well as supply the broader wholesale market. Proceeds of the program will be shared between Nextleaf and the cultivator.

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Agreements with Wholesale Marketplace

With strategic geographical planning, Nextleaf has entered into three Cannabis Brokerage Agreements (the "Agreement") covering the country from coast to coast. This tactical approach helps ensure broad national coverage beyond Nextleaf's existing commercial clients.

"With the cannabis industry moving away from the vertical integration model and to a more focused and naturally delineated supply chain, we believe the wholesale B2B marketplace plays an important role. This is an efficient way for Nextleaf to wholesale cannabis oils to companies licensed to manufacture cannabis 2.0 products and create new potential partner relationships," stated Charles Ackerman, Chief Financial Officer at Nextleaf.

Patent Issued in South Africa

The Company has been granted a patent in South Africa pertaining to OILS industrial-scale process of extraction, refinement, and distillation of cannabinoids. South Africa has an established and well-regarded pharmaceutical industry and the government will decide on the legalization of cannabis next month. This patent perpetuates the precedent set by the United States Patent and Trademark Office validating Nextleaf's industrial-scale extraction and post-extraction processing technology.



The Company's patented technology allows for dried cannabis and hemp biomass to be efficiently processed at scale into a high-purity THC and CBD distilled oil. Management believes that as cannabis continues to commoditize, proprietary technology, which allows companies to establish a low-cost competitive advantage, will become a focal point of differentiation and a key driver of long-term value.

As the global cannabis market continues to scale, Nextleaf's internationally validated patent portfolio will create opportunities over the 20-year life of its patents. The Company will pursue international growth through alternatives based on the most accretive and resource efficient methods: intellectual property licensing, joint ventures, or proprietary cannabis oil refineries.

Corporate Outlook and Further Updates

With the optimization of Nextleaf's refinery largely complete, the facility is fully commercialized and focused on fulfilling existing orders as well as finalizing larger opportunities enabled by its economies of scale - with the sole objective of obtaining profitability for ongoing operations of the Company's oil refinery.

With Nextleaf's fiscal year end on September 30, 2020, the Company will provide a robust corporate update and further operational progress towards the end of that month. The company will continue to provide guidance on its ongoing IP, commercial, and corporate milestones.

About Nextleaf

OILS is Canada's most innovative cannabis extractor, developing technology for extracting and distilling cannabinoids. OILS provides extraction services and wholesale of THC and CBD oils through its wholly owned subsidiary Nextleaf Labs Ltd., a Health Canada licensed standard processor. Nextleaf's proprietary closed-loop extraction plant in Metro Vancouver has a design capacity to process 600 kg per day of dried cannabis biomass into distilled oils. OILS is the first public company to be issued U.S. patents for industrial-scale extraction and distillation of cannabinoids. The Company owns a portfolio of over 40 issued patents and 60 pending patents for the extraction, purification, and formulation of cannabinoids.

Nextleaf Solutions trades as OILS on the Canadian Securities Exchange, OILFF on the OTCQB Market in the United States, and L0MA on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

Follow OILS across social media platforms: Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

www.nextleafsolutions.com

For commercial inquiries, please contact:

604-283-2301 (ext. 420)

sales@nextleafsolutions.com

For investor relations, please contact:

604-283-2301 (ext. 219)

investors@nextleafsolutions.com

On behalf of the Board of Directors of OILS,

Paul Pedersen, CEO

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements". All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including, without limitation, those regarding the Company's ability to capitalize on its IP portfolio, the Company's strategy, plans, objectives, goals and targets, and any statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words "believe", "expect", "aim", "intend", "plan", "continue", "will", "may", "would", "anticipate", "estimate", "forecast", "predict", "project", "seek", "should" or similar expressions or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the Company's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Additional factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially include, but are not limited to the risk factors discussed in the Company's MD&A for the most recent fiscal period. Management provides forward-looking statements because it believes they provide useful information to investors when considering their investment objectives and cautions investors not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and other cautionary statements or factors contained herein, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law. The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this press release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/62183
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.




Dir: Karen Maine. Starring: Natalia Dyer, Timothy Simons, Wolfgang Novogratz, Francesca Reale, Susan Blackwell. 15 cert, 77 mins

Natalia Dyer has a strangely efficient way of acting out Catholic guilt. Its all in her smile, a tight curl of the lip which suggests ardour, illicit thrill, and timidity all at once. With this one expression, the Stranger Things star sets the tone for writer-director Karen Maines sweetly candid Yes, God, Yes. Inspired by her own adolescent experiences, the film cocoons itself in the mundane details of growing up both Catholic (the ubiquitous Footprints in the Sand poem) and in the early Noughties (games of Snake on a Nokia phone).

Dyer plays Alice, a teen torn between two realities. The first is one of piety, imposed by her school, where students live in fear of Gods watchful eye. Here, Mrs Veda (Donna Lynne Champlin) patrols the halls, issuing damnation to any girl caught with a skirt shorter than two and a half inches above the knee. But then theres the deeper, unignorable urge  one which rises to the surface on an AOL chat room, when hairychest1956 invites Alice to peruse some erotic pictures of him and his wife.

Maines script shrewdly reveals how these two devotions  the heavenly and the carnal  live inside each of her characters. As Alice discovers, theres a big difference between what is preached out in the open and pursued in private. At school, she worries about her reputation, after a rumour starts to circulate about her and a classmate Wade (Parker Wierling)  that she tossed his salad behind his girlfriends back. Why wont anyone tell her what tossing someones salad actually involves? Do they even know?

She heads off to a four-day spiritual retreat, hoping it might purify her in the eyes of her classmates. Everyone there is eager to reassure her that the profound awkwardness of the place is entirely intentional. Groups of students sit around in circles and share stories of dead grandmothers and absentee parents, as if everyone were trying to make themselves as pitiable as possible in the eyes of the Lord.

In charge of activities is Father Murphy (Veeps Timothy Simons), the schools resident priest, who nonchalantly reminds his students that sex can only come after marriage, and only then for the purposes of procreation  masturbation is simply not part of Gods plan. Hes a hypocrite. So are the ever-chipper, quietly judgemental camp counsellors.

But Maines film pulls back from an all-out, scathing critique of abstinence-led sex education. It shows no scorn towards its characters, but sees them all as flies caught up in a vast, unyielding web. Fr Murphy tells his students that men are like microwaves, women are like ovens  because, he insists, ladies need to preheat. Ignorance spreads like a toxic cloud. Soon, Alice starts to wonder whether shes committed a sin by rewinding her Titanic VHS back (twice!) to the car sex scene.

Yes, God, Yes keeps its drama low-key, but its world richly textured. Alices character is built up from a series of images  chipped nail polish, a bowl of cheese puffs, and chocolate pudding smeared across front teeth. Her sexual awakening is triggered partly by the hairy, muscular arms of counsellor Chris (Wolfgang Novogratz), partly by the discovery of her phones vibrate setting. The film serves as an ode to the sexually naive  pioneers in their own pleasure.
Communications Officer, Juba, South Sudan

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme

Country: South Sudan

City: Juba

Office: UNDP Juba

Closing date: Friday, 28 August 2020

Communications Officer (only for South Sudanese Nationals)

Advertised on behalf of : Location : Juba, SOUTH SUDAN

Application Deadline : 28-Aug-20 (Midnight New York, USA)

Additional Category : Management

Type of Contract : Service Contract

Post Level : SB-4

Languages Required : English

Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 01-Oct-2020

Duration of Initial Contract : 1 Year

Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. Placing womens rights at the centre of all its efforts, UN Women will lead and coordinate United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It will provide strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

On 12th September 2018, the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) was signed. This marked the end of the conflict that had plagued South Sudan since December 2013. The agreement allows for a Pre-Transitional Period and Transitional period during which key tasks are expected to be undertaken. As part of the agreement, the start of the formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity of the Republic of South Sudan constituted by the parties to the conflict at the signing of the Peace Agreement commenced in February 2020. UN Women South Sudan supported womens participation and influence in the peace processes, supports womens economic empowerment, pushes for the ending of violence against women and girls and for womens leadership and political participation.

Reporting to the Head of Office, the Communications Officer is responsible to ensure the timely and quality developing, planning and implementation of the UN Women South Sudan Communications Strategy, and will support advocacy efforts, maintenance of media relations, and organizational outreach efforts, in order to increase the visibility, standing and awareness of UN Women with partners, the media and the public, as well as raise awareness on gender equality and womens empowerment issues in South Sudan.

The Communications Officer will collaborate closely with other UN Women South Sudan colleagues as well as the UN South Sudan Team, UN Women Headquarters and Regional Office counterparts, to ensure communications strategies, media relations and organizational outreach efforts are aligned with corporate communications policies and initiatives and follow good practices. The Communication Officer applies and promotes the principles of results-based management (RBM), as well as a client-oriented approach consistent with UN Women rules and regulations.

Duties and Responsibilities

Functions: 1. Plan and design communications and outreach/advocacy strategies and plans:

Prepare and conduct communications needs assessments for the UN Women South Sudan Office, including for projects, programmes and corporate change initiatives;

Analyse requirements and synthesize proposals for elaboration of communications strategies; ensuring gender perspective;

Integrate communications, advocacy and outreach strategies into proposals for project/programmes and other initiatives;

Develop, coordinate, implement and monitor the implementation of the South Sudan annual communications and advocacy strategies and plans;

Monitor and analyze print and social media and draft reports, and provide analysis to RO/HQ (when needed);

Coordinate UN Women/ UN system corporate and local campaigns and special events and ensure UN Womens active participation and visibility in UNCT Communications Group and ensuing joint communications activities;

Plan and propose communications strategies for the Women, Peace and Security Working Group (WPSWG).

2. Coordinate and contribute substantively to the development and dissemination of communications, advocacy and knowledge products:

Develop and produce communications materials, including brochures, publications, briefing materials, press releases, and articles, and manage their dissemination;

Oversee the quality and compliance of the visual and print products with the UN Women corporate branding, publication, photo, social media and the other guidelines;

Identify and propose information-sharing opportunities, activities, approaches and platforms and partners;

Promote and disseminate advocacy materials for launching flagship initiatives, publications, and campaigns;

Manage the translation/adaption/rewriting of global or regional communications materials, coordinate printing and dissemination of publications and audio-visual materials;

Follow guidelines from HQ and RO and advise the UN Women South Sudan team on the required guidelines, standards and requirements.

3. Coordinate media relations for UN Women South Sudan :

Manage relationships with the media; maintain and update a media database;

Respond to media inquiries and information requests; prepare related correspondence;

Organize interview opportunities, roundtable discussions, press conferences, and briefing sessions for the media, as required;

Send Media invitations and press releases as needed;

Draft talking points for the Country Representative, Regional and HQ visits;

Consolidate briefing notes for high-level visits.

4. Build and maintain partnerships and maintain relations with donors:

Identify and develop new communications partnerships and alliances to enhance visibility;

Liaise with advocacy partners and undertake outreach to civil society organizations, institutions, partners and other groups to ensure that newsworthy information reaches the public and donors.

5. Maintain the UN Women South Sudan online presence:

Manage the UN Women South Sudan social media accounts in line with corporate social media policy;

Provide content on UN Women South Sudan activities to be published on the regional UN Women website;

Upload information to knowledge management system on a regular basis, including news, updates, and resources.

6. Facilitate knowledge building and sharing:

Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to UN Women South Sudan goals and activities;

Organize and conduct training and workshops on communication and advocacy, as appropriate.

Key Performance Indicators:

Timely monitoring of current events and trends;

Quality and relevant advocacy materials and content;

Timely updating of website and social media;

Timely dissemination of materials as shown by knowledge of UN Womens activities in Kosovo;

Regular interactions with mass media, as shown by coverage.

Competencies

Core Values:

Respect for Diversity;

Tags current events empowerment of women gender mainstreaming gender perspective good practices graphic design human rights journalism knowledge management knowledge products mass media media relations needs assessment peace and security political participation press releases project management public relations results based management translation un reform violence against women women and girls

Integrity;

Professionalism.

Core Competencies:

Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;

Accountability;

Creative Problem Solving;

Effective Communication;

Inclusive Collaboration;

Stakeholder Engagement;

Leading by Example.

Functional Competencies

Ability to communicate sensitively, effectively and creatively across different constituencies;

Knowledge of web-based management systems;

Knowledge of production, graphic design and photography standards;

Knowledge of social media platforms and experience in social media outreach;

Knowledge of local media landscape;

Communication, networking and advocacy skills;

Ability to be strategic and analytical;

Knowledge of gender and human rights issues.

Required Skills and Experience

Education & Certification:

Masters Degree in media and communications, journalism or related field.

University Degree (BA) in media and communications, journalism or related field with additional 2 years of relevant experience maybe considered in lieu of a Masters.

Additional training and certification in communication and related areas is a strong advantage.

Experience:

At least 3 years of demonstrated work experience in communications and media relations;

Demonstrated expertise and experience in the field of gender, media and public relations;

Experience in the use of social media, multi-media and digital platforms;

Experience required in editing and copywriting skills, including articles, reports, social media content, press releases preferred;

Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.);

Experience in video and photo editing and design software is an asset.

Previous experience with gender issues is an asset

Experience in establishing priorities for self and others, to achieve results and meet strict deadlines in an effective manner, maintaining a high-quality standard throughout;

Good knowledge of project management.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required;

Knowledge of Arabic is an asset.

Application Information:

Interested applicants can apply online or by submitting their application to UN Women Office in Juba in a sealed envelope by indicating the title of the position on the envelop;

All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment;

Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment, scan your documents into one single file. Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and may not be considered for further assessment.

Qualified women candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Note: In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and womens empowerment.

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.
Edgar Alvarez, an artist and activist, is a Venezuelan living in Bogota, Colombia. The craftivist works with plasticine figures, through which he explains and highlights the issues in the Andean region in recent years. The plastic artist explains current problems and historical events through his artwork, which can be found strewn about in the Colombian capital. Alvarezs latest project focuses on the current coronavirus pandemic, those suffering because of it and the migrant crises.

Alvarez has dedicated his life to explaining current affairs and raising awareness among the population, he works under the name Se Lo Explico con Plastilina, which translates to I explain with plastic and has racked thousands of followers on his social media, including the 110k followers on Instagram.

Craftivism is a mix between crafts/arts and activism, which usually revolves around the themes of anti-capitalism, environmentalism, solidarity or third-wave feminism, but is expressed through art.

Alvarezs clay art symbolises the very real struggle of the citizens affected by the coronavirus, and can be found all across the city often close to down-on-their-luck citizens, whom the art mirrors.

ALSO SEE | PHOTOS: Plastic artist-activist, Edgar Alvarez explains world crises through plastic figurines

The Andean nation is struggling to control the spread of the coronavirus, with over 4,77,000 coronavirus active cases and over 5,000 deaths. The countrys unemployment rate has more than doubled (24.5%) from what it was (11.2%) in the same month last year In May.

Alvarez told Reuters about why he was creating these figures, some of which showed Central American migrants carrying very few belongings waiting to reach the United States of America, This (pandemic) has changed us, so it is essential to be able to depict the people who are struggling amid the pandemic and that is where I come in to explain it with clay plasticine. It is precisely that, to bring a clear message to people and thats how it works, with clay plasticine it is easier to explain certain issues. Alvarez has shown the faces of thousands of Venezuelan migrants who had to return to their countries because of the pandemic. His other art focuses on the fact that the coronavirus could hide anywhere.

Alvarez love for plasticine started as a game with the flour for arepas (a type of bread made with ground maize and typical to the cuisine of Colombia and Venezuela) that his grandmother used and ended up becoming his lifelong passion. He told Reuters, I started like many children in school making balls and sticks with my grandparents, who liked to work with dough, my grandmother especially who made arepas so I liked to make dolls with the flour for the arepas. After school, I worked a lot with clay, but then I discovered animation.

Alvarez has always used his art to spread knowledge, highlight an issue and raise awareness, and in 2015, the artist worked on a short film about the homeless inhabitants of Los Angeles, California titled Los Invisibles project, which won awards for animation.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Alfea Jamal 'Ask no questions, hear no lies.' Alfea Jamal is a fashion, culture, travel and food writer. She also dabbles in video journalism, multimedia production, the culinary arts, design and is modestly decent with canvas. ...view detail
Trumps lawyer said the president would appeal the ruling and seek to delay enforcement of the subpoena.

A US judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit by President Donald Trump that sought to block enforcement of a grand jury subpoena for eight years of his personal and corporate tax records.

Trumps lawyers issued an emergency appeal to the ruling by US District Judge Voctor Marrero.

Marreros ruling echoes his prior decision in the case, which was upheld by the US Supreme Court last month. The high court returned the case to Marrero so Trumps lawyers could get another chance to challenge the subpoena issued by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.

President Donald Trumps personal lawyer Jay Sekulow promised an immediate appeal to the ruling that could pave the wat for the release of eight years of Trumps tax returns [AP Photo/ Jacquelyn Martin]

Trump, through his lawyers, has argued that the subpoena was issued in bad faith, might have been politically motivated and amounted to harassment of him, especially since the wording mimicked the language in congressional subpoenas.

Vances attorneys said they were entitled to extensive records to aid a complex financial investigation and they cited in their papers public reports of extensive and protracted criminal conduct at the Trump Organization.

Trumps lawyers said that the request for tax records dating back to 2011 was retaliatory after the presidents company, the Trump Organization, disputed the scope of a subpoena seeking records from June 1, 2015, through September 20, 2018.

That time span pertains to an investigation related to payoffs to two women, including porn actress Stormy Daniels, to keep them quiet during the 2016 presidential campaign about alleged extramarital affairs with Trump. Trump has denied the affairs.

Trump, who is campaigning for re-election in November, has fought efforts by lawmakers and prosecutors to obtain his tax records, which should shed light on his financial dealings. He has also defied decades of precedent as a presidential candidate by refusing to release his tax returns.
The anti-graft agency, EFCC, on Thursday said it secured the conviction of two Lebanese it accused of money laundering to a tune of $890,000.

Justice I. M. Sani of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, sentenced the duo after they pleaded guilty to the charges, according to a statement by the EFCC.

The agency said the Lebanese, Chamseddine Mohammed and Dina Khali, were apprehended by the Nigeria Customs Service in Port Harcourt and handed over to the EFCC on August 12, for further investigation.

The commission said their offences run contrary to Section 2 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 2 (5) of the same Act.

According to part of the charges, the first and second defendant committed the crime on the 1st July 2020 at Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State, for failure to declare a sum of $220,000.00 and $670,000.00 found in their Luggage onboard chartered flight with registration number 9HVFF to Lebanon, the statement said.

The agency also disclosed that the money recovered from the suspects had been deposited with the Central Bank of Nigeria, Rivers State Branch.

The principal detective superintendent, Macaulay Olayinka, led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, told the court the two convicts were arrested for attempting to smuggle $890,000 out of Nigeria, through the airport.

The said amount was found inside their luggage onboard a chartered flight with registration number 9HVFF to Lebanon.

The convicts, Khali with Passport Number LR152975 (Republic of Lebanon) was onboard with $670,000 while Mohammed with Passport Number LR0356598 (Republic of Lebanon) had in his possession, $220,000, he said.

Counsel to the defendants, Paul Ejiga, reportedly urged the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendants were first time offenders who had no previous criminal record.

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Justice Sani consequently convicted and sentenced the defendants to two years imprisonment with an option to pay a fine of one million naira each.

The undeclared amount was ordered forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Four students arrested for alleged fraud

In a separate statement, on Thursday, the commission said its operatives at the EFCC Port Harcourt zonal office apprehended four students of the University of Port Harcourt for their alleged involvement in a $111,500 fraud.

The commission said they were picked up from their hideout at Chibiak Avenue, Elenpranwo, Ada George, Port Harcourt, the Rivers capital.

The EFCC identified the accused as Prince Hyacinth, Rex Oghene, Odili Ifeayi and Uduak Williams, who allegedly defrauded about 15 victims.

The anti-graft agency said preliminary investigation established that the suspects are majorly involved in romance scam and also act as pickers for an organised ring of fraudsters.

While Prince Hyacinth parades himself as a Spain-based marine engineer to bait his victims, Rex Emadifie Oghene poses as a rig engineer based in the United State. The two other suspects, Odili Ifeayi and Uduak Samuel Williams present themselves as rig/marine engineers to defraud their victims.

Upon their arrest, the following items were recovered: one Tecno Spark 4 belonging to Prince Hyacinth; one iPhone 11 Pro Max, two Infinix Hot and one apple Laptop belonging to Odili Ifeayi; one iPhone 7 and two iPhone 11 belonging to Rex Emadifie Oghene and one iPhone 8+, one Acer Laptop and one HP Laptop belonging Uduak Samuel Williams, the statement noted.

The commission also said the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, speaks at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington on June 17, 2019. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Democatic Senator Says There Is Less Support for More Stimulus Checks in Next Bill

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) is calling on members of Congress to return to Washington to carry out further talks on more stimulus legislation in the midst of the CCP virus pandemic.

Warner, who was elected in 2008, predicted that another relief bill will be eventually passed, saying that it should focus on unemployment benefits, rent assistance, and small business support.

I think theres probably less support for another straight stimulus check because that goes to people regardless of whether theyve been hurt or not by COVID, he said in a Facebook Live Town Hall on Wednesday. I think there is a general feeling from both Democrats and Republicans that in this next COVID bill we ought to focus on those who have been hit the hardest, rather than these broad stimulus efforts, he added.

Earlier in August, negotiations between Democrats and the White House stalled, with unemployment benefits and funding to state and local governments being major roadblocks.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), a former vice presidential candidate, told Politico that he doesnt believe the White House will take negotiations seriously until after the Republican National Convention.

Once we get out of the Republican convention, the week before Labor Day, youre going to see serious negotiations restart. And that means we could do something possibly right after Labor Day, when we return, Kaine stated.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) speaks at an event in Washington in a 2018 file photograph. (Holly Kellum/NTD)

President Donald Trump has been a strong proponent of the stimulus payments. Last week, he wrote on Twitter that he directed Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to come up with a plan to distribute the payments, as well as Payment Protection Program loans to small businesses. He said later in a press conference that it needs to the support of Congress first.

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows called on Democrats to use Saturdays vote on the U.S. Postal Service bill in the House to push for more CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus relief including stimulus checks for individuals and funding for schools.

I think the outlook for a skinny deal is better than its ever been and yet we are still not there, Meadows told reporters, according to Reuters. If Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi moves forward a single bill on postal  lets add in the things we can agree upon.
China, Russia and the European Union have drifted further apart on the question of Belarus, as the fate of its embattled long-time ruler Alexander Lukashenko hangs in the air amid widespread protests against his sixth election victory.

China warned against "foreign forces" wreaking chaos in the Eastern European state, while Russia threatened to send troops to Belarus to quash the protests and the EU refused to accept the election result that saw Lukashenko elected to a sixth term, calling instead for "peaceful, democratic transition of power".

After an emergency video summit, EU Council President Charles Michel told the people of Belarus the bloc stood "by your side" as unprecedented protests against strongman Lukashenko entered an 11th day.

At least two protesters have died after being confronted by the Belarusian police, while thousands have been arrested for taking part in protests after Lukashenko declared that he won 80 per cent of votes in last week's election.

President Xi Jinping - the first to be awarded the Order for Strengthening Peace and Friendship medal from Lukashenko in 2016 - was among the first, and few, world leaders to offer him congratulations after the election last week.

But on Wednesday, foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian cast the focus on the Belarusian people, saying: "China has always respected the development path chosen by the Belarusian people in accordance with their national conditions and their efforts to safeguard national independence, sovereignty, security and development."

"We do not hope that the situation in Belarus will escalate into chaos and oppose external forces triggering division and disturbances in Belarusian society," Zhao said, without naming any countries. "We hope and we believe that Belarus can ensure political stability and social peace by its own effort."

His remarks came days after Russia's President Vladimir Putin offered military support to Minsk if necessary, under a security pact covering ex-Soviet states.

Story continues

Moscow's approach had provoked a strong reaction from the EU, with the 27 leaders holding an emergency summit on Wednesday and called on Putin to refrain from military means.

"Military intervention by Russia would make the situation much more complicated," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday.

"The people of Belarus want change - and they want it now," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said afterwards, adding that the EU would back a "peaceful, democratic transition of power".

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives for a press conference at the Federal Chancellery in Berlin on Wednesday, following an EU summit on Belarus crisis held via video conference. Photo: AP via dpa alt=German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives for a press conference at the Federal Chancellery in Berlin on Wednesday, following an EU summit on Belarus crisis held via video conference. Photo: AP via dpa

The EU has been under strong pressure to act in concert on the situation in non-EU member Belarus from Eastern European member states such as Lithuania and Poland, who feared the growing influence of Russia in the region.

Ahead of the meeting, Belarus' opposition leader, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who is self-exiled in Lithuania, called on EU leaders not to accept the election result.

Lukashenko on Tuesday threatened to take "appropriate measures" against the opposition camp's plan to set up a council inside the country, which he denounced as an attempt to seize power.

He also claimed the protests were being stirred up from abroad against his 26-year rule of the ex-Soviet state.

Merkel - who said Lukashenko refused to take her call - said the Belarusian government "must put a stop to violence against peaceful protesters, release all political prisoners immediately and engage in a national dialogue with the opposition and society."

French President Emmanuel Macron urged the Russian leader to foster "calm and dialogue".

Putin emphasised in his phone calls to Macron and Merkel that interfering in Belarus and putting pressure on its authorities would be unacceptable, as the European Union moves to impose sanctions over the vote and a brutal police crackdown on protesters.

Putin already vowed to provide military assistance to Belarus - a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation - if needed. The CSTO is a Russia-led military alliance of ex-Soviet states.

People take part in a rally in support of workers of Minsk Tractor Works on Wednesday in Minsk, Belarus. Since August 9, mass protests against the presidential election results have been hitting major cities across Belarus, with workers of Belarusian plants going on strikes. Photo: Zuma Press via TNS alt=People take part in a rally in support of workers of Minsk Tractor Works on Wednesday in Minsk, Belarus. Since August 9, mass protests against the presidential election results have been hitting major cities across Belarus, with workers of Belarusian plants going on strikes. Photo: Zuma Press via TNS

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 a leader was toppled by public protests.

Culturally, politically and economically, Belarus is the ex-Soviet republic with the closest ties to Russia, including a treaty that proclaims a "union state" of the two countries with a Soviet-style red flag. But Putin and Lukashenko have had a difficult personal relationship.

For now, the credibility of Lukashenko is fast eroding, even within the establishment and his support base.

Workers have been going on strike at state factories long seen as bastions of his support, while Pavel Latushko, who served as ambassador to Poland, France and Spain under Lukashenko before becoming head of the country's most prestigious state theatre, was sacked after expressing outrage at the abuse of detained protesters.

"In the life of every person, there comes a line that cannot be crossed," Latushko told Reuters.

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.
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...
My thought is I go in there and part of my job is to make them feel important and make them feel happy, said Soule. You get to meet someone and based on how they live. You have to find a way to make their day a little happier by your presence while also giving the caregiver a chance to refresh.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 22:22:20|Editor: huaxia

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By Bosun Awoniyi

LAGOS, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian government has launched an initiative seeking to build trust between the police and local communities in the country to curb the violence activities.

The initiative dubbed "Community Policing" aims at forging closer ties between the police and members of the public and enhance security in the grassroots, said Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, Nigeria's Inspector-General of Police while addressing a town hall meeting in the northwest state of Kebbi on peace and security on Wednesday.

The federal government had realized the importance of partnering with the community, which is the reason it embarked on community policing, said Adamu.

The northwest region has been wracked by years of violence. Banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities have recently become even rampant in this part of the country. The Nigerian authorities have launched repeated military operations and local peace talks to try to curb the violence activities.

While appealing to his audience to support the initiative, Abubakar called on communities and other stakeholders to collaborate with security agencies to tackle banditry in the northwest region.

He said the implementation of Community Policing structure encompasses the incorporation of certain security outfits from villages and wards for intelligence gathering.

Such outfits, the police chief added, would also be made to work with the traditional institutions and community leaders to enhance crime prevention and control.

In his remark, Atiku Bagudu, the governor of Kebbi, expressed dismay over the disruption of peace in parts of the state by bandits and vigilantes.

Bagudu said the only way to solve any problem is for the people to accept to live in peace and harmony with one another. He said the state government would not condone acts capable of disrupting the peace, warning that criminals would be punished.

The Arewa Consultative Forum(ACF) in a statement by its chairman, Audu Ogbeh, expressed concern that the northern region is faced with such magnitude of insecurity.

While attributing the high level of insecurity in the north to unemployment, poverty, and non-inclusion of the youths in governance, ACF called on the state and federal governments as well as religious and traditional leaders to take practical steps to address the security and economic challenges confronting the region.

The ACF advised state governments from the northern region to pay adequate attention to agriculture which offers more opportunities for diversification and the development of a more sustainable economy for the region and the country at large.

Nigeria in recent months has witnessed a series of insecurity issues, including bandit attacks, robberies and kidnaps. Enditem
At the last meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group, Ukraine did not receive a full list for prisoner exchange from the militants of the occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

"[We] handed over the lists for exchange. We have not yet received the lists from that side," President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky told journalists in Kherson region, commenting on the results of the last TCG meeting, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

As reported, at the regular meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group (Ukraine, Russia, OSCE) in a video conference format, the Ukrainian side reiterated the need to implement all agreements on the confirmation of lists for mutual prisoner release of prisoners and confirmed the information on persons requested by the consultations participants. Ukraine also underscored that it expected the corresponding actions from the other side.

Earlier, at a briefing on August 13, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine had submitted to the OSCE a new list for exchange of 100 people, while the militants had not provided their list yet.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 22:38:58|Editor: huaxia

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JERUSALEM, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Israel will allow autonomous vehicle driving without the presence of a human driver as required nowadays, said a statement issued by Israeli Ministry of Transport on Thursday.

The ministry said that a new planned legislation will allow advanced tests as well as free or paid passenger rides in autonomous vehicles via a dedicated application.

"This is a huge step forward in promoting autonomous vehicles in Israel," the ministry said in its statement.

So far, all testing of autonomous vehicles in Israel are carried out with a safety driver to take over the vehicle in case of emergency.

"The new legislation will advance activities of leading technology companies in Israel, as they will be able to conduct advanced testing and operate autonomous vehicles," according to the ministry.

The legislation will encourage smart vehicles and transportation companies to establish and operate R&D centers and will accelerate the economic activity of smart transportation.

The new regulations will also allow Israeli auto-tech companies to increase their tests in Israel, and even bring foreign experiments.

"The new legislation will place Israel among the world's leading countries in the field of smart and autonomous transportation," said Israel Transport Minister Miri Regev. Enditem
West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has revealed plans to force people in hotel quarantine to wear monitoring ankle bracelets in a move to beef up security.

Two days after news broke that two women who had travelled from South Australia on a plane without having an exemption to enter WA allegedly escaped from their quarantine hotel in Perths CBD, Mr McGowan said he wanted to force people who presented a flight risk or had a criminal history to wear the bracelets.

Premier Mark McGowan said he would force some people in hotel quarantine to wear a monitoring bracelet.

If we identify people who are potential flight risks or who might have a criminal history, we are looking at applying monitoring bracelets to them, he said.

So what that means is if someone is identified as a risk, we have the legal power now to put an ankle bracelet on, thats what police will look to do.
Oregons governor on Wednesday declared a state of emergency for imminent threat of wildfires, saying much of the state is at high risk of fires with hot, dry winds and thunderstorms.

Kate Browns declaration enables several state agencies to collaborate and share resources to fight fires around the state, according to a news release from the governors office. Those agencies include the Oregon Department of Forestry, the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Office of Emergency Management.

Brown said the Oregon National Guard will also help respond to the fire as necessary.

The wildfire season has escalated in Oregon this summer, and fire crews are working in extreme temperatures to keep homes and resources safe during this pandemic, Brown said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. Given drought conditions and hotter than usual temperatures, Oregonians should be prepared for an intense wildfire season this summer.

Brown urged Oregon residents to use extreme caution and pay attention to fire restrictions.

Oregon has had several wildfires in the last two weeks, including the Mosier Creek Fire in the Columbia Gorge, which has now mostly been contained, the Indian Creek Fire in Malheur County and the Crane fire near Lakeview.

Crew members from nearly 70 Oregon fire agencies are also assisting in fighting some California wildfires, according to the state fire marshals office.

Track wildfires with The Oregonian/OregonLives wildfire map.

Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Niagara Regional Police have released the name and photo of a 33-year-old Niagara Falls man wanted in connection with an investigation into a report of sexual assaults against two 16-year-old girls.

On Friday, Aug. 14, police went to a home to investigate a sexual assault. The investigation by the sexual assault unit determined a man allegedly sexually assaulted two 16-year-olds. Police said the assaults are believed to have occurred in a Niagara Falls home during May.

As a result of the investigation, detectives went to a home on Butternut Boulevard, where they arrested a woman and searched the residence.

The 33-year-old woman was charged with two counts of obstructing justice.

Police said her name is not being released as it may identify the victims. She was held for a bail hearing to be held Thursday in St. Catharines.

Detectives are seeking an arrest warrant for Daniel John Vermont, 33, for two counts of overcoming resistance to commission of offences and two counts of sexual assault.

He is described as 6-foot-3, 225 pounds with a medium build. He has brown hair and green eyes.

Police said detectives do not know where Vermont is but believe he is aware they are looking for him and is trying to elude arrest.

He may be driving a red 2014 BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo with the Ontario licence plate CHZN402.

Anyone who may know the location of Vermont or has any information about this investigation is asked to call the police at 905-688-4111.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump said Wednesday the U.S. is considering selling advanced American F-35 warplanes to the United Arab Emirates over the objections of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Trump told reporters at a White House news conference that the Emiratis had expressed interest in buying quite a few of the stealth fighter jets. He said such a sale was under review given the new dynamic between Israel and the UAE since the two nations agreed to normalize relations last week. Perhaps just as important, Trump said, is that the UAE can afford to buy the planes.

They have the money and they would like to order quite a few F-35s, Trump said. Its the greatest fighter jet in the world, as you know, by stealth, totally stealth.

Theyd like to buy F-35s, well see what happens, Trump added. Its under review, but they made a great advance in peace in the Middle East.

Netanyahu said Tuesday he would oppose the sale despite the historic UAE deal after an Israeli newspaper reported that the normalization accord that Trump brokered included language to supply the Arab Gulf nation with advanced U.S. weapons systems.

The Yediot Ahronot daily, citing American and Emirati sources, reported that Israeli acquiescence to the sales had clinched the deal for the Emiratis. Further, 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.

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 two are being charged with ordering and organizing fatal acid attack on the Kherson activist.

Kyiv's Dniprovsky District Court has ruled to remand in custody Chairman of Kherson Regional Council Vladyslav Manger and Oleksiy Levin, an aide to a member of the same council, until October 18 on charges of ordering and organizing a fatal acid attack on Kherson activist Kateryna Handziuk on July 31, 2018.

The relevant ruling was handed down by a judge during a court hearing on August 20, which was streamed via Facebook by lawyer Masi Nayyem.

By the court ruling, Manger and Levin were put into custody without the right to bail.

Handziuk murder case

Read alsoVictim of Kherson acid attack activist Kateryna Handziuk diesKherson activist, advisor to the Mayor of Kherson and acting manager of affairs at Kherson City Council's executive committee Kateryna Handziuk, 33, on July 31, 2018, survived an acid attack. She suffered burns to more than 35% of her body and underwent 11 operations in Kyiv. Handziuk died on November 4, 2018.

The immediate cause of her death was a severed blood clot resulting from the acid attack. Police originally qualified the attack as an attempted murder committed with extreme cruelty, then its status was changed to completed murder. Six suspects were detained, one of whom, Mykola Novikov, was later released from custody as charges against him had been dropped.

On May 7, 2019, the Prosecutor General's Office forwarded to court an indictment against five defendants in the case of the murder: Mykyta Hrabchuk, Volodymyr Vasyanovych, Vyacheslav Vishnevsky, Serhiy Torbin, and Viktor Horbunov.

On June 6, 2019, the court handed down guilty verdicts. Torbin, the organizer of the murder, was sentenced to six years and six months in prison. Hrabchuk, the actual perpetrator of the crime, was sentenced to six years in prison. Accused of aiding, Vasyanovych and Horbunov were sentenced to four and three years in prison, respectively; accomplice Vishnevsky's sentence is four years' imprisonment.

Read alsoUkraine's SBU completes probe into fatal acid attack on Kherson activist HandziukOleksiy Levin, who has a criminal record, as well as Chairman of Kherson Regional Council Vladyslav Manger and Ihor Pavlovsky, who was an assistant to MP Mykola Palamarchuk, are also suspects in the Handziuk murder case. Moreover, public activists believe that former Chairman of Kherson Regional State Administration Andriy Gordeev and former Deputy Chairman of Kherson Regional State Administration Yevhen Ryshchuk were involved in the crime. On January 27, Levin was taken into police custody in Bulgaria's Burgas for a 40-day term after detention on January 24. On February 22, the court of the city of Burgas (Bulgaria) ruled to extradite Levin to Ukraine. He was extradited on March 16 and Kyiv's Pechersky district court on March 17 ruled that he should be remanded in custody until April 2. On March 25, Kyiv's Shevchenkivsky district court extended the pretrial probe into the Handziuk case until July 29.

On July 28, prosecutors of the Prosecutor General's Office in Ukraine forwarded to court an indictment against Manger and Levin.
BROOKLYN, N.Y., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Stojo is #245 on the Inc. 500 List this year! We're honored to be among the fastest growing private companies in America, and to further our mission to end disposable cultureone reusable cup and bottle at a time.

As a Brooklyn-based company with strong roots in our community, we're proud to say that Stojo was ranked #22 in NYC and #25 in New York State.

Stojo Founders Jurrien, Alex and Ben

"Stojo making the Inc. 500 List this year demonstrates that our mission-driven consumer brand that's focused on sustainability really resonates powerfully with conscious consumers around the world. We see it as a call to entrepreneurs and investors to take note - consumers today vote with their dollars and are powerful advocates for the change they want to see in the world," says co-founder and CEO, Jurrien Swarts.

Stojo was ranked #26 in Consumer Products & Services with a 3-year growth rate of 1,802%.

Since Stojo's 2015 launch, our product line has expanded from a single 12oz collapsible cup to a full line-up of cup sizes ranging from 8oz to 24oz, reusable straws, and most recently, a stunningly designed collapsible bottle. We're listening closely to our customers' needs, and are excited about upcoming launches of innovative, design-forward Stojo products in the months and years to come.

We absolutely could not have done this without the Stojo Dream Team, our partners, and of course, our customers! Thank you for being a part of our journey to end disposable culture.

Here's to having fun with less, finding magic in the small things, and building sustainable habits.

About Stojo

Stojo was started in 2012 by three busy, coffee-loving dads. Brooklyn-based Stojo makes ultra-portable, leak-proof, collapsible, and reusable products. Stojo is on a mission to end disposable culture and, in turn, to create a better planet for our children and future generations.

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. 500 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States.

SOURCE Stojo

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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on Thursday again urged Armenians to strictly follow anti-epidemic rules amid what he described as relative stability in the rate of coronavirus infection in the country.

Health Minister Arsen Torosian said at a government session that the downward trend in the number of new coronavirus cases in Armenia has come to a stop, adding that sharper declines are hardly expected while the situation remains stable.

Taking into account the economic activity and the mobility of the population in general, including the number of citizens returning to Armenia, I think it will be very difficult to have fewer cases than we identify daily if the situation I have described is maintained, Torosian said.

During the past several weeks Armenias Health Ministry has reported between 150 and 300 new coronavirus cases and between one and eight Covid-19 deaths a day. This is two to three times lower than at what appeared to the peak of the epidemic in the first half of July when more than 700 new coronavirus cases and about 15 deaths were recorded on a daily basis.

Overall, Armenia has recorded more than 42,000 coronavirus cases and 836 deaths since the start of the epidemic in March.

At todays cabinet meeting Prime Minister Pashinian stressed that the current stability is relative and a reversal of the situation may happen at any moment. Pashinian warned the public against complacency based on the observed decrease in the number of new coronavirus cases.

The average daily numbers today are more than twice lower than in July. But if we do not respond to the situation properly, we will quickly return to the situation observed in July, he said.

A total of 1,993 coronavirus tests were conducted in Armenia on August 19; 263 citizens were diagnosed with the novel coronavirus. According to the health minister, currently hospitals in Armenia are not overloaded and the coronavirus situation remains manageable.

No citizen will be left without medical assistance, but citizens must make an effort not to get infected, Pashinian said for his part.

The Armenian prime minister urged the police to step up their efforts in enforcing mandated mask-wearing in all public spaces and also appealed to the public to show more individual responsibility to stem the spread of infection.
At least 30 people got injured after a bus carrying 45 passengers overturned on the Agra-Lucknow expressway in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday (August 20) morning. However, no casualty has been reported so far in this accident.

Talking to ANI, SSP Etawah Akash Tomar said that the bus was going from Delhi to Bihar's Madhubani when it overturned on the expressway. The SSP added that it is likely that the bus lost balance and overturned on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway.

The injured passengers were admitted to the PGI Saifai hospital in Etawah. Sources said that 14 passengers were discharged from the hospital after being given first aid, while 16 are still undergoing treatment in the PGI.

Police are probing the reason behind the accident.
A day after the Union Cabinet approved the leasing of three airports including the one at Thiruvananthapuram to Adani Enterprises, an all-party meet called by Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday decided to explore legal options to block the move, setting the stage for another round of centre-state showdown.

Though the opposition Congress stood with the state government on the issue, party leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoors support to Centres decision left many red-faced. Tharoor, however, said his position on the issue has been consistent from the day one.

The all-party meet decided to explore all options. We will not allow this to happen. We firmly believe that without the states consent, nobody can take over it, the CM said after the meeting. He also said the state assembly will pass a resolution opposing the takeover.

He had also sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, deploring the move.

Tharoors concurrence with the BJP and voices from the industry on the issue has left some Congress leaders upset. Pradesh Congress Committee chief Mullapally Ramachandran has criticised Tharoors move without naming him.

Congressmen cant support the move to loot a public property by an industrialist close to PM Modi, he said. AICC general secretary K C Venugopal also slammed the Union governments decision calling it a sellout.

Tharoor said private participation will usher in the much-needed development in his constituency.

My position on the airport has been consistent from the beginning itself and I stick to it. I am not a politician who says one thing to voters and something else afterwards for political convenience. The reality is that a private entity running the operations competitively is the only way the airport could flourish, he tweeted.

Also Read: 26 who helped passengers of crashed plane in Kozhikode contract Covid-19

The state government has been opposing the privatization of the airport vehemently and has fought many legal battles but the courts refused to interfere calling it a policy decision. Last year, the Kerala High Court had dismissed a clutch of petitions including that of the state government and later the Supreme Court also declined to stay the decision.

Last year, the government-owned Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) had participated in the open bid for the airport won by Adani Enterprises. Adani group had quoted Rs 168 per passenger fee, compared to KSIDCs quote of Rs 135 per passenger fee followed by GMR at Rs 63.

After losing the bid, the CM had written to the Prime Minister asking him not to handover the airport to a private entity citing the successful PPP model of the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) and the Kannur airport. He said the state deserved preferential consideration over the private group taking into account its experience of running two airports and the public interest. He had also pointed out that the bid-winning firm had no experience in running airports, in an indirect reference to the Adani groups inexperience in running airports, though it manages a number of sea ports in the country.

Also Read: Onam 2020 to be limited inside homes due to Covid-19 pandemic: Kerala CM

The Airports Authority Employees Union (AAEU) has also decided to move another petition opposing the handover of the airport before the high court. Employees were not consulted by anyone at any stage, said AAEU convenor S Ajith Kumar.

The BJP has responded by accusing the state government of attempting to whip up passion to divert attention from the raging gold smuggling case.

One of the oldest airports of the country is in bad shape. The CPI(M) and Congress want to sabotage its development, said BJP state secretary S Suresh. Thirty kg gold was seized last month by customs from a bag addressed to an employee of the UAE consulate, casting a shadow on the government after the CMs secretary was removed for his alleged ties with one of the main accused.

The state was consulted on every occasion. It also participated in the bid. Now the CM is crying hoarse as investigating agencies are coming close to his office in the gold smuggling case, said minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan, criticizing, what he called the new-found bonhomie between the Congress and CPI(M).

Built in 1932, the airport currently operated by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) is situated on 638 acres of land allotted by the erstwhile rulers of Travancore. Later, only 40 acres were added to the airport crippling its further expansion. It is one of the few airports in the country situated in the middle of the city.
Pakistan seems to be having a hard time facing the reality of its circumstances after being repeatedly snubbed by the global community and latest by its long-standing ally Saudi Arabia. During an interview with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, a reporter made delusional claims of how Pakistan had become 'an active member' of the global community and how they were feeling 'confident.' The reporter went on to express how 'comfortable' Pakistan felt now that 'India was isolated' globally.

"All your plans sir, we can see them get executed, there is no better news for Pakistan. Regionally also we have improved. Compared to three years ago as well, we are no longer isolated. We have become such an active member of the global community. We are feeling very confident. India is feeling isolated. It's such great news, we feel comfortable now," said the reporter to Imran Khan.

Uff this 'positive reporting'. India ab isolate feel hu raha hai. pic.twitter.com/cVxlzWpMA1  Naila Inayat   (@nailainayat) August 19, 2020

Saudi Arabia snubs Pakistan over Kashmir

A prime example of Pakistan's embarrassment at the global level is the fallout of Saudi Arabia's massive $6.2 billion three-year financial package deal with the debt-ridden country which reached an end within just a year after the former expressed that it was not keen to continue rolling out the money to Pakistan.

This comes against the backdrop of the recent 'threat' by Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi to Saudi Arabia where he claimed that if Saudi Arabia did not hold an OIC meeting over Kashmir soon, Pakistan would pull out its allies from the OIC and do so itself.

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.

Read: Saudi Arabia Halts 3-year Aid Plan To Pakistan In Just 1 Year; 'not Keen' To Renew

Read: India Elected Unopposed To UNSC Non-permanent Seat For The Eighth Time With 184 Votes

India's massive popularity at the UNSC

When it comes to Pakistan's voice in the international community and its claims of 'India being isolated', the country was left hyperventilating after India was elected as a non-permanent member to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the eighth-time garnering a massive majority of 184 out of the 192 valid votes.

While addressing their national assembly, former Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif stated that they needed to 'face the reality' of how India managed to garner such a massive majority, saying that the countries Pakistan considered to be their 'brothers' also supported India.

"It is not a big deal to become a non-permanent member of the security council. But getting 184 out of 192 votes is a huge thing. These so-called 'brother' countries of ours have voted for India. Most countries stop at around 145-160 votes, India went up to 184. Face the reality. Head on, face it," said Khawaja Asif.

Read: Pakistan In Meltdown Over India's UNSC Popularity; 'even Brother Nations Voted For Them'

Read: India Slams Pakistan's Continued Support To Terrorism At High Level Debate At UNSC
Claris Continuum Remote Patient Monitoring Kit The Claris Continuum remote patient monitoring platform combined with AccessibleRPM's vast home health resources has created the industry's first total patient monitoring service with a nationwide skilled nursing labor force.

AccessibleRPM, a division of Accessible Home Health, have announced today that they will be using Claris Healthcare's technology to expand their full-service remote patient monitoring (RPM) and telehealth program.

AccessibleRPM provides nationwide remote monitoring services utilizing its vast network of skilled nursing professionals to provide patients with the highest quality of care, enabling physicians to expand care into the home. Aarif Dahod, AccessibleRPM CEO, said, Given our senior population demographic, we selected Claris Healthcares Claris Continuum care management platform because of its ease-of-use and flexibility. Combined with our 20 years of homecare experience, we can now expand the functionality of our patient monitoring services both nationally and internationally.

Leveraging the flexibility of the Claris Continuum system, AccessibleRPM is the first home health care company able to provide a One-Stop Solution - including technology, clinical team, training, and support services to healthcare facilities and physicians for their chronic care patients.

Our RPM system combined with AccessibleRPMs vast home health resources creates the industrys first total patient monitoring platform with a nationwide skilled nursing labor force, said Geof Auchinleck, CEO of Claris Healthcare. Having this level of high scalability will be important to meet the demand as physicians continue to rapidly adopt patient care models in the home.

Claris Healthcare developed its software solution, Claris Companion, to address the challenge of senior isolation by increasing engagement with technology. In 2018, new CMS reimbursement codes for remote patient monitoring led Claris to launch its HIPAA-compliant RPM platform, Claris Continuum, to include Bluetooth connected medical devices, clinical content, risk stratification, and other innovative features necessary to remotely manage a chronic care population. The Claris platform is specifically designed for older patients (65+) which provides unparalleled access for anyone to receive care in their own homes  without any need for on-site installation, configuration, or training.

About Claris Healthcare

Founded in 2012, Claris Healthcare has developed the worlds most engaging, flexible and accessible platform designed to deliver care into the home. The Claris platform has applications in family care, chronic and acute care. With 46 million Americans over the age of 65 living with one or more chronic conditions, and many in isolation during the current pandemic, remote patient monitoring is the solution to an ever-growing need for the delivery of quality care beyond traditional hospital settings.

About AccessibleRPM

Accessible Home Health Care, founded 20 years ago is a leading home health organization specializing in home health care with 108 offices across 26 states and international operations in India, Africa, and the Middle East. Accessible Home Health recently launched the Accessible Remote Patient Monitoring Program through AccessibleRPM, based in Coral Springs FL., to help manage chronic conditions, prevent avoidable readmissions, and reduce costs for care providers.
OTTAWA - The federal government will join an environmental assessment of a major expansion to a proposed southern British Columbia coal mine.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/8/2020 (518 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Minister of Environment and Climate Change Jonathan Wilkinson speaks via video link during a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on May 14, 2020. The federal government has announced it will join in an environmental assessment of a major expansion to proposed southern British Columbia coal mine. A spokeswoman for Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says the decision was made after analyzing the potential of Teck Resources' Castle project to cause adverse effects within areas of federal jurisdiction. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA - The federal government will join an environmental assessment of a major expansion to a proposed southern British Columbia coal mine.

"The potential for adverse effects ... may not be mitigated through project design, the application of standard mitigation measures, or through existing legislative mechanisms," says an analysis from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada.

Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson used the analysis to make his decision, released Wednesday, on the Teck Resources project.

He had already reversed an earlier ruling and announced that Ottawa would take part in a review of the proposed Vista coal project in Alberta. Several other companies have made known their plans to mine coal in that province.

Teck is planning an expansion to its network of coal mines in the Elk Valley area of southeastern B.C. The Castle project would increase the area being mined by about one-third and allow the company to maintain production of steel-making coal at 27,400 tonnes a day.

The review involves fisheries, First Nations and international relations  all areas of federal jurisdiction. The mine expansion would also produce significantly more coal than the threshold required for a federal review.

Teck spokesman Chad Pederson called Wednesday's announcement an "unfortunate decision."

"The Castle project has already been proceeding through a rigorous provincial environmental review process," he said in a statement.

"We will work with the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office and the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada to ensure a co-ordinated review and seek to avoid duplication."

Wilkinson was not available for an interview.

B.C. Environment Minister George Heyman said the province will co-ordinate federal involvement.

"I appreciate that they understand and have committed to working within provincial timelines while they review matters of federal jurisdiction, such as trans-border issues," he said in an email.

Lars Sander-Green of Wildsight, one of the groups that asked for a federal assessment, thanked Wilkinson for the decision.

"If Teck cant show how they can reduce selenium pollution downstream of their mines in the long term ... then no reasonable environmental assessment should approve this mine, he wrote.

The decision also has implications for Alberta, where the government has said it hopes to increase the province's production of steel-making coal.

Ian Urquhart, conservation director for the Alberta Wilderness Association, welcomed the Teck decision.

"The federal process is a more open, accessible process"  especially compared with Alberta's, he said.

Urquhart said Ottawa had little choice but to step in.

Teck's Pederson said the Castle project is "part of the existing Fording River operations and is necessary to maintain the associated jobs and economic activity."

The company's existing mines in the area are responsible for significant problems with selenium, an element toxic in large amounts. Reports on concentrations in area waterways show levels up to four times B.C.'s maximum for drinking water. Monitoring stations near the mines have reported levels 50 times what's recommended for aquatic health.

Teck's own research has reported the near-disappearance of rare cutthroat trout from a 60-kilometre stretch of the Fording River downstream from the company's four mines.

That water flows into the cross-border Koocanusa Reservoir. The reservoir drains into the Kootenai River, which flows about 200 kilometres across Montana and Idaho.

That contamination was a main concern of eight interveners who asked Ottawa to assist British Columbia in reviewing the expansion.

Those interveners included five First Nations on both sides of the border, 34 environmental organizations and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

"Direct and cumulative impacts from coal mining in the Elk Valley have resulted documented impacts to Lake Koocanusa and the Kootenai River water quality, fish and fish habitat in the U.S," says the protection agency's submission.

Urquhart suggests Wilkinson's Teck and Vista decisions are a warning to the Alberta government, which recently revoked a decades-old policy restricting coal development in the province's foothills and mountains.

"The issue this creates for Alberta is just how difficult it is, even with changes to the coal policy, to have as much control over coal development as (cabinet ministers) would like the province to have."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 19, 2020

 By Bob Weber in Edmonton. Follow @row1960 on Twitter

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous various said the expansion would increase the mine's size by about 50 per cent.
With all their big attacks against Trump having failed, the Democrats have taken to attacking the upcoming election's integrity. They used the Wuhan virus to justify mail-in voting, which is an invitation to massive fraud. When Trump appointed a postmaster general who wanted to make the United States Post Office more efficient, they used his efforts to claim that Trump is trying to steal the election. As proof of this, they pointed to mailboxes that had been removed, locked up, or stacked in heaps.

Each of the Democrats' points about the mailboxes was proven wrong. But the fascinating thing is why they were so invested in the mailboxes: it's because mailboxes matter in urban areas. They don't matter half so much in suburban and rural areas.

In suburban and rural areas, people can and do routinely stick their outgoing mail in their mailbox. They then raise the little red flag on the box, which is a signal to the mail carrier that, in addition to delivering mail, he should look for the outgoing mail. Residents can also clip their correspondence to the mailbox, secure in the knowledge that the mail carrier will take it the next day.

It's only in cities that mailboxes are so important. Urban houses have mail delivery systems that are set up so the mail is pushed into a slot that deposits it inside the house, where thieves can't get at it. In large apartment complexes, where the mailboxes are in a public hall, with lots of comings and goings, people would never dream of leaving their outgoing mail sitting by the box  again, because of the risk of theft. The familiar blue United States Post Office mailbox is the safest way to send off mail.

That reality explains why you can get Democrat urban dwellers hysterical about vanishing mailboxes. (As a reminder, they're not disappearing.)

So many other leftist shibboleths are dependent upon urban dwellers to keep them alive. Anthropogenic climate change and nature's powerlessness in the face of human conduct seem like a real thing when you're in a densely packed city with trees planted in cut-outs along the cement sidewalk. Man is in charge, not nature.

However, when you leave the city, you realize how overwhelmingly powerful nature is and how, if you relax your vigilance for even a day, life will assert itself. Watching this power in action tends to make anthropogenic climate change seem silly. We humans can pollute our local environment and permanently change the landscape around us (e.g., strip-mining in the Sierras, clear-cutting across Europe for centuries, etc.), but our ability to change the vastly complex climate of the whole earth...let's just say non-city-dwellers are skeptical.

It's also city-dwellers who believe that the Green New Deal can work. They live in vertical spaces, not horizontal ones. In vertical spaces, you travel by elevators and escalators. In horizontal ones, with things more spread out, cars are desirable. With the Wuhan virus driving urban residents out of their vertical environments, they might change their tune about giving up reliance on fossil fuels.

In urban environments, everyone is a stranger. People have their friends from work, but when they hit the sidewalk or go into a store, they're surrounded by unfamiliar faces. There is very little social control, trust, or conscience when you don't know people. You need to be able to classify people quickly, and stereotypes come in handy.

In a smaller community, where faces become familiar, the trust and control are higher. You know that man's children are in your school; that woman lives down the street from you; and that child is trouble for your children. You don't need ugly stereotypes to help you navigate your day, and you don't need the government in your face all the time, pretending to be the only friend you have.

And of course, when it comes to mailboxes, you know that those blue boxes are a convenience for city-dwellers. You also understand that if you vote by absentee ballot, the mail carrier will take your ballot right off your property for you.

Image: US Post Office Mail Box Still Standing by Phillip Pessar on Flickr, CC BY 2.0.
Russias Children Ombudsman urges e-learning for minors in pretrial custody

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

17:20 20/08/2020

MOSCOW, August 20 (RAPSI)  Children Rights Commissioner Anna Kuznetsova has proposed to Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov to amend the regulations on education of children kept in pretrial detention facilities.

The Children Ombudsman Office has been working on the issue for a long time as it is concerned about the fact that children the kept in pretrial custody remain without education, which is an important factor of their socialization. Nevertheless, this format is rather hard to introduce in pretrial detention facilities, Kuznetsova observed addressing the All-Russian Conference of Regional Children Rights Commissioners on Thursday.

According to the Ombudsman, the intensification of use of e-learning technologies urges amendment of regulations currently in force.

In answer, the Minister of Education explained that the complexity of the issue of amendment of regulations required holding consultations with experts.
As Nigeria prepares to resume international flights, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, says the country will apply the principle of reciprocity.

Speaking at the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 daily briefing on Thursday in Abuja, the minister explained that this principle meant carriers from all countries that banned flights from Nigeria would also not be allowed to fly into Nigeria.

Sirika was represented at the briefing by the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Musa Nuhu.

Flights from Nigeria are among those banned by the European Union (EU) countries when they opened their airspaces on July 1, 2020.

Speaking on the preparation for international flight resumption, Sirika said: We are almost there. Just a few things to be done but we will be ready in the coming days.

By Monday, we will have comprehensive details for the resumption.

Sirika also noted that about 1, 280 passengers would be allowed in on a daily basis in Abuja and Lagos airports, which had been billed to commence first.

PTF had earlier revealed that international flights would resume on August 29, 2020.

The minister had said Nigerias preparation had reached an advanced stage for the resumption of international flight operations.

He also stated that four flights each would come into Abuja and Lagos airports on a daily basis.

He stated that emphasis would be placed on the observation of all the safety and technical guidelines as prescribed by global and health authorities which would be communicated in due course.
The U.S. Supreme Court said it will hear its blockbuster clash over the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act on Nov. 10, a week after an election in which Democrats are seeking to make health care a central focus.

The justices plan to review a federal appeals court decision that found part of the original 2010 Obamacare law unconstitutional and left doubt about the rest of it. President Donald Trumps administration is urging the court to say that the law, including its protections for people with pre-existing conditions, is invalid.

The argument timing could limit the attention on the case in the run-up to the Nov. 3 election. Although Trump has said he will protect people with pre-existing conditions, he has yet to propose a replacement should the court strike down Obamacare.

Democrats say overturning the law would be especially devastating during the Covid-19 pandemic, with millions of people out of work and at risk of losing their employer health insurance.

The Supreme Court upheld the law in 2012, with Chief Justice John Roberts joining the courts liberals in a 5-4 decision. All five members of that majority are still on the court.

The fight stems from a provision known as the individual mandate, which originally required people to acquire health insurance or pay a tax penalty. Roberts said in 2012 that provision was a legitimate use of Congresss taxing power.

A Republican-controlled Congress later joined with Trump to eliminate the tax penalty, leaving the mandate without any practical consequences. Republican-controlled states then sued to challenge the law, saying the tax change required the entire measure to be invalidated. The Trump administration is largely backing that position at the Supreme Court.

Twenty other states and the District of Columbia are defending the law.

The Supreme Court case is California v. Texas, 19-840.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.
Paris: The French Health Ministry reported 4711 new coronavirus infections on Thursday, a new post-lockdown record and a level last seen during the height of the epidemic in France.

During lockdown, France saw a peak of 7578 infections per day on March 31, but since then, there have been only a few days with the number of new infections per day rising above 4500.

People wearing face masks cross the Champs-Elysees in Paris. Credit:AP

However, the number of people in hospital with COVID-19 has been relatively stable and the numbers of new deaths per day have also been stable in the low double digits. Twelve new deaths were reported on Thursday.

French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the escalating coronavirus crisis with German Chancellor Angela Merkel as Europe struggles with a resurgence of the disease that threatens its recovery.
Penny stocks, you either love them or you hate them. One of the obvious draws of these stocks trading for under $5 per share is the ability to get more bang for your buck. And should these bargain priced stocks see their share prices rise by only a small amount, the rewards can be staggering.

However, before jumping right into an investment in a penny stock, Wall Street pros advise looking at the bigger picture and considering other factors beyond just the price tag. For some names that fall into this category, you really do get what you pay for, offering little in the way of long-term growth prospects thanks to weak fundamentals, recent headwinds or even large outstanding share counts.

Taking the risk into consideration, we used TipRanks database to find compelling penny stocks with bargain price tags. The platform steered us towards three tickers sporting share prices under $5 and Strong Buy consensus ratings from the analyst community. Not to mention substantial upside potential is on the table.

Neovasc Inc. (NVCN)

Operating as a specialty medical device company, Neovasc develops and manufactures cutting-edge products for the cardiovascular space. As it gears up for an FDA panel, several members of the Street are pounding the table on this name, which trades for $2.10 per share.

On October 27, the FDA will hold a circulatory system devices panel meeting to review the premarket approval application for NVCNs Reducer device, which was submitted in December 2019 for the treatment of patients suffering from refractory angina pectoris who are ineligible for revascularization by coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Writing for Leerink, 5-star analyst Danielle Antalffy likes what she has been seeing. Now that the meeting has been confirmed, Antalffy argues it essentially implies that FDA views the existing Reducer clinical data as sufficient for approval. The analyst added, ... we are now increasingly confident that Reducer could secure a U.S. approval in the near-term and launch in early 2021. Given that the NVCN story has been so laser-focused on the Tiara TMVR (Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement) device, the Reducer opportunity has been understated and underappreciated by both us and investors, and now this could become a much more meaningful revenue contributor over the medium-term than we are currently thinking.

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Looking more closely at the product, the Reducer is an hourglass-shaped stent-like device that raises blood pressure in the coronary sinus, which increases blood flow to the heart muscle. As for the market opportunity, management estimates that it lands at roughly 250,000 procedures globally, assuming ~25% of the patients underwent PCI (~1 million procedures worldwide per year) for refractory angina, with 50% of the patients in the U.S.

Having said that, it hasnt been entirely smooth sailing for the company as Reducer sales were negatively impacted by the pandemic. However, Antalffy points out that beginning in June, there has been a more rapid than anticipated recovery in Reducer implants. Key regions like Germany, Austria and Switzerland have hit pre-COVID implant and revenue targets. Management expects the significant backlog of procedures to drive volume growth in 2H20 granted the current COVID situation does not worsen/cause significant impact to elective procedures, the analyst added.

To this end, the top analyst rates NVCN an Outperform (i.e. Buy) along with a $6 price target. Should her thesis play out, a potential gain of 188% could be in the cards. (To watch Antalffys track record, click here)

Are other analysts in agreement? They are. Only Buy ratings, 3, in fact, have been issued in the last three months, so the consensus rating is a Strong Buy. Given the $8.67 average price target, which is more aggressive than Antalffys, shares could skyrocket 315% in the next year. (See NVCN stock analysis on TipRanks)

VolitionRx (VNRX)

Using its Nucleosomics technology, VolitionRX offers a range of tests designed to change the way cancer and other conditions are diagnosed. Even though COVID-19 has impacted the companys development pipeline, multiple analysts believe that at $3.48, its share price presents an opportunity to get in on the action.

Maxim analyst Jason McCarthy notes that like many of its peers, VNRX has been affected by the pandemic. Part of the problem is that its clinical development activities are taking place throughout the world. Therefore, with international travel limited and the global supply chain dispersed, several large-scale flagship studies have been delayed along with the initial CE marking for the CRC and lung triage assays.

However, the 5-star analyst applauds VNRXs response to these headwinds, pointing out that the company has taken advantage of the ATM and conducted a public offering to raise funds. As a result, he estimates that VNRX has about $23-$24 million in cash, which should support its operations into 2H21.

In addition, VNRX has been focusing on the portion of the development pipeline that is in its control. The Nu.Q vet program remains on track for launch later this year. The company has also continued work on moving assays over to the magnetic bead format, with 13 completed to date (beating the target of 12), out of 20 targeted for YE20. Additionally, Volition is working on a COVID-19 prognostic test, which could make it to market in 2021, McCarthy noted.

The COVID-19 prognostic test was designed to detect elevated levels of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs), which are produced by white blood cells and are comprised of chromatin in nucleosome form. These NETs have been found to catch and trap invading viruses. In severe cases of COVID-19, a hyperimmune response is present which causes a large infusion of NETs into the blood that are very damaging to the lungs, resulting in conditions like ARDS, the leading cause of death in COVID patients. This represents a differentiated approach since there are a number of tests for detecting COVID, but a prognostic test could help better allocate hospital resources and direct treatment, McCarthy said.

With the company already having demonstrated initial proof-of-concept that nucleosomes are elevated in COVID-19 patients, especially in those requiring mechanical ventilation, McCarthy sees significant potential. The trial should have the data collected by September 2020, with a release planned for Q4 2020. This could position Volition to have a CE mark by YE20, with a product to launch shortly afterwards. The pathway in the U.S. is expected to take slightly longer, but could potentially receive funding from BARDA, CEPI, or Operation Warp Speed, he stated.

Based on all of the above, McCarthy rates VNRX a Buy along with an $8 price target. This target puts the upside potential at a whopping 138%. (To watch McCarthys track record, click here)

Other analysts dont beg to differ. 4 Buy ratings and no Holds or Sells have been assigned in the last three months. Therefore, VNRX is a Strong Buy. The $7.25 average price target implies shares could climb 115% higher in the coming year. (See VNRX stock analysis on TipRanks)

electroCore (ECOR)

Last but not least is electroCore, which uses non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) to develop new treatments for patients suffering from pain and chronic conditions. Currently going for $1.86 apiece, this name could see major gains, according to some analysts.

Representing BTIG, 5-star analyst Ryan Zimmerman tells clients that excitement surrounding ECORs COVID application has fueled some major share price appreciation recently. The company has two ongoing investigator-initiated trials, SAVIOR-1 in Spain and SAVIOR-2 in Pittsburgh.

Additionally, ECOR agreed to support a clinical trial with the VA system to treat COVID-19 patients in an outpatient setting (and prior to any hospital submission). This will be organized by the Hampton, Virginia VA Medical Center, with data from this trial as well as SAVIOR-1 and 2 set to come in the next 12 months. Even though this program could be a revenue driver, Zimmerman argues the real value for longer-term investors lies in a radically improved and refocused organizational structure that has taken a few quarters to emerge.

Looking at its gammaCore product, it has held up relatively well during the pandemic, with only a minor sequential reduction in paid months of therapy witnessed, given that it can be prescribed easily during a telehealth consult and delivered directly to a patient's home. On top of this, while pharmacies have been filling between 300-500 paid months of therapy per quarter during the first two quarters of 2020, prescriptions were being delivered from inventory purchased by a distributor in 2019.

This inventory has now been worked through, and management expects to ship at least 200 paid months of therapy per quarter in Q3 2020 and Q4 2020 (~$80,000 per quarter by our estimate). As we look into Q3, we think the fact that ECOR shipped 435 paid months of therapy in July compared to an average of 329 per month in the Q2 points to a nice sequential increase in revenue, Zimmerman commented.

Wrapping it all up, Zimmerman stated, We think shares have the potential to move higher over coming quarters based on these dynamics and the investments ECOR is now able to make to further enhance its commercial opportunities. Looking ahead, we see multiple value-creating events in clinical data readouts and publications, quarter-over-quarter revenue growth in key customer channels, and potential upside from COVID patient adoption.

In line with his optimistic take, Zimmerman rates ECOR a Buy and set a $3.50 price target, which implies a potential upside of 88%. (To watch Zimmermans track record, click here)

Overall, the bulls have it. ECOR's Strong Buy consensus rating breaks down into 3 Buys and no Holds or Sells. In addition, the $3.50 average price target matches Zimmermans. (See electroCore stock analysis on TipRanks)

To find good ideas for penny 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.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: The State Government on Wednesday moved the Karnataka High Court seeking direction to appoint a Claims Commissioner to estimate the damage, fix liability and award compensation with respect to mass destruction of properties in the violence in DJ Halli and KG Halli police limits in the city on the night of August 11.In 2009, the Supreme Court said that the high courts may take suo motu action and appoint a Claims Commissioner to investigate the damage caused and award compensation by affixing liability on the perpetrators of the crimes and the organisers of the event, in cases where mass destruction of private and public property and injury to persons takes place due to protests and riots.

Based on this, the Advocate General mentioned the issue of appointing a retired high court judge or district judge as a Claims Commissioner before a division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Ashok S Kinagi. The bench said it will take up the matter for hearing on Thursday.

In the petition filed before the court in response to the report of the city police commissioner, the State Government stated that there was significant and large-scale destruction of both public and private property due to the violence on August 11 night. The government stated that the mob also looted some establishments despite efforts by police and that more than 80 police personnel were injured.

Significant damage to govt, pvt properties

IN the petition, presented with lists of damaged and destroyed properties along with a list of accused in relation to 64 FIRs registered over the incident, the state said 33 government vehicles and 90 private vehicles were either burnt and destroyed or damaged. Damage was also caused to the police station buildings of DJ Halli and KG Halli as well as MLA Akhanda Srinivasa Murthys residence, it said. In addition, eight buildings were also damaged by acts of vandalism and arson. Arms and ammunition used by the police were also snatched and destroyed by the mob, said the state.

Three advocates to represent state

The State Government appointed advocates P Prasanna Kumar, P Tejus and B O Chandrashekar as Special Public Prosecutors to represent the state before the courts in cases pertaining to the violence. The appointments were made in response to the appeal made by the DG&IGP.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- For another consecutive year, Attorneys L. Palmer Foret, Michelle A. Parfitt, James F. Green, and former Partner Lawrence J. Pascal at Washington DC injury firm Ashcraft & Gerel have been honored with a selection to the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, which is awarded annually by the Best Lawyers organization.

Known nationwide for an exclusive peer review methodology and a rigorous selection process, Best Lawyers relies on attorney nominations to identify candidates for this award. By analyzing peer feedback and performing extensive background and reference checks, the Best Lawyers team identifies which attorneys qualify for this award in their practice area and region.

Below are the areas where Best Lawyers recognized Ashcraft & Gerel attorneys in 2021:

Michelle Parfitt : Recognized for Mass Tort Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation in Washington DC

Recognized for Mass Tort Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation in Lawrence Pascal : Retired Partner Recognized for Workers' Compensation Law in Washington DC

Retired Partner Recognized for Workers' Compensation Law in James Green : Recognized for Mass Tort Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation in Washington DC

Recognized for Mass Tort Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation in L. Palmer Foret : Recognized for Medical Malpractice Law and Personal Injury Litigation in Washington DC

All four of the recognized attorneys have been included for at least 15 consecutive years. Additionally, both Michelle Parfitt and Lawrence Pascal have been honored as "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers, earning those awards in 2019 and 2013 respectively. This award is given only to the top scorers in each practice area and region  and only one attorney may be named in each area.

The team at Ashcraft & Gerel would like to congratulate all four of the attorneys who were selected to Best Lawyers again this year. The firm will continue to advocate for injury victims and focus on providing excellent service with unparalleled integrity to clients throughout Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland.

Contact the firm online at https://www.ashcraftandgerel.com/ for press inquiries or to get started with a free consultation.

SOURCE Ashcraft & Gerel, LLP

Related Links

https://www.ashcraftandgerel.com


The members of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust met in New Delhi on Thursday (August 20) to hold discussions over the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya.

After the meeting, Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust said that the construction of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir has begun in Ayodhya and engineers from CBRI Roorkee, IIT Madras along with Larsen and Toubro are currently testing the soil at the mandir site. The Ram temple trust expressed hope that the construction work would be completed in 36-40 months.

The construction of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir has begun. Engineers from CBRI Roorkee, IIT Madras along with L&T are now testing the soil at the mandir site. The construction work is expected to finish in 36-40 months.  Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra (@ShriRamTeerth) August 20, 2020

According to Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the Ram Temple in Ayodhya will be built as per India's ancient and traditional construction techniques. The Trust said in a tweet that the temple will be built to sustain earthquakes, storms and other natural calamities and no iron will be used in the construction of the histotic temple.

The Mandir will be built by adhering to India's ancient and traditional construction techniques. It will also be built to sustain earthquakes, storms and other natural calamities. Iron won't be used in the construction of the Mandir.  Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra (@ShriRamTeerth) August 20, 2020

"For Mandir construction, copper plates will be used to fuse stone blocks with each other. The plates should be 18 inches long, 30 mm wide & 3 mm in depth.10,000 such plates may be required in total structure. We call upon Shri Rambhakts to donate such copper plates to the trust," the Trust said in another tweet.

"Donors can engrave family names, place of origin or their community temples' names on these plates. This way, the copper plates will not only symbolize the unity of this country but also be a testament to the entire country's contribution towards Mandir construction," it added.

It may be recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had conducted the 'Bhoomi Pujan' of Ram temple and laid the foundation stone of the temple at Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya on August 5.
An accused in the 2006 Kalupur railway station blast in Ahmedabad, who was on the run for 14 years, was arrested by the Gujarat Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) from a village in West Bengal close to Bangladesh Border, officials said on Thursday.

Based on specific inputs, a team of the ATS nabbed the accused, Abdul Razzaq Gazi, from a village in Basirhat tehsil of West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, the officials said. Gazi was brought to the Gujarat ATS headquarters on Thursday.

According to the ATS, Gazi gave shelter to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives Zulfikar Kagzi and Abu Jundal, who along with others were accused of planting a bomb between platform no 2 and 3 of Kalupur railway station in February 2006. While the blast left several injured, no one was killed in it, the officials said.
Credit - Olivia Harris for TIME

In 1837, Charles Dickens moved into a narrow terraced house north of Central London. 48 Doughty Street was the novelists home for only 2 years, but they were productive oneshe wrote Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby there.

Today, the building is a museum dedicated to the author and his work, and it was here in February that TIME met Armando Iannucci, the screenwriter and director whose newest film is an adaptation of Dickens The Personal History of David Copperfield, releasing in the U.S. on Aug. 28. The house has been restored to how it might have looked when Dickens lived; his well-worn desk takes pride of place in the study, and the dining room is laid out as if for a supper party. When we met there, the museum was still open to the public so we retreated to a meeting room decorated only with a whiteboard. It was here that Dickens delivered his PowerPoint presentations, Iannucci deadpans.

Iannucci may be best known to U.S. audiences as the creator of HBOs Veep, the Emmy-winning political satire starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus as a vain and power-hungry Vice President. But in his native U.K., he has the status of a comedy icon, primarily for his role in helping to create the character Alan Partridge, the brash and clueless TV presenter played by Steve Coogan. In the 2000s, he made The Thick of It, a foulmouthed satire of the Tony Blair era that was a spiritual forerunner to Veep. His success at HBO has given him license to pursue more ambitious projectsmovies like 2017s The Death of Stalin, a dark comedy set in Communist era Russia, and now Copperfield.

Its a departure in some ways; theres very little profanity, for a start, and its pitched at a broad audience. Far from being cynical, it is generally optimistic about humanity. But it also has the streak of absurdity that runs through all of Iannuccis work, and one eye on the inequality and social mores of the time. I have never seen it as a departure because I grew up loving Dickens anyway, so its like a return to the writer who most inspired me, he says. His desire to mock social politics and social behavior comes from Dickens. And silliness. Its always good to have a bit of silly.

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Performing comedy, Iannucci has honed a poker-faced delivery, enunciating carefully crafted sentences with a lilting rhythm in his gentle Scots accent. In conversation, he is more discursive. His answers run into each other, often whipping round a tangent before coming to his point.

Iannucci was born in Glasgow in 1963 to Italian parents, and studied English literature at Glasgow University and at Oxford before taking up comedy full-time. In his early shows on BBC Radio and TV, he gathered a team of collaborators interested in brainy, often surreal comedy fondly remembered by Britains Generation X-ers.

Over the 15 years in which he made The Thick of It, its movie adaptation In the Loop, set in the run-up to the Iraq War, and then Veep, he accumulated a reputation as Britains foremost satirical mind. His work appeared to expose the crude mechanics of politics, the obsession with surface over substance, and the bitter and cynical people attracted to it. Then, in 2015, something changedhe left Veep ahead of its final season, and shifted focus from the contemporary to either the past, in movies like Stalin, or the far future, in his HBO science-fiction comedy Avenue 5. In the Trump era, he says, satire struggled to keep up with reality. The rules keep changing, if there are any rules, he says. Well have an [impeachment] trial, but we wont call any witnesses. Trump says he could go out and shoot a man on Fifth Avenue and still winthat suggests to me there are no rules.

Iannucci reread David Copperfield around 2010 and was inspired to make it as a movie, but it wasnt until he had completed work on Stalin that he felt equipped to tackle the books mix of comedy, melodrama and tragedy. The novel follows the eponymous character as he passes through the social strata of Victorian England; from a loving childhood to the privations of a bottling factory and boarding school, on the path to becoming a famous writer. Much of the book was based on Dickens own life, and he writes of struggling to belong. This is a story that may have been written almost 200 years ago, but it still has themes that are current today, Iannucci says.

He wanted the movie to feel newI said to everyone [on the production team], Lets pretend there hasnt been a period drama or costume drama before, he said. Lets not do clouds of fog and pickpockets. He tried to reimagine what a historical drama might look like, filling the movie with bright primary colors and letting his camera dance around the actors.

But first, there was the matter of casting David. Iannucci says he only ever had one actor in mind: Dev Patel, the British Indian actor who shot to fame in Slumdog Millionaire and who was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Lion. He could be funny and gauche, but yet strong and focused and decisive, Iannucci says. I really couldnt think of anyone else. Patel asked him how they would explain the fact he isnt white. He said, So whatits my father? My dead father, is he Indian? And I said, No, Ive chosen you because youre the best person for the part. And so I thought, Lets cast everyone else that way as well.

So around half the faces in the movie are those of Black and Asian Brits. The diversity of the cast was much scrutinized by British reviewers when the film came out in the U.K. but, says Iannucci, It usually isnt mentioned after people have seen the film. They just say, That was a great cast; everyone was great. He believes the U.K. is somewhat behind the U.S. when it comes to diversity in casting. Dev said, Normally, a thing like this, Id be the guy standing at the door with a tray.'

Iannucci says he was primarily motivated by a desire to choose from 100% of the acting community available to me, rather than 85%but adds that, for the film he wanted to make, it made sense for the cast to reflect the people in the movie theater. I didnt want people to feel, Were watching the past. I want them to feel, Youre in this story, and therefore its now.

Whether there will be people in the theater to watch Copperfield seemed more like a certainty when we first spoke. On a phone call in late June, Iannucci says he hopes audiences will be able to find a way to see it on a big screen. Its a film that has a sense of community, and of family, and I want people to experience that togetherif they can, safely.

Like many, Iannucci experienced those early months of the pandemic with an uneasy sense of time slowing down. I didnt think I was going to be productive, he says. Isolating with his family in his home north of London, he worked on the second season of Avenue 5.

What has really struck him, he says, has been the utterly transparent inability of the government to handle the pandemicin the U.K. especially, but also in the U.S. The fact that wearing a face mask has become a political decision  its bonkers. The writer believes many more people are now seeing through the carefully packaged untruths and confidence trickery of our modern leaders. When this is all over, he predicts, there will be a great reckoning. A great reckoning is going to come.
Life is moving fast towards a subscription model. Microsoft Office 365, Teams, Disaster Recovery-as-a-Service, Infrastructure-as-a-service, etc.

Of course, UCaaS is another huge area of growth as companies move their PBX into the cloud. Network-as-a-Service is also booming  allowing a company to provision their network via a central console as opposed to phone calls and emails to a service provider.

These latter two areas of growth have intersected in the latest news from Ooma. Their new WiFi service allows companies to move from a CAPEX model to an OPEX model and receive managed WiFi as a result.

Why is this important? Many WiFi solutions used by smaller companies are based on consumer access points which have security and other issues. When patches are available, companies who dont have a top MSP or IT manager who is proactive, do not always update their equipment. This means they leave a hole in their system which can be an entry-point for a hack.

In addition, companies in retail, looking to lure customers back, often use WiFi as a hook. Obviously, there are social distancing issues we have to contend with these days but people still value retail WiFi that is functional. Often, retail and restaurant WiFi has issues. The access points are slow or nonfunctional. This means consumer devices often connect to the WiFi and then hang  because for whatever reason, many phones today still are not aggressive enough about defaulting to 4G/5G when WiFi has issues.

This leads to frustrated customers.

These are just a few reasons business needs managed WiFi.

In 2010, Aerohive said to us they were looking for world-domination in WiFi. Sure  they were sort of kidding when they said this but what differentiated them really came to light in 2015 when they made their UI less complicated and leveraged centralized management for truly painless handling of WiFi APs and networking.

This management in fact is part of the reason we said Extreme Networks acquired the company last summer. I guess it is now in Extremes hands to dominate the world. 

With this in mind, you now understand why and how Extreme is the networking equipment vendor behind Oomas new WiFi Offering. According to CMO Wes Durow, Todays news brings the enterprise capability that Extreme is known for and make it accessible to small businesses via a subscription service. He continued, Certainly, the past few months have driven up interest in subscription services so we believe this offer will be a market catalyst toward future growth.

These are the choices customers have:

The Ooma AP 250 provides Wi-Fi coverage for up to 3,000 square feet.

The Ooma AP 150 covers up to 1,000 square feet and can support a downstream router or switch for wired networking.

The Ooma AP 30 is a Wi-Fi range extender that can make a wireless mesh connection to other Wi-Fi access points.

Here are the features:

Multiple networks. Employee workstations, guest devices, and IP phones can be assigned to separate networks to keep information secure and manage performance.

Quality of Service (QoS). Data can be prioritized for Wi-Fi phones, to maintain consistent audio performance even when there is heavy network traffic.

Guest Network and Abuse Prevention. Customized login screens and terms of service agreements control how and when guests access a companys network. Abuse prevention features allow the company to set bandwidth limits for individual devices and block malicious users.

High performance access points. Enterprise-grade hardware, with internal 33 MU-MIMO antennas, designed for demanding environments, with advanced features such as software-defined radios for optimizing coverage and capacity.

Easy setup. Wi-Fi access points and the management system are preconfigured by Ooma, allowing for plug and play installation at the customers site. No technicians required.

24/7 Customer Support. Ooma experts are always available to monitor the customers managed Wi-Fi network, diagnose problems and make remote repairs when possible.

The cost is $11.99 per month for the first access point under management and $6.99 per month for each additional access point.

The move to as a service is beneficial to companies who dont want to deal with big investments and enjoy the vendor accountability which comes with monthly payments. It also benefits vendors who can often move upmarket by providing not only hardware but service for the lifetime of the equipment. For these reasons, we think this is a great move for both companies and their forthcoming new customers.

One last point  Ooma also is offering WiFi phones which allow companies to not worry about stringing Ethernet cables to remote areas of their workspace.

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The moment Sen. Kamala Harris launched her campaign for her party's presidential nomination, I wondered if she'd been conjured in a DNC lab. That's just how perfect  and how artificial  she seemed. She was articulate, telegenic, charismatic, sassy, proudly progressive, and an avatar of the party's multicultural future. But she was also transparently calculating, ruthlessly desperate for a big break, and impossible to pin down on policy.

Let's just say that nothing in the 11 months of her campaign brought the real Harris into focus  or did anything to indicate there was any "real" Harris there to discover. She never looked or sounded like anything other than a top-tier candidate. But was she the tough New Democrat prosecutor she showed herself to be as district attorney of San Francisco and attorney general of California? Or was she, instead, a liberal Democrat with one of the most progressive voting records in the Senate? Was she a firebrand in favor of racial reform who clocked Joe Biden upside the head in a debate for his opposition to busing back in the 1970s? Or was she the irresolute politician who backed away from the onslaught a few days later? Was she the passionate advocate for Medicare-for-all she sometimes seemed to be on the campaign trail? Or the unprincipled trimmer who spent the rest of her time explaining that this was not quite, but sort of was, but really wasn't her position?

Which Kamala Harris will voters see and hear and start getting to know on Wednesday night? Or will she somehow try to be all of them  standing in for a generic Democrat, somewhat like the man at the top of the ticket, but for a slightly more left-leaning, multiethnic variation on the party's image of itself? Whatever the answer turns out to be, she'd be well-advised to try sticking with it for the next three months.

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By Dilip Hiro

August 19, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - For the Trump administrations senior officials, its been open season on bashing China. If you need an example, think of the presidents blame game about the invisible Chinese virus as it spreads wildly across the U.S.

When it comes to China, in fact, the ever more virulent criticism never seems to stop.

Between the end of June and the end of July, four members of his cabinet vied with each other in spewing anti-Chinese rhetoric. That particular spate of China bashing started when FBI Director Christopher Wray described Chinese President Xi Jinping as the successor to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. It was capped by Secretary of State Mike Pompeos clarion call to U.S. allies to note the bankrupt Marxist-Leninist ideology of Chinas leader and the urge to global hegemony that goes with it, insisting that they would have to choose between freedom and tyranny. (Forget which country on this planet actually claims global hegemony as its right.)

At the same time, the Pentagon deployed its aircraft carriers and other weaponry ever more threateningly in the South China Sea and elsewhere in the Pacific. The question is: What lies behind this upsurge in Trump administration China baiting? A likely answer can be found in the presidents blunt statement in a July interview with Chris Wallace of Fox News that Im not a good loser. I dont like to lose.

The reality is that, under Donald Trump, the United States is indeed losing to China in two important spheres. As the FBIs Wray put it, In economic and technical terms [China] is already a peer competitor of the United States... in a very different kind of [globalized] world. In other words, China is rising and the U.S. is falling. Dont just blame Trump and his cronies for that, however, as this moment has been a long time coming.

Facts speak for themselves. Nearly unscathed by the 2008-2009 global recession, China displaced Japan as the worlds second largest economy in August 2010. In 2012, with $3.87 trillion worth of imports and exports, it overtook the U.S. total of $3.82 trillion, elbowing it out of a position it had held for 60 years as the number one cross-border trading nation worldwide. By the end of 2014, Chinas gross domestic product, as measured by purchasing power parity, was $17.6 trillion, slightly exceeding the $17.4 trillion of the United States, which had been the globes largest economy since 1872.

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In May 2015, the Chinese government released a Made in China 2025 plan aimed at rapidly developing 10 high-tech industries, including electric cars, next-generation information technology, telecommunications, advanced robotics, and artificial intelligence. Other major sectors covered in the plan included agricultural technology, aerospace engineering, the development of new synthetic materials, the emerging field of biomedicine, and high-speed rail infrastructure. The plan was aimed at achieving 70% self-sufficiency in high-tech industries and a dominant position in such global markets by 2049, a century after the founding of the Peoples Republic of China

Semiconductors are crucial to all electronic products and, in 2014, the governments national integrated circuit industry development guidelines set a target: China was to become a global leader in semiconductors by 2030. In 2018, the local chip industry moved up from basic silicon packing and testing to higher value chip design and manufacturing. The following year, the U.S. Semiconductor Industry Association noted that, while America led the world with nearly half of global market share, China was the main threat to its position because of huge state investments in commercial manufacturing and scientific research.

By then, the U.S. had already fallen behind China in just such scientific and technological research. A study by Nanjing Universitys Qingnan Xie and Harvard Universitys Richard Freeman noted that between 2000 and 2016, Chinas share of global publications in the physical sciences, engineering, and math quadrupled, exceeding that of the U.S.

In 2019, for the first time since figures for patents were compiled in 1978, the U.S. failed to file for the largest number of them. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization, China filed applications for 58,990 patents and the United States 57,840. In addition, for the third year in a row, the Chinese high-tech corporation Huawei Technologies Company, with 4,144 patents, was well ahead of U.S.-based Qualcomm (2,127). Among educational institutions, the University of California maintained its top rank with 470 published applications, but Tsinghua University ranked second with 265. Of the top five universities in the world, three were Chinese.

The Neck-and-Neck Race in Consumer Electronics

By 2019, the leaders in consumer technology in America included Google, Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft; in China, the leaders were Alibaba (founded by Jack Ma), Tencent (Tengxun in Chinese), Xiaomi, and Baidu. All had been launched by private citizens. Among the US companies, Microsoft was established in 1975, Apple in 1976, Amazon in 1994, and Google in September 1998. The earliest Chinese tech giant, Tencent, was established two months after Google, followed by Alibaba in 1999, Baidu in 2000, and Xiaomi, a hardware producer, in 2010. When China first entered cyberspace in 1994, its government left intact its policy of controlling information through censorship by the Ministry of Public Security.

In 1996, the country established a high-tech industrial development zone in Shenzhen, just across the Pearl River from Hong Kong, the first of what would be a number of special economic zones. From 2002 on, they would begin attracting Western multinational corporations keen to take advantage of their tax-free provisions and low-wage skilled workers. By 2008, such foreign companies accounted for 85% of Chinas high-tech exports.

Shaken by an official 2005 report that found serious flaws in the countrys innovation system, the government issued a policy paper the following year listing 20 mega-projects in nanotechnology, high-end generic microchips, aircraft, biotechnology, and new drugs. It then focused on a bottom-up approach to innovation, involving small start-ups, venture capital, and cooperation between industry and universities, a strategy that would take a few years to yield positive results.

In January 2000, less than 2% of Chinese used the Internet. To cater to that market, Robin Li and Eric Xu set up Baidu in Beijing as a Chinese search engine. By 2009, in its competition with Google China, a subsidiary of Google operating under government censorship, Baidu garnered twice the market share of its American rival as Internet penetration leapt to 29%.

In the aftermath of the 2008-2009 global financial meltdown, significant numbers of Chinese engineers and entrepreneurs returned from Silicon Valley to play an important role in the mushrooming of high-tech firms in a vast Chinese market increasingly walled off from U.S. and other Western corporations because of their unwillingness to operate under government censorship.

Soon after Xi Jinping became president in March 2013, his government launched a campaign to promote mass entrepreneurship and mass innovation using state-backed venture capital. That was when Tencent came up with its super app WeChat, a multi-purpose platform for socializing, playing games, paying bills, booking train tickets, and so on.

Jack Mas e-commerce behemoth Alibaba went public on the New York Stock Exchange in September 2014, raising a record $25 billion with its initial public offering. By the end of the decade, Baidu had diversified into the field of artificial intelligence, while expanding its multiple Internet-related services and products. As the search engine of choice for 90% of Chinese Internet users, more than 700 million people, the company became the fifth most visited website in cyberspace, its mobile users exceeding 1.1 billion.

Xiaomi Corporation would release its first smartphone in August 2011. By 2014, it had forged ahead of its Chinese rivals in the domestic market and developed its own mobile phone chip capabilities. In 2019, it sold 125 million mobile phones, ranking fourth globally. By the middle of 2019, China had 206 privately held start-ups valued at more than $1 billion, besting the U.S. with 203.

Among the countrys many successful entrepreneurs, the one who particularly stood out was Jack Ma, born Ma Yun in 1964. Though he failed to get a job at a newly opened Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet in his home city of Hangzhou, he did finally gain entry to a local college after his third attempt, buying his first computer at the age of 31. In 1999, he founded Alibaba with a group of friends. It would become one of the most valuable tech companies in the world. On his 55th birthday, he was the second richest man in China with a net worth of $42.1 billion.

Born in the same year as Ma, his American counterpart, Jeff Bezos, gained a degree in electrical engineering and computer science from Princeton University. He would found Amazon.com in 1994 to sell books online, before entering e-commerce and other fields. Amazon Web Services, a cloud computing company, would become the globes largest. In 2007, Amazon released a handheld reading device called the Kindle. Three years later, it ventured into making its own television shows and movies. In 2014, it launched Amazon Echo, a smart speaker with a voice assistant named Alexa that let its owner instantly play music, control a Smart home, get information, news, weather, and more. With a net worth of $145.4 billion in 2019, Bezos became the richest person on the planet.

Deploying an artificial intelligence inference chip to power features on its e-commerce sites, Alibaba categorized a billion product images uploaded by vendors to its e-commerce platform daily and prepared them for search and personalized recommendations to its customer base of 500 million. By allowing outside vendors to use its platform for a fee, Amazon increased its items for sale to 350 million -- with 197 million people accessing Amazon.com each month.

China also led the world in mobile payments with America in sixth place. In 2019, such transactions in China amounted to $80.5 trillion. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the authorities encouraged customers to use mobile payment, online payment, and barcode payment to avoid the risk of infection. The projected total for mobile payments: $111.1 trillion. The corresponding figures for the United States at $130 billion look puny by comparison.

In August 2012, the founder of the Beijing-based ByteDance, 29-year-old Zhang Yiming, broke new ground in aggregating news for its users. His product, Toutiao (Today's Headlines) tracked users behavior across thousands of sites to form an opinion of what would interest them most, and then recommended stories.

By 2016, it had already acquired 78 million users, 90% of them under 30.

In September 2016, ByteDance launched a short-video app in China called Douyin that gained 100 million users within a year. It would soon enter a few Asian markets as TikTok. In November 2017, for $1 billion, ByteDance would purchase Musical.ly, a Shanghai-based Chinese social network app for video creation, messaging, and live broadcasting, and set up an office in California.

Zhang merged it into TikTok in August 2018 to give his company a larger footprint in the U.S. and then spent nearly $1 billion to promote TikTok as the platform for sharing short-dance, lip-sync, comedy, and talent videos. It has been downloaded by 165 million Americans and driven the Trump administration to distraction. A Generation Z craze, in April 2020 it surpassed two billion downloads globally, eclipsing U.S. tech giants. That led President Trump (no loser he!) and his top officials to attack it and he would sign executive orders attempting to ban both TikTok and WeChat from operating in the U.S. or being used by Americans (unless sold to a U.S. tech giant). Stay tuned.

Huaweis Octane-Powered Rise

But the biggest Chinese winner in consumer electronics and telecommunications has been Shenzhen-based Huawei Technologies Company, the countrys first global multinational. It has become a pivot point in the geopolitical battle between Beijing and Washington.

Huawei (in Chinese, it means splendid achievement) makes phones and the routers that facilitate communications around the world. Established in 1987, its current workforce of 194,000 operates in 170 countries. In 2019, its annual turn-over was $122.5 billion. In 2012, it outstripped its nearest rival, the 136-year-old Ericsson Telephone Corporation of Sweden, to become the worlds largest supplier of telecommunications equipment with 28% of market share globally. In 2019, it forged ahead of Apple to become the second largest phone maker after Samsung.

Several factors have contributed to Huaweis stratospheric rise: its business model, the personality and decision-making mode of its founder Ren Zhengfei, state policies on high-tech industry, and the firms exclusive ownership by its employees.

Born in 1944 in Guizhou Province, Ren Zhengfei went to Chongqing University and then joined a military research institute during Mao Zedongs chaotic Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). He was demobilized in 1983 when China cut back on its engineering corps. But the armys slogan, fight and survive, stayed with him. He moved to the city of Shenzhen and worked in the country's infant electronics sector for four years, saving enough to co-found what would become the tech giant Huawei. He focused on research and development, adapting technologies from Western firms, while his new company received small orders from the military and later substantial R&D (research and development) grants from the state to develop GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) phones and other products. Over the years, the company produced telecommunications infrastructure and commercial products for third generation (3G) and fourth generation (4G) smartphones.

As Chinas high-tech industry surged, Huaweis fortunes rose. In 2010, it hired IBM and Accenture PLC to design the means of managing networks for telecom providers. In 2011, the company hired the Boston Consulting Group to advise it on foreign acquisitions and investments.

Like many successful American entrepreneurs, Ren has given top priority to the customer and, in the absence of the usual near-term pressure to raise income and profits, his management team has invested $15 to 20 billion annually in research and development work. That helps explain how Huawei became one of the globes five companies in the fifth generation (5G) smartphone business, topping the list by shipping out 6.9 million phones in 2019 and capturing 36.9% of the market. On the eve of the release of 5G phones, Ren revealed that Huawei had a staggering 2,570 5G patents.

So it was unsurprising that in the global race for 5G, Huawei was the first to roll out commercial products in February 2019. One hundred times faster than its 4G predecessors, 5G tops out at 10 gigabits per second and future 5G networks are expected to link a huge array of devices from cars to washing machines to door bells.

Huaweis exponential success has increasingly alarmed a Trump administration edging ever closer to conflict with China. Last month, Secretary of State Pompeo described Huawei as an arm of the Chinese Communist Partys surveillance state that censors political dissidents and enables mass internment camps in Xinjiang.

In May 2019, the U.S. Commerce Department banned American firms from supplying components and software to Huawei on national security grounds. A year later, it imposed a ban on Huawei buying microchips from American companies or using U.S.-designed software. The White House also launched a global campaign against the installation of the companys 5G systems in allied nations, with mixed success.

Ren continued to deny such charges and to oppose Washingtons moves, which have so far failed to slow his companys commercial advance. Its revenue for the first half of 2020, $65 billion, was up by 13.1% over the previous year.

From tariffs on Chinese products and that recent TikTok ban to slurs about the kung flu as the Covid-19 pandemic swept America, President Trump and his team have been expressing their mounting frustration over China and ramping up attacks on an inexorably rising power on the global stage. Whether they know it or not, the American century is over, which doesnt mean that nothing can be done to improve the U.S. position in the years to come.

Setting aside Washingtons belief in the inherent superiority of America, a future administration could stop hurling insults or trying to ban enviably successful Chinese tech firms and instead emulate the Chinese example by formulating and implementing a well-planned, long-term high-tech strategy. But as the Covid-19 pandemic has made abundantly clear, the very idea of planning is not a concept available to the very stable genius presently in the White House.

Dilip Hiro, a TomDispatch regular, is the author, among many other works, of After Empire: The Birth of a Multipolar World. He is currently researching a sequel to that book, which would cover several interlinked subjects, including the Covid-19 pandemic.

Follow TomDispatch on Twitter and join us on Facebook. Check out the newest Dispatch Books, John Feffers new dystopian novel (the second in the Splinterlands series) Frostlands, Beverly Gologorsky's novel Every Body Has a Story, and Tom Engelhardt's A Nation Unmade by War, as well as Alfred McCoy's In the Shadows of the American Century: The Rise and Decline of U.S. Global Power and John Dower's The Violent American Century: War and Terror Since World War II.

Copyright 2020 Dilip Hiro
Hotel recovery will be U-shaped and varied across countries and regions; domestic travel will return first

Hotel recovery across Asia Pacific continued to experience poor performance in Q2, with overall room occupancy and average daily rate (ADR) showing decreases to 33.9% and US$60.32, respectively

Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) for the regions hotel recovery declined by some 69.9% year-on-year

In terms of room occupancy, most markets witnessed year-on-year declines in excess of 40.0% while Singapores hotel recovery only declines by 14.5%

Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong and Vietnam led the field in being the top five lowest performers in hotel recovery

In local currency terms, Thailand and New Zealand are the only markets that witnessed year-on-year increases in ADR in excess of 2.0% in Q2

Singapores Growth Gaming Revenue (GGR) expected to drop between 65-75% for the year

hotel recovery

Image credit: Bay Hotel Singapore-Facebook

Colliers International on August 20, released the Hotel Insights Q3 2020 report, a quarterly digest of key trends in the hospitality sector.

Govinda Singh, Executive Director and Head of Hotels & Leisure for Valuation & Advisory Services, Asia, commented: The global economic outlook is expected to remain subdued in the near term given the ongoing uncertainty and risks of new waves of COVID-19. Therefore, the outlook for the hospitality industry in the region is expected to be dimmed in the near term.

Nonetheless, we believe the hospitality industry will rebound when travel returns given its legacy of resilience and agility. To prepare for hotels re-opening, hoteliers will need to take a cross-disciplinary approach so that hotels are well-positioned to build public trust and offer compelling product and service offerings, enabling hotels to thrive in the new operating environment with an evolving customer mix and preferences.

In hotel recovery, weekend leisure segment to recover first, driven by pent-up demand for travel

Story continues

Domestic travel will return first while international travel, particularly if it involves air travel, will take a longer time to recover. The weekend leisure segment is expected to lead the recovery, driven by the pent-up demand for travel as international travel restrictions and quarantine measures remain largely in place globally.

Underpinned primarily by essential business travel, the corporate travel segment should be next to return, followed by the extended leisure segment, as consumers confidence increases over time alongside the lifting of international travel restrictions. Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) and group segments will likely be last to recover given the high adoption of technology as an effective platform for MICE activities.

Health and safety to be a key consideration in travel planning going forward

As markets start to recover, consumers will prioritise health, safety and hygiene when it comes to travel planning and decision making. Personal space will also be more important; instead of large tour groups, independent travel will take precedence and people will likely prefer bespoke holidays and seek out travel experiences with a purpose (such as health and wellness, eco-travel, etc.).

Technology will also take on a more critical role in the traveler ecosystem and be a key tool in the revival of travel. Robots, chatbots, automation, recognition technology, artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT) and virtual reality (VR) will become increasingly commonplace.

Resumption of domestic travel in China well underway

The gradual lifting of restrictions and the implementation of the Chinese governments stimulus plans, alongside the promotional initiatives to spur growth and consumption, have encouraged the return of domestic tourism in China. This was reflected in the tourism receipts generated from domestic tourism during the Labour Day holiday in May, which was RMB 47.6 million (approximately US$ 6.8 million), as compared to that of RMB 8.3 million (approximately US$ 1.2 million) during the Tomb Sweeping Day holiday in April.

In line with the improving trend of domestic tourism, the hotel industry in China saw an uptick in occupancy levels month-on-month after bottoming out in February. China has also been in discussions with several countries on the easing of borders for essential business travel.

Investor interest in the industry remains firm

The most liquid markets in Q2 were Japan and South Korea while markets such as Hong Kong SAR, China and Taiwan saw little investment sales during the quarter. With international travel restrictions in place, domestic investors remain the dominant group in investment transactions.

In the coming months, investment activity is expected to gain pace as investors move to take advantage of any opportunities that will emerge, although cautious sentiment and stricter underwriting remain key given the evolving situation. For value-add investors and those looking to create a presence in the regions key city and resort markets, this may be the right time to explore. With access to mainstream financing likely to be limited in the near term, cashed-up investors who can transact quickly will be in prime position.

Mr Paul Ho, Chief Mortgage Officer at iCompareLoan, said, for Singapore, it is unclear whether hotel recovery will make a strong rebound even after the lockdown period. Since this is the downtime for most hoteliers, they should take this opportunity to review their business strategies and position themselves for the eventual upturn.

He added, What they should do is, develop a pricing strategy to make their hotel more attractive once demands returns. Pricing room rates competitively is important as rooms priced lower would mean a slower hotel recovery for the real estate owners and investors.

In an earlier report, Colliers said that hotels should adopt a proactive approach towards communication to maintain confidence among stakeholders and expect a return to historically trusted brands.

The post Hotel recovery will be U-shaped and varied across countries appeared first on iCompareLoan Resources.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 10:00:00|Editor: huaxia

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MINSK, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Wednesday that western leaders should focus on their own problems rather than the political situation in Belarus, state news agency BelTA reported.

"They are having a great deal of problems at home. Do not point at Belarus in order to draw attention away from the issues in France, the United States, Germany and so on," Lukashenko said at a meeting of his national security council via video link.

When all these issues are dealt with, they could proceed to Belarus, but the matter should not be high on their agenda, the president added.

Belarus is engulfed in mass protests after Lukashenko won a sixth term during the Aug. 9 elections, with the opposition refusing to recognize the results. Enditem
HANOI The presence of Chinese bombers on the disputed Paracel islands in the South China Sea jeopardises peace", Vietnams foreign ministry said on Thursday, in another sign of disapproval in the region of Beijings increased defence activities.

China, which has for years been locked in maritime disputes with other coastal states in the South China Sea, has in recent months boosted its presence and exercises in disputed parts of the strategic waterway, at a time when other claimants are battling coronavirus outbreaks.

The fact that relevant sides sent weapons and bombers  not only violates Vietnams sovereignty but also jeopardises the situation in the area," ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said at a briefing, when asked to comment on the presence of at least one Chinese bomber on the Paracel islands.

Vietnamese and Chinese media have reported that China has recently deployed fighter jets and at least one bomber, the H-6J, to the Paracels, one of two groups of South China Sea islands that China claims historical ownership of.

Hang did not say when the bomber was seen at the Paracels.

Chinas foreign ministry referred questions to the defence ministry, which did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters for comment.

Chinas defence ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang late last month said H-6G and H-6J bombers had participated in high intensity training in the area.

Those included takeoff and landing exercises, long distance strikes and the hitting of targets above the surface of the sea, Ren said.

China has this year also deployed survey ships, along with coast guard vessels, to waters off Vietnam and Malaysia.

Late on Thursday, Chinas coast guard vessel, Zhongquo Haijing 5204, was seen around Block 06.1, an oil and gas extraction area within Vietnams 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone, according to data from ship tracking website Marine Traffic.

(Additional reporting by Yew Lun Tian in Beijing; Editing by Martin Petty)

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 Manager of state-owned Ondo-Linyi Industrial Hub, Ore, Alex Ajipe, says over $350 million of foreign direct investment has been attracted to boost the economy of the state in the past three years.

Mr Ajipe said this while speaking with journalists on Thursday in Akure.

He said the achievement was in fulfilment of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolus promise to change the status of the state from a civil servant state to an industrial one.

Mr Ajipe said that almost all the MoU signed under the Akeredolu-led administration had been implemented.

He noted that industries such as Oluwa Glass, Ifon Ceramic and Ile-Oluji Cocoa Plantation had all disappeared due to mismanagement and loss of focus, thus depriving the state of being an industrial hub.

As at last count, we have over $350 million of foreign direct investment that has been imported into the state, apart from the one converted to structure, as confirmed by the Ministry of Trade and Investment.

We actually have 15 different companies that are coming into the Phase One of Ondo-Linyi Industrial Hub at the moment but seven companies have commenced operations; so, we still have eight more to go.

Some of the companies are a truck assembly plant, textile industry producing thread used to produce lace fabric and now we are installing machines to produce Ankara fabric.

Also, we have MDF Factory which is the first and only one of its type in Nigeria and we have an ethanol factory.

We are still going to see battery, plastic, cooler, polythene factories and others coming to the state which will help create employment and empowerment to the people of the state.

You can now see why investors can take Ondo State very seriously in the area of trying to exploit the potentials we have, Mr Ajipe said.

According to him, no economy can grow without looking at the private sector.

All the developing countries we know, and even developed nations, they thrive by depending on the private sector, he said.

Mr Ajipe, who noted that Ondo State was gradually becoming an industrial hub, said that all necessary arrangements had been concluded to commence operation of a 1,000 tonnes cement factory in the state.

Ninety three per cent pure limestone has been lying fallow at Okeluse since God created Ondo State and nobody had looked at it and this is what Governor Akeredolu is doing.

I can assure you, if not for COVID 19, by now the investor should be exploiting because the application for license is sitting at the Ministry of Mines for approval, he said

On afforestation, Mr Ajipe said that the state government had planted over six million trees to secure wood base industry in the state in the past three years.

(NAN)
European leaders urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to push for dialogue in neighbouring Belarus on Tuesday as opposition supporters protested President Alexander Lukashenko's disputed election win for a 10th day.

Demonstrators rallied outside a detention centre in Minsk where the husband of Lukashenko's main challenger in the election was being held, the latest in a wave of protests after the president claimed a sixth term in the August 9 ballot.

EU chief Charles Michel said on Twitter that he had spoken to Putin by phone and added that "only peaceful and truly inclusive dialogue can resolve the crisis in Belarus".

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron also spoke with Putin, whose country has close economic and military ties with its neighbour.

Merkel told Putin the authorities in Minsk must "enter into a national dialogue with the opposition and society to overcome the crisis", while Macron urged the Russian leader to foster "calm and dialogue".

In Kremlin readouts of the two calls, Putin emphasised that interfering in Belarus and putting pressure on its authorities would be "unacceptable", as the European Union moves to impose sanctions over the vote and a brutal police crackdown on protesters.

Moscow has said it is ready to step in if necessary in Belarus through the CSTO military alliance between six ex-Soviet states.

But it is unclear how much support Putin is willing to give to Lukashenko, who in recent years has often played off Moscow against the West.

- 'Lawlessness and injustice' -

Several hundred people gathered outside the walls of the detention centre to mark the 42nd birthday of Sergei Tikhanovsky, a popular blogger who was imprisoned alongside other Lukashenko rivals ahead of the election.

Protesters holding red-and-white balloons in the colours of the opposition clapped and chanted "Happy Birthday".

"I have come to support the political prisoners who are held behind the walls of our jails. These are absolutely innocent people," Anatoly Vaitikovsky, 53, told AFP.

Story continues

Lukashenko was jeered by workers at a state-run factory on Monday but has defied calls to hold a new election and on Tuesday handed out awards to 300 members of the security services, who have been accused of abusing arrested protesters.

Tikhanovsky's wife, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, was allowed to run in his place but fled to neighbouring Lithuania after claiming that Lukashenko had rigged the election to secure his official 80 percent of the vote.

Belarusian investigators have accused Tikhanovsky of inciting "social hostility" and calls to use violence against law enforcement officers.

In a video message, Tikhanovskaya said her husband was spending his birthday in prison accused of "a crime he did not commit".

"All of this blatant lawlessness and injustice shows how this rotting system works, in which one person controls everything, one person who has kept the country in fear for 26 years, one person who robbed Belarusians of their choice," she said.

- Historic demonstrations -

Belarus saw its largest street demonstrations over the weekend since it gained independence from the Soviet Union, with more than 100,000 people taking to the streets of the capital to demand Lukashenko stand down after 26 years in power.

The police crackdown on post-election demonstrations last week saw more than 6,700 people arrested, hundreds wounded and left two people dead.

Authorities have gradually released detainees -- many emerging with horrific accounts of beatings and torture.

European Union leaders have announced they will hold an emergency video summit on Belarus on Wednesday and both the United States and Britain this week voiced concerns over the elections and the crackdown.

Lithuanian lawmakers on Tuesday urged Western governments not to recognise Lukashenko as president, after accusing Belarus of escalating post-vote tensions by preparing military exercises on its border with Europe.

Tikhanovskaya, 37, has said she will organise new elections if Lukashenko steps down and the opposition has formed a Coordination Council to ensure a transfer of power, which was due to convene on Tuesday.

Her ally Maria Kolesnikova on Tuesday visited the National Academy Theatre in Minsk to show support for staff who resigned after director and former culture minister Pavel Latushko was forced from his post for publically calling for new elections and Lukashenko's resignation.

bur-jbr/mm/bp
Milwaukee: The Democratic Party's experiment with an entirely virtual political convention kicked into high gear on its third night with a series of vigorous speeches, an impressive debut from vice-presidential nominee Kamala Harris and an important shift towards policy specifics.

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton dramatically raised the stakes of the election, telling their followers that democracy itself was on the line on November 3 because Donald Trump would try to cheat his way to victory unless they get out to vote in overwhelming numbers.

Senator Kamala Harris demonstrated why Joe Biden picked her as his running mate. Credit:CSpan

Both recognised the importance of imbuing the campaign with a sense of urgency. The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic recession have stripped the election of its usual status as the dominant issue in the national conversation. Americans don't know whether they can safely send their kids to school or if another much-needed stimulus cheque is coming in the mail.

And Joe Biden is up against an opponent who claims the radical left is about to take over America, destroy the suburbs and allow open borders.
TOKYO, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nippon Express (Nederland) BV (hereinafter, "NE Nederland"), a local subsidiary of Nippon Express Co., Ltd. based in Tokyo, began construction of a new warehouse in Schiphol Trade Park on Monday, August 3.

Logo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/202008193274-O1-3j1MxVt7

Photo: Groundbreaking ceremony: from left to right, Marja Ruigrok, Councilor, Municipality of Haarlemmermeer; Masahiro Murakami, President, NE Nederland; Ruud Drijsen, Vice President, NE Nederland

https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M103866/202008193274/_prw_PI2fl_Ul6BNUjh.jpg

Offering more than twice the space of the company's existing facility, this new warehouse is being erected in Schiphol Trade Park, about 7 kilometers southwest of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, one of Europe's key hub airports, to cope with steadily rising air cargo volume.

Good Distribution Practice (GDP) certification, a standard for the proper distribution of pharmaceuticals, will be sought for the new warehouse to enhance NE Nederland's distribution network for the pharmaceutical sector, which has been stipulated as a priority industry in the Nippon Express Group Management Plan's "Growth Strategy for Core Businesses." In anticipation of dealing with semiconductor-related equipment and other heavy or long-length cargo, a ULD handling system will be introduced to enable the facility to process 20-foot pallets. The roof will be outfitted with a 60m x 55m solar panel array to make the facility more eco-friendly.

Image: Artist's sketch of new warehouse

https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M103866/202008193274/_prw_PI3fl_45FKMlNG.jpg

Nippon Express will continue meeting the increasingly sophisticated and diverse needs of its customers as it steps up its efforts in the forwarding business and in the pharmaceutical and semiconductor industries.

- Expected start of operations

July 2021

- Operations to be handled

Air and ocean cargo import/export CFS operations, removal operations, cross-dock operations

- Profile of new warehouse

Address: Contour Avenue 31, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands

Structure: Single-story steel-reinforced concrete building (with four-story office portion)

Site area: 18,278m2

Total floor area: 12,238m2

(Breakdown)

Warehouse area: 9,836m2 (including 315m2 dedicated pharmaceutical storage space)

Office: 2,261m2

Other: 141m2

Principal equipment: 19 truck docks, ULD handing system, full CCTV coverage, solar panel array

Nippon Express website: http://www.nipponexpress.com/

Official LinkedIn Account: NIPPON EXPRESS GROUP

https://www.linkedin.com/company/nippon-express-group/

SOURCE Nippon Express Co., Ltd.

Related Links

http://www.nipponexpress.com/


Washington: US President Donald Trump has distanced himself from his former adviser Steve Bannon, who was charged with defrauding hundreds of thousands of donors over a shonky scheme to build a wall along the Mexican border.

Bannon was arrested on Thursday, US time, for his role in an online crowd-funding campaign known as We Build the Wall, which collected more than $US25 million ($35 million) from Trump supporters under the pretence of constructing a barrier preventing people from illegally entering the US.

Former Trump campaign chief Steve Bannon. Credit:Bloomberg

The idea of a border wall was a central plank of the President's 2016 election campaign, in which Trump repeatedly claimed that the barrier would be paid for by Mexico.

However, in this case, prosecutors allege that Bannon siphoned about $US1 million from the We Build The Wall scheme, some of which he used "to cover hundreds of thousands of dollars" in personal expenses for himself and campaign founder Brian Kolfage.
A judge has dismissed President Trump's latest effort to keep his financial records out of the hands of New York prosecutors and a grand jury.

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero threw out a lawsuit from Trump's legal team that attempted to block Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance from obtaining his tax records. Vance subpoenaed Trump's accounting firm as part of an investigation into hush money payments made to two women who allege they had affairs with Trump. Trump's lawyers had argued the subpoena for the records was too broad and issued "in bad faith," but Marrero wasn't convinced.

The Supreme Court ruled last month that Trump is "neither absolutely immune from state criminal subpoenas seeking his private papers nor entitled to a heightened standard of need," which significantly undercut the president's legal argument. As BuzzFeed News reports, Marrero accused Trump of trying to get the absolute immunity argument "through a back door." On the contrary, Marrero argued, Trump is entitled to "high respect" in this legal battle, but that doesn't mean he is immune from subpoenas. "High respect for the President does not imply diminished respect for the ancient functions of the grand jury or the long-established standards governing challenges to its subpoenas," he wrote.

Marrero said Trump's legal team had failed to prove the subpoena was issued in bad faith, and had basically rehashed the same argument that was previously shot down.

Trump's team has already appealed the dismissal, asking for a delay in enforcing the subpoena, reports The Washington Post. Trump "believes there is a likelihood of reversal on appeal," lawyers said.

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Sonu Sood who emerged as a real-life hero during the COVID-19 lockdown has now apologised to people whose messages he may have missed. The Bollywood actor who continues to provide help to people in need during this pandemic, recently took to twitter and revealed the number of requests he receives across different social media platforms.

Sharing some statistics of the messages he receives, Sonu tweeted, "1137. mails 19000. fb messages 4812. Insta messages, 6741. twitter messages, Today's HELP messages." He went on to say that he tried his best to reach out to as many people as possible and added, "On an average these are the number of requests I get for HELP. It is humanly impossible to reach out to everyone. I still try my best. Apologies if I missed your message."

Earlier, he had said in an interview to HT, "I get almost 100 emails every single day of people asking for help and thousands of messages, but I also know that I can't help all of them. I try to solve at least 30 to 40 problems every day, may be more," he added.

Sonu Sood: I Try To Solve At Least 30- 40 Problems Every Day Recently, the actor helped a group of 39 young children and arranged for their travel from Philippines to New Delhi, for their liver transplant surgery. A user on Wednesday had reached out to the actor asking for help, as she wrote, "@SonuSood Hello sir , I'm varalakshmi from Karnataka and I'm physcially handicap and my father passed away 2years back and there is no source of income I need your help sir for vegetable Shop sir." Sood Recent Helped A Tribal Girl Who Lost Her House The actor responded positively saying, "Let's start the morning by opening a vegetable shop for you Get ready." On the same day he extended support to a tribal girl in Chhatisgarh's Bastar region, who lost her house and books. Responding to her emotional video the actor tweeted, "Ansu poch le bahan, kitaben bhi nai hongi ghar bhi naya hoga (wipe off tears sister, books as well as the house will be new)". He Also Opened An App To Help Find Job Opportunities According to reports, Sonu Sood also launched an app to offer support to workers in finding job opportunities in various sectors across the country.

Sonu Sood Graces The Kapil Sharma Show As 1st Guest Post Lockdown; Show Sees Tears Instead Of Laughs

Sonu Sood To Organize Medical Camps For 50,000 People, For His Birthday
Indraneil Sengupta wouldve never thought that a casual Instagram post and a witty caption could get him in trouble. The actor shared a photo of wife, actor Barkha Sengupta, and captioned it, Neighbours envy, owners pride, and in no time, he was trolled and accused of objectifying women.

Responding to one of the comments that read, Was looking for the leash on her neck from the owner...Intellectual captions are rare, definitely onida had it... sadly not all does!, Indraneil wrote, Hahaha I knew the owner would draw some flak, but its just a fun use of the popular line.

Clearing the air about this whole thing, Indraneil tells us, The caption which I had put, was in fact, suggested by Barkha herself. She is the woman in the picture and she sees the humour in it. She does that many a times. I click pictures and she is witty with captions. So, its all fun.

Given how online bullying is rampant these days, the Jamai Raja actor feels it not possible to weigh in on every word you put out on social media. Everyone has an opinion. Its a public platform and one is free to say anything. Just because someone would comment something on our post, doesnt mean were going to think twice and be careful about next step. It doesnt matter. Everyone has a different perspective, he opines, adding that one cant keep worrying about these issues.

Read: Tamannaah Bhatia on social media toxicity: I wish we go back to putting our best, sugar-coated version online

Though agreeing that social media has become a highly toxic place, Indraneil maintains that the couple doesnt take it too seriously. One can deal with it. There are negatives and positives of social media and you decide how much impact they can have on you. If tomorrow social media shuts down, and you ask what will happen to us  nothing will happen to Barkha and me. Its just a small part of our lives and nothing important, he maintains.

But can extreme trolling take on a persons mental health? The actor says, If you want to take a break or go on a detox because negativity on social media is affecting your mental health, then that can also be due to various other reasons, and not only this. So, its better to be responsible and know how to be moderate in social media usage and indulgence. There needs to be a certain level of detachment. Its a virtual world and you need to detach sometimes, as simple as that.

Interact with author/@sanchita_kalra.
In good news for history buffs and culture lovers, the second season of Century Masters, a large-scale docuseries featuring the legacy of 20th-century Chinese artists, is now translated into several foreign languages and will be available online starting Friday.

With a total of five episodes, each about 52 minutes long, the stories of five outstanding figures  including painter Li Kuchan, Peking Opera artist Shang Xiaoyun, and painters Guan Shanyue, Wu Guanzhong and Huang Zhou, are told to a much broader audience outside the Chinese-speaking world.

The content will stream on new media platforms, such as Xuexi.cn, Tencent Video, iQiyi, Sohu TV and so on, accessible in English, French, Russian, Spanish and Arabic.

Li Kuchan was a renowned Chinese painter, calligrapher and art educator who specialized in free-stroke brush paintings. Born into a poor peasant family in East China's Shandong province, Li had to work really hard to pay for art school in Beijing.

In 1923, he began to study under Qi Baishi (1864-1957), one of the most renowned contemporary Chinese painters. Later on, Li created a unique kind of bird-and-flower painting using the free and spontaneous "xieyi" style (freehand brushwork used in traditional Chinese painting).

The early 1900s are widely considered the golden age of Peking Opera. The four artists, Mei Lanfang, Cheng Yanqiu, Shang Xiaoyun and Xun Huisheng, are widely known as the Four Great Dan of Peking Opera.

Shang Xiaoyun's style was known as "bang", the Chinese term for "bravo". Shang started his opera journey as a martial arts character and his performance style was powerful. He was particularly adept at portraying brave and heroic women characters.
The coronavirus-induced pandemic has really shaken the healthcare system of each and every country; it is unfortunate to know what people working at these facilities have to go through on a daily basis.

A story which will make you realise how difficult things are is that of a tea-shop owner-turned-volunteer who has been helping families conduct the last rites of COVID-19 victims. Abdul Razak got attention on social media when a photo of him carrying an infant's dead body started doing the rounds.

Also read: A Kerala Doctor Took Care Of An Infant For A Month After His Parents Tested Positive For COVID

Bangalore Mirror

The photograph was taken at St John's hospital - Razak was taking the infant's body to the cremation ground. The 40-year-old's act left people teary-eyed and extremely heartbroken over the fact that a grown man has to carry a dead infant's body for her last rites.

Razak is associated with Mercy Angels and spoke to Bangalore Mirror about the incident. He said, The little girl from West Bengal had some kidney problems and so, she was admitted to St Johns hospital. Later, she turned COVID-positive and was in the hospital for quite some time."

Video of volunteer in #Bengaluru carrying a dead child in his arms has left netizens teary-eyed.



More here: https://t.co/58rOoVYHgn pic.twitter.com/MoolRzyeFJ  Bangalore Mirror (@BangaloreMirror) August 20, 2020

He added, "When we got a call from the volunteer group, I pitched in to go and complete the last rites of the deceased child. Her parents were also there with me and they were in shock. I went to the mortuary, picked up her body, and drove to the crematorium in an ambulance."

Also read: A Four-Day-Old Infant In Wuhan Is The Youngest To Be Diagnosed With Coronavirus

Bangalore Mirror

Talking about himself, he said, "I am from Kannur and have a tea shop in Frazer Town. I have been staying here for a long time and over the last few months, I have been noticing how people are struggling for their lives. If I get a call, I leave the shop, finish the last rites and come back to take a shower and return to work."



Also read: After Airborne Transmission, Strong Evidence That Expecting COVID+ Mothers Can Infect Infants

Bangalore Mirror

Such selfless people deserve all the blessings in the world. It is not easy to do what Razak does.
Some students in Toronto who rely on school buses to get to and from school will have to find alternative modes of transportation the first week back this September as service is being adjusted to meet the needs of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Toronto Student Transportation Group, which is responsible for providing school bus services for the Toronto District School Board and Toronto Catholic District School Board, has announced it will only service students with special needs during the week of Sept. 8 to 11.

All other eligible students will start receiving transportation services the following week beginning Sept. 14.

In a letter addressed to Toronto parents on Tuesday, the group said phasing in bus services was chosen to ensure that students with special education needs are prioritized and receive bus service beginning the first week of school.

The letter also warns that eligible students may still not be able to get transportation services if there is a significant shortage of bus drivers or other unforeseen issues related to COVID-19 when school reopens in a couple of weeks.

Given continued school bus driver shortages across the province, this staggered approach provides TSTG additional time to identify and address any potential start-up issues related to the driver shortage, and to ensure when full transportation services are in place, they are running as smoothly as possible, the letter stated.

Since Ontarios announcement on the school reopening, parents across the province have expressed concerns about the lack of information on how kids will be bused to and from school, a factor that could influence their choice to send children to school or register them for remote learning.

Bus service providers on the other hand say theres little they can do in terms of planning if they dont have concrete numbers on how many children will be registered for in-class learning and therefore need transportation.

Driver shortages are being caused by the uncertainty of the number of students on buses and per seat, said Nancy Daigneault, executive director of the Ontario School Bus Association. She said school boards across Ontario have sent out surveys to collect data on how many students will be in need of school bus transportation, but the results have not come back in yet.

As each day passes without clarity on this issue, the shortage becomes more acute and delays and driver shortages are possible, she added.

Another big issue that can add to the shortage problem, Daigneault noted, is the fact that over 60 per cent of bus drivers are over the age of 60 and therefore could opt out of work because of being at higher risk of contracting severe cases of COVID-19.

Sandy Blatherwick, a long-time school bus driver in the Wellington County, said shes very concerned to return to work considering her and her husband are both over 60 and he has some underlying health issues.

I do not want any of the kids passing each other on the bus when they get on. My rules also: face masks will be mandatory on my bus. I do not want to get sick, she said.

The student transportation group in Toronto also issued health and safety guidelines that include requiring all students from kindergarten to Grade 12 to wear a face mask when on the bus, with the exception of those who have a health condition or special needs preventing them from covering their face. Enhanced bus cleaning practices will take place before and after each shift and in-between the day runs.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 19:06:55|Editor: huaxia

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KAMPALA, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- COVID-19 lockdown regulations have pushed up mobile telephone usage in Uganda, a new report by the country's communications regulator has shown.

The Uganda Communications Commission in a report posted on its website late on Wednesday showed that active subscriptions based on quarter-to-quarter basis grew by 7 percent in the first quarter, which translates into a total growth of 1.8 million subscribers.

Active subscriptions grew to 28.4 million at the end of March 2020 from 26.7 million in December 2019.

The strongest growth was realized in the mobile segment with 1.8 million new mobile subscriptions, while growth in fixed-line subscriptions was marginal with less than a thousand new connections, according to the report.

Based on the 2020 population estimates of 41.5 million, national teledensity now stands at 67 percent having grown from 66 percent at the end of December 2019.

"The unusual performance in Jan-March could in part be attributed to the adoption of digital work methods, 'Work-From-Home' offers, as well as international returning residents in light of the global pandemic towards the end of the review period," the report said.

The report showed that the broadband segment for the first time posted more than one million new connections in two consecutive quarters. In the quarter Jan-March, 1.2 million new broadband connections were posted. This followed 1.4 million new subscriptions posted in the preceding quarter. Total internet subscriptions have grown by 31 percent over the last 12 months.

The report showed that mobile phones stand out as the internet access medium of choice accounting for more than 95 percent of new growth in the quarter.

In terms of penetration, the new growth in internet subscriptions and internet-enabled hardware on the market translates into an internet penetration of 45 internet connections per 100 Ugandans.

Smartphones and feature phones with basic internet access remain the driver of new mobile internet subscriptions, growing from 23.8 million feature and smartphones in December 2019 to 24.4 million in March 2020.

According to the report, the usage of mobile financial services in the country has also grown. Registered Mobile Money accounts have grown by almost 700,000 new registrations to 25.4 million registered mobile money accounts from 24.7 million registered accounts in December 2019.

"This resurgence in wallet activity is likely reflective of the boom in e-commerce due to limited mobility at the onset of the lockdown," the report said, noting that the number of active mobile money wallets has crossed the 20 million mark for the first time in Uganda.

Overall, the report showed that the telecom sector posted the highest quarterly revenues on record, crossing the one trillion shillings (274 million-U.S. dollars) mark in total quarterly earnings for the first time.

These revenue lines include retail and input/wholesale revenues like Tower Lease sales, International Bandwidth, Mobile Financial Services as well as Voice and Data services. Enditem
As negotiations in Congress over coronavirus relief remain adrift, federal statistics show that schools have just about run out of money to use from the last aid package, underscoring what looks like a very bleak future for school funding.

The CARES Act, enacted in March, provided roughly $30.6 billion to K-12 schools and colleges and universities, with about $13 billion set aside for school districts. But updated spending data from Washington show that just 5 percent of the $30.6 billion, or about $1.5 billion, remains unobligated. (Its not immediately clear how much of the leftover 5 percent is made up of unobligated money for K-12 or higher education.)

The latest data from the federal government doesnt mean that the remaining 95 percent of CARES money for education has actually been spent. But it does mean that state education departments and school districts have committed the vast majority of their CARES money to other expenses allowed under the law, like improving remote-learning infrastructure and cleaning schools. Given that the new school year is under way, of course, its not surprising that schools that didnt use the money in the spring and summer break have now committed to spending it in various ways through contractual agreements.

Why does this matter? The obvious answer is that if or when schools go looking for spare CARES coins under couches, theyre not going to find much. And schools are reopening without new federal relief on top of CARES to help them address the virus. Despite tens of billions proposed by Democrats and Republicans to provide a fresh infusion of cash for K-12, none has been forthcoming to help offset major state and local budget cuts hitting schools now or looming in the future.

And schools around the country started laying off teachers and others over the summer, a trend thats likely to continue if not accelerate.

Earlier in the summer, the Government Accountability Office released a report that by May 31, just over two months after the CARES Act became law, states had expended less than 1 percent of the CARES money allocated for K-12 and a separate, $3 billion governors fund that can be used for K-12 and higher education.

The administration has brought up this general issue more than once since that report came out. For example, at a White House event on reopening schools last week, Kellyanne Conway, a counselor to President Donald Trump, indicated that just 4 percent of CARES money for school districts had been tapped into. She said the administration would really implore those states and those local school districts to take advantage of the money for education in the CARES Act.

And its understandable why folks might have had questions about what CARES money was being spent relatively slowly, given the pandemics sweeping effects on education and especially because DeVos awarded the money to states relatively quickly. (States and school districts have until Sept. 30, 2021 to spend CARES money.)

Several weeks ago, we asked folks why CARES money wasnt being spent at a faster clip. Some of their answers are here .

Click here to see how much state education departments, colleges, and other entities received from CARES. The single largest federal CARES award was approximately $1.6 billion provided to Californias education department.

Image via usaspending.gov

Follow us on Twitter @PoliticsK12 . And follow the Politics K-12 reporters @EvieBlad @Daarel and @AndrewUjifusa .
Finally, and morally repugnant as it is, we should offer Lukashenko asylum if he peacefully leaves the country. While the rise of international legal prosecutions has many advantages, it can discourage dictators from leaving power. Violence on a massive scale would almost certainly have been the outcome in the Philippines in 1986 if the Reagan Administration had not negotiated the departure of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos from the Philippines. Here, the U.S. position on the International Criminal Court, and even President Trumps distasteful camaraderie with dictators, could help persuade Lukashenko that we would allow him to live quietly under U.S. protection to achieve peaceful regime change.
Quarantine workers disinfect a bus at a local depot in Jungnang District, northeastern Seoul, Thursday, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the capital. /Yonhap



Seoul city to ban gatherings of 10 or more people from today



By Kim Se-jeong



The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reported 288 new COVID-19 infections for Wednesday, the third straight day of over 200, with an increasing number outside the Seoul metropolitan area, signaling that the nationwide spread is becoming a reality and that it will be a while until the number of cases decreases.



Locating participants in an anti-government rally held last Saturday in Seoul has become the biggest challenge for the authorities.



"We have found 53 so far and they were scattered through nine provinces and cities nationwide. Also, 70 percent of them involved people in their 60s or older," Kim Gang-lip, a senior official responsible for the government response to COVID-19, said Thursday morning. Later in the day, the government added eight more cases.



The authorities were continuing to track down the rally participants Thursday, using data provided by telecommunications and charter bus companies, but still fell far short of tracking the 10,000 participants.



A breakdown of the 288 cases also showed the nationwide spread of the virus.





Seoul to ban gatherings of 10 or more to contain virus spread Busan beaches to close from midnight to combat spiking virus cases S. Korea reports 288 new virus cases According to the KCDC, out of the 288, Busan reported 15 cases Wednesday, up six from the previous day; Daejeon eight, up three; North Gyeongsang Province five, up two; and South Gyeongsang Province three, up one.



The Seoul Metropolitan Government has banned all gatherings of 10 people or more across the city from today, in an attempt to prevent the spread of the virus.



The authorities said the cases were posing a big challenge to the quarantine authorities due to unclear transmission routes.



Speaking with the Munwha Ilbo, Dr. Chun Byung-youl from Cha University said the infection rate nationwide could be quite high. "If 100 random people from Gangnam Station took a virus test today, it would be impossible to predict the number with the infection."



According to the KCDC, the country's total caseload is now 16,346, with 307 fatalities to date.



Among the 288 new infections, 62 were linked to the Sarang Jeil Church, which now has 676 confirmed cases tied to it. The quarantine authorities are still trying to locate 700 other church members.



A scheduled strike by doctors is another challenge for the authorities. Interns and residents who work at big medical centers and their emergency rooms are expected to go on strike today, followed by another one Aug. 26 with a bigger participation by doctors across the country.



Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung warned residents of the possible collapse of the healthcare system and advised people to stay home.



"The crisis is entering a new phase which could be as bad as a tsunami. We need to be prepared for the worst case scenario in which the healthcare system will collapse. The government is now trying whatever it can to provide basic medical services," the governor said.



President Moon Jae-in urged the religious community to cooperate with the government's measures actively.




Brett John Callaghan was hit with more serious charges on Thursday

A man accused of abducting a girl, 12, from a skate park, driving her to his granny flat, drugging her and raping her faces five more years behind bars if convicted of new charges.

A court heard on Thursday that two 'sexual touching' charges against Sydney father Brett John Callaghan, 37, have been upgraded to more serious offences.

Callaghan is accused of leading the schoolgirl away and assaulting her on his parents' acreage in Dural in a brazen alleged attack at the end of April's school holidays.

The new charges will carry a maximum 10 year jail term, rather than the five years previously carried by similar charges laid against him. Those charges will be withdrawn.

Court documents said Callaghan is accused of abducting the girl from the Thornleigh Skate Park about 3.30pm on Tuesday, April 28, and driving her home on a suspended licence.

The 12-year-old girl was allegedly taken to Callaghan's granny flat in Dural at the back of his parent's property, police claim

Callaghan then allegedly assaulted the girl during the drive to his house, and again when they returned to the flat.

The child was reported missing at 5.30pm after she failed to meet her parents at Hornsby Westfield as they had planned.

Detectives from the State Crime Command's Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad eventually arrested Callaghan just after 1.15am the next day.

Callaghan appeared before Parramatta Local Court via video link today, months after a magistrate ruled some details of the alleged attack were too gruesome to be published.

In May, Detective Sergeant Lauren Seretis told Parramatta Local Court Magistrate Tim Keady the girl was 'embarrassed' by widespread publicity about the incident.

The schoolgirl had been at Thornleigh's skate park (pictured) when she went missing on April 28

Police released images of the offender being taken into custody earlier this year

'When I first met her she was traumatised by what had occurred,' Det Seretis said, describing her as 'visibly upset'.

'Since that time she has still been upset and traumatised from the events of that date.'

The detective said friends had contacted her on social media after cottoning on that she was the victim from television news reports.

Her parents had banned her from watching TV as a result, the court was told at the time.

Child Abuse Squad detectives have continued to investigate the alleged incident in the months since.

Callaghan did not apply for bail today and remains remanded in custody. He will face court on more in October.
Senator Kamala Harris has scripted history as she became the first Indian-American and also the first Black woman to accept the nomination for vice-president from a major political party in the US.

IMAGE: US Senator Kamala Harris accepts the Democratic vice presidential nomination during an acceptance speech delivered for the largely virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention from the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Harris, 55, was nominated as the vice-presidential candidate on Wednesday at the virtual Democratic National Convention where she attacked President Donald Trump's for "failure of leadership" and blamed the Republican leader for the "lives and livelihoods" of the American people amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

"I accept your nomination for vice president of the United States of America," she said while accepting the Democratic Party's nomination to be the running mate of the presidential candidate Joe Biden.

In her acceptance speech, Harris paid tribute to the Black women that came before her and she vowed to fight for the nation.

"Let's fight with conviction. Let's fight with hope. Let's fight with confidence in ourselves, and a commitment to each other," she said.

She profoundly remembered her mother from Tamil Nadu.

Harris said her mother raised her and her sister "to be proud, strong Black women. And she raised us to know and be proud of our Indian heritage. She taught us to put family first" the family you're born into and the family you choose.

In reference to her Indian heritage, Harris used a Tamil expression in speaking of "my uncles, my aunts, my chitthis".

Harris said she was there standing on her mother's shoulders, a woman who "came here from India at age 19 to pursue her dream of curing cancer. At the University of California, Berkeley, she met my father, Donald Harris, who had come from Jamaica to study economics".

IMAGE: Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden waves next to US Senator Kamala Harris after she accepted the Democratic vice presidential nomination. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

She assailed Trump's "failure of leadership".

She said the Republican leader "turns our tragedies into political weapons".

Former US vice president Joe Biden and Harris will challenge Trump and his Vice-President Mike Pence in the November 3 election.

"We must elect a president who will bring something different, something better, and do the important work. A president who will bring all of us together -- Black, White, Latino, Asian, Indigenous -- to achieve the future we collectively want," Harris said, making a passionate plea before Americans to vote them to power.

"We must elect Joe Biden. I knew Joe as vice president. I knew Joe on the campaign trail. But I first got to know Joe as the father of my friend," she said.

"And here's the thing: We can do better and deserve so much more," she said.

Alleging that right now, the US has "a president who turns our tragedies into political weapons," Harris said that Biden will be a president who turns our challenges into purpose.

"Joe will bring us together to build an economy that doesn't leave anyone behind. Where a good-paying job is the floor, not the ceiling. Joe will bring us together to end this pandemic and make sure that we are prepared for the next one," she said.

IMAGE: A Biden 2020 campaign flag is draped on the back of an SUV while a screen projects Democratic Vice Presidential nominee US Senator Kamala Harris during a drive-in watch party for the virtual Democratic National Convention hosted by the Massachusetts Democrats at Suffolk Downs in Boston, Massachusetts. Photograph: Scott Eisen/Getty Images

Biden and his wife Jill joined Harris and her husband Douglas Emhoff on stage while maintaining social distancing in view of the COVID-19 pandemic that forced the Democrats to hold the four-day convention virtually.

Harris is the first Indian-American to be selected for the second-highest elected office of the United States after that of the president.

She is also the first-ever Black and first-ever African American to be nominated as a vice-presidential candidate by a major political party.

If elected in the November 3 presidential elections, Harris, whose mother is from India and father from Jamaica, would be the first-ever women vice president of the United States.

Harris has had a stellar career beginning as a public prosecutor in California.

She has been a county district attorney; the district attorney for San Francisco -- the first woman and first African-American elected to the position.

She was also the first female African-American to become California's attorney general. In 2017, she became the second African-American woman to join the Senate, winning the California seat vacated by Senator Barbara Boxer.
- Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru was grilled for over eight hours at the EACC offices on Wednesday, July 22

- She was questioned by the government watchdog over claims by the county assembly that she siphoned over KSh 6 million in illegal allowances

- The raid came just two months after the governor survived an impeachment against her in the Senate

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives have raided the homes and offices of Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru.

The sleuths who stormed the governor's Nairobi and Kirinyaga mansions were searching for crucial documents in the ongoing graft probe against the county boss.

READ ALSO: Mike Sonko says Ruto, Raila combination would be sure bet to State House

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru at her office. Photo: Anne Waiguru.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Aisha Langoni: Late ex-Changamwe MP's daughter dies 2 weeks after her father succumbed to COVID-19

In a statement on Thursday, August 20, EACC said it was investigating irregular award of allowances to the county officials of Kirinyaga.

"EACC is in the process of establishing whether the trips were actually undertaken and whether the documents supporting disbursement of KSh 23 million to county officials were genuine," part of its statement read.

The first-term female county chief had been grilled for over eight hours at the EACC offices on Wednesday, July 22.

She was questioned by the government watchdog over claims by the county assembly that she siphoned over KSh 6 million in illegal allowances.

The EACC offices in Nairobi city. Photo: EACC.

Source: Twitter

READ ALSO: Magazeti ya Alhamisi, Agosti 20: Maseneta wamsifu Matiang'i wakati wa mkutano wa faragha

The integrity commission also cross-examined her over allegations of irregular tender awards and awarding herself KSh 10.6 million as allowances for foreign trips.

She was also under the radar over a KSh 50.6 million irregular tender that involved the design, installation and integration of a new hospital information management system that saw her rub shoulders with MCAs.

The raid came just two months after Waiguru survived an impeachment against her in the Senate.

A view of Waiguru's house in Kitisuru, Nairobi. Photo: UGC.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Federico Bernardeschi: Juventus offer midfielder to Man United in exchange for Smalling

The 11-member committee led by Kakamega senator Cleophas Malala cleared the governor from the impeachment charges she faced stating they were unsubstantiated and did not meet the threshold for her removal.

"The committee having investigated the matter in accordance with its mandate under section 33(4) of the county governments act and standing order 75(2) of the Senate standing orders reports to the Senate that it finds that the two charges against the governor have not been substantiated," said Malala.

The committee, however, asked the EACC to investigate the corruption allegations levelled against Waiguru and some county officers.

"None of the accounts was directly linked to the governor. However, we have recommended to EACC and DCI to investigate the particular charges and the officers involved," the report said.

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Kenyans react to the revenue sharing formula row | Tuko TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
WENDYS WINDOW: Why Do Women Who Make Great Decisions in the Boardroom Sometimes Struggle Making Good Decisions in the Bedroom?

Have you ever known a woman that seems to have it all together? She has a great career, takes care of herself, is committed to her family and community; but she struggles in connecting with the right life partner? I do! As a matter of fact, I was one of those women. I even have amazing friends that when I look at their lives, they are what I consider a prize, but they struggle when it comes to making wise decisions on selecting the right person as a serious companion. Why does this happen?

Let me pause. I am not saying a person must have a partner to be happy. Happiness starts with loving ourselves first. I am also not saying that you have to compromise your values to be with someone. What I am saying is that oftentimes we do not give enough thought about the choices we make when it comes to who we date and allow into our lives. I know that I have personally been guilty of this. I have cared more about making the other person happy, even at the sacrifice or expense of being personally fulfilled. To make wise decisions we must be clear about our expectations. Do you even know what you would be willing to comprise on for the relationship? What is non-negotiable? This is critical to know.

If we want to make good decisions in our personal relationships, we must understand ourselves. I believe women are more comfortable being straightforward and clear when it comes to their work life than they are in their love life. We do not want to hurt other peoples feelings. Sometimes we may even fear that if we speak up, they will leave. Guess what, if you speaking your truth makes someone leave then it is better to find out sooner than later. How would you handle this situation if it were work related?

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My husband wrote a book a few years back called, The Right Man Business Plan for Women: A business approach to relationships for successful, single women! I read the book and realized that he made some good points (I should have read it sooner). In the book, he shares nuggets that can really help one from making serious mistakes. One of the things he talks about is the importance of us doing our due diligence. Do we really take the time to check a person out and understand that dating is not the same as being in a relationship? The dating season is when we should really check a person out to see if they are the one that we want to spend more time with and graduate to a relationship.

I do believe there are some things that will only be revealed over time. But there are some things that if we really stop and ask the right questions (just like we would at work); watch what they do more than what they say (performance); and critically review without being critical, there are a lot of mistakes that we could avoid. Sometimes we fear being alone and we let feelings and emotions rule where sound judgment should take over. I recently read that, good decisions come from experience, and you can only get experience from making some bad decisions.

If you have not been so lucky with love, do not make a permanent decision on a temporary feeling or emotion. Learn from your past mistakes, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and try again. You got this!

Healing Without Hate: Its a choice. Its a lifestyle. Pass it on!

Visit www.WendyGladney.com and www.forgivingforliving.org to learn more. Wendy is an international coach, consultant, trainer, author and speaker. She can also be found live on Instagram @Wendygladney on Wednesdays at 12 noon PST.
Whats the best job youve ever had?

Though my position here at the Huron Daily Tribune ranks right up there (that statement in no way is an attempt to suck up, even though I know my boss will read this), the best job I ever had was the one I had when I was going to college. I was a library page at a public library in a Grand Rapids suburb, and it was the perfect job for a college student.

I had a flexible schedule that accommodated my class schedule, everyone I worked with also loved their jobs, and I was surrounded by stacks and stacks of books at a time when it seemed like I was writing a research paper every other week. It was an ideal situation, and I regretted having to leave during my senior year when I went to work for the college newspaper.

My job consisted of emptying book drops, shelving books and keeping the shelves organized and tidy. I was one of a handful pages, and each of us was assigned a different section of the library. I always preferred fiction. The books were roughly the same size, and they were organized by the authors last name, so there was no pesky Dewey Decimal System to worry about. The books of writers like Stephen King and John Grisham were wildly popular at the time and constituted the majority of returned books, so I usually could finish up my section in no time flat.

The non-fiction and childrens sections, on the other hand, were usually a big headache. Those types of books usually varied wildly in size, and library patrons tended to check out multiple books of those kinds, especially the ones for kids. That meant there was a constant flow of childrens books filling up the book returns, which I emptied several times a day.

Things like hand sanitizer werent as commonplace back then as they are now, even before the arrival of the coronavirus. Since I was young and knew I was indestructible, it never occurred to me that some of the books I handled had been read by kids were home from school because they were sick.

Well, it didnt occur to me until one night my sophomore year, when I was attending a play in attempt to raise my grade in a theater class I had foolishly signed up for as an elective. The professor offered extra credit if her students attended plays off campus and submitted their ticket stubs at the end of the semester. It turned out I had no interest in theater, and I could raise my grade from a D to C if I attended a certain number of plays.

One Saturday night I went to a performance during some Shakespeare festival-type thing, and as I sat there, I realized I was struggling to stay awake. It didnt raise any alarms at first because I was most certainly bored out of my mind, but the longer I sat there, the more I realized I just didnt feel right. I still felt awful the next day, and I had a fever. And I had this weird pimple on my chest.

After talking to my mom, I headed to one of those Urgent Care-type places where you could walk in and see a doctor. To make a long story a little less long, it turned out I had chickenpox. The doctor suggested I may have contracted it from handling a book at my job. Most likely a childrens book. (Apparently, its so contagious, they made me leave the building though the back door so I didnt risk exposing anyone sitting in the waiting room.)

I ended up missing a couple of weeks of school, but thanks to some very understanding professors, I managed to keep up with my classwork and didnt have to retake any classes. But, boy, was I sick. I had never felt so miserable in my life. I was exhausted, I slept about 22 hours a day and I had a horrible headache that seemed to spread though my entire body. It didnt help matters any when I conducted an internet search about chickenpox when I got home from the doctors office (this was before Google, and I had America Online at the time) and learned chickenpox can be fatal in adults. Luckily, in my case, it wasnt.

I was happy to return to my job at the time, and to be honest, I never worried about catching anything else at work. I was young and indestructible, remember.

As the start of the new school year approaches, a lot of people are struggling with anxiety about returning to work. Ill be returning to the office myself soon. But now I know Im not indestructible. The risk posed by the virus that has vexed us all in the past six months is low for most of us, but its still there.

Almost all employers are doing everything they can to make their employees feel safe when the time comes to return to work, mine included. Most of us will return despite whatever lingering fear we may have, because we have jobs to do and bills to pay. It would serve us well to be mindful of others' well-being and whatever anxiety they may be feeling. We're all in this together, and to be honest, I'm gonna go nuts if I don't get the heck out of the house.
Here are some of todays top headlines.

Heres what happened when students went to school during the 1918 pandemic This isnt the first time leaders have struggled with deciding whether to keep schools open in a pandemic.

Australia secures deal with AstraZeneca for potential Covid-19 vaccine Australia has secured a deal with the drugmaker AstraZeneca to supply a potential Covid-19 vaccine to its entire population free of charge, the government announced Tuesday, becoming the latest country to lock in supplies of the drug should trials succeed.

Jill Biden tells America Joe Biden can heal a divided country as he formally becomes the Democratic presidential nominee Jill Biden closed out the second night of the Democratic National Convention describing her husband in deeply personal terms as a loving father and supportive husband who rebuilt his family after tragedy  and would now be able to heal a deeply divided nation.

CNN Poll: Most Americans embarrassed by US response to coronavirus Nearly 7 in 10 Americans say the US response to the coronavirus outbreak makes them feel embarrassed, according to a new CNN Poll conducted by SSRS, as 62% of the public says President Donald Trump could be doing more to fight the outbreak.

Lionel Messi is pillar of new Barcelona project, says club president Amid growing speculation that Lionel Messis days at Barcelona are numbered, the clubs president Jose Maria Bartomeu has insisted his star playmaker is going nowhere.

Microsoft drives another nail in the coffin of its most hated product Internet Explorer is so reviled, even Microsoft is turning its back on it.

An ugly battle is playing out between McDonalds and its former CEO McDonalds former CEO Steve Easterbrook is fighting the companys attempt to claw back his severance package.

Honey may be better at treating coughs and colds than over-the-counter medicines Honey may be more effective in treating coughs and colds than over-the-counter medicines, a new study has found.

Boutique owner sees skyrocketing sales for Michelle Obamas VOTE necklace As soon as the texts started rolling in Monday evening, Chari Cuthbert knew she was on the cusp of the biggest moment of her career.

Biden crowned as Democratic challenger to Trump Joe Biden has been officially anointed the Democratic presidential candidate at the partys convention, helped over the line with some glowing testimonials from elder statesmen. Two Democratic former presidents, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, and former Secretary of State Colin Powell, a Republican, endorsed Mr Biden.

Coronavirus: Pope demands access to virus vaccines for poor  BBC News Indigenous people in Brazil have been blocking a key motorway that passes through the Amazon rainforest as part of a protest against what they say is a failure by the government to protect them from the coronavirus. Members of the Kayapo ethnic group started blocking the BR-163 road early on Monday.

Premier League fixtures to be released on Thursday The fixtures for the 2020-21 Premier League season will be released at 09:00 BST on Thursday. A shortened top-flight campaign is set to start on 12 September and culminate on 23 May, 2021. The new season will be five weeks shorter than usual because of the late end to 2019-20 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump gives nod to Oracle buyout of TikTok in US US President Donald Trump has said tech giant Oracle would be a great company to take over TikToks US operations. It comes after Oracle was reported as a possible buyer of the Chinese social media apps business in North America, Australia and New Zealand.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt on taking three years off to focus on fatherhood If you were wondering why you havent seen Joseph Gordon-Levitt in any movies for the past few years, theres a reason for that. The 500 Days of Summer star took three years out of acting to be at home with his two young children.

Twitter takes action against sequel to coronavirus conspiracy film Plandemic The sequel is rarely as good as the original, but this one is just as dangerous. Twitter is taking action against the follow-up to the coronavirus conspiracy film, Plandemic, which went viral earlier this year. The original video pushed falsehoods about COVID-19 and vaccinations. It was viewed tens of millions of times online.

Epic Games says Apple is threatening its access to developer tools Epic Games wants you to know that Apple isnt playing nice. The gaming giant behind cried foul Monday, highlighting supposed retaliation at the hands of Apple. At issue is Epic Games access to macOS and iOS developer tools and accounts, which it says Apple has threatened to cut off after a dispute over in-app purchases got Fortnite booted from the App Store last week.

Apple now gives customers a full year to buy AppleCare+ If you bought an iPhone recently, Apple has some good news for you. Bloomberg reported Monday that folks who buy Apple hardware will be able to buy the AppleCare+ warranty package at any point in the following year. The previous limit was 60 days, but the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting warranty demand, per Bloomberg, hence the change.
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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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 07:07:02|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Aug. 19, 2020 at the Windy Hill Open Space Preserve of San Mateo County shows a helicopter flying over the dense smoke of wildfires in San Francisco Bay Area, California, the United States. Wildfires forced closure of more than 20 parks and evacuation of tens of thousands of residents across the San Francisco Bay Area in northern California, officials said Wednesday. (Photo by Dong Xudong/Xinhua)

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Wildfires forced closure of more than 20 parks and evacuation of tens of thousands of residents across the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California of the United States, officials said Wednesday.

Residents in Santa Clara County were ordered to evacuate due to fire danger as of 2 p.m. Wednesday. Wildfires have closed more than 20 parks in the greater Bay Area at the peak of summer vacation season, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).

Nearly two dozen dangerous wildfires were spreading Wednesday morning in and around the Santa Cruz Mountains along the Pacific coast, prompting 22,000 people to evacuate their homes, officials said.

An air quality monitor in downtown San Francisco showed air quality at "unhealthy" levels on Wednesday. San Jose State University canceled all in-person and online classes for the day due to projected unhealthy air quality as wildfires sent smoke across the area, according to a report on San Francisco Chronicle.

Californian firefighters battled 367 known fires on Wednesday, said California governor Gavin Newsom at a news briefing Wednesday, adding that there had been 6,754 fires across the state so far since this fire season started, compared to 4,007 at this point last year.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Its been a summer of graffiti protests here on Staten Island.

Artist Scott LoBaido last month painted a thin blue line to honor the NYPD on a roadway median in front of the 122nd Precinct stationhouse on Hylan Boulevard.

A short time later, a protestor identifying herself as Skylar painted Black Lives Matter slogans over LoBaidos effort.

In recent days, a Back The Blue line appeared on a trail in Clove Lakes Park. Just a thin, blue line on the pavement on the Royal Oak Road side of the park.

Nobodys claimed responsibility for the work, but the city quickly brought the hammer down and ordered the line to be painted over.

The Advance wrote about the line on Monday, and the Parks Department said they acted that day to eradicate it.

And what a mess the city made of it.

In some areas, the blue line was covered over with black paint. In other spots, white paint was used.

White paint couldn't hide pro-NYPD thin blue line in Clove Lakes Park. (Tom Wrobleski/Staten Island Advance)

In many areas, you could still see the blue line through the covering paint. You could still see the words Back The Blue in at least one spot. You could even see footprints where it appears people walked through wet paint. One area looked more like an oil stain than a paint job.

By Wednesday, the whole thing had been done over in black paint. It still looks a garish mess.

Funny how this thin blue line became such a priority in a city that feels like its on the brink of collapse.

Shootings are up all over. So are burglaries and car thefts.

Antifa protestors trashed an Apple store and a Whole Foods supermarket in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, over the weekend.

People are leaving the five boroughs faster than moving vans can carry them because of the coronavirus pandemic and the surge in violence.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has turned vast swaths of Manhattan into open-air encampments rife with grime and drug use after transferring homeless people from shelters into hotels.

The mayor allowed the Occupy City Hall encampment to stand for weeks before finally springing into action. All the graffiti and filth in his own official backyard didnt seem to trouble the mayor.

Parks around the city are getting choked with trash and weeds because of budget cuts.

But paint a pro-cop blue line in a city park? This aggression cannot stand. We dont have a moment to lose!

Footprints are seen next to painted-over pro-NYPD blue line in Clove Lakes Park (Tom Wrobleski/Staten Island Advance)

It all goes back to de Blasios decision to paint Black Lives Matter murals on major streets in New York City. One was placed on Fifth Avenue, in sight of Trump Tower. Another was installed on Richmond Terrace in St. George, right near the 120th Precinct stationhouse.

De Blasio said the murals werent about politics. Sure, they werent.

But it was when other groups, including those backing President Donald Trump and the Blue Lives Matter movement, sought to also install murals on city streets that de Blasio showed his true colors, saying that there was a city Department of Transportation permit process to go through.

No, the Black Lives Matter murals didnt undergo this same vetting process, the mayor said, because the BLM issue transcends all normal realities because we are at a moment in history when that had to be said and done, thats a decision I made.

He said, But the normal process continues for anyone who wants to apply.

Spoken in true de Blasio do as I say, not as I do style. Trump has his alternative facts. De Blasio has his transcendent realities. Who even knew we could apply to the DOT to paint something in the street? De Blasios really let the genie out of the bottle.

It would all be laughable if it werent so transparent. And if the city wasnt falling down around our ears.

But at least we wont be troubled by that thin blue line in Clove Lakes Park anymore.
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Thursday said US companies were involved in many prospects in Iraq`s oil business, as Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi declared his country open for American business and investment. Trump told reporters before a meeting with the Iraqi leader that the U.S. military had very few troops in Iraq and looked forward to the day when it did not have to be there, but would help the country if neighbouring Iran should do anything.

Al-Kadhimi took office in April, becoming the third Iraq head of state in a chaotic 10-week period that followed months of deadly protests in the country, which has been exhausted by decades of sanctions, war, corruption and economic challenges. The meeting comes amid a new spike in tensions between the United States and Iran after Washington said it would move to reinstate all U.S. sanctions on Iran at the United Nations.

Washington is pushing to extend a U.N.-imposed arms embargo against Iran that is due to expire in October under Tehran`s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Trump withdrew the United States from the deal in 2018 and reimposed crippling sanctions on Iran. Five U.S. firms, including Chevron Corp , signed agreements on Wednesday with the Iraqi government aimed at boosting Iraq`s energy independence from Iran.

The U.S. Department of Energy said in a statement that Honeywell International Inc , Baker Hughes Co , General Electric Co , Stellar Energy and Chevron signed commercial agreements worth as much as $8 billion with the Iraqi ministers of oil and electricity. The agreements were signed following a meeting of the Iraqi ministers with U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, as well as a roundtable in Washington on Wednesday with the Iraqi prime minister and the U.S. energy industry.
The Trump administration said a lawsuit seeking to throw out immigration restrictions, including those on H-1B visas used by technology workers, would cut at the heart of the presidents legal authority over border control when it is needed most.

The US Department of Homeland Security is in sharp conflict with several US business groups over the visa restrictions, especially those issued to highly skilled workers with expertise in specialty fields.The US Chamber of Commerce and other groups seek a court order blocking implementation of President Donald Trumps June 22 proclamation, which they say repeals entire visa categories for temporary workers.

Ahead of a Sept. 11 hearing in San Francisco federal court to weigh the request, the Justice Department cited the coronavirus pandemic to argue that Trump properly relied on his broad authority to suspend the entry of certain aliens.

Their entry would be detrimental to the interests of the United States in light of the significant economic harm the Covid-19 pandemic continues to inflict on the nation, the US said in the filing.The groups, including the National Association of Manufacturers and the National Retail Federation, sued in July, arguing Trump exceeded his authority when he temporarily halted access to several employment-based visas, affecting hundreds of thousands of people seeking to work in the US The groups say the restrictions will drive talented workers away from the US and to competitors.

The presidents order freezes new H-1B and H-4 visas, used by technology workers and their families, as well as L visas for intra-company transfers and most J visas for work- and study-abroad programs, including au pairs, through the end of the year.

The case is US Chamber of Commerce v. US Department of Homeland Security, 20, US District Court, Northern District of California (San Francisco).
Serbia: Media says new government after September 7 For two meetings on Kosovo in Washington and Brussels

(ANSAmed) - BELGRADE, AUGUST 20 - The formation of a new government in Serbia, which President Aleksandar Vucic announced on August 25, will likely be postponed until after September 7, following two important meetings on Kosovo scheduled for September 2 in Washington, DC, and September 7 in Brussels, said Belgrade daily Blic. "Two very important meetings await us in Washington and the EU headquarters, and after these the new government will be formed," a member of the conservative Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) told the newspaper. SNS is the majority party led by Vucic, which overwhelmingly won elections on June 21 with more than 60% of the vote. Ahead of forming the new government, Blic said Vucic has planned a new round of consultations with political groups. In the June election, only two other parties besides SNS surpassed the 3% threshold needed to gain seats in parliament: the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) led by Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic (just over 10%); and the SPAS movement of former professional water polo player Aleksandar Sapic (just over 3%). There will also be four minority groups represented in parliament, for whom there is a lower threshold. The majority of opposition parties boycotted the election to protest against President Vucic's policies, which they claim are authoritarian and arbitrary. SNS holds 188 seats out of a total of 250.(ANSAmed). (ANSA).




If there are two events in recent times that reinforces King Solomons warnings thousands of years ago that when there is no vision, people perish, it is President Muhammadu Buhari led administrations reintroduction of a Bill which was rejected in 2018 by the outgone 8th National Assembly (NASS, entitled National Water Resources Bill, 2020, on Thursday, July 23, 2020. The second is the questionable decision by the Femi Gbajabiamila led House of Representatives to reconsider this Bill presented by the House Chairman on Rules and Business, Fulata-which in 2018 enjoyed more burden than goodwill.

Also qualifying the episode as not only lack of leadership vision but a misguided vision is the media reports that the House had, in referring to Order 12, Rule 16 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives, 9th Edition, passed the National Water Resources Bill, 2020 and committed it to a Committee of the Whole, for third reading and final passage.

To explain this fact, the Bill aside being considered by various public policy commentators as an unjust man-made code that neither squares with moral laws nor uplifts human personalities, this latest representation of the Bill by the Federal Government, which supporters of the government position in their slanted argument say seek: to establish a regulatory framework for the water resources sector in Nigeria, provide for the equitable and sustainable development management, use and conservation of Nigerias surface water, groundwater resources and for related matters,is to Nigerians with critical minds an argument that does not hold water and faces a number of embarrassing facts but a sign that Federal Governments attitude of listening without being attentive is still alive and active on the nations political shores.

What calls for emphasis here is that this is happening at a time when Nigerians still recall with nolstagia the strange outcry that greeted the first attempt to have the Bill passed by the 8th National Assembly.

Specifically, the Ijaw Youths Council about a year or so issued a release where the group among other concerns stated that; if the government should reintroduce what they referred to as inimical and controversial water Resources Bill which was formally stepped down by the 8th Assembly after much public outcry, Southern Nigeria people will do everything lawful to resist the passage of that inimical Bill which tends to colonise them. While adding that this should not be petroleum laws that have denied the Niger Delta people from controlling the petroleum resources in our land, the Group warned that that bill if passed is capable of causing a civil war in the country.

In the same vein, while warning that the above threat should not be characterized as a familiar music hall firm-as it`rings apprehension that the nation is having on its hands a situation that unless we repurpose our priority may constrain the nations key resource, affect a wide swath of people; depress the economy, and adversely reshape the socioeconomic well being of the nation, this author in two separate but related topics entitled; National Water Resources Bill: Crucial Issues and Concerns, published by the Guardian Newspapers (August 23, 2018) The Daily Independent Newspaper (14th August, 2018), Blue Print (August 17th 2018), The Peoples Daily Newspaper(14th August,2018), and another entitled; The Planned Reintroduction of the National Water Resources Bill, also published by the ThisDay Newspaper(September 29,2019 and the Daily Trust Newspaper September 26 2019) among others, expressed concern that a peep into the controversial Bill reveals without labour that the greatest ill associated with it lies in its tendency to disenfranchising, and separating Nigerians from ancestral ownership of their water rights and handover same to a set of federal technocrats by confusing Nigerians with the fallacy that ownership rights to water is the same as water use rights.

Also, underlined in those separate but related reports(a position that is still relevant to the present discourse), is a belief by wide spectra of Nigerians with critical interest that the urge to have the bill passed is driven not by love for having the nations water resources judiciously managed or for the nation to develop agriculturally as claimed by the lawmakers, but by sectional and parochial interests as some pro bill senators in the outgone 8th Assembly used barefaced inaccuracies to mislead the Senate and drum up support for the bill.

For example, it has been claimed on the floor of the outgone 8th Assembly Senate that the World Bank is waiting on passage of the bill into law to grant trillions of naira to develop Nigerias irrigation infrastructure. This cannot be further from the truth. The World Bank would never and cannot ask a nation to dispossess her citizens of their inherited and cultural rights to water as a condition for granting loans.

Another obstacle that confirms the bill as plagued however seems not to raise so much dust but could be costly in economic and political terms if ignored, is the asymmetrical support structure given to the bill. It is barefaced that virtually all the senators (in the outgone 8th Assembly) that queued behind the bill were from water-poor states and regions that stand to gain from the passage of the bill when passed.

Interpretatively, this lopsided support given to the bill looking at commentaries was fuelled not by the burning desire for the public good but for sectional gain. Glaringly as it stands, this trend no doubt has become a pernicious problem embedded in our administrative culture that will be too difficult to eradicate. And has also necessitated the question as to how the nation can redistribute lands from land-rich states to land-poor states since the bill if passed as it is without amendment could conceivably make inter-basin transfers of water to be undertaken by the Federal Government without consent from or even consultation from indigenous communitiesexactly like crude oil and associated problems of mean, wicked and evil inequities.

The bill in the writers views has justified the fears by Nigerians with discerning minds that the Federal Government by this move to acquire more power may not be interested in the devolution of power as currently demanded by Nigerians or maybe paying lip service to the imperativeness and urgency of having this country restructured. Accordingly, the whole argument by the FG becomes even vaguer variable and ungraspable when one remembers that some of these items will be better handled and serves the greater good to the greater number of the people if left in the hands of the state, the local government or private owners.

From what Nigerians are saying, what has caused serious concern is that it was a similar Decree 101 of 1992 which is now incongruously dressed up as an act of the National Assembly (Water Resource Act Cap W2 LFN 2OO4) that robbed every Nigerian of their water rights as it was hurriedly signed into law by the then military Ibrahim Babangida as his parting gift to Nigerians.

Lamentably, this and other sordid laws from the Federal Government in the past has particularly left the Niger Delta/coastal regions in social difficulties with no good record for survival as their environment is daily devastated/destroyed, with their teaming youths unemployed while the communities are periodically dispersed by the flood.

Allowing this bill signed into law, will not only usher in a code that is out of harmony with moral laws but set the table to truncate the nascent peace currently enjoyed in the region while ushering in another round of hostility as the people are committed to peace by any means necessary but may not be committed to becoming the victims of peace.

To succeed in this assignment, the Federal Government must, therefore, be holistic in approach and practice deliberative democracy. This will entail halting the ongoing consideration, in order to pave way for other stakeholders such as the Civil Society groups, Water experts as well as the southern states to fully make their inputs.

On their part, the lawmakers should remember that they are primarily representing their constituents at the two Chambers, and should, therefore, make laws that are people-purposed and also with a human face.

Utomi,( [email protected] .), is a Lagos-Based Media Consultant.
SPRINGFIELD  An Agawam man accused of failing to inspect medical gas systems at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facilities pleaded guilty to defrauding the government.

Chester Wojcik, 49, pleaded guilty to wire fraud on Thursday in U.S. District Court. Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled his sentencing for Nov. 19, U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling said in a written statement.

Wojcik, the owner of Alliance Medical Gas Corp., was paid $8,981 by Veterans Affairs to inspect medical gas supply systems that deliver compressed air, oxygen, nitrous oxide, nitrogen and carbon dioxide to patient rooms, operating rooms and recovery rooms. He admitted that he failed to perform the jobs at three facilities in South Dakota and Alabama and then lied about it, Lelling said.

Federal law calls for medical gas supply systems to be inspected and maintained regularly to ensure the safety of patients and medical professionals, Lelling said.

Wojcik could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 at his sentencing, Lelling said.

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Orwellian Terror Grips Hong Kong: Pro-Democracy Activist Leung Kwok Hung

An Orwellian reign of terror has descended on Hong Kong, says pro-democracy activist and former legislator Leung Kwok-hung, also known as Long Hair.

Hong Kong authorities have arrested pro-democracy activists like 23-year-old Agnes Chow and Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai; disqualified pro-democracy candidates; and postponed elections for a year, citing coronavirus dangers.

For many Hongkongers, including Leung Kwok-hung, it was shocking to see how swiftly Beijing pushed through the national security law. The law is many times more draconian than the proposed extradition bill that brought a quarter of Hong Kongs entire population to the streets last year.

Leung has been at the epicenter of the pro-democracy movement for years, and hes well-known in Hong Kong for his unorthodox methods.

He co-founded Hong Kongs League of Social Democrats and served as a Hong Kong legislator for six years.

Under the new law, he could be arrested for talking to us, but hes chosen to speak out nonetheless.

This is American Thought Leaders , and Im Jan Jekielek.

Jan Jekielek: Long Hair, such a pleasure to have you on American Thought Leaders. Its a very difficult situation in Hong Kong right now when the world looks in, certainly us in the U.S. and other countries, my home country, Canada. It looks like a very, very difficult situation, and you are in the thick of things underground. Youve been a Legislative Council member for many years. Youve been very active in politics, and I think its fair to say, youve been on the forefront of trying to preserve or create freedoms for Hongkongers. Tell me, what is the situation on the ground as we speak?

Leung Kwok-hung: Actually we are in a statusyou can call it a reign of terror. But the terror of course, compared to what happened in the mainland, is not as harsh as what happened in mainland, but it is the beginning, since the imposition of the [national] security law in Hong Kong.

Mr. Jekielek: When you are talking to people on the street, basically people in your community, what is it that theyre telling you? What is it that youre seeing out there right now?

Mr. Leung: I think it happened so quickly so that not many people can understand because the imposition of the national security law actually started in May when that National [Peoples] Congress assembled in Beijing, and then they started the whole legislation and imposition, so the people were shocked. And now they are still in the same situation, its shocking. In 2003, the Chinese authority tried to make the legislation Article 23 in Hong Kong. At that time there were more than half million people who took to the street, and then they [the CCP] retreated.

I need to remind you, the chief executive of Hong Kong, Carrie Lam, said about a few months ago, she thought that, at that time, she would not start any procedure of legislation of Article 23 to emphasize that she would not have the support of the Legislative Council and the people of Hong Kong. So, that is what she tried to convince us: Forget about it. I will not do it. And all of a sudden, if I remember correctly, it started from April when a lot of Chinese officials and loyalists to the Communist Party in Hong Kong talked about a loophole of the state security in Hong Kong, so they started to say that maybe there should be some kind of legislation on of this security law. It took less than two months and then the whole thing was done. Its stunning.

Mr. Jekielek: Its absolutely incredible. Something just struck me as you were speaking. You and actually 14 other quite high profile pro-democracy, pro-freedom activists were arrested in April. This was, of course, before the national security law. Would you think theres some connection?

Mr. Leung: Oh, yes. I think its a signal that they will not tolerate any kind of civil disobedience in Hong Kong and also, since those who were arrested, they were legislators or former legislators. It shows that at that time, Beijing had already considered it the time for a crackdown, to a certain extent.

Mr. Jekielek: In May, you were being asked to respond to the charges. And I think your quote was, I understand the government is rubbish.

Mr. Leung: Yes. Well, if any regime tries to arrest people who just try to hold peaceful demonstrations or peaceful procession, I think its outrageous. Why? Because at that time, hundreds of thousands of people wanted to take to the street, but the police refused to grant a license for the procession. Thats why we say, Okay. Now its the time for us to exercise our rights. How can you stop peoplehundreds of thousands of people. If you call them illegal or unlawful, wheres the law? This is rule of law; not rule by law. Its a matter of whether the people of Hong Kong can exercise the right to freedom of assembly. Since then, I have been arrested three times for the same offense.

Mr. Jekielek: Tell me, how is it that were talking to each other right now if youve been arrested so many times even in the last few months?

Mr. Leung: Since last June when the movement to fight for freedom started, I think by now, more than 9000 Hong Kong [citizens] have been arrested. Its a lot. Its a lot. More than 9000. So for me, I think Im quite lucky to a certain extent that I wasnt arrested on more severe charges like Jimmy Lai. He didnt do anything. Hes running a newspaper or publication group, but he was arrested for collusion with foreign [forces]. This is outrageous.

Mr. Jekielek: What is the significance of this arrest? What do you think it means in a bigger sense, because this is probably the highest-profile arrest?

Mr. Leung: I think I need to make sure you understand: A lot of those individuals who are quite prominent or quite well-known, political activists, legislators, or former legislators, have been followed by some agents for almost 24 hours. Its a threat.

When I was preparing for this interview, I just now watched a live broadcast on Facebook about a legislator who was followed by strangers for two days. He approached those people who were in a vehicle and [they] drove towards him, and he was slightly injured. But what can you do? The policemen were there but they couldnt do anything about it. I think its still to the imposition of the national security law in Hong Kong. So, to a certain extent, it opened the gate for them to just walk in. Before the imposition, if we found out that we were followed by some of these strangers, we would report it to the media and police because its not right for any person who tried to enforce their law in Hong Kong. Now, after the imposition of the national security law in Hong Kong, of course it is lawful for them to do so.

Mr. Jekielek: It creates a kind of atmosphere of fear. I think this is kind of what youre telling me. And frankly, [among] our journalistswe also have a couple of our journalists that are also being followed, at least those are the ones that noticed, so I understand what youre talking about very clearly.

Mr. Leung: The article of the law of the Peoples Republic of China on safeguarding national security in Hong KongArticle 62, This law shall prevail where provisions of the local laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region are inconsistent with this law. This law will override the [Hong Kong] Basic Law.

Theres Article 65, The power of interpretation of this Law shall be vested in the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress. And Article 60, The acts performed in the course of duty by the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central Peoples Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and its staff in accordance with this Law shall not be subject to the jurisdiction of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. In the course of performing duty, a holder of an identification document or a document of certification issued by the Office and the articles including vehicles used by the holder shall not be subject to inspection, search or detention by law enforcement officers of the Region. The Office and its staff shall enjoy other rights and immunities provided by laws of the Region.

When you go through the articles, you know that the consequence of the imposition of the [national] security law in Hong Kong actually is like the rule of law in Hong Kong does not exist anymore, because [the Hong Kong national security law is] above the [Hong Kong] Basic Law and the law of Hong Kong and even the jurisdiction of Hong Kong. So its very difficult. Hong Kong will become an Orwellian society, gradually. Have you read the novel by George Orwell, 1984? Thats what will happen here, gradually.

Mr. Jekielek: Ive never heard those articles. Ive read through the national security law, but when you were reading them just now, especially the last one which tells us that the officers basically have unrestricted power to operate in Hong Kong, it sent a chill up my spine because I dont know how else one could read it than how you described it?

Mr. Leung: Its black and white. You can go on the internet, and you can find out very easily if you type in the keywords. Im not telling lies. Its the plain truth.

Mr. Jekielek: Absolutely, absolutely. Youre saying that were heading, gradually, into an Orwellian 1984 type society. First of all, do you expect that press freedom will be hit?

Mr. Leung: Yes. First of all, after two decades of buying of, or investment in, the major TV stations and [other media], the newspapers, actually, I think Apple Daily is the only one who still has the guts and also got the independence to say what theyd like to say. That is quite bad. So thats why Jimmy Lai became the target of political persecution, in the name of prosecution, because by doing so, there will be no platform for the opposition to voice out their demand. Im not saying that Hong Kong is a totalitarian society now, but there is self-censorship. If you go through the details in the articles of the national security law in Hong Kong, youll feel cheated. So what would you do? You would [ask yourself], Should I say that or should I not say that? These are self-censorship.

This is like if I talk to you right now, maybe something I said will get me into trouble. Of course Ill be concerned, and I will try to not say something that I think will put me in a very, very devastating situation. That is [similar to] the novel by George Orwell, Animal Farm or 1984. Hey, Big Brothers watching you.

What I mean is  I think it might be a very strange feeling for the Hong Kong people when they watch movies or read literature or one day watch the news that somewhere, some place, some time, some of those dissidents were arrested and prosecuted, but now it begins to happen in Hong Kong. A lot of Hong Kong people would never think that Jimmy Lai, such a figure, would be arrested and harassed openly. Its like a show: 200 strong policemen marched into a media group, and they searched it. Its to show the whole world and the Hong Kong people that the Hong Kong government is really reckless and powerful. Its just like mobs and gangstersthey need to kill people on the streets in order to threaten the people.

Its different from what happened in China. In China, the Chinese authorities try to keep it a secret. Nobody could witness the arrest of Mr. Liu Xiaobo. Since Liu Xiaobo was arrested, he will never be in any kind of news coverage. Its a different tactic, different strategy. Now in Hong Kong, its like a circus or like what happened in the dark ages around the world. They execute people and hang their head on a post in order to make an example of someone who is eager to fight, to resist.

Mr. Jekielek: Its very hard to fathom. And I wanted to say, there is one other media thats for sure independent in Hong Kong, [The Epoch Times].

Mr. Leung: I think maybe theyre the second target. I wish them good luck. We all know that.

Mr. Jekielek: I have to ask you this. Im very curious. Your background originallyand correct me if Im wrong but this is what I understandyou ascribed to a kind of Maoist philosophy many years ago, right?

Mr. Leung: When I was a student, a secondary student, I found out that Maoism is a big lie. Actually, Im a socialist. I became a Trotskyite. Since then, my political position, what I think is a democratic socialist. I think socialism should be conducted in a real democracy. Otherwise, theres no way to achieve the goal of socialism anyway.

Mr. Jekielek: Interesting. It might be surprising to some people when you say, Well, I have socialist beliefs, but to talk about 1984 the way you do, because people equate the two, right?

Mr. Leung: Yes. But George Orwell, actually, he was a socialist. After he went to Spain and took part in the [Spanish] Civil War, [his political views] shifted. But I think at the end of the day, he was a liberal socialist anyway. And also 1984 didnt just criticize the Soviet Union. George Orwell was quite aware of the rising of the USA, and he thought that the USA may become some kind of totalitarian regime as well.

This kind of political analysisin my mind, were in the era of globalization, and in globalization actually there arent many major players: USA, China, EU. Globalization has been dominated by big powers like G8 [inaudible]. The USA is the leader of the Five Eyes alliance, and [theres] EU and China. So I think its time for us to think about what the future is for human beings.  And as I said before, capitalism, I think we need to figure out whether it is a system that can have any kind of subsisting, [a future in the long term]. Thats what I say.

Mr. Jekielek: Frankly, 1984 is a very important parable with tons of lessons to be learned, doesnt matter whether its Soviet Union, the United States, the EU, or certainly China.

Mr. Leung: Yes. We cannot just look up to the leaders and the big powers. This is one of [my] thoughts when I  think about the future of Hong Kong. We cannot just rely on the USA to impose sanctions to help out the situation in Hong Kong. We all know that.

Mr. Jekielek: Lets talk about that. For example, Iran. The U.S. has some pretty strict and harsh sanctions, but not more than what exists in Hong Kong. Lets not talk just about the U.S. Lets talk about how therere a lot of international powers right now are thinking about, hopefully, how to help Hongkongersthe Hongkongers that seek freedom. Is sanctions a good tool for this in your mind?

Mr. Leung: I think most of the country, when they think about sanctions, theyre thinking about whether the sanctions will be harmful to their own business community in the first place. I dont think any leaders on this Earth will say, Im going to do the sanctions even though the economy or the business community will be damaged by doing so.  Its up to the political leaders to decide whether they will impose the sanctions. Who on this Earth can impose anything on a guy called Donald Trump? No, I dont think so. I dont think so.

So I think what happened here is that they arrested Jimmy Lai for the alleged offenses of collusion with foreign countrieshow can he do so? He cannot. Maybe he had a 15-minute talk with Donald Trump or Vice President Pence, If [when] you talk, you will get punished, practically, you will not talk.

Mr. Jekielek: Hopefully, our talk doesnt involve any punishment, but I, frankly, worry about things like that, which is one of the reasons Im not talking with a lot of people in Hong Kong right now.

Mr. Leung: Its a threat. Its like a whitewashreign of terror. Its quite scary. Thats why I tried to emphasize the novel, 1984, because this is a very good example of how everything you talked about will be in the record. So the freedom of speech will [result in] your loss of freedom. So its like a paradoxif you exercise a part of your rights, you will lose all of your rights. Youll end up in a prison. Just like the disqualifications of the candidates, or a person like me, disqualified a few years ago when I was a legislator.

Talking about elections, if you elect an officer whos trying to do the censorship of the candidatesWhat is free elections? That means the candidates are free to say what they say in order to gain the support of the voters. If you cannot say what you [want to] say, or if you said [something] and then you cannot take part in the election, its a paradox. You can say what you like if youre not a candidate for the office, but once you try to take part in an election as a candidate, they will check all your records to see whether you qualify, whether you have said something that gives them an excuse to disqualify you.

For example, the voters will cast their vote [based on] whether a person like me or a person like you is supportive of the [Hong Kong] Basic Law or loyal to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Its for the voters to say; its not for the officers to say. The officers, they are just puppetspolitical puppets. How can they get the knowledge? That is the problem with the so-called state security.

My fear is very simple: State security should be the security of the civilians or citizens of a country in the first place. So that implies the freedom of the citizens comes first instead of the [decisions by] the regime. That is very, very simple. Of the people, by the people, for the people.

Mr. Jekielek: I understand. And its very interesting because it seems like this law has also reached out into America actually because we have Samuel Chu who has been a big supporter of freedom in Hong Kong helping connect to legislators. You have him now being targeted using the national security law.

Mr. Leung: Yes. According to the [national] security law, Chinese citizen or not,  if the prosecutor thinks that you have violated any articles of the [national] security law, you are then subject to punishment. If they can arrest you, they will arrest you no matter where you are. For example, anyone in the U.S. or Singapore, if  the [Hong Kong] authority thinks that they have done something which is against the law, they will try to enforce the law. That means if they can arrest you, they will arrest you.

Mr. Jekielek: Weve had this raid on the Apple Daily, and Jimmy Lai was arrested. Weve had a number of other people arrested in Hong Kong. What do you think will happen next?

Mr. Leung: I think they will concentrate on Jimmy Lais case in the first place because its a very, very significant case. [In my opinion,] there are four kinds of offenses: collusion with foreign [forces], subversion, secession, and terrorist activity. There is one offense that has not been used: subversion. So maybe they will try to find examples of subversion. The [charge of] terrorist activity, they have done.

According to my experience with the attitude of the CCP, once their strategy has been figured out, they will have some kind of policy and legislation, and then maybe they will try to arrest someone to show that the [national] security law is needed for the Chinese Communist regime to safeguard their national security there [in Hong Kong].

I dont know, I cant say much about it. I think maybe they will do it. I cant say that, I cannot predict it, but first of all, they will concentrate on Jimmy Lais case. Up until now, Jimmy Lai hasnt been charged. He was arrested and then he was on bail, and I think their investigation of the alleged offense or alleged crime will carry on. And I think maybe, more people will be arrested, related to his case.

Mr. Jekielek: Are you concerned about being put in jail again?

Mr. Leung: I dont know yet. But talking about it when you have to face the fact of safeguarding national security law in Hong Kong, its very difficult to guess. See what happened to Mr. Liu Xiaobo, and you can guess. What had he done? Basically, he just tried to use a peaceful way to arouse the attention of the Hong Kong people, that there should be a constitutional reform in China, democracy in China, and he was arrested. Before his arrest, he was surrounded by a bunch of officers from the Ministry of State Security, 24 hours. So how can he possibly do anything?

Its a matter of whether the Chinese Communist Party will decide to show the whole world that if anyone wants to enjoy the freedom of speech, the freedom of association, etc., they will be punished as an example of the necessity of their legislation and enactment as so-called safeguarding the national security law.

Mr. Jekielek: What do you think it would take? Again, youre talking about the sort of gradual descent into an Orwellian society. What would it take to stop that from happening, to keep the freedoms in Hong Kong?

Mr. Leung: First of all, we need to have hope, and we need not to scare ourselves to death. We should try hard to exercise our rights as usual. For example, if after this interview, I get arrested

Mr. Jekielek: I hope not.

Mr. Leung: If I think like that, I will not talk to you then about a lot of things. You know what I mean? But when I think about this, I was quite upset or felt [that its] ridiculous because about four decades ago, I usually worked hard for activities in support of those political activists or sometimes political prisoners in China. So for Wei Jingsheng, I remember the first time I was arrested and sentenced to jail is because I organized a march, an assembly, in support of Wei Jingsheng and in protest of the arrest of Wei Jingsheng, and condemned the crackdown on the democracy war in Beijing that a time. So for me, it seems that after 40 years, [this] might be something like what happened to Wei Jingsheng at that time.

And talking about Mr. Wang Dan, he was a prominent student leader during the pro-democracy movement in China, and he was arrested. So it seems to me that I can hardly imagine something will happen in Hong Kong now. Maybe someone will support us and say, Release so-and-so. Release Jimmy Lai, something like this. Maybe Amnesty International will be quite busy [working on] the release of political prisoners or prisoners of conscience in Hong Kong. Its very sad and real for me. Usually, we watch TV and see someone around the world who was arrested by their governmentthat is my feeling.

Mr. Jekielek: Now, as youre describing the situation, its kind of like actually just going about your business with the freedoms you had before almost becomes a subversive act in itself.

Mr. Leung: Yes. But talking about something related to religionfreedom of religion. To a certain extent, those major leaders of different religions in Hong Kong didnt say anything against nor in protest of the imposition of the safeguarding national security law in Hong Kong. You see what happened in China? The boss of Hong Kong and Macau Affairs [Office], Mr. Xia Baolong, [is] actually quite famous for ordering the tearing down of the cross on the rooftop of a church in China. He is one of those who got sanctioned [by the U.S.]. So think about thatwhen those religious leaders keep their mouth shut to [avoid] troubles, do they understand what happened in China?

Mr. Jekielek: One notable exception, I think, is now retired Cardinal Zen.

Mr. Leung: Yes. I knew him for a long time. But thats what I saidits like people feel threatened and within the whole community, silence. That is the major effect that the tyrant wants: just to keep your mouth shut. The imposition of safeguarding national security law in Hong Kong is like that. You feel threatened.

Mr. Jekielek: Long Hair, its been such a pleasure to have you on.

Mr. Leung: Yes, hope to talk to you next time.

Mr. Jekielek: I look forward to that, and please stay safe.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

American Thought Leaders is an Epoch Times show available on YouTube Facebook , and The Epoch Times website . It airs on Verizon Fios TV and Frontier Fios on Channel 158.
Puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones do sterilize children, hospital consent docs show

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Consent documents from Children's Hospital Los Angeles that were made public this week reveal that puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones used on gender dysphoric children do in fact cause sterility, contrary to repeated assertions made by some California Democratic lawmakers.

Democrats in the California state Senate have in recent days dismissed those who've warned that AB 2218, a bill under consideration, would fund the sterilization of physically healthy minors. They assert that such concerns raised by constituents amount to "fear-mongering."

AB 2218, the Transgender Wellness and Equity Fund, passed the Senate Health committee 7-1 on Aug. 11. If it's passed by both chambers and signed into law, the legislation would give taxpayer dollars to groups that fund medicalized experimental gender-transition practices such as prescribing cross-sex hormones and performing cosmetic gender surgeries on trans-identifying youth and adults.

The informed consent documents from Children's Hospital Los Angeles  which has one of the largest transgender centers in the country  obtained by the California Family Council, reveal that the hospital has also warned patients and parental guardians that the drugs do indeed yield infertility in those who undergo the experimental procedures.

The consent forms to participate in the hospital's medical trial to research the effects puberty blockers have on children states in part: If your child starts puberty blockers in the earliest stages of puberty, and then goes on to gender-affirming hormones, they will not develop sperm or eggs. This means that they will not have biological children.

The statement is followed by an italicized and underlined sentence explaining that this is an important factor to consider before proceeding with chemical puberty suppression. The forms also warn about the risks puberty blockers have regarding bone density and development.

Another consent document for females taking male hormones states that it's "not known what the effects of testosterone are on fertility" and that even if they stop taking it "it is uncertain if you will be able to get pregnant again in the future.

For males transitioning to appear more female, a similar warning of the adverse impact on fertility reads: Sperm may not mature, leading to reduced fertility. The ability to make sperm normally may or may not come back even after stopping taking feminizing medication.

State Sen. Connie Leyva, D-San Bernardino, asserted last week during committee hearings that she "felt bad for the people who were calling to ask us to vote 'No' because I do think they were misled. There is nothing in this bill that talks about sterilizing children. It really talks about health care for individuals who identify as transgender, she asserted.



The bill states that state funds will be made available in the form of grants to hospitals, health care clinics, or other medical providers that are already engaged in "gender-affirming" services, including the administration of cross-sex hormones and gender surgeries to continue providing those services, or to outfits that will establish a program in cooperation with transgender organizations.

Another hearing for the bill is scheduled in the Senate Appropriation Committee suspense file for Thursday and will likely later head to the Senate floor for a vote.

The hospital's informed consent documents were obtained with the help of Judicial Watch, a conservative activist group that files Freedom of Information Act lawsuits to investigate government misconduct, Dr. Michael Laidlaw, an endocrinologist from Rocklin, told the California Family Council.

They confirmed exactly what I suspected, that the hormones used for child and adolescent transition are causing sterility in addition to a host of other health problems, Laidlaw added.



Laidlaw has previously testified in the legislature on other similar measures, and has warned legislators about the unethical practices going on within California medical institutions.

In 2018, he and others urged legislators to scrap AB 2119, a bill that ultimately became law and guarantees resources for so-called gender-affirmative treatments for children in the state foster care system who identify as transgender or nonbinary.

In a statement sent to The Christian Post Wednesday, Dr. James Dobson, president of the James Dobson Family Institute, called the bill "morally repugnant."

"It is beyond reprehensible that our government officials would actually set aside money to fund this evil assault on children and adults who are made in the image of Almighty God. These hurting individuals need our compassion and care  not a cocktail of drugs and disfiguring surgeries that could well cause irreversible harm to their bodies," he said.

"Children arent the only victims of such a bill. No rational and compassionate individual could possibly celebrate the mutilation of adolescents or adults. And yet this bill would fund procedures including double mastectomies on adolescent girls and genital amputations and reconstructive procedures for individuals older than 18. This isnt the fulfillment of personal autonomy  this is the celebration of acts of cruelty."

In late July, it was announced that AB 2218 would not be taken up for consideration for the remainder of the year. But following pressure from transgender activists, legislators revived the bill. The bill originally asked for $15 million to begin the fund, but that figure was subsequently scrubbed from the text.

At the federal level, Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., introduced two bills last week, the Protecting Children from Experimentation Act and the End Taxpayer Funding of Gender Experimentation Act. The bills are being co-sponsored by several other Republicans in Congress.

"Our society has quickly normalized gender experimentation under the guise of an accepting political ideology rather than biological reality. Even more troubling, children are undergoing experimental treatments, like being injected with puberty-blocking hormones and cross-sex hormones, which have irreversible consequences, such as permanent sterility," LaMalfa said in a press release about his bills.

"As minors, children cannot vote, join the military, or open a bank account; its our job as a society, and especially parents, to protect them from making life-altering gender experimentation decisions that they may likely later regret.
DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 30, 2020, United Christians of Florida Political Action Committee formally announced that it is endorsing David Irving Shiner for Palm Beach County Commissioner, District 5.

For Palm Beach County Commissioner, District 5

Mr. Shiner responded to this noteworthy endorsement by saying, "I am excited and humbled to receive the United Christians of Florida endorsement for Palm Beach County Commissioner." Mr. Shiner continued, "I take great pride in the broad support I have received from within our community and especially appreciate the endorsement from my many friends throughout our local and diverse religious communities."

About United Christians of Florida

Per its website, United Christians of Florida "is a volunteer organization that is active through clubs, organizations, churches and in neighborhoods." United Christians of Florida strives to recommend "the best-available state and local candidates, including judges, school board and ballot initiatives for the upcoming elections."

About David Irving Shiner

David Irving Shiner is a local attorney based out of Boca Raton, who maintains a long history of advocacy for individuals and businesses who have sustained injuries. Mr. Shiner owns his own law firm, which services the South Florida community, and has excelled, not only as a successful businessman and advocate for others but as an effective leader both in the courtroom and in the community.

Today, Shiner, his wife, and their two sons, Lucas and Benjamin, proudly call Delray Beach their home.

Mr. Shiner's priorities for the local Palm Beach County community center on preservation of the environment, ensuring public safety while maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship between law enforcement and the community, advocating for sound and environmentally friendly zoning decisions, infrastructure that minimally impacts the environment and is focused on long-term objectives and efficient and responsible use of tax dollars. Mr. Shiner has stated, "I will always strive to do what is right and what is good as Palm Beach County's next Commissioner."

If you want more information about David Irving Shiner's candidacy, please contact David Shiner at (561) 279-5733 or email [email protected] .

To make a contribution to the David Shiner for Palm Beach County Commissioner, District 5 Campaign, click here , or visit VoteDavidShiner.com for more information.

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David Irving Shiner

For Palm Beach County Commissioner, District 5

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The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has rejected a debate challenge over infrastructure by the Flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), former President John Dramani Mahama.

According to the party, there was no need for a debate to tell Ghanaians what the Akufo-Addo government has done in the provision of infrastructure and that Ghanaians can see those infrastructure for themselves.



The NPPs National Organizer, Mr. Sammi Awuku, in an interview with Accra-based Joy FM on Thursday, August 20, 2020, said President Akufo-Addo will not debate Mr Mahama.



Former President Mahama on Wednesday, August 19, 2020, challenged the Akufo-Addo-led government to a debate over infrastructure in order to settle the issue of whose government has performed well in the area of infrastructure.



Mr Awuku said in the areas of both infrastructure and industrialization, "you don't need someone to tell you about what is happening; you see it, you walk through it... "





He said under the Akufo-Addo-led government, Tamale is having its first interchange and that many other infrastructural projects are being undertaken in many parts of the country.



He said he does not understand "why Mr Mahama wants us to go this way", adding that the party (NPP) has its own strategies for the 2020 elections and that the party "will go according to our own strategies."



Commenting on the issue on the same platform, the Deputy Information Minister, Pius Enam Hadzide, said Mr Mahama cannot stand President Akufo-Addo to a debate if Mr Mahama does not employ communist tactics.



He said President Akufo-Addo has achieved an unprecedented record in infrastructure in the Fourth Republic.



Mr Hadzide therefore described Mr Mahamas debate challenge "as pointless, unnecessary and insulting to the people of Ghana."



According to him, Mr Mahamas challenge is a ploy to divert attention from the germane issues in the country, and that the "facts are out there for people to verify" the achievements between the two presidents, and added that President Akufo-Addo is not afraid to debate Mr Mahama on infrastructure.



Also speaking on the issue on the same platform, the National Communication Officer of NDC, Mr Sammy Gyamfi said the call "is to settle the contention of whether or not, or who between the NDC and the NPP has a better or superior record of delivery within the period they served this country."



He said Mr Mahamas infrastructural projects during the time he served as President (2013 to 2016) stands tall in the history of the countrys Fourth Republic than any other Fourth Republican President.



"Our friends in the NPP this week have sought to project a few plagiarized Mahama projects and a handful of mediocre projects as achievements," Mr Gyamfi teased, and added that the NPP is "creating an impression that it is something we have never seen in the history of this country."



According to him, since the NPP believes it has a better record of delivery than Mr Mahama, it was only fair for the two leaders to go into an eyeball-to-eyeball type of debate to tell Ghanaians what they have done to settle the issue of who has performed better.

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 Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) said five persons died while one was injured on Thursday in a multiple accident after Sagamu Interchange on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The Public Relation Officer of TRACE, Babatunde Akinbiyi, disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ota, Ogun State.

Mr Akinbiyi said the multiple accident, which happened at about 9.30 a.m., was caused by reckless driving and wrongful overtaking.

He said three vehicles comprising a Daf tanker with no registration number, a Benz truck marked FST 340 XW, and a Mazda space bus marked GGE 296 DC, were involved in the accident.

The TRACE official said that five persons died while one sustained injuries in the accident.

The corpses of victims have been deposited at Idera Hospital morgue, Sagamu, while the survivor is also receiving treatment in the same hospital, he said.

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Mr Akinbiyi said the three vehicles involved in the accident had been taken to Police MTD Area Command, Sagamu, Ogun.

He advised motorists to refrain from reckless driving and wrongful overtaking that could lead to unnecessary loss of lives.

Mr Akinbiyi condoled with the family members of those that lost their lives in the multiple accident.

(NAN)
Community members, police officers and local officials will all tell you changes are needed when it comes to policing in Indianapolis. But depending on whom you ask, youll get a myriad responses about what will actually work.

We need to defund the police. We need to abolish the police. We need reformed policies. The list goes on.

Alongside the ongoing national conversation surrounding police and systemic racism, residents of Indianapolis are grappling with an increase of violence in their city.

So far this year, 145 people in Indianapolis have been murdered. According to data collected from WRTV-6, at least 111  77%  of the victims have been Black.

Beyond violent crime committed by other members of the community, a study conducted by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) found that Black men in America have a 1 in 1,000 chance of being killed at the hands of a police officer.

Defund them, refund us!

In Indianapolis, the deaths of Dreasjon Reed and McHale Rose have led to calls from community members for defunding the police, if not abolishing the institution altogether.

Members of the Indiana Racial Justice Alliance have been chanting Defund them, refund us! throughout the ongoing protests, calling for money currently directed to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) to be reallocated to community organizations.

Mat Davis, a founding member of the alliance, said working to combat mental health issues, substance abuse and food insecurity would greatly reduce crime in the city, particularly among Black and low-income Hoosiers.

Some members of Indy10 Black Lives Matter have taken a more radical stance, calling for the complete abolition of police.

In response, Indiana State Police (ISP) Superintendent Doug Carter said it isnt as simple as reallocating funds into the community.

In a decade and a half, maybe that could be a reality, Carter said.  Unfortunately, often with mental health issues comes violence, either to an individual or another person. This is usually the result of a violent encounter or a domestic situation.

However, Carter said police officers are often tasked with being superhuman, and departments simply dont have the resources to handle the follow-up care that may be needed following a traumatic event.

While many in the community argue the answer to this issue would be to reallocate funds to community organizations equipped to help people through crises, Mayor Joe Hogsetts response has been to call for increased funding for IMPD for the 2021 fiscal year.

In his state of the city address earlier this month, Hogsett laid out his proposed budget, which includes $261 million for IMPD next year, a $7 million increase from 2020. Gov. Eric Holcomb also expressed a need for more funding for state police in order to better train and make sure officers have the resources they need to do their job effectively and safely, he said.

Hogsett also recently announced federal agents are in Indianapolis as part of the federal program Operation Legend to help combat violent crime and drug trafficking. The program comes with $250,000 for IMPD.

Despite worries from community members that Indianapolis will soon resemble Portland  where local officials said they were illegally taking on the role of riot police  Carter believes Indianapolis will be different.

I would never be concerned about the backlash for doing the right thing, Carter said, referencing disdain from community members regarding Operation Legend. Indianapolis has become a very violent city. These agents will live on the fringe and bring specific expertise that we think every agency has, but they simply dont.  Theyre here to support, not to take over.

Were not without sin

With tension between police and the Black community at a peak, IMPD Chief Randal Taylor thinks the solution  both to the tension and the citys crime rate  may be in beat policing.

In a previous interview with the Recorder, Taylor said giving officers a smaller area to patrol could lead to better relationships and fewer homicides.

I mean, we can make arrests, Taylor said.  But theres always someone to take their place. When you start looking at beats and those things, your goal is to start building the relationships prior to people making those poor decisions or going off and pulling triggers.

Carter agrees.

Right now is not a popular time to be me, Carter said of himself and other officers. We own some of this, and were not without sin.  I really think that if we have those relationships prior to a crisis, we can get through almost anything.

Rethink what public safety means for everybody

Maybe, some activists and groups believe, the answer to crime and police brutality isnt to increase the number of police or defund departments, but simply to reimagine policing in Indiana.

We have asked the city of Indianapolis and other large cities in Indiana to reimagine how they do policing in their communities, said Jane Henegar, director of the ACLU of Indiana. We want them to rethink what public safety means for everybody in the community.

Specifically, Henegar said Black and brown individuals are most likely to be targeted by police. For this reason, the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC) recently announced its Justice Reform Policy Agenda. The proposed changes offer possible solutions to not only reducing crime, but also fostering stronger relationships between the police and the communities they are sworn to protect and serve.

Included in the agenda are calls to ban no-knock warrants and chokeholds  the latter of which IMPD banned in its recent revision of the use-of-force policy  as well as the creation of a civilian review board and the decriminalization of marijuana.

According to a 2020 study conducted by the national ACLU, Black Americans are 3.6 times more likely than white people to be arrested for marijuana possession, despite a comparable usage rate between the two demographics. In an Aug. 13 press conference, Rep. Robin Shackleford, chair of the IBLC, said policies which have led to young adults  primarily African Americans  serving long sentences for marijuana possession is a way in which we have failed our youth.

Further, the IBLC called for a review of officer training and for training to be updated annually, something Holcomb addressed during an Aug. 18 announcement about initiatives meant to improve equity in Indiana. Experts will evaluate training received from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy  from which many Indiana police officers graduate  to modernize the training and make changes where necessary.

Policing in America had its inception in slave patrols and enforcing Jim Crow laws, Henegar said. Thats a major reason why we simply cant tinker around, change a policy here, policy there. We have to totally reimagine policing and start with something new that focuses on serious crimes.

Henegar said roughly 5% of arrests nationwide are for serious offenses, such as murder or sexual assault. The other 95% of arrests made are for lesser charges, such as marijuana possession or traffic infractions. According to Henegar, many of these arrests are the result of a system that targets people of color intentionally  and we can find other ways to address those issues than have a militarized police force.

While police brutality is often thought of as simply a racial issue, its also a socioeconomic issue.

According to a 2018 study from the American Public Health Association, police-related deaths are significantly more likely to occur in lower-income neighborhoods.

That could be, in part, because poverty drives crime. In return, a criminal record often makes it harder for one to escape poverty, according to Henegar.

The fact that we tend to underfund certain public resources has resulted in criminalizing or burdening poverty, Henegar said. Many of the people who get caught in the cogs of a low-level offense then get further pulled down with fees and fines, extorted from them because theres a drive for the system to pay itself, and it pays for itself on the backs of poor people, which is tragic.

Contact staff writer Breanna Cooper at 317-762-7848. Follow her on Twitter @BreannaNCooper.

Protesters were met with resistance from IMPD May 29. Officers deployed pepper spray after an officer was hit with water. (Photo/Breanna Cooper)
On August 17, The Queens Commonwealth Trust brought together the Duke and Duchess of Sussex along with young leaders to talk about using social media for the greater good.

QCT is a charity that "provides positive digital platforms to inform and inspire young people around the world." They've been leading a series of digital conversations with young leaders throughout the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

This was the second time Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have called into a Zoom discussion for QCT, as they currently serve as the President and Vice-President. During the last video call they appeared on, they spoke about why the Commonwealth must right past wrongs as well as the need to acknowledge the past, focusing on the Black Lives Matter movement.

Other participants on the most recent call included Brighton Kaoma, founder of Agents of Change Foundation in Zambia, Hunter Johnson, founder of The Man Cave in Australia, Rosie Thomas, co-founder of Project Rockit in Australia and, Vee Kativhu, founder of Empowered by Vee. The discussion was led by Chief Executive of QCT, Nicola Brentnall.

During the conversation, they talked about the power of digital communities and making major changes when it comes to engaging online.

Harry spoke about Queen Elizabeth's many accomplishments and praised her, saying, I think everything my Grandmother wanted to achieve when she took this huge responsibility on, shes managed." He continued on, "Hearing you guys and knowing the broad spectrum that QCT engulfs, youre the definition of the 21st century Commonwealth, and what it means to be part of it. You are there, standing for equality, for mutual respect, and for fairness."

Meghan spoke about the importance of maintaining positivity on social media. She said, "Everyones mental and emotional wellbeing are perhaps more fragile than ever before, certainly with COVID and our dependability on devices right now in the absence of human interaction. People are going online more than ever before to feel community."

Harry also opened up to the group, telling them, If we are all able to show our vulnerability that doesnt mean that youre weak. If anything, I believe, thats probably showing most of your strength.

Meghan explained, "When you look at what these platforms are capable of with that reach, and what that propels in terms of trollingYou can either train people to be cruel, or you can train people to be kind. Its really that simple.

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Harry ended the call on a positive note, telling the group of young leaders, "Its on all of us collectively to make the world a better place  and we are."
Zoe Stilphen

Coming from a small town in New Hampshire herself, and after taking a lot of classes focused on the federal government, she said it "was interesting to watch on a local level how legal and government work can have a direct impact on constituents, sometimes more so than federal law."

And vice versa, she added. "Constituents have a huge impact on what goes on in local governmentessentially every decision."

Stilphen grew up in Topsham, and said she appreciated the opportunity to apply her skillsshe's a government and sociology majorto her home towns. "I knew that it would be a great opportunity for me to support the communities I live in," she said. "I was able to make a change that I can see in my own community."

For much of the summer, she worked on creating a commercial property database of all the businesses in downtown Brunswick, including the name of property owner, business owner, number of employees, and square footage. She ended up calling most of the 300 or so establishments directly to gather the information.

With the help of a geographic information system (GIS) expert, the data Stilphen collected will be made publicly available online in the form of an interactive map. The goal is "to provide an information platform to aid in economic development in the Brunswick downtown," she explained. For instance, it will assist people interested in finding out about available retail and restaurant spaces.

While she's not yet sure of her career plansshe's interested in social justice, health care, and criminal justice reformshe is open to pursuing local government work one day. "It was rewarding to not only see the work I did come to fruition, but also gain an understanding of how local government works and how a few voices from the public can have such a big impact on a local level," she said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 23:06:02|Editor: huaxia

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LISBON, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa on Thursday hailed the purchase of 6.9 million doses of potential vaccines against COVID-19, saying that it was a "fundamental step" to "overcome the crisis."

"Today is an important day. We can believe that it is within our reach... a vaccine developed by science and produced by industry, but properly marketed, distributed and accessible to the population," he said during a visit to a hospital in Vila Nova de Gaia, northern Portugal.

According to the prime minister, the "European Union (EU) coordinated a joint acquisition for the different countries," and on Thursday Portugal's Council of Ministers officially authorized the acquisition of the first lot.

"The EU selected six of the various vaccines that are under development worldwide as the six that were worth investing in," said Costa, revealing that Portugal will pay 20 million euros (23.67 million U.S. dollars).

The prime minister said that from the "optimistic" point of view, "at the end of this year there will be the first batches."

He showed caution, however, in stating that it is necessary to prepare for all possible scenarios, and that "until there is a general immunization of the population or treatment for this disease, we must be prepared for the worst."

Costa said that "the competent authorities" will be responsible for defining "the criteria to be followed by progressive, universal and free vaccination of the Portuguese population to ensure immunization." Enditem
Of the cases confirmed today, 57 are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case while 11 cases have been identified as community transmission.

78 per cent of the cases are in those under 45 years of age.

51 are located in Dublin, 24 in Kildare, 12 in Kilkenny, 11 in Tipperary, seven in Cork, six in Limerick, six in Wexford, five in Meath and the remaining 14 cases are in Carlow, Cavan, Donegal, Galway, Mayo, Offaly, Roscommon, Waterford and Wicklow.

Acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said that 1,311 cases had been notified over the past 14 days, with a median age of 33.

81 of these cases or 6 per cent were in healthcare workers, while 435 cases or 33 per cent were located in Kildare. 23 per cent of the cases were located in Dublin, 6 per cent in Offaly, 6 per cent in Tipperary, 5 per cent in Limerick and 3 per cent in Laois.

R number

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Dr Glynn said: The core message from NPHET this week is to limit your social networks. Stick to a limit of 6 people from no more than 3 households indoors, and 15 people outdoors.

"Risk assess your environment and do not stay if it doesnt feel safe. Remember that the virus wants large groups to gather together in order to spread. Do not give it the opportunity.

"We can continue to suppress this disease in Ireland by working together and staying apart.

Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said: The R-number is now at or above 1.2.

"There are two concerns now, the number of new cases per day remains high and the pattern has changed from large outbreaks in specific settings to much smaller outbreaks widely distributed across the country.

Dr Siobhan Ni Bhriain, Consultant Psychiatrist and Integrated Care Lead HSE, said: Playing our part includes presenting for testing when required. This includes one initial test and a follow up test within seven days.

"By fulfilling this testing cycle you reduce the threat of asymptomatic transmission and help to control the spread of the disease.

Lockdowns

The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) met today to consider whether the current lockdown in Laois, Offaly and Kildare should be lifted as planned on Sunday after being in place for the past two weeks.

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It emerged today that public health experts have privately warned the Government that a return to a full national lockdown may be necessary if the number of Covid-19 infections continues to rise.

Ireland's cumulative number of cases per 100,000 have grown by the third highest rate in Europe, currently standing at 25.4 per 100,000, up from just 6.7 cases per 100,000 on July 31st. There has been a sharp increase from 50 cases per week to now over 600 cases per week.

HSE chief Paul Reid said today that some people testing positive for Covid-19 currently have up to 50 contacts, with 55,000 people being tested in the past week in the second highest testing figures since April.

A new cluster of Covid-19 was also announced today in a direct provision centre in Co Wicklow, at the Esplanade Hotel in Bray.

Northern Ireland

An outbreak was also confirmed at a meat plant in Co Antrim, with the North's Minister of Health Robin Swann saying that at least 35 cases had been identified.

Another 51 people in the region have tested positive for coronavirus with no further deaths reported, according to the Northern Ireland Department of Health. Some 298 people have tested positive for the virus in the last seven days, bringing the total in the North to 6,556.

New restrictions on gatherings have been announced in the region, with the number of people allowed to meet indoors at households to be reduced to six from no more than two households, and the limit on numbers at outdoor gatherings being lowered to 15.
After weeks of mass demonstrations against oligarchic control over Bulgarias government and judicial system, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov is trying to placate protesters by proposing what he calls a restart of democracy.



Taking the term "restart" from the street protests, Borisov wants to rewrite the Bulgarian Constitution that was ratified in 1991 following the collapse of communist rule.



Borisov's ruling GERB party released a proposed draft constitution on August 17, the same day Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka tried to placate a massive uprising with talk of a new constitution.

The changes people have been demanding at protests across the country are different than what we see in this draft.

As with Lukashenka's vague promise in Minsk, Bulgarian political analysts and legal experts say the draft constitution from Borisovs party fails to meet the demands of either demonstrators or the political opposition.



The opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) has signaled it wont support GERB's rewrite of the country's defining document.



President Rumen Radev, who is allied with the BSP, said confidence in the ruling majority has been irretrievably lost and that GERB does not have the trust or a mandate from the Bulgarian people to rewrite the constitution.



Conversation about the constitution and the future of Bulgaria is possible only after the resignations demanded by the society and the holding of fair, early elections, said Radev, who has described Borisovs cabinet as a mafia" government.

Protest organizers Arman Babikyan, Velislav Minekov, and Nikolai Hadjigenov -- known in Bulgaria as the Poison Trio -- said rewriting the constitution will allow the mafia to create its own basic law drafted by GERB lawmakers in a failed and distrusted parliament with a majority dictated by its oligarchic government.



All of that makes it likely Borisovs so-called restart will be stopped in its tracks before it starts.



In order to convene a Grand National Assembly to rewrite the constitution, Borisov needs support from more than two-thirds of the 240-seat parliament.



That means he needs votes from a minimum of 161 parliamentary deputies.



Currently, GERBs parliamentary group is comprised of only 95 [deputies], said Petar Cholakov, a Sofia-based political scientist and professor of sociology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. It is unlikely they can find the support they need from other [deputies].



In fact, Cholakov told RFE/RL, GERBs draft constitution is more or less like throwing a bone to society without any meat on it.



The changes people have been demanding at protests across the country are different than what we see in this draft, Cholakov said. They want Borisovs resignation, they want the resignation of the prosecutor-general [Ivan Geshev], and they want elections for a new parliament before the next scheduled vote in March 2021.



'Pouring Gasoline On The Fire'



Dimitar Bechev, director of the Sofia-based European Policy Institute and a nonresident senior fellow at the Washington-based Atlantic Council think tank, said GERBs draft constitution is like trying to put out a fire by pouring gasoline on it.



In Bulgaria, the judiciary -- including the prosecutor-general -- has too much power and very little accountability, Bechev explained. This can be used by the prosecutor-general for political purposes, as well as taking sides in business rivalries.

Bechev said GERBs draft constitution has only cosmetic changes that dont really do anything to address demands for judicial reform that would impose more checks and balances on the independent Prosecutor-Generals Office.



These changes dont make sense, and it can be argued that it can do even more harm, Bechev said. It would allow the prosecutor-general to draft legislation and put it before parliament. That just doesnt make sense.



Bechev added that other proposals in the GERB draft constitution are presented as reforms but are actually an attempt to expand and further entrench GERBs power.



These include eliminating some of the few checks and balances the president has over the judiciary, as well as reducing the size of parliament from 240 to 120 seats -- a change that would favor larger parties like GERB and the BSP at the expense of smaller opposition parties.



Those smaller parties include groups in the extraparliamentary coalition Democratic Bulgaria -- whose co-leader, Hristo Ivanov, kick-started the ongoing anti-government protests in early July with a protest stunt on Bulgarias Black Sea coast.

We are against the reduction of the number of deputies because this means that Bulgarian citizens will receive less representation in parliament, Ivanov said.



According to Cholakov, GERBs draft constitution essentially is defending the interests of GERB and limiting the powers of the president even further as part of a long-running power struggle between the president and the Prosecutor-Generals Office.



The president wont be able to appoint three important magistrates -- the prosecutor-general, plus the chairs of the Supreme Administrative Court and the Supreme Court of Cassation, Cholakov noted. That power will be vested in parliament instead.



I dont think there are substantial reforms as far as the prosecutor-general is concerned, Cholakov continued. I dont think these changes are going to bring about what the protesters demand.



If GERB really wanted to introduce positive change, it would be to make the judicial system, in general, less dependent on politicians and oligarchs, Cholakov said. They havent done this. The prosecutor-general remains a very powerful figure in the judiciary and is uncontrollable.



We need a formal procedure, a realistic procedure, which will enable the judicial system to remove the prosecutor-general in certain cases, he said. For example, when there is evidence of the prosecutor-general being involved in bribery or corruption.



Currently, the Supreme Judicial Council has the final say about the prosecutor-generals tenure, Cholakov explained. The problem is that the Supreme Judicial Council is dependent, itself, on politicians. So if the prosecutor-general has the support of the majority in parliament, he can do basically whatever he wants.



Many think Bulgarias widespread corruption has allowed mafia-boss oligarchs to control the appointments of judges -- and even government ministers -- from behind the scenes.

Since becoming the prosecutor-general in November 2019, Geshev has come to be seen by many Bulgarians as a politically dependent figure who has overlooked corruption cases involving Borisovs ruling GERB party and the powerful oligarchs behind GERB.



A growing number of Bulgarians think Geshev has misused his powers by launching unjustified criminal investigations against Radev, his aides, and his allies.

Meanwhile, the latest opinion polls by Gallup International show that more than 60 percent of Bulgarians support demands for Borisov and Geshev to resign and for immediate parliamentary elections to be called.



Gallup surveys also show that 68 percent of Bulgarians do not have confidence in Borisovs leadership, while only 20 percent do.

Ulterior Motives

Cholakov concludes that Borisov knows he will not get the support he needs to rewrite the constitution but has proposed the idea because of ulterior motives.



What really matters is that he is trying to change the subject of public debate in Bulgaria -- to shift the narrative away from the calls for his resignation, the removal of the current prosecutor-general, and the fact that he has been personally involved in so many corruption scandals since he first became prime minister in 2009.



Meanwhile, Bechev noted that Borisov already is floating the idea of another backup plan separately from GERBs new draft constitution -- that is, having one of his political allies take over as prime minister until the next scheduled parliamentary elections in March.



Long story short, the whole draft constitution is a maneuver -- a safety valve -- to gain time, politically, and to avoid having elections now while his approval ratings are so low, Bechev said. Maybe he thinks GERB will have a better chance if he can delay early elections by a few months.
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Overview:

In the recent times, a new trend is gaining popularity in the software development life cycle called DevSecOps. This technology bridges the gap between development, operations, and security teams to speed up the software development process through collaboration and communication among the teams. The goal of DevOps is to give more ownership to the development team for developing and monitoring applications. Security plays a key role by providing high-end security to the applications.

Request For Report sample @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/10984

DevSecOps = DevOps + Security

The rising adoption of various software applications among businesses and consumers has opened new avenues for hackers to hack data leading to the lack of security in terms of coding or configurations. DevSecOps is expected to play a vital role at this point in maintaining the security by collaborating various departments at the initial stages of product development.

Market Analysis:

According to Infoholic Research, the global DevSecOps market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 33.7% during the forecast period 2017-2023. The rising security breaches, awareness about DevSecOps platforms, need for improving SDLC by reducing the time wasted, and the increasing investment activities have led to the demand for DevSecOps. In addition, the growing demand for advanced technologies, such as AI, automation, and cloud technologies, are expected to support the DevSecOps market growth. The market is analyzed by regions, deployment type, and enterprise type.

Segmentation Analysis: Regions and Deployment type

Region-wise: The Americas leads the market followed by Europe. The US, Canada, UK, Germany, and France are the major revenue generators owing to the rising security breaches, advanced technology, demand for high-end software products, and government rules and regulations related to security. Asia Pacific is always an attractive market for the key stakeholders to enhance their business or product portfolios. Especially, India, China, Japan, Singapore, Philippines, and other country enterprises are showing interest in the DevSecOps platform. It shows that DevSecOps platform adoption rate is about to witness a lot of investment in the upcoming years. Finally, MEA is an emerging market for the key stakeholders during 2017-2023.

This report provides details about DevSecOps deployment type. Most of the DevSecOps players are offering cloud and on-premises deployment modes for their customers and most of the enterprises are still demanding for the on-premises model. In the recent years, the enterprises are moving from on-premises to the cloud, but cloud providers need to ensure security at each stage of the product development involving security, developers, and operational professionals. The cloud deployment model is expected to contribute the major market share followed by the on-premises model.

Enterprise type Analysis

Globally, all kinds of enterprises are falling under security breaches somehow, especially SMEs are always targeted by the hackers due to the lack of IT infrastructure and knowledge about security threats. Whereas, larger enterprises are adopting more and more digital, advanced technologies to reach their customer demands, but security loopholes on software product/services may impact their customer experience. Thus, enterprises are showing interest in adopting the DevSecOps platform and using it. The large enterprise segment is leading the market, followed by the SMEs, but in the future the SMEs segment is expected to increase its revenue contribution toward the market growth.

Key Vendors and Competitive Analysis

Some of the companies covered in the report include IBM, Splunk, Chef Software, Puppet, Amazon, CA Technologies, Qualys, and others. The small and growing start-ups are focusing to provide high-end DevSecOps tools and are receiving a good number of customers. The big players are enhancing partnerships and M&A strategies with the small players to increase their footprints in the market, and thus, gain a leading position in the DevSecOps platform market. Players are investing in building an expertise workforce in the DevSecOps area to satisfy the ongoing and future demands.

Benefits

The report provides an in-depth analysis of current and future market status for DevSecOps. The report aims to provide an opportunity for key players to understand the latest trends, demands, players initiatives, and technologies related to the market. This report gives the complete details about regions, country wise details, adoption and plan ratio of DevSecOps, revenue, and key trends. In addition, it helps the venture capitalists in understanding the profile of the companies.

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Kharkiv IT-Cluster public organization offered support to Belarusian IT-specialists who decide to move to Ukraine.

"Kharkiv IT community sincerely empathizes with Belarusian colleagues who are forced to be in unstable conditions and psychological pressure. Kharkiv IT-Cluster understands that in such conditions it is difficult not only for IT-business to maintain stability, but also to live and work," the organization said in a statement released on Thursday.

Kharkiv IT-Cluster is ready to provide assistance to Belarusian IT-specialists and IT-companies within the IT4Life project, namely: legal and organizational aid in relocation to Kharkiv; assistance in finding housing and office; information support in job search for IT specialists.

As reported earlier, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov said that the government provided the possibility of immigration to Ukraine for 5,000 Belarusian IT specialists.
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Kamala Harris Selection Represents Unprecedented Moment Of Racial Reckoning

I just sat with that for a minute. I just sat there. And then I found, out of nowhere, just tears coming down  like they are now. I thought about Betty Shabazz. I thought about Coretta Scott King. I thought about Maya Angelou. I thought about Dorothy Height. And I thought about everything that they have poured into us.  It took Joe Biden to say, Its time to come out from the shadows. To say, I see you. He saw her. He saw her qualifications despite all the negative stuff that was being thrown at her. He made history, but I think he will never know how much history he has made. Political strategist Minyon Moore

The selection of Senator Kamala Harris to be the Democratic Vice Presidential nominee represents many firsts: The first Black woman to be nominated on a major party ticket. The first person of South Asian descent. The first HBCU grad.

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More importantly, though, her candidacy is emblematic of this unprecedented moment of racial reckoning in America, and the outsized role that Black women are playing in leading the nation through this period of crisis.

Its no surprise that Black women have emerged among the nations strongest and most competent leaders. The formidable challenges that women, particularly women of color, must overcome to achieve positions of prominence, are like the fire that tempers steel.

The National Urban League has had a strong relationship with Senator Harris for many years. We honored her as one of the first recipients of our Woman of Power awards in 2004, just after she was elected District Attorney of San Francisco. In 2017, when she assumed office as Californias third female U.S. Senator, and the first of Jamaican or Indian ancestry, we honored her with the Hiram Revels Award for Achievement, named for the first African American to serve in the U.S. Congress.

While weve worked closely with her since her election to the Senate, her fierce advocacy for underserved communities since the onset of the pandemic has been invaluable. She, along with Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, was a prime sponsor of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in the Senate. We recently joined her and other members of Congress to announce legislation that would allow those at risk of eviction to access legal representation, and help protect their credit. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, she famously held Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and Attorney General nominee William Barr to account during their confirmation hearings.

Her groundbreaking selection to the position of vice presidential nominee has drawn comparison to the legendary Shirley Chisholm, whom she often cites as a source of inspiration. In 1968, Chisholm became the first Black woman to serve as a member of Congress, and in 1972 became the first Black woman to seek the nomination of a major party for President.

When she launched her presidential campaign, Harris chose a red and yellow design for her logo that resembles Chisholms campaign buttons.

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Chisholm faced abhorrent racial harassment on her campaign, and nearly half a century later, the racist attacks not only have not subsided  theyre amplified through social media. But its not just crude slurs hurled on Twitter by anonymous trolls  Within hours of the announcement that she had been selected as Joe Bidens running mate, a major magazine amplified a racist birther conspiracy theory about her.

Chisholm was realistic about the obstacles her candidacy faced. I just want to show it can be done, she often said.

Harris was a child when Chisholm ran for President, just to show it could be done, and now she stands a realistic chance of being the first woman to hold the second-highest office in the land.

As Joe Biden said the day after announcing his choice, This morning, all across the nation, little girls woke up, especially little black and brown girls, who so often feel overlooked and undervalued in their communities, but today, today just maybe, theyre seeing themselves for the first time in a new way, as the stuff of presidents and vice presidents.
Colombia's President Ivan Duque claimed Thursday that the government of President Nicolas Maduro in neighboring Venezuela was working to acquire missiles from its ally Iran.

"There is information from international intelligence agencies which work with us showing that there is an interest from the dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro to acquire some medium- and long-range missiles through Iran," the right-wing Colombian leader said.

According to Duque, the missiles "have not yet arrived" in Venezuela, but the country's Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino had been put in charge of Venezuela's "approaches" to Iran over acquiring the weapons.

Colombia and Venezuela share a porous 2,200 kilometer (1,400-mile) border where cocaine-, arms- and fuel-trafficking gangs have traditionally operated. The neighbors broke off diplomatic relations in 2019.

Duque has backed a US diplomatic and economic offensive against the government of Maduro -- whom it does not recognize as president, having deemed his 2019 re-election to be fraudulent.

Colombia, the United States and more than 50 other countries have instead recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president, though Maduro continues to hold the reins of power.

Maduro's beleaguered Socialist government turned to Iran earlier this year to help alleviate a desperate fuel shortage after the collapse of its oil industry in the midst of an economic crisis exacerbated by US sanctions.

Iran dispatched several fuel tankers to Venezuela this year to help it solve the shortage.

The Colombian president also blamed Venezuelan authorities for sheltering armed drug-trafficking groups responsible for the murders of human rights activists.

Duque said there was an international campaign to supply arms to irregular groups that operate in the border area of both countries, aiming to destabilize the government in Bogota.

"We have intelligence information that there are members of the Venezuelan guard who are triangulating arms from other countries, particularly Russia and Belarus, to these structures in the border areas," said Duque.

lv/vel/rsr/db/caw/
Delek Group Ltd., controlled by Yitzhak Tshuva, has foregone the outright sale of subsidiary Delek Israel, a fuel distributor, in favor of an investment deal that will supply the group with its liquidity needs under the agreement with its bondholders. Under the deal taking shape, Delek Group will receive NIS 450 million from the Arbel Fund, which it will use to repay the balance of its secured debts to the banks, amounting to NIS 340 million, and thereby release the participation units in Delek Drilling on which the banks have a lien, Trend reports with reference to Globes.

Delek Group announced this morning that it had signed an MOU with the Arbel Fund for a payment to Delek Group of NIS 450 million against an allocation of preferred shares in Delek Israel (or another structure to be decided by the parties). Under the terms of the MOU, the Arbel Fund will obtain an annual return of 10% from dividend distributions from Delek Israel's regular business.

The Arbel Fund will be entitled to receive 20% of the shares in Delek Israel at the end of the investment period, in accordance with the terms to be set out in the detailed agreement. Delek Group will continue to control Delek Israel, and will hold 80% of the company at the end of the investment period.

The parties intend, however, to carry out a series of actions to enhance Delek Israel, with the aim of preparing the company for a public offering during the investment period, so that the their holdings could be diluted.

The Arbel Fund will also be entitled to an option on a further 5% of Delek Israel, based on a valuation mechanism to be set out in the detailed agreement. During the investment period, management rights in Delek Israel will pass to the general partner in the Arbel Fund, who will manage the company through the Delek Israel board of directors.

Delek Group said that the current deal held several advantages over an outright sale of Delek Israel at this time, mentioning among other things that the simple deal structure would enable Delek Group to benefit from a cash flow from Delek Israel of NIS 450 million within thirty days.

Delek Group CEO Idan Wallace said today, "We are marking an important milestone in the group's strategy for strengthening its capital and liquidity, in accordance with the understandings reached with the bondholders and the lending banks. The current achievement joins a series of successful actions that we have completed within a few months, in an extremely challenging environment."

Delek Group's agreement with its bondholders stipulates that by the end of the October the company will complete the repayment of its secured debts to the banks and release its holdings in Delek Drilling, most of which will be mortgaged to the bondholders, to which Delek Group owes NIS 6 billion. The company also has to raise debt of NIS 100 million in December 2020 and NIS 50 million in April 2021, in order to repay its bondholders in accordance with the original repayment schedule.

The Arbel Fund was founded by Amir Hessel and Gabriel Low three years ago, and raised NIS 1 billion. Hessel was previously chief investment manager at Harel Insurance Investments and Financial Services Ltd., while Low was one of the heads of the Manof KCPS fund.
A total of six wildfires attributable to Monday morning lightning strikes were burning in Napa County on Wednesday, charring 44,700 acres by daybreak, Cal Fire reported.

As of Wednesday evening, the Hennessey Fire (which now includes the merging of the Gamble, Green and Markley fires) that started near Lake Hennessey had burned 100,000 acres with one structure and two outbuildings listed as destroyed.

The Spanish Fire near Spanish Flat burned 4,100 acres as of 6:45 p.m.; and the Morgan Fire, between Napa and Lake counties, burned 3,500 acres.

All fires, a total of 124,100 acres, were listed as 0% containment.

CalFire reported four civilian injuries.

CalFire reported Wednesday evening that 105 homes and outbuildings had been destroyed and at least 70 more damaged. Officials said the ultimate number will likely be much larger as the fires continue to burn out of control.

On Wednesday evening, Napa County Office of Emergency Services expanded the evacuations to include Highway 29 at the Lake County line to Silverado Trail; Silverado Trail to Highway 128; Highway 128 to Chiles Pope Valley Road; Chiles Pope Valley Road to Pope Valley Road; Pope Valley Road to Butts Canyon Road; and Butts Canyon Road to the county line. This included Angwin and Deer Park.

Napa County set up a shelter at the CrossWalk Community Church in Napa for people evacuated due to the fire danger.

Over the last 72 hours, Cal Fire has experienced a historic lightning siege that has resulted in approximately 10,800 lightning strikes across the state causing more than 367 new fires, and 6,900 fire personnel from state, local, and federal agencies remain assigned to those incidents.

Fire chiefs and officers from five counties converged at a press conference at the Napa County Fairgrounds Wednesday morning, saying all resources are stretched thin, and further evacuations are being planned and expanded, especially for those south of the fires. People should be prepared to evacuate.

Were in this for a long haul, said Cal Fire Chief Sean Kavanaugh, citing the forecast for extreme heat and the potential for hot, dry winds.

Air support is in high demand across California, which has reduced the number of airplanes that can fight Napa Countys fires, officials said. Cal Fire had 587 personnel assigned to Napa fires as of Wednesday evening.

An additional 13,200 acres burned overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday, creating a hellish red glow over the Napa Valleys eastern ridge. So far, 8% of Napa County has burned, mostly dry brush lands that surround pockets of rural homes that wrap around Lake Berryessa and southeast of the Upvalley. None of the fires are under control, Cal Fire said Wednesday.

Napa County issued a Nixle alert shortly before 1 a.m. Wednesday, saying that the Hennessey Fire was continuing to move toward Atlas Peak, Soda Canyon, Silverado Highlands and Silverado areas. An additional evacuation order was issued at 9:30 a.m. for Monticello Road from Wooden Valley Road to Silverado Trail, but was later modified to stop at Vichy Avenue.

As the winds died down Tuesday night, the advance of the fires seemed to slow as well, with less dramatic plumes of smoke visible from the valley floor at dawn, then the fires sped up.

Napa County Fire Chief Geoff Belyea said Wednesday afternoon that fire officials were concerned about Berryessa Highlands, Berryessa Estates and Gordon Valley. Crews were working to keep the fire from harming Atlas Peak and Soda Canyon areas, which are under evacuation orders, he said.

Life, safety and evacuation is still our number-one priority, he said. And structure defense is the next priority.

Pacific Gas & Electric said power has been restored to all but 1,900 of the 24,000 Napa County customers who lost electricity at 5:17 p.m. Tuesday due to the Hennessey Fire.

Crews worked to restore power to everyone who could be restored by 7:30 p.m., said Deanna Contreras, a PG&E spokesperson. Service to 1,900 customers will remain proactively turned off at the request of firefighters, she said.

The fire around Atlas Peak can be viewed from PG&Es camera at https://bit.ly/2Q5cuXt

Editors Note: Because of the public safety implications of the wildfires, we are providing access to this article free of charge. To support local journalism, please visit

https://napavalleyregister.com/members/join/ and consider becoming a member.

Register reporter Barry Eberling and The Weekly Calistogan editor Cynthia Sweeney contributed to this story. You can reach City Editor Kevin Courtney at kcourtney@napanews.com or at 707-256-2217.

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AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SmallCapVoice.com, Inc. (SCV) today announces the availability of a new interview with AllStar Health Brands Inc. (OTC PINK:ALST), a specialty pharmaceutical and nutritional supplements company. President Dr. Daniel Bagi discusses the development of the Companys business model and the distribution agreement for Mexico and other Latin American countries through its new partnership with TPT Global Tech.



The full interview can be heard at: https://www.smallcapvoice.com/8-20-20-smallcapvoice-interview-allstar-health-brands-alst/ .

Speaking with SCVs Stuart Smith, Dr. Bagi explains AllStar Health Brands Inc.'s business model and focus on improving health and quality of life by offering select products, including medical devices, nutritional supplements, over the counter remedies and medicines all across the Americas and Europe.

The global pandemic and struggle with Covid-19 has put our Company in a position where we can deliver convenience and stability with the distribution of the best available test kits that have been validated by several top-tier reference labs, Bagi told Smith. We are well-positioned to assist doctors, pharmacies and others in need of reliable testing kits that deliver quick results. We strive to capture value across all our verticals and product offerings. The Company is ideally positioned for scale and growth. We are thankful for the opportunity to share our story with our shareholders and the SmallCapVoice.com listening audience.

About AllStar Health Brands Inc.:

AllStar Health Brands Inc. is a Nevada Corporation established in 2017, and headquartered in Miami, Florida. AllStar is a specialty Health Care Products Company dedicated to improving health and quality of life by offering select products, including medical devices, nutritional supplements, over the counter remedies and medicines all across the Americas and Europe. AllStar's goal is to bring additional products to the market and provide new, innovative options for better health and wellbeing.

For more information, please contact Investor Relations at (305) 423 7028.

About SmallCapVoice.com

SmallCapVoice.com, Inc. is a recognized corporate investor relations firm, with clients nationwide, known for its ability to help emerging growth companies, small cap and micro-cap stocks build a following among retail and institutional investors. SmallCapVoice.com utilizes its stock newsletter to feature its daily stock picks, podcasts, as well as its clients' financial news releases. SmallCapVoice.com also offers individual investors all the tools they need to make informed decisions about the stocks in which they are interested. Tools like stock charts, stock alerts, and Company Information Sheets can assist with investing in stocks that are traded on the OTC Markets. To learn more about SmallCapVoice.com and its services, please visit https://www.smallcapvoice.com/small-cap-stock-otc-investor-relations-financial-public-relations/ .

Socialize with SmallCapVoice and their clients at;

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmallCapVoice/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/smallcapvoice

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallcapvoice/

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements about the Company's future expectations and all other statements in this press release other than historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby.

The above information contains information relating to the Company that is based on the beliefs of the Company and/or its management, as well as assumptions made by any information currently available to the Company or its management. When used in this document, the words "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plans," "projects," and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current view of the Company regarding future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including the risks and uncertainties, noted. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, intended or projected. In each instance, forward-looking information should be considered in light of the accompanying meaningful cautionary statements herein. Factors that could cause results to differ include, but are not limited to, successful performance of internal plans, the impact of competitive services and pricing, and general economic risks and uncertainties.

SmallCapVoice.com Contact:

Stuart T. Smith

512-267-2430

Info@SmallCapVoice.com

Source: SmallCapVoice.com
Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi has reacted to his viral 2023 presidential campaign posters which was sponsored by the Chairman of Ikere Local Government Area of the state, Mr Femi Ayodele.

In the poster which is circulating the social media, Governor Fayemi was seen dressed in a sky blue Agbada with a blue striped cap popularly called Awolowo.

According to Punch, Ayodele admitted that he did the posters, with the campaign message, Support His Excellency Dr John Kayode Fayemi for President 2023.

The council boss said he did the posters to show my unalloyed and uncompromising loyalty to Governor Fayemi to dispel speculations that he was working against him.

Ayodele said the governor was fit enough for the exalted office considering his array of outstanding credentials, administrative shrewdness and political acumen.

He added that Fayemis commitment, resourcefulness and pedigree put him in good stead to lead Nigeria in the next political dispensation.

However, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Yinka Oyebode, who said Fayemi did not know anything about the posters, warned those behind the posters to stop distracting him from performing his primary duties.

The attention of Governor Kayode Fayemi, has been drawn to news reports of a campaign poster being purportedly circulated online by Femi Ayodele, the Chairman of Ikere Local Government Council.

The governor warned Mr. Ayodele and other groups canvassing support for him ahead of the 2023 presidential election through the poster which was designed with the logo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to steer clear of such actions.

This should also serve as a note of caution to political appointees, government functionaries, political associates and groups to operate within the ambit of decency and steer clear of actions that are capable of distracting the government, the party and the governor, the statement added.

Meanwhile, KanyiDaily had reported how Ekiti secondary school suspended its principal who failed to receive Governor Fayemi during his visit to the institution.
Geojit's report on Agri Picks

The Union Cabinet today approved an increase in the fair and remunerative price of sugarcane by 10 rupees to 285 rupees per 100 kg for 2020-21 (Oct-Sep), Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said. India today received 9.3 mm rainfall, 15% above normal, the India Meteorological Department said. The government plans to disburse the sixth instalment of 2,000-rupee financial aid to around 100 mln farmers during Aug-Dec under its flagship Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, an official with the farm ministry said. National Commodity Clearing Ltd, the clearing arm of the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange, has so far marked 3,930 tn of chana and 3,540 tn of guar seed for staggered delivery against the August contract that will expire on Thursday, according to data on its website. So far, states have distributed only 249,000 tn of food grain to migrant workers, against the 800,000 tn earmarked under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Package, the food ministry said in a release. As of Monday, states had lifted 638,000 tn of food grain, it added. The Multi Commodity Exchange of India will levy commodities transaction tax on the trading of iCOMDEX Bullion Index futures, the exchange said in a circular. The Centre has cleared desert locust swarms from over 563,000 ha across 10 states to safeguard standing crops sown in 2020-21 (Jul-Jun) kharif season as of Tuesday.

For all recommendations report, click here

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

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Multnomah Countys sheriff and top elected leader on Wednesday decried a fire set hours earlier inside the Multnomah Building that left the countys first-floor Office of Community Involvement with broken glass, water and smoke damage and put at risk an emergency stockpile of medical gear assembled in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The late Tuesday attack marked at least the third main county building vandalized since nightly demonstrations began in late May.

Its already cost $1.3 million to repair damage done during the protests, county officials said. That includes a fire set at the Multnomah County Justice Center late May 29 and vandalism at the downtown Multnomah County Courthouse, they said. Other buildings hit include the Central Library, the Mead Building on Southwest Fifth Avenue and the Walnut Park Complex on Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

At the Multnomah Building on Southeast Hawthorne Avenue, people threw large rocks through the first-floor windows, someone poured lighter fluid into the office and then someone later tossed burning material into the same area, said Chris Liedle, a spokesman for the Sheriffs Office.

A line is crossed when peaceful protest becomes violent, Sheriff Mike Reese said during a media video conference.

He called the setting of the fire, the profane and hateful graffiti to the county headquarters simply reprehensible, actions that serve no legitimate purpose.

The Multnomah Building, unlike the Justice Center and the downtown courthouse, serves as a hub for public services for vulnerable and disadvantaged populations, Chair Deborah Kafoury and Reese said.

What happened last night at the Multnomah Building does not help us move the work forward and create the change that people are demanding, Kafoury said. Attacking the community involvement office and burning it is not helpful.

The office set on fire is dedicated to engaging community members who have been marginalized by the traditional political process, Kafoury said.

If the fire had spread to the stockpile of personal protective equipment compiled for hospitals and community groups, then health care workers, patients and seniors would have paid the price for these actions last night, she said.

The county will be moving its stockpile of protective gear for the coronavirus -- masks, gowns, gloves, hand sanitizer and other equipment - to a safer location as a precaution, officials said.

There are a lot of people who are frustrated and I understand the frustration, and I understand the need for transformational change, especially in the criminal justice system, Kafoury said. I urge the community to work together to help us change the system. Protests help drive change but they are not an end in and of themselves.

While the sheriff pledged to find and hold accountable those who set the fire and smashed the buildings front windows, he acknowledged that its become extremely difficult to curtail the violence occurring with such frequency and deliberation in the city.

Portland police are short-staffed and no longer have the help of Oregon State Police troopers to respond to the demonstrations.

Officers from the Portland Police Bureau and the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office monitor social media livestreams and where protesters gather at night to try to predict where marchers may be headed.

Reese said he believed Portland police moved in swiftly once the fire was set.

Obviously, he noted, People engaged in criminal activity are not sharing which building theyre going to attack that night.

Often we are assuming theyre headed to a certain building based on the location theyre gathering in.  Each night is different. We dont know necessarily whos going to be participating, what their intent is and whether or not theyre going to engage in criminal activity.

Mayor Ted Wheeler, in a prepared statement, condemned the criminal destruction to the county building, and Police Chief Chuck Lovell and Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt denounced the pattern of violence in separate statements.

A video from Sunday night showed a 40-year-old man punched and kicked to the point of unconsciousness while he was on the ground on Southwest Broadway after he had crashed his pickup into a tree. The beating occurred after an encounter with others outside the 7-Eleven convenience store in downtown Portland.

Police said theyre looking for 25-year-old Marquise Lee Love, identified on video as the one who ran up to the pickup driver from behind and kicked him in the face. Video shows the man fall over from a seated position, with an audible sound of the back of his head hitting the pavement.

LACK OF UNIFIED MESSAGE

Police have expressed frustration by what they see as a lack of a unified message by elected leaders and the community at large, whose silence in the wake of the regular violence has been disappointing, they said.

Whats missing, Portland Deputy Police Chief Chris Davis said, is a very clear and very consistent public messaging from elected leaders and the community at large, that this behavior is not how we do business in Portland. Its violent, its not productive.

I have not seen that consistent messaging, Davis said. I think thats really the key.

Lovell called the arson to the Multnomah Building senseless criminal activity, demonstrating the intent to engage in anarchy at the expense of the entire community.

We continue to get asked how this will end and how the violence will stop, Lovell said in a statement. The solution is in a critical mass of community and partners coming together to denounce this criminal activity and call it out as it does not represent what we know our community at large wants or values.

The solution, he said, includes broad support for the police to do their job in exhausting and challenging circumstances. The solution also includes elected officials and people in positions of power coming together in support of the real change, but against those who continue to feel empowered to act in a way that devalues our City with every brick thrown, every fire lit, and every crime committed. The stakes are high and the world is watching. We are on the national stage right now. I would much rather be known for being leaders in change rather than nightly violence.

Sheriff Mike Reese called the setting of a fire inside the Multnomah Building and the profane and hateful graffiti to the county building simply reprehensible, actions that serve no legitimate purpose.

Police Bureau and Sheriffs Office officials said they support the right of people to peacefully protest but that they must move in once vandalism occurs to stop further damage.

How best to respond is probably one of the most challenging things in policing right now, the sheriff said.

All of us have a responsibility for public safety in our community, not just the Portland Police Bureau, Reese said. We all should be condemning the violence thats occurred, the damage to public safety facilities, the assaults against community members and the police, and supporting our law enforcement professionals as they try to deal with these violent criminal activities.

POLICE RESPONSE VARIES

As to crowd control tactics, Portland police are likely to work to keep people further way from buildings that are occupied and have been targeted by violent demonstrators in the past, such as a police precinct or the Justice Center, Davis said.

On Tuesday night, police thought marchers could head to the Multnomah Building from their gathering spot at Colonel Summers Park.

The county building was a possibility, or theyd go by it and come downtown to the Justice Center, Davis said. It certainly occurred to us.

Police knew the county building wouldnt be occupied and that went into the decision not to move officers in earlier to keep demonstrators away from the county property, Davis said. Also, protesters hadnt caused problems at the Multnomah Building until Tuesday night, he said.

Weve intercepted groups on their way someplace and weve been criticized as being heavy-handed, Davis said. So if Im going to deny access to a government facility, I better have a good reason why.

Police have moved to keep marchers away from the police union building on North Lombard, for example, because fires have been set there in the past and its in the middle of a residential neighborhood with wood-frame homes. Theyve also worked to keep marchers away from North Precinct, which typically has staff inside. People have barricaded the precincts side doors with wooden 2-by-4s and set a fire in a dumpster pushed against adjacent property.

I dont want any buildings, public, private or otherwise burned, Davis said. But the county building at least is not in a residential neighborhood and theyd never gone there before.

Davis said officers have tried different tactics.

Theyve been criticized for running toward demonstrators in the street to try to clear crowds away after declaring unlawful assemblies or riots -- so-called bull-rushing into a line of protesters holding shields at the front of a crowd. Theyve also been criticized for knocking people to the ground and striking people with batons.

Davis said police dont run into a crowd if its only blocking a street but they do once people start throwing objects at officers, such as fireworks or rocks. Theyll also press into a crowd to get a group to leave if people have ignored repeated dispersal warnings, he said. People holding shields at the front have often prevented police from identifying and getting to people in the back who are throwing objects at officers, Davis said.

Officers also have been puncturing tires of vehicles that are in the midst of crowds once they order a group to disperse, Davis said. The cars get in the way, so police puncture their tires to immobilize them while officers work to clear crowds, he said. Stopping the cars also prevents them from moving into the crowds, he said.

None of this is ideal at all, he acknowledged.

Davis also said hes spotted officers using force or making rude comments to community members that hes uncomfortable with. Hes referred several incidents to internal affairs himself, requesting an investigation, he said.

Yes, its chaotic and its violent and its completely unprecedented and its exhausting but our employees will still be held to our standards and these cases will be reviewed, he said.

With 57 officers expected to retire this month from the Police Bureaus authorized staff of 917 officers, police leaders are pulling officers from on-duty patrol to respond to demonstrations and the vandalism, causing emergency calls for service to back up, Davis said. Police also are responding to a surge in shootings.

Were really stretched, and we were stretched before, he said.

Davis said the only way he sees the nightly problems diminishing is for others to speak out loudly against property damage and violence.

This is bigger than just a police issue. Theres this desire for some reason to just put all this off on the Portland Police Bureau and just standby and see how we handle it, and then we get criticism either way, he said.

Because there are some people who want us to go out and be really heavy-handed and lay down the law. But we cant do that. Theres rules, he said. But on the other hand, people will call anything we do that gets in the way of this activity over policing.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

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HARRISBURG  Two big universities in Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh and Drexel University, changed plans for in-person instruction this fall, as a top Pitt official on Wednesday admonished students in a stark warning about partying and ignoring social distancing.

Pitt's decision to delay the start of in-person instruction came just a few days before it was to start Monday. Online-only classes began Wednesday and students moved into dorms last week. Now, in-person instruction is delayed until Sept. 14.

"Over the past few days, I have been alerted by students, parents and community members that a large number of students are holding and attending parties without wearing face coverings and without observing physical distancing guidelines," the dean of students, Kenyon Bonner, wrote in a message to students. "Let me be clear: Your behavior is threatening a successful fall term for all of us."

Across the state in Philadelphia, Drexel University canceled in-person instruction for undergraduates for the fall quarter, with university officials saying they changed their minds after watching the difficulties at other large universities that have brought students back to campus.

It closed housing and will conduct all undergraduate academic courses remotely, except for some clinical programs in the College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel said.

Some smaller private colleges in Pennsylvania, including Lafayette College and Dickinson College, and several state-owned universities have also made the decision to go remote this fall.

The changes at Pitt and Drexel came a day after Carnegie Mellon University said its fall semester would begin online only for undergraduates.

Pitt Provost Ann Cudd told the campus in an email that the schedule adjustment will allow students to start in-person classes at the same time after they complete a staged arrival and shelter-in-place procedures. About 29,000 students attend Pitt's main campus.

Pitt had said earlier this summer that it will offer certain classes through both in-person and remote instruction. Carnegie Mellon University has said it will offer a hybrid model in which some classes will be conducted strictly online while others will be offered through both in-person and remote instruction.

Pitt initially reported low rates of infection based on early tests of students who arrived on campus.

Marc Levy and Mark Scolforo of The Associated Press wrote this story.
SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of - With unusual candour, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un acknowledged his plans to improve the countrys dismal economy aren't succeeding as his ruling party scheduled a rare congress in January to set development goals for the next five years.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/8/2020 (518 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, attends a plenary meeting of the Workers Party in Pyongyang, North Korea, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020. North Korea has decided to hold a rare ruling party congress in January where leader Kim will announce a new five-year plan to develop the countrys dismal economy ravaged by U.S.-led sanctions and a global pandemic, state media said Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020. 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, Korea, Republic Of - With unusual candour, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un acknowledged his plans to improve the countrys dismal economy aren't succeeding as his ruling party scheduled a rare congress in January to set development goals for the next five years.

The Workers Party said North Koreas economy has not improved in the face of the sustaining severe internal and external situations"  a reference to a triple blow of U.S.-led sanctions, the coronavirus pandemic and devastating floods  and that development goals have been seriously delayed and the peoples living standard (has) not been improved remarkably.

Kim announced his first five-year development plan with goals of improving North Koreas power supply and agricultural and manufacturing production during the last Workers Party congress in 2016, its first in 36 years.

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, speaks during a plenary meeting of the Workers Party in Pyongyang, North Korea, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020. North Korea has decided to hold a rare ruling party congress in January where leader Kim will announce a new five-year plan to develop the countrys dismal economy ravaged by U.S.-led sanctions and a global pandemic, state media said Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020. 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)

But at Wednesday's meeting of the partys decision-making Central Committee, Kim acknowledged economic shortcomings" caused by unexpected and inevitable challenges in various aspects and the situation in the region surrounding the Korean Peninsula, the North's official Korean Central News Agency reported Thursday.

Experts say the coronavirus derailed some of Kims major economic goals after North Korea imposed a lockdown that significantly reduced trade with China  its major ally and economic lifeline  and likely hampered its ability to mobilize its workforce.

In a closed-door briefing to South Korean lawmakers on Thursday, Seouls spy agency said the stress of managing state affairs had caused Kim to recently delegate some of his powers to a select group of senior officials, including his sister Kim Yo Jong, who is now chiefly involved in shaping policies toward Washington and Seoul.

Lawmaker Ha Tae-keung said officials from the National Intelligence Service, which has a mixed track record in reading developments in North Korea's secretive ruling elite, insisted that Kim Jong Uns rule over his country remains absolute. There are no signs that Kim is experiencing health problems or is grooming his sister as his successor, Ha paraphrased NIS officials as saying.

FILE - In this Sept. 19, 2018, file photo, Kim Yo Jong, right, helps her brother North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sign a joint statement following the summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the Paekhwawon State Guesthouse in Pyongyang, North Korea. In a closed-door briefing to South Korean lawmakers on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, Seoul's spy agency said the stress of managing state affairs caused Kim to recently delegate some of his powers to a select group of senior officials, including his sister Kim Yo Jong, who is now chiefly involved in shaping policies toward Washington and Seoul. (Pyongyang Press Corps Pool via AP, File)

Kim Byung-kee, another lawmaker who attended the briefing, said the NIS believes North Koreas foreign currency reserves are being depleting rapidly because of prolonged border controls imposed under its anti-virus campaign which have led to cutbacks in construction and other activities.

The NIS did not confirm the lawmakers comments.

Last week, Kim Jong Un sacked his premier after an evaluation of the Cabinets performance in economic policies. He also said the country was facing a dual challenge of fending off COVID-19 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.

North Korea had originally planned to lavishly celebrate its economic achievements (from Kims first five-year plan) at the Oct. 10 celebration of the 75th anniversary of the partys founding ... but couldnt foresee the huge setbacks caused by COVID-19 and floods, said Cheong Seong-Chang, a senior analyst at South Koreas Sejong Institute.

While scheduling the new party congress for January likely reflects hope that the pandemic will ease by then, North Korea may struggle to fully revive cross-border trade, especially if its poor healthcare system continues to raise concern, Cheong said.

The party congress in January will set forth a correct line of struggle and strategic and tactical policies after reviewing the experience of the last five years, it said in a statement published on KCNA.

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The report didnt directly mention nuclear diplomacy with the United States, which has stalled over disagreements in exchanging sanctions relief and denuclearization steps. But Its possible Kim could use the party congress, which would take place after the U.S. presidential election in November, to announce a new foreign policy approach toward the United States and South Korea.

Kims economic setbacks have left him with nothing to show for his high-stakes summitry with President Donald Trump. Their diplomacy deteriorated after the collapse of their talks last year in Vietnam, when the Americans rejected North Koreas demand for major sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of its nuclear capabilities.

Some experts say the North is likely to avoid serious negotiations with the United States before the election since U.S. leadership could change.

By January, (Kim) will know the result of the U.S. presidential election so may update North Koreas position on denuclearization talks, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

However, North Korea continues to expand its capabilities despite economic challenges and independent of diplomatic signalling. While much of the world is focused on the pandemic and contentious elections, the Kim regime is advancing its nuclear, missile and cyber programs for coercion, not just deterrence.

During the 2016 congress, Kim declared his country will not use its nuclear weapons first unless its sovereignty is threatened and he proposed talks with the South. South Korea had employed a hard line until the 2017 inauguration of President Moon Jae-in, a dovish liberal who met Kim three times in 2018. But bilateral relations have cooled during the stalemate in U.S. nuclear diplomacy and Seoul's refusal to defy the sanctions.
A federal judge on Thursday rejected President Trumps most recent effort to stop the Manhattan district attorney from obtaining his tax returns, despite the presidents argument that the prosecutors grand jury subpoena was wildly overbroad and issued in bad faith.

The ruling by District Judge Victor Marrero follows a decision by the Supreme Court last month that rejected Trumps assertion that presidents are entitled to absolute immunity from criminal probes. After the Courts ruling in July, Trump renewed his efforts to block the subpoena, arguing that it was overbroad and seeking information far beyond the jurisdiction of a local district attorney.

That notion, applied as so robustly proclaimed by the presidents advocates, is as unprecedented and far-reaching as it is perilous to the rule of law and other bedrock constitutional principles on which this country was founded and by which it continues to be governed, Marrero wrote.

Cyrus Vance Jr., the Democratic district attorney for Manhattan, has been investigating alleged hush-money payments made prior to the 2016 election to two women who said they had affairs with Trump. A legal battle ensued after Vance obtained a grand jury subpoena for Trumps accounting firm, Mazars USA.

Vance is seeking eight years of Trumps financial documents, including his personal and corporate tax returns. His office revealed last month that it was also investigating possibly extensive and protracted criminal conduct at the Trump Organization.

The judge rejected the presidents claim that Vances investigation was a politically motivated witch hunt, saying in his decision that established judicial process did not automatically transform into an incidence of incapacitating harassment and ill-will merely because the proceedings potentially may implicate the president.

In response to Thursdays ruling, Trumps personal attorney Jay Sekulow said, We will be filing a stay and an appeal.

Story continues

If the president appeals the decision, the case could return to the Supreme Court.

More from National Review
Senator Kamala Harris Formally Accepts Vice President of the United States Nomination

Kamala Harris is the first Black and Asian American Woman who is on the major party ticket. On Wednesday, August 19, Harris formally accepted her nomination for Vice President of the United States. She spoke of mindfulness, alignment, faith, and the fight this country needs to elevate to a new definition of equality and freedom.

Harris described her workings with Biden will be in unity for the greater good of the Country. She elaborated on the mindset needed for the progression of the United states. The nominated Vice President went through her earliest memories of civic responsibility that were instilled in her. She stated that her mother molded her to be the vessel that she is, She taught us to be conscious and compassionate about the struggles of all people. To believe public service is a noble cause and the fight for justice is a shared responsibility.

As a daughter of South Asian and Jamaican genetic makeup, Harris can identify the uprooting of many family dynamics during this pandemic. She elaborated on the principles instilled in her; Harris relished in the nourishment of her mothers teachings.

Seeds of justice were planted in her, born at the Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, California, Harris bloomed with the determination and perseverance to become a lawyer, district attorney, and US senator. Longing to be the change she wanted to see, Harris wore her court room introduction like a pendant of honor and embodied the statement: Kamala Harris, For the People.

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Nominated Vice President Harris dissected key elements needed to create a land of equity, she shared the experiences she had fighting in court. Fighting for the residents of working-class communities, fighting on behalf of victims of a failed system. Harris expressed that she could recognize the hunter and hunted, and she is well suited for the battle for the sovereignty of fairness.

Harris accepted the nomination, she stated, I do so, committed to the values she taught me. To the Word that teaches me to walk by faith, and not by sight. And to a vision passed on through generations of Americansone that Joe Biden shares. A vision of our nation as a Beloved Communitywhere all are welcome, no matter what we look like, where we come from, or who we love.

She went on to explain that the countrys differences work as the fabric that weaves every American together; it calls for a universal perspective of the infinite worth of human life. Senator Harris stated, Its about us. People of all ages and colors and creeds who are, yes, taking to the streets, and persuading our family members, rallying our friends, organizing our neighbors, and getting out the vote.

However, considering the current social climate stemming from Capitol Hill, Harris stated the Country feels distant. The nominated vice president used the disproportionate severity levels among communities of color to paint a vivid picture; clarifying the methods established by the presently elected are not working.

Harris was very direct with entailing the failed leadership the Country is currently experiencing, Donald Trumps failure of leadership has cost lives and livelihoods. If youre a parent struggling with your childs remote learning, or youre a teacher struggling on the other side of that screen, you know that what were doing right now isnt working.

Senator Harris disclosed the details of her alignment with Biden, she stated, We must elect Joe Biden. I knew Joe as Vice President. I knew Joe on the campaign trail. But I first got to know Joe as the father of my friend. Harris continued, Joe and I believe that we can build that Beloved Community, one that is strong and decent, just and kind. One in which we all can see ourselves.

The level of what is unknown has grown tremendously this year, the Country is heavily influenced with updates on a viral pandemic and must be able to adjust within days. Harris stressed her strong faith in the Biden Administration to be the best guide through this new terrain. She stated, We believe that our countryall of us, will stand together for a better future. We already are.

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Feminine energy cascaded throughout Harris moment of acceptance, sharing the vision of so many that came before her. Women from Harris family virtually contributed their blessing of the nomination.

The road to recovery must start with acknowledgement of the pain. Harris detailed the injustices found in the Black Community; she is the torch that has been passed down through generations to finish the fight.

As the first woman of color nominated for vice president, Harris acknowledged the women that paved the way for her to accept the proposed position on Capitol Hill. She explained her sense of grit to march forward, be steadfast, and having a concrete mission for change came from the women who had to vote just to be heard. Those past advocates fought with an unwavering spirit. That energy is draped over her heart, Harris plans to be planted in that solidarity to be persistent until physical evidence of Justice.

She stated, That I am here tonight is a testament to the dedication of generations before me. Women and men who believed so fiercely in the promise of equality, liberty, and justice for all. This week marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment. And we celebrate the women who fought for that right. Harris found that she shared the same passion as those women.

This is a historic first, generations will refer to this moment as the steepest crack into the glass ceiling that all women face. The name Kamala Harris has been printed on the major party ballet ticket; it is the first of its kind. Senator Harris has cultivated her answer for evolution of human quality to be the vehicle navigated by the Biden Administration. There is a shared goal of moving forward with a new sense of purpose, healing generational wounds, and restoring the health of the nation.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner is endorsing Mike Bloomberg for president, giving the former New York City mayor his biggest Texas endorsement yet as early voting is set to begin in just five days.

We need a president who knows how cities run, Turner said. Its why Im proud to endorse Mike for president, and I look forward to sending him to Washington in November.

The endorsement comes as Bloomberg is scheduled to be in Houston on Thursday night to launch a new initiative called Mike for Black America, which is supposed to help address issues important to the black community and boost voter turnout. Bloomberg is announcing that program just after 8 p.m. at the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum at 3816 Caroline St.

Earlier, Bloomberg will speak at the Harris County Democratic Partys annual Johnson, Rayburn Richards Dinner at the Marriott Marquis Houston.

Its already Bloombergs third visit to Houston in the last six weeks. And in each of those visits, hes been focused on the black community. In his last visit just two weeks ago, Bloomberg was promoting an economic program he plans to launch that he says will create one million more black homeowners and 100,000 new black-owned businesses.

Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

As mayor, Mike embraced New Yorks diversity and made smart investments that brought better infrastructure and greater opportunity to all five boroughs, Turner said.

Bloomberg heaped praise back on Turner, a fellow Democrat who just won re-election in December.

Being a great mayor of a large, diverse city means taking on big challenges that affect millions of people, like infrastructure and climate change, and issues specific to certain groups, like expanding opportunities for young men of color  and Mayor Sylvester Turner has done both amidst the melting pot of cultures in Houston, Bloomberg said.

Bloomberg has been working on getting endorsements from mayors and former mayors. Hes previously announced endorsements from San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser, former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Bloomberg got into the presidential race in November, more than six months after the other leading contenders. But hes skipped the traditional early voting states including Iowa and New Hampshire. Instead, he has been spending big in Super Tuesday voting states, including Texas and California as well as more than a dozen other states.

Polling shows Bloomberg has surged over the last two months. A Quinnipiac University Poll released last week showed that 15 percent of national Democratic voters are supporting Bloomberg  just two percentage points behind former Vice President Joe Biden for second place. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders was leading that poll with 25 percent.

Bloombergs gains in the black community have been a big reason for the jump. His support among black voters jumped to 22 percent in that Quinnipiac Poll. In December, only 4 percent of black voters were supporting him.

Biden, vice president under President Barack Obama, was an early leader in the race and has won endorsements from key Texas Democrats in Congress: U.S. Reps Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen; Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas; Colin Allred, D-Dallas; Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth; and Filemon Vela Jr., D-Brownsville.

Bloombergs visit comes at a time other campaigns are also ramping up activities in Houston and in Texas. Sanders's campaign is scheduled to open a new office in Houston on Thursday night, and Sanders himself will hold a rally in Mesquite in North Texas on Friday night. California billionaire Tom Steyer is opening his first Texas office in Houston, on Thursday morning as well.
Irish church leaders call on worshipers to wear face masks, show 'love for neighbors'

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An ecumenical coalition of churches in Ireland called on those attending in-person worship to wear face masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Leaders representing the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of Ireland, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, and the Methodist Church in Ireland issued the statement on Wednesday. The church leaders noted that while neither the Republic of Ireland nor Northern Ireland have mandated face masks, they said it is our responsibility to ensure that our services of worship are safe places for all who join with us.

It has become increasingly clear that the wearing of face coverings, in conjunction with hand washing etc., is likely to reduce the spread of coronavirus, thus helping to protect others, they stated.

Their use is therefore one way in which we can evidence protection for the most vulnerable, support for our health workers, and practical love for our neighbours.

The church leaders went on to say that they join with Christian church leaders all over this island in formally recommending and encouraging the use of face coverings at all services of worship, along with the ongoing maintenance of 2 metre physical distancing.

This comes while recognizing that some people are exempted from the wearing of face coverings and that it may not be appropriate for those who are leading from the front during worship, including preaching, to wear face coverings.

They advised that worship leaders maintain a distance of four meters from the closest row of the congregation.

Signatories of the joint statement include the Most Rev. Eamon Martin, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh; the Most Rev. John McDowell, Archbishop of Armagh for the Church of Ireland; the Rt. Rev. David Bruce, moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland; and the Rev. Tom McKnight, president of the Methodist Church in Ireland.

Ireland has recorded over 27,000 cases of COVID-19 so far and 1,775 deaths. A recent rise in cases has forced the country to revert back to restrictions such as reducing crowd sizes indoors and outdoors.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, churches across the world that are holding in-person services have taken various measures to curb infections among attendees. tThese have included spacing out attendees, requiring face masks, barring handshakes, encouraging ill members to stay home, and including extra hand sanitizer.

RealClearScience published a report on Wednesday indicating that social distancing measures among Catholic churches in the United States were working in reducing infections.

With approximately 17,000 parishes in America typically holding three or more weekend masses  and a greater number of daily masses  for the last 14 or more weeks  over one million public masses have been celebrated following guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus: in sum, follow the three Ws  watch your distance, wear your mask, and wash your hands, noted the report.

The Good News: for Catholic churches following these guidelines, no outbreaks of COVID-19 have been linked to church attendance, even though we have examples  of asymptomatic, unknowingly infected individuals attending mass and other parish functions.

The researchers explained that they found no evidence of viral transmission among those who attended Mass that could have led to an outbreak if appropriate precautions were not followed.

We also reviewed recent public health and media reports regarding COVID-19 dissemination and found no reports of disease transmission, let alone outbreaks, in a Catholic church following such guidelines, they added.

They also cited cases from the Archdiocese of Seattle where COVID-19-positive individuals participated in events such as a funeral and Mass but did not spread the virus to others as they followed safety guidelines (wearing masks and maintaining six feet of distance from others).
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.
A man restrained for more than 24 hours was found with a gunshot wound inside a car that was pulled over, according to San Antonio police.

Three other occupants in the car have been arrested in connection with the case. Police stopped the vehicle at around 5 p.m. Wednesday in the 4700 block of Blanco Road because it matched the description of a car involved in a possible shooting incident.
A man died at a Carrefour Brasil store in Brazil, but his body was left on the shop floor covered with umbrellas and surrounded by cardboard boxes while the store remained open for business, causing outrage as images went viral on social media.

The incident occurred at a store in the northeastern state of Recife on August 14 but only came to light this week, amid a deluge of criticism on social media that the body was not removed and that the store did not close.

Sales manager Manoel Moises Cavalcante, 59, suffered a heart attack while working in the store. First aid was administered but Cavalcante passed away in the store, according to a statement from Carrefour.

Carrefour Brasil apologised on Wednesday, saying that its handling of the incident was inappropriate.

The body was left on the shop floor, hidden from view with umbrellas and surrounded by cardboard boxes, pictured above

Carrefour Brasil apologised for the incident, saying that its handling of the situation was inappropriate

'The company erred in not closing the store immediately after what happened to await the funeral service, as well as in not finding the correct way to look after the body,' it said.

According to Carrefour, the man was sales manager Manoel Moises Cavalcante, 59, who fell ill inside the store. First aid was given and an ambulance was called.

After the man died, Carrefour said it 'followed guidelines to not remove the body from its place.'

The local subsidiary of France's Carrefour SA, one of the largest retail chains in Brazil, said it has now changed its guidelines to include the mandatory closure of the store in future.

According to Carrefour, the man was sales manager Manoel Moises Cavalcante, 59, (pictured above) who fell ill inside the store

'We apologise to the family and stand ready to support them in whatever way necessary,' Carrefour said in its statement.

This is not the first controversy surrounding the way Carrefour handles incidents in its stores in Brazil.

In 2018, a security guard at a store in the state of Sao Paulo killed a street dog after striking it with a metal bar, a case that caused revulsion on social media and with animal welfare groups.
Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas have been nearly inseparable since they started dating earlier this year.

The couple were flirty as ever when they went hat shopping at the Nick Fouquet boutique in Venice, California on Thursday.

Affleck, 48, looked rather slim during the trip, showing off a more defined jawline while repping his hometown wearing a loose Boston tee shirt

Daily outing: Ben Affleck looked slim while out shopping for hats with girlfriend Ana de Armas on Thursday in Venice, California

His salt and pepper beard gave the actor/director's ensemble a distinguished touch.

Ana was the epitome of boho-chic donning a patterned maxi skirt with a white V-neck and classic panama hat with a velvet ribbon around it.

Once inside the shop Ben seemed a little distracted. Instead of browsing for hats he flirted with the Knives Out actress, gently placing his hand on her backside while she stroked his chin affectionately.

Still, it looked like there shopping trip was successful. Afterwards Ben was seen hauling several large bags out of the shop and into his beloved Range Rover.

Flirts: In the shop Ben touched Ana's behind while she lovingly stroked his beard

Shop 'til you drop! It looked like there shopping trip was successful. Afterwards Ben was seen hauling several large bags

Ben and Ana's shopping trip came amid news that Affleck will be returning to his role as Batman for DC's The Flash.

The Berkeley-born actor played the part of Bruce Wayne in Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice and Justice League, earning mixed reviews for his take on the moody crime-fighter.

But apparently Affleck signed onto the DC Comics project after receiving the script late last week, according to Vanity Fair.

Despite his time as the Dark Knight being divisive, The Flash director Andy Muschietti thinks Ben is the perfect one for the 'masculine' but 'vulnerable' character, telling Vanity Fair: 'He knows how to deliver from the inside out.'

Back in black! Ben is reprising his role as Batman in DC's upcoming project, The Flash. Ben is seen in 2016 above

Lots of opinions: The Berkeley-born, Boston-bred actor played the part of Bruce Wayne in Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice and Justice League (above), earning mixed reviews for his take on the moody crime fighter

'His Batman has a dichotomy that is very strong, which is his masculinitybecause of the way he looks, and the imposing figure that he has, and his jawline but he's also very vulnerable,' Muschietti - who directed It and the followup It 2 - told the magazine about the film, which is slated for a Summer 2022 release.

'He knows how to deliver from the inside out, that vulnerability. He just needs a story that allows him to bring that contrast, that balance.'

While the story will focus on speedy superhero The Flash, AKA Barry Allen, Affleck still plays a key role.

'He's a very substantial part of the emotional impact of the movie. The interaction and relationship between Barry and Affleck's Wayne will bring an emotional level that we haven't seen before,' Muschietti explained.

Speedy: The Flash is being played by Ezra Miller and is planned for a summer 2022 release

'It's Barry's movie, it's Barry's story, but their characters are more related than we think. They both lost their mothers to murder, and that's one of the emotional vessels of the movie. That's where the Affleck Batman kicks in.'

Muschietti is also happy to be working with Affleck because of his experience as a director, saying: 'I'm glad to be collaborating with someone who has been on both sides of the camera, too. He understands.'

The movie, which stars Ezra Miller as The Flash, is based off of the DC's 2011 Flashpoint series, which sees Barry breaking into other dimensions where he'll come face to face with different versions of the classic heroes.

This means Ben isn't the only Batman who is back. Michael Keaton, who starred in Tim Burton's camp-tastic 1989 adventure, will return to the role in what Muschietti described as a 'substantial' part.

Still, the director seen Affleck as an anchor, seeing as he already fought alongside The Flash in Justice League.

His vision: The Flash director Andy Muschietti thinks Ben is the perfect one for the 'masculine' but 'vulnerable' character, telling Vanity Fair: 'He knows how to deliver from the inside out.' Muschietti is seen in 2017 on the set of It above

Multiverse: Michael Keaton, who starred in Tim Burton's camp-tastic 1989 adventure, will also return to the role in what Muschietti described as a 'substantial' part

'He's the baseline. He's part of that unaltered state before we jump into Barry's adventure,' Muschietti said. 'There's a familiarity there.'

Ben almost returned to the role in a standalone film called The Batman, which he was set to star in an direct.

But the project came at a tough personal time for the actor, who was coping with his split from Jennifer Garner and also dealing with alcoholism.

'I showed somebody The Batman script,' Affleck told the New York Times earlier this year. 'They said, "I think the script is good. I also think you'll drink yourself to death if you go through what you just went through again."'

The Batman is now being directed by Matt Reeves, with actor Robert Pattinson in the starring role. The project is currently on hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic but is slated to start shooting again come fall.
A U.S. Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk from the 55th Rescue Squadron turns on its rotors as part of a pre-flight inspection, Aug. 17, 2020, at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. The 55th RQS is participating in Gunfighter Flag 20-1, where it trains with joint and international partners to complete combat and rescue exercises. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Andrew Kobialka)

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Norway Expels Russian Diplomat Amid Espionage Allegations

Sputnik News

Irina Acheeva. Sputnik International

10:31 GMT 19.08.2020(updated 14:07 GMT 19.08.2020)

Police in Norway detained a 50-year-old Norwegian male, accused of giving secret information to a foreign country that "could harm Norway's fundamental interests", on 15 August. The arrested man allegedly met with a Russian intelligence officer.

The Norwegian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it has decided to expel a Russian diplomat from the country in connection with the espionage scandal.

The ministry said that the diplomat is expected to leave the country by the end of this week.

As the head of the communications department at the Norwegian Foreign Ministry, Trude Maaseide, told NRK, the diplomatic department made the decision because "the Russian diplomat met with a Norwegian spy". She also noted that the name of the diplomat will not be announced, but that the expelled official worked in the trade department at the Russian Embassy. According to NRK, the diplomat had acted in a manner that was "incompatible with diplomatic status".

The Russian Embassy in Norway has issued a protest against the detention of its deputy trade representative in Norway.

On 15 August, the Norwegian police security service arrested a person who had reportedly met with a Russian intelligence operative and is suspected of handing over state secrets. The detained Norwegian has refused to admit any guilt and demands to be released from police custody. According to the police security service, he met with a Russian intelligence officer several times. The man could face up to 15 years in prison.

The company DNV GL has confirmed that the arrested person was one of its employees. The company said that he had no access to classified information and that he did not work on any project related to defence.

A Sputnik

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By Ifeanyi Izeze

The relationship between ruling and opposition politicians in this country has always been defined by mutual incredulousness and the barrage of self-serving comments on the latest nullification of the November 2019 Bayelsa state governorship election by the Tribunal underscores this awkwardness.

From everyday happenings in this country, it seems the blindness of justice is designed to guarantee justice just for justices sake. In effect, is justice itself free of its consequences? That is: what purpose does justice serve in society?

No matter how anybody wants to see it, the latest invalidation of the governorship election in the state by the Tribunal is yet another sorry tale in this nations political development especially as concerns what the ordinary people want.

As aptly captured by Abdullahi Yelwa in his comment, On the issue at hand, Bayelsa had suffered series of miscarriages of justice in the name of justice.

At first, the APC won the election decisively but was denied assumption of power because of the judicial pronouncement. The governor elect through no fault of his lost his hard earned victory. As a consequence of that action, the people of Bayelsa suffered irreparable injustice through the loss of their mandate.

Now again, the people are at legal jeopardy for the prospect of losing a government they have come to accept, simply because a political party they hardly know has claimed that injustice had been committed against it.

So is the law saying that to achieve justice for this minority interest, the entire system; the political parties, the electoral umpire and the entire people of Bayelsa State must suffer injustice? So, what is justice and what is its purpose?

The question now is: What did the Tribunal judgement actually say concerning the nullification? Did the Tribunal order a rerun or a fresh election? This question is very imperative because it entails different things to different interest groups especially registered political parties active in the state.

If the tribunal ordered a rerun, it then means only parties which legally participated in the last election would be eligible to take part in the rescheduled process.

On the other hand, if the Tribunal ordered a fresh election, that means that the last election simply didnt exist in law, and all processes leading to it is void.

This simply connotes that all parties that were on the ballot, including the excluded party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) would participate because in the eyes of the law, nothing happened on the 16th November, 2019.

You see the confusion?

Meanwhile the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is insisting 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.

For sure we dont need to be told that as long as these cases drag in the courts, there is not going to be any tangible development and focused governance in the state. Meanwhile monies from federal allocations and other sources of revenue that would have been applied to improve the lives of our people will still be spent on intangibles as the people who are currently holding on to power are not even sure they wont be replaced by another gang by another gang coming with another court ruling.

How long can Bayelsa afford to continue in this cyclic sequence of retrogression?

Recall that the tribunal in the majority judgment delivered by Justice Yunusa Musa voided the outcome of the election that held in the state on November 16, 2019, over the exclusion of one of the registered political parties, Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party, ANDP, in the contest.

ANDP had in a petition it lodged before the tribunal, contended that it was unlawfully excluded from participating in the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, despite the fact that it fulfilled all the statutory requirements.

The majority judgement, agreed that INEC illegally excluded ANDP and its governorship candidate, King George, from the election.

However, disagreeing with the verdict, the tribunal Chairman, Justice Sirajo, said there was evidence that ANDP was disqualified from the election for fielding an ineligible candidate.

He noted that the party nominated an under-aged deputy governorship candidate, who admitted that he was 34 years old, instead of the 35 years age bracket the Constitution stipulated.

Justice Sirajo said there was evidence that the party failed to substitute the candidate till the statutory window for such substitution elapsed.

According to the Justice Sirajo, what the petitioners brought before the tribunal was a pre-election case since INECs decision that disqualified its candidates occurred before the actual election held on November 16, 2019.

He held that under section 285(9) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the party, ought to have within 14 days after it got the notification from INEC, gone to a Federal High Court to challenge it.

The tribunal chairman held that failure of the party to do so made its petition against governor Diris election, statute-barred.

Meanwhile the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is insisting 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.

When will all these finish for the Bayelsa people to begin to enjoy the dividends of having a state government? You see its still a long way to go. God bless Bayelsa State!
The Hindustani Awam Morcha of former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi exited the opposition Grand Alliance on Thursday, dealing a blow to the opposition's bid to defeat the National Democratic Alliance led by Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal-United in the state assembly elections due in October-November.

IMAGE: After Nitish Kumar returned to the NDA in July 2017, Jitan Ram Manjhi broke ranks with the ruling alliance and became part of the opposition formation. Photograph: ANI Photo

The HAM's core committee authorised the Dalit leader to take a call on whether to merge with another party or coalition, or go to the hustings alone, a top party leader said.

"The HAM will no longer be a constituent of the grand alliance. The party has decided to leave the Mahagathbandhan," party spokesman Danish Rizwan told reporters.

The decision to walk out of the five-party opposition coalition in Bihar was taken at the HAM's core committee meeting at Manjhi's residence in Patna, Rizwan said.

Assambly elections are due in the state in October-November and the Election Commission has indicated it would go ahead with the electoral exercise notwithstanding concerns expressed by oposition parties that it could lead to further spread of the coronavirus disease.

Though the party did not declare which coalition it will align with after walking out of the Rashtriya Janata Dal-led Grand Alliance, close watchers of the evolving political scene in Bihar said Manjhi could veer towards the JDU-led NDA once again.

Though no JD-U frontline leader admitted as much on the record, many in the party feel Manjhi could compensate for the loss of Shyam Rajak, the ruling party's Dalit face, who crossed over to the RJD, a few days ago.

Rajak was a minister in the cabinets of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and Kumar.

"The party has authorised its president to decide the future course of action," Rizwan said, adding whatever decision he takes will be acceptable to all.

With the exit of HAM, the opposition Grand Alliance now comprises the RJD, Congress, former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samata Party and ex-Bollywood set designer Mukesh Sahni's Vikassheel Insan Party.

Holding the RJD responsible for the failure to form a coordination committee to iron out the differences within the alliance for better functioning, Rizwan said, "Leaders who do not listen to the constituent partners, will they listen to the people after coming to power?"

The barb was apparently directed at Lalu Prasad's RJD, which has already declared his son Tejashwi Prasad Yadav as its chief ministerial candidate.

"Our leader Jitan Ram Manjhi has categorically stated that there is no point in continuing with the alliance which does not follow democratic norms and listen to its partners," Rizwan said.

Even Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had said during a virtual meeting of his party in the state recently that a coordination committee will be formed within a week, but nothing happened, he added.

He said both Kushwaha and Sahni had backed the idea of a coordination committee but the RJD leadership paid no heed.

Manjhi, a former Bihar chief minister, was appointed by Nitish Kumar as his successor after the JD-U's dismal performance in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, when it managed to win just two of the state's 40 seats.

Nitish Kumar owned moral responsibility for the defeat and relinquished the top job, but a year later wanted Manjhi to vacate the post for him.

Manjhi formed the HAM, quit the NDA in February 2018, and joined the Grand Alliance.

The party contested three Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 general elections as part of the Grand Alliance but drew a blank.
A Leaving Cert student who was home-schooled by his mother has won his High Court challenge against the Education Minister's decision to exclude him from the calculated grades process.

Elijah Burke, from Cloonsunna, Castlebar, Co Mayo, claimed the exclusion of students tutored by a parent or close relative from the calculated grades process breached his rights and was unfair and discriminatory, and he was being punished for being home schooled.

He claimed that as a result of the State's decision he would not be able to progress to third level education for at least another year.

In a significant judgement yesterday, Mr Justice Charles Meenan held that the calculated grade system that excludes home-schooled students on the grounds that a teacher has a conflict of interest was "irrational, unreasonable and unlawful".

Judge Meenan said the minister had refused to give Elijah a calculated grade because he had been taught by his mother Martina Burke, who is a qualified teacher, which was deemed to be a conflict of interest.

The court noted that a system was in place in schools to deal with scenarios where a Leaving Cert student has been taught by a parent or close relative.

"I am satisfied that a non-conflicted or independent teacher or teachers ought to be involved in the place of Elijah's mother in the system for the award of the estimated mark in each of the teen's Leaving Certificate subjects," said the judge.

Should it be possible to award the student marks, the process set out by the Department of Education for the awarding of calculated grades can operate for Elijah, the judge added.

During the hearing the court heard that around 10 other students were in the same situation as Elijah.

The judge said he was satisfied to quash the minister's refusal to provide Elijah with a calculated grade.

The judge also said he was satisfied to make a declaration that the refusal to provide Elijah with a calculated grade was "contrary to law".

Elijah has applied to do a degree in either biomedical sciences or history with music at National University of Ireland, Galway.

Excelled

The 18-year-old is one of 10 siblings who have all been educated at home by their mother, who have all excelled academically.

The judgement was delivered by electronic means and final orders in the case will be mentioned before the court at a later date.
LONGMONT, CO / ACCESSWIRE / August 19, 2020 / Evolutionary Genomics, Inc., an agricultural biotech company engaged in crop improvement through discovery of genes in wild relatives of domestic crops announced an agreement with Dole Food Company for development and commercialization of TR4 Fusarium resistant banana plants.

The TR4 strain of Fusarium fungus threatens to devastate the banana industry which relies on the Cavendish variety developed in the 1950s in response to the decimation of the global banana industry by a previous race of Fusarium. Widespread in Asia and, in 2019, spread to South America, plantations infected are rendered useless for decades.

Evolutionary Genomics (EG) discovered a gene found in wild banana varieties that are resistant to the fungus. EG and Dole Food Company have entered into an agreement to use EG's FusR1 gene to develop Cavendish-based varieties that restore the plant's natural ability to fight the pathogen.

"We are very excited to be partnering with Dole Food Company, the premier fruit company in the world leading the industry's efforts to solve this crisis" said Steve Warnecke, CEO of EG. "We look forward to developing TR4 Fusarium resistant plants that produce the current highly-prized consumer traits of the Cavendish banana available for commercial production in three to four years. The development of these resistant banana plants will help to maintain the sustainability of this highly critical food supply and economic driver for many parts of the world."

"This new partnership with EG further illustrates Dole's efforts to reach a solution against the threat posed by TR4 to our industry and communities," stated Xavier Roussel, VP of Marketing and Sustainability at Dole. "While Dole is leading partnership efforts with EG, our hope is that when a successful solution is found by any of the research programs around the world, banana growers worldwide will be able to share in its adoption."

Story continues

EG's research program will develop several cultivars in cooperation with a leading university research lab. Upon successful completion, Dole will test the resulting plants in field trials and then embark on broad commercialization under a licensing agreement with EG.

About Evolutionary Genomics, Inc.

Evolutionary Genomics, Inc. has developed a technology platform, the Adapted Traits Platform ("ATP"), to identify commercially valuable genes that control important traits in animals and plants. We are using the ATP to identify genes to improve crop plant traits such as yield, sugar content, biomass, drought tolerance, and pest/disease resistance. Our platform identifies key genes that have changed successfully to impart new or improved traits. To find more about Evolutionary Genomics, Inc. (OTCQB: FNAM), please visit www.evolgen.com.

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements including continued compliance with government regulations, changing legislation or regulatory environments; any statements of expectation or belief and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. These risks, uncertainties and other factors, and the general risks associated with the businesses of the Company described in the reports and other documents filed with the SEC, could cause actual results to differ materially from those referred to in the forward-looking statements. The Company cautions readers not to rely on these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company and are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause its views to change. The information contained in this report speaks as of the date hereof and the Company has or undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law.

Investor and Media Contact:

Steve Warnecke, CEO

swarnecke@evolgen.com

SOURCE: Evolutionary Genomics, Inc.





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/602031/Evolutionary-Genomics-Announces-Partnership-with-Dole-Food-Company-to-Save-Cavendish-Bananas




The average Atlantic hurricane season creates 12 named storms. But this year, 2020, is anything but average.

There have already been 11 named storms at the (almost) half-way point, and there's two tropical depressions and one disturbance currently being tracked. One of these tropical depressions appears to be headed toward Texas, as of Thursday at 10 a.m. CDT.

With mid-August through October being the historical peak for storms, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently upped its forecast to as many as 25 named storms before the 2020 season ends Nov. 30.

Were looking already at a very, very active season so far, said Isha Renta, a National Weather Service forecaster. And as we head into the peak of the hurricane season, which is upcoming in the next month, we can definitely expect more activity.

In May, NOAA had forecast up to 19 named storms.

TEXAS FLOOD MAP: Your guide to long-term flood-risk data for Houston neighborhoods

There are several factors contributing to this especially active season, Renta said. First, theres a possible La Nina developing in the next couple of months. La Nina condition occurs when surface water in the equatorial regions of the eastern Pacific Ocean becomes cooler than normal. La Nina can enhance hurricane activity in the Atlantic, whereas the opposite condition, El Nino, helps to suppress hurricane activity.

Now Playing: National Weather Service forecaster Isha Renta tells Houston Chronicle reporter Andrea Leinfelder why we've seen so many named storms so far in 2020 -- and why we can expect to see a whole lot more before it's over. Video: Yi-Chin Lee

There are also warmer-than-normal surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, which acts as fuel for hurricanes. And the west African monsoon is above average, meaning tropical waves coming from Africa into the Caribbean are going to be stronger.

Were looking into different factors that are coming together for this season, Renta said, (which is) expected to be one of the most active ones.

Its the warmer sea temperatures thats most concerning for Jim Blackburn, co-director of the Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters Center at Rice University. He said heat in the water can lead to the massive intensification of storms.

(Hurricane) Harvey almost went away over the Yucatan Peninsula, Blackburn said, and then reemerged in the Bay of Campeche and intensified almost overnight from a tropical system to a Cat 4 storm. That rapid intensification is what really worries me.

He said the sheer number of this years named storms means the number of big storms could increase. NOAAs Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service, is forecasting 19 to 25 named storms, of which seven to 11 could become hurricanes including three to six major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or greater.

Of the 11 named storms thus far, only two have becomes hurricanes (Hanna and Isaias). The rest have been tropical storms.

The National Hurricane Center was tracking two tropical depressions and one disturbance as of Thursday at 10 a.m. CDT. One of these tropical depressions, over the central Caribbean Sea, is on a trajectory that has historically led storms toward Texas. It's expected to move into the south-central Gulf of Mexico as a tropical storm on Sunday.

Based on past storms, Blackburn said storms that move between the Yucatan Peninsula  which has parts of Mexico, Belize and Guatemala  and Cuba have a higher likelihood of coming into the Texas coast with that type of trajectory.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Future hurricanes more likely to be fast-moving storms like Ike, Rice researcher says

The National Weather Service office for Houston and Galveston said there is still a lot of uncertainty this far out, but the latest forecast calling for the tropical depression to gradually organize and strengthen "increases the chances of impacts early next week along the upper TX Coast."

The tropical depression, east of the Windward Islands, appears more likely to curve up into the northeast Gulf of Mexico and Florida region, according to the Thursday morning update.

Ultimately, there are 21 names selected for storms this hurricane season. If there are more than 21 storms with winds of at least 39 mph, which most recently happened in 2005 with 27 named storms, they are named using the Greek alphabet  Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, etc.

This article was updated Thursday morning with the latest information from the National Hurricane Center.
Elon Musk wants every Tesla car to play elevator music. How to achieve it? The CEO plans to build a new feature that will allow the vehicle's external speakers to spread the joy of jazz wherever it goes by playing elevator music.

Also Read: Elon Musk Says Tesla Roadster Will Have Centerlock Wheels Like Those F1 Cars

Aside from playing the music, the new feature will also serve as a warning signal when drivers are near a pedestrian lane. Currently, most electric vehicles in many markets are required to have a warning sound since they are quiet at low speeds.

New Tesla feature coming that enables your car to play snake jazz or Polynesian elevator music through its outside speakers wherever you go  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 20, 2020

Also Read: Elon Musk: Tesla's 'Beast' Neural Network AI System 'Dojo' Will Train Autopilot 4D Imaging in EVs

"New Tesla feature coming that enables your car to play "snake jazz" or Polynesian elevator music through its outside speakers wherever you go," captioned Musk on his tweet.

Ever since Tesla cars were equipped with external speakers, Musk has created new ideas to launch other features that will take advantage of the speakers. His latest idea is to release a new feature that will make the external speakers play "Polynesian elevator music" and "Snake jazz," which was played on an episode of the TV cartoon series, Rick and Morty. In one of the episodes of the series, the duo encountered a planet of snakes that have played jazz music.

Elevator music is underrated  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 19, 2020

Elon Musk also tweeted about elevator and jazz music, saying that it is underrated.

Other features Elon Musk release for external speakers

The elevator music is not the first feature Elon Musk released on Tesla's external speakers. He previously claimed that Tesla cars would soon be capable of talking to the operators.

Tesla's CEO has always wanted to push for better voice commands to control vehicles. He said that the vehicles would have a new feature that will allow it to answer back, just like a "Knight Rider KITT-like artificial intelligence."

Musk even released a demo video on Jan. 12, showing that the car can talk.

"But don't just stand there staring, hop in," said the vehicle in the video.

Teslas will soon talk to people if you want. This is real. pic.twitter.com/8AJdERX5qa  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 12, 2020

In 2019, the car manufacturer released an update to Model 3 for an audible tone to play when the car is moving slowly in either reverse or drive. Although the release date of the feature was not disclosed, Musk confirmed that it would work with Tesla's fart mode and Sentry Mode.

For more news updates about Elon Musk's technology, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Also Read: Tesla to Build 4,000 Superchargers in Key Cities, Sales Expected to Reach 100,000 in China By End of 2020

This article is owned by TechTimes,

Written by: Giuliano de Leon.





 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
MINSK, Belarus - As a former culture minister and ambassador to France, Pavel Latushko is the most well-connected member of a new council established by the political opposition in Belarus to facilitate a transition of power amid massive protests challenging the continued rule of the countrys authoritarian five-term president.

Defying the government he previously served has earned Latushko threats. His house in Minsk was doused with red paint overnight. Prosecutors opened a criminal probe into the opposition council Thursday. But the dapper 47-year-old ex-diplomat appears uncowed.

Latushko, once an associate of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and a member of the political elite, rejects accusations that the Coordination Council is plotting to overthrow the leader of 26 years, arguing that the group is seeking dialogue between the government and protesters.

There is no other way, Latushko told The Associated Press in an interview. The society is offering that mechanism to the authorities to conduct a dialogue. Even if strikes subside, they will resume in half a year.

The 65-year-old president so far has rebuffed opposition offers for dialogue and threatened the council members with criminal charges. The probe by national prosecutors focuses on potential charges of violating the constitution and threatening national security, accusations the opposition leaders dismiss as unfounded.

After leaving the Belarus Embassy in Paris, Latushko served as the head of the Ylanka Kupala national theatre in Minsk. He was fired earlier this week after expressing solidarity with the demonstrators who took to the streets to protest the official results of the Aug. 9 vote that declared Lukashenkos re-election to a sixth term by a landslide.

Latushko said that he couldnt remain silent after seeing the brutal police crackdown on the peaceful post-election protests. His theatre troupe quit en masse in protest against his dismissal.

He said he has received repeated threats and warnings to leave the country and that he sent his daughter and mother abroad. On a sombre note, he warned that if reports surface about him changing course and accepting the election results, it would mean that he spoke under duress, perhaps after being drugged.

Yes, I fear arrest, Latushko told the AP. But I say that I havent committed any criminal offence and Im not breaking the law by expressing my opinion. I have no intention to leave the country.

Nearly 7,000 people were detained and hundreds were injured in the first four days of protests. Police dispersed the demonstrators with rubber bullets, stun grenades and clubs. At least three protesters died, and many of the detainees described savage beatings, torture and abuse in police custody.

That has drawn a line for me, Latushko said. Actors were saying, My brother was detained and many people suffered abuse. Those horrible scenes couldnt leave me indifferent.

Latushko acknowledged that a lack of leaders presents challenges for the protest movement, but he noted that it couldnt be otherwise in a country where Lukashenko has relentlessly stifled dissent.

Lukashenkos main challenger in the presidential race, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, left for neighbouring Lithuania in the wake of the vote under pressure from the authorities. The Coordination Council includes her top associates, prominent journalists, rights activists and representatives of striking factory workers. It also includes the nations most famous author, Svetlana Alexievich, who won the 2015 Nobel Prize in literature.

But Latushko is the only former senior official in the group, and he brings a close knowledge of Lukashenko and the inner workings of the Belarusian leaders regime.

Latushkos experience also makes him a perfect candidate for sensitive negotiations with the government, and the years he spent as an ambassador to France, Spain and Poland mean hed be well-prepared for talks with foreign officials.

He thinks many Belarusian officials are repulsed by the brutal crackdown, and fear speaking out but nevertheless could put a wrench in the wheels of the state machine.

The state apparatus is demotivated, Latushko said. I felt and saw that the vast majority of government officials are tired of that pressure and are ready for changes, they want those changes.

He said many public servants secretly detest the powerful role of the Belarusian State Security Committee, which still goes under its Soviet-era name: the KGB.

The KGB trace is clearly visible in the election campaign, he said. While its nominally responsible for protecting security of the state, it has undermined public confidence in state institutions. It has caused the society to explode and do its own vote count.

Latushko isnt driven by anger over Russias continued influence in Belarus. Neither is the anti-government protest movement, unlike the 2014 protests in Ukraine that ousted the countrys Russia-leaning former president.

Latushko says its important for Belarus to keep close relations with Moscow while developing ties with the West.

We have very broad relations with Russia, he said, adding that Moscow is interested in seeing a stable Belarus.

However, Latushko noted that many Belarusians are starting to ask why Russia has remained tight-lipped about the harsh crackdown on protests and failed to condemn it.

It would be an ideal option if the European Union and Russia jointly play mediators to help settle the Belarusian crisis, he said.

___

This story has been corrected to show that Latushkos brother was not detained but actors he worked with had relatives detained.

___

Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow and Angela Charlton in Paris contributed.
By Express News Service

MULUGU: Due to the incessant rains in Mulugu over the last one week, a big part of a bridge caved in on Thursday, as the Jampanna Vagu is overflowing. The bridge connected the villages of Dodla, Mallyala and Chinaboinapalle in Eturunagaram mandal to the outside world. With the bridge caving in, the villages are presently marooned.

The bridge was connected to National Highway (NH)-163 that links Hyderabad and Bhupalapatnam town in Chhattisgarh. The state government spent Rs 5 crore for construction of the bridge and had inaugurated it in 2015.

Speaking to The New Indian Express, Eturunagaram Inspector P Naga Babu said that local villagers informed them about the bridge caving in. The police reached the spot immediately and installed barricades to block roads on both sides of the bridge to restrict movement of vehicles on the bridge.

Jampanna Vagu has inundated the entire Medaram village. The floodwaters entered Sammakka Saralamma temple altars as well. Revenue and police officials evacuated the villagers and shifted them to government shelters in Tadvai mandal.

With Ramappa Lake overflowing due to heavy rains, NH 163 was inundated at Jangalapally. Traffic movement has been hit because of the situation as vehicles are moving with caution on this section of the road.

Two persons got washed away in the water near Jangalapally village in Mulugu mandal in the district on Thursday. Police reached the spot and rescue operations are going on.
The founder of a technology consultancy is bringing a legal case against Marriott Hotels at the High Court over claims that it failed to protect the data of hundreds of millions of customers.

Martin Bryant is leading the lawsuit which seeks compensation on behalf of England and Wales residents whose data was exposed after they made reservations with the Marriott-owned Starwood Hotels group.

Hackers gained access to the Starwood guest reservation database in 2014. Marriott eventually discovered the breach in September 2018, and later made customers aware of it two months later.

Marriott, which purchased Starwood Hotels in 2016, was fined 99million by the ICO over the episode, whom US officials have accused China of masterminding

An investigation by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) found that the personal details of 339 million guests across the world were affected by the cyberattack.

About seven million UK guest records were affected by the breach, which saw credit card records, dates of birth, and passport and telephone numbers among the information stolen by hackers.

Marriott, which purchased Starwood Hotels in 2016, was fined 99million by the ICO over the episode, whom US officials have accused China of masterminding, claims that the Chinese state has denied.

Bryant accuses the world's largest hotel chain of violating data protection legislation, claiming it did not 'take adequate steps to ensure the security of guests' personal data, and to prevent unauthorised and unlawful processing of that data.'

The former editor-in-chief of technology website The Next Web currently runs the business and marketing consultancy Big Revolution. He hopes the case will make society put greater value on people's personal data.

Law firm Hausfeld is representing him in the case, which is being funded by Harbour Litigation. Hotel guests affected by the action are not liable for any costs of the legal action.

Bryant's action has been filed in the High Court after a legal decision last year that a collective action could be served against Google over alleged unlawful tracking of iPhone users

In a statement on his website, Bryant said the ICO sanction does not go far enough in encouraging Marriott to change its behaviour.

He writes: 'If a major corporation suffers a breach because it didn't do everything it could to protect your data, and the worst it suffers is a fine for breaking data protection rules, there's little incentive for anything to really change.

'But if the company becomes accountable to the customers whose data they lost, it's a different matter.'

The suit covers any person domiciled in England and Wales who stayed at 11 hotel brands belonging to Marriott including Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, Design Hotels, and The Luxury Collection in the relevant period before September 10 2018.

Bryant accuses the Marriott of not taking 'adequate steps to ensure the security of guests' personal data, and to prevent unauthorised and unlawful processing of that data'

The class action has been filed in the High Court after a Court of Appeal decision last year that a collective action could be served against Google over alleged unlawful tracking of iPhone users in 2011 and 2012 through third-party cookies. Google is appealing the case.

Reuters said a London-based spokeswoman for Marriott was not immediately available for comment.

Marriott fell victim to a hack again this year when it confessed in March that the information of up to five million guests had been accessed by someone using the log-in details of two staff members at a franchise property.

It came just as the company was reeling from the fallout of the plummeting demand for hotel rooms caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

It said it had notified the relevant authorities of the breach and had begun an investigation when it discovered the breach and did not think it would bear large costs from the incident.
Students sit beneath the portraits of late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il during a tour for visiting foreign media, in a classroom at a teacher training college in Pyongyang on September 7, 2018.

Authorities in North Korea have sent more than 50 female students of two prominent Pyongyang performing arts colleges to a labor camp for their alleged involvement in a prostitution ring that catered to the capital citys elites, sources in the country told RFA Wednesday.

The sources, who told RFA that the prostitution crackdown has spread to the provinces, said many of the women were driven into prostitution by poverty brought on by endless demands from their highly selective schools for fees.

RFA previously reported that four party officials and two others were executed by firing squad on July 20 in Pyongyang, accused of buying sex or pimping in a network of paid trysts between senior officials and students at a high-end public bathhouse.

Sources told RFA last month they believed that the executions could have been ordered by leader Kim Jong Un, a supporter of the arts, who was said to be angered that the students, on track to be future film stars, were selling themselves.

"I know that about 50 female college students at the Pyongyang University of Music and Dance and Pyongyang University of Dramatic and Cinematic Arts were punished for prostitution from three to six months in a disciplinary labor center," a Pyongyang official, who asked not to be named for security reasons, told RFA's Korean Service.

The investigation revealed that some 200 students in the schools were connected to the sex ring, with most punished with reeducation. Sources said investigations into colleges and universities in other parts of the country were now underway.

A joint investigation was conducted by the Central Committee and law enforcement authorities into [the two schools] after the public executions," the source said.

"It was found through that investigation that more than 200 students were involved," the source added.

Schools squeeze students for cash

Though many of the students were implicated, about half of them were not punished as harshly because they had only loose connections, according to the source.

"About 100 were sentenced only to reeducation sessions because they weren't deeply involved. But about 50 who were suspected of being habitually involved in the sex trade itself, or leading their fellow students into prostitution, were reportedly expelled from the school and sent to a disciplinary labor center to be punished," the source said.

fMany of the students involved were hard-pressed for money  drained by arbitrary fees paid to the prestigious schools, which are under government pressure to raise money.

The central education authorities give economic tasks to colleges and universities, so they collect large amounts of money from the students every day. The female college students who have difficult family circumstances are thereby forced into prostitution.

Since the Pyongyang scandal, investigators have turned their attention to colleges and universities in other parts of the country.

Authorities in North Hamgyong province have begun a crackdown on the sex trade at schools in Chongjin, the provinces largest city.

An intensive crackdown on sex trade workers was conducted in Chongjin from July 20 to 30, a member of a law enforcement agency, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told RFA.

About 40 people involved in prostitution were caught, the second source said.

I know that among the 40 women who were arrested for prostitution, many are students at colleges in Chongjin, the second source said, adding, Recently the colleges started raising money from the students on various pretexts, so the female students in difficult circumstances jump into the sex trade.

Actors banished

The second source said that prostitution among college students is commonplace, and is a reflection of the peoples difficult living circumstances.

Unless the economic difficulties of young people are resolved, especially the excessive burden on female college students, it will be difficult to root out prostitution by punishment alone, the second source said.

The arts students were not the only casualties of the investigationseveral North Korean film personalities were also punished, the first source said.

"The case also involved well-known actors who were highly regarded by [former leaders] Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, the Pyongyang official said.

The actors, who served as professors at the [two Pyongyang] schools, were able to avoid execution. They were, however, banished into internal exile in rural areas, the source added.

Kim Jong Uns father and predecessor Kim Jong Il had been a champion of the cinema, having fashioned himself as a visionary director with several films under his belt, all of which are widely considered to be propaganda.

While prostitution is illegal in North Korea, it is generally tolerated, but with occasional crackdowns through which authorities can extract bribes from those caught in the act.

RFA reported in 2018 that authorities were cracking down on Chinese businessmen who were caught buying sex in the Rason Special Economic Zone in the countrys northeast. In some cases, the businessmen were made to pay bribes as high as U.S. $10,000.

Reported by Sewon Kim for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Guangdong Xiaopeng Motors Technology Co.,Ltd. (called Guangdong Xiaopeng for short), a wholly-owned subsidiary of XPeng (Hong Kong) Limited, has seen its registered capital surge to 15 billion yuan ($2,167,191,000) from 6 billion yuan ($866,876,400), according to the Chinese corporate data platform Tianyancha.

Founded in June 2019, Guangdong Xiaopeng has a line of businesses including the R&D and development of automotive engineering technologies, the car leasing service and the EV charging service. Xia Heng, the co-founder and president of Xpeng Motors, serves as its legal representative.



(Photo source: Xpeng Motors)



Xpeng Motors officially filed for a U.S. initial public offering on August 8 to trade under the symbol XPEV. If the listing search goes smoothly, Xpeng will become the third Chinese EV startup that goes public in the U.S. after NIO and Li Auto.

On July 20, the startup announced the signing of its Series C+ financing of around $500 million with a group of investors including Aspex, Coatue, Hillhouse and Sequoia Capital China. The company said the funding round further enhances its commitment to serving the large and growing base of technology-savvy middle-class consumers in China by providing Smart EV experiences empowered by advanced technology.

Only half a month later, local media outlets reported that Xpeng Motor has raised $300 million from Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, Qatar Investment Authority and other investors. The new capital injection will swell Xpengs C+ round of financing to $800 million. However, Xpeng declined to comment on the fundraising.
The Sudanese migrant who drowned trying to cross the English Channel has been named as Abdulfatah Hamdallah.

A French official confirmed his identity to The Independent amid an investigation into his death.

His last Facebook post, made on 17 June, was a photograph of himself and a friend with the caption: We walk on the palm of fate, and do not know what is written.

Philippe Sabatier, Boulogne-sur-Mers deputy public prosecutor, said a travel document being carried by Mr Hamdallah gave his age as 28.

His friend, who survived when their small dinghy capsized, had told rescuers he was 16.

Mr Sabatier said the pair had been living in the Calais Jungle camp for two months before attempting the crossing, but that investigators had not yet pieced together their journey to France.

I dont know if he had applied for asylum with British authorities, but he appears to have done so with the French authorities, he added.

The Independent understands that Mr Hamdallah, who was known by the nickname Wajdi, had not lodged an asylum claim or been referred for resettlement in the UK.

He and a friend had stolen an inflatable boat from a shop in Sangatte, then taken shovels from a beachside chalet to use as oars.

The vessel was a small dinghy that can be purchased in supermarkets, officials said, and inflated by mouth.

Mr Sabatier said the survivor told officials one of the shovels had punctured the boat and caused them to fall into the sea.

Abdulfatah Hamdallah died while attempting to cross the English Channel on 19 August 2020 (Facebook)

Mr Hamdallahs friend managed to reach the shore, suffering from hypothermia, and alerted authorities shortly after 1am on Wednesday.

[He said] that they capsized and his companion must still be in the water, said a statement from the maritime prefecture for the Channel. He also warned that his companion could not swim.

A sea search was carried out using boats and a Belgian air force helicopter, but was called off at around 4.30am when nothing was found.

Authorities were alerted to the discovery of the body at 8am and official announcements by French authorities originally said he was 16.

Recommended No plans for Royal Navy to block migrant crossings after UN warning

Priti Patel appeared to blame abhorrent criminal gangs, but Mr Sabatier said the migrants acted on their own initiative and there was no known link with a smuggling network.

A French politician blamed the British government for causing the death, amid continuing talks aiming to reduce the number of migrants attempting crossings.

Pierre-Henri Dumont, who represents Calais in the French National Assembly, said the death was what we all feared.

How many more tragedies will it take for the British to regain an ounce of humanity? he added.

The inability to apply for asylum in Britain without being physically present is causing these tragedies.

Mr Dumont said that migrants living in informal camps around Calais, despite a series of forced evictions in recent years, did not want asylum in France and had refused state support.

A parliamentary report released in November said dire conditions in camps in the area were among the driving factors behind increasing migrant sea crossings.

Abdulfatah Hamdallah died while attempting to cross the English Channel on 19 August 2020 (Facebook)

Focusing on increasing border security without improving conditions in the region may have the counterproductive effect of forcing migrants to make desperate journeys across the Channel, the Foreign Affairs Committee said.

The UK should work closely with French authorities to improve the conditions for migrants. It should ensure efficient processing of asylum claims by those with relatives in the UK, and make it a priority to maintain close bilateral cooperation with France after Brexit, including on these claim.

Family members, who have put Mr Hamdallahs age at 22, reportedly said he had fled the Sudanese state of West Kordofan  which borders the conflict-ridden region of Darfur  in 2014, before travelling on to Libya and then France via Italy. He is understood to have had his asylum claim in France rejected before attempting to move on to the UK.

His older brother, Al-Fatih Hamdallah, who remains in Libya, told The Guardian: In France, they rejected his case so he decided to leave to the UK. He had been living in France for the last three years. He wanted to have a better life from the horror we used to live in, but what happened has happened.

Mr Hamdallahs death came weeks after the Home Office announced a new joint action plan with France and put a former royal marine in the post of clandestine Channel threat commander, Dan OMahoney.

He met with representatives from Frances interior ministry, maritime and defence officials on Thursday, and visited the Calais centre where French and British officials are working to tackle crossings.

Mr OMahoney said: Yesterdays incident, where a Sudanese migrant lost his life attempting to cross the Channel, served as a tragic reminder of the vital importance of the work the UK and France are engaged in to make this route completely unviable.

At meetings I have held in Paris and Calais today there were positive discussions about enhancing operations with increased surveillance, aerial support, further intelligence-sharing and patrols in northern France. I look forward to returning in the coming weeks to progress these discussions.

The RAF has sent surveillance aircraft to assist the Border Force, after the UK gave France millions of pounds to increase security along its coastline.

The shadow home secretary, Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, said the governments response to rising Channel crossings had been lacking in compassion and competence.

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

Ministers urgently need to step up work with international partners to find a humanitarian solution to this crisis, which is costing lives, he added.

Maurice Wren, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said the tragedy should be a wake-up call for the government.

He added: Talking tough is putting lives at risk. Its time for Britain and France to work together to ensure that no one else needlessly loses their life on these perilous journeys.

Safe and regular routes to the UK must be put in place immediately for people fleeing war and persecution.

Mr Hamdallah is one of at least five migrants to drown while attempting to cross the English Channel in the past year.

In May, a drowned migrant was found at the port of Calais, two men were found on Touquet beach in October and in August 2019, an Iranian woman drowned.

United Nations figures show that more than 19,500 migrants have lost their lives attempting to reach Europe across the Mediterranean Sea since 2014, but the death toll for the English Channel is not formally recorded.

The Border Force said 164 people travelling on 11 vessels reached the UK on Wednesday, bringing the total for 2020 to almost 5,000.

Last week, the UN Refugee Agency called for the British and French governments to make saving lives the first priority.
Guilty and Confused: Yes, you should confess what youve done, because, yes, it is the truth! The truth is the truth, and if you want to have an honest, authentic relationship, then you should both ask and answer questions about past and current relationships. Do not confront her in anger or accuse her of anything (she doesnt seem to have done anything wrong); simply ask her to talk to you about her likes and loves, past and present.
Laura Loomer during a rally on July 6, 2019 in Washington, DC. Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)

Right-wing commentator Laura Loomer won the Republican primary on Tuesday night for Florida's 21st Congressional District, where President Donald Trump is a resident.

Trump retweeted a series of stories on Loomer's surprise upset and praised her victory.

"Great going Laura. You have a great chance against a Pelosi puppet!" Trump tweeted.

The 27-year-old candidate, who has made headlines for her anti-Muslim rhetoric, is running to defeat Democratic incumbent Rep. Lois Frankel in the safe blue district.

Loomer was banned from Twitter in 2018 after she tweeted hateful remarks toward Rep. Ilhan Omar, one of the first Muslim women to serve in Congress.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

President Donald Trump congratulated right-wing activist and conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer after she won the Republican primary for Florida's 21st Congressional District on Tuesday night.

"Great going Laura," Trump wrote on Twitter after sharing several stories about her victory. "You have a great chance against a Pelosi puppet!"

The 27-year-old is vying to unseat four-term Democratic incumbent Rep. Lois Frankel in the firmly blue district, home to Trump's official residence in Palm Beach and his Mar-a-Lago resort. The race has been rated a long-shot for Loomer.

Trump didn't endorse Loomer in her primary run, but she had the backing of Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, a staunch supporter of the president. Loomer soundly defeated five GOP challengers.

Prior to her candidacy, Loomer had drawn national attention for her anti-Muslim rhetoric, saying they should be banned from seeking elected office, calling Islam is a "cancer on society" and identifying herself as a "#ProudIslamophobe."

She was permanently banned in 2018 from Twitter, where she regularly spewed her racist beliefs, for violating the site's terms of service against hateful conduct after she attacked Rep. Ilhan Omar, one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress that year along with Rep. Rashida Tlaib. Loomer also disrupted a campaign event for Omar and Tlaib in Minneapolis.

Story continues

After being kicked off the social media app, Loomer chained herself to the Twitter headquarters in New York City, demaning her account be restored and protesting against conservative bias on the social media platform.

She has since repeated those unsubstantiated claims about Twitter, which several other elected Republicans, including Gaetz and Trump, say they believe as well.

Loomer has also falsely claimed that mass shootings have been staged to limit gun ownership, a view backed by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who supported her candidacy. Loomer has occasionally contributed to Jones' site InfoWars, as well as other far-right websites.

Ride-sharing services Uber and Lyft also banned Loomer after she tweeted in November 2017 that someone "needs to create a non Islamic form of Uber or Lyft because I never want to support another Islamic immigrant driver."

Loomer joins a growing slate of other far-right Republican congressional candidates, including QAnon supporter Marjorie Taylor Greene, who won her primary last week and likewise received congratulatory remarks from Trump.

Greene has also spread conspiracy theories and shared inflammatory language against Muslims.

Marjorie Taylor Greene For Congress (@mtgreenee) August 19, 2020

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany defended Trump's backing of the GOP candidates on Wednesday as a "matter of course."

"The president routinely congralutates people who officially get the Republican nomination for Congress," McEnany said. "He hasn't done a deep dive into the statements by these two particular women. I don't know if he's even seen that, but he supports the Muslim community. He supports the community of faith more broadly in this country."

Read the original article on Business Insider
By Express News Service

PALAKKAD: Malayali nurse Nimisha Priyas death sentence  for the murder of her husband, a Yemen national  was upheld on Tuesday evening by an appeals court in Sanaa. Belonging to Kollengode in Palakkad district, Nimisha, 30, is lodged in a prison there. She was sentenced to death in 2018 after being charged with cutting her husband, Talal Abdu Mahdi, into pieces and concealing his mortal remains in a sack inside the water tank of their flat in Al Deydh. She was arrested after local residents called in the police citing a stench from their house a few days after the incident.

An advocate with the NRI (Keralites) Commission, K L Balachandran  who had assisted Nimisha in the case  told TNIE that the murder took place in 2017. Nimisha, who was working as a nurse in a hospital, wanted to set up a clinic on her own. As only Yemen nationals were allowed to do so, she arranged a fake certificate showing her marriage to Mahdi, who was already married. The certificate enabled the clinic to get a license from the government in 2014, he said.

However, after the certificate was registered, Mahdi forced her into marriage according to the religious customs there and they stayed along with his first wife. Mahdi used to take all the money received at the clinic and subjected Nimisha to all sorts of torture. He seized her passport and prevented her from leaving the country. He also took away all her ornaments. Nimisha stated she was threatened with a gun several times, Balachandran said.

Talals family agrees to grant pardon for Rs 70L

Fed up with the torture, Nimisha  along with her Yemeni friend, Hanana, who too was a nurse  murdered Mahdi. Her friend has been sentenced to life imprisonment. The counsel said they have 15 days to appeal to the Supreme Judicial Council. Should the council accept the petition, the accused will get some more time. A mercy petition will also be submitted. Discussions were held with the family of Talal and they have agreed to grant pardon if they are given a blood money of Rs 70 lakh, he said.

He said efforts are on to generate the funds required to secure Nimishas release. She is reportedly married to a Thodupuzha native and the couple has a daughter. The father-daughter duo had returned in 2017. The case was referred to Balachandran in 2018 after NORKA-Roots and the Central Government intervened on behalf of Nimisha. The appeals court was scheduled to deliver the verdict originally on December 22, 2019.

The Kerala Government issued an order asking Balachandran to travel to Sanaa and argue the case on her behalf, but the order was received only on December 17. The matter was then taken up with the Indian Embassy and the verdict was postponed. The Covid-19 outbreak resulted in the case being postponed until Tuesday.
NEW YORK, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A group of advocacy organizations today urged Thomas Storch, White House senior trade advisor and G20 Sherpa, to support and champion a permanent ban on wild animal markets that could become sources for future pandemics. Additionally, the groups called on Storch to commit to ending international trade in wild animals and their products, at the upcoming G20 Leaders' Summit. The G20 Summit will occur in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in November 2020.

The letter was sent by World Animal Protection, Center for Biological Diversity, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Animal Welfare Institute, People for the Ethical treatment of Animals (PETA), Harvard Animal Law & Policy Clinic, Compassion In World Farming, Animal Legal Defense Fund, Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS), International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute, Animals Are Sentient Beings, Unexpected Wildlife Refuge, Save Wolves Now Network, Endangered Habitats League, New Hampshire Audubon, Conservation Council of Hawaii, Brighter Green, Defenders of Wildlife, Animal Equality, and Humane Society Legislative Fund. Together, these organizations represent more than 10 million supporters across the United States.

COVID-19 has led to more than 20 million confirmed cases and 744,385 deaths across more than 200 countries and territories. According to calculations by the United Nations and others, the COVID-19 pandemic could cost the global economy between US $8.5  15.8 trillion and is triggering a global recession, forcing the introduction of costly stimulus packages.

"If we learn anything from this ongoing pandemic, it is that we need to leave wild animals where they belong, in the wild. We have an opportunity to help global leaders enact a change that could save the lives of millions of people, animals and our economies," said Ben Williamson, Programs Director, World Animal Protection, US.

It is widely acknowledged that a market in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China played a significant role in the COVID-19 outbreak. This market had a section which reportedly sold many live and dead wild animals including snakes, hedgehogs, crocodiles and raccoon dogs. Scientists are still investigating how the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was transmitted to humans, but research suggests that the virus likely originated from bats and an intermediary host animal may or may not have been involved. This is not the first time that infectious zoonotic diseases have been linked to wild animals in recent years.

Wildlife trade has become big business, and the exploitation of wild animals puts our health, economies and biodiversity at risk. With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing across the globe, we can no longer ignore the dangers of exploiting wild animals. Wild animals are thought to be the source of at least 70% of all emerging zoonotic infectious diseases, meaning the demand for wild animals puts us all at risk.

"The demand for wildlife in G20 countries propels the global wildlife trade, spurs pandemics and fuels the extinction crisis" said Tanya Sanerib international legal director, Center for Biological Diversity. "The US consumes 20% of the global wildlife market. If the nation doesn't lead the G20's call to curtail wildlife trade and close live wild animal markets, we'll soon face the next outbreak of zoonotic disease."

In a recent *study conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of World Animal Protection, More than 3 in 5 Americans (62%) say they would support a permanent, global ban on the trade of wildlife, and 7 in 10 Americans (70%) would support closing down wildlife markets that sell wild animals for human consumption.

Background

This November, when the leaders of the G20 meet, efforts will be focused on dealing with the pandemic and coordinating a global response. The US' response must include a commitment to ending the global trade of wild animals forever.

During the 2008 financial crisis, the G20 showed its potential as a worldwide leadership body, agreeing to global solutions to stabilize the world's economies. It's time once again for the G20 to make a collective commitment and end the inter-country trade in wild animals and wild animal products.

The United States is one of the leading importers of wildlife, importing more than 224 million live animals and 883 million other wildlife specimens every year. It has the responsibility to take a leadership role in making sure the G20 acts to prevent future pandemics, by committing to end the international trade in wild animals and wild animal products.

*This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of World Animal Protection from July 7-9, 2020 among 2,022 US adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Nicole Barrantes at [email protected]

About World Animal Protection

World Animal Protection has moved the world to protect animals for more than 50 years. World Animal Protection works to give animals a better life. The organization's activities include working with companies to ensure high standards of welfare for the animals in their care; working with governments and other stakeholders to prevent wild animals being cruelly traded, trapped or killed; and saving the lives of animals and the livelihoods of the people who depend on them in disaster situations.

World Animal Protection influences decision-makers to put animal welfare on the global agenda and inspires people to change animals' lives for the better. More information on World Animal Protection can be found at: http://www.worldanimalprotection.us/

Note to editors:

For more information please visit

SOURCE World Animal Protection
HOERSHOLM, Denmark, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Visiopharm, the Denmark-based leader in artificial intelligence-driven image analysis, tissue mining, and precision pathology, has been granted patents in the US and Europe for an AI and image analysis-based approach to quantifying staining quality in tissue sections stained with IHC- or ISH-based tissue biomarkers.

The use of tissue biomarkers is key to diagnostic treatment decisions, the inclusion of patients in clinical trials, and making critical decisions about entire drug development programs. Yet, staining quality and standardization remains a challenge to the efficient use of tissue biomarkers. External Quality Assurance (EQA) organizations offering proficiency testing programs, such as NordiQC and UK NEQAS, have documented failure rates as high as 30% in diagnostic pathology labs for certain biomarkers.

Through repeated testing and protocol review/recommendations, quality programs play an essential role in managing and improving staining quality, ultimately leading to benefits for patients. Yet EQAs have limitations in terms of the number of runs they can offer per biomarker per year, uniform standards, and the number of labs they can serve.

Quality variations can come from many sources, along the value chain in sample preparation. The frequency in variation of staining quality in a typical pathology lab often exceeds the frequency in EQA proficiency testing, thus creating an unmet need for quality testing.

"AI and image analysis for decision support is just one component to improve precision and standardization of biomarker assessment. Managing stain quality and sufficiency are both critical to precision and are issues that Visiopharm is addressing as part of our end-to-end quality commitment. We see the technology behind these patents as a first step of the way," said Visiopharm CEO Michael Grunkin. He continued, "Later this year, we will release a platform that will allow both EQAs and diagnostic pathology labs to leverage the power of AI in proficiency testing and stain quality management. Working closely with UK NEQAS and NordiQC for close to a decade has been instrumental in understanding the requirements for stain quality management tools."

About Visiopharm A/S

Visiopharm is a world leader in AI-driven digital pathology solutions.

Visiopharm's pioneering image analysis tools support thousands of scientists, pathologists, and image analysis experts in academic institutions, biopharmaceutical industry, and diagnostic centers. Their AI-based image analysis and tissue mining tools support research and drug development research worldwide, while CE-IVD APPs support primary diagnostics. With the most advanced and sophisticated artificial intelligence and deep learning, Visiopharm delivers tissue data mining tools, precision results, and workflows.

Visiopharm was founded in 2001 and is privately owned. The company operates internationally with over 900 licenses and countless users in more than 40 countries. The company headquarters are in Denmark's Medicon Valley, with offices in Sweden, England, Germany, and the United States.

Follow Visiopharm on Linkedin and Twitter.
Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., stands on stage with Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden after she spoke during the third day of the Democratic National Convention, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020, at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Del. Read more

After six hours of virtual programming, Joe Biden will finally get the chance to speak Thursday during the fourth and final night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention.

The former vice president will deliver arguably the most important address of his long political career from the Chase Center in Wilmington, Del. While former President Barack Obama focused on President Donald Trump during his speech Wednesday, Biden is expected to deliver an optimistic and forward-looking address that barely mentions the 45th president.

We got a preview of what the stage will look like during California Sen. Kamala Harris historic acceptance speech to become Bidens vice presidential nominee. It included a floor of empty state signs and a Zoom wall full of supporters cheering the pair on virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Hours before Bidens remarks, Trump is taking his Sleepy Joe road tour to Pennsylvania to deliver a speech just outside of Scranton, Bidens childhood home. Trump will speak at Mariotti Building Products, a kitchen remodeler in Old Forge, a former coal mining town on the border of Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties.

Heres everything you need to know to watch or stream the final night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention:

What time does the final night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention start?

Like previous days, the fourth 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 Thursday night?

Former Vice President Joe Biden will deliver his first speech as the Democrats official nominee for president. The full list of speakers Thursday night includes:

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker

Former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg

California Gov. Gavin Newsome

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms

Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin

Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth

Delaware Senator Chris Coons

Entrepreneur Andrew Yang

Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg

Former Vice President Joe Biden

Highlights from Wednesday night include Obamas rebuke of Trump and a coming out for Kamala Harris

Former President Barack Obama wasnt attempting to be subtle by delivering his speech from Philadelphia in front of a display of the U.S. Constitution inside the Museum of the American Revolution.

Obama delivered a scathing criticism of Trump, treading where former presidents rarely go by painting the current resident of the White House as a danger to our democracy.

I did hope, for the sake of our country, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously, Obama said. But he never did. Hes shown no interest in putting in the work. No interest in finding common ground. No interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends. No interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves.

Harris was given the difficult task of following Obama, and delivered an impassioned speech that touched on her background as the daughter of immigrants from India and Jamaica.

But the first Black woman to be part of a major partys presidential ticket got direct discussing racial justice, pledging to fight to end injustices within the criminal justice system spotlighted by the Black Lives Matter movement this summer following the murder of George Floyd.

There is no vaccine for racism. We have got to do the work, Harris said. For George Floyd, for Breonna Taylor, for the lives of too many others to name, for our children, and for all of us. Weve got to do the work to fulfill that promise of equal justice under law.

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 was also a formal vote of delegates Tuesday 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. Trump 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.
The Bachelor's Areeba Emmanuel has spoken of the 'honour' of being the first Pakistani woman to star on the reality series.

The 25-year-old told The Liverpool City Champion on Thursday: 'It was an honour to be the first Pakistani girl on The Bachelor and national TV.'

The beauty then explained often times Pakistani women are turned off from doing the show for a number of reasons.

Star: On Thursday, Areeba Emmanuel told The Liverpool City Champion it was an 'honour to be the first Pakistani girl on The Bachelor'

'Girls from my country don't really get to do something like this, or they don't think they are good enough to do something like this,' she said.

Areeba then said she wanted to inspire other women while on the series.

'I want everyone to be inspired and motivated by me, and do whatever they want and not be scared about what 'other people' have to say.'

It comes after Areeba was left furious after Juliette Herrera slipped Locky a love note on Wednesday night's episode of the show.

Pioneer: 'Girls from my country don't really get to do something like this, or they don't think they are good enough to do something like this,' Areeba said

Areeba claimed she was blindsided by the move, after befriending Juliette in the Bachelor mansion.

'She was privileged to be hanging out with me and Kristina. Now she's on my bad side, and, trust me, you don't want to be on my bad side at all,' fumed Areeba.

'I'm a good person in general, but if you betray me, you f**king wish you never did.'

Seething: Areeba (pictured) was left furious on Wednesday's episode of The Bachelor, after Juliette Herrera slipped Locky Gilbert a note revealing her 'true self'

Juliette's note landed her an all-important rose, and Kristina explained that had they known she was going to do it, they would have 'upped our game'.

'I'm so happy that you've got the rose, I really am, but I'm feeling betrayed by you! I feel betrayed by our own. That's how I'm feeling,' a furious Areeba told Juliette.

Putting her head in her hands, Juliette admitted she hadn't even thought to tell Areeba and Kristina, 24, about the note.

Areeba said she felt 'used' by Juliette's actions, before launching into an expletive-ridden tirade.

The Bachelor continues Wednesday at 7.30pm on Channel Ten
Steve Bannon has pleaded not guilty to federal charges related to an alleged scheme to defraud a crowdfunding campaign that pledged to build a portion of the US-Mexico border wall.

He was arrested on Thursday morning on a Chinese billionaire's yacht off the coast of Connecticut.

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Key Players:

Some of the prominent players operating in the Global Auto Catalyst Market are BASF SE (Germany), Johnson Matthey (England), Solvay (Belgium), Umicore (Belgium), Corning Incorporated (U.S.), Cataler Corporation (Japan), DCL International (Canada), Heraeus Holding GmbH (Germany), Tenneco Inc (U.S.), Faurecia S.A (France), Klarius Products Limited (U.K), and Taizhou Three-Way Vehicle Catalytic Converter Co., Ltd (China). among others.

Segmental Analysis:

Global Auto Catalyst Market is segmented into Application and Region.

On the basis of the Application, the market is segregated into light-duty vehicle diesel, light-duty vehicle gasoline, and heavy-duty vehicle.

The market by Region is segmented into Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.

Regional Analysis:

The Auto Catalyst Market is segmented into five regions: Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. Among these, Asia Pacific region holds a major share of the market and is expected to be the fastest growing region with an encouraging CAGR. Growing population and the increasing per capita disposable income in the developing nations are primarily driving the growth of the Auto Catalyst Market. Moreover, the developing automobile industry in the region mainly in China, India, and Japan is expected to have a positive impact on the growth of the Auto Catalyst Market. Furthermore, the growing number of vehicles coupled with the adoption of stringent vehicle emission standards is also expected to add to the market growth.

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North America is a dominant region in the global market, exhibiting a moderate CAGR. The presence of three big automobile companies namely General Motors, Ford, and Fiat Chrysler have further augmented the overall demand for Auto Catalyst from the automobile industry. Moreover, the regulations from the Environmental protection agency is adding to the market growth of Auto Catalyst mainly in the U.S. and Canada. However, the growing efficiency and shelf life of Auto Catalyst are likely to slow the growth of the market during the forecast years.

The European region is a lucrative market and is mainly driven by a well-developed automobile industry. Moreover, the implementation of emission standards such as Euro 5 and Euro 6 is expected to substantially add to the growth of the Auto Catalyst Market in the region. According to the European Union, a new regulation was passed in 2017, wherein more reliable emission tests have been implemented such as Real driving Emissions (RDE) and World Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) for the light motor vehicle. This, in turn, is anticipated to be a contributing factor to the growth of the auto catalyst market in the European region.

Synopsis of Auto Catalyst Market:

Auto Catalysts are devices that are extensively used to control emissions from the automobiles. These Catalysts convert pollutants and toxic gases from an internal combustion engine to less toxic gases through a redox reaction. Auto Catalysts are used in all types of diesel and petrol engines including lead burn engines and can also be used in kerosene heaters and stoves. Auto catalysts are mostly applied to the exhaust systems of automobiles but are also used on the electrical generators, mining equipment, forklifts, and wood stoves among others.

The growing number of vehicles throughout the globe is the major factor driving the Auto Catalyst Market. Moreover, the growing per capita disposable income in the developing regions are expected to substantially contribute to the growth of the Auto Catalyst Market. In addition to this, stringent government regulations to check the emissions from vehicles throughout the globe is further augmenting the demand for Auto Catalysts. However, the growing demand for electric vehicles is a major down side to the growth of the market.

Among the various application segments in Auto Catalyst Market, the light-duty vehicles  diesel is the leading segment and is anticipated to continue its dominance over the forecast period. The advantages such as high fuel efficiency have augmented the use of diesel cars which in turn is expected to have a positive impact on the Auto Catalyst Market. Moreover, the high price of diesel Auto Catalyst is expected to add to the revenue of Auto Catalyst Market during the forecast years.

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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.
Kamala Harris officially became the first Black and South Asian woman ever nominated to a major presidential party ticket on Wednesday night when she accepted the Democratic vice-presidential nomination. The daughter of an Indian mother and Jamaican father, Harris additionally is the first child of two immigrants to ever be nominated as vice president of the United States.

"I am committed to the values [my mother] taught me, to the word that teaches me to walk by faith, and not by sight, and to a vision passed on through generations of Americans  one that Joe Biden shares," Harris said. "A vision of our nation as a beloved community  where all are welcome, no matter what we look like, where we come from, or who we love. A country where we may not agree on every detail, but we are united by the fundamental belief that every human being is of infinite worth, deserving of compassion, dignity and respect."

Harris, who was a sharp critic of Biden's during the Democratic primaries, stressed that "we must elect a president who will bring something different, something better, and do the important work. A president who will bring all of us together  Black, White, Latino, Asian, Indigenous  to achieve the future we collectively want. We must elect Joe Biden."

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By Li Ping

The US Department of Defense officially announced the arms production contract for Lockheed Martin in the next 10 years including a major order for 66 F-16V fighters worth $8 billion with Taiwan on August 14. With the recent intensification of the China-US game, this arms sale may add fuel to the situation. Although Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities are "rejoicing" with the arms purchase, public opinion on the island believes that Taiwan has once again acted as a "cash machine" and is constantly being pushed to the brink of danger.

Selling arms to Taiwan is a major tactic used by the US government to play the "Taiwan card". Since the current US government took office, it has approved seven arms sales to Taiwan with a total value of more than $13.2 billion, covering missiles, fighters, heavy torpedoes, and other weapons and technologies. Just after the US approved the sale of the Patriot-3 missile to Taiwan in July, China announced sanctions on Lockheed Martin, the main contractor of the arms sale. Since the beginning of this month, the US government has been planning more arms sales to Taiwan despite repeated warnings from China.

First, Reuters reports said that the US plans to once again sell at least four Sea Guardian large surveillance drones and their relevant ground stations and accessories to Taiwan, with a total value of more than $600 million. Then, The Hill, an American news website based in Washington, D.C., reported that Taiwan has formally signed an agreement to purchase fighter jets from Lockheed Martin, which will be the implementation of the contract for the sale of 66 F-16V fighters approved by the US State Department in last August. It will also be the largest arms sale to Taiwan since the Trump administration took office.

This batch of arms sales is the first time that the US has sold advanced fighter jets to Taiwan since President George H.W. Bush announced the sale of 150 F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan in 1992. Taiwan media reported that the US military plans to deliver the latest F-16V fighters to Taiwan from 2023 on and the delivery will be done by 2026. Taiwan Air Forces Mirage 2000 and the AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo fighter jets will be replaced.

Some Taiwan media have noticed that the US used to sell weapons to Taiwan mainly for defensive purposes. Even if the US sold Taiwan M1A2 tanks, they will not be useful if the Chinese mainland does not reunify Taiwan by force. However, in the past two years, the US has begun to sell equipment with a range of 300 kilometers to Taiwan. One example is the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), a Multiple-Launch Rocket System (MLRS). This is undoubtedly for Taiwan to spend money for acting as a "watchdog" for the US, and all the risks are borne by Taiwan itself.

China Times, a daily Chinese newspaper published in Taiwan, criticized that "the DPP authorities almost always takes everything as soon as the US issues invoices, regardless of whether they need tanks that exceed the load of the road, outdated fighters, and unused torpedoes. As soon as the order arrives, the authorities immediately set up a special budget and leave trillions of debts to the future generations".

The DPP authorities pursue a policy of "relying on the US to resist China", they "accept all orders for arms sales from the US". However, the problem is that these weapons are only cheap props used by the US to make trouble, and they cannot effectively help Taiwan authorities resist the military attacks of the Chinese mainland. The US arms sales to Taiwan are merely using Taiwan as a "cash machine". The purpose of the US is to bargain with the Chinese mainland on other issues.

PLA Army soldiers look through the sights of their rifles as they provide security for the hovering transport helicopter during an inter-Services maritime coordinated training exercise with the PLA Navy at an undisclosed sea area on August 3, 2020. They are assigned to an army aviation brigade under the PLA 73rd Group Army. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Li Shilong)

From an economic point of view, the arms sold by the US to Taiwan are basically backlogs. On the issue of arms sales to Taiwan, the US has always followed the "America First" principle and will never sell what Taiwan really needs. In addition, even if Taiwan buys more "advanced" weapons and equipment, it will not be able to change the status quo that the military strength gap between two sides of the strait is worlds apart.

Therefore, what the DPP authorities really need to do is to improve cross-strait relations, rather than spend the hard money of the Taiwan people to buy some outdated weapons and push Taiwan into crisis. As Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said, the DPP authorities will not succeed in "using force to seek independence" and will only undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and bring even greater disasters to the people of Taiwan.

(The author is an assistant researcher at the Institute of Taiwan Studies of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)

Disclaimer: This article is originally published on china.com.cn and translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
Amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, State Rep. Ron Reynolds is partnering with Word of Restoration Church to help provide community members with needed groceries and personal protection equipment.

Related: 2020 census non-response follow up begins in Fort Bend County

The church is located at 7620 FM 521 Road in Rosharon, near Sienna Plantation.

The distribution of food and PPE is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29. The food distribution is being conducted in conjunction with the Houston Food Bank.

Related: Fort Bend County Walk to End Alzheimer's is on for 2020

Reynolds represents District 27 in the state House of Representatives, which includes 27 percent of Fort Bend County.

rkent@hcnonline.com
Brenda Lee Pryce wanted to be alone when Kamala Harris spoke the words.

So just before Harris accepted the Democratic Party's nomination for vice president Wednesday, Pryce stepped into the study of her Spartanburg, S.C., home. There, surrounded by books and a painting inscribed with the phrase "Black Women Vote," the 72-year-old felt no need to hold back tears.

After decades of marshaling Black women to help men of all colors attain political power, Pryce was finally watching one of her own make history as the first Black woman to accept a major party's nomination for vice president.

"What [Black women have] done all our lives is hold up the Democratic Party," said Pryce, a former state legislator who remains an influential figure in South Carolina politics. "We've supported the Democratic Party for so long. It's time for them to support us."

Pryce knows this all too well. She has spent her lifegiving sober advice - and sometimes her blessing - to politicians. That blessing often comes with pivotal access to a network of politically active women across the state.

"One of the things she has is a great network of other women," said Jonathan Metcalf, the South Carolina state director for Tom Steyer's presidential campaign, who also worked for President Barack Obama's campaign. "So, for instance, I can do an event with 500 people, and her ladies will staff it on 24 hours notice."

Politicians Pryce supported "never had to worry about getting a crowd in Spartanburg for 20 years," he said. "She'd bring retired schoolteachers, church ladies, the best cooks in town. She could summon them in no time, and they would show up. They'd know exactly what to do. I've seen it countless times."

Pryce said that influence was an extension of the nurturing role Black women had played in African American communities for generations, only aimed at achieving political success.

Her first close-up view of political power came in the early 1990s. She had returned to college as an older student and, while there, got a job as a political page for State Sen. Jim Stevens, a Democrat. Pryce understood the appointment was not an act of pure altruism: Stevens realized he could not court Horry County's Black vote while touting an all-white staff. Still, as a page, she began to learn the mechanics of politics, a lesson that would serve her in years to come.

A few years later, she was the campaign manager for a history teacher who sought a Congressional seat named James Clyburn, who would go on to become the House Majority Whip.

Pryce said Clyburn was considered a long shot at the time. But her hopes for his success were buoyed by the number of Black South Carolinians who had attended an event featuring Shirley Chisolm, the first Black woman in Congress, who had launched a presidential bid in 1972. Looking around, she said, "I knew that Black women had organized successfully in South Carolina . . . we just had to reach out and pull that organization in."

When Clyburn won, Pryce did not accompany him to Washington. Her mother got sick, and she returned to Spartanburg. But in 1995, she entered the state legislature, becoming the first Black woman elected from Spartanburg County.

She retired a decade later, but continued to advise candidates. And as the Black population grew in her corner of the state, it became increasingly important for politicians to have "Ms. Brenda's" blessing. "This is my life," she said. "Trying to give other people opportunities."

During the 2020 Democratic primaries, that meant fighting for Harris.

Pryce was enamored of the California senator from the start. She sped through her book and pored over news articles about her. She had heard Harris's name before but "when I heard that she had announced to run for president, well I thought let me read up on this sister girl. Then I thought, I should bring her here."

At a May 2019 luncheon, Harris stood between Pryce and her husband, Caveril. A short time later, Harris had Pryce's endorsement.

"I was just glued to her," Pryce said. "First of all Kamala is smart. We like smart women. But she also had that magic about her. I saw the same thing in her I saw in Clyburn."

Pryce's admiration for Harris continued even as her campaign fizzled, ultimately ending in December. Pryce never endorsed anyone else, "although I made it known that I was for Biden."

After Biden finished a disappointing fourth place in the Iowa primary, and fifth in New Hampshire, he headed to South Carolina, saying the primary would not be decided until the voices of Black people had been heard. After a late endorsement by Clyburn, he won 61% of the Black vote in the state, 44 percentage points ahead of his competitors. The commanding showing changed the trajectory of his campaign.

Clyburn was largely credited with breathing life into Biden's campaign, but insiders said Biden's strength lay in loyal Black women.

Since Biden sewed up the Democratic nomination, Pryce has been busy campaigning and trying to get out the vote. But she did not forget about Harris. When Biden's campaign announced the news this month, Pryce ran through her home screaming.

On Wednesday night, as Harris prepared to speak, Pryce again tapped into her network of Black women across the state, sending emails and working the phone. The night's ask would not require them to cook anything or show up anywhere. She simply wanted them to flip their porch lights on, in a symbolic show of support.

"I told them I wanted us all to light the way for Kamala all the way to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 20

By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend:

Russia and Uzbekistan signed Memorandum on trade, economic, and industrial cooperation, Trend reports with reference to Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia

Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia Denis Manturov and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan Sardor Umurzakov signed the memorandum.

"The main purpose of the document is to develop mutually beneficial trade, economic and industrial cooperation between the two countries. The Memorandum provides for assistance in organizing meetings and negotiations between representatives of business circles of the two countries, in creating joint production facilities, in creating favorable conditions for the implementation of bilateral investment projects in industry and trade," the message said.

According to Denis Manturov a special working group - project office - will be set up to implement the Memorandum, which may involve representatives of Russian and Uzbek industry organizations.

The day before, Denis Manturov and Sardor Umurzakov held a bilateral meeting during which they discussed the current state and a number of priority directions of bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

The parties noted that in the first half of 2020, despite the coronavirus pandemic, the dynamics of trade and economic cooperation showed positive results.

Thus, for the period from January to June 2020, trade turnover increased by almost 18 percent, while the volume of Russian exports to Uzbekistan increased by 24.5 percent.

---

Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini
The Guardian

The Steelers quarterback is headed to the Hall of Fame. But he was unloved outside Pittsburgh for understandable reasons Ben Roethlisberger almost certainly played his final game in the NFL on Sunday. Photograph: Ed Zurga/AP Ben Roethlisberger is lucky that football legacies are not decided by finales. If Sunday night was indeed Big Bens last ever NFL game, as he has strongly hinted, it wasnt exactly a mic drop. In the 42-21 beatdown by the Chiefs, Roethlisberger struggled with rollouts, and l
In May, 11-year-old Emerson Weber went viral after writing a thoughtful letter to her mail carrier. Her gesture captured the hearts of many, and not only did Doug, her mailman, respond with a letter of his own, but thousands of other mail carriers also thanked her for appreciating their work during a time so tough and trying.

"I'm doing (school) virtually this year, which is another reason why I need the postal service just to keep in contact with my friends," the soon to be sixth-grade student in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, told TODAY via Skype.

Emerson Weber. (Courtesy HarperCollins)

Now, her story is being immortalized into a childrens book with HarperCollins that is a love letter to the United States Postal Service, and the essential role that they and other critical workers play amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"Especially right now, they're really grateful for being thanked because they don't get seen a lot, even though they pass in front of your house literally every day," she said. "And so it's just when I thank them, they're so grateful... I mean, it's just amazing how happy they were to know that I saw them even though I didn't directly write to them. They felt the connection."

Emerson's dad Hugh Weber explained how not only postal workers themselves have felt validated with Emerson's gesture, but their families have also articulated their appreciation as well.

"Weve heard from so many, not only postal carriers themselves, but so many family members of postal carriers, an incredible amount of children, whose fathers and mothers were part of the U.S. postal service," Weber explained to TODAY. "And even though the letter didnt go to them, they feel so seen in that process that its a pretty rewarding daily exercise now."

Emerson's love for writing was inherited from her mother, who also happened to be her fifth grade writing teacher last year.

Emerson, my 11 year old, is on a bit of a wild ride with the @USPS and our local mail carrier, Doug.



And, I think theres a deeper message to it all.



First, the backstory...  Hugh Weber (@hughweber) May 2, 2020

"I really got that love of writing from her and I've been writing letters for a while," she shared. "I've had a really long pen pal relationship with my librarian, Mrs. Versteeg, since third grade, and I feel like that was one of my real ones along with my pen pals Kristin and Sherry. But I've just loved letter writing for a long time, and I leave little notes around the house sometimes too."

Story continues

Before her viral moment, Emerson already listed six or seven pen pals she stayed in contact with via letter writing. Now, that number has jumped to about 25.

"There's some people who wrote to me, and I wrote back to them once or twice, but then there's some people who've really stuck around. So I have quite a few now."

Doug, the mail carrier. (Courtesy Emerson Weber)

Her dad elaborated on the significance of their viral story.

"Emerson early on started to say, that this isnt a girl writes a letter story, this is an anyone can write a letter story, and I think thats become our mantra," he told TODAY. "That, the best thing we can do for the US postal service right now, is to write letters, to buy stamps, to kind of, spread that love ... so many people have a fond memory of the postal carrier from when they were a kid, or the person they see now, kind of on a day to day basis, so Emerson looks fondly at Doug."

Hugh Weber acknowledged the recent concerns with the USPS and the upcoming presidential election. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said Tuesday the agency will suspend any policy or operational changes until after the election. Critics decry DeJoy, a Trump ally and Republican donor, was purposely hurting the ability of the postal service to accommodate mail-in voting.

"I think this is a time when we are physically disconnected, and you really begin to recognize fully who and how we are actually deeply interconnected the postal service, we believe, is one true non-partisan entity out in the world," he said. "We believe it shouldnt be political, and it serves us whether were in a small town in South Dakota, or Williamsburg, Brooklyn...its something that we think is essential, and the workers, the carriers themselves, are essential. And it makes us all the more present in a moment like this."

This moment for Emerson just got a whole little bigger. Not only did her idol Taylor Swift recognize her support with a special package and message, Emerson is about to be a published author as well.

On Thursday, it was announced that HarperCollins is releasing a picture book on Jan. 5, 2021 all about her incredible viral story titled, "Sincerely, Emerson."

Courtesy HarperCollins

"This is a story of gratitude, hope, and recognition: for all the essential helpers we see everyday, and all those who go unseen," a description for the book reads.

Emerson still doesn't have a phone, but she promises even when she gets one one day, she will still write letters.

"And even when I get a phone, I mean, it's just not the same," she said. "Like, I call my grandmother lots but today I got a letter from her. And it's just so much better to get in first letters. And when they see how long you took to write them, or even a short note, they know you spent time to think about them, and it just makes them really happy."
WILKESBORO  Five months after the 2020 edition was canceled and well in advance of the original 2021 date, the MerleFest music festival has announced that its return will be delayed until Sept. 16-19, 2021.

The decision was made due to the COVID-19 pandemic that scrapped this years MerleFest, which remains ongoing and has begun to affect the scheduling of events even into 2021.

This decision is a result of months of deliberation and extensive research with medical experts, MerleFest announced in a release. Our primary concern has always been to provide a safe and quality event and we felt the need to do this to insure we meet expectations. We chose to announce this now so that everyone could add this to your 2021 calendar.

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MerleFests announcement added that the 2021 delay is a one-time chance, with things expected to be back on a normal timeline the following year from April 28 to May 1, 2022, on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro.
Here and now I give you my word: If you entrust me with the presidency, I will draw on the best of us not the worst. lll be an ally of the light, not the darkness, Biden said. Make no mistake, united we can and will overcome this season of darkness in America.
Sudan Fires Foreign Ministry Spokesman After Israel Statement

By Michael Atit August 19, 2020

The spokesman for Sudan's foreign ministry was fired Wednesday, a day after telling a media outlet that Sudan is getting ready to sign an agreement with Israel to normalize relations between the two countries.

Acting foreign minister Omer Gamaruddeen Ismail said the government was surprised by the statement from spokesman Haider Badawi Saddiq, adding that relations between Sudan and Israel have not been discussed in the foreign ministry at all.

"No one tasked Badawi with making statements on this matter," said Ismail.

Saddiq told Sky News Arabia on Tuesday that Sudan was hoping to reach an agreement with Israel and to build a relationship with the country, adding that normalizing relations with Israel would help the entire region.

"We shall be able to build an exemplary peace deal to all our neighboring countries in the region, so that they are able to follow our footsteps and do the same with Israel. I would like to note here that even Palestinians have had a long history of diplomatic ties with Israel. So, why should it be right for them and considered wrong for us," Saddiq told Sky News Arabia.

Saddiq said communication between Sudanese and Israeli officials was ongoing and said his statement should be taken as official.

"As a civil servant and as a responsible diplomat in the foreign ministry, I am keen on the interest of my own country. I didn't come up with this statement from nowhere, but I built it based on the ongoing politics in the country," said Saddiq.

His remarks did not go over well with the government. Less than 24 hours later, Saddiq was fired.

The government-run Sudan News Agency confirmed Wednesday that Ismail has fired Saddiq, without providing a reason for his dismissal.

The United Arab Emirates recently agreed to establish relations with Israel but most Arab and Muslim countries have refused to do so, mainly due to Israeli occupation of the West Bank, which Palestinians claim for a future state.

Some Sudanese political parties released statements criticizing Saddiq for claiming the government supported normalizing relations with Israel. The National Umma Party, a member of the transitional government, said the government has no constitutional rights to seek any new foreign relations. It said resolving contentious national issues is the focus of the government right now.

Sudanese protesters returned to the streets Monday to demand more reforms a year after a power-sharing deal was reached between the pro-democracy movement and the military.

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Karlie Kloss was glimpsed Wednesday enjoying a masked outing in New York City.

The 28-year-old emphasized her supermodel figure in a fitted black sweater as she emerged for a sunlit sidewalk stroll.

Wearing her trademark blonde hair down, she pulled on a pair of fashionably faded jeans and rounded off the look with white sneakers.

City girl: Karlie Kloss was glimpsed Wednesday enjoying a masked outing in New York City

Her latest outing marked the first time she was glimpsed out and about in New York after returning from lockdown in Los Angeles.

She and her husband Joshua Kushner, brother of Donald Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner, had been self-isolating on the West Coast since at least June.

Karlie was most recently spotted out in California on August 2 when she could be seen taking a walk on the beach in Santa Monica.

New York State requires travelers from states with particularly high COVID-19 positive test rates to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.

Looking fab: The 28-year-old emphasized her supermodel figure in a fitted black sweater as she emerged for a sunlit sidewalk stroll

California is one of the 33 states subject to this rule, which has also been imposed on the territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Karlie celebrated her latest birthday this August 3 and marked the occasion with a YouTube video listing 28 Things I've Learned In 28 Years.

She urged fans to 'show up at the polls because we all deserve change this November' despite the fact she is related to the incumbent U.S. President.

The blonde bombshell has publicly expressed her political disagreements with the the First Family on multiple occasions.

She announced this January that she voted 'as a Democrat in 2016' and clarified that she 'plans to do the same thing in 2020.'

Karlie has also repeatedly posted in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, although critics like former Rookie editor Tavi Gevinson have slammed her as a hypocrite because she has not publicly denounced her family vociferously enough.

Investigative reporter Vicky Ward's book Kushner, Inc. aired out a raft of gossip about Karlie and Josh's romance - and his family's opposition to the match.

Jared and his parents Charlie and Seryl objected to Karlie's being a 'shiksa' who, unlike former Gentile Ivanka, did not come from a powerful family.

Throwback: Karlie is married to Joshua Kushner, the brother of Donald Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner; the couple are pictured in New York last October

Karlie's lack of Ivanka's Ivy League education also rankled with the Kushner family, whose inner circle derisively referred to Josh's girlfriend as 'the lingerie model.'

The night of U.S. President Donald Trump's inaugural ball, the Kushners held a Sabbath dinner where Charlie warned Josh off Karlie in front of other guests.

Although Josh's parents avoided coming face-to-face with her for six years after she began dating their son, Karlie was evidently bent on impressing them.

She took to Orthodox Judaism with such brio that she went on foot to Barry Diller's Oscar party one year, owing to restrictions on operating a car during the Sabbath.
By James M. Dorsey





Aided and abetted by China, the Middle East risks barreling toward a nuclear and ballistic missiles arms race.



A disclosure last week that Saudi Arabia has constructed, with the help of China, a facility for extracting uranium yellowcake from uranium is the latest in a series of Chinese moves that advance the kingdom's drive to acquire nuclear technology.



Saudi Arabia has denied building a yellowcake facility but insisted that mining its uranium reserves was part of its economic diversification strategy. The Saudi energy ministry said it was cooperating with China in unspecified aspects of uranium exploration.



The Saudi nuclear drive is likely to stiffen Iranian resolve, fuel Turkish ambitions, and heighten Israeli worries that its regional military superiority could be jeopardized.



For the past year, Iran has progressively walked away from commitments it made as part of a 2015 international agreement that curbed the Islamic Republic's nuclear ambitions after the Trump administration withdrew from the deal in 2018 and re-imposed harsh economic sanctions.



Saudi Arabia, despite denials, like Israel, fears that the United States will renegotiate the deal in ways that would fall short of providing ironclad guarantees that Iran will not develop nuclear weapons or enhanced ballistic missile capability or curb its support for militant proxies in Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen.



The fear is irrespective of whether Donald J. Trump or Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden wins the November election in the United States.



Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman warned in 2018 that "Saudi Arabia does not want to acquire any nuclear bomb, but without a doubt, if Iran developed a nuclear bomb, we will follow suit as soon as possible."



Faced with the prospect of a Saudi-Iranian nuclear arms race, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last year insisted that it was unacceptable that nuclear-armed countries were preventing his nation from developing nuclear weapons.



Ironically, Chinese support for a peaceful Saudi nuclear program that inevitably would provide the kingdom with building blocks that could contribute to the development of nuclear weapons risks driving a wedge between Saudi Arabia and Israel.



The two countries have, in the absence of formal diplomatic relations, forged close informal ties based on their shared animosity toward Iran and the kingdom's effort to capitalize in Washington and elsewhere on being seen to engage with Israel as well as Jewish groups.



"For Israel, a Saudi nuclear military capability is a red line that it will be willing to enforce," said Sigurd Neubauer, author of a just published book on Israeli-Gulf relations.



Saudi Arabia's nuclear focus serves various goals: diversification of its economy, reduction of its dependence on fossil fuels, countering a potential future Iranian nuclear capability, and enhancing efforts to ensure that Saudi Arabia rather than Iran emerges as the Middle East's long-term, dominant power.



Cooperation in nuclear energy was one of 14 agreements worth $65 billion signed during Saudi King Salman's 2017 visit to China.



The nuclear-related deals involved a feasibility study for the construction of high-temperature gas-cooled (HTGR) nuclear power plants in Saudi Arabia as well as cooperation in intellectual property and the development of a domestic industrial supply chain for HTGRs to be built in the kingdom.



The agreement was one of a number of nuclear-related understandings concluded with China, including a uranium-related memorandum of understanding with China National Nuclear Corp., an agreement with China Nuclear Engineering Group Corp., and a 2012 accord to cooperate on peaceful uses of nuclear energy.



Saudi Arabia has signed similar agreements with France, the United States, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea and Argentina.



To advance its pre-pandemic goal of constructing 16 nuclear reactors by 2030 at a cost of $100 billion, Saudi Arabia established the King Abdullah Atomic and Renewable Energy City devoted to research and application of nuclear technology.



Concern about Saudi intentions was fueled in the last 18 months by Saudi hesitancy to agree to U.S. safeguards viewed as the nuclear industry's gold standard that would require it among other things to sign the Additional Protocol of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Saudi Arabia has not ruled out signing the protocol.



The unease was further heightened by evidence that the kingdom was building a ballistic missile production site in a remote desert region. Satellite pictures suggested that the facility resembled a similar site in nuclear power Pakistan.



Saudi cooperation with Pakistan has long been a source of speculation about the kingdom's ambition and the implications of its involvement in Pakistan's nuclear program.



Retired Pakistani Major General Feroz Hassan Khan, the author of a semi-official history of Pakistan's nuclear program, said in an interview that he had no doubt about the kingdom's interest.



"Saudi Arabia provided generous financial support to Pakistan that enabled the nuclear program to continue, especially when the country was under sanctions," Khan said, referring to U.S. sanctions imposed in 1998 because of Pakistan's development of a nuclear weapons capability.



The Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) suggested in a report published three years ago that "Pakistan may assist [Saudi Arabia] in  important ways, such as supplying sensitive equipment, materials, and know-how used in enrichment or reprocessing."



The report, referring to the Iran nuclear agreement, warned that "there is little reason to doubt that Saudi Arabia will more actively seek nuclear weapons capabilities, motivated by its concerns  if the deal fails."



Rather than embarking on a covert program, the report predicted that Saudi Arabia would initially focus on building up its civilian nuclear infrastructure as well as a robust nuclear engineering and scientific workforce.



This would allow the kingdom to take command of all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle at some point in the future. Saudi Arabia has in recent years significantly expanded graduate programs at its five nuclear research centers.



Saudi officials have repeatedly insisted that the kingdom is developing nuclear capabilities for peaceful purposes such as medicine, electricity generation and thedesalination of sea water.



"The current situation suggests that Saudi Arabia now has both a high disincentive to pursue nuclear weapons in the short term and a high motivation to pursue them over the long term," the institute said.



The report's analysis suggests that China, by failing to impose restraints on its nuclear dealings similar to those maintained by the United States, may be contributing to a regional downward spiral that would be detrimental to Chinese interests in the longer term.





Dr. James M. Dorsey (jmd@jmdonline.org) is an award-winning journalist and a senior fellow at Nanyang Technological University's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. He is also a senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore's Middle East Institute and co-director of the University of Wuerzburg's Institute of Fan Culture in Germany.


San Francisco, Aug 20 : Twitter received nearly 21 per cent more information requests for account information from the governments and law enforcement agencies worldwide in the July-December 2019 period compared to the previous reporting period.

The micro-blogging platform that reimagined its biannual transparency report site into a comprehensive Twitter Transparency Centre said that the aggregate number of accounts specified in these requests increased by nearly 63 per cent.

"The total volume of requests and specified accounts are respectively the largest we've seen to date since our transparency reporting began in 2012. We received government information requests from 91 different countries since 2012," it said in a statement late on Wednesday.

Information requests from the US continue to make up the highest percentage of legal requests for account information.

During this reporting period, 26 per cent of all global requests for account information originated within the US.

The second highest volume of requests originate from Japan, comprising 22 per cent of global information requests.

"We often receive non-government information requests to disclose account information of anonymous or pseudonymous Twitter accounts (requests to "unmask" the identity of the individual), which we frequently object to.

Twitter objected to 23 US civil requests for account information that sought to unmask the identities of anonymous speakers on first amendment grounds during this reporting period.

"We ended up litigating six of these requests. Twitter prevailed in four cases, lost one, and one is still pending. No information was produced in response to the other 17 requests".

In this reporting period, Twitter received 27,538 legal demands to remove content specifying 98,595 accounts.

This is the largest number of requests and specified accounts it received since releasing its first Transparency Report in 2012.

"This record number of legal demands originated from 51 different countries. 86 per cent of the total global volume of legal demands originated from only three countries: Japan, Russia, and Turkey," Twitter said.

The new Twitter Transparency Centre offers all disclosed data in one place and data visualizations, making it easier to compare trends over time.

The Twitter archive of state-backed information operations is being used by researchers, journalists and experts around the world which now spans more than 9 terabytes of media, includes over 83,000 accounts, and over 200 million Tweets and is an industry-first resource.

Twitter said it removed 86,799 unique accounts for promoting terrorism and violent extremism in the reporting period. Nearly 74 per cent of the unique accounts were proactively suspended using its internal, proprietary tools.

There were 257,768 unique accounts suspended during this reporting period for violating Twitter policies prohibiting child sexual exploitation.

"Hateful conduct expanded to include a new dehumanization policy on July 9, 2019. There was a 54 per cent increase in the number of accounts actioned for violations of our hateful conduct policy during this reporting period," Twitter informed.




Haiti - FLASH : Shipwreck in Haiti at least 17 dead





On Wednesday, the "Ancelia", a small makeshift sailboat making the route Saint-Louis du Nord and island of La Tortue, which was carrying more than thirty passengers and goods wrecked off the island de la Tortue at 12:30 pm



According to the Maritime and Navigation Service of Haiti (SEMANAH), the sinking was caused by the overloading of the sailboat and the gusts of wind, stressing that the SEMANAH had refused the captain to take to sea, but that it had passed besides this order.



The provisional toll is heavy, at least 17 people drowned, including ten women and two children...



The brigadiers of the Directorate of Civil Protection (DPC) with the support of the Maritime and Navigation Service of Haiti (SEMANAH) continue the rescue operations in an attempt to find bodies and possible survivors.



It is difficult for the moment to know the final balance, the number of passengers on board could not be established with precision and other boats would have recovered the castaways who were taken to the island of La Tortue or to Saint- Louis du Nord, what to be checked.



Reacting on his Twitter account to the news of this sad tragedy, President Jovenel Moise wrote, "I learned with great sorrow the news of the sinking of a boat off the island of La Tortue. The authorities concerned are mobilized to find the missing bodies and possible survivors. I share the pain of relatives and friends affected by this tragedy."



SL/ HaitiLibre


















Rebel troops who have taken power in Mali said Thursday "a transitional president" would be appointed, who would be drawn from either civilian or military ranks.

In an interview with the TV channel France 24, junta spokesman Ismael Wague said, "We are going to set in place a transitional council, with a transitional president who is going to be either military or civilian. We are in contact with civil society, opposition parties, the majority, everyone, to try to set the transition in place."

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(Newser)  Two members of the Islamic State four-member cell dubbed the "Beatles" because of their British accents will not face the death penalty in the US. Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh were captured in Syria in 2018 and ultimately transferred to Iraq, where they are currently in US military custody, per the Washington Post and the BBC. Their case has been tied up due to a lawsuit filed Britain; the US wants the UK's help in prosecuting the men, but Elsheikh's mother sued to bar the sharing of any evidence in a capital case. Now, William Barr has informed British Home Secretary Priti Patel in a letter that the US has dropped its previous insistence on the death penalty. The other two members of the "Beatles" quartet, known for a number of gruesome beheadings including that of American journalist James Foley, are either dead (Mohammed Emwazi aka "Jihadi John") or already convicted and imprisoned (Aine Davis, who is in Turkey).

story continues below

Barr's letter says that if the UK cooperates with a US prosecution, including sharing evidence and allowing the pair to be extradited, they will not be executed if convicted, Reuters reports. It says that if the evidence is not provided by Oct. 15, the men will be transferred to Iraqi custody, and human rights activists say prosecution in Iraq would be an almost guaranteed death sentence. The British Home Office says it will "continue to work closely with international partners to ensure that those who have committed crimes in the name of Daesh are brought to justice," but also that "legal proceedings are ongoing before the Supreme Court and we are prevented by a court order from transferring the evidence to the US at this time." It is not clear when the UK's high court will issue a final ruling, which could open the door to evidence-sharing. The two men were stripped of their British citizenship upon their capture. (Read more ISIS stories.)
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, July 14, 2020

By RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan

The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) says that on average 16 civilians have been killed or wounded every day across the country in the first half of 2020.

A total of 1,213 civilians have been killed and 1,744 others wounded in 880 separate security incidents during the first six months of the year, according to the AIHRCs report on civilian casualties published on July 14.

The report said civilian casualties have dropped by 11 percent compared to the same period last year.

The AIHRC said Taliban attacks were responsible for 48.5 percent of the recorded civilian casualties.

Government forces are behind 15.5 percent of the casualties, the Islamic State (IS) extremist group 6.3 percent, and international forces 2.3 percent.

Attacks by unknown perpetrators accounted for 26.7 percent of the casualties.

Most of the casualties were from targeted killings, home-made bomb blasts such as roadside bombs or sticky bombs, rocket attacks, suicide attacks, ground battles, airstrikes and night raids, the AIHRC said.

Casualties from suicide attacks have increased by 109 percent compared to the first six months of 2019, most of them claimed by the IS group.

On July 14, a roadside bomb in eastern Kabul killed at least four civilians and wounded four others, including children, officials said.

Kabul police spokesman Ferdaws Faramarz said the victims were riding in a car in the district of Surobi when their vehicle hit the bomb, setting it off.

District Governor Gohar Khan Baburi gave a higher casualty toll, saying five civilians were killed and 11 wounded.

No group or individual immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but the district official claimed the Taliban had placed the roadside bomb to target a military convoy.

The Taliban have stepped up attacks across Afghanistan in recent weeks, targeting Afghan security forces.

The surge comes despite the militant group's signing of a peace deal with the United States in February aimed at paving the way for an end to the war in Afghanistan.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 19, 2020 / JNC Resources Inc. (CSE:JNC) ("JNC" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has recently visited the Imperial Property to collect grab samples that will be sent off for validation and testing. The Imperial Property is located 18 miles northeast of Goldfield, Nevada in the Silver Peak District within the Walker Lane. Silver Peak is the second largest gold producing area in Esmeralda County after Goldfield.

6 samples were taken in total, 5 of which were in the immediate area of the upcoming drill program. An additional sample was obtained further to the northeast in an area of previous drilling with good surface alteration. Four of the samples will represent sampling of the main Imperial vein, while two were of surface alteration that represents different, but related veins. All of the samples taken were heavily limonite stained and silicified, with much of the material also being brecciated. Quartz after calcite replacement textures were also noted in the sample material.

"We are very excited about the collection of our grab samples at the Imperial Property and look forward to the results," stated CEO, Mike Mulberry. "With the overall excitement around gold, historical results of the area and the exploration potential of the Imperial Property it is becoming a very exciting time for us. We are permit ready and look forward to receiving the results of our preliminary sampling as we move towards our drilling program," continued Mr. Mulberry.

Qualified Persons

Warren Robb, P.Geo., is the qualified person for the Company as defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed the technical information presented within this news release.

About JNC Resources Inc.

JNC is a North American-based junior venture mineral exploration company with a goal to develop under-explored properties and benefit from deal flow generated by strategic partnerships and growth opportunities. Currently the Company is developing its 100% optioned Triple 9 Project in South Central British Columbia. The Triple 9 Project is a gold property with a new discovery of high levels of base metals, located 20 km from the town of Sicamous. JNC also has an option agreement with Great Basin Resources to acquire 100% control and interest in the Imperial Project in Nevada. The Imperial Property is located in Esmeralda County, Nevada, which has been a prolific mining area in the state. The Property is in close proximity to the town of Goldfields, where gold production occurred in the early part of the 20th century.

Story continues

For further information please contact:

Michael Mulberry

T: 778-855-5001

info@jncresources.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur.

Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in applicable forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in such statements.

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

SOURCE: JNC Resources Inc.





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/602254/JNC-Resources-Collects-Grab-Samples-from-the-Imperial-Property-in-Nevada




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Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders have reunited on-screen for the first time in four years in the upcoming film adaptation of Agatha Christie's Death On The Nile.

Iconic comedy duo French and Saunders, both aged 62, donned 1930s costumes as they appeared in the first trailer for the star-studded whodunnit, directed by Sir Kenneth Branagh.

Jennifer plays wealthy American socialite and kleptomaniac Marie van Schuyler while Dawn takes on the role of her nurse Mrs Bowers.

Iconic: Dawn French (right) and Jennifer Saunders have reunited on-screen for the first time in four years in the upcoming film adaptation of Agatha Christie's Death On The Nile

The characters were previously immortalised on screen for the 1978 film by Bette Davis and Dame Maggie Smith. Sir Peter Ustinov starred as Poirot.

French and Saunders last appeared on screen together in the 2016 Absolutely Fabulous movie.

Their popular BBC sketch show ran from 1987 to 1993 and returned for sporadic Christmas specials

French and Saunders' popular sketch show ran on the BBC from 1987 until 1993 but returned for the occasional Christmas special until 2005.

Movie history: The characters were previously immortalised on screen for the 1978 film by Bette Davis and Dame Maggie Smith

Back together: Jennifer plays wealthy American socialite and kleptomaniac Marie van Schuyler while Dawn takes on the role of her nurse Mrs Bowers

Drama: Dawn's character Mrs Bowers looks saddened in a dramatic still from the film alongside Rose Leslie (Louise Bourget) and Russell Brand (Dr. Bessner)

In the thriller Kenneth Branagh is back as the legendary mustached detective Hercule Poirot to suss out an all-new killer from a crop of famous faces traveling down the Nile.

Gal Gadot, Leticia Wright and Armie Hammer also co-star in the first trailer for Death on the Nile, which dropped on Wednesday.

The film serves as the sequel to 2017's hit Murder on the Orient Express which once again teams up Branagh, 59, as star and director with screenwriter Michael Green.

Whodunit?In the thriller Kenneth Branagh is back as the legendary mustached detective Hercule Poirot to suss out an all-new killer from a crop of famous faces traveling down the Nile

Set on a glamorous river cruise down the Nile, Detective Poirot's luxurious holiday becomes a murder investigation when someone on the boat turns up dead.

'The romance of the desert has the power to seduce,' Poirot begins in a voiceover over picturesque snaps of the world famous Egyptian pyramids.

He asks: 'Have you ever loved so much, been so possessed by jealousy, that you might kill?'

For the Agatha Christie sequel, Branagh appears to have given his stalwart detective a bit of a make-under.

All-star: Gal Gadot leads a star-studded cast including Leticia Wright and Armie Hammer in the thrilling murder mystery

Mystery: Set on a glamorous river cruise down the Nile, Detective Poirot's luxurious holiday becomes a murder investigation when someone on the boat turns up dead

'The romance of the desert has the power to seduce,' Poirot begins in a voiceover over picturesque snaps of the world famous Egyptian pyramids and the Nile river

All time great: The upcoming murder mystery is based on Christie's 1937 novel of the same name, one of 66 titles written by the author. She is the best selling fiction writer of all time

Poirot's legendary mustache has been significantly toned down for Death on the Nile, a contrast to the over-the-top bushy grooming from Murder on the Orient Express.

The upcoming murder mystery is based on Christie's 1937 novel of the same name, one of 66 titles written by the author. She is the best selling fiction writer of all time.

The thrilling whodunit sees a relationship turn into a jealous love triangle, turn into betrayal and finally, a murder. And, everyone is a suspect.

Cleaned up! Poirot's legendary mustache has been significantly toned down for Death on the Nile (right), a contrast to the over-the-top bushy grooming from Murder on the Orient Express (left)

Branagh brought together an all-star ensemble cast with Gal Gadot, Letitia Wright, Armie Hammer, Annette Bening, Ali Fazal, Sophie Okonedo, Tom Bateman, Emma Mackey, Rose Leslie, and Russell Brand.

The group of characters-turned-suspects is made up of both employees on the river steamer as well as travelers and they all seem to have a motive to kill.

The trailer sees holiday makers enjoying the stunning vistas off the boat deck, drinking, dancing and partying until a piercing scream changes everything.

'Have you ever loved so much, been so possessed by jealousy, that you might kill?'

Pointing fingers: The thrilling whodunit sees a relationship turn into a jealous love triangle, turn into betrayal and finally, a murder

Death: When a young heiress turns up dead on the boat, Poirot sees everyone as a potential suspects and one of them will be unmasked as the killer by the film's end

Seductive:In this film still, the movie's 1920's 'Jazz Age' aesthetic can be seen used to full effect for a dance sequence

When a young heiress turns up dead on the boat, Poirot sees everyone as a potential suspects and one of them will be unmasked as the killer by the film's end.

In his signature Poirot style, the detective brings everyone together in one room and systematically weaves the story of the murder and the murderer.

'The crime is murder, the murderer is one of you,' Branagh's mustached Poirot tells the room of suspects.

Star power: Branagh brought together an all-star ensemble cast with Gal Gadot, Letitia Wright, Armie Hammer, Annette Bening, Ali Fazal, Sophie Okonedo, Tom Bateman, Emma Mackey, , Rose Leslie, and Russell Brand

Behind the scenes: The film will have an authentic vibe as it was shot on location in Egypt

Everything changes: Drinking, dancing and partying on the cruise gives way to a murder investigation in Death on the Nile

Death on the Nile is the second in Branagh's adaptations of Christie's novels and has his sights set on creating a film franchise based on the iconic mystery writers 66 works.

This is not the first adaptation of the book, however, an earlier 1978 version was equally star-studded seeing Bette Davis, Mia Farrow, Angela Lansbury and Maggie Smith in key roles.

Death on the Nile is expected out this fall and earlier in the pandemic, Branagh had said that he had his sights set on a theater opening.

Talented! Branagh not only stars in the film but also directs - as he did in Murder on the Orient express

Way back when: This is not the first adaptation of the book, however, an earlier 1978 version starred Bette Davis, Mia Farrow, Angela Lansbury and Maggie Smith

'The studio have seen the film and are very very supportive of it. We are very excited by it,' Kenneth told EW in May.

Adding: 'We are continuing to fly the flag for the big screen experience. We're prone to the challenges of social distancing and isolation (but) so far so good.'

The film is set to be released October 23, 2020.

Coming soon: Death on the Nile is set to be released October 23, 2020

Hieroglyphs: Annette Bening and Tom Bateman seen here in one of the film's Egyptian locales
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, on Thursday re-echoed the partys RED alert over the leaked video revealing alleged secret plots between the ousted National chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, and the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, on Monday. He alleged that Oshiomhole was smuggled into the presidency to perfect APC rigging strategy for the Edo governorship election.

Secondus at a press briefing, bemoaned that the threat to democracy in Nigeria is becoming more and more real by the day. He said that the PDP has watched with utmost concern the developing situation in Edo State. He added that the party has watched the growing desperation of the APC, and the Presidency to subvert the popular will of the people and capture Edo State in the September 19 gubernatorial election at all cost.

We are deeply saddened that under the watch of an elected President, Muhammadu Buhari, who is a huge beneficiary of democracy, the nations highest seat of power is being used for the hatching of plans to undermine democracy.

The Chief of staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, is such a strategic staff that when he is involved in any underhand thing, the President cannot free himself from it, Secondus declared.

According to the chairman, the PDP, therefore, called on the National Assembly to call for the tape of the video and examine thoroughly its content with a view to acting appropriately.

Secondus protested that the constitution and the Electoral Act are clear on this type of blatant undermining of democracy by clamping down on the opposition.

Its very unfortunate that the numerous problems overwhelming the nation is not disturbing the President and his party but they are engaged in planning how to blackmail and arrest the opposition.

Its also in our findings that the several efforts of APC leaders to arm-twist the INEC into falling for their

devious move to shift the election.

All these anti-democratic moves are all aimed at one thing, creating a constitutional logjam to disruption the election because they know they cannot win.

As all these underhand moves are crumpling before their eyes, the discredited former Chairman of APC was smuggled in Aso Rock Villa to fine tune the rigging strategy for Edo.

The leaked video which has been confirmed by the Presidency says it all the plan to arrest and keep away all opposition leaders and clear the way for the rigging machinery of APC to roll through, Secondus declared.

The PDP chairman stated that this development is not only shameful but very unfortunate that the nations seat of power housing a democratically elected President has to be used to plan how to inflict harm on democracy.

the PDP National Chairman, therefore, declared further: We call on both the INEC and the Judiciary to stand firm in defence of democracy and not yield to the manipulative tendencies of APC and its governments.

We wish to also draw the attention of the international community to this gross abuse of planning to undermine Democratic process by critical staff who should defend it.

We demand appropriate sanction of the individuals involved in this anti- democratic act, they should be given visa restrictions to any democratic countries.

The interest and will of the people of Edo State should be paramount in all decisions and that should guide any action either by the INEC or the government.

He maintained that the PDP remains vehemently opposed to any postponement of Edo and Ondo states governorship elections; adding that September 19 and October 10 should be sacrosanct.

Secondus subsequently advocated that Nigerians should declare anybody or group working to truncate the ongoing electoral processes for Edo and Ondo states as enemies of democracy who want to inject crisis in the two states by undermining the will of the people.
Cast of new comedy thriller drama "If You Cheat, You Die" held their first reading.

KBS2 TV shared photos of the event as the cast showed off great chemistry. The producing director Kim Hyung Seok and collaboration with writer Lee Sung Min, they greeted the cast with a warm welcome.

The drama stars Jo Yeo Jeong, Go Joon, Yeonwoo, and Kim Young Dae, while the supporting roles include Song Ok Sook, Jung Sang Hoon, Lee Si Eon, Kim Ye Won, Hong Soo Hyun, Oh Min Seok, Lee Se Na, Bae Noo Ri, Kim Jung Pal, Kim Do Hyun, Lee Tae Hyung, Kim Soo Jin, Song Seung Ha, and many more.

"If You Cheat, You Die" is about a novelist Kang Yeo Joo, portrayed by Jo Yeo Jeong, who writes crime mystery books but loves to think about different ways of killing people. Go Joon plays as Han Woo Sung, her husband and a divorce lawyer, who made a written promise to his wife. The bonded promise states, "If you cheat, you die."

Director Kim Hyung Seok thanked the actors for their participation and wished everyone to make the best fun and classy drama, beating the pandemic with their chemistry and good ratings.

The head of KBS drama Lee Gun Joon acknowledged everyone's presence and shared that this is one of the big projects for KBS and hoping for high viewership ratings as good as the title of the show. The married couple of the show, Jo Yeo Jeong and Go Joon, showed their best moments in comedy and thrills as they started exchanging their lines.

Rookie actor Kim Young Dae plays Cha Soo Ho, a convenience store part-time worker who helps Kang Yeo Joo and safeguards her.

Song Ok Sook, in character as Yeom Jin Ok, IS a professional housekeeper while Jung Sang Hoon as Son Jin Ho, the best friend of Han Woo Sung.

Meanwhile the law enforcement unit starts with Lee Si Eon as detective Jang Seung Chul who works together with Kim Ye Won as Ahn Se Jin. She is the only female detective of the violent crimes department. The two officers share a good working relationship since they joined the police department of the same year.

The chief at the National Intelligent Service is Ma Dong Gyun, portrayed by Oh Min Seok.

The production shared that the drama is something new and has a funny and exciting plot for the viewers. Considering the great actors and a good storyline, people will love it.

"If You Cheat, You Die" will premiere in October.
The Punjab and Haryana high court has summoned the probe records of the PG fire incident in Sector 32, Chandigarh, which led to the death of three girls.

The incident had taken place in February this year when a fire tore through the illegal paying guest (PG) accommodation, owned by Gaurav Aneja, who had further rented it to Nitish Bansal and Nitish Popli, who ran the PG. As per information, the duo had started the business in August 2018, allegedly without registration with the UT estate office.

The record was summoned by the bench of justice Karamjit Singh, acting on the bail plea of Aneja, who is behind bars since the incident was reported.

Aneja had argued that being the owner of the premises in question, he is not liable for prosecution as he had only rented out the place. This bail application cannot be disposed of in the absence of the entire police record. Accordingly, the state is directed to produce the entire police record of this case on the next date of hearing, the bench said, posting the matter for September 2. The bail plea had been filed on July 3.

Bansal, Popli and house owner Gaurav Aneja were booked under Sections 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code in February in view of the widespread public outrage over the incident.
H umans are more open-minded about making simulated friendships with robots amid social isolation fuelled by Covid-19, research has suggested.

Scientists found the lonelier people became while locked down during the pandemic, the more agreeable they became to having machines as home companions.

Technological advances have seen more companion robots being marketed, from Samsungs simple rolling ball to big-eyed Buddy emotional artificial intelligence wheeled droids and increasingly lifelike humanoids covered in fake skin.

The preprint study, by robotics engineers at Canadas University of Waterloo, found peoples perception of having machine companions around the home to simulate friendship changed as their feelings of isolation and stress increased during the quarantine.

Boris Johnson meets humanoid robot Wabian-2 at Waseda University in Tokyo / AFP/Getty Images

Previously, companion robots had been promoted as social friends for elderly people, or to help soothe dementia, but now it has been suggested that wider age groups are open to buying a droid for friendship.

About 100 study participants controlled for age and gender were recruited via an online work marketplace.

Researchers found the pandemic increased participants willingness to have a machine companion where direct human behaviour is prohibited, with no masks needed or worries about infection risk.

Israeli scientists tested the effectiveness of therapy robot seal Paro for soothing pain / Shelly Levy-Tzedek / Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Other attributes people said they wanted in their plastic and metal friend were recognising you and being able to show emotions.

A robot not requiring any maintenance was preferred by study participants, who said they wanted it programmed for mainly "chitchat", playing music and task reminders, while dancing was the least preferred activity.

Participants also said they did not necessarily require the robot to show an advanced level of rational behaviour.

Research assistant professor Moojan Ghafurian says robots can help "simulate" a social companion / Moojan Ghafurian

The study says: Experiencing a change in lifestyle as a result of the pandemicled to a change in the perception of benefits of companion robots.

Lead author Moojan Ghafurian, research assistant professor at the University of Waterloos Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, told the Standard: Human contact should always be encouraged and be the first priority.

However, there are situations where human contact is not possible, for example during a pandemic like Covid-19, or for those who are socially isolated, such as older adults who live alone.

In these situations, social robots can help simulate the existence of a social companion, on some levels, for those who are deprived of actual human contact or attention.

Dr Tara Swart, a London neuroscientist, said over time robots might induce the same bonding hormone" in some people's brains as flesh-and-blood loved-ones.

She said: Human-to-human interaction is vital to our survival but robot companions are a viable alternative where loneliness may be the only other option.

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Loneliness is up there with being sedentary, or smoking, in terms of cardiac risk factors and impacting longevity."
Jim Wallis steps aside as Sojourners editor-in-chief after removing controversial op-ed

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Longtime progressive evangelical leader Jim Wallis has been replaced as editor-in-chief at Sojourners magazine after staff members resigned following his decision to unpublish a controversial op-ed accusing the Catholic Church of having a white-power faction.

Sojourners, a monthly magazine and online publication popular among progressive Christians that also serves as a social justice advocacy organization, announced last Friday that it has made structural and editorial changes to reflect the editorial independence of the publication from the nonprofits advocacy work.

As part of these changes, Wallis will no longer serve as editor-in-chief of the magazine. Wallis has overseen the magazine since it was founded as The Post-American in the early 1970s.

Wallis, 72, will continue to serve as the president of Sojourners, an evangelical activist organization based in Washington, D.C.

In his place, the magazines executive editor, Sandi Villarreal, has assumed the role of editor-in-chief of the magazine and online publication.

She will have editorial independence as she oversees Sojourners magazine and sojo.net, Sojourners said. The new Editor-in-Chief will continue to be part of the senior leadership team of the Sojourners organization.

The organizational changes come after two associate editors resigned from the publication after Wallis decided to remove an essay from the website.

The essay was published online under the headline The Catholic Church has a Visible White-Power Faction and written by Eric Martin, a scholar and activist who teaches religion at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Martins essay claimed that when a U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee met in 2018 to discuss a pastoral letter condemning racism, those involved chose to omit language that condemned the imagery of confederate flags, swastikas and nooses.

Wallis on July 28 decided to take down the article from Sojourners' website due to a correction that needed to be issued for the article that Wallis did not think could be rectified with a simple factual correction or two.

After internal backlash spilled online with public resignations, the decision was made to republish the article on the Sojourners website with a correction issued on Aug. 14.

An earlier version of this article claimed that the writers of the document Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love - A Pastoral Letter Against Racism, developed by the Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), were silent on three extreme symbols of racism: swastikas, Confederate flags, and nooses, the correction reads. This is not true.

According to the correction, the final language of the document included the sentence: The re-appearance of symbols of hatred, such as nooses and swastikas in public spaces, is a tragic indicator of rising racial and ethnic animus.

The document did not condemn these symbols but did address them, the Aug, 14 correction reads. The final document does not address Confederate flags. We apologize for this error and thank readers at the U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference and Catholic Charities USA for pointing it out.

The magazine vowed in its statement issued last Friday that it will never again remove a published article from our website.

Any errors or concerns found post-publication will be handled according to the proper editorial processes of issuing correction(s) and/or offering any needed editors note, engaging our audience in thoughtful public debate or offering space for rebuttal, the magazine vowed.

In a statement, Wallis explained that after the publication of Martins essay, Catholic bishops expressed deep concerns about the article.

Wallis, who has spent decades building relationships with like-minded social justice activists across theological lines, admitted that he also heard concerns from Catholic organizations whom he considered to be trusted allies and friends of the organization.

I made the very difficult decision to pull the article because I agreed with much of their critique and had my own deep concerns about the article, which I did not think could be rectified with a simple factual correction or two, Wallis stated. Many Catholic friends and allies who have been in the forefront of efforts to advance a pro-justice and anti-racist agenda, in partnership with Sojourners, were hurt and felt betrayed.

They felt that this article would jeopardize relationships of trust that have been built over a long time, and that this would harm our outreach to bishops and other church leaders who are now more ready than ever to take a bolder stand against racism, Wallis added. And I found myself agreeing with them. But then other friends and allies, some of them Catholic too, were very confused and angry at the article being taken down.

Wallis said he found himself in an absolutely untenable situation.

So, let me try and offer some explanations for this most difficult and painful decision and will certainly understand if people disagree, he said. That we can all make mistakes has been made very clear from this heartbreaking situation, and mine are foremost for me now, certainly in failing to figure out how to foster much better communication all around.

Wallis argued that at the heart of the situation is the natural and ongoing tension between our identity as a publication and as an advocacy organization in and supportive of broader movements.

That tension has been with us from our outset until now, 49 years later, he explained. Both pillars of our work are dedicated to our mission to articulate the biblical call to social justice in order to inspire hope and build a movement to transform individuals, communities, the church and the world.

Wallis stated that Sojourners has tried to do both messaging and mobilizing.

Many have admired Sojourners for striving to do both. But this time that tension became untenable and failed completely with painful consequences, he explained. I wish I had found a way to handle this particular conflict very differently, and I failed at that.

In a statement on Twitter, Villarreal said that she grieves of the developments that have taken place in the last few weeks. She praised the honor and the courage of her colleagues and apologized for the ways Ive failed to lead to well in the past.
An aide and close friend of Mamman Daura, Aminu Balele Kurfi, has said that the nephew to President Muhammadu Buhari travelled to London for routine medical check-up.

Mr Kurfi was reacting to reports Wednesday that Mr Daura was flown to the UK aboard a private jet after developing a serious medical condition suspected to be COVID-19-related.

Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday evening, Mr Kurfi said the whole world saw Mallam Mamman Daura without any sign of illness on Tuesday when he attended the funeral prayer for late journalist, Wada Maida.

He also said Mr Daura often travels for medical checks with his long-term doctors based in the United Kingdom.

I was one of those who saw him off at the Airport and he called me when they landed in London this evening (yesterday), he said.

He described reports of serious illness as inaccurate.

At 80 years it is natural that he will from time to time undertake medical checks, Mr Kurfi said.

He added that as a free citizen, Mr Daura is free to seek medical services or opinion anywhere.

If he were sick and the sickness is COVID-19, do you think UK authorities will allow him to travel there at this time? he asked.

Nigeria had on March 23 suspended local and international flights to and from the country as one of the ways of curtailing the spread of coronavirus which has so far infected over 50,000 Nigerians and killed 985 of them.

While local flights resumed on July 8, international flights will only resume on August 29.

It is unclear why an exemption was made for Mr Daura to fly out of the country for routine medical tests.

Mr Kurfi, his associate, did not say, although many Nigerians are suggesting he got the special treatment because of his relationship with Mr Buhari.

Mr Daura, a powerful member of the presidents inner caucus, is believed to have huge influence on the president and his administration.

Mr Daura a target?

Mr Kurfi also said Mr Daura is being targeted by a section of the media for freely expressing his opinion regarding the 2023 election.

The Presidents nephew had in a recent BBC interview urged Nigerians to deemphasize the rotation of the nations presidential office between the north and south of the country. He said the country should rather place competence over power rotation.

Mr Daura, a northerner, spoke at a time many Nigerians are pushing that the presidency should be conceded to the South when Mr Buhari completes his tenure in 2023.

He was widely criticized for that opinion with many Nigerians suggesting he was laying the foundation for the north to hold on to the presidency beyond Mr Buharis tenure.

What is wrong in advising that Nigerians should go for competence and not necessarily where one comes from in electing leaders?

An aide and close friend of Mamman Daura, Aminu Balele Kurfi.

There are competent leaders in all the regions of the country and democracy has now developed to a situation whereby anyone being elected must be on the basis of what they have to offer and not where they come from, Mr Kurfi said.

He said some of the people trying to bring down the government by advocating for a revolution were on the ballot during the last election but could not win their state, local government, ward or even polling unit, so they are now resorting to call for violence. Can they be allowed to do that in any other country?
"We are honored to be named among the fastest-growing private companies in America," said Harvath. "We only win when our clients win and making the list shows this is the time for M&A in IT services.

Revenue Rocket Consulting Group is proud to announce its debut in Inc. magazine annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. By enabling companies to navigate the treacherous waters of deal-making while providing strategic go-to-market consulting services, Revenue Rocket has grown with a long roster of successful companies and deals. By completing transactions, Revenue Rocket has made the 2020 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies.

Based in Minneapolis MN, Revenue Rocket provides merger & acquisition advisory and growth strategy consulting services to its clients in the IT Services market. With more than 20 years of experience, Revenue Rocket has helped hundreds of firms grow through acquisition, divesting businesses, or improving growth through a rigorous strategic consulting process.

"The IT Services market is vibrant, growing, and resilient, but also faces unique challenges. Technically minded business owners may not fully appreciate or have the day-to-day experience to run an acquisition, divestiture, or growth strategy project. They don't have traditional asset-heavy balance sheets, so consistent profit and growth becomes paramount in a deal," said Mike Harvath, CEO and Founder of Revenue Rocket. "We put together acquisitions where there is a strategic, cultural, and financial fit that allows businesses to thrive and grow together. And if a company is not ready for a deal, we guide them to top quartile revenue and profit performance in their market through our proprietary (SVP) Process.

"We are honored to be named among the fastest-growing private companies in America," said Harvath. "We only win when our clients win and making the list shows this is the time for M&A in IT services.

Revenue Rocket is the top provider of M&A advisory services for IT Services companies included in the Inc. 5000.

Companies on the 2020 Inc. 5000 list have been very competitive within their markets, and the aggregate list proves staggering growth, achieving 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 http://www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 5000 companies are also being featured in the September issue of Inc., available on newsstands August 12.

More details on Revenue Rockets growth story can be found at https://www.revenuerocket.com/revenue-rocket-makes-inc-5000-list-as-the-one-of-americas-fastest-growing-companies/, To start a process on buying another firm, selling your firm, or improving growth organically, please visit https://www.revenuerocket.com/.

CONTACT: info@revenuerocket.com for more information

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/.
"We've seen heavier than normal CRW pressure throughout the U.S., with the heaviest pressure observed in the key rootworm geographies of northern Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, southern Minnesota, Nebraska and Colorado," said Andy Heggenstaller, head of agronomy for Syngenta Seeds. "Although these are the highest populations we've recorded in the past five years, the good news is that our monitoring program is also finding that growers who are incorporating multiple management practices are getting ahead of the challenge."

Long-term CRW management requires a multi-year, whole-farm approach that includes the integration of multiple control measures, not a singular technology. For growers looking to effectively control CRW, Syngenta recommends having a plan in place for each field that includes multiple control strategies including crop rotation, corn rootworm-traited corn hybrids, soil-applied insecticides and adult beetle management.

The monitoring program, announced this spring, was designed to provide growers with the support they need to monitor adult CRW in their fields and supply knowledge to help make better, more informed management decisions. One tactic that has benefited growers is the use of yellow sticky traps, an easy and reliable tool for estimating CRW populations in corn fields.

"Every farm  and in many cases, every field  is unique, and effective CRW management requires year-by-year, field-by-field evaluation," said Heggenstaller. "Using yellow sticky traps, we are able to track the current year's beetle numbers and gauge the following year's larval threat. This information then helps us develop a long-term CRW management plan tailored to the specific needs of each field."

Because CRW has historically demonstrated the ability to overcome some management practices and control technologies, it's important to show CRW something different. Growers looking for a new trait rotational option for a healthier corn crop should consider planting Agrisure Duracade trait stacks.

"Agrisure Duracade trait stacks feature a unique mode of action that demonstrates strong performance against CRW," said Tim O'Brien, PhD, Agrisure traits manager for Syngenta. "The industry's most innovative solution for proactively protecting yield potential is the Agrisure Duracade 5222 E-Z Refuge trait stack. Its novel, alternate modes of action help preserve trait durability and delay insect adaptation for long-term field health."

"When used in rotation with other industry trait technologies like Agrisure 3122 E-Z Refuge, Agrisure Duracade trait stacks provide a new trait rotation option for CRW management," he added.

The Agrisure traits portfolio is a direct result of a Syngenta commitment to address the increasing challenges for farmers. Syngenta continues to develop and invest in technologies that bring about positive lasting change for more sustainable agriculture.

Growers interested in utilizing the CRW monitoring program to make management decisions for next year should contact their local, independent Golden Harvest Seed Advisor or local NK retailer.

For more information on Agrisure Duracade trait stacks and to find additional resources about corn rootworm management, including a step-by-step Take Control of Corn Rootworm Management Brochure, visit www.agrisureduracade.com. Join the conversation online  connect with Syngenta at Syngenta-us.com/social.

About Syngenta

Syngenta is one of the world's leading agriculture companies. Our ambition is to help safely feed the world while taking care of the planet. We aim to improve the sustainability, quality and safety of agriculture with world class science and innovative crop solutions. Our technologies enable millions of farmers around the world to make better use of limited agricultural resources. With 28,000 people in more than 90 countries we are working to transform how crops are grown. Through partnerships, collaboration and The Good Growth Plan we are committed to improving farm productivity, rescuing land from degradation, enhancing biodiversity and revitalizing rural communities. To learn more visit www.syngenta.com and www.goodgrowthplan.com. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Syngenta and www.twitter.com/SyngentaUS.

Web Resources:

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Golden Harvest Seed Advisor

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Know More, Grow More

Syngenta Newsroom

Syngenta Seeds

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Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This document may contain forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as 'expect', 'would', 'will', 'potential', 'plans', 'prospects', 'estimated', 'aiming', 'on track' and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. For Syngenta, such risks and uncertainties include risks relating to legal proceedings, regulatory approvals, new product development, increasing competition, customer credit risk, general economic and market conditions, compliance and remediation, intellectual property rights, implementation of organizational changes, impairment of intangible assets, consumer perceptions of genetically modified crops and organisms or crop protection chemicals, climatic variations, fluctuations in exchange rates and/or commodity prices, single source supply arrangements, political uncertainty, natural disasters, and breaches of data security or other disruptions of information technology. Syngenta assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors.

2020 Syngenta, 2001 Butterfield Road, 16th Floor, Downers Grove, IL 60515. Important: Always read and follow label and bag tag instructions; only those labeled as tolerant to glufosinate may be sprayed with glufosinate ammonium based herbicides. Agrisure, Agrisure Duracade, E-Z Refuge, Golden Harvest, NK and the Syngenta logo are registered trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. HERCULEX and the HERCULEX Shield are trademarks of Dow AgroSciences LLC. HERCULEX Insect Protection technology by Dow AgroSciences. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. More information about Agrisure Duracade is available at http://www.biotradestatus.com/.

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Following 30 years of fraught relations Egypt and Sudan are coordinating efforts to promote their development

A new era in Egyptian-Sudanese relations has begun, Egypts Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli and his Sudanese counterpart Abdalla Hamdok said during the formers visit to Khartoum earlier this week.

During a press conference held after their talks in the Sudanese capital, Madbouli said the two countries had drawn up a cooperation strategy to promote mutual interests.

The composition and size of the delegation that accompanied Madbouli to Khartoum reflected the importance accorded to advancing bilateral relations after three decades of steady souring under the rule of Sudans Omar Al-Bashir.

The two countries agreed to boost trade by removing obstacles hindering the exchange of goods, cooperate over investment, facilitate opportunities for Egyptian companies to invest in Sudan and boost cooperation in the field of transport.

Egypt and Sudan agreed to restructure and develop the Nile Valley Authority for River Navigation, an Egyptian-Sudanese organisation that oversees the transport of passengers and goods. They called for a meeting of the Egyptian-Sudanese Committee in Khartoum, and to develop the use of the two countries ports on the Red Sea. They agreed to intensify cooperation in healthcare, education, and to further consolidate links between their power grids.

On the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Cairo and Khartoum reiterated their rejection of unilateral actions and stressed that current African Union-brokered talks should conclude in a legally binding agreement with an effective mechanism to solve any future disputes that may ensue between the three states.

Hamdok said Madboulis visit was an effective green light to activating protocols that the two sides have signed.

The stagnation that beset Egyptian-Sudanese relations for three decades wasted vast opportunities available to the two states, something the political leadership of the two countries now realise. Now, facing similar regional and international challenges, Cairo and Khartoum are determined to make up for the lost time.

Egypt and Sudan have vast reserves of natural and human resources, share a common history, extensive cultural ties and a distinctive geographic location. They are commonalities that can make the two countries an influential axis in the Arab and African sphere, promoting the stability and prosperity of both the region and the continent.

The many protocols and agreements Egypt and Sudan have signed in the last 50 years have almost always been consigned to the drawer. It is high time they were activated.

The development needs of both countries will best be served by removing impediments in the way of the free movement of people, capital and investments.

The region still suffers the repercussions of colonialism that divided the peoples of Egypt and Sudan, divisions that the post-independence regimes sometimes compounded. GERD has made it clear it is necessary for the two countries to cooperate, and to coordinate their strategic visions.

The Khartoum meeting could not have made this point clearer. It sent a message to regional and international parties concerned with the GERD file that Egypt and Sudan have common interests and positions, their demands are fair, and that the ongoing dispute will only be resolved by a balanced and fair agreement that preserves the rights of Cairo, Khartoum and Addis Ababa. There is no place for a fait accompli, or the exercise of hegemony over a joint water source on which the lives of millions of Egyptians and Sudanese depend.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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A leading public health doctor has called for information about the location and nature of positive Covid-19 cases to be made public.

Professor Gabriel Scally, a member of independent Sage, has called for health authorities to provide more detail about outbreaks, which he said will help schools take steps to protect staff and pupils.

With pupils due to return to school in a matter of days, there is growing concern over the safety of staff, pupils and their families, particularly after the health minister and his two top officials warned of a re-emergence of the virus.

And on Wednesday, the chief scientific advisor said children of parents who have been shielding may not be able to return to school as it may be too dangerous.

However, he stopped short on providing a definitive position, saying that the decision should be made in conjunction with health professionals and the schools involved.

"It needs to be made on an individual basis depending on the exact nature of the circumstances," he said.

"In the case of schools opening, we know that children are less likely to catch the virus than adults, particularly younger children.

"We know they are somewhat less likely to transmit the virus and it is very rare for them to develop severe disease.

"We can't say that opening schools will be completely safe and will not be associated with some increase in the infection."

However, Professor Scally has said parents and schools are in a difficult position due to the current lack of public information about outbreaks and clusters.

"It's absolutely that more information is provided about positive cases as the schools go back," he said.

"Telling someone that there are some cases in Belfast is no use if you want to know whether it is safe to send your child to school.

"If they said, 'There is a cluster in Divis or Short Strand or Ardoyne', you would be more clear about the risks while at the same time protecting the identity of positive cases.

"Unless you get detailed information about where clusters are popping up, how are you going to know? Parents need that information, teachers need that information.

"Children very often don't get symptoms of Covid-19 and so it would help for principals to make decisions on whether they should close their school for a period or for parents to know whether they should keep their child at home for a while."

Alliance Party MLA Paula Bradshaw, a member of the Stormont health committee, said: "It is imperative, not just with regard to schools, that as much information as possible about clusters and spikes in particular localities is made public.

"This has improved markedly in recent weeks. It would also be helpful to publish the scientific advice under which schools are reopening to provide added confidence."

Health officials have refused to provide specific details about clusters as they have argued it may result in the identification of patients. According to statistics released on Wednesday afternoon, 34 people had tested positive in the previous 24 hours, while the number of inpatients with Covid-19 across Northern Ireland had risen from four to seven over the 24-hour period.
LONDON, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Britain removed Portugal from its quarantine list on Thursday, but said rising infections elsewhere meant arrivals from Croatia, Austria and Trinidad and Tobago would be required to undergo a 14-day quarantine period.

"Data shows we need to remove Croatia, Austria and Trinidad & Tobago from our list of #coronavirus Travel Corridors to keep infection rates DOWN," transport minister Grant Shapps said on Twitter. "If you arrive in the UK after 0400 Saturday from these destinations, you will need to self-isolate for 14 days."

On Portugal, he said: "Data also shows we can now add Portugal to those countries INCLUDED in Travel Corridors." (Reporting by William James; editing by Stephen Addison)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 20:14:44|Editor: huaxia

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HARARE, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Zimbabwe government on Wednesday summoned the Pope's envoy to Zimbabwe as it escalated its feud with the Catholic Church to diplomatic level after Catholic bishops wrote a stinging pastoral letter last Friday accusing the government of human rights violations.

In the fourth response by the government to the pastoral letter, justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the government had tasked foreign affairs minister Sibusiso Moyo to meet Marek Zalewski regarding issues raised by the bishops.

In a statement read out to journalists Thursday, Ziyambi said the government wanted to establish whether the pastoral letter issued by the Zimbabwe Catholics Bishops Conference was a reflection of the official attitude of the Vatican towards Harare.

Moyo is said to have met Zalewski, but details of the meeting were not made available.

Among other issues raised, the government appeared to have been particularly irked by a statement questioning the government's ability to deal with problems besetting the country.

"It is not clear to us as your bishops that the national leadership that we have has the knowledge, social skill, emotional stability and social orientation to handle the issues we face as a nation," the bishops said.

Ziyambi said the statement constituted an outright insult to the person of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his entire government and was couched in a language decidedly unbecoming of an institution such as the Catholic Church.

Earlier in the day, Mnangagwa had castigated some church leaders for allegedly meddling in national politics and invited them, instead, to remove their religious robes and form political parties and challenge the ruling ZANU-PF party elections.

Prior to Mnangagwa's statement which was delivered during a meeting of the party's Politburo, information minister Monica Mutsvangwa and her permanent secretary Nick Mangwana had also issued statements against the pastoral letter. Enditem
Temren R. Wroge

As the communications manager for the National Womens Business Council, Im in the unique position of conveying the crucial mission of the Council, especially during this unprecedented and uncertain time.

The NWBC is a non-partisan federal advisory committee created to serve as an independent source of advice and policy recommendations to the President, Congress and the U.S. Small Business Administration on economic issues of importance to women business owners. NWBC has three policy priorities for 2020: Women in STEM, Rural Womens Entrepreneurship and Access to Capital and Opportunity. Through in-depth conversations, roundtables and webinars with women business owners across the country, weve found that a lack of funding, financial assistance and resources still exist among women business owners and entrepreneurs. The Council seeks to close that gap and connect women in business to opportunities to start and grow their enterprises.

Because the NWBC is tasked with providing policy recommendations to the White House, Congress and the SBA, we work to identify ways that federal programs can be streamlined or adjusted to eliminate access barriers for women entrepreneurs. NWBC also seeks to raise awareness about relevant financial literacy issues and existing curriculum, programs and initiatives dedicated to teaching women entrepreneurs about capital and financial literacy, which may be amplified to help women build personal and business credit, build wealth and achieve financial security.

The financial challenges

Access to capital continues to be the biggest impediment to growth for women-owned businesses. Women access commercial loans at lower rates and receive less venture and equity capital than men. In order to accurately advocate for women business owners and founders, its paramount to address the barriers that inhibit women.

NWBCs communication strategy seeks to create a climate for women entrepreneurs to flourish. In doing so, NWBC needs to engage a broader audience with compelling and accessible content informed by our mission. Because access to capital and opportunity is so important for women in business, the content that NWBC shares is to better inform policymakers of the work that still needs to be done to ensure that women in business have the opportunity to start and grow their enterprise.

Social media has been a successful way to share new opportunities for women in business. NWBC also works closely with womens business organizations like the Association of Womens Business Centers and the Womens Business Exchange National Council to highlight trainings being offered and also promote local resources for women in business.

NWBC is the only independent federal advisory committee devoted solely to the empowerment of women-owned businesses. However, federal agencies usually have an Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization and subdivisions or departments that focus on women and minorities and deliver relevant programming.

Providing financial resources

Amid the pandemic, NWBCs policy focus areas remain the same, but our means of engagement and outreach has shifted to solely virtual methods for the time being.

NWBC shifted its signature #LetsTalkBusiness Roundtable Series, which connects the voices of women entrepreneurs and business owners from across the country to policymakers in the Nations capital and helps serve as a springboard for the Councils annual policy recommendations to Congress, the President and the SBA to an online platform. The latest roundtable focused on Women in STEM and was held virtually on July 28.

At the start of 2020, NWBC launched #WebinarWednesdaya monthly webinar series that serves as a platform for women entrepreneurs and business owners, to connect them to key advocates, experts and useful resources that can help bolster their knowledge and skills and elevate their entrepreneurial potential. NWBC has also used its #WebinarWednesday series to highlight resources amid the pandemic. In April, NWBC and the Vinetta Project teamed up for a virtual panel aimed at helping startup founders navigate the CARES Act. The April 2020 webinar helped break down the available federal relief for venture-backed startups. Experts from the SBA, JP Morgan and Graphite Financial discussed available resources, lending options and how to document your requests.

NWBCs email updates, monthly newsletters and #WebinarWednesday series all play a part in proactively sharing and disseminating resources and information surrounding the pandemic.

Impacting businesses through policy

Highlighting the unique role that women business owners fill in the economy and sharing their challenges and opportunities with policymakers allows for more effective recovery legislation and allows the voices of women business owners and entrepreneurs to be heard.

Because NWBC has shifted to a virtual platform and outreach strategy, the feedback that we receive during the webinars and roundtables is extremely valuable. Per our statute, NWBC submits an annual report to Congress and the Administration with policy recommendations at the end of each fiscal year, and the roundtable and webinar discussions serve as a springboard for those recommendations. NWBC also routinely meets with members of Congress and agency officials to share the councils mission and relay challenges for womens business enterprise.

In NWBCs most recent Annual Report, the Council sought to amplify the Womens Business Center program and the resources and trainings it provides to women looking to start or grow their business. NWBC recommended that the SBA consult with the Association for Womens Business Centers and conduct a market scan in order to cast a wider net when looking for a funding match and gauge the need for a business center within the community.

Federal programs, like the Womens Business Center program, give women in business the opportunity to learn about available resources to start, sustain and grow their businesses, which is extremely valuable as small businesses are being drastically impacted by the pandemic.

Proactive communication, representation

As we navigate the strange and turbulent waters of the COVID-19 pandemic, NWBC remains committed to our principal mission to assist women in their business endeavors. We remain flexible and prepared to grow and adapt to the changes that society brings. Its truly an honor to advocate for the nations growing and committed base of women entrepreneurs.

***

Temren R. Wroge is Communications Manager at National Womens Business Council, in Washington, D.C.
New Delhi:

Indian Parliament, led by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, on Thursday urged the international community to isolate Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism.

Exercising its Right of Reply at the 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, India said, Pakistan PM admitted there are nearly 40,000 militants on its soil. Pakistans aggressions against J&K in 1965, 1971, 1999 (Kargil), attack on Mumbai and Parliament, Uri, Pulwama etc. show Pakistans State-sponsored policy of terrorism as evident in the inaction against likes of Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar and Ehsanullah Ehsan.

Jammu & Kashmir has been and will remain an integral part of India. We call upon Pakistan to end cross-border Terrorism. Our overtures should not be taken as sign for weakness, it said.

At the conference, organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Geneva, and the Parliament of Austria, with the support of the United Nations (UN), Indias reply came during the special event on Countering Terrorism and violent Extremism: The perspective of victims today.

The reply read: India exercises its Right of Reply to statement by Pakistan, a country whose PM glorified dreaded terrorist Osama Bin Laden a martyr from its Parliament.

Indian Parliament also highlighted that UN Analytical Support Sanctions Monitoring Team has described Pakistan as the leading exporter of terror with more than 6,000 nationals currently engaged in terrorism.

The reply has come in the backdrop of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khans continued attempts to call an OIC meeting on Kashmir. Khan has also been aligning with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to form a new Islamic axis.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has commended Vodafone Ghana Foundation for its annual charity activity Vodafone Homecoming, an initiative that has helped settled medical bills for thousands of patients in many health institutions across the country.



Speaking during the virtual ceremony to launch the second phase of the Vodafone Homecoming, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director General of the Ghana Health Service was grateful to Vodafone Ghana Foundation for footing the medical bills of vulnerable patients in some district and regional hospitals across the country.



The Ghana Health Service is extremely grateful to Vodafone Ghana for reaching-out to many patients who are in financial distress in some medical facilities nationwide. Through this initiative, Vodafone is changing lives, putting smiles on the faces of people and reuniting families. I believe this great gesture represents what Vodafone Foundation evidently stands for bringing relief and support to the vulnerable in our communities, he said.



According to him, the registration and renewal of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) for these patients was a timely intervention. He was of the view that, the initiative would impact several lives positively.



I am particularly happy that the Foundation is also helping these patients with registration and renewal of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). I urge Ghanaians to take advantage of the NHIS which is very helpful to health care delivery. I would also like to encourage the Foundation to earnestly continue to improve healthcare for the betterment of the country. Keep reaching out to more people, keep saving lives, Mr. Kuma-Aboagye added.



Fir his part, Amaris Nana A. Perbi, the Foundation and Sustainability Lead, Vodafone Ghana, said, the Foundation is poised to ensure that the community is connected for good.



The Vodafone Foundation being the leader in health and also known for supporting both Govt and community agenda in relation to health issues, we will ensure that we sustain our relevance in the community and connect them for good. We are very ready to save lives and ensure all our heath projects are beneficial to the country.



Speaking on how many regions Vodafone Foundation is targeting in the year 2020, Mr. Perbi noted that, the Foundation is targeting beneficiaries from all the 16 regions in Ghana. This year, we have scaled up from one discharge to three discharges. Unlike other years, the 2020 edition will be rolled out in 3 phases across the northern, middle and southern belts respectively between July and September to ensure other regions can be covered as well. Also, we are targeting 300 beneficiaries from different hospitals, both rural and urban, he concluded.



The Vodafone Homecoming Middle Belt virtual launch formed part of efforts to herald the three-phased Homecoming initiative aimed at bringing relief to many patients who are in financial distress in some medical facilities nationwide.

Among the costs covered were general hospital admission bills, auxiliary maternity-related costs for women and medical bills for individuals who were suffering from other medical conditions.

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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American rapper Kanye West recently shared a 2020 campaign promo that featured two of the famous faces, who also distanced themselves from the West. Taking to his Twitter handle on Tuesday, Kayne shared a campaign promo that has a compilation of celebrities, activists and other figures along with the phrase "Kanye 2020 Vision".

In the promo, one can also notice Vogue editor Anna Wintour and actor Kirsten Dunst among the famous faces the promo. However, a source close to Wintour and a rep for Dunst told PEOPLE that the use of the duos images was not agreed to. It is also reported that Dunst's picture was lifted from a 2002 Vanity Fair profile. Take a look at the post below.

Also read | Kanye West Meets White House Advisor Jared Kushner Ahead Of US Polls

Kanye and Kims relationship

Kanye West shared a video of himself and Kim Kardashian West, as they continue to focus on their relationship. During what appears to be one of his Sunday Service concerts Kanye tweeted a fish-eye lens shot of the two. Throughout the video, the two make their way to each other and kiss as the choir sings. Along with the video, he also wrote, "WE'RE STEPPING OUT ON FAITH". According to PEOPLE, the duo along with their kids flew to the Dominican Republic to work on their marriage.

WERE STEPPING OUT ON FAITH pic.twitter.com/Ak1sJmPz0o  ye (@kanyewest) August 19, 2020

Also read | Kanye West Meets Steve Harvey At Chic-Fill-A After Returning From Dominican Republic; See

West faces drawback for filing ballot 14-seconds late

The American rapper has also faced a drawback recently as he filed his vote 14-seconds late in Wisconsin. However, according to International Media reports, West's lawyers Michael Curran explained that there is no distinction between minutes and seconds in a statutory provision. Curran said that arriving before 5:01 pm is 'no later' than 5 pm for the average observer. In addition, he has reportedly said that the term "not later" may suggest that the seconds from 5:00:00 to 5:00:59 will still be considered within 5 pm.

In response to two challenges to West's nomination papers, a 23-page text was proposed. Although the first was that the papers were not issued in a timely manner, another question brought up problems like illegible signatures. Curran argued, however, that state law should accept Kanye West's nomination paper since his campaign was also hindered by a "overly aggressive" Democratic operative and media. He has also added that the door of their department was also locked by the state officials.

Also read | Kim Kardashian & Kanye Fly To Remote Island To Determine Future Of Their Marriage

Also read | Kim Kardashian & Kanye West Working On Their Marriage At A Lavish Colorado Resort
On August 19, the delegation of Ukraine's Defense Ministry started an official visit to Georgia.

The ministries of defense of Ukraine and Georgia have signed a Program of Cooperation.

On August 19, the delegation of Ukraine's Defense Ministry started an official visit to Georgia. During the visit, Ukrainian Defense Minister Andrii Taran held a meeting with his Georgian counterpart Irakli Garibashvili, as reported on the Ukrainian defense ministry's website.

During the event, defense chiefs discussed a number of relevant issues of mutual interest, including the security situation in Ukraine, Georgia, and the Azov and Black Sea regions, measures to combat COVID-19 spread among the military, as well as developing cooperation in the NATO-Georgia-Ukraine format.

The ministers focused on the progress of defense reform implementation. The Ukrainian delegation was briefed on Georgia's plans toward developing and building up their Defense Forces, also sharing own experience of transforming the Army while repealing Russian aggression.

Read alsoNATO-funded disposal of obsolete ammo resumes in UkraineThe parties discussed priorities of bilateral defense cooperation in the areas of strategic communications, cyber defense, military-technical sphere, joint participation in exercises, and implementation of NATO standards.

"The agreements reached will help strengthen defense capabilities of our countries, increase operational and combat capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Defense Forces of Georgia, which will in general guarantee peace and prosperity to our people," Taran said.

During the visit, the Ukrainian delegation laid a wreath at the Memorial to the Heroes Who Died for the Unity of Georgia, and visited the occupation line in Tskhinvali region.
CAIRO (Reuters) - Sudan has fired its foreign ministry spokesman following remarks he made concerning "contacts" between Khartoum and Israel, the state news agency SUNA reported on Wednesday.

Spokesman Haydar Sadig made the comments to regional media and confirmed them to Reuters on Tuesday, describing the United Arab Emirates' decision to normalise relations with Israel as "a brave and bold step".

Sudan's foreign ministry said it was "astonished" by his remarks and stressed that the government had not discussed the possibility of diplomatic relations.

(Reporting by Omar Fahmy; writing by Nadine Awadalla; editing by Jason Neely)
Kerriann Salmon and a friend locate their Lyft driver after arriving at LAX from New York. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

A flurry of notifications lighted up the phones of Lyft and Uber users in California early this week.

"Save rideshare in California!" one from Lyft read.

"Service update: Ridesharing in CA may be suspended," Uber wrote.

The warnings are the result of California's efforts to bring gig economy companies in compliance with state labor law  a clash that threatened to come to a head this week.

An emergency stay granted Thursday by a California appeals court temporarily defused the situation, allowing Uber and Lyft to continue operating under their current model for the time being. But unless a resolution is reached, millions of Californians who use Uber and Lyft to hail rides may yet find themselves forced to resort to other modes of transportation.

In early August, a San Francisco Superior Court judge ordered the companies to classify their drivers as employees rather than independent contractors, building in a 10-day window for the companies to appeal the move. With that window closing Thursday night, Uber and Lyft had threatened to shut down services at midnight Thursday, saying they cannot transition their business models quickly enough. Lyft reiterated that threat in a blog post Thursday morning, saying: "This is not something we wanted to do."

The judge, Ethan P. Schulman, dismissed both companies' initial appeals last week. Uber and Lyft filed pleas for immediate stays to a California court of appeal, which granted them Thursday. Both companies now have five days to agree to the process laid out by the court and two weeks to produce a sworn statement saying they have plans in place to come into compliance with the law should a ballot measure they are backing, Proposition 22, fail in November. The measure would redefine ride-hailing and delivery drivers as independent contractors with specific labor and wage protections. The companies have spent millions on the initiative and an advertising campaign to support it.

Story continues

The court battle began with a lawsuit brought by state Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra in May alleging that by misclassifying drivers as independent contractors, the companies deprived them of worker protections and benefits such as a minimum wage and unemployment insurance.

The move was part of the state's efforts to force the companies to comply with landmark employment law Assembly Bill 5, which established stricter standards for companies to treat workers as independent contractors rather than employees. Essentially designed to grant employment benefits to gig workers, the law went into effect Jan. 1, but companies such as Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and Postmates have vehemently resisted compliance.

Critics have said the companies have had substantial time to figure out how to transition their operations, given AB 5 was approved about a year ago, and are using the threat of shutting down their services in California to leverage a favorable outcome for Proposition 22, banking on scare tactics to persuade voters to support the initiative.

Uber and Lyft are threatening to kill jobs in California. I believe the companies are trying to force us into a decision around giving them what they want, and thats Prop. 22, which is to keep denying us basic labor protections and benefits we have earned, said Cherri Murphy, a ride-hailing company driver for about three years. An Oakland resident, Murphy is also an organizer with labor groups Gig Workers Rising and Rideshare Drivers United, which have fought to win protections for drivers.

Uber pushed back on this assessment, saying many drivers prefer to remain independent contractors. The vast majority of drivers want to work independently, and weve already made significant changes to our app to ensure that remains the case under California law. When over 3 million Californians are without a job, our elected leaders should be focused on creating work, not trying to shut down an entire industry during an economic depression," Uber spokesman Davis White said in a statement.

Lyft spokesman CJ Macklin declined to comment on the record but pointed to an excerpt of Lyft's earnings call last week. Co-founder John Zimmer said on the call that if efforts to appeal the injunction were not successful, it would force the company to suspend operations in California.

"Fortunately, California voters can make their voices heard by voting yes on Prop. 22 in November," Zimmer said, and if passed, the measure "would protect driver independence and flexibility, while providing historic new benefits and protections."

Uber and Lyft have been tight-lipped about what the future will look like if or when they are forced to comply with AB 5.

The companies are quietly exploring licensing their brands to independently operated franchises commanding vehicle fleets in the state. Such a model would place more layers between the companies and the drivers, giving them more latitude to avoid claiming the drivers as employees. Uber already operates on this model in Germany and Spain.

Asked about these discussions, which were first reported by the New York Times, Lyft deflected. "Weve looked at alternative models, and the one that would work best for drivers is what were supporting in the ballot measure  they remain independent and can work whenever they want while also receiving additional healthcare benefits and an earnings guarantee," spokeswoman Julie Wood said in a statement.

Labor lawyer Shannon Liss-Riordan, who has litigated against Uber on behalf of drivers over the years, said there is nothing about employee status that would prevent the companies from affording their employees flexibility in work.

"Uber's strategy all along has been to void legal obligations," Liss-Riordan said. "Hard for me to understand why a company has to shut down in order to comply with the law."

Uber is not planning to halt operations for its delivery service, Uber Eats, because Becerra's lawsuit did not specify drivers for that platform, the company said. Uber's delivery orders have more than doubled in the second quarter, with Americans relying on deliveries to avoid exposure to the coronavirus during the pandemic. At the same time, ride-hailing trips have taken a significant hit, down 75% from last year.

San Franciscos district attorney sued food delivery app DoorDash in June, alleging worker misclassification. Uber said it anticipates a similar fight on this front.

For the record:

5:37 PM, Aug. 20, 2020: An earlier version of this story misspelled the last name of Lyft spokeswoman Julie Wood.


Local Legislation Actively Listens to the Voice of the Future for Guidance into a Healthier World

The floor stayed opened for youth to express themselves passionately about what is affecting their lives.

Recently, legislation reflected on the effects the global pandemic will have on future generations. A roundtable was created to discuss this with young adults; Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson designed a platform on Wednesday with other California legislative leaders to hear from the authentic voices of youth. The mental breakthrough this generation is trudging through has become an essential tool to global change. Youth advocates spoke from their hearts and in their language about the issues.

The event entitled Lets Talk About it represented the yearn for growth within the minds of community leadership. They recognized through these historical waves of events there will be trauma and possible turmoil among young hearts, which could create a slanted perspective in adulthood. The best solution is to talk through what is being processed in real time.

The legislation included Assembly members 9th District Dr. Shirley Weber (Black Caucus), 70th and current Speaker of California State Anthony Rendon, 17th District David Chiu (API Caucus), 45th District Jesse Gabriel (Jewish Caucus), and 80th District Lorena Gonzalez (LatinoX Caucus).

Asm. Gipson, born and raised in the Watts, currently serves as Democratic Caucus Chair; he is familiar with leading roundtables and discussing the real priorities of the community. He is a member of various committees that include business, governmental organization, human services, insurance, and transportation. He is a well-rounded advocate that has navigated policies and measurements through rigid terrains in city hall.

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The panel allowed the future to be heard in order to channel the proper steps into a new healthier world in the present. Their thoughts must be heeded for meaningful change to take place. Standard house rules were set in the conversation but Asm. Gipson, who encouraged the advocates to speak in their own terms about how they feel.

Gipson stated, Let me be clear, this is about a safe place for each and every one of you. This is a judge free area and space, that you can speak with your authentic voice and be who you are. We want to hear from you, we want to hear whats going on all over the state of California.

The floor stayed opened for youth to express themselves passionately about what is affecting their lives. Gipson also wanted to talk about how the pandemic has altered memories of holidays and celebration due to the need for physical distancing. No subject was off the table at Lets Talk About it.

Assembly member 9th District Dr. Weber (Black Caucus) said, Im looking forward to the conversation, its an honor to represent the California Black Caucus thats been so involved with so many of the issues of young people fighting in the streets, and so its good to know we had an agenda last year and this year that really reflects that.

Youth leader Rochelle Trochtenberg opened the discussion; she ensured this platform was a safe space that catered to their stories. The value of sharing these proactive thoughts of healing from archaic traumas is essential for all demographics to march harmoniously towards progression.

Young women and men from all walks of life unmasked their thoughts. Some had many concerns that were mindfully written out, others shared a profound sentence that captured the overall essence of the current condition. They shared their vulnerability they experienced firsthand. A young man that went by Ray described his memory of being at a peaceful protest for the late George Floyd and he was shot with a rubber bullet. He showed the wound on his leg with the mold of the bullet breaking the skin on his thigh and shared it took so long to heal and he continued to explain his stand for police reform.

Nathalia Jackson spoke about her life of losing her dad to gun violence, catapulting her to focus on being an anti-gun youth advocate. Jackson stated, What keeps me up at night is knowing at any moment or at any time another child can lose their father because someone decided to pull the trigger on another human being. Knowing that another child will go through the same suffering or pain of losing a father and knowing that every one of these victims has a family.

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The dialogue was complimented but not interrupted by the legislative panel; they commented on each youth speaker, applauding them for their bravery of sharing their stories. Each young adult had a different seed to plant and legislative leaders nourished them with encouragement. Many thought-provoking topics were being discussed including concerns of racial equity, gun violence, homelessness, police brutality, institutionalized racism within the educational system, and a plethora of pressing matters being exasperated due to COVID-19.

Each young adult had a different seed to plant and legislative nourished those thoughts with encouragement. Many thought-provoking topics were being discussed including concerns of racial equity, gun violence, homelessness, police brutality, institutionalized racism within the educational system, and a plethora of pressing matters being exasperated due to COVID-19.

Youth are demanding change to happen now, the resolve is to respond to key social issues on a local level. The young adults collectively asked for city leadership to answer the calls for help found across Los Angeles.
Massachusetts communities have set up close to 200 drop boxes for voters to submit their vote-by-mail applications and ballots, Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin said Thursday.

Galvins office, citing growing demand for places to drop off ballots in person, published a list of 193 drop boxes across the states 351 cities and towns and said the tally will be updated as more communities add drop boxes ahead of the Sept. 1 state primary.

With the deadline to return state primary ballots quickly approaching, many voters are looking to return their ballots in person, rather than drop them in a mailbox, he said. Voters may return their ballots to a secure drop box provided by their municipality, to their local election office, or to any early voting site during early voting hours.

Northampton, Holyoke, West Springfield, Medford, Boston, Brockton and New Bedford are just some of the dozens of communities who have put up drop boxes. The option gives residents a chance to directly submit their applications and ballots without relying on their local post office. The full list is available on the state website.

Massachusetts was one of several states that added vote-by-mail options because of the spread of the coronavirus, which has killed more than 8,600 people statewide.

The heightened interest in drop boxes comes after the U.S. Postal Service announced operational changes that would likely prevent mail-in ballots from being counted in time for the Nov. 3 electios. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey joined a federal lawsuit against the USPS. The lawsuit is moving forward following Postmaster General Louis DeJoys announcement Tuesday that the changes would be paused until after the general election.

Some communities set up drop boxes before the controversy surrounding the USPS, while Boston announced drop boxes would be available at early voting locations as well as at Boston City Hall.

More than 1 million people in Massachusetts asked for ballots for the general election, Galvins office said Tuesday.

His office has already mailed out nearly 950,000 ahead of the primary, about one-fourth of the states 4.5 million registered voters. Of those, 149,000 ballots have been returned to local clerks.

MassVOTE, a voter rights organization that pushed for the new vote-by-mail law, called for the state to delay the deadline for municipal clerks to count ballots for the Sept. 1 primaries. They are pushing for election officials to let clerks count ballots postmarked by then, rather than ballots received by that date.

We understand why the September 1 deadline is in place  ballots must be quickly printed for the November 3 General Election  but too much has happened in the past few weeks for us to soundly rely on such a deadline, said Cheryl Clyburn Crawford, executive director at MassVOTE. Numerous delays have arisen in the vote by mail process over the past month that make extending this deadline crucial.

Galvins office said he doesnt have the authority to change the deadline because it is codified in state statute.

The State House News Service contributed to this report.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 10:57:50|Editor: huaxia

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WINDHOEK, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Namibia condemns the coup d'etat undertaken by elements of the military in Mali on Tuesday, the country's Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation said Wednesday.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Namibia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, said the coup d'etat constitutes a violation of the principles of the African Union and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, which call for the "condemnation and rejection of unconstitutional changes of governments."

"Moreover, the coup d'etat is contrary to the African Union's solemn commitment of 'Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2020' as one of the flagship projects of Agenda 2063. Namibia aligns itself to the statements issued by both the chair of the African Union and the chairperson of the African Union Commission which reaffirm the African Union principle of the total rejection of unconstitutional change of power," Nandi-Ndaitwah said.

She said Namibia calls for an immediate restoration of democratic governance and constitutional order in Mali and for an immediate release of all political leaders arbitrarily detained. Enditem
Yesterday (August 19, 2020), was a big day for late actor Sushant Singh Rajput's family and his fans, as the Supreme Court ruled in their favour and ordered CBI inquiry in the Raabta actor's case. Now, KK Singh has released a statement declaring himself as the legal heir of Sushant and barring anyone from representing the actor.

CBI For Sushant Singh Rajput's Case: Akshay Kumar Gets Trolled Even Though He Lauds SC's Verdict

KK Singh said in the statement, "It is hereby declared that I am the legal heir of late Sushant Singh Rajput and in that capacity, any arrangement that Sushant had during his lifetime for the engagement of any lawyer, Chartered Accountant and other professional came to an end upon the death of Sushant and thereafter no lawyer, Chartered Accountant or other person is entitled to represent the estate of Sushant without my express consent."

He further added, "They have talked on media about the alleged privileged communication between Sushant and them. Clearly such disclosure is barred by section 126 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and the Bar Council of India Rules [Rule 17, Part VI, Chapter 1ft, without my consent as I am representing the estate of Sushant. I have not given any consent to anyone of them to either continue to represent Sushant or disclose any communication barred by section 126 of Evidence Act, 1872."

He also made it clear that apart from him, only his daughters comprise the family of Sushant, and no one else has the right to claim themselves as Sushant's family.

"We have authorized Varun Singh (SKV Law Offices, Commercial) as our Advocate and through him Vikas Singh, Sr. Advocate, to represent the family. Any other person claiming himself to be family member does not have my consent," concluded Singh.

Meanwhile, many celebrities including, Akshay Kumar, Kangana Ranaut, Parineeti Chopra, Kriti Sanon, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Ranvir Shorey, Shakti Kapoor and Shekhar Suman welcomed SC's verdict and expressed their gratitude on Twitter.

Worried about your mental well-being or of someone you know? Help is just a call away. Reach out to the nearest mental health specialist at COOJ Mental Health Foundation (COOJ)- 0832-2252525, Parivarthan- +91 7676 602 602, Connecting Trust- +91 992 200 1122/+91-992 200 4305 or Sahai- 080-25497777/ SAHAIHELPLINE@GMAIL.COM
The international US online retail company Amazon, which owns Souq.com that operates in Egypt, is planning to expand its services in the promising Egyptian market in the field of e-commerce.

According to a statement issued by the Egyptian government Aug. 11, Mohamed Abdul Wahab, executive director of the states General Authority for Investment and Free Zones, met with Souq.coms General Manager Omar el-Sahy and Dalia Seif, Amazons head of public policy and regional operations manager, to discuss the current and future plans of Amazon in the Egyptian market.

Mohammad Azzam, board member of the International Association for Management of Technology, praised Amazons presence in the Egyptian market. He told Al-Monitor that Amazon is one of the biggest companies in the world in the e-commerce sector and holds a market value of about $1.6 trillion. He considered the companys expansion plans in Egypt a good step that underlines its interest in the promising Egyptian market in this field.

Azzam noted the importance of Egypts e-commerce sector, since Egypts competitive trait lies in its geographic location as it constitutes a starting point for neighboring markets, especially given its logistics presence on the Suez Canal axis. Besides, Egypt is a key player in the Belt and Road Initiative. As a result, the Egyptian market reaches up to 2 billion consumers [worldwide] rather than just 100 million [roughly Egypt's population].

In its Aug. 11 statement, the government indicated that Amazon intends to continue its expansion in the Egyptian market and make a variety of services available, including artificial intelligence and digital payment.

Amazons representatives presented suggestions during the Aug. 11 meeting, including the development of common transport services for light merchandise in Egypt in what resembles the Amazon Flex program. The program is implemented around the world and allows any person who owns a private car to earn additional income by transporting light merchandise for Amazon in their free time.

Amazon representatives also proposed supporting state companies and Egyptian businesses to benefit from e-commerce platforms.

Ways to support startups and small and medium enterprises were also discussed with the aim to motivate them by helping them display their products on Souq.com and giving them instructions about how to sell and market their products online.

Mahdi al-Olabi, founder and director of R2S company, which operates in the field of shipment and logistics in Egypt, said that the common transport services proposal in the sector of light merchandise is not new to the Egyptian e-commerce market.

He told Al-Monitor via e-mail, Most businesses are now asset light and work with individuals on owning cars and trucks, aka the owner-operator model.

He added, The e-commerce goods delivery industry is different from the food industry. For commodities, the route is important. It is not a point-to-point or peer-to-peer service. The delivery person has to be cost efficient and make good income. He needs to send no less than 30 parcels per route, and the route is usually in one geographic location.

The e-commerce market in Egypt has been booming for five years, according to Azzam. E-commerce retail sales reached $2.5 billion in 2017.

Azzam noted that the coronavirus pandemic has increased the growth of the e-commerce market in Egypt by 80% during the lockdown period between March and July, compared to an annual growth of 20% before the crisis. He said that consumers have acquired a new culture based on increased trust in the e-commerce system, on the purchase, sale and electronic payment levels.

A May 2020 report by the Egyptian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology stated that the number of internet users in Egypt was estimated at more than 53 million by the end January (more than half the population), compared to 49.9 million users in December 2019. Moreover, 53 million people have access to electronic payment methods.

The Egyptian government encourages the digitization of financial transactions and the reduction of cash use outside banks, and it urges people to resort to electronic payments.

The government allocated around 9 billion Egyptian pounds (about $565 million) from its 2019-20 budget  which ended June 30  in the form of investments as part of its plans for a digital shift to attract investments in the digital sector.

Azzam said that the Egyptian government is aiming to increase e-commerce to 4% of the overall commerce in the coming five years; e-commerce currently constitutes less than 1% of all commerce.

Amazon supports the Egyptian governments plans toward digital transformation, as the government intends to shift its warehouses and distribution centers to a digital format.

During his meeting with Amazon directors, Abdel Wahad promised to offer the needed support for the company to expand its activities and implement digitization plans and produce its products locally. He also vowed to work on providing the needed space to build new warehouses and distribution centers in all Egyptian governorates.

However, Azzam said that the lack of sufficient legislation urging investment and expansion in this field and aiding startups in growing adequately is hampering the increase in e-commerce investments.

Azzam expected the e-commerce market to flourish in Egypt with the recent governmental approval of legislation like the Personal Data Protection Law, the law on the development of small, medium and micro enterprises and the electronic transactions law that is still under study in parliament.

Other challenges related to shipping and delivery face the expansion of e-commerce in Egypt. Olabi said that the main obstacles to the success of the e-commerce experience include the improper use of postal codes and the lack of clear addresses of clients, in addition to the perpetuating culture of cash on delivery.

He said that 85% of customers who buy online prefer to pay on delivery. This alone reduces the prospects of a successful delivery on first attempt, if the client was not home, did not answer his phone or had no cash at the time of delivery of the parcel.

Olabi concluded, The Egyptian government is doing its best to ensure the financial inclusion policy and empower individuals to use e-payment methods. This will take some time since Egypt comprises citizens of varying education levels and economic powers.
When two brothers are fighting, it is the

foreigner who harvests their produce.

Chinua Achebe

HATE SPEECH is an insulting or threatening speech or writing which expresses prejudice against a particular group, especially on the basis of race, colour, religion or sexual orientation. With the parties' race to grab the political diadem on December 7 heating up, and with the parties' hurry to win votes, there appears to be the tendency on their part to fall prey to hate speech.

On July 30, this year, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) engaged the political party communicators on how to promote an issues-based and decent language campaign, as the political parties gear up for the 2020 general election. In attendance were representatives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP); the National Democratic Congress (NDC); the Convention People's Party (CPP); and the People's National Convention (PNC). Representatives of civil society organisations (CSO) like the Centre for Democratic Development and the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association were also present.

The topics that engaged the discussants were: the impact of insults and indecent expressions on political fortunes, the role of the media in ousting hate speech, plus some of the indecent expressions during elections.

Professor Kwame Karikari, a lecturer and communication specialist, called on media organisations to bar political party communicators and politicians who use hate speech from speaking on media platforms. Says the good old Professor: You should banish, reject and disallow users of hate speech from your platforms without apology. If it is the newspaper, we have to edit out those unethical expressions and block them. We must encourage the public also to condemn and reject hate speech.

The lecturer and communication specialist could not countenance the failure of the two dominant parties (NPP and NDC) to condemn various acts of violence indulged in by their members. He noted: It is quite demeaning of our national sense of responsibility and abject disrespect for our values as self-respecting citizens when the two dominant political parties make it a culture not to condemn but actually shield, protect and hail their members who commit violent acts during elections.

President Akufo-Addo has often been cited as uttering the All die be die speech; it is akin to All die be closing eyes. Ewuo biara dan owuo. It is a courageous acceptance of one's fate in case a political protest misfires; this is our opinion, given the context in which that speech that was made. It will be a political naivety to interpret this to suggest that the President, at the time he made the speech, was the aggressor.

In May, 2014, John Dramani Mahama came to campaign in Kumasi, and stated in Twi: (loosely translated) even if I pave all your roads with gold, you will say I have done nothing. And, of course, he as an NDC man was in the stronghold of NPP! He was not flayed.

Members of various political parties have, at one time or another, made remarks which have not sat well with members of the other political parties: J.J. Rawlings, Asiedu Nketiah, Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie (Sir John), Kennedy Agyapong, Sammy Awuku, Koku Anyidoho but each of them has had a fine way of justifying their statements. Unfortunately, in Parliament in 1970, Dr. Agama accused Akans of sidelining Ewes and were inward-looking, Victor Owusu replied that Akans cannot be accused of being inward-looking. This became a charge against Victor Owusu for saying Ewes were inward-looking. Later, at political rallies, Victor had a hell of time explaining away the statement  and even apologising, but the tag remained on him.

Now, in post-Covid-19 era, a new trend is appearing, and is being championed by Sammy Gyamfi, a young man who has a long political life ahead of him. Being the National Communication Officer (formerly Propaganda Secretary) of the NDC, he called a press conference. Parts of his speech read: the NDC is deeply worried and totally aghast at what appears to be a deliberate agenda of tribal discrimination hatched by President Akufo-Addo and the NPP to frustrate and disenfranchise Ghanaians of certain tribes from acquiring voter ID cards Hopefully, this time, you will appreciate the NPP's clandestine agenda to deploy voter suppression through ethnocentric discrimination to rig the 2020 general election this state-sponsored ethnic discrimination and tribal bigotry in the ongoing voter registration exercise targeting Voltarians, Northerners, and Muslims in our Zongo communities, is very pervasive  he (Akufo-Addo) currently presides over a country where ethnic tensions are alarmingly high and threatens the peace and cohesion of the nation never in the history of Ghana, have we seen the level of tribal discrimination, lawlessness and divisiveness in our body politic(s) as we are witnessing today under the despotic, tyrannical and tribalistic Akufo-Addo government the deep scars of the obnoxious and ethnocentric Aliens' Compliance Order in the early 1970s under Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, a celebrated forebearer of the NPP  which drove people perceived to be non-Ghanaians from Ghana remains an eternal dark spot in our history Nana Akufo-Addo whose father served as the President of Ghana during Dr. Busia's era will repeat such travesty of justice against sections of Ghanaians just because of their ethnicity We cannot survive four more years of tribal bigotry, four more years of harassment, four more years of violence and lawlessness under despotic Akufo-Addo. Eish! Where is Bawumia a Northerner and Muslimand where are our Ewe brothers and friendsFrancis, Aaron

Who is fanning the embers of hate speech, and with what aim? Sammy Gyamfi has, within this short period of climbing the seat of office, shown the Ghanaian world that he has a mouth that can bite, like the putrid acidic  mouthed boys groomed by Kwamena Ahwoi years before to face J.J. Rawlings. These were the babies with sharp teeth. Honourable Okudzeto Ablakwa and co. have debunked this claim. The scenario is like Napoleon's attack dogs in George Orwell's Animal Farm in which the dogs did the bidding of Napoleon to silence every opposition.

The NDC appears to pit the NPP against Voltarians, Northerners and Muslims. People like Koku Anyidoho spoke about the NPP  Voltarian rift in 2016; Fiifi Kwetey, the Ketu South MP thinks NPP hates Ewes whom they regard as aliens. Defence Minister, Honourable Nitiwul, a Konkomba from the North-East Region, had a difficult task trying to explain the deployment of soldiers to various border points in the country during the last registration exercise to the extent of asking: So I have an agenda against my own tribe?

Ethnicism or tribalism is a very sensitive issue, and anyone who wants to parade himself as a Ghanaian ought to be careful in any commentary they may wish to make in that respect. As for Sammy Gyamfi, he must be told that Akan culture (and we want to believe he is an Akan) extols respect for elders. This is fair advice to him, that is if he has not got anyone in his family to advise him. He must learn from Haruna Iddrisu, that respectful lawmaker.

The pogrom in Rwanda started on a low-key, and triggered into a wildfire, consuming almost a million people. If we have offended any person by this article, we beg for forgiveness. We say mea culpa, three times.

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By Africanus Owusu-Ansah
Office workers at the lobby of a building in Singapore's financial district. (PHOTO: Reuters/Vivek Prakash)

SINGAPORE  More than 4,600 jobs, as well as 860 traineeships and attachments, have been offered to local jobseekers by over 1,600 start-up companies under the SGUnited Jobs and Skills programmes.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in its weekly jobs situation report on Thursday (20 August) that these jobs include unconventional roles such as gallery manager executive, commercial intelligence associate and animator.

There are also tech-related roles such as software developers and app developers, and non-tech roles like sous chefs, business development leads and digital content producers.

The top five start-up job roles pay a median monthly salary of between $2,700 (for administrative and related associated officials) and $6,000 (for software developers).

INFO: Ministry of Manpower

Between April and June this year, around 330 jobseekers have joined the start-ups with support from the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package. About half were mid-career individuals who took part in Professional Conversion Programmes.

Companies hosting SGUnited Traineeships have started to take in trainees in June. About 150 fresh and recent graduates have since entered the startup scene through the programme.

While the job roles and sectors are not always familiar, we are encouraged by the jobseekers who have kept an open mind. The government will also provide support to businesses, both established and new, to build a strong Singaporean core as they expand, MOM said in the report.

Over 6,000 employers submitted cost-saving measures

MOM also revealed that, as at end-July, about 6,300 employers have submitted notifications on cost-saving measures to the ministry, affecting some 224,800 employees, both local and foreign.

These measures are recommended alternatives to retrenchments, which should be the last resort for employers. They include: adjustments to monthly salary components, no-pay leave and shorter work week.

Local employees make up slightly less than half of all employees affected by cost-saving measures.

Story continues

About half of affected workers are from three sectors  accommodation and food services, construction, wholesale and retail trade.

INFO: Ministry of Manpower

The volume of notifications peaked during the COVID-19 circuit breaker period in April and May, with about 2,000 employers notifying the ministry in those two months.

Since then, it has fallen to about 600 notifications in July, and MOM said that this suggests that companies were making concerted efforts to hold back retrenchments.

Outreach efforts intensified to help jobseekers

With the job situation in Singapore slow to recover due to the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic, NTUCs Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) has intensified its outreach efforts to help jobseekers navigate job opportunities.

In July, it organised 22 outreach and engagement activities across Singapore, reaching more than 2,800 jobseekers. These events, which are on top of the Workforce Singapores (WSG) outreach events, include SGUnited Job Interviews for roles in areas such as healthcare, community care, technology, as well as virtual career workshops on topics such as salary negotiations, practical job search tips and networking skills.

Together, NTUCs e2i and WSG have reached more than 16,000 jobseekers in July 2020.

Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat also announced on Monday that the Singapore government will set aside $1 billion for the Jobs Growth Incentive (JGI) scheme, to provide support to employers that are able to grow their local headcounts over the next six months.

For each new local hire in eligible growth enterprises, the Government will provide wage support for up to 12 months, with higher support for new local hires aged 40 and above.

Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore

More Singapore stories:

LifeSG app launched to provide access to over 40 government services

New Sungei Buloh Nature Park Network to encompass over 400ha of wetland habitats

All standalone blocks used as quarantine facilities in dorms cleared of COVID-19: MOM

2 Singaporean men jailed for arranging marriage of convenience
Hazleton, PA (18201)

Today

Cloudy skies with late-night snow showers. Low around 25F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 60%. Snow accumulations less than one inch..

Tonight

Cloudy skies with late-night snow showers. Low around 25F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 60%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
CAMBRIDGE  If you need to wear a mask, it might as well be stylish!

Thats the thought behind a new contest hosted by the City of Cambridge.

Were looking to find the most creative and stylish mask-wearers in Cambridge, said Mayor Kathryn McGarry.

The contest launched earlier this week and goes until Sept. 4. To enter, Cambridge residents just need to take a picture of themselves in a unique mask or face covering thats handmade or store-bought and share it on Twitter or the citys Facebook page with the hashtag #MyMaskStyle.

Then comes the hard part, McGarry said. Winners will be chosen for being the most creative and most fashion-forward. Theyll be featured in city promotions for mask safety and get a $25 City of Cambridge gift card.

The aim is to normalize mask wearing, which is required in indoor public spaces and on transit by Region of Waterloo bylaws.

Thats especially important for children and youth as they prepare to go back to school in a couple of weeks, and McGarry wants kids to know masks can show off their style and personality.

This is the way things are and you can be fun and creative with it.

McGarry, who said a mask can be an essential and stylish addition to any wardrobe, picks a mask to complement her outfit, just as a woman would accessorize with shoes or a handbag.

Mine are beautiful. Ive got a whole range of colours, McGarry said of her masks.

Wearing a mask or face covering is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the community, along with keeping two metres from others and frequent handwashing. McGarry said wearing a mask is a practical measure thats been made mandatory in the region, as with many other municipalities in the province, and its working.

Our COVID numbers are low because weve been compliant.
Pope Francis on Wednesday morning made a surprise phone call to Bishop Luiz Fernando Lisboa, C.P., of the Diocese of Pemba in Mozambiques troubled province of Cabo Delgado.

By Paul Samasumo and Bernardo Suate

Speaking to Vatican News, the Bishop of Pemba, Fernando Lisboa, spoke of receiving an unexpected phone call from Pope Francis at 11:29 Wednesday morning.

Bishop Luiz Fernando Lisboa has been a consistent voice drawing attention to the worsening humanitarian situation in Mozambiques northern province of Cabo Delgado.

Since 2010, Cabo Delgado has witnessed the discovery of substantial gas reserves off its coast. The area is now home to Africas largest liquid natural gas attracting enormous investment for the eventual extraction. A growing and relentless insurgency now threaten the investments.

The Pope is following events in our region with great concern

I received a call from Pope Francis, who gave me much reassurance and consolation. In the call, Pope Francis expressed his closeness to the Bishop (of Pemba) and people of the Cabo Delgado region. The Holy Father said he was following events in our province with great concern and that he is constantly praying for us. He also said to me that if there was anything else that he could do, we should not hesitate to ask him. He is ready to walk with us. I expressed my deep appreciation, to him, for the gesture of the phone call and told him how grateful we were when on 12 April he prayed for Cabo Delgado on Easter Sunday during the Urbi et Orbi blessing. I told him that his referring to the humanitarian crisis in our province made other people also take notice of our plight. We began to see more congregations, some (humanitarian) organisations, individuals  both local and outside start to reach out to help. I said: Holy Father, you have placed Cabo Delgado on the world map. He simply remarked in Italian, Che bello! (How lovely!), the Bishop of Pemba recounted the conversation.

The Jihadist attack in the port town of Mocimboa da Praia

Bishop Fernando Lisboa also said he informed Pope Francis about the plight of the port town of Mocimboa da Praia that has been seized by Jihadist militants said to be linked to the so-called Islamic State (I.S.). According to reports, government forces vacated the strategic town after the Jihadists attacked it last week. I.S. issued a statement claiming the seizure of Mocimboa da Praia although some observers in the region point to the involvement of the Somali-based Al Shabab militants. In truth, it is not entirely clear who is behind the Cabo Delgado attacks.

With the town of Mocimboa da Praia in the hands of Islamist insurgents, Bishop Fernando Lisboa and the Diocese of Pemba have had no news from two religious sisters for over a week now.

I told the Holy Father about the Port town of Mocimboa da Praia which has been taken by Jihadists and how we have not heard from two of our religious women in that city. The two are members of the International Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambery. Upon hearing the news, the Pope exclaimed, How very sad! He promised to pray for this intention, Bishop Fernando Lisboa said.

Adelante!

The Bishop added, As we were concluding the phone call, the Pope reminisced about his visit to Mozambique last year, and said even as he was going around our country, Cabo Delgado was very much on his mind. He encouraged me to contact Cardinal Michael Czerny (of the Holy Sees Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development) for help with humanitarian assistance. For my part, I assured the Holy Father, of our closeness to his ministry, through prayer. I told him that we pray for him every day. As a reply, he said to me in the Spanish language, Adelante! (encouraging the Bishop and people to Carry on! or Keep up the faith!). Finally, to end the conversation, the Pope blessed the people of Cabo Delgado as well as all Mozambicans, narrated the Ordinary of Pemba.

The unrest in Cabo Delgado

Since 2017, the the northern province of Mozambique has been rocked by deadly attacks perpetrated by armed groups whose operations are increasingly becoming sophisticated and a source of anxiety also for Mozambiques neighbours, especially Tanzania. The Cabo Delgado attacks have resulted in many deaths, conscription of many young people and the displacement of thousands of ordinary villagers as a climate of fear reigns in the region.

Even before the discovery of the gas reserves and the attacks, Cabo Delgado, was already nursing discontent due to high levels of poverty and marginalisation by the central government.

Government blames internal and external elites for the conflict

Speaking on 25 June 2020, when he launched the official start of activities leading to Mozambiques 45th anniversary of national independence, President Filipe Nyusi blamed the insurgency in the northern province on what he termed internal and external elites. He pledged that the country would not be blackmailed into a deadly war by sponsored terrorists.

The Bishop of Pemba has received death threats

Mozambiques Bishop of Pemba, Fernando Lisboa, has been outspoken in courageously speaking on behalf of the poor in Cabo Delgado. He has said, in the past, that the Government could do more to protect the people. For being the voice of the voiceless, the Brazilian-born Bishop has received criticism and even death threats from all manner of people.
Some 73% of Airbnb listings across the world ban already parties in their house rules, according to the platform. Photo: Budrul Chukrut/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Airbnb has announced a global ban on all parties and events at its properties to try to ensure safety by clamping down on noisy and antisocial behaviour and to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The ban includes a 16 person maximum cap on all listings, including larger homes, although the company acknowledged that 16 is not a magic number, and issues can occur with groups of any size.

The move follows the introduction of age restrictions to curb the ability of people under the age of 25 in the UK, France and Spain from renting entire properties, in an attempt to crack down on illegal parties.

Last year, the home rental platform brought in a global ban on party houses  listings that created a persistent nuisance for neighbours.

Airbnb has always prohibited unauthorised parties but historically allowed hosts to rent out their homes for parties and events as long as they were appropriate for their home and their neighbourhood.

READ MORE: 'Staycations' costing a third of Brits more than a holiday abroad

Some 73% of Airbnb listings across the world ban already parties in their house rules, according to the platform.

"Instituting a global ban on parties and events is in the best interest of public health," Airbnb said, adding that the ban applies to all future bookings on Airbnb and it will remain in effect indefinitely.

As COVID-19 spread across the globe, Airbnb updated their policies to remove the event-friendly search filter from the platform as well as the parties and events allowed tag from any event-friendly listings in an attempt to tackle the spread of coronavirus and and adhere to social distancing rules.

At the time, most local governments were imposing strict limits on gatherings, which effectively created a form-fitting, patchwork ban on parties and events, the company said.

However, since the start of the UK lockdown in March several illegal parties were staged through the online rental service.

As lockdown measures have eased, Airbnb have imposed the blanket ban on all parties and events held in its listed properties.

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READ MORE: EasyJet jobs at risk as bases close and Ryanair axes flights

Airbnb said they are looking at a potential exception process for specialty and traditional hospitality venues such as boutique hotels who use the platform.

The company said they have implemented steep consequences for hosts or guests who break the rules, including bans from the platform and even legal action.

Previously, Airbnb was pressured to limit antisocial behaviour after a string of incidents in the US and Canada saw house parties descend into violence.
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 passed away in October 2019 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 BSN 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.

Mother, nurse, caregiver

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, Illinois. 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 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 hospitals until 2012 when she moved to Carbondale to be closer to her family.

A special place

John and Marsha Ryan have deep roots at SIU. John was part of the first class to graduate from the School of Law. Marsha 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 Johns brothers graduated from SIU, as have his and Marshas 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 BSN in Carbondale made endowing a scholarship in his mothers name the clear choice for the Ryans philanthropy.

Health care 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.

To learn more about similar opportunities, visit www.siuf.org.

Did you know? These 32 celebrities went to SIU.

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I'll be honest - it's only very recently I started learning about modern Irish history. And yes, I went to primary and secondary school here and so I know all about Oliver Cromwell, the Famine and tenement housing. In primary school, we made a model crannog out of cardboard, PVA glue and tiny pieces of straw, and I kept mine proudly on a windowsill at home.

In secondary school, I dozed off during the Civil War and never fully understood the appeal of Michael Collins, no matter how high his cheekbones may be.

As hard as my teachers may have tried, history as a subject didn't resonate. It was interesting, but it didn't appeal to me. Perhaps it was because of my Lithuanian nationality. I moved here when I was eight and I knew the basics of Irish history, but sin e.

All changed, changed utterly when I sat in Dr Mark O'Brien's classroom in college for journalism history. An excellent storyteller, he reeled off tribunals and the senior figures they disgraced. He loved scandals, the tales of newspaper origins and their editors. His lectures flew by and his stories gripped me. None of it seemed real.

But Dr O'Brien's stories finally came to life when I began leaving the telly on after the Six One News. An episode of Reeling In The Years comes on and a 25-minute snippet of Irish life, that I once learned about in a lecture hall, plays out in front of me.

At first, I would tune out and doze off like I did during the Civil War classes. Some joke that only people of a certain age find the show appealing, because viewing makes for a way to reminisce with moments of pointing at the screen and muttering, "Oh yeah," as old footage jogs faded memories.

Then I started spotting a much-younger Micheal Martin, and Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach. There's Simon Harris sitting on Committee hearings, and there's the late Jackie Healy-Rae, about whom I've heard so much. There's Leo Varadkar as a new TD.

I peered in at the media scrums and doorsteps whenever cameras panned the other way for a change. Miriam Lord at the launch of the new Health Service Executive in the early 2000s, Sam Smyth speaking to a radio station about his story that brought down a minister. The now Europe Editor and Brexit expert Tony Connelly reporting from the 'Irish wedding of the year... in France' when Nicky Byrne married Georgina Ahern.

Harrowing footage showed a red blanket draped over the windows of the late Veronica Guerin's car on the Naas Road, whose sculpture I pass every time I tap my access card to get past reception at Independent House on Talbot Street. This hit close to home.

Video of the Day

Not having grown up in an Irish household, the Enda Kennys and Michael Lowrys of the world had escaped me. The chances of learning about political events through my teenage peers as I grew up were slim. But when I tune into this legendary programme, painstakingly researched and edited by none other than Normal People's Nathan Nugent, history plays out in front of my eyes.

Legend has it that when news editors from abroad are hired at RTE, a box set of Reeling In The Years is sent on so they can gain knowledge, not only of past events, but the mood of the public at the time.

And it's only since I've been leaving the telly on when the news ends that I've been seeing those old news reports, learning about the pivotal political, international, and sporting stories I've missed.

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I've been taken back to the death of Princess Diana in a French tunnel, I've stood with the crowds who watched in awe as the Millennium Spire was completed in O'Connell Street.

I'm 22 now and it's only in recent years that I've started really closely following the daily news agenda. As a reporter, I get to physically be in the middle of it too.

A fresh series on the decade just gone is being worked on as I write, according to series producer John O'Regan.

Only this time, when I leave the telly on after the news, I won't be doing the learning, but the reminiscing part.
San Francisco, Aug 20 : More than 20 parks in the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California were forced to close down due to raging wildfires in the region, officials said.

The closures were ordered on Wednesday as nearly two dozen wildfires were burning in and around the Santa Cruz Mountains along the Pacific coast, prompting 22,000 people to evacuate their homes, Xinhua news agency.

"I think we're experiencing hell," the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper quoted Tamara Clark, chief public information officer at Santa Clara County Parks, as saying on Wednesday.

"We can't seem to catch a break, and we won't until the weather cools." At Lake Berryessa, the Bureau of Reclamation closed all recreation access, including day-use areas, campgrounds, boat launches and restrooms.

In the Santa Cruz Mountains, the 'CZU August Lightning Complex Fire' closed parks operated by California State Park, San Mateo County Parks and the Midpeninsula Open Space District.

As of Wednesday morning, Cal Fire reported zero containment of the blaze.

Rangers had to close access roads also to the Big Basin Redwoods State Park near Boulder Creek.

Air quality were at "unhealthy" levels in te region.

The San Jose State University cancelled all in-person and online classes for the day due to projected unhealthy air quality as wildfires sent smoke across the area, according to a report on San Francisco Chronicle.

According to California Governor Gavin Newsom, there were currently 6,754 fires across the state.
20.08.2020 LISTEN

The Member of Parliament has organized mock examination for candidates in the Daffiama-Bussie-Issa district through the Ghana education service as part of his annual commitment to help give adequate preparation for candidates. This years MP sponsored mock commenced on 17th August, 2020.

The examination was commissioned on behalf of the Member of Parliament, by Denis Andaban, the communication officer for the NDC in the Daffiama-Bussie-Issa.

Addressing the students in their respective schools, Denis Andaban said, the Member of Parliament is very passionate when it comes to education and health and that he will continue to invest more into these critical sectors.

He added that students should take the mock exams seriously because it is to expose them to the nature of the Basic Education Certificate Examination. Students were also asked to desist from any act of exams malpractice. He however expressed his sadness over the behavior of final year students of some Senior High School in the West African Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and passionately admonished the candidates not to emulate that act of indiscipline. What happened elsewhere by your seniors, I mean those writing WASSCE, is totally unacceptable. Dont emulate them, just work hard and you will come out with flying colours he said.

Mr. Andaban again revealed that the best candidate for this years impending BECE will be given a special package and that plans are in place to recognize hard working teachers who are sacrificing to ensure that the standards of education is high in the district.

Girls were advised to take very good care of themselves after the examination since in most cases, girls after their Basic Education become pregnant or are unable to advance their education. He indicated that the Member of Parliament is ever ready to help them out of any challenges that may ruin their future.

Mathematical sets procured by the Member of Parliament were also distributed to the candidates as part of preparing them to write the upcoming examination.

Students and teachers were very happy for the intervention by the Member of Parliament and expressed their gratitude and appreciation to Hon Sebastian Sandaare.

In the Daffiama-Bussie-Issa District, total of 529 candidates are to sit in for this year's Basic Education Certificate Examination.

Filed: Mwine Pascal//Tumpaani fm
Michigan will pay $600million to the families affected by lead-contaminated water in Flint.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the payout on Thursday.

"What happened in Flint should have never happened, and financial compensation with this settlement is just one of the many ways we can continue to show our support for the city of Flint and its families," she said.

The settlement will bring to a close numerous civil lawsuits targeting multiple government defendants, including the state of Michigan, former Republican Governor Rick Snyder, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, and numerous state defendants.

Attorneys Ted Leopold and Michael Pitt, who led the class-action litigation, said the ruling brings a measure of justice for the victims.

"The residents of Flint were victims of horrendous decisions by the state, its employees, and other defendants that have resulted in tragic and devastating consequences," Mr Leopold said, according to the Lansing State Journal.

"While we can never undo the damage that occurred to the citizens and community of Flint, we are pleased that today we were able to secure a measure of justice for the ... Flint community."

In addition to the monetary reward, the settlement will establish a victim's compensation fund, from which victims of the water crisis can access the hundreds of millions of dollars in compensatory funds. The funds will be monitored by the courts.

The state will also create a specific fund for the education of students who have suffered long-term health and behavioural problems tied to the polluted water.

The recipients of the money will largely be individuals who were children at the time of the 2014 crisis. Around 65 per cent of the money will be distributed to residents who were six and younger when they were first exposed to the tainted water. Ten per cent will go to those who were between the ages of 7 and 11, and about 15 per cent will go to adults. Three per cent will be paid out for property damages.

The funds are prioritised residents who were children at the time of exposure because lead is extremely toxic and can cause brain development issues in children.

Recommended Four dead after drinking toxic hand sanitiser

"The kids in Flint at every turn have been unnecessarily victimized by the circumstances of their life, poverty, a government that was dishonest with them," Corey M Stern, the lead counsel for the plaintiffs, told The Washington Post.

"To these kids, there's been a hell of a lot of losses. And I don't know of many wins ... [but] this is a big win for them, and it's beyond the money. It's what it says."

Black residents make up 57 per cent of Flint's population, and the city's median household income $26,330, far below the country's average of $61,937. The city is part of the larger Rust Belt region, which has seen mass depopulation and de-industrialization as manufacturing jobs - like auto assembly workers in Michigan and steel mill workers in Ohio and Pennsylvania - were eliminated thanks largely to outsourcing made possible by NAFTA.

The Flint water crisis began in 2014 when the city stopped using Lake Huron as its water source and temporarily began drawing water from the Flint River. The decision was a cost saving measure determined by un-elected emergency managers from the state who were overseeing the city at the time.

When residents began to complain of rashes and illnesses after the change in water supply, they were largely ignored until a team of researchers conducted water tests in the city and found the lead contamination, which forced the city leaders to act.

The water from the Flint River required higher levels of chlorination to treat, which caused corrosion in resident's pipes, resulting in lead seepage into the populace's drinking water.
Senator Ben Sasse (R., Neb.) slammed President Trumps remarks on Wednesday in which he seemed to encourage believers in the QAnon conspiracy theory.

Followers of QAnon believe that the U.S. is run by a cabal of pedophiles and cannibals in the Democratic deep state, media, and Hollywood, and that Trump is saving the country from that cabal. Trump has congratulated Georgia businesswoman and QAnon believer Marjorie Taylor Greene for winning a Republican congressional primary. The FBI designated QAnon a domestic terror threat in 2019 because of what the agency said was the potential for the theory to drive adherents to acts of violence.

I dont know much about the movement; I understand they like me very much, which I appreciate, Trump said at a Wednesday press conference when asked by a reporter for his views on the theory. I heard these are people that love our country.

QAnon believes you are secretly saving the world from this cult of pedophiles and cannibals. Are you behind that? the reporter continued.

I havent heard that. Is that supposed to be a bad thing or a good thing? Trump answered. If I can help save the world from problems, I am willing to do it. Im willing to put myself out there. And we are actually, were saving the world.

Senator Sasse, who has been an open critic of previous Trump statements, slammed the presidents apparent refusal to disavow QAnon supporters.

QAnon is nutsand real leaders call conspiracy theories conspiracy theories, Sasse told the Washington Post on Thursday. If Democrats take the Senate, blow up the filibuster, and pack the Supreme Courtgarbage like this will be a big part of why they won.

Sasse sparred with Trump earlier this month over the presidents executive orders on coronavirus relief and other issues, which the Nebraska senator called unconstitutional slop.

No president  whether named Obama or Trump or Biden or AOC  has unilateral power to rewrite immigration law or to cut taxes or to raise taxes, Sasse said in a statement. This is because America doesnt have kings.

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Mr Joseph Kofi Adda, Minister for Aviation, has reiterated that there were no plans from government to engage any company or companies for the purported sale or hire of the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL) and its ancillary institutions.



The Minister who emphasised governments position on the speculation of sale of GACL in Tamale, was there to inspect progress of work at the ongoing Tamale Airport expansion phase two project in the Northern Region.



Mr Adda assured the employees of GACL, saying government has no plans to sale or privatise the GACL and all other institutions under the sector, so I urge all staff to remain calm as nobody would be laid off from their work.



The Airport expansion project, which is expected to be complete in 30 months, would give a facelift to the Tamale airport to gain international status.



In August 2019, the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo cut the sod for commencement of work on the phase two of the Tamale Airport Project.



Briefing journalists after the inspection of the project, Mr Adda expressed satisfaction at work done so far, and said when completed the airport would enhance economic activities in Sub-Saharan Africa.



He said government was investing enough resources to expand the airport to accommodate the services needed to make Ghana an aviation hub in the West Africa sub region.



The Minster explained that the expansion of the airport would have a Hajj and other auxiliary facilities, which he added, would help to ease the difficulties pilgrims go through during their travels to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj.



The Aviation Minister was accompanied by Mr Salifu Saeed, the Northern Regional Minister, some officials from the Aviation Ministry and the Northern Regional Coordinating Council.

Source: GNA









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The US state of Michigan has agreed to pay some $600 million to victims of the Flint water crisis, a health scandal that became a symbol of social injustice in America, officials said Thursday.

The settlement could see payments to tens of thousands of people, children and adults alike, who may have ingested lead-tainted drinking water after the city of Flint changed the source for its water system in 2014 to cut costs.

"What happened in Flint should have never happened, and financial compensation with this settlement is just one of the many ways we can continue to show our support for the city of Flint and its families," Governor Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement.

She called the suffering and delays in addressing the problem "unconscionable" and acknowledged the settlement "may not completely provide all that Flint needs."

Napoli Shkolnick PLLC, the law firm representing victims in their lawsuit, said the settlement included the state, Flint city, former state and city employees, and former governor Richard Snyder.

"The Flint community and children have suffered significantly; this settlement is the beginning of the process for healing and supporting this important community," said attorney Paul Napoli.

At least 12 people died after the decaying industrial city switched its drinking water source to the polluted Flint River to cut costs in 2014.

However, officials failed to add corrosion controls to the new tap water source, allowing lead and other contaminants to leach from the city's aging pipe system.

Authorities initially dismissed complaints from residents in the majority black city where many live below the poverty line.

They were eventually pushed to act following national attention and Environmental Protection Agency pressure.

Most of the money is earmarked for children in the city of Flint, who were at greatest risk of neurological and physical harm from lead-tainted tap water.

Story continues

More than 8,000 children are believed to have consumed lead-contaminated water, and a study found that the proportion of infants and children with high lead levels doubled after the water source switch.

The Washington Post reported that 80 percent of the settlement would go to residents who were exposed when they were under 18 years old.

The city and state have since taken steps to improve water quality, including reverting to a cleaner water source and a project to replace Flint's ageing pipe network.

Last week the city said it would complete the replacement of lead-tainted pipes by November 30, more than a year later than promised.

Criminal charges filed against eight people accused of playing a role in the health debacle, including high-ranking state officials, were dropped last year.

jm-pmh/cl
NORRISTOWN  A last-minute addition to Tuesday nights agenda to advertise an ordinance dissolving the local sewer authority ended in a heated argument among members of Norristown Municipal Council.

Just before the conclusion of a lengthy work session, Norristown Municipal Council President Derrick Perry first moved to open the agenda to the public, and then brought forth a request to advertise the resolution dissolving the authority.

The resolution stated that it would effectuate the Municipalitys right to own, operate and maintain the System for its residents, the Municipal Council hereby commands and orders the Authority, through its board members, to convey the System and all property of the Authority to the Municipality pursuant to the Act by written instrument(s) in form and substance acceptable to the Municipality on or before Oct. 6 (the Deadline).

This action brought strong opposition from Councilman Hakim Jones.

Im completely against it, and you know what: Its cheap, its cheap and its cheap, he said.

Vice President Rebecca Smith also took issue with the matter pointing out that a previous item discussed Tuesday was tabled because the agenda didnt advertise the presentation specifically.

I think its an inconsistency and its not one that I think is a good inconsistency, she said.

The sewer authority status has been a point of contention for several weeks following the approval of an $82 million sale of the sewer system to Aqua Pennsylvania in June.

The motion to advertise the resolution passed in a 5-2 vote with Jones and Smith dissenting.

Norristown had first inquired about selling the assets of the Norristown Municipal Waste Authority in mid-2017, and received two bids earlier this year, according to a May 12 presentation. Borough officials held virtual meetings and informational sessions in May for Norristown Municipal Waste Authoritys customers in Norristown and West Norriton Township.

Elected leaders endorsed the initiative, saying the sales proceeds could benefit development projects throughout the municipality.

I definitely see this as an opportunity for Norristown to take that step to the next level, and to attract development and opportunities for this area, said Councilman Thomas Lepera in June.

Jones, however, had expressed reservations about moving forward during the COVID-19 pandemic as area residents could not attend in-person meetings for health and safety reasons.

You couldnt sell a house. You couldnt sell a car. You couldnt leave the house. But were selling a sewer system right from under the people that live in this community, Jones said during the Aug. 18 work session.

So all the folks in this community wanted was time. All they wanted was more education and they wanted more than just two virtual meetings on GoToMeeting, he continued. They want more than a three-minute public comment where their voices are heard and thats that.

According to the May 12 presentation, Aqua Pennsylvania offered two scenarios of proposed rate increases from 2021 to 2030. One scenario without the use of Act 11, which is state legislation surrounding sewage treatment plant and waterworks operators certification, had monthly rates starting at $27.27 per month at the beginning of the decade and $74.70 by 2030.

The second proposal, which is intended to be used with Act 11 and filed with the Public Utility Commission, would start rates at $27.50 per month in 2021 and end the decade with $56.18 per month.

These potential rate increases were of serious concern to Jones. According to estimated figures from the U.S. Census Bureau, Norristown had a 21.7 percent poverty rate as of July 1, 2019.

Its gonna be paid back  by those who are retired, fixed income, who are struggling, he said. Its gonna be paid back by the landlords who raise their rent because sewer rates go from $35 to $62 and then $65 and then $70.

Councilwoman Heather Lewis said the costs are not something new.

Nobodys being reminded that currently our sewer authority can put a lien on someones property. They can kick someone out of their home, she said. The very vulnerable people that youre talking about are extremely vulnerable in the current situation that theyre in right now. If they fall behind not being able to pay the $35 for their sewer bill they will be homeless.

We have never said that the rates would not go up, Lewis added. We are doing everything in our power to get the best deal for our community.

During the work session, several community members doubled down on their objections to the councils decision to sell the sewer system.

Theres something systemically wrong with your continued disregard and unhinging position to continue with the sale as is, said Norristown resident Maccabee Hirsh.

You should be ashamed, said Norristown resident Rachel Fecho.

Norristown resident David McMahon urged local leaders to reverse the action.

There is still time to revisit, reevaluate and turn back this corporate acquisition of our last major, valuable, publicly held asset, McMahon said in a submitted statement.

The Norristown Municipal Sewer Authority board had pressed pause on moving forward with the sale by tabling a resolution during a meeting last week, according to McMahon, a member of Norristown Opposes Privatization Efforts.

McMahon said in an interview on Aug. 14 with The Times Herald that the sewer authority has the power to put the brakes on the sale, since their vote is required to finalize it. Delaying the sale would allow time for the public and ratepayers to truly weigh in.

I think the fact that they didnt agree to sell the other night, now were playing bully, and were strong-arming them, Jones said Tuesday, of authoritys action to slow down the process. Were telling them if youre not gonna sell it to us, were just gonna take it.

Lewis clarified that the resolution is only to advertise the ordinance ahead of next months meeting.

They have an opportunity to change their mind. They tabled their decision, she said.

Jones blasted his colleagues about the handling of the sale and backlash from area residents.

I dont think enough of you are talking to the people, he said. I dont think enough of you care about what the people have to say.

Comments from Jones and Smith brought the ire of Lewis as conflict continued to escalate.

First of all Councilman Jones, dont assume that I care or do not care about this community, Lewis said. You care in a way that may be different than how I care, and I may care in a different way than you care, but I surely am not going to insult you by saying that you dont care because of your actions and how you choose to support the community.

And as far as Vice President Smith, with the inconsistencies: We open and close agendas all the time. So this is not an opportunity to insult, or try to associate, or belittle opening the agenda for this topic and not another topic or tabling another topic and not this topic, Lewis said.

This is something thats a general practice so I think its insulting to insinuate that were taking anything just because we happen to disagree, she continued. I think it is dirty politics. Its unfair. Its unprofessional to insult people because they disagree.

Tensions continued to rise until Jones and Lewis were in a virtual shouting match on the GoToMeeting grid.

I gave you your time. Councilman Jones, I did not interrupt you. I did not. So dont derail me from my comment by interrupting, Lewis said.

When the dust had settled, Smith responded to Lewis words.

Councilwoman Lewis called me by name, and  not once did I accuse you specifically of anything, or have I called out anybody on this council by name about anything about this process, Smith said. Ive expressed [my] opinion, and voicing my opinion is not attacking yours. So Id appreciate it if you didnt attack my opinion back.

Councilwoman Valerie Scott Cooper called for decorum among her fellow elected officials.

I really hope and pray that everyone sits back and takes a step back on how things were said tonight. Its disgraceful, she said.

The next meeting of council is Sept. 1 at which a vote on the advertised resolution will be scheduled.
Six people have been caught after smack worth Rs 1 crore and 270-kilogram ganja were recovered in separate incidents in Rohtak and Jind, according to Haryana Police as per a TNN report.

This is yet another crackdown on drugs.



According to the Haryana police spokesperson, acting on a tip-off that four persons were attempting to smuggle drugs in two cars in Rohtak, police established a naka and nabbed four accused including a woman.



AFP

The police recovered 1 kg 400 gram of smack worth around Rs 1 crores and Rs 1 lakh cash from their possession. Police also impounded two cars.



Arrested accused were identified as Kishan Gupta and Sanjiv Kumar, both native of Pilibhit in UP, Nihal Kaur and Sanjay of Rohtak.



AFP

In another incident in Jind, police seized 270 kg ganja being smuggled in a canter from Vishakhapatnam and arrested two persons in this connection.



Arrested accused in this connection were identified as Kamal and Ajay.



AFP

Cases under the provisions of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act were registered against them and further investigation is underway.



Haryana police has increased its crackdown on drugs and is leaving no stone unturned to stop the flow into the state.

The fact that it is coming in from outside Haryana is worrying as to how so easily.
Babycare group Mothercare has announced a new business model after talks with franchisees as it finalised a deal with Boots to sell goods across the chain in time for the autumn season.

Last year the firm put its UK stores into administration with all 79 shops closing and 2,500 jobs lost. In June Mothercare in Ireland was placed into liquidation due to the impact of Covid-19 on sales.

Mothercare said today that the new franchise arrangements would ensure a "more sustainable and less capital-intensive business model".

It will see the group's franchise partners pay for products directly to manufacturers.

The group added it had finally completed the deal with Boots to become its UK and Ireland franchise partner - first announced in December - which will see it sell Mothercare-branded clothing from this autumn and goods including pushchairs and car seats in larger stores and online.

The Boots deal had suffered a series of delays due to the coronavirus pandemic.

On the new franchise plans, Mothercare said: "We believe this new way of working will ultimately have the added benefits of improving pricing for franchise partners, which in turn should better incentivise retail sales growth and assist our manufacturing partners in reinstating credit insurance for future seasons."

As well as the 10-year Boots deal, Mothercare said it had also struck a new 20-year franchise arrangement with Alshaya Group, its main franchise partner.

But Mothercare added that it still expects to take a 10 million hit from the UK stores administration last November.

The administration left Mothercare refocused on simply providing branded products to retailers.

In June, the group was also dealt a blow when temporary boss Glyn Hughes said he did not want the job on a permanent basis.

He quit in June, leaving Mothercare to be led by the chief operating officer and chief financial officer, under the watchful eye of chairman Clive Whiley.

PA
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The provinces Special Investigations Unit has determined there is no basis for pursuing criminal charges against two Niagara Regional Police officers after they shot and a killed a 56-year-old St. Catharines man armed with a bread knife last winter.

In his decision, SIU director Joseph Martino wrote he is satisfied the two officers shot the man, previously identified as Fred Penner, in the reasonable belief that doing so was necessary to protect themselves from an imminent knife attack.

Accordingly, as there are no reasonable grounds to believe the SOs (service officers) used unlawful force, there is no basis for proceeding with criminal charges in this case, and the file is closed, said the report dated Aug. 10.

The incident occurred Dec. 31 shortly after 4:30 p.m. near the boarding house where Penner lived at 71 Rykert St. Police had received a call that a man was walking around carrying a large kitchen knife and had threatened someone with it.

The SIU report said a female officer was the first to arrive at the scene, accompanied by a Canadian Mental Health Association registered counsellor.

The complainant (Penner) was in mental distress at the time, Martino wrote. The week prior, police had also attended at the residence to check on his welfare. At the time, the complainant had been apprehended by an officer under the MHA (Mental Health Act) and taken to hospital for a psychiatric examination.

The SIU report said Penner was holding a large serrated kitchen knife in his right hand with a blade measuring about 17 centimetres in length. Although the officer drew her sidearm and pointed it at Penner and repeatedly ordered him to drop the knife, he refused to do so.

The officer attempted to build a rapport with the complainant, but those efforts proved in vain, the report said, adding Penner then began walking towards the police officer as a second officer joined her.

Both officers, with their firearms pointed in the complainants direction, walked backward with the complainants advance.

The second officer repeated warnings that Penner would be shot if he did not drop the knife, but the complainant remained undeterred, the SIU report said.

With the SOs having retreated as far back as the sidewalk and possibly onto the roadway, the complainant took a few quick steps in their direction and was met with a flurry of shots from the SOs guns.

The SIU investigation revealed the officers fired nine rounds at Penner from their Glock semi-automatic pistols, with five shots fired from one gun and four from the other.

Both officers went to the complainant and rendered emergency first aid while they waited for paramedics to attend. Bandages were placed on the complainants neck to stem the bleeding from a wound in that area, the report said.

The complainant was taken to hospital in St. Catharines where he was stabilized before being transported via air ambulance to hospital in Hamilton. He passed away the following day of multiple gunshot wounds.

Six SIU investigators and three forensic investigators were assigned to the case, who interviewed 11 civilians and three officers who witnessed the incident.

The report said investigators also reviewed a witnesss cellphone video, police communication recordings, police equipment and other evidence related to the incident.

Martino wrote he is unable to reasonably conclude that either officer transgressed the limits of permissible force when they discharged their firearms  notwithstanding the tragic loss of life.

The full SIU report on the shooting is available on the organizations website.

Members of Penners family declined to comment on the SIUs decision.
The M/V Matanuska's sailings were cancelled through Aug. 20 after five passengers on board the vessel on Aug. 10 tested positive for COVID-19, according to a press release from the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.

The ferry is expected to resume service on Aug. 21 out of Bellingham.

On Aug. 10, while sailing from Kake to Juneau, the crew of the M/V Matanuska was notified that some passengers were in close contact with a COVID-19 positive person in Kake. Those passengers were quarantined in their cabins until their disembarkment in Juneau later that day. Five of t...
Valmet to Supply Start-up Clothing to Stora Ensos Oulu Mill in Finland

Aug. 19, 2020 - Valmet will supply start-up clothing to Stora Ensos Oulu Mill in Finland. The start-up clothing includes forming fabrics, press felts, shoe press belts and dryer fabrics. The clothing order is related to Stora Ensos paper machine (PM 7) grade conversion project delivered by Valmet.

The clothing will be delivered for the start-up of the rebuilt BM 7, which is scheduled for the end of 2020.

We are happy that Stora Enso has chosen our clothing for the start-up of BM 7. All in all, the order includes 50 percent of the forming fabrics and press felts, and 100 percent of the dryer fabrics for the first two years with an option for the third year. Valmet Black Belt shoe press belts were already included in Stora Ensos earlier order for this project. Our Industrial Internet application for PMC (paper machine clothing) remote analytics is also included into the delivery, says Martti Heinola, Director, Paper Machine Clothing, Valmet.

Valmet and Stora Enso have also signed a Performance Agreement including technical support to accelerate the start-up curve.

Valmet is a leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. The company's technology offering includes pulp mills, tissue, board and paper production lines, as well as power plants for bioenergy production. For further information, visit: www.valmet.com

SOURCE: Valmet
Firefighters from Barstow tackle hotspots along Highway 9 during the CZU Lightning Complex fire Sunday in Boulder Creek, Calif. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)

Wildfires ringing the Bay Area and other parts of the state killed at least five people, destroyed more than 500 structures and scorched hundreds of square miles as evacuations expanded Thursday.

In all, more than 694,000 acres have burned in Northern and Central California  the equivalent of 1,085 square miles, more than twice the size of the city of Los Angeles. The fires, fanned by strong winds, heat and low humidity, have forced more than 60,000 people to evacuate.

At least 539 structures have been destroyed, and the fire-fanning weather conditions that have brought record temperatures and thousands of lightning strikes in the past few days are not expected to abate soon.

One major cluster of fires was in the wine country. The LNU Lightning Complex fire has blackened a combined 215,000 acres, destroyed 480 structures and triggered the evacuation of nonessential personnel from Travis Air Force Base in Solano County and patients from Adventist Health St. Helena hospital in Napa County. It was 0% contained as of 7:30 p.m.

See the location of fires burning across the state in our California wildfires map.

"Extreme fire behavior with short- and long-range spotting [is] continuing to challenge firefighting efforts," officials wrote in an update Thursday morning. "Fires continue to make runs in multiple directions ... impacting multiple communities."

Firefighters battle the Hennessey fire in Vacaville on Wednesday. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

There have been reports of fatalities  including four civilian deaths tied to the LNU Lightning Complex fire and a pilot who was killed when his firefighting helicopter crashed in Fresno County on Wednesday, briefly sparking another brush fire to join the dozens burning across the state.

On Thursday, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection also announced the death of a Pacific Gas & Electric Co. employee who was found unresponsive in his vehicle after clearing infrastructure  such as utility poles and lines  in the Gates Canyon area outside Vacaville for crews responding to the fires. Cal Fire Assistant Deputy Director Daniel Berlant later said that the employee's death was determined to be unrelated to the fires so it is not included in the agency's fatality count.

Story continues

In Sonoma County, the city of Healdsburg was under an evacuation warning early Thursday.

Sonoma County Sheriff Mark Essick stressed that residents who were ordered to evacuate should do so calmly yet quickly and not delay in making their way to safety.

We also are concerned that many people are pulling over on the sides of busy highways and roads to take pictures and view the fire, he said during a briefing. We really urge you to fight that urge and continue to evacuate.

Residents also should refrain from returning to their homes until given official word to do so, he added. About 30,500 structures around the LNU Lightning Complex are still threatened.

"We have had some minor reports of people reentering evacuation areas, and theyve had to be rescued, Essick said. When we have to rescue you from an evacuation area, it creates a secondary burden on police and fire services and adds to the problem.

Healdsburg resident Harvest Echols said Thursday that she's tired of running from fires, tired of packing up her kids, tired of her wine country town that seems to come close to burning every year.

"I want to move," she said. "There are lots of more relaxing places to live."

These moments seem increasingly inevitable in California's pastoral farmlands north of San Francisco, with their rolling hills, old forests and miles of dry brown grass.

Though Healdsburg is only under an evacuation warning, Echols remembers the middle-of-the-night run she had to do last October when the Kincade fire was close enough that its orange glow crested the nearby hills. Two years before that, the Tubbs fire sent them running.

This time, it would be an organized retreat to a lake up north, an attempt to make it seem more like a vacation than another looming disaster.

Her husband, Healdsburg Vice Mayor Shaun McCaffery, said their nervousness is normal in the city, where for the last few days "people were getting anxious" and everybody is leery of the wind picking up.

"It just kind of wears on people that they might have to go," he said.

Others share his anxiety and the frustration that comes from frequently having to flee wildfires. Near the Healdsburg town square, Gina Gandeza smoked a cigarette in front of her chartreuse green apartment complex. A lifelong resident, she said "a lot of people have been talking about Oregon lately."

She evacuated last year during the Kincade fire and would have done so again this week, but her two adult daughters work at businesses that are still open  a gas station and a convenience store. Those places won't close until there is a mandatory evacuation order, she said, and she won't leave without them.

"Of course, we've got the car packed," she said.

Evacuation orders were also prompted on the eastern edge of San Jose by the SCU Lightning Complex fire, which has burned more than 157,000 acres in multiple locations generally east of Silicon Valley and the East Bay and west of the Central Valley. Flames have neared the famed Lick Observatory, which serves astronomers from the University of California. It was threatening 20,000 structures and was 5% contained as of Thursday evening.

Officials on Thursday ordered additional evacuations, covering portions of San Joaquin County south of West Corral Hollow Road to the Stanislaus County line; west of the 580 Freeway to the Alameda County line; and east of the Alameda County line to the 580 and the Stanislaus County line. They also ordered new evacuations for Santa Clara County, including east of Anderson Lake and Coyote Creek, and north and east of Highway 152.

Excluded from the order are the PAR Estates and Tracy Golf and Country Club, both of which are instead under an evacuation warning.

Additional evacuation orders were issued in the path of the CZU August Lightning Complex fire, which was raging in the remote mountainous area southwest of Silicon Valley, on the border of San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties. That fire has burned 48,000 acres and forced the evacuation of at least 48,000 people, officials said Thursday evening.

Jonathan Cox, a deputy chief with Cal Fire, said the CZU fire has destroyed 50 structures and threatens 20,000 others. It is 0% contained.

The fire has caused extensive damage at Big Basin Redwoods State Park and forced the evacuation of staff, campers and other visitors. The state park, California's oldest, sustained damage to its headquarters, campgrounds and historic core. Officials with the California Department of Parks and Recreation said the agency did not yet know the number of acres that had burned within the park and were assessing the damage.

"We are devastated to report that Big Basin, as we have known it, loved it and cherished it for generations, is gone," said the Sempervirens Fund, an organization that focuses on protecting redwood forests and wildlife, in a statement on its website. "We do not yet know the fate of the parks grandest old trees."

Cal Fire officials said Thursday morning that the fire was extremely active overnight, creating "significant burning conditions that were unprecedented and unseen by veteran firefighters."

The fire was threatening the communities of Pescadero and La Honda in San Mateo County. In Santa Cruz County, structures have been lost in the Swanton Road area, and a Cal Fire station was under threat.

The evacuation zone for this fire has expanded rapidly and now includes the communities of Davenport, Ben Lomond, Boulder Creek, Lompico, Felton and the area of Zayante Canyon. Officials also issued evacuation warnings for downtown Scotts Valley, a mountainous city of about 12,000 people just north of Santa Cruz along Highway 17. At about 7 pm, evacuation orders were issued for UC Santa Cruz's campus, in addition to other areas.

On Twitter, the school wrote that all on-campus residents must evacuate and be prepared to not return for at least two weeks.

"I couldnt stress more the importance of leaving when those orders come out, I really can't," Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Chief Deputy Chris Clark said during a briefing Thursday. "There are people that are unaccounted for that we are looking to try to determine where they are, so I stress that because, with this fire, you just dont know how things are going to go."

The weather conditions for the next three days make the outlook grim, said Mark Brunton of Cal Fire.

That makes that threat very direct and very real, he said. Were doing everything we possibly can to protect life and property.

The Butte County Sheriffs Office also issued an evacuation warning Thursday afternoon covering the areas of Philbrook Reservoir and Inskip. The county is contending with its own Lightning Complex, a collection of 34 confirmed lightning-caused fires that have burned a combined 1,900 acres.

Many of those fires are under control, fire officials said, and containment for the overall complex was reported at 20% as of Thursday morning.

According to the website PurpleAir, the Bay Area was home to the world's worst air quality overnight Thursday. Air quality is especially bad in Silicon Valley, San Mateo County and Livermore Valley, according to local air quality management officials.

"Smoke can irritate the eyes and airways, causing coughing, a dry scratchy throat and irritated sinuses," the Bay Area Air Quality Management District said. "Elevated particulate matter in the air can trigger wheezing in those who suffer from asthma, emphysema" and other chronic respiratory ailments.

"Very dry and warm conditions will persist across the interior and in the region`'s higher elevations," the National Weather Service said. "Smoky and hazy conditions are likely to impact portions of the region through at least this upcoming weekend."

Given the unhealthy air and continuing presence of the coronavirus  which can spread through respiratory droplets  experts suggested that staying indoors at home is safest. But, if you need to go outside, wear a mask.

We are in this perfect storm of a lot of uncertainty with not a ton of reassurance things are going to get substantially better in the next few months, said Dr. Jahan Fahimi, director of UC San Franciscos emergency department. I think were hunkering down and preparing for kind of a longer-term response to what is happening in our community.

There have been more than 370 new wildfires across the state in the past four days, according to Cal Fire.

At this time last year, crews had responded to a total of 4,007 fires throughout the state, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom. They've already been dispatched to at least 6,754 this year.

Formed in the last 3 million to 4 million years as tectonic plates grind past each other underneath California, the states North Coast mountain range provides fires a range of slopes, canyons and cliffs to run up, funnel through and climb.

The Jarbo Gap at the Feather River channel in Butte County, for example, turned the small flames from a utility-caused grass fire outside Paradise into an inferno, said Don Hankins, a geography and planning professor at Chico State University.

As fires have revisited burn scars repeatedly in the last few years, some areas of land are transitioning from shrub and oak woodland to highly flammable invasive species, such as areas around Napa and Butte counties where ripgut brome grass is expanding, Hankins said. A similar issue plagues the Los Padres National Forest in Southern California.

At the same time, humans continue to expand and install infrastructure. The Valley fire that ravaged Lake County in 2015 was sparked by a faulty electrical connection, and the worst fires in state history, which occurred in Northern California 2017 and 2018, were caused by power lines. The area that burned from 2015-18 amounted to 50% of what had burned there in the previous 65 years, said John Abatzoglou, an associate professor in UC Merceds school of engineering.

The complex terrain [in Northern California] does make it more challenging for fire suppression and theres just more land for fires to take advantage of, he said, contrasting it with Southern California's urban sprawl.

Also burning in California is the River fire, which has consumed more than 33,000 acres in steep mountainous terrain south of Salinas in Monterey County, destroying 10 structures, damaging two others and forcing mandatory evacuations, according to Cal Fire.

At least 3,000 structures remain threatened by the blaze, which was 9% contained as of Thursday evening.

The Carmel fire, burning just southwest of the River fire, has charred more than 4,400 acres and destroyed 28 structures, fire officials said.

Crews are also battling a sizable blaze in Tehama County. The Elkhorn fire, originally referred to as the 3-4 fire, broke out southwest of Red Bank Road on Wednesday and has already grown to 15,250 acres and prompted a number of evacuations.

There's promising news, however, out of Southern California, where firefighters are making progress on a few older wildfires.

The Lake fire, which has burned more than 27,000 acres in Los Angeles County near Lake Hughes, is now 52% contained, officials said Thursday evening. That blaze, which started Aug. 12, has destroyed 12 structures and 21 outbuildings.

Officials also reported 39% containment on the Ranch 2 fire near Azusa. That more than 4,000-acre fire started Aug. 13 and is the result of suspected arson, authorities say.

Crews are also nearing full containment of the Apple fire, which has charred 33,424 acres in the Inland Empire since it broke out July 31.

Progress anywhere is welcome news in fire-ravaged California, where the rapid outbreak of new blazes has stretched the state's firefighting resources to their limit.

Getting a handle on some fires, officials said, will free additional assets that can then be redeployed as needed.

Given the severity of the state's firestorm, California also has turned to some of its fellow states for assistance.

Jeremy Rahn, the lead Cal Fire public information officer for the LNU Lightning Complex fire, said Wednesday that the state had already requested 375 additional fire engines as well as additional hand crews from out-of-state agencies, and hired "nearly all available private firefighting 'call when needed' aircraft in the Western United States."

At a media briefing Thursday morning for the LNU Lightning Complex incident, Cal Fire firefighters warned that it would take time to get control of the fires, with officials saying they were short on manpower and resources.

"This is a very large fire. Its one of many in the state of California, and honestly, our resources are stretched, said Shana Jones, a Cal Fire chief with the agencys Sonoma and Lake counties unit.

Cal Fire Incident Commander Sean Kavanaugh said the sheer number of fires statewide has meant that the fire zone in Sonoma, Lake, Napa, Solano and Yolo counties has not received the firefighting manpower officials had been accustomed to getting.

Were used to lots of resources, and thats not where were at today," he said. "With the amount of large fires that we have throughout the entire Northern California, were just one small piece of the bigger picture.

Kavanaugh said in the coming days, there will be additional resources coming in from out of state, and hes hoping personnel who are fighting smaller fires in other counties  where theyve made progress surrounding fires with containment lines  will be brought to the LNU Lightning Complex fires in the North Bay, which is 0% contained.

Newsom announced Thursday that the state had received a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that will allow local, state and tribal governments responding to the CZU August Lightning Complex fire to receive reimbursement for up to 75% of certain firefighting costs.

The state has also secured grants over the last week to help fight blazes in Monterey, Napa and Nevada counties.

Another wrinkle in this year's fire season is the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has raised concerns among displaced residents who would normally pack into emergency shelters and created new challenges for the agencies that operate them.

"This is obviously a new dynamic that were dealing with across the state in the COVID moment," Cox, the Cal Fire deputy chief, said. "The recommendation ... is try to find family and friends that you are comfortable with before you go into these large environments with multiple people where they may be an additional risk for exposure."

Lin reported from San Francisco and Miller, Money and Serna from Los Angeles. Times staff writers Anita Chabria in Vacaville, Taryn Luna in Sacramento, Susanne Rust in San Francisco and Colleen Shalby in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
In the view of on-going efforts to tackle corruption at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Premium Times Centre for Investigation (PTCIJ) will be launching a 70-page-long research paper to expose the pattern of corruption and financial recklessness of the agency.

It is set to make a public presentation on Friday, August 21.

The event will feature a keynote address to be delivered by Dayo Olaide, the Deputy Director of the MacArthur Foundation on the need to immediately overhaul the NDDC at this time if development must be advanced in the agency.

The event will feature a panel discussion with Henry Nwawuba, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta Affairs where he will be speaking on the role of the National Assembly in performing oversight activities that ensure a more beneficial NDDC.

He will be joined by Seun Onigbinde, the Chief Executive and Director of BudgIT; a fiscal policy expert, Vivian Bellonwu who is the Head of the National Advocacy Centre of Social Action in Port Harcourt; and Idris Akinbajo, the Managing Editor of Premium Times.

Tobi Oluwatola, a public policy expert and World Bank Consultant, is billed to give an overview and review the findings and recommendations of the new research report on examining corruption and financial recklessness of the NDDC in the last 18 years.

Joshua Olufemi, Founder of Dataphyte, will be making a presentation on the beneficial ownership of companies that have executed contracts on behalf of NDDC in the past years.

The event will be moderated by Adenike Aloba, a media development professional and head of Media Freedom project for PTCIJ.

In a statement by Oluwatosin Alagbe, the Programme Director of the PTCIJ, she said the effort of the PTCIJ is particularly pivotal at a time when the agency has been in the news for a series of corruption allegations and unethical practices in the execution of developmental projects of which has robbed the citizens of its value (socio, economic health etc.), thus contributing to the poor quality of life inherent in the region.

Since the government is currently conducting efforts to probe the agency through the presidential declaration on forensic audits in 2019, this presents a window of opportunity as a media innovation and development centre to support the anti-graft effort by engaging citizens and different stakeholders as well as sharing vital information on this phenomenon as documented in investigative reports and from across project monitoring exercises in the Niger Delta region, she added.

The event is sponsored by the PTCIJ  a journalism innovation and development initiative in West Africa with its headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.
Kamala Harris returned to her roots as a prosecutor at the Democratic National Convention, making a forceful case for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.

Harris, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, made history Wednesday night, becoming the first woman of color to accept a nomination on the presidential ticket of a major party. A senator from California, Harris argued President Donald Trump doesnt deserve a second term.

At the same time, Harris didnt devote her speech to attacking the president and his policies, analysts said Wednesday night. If anything, she defied the norm of vice presidential nominees who typically hammer the opposing ticket. Instead, analysts said Harris spoke with a more positive, hopeful tone for a nation rocked by the coronavirus pandemic.

U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean, a Democrat representing Montgomery County, welcomed Harris appeal for unity.

What I loved about it was something I used to teach of my students, to leave a little bit of herself on the page, Dean, a former college professor, told PennLive Wednesday night. She talked about her husband and her family and her friends. In doing that, she made herself very real and exposed her commitment to people, to decency, to fairness, to justice and love. We should be arguing for decency and fairness and love.

Dean said she was glad Harris didnt simply opt for an all-out attack on Trump.

She met the moment in a much smarter way by recognizing how our country needs unity, Dean said.

Harris didnt exactly take it easy on Trump. She pointedly attacked Trumps response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Donald Trumps failure of leadership has cost lives and livelihoods, she said.

Right now, we have a president who turns our tragedies into political weapons, Harris said. Joe will be a president who turns our challenges into purpose.

While delivering those criticisms, Harris also relayed her life story. The daughter of immigrants, she was raised by her mother after her parents split. She noted the centennial of women gaining the right to vote and the sacrifices of Black women who were denied that right for many years after the passage of the 19th Amendment. She made an impassioned plea for racial equality.

There is no vaccine for racism, Harris said. Weve got to do the work.

J. Wesley Leckrone, a professor of politics at Widener University, said the virtual nature of the convention, a byproduct of the coronavirus pandemic, may have contributed to the less aggressive nature of Harris speech. Harris spoke with no audience at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Del., as opposed to the norm of standing before a sea of thousands of partisan supporters in an arena. The typical convention speeches before die-hard supporters are dominated by more potent, fiery attacks.

She very effectively introduced herself to the United States, Leckrone said. Most people dont know a whole lot about her. She did a great job of weaving her story and her American journey with other people.

Leckrone also cited another reason Harris likely didnt hammer Trump as hard as may have been expected. Former President Barack Obama, speaking in Philadelphia moments before Harris, delivered scathing criticism of Trump.

He hit hard enough there was no need for her to do that again, Leckrone said.

Speaking at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia as part of the convention broadcast, Obama veered from tradition; former presidents typically avoid speaking out against their successors. Obama said Trump hasnt shown an interest in doing the hard work of the presidency and finding common ground.

Donald Trump hasnt grown into the job because he cant, Obama said.

Trump didnt ignore the Democratic convention. Shortly after Harris speech Wednesday night, Trump tweeted, Didnt she say he was incompetent?

Biden and Harris were former rivals for the Democratic nomination and engaged in sharp exchanges in debates. But Harris has also had long ties to the Biden family and was a close friend of Bidens late son, Beau, a former Delaware attorney general. Harris noted that friendship, their work as prosecutors and frequent conversations during the Great Recession.

After Biden chose Harris as her running mate, Democrats in Pennsylvania applauded her selection, saying she could energize women and voters in minority groups.

Pennsylvania has long been viewed as a critical battleground in the presidential election. Trump won the Keystone State by less than one percentage point in 2016, but it was a key step in his successful run for the White House.

Ronna McDaniel, chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, characterized Harris Wednesday night as a liberal Democrat who will raise taxes and energy bills.

She only cares about enacting a radical policy agenda, and we are going to defeat it in November, McDaniel wrote on Twitter.

Democrats desperately want to bring the Keystone State back to the blue column. Biden, a Scranton native who represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate for more than 30 years, has long been popular in Pennsylvania. Biden has led in polls in Pennsylvania, but analysts dont discount Trumps chances of defying polls as he did four years ago.

This election, though, is defined largely by the coronavirus and the economic fallout in its wake. More than 5 million Americans have contracted the virus and more than 171,000 have died. In Pennsylvania, more than 126,000 have been infected and more than 7,500 deaths have been tied to COVID-19.

With 20 electoral votes, Pennsylvania carries huge importance in the election. No Democrat has won the White House without winning Pennsylvania since Harry Truman did it in 1948. Four years ago, Trump became the first Republican presidential candidate to win Pennsylvania since 1988.

Dean argues the pandemic has changed the equation of this years election. She also noted the growing strength of Democrats in the Philadelphia suburbs, which propelled her and other Democrats to Congress in 2018. Dean said Harris focus on a better future, rather than the failings of the Trump administration, will resonate with Pennsylvania voters, particularly in the southeast.

For my area, for the Philadelphia suburbs, I have real confidence people are going to come out and vote, Dean said.

Speaking to the Pennsylvania delegation at the Democratic convention earlier this week, Biden said, Youre the key. Youre the key to whos going to be the next president of the United States of America.

On Thursday, Trump will make an appearance at a business in the Scranton area, where Biden grew up, to make his own pitch to Pennsylvania voters.

Trump is slated to appear hours before Biden will speak to the country during the final night of the Democratic National Convention.

Leckrone said Harris could help energize Pennsylvania Democrats, perhaps in a way Biden may not. He also said she could appeal to the admittedly small but potentially crucial bloc of undecided voters.

She helps with people that may have voted for Trump in the last election and wanted to vote for Biden, Leckrone said. The fact that she was not very ideological tonight was very assuring to those who were wavering to the Biden campaign.

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Wearing a face mask will be compulsory in all parts of Toulouse from Friday amid a rise in coronavirus infections, local authorities have said. The city in south-western France is the first to impose a citywide rule making the wearing of masks everywhere compulsory for everyone.

As of Friday 21 August, anyone aged 11 and above in Toulouse, will be required to wear a mask outside between the hours of 7:00 and 3:00 am local time, for the next month.

"I have decided (...) to expand the mandatory mask order to the whole of Toulouse," the city's prefect Etienne Guyot said on Wednesday, after more than 500 new coronavirus cases were reported last week.

The city of nearly 500,000 inhabitants, and the fourth largest in France, had already made masks compulsory in certain areas, including on the banks of the river Garonne, where hundreds of people often gather during summer evenings.

The new measures go even further and target anyone outside, including those on bikes and scooters.

Face coverings have also been imposed at open-air markets, second-hand shops and car-boot sales.

On high alert

"The move is understandable given the situation in Toulouse," explained Guyot. "It is simple and clear: I go out, I put on a mask. I come home, I take off my mask."

Officials fear there will be a mass movement of people as the summer break draws to a close, which could lead to a spike in infections.

Toulouse, the capital of the Occitanie region, is on high alert, and has been classified as an active zone, meaning the coronavirus continues to circulate.

"The alert threshold has gone from 50 to 64.2 for 100,000 inhabitants in the past week," regional health director Pierre Ricordeau said.

"In the past week, we have recorded 525 positive cases in the department compared to 410 cases the previous week," he added.

Cities cover up

Toulouse joins other French towns and cities, such as Paris, Marseille and Lyon, in imposing mask rules. However, its neighbours have only made masks obligatory in certain areas - often busy streets, near tourist hotspots and at outdoor food markets, as opposed to Toulouse where masks must now be worn everywhere.

New infections across France have been increasing in recent weeks and the numbers of people admitted to hospital and to intensive care have been rising as well.

On Tuesday, Elisabeth Borne, the labour minister, announced masks would be required in all shared, indoor workspaces from 1 September, including in meeting rooms, corridors, change rooms and open-plan offices.

France has suffered 30,400 deaths from the virus, one of the world's worst tolls and experienced an economically devastating lockdown from mid-March to mid-May.
The body of a man who took his own life in hotel quarantine was not found for 'a couple of days', an inquiry heard today.

The man was found dead in his room at Melbourne's Pan Pacific Hotel in South Wharf on 11 April.

Nurse Michael Tait, who worked at the Crown and the Rydges Hotel during the quarantine program, mentioned the incident when he was questioned about staffing levels.

Asked at what point mental health nurses were deployed, he said: 'It occurred after an incident at the Pan Pacific where a resident killed himself and I think was in the room for a couple of days before being discovered.'

A man was found dead in his room at Melbourne's Pan Pacific Hotel (pictured) in South Wharf on 11 April

A lawyer acting for Your Nursing Agency said mental health nurses had been rostered on 7 April, before the suicide, and Mr Tait then said: 'I may be wrong'.



The suicide is being investigated by Victorian coroner Judge John Cain.

Mr Tait said that nurses referred guests with mental health difficulties to LifeLine and beyondblue.

He said some guests would phone for assistance, saying they could hear other guests crying.

'We'd get a ring from the helpline saying ''I'm really worried about room whatever because they're crying and their anxious and depressed and you're the nurse, do something about it",' he said.

Mr Tait described the quarantine operation as 'very chaotic', saying there were between 100 and 150 guests per nurse.

A policeman patrols a quarantine hotel

In a hospital ward the ratio is about one nurse to eight patients, he said.

Mr Tait said he was 'blown away' on one day when he saw a woman who had tested positive waiting in the hotel lobby without a mask or gloves.

'I was off shift when I saw her standing there without gloves or a mask on in the lobby filled with security guards and some of them had their masks on, some of them didn't,' he said.

'As soon as I saw her I instantly grabbed some of the guards' masks and gloves and handed them to her and said, you have to put these on.'

Mr Tait said the woman, who was waiting for a non-emergency ambulance, was supposed to leave the hotel at 12pm but ended up waiting until 10pm.

The nurse also said it was very hard to get exemptions for guests who he felt should not have been made to quarantine.

One woman had escaped an abusive partner with a newborn but nothing was done about letting her leave, he said.

'The woman who'd escape domestic violence had just given birth to a neonate.

'We asked for her to be assessed for an exemption we were eventually told nothing had been done.

'I'd been promised the ball would get rolling when it hadn't,' he said.

Mr Tait said he rarely took breaks and worked an extra one or two hours per day.

'There just wasn't enough time, there were too many people,' he said.

Earlier the inquiry heard from a nurse who said a Victorian government staff member told a potentially suicidal guest to 'stop being so dramatic' after they threatened to take their own life while demanding a cigarette break.

Nurse Jen told the inquiry that she saw medical notes that said the patient was considering suicide.

She raised this with a department of health staff member who called the patient and 'told them they needed to stop threatening suicide just so they could get a cigarette,' nurse Jen said.

Staff inside a hotel in Melbourne are seen moving luggage for guests in quarantine on June 25

Jen said the message to the patient was 'stop being so dramatic.'

She tried to call the patient twice before putting on full PPE and knocking on the door.

The guest was unharmed but 'stressed and anxious'.

Earlier in the inquiry, nurse Jen said she saw security guards failing to wear PPE properly.

The agency nurse worked several shifts the Parkroyal hotel at Melbourne Airport, three shifts at the Holiday Inn and a swabbing shift at the Grand Chancellor in the CBD between 27 April and 3 June.

She told the inquiry that she often saw guards not wearing masks properly or keeping their gloves on for too long.

'It was very obvious to me that training in PPE hadn't been widely available to everyone involved in the program,' she said.

'I saw a lot of mostly security guards for example constantly wearing the same gloves throughout their shifts.'

Nurse Jen said guards would wear gloves while 'making themselves a coffee, using their phone and things like that.

'[They were] always wearing the same gloves, wearing their masks and their nose was hanging out or that it was underneath their chin,' she said.

The virus escaped Melbourne's Rydges on Swanston hotel (pictured) after a family of four was moved there, the inquiry heard on Tuesday

Her role was to call each guest every day and check if they had coronavirus symptoms or any other welfare needs.

Nurse Jen said there were enough staff and enough PPE in each hotel she worked.

'When guests were arriving to the hotel, we would have to go down to meet them and everyone would be wearing masks, most people would be wearing gloves as well because they would be touching paper,' she said.

The inquiry also heard from returned travellers.

One anonymous man said his family, who had strict religious requirements, were repeatedly given incorrect food.

'The adult food was listed as the children's names, my son and my daughter, and the children's food was just labelled child,' he said.

'At least twice they called and said 'can I speak to my two-year-old daughter's name',' he said.

'I said 'I'm happy to give the phone, but she's two years old'.'

The man said he wanted to move to a room with a bath so his pregnant wife could relieve her back pain, but she was told 'you're not the first pregnant woman to come here.'

Nearly all Victoria's second-wave coronavirus cases can be traced back to a single quarantine hotel, the inquiry heard on Tuesday.

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.

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.

Travellers arriving in Melbourne head into their two weeks of hotel quarantine

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.

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 toll now stands at 376.

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
The recent agreement of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with Israel to establish diplomatic relations sent a clear message that acceptability of Israel is increasing in the Middle East and the Arab world is now working towards ensuring peace in the region. However, this development was not well received by the entire Muslim Ummah as Turkey aggressively attacked UAE for the move.

Just after a day of the announcement of diplomatic relations by the two countries, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan termed it a US-sponsored deal and threatened about Turkey recalling its ambassador from UAE and suspending its diplomatic relations with Abu Dhabi. Besides, Turkey's Foreign Ministry issued a statement criticizing UAE and termed the move as a hypocritical behavior. The next day, Erdogans party joined the series of attacks and called the accord as a political suicide against the Palestinian cause.

However, the criticism by Turkey is just another attempt to increase Erdogans influence over Muslim countries by bifurcating the Muslim world and displacing Saudi Arabia as its leader. The response by UAE on Turkey's allegations highlighted the aspirations of Erdogan and double standards of Turkey. Rebutting Turkey's allegations, UAEs Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash reminded Turkey of history and highlighted its double standards. He highlighted Turkey's growing trade links with Israel and its significant economic presence in the country.

Both the countries have a bilateral trade worth US$ 2 billion. He also reminded Turkey that more than half a million Israeli citizens visit Turkey every year. Most importantly, Turkey has set up its embassy in Tel Aviv and it was also one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Israel, long back in 1949. In fact, Turkey itself was working relentlessly to enhance its footprints in Israel to counter Gulf countries by strengthening its position in a critically important strategic location

Besides Israel, Turkey is on a mission to consolidate its position in other Islamic nations and turn them into Turkish colonies. Qatar has become one of prominent targets and has turned into a protectorate of Turkey, which is why Al Jazeera is reporting on Turkish lines on Jammu and Kashmir. Turkey has also been Sponsoring violence and instability in Syria and Libya through Islamic State Terrorists and Islamic extremists. It has sheltered tens of thousands Islamic State terrorists who fled Syria and Iraq after attacks by Western forces. Erdogan has been efficiently using ISIS as a powerful tool for expanding his geopolitical and religious agenda.

Turkey is now eyeing on Azerbaijan and supplying its arms and stationing Turkish troops to ensure instability as well as its dominance over the country. The modus operandi of Erdogan to claim the leadership of Islamic world involves use of terrorism and ammunitions on one hand and promotion of Islamic extremism on the other. Erdogan has reorganised the religious directorate Diyanet, weaponized it, and deployed his loyalists in the institution. It is also believed that he has recruited the ISIS terrorists and is sending them as religious preachers all over the world.

Saudi Arabia has been the uncontested leader of the Islamic world and has proved its leadership by benevolent moves like uncountable financial assistance to the Islamic countries as well as fighting for their interest at global platforms. Other members of Saudi led group have also been contributing to ensure peace in the Middle East and harmony in the Arab world. The deal between UAE and Israel is one of the major examples to substantiate the fact. UAE agreed to establish diplomatic relations with Israel for ensuring peace at one hand and compelled it to halt its ambitious plan to annex swathes of the Palestinian West Bank at the other  ensuring the interests of Palestine and the Islamic fraternity as well.

Discharging the duties of an elder brother, Saudi Arabia was also the central force behind creation of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC)  to bring all the Islamic countries on a common platform and to converge energies to achieve common goals. However, Turkey is challenging its leadership by creating a faction within the Muslim world and is leading the initiative of carving out a new splinter group including Pakistan, Malaysia, and a couple of other countries. Erdogan has even accelerated his ambitious plan of creating an alternative organization against the OIC. Pakistan and Malaysia are already helping him in his endeavours,

The recent statement of Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi criticising Saudi Arabia over not convening a meeting of OIC on Kashmir and threatening to call a separate meeting of Islamic countries on the issue was indeed a Turkey-sponsored move to sideline Saudi Arabia. It was a clear threat, a first of its kind, which highlights that the influence of Turkey has become so dominating over a couple of Muslim countries that they have started to openly sabotage Saudi Arabia. Unlike Saudi Arabia, Turkey has been able to exert such an influence without spending a single penny. It has just resorted to promote terrorism, violence, and religious extremism in these countries to challenge the supremacy of Saudi Arabia and create an Islamic Caliphate led by Erdogan.

Amidst all the chaos created by Erdogans ambitious plans, the unity of Islamic countries has proved to be the biggest sufferer and global peace has become the biggest casualty. In the guise of promoting radical Islamist ideology, he is in fact inflicting the biggest injury to Islam. His hypocrisy makes him more lethal to the Islamic world. China has a special position of a powerful ally in Erdogans game plan and despite of the tragic fact that a number of Muslims of Turkic origins, along with Uighur Muslims, have been detained in concentration camps in China's Xinjiang, Erdogan is yet to break his silence and is silently supporting Chinas efforts of ethnic cleansing of Muslims.

Anticipating a tough competition by Saudi Arabia in the Middle East, Erdogan is now optimistically looking towards South Asian countries, housing a large number of Muslim population. Erdogan has positioned the South Asian countries, including India, in his map of Islamic Caliphate and plans to dominate these countries by promoting violence and extremism. Erdogans Diyanet has begun to subvert Indian Muslims through promotion of extremist Islamic ideology. It is also believed that Erdogan is supporting Pakistan in its proxy war through terrorists against India.

It would be too late in case Indian authorities don't react to check Turkey sponsored subversion activities in India and bring the regional powers together to control the growing influence of Turkey in the region. The global powers need to come together to check the expansionist and radical Islamist agendas of Erdogan by isolating Turkey and ensuring that Saudi Arabia keeps continuing to lead the Islamic world for ensuring peace and tranquility.
Nobel laureate for Physics in 2016 and professor of Physics at Princeton University, Duncan Haldane will be the chief guest of the ceremony

On 23 August, more than 2,000 graduating students of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay will be receiving their degree. However, the convocation ceremony this year will be different from other times as it will be held virtually, or online, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a report by The Indian Express, during the 58th convocation ceremony on Sunday, institute director Dr Subhasis Chaudhuri will give away degrees to student's virtual images, created using their photographic details.

Nobel laureate for Physics in 2016 and professor of Physics at Princeton University, Duncan Haldane will be the chief guest of the ceremony. Medal winners will be receiving their awards from the avatar of the chief guest.

Students of the institute from across the country will also be taking a synchronised pledge at the end of the ceremony.

The convocation ceremony will be broadcast on DD Sahyadri, YouTube and Facebook from 1:30 pm on the same day.

A report by Hindustan Times quoted Dr Chaudhuri saying that the institute did not want students to miss out on any of the aspects of the convocation function.

Co-convenor of the convocation committee P Sunthar said that the entire IIT Bombay campus has been replicated in virtual reality. The departments, hostels and popular meeting points for students have been created virtually for the students so that they can engage and experience the convocation as they would have physically.

Students are elated by the prospect and are looking forward to the convocation ceremony.

The report mentioned a civil engineering graduate Charit Verma saying that the virtual convocation is a welcome move. However, his parents are disappointed that they will not have the opportunity to visit the institute.

The commencement speech of the ceremony will be delivered by chairperson, chief executive officer and co-founder of Blackstone Stephen Schwarzman.
Saudi Arabia does not intend to follow the decision recently taken by the United Arab Emirates. Respect for "international agreements" and the two-state solution are a "precondition" for official diplomatic relations with Israel. New pressure on Riyadh from the White House.

Riyadh (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Riyadh does not intend to follow the decision taken by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and establish official diplomatic relations with Israel, if this step does not provide for the signing of a peace plan with the Palestinians.

This is what Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan underlined yesterday, during a visit to Berlin in which he reiterated that peace based on "international agreements" is a "pre-condition" to any agreement, despite pressure from US President Donald Trump.

The head of Saudi diplomacy excluded the possibility of following Abu Dhabi, echoing the appeals of the Palestinians, who took to the streets yesterday in the West Bank to protest against the agreement between the Emirates and Israel.

Responding to reporters, Prince Faisal bin Farhan said that "first peace with the Palestinians must be achieved" on the basis of international treaties as a condition for any possible "normalization" of relations with Israel.

"Once that is achieved all things are possible," he said.

Up to now there have been no official positions taken by the most important economy in the Arab world, however various diplomatic sources and experts have pointed out that a similar step by Riyadh in the short term is "unlikely".

Also yesterday, Prince Faisal reiterated criticism of Israel's "unilateral policies" on annexation and branded the continued construction of settlements in the occupied West Bank as "illegitimate" and "harmful" to the two-state solution.

Riyadh maintains that the path undertaken in 2002 and aimed at normalizing relations with Israel remains valid. The establishment of real diplomatic relations, however, can only go through an all-encompassing peace plan, which protects the interests of the Palestinian people.

Yesterday, US President Donald Trump also returned to the subject, stating that he also expects Saudi Arabia to follow the example of the Emirates, signing the agreement and strengthening new relations and alliances in the Arab world and the Middle East, in an anti - Iranian.

The current occupant of the White House believes that the agreement between Israel and Abu Dhabi is a good agreement and "countries that you wouldnt even believe want to come into that deal". In addition to Saudi Arabia, however, he did not want to specify other possible names.
TDT | Manama

The Office of the First Deputy Prime Minister (OFDPM) held a remote graduation ceremony yesterday honouring the fifth intake of the First Deputy Prime Minister (FDPM) Fellowship. During the ceremony, the OFDPM director-general Shaikh Fahad bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa noted that the FDPM Fellowship is centred around achieving the aspirations of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander, and First Deputy Prime Minister.

The director-general affirmed that the Fellowship has again succeeded in its objective of upskilling young Bahrainis working in government, as demonstrated by the high-level of competent graduates returning to their workplace.

The director-general commended the Fellows for their assiduous dedication to the yearlong Fellowship, which saw them addressing the global spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) from the forefront of government efforts in the COVID-19 Operations Room.

The director-general recognised that the expertise rendered, and the connections forged, during this Fellowship will create a knowledge-sharing network in which collaboration and productivity are the gold standards. On behalf of the Fellows, University of Bahrain assistant professor Dr Faisal Hammad extended the Fellows gratitude to HRH the Crown Prince for his ongoing support to the Fellowship.

Dr Hammad also expressed the Fellows appreciation to Shaikh Fahad and the Fellowships mentors for providing such a valuable learning experience. Dr Hammad noted that the FDPM Fellowships demanding requirements have enabled Bahrains youth to engage in the governments decision-making processes whilst serving stints on different priority initiatives, therefore developing expertise that will improve government productivity.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 14:12:28|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Senator from California Kamala Harris, who was chosen by Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden to be his running mate in the 2020 presidential election, delivered a speech Wednesday to formally accept her nomination as the party's candidate for vice president.

Shortly before Harris spoke, her designation as the Democratic Party's choice for running for the country's second highest office was announced by Democratic National Convention (DNC) Chairman Bennie Thompson with the bang of a gavel, making her the first woman of color to be on a major party's presidential ticket.

Born into an immigrant family in Oakland, California, where her father is a Jamaican-American economist and her late mother was an Indian-American biologist specializing in breast cancer, Harris, 55, began her emotional speech by paying tribute to black women coming before her, saying that her presence was "a testament to the dedication of generations before me."

Naming a long list of female civil rights activists and political leaders, Harris said "they paved the way for the trailblazing leadership of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton," referring to the first African-American president and the first female presidential nominee of a major U.S. political party, respectively.

Harris then delved into the story about her mother, who she said taught her "to put family first" while caring about "a world beyond ourselves." She said it was the belief in the nobility of public service her mother instilled in her that led her to choose a political career spent mostly as a prosecutor -- district attorney of San Francisco and attorney general of California -- and then as U.S. senator.

Harris said U.S. President Donald Trump's "failure of leadership" has resulted in a nation "grieving the loss of life, the loss of jobs, the loss of opportunities, the loss of normalcy" amid the coronavirus pandemic, and that ethnic minorities being disproportionately harmed by the virus was "the effect of structural racism."

In order to make a difference and "achieve the future we collectively want," Harris argued, "we must elect Joe Biden," touting the former vice president's past achievements to make her case that Biden will be a president "who turns our tragedies into political weapons" and who "turns our challenges into purpose."

Harris launched her presidential run in January 2019 but suspended what was initially considered a promising campaign in December, citing a shortage of funds. She seized on Biden's past controversies related to the issue of race in a clash with him during a debate in June 2019, but announced in March 2020 that she endorsed Biden, who eventually secured the nomination and picked her as running mate on Aug. 11.

"BUT DIDN'T SHE CALL HIM A RACIST??? DIDN'T SHE SAY HE WAS INCOMPETENT???" Trump tweeted in all capitalized letters, referring to Harris's history shortly after she wrapped up her speech.

Obama and Clinton delivered remarks moments before Harris gave hers, each offering their blistering critiques of Trump while calling on voters to cast their ballots for Biden and Harris.

When Obama was speaking from Philadelphia about Trump's lack of interest in and unfitness for the presidency, Trump tweeted about his predecessor: "WHY DID HE REFUSE TO ENDORSE SLOW JOE UNTIL IT WAS ALL OVER, AND EVEN THEN WAS VERY LATE? WHY DID HE TRY TO GET HIM NOT TO RUN?"

Trump will be nominated as the Republican presidential candidate when the GOP holds its national convention next week. Enditem
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed 593 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of infection in the country to 50,488.

The NCDC made this known on Wednesday night via its twitter handle, where it disclosed that Plateau State reported the highest number of cases with 186 while Lagos State recorded 172 infections.

Others states with new cases includes FCT-62, Oyo-27, Delta-25, Rivers-20, Ondo-19, Edo-18, Kaduna-17, Enugu-12, Akwa Ibom-10, Ogun-7, Abia-6, Gombe-6, Kano-3, Osun-3.

Four persons died of COVID-19 complications on Wednesday, increasing the fatality toll to 985, while 253 patients were discharged bringing the countrys total number of recoveries to 37,304.

On the 19th of August 2020, 593 new confirmed cases and 4 deaths were recorded in Nigeria, NCDC said. The 593 new cases are reported from 16 states- Plateau (186), Lagos (172), FCT (62), Oyo (27), Delta (25), Rivers (20), Ondo (19), Edo (18), Kaduna (17), Enugu (12), Akwa Ibom (10), Ogun (7), Abia (6), Gombe (6), Kano (3) and Osun (3). Till date, 50488 cases have been confirmed, 37304 cases have been discharged and 985 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

See the breakdown of cases by state below;

A breakdown of cases by state can be found via https://t.co/zQrpNeOfet#TakeResponsibility pic.twitter.com/q1nq46l3Fk  NCDC (@NCDCgov) August 19, 2020
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The United States will demand that all United Nations sanctions be reimposed against Iran, President Donald Trump said, a move that follows Washingtons embarrassing defeat to extend an arms embargo against Tehran.

The administrations insistence on snapping back international sanctions against Iran sets the stage for a contentious dispute.

It is possible that the US call will be ignored by other UN members, an outcome that could call into question the UN Security Councils ability to enforce its own legally binding decisions.

Its a snap back, Mr Trump said on Wednesday.

Mr Trump said US secretary of state Mike Pompeo will travel to New York on Thursday to present the US demand to reimpose the sanctions, accusing Iran of significant non-compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal.

The Trump administration wants to reimpose all international sanctions that had been eased under that deal.

Other nations claim the US has no standing to make the demand because the Trump administration pulled the US out of the Iran nuclear deal two years ago.

Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, Mr Trump said.
A new federal advisory boards rejection of nearly all research proposals it reviewed involving fetal tissue has reignited the debate over such research, which opponents have tried several times to ban in Wisconsin.

A UW-Madison proposal was among those submitted for review, but its not clear if its among those voted down or is the one supported because the government didnt disclose the identities of the proposals, university spokesman Eric Hamilton said Wednesday.

Because it is impossible to predict how these cells may serve biomedical research in the future, blanket recommendations against federal funding for research solely because it incorporates fetal tissue will stymie the development of lifesaving treatments, Hamilton said.

The Trump administration suspended federal funding for most fetal tissue research last year. It ordered scientists to stop using fetal tissue from elective abortions once grants expired or after using up material they still had.

New proposals and renewals must go before the new ethics board, which met in late July. In its report recommending against funding nearly all of the 14 proposals, the board generally said the proposals were weak or researchers had not justified using fetal tissue.

The names of the researchers and their institutions were not disclosed. The one proposal approved involves tissue already in storage. HHS Secretary Alex Azar has the final say on funding of the proposals.

The committee was designed to do what it did, which is to stop even the most valuable research that cant be done any other way nearly as effectively, simply because it uses fetal tissue, said Alta Charo, a bioethicist at UW-Madison, where numerous scientists have used fetal tissue in studies.

The International Society for Stem Cell Research said the evaluation of research should be insulated from ideology and special interests. It is disheartening to see an ethics review perverted by an administration seeking to achieve a policy goal, a near ban on research with human fetal tissue.

Support for board

Heather Weininger, executive director of Wisconsin Right to Life, said the group is pleased the advisory board is closely looking at proposals that include fetal tissue from induced abortions.

The advisory board is doing exactly what we hoped, looking at the grants and expressing concerns about the use and how it is obtained, Weininger said. Our hope is that with this information researchers will move to using human fetal tissue that is obtained in ethical means.

Wisconsin Right to Life joined Pro-Life Wisconsin, Wisconsin Family Action and the Wisconsin Catholic Conference in 2017 in supporting bills to ban research using aborted fetal tissue in Wisconsin and encourage donation for research of tissue from stillbirths and miscarriages.

UW signs on

Research groups  including UW-Madison, UW Health, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and BioForward, which represents the states biotech industry  said the measures would prohibit lifesaving research already regulated under federal law.

A letter last month to the new ethics board, signed by the UW School of Medicine and Public Health and many other research institutions, said fetal tissue has unique and valuable properties that often cannot be replaced by other cell types. Cells from fetal tissue are more flexible and less specialized than cells from adult tissue and can be more readily grown in culture.

The tissue also remains an essential resource for studying complex interactions between cells, the letter said.

Fighting disease

In 2015, when similar bills were introduced in Wisconsin, UW-Madison said about 100 labs used kidney cells derived from an aborted fetus in the 1970s and another 15 labs directly or indirectly used other fetal tissue.

Both kinds of labs, which brought in $76 million a year to the university, were working on cancer, heart disease, Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease, diabetes, epilepsy and other potentially deadly conditions, the university said.

The latest attempt to ban aborted fetal tissue research in Wisconsin was in November, when a bill was introduced but not passed or given a hearing.

The committee was designed to do what it did, which is to stop even the most valuable research that cant be done any other way nearly as effectively, simply because it uses fetal tissue. Alta Charo, UW-Madison bioethicist

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.19

By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:

The value of trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Ukraine amounted to $387.02 million over 1H2020, compared to $628.2 million during the same period of 2019, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Statistics Committee.

The share of Ukraine in the total value of Kazakhstans trade turnover stood at less than 0.9 percent during the reporting period compared to 1.4 percent during the same period of 2019.

Kazakhstans export to Ukraine amounted to $225.3 million over the period from January through June 2020, compared to $461.03 million during the same period of 2019.

Ukraines share in the total volume of Kazakhstans export amounted to less than 0.9 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 1.6 percent during the same period of 2019.

In turn, Kazakhstans imports from Ukraine stood at about $172.6 million over the reporting period, compared to $167.2 million during the same period of 2019.

Ukraines share in the total volume of Kazakhstans import amounted to 1 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 1 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
The 17-year-old suffered a graze wound to his head and was in fair condition at the University of Chicago, where a 21-year-old who shot in the back also was in fair condition, authorities said. A 29-year-old man was shot in the leg and also was in fair condition at the hospital.
Ukraine Says Iran Must First Reveal The Full Truth About Downing Of Airliner

Anna Raskaya August 19, 2020

Ukraine's deputy foreign minister has told Radio Farda that Kyiv most of all seeks the truth about the downing of its airliner by Iran and monetary compensation is a secondary goal.

In his new interview with Radio Farda Yevhen Yenin has emphasized that Ukraine's primary goal is obtaining the whole truth behind downing UIA's plane that killed all 176 onboard.

Regretfully admitting that Kyiv has so far failed to persuade Tehran to take a "constructive approach," Yenin said that receiving compensation for the relatives of the victims of the tragedy should be addressed after achieving the truth about the catastrophe.

"Relatives of the victims expect the same. Under no circumstances should we accept money in exchange for covering up the truth. We must first know the truth. Then, based on the details of the events that led to the downing of the Ukrainian plane, we will calculate the compensation to be paid to the relatives of the victims, the airline and the country of Ukraine," Yenin reiterated.

As Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 took off from Tehran's Imam Khomeini international airport on January 8, heading to Kyiv, two missiles were fired at the plane. The three-year-old Boeing crashed near the capital city, killing all 167 people aboard.

After three days of secrecy and denial, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps admitted its missiles had brought down the plane but ascribed the incident to "human error."

Iran refused for months to hand over the doomed plane's black boxes for deciphering, while repeatedly admitting that it was not capable of reading the flight recorders. Ultimately, under international pressure, the flight recorders were delivered to France on July 17 to be deciphered.

However, according to Yenin, while decoding the flight recorders is important, it is only one of the three stages of the technical investigation into the plane crash.

"We had three goals in analyzing the black box information. We wanted to prove that the plane was not technically defective, that the pilot and flight crew did not make a mistake, and we also wanted to confirm that the plane crashed following missile strikes. We achieved all three of our goals," Yenin reveals for the first time.

Meanwhile, Yenin admits that it is the Islamic Republic's responsibility to provide the information recorded in the black boxes to the public.

"Based on ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) regulations, Iran, as the country in charge of technical research, must submit a final report about the plane crash within one year, by January 8 next year, and at least a preliminary report if there is not enough time," Yenin notes.

Nonetheless, Tehran has not yet officially issued a report on the disaster.

Has Ukraine decided to find out whether shooting down the UIA's Boeing was deliberate?

"In the process of the investigation, all possibilities are weighed. I do not doubt that the possibility that Iran's action was deliberate is also one of the inspections' axis. But because information about the ongoing criminal investigation is confidential, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry is not aware of its findings," Yenin admits.

"All the wreckage was not found, and only a few seats were discovered by chance. Despite such issues, we hope that the technical and criminal investigations that Iran is responsible for will be conducted following international standards," Yenin says.

Referring to an unknown number of Iranians arrested for protesting the downing of the plane, Yenin offers his sympathy, adding, "There is no political or legal tool to allow us to address this issue. We do not want our negotiations with Iran to be politicized. We seek answers to specific questions and clarify the actions taken, or not taken, regarding the downing of our plane."

Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/ukraine-says -iran-must-reveal-the-full-truth-about- downing-of-airliner/30791413.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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On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero threw out President Donald Trumps challenge to a subpoena seeking his tax returns, a decision that all but guarantees a New York grand jury access to these documents in the near future. Trump will fight Thursdays order, but he has run out of options: The Supreme Court already rejected his sweeping claims on immunity, then gave Marrero a road map that led ineluctably to a decision against the president. And soon, at long last, New York prosecutors will obtain the tax returns that he has fought so long to conceal.

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New York County District Attorney Cy Vance reportedly began investigating Trump in 2018 for the illegal hush money payments that Michael Cohen made on his behalf. Since then, prosecutors have indicated that they are also looking into bank and insurance fraud by Trump and his companies. In 2019, a New York grand jury subpoenaed Mazars, Trumps shadowy accounting firm, for eight years of financial records from both Trump and his businesses, including tax returns. The president, aided by the Department of Justice, intervened to quash the subpoena. Trumps lawyers argued that sitting presidents are absolutely immune from state criminal subpoenas. Alternatively, they insisted that prosecutors should have to show a heightened need when subpoenaing the president, demonstrating that their action is a last resort to obtain information not available from any other source.

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Chief Justice John Roberts opinion for SCOTUS, issued in July, rejected both these arguments. Roberts explained that nothing in the Constitution compels state prosecutors to show a heightened need for a subpoena of the president. Nor do the presidents constitutional powers shield him from a subpoena while in office. To the contrary, historical practice confirms that the public has a right to every mans evidence. However, Roberts noted, a president may challenge a subpoena that is issued in bad faith if he can show it was designed to harass him. He can also defeat a subpoena by showing that it will impede his constitutional duties. The chief justice then sent the case back down to the lower courts, giving Trump an opportunity to raise these final objections.

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Roberts decision was diplomatic: It confirmed that no one is above the law without immediately forcing Trump to comply with the law. But it was also a time bomb, because the chief justice surely knew that none of those objections had any merit in this case. The bomb went off on Thursday. Trumps lawyers argued that Vance was engaged in a yearslong campaign of harassment against the president, a fishing expedition with illicit partisan motives. But they provided no credible evidence to back up their claims. As Marrero wrote:

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This Court cannot mechanically credit allegations that a particular application of judicial process to the President is necessarily unduly burdensome and motivated by bad faith if, upon thorough and independent review, it fairly and compellingly appears that the claimed imposition on the President lacks plausible basis.  Given force, the relief the President seeks  would essentially extend the application of presidential immunity simply by virtue of a mere invocation that it is, after all, the President whose petition to be shielded from judicial process the Court is evaluating.

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But the Supreme Court declined to extend such immunity to the president in Trump v. Vance. And Trump cannot get around that decision by lobbing vague and unsubstantiated accusations at prosecutors. That tactic might succeed on Twitter, but it does not fly in a court of law. Marrero explained:

The Presidents response embodies a novel application of presidential immunity to protect the executive branch from judicial process. At its core, it amounts to absolute immunity through a back door, an entry point through which not only a President but also potentially other persons and entities, public and private, could effectively gain cover from judicial process.

Finally, Marrero noted, Trump failed to raise claims based on identifiable executive policies or specific Article II duties that might be hampered by complying with the subpoena. The president did not establish that turning over his tax returns would prevent him exercising his executive powers. He barely even triedperhaps because a president who spends so many days tweeting his grievances cannot plausibly insist that an otherwise valid subpoena would somehow hinder his ability to lead the nation.

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Marreros 103-page decision is a meticulous and scholarly response to the questions Roberts ostensibly left open in Vance. It is likely what the chief justice envisioned when he kicked the can to the lower courts. No one can say that the federal judiciary did not treat Trump with the high respect that is owed to the office of the Chief Executive, as Roberts put it. But respect for the president does not require courts to credit objections that lack all merit.

Trumps inevitable appeal may help him run down the clock a bit longer: Marreros ruling will probably remain on hold while the federal appeals courtthen, once again, the Supreme Courtreview his conclusions. But Roberts is clearly done with this case and is unlikely to keep the subpoena on ice. That is, to put it mildly, bad news for the president. Less than one month before some Americans begin voting, a New York grand jury is poised to see documents that may prove Trump to be the head of a criminal enterprise.

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Laura Loomer has secured her place as the Republican nominee in Floridas 21st congressional district. Among her qualifications to sit in the chamber once inhabited by Abraham Lincoln and James Madison are being permanently banned from Twitter, protesting that decision by handcuffing herself to Twitters HQ in New York for two hours (police then freed her at her own request), and being barred from the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in 2019.

Theres much more to Loomers lunacy than that. After it was reported that 2,000 migrants died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean in 2017, Loomer rejoiced, tweeting, Good. Heres to 2,000 more. That same year, Loomer urged someone . . . to create a non Islamic form of Uber or Lyft because I never want to support another Islamic immigrant driver.

Loomer also frequently traffics in conspiracy theories. Appallingly, many of them are related to mass shootings. In the wake of the shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School, she traveled to Parkland on behalf of Alex Joness InfoWars, where she accused survivors of reading a screen or notes someone else wrote for them. She also has insisted that the man responsible for the 2017 Las Vegas concert shooting, which was the deadliest in American history, was in league with ISIS and that the FBI was hiding the connection from the public.

For the second straight week, a reprehensible wingnut who offers conservatives nothing but a bad reputation has won a Republican primary. Thankfully, Loomer has no shot at winning (per Cook Politicals Dave Wasserman), so we will not be seeing any Marjorie Taylor GreeneLoomer cosponsored legislation to draw and quarter Jack Dorsey or replace John Roberts with QAnon on the Supreme Court. But Republicans must nonetheless ask themselves how theyve arrived at this point.

President Trump is a good place to start. Since the race was called in Loomers favor last night, Trumps Twitter has become a Loomer fan account. According to the president, Loomers victory in the primary was a Big win, Loomer has a great chance of defeating Pelosi puppet Lois Frankel in the general election, and he even concurred with Greene that Twitter must reinstate Loomers account. If youre surprised by Loomers win, you may not have been paying attention.

Story continues

A party that selects a conspiracy theorist willing to appeal to peoples worst instincts as its representative at the top of the ticket is bound to attract and support more of the same down-ballot. It is Donald Trump who willingly and purposefully claimed the mantle of birther-in-chief during Barack Obamas first term. It is Donald Trump who called for a Muslim ban during his campaign for the office he now holds. It is Donald Trump who, just a few months ago, while a pandemic ravaged the country, insisted that Joe Scarborough should be investigated for the murder of one of his former congressional interns, who died over 20 years ago.

Trump is not the first demagogue or conspiracy theorist to hold federal office. Far from it. But he is the most powerful, and the effect he has had on the quality of Republican candidates around the country has been palpably deleterious. Its impossible to say if Loomer would be a Republican candidate for Congress were Trump not president. But it is easy to recognize that his support helped her, and that no other GOP nominee for president  or any of the other candidates for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016  would have ever considered promoting Loomer the way Trump has.

Furthermore, GOP leaders in Congress have a responsibility to reject the Greenes and Loomers of the world, even when they prevail in their primaries. National Review has convincingly argued that Greene should be denied committee assignments upon her taking office  like Steve King before her  yet House minority leader Kevin McCarthy has given no indication that he will follow this prudent advice. To the contrary, McCarthy has stated that he and his team look forward to her victory in November. McCarthy may think it in the partys best interest not to pick a fight with Greene. But if he treats her like just another member of his caucus, he will be as responsible as Trump for the rise of her, Loomer, and copycats around the country.

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On August 3, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R) came out against an order by Montgomery County, Maryland Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles barring private schools in the county from opening before October 1 for the upcoming academic year. Hogan issued an emergency executive order barring blanket closures of schools, reversing an earlier order that gave local health authorities that power.

Hogan said in a statement that the decision on reopening should be left up to individual schools. He derided the blanket closure mandate imposed by Montgomery County as overly broad and inconsistent with the powers intended to be delegated to the county health officer. Public schools in Montgomery County will remain closed for online-only education starting at the end of the month.

Gov Hogan giving the State of the State address in 2016. (Image Credit: Maryland GovPics Wikimedia)

As of Tuesday, Maryland had over 101,000 cumulative confirmed cases of coronavirus, according to the states Department of Health. Montgomery County, which lies northwest of the District of Columbia, has been among the hardest-hit counties in the state, reporting over 19,166 cases and 812 dead. While Maryland initially was one of the first states in the Mid-Atlantic region to impose lockdowns on businesses deemed nonessential, in May it also became one of the earliest in the region to begin reopening shuttered businesses, even as the number of cases continued to rise.

Hogan at the time made it clear that rather than basing public health decisions on the data on new daily cases, the state would instead focus on hospitalization rates. In May alone, the total number of confirmed cases in the state rose from about 23,000 on May 1 to over 52,000 on May 31. The number of new daily cases bottomed out in mid-June but are almost back to May levels of over 1,000 new cases a day.

The decision to force the reopening of private schools in Montgomery County places thousands of students, faculty, and staff at a direct risk of contracting and spreading the virus, potentially bringing infection home to families and exacerbating the spread, inevitably leading to more deaths from COVID-19. This disastrous policy, however, met with only a tepid response from Democrats, who control not only the legislative and executive branches of Montgomery County but both houses of the state general assembly.

Responding to Hogans decision, Dr. Gayles said in his own statement: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have based our decisions on science and data. At this point the data does not suggest that in-person instruction is safe for students or teachers. We have seen increases in transmission rates for COVID-19 in the State of Maryland, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Virginia, particularly in younger age groups, and this step is necessary to protect the health and safety of Montgomery County residents.

A few days later, on Wednesday, August 5, Dr. Gayles issued an updated order for private schools in the county to remain closed, citing authority granted to him by state law requiring local officials to contain the spread of communicable diseases. Nevertheless, bowing to pressure from Hogan as well as lawsuits filed by parents of students at some of the affected schools, Montgomery County issued a revised decision at the end of the week lifting the previous order for private schools not to open for in-person classes before October.

Contradicting his previous statement about following science and data, Gayles made it clear that the countys decision was based not on data showing lower transmission rates but rather on obedience to Hogans Republican administration.

Gayles said in the revised order on August 7 that State Health Secretary Robert Neall had sent a memo the previous day to local public health officials reminding them that efforts to keep schools closed run contrary to state policy, unless done on the basis of individual schools. In his statement, Gayles stressed that, despite the revocation of the previous order, it is neither safe nor in the interest of public health for any school to return for in-person learning this fall.

The dispute between Hogans administration and the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services demonstrates the reckless course being pursued by the ruling class to reopen schools during the coronavirus pandemic. This policy is fundamentally driven by the larger effort to force workers back on the job, putting them in harms way in order to boost profits in the wake of federal bailouts for entire industries.

At the start of the pandemic, Hogan received praise from many liberal media outlets as the Republican Partys respectable foil to President Donald Trump. As a Republican governor in a state otherwise controlled by the Democratic Party, Hogans early action on lockdowns garnered him favor with outlets such as CNN and Democratic colleagues such as New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Former NAACP president Ben Jealous, the Democratic candidate for governor in the last general election, also praised his former opponent in March, saying that Hogan has shown great leadership in pulling our state together during this crisis.

In light of the dispute over blanket school closings, however, Hogans erstwhile supporters have turned into critics. On August 8, CNN reported: The reality of politics has brought the popular Hogan back down to earth this week. As coronavirus cases have risen in Maryland since late June, he has found this image as the consummate crisis manager and able governor challenged by liberal politicians from Democratic jurisdictions and government bureaucrats. The episodes have revealed the limits of Hogans power to overcome his political affiliation with the GOP and punctured his media profile of the reasonable Republican.

In fact, Hogans forcing schools to reopen is part of a bipartisan agenda pursued by both Democrats and Republicans throughout the United States. This is most starkly demonstrated by New Yorks Governor Cuomo, Hogans successor as chair of the National Governors Association. Only days after Hogans intervention in Montgomery County, Cuomo announced a statewide reopening of schools in New York, despite that state possessing one of the highest body counts for COVID-19 in the world.

Marylands governor also came under fire this month for a decision to conduct elections in November in the usual fashion, even though there is a shortage of poll workers due to fears of COVID-19. Maryland had rescheduled its primary this year from April to June and mailed out ballots to all voters regardless of whether they requested one in advance. For the general election, however, voters will have to request a mail-in ballot by October 20.

Democrats have derided Hogans order as an effort to reduce turnout among eligible voters. Efforts to force the public to vote in person during the pandemic will have the desired effect of discouraging voters from participating at all, an outcome deemed more favorable to Trumps prospects in the November election.
On Tuesday, the bipartisan Senate Select Committee on Intelligence released the declassified version of the fifth and final volume of its report called Russian Active Measures Campaign and Interference in the 2016 US Elections. The new 1,000-page volume, which has been heavily redacted during the Intelligence Community (IC) review process like the previous four reports, is subtitled, Counterintelligence Threats and Vulnerabilities.

The report reiterates the previous principal findings of the committee investigation, namely, that the Russian government engaged in an aggressive, multifaceted effort to influence, or attempt to influence, the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., speaks during a Senate Intelligence Committee nomination hearing. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)

It appears that no effort has been madeafter more than three years of an investigation involving both houses of Congress, a probe by special counsel Robert Mueller and an impeachment of the President of the United States at a cost of tens of millions of dollarsto provide anything fundamentally new to bolster the unproven assertion of Russian interference in 2016 or to address previous refutations of the claim following publication of the other four volumes.

The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence is chaired by Republican Party Senator Marco Rubio of Florida and the vice chair is Democratic Party Senator Mark Warner of Virginia. Rubio issued a statement on the release of the declassified document saying that no evidence was found that Donald Trump or his campaign colluded with the Russian government to meddle in the 2016 elections.

The summary of the findings in the fifth volume report says, the Committee lays out its findings in detail by looking at many aspects of the counterintelligence threat posed by the Russian influence operation. As with all previous US government investigative documents on the 2016 elections, the Senate report contains an important qualifier: While the Committee does not describe the final result as a complete picture, this volume provides the most comprehensive description to date of Russias activities and the threat they posed.

It is clear that a primary purpose of the Senate report is to bolster the lie that WikiLeaks and its editor Julian Assange worked directly with operatives within the Trump campaign team to assist Russian intelligence in their supposed manipulation of the 2016 US elections. In developing this elaborate and false narrative, the Senate document mentions WikiLeaks 475 times and Assange 193 times.

Meanwhile, there are two subsections of the document devoted specifically to WikiLeaks: Russia and WikiLeaks Coordinate On Interference in the U.S. Election (22 pages) and Efforts to Capitalize on WikiLeaks, Gain Advance Information on Releases (38 pages).

The majority of the material dealing with WikiLeaks concerns the online publication of the hacked email messages from the Democratic National Committee in July 2016 just before the Democratic Party National Convention that nominated Hillary Clinton as the partys candidate for president. While Julian Assange has maintained that the hacked email messages were not provided to WikiLeaks by people with ties to Russian intelligence, this has been persistently presented as fact by the US government and the corporate media.

The Senate report attempts to draw a straight line between the well-documented record of the political skullduggery of Trump operatives such as Paul Manafort and Roger Stone with the principled publication of the hacked email messages by WikiLeaks. Assange published the DNC messageswhich exposed a conspiracy by the Democratic Party National Committee against the campaign of Bernie Sanders and the direct ties between Hillary Clinton and the Wall Street financial oligarchybecause they were of enormous interest and the public had the right to know about them once they were made available to WikiLeaks.

Much of the other evidence presented claiming that WikiLeaks collaborated with the Trump campaign or the Russian government is based on previously available public reports and testimony and amounts to the charge of guilt by association because the timing of the publication of the hacked DNC email messages was damaging to the Democratic Partys election campaign.

The vendetta against WikiLeaks is clearly spelled out in the section devoted to the background of the online publication. Quoting from the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, the report says WikiLeaks and its senior leadership resemble a non-state hostile intelligence service often abetted by state actors.

The campaign against WikiLeaks has increasingly been an effort to deny that it is a news publishing organization made up of journalists. The Senate report states: Although WikiLeaks seeks to portray itself as a legitimate media organization, its disclosures have jeopardized the safety and privacy of individual Americans and foreign allies because WikiLeaks has made only minimal, and sometimes no efforts to redact sensitive information, and does not seem to weigh whether its disclosures add any public interest value.

Clearly, a primary objective of the Senate report and the US intelligence establishment is to place into the public domain lies that they know will be picked up faithfully by the corporate media and repeated as fact. That this is already happening can be shown by numerous examples over the past 24 hours.

Reuters published a report that says, Russia used Republican political operative Paul Manafort and the WikiLeaks website to try to help now-U.S. President Donald Trump win the 2016 election, a Republican-led Senate committee said in its final review of the matter on Tuesday. A report in the online publication Venture Beat wrote, The report offers a detailed narrative of how Russian disinformation agencies hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee and fed them to WikiLeaks, which then coordinated their release with the Trump campaign.

The renewed effort to smear WikiLeaks and connect the publication to unsubstantiated claims of Russian interference in the 2016 elections are part of the ongoing persecution of Julian Assange, who is sitting in a London prison unable to speak in his own defense. As Assange awaits the September 7 resumption of a hearing to have him extradited to the US to face charges under the Espionage Act of 1917, the American political establishment is piling up one lie after another in order to poison public opinion against him.

Class conscious workers and young people around the world must reject the mountain of falsifications being pumped out by every branch of the US government against Julian Assange and WikiLeaks, whose only crime is publishing the truth. The struggle to stop the extradition of Julian Assange to the United States and for his freedom from persecution must be taken up in every workplace, school and neighborhood as part of the struggle of the working class against the entire capitalist system.
Ministers have scrapped a cap on the number of medical student places this year as they try to stem the continuing crisis over A-level results.

Similar limits on undergraduate teaching, dentistry and veterinary courses will also be dropped and universities will be given extra money to teach expensive subjects.

The government has also agreed with universities that every student with the required grades will be offered a place at their first choice institution either this year or next.



The moves follow a dramatic U-turn earlier this week when education secretary Gavin Williamson raised hundreds of thousands of GCSE and A-level results.

His climbdown, after days of growing anger over this years results, means thousands more students now have the marks for sought after courses.

In a bid to head off cries of foul play ministers removed a cap on the overall number of students at UK universities.

But a separate cap on the number of medical students, who require clinical placements as part of their training, remained in place.

Now ministers say that will also go.

The Royal College of GPs had called for the number of undergraduate medical places to increase by a fifth, as well as extra funding for universities.



Universities UK also called for "increasing flexibilities within the medical student numbers cap".

Dr Tim Bradshaw, CEO of the Russell Group, said: The governments decision today to provide additional funding for high-cost courses, such and chemistry and physics, and to lift the number caps on specialist courses, including medicine and dentistry, is a very positive step, which will allow us to increase capacity and help more students to benefit from a high-quality education.

Russell Group universities are working with government and will do everything they can to accommodate as many students as possible on their preferred courses this year and will continue to do so wherever this is practically possible. Where this isnt possible, our universities will look to offer deferred places or explore places on alternative courses where the student meets the entry requirements.



Extra funding will be provided for courses including medicine and nursing as well as Stem and other high-cost subjects deemed vital to the economy and the countrys social needs.



Universities minister Michelle Donelan said: This pandemic has highlighted more than ever the importance of our fantastic healthcare services and the need to invest in them. So I am pleased we are removing the cap on these courses and providing additional funding so more students can take up their places now and become our future doctors and healthcare professionals.



There are no government caps on university nursing places.



Ministers say if a students new grade meets the conditions of their original offer they should get in touch with their preferred university to discuss options.



Students can also "self-release", through UCAS, from their existing offer and accept a new offer at their preferred institution.
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian scientists have called for the platypus to be listed as a vulnerable species in Victoria state, after research found dwindling numbers of the semi-aquatic mammal because of loss of habitat and a warming climate.

Ecologist Joshua Griffiths, who supervised the collection of data that led to the recommendation by a scientific advisory panel, said the platypus population across the state had likely fallen by about 30% in the last 20 to 30 years.

"We have seen major declines in population in Victoria's western regions, localised extinctions and the kind of things that are affecting the platypuses are going to increase in future," Griffiths told Reuters.

Land-clearing for agriculture, mining and forestry had been the biggest factor in the destruction of habitat over several decades but last summer's bushfires have greatly compounded the impact.

"A lot of that area got burned by the recent bushfires, so the situation could actually be worse than what we think at the moment," he said.

The bushfires, which lasted from September last year until February, killed nearly 3 billion koalas, kangaroos and other Australian animals and destroyed a wilderness area the size of South Korea.

A vulnerable tag is given to animals that face a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term, though are not considered critically endangered.

Once on the vulnerable list, the government can deploy more resources to protect the animal's habitat.

Each state in Australia makes their own classifications of vulnerable or endangered. The platypus is already listed as endangered in South Australia.

The strange-looking, duck-billed animals with webbed feet that lay eggs are mostly seen across Australia's eastern seaboard, from the far north of Queensland state to the island state of Tasmania.

(Reporting by Renju Jose; Editing by Karishma Singh)
Chennai: In what is said to be a never-seen-before modus operandi, foreign currency worth Rs 38.64 lakh has been seized from steel plates that were welded together. The plates were in a courier consignment that was bound for Singapore from Chennai. As per the declaration, it contained tumblers, steel plates, apparel and spices.

Customs officials said that they had detained a courier shipment at the International Courier Terminal, Chennai based on specific intelligence that foreign currency was likely to be smuggled out of India through courier mode. On examining the parcel in detail it was found to contain 25 quarter steel plates along with other declared items. The plates were found to be unusually heavy and made of high gauge steel, said officials.

On close examination, it was seen that the steel plates were made by moulding two separate steel plates together. On being cut open, British Pound Sterling notes were found to be ingeniously concealed in between the steel plates.

40,000 Great Britain Pounds in denominations of 50, equivalent to Rs 38.64 lakhs were recovered and seized under the Customs Act, 1962 r/w F.E.M. (Export and Import of Currency) Regulations, 2015. The consignment was booked by a Chennai-based person, who has been arrested and further investigation is underway.

This is clearly a new modus operandi and is not easy to detect. It seems that the lockdown and restriction on movement had rendered smugglers without income and they are desperately resorting to new methods, said Rajan Chaudhary, Commissioner Customs.
Krispy Kreme

The "Greataste Reeses Doughnut of All Time is a title that can now be proudly claimed by the Reese's Classic Doughnut. In July, Krispy Kreme brought back three of the greatest Reeses doughnuts from the last three years for a limited-time only through August 16the Classic Reese's Doughnut, Reese's Outrageous Doughnut, and the Reeses Original Filled Chocolate Lovers Doughnutand asked fans to share their greatest, most creative reviews of their favorite of the trio to help the company decide which would secure a spot on Krispy Kreme's permanent menu.

The Reese's Classic Doughnut is a peanut butter dream with Reeses Peanut Butter Kreme filling, a coating of Hersheys chocolate icing, garnishes of mini peanut butter chips, and a drizzle of Reeses chocolate and peanut butter sauce. The newest permanent menu item can be purchased at participating Krispy Kreme shops throughout the U.S.

On social media, the beloved Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based doughnut brand shared the happy news yesterday with a playful video. "#Doughnut fans have spoken," the post read. "@Reeses Classic is here to stay! Now available every day."

Many fans were excited with the announcement, quipping, "My favorite Reese's donut! It wasn't called classic for nothing! I'm super happy! Time to go celebrate with some!" and "I'm so happy!" Some, however, felt let down by the results, with several fans noting they preferred the Reeses Original Filled Chocolate Lovers Doughnut. One proponent of the Reese's Outrageous Doughnut also had some choice words to share, "Noooo! Im in love with the Outrageous. I guess this is a blessing in disguise. My jeans couldnt handle you making the Outrageous permanent." We guess we'll take wins where we can get them these days.

Story continues

Hungry? Head to your local shop or place your order online for delivery or pickup here. We're yet to meet a Krispy Kreme doughnut we don't like, and we think this peanut butter packed delight is no exception.

WATCH: How to Make Reese's Cake

Reese's Cake

This incredible addition to our family of Bundt cakes will have family and friends anxious for that first bite. Centered by a peanut butter-cream cheese filling, this super moist chocolate cake is then dressed with two flavorful glazes.

Are you already enamored by the Reese's Classic Doughnut or excited to try it for the first time? If you had a chance to try them all, what was your favorite Reese's doughnut of the three contenders?
Sen. Kamala Harris, (D-Calif.) speaks during the third day of the Democratic National Convention at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Del., on Aug. 19, 2020. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Kamala Harris Accepts Democratic Nomination for Vice President

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) has accepted the Democratic nomination for vice president on Wednesday, saying the country is at an inflection point and can do better than four more years of the current administration, as she urged voters to support Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.

The 55-year-old California senator is the first black woman and Indian-American on a major U.S. presidential ticket. She is the third woman to seek the vice presidency.

Were at an inflection point. The constant chaos leaves us adrift. The incompetence makes us feel afraid. The callousness makes us feel alone. Its a lot. And heres the thing: We can do better and deserve so much more, she said during an acceptance speech delivered for the largely virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention from the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware, on Wednesday.

Senator Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) accepts the Democratic vice presidential nomination during an acceptance speech delivered for the largely virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention from the Chase Center in Wilmington, Del., on Aug. 19, 2020. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

We must elect a president who will bring something different, something better, and do the important work. A president who will bring all of us togetherBlack, White, Latino, Asian, Indigenousto achieve the future we collectively want. We must elect Joe Biden, she added.

She alleged a failure of leadership has cost lives and livelihoods due to COVID-19 under President Donald Trump, and accused Trump of being someone who turns our tragedies into political weapons, while saying that Joe Biden will be a president who turns our challenges into purpose.

[I am] committed to the values [my mother] taught me, to the word that teaches me to walk by faith, and not by sight, and to a vision passed on through generations of Americansone that Joe Biden shares, she said. A vision of our nation as a beloved communitywhere all are welcome, no matter what we look like, where we come from, or who we love. A country where we may not agree on every detail, but we are united by the fundamental belief that every human being is of infinite worth, deserving of compassion, dignity, and respect.

A country where we look out for one another, where we rise and fall as one, where we face our challenges, and celebrate our triumphstogether. Today, that country feels distant.

After the speech, Harris waved and clapped as she was applauded by a screen of viewers. A smiling Joe Biden walked on stage to join her while observing social distancing. The two were joined by their spouses.

Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and her husband Douglas Emhoff and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden appear on stage after Harris delivered her acceptance speech on the third night of the Democratic National Convention from the Chase Center in Wilmington, Del., on Aug. 19, 2020. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Other featured speakers on the third night of the Democratic National Convention included former President Barack Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).

Harris had run unsuccessfully in the Democratic presidential primary, having dropped out months before the first votes were cast. She is a former state attorney general who became close to Bidens son Beau while he was attorney general of Delaware. Beau Biden died of brain cancer in 2015, and Harris was elected to the Senate the following year.

Late Wednesday, the Trump campaign wrote on Twitter that Harris supports a slew of liberal policies, including Bernie Sanderss socialist healthcare scheme, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs socialist Green New Deal, benefits for illegal immigrants, and a ban on fracking.

The campaign also alleged that Harris is further to the left than Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, and said that she is WEAK on crime, accusing the vice presidential nominee of having encouraged donations to a far-left group that bails people out of jail.

Now violent criminals like a serial rapist and a rioter who tried to kill cops are back on the streets, the campaign wrote.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  When Bill Clinton gave his convention acceptance speech in 1992, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was a toddler.

Clinton, whose presidency steered the party to the center a generation ago, returned to the convention podium Tuesday night as a gray-haired party elder; Ocasio-Cortez, a rising insurgent pushing the party to the left, got a snippet of speaking time.

The two personify a yawning gap within the Democratic Party between baby boomers who have dominated party leadership for decades and a rising generation of more progressive, diverse younger people.

The 2020 Democratic convention may do little to close that divide: The program aims to put the partys best face forward, but so far it is still mostly a wrinkled one.

The presidential nominee, Joe Biden, at 77 is a few years too old to be a baby boomer. His running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris of California, was hailed for her relative youth when Biden named her, but at 56 on inauguration day would be older upon first taking office than every Democratic president since Harry Truman.

Biden is not in much danger of losing young voters to Trump, but he does have to worry about losing them to apathy. Polls show voters younger than 35 are lagging in enthusiasm for him, and many Democrats worry about whether they will turn out in an election where voting will come with multiple logistical challenges because of the pandemic.

The key for us is to make sure that we make the case for voting to a generation thats seen as less likely to vote at all, said Pete Buttigieg, the 38-year-old former South Bend, Ind., mayor whose own presidential bid was framed around a call for generational change, speaking in an interview.

He is winning overwhelmingly among younger voters; the important thing is just to make sure that there is no question about whether it is important to vote, Buttigieg said of Biden.

Party conventions are traditionally a way to make that case and build enthusiasm. Tuesday night, with its keynote address, is often a time to spotlight new talent.

This time, however, while a montage of younger officials opened the proceedings, the lineup at the time-crunched virtual convention remained heavily skewed to luminaries who could boast, as several did, that they had known Biden for decades.

The age of political leaders is not the only, maybe not even the most important, factor in determining who will excite and engage younger voters. Sen. Bernie Sanders, the oldest candidate in the 2020 presidential field, was a youth sensation.

But Biden is often out of step with the strong progressive slant that dominates among young Democrats. In addition, his style, his approach to politics and his personal experiences draw from a world very different than the one in which voters in their 20s and early 30s have grown up.

The Biden campaign acknowledges the need to reach out to millennials, who as of 2018 became the largest generation of eligible voters, and to the even younger voters coming after them.

Were using the convention to communicate directly with young voters  through our rising stars, party leaders, and ordinary Americans  about how Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are ready to confront the huge challenges facing our country after four years of Trumps chaos, said Biden campaign spokesman Mike Gwin, and were doing so in an engaging format that allows us to reach voters of all ages no matter how they consume news.

Tuesdays lineup spotlighted emerging leaders like Stacey Abrams, 46, who ran unsuccessfully for Georgia governor in 2018, and an ethnically diverse lineup of young members of Congress, state legislators and local officials.

The segment, which opened the night, was a substitute for the traditional keynote address that at past conventions gave a chance for standouts to shine, as Barack Obama, still a U.S. Senate hopeful, did in 2004. The spotlight was more diffuse in the 2020 remake, which packed 17 young elected leaders into a 10-minute time slot. They delivered a joint, staggered speech that showcased diversity but made it impossible for any one of them to stand out.

Later in the evening, Ocasio-Cortez formally seconded the nomination of Sanders for the roll call, praising him for leading a mass peoples movement working to establish 21st-century social, economic and human rights. But she was allowed to speak for only about a minute and a half, an allotment her allies considered insultingly small for a rising Democratic leader, especially when Republican John Kasich spoke for four minutes Monday night.

Bidens nomination postpones the passing of the generational baton in a party where baby boomers have been slow to move off the track. Many thought that handoff had begun with Obamas election in 2008. But baby boomers reasserted themselves with Hillary Clintons nomination in 2016.

Last year, the big field of primary candidates introduced voters to a fresh batch of younger Democratic leaders. But amid the turmoil of the Trump era, Democratic primary voters once again turned aside arguments for new leadership, opting for the steady, experienced hand that Biden held out.

The Biden campaign is betting that in this falls election, young voters desire to oust Trump will overshadow any reservations they have about the former vice president. In an August Washington Post/ABC News poll, voters under 40 favored Biden over the president by a 62%-29% margin.

The poll also found, however, that while 44% of Biden voters said they were very enthusiastic about his candidacy, just 25% of those under 40 said so.

In a screenshot from the livestream of the Democratic National Convention, former Secretary of State Colin Powell addresses the virtual convention on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. (DNCC/Getty Images/TNS)TNS

Campaign officials hope that naming Harris as Bidens running mate will inspire more excitement among younger voters, especially people of color. But that remains to be seen as many young Black voters are wary of her background as a prosecutor.

Her presence on the ticket is very exciting. She is certainly more digital-savvy and more comfortable being herself in the public space, said Amanda Litman, co-founder of Run for Something, a group that supports young progressive candidates. But younger voters are more progressive than where she is on some issues.

Whatever is accomplished by this weeks convention, a survey by the Alliance for Youth Action, a progressive group that promotes youth voting, suggests the Biden campaign has a lot of work ahead of it.

An August poll of young persuadable voters  Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents  in 10 swing states found that nearly 40% had not heard from the Biden campaign either by phone, digital ads or other forms of outreach.

They are running out of time, said Sarah Audelo, executive director of the alliance.

This election is not about convincing young people that Donald Trump should not be president. They know that. Its about convincing young people to turn out to vote at all, to navigate many hurdles to voting that will exist, and that Joe Biden is the person that they should vote for.



Janet Hook of the Los Angeles Times wrote this story.

2020 Los Angeles Times

Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Scouts NZ take on tech

Their motto is Be prepared, but to be fair no one predicted a global pandemic was going to send the country into lockdown in March. With 13,000 members, and 5000 volunteers, Scouts NZ had to act fast to ensure it could continue to connect with its community, says CEO Joshua Tabor.

By literally separating us from our customers and other stakeholders, COVID-19 put those relationships under grave threat.

The answer? Technology.

[ Keep up on the latest thought leadership, insights, how-to, and analysis on IT through Computerworlds newsletters. ]

Specifically, a smartphone app due for release this month, which is based on the Salesforce Mobile Publisher platform. It will allow volunteer scout leaders to manage their troops from their mobile.

Its part of the scouts digital strategy, which was brought forward on account of COVID-19. The organisation is also deploying Salesforces process automation tools to access data analytics that will help them gain insights for better engagement with members. It will also ensure they can keep on top of the admin and risk management that comes with running 9,000 events throughout New Zealand every year.

We know that participating in scouts has a huge number of benefits, not least of which is developing resilience and having a positive impact on mental wellbeing. So, if there was ever a time to find ways to ensure continuity of service, this is it, says Tabor.

Scouts NZ is planning to almost double its youth membership to 25,000 by 2025, so it needs tech that can scale with it.

Security angles

Security firms just love surveys. At least three arrived in the inbox this week, each with a different take on security issues. Surveys may be a classic move in the PR playbook, but collectively they can tell a story. And if the three highlighted below are any indication the latest narrative goes like this: New Zealanders are adopting remote working, this puts us under greater threat from cyber security, but we arent taking the threats as seriously as we should.

Research in Asia-Pacific by Censuswide for Barracuda Networks claims that COVID-19 has accelerated remote working in New Zealand organisations by 54 per cent. Of the 200 New Zealand respondents surveyed, 40 per cent had experienced at least one data breach or cyber security incident since shifting to remote working. In addition, the survey shows that 40 per cent of local organisations dont have an up-to-date cyber security plan in place that covers threats posed by full-time remote working.

Over at Unisys, its 2020 Security Index shows that New Zealanders are becoming more complacent about cybersecurity. As a report in Reseller News explains: New Zealanders concern about hacking and viruses has declined in the last year, from 48 per cent of the population being seriously concerned in 2019, down to 40 per cent this year.

Meanwhile, KnowBe4, which has the ambitious tagline Human error. Conquered, has conducted a global survey of 1,107 organisations, which includes 506 respondents from New Zealand. We are scored 73 out of 100 for security culture, alongside Australia, Bermuda, Kenya and the UK.

On a similar, but also quite different, topic: Netsafe has been looking at fake news. This has been a hot topic with the New Zealand government this week with Minister of Health Chris Hipkins using the 1pm COVID-19 press conference to quash false rumours.

According to the Netsafe survey, around half the country has fallen for fake news at some point. While 93 per cent have heard of the term fake news, 48 per cent are concerned about mistakenly spreading it and 14 per cent mention seeing misleading stories related to COVID-19.

Netsafe has launched a campaign called Your News Bulletin, where you can test your ability to spot fake news. Its trickier than you might expect.

Health IT to be revived

Could New Zealands health IT systems finally be in for an upgrade? Radio NZ noted this week that Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield wrote to the District Health Board CEOs on 24 July, requesting they give very serious consideration to data and digital investment.

And it seems that it isnt a short-term fix, with the letter indicating a more long-term commitment to IT spending. The ministry has been working on a revised set of principles to guide annual planning for the ministry and DHBs to realign data and digital investment. We are not looking to apply these to this years annual plans, but the revised principles will be in place for next years planning process. We will be supporting a consistent approach across the sector and will provide updated expectations for how DHBs should plan their data and digital portfolios.

The letter also references the Health and Disability Review Report and the National Asset Management Plan, which took the ministry to task over its lack of investment in IT.

News that the ministry is taking note of recommendations in these reports will be welcomed by sector groups such as NZ Health IT. Its CEO Scott Arrol estimates that DHBs spend about 2.3% to 2.5% of their budget on IT, while the global average is that IT makes up 4.8% to 5% of the overall health budget.

Election app developer to vote

What a difference a month makes. When the prime minister announced on Monday that the general election would be pushed back from 19 September to 17 October, around 5,000 young people suddenly became eligible to vote (according to Stats NZ). Among them is Anjali Mistry (her 18th birthday is 24 September), who together with Drishti Murara, created an app called Eumonia to help people decide what political party to vote for.

Technovation Anjali Mistry (left) and Drishti Murara (right), the New Zealand creators of the Eunomia app, a finalist in the 2020 Technovation girls programming competition.

Named after the ancient Greek goddess of law and legislation, Eunomia asks players a series of questions about what kind of public services they would fund. The app matches the answers against the information supplied by New Zealands main political parties to find the party most aligned to the players views. It was a finalist in the global Technovation competition, but lost out to the Irish entry Memory Haven, an app that assists people with dementia.

SOS Business sold

SOS Business, the website set up when the country when into COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020 to help local businesses, has been taken over by InKind in the US, which will invest $5 million in the platform. SOS Business has to date sold $2 million in vouchers, enabling people to support their local shops, even when they are forced to close because of COVID-19. Back in June, co-founder David Downs told Computerworld New Zealand he was fielding offers from organisations interested in the platform.

The e-commerce cycle is now complete, with SOS Business fulfilling the five steps to ecommerce success, To recap:
Examinations are key in every educational system. It forms a major part of any assessment framework and it is important because it serves as a feedback for the teaching and learning process, it is an output variable in determining the quality of an educational programme and also serves as a basis for the placement, graduation, and certification of students.

In certain jurisdictions, teacher output is tied to the performance of students in their national examination. This is why the validity, trustworthiness, and sanctity of any examination, be it internal or external, is key for the continued sustenance of any educational enterprise.

In Ghana, there are two major external examinations written at Junior High School 3 (Basic Education Certificate Examination - BECE) and Senior High School 3 (West African Senior School Certificate Examination WASSCE). These two examinations are conducted by the West African Examination Council (WAEC). Until recently, these two examinations were the main national examinations throughout the fourteen years in the life of the Ghanaian student. However, the new curriculum reform with its corresponding assessment framework proposes national examinations at Basics 2, 4, 6, and 8. This I must say is a very positive step in reforming our national assessment system.

Ghana has been struggling with examination leakages over the years. There have been rumours and in most cases confirmed instances of examination leakages for our two national examinations. With a policy shift of using the Basic Education Certificate for placement instead of the initial policy of certification, there seems to be severe pressure on acquiring a senior high school certificate to enable one continue with their academic journey. This has resulted in several cases of examination leakages across the length and breadth of the country. As an education policy analyst, I can say for sure that the causes of this perennial problem of examination leakages are multifaceted. Permit me to elaborate on this.

In Ghana, the lowest qualification a person can use to enter the world of work is the senior high school certificate. This same certificate serves as the passport for entry into any tertiary institution in the country. This implies that, technically, the success or failure of the fourteen years of education of a student depends on his or her ability to pass and pass well in the WASSCE.

This puts a lot of pressure on students and parents. I dare say that these two groups of people will find ways and means to enable the student to go through the WASSCE successfully. Again, in our communities and various schools, teachers' output and prestige are tied to the performance of their students. Teachers are hailed or booed depending on how their students perform in their subject area.

Schools are ranked based on their performance in the WASSCE. This again puts lots of pressure on school authorities, teachers, and interested parties like old students associations to ensure that, their students and schools come out on top. This is why, for me, the issue of examination leakages cannot be curtailed by undertaking either the annual nullification of some papers or a shambolic investigation which has proven to be ineffective because this problem is simply a demand and supply issue.

This has made it a societal problem that requires that curbs the demand side of the problem while sealing the supply aspect. Undoubtedly, WASSCE has turned out to be what many call tertiary education entrance examination and should be made to be so. This means that there should be two types of certificates after the fourteen years of a students education in Ghana: the Senior High School Leaving Certificate (SHSLC) and WASSC.

To achieve this, there should be an assessment framework that takes into account the formative assessments of the student from at least Basic 7 to the final year in senior high school. Such a comprehensive assessment system would give a true picture of the capabilities and competencies of the student. The student would then have to write one comprehensive paper which can be termed as a General Paper which touches on a bit of all that the student has studied during the fourteen years of his or her education. This examination which will form 30% of the overall assessment of the student coupled with the internal cumulative assessment of the student (70%) would qualify the student to obtain what can be called Senior High School Leaving Certificate (SHSLC) (or what the Minister of Education calls Higher National Diploma/High School Diploma) or any other name. This certificate would enable the holder to secure any form of employment in the job market after satisfying other requirements as advertised. We can even, design programmes in our various tertiary institutions that will award Diploma to holders of SHSLC who have relevant work experience in specific fields for three years or more after a few months of academic work (between 6 to 12 months).

Students can, therefore, decide to seek any employment that the SHSLC qualifies him or her to pursue and later sit for the WASSCE when he or she wants to pursue tertiary education. This will ensure that WAEC and other examination bodies introduced in the system can conduct WASSCE which would then be used strictly for admission into tertiary institutions. This approach coupled with other measures such as breaking the WAEC monopoly and meting out severe punishment to those involved in examination malpractices can help to reduce this problem to the barest minimum.

Embarking on this path and implementing an effective curriculum at all levels of our pre-tertiary education will be a way of improving the middle manpower level of this country. This is because the economic development of any country requires the attainment of a manpower mix suited for the development of the country. We would by doing this, succeed in restoring the sanctity of WASSCE and also create other paths for those who would want to enter the world of work after their senior high school education.

***The writer is an Education Economist, Education Policy Analyst, Researcher, and currently the Acting Executive Director, The Institute for Education Studies (IFEST), an educational policy think tank in Ghana.
Refusing to apologise for his tweets, activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan on Thursday said that he is shocked and pained that the Supreme Court did not provide him with the complaint on the basis of which the contempt was taken.

"I do not ask for mercy. I do not appeal for magnanimity. I cheerfully submit to any punishment that court may impose", Bhushan said quoting Mahatma Gandhi.

Live Law quoted the lawyer as saying that his tweets were out of a "bona fide attempt to discharge his duty as a citizen". "I would have been failing in my duty if I did not speak up at this juncture of history. I submit to any penalty which the court may inflict. It would be contemptuous on my part to offer apology," he said.

The Supreme Court has rejected the submission of Bhushan that the arguments on quantum of sentence in the contempt proceedings in which he has been held guilty be heard by another top court bench.

A bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra gave assurance to Bhushan that no punishment will be acted upon till his review against the order convicting him in the case will be decided.

The bench also comprising Justices B R Gavi and Krishna Murari told senior advocate Dushyant Dave, representing Bhushan, that he is asking them to commit an "act of impropriety" by saying that argument on sentencing be heard by another bench.

At the outset, Dave sought deferment of hearing on the quantum of sentence in the case saying that he would be filing a review petition against the conviction order.

The hearing in the matter is going on.

The top court on August 14 held that Bhushan attempted to scandalise the entire institution of the Supreme Court and said, If such an attack is not dealt with, with requisite degree of firmness, it may affect the national honour and prestige in the comity of nations. In its 108-page verdict, a bench of Justices Arun Mishra, B R Gavai and Krishna Murari, had said: The tweets which are based on the distorted facts, in our considered view, amount to committing criminal contempt.

In the result, we hold alleged contemnor No.1  Mr. Prashant Bhushan guilty of having committed criminal contempt of this Court. The top court had, however, discharged the notice issued to Twitter Inc, California, USA in the contempt case after accepting its explanation that it is only an intermediary and does not have any control on what the users post on the platform.

It had said the company has also shown its bona fides immediately after the cognizance was taken by this Court as it has suspended both the tweets. The top court had analysed the two tweets of Bhushan posted on the micro-blogging site on June 27 on the functioning of judiciary in past six years, and on July 22 with regard to Chief Justice of India S A Bobde.

"In our considered view, it cannot be said that the tweets can be said to be a fair criticism of the functioning of the judiciary, made bona fide in the public interest," it had said.
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.
THALWIL, SWITZERLAND / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2020 / u-blox (SIX:UBXN) (OTC PINK:UBLXF), a global leader in wireless and positioning technologies, today announced its financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2020.

Financial Summary

- Revenue of CHF 174.0 million compared to revenues of CHF 190.6 million H1 2019, a decline of -8.7% (-5.6% at constant exchange rates)

- Gross profit (adjusted) of CHF 79.4 million compared to CHF 86.1 million in H1 2019, a decline of -7.8%, and equivalent to an adjusted gross margin of 45.6% versus 45.2% in the prior year period

- EBITDA (adjusted) of CHF 24.1 million, compared to CHF 32.7 million in the prior year period

- EBIT (adjusted) of CHF 13.2 million, compared to CHF 19.7 million in the prior year period

- Net profit (adjusted) before minority interests of CHF 4.7 million, compared to CHF 13.6 million in the prior year period

- Cash flow from operating activities of CHF 13.9 million in H1 2020, compared to CHF 33.1 million in the prior year period

- Free cash flow of CHF -21.9 million (CHF -8.4 million before acquisitions) in H1 2020, compared to CHF 0.5 million in the prior year period

- CHF 100.1 million of cash and cash equivalents at 30 June 2020, compared to CHF 127.4 million at year-end 2019 and CHF 121.0 million at 30 June 2019

- u-blox initiated cost improvement measures that are expected to generate annual savings of approximately CHF 15 million. As part of these measures, one large non-revenue generating program was discontinued, and measures will be taken to redeploy these and other resources efficiently and in a cost effective manner to core business areas.

- During the first half of 2020, u-blox recognized an impairment charge of

CHF 74.1 million due to current market conditions mainly in automotive, changes in business plan expectations and refocusing of various programs. The company's existing lines of product offerings remain unaffected.

Business Highlights

- Successfully acquired IoT Communication-as-a-Service Provider Thingstream in April 2020, consistent with the company's strategy to expand its services portfolio by providing customers with a complete and comprehensive IoT connectivity solution.

- Launched the company's latest contribution to vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology, the short range VERA-P3 V2X module.

- Debuted the global LPWA cellular module SARA-R422 with increased security and positioning features.

- The M9 positioning platform was expanded with additional features. This ultra-robust M9 technology platform will serve demanding automotive and high-end telematics applications.

Financial Overview

For the first half of 2020, u-blox generated revenues of CHF 174.0 million, EBIT (adjusted) of CHF 13.2 million and EBITDA (adjusted) of CHF 24.1 million. Revenues in all regions were lower in H1 2020 compared to the same period last year, reflecting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, demand in the automotive end market and certain industrial sectors were substantially affected. The weakened USD/CHF exchange rate had a negative impact of -3.1%.

In APAC, revenues declined to CHF 70.1 million in H1 2020 from CHF 71.5 million in H1 2019

(-2%). While revenues benefitted from the steady development and deployment of 5G networks, automotive ramp-ups with new customers, and demand for drones, these positive developments were offset by decreased demand from certain sectors of the automotive market and also various telematics applications used in industrial and consumer product markets.

Revenues in EMEA decreased to CHF 51.7 million in H1 2020 from CHF 61.6 million in H1 2019 (-16%) due to declines in the broader automotive and mobility end markets. Automotive OEMs experienced prolonged shutdowns due to the pandemic, and the mobility markets, where applications are especially used in shared services such as scooters and e-bikes, were particularly impacted by COVID-19. Areas of revenue growth in EMEA included IoT applications for smart cities which was mostly driven by demand from local governments. Additionally, there was solid demand for driver assistance and point-of-sale device applications.

AMEC revenues decreased to CHF 48.9 million in H1 2020 from CHF 56.6 million in

H1 2019 (-14%). Decreased demand in general consumer applications and fleet management customers were the primary reasons for the decrease in revenues. Partially offsetting this decline was increased year-on-year demand from industrial automation applications, such as metering, as well as fitness applications.

u-blox operates in two segments:

- Positioning and wireless products

u-blox develops and sells chips and modules for positioning and wireless connectivity that are used in automotive, industrial and consumer applications. For H1 2020, revenue was CHF 173.8 million compared to CHF 190.4 million in H1 2019.

- Wireless services

u-blox also offers wireless communication technology services in terms of reference designs and software. For H1 2020, revenue for wireless services was CHF 16.7 million compared to CHF 16.0 million in H1 2019 (including intra group revenue).

Adjusted gross profit decreased by -7.8% to CHF 79.4 million in H1 2020 from CHF 86.1 million in H1 2019, resulting in an adjusted gross profit margin of 45.6%

(H1 2019: 45.2%). The higher adjusted gross margin was due to favorable product mix during H1 2020 compared to H1 2019.

Adjusted operating expenses, which include R&D, distribution and marketing and G&A expenses, totaled CHF 66.7 million for H1 2020, compared to CHF 67.8 million in H1 2019. The higher R&D and G&A expenses were offset by lower distribution and marketing expenses. As a percentage of revenue, operating expenses were 38.3% of revenue compared to 35.6% last year.

R&D expenses (adjusted) remained stable at CHF 39.5 million in H1 2020 compared to CHF 39.8 million during the same period in 2019. As a percentage of revenue, adjusted R&D expenses in H1 2020 were 22.7% of revenue compared to 20.9% in H1 2019.

Distribution and marketing expenses (adjusted) in H1 2020 were CHF 15.8 million compared to CHF 17.8 million in the previous year period. As a percentage of revenue, distribution and marketing expenses (adjusted) were 9.1% in H1 2020 compared to 9.3% in H1 2019. Distribution and marketing expenses declined as expositions, conferences and other large-scale events were cancelled or moved to a virtual setting due to the pandemic.

Finance costs of CHF 3.5 million consisted primarily of interest payments for the two outstanding bonds and unrealized foreign currency losses. Share of loss of equity-accounted investees net of tax was CHF 1.9 million in H1 2020.

During the first half of 2020, u-blox recognized an impairment charge of CHF 74.1 million due to current market conditions mainly in automotive, changes in business plan expectations and refocusing of various programs. The company's existing lines of product offerings remain unaffected.

Net profit (adjusted) before minority interests was CHF 4.7 million, compared to CHF 13.6 million last year. Diluted EPS (adjusted) in H1 2020 was CHF 0.67 per share compared to CHF 1.96 per share in H1 2019.

At 30 June, 2020, u-blox had a strong balance sheet with an equity ratio of 54.2%. Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities totaled CHF 100.1 million as of 30 June, 2020, compared with CHF 127.4 million at the end of 2019 and CHF 121.0 million at 30 June, 2019. u-blox generated cash from operating activities of CHF 13.9 million through H1 2020, a decline of 58.2% compared to the previous year (H1 2019: CHF 33.1 million), due to lower business levels and an increase in net working capital. This increase in net working capital was driven by lower demand which increased inventory levels. Investments in property, plant and equipment and intangible assets totaled CHF 22.2 million for H1 2020, compared to CHF 29.2 million in H1 2019. Free cash flow (before acquisitions) was CHF -8.4 million, compared to

CHF 3.9 million last year.

Business highlights

Acquisition of Thingstream

On 1 April, 2020, u-blox acquired the IoT communication-as-a-service provider Thingstream. Thingstream provides a comprehensive, end-to-end solution for global IoT connectivity, offering its product "as-a-service" which provides predictable cost and on-demand scalability for customers. The acquisition of Thingstream aligns with and accelerates u-blox's strategy to expand its services business into a new dimension, the IoT Sphere. The IoT Sphere will provide customers with a reliable, smart and secure solution to connect sensor data to their cloud enterprise. With this capability, u-blox moves forward in achieving unique silicon-to-cloud differentiation. The integration of Thingstream was successfully completed during the first half of 2020.

Management

u-blox has appointed Carl Bellanca as new Head of Sales Americas to lead u-blox's initiative to grow sales in the U.S. and its overall global distribution capabilities. Mr. Bellanca brings over 25 years of experience in sales and management positions, most recently as VP Sales - East at u-blox America since 2018. Bellanca will report to Markus Schaefer, Executive Director for Global Marketing and Sales in his new role.

Product announcements

During the first half of 2020, u-blox made advances in certain important product offerings. The company recently announced its latest contribution to vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology, the short range VERA-P3 V2X module. Based on u-blox's existing UBX-P3 V2X chip, VERA-P3 puts automotive OEMs, Tier-1s, and manufacturers of traffic management infrastructure on a fast track to integrating V2X technology into their platforms and solutions and deploying them commercially. Additionally, the company introduced the global LPWA cellular module, SARA-R422, which provides increased security and positioning features [compared to previous generations / other available products]. The SARA-R4 series is ideal for a wide range of mission-critical IoT solutions such as connected healthcare, industrial monitoring, point of sale and vending terminals, tracking and telematics devices, as well as smart lighting solutions and building automation.

Management Commentary

Thomas Seiler, u-blox Chief Executive Officer, commented, "After a solid first quarter, our business became increasingly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the unprecedented effect it has had on the global economy. In particular, in EMEA and the Americas, we experienced declining demand, predominantly in the automotive end market and certain industrial markets such as telematics and smart mobility, as production and business shutdowns affected sales to customers in these sectors. In APAC, where the initial outbreak occurred and, accordingly, where the economy reopened earlier, revenues decreased less on a year-on-year basis. The development and expansion of 5G networks in China and Korea, drone applications and several automotive ramp-ups drove demand for our products in this region. We are encouraged by trends observed in APAC, and as businesses and societies continue to reopen across EMEA and AMEC we expect similar developments in these regions."

Mr. Seiler continued, "Our supply chain remained fully operational and we have experienced no significant issues or interruptions with respect to product availability and delivery. For the safety of our employees, customers and business partners, we instituted company-wide measures for employees to work remotely beginning in mid-March. Our existing infrastructure was key in facilitating efficient online collaboration, and therefore this transition has not impacted our productivity in sales and marketing, R&D and other operational areas of the business. In fact, we implemented new measures for conducting R&D while operating remotely, and we have been maintaining full R&D capacity to keep our innovation pipeline continually flowing. However, we also defined measures to reduce our operational expense significantly. Throughout the pandemic, no employee was subject to reduced working schemes."

Mr. Seiler said, "The core fundamentals and underlying drivers of our business remain solid and we are pleased with our ability to service customers and improve the business despite these challenging times. We experienced interesting ramp-ups of new applications that should accelerate our business once economic conditions improve and stabilize. These new applications include a variety of classical applications like infotainment, as well as new applications in the areas of automated vehicles, building automation and smart cities. We also benefited from the strong build-out of network capacity, both cellular and point-to-point."

Outlook

While we remain confident in the underlying growth drivers to our business, particularly wireless content extension in automotive and the expansion of industrial IoT, the near term remains difficult to predict with respect to how quickly and strongly economies will recover across our regions. For this reason, we are retracting our guidance that was presented on 13 March 2020 and the mid-term guidance, and we will not be issuing guidance for the 2020 financial year.

Conference call and webcast details

Thomas Seiler, CEO and Roland Jud, CFO, will host a conference call and webcast with analysts and investors Friday, 21 August, at 10:00 AM CET.

To participate, please dial the following number approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call:

Switzerland / Europe: +41 (0) 58 310 50 00

United Kingdom: +44 (0) 207 107 06 13

United States: +1 (1) 631 570 56 13

Webcast Participants' Links:

Pre-Registration Link: https://ccwebcast.eu/links/ublox200821/indexl.html

The webcast will be available at the u-blox website after the event.

Entire press release with tables: https://www.u-blox.com/en/investor-press-releases/u-blox-reports-first-half-2020-financial-results

Half year report: https://www.u-blox.com/sites/default/files/documents/Half%20Year%20Report%202020.pdf

Presentation:

https://www.u-blox.com/sites/default/files/documents/Presentation%20Half%20Year%20Report%202020.pdf

About u-blox

u-blox (SIX:UBXN) is a global provider of leading positioning and wireless communication technologies for the automotive, industrial, and consumer markets. Their solutions let people, vehicles, and machines determine their precise position and communicate wirelessly over cellular and short range networks. With a broad portfolio of chips, modules, and a growing ecosystem of product supporting data services, u-blox is uniquely positioned to empower its customers to develop innovative solutions for the Internet of Things, quickly and cost-effectively. With headquarters in Thalwil, Switzerland, the company is globally present with offices in Europe, Asia, and the USA.

Find us on www.u-blox.com, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter @ublox and YouTube

Financial calendar

Analyst day: 20 November, 2020

Full year results 2021: 12 March, 2021

Annual General Meeting: 22 April, 2021

u-blox investor releations contacts:

Switzerland and Europe:

Doris Rudischhauser, c/o Dynamics Group AG

Phone: +41 79 410 81 88

E-mail: dru@dynamicsgroup.ch

US:

Jeehae Linford, c/o The Equity Group Inc.

Phone: +1 (404) 840-3122

E-mail: jlinford@equityny.com

u-blox AG

Zurcherstrasse 68

8800 Thalwil

Switzerland

Phone +41 44 722 74 44

Fax +41 44 722 74 47

info@u-blox.com

www.u-blox.com

Disclaimer

This release contains certain forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of management and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the u-blox Group to differ materially from those expressed or implied. These include risks related to the success of and demand for the Group's products, the potential for the Group's products to become obsolete, the Group's ability to defend its intellectual property, the Group's ability to develop and commercialize new products in a timely manner, the dynamic and competitive environment in which the Group operates, the regulatory environment, changes in currency exchange rates, the Group's ability to generate revenues and profitability, and the Group's ability to realize its expansion projects in a timely manner. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in this report. u-blox is providing the information in this release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in it as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.



This press release is published in German and English. Should the German translation differ from the English original, the English version is binding.

SOURCE: u-blox AG

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602623/u-blox-Reports-H1-2020-Financial-Results
A US-brokered deal that saw and the begin to open diplomatic ties may end up with Abu Dhabi purchasing advanced American weaponry, potentially upending both a longstanding Israeli military edge regionally and the balance of power with Iran.

Despite public objections by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Donald Trump on Wednesday told reporters that the Emiratis had expressed interest in buying quite a few F-35 stealth fighter jets and such a deal was under review.

Meanwhile, the UAE has sought for years to buy American armed drones something now potentially allowed as the Trump administration loosened rules governing those purchases just last month.

Complicated arms deals take time to negotiate and it would take years for the jet fighters and drones to reach the hands of foreign militaries, who then have to train their own pilots to fly them. There's also the question of the November election and whether a possible Joe Biden administration would agree to such a sale.

But Trump has used arms sales as a metric to judge America's relationship with Gulf Arab states. Selling the UAE fighter jets that cost over USD 100 million a plane fits that pattern.

They've definitely got the money to pay for it, Trump said of the oil-rich Emirates on Wednesday.

Netanyahu repeatedly and strenuously denied there was any link between arms deals and opening ties to the Emirates. That was met with skepticism in Israel, particularly amid accusations that he bypassed Israel's defense establishment in agreeing to a past German sale of advanced submarines to Egypt.

Critics have accused Netanyahu of lying over a key element that is believed to have clinched the deal for the UAE. Netanyahu's defense minister and governing partner, former military chief Benny Gantz, said he was kept in the dark about the UAE deal until the last minute. Good governance groups also have called for an investigation.

As a rule, opposes the sale of F-35s and other advanced weapons to any country in the Middle East to maintain what it calls its qualitative military edge. That includes Egypt and Jordan, the only two other Arab nations that currently have diplomatic ties with Israel, out of the memory of the multiple wars it has fought since the country's creation in 1948. also fears sparking a regional arms race.

Israel must never forget, not even for a split second, that any dent in its strength is liable to pull the rug out from under its feet in the long term," wrote Amos Gilead, director of the Institute for Policy and Strategy at the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center.

Intentions are fluid and vulnerable to rapid changes. A retired general and former top Defense Ministry official, Gilead added in his essay Thursday in the Yediot Ahronot daily newspaper: Iran used to be Israel's soul mate, and today is a bitter and dangerous enemy.

For the UAE, its pilots have seen the F-35 in action as U.S. Air Force squadrons flying the stealth fighter have rotated in and out of Al-Dhafra Air Base near Abu Dhabi since 2019. The Emirati air force has dozens of F-16s and French-made Mirage 2000s already in service.

But the F-35s would provide a far-greater edge over Iran, whose air force largely dates back to purchases made before the 1979 Islamic Revolution and includes some locally built aircraft. The F-35's stealth capability also make it far more difficult for Iranian anti-aircraft batteries, already internationally criticized for shooting down a Ukrainian passenger jet in January, to pick up.

The UAE also has repeatedly sought to purchase armed American Reaper drones. It already has used Chinese-made armed drones on the battlefield in Yemen, where the Emirates joined a Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels there who hold the capital. That war, which began in 2015, has become the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Responding to questions Thursday about its efforts to purchase the F-35, the Emirati Foreign Ministry said the UAE-Israel agreement will eventually include a security and defense aspect. There is no doubt that this accord removes any political impediment that stands against the cooperation of the defense forces, the ministry said.

In the region, only Israel now flies the fighter jet as a planned purchase by Turkey collapsed over Ankara purchasing a Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile system. Anwar Gargash, the Emirati minister of state for foreign affairs, has repeatedly said the UAE's decision to open diplomatic ties with Israel had nothing to do with Iran. In Tehran, state television only mentioned the F-35 in passing online as a reward for peace," without elaborating.

However, the UAE's autocratic government long has considered Iran its top regional threat and recent tensions between Tehran and Washington haveseen a series of incidents near it. Deployed Patriot missile batteries visible from one major Dubai highway remain pointed north toward Iran.

Since Trump unilaterally withdrew from Iran's 2015 nuclear deal, Tehran has slowly broken every limit on its atomic program. While Iran insists its program is peaceful, Western nations fear it could be used to develop nuclear weapons.

Abu Dhabi's crown prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who serves as the UAE's day-to-day ruler, long has warned Israel may strike first to destroy Iran's nuclear program if it isn't contained. That would start a regional war that would see Tehran target the Emirates, he's repeatedly told U.S. officials.

(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.)
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.
SANTA CRUZ, CALIF.  More than two dozen major fires were scorching California on Thursday and taxing the state's firefighting capacity, sparked by an unprecedented lightning siege that dropped nearly 11,000 strikes over several days.

The fires have destroyed 175 structures, including homes, and are threatening 50,000 more, said Daniel Berlant, an assistant deputy director with the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. In all, 33 civilians and firefighters have been injured.

Most of the activity is in Northern California, where fires have chewed through nearly 500 square miles of brushland, rural areas, canyon country and dense forest surrounding San Francisco.

More than 10,000 California firefighters are on the front lines, but fire officials in charge of each of the major fire complexes say they are strapped for resources. Some firefighters were working 72-hour shifts instead of the usual 24 hours. The state has requested 375 engines and crew from other states.

"That's going to allow our firefighters that have been on the front line since this weekend have an opportunity to take some rest," Berlant said.

In Marin County, just north of San Francisco, where a small fire is burning near the Pacific Ocean, county fire chief Jason Weber said he is waiting for assistance from Montana to arrive this weekend.

He said in his 25 years in fire service, "we've never seen this level of draw-down" from cooperating agencies, as there is heavy competition in the western United States for equipment and people.

In the coastal mountain regions south of San Francisco, where 26,000 people are under orders to evacuate, the CZU August Lightning complex fire grew overnight to 62 square miles. Officials warned it has the potential to grow significantly in the next day.

Given depleted resources, one of the best tools firefighters have for public safety is to get people out of harm's way. But some people refused when officers went door-to-door Wednesday night, Cal Fire Chief Mark Brunton said.

"With the resources that we are lacking, we ask you to help us to do our jobs and to keep the public safe," he said.

Kevin Stover, 42, was struggling with indecision early Thursday when a mandatory evacuation order was issued for the rugged and small town of Felton outside the beach city of Santa Cruz.

"I don't want to leave," said Stover, a camera operator and rigger now driving for Door Dash and Lyft because of the pandemic. His car, loaded with important papers, his father's urn and some arrowheads that meant a lot to him, had a flat tire. He had put a plug in the tire and patched it with gaff tape.

"I'm trying to figure out if I should cut these original oil paintings out of the frame to salvage them," he said.

The unusual large size and number of fires at once, other fires throughout the West and the loss of inmate firefighting crews this because inmates were released from prisons to prevent the spread of coronavirus have created the perfect storm for firefighting.

"Our agency is taxed to the limit," said Incident Commander Mike Smith at the fire near Santa Cruz. Officials there are awaiting help from other states, but they are having to look further afield than usual, meaning it will take days for crews to arrive, he said. The U.S. Forest Service can't help because they are busy fighting fires on federal lands.

"This is a very dangerous fire. The probability of an ember igniting something is 100 percent, which is very high. Embers are traveling as far as mile and igniting trees and brush," Smith said.

In addition to about two-dozen major blazes, small fires kept erupting, though most were quickly stopped. Crews were also battling blazes in the Sierra Nevada and Southern California wild lands.

In central California, a pilot on a water-dropping mission in western Fresno County died Wednesday morning when his helicopter crashed. The pilot was working with Fillmore-based Guardian Helicopters, which had a contract with the state fire agency to provide emergency services, said Zoe Keliher, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board.

A Pacific Gas & Electric utility worker who had been clearing poles and lines to make the area safe for firefighters died at a fire in the Vacaville area between San Francisco and Sacramento, but the circumstances were not clear. The worker was found in a vehicle and CPR was performed. But he was pronounced dead at a hospital, Cal Fire said.

Two fires in Sonoma County prompted evacuation orders for 8,000 residents near the Russian River on Wednesday. Residents of Healdsburg, with a population of about 12,000, were warned Wednesday night to be ready to flee. Fires in that region destroyed more than 100 buildings, including some homes, and threatened 25,000 people across five counties.

Officials said they had insufficient crews there.

"We came into this event short on crews and now with the fire activity across the state they are even more at a premium," said Cal Fire Division Chief Ben Nicholls.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday that California received a federal grant that will reimburse the state for some of the firefighting costs.

The multiple fires in three directions created a smoky haze throughout much of the region.

"Fires are making runs in multiple directions and impacting multiple communities. A critically dry air mass is moving over the area bringing strong winds," Cal Fire said in a statement.

Travis Air Force Base ordered non-mission-essential personnel to evacuate. Residents in nearby Vacaville, a city of 100,000, were roused before dawn Wednesday by orders to flee.

California State Parks announced full or partial closures of more than two-dozen parks, including Big Basin Redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where the park headquarters and other facilities were damaged. The park featuring magnificent towering stands of ancient coast redwoods dates to 1902 and is the state's oldest.

In Southern California, firefighters worked in high heat to increase containment of fires in mountains north and east of Los Angeles. A huge fire also burned in the remote Mojave National Preserve.
Seniors shop for groceries during special hours open to seniors and the disabled at Northgate Gonzalez Market, a Hispanic specialty supermarket, in Los Angeles, Calif., on March 19, 2020. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

OC Sheriff Warns of Grocery Store Thefts

SANTA ANA, Calif. (CNS)Orange County Sheriffs Department investigators on Aug. 19 warned the public about a noticeable uptick in wallet thefts, primarily in south county grocery stores.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected crime trends in Orange County, Californiamost notably with thieves focusing on shoppers purses in markets, which have remained open amid other retail business closures resulting from the pandemic.

Sheriffs officials posted surveillance video footage on the departments social media sites to illustrate how easy it is for thieves to snatch a wallet out of a purse in a grocery store.

In one case a man moves close to a shopper who is distracted in a produce section, and as she turns her back within seconds he grabs a wallet, said sheriffs Sgt. Dennis Breckner.

The public needs to know they have to keep their head on a swivel when shopping, Breckner said.

When shopping, keep control of your personal items or keep them secured somehow, and keep that distance from people.

With health officials promoting social distancing, it should be especially suspicious when anyone edges closer to a shopper, he said.

Deputies recommend women try to secure their purse in the cart with a strap. The thieves dont usually take the purse, they just want the opportunity to sneak in and grab a wallet, Breckner said.

Most victims dont even realize it until they get to the front counter that theyre missing their wallet, he said. For the most part, they do seem to be targeting females in grocery stores.

Over the past month, there have been about a dozen of these types of thefts reported, Breckner said, noting that deputies suspect the number may be higher as many never report the crime.

Investigators do not think it is the work of a ring, however.

All the cases involve different suspects, he said.

Investigators recommend that victims call their bank immediately when they notice the theft, Breckner said.

In most of these cases, within minutes those cards are being used in other retail stores by the thieves, he said.

Investigators are seeing increases in car thefts as well, as crime trends shift during the pandemic, Breckner said.

Were talking about a 500 percent increase, he said.

Vehicle break-ins are up, as well as thieves cutting off catalytic converters, Breckner said.

For awhile we were seeing an increase in residential burglaries, but thats not happening now because everyone is home, Breckner said.
Gunfire in an east Birmingham public housing community late Wednesday afternoon left one man dead.

Birmingham police received a 911 call reporting a person shot in the 7500 block of 66th Court Way South in Gate City. When they arrived on the scene, they found an adult male unresponsive in the doorway of an apartment. He was pronounced dead.

Sgt. Rod Mauldin said the preliminary investigation shows a group of people were gathered in the area when some kind of altercation erupted, and shots were fired. He said he didnt know whether the victim was involved in the altercation or a bystander.

Family members rushed to the scene, including one woman who was yelling, He was my baby. As of 6 p.m., no suspects had been taken in custody.

We do know there were multiple people in the area,' Mauldin said, and investigators need those potential witnesses to come forward.

Birmingham police responded just after 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020, to a report of a person shot in the 7500 block of 66th Court Way South.

The shooting death is the second homicide to happen in Jefferson County Wednesday. In the predawn hours, a woman was found slain near an 18-wheeler on the side of Interstate 59/20 near Fairfield. The State Bureau of Investigation is working that case.

The man killed in Gate City is Birminghams 76th homicide so far in 2020. Of those, nine have been ruled justifiable and one accidental and therefore are not deemed criminal. In all of Jefferson County, there have been 109 slayings, including the 76 in Birmingham.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call Birmingham police homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
Water is becoming an increasingly important issue in the developed world. But this issue is nothing new for other, less developed nations. For centuries, clean drinking water has been hard to come by for many populations, especially the poor. In some areas, water may be available, but it's often disease-ridden, and drinking it can be fatal. In other areas, a viable water supply is simply not available at all.

A 2006 United Nations report estimated that as much as 20 percent of the world's population doesn't have access to clean drinking water [source: BBC]. This leads us to wonder: If we need it so badly, why can't we just make it?

Advertisement

Water is made of two hydrogen atoms attached to an oxygen atom. This seems like pretty basic chemistry, so why don't we just smash them together and solve the world's water ills? Theoretically, this is possible, but it would be an extremely dangerous process, too.

To create water, oxygen and hydrogen atoms must be present. Mixing them together doesn't help; you're still left with just separate hydrogen and oxygen atoms. The orbits of each atom's electrons must become linked, and to do that we must have a sudden burst of energy to get these shy things to hook up.

Since hydrogen is extremely flammable and oxygen supports combustion, it wouldn't take much to create this force. Pretty much all we need is a spark -- not even a flame -- and boom! We've got water. The hydrogen and oxygen atoms' electrons' orbits have been conjoined.

But we also have an explosion and -- if our experiment was big enough, a deadly one. The ill-fated blimp, the Hindenburg, was filled with hydrogen to keep it afloat. As it approached New Jersey on May 6, 1937, to land after a trans-Atlantic voyage, static electricity (or an act of sabotage, according to some) caused the hydrogen to spark. When mixed with the ambient oxygen in the air, the hydrogen exploded, enveloping the Hindenburg in a ball of fire that completely destroyed the ship within half a minute.

There was, however, also a lot of water created by this explosion.

To create enough drinking water to sustain the global population, a very dangerous and incredibly large-scale process would be required. Still, over a century ago the thought of an internal combustion engine -- with its controlled repeated explosions -- seemed dangerously mad. And as water becomes scarcer, the process of joining hydrogen atoms to oxygen atoms may become more attractive than it is currently. Necessity, after all, is the mother of invention.

But there are safer ways of creating water out of thin air, and projects to do just that are already underway. Read the next page to learn about a few mad scientists who may end up solving the world's impending water crisis.


India's March-June farm exports up 23.24% despite corona woes

Exports of agricultural commodities from the country increased by 23.24 per cent during March-June 2020 compared with the corresponding period in 2019, ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare stated in a release.

The agriculture ministry has prepared a comprehensive action plan towards promotion of agri trade - a two-fold approach that focuses on boosting exports with emphasis on value addition and action plan for import substitution.

The ministry said even during the difficult time of pandemic lockdown, India took care to not to disturb the world food supply chain and continued to export. The exports of agri commodities during March 2020 to June 2020 stood at Rs25,552.7 crore against Rs20,734.8 crore during the same period in 2019, showing a sharp increase of 23.24 per cent, the ministry release pointed out.

As per WTOs Trade Statistics, share of Indias agricultural exports and imports in the world agriculture trade in 2017 was 2.27 per cent and 1.90 per cent, respectively.

Agricultural product exports as a percentage of Indias agricultural GDP has increased from 9.4 per cent in 2017-18 to 9.9 per cent in 2018-19. On the other hand, agricultural imports as a percentage of Indias agricultural GDP has declined from 5.7 per cent to 4.9 per cent, indicating lower dependence on imported agricultural products.

While Indias agri export has increased from about Rs149 crore in 1950-51 to the level of Rs2.53 lakh crore in 2019-20, India, one of the top producers of agricultural products, does not figure among top exporters of agricultural produce.

India, the second largest wheat producer in the world, ranks 34th in exports. Similarly, the country with the third-largest production of vegetables ranks only 14th in exports. India, the second largest producer of fruits in the world, ranks 23rd in exports. To reach the ranks of top exporting nations in agriculture, commensurate with production, there is a clear and categorical need to take proactive interventions.

Self-reliant agriculture is critical for the goal of an Atmanirbhar Bharat. For this, agricultural export is extremely important as besides earning precious foreign exchange for the country, the exports help farmers / producers / exporters to take advantage of wider international market and increase their income. Exports have also resulted in increased production in agriculture sector by increasing area coverage and productivity

The Department of Agricultural Cooperation and Farmers Welfare has prepared a comprehensive action plan towards promotion of agri trade. 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.

The export strategy focuses on export promotion of fast evolving niche markets of wellness food/ health conscious food/nutraceuticals, brand development and campaigns to help penetrate into new foreign markets and add new products that automatically translates into higher value realisation.

Gulf countries have been identified as focus destination to increase the market share. The Gulf countries offer a strong market for India though at present it caters to only 10-12 per cent share of their total imports. A product market matrix has been made containing list of products of strength which could be expanded in new geographies and list of known markets which can be introduced with newer products.

India on an average exports 8.23 lakh tonnes of fruits valued at Rs5,638 crore and 31.92 lakh tonnes of vegetables worth Rs5,679 crores annually. Grapes occupy premier position in fresh fruit exports, followed by mango, pomegranate, banana, and oranges.

The fresh vegetable export basket includes onions, mixed vegetables, potatoes, tomatoes, and green chilly. However, world trade in fruits and vegetables is worth $208 billion of which Indias share is miniscule. There is huge potential to increase export in fruits and vegetables. As such, 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 ministry pointed out.

The ministry also proposes to strengthen existing agri clusters and develop more product clusters to fill the gap of bulk quantity and quality of supplies. 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.

Product specific Export Promotion Forums have been created for eight agri and allied products, viz, grapes, mango, banana, onion, rice, nutri-cereals, pomegranate and floriculture under the aegis of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

Each Export Promotion Forum will have exporters of the related commodity as its members along with official members representing concerned ministries / departments of the central and state governments. Chairman APEDA shall be the chairman of each of these forums. The forums will meet at least once in every two months, to discuss/ make recommendations on issues pertaining to export of the respective commodity and invite experts etc to the meeting for interaction, as required.

The forums will constantly monitor and identify/anticipate developments in the external/internal situation pertaining to the production and export of their respective commodity and recommend /intervene for taking the necessary policy/ administrative measures.

The recommendations of the forum will be placed in the product committee / Authority of APED
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More than 35,000 students and their parents have signed a petition calling for an 'unfair' ban on year 12 school formals to be lifted.

The New South Wales Government on Monday announced formals, dances and graduation ceremonies would be forbidden for the rest of term three due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But mother Debbie Terrantroy has blasted the new restrictions as an 'unreasonable' double standard given that weddings with 150 guests are still allowed.

'It's just cruel. The school formal is a rite of passage that everyone deserves to have,' Ms Terrantroy told the ABC.

Central Coast mother Debbie Terrantroy has blasted the new restrictions as 'madness', 'terribly disappointing' and 'unreasonable' given that weddings of 150 guests are still allowed

More than 35,000 students and their parents have signed a Change.org petition calling for an 'unfair' ban on year 12 school formals to be lifted

Formals, dances and graduation ceremonies are banned for the rest of term three due to the COVID-19 pandemic (stock image)

Her twin sons Jackson and Harrison Wedesweiler, who attend Narara Valley High School and Lisarow High School on the Central Coast, are both devastated their end of school festivities have been cancelled.

'This year has been hard enough on them already and to take this away from them, especially when this can be done in a COVID-safe way, is just devastating,' she said.

Ms Terrantroy said the government's banning of formals and Year 12 celebrations is 'incompatible with current restrictions in NSW'.

Clubs can currently have 300 people seated, while places of worship can host 100 people.

'Year 12 students have dealt with enough disruption this year and the unfair and unreasonable denial to students and their parents to attend their child's graduation is clearly lacking in insight,' she said.

The mother-of-three said the State Government's tough rules are particularly unfair for some smaller schools in regional NSW which only have 30 students.

'The government has been spending a lot of time talking about mental health during the coronavirus pandemic and then they thought it was okay to announce these decisions in the middle of HSC trials, when kids are already struggling with their mental health,' she said.

Ms Terrantroy said formals can still be COVID-safe with temperature checks, mandatory face masks and marshals ensuring students remain seated.

Year 12 student Hamish Wishart, who attends Junee High School in the Riverina region, said cancelling formals is the 'last straw'.

'I was devastated when I heard  everyone at school was  because the formal is always such a fun way to celebrate with your friends,' he said.

The NSW Government announced formals, dances and graduation ceremonies would be forbidden for the rest of term three due to the pandemic. Pictured: NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian

Ms Terrantroy said formals can still be COVID-safe with temperature checks, mandatory face masks and marshals ensuring students remain seated

'To be honest, everything else about this year, being cut short of activities and trips and opportunities because of COVID-19, was kind of alright but this really is the last straw.'

Mother Denise Nightingale said there shouldn't be a blanket ban on formals, given that some areas in NSW haven't had a single case of coronavirus.

'This is a one time event for some kids and it shouldnt be denied,' she said.

Schools in NSW are only allowed to hold a year 12 assembly without to recognise the completion of school, but parents and caregivers aren't allowed to attend.

In addition, choirs, interschool sport, drama and debating have also been banned.

NSW on Thursday recorded five new cases - two from hotel quarantine and three acquired in Sydney's south west.
MOSCOW  Booked on an early morning flight back to Moscow, Aleksei A. Navalny began his day with a rushed breakfast  just a cup of tea in a plastic cup  at the airport in the Siberian city of Tomsk. Soon after his flight took off Thursday, he rushed to the toilet feeling violently ill.

Just a few hundred miles into its nearly 2,000-mile flight, the plane made an emergency landing, and Mr. Navalny, Russias most prominent opposition leader, groaning in agony before losing consciousness, was taken on a gurney to an ambulance waiting on the tarmac.

Mr. Navalnys spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, who was traveling with him, announced on Twitter that he had been poisoned, probably by something put in his tea at the airports Vienna Cafe. Mr. Navalny, who has often described President Vladimir V. Putin as the leader of a party of crooks and thieves, had traveled to Siberia to help organize opposition candidates ahead of local elections next month.

Doctors at the No. 1 Clinical Hospital in Omsk, the Siberian city where the plane made its emergency landing, initially said that Mr. Navalny was on a ventilator in serious condition. It later reported that his condition, though still grave, had stabilized.
A city in California has agreed to pay $360,000 to settle a lawsuit with a woman who claimed cops slammed her against a wall after her credit card declined a $16.70 cab fare.

The incident involving Ashley Watts, who is a licensed cosmetologist, occurred on June 26, 2016, in Newport Beach.

Watts, 34, took a taxi from a hotel bar where she had been drinking with friends, but when it was time to pay, her credit card declined the $16.70 fare.

Newport Beach in California has agreed to pay $360,000 to settle a lawsuit after Ashley Watts alleged that she was slammed against the wall by officers who were called to the scene after her credit card declined for a $16.70 cab fare in 2016

According to court documents obtained by the Orange County Register, Watts alleged that when she asked the driver if she could run upstairs to her apartment to get a different credit card, the driver refused and called the police.

Officers Christine Maroney and Monica Aguilar arrived to the scene a short time later.

Maroney is alleged to have threatened Watts with being arrested if she didn't pay the fare.

Eventually, the officers agreed to escort her to her apartment so that she could grab her other credit card.

Once upstairs, the officers tried to follow her into her apartment, but she refused to let them inside.

That's when, Maroney allegedly pushed Watts against a wall, causing her to hit her head,

Watts claimed that the officers who arrived to the scene kicked her legs out from under her and caused her to hit her head

She claimed they also kicked her legs out from under her, which caused her to land hard on her knee.

They then applied their body weight on her while handcuffing her, court documents allege.

Her lawyer, Jerry Steering, told the Register that his client was jailed overnight and released the next day.

Watts accused the officers of excessive force and unlawful arrest.

Last October, a court ruled that the officers qualified for immunity on the excessive force allegation, but allowed the suit to proceed on the unlawful arrest.

The cab company also paid $10,000 to settle the charges.
PUNE, India, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

COVID-19 has Positive Impact on Global Home Infusion Therapy Market

Research Dive has added a new research report on the Global Home Infusion Therapy Market to its repository. The report divulges the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the current and future growth of the global market. This report is a thorough research study formulated by experts by analyzing major driving factors, regional market conditions, newest trends and advances, and size & scope of the market during the disaster period.

Highlights of COVID-19 Impact on Home Infusion Therapy Market Report

The abrupt rise of the COVID-19 pandemic has created an optimistic impact on the global home infusion therapy market. As per the report, the global home infusion therapy market was valued at $20.2 billion in 2019 and is estimated to hit $49.5 billion by 2027, rising at a CAGR of 11.7% during the crisis period. The size of the market in the present circumstances has stretched up to $22.9 billion owing to the augmented adoption of home infusion treatment by chronic disease patients during the COVID-19 chaos.

Download COVID-19 Impact Analysis Report at https://www.researchdive.com/covid-19-insights/360/home-infusion-therapy-market#myQueryForm

Factors Boosting the Market Growth amidst COVID-19 Pandemic

The global home infusion therapy market is anticipated to observe substantial growth owing to the worldwide increase in the cases of severe diseases and rise in geriatric population that requires long-term therapeutic treatments. Additionally, mounting preference for home-based treatment by patients, having low immunity, in order to avoid getting infected by the COVID-19 infection is increasing the demand for home infusion therapy; hence, resulting in an increased growth of the market.

Current Market Scenario Due to COVID-19:

Many leading players in the home infusion therapy market are performing various strategies such as partnerships, collaborations, and new product developments to withstand their market position during the crisis period. For instance, in July 2020, Voluntis, a healthcare software company specialized in Patient Relationship Management (PRM), and Biocon biologics, an advanced and fully integrated biopharmaceutical firm, has partnered to develop and provide cutting-edge digital therapeutics based on biologics therapy for aiding diabetes patients.

On the other hand, government bodies in many COVID-19 infected regions are offering support to the home infusion therapy companies to sustain their business amidst the COVID-19 catastrophe. For instance, in October 2019, the Medicare & Medicaid Services Centers have passed a law announcing that all home infusion therapy expenditures will get covered under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018.

Avail Discount: 10% Off on Customization https://www.researchdive.com/request-for-customization/360

Future Prospective of the Market:

As per the report, the global home infusion therapy market is anticipated to experience constant growth post-coronavirus pandemic.

Top Players in Home Infusion Therapy Market

Eli Lilly and Company COSMED srl Baxter International, Inc. Smiths Medical. JMS Co., Ltd. ICU Medical Inc. Dickinson and Company (BD) Terumo Corporation Fresenius Kabi Becton, Dickinson and Company B Braun Melsungen AG

And others are expected to mold the future of the global home infusion therapy market in the upcoming years.

Moreover, the report offers a brief summary of business overview including financial performance, product portfolio, recent strategic moves & developments, and SWOT analysis of all key players of the market. Inquire before Purchase [75 page] Summary Report

Read More About home Infusion Therapy:

Home Infusion Therapy Can Be an Ideal Option for Obtaining Healthcare Amidst COVID-19 Turmoil, Here's how

Increasing Geriatric Population Across The Globe Is Predicted To Boost The Home Infusion Therapy Market

Similar Reports:

About Research Dive

Research Dive is a market research firm based in Pune, India. Maintaining the integrity and authenticity of the services, the firm provides the services that are solely based on its exclusive data model, compelled by the 360-degree research methodology, which guarantees comprehensive and accurate analysis. With an unprecedented access to several paid data resources, team of expert researchers, and strict work ethic, the firm offers insights that are extremely precise and reliable. Scrutinizing relevant news releases, government publications, decades of trade data, and technical & white papers, Research dive deliver the required services to its clients well within the required timeframe. Its expertise is focused on examining niche markets, targeting its major driving factors, and spotting threatening hindrances. Complementarily, it also has a seamless collaboration with the major industry aficionado that further offers its research an edge.

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The Qantas result presents an ugly picture of what a major airline looks like when it cant fly. But it could have been even uglier.

Confronted by the most dire settings in its history  the complete shutdown of its international business and the near cessation of domestic travel  Qantas lost $2.7 billion in the year to June, despite making a near-$500 million profit in the first half.

It lost $4 billion of revenue and $1.2 billion of underlying pre-tax profits as the outbreak of the coronavirus hit the global aviation industry. Ending airline travel almost overnight will produce that kind of outcome.

A number of off-setting factors helped blunt the worst of the pain for Qantas, however, and enabled it to report an underlying pre-tax profit of $124 million. Apart from its largely, albeit not entirely COVID-free first half, there was its own decisive, even brutal, response, the help the airline got from the government and the very material contribution it received from its non-flying businesses.
To help you navigate this complicated fall, were pleased to offer you a simpler way to get all of your education news: Our new Michigan Schools: Education in the COVID Era newsletter delivered right to your inbox. To receive this newsletter, simply click here to sign up.

Theres no dollar amount that would make Lisa Palaian feel comfortable returning to her classroom in person this fall.
BEIJING, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- China has been stepping up efforts in ecological protection of the Yangtze River, China's mother river and one of the two longest rivers in the country.

During his stay in Ma'anshan City in east China'sAnhui Province on Wednesday, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visited the Xuejiawa ecological park.



He inspected the floodwater situation at the Yangtze River, comprehensive renovation of waterfronts, as well as ecological and environmental protection and restoration.

China has listed the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin, and the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt as national strategies.



By the end of November 2019, the central budget had earmarked 123.7 billion yuan (17.67 billion U.S. dollars) to support environment rehabilitation in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, according to the People's Daily.



Xi also visited Magang Group of China Baowu Steel Group. In a workshop, he learned about the company's resumption of work, production and operations.

Thanks to its great sacrifice and painstaking efforts, China has basically brought the COVID-19 epidemic under control and the economy is steadily reviving.



As shown by multiple mid-year indicators, China's economy has ridden out its downturn due to COVID-19 strains and bounced back to growth in the second quarter.



On Wednesday afternoon, Xi also inspected Chaohu Lake in Hefei, the capital City of Anhui Province, and spoke to soldiers and local officials as well as Party members to help battle the flood.

Continuous rainfalls in the flood season have lifted the water level in Chaohu Lake, one of China's five largest fresh water lakes.

Local authorities dispatched 3,000 soldiers as part of the flood relief efforts in July.

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG4caUB4ZBw
The temporary exhibition "Transformation", which brings together 46 contemporary works of art signed by Romanian and Polish artists, can be visited starting Thursday at the ground floor of the National Gallery of the National Art Museum of Romania (MNAR) in Bucharest.

The exhibition, done following the collaboration of the host institution with the Academy of Arts in Gdansk and the National University of Arts of Bucharest, comprises 34 paintings, 4 digital print works and two object-type sculptures, two video installations and another four works conducted in mixed medium.The project "Transformation: From Bucharest to Gdansk. From Gdansk to Bucharest," initiated by the Academy of Arts in Gdansk, proposes a concentrated perspective on the specificity and identity of Central and East European painting and is part of a series of exhibitions conducted in collaboration with art academies and universities in the geographical interest space."The Academy of Arts of Gdansk and the National University of Arts of Bucharest are two of the arts education institutions that have tradition, which, together with the National Art Museum of Romania, contribute in various ways to the development of artistic life in the Central and East European space. So different in appearance, the way to see and to understand art - Polish and Romanian - discovers, not without surprise, many affinities and common points," MNAR mentions.The exhibition can be visited until September 30, from Wednesday until Sunday, only by respecting the measures of the museum to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Monday evening school board meetings resulted in three different outcomes to the question of reopening school in the coming weeks. Penn-Delco returned to a hybrid opening, Wallingford Swarthmore voted to go all virtual until Oct. 2 to start to the school year and Garnet Valley is delaying a decision one week.

Wallingford-Swarthmore had two speakers to provide guidance on reopening. Dr. P.J. Brennan, chief medical officer and senior vice president of the University of Pennsylvania Health Systems, board certified in Infectious Disease and Internal Medicine, and Dr. David Rubin, director of PolicyLab of Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, addressed concerns.

The two doctors urged the school board to be cautious in opening and pointed to to a number of factors including the test positivity rate in the county, the travel season which has caused increased infections and coming Labor Day holiday which could contribute to that. They also noted time time needed to reopen schools and challenges of dealing with at risk children in a virtual setting.

Buying time to have a better understanding where Delco would be after school opens, they said.

It would be prudent to move the start of in-person education to a point later in September towards the end of the month or even Oct. 1, said Brennan, who noted while COVID test positivity rates had fallen in the past week to 6.5 percent, it is still high.

Weve learned this virus likes to spread in gatherings, and close crowded spaces, said Rubin. He used the examples of high-risk patients in nursing homes, meat-packing and poultry farms as well as vacationers and travelers over the summer.

When you look to the fall and ask yourself, where is the risk that hasnt been seen yet, its universities and schools. We learned over the summer that symptomatic and some pre-symptomatic children can spread the virus, he said,

He pointed to an outbreak in Israel when they reopened schools and what he called a farce in Gwinnett County, Ga., where an outbreak forced the district to close back down.

After receiving new information from the state departments of Health and Education Monday morning the Garnet Valley School District decided to delay its vote on a virtual reopening of schools until next Monday evening.

Meanwhile at Penn-Delco, Superintendent Dr. George Steinhoff said the new guidelines released by the state indicate the district could reopen with a hybrid model.

He noted data will be monitored weekly and recommendations can change should spikes in infection and spread.

Tuesday evening the Radnor School board also invited Brennan and Rubin to speak and they repeated much of what they said at the Wallingford Swarthmore School Board meeting.

More than 40 residents commented offered a number of points to the board with their comments read by district communications officer Michael Petitti.

Radnors board unanimously approved a change to its health and safety plan that will require students to keep masks on while seated at desks 6 feet apart or greater.

There were a number of questions about the quality of face masks, gator and bandanna types masks have been question following a Duke University study. Health officials have also noted the importance of students having mask breaks.

Board member Andrew Babson made a motion to go all virtual and he said his goal was for kids to be safe. Another board member made a motion to postpone that discussion until the next meeting Tuesday, Aug. 18., to discuss the plan. It passed 6-3.
We understand the views on Iran, said one European official. But ultimately we take a different view on their ability to trigger snap-back. While acknowledging that the text of the resolution was not clearly written, this official and others said that it was clear to all that it was composed to deal with an Iranian withdrawal from the agreement, not for the withdrawal of one of the Western signatories. European reaction ranged from irritated to infuriated, while Russia and China want to be talking about this as much as possible, the official said.
A Brisbane cafe where a COVID-positive international traveller dined on Sunday has temporarily closed its doors to enable deep cleaning and all staff to be tested for the virus.

The Japanese woman tested positive for COVID-19 after returning to her home country, sparking a public health alert for Virgin flight VA962 from Brisbane to Sydney on Monday, August 17, and anyone who dined at The Jam Pantry cafe in Greenslopes on Sunday, August 16.

Queensland Health and NSW Health are contacting people from flight VA962, who were in close contact with the case.

In an update from Queensland Health on Thursday evening, New South Wales Health was contacting passengers in rows 25-29 on VA962 as they were seated close to the Japanese woman.

Anyone in these rows should immediately quarantine and get tested if they develop symptoms. All other passengers were considered "low risk", according to Queensland Health.
New Delhi: Seasonal monsoon rains played havoc with the national capitals infrastructure in the past 24 hours, as Delhis stretched civic amenities came under severe stress amid the unprecedented coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak. Here are five reasons that led to Delhis monsoon mess:

Are Delhi-NCRs waterways lost?

When there were fewer houses, buildings, and other infrastructure in Delhi, there were small waterways more like tiny streams that would allow water to move. But now societies have stormwater drains. We have urbanised in a way that waterways are blocked for good. The other drains that are ferrying the water have to be cleaned. Why arent they cleaned before every monsoon? asked Shashank Shekhar, assistant professor, department of geology, Delhi University. Most stormwater drains carry sewage instead of rainwater.

More rain in less time

Gurugram weather station recorded 15.8 centimetres (cm) of rainfall on Thursday morning. While Safdarjung, Palam and Delhi Ridge weather stations recorded 5.5 cm; 8.8 cm and 7.7 cm of rainfall, respectively, on Wednesday.

Most of these intense bursts of showers were recorded between three and five hours.

In 2016, 11 cm of rain was recorded in Delhi in a few hours, triggering extensive flooding of the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.

This appears to be in line with the general trend of heavy rains in a short span of time that are being increasingly recorded across the country. Urban planners in Delhi should factor these discernible changes, said RK Jenamani, senior scientist, India Meteorological Department (IMD)

Lack of desilting

The public works department (PWD) authorities and civic officials have acknowledged that this year the de-silting of drains was delayed by about one-and-a-half months because of the Covid-19 outbreak. Shortage of the workforce was one of the biggest challenges faced by us this year. It affected desilting work as well. Usually, we aim to clean drains by May 31 or the latest by June 15 ahead of the onset of the monsoon in the city. But that was not the case this year. We require up to 1,500 labourers for the desilting process, but this year the workforce was reduced to 50% because of the pandemic, said a senior PWD official on condition of anonymity.

Old drainage plan

Delhis drainage system is antiquated, as it dates back to 1976, when the needs and the density of population in the national capital were different.

The new drainage master plan, developed by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Delhi, is yet to be implemented.

No percolation

Delhis paved areas have seen an exponential rise.

The run-off of water from a paved area is far higher than natural areas.

For example, for one unit of rain, a paved area will generate 95% of run-off, as compared to 50% for a natural area. This has led to a massive uptick in the volume of water that needs to be drained in the national capital.
Twenty-two people have been charged with federal crimes as part of a partnership between the U.S. Attorney General and Detroit-area law enforcement.

Attorney General William Barr visited Detroit Tuesday to meet with local officials and provide an update on Operation Legend, an initiative to target violent crime, gangs, and gun violence in seven American cities. The effort is an extension of another federal initiative launched in December 2019, which overall has brought 42 federal agents to Detroit.

U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider said the operation is working, in a Wednesday press release.

The additional federal agents in Detroit have already taken high-powered assault rifles off our streets and have put armed drug dealers behind bars, Schneider said. If these federal agents had not come to Detroit, these violent criminals would still be terrorizing our neighborhoods. We cannot  and we will not  let up in our fight against violent crime.

Operation Legend was launched on July 8 in Kansas City and since expanded to include Albuquerque, Chicago, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Detroit, Memphis and St. Louis. The initiative is named after four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed in Kansas City.

Twenty-two defendants have been charged with federal offenses in Detroit, including:
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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Afghan officials say Taliban militants have killed at least 18 people and wounded eight others in two fresh attacks in Takhar and Nangarhar provinces.



The insurgents attacked pro-government militia forces in Takhars Khwaja Bahauddin district overnight, killing at least 13 members of the force, local police said on August 20.



Security sources said one army soldier was also killed and two others wounded when they went to support the militia forces that came under Taliban attack.



The officials said the clash in Takhar lasted several hours. Many districts in the northeastern province are contested between the militants and government forces.



The Afghan spy agency supports pro-government local militia groups  known as Public Uprising Forces -- in remote areas across the country to fight against the Taliban insurgency.



Meanwhile, officials in eastern Nangarhar Province say at least four security officers were killed and two others wounded in an overnight Taliban assault in areas bordering Pakistan.



Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for provincial governor said on August 20 that 10 Taliban fighters were also killed in fighting between security forces and the militants.



The latest violence comes as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani urged the Taliban to accept a permanent cease-fire and began peace talks with the government.

But the prospect of intra-Afghan peace talks sought by the United States was thrown into more uncertainty as the government said it would not release the last 320 Taliban prisoners it holds until the militants freed more captured Afghan soldiers.



Kabul has already freed 4,600 Taliban inmates out of the 5,000 pledged in a landmark U.S.-Taliban deal signed in February.



The Taliban says it has freed all 1,000 government prisoners it had pledged in the agreement with the United States.



The prisoner swap was a precondition for launching peace talks.

With reporting by dpa and Tolonews.com
Chandigarh Trucks carrying illegal mining material should not be let off easily, the Punjab and Haryana high court has said, while dismissing the bail pleas of 18 accused in a case reported in SBS Nagar.

The high court bench of justice Arun Kumar Tyagi observed that the confiscation of the vehicles will not be dependent solely on the basis of conviction of the accused, when the use of the vehicles for illegal mining may be proved by documentary evidence.

The court was hearing bail pleas of 18 persons filed in June against an FIR registered in May 2020. The petitioners are alleged to be owners/drivers of 29 tippers (out of which eight tippers were filled with sand), two Poclain machines, two canters and one motorcycle found on the unauthorised site for illegal mining. It also came before court that since April, 201 FIRs have been registered and 299 vehicles have been confiscated. Seeing the gravity of the situation, the court had made director, department of mines and geology, Punjab as party in the case.

Due to undesirable human interference with forces of nature, calamities, which were a few years back considered to be un-scientific fiction or remote possibilities, have turned into harsh realities and become nightmares in many parts of the world, endangering human life and even posing a threat to the very existence of mankind if remedial measures are not taken, the bench observed, adding that remedial steps by the state be taken in two weeks and court be informed of the same.

MEASURES LISTED OUT BY STATE BEFORE COURT

For monitoring movement of vehicles, the mining department is developing a portal for online booking, registration and tracking of vehicles. Punjab has requested the Centre for implementing the mining surveillance system. The District Legal Committee and the District Level Environment Management Cell are to be substituted by District Mineral Foundation. DCs have been told to conduct review meetings on status of complaints and FIRs registered. DCs told to take action against officials for non-filing/delay in filing of FIRs.

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Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla has said that Bangladesh is always a priority country for India. Shringla visited Dhaka from August 18-19.

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla has said that Bangladesh is always a priority country for India. For us, Bangladesh is always a priority country, Shringla was quoted by local media as saying when asked if Bangladesh will be given priority in getting COVID-19 vaccine produced by India. Shringla visited Dhaka from August 18-19.

On Tuesday, India and Bangladesh discussed ways to cooperate on containing the coronavirus pandemic, including on therapeutics and vaccine, sources said. The two countries also discussed the revival of the economy in a post-pandemic world, sources added.

Also Read: UP Police may interrogate Vikas Dubeys son on Bikru encounter

The discussion took place during a meeting between Shringla and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. During the meeting, the two discussed security-related issues of mutual interest and proposal for the travel bubble for business, official and medical travel were also discussed, sources said.

They further said, Areas of interest were enhancing connectivity, the revival of economy post-COVID, cooperation on COVID-19 assistance, including on therapeutics and vaccine, joint commemoration of Mujib Barsho (the birth centenary of Bangladeshs founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman).

Also Read: MHA to withdraw 100 companies of paramilitary forces from J-K

Hasina expressed gratefulness regarding the supply of locomotives from India. Last month, the Indian Railways had handed over 10 broad-gauge (BG) diesel locomotives to Bangladesh.A proposal for Joint Consultative Commission at Foreign Minister level to be convened virtually soon to oversee relationship, especially projects. Security-related issues of mutual interest were also discussed, sources said. (ANI)

Also Read: Odisha: Waterlogging disrupts normal life in parts of Kalahandi post heavy rainfall
Gateway Movies offers ways to begin exploring directors, genres and topics in film by examining a few streaming movies.

Last month, I found myself a dissenting voice on one of the summers most acclaimed films, Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets. At first glance, the movie appears to be a documentary about the final day of a Las Vegas-area dive bar called Roaring 20s. But the directors, the brothers Bill and Turner Ross, never reveal that this setup was contrived. Although the bars patrons are real people, hanging out without a script, they were in effect cast by the directors, with the expectation (implicit or explicit) that they would behave as they would in that real situation. The actual Roaring 20s bar, which wasnt closing, was near New Orleans.

To the movies fans, the deception is forgivable. Reviews hung up on documentary veracity are missing the point, tweeted my friend Scott Tobias, who also contributes to The New York Times, adding, Authenticity and artifice coexist all the time in movies, and this film proves something special can come out of deliberately mingling the two.

I dont disagree. In a sense, nearly all films balance competing factors: the cameras lens, which carries at least the promise of capturing unmitigated reality; the situations, real or manufactured, that take place while that camera is rolling; the decidedly nonobjective people controlling what is shot; and additional manipulations  of editing, effects and music  that occur after shooting.
The mortal remains of legendary Indian classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj was kept for a final glimpse in the building compound to enable his fans and others to pay their last respects in Mumbai. Pt Jasraj breathed his last in New Jersey on August 17, plunging the world of music into a pall of gloom. (Image: Viral Bhayani)
In March 2018, our capital city of Hartford was rescued from the brink of bankruptcy by a state taxpayer funded bailout of $550 million. Hamdens total debt is double that amount at $1.1 billion, which has been called the highest per capita debt in the nation. Who will rescue Hamdens taxpayers?

On July 1, during this time of a pandemic-induced economic contraction, with the cost of food and basic household supplies soaring, Hamdens taxpayers were served a 6.4 percent (3 mill) tax increase. This resulted from the cost of servicing the huge debt. Most homeowners will not be aware of the financial impact until receiving a new mortgage coupon book which will spread the homeowners awareness over a 12-month period, thereby minimizing the collective outrage over this huge increase. Those of us without a mortgage or who pay our own taxes have already received the unpleasant news.

Picture a tiny house in Hamden of less than 1,000 square feet paying over $500 a month in property tax. Could this be your home? As the tax rate increases and home values decline, the grand list (total value of all property in town) will not grow, thus continuing the vicious cycle.

In addition, Hamden has several thousand acres of prime land that is either undertaxed or not taxed at all: including Sleeping Giant and its land trust, Quinnipiac, the Mill River and its watershed, lakes Whitney and Wintergreen, and Brooksvale Park.

Over the years elected officials have had an obligation to balance the sharing of the cost of government between employees, retirees and taxpayers. This last group has been underrepresented and is now facing the bulk of the cost burden and financial sacrifice.

In 2007, the administration attempted to implement sweeping changes to improve financial stability and limit tax increases in the future. Union employees and retirees came out in force and I do not criticize a single one for protecting their own interest. Officials made a genuine attempt at necessary changes, but the results were too little too late.

On Aug. 9, 2018, The Yankee Institute published a report by Marc Fitch titled What Happened To Hamden? References were made to a 2016 report that rated all 169 Connecticut municipalities on fiscal health. Hamden scored dead last at 169th. How did all this happen and what is the solution to the crisis?

The history: Sixty years ago, Hamden embarked on a program to attract and retain career-minded employees. The town offered competitive wages and family paid health insurance for life and a deferred pension plan, all at zero cost to the employee. The program was a success and in 1965 a fireman trainees starting salary was 6 percent higher than an average 4-year college graduate. The family insurance that had cost $25 to $30 per month is now over $2,000 a month. Also for a 12- to 13-year period cost of living adjustments were given to employees at double the amount required by labor contracts. This added hundreds of dollars to monthly pension checks. The opportunity to save millions of dollars was squandered.

Education: The town employs 550 certified teachers and enrolls 5,300 students. The average classroom size is 20 students. According to that math, more than 50 percent of all Hamden certified teachers do not teach in the classroom. Does this seem like an effective use of taxpayer dollars?

The solution: Earlier this year an elected official stated, We are making progress and heading in the right direction. If he truly believes this, then it is proof that a solution will not come from within. The town must seek bankruptcy protection under the appropriate state statutes to eliminate the billion-dollar debt and start fresh. The governors approval is required or he can sponsor a bailout similar to Hartfords. We can follow the model used for West Haven to assist solving their financial crisis. They are the same size as Hamden and have a 37.5 mill tax rate compared to Hamdens 52 mill rate. Inaction will soon result in a 60-plus mill rate and financial ruin for many.

Michael R. Mele is a longtime Hamden resident.
Pauline Hanson has recalled the earth-shattering moment she was sent to prison for a crime she did not commit.

The One Nation Party leader was sentenced to three years behind bars in 2003 for electoral fraud and fraudulently obtaining electoral funding, convictions later overturned by the Queensland Court of Appeal.

On the 17th anniversary of her incarceration, the politician fought back tears as she described the 'horrible' 11 weeks she spent inside Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre .

Pauline Hanson has opened up about her 11-weeks in jail on thee 17th anniversary of her incarceration. She is pictured during Senate Business in the Senate at Parliament House on June 17

'The first night I was in Brisbane lockup. There is no lights out. They keep watching every night, you are on camera for everything,' she told 3AW on Thursday, her voice crackling with emotion.

'The next morning they took me over to prison. Because I was so depressed, they put me into the hospital ward to be kept the night.'

The politician said the following day authorities assessed her welfare then took her back to prison.

Deemed still in need of supervision, she was placed into the 'main' cell to be watched overnight before she was eventually placed into her permanent cell.

'It depressed me even more. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't do anything. It was a horrible experience,' she said.

Ms Hanson said it still 'upsets her' to think about the moment she was told she was going to jail and her subsequent time locked up.

The One Nation Party leader said she spent her first night in hospital because she was so depressed. She was sentenced to three years in prison, but the conviction was overturned in the Queensland Court of Appeal 11 weeks later. Pictured: Pauline Hanson's mugshot

While traumatic, Ms Hanson said her experience does not compare to those she has spoken to who have experienced war.

When commended by host Ben Fordham on her choice to reenter parliament, the Senator said politics that landed her in prison that made, but also drove her motivation to return.

She hit out at former Queensland Premier Peter Beattie who increased the maximum sentenced for electoral fraud ahead of her trial.

She added that it was devastating that people thought she would be dishonest, but proclaimed she had no cause to be because she had the membership and support.

Ms Hanson and One Nation Party co-founder David Ettridge were found guilty of fraud charges by a Brisbane District Court jury on August 20, 2003.

They had both pleaded not guilty to fraudulently registering One Nation in Queensland on December 4, 1997.

Ms Hanson said Australia was 'in danger of being swamped by Asians' during her maiden speech in 1996. She is pictured during an interview on Nine News last month

Ms Hanson also plead not guilty to dishonestly obtaining almost $500,000 in electoral reimbursements after the 1998 state election.

Ms Hanson also spoke prison stint in the 2016 documentary Pauline Hanson: Please Explain directed by Anna Broinowski, which explores the impact of her One Nation party on multiculturalism.

She told Ms Broinowski that she was able to help others in prison, including helping a woman get a retrial for murder.

'This is what's made me the person I am,' Ms Hanson said.

In her 1996 maiden speech, Ms Hanson said Australia was 'in danger of being swamped by Asians'.

She has made a return to politics, winning a spot on the Senate at the July 2 election, and has turned her attention to Islam.
Leaders around the world have called for constitutional order to be restored in Mali after a military coup plunged the country into fresh political crisis amid fears that the president's fall could further destabilize the former French colony and west Africa's entire Sahel region.

International condemnation was swift and wide-ranging on Wednesday, hours after soldiers ousted Mali's president and government.

In his first official reaction since President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was forced out, chairman of the African Union and South African president Cyril Ramaphosa condemned what he described the unconstitutional change of government.

Ramaphosa called for the immediate return to civilian rule and for the military to return to their barracks.

On Tuesday afternoon, rebel soldiers took Keita and his prime minister, Boubou Cisse into custody and drove the pair to the outskirts of the capital Bamako to the Kati military base - notorious as the venue for a mutiny in 2012 of mid-ranking officers.

African condemnation

Ramaphosa urged other leaders in Africa and beyond to denounce and reject the military-led government, which has pledged to oversee a transition to elections within a reasonable period.

Keita, who has been the target of months of protests over economic stagnation, corruption and a brutal Islamist insurgency, said Wednesday he was stepping down to avoid bloodshed.

Angolan leader, Joao Lourenco, tweeted: "We repudiate and discourage this way of forcing the alternation of power."

Similar sentiments were expressed in Algeria, which, like Mali, has also faced widespread anti-government protests.

The country's foreign ministry issued a statement. "The ballot box is the only means to power and legitimacy," it said.

EU lists priorities

In Europe, EU Council chief, Charles Michel, called for the immediate release of the prisoners and for a return to the state of law.

"We believe that the stability of the region and of Mali, and the fight against terrorism should be an absolute priority," he added.

The EU has operated a mission training the armed forces in Mali since 2013 and in July announced a joint EU special force to back Mali's fight against jihadist groups.

US wades in

The United States, which has threatened to pull its troops from the Sahel, joined in the chorus of condemnation, with US secretary of state Mike Pompeo condemning the forcible seizure of power.

Pompey said: "The US calls on all political and military actors to work towards a restoration of constitutional government, engage in dialogue and reject violence."

The resounding criticism is in stark contrast to the favourable treatment meted out to the mutinying soldiers by the Malian people.

Rebels were cheered by crowds who had gathered to demand Keita's resignation as they arrived in Bamako. There were no reports of casualties during the military takeover. Colonel-Major Ismael Wague, a spokesman for the coup leaders, has vowed to restore stability to Mali and form a transititional, civilian-government.

There were however reports of looting. Videos circulating on social media showed Malians running unchecked through luxury compounds in the city, including a property identified as belonging to the justice minister Kassoum Tapo, which was later burnt down.
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Linkedin Budi Sutrisno (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 20, 2020 17:49 517 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066f57060 1 National KSPN,KSPI,omnibus-bill,omnibus-bill-on-job-creation,omnibus-law,tripartite-forum,labor-union,house-of-representatives,APINDO,Kadin Free

The National Federation of Trade Unions (KSPN) has responded to an accusation that the tripartite team formed by the government has had little impact on the formulation of the omnibus bill on job creation, calling the claim untrue and degrading.

The response was directed at Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) president Said Iqbal, who previously said that a team formed by the House of Representatives to discuss the bill was stronger and had contributed more than the tripartite team.

Said claimed on Tuesday that the tripartite team acted merely as a "rubber stamp" body and a "tool of legitimacy" for the government, and that it had not provided any solutions or aspirations regarding the stipulations in the bill that concern labor law.

KSPN chairman Ristadi said the tripartite team had worked for two weeks to discuss the labor cluster article by article and had published its results transparently.

Read also: House, unions team up to discuss labor provisions in omnibus bill on job creation

[The discussion] was so intense that one chapter could take half a day. That proves that the tripartite team is not just a rubber stamp body saying Yes, boss!, let alone that it is just for show, Ristadi said in a statement on Thursday.

The tripartite team includes the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) and the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) as well as trade unions. Ristadi said the team represented 75 percent of the total labor force from all trade unions.



Ristadi argued that the omnibus bill was formulated by both the government and the House, so that the team formed by one of them was just as important as the one formed by the other.

He said the aspirations of the two teams might not be very different but he hoped the House would take into account the tripartite teams working results as an important consideration in the bill's deliberation.
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Barack Obama likes to talk about the bending arc of history. His own story is a testament to it. Not just the well-known biographical portions, but the political parts as well.

In 2004, as an unknown state senator from Illinois, he delivered the keynote address at the Democratic convention that is remembered for its lofty oratory and themes of unappreciated national unity. As president for eight years, he re-committed to that ethos by vowing repeatedly that the fever of Republican opposition would eventually break.

On Wednesday night, he addressed the Democrats convention once again, this time as a party luminary and validator of his one-time vice president, Joe Biden. But there was no talk of the divide between red states and blue states being merely artificial. There was no insistence that rationality would eventually prevail among the Republican Party.

Instead, his address, like much of the nights programming, was a cold, hard wake up call to those listening at home. Trump was irredeemable. Some political divides were unbridgeable. Hope was still there. But the world had gotten dark and time was running out. Biden was on the ballot, but he was more of a vessel than a protagonist in this election. It was, instead, democracy and the people protesting for it versus Trumpism and those willfully enabling it.

You can give our democracy new meaning. You can take it to a better place. Youre the missing ingredientthe ones who will decide whether or not America becomes the country that fully lives up to its creed, Obama said, addressing young voters. That work will continue long after this election. But any chance of success depends entirely on the outcome of this election.

Those who know Obama say the last three years have been filled with two senses: liberation that hes no longer in the political spotlight, and alarm at whats been happening in it. He did not have even modest hopes for Trump. But the trajectory the Trump presidency has taken has still disturbed him, and not just because almost all of his signature achievements have been dismantled.

Story continues

The fever broke, is how Ben Labolt, Obamas 2012 campaign press secretary put it, but it broke in the other direction.

Through it all, Obama stayed quiet, committed to a proposition that past presidents dont comment on current ones and cognizant that anything he said would be weaponized by Trump. One aide noted that when Obama himself was serving, his team found opportunities in all the instances when Dick Cheney would speak out against him.

Dems Deliver Apocalyptic Message: Vote or Die

But Obama has also undertaken some ventures that gave insight into his increasingly despondent view of American politics. There was a deal to produce films and shows for Netflix that would serve as longer-form, substance heavy alternatives to cable news driven conversations; and an effort to help fight redistricting by investing in down ballot racesa manifestly important political function that he had not prioritized while in office.

Former and current aides say that Obama long ago recognized that the incentives built into the political systemfrom gerrymandered districts to a balkanized media ecosystemwere more powerful than pleas for better angels, moving oratory, or basic rationality. He spoke about the Republican fever breaking after Mitt Romneys 2012 loss. But by 2013, when the government was shut down in an attempt to kill Obamacare, everyone in the White House knew it would never happen.

Trumps election may have crystalized the idea that Republicanism was not venturing towards some more blissfully post-partisan direction. And that had to have been particularly true for Obama, who had mercilessly mocked Trump during a now infamous White House Correspondents dinneran affair that initially was hailed as the end of Trumps political ambitions but, in reality, just convinced him all the more to run for president.

But Trump was the symptom, not the cause.

Hes just a dumber, crasser, more explicitly racist version of Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan, Obamas longtime aide Dan Pfeiffer said. He is cut from the same cloth. They cooked him up in a lab and then ultimately lost control.

On Wednesday night, Obama seemed to acknowledge as much. He may have directed his daggers at the president, for abandoning lower case d democratic principles, for squandering Americas global standing, for botching a pandemic, and so on. But, subtly, his most biting line was saved for those in the Republican Party who had allowed it all to transpire.

These shouldnt be Republican principles or Democratic principles. Theyre American principles, he said. But at this moment, this president and those who enable him have shown they dont believe in these things.

It was, for lack of a better word, stark, made even more so by the setting: Obama standing alone at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, the words of the Constitution behind himas if to symbolize just how little there was between Trump and the destruction of the American experiment.

After the address was over, Obamas aides made the case that the ex-president hadnt changed but that, rather, the world around him had. And maybe so. Talk of hope and change doesnt particularly work when you are articulating your belief the country is under threat from within.

But they also acknowledged that what he had done on Wednesday night was historically unique. Ex-presidents dont issue clarion calls about the direction their successors are taking. The arc of history, Obama was warning, was bending in the wrong direction.

Thats how a democracy withers, he said, until its no democracy at all.

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WATERLOO REGION  Waterloo Regions municipalities and the Grand River Conservation Authority plan to work together with the local Indigenous community to create a reconciliation action plan.

Regional Chair Karen Redman hopes the initiative is recognized as a positive step forward, putting a local focus on calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

I think that its a very good strategy as we move forward, said Regional Chair Karen Redman.

We hope this kind of expertise will guide us in the right direction.

The region launched on Thursday a public procurement process on behalf of all the local municipalities and conservation authority seeking independent Indigenous consulting expertise. That role will be to facilitate engagement with the local Indigenous community, and to work with an Indigenous advisory group that will soon be formed.

It could be a consulting firm, it could be an individual, said Redman, adding the plan is to hire by the end of September.

The advisory group will guide the regional efforts to address the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions calls to action, and to help develop a reconciliation action plan which will include recommendations to address needs arising from historic harm as well as systemic issues and barriers still faced by Indigenous people in the region.

Were looking for broad engagement with the Indigenous community to help us inform that plan, Redman said.

She said its important to turn to expertise from the Indigenous community to ensure the organizations are looking at things the right way and that when action is taken that it is meaningful. This will be about looking forward, but also how to depict the regions history in a respectful way.

Together we believe it is the time to build stronger relationships and mutual trust and respect with the Indigenous community as we work together to create a path forward, the joint release said. All partners have a role to play in helping to address the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action to end the systemic barriers and improve service to Indigenous Peoples.
TDT | Manama

Teachers and doctors who fail to report domestic violence cases may face toughened punishments that include imprisonment and hefty fines, TDT has learnt. This was mentioned in a press statement issued by the Council of Representatives, announcing that a group of members have proposed toughened penalties against those who fail to report domestic violence cases.

According to the MPs, the proposal comes to amend the existing laws concerning domestic violence and within the efforts exerted to combat the increase in the numbers of such cases during the past few years. The new proposed amendment stipulates punishing individuals who are negligent or reluctant to report a case of domestic violence with a fine of not less than BD200 and not exceeding BD2,000.

It also calls for imprisonment for a period of no less than one year along with a fine of no less than BD1,000 and not exceeding BD2,000or one of these two penaltiesif the act of violence results in the death or permanent disability of the victims.

Submitting the proposal were Council of Representatives Speaker Fawzia Zainal, Second Deputy Speaker Ali Zayed, Woman and Child Affairs Committee head Fatima Al Qatari, Human Rights Committee head Ammar Al Bannai, and Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee member Ghazi Al Rahma.

The lawmakers called for adding a new article to Law 17 of 2015 concerning the protection against domestic violence. The new article tightens the penalties for those who fail or are negligent in any crime that can be classified as a result of domestic violence, which came to their knowledge by virtue of their work, whether they were practising a medical or educational profession.

Commenting on the proposed amendment, Al Qatari said: This amendment to the law comes to add a new article, in light of the absence of any penalty in the currently enforced law against the failure to implement this obligation imposed by Article 8 of the same law, which clearly states that every victim of domestic violence or any member of the family has the right to file a report on the incident of domestic violence.

The Woman and Child Affairs Committee head added: Anyone who becomes aware of an incident of domestic violence by virtue of his workor his medical or educational professionmust inform the Public Prosecution or police stations of what he knows about the incident.

The Family and Child Prosecution at the Public Prosecution is receiving many cases related to domestic violence, and the results are tragic. This motivates us to clamp down on these cases that require a lot of humane and compassionate treatment, especially if the act of abuse is committed against a child.
I guess I don't expect a writer/director to tell people NOT to go see their movie, but The New Mutants' Josh Boone is hedging so much here. Seeing New Mutants in theaters: "safer than an airplane" (if people follow the loosely-enforced rules) https://t.co/Rshzikldfo pic.twitter.com/97VJsoEWrX  Jacob Oller (@JacobOller) August 20, 2020

New Mutants director Josh Boone decided he wanted to pull some clownery in regards to going to see his new soon-to-be-a-flop film.Heroic Hollywood talked with the director about whether the movie would have ever gone straight to Disney+. He says no, specifically mentioning that the end of the film was designed to be seen on a big screen. He then says that if people (clowns) can go to house parties they can put a mask on and see a movie, mentioning its safer than being on an airplane or restaurant.Airlines require masks and have remove and outright banned people from flying for not following the policy. Restaurants can't do indoor dining because it helped cause massive outbreaks. Meanwhile movie theaters are letting customers take their masks off for eating and drinking purposes and have not stated how forceful they will be to make sure people keep their masks on while watching a film.After being closed since mid-March, major theater chains are opening back up this weekend. AMC opened 100 of its locations today. Regal and Cinemark open tomorrow, but have not given exact numbers. Indoor theaters in states like New York, California, and New Jersey will continue to remain closed.Unless Disney pulls the plug at the last possible minute, New Mutants finally comes out next week.
The Japanese government has been criticized by environmental groups for its weak presence and slow response in tackling an oil spill disaster caused by a Japanese freighter that ran aground off Mauritius in the Indian Ocean last month.

On Aug. 10, four days after oil started to leak from the Wakashio vessel, Japan dispatched a six-member relief team, but the government has maintained a low-key attitude about the crisis compared with countries such as France and India, according to the groups and locals in Mauritius.

"The Japanese government seems to be on the defensive, perhaps due to fears of damages claims," said Kanna Mitsuta, executive director at the Japan unit of the nongovernmental environmental group Friends of the Earth International.

"It may not be legally responsible for the disaster as the freighter was Panamanian-flagged, but it is effectively a Japanese one as it was operated and owned by Japanese shipping companies," she said. "The government should get more involved as if it was its own problem."

Mitsuta also said Japan can also play an active role by sharing its experience and expertise in dealing with maritime accidents.

The bulk carrier Wakashio, owned by Nagashiki Shipping Co. and operated by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., was carrying a total of some 3,800 tons of fuel oil and 200 tons of diesel when it ran aground near Pointe d'Esny, designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, on July 25.

Leakage began on Aug. 6 when one of the five fuel tanks suffered a crack. Mitsui O.S.K. said more than 1,000 tons of fuel oil has leaked from the vessel, which was en route to Brazil from China via Singapore.
FAIRFIELD  Two weeks after Tropical Storm Isaias, the town continues to clear debris.

Brian Carey, acting director of the Public Works Department, said the town is currently removing storm debris from rights-of-way throughout Fairfield and will collect any debris that is located in a right-of-way over the next couple of weeks.

Limbs, trees and other storm wrack not on streets, sidewalks and other public property is a different matter, he said.

Any debris that has fallen in the backyard of the private property is the responsibility of the property owner to remove, Carey said. Residents are allowed to dispose of green waste materials free of charge (at) We Care/Denali which is located at Richard White Way.

Carey said residents must have a 2021 Transfer Station sticker, which is available at the Recreation Department, in order to dispose of the material for free. He said contractors who bring material to the facility are charged a per-ton rate for disposal of any green waste materials.

The Aug. 4 storm tore through central and western Connecticut, with top winds up to 65 mph. The winds knocked down trees and left widespread power outages in its wake.

At the conclusion of the storm, 67 percent of Fairfield was without power. It took a full week for utility crews to repair all the downed power lines.

According to Carey, town employees doing debris removal are working during normal business hours and using limited overtime. He said public works has an annual contingency in the budget for cleanup work after storms.

These onetime large events can have a strain on the annual operating budget, Carey said, but we are hoping to access FEMA disaster assistance to help with the bulk of the storm response for the period directly after the storm.
By PTI

COLOMBO: Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, who was sacked for opposing the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord in 1987, has been unanimously appointed as the Speaker of Sri Lanka's new parliament which met for the first time on Thursday following the August 5 general election.

At the inaugural session of the 9th parliament, Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena proposed Abeywardena for the post.

The resolution was seconded by opposition Member of Parliament Ranjith Madduma Bandara.

Soon after he was appointed, Abeywardena, 75, was congratulated by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and all other legislators.

Abeywardena, who is from the southern district of Matara, was removed from his seat in 1987 after entering the House 4 years before from the then ruling United National Party (UNP).

ALSO READ | Is India washing its hands off Sri Lankan Tamils?

He was opposing to the Indian intervention in Sri Lanka's conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who were fighting to create a separate homeland for the Tamils in the country's north and east.

His sacking from parliament came as the then President JR Jayewardene and the then Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi signed the deal which brought the Indian troops to Sri Lanka's northern and eastern battle fields.

Abeywardene was against the provincial councils system introduced as part of the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord by India in its bid to make Sri Lanka grant political power to the Tamils.

The system created 9 provincial councils.

ALSO READ | Sri Lanka Easter attack probe panel summons former president Maithripala Sirisena

Abeywardene, ironically became the chief minister of one of them, the southern provincial council in 1994 until he contested the 2001 national parliamentary election.

In 2004, he became the Minister of Culture and later in 2010 became the Minister of Agriculture.

During felicitation speeches on Abeyawrdena's appointment as Speaker on Thursday, one of the party leaders praised his courage to stand up against the Indo-Lanka Accord.

He was unanimously elected as the new parliament met for the first time.

Abeyawrdena is a member of the Sri Lanka People's Party (SLPP).

Prime Minister Rajapaksa-led SLPP won a landslide victory in the parliamentary elections held on August 5.

The SLPP and its allies won a record 150 seats in the 225-member parliament.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.20

By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:

The value of trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Belgium amounted to $215.9 million over 1H2020, compared to $169.2 million during the same period of 2019, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Statistics Committee.

The share of Belgium in the total value of Kazakhstans trade turnover stood at less than 0.5 percent during the reporting period compared to 0.4 percent during the same period of 2019.

Kazakhstans export to Belgium amounted to $163.9 million over the period from January through June 2020, compared to $102.1 million during the same period of 2019.

Belgiums share in the total volume of Kazakhstans export amounted to less than 0.6 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 0.4 percent during the same period of 2019.

In turn, Kazakhstans imports from Belgium stood at about $52.03 million over the reporting period, compared to $67.06 million during the same period of 2019.

Belgiums share in the total volume of Kazakhstans import amounted to 0.3 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 0.4 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
A DUBLIN man has been sent for trial accused of causing serious harm to a pensioner in an assault on a city street.

James ONeill (53) was charged following an alleged attack last year which left Paddy Hansard (73) suffering serious head injuries and broken bones in his neck.

Mr ONeill had a book of evidence served on him when he appeared in Dublin District Court today.

Judge Carol Ann Coolican sent him for trial to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

The accused, of Courtney Place, Ballybough, is charged with causing serious harm to Mr Hansard at Courtney Place, Ballybough on August 17, 2019.

A state solicitor said the book of evidence was ready and the DPP was consenting to Mr ONeill being sent for trial to the next sittings of the circuit court.

Judge Coolican gave the accused the formal notice that he had 14 days to provide any alibi details to the prosecution.

Mr ONeill, dressed in a black hooded jacket and trousers and wearing a black face mask nodded that he understood this warning.

The judge also ordered the prosecution to furnish the defence with copies of the accuseds garda interview video.

She sent Mr O'Neill forward on existing bail conditions, with no objection from the prosecution.

He had initially been required to sign on three times per week at a garda station but this had been reduced to once weekly in April, defence solicitor Rory Staines said.

The accused was also required to surrender his passport and not apply for any other travel documentation, under bail terms.

Mr Staines asked for free legal aid to cover both junior and senior counsel in the circuit court, given the nature of the charge.

The judge agreed, and remanded the accused on bail, to appear in the circuit court on October 30.

Before the hearing concluded, she asked Mr ONeill to confirm if his signature was on the bail bond.

He raised a thumb and said yeah before leaving the court.

The accused has not yet entered a plea to the charge, which is under the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

When he first came before the court in March, Detective Garda Gary Moran told the court Mr ONeill was arrested and charged at Mountjoy station.

He did not make any reply, Det Garda Moran said.

Mr Hansard, a retired scaffolder, was on his way home with his partner June from a night out at the Clonliffe House pub.

After he was injured, he was rushed to the Mater Hospital by emergency services, in a critical condition.

The OAP was later moved to the Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital, in Finglas, Dublin.

The incident featured on RTEs Crimecall programme last September.
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...
DAKAR, Senegal - African and Western leaders have condemned the junta that forced Malis president from power, warning the coup was a deep setback that could threaten the battle against Islamic extremism across the Sahel region, where thousands have been killed by jihadists.

The West African economic bloc, known as ECOWAS, held a virtual extraordinary summit Thursday on the situation in Mali after military leaders pushed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita from office earlier this week.

Coups were on the decline in West Africa, and some fear that the removal of Malis elected president three years before the end of his term could set a dangerous precedent. A number of elections are set to be held later this year involving incumbents, including in Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Niger.

Here is a look at several countries in West Africa and the Sahel, the sprawling region south of the Sahara, that could be affected by increased instability in Mali:

MAURITANIA:

Mauritania shares a border with Mali, and already has received tens of thousands of refugees after Islamic militants seized large swaths of northern Mali back in 2012.

The two countries are both part of the G5 Sahel regional force  along with Chad, Niger and Burkina Faso  which is trying to battle extremists across the Sahel. So far the coup leaders in Mali have pledged to maintain their international commitments, presumably to the G5 among others. However, Malis ousted president was among its most vocal supporters and the force already has been plagued by a shortage of funds since its inception.

BURKINA FASO:

A record 1 million people already have been displaced by violence in Burkina Faso, nearly half of them this year, according to a recent report by the Norwegian Refugee Council. Observers fear those numbers could soar higher if the security situation deteriorates significantly in neighbouring Mali.

Burkina Faso was long spared the kind of extremist violence seen across the border, but that has changed. The deterioration of Burkina Fasos security situation began after former President Blaise Compaore resigned amid a popular uprising in 2014 after ruling for nearly three decades. The Presidential Guard was dissolved after a failed coup against the transitional government and security systems broke down.

In January 2016, al-Qaida-linked militants believed to be from outside the country attacked a restaurant popular with foreigners in the capital of Ouagadougou, killing at least 30 people.

Other attacks have followed in the years since, and the violence has increasingly spread south and east. Now some analysts fear the jihadists have set their sites even further, targeting borders with Benin, Togo and Ivory Coast.

Burkina Fasos military is ill-equipped and under-trained and, as the force targets civilians perceived to support the jihadists, accusations are mounting of extrajudicial killings, torture and unlawful detention.

Coupcast, a project of One Earth Future using historical data to predict the likelihood of a coup attempt, put Burkina Faso in the top 10 African countries likely to see a coup in last years report.

NIGER:

Niger also has a long, porous border with Mali, and the western border region already has seen some of the countrys worst extremist attacks  carried out by militants belonging to a group called The Islamic State in the Greater Sahara.

In 2017, Islamic extremists in western Niger killed four American service members who were helping Nigers military battle extremists. At the time of the ambush, the forces were in pursuit of an Islamic extremist leader believed to have crossed over into Mali.

Coupcast also put Niger in the top 10 African countries likely to see a coup in their 2019 report.

IVORY COAST

Ivory Coast, West Africas economic powerhouse, has not seen a large-scale attack by Islamic extremists since March 2016, when al-Qaida-linked militants killed at least 19 people at a beach resort. However, there have been growing concerns amid a number of attacks on security posts along the countrys northern border with Burkina Faso, including the biggest attack since 2016 that killed at least 14 troops on the border in June.

Things are also tense politically as the countrys president of nearly a decade, Alassane Ouattara, now says he will seek a third term in office. He has argued that his previous terms dont count toward a two-term limit because of changes made to the constitution in 2016. Opposition and civil society groups are already calling on him to withdraw his candidacy, and Ouattara could be vulnerable to further efforts to block him from getting a third term.
By James Oliphant

WASHINGTON, Aug 19 (Reuters) - The third night of the Democratic National Convention features a lineup of high-wattage political star power: former President Barack Obama, 2016 presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and 2020 vice presidential running mate Kamala Harris.

Here is a takeaway from Wednesday's program:

WOMEN HEADLINING - AND WATCHING

Women dominated the convention's first two nights and will do so again on Wednesday.

On Monday, former first lady Michelle Obama drew rave reviews on social media for her impassioned rebuke of President Donald Trump. On Tuesday, Jill Biden ended the evening on a somber note, reaching out to families in grief over losses suffered from the coronavirus pandemic.

On Wednesday, actress Kerry Washington served as the moderator, the third woman to do so this week.

The night's closer will be Harris, who will be formally nominated to be Joe Biden's running mate and will then deliver a speech assailing Trump for a failure of leadership. For Harris, a former presidential rival of Biden, it will be the most closely watched address she has ever given  and will serve as a preview of the role she is likely to play ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

Harris will be preceded by Clinton, who headlined the party's convention proceedings four years ago; U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the ever-present thorn in Trumps side; and Senator Elizabeth Warren, who also ran for president.

Watching at home: millions of women voters in swing counties who likely will determine who the next president is going to be.

(Reporting by James Oliphant; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Peter Cooney)
"The units can clean and disinfect 1,000 square feet in a 10-minute cycle. We can clean the entire gym in 30 minutes.

While many Chicagoland gyms are struggling to entice clients back to the treadmills, the Eco Gym of Plainfield is employing the advanced technology of UVC Cleaning from Pilot Services, Inc. of Oswego to provide piece of mind for both their workers and clients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Were proud to be offering the Safezone 850M9 and the M20-120 Decontamination Device and UVC Cleaner for commercial use, said Kimberly Warren, president and CEO of Pilot Services, Inc. Its the same UVC light disinfection technology that has been used for decades by hospitals to provide safe surface decontamination.

Both units are large, portable, cylindrical devices that are easily rolled from room to room. They are self-contained, contactless, and can be activated when a room is empty. The UVC cleaning unit sweeps the room with beams of UVC light to zap 99.9967 percent of bacteria and microorganisms on surfaces, including COVID-19, with enough power to kill Staphylococcus Aureus at 16 feet (5 meters) in 10 minutes.

Ralph ODonnell, property manager of the Heritage Meadows Village Center at 11914 Illinois Route 59 #136 in Plainfield, Ill, recognized the need and value in purchasing two UVC cleaners to use for his tenants, beginning with Eco Gym. ODonnell recently assumed ownership of the Plainfield Eco Gym location and has begun modifying the facility to help members return to the gym and feel safe and socially-distanced in the space. The UVC Cleaning units are part of this overall effort.

For us, it was a way of going above and beyond the CDC guidelines to keep those who enter our facilities as safe as possible, said ODonnell. In addition to our cleaning routine from a professional team twice a week, our two UVC cleaning units are also activated after hours in the common spaces and in our fitness and training classrooms when available. The units can clean and disinfect 1,000 square feet in a 10-minute cycle. We can clean the entire gym in 30 minutes.

ODonnell has also offered introductory UVC cleaning to other tenants of Heritage Meadows Village Center with larger square footage, such as Freedom Brothers Pizzeria and Baird and Warners 75-agent office.

We want to help keep our tenants physically as well as financially healthy during COVID-19, said ODonnell. Helping them keep their facilities as decontaminated as possible will help them continue to attract the clients they need.

The Safezone 850M9 is the best value for commercial facilities and is available from Pilot Services, Inc. for $12,950; the stronger, feature-packed M15-120 is $24,950. Leasing options and volume discounts are available. Both products are highlighted on

https://pilotaiscan.com/uvc/

About Pilot Services, Inc.

Pilot Services, Inc. is a certified WBE, IT services and data recovery firm, which was launched as a pilot program with AT&T to offer IT services in 1988. Today, the company offers managed services, network installation, cabling, and cloud computing services with a team of more than 2,500 technicians, monitoring thousands of clients from their two locations near Chicago and Tucson. They specialize in servicing healthcare facilities. Visit Pilot Services, Inc. at http://www.pilotservicesinc.com.


Daycare a Stockton asset

I am a member of the Stockton Class of 1980. In January of 1976, I realized that I desperately wanted to go to college. No one in my immediate family except me had finished high school, let alone gone to college. I was 29 years old, married to a man with a masters degree and the mother of two preschoolers. My image of myself prior to that time was wife and mother. Nothing more.

We were poor. We had been married for eight years and spent six of those years getting my husband through school using a combination of GI benefits, working part time jobs and a graduate teaching assistantship. My husbands new teaching job paid so little that we were beneath the poverty level for a family of four in Atlantic County.

There was no money for tuition, let alone child care. The availability of a least-cost daycare center on the college campus is the only reason I was able to enroll and eventually get my degree in environmental science. The center is a lifeline to men and women who for whatever reasons were not able to take the usual college, marriage, children path.
Sudan Axes Foreign Ministry Spokesman Over Israel Peace Deal Comments

Sputnik News

12:00 GMT 19.08.2020

The spokesman said on Tuesday that Khartoum was looking forward to establishing diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv after the UAE became the first Arab nation in decades to do so. Sudan's Foreign Ministry publicly rejected his account.

A spokesman for Sudan's Foreign Ministry has been fired following his comments on peace talks with Israel.

The decision to axe Haidar Badawi Sadiq was made by Foreign Minister Omar Qamar al-Din Ismail, the Sudanese government news agency SUNA announced on Wednesday.

It comes a day after Haidar Badawi Sadiq told Sky News Arabia that Sudan was interested in establishing official ties with Israel and predicted that a relevant agreement could be reached by year's end or in early 2021.

"There is no reason for the continuation of hostility between Sudan and Israel", he added. "We do not deny the existence of contacts between the two countries".

Sudan's Foreign Ministry walked back the statement, saying it was received "with astonishment".

"The issue of relations with Israel was not discussed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in any way", it said in a statement, adding that Sadiq was not authorised to make any statements on the matter.

The United Arab Emirates last week became the third Arab nation, after Egypt and Jordan, to establish full-fledged diplomatic ties with Israel. The move, which capped years of growing covert ties between Israel and the Arab world, prompted chatter that other Arab countries including Bahrain, Oman, and Sudan may follow suit.

Sudan officially maintains no diplomatic relations with Israel and went to war with the Jewish State in 1948 and 1967. Israel, in turn, clandestinely supported Christian militias fighting the Muslim central government in two civil wars, which ended up in the secession of South Sudan.

The long-held acrimony showed signs of a thaw this February, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Sudanese head of state Abdel Fattah al-Burhan met in Uganda, where they agreed to establish "a relationship of goodwill".

Sudan's transitional government, which complained that it hadn't been informed about the meeting ahead of time, said that the get together was Burhan's "personal initiative" and that he did not commit to any normalisation.

A Sputnik

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By Park Han-sol





U.S. General Vincent K. Brooks, former commander of the United Nations Command, ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command and the U.S. Forces Korea / Yonhap
PARMA, Ohio -- When one hears about another unlocked vehicle being rummaged through by an overnight thief stealing loose change, a wallet or more, its hard not to think about life lessons learned from watching The Simpsons -- Put your garbage in a garbage can, people. I cant stress that enough. Dont just throw it out the window.

One would assume the same idea also applies for locking ones car, knowing very well that theres a criminal element banking on suburban residents acting like theyre in a rural area where people live miles apart.

The occurrence has become so commonplace that last week the Parma Police Department had to tweet out the obvious.

Please lock your car doors at night. We recently had a rash of car break-ins where the cars have been left UNLOCKED. This includes 6 different cars that were all left UNLOCKED. Some had credit cards taken, 2 had car keys inside (yes, both then stolen), and 1 with a gun inside!!  Parma Police Department (@ParmaPolice) August 12, 2020

Residents get stuff broken into all of the time, but leaving your car unlocked makes it so easy, Police Chief Joseph M. Bobak said. You have people looking for opportunity at 3 a.m., literally walking down the street. Weve caught older teenagers and adults doing that, just trying doors.

Eventually, theyre going to find an open door, rummage through the vehicle and get something valuable, he said.

Every once in a while, we receive a report where someone left their gun in the car and it gets stolen. Youre not being too responsible when you leave a weapon inside of an unlocked vehicle.

Considering that the vast majority of vehicles today come with handy fobs, it makes the practice of leaving a vehicle unlocked that much more unfathomable to police.

I know sometimes people get busy, but they have to make sure the doors are locked, Bobak said. I understand, when my kids were younger, youre trying to get them inside, carrying groceries and maybe its raining. Were all human, but once you get inside, take the extra step to confirm you locked the door. Hit that fob one more time.

Just to be clear, the majority of these criminals arent looking to steal a vehicle. That is unless the opportunity presents itself.

A glance at recent police blotters includes a few stories about people not only leaving their vehicles unlocked, but also the fob -- which triggers the ignition at the touch of a button -- inside the center console.

Talk about making it easy for somebody to hit a jackpot, Bobak said, If you left the fob in there, all you have to do is hit the start button and away you go.

Bobak said the other obvious benefit of residents locking vehicles -- aside from not having personal property stolen -- is it allows the police department to focus its efforts elsewhere.

Itll save our officers time going over documenting what was taken for the insurance report, Bobak said. Also, unless somebody recognizes the suspect, its pretty difficult to catch the person.

Theyre usually just taking change or a wallet -- a real quick grab -- and then theyre gone, so its kind of hard to solve something like that.

In an unrelated note -- and continuing the theme of stating the obvious -- the police chief also confirmed that garbage should indeed be placed in a garbage can.

Read more news from the Parma Sun Post.
Bloomberg  17 

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The show must go on.

While MTV was gearing up for its annual Video Music Awards at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has forced organizers to rethink those plans. In an effort to adhere to social distancing protocols, the show will now take place at various outdoor locations around New York City. (Dont worry: Itll return to Barclays Center next year.)

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 [New York City] with limited or no audience, adhering to all state and city guidelines, representatives from Barclays Center and MTV told the New York Post. 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.

There is a special effort to highlight the boroughs this year, according to the report, hinting at the possibility of Staten Island playing a role. Exact locations are being kept secret in order to avoid crowds forming.

Among the artists scheduled to perform are Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, K-pop group BTS, Doja Cat, CNCO, Maluma, Miley Cyrus, Roddy Ricch, The Weeknd and J Balvin. Keke Palmer will host the show.

Voting is still open for the VMAs, which added the category Best Music Video from Home due to the pandemic. Visit MTV.com for more information.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A sixth lawsuit has been filed involving the sudden deaths of patients at a West Virginia veterans hospital where a former nursing assistant admitted to intentionally killing seven people with fatal doses of insulin.

A federal lawsuit was filed Wednesday in the July 2018 death of Russell R. Posey Sr. at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg.

Charleston attorney Tony ODell filed the lawsuit on behalf of Poseys son and daughter, who are co-executors of his estate. The elder Posey, 92, served as a chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, is the latest to allege a widespread system of failures at the hospital. Similar lawsuits have been filed in the deaths of five other veterans at the hospital in January, March, April and June of 2018.

The lawsuit said the onset of Poseys severe, unexplained hypoglycemia was similar to the pattern of events that occurred with other patients.

Fired hospital nursing assistant Reta Mays pleaded guilty last month to intentionally killing seven patients with wrongful insulin injections. Mays, 46, faces up to life in prison for each of seven counts of second-degree murder. No sentencing date has been set.

Mays admitted at a plea hearing to purposely killing the veterans, injecting them with unprescribed insulin while she worked overnight shifts at the hospital in northern West Virginia between 2017 and 2018. Her motive is still unclear. U.S. Attorney Bill Powell said authorities did not receive a satisfactory response to questions about the reasoning behind her actions.

It is not clear whether Mays admitted a connection to Poseys death. But in addition to her second-degree murder pleas, she also pleaded guilty to one count of assault with intent to commit murder involving the death of veteran R.R.P.  Poseys initials.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred B. Westfall Jr. has said in court filings in response to some of the lawsuits that Mays acted outside the scope of her employment, the federal government should not liable for her criminal conduct and that the suits should be dismissed.

The VA is the governments second-largest department, responsible for 9 million military veterans. The agencys former director was fired in 2018 in the wake of a bruising ethics scandal and a mounting rebellion within the agency. Robert Wilkie took over as Veterans Affairs secretary in July 2018.
The UK has called for all parties in Mali to engage in constructive talks aimed at easing tensions and re-establishing a civilian government in the West African nation, following a military coup.

I call on all parties to maintain calm, ensure full respect for human rights, and engage in constructive dialogue to ease tensions. All those detained during these tumultuous events must be released immediately, UKs minister for Africa, James Duddridge, said in a statement published late on Wednesday.

After recalling that the UK, along with its partners on the UN Security Council has already made clear their opposition to the removal of Malis elected government, Duddridge stressed that only a democratically elected government can meet the needs and aspirations of the Malian people, including by delivering progress on the Mali peace process.

We must focus our attention on re-establishing a civilian government in Mali as soon as possible, the official from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office added.

The minister also vows UK governments support to the efforts being made by the Economic Community of West African States, the African Union, and the United Nations to encourage a resolution to the crisis.

A group of Malian rebel military personnel initiated on Tuesday an uprising at the Kati military base near the capital of Bamako, demanding political reforms and fair elections.

The rebel military kidnapped several high-ranking officials, including President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse.

Mr Keita, subsequently, announced the resignation of the government and dissolution of parliament.

(Sputnik/NAN)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 20)  A former United States envoy said the Philippine government must address pressing issues in its backyard and have a strong backbone, rather than being too reliant on superpowers like the United States, China, and Russia.

Curtis Chin, a former U.S. Ambassador to the Asian Development Bank, said the Philippines must find its inner strengths to resolve its domestic problems such as corruption, bureaucracy, and inequality that continue to persist.

"We must recognize that the Philippines' destiny is in its own hands and a strong Philippines will require a stronger economy and will require the president of the Philippines to address what I call that little bric of bureaucracy, regulation, inequality and corruption, you know," Chin told CNN Philippines Rico Hizon on The Final Word on Wednesday.

Chin said a strong economy is the best backbone for Manila to get rid of its societal issues--a big factor for other nations to forge stronger ties with the Philippines.

I hope thats what lies ahead for the Philippines regardless of who is the U.S. president, said Chin, reacting on the possible implications of a Democratic Party victory in the U.S. presidential elections in November. "It's not just who is the U.S. president but what will the Philippine president do."

"From my perspective as a long-time friend of the Philippines and a frequent visitor, I have faith in the Philippines, but it needs to free up the Filipino people by addressing those domestic issues," he added.

In his State of the Nation Address last July 27, President Rodrigo Duterte stressed he cannot go to war against Beijing over the West Philippine Sea dispute, calling himself "inutile" in that aspect.

Duterte also sought the help of Moscow in procuring COVID-19 vaccines for Filipinos, even offering himself to be the first to take it to prove its safety.

However, Duterte has been critical of Washington and in February ordered the serving of notice of termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), which laid out protocols between American soldiers in Philippine soil and Filipino soldiers in American territory. However, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin Jr. announced in June that the VFAs termination will be suspended "in light of the political and other developments in the region."
Sherman and Chris met at a friend's party, and soon, Chris asked her out. Before they knew it, they had packed their bags and gone on a trip to Taiwan together, and during that trip they fell in love. After a few years of dating, Chris popped the question. Since Sherman believes a proposal should be private and intimate, Chris booked a hotel room, got down on one knee, and told Sherman that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her and . . . she said yes!

While their engagement was low-key, their engagement shoot was anything but! A few years ago, Sherman got the chance to spend a year in Lyon, France. During this time, she got to see the gorgeous landscape of Provence, which is well know for its lavender fields - the perfect spot for an engagement shoot.

"I wanted to be surrounded by the romantic lavender fields. It was like being surrounded by a purple ocean!" Sherman said about her engagement shoot that took place in 2018. "I wanted a romantic atmosphere in a Southern France style, so I chose a light wedding gown without a long train and casual wear with a holiday mood - and lots of whimsical details such as a bundle of lavender, sun hats, and a vintage bicycle." All these tiny details really came together - not to mention the heart-shaped trees! - and led to a stunning photo shoot with photographer Pierre Torset. Check out the dreamy photos ahead.

Related:

We Thought This Couple's Icelandic Photo Shoot Couldn't Get Any Cooler, Then He Proposed
MEDIA COURTHOUSE  The Delaware County District Attorneys Office withdrew rape and related charges this week against a Columbia County man who died in police custody in March.

Common Pleas Court Judge G. Michael Green signed an order granting an application of nolle prosequi Tuesday for 43-year-old David Eugene DeWald II of Bloomsburg.

DeWald died at Lackawanna County Prison March 24. The cause of death was attributed to cardiac dysrhythmia secondary to physically struggling in hyperexcitable state and the manner of death was listed as accidental.

DeWald was arrested May 11, 2016, after driving 140 miles from his Bloomburg apartment to meet a 14-year-old girl he had previously assaulted, according to an affidavit of probable cause for his arrest.

The girl told authorities she began speaking with DeWald through an instant messaging application called KIK and DeWald allegedly coerced her into meeting him April 29, 2016, his 40th birthday.

DeWald exposed himself in the vehicle and forced the teen to perform sex acts, which continued at his apartment, according to prosecutors. Authorities believe he may have had control over the girl for up to nine hours while her parents thought she was with a friend.

After dropping the teen back in Delaware County, DeWald allegedly threatened the girl not to say anything. She continued to speak with DeWald through a free-calling application, but told authorities she was in fear for her safety. When he ordered her to meet him after school May 11, she informed school authorities who contacted law enforcement.

Detective Kenneth Bellis, a member of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, recorded a telephone conversation between the teen and DeWald that day, in which the defendant acknowledged their age difference and his fear of being caught by police, according to the affidavit.

DeWald became angry when the teen asked him during that conversation what they were going to do and told the victim that she knew what she was going to do, the affidavit states. He was taken into custody after arriving at a pre-arranged meeting place in Delaware County.

Media psychologist Dr. Marc Gramatges was initially unable to determine whether DeWald was competent to stand trial, but found he was competent after listening to recordings of phone calls the defendant made from the county prison, according to an April 2017 court hearing.

DeWald had been charged in Delaware County with rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse involving a person less than 16 years of age, statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, kidnapping of a minor, sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, corruption of minors and indecent assault involving a person less than 16 years of age.

He was also charged for child pornography offenses under federal indictment in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania after investigators found sexually explicit messages to other young victims on his cell phone.

The federal case went to trial last year and DeWald was convicted Nov. 8 on all five counts against him. He was facing 15 years to life in prison in that case, but died before he could be sentenced. Those charges were likewise dismissed in May.


Search News Archive : Fast Travel News Promotion Via Search, Social Media + Email Follow Us On : POP UP WEDDINGS DESTINATIONS PROVIDES PLACES TO GET MARRIED IN MEXICO RIGHT NOW Industry: Destinations

A typical wedding tradition in San Miguel de Allende is the callejoneadas, a parade with music, mariachis, big puppets, a donkey and lots of fun (TRAVPR.COM) USA - 20th August, 2020 - Have you ever imagined getting married underwater? How about having a cenote as the scenery of your ceremony? Or maybe during a Hot Air Balloon ride? How does it sound to have a wedding with no guests?



These are some of the possibilities offered by Pop Up Weddings Destinations, a project designed for Elopement Weddings and Mini Weddings, with a maximum of 15 guests. This celebration includes a ceremony, a cake, and a photoshoot. All done in a 3-hour span.



The pandemic has forced companies to innovate in their touristic products. This new proposal puts Mexico again as a spearhead in Latin American destinations by presenting romance experiences with differentiating value. "Joining this worldwide group with Pop Up Weddings will promote our country's top destinations for weddings and romance experiences. It is an honor for us to present this unique, innovative project that will help revive this tourist segment that has suffered so much during this COVID-19", mention Guadalupe and Ilse.



The two destinations chosen to be the first locations for Pop Up Weddings Destinations Mexico are San Miguel de Allende and the Haciendas of the State of Yucatan.



The heart of Mexico is in the hands of the wedding planner Guadalupe Alvarez, who leads the team in this magical town through her destination wedding company Penzi Bodas.



"San Miguel de Allende is a beautiful colonial town in the center of Mexico. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, with romantic streets and amazing venues. The weather is amazing most of the year. It is also Conde Nast traveler's 2nd best city to visit in 2020", explains Guadalupe Alvarez. "A typical wedding tradition in the region is the callejoneadas, a parade with music, mariachis, big puppets, a donkey and lots of fun. It also involves cultural experiences filled with traditions of our Mexican charming towns."



The wedding planner Ilse Diamant is in charge of the paradisiac beaches and the famous Mexican haciendas. She leads the team in this magical corner of Mexico through her company, Diamant Events.



Haciendas of Yucatan are jewels of an era gone by, now converted into luxurious hotels, restaurants or museums, Yucatecan haciendas offer a historical and sensational experience. They have been restored respecting the original architecture so that we can make a trip to the past and know its importance in the history and culture of Yucatan.



For photos, please click here.



For more information, please visit: www.enroutecommunications.com ### Please contact the person or company listed above for information regarding the content of this press release. TravPR.com are not the issuers of this press release and are not responsible for the accuracy of the content. Share Release :



CONTACT INFORMATION Name: Gustavo A Rivas-Solis Company: ENroute Communications Phone: 9174387096 Email: gustavo@enroutecommunications.com Web: enroutecommunications.co... PRESS RELEASE TAGS MEDIA GALLERY Visit Our Site
President Trump claims hes been the victim of a Russian hoax. Trump continues to declare that any ties between himself and Russian President Vladimir Putin never happened, and the Democrats created the hoax. Trump is upset over the 2016 election results, and the Democrats continued to claim he and his campaign colluded with Russian President Vladimir Putin to steal the election.

Trump has been shouting that Russia, Russia, Russia was a hoax, and there was no collusion between him, the Trump campaign, and any Russians. It turns out, Trump has been lying.

A new report by the Republican-controlled Senate Intelligence Committee indicates that much of the outline of conduct included in former Special Counsel Robert Muellers report and previous news articles by the New York Times, Washington Post and other mainstream media outlets correctly depict the Russian involvement in the 2016 election and the coordination between the Trump campaign and Russias GRU agents.

The new Senate report also highlights further details and facts that emphasize the duplicity going on behind the scenes and ultimately undermines the notion, pushed by President Trump and his crooked Attorney General Bill Barr, that there was no basis for the Russian investigation. The Senate report shows there is ample evidence for what was once widely discussed as collusion.

Since a committee led by Republicans developed the report, it cant be painted as enemies of the president. Muellers team was and could completely blow up U.S. Attorneys John Durhams Russian investigation ordered by Bill Barr, which has been touted by many of Trumps sycophants as an approaching October surprise.

Here are some of the most damaging references in the Senate Intelligence Committees report

1. Paul Manafort, despite many denials by him and the campaign, worked closely with a Russian intelligence officer.

The Mueller report claimed there were the ties between Manafort, Trumps campaign manager for the summer of 2016, and Russian intelligence officers. In particular, Manafort had a series of contacts and meetings with Konstantin Kilimnik, who was known to have a past with Russian intelligence.

The Senate Intelligence committees report offers a much more explicit explanation of Kilimniks role:

Manafort hired and worked closely with a Russian national, Konstantin Kilimnik, a Russian Intelligence officer as a key member of Manaforts Ukraine and Russian political consulting business in Kyiv. The relationship endued through the end of the 2016 U.S. Election.

The Senate Report also noted:

On August 18, 2016, Kilimnik told a journalist in private that he had almost daily contacts with Manafort these days on this Ukraine crisis.

The report states flatly that Konstantin Kilimnik is a Russian intelligence officer, noted NBC reporter Ken Dilanian.

So let that sink in: Donald Trumps campaign chairman worked closely with a Russian intelligence officer. What say those who argue the FBI had no reason to investigate?

2. Kilimnik and Manafort are likely tied to the criminal hacking of Democratic emails.

Muellers findings show that Manafort shared internal campaign data with Kilimnik, who is linked to Russian GRU intelligence. These were some of the most explosive revelations in the entire scandal  and the Senate report makes it clear Kilimnik was tied to the hack-and-leak operation, through Wiki Leaks that are considered by most, the most significant aspect of the Russian attack on 2016:

According to the Senate Intelligence Committee report

Some Evidence suggests Kilimnik may be connected to the GRU hacker and leak operation related to the 2016 U.S. election.

The information that follows is redacted from the Senate report but clearly states.

Two pieces of information, however, raise the possibility of Manaforts potential connection to the hack-and-leak operations.

3. Candidate Trump discussed WikiLeaks with Stone during his 2016 campaign despite the President claiming while under oath, he didnt remember any such conversations. Stone outright perjured himself.

A lot of evidence already suggests that both men lied and made false statements to Mueller about it  which would be serious crimes by both men. It could lead to Stones's commutation being reversed and could make a pardon illegal if proven that the two collided.

The Senate Intelligence Committee report lays out the contradiction

Trump, in written responses to the SCO, stated: I do not recall discussing WikiLeaks with [Stone] nor do I recall being aware of Mr. Stone having discussed WikiLeaks with individuals associated with my campaign.

Trump further claimed that he had no recollection of the specifics of the conversations he had with Mr. Stone between June 1, 2016, and November 8, 2016. Despite Trumps recollection, the Senate Intelligence Committee assesses that Trump did, in fact, speak with Roger Stone about WikiLeaks between June 1, 2016, and November 8, 2016, about Stones, access to WikiLeaks on multiple occasions.

Lawfares Quinta Jurecic, calls this revelation

Damning, especially in light of newly un-redacted material from the Mueller report that suggests Mueller also thought Trump had lied to him about conversations in Wikileaks.

4. Stone emailed draft tweets to Trump attacking Hillary Clinton for her anti-Russia views

The Senate Intelligence Committee report explains:

On Sunday, July 31, at 9:15 pm, the day after speaking at length with Manafort, Stone, called Gates. Ten minutes later, Stone had two phone calls with Trump that lasted over 10 minutes, Stone then emailed Jessica Macchia, one of Trumps assistants, eight draft tweets for Trump, under the subject line Tweets Mr. Trump requested last night. Many of the draft tweets attacked Clinton for his adversarial posture toward Russia and mentioned a new peace deal with Putin, such I want a new detente with Russia under Putin.

According to Politicos Natasha Bertrand Stone suggests these tweets prove that Stone was trying to act as a conduit between the Trump campaign and WikiLeaks.

5. Roger Stone requested WikiLeaks to drop new hacked emails after the Access Hollywood tape went live  and it did.

The Senate Intelligence Committee also report details:

At approximately 4 pm on October 7, The Washington Post released the Access Hollywood tape. Witnesses involved in the Trumps debate preparation recalled that the team first heart of the tape about an hour before its public release. According to Jerome Corsi, however, news of the release also mad its way to Roger Stone. Corsi and Stone spoke that day at length: once at 1:42 pm for 18 minutes, and once at 2:18 pm for 21 minutes. Corsi recalled learning from Stone that the Acess Hollywood tape would be coming out, and that Stone [w]anted the Podesta stuff to balance the news cycle either right then or at least coincident.

According to Corsi, Stone also told him to have WikiLeaks

Drop the Podesta emails immediately.

Cori recalled previewing the Access Hollywood tape with conference call participants during one or two calls that day: a WorldNetDaily staff call at 1:08 pm, or a 2 pm call involving Total Banking Solutions that included Malloch. Corsi remembered telling conference participants that the tape was a problem and to contact and to contact Assange.

Corsi then watched all day to see what Assap.ge would do, and when the Podesta emails were released, he thought to himself that Malloch had finally got to Assange. However, Corsi later told investigators that he did not call Malloch or Stone after the WikiLeaks release to convey this reaction because, in contradiction to his earlier statements, he was doubtful that Malloch had succeeded.

After the Podesta emails were released on October 7, 2016, Trump and senior campaign officials acknowledged internally and to Stone that Stone had predicted the WikiLeaks release about Podesta.

6. The committee believed that WikiLeaks was actively collaborating with Russia, despite its claims to the contrary.

The Senate Report says

Although WikiLeaks seeks to portray itself as a legitimate media organization, its disclosures have jeopardized the safety and privacy of individual Americans and foreign allies. WikiLeaks has made only minimal, and sometimes no efforts to redact sensitive information, and does not seem to weigh whether its disclosures add any public interest value, the report noted.

It continued:

The Russian government has pursued a relationship with Julian Assange and WikiLeaks that includes formal partnerships with state-owned media platforms, government assistance for WikiLeaks associates and sources, and information sharing. This relationship has existed since at least 2012 and reflects an alignment between the Russian government and WikiLeaks in seeking to undermine U.S. institutions and security.

And then, in one heavily redacted section, the report leaves one sentence uncovered:

However, the Committee found significant evidence to suggest that, in the summer of 2016, WikiLeaks was knowingly collaborating with Russian government officials.

Defiant Trump Seeks Putin Meeting after a report showed he lied| MSNBC




















This week marks the 100th anniversary of womens suffrage  womens hard fought right to vote  in the United States with the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution.

 Crusade for the Vote: How Central NY launched the womens suffrage movement

The anniversary has been marked by commemorations across the country, including President Donald Trumps controversial pardoning of womens rights leader Susan B. Anthony. In Central New York, a rejuvenated National Womens Hall of Fame opens August 25 in the birthplace of the womens rights movement in Seneca Falls.

Weve looked around online and found 15 perfect feminist finds to commemorate the occasion on your own, from a challenging Womens Right to Vote puzzle to a wine glass set featuring Historic Women Who Dared.

The Vote Bracelet

The Vote Bracelet.screenshot from Uncommon Goods

This statement bracelet in silver or brass features a clean and modern design, and celebrates the anniversary of womens suffrage, the women who fought for it, and all the fierce females of today. And $5 from every purchase of the Vote Bracelet goes to support the League of Women Voters. $65-$85 on Uncommon Goods.

Shattered Glass Ceiling Necklace

Shattered Glass Ceiling Necklace.screenshot from Uncommon Goods

The Shattered Glass Ceiling Necklace features a piece of manually cracked glass that symbolizes all the milestone breakthroughs achieved by women past, present, and future. $68 on Uncommon Goods.

Keds x The Bee & The Fox Triple Kick Pretty Powerful

Women's Keds x The Bee & The Fox Triple Kick Pretty Powerful.screenshot from Keds

Keds teamed up with Ashley Cooper, founder of The Bee & The Fox, to create a collection that celebrates the power of female friendships. Hooper was inspired by a quote from Jacqueline Abernathy for this style: We get so worried about being pretty. Lets be pretty kind. Pretty funny. Pretty smart. Pretty strong. Pretty powerful. $69.95 on Keds.

Keds x Jungalow Sisterhood and Togetherness Collection

Keds x Jungalow collection.screenshot from Keds

Keds is all in on celebrating female creators. This collaboration with Jungalow, founded by Justina Blakeney, was designed to celebrate sisterhood and togetherness, and was inspired in part by the 2017 Womens Marches. $64.95 on Keds.

A Woman Registered to Vote Dish Towel

A Woman Registered to Vote Dish Towel.screenshot from Uncommon Goods

This towel is inspired by posters from 1920 that women placed in their windows to show passersby that theyd signed up to exercise their newfound right to vote. The hope was that it would encourage others to do the same. $22 on Uncommon Goods.

19th Amendment Suffrage Mug

19th Amendment Suffrage Mug.screenshot from Uncommon Goods

Every powerful woman deserves to sip a powerful cup of coffee. Adorned with imagery from the suffrage movement and text from the 19th Amendment, this patriotic mug is a daily homage to the strong women who fought for the right to vote. $14 on Uncommon Goods.

Historic Women Who Dared Wine Glasses

Historic Women Who Dared Wine Glasses.screenshot from Uncommon Goods

Toast to the women who dared to challenge social norms and push for progress in fields like human rights, medicine, science and beyond with these wine glasses featuring the signatures and writings of famous feminist icons. $60 on Uncommon Goods.

Womens History Suffrage Coasters

Women's History Suffrage Coasters.screenshot from Uncommon Goods

The artwork on these marble coasterstaken from sheet music covers of songs from the womens suffrage movementis delightfully quaint, but still features fierce women warriors who fought for and won the right to vote. $50 on Uncommon Goods.

UrbanStems The Galentine Gift Duo

The Galentine.screenshot from UrbanStems

Dont wait until Galentines Day to celebrate your feminist friendship. This Xerographica air plant in a cute ceramic pot comes with a Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment, by fresh, packed in a ribbon-tied gift box. $75 on UrbanStems.

Little Feminist Board Books

Little Feminist Book Set.screenshot from Anthropologie

A must-have for any little reader, this set of four board books features colorful portraits of women who have impacted the world - from Cleopatra and Frida Kahlo to Rosa Parks and Billie Jean King. $14.99 on Uncommon Goods.

Womens Empowerment Notebooks

Women's Empowerment Notebook.screenshot from Anthropologie

Inspired by talented and hardworking women, this capsule collection celebrates the voices, achievements, and contributions of women far and wide - as well as the fearless journey of both individual and collective empowerment. $18 on Anthropologie.

Levis Vote Graphic Tee

Levi's Vote Graphic Tee.screenshot from Anthropologie

Celebrate the 100th anniversary of womens right to vote with this bold graphic Tee thats both nostalgic and contemporary. $30 from Anthropologie.

Play the Patriarchy

Play the Patriarchy card game.screenshot from Uncommon Goods

A grown-up card game by and for smart, funny women. Think Cards Against Humanity but if it were created by a bunch of hilarious women. This game was developed by the team at the feminist satire website Reductress based on some of their most attention-grabbing articles. $20 at Uncommon Goods.

Votes For Women Puzzle

Votes for Women puzzle.screenshot from Uncommon Goods

Tackle this 500-piece puzzle that showcases the leaders of the womens suffrage movement. Celebrate the 100-year anniversary by building this beautifully illustrated circle of voting rights champions, from Elizabeth Cady Stanton to Frederick Douglass. $20 from Uncommon Goods.

Heroic Girls in Books poster

Heroic Girls in Books poster.screenshot from Uncommon Goods

This poster is a celebration of 100 bold, bright girl characters in modern and classic literature, from Lizzie Bennet to Hermione Granger. Perfect for the walls of any young feminist. $29 on Uncommon Goods.

MORE CRUSADE FOR THE VOTE

Syracuse women rejoice after the Tennessee ratifies the 19th Amendment

Visit key places in the suffrage movement across Central NY (map)

Syracuse suffragette Harriet May Mills reflects on her time in suffrage movement

Social justice movement channels spirit of CNY suffragist (Commentary)

Explore the Post-Standards special Womens Suffrage edition from 1915
In a statement on Wednesday, the US Department of Justice said one US citizen and two Pakistani nationals have been charged for campaigning to transport U.S. currency from the United States to Iran on behalf of Iran's Supreme Leader in 2018 and 2019.

Muzzamil Zaidi, a U.S. citizen residing in the Iranian city of Qom, and two Pakistani nationals, Asim Naqvi and Ali Chawla, were all charged with violations of the Interrnational Emergency Economic Powers Act. Zaidi and Naqvi were arrested in Houston on August 18, the statement said.

Disrupting Irans ability to raise U.S. dollars is key to combating its ability to sponsor international terrorism and destabilize the Middle East, including through its military presence in Yemen, said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers.

The defendants, according to Demers, allegedly raised money in the United States on behalf of Irans Supreme Leader, and illegally channeled these dollars to the government of Iran.

According to the Acting United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Michael R, Sherwin, the defendants have considerable operational links to Iran's Revolutionary Guard which he said has conducted multiple terrorist operations throughout the world over the past several years.

"The life-blood of these terrorist operations is cash  and the defendants played a key role in facilitating that critical component, he added.

The complaint against the defendants alleges that Zaidi and other members of an organization known as "Islamic Pulse" had received the Iranian Supreme Leader's written permission around February 2019 to collect a religious tax known as khums and send half of that money to Yemen. Khamenei has been under U.S. sanctions since June 2019.

The complaint alleges that Chawla replied to donors concerns about how the campaign was able to get money into Yemen by stating that the matter could not be discussed over email. The complaint further alleges that Chawla sought U.S. dollars specifically, stated that Islamic Pulse could not accept electronic transfers, and admitted that Islamic Pulse was not a registered charity.

The unspecified amount of money collected by Zaidi and Naqvi in the summer and fall of 2019, according to the U.S. Justice Department, was transported to Iran through clandestine operations including by a group of 25 travelers.
UK Home Secretary Priti Patel, who has previously issued a formal apology for the Windrush immigration scandal which wrongly denied citizenship rights to thousands of Commonwealth nationals, on Thursday unveiled a new campaign to ensure those affected can access government support and compensation.

The Indian-origin Cabinet minister said she is keen to drive change within her Home Office department in the wake of the scandal from over two years ago, which caused hardship to Commonwealth nationals, including many Indians, welcomed into Britain to address labour shortages in the wake of World War II until immigration rules were later tightened.

It resulted in many historic cases of forced deportations or denial of other citizenship-related rights due to a lack of sufficient paperwork to prove a legitimate entry and settlement in the UK.

"I am driving change to make sure nothing like this can happen again," said Patel.

"It is essential that people who have been affected by Windrush get the support and compensation they deserve. This new campaign will raise awareness of the Windrush Help Team and the support available so that as many people as possible apply," she said.

The Windrush generation refers to citizens of former British colonies who arrived in the UK before 1973, when the rights of such Commonwealth citizens to live and work in Britain underwent a legal modification.

While a large proportion of them were of Jamaican/Caribbean descent who came on the ship Empire Windrush on June 22, 1948, Indian and other South Asian immigrants from that era also fall within the Windrush generation categorisation.

The Home Office said its new campaign features real people who have applied to the various Windrush support schemes, and caseworkers from the Windrush Help Team, to highlight the benefit of applying and the human faces behind the service.

The 750,000-pound campaign, which will run until mid-October, will use a range of channels, such as community radio and press adverts, to increase awareness amongst those most affected around the UK.

"The Windrush Working Group is determined to see the wrongs righted and to this end has collaborated with the Home Office to develop this new campaign which, we hope, will encourage more people to apply to the Windrush Compensation Scheme," said Bishop Derek Webley, co-chair of the Windrush Cross-Government Working Group set up in the aftermath of the scandal.

The scheme applies to anyone who settled lawfully in the UK before the end of 1988 or anyone whose parents are from a Commonwealth country and settled lawfully in the UK before 1973. Some grandchildren and close family members may also be able to claim compensation via a free application process.

According to the Home Office, over 12,000 people linked to the Windrush generation have already received documentation confirming their residency status in the UK, including nearly 1,400 Indians, and a growing number have been awarded compensation.

People who qualify can apply under multiple categories of adverse impact and there is no overall cap on the amount someone can receive. Categories for loss include employment; detention, deportation removal and returns; housing; health; education; impact on normal daily life; and immigration fees and associated legal costs.

(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.)
by Shafique Khokhar

The girl, Saneha, was on her way to church when she was kidnapped. The father, a Protestant pastor, fears that his daughter will undergo a forced conversion to Islam and be married. The kidnapper's father has admitted to his son's crime. The police only accepted the complaint yesterday.

Faisalabad (AsiaNews) - A 15-year-old Christian girl, Saneha Kinza Iqbal, was kidnapped by a 30-year-old Muslim, Saeed Amanat, married with four children. The kidnapping took place on July 22, but the girl's family was only able to file a complaint yesterday because the police refused to help them.

Saneha's family fears that their daughter will be added to the growing number of Christian girls who, after a kidnapping and forced conversion to Islam, are married to Muslims.

Only with the help of an association that supports women's rights (the Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation, Awam), the family was able to file the complaint at the Jhang Bazar police station in Faisalabad.

Saneha is the youngest of five children of 55-year-old Protestant pastor Morris Masih who resides at Nasrat Colony Jhang Road in Faisalabad. She is known as a tenacious and bright high school student and dreams of becoming a public representative in government.

The kidnapper, Saeed Amanat, is a security guard at the entrance to the orthopaedics unit of the Allied Hospital in Faisalabad. On 2 June, Saneha's mother, Rukhsana Bibi, slipped and injured her hip. She was hospitalized in the orthopedics unit until 13 June. Saeed Amanat's work allowed him to meet Saneha, who often accompanied her mother to the hospital, and to get information on where she lived. The man lives in a village 60 km from Faisalabad, is married and has four children.

On July 22, Saneha went to church at 5.30 for her morning prayers, but she never returned home. After a long wait, the family asked the neighbors for news. Some said that the girl had been seen leaving in a car with some strangers. A neighbor confirmed that one of the men in the car was the hospital guard, Saeed Amanat.

Saneha's brother, Waseem Morris, 26, informed the police, but in vain. He then went to the kidnapper's village, where he met Saeed Amanat's father, who admitted his son's crime. At first, in front of the village elders, he promised that Saneha would be returned to her home, but a few days later he changed his mind. In any case, he stated that since his son is already married and with four children, it will be difficult for Saneha to be accepted by the family.

On July 28, Pastor Morris Masih's family received a call from the kidnapper, who threatened them if they dared to take any action to bring Saneha home.

It was only thanks to Awam that the police accepted the complaint yesterday. Now the association is moving influential personalities to get the young minor Saneha released.
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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Actors Arjun Kapoor, Rakul Preet Singh and John Abraham will join the sets of their upcoming film in Mumbai. As per a report in Mumbai Mirror, the shoot will resume at Film City Studios from Monday.

Confirming the news, one of the producers of the film, Nikkhil Advani told the publication, Kaashvie, John, Bhushanji and my team have worked hard to make sure that all actors are safe and comfortable. Weve taken them through all the safety protocols certified by the state government through the Films Producers Guild. It will be a 10-day shoot with the entire cast. After this, we will be left with a four-day schedule, which will happen after the rains, around September end. We had initially planned to film from March 21 to the beginning of April, but the lockdown hit that plan for a six.

The film has been produced jointly by Bhushan Kumar, John Abraham and Nikkhil. It is being directed by first-time director Kaashvie Nair. The film was reportedly only 14 days away from completion when the first of a series of lockdowns came into place. The film will also star senior actors, Neeta Gupta and Kawaljeet Singh, who will also join the rest of the cast for the Mumbai shoot. Kawaljeet, who was among those who had raised objections to governments order prohibiting actors above the age of 65 to shoot for films and TV, wanted to be on the sets, Nikhil said in the report. Neena flew down from Dehradun and has been in self isolation at her Mumbai home.

Also read: Swara Bhasker on CBI taking over Sushant Singh Rajputs case: Not fair to suggest Mumbai Police were not doing a good job

John has a cameo in the film. He was quoted as saying, Weve all come together with the intent to bring forth fresh talent and curated scripts to the screen. We have waited to ensure the unit is adequately secured given the situation and were looking forward to resuming the shoot.

NIkkhil has earlier said about the film, It is a coming-of-age, cross-border love story, beautifully written by Anuja Chauhan, Amitosh Nagpal and Kaashvie. It will be shot extensively in Punjab and Los Angeles and will feature Arjun and Rakul in never-seen-before avatars.

Speaking about the film, Arjun had earlier told IANS, I have grown up in a joint family, so I understood that its the biggest pillar of love, strength and support. Thats the essence of our film, which has its heart in the right place. Im having a blast even during the prep.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
When Ontarios commercial eviction freeze ends on Aug. 31, alongside the business rent subsidy program, business leaders say evictions will start to pile up.

Ryan Mallough, the director of provincial affairs, Ontario for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), said the organization expects to see eviction notices start rolling mid-September.

Rent has been the biggest expense for business owners throughout the pandemic, but there hasnt been enough support to help commercial tenants and their landlords pull through, Mallough said.

Our numbers show that only about 17 per cent of Ontario businesses have used the (rent subsidy) program, he said.

The CFIB put out a call to change the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) in July, calling it unfair and arbitrary that businesses had to rely on landlords to apply for the subsidy.

Almost $3 billion was budgeted for the program, but as of July, the federal governments fiscal snapshot showed only $221 million of that had been used.

Under CECRA, on commercial properties paying up to $50,000 a month in rent, landlords give up 25 per cent of the rent, and the tenant pays 25 per cent, leaving up to $25,000 a month to be covered by the program.

Already, some Toronto businesses are anticipating having to shut down when August ends.

The Paddock Tavern, one of the citys oldest bars, said in a Facebook post Aug. 7 that negotiations with its landlord hit a stalemate regarding CECRA, and that the business expects to be evicted when the freeze lifts.

The post says the future looks futile, as even after the business offered to pay the landlords 25 per cent cut of the CECRA bargain, they still couldnt convince their landlord to apply for the program.

Mallough said the CFIB is pushing the federal and provincial governments to take the unused money from CECRA and find a way to get it directly to commercial tenants, either through an extension and change to the program, or a new program altogether.

Weve heard both from tenants and from landlords that that sort of system would be more beneficial than the current setup, he said.

As well as an extension to both the freeze and the rent subsidy program, Mallough said the CFIB is advocating for a lower bar for businesses to qualify for the subsidy: businesses currently need to have a 70 per cent revenue decline to qualify.

At this point, we know that a third of Ontario business owners are saying they still arent getting the help that they need from the programs that exist. And of that third, 64 per cent say its commercial rent and fixed costs that they need help with, he said. So I think at this point extending the program ... would be beneficial.

Things arent getting easier for businesses, said Mallough, especially in urban centres where office towers have emptied out. Theres always the looming concern of a second wave, too. And for food service businesses relying on patio space to bring in revenue, the fall and coming winter will pose another challenge.

The concern that we have on our end as a small business association is, are we going to see a second wave of business closures? he said.

Correction - Aug. 20, 2020: This article was edited to correct details of the rent relief program.
Rating Action: Moody's affirms Geo Energy's Caa3 ratings and revises outlook to stable

Global Credit Research - 20 Aug 2020

Singapore, August 20, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service has affirmed the Caa3 corporate family rating (CFR) of Geo Energy Resources Limited and the Caa3 senior unsecured guaranteed notes issued by Geo Coal International Pte. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Geo Energy.

At the same time, Moody's has revised the outlook to stable from negative.

"The ratings affirmation and outlook revision to stable reflects the reduction in near-term refinancing risk for Geo Energy, as its mine license extensions and higher coal reserves will help it meet the conditions required to prevent the triggering of a put option on its US dollar notes in April 2021," says Maisam Hasnain, a Moody's Assistant Vice President and Analyst.

RATINGS RATIONALE

On 13 August, Geo Energy announced that it had secured mining license extensions for its two operating mines, PT Sungai Danau Jaya (SDJ) and PT Tanah Bumbu Resources (TBR) to 2027 and 2028, respectively, from 2022. The company also announced that SDJ and TBR have increased their combined coal reserves to 87.5 million tons (MT) as of 30 April 2020, up from 64.8 MT at the end of 2019 [1].

Both of these factors indicate the company will satisfy the minimum reserve conditions needed to prevent the triggering of a put option on its outstanding US dollar notes. These minimum reserve conditions include (1) extension of existing mining licenses at SDJ and TBR to beyond 4 October 2025 and (2) having more than 80 MT of coal reserves, with the reserves measured no earlier than six months before 4 April 2021.

As a result, Moody's expects the notes will mature as originally scheduled in October 2022. This affords the company more time to improve its credit profile and increase cash generation prior to its outstanding notes maturity.

However, with total proved and probable reserves of 87.5 MT as of 30 April, Geo Energy has a relatively short reserve life of about seven years at its target production level of 12 MT per annum.

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"Moreover, the company's low cash buffer, which has declined considerably this year on continued debt buybacks, constrains its scale and limits its ability to make acquisitions in order to grow and replenish its declining coal reserves," adds Hasnain, also Moody's Lead Analyst for Geo Energy.

Over the last nine months, Geo Energy has used its cash on hand to repurchase around $190 million of its original $300 million principal amount on its US dollar notes at a considerable discount to the original par value. In March 2020, Moody's recognized the company's discounted buybacks as a distressed exchange, which is a default under the rating agency's definition.

While Geo Energy's financial leverage and interest costs have fallen, the bond buybacks have crystallized a significant loss of value for creditors relative to the original obligation. In addition, although the near-term refinancing risk has been alleviated, it has not been entirely eliminated, given $110 million of notes will mature in October 2022.

Moody's expects Geo Energy to have sufficient cash to meet its cash needs over the next 18 months, but without a material improvement in coal prices, its cash buffer will likely be insufficient to repay its outstanding notes when they come due in October 2022.

Moody's also expects Geo Energy's ability to raise debt to refinance its outstanding notes will be challenging because the company's credit profile will weaken as its existing coal reserves continue to decline.

ESG CONSIDERATIONS

Geo Energy faces elevated environmental risks associated with the coal mining industry, including carbon transition risks as countries seek to reduce their reliance on coal power.

Geo Energy's two operating mines are adjacently located in South Kalimantan and vulnerable to adverse weather. For example, operations at one of its mines were temporarily halted for around a week in June 2019 due to prolonged flooding.

Geo Energy is exposed to social risks associated with the coal mining industry, including health and safety, responsible production and societal trends. The company has implemented an Environmental and Social Management System, which seeks to address issues such as workplace health and safety procedures, and local community development.

With respect to governance, Geo Energy's ownership is concentrated in its promoter shareholders, who own around 39% of the company. Other governance risks entail the company's financial policies including willingness to use cash for discounted notes repurchases, resulting in a loss of value for creditors relative to the original obligation.

OUTLOOK

The outlook is stable, reflecting Moody's expectation that Geo Energy will have sufficient cash sources to meet its cash needs over the next 12-18 months, and that it will maintain sufficient coal reserves to prevent a put option being triggered on its US dollar notes in April 2021.

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

Moody's could upgrade the ratings if Geo Energy (1) improves its earnings and operating cash flow on a sustained basis, (2) maintains a sufficient cash balance to meet its cash needs over the next 12-18 months, and (3) increases its coal reserves.

On the other hand, Moody's could downgrade the ratings if (1) Geo Energy's cash balance declines materially, such that its cash sources would not be sufficient to meet its needs over the next 12-18 months, or (2) there is an unforeseen reduction in coal reserves when Geo Energy updates its coal reserve report in October.

The principal methodology used in these ratings was Mining published in September 2018 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1089739. Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.

Established in 2008 and listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange in 2012, Geo Energy Resources Limited is a coal mining group with mining concessions in South and East Kalimantan. Its promoter shareholders, including Charles Antonny Melati and Huang She Thong own around 39% of the company.

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.

REFERENCES/CITATIONS

[1] Geo Energy SGX announcement 13-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.

Maisam Hasnain, CFA Asst Vice President - Analyst Corporate Finance Group Moody's Investors Service Singapore Pte. Ltd. 50 Raffles Place #23-06 Singapore Land Tower Singapore 48623 Singapore JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350 Client Service: 852 3551 3077 Ian Lewis Associate Managing Director Corporate Finance Group JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350 Client Service: 852 3551 3077 Releasing Office: Moody's Investors Service Singapore Pte. Ltd. 50 Raffles Place #23-06 Singapore Land Tower Singapore 48623 Singapore JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350 Client Service: 852 3551 3077

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He says human life is losing its value day by day.

Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin says protests in Belarus could escalate into a civil war or a military conflict, therefore, if necessary, the army will shoot to kill.

"We may have a civil war; the price of human life is losing its value day by day. This is terrible. A military conflict may happen  it is already a reality today. Our task is to prevent it," Khrenin was quoted as saying at a meeting behind closed doors with military chiefs of the Defense Ministry, the General Staff and the Armed Forces, the Belarusian publication Nasha Niva reported on August 20.

Read alsoBelarus launches criminal probe into "seizure of power" by opposition

The minister also said that it would be impossible to destroy the state until the army is on the side of the government.

"You and we are the only hope. Our morale is high," he said.

"We must fight, if necessary, arms in hands. For the country, for ourselves, for our families," he said.

The official compared the army to a sentry who "is ready to shoot upwards to stop the violator and not shoot to kill" "But if the sentry follows all instructions or if he is in danger, he is obliged to shoot to kill," he said.

Belarus protests in brief
BOSTON, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Social entrepreneur and founder of American Awakening John Kingston and longtime political consultant and pastor Joel Searby today announced the launch of "Christians Against Trumpism & Political Extremism" in partnership with Stand Up Republic.

The campaign will mobilize Christians to publicly stand against the Trumpist culture of predatory behavior, outright lies, poisonous rhetoric and undermining of American ideals and institutions. Movement leadership will also oppose these tactics when employed by other political extremists, both left and right.

This campaign is an initiative of Stand Up Republic, a 501(c) 4 organization that works to mobilize a national cross-partisan constituency to defend and strengthen American democracy.

"We stand against living, speaking and behaving in ways antithetical to the gospel, and any extreme politics emboldening these dangerous patterns among Christian supporters," said Kingston, chairman of the initiative. "As people of faith, we have lost our standing and witness in society, because we are often as racist, politicized and polarized as the culture around us  and, in the Trumpist era, sometimes lead the way in those dark categories.

"Standing against Trumpism is an important part of a reformation movement for the declining Church, which desperately needs renewal and awakening," said Kingston. "If we are going to rebound in the next decade, we must once again nail the truest of our values to its door.

"So few public Christians have been willing to oppose political behaviors that stand in direct opposition to the values of our faith. Worse, some of our most well-known leaders have embraced Trumpism in all its forms, so that Christianity is now often defined by the inverse of its values," Kingston concluded.

"Christians Against Trumpism & Political Extremism will be a community for Christians who oppose Trumpism and its degradation of the gospel, even as we pray for our president and love our brothers and sisters who support him," said Searby. "As Christians, we don't stand against a specific person, as we are all made in God's image.

"In our polarized culture these problems cut both ways. With the extreme Left we often see the incitement of violence as a tool for social change," Searby added. "God is not a god of chaos. We are against the demonization of people with different views and the 'cancelling' of perceived political enemies. Along with Trumpism, both extremes undermine our dignity as a nation and as human beings."

John Kingston is a lawyer by training and Fortune 500 senior executive by experience, whose faith has inspired him to invest his fortune in awakening America to values that made her a nation unrivaled in human history. Kingston gained national attention in the 2016 and 2018 political cycles with innovative and inclusive campaigns positioned against the extremes of American politics, and has been active in national arts, culture and political movements for two decades.

Kingston's book, "American Awakening: Eight Principles to Restore the Soul of America," was recently released by Zondervan, as part of the American Awakening movement (a "campaign for the soul of America") he founded in 2019.

Joel Searby, a long-time Republican political operative, left the Republican Party in 2016 to help recruit an independent candidate for president and ultimately managed Evan McMullin's 2016 independent bid. Searby has since worked to advance independent candidates and reform spiritual awakening through various efforts.

Kingston and Searby share a long history with Stand Up Republic and its founders; after McMullin's presidential campaign, McMullin founded the organization with Mindy Finn, and Kingston was its initial donor.

For more information, please visit http://www.ChristiansAgainstTrumpism.com or contact [email protected].

SOURCE Christians Against Trumpism & Political Extremism
Kim Jong Un issued a dire warning for North Koreas economy amid reports that he delegated some power to his sister, including responsibility for relations with the U.S.

Kim told a gathering a ruling party leaders that the country faced unexpected and inevitable challenges in various aspects and that his development goals had been seriously delayed, state media said Thursday. The unusually candid assessment came as sanctions, flooding and the coronavirus pandemic pushed the North Korean economy toward what was expected to be its worst contraction in more than two decades.

Hours later, South Korean lawmakers told reporters that the countrys spy agency determined that Kim had delegated responsibility for relations with Seoul and Washington to his younger sister, Kim Yo Jong. While she had taken an increasingly public role in diplomatic matters, such as responding to a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this year, the lawmakers described a more formal power-sharing arrangement.

Intelligence committee member Ha Tae-keung, who was among National Assembly lawmakers briefed by the spy agency Thursday, said the move didnt indicate that Kim was adopting a collective leadership system similar to Chinas Communist Party. The absolute power of Kim Jong Un is being shared under the current leadership style of North Korea, Ha said, adding that Kim still retained ultimate control.

North Korea also announced plans the first national congress of the ruling Workers Party of Korea since 2016 next year. The key party meeting in January would provide another platform to promote prominent officials such as his sister, and purge others. Last week, Kim replaced the premier he appointed a little more than a year ago, in another sign of political tension in Pyongyang.

Duyeon Kim, a senior adviser for Northeast Asia and Nuclear Policy at the International Crisis Group, expressed skepticism that Kim would relinquish any power in a state based on the supreme authority of the leader. To say there is a partial transfer of power seems to be an exaggeration, given the system in North Korea, she said.

The statement on the economy was the latest in a series of complaints by Kim Jong Un about the pace of key policy goals. In recent months, he has lashed out at cadres over what he saw as lax virus management and blasted the people responsible constructing his showcase Pyongyang General Hospital, saying they were flouting party policies and being careless with spending.

The North Korean leader also pledged to unveil a new five-year economic development plan at the upcoming party congress. The last meeting in 2016 of what is ostensibly North Koreas highest-level decision-making assembly ended a 36-year lull when Kims father, Kim Jong Il, ignored party rules requiring such a gathering every five years.

Planned attainment of the goals for improving the national economy have been seriously delayed and the peoples living standard has not been improved remarkably, Kim told a gathering of the partys Central Committee, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.

While state media made no mention of the U.S.-led sanctions regime on the country, Pyongyang has repeatedly lashed out at the campaign. In December, Kim similarly told the Central Committee that the conditions of the national economy have not turned better, adding the role of the state as the organizer of the economic work has not been enhanced.

Kim is facing difficulties on various fronts, and a reported health scare earlier this year raised questions about succession. His nuclear discussions with Trump have ground to a halt without him winning any sanctions relief, and the U.S. and South Korea this week kicked off joint military drills.

The economy was already under pressure from his decision to shut borders in January due to the coronavirus, which slammed the brakes on its minuscule legal trade. This year, the troubles could send the economy into its biggest contraction since 1997, according to Fitch Solutions.

Torrential rains that hit his state this summer have wiped out farmland, increasing food insecurity in the country where the United Nations World Food Program says about 40% of the population is undernourished. North Korea has boasted that it doesnt have any confirmed cases of Covid-19, a claim doubted by U.S. and Japanese officials.

Unless there is a major change  such as pushing for economic reform or improving relations with South Korea, China and/or Russia  it would be difficult for North Korea to deliver the economic prosperity it vowed, said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul who has advised the South Korean government over the years.

-With assistance from Shinhye Kang.
Heavy rains in the Dharamgarh town of Odisha's Kalahandi district on Thursday lead to waterlogging affecting the local residents and traffic of several areas.

Following heavy rains in the Dharamgarh town of Odishas Kalahandi district on Thursday, waterlogging was reported from several areas affecting the local residents and traffic of the area.

Hati River and Tel River floodwaters are also entering several villages near the Odisha and Chhattisgarh border areas. Many villages of Kalampur block have also been cut-off from Junagarh and Dharamgarh sub-divisional towns due to the Hati river flooding.

Rainfall above 100 mm has also been recorded in four districts including Cuttack, Jajpur, Koraput, and Kendrapara in the last 24 hours, as per the rainfall reports by the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC).

Also Read: PM CARES Funds cannot be transferred to National Disaster Response: SC

Odisha has received 58.5 mm average rainfall in the last 24 hours, across the 30 districts in the state. While Nawarangpur recorded highest 130.6 mm rainfall, the lowest rainfall of 10.2 mm was reported in Ganjam District of Odisha.

Also Read: MHA to withdraw 100 companies of paramilitary forces from J-K

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also issued a Red alert in 14 districts and an Orange alert in seven districts of the state. (ANI)

Also Read: India records more than 2 million Covid-19 recoveries, case count crosses 28 lakh mark
Shelly Griffin brings experience in a broad range of mortgage banking functions that include auditing, quality control, credit review, team lead, and supervisory experience. Were incredibly fortunate to have Shelly come on board at a time when mortgage companies are ramping up their adoption of technology and automation.

Nomis Solutions, an innovative fintech company focused on ensuring on-going value creation for the worlds smartest financial institutions, has appointed Shelly Griffin as sales director and client partner for the mortgage sector. In this role, Griffin will work closely with Nomis mortgage banking clients around the world to understand their business needs and shape the development of the companys price optimization, price execution, and sales enablement products.

With a background that spans jumbo, non-conforming and direct endorsement (DE) underwriting, Griffin is fluent in all aspects of the mortgage industry. A consistent top sales performer, she brings 22 years of experience in a broad range of mortgage banking functions that include auditing, quality control, credit review, team lead, and supervisory experience. She is based near Charlotte, North Carolina, a major US banking hub.

Were incredibly fortunate to have Shelly come on board at a time when mortgage companies are ramping up their adoption of technology and automation, said Frank Rohde, CEO of Nomis. Nomis is rapidly innovating our suite of products and services for back-office and front-line mortgage professionals, and Shelly will be crucial asset to ensure we understand their needs and stay ahead of the curve.

Griffin joins Nomis from Deephaven Mortgage where, as the top sales volume and revenue-producing vice president of client development, she worked closely with C-suite, loan officers, underwriters, and processors to ensure their success with Deephavens products. Prior to that, Griffin managed the training and development of a large underwriting team at Wells Fargo, having previously led loan repurchasing for Goldman Sachs.

Nomis has earned an excellent technical reputation in the industry by combining pricing science with front-line sales enablement. Nomis nSight is indisputably the industrys premier tool to address the needs of both capital markets and pricing experts, said Griffin. I am looking forward to working alongside Nomis talented technical and product teams in our mission to help mortgage banks of all sizes transform their pricing capabilities and maximize their revenue potential.

The Nomis Lending Platform empowers banks to implement a customer-centric approach to pricing and offers that connects their clients with the products and features they value most to increase origination, utilization, and retention. Banks use Nomis solutions to increase margin growth and market share in residential, unsecured, and auto lending.

To learn more about Nomis Lending Solutions, request a complimentary assessment.

About Nomis Solutions

Nomis is a fast-growing fintech and price optimization pioneer that is enabling the worlds smartest financial institutions to drive sustained, profitable growth through end-to-end customer-centric pricing capabilities. We do so through our market-leading, cloud-native Nomis Platform and team of experts, bringing together cutting-edge big data, machine learning, AI and mission-critical software with deep expertise in consumer behavior, pricing and the financial services industry. The Nomis Platform manages over $2.5 trillion in transaction volume, quotes a price every 60 milliseconds, empowers 14,000+ bankers, and generates nearly $800 million in value annually. To learn more, visit nomissolutions.com.
800 students to receive GCSE results today

Over 800 Year 11 students from the Islands five secondary schools will receive their full Level 1 and 2 qualification results through their school today.

Despite the cancellation of all exams in March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, grades will be awarded to Year 11 pupils for Cambridge IGCSE, WJEC GCSE, BTEC Level 1 and 2, SQA and other vocational qualifications.

School staff will be available at each school, from 8am or 9am depending on the school, to provide Year 11 leavers with their results and to support their next steps.

All national and international awarding bodies have recently made significant changes to how these grades are being awarded in summer 2020 by removing the mathematical algorithms from processes and focusing on evidence based centre assessment grades.

Minister for Education, Sport and Culture, Dr Alex Allinson MHK said: I hope all students get the results they hoped for and deserve on Thursday. They have shown remarkable resilience during an uncertain period.

It is both my aim and that of the Department that all of our young people receiving results find a positive way forward, whether they choose to enter further education in a school or UCM, undertake training, become an apprentice or enter into employment.

He added: I understand the cancellation of exams was both difficult and upsetting and I urge any students with concerns following their results to speak with their schools, whom will be able to provide support and guidance.

In summer 2019, nearly 90% of 16 year old school leavers continued in education or training and this trend is expected to continue this year.
Mohammed Adamu

Mohammed Adamu,the inspector general of police (IGP) has stated that most bandits involved in the attacks in different communities across Nigeria, come from outside the country.

The IGP said this during a town-hall meeting on peace and security which was held at the headquarters of Zuru local government in Kebbi state on Wednesday August 19.

Adamu revealed that investigation has unconvered a link between insecurity and the activities of Yan Sa Kai (local vigilantes) who went out of control because of lack of command in Zamfara and Katsina states. He added that most of the bandits are members of the Islamic State of West Africa.

Adamu Said;

During one of our briefings on security to the president, the issue of insecurity was seriously discussed as it affects the north-west in particular and we saw an emerging trend from Zuru emirate.



And the president ordered us to move to Zuru and listen to the stakeholders and come up with a solution on how to bring lasting peace in Zuru emirate and thats why we are here.

What fueled insecurity in terms of banditry in Zamfara is what is fueling insecurity in Katsina and invariably the same here in Kebbi state.

When the situation was so bad in Zamfara, we brought all the stakeholders and in another development, we met with all the governors from the north-west to Katsina.

A lot was discussed and we realised that Zamfaras situation was caused by the problem of Yan Sa Kai. This is because there was no control of command of the activities of Yan Sa Kai.

When we moved to Katsina state we wanted to know what had been fueling the banditry and reprisal attacks.

Again, it was the activities of Yan Sa Kai because they organised themselves genuinely to protect their environment, their communities and their families but there was no command of control, so they went out of control and that is what is happening now in Kebbi state.


Mexico's fastest growing cartel has allegedly deployed drones packed with C4 explosives as it battles against armed residents for control over a city.

For over a year now, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel has attempted to exert its influence on the western city of Tepalcatepec.

However, a group of armed residents say they have withstood the attacks and are fighting back despite countless deaths and injuries on both sides.

Now the residents say the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which also has a presence across several cities in the United States, have turned to equipping drones with explosives as part of their menacing strategy.

In interviews with Mexican outlets Noticieros Televisa and La Silla Rota, armed men who form part of Tepalcatepec's auto-defense group showed off some of the homemade bombs they have discovered.

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel has turned to the use of drones packed with explosive to carry out attacks across Mexico in recent months. Armed villagers in Tepalcatepec, a city in the state of Michoacan found two drones that were packed with C4 explosive and pellets that failed to do any damage during a battle in July

The homemade bombs contained pellets and C4 explosives, which are used by terrorist groups and the military

The explosives each featured a taped wire connected to a detonator attached to the drones

'This is the C4 bomb detonator that were on the drones that the Jalisco New Generation Cartel sent to attack our town,' one of the armed men said.

The explosives were were attached to two drones that the men say were recovered following a confrontation with the cartel in July.

The cartel allegedly used C4 explosives, commonly used by the military and terrorist organizations, that was stuffed inside small plastic containers, along with pellets and shrapnel to maximize damage.

A resident from Tepalcatepec, Michoacan, says he has taken up arms to defend his town from continuous attacks launched by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel

Villagers who have united to protect the western Mexico city of Tepalcatepec recently found two drones that had explosives attached to them which failed to go off

A wire dangled out of each taped plastic bowl and was connected to a detonator attached under the drones.

In an interview with La Silla Rota, one of the villagers recalled how in the last war-like battle, the cartel also employed .50 caliber sniper rifles and grenades to attack Tepalcatepec.

The city has a population of some 35,000 people that borders the state of Jalisco, the cartel's home base.

The cartel is led by Nemesio 'El Mencho' Oseguera. The United States has offered a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest.

'In that moment I started saying my prayer and I said it is the opportunity to show that we are taking care of our town, that they are not going to harm any families,' the man said. 'We experience terrorist moments and bullets come from everywhere.'

It is not the first time the cartel has been accused of using explosives packed into drones.

According to the Mexico Attorney General's Office, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel set off explosions using drones during series of attacks that were carried out earlier this year in the states of Puebla and Guanajuato.
While we all might be grappling to deal with the new norm 2020 has thrown our way, Princess Mary has to do it in the public eye.

Unfortunately, the Aussie-born princess has been forced to apologise after she was photographed on official business breaching coronavirus protocol.

Princess Mary broke coronavirus protocol when she shook hands on an official royal visit. Photo: Getty Images

The 48-year-old was on her first official engagement since the summer holidays, visiting Grenaa sea aquarium, Kattegatcentret, on Wednesday, where she as newly appointed President for the World Wildlife Foundation in Denmark, released 50 Sea Rays to the sea.

However, upon her arrival, the Tasmanian beauty seemed to forget new protocols around the coronavirus, as she was photographed shaking hands with a representative from the aquarium.

Owning up to the blunder, Princess Mary later took to the Danish royal familys official Instagram account to apologise.

The 48-year-old Australian-born royal apologised for the blunder. Photo: Getty Images

"On land, on water and in the air  we need to get used to wearing a mask. It is important that we all follow the health authorities' recommendations together," she said.

"Yesterday I was in Grenaa for my first official visit after the summer holidays. On the waters and in the air went well but on land I made a mistake and I unfortunately shook hands. It reminded me how important it is that we help each other live up to the recommendations. Stay safe and take care of each other."

Princess Mary owned up to the mistake and asked others to "help each other live up to the recommendations". Photo: Getty Images

Back in June Princess Mary stepped out for her first official engagement since lockdown began, visiting Holmegaard Vrk, a new design museum, in Denmark.

At the event, Mary made sure to practice social distancing, however she did forgo a face mask for the visit.

RELATED:

In March, the Danish royal family decided to cancel all official appearances, with Princess Mary and her family returning home from Switzerland to stand with the Danes.

In a statement released by the palace, it was revealed that Princess Mary, her four children and her husband, Prince Frederik, would all return from Switzerland, where theyve been enjoying a 12-week school stay.

Story continues

Back in June Princess Mary stepped out for her first official engagement since lockdown began, visiting Holmegaard Vrk, a new design museum, in Denmark. Photo: Getty Images

"In light of the worsening situation in Denmark in connection with the handling of the spread of COVID-19, the Crown Prince couple has decided that the family will leave home from Switzerland, the statement read.

The Crown Prince couple find it most natural to return home and stand with the Danes in a time that requires a lot of everyone and where there is a shared responsibility for looking after each other."

The palace went on to clarify that the childrens education will continue in Denmark, once public institutions open again.

Click here to sign up to our daily newsletter to get all the latest news and hacks. Or if you have a story tip, email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Wednesday, August 19th, 2020 a report of Missing person was filed at the Philipsburg Police Station by the husband of the lady, named Arina KLYGUINA, who was born in Russia on the 26th of March 1990.

Arina KLYGUINA, who is a Canadian citizen, was last seen on August 17th, 2020, stepping into a vehicle with 2 unknown persons in the French Cul-De-Sac area.

Arina has a tattoo of a water-lily on her feet with the wording Carpe Diem around it. She also has a tattoo in the form of a heart on her left arm.

There has been no information on the whereabouts of Arina KLYGUINA, and she has not returned home, nor contacted her husband or any other family member.

The police department is seeking assistance from the community to help locate Arina. If anyone has information about the whereabouts of Arina please contact her husband Mr. Rutger Patrick at the phone number +1721-523 2221.

You can also contact the Police Force of Sint Maarten at 542 22 22 extension 106 or the emergency number 911. Arina, if you are reading this, please contact the Police or your husband and let him know that you are doing ok.

KPSM Press Release.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2020 / Commerce Resources Corp. (TSXV:CCE)(FSE:D7H0) (the "Company" or "Commerce") is pleased to report that the Ashram REE/ Fluorspar Deposit is the subject focus of two papers that will be presented at the upcoming 2020 Conference of Metallurgists (COM2020). The conference was originally planned to be held in Toronto this August; however, it has recently been rescheduled for October 14th and 15th and is modified to an online webinar format given recent events. COM2020 is organized by the Metallurgy and Materials Society, a section of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum (CIM).

The first paper, initially announced in news release dated May 13th, 2020, is a joint collaboration between the Company and CanmetMINING, a branch of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), and is titled "Mineral processing flowsheet options for the Ashram rare earth and fluorspar deposit". The authors, Tesfaye Negeri and Maziar Sauber of CanmetMINING and Darren L. Smith, the Company's Ashram Project Manager, detail in the paper recent test work completed by CanmetMINING where a marked improvement in flotation performance has been demonstrated through a combination of distributed reagent additions, reagent synergism, and reverse conditioning in a very simple and basic flotation circuit.

The second paper is authored by Kang Sun, Christel Bemelmans, and Nick Hazen of Hazen Research, Inc., the Company's primary metallurgical lab for the Ashram Project, and is titled "Recovering rare earths and other metallic values from fluorine-containing concentrates using carbochlorination and aqueous leaching". The test work that forms the basis of the paper utilizes flotation concentrate from the Ashram Deposit as one of two feedstocks to assess the merits of carbochlorination, a thermal process (650-800 C) using coke and chlorine, to make rare earth chloride (REECl3) that is soluble in dilute HCl. The purpose of the work was to clarify the fundamental chemistry of carbochlorination of fluorine-bearing concentrates. The results of the test work will be presented in the paper at COM2020.

The Company is pleased with the results detailed in these papers, and specifically with respect to the significant optimizations of the Ashram Deposit's flotation circuit by CanmetMINING, as it is directly applicable to the project's working flowsheet. The Company is also pleased to provide its continued support to the academic and institutional rare earth element research and development industry through the supply of Ashram Deposit material and geological support. The Ashram Deposit outcrops at surface and has allowed for cost-effective collection of large amounts of material for test work. As such, the Company is actively engaged with various research and academic institutions to support the advancement of the REE industry in Canada, and in Quebec specifically.

NI 43-101 Disclosure

Darren L. Smith, M.Sc., P.Geo., Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd., a Permit holder with the Ordre des Geologues du Quebec and Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release.

About Commerce Resources Corp.

Commerce Resources Corp. is an exploration and development company with a particular focus on deposits of rare metals and rare earth elements. The Company is focused on the development of its Ashram Rare Earth Element Deposit in Quebec and the Upper Fir Tantalum-Niobium Deposit in British Columbia.

For more information, please visit the corporate website at www.commerceresources.com or email info@commerceresources.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

COMMERCE RESOURCES CORP.

"Chris Grove"

Chris Grove

President and Director

Tel: 604.484.2700

Email: cgrove@commerceresources.com

Web: http://www.commerceresources.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information which is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements in this press release include that CanmetMINING's work on the Ashram Deposit will identify a key approach to further enhance beneficiation performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Risks that could change or prevent these statements from coming to fruition include that CanmetMINING's work may not be successful; changing costs for mining and processing; increased capital costs; the timing and content of upcoming work programs; geological interpretations based on drilling that may change with more detailed information; potential process methods and mineral recoveries assumption based on limited test work and by comparison to what are considered analogous deposits that with further test work may not be comparable; testing of our process may not prove successful and even it tests are successful, the economic and other outcomes may not be as expected; the availability of labour, equipment and markets for the products produced; and despite the current expected viability of the project, conditions changing such that the minerals on our property cannot be economically mined, or that the required permits to build and operate the envisaged mine can be obtained. The forward-looking information contained herein is given as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

SOURCE: Commerce Resources Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602529/Commerce-Resources-Corps-Ashram-REE-Fluorspar-Deposit-Subject-of-Two-Research-Papers-for-COM2020
An Egg Harbor Township man Wednesday admitted to engaging in large-scale fraud through his car dealership.

Afzal Khan, 38, also known as Bobby Khan, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini to an indictment charging him with wire fraud, according to a news release from District of New Jersey U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito.

The release states that from at least December 2013 to September 2014, Khan, through his Ramsey-based dealership, Emporio Motor Group, engaged in acts to defraud customers and lenders.

Khan obtained loans from the auto finance division of a large bank that he never delivered, but for which the purchaser was sill responsible. He also obtained loans from the bank for cars that were delivered, but for which neither he nor Emporio had the title.

As a result, the purchasers of the cars were liable for the loans, but could not register the cars.

Khan admitted that his actions cost the bank at least $550,000. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss from the offense. Sentencing is scheduled to Dec. 17.

Carpenito credited special agents of the FBIs Newark Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Joe Denahan, with the investigation leading to Wednesdays guilty plea. He also thanked the Bergen County Prosecutors Office and the Ramsey Police Department for their assistance.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 12:50:42|Editor: huaxia

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ABUJA, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Terror group Boko Haram has attacked a military base in Nigeria's northeastern town of Kukawa, local media reported on Wednesday.

An unspecified number of civilians at a camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) may have been kidnapped during the attack late Tuesday at the Kukawa town of the northern state of Borno, the local broadcast station Channels Television reported.

The attack occurred barely a week after the first set of villagers who had been displaced for many years were returned home for resettlement.

Kukawa is a border town on the fringes of Lake Chad, which has been a military zone until the recent return of the IDPs.

Local community leaders said they had conducted a headcount in order to present an official report with the number of missing people after the attack.

Some 200 households consisting of an estimated 1,200 people were recently returned to the local council by the government.

Details of the attack remain incomplete, and the military is yet to give an official position on the attack.

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
For years, an old sign on a Flemington shop has intrigued passers-by.

Girdwoods Hygienic Library, reads the lettering above the door of what is now Pepper Cafe.

Simon Peterson and the historic Girdwood's Hygienic Library sign over the door of his cafe in Flemington. Credit:Jason South

Cafe owner Simon Peterson thought the sign beautiful when he bought the business, in Pin Oak Crescent, 12 years ago.

And it was a talking point.
Offical: Fuel cargo to Venezuela seized by US never belonged to Iranian

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Aug 19, IRNA -- Head of the Presidential Office Mahmoud Vaezi dismissed the US claim of confiscating four Iranian tankers and said it is every country's right to buy and sell oil in international waters.

"The cargo of four tankers seized by the United States last week en route to Venezuela was no longer Iranian property", Vaezi told reporters after the cabinet session in Tehran on Wednesday.

Neither the ship nor the cargo belonged to Iran, said the Head of the Presidential Office, adding that the cargo had been delivered to Venezuela on international trade scheme.

Vaezi added that the fuel cargo seized by the US was not Iranian but its oil had been sold to customers and the payment was received for it.

The US newspaper Wall Street Journal on Friday morning carried an "exclusive" report quoted from American officials who claimed the tankers were seized within the past few days without the use of force.

The newspaper claimed, " The Trump administration has for the first time confiscated cargo in vessels allegedly loaded with Iran fuel in violation of sanctions, U.S. officials said, as it steps up its campaign of maximum pressure against Tehran.".

Claiming that "4 Iranian tankers carrying fuel to Venezuela have been seized by the US," it said, "The Luna, Pandi, Bering and Bella, were seized on the high seas in recent days and are now en route to Houston."

Iran's Ambassador to Venezuela Hojat Soltani on Aug 14, reacted to the false news on the seizure of four Iranian tankers by the US and termed it as yet another lie by the propaganda machine of the Imperialism of America.

In a twitter post on Friday, the Ambassador rejected the fake news that the US has seized four tankers carrying Iranian oil.

On Tuesday Aug 18 too, Iran Petroleum Minister Bijan Zangeneh derided the US over fabricated seizure of Iranian oil tankers, saying Washington aims to "produce a victory for itself."

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).

6125**1424

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In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Clinigen Group plc (LON:CLIN) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow.

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model.

See our latest analysis for Clinigen Group

Is Clinigen Group fairly valued?

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. 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, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 Levered FCF (, Millions) UK84.7m UK82.2m UK81.0m UK80.4m UK80.3m UK80.5m UK81.0m UK81.6m UK82.3m UK83.1m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x4 Analyst x4 Est @ -1.53% Est @ -0.7% Est @ -0.13% Est @ 0.28% Est @ 0.56% Est @ 0.76% Est @ 0.9% Est @ 0.99% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 9.6% UK77.3 UK68.5 UK61.5 UK55.8 UK50.8 UK46.5 UK42.7 UK39.2 UK36.1 UK33.3

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = UK511m

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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 1.2%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 9.6%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2030  (1 + g)  (r  g) = UK83m (1 + 1.2%)  (9.6% 1.2%) = UK1.0b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= UK1.0b ( 1 + 9.6%)10= UK403m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is UK914m. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of UK7.2, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

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. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the 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 Clinigen Group 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 9.6%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.208. 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:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For Clinigen Group, there are three relevant factors you should assess:

Risks: Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 4 warning signs with Clinigen Group (at least 1 which is significant) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. Future Earnings: How does CLIN'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 High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

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.



Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health said Thursday that coronavirus case reporting will be impacted this weekend as the department transitions its electronic laboratory reporting system to the Amazon Web Services cloud.

The AWS cloud will greatly increase the states public health data collection capacity, DPH said in a statement.

During the transition, the department on Saturday will publish coronavirus case counts and other information based on data received by 5 p.m. Friday instead of by 8 a.m. Saturday.

That means Saturdays report could reflect lower numbers of individual tests, total tests, new cases, and deaths, the department said, noting that hospitalization numbers will not be impacted.

Data will not be published through the departments coronavirus dashboard on Sunday, DPH said. A normal flow of data is expected to resume by Monday, when all laboratory results from over the weekend are planned to be published on the dashboard and assigned to respective test dates, the statement said.

The transition comes as the state expects coronavirus testing volumes to expand this fall as students return to colleges and universities.

This system migration and capacity upgrade has been planned for many months for enhanced stability and security of our systems and to accommodate the recent and expected growth in COVID-19 test volumes, said Kevin Cranston, DPH assistant commissioner and director of the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences. It is particularly critical that we make the move now to manage the testing of thousands of college and university students starting soon.

With the migration, the volume of test results processed daily will increase from 25,000 to 100,000. There will also be an electronic quality assurance dashboard to data flow and errors, a process that is currently done manually, DPH said.

This upgrade is part of lans for extensive infrastructure renovations at the State Public Health Laboratory in Jamaica Plain and IT improvements made possible by recent federal COVID-19 testing resources, according to the statement.

Related Content:
MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI  A man facing the possibility of life in prison has had a first-degree criminal sexual conduct charge against him dismissed.

There are no plans to reissue any charges against Dan Routley, said Matt Roberts, chief trial attorney for the Muskegon County Prosecutors Office.

Routley, 42, then of Laketon Township, had been charged in May 2019 with the CSC charge that carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. He was accused of sexually assaulting, including penetrating, a young woman for more than a dozen years starting when she was 9.

Police had been contacted by a friend of the alleged victim, a prosecutor told MLive earlier. The case was investigated by the Michigan State Police.

Additional considerations came to light and we reached the conclusion we could not prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt, Roberts told MLive.

Those considerations were concerning the (alleged) victim, Roberts said, declining to elaborate.

The charge was dismissed on July 7, he said.

Routley could not be reached for comment.

Also on MLive:

Mona Shores school board to ask Gov. Whitmer to oust trustee previously censured

Letter from the Editor: An MLive reporters arrest has me fired up  again

Youngest Flint water crisis victims to get 80 percent of historic $600M settlement
Promotional art for "Stranger Things: The Drive-Into Experience." (Netflix)

Downtown Los Angeles will be transformed into 1985 Hawkins, Ind., this fall for an immersive "Stranger Things" drive-through production featuring live sets, costumes, performances and special effects inspired by the hit sci-fi series.

On Thursday, Netflix unveiled plans for "Stranger Things: The Drive-Into Experience," which will take groups of 24 cars on a spooky tour of various Hawkins hot spots, including the Starcourt Mall, Russian labs and even the Upside Down. Fans can join the wait list for tickets, which go on sale Aug. 26 at noon Pacific and start at $59 per car.

Stranger Things has always been larger than life and we wanted to flip the world upside down for our fans, said Greg Lombardo, head of experiences at Netflix, in a statement.

So buckle up like Billy is driving, keep your eyes on the neon lights, and steer clear of the shadows because theres no telling who or what you might come across in Downtown Los Angeles this October. Whatever you do, dont get out of your car!

the psdn uop awaits this fall, DTLA... get on the list before it vanishes. https://t.co/OXO7KMYPZt pic.twitter.com/4B6FjGWMWX  NX (@NXOnNetflix) August 20, 2020

The hour-plus theatrical adventure will direct drivers to multiple pit stops, where they will park for extended amounts of time as scenes featuring familiar friends and foes play out around them before moving on to the next "chapter." Netflix has also taken precautions to create a safe environment amid the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring guests to drive and stay in their own cars during the show.

Like most film and TV shoots, production on the highly anticipated fourth season of "Stranger Things" came to an abrupt halt in March due to public health concerns. A month earlier, Netflix had just released the first Season 4 teaser, featuring a somewhat surprise appearance from Hawkins Police Chief Jim Hopper (David Harbour), who was (spoiler alert!) presumed dead at the end of Season 3.

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In May, Harbour speculated about the return of the series on Times staff writer Yvonne Villarreal's "Can't Stop Watching" podcast. The fourth season of "Stranger Things" was originally set to premiere later this year.

"People love the show, and I think they will continue to watch it, but I'd like to get it to them as soon as possible," Harbour said. "I'm very invested in trying to put out as much content from this thing that I love as possible, as well. So I think everybody's working on it, and Netflix is one of the biggest corporations, most creative corporations, in the world right now. They are on it and we're all trying to make it happen."

In the meantime, "Stranger Things: The Drive-In Experience" will open in October at a central location in downtown L.A. to be announced later.
In an interview with a Pakistani television channel, Sheikh Rashid, Pakistani federal railways minister said that if India attacked Pakistan, it would be a nuclear war, not a conventional war and it would be the 'last war'.

Sheikh Rasheed and his discoveries. This time he's found a scientist who made a precision kafir bomb for India. pic.twitter.com/uozTBHPLM2  Naila Inayat   (@nailainayat) August 20, 2020

He said that Pakistan has miniature, calculative, perfect weapons, adding that it would target areas as far as Assam and would not affect Muslims.

Sheikh Rashid said that he was doubtful of a conventional war between India and Pakistan and hence, Pakistan possessed small nuclear weapons.

He had threatened India with tactical nuclear weapons in September 2019 and boasted of possessing nuclear weapons as light and small as 125-250 grams that is highly precise, reports India Today.

Rashid is a seasoned Pakistani politician who was first elected to office in 1985 and heads the Awami Muslim League party.
The teen mother of Tennessee toddler Evelyn Boswell was charged with her murder Wednesday.

It comes five months after the remains of the 15-month old were found surrounded by toys inside a shed owned by her grandfather.

Her young mother Megan Boswell, 19, was the first to report her missing in February but the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation now believe she killed Evelyn and disposed of the body.

Boswell was already being held in the Sullivan County jail before Wednesday's hearing on charges she had lied about her daughter's whereabouts when she first filed the missing person's report to police.

Megan Boswell, 19, was charged Wednesday with the murder of her 15-moth-old daughter

Evelyn Boswell was reported missing in February and her remains were discovered on March 6

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director David Rausch announced the new murder charge

The new charges were announced during a press conference by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Sullivan County Sheriffs Office, and the 2nd Judicial District Attorneys Office.

A family member reported the child missing on February 18 though the child had not been seen since December, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said.

Boswell initially told state investigators that her daughter was with the child's father, who is stationed with the Army in Louisiana, but he did not have Evelyn, media reported.

Boswell later said her mother took her daughter to a campground in Virginia, but authorities found no sign of the girl there.

She was arrested on February 25 on a single count of filing a false report about her daughters disappearance.

Authorities said her inaccurate and conflicting statements about her daughter's whereabouts had impeded the investigation.

The grim discovery of the toddler's body, which was said to be surrounded by toys, came days later after an intense search across three states that lasted 17 days.

In May, investigators announced they had identified a person of interest in Evelyns death, but declined to identify that individual.

A Sullivan County grand jury charged her mother Wednesday with two counts of felony murder; one count each of aggravated child abuse, aggravated child neglect, tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse and failure to report a death under suspicious, unusual or unnatural circumstances; as well as the 12 counts of false reports.

Sullivan County Sheriff Jeff Cassidy said during Wednesday's press conference that his office had not forgotten about the toddler's death and would press for 'justice'

Authorities said Megan's inaccurate and conflicting statements to detectives about her daughter's whereabouts had impeded the investigation and she was first arrested in Febvrary for filing false reports. Evelyn had not been seen since last December

Evelyn's body was found surrounded by toys at the home of a relative in March. Clothing, diapers and toys that would have belonged to the child were also found

She is the first person to be charged with Evelyn's death and was described Wednesday as the sole suspect in the case.

However, the have not yet released exact details about the death or the evidence they have collected as investigators say the case still has to be prosecuted.

According to WJHL, Sullivan County Sheriff Jeff Cassidy said Wednesday that his office had not forgotten about the toddler's death.

'Baby Evelyns body was found on March 6,' Cassidy said.

The remains of Evelyn Boswell were found on March 6 at inside a shed owned by her grandfather

'Since that time, my detectives, TBI agents, and the DAs office have worked tirelessly conducting interviews, combing through evidence, and establishing a timeline in order to determine the circumstances leading to baby Evelyns death.

'As a result of false information given by the defendant along with misinformation circulated in the community, there has been a lot of confusion in the case, he added.

'I want to be clear when I say that after an extensive and thorough investigation, other individuals were eliminated as suspects and Megan Boswell became the sole suspect in this case.

'We are determined to make sure that justice is served for baby Evelyn.'

Boswell's attorney, Brad Sproles, said he had not had a chance speak to Boswell recently due to the coronavirus pandemic.

'I have not been able to speak with her recently, there have been some COVID issues at the jail,' Sproles told WJHL.

'So, we're somewhat limited in our ability to talk to folks up there. But I've spoken with some of the sheriff's officers and in the next few days they're going to try to make arrangements maybe where I can talk with her by video.'

'I spoke with the district attorney after the press conference and they are going to work on providing us with the discovery for all the evidence so we can take a look at it, which we've not been able to at this point,' he added.

'I'm sure that's going to take a while, there's volumes and volumes of evidence that they've had to go through.'

Boswell is next scheduled to appear in Sullivan County criminal court on August 28. Her bond has been set at $1 million.
Colonial Dames commemorative wreath. The yellow rose is a symbol used by Women Suffragetts in urging the right to vote.

A historical wreath-laying ceremony was held in honor of Febb King Ensminger Burn on Tuesday at the Niota Cemetery in Niota, Tn.

She was the mother of Harry Thomas Burn, the young 24-year-old member of the Tennessee Legislature, whose final "Aye" vote in favor of the suffragette movement, gave women the right to vote  thus known as the 19th Amendment.

The ceremony included a recitation by great-granddaughters Cathy Burn Allen and Sandra Burn Boyd, reading the chatty yet pointed letter Febb sent to Harry that changed his mind to vote for women's voting rights.

TSDAR State Regent Cecile Wimberley gave comments that included her personal interest in Febb Burn, who was a Tennessee daughter, teacher, farmer, and businesswoman.

Proclamations were read. McMinn County Mayor John Gentry presented a proclamation for the 19th Amendment and the Febb Burn Day Proclamation was read by Tyler Forrest, her great-great-grandnephew.

Wreaths were presented representing the organizations of Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the American Revolution and Colonial Dames Seventeenth Century.





PHOTO I.D. (3)



Christy Torok; Cecile Wimberley, TNDAR State Regent



Stone marker of Burn Family



Commemorative yellow rose and Ceremony Program


More than a decade has passed since the largest mass arrest in Canadian history and gross violation of civil rights occurred on Toronto streets.

The people who were penned in by riot police, stripped of their belongings and detained inhumanely in metal cages  for protesting peacefully, or in some cases simply walking home  are finally set to receive a modicum of justice.

The Toronto Police Service has agreed to pay $16.5 million to those kettled  an inappropriately used crowd-control technique  indiscriminately arrested, and detained in a makeshift jail during the chaotic G20 summit in 2010.

More than 1,000 people will be eligible for payouts ranging from $5,000 to $24,700 once a court approves the agreement. They, along with the rest of the city and indeed the country, can only hope this class action settlement also provides some assurance that such appalling police behaviour wont happen here, or anywhere else in Canada, ever again.

As part of the settlement, Toronto police must publicly acknowledge the mass arrests and the conditions in which people were detained and commit to more appropriate use of crowd-control techniques in future demonstrations.

Thats not all it could be, but its still significant. Especially considering how little accountability theres been, from the rank and file, boots-on-ground cops to those in charge who set the tone and gave the orders to trample citizens rights.

This settlement should make it clear to all police that indiscriminately rounding up innocent people, with the slight hope of catching a vandal in the mix, is not acceptable. The right of citizens to peacefully protest cannot be set aside just because police think it would be convenient to do so.

This is a particularly timely message amid the continent-wide reckoning over police power, how it is used and misused.

For many caught up in the events of that June 2010 weekend, including Sherry Good, a white office administrator who became a lead plaintiff in the class action, it was their first experience with the police as an aggressive force. Their first realization that rights they believed to be sacrosanct in Canada could be cast aside by the very authority entrusted to uphold them.

But this, as we know all too well, is a situation that Black and Indigenous people encounter more regularly in their lives. Thats at the very core of the Black Lives Matter movement, calls to defund police and the protests that swept the globe after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.

Its also instructive to recall what happened after the G20 policing debacle.

Many of the police officers who were on the streets developed amnesia when faced with photos of a few riot-clad police wielding batons against protesters. The top brass, who were only too happy to gather for a massive co-ordinated policing effort, then scattered to the winds when it was time to answer for what happened on the streets.

We can only wonder how things might have been different if officers were wearing body cameras  equipment the Toronto police board finally approved this week.

Cameras are certainly not an instant fix for excessive use of force or anti-Black racism, but they have proven useful in getting to the bottom of things.

We have only to look to Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri and Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam for recent examples of citizens on the receiving end of excessive police force  initially blamed on the victims by the authorities  who had their version of events, the truth, backed up by video proof.

At a time of increased scrutiny of police behaviour the settlement for wrongs more than a decade old is a stark reminder that problems with how police authority is sometimes used and misused are long-standing ones.

When Ontarios top court gave the green light to the G20 class action, it noted that the remedies would be stronger instruments of behaviour modification than the non-binding recommendations produced by various investigations into how the police behaved.

We hope that proves to be the case.
SANDUSKY, Ohio  A Toledo man was killed Wednesday afternoon when his motorcycle collided with a pickup truck that had pulled into an intersection, according to the State Highway Patrol.

Austin Fletcher, 25, was taken to Firelands Hospital in Sandusky after the crash on U.S. 250 but died of his injuries, troopers say. The driver of the 2011 Honda Ridgeline pickup, a 36-year-old Sandusky woman, and a 26-year-old male passenger were uninjured.

The patrol says the pickup, driven by a 36-year-old Sandusky woman, was stopped at the intersection of U.S. 250 and Chalet Drive in Sandusky when it pulled out to make a left turn. Fletcher was driving a 2007 Yamaha R6 motorcycle north on U.S. 250 when he hit the pickup truck.

Both people inside the pickup were wearing seatbelts and Fletcher was wearing a helmet. Alcohol and drugs are not suspected factors in the crash, which remains under investigation.

Read more from cleveland.com:

Man charged in deadly beating outside store in Clevelands Ohio City neighborhood

Cuyahoga County Jail officer resigns after marijuana found in her locker

Man shot to death while driving in Clevelands Glenville neighborhood

Man accused of setting Cuyahoga County van on fire during May 30 protests in downtown Cleveland
UK to Expand CCP Virus Mass Testing

Regular COVID-19 testing in England is to be expanded to 400,000 people as part of a national survey to track the spread of the CCP virus, the UK government said on Wednesday.

The governments aim is to increase weekly data to better track asymptomatic cases and local outbreaks, helping to localize any future measures to stop the virus spread and impact fewer people.

The data and insight gathered will help inform our national, regional, and local responses to the pandemic, allowing this nation to get back to the things we love doing, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said in a statement.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) COVID-19 infection survey currently tests 28,000 people per fortnight.

More people will be invited to take part in the survey, with the initial aim to increase testing to 150,000 people by October. The goal is to enrol 400,000 people in the survey, the Department of Health and Social Care said in a statement.

The ONS survey, undertaken with The University of Oxford, will be the UKs biggest study to track the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus, in the general population, and will be extended to include Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Widespread testing is seen as one way to reopen the economy, which suffered a record 20 percent contraction in the second quarter and is expected to see unemployment soar when the government ends its huge job subsidy program in October.

A paramedic holds a test tube containing a blood sample during an antibody testing program in Birmingham, Britain, on June 5, 2020. (Simon Dawson/POOL/AFP/Getty Images)

According to recent ONS data, almost three-quarters of people testing positive for the virus do not report any symptoms.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Wednesday, Hancock said the survey would help find more cases where people are asymptomatic.

The biggest gap, the biggest challenge weve got, is finding people who dont have symptomsso dont know that theyve got coronavirus, but can still pass it onand getting tested, he said.

This survey will help us to pinpoint where the virus is even amongst people who dont know theyve got it.

Home Visits

During home visits from trained health workers, survey participants will answer health-related questions and give samples from self-administered nose and throat swabs showing whether they have the virus.

Some will have blood tests to test for antibodies, and tests will be repeated weekly for five weeks and monthly for a year.

The government hopes the data will provide a much more detailed national picture of CCP virus prevalence, including who is affected and where.

The ONS will initially prioritize ramping up testing in North West England and London as recent studies showed a higher incidence in those areas.

Social distancing signs are seen in Blackburn town centre, England, on July 17, 2020, amid the CCP virus pandemic. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Hancock said the government was trialing a range of new, faster tests that can give instant results and hoped to roll them out towards the end of the year.

He said the countrys research laboratories at Porton Down were trialing new saliva tests that do not need to go to a laboratory, so they can deliver faster results.

There are new technologies coming on track which we are buying and testing now, he told BBC Radio 4. Well ramp it up certainly over the remainder of this year.

Symptom Study App

In addition to the survey expansion, the government announced that a 2-million-pound ($2.6 million) grant will be given to health science start-up company ZOE for its COVID-19 Symptom Study app, which the firm has thus far self-financed.

We are a start-up, so we are delighted that this funding guarantees the future of the study throughout the winter, Jonathan Wolf, CEO of non-profit ZOE, said in a statement.

The app is used to track COVID-19 cases, and is currently used by 4 million people as part of a study that began at the start of the UK lockdown in March.

We have been blown away by the commitment of the British public to help fight COVID, by sharing the state of their health daily, Wolf said.

Study volunteers use the app to report testing results and symptoms in the largest public science project of its kind anywhere in the world, the government said.

Anonymized data is analyzed by Kings College London researchers for the prevalence of both symptomatic and asymptomatic infection and how this varies according to geography, age, and ethnicity.

According to ZOE, the apps research proved that loss of smell is a major symptom of COVID, with the research being published in the journal Nature Medicine in May.

Along with the ONS survey data, the apps vital new intelligence will help inform NHS decision-making by identifying who is most at risk and where the higher risk areas are, the government said.

Reuters contributed to this report.
HUDDINGE, Sweden, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

April - June

Significant events during the quarter

Following the positive opinion given by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the European Commission granted orphan medicinal product designation in the EU for MIV-818 for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of primary liver cancer.

The Board of Directors appointed Yilmaz Mahshid as the new CEO of Medivir. Yilmaz Mahshid has long and broad experience from qualified roles in the life science sector. He will assume his position on September 14 , 2020.

, 2020. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted orphan drug designation to MIV-818 for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Financial summary for the quarter

Net turnover amounted to SEK 4.0 (3.7) million.

(3.7) million. The loss before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounted to SEK -12.4 (-12.5) million. Basic and diluted earnings per share amounted to SEK -0.52 (-0.51) and SEK -0.52 (-0.51) respectively.

(-12.5) million. Basic and diluted earnings per share amounted to (-0.51) and (-0.51) respectively. Cash flow from operating activities amounted to SEK -23.3 (-35.5) million.

(-35.5) million. Liquid assets and short-term investments at the end of the period amounted to SEK 94.9 (191.9) million

January - June

Financial summary

Net turnover amounted to SEK 11.4 (5.7) million.

(5.7) million. The loss before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounted to SEK -33.1 (-66.6) million. Basic and diluted earnings per share amounted to SEK -1.49 (-2.81) and SEK -1.49 (-2.81) respectively.

(-66.6) million. Basic and diluted earnings per share amounted to (-2.81) and (-2.81) respectively. Cash flow from operating activities amounted to SEK -40.0 (-91.8) million.

(-91.8) million. Liquid assets and short-term investments at the end of the period amounted to SEK 94.9 (191.9) million.

Significant events after the end of the quarter

In July, a research collaboration was initiated with the Drug Discovery and Development Platform (DDD) at SciLifeLab on potential inhibitors of SARS CoV-2. Through the collaboration, DDD will get access to Medivir's unique proprietary protease-targeted compound library.



Conference call for investors, analysts and the media

The Interim Report January - June 2020 will be presented by Medivir's President & CEO, Uli Hacksell.

Time: Thursday, August 20, 2020, at 14.00 (CET).

Phone numbers for participants from:

Sweden + 46 8 505 583 53

Europe + 44 33 3300 9034

US + 1 833 526 83 95

The conference call will also be streamed via a link on the website: www.medivir.com

The presentation will be available on Medivir's website after completion of the conference.



CEO's message



During the quarter, our proprietary and wholly owned candidate drug, MIV-818, was granted orphan drug designation in both the EU and the US for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. These are important milestones that can facilitate the path to potential market approvals for MIV-818. Medivir has also recruited a new CEO in the form of Yillmaz Mahshid, who from this autumn will lead the development of the company and our exciting projects.

MIV-818 has potential to be the first liver cancer-targeted, orally administered drug that can help patients with advanced liver cancer. During the quarter MIV-818 was granted orphan drug designation in both the EU and the US for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of primary liver cancer. The classification provides a number of benefits that can lead to a smoother, faster and less costly path to potential market approval. It also provides the opportunity for market exclusivity, seven years in the US and ten years in the EU after approval.

In Asia, unlike in the western world, HCC is a common disease and therefore drugs against HCC are not given orphan drug status in Asia. As a consequence, the clinical development program for MIV-818 will be different in Asia compared to the United States and the European Union. I envision that going forward we need to work with a partner who can be responsible for the development and sale of MIV-818 in the Asian market in order to maximize the value of MIV-818 also in this region.

In March, positive data from our phase Ia study were presented and shortly thereafter, the first patient with advanced liver cancer was dosed in the current phase Ib study with MIV-818. The study will determine the safety and tolerability profile of MIV-818 but will also further investigate the efficacy of MIV-818. The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has affected patient recruitment, which has been taken into account. However, we see today no obstacles to present the overall results from the study during the first quarter of 2021.

With our human and financial resources invested in MIV-818, we have not yet been able to begin the preclinical development of MIV-828, the candidate substance that focuses on the treatment of blood cancer.

Regarding our other clinical projects, i.e. remetinostat, birinapant and MIV-711, our focus is on business development. However, I would like to mention that we have two ongoing investigator-initiated studies of remetinostat, in patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma, respectively, and that preliminary results from the BCC study were very encouraging. In another investigator-initiated study, a combination of birinapant and radiotherapy is being evaluated in patients with recurrence of squamous cell carcinoma in the head and neck region.

At the end of May, we were able to present that Yilmaz Mahshid, with long and broad experience from qualified roles in the life science sector, has been recruited to take over as CEO of Medivir. Yilmaz Mahshid will take over in September and I am convinced that he will be perfect as the new CEO of Medivir. Yilmaz is extremely qualified and has the background, drive and strategic thinking that our exciting company needs. I will remain as CEO until Yilmaz assumes his position. Some time after the handover, I will return to work only as a Board Member.

This is thus my last quarterly report as CEO and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the trust, from employees and colleagues as well as from shareholders and the Board, during the almost two years I have had the privilege of leading the company. It has been a journey where we have reshaped Medivir, sharpened the company's focus and implemented radical organizational changes. At the same time, we have seen success, especially in the development of MIV-818, which shows that our proprietary and wholly owned projects have great potential. Medivir of today is a flexible and efficient development company that uses its resources where they can create the greatest value. It will be very exciting to follow the development going forward.

Uli Hacksell

President & CEO



For further information, please contact

Uli Hacksell, CEO, +46 (0) 8 5468 3100

Magnus Christensen, CFO, +46 (0)73 125 0620



This report has not been subject to auditors' review.

The information was submitted for publication at 08.30 CET on 20 August 2020.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/medivir/r/medivir-ab---interim-report-january---june-2020,c3176549

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/652/3176549/1294604.pdf INTERIM REPORT JANUARY a" JUNE 2020 (PDF)

SOURCE Medivir
Press Release

August 19, 2020 Senate urges President Duterte to suspend top PhilHealth officials The Senate today adopted a resolution urging the President to immediately suspend several officials of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) for their involvement in the alleged corruption and fraudulent schemes in the agency and for the delay or refusal to submit pertinent documents to the National Bureau of Investigation and the Commission on Audit. Senate Resolution No. 502, introduced by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, was unanimously adopted Wednesday, August 19, 2020 with all senators signifying to be made co-authors of the resolution. According to the resolution, allowing the officials to remain in the office would give them time to tamper with, conceal or destroy important records needed in the investigations of the NBI, COA, the Ombudsman, the Senate and the House of Representatives in their exercise of oversight powers and inquiries in aid of legislation and other investigative bodies. It further said that during the Committee of the Whole hearing last August 18, 2020, it became apparent that the top management of PhilHealth refused to cooperate and submit pertinent documents requested by NBI and the COA. "Director Cleotilde Tuazon revealed that a similar problem exists between COA and PhilHealth, with the latter refusing to submit documents in time for auditing, and also preventing COA from gaining full access to their records system, including non-submission of contracts, supporting documents and bidding documents," the resolution said. PhilHealth's unwillingness to cooperate with regard to the submission of records, the resolution pointed out, would be tantamount to obstruction of justice, preventing the NBI to carry out its responsibilities as an investigative agency. The resolution also said that PhilHealth's refusal to grant COA full access to its record system is a blatant violation of the Government Auditing Code of the Philippines. Throughout the course of the investigation conducted by the Senate Committee of the Whole on the alleged irregularities at the PhilHealth, the resolution said that a number of whistleblowers had approached the Committee to reveal various instances of corruption schemes, such as ghost and non-existent patients, rebates, overpayments, upcasing of illnesses, overpricing of information technology items for procurement and the questionable program of Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM). "PhilHealth Board Member Alejandro Cabading and former anti-fraud officer Thorrsson Montes Keith claimed that a so-called mafia in PhilHealth has been orchestrating large-scale corruption within the corporation for years," the resolution said. The resolution said that a multi-agency task force created by President Duterte to investigate the alleged corruption in PhilHealth would likewise recommend the immediate preventive suspension of the officers to preserve the integrity and ensure the transparency of the investigation. "The Executive Branch, with its exercise of supervisory powers over the PhilHealth, must preventively suspend the officers of PhilHealth responsible for possible obstruction of justice and violations of the Government Auditing Code of the Philippines, to allow the NBI and COA to secure the pertinent records they need in order to perform their duties and properly investigate the alleged corruption within the insurance agency," the resolution added.
6.34 Grams/Tonne Gold over 62.55 Metres from La Dura Area, Jabali Concession for Tarachi Gold Corp

Posted by Publisher Internet

Tarachi Gold Corp. (CSE: TRG) (?Tarachi? or the ?Company?  https://www.commodity-tv.com/play/tarachi-gold-main-target-in-2020-to-find-gold-mineralization/ ) is pleased to announce fire assay results on field work activities on the Company?s La Dura area, Jabali concession located in the Sierra Madre Gold Belt of Eastern Sonora, Mexico.

Detailed mapping and sampling on the La Dura area of the southern Jabali concession has been completed including detailed underground channel sampling. ?A total of 91 rock-saw channel samples were submitted to BV Laboratory in Hermosillo. The sampling at Jabali was intended to test and expand historic results at the La Dura mine of 6.2 g/t gold over 26.0 metres. Samples were taken on the best available underground exposures roughly perpendicular to the mapped East-West striking breccia structures. Results are detailed in the chart below.

Tarachi?s President and CEO, Lorne Warner CEO comments ?The 62.55m of 6.34 g/t gold mineralization greatly increases the width of the known mineralization and helps define the drill targets. Previous exploration and drilling on Jabali had been based on a north-south interpretation of the mineralized structures. While regionally, there is a northerly trend detailed mapping by Tarachi Gold?s geological team has identified a series of steeply dipping east-west striking crackle breccias locally controlling the high-grade gold mineralization.?

Channel samples were taken underground in the La Dura mine on the Jabali concession using a Husqvarna K770 14-inch gas powered disc saw. Two cuts were made about 5cm apart then a continuous channel of rock between the cuts was removed with a hammer and chisel. Samples varied in length between 0.4m and 1.25m.

Laboratory procedures

Rock samples were delivered by the Company to Bureau Veritas Mineral Laboratories (BVM) in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico where the samples were dried, crushed and pulverized with the pulps being sent airfreight for analysis to BVM in Vancouver, B.C. for 37-element ICP analysis after modified aqua regia digestion. Gold assays are done in Hermosillo by 50-gram fire assay with an atomic absorption spectroscopy finish, 50-gram fire assay with a gravimetric finish for samples greater than 10ppm Au and 1Kg metallic fire assay with duplicate minus fraction analyzed. Both Hermosillo and Vancouver BVM facilities are ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 accredited.??

Project Descriptions

The Projects consist of the San Javier, Pretoria, Chivitas, Jabali, Juliana, Texana and Tarachi concessions for at total of 2,560 hectares in the prolific Mulatos gold belt. The Projects are approximately 220 km by air east of the City of Hermosillo, and 300 km south of the border between the United States of America and Mexico. The Jabali claim covers the La Dura historic mine and several other small-scale mines. The gold mineralization and geology at Jabali is believed to be similar in character to the gold mineralization at the Mulatos mine. Alamos Gold Inc., in a 2003 annual report, identifies the Jabali project as being part of the \Los Bajios\ mineralized trend which the report suggests has the potential to host another Mulatos size resource. The Tarachi project is an early stage exploration project and the mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Company?s property.?

The Mulatos gold trend is part of the Sierra Madre gold and silver belt that also hosts the operating Mulatos gold mine immediately southeast of the La India property and the Pinos Altos mine and the Creston Mascota deposit 70 kilometres to the southeast. Mineralization occurs within silicified rhyodacite and is associated with vuggy silica alteration, and breccia with iron oxide (hematite and specularite). Native gold occurs along late-stage fracture coatings in the breccias and is locally associated with barite. Past exploration has returned values from trace to 30g/t Au in grab samples. Native gold has also been identified in outcrop on the southern extension of the La Dura mine trend.

Qualified Person

Lorne Warner, P.Geo, President, CEO and Director of the company is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release.

Contact Information: For more information and to sign-up to the mailing list, please contact:

Lorne Warner, CEO

Tel: (250) 574-5767

Email: lorne@tarachigold.com

In Europe:

Swiss Resource Capital AG

Jochen Staiger

info@resource-capital.ch

www.resource-capital.ch

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release includes certain ?Forward?Looking Statements? within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and ?forward?looking information? under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words ?anticipate?, ?believe?, ?estimate?, ?expect?, ?target?, ?plan?, ?forecast?, ?may?, ?would?, ?could?, ?schedule? and similar words or expressions, identify forward?looking statements or information. These forward?looking statements or information relate to, among other things: the exploration and development of the Project; future mineral exploration, development and production including the identification of a work program.

Forward?looking statements and forward?looking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, enhanced value and capital markets profile of Tarachi, future growth potential for Tarachi and its business, and future exploration plans are based on management?s reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management?s experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of silver, gold and other metals; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; Tarachi?s ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms.

These statements reflect Tarachi?s respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward?looking statements or forward-looking information and Tarachi has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: satisfaction or waiver of all applicable conditions to closing fluctuations in general macro?economic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets and the market price of Tarachi?s common shares; and the factors identified under the caption ?Risk Factors? in Tarachi?s management discussion and analysis. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward?looking statements or forward-looking information. Although Tarachi has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Tarachi does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward?looking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.

??
Jane Carson-Sandler says she has served the equivalent of a life sentence in the more-than four decades since she became one of the first rape victims of Joseph James DeAngelo - a one-time police officer who eventually became known as the Golden State Killer.

Ms Carson-Sandler will be among nearly three dozen survivors and family members of victims who plan to confront Mr DeAngelo during court hearings before the 74-year-old is sentenced to life in prison.

It's the culmination of a plea deal that will spare him the death penalty for 13 murders and numerous sadistic rapes and burglaries that terrorised California for more than a decade. His reign of terror mystified investigators until they used a new form of DNA tracking to arrest him in 2018.

"Our wounds heal and our scars remain," Ms Carson-Sandler said.

DeAngelo pleaded guilty in June to 13 counts of murder and admitted dozens of rapes that were too old to prosecute.

Family members of those murdered will speak today before Sacramento judge Michael Bowman sentences DeAngelo tomorrow.

Kris Pedretti was 15 when the Golden State Killer attacked her in 1976. "This kid who liked to go shopping and do cartwheels on the lawn, that girl was gone," she said about her life after the attack.

She said she lost her friends, switched schools, had two failed marriages, and "did a lot of self-medicating, a lot of poor coping mechanisms".

It wasn't until DeAngelo's arrest that she sought therapy and changed her life. She is now happily married.

"He didn't win, I'm not a lost girl. I want to make that clear," Ms Pedretti said.

Soon after attacking Ms Pedretti, DeAngelo escalated his attacks from targeting single women and girls to humiliating their husbands and boyfriends. He would tie up men and pile dishes on their backs, then threaten to kill both victims if he heard the plates rattle while he raped the woman. That's what happened to Bob and Gay Hardwick, who were living together in Stockton in 1978.

"That's been with me for 42 years now, and that's a long life sentence for someone to serve who didn't deserve to serve it," Ms Hardwick said.

Victor Hayes, who with his then-girlfriend endured a similar assault in 1977, is more angry with police and prosecutors than he is with DeAngelo.

He believes DeAngelo should have been forced to publicly admit that he used his knowledge of police procedures to avoid arrest.

DeAngelo was a policeman for the first six years of his onslaught - the first three years when he was known as the Visalia Ransacker for about 100 burglaries and one killing, the next three years in the city of Auburn northeast of Sacramento, until he was fired for shoplifting.

DeAngelo killed two more people in Sacramento - a couple out walking their dog - but committed most of his murders after he left the police force and moved to Southern California.
A 23-year-old man has been detained for taking part in ethnic unrest and assaulting the regional governor during the recent strife in the troubled Sokh enclave in Uzbekistan's Ferghana Province.

Davlatjon Mallaev was detaied by police when he traveled to the regional capital, Ferghana city, on August 10, his mother said on August 19.

Nasimakhon Mallaeva said she found out about her son's arrest from local authorities, whom she contacted after Mallaev failed to return home to Sokh, an Uzbek enclave within Kyrgyzstan.

"My son traveled to the city to sell his car. He was arrested during that trip," she told RFE/RL.

Mallaeva said she had been unable to visit her so,n as the roads connecting the Sokh enclave to Uzbekistan are currently blocked.

A copy of court documents obtained by RFE/RL shows that Mallaev has been charged with taking part in mass unrest and assaulting a government official.

The name of the official is not mentioned in the document. But videos shared on social media appeared to show an angry crowd in Sokh throwing stones at Shuhrat Ghaniev, the Ferghana regional governor.

Sokh was the scene of clashes between local residents and Kyrgyz villagers on May 31 over a dispute about the ownership of a spring located in the area.

Villagers started throwing stones at each other before several houses on each side were set on fire.

The Sokh district administration said then that 187 local residents were injured in the clashes. Kyrgyzstan has said 25 of its citizens were injured in the violence.

Ghaniev had pledged no one would be punished over the incident in which he was pelted with stones in Sokh. The crowd accused him of being unable to resolve the enclave's long-standing problems, such as water supplies and blocked roads.

Many border areas in Central Asia have been restive since the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991.

The situation is particularly complicated near the numerous exclaves in the volatile Ferghana Valley, where the borders of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan meet.

Sokh, one such exclave, is an ethnic Tajik-populated Uzbek territory within Kyrgyzstan's Batken region, where clashes have been common for years.

Tensions have also been very high in recent weeks in the area close to a Tajik exclave called Vorukh in the Batken region and nearby disputed segments of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border in recent weeks as well.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New Yorkers hoping to vote absentee in the November election can now request a ballot application after Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a series of laws on Thursday.

The three-bill package will give voters the ability to request the application, to do so because of coronavirus fears, and assurances that ballots postmarked before or on the Nov. 3 election day will be counted if theyre received by Nov. 10.

Cuomo pointed to concerns about the Trump administrations perceived actions against the post office, and expressed his hope that the package would make it easier for state residents to cast their votes.

The federal administration has ordered an unprecedented attack on the U.S. Postal Service and with COVID-19 threatening our ability to have safe, in-person voting, these measures are critical to ensuring a successful and fair election at one of the most important moments in our nations history, the governor said.

These actions will further break down barriers to democracy and will make it easier for all New Yorkers to exercise their right to vote this November, he continued.

President Trump did take issue with Democrat-requested funding for the USPS in a proposed stimulus bill last week because of his baseless concerns about universal mail-in voting, but Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said Tuesday that he would delay some cost-cutting measures until after the election.

New York is not one of the states that will have universal mail-in voting, but will require residents to request an absentee ballot, which is how the president votes in his home state of Florida.

DeJoy, who is scheduled to testify before the House Oversight and Reform Committee on Monday, said that he would put a pause on a number of money-saving initiatives, including cuts to retail hours and a reduction in processing equipment and collection boxes.

The United States Postal Service will play a critical role this year in delivering election mail for millions of voters across the country, he said. The American public should know that this is our number one priority between now and election day.

Chief of Staff Mark Meadows also attempted to walk back the presidents comments on Sunday saying the requested funding could be included in a future stimulus bill.

Congressional Democrats wanted to include $25 billion in USPS funding in a coronavirus relief bill that would provide $3.6 billion for increased mail-in voting in the November election.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) recalled the House of Representatives on Sunday in an effort to advance a stimulus bill, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) has yet to do the same for his chamber.
In an economy unsettled by pandemic, Pennsylvania utility customers are falling behind on payments at a record pace, and energy companies are pressing the state to relax a ban on shutting off nonpaying customers.

The states electric and gas utilities say total customer unpaid bills have soared to $479 million through the end of June, up $139 million or 41% over 2019 levels. Money owed is up across customer classes, including commercial and industrial customers, whose unpaid balances are 54% greater this year than last.

The utilities say that a moratorium on service shutoffs, enacted in March in the early days of the coronavirus emergency, has had the unintended consequence of discouraging customers from entering into payment plans, even when they are offered enhanced terms.

Peco, the company that serves Philadelphia and its suburbs, says that only 2% of overdue customers responded to its outreach efforts to enter into payment plans, a rate it called quite low.

Peco believes that customer participation in these payment arrangements will increase if the moratorium is lifted, the company said in a filing Tuesday with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. About 146,000 of Pecos residential, commercial and industrial electric customers were in arrears at the end of May  about 9% of its 1.6 million customers.

Every year, a moratorium on shutoffs takes effect in November and lasts for four months. And executives fear that if a change isnt made soon, those in arrears could slip by until next spring, making the problem even larger.

But consumer advocates say it would be unconscionable to allow utilities to resume service shutoffs while more than two million Pennsylvanians have applied for unemployment benefits and so many people are confined to their homes, telecommuting or supervising children while schools are closed.

 READ MORE: Pennsylvania considers allowing utilities to resume shutting off nonpaying customers

Were very concerned that folks will be terminated and will forgo their other basic necessities in order to maintain service or that they will attempt to go without service, which places both them and their household and everyone around them at greater risk of harm, said Elizabeth Marx, a lawyer for the Coalition for Affordable Utility Service and Energy Efficiency in Pennsylvania.

Allowing utility terminations while the pandemic is ongoing places families and whole communities at risk of physical, emotional, and financial harm, and will exacerbate the already disparate impact of the virus on low-income and minority communities, Emma Horst-Martz, an organizer for advocacy group PennPIRG, wrote in a letter to the PUC signed by nearly 700 organizations and individuals.

Many residential customers are also facing bigger electric bills from the additional energy they are consuming while under quarantine. Peco said that total residential electric use was up 8% in the second quarter compared with last year, while energy use was down 14% in the battered commercial and industrial sectors.

The moratorium debate is set to be thrashed out Aug. 27 before the PUC, which has deadlocked twice before along political party lines over efforts to modify its March emergency order on service terminations. The two Republicans have proposed lifting the moratorium on shutoffs while the two Democrats have opposed it. Both measures failed by 2-2 votes.

 READ MORE: Coronavirus ban on utility shutoffs in Pa. stays in place after PUC vote ends in a tie

Gladys Brown Dutrieuille, the PUC chair, recently asked for public comments on whether the moratorium should be changed. Most of the 28 responses received by the deadline Tuesday were from utility companies or trade associations who asked for the moratorium to be lifted. But consumer advocates argued for retaining the ban on shutoffs, as did Gov. Tom Wolf, Attorney General Josh Shapiro, and Valerie A. Arkoosh, chair of the Montgomery County commissioners, all Democrats.

I write to urge that the moratorium be continued, Wolf said in his letter, unless, and only unless, strong consumer protections remain in place to protect low-income customers and those who have lost significant income as a result of the pandemic.

In their carrot-and-stick approach to nonpaying customers, utilities say that the threat of termination typically leads customers to pay down balances or to enter into payment plans. In 2018, the most recent data available, the PUC said that gas and electric utilities issued 3.5 million 10-day termination notices (often the same customer gets multiple notices). About 300,000 customers were actually shut off that year.

Consumer advocates say that the state does not have a good statistical handle on the scale of the nonpayment problem, and that there is a risk to lifting the moratorium on service terminations. The states electric, gas and water utilities reported in June that about 845,000 customers were so far behind that their service could be ended, an increase of 9.6% from a year ago. Of the accounts in arrears, about 790,000 are residential customers, including 211,000 classified as low-income families.

We dont really understand the depth and breadth of the problem, said Robert Ballenger, an energy lawyer with Community Legal Services in Philadelphia who represents the Tenant Union Representative Network, an advocacy group. And the numbers reported are now completely out of date so we dont know enough to really anticipate what will happen if the utilities are allowed to resume termination.

If the threat of termination is supposed to motivate customers to respond, Ballenger said, its uncertain whether customers are able to make payments and whether existing customer assistance programs are adequate. Those are big unknowns, and until we answer those questions, its not appropriate to risk the public health by allowing terminations to proceed, he said.

The Energy Association of Pennsylvania, the trade group that represents the states electric and gas utilities, said the problem with mounting unpaid bills will only grow worse the longer the moratorium remains in place. According to data the trade group collected from member companies, residential arrearages stood at $404 million at the end of June, up $113 million from a year ago, or 39%. About 45% of the unpaid balance came from customers classified as low-income.

The more unpaid bills grow, the association said, the greater the risk that utilities will be forced to write off the amounts as uncollectible. Under current law, utilities are allowed to pass those costs on to other customers in higher rates.

 READ MORE: COVID-19 restrictions block some solar homeowners from tying into the grid

Continuing the moratorium indefinitely will exacerbate the problem of nonpayment, which is contrary to the interests of both those customers with growing arrearages and the general body of customers who will eventually be called upon to pay growing uncollectible expenses, the association said in its filing.

But some advocates suggest it may be time to rethink the longstanding regulatory principal that allows utilities to be made whole for uncollectible bills  one of the trade-offs of getting utilities to submit to state regulation of their rates. Utilities may be facing increased political pressure to cover some of the costs from their own profits.

The entire burden of the COVID-19 pandemic cannot fall on the customers of the utility, whether residential, small business, commercial or industrial, wrote Tanya J. McCloskey, Pennsylvanias acting consumer advocate, whose office reports to Attorney General Shapiro.

McCloskey acknowledged that the commissions role traditionally has been to balance the interests of all sectors of the public, but there are circumstances where it may not be possible to satisfy all aspects of the public interest. The commission should recognize that a proper balancing of the interests may require a sharing of this burden between shareholders and consumers, she said.

About 24 states have enacted pandemic bans on utility shutoffs, and New York has extended its moratorium until next year, according to the National Association of Regulatory Commissioners.

Utilities in 15 states, including New Jersey, have voluntary banned terminations. The coronavirus bans on shutoffs have expired in the remaining states.

There is one area upon which the adversaries in Pennsylvania agree: They all support legislative proposals to allocate some of the states federal COVID-19 relief money to support utility customers facing termination.

One proposal would allocate $150 million to utility relief. It would serve like a protection wall to customers, said Horst-Martz of PennPIRG. So that if the moratorium is lifted, the customers still wouldnt have their services shut off because the utility companies would be taken care of.
FLINT, MI -- It has been a long six years since the city of Flint switched its water source, triggering a monumental health crisis.

State officials are expected soon to announce details of a potential settlement of the cases filed by Flint residents related to the citys water crisis -- a deal one city councilman says is worth $600 million.

The level of lead in Flint water spiked after the citys source of drinking water was changed in parts of 2014 and 2015. The switch occurred after a series of decisions by state-appointed emergency managers and state agencies responsible for water safety.

State employees and offices involved in the water crisis are among those sued by residents in multiple lawsuits that are pending in state and federal courts. More than 21,000 claims of damage or injuries have been filed in those cases.

A settlement by the state would not stop the cases from moving forward but would remove the state and state employees, including former Gov. Rick Snyder, as defendants, leaving private consultants, the city of Flint and its employees, and others to face the litigation.

Here is what has led to this moment:

Flint Emergency Manager Darnell Earley met with city department heads and other officials during his first day in office Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013 at city hall. (Jake May | MLive.com)The Flint Journal

State-appointed emergency managers make decisions that change the source of the citys drinking water to the Flint River in April 2014

Flints new drinking water plan calls for the city to pump water from the Flint River into the citys water plant, where it was to be treated for distribution. The plan required millions of dollars in upgrades to the plant because the city was previously purchasing already-treated Lake Huron water from Detroit. The switch was proposed to save the city $5 million in less than two years.

Virginia Tech professor Marc Edwards shows the difference in water quality between Detroit and Flint after testing, giving evidence after more than 270 samples were sent in from Flint that show high levels of lead during a press conference on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015 outside of City Hall in downtown Flint. (Jake May | MLive.com)The Flint Journal

Complaints from residents about the color and odor of their water start almost immediately after the switch in water sources

In the weeks following the switch, some residents begin buying bottled water as they complain of poor-tasting and smelly city water. The city adds extra lime to the water in an attempt to combat hardness, but Mayor Dayne Walling and state-appointed emergency manager Darnell Earley continued to tell residents the water is safe. Its a quality, safe product, Walling said. I think people are wasting their precious money buying bottled water.

Light breaks through heavy storm clouds hovering over General Motors' Flint Assembly Plant. (Jake May | MLive.com)The Flint Journal, MLive.com

GM says water Flint water could cause corrosion in its Flint-built engines

On Oct. 13, 2014, General Motors said it would no longer use the river water at its engine plant because of fears it would cause corrosion. The company reached a temporary agreement to buy Lake Huron water from Flint Township for Flint Engine Operations on West Bristol Road.

Flint City Council President Kerry Nelson shows his support for the city's next steps in the water crisis, adding supplemental phosphates to water purchased from the city of Detroit in an effort to rebuild the protective coating inside transmission lines on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015 at City Hall in Flint. The city began the addition of the phosphates on Dec. 9. (Jake May | MLive.com)The Flint Journal

City Council calls an end to the use of the Flint River for drinking water

Despite the citys proposed investment in the water system, the city council voted 7-1 to do all things necessary to reconnect Flint to Detroit water. It is incomprehensible to me that (seven) members of the Flint City Council would want to send more than $12 million a year to the system serving Southeast Michigan, even if Flint rate payers could afford it. (Lake Huron) water from Detroit is no safer than water from Flint, emergency manager Jerry Ambrose said in response to the vote. The water source was not switched.

One of the first lead pipes that was removed from Veronica Kelly's home shows the extent of the corrosion the harder Flint River water has had on Feb. 22, 2016 at her home on the city's north side. (Jake May | MLive.com)

Research suggests lead is leaching into Flint water

Despite continued water quality protests, fears are renewed when Virginia Tech Professor Marc Edwards claims Sept. 2, 2015, that the corrosiveness of the water is causing lead to leach into residents water. On a scientific basis, Flint River water leaches more lead from plumbing than does Detroit water, the report concludes. The state and city say the water meets state and federal safety standards, but will introduce a lead-reduction plan by 2016.

Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha is a pediatrician, scientist and professor in Flint, Mich. (Sean Proctor | MLive.com)Sean Proctor | MLive.com

Hurley doctor finds connection between lead in water, childrens blood

It took just one month to end the use of the Flint River once Flint pediatrician Mona Hanna-Attisha reported on the effect of water with high lead levels on infants and children in the city.

Hanna-Attisha studied the blood lead levels of Flint children before and after the city changed its water source to the river, finding the percentage of children with elevated lead levels had nearly doubled citywide, and nearly tripled among children in high-risk areas.

Initially contested by state DHHS officials, Hanna-Attisha's study was later accepted as accurate and the doctor was praised for her work by Gov. Rick Snyder and other top officials in Michigan government.

Along with Edwards, Hanna-Attisha was recognized as one of Time magazines 100 most influential people in 2016 because of her work.

President Barack Obama drinks filtered Flint tap water at a roundtable discussion with city, state and national officials on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan in Flint. Obama came to Flint to witness and investigate the Flint water crisis. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com

President Obama visits Flint, drinks water amidst crisis

During a visit to Flint on Wednesday, May 4, of 2016, former President Barack Obama lifted a glass of water to his lips and drank what he said was filtered Flint water.

The quality of the city's water supply -- elevated to the national spotlight after elevated blood lead levels were discovered in some Flint children -- was the reason behind the president's visit.

Obama met for about an hour and a half with various federal officials, former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, former Gov. Rick Snyder and former Flint Mayor Karen Weaver. It was during that meeting, according to reports from the White House press pool, that the president took a drink from a glass that he said contained Flint water.

Flint River water flows at the site of the former Hamiliton Dam on Dec. 21, 2018. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com

Use of the Flint River ends

Gov. Rick Snyder announced Oct. 8, 2015, a multi-million dollar plan for reconnecting Flint to the Detroit water system. The plan calls for buying nine months of water from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department with at least $6 million coming from the state, $4 million from the foundation, and $2 million from the city. Snyder later apologizes for the states role in the water crisis.

Gov. Rick Snyder defends himself during heavy questioning from U.S. representatives at a hearing about the Flint water crisis in front of the U.S. House Committee on Government Oversight and Reform at the Rayburn House Office Building on Thursday, March 17, 2016 in Washington D.C. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com

Congress holds hearings

Congressional hearings on the Flint water crisis took place in March 2016. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing set the stage for holding former Gov. Rick Snyder, appointed state emergency managers and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator accountable for the Flint water crisis.

At the hearing, Snyder vowed to provide a critical appraisal of the federal Lead and Copper rule, which sets standards aimed at keeping lead out of drinking water.

Snyder also admitted the emergency manager system failed under his leadership.

Other local and state officials were called in for testimonies and questioning, including former Flint Mayor Dayne Walling and former emergency manager Darnell Earley.

From left: Nick Lyon, Eden Wells, Darnell Earley, Gerald Ambrose, Nancy Peeler, Patrick Cook, Robert Scott and Howard Croft. Charges against these eight defendants in Flint water cases were dismissed by the Attorney General's office on Thursday, June 13, 2019. (Photos by Jake May | MLive.com)

Criminal charges filed, then dropped

Fifteen current and former city and state officials were charged with crimes related to the Flint water crisis and seven of those cases were resolved with plea agreements that resulted in no fines or jail time.

The seven who took pleas include Stephen Busch, Michael Prysby, Liane Shekter-Smith, Mike Glasgow, Daugherty Johnson, Corrinne Miller and Adam Rosenthal.

The eight remaining Flint water prosecutions in 2019 were dismissed by the Department of Attorney General on June 13. The cases were dismissed without prejudice -- meaning they could be refiled -- in order to conduct a full and complete investigation, Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy said in 2019.

The decision meant criminal cases are dismissed against Nick Lyon, former DHHS director; Eden Wells, former chief medical executive for the state; former emergency managers Gerald Ambrose and Darnell Earley; DHHS officials Nancy Peeler and Robert Scott; Department of Environmental Quality official Patrick Cook; and former Flint Department of Public Works Director Howard Croft.

Construction worker Paul Beene Jr., 24, works to help remove lead pipes on the 3200 block of Milbourne Avenue on Flint's north side. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May

2,500 households still need pipes checked

The water pipe replacement is mainly being funded by a $97 million Concerned Pastors Settlement where attorneys with the NRDC represented Flint residents.

The city has excavated 25,953 service lines as of Aug. 7, according to the city. Of those, 9,695 included lead or galvanized steel pipes that were replaced. The remaining 16,258 homes already had safe, copper service lines. About 2,500 more households still need their service lines checked.

Flint is required to test water in at least 60 homes with lead service lines every six months, but has struggled to do so as fewer homes remain with lead lines as a result of removals through a pipe replacement program that started after the citys water crisis came to light.

Protestors march along Saginaw Street demanding clean water outside of Flint City Hall in Flint, Mich. on Wednesday Oct. 7, 2015.FLINT JOURNAL

State agrees to settle

A settlement agreement with the state of Michigan an attorneys for Flint residents calls for $600 million to be turned over for payments to Flint residents in return for the state and its employees being dropped from pending civil lawsuits.

Related:

Details expected soon on who can make a claim for part of $600M Flint water settlement

$600 million settlement likely coming in Flint water cases, councilman says

New map shows where lead water pipes remain in Flint

How the Flint water crisis emerged

The Flint water crisis: How we got here and whats next

Flint water prosecutors ask federal judge to protect secrecy in their investigation
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 20, 2020 20:22 517 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066f5a74b 4 National epidemiologist,Twitter,COVID-19,hacking,coronavirus,virus-korona-indonesia,critics,pandu-riono,criticism Free

The Twitter account of Pandu Riono, an epidemiologist from the University of Indonesia (UI), was hijacked on Wednesday evening by unidentified hackers who posted several tweets.

The handle, @drpriono, posted a picture of Pandu and a woman at 9:59 p.m., with that caption read: After [spending a] holiday with [my] young mistress.

Five minutes later, the account posted another picture showing Pandu with the same woman accompanied by the caption: My romantic night with her who will be my mistress.

The tweets were deleted on Thursday morning.

Pandu confirmed to tempo.co on Thursday that his Twitter account had been hacked. The motive behind the breach is still unclear.

Read also: Jokowi administration spends Rp 90.4 billion on 'influencers': ICW

Pandu is known for being a vocal critic of the governments handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to the hacking, he criticized the potential COVID-19 remedies developed by Airlangga University in cooperation with the Indonesian Army and the State Intelligence Agency (BIN).

The universitys rector Muhammad Nasih touted the supposed remedies as the first COVID-19 cure in the world. He said three combinations of medications  lopinavir/ritonavir and azithromycin, lopinavir/ritonavir and doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin  had already undergone clinical trials.

Pandu said the medications had not be registered for clinical trials under the World Health Organizations (WHO), which has cautioned against physicians and medical associations recommending or administering unproven treatments to COVID-19 patients.

The UI epidemiologist added that the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) had the right to decline authorization for the use of the medications.

There should be clinical trials [to check] whether all processes have followed correct procedures, Pandu said on Monday, as quoted by tempo.co.

Read also: Government critic faces incitement charges after WhatsApp hacked

The BPOM said on Wednesday that additional trials needed to be conducted as it had found several critical findings that affected the tests validity.

He also slammed the university for not reporting the research findings to the BPOM, but rather handing over the process to the BIN and the Army.

Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) chairwoman Asfinawati condemned the hacking and called on authorities to investigate the matter. There should be an investigation into the case because it often happens to those who are critical against the government. (trn)
In her new role, Stewart will advance the overall mission and objectives of AmeriLife by identifying new opportunities for sales and earnings growth in the worksite benefits market. Stewart will serve as a member of the company's senior leadership team, reporting to AmeriLife Chief Distribution & Marketing Officer, Mike Vietri. Stewart succeeds Randy Clarkson, who plans to return to Arkansas to spend more time with his family.

In her previous role with AmeriLife, Stewart led the company's lead generation, sales technology and strategic marketing initiatives. Prior to joining AmeriLife in June 2018, Stewart served as the President of Washington National Insurance Company, where she was instrumental in increasing the sales and profitability of its voluntary worksite business.

"Under Barb's leadership, we have significantly enhanced our value proposition for AmeriLife brokerage and career agents, and we have initiated a direct-to-consumer business by developing digital and other lead generation programs and introducing new sales technology tools," said AmeriLife CEO Scott R. Perry. "She has also helped reshape our corporate marketing strategy in support of our growth to become a powerhouse in the insurance and financial services industry."

"We are committed to continuing to grow our worksite business," said Vietri. "I've been impressed with Barb's leadership, broad industry experience, drive and commitment. I am confident she will help us identify new opportunities to leverage our capabilities in assisting consumers during their working years and as they transition to Medicare in retirement."

"I'm thrilled to join the terrific team at AmeriLife Benefits," said Stewart. "I am confident that AmeriLife's powerful capabilities and distribution network will drive even greater success. By meeting the challenge of an increasingly digital environment, AmeriLife Benefits is positioned to assist more employers and benefit brokers to empower and retain employees with the benefits they need and want."

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Security forces and others in celebration drive through the streets of the capital Bamako, Mali, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020, a day after armed soldiers fired into the air outside President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita's home and took him into their custody. . (AP)

Bamako: One of Malis most influential power brokers, Mahmoud Dicko, will withdraw from politics, his spokesman said, after a meeting on Wednesday with leaders of a military coup who have promised to oversee elections within a reasonable time.

President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita resigned and dissolved parliament on Tuesday after the mutineers detained him at gunpoint, further rocking a country that is in the grip of a jihadist insurgency and civil unrest.

Fearing Keitas fall after nearly seven years in power could destabilise the Sahel region, the African Union and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) both suspended Mali.

The mood in the capital Bamako was calm throughout the day and junta leaders urged people and officials to return to life as normal. But the economic fallout from the coup started to appear as investors ditched shares in Mali-based gold mining companies and Ivory Coast halted financial flows.

The mutineers met Dicko, a Salafist preacher who electrified protesters during anti-Keita demonstrations in recent weeks that drew tens of thousands of people.

After the meeting, a spokesman for Dicko said he had decided to withdraw from politics.

Although no further details were shared, the move suggests at least part of the opposition movement is satisfied with the coup orchestrators promise to return to democratic practices.

A spokesman for the mutineers, who call themselves the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (NCSP), earlier said they were not seeking power.

We are keen on the stability of the country, which will allow us to organise general elections ... within a reasonable time limit, Colonel Ismael Wague said on state television.

In response, the M5-RFP opposition coalition said in a statement it had taken note of NCSPs commitment to the transferral of power via the ballot box and would work with the group to achieve this.

The mutineers have denied reports of casualties from Tuesdays unrest, but human rights group Amnesty International said it had documented the death of four people, while 15 more were wounded by bullets.

A Malian security source identified three of the other junta leaders who appeared alongside Wague as Colonels Sadio Camara, Malick Diaw and Modibo Kone.

Wague described neighbouring armies, Frances anti-jihadist Barkhane force and a U.N. peacekeeping mission as partners for stability and restoring security.

STARK CHOICES

On Wednesday, the United Nations Security Council condemned the mutiny and urged the soldiers to release all government officials and return to their barracks.

The 15-member council had earlier been briefed by U.N. peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix, who told them the U.N.s Mali mission remains committed to playing its mandated role ... but the country must swiftly regain a measure of institutional stability and Constitutional order.

Michael Shurkin, a former CIA officer now with the Rand Corporation, said the upheaval risked distracting Malian forces from their fight against jihadists linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State.

The U.N., EUTM (European Union Training Mission) and French have spent billions. What now? Is the answer just to walk away? he asked.

Mali has struggled to regain stability since a Tuareg uprising in 2012 that was hijacked by Islamist militants.

Keita, 75, was elected in 2013 following a coup the previous year, promising to bring peace and stability and fight corruption. He won a second five-year term in 2018.

Following months of protests over corruption allegations, at least 14 people were killed in July in demonstrations called by the M5-RFP.

ECOWAS, which had sought to mediate between Keita and his opponents, said it planned to deploy a fresh mission to Mali to ensure a return to democracy and scheduled an extraordinary virtual session of heads of state for Thursday.

On Wednesday, the finance ministry of Ivory Coast - French-speaking West Africas largest economy - ordered the suspension of all financial relations with Mali, in line with an ECOWAS decision in response to Tuesdays mutiny.

HIS OWN FAULT

Anti-government protesters had poured into Bamako late on Tuesday to cheer the mutineers.

I am against coups, but they become necessary if leaders are inflexible. What happened to IBK (Keita) was his own fault, said 43-year-old motorcycle mechanic Namory Konate.

People and traffic circulated as normal on Wednesday, although many shops, banks and public buildings remained closed following looting.

Videos on social media had shown Malians running unchecked through luxury compounds in the city, including properties belonging to the justice minister and Keitas son.

Gold mining firms, including Malis largest miner Barrick Gold (ABX.TO), said they were operating as usual and staff were safe, but traders sold shares because of the increased political risk.
20.08.2020 LISTEN

The Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) is asking President Akufo-Addo to prosecute officials behind the botched PDS deal or forget the 2020 polls.

According to the group, correspondence to the Jubilee House seeking updates on the status of investigations into the PDS saga have been ignored.

Its been well over a year now since the notorious PDS concessionaire arrangement was terminated because of a fraudulent demand guarantee and PDS inability to invest the needed capital into ECG.

A number of correspondence written to the Minister for Energy requesting an update on the PDS scandal has not seen any response since last year, a statement signed by the Executive Director of ASEPA Mensah Thompson said in a statement.

Below are details of the statement by ASEPA

PROSECUTE PDS GANG OR FORGET ELECTION 2020-ASEPA TO PRESIDENT AKUFO ADDO

Its been well over a year now since the notorious PDS concessionaire arrangement was terminated because of a fraudulent demand guarantee and PDS inability to invest the needed capital into ECG.

A number of correspondence written to the Minister for Energy requesting an update on the PDS scandal has not seen any response since last year.

It has therefore become important for us to make our two key demands public.

1. That Government of Ghana cause PDS to account for every single penny they collected within the four months they were in charge of ECG.

2.That the people whose action and inaction resulted in this PDS debacle; ie

Ken Ofori-Attah

Philip Ayensu

Keli Gadzekpo

Ing. Samuel Boakye Appiah

K. Boating Aidoo

Boakye Agyarko

Andrew Agyapa Mercer

and several others be arrested immediately and prosecuted for causing financial loss to the State.

President Akufo Addo must use the PDS scandal to re-energize his failed fight against corruption or forget about election 2020.

We shall call on Ghanaians to Vote Massively against President Akufo Addo if he fails to prosecute the PDS gang.

Mensah Thompson

Executive Director, ASEPA
A room full of people attend the gunshot survivors group holiday party at the Carousel House in West Philadelphia on Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. Read more

My phone rings: Im asked to look at another CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis on a patient who was just shot. The second of the night.

Three months ago, when everything was COVID-19, cases like this happened maybe once or twice a week. Now, these gunshot cases are a nightly occurrence. I open the study on my computer monitor and immediately notice numerous tiny glinting metallic fragments scattered throughout the patients abdomen  shrapnel, usually meaning more soft-tissue damage. As I look at the images, I note the injuries: bowel perforation, fractured pelvic bone, blood around the liver. My phone rings again and its the ER doc on the other line. She wants to know if there is any catastrophic vascular injury. No, I tell her.

As COVID-19 continues to subside in neighboring New Jersey, New York, and much of Pennsylvania, a long-standing epidemic surges in the City of Brotherly Love: gun violence.

So far this year, 282 people are victims of homicide in Philadelphia, up 33% compared with the same time last year. In fact, Philadelphia now ranks second in the nation in total homicides, only behind Chicago.

But homicides are just one part of the story  approximately 33%, to be more precise. While about 40,000 people are victims of deadly gun violence every year, more than 120,000 people total are shot in the United States. Even for those who survive, this leaves generations of survivors to face a lifetime of psychological and repetitive physical trauma. In fact, of the $229 billion that gun violence costs the U.S. economy, almost all of it are indirect costs, including loss of quality of life for survivors and economic loss (i.e., lost wages). According to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, as of 2018, there were four nonfatal firearm injuries for every firearm homicide in our city, a statistic likely to rise in 2020 as shootings increase.

Recent research has shown that many patients who survive a COVID-19 infection have long-term health consequences: lung fibrosis, kidney disease, heart damage. Its the same with surviving a gunshot wound.

Many survivors of gun violence face years of physical therapy, repeat hospital admissions, and multiple surgeries. For example, peripheral neuropathy, a chronic condition resulting from damage to nerves and common among gunshot wound survivors, causes weakness, pain, and numbness in the extremities. Patients with peripheral neuropathy often cant feel their hands or feet, and as a result develop sores in these areas that may become infected and require amputation to save the persons life.

Survivors of gun violence are also more likely to face unemployment, substance abuse, depression, and PTSD, even when injuries are minor.

We know that socioeconomic status and race are huge social determinants of health. Where in the body someone is shot also predicts how often they might return to the hospital with complications. Ive read countless abdominal CT scans on young, mostly Black, men with intestinal obstructions due to adhesive bowel disease, a common complication from bowel trauma. Their common denominator? They were all shot in the abdomen months, sometimes years before.

The disturbing reality is that both the pandemic currently waning in Philadelphia, and the gun epidemic thats surging, predominantly affect our citys Black population. People of color are also more likely to not receive the aftercare or home care they need following trauma.

The Inquirers 2018 Shot and Forgotten report, from David Gambacorta and Helen Ubinas, chronicled the lives of many gunshot wound survivors with chronic, often severe, lifelong disabilities. While firearm homicide is the leading cause of death for young non-Hispanic Black males, little research has examined the leading cause of physical or mental health disability in young Black men, particularly in Philadelphia.

So where do we go from here?

More dollars should be allocated to research the long-term health and social effects of getting shot. Similar to how patients with a long history of smoking are screened for lung cancer, patients with a history of a gunshot wounds should also prompt a red flag from health-care providers to screen for mental illness, physical complications, and social determinants of health such as access to quality education and job training.

Overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic is a multifaceted challenge that will take high-quality inpatient hospital care, intense research, and preventive medicine. Assuaging the pain and suffering caused by gun violence demands a similar effort.

Corbin Pomeranz is a physician and chief resident at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in the department of radiology.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham touted New Mexicos renewable energy potential during a prime-time speech to the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, while also delivering an environmental broadside against President Donald Trump.

In a two-minute speech delivered live remotely from a solar array at the Northern New Mexico College campus in El Rito, the governor cited Trumps rollback of regulations on oil and gas producers and elimination of certain environmental protections.

We know time is running out to save our planet, Lujan Grisham said. We have the chance this November to end two existential crises: the Trump presidency and the environmental annihilation he represents.

Since taking office in 2019, Lujan Grisham has pushed for renewable energy legislation  including the 2019 Energy Transition Act  and her administration has unveiled new rules and regulations to control emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.

However, the governor also benefited, at least during her first year in office, from record state revenue surpluses generated by skyrocketing oil production levels in southeastern New Mexico.

Although the states oil production has slowed this year, New Mexico was the nations third-highest oil producer in 2019, behind Texas and North Dakota.

State Republican Party Chairman Steve Pearce criticized Lujan Grisham for ignoring the oil-powered windfall in her Wednesday evening remarks.

I thought it was pretty insulting that she didnt mention the oil and gas industry that delivers 40% of the states tax revenue, Pearce told the Journal.

Lujan Grisham has been mentioned as a possible Cabinet secretary if Democrat Joe Biden wins the November presidential election. She was also vetted as a vice presidential pick before Biden ultimately selected U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris of California as his running mate.

During her Wednesday speech, the governor also touted New Mexicos multiculturalism and response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Im proud of my home state every single day  especially how we have punched above our weight with our successful response to COVID-19, Lujan Grisham said.

Rep. Alonzo Baldonado, R-Los Lunas, questioned Wednesday whether those remarks were aimed at catching the attention of the Biden campaign.

He also mentioned recent rolling energy blackouts in California that have plunged parts of the state into darkness, saying renewable energy technology may not yet be capable of keeping up with consumer demand.

You still have to have that reliability  we expect that as Americans, Baldonado said.

Lujan Grisham issued an executive order shortly after taking office in 2019 that, among other things, directed New Mexico to join the U.S. Climate Alliance.

However, the governor has said she does not support a ban on fracking and has predicted that oil and natural gas companies will invest in green industries in the not-too-distant future.

State Democratic Party Chairwoman Marg Elliston said Wednesday that the governor is leading New Mexico toward a brighter future.

She is a true leader who understands how to rebuild an economy, an education system, a health care system and position our state to lead on climate change and clean energy after years of failed Republican leadership, Elliston said.

Meanwhile, several other New Mexico Democrats also played prominent roles in the four-day DNC, including U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland and state Rep. Shannon Pinto of Gallup participating in a forum on Native American issues and candidates.

In addition, state Rep. Derrick Lente, D-Sandia Pueblo, officially conveyed New Mexicos 46 delegate votes  four for Bernie Sanders and 42 for Joe Biden  during a Tuesday evening remote roll call of states.
Michelle Obama Delivers Cold Hard Truth at the First Night of the Democratic National Convention Trump is the wrong leader for this country.

A historical moment unfolded over media channels across the country on Monday, August 17. The first night of the Democratic National Convention kicked off, virtually hosted by actress, Eva Longoria. Policy makers from the highest point of government tuned in to endorse Joe Biden as the top presidential candidate.

The closing keynote speaker, Michelle Obama, ended the night in a tone of transparency and a call to action from within the community; she addressed the lack of character this country is projecting because of who is running it. Her points were direct and coming from a crystallized place, displaying the ambiance of just saying what it is.

Longoria opened the floor to the likes of Rep. Gwen Moore, Mayor Muriel Bowser, Rep. James E. Clyburn, and Rep. Cedric L. Richmond. They spoke positive affirmations over the Biden administration. The effects of the global pandemic in relation to the political leadership were critiqued.

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There is a close relationship with the well-being of this country and the current democracy that is in flux. Trump responded to hundreds of thousands of deaths due to COVID-19, by stating, It is what it is, admitting a massive amount of lives have been taken, yet he seemed to have lacked empathy in his disposition.

Each representative created an energy that revealed the country is in need of healing and to be harmonious in the next choice of presidency. There has been a spotlight placed on racial injustices and equality.

The night commenced with a statement from Wisconsin Representative Moore as opening speaker. We gather unified in spirit, unified in our values and purpose to heal divisions and together move the nation confidently into a prosperous inclusive future. She continued, Tonight, we are gathered to reclaim the soul of America.

In a time of global uprisings, the current president made unwarranted and aggressive moves against peaceful protestors. This triggered Mayor Bowser to operate on a larger scale for Black Lives Matter plaza. Bowser explained the reason she motioned and saw through the creation of Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington D.C., was to make the connection to the leadership of this country and the moral compass needed for true progression.

Representatives from across the nation virtually gathered under one fact, that America deserves better. What solidified the fumes of passion in the air was the emblematic statement from former first lady, Michelle Obama. She spoke with evidence that the country is not living up to the moral character it was founded upon. She stated there has been enough time for seeds to take root for a better America, but the country has not seen any fruit from that labor.

As the former first lady, she has experienced first-hand what attributes are needed to be an executive leader of this country. Obama described the title of President of the United states to have immense weight.

She stated, The job is hard; it requires clear-headed judgement, a mastery of complex and competing issues, a devotion of facts and history, a moral compass, and the ability to listen, and abiding belief that each of the 330-million lives in this country has meaning and worth. Obama continued to put those words into context, in relation to current leadership the country has not seen those attributes on display.

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Trump, in an earlier conference, responded to the overflow of viral spread and escalated death rates found in this country, by saying, They are dying. That is trueit is what it is, he continued to say, But, that doesnt mean we arent doing everything we can. Its under control as much as you can control it.

Those words, it is what it is, hold value within communities of color. To certain ears, that phrase can appear aloof and show a lack of concern or care. The quote spread across the globe as did the current mood of the President of the United States.

Obamas closing remarks shattered glass as she spoke with no filter,  If we close out the noise and the fear and truly open our hearts, we know that whats going on in this country is just not rightthis is not who we want to be.

She continued to explain the cold hard truth, Obama stated, 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. The former first lady continued, 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.

Obama broke down the current situation and handed it to everyone under the sound of her voice. The leadership, the policies, and the essence of this country lives in every human being that has a foot on this land.

The change must come from the mind. The mind, in this case, is who sits in the oval office. Obama posed the question of who can guide the body of people into a new normal; where livelihoods are thriving and the quality of life for everyone blossoms after this storm. That is why for Obama, the right person for the job is Biden. Admittedly, she stated he is not perfect; there will always be flaws. However, the former first lady continued to express that she knows Biden, she recognizes his candor spirit and relates to the compassion that he has for people.
A Highland farm has dramatically improved the sustainability and biodiversity of the local area by planting nearly 24 kilometres of hedgerows.

Sibmister Farm is a 700ha all-grass enterprise near Thurso running commercial livestock, including 1,600 ewes, 400 suckler cows.

Nearly 40% of the farm  275ha - is under environmental management and has created 24km of hedgerows from three rounds of Agri Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) funding in 2015, 2017 and 2019.

Farmer Stephen Sutherland explained that, over the course of the last 20 years, a lot of work had gone into improving the biodiversity through various land management practices.

Over the years weve put in a lot of time and effort into improving the biodiversity, and it has been very rewarding," he said.

"Not only does it contribute to making the farm more efficient and sustainable by providing new habitats, but the hedges provide good shelter for the livestock when weather is harsh.

Beside hedgerows, the Sutherlands have invested in 3.88ha of water margins, 127ha of habitat mosaics, 18ha of wader-grazed grassland for wildlife and 3ha of created species rich grasslands.

The farm has also created 1.5ha wild bird seed, 2.5ha forage brassicas, over 100ha of mown grassland for wildlife and 3ha of species rich grassland.

Willie Budge, Senior Agricultural Consultant for SAC Consulting, part of Scotlands Rural College (SRUC) assisted the Sutherland family with the application and planning process for each round.

He said that Sibmister Farm was a great example of schemes complementing existing enterprises.

The Sutherlands say a lot of work has gone into improving the biodiversity through various land management practices

Its important for schemes to integrate into established farming systems, as it does at Sibmister, by incorporating activities like grazing planning into what theyre already doing with the farm.

The process began with an assessment of the whole farm detailing what is on the ground at present - such as hedgerows, water courses, species rich grassland - which informed the creation of a Farm Environment Map.

Following that we had a discussion of the available farm management options, the potential to manage existing habitats and to create and manage new habitats," Mr Budge said.

Ultimately, we wanted to assess how the schemes would impact on the current farming system and to identify the possible tweaks to the current system to accommodate these.

"Due to the competitive nature of the scheme, how to best maximise the number of application points is important."

Although there will not be a normal AECS round this year, with one-year extensions available for those with contracts expiring in 2020, Mr Budge encouraged farmers to seek advice on what opportunities were available.

I would encourage farmers to find out what schemes are out there and assess how they can fit within your existing business," he explained.

"Applications can be made by the farmer, or they can employ an agent, like SAC Consulting, to draw it up and submit it online.
In this screenshot from the DNCCs livestream of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, former first lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton addresses the virtual convention on Aug. 19, 2020. (DNCC via Getty Images)

Hillary Clinton: Americans Lives, Health, Jobs at Stake in 2020 Election

Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton told the audience tuning in to the virtual Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19 that the lives, health, and jobs of Americans are on the line in the 2020 election.

Clinton urged Americans to vote for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.). She also criticized President Donald Trump, saying that America needs a better president than this.

Remember in 2016 when Trump asked: What do you have to lose? Well, now we know: our health, our jobs, even our lives. Our leadership in the world and, yes, our post office. As Michelle Obama and Bernie Sanders warned us on Monday: If Trump is re-elected, it will get even worse, Clinton, who lost the presidential race to Trump in 2016, said.

Vote like our lives and livelihoods are on the line, because they are, Clinton said later in the speech.

The Democrats nominated Biden on Aug. 18 to represent the party in the presidential race. Biden is expected to speak on Thursday, the closing night of the convention.

Clinton delivered the speech on a night packed with the biggest names in American politics. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) spoke shortly after and former President Barack Obama was scheduled to deliver the closing address.

Clinton, who lost the electoral college to Trump but won the popular vote, encouraged citizens to vote early and to encourage others to do the same.

Remember: Joe and Kamala can win 3 million more votes and still lose. Take it from me. We need numbers so overwhelming Trump cant sneak or steal his way to victory, Clinton said.

The Trump campaign responded to the speech by pointing out that Clinton failed to visit Wisconsin and lost fair and square in 2016.

President Trump is cleaning up the mess caused by Biden and Clinton by bringing jobs back to the U.S., instituting an America First foreign policy, and taking on China, the Trump campaign said in a statement. He created the best economy in American history before the virus from China hit us, and he will do it again. President Trump is succeeding where Biden and Clinton failed.

Clinton pivoted the speech away from defeating Trump by running down a list of issues and policy proposals, including universal healthcare, paid family leave, reproductive rights, and the environment.

Clinton also suggested that voting for Biden would ensure that foreign adversaries would not be the ones choosing Americas presidentan apparent reference to the Russia collusion narrative which roiled the nation for more than three years.

Vote to make sure wenot a foreign adversarychoose our president, Clinton said.

Special counsel Robert Mueller concluded his 22-month investigation last year, finding no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. The day before Clintons speech, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence completed a three-year investigation and reaffirmed that the FBI used a dossier funded by the Clinton campaign to obtain a warrant to spy on a former Trump campaign advisor.

She refused to accept the results of the election and even said President Trump was an illegitimate president, doing the Kremlins bidding by undermining our democracy and sowing division, the Trump campaign said in a statement.
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Haiti - Covid-19 : Haiti Special Bulletin





NOTE: As the Ministry of Public Health did not make daily data on the Covid-19 situation in Haiti available this morning, the 11:00 am bulletin could not be updated. The Ministry having returned with several hours of delay this information, we proceed in this special bulletin to this update ...



According to the Ministry of Public Health, 48 new cases of Covid-19 would have been confirmed in Haiti, an increase of 71% in 24 hours, the day before (+28), for a total of 7,997 cases throughout the national territory ( 41.65% of women and 58.35%) since the first case (March 19, 2020 https://www.haitilibre.com/article-30319-haiti-sante- origin-des-2-premiers-cas-de-covid-19- en-haiti.html).



Deaths: unchanged in 48 hours, national total of 196



Healings: : 5,447 people (+110 in 24 hours), previous (+102 in 72 hours)



Healing rate: 68.11% (+)



Active cases: (less deaths and cures) 2,326 (-62 in 24 hours), the day before: (102)



Imported cases: 152 cases since the reopening of airports and +43 since the last report dated July 9 (109) https://www.haitilibre.com/article-31348-haiti-flash-152 -cas-imported-from-the-reopening-of-aeroports.html (update not available)



Suspected cases investigated since March 19: 21,932 cases (+127 in 24 hours), previous (+119)



Cases tested since the start of the pandemic: 21,718 (+258 in 24 hours as of August 18)



People currently hospitalized: (information not available)



People in intensive care currently: (information not available)



People currently treated at home: (information not available)



Cases confirmed by department:

West 5.566 (+20)

Artibonite 464 (+1)

Center 410 (+2)

North 408 (+7)

South East 240 (+5)

South 221 (+7)

Northeast 201 (+2)

Northwest 187 (+1)

Grand'Anse 161 (+1)

Nippes 139 (+2)



Location of cases:



Ouest : 5,566 cases (+16)

Delmas : 1,353 cases (+5), the day before : (+1)

Port-au-Prince : 1,123 (unchanged), the day before : (+1)

Petion-ville : 831 case (+5), the day before : (+2)

Tabarre : 673 cases (unchanged)

Croix-des-Bouquets : 540 (+1), the day before : (+5)

Carrefour : 427 cases (+1), the day before : (+1)

Petit-Goave : 148 cases (unchanged)

Cite Soleil : 92 cases (unchanged)

Cabaret : 72 cases (unchanged)

Leogane : 71 case (+2)

Kenskoff : 58 cases (unchanged)

Archaie : 45 cases (+1), the day before : (+1)

Gressier 41 case (+1)

Anse a Galet : 35 cases (unchanged)

Grand Goave : 14 cases (unchanged)

Cornillon : 13 cases (unchanged)

Ganthier : 12 cases (unchanged)

Thomazeau : 9 cases (unchanged)

Fonds-Verettes : 6 (unchanged)

Pointe a Raquette : 3 cases (unchanged)



Artibonite : 464 cases (+1)

Saint Marc : 157 cases (+1)

Verettes : 112 cases (unchanged)

Gonaives : 104 cases (unchanged)

Gros Morne : 18 cases (unchanged)

Marchand Dessalines : 16 cases (unchanged)

Petite Riviere de lArtibonite : 14 cases (unchanged)

LEstere : 10 cases (unchanged)

Saint Michel : 9 cases (unchanged)

Desdunes : 6 cases (unchanged)

Marmelade : 6 cases (unchanged)

Ennery : 5 cases (unchanged)

Grande Saline : 3 cases (unchanged)

La Chappelle : 2 cases (unchanged)

Anse Rouge : 2 cases (unchanged)



Centre : 410 cases (+2)

Mirebalais : 151 case (unchanged), the day before : (+2)

Hinche : 145 cases, the day before : (+4)

Boucan Carre : 30 cases (unchanged)

Lascaobas : 26 cases

Belladere : 19 cases)

Thomonde : 14 cases (unchanged), the day before : (+2)

Saut-dEau 7 cases

Savanette : 6 cases (unchanged)

Cerca la Source : 4 cases (unchanged)

Maissade : 3 cases (unchanged)

Cerca Cavajal : 3 cases (unchanged), the day before : (+1)

Thomassique : 1 case (unchanged)



Nord : 408 (+10)

Cap Haitien : 250 cases (+6), the day before : (+3)

Limbe : 33 cases (+1)

Pignon : 20 cases (unchanged), the day before : (+2)

Grande Riviere du Nord : 14 cases (unchanged)

Milot : 14 cases (unchanged)

Plaine du Nord : 12 cases (unchanged)

Borgne : 11 case (unchanged)

Limonade : 11 case (+1), the day before : (+1)

Plaisance du Nord : 10 cases (unchanged)

Quartier Morin : 9 cases (+1)

Pilate : 8 cases (unchanged)

Port Margot : 6 cases (+1)

Acul du Nord : 5 cases (unchanged)

Dondon : 3 cases (unchanged)

Bahon : 1 case (unchanged)

Saint Raphael : 1 case (unchanged)



Sud-Est : 240 cases (+6)

Jacmel : 181 case (+2), the day before : (+5)

Cote-de-Fer : 14 cases (unchanged)

Bainet : 13 cases (unchanged)

Thiotte : 7 cases (+1)

Vallee de Jacmel : 7 cases (unchanged)

Anse-a-Pitre : 6 cases (+3)

Marigot : 5 cases (unchanged)

Belle Anse : 4 cases (unchanged)

Cayes Jacmel : 3 cases (unchanged)





Sud : 221 case (+7)

Cayes : 123 cases (+1)

Aquin : 23 cases (+1)

Saint-Louis du Sud : 12 cases (+1)

Les Anglais : 10 cases (unchanged)

Port a Piment : 8 cases (+3)

Port-Salut : 8 cases (unchanged)

Torbeck : 7 cases (unchanged)

Chardonnieres : 6 cases (unchanged)

Camp-Perrin : 6 cases (unchanged)

Tiburon : 4 cases (unchanged)

Coteaux : 3 cases (unchanged)

Chantal : 2 cases (unchanged)

Ile-a Vache : 2 cases (unchanged)

St Jean du Sud : 2 cases (unchanged)

Cavaillon 2 cases (unchanged)

Roche a Bateau : 1 case (unchanged)

Maniche : 1 case (unchanged)

Fonds des Blancs (+1)



Nord-Est : 201 case (+2)

Ouanaminthe : 67 cases (unchanged

Caracol 37 cases (unchanged)

Trou du Nord : 28 cases (unchanged)

Fort Liberte : 25 cases (unchanged)

Mombin Crochu 18 cases (unchanged)

Terrier Rouge : 9 cases (+1)

Perches : 5 cases (unchanged)

Mont Organise : 5 cases (unchanged)

Ferrier : 2 cases (unchanged)

Carice : 2 cases (unchanged)

Capotille : 2 cases (unchanged)

Ste-Suzanne : 1 case (unchanged)



Nord-Ouest : 187 cases (+1)

Port de Paix : 111 case (+1)

Saint-louis du Nord : 21 case (unchanged)

Bombardopolis : 13 cases (unchanged)

Mole Saint-Nicolas : 12 cases (unchanged)

Jean Rabel : 12 cases (unchanged)

Bassin Bleu : 5 cases (unchanged)

La Tortue : 5 cases (unchanged)

Chansolme : 4 cases (unchanged)

Baie de Henne 2 cases (unchanged)

Anse-a-Foleur : 2 cases (unchanged)



Grand'Anse : 161 case (+1)

Jeremie : 128 cases (+1)

Anse dHainault : 16 (unchanged)

Chambellan : 7 cases (unchanged)

Dame Marie : 3 cases (unchanged)

Pestel : 2 cases (unchanged)

Irois : 2 cases (unchanged)

Bonbon : 1 case (unchanged)

Moron : 1 case (unchanged)

Roseaux : 1 case (unchanged)



Nippes : 139 cases (+2)

Miragoane : 66 cases (+2)

Fond des Negres : 20 cases (unchanged)

Baraderes : 12 cases (unchanged)

Plaisance du Sud : 10 cases (unchanged)

Anse a Veau 7 cases (unchanged)

Petite Riviere de Nippes : 6 cases (unchanged)

Petit Trou de Nippes : 6 cases (unchanged)

LAsile : 5 cases (unchanged)

Paillant : 4 cases (unchanged)

Arnaud : 2 cases (unchanged)

Grand Boucan : 1 case (unchanged)



NOTE: "unchanged" means that there is no new data available: it may be no new cases, unreported or incomplete cases or delay in transmission data at the Ministry ...



Distribution of confirmed cases by age group:

0-9 years: 228 (+3)

10-19 years: 278 (+5)

20-29 years: 1,572 (+12)

30-39 years: 2,332 (+8)

40-49 years: 1.447 (+5)

50-59 years: 950 (+5)

60-69 years: 714 (+5)

70 years and over: 476 (+5)



Distribution of deaths by age group:

0-9 years: 8 deaths (unchanged)

10-19 years: 3 deaths (unchanged)

20-29 years: 10 deaths (unchanged)

30-39 years: 13 deaths (unchanged)

40-49 years: 23 deaths (unchanged)

50-59 years: 37 deaths (unchanged)

60-69 years: 37 deaths (unchanged)

70 years and over: 65 deaths (unchanged)



Death: 196 deaths (unchanged)



Death rate: 2.45% (-)



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31576-haiti-covid-19-daily-report-august-19-2020.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30319-haiti-health-origin-of-the-first-2-cases-of-covid-19-in-haiti.html



Covid-19, new definitions in Haiti : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31110-haiti-covid-19-daily-report-june-24-2020.html



S/ HaitilIBRE


















T he US Justice Department will not be seeking the death penalty against two alleged Islamic State (IS) militants, part of a group dubbed "The Beatles", who are suspected of beheading Western hostages.

El Shafee Elsheikh and Alexanda Kotey, who are currently in US military custody in Iraq, were British citizens, but have been stripped of their UK nationality.

The pair are believed to have been involved in "kidnappings, murders, and other violent crimes" against the citizens of the UK and the US.

An ongoing legal dispute between the two countries about the use of the death penalty has delayed co-operation between the UK and the US.

But the Justice Department's decision could open the door to Britain to begin sharing evidence with federal prosecutors in the US for any possible case against Elsheikh and Kotey.

Alexanda Amon Kotey, left, and El Shafee Elsheikh who were allegedly among four British jihadis who made up a brutal Islamic State cell dubbed "The Beatles," / AP

An earlier British court ruling had blocked the sharing of evidence with US authorities because the US had not offered assurances that the death penalty, which was abolished years ago in the UK, was off the table.

"I know that the United Kingdom shares our determination that there should be a full investigation and a criminal prosecution of Kotey and Elsheikh," Attorney General William Barr wrote to British Home Secretary Priti Patel in a letter released by the Justice Department on Wednesday.

"These men are alleged to be members of the terrorist group the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham and to have been involved in kidnappings, murders, and other violent crimes against the citizens of our two countries, as well as the citizens of other countries."

The British men, captured two years ago by a Kurdish-led, US-backed militia, are accused of participation in a brutal IS group known for beheadings and barbaric treatment of American aid workers, journalists and other hostages in Syria.

A Home Office spokesman said: The Governments priority has always been to protect national security and to deliver justice for the victims and their families.

We continue to work closely with international partners to ensure that those who have committed crimes in the name of Daesh are brought to justice.

Alexander Kotey (left) and El Shafee Elsheikh (right) pictured at an SDF location in northern Syria / CNN

US officials have not announced any charges against the men, but have spoken publicly about their desire to see members of the "Beatles" cell face justice.

Mr Barr said: "If we receive the requested evidence and attendant cooperation from the United Kingdom, we intend to proceed with a United States prosecution.

"Indeed, it is these unique circumstances that have led me to provide the assurance offered in this letter."

The men were transferred to US custody last October as Turkey invaded Syria to attack Kurds who have battling the Islamic State alongside American forces.

Mr Barr said that was not a long-term solution and he has therefore set a deadline for action.

Justice Secretary: Emergency laws needed to keep terrorists in prison for longer

He said the British government had until October 15 to resolve any legal objections it may have and to provide US authorities with the evidence they seek.

Otherwise, the men will be transferred to Iraqi custody for prosecution by Iraqi authorities, Mr Barr wrote.

The Attorney General explained that the US would not provide to third countries that might impose the death penalty any evidence it has already received, or may received, from the UK.

The British government confirmed that it had received the letter, with the Home Office saying in a statement that its top priority has always been to protect national security and to deliver justice for families.

In 2015, the Justice Department asked for evidence that Britain had gathered on the "Beatles," saying it was doing its own investigation into Americans who were murdered in Syria.

British authorities had been willing to provide the US with evidence even without assurances that the men would not be executed if convicted.

In July 2018, after lawyers for Elsheikh demanded a review of the decision to allow the men to be put on trial in the US, Britain's Home Office temporarily suspended cooperation with US authorities.

Then, in March, the British Supreme Court held that it was unlawful for the UK to provide evidence to a foreign country that could be used in a death penalty prosecution. The court has not yet issued its final order, Mr Barr said, and even after that there could be additional litigation to block transfer of the evidence.

The British leader of the "Beatles" cell, Mohammed Emwazi, who was also known as "Jihadi John," was killed in a 2015 drone strike.

Emwazi was responsible for the beheading of James Foley, a 40-year-old freelance journalist who was killed in Syria after being kidnapped by militants. A video of that killing circulated online six years ago Wednesday.

His mother, Diane Foley, said in an interview that she was gratified by the Justice Department's action, which Mr Barr had said would be coming soon in a conversation with her and other victims' families this month.

"I feel that both countries ideally should work together to hold these men accountable and give them a fair trial," Foley said. "If they are guilty, they need to be put away for the rest of their lives."

She said the only way to stop acts of terrorism was to hold the perpetrators accountable.

"This would be a huge step, so I am just very, very hopeful and grateful to the attorney general" and the Justice Department, she said.

Additional reporting by Associated Press.
KALAMAZOO, MI  Kurt Lewis, a U.S. Army veteran who served overseas, said he has not slept much since a traumatic experience in Kalamazoo over the weekend.

Lewis, who served during the Gulf War, said the beating he endured in Kalamazoo on Saturday, Aug. 15, brought back memories of the battlefields he saw overseas where he worked as a medic, rendering aid to the wounded.

The police response to the clashes between Proud Boys demonstrators and counter-protesters Saturday has been criticized by counter-protesters and by more than 100 residents who commented on the issue during a recent City Commission meeting. Many criticisms have focused on the fact that while police arrested 10 people, including a legal observer and MLive reporter covering the event, none associated with the Proud Boys group have faced repercussions for incidents of violence captured on video.

Related: Charges dismissed against eight involved in Proud Boys rally and counter-protests in Kalamazoo

The police officers sworn to protect Kalamazoo citizens were not there to help him, Lewis said, as those attending the planned Proud Boys demonstration punched the counter-protester repeatedly in the face, breaking his nose and stepping on his hand, breaking it as well.

There was no police, he said.

The Proud Boys were filled with hate, Lewis said, and he cannot believe officers were not there to protect citizens.

Others helped pull Lewis from the melee, he said. Lewis criticized the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety for a lag in response time after violence erupted, which he estimates at of 20 minutes or more.

Related: None of them saw a single repercussion, counter-protester says of Proud Boys who rallied in Kalamazoo

There are times when you think, like, did they support the Proud Boys more than their hometown residents? Lewis asked. I know that sounds terrible but, in some aspects, if you look at what happened  where were the police?

Violence erupts

Lewis parked near Bronson Park Saturday and made his way to an event that was billed as a peaceful vigil against domestic terrorism.

He arrived at Arcadia Festival Place, the site of the planned peace vigil, and soon after he heard talk that the Proud Boys group was marching down the street nearby, he and others moved in that direction.

Lewis said he was pulled into the crowd, where he was punched in the face at least seven times.

Related: Rally turns violent as Proud Boys met by counter-protesters in downtown Kalamazoo

MLive reporter Samuel Robinson recorded video footage of the larger altercation as Lewis is swept into the Proud Boys crowd, getting punched as he goes, trying to defend himself.

Lewis can be seen taking punches and later being held by someone. People wearing Proud Boys shirts, or the signature Proud Boy look of a pinstriped polo, surrounded the 55-year-old veteran, he said.

Kurt Lewis was beaten in an altercation with Proud Boys in Kalamazoo on Saturday, Aug. 15.

I had my eyes open and I could see the punches coming in at my face, Lewis said. And I tried to retaliate in that area, but there wasnt much retaliation. Because I was surrounded.

Lewis said he thought he was going to die. When he was suddenly pulled from the fight, his flight instinct took over and he left the area of the altercation.

The city has not released an official timeline of when police arrived on scene. City Manger Jim Ritsema said at the Aug. 17 City Commission meeting that he was downtown and there was a time period when police had been activated but had not yet arrived on scene.

Deputy City Manager Jeff Chamberlain said the KDPS Criminal Investigation Division is poring over video to help determine a timeline of the events.

Part of the reason for the delay could be because violence began sooner than police were expecting the event to begin. It was set for a 2 p.m. start, according to a social media posting. Video footage of the event showed physical altercations between Proud Boys and counter-protesters occurring almost 30 minutes earlier.

Public Safety Chief Karianne Thomas said during a Sunday news conference that the Saturday event began sooner than police anticipated.

Its human dynamics and people are trying to make it seem like it was a simpler situation than it was. It was anything but that, Thomas said in an interview with MLive on Tuesday.

Lewis said he went looking for a police car after he escaped the violence. He spotted one and walked up to it to find it was empty, he said.

Lewis eventually found an officer, he said, and later saw police officers lining up and ordering people to leave the area. He headed to the emergency room.

Chamberlain said KDPS did not have a report from Lewis or any report of violence listing him as the victim as of Wednesday, Aug. 19.

Lewis, who was a corporal during the Gulf War, was responsible as a medic for treating anyone who was injured.

Fix what we can, and get them immediately into a medivac, he said.

6 Proud Boys rally in Kalamazoo turns violent

He still suffers from nightmares of being in combat and from PTSD, he said. Now, during what little sleep he has gotten in the days since Saturday, Lewis said his dreams now also feature the bloody scene in Kalamazoo.

He thinks the violence would not have erupted had police formed a line of officers to separate Proud Boys from counter-protesters.

Mayor David Anderson said during the Monday, Aug 17, Kalamazoo City Commission meeting that the city does not support the Proud Boys or their views. The group came to town itself and they did not get a permit or need one to come to town, he said.

Lewis said he thinks someone should be reprimanded for how local police handled the event.

Because I shouldnt have the expectation or the feelings that, Are you going out drinking with these boys tonight? he said.

Another reason why the department has come under scrutiny is that, despite violent clashes between the alt-right group and counter-protesters, none of the 10 people arrested were associated with Proud Boys.

During the event, a legal observer was among the people arrested. Robinson, the MLive reporter who captured the melee that bloodied the Army veteran on video, was also later arrested despite wearing media credentials and telling the arresting officers he is a member of the media.

A charge of impeding traffic, on which police said Robinson was arrested, was later dropped and Kalamazoo Public Safety Chief Karianne Thomas apologized publicly for the reporters arrest. Several other charges have also been dropped against counter-protesters arrested Saturday.

Related: Charge dropped against MLive reporter, chief apologizes for arrest at Kalamazoo protest

The city managers office is investigating the arrests at the request of city commissioners, though Thomas told MLive Tuesday the department had no active internal investigation into the improper arrests. KDPS is reviewing video footage to see if charges can be brought against people committing criminal acts during the event Saturday.

The city encourages anyone involved in the violence to make a report to police or to Silent Observer, and to submit videos for an investigation. People can contact Kalamazoo Public Safety at 269-488-8911 or Silent Observer at 269-343-2100 or www.kalamazoosilentobserver.com.

Read more:

Kalamazoo City commissioners scrutinize police response to Proud Boys visit

Citizens call for new leadership in Kalamazoo after failure during Proud Boys rally

Kalamazoo police chief responds to criticism of handling of Proud Boys rally

Police chief says Proud Boys completed their mission by causing chaos in downtown Kalamazoo
Belarus Leader Threatens Criminal Charges Against Opposition

By VOA News August 19, 2020

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is threatening to bring criminal charges against opposition leaders, as hundreds defied police and turned out in Minsk for another night of protests.

Thousands have been arrested and hundreds injured in the nationwide demonstration against what marchers say was a stolen presidential election. At least three protesters have died.

Lukashenko has called on Belarusian police to get even tougher on the demonstrators. Bu witnesses report police were standing by and making no drastic moves, as hundreds stood in the rain Wednesday night outside the interior ministry.

"There should no longer be any disorder in Minsk of any kind," the official BelTa news agency quotes Lukashenko as saying. "People are tired. People demand peace and quiet."

He also accused the West of financing the protesters and ordered security agents to "track down and stop the instigators of the unrest organizers."

The European Union said Wednesday it does not recognize the results of the Aug. 9 election and says it will put sanctions on Belarus.

"The EU will impose shortly sanctions on a substantial number of individuals responsible for violence, repression and electoral fraud," European Council President Charles Michel said after an EU emergency summit to discuss the crisis in Belarus.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel later told reporters the EU backs peaceful protesters in Belarus and a negotiated settlement to the upheaval.

"For us, it is clear that Belarus must find its own path. That must happen via dialogue in the country, and there must be no intervention from outside. The people in Belarus know what they want, what's good for them," Merkel said.

A day earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin, a longtime Lukashenko ally, asked Merkel, Michel and French President Emmanuel Macron not to interfere in Belarus's internal affairs. Putin has offered military assistance to Lukashenko.

Belarusian election officials say Lukashenko was reelected to a sixth term with 80% of the vote, and 10% for the only serious opposition candidate, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

"I call on you not to recognize these fraudulent elections," Tsikhanouskaya said from exile in Lithuania. "Mr. Lukashenko has lost all legitimacy in the eyes of our nation and the world."

She entered the race late after her husband, opposition blogger and would-be candidate Siarhei Tsikhanouski, was arrested.

Lukashenko took power in Belarus after it declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. He is known in the West as "Europe's last dictator" for suppressing human rights, stifling free speech, allegedly rigging elections, and showing little tolerance for the opposition.

But his supporters say he has kept Belarus out of war and that people are working.

Lukashenko has sought to lighten his dictatorial image in the West by seeking better ties with the United States.

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Noise sensitivity, fear of novel situations and, for example, fear of slippery surfaces and heights are common behavioural problems among dogs. According to a behavioural survey of nearly 14,000 dogs conducted at the University of Helsinki, these non-social fears are associated with factors related to the dogs' living environment, lifestyle and breed.

Dogs that were engaged in activities the most and were actively trained were found to be the least fearful.

"Physical exercise has been shown to have a positive effect on the mood in both dogs and humans. As social animals, dogs enjoy doing things with their owners. At the same time, people do not necessarily wish to subject fearful dogs to training situations that are stressful for them. This can also make owners less inclined to train with their dog," says doctoral student Emma Hakanen from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki.

The survey indicates that insufficient socialisation of puppies to various situations and new environments in particular has a strong link with fearfulness related to novel situations, loud noises as well as different walking surfaces, such as slippery surfaces, transparent stairs or metal grilles. On the other hand, the company of other dogs reduced the occurrence of non-social fear.

Fear of fireworks and surfaces was more prevalent among the dogs of first-time dog owners, while differences were also seen between rural and urban dogs.

"Our prior research on the environmental effects of social fear observed the same phenomena where urban dogs were more fearful than their rural counterparts. Indeed, it is interesting that human mental health problems too occur more frequently in the city than in rural areas. The ways in which our environment shapes us and our best friend is definitely an interesting topic for further research," says Professor Hannes Lohi from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki.

Furthermore, as suggested by prior research, the study demonstrated that non-social fearfulness also is more common in sterilised females and small dogs. Being fearful of slippery or otherwise unfamiliar surfaces was also associated with a generally fearful disposition in dogs.

Significant differences between breeds were identified in the study, with Cairn Terriers among the most fearful breeds and Chinese Crested Dogs among the least fearful.

However, variance was seen between different non-social fears in the fearfulness of individual breeds. For instance, Welsh Corgi Pembrokes expressed a lot of noise sensitivity but little fearfulness of surfaces. At the same time, the latter was common among Lapponian Herders, Miniature Schnauzers, Chihuahuas and Labrador Retrievers, while noise sensitivity was less so.

"The breed-specific differences support the idea that fearfulness is inherited. In other words, breeding choices matter, even without knowing the exact mechanisms of inheritance. However, this study offers dog owners tools and support for previous notions related to improving the wellbeing of their dogs. Diverse socialisation in puppyhood and an active lifestyle can significantly reduce social and non-social fearfulness," Lohi sums up.

The study is part of Professor Lohi's wider Academy of Finland project, which investigates the epidemiology of canine behaviour, as well as related environmental and genetic factors and metabolic changes.

###
Drops of Sweetness: a heartwarming book of pictures and circumstances that reveal the authors profound journey as an air force enlisted man over vast terrains and oceans, which instilled faith and hope in his life. Drops of Sweetness is the creation of published author Byron Cruit, a master sergeant in the air force.

Cruit shares, These writings come from a wonderful air force career where the opportunity to travel and view wonderful sites would be obtained in my assignments to Italy, Illinois, New Mexico, Washington, and Georgia.

With my strong desire to discover the surrounding sweetness in many different travels, that would include some less traveled routes and some difficult places to reach in my walking adventures, I would enjoy the beauty of many different things, places, or events. Thus, through the prayerful connection with God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, these writings would be inspired to be written by how I see beauty in my subject writings as I enjoy Christian fellowship.

May our journey be sweet to include a harmony of sweetness when entering a house of worship. I hope and pray for these writings to be an inspiration and a zeal of beautiful love for all things in the guidance of the word of God. May your life be a blessing to others as you await the blessings of heaven!

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Byron Cruits new book is a true masterpiece that imparts the resounding truth of ones life being Gods gift that must be shared with others as an incomparable blessing reflective of His benevolence.

This opus is a wholesome testament to the mercy and love of the Lord that manifests through the beauty of His creation and the quaint moments a person experiences in their life.

View the synopsis of Drops of Sweetness on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Drops of Sweetness at traditional brick-and-mortar bookstores or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Drops of Sweetness, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Photograph: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

A California judge has granted Uber and Lyft a temporary stay, heading off a shutdown by the two platforms at the last minute in an ongoing case that would require the ride-hailing giants to classify drivers as employees.

Lyft and Uber have been awaiting a landmark decision from a court in the state, which would enforce a new labor law known as AB5. The law, which went into effect in January, would require the companies to classify its drivers as employees and provide them with a minimum wage and benefits. The decision, which was expected on Thursday, has been postponed until October.

Related: California Uber and Lyft drivers brace for shutdown over worker classification

AB5 was passed in 2019 and went into effect in January 2020. Uber and Lyft still have not begun to classify drivers as employees, instead making a series of changes to their apps in an attempt to work around the law. In May, the state of California sued both companies for misclassifying drivers under the new law, compelling them to adhere to AB5.

Relating to that lawsuit, a California judge issued a preliminary injunction in August blocking Uber and Lyft from classifying their drivers as independent contractors rather than employees  essentially forcing them to follow the new law.

The judge gave the companies a 10-day stay during which the injunction would not have immediate effects. During that stay, both companies appealed the decision. On Thursday, instead of ruling on the issue, the judge blocked the order until 13 October, when an oral argument will take place in court. In the meantime, the competitors have been asked to consolidate their appeals into one.

Ahead of the decision on Thursday, both Uber and Lyft threatened to suspend services in the state of California, their largest market in the US and the state where both companies were founded. Both have leveraged their large user base, sending push notifications in the app to millions of people, attempting to promote their views that drivers should not be paid full-time wages.

Story continues

Uber said in a blogpost on Wednesday it may have to temporarily suspend ridesharing in California starting this week if its appeal of the decision is not successful. A spokesman from Uber did not immediately respond to request for comment regarding the judges decision.

On Thursday, Lyft made a more concrete threat and timeline, saying it will suspend its services at midnight if it does not get its way. Lyft announced the suspension in a blogpost on Thursday morning, saying it was not something the company wanted to do.

We are going to keep up the fight for a benefits model that works for all drivers and our riders, the blogpost said. Lyft did not respond to request for comment regarding the updated timeline.

Lyft and Uber have encouraged riders and drivers to sign petitions in support of Proposition 22, a measure on the November ballot that would negate the impact of AB5. The proposition has millions of dollars in backing from Uber and Lyft as well as other gig economy firms that are affected by the law.

Uber and Lyft claim they cannot reclassify their employees while allowing them to continue to choose their own hours, a feature central to the gig economy. But there is nothing in the law that prevents this, said John Cote, the communications director for the San Francisco city attorney, Dennis Herrera, who is one of the parties bringing the lawsuit against the ride-hailing firms.

When faced with the law, Uber and Lyft are now threatening to take their ball and go home, he said. No one is forcing Uber and Lyft to shut down. Thats a choice these companies are making to avoid paying their drivers what theyre owed.

These threats to suspend services represent a means to scare Californians into voting yes on Prop 22, said Shona Clarkson, an organizer with Gig Workers Rising, a group representing Uber and Lyft drivers.

Uber and Lyfts heinous threats to kill driver jobs and leave California are nothing short of extortion, Clarkson said. Multimillionaire CEOs are choosing to lay off thousands of workers across California in the middle of a pandemic because they dont want to pay them living wages or give them access to lifesaving benefits. We will not let this shutdown sway us.
Nearly 1,300 people have been tested for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after a teacher in charge of supervising the national high school exam in the central Vietnamese province of Quang Nam became infected with the disease.

N.T.C., a 34-year-old teacher in Hoi An City, was assigned supervisor for the national high school exam at the testing venue located at Kham Duc High School in Phuoc Son District, the provincial Department of Health said on Wednesday.

The exam took place on two days, August 9 and 10, with students also asked to be present at their testing venue on August 8 for preparation.

C., who is the husband of the countrys COVID-19 patient No. 981, was confirmed to be patient No. 991 on Wednesday evening.

From July 13 to 14, the man took care of his wife, who was treated in the department of neurosurgery at Da Nang Hospital in the namesake central city.

C. bought food at the entrance of the hospital multiple times during this period and had contact with four of his wifes visitors.

On July 15, he attended his schools year-end ceremony and joined a party with a class he had taught afterward, before returning to the hospital.

On July 17, C. carried his wife home from the infirmary on a motorbike.

On the afternoon of July 18, the patient went to Minh Tam pharmacy to buy medical supplies.

On July 22, he came to Nong Son High School, where he works, to supervise an exam and had contact with multiple students and teachers.

On July 25, he attended a meeting with other teachers in the school.

C. took his wife to Hoi An General Hospital on the following day and had contact with a health worker.

On August 1, the married couple went to a local medical center to fill out health declaration forms and was instructed to monitor their health at home.

From August 8 to 10, he supervised the national high school exam at Kham Duc High School in Phuoc Son District.

He stayed and had meals at Be Chau Giang Hotel during this time.

Between August 11 and 16, he went to the market to buy food on a daily basis.

C. was brought to a quarantine center on August 17 after his wife was confirmed as a COVID-19 patient, and tested positive for the novel coronavirus on the following day.

The Quang Nam Department of Health has conducted COVID-19 tests on 181 people who had direct contact and 1,114 others who had indirect contact with C.

As of Thursday morning, over 950 results came back negative, with the rest expected to become available later the same day.

Vietnams COVID-19 tally stood at 994, with 533 having recovered and 25 deaths as of Thursday afternoon.

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What is it that pushes a person to end the life of another person? Does it take a special sort of human to kill, or is there potential in all of us? Does it depend upon situations and scenarios? Are we all born killers who repress our urges, or must we break down social and psychological barriers before we can take a life?

These are questions people have been trying to answer for centuries. There are many different kinds of killers. There are mentally unstable killers who display psychopathic or sociopathic tendencies. These people appear to have limited resistance to killing if they have any at all. Then there are assassins and hit men who kill either for profit or to maintain status within a group. There are those who kill out of self-defense. And there are the soldiers whose job includes killing enemies in combat.

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Is there a common element among all these types of killers? Or does each category have its own special circumstances? There's a great deal of debate over the issue. A soldier likely would object to being placed in the same category as a serial killer. But under the surface, assuming the soldier is willing and able to kill an enemy, how is he or she different from someone who kills compulsively?

The subject is difficult to address without either sensationalizing or downplaying the elements involved. The truth of the matter is we have no definitive answers for these questions. But scientists, psychologists, psychiatrists and neurologists have proposed hypotheses for why we might kill.

We'll break down these arguments into two broad categories: nature and nurture. The nature argument suggests that we all possess the ability to kill because we evolved that way.
More than 5,000 migrants will have crossed the Channel in small boats this year by this weekend.

Undeterred by the tragic death of a young Sudanese man earlier this week, hundreds more are expected to attempt to reach Britain in the coming days.

Yesterday the Home Office announced 164 migrants arrived on the Kent coast in 11 boats on Wednesday, and 41 were picked up by the French.

A further eight men from Nigeria, Guinea, Gambia and Sierra Leone were picked up by the Border Force yesterday.

This takes the number who have made the journey this year to 4,994. Given that there have been new arrivals almost every day for the past few weeks, the total is expected to surge past the 5,000 mark today.

Yesterday the Home Office announced 164 migrants arrived on the Kent coast in 11 boats on Wednesday, and 41 were picked up by the French. A further eight men from Nigeria, Guinea, Gambia and Sierra Leone were picked up by the Border Force yesterday. (Pictured: Migrants spotted taking selfies as they wait to be rescued from the English Channel on August 11 this year)

Undeterred by the tragic death of a young Sudanese man earlier this week, hundreds more are expected to attempt to reach Britain in the coming days. Pictured: The 28-year-old Sudanese migrant who perished in the English Channel, who went by two names, Wajdi Hammdallah Hammad and Abdulfatah Hamdallah

More than 1,400 migrants have already crossed the Channel in small boats in August alone  a record for a single month  despite there still being ten days before September.

By contrast, just 1,850 successfully crossed the Channel in the whole of last year.

The death of the Sudanese migrant on Wednesday once again stoked up cross-Channel tensions, with Calais MP Pierre-Henri Dumont claiming Britains asylum policy was to blame for the tragedy.

Tory MP Tim Loughton, a former childrens minister, hit back, claiming the lack of humanity lay with the French for letting migrants attempt to cross the Channel.

Former marine Dan OMahoney, who is leading Britains response to the illegal crossings, arrived in France yesterday to continue searching for a solution.

Following his meetings, he said: [Wednesdays] incident, where a Sudanese migrant lost his life attempting to cross the Channel, served as a tragic reminder of the vital importance of the work the UK and France are engaged in to make this route completely unviable.

A refugee cooks on a small fire in a makeshift camp in wasteland on the outskirts of Calais after recent evictions by police at previously established camps have forced refugees to more remote areas on 15 August, 2020 in Calais, France

Mr OMahoney added: People should seek asylum in the first safe country they enter.

Those attempting to cross the Channel, one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes, in unsuitable boats and without appropriate... skills are putting at risk the lives of all those on board.

Paris has demanded 30million from the UK Government to bolster its Channel patrols, but Home Secretary Priti Patel said any such funds are conditional on France taking back some of the migrants.

Almost 450 migrants, who claim to be under the age of 18, have arrived without relatives this year. They are all being cared for by Kent County Council  which is looking after a total of 605 under-18s.

This week the council said its capacity has reached its limits and it simply cannot safely accommodate any more new arrivals.

Former marine Dan OMahoney, who is leading Britains response to the illegal crossings, arrived in France yesterday to continue searching for a solution. He said: Those attempting to cross the Channel, one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes, in unsuitable boats and without appropriate... skills are putting at risk the lives of all those on board (Pictured: A haul of boats believed to have been used by migrants at a Port Authority yard on 15 August)

In an attempt to resolve the problem, ministers have urged other councils to take in some of the unaccompanied migrant children.

The Home Office, the Department for Education and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government are writing to all local authorities urging them to come forward, play their part and take responsibility.

A Home Office spokesman described the situation as unprecedented and said the burden being placed on Kent council is unacceptable and cannot continue.

Councils now receive 240 per child per week, with more funding provided for those helping the greatest number of children.

But critics have said the voluntary nature of the scheme renders it ineffective and insist it should be made a mandatory requirement for councils.

The Bishop of Dover, Rt Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, the Church of Englands first black female bishop, accused politicians of playing to the gallery.
HOUSTON, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Seven attorneys with Houston-based civil trial law firm Jordan, Lynch & Cancienne PLLC have earned recognition in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, the oldest and one of the most respected peer-review attorney guides in the nation.

Firm partners Kevin Jordan, Walter Lynch, Michael Cancienne and Alaina King Benford were named to The Best Lawyers list, each recognized for their trial work.

Honored for his commercial litigation practice, Mr. Jordan represents both plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal venues across the country. With a background in engineering, he often works with clients in the chemical and oil & gas industries, many times when the cases involve commercial issues, trade secrets or technology.

Mr. Lynch is recognized by Best Lawyers as one of the leading personal injury litigators for defendants. Along with his personal injury work, his trial experience also includes a wide range of disputes, including intellectual property, medical issues and complex commercial litigation.

Recognized by Best Lawyers for commercial litigation, Mr. Cancienne has prevailed in a wide range of commercial matters across multiple jurisdictions, including state and federal courts. Mr. Cancienne also focuses his practice on representing companies as plaintiffs and defendants in a wide range of contractual disputes and in disputes involving business torts.

Ms. Benford is recognized for her eminent domain and condemnation practice. She regularly represents global energy companies, pipeline companies, and municipal and transportation authorities in cases involving everything from commercial disputes and pipeline and industrial safety, to wrongful death and catastrophic personal industry matters.

Also this year, three Jordan Lynch & Cancienne Associates have earned inclusion in the inaugural Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch listing, which recognizes professional excellence in attorneys earlier in their careers. Caroline Carter, Jeb Golinkin and Kelly Hill have each been recognized for their work in commercial litigation.

The Best Lawyers in America, which recognizes the top 4 percent of practicing attorneys in the nation, is based on confidential evaluations submitted by clients and other attorneys across the country, as well as extensive editorial research.

"To have seven members of our firm recognized by Best Lawyers is an incredible honor for our firm," said Mr. Jordan. "Trial work is our passion, so to be recognized by our peers  those who do what we do  makes the honor that much sweeter."

Jordan, Lynch & Cancienne PLLC is a Houston-based civil trial law firm whose lawyers have a proven courtroom track record in high-stakes litigation nationwide. They represent clients as both plaintiffs and defendants in commercial disputes, construction matters, products liability, toxic torts, trade secret, and catastrophic personal injury claims. Flexibility in fee structuring is a hallmark of the way the firm does business. To learn more, visit the website at https://www.jlcfirm.com/ .

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Technology is shaping the future of the automotive industry and it's creating a big opportunity in the semiconductor space, Vincent Roche, chief executive of chipmaker Analog Devices, told CNBC Wednesday.

"Semiconductors and software are really the future of cars. That's the way to think about it," he said in a "Mad Money" interview with Jim Cramer, who said he believes the auto industry will be the "next leg" of the market.

"All of the intelligence  the whole bedrock of what's in the car in terms of the user experience, the intelligence, the driving experience  that is all being, if you like, enabled by semiconductors and software these days, so that content is increasing year by year," Roche explained.

Carmakers have spent recent years investing in new forms of mobility, including electric, connected and self-driving vehicles. The shift in focus is being driven in part by consumer desires for more environmentally friendly products.

One area where Analog Device sees opportunity is in new automotive technologies like audio connectivity and infotainment. The company in January announced a deal with Hyundai Motor to supply the automaker with all-digital road noise cancellation systems. Since then, Analog has added five new customers, executives said on its earnings call Wednesday. The audio technology reduces car weight by about 100 pounds and energy use by roughly 3%, the company said.

"We play at the interface between the physical world and digital world. There are more and more sensors being used," Roche said. "We see it as a great opportunity for ADI, and a great intersection between the technologies we have and the needs of the car companies."

Analog Devices on Wednesday reported better-than-expected results from its fiscal 2020 third quarter, though revenue slipped by 1.6% year over year. The company posted revenue of $1.46 billion, compared to a $1.44 estimate, and adjusted earnings per share of $1.36.

Autos was one of the weaker parts of the company's quarter as revenue plunged 29% from a year ago, due to factory closures during the coronavirus pandemic. Analog, however, reported seeing a pick up in the segment as factories went back online.

Analog, which also has battery management devices powering the electric vehicle market, is also in good position to benefit from the growing interest in EVs, according to Roche.

"I think we have a long way to go," he said. "We're in the very early innings of the electric car, but my sense is over the next 10 years, perhaps 20% of vehicles will be electric up from kind of 1% or 2% today."

Analog Devices shares ticked up 0.23% Wednesday to close at $118.15 per share. The stock is off 0.58% this year.
The union chief representing New York City's EMTs has warned that 'people will die' if mayor Bill de Blasio's plan to slash 400 jobs goes ahead.

In October, the city is set to cut 22,000 of its workers as it tries to tighten its budget. Of those, 10 percent of the city's 3,700 EMTs and paramedics who worked on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic, will be out of a job.

New York City's budget cuts come as the city faces a massive $9 billion shortfall in its budget after a loss in revenue caused by the ongoing pandemic. It already plans to cut $1 billion from the NYPD, despite the city being plagued by soaring crime.

Oren Barzilay, head of EMS Local 2507 union, has slammed the short-sighted decision to cut the emergency workers because response times will go through the roof, and people will die. There will also be fewer emergency workers if a second surge in COVID-19 infections hits the city.

'A person having a heart attack or a stroke or the bleeding victim of a stabbing or gunshot wound cannot afford an extra five to seven minutes of delay that will likely occur if the mayor's master layoff plan is carried out,' he said in a statement.

'If these budget cuts are enacted, people will die needlessly.

'Yesterday, we were praised as heroes, essential workers saving lives. Today, the city government treats us like zeros.'

Oren Barzilay, head of Local 2507, warned 'people will die' if 400 EMTs are made redundant

The head of a union representing the city's EMTs has said 10 per cent could lose their jobs

Barzilay said that before the pandemic started in March there were 4,100 EMTs - Emergency Medical Technicians.

Some have since left the high-pressure and dangerous job, at least four have died from COVID-19 and three have committed suicide.

The city became the epicenter of the pandemic, with more than 230,000 people infected and more than 23,600 died from coronavirus.

'We did our job, even as an unprepared city government failed to provide these brave medical first responders and fire inspectors with adequate safety equipment, and even months later, have given them zero access to mental health counseling for those many suffering from PTSD,' Barzilay said.

During the pandemic his members responded to 7,000 emergency 911 calls - double the usual amount.

'We were the only ones going into homes to save lives,' he said.

'That's what we did. This is the thanks the men and women from EMS are now getting.'

Barzilay, who has led the union since May 2017, said that the cuts dangerous and would leave the city ill-equipped to cope with a second wave of coronavirus infections, as the weather turns.

'COVID is not over. What happens if there is a surge?' he asked.

Another union leader told the paper that the proposed cuts were absurd.

'I don't know where they would trim EMS - we are understaffed,' said Anthony Almojera, vice president of EMS Local 3621.

EMTs responded to 7,000 calls during the pandemic - double the normal number

Barzilay warned: 'COVID is not over. What happens if there is a surge?'

A FDNY source told the New York Post that the city has been asked for a list of the paper that the city has asked for a list of jobs that can cut by the end of August.

The cuts are expected to be made in the beginning of the fall.

'There's been some tough conversations about EMS workers and uniformed firefighters - demotions,' the source said.

A high-ranking FDNY insider confirmed 'hundreds of EMTs' will be laid off as part of cuts.

De Blasio's spokesman, Bill Neidhardt, said the final decision on making cuts had not yet been taken.

The mayor has said the jobs will be lost unless the city get state or federal aid to fill a major budget deficit caused by the coronavirus.

'To be clear: City Hall does not want these layoffs to happen, but this is the hole we are in without a stimulus or borrowing authority,' said Neidhardt.

'Our EMTs and firefighters save lives every day and we are working with their unions to find personnel savings to avoid layoffs.

'But unfortunately all agencies will face layoffs.

'Without a stimulus or borrowing authority, EMTs and firefighters will have to find personnel savings.'
A mural by the artist Kenny Altidor depicting George Floyd on a wall of a C-Town Supermarket in Brooklyn, New York. Stephanie Keith/Getty Images

A lawyer for Thomas Lane, one of the four former Minneapolis police officers charged in George Floyd's death, told the Los Angeles Times that he planned to argue that Floyd "killed himself."

He told the Times that Floyd died from a fentanyl overdose and an underlying heart condition and that the police officers involved in Floyd's death on May 25 were just "doing their jobs."

"None of these guys  even Chauvin  actually killed him," he said, referring to Derek Chauvin, the officer who knelt on Floyd's neck for nine minutes.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office ruled Floyd's death a homicide, saying his heart stopped when police officers restrained him by putting pressure on his neck.

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A lawyer for one of the former Minneapolis police officers charged in George Floyd's death said he planned to argue in court that Floyd "killed himself" by dying of a fentanyl overdose and an underlying heart condition.

After a judge last month lifted a gag order on the case against the four officers, Earl Gray, an attorney for Thomas Lane, spoke with the Los Angeles Times about his defense plans.

"None of these guys  even Chauvin  actually killed him," Gray said, referring to Derek Chauvin, the officer who knelt on Floyd's neck for nine minutes on May 25. "He killed himself."

Video: The real cost of the police

Gray told the Times that he'd base his argument on toxicology and autopsy reports that determined Floyd had a heart condition and opioids in his body, as well as on body-camera footage.

He added that he hoped to show that his client and the other officers "were doing their jobs."

In court documents obtained by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Gray argued that Floyd had struggled with addiction and that body-camera footage at one point showed a white spot on Floyd's tongue, which Gray suggested was "2 milligrams of fentanyl, a lethal dose."

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office said it did find signs of fentanyl intoxication during Floyd's autopsy, but it wasn't listed as a cause of death. The medical examiner ruled Floyd's death a homicide, saying his heart stopped when the officers restrained him and put pressure on his neck.

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Lane, Tou Thao, and J. Alexander Kueng have been charged with aiding and abetting murder and manslaughter. Chauvin has been charged with murder.

Floyd's aunt, Angela Harrelson, and uncle, Selwyn Jones, told the Star Tribune that they were disappointed by Gray's court filing, saying Floyd's history of addiction had nothing to do with his death.

"It's a sign of desperation," Jones said. "I want to know: When did police officers get their law degrees, when did they get voted into being judges, and when does four people do the job of ... [a] jury?"

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The Midland Police Department today will unveil the Nathan Heidelberg Memorial Highway sign in honor of the officer who was killed on duty in March 2019.

The unveiling is Thursday morning at the MPD training facility, according to a press release from the city of Midland.

Midland County commissioners designated Farm-to-Market Road 307, which begins after Interstate 20 and ends at State Highway 137, as Nathan Heidelberg Memorial Highway in September 2019. The approval of the Commissioners Court was needed because the road is in Greenwood.

The location was chosen because its near the MPD firing range as well as property owned by Heidelbergs family, according to a previous Reporter-Telegram article. Funding for the highway was raised by MPD and the Midland-Odessa Transportation Alliance.

Heidelberg was allegedly shot and killed by homeowner David Wilson on March 5, 2019, while responding to a burglar alarm call. Wilson told police at the time that he mistook Heidelberg for an intruder.

Wilson, president and CEO of Unitex Oil & Gas, was indicted by a Midland County grand jury on a charge of manslaughter, a second-degree felony, in May of 2019. He faces two to 20 years in state prison if convicted.

His trial was expected to take place this summer but was delayed after Gov. Greg Abbott suspended jury trials amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Jury trials were permitted to resume in Texas on Aug. 1 but a date for Wilsons trial has not yet been set, according to District Attorney Laura Nodolf.

While dates have been discussed, nothing has been formalized because there are other individuals in custody at the Midland County jail who will need to be tried first, Nodolf said. Wilson was released on $75,000 bond shortly after he was arrested.

Heidelberg was an officer with the MPD for five years, Chief Seth Herman previously said in a statement.

We have lost not only a great officer, but a loving brother and the most positive example of what we should all aspire to be, Herman said in the statement. I wish I was more like Nathan.

The unveiling ceremony will take place 11 a.m. Thursday at 4214 FM 307.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 21:58:00|Editor: huaxia

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ACCRA, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Ghana has set up a 10-member committee to consider conditions for the reopening of schools in the pre-tertiary sector, a statement from the Education Ministry said Thursday.

The committee chaired by former Minister for Education, Dominic Fobih, is tasked to deliberate and advise on the modalities for the reopening of schools in the country for the approval of the country's president.

Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in his latest broadcast to update the nation on COVID-19 announced the government was considering reopening schools due to significant improvement recorded in the management of the pandemic.

The West African country recorded its first two COVID-19 cases on March 12 and shut down schools four days later.

After months of battling the virus and later easing of restrictions, the government reopened school for final years in the tertiary as well as senior high and junior high schools on June 15, 22, and 29 respectively to enable them to write their final exams.

Students in some tertiary institutions were directed to return to their various campuses on Aug. 24 to complete the semester by the president.

Meanwhile, teacher unions have called on the government to ensure all necessary measures were put in place before schools are reopened across the country. Enditem
She's never been shy of commanding attention with her looks.

And Demi Rose was clearly inspired by the Japanese geishas as she slipped into a plunging pink kimono for a trip to the market in Ibiza on Sunday.

The voluptuous model, 25, opted for the heavy robe with a floral print despite the warm Ibiza weather as she purchased a pink ukulele at a local stall.

Gorgeous: Demi Rose, 25, was clearly inspired by the Japanese geishas as she slipped into a plunging pink kimono for a trip to the market in Ibiza on Sunday

Demi displayed her eye-popping curves in the plunging pink kimono with a thigh-high split as she picked up a new ukulele.

The confident star teamed the robe with towering black wedges and a paisley printed mask as she strolled through the market.

Pulling her brunette tresses into a waved half-up half-down style, Demi decided to entertain the locals, sitting down in a cafe to play with her new instrument.

Geishas are typically Japanese women who entertain and perform through traditional artforms, and are known for their distinct appearance, including their long kimonos, traditional hairstyles and oshiroi, or white powder, makeup.

Standing out: The voluptuous model opted for the heavy robe with a floral print despite the warm Ibiza weather as she purchased a pink ukulele at a local stall.

Splashing out: Demi displayed her eye-popping curves in the plunging pink kimono with a thigh-high split as she picked up a new ukulele

Lovely: The confident star teamed the robe with towering black wedges and a paisley printed mask as she strolled through the market

Music mogul? Pulling her brunette tresses into a waved half-up half-down style, Demi decided to entertain the locals, sitting down in a cafe to play with her new instrument

Happy: Despite the prospect of spending two weeks in quarantine when she returns to the UK, Demi still seems to be smiling

Despite the prospect of two weeks behind closed doors upon her return to the UK - the result of tightening travel restrictions in the fight against COVID-19 - Demi stills seems to be smiling.

Spain had been among of a number of 'air-bridge' countries considered to be safe for quarantine-free travel, promoting many stars to book getaways, but a spike in coronavirus cases across the country has prompted a change in policy.

Before her trip to Ibiza Demi had been isolating in her London flat after the novel coronavirus pandemic scrapped her travel plans for March - much to her displeasure.

Irate: Before her trip to Ibiza Demi had been isolating in her London flat after the novel coronavirus pandemic scrapped her travel plans for March

Annoyed: Taking to social media at the time, she lamented: 'All I have with me is crochet stuff and bikinis. I'm sick of wearing all the other stuff that I bought that is loungey'

Upset: She continued: ''What is your bet that this will be over in June, July, August... What do you think, like never? Corona really f**ed us up, really majorly f**ked us up'

Taking to social media at the time, she lamented: 'All I have with me is crochet stuff and bikinis. I'm sick of wearing all the other stuff that I bought that is loungey.

'What is your bet that this will be over in June, July, August... What do you think, like never? Corona really f**ed us up, really majorly f**ked us up.

'I hope you're all staying safe and me... I am meditating, I'm trying to read a lot of books. Me and Teddy are really bored. I really want corona to f**k off, honestly.'

The brunette beauty was catapulted to fame when she became romantically linked to Kylie Jenner's ex, rapper Tyga.
The PM said the decision to require the test for all travelers came due to 'increasing infections in some countries'

Egypt said it will require all travelers arriving to the country to present a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) lab test result certificate for the coronavirus starting September 1, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced in a news conference on Wednesday.

Madbouly said the decision to require the test for all travelers came due to increasing infections in some countries.

We are keen on ensuring the health of those arriving to the country and Egyptian citizens; therefore, we agreed that any traveler arriving to the country should be tested, he said.

The new decision comes days after Egypt only required some travelers, excluding Egyptians, to present a negative PCR lab test result certificate for the coronavirus for entry to some areas in the country, including Cairo.

Egypt began a gradual resumption of regular international flights starting July 1, having shut its airspace in March in the wake of the pandemic.

Foreign tourists are currently allowed entry only into the three coastal Egyptian governorates with the lowest coronavirus infection rates in the country  South Sinai, Red Sea, and Matrouh.

The government has so far allowed around 600 hotels that have met safety protocols to reopen at a reduced occupancy rate of 50 percent in a bid to revive the country's key tourism sector, which has been hit hard by the virus restrictions.

More than 100,000 tourists have visited Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh since Egypts resumption of inbound tourism on July 1, the Ministry of Antiquities and Tourism said on Tuesday.

The tourists come from Belarus, Ukraine, Switzerland, Hungary and Serbia, according to the ministry.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 23:28:39|Editor: huaxia

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RIGA, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Latvian President Egils Levits welcomed Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia, at his seaside residence in Jurmala on Thursday for talks focusing on bilateral cooperation and climate issues, the president's office informed.

The arrival of Al Saud marked the first-ever visit by a Saudi foreign minister to Latvia, local media reported.

Both Levits and Al Saud agreed on the potential for stepping up cooperation between Latvia and Saudi Arabia in areas like digital services, scientific research and pharmacy, among others, as well as expanding dialogues within international organizations.

During their conversation, they turned special attention to the United Nations' agenda, particularly climate-related issues, the president's office said.

Levits emphasized that Latvia considers responsibility for the climate situation to be highly important and is actively involved in solving these issues in the framework of the UN and the European Union's Green Deal initiative.

The Saudi foreign minister indicated that his country's Saudi Vision 2030 strategy prioritizes the diversification of the economy and the use of renewable energy, as well as actively supports the UN's climate initiatives.

The talks between the Latvian president and Al Saud also dealt with the situation in the Middle East and the fight against COVID-19, according to the president's office. Enditem
Looking through photos of Kelsey Hermanson's home is a bit like walking straight into a Disney fairy tale.

The mother of two has carefully decorated all but two rooms in her house with a whimsical Disney theme, and the results are nothing short of spectacular.

Hermanson's fanciful taste in home decor stems from a lifetime love affair with all things Disney, and she first decided to turn her family's home into a Disney oasis when they moved to Hawaii several years ago.

"We lived on the island of Oahu for about three years and I missed being close to the Disney parks so I started decorating our home with a Disney theme," she said. "I started with an Alice bathroom then an Ariel bathroom for my kids and I didnt stop until each room had its own theme."

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This guest bedroom has an

When the family relocated to the Seattle area three years ago, Hermanson got to work decorating her new home, and it's safe to say she's been pretty busy transforming her space since then. For starters, the mother of two designed a "Lilo and Stitch" living room that reminds her of her time in Hawaii.

A Rapunzel-themed entry room has plenty of accents of purple and yellow and Disneyartwork to boot.

We could see ourselves living here! (Courtesy Kelsey Hermanson)

Another bathroom is decked out in an "Aladdin" theme, and even has an adorable magic lamp faucet.

The magic is in all the detailed decorations. (Courtesy Kelsey Hermanson)

Every room in the house is decorated with a Disney theme, with the exception of her 7-year-old daughter Patina's room, which has a Nintendo theme, and her husband Eric's office, which has some Disney artwork in it but no specific Disney theme.

An

With so many amazing rooms to choose from, it's hard to select a favorite, but Hermanson especially loves her Cinderella-themed bedroom.

"Its the most recent room I have decorated Disney. I love this room because I found the perfect antique furniture and painted it all myself. I really like the overall dreamy aesthetic the room has," she said.

Story continues

This talented decorator is also pretty crafty and makes a lot of items for her home. (Courtesy Kelsey Hermanson)

Hermanson mostly keeps the same themes in her house throughout the year, but has fun switching things up a bit during the holidays. The living room gets a "Coco" makeover at Halloween and many other rooms are decorated with a "Nightmare Before Christmas" theme.

At Christmas, the house gets an "under the sea" makeover (Hermanson's favorite Disney character is Ariel) and the front yard gets decorated with a "Frozen" theme.

There are plenty of Disney characters represented in the house, and TODAY Home was curious to know: What are some of the family's favorite movies?

Hermanson loves "The Little Mermaid" and her husband prefers "Cool Runnings." As for their daughters? Camber, 2, loves "Frozen" and Patina, 7, adores "Wreck it Ralph."

When she began sharing photos of her Disney home on Instagram five years ago, Hermanson never expected it would resonate with so many people, but she's glad it has.

Related: Every room is decked out with Disney characters, memorabilia and decorations.

"I decorated our home Disney really for us to enjoy but it has been an extraordinary experience sharing it with so many people. I really enjoy bringing a little bit of magic to my followers everyday," she said.
Items About Areas That Could Break Out Into War

August 20, 2020: On August 11th several hundred gunmen belonging to the local Islamic terrorist group Ansar al-Sunna seized the northern Mozambique port town of Mocimboa da Praia. This is the third time Ansar al-Sunna has attacked this town. A 2017 attack was repulsed but an attack in March 2020 briefly succeeded. The August attack worked because the army garrison withdrew after several days because the troops had run out of ammunition. The army says it will retake the town but so far that has not happened. Mozambique has always been poor, with a per capita GDP of under $500. The military has 15,000 personnel, 80 percent of them in the army which is organized into ten light infantry battalions and some support units. The air force and navy are much smaller and have few operational aircraft and ships. The army received a lot of weapons from Russia from 1975 until the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. China has since been selling Mozambique some weapons and ammo but most of the military gear is elderly and often unusable. Running our of ammunition is not unlikely here, especially with the corruption associated with the government budget.

While the port town of 30,000 is not itself very important, the nearby natural gas fields are. Thats why the government has hired several hundred Russian military contractors (experienced veterans, often with combat experience) to safeguard the natural gas facilities. These Russians have clashed with Ansar al-Sunna but the main job of the Wagner force is protecting the natural gas operations.

Ansar al-Sunna has been particularly active since 2017, carrying out several hundred operations, mostly in Cabo Delgado province. This has left over a thousand dead and over 100,000 driven from their homes to avoid the fighting. The four factions that comprise Ansar al-Sunna finance themselves via smuggling, extortion and outright theft. The recent defeat of the army garrison in Mocimboa da Praia provided the Islamic terrorists with a lot of abandoned military gear, including some weapons. Ansar al-Sunna can afford to buy ammunition.

Since Ansar al-Sunna was formed in 2015 it has operated in the northern province of Cabo Delgado. This province of two million people is majority Moslem. Cabo Delgado is adjacent to Tanzania, a nation of 56 million and a larger (35 percent) Moslem minority. Islamic radicals from northern neighbors Tanzania, Kenya and Somalia were the key to creation of Ansar al-Sunna. Moslems are a minority in East Africa but an aggressive one when it comes religious matters. Thats a major reason why most East Africans are either Christians or follow ancient local religious practices.

What gave the Mozambique Islamic terrorists a major boost was the failed promise of prosperity from the offshore natural gas fields that were discovered in 2010 and have only seen major development and production in the last few years. Long-term the government expects to obtain nearly $100 billion in revenue from natural gas and oil in the next 25 years. Thats for a country with an annual GDP of $14 billion. Those optimistic forecasts are already fading because of the decline in world oil prices that began in 2014 and have not recovered much at all. The price of natural gas is linked to the price of oil and all producers of these fuels are suffering. The current covid19 recession only made it worse.

Residents of Cabo Delgado province were led to believe that the natural gas would bring quick benefits like more jobs, roads and other infrastructure. That was not the case. The foreign companies developing the offshore natural gas deposits have had to borrow $15 billion to build the facilities to extract the oil and get it to foreign markets. Many of the new jobs went to foreigners who had skills none of the locals possessed. Too many of the unskilled jobs for locals went to friends or family of politicians and government officials. In other words, Cabo Delgado residents are angry about their continued poverty despite all the money being spent on the new oil facilities, which are near the port town of Mocimboa da Praia. This pattern is not unique in Africa, where most nations with oil or natural gas or any valuable exportable raw material see most of the export income stolen by corrupt politicians. This is the rule, not the exception in Africa.

Because of this Mozambique seems to be headed for yet another civil war. There are the usual causes; corruption, poverty and newly discovered natural gas fields. Mozambique has been suffering wars or threats of war since the 1960s. Mozambique is a largely coastal country north of South Africa and south of Tanzania. Most of the coastline runs parallel to the large island of Madagascar. The population of 30 million is a lot larger, and less prosperous, than the six million living there in 1950. For over a thousand years Mozambique has, like many other parts of East Africa, consisted of coastal cities that prospered by serving as a market places where people from the interior could obtain all manner of foreign goods. Mozambique was part of a vast trading network using dependable seasonable winds to allow ships to move good from East Africa to the Persian Gulf, India and Indonesia.

In the 1500s Portugal, using new technologies (cannon and superior sailing ships) created the borders for Mozambique, which explains why the country consists largely of coast and interior areas reachable via rivers. What ended Portuguese rule was an anti-colonial rebellion that lasted from the early 1960s, when other European colonizers were departing, until 1975 when Portugal finally got rid of its colonies. This meant nearly 300,000 Portuguese left Mozambique, taking with them a major portion of the new nations technical personnel and skilled administrators. In Mozambique a local government was elected and only lasted two years before fifteen-year long civil war began. This civil war was far more damaging than the shorter, and less successful anti-colonial war. The civil war killed over a million people and drove more than 20 percent of the population from their homes for months or years. Nearly two million of those refugees fled the country.

Mozambique never recovered from all the violence it has suffered since the 1960s. The rebellion against the Portuguese colonial government left about 60,000 dead, 94 percent of them rebels and civilians. The rebels were never a real threat to the colonial government. Mozambique became independent in 1975. Its first government was socialist and run by politicians who wanted to establish a communist police state for the greater good. This triggered a civil war in 1977 that killed over a million people, most of them civilians, before it ended in 1992. With collapse of European communist governments and the Soviet Union between 1989 and 1991, the Mozambique communists agreed to restore democracy. Some tensions between communists and democrats remained and there were brief outbursts of violence in 2013 and 2018. A 2019 agreement eliminated most of that tension just as a new threat, from Islamic terrorists, was developing.

The civil war was mainly about politics and tribal alliances. Religion was not a major factor because more than four centuries of Portuguese rule had left the population mostly (60 percent) Christian, with about 20 percent animist (ancient local religions) or not religious at all. About twenty percent were Moslem, mostly in the north, where huge natural gas deposits were discovered and are about to make Mozambique one of the largest natural gas producers in the world. That will make some people in Mozambique very rich and that is what got the current Moslem-led rebellion in the north is all about. In 2019 some of the Ansar al-Sunna factions pledged allegiance to ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) for reasons still unclear. One thing that is clear is that the fighting is all about whether corrupt Moslem or corrupt Christians gain control of the natural gas. An Ansar al-Sunna victory is unlikely as the Mozambique Moslems are outnumbered. The Islamic rebels say they are out to eliminate corruption. All Islamic rebels say that and none ever deliver. That has been demonstrated many times in the last few decades and Moslems have noticed.

The Enemy Within

Mozambique certainly needs a change in attitudes, and goals, among its elected officials and government bureaucrats. The primary problem is the pervasive corruption throughout the country, particularly in the government. Corruption and misuse of government funds are the main reasons Mozambique is such a wreck economically. The global aspect of this can be seen in the international surveys of nations to determine who is clean and who is corrupt. For 2019 Mozambique ranked 146th out of 180 nations in international rankings compared with 158th in 2018. Corruption in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index is measured on a 1 (most corrupt) to 100 (not corrupt) scale. The most corrupt nations (usually Yemen/15, Syria/13, South Sudan/12 and Somalia/9) have a rating of under 15 while of the least corrupt (Finland, New Zealand and Denmark) are over 85.

The current Mozambique Corruption Perception Index score is 26 (versus 23 in 2018) compared to 26 (27) for Nigeria, 30 (30) for Ukraine, 45 (44) for Belarus, 58 (60) for Poland, 80 (81) Germany, 65 (61) for Taiwan, 39 (40) for Turkey, 41 (40) for India, 28 (28) for Russia, 59 (57) for South Korea, 14 (17) for North Korea, 37 (35) for Vietnam, 85 (84) for Singapore, 73 (73) for Japan, 40 (37) for Indonesia, 38 (38) for Sri Lanka, 29 (33) for the Maldives, 34 (34) for the Philippines, 32 (32) for Pakistan, 26 (28) for Bangladesh, 26 (30) for Iran, 16 (15) for Afghanistan, 29 (30) for Burma, 71 (71) for the UAE (United Arab Emirates), 60 (64) for Israel, 69 (75) for the United States, 41 (39) for China, 44 (43) for South Africa, 20 (18) for Iraq, 39 (40) for Turkey, 53 (49) for Saudi Arabia and 28 (28) for Lebanon.

The Mozambique corruption score has gotten worse since 2012 when it was 31. All that corruption and fifteen years of civil war sharply reduced the living conditions in most of Mozambique. The extent of this can be measured compared to the rest of the world. The effectiveness of governments and the societies they represent is rated each year in the Human Development Index. The UN has compiled these ratings for 29 years. The index ranks all the world nations in terms of how well they do in terms of life expectancy, education and income. In 2019 Mozambique was 180 out of 189 nations. The rank of 0ther nations puts this into perspective; United States is at 15 (tied with Britain), China 89, Israel 22 (tied with South Korea), Saudi Arabia 36, Iran 65, India 129, Pakistan 152, Afghanistan 179, Bangladesh 135, Nigeria 158, Russia 49, Venezuela 96, Colombia 79, Mexico 76. Egypt 116, Lebanon 93, Syria 154 and Jordan 103. The top ten nations are Norway, Switzerland, Ireland, Germany, Hong Kong, Australia, Iceland, Sweden, Singapore and Netherlands. The bottom ten are Mozambique at 180th place (there are a lot of ties) followed by Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Mali, Burundi, South Sudan, Chad, Central African Republic and in last place, Niger. Most of the bottom ten have problems with Islamic terrorists, which usually includes an ISIL faction or two.

Africa is currently home of six major ISIL factions. These are currently present in Egypt, Libya, Somalia, Nigeria. Mali, and Mozambique. There are smaller ISIL factions in other African countries, some so small that they regularly cease to exist because of heavy casualties and are sometimes revived with reinforcements from a larger ISIL faction in a nearby country. The Mozambique ISIL affiliation was not universally accepted by all members of Ansar al-Sunna . That sort of response is not unusual and sometimes leads to the demise or reduction in the size of an ISIL faction and weakening of all Islamic terror groups in the area.

Ansar al-Sunna has one major disadvantage; its religious affiliation means it can only depend on about ten percent of the Mozambique population for support. Many Moslems do not support Ansar al-Sunna because the experience of the last few decades has made it clear that Islamic terror groups tend to kill more Moslems than non-Moslems. All that wont eliminate the possibility of Ansar al-Sunna damaging the natural gas facilities and limiting exports. That will also be very unpopular nationwide because so many people see a chance to get a piece of the natural gas income. In other words, its not a war coming to Mozambique but rather another malignant side effect of the culture of corruption that prevails in the country.
One man has died and eight people have been injured after 300 migrants tried to storm a border fence around the Spanish enclave of Melilla in north Africa.

The man, whose identity and nationality were not known, died after falling 16ft from the fence, and medics were not able to revive him.

'It was dark, the area was unknown and it seems like he fell,' the spokesman said, adding it was not clear if the migrant died from injuries sustained in his fall of from a heart attack.

One man has died and eight have been injured after a group of migrants tried to climb a border fence around the Spanish enclave of Melilla, in north Africa (file image)

Another eight migrants were lightly injured, mainly with bruises, as well as three police officers, including one who dislocated his soldier, he added.

'It was not a violent assault, there was just the typical pushing of those trying to get in who we did not let through,' the police spokesman said.

About 30 of the roughly 300 migrants who stormed the triple barbed wire fence which separates Melilla from Morocco managed to get into the tiny Spanish territory, the statement said.

The rest were 'intercepted and rejected' by Moroccan security forces, it added.

It was one of the largest such mass attempts to cross over the border into Melilla, which along with Spain's other North African enclave of Ceuta, have the European Union's only land borders with Africa and are regular flashpoints for African migrants.

Guards said migrants tried to scale the fence overnight and one man slipped and fell 16ft to the ground. Medics said it is not clear if he died from the fall, or a subsequent heart attack

Lockdown measures introduce to fight the coronavirus pandemic have reduced the arrival of migrants in the enclaves.

During the first seven months of the year, 3,136 migrants managed to enter Ceuta and Melilla, compared to 3,136 during the same time last year, according to interior ministry figures.

But in contrast the number of migrants who have arrived in Spain's Canary Islands off the west coast of Africa has hit 3,136 during the period, a seven-fold increase over last year.

Spain's maritime rescue service discovered a boat near the archipelago on Wednesday with eight-10 dead migrants on board, and at the beginning of the month at least 27 migrants who were trying to reach the Canaries died when their vessel failed off the coast of Mauritania.
Turkish-backed groups are continuing their search for antiquities to smuggle into Turkey, with the help of locals they have kidnapped writes SANA.

Turkish-backed terrorist groups continued their illicit excavation and digging operations to steal antiquities and distort the archeological sites in the southwestern Idleb countryside, as part of continued efforts to carry out the occupiers schemes to deface Syrias historical identity and its cultural and civil heritage.

Media and local sources said that Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists, back by the Turkish regime have brought in digging vehicles and equipment, in addition to archeological metal detectors to carry out illegitimate excavation works at the Tel Ghannam archeological site in the Jisr al-Shoughour area.

The terrorists excavation work is searching for antiques, which are looted and smuggled to Turkey, according to sources.

The sources pointed out that Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists have carried out kidnapping campaigns against the locals in the areas to force them to search for antiquities and sell them to Turkish brokers, asserting that the terrorists intended to sabotage and destroy the Tel Ghannam site during their searching operations.

In a statement to SANA, the head of the Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums Mahmoud Hammoud said that all the archeological sites controlled by the terrorist organizations in Idleb, Afrin and Aleppo are unfortunately desecrated by those terrorists who illegally carried out excavation works that aim at searching for treasures, as well as destroying the archeological heritage and civilization of Syria.

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.
If not now, when?

For Springfield, the outrage generated after the killing in late May of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer brings us to a moment that should prove pivotal in the history of our city and its Police Department grappling with issues of civil rights.

It is a time when it is incumbent on all of us  our political and civic leaders, our communities of color, the Police Department, both the hierarchy and the unions  to come together to address the issue of systemic racism and the need for police reforms.

Fifty-five years ago this summer, on July 17, 1965, a clash between members of the Springfield Police Department and Black residents at a nightclub on Rifle Street, known as the Octagon Lounge, set off a storm of round-the-clock protests, rallies, court hearings and a call-out of the National Guard.

What began with two officers tangling with one man in the early hours of a Saturday morning on the sidewalk outside the club grew to an angry crowd. Every police cruiser in the city is said to have responded to the scene, and 17 Black men and one white woman were arrested amid claims of police brutality.

Reports from the time show Springfield was thrust into the national civil rights spotlight. The month of August 1965 was rife with protests and sit-ins, culminating in an Aug. 22 march from what is now Mason Square to Court Square that swelled to 2,500 people with a message: We March for Justice and Dignity in Springfield.

In the ensuing days and months, 14 of the criminal defendants from the Octagon Lounge incident were convicted, the Police Commission cleared every officer of the brutality allegations and a federal Department of Justice investigation found no civil rights violations.

Fast forward to today, a scathing U.S. Department of Justice investigation, launched before Floyds killing and released after it, documented a pattern of excessive force and violating peoples rights by members of the Police Departments narcotics bureau.

The report referenced two high-profile brutality cases involving Springfield officers over the past five years. In one of those cases, 13 current and former members face charges in connection to an alleged 2015 off-duty police beating of four men outside Nathan Bills Bar and Restaurant. Five of those officers, who have been suspended without pay for more than a year after being criminally charged, were reinstated by Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood earlier this year, a move that was later rescinded.

Police work is a noble profession. The many good officers who go about their duty to protect and serve this city without issues deserve respect and appreciation for the good work they do.

Sadly, however, no American city is immune to allegations of racism and police misconduct. During virtually every decade since the incident at the Octagon Lounge in 1965, there have been allegations of misconduct and brutality leveled against members of the Springfield Police Department. Some of those allegations have been confirmed, and others have not.

Last week, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno announced his hiring of retired state Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Roderick L. Ireland to serve as an advisor to help move the Springfield Police Department forward in enhancing community trust and department accountability. We commend the mayor on this move.

Ireland grew up in Springfields Old Hill neighborhood on Terrence Street, a street that now carries his name. He graduated from Classical High School in 1962, a time when our nations civil rights movement was coming of age, and went on to attend one of our countrys historically Black colleges, Lincoln University.

Judge Irelands knowledge and experience lend strong and comprehensive guidance as Springfield goes about the challenging work of developing police practices that, hopefully, can bring about structural and systemic change to the Police Department.

A review in this manner is long overdue. Between 2006 and 2018, the city settled 31 lawsuits for police misconduct, paying out $4.8 million in damages. But a number of cases have since concluded that nearly doubled that amount to $9.2 million.

It coincides with legislative action in Massachusetts to address reforms to provide much-needed racial equity within the justice system. These reforms are a critical first step in creating a more equitable and accountable system in handling police misconduct.

Both the city and the state Legislature need to take a comprehensive look at the impact of police collective bargaining agreements. The Legislature needs to explore the option of providing more flexibility to municipalities to implement management methods that would give disciplinary authority to local control.

To achieve this, a review of Chapter 150E, the states collective bargaining law for cities and town employees, is essential. Police unions should certainly be able to negotiate issues related to salary and benefits. We are concerned, however, about contract provisions that send cases of misconduct into arbitration and often result in having many problem officers simply reassigned, or demoted, with no real action taken. Many police unions have negotiated favorable arbitration agreements in contracts where an officer can be reinstated even after being found guilty of misconduct.

Now is the time to address all of these matters, to dig deep in discussions, to get straight to the heart of the issues, to respect each others positions and undertake the very challenging work ahead in a fair, equitable and transparent manner.

If not now, when?

Related:
A Harris County law enforcement board on Wednesday upheld the firing of a former sheriffs deputy who helped restrain a man as her husband choked him to death outside of a Houston-area Dennys restaurant.

The Harris County Sheriffs Civil Service Commission unanimously agreed that the sheriffs office was correct in relieving Chauna Thompson of duty, one commissioner stating he did not find her testimony credible.

The hearing centered around a May 28, 2017 altercation where Thompsons then-husband, Terry Thompson, confronted 24-year-old John Hernandez for urinating outside a Dennys along the Crosby Freeway. The argument turned physical, and Terry Thompson tackled and placed the young man in a choke-hold.

Cell phone footage of the incident appeared to show Chauna Thompson by her husbands side, helping him restrain Hernandezs hand and cursing at him to stop moving. While off-duty at the time, she helped perform CPR on the unconscious man, although it was unsuccessful. Hernandez died three days later.

Harris County attorneys delivered arguments on behalf of the Harris County Sheriffs Office, saying Chauna Thompson had several options to de-escalate the situation before Hernandez stopped breathing.

The sheriffs office cannot employ individuals that lack the judgment that Ms. Thompson lacked that night, Assistant County Attorney Stan Clark said.

Attorney Greg Cagle, who represents Thompson, countered that Hernandez was the sole aggressor in the fight. He was clearly intoxicated and had a history of violence, Cagle said, and the district attorneys charging of Terry and Chauna Thompson a week later prompted the sheriffs office to bend to political pressure and fire the deputy.

Investigators found that Terry Thompson had shared racist posts against Hispanic people on Facebook, prompting widespread concerns that Hernandezs death was racially motivated. Those allegations unjustly spread to his wife, Cagle said.

Chauna Thompson didnt do anything wrong, he said.

The sheriffs office fired Thompson in July 2017. After one jury mistrial, her husband was convicted last November of murder and is now serving a 25-year-prison sentence.

Prosecutors then wiped Thompsons murder charge just weeks before her scheduled jury trial. In April, prosecutors said they were unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that she committed a crime in Hernandezs death.

Commissioners on Wednesday still sided with the sheriffs office, whose representatives said that Thompson owed Hernandez the same level of protection as her husband.

One commissioner said that Thompson might have responded to the situation differently had her husband not been involved, and another said he didnt believe Thompsons statements that she saw her husband put Hernandez in a bear hug, not a choke-hold.

samantha.ketterer@chron.com
A Melbourne hospital is offering nurses and doctors free flights and rent, as well as a $2,000 travel voucher, to help the fight against COVID-19 as Victoria reports a dramatic drop in cases and nine deaths.

Victoria recorded 179 new coronavirus infections on Friday, marking the state's lowest daily increase since July 13, when 177 cases were reported.

The promising decline comes after active COVID-19 cases in Victoria plummeted by almost a third on Thursday, from 7,155 to 4,864.

A person wearing a face mask is seen walking their dog along Brighton beach in Melbourne on Thursday

Victoria recorded 179 new coronavirus infections on Friday, marking the state's lowest daily increase since July 13, when 177 cases were reported. Pictured: A woman undergoes a COVID-19 test

St Vincent's Hospital, in Fitzroy, is recruiting doctors and nurses from across Australia and New Zealand as Melbourne continues to battle the deadly outbreak.

Despite a recent decline in infections, the hospital is 'stretched to the limit' balancing coronavirus patients with regular intake.

'We will pay for your flights and accommodation and you will receive a $2,000 travel voucher so you can see Victoria once restrictions are lifted,' the hospital said.

The hospital shared a promotional video of health workers in face masks speaking about the job opportunity.

'Victorians and our healthcare system have been hit hard by the pandemic and our hospitals are stretched to the limit,' the video begins.

'We're receiving COVID-19 patients every day who need our help, on top of our regular intake of cases, which is why we need you.'

St Vincent's Hospital, in Fitzroy, is recruiting doctors and nurses from across Australia and New Zealand as Melbourne continues to battle the deadly outbreak

St Vincent's Hospital shared a promotional video (pictured) to recruit doctors and nurses during the pandemic

The hospital will pay for the flights and accommodation of doctors and nurses, on top of their salary. They will also be given a $2,000 travel voucher to use across the state when restrictions ease

The St Vincent's Hospital workers explain the work will be tough as it is a 'big job'.

'This is your chance to make a powerful difference at a time when it's really needed.'

Victoria recorded 240 new coronavirus cases on Thursday and 13 deaths, eight of which are linked to outbreaks at nursing homes.

As of Thursday, 622 coronavirus patients were receiving treatment in hospital, including 43 in intensive care.

Melbourne is in the third week of a strict level four lockdown, while the rest of Victoria is under level three restrictions. The measures are due to end on September 13.

Despite almost a week of cases under 300, Premier Daniel Andrews said it was too early to tell when Melbourne's 8pm-5am curfew would be lifted.

His government also announced a freeze on evictions and rental rises would be extended until December 31.

Despite a recent decline in infections, the hospital is 'stretched to the limit' balancing coronavirus patients with regular intake
An Ocean County man faces attempted murder and other charges in the shooting of a 4-year-old girl Tuesday as she sat outside her Asbury Park home with her twin sister and other family members, authorities said Thursday.

Sciaire N. Jackson, 27, of Lakewood, was arrested and charged with first-degree attempted murder, second-degree aggravated assault and weapons charges in the wounding of the child on Boston Way, according to Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

The girl was shot about 1:35 p.m. in the residential neighborhood, Gramiccioni said.

Jackson is accused of riding up on a bicycle and firing a handgun several times at people outside an apartment. A second person, who has not been found by police, returned fire at Jackson, the prosecutor said. Authorities believe one of Jacksons bullets struck the girl in the exchange of gunfire.

The child was just playing outside and was not the intended target, Gramiccioni said in a statement.

The child was shot in the upper thigh area and suffered a broken femur. Gramiccioni said doctors have described her injury as serious but not life-threatening.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Detective William Anton of the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office at 1-800-533-7443 or Asbury Park Police Detective Dillon Gourley at 1-732-774-1300.

Jackson faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the attempted murder charge, Gramiccioni said.

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Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited Delhis Veer Bhumi Rajiv Gandhi Memorial and paid tributes to his father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 76th birth anniversary on Thursday.

The Congress leader tweeted he was incredibly lucky and proud to have him as his father, adding that he was a compassionate and loving human being. We miss him today and everyday, the tweet further read.

Rajiv Gandhi was a man with a tremendous vision, far ahead of his times. But above all else, he was a compassionate and loving human being.



I am incredibly lucky and proud to have him as my father.



We miss him today and everyday. pic.twitter.com/jWUUZQklTi  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 20, 2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid tributes to the former PM.

On his birth anniversary, tributes to former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi Ji, PM Modi tweeted.

Rajiv Gandhi took over the charge of the Congress in 1984 following the assassination of his mother and then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He became Indias youngest Prime Minister at the age of 40. He served as the sixth PM of India. He was assassinated during an election rally in Tamil Nadu by a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide bomber in 1991.

(with agency inputs)
Mr. Schmidt was a top adviser to Mr. McCain in 2008 and clashed with Ms. Palin, a dynamic that was chronicled in the book Game Change.

Ms. Palin accused Mr. Schmidt and Nicolle Wallace, who also played a prominent role in Mr. McCains 2008 campaign, of sabotage and called them wolves in sheeps clothing. Ms. Wallace is a host on MSNBC.

Mr. Trumps put-down of Mr. McCain was his latest insult directed at Mr. McCain, who died of a brain tumor in 2018.

In 2015, Mr. Trump was condemned across the political spectrum for belittling Mr. McCains military record as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

Hes not a war hero, Mr. Trump said at the time. Hes a war hero because he was captured. I like people who werent captured.
At a time in which many agencies are struggling, we're honoredand humbledto be included on this prestigious list. My partner, Richard Bumgarner, and I bootstrapped HERO and, along with our incredible team, built it up by providing smart marketing solutions combined with exceptional client service

Inc. magazine today revealed that San Francisco-based marketing services agency, HERO Marketing is No. 4,700 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.

"At a time in which many agencies are struggling, we're honoredand humbledto be included on this prestigious list. My partner, Richard Bumgarner, and I bootstrapped HERO and, along with our incredible team, built it up by providing smart marketing solutions combined with exceptional client service." Lyn Rundell, Co-Founder & CEO, HERO Marketing

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 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 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 HERO Marketing, LLC

Minority-owned HERO Marketing has been providing data-driven, integrated marketing services to national brands such as H&R Block, Men's Wearhouse, Kaiser Permanente, and Dun & Bradstreet since 2012. They believe the key to their success is in the measurable value they bring to their clients' marketing programsalong with a level service that used to be commonplace with agencies but which is now quite unusual. And it seems to be working. All of HERO's clients came to them because they've worked with them before, they know someone on the executive team, or via a referral.

To learn more, visit https://www.heromarketing.com

CONTACT:

Lyn Rundell

(415) 572-2012

lrundell@heromarketing.com

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 http://www.inc.com.

For more information on the Inc. 5000 Conference, visit http://conference.inc.com/.
For the second consecutive year, Binary Defense, a leader in the cybersecurity market, announced that it was named to Inc. Magazines annual Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in the nation, ranking at #3024.

Binary Defense shields businesses from cyberattacks, with solutions and services that include Managed Endpoint Detection & Response and Security Information & Event Management services which are monitored by a Security Operations Center staffed 24/7 at the headquarters in Stow, Ohio. Additionally, the company provides Counterintelligence and Threat Hunting services from experts at the top of the security field. From our beginnings as a start-up in 2014 to where we are now is incredible in terms of growth, said Mike Valentine, Chief Executive Officer at Binary Defense. Our technology and the expert services we offer are truly unmatched in this industry. Were making huge strides in our mission to make the world safe from cyberattacks.

The company grew 130% during the measured three-year period, with almost 90 employees at the end of 2019, up from 65 the prior year. Binary Defense was also among the Top 50 fastest-growing security firms on the Inc. 5000 list. In Ohio, Binary Defense is the only security company in the state that made the list. In addition, the company is among Ohios top 100 fastest-growing firms, and in the top 25 in the Northeast Ohio region.

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.

In addition to the Inc. 5000 recognition, Binary Defense was named a Cleveland Plain Dealer Top Workplace for 2020, the largest cybersecurity company in Northeast Ohio according to Crains Cleveland Business, and 2019 Global Partner of the Year by AT&T Cybersecurity.

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About Binary Defense

Binary Defense is a managed security services provider and software developer with proprietary cybersecurity solutions that include SOC-as-a-Service, Managed Detection & Response, Security Information & Event Management, Counterintelligence and Threat Hunting. With their human-driven, technology-assisted approach, Binary Defense is able to provide their clients with immediate protection and visibility, combating and stopping the next generation of attacks that their business faces. The company is headquartered in Stow, Ohio at 600 Alpha Parkway. For more information, please contact David White at David.White@binarydefense.com.
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- The people of Belarus continue to protest by the tens of thousands against a manufactured election victory by President Alexander Lukashenko. Their courage in the face of brutality by security forces and the looming threat of Russian intervention deserves our support. The challenge is finding ways to help that dont make the situation worse or run risks that Western publics wouldnt support. Yet by using the tools of free societies  transparency , the rule of law, market access, asylum  we can make a difference on the side of human dignity and political liberty.

Lukashenko falsely accused NATO of deploying forces to the Belarussian border, insisting he wont surrender the country. The Institute for the Study of War assesses that Continuous accusations by Lukashenko and the Kremlin that NATO is stoking the protests indicate that Lukashenko may take continued demonstrations as a pretext for requesting Russian aid against an external enemy. That appears to be happening.

The fate of Belarus matters for our security, even if we in the West are hesitant to risk confrontation with Russia. We ought not to encourage pretenses of military support. But there are numerous ways to assist positive change that do not cede to Russia the power to determine Belarus fate.

We in the West can bear witness, pay attention, pressure our businesses to advance our values and hold governments accountable. Doing so can help give heart to people facing down danger in Belarus. We should be amplifying the work of open-source analysts such as Bellingcat, the Institute for the Study of War and the American Enterprise Institutes Critical Threats Project that shine light on the actions of the Belarussian and Russian governments; supporting groups such as the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute that strengthen civil society; encouraging tech companies to shield activists communications from government surveillance. Congress should threaten international scrutiny of Lukashenkos banking and the corporate financing of his cronies businesses.

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Governments, however, should be careful not to increase the danger to protesters in Belarus. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo tweeted, Whether its in Belarus or Lebanon or Hong Kong, people just want to live in freedom, then proceeded to make it about the Chinese Communist Party. Hes right, but universalizing the protests in Belarus  making them about the global issue of advancing freedom  will actually make freedom harder for the people of Belarus to achieve. It will stoke Putins fears of encirclement by stable, prosperous, Western-oriented countries, and could precipitate Russian intervention. We help the people of Belarus most by treating their desire for an end to corrupt government as a local issue.

Call for the election to be re-run with international observers, as the European Union has. Appeal for restraint by security services and government. But dont use the struggle in Belarus to score points on China or to increase the likelihood of Russian intervention. And save the trumpeting of success for when the people of Belarus achieve it.

The president and secretary of state should be privately telling their Russian counterparts that NATO is not marshalling forces to intervene, and that Russia would incur disadvantages if it did so  including a shift in the public focus of responsibility from Minsk to Moscow. We should be making clear to Russia that attempts to claw back control of countries yearning for freedom will only increase their desire for NATO protection and EU membership, and also make us more likely to agree. And we should coordinate those conversations with allies to ensure Russia hears a consistent message.

The Treasury Department should slap sanctions on Lukashenko as well as on the corrupt forces keeping him in power. Identify the individuals committing violence against protestors and ensure they have no ability to travel or invest in western countries. Make public their identities and shun their money. If Russia intervenes, sanctions should be extended to any Russians involved.

The U.S. Embassy in Minsk should offer shelter to protest leaders if they are targeted by the government or at risk from Russian agents. Our top diplomat there should attend funerals of people killed by security forces, make prison visits and appear often with opposition politicians when there is concern for their safety.

We and our allies should press the International Monetary Fund and World Bank to prevent assistance to the Lukashenko government unless it steps back from violence against protesters. All of these things would be easier if the Trump Administration hadnt spent the last three and a half years denigrating allies and institutions that magnify Americas power and advance our interests.

Finally, and morally repugnant as it is, we should offer Lukashenko asylum if he peacefully leaves the country. While the rise of international legal prosecutions has many advantages, it can discourage dictators from leaving power. Violence on a massive scale would almost certainly have been the outcome in the Philippines in 1986 if the Reagan Administration had not negotiated the departure of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos from the Philippines. Here, the U.S. position on the International Criminal Court, and even President Trumps distasteful camaraderie with dictators, could help persuade Lukashenko that we would allow him to live quietly under U.S. protection to achieve peaceful regime change.

These are mostly small measures, but taken in concert they add up to consequence. They also put us on the side of protesters without making their hard work more dangerous.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Kori Schake leads the foreign and defense policy team at the American Enterprise Institute.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

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2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Julian Castro speaks during the Democratic primary debate in Miami on June 26, 2019. (Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press)

To the editor: Why are Mexican American political leaders shunted aside by the national Democratic Party? ("Democratic convention features pleas for unity and harsh attacks on Trump," Aug. 17)

Julian Castro, the former housing and urban development secretary in the Obama administration who just ran for president, has hardly been mentioned and was not given his own speaking slot at the Democratic National Convention. Is it because he had the temerity to question presidential nominee Joe Biden during the debates and criticize President Obama's immigration policy of mass deportation?

And Kevin de Leon, the former leader of California's state Senate, has not even been mentioned as a possible replacement for Sen. Kamala Harris should she be elected vice president. Is it because he had the temerity to challenge Sen. Dianne Feinstein in 2018?

Those who criticized Harris as being too ambitious and not apologetic enough to Biden were rightly put down. What about these major Mexican American leaders? Don't they deserve the same?

The national Democratic Party has a blind spot when it comes to bold Mexican leaders that must be corrected if it wants to keep getting our votes.

Victor Ochoa, Oakland

..

To the editor: Kudos to Michelle Obama for saying, "Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country."

The only thing that irks the president more than anything is a woman who stands up for herself, doesn't back down and can respond forcefully to his verbal tirades and false statements.

The more Trump attacks the nominee for vice president, the more he'll lose women's votes.

Bunny Landis, Oceanside

..

To the editor: It is morbid and cruel to watch, first the Democrats and then the Republicans, play four consecutive nights of super slick infomercials, while average Americans are stuck fighting homelessness, joblessness and hunger.

If both of these arrogant parties really cared about their constituents, they would tell members of Congress to get back to work providing badly needed government assistance to those most in need.

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It is disgusting to watch Nero fiddle while Rome burns.

William David Stone, Beverly Hills

..

To the editor: Did I hear correctly that Trump called Michelle Obama divisive? It is what it is.

Milt Miller, Encino
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle spoke to 'Buckingham Palace about restructuring press system' last summer, their royal biographer has revealed.

The Duke, 35, and Duchess of Sussex, 39, are currently living in their $14 million Santa Barbara mansion having stepped back from duty and withdrawing from the 'royal rota' system in March.

Omid Scobie, who co-wrote the couple's explosive biography Finding Freedom, has now revealed how the couple began discussing 'restructuring that press system' in the summer of 2019, just one year after the royal wedding.

Speaking to The Cut, he revealed: 'In the summer of 2019, Harry actually had a conversation amongst his team and his senior aides within Buckingham Palace about restructuring that press system and making him and Meghan more accessible to a wider, more diverse media landscape.

Prince Harry, 35, first approached Buckingham Palace about 'restructuring the press system' for he and wife Meghan Markle, 39, last summer, according to Omid Scobie

'And the answer was well, "If you want to do that, you can pay for your own engagements".

'And so that was the first seed of, "Well, maybe we will break away, maybe we will do our own thing."'

It is another insight into the couple's war against the media and comes weeks after the release of flattering 'unauthorized' biography of Harry and Meghan Finding Freedom which features a host of intimate information about the couple from an army of anonymous friends and sources.

The couple insist they were not interviewed for Finding Freedom despite an authors' note contained in the back of the book appearing to acknowledge some involvement from Harry and Meghan - which one author has brushed off as a 'few words at engagements' rather than a 'full interview'.

Royal biographer Omid Scobie said Prince Harry approached members of his team at Buckingham Palace just 12 months after the royal wedding to discuss how to be 'accessible to a wider, more diverse media landscape'

Particulars of voicemails Meghan sent to her father and tense conversations between Harry and William have been published in the book, which its authors say was based on interviews with more than 100 sources including 'close friends of Harry and Meghan's, royal aides and palace staff (past and present)'.

In October last year, while they were on a royal tour of southern Africa, Harry attacked newspaper stories about him and his wife.

The prince said: 'Unfortunately, my wife has become one of the latest victims of a British tabloid press that wages campaigns against individuals with no thought to the consequences  a ruthless campaign that has escalated over the past year, throughout her pregnancy and while raising our newborn son.'

Referring to Press coverage of his mother, Princess Diana, before her 1997 death in a Paris car crash while being pursued by paparazzi, the duke said his 'deepest fear is history repeating itself'.

Last October, while on tour in southern Africa, the Duke attacked newspaper stories about him and his wife

He wrote: 'I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces.'

Meanwhile in January, the Duke and Duchess announced their plans to officially withdraw from the 'royal rota' system, which allows British newspaper, television and radio organisations to cover their work in recognition of the monarchy being a publicly-funded organisation.

Since officially stepping back in March, the couple have become vocal critics of 'salacious' journalism.

In an interview last week, Meghan stressed the importance of reporting done through a 'compassionate and empathetic lens'  while slamming what she and Prince Harry describe as the 'toxicity' in the 'economy for attention.'

The latest revelations come days after the Duchess took part in a virtual summit to discuss toxicity in the media

Meghan was the finale event for The 19th* Represents 2020 Virtual Summit, sitting down for a one-on-one virtual interview with The 19th* co-founder and CEO Emily Ramshaw.

The former Suits star offered her own opinions on the state of journalism, opening up about how her 'personal experience in the past couple years' has changed her view on the media, noting that both she and Prince Harry believe that there is too much emphasis based on 'salacious' details.

During the Q&A, Meghan discussed how much influence that media can have  and that quite a bit of that influence can come from a single person or a single place.

'What's so fascinating, at least from my standpoint and my personal experience in the past couple years, is the headline headline alone, the clickbait alone, makes an imprint,' she said.

Clickbait: Meghan discussed how 'clickbait' headlines have influence, calling out news organizations that print what is 'salacious versus what is truthful'

'That is part of how we view the world, how we interact with other people.

'There is so much toxicity out there in what is being referred to as, my husband and I talk about it often, this to the economy for attention,' she went on. 'That is what is monetizable right now.

'So if you're just trying to grab someone's attention, you're going for something salacious versus what is truthful.

'And I think that once we can get back to the place where what you're creating is so important, where people are just telling the truth in their reporting, and telling it through a compassionate and empathetic lens, it's gonna help bind people.

'It's gonna build community in a way I think that at the moment we're feeling much more of a disconnect in a space where it could be one more of connection.'
Violence comes despite Egyptian attempts to end flare-up that has seen fire-balloon attacks and nightly Israeli raids.

Israeli tanks shelled Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip overnight in what the Israeli army said was a response to continuing waves of incendiary balloons sent across the security fence to nearby Israeli towns and settlements.

The continuing violence  which has stretched into nine consecutive nights  came despite attempts by Egyptian security officials to end the flare-up, which has seen two weeks of rocket and fire-balloon attacks from Gaza and nightly Israeli raids.

Local media reported on Thursday that Qatar is also mediating between Israel and Hamas  the group that rules the Gaza Strip  to restore calm and that the coming 48 hours would be crucial.

Gaza security officials said the Israeli attacks hit Hamas observation posts near al-Maghazi and al-Bureij refugee camps in the centre of the strip, and the town of Khan Younis, further south.

There were no casualties, they said.





An Israeli military statement said arson balloons were launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel.

In response  tanks targeted military posts belonging to the Hamas terror organisation in the Gaza Strip, it said.

Power outages

As part of punitive measures over the incendiary balloons, Israel has banned fishing off Gazas coast and closed the Karam Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) goods crossing, cutting off deliveries of fuel to the territorys sole power plant.

Power had been in short supply even before the shutdown, with consumers having access to electricity for only about eight hours a day.

That will now be cut to just four hours a day using power supplied from the Israeli grid.

The Gaza Strip has a population of two million, more than half of whom live in poverty, according to the World Bank. The Palestinian territory has been under a devastating Israeli blockade since 2007.

Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since 2008.

On Wednesday, the chairman of the Gaza Neonatal Network (GNN) warned that frequent electricity outages threaten the lives of more than 100 newborn babies currently being in intensive care incubators in Gaza hospitals.

Nabil al-Baraqoun said the 135 neonatal incubators are all powered by electricity, noting power cuts and the use of alternative energy sources cause damage to medical devices such as incubators, resuscitation equipment and ventilators, which could cause complications for the infants  and even deaths.

Qatar pledged to send $15m to Gaza monthly as part of an informal agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Under that deal, Israel allowed the grants to go through its territory in exchange for an end to the weekly March of Return protests held by Palestinians east of the fence separating Israel from Gaza.

Most of the funds were to have been used to pay the salaries of Hamas civil servants but about $5m monthly was for impoverished Palestinians in Gaza.
The explosion of remote work in government IT during COVID-19 has led to some discussion about whether IT agencies should expand their remote recruiting  both within and outside of state borders.For the most part, folks have been feeling like remote work has been going more smoothly than they had anticipated  it seems that state and local governments are becoming more open to the possibility of more remote work and people working from other areas of the country, said Rivka Liss-Levinson, research director for the Center for State and Local Government Excellence.Liss-Levinson said that although the success of and interest in remote government work varies by department and state, expanding remote recruiting could enhance diversity in agencies and also help leaders attract workers that they often have trouble finding.We know that there are certain job functionalities within state government that are particularly difficult to fill for, she said. The possibility to recruit from outside the immediate area could help with that. It could help with specific skill sets.Missouri now has a plan to open up its state IT positions to remote workers who dont live in or near the capital of Jefferson City, CIO Jeff Wann said. Because of existing technological capacity, Missouri was able to smoothly transition about 17,000 workers to remote work after the pandemic started. The positive experience made the state more comfortable with the idea of broadening the talent pool from which it hires staff.In some cases, we found that efficiency was even better [with remote workers], Wann said.Theres a caveat, though: Wann said his team isnt calling it remote work. The preferred term is distributed teams. From Wanns perspective, the phrase acknowledges that telework requires a different kind of management style and mindset.It places the emphasis on continued teamwork and how were going to work together as teams in a distributed manner, he said. Were kind of excited about the new mantra that weve given it.The main idea behind Missouris plan is tapping into more of the states talent. Wann said cities like St. Louis and Kansas City have a tremendous number of IT professionals. A task force is currently reviewing policies and procedures to ensure that the remote recruitment process aligns with HR requirements.Wann added his team has looked at the possibility of hiring remote staff who live outside of Missouri, but for now, the focus will be on capitalizing on talent within the state.Montana CIO Tim Bottenfield said while hes not sure where his state is heading in terms of remote recruitment, staff are still being directed by upper administration to work from home if it doesnt negatively affect performance. In Bottenfields eyes, the shift to remote work has resulted in greater effectiveness and efficiency.Right now, only 20 of Bottenfields 180 IT staff work in an office, and thats because they have positions that require physical presence. For the remote workers, meetings are shorter, communication and teamwork have improved, and far less paper is used.Everything is digital, Bottenfield said. That happened all over the place. Across the entire world, we basically in a couple of months digitized a whole lot of manual processes. As I reflect on it  thats one of the real great outcomes of this thing that weve gone through.Bottenfield said he has discussed the possibility of recruiting remote workers during this time, but the conversation hasnt quite made it to an official or administrative level. Its Bottenfields understanding that state staff must reside in Montana to be hired, though the Legislature has made exceptions for certain types of workers.Montana will be getting a new administration soon, so that will play a factor in what the state eventually allows on the recruiting front. As far as obstacles are concerned, Bottenfield said that even if technological capability isnt an issue (its not in Montana), expanding remote work would have far-reaching impacts that state leaders will want to consider.For instance, Bottenfield knows from conversations that remote work has been better for introverts, who generally seem to communicate more than they did before, than for extroverts. Another challenge is management. A whole new level of training will have to be implemented for managers to understand what productivity means, Bottenfield said.Additionally, leaders must consider the long-term ramifications of using less office space. Commercial real estate stakeholders will feel the impact if government rents fewer buildings.If I was in that sector of business, I would be a little bit worried right now, Bottenfield said.Rhode Island CIO Bijay Kumar said that while he has seen benefits to remote work, he also wants to be cautious about telework when it comes to recruiting IT staff.People work harder, Kumar said. I just want to make sure people arent burning out because there is no separation between work and not working at this point.Once the pandemic settles, Kumar said the plan is to employ a hybrid model where both onsite and offsite work can be performed. For Kumar, the vision should be enabling the local workforce to work remotely as opposed to hiring remote talent.Because Rhode Island IT doesnt have a big team, its important for staff to be able to collaborate in person when necessary, Kumar said. He has no issue with hiring people from the tri-state area of Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts, but workers should be able to commute to work.The logic is simple: If he hires someone who works remotely from, say, San Francisco, there would be less incentive for that person to continue working for Rhode Island if they happen to see a great opportunity nearby in California.Kumar, however, said he is open to hiring remote contractors who live as far away as Hawaii.Some states have shown far less interest in expanding remote recruiting. Nebraska CIO Ed Toner said in an email that his division gets enough high-quality workers from within the state and that there are no plans to continue remote work for current staff.We have [eight] service center locations across the State of Nebraska that our workforce can work in person, he added.New Jersey Chief Technology Officer Christopher Rein said theres no plan for his office to expand remote recruiting and that there has been no discussion to move in that direction, either.Liss-Levinson said one factor that may discourage agencies from hiring people from far away is the traditional connection between public workers and communities within their state of residence. If one doesnt live in the immediate area, the dedication or connection to community may not be as high.I see that as being a downside, Liss-Levinson said.
Bay League boys and girls basketball teams will play five league games and then there will be a tournament to determine seeding for CIF-Southern Section playoffs.
Police in Florida have released body camera footage showing the moment a black man is shot and killed by a plainclothes deputy, who claimed the 22-year-old drew a gun as he was running away earlier this month.

The attorneys representing the family of the slain man, Salaythis Melvin, however, say newly released footage of the incident contradicts the officers story and now plan to file a wrongful death lawsuit as their son posed 'no threat'.

They also claim an officer called Melvin the 'n-word' while administering first aid to him as he lay on the ground fighting for his life.

Melvin was shot dead by Orange County Sheriffs Office Agent James Montiel on August 7 outside the Florida Mall.

Montiel was not wearing police uniform or a body camera at the time of the shooting. The fatal incident was however captured on a responding officers bodycam from a distance, which has now been released by the Sheriffs department.

Melvin had reportedly been part of a group of four who had been stopped by police outside the mall. One of the four suspects, who was not Melvin, had a warrant out for his arrest and was wanted in connection with a shooting.

But as police approached Melvin, he suddenly took off on foot and was pursued by Montiel, a police affidavit claims.

Scroll down for video

Salaythis Melvin (seen left) was shot dead by Orange County Sheriffs Office Agent James Montiel on August 7 outside the Florida Mall.

Montiel was not wearing police uniform or a body camera at the time of the shooting. The fatal incident was however captured on a responding officers bodycam from a distance, which has now been released by the Sheriffs department

The family claim an officer used a racial epithet toward Melvin while administering first aid to him as he lay on the ground fighting for his life

During the on-foot pursuit, the deputy says he saw Melvin had a handgun in his waistband, according to the affidavit.

Montiel allegedly told Melvin to drop his weapon, but Melvin kept running.

The officer then claims Melvin turned his head back towards him as he was running, and started to face him, this time with the gun in his hand.

Montiel claims he felt under threat, prompting him to open fire on Melvin. The 22-year-old was struck in the back and later died in hospital.

The Orange County Sheriffs office released six videos Tuesday from the fatal shooting. In one clip, a deputy is seen driving toward Melvin, who is seen in the distance running across the parking lot before falling to the ground mid-stride.

The footage from the officers body camera was captured too far away to conclusively determine whether Melvin had a gun in his hand at the moment he was shot. A stolen Glock handgun was recovered from the scene, though deputies were unaware the gun was stolen until after the shooting.

Montiel, meanwhile, is seen running up to a floored Melvin around four seconds later. Other deputies then arrive on scene, get out of their patrol vehicles and surround Melvin with their guns drawn.

In one clip, a deputy is seen driving toward Melvin, who is seen in the distance running across the parking lot before falling to the ground mid-stride

Orange County Sheriffs Office Agent James Montiel, who fire the fatal shot, is shown circled above

Other deputies then arrive on scene, get out of their patrol vehicles and surround Melvin with the guns drawn

Melvin is heard groaning and writhing around on the floor in pain. Deputies are repeatedly heard shouting out Get you f***ing hands up, and Stop f***ing moving.

Get your hands out or youre going to get f***ing shot, one officer calls out, before seeming to realize that Melvin is actually in a state of medical distress.

As the officers approach Melvin, still with their weapons drawn, he is heard whimpering on the floor as one officer moves in to handcuff him. As soon as hes cuffed, officers begin administering first aid.

During this time, around five minute into the video, one of the deputies is allegedly heard calling Melvin the 'n-word' under his breath, though the audio from the footage is not conclusive.

Carlus Haynes, one of the attorneys representing Melvin's family, said the more we listened to it, the more it sounds like he was called the n-word.

The Orange County Sheriffs Office said it was aware of allegations ... that a deputy on the video made inappropriate comments.

The OCSO has reportedly initiated an internal inquiry into the matter and will make the results of that probe public upon completion, the department said.

Bradley Laurent, a second attorney representing the family, said the footage shows Melvin was not a threat to officers.

Laurent, who publicly lobbied for the release of the video for several days, said there is no indication in the footage that Melvin had his hand on the gun or was aiming at officers.

When you look at the video, he was in a full sprint. He posed no threat to anyone, he said during a press conference.

That man is running too fast to look back at anyone, Haynes added. He was in a full-out sprint away from this officer.

As the officers approach Melvin, still with their weapons drawn, he is heard whimpering on the floor as one officer moves in to handcuff him

As soon as hes cuffed, officers begin administering first aid as they await the arrival of paramedics

The attorneys also questioned why deputies approached Melvin and his three associates in multiple unmarked cars to make an arrest warrant, and why Montiel shot Melvin as he was running when nearby deputies in cars couldve easily caught up with him.

Youve got all these vehicles, why do you need to shoot? Haynes said, adding he believed deputies created the dangerous situation that ultimately led to Melvins death.

The attorneys say they plan to file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of Melvins family against Montiel and the Sheriffs Office.

The attorneys also shared a statement from Melvins mom and stepdad, Michelin McKee and Ryan Findley, who called his death by the deputy a senseless murder of our son.

We know that at the time of his death he was not a saint, however he was loving member of our family and due to the actions of several Orange County Sheriffs deputies, his life was cut way too short, his parents said. We will never know if he would have made changes for the better.

Promise us, and the citizens of Orange County that no one - be they black or white, young or old, Baptist or Catholic - be gunned down in the manner our son was.'

The attorneys also shared a statement from Melvins mom and stepdad, Michelin McKee and Ryan Findley, who called his death by the deputy a senseless murder of our son.

According to records from the Florida Department of Corrections, Melvin was sentenced in 2016 to three years in prison for battery on law enforcement, resisting arrest, theft, and drug charges. He was released in November last year.

The attorneys representing his family have asked Sheriff John Mina to immediately introduce a policy that prohibits deputies from shooting at anyone fleeing.

Its not ... deer season. Were not shooting people in the back, period, Haynes said.

Haynes and Laurent are also asking Mina to require deputies to give their statements about a shooting before they review video footage and that deputies be placed on leave without pay after a shooting.

Montiel is currently on paid leave while FDLE investigates the shooting. The attorneys have asked that he be suspended without pay or fired until the investigation is complete.

The shooting is now under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
New Delhi:

In order to boost digital transactions, the Finance Ministry on Tuesday asked PSU banks to restrict fees on payments through IMPS and UPI to the extent that is applicable for NEFT fund transfer of over Rs 1,000.

As per RBI norms, NEFT transfers of up to Rs 10,000 attract Rs 2.5 fee. From Rs 10,000-1 lakh the fee is Rs 5; on Rs 1-2 lakh it is Rs 15, and beyond Rs 2 lakh it is Rs 25. Service tax is charged in addition to this.

For Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) transactions above Rs 1,000, the ministry said a further discount of 50 paise on these rates shall apply. USSD is mobile short code message and used mainly for banking services on feature phone.

The USSD fee is Rs 1.50, which has been waived till December 30, 2016.

In order to further promote digital and card payments, the ministry has issued a direction in public interest to all Public Sector Banks, said an official statement.

In accordance with this "these banks shall not charge fees for transactions settled on Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in excess of rates charged for National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) for transactions above Rs 1000, with service tax being charged atactuals", it said.

IMPS is an interbank electronic instant mobile money transfer service through mobile phones. The UPI app enables customers to make online as well as offline payment to merchants from their bank accounts, without typing card or net banking/wallet details and IFSC code.

This direction will apply for all transactions up to March 31, 2017.

"For USSD transactions above Rs 1,000, a further discount of fifty paise on these rates shall apply," it added.

In order to promote digital transaction, Niti Aayog has announced two schemes - Lucky Grahak Yojana and Digi Dhan Vyapar Yojana', to be launched on December 25. The schemes will cover small transactions between Rs 50 and Rs 3,000.

Transactions using RuPay, USSD, UPI and Aadhar Enabled Payment System (AEPS) will be covered under this scheme; payments made through credit cards and e-wallets would not be covered.

In line with the central government's objective of promotion of payments through cards and digital means over payments in cash, the Reserve Bank has recently rationalised customer charges for transactions up to Rs 1,000 settled on IMPS, UPI and USSD from January 1-March 31, 2017.

RBI has also rationalised the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) for debit card transactions up to Rs 2,000 for the 3-month period.

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Bihar police on Thursday claimed that Gopalganj-based education clerk Ajai Rai was murdered last month by people involved in fraudulent appointments to teachers posts since he had unearthed the fraud. The police claimed breakthrough in the case with the arrest of three suspected criminals including two sharp shooters from Uttar Pradesh.

Police said that two motorcycle borne armed criminals gunned down Ajay at Lakshwar village under Thave police station area in Gopalganj on July 3 when he was on his way to his office. Police had recovered two empty cartridges from the spot.

Those arrested have been identified as Zulfikar-Ali-Bhutto (a resident of Gopalganj), Mohammad Wasir Ansari and Mohammad Shahbaz Alam (both from Deoria district in UP). Police say the killers were hired for Rs 3 lakh by an education mafia to eliminate Ajay, who was actively involved in an investigation into recruitment of teachers using fake qualification certificates.

Police said that Zulfikar, a dismissed government teacher, ran a private school and his wife was also a school teacher.

Station house officer of the Thave police station, Vishal Anand, said Zulfikar was recruited as a teacher in 2005 and was subsequently dismissed in 2017 after he was caught with a consignment of banned liquor. He was also involved in the murder of one Umesh Bhagat and in a liquor smuggling case which is registered in Sahjanwa police station of Gorakhpur district in UP.

Gopalganj SP Manoj Tiwari said all the three accused were arrested from Khairtia village under the limits of Mirganj police station. They confessed to their involvement in Ajays murder. Wasir and Shahbaz revealed that they were hired by Zulfikar and paid Rs 3 lakh for the contract killing.

Investigations revealed that Ajay was all set to submit a report including evidence against teachers hired fraudulently to the vigilance investigation bureau (VIB) before he was murdered.

Tiwari said Zulfikar was also involved selling fake TET certificates along with his nephew.

Raids are on to nab those who played a crucial role behind Ajays murder, the senior police officer added.

The VIB is investigating large-scale fraudulent appointments of school teachers done using forged documents. The bureau has registered 337 FIRs involving 903 teachers across the state, of which, services of 639 teachers have been terminated by the department of education.

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The Ghana Infectious Disease Centre, a private sector driven facility, built in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has Thursday, received certification from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) green building program.



The 100-bed facility would reduce energy use by about 23 per cent due to energy-saving lighting and air conditioners together with specially insulated walls and ceilings.



The building would also reduce water use by almost a third with low-flow faucets in bathrooms, dual-flush toilets, and water-efficient landscaping.



Mr Senyo Hosi, Managing Trustee of the Ghana COVID-19 Private Sector Fund, which financed the Centre, said, Receiving IFCs EDGE certification substantiates the promise we made to deliver a world-class facility that will serve Ghana in a sustainable way and at a lower cost.



Mr Ronke Ogunsulire, IFC Country Manager Ghana, said, IFC is proud to support Ghanas fight against COVID-19 through the EDGE certification of this historic centre. The money saved from reduced utility costs can be used for critical items such as additional medical equipment to contribute to saving even more lives.



Green buildings were considered an important component of Ghanas transition to a lower-carbon future as specified in the countrys agreed contributions under the Paris Agreement, the framework for the coordinated international effort to tackle climate change.



IFCs EDGE program was launched in 2014 to mainstream and support the construction of green buildings to help fight climate change. The program is active in 170 countries.



It is a member of the World Bank Group.



In Ghana, EDGE has certified eight large buildings since 2017 in the health, hospitality, retail, and financial sectors, and was encouraging developers to adopt the green building techniques.

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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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 22:12:44|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday refuted misinterpretations of a picture showing the Chinese ambassador to Kiribati attending a local welcoming ceremony, emphasizing that this move was out of respect for hospitality and tradition.

The picture, taken when ambassador Tang Songgen arrived in Kiribati's Marakei island for his first trip there since the two countries resumed diplomatic ties in September 2019, was hyped up by some U.S. and Australian officials.

Considering the warm requests of the local government and people, as well as his respect for Kiribati's culture, ambassador Tang finally agreed to accept the welcome ceremony featuring a distinctive local custom, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a daily press briefing.

What ambassador Tang was requested to do, as shown in the picture, was the grandest way the island has to welcome guests, as well as a tradition left by the Marakei island's ancestors, Zhao said.

In 1998, the then Australian high commissioner to Kiribati was welcomed in the same way by the local people, said the spokesperson. "Though fully aware of the fact that Kiribati's various islands have their unique customs, some Australians still deliberately smeared China."

China has insisted that all countries, no matter their size, are equal, Zhao said, stressing that with full respect for the Pacific Island countries' local culture and customs, China follows the rule that "a guest should meet the convenience of the host."

The spokesperson added that on social media platforms, people from Kiribati and many Pacific Island countries have expressed their appreciation of the Chinese ambassador for his respect for the local traditions.

"They condemned some people's misinterpretation of the local culture, and attempts to undermine China-Kiribati relations," Zhao said.

He reiterated that any malicious intention to smear China's policy towards, and ties with, the Pacific Island countries will never succeed. Enditem
To the Editor:

Re Reopening Schools in Florida Is Likened to Operation to Get Bin Laden (news article, Aug. 20):

Comparing a Navy SEALs operation to reopening schools, as Floridas governor, Ron DeSantis, did, is worth a close examination.

Would we send SEALs to capture a dangerous foe and expect them to buy their own weapons? Their own protective equipment? No way. Would we send them without adequate organizational and logistical support? Without adequate funding? Hardly. Would we mobilize the operation just at the time when it was most dangerous for the SEALs? Absolutely not.

But that is what politicians like Mr. DeSantis are doing when they insist that schools reopen, without providing schools with the resources they need to save the lives of students, educators and their families. As always, schools are expected to make do by holding a bake sale. A pandemic is an excellent time for us to re-examine our priorities. Lives depend on it.
New Delhi, Aug 20 : Indore, Ambikapur, Navi Mumbai, Surat, Rajkot and Mysuru have been rated as five-star cities, 86 cities as three-star and 64 cities as one-star as per the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs' rating protocol for garbage-free cities.

The announcement was made during the Swachh Survekshan awards declared by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. It is meant to monitor the performance of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, launched in 2014. The survey was conducted in 4,242 cities, 62 cantonment boards and 92 Ganga towns and was completed in 28 days.

Indore city in Madhya Pradesh emerged as the cleanest city for the fourth time in a row, Surat and Navi Mumbai won the second and third position respectively in the more than one lakh population category.

Mysuru city in Karnataka had won the award for the cleanest city of India in the first edition of the survey in 2016, while Indore had retained the top position for three consecutive years.

Chhattisgarh won the prestigious title of the cleanest state in the more than hundred urban local bodies category, while Jharkhand was adjudged the winner in the less than hundred urban local bodies category. An additional 117 awards were also handed over by the Minister.

Addressing the winners and citizens at large, the Minister said, "More than five years ago, the Prime Minister had seen a dream - the dream of a Swachh Bharat. Today, we feel immensely proud, as well as humbled, to see how every citizen of urban India has come together to make that dream a tangible reality." The Minister further exhorted everyone to play their part and be a true Swachhata Warrior by inculcating habits of Swachhata such as practising proper segregation of waste at source, saying no to single use plastic and treating sanitation workers with respect and dignity, among others.

The Union Minister outlined the vision for the next phase of the Mission. He said,"I am also concerned about the safety of our sanitation workers, our frontline warriors in this 'Kranti'. Therefore, provision of adequate safety gear and mechanised equipment to all sanitation workers will be paid maximum attention in the next phase of the Mission." Meanwhile, in the category of less than one lakh population, Karad, Saswad and Lonavala cities in Maharashtra emerged victorious.

Ahmedabad in Gujarat ranked first in the cleanest mega city category, while Chhattisgarh's Ambikapur secured the cleanest smallest city tag. Bengaluru won the best self-sustainability award in the mega city category and Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh won the award in the small city category.

Best city in terms of maximum citizen's participation award in the category of population of over one lakh has been given to Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur. In the same category for cities with population less than one lakh, the award was bagged by Nandaprayag in Uttarakhand.

India's cleanest cantonment was awarded to Jalandhar in Punjab and best Ganga town was given to Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency, in Uttar Pradesh.

New Delhi Municipal Council secured the cleanest capital city tag, while Lucknow and Bhopal won the fastest mover capital and most sustainable capital award in the pan-India survey.

Since the launch of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in 2014, Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban has made significant progress in the area of both sanitation and solid waste management. 4,324 Urban Local Bodies have been declared ODF, 1,319 cities certified ODF+ and 489 cities certified ODF++ as per MoHUA's sanitation protocols.

This has been made possible through construction of more than 66 lakh individual household toilets and over 6 lakh community and public toilets.

Additionally, over 59,900 toilets across over 2900 cities have been made live on Google Maps. In the area of solid waste management, 96 per cent of wards have complete door-to-door collection while 66 per cent of the total waste generated is being processed - a jump of nearly 4 times over 2014 levels of 18 per cent processing.

Last month, the ministry had launched the sixth edition of the survey, Swachh Survekshan 2021. Its indicators focus on parameters pertaining to waste water treatment and reuse along with faecal sludge. Similarly, the crucial issues of legacy of waste management and remediation of landfills have been brought to the fore in the sixth edition of the Survekshan.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
The federal government wrote to aged care providers in June warning they must prepare for 100 per cent of staff to be stood down in a COVID-19 outbreak, but was slow to provide the surge workforce needed to respond when this happened during Victoria's second wave in July.

Under a new aged care preparedness plan to be announced on Friday, the Health Department will roll out an incentive scheme to address ongoing staff shortages in Victoria.

The federal government is accused of being slow to address workforce shortages in aged care. Credit:Justin McManus

Interstate nurses, personal care workers and cleaners will be offered $5000 payments to move to locked-down Melbourne.

"You will be provided with accommodation near the service where you will be working, and daily transport to and from work," a briefing document seen on Thursday by the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 05:06:22|Editor: huaxia

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A staff worker talks with a customer outside an Apple store on Fifth Avenue of New York City, the United States, June 17, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

Apple shares are up about 60 percent year to date. It reached 1 trillion U.S. dollar market cap on Aug. 2, 2018.

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Apple hit a market capitalization of 2 trillion U.S. dollars on Wednesday to become the first publicly traded U.S. company to reach the milestone.

Based on the share count of more than 4.275 billion, Apple broke the barrier just before 11 a.m. ET Wednesday, as its share price rose to 467.77 U.S. dollars. Apple shares traded at a high point of 468.65 dollars during the day and 462.83 dollars per share at closing.

Apple first reached 1 trillion U.S. dollar market cap on Aug. 2, 2018. Other tech giants as Amazon, Microsoft and Alphabet also reached 1 trillion market cap.

Apple shares are up about 60 percent year to date. In the past year, its shares have risen more than 120 percent from 201 U.S. dollars per share.

The company posted a strong third-quarter report in late July, with quarterly revenue of 59.7 billion U.S. dollars, up by 11 percent year on year, while Apple's net sales in the Great China region increased to 9.329 billion dollars from 9.157 billion dollars a year ago. 
Joe Kennedy has picked up an endorsement from one of the top Democrats in the nation.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosis endorsement of Kennedy in his primary challenge of Sen. Ed Markey was announced Tuesday.

Massachusetts and America need Joe Kennedys courage and leadership in the Senate to fight for the change we need, Pelosi said in the video endorsement.

She highlighted his work to support congressional candidates across the nation in 2018, work she in part credits with Democrats taking back the House.

We need leaders who are willing to give every inch of themselves to the causes and concerns that unify Democrats. Joe Kennedy represents this Partys future. He will help lead Democrats forward on the defining battles of our time, Pelosi said.

I am honored to have Speaker Pelosis support in this race, said Kennedy. There is no one who has stood up to Donald Trump and defended our Partys values and our countrys future more. Ive seen that bold leadership up close when she fought back against Republicans attempts to gut Americans health care and then during impeachment in some of our countrys darkest days. She is a force and a changemaker, and Im beyond grateful to have her in my corner.

Kennedy, a four-term congressman, announced he was challenging Ed Markey for his Senate seat in September, entering the race with massive name recognition and an edge in multiple polls and fundraising.

Markey, who has served a combined 40-plus years in the House and Senate, has claimed to close the gap as the Sept. 1 primary approaches.

With the primary less than two weeks away, its expected to be a tight race between Kennedy and Markey.

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Founder, Christ Embassy, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has lashed out at churches that refused to open for worship in Lagos State, describing them as fake.

Founder, The Citadel Global Community Church, formerly known as Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare; founder, Day Star, Pastor Sam Adeyemi and some others have refused to open their churches for services after the Lagos State Government lifted the ban on religious centres re-opening.

But Oyahilome during a service said  if you refuse to open church for fear of being infected, you were never a believer.

This is a great concern because there were churches that were thought to be churches until recently. We find a lot of ministers who were thought to be advocates of the gospel advocating for shutting down the churches. (Because they cannot guarantee safety).

It is pressure like this that reveals what is a church and what is not. Do they really believe in God, the same God of the patriarchs in the Bible?

I have laid hands on some of the most infectious people on earth and had no fear of being infected. The Word of God guarantees life in Christ.

When you get to that point where you are afraid of opening churches for fear of being infected, you have denied the faith. You never believed, he said.

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Dentons, which bills itself as the worlds largest law firm, welcomed Etienne Gadbois as a partner and valuable addition to our team in February 2016.

Not yet 40, Gadbois arrived with extensive knowledge in commodity taxation and experience with a broad range of clients, the firm said at the time.

Soft-spoken, impeccably dressed in expensive suits and shoes, Gadbois would take the train from Montreal, his base, to Toronto and stay at the Royal York Hotel, where hed meet clients for breakfast and lunches and walk to Dentons nearby office  the Toronto hub in a polycentric global network with no single headquarters. An author and university lecturer with multiple law degrees including one from Oxford, Gadbois looked every part a successful tax lawyer.

In March 2018, within weeks of Gadboiss two-year anniversary, Dentons fired him. A client had presented senior partners with evidence that hed been sent forged documents and emails purportedly from government officials, which eventually led Gadbois to be charged with criminal fraud in Toronto.

He is scheduled to appear in court again next month. Also in September, Gadbois is scheduled for a penalty hearing in Quebec after a disciplinary panel found him guilty of multiple counts of professional misconduct, including for, among other things, misappropriating $300,000 of a clients money.

While finding an alleged serial fraudster operating at the highest echelons of the Canadian legal establishment is rare, its what happened next that makes the case of disgraced tax lawyer Etienne Gadbois stand out: He continued to practise law.

After his expulsion from Dentons, Gadbois immediately set up his own law firm, Gadbois Commodity Tax Inc., and over the next 15 months, he allegedly continued his pattern of fraud and forgery, including with some of former Dentons clients whom he continued to represent and further victimize, possibly criminally.

Some of those clients blame Dentons for not telling them why Gadbois was fired  they say they accepted his explanation that he was tired of the big-firm environment  and agreed to talk to the Star on the condition their anonymity be protected because of either pending or potential litigation.

As the matter is before the courts, Gadboiss defence lawyer, Brian Heller, said neither he nor his client could comment for this story.

For its part, Dentons fulfilled all professional obligations, spokesperson Angie Andich, the firms communications director, wrote in an email to the Star.

We reported Mr. Gadbois to the Barreau (du Quebec) and Law Society of Ontario within a few days of his departure. After consultation with the Barreau, we also undertook to identify and contact specific clients whom we believed to be impacted by Mr. Gadbois, and we completed this exercise within a few days of his departure.

Other clients fell through the cracks, according to a business owner who hired Gadbois when he was at Dentons, but said he received no heads-up after his lawyer was pushed out.

You think they would have let their clients know, he said, adding he now realizes, naively, that he never thought a lawyer would lie, especially at Dentons, a well-respected law firm, and if something inappropriate happened, theyd send out red flags. The former client added that when he has fired someone, Ive called customers and let them know this person is no longer with us.

Another business owner said he cant describe my sense of betrayal after he says he wasnt informed Dentons had fired Gadbois for fraudulent activity.

Obviously, I wouldve never continued using him if Id known, he wrote in an email. Dentons had over a year to do the right thing and I heard nothing. I started reading about his arrest in the newspapers.

The businessman said he also feels let down by the bodies that regulate lawyers in the two provinces.

What gets me is the Quebec and Ontario law societies both knew about it and they also seemed to be late to act. What is the point of these regulators if they hear about a fox in their hen house and decide to take a year-long vacation?

Another client, who retained Gadbois after he was fired by Dentons, trusted he was well-qualified to negotiate a settlement of a tax assessment with the Ontario Ministry of Finance.

Gadbois claimed he had negotiated a settlement that required a payment of $300,000 in instalments, according to Kevin Wright, a lawyer representing a business that authorized him to speak to the Star on the condition it not be identified.

The company forwarded the $300,000 to Gadbois in trust, believing the matter was closed. In May 2019, the finance ministry came looking for the full amount of the assessment, more than $600,000. Copied on the email, Gadbois sent a flurry of his own emails to company officials.

I spoke to the ministry and you must be made aware of a situation they have created. I also want to inform you that payment is not required by the ministry, Gadbois wrote in a May 15, 2019, email obtained by the Star.

Gadbois later cancelled a series of meetings with company officials, blaming a family crisis that was escalating. Later still, the companys director discovered there had been no settlement, and that an email Gadbois forwarded from the province verifying the supposed payment was bogus  no one by that name was employed by the ministry.

Fourteen months earlier, Dentons booted Gadbois after a client, Montreal business owner Michael Karaguezian, came forward with similar examples of fraud. Last year, Karaguezian filed a $5.7 million lawsuit against Gadbois, Dentons and De Grandpre Chait (DGC), the Montreal firm where he had worked from 2014 to 2016.

In his statement of claim, Karaguezian says he hired Gadbois, then working for DGC, to challenge the results of a 2014 tax audit after he was assured the chances of success were good.

In 2015, Revenu Quebec informed Gadbois that Karaguezian owed government coffers $205,000, which Gadbois neglected to tell his client. Karaguezian says he was stunned when his bank accounts were frozen and learned later Gadbois had failed to turn over financial statements to the authorities. Gadbois smoothed things over with tall tales and promises that things were on track, Karaguezians statement of claim says.

In February 2016, now at Dentons, Gadbois continued to string Karaguezian along, fabricating email exchanges between himself and a Revenu Quebec employee, and boasting about plans to meet a deputy minister an alleged friend of his, who would help get rid of the tax tab, the statement of claim says.

Later that year, Karaguezian reassured a shareholder meeting the tax audit would be resolved in his favour, so there was no need to inject capital into the company.

Those present had no reason, at that time, to doubt Gadbois reassurances and representations, after all, he was a tax lawyer and partner of one of the largest and most prestigious national firms, according to the statement of claim.

Gadboiss misrepresentations and wrongful acts continued well into November 2017, when Karaguezian asked his own company lawyer to contact Revenu Quebec directly to find out what was going on with his case.

What followed was an abrupt and devastating realization that as a result of Gadbois misrepresentations and breach of his duty to advise (Karaguezian) honesty and candidly, significant sums in legal fees and countless hours had been squandered, the statement of claim says.

The lawsuit alleges DGC and Dentons, are jointly liable, along with Gadbois, for his impropriety and wrongdoing. Karaguezians company sustained a revenue shortfall and loss of profits amounting to $1.9 million and resulted in loss of business $3.5 million, the statement of claim says.

In an email, DGC spokesperson Marie-Eve Pelletier said the firm expects the highest standard from its members. We do not tolerate a member violating these standards and if so, action will be taken immediately, she wrote.

Before joining DGC, Gadbois had worked in various other legal and accounting local and national firms in the Montreal area and was the author of several books in the field of taxation, and his hiring was made considering such background. This being said, none of the stated deception evidenced in the March disciplinary ruling occurred while he was a member of our firm.

She declined to comment on Karaguezians lawsuit.

Due to COVID-19, the proceedings have been delayed and Dentons has not yet filed a statement of defence, the firm stated in an email to the Star.

Karaguezian says the stress and anguish of the experience have been unspeakable.

The difficult pill is that, I was thinking of doing right by my shareholders and my family when we were audited by (Revenu Quebec) I hired top-rated attorneys... Gadbois at De Grandpre Chait, then to Dentons... an Oxford graduate... and then all this, all for nothing.

Why wasnt Gadbois stopped sooner?

An email by a senior Dentons Montreal partner, dated March 19, 2018, confirms Dentons notified the Quebec law society within days of his firing. Yet he remained a member in good standing until June 2019, more than a year later.

Asked why it took so long to act, a spokeswoman for the Barreau du Quebec  the provinces bar association  wrote in an email that when informed that a lawyer has committed a violation of the professional code, rest assured that the syndic conducts its investigation with all due diligence requested by the circumstances.

(The syndic is an independent investigative office that, if appropriate, can file a formal complaint with the bars disciplinary panel.)

The length of this investigation depends on the information received and the nature of the facts, a different spokeswoman wrote in email. Please note that the Quebec Bar cannot interfere in the investigations of the syndic who has total independence. Therefore, the Quebec Bar will not comment on how the syndic disposes of a complaint.

Gadbois resigned from the Quebec bar in June 2019, the same month the syndic filed a formal complaint with the disciplinary council. The council held hearings on his case in January and found him guilty in March of misappropriating money, repeatedly sending false documents and charging fees for services never given, among several of fraud-related charges.

A spokesperson for the Law Society of Ontario would say little about the Gadbois case.

Complaints and investigations are confidential, until or unless they result in regulatory proceedings, which would be public, society spokesperson Jennifer Wing wrote in an email, which included a link to the societys directory that lists Gadboiss status as not practising law.

Presented with Dentons claim the firm notified the law societies within days of firing Gadbois, Wing responded: While we cannot provide specifics, your information about the timing of the Law Society of Ontarios receipt of information is incorrect. She added where a lawyer is licensed in more than one Canadian jurisdiction, the lawyers home governing body will assume primary responsibility for disciplinary proceedings.

The scope of the evidence against Gadbois is disclosed in a 36-page, March 9 decision of a Barreau du Quebec disciplinary panel, some of which includes conduct both before and after his firing from Dentons. While Gadbois pleaded guilty to about half of the charges, and not guilty to the rest, he didnt contest the related facts. A penalty hearing is set for September in Quebec.

His misconduct detailed in the decision is shockingly brazen. Gadbois drafted and sent fake emails from tax officials and created bogus court rulings purportedly by some of Ontarios most senior judges. Most of the fabricated correspondence was aimed at persuading clients their tax disputes were proceeding favourably, or that appeals were underway when they were not.

In total, he was found guilty of almost two dozen ethical violations, including misappropriating $300,000 in money clients thought was being used to settle a tax bill.

In October 2019, the Ontario Provincial Police arrested Gadbois and charged him with defrauding a business owner of $106,291 by misrepresentation and forgery, between January 2018 and April 2019, according to the information filed in Ontario Court of Justice.

Hes also charged with attempting to obstruct justice, in the spring of 2019, by fraudulently impersonating four judges, whose last names only are included in the court document.

In February this year, Gadbois was re-arrested and new fraud charges were laid relating to offences that allegedly took place in 2019.

Det. Staff Sgt. Sean Chatland of the OPPs anti-rackets bureau said the allegations against Gadbois are extremely serious.

I think they serve to undermine our entire judicial system, he told the Star. And I can tell you we did a very thorough and detailed investigation and now hes before the courts on those charges.
Stocks to watch today: Here is a list of top stocks that are likely to be in focus in Thursday's trading session based on latest developments. Investors are also awaiting April-June quarter earnings that are scheduled to be released today. Companies set to announce their earnings are Indian Overseas Bank, MOIL, Salora International, Madhucon Projects, Healthcare Global Enterprises among others.

Share Market News Live: Sensex drops 350 points, Nifty at 11,320; ONGC, HDFC, L&T, ICICI Bank top laggards

State Bank of India: Bank will reportedly raise Rs 8,931 crore through 15-year bonds that comply with Basel III capital norms.

DLF: The realty major and US-based property player Hines have secured a Rs 2,600 crore loan from HDFC to construct a prime office complex in Gurugram.

PNB Housing Finance: The housing finance company will raise up to Rs 1,800 crore equity capital through a preferential or rights issue.

Hindustan Aeronautics: As per media reports, Centre may sell 5% stake in the company via offer for sale.

Ruchi Soya Industries: Company reported 13% decline in its net profit to Rs 12.25 crore for the first quarter ended 30 June, as aagainst net profit of Rs 14.01 crore in the year-ago period.

IRCTC: The government will reportedly reduce its shareholding in Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) through an offer for sale.

L&T Finance Holdings: The company said it will raise up to Rs 200 crore by issuing bonds, offering 8% interest to investors.

Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea: Telecom operators Bharti Airtel and Voda Idea are likely to file additional applications seeking spectrum for 5G trials in which they will not include Chinese vendors Huawei and ZTE, PTI reported citing sources.

Muthoot Finance: Company reported a 52% jump in its consolidated net profit at Rs 858 crore in the first quarter ended June of the current fiscal year.

Earnings Today: Madhucon Projects, Healthcare Global Enterprises, Indian Overseas Bank, MOIL, Salora International, IRB InVit Fund, Modern India among others will report April-June quarter earnings today.
DUBAI, UAE, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- DJI drones have become the first choice when it comes to Inspections in the Oil and Gas industries. Drones provide real-time data, allowing teams to make quick decisions about maintenance, thus saving time and money.

Accuracy of measurement is increasing with every new DJI drone model, and the latest Matrice 300 RTK is no exception.

DJI M300 Drones for Oil and Gas Refinery Inspection

Paired with the Zenmuse H20 multi-sensor payload, the M300 offers inspection teams many solutions to carry out their missions.

One challenge which is often encountered is proximity of flight: pilots must be able to fly close enough to the structures to be able to get a clear view, but at the same time maintain safety distances to avoid collision or interference.

Inspection teams can now use the H20's Laser Rangefinder which offers precise measurements for distances up to 1200m.

It also comes with a 23x optical zoom, giving users close-up and detailed images without sacrificing quality.

The M300 RTK is equipped with an omnidirectional obstacle avoidance system, greatly reducing risks of collision even in the most challenging environments. The drone self-corrects when encountering obstacles, meaning the mission can continue without any flight interruptions.

With an extended flight time of 45 minutes when paired with the H20, the M300 is ideal for longer missions. Pilots can also quickly hot-swap the TB60 batteries, guaranteeing an almost continuous use of the drone for prolonged working hours.

For inspection teams needing a larger fleet, the DJI UAV Health Management System enables monitoring of functions and flight data for all devices, allowing the user to better understand performance and make data-driven decisions.

Inspections often have to be carried out in difficult conditions, exposing the drones to tear and wear and to the risk of inconsistent results.

The M300 RTK comes with the AI Spot-Check tool, which combines visual machine learning algorithms with a Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) system, guaranteeing top-notch precision in the data points gathered. If need be, data can be gathered from the same spot time and time again.

Furthermore, the M300 has an Ingress Protection (IP) rating of 45, which means it can tolerate harsh working conditions, with light and medium rain. Inspection teams can, therefore, rest assured they will be able to carry out their missions in most weather conditions.

A real-life example

The M300 RTK has recently been welcomed in the UAV fleet at the Shell Deer Park in Houston, Texas. This fully integrated and chemical plant spans over 2300 acres and is responsible for the production of gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel and other hydrocarbons.

The Security Team at Shell Deer Park started using drones in 2016. They were able to experience first-hand the incredible benefits of growing a drone fleet in terms of productivity, cost reduction and staff safety.

The new DJI M300 RTK paired with the Zenmuse H20 have left the Drone Operators at Shell Deer Park enthusiastic, offering them a truly comprehensive solution to efficiently lead their inspection missions.

Looking to use the M300 RTK for Inspections? Flavio Dolce is an Italian engineer with more than 12 years of experience in the drone enterprise market. He represents DJI, as official dealer, both in Italy that in United Arab Emirates. AirWorks, DJI official dealer in Dubai. Elite Consulting is the official and biggest dealer in Italy.

Flavio Dolce

[email protected]

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WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  Super Rugby-winning Crusaders coach Scott Robertson says he has offered to assist fellow New Zealander Warren Gatland in coaching the British and Irish Lions on their tour to South Africa next year.

Robertson, who coached the Crusaders to the Super Rugby Aotearoa title this season after winning the full Super Rugby tournament in each of the previous three years, said in a radio interview Friday his offer is being considered by Lions management. The regular Super Rugby competition was shuttered in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Im waiting. Well see what happens, Robertson said. Obviously theres a lot to work out with COVID and the British and Irish Lions tour. But we had a couple good conversations since, and (Gatland) has got to go through his line of management to make a decision.

Robertson, 45, said he approached Gatland after missing out on the All Blacks head coaching role last season. New Zealand Rugby appointed Ian Foster, the former assistant under Steve Hansen at the All Blacks, in part citing Robertsons lack of international coaching experience.

Once I missed the All Blacks job I actually reached out to Gats and asked him if I could go on that tour, Robertson said. I thought, if I cant be involved with the All Blacks, whats the biggest thing - or actually bigger in its own self the Lions tour  to get involved. I said Look, I would love to help you if I can.

Gatland returned to New Zealand to coach the Chiefs in the 2020 Super Rugby season after 12 years as head coach of the Wales national team. He was also head coach of the British and Irish Lions on tours to Australia in 2013 and New Zealand in 2017 and was retained for the 2021 tour to South Africa, the current World Cup champions.

Robertson said he wanted to increase his exposure to coaching at the international level.

Obviously (Gatland) has been hugely successful at the international level as a coach so hes a person to learn off and also allows me to not have to go offshore to actually coach and get that international experience, he said.

___

More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Lebanon continued on Thursday to receive donations from foreign countries in support for the country following the explosions that rocked Beirut's port on Aug. 4, LBCI local TV channel reported.

Iraq sent on Thursday its second shipment of gas oil to Lebanon to be used in power generation.

A Moroccan aircraft landed in Beirut's airport carrying medical equipment for the Moroccan military field hospital located near Forum De Beyrouth.

This is the 21st Moroccan aircraft that arrives in Beirut with a total of 295 tons of food products, 10 tons of medical equipment, 11 tons of materials exclusive for the treatment of COVID-19.

Moreover, two aircraft arrived from Oman at Beirut's airport carrying food, medical and humanitarian assistance products.

A Ukrainian aircraft landed in Beirut's airport with tons of medical equipment.

Britain delivered 238,530 pieces of personal protective equipment to Lebanon including face masks, gloves, coveralls, gowns and goggles that will be provided to the World Health Organization to distribute to hospitals.

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.

This has prompted several countries to rush to the support of Lebanon on different levels.

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Peng Zhiyong, director of the department of critical care medicine of Zhongnan Hospital affiliated to Wuhan University, was busy as always despite the waning of the COVID-19 epidemic in China.

At the beginning of the year, 53-year-old Peng led nearly 200 medical workers to fight against the virus on the front line in hard-hit Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, a great number of medical workers have raced against time and fought tenaciously against the virus, risking their own lives to save the lives of others with total devotion.

HEROES IN HEROIC CITY

It was his third time working on the front lines battling a major epidemic following the fight against SARS in 2003 and avian influenza in 2016.

"As a doctor, I must always maintain respect and concern for life and never give up on any patient," Peng said. "Wherever there are patients, we too are there. Especially in the face of major disasters, we should rush to the front," said Peng. "It is our responsibility."

"Facing COVID-19, none of my colleagues retreated. Many young doctors who were about to get married or who had little kids at home nevertheless continued their work on the front lines," he added.

With an incurable disease, Zhang Dingyu, head of Wuhan's designated coronavirus-treating Jinyintan Hospital, has been a hero to many over the past months.

Diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), he will progressively lose muscle strength, eventually becoming paralyzed and unable to speak, move, swallow or even breathe. But the 56-year-old doctor, along with his colleagues, have treated and saved more than 2,800 COVID-19 patients, many of whom were severely or critically ill.

Last week, Zhang was awarded the national honorary title "the People's Hero" for his outstanding contributions in the fight against COVID-19.

"I never thought about being a hero. Everyone has made sacrifices and contributions (in this battle). I'm just one of them," said Zhang, also deputy director of the Hubei Provincial Health Commission.

Thanks to the devotion and contribution of millions of medical workers like Peng and Zhang, by the end of May, of the cumulative total of 83,017 confirmed cases reported on the Chinese mainland, 78,307 had been cured and discharged from hospital. This equates to a cure rate of 94.3 percent, according to the white paper "Fighting COVID-19: China in Action" released by the State Council Information Office.

FRONT LINES ACROSS BORDERS

Xu Yonghao, an intensivist with the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University in south China, has spent the past year accumulating unforgettable memories.

In June last year, Xu was sent to Nyingchi in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region for medical assistance. However, the COVID-19 epidemic disrupted his plan on the plateau and Xu returned to Guangzhou to join the fight on Jan. 25, the first day of the Chinese New Year.

"As medical personnel, we must be on the front lines," he said.

Xu had been working hard to treat critically ill patients, then he was sent to the cities of Shenzhen and Zhuhai in Guangdong Province to participate in consultations, while at the same time he was helping medics in Hubei Province via telemedicine.

On March 7, Xu joined the medical expert team organized by the Red Cross Society of China and flew to Iraq to assist the country with its fight against COVID-19.

"It's our mission to heal the wounded and rescue the dying," said Xu. "No matter at home or abroad, I will go wherever I am needed."

SAVING LIVES AS NEW LIFE ARRIVES

As the cluster of COVID-19 infections related to Beijing's Xinfadi wholesale market wanes, Chen Changming, who has worked at Nanyuan Hospital in Fengtai District for five months, can finally take a moment to hug his wife and newborn daughter.

The new cluster started in June, when Chen's wife was about to give birth, while Chen entered the hospital's isolation ward to work for over a month in a high-risk environment.

As a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine, Chen made full use of his expertise and prepared granules with anti-pneumonia effects with his colleagues for medics and patients.

On June 21, Chen celebrated his first Father's Day at the ward. His wife Zhou Siqi gave birth to a daughter. She had returned to her hometown in Hubei in advance, to allow him to concentrate on his job.

Chen said he was elated to see his wife and daughter both doing well through a video call, but felt sorry for not being there with her.

"I know he was saving lives," said Zhou. "I feel that I was fighting the epidemic with him."
Preliminary Cause of Death Released for Missing Mom Who Was Likely Found Dead in Arkansas

Missing Kansas mother Marilane Carter, who authorities believe was found dead in Arkansas this week, is said to have died of carbon monoxide poisoning, said the Crittenden County Sheriffs Office.

Information gathered from family members concerning her mental and emotional state during her final communications, along with facts gathered from the scene, have led investigators to believe that Marilane Carter drove the vehicle into the container and in doing so caused her demise, the Crittenden County Sheriffs Office said in a statement Wednesday, reported FOX4.

Chief Deputy Todd Grooms told the Kansas City Star that the womans vehicle had its ignition switch turned on and was running. The vehicle and the womans body was found inside a shipping container near Interstate 55.

The body was taken to the Arkansas State Crime Lab on Wednesday, officials said.

Caters death was also announced by the Leawood Baptist Church in Kansas, where her husband serves as a pastor.

It is with very heavy hearts that we share that Marilane Carter has passed away. Her vehicle and body were found Tuesday in the West Memphis area. Law enforcement says that foul play is not suspected, Leawood Baptist Church said on Facebook. Please keep Pastor Adam and the children in your prayers.

And her family issued a statement on a website dedicated to locating the woman.

These have been the longest weeks of our lives, as we tried to cling to hope that Marilane was still alive. Thank you to all who have offered words of encouragement, prayers, tips, help, and support during this very difficult time, the statement said.

They added: We experienced firsthand the extreme love of friends and strangers. From a young woman who posted Marilanes picture at truck stops all the way in Florida, to those who participated in prayer vigils, to those who volunteered to help us do a sonar search, the support has been amazing. Marilane was dearly loved by family and friends. The all-out effort to find her is a testimony to that.

Family members previously told news outlets that she was driving to Birmingham, Alabama, to seek mental health counseling.
Israel warns Hamas of war as Egypt seeks to ease tensions Israeli warplanes carry out retaliatory strikes on the Gaza Strip, despite efforts by an Egyptian delegation to defuse an uptick of cross-border violence over the past week

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.

Story continues

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.

sa-bur/bs/dwo
YEREVAN.  Comparing the situations of the previous two or three weeks, we can conclude that we have a stabilization of the coronavirus situation. The minister of health, Arsen Torosyan, said about this at Thursdays Cabinet meeting of the government of Armenia.

According to the minister, the situation regarding the organization of respective medical care is mild and manageable in the country. "[But] I believe it will be very difficult to have lower cases than our cases being recorded this much daily," he added, in particular.

And Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan noted, however, that this "stability" can change and become "instability" at any time. "The public is reacting with excessive enthusiasm toward the pre-fall of the numbers. Of course, the numbers have decreased compared to July; but if we do not respond to the situation correctly, we will quickly return to the July situation. We know that we will have 2-3 fixed cases of death out of 100 fixed new cases. This is not only Armenia's problem; it is like that all over the world," said the Prime Minister.

Pashinyan also assured that no Armenia citizen shall be left without medical assistance, but the citizens themselves must make efforts not to be infected with the coronavirus.
LifeStyle

The best Lifestyle shows are right here, from Australia and around the world. Catch up with the experts on home design and interiors, food and cooking, the property market, and get fresh ideas with the savviest of renovators. Whether you need inspiration for cooking up a storm, to refresh a tired room, or tips to sell your property, Foxtel Lifestyle will always something new for you to watch. Enjoy your favourite experts like Andrew Winter and Neale Whitaker, or Shaynna Blaze and Jamie Oliver live or On Demand.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2020 / Blue Lagoon Resources Inc. (the "Company") (CSE:BLLG)(FSE:7BL)(OTCQB:BLAGF) is pleased to provide the following update on its Dome Mountain Gold Project, an all year accessible property located 50-minute drive from Smithers BC.

Core drilling of the previously announced 3,000-meter work program designed to focus on upgrading a significant portion of the inferred mineral resource to the indicated mineral resource category, is now more than half complete. As previously announced and reported within the recently filed NI43-101 technical report (Preliminary Economic Assessment Dome Mountain Mine, British Columbia, Canada dated July 13, 2020) the Dome Mountain Gold Mine contains an indicated resource of 81,017 ounces gold at 15.78 g/t Au ( using a 3.42 g/t Au cutoff) and 397,463 ounces silver at 2.29 ounces/t Ag; and an inferred Resource of 149,240 ounces gold at 10.09 g/t Au and 674,656 ounces silver at 1.47 ounces/t Ag.

The current drill program is focused on infill drilling within the area of the existing inferred resource to reduce spacing between drill holes to 30 meters with the objective of upgrading the inferred resource to the indicated resource category. The drilling program will total a planned 2,800 meters of drilling from 22 holes drilled from 8 different pads. To date 1800 meters from 13 holes have been completed.

"With a minimal monthly burn rate in recent months, no debt on the balance sheet, and $7.5 million in cash after successfully completing a financing (see the Company's news release of August 13, 2020), Blue Lagoon is uniquely positioned to advance the Dome Mountain Gold Project during the positive current market conditions and to deliver on our defined exploration and mining milestones," said Rana Vig, President and CEO of Blue Lagoon Resources.

With a total land package of more than 11,000 Ha, approximately 90% of the property has not seen any significant exploration. In addition to the resource already defined on the property (the Boulder Vein), 15 other high-grade known vein targets are identified and ready for follow-up exploration work currently scheduled to begin this September. To date, the current and historical work has been restricted to approximately 10% of the total land package.

Airborne Survey

The Company is pleased to announce that it has contracted to fly a Heli-borne geophysical survey (Including MAG, EM and Radiometric) over the entire Dome Mountain land package at 100m line spacing. To collect the highest quality data, the airborne program will consist of two separate flights: one with MAG and Radiometrics and one with MAG and EM. The Company will benefit greatly from a better understanding of multiple known mineralized locations (including the resource associated with the Boulder Vein System) on the property which can be used to "tune" the geophysical response as a guide to other previously undiscovered locations within the property boundary.

This survey is scheduled to begin on or before September 1, 2020.

Furthermore, the Company is pleased to announce that it has engaged Peter Diorio, P.Geo of GeophysicsOne Inc., to do the post analysis of the data collected from the Heli-borne geophysical survey. Mr. Diorio graduated from Carleton University in 1976 with an Honours BSc in Physics and Geology.

Starting his career in 1976 as a geophysicist with Sander Geophysics Ltd., he joined BHP in 1980 as an exploration geophysicist working on a wide range of base metal, precious metal, iron ore and diamond projects worldwide and as a research application geophysicist for various initiatives including airborne gravity gradiometer and various airborne EM developments.

After departing from BHP as their Principal Geophysicist, in 2009 he founded GeophysicsOne Inc., which specializes in processing, interpretation, and integration of geophysical data with geology. He has, and continues to work with some of the biggest mining companies in world.

"We're very fortunate to be able to work with someone as experienced as Peter who has vast knowledge and experience in this space and, will greatly enhance our team's ability to make better geological decisions," said Rana Vig, President and CEO of Blue Lagoon Resources.

Expansion of Exploration Planned

The Company is also pleased to report that it has filed an application for a multi-year multi-use exploration permit (MX Permit) on the Dome Mountain Gold Project. This permit highlights certain exploration tasks geared toward exploring the already known high-grade vein targets on the property that lie off the current designated M-237 permit area. Tasks include (but not limited to) ground IP and drilling.

The full exploration scope of work will include mapping and sampling; underground work at the known high-grade Free Gold vein; property wide prospecting; and follow-up ground MAG and soils collection.

As the Company waits for the approval of the MX Permit, exploration and prospecting work will begin on or about September 1, 2020.

Investor Relations And Marketing Agreements

The Company also announces that it has entered into an investor relations agreement with Future Money Trends, ("FMT") a limited liability company located in Austin, Texas. The agreement is for an initial term of one year at a cost of US$250,000 plus 500,000 share purchase options at an exercise price of $0.70. The options will vest in three months and will have a one year term. FMT will provide financial publishing and digital marketing services to the Company. Pursuant to the agreement, FMT will raise public awareness of the Company, including its social media presence, and will promote the Company's business.

Furthermore, the Company has also engaged Toronto-based investor relations firm North Equities that specializes in various social media platforms, to facilitate greater investor engagement and widespread dissemination of the Company's news. The agreement is for an initial term of 6 months at a cost of CDN$50,000 to be paid with the Company's common shares at a deemed price of $0.68, or equal to 73,530 shares. The shares will be released to North Equities in three equal monthly tranches, with the initial release being six months from the issue date.

For the European market, the Company has engaged Hamburg based Gold Invest Consulting GmbH for European investor relations. The agreement is for an initial term of 12 months at a cost of CDN$50,000.

The scientific and technical data contained in this news release was approved by William Cronk, P.Geo., a qualified person as defined in NI 43-101 and a consultant to the Company.

For further information, please contact:

Rana Vig

President and Chief Executive Officer Telephone: 604-218-4766

Email: rana@ranavig.com

The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that Blue Lagoon Resources Inc. (the "Company") expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include results of exploration activities that may not show quality and quantity necessary for upgrading mineralization classification or for further exploration and exploitation of minerals deposits, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, permitting and other approvals, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

SOURCE: Blue Lagoon Resources Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602561/Blue-Lagoon-Provides-Update-on-its-Dome-Mountain-Gold-Project
Covina, CA, Aug. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

The report "Global Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Market, By Drug Classes (NSAIDs, Corticosteroids, Antimalarials, Immunosuppressants, and Biologics), By Route of Administration (Oral, Intravenous, and Subcutaneous), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa) - Trends, Analysis and Forecast till 2029.

Key Highlights:

In July 2020, Eisai Co., Ltd. announced that it has entered into an industry-academia-government joint research agreement with four universities in Japan to create drug for systemic lupus erythematosus

In November 2019, Roche announced data from the phase II NOBILITY study, investigating the safety and efficacy of Gazyva (obinutuzumab) for adults with proliferative lupus nephritis. The study met the primary endpoint with Gazyva, in combination with standard of care (mycophenolate mofetil or mycophenolic acid and corticosteroids), demonstrating superiority compared to placebo plus standard of care.

Request Sample of this Business Intelligence Report @ https://www.prophecymarketinsights.com/market_insight/Insight/request-sample/4418

Analyst View:

According to National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, the occerence of this disease is highly in the African-American and Asian populations. Women from the Asian, Afro-Caribbean and Hispanic descent are primarily affected by this disease. Over the past few decades, the global SLE drugs market has observed a paradigm shift from generic and off label drugs to advanced innovator drugs with improved delivery options. Previously, the market was fortified with multiple drugs administered through conventional routes such as oral, intravenous and topical formulations. Nevertheless, the recent launch of sub-cutaneous formulation of existing drug namely, Benlysta has resulted the unmet requirement for the efficient and better innovator drugs with convenient mode of delivery. Moreover, the global systemic lupus erythematosus market would grow prominently over the forecast period owing due to factors such as rising ageing population, growing incidences of SLE, and increasing R&D investment on SLE drugs.

Browse 60 market data tables* and 35 figures* through 140 slides and in-depth TOC on Global Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Market, By Drug Classes (NSAIDs, Corticosteroids, Antimalarials, Immunosuppressants, and Biologics), By Route of Administration (Oral, Intravenous, and Subcutaneous), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa) - Trends, Analysis and Forecast till 2029

Request for a Discount @ https://www.prophecymarketinsights.com/market_insight/Insight/request-discount/4418

Key Market Insights from the report:

The global systemic lupus erythematosus market accounted for US$ 1.87 billion in 2019 and is estimated to be US$ 3.6 billion by 2029 and is anticipated to register a CAGR of 7.0%. The market report has been segmented on the basis of drug classes, route of administration, and region.

By drug classes, immunosuppressants held the dominating revenue share in the global market in 2019, owing to adoption of methotrexate across the globe, which is accessible at low cost. Biologics accounted for the second-highest after the segment due to the slow penetration of Benlysta.

By route of administration, the oral segment accounted for more than half of the overall value in the SLE market in 2019, followed by intravenous segment. The oral segment includes small molecule drugs that are easily administered and continue as the mainstream treatment for SLE.

By region, North America lead the global market in 2019, with the U.S. at the leading position. The region is expected to maintain its dominance over the forecast period. Higher prevalence of SLE along with coverage for specialty drugs and improved healthcare infrastructure is driving to the growth of the regional market.

To know the upcoming trends and insights prevalent in this market, click the link below:

https://www.prophecymarketinsights.com/market_insight/Global-Systemic-Lupus-Erythematosus-Market-4418

Competitive Landscape:

The prominent player operating in the global systemic lupus erythematosus market includes GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Roche, Bayer, Pfizer, Sanofi, F. Hoffmann-la roche Ltd., Hadasit medical research services and development, Hansa medical ab, and Harbor biosciences.

The market provides detailed information regarding the industrial base, productivity, strengths, manufacturers, and recent trends which will help companies enlarge the businesses and promote financial growth. Furthermore, the report exhibits dynamic factors including segments, sub-segments, regional marketplaces, competition, dominant key players, and market forecasts. In addition, the market includes recent collaborations, mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships along with regulatory frameworks across different regions impacting the market trajectory. Recent technological advances and innovations influencing the global market are included in the report.

About Prophecy Market Insights

Prophecy Market Insights is specialized market research, analytics, marketing/business strategy, and solutions that offers strategic and tactical support to clients for making well-informed business decisions and to identify and achieve high-value opportunities in the target business area. We also help our clients to address business challenges and provide the best possible solutions to overcome them and transform their business.

Some Important Points Answered in this Market Report Are Given Below:

Explains an overview of the product portfolio, including product development, planning, and positioning

Explains details about key operational strategies with a focus on R&D strategies, corporate structure, localization strategies, production capabilities, and financial performance of various companies.

Detailed analysis of the market revenue over the forecasted period.

Examining various outlooks of the market with the help of Porters five forces analysis, PEST & SWOT Analysis.

Study on the segments that are anticipated to dominate the market.

Study on the regional analysis that is expected to register the highest growth over the forecast period

Key Topics Covered

Introduction

Study Deliverables

Study Assumptions

Scope of the Study

Research Methodology Executive Summary

Opportunity Map Analysis

Market at Glance

Market Share (%) and BPS Analysis, by Region

Competitive Landscape

Heat Map Analysis

Market Presence and Specificity Analysis

Investment Analysis Competitive Analysis

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Danny Cipriani's new fiancee Victoria Rose is a grandmother at the age of just 39, MailOnline can reveal.

The rugby ace, 32, who announced his engagement to Victoria this week, will become a stepfather to her two children, Jade Austin, 24, and a teenage son, 14, when the pair marry this October.

The sportsman will also take on the role of step-grandfather after Victoria's daughter Jade became a mum four years ago, making his wife-to-be, who turns 40 in December, a grandmother.

Danny's fiancee gave birth to her first child when she was just 14, with the pair often mistaken for sisters now that Jade has a daughter of her own.

Granny Cipriani! Danny Cipriani's new fiancee Victoria Rose is a grandmother at the age of just 39, MailOnline can reveal

The pair went public with their relationship in June, with Danny saying the mental health campaigner makes him 'the happiest man in the world.'

Danny, who's previously had long-term relationships with Kelly Brook, 40, and Katie Price, 42, referred to Victoria's children on Instagram, saying: 'You make me want to be the best man I possibly can for you and our family.'

The rugby player found love again four months after expressing his heartache over the tragic death of ex-girlfriend Caroline Flack, who he described as 'so kind and so beautiful' in an emotional video on social media.

Danny's new fiancee was born Victoria Rose O'Callaghan and is from Derby, but has also used the surnames Hare and Newbold throughout her life.

Family: Danny 32, will become a stepdad to Victoria's children, Jade Austin, 24, and a son, 14, when the pair marry this October (Victoria pictured with daughter Jade)

Engaged: Danny and Victoria went public with their romance in June, with Danny saying the mental health campaigner makes him 'the happiest man in the world'

Victoria has had two long-term relationships before falling for Danny, including with Steven Austin, who is the father of her daughter, and ex-boyfriend Gavin Dunnicliffe.

Danny's future wife also had a brief fling with Alex Reid, 45, in 2012, shortly after his split from ex Katie Price.

Victoria welcomed her first child when she was 14 with former partner Steve, who tragically died aged 22 in September 1999, leaving the young mum to raise their baby on her own.

Zara Newbold, 31, who's Victoria's half-sister, told MailOnline of her sibling's difficult past, and said her and Danny are lucky to have found each other.

Speaking at her home in Derby, Zara said: 'She was very young when she had her first baby.

Close: Victoria recently shared on her Instagram a picture of her teenage son, describing him as her 'sonshine'

'She wanted bigger and better things': Victoria's half-sister Zara Newbold told MailOnline of her sibling's difficult past, after she welcomed her first child age 14

'She and Steve were happy together and I think they would have had a long lasting relationship. But he died in not a very nice accident leaving Vicky with a young baby, which was hard for her.

'We grew up in Derby but Vicky later ventured out, she wanted bigger and better things. She moved to Essex and then London.

'I hope Danny will provide a good, solid and loving relationship for her. That's all she wants, not the fame and fortune.

'She had been single for a while and when she said they were together I wasn't surprised. She knows a lot of A-listers. And we spoke again after he proposed.

'I've not met Danny yet but looking forward to. We've spoken and he sounds very nice, very chilled. She couldn't have met a better person.'

'She knows a lot of A-Listers': Zara said she wasn't at all surprised after Danny had popped the question and she hopes he will 'provide a good, solid and loving relationship' for Victoria

Danny revealed he had popped the question to Victoria on Instagram this week, telling his 258K followers that he 'can't wait' to marry her in October.

On Instagram he said: 'You are now my wife-to-be. You're my lover, my best friend, you are so loyal, incredibly intelligent, sexy with so much class.

'I learn from you all the time. I will never get complacent, you deserve the greatest love every day.

'My dream of finding The One I never thought would come true. And it has. I vow to you I am going to turn up every day. Love and support you for the rest of our lives.'

Celebrity pals of Danny's such as Chloe Madeley and Aston Merrygold wished him congratulations after he posted about the happy news.
Girl Scouts of the United States earlier this month named its first Black CEO to lead the organization.

Judith Batty will take over for Sylvia Acevedo who retired on Aug. 15. Acevedo, a former rocket scientist, served as CEO for four years.

Batty, according a news release, is a lifelong Girl Scout, board member and corporate trailblazer who will serve as interim CEO.

We are excited to announce longtime board member, lifelong Girl Scout, and corporate trailblazer Judith Batty as Interim CEO and the first Black CEO of GSUSA. Welcome, Judith! https://t.co/1zUxJWCuJF pic.twitter.com/0yh2UYOiI9  Girl Scouts (@girlscouts) August 10, 2020

According to the news release, Batty began her Girl Scout career as a Brownie and as a member of the Nassau County Council in New York and served two terms on the National Board, this term serving as a member of the Executive Committee and International Commissioner.

Prior to joining the Girl Scouts as interim CEO, for nearly thirty years, Ms. Batty served as senior legal counsel and an executive for a Fortune 100 corporation, where she became the first woman and first Black general counsel to one of the companys overseas affiliates.

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Hyderabad, Aug 20 : Sparks are likely to fly at the apex council meeting convened by the Union Water Resources Ministry on August 25 to sort out the differences between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh over certain irrigation projects across both Krishna and Godavari rivers.

With the Telangana government already approaching the Supreme Court to bar Andhra Pradesh from going ahead with the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme (RLIS) and the latter raising its objection to some projects undertaken by Telangana, the meeting is likely to be a stormy affair.

Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, is likely to hold the virtual meeting of the apex council, which has Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao and his Andhra Pradesh counterpart Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy as the members.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, has indicated that Telangana will be taking a tough stand over Andhra Pradesh's objections to the projects across Krishna and Godavari rivers while seeking a halt to the RLIS.

Welcoming the Centre's decision to hold apex council meeting on August 25, KCR said that all the disputes and doubts expressed by the Andhra government and the Centre on sharing of river water will be clarified and cleared.

He also decided to write a letter to the Centre, expressing acceptance to participate in the apex council meeting, saying that he would suggest issues to be incorporated in the agenda for the meeting.

KCR on Wednesday discussed with top officials the strategy to be adopted at the apex council meeting. He asked the officials concerned to prepare comprehensive information on all the objections that Andhra and the Centre had put forth in order to clarify them during the meeting.

The Telangana CM made it clear that that there were no new projects in Telangana and that the projects approved in the united Andhra Pradesh were redesigned to suit the needs of the Telangana state.

The meeting decided to strongly oppose and register the objections over enhancing the capacity of Pothireddypadu as well as the new RLIS project taken up by the Andhra government.

He asked the officials to take Andhra government to task for illegally utilising water from Godavari and Krishna rivers in contravention to the Bachawat Tribunal Award.

KCR made it clear that the so-called objections raised by the Andhra government and the Centre have no meaning and were baseless.

In separate letters to the two Chief Ministers earlier this month, Union minister Shekhawat had urged them not to proceed with the projects being objected to by each other.

Telangana has raised serious objections to Andhra government's administrative sanction to draw and utilise six to eight TMC of water per day from the Srisailam reservoir on Krishna river.

The KCR-led government alleged that it is in violation of the provisions of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014 and detrimental to the interests of Telangana.

Andhra Pradesh, on the other hand, had raised objections to six irrigation projects or schemes, including the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme taken up by Telangana on Godavari river.

Shekhwat, in a letter to Jagan Mohan Reddy, had stated that Andhra should not proceed with these projects, including calling and awarding the tenders as objected to by Telangana without submitting the detailed project reports (DPRs) to the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) for appraisal and also without obtaining the sanction of the apex council.

He also urged Telangana not to proceed with the above projects objected to by Andhra without submitting the DPRs to the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) for appraisal and also without obtaining the sanction of apex council.

Jagan Mohan Reddy, in his response to Shekhawat, stated that RLIS is "not a new project" and it will not affect the water needs of Telangana.

He said Andhra Pradesh was drawing only the share allocated to the state by the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT).

He claimed that RLIS is not a new project, and not completing the project will adversely impact six districts.

Reddy wrote that Andhra Pradesh is not drawing even its legitimate share of water from the Krishna river and the projects taken up by Telangana will adversely cut into Andhra's share of water.

"Because of that, Andhra Pradesh is left with no option other than to take up the RLIS. Moreover, restraining Andhra from undertaking the RLIS with no similar direction to Telangana in the past would result in irreparable damage to AP's interests," he said.

He mentioned that Telangana had taken up two lift irrigation schemes on Krishna river in violation of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.

On a writ petition filed by Andhra, the Supreme Court had directed the Union Ministry of Water Resources to convene the apex council meeting.

"The apex council was held in 2016, but the meeting did not give any directions to the Telangana government. Subsequently, Andhra Pradesh demanded a second meeting of apex council, which is not convened till date," wrote the Andhra CM.

Reddy also urged Shekhawat to lift the embargo imposed on RLIS and facilitate Andhra Pradesh to go ahead with the project.

Earlier, Telangana approached the Supreme Court seeking stay orders against the controversial order issued by the Andhra Pradesh government inviting tenders for the construction of RLIS.

In its petition, Telangana alleged that the Andhra Pradesh government took unilateral decision and invited tenders for the construction of the RLIS, expansion of the Pothireddypadu project and also increasing the capacity of the Srisailam Right Bank Canal.

In response to Telangana's complaint against RILS, the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) had written to the Andhra Pradesh government that the project shall not be taken up until the same is appraised by the Central Water Commission (CWC) or the board, and gets the apex council's sanction.

The water row which erupted in May has virtually brought curtains on nearly a year-long bonhomie which marked the relations between the two Telugu states after the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress Party stormed to power in Andhra Pradesh.

The two CMs had not only agreed to amicably resolve all their water-sharing disputes, but had also decided to divert water from the Godavari river to the Krishna river to tide over the water scarcity in parts of both the Telugu states.

Both KCR and Reddy during full-fledged talks in June last year had noted that the availability of water in Krishna was less, which was causing hardship in the Rayalaseema region in Andhra Pradesh as well as in some districts in Telangana.

They had announced that the disputes and issues pertaining to river water sharing have been forgotten in the spirit of "let bygones be bygones" and both the states were in unanimity to provide optimum benefit to their people.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
People should be able to recognize dangerous high temperatures to avoid illness or death from heat. AP Photo/Mark Lennihan

Heat waves are the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States, not the more photogenic windstorms and floods. Hotter summers from climate change are causing concerns over new dangers to people.

As a medical school professor, Ive focused on physiology, neuroscience, the evolution of the big brain and, more recently, climate science and civilizations vulnerability to abrupt shocks from climate change. Today Im wearing my physiologists hat and asking: How do heat waves kill?

Extreme heat will continue to plague the western third of the country through the middle of this week. ~56 million people are under heat advisories or warnings, and many daily record high temperatures are forecast. pic.twitter.com/xHUYGiFURr  NWS WPC (@NWSWPC) August 17, 2020

We can take the heat  usually

Thanks to our meat-eating ancestors, who could run down prey in long midday chases on the African savanna, we humans are able to keep our body temperature in the range where we function best in a wide range of conditions, even those combining extreme heat with extreme exertion.

So, whats the problem? Humidity. There wasnt very much of it in the African Rift Valley 2 million years ago to shape us. And evolution does not think ahead.

The combination of high heat and high humidity is most common on islands, peninsulas, the eastern half of the U.S., and the eastern third of China. NOAA.gov

Unlike the African savanna, the eastern half of the U.S. can be both hot and humid in the summer, thanks to water vapor from the Gulf of Mexico and the Great Lakes. I grew up in Kansas City in the midst of Gulf Stream humidity wafted north by the monsoon circulation, then studied physics at Northwestern University on the shores of Lake Michigan. I experienced high-humidity heat waves there, but none so severe as the Chicago high-humidity heat wave in 1995 that killed 739 people in a week.

Normally sweat evaporates off your skin and you cool down. But with high humidity, the air is already saturated with water vapor, and so evaporative cooling stops. However, you keep sweating anyway, threatening dehydration.

To spot heatstroke, check for confusion

What can overwhelm a person is a heat source that you can neither escape nor counter. Overheated people suffer from painful involuntary muscle spasms and heat exhaustion. One of the criteria for when these are advancing to the potentially fatal heatstroke is when someone is no longer thinking normally. They look flushed and their conversation becomes incoherent.

Staying hydrated is critical to avoid dangerous overheating. AP Photo/Richard Vogel

What should you do if you think someone is overheated? Test for confusion about time or place. Ask Where are you? When did you come here? Who did you come with? If you get incoherent answers, treat it as an emergency.

Take charge. After directing someone to phone for help, arrange bystanders so they cast shade over the victim. Shielding the persons billfold and phone, then pour bottled water to soak the clothing and hair. If the victim can sit up and drink, provide water but dont insist.

Heat waves can kill via the dehydration caused by heavy sweating; the altered sodium and potassium concentrations in the blood confuse both heart and nerve cells, and so breathing or heartbeat may suddenly stop.

The other major route to a fatal outcome is that prolonged overheating can create widespread inflammation, not just a flushed face. The dilation of so many small blood vessels means that much venous blood pools, failing to return to the heart. Recovery can take two to 12 months.

An unbroken series of nights, when it is too hot to sleep, poses a major threat. Should a sleepy caregiver become confused or exhausted, and no longer provide water and wet towels for children or seniors every hour, they may die.

Mega heat waves and other extreme weather surges

Stalled jet stream loops in the atmosphere have led to two mega heat waves. One in Europe killed 70,000 people in 2003, leading to the term mega. Some thought that it was one of those once-in-a-million events, unlikely to be seen again in our lifetime.

Then, a mere seven years later, 56,000 were killed in Russia. This second mega also ruined the Russian wheat crop; they immediately stopped exporting, setting the stage for the Arab Spring food riots and uprisings of 2011.

A heating ramp began in 1977 for both land and ocean surface. After 1984, land temperatures rose 150% faster than ocean surface. The problem with big heat waves, however, is with their longer duration, not the extra degree or two. Beginning about 2000, a series of five sustained surges in extreme weather occurred. All involve an increased duration of events, usually secondary to a stalled jet stream loop, unable to drift eastward, and so clouds fail to arrive to cool things off. Extreme Weather and What to Do About It, by William Calvin; data from NASA/GIS

As I describe in Extreme Weather and What to Do about It, this sort of abrupt climate shift is what we are now up against, not just the slow rise in average global temperature.

Organizing for a heat wave

When an unbroken series of hot nights are forecast, opening cooling centers is not enough. Neighbors should organize in advance, so that the able regularly check up on the less able, testing for heatstroke with questions that might reveal confusion. Phone before visiting so that you can ask, When was the last time the phone rang? Leave behind cool six-packs of bottled water and snacks for bedside consumption.

In the meantime, remind your elected officials that they must prepare for more big heat waves. They also need to address the cause with big projects that quickly remove excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to cool us off. We must now back out of the danger zone for even worse extreme weather. As we have already seen, it can take big steps as it worsens, even though overheating itself merely creeps up.

Deep knowledge, daily. Sign up for The Conversations newsletter. William H. Calvin is the president of the CO2 Foundation of Seattle.
Cafe and retail chain Avoca has said it's aiming to reopen its well-loved Belfast branch during the second half of next month.

The Arthur Street spot usually draws crowds of people with its giftware, speciality baked goods, coffees, deli items and gourmet dining.

But despite the reopening of most cafes and restaurants last month, the Irish business has kept the shutters down at its Belfast branch - as well as a Dublin city centre venue on Suffolk Street.

Now it's said a reopening for Belfast is drawing closer.

Avoca is now owned by catering and outsourcing giant Aramark, which is led in Ireland by managing director Shane Flynn.

A spokeswoman said: "We continue to assess each store on a case by case basis and are committed to re-opening stores, which are viable and safe to do so...

"We are working towards mid to the end of September but will be announcing the date shortly."

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The Belfast branch formerly had a formal dining room and a bustling cafe, as well as retail on the ground floor in a cluttered layout.

However, that is likely to change as the store will have to conform with social-distancing guidelines.

The company said: "At present, there is no further information to share on the layout structure.

"We are still in planning mode and a site visit is happening this week.

"We are committed to re-opening the store in the safest manner possible for staff and customers and look forward to welcoming back everyone very soon."

However, there was no further information on the reopening of the Dublin branch.

Up until 2015, Avoca was owned by the Pratt family, which had founded the business in the Co Wicklow village of the same name in the 19790s.

Avoca's location in Arthur Street has helped draw shoppers to the area. The street has since grown into a shopping destination known for high-end retailers such as Joules, Jack Wills, Anthropologie and Oliver Bonas.

However, the street suffered a big setback with the permanent closure of lifestyle brand Cath Kidston's store, after it went into administration during the pandemic lockdown.

While Avoca is to reopen, other chains including Greggs have announced store closures.

Greggs has said its Ballymena, Larne and Omagh shops have now been shut permanently.

Many businesses have been feeling the lack of office workers' business in towns and city centres as homeworking continues.
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Have you ever wondered why women always have to dress up for men? Well, this African tribe has turned the tables.

Men of the Wodaabe tribe, in deepest Chad, are required to don sequins, facepaint and beads once-a-year before dancing through the night in the hopes of winning an evening with a woman.

As the men frolick in traditional circle and line movements, their brightly coloured beads and necklaces glinting in the fire-light, the women watch and choose whoever takes their fancy.

According to Geography teacher Trevor Cole, 64, the pair then find a place to lie together under the stars. 'This may be a one-night affair, or last for longer, sometimes culminating in marriage,' he said.

The dancing continues from dusk to dawn, despite the 77F (25C) evening heat, in an annual festival - known as a Gerewol - which has been happening for centuries.

Two main Wodaabe groups attended this year. The Sudosukai, who are finely built, and the Djapto, who are more heavily scarred than their compatriots. The cuts are made by slicing the skin with a razor blade and rubbing in ash, resulting in a black tattoo which is slightly raised.

'They dance endlessly at this festival and on the last night, they danced until dawn,' said Mr Cole. 'They have their own ancient rhythms which are repeated over and over.

'To participate in the Gerewol, the girls must have menstruated prior to the festival. Effectively when choices are made the girls know they are going to have sex in the bush with the chosen Wodaabe male, if the male accepts them.'

The event is not yet on the tourist trail, making it a hidden gem. A few used to see it in Niger but, political instability in the country has kept tourists away in recent years.

In the Wodaabe tribe, in Chad, men are required to dress up before dancing through the night to find a female partner

They dance in lines and circles following traditional rhythms. When a woman makes a selection, the pair head to a hedge

A man from the Wodaabe tribe bedecked with white, yellow, red, green and blue beads, facepaint and a pair of glasses

Men dress using yellow facepaint, beads and brightly coloured sequins for the event. Some also have feather-topped hats

Some of the men attending also applied red face-paint and blue lipstick, in the hopes of wooing a potential match

A wodaabe man is seen here preparing for the dance. Scars on his skin are also clear. These are made by cutting the skin with a razor blade and then rubbing charcoal into the wound, resulting in a slightly raised scar

This Wodaabe man has dressed himself using purple and pink sequins to make himself stand out in the firelight

The location of the annual Gerewol festival generally is not decided upon until the last minute. Above is a man in attendance

Four men wearing yellow facepaint and black lipstick smile at the camera as they take pictures ahead of the festival

Two Wodaabe tribesmen pictured wearing facepaint, tassles and bead necklaces as they prepare for the festival

The men dance through the night at the festival despite the scorching heat, which can reach at least 77F (23C)

These men wear feather-topped hats, sequins, bands, sandals and seashells for the festival

Geography teacher Trevor Cole watched the festival. He said that after men were chosen by a woman they headed into a bush with her. 'This may be a one-night affair, or last for longer, sometimes culminating in marriage,' he said.

The men stand together in the sunset as they prepare for the traditional festival. It is held once every year

The tribe believes in polygamy, with men often able to take two or three wives. It also practices polyandry

The women sit and watch the men dancing around the campfire before they step forward and choose one of the men
Perhaps its just me, but as Im watching those videos that are substituting for a real political convention I keep expecting the speaker to look into the camera and announce Live from New York, its Saturday night!

Its hard to take a convention seriously when its not a convention, which the dictionary defines as an assembly of persons met for a common purpose.

Perhaps there was no practical way for the Democratic National Committee to convene thousands of delegates and hangers-on during the current pandemic. But deprived of the excitement of an audience, the various speakers look like theyre performing in commercials.

The commercial Im most reminded of was the one for Crazy Eddie Antar, that North Jersey appliance salesman who was represented by an actor who would wave his arms wildly as he screamed My prices are INSANE!

I saw the Crazy Eddie arm gestures appear quite a few times among the Democratic operatives straining to express their admiration for the ticket. That kind of emotional outburst only works when youve got an audience.

Ratings shows network viewership is down about 40 percent from the 2016 event. Its not hard to see why.

Joe Biden locked up the nomination way back in March. The only remaining drama was his choice of a running mate, and Biden might have been wise to save that for the convention itself.

Instead he chose California Senator Kamala Harris last week. That drained whatever drama this convention might have had.

The only appearance that offered any hope was that of former President Bill Clinton Tuesday night. Whatever you think of his politics, Clinton has been the sharpest politician and most eloquent speaker on the political scene.

I had thought he might deliver what his party so desperately needs  a Sister Souljah moment, which is defined as a key moment when the candidate takes what at least appears to be a bold stand against certain extremes within their party.

In June 1992, Clinton went before Jesse Jacksons Rainbow Coalition and criticized the rapper/author (and Rutgers grad) for her remarks on the Rodney King riots.

In a Washington Post interview the month before, she said, I mean, if black people kill black people every day, why not have a week and kill white people?

Clinton told the crowd, If you took the words white and black, and you reversed them, you might think David Duke was giving that speech.

That outraged the Democratic base. But the base had nowhere to go. Meanwhile the move helped Clinton win the support from moderates that led to his victory over George H.W. Bush the following November.

The rioting going on today in America is similar, right down to the spectacle of a driver getting pulled out of a truck by a mob and being beaten nearly to death, as happened in Portland, Ore., the other day.

Clinton could have used his five minutes to once again make a play for the moderate vote by distinguishing peaceful demonstrations from vandalism and destruction of property. Instead he looked tired as he repeated some rote anti-Trump rhetoric.

Trump has made it clear he intends to exploit this issue. In a campaign stop in Minnesota Monday, the president brought up recent riots there and said of the Democrats, Their sympathies lie with lawbreakers and with criminals. My heart is with law-abiding, hardworking Americans.

The old Bill Clinton would have found a way to make a law-and-order pitch to outflank Trump. At a young age, Clinton had to develop powerful skills for appealing to moderate and middle-class voters.

Such skills are sorely missing at this convention. I suspect one reason is the lack of an audience.

At prior conventions, the cameras would focus on an audience of average Americans who just happened to become delegates, the sort of people you could have a beer with, as the saying goes.

But now, deprived of a live audience, the viewer has to view a lot of politicians competing to polish their resumes for future runs of their own.

I wonder how many viewers were excited to see a Wednesday night lineup that included Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Rep. Cindy Axne of Iowa and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Meanwhile Trump is planning to give featured slots to that St. Louis couple who face charges after they displayed guns as a pack of protesters marched past their house.

They were going to be beat up badly, if they were lucky. OK? If they were lucky, Trump said of the incident. They were going to be beat up badly and the house was going to be totally ransacked.

Were they? I have no idea.

But whatever their story, it has to make for more compelling television than the show the Democrats are putting on.
The Chinese population is continuing its headlong plunge into the stock market, a second monthly surge that sustains the momentum behind one of the world's best-performing major benchmarks this year.

July's new A-share trading accounts more than doubled from last year to 2.43 million, according to data by the China Securities Depository and Clearing (CSDC). That raised the total to 170.2 million accounts as of July 31, making it the world's eighth largest cluster of people, more than the population of Bangladesh and just behind Nigeria.

While new stock accounts give legs to the bull market, having so many first-time investors - retail traders make up an estimated 70 per cent of China's stock transactions - raise the political and socioeconomic stakes for the authorities, forcing them to do all they can to sustain prices and avoid scaring traders. Unlike markets elsewhere, short-selling is severely curtailed and offers very limited use to hedge against declines in China, which would almost certainly translate to a financial catastrophe in the event of the 2015 market rout that wiped out US$5 trillion.

"The big number of new investors reflects the influx of fresh funds, which would sustain the market for a while," said Ding Haifeng, a consultant with Shanghai-based financial advisory firm Integrity. "After all, strong runs on China's stock market were often driven by speculative capital, rather than economic and company fundamentals."

Investors playing cards in front of an electronic board showing stock information at a brokerage house in Shanghai on October 15, 2018, an enduring and common scene in thousands of brokerages across the country. Photo: AFP alt=Investors playing cards in front of an electronic board showing stock information at a brokerage house in Shanghai on October 15, 2018, an enduring and common scene in thousands of brokerages across the country. Photo: AFP

For now, sage advice for restraint appear to have fallen on deaf ears, as the Shanghai Composite Index's 11 per cent jump this year put it behind Copenhagen's OMX20 and Buenos Aires' Merval as the world's third-best performing major index. In the first six months, 7.98 million new equity trading accounts were added on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges, data showed.

Story continues

Bullish sentiments in China were boosted by an economy that reversed the first quarter's contraction with a 3.2 per cent growth from April to June, as output and consumption creaked back into life in the first major country to emerge from its coronavirus lockdown.

Since the establishment of China's stock market in 1990 with its twin exchanges of Shanghai and Shenzhen, Chinese investors have been prone to trading on rumours, rather than valuation. The Communist Party of China, which dominates the country's life and politics, has 92 million members at last count.

The world's second-largest capital market, only 3 per cent shy of US$10 trillion in capitalisation, is essentially a one-way bet that dispenses prosperity during rallies, but one which leaves countless investors ruing losses during slumps.

"Unseasoned investors should learn that a roller-coast A-share market could cause them huge losses," said Zhang Wei, who had been trading stocks for 20 years in Shanghai. "It is dangerous to play stocks now since the key indicator had already chalked up a stellar gain."

Dozens of retail traders - typically pensioners - gathering around electronic data boards to keep score of their investments is a common and enduring scene across thousands of stockbroking firms in the country. During market crashes, when large losses are incurred, these traders can also turn ruly, showing up in protest rallies outside regulatory offices to demand recourse and compensation.

That is a structural deficiency that the market regulator had been trying to repair for decades, as it sought to create a bigger role for long-term, institutional investors like the sovereign wealth fund unit Central Huijin Investment to help infuse the market with discipline and informed investment decisions.

Consumer stocks, beaten down during China's coronavirus lockdown, are the odds-on favourites of the moment on China's stock market, as retail investors took their cue from Huijin and the national pension fund as they bought into the segment. China Pacific Insurance said earlier that beaten-down stocks in consumer sector, which include liquor, clothing and daily necessities were good buys as mainland economy recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.

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.
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New York, Aug. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Thailand Solar Photovoltaic Market By Product Type, By Grid Type, By Application, By Region, Forecast & Opportunities, 2025" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05916928/?utm_source=GNW



Thailand solar photovoltaic market is expected to grow at a formidable rate during the forecast period.The Thailand solar photovoltaic market is driven by the growing demand for sustainable energy.



Additionally, supportive government initiatives & policies are further expected to propel the market through 2025. Furthermore, the growing interest of the corporate sector in procuring solar photovoltaic power to meet their renewable energy targets is further expected to fuel the market during forecast years.



The Thailand solar photovoltaic market is segmented based on product type, grid type, application, company and region.Based on product type, the market can be fragmented into thin film, Multi-Si and Mono-Si.



The Mono-Si type is expected to witness significant growth during forecast period on account of their efficiency and long shelf life.Based on application, the market can be categorized into residential, non-residential/commercial and utility.



The utility application segment is expected to hold the largest market share during forecast period.This can be ascribed to the use of photovoltaic systems in power plant, military and defense, and space utility applications.



Due to the increasing global energy demand, the photovoltaic power plant installations are being carried out, which is the one of the reasons for the high share of the utility application in the solar photovoltaic market.



Major players operating in the Thailand solar photovoltaic market include Energy Absolute Public Companies, SPCG PCL, Symbior Energy Limited, Thai Solar Energy PLC, Trina Solar Co., Ltd (Trina Solar), Solaris Green Energy Co., Ltd., Solartron Public Company Limited, Yingli Green Energy Holding Co., Ltd, ItalThai, Toyothai and others. The companies are developing advanced technologies and launching new services in order to stay competitive in the market. Other competitive strategies include mergers & acquisitions and new service developments.



Years considered for this report:



Historical Years: 2015-2018

Base Year: 2019

Estimated Year: 2020

Forecast Period: 20212025



Objective of the Study:



 To analyze and forecast the market size of Thailand solar photovoltaic market.

 To classify and forecast Thailand solar photovoltaic market based on product type, grid type, application, company and regional distribution.

 To identify drivers and challenges for Thailand solar photovoltaic market.

 To examine competitive developments such as expansions, new product launches, mergers & acquisitions, etc., in Thailand solar photovoltaic market.

 To identify and analyze the profile of leading players operating in Thailand solar photovoltaic market.

The analyst performed both primary as well as exhaustive secondary research for this study.Initially, the analyst sourced a list of manufacturers across the country.



Subsequently, the analyst conducted primary research surveys with the identified companies.While interviewing, the respondents were also enquired about their competitors.



Through this technique, the analyst could include the manufacturers which could not be identified due to the limitations of secondary research. The analyst examined the manufacturers, distribution channels and presence of all major players across the country.

The analyst calculated the market size of Thailand solar photovoltaic market using a bottom-up approach, wherein data for various end-user segments was recorded and forecast for the future years. The analyst sourced these values from the industry experts and company representatives and externally validated through analyzing historical data of these product types and applications for getting an appropriate, overall market size.



Various secondary sources such as company websites, news articles, press releases, company annual reports, investor presentations and financial reports were also studied by the analyst.



Key Target Audience:



 Solar photovoltaic manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and other stakeholders

 Government bodies such as regulating authorities and policy makers

 Organizations, forums and alliances related to solar photovoltaic

 Market research and consulting firms

The study is useful in providing answers to several critical questions that are important for the industry stakeholders such as manufacturers, suppliers and partners, end users, etc., besides allowing them in strategizing investments and capitalizing on market opportunities.



Report Scope:



In this report, Thailand solar photovoltaic market has been segmented into following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

 Market, By Product Type:

o Thin film

o Multi-Si

o Mono-Si

 Market, By Grid Type:

o Grid Connected

o Off-Grid

 Market, By Application:

o Residential

o Non-Residential/Commercial

o Utility

 Market, By Region:

o Northern Region

o Southern Region

o Western Region

o Central Region

o Eastern Region

o Bangkok



Competitive Landscape



Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in Thailand solar photovoltaic market.



Available Customizations:



With the given market data, we offers customizations according to a companys specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:



Company Information



 Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).





Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05916928/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
Jitan Ram Manjhi who is considered a Mahadalit face in Bihar politics is the only MLA from his party.

Patna: Hindustani Awam Morcha  Secular (HAM-S) on Thursday announced that it has decided to part ways with the grand alliance led by RJD in Bihar.

HAM leaders said that party chief Jitan Ram Manjhi has been upset with the RJD for not consulting alliance partners before taking any decision and ignoring his demands for the formation of a coordination committee.

He had floated his political party Hindustani Awam Morcha  Secular (HAM-S) in 2015 and became part of the NDA after he was ousted from the JD(U) for rebelling against Nitish Kumar. In March 2018, he joined the grand alliance led by RJD.

Sources said that besides Manjhi, others in the party were also in favour of snapping ties with RJD and forming an alliance with other like-minded political parties in Bihar ahead of the Assembly polls slated to be held later this year.

The final ultimatum served to the RJD for the formation of coordination committee had ended a month ago, following which it was being speculated that Manjhi may quit the alliance and join hands with either the JD(U) or BJP.

HAM spokesperson Danish Rizwan said, "Those who dont listen to coalition partners will not listen to the people after coming to power. The decision to quit the grand alliance has been taken after our repeated demand for the formation of a coordination committee was turned down by the RJD. In such a situation it would be difficult for us to remain in the alliance with RJD."

Manjhi's decision is being seen as a major jolt to the RJD and Congress which has been trying to strengthen their organizational structure and vote base in Bihar ahead of the Assembly elections.

When asked whether the party would be joining hands with the NDA, Danish Rizwan said, "Party chief Jitan Ram Manjhi has been authorized by our leaders to take decisions on the issue."

While both RJD and Congress have been silent on the development, BJP hailed Manjhis decision to quit the grand alliance. BJP spokesperson Nikhil Anand told this newspaper, "Jitan Ram Manjhi is a senior leader and former CM of Bihar but the grand alliance mistreated him. Now since he has decided to quit it would be interesting to watch how other senior leaders like Upendra Kushwaha manages to survive in the tug of war between Congress and RJD."

Jitan Ram Manjhi who is considered a Mahadalit face in Bihar politics is the only MLA from his party.
Health official: Omicron cases 'just skyrocketing here in the community'

As of Jan. 18, McLaren Northern Michigan had 23 COVID-19 inpatients at the Petoskey-based hospital, which included 10 in critical care units and 13 in non-critical care units.
Police on Wednesday reported another night of gun violence across Philadelphia, including a quadruple shooting in West Philadelphia and a triple shooting in North Philadelphia.

Around 9:50 p.m., a gun battle erupted in the area of 55th and Christian Streets, said Chief Inspector Scott Small. A boy, 17, and man, 28, were both shot in the legs, and another man, 34, was shot in the lower back and legs. Police transported all three victims to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. The teen and 28-year-old were in stable condition. The third victim was listed as critical.

A fourth victim, a 17-year-old boy, was taken by private vehicle to Penn with a gunshot wound to a foot.

Police found 40 spent shell casings from two different-caliber guns, Small said.

Shortly before 9 p.m., three teens were wounded outside in the 1200 block of North Hutchinson Street.

A 17-year-old girl was grazed in the face by a bullet and an 18-year-old woman was shot in the left calf. Both were taken by police to Temple University Hospital and listed in stable condition.

An 18-year-old man was grazed in the stomach by a self-inflicted shot, police said. He also was taken to Temple and was reported in stable condition.

Police said a weapon was recovered and two people were in custody.

Just before 9:30, a 33-year-old man was shot in the back in the 100 block of West Nedro Avenue in Olney. Medics took him to Einstein Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition. Police reported no arrest in that case.

Around 8, a 24-year-old man was on the porch of a residence in the 5900 block of Palmetto Street in Lawncrest when he was shot in the neck and arm. He was taken by medics to Einstein and listed in critical condition. Police reported no arrests.

About 7:15 in East Frankford, two men were outside in the 4700 block of Tackawanna Street when they were shot.

A 53-year-old man who was struck once in the head was taken by police to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital and reported in critical condition. A 34-year-old man who was shot in the right calf was taken by private vehicle to Jefferson Torresdale and listed in stable condition. Police reported no arrests.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prince Charles on Thursday joined British MPs, charity organisations and others to mark the 25th anniversary of the first Hindu temple in the western hemisphere: the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London, which has become a centre of community events, worship and festivals over the years.

Inaugurated on August 20, 1995, the temple in Neasden in the borough of Brent has been visited by several world leaders, including former US President Jimmy Carter. Modi visited the temple when he was the chief minister of Gujarat.

Modi tweeted: Neasden Temple marks its silver jubilee. The Temple has been at the forefront of many community service initiatives. It has brought people together and inspired them to work for humanity. When I was Gujarat CM, I had the honour of visiting the Temple.

Prince Charles issued a video message, recalling visiting the temple with his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, during festivals. He said: The first of its kind outside India, Neasden Temple serves the local community as a place of worship, learning, celebration, peace and community service.

The temple, built with pillars and stones intricately carved by traditional craftspeople in Gujarat and Rajasthan and shipped to London, is one of the most visited places in London by tourists from India and elsewhere.

According to the temples history, its ground-breaking ceremony was held in July 1991, as almost 3,000 tonnes of Bulgarian limestone were shipped 3,900 miles to India along with 1,200 tonnes of Italian Carrara marble, which made its own journey of 4,800 miles.

With a further 900 tonnes of Indian Ambaji marble, the over 5,000 tonnes of stone was hand-carved by more than 1,500 skilled artisans at 14 different sites around India into 26,300 pieces.

Also Read: 55-year jail term for brother of Manchester terror attack bomber

They were then coded, packed and sent on their final 6,300-mile journey to London where each piece  the largest weighing 5.6 tonnes and the smallest only 50 grams  was assembled like a giant 3-dimensional jigsaw puzzle in two and a half years.

MPs Dawn Butler and Gareth Thomas (both Labour) and Bob Blackman (Conservative) were among those hailing the anniversary of the temple, where leading politicians invariably join arti and other rituals before elections to seek support of the community.
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.

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'

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 August 10 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.
After narrowly escaping an attack in broad daylight, RHONY's Leah McSweeney has become the latest Manhattanite to slam New York City's mayor Bill de Blasio.

While she dodged a terrifying encounter with a homeless man that lunged at her on the 'unsafe' streets, the incident left her shaken about the safety of her 13-year-old daughter, Kier.

'He was so drunk that it was easy to jump out of the way,' she told The Post. 'But what if that was my daughter? I have a f***king pubescent daughter and I'm not letting her walk down the street alone right now.'

After narrowly escaping an attack in broad daylight, RHONY's Leah McSweeney has become the latest Manhattanite to slam New York City's mayor Bill de Blasio (seen in November)

Manhattan's Upper East Side has seen a shocking 286% increase in robberies over the past month - compared to the same period last year, according to the NYPD.

'No one thinks he's doing a good job, and he really should step down,' the 37-year-old reality star told the outlet, as the Big Apple underwent a weekend of violence.

She added: 'His legacy will be ruining New York City for a good amount of time. He's just in over his head.'

'His legacy will be ruining New York City for a good amount of time. He's just in over his head,' she said of New York City's mayor Bill de Blasio (seen this month)

While many of her Real Housewives of New York cast members have fled to the Hamptons, McSweeney says she wants to 'build this city back up again.'

'I refuse to leave  I'm not going to let that happen,' she continued, noting her plans to attend a meeting held by NYPD's First Precinct to air her grievances.

'There really is a safety issue in our neighborhood  that's without a doubt,' she added. 'We need leadership at a top level, and, obviously, we don't have leadership right now.'

'I refuse to leave  I'm not going to let that happen,' she said, before revealing her plans to attend a meeting held by NYPD's First Precinct to air her grievances (seen in July)

She specifically questioned de Blasio's decision to keep gym's closed, despite Gov. Andrew Cuomo's announcement that fitness centers can reopen.

'If businesses aren't open, people won't be out walking around, and if they aren't walking around, the streets will continue to be unsafe,' the Married to the Mob founder fired.

Data from the NYPD data shows 20 people were injured in 12 shooting incidents on Friday, another 23 wounded on Saturday in 20 separate shootings. On Sunday, nine people were shot.

While many of her Real Housewives of New York cast members have fled to the Hamptons, McSweeney says she wants to 'build this city back up again'

Across the whole of last week, the NYPD says 69 people were victims of gun violence including 43 people shot on Friday and Saturday according to NBC News.

Shooting incidents in the city have been up nearly triple for the last four weeks, compared to the same period of time last year. The statistics follow a pattern seen since June when shootings surged by 130 percent, as the coronavirus lockdown began to ease.

During the month of July, there were 244 citywide shooting incidents, compared to 88 shooting incidents in July 2019, a 177% increase.

'No one thinks he's doing a good job, and he really should step down,' the 37-year-old reality star told the outlet, as the Big Apple underwent a weekend of violence with at least 52 people shot

For the entire year, up until the end of July, there has been a 72% spike in citywide shooting incidents with 772 incidents compared with 450 up to the same point in 2019.

Murders have also risen 30 percent this summer compared to last year.

There were 235 murders in the city for the first seven months of 2020 compared to 181 for the first seven months of 2019.

Unacceptable: For the entire year, up until the end of July, there has been a 72% spike in citywide shooting incidents with 772 incidents compared with 450 up to the same point in 2019

In July alone, there were 54 murders, compared to 34 killings last year.

Police leaders in the Big Apple have placed the blame squarely on de Blasio, citing his move to slash $1billion from the NYPD's budget, a new law that lets some defendants go free without posting bond and the release of thousands of prisoners from Rikers Island due to coronavirus concerns.

Mayor de Blasio and NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea have been at odds over what is to blame for the increase. Factors offered include slowdowns in the court system, gang activity and pent-up rage from being in lockdown.

Under fire: Mayor de Blasio and NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea have been at odds over what is to blame for the increase of crime

Some have suggested that a decision to shut down the NYPD's plainclothes anti-crime unit mid-June may have also contributed to the rise.

In July, de Blasio championed a budget cut through the City Council which took $1billion away from the NYPD after bowing to pressure from Black Lives Matter protesters.

It involved wiping more than 1,100 new cop jobs and disbanding a plain clothes anti-crime unit.
NEW YORK, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann LLP ("BLB&G") announces the formation of the Allianz Structured Alpha Funds Team, created to represent investors harmed by Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC and affiliated defendants in their failed stewardship of the Structured Alpha Funds.

A proprietary investigation conducted by this specialized team, which includes lawyers, former prosecutors, certified fraud examiners, and financial analysts, brought to light Allianz's mismanagement of the Structured Alpha Funds and the manipulation of a key market index.

In July, the firm's client Arkansas Teacher Retirement System ("ATRS") filed the first complaint against Allianz and its affiliates seeking to recover the losses ATRS incurred in its Structured Alpha investments. Allianz's marketing and management of the Alpha Funds are now being investigated by the SEC .

The Structured Alpha Funds utilized an investment strategy designed to provide stable returns and protection during a market downturn. However, BLB&G's analysis of select portfolio data for the Structured Alpha Funds revealed that Allianz deviated dramatically from this market-neutral strategy and lacked any meaningful protection against a market downturn. BLB&G's investigation also uncovered evidence that once the Alpha Funds started incurring losses in February 2020, Allianz took a series of actions in contravention of its contractual and fiduciary duties that exacerbated the Alpha Funds' losses, and may have engaged in market manipulation in a desperate attempt to mitigate those losses. As Institutional Investor reported on July 11, 2020 : "Notably, the lawsuit makes public for the first time a rumor circulating among certain volatility-market experts: that someone manipulated VIX futures prices in mid-March to secure more favorable settlement terms."

Allianz's departures from the Structured Alpha Funds' investment mandate directly contradicted the warnings of Allianz SE's own chief economist, Mohamed El-Erian. Beginning in February 2020, El-Erian cautioned that the then-burgeoning pandemic would have substantial market ramifications, and urged investors to "resist our inclination to buy the dip." But that is exactly what Allianz did in February and March 2020positioning the Structured Alpha Funds to generate returns if volatility decreased and equity prices increased. As Allianz SE's economist warned, when the pandemic's impact on the markets unfolded, increases in volatility and decreases in the equity markets generated massive losses for the Funds.

For example, as shown in the first chart displayed, as of February 29, 2020, the Structured Alpha 250 Fund was positioned such that it would generate a return if the equity markets increased in value. But those positions would generate significant losses if the S&P 500 continued to decline. More specifically, the Fund had sold short equity put options worth $117 million, while purchasing (long) equity put options worth only $67 million. In other words, the Structured Alpha 250 Fund was not "market-neutral" but was in fact betting on an increase in equity prices.

Similarly, the Fund's position in volatility options was not "market-neutral," but would instead decline in value if there was an increase in volatility. As shown in the second chart, the $16 million short position in volatility calls would lose money when volatility rose, which typically happens when the market suffers a sharp decline. This, again, was contrary to the investment mandate that the Funds be "market-neutral" and hedged against volatility increases.

Moreover, while the Structured Alpha Funds were supposed to have positions in place to protect against "a severe downside market move, such as the Black Monday of 1987," in reality, a review of the Alpha 250 Fund's positions showed they lacked any meaningful downside protection whatsoever.

Allianz's mismanagement of the Alpha Funds caused massive losses, and its refusal to account to its clients left ATRS with no choice but to take action to recover its losses by filing suit. BLB&G is actively working with numerous other institutional investors who suffered losses as a result of this mismanagement, and is focused on helping our clients find justice in this difficult situation.

Investors who suffered losses as a result of investments in the Alpha Funds are encouraged to contact BLB&G's Allianz Structured Alpha Funds Team by emailing Avi Josefson and Hannah Ross to discuss BLB&G's investigation.

SOURCE Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann LLP

Related Links

http://www.blbglaw.com


Julia and Eugene Gross, shown outside their home in Elkins Park, have been trying for more than a year to find out where exactly their stillborn son, Noach, was buried. His heart stopped beating when she was 35 weeks pregnant. Read more

Noach Gross was born at 5:35 a.m. on Jan. 31, 2019, at Holy Redeemer Hospital in Montgomery County. Four pounds, 10 ounces. Eighteen and a half inches long.

He never took a breath.

Hours earlier, while Julia Gross was in the 35th week of her pregnancy, Noachs heart had unexpectedly stopped beating.

Gross and her husband, Eugene, were devastated. They held their stillborn son, but knew that burial arrangements must be made as soon as possible, in accordance with Jewish custom.

Through a local rabbi, the Grosses were referred to Joseph Levine & Sons, a family-owned funeral home that has been serving the Philadelphia area since 1883.

They expected, based on their conversations with a rabbi affiliated with the funeral home, that Noach, their third child, would be buried in an individual grave in a section for stillborn babies at a cemetery in Lakewood, N.J., with the assistance of the local chevra kadisha, a Jewish burial society.

We thought they would take care of everything, Julia Gross said. Everything seemed very legitimate.

But a couple of weeks later, Eugene received a text message from a rabbi requesting $150. It seemed to them like an unusually small payment, and there was no documentation. They became suspicious of how their sons burial had been handled.

Something is off, Julia Gross recalled thinking.

When they found the strength to visit Mount Sinai Jewish Cemetery a few months later, they asked gravediggers where they could find the section for stillborn children. No one seemed to know.

You go to the cemetery and you think youre visiting your sons grave  and there is none, Julia Gross said.

The Grosses, who live in Elkins Park, started making calls. Joseph Levine & Sons funeral home referred them to Rabbi Chaim Parnes, of the Lakewood Chevra Kadisha, an organization responsible for preparing bodies for burial in accordance with Jewish tradition.

 READ MORE: We ask forgiveness from the dead: Why Jewish volunteers are washing bodies in a pandemic

Parnes was evasive, Julia Gross said, but once they got an attorney involved, the rabbi agreed to meet the parents at the cemetery. He pointed to an area next to the parking lot and said Noach was buried somewhere over there, she said.

Another rabbi who was involved in Noachs arrangements told the couple that the area Parnes pointed to at Mount Sinai was used for many stillborn children, infants, and fetuses. When they inquired about reburying their son somewhere else, the rabbi said that was impossible because they might dig up other bodies, too, she said.

We were just horrified, Julia Gross said, that our baby would have been thrown into a mass grave.

Nearly 19 months later, the Grosses still havent received any documentation of where exactly their son is buried. They have filed a lawsuit in Philadelphia and started a Finding Noach Facebook page in June that is now followed by almost 2,000 people.

The agony for Julia and Eugene is that they lost their beautiful child twice, said their attorney, Bryan Lentz. They held him in their arms in the hospital when he was stillborn and after that, they dont know where or what happened to him. And they are understandably tortured by not knowing.

Julia Gross, 34, a teacher working toward her Ph.D., said she has been contacted by other women who have had similar experiences at Mount Sinai cemetery and have been unable to locate their childrens graves. Most are afraid to speak out for fear of being ostracized by their Orthodox Jewish congregations, she said.

In an interview with The Inquirer, one Orthodox Jewish woman, who this year gave birth to a stillborn baby late in her pregnancy, said that when she inquired about the location of her babys grave at Mount Sinai, Parnes, the rabbi, refused to tell her. She, too, had expected that the baby had been buried in an individual grave with a documented location.

What they are doing is not right, she said. Im having a hard time because I cannot have closure. Im getting no answers to my questions.

 READ MORE: Historic cemetery is using its facilities in ways not seen since the 1918 flu epidemic

The mother asked that her name not be printed because she would be shunned by her religious community: Its stepping on very dangerous ground to come out in the open and speak up.

The burial practices followed by the chevra kadisha in Lakewood, an Ocean County town with a large concentration of Orthodox Jews, is rooted in an era when the infant mortality rate was much higher. Jewish parents were expected not to mourn stillborn babies or those who lived 30 days or fewer, or to know where they were buried.

Most Jewish denominations no longer adhere to those practices, and instead give parents the choice of whether to mourn a deceased infant and have a tombstone.

When the Grosses sought documentation of their sons funeral and burial, they were provided with a letter from Rabbi Shmuel Hartman, of Jewish Funeral Services of Brooklyn, to Joseph Levine & Sons stating: Our funeral home assumes all responsibilities from transfer to burial if a proper burial permit has been issued.

The letter, however, is dated Jan. 30, 2019  the day before Noach was born. Julia Gross said it was unclear why or how a Brooklyn funeral home became involved, or took over the arrangements.

On the disposition/transit permit signed by Levines funeral director, a cemetery official is also supposed to sign to certify that the burial has been completed. That section was left blank.

Things started to become fishier and fishier, Julia Gross said.

The Grosses lawsuit, filed in March in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, alleges that Joseph Levine & Sons failed entirely to supervise the burial of Noach.

 READ MORE: No peace for some Shalom Memorial Park (from 2014)

Joseph Levine & Sons declined to comment on the allegations due to the ongoing litigation but said in a statement that it followed all laws and regulations and the expressed wishes of the Gross family.

We hope for all those involved that this issue can be resolved quickly to allow the family to continue on their journey of healing following their loss, the statement said.

This week, the funeral home filed a court motion denying all wrongdoing but stating that if any negligence occurred it was the fault of the cemetery and Jewish Funeral Services of Brooklyn.

The consumer affairs division of the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office closed a 2019 complaint against Mount Sinai cemetery without taking action because it is a religious cemetery that does not have a certificate of authority with the New Jersey Cemetery Board, according to Gema de las Heras, a spokesperson for the division. The nature of that complaint was unclear Wednesday.

Consumers reporting a problem or concern involving religious cemeteries that do not hold a Certificate of Authority may be advised to refer their complaint to the religious organization that operates the cemetery, de las Heras said.

In 2018, a New Jersey funeral director filed a complaint with the state cemetery board alleging that Parnes and other Orthodox rabbis had been hijacking funerals in the Lakewood area and conducting unlicensed funerals by not using a funeral director, as required by law, at Mount Sinai.

The funeral director documented in his complaint a 2018 instance in which, he said, Orthodox rabbis badgered a Lakewood woman who had wanted to cremate her husband  in violation of Jewish law  until she agreed to have him buried at Mount Sinai.

Parnes, the same rabbi who handled the Grosses burial, came to pick up the mans body, and represented himself on the release form as being a representative of Jewish Funeral Services of Brooklyn, records show.

If they find out there is going to be a cremation they will come in droves, said the funeral director, who asked that his name not be printed out of concern it could affect his business.

Judy Welshons, executive director of the New Jersey Cemetery Association, a trade group, said she found the allegations involving Mount Sinai to be concerning. Even a religious cemetery not regulated by the state cemetery board should still maintain accurate records of who is being buried and where theyre being buried, she said.

What youre telling me is scaring me a little bit, Welshons said. If were allowed to just bury people wherever we want I dont want to think about the type of chaos that would cause.

Parnes, who is listed on the National Association of Chevra Kadisha website as the chairperson of the Lakewood Chevra Kadisha, could not be reached for comment. A man who answered his cellphone asked what the call was regarding, then said Parnes was quarantined overseas and unavailable.

Hartman, the rabbinical adviser for Jewish Funeral Services of Brooklyn, located on Coney Island Avenue, could not be reached. A man at the funeral home, who answered the phone last Thursday said: Hes not here today and tomorrows the sabbath, so you just cant reach him.

Officials at Mount Sinai Jewish Cemetery, located between Lakewood High School and a small farm, could not be reached.

In a July 2019 letter to the Grosses, Rabbi Schmuel Tendler, of the congregation that runs the cemetery, said Noach was buried in accordance with the strictest standards of Jewish Orthodox Halacha and tradition.

Michal Raucher, an assistant professor of Jewish studies at Rutgers University, said most denominations of Judaism are moving away from the old tradition of burying stillborn babies in unmarked graves without the parents involvement.

The Conservative movement, for example, created new regulations in the 1990s that include the option of naming stillborn babies and burying them in an individual marked grave or a family plot, Raucher said.

Even among some Orthodox Jewish congregations, there is now more awareness of a familys pastoral needs surrounding stillbirth, miscarriage, and infertility. There is even openness to holding a funeral for a stillborn baby and putting up a tombstone.

There has been movement on this issue and recognition that pregnancy loss is real and tragic and people need support, Raucher said.

In 2014, the Israeli government implemented procedures requiring that fetuses between 12 and 20 weeks receive a marked burial plot. In cases of older fetus deaths and infants that died within 30 days of life, parents also have the option to be present at the funeral. The changes came in response to parents like the Grosses who were angry about the use of mass graves and not being able to attend their childs funeral.

More progressive Jews do not typically follow the Orthodox tradition when it comes to burying stillborn babies and young infants.

Rabbi Linda Holtzman, founder of the Reconstructionist Chevra Kadisha in Philadelphia, said progressive rabbis are more sensitive to mourning parents than the Orthodox rabbis who buried the Grosses son.

We would spend time with the family and baby, making sure they got to say goodbye, making sure they had the kind of burial arrangements that they wanted and needed, said Holtzman, who has presided over funerals for stillborn babies. This poor family got caught in the cross fire.

Julia Gross said she has been tormented by the thought that their sons burial was apparently handled so nonchalantly, or that he may have been buried in a mass grave. All they have is his small memory box that was provided as a gift from the hospital. A photo. His footprint. His birth date. They still want answers.

In July 2019, when they visited the area in the cemetery where they were told Noach and others were buried, the dirt and grass were surrounded by a short, makeshift white fence.

They returned last month. The fence is gone. The grass has regrown. More than a dozen bushes have been planted over the same patch of land.
Lyft announced Thursday it will suspend operations in California as of midnight, following an order from a judge that the ride-sharing company reclassify its drivers as employees rather than independent contractors.

The court order said rideshare drivers must be given employment benefits to comply with a new state law enacted in January.

Starting at 11.59 PST on Thursday the company will disable the trip-booking features of its mobile, web and voice apps.

'We dont want to suspend operations. We are going to keep up the fight for a benefits model that works for all drivers and our riders,' Lyft said in a statement published on its blog.

'Weve spent hundreds of hours meeting with policymakers and labor leaders to craft an alternative proposal for drivers that includes a minimum earnings guarantee, mileage reimbursement, a health care subsidy, and occupational accident insurance, without the negative consequences,' the statement added.

Lyfts stock tumbled by as much as nine percent Thursday following the news that they were suspending operations in California before recovering.

The ruling will also affect rival ridesharing app Uber, who have previously said they may need to suspend operations in the state.

Uber told DailyMail.com Thursday that the company is not ready to announce any changes yet, but is expected to.

Lyft announced Thursday it will suspend operations in California at midnight after a judge ordered the ride-sharing company to reclassify drivers as employees with benefits rather than independent contractors

Lyft shared a statement announcing the suspension of rideshare operations saying, 'This is not something we wanted to do'

Uber previously argued: 'The vast majority of drivers want to work independently, and weve already made to our app to ensure that remains the case under California law. When over 3 million Californians are without a job, our elected leaders should be focused on creating work, not trying to shut down an entire industry during an economic depression.'

As of October 1, Lyft had about 305,000 drivers in California who completed trips within the past year, but today's number is likely lower due to the pandemic, as per CNBC.

Uber said in a recent blog post it had about 209,000 active drivers in California per quarter.

Last week Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a MSNBC interview the companys ride-hailing services in California will halt 'at least temporarily' if the order was not changed.

Lyfts stock tumbled as low as nine percent Thursday following the news before recovering

Last week Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a MSNBC interview the companys ride-hailing services in California will halt 'at least temporarily' if the order was not changed

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi tells @SRuhle the ride-hailing app would have to shut down in the state of California until at least November if a judge's ruling that Uber must treat drivers as employees instead of independent contractors fails to be appealed by the company. pic.twitter.com/ntAMMxf4Cf  MSNBC (@MSNBC) August 12, 2020

California sued Lyft and Uber in May alleging the ride-share companies were violating the law that requires companies to treat workers as employees rather than independent contractors.

The issues of benefits was exacerbated with the COVID-19 pandemic as employees would be eligible for sick days and other benefits, but contractors are not.

Uber and Lyft, which are both based in San Francisco, argued their technology connects riders and drivers and they're not transportation companies, meaning drivers aren't part of their usual course of business which would deem them employees.

Last week San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ethan Schulman sided with California and gave the companies until Friday to reclassify their drivers as employees.

But the companies said they can't meet that deadline in time.

In May the state of California sued Uber and Lyft alleging that drivers should be classified as employees eligible for sick days and accident insurance. An uber driver at the San Francisco Inernational Airport pictured on May 4

Critics say the companies had nearly a year to address the mandates in the states landmark law Assembly Bill 5 (AB5).

AB5 establishes a three-prong test requiring employers to prove contract workers are independent, meaning the laborers must be free from an organizations control or performing work outside the companys core business, which Uber and Lyft failed.

Lyft said it has advocated for a path to offer benefits including a minimum earnings guarantee and a healthcare subsidy for drivers under the status as independent contractors.

Lyft claims that California is pushing an employment model 'that four out of five drivers dont support'.

That model, Lyft says, would reduce service to passengers in suburban and rural areas, result in 80 percent of drivers losing work, capped hourly earnings, and lower-income riders en route to essential jobs and medical appointments would be faced with unaffordable prices.

The ride sharing service says people can vote on a ballot measure in November called Prop 22 supporting their model.
Several large Australian businesses are urging a swift reopening of state borders, even as authorities warned against complacency as new cases of the virus appear to be trending lower.

Many of Australias internal borders have been closed to contain the spread of the virus, with the states of Victoria and New South Wales accounting for almost all new cases, and most states and territories have vowed to keep them shut for months to come.

Qantas Airways Ltd said on Thursday the closures were severely hampering a recovery in the domestic aviation market, which, alongside a lack of international travel, would lead to a significant loss this financial year.

The airline on Thursday posted a net loss of 1.96 billion Australian dollars ($1.41bn) for the 12 months that ended June 30, one of its largest ever, driven by adjustments for the drop in value of some of its assets  mainly aircraft  and restructuring costs meant to help it weather the coronavirus pandemic.

Qantas was running only 20 percent of its usual domestic schedule in August due to states closing borders, which CEO Alan Joyce said doesnt seem to make any medical sense.

Were not saying, open the borders blankly, Joyce said. Were saying, Lets have the rules to say what would you have to see in order for those borders to be open.'

Retail conglomerate Wesfarmers also called for a quick reopening of state borders, with chief executive Rob Scott saying the restrictions were causing enormous hardship.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who has previously expressed frustration at the economic impact of the closures, has written to state leaders about the problem they have caused for farmers, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said.

New cases on the wane

The complaints came as Australias second-most populous state of Victoria, the countrys COVID-19 hotspot, reported a small increase in new daily infections to 240 cases over the past 24 hours.

The figure will buoy optimism that a hard lockdown of the state capital Melbourne is containing the spread of the virus, with new cases down from more than 700 in late July.

There are still 240 today. So those numbers are still too high. But  they are coming down, theyre going in the right direction, Allen Cheng, Victorias Deputy Chief Health Officer told reporters.

New South Wales recorded just five cases, although Premier Gladys Berejiklian there was still concern over the number of unknown cases.

Its important that the community continues to embrace those COVID-safe behaviours, such as social distancing and wearing a mask, she said.

Australia has recorded more than 24,000 COVID-19 infections, with 462 deaths.

Neighbouring New Zealand, which is also battling a resurgence of cases after going COVID-free for more than 100 days, reported five new infections for a second day in a row, down from 13 on Tuesday.

The next few days could be critical in breaking the back of this latest resurgence, Health Minister Chris Hipkins told reporters in Wellington.

New Zealand has now detected more than 1,600 cases of COVID-19, with 22 deaths.
Barack Obama knows how to win presidential elections. He won twice, in 2008 and 2012, with a majority of the vote  something no other repeat Democratic winner had done since Franklin D. Roosevelt.

So when the former president spoke Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention, grayer and graver than when he left the White House, it was striking, and telling, to hear which voters he was trying to reach.

His voters  the voters he thinks can carry his former running mate, Joe Biden, to victory.

President Barack Obama makes remarks, with VP Joe Biden by his side, at the White House on Dec. 13, 2016. (Cheriss May/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

In one breath, that meant the voters who voted for Obama and then voted for Donald Trump in 2016. In the next, it meant the voters, especially the voters of color, who voted for him and then stayed home when Hillary Clinton was atop the ticket.

Obama didnt do nearly as much, however, to reach out to the progressive voters who have pushed the party to the left since his time in office  and who have spent much of convention week complaining that theyre being stiffed in favor of prominent anti-Trump Republicans such as former Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Now, I know that in times as polarized as these, most of you have already made up your mind, Obama said. But maybe youre still not sure which candidate youll vote for  or whether youll vote at all.

I understand, he added, why the white factory worker who's seen his wages cut or his job shipped overseas might feel like the government no longer looks out for him, and why a Black mother might feel like it never looked out for her at all.

Then he told them to make a plan right now for how youre going to get involved and vote.

A lot of fuss has been made this week about whether the DNC is ignoring progressives like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., who spoke for a mere minute and a half Tuesday, seconding Sen. Bernie Sanderss runner-up nomination status as a formality.

The answer is yes.

Yet the logic here arises less from fear that AOC and company will cause a commotion or alienate swing voters  the usual reasons why establishment Democrats tend to snub their left wing  and more from cold, hard electoral math. Like Obama, Team Biden clearly thinks the way to defeat the president in November is to win back Obama-Trump voters and lure nonvoters of color back to the polls. Boosting progressive support simply doesnt matter as much to them.

Story continues

Time will tell, but so far the evidence is on Bidens side.

Biden at the virtual Democratic National Convention at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Del., on Wednesday. (Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Progressives like Sanders have long argued that the way to win in 2020 is by mobilizing a new coalition of young voters and nonvoters who are excited by issues such as a Green New Deal, Medicare for All and free public college.

But the numbers dont really support this theory. According to an analysis by Geoffrey Skelley of the University of Virginias Center for Politics, 11 percent of those who voted for Trump in 2016 voted for Obama in 2012. Since all these voters subtracted a vote from the Democratic column and added one to the Republican column, the Atlantics Yascha Mounk has explained, they made a real difference in the outcome  more of a difference than any drive to recruit new voters could make.

Two years later, in 2018, Democrats won a landslide victory to control the House of Representatives. But the reason they gained so much ground is not that they expanded their base. In fact, according to Yair Ghitza of the Democratic data firm Catalist, about 89 percent of their gains came from people who voted in both elections, switching from supporting Trump in 2016 to supporting Democrats in 2018.

Finally, its true, as progressives like to point out, that turnout in traditionally Democratic areas  often home to large numbers of voters of color  was lower in 2016 than in 2012 and 2008. That undoubtedly contributed to Clintons loss. But theres little data to suggest that the voters of color who stayed home in 2016 were hard-core progressives who didnt show up for Clinton because she wasnt liberal enough. In fact, quite the opposite: Black and Latino Democrats are actually more likely to be moderate  or even conservative  than white Democrats, and studies show that inconsistent voters in general are actually a lot less progressive than voters who consistently vote Democratic.

In other words, targeting 2016 Obama-Trump voters and nonvoters with appeals to unity and equality makes more electoral sense than targeting progressives with appeals to ideology.

Pennsylvania primary voters in Philadelphia on June 2. (Hannah Yoon/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

This math has shaped the very structure of the convention. What is typically a sprawling, all-day affair has been compressed, by virtue of its virtual, pandemic-era format, into a tight two-hour nightly production. Pleasing everyone  checking every box  is no longer an option.

Instead, hour one  the hour not carried on the broadcast networks  has been devoted largely to issues of identity and equality meant to engage and motivate nonvoters who sat out 2016. The faces on the screen  Black, Latino, Asian, indigenous  have meticulously reflected the demographic constituencies Democrats want to reach.

Then hour two  the more widely viewed hour  has transitioned, sometimes jarringly, to broader appeals meant to swing Obama-Trump voters back to Biden. Progressives, and the ideological appeals that might mollify their concerns about the nominee, have not been awarded an hour of their own.

Wednesday was a perfect example. Before the halfway point, the convention celebrated women (the rabble-rouser, the pushy one); championed immigrants (immigration is our origin story); and relegated two favorite Republican targets, Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi, to less-than-prominent speaking slots.

But as soon as the clock struck 10, host Kerry Washington was touting Bidens plan to help working families and small businesses; former Labor Secretary Hilda Solis was predicting that as president, Biden would create 5 million good union jobs; and Iowa Rep. Cindy Axne was highlighting the economic plight of a fifth-generation farmer who said Trump has no clue about this stuff.

A few minutes later, progressive standard bearer Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts appeared in a colorful kindergarten classroom. Yet instead of rabble-rousing, she patiently explained why the bread-and-butter issue of universal childcare is like infrastructure for Americas families. Behind her, barely visible in soft focus, alphabet blocks spelled out the letters BLM, for Black Lives Matter  a sign of what Democrats were putting front and center for the broadcast audience, and what they were not.

Mondays hour one had focused on COVID-19 and racial justice; hour two featured pro-Biden Republicans like Kasich (who promised that Biden wouldnt turn sharp left and leave [swing voters] behind) and moderate Democrats like Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Alabama Sen. Doug Jones (who implied the same).

On Tuesday, hour one was dominated by the roll call vote, an inclusive production that involved numerous Native Americans, Latinos and a Black, gay bed-and-breakfast owner from Maine, Americas whitest state. Hour two started with a topic that touches all of our lives  health care  followed by hawkish Republicans such as Powell and former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel testifying to Bidens strength and values. There was even a video montage celebrating Bidens friendship with the late Arizona senator and 2008 GOP presidential nominee John McCain.

The big speeches reflected the same dynamic. Politician after politician testified to Bidens decency and character  virtues that should, they said, transcend ideological differences.

Former first lady Michelle Obama speaks during the virtual Democratic National Convention on Aug. 17. (Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Former first lady Michelle Obama, meanwhile, made perhaps the most explicit appeal to her husbands voters  specifically the ones who voted differently in 2016, or didnt vote at all.

Four years ago, too many people chose to believe 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. In one of the states that determined the outcome, the winning margin averaged out to just two votes per precinct  two votes. And weve all been living with the consequences.

The only recourse, she added, is to vote like we did in 2008 and 2012.

No allusion to the big structural changes that progressives have demanded, no attempt to explain why Biden would deliver for them  just a brief, stern warning not to withhold [their] votes in protest or play games with candidates who have no chance of winning.

Hillary Clinton  the candidate who failed to reassemble Obamas coalition  took a similar tack.

For four years, people have said to me, I didn't realize how dangerous he was; I wish I could go back and do it over; I should have voted, Clinton recalled. This can't be another woulda-coulda-shoulda election.

She didnt mention the Green New Deal or Medicare for All.

Sanders was perhaps the only marquee name who departed from this script. Let me take this opportunity to say a word to the millions who supported my campaign this year and in 2016, he declared, rattling off a list of issues on which Biden and progressives see eye to eye, from raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour to transitioning to 100 percent clean electricity over the next 15 years. If Donald Trump is reelected, all the progress we have made will be in jeopardy.  The price of failure is too great to imagine.

Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks on Aug. 17 in this screenshot from the DNCCs live stream of the 2020 Democratic National Convention. (Handout/DNCC via Getty Images)

But even he was quick to summon those who may have voted for Donald Trump in the last election and vow that 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.

And that, ultimately, has been the conventions message to progressives: Unless youre willing to risk four more years of what Sanders described as Trumps authoritarianism, a force that destroys democracy, decency and humanity, then you have nowhere else to turn.

Meanwhile, the real work of the 2020 election, at least as Biden and other party leaders see it  the work of recapturing the Obama voters who left Clinton in the lurch  is just getting underway.

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
The number of people filing a new unemployment claim in South Carolina increased slightly last week as the state continued to struggle through one of the worst recessions in recent history.

Roughly 7,255 people filed a new unemployment application with the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce during the second week in August.

That's an increase of 1,334 claims from the week before.

The slight jump ends a streak of relatively positive news for the state's economy, which previously saw the initial unemployment claims decline for four straight weeks.

It's too early to say whether the increase is a sign the state's economic recovery is starting to falter. Dan Ellzey, DEW's director, emphasized the small bump in layoffs in South Carolina should not be cause for alarm just yet.

Although this weeks initial claims data exhibited an uptick, fluctuation of claims data is common," Ellzey said. "Our teams have reviewed the available information and there is no significant singular event that can account for the increase."

The bigger issue for the state is the number of people who lost their jobs earlier this year and are still out of work.

Data collected by the U.S. Department of Labor shows there were nearly 160,000 South Carolinians in that position at the beginning of August. The number is better than it was earlier this year when more than 200,000 people continued to rely on the state's unemployment system.

For perspective, the 160,000 people certifying their jobless claims is still far larger than anything South Carolina managed during the Great Recession.

There was another roughly 68,000 independent contractors, self-employed people and so-called gig workers in South Carolina who remained out of work in early August. Those claims are being covered by the federal government.

Economists are worried about that long term unemployment. It could hamper the economic recovery by suppressing overall consumer spending, which drives roughly 70 percent of the nation's economy.

Earlier this year, South Carolinians who relied on jobless benefits were able to count on an extra $600 in federal assistance each week. But that federal spending ran out in July, leaving people to subsist off of state unemployment payments of $326 per week or less.

The Democratic-controlled U.S. House voted to extend the extra $600 in weekly benefits through the end of the year. That proposal has been held up by negotiations with the Republican-led Senate and President Donald Trump's administration.

In response, Trump signed an executive memorandum earlier this month. The memo announced that Trump would use federal disaster relief money to send money to states for an extra $300 per week in unemployment benefits.

Implementing that proposal could take weeks or months, however. For now, the people who lost their jobs amid the pandemic will need to make do with whatever the state can provide.
A trio of disturbances are lined up one after the other in the Atlantic Ocean, and at least two of them will probably develop in the coming days and become named tropical storms.

While there is a large amount of uncertainty in the ultimate fate of all three disturbances, each of them has some potential to affect land areas from the Lesser Antilles to North America, depending on their exact tracks and whether they hold together and strengthen.

The parade of storms marks a sudden reawakening of the Atlantic basin that could kick hurricane season into overdrive in the coming weeks. The active stretch looks to carry into September, with multiple named storms probable through then.

The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season already has featured a typical season's worth of named storms, with 11 having formed through mid-August, although none were overly intense. The factory-like storm production included the earliest C, E, F, G, H, I, J and K storms ever recorded in the Atlantic, part of a season that has been nearly twice as active as average.

Tropical Storms Kyle and Josephine, both short-lived, dissipated over the weekend, but Laura and Marco are up next and could be assigned to either of the two more robust tropical waves as they continue to churn west. The National Hurricane Center says both waves, labeled 97L and 98L, have 80 and 90% likelihoods, respectively, of becoming a tropical depression or storm over the next several days.

The active bout stems from a broad area of rising motion set to overspread the Atlantic and enhance tropical cyclone development. The same weather system brought a flurry of activity to the Pacific, transforming Genevieve, now just south of the Baja Peninsula, from a tropical storm to a Category 4 hurricane in less than 24 hours.

The first system to watch was in the central Caribbean well south of Haiti early Wednesday, and it looks to remain well-behaved for the time being - but that could change by late in the week and into the weekend as it begins to slow down in the northwest Caribbean.

Its forward speed has been a detriment to its prospects of organization. As long as it continues its speedy movement westward, it will in a sense be outrunning itself. It is more difficult for a tropical disturbance's low-, mid- and upper-level features to overlap and become organized if the system is moving too quickly.

On satellite imagery, there was evidence to suggest that Invest 97L had decent upper-level outflow. Outflow, or the evacuation of air from a storm at the upper levels, allows more room for warm, juicy air to spiral inward near the surface. It's easy to discern the high, wispy cirrus clouds entrained in the outflow radiating outward in a clockwise fashion. That bodes well for 97L's eventual maturation.

For the time being, 97L lacks a well-defined, low-level center of circulation, and it probably will for a while. But things could change.

By Friday, 97L will be in the northwestern Caribbean, where several things may occur. If it remains over the water long enough, it will probably pick up a name before bringing heavy rainfall to Belize, Honduras or coastal Guatemala. Eventually, it would probably rain itself out over the Yucatan Peninsula, but could redevelop in the Gulf.

There is an outside chance 97L could thread the needle between Cancun and the western tip of Cuba, entering the Gulf in a slightly less disheveled state.

In either scenario, at least some sort of lobe of more concentrated spin, or vorticity, could try to make it into the Gulf of Mexico next week, although the strength, organization and impacts of that remain unknown. Regardless, it bears watching.

Invest 98L, our second system, is attempting to consolidate and intensify - but shear, a change of wind speed and direction with height are playing a game of atmospheric tug-of-war. That is inhibiting 98L's ability to organize into a tropical depression.

Despite this, 98L looked very healthy on satellite, with well-defined inflow and outflow, and a more dense clustering of heavy showers and thunderstorms kindling the first signs of some broad low-level spin. It's easy to see why the National Hurricane Center pegged it with a 90% chance of development in the next 48 hours.

Even if it gets named sooner rather than later, it probably won't intensify too quickly because of lingering shear. That's good news for the northern Leeward Islands and Lesser Antilles, including Puerto Rico, where the fledgling storm could pass close to or over late in the weekend or early next week.

Then things become interesting. 98L will traipse west-northwestward, paralleling Hispaniola and Cuba for a time before potentially trying to curve northward. Its northward progress will be stunted by the Bermuda High, a high-pressure area working to block weather systems.

98L will probably try to strengthen, but the extent to which it does depends heavily on land interactions, including how long the disturbance spends over land and if its track takes it through high terrain.

That said, trackwise, it's a recipe for "one to watch" if you live in the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and south Florida, as well as eastern Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. We'll know more once the system develops a better area of spin and is subsequently named.

Meanwhile, another tropical wave is exiting the coast of Africa, and it's already blistering, with heavy thunderstorm activity over a wide area. Its center of circulation is over Senegal and it will probably move offshore by late Wednesday, where it can tap into the anomalously warm waters of the Atlantic.

The National Hurricane Center estimates a 20% chance of development, but there are reasons to believe that number will probably climb. That 20% probability only maps to anticipated maturation in the next five days.

At some point in its life cycle, it will probably develop.

The sudden uptick in tropical cyclone activity is fueled by the arrival of a convectively-coupled Kelvin wave, or overturning circulation that meanders about the tropics. On one side of the wave, air is more prone to sink, whereas it's encouraged to rise on the other side. That regime of enhanced upward motion is moving over the Atlantic, boosting the odds of tropical cyclone development.

Simultaneously, the active phase of the Madden-Julian Oscillation will overlap, further exacerbating the period of activity. The Madden-Julian Oscillation, or MJO, can be thought of as a region of aggrandized thunderstorm activity that marches around the globe every 30 to 60 days.

The two atmospheric features will conspire to bring about better tropical storm and hurricane chances, but equally important are water temperatures in the Atlantic. Across the basin, and particularly along the East Coast and in the Gulf of Mexico, sea surface temperatures are anomalously warm due in part to climate change. That increases the probability of storms becoming stronger and wetter, while also heightening the risk that a storm may undergo rapid intensification.
Donald Trump fired back at Barack Obama after portions of the former president's Wednesday evening Democratic National Committee addressed surfaced that were harshly critical of the incumbent. He dubbed Mr Obama as a "terrible" chief executive, and said his "ineffective" two terms were the reason voters put him in the White House four years ago.

"I see the horror that he's left us. The stupidity of the transactions that he made," Mr Trump replied to a reporter during a coronavirus briefing.

"How bad he was," the 45th president said of the 44th, calling Mr Obama "so ineffective" and "so terrible."

The president then contended if Mr Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden, the designated 2020 Democratic presidential nominee, had not done such a poor job, he would not have been elected in the first place. Mr Trump ran largely on a complete repudiation of the Obama administration's raft of domestic and foreign policies.

His comments came in response to what Mr Obama will say later in the night during the Democratic Party's 2020 nominating convention.

"I did hope, for the sake of our country, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously, that he might come to feel the weight of the office and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care," Mr Trump will tell voters around 10:30 p.m.

"But he never did. He's shown no interest in putting in the work, no interest in finding common ground; no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends, no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves," the former president will say.

Read more about Mr Obama's speech here. Speaker after speaker during the opening two nights of the convention have hammered Mr Trump, saying he has "quit" on the United States with a disinterested coronavirus response and a presidency geared solely for his conservative political base.
A sheep farmer has been found guilty of planting baby food laced with shards of metal in stores as part of a lengthy blackmail campaign against Tesco.

Nigel Wright, 45, hatched a plot to get rich by deliberately contaminating jars of Heinz baby food between May 2018 and February 2020, the Old Bailey heard.

He sent dozens of letters and emails to the supermarket giant in a bid to extort 1.4 million in bitcoin, jurors were told.

In one draft note, he wrote: Imagine a babys mouth cut open and blood pouring out, or the inside of their bellies cut and bleeding. You pay, you save them.

The jar of Heinz baby food that was allegedly laced with fragments of a craft knife by Nigel Wright (Hertfordshire Constabulary/PA)

Wright, who signed off as the fictional character Guy Brush and the Dairy Pirates, claimed to be part of a cohort of farmers angry at the low price they were paid for their milk.

Tesco was forced to issue a product recall when a mother from Lockerbie discovered pieces of metal in a jar of Heinz sweet and sour chicken baby food.

In December 2019, Morven Smith had already fed a few spoonfuls to her 10-month-old baby when she spotted something shiny in the bowl and pulled it out.

She said: It was horrendous. I felt sick I was so shocked.

Read More Russian opposition politician in coma after poisoning

Wright was caught on CCTV placing the tampered jar on a Tesco shelf before leaving with flowers for his primary school teacher wife, a bottle of wine, and more jars of baby food.

Nigel Wright in a Tesco store in Lockerbie (Hertfordshire Police/PA)

A second mother later came forward in Rochdale to say she too had discovered metal while feeding her nine-month-old daughter.

Harpreet Kaur-Singh told Tesco she had found shards of metal in a jar of Heinz Sunday chicken dinner and a jar of cheesy pasta stars.

Mrs Kaur-Singh said in her evidence that at the time she had not thought anything of it, but that she had binned the two jars and her remaining stock of baby food as a precaution.

In all, 42,000 jars of Heinz baby food were recovered, although there is no evidence that any more had been tampered with.

When Wright was tracked down to his family home outside Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, police found photographs of contaminated baby food on his laptop  with some the same flavour as the Rochdale jars.

The labels were clearly visible, and two of the jars  the cheese and tomato pasta stars and Sunday chicken dinner  were open with pieces of metal placed inside, the jury was told.

Officers also recovered some 100,000 in bitcoin which had been sent by undercover officers during the investigation.

The Tesco store in Rochdale (Peter Byrne/PA)

Giving evidence, Wright admitted planting one contaminated jar in the Lockerbie store but denied tampering with stock in Rochdale.

He claimed he was forced into it by travellers who had threatened his family.

But prosecutor Julian Christopher QC told him: The truth is you were not in fear at all.

You were carrying on your life normally while hoping to make yourself rich by threatening Tesco in this way while endangering the life of others in the process.

Read More Julian Assanges partner launches crowdfund campaign to fight extradition to US

A jury deliberated for four hours and 33 minutes to find Wright guilty of two counts of contaminating goods and three counts of blackmail for demanding cryptocurrency from Tesco in exchange for revealing where the contaminated food had been placed.

He was also convicted of a further charge of blackmail for allegedly demanding 150,000 worth of bitcoin from a driver with whom he had had a road rage altercation.

Following the incident on the A46, the driver withdrew his complaint after receiving a nasty anonymous letter.

Mr Justice Warby listed the case for sentence on September 28 and asked for a psychiatric report on Wright to be prepared ahead of the hearing.

He warned the defendant he faced a lengthy custodial sentence.
Insurer QBE has named Harpreet Mann as head of Global Credit & Surety for its North America division. In this role, she will develop strategy for enhancing the this book of business in North America while building relationships with prospective business partners.

Since joining QBE North America in 2008, Mann has served in a variety of leadership roles including vice president, technical underwriter for Global Credit & Surety; corporate counsel, Structured Trade and Political Risk; and associate general counsel in the Legal department.

Based in New York, Mann is also the executive sponsor of QBEs global Premiums4Good initiative in North America, which directs a portion of customers insurance premiums into socially responsible investments.

Prior to QBE, Mann was deputy general counsel for Exporters International, Inc., where she provided legal support to the underwriting group and handled general corporate legal and governance matters.

Mann is a licensed attorney in New York and New Jersey. Prior to becoming an attorney, Mann was a research associate at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Mann will report to Nicky Ablett, global head of Credit & Surety, QBE Group, and Steve Gransbury, head of Specialty Insurance, QBE North America.

QBEs Trade Credit team serves a range of sectors, including: financial institutions, commodity/natural resource trading companies, wholesalers, manufacturing and retail.
A crowd of people cheer Malian army soldiers at the Independence Square after a mutiny, in Bamako, Mali on Aug. 18, 2020. (Moussa Kalapo/Reuters)

Mali Coup Leaders Promise Election in Reasonable Time Frame

BAMAKO, MaliSoldiers who ousted Malis president in a coup promised on Aug. 19 to oversee elections within a reasonable time and moved swiftly to hold talks with one of the West African nations most influential power brokers.

President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita resigned and dissolved parliament on Aug. 18 after the mutineers detained him at gunpoint, further destabilizing a country in the grip of a jihadist insurgency and plagued by civil unrest.

Fearing Keitas fall after nearly seven years in power could destabilize the Sahel region, the African Union and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) both suspended Mali.

As investors ditched shares in Mali-based gold mining companies, the mutineers had yet to identify their leader, though the mood in the capital Bamako appeared calm.

Junta leaders were meeting on Aug. 19 with Mahmoud Dicko, a Salafist preacher who electrified protesters during anti-Keita demonstrations in recent weeks that drew tens of thousands of people, Dickos spokesman said.

Dicko is a formidable political figure whose support was seen as crucial to Keitas victory in the 2013 election, before Dicko soured on him.

A spokesman for the mutineers, calling themselves the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, said earlier that they had acted to prevent further chaos, anarchy, and insecurity.

We are not keen on power, but we are keen on the stability of the country, which will allow us to organize general elections  within the reasonable time limit, Col. Ismael Wague said on state television.

A Malian security source identified three of the other junta leaders who appeared alongside Wague as Cols. Sadio Camara, Malick Diaw, and Modibo Kone.

Wague described neighboring armies, Frances anti-jihadist Barkhane force, and the countrys U.N. peacekeeping mission as partners for stability and restoring security.

Stark Choices

In Paris, a French military source told Reuters the French army had submitted several options to President Emmanuel Macron.

Michael Shurkin, a former CIA officer now with the Rand Corp., said the upheaval risked distracting Malian forces from their fight against jihadists linked to al Qaeda and ISIS and that international partner faced a stark choice.

The U.N., EUTM (European Union Training Mission), and French have spent billions. What now? Is the answer just to walk away? he said.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo strongly condemned the militarys actions. European Union Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton said elections should be held reasonably quickly.

Mali has struggled to regain stability since a Tuareg uprising in 2012 that was hijacked by Islamist militants.

Keita, 75, was elected in 2013 following a coup the previous year, promising to bring peace and stability and fight corruption. He won a second five-year term in 2018.

Following months of protests against alleged corruption at least 14 people were killed in July in demonstrations called by the M5-RFP opposition coalition.

ECOWAS, which had sought to mediate between Keita and his opponents, said it plans to deploy a fresh mission to Mali to ensure a return to democracy.

His Own Fault

Late on Aug. 18, anti-government protesters poured into Bamako to cheer the mutineers.

I am against coups, but they become necessary if leaders are inflexible. What happened to IBK (Keita) was his own fault, said 43-year-old motorcycle mechanic Namory Konate.

The capital was calmer on Aug. 19, with people and traffic circulating as normal, although many shops, banks, and public buildings remained closed following looting.

Videos on social media showed Malians running unchecked through luxury compounds in the city, including properties identified by a Reuters correspondent as belonging to Justice Minister Kassoum Tapo and Keitas son Karim.

Gold miners B2Gold, Resolute Mining, AngloGold Ashanti, and Hummingbird Resources said they were operating in Mali as usual and their employees are safe, though their share prices all fell.

The U.N. Security Council was due to be briefed on Mali on Aug. 19, diplomats said. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Aug. 18 called for the immediate release of Keita and other detainees.

By Tiemoko Diallo
OLD FORGE, Pa.  He bashed Joe Biden. He promised to protect the suburbs, charter schools, the Second Amendment and more. And he dismissed concerns about a pandemic thats overwhelming America.

President Donald Trump traveled Thursday to Pennsylvania  the birthplace of his 2020 challenger  as the latest step in his effort to yank a piece of the news cycle in his direction after searing attacks night after night during the Democratic National Convention.

It was Trumps prebuttal to Biden, just hours before the vice president was set to formally accept the Democratic nomination. And it was a preview of Trumps own message to the nation, set to be delivered a week later from the White House as part of the Republican National Convention.

Under Biden, Americans taxes would go up and the safety in Americas streets would be in jeopardy, Trump warned as he painted a dark picture of life under a Democratic-led administration.

Imagine the mayhem coming to your town, Trump said, citing recent violence in New York and Chicago as trends that could sweep across the country.

The trip capped off a week in which the president traveled to Minnesota, Arizona and Pennsylvania to court swing-state voters and use the bully pulpit of the White House to highlight himself as the countrys leader, while Democrats introduced Biden and his vice presidential pick, Kamala Harris, virtually to the American public. This week Trump also posthumously pardoned the suffragette Susan B. Anthony  a nod to women voters marking the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment  and met with the Prime Minister of Iraq.

It was one of the most action-packed stretches for Trump in the West Wing and on the campaign trail since the pandemic upended American life in March. And it was an intentional pivot as his aides sought to counter-program a Democratic convention during which speaker after speaker  including former President Barack Obama  sharply rebuked the Trump administration, its policies and its handling of the coronavirus.

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Thursdays trip was bound to give Trump a boost following many subdued months in the White House. Accompanying the president were several of his favorite long-serving aides including Hope Hicks, Dan Scavino, Johnny McEntee and his campaign manager, Bill Stepien. He was greeted by hundreds of cheering supporters at the airport, many wearing Make America Great Again hats and face masks featuring Trump and the MAGA slogan.

The streets leading to the event site were filled with enthusiastic crowds, cheering and waving colorful signs promoting the Trump and Pence ticket. Fauci, Youre Fired, one sign read. There were at least two life-sized cardboard cutouts of Trumps head on top of a Rambo esque physique: a high-energy display of support in the roads on the way to the event. God Bless the USA played at one point on the route to the event, bringing a rally favorite to the Pennsylvania streets.

Within minutes of arriving at Mariotti Building Products in Pennsylvania, Trump launched in with the campaign energy that has been on hold throughout much of the pandemic.

To appeal to Pennsylvania voters, Trump warned that Sleepy Joe would try to eliminate fracking, the stock market would crash and jobs would exit the state.

Joe Biden is no friend of Pennsylvania. Biden supported every single globalist attack on Pennsylvania workers, Trump said before citing several trade and climate agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Paris climate accord that Trump argued were bad for Pennsylvania workers.

Trump even broached his handling of the coronavirus, saying his administration had done a great job for such a large country  even though the U.S. record is among the worst in the world and far below those of other advanced economies.

He promised to urge the Pennsylvania governor to open up the economy, saying depression, suicides and lost jobs posed as much of a risk to Americans health as the virus.

But Trumps overarching aim was to cast himself as the leader who could save the country from what he called Democrats overly progressive ideas.

There was a certain sense of sanity four years ago, Trump said. These people have gone insane.
The candidate is something of a celebrity in far-right circles, which may have helped her in her primary, but this is not really a district that is competitive at the general election level, said Kyle Kondik, an editor at the University of Virginias Center for Politics. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton each won the district during the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by about 20 points, Kondik noted.
A woman was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in state prison Wednesday for fatally shooting her wife at their Mount Holly home in 2017 following an argument between the couple, authorities said.

Laura Bluestein, 31, of Mount Holly was found guilty in February by a Burlington County jury of first-degree aggravated manslaughter and evidence tampering for the Aug. 6, 2017 shooting death of her wife, 29-year-old Felicia Dormans, the Burlington County Prosecutors Office announced in a statement.

Jurors found her not guilty of a gun charge, the office said.

Prosecutors argued for a sentence of twice what Bluestein ultimately received for her crime which was perpetrated while she on probation, the office said.

The investigation began on August 6, 2017 when Mount Holly police went to the couples Mill Street home after being notified by Bluesteins father that an incident had occurred inside the home, according to the statement.

When they arrived, police discovered the body of Dormans in a third-floor bedroom where she was pronounced dead, the office said.

Investigators discovered that Bluestein pointed a 9-millimeter handgun at Dormans face and fired, but instead of calling 911 for help, she spent the next few hours buying a shovel and tarp and attempted to dig a grave to bury her lovers lifeless body, authorities said.

Robin Lord, Bluesteins defense attorney, did not deny that Bluestein was holding the gun when it went off but had argued that the shooting was accidental. She said the gun in question, a Springfield XD-M, belonged to Dormans and Bluestein was trying to load it when it went off.

Lord said Wednesday evening she and her client are grateful that the judge showed compassion by not opting for the 30 years as urged by the prosecutor.

Today, after three years of legal maneuvering to evade responsibility for this defendants senseless killing of the woman she claimed to be the love of her life, Laura Bluestein must finally face the consequences of her malicious and evasive actions, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina said in a statement.

Although todays sentencing brings this case to a close, there sadly can be no closure for Felicia Dormans family, who face a life sentence of grieving for their lost daughter and sister. Our hearts are with Felicias family and friends as they continue to struggle with this incomprehensible loss. The shooting of Felicia by Bluestein reflects the ultimate act of domestic violence, one that we pray is not visited upon any other victims, the prosecutor said.

In his statement, Coffina added that help is available for victims of domestic abuse and their children through Providence House, part of the Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Trenton. In Burlington County, Providence House can be reached 24 hours at 1-877-871-7551 or 609-871-7551.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
Berlin, DEU - A set of Germans will be the latest recipients of the universal basic income, as a trial is set to start as the three-year study will determine the effects on the economy and the well-being of its recipients.

The study involves 120 persons who will receive $1,430 or 1,200 on a monthly basis for the next three years, which is also the amount that is just above the poverty line of Germany.

Researchers will compare the difference between their experiences to the other 1,380 persons who will not receive any amount for the following three years.

German Institute for Economic Research conducted the study with the help of 140,000 private donations.

As part of the study, all of the participants must have their complete answers on the set of the questionnaires that will be given to them regarding their work, lives and emotional state after receiving the basic income if it had a significant impact on their lives, Business Insider reported.

The Universal basic income is an idea wherein the government will be paying a lump sum of money to each of its citizens, normally once a month, without any bias on their income or even their employment status.

Proponents of the idea state that it would reduce inequality and improve the well-being of the citizens by providing more stability to their financial needs.

On the other hand, the opposing group to the idea shared that it would be too expensive. They also mentioned that it is a way of discouraging people from working.

Read also: Greece Secretly Sent Away 1,000 Migrants, Abandoning Them at Sea

The study gained traction over the last years where financial crisis and inequality is a problem in a number of Western countries.

The leader of the latest study, Jurgen Schupp shared that the current study will give improvement to the debate about the idea as it will produce new scientific evidence.

He also mentioned that the debate regarding basic income has so far been like a philosophical salon especially in good moments but it turns into a war of faith during bad times.

According to The New York Post, the current leader of the study stated that both sides of the argument were shaped by cliches as the opponent claims that having basic income means people will stop working and just order food while enjoying streaming services, but the proponents think the other way. Based on them, it will make people continue fulfilling their work.

Aside from that since they will have extra money, they will become more charitable which will save democracy according to Jurgen Schupp.

Mein Grundeinkommen, a pro-basic-income group is funding the current experiment.

Since 2014, 668 people received their 1,000 monthly income from the group as they used the donations that they received from supporters to fund the experiment.

Finland also experimented with a basic-income-like study for a span of two years, which started from January of 2017 to December of 2018 to the unemployed Finns. The recipients had 560 monthly but based on the researchers the trial concluded that it just led to people going out of work, making them happier. It also ended up not increasing the employment rate in the country.



Related article: New York Projects Over $64 Billion in Losses in The Next Four Years Due to COVID-19

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Nkoranza South Municipal Office of the Electoral Commission (EC) registered 62,413 voters in the just-ended new voters registration exercise, Madam Ramatu Gingo, the ECs Municipal Electoral Officer has said.



In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Nkoranza, Madam Gingo said the figure comprised 30,394 males and 32,019 females.



She said eligibility of 277 registered voters, comprising 174 males and 103 females had been challenged.



In a related development, the Commission registered 30,494 voters in the Nkoranza North District of the Region.



They consisted of 16,126 males and 15,952 females, Madam Yahaya Andaratu, Nkoranza North District Electoral Officer told the GNA, and added that eligibility of 33 voters, consisting of 22 males and 11 females had been challenged.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
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Legrand Wolf and his husband Jay founded Carnal Media in 2018 after launching their first adult paysites in 2009 when they created MormonBoyz and then FamilyDick.

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Despite those challenges, Legrand and his husband regrouped; now in their second year on their new venture, the pair has launched five new sites: growlboys.com, boyforsale.com, funsizeboys.com, gaycest.com and twinktop.com. They organized Carnal Media as a parent company and won an industry award for Most Innovative Company of the Year in 2019. They also picked up the GunzBlazing affiliate network and its 30 gay and trans paysites, including Staghomme.com, JasonSparksLive.com, JockPussy.com, CazzoFilm.com, BangBangBoys.com, AmateursDoIt.com, JalifStudio.com and many others.

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The partnership comes as Carnal Media plans to launch ten new sites and a new network site as it moves forward with plans to release one new DVD title per month, beginning with Boy for Sale: The Boy Austin.

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Carnal Media is on Twitter @CarnalMedia.

For more information, please e-mail [email protected].
San Antonio-based USAA is donating $30 million to assist military members, veterans and their families grappling with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

Announced today, the donation  the largest one-time philanthropic contribution in the insurance and financial services companys 98-year history  will go to 24 organizations helping individuals and families in San Antonio and elsewhere as part of a new Military Family Relief Initiative.

Courtesy USAA

Its a new USAA philanthropic effort thats focused on providing support to military families and service members who have been financially impacted by COVID  whether its financial insecurity, job loss, support for military children, said Harriet Dominique, USAAs senior vice president of corporate responsibility.

On ExpressNews.com: New USAA CEO Wayne Peacock takes command during rocky times

USAA has committed $20 million to U.S. military aid societies and nonprofit organizations, allowing them to make no-interest loans and give grants to help with financial emergencies, virtual schooling costs and college educational expenses.

As the loans are repaid, USAA said, the funds will allow the organizations to help others.

Among the organizations that will receive donations are the Air Force Aid Society, Army Emergency Relief, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Coast Guard Mutual Assistance and American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces.

Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News / Staff Photographer

USAA has earmarked the remaining $10 million for nonprofit groups that help veterans and military spouses find jobs, assist with child care costs for military families and support remote education.

This gift honors the resolve and sacrifice of our military community as well as the challenges they face by making sure they and their families have the support they need, USAA CEO and President Wayne Peacock said in a statement.

The $30 million donation is in addition to about $11 million in assistance for coronavirus relief that USAA already has provided.

The donation is twice the size of its previous largest single donation, made last year to a Coast Guard relief organization. That $15 million donation went for interest-free loans to Coast Guard personnel who were not getting paid during the partial government shutdown.

On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases

The $30 million donation is not part of the 1 percent of annual pretax profit that USAA has committed to giving away each year, Dominique said. USAA generated almost $4.8 billion in pretax profit last year, so 1 percent of that is nearly $48 million.

What were hearing from the military and local nonprofits, that due to COVID, there are increased needs, she said. There also are challenges with fundraising because of all of the activities that have been suspended.

Dominique added, We do anticipate potentially investing more as we continue to identify ways  to support military families and local communities that continue to be impacted by COVID.

Loss of income, tight budgets and increased grocery costs have been among the most common problems for military families during the pandemic, according to Blue Star Families, a nonprofit that advocates for military families.

Military families are experiencing everything American families are, but on steroids, Blue Star Families CEO Kathy Roth-Douquet said.

They have to obey orders, and sometimes that puts them in financial straits, she said.

When the military issued stop orders as a result of COVID-19, preventing service members and their families from moving to new posts as planned, many were stuck paying mortgages on their current homes and their new ones, she said.

About 160,000 service members are deployed at any given time, and roughly a third of military families move every summer.

Blue Star Families, with offices in California and Washington, D.C., will receive $500,000 from USAA.

What they are doing is nothing short of phenomenal, Roth-Douquet said. It really is an unprecedented gift. Its a lifeline for military families.

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
Mosquitoes are humanitys deadliest pest. Their bites spread painful diseases that sicken and kill tens of millions of people, making them the target of advanced schemes to limit their impact.

But new research suggests some mosquitoes could prove especially difficult to eradicate, and that the diseases they spread could get even worse as more people move from rural environments into cities.

The latest research, released in the journal Molecular Ecology, focused on the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes from around the world, including Madagascar and other islands in the Indian Ocean. They're most easily identified by the white stripes on their legs.

Although most of the roughly 3,500 mosquito species dont feed on human blood, the Aedes aegypti is one of the worst. Its bite infects millions of people  especially young children  with yellow fever, dengue and Zika, causing tens of thousands of deaths each year.

By comparing their genes, the researchers determined that the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes probably evolved from an ancestral species on islands in the southwest Indian Ocean about 7 million years ago.

And the research indicates the mosquitoes spread from the islands to the African mainland quite recently in evolutionary time, possibly within the last 25,000 to 17,000 years, lead author John Soghigian, an evolutionary biologist at North Carolina State University, said.

Image: FILES-US-HEALTH-ZIKA (Luis Robayo / AFP - Getty Images file)

Soghigian carried out the study with other members of a research group at Yale University and scientists in France. He said the Aedes aegypti was traditionally seen as a forest species that had adapted to human settlements, but the new research suggested it first adapted to survive the varied environmental conditions of the islands.

This is a mosquito that may have already been highly adaptable to diverse habitats when it reached Africa, and so that could explain why [it] became such an important vector and pest to humans, he said.

The research by Soghigian and his colleagues comes just a few weeks after another study of the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes published in the journal Cell Biology.

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Most populations of Aedes aegypti prefer the blood of animals such as rodents and monkeys to human blood. But the researchers found urban mosquitoes in sub-Saharan Africa were more drawn to the smell of a human forearm than to a guinea pig, compared to mosquitoes from rural areas.

The study also found that mosquitoes from the dry Sahel region of Africa  the semi-arid zone between the Sahara desert and wetter regions further south  consistently preferred biting humans.

That suggested they evolved to feed on human blood after they were exposed to drier conditions than they were used to, Carolyn McBride, an evolutionary biologist at Princeton University and the lead author of the study, said.

Those two factors indicated the Aedes aegypti had evolved in densely populated areas in a dry region like the Sahel to bite humans  and so some mosquito-borne diseases could increase if the climate became drier and as more people moved to live in cities, she said.

Image: Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are seen inside Oxitec laboratory in Campinas, Brazil (Paulo Whitaker / Reuters file)

The study could help in monitoring mosquito populations and lead to better ways to limit their impact.

We need to understand what mosquitoes are doing in various places in Africa, in order to design good control strategies, McBride said.

Soghigians research indicates the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes will be difficult to eradicate. It is highly adaptable and it is transported across great distances by humans, which would allow it to recolonize regions it is removed from rapidly, he said in an email.

His team had also detected that different populations of the Aedes aegypti in Africa and the Indian Ocean shared some genes, possibly from interbreeding, which suggested they could evolve into new types that might be even worse than before.

This could have important public health implications for the region, he said. Could this gene flow lead to deadlier mosquitoes in the region?

The latest research is fascinating stuff, said Timothy Winegard, a historian at Colorado Mesa University and the author of The Mosquito: A Human History of Our Deadliest Predator.

Its timeline for the evolution of the Aedes aegypti did not conflict with the idea that it spread to the Americas about 500 years ago as stowaways onboard slave ships from Africa, he said.

The ability of the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to feed on human hosts and breed in human-made containers  such as pools of water in discarded tires  had allowed them to thrive in many parts of the world, entomologist and ecologist Lauren Cator of Imperial College London said.

This  enhances the likelihood that a mosquito gets infected with a virus of concern, and the likelihood that they will bite a human to pass it on, she said in an email.
Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Montgomery County health officials addressed the higher number of COVID-19 cases this week and explained that most of those cases date from as far back as June.

According to the Montgomery County Public Health District, those additional cases were reported to the Department of State Health Services directly by health care providers and entered into the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System, run by the CDC. Out of the 210 new total cases confirmed Thursday, 164 from the NEDSS system tested positive prior to Aug. 3.
Lukashenka Orders Ministry To Stem Unrest In Belarus, Tighten Border Controls

By RFE/RL's Belarus Service August 19, 2020

MINSK -- Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has instructed the Interior Ministry to prevent unrest in the country and tighten border controls to keep purported foreign influences from fomenting instability in the face of an 11th day of street protests and strikes over a controversial presidential election.

"There should be no more riots in Minsk. People are tired. People demand peace and quiet," Lukashenka said on August 19, according to the BelTA state news agency.

"I instruct the State Border Committee, we see this from the discussion, to strengthen the protection of the state border along the entire perimeter in order to prevent militants, weapons, ammunition, and money from other countries from entering Belarus to finance the riots. We see that this money is coming."

Lukashenka's comments came as opposition figure Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya called on European leaders to "support the awakening" of her country and respect the choice of the Belarusian people amid widespread anger over a controversial presidential election.

Tsikhanouskaya made the calls in a video address to the European Council as EU leaders began an emergency meeting on August 19 to discuss the situation in Belarus.

"Our message is clear. Violence has to stop and a peaceful and inclusive dialogue has to be launched. The leadership of Belarus must reflect the will of the people," European Council President Charles Michel tweeted on August 19 as the gathering got under way via videoconference.

"The people of Belarus have the right to a result that accurately reflects their vote. The EU, including the Netherlands, can't accept the results of these elections," Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte tweeted on August 19.

In a joint statement, the presidents of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia -- known as the Visegrad Four -- called on Belarusian authorities to "open the way for a political solution, and to abide by the fundamental human rights and freedoms while refraining from the use of violence against the peaceful demonstrators."

In a veiled reference to neighboring Russia, the four leaders urged "foreign actors to refrain from actions that would undermine Belarus' independence and sovereignty."

Official results from the August 9 election gave Lukashenka, in power since 1994, just over 80 percent of the vote, a figure that 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.

As opposition leaders on August 18 formed a coordinating council to organize a transfer of power, Lukashenka described the move as an attempt to stage a coup.

And during a meeting of Belarus's Security Council, Lukashenka urged Western leaders to focus on problems in their own countries, state news agency BelTA reported.

"The leaders of Western states offer us talks, negotiations. And at the same time they keep pushing their own agenda," the 65-year-old leader said.

In her video address, Tsikhanouskaya, who left for neighboring Lithuania after the vote, called on EU leaders "not to recognize these fraudulent elections," adding that Lukashenka "has lost all legitimacy in the eyes of our nation and the world."

Speaking in English, she also denounced a postelection crackdown, saying: "People who came out to defend their votes on the streets of their cities all across Belarus were brutally beaten, imprisoned, and tortured by the regime desperately clinging on to power."

In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused foreign powers of using the crisis in Belarus to interfere in the country and push their geopolitical agendas, Russian news agencies reported on August 19.

"This is about geopolitics, the fight for the post-Soviet space," Lavrov said.

Michel of the European Council spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 18, expressing concern about election irregularities and a crackdown 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.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron also spoke with Putin in separate calls on August 18.

According to her press service, Merkel told Putin 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 Kremlin said in a readout of the call that Russia hopes the situation will return to normal but warned about outside interference.

"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.

Lukashenka spoke with Putin twice over the weekend, stating afterward that the Russian leader promised him security assistance if Belarus needs it. Russia has close economic and military ties with Belarus.

Lukashenka described the coordinating council announced on August 18 as an attempt to seize power. He said he viewed it "unambiguously" as "an attempt at a coup, with all ensuing consequences," speaking during his meeting with the Belarusian Security Council.

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.

The coordinating council met for the first time on August 18, saying it represents the people and seeks to negotiate a peaceful transition of power "without political goals or a program."

Olga Kovalkova, a representative for Tsikhanouskaya, said at a press conference establishing the coordinating council that she expected Tsikhanouskaya 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."

Tsikhanouskaya, who claims to have won the August 9 election, said in an earlier 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, left Belarus for Lithuania after the election amid reports that she and her family were threatened by authorities.

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.

With reporting by TASS, Interfax, and BelTA

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-won-t -recognize-belarus-vote-santions- to-be-imposed/30792157.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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ALBANY, N.Y.  State Sen. Jim Tedisco (R,C,I-Glenville), Assemblyman Ron Kim (D-Queens), who lost an uncle in a New York nursing home to COVID-19, along with other legislators from both sides of the political aisle joined others to call for passage of legislation for an independent, bipartisan state commission to fully investigate the deaths of thousands of New Yorkers who died from COVID-19 in nursing homes.

Also in attendance was Fox News Senior Meteorologist Janice Dean, who lost her in-laws who were residents of state-regulated elder care facilities to the coronavirus, to call for passage of legislation for an independent, bipartisan state commission to fully investigate the deaths of thousands of New Yorkers who died from COVID-19 in nursing homes.

Tedisco and Kims legislation would establish an independent, unbiased and bi-partisan investigation with subpoena power to perform a top-to-bottom review of what happened in the states nursing homes to get answers and provide a measure of closure for the families of those who lost their lives and help prepare for a second wave of the pandemic.

The bi-partisan commission to investigate the nursing home deaths would consist of five members: one each appointed by the Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, Assembly Speaker and Assembly Minority Leader, and chaired by an appointee of the New York State Attorney General. Each appointee must have expertise in health care and health care policy issues. Commission members would not be paid and they would have subpoena power. A report would be publicly issued and sent to the Legislature with findings and recommendations for the future.

Some issues transcend partisan politics. The families of the thousands of New Yorkers who lost their lives from COVID-19 while in state-regulated nursing homes deserve a measure of closure and we need to help prepare for a second wave of the virus or a future pandemic. After several legislative hearings, its clear we need an independent, unbiased and bi-partisan investigation with subpoena power to help us get answers to find out how many people really died from the virus, why did it get so bad in our nursing homes and what steps need to be taken in order to prevent this from happening again, Tedisco explained.

I want to thank Assemblyman Ron Kim for his leadership on this issue and thank all my colleagues from both sides of the aisle who have sponsored this bill. I especially want to thank Janice Dean for taking the time out of her extremely busy schedule to come to Albany and share the powerful story of her familys terrible loss and her efforts to make a positive difference to help us get answers and save lives in the future, Tedisco added.

Over these past few months, I have been deeply affected by the stories of lives lost during the nursing home crisis. That is why I am calling for this independent investigation. Governor Cuomo argued against an investigation because nobody can agree on who an independent expert is. The only criteria we are looking for is experts that are independent from him. It is no coincidence that the experts who authored the Department of Health report on this issue exonerated him from his fatal decision of sending COVID-19 patients back to nursing homes, have strong ties to his administration, and have benefited from his policies and contracts. We would be failing these families if we didnt come together to demand the truth, Kim stated.

I am grateful and honored to be part of this call for the passage of bipartisan legislation for an independent investigation with Senator Tedisco and Assemblyman Kim this week. Its the stories of the families who have experienced greatest loss in this pandemic  that can help us uncover what really happened, Dean opined.

The preventable deaths of 6,400 senior citizens, possibly many more, due to Governor Cuomo and the State Department of Healths reckless, irresponsible, and deadly mandate that forced nursing homes to accept COVID-19 positive patients is a staggering, incomprehensible loss for their families and our state, Sen. Daphne Jordan (R,C,I-Halfmoon) stated. My heart goes out to the families who lost a loved one and are grieving because of the states disastrous policy.

I applaud Janice Dean for her tireless, fearless, and powerful advocacy in demanding accountability. Without question, the continued search for answers demands the creation of a bi-partisan state Commission empowered to follow the truth, wherever it leads. This measure must become law so we can ensure such as tragedy never happens again. I applaud my colleague Senator Tedisco for sponsoring this smart, forward-looking bill that Im proud to co-sponsor.

Since first calling for a bipartisan, independent investigation into Governor Cuomos handling of nursing homes in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been two virtual hearings held by the Senate and Assembly Committees on Health, Aging and Oversight and one forum spearheaded by Republican leadership. Unfortunately, despite vigorous questioning of DOH and countless testimonies from advocates and family members, we remain with more questions than answers and very little accountability, Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh (R,C,I-Ballston) remarked.

This is not a Democrat or Republican issue, and I am grateful to work in a bi-partisan effort alongside Senator Tedisco and Assemblymember Ron Kim as we continue to advocate for this much-needed commission, Walsh added.
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- MalwarebytesTM, a leading provider of advanced endpoint protection and remediation solutions, today announced the findings from its latest report, Enduring from Home: COVID-19's Impact on Business Security. The report combines Malwarebytes telemetry with survey results from 200 IT and cybersecurity decision makers from small businesses to large enterprises to unearth new security concerns in remote work environments.

The data showed that since organizations moved to a work from home (WFH) model, the potential for cyberattacks and breaches has increased. In fact, since the start of the pandemic, 20 percent of respondents said they faced a security breach as a result of a remote worker. This in turn led to higher costs, with 24 percent of respondents saying they paid unexpected expenses to address a cybersecurity breach or malware attack following shelter-in-place orders.

In addition, 28 percent of respondents admitted they're using personal devices for work-related activities more than their work-issued devices, which could create new opportunities for cyberattacks. This figure becomes more problematic next to another survey result, which indicated that 61 percent of respondents' organizations did not urge employees to use antivirus solutions on their personal devices.

"Our fundamental shift to working remotely has dramatically underscored the need for comprehensive security, as well as IT guidance and training to avoid breaches. Many organizations failed to understand the gaps in their cybersecurity plans when transitioning to a remote workforce, experiencing a breach as a result," said Marcin Kleczynski, CEO and co-founder of Malwarebytes. "The use of more, often unauthorized, devices has exposed the critical need for not just a complete, layered security stack, but new policies to address work from home environments. Businesses have never been more at risk and hackers are taking notice."

On the threat landscape, Malwarebytes observed that cybercriminals have adapted to take advantage of improperly secured corporate VPNs, cloud-based services, and business emailall which could be used for infiltration of corporate assets. There has also been a surge in phishing emails that use COVID-19 as a lure to cover up malicious activity. These emails contain commercial malware, such as AveMaria and NetWiredRC, which allow for remote desktop access, webcam control, password theft and more. Malwarebytes data showed that AveMaria saw a bump of 1,219 percent from January to April 2020, an enormous increase from 2019. According to Malwarebytes telemetry, AveMaria mostly targeted large enterprise businesses. Similarly, NetWiredRC observed a 99 percent increase in detections from January to June, primarily targeting small- and medium-sized organizations.

"Threat actors are adapting quickly as the landscape shifts to find new ways to capitalize on the remote workforce," said Adam Kujawa, director at Malwarebytes Labs. "We saw a substantial increase in the use of cloud and collaboration tools, paired with concerns about the security of these tools. This tells us that we need to closely evaluate cybersecurity in relation to these tools, as well as the vulnerabilities of working in dispersed environments, in order to mitigate threats more effectively."

Despite this, companies appear to have a high level of confidence about the transition to working from home, with roughly three quarters (73.2 percent) of those surveyed giving their organizations a score of 7 or above on preparedness for the transition to WFH. A majority of companies with less than 700 employees (84.1 percent) moved more than half of their workforce, but not all (6180 percent). On the other hand, companies with at least 700 employees opted to move almost all their workforce home (81100 percent). In the wake of this shift, 45 percent of respondents' organizations did not perform security and online privacy analyses of software tools deemed necessary for WFH collaboration. And frightfully, while 61 percent of respondents' organizations provided work-issued devices to employees as needed, 65 percent of respondents' organizations did not deploy a new antivirus solution for those same devices.

Survey background: Malwarebytes surveyed more than 200 managers, directors, and C-suite executives in IT and cybersecurity roles at companies across the US. These roles include IT Manager, IT Director, and IT Executive/C-Suite, along with IT/Cybersecurity Manager, IT/Cybersecurity Director, and IT/Cybersecurity Executive/C-Suite. Respondents came from companies of all sizes, with some working at small- and medium-sized businesses and others at large enterprise organizations. Malwarebytes grouped participants into the following company sizes: 100  349 employees; 350  699 employees; 700  1,249 employees; 1,250  4,999 employees; and 5,000 employees and over.

For a detailed look at the full report, visit: https://resources.malwarebytes.com/files/2020/08/Malwarebytes_EnduringFromHome_Report_FINAL.pdf

To read more about Malwarebytes visit our blog, follow us on Twitter , or check us out on LinkedIn .

About Malwarebytes

Malwarebytes is trusted to protect people and businesses against the latest dangerous cyberthreats including malware, ransomware and exploits that traditional antivirus solutions fail to catch. Malwarebytes offers comprehensive defense and recovery technologies to safeguard devices whether at home or in the office, enabling users to protect themselves anywhere, anytime. Malwarebytes' team of researchers and security experts protect more than 60,000 businesses and millions of people worldwide, combatting millions of threats daily using artificial intelligence and machine learning to identify behavior and catch new threats rapidly. Driven by a desire to protect everyone's right to a malware free existence, CEO Marcin Kleczynski founded Malwarebytes in 2008 and has grown the company to over 800 employees across the world today. The company is headquartered in California with offices in Europe and Asia. For more information, visit http://www.malwarebytes.com/ .

MEDIA RELATIONS CONTACT:

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Eligible businesses can apply for a two-week wage subsidy of up to $1,171.60 per worker from today to help cover wages as part of the Governments plan to protect jobs and support the economy.

Applications for the new wage subsidy will be open on the MSD website from 1pm today, Finance Minister Grant Robertson and Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni say.

The new wage subsidy and the current Wage Subsidy Extension  which is open for new applications until 1 September  will support an estimated 930,000 jobs.

The Government has stood beside businesses and workers as we respond to the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The wage subsidy has protected more than 1.7 million jobs and we know it works. Thats why we moved quickly to introduce the new wage subsidy to support businesses for the two weeks Auckland is at Alert Level 3, says Grant Robertson.

To be eligible, a business must have experienced, or is projected to experience, a 40 per cent revenue drop across a 14-day period between August 12 and September 10 when compared to a similar period last year.

The wage subsidy is available nationwide, given the nature of the current restrictions. This recognises the size of Aucklands economy and the connections between Auckland businesses and others around the country. It also recognises the impact the current restrictions are having on hospitality and tourism businesses around the country.

Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni says MSD has advised it will make payments within five days for most applications.

Throughout our response to COVID-19, MSD has worked hard to make sure businesses and workers receive support in timely way to support confidence and cashflow. We know from a survey of businesses that received the wage subsidy that 94 per cent said it had a positive impact on cashflow, while 62 per cent said it helped them also manage non-wage costs like rent.

The new wage subsidy, and the expected increase in applications for the Wage Subsidy Extension, which is open for applications until 1 September, will be funded by an underspend on the Wage Subsidy Extension. This means the Government does not need to access the $14 billion remaining in the COVID Response and Recovery Fund for the payments.

Other eligibility criteria are the same as for the Wage Subsidy Extension. All existing employment law continues to apply.

Further information can be found here: https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/covid-19/resurgence-wage-subsidy/index.html

The wage subsidy and Wage Subsidy Extension have so far paid $13.2 billion to businesses to protect more than 1.7 million jobs.

Carmel Sepuloni says the Governments changes to the COVID Leave Support Scheme also come into effect from today.

Weve simplified the Leave Support Scheme by removing the revenue and negatively impacted tests as part of our work to reduce barriers to people getting tested for COVID-19, including fears that a positive result would put their employment at risk or that they wouldnt receive income while they couldnt work because they had used up their sick leave.

To be eligible for the Leave Support Scheme the employer must meet eligibility criteria and have employees who can't work because they have either tested positive for COVID-19, have had contact with someone who has COVID-19, or are at higher risk (or someone in their household is at higher risk) if they get COVID-19 and have been recommended to remain at home.

For further details and to apply visit: https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/covid-19/leave-support-scheme/index.html

Examples of support  new wage subsidy

Under the two-week payment:
Ohio school leverages Mediasite and Zoom to deliver effective live instruction to students

MADISON, Wis., Aug. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Longtime Mediasite user Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) successfully pivoted to online during the initial spring campus shutdown. They found the perfect formula for a live hybrid fall: a rotating schedule for on-site and online students and an essential mix of Mediasite streaming live- and on-demand video lectures and Zoom collaborative calls. Medical students of the Rootstown, Ohio university will still get a front row seat to all classes, demos, simulations and campus events, regardless of where theyre learning.

Our students and faculty were already comfortable with online learning prior to the COVID-19 shutdown last spring, because weve been using Mediasite for the past 15 years, said Michael Wright, Director, Academic Technology, NEOMED. Mediasite is at the heart of our video strategy. Everything was in place prior, and it took us less than a week to pivot to virtual. The fall semester will be an adjustment, but we are confident our students and faculty will have an enjoyable, engaging and comfortable teaching and learning experience.

Creating socially-distanced hybrid learning experiences

NEOMED plans to have staff and faculty record lectures with Mediasite for students to watch prior to class time in their Sakai learning management system. Students and instructors will then spend class time discussing rigorous topics, focusing on the areas where further instruction would be most useful. Students will follow a rotating schedule to determine if theyll be online or on campus that day.

In-person classes will take place in NEOMEDs new large group space, which will now be used for small group interactive discussions where they can be properly social-distanced, and instructors will use Zoom to connect them with online students. The in-person students will see the lesson content and online participants on several large screens in the room, and the online students can interact, chat and ask questions. Instructors will also use a student response system app called Turning Technologies.

Story continues

The Zoom recordings will be uploaded into Mediasite where they can be managed in one secure and searchable place beside all other campus videos. Plus, the Zoom recordings will benefit from the full functionality of Mediasite  robust accessibility tools and search, video and caption editing capabilities, anytime and anywhere publishing, interactivity options to track viewer engagement and back-end analytics.

Capturing lab work

NEOMED has a fully-integrated gross anatomy lab to capture simulations and share live streams with students in their LMS whether theyre watching in-person or at home.

Similar to lectures, students will take turns visiting the lab. Well be teaching the same content and Mediasite can capture several angles of a demonstration, so students wont miss a beat. A gross anatomy lab is one of the most valuable resources to medical students, but each lab experience is a one-and-done operation. You cant recreate it, but you can use Mediasite to capture the moment for on-demand review, Wright said.

Learn more about NEOMEDs gross anatomy lab in this webinar, originally recorded at the Mediasite user conference, MSX, last fall.

Keeping students, the community connected via virtual events

The university is not only using the most engaging technologies to keep students connected during classes, it is also thinking outside the box to help keep the college experience alive by live streaming campus events. NEOMED streamed the spring commencement ceremony via Mediasite. Using Zoom, campus leaders and students joined the virtual ceremony  leaders made congratulatory remarks, family members hooded their graduates and students could say a few words.

The students had a more enjoyable event because they were surrounded by family and friends, and everyone saw the students reactions up close. It was much more personable, Wright said.

In addition, NEOMED live streamed its Match Day ceremony in which students found out where they will complete their residencies. They joined via Zoom and again, Mediasite streamed it live.

NEOMED was extremely well-positioned to pivot quickly in the spring, and its no surprise that this Ohio medical school is leading the way among its peers for the fall. The university has combined the perfect mix of technologies to ensure that, wherever students are learning, theyll have a front row seat to the action. In a hybrid, non-traditional learning environment, this is a critical part of students success, said Elizabeth Collins, SVP of North America Sales, Sonic Foundry, maker of Mediasite. Having the ability to see all angles of simulations and instructors lessons, re-watch them and learn at their own pace creates an engaging, personalized experience even when theyre not in the classroom. We are proud to continue our 15-year relationship with NEOMED to help position the campus as a leader in medical education.

Mediasite is a highly-automated and integrated video platform that facilitates hybrid learning in this new digital-first world. Trusted by 1,700 schools in 65 countries, Mediasite quickly and cost-effectively scales the capture, management, delivery and search of live and on-demand streaming videos. Mediasites solutions create the most engaging, data-rich and personalized learning experiences possible as students and instructors collaborate from a distance.

About Sonic Foundry, Inc.

Sonic Foundry (OTC: SOFO) is the global leader for video capture, management and streaming solutions. Trusted by more than 5,200 educational institutions, corporations, health organizations and government entities in over 65 countries, its Mediasite Video Platform quickly and cost-effectively automates the capture, management, delivery and search of live and on-demand streaming videos. Learn more at www.mediasite.com and @mediasite.

 2020 Sonic Foundry, Inc. Product and service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of Sonic Foundry, Inc. or their respective owners.

CONTACT: Media Contact: Nicole Wise, Director of Communications Sonic Foundry 920.226.0269 nicolew@sonicfoundry.com




The participants in the meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) confirmed the meeting of the advisors of the heads of state participating in the Normandy format talks (Ukraine, Germany, France and the Russian Federation), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

"We have confirmed the meeting of the advisors in the Normandy format. This suggests that after the advisors' meeting we will expect the continuation of the meeting of the Normandy leaders," the president told reporters at a briefing in Kherson region on Thursday, summing up the results of the two-day TCG meeting.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, who won the Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday night, has pledged to stop new drilling on federal lands and waters to address growing concerns over climate change, a move that would have sweeping consequences for the nations oil and gas industry largely concentrated in Texas.

Proponents say a drilling ban on federal property would help combat climate change and protect the environment. Opponents fear a ban could cost thousands more industry jobs and threaten U.S. energy independence.

We think the most important second-half-of-2020 narrative for the (energy sector) is the looming U.S. election, given the disparity of views from each political party on energy regulation, Arun Jayaram, an energy analyst with JPMorgan Chase, said in a research note this month. While Bidens platform is not focused on banning hydraulic fracturing, his administration would look to restrict new permits on federal lands and waters, while activity on state lands would not be impacted.

The debate over banning drilling for oil and gas on federal property comes as the energy industry is recovering from the coronavirus pandemic, which crushed demand for petroleum products and led to tens of thousands of layoffs across Texas. It also is unfolding when more nations, corporations and consumers are shifting to renewable energy sources to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Alaska lands offered: Trump plans Arctic drilling rights sale in likely 2020 clash

With Biden leading Trump in several polls, many oil and gas companies are growing wary about the prospect of new drilling restrictions, which would deal another blow to the struggling energy sector. A federal ban on drilling would hamper oil and gas production across much of New Mexico, North Dakota and Wyoming, three of the nations largest oil and gas producing states, as well as offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, which produces 2.3 million barrels of oil and gas per day.

Although Texas does not have a lot of federal land used for oil and gas drilling, many energy companies across the state are working on drilling projects on the New Mexico side of the Permian Basin, the nations most productive oil field, as well as in the Gulf of Mexico.

Gloomy forecasts

A drilling ban on federal lands and waters could cost the oil and gas industry up to 1 million jobs nationally by 2022, including 120,000 jobs in Texas, according to research from the American Petroleum Institute, an oil and gas trade group.

The National Ocean Industries Association, an offshore oil and gas and wind trade group, forecasts offshore jobs in Texas could fall to 39,000 by 2040, down from 147,000 jobs in 2019, if there were a ban on drilling permits in the Gulf of Mexico.

A ban on drilling offshore would be catastrophic, said Erik Milito, president of NOIA. There are small businesses in every state that provide expertise and services to the Gulf of Mexico.

Revenues from oil and gas royalties also would fall as drilling permits and leases expire. Oil and gas royalties from federal property totaled $9.3 billion in 2019, including more than $1 billion from offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. These oil and gas revenues are shared with states with more than $2 billion of revenue paid out to more than 35 states in 2019, including $57 million to Texas.

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At the same time, demand for foreign oil and gas could rise by 2 million barrels per day to offset the loss of oil and gas production in federal lands, according to the American Petroleum Institute. A recent Morning Consult poll of 798 registered voters in Texas commissioned by the oil and gas trade group found that 69 percent of Texas voters would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports access to oil and gas produced in the U.S.

It would be a disaster for American producers and would significantly impact U.S. energy independence, said Mike Sommers, president of the American Petroleum Institute. The economic impact of this proposal would be crippling to many states, including Texas and New Mexico.

Environmental groups argue the U.S. should continue to preserve public lands for future generations of Americans to enjoy, instead of opening them up to carbon- and methane-emitting oil and gas drilling. They decried moves by President Donald Trump to open up drilling permits on millions of acres of public lands, including most recently the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, home to hundreds of thousands of caribou, rare musk oxen and migratory birds.

If were serious about our climate goals, there has to be a pause on new oil and gas leasing on public lands, said Adam Kolton, the executive director of Alaska Wilderness League Action, which for decades has sought to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil and gas drilling. We cant act like business as usual because climate change puts Houston and other parts of our country at risk from hurricanes and wildfires. We should be reimagining public lands and national forests as part of the solutions to the climate crisis.

Getting prepared

Oil and gas companies that drill heavily on federal lands are preparing for a possible ban under a Biden presidency by applying for more drilling permits and ensuring they have plenty of leases on private property unaffected by a federal ban. They also are prepared for a legal fight to protect leases and permits already approved on federal lands.

Devon Energy said it has been building a deep inventory of permits to drill on federal lands ahead of the presidential election. The Oklahoma City-based independent expects to have more than 550 federal drilling permits by November, which could cover more than 75 percent of its drilling activity on federal lands over the next four years. About a fifth of Devons portfolio of oil and gas leases are on federal lands, much of it in the Delaware Basin of New Mexico and Powder River Basin of Wyoming.

A battle looms: Texas lake is site of latest skirmish over drilling expansion

Jeff Geissler, STR / AP

Devon has a clear strategic path forward to create value regardless of who occupies the White House, CEO Dave Hager said earlier this month. While we are well positioned as a company to navigate these issues, I must say that we fundamentally believe that the idea of limiting drilling activity on federal lands is fraught with serious economic ramifications and puts our nations energy security at risk.

EOG Resources said it has about 2,500 federal drilling permits that are approved or in progress, which should provide more than four years of drilling activity on federal lands. The Houston independent also has enough drilling permits and leases on private lands to support at least eight years of drilling activity.

Our government provides an important system of checks and balances, which provides for due process before any regulatory changes, and these changes have to consider the interest of all stakeholders, Billy Helms, EOGs chief operating officer, told analysts earlier this month. Ultimately, regulatory and legislative changes that deny access to current property rights could amount to a government taking. So therell certainly be some legal consequences of going through the process.

Chevrons chief financial officer, Pierre Breber, said the California oil major is willing to work with either Trump or Biden to help the oil and gas industry recover from the pandemic.

Were going to continue to work with whatever administration is in place and work to make sure that theres a good understanding of potential regulation and the impacts that it may have as we move forward, Breber said.

paul.takahashi@chron.com

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In his most blistering attack on Donald Trump, former United States president Barack Obama has accused his successor of treating the presidency like a "reality show" and said the top Republican leader "hasn't grown into the job because he can't".

IMAGE: Former US President Barack Obama speaks by video feed during the virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention as participants from across the country are hosted over video links from the originally planned site of the convention in Milwaukee. Photograph: 2020 Democratic National Convention/Reuters

Obama, the country's first Black president, spoke on the third night of the virtual Democratic National Convention on Wednesday just before Senator Kamala Harris of California became the first Black person to be formally nominated for vice-president by a major party.

Former US vice president Joe Biden is already the Democratic presidential nominee.

Obama said that both Biden and Harris have the experience needed to get things done and they have concrete policies that will turn their vision of a better, fairer, stronger country into reality.

But he had some very harsh words for President Trump who is seeking re-election in the November 3 presidential polls.

"I have sat in the Oval Office with both of the men who are running for president. I never expected that my successor would embrace my vision or continue my policies," Obama said.

Obama said that he had hoped that Trump might "show some interest in taking the job seriously. But he never did".

"I did hope, for the sake of our country, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously; that he might come to feel the weight of the office and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care," Obama said in an unusually strong criticism of Trump during his remarks.

"For close to four years now, he's shown no interest in putting in the work; no interest in finding common ground; no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends; no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves.

"Donald Trump hasn't grown into the job because he can't," Obama said, giving his address from Philadelphia, where the US Constitution was drafted and signed.

IMAGE: Televisions at Good City Brewing show former US President Barack Obama speaking at the Democratic National Convention, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters

The former president said one expects a president to be the "custodian" of American democracy and one who, regardless of ego, ambition or political beliefs, will preserve, protect and defend the freedoms and ideals that so many Americans marched for, went to jail for, fought for and died for.

Obama said the consequences of Trump's failure as President have been severe with more 170,000 Americans died due to the coronavirus and loss of millions of jobs while those at the top have raked in more wealth.

"Our worst impulses unleashed, our proud reputation around the world badly diminished, and our democratic institutions threatened like never before," Obama said.

In calling on Americans to vote for Biden as the next President and Harris as Vice President, Obama said for the eight years of his presidency, Biden was the "last one in the room whenever I faced a big decision. He made me a better president, and he's got the character and the experience to make us a better country."

Describing Harris as his friend, Obama said she is an "ideal partner" for Biden and is "more than prepared for the job; someone who knows what it's like to overcome barriers and who's made a career fighting to help others live out their own American dream".

He said both Biden and Harris have the experience needed to get things done and they have concrete policies that will turn their vision of a better, fairer, stronger country into reality.

"They'll get this pandemic under control like Joe did when he helped me manage H1N1 and prevent an Ebola outbreak from reaching our shores," he said, adding that they would expand health care to more Americans, rescue the economy and will restore America's standing in the world.

"Joe and Kamala will restore our standing in the world and as we've learned from this pandemic, that matters. Joe knows the world, and the world knows him. He knows that our true strength comes from setting an example the world wants to follow.

"A nation that stands with democracy, not dictators. A nation that can inspire and mobilize others to overcome threats like climate change, terrorism, poverty, and disease," he said.

Obama asserted that both Biden and Harris believe that no one -- including the president -- is above the law and that no public official, including the president, should use their office to enrich themselves or their supporters.
SRINAGAR: The security forces on Thursday (August 20, 2020) gunned down three terrorists in a fierce gun battle in Kreeri Jammu and Kashmirs Baramulla district.

According to J&K DGP Dilbag Singh, those killed in the Baramulla encounter included North Kashmir's biggest commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba, Sajjad Haidar, his Pakistani accomplice Usman and a local Kashmiri aide Anaitulla.

In three operations over the last four days, 6 terrorists have been killed, out of them, four were part of the list of top ten terrorists active in Kashmir, J&K DGP Dilbag Singh said during a press briefing.

Singh added that these operations are commendable and will certainly be a relief for people as Sajjad Haidar radicalised many youths. The killing of Haidar is significant as he was involved in several terror-related incidents and radicalised many young Kashmiri youths for Jihad.

Earlier, a terrorist was killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district. The J&K Police on Thursday said that the slain Pakistani terrorist was identified as Danish.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar said the killing of the two terrorists was a big achievement for the security forces.

Kumar had on Wednesday said that one of the slain terrorists was LeT commander Naseer-u-din Lone, who was involved in the killing of three CRPF jawans at Sopore on April 18 and another three CRPF jawans at Handwara on May 4 this year.

He said an AK-47 rifle, which was snatched from a CRPF jawan after the attack at Vangam Handwara on May 4, was recovered from Lone.

This proved his involvement in the killing of the three CRPF jawans, he said. The killing of Lone and Danish is a big achievement for the forces, the IGP Kashmir said.

The Kashmir Zone Police on its official Twitter page uploaded a CCTV grab purportedly showing Lone firing on CRPF jawans at Aahad Baba Chowk in Sopore on April 18. The police wrote "justice done" on August 19 in the tweet.

The encounter at Ganipora Kralgund area of Handwara in north Kashmir's Kupwara district started after security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.

The encounter was the second such operation on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, security forces killed two militants in Shopian district in south Kashmir.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 20, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Ambassador to Brazil Arman Hakobyan presented his credentials to President Jair Bolsonaro in a ceremony at the Palacio do Planalto in Brasilia, the foreign ministry said in a news release.

After the ceremony, the ambassador and the Brazilian President talked about bilateral relations. Brazils FM Ernesto Araujo and other officials were present.

Speaking about the bilateral Armenia-Brazil ties, the interlocutors agreed that significant potential exists and emphasized the importance of fully utilizing it.

President Bolsonaro spoke highly about the Armenian community of Brazil and noted that it may boost the development of ties between the two countries.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Volunteers provide coronavirus testing for any Delaware County resident over the age of 18, during a walk-in at the Parking Lot Adjacent to Providence Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center on Mercy Fitzgerald Campus in Yeadon, Pa., Thursday, July 9, 2020. Read more

Right now, we stand on a precipice. Global disruption like the world is currently experiencing presents an opportunity for each one of us to stand up and be on the right side of history. We are grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for public health. At the same time, protesters have taken to the streets to speak out against decades of systemic, pervasive racism.

These two issues are deeply connected. It has been well understood that advanced age and preexisting conditions increase the chance of becoming very sick with COVID-19. Initiatives such as the COVID Racial Data Tracker opened a window into the effect of COVID on communities of color. However, it wasnt until the CDCs more comprehensive morbidity and mortality data were made public (after a lawsuit) that it became frighteningly clear that vulnerable communities were bearing an undue burden.

Again.

Looking at 640,000 infections detected in almost 1,000 communities, the data showed that Latinos and Black people were three times as likely to become infected with COVID-19  and nearly twice as likely to die from COVID-19  as white people.

Despite months of learnings to draw from, testing problems in todays rapidly expanding list of hot spots reflect a spectrum of failures:

Residents of predominantly Latino south Phoenix waited for hours in scorching heat to take a COVID-19 test in June. Despite spiking infections, Sacramento County announced they were closing five coronavirus testing sites in underserved communities due to a growing shortage of testing materials. And Pennsylvania, like many states, continues to struggle with testing and has faced a shortage of supplies and delayed lab test results. Resources for Black communities were falling so short in Philadelphia that Ala Stanford filled a van with tests and administered them  for free  to people lacking access to medical care.

COVID-19 is yet another systematic disenfranchisement of Americans of color. This is why we must democratize COVID-19 testing and ensure that communities of color have equal access to health care and knowledge about their health status.

Fortunately, we are closer than you might think. One strategy is to adopt the same proven model used to tackle the global HIV/AIDS epidemic: self-testing.

 READ MORE: Pa. wants to expand coronavirus testing but faces a shortage of supplies and lab result delays, Wolf and Levine say

Rapid self-testing can move the needle by providing tests  and results  to anybody, anywhere, anytime. Self-tests give people a result within minutes, with no instrumentation needed to interpret the results, and no need to transport samples to a lab for processing. Home pregnancy tests may be the best-known example, but self-tests are available for HIV, too.

In sub-Saharan Africa, the proportion of people with HIV who knew their status had almost doubled to 81% between 2015 and 2018, according to a report by the STAR Initiative, UNITAID, and the World Health Organization.

The reason? A combination of HIV self-tests that could easily be administered in-home, and the concerted efforts of governments and civil society. Outreach workers literally put kits in their backpacks and distributed them door to door.

Rapid self-testing like this could help prevent the spread of COVID amongst our most vulnerable communities in the United States and around the world. Imagine the impact of a test that would not require a trip to a testing site or lab.

This vision is already on the way to becoming a reality. For example, scientists at my company are racing to bring a rapid self-test that would confirm active infection by detecting viral proteins (antigens) to market by year-end. To date, there are no COVID-19 tests for active infection like this one, which would provide a result at the collection point with no need for an instrument to interpret the results.

 READ MORE: Schools cant reopen safely without better COVID testing for kids, say these Philly pediatricians l Expert Opinion

Collaboration between the public, private, and nonprofit sectors can help bring tests like these to scale. A recent report on testing from the Rockefeller Foundation says an additional $75 billion in federal funding should be earmarked to make tests accessible to everyone and ensure that low-income and minority communities are adequately served. The report goes on to say this is the best investment America could make in averting an even more tragic and pending disaster.

All people, regardless of zip code, skin color, or primary language, deserve access to accurate diagnostics, effective treatment, and preventive vaccines. With a reliable COVID-19 self-testing model, like the one successfully adopted for HIV, we can democratize testing for the future health of all.

Lets eliminate disparities, not add to them. Lets not let testing become yet another wedge that separates us.

Stephen S. Tang is the president and chief executive officer of OraSure Technologies Inc. in Bethlehem. A version of this piece first appeared in the Morning Call.
Dragon Horse Agency operates as production support for episode four, entitled "Wolf to Dog", of the Netflix Brazil documentary series Mystery Lab. The segment was shot at Shy Wolf Sanctuary in Naples, Florida.

Dragon Horse Agency is thrilled to announce their first Netflix series feature, operating as production support for episode four of the Netflix Brazil documentary series called Mystery Lab (Mundo Misterio) entitled From Wolf to Dog. The series, hosted by Youtube star Felipe Castanhari, explores science, history, mysteries and marvels. For this episode, which examines how some wolves have evolved over thousands of years to get closer to humans as dogs, they found the perfect setting at our beloved Shy Wolf Sanctuary.

Shy Wolf Founders Nancy and Kent Smith gave unprecedented access to the Dragon Horse production team, led by Dragon Horse Chief Creative Officer Edward Clay, Dragon Horse President Julie Koester and Netflix Brazil team lead producer Pedro Montes, to film around their rescue wolves and wolfdogs. Captured in early May 2019, the segment showcases the facility and its inhabitants against the backdrop of southwest Floridas lush tropical environment.

Dragon Horse president Julie Koester said, We are thrilled to help share with the world the amazing work being done by Shy Wolf, guided by Executive Director Deanna Deppen and supported by a wonderful team of staff and volunteers.

Mystery Lab is airing now on Netflix. For more information about Shy Wolf Sanctuary please visit them online. For additional information about Dragon Horse Agency and their production services, please email Julie Koester at jwk@dragonhorseagency.com, or call 239-325-5088.

ABOUT DRAGON HORSE AGENCY

Dragon Horse Agency, Florida's Telly award-winning original creative strategy syndicate based in Southwest Florida, has opened its doors as a premier marketing and business strategy agency. Each of the three Dragon Horse managing partners offer a rare combination of creative, business, and visionary talents. They form a dynamic team of experienced professionals, building solid foundations for the brands of tomorrow.

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If they want to win against China, the Indian Air Force needs new types of fighters to combat the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force over the Himalayas. Both nations are bracing for conflict if the current situation in the Ladakh border escalates in deployments, with India not taking China's intrusion as trivial.

A chief agitator is the clash wherein 20 Indian troopers perished against Chinese soldiers. Battles along the high country that borders China and India also took the lives of 43 Chinese, according to reports but the PLA omitted the number of its casualties, according to Defense News.

Now, India has put in an order of 33 Russian fighter planes at $780 million, the cost is enough to equip or re-equip about two air wings. For some experts, their choice is not particular for the specific theatre, as other plane types are better for the Himalayas.

Although the 21 Mig-29s and 12 Su-30s are eminent air superiority fighters, they are not a perfect fit for the Ladakh environment they will fight in. There are other close support planes that can do the job of cleaning up the Chinese mess.

Sources remarks that the IAF has been planning to add more planes to boost the current number of aircraft in service, which are the 230 Su-30s and 60 MiGs-29s. An additional number of planes will be purchased to add to the current fleet in operation. Further acquisitions will be 83 India-made Tejas light fighter and about 144 foreign medium fighters, as reported in Fighter Jets World.

About 28 squadrons will be raised to 40 in all, these numbers are needed to confront both Pakistan and China on two fronts. The mix of Sukhois, MiGs, Tejas, and the medium fighters will square off with adversarial nations like the China and Pakistan Axis.

Also read: Indian Navy's Aggressive Deployment Serve as Warning to Beijing Over Border Disputes

As far as Air Forces go, the IAF flies the most eclectic squadrons that are Indian, Russian, French, Rafales, and the European Jaguars, flown by any nation.

Medium fighters on the list are the Rafale, Su-30, and MiG-29 that will fill up this requirement. Other firms like the Lockheed Martin LMT and Boeing BA is bidding for a contract for upgraded F-16 and the F/A-18E/F. Saab of Sweden is offering its delta wing Gripen as an option.

Some experts like Tom Cooper said the IAF needs new fighters, and western fighters are the most suitable to surely exceed performance and combat. The Russian Fulcrum and Sukhois are good, but they are not as capable.

He added that in a recent conflict with Pakistan, the IAF lost one MiG fighter because the Pakistanis were fielding the F-16 Fighting Eagle. Now, India will be facing off with China who use Russian planes as well.

Another point is that the Indian Mirage 2000 were able to outperform Russian-made fighters, that were unsuited for mountainous areas when a squadron of Mirages used guided munitions to wipeout a Pakistani HQ.

A Litening pod's electro-optical imaging sensor is useful to paint a target at nine-miles way and release weapon at five miles in a slant. The laser marked the spot till it was hit. This was done in 2012.

Combat in the high country is where Mirage 2000 made it better than the Su-30. India has decided to go with the Rafale that is an ascendant the Mirage. India will get 36 of them too.

Related article: Chinese Fighter Jets in Indian Border Doubled in Number

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A video of Chris Hemsworth relaying a series of wholesome and positive affirmations has gone viral on social media.

The Australian actor gave his supporters a motivational pep talk, telling them they 'are more than capable of taking on the day by storm' and that they make 'the world a better place'.

Fans agreed that the 37-year-old's soothing words were something they needed to hear, while others said his speech had completely changed their lives.

Scroll down for video

Just what we needed! A video of Chris Hemsworth relaying a series of wholesome and positive affirmations has gone viral on social media

Dressed in a slick navy blazer, the Thor actor began the video by saying: 'Hey you, yes you! Today is your day. You got this.

'You're absolutely crushing it at everything you do, from your job to maintaining a social life to pursuing your passion project, you are killing it!

'Ignore anyone who tells you otherwise because you're amazing.'

If those comforting words weren't enough, he added: 'The only thing more beautiful than your smile is your personality. You're more than capable of taking on the world, the whole world, by storm.

'Speaking of the world, did you know that it's a better place because you're in it?'

Daily affirmations: The Australian actor looked every inch the heartthrob as he gave fans a motivational pep talk

Motivation: Chris told his fans they 'are more than capable of taking on the day by storm' and that they make 'the world a better place'

'Total package': Chris added, 'The only thing more beautiful than your smile is your personality'

The Thor: Ragnarok star wasn't done there, as he continued: 'I mean, your mum brags about you all the time. Dogs love you. You're strong, you're confident, you're intelligent, you're charismatic - you're the total package!

'On a scale from one to 10, you're an 11. You make me want to be a better man. You're bloody brilliant. You're f**king brilliant. Don't forget it, okay? Do not forget it.'

Chris concluded: 'Take the day by storm and remember this, I'm proud of you. I'm so proud of you!'

Hunk: Chris (pictured in 2017's Thor: Ragnarok) wasn't done there, as he continued: 'I mean, your mum brags about you all the time. Dogs love you. You're strong, you're confident, you're intelligent, you're charismatic - you're the total package!'

Wise words: He urged his swooning fans to ignore their critics and continue pursuing things that were important to them

'You're amazing': Chris' affirmation were never-ending during the one-minute long clip

His affirmations went down a treat with enraptured fans, with one admitting, 'Omg, this is what I needed today!' while another added: 'What a wonderful gift to give the world! This is incredible!'

Another said: 'This honestly put a smile on my face. Thank you, @chrishemsworth. I am this today. And tomorrow, too. And all the other following days as well.'

Others revealed plans to turn the audio into their alarm clock, with someone tweeting: '*Googles how to turn this video into my alarm sound in the mornings!*'

Another echoed: 'In fact, it's what I need every day... I'm watching this every morning before I start my day.'

Chris concluded: 'Take the day by storm and remember this, I'm proud of you'

'I feel better!' Fans agreed that the 37-year-old's soothing words were something they needed to hear, while others said his speech had completely changed their lives

Someone else cheekily added: 'I NEEDED THIS! Can we get a shirtless version? In a slightly humid climate?'

The motivational video was first shared by the Chris Hemsworth fan account 'Hemsbest'.

However, given the Netflix branding at the end of the clip, it's assumed the video was filmed during Chris' promotional duties for his movie Extraction, which was released on the streaming service back in April.
Toya Sarno Jordan/Getty ImagesBy QUINN SCANLAN, ABC News



(WASHINGTON) -- Amid accusations that the Democratic National Convention lacks Latino representation, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, the first Democratic Latina governor elected in the United States, said she agrees that the party needs to keep working to develop relationships with that "incredibly diverse" constituency.



"We need a to develop the relationships with the Hispanic Latino voters and communities in this country, which are incredibly diverse and different... it's a recognition of who we are, where we came from, how our values have been shaped in each of our communities," Lujan Grisham told ABC News' "Powerhouse Politics" podcast. "We didn't do enough at the convention. We haven't done enough before. We just need to keep at it."



Over the weekend, former Democratic presidential candidate Julian Castro, who served as Housing and Urban Development secretary under former President Barack Obama, said he was disappointed that there weren't more prime time Latino speakers, nor any Native American or Muslim American speakers.



"One of the special things about the Democratic Party when you compare it to the Republican Party is that Democrats have built up this beautiful coalition over the last several years which has helped power it to several victories," Castro said in an interview on CNN Tuesday night. "We want to cement a relationship with one of the fastest growing communities in the United States... If we want to win up and down the ballot in the years to come, then we have to make sure that there aren't missteps like only three out of 35 speakers (being Latino)."



Castro's senior adviser, Sawyer Hackett, tweeted that it was "completely unacceptable that there are as many Republicans speaking at the convention as Latinos."



Asked whether she agreed with that, Lujan Grisham said that while she wishes more of those voices were highlighted, including that of Castro, who gave the keynote address during 2012's convention, she said that "this is a completely unique set of circumstances."



"The vice president's message is leadership means that we have to build bridges in ways that we didn't think about ever before, and that means highlighting and recognizing that Republicans want a credible truthful, fair visionary in the White House, and not somebody else and I agree," the governor told podcast co-hosts Jonathan Karl, ABC News' chief White House correspondent, and Rick Klein, ABC News' political director.



Lujan Grisham will speak during Wednesday night's programming, giving remarks focusing on the importance of addressing climate change.



She said that even in the current economic crisis, tackling that issue -- one of the most important to Democratic voters -- can't be sacrificed, and that's this moment, with the pandemic and the economic downturn, actually presents an opportunity.



"This is a moral imperative, like protecting people from COVID," she said, talking about what New Mexico has done to revitalize its energy sector with an "aggressive... transition strategy," ramping us its wind and solar power use. "This is the place where you can do a parallel -- we protect young workers, we engage new technology, we transform the economy, we save the planet, and we can be COVID safe in the way in which we support that energy work."



Lujan Grisham was one of the women on former Vice President Joe Biden's running mate shortlist. She spoke about the rigorous -- and closely held -- vetting process on "Powerhouse Politics."



"I may not have had the strongest relationship with the vice president, but he was incredibly kind and genuine. He apologized to all of us about how painful (it was) because he knows how that works," she said. "It is really incredible about the depth of which they figure out what makes you tick, how you got to be where you are and what you did in every component of the course of your personal and professional life since you were in high school."



The governor had no hard feelings about not being selected to join the ticket, heaping praise on Biden's choice, California Sen. Kamala Harris, saying she "couldn't be prouder to have her back, and to talk about what an incredible ticket this really is."



She also spoke about an issue that's guaranteed to be at the center of the political conversation through Election Day: voting by mail.



President Donald Trump has claimed without evidence that widespread mail-in ballots will lead to massive voter fraud, ramping up his attacks on the upcoming election Monday by asserting the only way he will lose "is if the election is rigged."



Lujan Grisham said she thinks her state is "probably more prepared than most states" to handle the expected increase in absentee mail ballots, noting that during the primary there was a 1000% increase in voters opting to cast ballots by mail.



To help alleviate some of that influx, she said the state is putting ballot drop boxes "in as many places, rural and urban, in the state that we can."



In terms of safeguards for voting by mail, Lujan Grisham noted that every ballot has a unique barcode on it, so the secretary of state's office is able to track them through every step of the process.



"You've got a White House that tells people that there's massive fraud as an allegation that is intended... to create voter suppression," she said. "We're aware of that and so we're messaging exactly the opposite to reassure New Mexicans that we're doing it right, we have a professional process.... and frankly, it's more safe to do it the way that we are doing it."



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Uber and Lyft have long categorized drivers as independent contractors, an arrangement that the companies say allows drivers to have more control over where and when they drive. But this model imposes a financial burden on drivers, who are responsible for their own vehicle maintenance, health insurance and other expenses that employers traditionally cover.

Last year, the California Legislature passed A.B. 5 in an attempt to set clearer employment standards for the state and rein in gig-economy giants like Uber. Legislators argued that Uber shortchanged its drivers and exploited an unfair advantage over law-abiding businesses in the state.

Although the law went into effect in January, Uber and Lyft did not change their practices. They argued that A.B. 5 did not apply to them and spent tens of millions of dollars on a ballot initiative that, if passed in November, would exempt them from the law.

In May, Californias attorney general sued Uber and Lyft to force them to comply with A.B. 5. The standoff came to a head last week when a San Francisco Superior Court judge, Ethan Schulman, sided with the state, ordering Uber and Lyft to reclassify their drivers by Thursday.

Uber and Lyft have argued that they are technology companies and that drivers are not a core part of their business. But that flies in the face of economic reality and common sense, Judge Schulman wrote in his ruling. Were this reasoning to be accepted, the rapidly expanding majority of industries that rely heavily on technology could with impunity deprive legions of workers of the basic protections afforded to employees by state labor and employment laws.

Our state and workers shouldnt have to foot the bill when big businesses try to skip out on their responsibilities, said the California attorney general, Xavier Becerra.

Rather than hire drivers, Uber and Lyft threatened to shut down. The decision could have caused the businesses, which have already struggled financially because of travel restrictions during the pandemic, to lose even more money.
Increasing government attempts to censor or regulate the internet may result in new digital borders that could change the ways we currently experience the World Wide Web.

Authoritarian governments have long operated digital borders to restrict the flow of information and censor material it does not want its citizens to receive. One of the largest such efforts is in China, where the government blocks major parts of the internet in a massive system known as the Great Firewall of China.

But there have also been attempts by countries to create digital borders by enacting rules that limit how the internet and technology companies can operate in those areas. The justification for such rules in democratic systems usually centers on protecting the individual privacy and national security.

Increased EU privacy, antitrust regulations

The European Union, EU, has been one of the most active legislators in this area. About two years ago, the EU approved a massive privacy measure known as the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR. It aims to protect the personal data of citizens and requires companies to follow rules relating to how they collect, process and store such information.

The regulations cover not only all EU nations, but also American-based technology companies doing business there, including Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple.

In recent years, the EU has launched numerous investigations into U.S. technology companies for violating rules related to privacy protection or antitrust laws.

The European Commission (EC), for example, fined Google $2.7 billion in 2017 for unfairly influencing online search results for its own businesses. Then, in 2018, Google was hit with a record $5 billion antitrust fine related to its business operations.

Several additional investigations involving technology companies are ongoing in the EU into possible violations of user privacy or antitrust regulations.

Justin Sherman is an expert on internet technology and cybersecurity at the Atlantic Council, a research group in Washington. He told VOA that EU regulatory efforts over the years have resulted in changes that have reshaped the internet experience in Europe in some ways compared to the U.S.

Now theres increasing divergence a little bit in how the regulations shape that space.

Sherman added that there are also increasing attempts  many by authoritarian governments - to use technology to block data from getting in.

States are limiting just how easy it is for information to flow across borders.

James Lewis is a senior vice president and director of the Technology Policy Program at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. He told VOA that even though increasing efforts to regulate or block parts of the internet exist, he still sees the internet as the worldwide network it was first set up to be.

The basic information superhighway was based on protocols that still work, and they still connect everyone. But a lot of countries have put speed bumps in the highway.

Lewis said that in the beginning, internet regulation was considered unnecessary. But today, there are a lot more public concerns about how people and organizations can misuse it.

Its privacy and security more than anything else that drives a lot of these speed bumps.

Even the man credited with inventing the World Wide Web, Tim Berners-Lee, has called for major changes to make the internet better for humanity. Last year, he released a Contract for the Web, designed as a guide for governments, companies and citizens to take actions in an effort to improve the web.

Lewis noted a recent ruling by the EUs top court that found that an existing agreement on transatlantic data flows is no longer acceptable and must be recreated. The agreement, known as the Privacy Shield framework, covers large data flows between Europe and the U.S. Companies including Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Amazon are affected by the agreement.

Lewis predicted it will not be easy for EU and U.S. negotiators to create replacement rules, mainly because of longstanding differences over privacy regulation.

I think 2021 will be the year of internet regulation, we can look forward to more of this. It wont break the internet, it will just make it a lot more complicated to use.

US-China relationships

In the U.S., recent threats have come from the Trump administration to ban Chinese apps such as TikTok and WeChat. U.S. officials say the apps could misuse private data and represent a risk to national security.

But both Lewis and Sherman say they see such threats as politically driven in a complex U.S.-China relationship. Such bans would be nearly impossible to enforce, they noted.

Sherman says it would be more useful for the government to set up better trust-vetting processes to identify which apps and technologies present specific privacy and security risks.

He also called for the development of strong democratic coalitions to create better internet freedom policies. In the U.S., building more political will can also better equip officials to create stronger digital policies at home, Sherman added.

It is possible  and we should want this  its possible to both uphold those democratic regulations at home, and contest this technological authoritarianism abroad - we can do both.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn reported this story, with additional information from Reuters. Hai Do was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

Quiz - Rising Digital Nationalism Could Create New Internet Borders Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

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Words in This Story

regulate  v. to make rules or laws that control something

digital  adj. relating to computer technology and the internet

authoritarian  adj. enforcing or pushing for strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom

divergence  n. going in different directions

protocol  n. rules for the way a system operates

bump  n. a raised, round area on a surface

complicated  adj. involving a lot of different parts in a way that is difficult to understand

app  n. a program for a smartphone or other device that performs a special function

vet  v. examine details about something in order to make a decision

contest  v. to say formally that something is wrong or unfair and try to get it changed
Leis has COVIDWISE, the recently released statewide app that uses Bluetooth technology to alert people when they have come in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Virginia was the first state to release COVIDWISE, a collaboration between Apple and Google.

I dont trust VCU to notify people [with the app] and I dont trust people to say they are sick, Leis said.

Porter did not directly rumors circulating on social media that upward of 30 students in a freshman dorm have tested positive for COVID-19; Leis said she hasnt received any notifications and neither have any of her underclassmen friends.

All VCU students returning to on-campus housing were required to be tested for coronavirus before arrival. Of the residential tests, 4,380 tested negative and 15 were positive.

As of Thursday, VCU has an enrollment of 28,359, Porter said. The school is offering in-person and online classes and the universitys dorms are home to more than 4,000 students in space designed for more than 6,200.

Of VCUs enrollment, 4,504 students live on campus. Residential Life and Housing is unaware of any student moving out because of COVID-19, Porter said.
Berlin: German Chancellor Angela Merkel hosted Greta Thunberg and other leading Fridays for Future activists in Berlin on Thursday for talks on the EU's climate goals, with the campaigners expected to condemn "political inaction".

Merkel said Swedish 17-year-old Thunberg and her co-campaigners Luisa Neubauer from Germany and Belgium's Anuna De Wever and Adelaide Charlier had requested the meeting and she was "pleased" to welcome them to the chancellery.

The activists warned ahead of the talks that they were dismayed at the lack of progress in fighting climate change despite lofty promises by European governments.

"When it comes to action we are still in a state of denial. The climate and ecological crisis has never once been treated as a crisis," they wrote in a letter published in Germany's Der Spiegel and Britain's The Guardian on Wednesday.

"We will tell Merkel that she must face up to the climate emergency -- especially as Germany now holds the presidency of the European Council. Europe has a responsibility to act."

The meeting comes exactly two years after Thunberg, then 15, started skipping school to strike outside the Swedish parliament to dramatise the need for action against global warming.

The strike movement has since spread across the world and Merkel has repeatedly expressed her admiration for the masses of young people demonstrating on Fridays for more climate protection.

But the activists say nothing concrete has changed.

"Effectively, we have lost another two crucial years to political inaction," they wrote, calling on countries to urgently halt all fossil fuel investments.

Despite its green reputation abroad, Germany is struggling to meet its own climate targets as the country remains heavily reliant on coal because of its decision to phase out nuclear energy after the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

Europe's top economy was widely expected to miss its goal of reducing climate-heating greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent this year compared with 1990 levels.

But a government report on Wednesday said the coronavirus could unexpectedly help it meet the target after all, after the pandemic wrecked economic activity and lowered demand for polluting coal.

Germany has promised to abandon coal-generated power by 2038, a date considered far too late by climate activists.

The European Union as a whole aims to achieve carbon neutrality -- or net zero greenhouse emissions -- by 2050.
US cannot cross a bridge it burned: Rouhani says of push for 'snapback' sanctions

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 19 August 2020 10:23 AM

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani says the US will once again fail in its new push to invoke the so-called snapback provision in the 2015 nuclear deal and re-impose all UN sanctions against Tehran.

"America is no longer a member of the JCPOA to use this mechanism, and all the parties [to the deal] have already condemned the US effort," he told a cabinet in Tehran on Wednesday, referring to the nuclear accord by its formal name, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the JCPOA in May 2018, calling it "the worst deal ever negotiated." Washington also reinstated its unilateral economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic after leaving the multilateral agreement in defiance of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2231 that enshrined the nuclear agreement.

Now after more than two years, the Trump administration is seeking to trigger the snapback of anti-Iran sanctions at the UN by claiming that it remains a participant in the JCPOA.

The new push comes after the US suffered a humiliating defeat at the UNSC as its resolution to renew the Iranian arms embargo was overwhelmingly rejected.

Rouhani reminded Washington that the snapback mechanism states that "the parties to the JCPOA or one of them" can use it.

"The world knows what will happen if the United States takes this dead-end path. They themselves have burned the bridge and imagine that there is still a bridge [for them] to cross," he said.

The Iranian chief executive also expressed the government's resolve to keep standing, with all power, against the US and the countries attempting to oppress the nation.

"If anyone in Iran thinks that this tyrannical government in the White House and the oppressive sanctions are permanent, they are wrong because neither the White House tyrants nor the sanctions are there to stay forever," he said.

"Sanctions will break and disappear. Through resistance, we made them understand that they have made a mistake and the White House has fully understood that they have made a mistake, but they are helpless on the path they have taken and it has become difficult for them to find a way out."

"The humiliating defeats of the United States have been brought about thanks to the vigilance of the [Islamic] establishment and the government," he added.

Rouhani further thanked Russia and China for voting against the US-proposed resolution on the extension of the Iranian arms embargo as well as the remaining 11 council members for abstaining.

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2020 / In the fast-paced world, time and convenience have been the priority of the busiest people. As flights become quickly jam-packed, crazy schedules and the fear of delays are rampant, people, especially the VIPs, are now geared towards private jets that are committed to being available anytime, anywhere.

Access Jet Group is an intelligent and luxurious private jet supplier that uses a personal approach to a select tier of clientele who appreciate a global private air travel experience. Founded by entrepreneur and seasoned private aviation adviser, Adam Hasiak, he is creating personalized private jet travel solutions that are tailored to every individual or business need.

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As comfort and luxury come together, Access Jet Group ensures comfort in every private jet service through corporate charters and leisure charters. As such, one of their vehicles on selection is the Airbus 320 Neo corporate jet that is designed with nineteen seats, executive-style seating, and equipped with a bedroom, and shower.

The company expands its presence worldwide as it aims to deliver to all clients who want to experience traveling safely in luxury. They can arrange private jet charter flights anywhere in the world, as their preferred network spans to North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. They are equipped with outstanding know-how, whether transcontinental, international, cross-country or short-distance destinations.

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SOURCE: Access Jet Group

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602568/How-Access-Jet-Group-Leads-in-the-Global-Private-Air-Travel-Industry
As Chicagos Neighborhood Hotel, we are committed to helping provide the funds that make it easier for families to get better together.

In an effort to give back to the community in which it serves, Hotel Chicago West Loop is donating 10 percent of each hotel room booked with a special new rate code to benefit children and families at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana (RMHC-CNI), effective immediately. Donations will be applied to any room type, any time, now through the end of the year whenever guests use code RMHC1 when booking direct through http://www.hotelchicagowestloop.com or 312.243.2900. The three-year-old independent property is known for providing a Chicago cultural experience, with hallways that double as art galleries and select guest rooms that feature murals painted by local street artists.

Ronald McDonald House is an essential extension of the critical medical care children are receiving at local hospitals by providing their families with a safe and comfortable place to stay just minutes away, said Jean-Luc Laramie, General Manager of Hotel Chicago West Loop, which also offers a special reduced rate plan to Ronald McDonald House families. Because pediatric illness does not stop, Ronald McDonald House is always there for thousands of families every year. As Chicagos Neighborhood Hotel, we are committed to helping provide the funds that make it easier for families to get better together. In addition to donating 10 percent of each room rate booked, we invite our community to make a donation to RMHC-CNIs summer fundraising campaign to help even more families in need. To contribute today, go to http://www.ronaldhousechicago.org/donate/summer2020.

Families with critically ill children are under a tremendous amount of stress and rely on Ronald McDonald House to keep them close to their hospitalized children, said Lisa Mitchell, Vice President of Program & Services, RMHC-CNI. Meanwhile, we rely on our community to enable us to continue providing these essential services. We are incredibly grateful to Hotel Chicago West Loop for encouraging our community to come alongside and help others in their greatest time of need.

The Ronald McDonald House in Chicago aims to keep families together with their hospitalized children who are being treated at Lurie Childrens, which is just a few minutes away. Hotel Chicago West Loop supported this Ronald McDonald House in 2019 when the entire hotel staff donated a day to cook and serve families homemade meals. The hotel also assists Chicagos medical community by housing some of the families in need who are receiving medical attention in the Illinois Medical District nearby.

More About Hotel Chicago West Loop:

Hotel Chicago West Loop is a stylish boutique property that has been called one of the Top 10 budget-friendly hotels by USA Today. A stay here includes cultural immersion, as the dual-purpose neighborhood hotel doubles as a full-functioning art gallery. The Annex at Hotel Chicago West Loop encompasses the lobby, all four levels of guest hallway spaces, and select guestrooms with over 100 pieces of 2-D media including murals, both permanent works and rotating exhibits. To further support the local arts community, Hotel Chicago West Loop donates 10 percent all regular room rates (when booked using promo code ANNEX) to designated local non-profit organizations that promote artistry such as Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.

https://www.hotelchicagowestloop.com/

1622 W Jackson Blvd Chicago, IL 60612

(312) 243-2900

FB: Hotel Chicago West Loop

IG:@hotelchicago


On Wednesday, a video showed her playing the French horn  an instrument she played as a child and has been working to relearn  and laboring to put together sentences. Then she looked directly at the camera and spoke about the importance of grit and not giving up. Words once came easily, today I struggle to speak, but I have not lost my voice, she said, in remarks her office said took hours to prepare because of her disability. America needs all of us to speak out, even when you have to fight to find the words.
Virginia is for nature lovers. The commonwealth is home to 19 National Park Service sites, 38 state parks and countless preserves, natural areas and local recreation spaces. The great outdoors is where many of us go to escape for a time when we need to destress. Not only do open spaces, wooded glens and majestic mountain peaks inspire and rejuvenate us mentally, spending time outdoors is physically good for us as well. Besides the obvious benefits of exercise, being outside on a sunny day leads to Vitamin D production, which helps strengthen our immune systems, fight depression and boost weight loss.

Little wonder then, that in these trying times, when so many traditional summer fun activities have been closed because of the coronavirus, millions more Americans are visiting state and national parks. As noted in Mondays RTD, since the onset of COVID-19 restrictions and shutdowns, Virginias wide-open spaces have become meccas for families, fitness advocates and the restless.

While it is good to see so many people discover the wonders of our parks and preserves, it is also causing growing headaches and creating environmental nightmares. Virginia State Parks director Melissa Baker told the RTD that this past June, there were 120,000 more visits to state parks than a year earlier.

Not only are all those extra visitors stressing park infrastructure, trampling vegetation and frightening off wildlife, they are leaving behind tons of litter. Some visitors are drinking alcohol while visiting the natural areas  which often can mean those folks are failing to follow common sense guidelines, park rules and general safety practices.

Already this year, several state preserves have had to be closed to visitors due to damages, erosion, vandalism and other harmful behaviors. Most of the areas have opened to the public again, but this time, new barriers and signs have been installed to urge hikers to stay on the trails and be mindful.

We hope Virginians heed the Know Before You Go campaign that state parks and preserves are promoting. The guidelines, protocols and suggestions provided are useful in letting potential hikers know what amenities and activities are available at parks and preserves across the state.

The beauty and serenity of Virginias great outdoors are unmatched. It is incumbent upon everyone who visits a natural area to ensure it stays that way. Remember to leave only your footprints and take only photos and memories.

Richmond Times-Dispatch
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has chided, through his spokesperson, former President Serzh Sarkisian over his remarks made at a press conference on Wednesday regarding the July clashes at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

Sarkisian, who held his first press conference since Pashinian-led street protests forced him to resign in April 2018, spoke at length about 2016 April clashes in Nagorno-Karabakh.

He, in particular, said that four years ago battles in Nagorno-Karabakh were waged along a 200-kilometer frontline with Azerbaijan and by their scale could not be compared to the July 2020 fighting in Tavush that proceeded at a front of several hundred meters.

Following the clashes in Tavush Pashinian asked the president of Armenia to award 16 servicemen who participated in the battles with the Order of the Battle Cross of the 1st degree and 55 others with the Order of the Battle Cross of the 2nd degree. He also nominated Captain Ruben Sanamian for the title of National Hero and the Order of the Homeland.

During his press conference Sarkisian said that as a member of the public he would like to know for what particular actions the servicemen who took part in the July battles at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border had been nominated for such high awards.

After the signing of the ceasefire agreement in 1994, when the first President of Armenia, Levon Ter-Petrosian, was summing up the results of the hostilities of the past four years, only about two dozen people received the Order of the Battle Cross and among them were active participants of the operation on the liberation of Shushi and other major operations, the ex-president said.

Mane Gevorkian, the press secretary of Prime Minister Pashinian, said that in order to avoid speculations the actions of all servicemen nominated for awards will be presented to the public in detail in the near future. I sincerely regret that instead of praising the victorious actions of Armenian soldiers, Serzh Sarkisian is engaged in a futile business of discussing this important decision. The prime minister had every reason to turn to the president with such a request, Gevorkian said.

Sarkisian also briefly commented on the current stage of the Nagorno-Karabakh negotiations, claiming that the talks have reached a deadlock, which increases the risk of renewed hostilities.

Tatevik Hayrapetian, a member of the pro-government My Step faction in parliament, reacted to this statement by saying that as a man who had been engaged in talks with Azerbaijan for many years Sarkisian should have known that it is Azerbaijan that is driving the process into an impasse with its maximalist statements.

The lawmaker argued that the actions of the Armenian side during the past two years have made it possible to keep Azerbaijan within the context of the peace process as long as it is possible in conditions of its maximalist position.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on August 20, 2020

2020/08/20

As agreed by China and Pakistan, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will co-chair the second bilateral Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue in Hainan from August 20 to 21.

CCTV: US Department of State said in a statement on August 19 that they on the same day notified the Hong Kong authorities of their suspension or termination of three bilateral agreements. These agreements covered the surrender of fugitive offenders, the transfer of sentenced persons, and reciprocal tax exemptions on income derived from the international operation of ships. Do you have any comment?

Zhao Lijian: The Hong Kong SAR government issued a statement where it strongly rejects and condemns the US government's unilateral decision to suspend or terminate the three bilateral agreements it signed with the Hong Kong SAR. In response to the US erroneous move, China has decided to suspend implementing the Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Hong Kong on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters.

I want to stress again that Hong Kong affairs are China's internal affairs and no external force has any right to interfere. China urges the US side to immediately rectify its wrong decision, stop having a hand in Hong Kong affairs and China's other internal affairs, and refrain from moving further down the wrong path.

RIA Novosti: US Secretary of State Pompeo said yesterday that the US will sanction Russia and China if the two countries disregard the US demand of re-imposition of United Nations sanctions on Iran. What is China's comment?

Zhao Lijian: As I repeatedly stated, as the US has withdrawn from the JCPOA, it has no right to ask the Security Council to launch the snap-back mechanism that allows the re-imposition of sanctions. This is a common position shared by most members of the Security Council and a wide consensus reached by the international community.

China firmly opposes unilateral sanctions and "long-arm jurisdictions" imposed by the US against other countries. We urge the US to earnestly observe Security Council resolutions, fulfill its international obligations, heed the concerns of the international community and respect other countries' legal rights and interests.

Associated Press of Pakistan: Further to your announcement about the second China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue which will bring Pakistani Foreign Minister Qureshi to China, could you share more information about it?

Zhao Lijian: I announced earlier that China and Pakistan will hold the second bilateral Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue. This dialogue is a mechanism established to coordinate exchange and cooperation in various sectors, put forward policy suggestions on bilateral relations and enhance communication and coordination in regional and international issues. On March 19 last year, the first dialogue was held in Beijing with positive consensus reached, contributing greatly to bilateral relations.

As the regional and international landscape is going through complex changes, in particular with the profound global impact of COVID-19, China and Pakistan, as all-weather strategic cooperative partners, need to further strengthen communication and cooperation to deal with external challenges, achieve greater development and bring more benefits to the people. This strategic dialogue is highly relevant and significant. The two sides will have in-depth exchange of views on anti-epidemic cooperation, bilateral relations and regional and international issues of common concern. China hopes and believes that the dialogue will further cement strategic mutual trust, promote practical cooperation in various sectors and lead to closer coordination on regional and international affairs.

Al Jazeera: According to reports, Israel and the US are concerned about the cooperation between China and Saudi Arabia on nuclear power, citing potential security issues. Can you tell us more about the cooperation between China and Saudi Arabia?

Zhao Lijian: Those concerns are completely unnecessary. China and Saudi Arabia enjoy a comprehensive strategic partnership. Recent years witnessed steady and sound development of our bilateral relations with fruitful cooperation outcomes in various fields. We also have normal bilateral cooperation in energy.

China has been working to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy in the world with a responsible attitude. We will continue our strict fulfillment of international obligations in non-proliferation, and pursue cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy with other countries on the basis of mutual respect and shared benefit, so as to contribute to global sustainable development.

The Paper: On August 19, 2020, at the invitation of the Foreign Ministry, Zhong Nanshan, head of the high-level expert group of the National Health Commission and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, held an online discussion with representatives of the diplomatic corps in China to share China's experience in the prevention and control of COVID-19. Could you share more details?

Zhao Lijian: On August 19, invited by the Foreign Ministry, Zhong Nanshan, head of the high-level expert group of the National Health Commission and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, held an online discussion with representatives of the diplomatic corps in China to share China's experience in COVID-19 prevention and treatment. Representatives of 158 diplomatic missions in China attended the virtual conference, and Director-General of the MFA Protocol Department Hong Lei presided over the event.

By presenting practical cases and accurate data, Dr. Zhong Nanshan gave a detailed briefing on China's experience in fighting COVID-19 and measures to further contain the epidemic, shared the effective practices of early detection, early isolation, early diagnosis and early treatment, as well as the approach of integrating traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine in treatment. On the development of coronavirus vaccine, which is of great interest to the diplomatic missions, he noted that as President Xi Jinping pointed out at the virtual opening ceremony of the 73rd session of the World Health Assembly, COVID-19 vaccine development and deployment in China, when available, will be made a global public good, which will be China's contribution to ensuring vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries. China stands ready to strengthen cooperation with other countries on vaccine research, development and production.

Members of the diplomatic corps expressed their appreciation to the Chinese side for holding the online discussion, saying that the experience of COVID-19 control and treatment shared by Dr. Zhong Nanshan is highly professional, scientific and practical, which gives them much to be learnt from in their own fight against COVID-19.

CNR: The Untold Story of the Meng Wanzhou Case, a CGTN exclusive, has caught wide attention for telling the reason behind Meng Wanzhou's detention. It reports that in 2013, Meng Wanzhou met with HSBC's senior management and made a PowerPoint presentation. The presentation was acquired by the HSBC and later became the "key evidence" in a U.S. case against her on fraud charges. However, HSBC said it didn't prompt the US investigation of Huawei. According to HSBC, when responding to the US Department of Justice's demand, it only provided factual information. It claims that it has not "fabricated evidence" or "concealed facts", nor will it distort facts or harm any customers for its own benefit. What is China's comment on this?

Zhao Lijian: China's position on the Meng Wanzhou case is consistent and clear. This has all along been a serious political incident that exposes US political intention to suppress Chinese hi-tech companies and Huawei, and Canada has been acting as an accomplice.

I must stress that the Chinese government is determined to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese nationals and companies. No foreign country or individual will get their way if they attempt to seek selfish gains by undermining the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.

China Daily: According to reports, Navarro said on August 19 that "the Democrat Party and the Chinese Communist Party have entered into a common cause to defeat Donald J. Trump (in the November presidential election) and their whole strategy is based on blaming this administration for a global pandemic created by the Chinese Communist Party". Does China have a comment?

Zhao Lijian: Navarro's allegation is pure fabrication. He's a habitual liar obsessed with concocting rumors and spreading political viruses and disinformation. He has long lost the last shred of credibility. As to the US administration's epidemic response, the American people are in the best position to judge and the international community all bears witness. We call on Navarro and the likes of him to stop their scapegoating farce. Otherwise they will end up humiliating themselves.

With regard to the presidential election, we've said time and again that it's an internal affair of the US where we have no interest to interfere and have never done so. We also urge certain US politicians to refrain from dragging China into election campaigns in pursuit of self-serving interests.

AFP: First, US President Trump called Jimmy Lai "a brave man" and expressed his support for Jimmy Lai who was briefly detained last week under the Hong Kong national security law. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment? Second, officials in Taiwan said that Chinese hackers infiltrated at least ten "government agencies" in Taiwan and gained access to around 6,000 email accounts attempting to steal data. What is your comment?

Zhao Lijian: On your first question, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council has issued remarks on the Hong Kong police's lawful detention of the pertinent personnel. China is a country ruled by law, and Hong Kong is a society upholding the rule of law. The SAR law enforcement authorities fulfill their duties according to law. There's no room for any doubt.

On your second question, the DPP authorities' accusation is nothing but a vicious slander to instigate cross-strait confrontation and to seek political gains out of selfish motives.

I'd like to tell you that China is a staunch defender of cyber security and also one of the victims of cyber attacks. In accordance with law, we've been cracking down on such attacks launched inside China or using China's cyber infrastructure. Our position on this issue is consistent and clear.

AFP: There was a photo of Chinese Ambassador to Kiribati at a local welcoming ceremony circulating online. US and Australian officials have either criticized or expressed surprise over the move. Can you confirm when and where this incident took place? Do you have a response to comments circulating about the photo?

Zhao Lijian: I noted relevant reports and comments and worked to verify the reports. I believe what really deserves attention is the comments by the people of Kiribati. At the invitation of the council and MPs of Marakei Island in Kiribati, Chinese Ambassador to Kiribati Tang Songgen paid a visit to the island. This is the first visit by a Chinese ambassador after the two countries resumed diplomatic relations in September 2019. The local government and people received the ambassador with a warm welcome. Out of respect for the local culture and customs, Ambassador Tang eventually accepted and attended the traditional welcoming ceremony the gracious host insisted on. Many people on the Marakei Island expressed their firm support for the resumption of ties when interacting with Ambassador Tang. This illustrates the fact that resumption of relations is an irresistible trend with popular support.

Different countries have different traditional customs. As Marakei Island MPs, Kiribati's minister for agriculture and others have explained, the pictured welcoming ritual with the most humble posture is a traditional way to pay the highest respect to distinguished visitors, which has been passed down from generation to generation on the island. It was the joint decision by the council of elders, the island council and the local church to welcome Ambassador Tang with this ceremony. Back in 1998, when the then Australian high commissioner to Kiribati visited the island, local people welcomed him with the same ceremony. The Kiribati side is infuriated that some Australians smeared China and deliberately omitted their knowledge of the unique customs on each island of Kiribati. As for the reports you mentioned, among those releasing the photo is Drew Pavlou, who has been pursuing an anti-China agenda out of political motivations.

China always believes that all countries are equal regardless of size. In exchanges with Pacific Island countries, China fully respects their local culture and customs and practices the saying of "a guest should suit the convenience of the host." I'm sure you've noticed that many in Kiribati and other Pacific Island countries have spoken up on social media to appreciate the Chinese ambassador's respect for the local customs and condemn the few people who deliberately misrepresent local culture and attempt to sow discord between China and Kiribati. Some netizens criticized certain few people for having taken money from Taiwan and posting pictures and comments online with ulterior motives to drive a wedge between China and Kiribati. When confronted by facts, malicious smears on China's policy towards island countries and attempts to sabotage their relations are bound to fail.

Reuters: A music festival was held at a water park in Wuhan last Saturday. Have you heard of this? Do you have any comment on it?

Zhao Lijian: I watched news about this on television. It reflects a strategic victory achieved by Wuhan and the Chinese government in fighting the virus. AFP also reported this event. It is said that in Western countries people were surprised when hearing about it. So through your reports and lens, I hope people in those countries can get to know what is actually happening in China, the efforts we made and the outcomes we achieved in defeating COVID-19.

Reuters: You just mentioned the Chinese government's reaction to the US suspending or terminating bilateral agreements on the surrender of fugitive offenders and other matters with Hong Kong. Over the last few weeks, a number of countries have taken similar moves. Is China concerned that this may be a growing trend? Is China planning to do anything new about this?

Zhao Lijian: China's position on Hong Kong-related matters is consistent and clear. We have elaborated from many perspectives on why it's necessary to implement the national security law in the Hong Kong SAR. It is utterly wrong for those countries to sanction Hong Kong out of nothing more than selfish political motives. By imposing so-called sanctions, they wish to force the Chinese government to change our position, but it is only a pipe dream.
New Delhi: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday (August 20) ordered a series of emergency measures from tomorrow (August 21) amid rising COVID-19 cases in the state. The measures include the extension of weekend lockdown and imposition of daily night curfew from 7 pm to 5 am in all the 167 cities and towns of Punjab.

The Punjab government also ordered a total ban on all gatherings except weddings and funerals till August 31. All the government and private offices will work at 50 percent capacity till the end of this month, according to an official release.

Earlier, the weekend lockdown was in force only in three cities of Ludhiana, Jalandhar, and Patiala, and the same has now been extended to all the cities and towns in the state. The night curfew will be from 7 pm till 5 am instead of the earlier 9 pm to 5 am in all cities and towns.

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh called for 'war-like preparedness' to deal with the massive COVID spike in the state. The latest measures came as the state has been witnessing a sharp surge in the number of coronavirus cases for the past several days.

The CM also directed the officials concerned to restrict public visitors in government officials and encourage the use of an online grievance redressal system, which has been strengthened by the state government to minimise in-person contact with hassle-free online engagement, the release said.

Singh also directed Director General of Police Dinkar Gupta to strictly enforce compliance of rules with regard to the number of persons allowed to attend weddings and funerals, and also to ensure the total ban on political gatherings till August 31, when the situation will be reviewed.

He also asked the DGP to crack the whip on all political protests and gatherings and asked his own party-state leadership to enforce the ban strictly.

Till Thursday evening, the state's coronavirus tally stood at 37,824 cases with 957 deaths.
A small group gathered in Dieppe Veterans Memorial Park, located on Beach Boulevard in Hamilton, to remember the ill-fated raid on the French town on Aug. 19, 1942, where 197 members of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry were killed, 194 wounded, and another 174 taken prisoner.

The Canadian flag unfurls in the breeze as the colour party waits to begin. Barry Gray

Due to COVID-19 concerns, the public was encouraged to watch the ceremony online rather than attending in person.

The event was held in conjunction with a candlelight service by the North Wall Riders Association to remember the sacrifices made.

Although there are no RHLI members still alive who fought that day, Douglas Rickard of Burlington, now 102, salutes during the playing of the Canadian national anthem.

Rickard was a member of the Royal Canadian Corp of Signals and took part in the raid aboard a tank landing craft.

Poppies line the top of the commemorative plaque. Barry Gray

Douglas Rickard of Burlington, now 102, salutes during the playing of the Canadian national anthem. Rickard was a member of the Royal Canadian Corp of Signals and took part in the raid aboard a tank landing craft. Barry Gray

Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Sgt. Brian Buckle stands solemnly during the service. Barry Gray

Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Corp. Mike Barry plays the "Last Post." Barry Gray
Twitter

The former Navy Seal who shot and killed Osama bin Laden has sparked controversy online after he bragged about not wearing a face mask on a recent flight  a claim that has banned him from Delta Air Lines.

Robert ONeill, 44, a former US Navy SEAL Team Six member, tweeted an image of himself on a flight where he was seen smiling in his seat without a mask.

Im not a p***y, he wrote in the since-deleted tweet.

The image sparked a backlash and was shared widely online. This encouraged Delta Air Lines, the airline Mr ONeill was on, to ban him from future flights, a move that was first revealed by the man in a tweet.

I just got banned from @Delta for posting a picture. Wow, Mr ONeill wrote.

A spokesperson for Delta Air Lines confirmed to The Independent that Mr O'Neill has been banned from the airline.

"Part of every customer's commitment prior to travelling on Delta is the requirement to acknowledge our updated travel policies, which includes wearing a mask. Failure to comply with our mask-wearing mandate can result in losing the ability to fly Delta in the future," the spokesperson said.

I just got banned from @Delta for posting a picture. Wow.  Robert J. O'Neill (@mchooyah) August 20, 2020

The now-deleted showed Mr ONeill sitting next to a man wearing a USMS (United States Marine Corp) hat while wearing a mask, which made Twitter users think the former Navy Seal was insulting his neighbour by invoking the slur.

Neither is the guy in the USMC hat, one person replied, referring to Mr ONeills comment, the New York Post reported. And once again hes serving his country by doing what he can to protect your right to be wrong.

Another person wrote: Youre endangering a veterans life. How patriotic.

Mr ONeill later addressed the criticism on Twitter by informing people that he was not calling the veteran near by on the plane any kind of names.

Story continues

This was not a dig at the Marine behind me. I love Marines... he said.

Mr ONeill went on to write a series of tweets about wearing a mask and why he was against it.

Do you remember the complete, incompetent morons buying all of the toilet paper? Theyre the ones telling you to wear masks now, he wrote during the thread.

"China told you to wear a mask. Look down... you're wearing a mask. I'm not," another tweet read. "Make no mistake ... this 'pandemic' was sent to you by China."

I know more about biological warfare than most of you. We were trained. These dumb a** masks do nothing. Nothing, he added. Im not being rude... Im just telling you facts.

All of these tweets have since been deleted.

I am not the bad guy. I Killed the bad guy.  Robert J. O'Neill (@mchooyah) August 19, 2020

The mask debate has sparked a divide in America during the coronavirus pandemic.

Health experts have encouraged people to wear masks as it can prevent the spread of the coronavirus from those infected while protecting those who dont have the novel virus.

But there have been some who believe that the recommendation is a hoax and it impedes their rights by forcing them to wear the face shield when out in public.

Later, after his post sparked a backlash, Mr ONeill said he was joking and did wear a mask.

I am not the bad guy, I killed the bad guy, he said.
We're ready to give back to the community that has given so much to the restaurants, entrepreneurs and hospitality workers in this city. New Orleans has always had a strong sense of community, and it's important that we help each other right now.

In collaboration with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Elysian Events Catering has partnered with the City of New Orleans and other local restaurants to launch a meal assistance program for residents experiencing food insecurity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first of its kind, this emergency meal program has been providing eligible New Orleanians with two meals a day, including seniors, adults with high-risk health conditions and special medical needs, COVID-positive individuals, those who are quarantined, homeless residents and children under age 18. Revolution Foods and its other local restaurant partners are cooking, packaging, and delivering every meal. This relief program will bring over 60,000 fresh, healthy meals to those in need from over 100 local restaurants.

The New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness will manage this meal assistance program on behalf of the city. After analyzing food insecurity data, the Greater New Orleans Foundation developed a model to help feed people in need while also providing an opportunity to local restaurants, which have also struggled during the pandemic. We know that because of COVID-19, many of our residents are unable to put food on their tables, said Mayor LaToya Cantrell.

Since July, participating restaurants have prepared nutritious meals through Revolution Foods and the Chef's Brigade. The food has been organized and stored by the New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute (NOCHI), packaged by Revolution Foods and delivered by dlivery NOLA to several central feeding sites and even directly to some residents. This program is expected to re-employ hundreds of New Orleanians previously out of work due to the pandemic.

Elysian Events Catering was launched in 2013, led by two New Orleans chefs Jen and Brandon Blackwell. Dedicated to providing fresh, local food to New Orleans residents, this catering team was eager to partner with the Chef's Brigade. "We're ready to give back to the community that has given so much to the restaurants, entrepreneurs and hospitality workers in this city. New Orleans has always had a strong sense of community, and it's important that we help each other right now," said Brandon.

For more information about Elysian Events Catering and their menus focused on fresh, local ingredients, interested parties can visit elysianeventscatering.com or call (504) 541-0091. The team at Elysian Events Catering helps clients create memorable experiences at weddings, corporate and special events in New Orleans. They are located at 1421 Cambronne St. in New Orleans, La. 70118.

Elysian Events Catering proudly serves delicious, local dishes for a variety of eventsfrom intimate gatherings to large and lavish celebrations. Catering menu options include raw and chargrilled oyster bars, raw bars, canape stations, breakfast, brunch, lunch, buffets, plated dinners and more for weddings, private parties and other events in New Orleans.
Daley lasted two decades as boss. The national media thought Daley was a great mayor, even as he hollowed out city finances with bad pension deals and contracts, selling off the Skyway and all the parking meters, and cutting so many other bad deals that Chicago is all but broke.
Leaders of a military coup in Mali that detained President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and forced his resignation said Wednesday they would enact a political transition and stage elections within a "reasonable amount of time".

The mutinous soldiers who staged Tuesdays coup identified themselves as the National Committee for the Salvation of the People in an address on state broadcaster ORTM.

The committee would implement a transition to civil political rule with elections held in a reasonable amount of time" without specifying a timeline, said Ismael Wague, spokesman and Malian Air Force deputy chief of staff, in a state TV broadcast.

With you, standing as one, we can restore this country to its former greatness, said Wague, who also announced that Mali's borders were closed and imposed a nighttime curfew from 9pm to 5am.

Coup leaders also called on the population to resume their normal activities and to refrain from "vandalism".

Colonel Assimi Goita declared himself the committee leader of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People" that has seized power.

"Mali is in a situation of socio-political crisis. There is no more room for mistakes," Goita said. He added that he had met earlier in the day with with senior officials at defence ministry headquarters.

"It was my duty to meet the various secretaries-general so that we could assure them of our support in relation to the continuity of State services," he said.

'No blood spilled'

Looking tired and wearing a surgical mask, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita resigned in a brief address broadcast on state TV hours after troops seized him on Tuesday along with Prime Minister Boubou Cisse and other top officials, plunging a country already facing a jihadist insurgency and mass protests deeper into crisis.

"If today certain elements of our armed forces want this to end through their intervention, do I really have a choice?" he asked, speaking from a military base in Kati outside the capital Bamako where he had been detained earlier in the day.

Story continues

"I want no blood to be spilled to keep me in power," he said.

Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Bamako since June calling for Keita to resign over what they say are his failures to address worsening security and corruption.

'Popular insurrection'

Soldiers took up arms in the garrison town of Kati on Tuesday and detained senior military officers. An officer at Mali's ministry of internal security, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the chaotic scenes as the coup unfolded. Officials are being arrested  it's total confusion."

Government workers fled their offices in Bamako as armed men began detaining officials, including the country's Finance Minister Abdoulaye Daffe.

Witnesses later said soldiers had also surrounded Keita's private residence. Mali's state broadcaster ORTM went off-line briefly before coming back on air in the early evening with pre-recorded programming.

The soldiers later moved freely through the streets of Bamako, making it clear that they were in control.

Thousands gathered in central Bamako in a show of support for the mutinous soldiers.

The M5-RFP opposition coalition, which has been one of the forces behind mass protests calling for Keita to resign, on Tuesday denied that a coup was in progress. A spokesman said the president's detention was not a military coup but a popular insurrection.

IBK (Keita) did not want to listen to his people. We even proposed an alternative but he responded with killings, Nouhoum Togo, a spokesman for M5-RFP, told Reuters, referring to Keita by his initials.

Keita, who was democratically elected, has broad support from former colonial power France and other Western allies.

But the M5-RFP opposition along with the June 5 Movement  so named after the date of its first protest  have been marshalling deep-seated anger over a dire economy, perceived government corruption and Mali's continuing battle against the unrest sown by regional jihadist groups.

Prime Minister Cisse had earlier in the day called for dialogue with the soldiers. "The government is calling for calm and makes itself available ... to engage in fraternal dialogue in order to remove all misunderstandings," he said in a statement.

The prime minister also admitted that the soldiers may have "legitimate frustrations".

Concerns for regional stability

France and other international powers as well as the African Union have denounced the mutiny, fearful that the fall of Keita could further destabilise the former French colony and West Africa's entire Sahel region.

The African Union has suspended Mali's membership in response to the militarys seizure of power and the detention of the president, the bloc announced in a tweet on Wednesday. The suspension will last until constitutional order is restored, it said, demanding the "immediate" release of the deposed president and other senior officials.

The influential West African regional bloc ECOWAS said it was sending a high-level delegation to ensure the immediate return to constitutional order.

A statement from the Elysee Palace released shortly after the soldiers seized power said President Emmanuel Macron was in touch with regional leaders and called for mediation.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo denounced Keita's overthrow in a statement on Wednesday. "The United States strongly condemns the August 18 mutiny in Mali as we would condemn any forcible seizure of power," he said. "The freedom and safety of detained government officials and their families must be ensured."

The EU condemned the events in Mali as "unconstitutional". "The European Union condemns the attempted coup d'etat under way in Mali and rejects all unconstitutional change," the bloc's diplomatic chief, Josep Borrell, said in a statement Tuesday.

Neighbouring Algeria has also rejected the coup. "Algeria reiterates its firm rejection of any anti-constitutional change of government," the foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. It said Algeria was following with "concern" developments in Mali, with which it shares an almost 1,400-kilometre (850-mile) border.

In a statement shortly after the coup Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Malians to protect their democratic institutions and called for the "immediate and unconditional release" of Mali's president.

The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on the events later on Wednesday.

Echoes of the 2012 coup

The unrest erupted Tuesday at the very same military barracks where the country's 2012 coup originated. The overthrow unleashed years of chaos in Mali when the ensuing power vacuum allowed Islamic extremists to seize control of northern towns.

After a request from Mali, a French-led military operation dubbed Operation Serval launched in January 2013 and ousted the jihadists. But they eventually regrouped and have expanded their reach during Keita's presidency.

Keita has faced growing criticism of how his government has handled the relentless Islamic insurgency engulfing the country, which was once praised as a model of democracy in the region.

The military faced a wave of particularly deadly attacks in the north last year, prompting the government to close its most vulnerable outposts as part of a reorganisation aimed at stemming military losses.

(FRANCE 24 with AP, AFP and REUTERS)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 23:13:54|Editor: huaxia

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HEFEI, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's trip to flood-stricken areas this week has once again demonstrated the commitment to putting people first in governance.

Inspecting east China's Anhui Province, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visited flood-affected residents, checked the progress made with the post-disaster business recovery and consoled families of those who died fighting floods.

After heavy rain triggered floods in many parts of southern China this summer, Xi has stressed giving priority to safeguarding people's lives and property.

He delivered instructions to guide flood control efforts, convened high-level meetings on flood control and disaster relief, before personally visiting flood-stricken areas in Anhui.

LIVES MATTER

Under the blazing sun, Xi on Tuesday afternoon walked into the fields and visited local residents living on a "zhuangtai," a residential structure on raised ground that functions as a safe haven from river floods.

Local residents told Xi that they have access to stable power and water supplies, and have daily necessities delivered to them. As the floodwater receded, they have also resumed farm work.

"I have always been concerned about the people in flood-stricken areas," Xi said, adding that he felt relieved when he saw people were safe, hopeful and had their livelihoods protected.

While visiting a local luggage company, Xi also learned about the post-disaster resumption of business.

On Wednesday, Xi met family members of those who died fighting floods when he visited a floodwater diversion zone in the county of Feidong.

Xi consoled the family members suffering from the pain of bereavement.

FIGHTING SPIRIT

The people's fighting spirit is a powerful weapon against floods.

During the inspection, Xi lauded the will and solidarity the people in the flood-stricken areas have demonstrated when fighting the disaster, and praised the military for rising to the challenge.

As long as our Party unites the people and relies on the people, we can overcome all difficulties and challenges ahead, Xi said.

As of Wednesday, dispatches totaling more than 1.2 million head counts from the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force and more than 300,000 from the militia had been made in flood control missions in 17 provincial-level regions. They evacuated more than 170,000 residents, handled over 3,900 breaches and piping emergencies, and reinforced embankments of more than 900 km.

On Wednesday, Xi called people who died fighting the floods heroes and said they deserve respect from everyone.

"Every time a calamity occurs, heroes charge forward. This embodies the great spirit of the Chinese nation," Xi said.

MAN AND NATURE

Besides their fighting spirit, the Chinese people now battle disasters with better infrastructure and more mature systems.

In Anhui, Xi underscored the importance of improving China's capability to prevent and combat disasters in its effort to build a modern socialist country in an all-round way.

But Xi also said the struggle against disasters is one that must respect the laws of nature.

The Chinese nation has been fighting against natural disasters for thousands of years and has accumulated valuable experience. And the fight will go on, he said.

Inspecting the water situation of Chaohu Lake on Wednesday, Xi also underlined the need to live in harmony with nature, calling on people not to compete for development space with nature.

"In this fight, we should respect nature, conform to the laws of nature and live in harmony with nature," he said. Enditem
New Delhi: An Alien Invasion is probably the only thing amiss in this fateful year. It's the calm before a storm when all of a sudden Aliens in armour pay a visit to wreak havoc in sunnyside, Los Angeles.

Starring action hardened stars like Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez Ramon Rodriguez and Michael Pena, Battle Los Angeles which is about a 'world invasion' is a Sci-fi apocalyptic movie that focuses on the lives of a couple few brave soldiers in search of survivors as they try to make sense of a global threat that goes well beyond their limited scope of understanding.

Battle Los Angeles will be airing as part of &flix's ongoing 'Flix Superheroes' property on Friday, 21 August 2020 at 9 PM.

Stay entertained this month of June with Flix Chills and Flix Super Agents weeknights at 9 and 11 only on &flix
TRENTON  With many across the country clamoring to defund the police, the state Supreme Court defanged the Newark civilian police review board with a decision Wednesday that has stark implications for the capital citys ability to hold rogue cops accountable.

At-large councilman Jerell Blakeley waited to introduce an ordinance before the Trenton governing body establishing a similar civilian review board until the New Jersey high court decided the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 12s challenge of Newarks 11-person panel.

Short of the outcome of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka administrations hinted federal challenge to the decision, Blakeley will have to retool the ordinance dramatically after the justices ruled 6-1, with Chief Justice Stuart Rabner dissenting, that allowing Newarks CRB to have subpoena power and conduct parallel investigations while Newark Polices internal affairs investigates one of their own conflicts with existing state law.

The decision limits municipalities throughout New Jersey in the types of investigatory powers they can confer upon CRBs.

It was a crippling blow for pro-reform advocates like Blakeley, who have trumpeted police accountability in the wake of the death of George Floyd, a Black man who suffocated to death under the knew of a white Minneapolis cop.

Blakeley was disheartened by the high courts gutting of Newarks CRB, formed in 2016 after the council passed an ordinance in response to a scathing federal report that found Newark Police disproportionately targeted and used force on Blacks.

It was only one of the reform measures Newark sought to implement after reaching a consent decree that installed a federal monitor.

Blakeley remained committed to pushing forward with Trentons CRB, and making it as forceful of an investigatory body that the law allows.

I think its incumbent upon municipal elected officials to take action to increase confidence in the police department, he said. Police officers have a very, very tough job. This is really a pro-good police officers [legislative proposal] and anti-bad police officers.

The Trenton councilman isnt alone in his quest for police accountability.

NJ Advance Media reported a councilman in Jersey City drafted an ordinance to create a board with subpoena power like the one in Newark. A proposal for a board in Orange also failed to garner majority support, the outlet reported.

Newarks CRB was initially endowed with subpoena and investigative powers and could recommend disciplinary measures to the citys public safety director.

But thats no more after the justices agreed with the Fraternal Order of Polices position that granting the civilian review board such broad investigatory powers clashed with the internal affairs function and stripped the departments top cop of powers to mete out punishment.

We hold that this civilian review board can investigate citizen complaints alleging police misconduct, and those investigations may result in recommendations to the Public Safety Director for the pursuit of discipline against a police officer. However, the board cannot exercise its investigatory powers when a concurrent investigation is conducted by the Newark Police Departments Internal Affairs (IA) unit, Jaynee LaVecchia wrote for the majority.

An investigation by the IA unit is a function carefully regulated by law, and such an investigation must operate under the statutory supervision of the police chief and comply with procedures established by Newarks Public Safety Director and the mandatory guidelines established by the Attorney General. We conclude that concurrent investigations would interfere with the police chiefs statutory responsibility over the IA function and that the review boards separate investigatory proceedings would be in conflict with specific requirements imposed on IA investigations and their results.

Its up to state lawmakers to change the law if they want to CRBs to have subpoena power.

Advocates for the review panels suggest theyre effectively powerless to produce results and systemic change without the ability to compel information police agencies may not want out  a view held by Rabner in his dissent.

Indeed, without the power to compel witnesses and other evidence by subpoena, it is difficult to see how the CCRB or a similar review board could gather the information it would need to effectively investigat[e] . . . the operation of the police force,' he wrote.

City law director John Morelli said hell work closely with Blakeley in the coming weeks to adjust the preliminary draft of the ordinance so it complies in every way with the ruling.

Blakeley hopes to introduce the ordinance at the second meeting in September.

He said the seven to nine members will include a range of people with a different experience, including in criminal justice and policing.

Although some of his critics have painted him as anti-cop, Blakeley said he wasnt opposed to having a former cop serve on Trentons CRB, believing they could have useful input on issues the board will preside over.

The members would be appointed by Mayor Reed Gusciora and confirmed by the legislative body.

We dont want this to be political, Blakeley said.

In a statement, Gusciora expressed support for the councilmans proposal.

[The] decision gives the green light for greater community involvement in expanding police oversight and transparency, he said. While the regulations concerning internal affairs reports are currently governed by the N.J. Attorney Generals Office, we will review the Supreme Court decision and work with City Council on how Trenton can foster additional civilian participation in ensuring police accountability.
Secretary Michael R. Pompeo And Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein At a Press Availability

Remarks to the Press

Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State

Fuad Hussein, Iraqi Foreign Minister

Dean Acheson Auditorium

Washington, D.C.

August 19, 2020



SECRETARY POMPEO: Good morning, everyone, and thank you  thank you, Dr. Fuad and the entire Iraqi delegation for joining us here in Washington today.

We had a good set of discussions, very productive, building on the virtual U.S.-Iraq Strategic Dialogue that we began back in June of this year. The state of our partnership is very strong.

We're committed to helping Iraq achieve economic prosperity, freedom from foreign meddling in its internal affairs, and improved relationships with its neighbors as well. This is what the Iraqi people want, too  a stable, prosperous, independent Iraq, an Iraq which is for Iraqis, and the Iraqis who protested last year couldn't have made that any more clear.

We touched on religious freedom, a priority for the Trump administration and a key to the Iraqi nation's flourishing.

As Iraq moves forward from the ISIS persecution and genocide, the U.S. is helping the most vulnerable  including Christians, Yezidis, and Shabak  recover.

We devoted almost half a billion dollars to help restore these communities, yet there's still work to do. Armed groups not under the full control of the prime minister have impeded our progress. Those groups need to be replaced by local police as soon as possible. I assured Dr. Fuad that we could help and that we would help.

Our contributions come in addition to other humanitarian assistance which we've provided to Iraq, and it's only fitting that today  World Humanitarian Day  that I can announce that the USAID will provide an additional $204 million for lifesaving food, safe drinking water, and health care for the Iraqi people.

We're proud too of the private investments that are being made. We look forward to the day when Iraq won't need assistance, government assistance, and will be fully supported by foreign investment and the own great work that the Iraqi people do. We want an Iraq that's corruption-free, prosperous, and fully integrated into the global economy. I urged Baghdad to clinch a budget deal with the Kurdistan Regional Government.

We also had good discussion on Iraq's energy sector, a major driver of economic activity in Iraq.

We anticipate announcements on energy deals between U.S. companies and Iraqi Government shortly.

In our political dialogue, I emphasized the importance of the rule of law, functioning government, and regular electoral processes. The United States supports the Iraqi Government as it prepares for early parliamentary elections. We're discussing ways to provide substantial support to the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq for just that purpose.

We talked too about how the United States and Iraq can work together to make Iraq more safe and stable.

The United States is committed to supporting Iraq's security forces, including through the NATO Mission and the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, to curb the power of militias that have for far too long terrorized the Iraqi people and undermined Iraq's national sovereignty.

We can see a future when American tourists visit Iraq's historical sites, when our military men and women attend each other's military staff colleges.

And towards these ends, we discussed how the United States could help preserve Iraq's rich cultural heritage and religious diversity, and support education in Iraq as well.

We share not only goals and sacrifices with our Iraqi friends, but also a vision and hope.

These ideals are the foundation for a thriving, steady partnership which is making good progress.

Thank you. Dr. Fuad, the floor is yours.

FOREIGN MINISTER HUSSEIN: (Via interpreter) Thank you very much, Your Excellency, Mr. Secretary, and thank you very much for the great reception. Today, we launched the second round of the Strategic Dialogue between the delegations of the Iraqi Government and the U.S. Government. And we had a good and important meeting with His Excellency the Secretary, and we talked during the meeting about a series of issues that concern the situation of Iraq and the bilateral relations, and the political situation in general and the regional situation, in addition to issues pertaining to the economic ties and how to combat COVID.

And in the Strategic Dialogue that started today, there are some axis about these issues and there has been a reaffirmation on the joint work on the different fields. The United States of America and Iraq, we are both in the same trench in fighting ISIS, and we are still in the same trench. And we will work together to defeat the terrorist elements and the terrorist factions and the armed terrorist groups in Iraq, and we reaffirmed that we will work continuously on this field, which is combatting terrorism.

And we also reaffirmed during our talks the continuity of the talks and the dialogue in order to reach common work on other fields, such as energy, and have the memoranda of understanding and cooperation signed in this field, especially in terms of power, oil, the health sector, education, higher education, health. And these memoranda will be signed today.

The dialogue is continuous, and positive results will be the outcome of this dialogue for the interest of both countries and both people. I would like to thank His Excellency the Secretary for the great reception and for his time, for the fruitful talks and for the fruitful results, and thank him very much for talking about all of these issues.

MS ORTAGUS: We'll go to questions now. I will start with Zena Ibrahim from Al-Iraqiya.

QUESTION: Thank you very much. You discussed in the first strategical dialogue that there will be a reduction of U.S. forces in Iraq. Is there a timetable and is there specific numbers?

(Via interpreter) Your Excellency, is there any memoranda of understanding that could be signed today pertaining the excavation in Nasiriyah?

SECRETARY POMPEO: So we don't have any announcements to make with respect to numbers. But I would urge everyone, as we've gone through this strategic dialogue, not to focus on that. The real focus is on the joint efforts that we're making along every dimension, whether that's economic efforts, humanitarian assistance efforts, security assistance, all of those things. We continue to understand that the Iraqi people need that. The Iraqi people's sovereignty depends on continued American commitment to support them and to provide that assistance to them. We're determined to do that.

FOREIGN MINISTER HUSSEIN: (Via interpreter) Regarding the signing of a memorandum of understanding or an agreement with (inaudible), I believe that it will be signed today, yes.

MS ORTAGUS: Carol Morello, Washington Post. Carol, there's a microphone right behind you.

QUESTION: Oh. Thank you. Mr. Secretary, when will you be going to New York to begin the process of triggering snapback sanctions against Iran? And can you explain how you intend to enforce them without full Security Council backing? They seem to have given every signal that they are simply going to ignore them. And so what are you going to do to make it happen?

And, Mr. Foreign Minister, do you agree with the United States on the need for snapback sanctions against Iran? And how will that impact Iraq? Thank you.

SECRETARY POMPEO: So, Carol, I don't have any announcement on timing on when we're going to do  the President's made clear we're going to do that soon, and we will. Second, these will be a fully valid, enforceable UN Security Council resolution. We have every expectation that they'll be enforced just like every other UN Security Council resolution that is in place. You have to remember, 2231 isn't a U.S. document. It is a UN Security Council document. It has a set of provisions, it has a set of rights and obligations, and we will be in full compliance with that, and we have every expectation that every country in the world will live up to its obligations, including every member of the P5 and every member of the UN that will take seriously the international commitments to which they have signed up for. It's the longstanding commitment of the United States to do that. We are confident that every country will see that it is in their best interest that UN Security Council Resolution 2231 is fully enforced as it is a valid, extant, continuing set of obligations. And so the enforcement mechanisms will be just the same enforcement mechanisms we have for all of the UN Security Council resolutions.

FOREIGN MINISTER HUSSEIN: (Via interpreter) With respect to the United States policy vis-a-vis Iran and the impact of this policy on the situation in Iraq, first of all, we are talking about Iraqi policy. And I am not here to talk about U.S. policy, so His Excellency the Secretary can talk about the U.S. policy.

With respect to the Iraqi policy, we see that the United States of America is an ally, and a strong ally for Iraq. And we will continue to protect this alliance and to deepen it and expand it.

And regarding Iran, Iran is a neighboring country to Iraq, and as a result, there are ties pertaining to geography, history, culture, economy, and the Iraqi policy, or Iraq's foreign policy, is based out of Iraq's national interest. We want to have good relations with our neighbors, provided that nobody interferes in Iraq's affairs and the Iraqi decision will be made by the Iraqis, and we want to protect our alliances and relations with others, including the United States of America.

MS ORTAGUS: Thank you, everyone. Have a great day.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 20

By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend:

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Uzbekistan increased by 606 to 37,366, Trend reports with reference to the statistics of the Uzbek Ministry of Health.

To date, 32,994 (+771) patients have fully recovered in the country, while 250 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
A Camden man who tried to kill his estranged wife outside an apartment in the city in 2018 was sentenced Wednesday to 38 and a half years in prison, authorities said.

Brian Walker, 55, was convicted in early March on seven counts, including attempted murder, stalking and multiple weapons and aggravated assault charges following two separate trials where his wife testified against him, according to a statement from the Camden County Prosecutors Office.

Walker waited for her outside the Cherry Hill Towers Apartments on Nov. 4, 2018 and as she walked to her car, he shot her multiple times, the office said.

After shooting her, he fled to Florida before he was captured by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force  Tampa Division just over one month later, prosecutors said.

We hope this trial shows how seriously Camden County takes domestic violence, said Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer said in a statement. We are truly dedicated to seeking justice for victims of domestic violence and firmly believe it is our job to fight for them every step of the way. We understand these cases are very difficult for victims and the court process can be intimidating, but our Domestic Violence Unit and our Victim Witness Unit are fully committed to protecting and standing by our victims in each and every case.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
The government has been called upon to commit to the enforcement of the ban on illegal rosewood trade as well as outlaw the issuance of permits to companies to trade in the wood.



Government has further been urged to take immediate steps beyond the verbal ban to stop logging, transportation and export of any rosewood, no matter where it is, and community, district, regional and national level awareness be created and sustained to protect rosewood, restock it alongside shea trees and treat this as a community development strategy.



This formed part of a press statement delivered by the STAR Ghana Foundation in partnership with the Baobab Market, a group of civil society organisations (CSOs), at a press conference in Tamale on Wednesday.



The statement was read by Mr Suweidu Abdulai, Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Officer at Ghana Developing Communities Association, one of the CSOs.



The statement indicated It will be recalled that in February, 2020, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources announced an extension of the ban on the illegal logging and exportation of rosewood in Ghana indefinitely following the earlier ban announced in March 2019.



It however, said We find it very worrying that despite the ban on the illegal logging, transportation and export of rosewood, some unscrupulous people and companies are still bent on further endangering the tree with impunity.



It said We note that the over exploitation of rosewood amidst the ban on illegal logging and export is due to lack of enforcement of the ban and commitment by government and the agencies responsible.



Rosewood species take about 40-100 years to mature, and they are being endangered due to unsustainable logging and illegal trade in the species.



The statement, therefore, called on government to classify rosewood, shea, dawadawa and cashew trees into the Economic Tree Protection Act of 1979 to help to better manage the situation and strengthen the hands of local authorities and security agencies.



It called for an expedite action on a policy on tree tenure and benefit sharing for trees outside the forest reserves to motivate farmers to resist the illegal exploitation of rosewood and other tree resources on their farms and to stop speculative felling by illegal loggers.



It called on government to work with communities to design and implement a rosewood restoration and protection programme of intervention in the affected communities.



It reiterated the call on government to make the penalties for illegal logging and trade in rosewood more deterring to scare people from the act.



The statement called on communities and traditional authorities to mobilize and take mass action against illegal logging and trade in rosewood as well as enact by-laws to restore some of the old traditional practices that protected the environment and trees, especially in forests and common lands.



The group called on the Chinese Embassy and Government "To enforce the second provision to Article 164 of the National Criminal Law 47 that criminalises bribes given to non-Chinese public officials and to officials of an international public organisation."



It also called on regional bodies (AU, ECOWAS), bilateral and multi-lateral partners such as US, UK, EU, and the World Bank to support the fight by imposing restrictions and sanctions on companies and individuals with illegal rosewood products.

Source: GNA









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Ms. Swann recommends that, rather than try to glaze over the context in which were all living and the struggles that come with it, we should lean in to being honest about what were going through. That vulnerability, she said, serves many purposes: It can deepen the connections with the people in your life; it can help your co-workers better understand problems you might be dealing with; and it can help us all buck the just push through it attitude that some workplaces have accepted as normal.

A lot of times, people push through their pain, she said. So rather than looking at our colleague and giving them the side-eye because they didnt finish whatever they were supposed to finish, now we know maybe its mom or dad dealing with illness.

Mind the details

Easy as it is to poke fun at our old email habits, it can be difficult to know how to approach writing a colleague now, especially when it comes to finding the balance between being vulnerable and professional.

There isnt a one-size-fits-all solution, but a little bit can go a long way, experts said.

For example: On top of living through a pandemic, Ms. Fosslien and her fiance have been taking care of his father, who has cancer, since earlier this year, and their responsibilities have increased since the pandemic hit. A co-worker who knew of the situation emailed Ms. Fosslien, and included a sentence or two to acknowledge Ms. Fossliens difficult situation. Nothing too over-the-top, she said, but a tiny grace note.

Acknowledging that little piece, because we had talked about it, made it feel really personal, Ms. Fosslien said. That actually made me feel really cared about, like she had clearly put thought into that opening.

That said, dont feel obligated to include such a personal note in every email. Save them for people youre in closer relationships with, and, generally, dont ask about those details in an email, Ms. Fosslien recommends. Save it for a phone call or a video chat.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has begun to approve states for their application on the enhanced unemployment benefits as authorized by Pres. Donald Trump due to the collapse of stimulus negotiations.

Pres. Donald Trump issued and signed an executive order to expand the enhanced unemployment claims. This is to help millions of Americans who are heavily impacted by the global pandemic. His order mandates FEMA to use its unspent budget for the unemployment claims.

In a previous report of Latin Post, FEMA has recently approved the first four states who applied for the program. These states were Arizona, Iowa, Lousiana, and New Mexico. They agreed that they will cover 25 percent of the unemployment claim or an amount of $100.

Meanwhile, the application of some other states was also approved in the past few days while some other states are still processing their application. However, some states have turned down the assistance due to some reasons.

Here are some updates of the states who just recently distribute and their unemployment benefits.

Arizona

The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved the state's application on Aug. 15. and they started sending out the unemployment benefit on Aug.17.

Colorado

The application of the state was approved on Aug.16. According to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, they have not yet made a decision either to give $300 or $400 weekly unemployment benefit. The agency also added that will begin to send out the unemployment claims in mid-September.

Idaho

The state's application was approved on Aug. 19. Governor Brad Little officially announced the application of the state but he did not indicate if the state will counterpart $100.

Iowa

The application of the state was approved on Aug. 15. However, the state has not yet released any information as to when to release the unemployment benefit. The website of the Iowa Workforce Development stated, "FEMA and USDOL continue to issue guidance, and IWD will continue developing the implementation processes required for this program, including any necessary steps for claimants to apply. We will update our website as additional information becomes available, including timelines for application and payment. Please do not contact customer service regarding whether you are eligible for this benefit or when it may be paid."

Louisiana

The state's application was approved on Aug.15 and Gov. John Edwards said that qualified claimants will begin to receive their weekly unemployment claims on Aug. 24.

Maryland

FEMA approved the state's application on Aug.19 and state Governor Larry Hogan announced that the state will begin to send out the unemployment benefits to qualified claimants once the computer system is updated. Claimants are expected to receive the benefits in late September.

Montana

FEMA approved the state's application o Aug.18 and the state is planning to counterpart $100. This means that qualified claimants will receive an amount of $400.

Missouri

The application of the state was approved on Aug.16, 2020 but it is still not clear if the state will send out $300 or $400. At the same time, the schedule as to when it will be sent out is also not clear.

New Mexico

FEMA approved the application of New Mexico on Aug.15. However, it is also not clear as to when the state will start sending out the benefits.

Oklahoma

State Governor Kevin Stitt announced on Aug.17 that they already processed the grant application. A day after, FEMA officially announced that the state's application has been approved.

Utah

The application of the state was approved on Aug.16 and they also confirmed that qualified claimants will be receiving $300. The state plan to send out the unemployment claims approximately three weeks from its approval.

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A South Korea solar project developer announced it began operations at a 180-megawatt solar generation facility in West Texas.

174 Power Global, the U.S. solar development arm of South Korea owned Hanwha Group, said 30 megawatts of power will go to its affiliate Chariot Energy, a retail electric provider in Texas. 174 Power Global started Chariot Energy last year which sells power plans on the states electricity shopping web site Powertochoose.org.

The Oberon Solar Power Facility is outside of Odessa in Ector County and is expected to power about 36,000 Texas homes during the summer. One megawatt is enough electricity for about 200 Texas homes on a hot summer day.

RELATED: Solar expected to disrupt Texas fossil-fuel apple cart

The project, which includes more than 560,000 solar panels, began construction in June 2019.
The Democratic Party's new platform approved at the Democratic National Convention this week shows the partys evolution on Syria and the US-Saudi relationship, but may disappoint some progressives on Israeli-Palestinian issues.

The party approved the new platform Tuesday. The convention wraps up tonight with a speech from presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden.

The new platform differs from the 2016 one on a few issues involving the Middle East. At the 2016 convention, the Democrats explicitly called for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to be removed from power, endorsing a negotiated political transition that ends Assads rule. This year, the Democrats do not mention Assad, and simply call for a political resolution for this horrific war.

Four years ago, Syrian rebel forces still controlled parts of the largest city, Aleppo, and other areas of the country. The tide has turned in favor of Assad since the Russian intervention in 2015, however, and he now controls most of Syria. Rebels are now relegated to the northwestern province of Idlib and areas along the Turkish border that are de facto run by Turkey.

The Democratic Party has also shifted on relations with Saudi Arabia as it relates to the war in Yemen. A Saudi-led coalition backs the Yemeni government against Houthi forces supported by Iran. The Trump administration is a steadfast ally of the oil-rich Gulf kingdom that has also grown closer to Israel due to shared concerns on Iran.

In 2016, the platform did not mention Saudi Arabia. This year, it says, Democrats will end support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen.

The Democrats call for good relations with the Gulf, but take aim at the Trump administrations policies toward the region.

We have no interest in continuing the blank-check era of the Trump Administration, or indulging authoritarian impulses, internal rivalries, catastrophic proxy wars, or efforts to roll back political openings across the region, reads the platform.

This section is not specific to any country, but could refer to US support for Saudi Arabia, which has a poor human rights record. The catastrophic proxy wars may refer to Yemen.

The platform is supportive of Israel, similarly as it was in 2016, despite a rising number of progressive Democrats in Congress who criticize Israel and support the Palestinians. The new platform references our commitment to Israels security, its qualitative military edge, its right to defend itself. It also calls for the right of Palestinians to live in freedom and security in a viable state of their own.

On the other hand, the platform clearly states its opposition to Israeli efforts to unilaterally annex parts of the Palestinian West Bank.

Democrats oppose any unilateral steps by either side  including annexation  that undermine prospects for two states, the platform reads.

Unsurprisingly, the platform endorses returning to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. This Obama administration era agreement compelled Iran to comply with stipulations on its nuclear program in return for the lifting of sanctions. US President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the deal in 2018 and is now working to further sanction the Islamic Republic.

The platform also calls for a continued military presence in Iraq to help fight the Islamic State (IS) and continued support for Kurdish-led forces in Syria also battling IS.

Some Middle Eastern-focused groups in Washington are supportive of the new platform. J Street, which describes itself as both pro-Israel and pro-peace, said the platform made progress from 2016 and praised its opposition to West Bank annexation.

The platform approved this week includes clear support for the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians, a J Street spokesperson told Al-Monitor. "For the first time ever, it states explicit opposition to Israeli settlement expansion and unilateral annexation.

J Street also praised the platforms support for a return to the Iran deal, but said the language on the West Bank, which most countries consider a Palestinian territory occupied by Israel, could be improved.

"There are areas where more progress is needed  like occupation, which goes unmentioned in the platform, said the J Street spokesperson. We continue to believe the Democratic party should acknowledge and oppose ongoing occupation, a systemic injustice at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

Eric Mandel, the director of the Middle East Political and Information Network research organization, said the platform is a disappointment to the Democratic Partys more pro-Palestinian wing.

The Democratic Party platform certainly is not as anti-Israel as the growing progressive wing of the party would like, Mandel, also a senior editor at The Jerusalem Report, told Al-Monitor.

Mandel criticized the platforms support for the Iran nuclear deal, saying it totally undermined not only Israeli and allied interests, but undermines American national security interests.

He said progressive Democrats will gain more power on Middle Eastern issues in the coming years. Platforms dont necessarily mean very much, but what means much more is that the ascendancy of the growing progressive wing of the party will be replacing the staunch, older, pro-Israel liberal Democrats over the next decade, he said.

The Zionist Organization of America, a staunchly pro-Israel group, said the platform is not sufficiently supportive of Israel on several points. This includes annexation, which the organization supports. "Some 500,000 Jews live in Judea and Samaria and need the security of stability of Israeli sovereignty," a spokesperson told Al-Monitor, referring to the West Bank by an alternative Jewish name.

Some Iran-focused groups have voiced support for the platform. The National Iranian American Council works to highlight voices in the Iranian-American community and applauded the content of the platform on Iran. The groups policy director said he wants to see the platforms calls for diplomacy and an end to Trumps maximum pressure strategy put into action.

It will be important that they work to implement the vision in the platform, make a firm break from the failed maximum pressure approach and support a Biden administration returning to the deal and building on it through renewed diplomacy, Ryan Costello told Al-Monitor.

Both Iran and Israel have come up at this year's convention. Former Secretary of State John Kerry praised the Iran deal in his prime-time speech Tuesday. The appearance by pro-Palestine activist Linda Sarsour at the convention's virtual Muslim Delegates and Allies Assembly the same day also angered some Trump supporters; Biden also disavowed her views.
EDISON, N.J., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Established in 1939, Levinson Axelrod, P.A. has become one of New Jersey's most trusted civil trial and workers' compensation law firms. Boasting more than $1 billion in recoveries for its clients, the firm has continued to build upon its long-standing reputation of success with over $350 million recovered in the past 5 years alone.

Though Levinson Axelrod's success has many contributing factors, the firm owes much of it to its proven and passionate team of attorneys. That includes attorneys like Ronald Grayzel, Richard Marcolus, and James Dunn  all of whom have been named yet again to the annual list of Best Lawyers.

A Record of Success. A Reputation Among Their Peers.

As Partners at Levinson Axelrod, Grayzel, Marcolus, and Dunn have drawn from their extensive experience to help victims and families prevail in a range of complex claims. Their insight as Certified Specialists by the New Jersey Supreme Court, and their active roles in the legal and local communities have further earned them widespread respect among their colleagues.

It's that respect which has allowed them to be continually named to The Best Lawyers in America, an annual listing that recognizes attorneys who've been selected by their peers as leading lawyers.

Based on a peer-review process consisting of nominations, evaluations, and voting, Best Lawyers lists are an accurate reflection of an attorney's professional abilities, and a meaningful nod to practitioners regarded among the top in their fields by their colleagues and their communities.

As the Partners' records make clear, it's a well-earned honor:

Ronald B. Grayzel : Levinson Axelrod Partner Ron Grayzel has been fighting for plaintiffs since 1977, and has been recognized by Best Lawyers for his work in Personal Injury Litigation every year since 2014. As a Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, Grayzel has helped clients obtain incredible results, including large settlements and verdicts in cases ranging from car accidents and medical malpractice to defective products, workplace injuries, and toxic exposure. Grayzel has been recognized by his peers among the "Best Lawyers in New Jersey " 2016 as published in The New York Times , and has been included in the N.J. list of Super Lawyers since 2006.

has been fighting for plaintiffs since 1977, and has been recognized by for his work in Personal Injury Litigation every year since 2014. As a Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, Grayzel has helped clients obtain incredible results, including large settlements and verdicts in cases ranging from car accidents and medical malpractice to defective products, workplace injuries, and toxic exposure. Grayzel has been recognized by his peers among the "Best Lawyers in " 2016 as published in , and has been included in the N.J. list of since 2006. Richard J. Marcolus : A Certified Workers' Compensation Lawyer, Rich Marcolus became an attorney after making his living as a union carpenter in construction. Today, Marcolus is still a member of NRCC Carpenters Local #253 Union, and has helped recover millions for injured workers and families across the state. An advocate for workers' rights, he has drafted legislation and testified before lawmakers to help pass critical legislative protections, including the New Jersey Collection Practices Bill, the Hand & Foot bill, the Voluntary Tender Bill, and laws that protect First Responders and essential workers who contact COVID-19 on the job.

A Certified Workers' Compensation Lawyer, became an attorney after making his living as a union carpenter in construction. Today, Marcolus is still a member of NRCC Carpenters Local #253 Union, and has helped recover millions for injured workers and families across the state. An advocate for workers' rights, he has drafted legislation and testified before lawmakers to help pass critical legislative protections, including the New Jersey Collection Practices Bill, the Hand & Foot bill, the Voluntary Tender Bill, and laws that protect First Responders and essential workers who contact COVID-19 on the job. James Dunn : A Senior Personal Injury Attorney and Partner at Levinson Axelrod, James Dunn has leveraged his insight as a Certified Civil Trial Lawyer to help victims and families who've suffered due to negligence. Recognized by Best Lawyers since 2016, Dunn has secured millions in recoveries for his clients, including numerous multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements in cases involving electrical shock, auto accidents, and construction accidents. Dunn is the former President of the Middlesex County Trial Lawyers Association, and currently serves as President of the N.J. Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates.

Levinson Axelrod, P.A. is a personal injury and workers' compensation law firm that fights for injured victims, workers, and families across New Jersey. Since 1939, the firm's Certified Civil Trial and Workers' Comp lawyers have been trusted by clients in a range of complex injury cases, and have recovered more than $1 billion on their behalves  over $350 million of which has been recovered in the last 5 years alone. For more information, visit: www.njlawyers.com.

SOURCE Levinson Axelrod, P.A.
Cecilia had been working as an accounting officer at a hotel in Las Palmas in Gran Canaria for 13 years when she was fired by her company. The reason for the sacking was the purchase of a new computer system capable of doing all her work and that of her team without stopping even for a break. This is not an isolated case. According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), half of all jobs in Spain are at risk of disappearing or of significantly transforming due to automation. Its a trend that has accelerated with the Covid-19 pandemic, which has led to historic falls in employment, especially in the tourism industry. According to the consultancy firm McKinsey, the pandemic and automation could destroy up to seven million jobs in Spain.

However, attempts to replace workers with machines have come up against an unexpected obstacle: judges. In the past few months, several sentences have ruled that a worker cannot be fired because a company has introduced new software or a robot that is more efficient. These rulings, however, have been met with a certain degree of controversy given that the judges arguments were based more on socio-economic grounds, rather than legal ones. For example, in the case of Cecilia (a fictitious name used in the sentence), the court in Las Palmas ruled in her favor, arguing that the companys reason for the firing  to improve productivity  was not sufficient to justify the dismissal.

According to the consultancy firm McKinsey, the Covid-19 pandemic and automation could destroy up to seven million jobs in Spain

The judge explained that if he had sided with the company, the ruling would be reducing workers rights in order to increase business freedom  an outcome he viewed with concern. Automation will lead to job losses among at least 35% of the active population, the ruling stated, adding that the welfare state prioritizes the public interest in maintaining employment.

The company defended its decision to sack Cecilia on Article 52.b of the Workers Statute, which regulates layoffs for technical reasons as long as they are made when a business changes the means or instruments of production. This provision is very abstract, says Ignacio Moratilla, a partner of the law firm Lexpal Abogados, and does not provide clear solutions when it comes to balancing the different interests at stake. This means that it falls to judges to solve a much bigger problem.

Montserrat Alonso, a partner at the law firm Sagardoy Abogados, understands that courts must take economic circumstances into account, but questions whether layoffs should only be permitted if a company has financial problems. According to Alonso, its obvious that a business introducing technology, because its walking a tightrope and needs to reduce costs, is not the same as one that does so to become more competitive. But, she says, innovation is crucial to many companies, and in the long run, improved productivity helps to maintain jobs. If measures can only be taken when there are losses, there will end up being more dismissals than what there would have been if action had been taken in time, explains Alonso.

Antonio Aloisi, professor of IE Law School, highlights that case law indicates that job cuts must be reasonable and proportional. In other words, there must be a causal link between the introduction of a new technology and the need to eliminate the job position, he explains.

This was the argument Madrids High Court used to rule in favor of nine employees who were sacked from a printing company, which replaced them with two much more advanced pressing models. The magistrates ruled that the dismissal was unfair given that the business did not provide data showing the need to reduce manual labor to, for example, work the apparatuses. Indeed, the judges believed that the increase in the volume of production would increase the need for more staff.

Limited power

But while judges and courts can put up obstacles to the very real risk of workers being replaced en masse by robots, it has limited power. Like in the aforementioned cases, the only thing courts can do is make it more costly to fire workers by declaring dismissals as unfair  they cannot save jobs, because the grounds for sackings are established by law.

Experts believe that legal reform is the best way to strike a balance between protecting jobs and incentivizing development and technological development in companies. Spanish regulation must offer criteria about when a job can and cannot be eliminated by the introduction of new technology, says Moratilla.

Without legal reform, the digital gap between businesses in Spain will widen, he explains, arguing that big companies that have the economic muscle to face the cost of layoffs will modernize, while small ones, with fewer resources, will be left behind.

English version by Melissa Kitson.
By Panu Wongcha-um and Panarat Thepgumpanat

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai police said on Thursday they had arrested eight more activists, including two popular rappers, in a crackdown after more than a month of protests against the military-backed government that have also challenged the powerful monarchy.

The eight arrested overnight and on Thursday are charged with breaching internal security laws over a July 18 protest and defying an emergency decree that banned public gatherings to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, police said.

"The arrests of the leaders that organised such activity are being processed based on the law," Jirapat Phumjit, deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau told reporters. He said there were warrants for another four activists over that protest.

Among those arrested on Thursday was Dechathorn "Hockhacker" Bamrungmuang, 30, from the Rap Against Dictatorship group, which surged to popularity online last year. The other rapper held, Thanayut Na Ayutthaya, 19, also known as Elevenfinger.

All eight were later released on bail, a lawyer said.

Protests have been held almost daily since mid-July to call for a new constitution, the departure of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha - a former junta leader - and an end to the harassment of government opponents.

Some protesters have also called for curbs on the power of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, until recently a taboo.

Prayuth rejects protesters' accusations that last year's election was manipulated by the army in his favour. He has said he is ready to speak to the students, but that criticising the monarchy goes too far.

Three other activists had been arrested earlier. They include Anon Nampa, a human rights lawyer who was the first to call openly for reforms at the palace. He was arrested on Wednesday for the second time this month over different protests and also released on bail.

Six arrest warrants have also been issued over a demonstration last week at which students set out 10 demands for reform of the monarchy.

Story continues

The return of protests to Bangkok streets has unsettled investors by reviving memories of more than a decade of colour-coded clashes between supporters of they establishment and their populist opponents before Prayuth took power in a 2014 coup.

The Thai baht fell to a three-week low of 31.44 per dollar on Thursday and though the move was exacerbated by gains in the greenback it was the sharpest daily drop in a month.

A small group of supporters of the detainees gathered at the criminal court in Bangkok where the activists pre-trial detention and bail requests were being processed.

(Additional reporting by Tom Westbrook in Singapore; Editing by Martin Petty and Alex Richardson)
Back in July, Chron reported on how the current economic and housing crisis is hitting Black Americans the hardest, and Sonja Lee, is one of the latest to fall victim.

Related: How the housing crisis is hitting Black Houstonians the hardest, according to a Harvard study

Lee, a Houston mother of two, lives at The Steeples apartment complex near Kirkwood and Westheimer, according to ABC13. At 2 p.m. on Monday, she received a notice on her door to vacate the premises.

The note read, "Guess who's moving? You!!!" with a large smiling emoji that appeared to be waving," ABC reported. The letter continued, "Pay your outstanding balance, or release your apartment and turn in your keys to the leasing office by 6:00 p.m. today. Eviction will be filed promptly Tuesday morning, 8/18/2020."

"I was shocked. Not shocked because I was behind on rent, but shocked at insensitivity of the letter," Lee told Chron.com. "It was very tacky and tasteless and very unprofessional. I felt like they were antagonizing tenants for not being able to pay their rent."

According to ABC13, the Steeples Apartments are owned by Karya Property Management, and the founder, Swapnil Agarwal told the TV station Lee is not under eviction, and nothing has been filed against her. The manager responsible for the eviction notice has been disciplined.

Statista reported that in July 2020, the national unemployment rate was at 10.2 percent. Here in Texas, the unemployment rate rose to 8.6 percent in June, up from 3.4 percent in June of last year, as reported by the Texas Tribune.

Lee has started a Go Fund Me account, to help support her and her children.

Lee is one of the many in the Houston area who have struggled because of the current economic crisis.

The CARES Act prevented landlords from taking new eviction actions against renters who havent paid their rent on certain federally backed properties through July 24, according to the Texas Tribune. Now that the eviction moratorium has expired, courts are no longer blocking landlords from evicting Texans struggling to pay rent.

With the eviction moratorium lifted, it's only a matter of time before we see more of these stories come to light.
Christina Anstead has made the best of co-parenting with ex-husband Tarek El Moussa amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the celebrity real estate investor is getting back to work on their reality show, as Hollywood starts to reopen.

She cut a casual chic summer look Wednesday, as she and Tarek returned to set for the upcoming ninth season of their HGTV series Flip Or Flop in Long Beach, California.

Back to work: Christina Anstead cut a casual chic summer look Wednesday, as she and ex-husband Tarek El Moussa returned to set for the upcoming ninth season of their HGTV series Flip Or Flop in Long Beach, California

The 37-year-old put on a leggy display in white cut-off short shorts, a grey tank top and a pair of black studded flip flops.

She finished the look with some chunky tortoiseshell cat-eye sunglasses, gold hoop earrings, matching necklace and layers of brown beaded bracelets.

Tarek, 38, sported a short-sleeve grey button-down shirt with slim dark denim jeans, black leather kicks and a black watch with matching bracelet.

He and Christina were married from 2009 to 2018, sharing daughter Taylor, nine, and son Brayden, four.

Summer chic: The 37-year-old put on a leggy display in white cut-off short shorts, a grey tank top and a pair of black studded flip flops

Casual display: Tarek, 38, sported a short-sleeve grey button-down shirt with slim dark denim jeans, black leather kicks and a black watch with matching bracelet

The exes frequently serve co-parenting goals, as they've continued to work together on Flip or Flop since 2013, as well as their own individual shows.

And Tarek will soon pop up in another reality favorite, as he joins fiancee Heather Rae Young, 32, on season four of her hit Netflix show Selling Sunset.

She recently told Buzzfeed: 'So, Tarek is on HGTV, and unfortunately the networks were not allowed to film together.'

However, the former Playboy Playmate is set to appear later this year on his HGTV spin-off Flipping 101, after they got engaged last month on their first anniversary.

She continued: 'Because they got to film the engagement, Netflix and HGTV came to an agreement that Tarek is allowed to film an episode with me next season.

Co-parenting goals: He and Christina were married from 2009 to 2018, sharing daughter Taylor, nine, and son Brayden, four, and they've continued to work together on Flip or Flop since 2013 (pictured in November, 2017)

Crossover appeal: And Tarek will soon pop up in another reality favorite, as he joins fiancee Heather Rae Young, 32, on season four of her hit Netflix show Selling Sunset

She said yes! The former Playboy Playmate is also set to appear later this year on his HGTV spin-off Flipping 101, after they got engaged last month on their first anniversary

'I thought they were just filming more content to get our [Flipping 101] episode to an hour. That's what [Tarek] told me.'

Heather added: 'I'm so excited to have him on camera with me and film with him. We have so much fun together, and we love filming together.'

Christina revealed earlier this month that she already congratulated them, telling E! News: 'Of course! And I couldn't be happier for them. They're very happy.'

She told People back in April of co-parenting during quarantine: 'Tarek and I split four years ago. Thats a long time.

'When there are tough times like these, all of a sudden were totally a unified front and talk and email multiple times a day.'

The Christina on the Coast star got remarried to British TV personality Ant Anstead, 41, in December of 2018, and they welcomed son Hudson, 11 months, last September.
Kanye West raises concerns with TikTok, asks app to consider Christian version suitable for kids

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Newly outspoken Christian Kanye West urged the social media app TikTok to consider making a Christian version of their technology that is suitable for children.

The billionaire fashion designer, rapper and 2020 presidential hopeful took to Twitter to share that he had a vision about a faith and family-friendly version of the Chinese company TikTok.

A vision just came to me... Jesus Tok, West Tweeted. I was watching TikTok with my daughter and as a Christian father I was disturbed by a lot of the content but I completely loved the technology.

Launched in 2017, TikTok is a popular video-sharing app owned by ByteDance. The technology consists of people making short comedy or talent videos, some of which involve lip-syncing.

West continued his Twitter pitch saying, We pray we can collaborate with TikTok to make a Christian monitored version that feels safe for young children and the world, in Jesus name, amen.

Other parents have shared the emcees sentiment in calling for safer content for children. A viral video that has since been deleted from the platform showed a drag performer suggestively dancing in front of a young girl.

President Donald Trump recently slammed TikTok for other concerns. Last month, he told reporters that he is working toward banning the foreign-owned video app. He made the comments while on an Air Force One flight headed back to Washington from Florida.

As far as TikTok is concerned were banning them from the United States, Trump told reporters, according to NBC News.

Trump reportedly calling the action a severance.

Well, I have that authority. I can do it with an executive order or that, he said.

A TikTok spokesperson responded, stating that the app has created jobs across the U.S. and is committed to user privacy.

TikTok US user data is stored in the US, with strict controls on employee access, the spokesperson said in a statement. TikToks biggest investors come from the US. We are committed to protecting our users privacy and safety as we continue working to bring joy to families and meaningful careers to those who create on our platform.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 20)  Coronavirus cases in the Philippines breached 178,000 on Thursday, with 4,339 more infections detected by the Department of Health.

This marks the ninth consecutive day that the country recorded over 3,000 new cases, and the third day that it saw an increase of more than 4,000 patients.

The latest figures showed 178,022 people in the country have been afflicted by the viral illness, with 61,025 active cases or currently ill patients.

Of the new cases, the DOH said 74 percent or 3,213 were found in the last two weeks.

It added that around 60 percent or 2,590 of the new infections are from Metro Manila, while 223 are from Laguna, 155 from Cavite, 128 from Cebu, and 109 from Rizal.

Meanwhile, 88 more were added to the death toll which climbed to 2,883, while another 727 patients have been cleared of COVID-19, bringing recoveries to 114,114.

Among the newly reported fatalities, 40 occurred in August, 27 in July, 19 in June, and two in May.

Central Visayas and Metro Manila had the highest numbers with 42 and 34 deaths, respectively. Five are from Western Visayas, four from Calabarzon, and three are from other regions nationwide.

Fourteen more infections among overseas Filipinos, along with one recovery, were also announced by the Department of Foreign Affairs. The tally now stands at 9,973 confirmed cases, with 5,869 recoveries and 733 deaths.

Health spokesperson Ma. Rosario Vergeire on Wednesday noted that the public can "expect higher cases" of the disease, as the Philippines main business hubs reopen, similar to what happened in June and July when the lockdown rules were relaxed.

A number of areas nationwide have eased into a general community quarantine, including those considered as high-risk, such as Metro Manila. Other places are under a more relaxed modified GCQ.
Early lockdown, fast tracking of Covid-19 suspects and financial intervention in key areas, are the most significant highlights of their success story.













As the subcontinent struggles to flatten the coronavirus curve, with India alone recording 2.7 million cases and taking the third spot in the world, Sri Lanka offers a glimmer of hope in curbing the daily infection rate.

So far the country has recorded 2,893 cases among its population of 21.67 million people.





How did the Sri Lankan government manage to keep the deadly virus at bay?





Early lockdown, a high testing rate and effective social distancing measures have proved to be key for Sri Lanka in their fight against the pandemic and keeping the infection rate low.





From March to the end of April, the country had conducted 930 tests per 1 million people, while its South Asian neighbours had a very low testing rate: Bangladesh (393), India (602) and Pakistan (703).





"More than 50 percent of the COVID-19 cases in Sri Lanka are of people between the ages of 20-60. These are relatively younger people who are less vulnerable to a severe presentation of the disease. A reason why most of the cases are mild may be that the lockdown in Sri Lanka started very early," said Razia Pendse, a WHO representative to Sri Lanka.





Another major source of support came in the form of The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) - it came up with policies for monetary easing from the start of 2020. CBSL suspended loan payments and launched a concessional refinancing programme of $27 million (Rs. 50 billion), which is 0.33 percent of the country's GDP, for activities affected by the pandemic.





Robust healthcare





The Sri Lankan government, led by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, also committed 0.1 percent of GDP for quarantine and containment measures, and an additional $5 million to the SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Fund. A Petroleum Stabilization Fund (PSF) was built to utilise the lower international prices of oil. A separate presidential contributory fund was also raised, which is worth $7.4 million to date.





Apart from all these measures, the government laid a strong emphasis on the surveillance system to keep COVID-19 mortality at bay.





In light of a remarkable response to the pandemic, health experts from around the world have lauded Sri Lanka's healthcare system, which has already been made a case study for other countries since the 1980s.





For instance, the Rockefeller Foundation's report published in 1985, described Sri Lanka as a country that has created an affordable healthcare system. In most districts of the country, primary healthcare facilities are within 3 kilometres for each neighbourhood.





The ease of accessing health facilities, coupled with low cost services, has helped the country improve its public health.





Sri Lanka's robust healthcare infrastructure was one of the main reasons the government was able to act swiftly to respond to the first calls of Covid-19 infections.





The government mobilised healthcare workers to closely monitor the pandemic's movement right after the first case was reported in the country, and they ensured that most Covid-19 suspects are traced in potential hotspots.





"The first case came out in Sri Lanka in the last week of January, after which there were no cases till about mid-March. During that gap, the government ensured that the public health surveillance was activated to find any cases with respiratory illnesses. Once the cases were identified, we conducted the needed diagnostics so that we were able to rule out any suspected COVID-19 cases," the WHOs Pendse told German news organisation, DW.




Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 01:08:41|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia's confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 34,058 after 1,336 new COVID-19 positive cases were confirmed on Wednesday, the country's Ministry of Health said.

The ministry, in a statement issued on Wednesday, said 28 more patients succumbed to illnesses related to the COVID-19 pandemic on Saturday, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the East African country to 600, according to the ministry.

According to the ministry, some 13,308 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 had so far recovered, including 370 in the last 24 hours period.

The ministry also said that a total of 20,148 COVID-19 patients are still undergoing medical treatment, out of which 255 are in severe conditions.

Ethiopia, Africa's second-most populous nation with about 107 million people, confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on March 13.

The East African country had so far conducted some 672,637 COVID-19 medical tests, including 21,326 medical tests during the last 24-hours period, according to the ministry.

Amid the rapid spread of the virus in recent weeks, the government is intensifying its mass COVID-19 testing campaign.

The Ethiopian government is currently mobilizing resources to ensure there's no shortage of laboratory materials and quarantine centers.

Last week, the Chinese technology and social media giant, ByteDance, had donated 100,000 COVID-19 testing kits in support of Ethiopia's anti-COVID-19 pandemic efforts. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 04:40:53|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The blast-devastated Beirut port is temporarily operational, a UN spokesman said on Wednesday, adding that emergency relief and aid materials will continue to be delivered to victims.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said almost 9,000 containers have been unloaded at the port between Aug. 11 and 18. More than 1,000 tons of goods, including iron and wheat, have been offloaded.

"We, along with our partners, are continuing to provide emergency humanitarian assistance and conduct assessments," Dujarric said.

Lebanon imports about 85 percent of its food.

Although the government announced a two-week lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic beginning Aug. 21 and lasting until Sept. 6, "all relief and aid work in the aftermath of the Beirut explosion will be allowed to continue," he said.

Since Aug. 4 when explosions leveled much of the port, the UN Refugee Agency helpline has received more than 6,000 calls with more than 500 direct referrals for refugees in need of assistance, Dujarric said. It is providing psychosocial support, emergency cash, shelter kits and follow-ups on any issues related to child protection or sexual and gender-based violence.

The UN Women agency has another dedicated, safe phone line for women and girls at risk or who are experiencing gender-based violence in areas impacted by the explosions, the spokesman said. The agency has received dozens of calls. The agency and its partners will also carry out a gender assessment later this month.

The spokesman said access to water is another critical issue in Beirut, with more than 680 households in need of water tanks. Water is being trucked in while some buildings already have been re-connected to water supply. Enditem
Mystery gas discovered near center of Milky Way

An international team of researchers have discovered a dense, cold gas that's been shot out from the centre of the Milky Way "like bullets".

Exactly how the gas has been ejected is still a mystery, but the research team, including Professor Naomi McClure-Griffiths from The Australian National University (ANU), say their findings could have important implications for the future of our galaxy.

"Galaxies can be really good at shooting themselves in the foot," Professor McClure-Griffiths said.

"When you drive out a lot of mass, you're losing some of the material that could be used to form stars, and if you lose enough of it, the galaxy can't form stars at all anymore.

"So, to be able to see hints of the Milky Way losing this star forming gas is kind of exciting - it makes you wonder what's going to happen next!"

The study also raises new questions about what's happening in our galactic centre right now.

"The wind at the centre of the Milky Way has been the topic of plenty of debate since the discovery a decade ago of the so-called Fermi Bubbles - two giant orbs filled with hot gas and cosmic rays," Professor McClure-Griffiths said.

"We've observed there's not only hot gas coming from the centre of our galaxy, but also cold and very dense gas.

"This cold gas is much heavier, so moves around less easily."

The centre of the Milky Way is home to a massive black hole, but it's unclear whether this black hole has expelled the gas, or whether it was blown by the thousands of massive stars at the centre of the galaxy.

"We don't know how either the black hole or the star formation can produce this phenomenon. We're still looking for the smoking gun, but it gets more complicated the more we learn about it," lead author Dr Enrico Di Teodoro from Johns Hopkins University said.

"This is the first time something like this has been observed in our galaxy. We see these kind of processes happening in other galaxies. But, with external galaxies you get much more massive black holes, star formation activity is higher, it makes it easier for the galaxy to expel material.

"And these other galaxies are obviously a long way away, we can't see them in a lot of detail.

"Our own galaxy is almost like a laboratory that we can actually get into and try to understand how things work by looking at them up close."

###

The gas was observed using the Atacama Pathfinder EXperiment (APEX) operated by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Chile.

The research has been published in the journal Nature.

This story has been published on: 2020-08-19. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Across China, police officers, judges, prosecutors and feared state security agents have been studying Maos methods for political purges, absorbing them as guidance for a new Communist Party drive against graft, abuses and disloyalty in their ranks.

The campaign is shaping up as a sharp tool for the Communist Party leader, Xi Jinping, to bolster domestic discipline as he prepares for a leadership shake-up in two years, as well as continuing strife with the United States and other countries.

Officials in Chinas law-and-order apparatus have been ordered to drive the blade in and scrape poison off the bone, setting aside personal loyalties to expose wayward colleagues. The model for this education and rectification program, leaders have told them, should be Mao Zedongs drive of the 1940s, which cemented his dominance over the party from a base in the city of Yanan.

Root out the harmful members of the herd, Chen Yixin, a chief enforcer of the campaign, said at a kickoff meeting last month. Root out two-faced people who are disloyal and dishonest to the party.
The lightning-sparked wildfires raging across Northern California are so intense that for the first time, they are torching the remote cameras that help monitor them.

Five cameras, including three in the Bay Area, have been destroyed or severely damaged so far  some eerily catching the fires time-lapsed progress toward them and their own final moments before the flames overwhelmed them.

Its a first for the network of about 500 cameras that monitor wildfire activity across the state, managed by AlertWildfire, a consortium of the University of Nevada, Reno, UC San Diego and the University of Oregon.

Previously in years past, all of our cameras survived a half dozen burn overs, said Graham Kent, director of the Nevada Seismological Lab at UNR, who helped create the AlertWildfire system.

The photo above was the final image sent by the fire cam in Bonny Doon before it stopped transmitting amid flames from the CZU Lightning Complex fire on Wednesday night.

When flames erupted late Tuesday near Vacaville, a remote fire cam caught the conflagration as it grew from a burst of light to a huge blaze that raced closer and closer.

The first image, taken by one of two HD infrared cameras set up at Mount Vaca near Vacaville, was snapped at 10:20 p.m. and posted online to the AlertWildfire site. It shows the ignition of the fast-moving Hennessey Fire that barreled from the northwest down to Solano County.

The blaze is one of at least 20 LNU Lighting Complex fires currently raging in the northeast Bay Area, prompting hundreds of evacuations.

A Chronicle web robot set up to scrape images every 10 minutes from AlertWildfire pulled the photos from the camera dubbed MtVaca5 showing the rapid progression: first, an explosion of light in black and white, when the camera is still in night mode. As the fire gets closer and swells, the daylight mode is triggered and photos arrive in color, a palette of pale yellow and reddish-brown landscape.

The blaze quickly spreads and the final photos show flames ripping across the mountain range under a glowing red and orange sky, thick with smoke. The images are so vivid you can almost feel the heat.

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Kent said he watched the fire unfold in real time last night.

Now Playing: A wildfire erupts near Vacaville, California. Video: www.ALERTWildfire.org

I tweeted something like, This isnt a replay of the Kincade Fire on repeat, this is Mount Vaca, Kent said. I cant believe how quickly it blew down.

Fire Tracker Follow wildfires across the state Latest updates on wildfires burning across Northern and Southern California

Kent said the MtVaca5 and MtVaca8 cameras were nowhere near the ignition site, and the early photos were actually snapped about 15 or 16 miles away from the actual blaze. But the fire spread so quickly and burned over the cameras in a fiery inferno.

Kent confirmed the equipment was destroyed.

They played their role, Kent said. Better that than a citizen or first responder.

Two other cameras in Tehama County also have been wiped out.

The system was first developed in 2013 as AlertTahoe, then grew throughout California and neighboring states in an effort to provide early detection of wildfires for communities and firefighting agencies. The consortium set a goal of installing 1,000 cameras in the state by 2022, with funding from various sources including the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and PG&E.

AlertWildfire is primarily used as a fire ignition confirmation tool so public safety agencies can scale up or down resources, monitor fire behavior and help determine when evacuations might be needed. Communities are also empowered by keeping track of wildfires in their areas.

Kent said hes already called in 10 LNU Lightning Complex discoveries, and said this is a really unprecedented situation with the high number of lightning strikes and low number of resources. He said were likely to see more buried fire starts appear in the next few days that only need a blast of wind to get them moving.

Kellie Hwang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KellieHwang
Fire Department of New York medical staff attend to a patient in New York City on April 20, 2020. David Dee Delgado/Getty Images

New York City is preparing to fire 400 emergency medical workers as part of budget cuts, NBC News reported, citing the city's emergency-services union.

The layoffs are part of budget cuts brought on by the economic impact of the city's finances during the coronavirus pandemic.

Union president Oren Barzilay told NBC in a Wednesday statement: "Yesterday, we were praised as heroes, essential workers saving lives. Today, the city government treats us like zeros."

Mayor Bill de Blasio previously said the city had already lost $9 billion in revenue between March and June, and that cuts were inevitable to all public agencies.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

New York City is laying off 400 emergency medical workers as part of budget cuts prompted by the COVID-19 economic downturn, according to a union.

"Even with the threat of a second wave of COVID-19 looming and two recent outbreaks in Brooklyn, Bill de Blasio and his team at City Hall wants to balance the city's budget on our backs," Oren Barzilay, president of FDNY EMS Local 2507, the city's emergency medical services union, told NBC News in a statement on Wednesday.

Barzilay said Mayor de Blasio planned to eliminate "some 400 emergency medical responder positions."

"Yesterday, we were praised as heroes, essential workers saving lives. Today, the city government treats us like zeros," he said.

In response, Bill Neidhardt, a City Hall spokesperson, told NBC News that the city "does not want these layoffs to happen, but this is the hole we are in without a stimulus or borrowing authority."

Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa, on August 11, 2019. REUTERS/Scott Morgan

"Our EMTs and firefighters save lives every day and we are working with their unions to find personnel savings to avoid layoffs, but unfortunately all agencies will face layoffs," the spokesperson said.

"Without a stimulus or borrowing authority, EMTs and firefighters will have to find personnel savings."

Story continues

The layoffs have cast a long shadow over plans for a huge ticker-tape parade to honor healthcare workers and first responders when the pandemic ends.

De Blasio had announced in April that the parade "will be the greatest of all the parades because this one will speak to the rebirth of New York City."

But he is facing an uphill battle to win the support of the city's public-services employees after he announced sweeping cuts on June 30.

He said the city had lost $9 billion in tax revenue from March to June alone due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He is also considering cutting as many as 22,000 jobs, Bloomberg reported in June.

An emergency medical worker, clothed in full personal protective equipment, arrives to assist a patient with COVID-19 symptoms on April 14, 2020. John Moore/Getty Images

In July, the New York City Council also voted to reduce the New York Police Department's budget by $1 billion, and reallocate the money to other departments like youth and community services.

Some critics said money should not be taken from the police at a time of rising crime, while others said the cuts were not enough to make real changes.

Barzilay, the union president, attacked de Blasio directly in his comments to NBC News.

"We did our job, even as an unprepared city government failed to provide these brave medical first responders and fire inspectors with adequate safety equipment," he said.

"A person having a heart attack or a stroke or the bleeding victim of a stabbing or gunshot wound cannot afford an extra five to seven minutes of delay that will likely occur if the mayor's master layoff plan is carried out."

New York City was one of the earliest- and worst-hit places during the early months of the US coronavirus outbreak. Psychiatrists and psychologists previously told Business Insider that emergency medical staff are at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder because of the pandemic.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Foreign secretary Harsh Shringla arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday on a two-day visit amid China stepping up its interaction with Bangladesh following ongoing tensions between New Delhi and Beijing at the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh. The face-off had heightened following a clash in Galwan Valley that led to the death of 20 Indian Army personnel and an unspecified number of Chinese soldiers.

This is Shringlas second visit to Bangladesh after he took over as the foreign secretary in January, as ties between the two neighbours improved in recent times. He had visited the country in March after assuming office but this is his first official visit after the suspension of international travel following the novel coronavirus outbreak. The detection of covid-19 cases in the country had also prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cancel his plan to visit Dhaka on 17 March for an event to mark the birth centenary Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the present Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Later on Tuesday evening, Shringla met Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, a person familiar with the matter said. It was an excellent meeting," the person cited above said adding that Shringla was accompanied by Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Riva Ganguly Das.

Stating that prime minister Hasina has not met anyone from abroad in the past few months, the person said that the Bangladesh leader greatly appreciated PM Narendra Modis gesture in sending someone to touch base, convey message and see how the two sides could take relationship forward." Areas of interest that were discussed included development partnership, enhancing connectivity, revival of economy post covid, and cooperation on covid assistance.

A proposal for creating a bubble" for business, official and medical travel was discussed, the person cited above added. Shringla is also set to meet Bangladeshs foreign minister A.K. Abdul Momen and foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen.

Bilateral security cooperation and economic ties between the two countries have been strengthening since the India-friendly Hasina returned to power in December 2008. Bangladesh is, at present, the largest recipient of Indian development aid with $8 billion in concessional loans. However, during a visit to Bangladesh by President Xi Jinping of China in 2016, Beijing signed deals with Dhaka on electricity, energy, technology, agriculture, water resources, investment, transportation infrastructure and connectivity, news reports said. This eclipsed Indian investments in Bangladesh.

New Delhi has worked hard to retain its position as an economic partner of choice in Bangladesh with Modi inaugurating community clinics and water treatment plants to provide safe drinking water for Bangladeshis, besides initiating major projects like the 130-kilometre India-Bangladesh Friendship (fuel) Pipeline Project between Siliguri in West Bengal and Parbatipur in Dinajpur district of Bangladesh.

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Democratic National Convention delegates broke a historic barrier by nominating Kamala Harris as Joe Biden's running mate and the first Black woman on a national political ticket.

Also Wednesday, former President Barack Obama warned that American democracy may not survive if Donald Trump is reelected, delivering a scathing assessment of his successor. Obama, himself a barrier breaker as the nation's first Black president, pleaded with voters to embrace your own responsibility as citizens  to make sure that the basic tenets of our democracy endure. Because thats what is at stake right now. Our democracy.

The third night of the Democrats four-day convention stood out for its urgent focus on voting and the partys commitment to progressive values on issues like gun violence and climate change. High-profile party figures spoke directly to women and all voters of color, whose energy this fall could ultimately decide the outcome.

Harris, a 55-year-old California senator and daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, addressed race and equality in a personal way Biden cannot when he formally accepts his party's presidential nomination on Thursday.
One of the most successful artists whose careers were launched by Mr. Arnett was Dial, a onetime Alabama metalworker whose works sold for $25 when Mr. Arnett met him in 1987. Six years later, Dials large-scale paintings and collages were going for more than $100,000 and he was living in a large house. 60 Minutes pointed out that Mr. Arnetts name was on the deed. Mr. Arnett said he had helped arrange the purchase because Dial had little credit history and could not otherwise obtain a bank loan.


(Photo : 5 Benefits Of Taking Online Courses)

Today's technology has significantly improved the education sector. Now, you can enroll in online classes and acquire new skills right at the comfort of your home.

This type of convenience is valuable for both students and professionals. For the former, they can avoid the hefty costs of going to university, while this setup has allowed the latter group to achieve the balance with their work, further studies, and personal lives.

If you're looking for the best programs to suit your educational needs, websites like Value Colleges can help you find the right course and school.

Meanwhile, here are the five benefits of taking online courses that you should consider:

1. Accessibility

As mentioned above, online classes allow you to learn anytime and anywhere. All you need is a computer and an Internet connection. This arrangement is useful for students who are working part-time jobs to finance their education.

The convenience of taking online courses can help people reach their academic goals with ease. You should remember, however, that you still need to put in the work to succeed and graduate with flying colors.

2. Reduced Expenses

Going to university can be very expensive. Aside from the rising cost of tertiary education, you have to think about paying for accommodation and your daily necessities. That's why a lot of students also look for scholarships to help reduce this type of financial burden. Here's a great list of HBCU scholarships if you're interested.

Meanwhile, you can save money when you enroll in an online school because you won't have to pay for transportation to attend your classes. Most courses in this arrangement are also affordable since most institutions have lesser overhead expenses.

3. Program Variety

The rise in popularity of online classes has led to a variety of programs becoming available to everyone. Most subjects are accredited, so you won't have to worry about compatibility with different schools if you're studying for credits. You can also find short courses to help you acquire new skills to make the most of your time in quarantine.

These are some of the best online courses that you can take:

Business - It's never too early to acquire the skills that are necessary to become a good leader and salesperson. Business courses will equip you with the knowledge to succeed in your workplace.

Design - While you may not be able to achieve the level of mastery like that of the great Renaissance painters, you should learn how to tinker images using photo-editing software. With these apps, you can create eye-catching graphics for your business or school projects.

Photography - Today's generation of smartphones have powerful built-in cameras. However, no matter how high-end your gadget may be, you still need to understand the principles behind what makes a good photograph to maximize this technology.

Marketing - You might think that marketing is only for people who are in business. Nonetheless, marketing skills are crucial these days since you can utilize them to make yourself stand out from the crowd. It's valuable for students and professionals of all ages.

4. Easier Career Advancement

The online class setup allows working adults to get further studies without having to sacrifice time from their careers or personal life. Since you can attend the sessions anytime and anywhere, you can find courses that are offered during your most convenient time. Plus, you just need to pop open your laptop and start learning at home or in the office after work hours.

There are plenty of schools that offer master's or doctorate degrees online. These institutions provide you with certificates as proof that you were able to complete their program, and that you've earned new skills and knowledge.

5. Increased Independence

To succeed in your online classes, you must have discipline and intrinsic motivation. External factors, such as the presence of teachers and classmates, are decreased, so you can't rely on them to push you to complete your course requirements.

That's why a lot of people struggle with the online learning arrangement at first. Fortunately, with hard work, dedication, and focus, you can acquire the skill of learning on your own, which is valuable as a student and when you get to the workplace.

Conclusion

Online classes are ideal for students who want to save money from paying for on-campus accommodation. It's also valuable for professionals who want to advance their careers through further studies without sacrificing time from their careers or personal lives.

The primary advantage of online courses is their accessibility since you can study anytime and anywhere. There's also the added benefit of program variety, as well as acquiring the skill of learning independently.
President Donald Trumps former chief strategist Steve Bannon pleaded not guilty to charges that he ripped off donors to an online fundraising scheme to build a southern border wall.

He made his plea in federal court, hours after he was pulled from a yacht off the coast of Connecticut and arrested.

He and three others were charged in an indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court.

At his hearing the same day, Bannon had his hands cuffed in front of him while a large, white mask covered most of his face.

He rocked back and forward as he sat on a chair in a holding cell at Manhattan federal court, from where he appeared via video as his lawyers were on the telephone.

The We Build The Wall fundraiser was headed by men who pushed their close ties to President Trump, giving their effort a legitimacy that helped them raise more than 25 million US dollars.

But according to the criminal charges unsealed Thursday, much of the money never made it to the wall.

Instead, it was used to line the pockets of group members, including Mr Bannon, who served in Trumps White House and worked for his campaign.

He allegedly took over one million US dollars, using some to secretly pay co-defendant Brian Kolfage, the founder of the project, and to cover hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal expenses.

The arrests make Bannon the latest addition to a startlingly long list of Trump associates who have been prosecuted, including his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, whom Bannon replaced, his long-time lawyer, Michael Cohen, and his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn.

Mr Trump has also made clear that he is willing to use his near-limitless pardon power to help political allies escape legal jeopardy, most recently commuting the sentence of longtime political adviser Roger Stone.

Bannon was taken into custody around 7am by the US Postal Inspection Service on a 150-foot luxury yacht called Lady May, which was off the coast of Connecticut, authorities said.

The boat is owned by exiled Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui and currently for sale for nearly 28 million US dollars.

Neither Bannon, nor his spokeswoman or lawyer responded to requests for comment.

Kolfage did not respond either.

Also charged were Andrew Badolato and Timothy Shea, the owner of an energy drink company called Winning Energy.

The companys cans feature a cartoon superhero image of Mr Trump and claim to contain 12 oz. of liberal tears.

Expand Close President Donald Trump (Evan Vucci/AP) / Facebook

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Other prominent members of the wall group included former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, its general counsel; Erik Prince, founder of the controversial security firm Blackwater; former Republican Representative Tom Tancredo of Colorado; and former major league baseball pitcher Curtis Schilling.

They were not named in the indictment.

Mr Trump quickly distanced himself from Bannon while claiming he knew nothing about the project and never believed in a privately financed barrier.

When I read about it, I didnt like it. I said this is for government, this isnt for private people. And it sounded to me like showboating, he told reporters at the White House, adding that he felt very badly about the situation.

An immigration plan unveiled by Trump last year included a proposal to allow the public to donate toward his long-promised wall, as the Kolfage group had originally said was its mission before changing it to private construction of their own wall.

But Mr Trump later denounced the project publicly, tweeting last month that he disagreed with doing this very small (tiny) section of wall, in a tricky area, by a private group which raised money by ads and claiming: It was only done to make me look bad.

Attorney General William Barr said he had been made aware of the investigation into Bannon months ago but did not say whether the president had been informed.

According to the indictment, the defendants used fake invoices, another nonprofit and sham vendor arrangements to try to hide their efforts to siphon money.

Expand Close Work continues on a wall between the United States and Mexico (Randy Hoeft/AP) / Facebook

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Under the arrangement, Bannon and his co-defendants allegedly paid Kolfage 100,000 US dollars up front and an additional 20,000 US dollars monthly, all while claiming they served as volunteers and that Kolfage was not paid.

The indictment said Kolfage went so far as to send mass emails to his donors asking them to purchase coffee from his unrelated business, telling donors the coffee company was the only way he keeps his family fed and a roof over their head.

Kolfage eventually spent some of the over 350,000 US dollars he received on home renovations, payments toward a boat, a luxury SUV, a golf cart, jewellery, cosmetic surgery, personal tax payments and credit card debt.

Originally called We The People Build The Wall, the campaign launched in December 2018 and raised approximately 17 million US dollars in its first week.

But it soon drew scrutiny.

The crowdfunding site that hosted it suspended the campaign and warned that it would return donations unless the money was transferred to a legitimate nonprofit.

Bannon was brought in around that time.

It originally promoted a project for three miles of fence posts in South Texas that was ultimately built and largely funded by Fisher Industries, which has received about two billion US dollars in funding for wall contracts.

The companys chief executive, Tommy Fisher, did not respond to calls for comment.
OnRobot showcases its commitment to continuous and rapid product enhancement with the launch of a software update for the popular 'Eyes' robot vision system. The update is part of a broad application-focused strategy to give OnRobot customers ongoing enhancements across its product portfolio

Traditional single-purpose industrial robots are losing ground to affordable, easy to use robots and peripherals that can be flexibly redeployed for a wide range of applications. This empowers manufacturers to gain even greater productivity increases from their automation investments. OnRobot is extending its commitment to ongoing customer empowerment with the launch of a software update for its popular, 2.5D camera-based Eyes vision system.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200820005618/en/

The new features of OnRobot's 'Eyes' enable the vision system to be deployed in quality inspection applications and on mobile robots. The update includes one-shot detection for multiple objects, color and blob detection and automatic landmark calibration tools designed to speed cycle time for mobile robot setups.

"Traditional approaches to industrial automation place the product at the center, which results in costly, over-complicated solutions to simple automation problems," says Enrico Krog Iversen, CEO at OnRobot. "OnRobot takes a more practical, application-centered approach. This means providing our customers with easy-to-use tools tailored to specific application needs. But it also means empowering customers through updates to existing products that enable deployments in new application domains."

The new features, which enable Eyes to be deployed in quality inspection applications and on mobile setups, include one-shot detection for multiple objects, color and blob detection and automatic landmark calibration tools designed to speed cycle time for mobile robot setups.

"OnRobot prides itself on having meaningful conversations with customers and on having the agility to respond to those conversations quickly through new releases and product updates," says Iversen. "Our customers told us that they love Eyes' ease of use, but that they would like to see new features tailored to common quality inspection tasks. Today's Eyes update delivers that functionality."

New visual inspection features for reduced cycle time and fast ROI

Eyes' new inspection features enable the system to easily sort, inspect, or pick place unstructured objects using color and contour detection a capability that is beyond most competing vision systems. This detection method requires no workpiece teaching and finds items based on color and size information input by the operator. Eyes' inspection features can be used to inspect parts removed from CNC machines, for example, or to check IMM parts for excessive or inadequate material after part has been molded. The tools also support manual inspections: operators can set up a camera and inspection program, manually place a workpiece in, and execute inspection. No robot required.

The update also provides users with one-shot detection for multiple objects, allowing the system to pick all workpieces with only one picture. This reduces complexity for users and improves cycle times. The update includes tools that allow users to request specific workpiece types and specify gripper clearance parameters.

Adding Eyes to mobile robots

A new Landmark feature has been added to Eyes' powerful toolkit, enabling easy deployment of Eyes on mobile robots and setups with carts, trays, and pallets. The Landmark feature makes it simple to program mobile robots to move from station to station using end user-defined Landmarks as their guide. Landmarks can also be used to initiate specific robot operations: for example, when Eyes detects the arrival of a mobile cart in its workspace loaded with parts for picking, it can easily switch to pick place routines.

"More and more manufacturers are looking to deploy robot arms on mobile platforms for various factory and warehouse applications. Today's update gives our customers the ability to put 'Eyes' on mobile robots and does so without sacrificing the ease of use that makes our products such a compelling proposition for manufacturers of all sizes," says Iversen.

Download product Images and video here

About OnRobot

OnRobot product range features a wide assortment of tools for collaborative applications, including: electric grippers, force/torque sensors, vacuum grippers, the award-winning Gecko Gripper, electric screwdriver, and tool changers. This new combination of offerings from OnRobot makes it quicker and simpler to automate tasks such as machine tending, material handling, material removal, quality, and assembly. Headquartered in Odense, Denmark, OnRobot also has offices in Dallas, Soest (Germany), Barcelona, Warsaw, Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore and Budapest.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200820005618/en/

Contacts:

Company:

OnRobot:

Kristian Hulgard, General Manager, Americas

+1 469 442 9370

kristian.hulgard@onrobot.com

Media:

McCall Media:

Mette McCall

+1 415 800 3517

mette@mccallmedia.net
A heartbroken mother-to-be fears she will have to give birth alone because her boyfriend who is living in New Zealand isn't allowed back into Australia.

Disiane Zan, 34, from the Gold Coast is due to give birth in just over a month but her Brazilian partner, Gabriel Seger, 35, is stranded across the ditch.

The pair who got together last year before falling pregnant in December have applied for a travel exemption twice but were denied both times as Mr Seger was not 'immediate family' and their reason wasn't allowed on compassionate grounds.

Disiane Zan, 34, (pictured left with boyfriend Gabriel Seger, 35) from the Gold Coast is due to give birth in just over a month but her partner is stranded in New Zealand

Ms Zan said Mr Seger had been flying to and from New Zealand and Australia when she first fell pregnant and had planned to move in together in the Gold Coast.

But their plans were cut short when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the two country's borders shut.

The pair who were friends for a decade before becoming a couple were going to apply for a partner visa but it was too expensive and a tourist visa meant Mr Seger couldn't work.

'It's a new relationship but a lot has happened and it's very genuine and strong,' Ms Zan told Daily Mail Australia.

The couple first applied for a travel exemption in July but were knocked back before again being denied a few weeks later.

'We applied to be de facto but they got back to us and said he's not my immediate family,' Ms Zan said.

'It's hard because Gabriel wants to be here with me and be here for the birth. It's such a unique time that's now being taken away from us.'

Ms Zan said her partner was more than happy to pay for the cost of hotel quarantine and would do anything to witness the birth of his son.

Ms Zan who is 35 weeks pregnant said they had applied for a travel exemption twice but were denied both times

On top of the mum-to-be's issues is that she is also from Brazil and has no family in Australia.

'I have good friends and a great professional team around me, but it's not the same without my partner who wants to be there with me,' she said.

'What do we need to do? He's my partner, it's genuine and a real thing and it's still not good enough.

'It's very frustrating and very unfair.'

Mr Seger, who works as a chef, is also struggling to come to terms with Ms Zan giving birth alone.

'He's all over the place, he's not sleeping, he's not eating. He just wants to be there with me so badly,' she said.

Ms Zan said she's worried about having to raise her baby by herself but is planning to re-apply for an exemption next week.

'I am so grateful for my friends but it's just really unfair. They won't tell us what we need to do to bring him here.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Department of Home Affairs for comment.
Former Phillies pitcher Curt Schilling outside of Boston during an interview in 2018. Read more

Former Phillies pitcher Curt Schilling is listed as part of the advisory board for the We Build the Wall fund-raising campaign that former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon and three associates are accused of defrauding.

The indictment, unsealed Thursday, alleges that four leaders of the campaign to build a wall along the Mexico-U.S. border  Bannon, We Build the Wall founder Brian Kolfage, Andrew Badolato, and Timothy Shea  defrauded donors and took steps to hide the scheme when they learned their actions were under investigation.

Several other prominent supporters of President Donald Trump are listed as members of the campaigns advisory board, but are not charged or mentioned in the indictment, including Schilling, former Milwaukee County (Wis.) Sheriff David Clarke, former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, and former Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo.

Schilling joined the nonprofit in January 2019, saying in a news release he was an early donor to the fund-raising campaign. Shortly thereafter, he traveled to the border as part of a group of MAGA all-stars to promote the fund-raising effort, which raised more than $20 million on GoFundMe.

Gotta tell you the fun for me is getting to read all the tweets from the know it all legal experts who say it cant and wont happen. Not only can it, it already IS happening and Ill say it one more time. Its real and its spectacular, Schilling wrote on Twitter in February 2019.

Its unclear if Schilling and other board members were aware of the alleged attempts to defraud the campaign. Schilling, Clarke, and Kobach did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Tancredo could not be reached.

As alleged, the defendants defrauded hundreds of thousands of donors, capitalizing on their interest in funding a border wall to raise millions of dollars, under the false pretense that all of that money would be spent on construction, the acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, Audrey Strauss, said in a statement about the four indicted.

 READ MORE: Former White House adviser Steve Bannon arrested on charges that he ripped off We Build The Wall donors

We Build the Wall is one of seven clients that paid Kobachs law firm $5,000 or more since January of 2019, according to the Kansas City Star. Kobach promoted his involvement with the nonprofit during his failed Kansas Senate race.

It funded the construction of a half-mile private barrier in Sunland Park, N.M., last year, which the towns mayor has said has had no impact on border crossings.

It is always the case, where you have outsiders coming in thinking they have a solution, Sunland Park Mayor Javier Perea told BuzzFeed News in June 2019. Building the wall wont change the source of the problem.

The nonprofit also contributed $1.5 million to a border wall project in South Texas that is now at risk of falling into the Rio Grande due to runoff erosion, a ProPublica investigation found.

Schilling pitched for the Phillies for eight seasons. He won three World Series titles  two with the Boston Red Sox and one with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Since retiring 11 years ago, the six-time All-Star has transformed into a conservative firebrand and outspoken Trump supporter. In 2019, he flirted with the idea of running for Congress in Arizona.

 READ MORE: Curt Schilling doesn't care what you think as Hall of Fame vote looms
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A consultant says up to half of the 1,000 malls in the U.S. will either close or be unrecognizable in the next two years.



By JOSEPH PISANI

AP Retail Writer

NEW YORK  Angel Dougherty went to the mall last month  not to shop, but to watch a drive-in drag show in the parking lot.

This year has been so anxiety filled and chaotic, I figured this experience would be something to lighten the mood, says Dougherty, who paid to see the stars of TV's RuPaul's Drag Race dance in front of hundreds of parked cars at a shopping center in Paramus, New Jersey.





. . .
(TNS)  For years, Andre Head and his wife, Jessilyn Hall Head, have worked to educate people about Oklahoma's 13 historic black towns with annual visits and tours.The coronavirus epidemic temporarily halted those trips, but with a little help, they'll soon have an option to take people on virtual tours using augmented reality.Their nonprofit, The Coltrane Group, won a $15,000 Wonder Grant sponsored by Oklahoma City-based Trifecta Communications, with commercialization consulting provided by the Ronnie K. Irani Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth (I-CCEW).The Wonder Grant project will use a mobile app to create augmented reality "time-portals" that transport people to the early 20th century, where they'll ride a train through Oklahoma's black towns.Along with organizing tours, The Coltrane Group helps revitalize those communities that still exist by helping raise funds. The group also helps improve economic development and fosters cultural tourism, while recognizing others who work to preserve the towns.Eighteen organizations applied for the Wonder Grant. Trifecta Communications CEO Brent Wheelbarger said the newly formed Wonder Grant Group will offer additional grants from technology and innovation providers."We see this as an ongoing opportunity to expand Oklahoma's innovation ecosystem," Wheelbarger said.Andre Head, co-founder and CEO of The Coltrane Group, said the organization will work with Oklahoma schools to develop curriculum to be used alongside the app and AR experience."It's a part of African American history, Oklahoma history, U.S. history. You've got that saying, you need to know where you come from before you know where you're going," he said. "The people we've talked to, they don't know the history. They don't know what's going on with these towns today, and they definitely don't know what's going on with these towns in the past."Jessilyn Hall Head, co-founder and chief operating officer, said she's excited to introduce this technology to their education efforts, with the hope that thousands more people will become interested in learning more about towns like Boley, Rentiesville and Taft."And they may not have had that idea originally, but once touched and made aware of, will do further research and further study," she said. "We are particularly grateful for Trifecta and for those who supported this effort, because we think it is a wonderful method for educating the public while they're entertained about this rich treasure that exists right up under our noses, but many have not known about."
The traditional industries and crafts of UP lined up for promotion in the first phase include ethnic fabrics and textiles such as Chikan and Khadi, home decor, perfumes, carpets, leather products, handicrafts etc. Apart from Beri and Valaya, two other top fashion designers Rina Dhaka and Manish Malhotra have also been on-boarded to help the state revive handicrafts, which are in the dire need of ...

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S trong winds are set to batter the UK with gusts of up 70mph in the wake of Storm Ellen.

Coastal areas are expected to be the worst affected, which when combined with high tides may trigger large waves and flooding.

Britain has dodged the worst of Storm Ellens impact, but the Met Office is warning of another low pressure system bringing powerful winds that could cause disruption to travel and power supplies.

Nearly 194,000 homes and businesses were hit by power cuts and roads were blocked with fallen trees as Ireland bore the brunt of Storm Ellen this week.

Dramatic pictures on Thursday showed flooded roads in Cork city and trains passing by waves crashing against shore in Dawlish, Devon.

A train passes by strong waves in Dawlish, Devon / PA

Despite the storm moving on, a yellow weather warning running from 8pm on Thursday to 4am on Friday predicts further strong winds will hit much of Northern Ireland and the western coast of Britain, bringing potential disruption to travel and power supplies.

Another yellow warning for strong winds is in place for England, Wales, and parts of Scotland from 4am until 6pm on Friday.

Met Office meteorologist Matthew Box said: Thursdays warning in the west is for some very strong winds in that area associated with the low pressure thats moving north-eastwards.

Theres going to be some squally heavy rain, chance of some thunder, widely 40 to 50mph gusts inland in the warning area.

He added that 70mph gusts could possibly hit coastal areas, with the strongest winds expected in the south-west of England and west of Wales in the earlier hours of Friday.

Mr Box added: As that low continues to move north-eastwards during Friday day time its going to bring a swathe of stronger winds across much of the UK.

Thats when well see widely gusts inland to 45, 50mph, with gusts of 60mph around coasts and hills.

The Environment Agency has issued 42 flood alerts and 19 flood warnings  which urge people to take immediate action  largely along the south and south-west coastline of England.

Cars drive by a flood warning sign on George's Quay in Cork city centre on Thursday evening at high tide / PA

They warn that a combination of high spring tides, strong winds and large waves are expected to cause property flooding on Thursday night or Friday morning.

The agency warned people in the south-west to not wave watch and stay away from sea promenades and exposed coastal areas, with tidal gates being closed on Cornwalls south coast.

Natural Resources Wales has also issued seven flood warnings for the south west coast of the country.

Devon and Cornwall Police have warned the public to be wary of storm conditions across their region, particularly on the coast where waves could reach up to nine feet high.

Motorists contend with downed trees on the N72 just outside of Fermoy in County Cork / PA

The force said strong winds could bring dangerous seas and strong rip currents and urged beachgoers to check tide times, stick to life-guarded beaches, be aware watersports may be unsafe and avoid storm watching.

Chief Inspector Tom Cunningham said: We are aware there is many thousands of tourists in our coastal communities currently who may not have experienced conditions which we are expecting or be aware of the danger they can bring.

We would ask everyone to heed the advice of the RNLI and HM Coastguard by not putting themselves, and indeed emergency responders, at risk by entering dangerous waters.

Beaches are a huge draw to tourists in our region, but our coast needs to be respected by all.

HM Coastguard urged people to take extra care during the windy weather, adding on Twitter: The South West coast is set for a bit of a battering over the next couple of days, with dangerous sea conditions involving large swells, strong winds & spring tides expected.

Additional reporting by PA Media.
OTTAWADiversity and Inclusion Minister Bardish Chaggers office had previously undisclosed conversations with WE Charity leadership dating back to March 27, newly released documents reveal.

Chagger told the parliamentary ethics committee on August 11 that she had interacted with the charitys leadership only twice before a decision was taken to outsource the administration of Ottawas $544-million student grant program.

Just to make sure it is on the record, on Dec. 10 (2019) I appeared at WE Day in Ottawa  and the second time I interacted with WE Charity, (co-founder) Craig Kielburger personally, was over the phone on April 17, Chagger told the committee.

But a trove of government documents released Tuesday afternoon shows that Kielburger had also emailed Chagger directly on April 10, alluding to conversations between WE Charity and Chaggers office about the organizations hoped-for role in the federal governments pandemic response.

During this difficult time, were deeply inspired by your incredible efforts to continue empowering young Canadians while informing them of supportive COVID-19 relief resources, Kielburger wrote. Our goal is to help mitigate economic struggles and prepare for a post-pandemic world.

There is no indication from the documents that those early conversations were related to what eventually became the controversial Canada Student Service Grant (CSSG), a program the federal cabinet chose WE Charity to administer before questions about the charitys connections to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and then-finance minister Bill Morneau prompted the contracts cancellation by mutual agreement.

In a written statement to the Star, Chagger said that she spoke to Kielburger on April 17 about the importance of youth and service.

I did not speak about the (CSSG), as I was not aware of plans for such a program at that time, Chagger wrote.

However, Kielburger wrote in an April 22 email that Chagger herself suggested WE Charity include a volunteerism component to their proposed social entrepreneurship pitch during the April 17 call, which took place five days before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the government-funded program to pay young Canadians who volunteered during the pandemic.

We appreciate your thoughtful offer to connect us with relevant members of your ministry. Over the weekend our team has also been hard at work to adapt your suggestion of a second stream focused on a summer service opportunity, Kielburger wrote.

On Wednesday, Chagger denied she made that recommendation.

I at no time directed WE Charity to amend or adjust or add any proposal, the minister said.

Two days after Chagger and Kielburger spoke, senior public servant Rachel Wernick reached out to Kielburger to discuss the governments plans for the CSSG.

Trudeau and Morneau have apologized for failing to recuse themselves from the May 22 cabinet decision that selected WE Charity to administer the program.

While they insisted they were merely endorsing the recommendation of the public service to choose WE Charity, both politicians had more extensive family ties to the organization than were known publicly -- or even to fellow cabinet ministers -- when the government signed the deal.

Since 2015, WE Charity has paid about $500,000 to Trudeaus mother and brother Alexandre for speaking fees and expenses, and has reimbursed expenses for Trudeau's wife to attend WE Charity events.

Morneau acknowledged in July that his family had taken two trips in 2017 that were paid for by WE Charity, which he has since repaid. One of Morneau's daughters was also employed by WE Charity when he took part in the cabinet decision to award it the student grant contract.

Trudeau and Morneau became the subjects of separate investigations by the federal ethics commissioner over their roles in the WE Charity decision.

The documents make clear that several cabinet ministers  including the prime minister  raised questions about WE Charity administering the program before eventually approving the deal.

In a statement, Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre  who had repeatedly asked Chagger about her phone call with Kielburger at the ethics committee hearing  said the minister needed to come clean.

It is clear that Minister Chagger is covering up what happened in her call with Mr. Kielburger, Poilievre wrote in a statement.

She refused to answer my question about whether she discussed the paid volunteer program, which would have given the WE group a major advantage in landing this massive grant. Her evasiveness has been misleading.

Throughout the controversy kicked up by the WE Charity deal, the Liberal government has maintained that the idea for contracting out the CSSG originated with the public service  which, rushing to get supports to young Canadians during the pandemic, recommended Kielburgers organization as the best and only one to administer the program.

Trudeau prorogued Parliament on Tuesday, sparking renewed accusations from opposition parties that the Liberals are trying to cover up the WE Charity controversy by temporarily halting committee investigations into the deal.
TEHRAN, AUGUST 20, ARMENPRESS. Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) representatives will convene an economic forum at the Iranian Aras FEZ, the free economic zone at the border with Armenia.

Earlier, Aras FEZ executive Mohsen Nariman had said that they are cooperating with the Iranian foreign ministry for inviting EEU member representatives. Nariman told Iranian foreign ministry adviser for diplomatic and economic affairs Gholamreza Ansari that they decided to organize the forum to develop trade-economic ties and opportunities with Eurasian and Caucasian countries.

Stressing that Armenia is the only EEU member which has a land border with Iran, Ansari said: This is a very important circumstance, we must take this opportunity, and the Iran-Armenia road  as a transit road to the EEU, which is of great importance for us  must be presented to everyone.

It is necessary to use all existing and potential opportunities of the Aras zone, as the only gateway to the CIS and EEU. The trade ties and turnover of Aras with these countries must be increased with prioritizing the exports of non-oil products, Ansari added, highlighting the importance of cooperation of the Aras FEZ with EEU countries.

Reporting by Hrachya Hakobyan; Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
(Publishers note: This column covers a variety of digital scams reported throughout Wyoming and is being printed to help residents identify potential scams before they occur.)

Anthem Blue Cross Fake Email: An email claiming to be from Anthem Blue Cross encourages you to open an encrypted message about an invoice. The email is from invoice@wpsic.com or sa.gese.cas.to.re@gmail.com and the subject line is EFT Enrollment Form  Approved. Similar messages have been used to steal peoples personal information. It was followed up by a second email with a one-time passcode to view the i...
Female firefighters were forced to hit back at sexist comments after a snap of their all-women crew went viral.

London Fire Brigade shared a photo of the five-strong team in a Facebook post last week and admitted having all women responding together remains 'incredibly rare'.

Station Officer Louisa De Silvo, Firefighter Nikki Upton and Firefighter Emily Butler are all stationed at Chelsea Fire Station and were joined by Firefighter Nicole Moult, Firefighter Lauren Williams, who were dispatched to join them on standby from Deptford and Dockhead fire stations respectively.

The post has since been 'liked' more than 14,000 times and received 1,500 comments, many from social media users who call the women an 'inspiration'.

However there were also a handful of derogatory comments from users who undermined the firefighters' driving and sense of direction - and asked when their calendar was coming out.

An all-female firefighting crew captured the 'rare' moment in a snap shared on Facebook by the London Fire Brigade. Pictured left to right: Station Officer Louisa De Silvo, Firefghter Nicole Moult, Firefighter Lauren Williams, Firefighter Nikki Upton, Firefighter Emily Butler

However there were also a handful of derogatory comments from users who undermined the firefighters' driving and sense of direction - and asked when their calendar was coming out

The original post read: 'We've come along way since the first operational woman firefighter in London in 1982 but an all female crew is still incredibly rare.

'It was Nikki's first-ever all-female fire engine in her ten years career. Weve come along way since the first operational woman firefighter in London in 1982 but an all female crew is still incredibly rare.

'We will continue to challenge the notion that firefighting is a male only role and promote how rewarding the career is for all. All young women should feel that this is a viable job. You CAN be what you CAN see!'

The post received a stream of support with social media users from around the world sharing snaps of themselves and relatives who are also female firefighters.

One person wrote: 'Lovely to see. It still amazes me when we rock up on scene as a double female crew and the patient says 'two ladies?? Ahh how am I going to get to the ambulance... you two little ladies won't be able to lift me down the stairs!'

Posting a snap of herself, another said: 'Fire fighter 11 years and counting. Keep up the great work sisters from the US'

A third added: 'This shouldn't be a rarity in 2020... but it is... wouldn't it be lovely to have all female crews and no one bat an eyelid!!'

Firefighter Nikki Upton and Firefighter Emily Butler (pictured) responded to comments Facebook users made about their all-female snap in a video

Many Facebook users were impressed by the all-female crew, with some even sharing their own snaps on the job

Firefighter Nikki Upton and Firefighter Emily Butler posted a video reacting to the overwhelming support on the London Fire Brigade Facebook page.

The duo reflected on how they became firefighters in response to a number of sexist comments and misconceptions that were posted about the profession.

In response to a question about who drives the truck, Emily said: 'I could teach some people a thing or two about driving. I've been driving heavy machinery since I was about 16.

'I've got all my digger tickets, machinery tickets, so if someone wants a lesson i'll teach them.'

The pair also received comments from people who assumed that women aren't genetically strong enough for the role of a firefighter.

Nikki (pictured, with Emily) explained that the female fire-fighters are just as strong and capable for the job as men

Nikki said: 'I've trained as a personal instructor and a spin instructor. I'm passionate about fitness and I can lift heavy and I know I can probably life heavier than many men out there.

'Firefighting is not only brute force, but when brute force is needed we're just as good as any of the men.'

According to the London Fire Brigade women were trained how to protect factories from fires during the First World War and their role in the fire service gradually increased throughout the years.

Dany Cotton became the first woman commissioner of London Fire Brigade in 2017, however trailblazers can be found as far back as 1878 when the Cambridge Insitute had its own all-women's fire brigade.
Hyderabad:

Telugu film star and Janasena Party founder Pawan Kalyan, who has been critical of BJP for going back on the promise of according special category status to Andhra Pradesh, on Wednesday criticised the demonetization decision.

Kalyan addressed RBI Governor Urjit Patel in his critical tweets on the note ban move.

Mr Urjit Patel, This is late Sri Balaraju (from Kurnool, AP) one of the many countless victims who had lost their lives because of your well thought-out demonetisation, Kalyan said.

Also Read: 23 fake accounts with Rs 45 Cr found by internal audit team of Axis bank Noida Sec18 branch

He also posted the picture of Balaraju. When manual scavenging still exists in the country, he said, You (Patel) want us to believe that cashless economy will work.

Demonetisation has disrupted the lives of various sections of society, including tribals, farmers, daily wage labourers, housewives and senior citizens, he said.

While common people are dying standing in queues, those who plundered the wealth of the country are exchanging their wealth (old notes) sitting in their homes, Kalyan said.

Quoting from a book of Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Kalyan said: When the gap between what you know and what you think you know becomes dangerously wide... disasters of this magnitude will be created.

Kalyan had canvassed for TDP-BJP in the 2014 elections and his campaign was believed to be one of the main reasons for the success of the combine in Andhra Pradesh.

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This year, World Senior Citizens Day (Aug. 21) takes on a whole new meaning. The day is more than a reminder to do something nice for the older adults in our lives  its a prime opportunity for communities to come together and build a more aging friendly world, especially during a particularly challenging year.

The global pandemic has given us a deeper understanding of what life is like for older adults who may experience loneliness on a regular basis as a result of limited social interaction outside our homes, said Lakelyn Hogan, gerontologist and caregiver advocate at Home Instead Senior Care. This World Senior Citizens Day is a time to reflect on the aging experience and commit to making a difference for seniors in your life, community and around the world.

There are endless opportunities to show your appreciation and respect for older loved ones and other seniors who have paved the way for us. Whether youre writing a letter to an aging family member or offering to help a neighbor with household chores, a small act of kindness can brighten the day of an older adult.

Ahead of the observance on Aug. 21, Hogan shares five ideas to help you give back, provide support and inspire change for older adults in your area, especially during the COVID-19 crisis:



Check in. Many seniors are experiencing a unique level of isolation and loneliness as a result of social distancing. While the overall circumstances may be out of your control, there are still simple things you can do to bring hope and meaning to someones day. For example, let an older adult in your life know they are loved and appreciated despite the distance  with a phone call or driveway visit. Short, regular visits can make a great impact on an older adults mental health.

Support a senior-related cause. Less than 2% of funding from the nations largest grant makers is specifically focused on seniors  they need our help now more than ever. Consider donating to causes that provide critical resources to older adults such as food, shelter, medical care or transportation. For inspiration, check out the nonprofits involved with GIVE65, a 65-hour crowd-fundraising event that raises money for organizations and services supporting seniors.

Give back (time). Supporting local seniors doesnt have to be strictly financial. Take advantage of free resources like Home Insteads Im Ready to Help card  which makes it easy to offer help to senior neighbors with daily responsibilities like grocery shopping, yard work, mail collection or pet care. Or, lend your time and passions to a local service group that meets the needs of those in your area.

Advocate for older adults. COVID-19 has cast a bright light on the daily challenges that seniors face  and its crucial we keep the momentum going. Don't miss your chance to play a key role in helping increase the worlds capacity to care for our aging population. Take this opportunity to advocate on behalf of seniors on the issues that matter most to them. To prepare for these important discussions with your local and state representative, take advantage of free online resources such as the National Council on Agings Advocacy Toolkit.

Consider a new career. According to the United Nations, the global population over the age of 65 is expected to triple to 426 million by the year 2050. As a result of this rapid population shift, there will be an increasing need for more passionate and dedicated individuals in the industries that support the needs of older adults. If youre interested in enhancing the quality of life for seniors, consider exploring a career like caregiving, where you can make a meaningful difference each and every day.

With many older adults remaining home for the foreseeable future, its important to remember that recognizing World Senior Citizens Day is one of the countless ways to pay it forward for seniors everywhere. When schedules return to normal, consider small ways to continue giving time and energy to support the older adults we know and love, and the ones waiting to know and love us.

For weekly inspiration and other ideas to help the older adults in your life, visit ReadyToCare.com.

ABOUT HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE

Founded in 1994 in Omaha, Nebraska, the Home Instead Senior Care franchise network provides personalized care, support and education to enhance the lives of aging adults and their families. Today, the network is the world's leading provider of in-home care services for seniors, with more than 1,200 independently owned and operated franchises that provide more than 80 million hours of care annually throughout the United States and 13 other countries. Local Home Instead Senior Care offices employ approximately 90,000 CAREGivers worldwide who provide basic support services that enable seniors to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. Home Instead Senior Care franchise owners partner with clients and their family members to help meet varied individual needs. Services span the care continuum  from providing personal care to specialized Alzheimers care and hospice support. Also available are family caregiver education and support resources.

Visit HomeInstead.com. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
Holland Taylor recently looked back on her decision to publicly discuss her ongoing romance with Sarah Paulson.

Their pair-up hit the headlines in 2015 and was the first time Holland, 77, was an open item with another woman.

'The relationship was with Sarah became so public because she's an enormous star and I was somewhat well-known. It became a news event and so I wasn't going to deny it,' Holland shared in a podcast interview for The Advocate.

Side by side: Holland Taylor recently looked back on her decision to publicly discuss her ongoing romance with Sarah Paulson

'Well, I'm a very private person, just generally. I would be no matter what my life was, but I was not private in the sense of hiding. I lived my life in public,' said she.

'I think I was about 29 or 30 when I had my first relationship with a woman, but I didn't talk about it per se. It would never have occurred to me to talk about my personal life in an interview anyway,' recalled Holland.

'When I started to be known, it was just a subject that never came up in a sense that no one would ask me. I don't know why no one would ask me, but they didn't. And I don't know what I would have said. It's so funny. I can't really remember any anxiety about that. I had not been in a relationship for a very long time,' she confessed.

Her current relationship has turned heads for the fact that Sarah, at 45, is more than three whole decades younger than Holland.

Look of love: Their pair-up hit the headlines in 2015 and was the first time Holland, 77, was an open item with another woman

Holland shared: 'Other relationships that I had have not been with famous people. No other relationship I had would become a news event in that sense. When once that happened, there was no way not to just speak about it.'

She also reflected that before Sarah, when it came to her sexuality generally, 'I was not asked and I would not have offered in all likelihood, certainly.'

Holland explained: 'I mean, I'm more free talking about my personal life now because people do speak very personally in interviews. But when I was younger, I didn't have a big public marriage or relationship with children and a big public life. I just lived my life normally. I wasn't behind closed doors.'

'I don't feel it's very interesting in a sense and I don't have any impulse to talk about it any more than if I were at a cocktail party. I would just start talking about my personal life. It's like: "Who's interested?"'

Dynamic duo: Holland told The Advocate in a podcast: 'The relationship was with Sarah became so public because she's an enormous star and I was somewhat well-known'

Holland also addressed a WNYC interview from a few years ago in which she shared that she is 'not political about' her love life.

She told The Advocate in her new interview: 'Well, I don't join clubs. I just live my life out in the world. I don't understand, certainly at this point, carrying signs about it or making proclamations about it or making statements about it. It's just about life. It's just a normal life for me.'

Holland shared: 'So it isn't like campaigning against some law or other or some discrimination. That would be a political act. So beyond that, it just doesn't feel like a political atmosphere to me in my life.'

Sarah first publicly discussed the romance in the New York Times in March 2016, telling the Grey Lady that when they were first introduced at a dinner party she thought Holland was 'probably the most exquisitely beautiful woman Id ever seen.'

'Well, I don't join clubs': Holland also addressed a WNYC interview from a few years ago in which she shared that she is 'not political about' her love life

That September she won an Emmy for playing O.J. Simpson prosecutor Marcia Clark and told Holland she loved her from the stage.

She told The Edit of the speech: 'It occurred to me, should I not do that? And then I thought, why would I not?'

Sarah continued: 'The fact I'm having this thought is wrong. But I had a moment of societal concern; wondering if, maybe, people who didn't know that about me would be like, wait, what? But then, you know, I did it anyway.'
Pompeo's Success in Prague Seen as Warning Sign for Beijing

By Natalie Liu August 19, 2020

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's warm reception in Prague last week reflects welcomed U.S. investment in the country and shared democratic values. Shortcomings in both areas, meanwhile, are seen as contributing to the decline of a once-promising relationship between Prague and Beijing.

Just a few years ago, relations between Beijing and Prague were full of promises, marked by frequent visits by heads of state to each other's capitals. When Xi Jinping arrived in Prague in March 2016, he was a given a 21-gun salute and an elaborate welcome.

At the height of relations between the two governments, Ye Jianming, the head of China's investment operations in Prague, had an office in the Czech presidential office compound. But the relationship soured when Ye left the country amid a high-profile international scandal, leaving Czech companies claiming he owed them huge sums.

Last week, speaking alongside Pompeo, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis complained the Chinese have "not invested in the Czech Republic in the way I would imagine they should."

By contrast, he said, "there are something like 2,500 U.S. investors here in the Czech Republic who gave jobs to more than 55,000 people."

Hynek Kmonicek, the Czech Ambassador in Washington, expanded on Czech frustrations with China in written replies to questions from VOA.

"Chinese investments in the Czech Republic currently are not significant, yet much talked about," Kmonicek wrote. "Screening of investment for the future is a topic, and there we work closely with our U.S. allies."

Kmonicek said the Czech Republic and the U.S. both value "the principles of democracy and human rights," which he called "one of the pillars" of his country's foreign policy. The legacy of Vaclav Havel, the dissident who led the anti-communist movement and became the country's first popularly elected president, remains "vital" when it comes to the Czech Republic's "self-definition," the ambassador said.

The sentiment was emphasized at Pompeo's joint press conference with Babis, who expressed shock over developments in nearby Belarus, where protesters have flooded the streets for days over what they see as a fraudulent reelection of longtime President Alexander Lukashenko.

"I could not imagine that something like that could happen in Europe, so close to us," the prime minister said. He called on the European Union to take concrete measures to help ensure that "the [Belarusians] have the same right to be free as we have."

China, in contrast, appears to be backing the man sometimes described as Europe's last dictator. What appeared to be images of the protests on state-run China Central Television this week were described as an outpouring of support for Lukashenko.

The incident caused an outrage on Chinese-language social media. A popular commentator posted the CCTV clip on Twitter, describing her reaction as "speechless."

The Communist Party-controlled Global Times, meanwhile, lamented that Europeans have made China an outcast in spite of what it has done for the continent. The author urged countries in Europe to refuse to be the America's "diplomatic pawn and strategic vassal."

Asked to comment on the notion that the U.S. is using the Czechs to advance its own goals, Kmonicek said "the only statement of that sort we have noticed came from the chairman of the Czech Communist Party."

The people of then-Czechoslovakia swept the communists from power 30 years ago as the Soviet empire unraveled. The communist party still existing in the country occupies no seat in the Czech senate and their numbers in the lower house of parliament have shrunk in recent years.

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The news comes as educators try to figure out how best to proceed with in-person and remote learning amid a pandemic. Unlike most public school systems in the Chicago area, which have decided to continue with remote learning this fall or open their buildings for limited in-person classes, schools in the Chicago Archdiocese will open full time, with safety measures in place and remote learning options for parents who choose them.
By PTI

LAHORE: A Pakistani court on Thursday issued a bailable arrest warrant against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in a 34-year-old land allotment case in which he was accused of misusing his power when he was chief minister of Punjab province in 1986.

The accountability court in Lahore ordered police to ensure serving of the summons at all known addresses of Sharif in the land case. Jang/Geo media group owner Mir Shakilur Rehman is also facing charges in the case and has arrested in March.

During the proceedings, police told the court that the summons could not be served at the Model Town and Jati Umra residences of Sharif because of his unavailability. Judge Asad Ali directed police to serve the summons here and abroad residences of Sharif. The judge also extended judicial remand of Shakilur Rehman till September 3.

Sharif has been declared an absconder in this case for his "continuous non-appearance" before the investigation team. The three-time premier had left for London in November last year after the LHC granted him a four-week permission to go abroad for treatment.

He had submitted an undertaking to the court to return to Pakistan citing his record of facing the law and justice within four weeks or as soon as he is declared healthy and fit to travel by doctors. Sharif was also given bail in the Al-Azizia Mills corruption case in which he was serving a seven-year prison sentence in Kot Lakhpat Jail.

He was also given bail in another money laundering case to facilitate his travel abroad. Three weeks ago, Sharif submitted his latest medical report in the Lahore High Court stating that doctors have asked him to avoid going outside as he may contract COVID-19 therefore he could not return the country.
Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) wants to keep its customers protected not just from dust and other debris, but also from potentially harmful particulate matter such as germs/bacteria that may enter the cabin.

Recently, the automaker announced that the PM2.5 (Particulate Matter) cabin air filter is now available. The more efficient cabin filter not only collects dust and, but it can also filter out 90  99% of mold spores, volcanic ash, diesel/cigarette smoke, and even allergens.

Another key feature the new filter has is that can also clean the air in the cabin, and produce a higher volume of air compared to a standard cabin filter.
Barr Says US Wont Seek Death Penalty Against ISIS Beatles If UK Shares Evidence

Attorney General William Barr said the United States would not pursue the death penalty against two alleged ISIS terrorists accused of playing a role in the kidnapping, torture, and beheading of Western hostages. The move lifts a hurdle that blocks the UK government from sharing information with prosecutors in the U.S. effort to put the men on trial.

Barr provided an assurance to the British Home Secretary in a letter this week that the United States will not seek the death penalty against El Shafee Elsheikh and Alexanda Kotey if the UK government shares evidence that could assist in any possible U.S. prosecution of the two men. Elsheikh and Kotey were captured by Syrian Kurdish forces in 2018 and were later transferred to the custody of the U.S. military.

A British court ruling (pdf) earlier this year effectively blocked the UK government from sharing information with U.S. authorities, saying that the evidence should not be handed over without the proper death penalty assurances.

The two men are accused of being members of the ISIS terrorist group and are accused of being involved in the kidnappings, murders, and other violent crimes of hostages from the UK and the United States and other countries.

Barr said that if the United States receives the requested evidence and cooperation from the UK, the United States intends to proceed with a prosecution.

Indeed, it is these unique circumstances that have led me to provide the assurance offered in this letter, Barr said (pdf). We would hope and expect that, in light of this assurance, the evidence can and will now be provided promptly.

The attorney general also imposed an Oct. 15 deadline for the UK to complete all its litigation that has become a barrier for the sharing of evidence. If the UK government fails to do so, the United States will move forward with its plans to transfer Elsheikh and Kotey to Iraq for prosecution.

Time is of the essence, Barr wrote. Kotey and Elsheikh are currently held by United States military authorities in an overseas theater of military operations, and it is not tenable to continue holding them there for an extended period. Final decisions must be made about this matter.

U.S. officials have not announced any charges against the men, but have spoken of their desire to see members of the cell, nicknamed the Beatles by surviving captives because of their British accents, face justice.

The British government confirmed that it had received the letter, with the Home Office saying in a statement that its top priority has always been to protect national security and to deliver justice for families of the victims.

The decision is a significant development in years of wrangling over Kotey and Elsheikh. The U.S. and British governments have an agreement to share documents, records, and other evidence in criminal investigations. In 2015, the Justice Department asked for evidence that Britain had gathered on the Beatles, saying it was doing its own investigation into Americans who were murdered in Syria.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 20)  Locally stranded individuals or residents returning to their hometowns should not undergo rapid antibody tests for coronavirus screening since these do not accurately detect COVID-19, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Thursday.

They should instead go on a 14-day quarantine upon arriving in their city or municipality, Health Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire told local officials in an online forum.

Vergeire explained that a rapid antibody test does not show if a person has the coronavirus. It can only tell if the body has antibodies to fight off a virus.

Kailangan proper timing, hindi naman agad lumalabas ang antibody sa katawan kung wala tayong sakit... Ang dami nag-false-negative at nag-false-positive, she said.

[Translation: Proper timing is needed because antibodies do not show up if one is not sick. There have been many false-negative and false-positive results.]

The reliance on these antibody tests might have contributed to the spread of COVID-19 in the province of Cebu, Vergeire said.

[It's not] accurate thats why DOH does not recommend it," she said. "We are just wasting our resources if you use this for screening."

DOH: Isolate returning residents

For the health department, the best practice is for local officials in low-risk areas to require a two-week isolation for returning residents from high-risk areas, whether they are tested or not.

Those coming from low-risk areas should be isolated and tested if they have symptoms.

Meanwhile, travelers who are only passing through the province should be checked for any COVID-19 symptoms as well.

This way, local officials will be able to keep the ones who are possibly infected away from the community during the period that they are supposed to be infectious.

Halimbawa galing Metro Manila, isolate niyo yan for 14 days," Vergeire explained. "'Pag nakatapos kayo ng labing-apat na araw na hindi nag-develop ng symptoms ang individual, you can let them reintegrate in the community. They are okay.

[Translation: For example, the person coming from Metro Manila should be isolated for 14 days. After 14 days and the individual did not develop any symptoms, you can let them reintegrate in the community. They are okay.]

The DOH also assured local officials that they will be informed of the returning residents arrival at least two to three days ahead of schedule. This will give them time to prepare the isolation areas, it said.
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.
Strong cash flow to the stock market, a VND700 trillion package for public investment, and high demand for ingot steel from China have all helped billionaire Tran Dinh Long pocket more money despite the Covid-19 crisis.

According to the Vietnam Steel Association (VSA), Vietnam is the only ASEAN country expected to obtain positive GDP growth in 2020. The government has been trying to accelerate public investment to boost economic development.

Tran Dinh Long, president of Hoa Phat Group

This will bring great opportunities to steel manufacturing companies. VSA estimated that in July alone, 2.1 million tons of steel were produced, an increase of 7.7 percent over the year before and the same as July 2019.

Nearly 1,956 tons of steel of different kinds sold in the month, an increase of 11.25 percent over June and a decrease of 3.6 percent compared with the same period last year. This included 424,700 tons of exports, up by 41.37 percent over the month before and 16.2 percent over the same period last year.

Hoa Phat Group (HPG) of Tran Dinh Long and Hoa Sen Group (HSG) of Le Phuoc Vu both reported good business results, while other small and medium enterprises had gloomy business performance.

The HPG share price soared from VND13,300 per share on March 27 to VND24,350 per share on August 18. This helped Longs stock asset value increase by hundreds of million of dollars to $1.1 billion, according to Forbes.

In H1, Hoa Phat reported revenue of VND39.7 trillion and post-tax profit of VND5.06 trillion, increasing by 30 percent and 31 percent, respectively, compared with the same period last year.

The HPG share price soared from VND13,300 per share on March 27 to VND24,350 per share on August 18. This helped Longs stock asset value increase by hundreds of million of dollars to $1.1 billion, according to Forbes.

The 80 percent increase helped Hoa Phats capitalization value increase by $1.6-1.7 billion within a short time.

Analysts said some large steel manufacturers still made high profits during the pandemic because the increased public investment steel demand sharply. Also, manufacturers have increased steel and ingot steel exports to China and regional markets.

According to Bao Viet Securities, the VND700 trillion public investment package is hoped to create motivation for construction activities from 2021. Meanwhile, input materials for steel manufacturing, such as coal and flat steel billets, are on the decrease, which will ensure high profits for manufacturers.

Earlier, analysts had predicted that 2020 would be a prosperous year for the steel industry with opportunities from CPTPP and EVFTA.

At the HPG annual shareholders meeting, its managers said the consumption of structural steel in the domestic market may decrease, but that ingot steel exports are expected to increase sharply. The exports can bring profit of VND300,000-1 million per ton.

V. Ha

Vietnamese billionaires pour money into non-core business fields While billionaires have been expanding their business fields, other businesspeople have scaled down their operations and sold some subsidiaries.
On This Day The Day Japan Founded a Military Training School in Wartime Myanmar

Officer cadets marching at the Officer Training School

YangonOn this day in 1942, Japanese forces founded their Officer Training School, the first military training school in the then Burma, five months after the occupation of the country.

The school was intended to provide military training to Myanmars people to support Japanese rule. The first intake arrived 12 days after opening the training school in Mingaladon Township in what was then Rangoon.

The commandant, instructors and supervisors were all Japanese. Young people underwent extensive military training in harsh conditions with routine slapping by the instructors.

In his address to graduation ceremonies, General Aung San often said: The military is the servant of the nation, and not the master.

On March 27, 1945, while the academy was training its fifth intake, the Burma National Army rose in a nationwide rebellion against Japanese rule. The school came to an end with the rebellion.

Patron of the National League for Democracy (NLD), U Tin Oo, graduated from the third intake from the Officer Training School and former NLD leader U Kyi Maung (who died in August 2004) graduated from the first intake.

After independence in 1948, Myanmars military established its own Officer Training School (OTS) in Pyin Oo Lwin in Mandalay Region.

The OTS was then relocated to Ba Htoo, a garrison town in southern Shan State, where the military founded its second training institute, the Defence Services Academy (DSA), as its premier training academy in 1955.

The DSA was moved to the current site in Pyin Oo Lwin two years later. But the OTS remains in Ba Htoo today and had trained over 120 intakes by 2019.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

You may also like these stories:

When Myanmar Cast Off Its Colonial Tongue Under Japanese Rule

Japans Pompous Emissary to Occupied Burma in WWII

The Day General Aung San Gave His Final Speech
Elon Musks rocket company SpaceX has been valued at $46billion (35million) after a new round of fundraising.

The firm, which this year became the first private enterprise to send humans into space, raised 1.4billion from investors, according to regulatory filings.

It is the largest single fundraising round to date by SpaceX, which was founded by Musk in 2002.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying astronauts Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken lifts off to from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, on May 30

The deal gives it a value of about $46billion (35billion), according to Bloomberg. The funding comes as it races to launch its Starlink satellites into a low orbit.

They will offer wireless broadband internet by the end of 2020.

The company launched its eleventh batch of satellites on Tuesday, and operates over 600 so far.

Its Crew Dragon capsule has just completed its first two-month mission carrying astronauts for NASA to the International Space Station, and plans to start routine crewed missions to the station in October.

SpaceX was also awarded lucrative contracts by the US military this month to launch rockets for the new Space Force agency.

Musk is boss of the company. It is one of his two main business ventures, the other being electric car maker Tesla.
Chennai: The government expects bulk drug and medical device parks to attract aggregate investment of about Rs 77,900 crore and generate about 2,55,000 employment. However, industry finds this ambitious.

The government had earlier announced schemes for development of three bulk drug parks and four medical device parks. Apart from increasing central assistance for development of common infrastructure in these parks, the government will also extend a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) to manufacturers in these parks.

According to union minister for chemicals and fertilizers D V Sadananda Gowda, the incentive will be given at the rate of 5 per cent on incremental sales for five years from 2021-22 to 2025-26 with a total outlay of Rs 3420 crore. The Department of Pharmaceuticals released the evaluation criteria for selection of units for this scheme on July 27. Applications will have to be filed within 120 days.

The two-pronged strategy of incentivising production and creation of common infrastructure is expect to offset the higher cost of production and make domestic companies competitive with their peers in foreign countries, Sadananda Gowda said.

According to the minister, the cumulative investment in these parks has been estimated at Rs 77,900 crore and their job potential at 2,55,000. The medical device sector alone is expected to attract investment of about Rs 40,000 crore and generate 1,40,000 jobs.

However, industry is sceptical about the government estimates. This is an assumption by the government. They assume companies will leave China and come here. That might not happen immediately. Further, we haven't seen great interest among domestic companies to invest thousands of crores in these parks. The pharma sector is well-established. As far as medical technology is concerned, we will have to wait and see, said G SK Velu, chairman and managing director of Trivitron Healthcare.

According to S V Veeramani, former national president of the Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA), some state governments like Haryana, Gujarat and Telangana have evinced interest in setting up the parks. Pharma companies might be interested in establishing API manufacturing plants. But whether they will bring in Rs 38,000 crore of investment has to be seen, he said.
WILMINGTON, Del., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Takata Tort Compensation Trust Fund has taken legal action against one of Takata's Japanese insurance companies, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd., to enforce Takata's Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization and Confirmation Order and recover money for hundreds of US victims injured or killed by Takata's defective exploding airbag inflators. The motion marks the first legal action by the Trust against Takata's Japan-based insurers in connection with Takata's defective airbag inflators.

The motion, filed in the bankruptcy proceedings of Takata Corporation's U.S.-based subsidiaries, asserts that Tokio, which issued products liability policies insuring Takata pre-bankruptcy, has repudiated the Delaware Bankruptcy Court Plan's transfer of Takata's rights under those policies to the Trust solely to avoid its coverage obligations and reap a windfall from Takata's bankruptcy. Tokio was paid millions of dollars in premiums by the defunct airbag manufacturer before it pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges and filed for bankruptcy, and the Trust's motion asserts that the insurance proceeds are supposed to be there to compensate Takata's personal injury and wrongful death victims.

As detailed in the motion, the Plan established the Trust to process and pay claims of victims who were injured or killed by airbags manufactured and sold by Takata. The Plan contemplated that the Trust would be funded, potentially in large part, by the rights and proceeds of Takata's products liability insurance policies. Accordingly, the Plan transferred Takata's rights under all policies potentially applicable to the victims' claims to the Trust as of the Plan's effective date.

The insurance rights transfer provision was the product of intense negotiations by Takata and its victims to reach swift resolution of a large and complex bankruptcy and to ensure that victims received prompt and reasonable compensation. Upon confirmation of the Plan in February 2017, the judge presiding over the bankruptcy proceedings praised the efforts of everyone involved, noting the amount of work necessary to reach a largely consensual agreement in such a complex case so quickly.

Due to the Trust's limited existing assets to pay claims, to date the victims of Takata's products have recovered only a fraction of the value of their claims. Tokio has now asserted, to the victims' detriment, that it has no obligations to provide coverage for the claims under its policiesdespite the fact that Tokio had been paying for such claims against Takata prior to the bankruptcy.

In its motion filed earlier today, the Trust asks the Bankruptcy Court to order Tokio to comply with the Plan's insurance rights transfer provision by acknowledging that the Trust is the holder of Takata's rights under the Tokio policies, and to sanction Tokio for its violation of the Court's Order, including reimbursing the Trust for the legal costs of making the motion.

Professor Eric D. Green, The Trustee of the Takata Airbag Tort Compensation Trust Fund, reported that the Trust was forced to take this legal action "because of Tokio's absolute refusal to abide by the express assignment of insurance rights to the Trust under the bankruptcy plan." "Takata's reckless behavior in making this timebomb and putting it in people's cars as a supposed safety device was bad enough," Professor Green said, "but now, adding insult to injury, Takata's Japanese insurer is refusing to honor its obligations under its policies and as ordered by the Bankruptcy Court. It is a dishonorable and surprising attack on these victims in the United States who have been wounded and maimed by Tokio's insured's conduct. We will fight to make things right," Professor Green said.

The Takata Tort Compensation Trust Fund is represented in the matter by Gilbert LLP, as lead counsel, and Brown Rudnick LLP as co-counsel.

Counsel for the Trust:

Kami Quinn

Gilbert LLP

700 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE

Suite 400

Washington, DC 20003

[email protected]

(202) 772-2200

David J. Molton

Brown Rudnick LLP

Seven Times Square

New York, NY 10019

[email protected]

SOURCE Brown Rudnick LLP
'Fully valid': US top diplomat desperately makes case for snapback against Iran

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 19 August 2020 6:20 PM

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is desperately trying to make the case for the use of snapback against Iran from an internationally backed deal that his boss, President Donald Trump, quit in 2018.

"This will be a fully valid, enforceable UN Security Council resolution," said Pompeo at a joint presser Wednesday, not long after the US failure in the Council to extend an arms embargo against Tehran, set to be lifted under the Iran nuclear deal in October.

The former CIA chief did not provide the precise legal justification for how the US plans to trigger snapback sanctions with US having withdrawn from the agreement.

"It has a set of provisions, it has a set of rights and obligations, and we will be in full compliance with that," Pompeo said. "We have every expectation that every country in the world will live up to its obligations, including every member of the P5, and every member of the UN that will take seriously the international commitments to which they have signed up for."

Pompeo's move to use terms of a deal his country quit in May 2018 is expected to face with opposition from other signatories to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Germany, Britain, Russia, China and France.

The anti-Iran war hawk will meet Thursday afternoon with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres at his private residence as well as with the current president of the Security Council, the ambassador from Indonesia.

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An appellate court on Wednesday blocked three Green Party candidates from the November ballot because they failed to pay candidate filing fees.

The candidates are David Collins, who was running for Senate; Tom Wakely, who was running for the 21st Congressional District, and Katija Kat Gruene, who was running for the Railroad Commission. The legal challenge was filed by their Democratic opponents: MJ Hegar, Wendy Davis and Chrysta Castaneda, respectively.

Two members of a three-judge panel of the court sided with the Democrats late Wednesday.

In their majority opinion, Justice Thomas Baker wrote that Wakely, Gruene and Collins are ineligible to appear on the ballot and compelled the Green Party to take all steps within their authority to ensure they dont appear on the ballot. Due to the time sensitivity, Baker said the court would not entertain motions for a rehearing.

Chief Justice Jeff Rose dissented, saying providing no other explanation than that relief was not appropriate based on the record before us.

Aug. 28 is the deadline for the Texas Secretary of State to certify the names of party nominees for statewide and district offices for placement on the Nov. 3 ballot. The Green Party candidates can no longer file as write-in candidates, as the deadline to declare was Monday.

Earlier Wednesday, in another suit filed by Hegar and the Democratic Senatorial and Congressional Campaign committees, a Travis County district judge had temporarily blocked Collins and Wakely from being certified.

TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

The Green Party, which promotes environmental, anti-war and social justices causes, is often accused of siphoning votes from Democratic candidates, while the Libertarian Party, which advocates for individual rights, is blamed for taking away Republican votes, though the data seldom bears out that point.

Davis campaign declined to comment. Hegars campaign did not respond to a request for comment. Randy Howry, Hegars lawyer in the Travis County case, referred questions about the impetus for the suit to attorney Alexi Velez, who was not available for comment.

Castaneda said the suit was a matter of fairness and that the timing was based on the fact that the Green Party tactics only recently came to light.

I and my fellow candidates worked very hard to get on the ballot, and the statute is clear for all of us, she said, adding that if the candidates didnt want to or couldnt pay the fee, they could have acquired the signatures to petition to be on the ballot but chose not to do so.

Third-party groups have chafed at that idea because they say the petition-collection process is also costly.

In 2019, the Legislature passed House Bill 2504, which required minor-party candidates to submit the same number of petitions or filing fee as major-party candidates. Months after it was enacted, the Green Party, Libertarian Party and other third parties and candidates filed two suits, one in federal court and one in state court, seeking to overturn the requirement. One is still pending in federal court, and a second is still pending before an appellate court.

Wakely ran as a Democrat for the same 21st Congressional district seat in 2016 and lost by a 21-point margin to then-Republican incumbent Lamar Smith. Gruene ran for Democratic State Rep. Eddie Rodriguezs District 50 seat in 2016 and got 13 percent of the vote.

Just two of eight Green Party statewide and district candidates have paid filing fees, according to the Secretary of State. The fee in Texas is $5,000 to run for U.S. Senate, $3,125 for the U.S. House and $3,750 for the Railroad Commission. Fifty-three of 70 Libertarian candidates have paid theirs.

NEW STATE LAW: Texas Green Party has qualified for 2020 ballot

Wakely said it was clear to him that the last-minute pile-on of lawsuits was a coordinated strategy to eliminate competition. He added that it was curious that Libertarian candidates, including the one in his 21st District race, Arthur DiBianca, who also did not pay fees, were facing similar scrutiny.

Gruene added that the last-minute nature of the case also seems to be part of the Democrats strategy, as it leaves the Green candidates without many options for relief.

Charles Waterbury, a lawyer for the Green Party candidates, agreed that the timing seemed like a tactic and said Democrats should have raised the issue sooner.

The Democrats waited so long for what I would argue is kind of an artificial emergency, Waterbury said. If this is such a huge deal, if keeping the juggernaut that is the Green Party off the ballot is so important, this is something they should have filed way before.  They know the difficulty faced by a party like the Greens is basically insurmountable.

Gruene said she views the suit against her in the same way as Wakely.

Its a way to siderail a campaign to shift into dealing with legal matters instead of campaigning, Gruene said. The Democratic Party has always seen the Green Party as their opposition, and they, from 2001 until today, have used lawsuits as a way to bankrupt candidates, bankrupt parties and prevent voters from having the choice of voting for Green Party candidates.

taylor.goldenstein@chron.com
Offr, a property tech startup co-founded by former Savills and Allsop / BidX1 auctioneer Robert Hoban, has raised 3m in funding from Barclays Bank and a group of angel investors and venture capital firms.

Offr is the first Irish company to receive a follow-on investment from Barclays through its London accelerator programme. The bank and Rob Pierre, co-founder of London-based digital marketing firm Jellyfish are the two largest investors in Offr's seed round.

A number of British and Irish senior figures in finance, tech and property - as well as VC firms including Frontline Ventures and Enterprise Ireland, - are among the 30 backers of Offr, which also raised 1m last year.

Offr provides secure and transparent bidding and transaction technology for the property industry, with a button that estate agents and sellers can put on their property listings enabling a transaction to be completed digitally, and connecting estate agents to banks and solicitors using integrated messaging and services from DocuSign, Stripe, Onfido, WhatsApp Business, Twilio, Slack, Matterport, EyeSpy360, and Hubspot.

"Ireland sees 15bn of property sales a year, with 60,000 transactions and largely paper-based processes taking on average seven months from listing to completion. We can reduce that to three or four months," Mr Hoban said.

"The business conducted the world's first digital property transaction during the lockdown, via Sherry Fitzgerald, selling six apartments in an online auction as one lot."

Mr Hoban founded the business in late 2018, along with Philip Farrell, a former auctioneer and CEO of the Real Estate Alliance, and Niall Dawson, Offr's CTO, who honed his tech and software development skills at Worky, Ultimate Rugby and Xsellco.

"We're inspired by [Irish customer-messaging unicorn] Intercom's global success. We want to do for property what Amazon or Shopify have done for ecommerce," said Mr Hoban. "Niall has brought a wealth of tech expertise to our team so we can achieve that. We'll use the funding to expand the business and we're talking to several of the largest property websites here and in Britain about integrating our technology."

Jellyfish - which employs 1,100 people around the world, and merged with a French firm last November valuing the combined entity at 550m - will now boost Offr's digital marketing as it seeks to expand in Australia and the UK, whose property markets are worth 170bn and 460bn respectively, Mr Hoban said.
Former US President Barack Obama has warned that the country's democracy was at stake, adding that incumbent President Donald Trump was "categorically unfit" for the job, it was reported.

Obama's remarks were part of the ongoing Democratic National Convention (DNC), which he made virtually from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia on Wednesday, reports The Hill news website.

While urging voters to back his Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential candidate, Obama said: "I am also asking you to believe in your own ability  to embrace your own responsibility as citizens  to make sure that the basic tenets of our democracy endure.

"Because that's what's at stake right now. Our democracy."

He also warned against complacency, arguing that cynicism and apathy in the face of Trump's attacks on democratic norms would cause the entire system to wither away "until there's no democracy at all".

"This administration has shown it will tear our democracy down if that's what it takes to win," the former President was quoted as saying by The Hill news website.

In his address, Obama also slammed Trump over his character, treatment of protesters, attacks on the media and his lack of commitment to the job.

"I did hope, for the sake of our country, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously; that he might come to feel the weight of the office and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care.

"But he never did... For close to four years now, he's shown no interest in putting in the work; no interest in finding common ground; no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends; no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves," he said.

Obama's affection for Biden, who he referred to as "a brother" was notable in the address.

"Joe and I came from different places and different generations. But what I quickly came to admire about him is his resilience, born of too much struggle; his empathy, born of too much grief."

Obama's speech came two days after his wife and former First Lady, Michelle Obama tore into Trump in an 18-minute speech on the inaugural day of the DNC.

Michelle Obama said that 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 over his head. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us."
AYBINTIO is approved for the treatment of the same types of cancer as reference bevacizumab (AVASTIN i )



is approved for the treatment of the same types of cancer as reference bevacizumab (AVASTIN ) AYBINTIOis Samsung Bioepis' fifth biosimilar to be approved by the European Commission

INCHEON, Korea, Aug. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd. today announced that the European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorization for AYBINTIO (bevacizumab) for the treatment of the same types of cancer as reference bevacizumabii,iii, including metastatic carcinoma of the colon or rectum (mCRC), metastatic breast cancer (mBC), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), advanced and/or metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC), epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancer and cervical cancer.

"We are proud to announce our second oncology biosimilar approval in Europe," said Christopher Hansung Ko, President and Chief Executive Officer, Samsung Bioepis. "Approval of AYBINTIO provides another treatment option for patients with certain type of cancers enabling wider access to those in need."

AYBINTIO is Samsung Bioepis' fifith biosimilar approved for use in Europe following BENEPALI (etanercept), FLIXABI (infliximab), ONTRUZANT (trastuzumab), and IMRALDI (adalimumab). EC approval for AYBINTIO was supported by a comprehensive data package and totality of evidence which included analytical, pharmacokinetic (PK) and clinical data, as well as pharmacology and toxicology data. This data demonstrated that AYBINTIO and reference bevacizumab are highly similar with no clinically meaningful differences.

AYBINTIO offers a more sustainable solution for healthcare systems in Europe and is part of Samsung Bioepis' patient-centric approach to the development and continuous supply of quality biologics for patients. Over 129,000 patient years have been treated by Samsung Bioepis' biosimilars in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdomiv, and AYBINTIO is set to expand this even further.

About Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd.

Established in 2012, Samsung Bioepis is a biopharmaceutical company committed to realizing healthcare that is accessible to everyone. Through innovations in product development and a firm commitment to quality, Samsung Bioepis aims to become the world's leading biopharmaceutical company. Samsung Bioepis continues to advance a broad pipeline of biosimilar candidates that cover a spectrum of therapeutic areas, including immunology, oncology, ophthalmology and hematology. Samsung Bioepis is a joint venture between Samsung BioLogics and Biogen. For more information, please visit: www.samsungbioepis.com and follow us on social media - Twitter , LinkedIn .

MEDIA CONTACT

Yoon Kim: +82-31-8061-1783, yoon1.kim@samsung.com

Evelyn Hong: +82-31-8061-1215, eubene.hong@samsung.com

________________________



i Avastin is a registered trademark of Genentech Inc.

ii European Medicines Agency. Avastin Summary of Product Characteristics. Available at https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/avastin-epar-product-information_en.pdf [Accessed May 2020]

iii AYBINTIO is recommended for the treatment of certain types of cancer, including in combination with fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy for metastatic carcinoma of the colon or rectum; in combination with paclitaxel for metastatic breast cancer; in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy for unresectable advanced, metastatic or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) other than predominantly squamous cell histology; in combination with erlotinib for unresectable advanced, metastatic or recurrent non-squamous NSCLC with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) activating mutations; in combination with interferon alfa-2a for advanced and/or metastatic renal cell cancer; in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel for advanced (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stages III B, III C and IV) epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer; in combination with carboplatin and gemcitabine or in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel for platinum-sensitive epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer; in combination with topotecan, or pegylated liposomal doxorubicin for platinum-resistant recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer; and in combination with paclitaxel and cisplatin, or alternatively, paclitaxel and topotecan for persistent, recurrent, or metastatic carcinoma of the cervix. AYBINTIO is not recommended for use in combination with paclitaxel for the treatment of adult patients with platinum-resistant recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer.

iv Data source from IQVIA 2019. Analysis by Samsung Bioepis, patient years calculated for Nov 2018-Oct 2019 for etanercept, infliximab, adalimumab, and trastuzumab.
NEW HAVEN  American Airlines will suspend service to Tweed New Haven Regional Airport and 14 other airports for at least one month beginning Oct. 7, citing a decrease in demand and the expiration of coronavirus pandemic-related stimulus measures as rationale for the decision.

American, in a release on the company website, said it will adjust its October schedule to remove service to 15 markets, including New Haven, as a result of low demand and the expiration of the air service requirements associated with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

John Picard, chairman of the Tweed New Haven Airport Authority, said he spoke with Sean Scanlon, executive director of Tweed, about the matter Wednesday night after Scanlon spoke with an American Airlines representative.

Picard, former mayor of West Haven, said he believes service will return in a month or so. That view was echoed in Americans release, which stated, These station suspensions will be effective Oct. 7. For now, these changes are only in place for the October schedule period, which runs through Nov. 3.

American is keeping its Tweed airport station manager in place, Picard said.

I have been in contact with Sean Scanlon, the executive director of Tweed New Haven Airport Authority, and understand this is a short-term financial decision by American Airlines, said Mayor Justin Elicker.

We are looking forward to the relaunch of service as Tweed is an important asset to New Haven, Elicker said.

Theyre saying its a month, said Scanlon. I would call it a temporary pause of our service. ... The airline industry is at the worst crisis in the history of that industry. Americans decision is a reflection on the fact that were heading into really difficult times. ... But well see what happens later on in the fall and the winter.

Are we disappointed about this decision, even though its just temporary? Of course, said Scanlon, also a Democratic state representative representing Guilford and Branford. But were confident that once the industry bounces back ... that the momentum that we carry will still be there.

Even during the coronavirus pandemic, We have continued to see our numbers going up, he said. We were at 42 percent load factor in August, which was higher than July.

Tweeds load factors were in the 60s and 70s before the pandemic, he said.

The other 14 cities losing American Airlines service included Williamsport, Pa.; Springfield, Ill.; Kalamazoo, Mich.; Greenville, N.C.; Florence, S.C.; Dubuque and Sioux City, Iowa; Joplin, Mo.; Huntington, W.Va.; Lake Charles, La.; Roswell, N.M.; Del Rio, Texas; and Stillwater, Okla.

This is the first step as American continues to evaluate its network and plans for additional schedule changes in the coming weeks, American said in the announcement. These station suspensions will be effective Oct. 7. For now, these changes are only in place for the October schedule period, which runs through Nov. 3. The airline will continue to re-assess plans for these and other markets as an extension of the Payroll Support Program remains under deliberation.

American previously announced plans to fly two daily flights to Charlotte from Tweed beginning Sept. 9 and end service to Philadelphia.

American had been flying one weekly Saturday flight each way between Tweed and Charlotte since December 2018. Philadelphia had been Tweeds primary, and sometimes only, initial destination for decades, dating back to when US Airways Express operated the service.

The CARES Act required airlines to maintain a minimum level of service in the communities they patronized before the pandemic through Sept. 30, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Roll Call.

The company will release its schedule for November by late September, officials with American Airlines said.

Scanlon noted the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on air travel across the country in a statement and said the airport would welcome the company back later in the fall.

In this difficult and unprecedented time, airlines and airports across the country are facing enormous challenges, Scanlon said. We understand that American Airlines must suspend service for a month at Tweed-New Haven and other airports across the country as they regroup in response to the global pandemic.

The airport and the New Haven community greatly value our longstanding relationship with American Airlines and look forward to welcoming them back later in the fall, Scanlon said.

Picard said the airport, which has had its share of ups and downs over the years, will endure.

Were not happy. We knew it was tough times, Picard said. But Im still very excited for Tweeds future.

The announcement came as Tweed was about to embark on its largest advertising campaign in years, a digital campaign worth several hundred thousand dollars under a contract with Digital Surgeons, a New Haven-based advertising agency.

Scanlon, who had just discussed that campaign with the Tweed Authority during its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, called that sort of a cruel twist of fate.

The campaign, which was to have begun Thursday  and would have had ads for Tweeds Charlotte service show up when people were searching for flights  is in place but wont go forward immediately, Scanlon said. Whenever the pause button is off, were going to move forward.

He called the campaign the most substantial campaign weve ever taken here in recent memory.

Scanlon told the Tweed Authority  before he knew American was suspending service  that within the next 24 hours well be beginning some new digital ads ... letting people know that Charlotte is the place that we want to go.

Tweed, which has long pushed for a longer runway, is in the midst of doing its periodic airport master plan update, an 18-month process that includes both community and technical advisory input. The master plan update is scheduled to be done in March 2021.

City and airport officials have said they need to extend the 5,600-foot main runway to at least 6,000 feet in order to attract additional commercial airlines. Tweed straddles the New Haven-East Haven border, and while it is owned by New Haven, is located in both municipalities.

That effort received a boost when the U.S. Supreme Court announced March 23 that it wont hear the states request to review a federal appeals courts ruling in favor of Tweed in the airports effort to extend its runway by paving portions of grassy runway safety areas at either end.

The decision clears the way for Tweed to ultimately lengthen its main runway, something Tweed officials and New Haven leaders have said is essential to the airports future and its efforts to attract additional air service. The airport is owned by the city.

mark.zaretsky@hearstmediact.com
Cardi B's sex-positive anthem WAP made history when it debuted at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was streamed 93 million times in its first week.

But the rapper has revealed her record label, Atlantic Records, wasn't exactly happy when she first played them the explicit song featuring Megan Thee Stallion.

'When they heard the song, they were like, "We really like it, but that song is so explicit,"' Cardi told Ash London Live on Wednesday.

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Cardi gets candid: Rapper Cardi B revealed on Wednesday that her record label was initially worried about WAP's explicit lyrics. Pictured on Australian radio show Ash London Live

The Bronx rapper's three-minute single includes more than 40 curse words, and its music video has inspired a raunchy TikTok dance trend.

'Let me tell you something, I haven't even said this, I've done so many interviews, but I haven't even said this, right,' Cardi began.

'I told my label that I was ready to put out a song... When they heard the song they were like, "We really like it, but that song is so explicit."

'And I guess they were asking around because even with YouTube we couldn't use the explicit version. We had to use "wet and Gucci" to keep it PG-13.'

Groundbreaking: Cardi B's sex-positive anthem WAP made history when it debuted at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was streamed 93 million times in its first week

'They were like, "We really like it, but that song is so explicit"': Cardi B said that Atlantic Records executives had reservations about WAP when they first heard it

'My label was really scared about the record. They were like, "Can you please get another record and you could put Megan on it?" And I was like, "No"' she added.

Elsewhere in her Zoom interview with DJ Ash London, the hip hop star claimed she had misgivings herself about one aspect of the song.

She feared that she was repeating the phrase 'WAP', short for 'wet a** p***y', too often during the track.

WAP's success marks Cardi's fourth Billboard No. 1, following her 2017 breakout single Bodak Yellow, 2018's I Like It, and her guest appearance on Maroon 5's Girls Like You later that year

'I kept asking people, "Am I saying p***y too much?"' Cardi said.

WAP's success marks Cardi's fourth Billboard No. 1, following her 2017 breakout single Bodak Yellow, 2018's I Like It, and her guest appearance on Maroon 5's Girls Like You later that year.

The former pole dancer landed her first Hollywood role in the 2019 film Hustlers, alongside Jennifer Lopez, Constance Wu and Lizzo.

Listen to Ash London Live from 7pm to 10pm weeknights on the Hit Network
Mr Samuel Adjorlolo, the General Manager of KEK Transport Company at Kaneshie in Accra, has urged transport operators not to relax the safety protocol measures on COVID-19 after the return of the full loading capacity of passenger buses.



He also advised passengers to continue to abide by the prescriptions of the measures by wearing nose mask, hand washing, regular application of sanitizers and the social distancing.



Mr Adjorlolo gave the advice in an interview with the Ghana News Agency and commended the President for lifting the restriction on the loading capacity of passenger buses.



He said: The lifting of the restriction on the loading capacity as announced by the government does not mean we should throw caution to the wind, but as human we should live responsibly in the midst of the coronavirus.



The Manager said the company had put in place stringent measures at all their terminals across the country to ensure the safety of passengers on board their fleet to help in the fight against the COVID-19.



He applauded health experts and the government for their approach in easing the restrictions, which was yielding dividends and called on the citizenry to collectively support in returning the condition of living to normalcy.

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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This spring, lawmakers passed a $50 billion package designed to keep the airlines afloat as the coronavirus ravaged the business, driving down passenger volumes by as much as 95 percent. The money came with provisions designed to protect workers and smaller communities, but as the expiration of those protections approaches airline executives have said they expect their operations to be smaller.
(Newser)  There's a $14,000 reward for information on a blaze in Denver earlier this month that killed five Senegalese family members. Now police have released a photo they hope will help them catch the suspects. Per CNN, the image shows three masked individuals wearing dark-colored hoodies on Aug. 5 at the site of a two-story house in the Green Valley Ranch neighborhood that went up in flames. Killed in the fire were Djibril and Adja Diol; their toddler daughter, Khadija; Djibril's sister, Hassan Diol; and her infant daughter, Hawa Baye, the New York Times reports. In addition to the photo of the masked suspects, an image of the dark four-door sedan they fled the scene in has also been released by authorities.

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Police say they soon knew that the fire was the work of arsonists, though they're staying mum on details as they continue to conduct what's now a homicide investigation; police haven't ruled out a hate crime. The fire was so intense it caused damage to two nearby homes. An officer on the scene couldn't get into the house to help the occupants because the heat was too much. There were three survivors who escaped by jumping from the second floor. A local Senegalese leader in Denver, which is home to about 2,000 Senegalese immigrants, said at a presser earlier this month that Djibril Diol was a civil engineer who'd graduated from Colorado State University. The president of Senegal, Macky Sall, offered his condolences on Twitter. "I was moved to learn of the deaths of 5 of our compatriots," he wrote on Aug. 6. "It is a very serious matter that we are following closely." (Read more house fire stories.)
The PSNI and Gardai conducted a cross-border operation this week to combat the activities of the New IRA.

Late last night it emerged that detectives from the PSNI's Terrorism Investigation Unit have been granted further extensions by the court to question nine people who were arrested in connection with an 'ongoing investigation into the activities of the New IRA'.

Crime Operations Assistant Chief Constable Barbara Gray said: The Court granted a further 72 hours detention from 5.00am on Thursday, August 20th for the 7 men and 2 women, aged between 26 and 50 years, who were arrested as part of Operation Arbacia.

They will remain in Musgrave Serious Crime Suite where they will continue to be questioned on suspicion of a wide range of terrorist activity.

PSNI officers made a number of arrests under the Terrorism Act across the North on August 18.

An Garda Siochana also carried out a number of searches in support of the operation in the Republic of Ireland.

The searches in this jurisdiction were carried out at locations in Dublin, Laois, Cork and Kerry and were part of ongoing operations to combat the activities of the New IRA, a Garda spokesperson said.

The searches were conducted by members of the Special Detective Unit assisted by local Gardai and Regional Armed Support Units.

An Garda Siochana has no further comment at this time.

Solicitor Ciaran Shiels of Madden & Finucane is representing one of the Derry men arrested as part of what he described as the MI5 and PSNI operation against the New IRA.

He confirmed that 'following an application by the PSNI to detain the 9 suspects for a further period of 5 days since their arrest yesterday, Judge Pat Lynch QC would only permit an additional 72 hours to question the detainees without judicial intervention.'

Defence lawyers, he said, 'strongly objected' to the manner in which the PSNI has been conducting interviews of the suspects thus far.

Mr Shiels added that court will resume at 2pm on Saturday to consider any further time in police custody.

Eight members of Irish Revolutionary Republican Socialist Party, Saoradh, were amongst those arrested, including those in Derry.

Saoradh National Press Officer Paddy Gallagher, who is from the city, said: In what has clearly been a deliberate and coordinated MI5 led attack on Saoradh, a number of party members have been detained following heavy handed home invasions by British Crown Forces with further raids by Garda ERU this morning.

At least one Saoradh member has been strip searched when hauled off to Musgrave Interrogation Unit.

Since the formation of Saoradh, the British and Free State governments have used an array of draconian measures to suppress the party.

By targeting party members, their families and supporters, the oppressor has sought to bully the party out of existence.

He added: Today's MI5 led operation which has witnessed the detainment of several members throughout Derry, Tyrone, Armagh and further raids in Dublin, Cork and Kerry is another example of targeted attacks in a futile attempt to stop the growth of our party.

Saoradh is not a proscribed organisation, we have as our means political agitation, mobilisation and grassroots activism. Since our formation in 2016 we have grown and we continue to grow.

We have four public offices with more planned, each one open and accessible to the public. This harassment will not deter us.

What the state does today on Irish Republicans it will not hesitate to use tomorrow on the rest of society.

You may not share our opinion, you may be diametrically opposed to it, as is your right, but you must understand that the denial of our rights today is the denial of your rights tomorrow.
Kerala state government has complained that the Centre's decision to hand over management and operation of Trivandrum International Airport to a private bidder is in contravention to the assurance given by the Civil Aviation Ministry to the state in 2003. Adani Group had won the bid for a 50-year lease to manage the airport. The state government will not co-operate with the implementation of the unilateral decision, the state government says.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan sought PM's intervention in the matter and said the civil aviation ministry had assured seven years ago that as and when induction of a private player is considered, Government of India will factor in the contributions made by the state government to the development of the airport.

Also read: Aviation Ministry to place proposal for 'further' privatisation of airports: Puri

Kerala has been repeatedly requesting the central government to entrust the management of Trivandrum airport to a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in which state government is the major stakeholder. The letter to Modi said that the state government had earlier transferred 23.57 acres to the Airport Authority of India free of cost for construction of the international terminal, subject to the condition that the value of the land would be reflected as state government's share capital in an SPV which would be set up.

The state government has claimed that it has proven experience in successfully managing and operating airports in Kochi and Kannur, which the private bidder lacks. The government had also requested delinking Trivandrum airport from the proposal to operate in PPP mode or allow the SPV of the state government to have the right to first refusal in order to match the quote of the highest bidder. None of these have been considered, the letter complained.

Also read: DGCA to inspect airports hit by heavy rains after Kerala plane crash

Vijayan also pointed out that the central government's decision has come at a time when the Kerala High Court is considering a litigation in this connection as directed by the Supreme Court. "In view of the unilateral decision taken by Government of India without giving credence to the cogent arguments put forward by the state government, it will be difficult for us to offer co-operation to the implementation of the decision, which is against the wishes of the people of the state," the letter said.

On August 19, the Union Cabinet approved the leasing of three AAI airports namely, Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram for Operation, Management and Development to Adani Enterprises Ltd, the successful bidder, for a period of 50 years.

Also read: COVID-19 pandemic: Delhi airport may have testing facility for international arrivals
Press Release

August 19, 2020 Villanueva: May 18 to be declared as National Higher Education Day The Senate on Wednesday approved on third and final reading a bill declaring May 18 of every year as the National Higher Education Day to commemorate the founding anniversary of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Senate Bill No. (SBN)1216, under Committee Report No. 85 or the National Higher Education Day, was approved with 19 affirmative votes, zero negative vote and no abstention. Sen. Joel Villanueva, chair of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education, principal author and sponsor of SBN 1216 said the bill seeks to recognize the role of higher education in national development and in the advancement of society by designating every 18th day of May every year as the National Higher Education Day. CHED, the agency primarily responsible for public and private colleges and universities, was created following the enactment into law of Republic Act No. 7722 or the Higher Education Act of 1994. "We are witnesses to how institutions of higher learning here in the Philippines play what the World Bank describes as critical role in supporting knowledge driven economic growth and the construction of democratic socially cohesive society," Villanueva said. Under the measure, all heads of government agencies and instrumentalities, including government owned-and-controlled corporations, local government units, public and private educational institutions, employers in the private sector, and industry associations, shall encourage and afford sufficient time and opportunities for their students or employees to participate in any activity conducted within the premises of their schools, offices or establishments in celebration of the "National HighercEducation Day." SBN 1216 designates the CHED as the lead agency in charge of the preparation and implementation of an annual program of activities and advocacy campaign for the observance of the "National Higher Education Day." All higher education institutions shall also provide full support and assistance to the preparation of the annual program of activities and events to be conducted by CHED in observance of the event pursuant to this Act.
Three Nashville police officers have been decommissioned after raiding the wrong home and breaking down the door of an innocent family during a botched investigation early Tuesday morning.

Lieutenant Harrison Dooley, Sergeant Jeff Brown, and officer Michael Richardson, were suspended on Wednesday, The Metro Nashville Police Department said.

The three are under investigation after executing a search warrant at an Edgehill apartment at 6am while a woman and two children slept inside.

Police Chief John Drake said officers did not give the family enough time to answer the door and failed to exercise due diligence in confirming that the person they were looking for lived at the apartment.

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Lieutenant Harrison Dooley (left) Sergeant Jeff Brown (not pictured) and officer Michael Richardson (right) have been decommissioned after Tuesday's raid. Brown's photo was not released due to his undercover work, police said

Azaria Hines said she was sleeping unclothed when officers barged in with guns

Officers caused extensive damage to the door of her home after using a battering ram to gain entry

'No innocent family in Nashville, anywhere, should be subjected to what the mother and her two children went through on Tuesday morning,' Drake said in a news release.

'They were awakened by a team of officers who banged on their door and ultimately knocked it in with a ram.'

The woman who lives at the home has been identified as Azaria Hines, who told News 4 Nashville she had been sleeping unclothed after finishing a late shift at work when officers barged in with their weapons drawn.

Her 15-year-old cousin Kanani and three-year-old nephew Jaiden, both of whom she has custody, were also awakened by the raid and ordered to go outside, she said.

'I'm furious because they came up in here and woke up my kids with rifles,' Hines told the news station. 'They had the wrong apartment.'

She said and her kids have been left traumatized by the incident which she said she thought was a dream.

'These things can't continue to happen because people are losing their lives,' she said.

'I'm not a criminal. Like I was literally scared in my own home. I'm not really comfortable there.'

Hines said her 15-year-old cousin Kanani (left) and three-year-old nephew Jaiden, both of whom she has custody, were left traumatized by the raid

Police said a mother and her two children were awakened by a team of officers who banged on their door and ultimately knocked it in with a ram

Officers arrived at the home around 6am Tuesday after executing a search warrant

Officials said officers did not give the family enough time to answer the door before barging in

Police officials said officers had used a Nashville public housing agency database to find the home of a 16-year-old they were investigating.

However, the database had not been updated since 2018 after the agency determined that providing housing information to the police violated privacy laws.

'There appears to have been a lack of confirming through other means, including surveillance or checking with human sources,' Drake said.

'We have to be better than that, and I absolutely assure you, we will be moving forward.'

Drake also said the officers did not appear to give the woman who lived in the home sufficient time to come to the door before ramming it open at 6.05 am.

In footage of the raid, the mom was heard telling officers: 'Wait, what's going on? I've got kids in here.'

Video also showed the extensive damage to Hines's door after police broke it down.

'I hope the police department, I hope that everyone can be a little more kinder and be a little more cautious when it comes to things like this, because everybody is not a criminal,' Hines said.

The incident comes amid nationwide calls for police reform following the death Breonna Taylor, who was killed during a botched police raid in Louisville, Kentucky earlier this year.

Cops wrongly targeted Taylor's home during a late night drug investigation on March 13, barging into the apartment and shooting her multiple times.

A Nashville Police spokesperson said the three cops in Tuesday's raid were looking for evidence related to auto burglaries.

The incident comes amid nationwide calls for police reform following the death Breonna Taylor, who was killed during another botched police raid in Louisville, Kentucky

While the Nashville investigation takes place, Drake suspended the police powers of Dooley, a 12-year veteran, Brown, a 21-year veteran, and Richardson, a five-year veteran.

Drake also ordered that all applications for search warrants be approved by a deputy chief of police, rather than by the employee's supervisors, in the future.

The local precinct commander met with the current resident of the apartment and apologized to her on behalf of the police department, according to the news release.

Police said they will continue outreach to the woman and her children.


Appoints Senior Geologist to its Board

Perth, Aug 19, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Torian Resources Limited ( ASX:TNR ) is pleased to announce that the Board has appointed experienced geologist Mr Dale Schultz as a Non-Executive Director.Dale Schultz has over 30 years of experience in the mining and exploration industry in North and South America. He has a M.Sc. from the University of Saskatchewan and is a registered Professional Geoscientist in the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan.Over the years, Mr. Schultz has been the Qualified Person (QP) for a number of projects including Solex Resources' Pilunani and Macusani projects in Peru, Channel Resources' El Mozo project in Central Ecuador, Aurelians' Bonza-Penus resource campaign on the Condor Project in Central Ecuador, Majescors' Douvray porphyry copper-gold project in Haiti, Nova Minerals' Estelle project in Alaska and spent time at Battle Mountains' Kori Kollo mine in Bolivia.Mr. Schultz has also extensive experience in a number of other gold mining operations in Canada and brings with him invaluable experience ranging from initial exploration stages through to underground and open pit mine production of large gold systems.The Company also wishes to advise that Mr Louie Simens has stepped down as Non-Executive Chairman, with the Chairman role to be filled by current Executive Director, Mr Paul Summers.The Company thanks Mr Simens for his contribution and his devotion to the Company over the past 6 months and wishes him all the best for his future.Torian Executive Director Mr Peretz Schapiro said, "Since joining Torian's geological team in March 2020, we have been very impressed with Mr Schulz's technical expertise and expert analysis.We are about to embark on a very exciting period for the Company, with an extensive drilling programme at the Mt Stirling Gold Project to get underway during the current quarter. Having a geologist of Mr Schulz's calibre and expertise on our Board, broadens our board's skill set, and most importantly gives us the confidence that we are on the right track to be making some significant discoveries.We would also like to thank Mr Louie Simens for his time as Chairman. Mr Simens has worked tirelessly for the company over the last 6 months and has played a significant part in the company's strategic review and recapitalisation. Although he will be stepping down from the Board, Mr Simens will continue to be involved with the Company moving forward."About Torian Resources Limited

Torian Resources Ltd (ASX:TNR) is a gold exploration and development company with an extensive and strategic land holding comprising eight projects and over 400km2 of tenure in the Goldfields Region of Western Australia.

Torian's flagship project, Zuleika, is located along the world-class Zuleika Shear. The Zuleika Shear is the fourth largest gold producing region in Australia and consistently produces some of the country's highest grade and lowest cost gold mines. Torian's Zuleika project lies north and partly along strike of several major gold deposits including Northern Star's (ASX:NST) 7.0Moz East Kundana Joint Venture and Evolutions (ASX:EVN) 1.8Moz Frogs Legs and White Foil deposits.

Torian's other projects include the strategically located Mt Stirling and Malcolm Projects in the Leonora region (near Red 5's King of the Hills Project), where it recently completed updated Mineral Resource Estimates and preliminary scoping studies, and a suite of other projects in the Kalgoorlie region including Credo Well JV Zuleika JV, Bonnie Vale, Gibraltar and Mount Monger/Wombola.
Plan Commissioner Dan Dernulc, who is also a Republican member of the county council, proposed changing the setback requirement  meaning how far something is built from the property line  from 100 feet to 50 feet. Previously, the county required a 25-foot setback for solar farm projects, he said. After speaking with other officials, Dernulc said he was told 50 feet is a typical setback for solar projects.
A 'beautiful' teenage waitress who became obsessed with how she was perceived on social media hanged herself while on the phone to her best friend, an inquest has heard.

Chloe Davison, 19, died at her home in Lanchester, County Durham, in December last year while speaking to Lauren Askew.

The line went dead moments after Ms Davison spoke to her friend and emergency crews rushed to her home - but paramedics were unable to save Ms Davison.

Before the hearing, Ms Davison's mother Claire Reynolds described how social media 'took over' her daughter's life and left her caring 'so much about how people saw her'.

She also raised fears about her daughter's desperation for the approval of others on social media.

Chloe Davison, 19, died at her home in Lanchester, County Durham in December last year while speaking to her friend Lauren Askew on the phone

She said after her death: 'Other people did not see what we saw. Chloe was the joker, bubbly and hilarious.

'She was the life and soul of the party. Chloe was beautiful, but she didn't see that.

'She cared so much about how people saw her. She would post a picture on social media and want all her family to like it. If it wasn't good enough she'd remove it.

'I blame social media a lot for what has happened.

'The impact it has, especially on younger people, can be devastating. Social media took over Chloe's life - whether that be Snapchat or Facebook. She struggled socially from being at school so she didn't work.

'Social media was her way of getting through the day. She didn't go out a lot.

'Younger people need more help and education on social media. There are too many people out there who can say what they like because it's not face-to-face.'

Shirley Smith, a family friend representing Ms Davison's mother, told the inquest today: 'The discharge summary said Chloe had been referred to a community support worker and that they would be in contact within four to six weeks.

'But in the meantime Chloe had died. During lockdown from community support asking whether Chloe needed any support during lockdown.

'It seems she was never referred into the service.'

The teenager had been receiving mental health support since the age of 16 and had a history of self harm and binge drinking.

Her family has now expressed concern about the care she received from the Tees Esk and Wear Valley Foundation Trust, who appeared to have discharged her from a disorders team but failed to appoint a support worker as promised.

Four months after her death on December 20, health workers had called her home to check whether the teenage waitress needed support during lockdown, the hearing was told.

The line went dead moments after Ms Davison spoke to her friend and emergency crews rushed to her home - but paramedics were unable to save Chloe

Ms Reynolds, who didn't raise her concerns before Durham coroner Crispin Glover, told the hearing in a statement that Chloe had become an aunt to her sister Jade's daughter Alexis and 'welcomed her arrival with love and affection.'

She added: 'Chloe was and will always remain my beautiful witty youngest daughter ... her short life impacted so many.

'We have and will always remain with so many unanswered questions for the rest of our lives.'

Mr Glover recorded a verdict of suicide.

He said he noted the family's concern about Ms Davison's apparent discharge from Tees Eask and Wear Valley Trust's Affective Disorders Team on November 18 last year.

He added: 'Chloe had a close relationship with her support worker and a replacement support worker had not been appointed prior to her death.'
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Justice Department on Thursday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review an appeals court decision requiring U.S. President Donald Trump to unblock Twitter users from viewing his account.

Trump lost a lawsuit in May 2018 on behalf of Twitter users and agreed to unblock those accounts. Trump has made his @RealDonaldTrump account, which he opened in 2009, a central and controversial part of his presidency, using it to attack critics and to promote his agenda to his more than 85 million followers.

The Justice Department said if left standing, the ruling "would deter holders of his office from using new technology to efficiently communicate to a broad public audience."

Last month, the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University filed a new lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Manhattan on behalf of five additional individuals who remain blocked. The group urged the Supreme Court not to take up the Justice Department's appeal.

"This case stands for a principle that is fundamental to our democracy and basically synonymous with the First Amendment: government officials cant exclude people from public forums simply because they disagree with their political views, said Jameel Jaffer, the Knight Institutes executive director.

The Justice Department said "by ignoring the critical distinction between the presidents (sometimes) official statements on Twitter and his always personal decision to block respondents from his own account, the opinion blurs the line between state action and private conduct."

A federal appeals court in July 2019 upheld the ruling and the full 2nd U.S. Circuit Appeals Court in March declined to reverse that ruling.

"The First Amendment does not permit a public official who utilizes a social media account for all manner of official purposes to exclude persons from an otherwise-open online dialogue because they expressed views with which the official disagrees, wrote Circuit Judge Barrington Parker.

Trump in May attacked Twitter for tagging his tweets about unsubstantiated claims of fraud about mail-in voting with a warning.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Dan Grebler)
Blackberry is making a return to North America and Europe in 2021 with a new 5G, Android device that will feature the brands iconic keyboard.

Blackberry had previously been purchased by TCL in 2016, but earlier this year the company said it would no longer be making phones under that brand.

The two companies said that as of August 31, 2020, TCL Communication will no longer be selling BlackBerry-branded mobile devices.

Managing the famous name now is a Texas startup called OnwardMobility. The company is aiming its upcoming device at government and corporate clients, prioritising productivity and security.

Enterprise professionals are eager for secure 5G devices that enable productivity, without sacrificing the user experience. BlackBerry smartphones are known for protecting communications, privacy, and data. This is an incredible opportunity for OnwardMobility to bring next-generation 5G devices to market, he said.

Recommended BBM finally shuts down after years of trying to lure people back

Speaking to The Register, Franklin said that the company would not be using old Blackberry designs. Instead, it is using a keyboard design created in-house.

Top of mind for us is not just making the most secure and productive device, but also being an everyday device, said Franklin. That means things like a top-notch camera, and the other specs youd expect from your day-to-day phone. Simultaneously, we know that we must be competitive, and so is our pricing.

Blackberry CEO John Chen said that the company was thrilled OnwardMobility will deliver a BlackBerry 5G smartphone device with physical keyboard leveraging our high standards of trust and security synonymous with our brand.

We are excited that customers will experience the enterprise and government level security and mobile productivity the new BlackBerry 5G smartphone will offer, he also said.

Blackberry smartphones were squeezed out of the market following their peak in the 2000s due to competition from Google and Apple.

This is partly because the ecosystem changed towards apps, with many developers preferring to develop for Android and iOS, as well as the development of larger, more sophisticated touchscreen smartphones phasing out the need for Blackberrys keyboards.

In 2016, it announced that it would no longer be making its own smartphones and began outsourcing development to other companies.
In 2016, hackers discovered a way to access Ubers user data and quickly stole a copy of it. Uber found out when the hackers emailed the company and said they had acquired users personal information. They demanded money. Mr. Sullivan and other Uber employees negotiated a $100,000 payment and convinced the hackers to sign nondisclosure agreements.

Mr. Sullivan was visibly shaken when he learned of the hack and told others that he could not believe they had let another breach happen and that the team had to make sure word of the breach did not get out, according to court documents.

At the time, the Federal Trade Commission was investigating Uber in connection with a similar data breach that had occurred two years earlier. But even though he was aware of the F.T.C. inquiry and spoke under oath with investigators, Mr. Sullivan did not inform F.T.C. officials about the 2016 hack, prosecutors said. He also kept information about the incident from Uber employees who were responsible for communicating with the F.T.C. about the earlier incident, according to court documents.

Uber attempted to handle the incident quietly through its so-called bug bounty program. Technology companies often pay bounties to security researchers who discover and report flaws in their software. But bug bounty experts questioned whether the payment Uber gave to the hackers fell within the ethical boundaries of such programs, which are designed to induce people to report security flaws so they can be fixed.

In October, Brandon Glover, a Florida resident, and Vasile Mereacre, a Canadian national, pleaded guilty to the hack. They could each face a maximum of five years in federal prison and are expected to be sentenced next year.

Uber did not disclose the breach until 2017, after its former chief executive, Travis Kalanick, was ousted by investors and replaced by Dara Khosrowshahi, Ubers current chief.
The Emergency Department of the E Hospital in Hanoi (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi - An 87-year-old man from the northern province of Phu Tho has tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 while being treated for another disease at a hospital in Hanoi.



This was the only new case confirmed by the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on August 20 morning, raising the national tally to 994.



The patient lives in Thanh Ba district, Phu Tho province, and went to E Hospital in Hanoi for a health check-up on August 12.



He stayed at a relatives house in Co Nhue, Bac Tu Liem district, Hanoi, after that and was admitted to the Hepatobiliary Department of the E Hospital on August 13.



The patient was diagnosed with pneumonia after a CT scan and transferred to the Department for Tropical Diseases of the E Hospital.



He had his blood sample taken on August 18 and the result was positive for SARS-CoV-2.



The man is being treated at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Hanois Dong Anh district.



The E Hospital stopped receiving new patients from 8pm on August 19 and traced all staff who came into close contact with the man.



It was initially estimated that nearly 100 medical workers had close contact with the new patient.



All employees at the hospital will be tested for COVID-19 and each department sprayed with disinfectant.



The new patient lives with his son, daughter-in-law, two grandchildren and one great grandchild in Phu Tho province.



He had not left his house in Pho Tho for a month prior to travelling to Hanoi.



His familys relatives did not visit any COVID-19 hotspots and he has no underlying medical conditions.



Of the total cases confirmed in Vietnam so far, 533 have made full recovery. There have been 25 fatalities.



As many as 83,644 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or came from pandemic-hit areas are under quarantine nationwide, including 1,887 in hospitals, 20,294 in other establishments and 60,981 at home.
President Donald Trump headed to the 2020 battleground state of Pennsylvania Thursday afternoon to make a campaign speech in the town of Old Forge, just a few miles from former Vice President Joe Biden's childhood home in Scranton -- and just hours before Biden makes his own speech accepting his party's nomination for president in his adopted home state of Delaware.

MORE: 5 key takeaways from 3rd night of Democratic National Convention

Speaking outside an office building to a crowd of supporters, Trump used apocalyptic imagery to paint what he said Biden's America would look like and deemed him "no friend of Pennsylvania -- he is your worst nightmare."

"If you want a vision of your life under Biden presidency, think of the smoldering ruins in Minneapolis, the violent anarchy of Portland, the bloodstained sidewalks of Chicago, and imagine the mayhem coming to your town, and every single town in America," Trump said Thursday afternoon.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks to a crowd of supporters during a campaign stop at Mariotti Building Product, Aug. 20, 2020, in Old Forge, Pa. (Evan Vucci/AP)

"So, tonight, we have ... Slow Joe will speak at the Democrat convention. And I'm sure that he will just knock them dead," he continued. "And he will remind us that he was born in Scranton, but you know, he left like 70 years ago, right? He left a long time ago."

Though Trump says Biden "abandoned" the state, Biden says his family left Scranton when he was 10 years old because his father unable to find steady work.

Making the trek to Pennsylvania for the sole purpose of slamming Biden, Trump addressed his imminent acceptance speech once more near the end of his own remarks, claiming he hoped he does well -- but not too well.

"He's going to make a speech tonight. It's going to be interesting to see how he does. I hope he does well. I really hope does well, but I also want him to tell the truth. He's got to tell the truth about things, and he's going to do a lot better if he does, but hopefully, not well enough," Trump said from Old Forge.

Story continues

MORE: DNC 2020 Day 3: Kamala Harris accepts VP nomination, Obama slams Trump's failures

The president also took aim at the record of Biden's running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, who on Wednesday became the first Black woman and first Asian American to be nominated for national office by a major political party.

"Joe Biden and Kamala -- she's another beauty -- also strongly support the deadly sanctuary cities that have been so bad for you and everyone else. This district attorney in San Francisco put a drug dealing illegal alien into a job and jobs program instead of into prison," Trump said. "We believe our country should be sanctuary for law-abiding Americans, not for criminal aliens."

PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks outside Mariotti Building Products in Old Forge, Pa., Aug. 20, 2020. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

"I watched Kamala last night, and I said I'll take Mike. I'll take Mike by a lot," he added, referring to Vice President Mike Pence.

Trump continued a baseless line of attack on former President Barack Obama after the former president cast his successor as a looming threat to American democracy at Wednesday's Democratic National Convention.

"I watched President Obama last night. And I watched him talking about everything, and I had to put it out. I said, 'Yeah, but he spied on our campaign and he got caught.' You know, that is about as bad of a thing as you can imagine," Trump said, repeating a baseless conspiracy theory stemming from the FBI's surveillance of 2016 Trump campaign associates.

In addition to trying to steal the spotlight from Biden's acceptance speech, Trump is scheduled to do a live interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity at the same time the DNC's program is set to begin Thursday night.

MORE: WH defends Trump's embrace of baseless QAnon conspiracy followers

His fiery afternoon speech comes after three nights of tuning into the Democrats' program and amid continued swipes at his critics including the late Republican Sen. John McCain, knocking him in a tweet Thursday morning.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Aug. 20, 2020. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

"McCain was a lousy candidate with lots of bad policy, but the 'deadheads' sabotaged his campaign from the inside, and never gave him a chance to win. Hope they were happy with OBiden, who gave you me!" Trump tweeted, responding to a Fox News interview with McCain's running mate, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

McCain's widow, Cindy McCain, appeared at the DNC Tuesday to discuss the friendship between her late husband and Biden.

MORE: Cindy McCain to discuss 'unlikely' friendship between Biden and late husband at DNC

Trump aired his grievances with the Wednesday's speeches in real time -- in all caps -- on Twitter.

Less than 10 minutes into Obama's speech, Trump fired off as the former president told Americans in primetime that there's no indication Trump's behavior will change.

"For close to four years now, he's shown no interest in putting in the work, no interest in finding common ground, no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends, no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves," Obama said in a forceful rebuke from Philadelphia. "This administration has shown it will tear our democracy down if that's what it takes to win."

PHOTO: Sen. John McCain receives the Liberty Medal from Chair of the National Constitution Center's Board of Trustees, former Vice President Joe Biden, Oct. 16, 2017, in Philadelphia. (Matt Rourke/AP, FILE)

It's not lost on some that in sending the tweets he may have reinforced Obama's argument.

"HE SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN, AND GOT CAUGHT!" Trump said of Obama, reigniting a debunked conspiracy theory.

MORE: Obama slams 'failure' of Trump presidency during DNC speech

Trump then attempted to sow doubt in Obama's faith in Biden, questioning why the former president didn't endorse his vice president sooner -- though it's customary for former presidents not to endorse candidates during competitive primaries.

WHY DID HE REFUSE TO ENDORSE SLOW JOE UNTIL IT WAS ALL OVER, AND EVEN THEN WAS VERY LATE? WHY DID HE TRY TO GET HIM NOT TO RUN?  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 20, 2020

He weighed in again in real time as Harris formally accepted the vice presidential nomination.

After Harris said, "I know a predator when I see one," alluding to Trump and her prosecutorial background, Trump attempted to revive tensions between Harris and Biden from the primary trail.

BUT DIDN'T SHE CALL HIM A RACIST??? DIDN'T SHE SAY HE WAS INCOMPETENT???  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 20, 2020

Notably, Harris specifically said when she pushed Biden about busing on the debate stage that she did not view him as a racist.

ABC News' Terrance Smith contributed to this report.

Trump slams Biden near Pennsylvania childhood home hours before his DNC speech originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The new government in the worlds newest oil producer, Guyana, looks to raise the requirement for local content in employment and procurement of goods and services in the offshore oil projects, which could raise those requirements for ExxonMobil, the biggest foreign developer of Guyanas huge oil resources.

After months of election controversy, Guyanas new President Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who were sworn in earlier this month, demand more from ExxonMobil on the so-called local content.

We are sticking to our commitment in ensuring that the industry as far as possible, provide opportunities for not only the local private sector but Guyanese as a whole here and in the diaspora, wherever the skillset is, Guyanas President Ali told local media last week.

According to energy analyst David Blackmon, the new local content requirement, whatever it is, should strike a balance between the Guyanese governments requirements and the need to ensure smooth work and tender and hiring for the offshore operators and contractors.

If Guyana fails to balance the local content requirements with the reality of its local skillset and goods and services procurement, it could potentially delay development projects led by foreign oil operators and contractors.

ExxonMobil revised upward its estimate of recoverable resources offshore Guyana by 2 billion barrels of oil equivalent to 8 billion oil-equivalent barrels, as it announced its 16th oil discovery on the Stabroek Block early this year.

The recoverable resource base of 8 billion oil-equivalent barrels includes the fifteen previous discoveries that ExxonMobil and its partners had made offshore Guyana until the end of 2019. The new discovery, at the Uaru well, is just 10 miles northeast of the Liza oilfield, which is already producing oil.

Guyana officially joined the ranks of oil producing nations at the end of December 2019, after Exxon and its partners began oil production offshore the South American country.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Here are some of the top photos of the week, as selected by the Associated Press.
Obamas comments echo experts who say normalizing conversations about womens health is critical to ensure people are able to get the proper care and guidance they need during what may be a challenging and overwhelming part of their lives. Experts say thats especially true when it comes to menopause, as there are a number of safe and healthy ways for people to manage the disruptive symptoms that can accompany the process.
In his 20s and armed, if that is the word, with a liberal arts education with specialties in philosophy and French, he decided to enroll in the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, a local school with a heavy emphasis on the trades. It was definitely not predicted that I would be a patternmaker, said the designer who, though raised near New Haven, left the East Coast at 18 to attend, for a brief and not notably successful period, San Francisco State University.

It was the first time in my life when I did something that felt completely natural, he said of his stint at FIDM, as the school is known. I really had no burning aspirations to have a career in design. I was mostly fueled by dissatisfaction with what I wanted and couldnt find.

He first made some shirts, and then, when friends of friends asked to buy them, he sewed some more. He added trousers that hang informally, loosely, but with a deceptively architectonic structure and that are Californian only in the sense that West Coast style has tended to emphasize simplicity. I was so anti-California for the longest time, he said.

With the profits from his early efforts, Mr. Kinori ventured into jackets, and in less than five years, by word of mouth, he found he had a name and a brand. When backers approached him with plans for scaling up, he demurred. And while it is impossible to predict whether this may change, he is satisfied for now with the steady growth of a loyal customer base that is not so small anymore.

I love clothes, I love making clothes, I love presenting clothes, Mr. Kinori said from behind a protective mask that, while it concealed a characteristically wry smile, emphasized the intensity of his gaze. Intuition is my home place 100 percent. Building up a story and a spirit with an object is what Im after. I dont know that there is much more to it. Thats kind of enough.
In the midst of a worldwide pandemic and raging protests against police brutality, there's another silent crisis wreaking havoc on America's most vulnerable communities: food deserts.

The USDA defines a food desert as a place where at least a third of the population lives greater than one mile away from a supermarket for urban areas, or greater than 10 miles for rural areas. By this definition, about 19 million people in America live in a food desert.

The lack of grocery stores in many poor, Black neighborhoods has been a big topic in public policy since Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign in 2010. The initiative was designed to reduce childhood obesity by providing better food in schools and by bringing healthier options to low-income communities using public and private sector funding. Another chief goal of the program was to eliminate food deserts in America within seven years.

Despite nationwide efforts to improve poor food environments, many Americans say this problem persists today. Watch this video to find out more about the country's food deserts.
Gyms in Onondaga and Madison counties will be allowed to hold fitness classes indoors beginning Monday when they reopen.

Gyms that hold classes must follow state guidelines to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus, including capacity limits, masks and social distancing, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said.

Madison County will also allow gyms to hold indoor classes as long as they can meet the states requirements, county chairman John Becker said.

State officials said earlier this week gyms would be able to reopen at 33% of their normal capacity, and mask will be required at all times. Other requirements include health screening, sign-ins for contact tracing purposes, and frequent cleaning.

Steam rooms and saunas must remain closed. The states guidance also includes other recommendations such as reservation procedures, for maintaining social distancing.

State officials left some decisions, including fitness classes, up to individual counties. McMahon said Monday after the states announcement that he would consider fitness classes with input from Dr. Indu Gupta, the countys health commissioner.

McMahon also said in the announcement that the county is prepared to inspect gyms within two weeks of their reopenings, as required by the state. He said he wanted to assure business owners the deadline will be met. The state is requiring gym operators to fill out an online business affirmation form on the states New York Forward website before an inspection can be scheduled. Once the form is submitted, the county will contact the gym to schedule an inspection.

McMahon praised local businesses for safe reopenings in the county so far.

I am confident that we will, once again, be a model for the rest of the state on how to resume indoor classes in [a] safe and responsible manner, McMahon said.

CNY BACK IN BUSINESS

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Small business owners: Have a question or a story to share about how youre coping through the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent shutdown? We want to hear from you. Contact Back in Business reporter Julie McMahon: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 20

By Leman Zeynalova - Trend:

Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR could have opportunities to expand its presence in Romania, Niculae Havrilet, State Secretary of the Ministry for Economy, Energy and Business Environment of Romania, told Trend.

Havrilet noted that the Romanian company Romgaz expressed last year the interest in expanding its activity in foreign markets, exploring new opportunities and identifying efficient options for expansion through a potential collaboration with SOCAR.

"On the Azerbaijani side, there was an interest in exploring and exploiting Black Sea offshore fields in partnership with Romgaz, should the Romanian company decide to get involved in these offshore projects. The topic was further discussed between the two companies on the sidelines on the last SGC Advisory Council meeting in February 2020, in Baku," noted the state secretary.

Havrilet pointed out that the very good bilateral relationship between Romania and Azerbaijan was an essential factor in the process that led to the entry of SOCAR on the Romanian market.

"Although SOCAR's activity focuses mainly on the offshore perimeters of the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea is an important energy bridge between Caspian region and the European market. Romania holds a strategic interconnection position on the Black Sea coast and has the capacity to contribute to the transit of energy from the Caspian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea towards Central and Eastern Europe," said the state secretary.

Moreover, he added that the Black Sea has significant natural gas reserves and can be an area of interest in the context of Azerbaijan's substantial and constant efforts to develop new perimeters to feed into the Southern Gas Corridor.

"That would be also in the interest to diversify the supply sources for this project beyond those in the Caspian area. It is important to note in this context that the tender for new on-shore concessions have been announced and off-shore concessions will be announced soon by the Romanian Mineral Resources Agency/NAMR. These could provide opportunities for SOCAR to expand its presence in Romania," said Havrilet.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Sherryl Versoza Dela Cruz, 37, pleaded guilty to trafficking cannabis at the State Courts and was jailed for 25 years. (PHOTO: Getty Images)

SINGAPORE  A 37-year-old Filipino maid who helped her Singaporean boyfriend traffic cannabis has been sentenced to 25 years jail by a district court.

Sherryl Versoza Dela Cruz received the sentence last Tuesday (11 August) after she pleaded guilty at the State Courts to one charge of trafficking in a Class A controlled drug by having in her possession 35 blocks containing not less than 463.92g of cannabis on 28 March 2017.

She is appealing against the sentence imposed by District Judge Christopher Goh and the grounds of his decision were made available online on Wednesday (19 August).

In his grounds, the judge noted that based on the weight of cannabis involved, the sentencing range to be imposed ought to be between 26 and 29 years jail.

In meting out the sentence imposed, he took into account her plea of guilt and cooperation with the authorities, along with the fact that she cannot be caned due to her gender. The offence would have attracted a mandatory minimum of 15 strokes of the cane.

The judge backdated the jail term to begin from the date of her remand on 30 March 2017. Sherryl is currently serving her sentence while waiting for her appeal to be heard.

Got to know boyfriend in 2010

Sherryl met her boyfriend Ramendra Krishnan in 2010 when she first came to work in Singapore as a domestic helper. They entered a romantic relationship shortly after but broke up in 2012 after she returned to the Philippines.

In 2013, Sherryl returned to Singapore to work as a maid. She contacted Ramendra and they kept in touch. They began dating again in 2016.

Although she worked as a maid, Sherryls employer allowed her to live in her own residence  a rented room in an Ang Mo Kio HDB flat. Ramendra eventually moved in with Sherryl.

She was aware that he was involved in selling cannabis and allowed him to keep the drug in their room. He would re-pack the blocks of cannabis in her presence there. She would also receive money from him, which she knew was his profits from selling cannabis.

Story continues

Sherryl also helped her boyfriend to traffick drugs. Once, she delivered payment from Ramendra to a runner of his drug supplier. She also helped deliver cannabis to her boyfriends customers on a few occasions.

Nabbed during CNB raid

Officers from the Central Narcotics Bureau received intelligence that Ramendra would be collecting a consignment of drugs from an unknown individual on 28 March 2017.

Acting on the lead, undercover officers stationed themselves near Marsiling MRT station that afternoon. At about 6.35pm, a man seated at a nearby bus stop was seen walking towards a taxi stand. He was later identified as Lavinder Shanmuganathan.

Ramendra and Sherryl then alighted from a taxi. The trio then boarded another taxi, which was tailed by anti-narcotics officers.

The taxi travelled along Woodlands Avenue 3 towards Causeway Point, before making a U-turn at the junction of Woodlands Avenue 5. It stopped in front of Block 345 Woodlands Street 32, where Lavinder alighted and proceeded on foot towards Marsiling MRT station. He was later arrested.

Officers continued to tail the taxi in which Ramendra and Sherryl were travelling. At about 7pm, the taxi stopped along Upper Neram Road. Ramendra alighted carrying a backpack and ran towards a canal. He threw the backpack into the canal and continued running. Officers arrested him shortly after. They retrieved the backpack and found drugs inside.

Sherryl was arrested in the taxi.

The couple were brought back to their flat at about 10.15pm and officers found cannabis stored in a box under a dressing table.

Misguided love

Deputy Public Prosecutors Sia Jiazheng and Benedict Chan sought at least 26 years jail. They noted that although Sherryl helped Ramendra in his drug trafficking activities, she had acted under his directions.

They also pointed out that the drugs were kept in the same room she shared with him and took into account that she had cooperated fully with the authorities.

Meanwhile, defence lawyers Sashi Nathan, Jeremy Pereira and J Jayaletchmi argued for a jail term of between 21 to 22 years. They said Sherryls involvement in Ramendras drug trafficking operation was small and that she was doing it as his girlfriend, as a way of demonstrating her misguided love for him, rather than as his associate.

She was also not involved in the packing or re-packing of drugs. And she did not directly profit from the drug activities, the lawyers said, although they conceded that she might have indirectly benefitted when her boyfriend paid their rent or gave her money using his ill-gotten cash.

The lawyers added that Sherryl feared being reported to the authorities as she was allowed to live on her own and work additional jobs on her own time under an illegal arrangement, and was worried about getting her employer into trouble.

No babe in the woods

District Judge Goh said in his grounds, As highlighted by the prosecution, her involvement in Ramendras drug operations involved the occasional delivery of cannabis to others and, on one occasion, had even made payment to the runner of Ramendras drug supplier on his behalf.

She knew that the monies that she received from him, be it to help out in the payment of the rent or for food and groceries, were from the profits that he made in selling cannabis. In my view, she was more involved in Ramendras drug activities than how the defence has sought to characterise it, even if she was assisting him purely in her capacity as his girlfriend.

The judge also noted that Sherryl feared being reported to the Ministry of Manpower for contravening the conditions of her work permit. But he disagreed with the defences characterisation of her actions as being one of youthful folly or that she was simple-minded and trusting.

The accused is no youthful offender. She is 37 years old and had worked in Singapore previously. Despite being described as simple-minded, she was nonetheless able to make the necessary arrangements to obtain the full benefit of her stay in Singapore by working in places outside what was stated in her work permit to earn a larger income.

Whilst she may have been trusting of Ramendra, being his girlfriend, she was no babe in the woods, the judge added.

Accomplice was looking for job

For her crime, Sherryl could have been jailed for up to 30 years.

Ramendra, who is now 56, is scheduled to face trial at the High Court next year for drug trafficking.

Meanwhile, Lavinder, 29, a Malaysian, was sentenced to 13 years jail along with 10 strokes of the cane in June after he pleaded guilty at the High Court to trafficking five blocks containing not less than 329.99g of cannabis.

Investigations revealed that the Johor resident was seeking a job in Singapore and had approached an acquaintance Karthik, who passed him the five blocks of cannabis to pass to an uncle at Marsiling MRT station on 28 March 2017. The acquaintance told him that the uncle would help him find a job.

Lavinder borrowed a car from a friend and drove to Singapore with the drugs in a backpack. He parked the car along the road near a bus stop outside Marsiling MRT station and walked to the bus stop before calling Karthik, who told him to walk to the nearby taxi stand to meet the uncle. He then met Ramendra and Sherryl and boarded the taxi with them.

Inside the cab, Lavinder took the drugs from his backpack and passed them to Ramendra, who placed them inside his own backpack.

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Political Foe of Belarus President Urges EU to Reject Election Results

By VOA News August 19, 2020

A political opponent of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko urged European Union leaders Wednesday not to recognize the country's recent presidential election, declaring it was rigged in favor of Lukashenko.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya issued the appeal from exile in neighboring Lithuania before European Union leaders hold an emergency summit to discuss the Belarus crisis.

"I call on you not to recognize these fraudulent elections," Tsikhanouskaya said. "Mr. Lukashenko has lost all legitimacy in the eyes of our nation and the world."

Tsikhanouskaya says she is the winner of the election and has called for new elections under international supervision.

Workers in Belarus began striking in recent days as part of a campaign to oust the authoritarian president after he extended his 26-year term in an election detractors contend was rigged. Lukashenko denies manipulating the election.

Unrest in the country began to escalate after Lukashenko dismissed demands to resign following a severe police crackdown on peaceful protesters days after the August 9 election.

EU members have suggested they would place sanctions on Belarusian officials they consider responsible for election fraud and a crackdown on protests that resulted in the deaths of at least two people, the injuring of hundreds of others and the detention of nearly 7,000 people.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered military assistance to Lukashenko, a close ally. Putin spoke by phone Tuesday with European Council President Charles Michel, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Putin warned Merkel and Macron not to interfere in Belarusian affairs.

Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde has offered to visit Belarus as the incoming head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which frequently mediates disputes on the continent. Western nations and former states of the Soviet Union are members of the OSCE.

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Dimitri Staszewski /San Antonio Express-News

A group of conservative activists doesnt have grounds to sue San Antonio over the City Councils refusal to allow a Chick-fil-A restaurant at San Antonio International Airport, a state appeals court ruled Wednesday.

The group, which includes former council candidate Patrick von Dohlen, sued the city in September alleging that San Antonio was in violation of a Save Chick-fil-A law passed by Texas lawmakers last year that bars government agencies from punishing people or companies for affiliating with or donating to religious organizations.
Embers burn along a hillside as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through unincorporated Napa County, Calif., on Aug. 18, 2020. (Noah Berger/AP Photo)

California Governor Declares State of Emergency Due to Wildfires, Blackouts

Trump says California 'forcing Americans in the dark' as rolling blackouts hit state

California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Tuesday as wildfires burned across the state, saying the emergency declaration serves to secure the resources necessary to combat the fires, which have been worsened by a heat wave bringing temperatures above 100 degrees along the West Coast.

We are deploying every resource available to keep communities safe as California battles fires across the state during these extreme conditions, Newsom said in a statement. 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.

Newsoms office said the governor had secured Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAGs) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to strengthen Californias ability to respond to the fires. The FMAGs are provided through the presidents Disaster Relief Fund on a cost-share basis.

On Monday, Newsom declared a disaster for the California River Fire in Monterey County, which destroyed 2,800 acres in a single day and led to evacuations and threatened homes in the Las Palmas, Indian Springs, and Pine Canyon regions.

Similarly, disasters were declared on Tuesday for the Jones fire in Nevada County and a lightning fire complex in Napa County. According to a statement from the governors office, the Lightning Complex fire were two separate fires that had burned 7,700 acres by the time of declaration, threatening homes and causing evacuations in the area. The Jones fire had burned hundreds of acres and caused the closure of schools to the west of Nevada City.

CA has experienced 10,849 lightning strikes in the last 72 hours and WORLD RECORD heat temperatures. Were currently battling 367 known fires. Grateful for our firefighters, first responders, and everyone on the frontlines protecting Californians during this time.  Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) August 19, 2020

The recent sustained high winds have made an ideal environment for dangerous fire conditions throughout the region, Newsoms office said in a statement. Current weather conditions are causing extreme fire behavior, even in overnight hours, and the weather pattern is expected to extend through the week.

California Blackout Crisis

At the same time that California is facing a heat wave and extensive wildfires, the state has also had electricity shortages that led to widespread blackouts across the state. Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency related to the energy provision crisis on Sunday.

According to the proclamation, the extreme heat had strained Californias energy provision infrastructure, and limited energy imports from other states. The result was that the California Independent Service Operator (CAISO) was forced to issue a number of Stage 2 and Stage 3 System Emergencies, leading to rolling blackouts across the state.

Newsom Demands Investigation

After a meeting with energy providers and grid operators to discuss the situation, Newsom sent a letter to the CAISO, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), and the California Energy Commission (CEC) demanding information on the blackouts.

These blackouts, which occurred without prior warning or enough time for preparation, are unacceptable and unbefitting of the nations largest and most innovative state. (1/3)  Office of the Governor of California (@CAgovernor) August 17, 2020

I write today to express my deep concern about the broadscale de-energizations experienced by too many Californians on August 14 and 15, Newsom wrote. These blackouts, which occurred without prior warning or enough time for preparation, are unacceptable and unbefitting of the nations largest and most innovative state.

Residents, communities and other governmental organizations did not receive sufficient warning that these de-energizations could occur, the letter said. Collectively, energy regulators failed to anticipate this event and to take necessary actions to ensure reliable power to Californians. This cannot stand. California residents and businesses deserve better from their government.

To combat the energy shortages, Newsom asked Californians to set their air conditioning thermostats to temperatures of 78 degrees or higher from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.which have since been updated to 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.), to refrain from using major appliances during that peak demand window, and to turn off any unnecessary lights and appliances.

Were having a record-setting heatwave and its putting pressure on Californias energy grid. We can all do our part to prevent service interruptions: avoid using major appliances and set your thermostat to 78 or higher from 3-10 pm.  Get alerts: https://t.co/j4p2wm6Qa3 pic.twitter.com/PNGlyqYerh  Office of the Governor of California (@CAgovernor) August 18, 2020

President Donald Trump criticized the blackouts, writing on Twitter: In California, Democrats have intentionally implemented rolling blackoutsforcing Americans in the dark because the state could not keep up with energy demand.

In California, Democrats have intentionally implemented rolling blackouts  forcing Americans in the dark. Democrats are unable to keep up with energy demand  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 18, 2020

Referring to the parallels between Californias focus on renewable energy and the energy policies embraced by Democratic nominee Joe Biden, Trump said The Bernie/Biden/AOC Green New Deal plan would take Californias failed policies to every American!

California has pursued an energy policy in recent years that focuses strongly on renewable sources of energy such as wind and solar, and seeks to reduce the states reliance on fossil fuels and nuclear.
PHOENIX  A man who was acting erratically and handcuffed to prevent doing harm to himself has died, according to Phoenix police.

They said the cause of death for 42-year-old Darimiah Hand will be determined by the Maricopa County Medical Examiner.

Police said Hand was seen acting erratically at a school Tuesday afternoon, running into parked cars and refusing to leave the parking lot.

Hand walked off the property and wandered around a front yard of a home, walking into a wall and tree.

A police officer followed Hand and put him in handcuffs to prevent him from doing more harm to himself.

A second police officer arrived on the scene and the handcuffs were moved to the front of Hands body.

When Phoenix Fire Department paramedics arrived, they determined Hand had a lethal body temperature.

Police said Hand was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Joseph Ortiz walked to the home of a man who was tested COVID-19. The test showed the man has the disease.

Ortiz was unsure what to expect during his visit.

The person had not answered telephone calls from New York Citys contact tracing program. New York officials set up the program to keep the coronavirus from spreading. The goal was to get new diagnosed people to identify others they might have infected before the virus spreads further.

You never know what youre going to get, Ortiz told The Associated Press. He added that sometimes you have people who are really appreciative...they like that were out here trying to end the pandemic.

Such is the work of what appears to be the biggest contact tracing effort in any city in the United States. New York has over 3,000 people making phone calls, going door to door, and asking people about their health.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has called the effort an amazing success. The city says it is now meeting its goal of reaching about 90 percent of all newly diagnosed people and completing interviews with 75 percent.

But in the programs first two months, more than 11,000 infected people  50 percent of new cases  did not give any names of others they might have exposed. When people have identified contacts, tracers have done interviews with 6 in 10 of them. That is below the target of New York officials.

Comparing U.S. state and city contact tracing programs is difficult because they vary or differ widely in what they release. However, some public health experts say the numbers that New York reports are looking good.

Program director Ted Long knows there is more work to do. Long is a doctor and an official with the city-operated hospital system Health + Hospitals. He estimates the tracers efforts have prevented thousands of coronavirus cases and helped keep new infections, hospitalizations and deaths at low levels.

Newly confirmed cases rose past 6,000 on some days in April; they now average about 200 a day because of more testing.

Thats what tells me that what we are doing is working, Long said.

Contact tracing is an old, highly respected public health technique. But the pandemic is testing it once again in many countries around the world.

The pain is hard for the U.S. city that has reported more deaths from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, than any other.

Making calls from her home in East Harlem, tracer Maryama Diaw says she tries to be sensitive andtalk to the person as a human being.

Recently when a woman tested positive for the disease, Diaw said, she put down her written questions and asked the woman Are you doing OK?

We talked for a little bit, like person to person, said Diaw, a student in public health.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions director has estimated the country will need 100,000 tracers. By the end of July, the total was over 41,000. That number is based on information collected by National Public Radio and Johns Hopkins University in Maryland.

As a nation, were not in a good place, said Lori Tremmel Freeman. She is chief executive officer of the National Association of County and City Health Officials. She added that New York City was doing well.

The city already had hundreds of people tracing other infectious diseases before the pandemic. But COVID-19 took the work to a level they had never tried before, said deputy health commissioner Demetre Daskalakis.

New York City appears to have the biggest city-level program. By comparison, 2,600 tracers are covering nearly all of Los Angeles County in California. Chicago says it has over 200 tracers now and expects the number to grow to about 800 by the middle of September.

L.A. County health officials says their program is going well. It completes interviews with about 50 percent of all new cases and with nearly 66 percent of all new contacts.

Im Susan Shand.

The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

tracing - adj. the act of following something or some people to reach others

diagnose - v. to come to a conclusion about the cause of medical issue

appreciative - adj. showing thankfulness

pandemic - n. a contagious illness that spreads to tore countries

interview - n. to ask someone questions

technique - n. the way someone undertakes a job or activity
Great literature is one of two stories, we often quote Leo Tolstoy as saying: a man goes on a journey or a stranger comes to town. Thats all well and good for the author of War and Peace, but what about the thousands of screenwriters struggling to come up with the next hit movie, the next hit television series, the next hit platform-specific web and/or mobile series? Some, of course, have found in that aphorism a fruitful starting point, but others opt for different premises that number the basic plots at three (William Foster-Harris), six (researchers at the University of Vermonts Computational Story Lab), twenty (Ronald Tobias), 36 (George Polti)  or, as some struggling screenwriters of a century ago read, 37.

The year was 1919. Americas biggest blockbusters included D.W. Griffiths Broken Blossoms, Cecil B. DeMilles Male and Female, and The Miracle Man, which made Lon Chaney into a silver-screen icon. The many aspirants looking to write their way into the ever more celebrated and lucrative movie business could turn to a newly published manual called Ten Million Photoplay Plots by Wycliff Aber Hill. Hill, who published more than one aid to struggling scenarists, positioned himself as an authority on the types of stories that would work well onscreen, writes Slates Rebecca Onion. In this book he provides a taxonomy of possible types of dramatic situations, first running them down in outline form, then describing each more completely and offering possible variations.





Hills 37 basic dramatic situations include such happy situations as rescue, loved ones lost and recovered, and a miracle of God; such pathetic situations as loves obstacles, rivalry between unequals, and a mystery; and such disastrous situations precipitated without criminal intent as possessed of an ambition, enmity between kinsmen, and vengeance. (Naturally, Hill also includes a separate category involving criminal intent.) These dramatic concepts then break down into more specific scenarios like rescue by strangers who are grateful for favors given them by the unfortunate one, an appeal for refuge by the shipwrecked, the sacrifice of happiness for the sake of a loved one where the sacrifice is caused by unjust laws, and congenial relations between husband and wife made impossible by the parents-in-law.

Already more than a few films new and old come to mind whose stories proceed from such dramatic concepts. Indeed, one could think of examples from not just cinema but literature, television, theater, comics, and other forms of narrative art besides. Situations we all know from real life may also follow similar contours, which plays no small part in giving them their impact when properly translated to the screen. Clearly aiming for timelessness, Hill enumerates plots that could have been employed in stories centuries before his time, and will continue to be long after ours. But what, exactly, is the relationship between plot and story? We now quote E.M. Forster on the matter, specifically a line from his Aspects of the Novel  a book for which Ten Million Photoplay Plots first readers would have to wait eight more years.

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Based in Seoul, Colin Marshall writes and broadcasts on cities, language, and culture. His projects include the book The Stateless City: a Walk through 21st-Century Los Angeles and the video series The City in Cinema. Follow him on Twitter at @colinmarshall, on Facebook, or on Instagram.
A 16-year-old COVID-19 patient, currently sitting for the senior secondary school certificate examination at the Kwara State COVID-19/Infectious Disease Centre in Ilorin, wrote one of her papers on Wednesday.

The patient, who was admitted into the facility on Tuesday, wrote her Agricultural Science paper on Wednesday under close supervision by an official of the West African Examination Council (WAEC).

It was a close contact with a close relative of hers that tested positive. It was through contact tracing that she happened to be tested positive.

The state government deemed it fit to arrange for her to have (a) safe place for her to write the exam without fear of stigmatization or risk to other students, the Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, said.

Also, the case management lead in the centre, Kudirat Oladiji-Lambe, disclosed that the young girl is asymptomatic and will be in isolation for two weeks.

She is asymptomatic, which means she does not show any symptoms, and shes stable. She is just here to observe her two weeks isolation process, Mrs Oladiji-Lambe said.

She noted that the student has been certified to be mentally and physically fit to write her exams.

So far, Kwara State has recorded a total of 906 confirmed cases of COVID-19, out of which 186 are active while 687 have been managed and discharged.

However, 23 persons have died from the disease in the state.
Its a new problem that has left filmmakers scratching their heads: How do you stage love scenes without breaking social-distancing rules?

It seems the answer may lie in the classic movies made under the censorship of the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Directors are now being asked to look at Casablanca, made in 1942, in which the affair between Humphrey Bogarts Rick and Ingrid Bergmans Ilsa was constrained by the moral strictures of the Hays Code.

In one scene after they kiss, the censor banned showing a bed or even a couch to prevent any hint of sex.

Directors are being asked to look at Casablanca (pictured) for inspiration on how to stage love scenes without breaking social-distancing rules

Another film suggested as a model is the screwball comedy It Happened One Night (1934), which daringly showed Clark Gable shirtless.

But when he and Claudette Colbert share a motel room, they each have a single bed with a sheet put up between them to act as a curtain.

The guidance from Directors UK, the professional association for screen directors, said to seek inspiration from these classic films which are some of the greatest screen romances ever made.

Another film suggested as a model is the screwball comedy It Happened One Night (1934), which daringly showed Clark Gable shirtless (pictured)

The Directing Nudity and Simulated Sex guidelines also suggest phone sex and casting real-life couples.

Other ideas include having characters describe what they will do instead of an intimate scene and having characters redressing to imply sex has taken place.

Filmmakers can also use digital performances with green screens and animation to show the encounter.

Susanna White from Directors UK said: Weve always used our craft to convey intimate relationships on screen and now we must do that more creatively than ever.
Last year, on International Womens Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invoked the indomitable spirit of Nari Shakti by reaffirming how India fully endorsed the United Nations in its think equal, build smart, innovate for change motto with regard to womens empowerment.

Again, during one of his inspiring Mann ki Baat speeches in October 2019, Mr Modi recounted real life anecdotes of ordinary women who chose to do extraordinary things to make a difference to others lives.

Mr Modi shared the story of Major Khushbu Kanwar who is considered Bharat ki Laxmi by many; Khushbu is the daughter of a bus conductor and she led the all-women contingent of the Assam Rifles.

Narrating another motivating story, Mr Modi spoke about a 92-year-old woman who had been providing free drinking water to travellers at Gwalior railway station for many years.

Again last year, during his Vijayadashmi address in October, Prime Minister Modi said, In the last nine days we worshipped Ma Durga. Taking that spirit ahead, let us always work towards furthering empowerment, as well as the dignity of women. During Mann Ki Baat, I had spoken about Ghar ki Laxmi and Bharat ki Laxmi. This Diwali, let us celebrate the accomplishments of our Nari Shakti. This can be our Laxmi pujan.

On August 15, 2020, in keeping with his women-centric governance model, Mr Modi pointed out that now women have an opportunity to have permanent employment in the Indian Army and Indian Navy, something that was unthinkable earlier.

He added, Whenever women got an opportunity, they made India proud and further strengthened it. The country is now determined to provide equal opportunities of self-employment and employment to women. Now, women are also working in coalmines. Our daughters are scaling heights by flying fighter planes.

But if there was one thing that stirred the imagination of 1.38 billion people more than anything else, it was Prime Minister Narendra Modis unabashed acknowledgement from the ramparts of the Red Fort of how 6,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras had provided around five crore sanitary pads at Re 1 to poor women in rural India. Despite all the bombast about 21st century women, the harsh reality is that even in the most educated, elite, modern and seemingly civilised societies, menstruation is often a topic that is taboo.

It should not be, but it has come to be a source of embarrassment, with men squirming at the very mention of the word menstruation, not only in traditional, dogmatic societies but even in supposedly progressive ones, both at home and abroad.

Hence, for Mr Modi, an international leader of towering repute, to openly embrace and mainstream the issue of womens hygiene is not mere symbolism. By doing what he did, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a strong message.

From defining the nations first menstrual hygiene protocol, amending the Medical Termination Pregnancy Act of 1971, giving women reproductive rights over their bodies and increasing the foetal gestation period from 20 to 24 weeks, welcoming more women recruits in the NCC, which will now be extended to border and coastal areas, to criminalising the inhuman and unconstitutional practice of instant triple talaq and, setting up a committee to explore an increase in marriageable age from 18 to 21 years for women, the Modi government has truly exhibited a bold, woman-friendly approach which is both mature and modern, and something which no other government in post-Independent India can dare boast of.

Banning commercial surrogacy, which had led to mushrooming of illegal IVF and surrogacy clinics, was yet another bold move by the Modi government last year.

According to the new laws, only married Indian couples, who have been together for a minimum of five years and been deemed medically unfit by a doctor or practitioner to conceive children naturally, will be allowed to depend on a surrogate.

The move now makes it difficult for people to run a rent a womb business and exploit women in the economically weaker sections, who are often left in the dark about their rights.

Womens empowerment is not just about gender equality and gender justice. It also means more jobs, equal opportunities for growth, higher safety, protection of the girl child and, most importantly, just letting women be.

If there is one leader who has recognised women for what they are and who they are, it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Whether it is providing free cooking gas via the famous PM Ujjwala Yojana to over 8.5 crore poor households, financial inclusion via 22 crore new bank accounts for women only from a total of 40 crore Jan Dhan accounts, the Mahila Shakti Kendras to empower rural women with opportunities for skill development or the Mahila-E-Haats for facilitating direct contact between vendors and buyers, the Modi government has always been ahead of the curve.

The governments holistic approach in making Beti Bachao Beti Padhao a practical and successful reality is best amplified by the fact that out of 25 crore loans given under the Mudra Yojana, 70 per cent of the beneficiaries have been women.

The entrepreneurship ecosystem for women has taken a massive leap of faith under Mr Modi and this is just the beginning, with a lot more to come.

The writer is an economist, chief spokesperson for BJPs Mumbai unit and bestselling author of Truth & Dare  The Modi Dynamic
The number of jobs lost in Louisiana amid the coronavirus pandemic is now nearly double what occurred when Hurricane Katrina devastated the state 15 years ago.

Louisiana's job loss was at 11 percent in the first half of the year as coronavirus started ravaging the United States.

In comparison, the rate was six percent in the wake of Hurricane Katrina back in 2005. Quarterly jobs losses for Louisiana during the entire 2008 Great Recession were less than four percent.

An economic forecast by Gary Wagner, a professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, predicts that it could take until 2022 for the state's economy to fully recovery from COVID-19.

Louisiana's job loss was at 11 percent in the first half of the year as coronavirus started ravaging the United States. A woman is pictured above at an unemployment office in New Orleans back in April

Wagner, who released his forecasts quarterly, noted that the state lost 218,000 payroll jobs in the first half of the year and the official unemployment rate was at 13 percent by the end of the second quarter - a high not seen since 1986.

More than 800,000 people had also lodged new unemployment claims since March 14, which in excess of the state's historical average.

He expects year-over-year job growth to remain negative until the first quarter of next year.

'Under the baseline scenario, the state is expected to have 1.9 million jobs at the end of 2021, or about 84,000 fewer jobs than in 2019,' he said.

The state's economy contracted at an annual rate of 6.6 percent in the first quarter, Wagner wrote in his report.

In comparison, the rate was six percent in the wake of Hurricane Katrina (above) back in 2005. Quarterly jobs losses for Louisiana during the entire 2008 Great Recession were less than four percent

Louisiana's job loss was at 11 percent in the first half of the year. Wagner expects year-over-year job growth to remain negative until the first quarter of next year

'Louisiana's contraction of 6.6 percent was one of the sharpest drops in the nation,' he said.

'Only Michigan, New York, Nevada and Hawaii experienced larger downturns in economic activity.'

Wagner, however, predicts Louisiana's economy will bounce back quicker than initially expected.

'As bad as some of the numbers we had between the first and second quarters, turns out that a lot of those indicators were a little better than what I was projecting back in May,' he said.

'I think one of the reasons was the additional unemployment benefits. That really helped to boost consumer spending.

'At the time of the previous report, there was some uncertainty about how long that would last. We now know it's going to continue to the end of 2020.'

Despite the heavy job loss and shrinking economy, Wagner predicts Louisiana's economy will bounce back quicker than initially expected

Unemployment claims tick back over one million - up 135,000 from week before

The number of Americans filing a new claim for unemployment benefits rose unexpectedly back above the 1 million mark last week following an initial decline - a setback for a struggling US job market crippled by the coronavirus pandemic.

New claims for state unemployment benefits rose to 1.1 million for the week ended August 15, up from 971,000 in the prior week, the Labor Department said on Thursday.

The latest figures suggest that more than five months after the viral outbreak erupted the economy is still weak, despite recent gains as some businesses reopen and some sectors like housing and manufacturing have rebounded.

Economists had forecast a decline with only 925,000 applications in the latest week.

The previous week's level had marked the first time since March that new claims had registered below the 1 million level.

New claims for state unemployment benefits rose to 1.1 million for the week ended August 15, up from 971,000 in the prior week, the Labor Department said on Thursday

First-time claims peaked at a record 6.867 million in late March.

Thursday's claims report also showed the number of people receiving benefits after an initial week of aid dropped to 14.8 million in the week ending August 8 from a revised 15.48 million in the prior week.

The US economy has regained only 9.3 million of the 22 million jobs lost between February and April.

The continuing stream of layoffs comes against the backdrop of a modest recovery from a deep recession and a virus that is still paralyzing much of the economy.

Home construction, sales and auto purchases have bounced back. But spending on travel, entertainment and many other services remains weak. Small businesses are struggling and unemployment, at 10.2 percent, remains elevated.

A rising number of people who have lost jobs amid the pandemic say they consider their loss to be permanent.

New claims for state unemployment benefits rose to 1.1 million for the week ended August 15 , the Labor Department said on Thursday. Pictured above are unemployment airport workers in Florida last week as they demand their employer hires back workers

A rising number of people who have lost jobs amid the pandemic say they consider their loss to be permanent. Pictured above are cars lining up to get into a food bank in Texas last week

Those recipients who are receiving unemployment on an ongoing basis are now getting far less aid because a $600-a-week federal benefit has expired, which means the unemployed must now get by solely on much smaller aid from their states.

The loss of the federal benefit has deepened the struggles for many, including a higher risk of eviction from their homes.

The extra $600 a week unemployment benefit provided by the federal government lapsed on July 31.

While President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that includes a provision extending the supplement at a reduced rate of $400 a week, there has been confusion over its implementation.
Minsk: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko took a more aggressive stance toward the biggest protests in his 26-year rule as the leaders of the European Union rejected the results of his re-election but refrained from calling for a new one.

"There should be no more riots in Minsk," Lukashenko said on Wednesday, Minsk time, as he ordered the Interior Ministry to clamp down on peaceful protests in the capital, according to the state-run Belta news service. "People are tired, people demand peace and quiet."

A wanted poster with an image of Belarusian President Aleksander Lukashenko is displayed during a rally in Minsk on Tuesday. Credit:Getty Images

The comments came after several days of relative calm following a crackdown on opposition protests that erupted after Lukashenko claimed a landslide victory in the August 9 election. At least three people were killed as police beat demonstrators and detained nearly 7000 people, allegedly torturing some of those in custody. Undeterred, hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets daily in Minsk and other cities to demand Lukashenko's resignation.

In response to the violence and protests, the EU's 27 leaders held a private conference call, with the bloc calling for dialogue between the two sides in the disputed election, and for a peaceful transition of power.
Saying enough progress has been made, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced Wednesday she would lift stay-home guidance and some business restrictions in Umatilla County effective Friday.

Browns decision comes three weeks after she implemented limitations in the eastern Oregon county of roughly 78,000 people in a last-ditch effort to slow spread of the coronavirus. The ZIP code for Hermiston leads the state in cases, but other areas within the county -- including Umatilla and Pendleton -- also saw dramatic summer surges.

Brown pointed to state data indicating improvements, with weekly cases dropping by about half, among other things. But by many metrics Umatilla remains stubbornly high compared to other Oregon counties.

I want to acknowledge the efforts community members and local officials have made in Umatilla County to curb the spread of COVID-19 enough so that the county can return to Phase 1, Brown said in a statement.

Under Phase 1 restrictions, bars and restaurants can reopen to in-person dining while gyms, pools, malls and others similar businesses can reopen their doors. Outdoor social gatherings can increase from 10 to 50 people.

Umatilla had been the only county forced into the same stay-home guidance familiar to Oregonians from late March through mid May. Brown lifted those restrictions for many counties beginning May 15 but warned she would reinstate them if problems emerged.

The governor grew so concerned about Umatilla she downgraded it from a Phase 2 reopening level to stay-home status after learning an Oregon State University study suggested roughly one in six residents in Hermiston were actively infected as of July 26.

Identified weekly coronavirus cases have declined since then by about half.

But Umatillas count is still high, at two confirmed or infections per 1,000 residents in the past week, according to the state. That is more than double that rate for Marion County, four times greater than Multnomah County -- and higher than any state in America, according to The New York Times database of coronavirus cases.

Browns announcement also said the weekly percentage of Umatilla County residents who are tested and identified as positive had dropped from 32% to 19%. That remains exceedingly high, too, at nearly four times the statewide average.

But the state data suggests Umatilla may have trended in the right direction, in some cases besting metrics for other eastern Oregon counties such as Morrow and Malheur -- which never got sent back to stay-home status by Brown.

Umatilla now joins Morrow, Malheur, Lincoln, Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties in Phase 1.

As Ive said before, reopening comes with risk, which is why we are taking a cautious, phased approach Brown said in a statement. As the county re-enters Phase 1, its important that all community members continue to be vigilant and follow the orders and guidelines weve put in place to protect health and save lives, including watching your distance, wearing a face covering and washing your hands.

Reporter Aimee Green contributed to this report.

-- Brad Schmidt; bschmidt@oregonian.com; 503-294-7628; @_brad_schmidt
Pune: The decision by Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) to resume public bus services for the upcoming Ganeshotsav was welcomed by residents as many used the facility on the first day on Thursday.

The Swargate and Shivajinagar ST stands saw passengers since early morning.

We were already running 100 buses within the district. From 8 am today, we resumed all types of buses running on various routes from all our ST stands. We are getting good response. Each bus is sanitised before allowed to ply and only 22 passengers with face mask are allowed to travel. Drivers and conductors on duty are given sanitizer and face mask. We hope to increase the number of buses and routes in the coming days, said MSRTC Pune divisional controller Yamini Joshi.

Passengers, including families, youth and senior citizens were seen visiting the Swargate ST stand since the first bus resumed service at 8 am on Thursday. Many were boarding buses to go to their hometowns for Ganesh festival.

One such family of Mangesh Talekar who was travelling along with his wife and two kids said, It is the first time that we are going back to our village in Kolhapur after the lockdown. As we come from middle class family and cannot afford to pay for private vehicle, we were unable to travel till now. It was a right decision to resume ST bus service before the Ganpati festival, so we are now going back home.

Many buses plied from Swargate ST stand to places like Kolhapur, Solapur, Baramati, Mumbai, Daund and other parts of the state. As compared to Shivneri or Shivshahi buses that mostly run on Mumbai routes, passengers for normal ST buses on Kolhapur and Solapur routes were more. One of the conductors of Pune-Dadar Shivneri bus said, I was waiting for more than two hours for passengers, as minimum 10 and maximum 22 passengers can be taken. Finally, the bus departed with seven passengers.

The day one response was good as we sent 18 buses from Swargate depot to various routes. Solapur and Kolhapur routes saw 400 passengers. We will increase the number of buses tomorrow and hope for more passengers, said Swati Bandre, Swargate depot manager.

The new Wakdewadi ST stand, which was earlier at Shivajinagar, also saw passengers since morning and buses were sent to several routes like Ahmednagar, Aurangabad, Nagpur, Jalgaon and Nashik. The platforms, benches and toilets were sanitised by MSRTC.

Shivnath Renuse, a senior citizen who travelled to Ahmednagar said, I am happy today as I am going to my daughters place for Ganpati festival. I was stuck at a relatives home in Pune and was waiting for ST to resume bus service. I am travelling by following all safety precautions.

PMPML service to resume from Sept 3

Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) will resume its bus service from September 3.

It was decided to start the public transport from September 3. We plan to run 421 buses on 190 routes from 13 depots across Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. We are happy that both the civic bodies have given approval to start the service, said PMPML chairman and managing director Rajendra Jagtap.
Infosys (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today launched Infosys Cobalt - a set of services, solutions, and platforms that acts as a force multiplier for cloud-powered enterprise transformation. Infosys Cobalt helps businesses redesign the enterprise, from the core, and also build new cloud-first capabilities to create seamless experiences in public, private and hybrid cloud, across PaaS, SaaS, and IaaS landscapes. With Infosys Cobalts community leverage, enterprises can rapidly launch solutions and create business models to meet changing market needs while complying with the most stringent global, regional and industry regulatory and security standards.

Expand innovation with the cloud community and its 14,000 cloud assets

Enterprises can leverage the full potential of the cloud ecosystem and Infosys Cobalts thriving community of business and technology innovators to drive increased business value. Working grassroots up and extending seamlessly to partner with clients, the cloud community provides access to a catalog of over 14,000 assets to help businesses leverage the potential of the cloud ecosystem. An example is the Infosys payer B2B platform creating a disruptive marketplace for employers and providers to come together to manage the health of employees. The Infosys Cobalt cloud community, over time, will expand to include start-ups, partners, academia, gig workers and citizen cloud developers.

Speed-to-market with over 200 industry cloud solution blueprints and Infosys Cobalt Labs

With Infosys Cobalt, enterprises can have ready access to a growing portfolio of over 200 cloud-first solution blueprints. Infosys Enterprise Service Management Cafe, for example, is an AI-powered solution built over the ServiceNow cloud platform, that delivers ready-to-launch applications. With Infosys Cobalt Labs, at Infosys global digital centers, businesses can also co-create new solutions and accelerate speed to market. More broadly, Infosys Cobalt Labs works with the Infosys partner ecosystem to pre-configure partnerships to prototype industry solutions as well.

Secure the globally dispersed enterprise

With Infosys Cobalt, regulatory and security compliance, along with technical and financial governance comes baked into every solution delivered. Enterprises count on Infosys Cobalt to securely access cloud capabilities and innovations from various partners with the assurance of the Infosys single-point accountability for secure outcomes.

Salil Parekh, CEO, Infosys said, Our clients are building cloud capabilities to gain business advantage in increasingly competitive markets. The future of enterprise cloud strategy will be shaped by three key factors  speed-to-market, innovation at scale, and security of the ecosystem  this is the foundational construct of Infosys Cobalt. With Infosys Cobalt, we will set up a proven and optimal foundation for cloud-led transformation that will accelerate the next phase of growth and market leadership for businesses.

Infosys continues to invest in a growing set of services, platforms and solutions. The companys acquisitions of Fluido and Simplus  both leading Salesforce partners and recognized leaders in cloud consulting and implementation  expand its enterprise cloud capabilities. Infosys Cobalt also taps into a rich ecosystem of startups and over 30 leading providers of public and private cloud infrastructure, SaaS, PaaS, applications and enterprise security.

Ravi Kumar, President, Infosys said, Our clients operate in hybrid and multi-cloud environments. They want to modernize and innovate at scale. They are looking to leverage this heterogeneous landscape, make the most of SaaS and PaaS capabilities, and power on-demand business solutions. They need a strong pool of talent with specialist skillsets to solve these challenges. Infosys Cobalt, together with its rich ecosystem of partners and vibrant cloud community, is securely amplifying enterprise cloud ecosystems, enabling businesses to find faster, more innovative ways to respond to changing markets and drive business resilience.

For more details on Infosys Cobalt, visit us at infy.com/infosyscobalt. For a deep dive by experts on the evolution of cloud and Infosys Cobalt, watch these videos on InfyTV: https://www.infosys.com/newsroom/infytv/enterprise-evolution-guide/infosys-cobalt.html

We are on a continuous journey to improve responsiveness to our customers. Migrating to a best-in-class cloud data warehouse built using Snowflake and Azure has transformed the way we unlock data capabilities to accelerate customer relevance. Infosys is partnering with us to deliver the cloud data and analytics blueprint by seamlessly bringing together their partner ecosystem, providing technical expertise and solution assets to execute on our strategy. This is unleashing significant value for us through actionable insights delivered securely, said Eric Nelson, Kraft Heinz, CIO North America.

Priya Almelkar, Head of Digital Leadership at GLOBALFOUNDRIES said As a part of GLOBALFOUNDRIES digital transformation, weve partnered with Infosys to help us establish a hybrid cloud foundation that will enable application and data migration to the cloud. We look forward to working with Infosys to differentiate our business solutions and deliver value to our clients worldwide.

The current times have emphasized, like never before, the need for digital acceleration using technologies like cloud said Lance Y. Gokongwei, President and CEO, JG Summit Holdings, Inc. As one of the largest and most diversified Filipino conglomerates, our vision is to be the leading digital business in Philippines. We are leveraging Infosys Cobalt to set up a secure and scalable hybrid cloud environment and transform our business using SAP S/4HANA. We are also building a modern digital workplace for our workforce to be able to collaborate meaningfully and deliver their productive best. This will accelerate our responsiveness to evolving business needs and offer better services to our end customers.

Cloud provides a platform for businesses to move at speed, said Peter Bendor-Samuel, Founder & CEO, Everest Group. We are seeing rapid adoption of hybrid and multi-cloud environments. However, this transformation journey can be demanding as enterprises are flooded with a bewildering set of new options and associated complexities. In many cases this new operating model is proving difficult to master and is slow to yield the competitive advantages it promises. Infosys Cobalt is an effective antidote to these complexities and challenges and allows clients to focus on capturing the business results at speed that the move to cloud promised.

The cloud is the backbone of todays enterprise technology, said Todd Lavieri, Vice Chairman of ISG and President, ISG Americas and Asia Pacific. Among our clients, we are seeing accelerating cloud adoption, using a hybrid, multi-cloud approach across public and private clouds, to design, launch, and scale new business models. Solutions, such as Infosys Cobalt, help organizations rapidly develop the business solutions they need today while also leveraging a vibrant cloud community to continue to innovate for the future. Such capabilities are a critical part of growing business resilience through digital transformation.

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.

Media contacts:

For further information, please contact: PR_Global@infosys.com
Many Ontario transit users were likely left scratching their heads this week at news the provincial government is pushing cities to consider replacing their least-used bus routes with microtransit as a condition for receiving COVID-19 aid.

The term isnt a familiar one for riders more concerned with whether their bus will show up on time than keeping up with the latest transportation lingo.

But some experts believe microtransit represents the future of urban transportation, and forms of it are already operating in Ontario. How effective they are at solving cities transit challenges depends on who you ask, however.

The term can describe a range of tech-enabled alternatives to traditional transit, but its commonly used to describe partnerships between public transit agencies and private companies that provide on-demand service to riders along variable routes using vehicles smaller than buses.

Toronto is already exploring the concept through planned pilot of a driverless shuttle connecting to the Rouge Hill GO station, but the projects been delayed by the pandemic. Under one microtransit model thats gained traction, cities partner with companies like Uber and subsidize trips their residents take through ride-hailing platforms.

Proponents argue such schemes are a more cost-effective way to provide service in lower-density neighbourhoods, compared to deploying buses that operate on fixed schedules regardless of how many people are waiting at the stops. The Ontario PC government argues finding efficiencies will be all the more important as transit agencies grapple with the potentially long-term financial challenges posed by the pandemic.

Certainly in many very low-density suburban areas, right now were spending an awful lot of money running big buses around that are empty, said Eric Miller, director of the University of Toronto Transportation Research Institute.

He said the current model is bad for cities, which overpay for empty buses, and for riders, who are stuck with infrequent service.

Miller said one big potential benefit of microtransit would be its ability to fill the gaps in the traditional transit network. Using on-demand services to carry residents in low-density areas to and from busy subway stations could boost transit ridership on the regular network and free up resources to add service on higher-demand fixed-route bus lines.

But while Miller said microtransit represents an intriguing possibility, its benefits arent yet proven. I think what we need are some very serious case studies, and to be prepared to fail on a few of them.

One Ontario municipality that has embraced microtransit is Innisfil, a town of 36,000 located about 100 kilometres north of Toronto. It considered launching a traditional fixed-route bus network to meet the needs of its growing population, but in 2017 opted instead to partner with Uber and subsidize residents trips.

Residents pay between $4 and $6 for a one-way trip to or from set destinations like the town hall, recreation complex, and GO Transit stops. Trips to other destinations within city limits receive a $4 discount.

The program has been extremely popular, and last year Innisfil residents took more than 100,000 trips using it.

People have told us it changed their lives, said Mayor Lynn Dollin in an interview.

Subsidizing Uber rides cost the town $846,000 in 2019, more than the projected $605,000 in net expenditures it would have taken to set up a two-bus fixed-route service.

But Dollin said a traditional bus network would have operated infrequently and served only a fraction of Innisfils residents, who are spread out over an area roughly the size of Mississauga, a city with more than 20 times the population.

The beauty of the Uber-based program is its available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to every resident of Innisfil, she said.

The program has had problems, however. As costs grew, the town decided last year to raise fares by $1, and capped the number of rides it would subsidize each month at 30 per resident, with exemptions for those who can prove they need the service for essential trips.

Not everyone has equal access, however. Residents who dont own smartphones cant use the Uber app, and instead have to book rides by phoning the towns customer service line, which is only staffed during weekday business hours. People who dont have credit cards also cant use the app, and have to buy Uber gift cards from the town hall.

Dollin said Innisfil is addressing those issues by contracting a private company that will be available around the clock to book rides by phone. The town has also started a discount program for low-income residents.

Other Ontario municipalities have pursued less contentious alternatives to traditional bus service. In 2018, Belleville, a city west of Kingston with a population of 50,000, launched an on-demand service that allows riders to hail a city bus using an app.

Software provided by a Toronto-based company called Pantonium calculates the most efficient route for all riders trips, which is then transmitted to the driver via a tablet in the bus cab. The route can vary each ride, but all passengers get where they need to go within a guaranteed time frame.

The on-demand service, which is only offered during less-busy evening hours, has increased ridership from about 45 people a night to 350, according to Paul Buck, the citys manager of transit. The city has added buses to cope with demand.

The convenience for the customer is outstanding, Buck said.

It also helps the city operate a more cost-effective service because the bus only goes where its needed. Youre not driving around to every bus stop in town, wasting fuel and (causing) wear and tear, and not having anybody there, he said.

Scudder Wagg, a Washington, D.C.-based transit consultant and principal at the firm Jarrett Walker & Associates, warned that despite some success stories, the potential for micro- and on-demand transit remains relatively limited.

The cost per rider of such programs are relatively high  Innfisfil pays an average subsidy of more than $8 per trip. Last year the TTC budgeted about $1.18 per trip across its network, although the figure would be significantly higher on less busy routes.

In very low-density areas, the cost of on-demand service might be a worthwhile investment to ensure residents can get around, but if ridership levels approach those generated even in less-dense suburban areas of Toronto, its likely more cost-effective to run a fixed-route service, Wagg said.

There are also thorny questions about where the savings from partnerships with private transportation providers come from. A major driver of TTC costs is the salaries of its operators, who earn a starting hourly wage of more than $27. Drivers for ride-hailing services make closer to minimum wage.

Framed in that context, debates about microtransit arent just about how best to move people, but a community decision about how you want to value labour, Wagg said.

Critics were quick to shoot down the Ontario governments proposal this week, framing it as a backdoor plan to reduce bus service and privatize transit.

Shelagh Pizey-Allen, director of non-profit transit advocacy group TTCriders, said its wrong for the province to characterize bus routes that dont have high ridership as low-performing.

Before the pandemic, Scarboroughs 131 Nugget and 132 Milner carried about 3,000 people per weekday, compared to more than 40,000 on the TTCs busiest routes. But Pizey-Allen said local bus lines serve low-income areas and are vital to transit-dependent residents regardless of how crowded they are.

She also argued passenger volumes on some routes may be lower because service is not reliable and frequent enough. The province should provide funding for the TTC to add more buses, which would improve service and attract more paying passengers, she said.

Ben Spurr is a Toronto-based reporter covering transportation for the Star. Reach him by email at bspurr@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @BenSpurr
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 20)  A white dog cries in pain after a man in uniform shoots him with a rifle in plain sight. Dogs at the scene howl, as their fellow canine is helplessly gunned down.

The man is reported to be Dr. JM Victoria, the provincial veterinarian of the island province of Marinduque.

In a Facebook post, animal welfare group Love and Hope for Stray Animals shared footage taken on July 29 in Barangay Yook, Buenavista town, of what it calls the Buenavista mass dog execution.

The representative of the group, Valerie Dellosa, told CNN Philippines they are preparing to file cases against the vet for violation of the Animal Welfare Act, with the help of another welfare group, Animal Kingdom Foundation.

Torture, neglect, maltreatment, or killing of dogs is unlawful under Republic Act 10631. Public officers or employees who violate the law can face up to three years imprisonment and/or a fine not exceeding 250,000.

Explaining the scene in the video, she said barangay officials offered to administer rabies vaccines to the dogs. The provincial vet told them bibigyan ng rabies shot. Tapos pinamamaril, she said in a phone interview.

[Translation: The provincial vet told them the dogs would be given a rabies shot. Then they were fired at.]

Victoria, a long-time government vet of Marinduque, said in an online webinar on May 23 that the province has remained rabies-free since 2012, that's why they have no cases of people dying from dog bites.

Asked why the dogs had to be killed despite the province being free of rabies, Victoria explained that the canines were voluntarily surrendered by their owners.

Naka-pirma sila doon sa pag-surrender nila for various reasons. Dog bites, vehicular accidents, and 'yung na-i-inflict ng aso sa livestock," he told CNN Philippines in a phone interview.

[Translation: They signed to surrender their dogs for various reasons. Dog bites, vehicular accidents, and what dogs inflict on livestock.]

He was reluctant to provide an official statement and cited the welfare of his family. He said netizens only highlighted the way the dogs were killed.

Crucified na ako sa media. I opted na 'wag na muna ako magsalita. Pati pamilya ko affected na. May reason kung bakit nangyari 'yon, he added.

[Translation: I'm crucified in media. I opted to remain silent. Even my family has been affected. There's a reason why that happened.]

The video has drawn strong reactions from netizens.

"There is a special place in hell for the people ordering and following these orders," one said.

"Napaka wala kang puso sa pagpatay ng aso kay tanda tanda mo ", another commented.

A witness also claimed she saw Victoria killing stray dogs along the streets of Barangay Malbog on August 11.

Kapag pumapayag yung may-ari, binabaril po nila. Yung mga asong gala, binabaril on the spot. Kapag binaril niya sa tagiliran at tumakbo yung aso, i-ru-running shot niya, Angela (not her real name) told CNN Philippines. Nanginig yung laman ko. Naaawa po ako kasi naririnig mo yung iyak ng aso.

[Translation: When the owner agrees, the dogs are killed. Stray dogs are shot on the spot. When he shoots at the side and the dog runs away, he continues firing I was trembling. I pitied the dogs because you can hear their cry.]

The witness said she saw local officials piling the dead dogs across the Malbog barangay hall, where an Animal and Wildlife Rescue van was parked. The bodies were covered by plywood and sacks.

A six-month-old puppy, managed to escape when the vet fired on her and three other dogs. She was wounded but was able to undergo surgery, according to Dellosa.

In a separate incident, Dellosa said Victoria shot a dog by the beach in front of bystanders, including children.

Playing god, showing off to people that you are untouchable? High and mighty? Just because people are scared to call you out because you are a government official doesn't give you the right to do this, she wrote on Facebook.

CNN Philippines is trying to reach other provincial government officials for comment. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
President Donald Trump. ERIC BARADAT/AFP via Getty Images

President Donald Trump threw his support behind the far-right QAnon conspiracy theory from the White House podium during a press briefing on Wednesday evening.

Trump said that he didn't know much about the movement but that its followers "like me very much, which I appreciate."

"These are people who don't like seeing what's going on in places like Portland, in places like Chicago and New York, and other cities and states," he said. "These are people who love our country."

The FBI warned last year that conspiracy theories might pose a domestic-terrorism threat and listed several QAnon-inspired incidents as examples.

Last year, a QAnon supporter was charged with murder over the death of a New York Mafia leader. Another conspiracist was arrested earlier this year on suspicion of threatening to murder the presidential candidate Joe Biden.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

President Donald Trump embraced supporters of the far-right QAnon movement on Wednesday evening during a White House press briefing.

Trump said that he didn't know much about the movement but that followers of the conspiracy "like me very much, which I appreciate."

"These are people who don't like seeing what's going on in places like Portland, in places like Chicago and New York, and other cities and states," he went on. "These are people who love our country."

A reporter then told Trump the group claimed he was "secretly saving the world from this satanic cult of pedophiles and cannibals."

"Does that sound like something you are behind?" the reporter asked.

"I haven't heard that, but is that supposed to be a bad thing or a good thing?" Trump replied. "I mean, you know, if I can help save the world from problems, I'm willing to do it  I'm willing to put myself out there."

He went further, saying he was, in fact, saving the country and the world.

Story continues

"We are, actually," he said. "We're saving the world from a radical-left philosophy that will destroy this country. And when this country is gone, the rest of the world would follow. The rest of the world would follow."

The FBI warned last year that conspiracy theories like QAnon posed a domestic-terrorism threat.

"The FBI assesses anti-government, identity based, and fringe political conspiracy theories very likely motivate some domestic extremists, wholly or in part, to commit criminal and sometimes violent activity," the bureau said in an internal document first obtained by Yahoo News. "The FBI further assesses in some cases these conspiracy theories very likely encourage the targeting of specific people, places, and organizations, thereby increasing the likelihood of violence against these targets."

Broadly, the QAnon conspiracy theory claims the world is run by a satanic cabal of elites intent on bringing down the Trump presidency.

It alleges, among other things, that the former special counsel Robert Mueller was appointed to investigate Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and other top Democrats who opposed Trump and that the so-called American deep state tried to shoot down Air Force One before Trump's summit in North Korea last year.

Some QAnon followers have been arrested and charged with violent crimes.

In one case, a QAnon supporter was charged with murder over the death of a New York Mafia leader last year. Another conspiracist was arrested earlier this year on suspicion of threatening to murder the presidential candidate Joe Biden.

In June 2018, a Nevada man used an armored truck to block traffic on the Hoover Dam bypass bridge and was later arrested after fleeing to Arizona. Authorities found body armor, ammunition, rifles, and a flash-bang device inside his vehicle. The FBI said the man directly mentioned the QAnon conspiracy theory after his arrest. The media also reported that he sent letters to Trump from jail that featured a QAnon slogan.

The president has shared, retweeted, and otherwise promoted dozens of messages from QAnon supporters but had not directly addressed the conspiracy theory before Wednesday. The movement is also gaining steam among Republican candidates for public office: At least two Republican congressional candidates who've voiced support for QAnon are poised to win House seats in November.

Trump's comments on Wednesday came hours after Facebook cracked down on QAnon conspiracists as part of a larger effort to police "offline anarchist groups that support violent acts amidst protests, US-based militia organizations, and QAnon."

Earlier this month, Facebook also removed a QAnon group with 200,000 members from its platform after it violated company policy. The social-media giant recently ran an internal audit that showed the conspiracy theory might have reached millions of users, through thousands of groups on the platform.

Other platforms have also taken steps to address the far-right group's influence. Twitter in July announced that it was cracking down on "so-called QAnon activity" and reportedly removed 7,000 accounts associated with posting content related to the conspiracy. Later that month, TikTok disabled two popular hashtags associated with QAnon.

Read the original article on Business Insider
TikTok star Bryce Hall has had the power at his rented home in Los Angeles cut off after throwing a house party amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to reports.

On Thursday, the New York Times reported that the city cut the power at the 21-year-olds Hollywood Hills mansion, where he lives with TikTok stars Noah Beck and Blake Gray, after footage from a party hosted by Hall on 14 August for his birthday went viral.

On Wednesday, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti confirmed in a statement shared on Twitter that he had authorised the power to be shut off at a home in Hollywood Hills, but did not identify the owner by name.

Today I authorised the city to disconnect utility service at a house in the Hollywood Hills to stop the large parties held there in flagrant violation of our public health orders, Garcetti said. Parties like these can quickly and easily spread the virus and put our communities at risk.

In a separate statement, the mayor reiterated the importance of following social distancing guidelines amid the coronavirus pandemic in an effort to get back to our normal lives.

With more than 2,000 Angelenos - and over 170,000 Americans - lost to Covid-19, we need every resident to undertake critical safeguards to stop the spread of this virus, he said. That includes not hosting or attending parties that put themselves, their neighbours, and many others at risk.

Despite several warnings, this house has turned into a nightclub in the hills, hosting large gatherings in flagrant violation of our public health orders. The city has now disconnected utilities at this home to stop these parties that endanger our community.

If we wish to reopen more businesses, return our kids to school, or get back to our normal lives, we must continue to wear masks, wash our hands frequently, and as were emphasising today, avoid gathering with others. All of these actions save lives.

The mayors office later confirmed to the New York Times that it was Halls residence that had had the power cut, which the outlet notes was not the rented home where the influencer hosted his birthday party.

The move comes after the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued a public statement on 4 August regarding the high risk of house parties and the spread of coronavirus.

The highest-risk settings are large in-person gatherings where it is difficult for individuals to remain spaced at least six feet apart and where face coverings are not worn," the statement read. "The consequences of these large parties ripple throughout our entire community because the virus can quickly and easily spread."

A day after, Garcetti said in a statement that he had authorised utility shut offs at residences hosting large parties, gatherings or events.

According to the mayors office, the residence held large gatherings on 8 August and 14 August, with the first party reportedly resulting in the Los Angeles Police Department posting warnings on the property providing notice that violations of the order are subject to civil and criminal penalties.

The mayors office also states that the police visited the residence again on 14 August, where they posted a final notice.

According to New York Times reporter Taylor Lorenz, while the power has been shut off, the water is still working at the influencer's home.

While Hall has not publicly commented on the matter, he did upload a TikTok set to the song Electric Love by OkHun on Wednesday, prompting comedian Elijah Daniel to comment: Looks dark in there, turn on the lights.

Hall is not the only influencer to face criticism for hosting and attending large parties amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In July, Tana Mongeau and James Charles publicly apologised to their followers after they were seen partying on social media.

The Independent has contacted Hall for comment.
By Express News Service

JAIPUR: In a special tribute to former PM Rajiv Gandhi on his 76th birth anniversary, the Ashok Gehlot government has started its ambitious 'Indira Rasoi scheme' in Rajasthan. Under the scheme, nutritious food will be sold to poor people in urban areas for Rs 8 per meal for which the government will provide a subsidy of Rs 12 per meal.

In the programme, arrangements will also be made to enable people to sit in the canteen and eat their food with dignity. The state government is aiming to fed 4.87 crore people annually.

The chief minister inaugurated the scheme virtually on Thursday and also took feedback from beneficiaries through video conferencing. During the inauguration, 10 Indira Rasoi canteen served the people in Jaipur Municipal area.

In each plate of food, people will get 100 grams of pulses, 100 grams of vegetables, 250 grams of chapati, and pickles. Food will be provided to people in 358 Rasois (kitchens) which have been set up in 213 urban local bodies across the state. A special app has also been created for effective monitoring of food quality.

Meals under the scheme will be made available from 8.30 am to 1 pm and again from 5 pm to 8 pm. There will be no need to show any documents to avail of the subsidised meals and anyone can simply walk into the canteen, pay Rs 8, and get the meals.

Speaking on the occasion, CM Gehlot said, Indira Rasoi is a big step towards our resolve to ensure no one goes hungry in the state. Without voluntary agencies and donors, no experiment like this can be fully successful. I thank and congratulate all those who are contributing to this novel scheme through which we will ensure that the poor and needy can eat with dignity.

UDH Minister Shanti Dhariwal said, our CM had announced that nobody in the state will have to go hungry or sleep on an empty stomach. We sent a committee of three Principal Secretaries to study similar schemes in Bangalore, Madhya Pradesh, and other areas so that we could create a really effective scheme to fight hunger in our state.

Though each plate will be priced at Rs 20, the state government will grant a subsidy of Rs 12 per plate with an estimated expenditure of Rs 100 crore every year. The scheme aims to serve food to 1.34 lakh people per day in the state. Interestingly, the Indira Rasois will be fully digital and will have CCTV cameras installed to ensure that the quality of food and cleanliness of premises is maintained.

Two years ago, just a few months before the 2018 Vidhan sabha elections, the former Vasundhara Raje government had also started a similar programme called Annapoorna Rasoi to feed the poor and win votes. Later, the Congress had scrapped that scheme.
"It is our mission to bring the security community together for two days to emphasize the threat of phishing attacks. Whether you are a security executive, awareness professional or analyst, Virtual Submerge has breakout sessions designed specifically for you."

Cofense, the global leader in intelligent phishing defense solutions, today released its speaker lineup and agenda details for Virtual Submerge 2020, the Global Phishing Defense Event of the Year. Set to take place virtually Sept. 22-23, Submerge will feature on-demand content focused on the latest trends in phishing attacks and phishing defense, specifically developed for individuals with security leadership, incident response, threat intelligence and security awareness responsibilities.

Featured keynote speaker Dmitri Alperovitch, Co-Founder and Chairman of Silverado Policy Accelerator and Co-Founder of Crowdstrike Inc., will join Cofense speakers Rohyt Belani, CEO and Co-Founder, Aaron Higbee, CTO and Co-Founder, and Keith Ibarguen, Chief Product Officer, to deliver thought-provoking keynote sessions. The Virtual Submerge 2020 agenda offers a variety of educational sessions and presentations that will examine the state of the industrys phishing detection and response.

On behalf of Cofense, I would like to thank our many speakers who each bring extremely valuable experience to share with our attendees  Virtual Submerge promises deeper, more hands-on content than ever before, said Belani. Sessions will arm attendees with the latest insights on how combining technology and human intelligence creates a network effect that can be leveraged to defend against threats and avoid a breach, while raising awareness of the ways malicious actors are actively targeting organizations every day.

During the two-day event, Virtual Submerge will showcase information that security professionals can use to influence strategic planning and improve security operations. This includes the latest in phishing defense best practices, insights from global thought leaders on the current phishing threat landscape, and regionally focused snapshots into active threats that are targeting global businesses.

The following industry luminaries will also present during Virtual Submerge:



Nick Adams, GuideWire

Peter Crumpton, NFU Mutual

Jason Bohr and Ryan Praskovitch, Nationwide Insurance

Tony Fachaux, National Bank of Canada

JJ Hodges, Community Health Systems

Lisa Plaggemier, Media Pro

Susan Rassas, Shell Information Technology

Lori Temples & Elizabeth McConnell, GreenSky

Peter Vu, NRI Secure

Jeff Van Wingerden (CRISC), Sound Transit

As the global phishing defense event of the year, it is our mission to bring the security community together for two days to emphasize the threat of phishing attacks. Whether you are a security executive, awareness professional or analyst, Virtual Submerge has breakout sessions designed specifically for you, added Higbee. Our team is committed to promoting unique perspectives on the evolving phishing threat landscape, and the most effective tools, techniques, and intelligence to stop phishing attacks in their tracks.

Cofenses network of over 20 million human sensors around the world empowers organizations with intelligence to rapidly stop phishing attacks, even after they have evaded Secure Email Gateway (SEG) technologies. To learn more about Virtual Submerge and to register, please visit https://cofense.com/submerge/.

About Cofense

Cofense, the leading provider of intelligent phishing defense solutions worldwide, is uniting humanity against phishing. The Cofense suite of products combines timely attack intelligence on phishing threats that have evaded perimeter controls and were reported by employees, with best-in-class security operations technologies to stop attacks faster and stay ahead of breaches. Cofense customers include Global 1000 organizations in defense, energy, financial services, healthcare and manufacturing sectors that understand how changing user behavior will improve security, aid incident response and reduce the risk of compromise. For additional information, please visit http://www.cofense.com or connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Sacremento: After one day of listening to his victims castigate him for his crimes, confessed Golden State Killer Joseph James DeAngelo got a surprise visit from his former fiancee, the woman whose break-up with him decades ago potentially spurred his years of attacks.

His former partner, a Sacramento woman named Bonnie Ueltzen, appeared as a guest of Citrus Heights rape survivor Jane Carson-Sandler, who tore into DeAngelo as he sat motionless in his wheelchair in Sacramento Superior Court.

Joseph James DeAngelo, centre, during his trial before pleading guilty to being the Golden State killer. Credit:AP

Carson-Sandler, an outspoken victim who describes herself as a "survivor-thriver," demanded that he look at her, then began her deconstruction of him as a "despicable" man who bound and raped her and terrorized her in October 1976 after also tying up her three-year-old son.

"DeAngelo, I want you to look at me," she said. "I want you to look at me, DeAngelo, and I want you to remember what I have to say."
Mohammad Haziz was among three Palestinians shot by Israeli forces near Deir Abu Meshal village in occupied West Bank.

A Palestinian teenager who was shot and taken away by Israeli soldiers has succumbed to his wounds.

Mohammad Damir Matar, 16, was among three Palestinians shot by Israeli forces near the Deir Abu Meshal village, close to Ramallah, late on Wednesday, the Palestinian health ministry in the occupied West Bank said.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said it had taken two wounded youths to hospitals in Ramallah, while a third injured person was detained by Israeli forces.

Emad Zahran, head of Deir Abu Meshals local council, told Anadolu news agency Hazizs family was informed of his death by the Israeli army hours after he was detained.

Mohammad was detained at dawn after being shot by a team of the [Israeli] occupation army, Zahran added.

He said the Israelis have yet to hand over the teenagers body.

Muhanna Matar, Mohammads cousin, told local Palestinian media Haziz was shot at by Israeli forces, who set up an ambush near a bypass road, and he was detained while still bleeding.

Matar added his family refused to carry out an autopsy on his cousin, whose body is being held at the notorious Abu Kabir Forensic Medical Institute in Tel Aviv, which is known for illegally harvesting the organs of Palestinians.

Earlier, the Israeli army said it shot at a group of Palestinians near Ramallah, alleging they were in possession of incendiary materials and tyres they wanted to set on fire.

Israeli forces thwarted an operation near the village of Deir Abu Meshal when they spotted a cell in possession of materials to ignite Molotov cocktails and rubber tyres that they intended to ignite in order to harm civilian vehicles, a statement said.
Hanoi Peopel's Committee Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung, who has been suspended from duties, over the years has engaged in a number of memorable activities and made impressive statements as the Hanoi Police Director and Hanoi Mayor.

The hallmarks of the Hanoi Police Director

Chung was born in 1967 in Hai Duong province. Before becoming the chair of the Hanoi Peoples Committee in 2015, Chung served in many positions in Hanoi's public security force, including deputy head and then head of the Criminal Police Department, deputy director of the Hanoi Police and head of the investigation agency of the Hanoi Police.

Nguyen Duc Chung (right) became the director of the Hanoi Police in 2012

He was awarded the title of Hero of the Armed Forces at the age of 37 (2004) and was promoted to Major General on July 13, 2013, at the age of 46, becoming the youngest Major General of the police at the time of his promotion.

In September 2012, he was appointed the director of the Hanoi Police when holding the rank of colonel. Chung took office as the chair of Hanoi Police Director in 2012-2016, during which he directed the investigation of many cases.

In September 2014, he successfully persuaded the person who took a hostage in Thanh Xuan district.

In November 2011, when he was deputy director of the Hanoi Police, he successfully instructed relevant units to discover the case in which a criminal posed as a doctor to kidnap a newborn at the Central Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital.

Leaving the police and the turning point

Nguyen Duc Chung over the years has engaged in a number of memorable activities and made impressive statements as the Director of Hanoi Police and the Hanoi Mayor.

Chung was elected as Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee for the 2015-2020 tenure at the 16th City Party Congress.

At the meeting of the Hanoi People's Council in December 2015, he was elected Chairman of the People's Committee of Hanoi. From there, he officially moved out of the police to assume this new position.

At the Hanoi Peoples Council meeting in December 2015, he was elected chair of the Hanoi Peoples Committee.

During the 4.5 years in the post of Hanois Mayor, Chung made many statements that stirred up the public.

At a conference discussing the implementation of plans to ensure traffic order, safety and urban order in March 2017, Chung said of 180 pavement beer shops, he was sure that over 150 shops were backed by policemen.

In November 2019, Hanoi people complained that the water price set by the Song Duong Water Plant was nearly twice as much as the price set by the Song Da Water Plant.

According to director of the Hanoi Finance Department Nguyen Viet Ha, the price of VND10,246 per cubic meter temporarily set by the Song Duong Plant included the VND2,003 per cubic meter the investor used to pay for bank loan interest.

Chung then said Ha was wrong. He said the municipal authorities consulted with the Ministry of Finance, and the price of VND10,246 per cubic meter price was just temporarily identified to serve the investment project design. When the project is completed, they would draw up the balance sheet and set prices exactly.

He affirmed that Hanoi has not spent any money to subsidize Song Duong Plant and will never do this.

In April 2017, a disturbance occurred in Hoanh Hamlet of Dong Tam Commune in My Duc District in April 2017, where some people in Dong Tam illegally kept 38 individuals, who were district cadres and police officers.

Chung visited the Dong Tam Commune Peoples Committees office to have direct dialogue with locals, recorded the peoples complaints about 21 issues and promised to solve the questions.

On the afternoon of April 22, before 19 officers were released, Chung made three promises to the people of Dong Tam Commune.

First, he promised to set up an inspection team to work on a land plot in dispute and find out which land was for national defence purposes or which was for agriculture.

Second, he promised no criminal prosecution for all the people of Dong Tam commune.

Third, he promised to guide the investigation and clarify the arrest and cause of injuries to Le Dinh Kinh.

On June 13, 2017, the Hanoi Police issued a decision to take criminal proceedings to investigate two charges 1/ detaining people illegally and 2/ deliberately ruining assets.

On the afternoon of August 27, 2019, the Hanoi Peoples Committee and Government Inspectors organized a briefing on the inspectors conclusion. Chung affirmed that Kinh made an appeal to put pressure on the authorities in hopes of receiving compensation for the land.

At the time when Covid-19 broke out in many places in the world, at a meeting of the Steering Committee on Fighting Covid-19 on March 23, he said his son was studying in the most Covid-19-stricken area and he told the son to rent a room, store food and stay in the room for three months.

Some Hanoi officials have been put into temporary detention for violating regulations on bidding causing serious consequences in a case related to Nhat Cuong Software, including Nguyen Van Tu, chief secretariat of the Hanoi Party Committee, former director of the Hanoi Planning and Investment Department, Nguyen Tien Hoc, former deputy director of the Hanoi Planning and Investment Department, and Pham Thi Kim Tuyen, head of the Business Registration Division of the Hanoi Planning and Investment Department.

On August 11, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc signed Decision No 1223 on the suspension of the Hanoi Chairman. The decision was made to serve the investigation of the officials involvement in a number of cases.

The duration of the suspension is 90 days, effective from the issuance date of the decision.

Huong Quynh

Hanoi appoints official replacing suspended Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung Mr. Nguyen Van Suu, Vice Standing Chairman of the Hanoi's People Committee has been appointed to assume responsibilities belonging to the position of the city's chairman in replacement for Nguyen Duc Chung
PM, 56, travelled to Scotland with 32-year-old fiancee, baby Wilfred and dog Dilyn last weekend

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Throughout the extraordinary exams fiasco, his is the crucial voice that has not been heard.

Despite the ferocious row over the A-level results shambles, Boris Johnson chose not to interrupt his holiday to offer solace to those who have endured days of deep uncertainty over their future.

But now the Mail can reveal where the Prime Minister has been enjoying his glorious isolation during the crisis.

Since the weekend, Mr Johnson and fiancee Carrie Symonds, 32, have been holidaying in a remote three-bedroom cottage on the Scottish coast.

And it appears the Prime Minister has lived up to reports that he would spend a few days of his summer holiday camping  as a tepee-style canvas tent has been pitched near the hideaway home.

While Mr Johnson is on holiday:

Birmingham is now facing a regional partial lockdown following a surge in Covid-19 cases in the last week;

A record number of GCSE A/A*s were awarded based on teacher estimated grades after the algorithm U-turn;

The number of coronavirus cases nationally has slowly crept up since early July when restrictions were eased;

Just 28 per cent of those being tested for the virus in the wider population are getting results within 24 hours.

Mr Johnson's choice of a modest property and a home-nation 'staycation' is in stark contrast to the glamorous surroundings of the luxury Caribbean island of Mustique, where the Prime Minister chose to holiday over the New Year period.

Boris Johnson and his fiancee Carrie Symonds, 32, have been spending their holiday on the Scottish coast

Mr Johnson's three-bedroom property, with its own source of spring water, was likely to have been chosen for its remoteness

A tepee-style canvas tent has been pitched next to the couple's hideaway home in Scotland

But despite using social media during his break to congratulate GCSE pupils on their results and to comment on the sentencing of the Manchester Arena bomber's brother, Mr Johnson has not commented on the exams row, leading to claims that he has been 'invisible' during the controversy.

Mr Johnson worked during the parliamentary summer recess before going on holiday.

'Well done' to GCSE pupils but still no apology After days of social media silence  and growing fury over the exams farce  the PM took to Twitter yesterday to congratulate 'everyone receiving their GCSE results'. He also responded hours later to the sentencing of terrorist Hashem Abedi, thanking 'those who have worked tirelessly to deliver justice'. Advertisement

But unlike previous prime ministers, including David Cameron and Theresa May, who have allowed the Press to take pictures during their summer breaks, Mr Johnson decided not to.

No 10 insists Mr Johnson has been kept briefed on the exams situation while at the Scottish property.

But yesterday, when the Daily Mail offered the Prime Minister the opportunity to issue a public statement on the A-levels furore, Downing Street declined.

It has yet to confirm when Mr Johnson will return, though he will be back at work next week.

Mr Johnson travelled to Scotland with his fiancee, baby Wilfred, and their dog Dilyn last weekend.

The cottage where they are staying features sweeping coastal views and costs more than 1,500 a week to rent in the peak summer months.

The canvas tent, which is not normally listed as a feature of the property, could be seen about 50 yards from the cottage.

The property, which features its own source of spring water, was likely to have been chosen for its remoteness, with the few nearby homes located several hundred yards away.

A public road overlooks the cottage, but the Mail has decided not to reveal its location.

Yesterday, Mr Johnson was seen coming and going to talk with his six-strong security team, whose three vehicles have been parked outside throughout his stay.

The Prime Minister (pictured on holiday) travelled to Scotland with his fiancee, baby Wilfred, and their dog Dilyn last weekend

Mr Johnson was seen coming and going to talk with his six-strong security team and at one stage pulled on a woollen hat in the bracing coastal winds

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds with their son Wilfred at 10 Downing Street on July 14

At one stage, Mr Johnson pulled on a woollen hat in the bracing coastal winds.

Scotland endures swarms of midges because of the hot and damp weather Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds could be facing a midges problem in Scotland with experts warning the country will be hit by more midges than last year because of the hot and damp weather. Alison Blackwell, chief executive of Smidge, which monitors midges in the UK, told MailOnline that there has been an increase in midges for this time of the year because of the weather. Alex Nail, 33, was spending in the North West Highlands in Scotland when he was swarmed by the midges at Torridon She said: 'Usually near September, it gets cooler and midge numbers are down but now it's hot and damp which are perfect conditions for midges.' One camper filmed a swarm of millions of midges from inside his tent in the North West Highlands after being trapped by the insects. Alex Nail, 33, was swarmed by the midges at Torridon. He said he had spent many summers camping in the scenic part of Scotland and the swarms he saw this year were unlike anything he'd seen before. The camper, from Bath, Somerset, said: 'There was no way I was getting out of the tent on that particular evening. 'Despite a beautiful sunset any photos would have been absolutely ruined by the midges anyway. For some reason the midges seem to love my camera too.' Advertisement

The Prime Minister's presence in the remote corner of Scotland has caused a flutter of excitement among those who have managed to catch a glimpse of him.

One holidaymaker told the Mail how he was taken aback when the Tory leader stumbled past him on a hiking trail on Wednesday.

He described how Mr Johnson, whose face was covered with a specialist hat designed to keep away the area's notorious midge population, was joined on the walk by a small entourage.

As well as two close-protection guards who are routinely at the Prime Minister's side, he was joined by Miss Symonds, a local guide and an unknown woman who was walking Dilyn.

The tourist said: 'It just looked like any other normal family day out.'

Last night, opposition politicians said Mr Johnson should have interrupted his stay to address the exams fiasco.

Layla Moran, the Liberal Democrats' education spokesman, said the Prime Minister's silence on the issue had been 'deafening'.

She added: 'The very least the Prime Minister should have said was sorry. Holiday or not, he must apologise for the impact of this fiasco on young people, and for choosing 'yes men' over competent ministers.'

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said: 'Instead of heeding warnings and addressing this looming crisis before it was too late, the Prime Minister has been invisible.

'Parents, young people and teachers deserve a public apology from the Prime Minister and a plan for how he will get a grip of his Government.'

On Monday, the Government performed a U-turn on A-level results just days after they were published, allowing students to receive their teacher-assessed grades, instead of those moderated by a controversial algorithm.

The row has led to pressure on Education Secretary Gavin Williamson and triggered charges of government incompetence.

Sir Bernard Jenkin, the Tory chairman of the liaison select committee, yesterday broke ranks to express concern that Mr Johnson's Government had been repeatedly refusing to take the blame for its mistakes.

He told Radio 4's The World At One that there was a 'sort of pattern setting in' under Mr Johnson's watch, whereby 'something goes wrong and it is the permanent secretary's fault or it is some public body's fault'.

Earlier this year, Mr Johnson was called a 'part-time prime minister' by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for refusing to cut short a break to respond to flooding in the UK.

The Prime Minister last month said he would be working 'flat out' through the summer but revealed plans to escape for a mini-break at some point.

He said: 'I would encourage people still to think of wonderful staycations here in the UK. There are all sorts of fantastic destinations, the best in the world.

All my happiest holiday memories are of holiday vacations here in the UK, bucket-and-spade jobs or whatever, and I thoroughly recommend it.'
Photo showing a V/Line train in Seymour, Victoria, travelling from Melbourne, Victoria to Albury, NSW on April 27, 2020. (Thomashobley7532/Wikimedia Commons)

Victorian Train Boss Suspended Amid IBAC Probe

The boss of Victorias regional train network has been suspended while under investigation from the states anti-corruption watchdog.

V/Line chief executive James Pinder was immediately stood down after Transport Minister Ben Carroll was made aware of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption probe on Aug. 19.

Pinder was appointed to the top job of the government-owned corporation in late 2016.

Nick Foa, the head of Transport Services at the Department of Transport, will serve as acting CEO while a long-term arrangement is sought.

Premier Daniel Andrews would not comment on the probe, saying it wasnt appropriate for the government to be briefed on IBAC investigations.

I make no judgments about it, he told reporters on Aug. 20.

All I can do is refer you to whatever language Minister Carroll has used.

He will have been as frank as he can be without interfering with the work that IBAC has done.

The state government says V/Line services will continue to operate as scheduled.

It comes five months on from the Victorian auditor-general highlighting V/Lines failures in delivering the Murray Basin rail project.

The MBRP was announced in 2014 as a onceinageneration upgrade for much of the states regional rail freight network and was expected to be completed by 2018.

The report, tabled to parliament in mid-March, found the scheme had not met scope, time, cost or quality outcomes despite its $440 million budget.

V/Line and the Department of Transport had used $381.5 million (or 86.7 percent) of the original budget and only rolled out about half of the project, the auditor-general found.

Among the sub-optimal management failures identified were disputes and delays arising from V/Line not keeping to its contract obligations.

At the time, Pinder said V/Line accepted the findings and would continue to improve contract and project management in line with recommendations.

Prior the reports release, the ABC reported a project insider had submitted a statement to IBAC making a series of allegations against McConnell Dowell and Martinus Railthe joint venture behind the projects constructionincluding overcharging the government for completed works.

Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan said she was unaware of the probe at the time, but conceded she was disappointed with V/Line.

Rail Projects Victoria would be responsible for finishing the project in conjunction with the transport department, Ms Allan said.

Its not the first time V/Line have come to IBACs attention

In 2017, the watchdog found the states regional rail operator had conflicts of interests in its procurement and recruitment practices between 2013 and 2016.

Deputy opposition leader Peter Walsh said the investigation distracted from the need to fix the mess Labor had made of country Victorias public transport network.

By Callum Godde
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In light of the extraordinary ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the education landscape, ACTFL is even more determined to pursue its mission of providing vision, leadership, and support for quality teaching and learning of languages.

There are real concerns that language educators will be unable to meet the needs of their learners, not only this fall but into the future, if federal, state, and local entities do not intervene. For this reason, ACTFL has released a statement supporting language educators and learners this fall. The statement outlines five concrete recommendations in support of the language education community:

Prioritize Educator and Learner Health and Safety. Include Language Educators in the Decision-Making Process. Focus on Equity and Access. Invest in a Pipeline of Well-Prepared and Diverse Educators. Make Professional Development Widely Available.

"I am proud of ACTFL's on-going commitment to teachers and I fully support this statement and recommendations," stated ACTFL President Bridget Yaden. "With so much uncertainty and so many moving parts as we begin the new school year, it is imperative that teachers have a voice in the planning and decision-making process to ensure a safe and effective learning experience for all."

We know the numerous benefits of multilingualism, which include increased cognitive function, career competitive advantage, better cultural understanding, and increased empathy. If we are serious about giving every student this critical skill set, the U.S. must prioritize access to high-quality language education. If we fail to act in a measured way on behalf of today's learners, we risk losing a generation of incredibly dedicated educators and support for language programs across the country could diminish considerably. Now is the time to act.

About ACTFL:

Providing vision, leadership and support for quality teaching and learning of languages, ACTFL is an individual membership organization of more than 13,000 language educators and administrators from elementary through graduate education, as well as government and industry. Since its founding in 1967, ACTFL has become synonymous with innovation, quality, and reliability in meeting the changing needs of language educators and their learners. It is where the world's educators, businesses, and government agencies go to advance the practice of language learning.

ACTFL's work as a trusted, independent center of excellence empowers educators to prepare learners for success in a 21st century global society; helps government agencies build language capacity in the U.S. and abroad; and connects businesses with the resources and relationships they need to succeed.

SOURCE ACTFL

Related Links

www.actfl.org


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The Bombay High Court has granted bail to former Dewan Housing Finance Limited (DHFL) promoters Kapil Wadhawan and Dheeraj Wadhawan in the Yes Bank case. The Wadhawans are the main accused in the case.

The duo were granted bail by Justice Bharati Dangre citing late filing of the chargesheet by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). A chargesheet had to be filed within 60 days of the arrest.

The ED, however, insists it had filed part of the chargesheet by e-mail a day before the sixty-day period ended. The Wadhawan brothers had been arrested on May 14 by the Directorate.

Despite the reprieve, however, the Wadhawans will remain in Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) custody, in its Yes Bank case.

An ED source told Moneycontrol: Enforcement Directorate had filed part of the chargesheet on July 11 via e-mail, a day before the completion of 60 days. Actually 60 days were completed on July 12, a Sunday. The main chargesheet was filed on July 13.

Different interpretation

An ED lawyer told Moneycontrol: The Bombay High Court went by the precedent set by a July 29 order of another Bench of the same court. The precedent held that the stipulated 60 days for submission of a chargesheet begin from the day an arrested accused is produced for remand. Until now, the practice was to exclude the day of the grant of remand from the count of 60 days.

However, another source told Moneycontrol: In the past, the Supreme Court ruling in two different cases, State of Madhya Pradesh versus Rustom and State of Bihar versus Ravi Prakash, clearly stated that the date of remand has to be excluded while calculating 60/90 days for a chargesheet.

Sherbir Panag, white-collar crime expert and founding partner, Panag & Babu, told Moneycontrol that bail is generally the norm in Indian law. "Bail is a matter of right, with jail being the exception  this is the cornerstone of our jurisprudence. It is immaterial whether the bail is in cases of white-collar crime or otherwise as long as the requisites of law are met.

Bail does not impact the prosecution's case and more so the prosecution's case must be about securing a conviction and not merely an arrest. This should also be a nudge to our enforcement authorities to ensure time-bound investigations, Panag added.

The first ED chargesheet named eight persons and entities Rana Kapoor, his wife Bindu Kapoor, daughters Rakhee, Roshni and Radha, as well as Morgan Credit Pvt Ltd, Yes India Capital Pvt Ltd and Rab Enterprises, owned and controlled by Kapoor's family.

The second chargesheet named DHFL promoter Kapil Wadhawan, DHFL Non-Executive Director Dheeraj Wadhawan, Rana Kapoor, his wife Bindu Kapoor, daughters Radha Kapoor, Roshni Kapoor, Rekha Kapoor, Chartered Accountant Dhulresh Jain and the entities Doit Urban Ventures Pvt Ltd, Rab Enterprises, Morgan credit Pvt Ltd, DHFL, Kyta Advisors Ltd, RKW Developers, Belief Realty, Yes Capital Pvt Ltd, Golden Western Ltd, Samapti trading Pvt Ltd and Valencia Developers.
German authorities said Wednesday that the multiple attacks on motorcyclists riding on a Berlin highway Tuesday could be religiously motivated. "An Islamist attack cannot be ruled out," Berlin police and prosecutors said in a joint statement. The 30-year-old suspect, who authorities say is an Iraqi citizen, allegedly hit several motorcycles intentionally with his vehicle. Six people were injured, three severely, in the rush-hour attack. At least one victim has suffered life-threatening injuries.

According to police, the suspect allegedly got out of his black Opel Astra after the third crash and placed an ammunition box on top of his car, claiming it contained explosives. When specialists opened the box with a jet of water, they found only tools inside.



The suspect was taken into police custody and questioned. Local media identified him as Sarmad D. He will be brought before a magistrate Wednesday for three cases of attempted murder.

"Statements by the accused after his actions suggest a religious-Islamist motivation," German authorities said in the statement. "There are also indications of psychological instability."



Authorities noted that the investigation had not found evidence that the suspect was a member of a terrorist organization. Prosecutors said they were investigating if the man had contacts with extremists.



Part of the highway remained closed Wednesday morning but was reopened in the afternoon after the investigation concluded.
Former Crown Resorts chief executive Rowen Craigie has said neither he nor the board was made aware of escalating risks in China by executives, running Crown's VIP gambling business, in the lead up to the arrest of Crown employees in October 2016.

Mr Craigie told a NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority's inquiry on Thursday he was not aware of China's crackdown in 2015 on foreign casinos recruiting Chinese nationals to gamble at their overseas operations until the arrest of South Korean gambling operators later that year.

"The board and risk management committee should have been informed," he said of this and other information, which included Crown employees being questioned by police in China.

Crown Resorts CEO Rowen Craigie endured a long decade at the helm as Crown's fortunes waxed and waned. Credit:Jesse Marlow

"They obviously genuinely believed the risk hadn't changed but that risk assessment was clearly flawed," he told the inquiry.
New Chief of Cardiology Joins Berkshire Health Systems

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Berkshire Health Systems has appointed Dr. Peter Chien as the new division chief of cardiology at Berkshire Medical Center.

Dr. Chien, a board-certified and fellowship-trained cardiologist, joins the BMC medical staff and the physician staff of Cardiology Professional Services of BMC. He is partnered with doctors Kyle Cooper, Andrew Potash, Georgianne Valli-Harwood and Shyama Wickramaaratchi at Cardiology Professional Services of BMC, and he is accepting new patients in need of cardiac care.

Chien has previously held leadership roles in several organizations and most recently practiced as a non-invasive cardiologist at York Hospital in York, Maine.

He is board-certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease and was fellowship-trained in cardiovascular disease at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut. He received his medical degree from New York Medical College and completed his residency in internal medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C. He later earned an executive master of business administration degree from the University of Connecticut, where he was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, the international honor society for business school programs.

For an appointment with Dr. Chien or one of his colleagues, ask your primary care physician for a referral or for more information call Cardiology Professional Services of BMC at 413-395-7580.
The department on Thursday reported 1,832 newly confirmed cases of coronavirus and 27 additional deaths. A day earlier, it reported 2,295 new confirmed cases, the highest daily case tally since May 24. The state now has reported 213,721 cases and 7,833 fatalities.

The state reported 51,612 tests in the previous 24 hours, the second day in a row that number has topped 50,000.

Illinois top public health official had warned Wednesday that more people are testing positive for the coronavirus in the state while rates across the country are generally going down.

We are going in the wrong direction, said Illinois Department of Public Health director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. Im concerned that weve grown numb to these numbers, and we have to remember they are not just numbers, they are people  who will not be at Thanksgiving dinner this year.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday that most of Illinois 11 regions are seeing increases in positivity rates, but two in particular are reporting troubling trends: Region 7, which includes Kankakee and Will counties, and Region 5 in southern Illinois.

Heres whats happening Thursday with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:

7:35 p.m.: Gerardo Victoria had big plans for the fall: culinary school. But he fell ill from COVID-19 and died at the age of 23. A horrible thing.

Gerardo Jerry Victoria was always coming up with new recipes and sharing them with his family in their South Holland home.

This fall, he planned to follow his love for cooking and attend culinary school.

He was more than a brother-in-law. He was a friend. We were close, Vanessa Gusman said.

About a month ago, he became ill as COVID-19 spread through his family. He died on Tuesday at the age of 23, one of the youngest victims of the coronavirus in Cook County. As of Thursday, Illinois has reported 213,721 cases and 7,833 fatalities.

It was a horrible thing, Gusman said. He was getting better and getting the help he needed. He was excited to come home.

Read more here. Rosemary Sobol

7 p.m.: State announces SAT makeup dates for high school students who missed spring exams because of COVID-19

Illinois education officials have announced new fall SAT dates for high school seniors who missed the state-provided exams last spring when they were postponed after COVID-19 shut down schools.

All high school juniors in the state are typically required to take the SAT with Essay exam, and many use that score on college and scholarship applications. Because those tests were delayed last spring, the Illinois State Board of Education is requesting that schools offer the test Sept. 24 or Oct. 14, or both days, for seniors who want the chance to take it before such applications are due.

However, schools that are planning only remote learning this fall, such as Chicago Public Schools, are asked to have their seniors take the SAT next April along with this years junior class.

Read more here. Sophie Sherry

5:35 p.m.: Empty downtown office buildings force fast-casual restaurant chains to shrink menus, look to neighborhoods for customers

As restaurants grapple with how to adapt in the age of COVID-19, Sopraffina, a small chain of Italian-style cafes, faces a special kind of hell.

Its restaurants are located inside of office buildings in downtown Chicago, where it was a go-to spot for a midday panini or hand-tossed salad during the workweek.

Those lunch crowds vanished when stay-at-home orders took effect in March and five months later they still have not returned. Thats left Sopraffina without its primary  really, its only  customer base.

Its like the Armageddon situation for a restaurant to be located in the central business district, said Taryn Kelly, vice president of development at Sopraffina, which was founded by her parents in 1993.

The crowd of fast-casual restaurants that cater to hungry downtown office workers is facing considerable setbacks as the continued threat of the pandemic keeps those workers at home.

Many of their Loop locations remain closed, a few are shuttering permanently, and with work-from-home likely to endure beyond the pandemic some chains are contemplating cutting their downtown space to focus on delivery or more residential neighborhoods.

4:15 p.m.: A Catholic school teacher in suburban Chicago refused to return to class because of COVID-19 concerns. Now shes out of a job.

When teachers reported to St. Francis Xavier School in Wilmette on Monday to start the new school year, Elaine Sage was not among them.

At age 63 and married to a cancer survivor, the longtime teacher said she didnt feel comfortable with the Chicago Archdioceses plans to reopen schools full-time this fall while COVID-19 is still far from contained.

This is life and death for me, Sage said.

Sage said she asked to be allowed to teach remotely to students whove opted out of in-person classes. She did not want to resign, but she did not show up for work when her school reopened to teachers on Monday. Students are due back on Aug. 31.

Sage learned late Wednesday that the Archdiocese was releasing her from her contract, effective immediately.

Read more here. Javonte Anderson and Sophie Sherry

2:50 p.m.: Lord & Taylor closing last Illinois department stores

Lord & Taylor is closing its only remaining department stores in Illinois, at Woodfield Mall and Northbrook Court.

Lord & Taylor had already announced plans to shutter 19 stores, including the Northbrook store, when it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this month. The Woodfield Mall location was one of five additional closing stores nationally announced Thursday.

Clothing-rental startup Le Tote bought Lord & Taylor from Hudson's Bay Co., which also owns Saks Fifth Avenue, just last year. Le Tote and Lord & Taylor said they are continuing to review offers for a potential sale of the company.

The closures will leave Lord & Taylor with just 14 stores. The department store left Chicagos Magnificent Mile in 2006, but had four suburban locations until 2018.

Its one of many struggling retailers that have sought bankruptcy protection during the pandemic, including department stores Neiman Marcus and J.C. Penney.

Read more here. Lauren Zumbach

1:50 p.m.: Its always a scary thing: More than 175,000 Illinois residents may have recently lost health insurance

If Vahap Sarac and his wife cant find affordable health insurance for their family soon, theyre considering sending their young daughters to live with their grandparents in Estonia.

Sarac was furloughed from his job as a banquet captain at the Palmer House Hilton hotel when COVID-19 hit in mid-March, after working there for more than 30 years. The health insurance coverage he has through his job is scheduled to end Oct. 1.

Estonia has a far lower rate of deaths from COVID-19 than the U.S. and near-universal health coverage.

We dont want to separate from our kids, said Sarac, 55 of Chicagos Albany Park neighborhood. But he worries about his children, especially his 1-year-old whose lungs werent fully developed at birth. This virus is very risky for her.

He also worries that if someone in his family gets sick and has to be hospitalized whatever in 30 years Ive saved for their colleges for them, for retirement, everything will be wiped out by those hospital bills.

Across Chicago and the country, many people have a new concern on their ever-growing list of worries during the pandemic: a lack of health insurance. An estimated 186,000 Illinois workers may have become uninsured because of job losses between February and May, according to a report from consumer health care advocacy organization Families USA.

Read more here. Lisa Schencker

12:55 p.m.: Notre Dame cancels football practice for a 2nd consecutive day after 5 players test positive for COVID-19

Notre Dame canceled football practice Thursday for a second consecutive day, holding off on preparations for its Sept. 12 opener against Duke.

The pause in practice is in reaction to the schools decision to move classes online for at least two weeks to attempt to contain a spike in COVID-19 cases.

Citing a rise in cases from 58 to 147 in one day, Rev. John Jenkins also announced that public spaces on campus would be closed.

Read more here. Teddy Greenstein

12:50 p.m.: The IRS is sending extra money to nearly 14 million tax filers. Heres who gets it and why.

The IRS announced this week that it owes interest payments to nearly 14 million Americans who received their individual tax refunds after April 15 or are still owed refunds. The average payment will be $18.

The reason the IRS owes this money has to do with the COVID-19 pandemic.

To ease the strain on taxpayers walloped by the virus-stricken economy, this year the IRS postponed the deadline for filing returns to July 15, three months after the traditional deadline of April 15. The delay means that refund money sat in the hands of the IRS longer than usual. In essence, taxpayers who took the opportunity to file later were lending that money to the government.

During that time, the money generated interest  interest that the IRS is now required by law to pay out.

Read more here. Los Angeles Times

12:35 p.m.: James Beard Foundation cancels chef and restaurant awards in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19

In a surprise announcement, The James Beard Foundation said Thursday that it would not present the winners of its Chef and Restaurant awards this year. The awards were to have been announced on Sept. 25.

Instead, a virtual ceremony that day, to be broadcast live via Twitter, will honor previously announced honorees, including the foundations Humanitarian of the Year and Lifetime Achievement winners, and spotlight the 2020 nominees, whose names were announced in May. Chicago garnered eight nominations.

This could be seen as a curious decision, considering that voting on the nominees has already taken place. But there are five to six nominees in each of the 21 Chef and Restaurant categories (10 nominees for Best New Restaurant); announcing 21 winners would also mean revealing the names of more than 110 non-winners, and that clearly was a big factor in JBFs decision.

We did not come to this decision lightly, said CEO Clare Reichenbach, in a prepared statement. The uncertainty of this time for our industry is already a hard reality, and considering anyone to have won or lost within the current tumultuous hospitality ecosystem does not, in fact, feel like the right thing to do. An honor which we know is held in high regard ... feels minor when compared to the dire situation we are in.

This is the first cancellation in the JBF Awards 30-year history.

Read more here. Phil Vettel

10:45 a.m.: You cannot create a viable business in your basement. In work-from-home world, Chicagos tech hubs struggle with loss of in-person networking

For years, tech incubators like 1871 have offered startup companies office space, entrepreneurial programming and networking opportunities. Much of that guidance has moved online during the pandemic. But theres one amenity tech hubs have struggled to replace in a virtual environment: the random collision.

The casual run-ins that occur at incubators as entrepreneurs stand in line for coffee or pass one another in a hallway can lead to connections, funding and inspiration. Long-term loss of that ethos could stymie Chicagos tech startup scene.

How do we create the chance collisions online, virtually? said Betsy Ziegler, CEO of 1871. We havent figured that out, and thats the piece that really is core of the magic of a place like 1871.

Those random collisions arent the only aspect of entrepreneurship that has been upended by the pandemic. Funding is harder to come by, and some startups have had to pivot. Entrepreneurs must navigate those challenges without the structure and in-person support thats found at incubators.

Read more here. Ally Marotti

10:25 a.m.: Big Ten coaches are bullish on a basketball season: Were going to play in some way, shape or form.

Big Ten fans have lost their football Saturdays, lost faith in some of their leaders and might lost their sanity. Your grilled brats and Old Oaken Bucket are not returning this fall.

But hang in there. The leagues basketball coaches are positively bullish, predicting you will be able to fill out a bracket in 2021. Of that, they are (almost) certain.

I dont think theres any doubt, Illinois coach Brad Underwood said, that were going to play in some way, shape or form.

Read more here. Teddy Greenstein

10:15 a.m.: Back to school: Heres what some kids are saying

Lorenzo Grippe is not excited to start 4th grade online, but he understands the impact of COVID-19 on school this year. I was hoping itd be in class, but I know we have to do this to keep everyone safe, the 9-year-old said. And I bet the teachers are trying to help figure out how to fix this and get us back all in school.

As Chicagos youths prepare for the upcoming school year, the Tribune asked students of all ages, from across the city and suburbs, how theyre feeling.

Heres what they said. Responses have been edited for space and clarity.

Read more here. Abel Uribe, Lauren Leazenby and Milan Polk

8:05 a.m.: Jazz and World Music fests go online for 2020, announce lineup

The Chicago Jazz Festival and the World Music Festival Chicago will unfold in cyberspace this year, due to the pandemic.

Millennium Park at Home: Chicago Jazz will feature jazz sets and Chicago Jazz Festival archival performances from 4 to 8 p.m. Sept. 3 through 6 on YouTube.com/ChicagoDCASE. Among the highlights: Von Freeman and Clifford Jordan, Sun Ra Arkestra, Ari Brown Quintet, Henry Butler, Tito Carrillo Quintet, Sept. 3; Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jo Ann Daugherty Quartet, AACM Tribute to Black Lives Matter, Sept. 4; Doc Cheatham, Jane Bunnett, Matt Ulery, Sept. 5; Josh Berman, Dee Alexander, Charlie Rouse, Sept. 6. For details, visit www.millenniumpark.org.

Virtual World Music Festival Chicago will run 1 to 3 p.m. Sundays in September at YouTube.com/ChicagoDCASE. Among the highlights: Ragamala: A Celebration of Indian Classical Music, Sept. 6; Afro-Diaspora y Folklore, Sept. 13; Anam Mor, Sept. 20; Chicago Immigrant Orchestra, Sept. 27. For details, visit www.worldmusicfestivalchicago.org.

Both events are produced by the citys Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

Howard Reich

8 a.m.: US unemployment claims rise back above 1 million after two weeks of declines

The number of laid-off workers seeking U.S. unemployment benefits rose to 1.1 million last week after two weeks of declines, evidence that many employers are still slashing jobs as the coronavirus bedevils the U.S. economy.

The latest figures suggest that more than five months after the viral outbreak erupted the economy is still weak, despite recent gains as some businesses reopen and some sectors like housing and manufacturing have rebounded. A rising number of people who have lost jobs say they consider their loss to be permanent.

The total number of people receiving unemployment aid declined last week from 15.5 million to 14.8 million, the government said Thursday. Those recipients are now receiving far less aid because a $600-a-week federal benefit has expired, which means the unemployed must now get by solely on much smaller aid from their states. The loss of the federal benefit has deepened the struggles for many, including a higher risk of eviction from their homes.

Read more here. Associated Press

7:45 a.m.: College athletes may have more leverage than ever  but how will they sustain that momentum when so many arent playing?

Within an hour of leaving a rapidly organized, late-night video conference call with other football players early this month from across the country, Michigan cornerback Hunter Reynolds saw a sign indicating the power of college athletes voices never has been stronger.

Reynolds helped form College Athletes Unity, which calls for stronger testing and safety measures for competition during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the video call, his groups requests coalesced with the #WeWantToPlay movement, led by athletes working to preserve a fall season.

In about a half-hour, the call produced a list of demands: universal safety protocols, protection for players who wanted to opt out with eligibility guarantees and permission to create a players association.

The NCAA ultimately put some protections in place for athletes. But on Aug. 11, the Big Ten and Pac-12 postponed their fall seasons amid safety concerns with COVID-19.

And now, even as college football appears fractured as some conferences compete and others are sidelined, Reynolds said the mission will be to to sustain momentum.

Read more here. Shannon Ryan

7:30 a.m.: American Airlines is dropping flights to Springfield, 14 other cities in October

American Airlines will drop flights to 15 smaller U.S. cities in October when a federal requirement to serve those communities ends.

The airline blamed low demand during the coronavirus pandemic, which has triggered a massive slump in air travel. Airlines and their labor unions are seeking billions in taxpayer relief.

American said its schedule covering Oct. 7 through Nov. 3 will drop flights to cities including Sioux City, Iowa; New Haven, Connecticut; and Springfield, the capital of Illinois.

This is the first step as American continues to evaluate its network and plans for additional schedule changes in the coming weeks, the airline said in a prepared statement.

Read more here. Associated Press

7:25 a.m.: Newest reason to get up in the morning: Beacon Doughnut Co. drawing lines in a Lincoln Park alley

Wander over to Armitage and Halsted on a weekend morning, and you may notice a line of mostly masked, mostly socially distant people snaking out from the alley and around the corner. Theyre all waiting for doughnuts.

As Chicago remained largely shuttered due to the novel coronavirus this spring, the aptly named Beacon Doughnut Co. quietly opened. Owner Andrew Catrambone began dispensing $3 indulgences from a window overlooking the alley behind Halsted Street.

Humble, if bulky, vegan doughnuts are dressed to the nines to satisfy every flavor of comfort-food craving. And so, the crowds came, and the shop started selling out. Catrambone said he makes about 1,000 doughnuts on a weekday  and maybe double that for the weekends  in roughly a dozen varieties.

Read more here. Jennifer Day

6:45 a.m.: An effective COVID-19 vaccine is the great hope. How do we get there?

Theres no cure, thousands of people continue to die every week and the economy is tanking, leaving an increasingly anxious, frustrated and fearful populace.

So goes the U.S. battle with COVID-19. That leaves people pining for a big fix, with much attention centered on one great hope: an effective, widely available vaccine that would allow them to again embrace friends, go back to work and ditch that lurking feeling of dread.

Devising a vaccine is a complex, multistep process that typically takes at least five years and sometimes a decade or more. In some cases, the efforts never succeed.

Yet, scientists have great expectations this time around. They note the current worldwide focus on vaccine development, recent leaps forward in biotechnology and the federal governments declaration of Operation Warp Speed, a multibillion-dollar taxpayer funded effort to ramp up production of vaccines even before scientists determine which one will be effective and safe.

Right now, we pray that this will work, said Dr. Kathleen Mullane, an infectious disease expert at University of Chicago Medicine who has been involved in clinical vaccine trials. We might be able to expect to see a vaccine available commercially either by next fall or Christmas  not the coming one, but a year from now.

Until vaccines are widely available and enough people are immunized, the usual warnings will hold: Avoid large gatherings, keep your distance, wear a mask and wash your hands.

Read more here. Hal Dardick

6:30 a.m.: Even as classes shift online, college students are returning to campuses. Will that spread COVID-19?

As universities across the country invite their students back for the fall, students are torn between difficult and often conflicting interests. Only 9% of returning students and 13% of first-year students surveyed by a higher education research agency in late July said returning to campus to take all their classes online was their top choice for the fall.

But colleges are increasingly shifting classes online, even those branding the fall as a hybrid semester. And even among those who disagree with their colleges decisions to reopen, some students with mostly online classes are still moving back  often into off-campus housing outside of their universities jurisdiction.

They acknowledge they are looking forward to seeing friends, but also cite a variety of personal and financial factors.

Read more here. Claire Hao
ZHANGZHOU, China, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- China Zenix Auto International Limited (OTC: ZXAIY) ("Zenix Auto" or "the Company"), the largest commercial vehicle wheel manufacturer in China in both the aftermarket and OEM market by sales volume, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020.

Financial Highlights

First Quarter 2020:

Revenue was RMB320.8 million ( US$45.3 million ), down 52.1% year-over-year

( ), down 52.1% year-over-year Sales to the Chinese OEM market decreased by 51.9% year-over-year

Sales of aluminum wheels accounted for 10.1% of total sales

Net loss and total comprehensive loss was RMB60.6 million ( US$8.6 million ) with basic and diluted loss per American Depositary Share ("ADS") of RMB1.17 (US$0.17) compared with net loss and total comprehensive loss of RMB4.5 million for the first quarter of 2019 with basic and diluted loss per ADS of RMB0.09 in the first quarter of 2019.

Mr. Junqiu Gao, Deputy CEO and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Zenix Auto, commented, "The results of the first quarter of 2020 reflect the unprecedented challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The automotive industry has been disrupted as restrictions and lockdowns affected customers, entire supply chains, workers, and service networks. Our operations were effectively shut down from the Chinese New Year to late March 2020. However, the economy and our operations gradually began to improve in April."

Mr. Martin Cheung, CFO of Zenix Auto, commented, "We maintained our strong cash base with bank balances and fixed bank deposits of approximately US$163 million as of March 31, 2020. We will continue to focus on maintaining our financial strength during this troublesome period."

2020 First Quarter Results

Revenue for the first quarter was RMB320.8 million (US$45.3 million) compared to RMB669.4 million in the first quarter of 2019. The decrease in revenue on a year-over-year basis was mainly due to the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent unprecedented lockdown and travel bans significantly disrupted the Company's Chinese OEM, domestic aftermarket and international markets as well as the Company's production and procurement.

Sales to the Chinese OEM market were RMB168.4 million (US$23.8 million) compared to RMB350.4 million in the same quarter of 2019. Total unit sales in the OEM market decreased by 50.2% year-over-year during the first quarter of 2019.

Aftermarket sales in China were RMB104.8 million (US$14.8 million) from RMB240.5 million in the first quarter of 2019. Total unit sales in the aftermarket decreased by 49.0% year-over-year.

International sales were RMB47.6 million (US$6.7 million) compared to sales of RMB78.5 million in the first quarter of 2019. Total unit sales in the international sales decreased by 30.2% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2020.

The decrease in sales in all three segments was primarily due to the impact of COVID-19 on the economy and our supply chain.

In the first quarter of 2020, Chinese OEM sales, domestic aftermarket sales and international sales contributed 52.5%, 32.7% and 14.8% of revenue, respectively.

Sales of tubed steel wheels comprised 38.8% of the first quarter revenue compared to 42.7% in the same quarter in 2019. Tubeless steel wheel sales represented 46.0% of the first quarter revenue compared to 43.6% in the same quarter of 2019. Sales of aluminum wheels accounted for 10.1% of the first quarter revenue, compared to 9.0% in the same quarter a year ago.

First quarter gross loss was RMB2.1 million (US$0.3 million), compared to a gross profit of RMB81.2 million in the same quarter in 2019. The negative gross margin in the first quarter was mainly due to the significant drop in sales volume, lower production utilization rate and wider than normal price cut following the unprecedented impact from COVID-19 outbreak.

Selling and distribution expenses decreased by 35.2% to RMB25.6 million (US$3.6 million) from RMB39.5 million in the first quarter of 2019. The decrease in selling and distribution costs was primarily due to lower sales in the first quarter of 2020 compared with the same quarter last year. As a percentage of revenue, selling and distribution costs were 8.0% in the first quarter, compared to 5.9% in the same quarter a year ago. The increase in selling and distribution costs as a percentage of revenue was primarily due to significantly lower sales in the first quarter of 2020 compared with the same quarter last year.

Research and development ("R&D") expenses decreased by 11.1% to RMB11.9 million (US$1.7 million), compared to RMB13.3 million in the first quarter of 2019. R&D as a percentage of revenue was 3.7% in the first quarter of 2020, compared to 2.0% in the same quarter a year ago. The increase in R&D as a percentage of revenue was primarily due to significantly lower sales in the first quarter of 2020 compared with the same quarter last year. In addition, the Company entered into a large R&D contract with a leading research institute in Beijing during the first quarter. The Company continues to maintain new product development programs associated with new material development, new product design, and new production equipment development.

Administrative expenses were RMB31.2 million (US$4.4 million), increased by 9.1% from RMB28.6 million in the first quarter of 2019. The increase of administrative expenses in the first quarter of 2020 compared with the same quarter last year was primarily due to higher healthcare expenses and personal protective equipment expenditures in response to the aftermath of COVID-19 outbreak. As a percentage of revenue, administrative expenses were 9.7%, compared to 4.3% of revenue in the first quarter of 2019. The increase in administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue was primarily due to significantly lower sales in the first quarter of 2020 compared with the same quarter last year.

Net loss and total comprehensive loss were RMB60.6 million (US$8.6 million) in the first quarter compared to net loss and total comprehensive loss of RMB4.5 million for the first quarter of 2019.

Basic and diluted loss per ADS were RMB1.17 (US$0.17) compared to basic and diluted loss per ADS of RMB0.09 in the first quarter of 2019.

In the first quarter of 2020, the Company recorded net cash outflow from operating activities of RMB24.6 million (US$3.5 million) compared with a net cash outflow of RMB37.6 million in the first quarter of 2019.

During the first quarter of 2020 and 2019, the weighted average number of ordinary shares was 206.5 million and the weighted average number of ADSs was 51.6 million.

As of March 31, 2020, Zenix Auto had bank balances and cash of RMB863.7 million (US$122.0 million) and fixed bank deposits with a maturity period over three months of RMB290.0 million (US$41.0 million). Account receivables were RMB225.3 million (US$31.8). Total bank borrowings were RMB558.0 million (US$78.8 million). Total equity attributable to owners of the Company was RMB2,373.2 million (US$335.2 million).

Conference Call Information

The Company will host a conference call on Thursday, August 20, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. EDT/ 8:00 p.m. Beijing Time. Interested parties may participate in the conference call by dialing +1-877-407-0782 (U.S. Toll Free), +1-201-689-8567 (International), or +86-400-120-2840 (mainland China). Please dial in five minutes before the call start time and ask to be connected to the "China Zenix Auto" conference call.

A replay will be available shortly after the conclusion of the conference call through September 19, 2020. Interested parties may access the replay by dialing +1-877-481-4010 (U.S. Toll Free) or +1-919-882-2331 (International) and using Conference ID 36642 to access the replay.

Exchange Rate Information

The United States dollar (US$) amounts disclosed in this press release are presented solely for the convenience of the reader. All translations from RMB to U.S. dollars are made at a rate of RMB7.0808 to US$1.00, the effective noon buying rate as of March 31, 2020 in The City of New York, and for cable transfers of RMB as set forth in the H.10 weekly statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. The percentages stated are calculated based on RMB amounts.

About China Zenix Auto International Limited



China Zenix Auto International Limited is the largest commercial vehicle wheel manufacturer in China in both the aftermarket and OEM market by sales volume. The Company offers approximately 883 series of aluminum wheels, tubed steel wheels, tubeless steel wheels, and off-road steel wheels in the aftermarket and OEM markets in China and internationally. The Company's customers include large PRC commercial vehicle manufacturers, and it also exports products to over 62 distributors in more than 25 countries worldwide. With six large, strategically located manufacturing facilities in multiple regions across China, the Company has a designed annual production capacity of approximately 15.5 million units of steel and aluminum wheels as of March 31, 2020. For more information, please visit: www.zenixauto.com/en.

Safe Harbor

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. The Company may make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to 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. 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. Further information regarding these risks is included in our filings with the SEC. The consequences of the coronavirus outbreak to economic conditions and the automobile industry in general, and the financial position and operating results of our company in particular, have been material in the first quarter of 2020, are changing rapidly, and cannot be predicted. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of the press release, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

For more information, please contact



Kevin Theiss

Awaken Advisors

Tel: +1-(212) 521-4050

Email: [email protected]

- tables follow -

China Zenix Auto International Limited Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Profit or Loss and Other Comprehensive Loss For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 (RMB and US$ amounts expressed in thousands, except number of shares and per share data)





Three Months Ended March 31,



2019 2020 2020



RMB' 000 RMB' 000 US$' 000









Revenue

669,350 320,783 45,303 Cost of sales

(588,197) (322,874) (45,599) Gross profit(loss)

81,153 (2,091) (296) Other operating income

2,906 3,059 432 Net exchange (loss) gain

(1,260) 72 10 Selling and distribution costs

(39,469) (25,565) (3,610) Research and development expenses

(13,335) (11,855) (1,674) Administrative expenses

(28,624) (31,217) (4,409) Finance costs

(5,892) (5,985) (845) Loss before taxation

(4,521) (73,582) (10,392) Income tax credit

22 13,018 1,839









Loss and total comprehensive loss

for the period

(4,499) (60,564) (8,553) Earnings per share







Basic

(0.02) (0.29) (0.04) Diluted

(0.02) (0.29) (0.04)









Earnings per ADS







Basic

(0.09) (1.17) (0.17) Diluted

(0.09) (1.17) (0.17)









Shares

206,500,000 206,500,000 206,500,000 ADSs

51,625,000 51,625,000 51,625,000

China Zenix Auto International Limited Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (RMB and US$ amounts expressed in thousands)





December 31,

2019

March 31,

2020

March 31,

2020



RMB'000

RMB'000

US$' 000 ASSETS











Current Assets











Inventories

129,641

187,480

26,477 Trade and other receivables and

prepayments

596,359

467,953

66,088 Pledged bank deposits

14,900

16,500

2,330 Fixed bank deposits with maturity

period over three months

290,000

290,000

40,956 Bank balances and cash

906,840

863,701

121,978 Total current assets

1,937,740

1,825,634

257,829













Non-Current Assets











Property, plant and equipment

1,076,731

1,041,641

147,108 Right-of-use assets

357,599

355,243

50,170 Deposit paid for acquisition of

PPE

61,618

61,618

8,702 Longterm prepayments

-

15,000

2,118 Deferred tax assets

54,641

66,962

9,457 Intangible assets

17,000

17,000

2,401 Total non-current assets

1,567,589

1,557,464

219,956 Total assets

3,505,329

3,383,098

477,785













EQUITY AND LIABILITIES











Current Liabilities











Trade and other payables and

accruals

410,764

361,532

51,058 Amount due to a shareholder

10,557

-

- Taxation payable

982

-

- Bank borrowings

558,000

558,000

78,805 Total current liabilities

980,303

919,532

129,863













Deferred tax liabilities

85,150

84,453

11,927 Deferred income

6,106

5,907

834 Total non-current liabilities

91,256

90,360

12,761 Total liabilities

1,071,559

1,009,892

142,624













EQUITY











Share capital

136

136

19 Paid in capital

392,076

392,076

55,372 Reserves

2,041,558

1,980,994

279,770 Total equity attributable to owners

of the company

2,433,770

2,373,206

335,161 Total equity and liabilities

3,505,329

3,383,098

477,785

China Zenix Auto International Limited Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows For the three months ended March 31, 2020 (RMB and US$ amounts expressed in thousands)





Three Months Ended OPERATING ACTIVITIES March 31, 2020



RMB

'000

US$

'000 Loss before taxation (73,582)

(10,392) Adjustments for:







Depreciation of right-of-use assets 2,356

333

Depreciation of property plant and equipment 35,090

4,956

Release of deferred income (199)

(28)

Finance costs 5,985

845

Interest income (2,857)

(403) Operating cash flows before movements in working capital (33,207)

(4,689)









Increase in inventories (57,839)

(8,168) Decrease in trade and other receivables and prepayments 113,676

16,054 Decrease in trade and other payables and accruals (49,232)

(6,953) Cash used in operations (26,602)

(3,756) Interest received 2,981

421 PRC income tax paid (982)

(139) NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES (24,603)

(3,474) INVESTING ACTIVITIES





Placement of pledged bank deposits

(80,600)

(11,383) Withdrawal of pledged bank deposits

79,000

11,157 Placement of fixed bank deposits with maturity periods over three months (160,000)

(22,596) Withdrawal of fixed bank deposits with maturity periods over three months 160,000

22,596 NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES (1,600)

(226) FINANCING ACTIVITIES





New bank borrowings raised 340,000

48,017 Repayment of bank borrowings (340,000)

(48,017) Interest paid (5,985)

(845) Repayment to a shareholder

(10,557)

(1,491) NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES (16,542)

(2,336) NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (42,745)

(6,036) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year 906,840

128,070 Effect of foreign exchange rate changes (394)

(56) Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year 863,701

121,978













SOURCE China Zenix Auto International Limited

Related Links

http://www.zenixauto.com/en


In a statement, the Government confirmed that no more than six people can attend most indoor events while outdoor events are limited to 15 attendees.

However, museums, cinemas, theatres and art galleries can continue to hold 50 people under the new rules.

The Government said these venues are deemed to be controlled environments, with appropriate protective measures in place.

The confusion arose after the Department of Culture said on Wednesday that events in venues like cinemas, galleries and theatres, where there is physical distancing and controlled measures, can continue under current guidelines.

However, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly later contradicted this by saying that indoor concerts could not exceed six people from three different households.

This led to confusion, with the National Campaign for the Arts calling for the Department and the Government to provide better clarity about cultural events.

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In a statement from the Taoiseach's office on Thursday, a spokeswoman said: Following consultation with the Ministers of Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht and the Minister for Health, the following clarification applies to measures introduced with respect to the cultural sector:

Businesses/services such as museums, cinemas, theatres and art galleries are deemed to be controlled environments, with appropriate protective measures in place such as physical distancing between people.

These venues can continue to operate where appropriate physical distancing and all other protective measures can continue to be maintained. Individual groupings attending these venues must be limited to six people from no more than three households.

Overall attendance must adhere to an overall limit of 50 people.

All other indoor cultural events are subject to the six-person maximum rule. All outdoor events are subject to the new limits of 15.

These events are deemed as mass gatherings where there is a concentration of people at a specific location for a specific purpose over a set period of time.

These types of events provide opportunities for the virus to spread.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP)  The Trump administration gave final approval Monday for a contentious oil and gas leasing plan on the coastal plain of Alaskas Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, where critics worry about the industrys impact on polar bears, caribou and other wildlife.

The next step, barring lawsuits, will be the actual sale of leases. Development  should it occur  is still years away.

Environmentalists have promised to fight opening up the coastal plain, a 1.56-million acre swath of land along Alaskas northern Beaufort Sea coast after the Department of the Interior a...
PESHAWAR, Pakistan - A Pakistani man charged with the killing of a U.S. citizen inside a court in the countrys restive northwest has claimed he had an accomplice, a lawyer who managed to sneak the gun into the building and give it to him, the police said Thursday.

The American, Tahir Naseem, was gunned down in public last month in the city of Peshawar where he was on trial for blasphemy following his arrest two years ago after he had allegedly declared himself Islams prophet. Rights activists said Naseem was mentally challenged.

The U.S. State Department said Naseem had been lured to Pakistan from his home in Illinois and entrapped by the countrys controversial blasphemy law, which international rights groups have sought to have repealed.

His killer, Faisal Khan, was taken into custody on the spot and now claims he had an accomplice who was able to bring the gun inside the court undetected and give it to him, said police official Inamullah Khan. The police official is not related to the killer.

The alleged accomplice, Tufail Zia, who had no role in the proceedings against Naseem but as a lawyer was apparently able to bypass heavy security around the Peshawar courthouse, has also been arrested, the police official said. He is to remain in custody while police investigate Faisal Khans claim.

Within days of the fatal shooting, religious radicals throughout Pakistan demonstrated in support of the killer and praised his actions. Selfies surfaced online of members of Pakistans elite guards force seen smiling as they transported Khan for his arraignment court appearance  smiles that apparently are meant to show support for the killer.

The U.S. government has urged Pakistan to move quickly to investigate and prosecute Naseems killer.

Pakistans blasphemy law calls for the death penalty for anyone found guilty of insulting Islam. But in this deeply conservative Muslim country, a mere allegation of blasphemy can cause mobs to riot and vigilantes to take up arms and try to kill those accused. Any attempt to even amend the blasphemy law to make it more difficult to bring charges or abuse it has brought mobs out on the street.

The U.S. Commission on International Freedom also condemned Naseems killing and labelled Pakistan a country of particular concern in its 2020 report because of its treatment of minorities, which are increasingly under attack even as Prime Minister Imran Khan preaches a tolerant Pakistan.

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By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced a facility for virtual inspection of schools for "upgradation of affiliation" in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, an official said on Thursday.

These schools are "already affiliated with the board and due to natural growth of students in higher classes, the schools are facing hardship due to non-conduct of inspection", CBSE Secretary Anurag Tripathi said.

The virtual inspection will be done for "upgradation to secondary and senior secondary level for cases registered up to session 2021-22" and for this, fresh inspection committees will be formed, the official said.

It has been observed that "the physical inspection of schools, which have applied for upgradation of affiliation, has been held up due to the current COVID-19 situation, in which schools are not fully functional," Tripathi said.

"The inspection committees constituted to conduct the virtual inspection will be required to complete the inspection within 10 days positively," he said.

The board is setting up a facilitation centre to address queries, and problems of schools and inspection committees related to the virtual inspection.
There is a moment  at every wedding, bar mitzvah, 18th, 21st, 40th, 50th, 60th, and occasionally 70th birthday, and even Tory Party Conference  when the opening piano riff of ABBAs 1976 hit Dancing Queen triggers a stampede to the dance floor.

Drinks are abandoned. Chats are aborted mid-flow. The queue for the loo evaporates. Chairs are knocked over. Heavy-petting sessions are put on hold. Political rivalries are forgotten.

Before Frida Lyngstad and Agnetha Faltskog even start singing: You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life, the dance floor, marquee or sitting room carpet is rammed.

Everyone is dancing. Everyone knows the words  or, at least, their own version of the words. Everyone is grinning, throwing their best (if not always most stylish) moves and revelling in the catchy, nostalgic song.

There is a moment  at every wedding, bar mitzvah, 18th, 21st, 40th, 50th, 60th, and occasionally 70th birthday, and even Tory Party Conference  when the opening piano riff of ABBAs 1976 hit Dancing Queen triggers a stampede to the dance floor

So in many ways, the news this week that Dancing Queen has been voted greatest dance floor-filler of all time  beating Beyonce, Queen, Taylor Swift, the Bee Gees and even Dexys Midnight Runners Come On Eileen  came as no great surprise.

In fact, the only shock was that the formal recognition, thanks to a survey commissioned to mark the return of the Virgin Media V Festival this week, has taken so long.

Upon release, Dancing Queen became a monster hit. It sold more than three million copies; was the Swedish groups only U.S. number one; and propelled their fourth album, Arrival, skywards.

Everyone loved it, and they still do. The songs video has been watched more than 436 million times on YouTube.

Everyone from former Prime Minister Theresa May to Boris Johnsons partner Carrie Symonds  it was at her ABBA-themed 30th birthday party that Boris did his most energetic disco-dancing to catch her eye  to the late U.S. Senator John McCain, has counted it among their favourite tracks.

Her Majesty the (real) Queen is reportedly a fan, too. DJ Chris Evans says when it came on after a dinner party at Windsor Castle in 2008 she leapt up, despite being 82, to wiggle her hips and declared: I always try to dance when this comes on because I am the Queen and I like to dance!

But would our monarch be quite so keen to jiggle across her Persian rugs belting out You are the dancing queen / Young and sweet, only 17, had the song kept its original title of Boogaloo?

Or, for that matter, retained the rather less catchy verse which started: Baby, baby, youre out of sight / Hey, youre looking all right tonight? Who knows? It might not even have been a hit.

Dancing Queen was originally titled Boogaloo and its verse started Baby, baby, youre out of sight / Hey, youre looking all right tonight

The genesis came when Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson sat down together to write.

In the early days, this would happen in their cubbyhole of an office in Stockholm  or, as Bjorn described it, a very small room with a piano, a chair and a guitar.

He said: At least 95 per cent that came out was rubbish! It is the most important part of the creative process, to clear out that which wasnt agreeable.

But as Benny pointed out, sometimes they felt they were onto something. And if youre lucky  like with Dancing Queen  if you work hard, it comes out better than you would have imagined.

To begin with, Stig Anderson  ABBAs manager and the chap who came up with the new title  didnt rate it that highly.

In March 1976, both Dancing Queen and Fernando were ready for release, and he insisted Fernando was the one to put forward. It duly went to number one.

After Benny (right) and Bjorn (left) had written Dancing Queen, they had no idea it would be the greatest dance song ever

Meanwhile, Dancing Queen had to wait until August  even though studio engineer Michael B. Tretow had given the song, as he once put it, as much music as possible for the money, with added synthesisers, strings and a clavinet (an electrically amplified clavichord) to create the distinct dance-floor shimmer.

To be fair, after Benny and Bjorn had written Dancing Queen, they had no idea it would be the greatest dance song ever.

But Bennys then wife Frida Lyngstad (the brunette one) knew. When he took a demo tape home to play her, she burst into tears. She said she did so out of pure happiness that I would get to sing that song, which is absolutely the best song Abba have ever done.

Agnetha (the blonde) felt much the same way. Its often difficult to know what will be a hit. The exception was Dancing Queen. We knew it was going to be massive, she said. And, of course, it was.

Dancing Queen has been voted greatest dance floor-filler of all time  beating Beyonce, Queen, Taylor Swift, the Bee Gees and even Dexys Midnight Runners Come On Eileen  came as no great surprise

The live premiere was particularly apt. ABBA performed at a gala to celebrate the wedding of Swedens King Carl XVI to his queen, Silvia, in June 1976. Frida and Agnetha were dressed in Elizabethan-style hooped dresses and bonnets.

The groups outrageous stage outfits were actually part of a canny money-saving ruse. Under Swedish law, clothes were tax-deductible if their owners could prove they were not used for daily wear.

Within weeks, Dancing Queen was number one in the UK, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Germany and Zimbabwe.

Even so, no one could have predicted that for nearly half a century it would give joy to people of all sexes, ages, nationalities, classes, and even musical tastes.

Who can forget the Sex Pistols 1996 reunion show in Finsbury Park, North London, where the public-address system blasted out ABBAs Dancing Queen so all the punks could sneer  and instead they began singing along, word perfect?

While it may be tempting to dismiss Dancing Queen as nostalgic, feel-good cheese, musical experts hail the songs professionalism

Equally, no one could have foreseen the boost the song would receive from Mamma Mia!, the musical created by Judy Craymer.

Judy is working on the third Mamma Mia! film and insists that, even if she made 55, shed include Dancing Queen in every one.

It is in everyones DNA, she says. It is such an important pop song. Its a glorious melody with glorious harmonies. Its got an incredible alchemy, and gives an endorphin high to anyone who listens. There is a huge wink in the title. Every diversity claims it as their own  it pulls in everyone.

While some bands have a tendency to become snooty when asked about their biggest hits, ABBA is not among them. In fact, privately, the members still pop on Dancing Queen and dance.

Judy Craymer recalls a wedding anniversary party for Bjorn before the stage show opened in 1999. Dancing Queen came on and the party erupted on to the dance floor.

Everyone from former Prime Minister Theresa May to Boris Johnsons partner Carrie Symonds  it was at her ABBA-themed 30th birthday party that Boris did his most energetic disco-dancing to catch her eye  to the late U.S. Senator John McCain, has counted it among their favourite tracks

DJ Pete Waterman, too, said: Whenever I lost the floor, I stuck Dancing Queen on.

Is it just a great toe-tapping song, or does it have an ingredient that people simply cant resist?

Some claim its the lyrics, which combine the joyful compulsion to dance with wistful memories of a lost youth.

Others think there may be something about the chorus, with two women singing in unison and creating an impulse to sing along.

And while it may be tempting to dismiss Dancing Queen as nostalgic, feel-good cheese, musical experts hail the songs professionalism. They rave about its sincerity and musicality, its production standards. They say it has echoes of Elton John, The Beatles and the Bee Gees, and has inspired everyone from Blondie to Elvis Costello.

Most of us, though  including the Queen  just think its a bloody good song. Even if we havent all quite mastered the lyrics.

Because, as well as the most danced-to, Dancing Queen is also one of the most misheard songs of all time, with one in ten fans feeling the beat from the tangerine instead of tambourine, and others singing Chicken the Dancing Queen instead of Digging the Dancing Queen. Which, some might say, detracts slightly from the romance of it all.

But then again, does it really matter, when youre up out of your chair, in the mood for a dance and, once again, feeling young and sweet, only 17?
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said the county will allocate $15.2 million of its federal CARES Act stimulus money to offset school reopening costs related to the Covid-19 health crisis.

The money will support public and publicly funded charter schools and be distributed based on student population. Every public school will receive $100 per student, and schools will receive an additional $50 for students considered poor enough to qualify for free meals.

That means county grants would range from $100,900 for the Holland school district to nearly $4.4 million for the Buffalo Public Schools. The Williamsville school district will receive the second highest amount at $1 million.

"This is an example of how, working together, we can create a better community for all," Poloncarz said in his Facebook Live announcement.

The $2 trillion CARES Act, passed by Congress and signed by President Trump in late March, allocated $150 billion to local governments as part of the Coronavirus Relief Fund. Of that amount, $160.3 million was earmarked for Erie County.
Two suspected thugs were Monday subjected to deadly mob justice at Valley Arcade in Nairobis Kilimani area.

According to media reports, the suspects, who were operating using a motorbike, were cornered when they tried to steal from workers at a construction site.

Daily Nation reports that according to a police statement, the two robbers were cornered by the construction workers who had noticed that they were losing valuables when they were busy with work.

We usually leave our clothes and other valuable items at one point, the robbers have been fond of stealing from the workers until when they were cornered, a witness reportedly said.

The mob is said to have stoned the suspects to death, with disturbing images showing the two naked bodies lying in a pool of blood next to big construction blocks.

Confirming the incident, Nairobi County police boss Rashid Yakubu warned armed robbers who operate using motorbikes that their days were numbered.

Additionally, members of the public should also not take the law into their own hands, he said.

The bodies were later picked by police officers who took them to City Mortuary.
Franklin Templeton is limiting fresh investments in three of its fund of funds (FoF). These FoFs had invested in two of the six debt funds the AMC is in the process of winding up, with the case still pending in the courts. Investors can buy units for not more than Rs 2 lakh a day in Franklin India Dynamic Asset Allocation (FIDA), Rs 1 lakh in Franklin India Multi Asset Solution (FIMAS), Rs 50,000 in the 20s Plan and 40s Plan of Franklin India Life stage (FILS) and Rs 25,000 in the 30s Plan and 50s Plus Plan of Franklin India Life Stage.

Restricted purchases

This limit has been applicable from August 18 on all fresh and additional purchases  lump-sums, SIPs or STPs. The limits are imposed for purchases across investor folios and plans of schemes based on the Permanent Account Number of the investor. Existing SIPs and STPs will not be affected, nor is redemption from these schemes restricted. Earlier, these schemes did not have any upper limit on investments.

In limiting inflows into the FoFs, our attempt is to gate any arbitrage opportunities available to new investors while protecting interest of existing investors, said a spokesperson from Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund.

The FoFs in question were affected severely after Franklin Templeton announced the winding up of six of its bond funds on April 23, 2020. Net asset values were marked down by half, effective April 24, 2020 to reflect illiquidity in the underlying schemes. FIDA and FIMAS invested in Franklin India Short Term Income Plan whereas FILS invested in Franklin Dynamic Accrual Fund, both of which are lined up for winding up proceedings. Investors have approached the court of law and the matter is sub-judice.

In the interim period, the fund house has informed investors that some of the schemes in question are receiving their dues, which are being used to repay their loans and turning cash positive. As per update shared on August 14, Franklin Dynamic Accrual Fund is cash positive, whereas the loans in Franklin India Short Term Income Plan stand reduced to 23 per cent from 26 per cent as on July 31.

Arbitrage opportunity

If the fund house gets approval for repaying the investors and the schemes receive cash by selling bonds, then there is an arbitrage for investors. In such a case, the fund house may revise the net asset value of the FoF upward for it to reflect the liquidity of the underlying schemes.

Joydeep Sen, founder of wiseinvestor.in calls the move to put a limit on purchases logical from the perspective of the Mutual Fund. The number of people taking an opportunistic advantage of the lower NAVs and gradual cash surplus in the underlying funds would not be too many as sentiments are disturbed about Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund, Sen says. Having said that, the mutual fund should not look at these aspects, but should do what is right i.e. capping the purchases, he adds.

There is no limit on investments in FILS  50s Plus Floating Rate Plan since this scheme has no investments in the schemes getting wound up. The limits imposed on fresh investments in other FoFs may be changed by the trustees of the fund house in future.
Mumbai, Aug 20 : A day after the Supreme Court ordered a CBI probe into the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, an SIT of the Central Bureau of Investigation arrived in Mumbai to initiate the probe.

A source in the CBI said that the special investigation team (SIT) comprising three officers led by Superintendent of Police (SP) Nupur Prasad along with 12 experts from the CFSL, Delhi, arrived here on Thursday evening.

The source said the agency officials will collect the documents from the Mumbai Police and meet the investigation officer, who handled the Sushant case.

The officers are likely to visit Sushant's residence in Bandra where he was found dead on June 14 and also call the first five persons who reached his flat after the actor's death for questioning.

The agency will also speak to the team of doctors, which conducted the autopsy on the late actor. The CFSL experts will also examine the flat of the late actor and recreate the scene of Sushant's death.

If required the team will also speak to the Mumbai Police DCP, with whom the family of Sushant shared a WhatsApp message in February this year citing threat to Sushant's life.

The source further said that the agency will ask for the call detail records of Sushant, his girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty and others.

The team is also likely to meet Sushant's sister Mitu Singh to gather more information.

The source further said that the agency will also seek the details of the case from the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The CBI on August 6 had taken over the probe into the death of the 34-year-old actor on the orders of the Central government after the Bihar government recommended for a central agency probe.

The CBI has registered a case against Rhea Chakraborty, her father Indrajit, mother Sandhya, brother Showik, Sushant's ex-manager Shruti Modi and flatmate Samuel Miranda and unknown persons on the basis of his father K.K. Singh's complaint, which was filed with the Bihar Police on July 25.

Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery
Charlie Winn is the Republican nominee for the United States Congress in Colorado's 2nd district. He is also a retired Navy veteran and physician. Kelsey Grant is a senior at the University of Colorado - Boulder.






Eric is no doubt among the best...We are inspired by his commitment to preparing and empowering his students to become tomorrows activists, leaders, and changemakers.

Eric Crouch, a fifth grade teacher at Double Churches Elementary School in Columbus, GA, has been selected as the Grand Prize Winner for the 2019-2020 national LifeChanger of the Year award.

Nominated by his school principal, Crouch earned the national Grand Prize--which includes a $10,000 cash prize--for his ability to connect students to their passions and empower them to make a difference. He was chosen for the award out of more than 850 nominated teachers, administrators and school district employees from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Mr. Crouch teaches his students and colleagues that the world is their community. He has found his gift, and that gift is connecting students to their passions and giving them a space and a voice to make a difference in the world, said Paula Shaw-Powell, principal, Double Churches Elementary School. Love first, teach second, we are all here to help one another, and the whole world belongs to each of us, these are just a few of the many things you will hear Mr. Crouch saying through the hallways of Double Churches.

Crouch was moved to become an educator after his own struggles in school due to attention issues. As a result of his experiences, he made it his mission to engage his students and give each of them equal opportunity to discover their passions and use them as a vehicle for achievement. To that end, he uses a variety of methods to help his students enthusiasm take off, including a Project-Based Learning model in his classroom that encourages innovation and creativity.

He also encourages his students to channel their passions into serving the community and making a difference. When Hurricane Michael devastated a nearby community in 2016, he and a few of his students immediately took action. They traveled to Bay County, Florida, to interview teachers and other individuals impacted by the hurricane, and create a documentary to spread awareness for the thousands of families who had been displaced. After being shared by thousands on social media, the documentary drove close to two million dollars in donations to Bay County School District.

Crouchs community work with his students has made a global impact. As a Skype Master Teacher, he leads his classes to engage in Skype collaborations with students from around the world.

When his students connected to HIP Academy in Kenya for a cultural learning exchange, it soon became clear that there was much more they could contribute. Together, they founded a 3D-printing non-profit and raised thousands of dollars to build a school in Kimilili. With the success of this project, Crouchs students also donated 10 iPads to the students at HIP so they could create an iPad lab for the school.

He also encouraged his students to experiment with their own 3D-printing projects, such as creating 3D prosthetics for pets and working with engineers to create robotic stuffed animals to teach students how to communicate their social and emotional needs.

Weve all been reminded of the importance of our teachers during these times, said Mehran Assadi, CEO and President of National Life Group. Eric is no doubt among the best of these selfless educators. We are inspired by his commitment to preparing and empowering his students to become tomorrows activists, leaders, and changemakers.

About LifeChanger of the Year

LifeChanger of the Year is an annual program sponsored by the National Life Group Foundation that recognizes and rewards outstanding K-12 educators and school district employees who have demonstrated a proven ability to make a beneficial difference in the lives of students.

LifeChanger of the Year winners are selected by an independent committee comprised of past winners and education professionals. To be considered for a LifeChanger of the Year award, nominees must:



Make a positive impact in the lives of students

Enhance their school or districts atmosphere, culture and pride

Demonstrate exemplary leadership at the school and/or district level

Possess a proven record of professional excellence

Show commitment to building a nurturing environment that supports learning

Adhere to the highest moral and ethical standards

In addition to Crouch, four other educators from across the country were recognized as 2019-20 LifeChanger of the Year Grand Prize Finalists. Each Finalist received a $2,500 cash reward with a matching $2,500 donation made to their schools.

Keil Hileman - Social Studies Teacher

Monticello Trails Middle School

Shawnee, KS

Kathy Kish - Principal

Indian Woods Elementary School

Kimball, MI

Candace Printz - Assistant Director of Fine Arts

Socorro ISD

El Paso, TX

Pren Woods - Seventh Grade World History Teacher

Alston Middle School

Summerville, SC

Twelve additional cash awards were given out to LifeChanger of the Year winners from California, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and South Carolina.

To learn more about Eric Crouch, visit: https://nationallife.wistia.com/medias/ez8ofxbz2p.

For a complete listing of this years LifeChanger of the Year winners, visit:

https://www.lifechangeroftheyear.com/201920-winners.

National Life Group is a trade name of National Life Insurance Company, Montpelier, VT, Life Insurance Company of the Southwest (LSW), Addison, TX and their affiliates. Each company of National Life Group is solely responsible for its own financial condition and contractual obligations. LSW is not an authorized insurer in New York and does not conduct insurance business in New York.

In Texas, due to regulatory concerns, National Life Group will donate similar items to the winner or a nonprofit group of NLGroups choice that supports the winners school.

TC112689(0220)P
Toronto resident Judy Lis situation is emblematic of the crisis hounding Canadas women workers: Ever since the coronavirus broke out, shes lost her restaurant job, and shes working only a few hours every week as a temp at a transportation company.

The shift from CERB to EI will cut down her monthly aid check to just $1,000, The Toronto Star reported.

Its not enough, Li said. To live in Toronto is a huge cost.

These results followed the July release of a survey of more than 1,400 people by the Workers Action Centre in Toronto. The study found that around 45% were unemployed at the time, while 16% were on part-time employment.

The incredible stress and fear of what was going to happen to people in their families from the uncertainty really seep through many of the comments, said Mary Gellatly of Parkdale Community Legal Services, which analyzed the survey results. Even for people who were able to get by on CERB amounts, a number of people pointed out that they have no savings left.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., endorsed Rep. Joe Kennedy on Thursday in the increasingly bitter Senate Democratic primary in Massachusetts, abandoning her longtime ally Sen. Edward Markey a few days after he lodged attacks on the iconic family dynasty.

Pelosi cited Kennedy's hard work in campaigning for many of the Democrats who won in 2018, flipping the majority and returning her to the job of speaker, but she also cited her own family's close ties to the Kennedys, including her father's role running the Maryland campaign for John F. Kennedy's presidential bid in 1960

. "I became close to the Kennedy family from then on," she said in an exclusive interview with The Washington Post Live team, noting that she previously served in the House with Joe Kennedy's father and his cousin, former Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I.

Pelosi said that Markey's campaign had crossed a hallowed line by running a negative campaign against the Kennedy dynasty.

"I wasn't too happy with some of the assault that I saw made on the Kennedy family," she told The Post's opinion columnist Karen Tumulty, "and I thought, Joe didn't ask me to endorse him, but I felt an imperative to do so."

In an official statement, Pelosi, 80, signaled that it was time for a new crop of leaders who would represent "this party's future," a shot at Markey, 74, who has been in Congress for 44 years.

Kennedy, 39, serving his fourth House term, was just a couple months old when Markey was sworn into his third term in Congress in 1981.

At a campaign stop Thursday, Markey declined to criticize Pelosi for endorsing his rival.

"Nancy Pelosi is a great leader for our country," Markey said after an appearance in Worcester, Mass., before boarding his campaign bus.

Later, he issued a statement praising his friend Pelosi. "Any candidate would be proud to have her endorsement. I congratulate Joe Kennedy," he said.

The primary is Sept. 1, with the winner expected to coast to victory in the heavily Democratic state in the general election.

From her first days in Congress, back in 1987, Pelosi allied herself with Markey and a crop of rising Democratic stars who were agitating for greater power within a House that was still run by old, powerful committee chairmen.

When she finally first became House speaker, Pelosi undercut one of those "old bulls," then-Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., by creating a special committee on climate change because she believed Dingell was too friendly with the auto industry. She named Markey as its chair.

In 2013, Markey followed other friends of the 1980s House clique, such as Sens. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Richard Durbin, D-Ill., into the Senate.

But by early 2019, realizing he was headed for a potentially tough primary as an older white man in an increasingly diverse party, Markey drew an alliance with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., over climate legislation that they called the Green New Deal.

Pelosi had long considered the environment a cornerstone issue of her time as speaker but has been dismissive of their proposal for lacking concrete legislation that can be implemented into law.

Ocasio-Cortez, who has broken ranks with Pelosi to endorse primary challengers this year to incumbent Democrats, lashed out on Twitter over the speaker's decision to buck an incumbent in a Senate race.

"No one gets to complain about primary challenges again," she tweeted, noting that Pelosi supported cutting off financial ties to firms that worked against House Democratic incumbents in primaries.

Still, as this Senate race drew more contested, Pelosi remained neutral, actually donating to both the Markey and Kennedy campaigns.

In recent days, however, Markey has tried to run as the insurgent candidate, channeling support and energy from Ocasio-Cortez, who rose to fame with a stunning upset of 20-year incumbent Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y., in the 2018 primaries.

Markey released a powerful three-minute web video that, according to a Pelosi aide, the speaker took as an attack on the Kennedy family and its storied place in Democratic politics.

In the video, Markey turned John F. Kennedy's famous 1961 inaugural address inside out.

"With all due respect, it's time to start asking what your country can do for you," Markey said.

Earlier this week Kennedy stood with local Black leaders in Boston and, for more than eight minutes, delivered an impassioned defense of his family's legacy and cited votes from Markey's early years in Congress that do not comport with today's Democratic Party, including voting with Republicans in 1981 on a tax amendment that was considered a proxy for opposing interracial marriage.

"Senator Markey is trying to convince you that he is going to do something different in the next six years than he has done in the last 47, he's asking you to trust that he can lead a movement that he has never been a part of. He's telling you that he deserves a mantle that he has not earned," Kennedy said at the news conference.

Public polls, which initially gave Kennedy a large lead, have shown Markey surging, possibly to a narrow lead.

- - -

The Washington Post's Dave Weigel in Worcester, Mass., contributed to this report.
Chi Chi DeVayne, who appeared on the eighth season of RuPauls Drag Race, has died at the age of 34.

DeVayne, whose real name was Zavion Davenport, revealed in early August that she had been diagnosed with pneumonia following a lung infection. After initially being discharged from hospital in July, she was readmitted on 16 August.

In a video posted to her Instagram Story from her hospital bed, Davenport asked fans to pray for her.

Davenports death was confirmed by World of Wonder, the production company behind Drag Race. They tweeted: Were heartbroken to learn that Chi Chi DeVayne has passed away today. Her drag spread a message of love and kindness that truly touched each person she met. Rest in power, Chi Chi.

A number of Drag Race stars and figures in LGBTQ+ media have expressed their grief.

Recommended The celebrities who died in 2020

Shea Coulee, who recently won the fifth season of Drag Race All-Stars, tweeted: Im literally so devastated and sik to my stomach. Wake me up when its all over.

Season one alumni Ongina wrote: Rest in Power Angel! Seriously one of the nicest people Ive ever met. Zavion Davenport Chi Chi DeVayne we will miss you!

Season seven finalist Kennedy Davenport tweeted: Im so num right now my heart is broken into peaces.. I couldnt even got see her. I love you always chichi. My dancing angel.

Farrah Moan tweeted: Chichi was hands down one of my favorite queens to work with. I first met her right after filming s9. We smoked the fattest blunt & she gave me amazing advice Ill never forget. All my memories with her from the Xmas tours will be in my heart forever. Rest in power sweet angel.

Drag Race star Chi Chi DeVayne at an event in 2016 (Santiago Felipe/Getty Images)

Baga Chipz, who competed on RuPauls Drag Race UK in 2019, wrote: Chi Chi was so kind to me. At a time I was really low. Im just sat here in tears. R.I.P you beautiful angel.

Louisiana native Davenport placed fourth on the eighth season of Drag Race in 2016, and spoke of the experience changing everything in [her] life.

She would perform and tour in the years after, before returning to Drag Race for its third All Stars season, where she placed seventh.
The body of missing Belfast priest Fr Stephen Rooney (66) has been found.

The clergyman, who had been a priest in the USA for thirty years, went missing after a boating accident in the Detroit River.

The incident occurred near Grosse Ile, an island between Michigan and Ontario, Canada.

Its understood the priest was on board a speedboat which hit a rock in the river and overturned.

Ten people were rescued, three of them children. Another man, Robert Chiles, also died in the accident.

Fr Rooney , who came originally from Belfasts Short Strand area, was a a pastor at St Joseph's parish in Trenton in the Diocese of Detroit, and regularly return to Ireland to visit his family.

His brother Pilib O Ruanaidh told RTE News the family has been notified that the body has been discovered.

The Belfast priest's home parish of St Matthew's asked for prayers from parishioners on social media, as had the Passionist community at Tobar Mhuire, Crossgar, where Fr Rooney had spent time at the star of his training for the priesthood.

Parishioner, Tricia Mohr said of Fr Rooney: He always made you laugh. He served God with such joy. He was a great guy.
New Delhi, Aug 20 : In his trademark braggart style, Pakistan Federal Minister Sheikh Rashid has threatened India with nuclear war once again, saying the weapons will be such that they will save the Muslims during the attack.

In an interview with Pakistani media channel Samaa TV on Wednesday, Rashid claimed that Pakistan has very precise weapons which are "small and perfect".

The Pakistan minister, who's known for his bragging style and outlandish remarks, also said that the weapons will only target certain regions and even Assam can now come under their range of attack.

Rashid warned that Pakistan will have no option in a conventional war and "if something will happen, it will be the end", indicating a nuclear war of mass destruction.

"If Pakistan gets attacked by India, there is no scope for conventional war. This will be a bloody and nuclear war. It will be a nuclear war for sure. We have very calculated weapons which are small and perfect. Our weapons will save Muslim lives and will only target certain regions. Pakistan's range now even includes Assam. Pakistan has no option in conventional war; therefore India knows if something happens, it will be the end," Rashid said in the interview.

Off and on, the Pakistan leadership has threatened nuclear war against India citing the logic of it not being a match in conventional warfare. In 2019, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan spoke about nuclear war with India on several occasions.

In the same year, Rashid had claimed that his country possessed "125-250 gm atom bombs" which may hit a targeted area in India.
As the coronavirus outbreak has made its way around the world, the way we live, work and learn has changed dramatically. In a bid to prevent the spread of the virus, workplaces, social venues and educational institutions have been closed for long periods of time.

Fortunately, technology has enabled many organisations to remain operational, even in the face of an unprecedented global pandemic. Virtual workspaces, video conferencing and online learning platforms have ensured that companies can continue to function, people can remain in contact with loved ones, and students can continue their education.

Online learning, in particular, has grown exponentially in recent months. Schools across the world have used virtual classrooms to give students access to a unique learning environment. In addition to this, universities and colleges have set up more comprehensive online learning facilities to ensure that people can continue with their studies.

Lockdown Sees Increased Demand for Online Courses

The increasing use of virtual classrooms and online learning facilities hasn't only been beneficial for students that were enrolled in school, college or university prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. As lockdown restrictions were imposed in many countries, people were looking for constructive ways to spend their time at home.

For many, this meant enrolling in online courses and programs. From informal learning on video sharing sites, like YouTube, to formal education from prestigious universities, there has been an increased demand for online learning opportunities.

Although lockdown restrictions are now being eased in many regions, social distancing requirements mean that learning in a traditional classroom environment is still tricky. In an attempt to reduce the risk of a second wave of the virus, many educational institutions are continuing to hold lectures and host seminars online, rather than face-to-face.

However, concern regarding COVID-19 is not the only reason why schools, colleges and universities are expanding their online learning facilities. Even prior to the spread of coronavirus, there was a growing demand for reputable online courses. Now that more people have had the opportunity to experience the benefits of online learning, it's highly likely that they will want to continue to further their education in this way.

What Are the Benefits of Online Learning?

Studying online offers a wide range of benefits, particularly in comparison to traditional methods of learning. These include:

Flexibility

Many people who are enrolled in further education continue to work full-time while studying. The flexibility associated with an online master's degree UK ensures that students can frame their studies around their existing commitments. Furthermore, there is no need for students to relocate to a specific area in order to obtain a degree from a top university.

Lower Costs

Obtaining a degree or a professional qualification used to be a costly process. In addition to paying tuition fees, students typically had to fund accommodation close to their place of learning. Furthermore, most people were required to give up their jobs or scale back their working hours in order to attend face-to-face classes. The fees associated with online learning are far lower than the costs of traditional courses. This, combined with the increased flexibility, means that people can complete their studies without excessive expenditure.

Self-Paced Learning

When you study online, there is typically more opportunity to complete your course at your own pace. Students find this beneficial at any time, but this is likely to be a particular draw in the aftermath of COVID-19. With many industries severely affected by the outbreak, a significant number of people will experience professional upheavals in upcoming months.

The uncertainty surrounding how organisations will bounce back from the impact of COVID-19 means that many people are reluctant to enrol in long-term courses that tie them to a particular area or a specific timeframe. The self-paced nature of online learning ensures that students can fit their studies around other responsibilities and create a schedule that fits with their changing needs.

Becoming an Online Learner

As more educational organisations embrace online learning, even primary and secondary school students are becoming accustomed to virtual classrooms. With some of the top universities in the UK already offering online degree courses, it's clear that there is a growing trend towards virtual learning.

If you want to broaden your horizons, achieve your professional ambitions and increase your employability, becoming an online learner could be a top priority. With the potential to enhance your earning power and climb the career ladder, enrolling in an online course from a reputable provider might just be the best step you can take.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Governor Wanda Vazquez placed Puerto Rico on a 24-hour lockdown every Sunday as part of stricter measures to fight a spike in coronavirus cases.

Gyms, theaters and bars will remain closed and only restaurants with outdoor areas will be allowed to seat people, but at 25 percent capacity, Vazquez announced Wednesday.

Any business not adhering to the new guidelines will be shut down for a month.

The United State territory of 3.2 million people has reported 12,452 confirmed cases and 356 deaths, including a 19-year-old woman in the eastern region of Fajardo. At least 362 people are hospitalized.

The island's new measures go into effect Saturday and will remain in place until September 11. The use of face masks remain mandatory.

Governor Wanda Vazquez (pictured June 30, 2020) announced Wednesday that she will place Puerto Rico on a 24-hour lockdown every Sunday as part of stricter measures to fight a spike in COVID-19 cases. The United States territory has reported 12,452 confirmed cases and 356 deaths

A lab technician inserts a swab into a resident's nose as part of the test for coronavirus, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on July 24, 2020

A volunteer prepares to drop hand sanitizer on a voter's hands before he casts his ballot in Loiza, Puerto Rico, on August 16, 2020

Governor Vazquez said beaches will remain open only to those doing exercise such as runners and surfers, and businesses, malls and banks will be allowed to operate at only 25 percent capacity.

'We have to adjust to living in a new reality,' Vazquez said, blaming the jump in cases on 'careless' people.

Vazquez also said it remains to be seen whether in-person classes at public schools will start in mid-September as scheduled.

'We are approaching a terrible autumn,' she said.

A 10pm to 5am curfew remains in place from Monday to Saturday. Residents will only allowed to leave their homes on Sundays if they are going to pharmacies, grocery stores, hospitals or medical appointments.

Churches, synagogues, mosques and other places of worship will be allowed to open seven days a week, but must adhere to social distancing measures

The announcement was welcomed by health experts, but many said the new measures should have been implemented last week as cases continue to soar, registering between 300-400 news infections a day.

Among those who have tested positive is Carlos Mendez, president of Puerto Rico's House of Representatives.

A 24-hour record of 644 cases were reported August 4, Dr. Jose Rodriguez Orengo with the Puerto Rico Public Health Trust told The Associated Press.

Carlos Mendez, president of Puerto Rico's House of Representatives, tested positive for the coronavirus Tuesday

Laboratory technicians package coronavirus tests in plastic bags at a clinic in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on July 24, 2020

A volunteer assists voters by handing out hand sanitizer in Loiza, Puerto Rico, on August 16, 2020

'It was a number we had never before seen,' he said. 'This pandemic is still on the rise.'

However, Rodriguez noted Puerto Rico is not yet reporting worrisome numbers of people in intensive care units or on respirators, which he said reflects the fact that 80 percent of people who have been infected are younger than 60.

He blamed the spike in cases on people coming from the U.S. mainland to visit family and friends, a lack of a robust contact tracing system and a weak educational campaign.

'At one point, we had the virus under control. Now the virus has us under its control,' he said.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Sao Paulo, Brazil  Thu, August 20, 2020 12:01 517 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066f439a1 2 Environment actor,Brazil,Amazon,Leonardo-DiCaprio,rainforest,environment,climate,Hamilton-Mourao Free

Brazilian Vice President Hamilton Mourao challenged actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio Wednesday to an eight-hour hike in the Amazon, saying he wanted to show the Hollywood star the rainforest is not actually burning.

Mourao, who heads President Jair Bolsonaro's task force on fighting deforestation, took issue with DiCaprio reposting an Instagram video from The Guardian newspaper with images of the world's biggest rainforest in flames.

"I'd like to invite our most recent critic, the actor Leonardo DiCaprio, to come with me to Sao Gabriel da Cachoeira (in northern Brazil) and walk eight hours through the jungle," Mourao said at an event on sustainable development in the Amazon organized by the National Industrial Confederation (CNI).

"He'll get a better understanding of how things work in this immense region."

DiCaprio, an outspoken environmentalist, shared The Guardian's post on his own Instagram account Friday.

The accompanying caption cited satellite data from Brazil's space agency, INPE, showing the number of fires in the Brazilian Amazon in July increased 28 percent year-on-year, with early numbers for August also showing an increase.

"Brazil's president, Jair Bolsonaro, is under pressure internationally to curb the fires, but he has publicly doubted the severity of them in the past claiming opponents and indigenous communities were responsible," said the post.

Bolsonaro has faced international condemnation for presiding over rising deforestation and huge fires in the Amazon last year.

Read also: Brazil's president accuses actor DiCaprio of paying to burn the Amazon

The far-right leader has downplayed the issue, saying last week that "this story that the Amazon is burning is a lie."

But he is also keen to avoid a repeat of last year's international outcry.

In July, he decreed a 120-day ban on the agricultural fires used by farmers and ranchers to clear their fields with the slash-and-burn method -- the main cause of fires in the Amazon, according to experts.

And he has deployed the army to the region ahead of this year's fire season, which is getting under way.

Mourao claims the policies are working.

He was quick to play up the fact that deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon decreased 36 percent in July 2020 from the record level of July 2019.

However, the same data also show that deforestation increased 34.5 percent year-on-year in the 12 months through July.
Nicholas French, 21, has been charged with a dozen felonies for allegedly having separate sexual relationships with 13-year-old twin girls

A 21-year-old Florida man has been charged with a dozen felonies for having what law enforcement officials have described as separate sexual relationships with 13-year-old twin sisters.

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office said in a press release that detectives launched an investigation on August 5 when one of the alleged victims, now aged 15, reported having a sexual relationship with 21-year-old Nicholas French beginning in early 2018.

According to the statement, detectives learned that French, then aged 18, also began a separate sexual relationship with the victims twin sister around the same time.

French reportedly communicated with the teenage girls through social media, asked them for sexually explicit photos and used a ride-share service to transport them to his house.

French allegedly used a ride-share service to transport the minors to his Sarasota home (pictured) for sex, including as recently as July

Last Friday, detectives executed a search warrant at French's home in the 6700 block of Approach Road in Sarasota and took him into custody.

During the search, forensic staff recovered evidence corroborating the allegations, according to the sheriff's office.

A probable cause affidavit obtained by the DailyMail.com stated that one of the twins told police that her relationship with French lasted between April 2018 and July of this year, and involved oral sex, digital penetration and intercourse.

French's past record includes a 2018 arrest on a charge lewd of lascivious battery, which was later amended to two counts of child abuse

Their encounters took place at French's home, in the victim's bedroom and in the man's car parked at a mall, according to the document.

Last month, the girl said French sent a Lyft to bring her to his home and had sex with her, even though she told him she was on her period.

According to the affidavit, the encounter left a bloodstain on the floor of a circular room in French's house.

When members of the sheriff's office Special Victims Unit later arrived at the residence to execute the search warrant, they walked into the circular room as described by the alleged victim and 'confirmed the presence of blood' on the floor.

French's 19-year-old girlfriend told investigators that when she asked her boyfriend about the blood, she said he told her he had sex with 'a female prior to their relationship and she bled on the floor.'

French was booked into the Sarasota County Jail on 11 counts of lewd of lascivious battery of a victim 12 to 16 years old, and a single count of violation of probation.

His past record includes a 2018 arrest on a charge lewd of lascivious battery, which was later amended to two counts of child abuse as part of a plea agreement.

French is being held without bond pending his arraignment scheduled for September 25.
A type of mask distributed to dentists in Luxembourg has been withdrawn due to not meeting European hygiene and safety conditions.

The Ministry of Health issued a notice on Tuesday confirming at least one type of FFP2 mask distributed to dentists did not conform to regulations and should be withdrawn from use. RTL was able to view the missive sent to dentists in the Grand Duchy.

Reckruff vun FFP2-Masken / Reportage Pierre Jans

For day-to-day safety, single-use paper masks are sufficient. For those in professions which require face-to-face contact with clients, FFP2 masks are recommended as these are capable of filtering 94% of particles, and offer protection to vulnerable people.

The model withdrawn from the market did not pass filtration tests. This is not the first time masks have been withdrawn in Luxembourg.

Alain de Bourcy, President of Luxembourg's syndicate of pharmacists, explained the masks were not necessarily a risk for the wearer, but did not conform to regulations and could therefore not be reliably used. He said vulnerable people relied on PPE meeting regulations and did not deserve to be deceived.

The masks are Chinese-made, and industry norms in China are often subjected to fewer quality assurance checks. Luxembourg's Institute for Standardisation, Accreditation, Safety and Quality of Products and Services (Ilnas) therefore carries out additional testing to ensure products imported from outside Europe meet EU standards. Unfortunately, these tests are frequently only feasible once the items have arrived in the country, which can cause issues. De Bourcy deplored the fact that such a delay had occurred in testing the FFP2 masks.

Video report in Luxembourgish:#

There are currently no official lists to identify conforming products ahead of purchase. Pharmacies are therefore reliant on their suppliers to carry out the necessary testing. In theory, masks sold at stores or pharmacies should conform to regulations. However, de Bourcy emphasised the need to pay attention to potential recalls, just in case.
Niagara Region Public Health has been given the go-ahead to hire about 16 nurses to help schools open as safely as possible next month.

Dr. Mustafa Hirji, acting medical officer of health for Niagara Region, said public health nurses are being hired immediately so they can be ready for several roles when school starts in less than three weeks.

The most important role is, of course, working proactively with schools to prevent illness and infection, Hirji said Wednesday as Niagara reported six new cases of COVID-19.

Hirji said the public health nurses will also be following up and working with schools if there are cases or outbreaks there.

Its also expected they will help out in public healths COVID-19 call centre answering any school-related questions that come up.

The province announced July 30 it will spend $50 million to hire up to 500 additional nurses in public health units to provide supports to schools and boards. The move is part of Ontarios plan for reopening schools  which have been closed since March break due to the pandemic  for in-person classes in September.

Hirji said Niagara has been advised by the province that it will receive funding for about 16 full-time nurses and hes hopeful the positions can be filled quickly.

During the pandemic, the public health unit increased its pool of casual nurses, some of whom were new graduates. Theyve been working part time on the COVID-19 info-line answering questions from the public and supporting the team that does case management contact tracing and managing outbreaks, to a lesser extent.

Were actually hoping that perhaps some of them will chose to become full-time nurses and work for us, Hirji said.

The public health agency is advertising for the new positions through multiple channels.

The nurses will be engaged with all of Niagaras elementary and secondary schools, of which District School Board of Niagara and Niagara Catholic District School Board alone have more than 150.

Hirji said public health is still determining how the nurses will be allocated and whether they will be assigned several schools each or if they will take a team approach.

The key part of what theyll do is proactive work to prevent infections, he said. Theyll be going into schools, seeing how things are set up, observing where challenges are in keeping physical distances, ensuring children routinely use hand sanitizer and giving feedback and advice.

Theyll be training staff and students on everyday practices they can adopt to ensure they stay healthy and emphasize why its important for everyone to be practising the behaviours.

Hirji said the work builds on what public health is already doing in schools.

Niagara has a school program with nurses that follows the World Health Organizations comprehensive school health model. Hirji said the basic idea is to try to make a school a place thats going to promote health, both at the school itself and by building skills for the long term.

This is really adding to the work we do with that model to add a stronger component of infection prevention, he said.

Staying safe from infections is part of that healthy school approach.

Niagara has had 925 cases of COVID-19 since March 13. Of those, 822 people have recovered and at least 64 have died. There are 39 people currently sick with the virus.

Of the six new cases reported Wednesday, four were from contacts with previously known cases and two were from essential travel to the U.S.

A case reported on Tuesday that had an unknown source has also been linked to travel to the U.S.
The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday joined a chorus of international voices pressing for a return to civilian rule in Mali after Tuesday's coup, as an army officer declared himself leader of the mutinying soldiers.

Troops should "return to their barracks without delay," the 15 members of the Security Council stressed, highlighting an "urgent need to restore rule of law and to move towards the return to constitutional order" after the overthrow of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita following months of protests.

The African Union, European Union and the United States have all demanded the new-born junta free the 75-year-old president, Prime Minister Boubou Cisse and other leaders taken captive.

In the Malian capital Bamako, Colonel Assimi Goita said after meeting top civil servants that he was the leader of the "National Committee for the Salvation of the People" that has seized power.

"Mali is in a situation of socio-political crisis. There is no more room for mistakes," Goita said.

Coup chiefs meanwhile called on the public to return to normal life, warned against acts of "vandalism" and threatened to punish any soldier found guilty of extortion.

Colonel Assimi Goita unveiled himself as the leader of the coup. By MALIK KONATE (AFP)

But they made no reference to the detained leaders or their whereabouts.

The dramatic events in one of Africa's most volatile countries began early Tuesday, when rebel officers mutinied at a base near Bamako and headed into the city, where they detained Keita and Cisse.

Hours later, Keita -- beset by angry protests over economic stagnation, corruption and a brutal Islamist insurgency -- announced his resignation.

He said he had been given no other choice but to quit, and sought to avoid bloodshed.

Jubilant crowds had cheered the rebels on Tuesday as they arrived in the capital Bamako.

There were few visible traces of those events on Bamako's streets on Wednesday -- troops had not been deployed en masse despite the coup leaders announcing a night-time curfew.

The 55-nation AU blasted the "unconstitutional change of government" in Mali.

Mali coup. By Janis LATVELS (AFP)

The bloc announced that it was suspending Mali -- -- a rare move that bars a member from attending all summits and meetings -- "until restoration of constitutional order."

It also called for the release of Keita and other officials, a demand also made forcefully by Brussels and Washington.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States "strongly condemns the August 18 mutiny in Mali as we would condemn any forcible seizure of power."

"The freedom and safety of detained government officials and their families must be ensured," he said.

The 15-nation West African bloc ECOWAS, which had tried in vain to mediate in the long-running political crisis, also said it would suspend Mali from its internal decision-making bodies.

It pledged to close land and air borders to Mali and push for sanctions against "all the putschists and their partners and collaborators".

'Take responsibility'

The coup leaders had appeared on television overnight to pledge a political transition and new elections within a "reasonable time".

President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita said he had no choice but to resign. By - (ORTM/AFP)

In a brief media appearance, junta spokesman and Air Force deputy chief of staff Ismael Wague called on Malians to "resume their activities in a healthy manner."

Civil servants were "invited" to return to work on Thursday, he said.

He added that no people had died during the coup, despite unconfirmed reports of several deaths.

"The committee stresses that, during its operations, there were no deaths, contrary to certain allegations that talk of four dead and 10 injured," Wague said, repeating: "Zero deaths and zero injured."

Anti-jihadist fight

With Mali the cornerstone of French-led efforts to roll back jihadists in the Sahel, President Emmanuel Macron reiterated Wednesday his call to return to civilian rule.

"The fight against terrorist groups and the defence of democracy and the rule of law are inseparable," he tweeted.

Macron added that for French forces "to leave is to provoke instability and to weaken our fight. It is not acceptable."

Tuesday's coup coincided with the scheduled resumption of daily protests. By STRINGER (AFP)

Wague said "all past agreements" would be respected, including Mali's support for anti-jihadist missions such as the UN force in Mali (MINUSMA), France's Barkhane force, the G5 Sahel, and European special-forces initiative Takuba.

The coup leaders also remain "committed to the Algiers process", a 2015 peace agreement between the Malian government and armed groups in the north of the country, he said.

Swathes of Mali's territory are outside of the control of central authorities and years of fighting have failed to halt an Islamist insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives since emerging in 2012.

Protests

The failure to roll back the jihadists was a major factor in fuelling frustrations with Keita's rule, say analysts.

The burnt-out home of the former justice minister after an attack by protesters was one of the few visible signs of the overthrow. By ANNIE RISEMBERG (AFP)

Tensions flared in April after the government held long-delayed parliamentary elections, the results of which are still disputed.

A loose coalition of parties, grassroots groups and other organisations came together in the so-called June 5 Movement, united by the aim of getting Keita to resign.

But its campaign veered into crisis last month when 11 people were killed during three days of unrest sparked by a demonstration.

Tuesday's coup coincided with the scheduled resumption of daily protests, designed to culminate in a mass rally in Bamako on Friday.

Neither the movement nor its informal leader, imam Mahmoud Dicko, have so far reacted to the coup.
DALLAS, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Aldous \ Walker has earned a reputation as one of the most successful and respected Civil Trial Law Firms in Texas. Following another year of success, the firm's Dallas-based trial attorneys have once again been named to the prestigious list of The Best Lawyers in America.

Published each year by one of the legal industry's oldest and most trusted attorney rating services, Best Lawyers profiles attorneys who have excelled in the practice areas, earned considerable victories for clients, and garnered the respect and esteem of colleagues along the way.

Using a selection process based exclusively on peer review, Best Lawyers solicits nominations, meaningful feedback, and votes from previous listees who've seen the work of local lawyers in person. The result is an annual list of highly talented and verifiably proven attorneys who can lay claim to being among less than 5% of practicing attorneys in the nation to be named among Best Lawyers.

Aldous \ Walker Attorneys named to the 2021 Best Lawyers list include:

Charla Aldous : Charla G. Aldous has been named to Best Lawyers in Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs every year since 2003. A Texas Trial Lawyer who has litigated more than 200 jury trials, Aldous has earned a plethora of professional accolades, including selection as a Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year" on five separate occasions, inclusion among the Top 100 Texas Super Lawyers , and recognition among the Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Lawyers in America, among many others. In January, Aldous was honored as the recipient of the Dallas Women Lawyers Association's annual Louise B. Raggio Award.

has been named to in Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs every year since 2003. A Texas Trial Lawyer who has litigated more than 200 jury trials, Aldous has earned a plethora of professional accolades, including selection as a "Lawyer of the Year" on five separate occasions, inclusion among the Top 100 Texas , and recognition among the Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Lawyers in America, among many others. In January, Aldous was honored as the recipient of the Dallas Women Lawyers Association's annual Award. Brent Walker : This year marks the 5 th consecutive inclusion to Best Lawyers for Brent Walker . Recognized for his work in Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs, Walker has been named to the Texas Super Lawyers list, D Magazine's Best Lawyers in Dallas list, and the National Trial Lawyers Association's Top 100 Trial Lawyers. Along with Partner Charla Aldous, Walker was named to the 2020 Lawdragon Leading Plaintiffs Consumer Lawyers list, and helped lead Aldous \ Walker to its selection as an Elite Trial Lawyers "Law Firm of the Year" in the dram shop category.

This year marks the 5 consecutive inclusion to for . Recognized for his work in Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs, Walker has been named to the list, Best Lawyers in list, and the National Trial Lawyers Association's Top 100 Trial Lawyers. Along with Partner Charla Aldous, Walker was named to the 2020 Lawdragon Leading Plaintiffs Consumer Lawyers list, and helped lead Aldous \ Walker to its selection as an "Law Firm of the Year" in the dram shop category. Caleb Miller : Following his first selection to The Best Lawyers in America last year, Attorney Caleb Miller was named to the 2021 list of Best Lawyers in the area of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. A litigator who has tried cases in Counties across Texas over claims involving car accidents, commercial truck wrecks, and serious injuries and wrongful death, Miller recently earned his second consecutive selection to the Texas Super Lawyers list of Rising Stars.

Aldous \ Walker is a Dallas-based trial practice recognized among U.S. News' Tier 1 "Best Law Firms." Founded by nationally renowned Attorney Charla Aldous, a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, the firm has recovered hundreds of millions in compensation for victims and families across Texas, and has secured numerous multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements in complex and high-profile claims. For more information about the firm, visit www.aldouslaw.com.

SOURCE Aldous \ Walker LLP

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Series four of The Crown will see actress Emma Corrin take on the role of Diana, Princess of Wales.

She has previously said she will strive to do justice to Diana with her on-screen portrayal in the Netflix drama, and has paid tribute to the profound effect of the late princess work.

The 24-year-old actress will portray Diana during the early part of her relationship with the Prince of Wales before handing over the role to Elizabeth Debicki for series five and six.

Expand Close Emma Corrin on set for The Crown (Kirsty OConnor/PA) / Facebook

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The relative newcomers previous credits include the period ITV crime drama Grantchester.

Corrin played the character of Esther Carter in an episode of the hit programme.

She also starred in Misbehaviour alongside actresses including Keeley Hawes and Keira Knightley.

The film tells the story of a group of real-life feminist activists who hatched a plan to stage a protest at the Miss World contest in London in the 1970s.

Corrin played Jillian Jessup, who was Miss South Africa.

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She also featured in the Batman origins series Pennyworth as Esme Winikus.
Faces covered in white dust and chisels in hand, marble sculptors in Myanmar say the hills that have given them a livelihood for generations are disappearing, as large companies reap the rewards of the prized white rock.

The deafening sound of cutting and grinding machines, punctuated by the tapping of hammers and chisels, echoes around the hills next to Sagyin village, north of Mandalay.

The mounds, lined with jagged edges from where huge chunks have been hewn, are the country's prime source of white marble -- cherished as far back as the reign of King Mindon Min in the 19th century.

Ko Lay, his wife and their four children have carved a niche for themselves as the go-to sculptors for animals, making around $360 for each elephant, lion or tiger figure.

As he fashions the haunch of a three-metre-tall feline that will one day guard the entrance to a Buddhist pagoda, he explains how important the hills are to everyone living in their shadow.

"The entire village relies on them, but we're worried they'll disappear soon," the 48-year-old tells AFP, his whole body whitened with dust.

Like others here, he points the finger at shadowy Chinese and military-linked companies, who were granted decades-long licences over swathes of land under the previous government.

Locals have always regarded the marble-rich slopes as their own and accuse the outsiders of plundering their resources with explosives and excavating machinery.

"We want our mountains back," says Ko Lay.

- 'Destroy the hills' -

Around 80 percent of the village of some 2,000 households work in the marble business, but people fear they are being pushed out.

The big companies will "destroy the hills until they're gone," bemoans 55-year-old Soe Win.

"We want at least to share the hillsides, but locals are hardly given any leases."

In recent months, a few dozen plots have been allocated to the villagers, says Eunt Soe Yin from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation.

Story continues

"They can mine and sculpt, providing they have a licence... They can do whatever they like," he says.

But craftsman Nyunt Wai has not heard about the leases and is sceptical that locals will see dividends any time soon.

He learnt to work with marble from his parents and grandparents from the age of 14, and has built up a clientele as far away as Vietnam, Indonesia and Australia.

Now aged 61, the spritely and bespectacled artisan puts the whiteness of his teeth down to marble dust.

"The village's blood streams through these hills... but I'm worried for future generations."

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WILMINGTON, Del. - Kamala Harris, the Black daughter of immigrants from India and Jamaica, on Wednesday became the first woman of color to accept the nomination for vice president from a major political party.

The senator from California signaled that she plans to help lead the attack against President Donald Trump in the coming months, as is typical for a running mate, while also trying to connect voters to the Democratic ticket.

"We're at an inflection point," Harris said. "The constant chaos leaves us adrift. The incompetence makes us feel afraid. The callousness makes us feel alone. It's a lot. And here's the thing: We can do better and deserve so much more."

Harris, 55, stepped into her place in history on the third night of the Democratic Party's mostly virtual convention - joined not by the sort of raucous partisan crowd that would have erupted for such a moment in ordinary times, but instead standing on a small stage in Wilmington, accompanied only by aides and a smattering of reporters who had been tested for the novel coronavirus before being granted entry.

The man who tapped her for the ticket, presidential nominee Joe Biden, who lives a few miles away, will speak from the same stage Thursday night.

The comments came in what was intended as an uplifting and emotional paean to female leadership, liberal crusades and the character of the former vice president.

"Right now, we have a president who turns our tragedies into political weapons," Harris said. "Joe will be a president who turns our challenges into purpose."

Outlining her own optimistic view of the country, Harris said she is "committed" to "a vision of our nation as a beloved community - where all are welcome, no matter what we look like, where we come from, or who we love."

"In the streets of Oakland and Berkeley. I got a stroller's-eye view of people getting into what the great John Lewis called 'good trouble,' " Harris said of her upbringing, citing the recently deceased civil rights leader and Georgia congressman. She also spoke of her career as a prosecutor. "I know a predator when I see one," she said, a line that she had used in her presidential campaign against Trump, though she did not connect it to him Wednesday.

Harris leaned heavily into her life story - citing her pride in her mixed-race background. She spoke of her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, who she said had immigrated to the United States with a dream of curing cancer but died in 2009. Harris also spoke of her own family, her husband, whom she married in 2014, and his two children who she said call her "Momala."

Harris said her mother raised her and her sister "to be proud, strong Black women. And she raised us to know and be proud of our Indian heritage. She taught us to put family first- the family you're born into and the family you choose." In a reference to her Indian heritage seized on by many Indian Americans online, Harris used a Tamil expression in speaking of "my uncles, my aunts - my chitthis."

Speaking before Harris, former president Barack Obama delivered a sharp reproach of his successor's behavior as the nation's leader. It echoed a similar excoriation by Michelle Obama, the former first lady, two days earlier. As had his wife, the former president cast Trump as a man incapable of rising to the office he won in 2016.

"For close to four years now, he has shown no interest in putting in the work, no interest in finding common ground, no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends," Obama said from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia.

"Donald Trump hasn't grown into the job because he can't," Obama continued. "And the consequences of that failure are severe."

In its emphasis on women and minorities, Wednesday's program reflected a major effort by Democrats to showcase diversity in the country and the multiracial coalition they hope will lift Biden, a 77-year-old White man, to the White House amid a moment of racial reckoning.

Convention organizers packed the evening's speaking roster with the Democratic Party's history-making leaders. In addition to Obama, the nation's first Black president, the lineup included New Mexico's Michelle Lujan Grisham, the first Democratic Hispanic woman elected as a governor; Hillary Clinton, the first woman to top the ticket of a major party and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., the first woman to lead the House of Representatives.

Only one non-Hispanic White man, Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, was given a prominent slot Wednesday in the main two-hour convention broadcast. He co-hosted a segment interviewing struggling small-business owners.

Clinton, who won nearly 3 million more votes than Trump but lost in the electoral college when he flipped three traditionally Democratic states, sought to channel any remorse among 2016 voters.

"For four years, people have told me, 'I didn't realize how dangerous he was. I wish I could go back and do it over.' Or worst, 'I should have voted,' " Clinton said. "Look, this can't be another 'woulda, coulda, shoulda' election."

"Vote, for honest elections, so we, not a foreign adversary, choose our president," Clinton said, in an allusion to Russia's efforts to benefit Trump.

"Vote like our lives and livelihoods are on the line, because they are," she added.

Trump, who tweeted all-caps rejoinders at Obama during the convention, also lambasted his predecessor at a White House news conference Wednesday, crediting both him and Biden for his election as president four years ago.

"Look at how bad he was, how ineffective a president he was," Trump said of Obama. "The reason I'm here is because of President Obama and Joe Biden, because if they did a good job, I wouldn't be here."

Trump also tweeted at Obama and Clinton: "Welcome back, Barack and Crooked Hillary. See you on the field of battle!"

Vice President Mike Pence, meanwhile, traveled to Wisconsin, which was to host the Democratic convention before the pandemic forced it to be held virtually. There, he mocked Democrats for declining to campaign on the ground.

"Joe Biden and the Democratic Party have been overtaken by the radical left, and their agenda would take this country in a dramatically different direction, on an inexorable path toward socialism and decline," Pence said in Darien, Wis.

Earlier in the day, Biden, speaking to a virtual meeting of the Wisconsin delegation on Wednesday, questioned Trump's ability to do the job, throwing back at Trump his constant assertions that Biden is not up to the rigors of the presidency.

"When it comes to the pandemic, after months of failure, he just gave up," Biden said of Trump. "You know, I used to think it was because of his personality, but I just don't think he can intellectually handle it. I don't think he's competent enough to know what to do. He just waved the white flag."

Biden also released a statement Wednesday condemning Trump's calls for a boycott of Goodyear Tires, after an image circulated online suggesting the company banned employees from wearing Trump campaign hats but not from promoting the Black Lives Matter movement. A company statement said that all employees were asked "not to engage in political campaigning of any kind in the workplace - for any candidate, party or political organization."

"Goodyear employs thousands of American workers, including in Ohio where it is headquartered," Biden responded in a statement. "To President Trump, those workers and their jobs aren't a source of pride, just collateral damage in yet another one of his political attacks."

The evening's speaking format also focused on policy areas that animate Democrats and are particularly popular among women, including curtailing climate change, increasing gun regulations, making the economy fairer and combating domestic abuse. Tuesday's program included segments on health care and national security.

Former Arizona congresswoman and activist Gabrielle Giffords, who was critically injured during a 2011 mass shooting, lauded the gun-control movement.

"I struggled to speak," she said of her recovery. "But I have not lost my voice.

Emma Gonzalez, a survivor of the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., and one of the organizers of the 2018 March for Our Lives protests, also spoke in a prerecorded address.

"Gun violence isn't just going to stop until there is a force fighting harder against it," she said in a video voice-over of memorials at mass shooting sites.

During the portion of the night that dealt with immigration, an 11-year-old, Estela Juarez, an American citizen, read a letter to President Trump describing the pain of her mother's deportation back to Mexico, leaving her and her father in the United States.

"We need a president who will bring people together, not tear them apart," she said.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., the last viable female candidate to drop out of the 2020 presidential primary contest and a competitor for the vice-presidential slot, also spoke Wednesday from an early childhood center in Springfield, Mass., where she offered her wonky approval of Biden.

"I love a good plan," Warren said. "And Joe Biden has some really good plans."

Biden, whose nomination for president was officially secured Tuesday night, announced during a debate in March that he would select a woman to be his running mate, a declaration that almost immediately prompted allies, including a group of powerful Black women to start pushing for a spot for one of their own on the Democratic ticket. Several Black women were finalists for the job, to which Harris, also a former presidential contestant, was named last week.

Harris is the fourth woman to win a place on a major-party ticket, after then-Democratic Rep. Geraldine Ferraro, D-N.Y., in 1984, then-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, a Republican, in 2008 - both as vice-presidential running mates - and Clinton. Harris's ascension comes a century after women were extended the right to vote and 55 years after the passage of the Voting Rights Act, which removed many balloting hurdles for Black Americans.

"This is the first time in months that I've felt this good," said Donna Brazile, a former interim DNC chair who was among the Black leaders who spearheaded the push for a Black woman, and who also backed Harris.

Of the four candidates on the two major party tickets this fall, Harris has the highest positive rating among Americans: 52 percent favorable and 38 percent unfavorable, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll conducted after her selection last week. Biden is closest to her, with a slightly positive favorability rating, 50 percent favorable and 46 percent unfavorable.

Civil rights leaders and others active in the Black and Asian American communities said they were electrified by Biden's pick and hoped it would spur greater turnout in November.

"We're all glued to the TV," said Glenda Baskin Glover, head of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, of which Harris is a member. She said the country's main Black sororities and fraternities, known as the "divine nine," have begun jointly strategizing in an effort to motivate their members to vote.

Glover, who is also the president of Tennessee State University, a historically Black school, said her students are already inspired. "They see themselves as being able to rise higher and higher," Glover said

Three family members officially nominated Harris to the role by giving brief remarks Wednesday before her speech. They included her sister and longtime adviser, Maya Harris, who also worked as a top aide on Clinton's 2016 bid, Maya's daughter, Meena, and Harris's stepdaughter Ella Emhoff.

The trio highlighted the blended nature of Harris's family, which makes her background unusual for a vice president but, organizers hope, relatable to the many Americans whose own families are nontraditional. If Harris is elected, her husband, Doug Emhoff, would be the nation's first "Second Gentleman."

Emhoff, a lawyer in the Los Angeles office of DLA Piper, is taking a leave of absence from his firm, where he has worked for an array of powerful clients. During Harris's address to cap off the night, Emhoff stood in the wings, one of the few people allowed near her.

Harris spoke extensively about the harm of the coronavirus pandemic, particularly its disproportionate impact on people of color.

"This virus it has no eyes, and yet it knows exactly how we see each other and how we treat each other. And let's be clear, there is no vaccine for racism," she said.

She segued to mention Black victims of violence. "We've got to do the work for George Floyd, for Breonna Taylor, for the lives of too many others to name for our children and for all of us," she said. "We've got to do the work to fulfill that promise of equal justice under law. Because here's the thing: None of us are free until all of us are free."

When her speech ended, she turned and waved to a large screen that displayed feeds of supporters applauding from 30 homes. Biden came on stage to congratulate her, but they maintained a distance and did not embrace.

- - -

The Washington Post's Chelsea Janes, Emily Guskin, Felicia Sonmez and Matt Viser contributed to this report.
Wahab Shittu, the counsel representing suspended EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu, on Thursday dismissed an allegation that operatives under the supervision of the embattled official demanded N75 million from a suspect.

The lawyer claimed that witnesses in the ongoing probe into corruption allegations against Mr Magu could not substantiate the bribery allegations against him.

A businessman, Donald Wokoma, had reportedly presented an audiotape, before the panel Tuesday, revealing how agents of the EFCC tried to extort him after freezing his companys bank account.

Background

The businessman tendered an affidavit to support his claim in a petition he wrote to the office of Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, for redress over the alleged extortion on August 6.

A copy of court affidavit obtained by PREMIUM TIMES showed how Mr Wokoma accused Mr Magu and his boys of unlawfully freezing his companys account Damijay Integrated Services Ltd without a court order in 2018.

According to the affidavit filed before the FCT High Court dated August 10, Mr Wokoma said despite securing a valid injunction through his former lawyer, Victor Giwa, from Justice Agbaza of the same court on November 21, 2018, the EFCC did not lift the restriction.

He said EFCC agents handling the matter asked him on May 21, to sign three blank cheques with Diamond bank of N75 million at N25 million each out of the N250 million total sum in the companys frozen account as a condition before unfreezing the said account.

He added that the cheques were later rejected as the bank had gone into extinction. He said he was later advised to execute an Irrevocable Standing Payment Order on June 15  which was again rejected.

He said the unnamed EFCC agents allegedly requested for 40 per cent of the N250 million in the companys accounts which he rejected.

Not true

But speaking with PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday evening, Mr Shittu dismissed the claim.

He said at the cross-examination session with the witnesses, it was revealed that the N75 million allegedly linked to Mr Magu and his boys belonged to a third party lawyer, Fatima Hassan, who was employed by Mr Giwa to help retrieve Mr Wakomas frozen money.

Mr Shittu also said, two lawyers appeared at the presidential panel today; Victor Giwa, and Fatima Hassan.

He said Ms Hassan informed the panel that the said amount represents her legal fees to assist Mr Wokoma to unfreeze the N250 million.

Mr Giwa is a counsel to Donald Wakoma whose account was blocked. Mr Giwa contacted Ms Hassan, another lawyer to help Mr Wokoma his client unblock the money that was frozen which she agreed. She agreed to get 30 per cent of the N250 million with is N75 million, he said.

She then asked that Mr Wokomas team should issue a cheque to her as her fee upon the recovery that she was going to write to the ministry of justice to compel EFCC to unblock the account.

The cheque they gave her was a Diamond bank account but she later requested that the cheque be converted into Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO) so that once she does the job, she would be paid.

ISPOs are usually free of charge for both the payer and payee

On her getting to the ministry of justice, she realised that there was an existing order from the high court that EFCC should unblock the account but when she realised that the EFCC had appealed the order so she couldnt continue with the job and returned all the documents and cheque, Mr Shittu added.

Mr Magu, earlier detained, has continued to appear before the presidential panel investigating him over allegations of corruption and insubordination, since his arrest on July 6.

The allegations were levelled against him by Mr Malami, whom he has had frosty relations with over the years.

The panel probing the allegations against Mr Magu has continued to bar members of the public from observing its sittings.
A Republican lawmaker called on the House Armed Services Committee to hold a public hearing on the "disturbing rise in deadly training accidents" to pursue military training reforms and prevent further tragic accidents.

"The death of my constituent, Army Specialist Nicolas Panipinto, last year and a recent training accident at Camp Pendleton that left nine service members dead are tragic examples showing the obvious need for reforms to military training," Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., wrote in an Aug. 17 letter to the committee's leadership. "That is why I am calling for the House Armed Services Committee to immediately hold a public hearing looking into the disturbing frequency of U.S. military training accidents around the world and to examine potential reforms to help save lives."

Read Next: Army Investigating Reservists Who Appeared in Uniform at Democratic National Convention

In early June, Buchanan sent a letter to Defense Secretary Mark Esper, demanding reforms after learning of "disturbing revelations" surrounding Panipinto's death.

Panipinto, of Bradenton, Florida, died in late 2019 in a Bradley fighting vehicle accident at Camp Humphreys, South Korea.

The "right-hand side tread of Panipinto's M2A3 came off" and caused the massive vehicle to roll over, according to the letter Buchanan sent to Esper. Buchanan said that Panipinto lacked the proper training to drive the armored fighting vehicle on a Nov. 6 road test.

On July 30, eight Marines and one Navy sailor died when their Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV) sank near San Clemente Island in Southern California after it began taking on water on its way back to the amphibious transport dock Somerset.

The Marine Corps has suspended all waterborne operations of AAVs until an investigation determines what caused the vehicle to sink.

The deadly accident is the third involving an amphibious assault vehicle at Camp Pendleton in the past decade, Buchanan said, describing incidents in 2011 and 2017 that left one service member dead and 15 injured.

"Accidents like this one and the one that took the life of Specialist Panipinto cannot be tolerated," he said. "We need to get to the bottom of these tragic accidents and enact reforms that will save lives going forward."

Buchanan stressed that a "staggering 32 percent of active-duty military deaths were the result of training accidents" between 2006 and 2018, attributing the numbers to a report by the Congressional Research Service.

In 2017 alone, the report found that nearly four times as many service members died in training accidents than were killed in action.

Panipinto's mother, Kimberly Weaver, said she had no idea there had been so many military training deaths.

"We thought that when he got sent to South Korea on a rotation that he was going to be safe," Weaver told Military.com. "You know that there is some danger in training because they are training with heavy equipment, and it's dangerous circumstances, but for 32% of our [military] fatalities to be in training -- it's crazy to me."

Weaver said her son trained as a dismounted infantry soldier, not a driver.

"He was a dismount; he was training his whole time in the Army to kick in doors and clear rooms," she said. "He wasn't training to drive."

Buchanan has repeatedly called for changes to military training procedures following Panipinto's death, according to a news release from his office.

Last month, the U.S. House passed an amendment, authored by Buchanan, requiring the Pentagon to examine emergency medical services at U.S. military bases, since an investigation into Panipinto's death cited a lack of emergency services on base and delays in medical response, according to the release.

"The highest tribute that can be paid to the soldiers lost in training accidents is to enact reforms that ensure that these mistakes never happen again," Buchanan wrote in his letter to the House Armed Services Committee leadership. "We cannot afford to wait any longer and risk the health and safety of our men and women in uniform."

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

Related: Remains of Missing Marines, Sailor Recovered from Sunken Amphibious Vehicle
NASA says during the Little Ice Age, the Grand Plateau Glacier reached all the way to the Pacific Ocean coastline. Since then, the massive Ala
The U.S. has officially demanded that sanctions on Iran lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal be brought back into force, setting the stage for a major diplomatic showdown at the UN Security Council.

Why it matters: The U.S. controversially withdrew from the Iran deal in 2018, but is now invoking its terms in an attempt to restore sanctions on Iran  and possibly to destroy the deal before a potential Biden administration could salvage it. This move is opposed by all of the deal's other signatories.

Driving the news: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met in New York on Thursday with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the UN ambassador from Indonesia, which holds the Security Council's rotating presidency. He presented both with the written "snapback" request.

The snapback request initiates a 30-day consultation period, during which time an unprecedented legal and political fight is expected at the Security Council.

The move comes days after the U.S. was voted down at the Council as it attempted to extend an international arms embargo on Iran.

The U.S. says the "snapback" move is necessary to prevent Iran from buying arms on the international market.

France, Germany and the U.K., swiftly issued a statement opposing the U.S. move and questioning its legitimacy. They also restated their commitment to preserving the deal.

Pompeo claimed the Europeans sided with the Ayatollahs even though they told the U.S. privately they want to see the arms embargo extended."

Between the lines: The deal says any of the signatories  the U.S., Russia, China, France, Germany and the U.K.  can demand sanctions be reimposed automatically if they believe Iran has committed substantial violations. No country can veto such a move.

Russia and China contend that the U.S. gave up its right to reimpose the sanctions when it withdrew from the deal. That view is shared by others on the council, and even by John Bolton, the hawkish former national security adviser.

The U.S., on the other hand, claims it has the right to initiate the snapback mechanism because it is a party to the Security Council resolution that endorsed the nuclear deal and included the snapback mechanism.

U.S. officials believe that the renewal of international sanctions will lead Iran to withdraw from the nuclear deal.

What they're saying: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif sent a letter to the Indonesian ambassador warning that the U.S. move could have dangerous consequences, and calling on Security Council members to counter it.

Russias ambassador to the UN said the U.S. move was "non-existent" in Russia's view, because the U.S. had no right to make it. Nevertheless the Russians want to hold an open session of the Security Council to discuss the crisis.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was a rare voice of support, saying, "I commend the United States for its decision."

Go deeper: Israel raises concerns with U.S. about new Saudi nuclear facility
(Alliance News) - Sherborne Investors (Guernsey) B Ltd and Sherborne Investors (Guernsey) C on Thursday both reported net asset value declines for the first half of 2020.

Sherborne Investors B said its NAV per share fell to 5.56 pence from 9.83p the year before and 10.91p at the end of 2019. The company continued to pursue its investment strategy via its investment in Electra Private Equity PLC, which suffered amid the pandemic.

Chair Talmai Morgan explained that "In March 2020 Electra's largest investment, TGI Fridays, a restaurant chain operating principally in the UK, temporarily closed all of its restaurants in accordance with a government mandate and during this period another investment of Electra, Hotter, the UK's largest shoe manufacturer, paused its manufacturing and closed its retail locations but continued operating its ecommerce platform."

On July 29, TGI Fridays had opened substantially all of its restaurants and was experiencing positive year-on-year gains.

Shares in Sherborne B were untraded on Thursday, having last closed at 5.25p.

Sherborne Investors C reported that its NAV per share had fallen to 50.15p from 67.13p the year before and from 78.04p at the end of 2019 as Barclays PLC's share price plummeted.

It pursued its investment strategy via its shareholding in Barclays. However, the lender's share price had fallen around 36% on June 30 compared to December 31.

"As announced on March 31c2020, the Barclays board cancelled the payment of the full year 2019 dividend and any potential interim 2020 dividends at the request of the UK regulator as a prudent measure given the current environment. Currently, no definitive guidance has been provided by either Barclays or the regulator with respect to future dividends. The cancelled dividend has, however, helped improve Barclays' capital position which at June 30 2020 was stated to be above its targeted range. The situation is constantly evolving as governments and businesses continue to combat the impact of the pandemic," said Morgan, who chairs both companies.

Shares in Sherborned Investors C were up 2.0% at 35.30p on Thursday afternoon.

By Anna Farley; annafarley@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
New Delhi: A constable of the Delhi Police shot and killed a man with his service revolver in Rithala on Thursday morning.

The accused constable Surendra, 47, who was posted at Shahbad Dairy police station has been arrested.

The incident took place in the morning at 6 am on Thursday.

The victim has been identified as Deepak. He lived in Dwaraka and used to run a gym there.

The reason for the shooting has not been ascertained yet. The police is conducting a probe in the matter.

(This is a developing story, more details awaited)
BILLINGS, Mont. -- The U.S. Postal Service is returning 14 neighborhood letter drop boxes that were uprooted across Montana until public outcry about potential harm to Montanas mail ballot general election halted the practice.

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester said his office was informed Wednesday the iconic blue drop boxes would be returned to service in Bozeman, Glendive, Helena, Lewistown, Livingston, Manhattan and Shelby. Tester disclosed the USPS decision in a press release.

At issue is whether intentional service delays will harm the delivery of prescription drugs and other important business in Montana, including mail ballots as the state prepares for its second mostly mail election in the COVID-19 era.

In announcing the boxes would be returned, the Postal Service identified targeted service cuts in seven Montana cities that it had previously refused to disclose. USPS would speak only of letter boxes slated for removal in Missoula when questioned by Lee Montana Newspapers last week, stating that information about the other communities wasnt public. Leaked Postal Service documents identifying the targeted Missoula drop boxes made removal plans for that community undeniable. In Missoula alone, targeted drop boxes numbered 18.

Testers office said its own count of removed letter boxes in Montana was larger than what USPS disclosed Wednesday.

Separately, the Montana chapter of the American Postal Workers Union confirmed the removal of a mail sorting machine from the states largest mail sorting center in Billings. The removal occurred several weeks ago. USPS records show an order for the removal of sorting machines nationwide was issued June 23, about a week after U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy took office.

Also, USPS removed from the Billings office another important mail processing machine, an Advanced Facer Canceler System, or AFCS machine. It is the AFCS machine that applies a post mark canceling a letters stamp, while also matching the address written on the envelope with a known address in the delivery area.

With both the removed sorting machine and the AFCS machine, there remained other pieces of equipment to process mail.

Tester wrote DeJoy on Wednesday, saying that sorting machines in Great Falls and Missoula were said to have been removed, as well.

I write today regarding reports that the U.S. Postal Service is removing sorting machines from several locations around Montana, Tester said in the letter. If true, this would call into question the announcement you made yesterday that no changes would be made until after the election.

The confirmed removal of the sorting machine in Billings occurred weeks before DeJoy announced reductions would be postponed until after the general election.

DeJoy had announced the Postal Service changes, which also included instructions for letter carriers to leave mail behind if carrier vehicles werent fully loaded when it was time to begin the routes. Extra delivery trips to get out late mail were also banned.

Also, on July 26, DeJoy informed election officials in 46 states, including Montana, that the Postal Service couldnt guarantee mail ballots would be delivered on time.

DeJoy is to appear in coming days before committees in the Republican-controlled Senate and Democratic-controlled House to answer for the Postal Service changes.

The new postmaster is a major donor to President Donald Trump's re-election campaign and to several state Republican parties, though not in Montana. Federal Elections Commission data show more than $5 million in DeJoy donations to those causes.

Montanas entire congressional delegation has objected to DeJoys actions and demanded the changes be stopped.

Wednesday, Gov. Steve Bullock, the current Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, also called for DeJoy to reverse the changes to Montanas mail service.

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The Customs department has arrested a Delhi-based businessman in connection with a duty evasion case. Officials said the man had illegally imported used and second-hand hard disk drives (a restricted item) by misdeclaring them as new ones to evade custom duty and receive undue benefit.

Girlish Vijay Dhingra, 39, the proprietor of South Delhi-based firm Cruiser Technologies, was arrested from Delhi and brought to Mumbai on Wednesday and produced in court. The court remanded him to 14 days judicial custody.

According to the preventive unit of the customs department, Mumbai, Dhingra has been arrested in connection with a January 2020 case. Customs officials, on January 10, had intercepted a container at Nhava Sheva and seized a huge consignment of second-hand hard drives that had been misdeclared as new ones.

Further investigations revealed that Dhingra has unlawfully imported second hand hard drives in the guise of new ones and sold them in the past as well . He is accused of illegally importing old hard disks worth 7.40 crore, involving customs duty worth 1.33 crore.

Officials said the investigation revealed that Dhingra, through his firm, had imported second-hand hard disk drives, but misdeclared them as new ones to evade duty. He allegedly did so because under the Foreign Trade policy, the import of second-hand goods or refurbished or reconditioned spares of refurbished parts of personal computers or laptops are restricted. The import of old hard disk drives requires authorisation from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). Dhingras firm did not have authorisation to import second-hand hard drives.

His firm also did not have the mandatory permission from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, which is compulsory for the second-hand hard drives that are under the other waste category as per the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, and cannot be imported without the ministries permission.

Following the seizure of the second-hand hard drives, Dhingra was interrogated by the customs officials in February and was asked to produce relevant documents for the imported items. Dhingra failed to submit complete and accurate information about the imported goods and continued to buy them. He also stopped responding to the summons of the customs department.

Dhingras lawyer Ravi Hirani, however, said that his client had already paid duty for previous consignments. How it is possible to clear the goods without completing the customs formalities? Its a false case against my client, said Hirani.
Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Minister of Education has inaugurated a 10-member committee in Accra to deliberate and advice on modalities for the reopening of schools in the pre-tertiary subsector for the approval of the President.



This followed President Akufo-Addos address to the nation on Sunday August 16, 2020 which disclosed governments intention to consider the reopening of schools after the shutdown in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic breakout.



A statement from the Ministry signed by Mr Rodney Nkrumah-Boateng, the Press Secretary to the Minister and copied to the Ghana News Agency said, the Minister at a ceremony charged the committee to bring their expertise and experience to bear and consult all stakeholders on the way forward on all relevant issues.



The Committee, chaired by Professor Dominic Fobih, a former Minister of Education and currently the Chairman of the GETFund Board of Trustees, has representatives from the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service, UNICEF, the private school sector and parents.



The Committee, the statement said, was expected to report to the Minister on Monday September 21, 2020 on its recommendations.



Dr Prempeh thanked the Committee for accepting the important national assignment.



Prof. Fobih thanked the Minister for entrusting them with the responsibility and gave him an assurance that the Committee would be diligent in all its deliberations and learn lessons from the recent limited reopening for final year students.

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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OTTAWA - The Liberals plan to use existing tools to quickly create a new support measure next month for struggling workers who won't qualify for employment insurance.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/8/2020 (518 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland and President of the Queens Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc look on as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a news conference on parliament hill in Ottawa, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

OTTAWA - The Liberals plan to use existing tools to quickly create a new support measure next month for struggling workers who won't qualify for employment insurance.

Some four million workers will move onto EI next month when a key COVID-19 benefit for workers, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, begins to wind down.

Millions more who have seen their incomes crash as a result of the pandemic-related shutdown won't qualify for the decades-old social safety net program, but the Liberals had promised a new EI-like support for those who will still need the help.

Sources who have been briefed on the government's plan say that transfer will be done through regulations, rather than legislation that could not be introduced until late September, following the prorogation of Parliament.

The measures are to be temporary and flow through existing programs and tools, the sources say, meaning the Liberals won't need parliamentary approval.

The sources, who spoke to The Canadian Press on the condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the plans publicly, say details will come soon.

The Liberals have agreed on how to extend EI-like benefits to those currently deemed ineligible for the program, as well as a floor on the value and duration of payments.

Hassan Yussuff, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, said he sees the temporary measures as a springboard to a larger overhaul of the federal safety net.

Its weaknesses have been known for years and widely exposed through the pandemic-induced crisis, he said.

"We need to look at these temporary measures and figure out how do we incorporate some of that as permanent measures into the future," Yussuff said, "because you can't have a social safety net where a significant chunk of people don't even have any net."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made clear his intention to reshape a safety net that supports a modern workforce and "gig" economy. The Liberal cabinet is slated to talk about the larger overhaul at next month's retreat.

David Macdonald, a senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, noted recently that about 4.7 million people were receiving the CERB at the start of August, with about 2.1 million not eligible for EI under existing program rules.

He added that just over half of CERB recipients at risk of being ineligible for EI are women, and they would also receive less than under the CERB.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called on Trudeau to extend the CERB until the end of September and present a plan to fix EI by the end of this month.

"Millions of people across the country are stressed about how they're going to make ends meet when the Liberals cancel the CERB at the end of the month," Singh said in a statement issued Wednesday.

Unemployment is expected to remain high for the rest of 2020, with employment levels not reaching pre-pandemic levels until some time next year, based on Royal Bank forecasts released Wednesday.

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.

It makes sense to help people in the short term, but the question for the government will be what to do if a large chunk of the labour force still needs help by late 2021, said Robert Asselin, a former adviser to Trudeau and now former finance minister Bill Morneau.

"If you create a program like EI and say, we're going to support these people as long as it takes ... you basically create a permanent income-support program and it's hugely expensive," said Asselin, now a senior vice-president at the Business Council of Canada.

"It's going to have to be paid for by someone, including employers. You're effectively putting a tax eventually on businesses, which I think would be very damaging in the current circumstances."

Modelling done in the latest report on EI premiums showed rates would have to rise by five cents per year for four years in response to a recession like the one the country suffered during the 2008-2009 financial crisis.

The estimate didn't account for any special, temporary economic measures the government could put in place like a rate freeze, or benefit expansion.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 19, 2020.
Rajesh Kumar Thakur By

Express News Service

PATNA: Leaders in poll-bound Bihar were quick on their toes since the Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to a CBI probe into Sushant Singh Rajputs death, claiming credit for making a case for such an investigation. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar spoke to a select group of media houses and said his government moved according to the law following the Constitution.

He sought to make it clear the case does not have anything to do with the state polls, and that it solely involved bringing justice to the late actors family living in the state. I am confident the CBI will investigate the matter as soon as possible and justice will be delivered, Kumar later tweeted. He said the Bihar police action in the case has been vindicated by the SC order.

Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav said his RJD was first to have demanded a CBI inquiry. The government woke up only after 40 days, said Yadav. LJPs Chirag Paswan hoped the CBI would cover all aspects of the case and bring justice to SSRs family.

State Congress chief Madan Mohan Jha said he had visited the Rajput family and demanded a CBI probe. We now hope for a speedy investigation, Jha said. Pappu Yadav, national president of Jan Adhikar Party, demanded the CBI complete its probe within six months. BJP spokesperson Nikhil Anand said BJP leaders from Maharashtra had demanded such a probe.

Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) shared the credit of getting a CBI probe done into the case to the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) on Wednesday. A tweet by the RJD official Twitter handle making this claim led to a speculation that the opposition party is trying to bring the LJP out of the ruling NDA camp in Bihar ahead of the Assembly polls.

Truth will prevail

After the SC ruling, Rhea Chakraborty said she will cooperate with the CBI in its probe. In a statement, her lawyer Satish Mane Shinde said that the actor herself had demanded such a probe in the death of her live-in partner. Rhea maintains that the Truth will remain the same which- ever agency investigates the case. The SC also observed the allegations made by two states of political interference, he added.
MTN Group has said that advanced talks are underway that could lead to it selling its 75% stake in MTN Syria, with further divestments in Afghanistan and Yemen on the horizon.

The South African group recently confirmed that it planned to exit the Middle East over the medium-term and focus on its core African markets, with Bloomberg quoting outgoing CEO Rob Shuter as saying that the region was becoming increasingly complex while contributing less to the groups bottom line.

The three aforementioned markets are suffering continued conflict, creating a difficult operating environment. Additionally, TeleGeography reports that MTNs local units have faced extensive allegations and controversy over their practices.

We used to say that the conflict markets were not consuming any of our capital and could still be good contributors if the situation turned around, said Shuter, before noting that currency devaluations meant that they have become small in our lives, but could be significant in the hand of another company.

Shuter denied that a US lawsuit against MTN Afghanistan had prompted the divestment, and south to quell fears among shareholders, noting that the exit strategy was not a fire saleThis will be done in a very orderly and responsible way over the next few years.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, in a 2020 Democratic National Convention speech from a Springfield classroom, derided President Donald Trump and his administrations response to the COVID-19 pandemic while touting the plans of Joe Biden, her former primary foe, to revive the economy, mend a faltering child care system and end a dark chapter in American history.

Im so grateful to have had the opportunity to address the #DemConvention tonight. The way I see it, big problems demand big solutionsand Im in this fight through November and beyond to get big things done for the American people.



Watch my speechand lets do this together: pic.twitter.com/tV5MMocN02  Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) August 20, 2020

Warren, who suspended her own White House bid in March and for months remained one of Bidens top running mate contenders, delivered her address to millions of Democrats from Springfields Early Childhood Education Center, a pre-kindergarten and kindergarten facility within the Springfield Public Schools system.

In a nod to the ongoing nationwide movement for racial justice, the letters BLM, for Black Lives Matter, stood in three childrens cubbies behind the senator.

The school served 169 students during the 2019-2020 school year and was among the thousands of public and private schools across Massachusetts to shift to remote learning amid shutdowns to curb the spread of the virus. It will reopen fully remote this fall.

Warren, a longtime teacher who specialized in bankruptcy law, said the DNC Wednesday night featured the voices of those who put their lives on the line to keep our country going, and since COVID-19 hit, theyve taken one gut punch after another.

And what has the COVID fallout done to our babies? she asked. Child care was already hard to find before the pandemic. And now, parents are stuck  no idea when schools can safely reopen and even fewer child care options. The devastation is enormous. And the way I see it: big problems demand big solutions.

Warren referenced her passion for plans  a cornerstone of her year-long presidential run which has helped influence the Biden team since he became the likely nominee  and argued the former Delaware senator had laid out a solid vision that would bring back union jobs in manufacturing and create new union jobs in clean energy. Plans to increase Social Security benefits, cancel billions in student loan debt, and make our bankruptcy laws work for families instead of the creditors who cheat them.

Warren said Biden and recently-named running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris of California, would overhaul an economic system rigged to give bailouts to billionaires and kick dirt in the face of everyone else.

Warren argued high-quality, affordable child care must be seen as an essential part of getting American families to work  as vital as American roads, bridges and communication systems.

That infrastructure helps us all because it keeps our economy going, she said. Its time to recognize that child care is part of the basic infrastructure of this nation  its infrastructure for families.

The Massachusetts progressive shared a personal story about her Aunt Bee, who decades ago helped her with child care so that she could continue teaching.

Nobody makes it on their own, Warren said.

And yet, two generations of working parents later, if you have a baby and dont have an Aunt Bee, youre on your own, she continued.

Referencing Bidens $775 billion plan to help working parents and expand early education and child care, Warren said that Joe and Kamala will make high-quality child care affordable for every family, make preschool universal, and raise the wages for every child care worker. Thats just one plan, but it gives you an idea of how we get this country working for everyone.

Warren then laid into Trump, saying his ignorance and incompetence have always been a danger to our country, and arguing he failed his biggest test of COVID-19 miserably.

Today, America has the most COVID deaths in the world and an economic collapse  and both crises are falling hardest on Black and Brown families, Warren added. Millions out of work. Millions more trapped in cycles of poverty. Millions on the brink of losing their homes. Millions of restaurants and stores hanging by a thread. This crisis is bad  and didnt have to be this way. This crisis is on Donald Trump and the Republicans who enable him. On November 3, we hold them all accountable.

More than 5 million Americans have been infected with COVID-19 and more than 170,000 have died. More than 8,600 Massachusetts residents have died.

Warren said the fight to get big things done wont stop if Biden and Harris are elected.

We stay in this fight so that when our children and our grandchildren ask what we did during this dark chapter in our nations history, we will be able to look them squarely in the eye and say: we organized, we persisted, and we changed America, she said.

The Democratic National Convention began Monday, drawing 18.7 million viewers across six networks during its first evening of convention proceedings.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar were among the featured speakers during the first night of the convention. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, Former Secretary of State John Kerry and Dr. Jill Biden spoke Tuesday.

In addition to Warren, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, former President Barack Obama and Harris delivered remarks.

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TOKYO, Aug 20, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu is enabling enterprises to reimagine their post-Covid future with a global campaign highlighting how enterprises can not only survive but prosper as they adapt to new business realities.Fujitsu is working hand in hand with customers to adjust to the rapid shift to remote working, with the Covid-19 pandemic having clearly accelerated the importance of digital transformation - putting the topic on the top of the business agenda for organizations of all sizes, and at all levels of digital maturity.As Fujitsu supported customers around the world in adjusting to new working styles, service levels in its eight Global Delivery Centers never skipped a beat. Fujitsu maintained service level agreements against a 19% surge in customer requests for support(1) - with enormous increases in calls for support around setting up VPNs and establishing secure remote access to corporate systems.Now Fujitsu is outlining its vision of the road to prosperity - with a new Reimagine initiative highlighting the digital tools and services that Fujitsu is providing to help shape customers' future business outlook in three key areas: customer experience, everyday operations, and employee experience.Organizations looking at post-Covid recovery must be able to deliver a digital employee experience that acknowledges the new realities. Employee experience should be at the heart of decisions and investments that will determine the future normal - as well as empowering employees to remain productive when working from anywhere, on any device, at any time.Taeko Yamamoto, Chief Marketing Officer at Fujitsu says: "Businesses are facing an increase in complexity and uncertainty in the post-Covid world, combined with an increase in pace. For any organization looking not only to survive but to thrive in the post-Covid world, reimagining business operations is key. Getting back to growth quickly requires businesses to apply the hard lessons of the lockdowns - to expand, scale and build on the best practices they were forced to adopt, to ensure they emerge stronger, able to pivot quickly and deal with any form of unforeseen disruption in the future. Enabling our customers to achieve this is at the heart of Fujitsu's Reimagine initiative."Delivering the best possible service to end customers is a priorityFor Fujitsu's customers, improved decision-making is key to reimagining operations to deliver the best possible service - and data is critical to this. Organizations can reap the benefits of automation through establishing or upgrading secure but agile foundations to automate processes and procedures capable of serving the demands of new business models - to deliver the experiences that customers are demanding.Automation enables retailers to present only products that are in stock, to set customer expectations on back-order items through showing time to availability, and to immediately initiate offers on smart production lines. Manufacturers, meanwhile, can automatically order new stock when threshold levels are reached or 'hard-to-predict' spikes in demand are forecast. In the financial services sector, automation enables real-time advice, from everyday transactions to major life decisions, like mortgages.In working with customers to drive automation, Fujitsu focuses on augmenting traditional processes and supply chains while also making them resilient to future disruption or unpredictable events, as well as ensuring that pace and agility become the norm in everything an organization does - simultaneously handling the underlying complexity involved with adopting new business models, technologies and finding new ways of working on top of - and to replace - existing models.When it comes to employee experience, Fujitsu is enabling customers to benefit from the upside of lockdown - transferring this new business agility to other situations that may require widespread remote working. In future, regardless of the predicament, organizations will be able to just carry on working. For organizations still exploring their options, Fujitsu's Results Chain investment optimization tool balances investment costs against business benefits.(1) Fujitsu maintained service level agreements against a 19% surge in customer requests for support Incoming call volumes to Fujitsu's eight Global Delivery Centers rose by an average of 19.29% month-on-month between February and March 2020.About Fujitsu LtdFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 130,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.9 trillion yen (US$35 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020. For more information, please see www.fujitsu.com.Source: Fujitsu LtdCopyright 2020 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
LONDON  The brother of the suicide bomber who set off an explosion at a 2017 Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, killing 22 people and injuring hundreds, was sentenced Thursday to a minimum of 55 years in prison.

Hashem Abedi, 23, had denied helping plan the attack at Manchester Arena but was found guilty of murder, attempted murder, and conspiring to cause explosions. His sentencing had been postponed due to travel restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic.

His elder brother Salman Abedi set off the bomb in the arenas foyer at the end of the May 22, 2017 concert, as fans  including thousands of children and young people  were leaving the pop stars show. He died in the explosion.

Hashem Abedi refused to attend court for the two-day sentencing hearing, which heard powerful testimony from the families of the victims, many of whom fought back tears as they described their grief.

Judge Jeremy Baker said that the two brothers were equally culpable for the deaths and injuries caused by the explosion.

Although Salman Abedi was directly responsible, it was clear the defendant took an integral part in the planning, Baker said.

The judge said that had the younger brother been over age 21 at the time of the explosion, he would have been given a whole-life term. Instead, he was sentenced to serve a minimum of 55 years before parole may be considered.

The defendant should clearly understand the minimum term he should serve is 55 years. He may never be released, Baker added.

He added that there was a significant degree of premeditation and that the motivation for the brothers was to advance the ideology of Islamism.

The brothers were born in Manchester to Libyan parents. They had travelled to Libya the month before the attack. Salman returned to the U.K. on May 18, 2017, when he finalized preparations for the attack. Hashem remained in Libya until he was extradited to Britain and arrested at a London airport last year.

Prosecutors say he played a key role in the attack, including ordering chemicals for the bomb and arranging transport for the materials.

The Manchester bombing was the deadliest in a string of extremist attacks in London and Manchester in the spring and summer of 2017. Targets in London included Westminster Bridge, London Bridge, and a north London mosque.

Commenting on Thursdays sentencing, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the Manchester attack was a horrifying and cowardly act of violence which targeted children and families.

Those who were taken from us will never be forgotten, nor will the spirit of the people of Manchester who came together to send a clear message to the entire world that terrorists will never prevail, Johnson said.

The youngest victim who was killed in the attack was age 8.

Caroline Curry, mother of Liam Curry, 19, held up a photo of her son in court and addressed an empty dock Wednesday.

You took his future, my future, my familys future, she said. All we have now is heartbreak and dreams of what if.
Dr. Kevin Hogan Offers Calming Sedation Dentistry to Isle Palms, SC Amid Coronavirus Crisis Dr. Hogan encourages patients with dental anxiety to receive sedation dentistry and the dental treatment they need to relieve pain, restore oral function, and remain healthy and strong during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Kevin Hogan welcomes new patients with or without a referral suffering from dental anxiety in and around Isle of Palms, SC to find relief and relaxation through sedation dentistry. Referrals for this calming treatment is not required, an advantage especially appreciated amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. Dr. Hogan encourages patients to receive the dental care they need as soon as they can and not to prolong treatment. As a result, Smiles by Hogan offers calming oral conscious sedation for oral hygiene cleanings and other dental treatments to ensure patients experience a comfortable appointment every time at their Mt. Pleasant, SC practice.

Even before the coronavirus outbreak, patients who had dental anxiety often found it difficult and even impossible to maintain routine dental appointments. In many cases, their anxiety was so severe that they were not able to visit the dentist for years at a time all the while suffering from multiple silent and/or painful dental problems. Tooth decay, infection, missing teeth, and other issues make it difficult to live a healthy, functional, and confident life.

If decay or infection is left untreated, it can lead to gum disease, this condition has been linked to complications in physical health, including a weakened immune system. If the body is not in optimal health, this increases the risk of developing other diseases and leaves it susceptible to dangerous viruses. Dr. Hogan encourages patients with dental anxiety to receive sedation dentistry and the dental treatment they need to relieve pain, restore oral function, and remain healthy and strong during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sedation dentistry provides various options for patients who need assistance feeling calm and relaxed during their dental appointments. Dr. Hogan offers oral conscious sedation for his anxious or fearful patients. This type of sedation allows patients to fully relax, no matter how long their appointment is or how many procedures they need completed. Due to the amnesic effects of oral conscious sedation, many patients have little-to-no memory of their appointment, including the aspects that cause anxiety or fear, such as sounds and smells.

Sedation allows a patient to have needed dentistry done in a comfortable environment with medications that create amnesic effects, says Dr. Hogan. With the ability to complete dental appointments comfortably and with little-to-no memory of the experience, patients find it significantly easier to maintain proper dental care and good oral health.

Patients with dental fear or dental anxiety in the Isle of Palms, SC area can visit Dr. Hogan for personalized sedation dentistry. New patients are welcome to schedule an appointment at his Mt. Pleasant, SC practice by visiting http://www.smilesbyhogan.com or calling 843-216-0908.

About the Doctor

Dr. Kevin Hogan is a general dentist providing individualized care for patients in Mt. Pleasant, SC. Dr. Hogan is a graduate of the Indiana University School of Dentistry and has completed hundreds of hours of continuing education courses to stay contemporary with the latest dental technologies. In addition, he has also completed coursework with the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation and has lectured at the University of North Carolina, Emory University, the Saginaw Valley University and AUA-American University of Antigua on head and neck anatomy and oral pathology. Dr. Hogan is a member of the American Dental Association, International College of Cranio-Mandibular Orthopedics, Academy of Laser Dentistry, International Association of Physiologic Aesthetics, Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry, DOCS (the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation), International Congress of Oral Implantologists and the South Carolina Dental Association. He is also a past member of the American Straight Wire Orthodontic Association, Maxillofacial Orthopedic Growth and Development, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the Functional Orthodontic Society. He and his team are dedicated to providing exceptional oral care to patients through personalized treatment plans. To learn more about the services offered by Dr. Hogan, please visit his website at http://www.smilesbyhogan.com or call 843-216-0908.
President Donald Trump speaks during the signing ceremony for a proclamation on the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment in the Blue Room of the White House in Washington on Aug. 18, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Federal Judge Dismisses Trumps Latest Bid to Shield Tax Returns From Manhattan DA

A federal judge on Thursday dismissed President Donald Trumps newest effort to block the Manhattan district attorney from gaining access to eight years of the presidents tax returns and other financial records.

In his 103-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero ruled that Trumps latest attempt to block New York Country District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr.s subpoena for his tax returns was a roundabout way for the president to invoke immunity from judicial processes.

Trumps legal team had previously argued before the Supreme Court and lower courts that a sitting president has absolute immunity from state criminal subpoenas because compliance with them would impair the performance of his presidential duties. The top court in July had already rejected the argument, saying that no citizen, not even the President, is categorically above the common duty to produce evidence when called upon in a criminal proceeding.

Although the Supreme Court rejected Trumps arguments, it left the door open for Trump to seek recourse by challenging the subpoena on other grounds. The presidents legal team filed a second challenge against the subpoena in late July.

Marrero, a Clinton appointee, said Trumps new claims that the Manhattan district attorneys subpoena is overbroad and hence issued in bad faith had already been thoroughly argued in the presidents first complaint, and by seeking to re-argue the same issues would prolong the Presidents noncompliance with the grand jurys demand for the documents in dispute.

That strategy potentially would enable the clock to run on applicable statutes of limitations, risk the loss of witnesses and evidence and thus possibly foreclose law enforcement concerning any crimes under grand jury investigation, Marrero wrote (pdf).

He said that the presidents move embodies a novel application of presidential immunity to protect the executive branch from judicial process.

At its core, it amounts to absolute immunity through a back door, an entry point through which not only a President but also potentially other persons and entities, public and private, could effectively gain cover from judicial process, the judge wrote.

He added that the presidents latest challenge had to be thrown out because his claims do not allege sufficient facts to warrant a different judgment.

That conclusion holds with special force insofar as granting the relief the President requests would effectively constitute an undue expansion of presidential immunity doctrine potentially implicating adverse public concerns, the judge wrote.

Thursdays ruling represents the latest setback for Trump, who has been fighting Vances subpoena since September last year. The prosecutors subpoena seeks the presidents tax returns and financial documents as part of a grand jury probe.

It was widely believed that Vance was investigating hush money paid to two women during the 2016 presidential campaign: adult film performer Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal. But recent court filings by Vances office suggest that the scope of the Manhattan DAs probe might be broader than was previously known.

Shortly after Marreros ruling was issued, Trumps legal team filed an emergency Notice to Appeal (pdf) and a request to stay the Thursday ruling pending the appeal (pdf).

In their motion for the stay, Trump lawyers told the court that they disagree with Marreros decision and believe that there is a likelihood that the decision could be reversed on appeal.

Given the seriousness of this dispute, the status quo should be preserved so that the Second Circuit and Supreme Court can hear the Presidents claims, Trumps lawyers wrote.

Trump responded to the ruling on Thursday, telling reporters at the Oval Office that the case would probably end up back in the Supreme Court.

This is a continuation of the witch hunt, the greatest witch hunt in history. Theres never been anything like it, where people want to examine everything youve ever done to see if they can find that theres a comma out of place. No president has ever had to go through this, he said.
Press Release

August 20, 2020 De Lima urges colleagues to review implementation of govt's OFW repatriation and assistance programs Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has called for a thorough review of the policies and practices concerning the repatriation and assistance programs being extended to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) during this time of crisis. De Lima filed Senate Resolution (SR) No. 497 directing the appropriate Senate Committee to look into the status of the national government's OFW repatriation and assistance programs amid reports of continued delays and inefficiencies in their implementation. "There is an apparent lack of true understanding that the plight of the OFWs only begins with repatriation - that they would need further assistance to rehabilitate and reintegrate themselves back to the society upon return to the Philippines. Bringing them home is but a step, not the whole process," she said. "Months after the implementation of the repatriation program, the concerned agencies have yet to come up with a coordinated and holistic approach to assist displaced OFWs who have signified interest to return to the Philippines to be with their families amid the pandemic," she added. With COVID-19 having an unprecedented impact on global economies, businesses and workers, the International Labor Organization (ILO) estimated that nearly 2.2 billion workers, representing 68 percent of the global workforce, are living in countries with recommended or required workplace closures. Recently, report from DOLE revealed that around 400,000 OFWs have already been laid off in various countries hit by COVID-19 while some analysts have estimated that the number of displaced OFWs could reach as high as 1 million by 2021. As of June 29, according to the data from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), there are now a total of 8,467 total confirmed cases for COVID-19 among OFWs across 59 countries/regions. In filing her Resolution, De Lima lamented how a significant portion of displaced OFWs have fared no better in the Philippines than abroad as they have, at times, experienced degrading treatment from the government agencies mandated to take care of their health and well-being, upon repatriation. "These include OFWs undergoing prolonged quarantine procedures due to delays and inefficiencies in testing and processing of documents , having to camp underneath a flyover for days at a time due to vague and contradictory policies concerning stranded individuals, and having to deal with limited job prospects and potentially extended periods of unemployment upon their return," she said. Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Hans Cacdac said that the P 5-billion allotment and cash allocation which the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released last June 24 to augment the Emergency Repatriation Fund of the DOLE-OWWA will be utilized for "food, accommodation and transport of the repatriated OFWs." De Lima, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, said that OWWA is seemingly oblivious of the true nature of the plight of OFWs who are forced by the global pandemic to come home. "The situation for OFWs in the Philippines is fraught with too much risk and uncertainty that around 191,000 displaced OFWs have chosen to forego a return to the country and take their chances abroad instead," she said. "The evident distrust and lack of confidence from a large contingent of displaced OFWs abroad in the government's capacity to take care of their needs during this time of pandemic is indicative of its overall failure to adequately address the needs of the Filipino people, OFWs included, arising from the COVID-19 outbreak," she added.
Before Joe Biden was the Democratic presidential nominee, a vice president or a U.S. senator, he held an unofficial title.

Adopted central New Yorker.

Auburn and Syracuse were early stones in the long path that led Biden to where he is today. Tonight, he will address (virtually) the Democratic National Convention and accept the party's presidential nomination.

By now, you may know the stories and Biden's connections to the region. He opted to attend law school at Syracuse University and met Neilia Hunter, the daughter of Robert and Louise Hunter who owned Hunter Dinerant on Genesee Street in Auburn. After Biden married Neilia at a ceremony in Skaneateles, they lived in Syracuse while he finished law school and Neilia taught at Bellevue Elementary School.

After Joe finished law school, the Bidens moved to Delaware.

It was in December 1972 that Joe Biden's life changed forever. Neilia and the couple's three children  Beau, Hunter and Naomi  were in a station wagon that was struck by a tractor-trailer truck. Neilia and Naomi died. Beau and Hunter survived, but were seriously injured.

The crash occurred a couple of weeks before Joe Biden would be sworn into office as Delaware's new U.S. senator. Biden took the oath at the hospital where Beau and Hunter were treated. An Associated Press article notes that Neilia's parents attended the ceremony.

Biden served 36 years in the U.S. Senate before his two terms as vice president, from 2009 to 2017. Even after Neilia's death, he did not leave his connections to central New York behind.

He made regular visits to the Auburn area and Syracuse. He had more on his plate as vice president, but he still found time to return.

In 2009, he was the speaker at Syracuse University's commencement. He spoke at the university's law school commencement seven years later, in 2016  his final full year in office as vice president.

In between, there were personal and professional trips. In 2014, he attended his niece's wedding in Auburn. The visit included a stop at Hunter's  the diner his in-laws owned until the early 1990s.

Joe Biden wasn't the only member of his family to make trips to central New York. His sons, Beau and Hunter, visited the region over the years. While they were in the area, they would visit Hunter's Diner. The restaurant's Facebook page would post photos of them after they visited.

Beau was with his father for that 2014 visit to Auburn. Less than a year later, Beau died of cancer  a tragic event that impacted Joe Biden's decision to run for president in 2016. (He ultimately decided not to seek the Democratic nomination.)

Now, in 2020, Biden is the Democratic nominee. The polls and Electoral College projections show that, if the election were held today, he would defeat Republican President Donald Trump.

Biden, of course, wants to win. He is already recognized as one of America's great statesmen  someone who is respected by members of both parties and has many accomplishments to his name in more than 40 years of public service.

Tonight, this adopted central New Yorker takes his place in history as a major party presidential nominee.

Politics reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding.

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WASHINGTON Defense Secretary Mark Esper will travel to the tiny North Pacific island nation of Palau next week, as well as to Hawaii and the U.S. territory of Guam, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

It will be only Espers second international trip since the coronavirus pandemic hit early this year, forcing him to scale back his 2020 travel plans. He has made the Asia-Pacific region his top policy priority, although Palau is a rare destination for an American defense secretary.

Palau, an archipelago situated southeast of the Philippines, was administered by the United States for half a century before gaining independence in 1994. It is now among the Freely Associated states of the Pacific, along with Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, which are sovereign nations but have compacts with the U.S. that govern economic and other relations.

Guam was the scene of a lengthy and drama-filled U.S. Navy battle against the coronavirus; the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt pulled into Guam last spring after suffering a virus outbreak that killed one sailor.

During his trip, Esper will attend commemorative events marking the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. The battleship USS Missouri, aboard which Allied and Japanese representatives signed the wars surrender documents on Sept. 2, 1945, is now a memorial standing in Hawaiis Pearl Harbor.

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Senator from California and Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris speaks during the third day of the Democratic National Convention, being held virtually amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware. (AFP)

Washington: "Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, including Indian-Americans, could play an important role in key battleground states in the November 3 presidential election," Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris has said.

Harris, 55, was nominated the Democratic Party's candidate for the US vice-president during the party's virtual convention on Wednesday, becoming the first-ever American of Indian and African descent to be picked by a major party for the top post.

Addressing the virtual Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Caucus meeting, Harris said, "For years, the AAPI community's voice has not been heard. Its concerns ignored and stories forgotten. But this time it's different." AAPI community "is the fastest-growing ethnic group in the United States" representing 11 million voters across the country "and could be the margin of victory in key battleground states this November," Harris said at the meeting hosted by Bel Leong-Hong, co-founder and VP of the AAPI Victory Fund.

She mentioned that Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has "pledged to appoint more AAPI judges than all previous administrations combined."

Harris said that since July 15, more than 2,300 Asian Americans have experienced biased instances, "and 'bias incidents' is a soft way of describing what we're talking about."

"Unfortunately, we've seen an increase in instances of awful - some people say disturbing - I say it's absolutely unacceptable. The hateful attacks and intimidation, and frankly, the extensions of hate and hate crimes occurring against members of our AAPI community," the vice-presidential nominee said.

"Instead of showing real leadership, President Donald Trump has restored to racist and xenophobic language to deflect from his failures, but also as an extension of who he was when he came into office," she said.

"He from the first days, if not even just from the campaign before his first days in office, spent full time trying to sow hate and division among us. And what has happened certainly during the course of the pandemic and before, is our children are paying the price."

"And that's just one of the so many reasons why I'm eager to get to work with Joe and with each of you on behalf of every American," she alleged.

Describing the presidential election as "the most important election of our lifetime," Harris said that the United States is facing three crises at one time: A public health crisis, an economic crisis, and a crisis that has been centuries in the making of systemic racism, and that racism that still exists.

"We are talking about disparities based on race that existed before the pandemic and have been highlighted and exacerbated by the pandemic," Harris said.

"The pandemic's impact has been particularly severe among the AAPI community," she stated.

Since the pandemic, Harris said that 83 per cent of the AAPI labour force with high school degrees or lower have filed unemployment insurance claims in California alone.

She praised the AAPI community for "risking their lives as nurses and doctors and frontline workers and home health care workers - doing the work to save or comfort people they often don't even know." Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for Biden in a statement said that the community is fired up.

"Our AAPI community is excited and look forward to electing Kamala Harris as Vice President and Joe Biden as the next President of the United States," it said.

"Alongside Joe Biden, Kamala Harris is the leader we need to restore integrity and morality to this nation. Over the years, Harris has championed policies and programs to improve the lives of Asian American and Pacific Islanders across the country. We look forward to a Biden-Harris administration that will continue to elevate our issues and lived experiences," AAPI for Biden said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 20)  The acting commander of the Western Mindanao Command denounced an accusation that one of the soldiers killed in the June 29 shooting incident in Jolo had links to the illegal drug trade.

Gen. Corleto Vinluan was responding to the allegation of Bangsamoro police chief Brigadier General Manuel Abu during Wednesday's Senate hearing that Army Corporal Abdal Asula, one of the four army intelligence officers killed by cops, was involved in illegal drugs.

"Wala kaming alam sa report na ganyan...wala naman 'yung balita na involved 'yun (Asula)," Vinluan said on Thursday.

[Translation: We don't know about such reports....we have no information that Asula was involved.]

Vinluan said that such accusation does not change the fact that the nine policemen should still be made accountable for murder.

"Ganoon pa rin...mali pa rin talaga 'yung ginawa (What the policemen did was still wrong)," he said.

Army chief Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana also downplayed the remark, noting that he had asked for an investigation on Asula's potential ties when he was the Westmincom commander of the 11th Infantry Division. He said no report came out and stated that Asula was part of any drug syndicate.

While Abu did not directly indicate whether there was enough evidence to link Asula to the drug trade, he said that some of Asula's relatives were caught during operations by the provincial drug enforcement unit in Sulu. His brother was even killed in an operation on March 14.

Philippine National Police chief Archie Gamboa said cops were also holding a separate drug enforcement campaign in the area at the time of the incident.

"Jolo is not exempted. There are also drug users, drug pushers in Jolo," Gamboa told the committee.

The Senate joint panel, headed by Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, attempted to look into the motive of the nine policemen who shot the army men.

The suspects, who were all under restrictive custody, were unable to pinpoint who made the first shot during the encounter.

Despite delay in the filing of charges, President Rodrigo Duterte assured justice for the soldiers who died in the encounter.

"Nangangako na po no less than the President, magkakaroon ng katarungan dito sa kasong ito," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said during Thursday's briefing.

[Translation: No less than the President himself has promised that justice will be served in this case.]

"Ngayong natapos na ang imbestigasyon sa NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) at naisampa na ang kaso sa piskalya, hayaan lang po natin ang prosesong umusad," Roque added.

[Translation: Now that the NBI has concluded its investigation and cases have been filed, let us allow the process to take its course.]

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Lieutenant General Gilbert Gapay previously criticized the delay in the filing of the cases against the nine policemen, and suspected a potential cover-up of the case.

Gapay also claimed that more than just a simple miscoordination, there definitely was "an intent to kill" on the part of the police, and spot reports on the shooting incident were "inconsistent" and "misleading."

The NBI said even if the identities of the suspects have been confirmed, it sees the need to review its findings and uncover the motive of the cops.

AFP ground commander Colonel Antonio Bautista insisted that the military has relayed to the police its own intelligence operation in the area regarding a suicide bombing attack by suspected terrorists at the time, hence, policemen should not have raised suspicion on the soldiers on board their vehicle.

The NBI filed four counts of murder, and one count of planting of evidence against the nine cops. It also recommended the filing of neglect of duty complaints against the three top police officials of Jolo.
MICHIGAN  Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson wants to prepare Michigan voters and municipalities for what she expects to be more than 3 million ballots cast by mail in the Nov. 3 general election.

Toward that end, the first-term Democrat said 1,000 ballot boxes will be installed at locations around the state by Sept. 24, and she has urged the Michigan Legislature to allow local clerks to start processing mail-in ballots before Election Day.

In an interview with the Huron Daily Tribune this week, Benson also discussed the effect that recent changes made by the U.S. Postal Service could have on mail-in voting in Michigan.

While Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced Tuesday afternoon he would suspend the changes until after the election, Benson and Michael Mize, president of the Michigan Postal Workers Union and the Flint Michigan Area Local, told the Tribune that cutting back in overtime hours for postal employees already has resulted in delayed delivery.

And Benson noted USPS has sent letters to 46 states indicating that some mail-in ballots for the November election might not be counted in time.

"I can understand the need to improve the services at the Postal Service and make changes," Benson said. "I'm always a big believer in efficiency. But this is not the time to be making changes that slow down mail delivery, especially for seniors and veterans who depend on it, and also for the upcoming election."

Benson said her office, part of whose duties are to administer election law and voter registration, is responding to the USPS changes with a "two-pronged strategy."

"We are working to collaborate with the Postal Service, or otherwise to require changes that would ensure the reliable delivery of ballots," Benson said. "And the second strategy is to create reliable alternatives. We're educating voters about their ability to return ballots at clerks' offices from Sept. 24 up until the day before election day.

"We're close to installing 1,000 drop boxes across the state, and there are other ways to return ballots if the mail proves unreliable."

Benson said the drop boxes will be monitored at all times to ensure that they are not tampered with.

The Tribune reached out to Congressman Paul Mitchell, who represents Michigan's 10th Congressional District, about his thoughts on the proposed changes to the postal service and their impact on mail-in voting.

The USPS has had financial issues for many years and needs to make structural reforms," Mitchell's office responded. "The recent changes at the Post Office were long-proposed and were intended to address longstanding inefficiencies, mail volume changes, and high costs, but to avoid the possibility of any impact on 2020 election mail or the appearance of ill intent, USPS announced these changes will be paused until after the election. There is no merit to the claims the USPS will be insolvent before the election, and the agency has stated it is ready to meet all delivery requirements for the election and is ready to use its existing resources to handle any unforeseen demand.

Lessons from August primary

Benson said that Michigan's Aug. 4 primary turned out approximately 2.5 million voters, a record number for an August primary.

"The fact that 1.6 million people voted by mail underscored the fact that people want not just to vote, but to vote from home," Benson said.

At the same time, she saw great need for improvement, noting that 6,400 ballots that were sent through the mail could not be counted because they were not received by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Benson said many counties in Michigan didn't have all their ballots processed and counted until the night of Aug. 5, the night after Election Day.

"In my mind, voters shouldn't be disenfranchised because the Postal Service takes too long to deliver the ballots," Benson said.

Looking ahead to the November election, Benson is pushing for the Michigan Legislature to change the current law that prohibits clerks from opening envelopes with ballots in them until 7 a.m. on Election Day.

"In November, it's going to be twice that many (as the 1.6 million in August)," she said. "We need to give folks more time on the front end to begin preparing ballots for Election Day. This can easily be addressed by a legislative change.

"We've asked (the Legislature) to give the clerks one extra day on Monday (the day before Election Day). We hope the legislature will act because it will (provide) one more step to avoid human error and ensure efficient delivery of (voting) results."

State Senator Dan Lauwers, a Republican from Brockway Township, said that Senate Bill 757s intent is to give rural clerks more flexibility in handling absentee ballots, but Ruth Johnson, the state senator who introduced the bill, opposes any further movement on it unless changes are made to satisfy her.

I dont see it moving off the floor, Lauwers said, adding that vendors would have to supply equipment, get proposals out and have them approved by boards of elections. He said he thinks there is not have enough time to get everything done before the election.

Despite saying that absentee ballots are designed for people with extenuating circumstances, not mass voting, Lauwers said the system in place is more than adequate for people now.

If a person wants a ballot, they can contact their local clerk and theyll provide one, Lauwers said. They should physically return those ballots to their clerks office so theres not the possibility they can lose the ballot.

Giving voters options and preventing mail-in fraud

Benson suggests that voters visit michigan.gov/vote as soon as possible to identify their polling place for in-person voting or apply for a ballot for mail-in voting.

"There are more options for voters now than ever before," she said.

Benson wants citizens to feel confident in the accuracy and security of ballots.

"This year, there's going to be a significant amount of attention on Michigan (during the campaign)," Benson said. "With that will come efforts to spread misinformation about the accuracy and security of the election. Voters should have utmost confidence in our process. We're doing everything possible to make the election secure."

For example, mail-in voters must sign the outside of the envelope in which the ballot is sent, a signature that is later checked against their voter registration signature.

"That is a time-tested method that has worked for decades," Benson said. "We're catching fraud if it happens, but we're certainly deterring it to begin with. Fraud has been infinitesimal in our elections, but if if does happen, we're in a position to prosecute it."

The Tribune also asked Benson's Director of Media Relations Tracy Wimmer if efforts are being made to eventually implement online voting.

"There is legislation that the (Benson) voiced support for earlier this year to provide the means for active duty military members overseas to cast a secure ballot online," Wimmer replied.

But beyond that, online voting is not on the immediate horizon, in Michigan, at least, she said.

"We're wanting to make sure the security infrastructure is in place before (online voting) is rolled out to the masses," Wimmer said. "I think there are lots of people globally wanting to find those (online voting) opportunities."

This story was updated on Aug. 21 as more information became available.
A trailer for an upcoming Netflix movie has sparked fury online for its overtly 'sexualized' portrayal of young girls, who are dressed in skimpy outfits and seen twerking on camera.

The French film, Cuties, tells the story of an 11-year-old Senegalese Muslim girl named Amy, who joins a school dance team and takes part in a 'twerking competition', upsetting her mother and going against her family's strict religious beliefs.

Cuties, which has been classified as NC-17 - the US's strictest movie rating that bans anyone under the age of 18 from watching it - has received major backlash for 'hyper-sexualizing' minors thanks to its incredibly provocative trailer and poster, which show a group of pre-adolescent girls twerking in skimpy outfits.

Fury: An upcoming Netflix movie, Cuties, has prompted outrage from viewers for 'sexualizing' children after a poster and trailer showed tween girls twerking in crop tops and hot pants

Controversy: Twitter users have blasted Netflix for showing the French film, which tells the story of an 11-year-old Senegalese Muslim girl, Amy, who joins a school dance group

Upset: One person pointed out that the Netflix poster for the movie (right) is far more provocative than the original French version

The movie's official synopsis reads: '11-year-old Amy lives with her mom, Mariam, and younger brother, awaiting her father to rejoin the family from Senegal.

'Amy is fascinated by disobedient neighbor Angelicas free-spirited dance clique, a group that stands in sharp contrast to stoic Mariams deeply held traditional values.

'Undeterred by the girls initial brutal dismissal and eager to escape her familys simmering dysfunction, Amy, through an ignited awareness of her burgeoning femininity, propels the group to enthusiastically embrace an increasingly sensual dance routine, sparking the girls hope to twerk their way to stardom at a local dance contest.'

But while the movie itself is meant to offer commentary on the dangers of society sexualizing its youth, viewers have been left horrified by Netflix's decision to market it in such an overtly provocative manner.

One Twitter user pointed out that the marketing materials used by the streaming site are much more risque than the original French versions, with the Netflix poster showing the girls posing provocatively while wearing crop tops and hot pants.

In a stark contrast, the original poster for the movie - which has been used on other sites like IMDB - depicts the youngsters on a shopping trip.

'It's interesting to compare the French version of the Cuties poster to the American version... like the French version has more "kids having fun!" vibes, while the American version is just f*****g.... gross,' the user pointed out, while sharing a side-by-side comparison of the two posters.

Panned: In the trailer, Amy (seen in the green T-shirt) joins a group of dancers at her school, and the young girls are seen practicing provocative dance moves and sexy poses

Pushing boundaries: The young stars model incredibly adult outfits throughout the trailer

'Reprehensible': Social media users have been quick to slam the trailer - while calling for the movie to be banned from Netfix before its September 9 premiere

Anger: Some people have called out Netflix for choosing to highlight the most provocative aspects of the movie in an apparent attempt to gain more interest

'I feel like the #Netflix marketing team has a lot to answer for.'

Another person called out the fact that even Netflix's blurb about the movie fails to highlight the fact that Cuties is meant to be a commentary on the fact that young girls are being increasingly 'hyper-sexualized' by society - instead choosing to focus solely on its young star's 'fascination with twerking'.

'The thing about the Netflix campaign for Cuties is how disgustingly sexualized these girls are,' the person wrote.

'Compare the poster and blurb from Netflix versus the ones on IMDb, s**t is as different as night and day. Someone should get fired.'

The Netflix blurb shared by the user says: 'Amy, 11, becomes fascinated with a twerking dance crew. Hoping to join them, she stars to explore her femininity, defying her family's traditions.'

However, on IMDB, the movie blurb doesn't include any mention of twerking, instead detailing: 'Amy, an 11-year-old girl, joins a group of dancers named "the cuties" at school, and rapidly grows aware of her burgeoning femininity - upsetting her mother and her values in the process.'

Even Wikipedia highlights the movie's social commentary, with the site's movie description pointing out how Cuties is intended to raise concerns about the impact internet culture can have on pre-adolescent girls.

'The film is based on a traditional Senegalese Muslim girl who is caught and torn between two contrasting fortunes, traditional values and internet culture while also speaking about hyper sexualization of pre-adolescent girls,' the description says.

Accusations: One Twitter user pointed out the fact that Netflix appears to have purposely emphasized the more provocative aspects of the movie in its marketing materials

Innocent: Unlike the Netflix poster, which shows the pre-adolescent stars in skimpy outfits, the original French version depicted the youngsters on a shopping trip

Provocative: The Netflix blurb also focuses on the more sexualized aspects of the movie, describing how an 11-year-old becomes 'fascinated with twerking'

Contrast: On IMDB, the movie's description doesn't mention twerking, and instead talks about how Amy's decision to join the Cuties upsets her mother and her values

Difference: Even Wikipedia highlights the movie's social commentary, with the site's movie description noting that Cuties is meant to raise concerns about the impact of internet culture

Message: 'The film is based on a traditional Senegalese Muslim girl who is caught and torn between two contrasting fortunes, traditional values and internet culture,' Wikipedia states

In the wake of the furious backlash, Netflix issued a swift apology, confirming to Deadline that it has removed the 'inappropriate artwork' used to promote the movie, while also updating the film's blurb on its website.

'Were deeply sorry for the inappropriate artwork that we used for Cuties,' a spokesperson for the site said. 'It was not OK, nor was it representative of this French film which premiered at Sundance. Weve now updated the pictures and description.'

The blurb on the Netflix website no longer contains any mention of twerking, and instead highlights central character Amy's 'rebellion' against her family's strict ethos.

'Eleven-year-old Amy stars to rebel against her conservative family's traditions when she becomes fascinated with a free-spirited dance crew,' it reads.

The trailer does not appear to have been edited or changed however.

In the Cuties trailer, which was posted on the official Netflix YouTube account on August 18, Amy - who is portrayed by 11-year-old newcomer Fathia Youssouf - is seen trying to balance her strict religious upbringing with her newfound friend group, all of whom are shown acting and dressing in an overtly mature and sexual way.

A once-shy Amy is seen growing in confidence - dressing more provocatively, acting against her mother's wishes, and eventually stealing money to fund a shopping trip for her and her friends.

At times the tween stars are seen acting like the young girls they are, giggling, having fun and playing - however these scenes are mixed in with clips of the girls practicing overtly sexual dance moves and experimenting with provocative poses.

Concerns: An online petition to have the movie removed from Netflix has received tens of thousands of signatures

'Shame on you Netflix': Social media users were left horrified by the trailer, in which a group of tween girls are seen dancing provocatively in skimpy outfits

Towards the end of the trailer, the four young stars are seen in what appears to be their final dance performance, for which they don incredibly skimpy outfits - metallic crop tops and tight spandex hot pants - before twerking and body rolling in front of a panel of adults.

However, while some have chosen to call out Netflix's portrayal of the movie, others have insisted that the incredibly mature content of Cuties is the issue.

Audiences have started a petition to have Cuties removed from Netflix, which has received almost 20,000 signatures.

Others have shared their outrage on social media, with dozens of Twitter users voicing fury about the sexual nature of the movie - and Netflix's decision to promote Cuties through provocative imagery.

One Twitter user wrote: 'This is f***ing disgusting. Minors shouldn't be sexualized like this.'

Another added: 'I'm all for discussing those import[ant] issues, but we don't have to sexualize young girls to discuss the sexual of young girls. Too much of it happening for real. No need to have it happen for fake.'

The film was directed by Maimouna Doucoure, a French-Senegalese screenwriter and filmmaker. Maimouna received the Directing Award for 'Cuties' at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival.
Access to the popular Bear Slides natural water slide in Warrensburg just got a lot nicer and easier to navigate, thanks to a 17-year-old Queensbury Eagle Scout and volunteers.

James McGuire, now a freshman at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Arizona, spent 50 hours cleaning up Bear Slides Trail earlier this summer to make it more visually appealing, and easier to access for those with disabilities.

Assisted by fellow Scouts, family and friends, the longtime Scout cleared trees and debris from the trail, added crushed stone to it and dismantled illegal fire pits that had been built along the route, to discourage illegal camping.

He also cleaned up bags of garbage from both sides of River Road on the way to the trail, said Rebecca Terry, the state Department of Environmental Conservation forester overseeing the work.

The Hudson River Special Management Area has seen a lot of use this summer, especially because of COVID-19, so with that came issues with garbage and things like that, she said. James saw a need for picking up garbage and helping with maintenance  and were grateful to him and the volunteers. We really appreciate the work.

McGuire, who graduated a year early from Queensbury and was reached at school in Arizona on Thursday, said he chose the project to cap his Eagle Scout efforts because he traveled that road a lot for his rafting company job and realized how littered it and the trail had become.

He also said it was a place he went with his family over the years, having grown up in Lake Luzerne.

It needed to be cleaned up, the future commercial pilot said. It had really gotten run down and the DEC and maintenance couldnt really keep up with the increase in the amount of people there.

He said reactions to his efforts have been great.

People were very happy with it. Its something that gets put on the back burner, like itll get done eventually, but no one ever wants to step up and do it, McGuire said. People really appreciated it.

Troop 2 Scoutmaster Chris Jones praised McGuires ability to see a need and work to correct it.

Through his own initiative, he developed, planned and led the different aspects of the project, he said.

And McGuires mother, Kim, who was his Cub Scout leader years ago, also praised his efforts and said being involved with the Scouts offered him a lot of opportunities, including a trip to New Mexico to hike and fly fish.

He stuck with it and learned so much from being involved, as I have as well, she said. I am so proud of all he has accomplished and especially proud of this project which gives accessibility to more outdoor spaces for those in wheelchairs and beautifies a spot along the Hudson that James grew up enjoying.

Thats the kind of stewardship we can all learn from, and hopefully do more of.

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Known as King Lexi and King Looney, Alexis Peguero, the former second-in-command of the Boston chapter of the Latin Kings, pleaded guilty this week to selling drugs and threatening rivals while helping lead the violent gang, authorities said.

The 29-year-old man was charged late last year with federal conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, also known as RICO conspiracy, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Andrew Lellings office.

He pleaded guilty to the charges in federal court in Boston on Wednesday, and U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel scheduled his sentencing for later this year, the statement said.

Peguero was one of 62 alleged gang members and affiliates arrested across the Northeast in December as part of Operation Throne Down, an investigation led by federal, state and local law enforcement that targeted the Latin Kings.

After the arrests, authorities seized $38,000 in cash, six cars, six motorcycles, three jet skis, an ATV and various drugs and firearms, including a submachine gun and an AR-15 rifle, Lellings office said.

The gang is a brutal criminal enterprise made up of thousands of members across the United States and adhere to a national manifesto. Latin Kings chapters also use an internal judiciary and a sophisticated communication system to maintain the hierarchy of the organization, according to authorities.

As alleged in court documents, the gang uses drug distribution to generate revenue and engages in violence against witnesses and rival gangs to further its influence and to protect its turf, federal authorities said.

At the time of his arrest, Peguero served as the Cacique or second-in-command of the Devon Street Kings, also known as the D5K Chapter, a Boston-based division of the national Latin Kings gang, Lellings office said.

Named for its origins on Devon Street in Boston, the D5K Chapter had roughly a dozen members who reported to Peguero at various times, according to the prosecutor.

The Devon Street Kings reported to the Massachusetts state leadership of the Latin Kings, providing them information, structure, funds and other resources to further the gangs goals in Massachusetts, authorities said.

According to court documents, Peguero produced various music videos touting his allegiance to the Latin Kings. He sold drugs and threatened rival gang members as well, Lelling noted in his statement.

During the Operation Throne Down investigation, multiple Latin Kings meetings were secretly recorded, showing Peguero and other members of the D5K Chapter talking about the business of the gang, the statement said.

Peguero also attended meetings where members were beaten and violence against rival gangs was planned, according to authorities.

He is the eighth gang member of the 62 individuals charged to plead guilty in the Operation Throne Down case.

Wilson King Dubb Peguero, first-in-command of the Devon Street Kings, pleaded guilty last month to racketeering charges. Lellings office did not say whether Wilson and Alexis Peguero are related.

Alvin Mojica, leader of the Latin Kingss Worcester chapter, admitted in court in mid-July to selling roughly 14 grams of cocaine to a cooperating witness in May 2019.

Both gang heads are expected to be sentenced in October, according to Lellings office.

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Portland police arrested Skylor Jernigan, 27, of Milwaukie, on Wednesday in connection with a shooting after pro-police protesters squared off with counterprotesters in downtown Portland on Saturday.

Jernigan was one of the pro-police protesters. At least one video from the scene showed a man, who appeared to be Jernigan, fire two rounds from the drivers side window of a blue sedan. Additional videos captured the sound of the rounds as they rang out.

No one appeared to have been injured in the incident.

Jernigan was booked on two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, menacing, recklessly endangering another person (with a weapon) and discharging a firearm in the city. The counts of unlawful use of a weapon are felonies and the rest of the charges are misdemeanors.

Police said they served search warrant and seized a firearm they believe was used in the shooting.

"I am pleased to hear about the apprehension of this suspect and recovery of a firearm. I want to thank our PPB investigators and partners with the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office for their diligent efforts on this case," Chief Chuck Lovell said in the release. "Tensions are running high in our City and it is important for everyone to know PPB members are doing everything possible to prevent violence and criminal acts and investigate incidents that have already occurred."

The arrest and Lovells comments come at a time when protesters are voicing concerns about Portland polices commitment to investigating attacks on protesters by other members of the public.

The shooting happened after the Saturday afternoon rally outside the Justice Center to support police that was organized by some local right-wing organizers.

Protesters also said on social media that people threw a pipe bomb at them after the shooting. Lovell tweeted Monday that police were actively looking into this case.

About 30 pro-police protesters gathered at the downtown Justice Center, with a seemingly equal number of protesters there to oppose them. Skirmishes broke out between the groups, with pro-police protesters aiming pepper spray and firing paintballs at people.

-- K. Rambo

krambo@oregonian.com

@k_rambo_

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Californias rushed spring reopening turned a relative oasis of calm in the nations coronavirus outbreak into a viral storm. Now the first faint signs that the surge is abating are reviving a familiar and misguided clamor to return once again to business as usual.

State officials reported some evidence of a stabilizing or slowing outbreak in recent days, with newly confirmed infections having fallen from a peak near 10,000 a day in July to about 7,500 a day over the past week. The rate of tests yielding positive results has also declined, from a height of more than 8% last month to 6.3% over the past week. Confirmed and suspected COVID-19 hospitalizations have dropped from more than 8,000 patients a month ago to less than 6,400.

Three populous counties, Santa Cruz, Placer and San Diego, came off the states watch list for coronavirus spread over the past week, and Gov. Gavin Newsom said San Francisco could follow as soon as Thursday.

In addition to bars, indoor dining, movie theaters and other businesses shuttered statewide, the listed counties are required to close gyms, nonessential offices and salons, among other activities. But a San Francisco salon owner led a movement to reopen such businesses in defiance of the orders this week, and San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer complained that the state hasnt provided guidelines for resuming prohibited activities in counties released from monitoring. The lack of a consistent process for these businesses, with logical, data-driven triggers, exacerbates an increasingly difficult economic situation and undermines the credibility of and compliance with the states public health order, Faulconer wrote in a letter to Newsom.

The governor said the guidelines are forthcoming, promising that the shutdowns are not a permanent state. But resuming high-risk activities is not likely to go better than it did two months ago until infection rates are under control and state and local governments have the capacity to test for and trace the new outbreaks that will inevitably emerge.

By most measures, the state is in worse shape now than it was for its first abortive return to normalcy. New infections are still being confirmed at more than double the pace seen in May, and the share of tests detecting the virus is higher by half. Officials just finished fixing a data breakdown that left the state in the dark about the true extent of the outbreak. And recent fluctuations in the number of hospitalizations prompted Newsom to sound a note of caution about whether the downward trend will continue.

The 120,000 tests a day being carried out represent a dramatic improvement from the first months of the pandemic but remain well below the number experts believe would be needed to suppress the spread. Moreover, barriers to access and delays in results render too much of the states testing useless in slowing spread.

We started here as really ground zero for COVID in the United States and, six months in, were still fighting, Santa Clara Countys health officer, Sara Cody, said Tuesday at the opening of a drive-through site designed to conduct up to 1,000 tests a day at the fairgrounds in San Jose. The reason that we are still fighting is that we have not had the tools to get us out. One of the most important tools to get us out is testing  testing, testing, testing.

Since a San Jose woman became the first known U.S. fatality from coronavirus complications in February, more than 170,000 have followed, including more than 11,000 in California and 1,000 in the Bay Area. Until our capacity to detect the virus outpaces its ability to spread, every resumption of mass commerce and contact will compound that daunting toll.

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.
A Beijing-based think tank released a report in early August to show that a few hundred Vietnamese fishing boats had entered Cambodia-controlled maritime areas in the Gulf of Thailand since June.

The South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI), which is affiliated with the Peking Universitys Institute of Ocean Research, published a report titled Vietnamese Fishing Vessels Illegal Activities Remained High in July.

It reported Vietnamese fishing vessel movements near China, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Cambodia.

In July, a total of 100 Vietnamese fishing boats intruded into the waters of Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand, which was down by 30% from 157 in June, the report reads.

The report alleged that Vietnamese fishing boats were conducting illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities.

The think tank said the incursions near Guangdong and Hainan were likely reconnaissance missions, given these areas were critical for the Chinese army and navy.

The research was based on data obtained from an automated identification system, which uses information about ships to other ships and coastal authorities.

By doing so, they are, on the one hand, creating disputes, on the other, taking advantage of law enforcement loopholes in these areas.

Vietnam and China are disputants in the South China Sea conflict, where China has not allowed Vietnamese boats to enter the disputed area, even sinking a few vessels, with Vietnam raising strong public objections.

Touch Poleak, chief of Cambodias maritime police department, denied there were intrusions into Cambodian waters by foreign vessels, declining to answer questions about the tracking and radar systems used to report any such incursions.

During this time of Covid-19 pandemic I can guarantee that such illegal trespassing of our maritime border areas is impossible and ceased to exist, Touch Poleak said.

Touch Poleak admitted that there have been cases before the coronavirus pandemic where foreign fishing vessels had been able to intrude in the historic waters area, between Vietnam-controlled Phu Quoc and Tho Chu islands and Cambodian-controlled Poulo Wai, Seh islands, and a maritime area of Cambodias Kampot Province.

There have been none of them since February and March, he said.

Attached to the report, the SCSPI supplied a list of the vessel names, codes, time, locations where the incursions were made in Cambodian waters.

The SCSPI posted a link to its report on Twitter a day after an incident on Monday in which the Malaysian coastguard shot dead a Vietnamese fisherman in the South China Sea.

SCSPI may want to prove that Vietnamese illegal fishing also causes problems to other Southeast Asian countries, said Leng Thearith, director of the Phnom Penh-based Mekong Centre for Strategic Studies at the Asian Vision Institute.

Leng Thearith said the finding by the Chinese think tank put the Cambodian government in a difficult position  to either act on fishing vessel incursions or ignore them.

On the one hand, it has to do something to protest against such activities [as it violates Cambodias territorial sovereignty]; on the other hand, it does not want the issue to severely affect the overall relations with Vietnam.

Collin Koh, a research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said that while Cambodian naval forces have limited capability to handle any maritime encroachments, the question was whether Cambodia would respond.

Is Phnom Penh willing to rock the boat with Hanoi, considering not only close political, trade and security links but a recent spate of sensitive issues  such as the row over Vietnamese tents along the border area? Collin Koh asked.

He added that it was important to note that the SCSPI was part of Chinas efforts to put forth its maritime strategic viewpoint, though not limited to just the South China Sea.

The maritime security expert said while China was accused of similar incursions, Vietnamese controversial fishing activities have also been notable, given recent incidents between Vietnamese fishermen and the coastguards of Indonesia and Malaysia.

Such incidents may undermine goodwill between ASEAN member states, and could be a bad hindrance against any united front on the SCS issues, Collin Koh said, referring to the South China Sea conflict.

The SCSPI, in its conclusion of the report, questioned the U.S. assistance to the Vietnamese government in a memorandum of understanding signed on July 22 to curb the illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities.

No matter what the US and Vietnam are planning for, if they were for an early resolution of the IUU problem, the international community would like to see solid results from this cooperation that the intruding Vietnamese fishing vessels could take a favorable turn and finally be under control.
President Donald Trump must hand over his tax returns to the Manhattan district attorney, a federal judge ruled on Thursday.

Judge Victor Marrero, of the Federal District Court in Manhattan, rejected Trumps attorneys claims that District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. had overreached in his request for eight years of Trumps financial records, including personal and business tax returns, The New York Times reported.

Marreros ruling comes a month after the Supreme Court shot down Trumps first argument that a president is immune from investigation while he holds office. Trumps latest claim, that Vances request is out of bounds for a local attorney, is likely to wind up back in the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court in July also sent the issue of subpoenas, sought by the House Ways and Means Committee chaired by Rep. Richard Neal, to the lower courts. But the majority rejected arguments from Trumps lawyers and the Justice Department that a sitting president is immune from investigation, or that a prosecutor must show a greater need to obtain the tax records than they would have to show normally.

According to the New York Times, Marrero said established judicial process did not automatically transform into an incidence of incapacitating harassment and ill-will merely because the proceedings potentially may implicate the president.

Vance is investigating alleged payments to women who claimed to have affairs with Trump during the 2016 election, as well as possibly extensive and protracted criminal conduct at the Trump Organization, according to the Times.

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Recently I attended a virtual product launch for a smart lock with no physical keyhole as a backup, and my gut reaction was that getting a lock like that would be a terrible idea. How could it really be secure? What if it got hacked? What if the batteries ran out? But, while some of my reservations are valid, it turns out the issue is more complex than I thought.

I am absolutely not anti-smart home. I love using my TP-Link Kasa plugs to monitor the energy usage of my dehumidifier as much as the next person with the soul of a man in his fifties. And the Samsung AX5500 will let me monitor the air quality at home from anywhere in the world, should I ever be allowed to leave my apartment again. But the risks on those devices are extremely low; the worst someone could do is make my air nicer without my permission, which is frankly something I could live with.

Smart locks let you secure your front door in a number of ways, but also present unique challenges.

Before using a new smart device long term, the first question I ask is "what's the worst that could happen if this got hacked?" What could someone do if they got control of my devices and used them maliciously? The risks on a smart lock or security camera are far higher than that of a smart air purifier.

But RMIT's Dr Jenny Kennedy, a smart home expert, pointed out that the risk of your smart home being turned against you is like the risk of your being kidnapped or murdered; it's more likely to come from people you know than complete strangers.
NEW HANOVER  Police Cpl. Michael Salvo was awarded a commendation by the township supervisors for his work on an extensive investigation involving sexual contact between a teacher and juvenile at Coventry Christian School.

In April 2019, police became aware of the matter, which involved numerous instances of sexual contact.

Police received information pertaining to statements made by a teenage girl to a therapist, according to court papers. The report, according to a criminal complaint, indicated that there was a sexual relationship between the juvenile and her former teacher while she was enrolled at the Coventry Christian School, as reported in The Mercury last August.

Salvo was assigned to investigate.

The investigation required countless hours of exhaustive investigative work and ultimately resulted in the successful prosecution and conviction of a dangerous sexual predator, according to the commendation Salvo received.

In February, Scott Brandon Cline, 33, formerly of the 100 block of Berks Street, Pottstown, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 111/2 to 23 months in the county jail, to be followed by four years probation, after he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of school sexual contact with a student in connection with incidents that occurred with a 16-year-old girl between February and August 2018.

The sentence, imposed by Judge Richard P. Haaz as part of a plea agreement, means Cline will be under court supervision for a total of about six years, Hessler reported.

This was a highly sensitive case given the circumstances, and Corporal Salvos tireless dedication to the pursuit of justice was exemplary and potentially prevented the victimization of other students, read the commendation.

Salvo became a member of the New Hanover Township Police Department in 2011. He is a graduate of Temple University Police Academy, where he finished at the top of his class.

In addition to patrol duties, Salvo has served as a criminal investigator, a field training officer, and he is currently the departments lead firearms instructor.

Salvo has been recognized for numerous police commendations to include those presented for actions taken during the life-saving efforts of an infant, and for the apprehension of dangerous home intruders.

Prior to police work, Salvo served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps infantry. During his time with the USMC, Salvo completed two tours of duty within Iraq. He completed his first overseas tour as an infantry machine gunner, and his second as a scout sniper team leader.

In addition to his law enforcement and military experience, Salvo has earned a bachelors degree in criminal justice from Albright College, as well as a masters degree in Law Enforcement Intelligence from Saint Josephs University.
U.S. Announces Humanitarian Assistance for Iraq

Press Statement

Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State

August 19, 2020



Today in Washington, the United States announced nearly $204 million in additional humanitarian assistance for the people of Iraq, Iraqi refugees in the region, and to generous communities hosting them. This funding includes nearly $133 million from the State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration and more than $71 million from USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance. This funding brings the total for the U.S. humanitarian response for Iraq to more than $706 million since the beginning of Fiscal Year 2019. In addition, the United States has provided $49.5 million in COVID assistance in Iraq and more than $22.7 million to date in Fiscal Year 2020 to assist over 244,000 Syrian refugees in Iraq.

This assistance will provide critical shelter, essential healthcare, emergency food assistance, and water, sanitation, and hygiene services across Iraq. It will also improve access to civil documentation and legal services, the capacity of health care facilities and increase access to education and livelihoods opportunities.

The United States remains the largest single donor of humanitarian assistance in Iraq and globally, in line with our National Security Strategy. We appreciate all donors who have stepped up and continue to encourage both traditional and new donors to help meet growing needs.

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The Uttar Pradesh and Israel governments on Thursday signed a plan of cooperation to resolve water crisis in Bundelkhand region.

Alok Sinha, UP agriculture production commissioner and Israeli ambassador to India, Ron Malka, signed the agreement here on behalf of their governments.

The India Israel  Bundelkhand Water Project comprises three key components including water conservation, water efficient transportation and advanced water practices for agriculture.

We have signed the project on a day when India Day is celebrated in Israel. For this project, 28 districts across the country, including two in Uttar Pradesh, have been selected, said Alok Sinha, agriculture production commissioner.

In the first phase, 25 villages in Babina block of Jhansi district had been selected, he added.

The agreement has been signed for two years and will be extended later. The project aims to address water crisis in drought hit regions of Bundelkhand. It will help farmers of the region with latest farming technologies, including drip irrigation, meant for water deficient regions like Bundelkhand.

The water reservoir of Pahuj dam in Jhansi will be enabled with integrated drip irrigation. Assistance of experts from Israel will also be taken for implementing latest farming technologies, said Sinha.

Sinha said the project will also be a role model for ground water management, irrigation and potable water management for the rest of the country while addressing water scarcity in Bundelkhand and its adjoining regions.

Watch: India-China border dispute: 5 things you need to know about current situation

Israeli ambassador Ron Malka said: This is another example of the multifaceted partnership between Israel and India. Israel is keen to share its most advanced, innovative and cutting edge water technologies with the government of Uttar Pradesh. Water security is the top priority in our strategic water partnership with India.

During Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Israel in 2017, Israel and India signed two major water agreements to increase cooperation in water conservation and state water utility reform in India.

Last year, Union minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat had attended the WATEC conference in Israel to advance cooperation in the field of water between the two countries.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 00:31:55|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- China urges relevant U.S. politicians to take into account the well-being of the people in China, the U.S. and all other countries, heed calls from the international community, and work with China to bring China-U.S. relations back on the track of coordination, cooperation and stability, according to a Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Wednesday.

Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on recent remarks by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the relationship between the U.S. and China.

"It is our consistent belief that China and the United States stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation," Zhao said. "Cooperation between China and the United States can benefit both countries and the whole world, and confrontation between the two countries is not in line with the interests of the international community."

He said the sound and steady development of China-U.S. relations has a bearing upon the current and future development of both countries and the world. It meets the shared aspirations of people in China, the United States and across the globe.

The reason why China-U.S. relations have encountered serious difficulties is that the U.S. government unilaterally stirred up troubles and through its words and deeds interfered in China's internal affairs, undermined China's interests and damaged China-U.S. bilateral ties, Zhao said.

"Driven by selfish motives, a small number of U.S. politicians have been instigating anti-China sentiments, antagonism and confrontation. Such retrogressive moves, unpopular as they are, have been and will continue to be strongly criticized and rejected by visionary people in China and the U.S., as well as peace-loving people all over the world," Zhao said.

"We urge certain U.S. politicians to take into account the well-being of the people in China, the U.S. and all other countries, heed calls from the international community, discard the obsolete Cold War mentality, view China and China-U.S. relations objectively, and work with China to bring bilateral ties back on the track of coordination, cooperation and stability, and to jointly safeguard world peace, stability and development," Zhao added. Enditem
Former President Barack Obama, delivering his first truly searing indictment of the Trump administration since leaving the White House, sought to appeal to the same diverse coalition that first propelled him to the presidency 12 years ago. He said he understood the political disillusionment shared among people like white factory workers, Black mothers, new immigrants and young people.

And he encouraged the young people who took to the streets this summer to protest racial injustice, telling them that in so many ways, you are this countrys dreams fulfilled.

The evenings slate of speakers was filled almost completely by women; the only men with extended speaking time were Mr. Obama and Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio. Hillary Clinton, Senator Elizabeth Warren and Speaker Nancy Pelosi preceded the nights two headliners.

Critics have noted the relatively small presence of Latino speakers at the convention, a shortage seen as particularly ill-suited for a party that is assailing the Trump administration over its immigration policies, including separating families at the border.

On Wednesday, however, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, one of the nations highest-profile Latina elected officials, opened a discussion on climate change. Immigrant families shared their stories of hardship. An open letter from immigrants included a blunt message: Mr. President, you tore our world apart.

Silvia Sanchez, an undocumented immigrant in North Carolina who appeared before the 2012 convention to discuss her familys financial struggles, returned, this time with her daughters Jessica and Lucy, to talk about the need to extend protections for Dreamers.

Of course, the Biden campaign doesnt just want to reward and fire up the most loyal Democratic voters of the Trump era; it wants them to cast ballots. There were many appeals on Wednesday to join the campaigns texting operation with a single word: Vote.
Losing your balance and falling does not just happen during icy Boston winters. The slip resistance of your shoes can determine how well you walk on different surfaces without losing balance. Shoe grips increase friction by engaging with the walking surface, helping to increase stability. In a recently published study, investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) presented a bioinspired assistive shoe grip based on kirigami, the Japanese art of paper cutting. Kirigami can be used to create highly flexible surfaces that buckle from a flat sheet to a three-dimensional textured surface. The new kirigami-based shoe sole is intended to reduce the risks of slips and falls by adjusting as a person steps, increasing friction with pop-up spikes as necessary. In Nature Biomedical Engineering, the team reports the results of friction testing on a range of surfaces, including ice, finding that the kirigami shoe soles increased friction with the ground to get a better grip on slippery surfaces.

"What we developed is a dynamic shoe sole that can give you grip when you need it, which is when you are actually walking and moving," said co-corresponding author Giovanni Traverso, MB, BChir, PhD, a gastroenterologist and biomedical engineer in the Division of Gastroenterology at the Brigham and MIT. "The key is that it is dynamic and has the capacity to tune friction as you take a step. Current solutions like cleats have spikes that are always present, so a dynamic shoe grip that could adjust itself with movement would be a more ideal way to mitigate falling."

To learn more about dynamic ways of modulating friction, the researchers looked to nature for inspiration, examining how animals have scales or claws that selectively increase friction in certain situations. They recognized that by applying change in the shape of the sole, they could control the popping up of the spikes and modulate friction with the surface due to the flexible, buckling nature of kirigami. To identify the set of shapes that would best accomplish this, the team modeled each shape's performance on how it popped up under certain strains.

The buckling-induced kirigami patches were constructed using steel and attached to shoe soles, enabling the dynamic tuning of the walking surface's frictional properties. Traverso and colleagues tested the soles by creating flat or popped-up versions and measured the friction on different surfaces including ice, vinyl and hardwood to identify the optimal conformation. They initially tested the pop-up designs in the form of a sheet that was dragged across different surfaces. Then the team tested the designs on three human subjects by placing the sheets on shoe soles and having the subjects walk on a block of ice that was placed on a surface that measured the amount of force. By having the subjects walk on the ice both with and without the soles, the team could get a sense of the mechanics behind the design.

The results showed that the kirigami shoe grips were able to enhance the frictional properties between the soles and the walking surface, mitigating slips and falls. The team reports that use of the kirigami shoe grip could achieve a greater friction than that observed with standard winter boots by two- to three-fold. Although the initial designs were constructed using stainless steel for proof of concept, the researchers are now applying the concept to other materials that are more commonly used today. They are also focusing on creating prototypes where the grip is already built into the shoe as opposed to being added on.

"We are now working towards applying and incorporating the grips into different shoes," said Traverso. "The grips could be useful in the sporting shoe industry, in standard shoes used in day-to-day settings, and in occupational health situations where there might be an increased risk of slippage."

###

Funding for this work was provided by a start-up grant from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, MIT, to Giovanni Traverso. Katia Bertoldi received support from the National Science Foundation (DMR-1420570, EFRI C3 SoRo 1830896). Ahmad Rafsanjani received support from a grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation (P300P2-164648). Two co-authors of the paper are inventors on a patent application (patent no. US2019/0232598A1) describing buckling-induced kirigami. Other co-authors, including Traverso are co-inventors on a provisional patent application (no. 62913419) for the technology described.

Complete details of all relationships for profit and not-for-profit for Traverso can be found at the following link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/szi7vnr4a2ajb56/AABs5N5i0q9AfT1IqIJAE-T5a?dl=0.

Paper cited: Babaee, S. et al. "Bioinspired kirigami metasurfaces as assistive shoe grips" Nat Biomed Eng DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-020-0564-3
Since it was first published in 1983, The Best Lawyers in America has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence in the United States.

Livesay & Myers, P.C. proudly announces that two of our attorneys have been included in the 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Additionally, seven lawyers from the firm are recognized in the inaugural edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.

Since it was first published in 1983, The Best Lawyers in America has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence in the United States.

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, the newest award initiative from Best Lawyers, recognizes attorneys who are earlier in their careers for professional excellence in private practice.

"Best Lawyers was founded in 1981 with the purpose of highlighting the extraordinary accomplishments of those in the legal profession. After almost four decades, we are proud to continue to serve as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals worldwide," said CEO Phillip Greer.

Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch lists are divided by practice area and geographic region. They are reviewed by their peers on the basis of professional expertise, and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing.

Livesay & Myers, P.C. congratulates the following lawyers named to 2021 Best Lawyers Publications:

The Best Lawyers in America

Matthew H. Smith - Family Law

Andrew Tank - Family Law

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch

Shirin Afsous - Family Law

Ariel Baniowski - Family Law and Family Law: Arbitration and Mediation

Lindsay Connolly - Family Law

Jonathan McHugh - Family Law

Anneshia Miller Grant - Family Law

Jamel Rowe - Family Law

Amanda Stone Swart - Family Law and Family Law: Arbitration and Mediation

About Livesay & Myers, P.C.

Livesay & Myers, P.C. is an award-winning family law firm with offices in Fairfax, Arlington, Manassas, Fredericksburg and Leesburg, Virginia. The firm was founded in 2003 by partners James Livesay and Kevin Myers. By 2016, the firm had made the annual Virginia Lawyers Weekly list of Virginias Largest Law Firms, debuting at #64 and moving up to #52 by the 2020 edition. Livesay & Myers, P.C. appears in the 20182020 Editions of the U.S. News - Best Lawyers listing of Best Law Firms as a Tier 2 firm in Family Law for the Washington, D.C. region.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 21)  The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases on Thursday night issued the guidelines for COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials in the country.

Through Resolution No. 65, the IATF approved the recommendations of the Sub-Technical Working Group on Vaccine Development in coming up with the said guidelines. The group is chaired by Science and Technology Undersecretary for Research and Development Rowena Guevara.

The IATF resolution provides that all clinical trials applications must be submitted to the Vaccine Expert Panel. Then, the applications will be reviewed by the designated Ethics Boards and submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for review and approval of the conduct of clinical trials.

The Sub-Technical Working Group on Vaccine Development is mandated to issue zoning guidelines on vaccine clinical trials to avoid competition for sites.

The IATF instructed local government units to prioritize World Health Organization-backed solidarity trials over independent vaccine trials.

All ethical guidelines for COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials and compensation of trial participants, both for the WHO Solidarity Trial and independent trials, are subject to review by the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board.

Guevara said on Wednesday a COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial is slated to start in the later part of 2020 as the country is in talks with Russia and 16 other vaccine manufacturers.

The DOST official added a COVID-19 vaccine may be available for distribution to Filipinos by second quarter of 2021.

The FDA previously assured they will not allow a Phase 3 clinical trial to be held in the Philippines if the regulatory and ethics boards haven't thoroughly reviewed the documents from Phases 1 and 2, ensuring that the vaccine will be safe.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization on Tuesday advised countries from idly waiting for a COVID-19 vaccine. WHO Western Pacific Regional Director Dr. Takeshi Kasai said countries should focus on improving their COVID-19 response as there may not be enough supply of the vaccine during the initial production.
More than 10,000 homes were left without power across Munster as Storm Ellen arrived with vast swathes of Cork badly affected before winds eased after midnight.

In Cork, power outages were reported across the city and county, including in Douglas, Little Island and Cobh with flooding in Skibbereen.

There have been multiple trees felled by the storm across the county.

Met Eireann had warned that Storm Ellen would produce severe impacts.

A status red wind warning for Cork was in place until 11.59pm last night.

The road under Timoleague Abbey flooded badly at high tide this evening. Picture: Andy Gibson.

A status orange wind warning was in place for Munster, Galway and Mayo until 6am on Thursday.

Met Eireann has warned that the storm will track over Ireland this evening and tonight bringing severe and damaging winds.

Heavy rainfall and storm surge will result in some flooding.

A status yellow wind warning for the rest of the country is in place until 8am tomorrow.

Maersk Niteroi departing #CorkHarbour just now. Wind and waves increasing, as our pilot and launch crew ensures her safe departure. #StormEllen increasing - stay safe everyone #keepingtheshowontheroad Thanks @captainbob76 for the footage! pic.twitter.com/hufbpy9h0x  Port of Cork (@PortofCork) August 19, 2020

Earlier today, Gerry Murphy from Met Eireann said that Cork will experience extreme winds on Wednesday night.

"It's going to get very bad, potentially in Cork in the sense that this depression is moving up and it's spinning quite rapidly. It's going to generate very strong winds," he told C103's Cork Today Show.

"The most up-to-date information is that Cork is going to get the biggest hit from it. The winds will be extremely strong, with damaging gusts well over 120km/hr in places. There will be rain as well.

"It's potentially quite a very stormy night, particularly given the fact we're still meteorologically in the summer. The trees are in bloom which means leaves will be more susceptible to falling at this time of year than they would in winter.

It all depends on the exact track of the storm but currently, the track is such that Cork will get the heaviest hit from that storm.

EUMETSAT Satellite animation showing the track of #StormEllen. The developing low pressure system that will cross Ireland tonight can be identified as the bend in the cloud located to the northwest of Spain. All current warnings see https://t.co/juduxcKda8 pic.twitter.com/FkVxNR9TNQ  Met Eireann (@MetEireann) August 19, 2020

Met Eireann's Head of Forecasting, Evelyn Cusack, said today that very poor conditions are on the way and tourists in exposed locations will be at risk for these unseasonable stormy and wet conditions.

"Storm Ellen is going to hit Kerry, the south-west of Ireland later this evening and then zip up the west or perhaps in over Ireland tonight," she said.

The worst of the winds will actually be during the night, she said.

"There are likely to be quite damaging winds so we are obviously worried about the huge amounts of tourists especially in the south and in the west. Very dangerous conditions indeed."

Ms Cusack added that while the worst of the winds should have passed over the country on Wednesday night, there would still be gales and high seas on Thursday and Friday.

People walk by as waves crash on the Front Strand in Youghal, Co. Cork. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

On Wednesday afternoon, Cork County Council urged people camping or in caravans to seek alternative accommodation indoors tonight.

The council added that it is prepared with response crews on standby for the approaching Storm Ellen, in advance of unseasonably wet and stormy weather.

They warned: Due to the combination of storm surge, spring tides and onshore winds, there is a potential risk of coastal flooding, particularly in the West Cork area.

Some handy numbers for later #StormEllen #Cork



Report fallen trees, road damage in the county to (021) 4800048



Power outage: ESB Networks 1850 372999



Water outage: Irish Water 1850 278278  Eoin English (@EoinBearla) August 19, 2020

There is a risk also of some inland and river flooding with some potentially heavy, thundery downpours.

Siobhan Sullivan, of Eagle Point Camping at Ballylickey, near Bantry, said they had gone from a full campsite earlier this week, including up to 50 people in tents across the site, to a virtually empty campsite by mid-afternoon.

Weve been reading and watching the news, and telling people about the weather warnings, especially those in tents, and weve been advising those people basically to go home, Ms Sullivan told the Irish Examiner.

And people are being sensible. We had a few cancellations earlier this week, and a few people left early but most people were gone by yesterday afternoon.

We are in a sheltered area, and at the moment, the conditions are lovely, the sea is flat calm but I suppose thats the calm before the storm. We just dont know what to expect.

Motorists can report issues such as fallen trees and road damage to their local council office during working hours or to call the emergency number (021) 4800048.

In the event of power outages, people should contact ESB Networks at 1850 372999, and in the event of a disruption to water supply, you should contact Irish Water at 1850 278278.
The state government said an inquiry has been ordered into the death of the 43-year-old doctor and advised medical professionals to share their problems with their superiors

A 43-year old government doctor on coronavirus duty died of suicide in Mysuru district in Karnataka with some of his colleagues alleging he was under work pressure.

The state government said an inquiry has been ordered into the death of the doctor and advised those battling the virus not to succumb to any pressure.

According to police, Taluk Health Officer Dr SR Nagendra was found hanging at his quarters in Alanahalli where he had been staying alone.

Nagendra's family was residing in another area in Mysuru district and he chose to stay alone out of fear of contracting the virus and spreading it, they said.

Some of his colleagues alleged there was intense work pressure on him as he had been on COVID-19 duty. Mourning his death, state Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar in a series of tweets also advised the corona warriors not to succumb to any pressure and share their problems with their superiors.

The minister said being a doctor himself, he understood the pressure under which the medical professionals work. State Health Minister B Sriramulu too mourned the death and said he is getting every detail of the incident.

I have ordered an inquiry into the case. Anyone found guilty will not be spared. There is no need for people to panic, Sriramulu tweeted.
George S. Frederick, the managing partner at MKFM Law commented, It is an honor to be recognized by so many Daily Herald readers. I believe it reflects our firms values and mission: to provide personalized, skilled legal representation for every client.

The top picks were nominated by Daily Herald readers, who then cast their ballots for the Best of the Best in the Chicago suburbs from the top picks. George S. Frederick, the managing partner at MKFM Law commented, It is an honor to be recognized by so many Daily Herald readers. I believe it reflects our firms values and mission: to provide personalized, skilled legal representation for every client.

MKFM Law represents clients in various matters with a focus on divorce and family law, including custody and visitation, maintenance and alimony, child support, guardianship, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, and adoption; sexual harassment and employment discrimination; criminal defense; and civil litigation.

Daily Herald is a daily newspaper based in Arlington Heights, IL. The newspaper is distributed in the northern, northwestern, and western suburbs of Chicago. Started in 1871, the paper is independently owned and operated by four generations of the Paddock family.

About MKFM Law

Founded in 1949 by Attorney Joseph F. Mirabella, Sr., Mirabella, Kincaid, Frederick & Mirabella, LLC (MKFM Law) is the longest existing family law firm in DuPage County, more than 50 years. The firm provides legal representation in a wide range of practice areas to clients throughout DuPage County and surrounding counties. Their experienced attorneys believe that complicated legal matters should be handled to reduce stress and minimize cost. They take the time to fully educate their clients about the legal process and develop a strategy tailored to their clients goals and objectives.

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The allegation comes days after 15 Assam Rifles personnel reportedly forced their way through a check gate on the Mizoram-Assam border. Govt claimed that they refused to comply with protocol

The Assam Rifles has accused the Mizoram government of violating the directions of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) by allegedly restricting the

"operational movement" of the paramilitary force in the state, a statement said.

The allegation came days after a section of media reported that 15 personnel of the Assam Rifles forced their way through a check gate at Vairengte on the Mizoram-Assam border by allegedly refusing to comply with the entry and screening protocol in place to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

The government of Mizoram denying entry to Armed Forces in the state has "clearly violated" the directions of MHA, which has "serious implications for national security and is a cause of grave concern", the statement said on Wednesday.

The guidelines issued by the MHA, has clearly made exceptions in respect of Defence and Central Armed Police Forces, it said.

However, the Mizoram government said in a letter, the act of "wilful disregard" of safety protocol on the part of Assam Rifles has "seriously compromised" the safety of the people and negated the sincere efforts of the state government to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The Assam Rifles statement said, "The restrictions imposed by the state government on the operational movement of Assam Rifles is seriously hampering the smooth functioning of the force impacting the primary task of guarding the border."

The Assam Rifles has not caused any community spread of COVID-19 in the state and has been managing its coronavirus patients at its own quarantine centre at Zokhawsang near Aizawl, it said.

The statement further said that the state government had been approached several times and requested to pass suitable instructions at Vairangte entry gate and all other entry points to allow "unobstructed movement" of the armed forces.

Claiming that the personnel of the paramilitary force were not asked to undergo any medical test at Vairengte on 18 August, the statement said, "Assam Rifles has always assured the state government that all its personnel entering the state will be put through the mandatory COVID-19 quarantine protocols and has never denied to undergo any medical test by state medical authorities."

Meanwhile, the state Home Department in a letter to Brigadier Vinod S, the DIG of 23 sector Assam Rifles, on Wednesday informed him about the security personnel crossing the state border without complying to medical screening at the check gate.

The DIG was urged to ensure that such an act was not repeated by Assam Rifles personnel at a time when the state is coping with the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

The letter said, on Tuesday, at least 15 Assam Rifles personnel from 46 Battalion "forced" their way through the border gate allegedly refusing to comply with the entry and medical screening protocol set up by the state government.

"Despite various regulations, orders, guidelines and instructions issued by the state government and repeated appeals to curtail avoidable inter-statement movement of troops, the Assam Rifles has been less cooperative," the letter said.

The entry of as many as 1,124 Assam Rifles personnel was facilitated from May to 10 August and 10 percent of them have tested positive for COVID-19, the letter said.

Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga had earlier appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to temporarily withhold inter-state movement of all paramilitary personnel during August to contain the further spread of COVID-19 after a large number of coronavirus cases in the state were found among personnel of the security forces, a separate statement issued by the department said.

According to the Health Department, at least 339 security personnel have tested positive for COVID-19 so far, accounting for 38.83 percent of the total 873 cases.

Of the 339 security personnel, 101 were from the Assam Rifles, 230 from BSF and four each from the CRPF and the Army, it said.
BOSTON, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP) recently announced Caryn Mitchell-Munevar as this year's Denis Maguire Award recipient. Mitchell-Munevar will be honored during a virtual appreciation event on Tuesday, September 15th for her outstanding pro bono work with VLP.

Mitchell-Munevar is a professor at  and an alumna of  New England Law, where she supervises students in the Clinical Law Office. She is also co-director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Enrichment Program, which welcomes students interested in issues related to race and ethnicity. Prior to joining the New England Law faculty, she was a staff attorney in the Family Law Unit of Greater Boston Legal Services, where she first connected with VLP.

In over 10 years with VLP, Mitchell-Munevar has taken pro bono cases, participated in the Elder Law Project, worked with the Guardianship Clinic, and served as a mentor for other attorneys. She strongly believes that volunteering time and taking pro bono cases is an important aspect of being a lawyer.

"Being a lawyer is a privilege, and with that privilege comes responsibility," said Mitchell-Munevar. "We owe it to any marginalized communities and indigent individuals to ensure that the justice system works for them."

Volunteer Lawyers Project provides equal access to legal services for the people of Greater Boston. In regards to the Denis Maguire Award, Pro Bono Manager Miranda Black said, "our staff nominates volunteers who have been reliable, committed, and show a passion for pro bono work." Mitchell-Munevar is one of four recipients this year, alongside attorneys Samuel Bombaugh, Ryan Rosenblatt, and Joel Gardiner.

"To receive this recognition is incredibly humbling," said Mitchell-Munevar. "It feels especially good because I don't do this work for recognition; I do it because I always wanted to represent individuals and families who are similar to the community that I grew up in, and working with VLP allows me to do that."

For more information, visit www.vlpnet.org , www.nesl.edu .

New England Law | Boston was founded in 1908 as Portia Law School, the first and only law school established exclusively for the education of women. Today, New England Law offers its co-ed student body flexible, convenient programs that combine rigorous academics, dynamic community, and early access to practical experience, as well as a diverse, global alumni network spanning 29 countries, 50 states, and more than 55 practice areas. For more information, please visit www.nesl.edu .

SOURCE New England Law | Boston

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A woman who woke up in a morgue after being mistakenly presumed dead by doctors has passed away less than a week after the incident, according to Russian media reports.

Zinaida Kononova, 81, was first pronounced dead after being admitted to the Gorshechenskaya Central Regional Hospital in south west Russia for surgery to treat an intestinal obstruction.

After removing a malignant tumor, medical officials said the octogenarian had become unresponsive, and consigned her to the morgue after more than half an hour of resuscitation according to local media.

However the following morning an employee is reported to have found the woman alive, having fallen off a bed in the area used to store the bodies of the deceased.

She was swiftly moved to a separate healthcare facility in Kursk, where she was treated in intensive care and underwent further surgery.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

However despite the additional care, Ms Kononova is reported to have been confirmed dead a second time by medical practitioners less than a week after her misdiagnosis.

The operation was done, at first she felt better, but then, unfortunately, the woman suddenly died, the regional administration said, according to Kazan publication the Komsomol'skaya Pravda.

While the exact circumstances around her misdiagnosed death are being investigated, newspaper the Kursk Izvestia said regional hospitals often lack machinery to measure brain activity - leaving doctors to instead rely on externally observable factors to assess signs of life.

The Kursk Regional Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia is understood to be looking into the incident.

In a statement posted to Telegram, the Kursk regional administration said: An 81-year-old patient who was admitted to a regional hospital from the Gorshechensky region died. The Regional Health Committee expresses its condolences to the family and friends of the woman. An investigation, initiated by the committee in the Gorshechenskaya Central Regional Hospital, continues. Its results will be announced later.
SEOUL South Korean health officials are struggling to contain an outbreak of the new coronavirus centred in the capital Seoul, as new cases levelled off but remained in triple digits on Thursday.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reported 288 new cases as of midnight Wednesday, marking at least a week of triple digit daily increases.

Overall, South Korea has reported 16,346 cases with 307 deaths.

The latest outbreak has been driven by hundreds of cases in a church, and has been centred in Seoul and the surrounding areas.

The government this week banned in-person church meetings in the area, and also ordered closed other high-risk" locations including nightclubs, karaoke bars, buffets and cyber cafes.

The country used intensive tracing and testing to beat back previous spikes, but the recent surge in cases is raising concerns there could be a broader outbreak in the Seoul metropolitan area, which is home to more than 25 million people.

Authorities said if the number of infections rises or continues at the current rate of spread, they will likely impose the highest level of social distancing rules, under which schools are closed, employees advised to work from home and gatherings limited to 10 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
Kangana Ranaut Questions Aamir Khan Over His Silence On His PK Co-Star Sushant Singh Rajput's Death

The actress told Republic TV, "Have you seen how this racket works? If one person does not say anything, the entire racket does not say anything. No one demanded a CBI probe for Sushant. If you see, Aamir Khan worked with Sushant in PK. But if he does not say anything, even Anushka will not say anything, Raju Hirani will not say anything, Aditya Chopra and his wife Rani Mukerji will also not say anything. This racket works like a gang."

Kangana Ranaut Does Not Mince Her Words

She continued, "Even now, there are only a few who are saying anything, the rest are keeping mum. You and the entire country can see that. If you do not have a guilty conscience, why are you not saying anything about the death of someone who has been your colleague and an important part of your industry? You are making it look like some fly or mosquito has died. Do you not have any words to say for him? His father and his family members are crying, do you not have a single word of condolence for him? Can you not request for a CBI probe? You will not do it. Why? What are you scared of? This has been exposed in front of the entire country."

Kangana Ranaut On Justice For Sushant Singh Rajput

The actress said that people from all over the world joined in to demand for the CBI investigation as they felt like the late actor was a part of their life. She added that Sushant became a part of everyone's household, like a family, and that's what got the entire nation together in this case.

Earlier, Kangana Ranaut Had Wecomed The Apex Court's Verdict Of A CBI Probe In Sushant's Death Case

While speaking with Times of India, the actress had hailed Sushant's fans for fighting relentlessly for a CBI probe in the actor's death case and was quoted as saying, "I want to congratulate each one of SSR warriors and also I must say that this is a huge victory, not just in CBI investigation but the perception game has also been won by the mafia."
This weeks fatal shooting of a man in Birminghams Titusville community has been ruled justifiable and no charges will be filed against the shooter.

Birmingham police said they presented their evidence to the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office in the death of 32-year-old Mario Joe Kindred. After reviewing that evidence, said Sgt. Rod Mauldin, prosecutors deemed the shooting was justified.

Birminghams South Precinct officers responded about 1:45 p.m. Monday to UAB Hospital after they were notified the man had been brought there with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at 3:01 p.m. It wasnt immediately clear who took Kindred to the hospital.

Investigators then learned the shooting had taken place at 308 Gamma Street and began to process that scene. Sgt. Rod Mauldin said the preliminary investigation showed multiple gunshots were heard there and witnesses saw a female driving a small silver sedan flee the scene. There were also reports of a physical altercation prior to the gunfire.

The shooter later turned herself in at Birmingham Police Headquarters. Her name is being withheld since she is not being charged with any crime. Mauldin said the deadly shooting appears to be domestic in nature.

So far this year, there have been 76 homicides in Birmingham. Of those, 10 have now been ruled justifiable and one accidental and therefore are not deemed criminal. In all of Jefferson County, there have been 109 slayings, including the 76 in Birmingham.
The number of active cases of coronavirus in Victoria has dropped by thousands, as Melbourne approaches the halfway point for its tough, stage four lockdown.

Active cases plummeted by 32 per cent since Wednesday, decreasing from 7155 to 4864 cases.

But authorities say it's too soon to call an end to restrictions or even predict when they may be loosened.

Deputy Chief Health Officer Allen Cheng said the extraordinary drop was due to a large number of people who had contracted COVID-19 being processed and released from isolation.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to New York City on August 20-21 to notify the United Nations Security Council that the United States will initiate the process to restore UN sanctions on Iran.

Thirty days after Secretary Pompeos notification, a range of UN sanctions will be restored, including the requirement that Iran suspend all enrichment-related activities. This will also extend the 13-year arms embargo on Iran, according to the State Department website.

Pompeo will also meet with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to discuss Iran and other issues of shared concern.
Authors Joe Donarumo and Keyan Zandy of The Lean Builder: A Builder's Guide to Applying Lean Tools in the Field Cleverly written as a story with characters anyone in construction can relate to, The Lean Builder presents Lean processes in a clear, understandable manner.

The Shingo Institute, a program in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University, has awarded Joe Donarumo and Keyan Zandy with the Shingo Publication Award for their book, The Lean Builder: A Builders Guide to Applying Lean Tools in the Field. Donarumo is a senior superintendent at Linbeck Group, a Texas-based technology-driven Lean building construction firm. Zandy is the COO of Skiles Group, a national general contracting and Lean Construction management firm.

Receipt of the Shingo Publication Award signifies an authors significant contribution and practical application to the body of knowledge regarding enterprise excellence, said Ken Snyder, executive director of the Shingo Institute.

By challenging or applying for a Shingo Publication award, authors invite a group of accomplished professionals and trained examiners from the Shingo Institute to thoroughly review their publication(s). Shingo examiners select recipients based on a rigorous set of standards.

Written for those who roll up their sleeves and do the work as craft professionals, foremen, and superintendents, The Lean Builder is a must-read for anyone new to Lean Construction, and certainly those professionals working in the field.

Cleverly written as a story with characters anyone in construction can relate to, The Lean Builder presents Lean processes, from pull planning and the Last Planner System, to Lean principles such as respect for people and continuous improvement. This book is easy to read and delivers these Lean concepts in a clear and understandable manner through practical scenarios within a construction project team. Any team, even those with individuals not very open to change and too comfortable with the status quo, would benefit from learning the Lean Construction practices and lessons so masterfully explored in The Lean Builder.

Dan Heinemeier, executive director of the Lean Construction Institute, said: This is a book that should be read by anybody who sees Lean as too challenging to attempt, and even those who have tried it before and failed. It will correct misperceptions and inspire people to try something new.

Authors Donarumo and Zandy will receive their award at the awards ceremony during the Shingo Conference in Provo, Utah, USA on May 17-21, 2021.The conference is a week-long event featuring a selection of workshops, plant tours, keynote speakers, and breakout sessions designed to provide ongoing knowledge, insights, and experience for organizations in pursuit of operational excellence.

For more information regarding The Lean Builder or their online community centered around field-driven Lean tools and methodologies, please visit http://www.theleanbuilder.com.

ABOUT THE SHINGO INSTITUTE

The Shingo Institute is home of the Shingo Prize, an award that recognizes organizations that demonstrate an exceptional culture that fosters continuous improvement. Part of the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University, the Shingo Institute is named after Japanese industrial engineer and Toyota adviser, Shigeo Shingo. Dr. Shingo distinguished himself as one of the worlds thought leaders in concepts, management systems, and improvement techniques that have become known as the Toyota Production System.

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By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a major embarrassment to the KPCC leadership, Shashi Tharoor has defended the Centre's move to lease out Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for 50 years to Adani Enterprises.

This has come at a time when the Chief Minister had called an all party meet here on Thursday. The move of the state government is to ensure that the Opposition is also taken into confidence in its fight against the Centre and the state BJP leadership on their cabinet decision to privatize the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.

Tharoor, who represents the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency, has always been in favour of the privatization of the airport.

ALSO READ: Adani Group may have to wait to take over Thiruvananthapuram airport

He tweeted, "My position on the airport has been consistent since before the elections. I am not a politician who says one thing to the voters and something else afterward for political convenience. Had my colleagues consulted me before taking a negative stand, I would have explained my views to them.

His tweet continued, I am speaking in the best interests of my constituency. As its MP that is my job. The people of Thiruvananthapuram want a first-class airport worthy of the city's history, status and potential. In this context, a decision, however controversial, is preferable to the long delay we have suffered. The reality is that a private entity running the operations competitively is the only way this airport could flourish. Whoever it is, the ownership of the land and airport as well as the responsibilities of the ATC, Security, Customs and Immigration still remains with the Govt agencies".

On Wednesday, Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala and KPCC president Mullapally Ramachandran had urged the Centre to review its cabinet decision on the privatization issue. Chennithala had said that the BJP governments decision to go for PPP mode was taken after ignoring the state governments offer.

On Thursday, while addressing former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhis 76th birth anniversary programme at Indira Bhavan, Mullapally came down heavily against the BJP government.

The Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is worth Rs 30,000 crore and is spread over an area of 350 acres. It is running on a profit and is a role model for other airports. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP should reveal why such an airport is being sold to the Adani group. The decision to hand over the airport to Adani group for 50 years on a lease should be immediately withdrawn, said Mullapally.

While the KPCC leadership has not reacted to Tharoors tweet, K C Venugopal, who is an MP and organising general secretary of AICC, maintained that Tharoor's stand is his personal view. He said there is no need to evoke controversy out of Tharoors tweet as the KPCC leadership had already expressed their dissent against the Centre's move. In a television interview, Venugopal had blamed the Modi government citing that his ploy is to ensure that all the airports are given to Adani Enterprises.
The Supreme Court has ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death. Justice Hrishikesh Roy gave the verdict on Wednesday. The SC has asked Mumbai Police to hand over all evidence collected and statements recorded over to the CBI team who will be taking the investigation forward. CBI has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct the probe.

About the SIT team

The SIT team consists of CBI officers from the Anti-Corruption Unit VI. This particular unit has a history of being involved in high-profile cases. They have handled cases like - Vijay Mallya, coal scam and AgustaWestland case. This team had also successfully extradited middleman Christian Michel in AgustaWestland case from Dubai.

Members of the CBI SIT

Manoj Shashidhar, Joint Director of CBI

Manoj Shashidhar is a 1994 batch IPS officer, making him the senior-most person on the team. He is a joint director of the CBI, a post he has held since February 2020. He has also served as Police Commissioner of Vadodara, Ahmedabad Crime Branch; Joint Commissioner of Police, Ahmedabad; and Superintendent of Police in five districts of Gujarat. Prominent cases he has handled include the probe against Vijay Mallya and the AgustaWestland case.

Gagandeep Gambhir, DIG, CBI

Gagandeep Gambhir, a topper of Punjab University, is a 2004 batch Gujrat Cadre IPS officer and has served as a Senior Superintendent of Police in several districts of the state, including Rajkot. She was deputed in CBI in 2016 and has been part of several high profile probes such as the Vijay Mallya case, and the illegal mining scam in which former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is under the scanner.

Anil Yadav Additional SP, CBI

Anil Yadav was on the teams that investigated the Commonwealth Games scam, Shopian rape case and is investigating the Vijay Mallya case. He also investigated the death of MBBS student Namrata Damore. Yadav is from Madhya Pradesh. Yadav was awarded the Police Medal on Republic Day 2015 for his service.

Nupur Prasad, SP, CBI

Nupur Prasad is a 2007 batch IPS officer. She hails from Salempur village in Tikari, Bihar. She has also been the DCP of Shahdara in Delhi. She is known as supercop of the agency. She has investigated many murder cases and online financial scams. She was a part of the team which is investigating AgustaWestland scam and Vijay Mallya case.

Also read: Sushant Singh Rajput case: Rhea Chakraborty releases statement, accuses actor's sister of groping her

Also read: Sushant Singh Rajput honoured: California State Assembly recognises late actor for contribution to cinema
The worlds largest cruise operator Carnival has revealed that it suffered a ransomware attack and security breach that could affect customer and employee data. The company disclosed the information in a US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) 8-K filing (via ZDNet), saying that it occurred on last weekend on August 15th. We expect that the security event included unauthorized access to personal data of guests and employees, which may result in potential claims, the form states.

Carnival added that attackers accessed and encrypted a portion of one brands information technology systems, without providing further details like the type of ransomware. The company suffered a separate breach last year which also potentially involved stolen customer data.

The massive cruise company owns a fleet of 100 or so ships with 120,000 employees and brands including Princess Cruises, Holland America, Costa Cruises and others. The security breach comes on top of the COVID-19 crisis that has essentially put a complete stop to all of its operations. However, Carnival said that it doesnt expect the attack to have a material effect on its business, operations or financial results.

Update 8/20/2020 9:50 AM ET: The post originally stated that Carnival has 600 ships and 150,000 employees, but those numbers werent correct. The post has been updated with correct information. Thanks, Stewart!
Dhaka, Aug 20 (UNI) Bangladesh President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday paid rich tributes to the victims of August 21 grenade attack in 2004 and prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls of the martyrs.

In separate messages on the eve of the 16th anniversary of the heinous grenade attack, they urged all to come forward being imbued with the spirit of Liberation War to turn the sorrows of August 21 into strength for building a peaceful and democratic Bangladesh which will be free from terrorism and militancy.

August 21 grenade attack in 2004 is a mournful day as the killers launched historys barbaric grenade attacks on an Awami League rally at Bangabandhu Avenue with an attempt to kill Bangabandhus daughter Sheikh Hasina, said President Abdul Hamid in his message.

Though Sheikh Hasina escaped death by the grace of Almighty Allah, Awami Mahila Leagues former President Ivy Rahman and 23 other leaders and activists were killed and many others injured, he added.

Abdul Hamid said many of the injured persons in the attack became crippled for life and now living in endless miseries.

The August 21, 2004 grenade attack was aimed at making bankrupt the AL and Bangladesh in leadership and stopping democratic process and establishing autocracy and militancy, he said, adding that the people of the country did not let it happen.

The President expressed his optimism that the pro-democratic and patriotic people will come forward being imbued with the spirit of the War of Liberation to build a dignified, happy and prosperous Bangladesh.

He said mutual respect and tolerance are a must to make the countrys democracy meaningful.

In a separate message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the barbaric grenade attack was carried out on that day in 2004 under the direct patronization of BNP-Jamaat alliance during an anti-terrorism rally of Awami League to kill her.

Terming the grenade attack a stigmatized day in the political history of the country, she said, Our party leaders and workers saved me from the series of grenade attacks by forming a human shield.

I survived the attack due to immense blessings of the Almighty but some 22 leaders and workers including president of Mahila Awami League Ivy Rahman embraced martyrdom, the premier said, adding that more than 500 leaders and activists, journalists and security personnel were injured.

Sheikh Hasina said it was the moral obligation of a government to arrest the culprits involved with such a heinous attack. But, the then government of BNP protected the killers and helped a number of attackers to leave the country.

They destroyed the evidence of the incident and in the name of investigation, diverted the heinous incident to other direction, she said.

But truth can never be suppressed. Today, it has come out through investigation that many high-ups of the BNP-Jamaat alliance government were directly involved with the attack, said the Prime Minister.

After 14 years, Dhakas 1st Speedy Trial Tribunal handed down the verdict of August 21 grenade attack case in 2018, she said, adding that the court awarded death sentence to 19 people including former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar and former deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu and life imprisonment to 19 including ex-premier Khaleda Zias fugitive son Tarique Rahman and Haris Chowdhury, said Sheikh Hasina.

Rule of law has been established through this verdict. We hope this verdict will be executed following all legal procedures, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said whenever BNP-Jamaat alliance came to power, they intended to make the country a failed state by patronizing militants and terrorists.

The Prime Minister said the people of the country voted Awami League to power again through a landslide victory on the December 29 in 2008 general election to end all evil-attempts and conspiracies of BNP-Jamaat.

She said her government started working to establish the country on a strong economic base overcoming all impediments and Bangladesh was moving ahead.

Sheikh Hasina said in the last 11 years, the country has achieved expected progress in every sector and Bangladesh is now a role model in socioeconomic development.

UNI MAZ ASN 1904
Gen Z Workers Most Likely Generation to Seek Mental Health Services Since Coronavirus

While stigma keeps many Americans from seeking mental health services, Generation Z employees have been most likely to embrace such help during the coronavirus pandemic.

In fact, 1 in 4 Gen Z employees have sought mental health help since the pandemic began, according to a new report from financial services company MetLife. While that isnt a majority of employees from that generation, Gen Z workers were three times more likely to seek professional help for mental health reasons than other colleagues during that time frame.

A substantial percentage of employees are feeling emotional pain from the pandemic, as roughly one-third said their mental health isnt in good shape. Yet, only 1 in 12 have taken advantage of professional help.

Barriers to seeking care

Among those who havent reached out for professional help with challenges, more than a third (37%) believe theres a stigma associated with mental health treatment. A small percentage of employees believe that seeking help could cost them professionally. In fact, nearly 1 in 10 said they feared being discriminated against by managers and co-workers if they were to get support.

Nearly half of Hispanic and Black workers  47% and 46%, respectively  believed they would be stigmatized if they asked for help from their employer.

Survey respondents cited various factors that contributed to their decline in mental health. Nearly 40% said the decrease in social interactions with family, friends and colleagues has played a role, with 56% of millennials feeling this way.

The increase in employees working remotely may also be leading to an increase in stress, as 34% of respondents said being unable to connect with colleagues in person is one of their top sources of anxiety. Nearly half of Gen Z respondents (47%) felt this way, a finding that aligns with an earlier survey that showed that younger workers were struggling to remain productive while working from home.

Financial worries taking a toll

Story continues

A recent survey found that economic anxiety is the highest it has been in five years, and the MetLife research shows that workers are feeling the pain. In fact, 70% of employees who said they were stressed provided a financial reason that contributed to it:

47% expressed concern with their long-term savings

46% were worried about medical and other unexpected expenses

46% were concerned about turbulence in the stock market

The survey also showed how financial health can impact the mental and emotional well-being of workers. Respondents with good financial health were more than twice as likely to cite being in a good mental place, compared to respondents with poor financial health.

Methodology: MetLife conducted two surveys in July 2020 at companies with two or more employees. The first was given to 1,000 benefits decision makers and influencers. The second was given to 2,000 full-time employees 21 and older. The generational breakdown among survey respondents was as follows: Generation Z respondents were those between ages 21 and 23; millennials were those between 24 and 37; Generation Xers were those between 38 and 53; and baby boomers were those 54 and older.
The Nigerian military says it has smashed a notorious arms smuggling syndicate and intercepted some foreigners with arms and special ammunition concealed in their vehicle in Sokoto State.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, John Enenche, said this at the updates briefing on military operations across the country on Thursday in Abuja.

Mr Enenche, a Nigerian army major-general, three Nigeriens were arrested during operations at Dantudu in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

He also said that the Operation SAHEL SANITY troop deployed at Forward Operating Base, Sabon Birni Local Government Area on August 15, smashed a notorious illegal arms smuggling syndicate during an undercover operation.

READ ALSO:

He said that the group specialised in massive arms supply to bandits in the North West from across the international borders.

He said it was regrettable that some of the security challenges in the country had external influence.

The three suspects, all Nigerians were intercepted at Dantudu in Mailailai District of Sabon Birni LGA with six AK47 Rifles and magazines and 2,415 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition concealed in various parts of their vehicle.

It, therefore, goes to show that some of the security challenges in the country have external influence, Mr Enenche said.

He noted that the suspects were currently in custody undergoing preliminary investigation before being handed over to the prosecuting agency.

He further said that in continuation of intensive clearance operations in the North-West zone, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI had continued to record successes against the bandits.

Within the period under review, in a combined special clearance operation, troops of operation SAHEL SANITY destroyed 12 bandit camps at Yobe Baranda in Batsari LGA, Katsina State.

Three armed bandits were also neutralised in the process while others escaped with various degrees of gunshot wounds, he said.

In the North East Zone, Mr Enenche said that several air interdiction operations were conducted that identified Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists targets in the Lake Chad and Sambisa Forest areas of Borno.

He said the attacks were conducted at Tumbuma Baba, on August 16, in one of the Island settlements on the fringes of the Lake Chad, adding that the logistics facilities of BHT at Bukar Meram on the fringes of the Lake Chad were also destroyed on August 17.

He said the attack on the locations scored devastating hits on the settlement, killing no fewer than 20 terrorists and destroying their structures.

Several BHT and ISWAP commanders were killed and some of their dwellings destroyed at Boboshe, a village along the river line on the eastern part of the Sambisa Forest.

Meanwhile, troops of Army Super Camp 9, on August 16, engaged BHTs and ISWAP elements during clearance operations at Dikwa LGA of Borno.

During the operation, two terrorists were neutralised while one AK 47 rifle and eight rounds of 7.62mm (special) were recovered.

Similarly, troops of Strong Response Area, Pulka while on a fighting patrol, encountered and engaged BHTs/ISWAP elements along Road Pulka-Firgi-Banki Junction in Gwoza LGA of Borno.

In the process, a terrorist was neutralised while two loaded AK 47 rifles, two 36 hand grenades, one motorcycle and IED materials were recovered by the troops, the defence spokesperson said.

Similarly, he said that troops of 144 Battalion on ambush operation encountered and engaged BHTs/ISWAP elements at Wagga Mangoro and Wagga Lawal.

The terrorists fled due to superior firepower of the troops.

In another encounter, troops of 151 Task Force Battalion neutralised two terrorists along road Banki-Pulka in Bama LGA.

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Deducing from these results within the period, it is clear that the troops are resolute in their endeavour to end the BHT/ISWAP menace in the North East, he said.

He said that similar successes were also recorded in South-South and Northcentral zones of the country.

He said that troops of Operation DELTA SAFE had continued with the aggressive fight against crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal oil bunkering in the South-South Zone with attendant successes.

According to him, troops in the North Central zones have also continued to sustain intensive clearance operations which have yielded remarkable successes.

Within the period under review, troops of Operations SAFE HAVEN, THUNDER-STRIKE AND WHIRL STROKE conducted several ambushes, raids and clearance patrols at various locations in the zone, he said

Mr Enenche added that the scaling up of military activities and civil-military cooperation by Operation Safe Haven had led to the gradual return of peace in the troubled locations in the north-central part of the country

The Military High Command according to him, commends all the gallant troops of the Armed Forces and personnel of other security agencies involved in various operations across the country for their steadfastness, doggedness and commitment.

They are equally encouraged to remain resolute and decisive in curtailing the activities of all criminal elements in the country.

Members of the general public are hereby reassured that the Nigerian Military will continue to tackle the security challenges to ensure that normalcy is attained in all the geo-political zones of the country, he said.

He, therefore, solicited for the support of members of the public to avail the military with useful and credible information that would help in their operations.

(NAN)
The government is taking the ongoing harassment that is being suffered by Unidas Podemos politicians Pablo Iglesias and Irene Montero very seriously, considering it not to be an isolated incident but rather the result of a political climate that is being fanned by the far right. The executive is opting to increase the security measures outside the Madrid home of the deputy prime minister and his partner, who is the equality minister in the coalition government, and is preparing for a potential worsening of the situation this coming fall.

The situation is under control, according to government sources, but the level of harassment that is being registered is worrying, they add. As well as the Iglesias family, who have three children under the age of three, other ministers from the Socialist Party (PSOE)-led coalition government are also being targeted, and an atmosphere of hatred is prevailing in far-right groups and on social media.

The group of demonstrators who bang pots and pans and use megaphones to disturb the family, and to demand that they leave Spain, has an easy job of accessing the area

In fact, the majority of ministers changed their usual habits this summer, and are avoiding public areas. No one, however, has been subject to the kind of harassment that Iglesias and Montero have, with daily noisy protests outside their house in the Madrid municipality of Galapagar, and the online revelation of where they were vacationing in Asturias, which forced them to cut short their holiday on Monday due to fears for the safety of their children.

The protests that are taking place outside the Iglesias family residence are difficult to tackle, government sources explain. The house is in an open development, with no barriers to entry in the area. Given that it isnt an apartment, nor in a closed estate, it is very difficult to control who comes in and out. The group of demonstrators who bang pots and pans and use megaphones to disturb the family, and to demand that they leave Spain, has an easy job of accessing the area.

The Civil Guard has tried to restrict access to the street where the house is located, and sometimes requests the identification of those who turn up to protest and hurl insults. But government sources explain that its hard to stop people coming through, given that neighboring residents are complaining that they are being prevented from reaching their own homes. Civil Guard officers have made statements to the courts about what is happening, while Iglesias and Montero themselves have filed reports against specific demonstrators who turn up every day, among them a counselor for the far-right Vox party in the Galapagar local council. But so far the judge in charge has rejected all of their complaints, which has left the authorities with little room for maneuver.

Pablo Iglesias and Irene Montero, pictured in Spain's Congress of Deputies. Juan Carlos Hidalgo

In the wake of the couple cutting short their vacation, measures have been stepped up, and on Monday the Civil Guard were much stricter about who could approach the property. When they came back to Galapagar, it was as if they were waiting for them, because they found out about it quickly and they started to harass them again, Unidas Podemos sources explain.

Unidas Podemos deputy Enrique Santiago, whose family own the property where the couple were vacationing in Asturias, claims that the public prosecutor isnt doing anything, and that it should take action. The prosecutor generals office told EL PAIS on Wednesday that they have not been informed of these incidents via any of the three usual channels that would permit them to take action: a report filed by a private citizen, a police statement or direct knowledge of the events via prosecutors.

Public Works Minister Jose Luis Abalos, of the Socialist Party, has also been targeted by the far right in his home.

Sources from the prosecutor add that they cannot begin an investigation if another court has already begun a probe. Iglesias and Montero have filed their complaints in Galapagar, without having taken the matter to the prosecutor general. If they refer something to us, it will be investigated, the same sources say. But, of course, the prosecutor is not inactive with regard to any behavior that could infringe on an institution or members of institutions, the same sources insist. They cite the case of Judge Pablo Llarena, who was in charge of the trial of the leaders of the Catalan pro-independence drive of 2017. An investigation was opened after complaints and police reports were filed about the harassment that he was subjected to.

Transport Minister Jose Luis Abalos, of the PSOE, has also been targeted by the far right in his home. This August, most members of the government have opted for peaceful areas for their vacations or have decided not to go away at all, remaining in their homes. The situation in the coming fall may be even more complicated, the Interior Ministry is predicting. The political climate is likely to become even more intense, given that Vox has filed a motion of no confidence against PSOE Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez  albeit one that is doomed to failure, due to the current lack of support for it from other parties in Congress.

The current situation, however, is highly unusual, and the far right has not presented a problem such as this one for many years. Sources from the Interior Ministry insist, however, that the situation is under control and that the security forces have plans for all types of scenarios. It is also engaged in intense intelligence work, in order to keep tabs on any movements by extremist groups that could cause problems.

Democratic medicine

Over the past week a number of politicians, including Defense Minister Margarita Robles, have recalled the words of Pablo Iglesias in 2013, when he described noisy protests  known in Spanish as escraches  being staged at the time outside the homes of some members of the then-Popular Party government as being democratic medicine. All escraches are bad, Robles told reporters this week.

Podemos leaders flatly reject that what is happening to the Iglesias family at the moment could be considered an escrache. In 2013, when the Podemos leader made that statement, jeers and protests against politicians were common in the street and at public events, in the wake of the 15-M protest movement against austerity and political corruption that erupted in 2011. Some of these demonstrations even took place outside the family homes of such leaders, as was the case for then-Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria. Podemos sources say that this situation is different, and that Iglesias and Montero have been subject to constant harassment during a four-month period. The demonstrations, they say, are not about anything specific; they are merely messages of hate and calls for the couple to leave the country.

English version by Simon Hunter.
Does the August share price for Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow.

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.

View our latest analysis for Teledyne Technologies

Crunching the numbers

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. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. 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, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$446.0m US$472.5m US$518.0m US$545.0m US$566.4m US$585.8m US$603.7m US$620.6m US$637.0m US$652.9m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 3.93% Est @ 3.42% Est @ 3.06% Est @ 2.81% Est @ 2.63% Est @ 2.51% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 7.5% US$415 US$409 US$417 US$408 US$395 US$380 US$364 US$348 US$332 US$317

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$3.8b

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 (2.2%) 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 7.5%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2030  (1 + g)  (r  g) = US$653m (1 + 2.2%)  (7.5% 2.2%) = US$13b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$13b ( 1 + 7.5%)10= US$6.1b

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$9.9b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of US$317, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

dcf

Important 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. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the 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 Teledyne Technologies 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 7.5%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.878. 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.

Looking Ahead:

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. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For Teledyne Technologies, we've put together three essential elements you should explore:

Risks: Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Teledyne Technologies you should know about. Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for TDY'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.
Belgium was in shock today after footage emerged of a man being pinned down by police shortly before he died - while officers laughed and one of them gave a Nazi salute.

Jozef Chovanec's death in the wake of his arrest in February 2018 has sparked comparisons with the death of George Floyd in the United States.

Chovanec was taken off a plane in Charleroi after refusing to show a ticket as he boarded, and taken to a holding cell where the footage shows him banging his head against the wall until his face bleeds heavily.

One policeman sat on his chest for 16 minutes while a laughing female officer performed the 'Hitler greeting', before Chovanec died in hospital the next day.

The Belgian government has reacted with shock after the images of the Slovak passenger's arrest came to light.

'This is unseemly and totally shocking,' justice minister Koen Geens told Flemish broadcaster VTM.

Interior minister Pieter De Crem said that 'it is something out of all proportion. The circumstances need to be clarified and an investigation is ongoing'.

Chovanec had been denied boarding at the airport after failed to show a ticket and behaved disruptively.

In the detention room, the security video shows him repeatedly banging his head against the wall.

Several officers are later seen entering the room to handcuff him, and when this fails to calm him they return to pin him down.

During this sequence, a female officer is seen in the cell dancing and making a Nazi salute.

Outrage: A female police officer strikes a Nazi pose in footage from February 2018 which has recently come to light in Belgium

Arrest: Officers were laughing while the Slovak suspect Jozef Chovanec was pinned down in a holding cell. He died in hospital the next day

Chovanec was subsequently taken to hospital where he died the next day, officially of a heart attack.

His widow Henrieta complained to Het Laatste Nieuws newspaper, which first published the video, that the officers should have cared more about his urgent health needs since he was obviously in distress and needed to breathe.

Chovancova said the investigation is taking too long, telling De Morgen newspaper: 'I am just sad.

'It makes me feel even more that they tried to sweep my husband's death under the rug, as if he were garbage that had to disappear,' she said.

According to her legal team, Chovancova chose to make the video public against their advice after growing frustrated with the investigation.

'Our client wanted to show these images to the world because she has no faith in the criminal investigation,' said Lennert Dierickx, a member of the legal team that is led by Ann Van De Steen.

The Belgian incident in February 2018 has sparked comparisons with the death of George Floyd in the United States (pictured, Floyd is pinned down by white cop Derek Chauvin)

Belgian media says the female officer who made the Nazi salute has been suspended from operational duties.

A full investigation is ongoing, meaning that she could still be suspended or sacked, a spokesperson said.

Geens, the justice minister, said the probe faced delays because of the pandemic and because the defence asked for more investigative actions to be taken.

The issue has caused particular outrage because of its echoes of George Floyd's death in Minneapolis in May.

Floyd, an unarmed black man, died after a white cop pressed his knee against his neck for nearly eight minutes despite Floyd's pleas that he could not breathe.

Four Minneapolis police officers were charged over Floyd's death, which sparked an unprecedented global reckoning on racism and police violence.

Belgium was affected by it in June when activists removed a statue of King Leopold II, the ruler responsible for Belgian atrocities in the Congo.

Leopold, who reigned from 1865 to 1909, amassed a huge personal fortune while the Congolese were killed or savagely maimed working on his rubber plantations.

American writer Adam Hochschild claimed in his 1998 book King Leopold's Ghost that the death toll from Leopold's policies was as high as 10million Congolese.
In early August, Spain's former King Juan Carlos left the country following allegations of financial wrongdoing. But the country's affection for its monarch began to unravel as far back as 2012, following an ill-fated elephant hunt. With the king on that safari was his former lover Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein. She talks exclusively to the BBC about a multi-million euro gift from Juan Carlos, her claims of harassment by Spain's secret service - and that elephant.

Except Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein does not really want to talk about the elephant - the one King Juan Carlos shot dead on 11 April 2012. The media reported the animal was 50 years old and weighed five tonnes, with tusks more than a metre long.



Not that she is able to verify the creature's vital statistics when asked about the incident. "I have no idea," says the Danish-born business consultant, who was brought up in Germany. Yes, she was on the safari with the king, but she says she was at a distance when the shooting took place.



"I saw it afterwards because everybody goes to see it," she says. "But I walked away after two minutes. I'm a hunter, but I've never killed an elephant in my life and never would. For me, the whole hunting experience was traumatic in that sense."



The safari in Botswana was a present from the king to her son on his 10th birthday. Juan Carlos had become close to zu Sayn-Wittgenstein's children during his romantic relationship with her from 2004 to 2009 - a relationship which the Spanish public knew nothing about at the time. Since 1962 he has been married to Queen Sofia.



"I wasn't keen on going on this trip," zu Sayn-Wittgenstein says. "I felt that King Juan Carlos was trying to get me to come back to him, and I didn't want to give a false impression. I almost had premonitions about this trip."



With good reason, as it would turn out. Before dawn on 13 April 2012, the king fell in his luxury safari tent, fracturing his hip.



On his return to Madrid, the media fell on the safari story like a voracious lion on a fragile gazelle. The revelation of the elephant hunt came very soon after a corruption investigation began into the king's son-in-law, Inaki Urdangarin - he is still in prison.



This was a time of real hardship in Spain, with unemployment running at 23%. After undergoing an operation, King Juan Carlos made his first tentative public appearance in hospital using a walking stick. He was asked how he was.



"I'm sorry," he said. "I made a mistake, and it won't happen again."



King Juan Carlos had been largely untouchable because of his place in Spain's tortured, bloody history. As head of state after Francisco Franco's death in 1975, the king had overseen Spain's transition from dictatorship to democracy and faced down a coup attempt in 1981. Now the damage to the popular monarch was immense.



"The crisis blew up because the Botswana trip put several things on the table," says Jose Antonio Zarzalejos, a former editor of Spain's right-wing, monarchy-supporting newspaper ABC.



"Firstly, that the king was openly unfaithful to Queen Sofia. Secondly, that in the midst of an economic crisis, Juan Carlos visited a country where Spain had no diplomatic representation. So the king - as head of state - was off the radar of the Spanish government. And thirdly, this was a very expensive trip - we didn't know who paid for it. It created a lousy image of the king."



King Juan Carlos and zu Sayn Wittgenstein met at a shooting party in February 2004.



She says the king was having trouble with his shotgun. "And I'm quite knowledgeable about all that, so I could explain what was wrong," she says. "I think he was quite surprised."



The relationship moved slowly.



"We ended up speaking on the phone for a few months," she says. "The first date was in early summer. We always laughed a lot. We immediately clicked on many things, and we had many common interests - politics, history, fantastic food, wines



"I was living in London at the time, having just started my own consultancy business. And I was a single mother of two. So we would meet in Madrid in a small cottage on the larger estate, and we travelled together.



"In the first year it was more difficult because I was very busy and he had a full agenda, but he would phone me up to 10 times a day. I mean, it was an immediately very strong, deep and meaningful relationship."



At one point, zu Sayn-Wittgenstein says she asked the king how all this would sit with his wife, Queen Sofia.



"He said they had an arrangement to represent the crown, but they led totally different, separate lives. And the king had just come out of a nearly 20-year relationship with another lady who also had a very important place in his heart and in his life."



The king and zu Sayn-Wittgenstein became close. She spent time with the king's friends and she met his children.



In 2009, her father received a visit from Juan Carlos.



"He called me up and said the king had come see him and told him he was very much in love with me, and intended to marry me," she says. "He also told my father he couldn't do it straight away, it might take some time. He wanted my father to know he was very serious about me."



It was earlier during the same year that zu Sayn-Wittgenstein says King Juan Carlos had proposed.



"Obviously, it's a very emotional moment when something like that happens," she says. "And I was very much in love with him, but I foresaw - I'm a political strategist - that this would be very difficult. And I thought it might destabilise the monarchy.



"That's why I never really encouraged it - I just took it as a token of the seriousness of the relationship, rather than something that would actually materialise."



The romance would end that same year.



"My father was suffering from pancreatic cancer and had been given only a few months to live," zu Sayn-Wittgenstein says. "So I decided to spend time with him - we were very close. To my great shock, just after his funeral, the king told me he'd been carrying on a relationship with another woman for a period of three years.



"It literally devastated me - it was the last thing I expected. I really needed emotional support after the death of my father, and the news created a monumental shock for me emotionally. I was just not expecting it after he'd asked me to marry him and gone to see my father. I was very unwell for a few months."



Apart from Queen Sofia, zu Sayn-Wittgenstein says, she believed she was in an exclusive relationship with King Juan Carlos.



"I'd made it very clear I wouldn't tolerate him having relationships with other women at the same time," she says. "I think in the end he was mortified by what he did. But for me, that was something I could never overcome."



Although the relationship was over, the two remained friends - partly because the king was close to zu Sayn-Wittgenstein's children. At the end of 2009, Juan Carlos asked to see her.



"He had some bad news to tell me. He'd been diagnosed with a tumour on his lung and he was convinced it was cancer. He was terrified. He said his family didn't know about it. And I didn't want to abandon him. So I remained a very devoted, loyal, close friend during the time he was very unwell."



When the king was due to have an operation in 2010, zu Sayn-Wittgenstein says he asked her to be in the hospital with him.



"I slept on a couch next to his bed prior to the surgery because he was very nervous about it," she says. "But the biopsy showed the tumour was benign."



Then the king's family arrived.



"I was unceremoniously asked to leave by some not-so-very-kind member of his staff," she recalls. "When Queen Sofia and some of the courtiers realised how serious the king was about me, quite a high level of hostility had developed."



Even so, zu Sayn-Wittgenstein says her friendship with Juan Carlos continued.



"He recovered very slowly from the surgery," she says. "So I would go to Madrid from time to time to see how he was doing with his rehabilitation, how he was recovering."



Which brings us back to 2012 - Botswana, a dead elephant, and the king's fractured hip.



"It's never been reported that I actually organised his repatriation, because there was no plan in place," zu Sayn-Wittgenstein says.



"We flew in on a private plane, and I was mindful of the fact that the king was not in good health - he had two doctors with him - which is why I was apprehensive. So I kept the plane close by. It was a huge responsibility - he was prepped up ready for surgery. And I was very, very nervous that we wouldn't get him home alive."



Quickly, the safari story became a media sensation - and zu Sayn-Wittgenstein believes this was all pre-planned.



"I think this trip would've been leaked regardless of the accident," she says. "Scandals involving the king's son-in-law and daughter started to emerge at the end of 2011, and I think that set in motion various factions inside the establishment and the royal family.



"There were forces at work inside the palace that were working on moving Juan Carlos on, trying to speed up an abdication," she says.



The royal party arrived back in Madrid from Botswana late at night. King Juan Carlos went straight to hospital.



"From the moment I came back from that trip I was under full-blown surveillance," says zu Sayn-Wittgenstein.



"This was the beginning of a campaign to paint me as this Wallis Simpson, Lady Macbeth, evil character who'd led this wonderful man astray on this trip during a big economic crisis."



It was after this African trip that zu Sayn-Wittgenstein claims she began to receive unwelcome attention from Spain's intelligence service, the Centro Internacional de Inteligencia (CNI). First she claims her flat in Monaco was targeted.



"The apartment was occupied when I was travelling," she says. "I suddenly received messages from a security company saying, 'We've been contacted by your friends in Spain.' And I was texting the king, saying: 'Who are those people, what's going on?' He told me they were there to protect me from the paparazzi.



"But had he been concerned about my security, he could have called his close friend, Prince Albert [of Monaco], who's also a longstanding friend of mine, and said, 'We have some security concerns - could you keep an eye on Corinna's flat?'"



So what were they looking for?



"Documents - and in a very thorough way They stayed for weeks and weeks."



She says she does not know what kind of papers they were searching for.



On a business trip in Brazil, zu Sayn-Wittgenstein says she was followed. And that she received an anonymous death threat telling her there were many tunnels between Monaco and Nice - a reference to the crash that killed Princess Diana. In her Swiss apartment, she says, a book was left in her living room about the princess's death.



Later in 2012, she claims she was visited in London by the head of Spanish intelligence, Felix Sanz Roldan.



"He said he was sent by the king," she says. "The primary warning was not to talk to the media.



"He said if I didn't follow these instructions, he would not guarantee my physical safety or the physical safety of my children."



The BBC tried to contact Felix Sanz Roldan (who is no longer head of Spanish Intelligence) via the CNI, about these serious allegations. There was no reply to these inquiries. And Iberdrola, a Spanish company whose advisory panel he sits on, refused to facilitate contact with him.



Certainly, Felix Sanz Roldan is known to be very close to King Juan Carlos.



"When Felix Sanz was appointed director of the CNI, an intense friendship grew between them - he totally protected the king," says Fernando Rueda, an academic at Villanueva University, and an expert in the Spanish intelligence service.



"But Felix Sanz was not the first head of the CNI to tell the king that the relationship with Corinna was very negative, and that Corinna was not to be trusted," he adds.



So what does he make of zu Sayn-Wittgenstein's claims of harassment?



"Nobody knows if it's true or not," he says.



"But it wouldn't surprise me, because if the intelligence service considered the security of the Spanish state was in danger, they would use all mechanisms to get someone to return documents."



In Spain, King Juan Carlos was not able to shake off the curse of the elephant. In 2014 he abdicated in favour of his son Felipe. As emeritus king, he was still busy with official engagements, trade trips and international travel - especially to the Middle East.



And it is those very close contacts Juan Carlos has in the Middle East that have become the subject of intense scrutiny - especially from prosecutors. Judicial inquiries began after the recordings of a rogue Spanish police officer became public. He taped all his conversations with the rich and powerful - including with zu Sayn-Wittgenstein.



In 2018 that audio was published in the Spanish media. In one of the recordings, a female voice asks rhetorically in Spanish about the emeritus king: "How does he get money? He takes a plane, goes to Arab countries And he returns with the cash in suitcases - sometimes with five million. He has a machine to count it - I've seen it with my own eyes."



Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein has never officially confirmed it was her on the recording. But the revelations from those tapes were sensational, and they became the catalyst for the opening of investigations in Switzerland and, more recently, in Spain.



At the heart of the proceedings is a $100 million payment from the late king of Saudi Arabia that was placed in a Swiss bank account linked to a Panama-based offshore foundation in 2008. The beneficiary was King Juan Carlos.



The Swiss prosecutor is investigating three people with ties to the former king. And he is looking into whether this money was connected to the awarding of a massive contract to a Spanish consortium to build a high-speed rail link in Saudi Arabia three years later. In other words, was it a kickback?



In Spain, the Supreme Court has opened an investigation into emeritus King Juan Carlos himself - but it can only examine alleged wrong-doing after he abdicated in 2014, when he lost his immunity from prosecution.



Then in early August 2020, weeks after he was linked to the inquiry, the ex-king made the shock announcement that he had left Spain; after two weeks of speculation about his whereabouts, the Spanish royal palace said he was living in the United Arab Emirates.



So where does Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein fit in? She is one of the individuals being investigated by the Swiss prosecutor. And that is because in 2012, after the Botswana debacle, the then-King Juan Carlos transferred what was left of that $100 million from Saudi Arabia - around 65m - to her.



"I was very surprised because it's obviously an enormously generous gift," she says. "I will say, though, that conversations about him managing his will during his lifetime had taken place in 2011. He started to talk about his death and what he wanted to leave in his will.



"He also mentioned he wanted to take care of me, but no amounts were ever discussed. He was worried that the family wouldn't respect his wishes," she claims.



She says she received the money after her flat in Monaco was ransacked and she was visited by the head of the CNI.



After the transfer was made, she flew to Madrid to thank the king, she says, and he told her that he felt guilty about what had happened to her: "I think he was very shocked to understand the extent of pressure I'd been put under, and the extent of the reputational destruction that had taken place."



In testimony to the Swiss prosecutor, zu Sayn-Wittgenstein said she believed the king had given her the money out of love.



"I think it was recognition of how much I meant to him, how much [her son] meant to him," she says. "It was a gratitude for looking after him during his absolutely worst moments."



She insists the king was not trying to hide or launder this money by bequeathing it to her - even though in 2014, he asked for the money back.



"In 2014 he made desperate attempts to get me to come back to him," she says. "At some point he realised I wasn't going to return, and he went completely ballistic. He asked for everything back. I think it was just a tantrum he threw.



"So he's confirmed to the Swiss proceedings that he actually never asked for the money back, and that I never carried money on his behalf."



In Spain, Juan Carlos' multi-million euro gift to zu Sayn-Wittgenstein has generated intense interest - and outrage. The news broke as Spain confronted one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in Europe.



Ivette Torrent, a young lawyer from Barcelona, began an online petition calling for the cash to be transferred to the Spanish public health care system.



"Exhausted health personnel were working a thousand hours with minimal resources," she says, adding that allocating the funds to them would be the "fairest thing".



Close to 250,000 people signed. So what would Torrent like the king's former lover to do with the cash gifted to her?



"I don't know if this money is illegal," she says. But if the ongoing investigations establish an illegal origin for this money, "they should return it".



And zu Sayn-Wittgenstein's response?



"I will leave this up to the Swiss prosecutor," she says. "Putting me under pressure on that is not the right way to go forward.



"Because I think in that case, everybody needs to return everything. What I find extraordinary is they're rolling 40 years of the modus operandi of a family enterprise into a focus on one person. And that's me Because there will be hundreds of other accounts in other jurisdictions."



Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein maintains the obsession with her and the money she received from the emeritus King is part of a still on-going, pernicious campaign partly orchestrated by Spain's CNI.



She has supplied the BBC with a catalogue of police crime numbers relating to incidents she claims have occurred in the UK over the past few years.



"The harassment has never ceased - it's intensified if anything," she says.



"But we will be talking about this in the proceedings coming up in the UK. The case will treat all elements of the abuse campaign. Juan Carlos will be the defendant, but he may not be the only defendant."



Those English legal proceedings are yet to be issued.



For Fernando Rueda, the expert on Spain's CNI, there is a question mark over her claims.



"It no longer makes sense for the Spanish secret service to harass her in the UK when things are already public. What she's doing is trying to defend herself by presenting herself as a victim," he says.



"Corinna's problem is that she's facing legal cases, and she has to explain and justify why she has 60m. She could be charged. But Juan Carlos, according to Spanish law, cannot be charged," he adds.



In spite of the judicial hot water she finds herself in, zu Sayn-Wittgenstein says she does not have misgivings about her early relationship with the emeritus king.



"I do not regret at all my romantic relationship with Juan Carlos," she says. "I have very sincere feelings for him. And I am extremely saddened by the turn it has taken."

Source: BBC









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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 10:11:36|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Fueling a confrontation between the U.S. and China will not slow down China's development as external pressure will only lead to a stronger, more resilient China, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai has said.

"Maybe some believe that driving up confrontation could slow down and contain China's development, and even bring about a regime change. This is nothing but wishful thinking," said Cui in a keynote speech at a webinar on issues related to China-U.S. relations at the invitation of John R. Allen, president of the Brookings Institution on Aug. 13.

"History has proved time and again that external pressure will only lead to greater unity of the Chinese people, stronger cohesion of the Chinese society and better resilience of the Chinese economy," he said.

"If the negative trend of China-U.S. relations is allowed to continue, China might have to face more difficulties and challenges. But the initiators of the so-called 'New Cold War' must weigh the costs they have to pay and the consequences for the world. For whom the bell tolls, there will be a day of reckoning," Cui said.

"At present, the fundamental question for the China-U.S. relationship is: as China has deeply integrated itself into the current international system, is the United States ready to accommodate China and live with a country with a different history, culture and system?" he said.

"It's fair to say that, with the normalization of bilateral relations and the establishment of diplomatic ties, China and the United States already made their choice, i.e. we need to live in peace, strive for co-evolution, properly manage our differences, expand cooperation, and build a comprehensive, stable and constructive relationship. I hope people will not try to negate all this and let the relationship go down a very dangerous path," he said.

The ambassador noted that those people who like the term "Cold War" so much "should not forget the prices the world paid for it in a span of some four decades, not to mention the bitter costs the United States and other countries paid in the two hot wars, i.e. the Korean War and the Vietnam War, which were fought during the Cold War."

"We should not allow the history to repeat itself," he said. Enditem
President on Thursday reaffirmed his plan to withdraw all US troops from Iraq as quickly as possible as he met with the prime minister of Iraq to discuss ways to rein in pro-Iran militias in the country and counter residual threats from Islamic State sleeper cells.

We look forward to the day when we don't have to be there, Trump said during an Oval Office meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.

We were there and now we're getting out. We'll be leaving shortly and the relationship is very good. We're making very big oil deals. Our oil companies are making massive deals. ... We're going to be leaving and hopefully we're going to be leaving a country that can defend itself.

Asked about a timetable for a full withdrawal, the president turned to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who replied: As soon as we can complete the mission. The president has made very clear he wants to get our forces down to the lowest level as quickly as we possibly can.

That's the mission he's given us and we're working with the Iraqis to achieve that. There are more than 5,000 American troops in Iraq now.

Last month, the top US general for the Middle East said he believed the U.S. will keep a smaller but enduring presence in the country. Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, the commander of US Central Command, said he believes the Iraqis welcome the U.S. and coalition troops, especially in the ongoing fight to keep IS fighters from taking hold of the country again.

McKenzie has not said how many U.S. troops might stay. But he said Iraqi conventional forces now operate on their own. U.S. and coalition forces continue to conduct training and counterterrorism operations, including with Iraqi commandos. Any final decisions, he said, would be coordinated with the Iraqi government.

Al-Kadhimi, who is backed by the United States, assumed office in May when Baghdad's relations with Washington were precarious following the U.S. killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike at the Baghdad airport. The prime minister has my ear, Trump said.

Al-Kadhimi has often had to walk a tightrope due to the U.S.-Iran rivalry. Asked if he was bringing any messages from Tehran following a recent visit there, al-Kadhimi told The Associated Press before he left for Washington: We do not play the role of postman in Iraq. The U.S. recognizes the cultural and religious ties that exist between Iran and Iraq, but the administration wants to decrease Iran's destabilizing influence in Iraq, often exercised by pro-Iranian militias.

Al-Kadhimi's administration inherited a myriad of crises. State coffers in the crude oil-dependent country were slashed following a severe drop in prices, adding to the woes of an economy already struggling with the aftershocks of the global coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. wants to make sure the Baghdad central government's limited resources also find their way to the Kurdish autonomous region in northern Iraq.

State violence used to quell the mass protests that erupted in October brought public trust in the government to a new low. Tens of thousands of Iraqis marched decrying rampant government corruption, poor services and unemployment, leading to the resignation of the previous premier, Adel Abdul-Mahdi.

Pompeo, who met Wednesday with Iraq's foreign minister, Fuad Hussein, said the U.S. was committed to helping Iraq regain and maintain security, despite Trump's desire to reduce and then eliminate American troops' presence there. Armed groups are not under the full control of the Iraqi prime minister, Pompeo said. He said those groups should be replaced by local police as soon as possible and that the U.S. could and would help.

The Iraqi prime minister told Pompeo that Iraq currently does not need direct military support on the ground, and that the levels of help will depend on the changing nature of the threat. Three years since Iraq declared victory over IS, sleeper cells continue to stage attacks across the country's north.

Pompeo and the Iraqi foreign minister expressed hope that as the security situation improves, there will be greater economic cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the energy sector.

On Wednesday, Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette announced energy agreements worth up to $8 billion between the Iraqi minsters of oil and electricity and five U.S. companies Honeywell, Baker Hughes, GE, Stellar and Chevron. Brouillette said U.S. private investment will help Iraqi's energy sector and stressed a need for Iraq to reduce its dependence on energy from Iran.

(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 College of the Holy Cross reported this week that authorities broke up a large off-campus party Saturday night in Worcester that was attended by at least one COVID-19 positive student.

The school says the number in attendance at the party in an apartment rented by students on College Street exceeded the state limit on the number of people at a gathering, which is currently 25, and that students were not wearing masks or adhering to physical distancing guidelines.

Needless to say, this is a profoundly disappointing situation, the school announced in a letter. The students responsible for the party will be held accountable under our Community Standards process.

Worcester police had responded to the college party.

The college confirmed Tuesday that it was notified of at least one confirmed positive COVID-19 case and several other potential positive cases.

The school recently had announced its plans to conduct a fully remote fall semester.

We will not be able to welcome back the entire campus community, or even a larger cohort than we have this fall, if students cannot demonstrate the self-discipline, mutual respect, and care for others by following requirements to prevent the spread of COVID-19, school officials wrote Tuesday in their release.

Holy Cross is working with Worcesters Division of Public Health to identify people who were in attendance of the party.

Related Content:
This Missouri home for sale comes with a 9-cell jail attached. (Photo: House of Brokers Realty)

A home for sale in Missouri comes with room for nine inmates as photos reveal that the historic structure is connected to a former jail.

The Fayette, Mo., property is currently listed for $350,000 as a single-family home on House of Brokers Realty, where the listing boasts of the historic home built in 1875 and renovated in 2005. While must of the homes interior looks updated and rather homey with modern high end finishes with traditional architecture and character, its a secret steel door in the kitchen that leads to the listings standout feature.

THE BEST PART, the listing reads, connected to the home is a 2500 sq ft legitimate jail with 9 cells, booking room and 1/2 bath.

A secret door in the kitchen leads to the jail. (Photo: House of Brokers Realty)

There are nine unoccupied jail cells within the home's jail. (Photo: House of Brokers Realty)

Photos show the hidden entrance to the jail from the home, as well as a separate entrance directly into the jail from outside. The listing notes that the property used to be the Howard County Sheriff's House, which would explain the jail attached. The rest of the home contains two bedrooms, one-and-a-half baths and an unfinished basement.

Possibilities are amazing with this property, says the listing.

The page doesnt include any additional information about the jail or when it was last in use.

Video: U.S. home sales see record jump after 3-month decline

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Big Brother Naija housemate, Tolani Tolanibaj Shobajo, has said she was warned by her friends against engaging in s.e.xual intercourse throughout her stay on the reality show.

The Nigerian entrepreneur, A&R, media personality, and content creator disclosed this to fellow housemate, Prince during a conversation.

Against the backdrop of the advice, Tolanibaj said she has no plans of having s.e.x on national television.

Im not having s.e.x on TV, please.

My friends already warned me. Im not that crazy because Im American I will do shit like that.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
DUBLIN, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Brain Monitoring Market by Product (Device, MRI, CT, PET, EEG, EMG, MEG, TCD, ICP, Electrode, Paste, Gel, Battery, Cable, Invasive), Disease (TBI, Stroke, Dementia, Epilepsy, Headache, Sleep) & End User (Hospital, Clinic, ASC) - Global Forecasts to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global brain monitoring market is expected to reach USD 8,561.7 million by 2025 from USD 6,336.4 million in 2020, at a CAGR of 6.2% during the forecast period.

Increasing incidence of neurological disorders and rising awareness of neurodegenerative diseases are set to drive the Brain Monitoring market.



The brain monitoring market is mainly driven by factors such as the increasing incidence and prevalence of neurological disorders, rising awareness of neurodegenerative diseases, growth in the number of traumatic brain injuries, and rising applications of brain monitoring in clinical trials.



The increasing demand for non-invasive and minimally invasive devices, the expanding therapeutic applications of brain monitoring devices, and the growing healthcare market in emerging economies are also expected to provide opportunities for growth for players in the market. On the other hand, the high cost of complex brain monitoring procedures and devices, unfavorable reimbursement policies, and the shortage of trained professionals to effectively operate brain monitoring devices are restraining the growth of this market.



The devices segment is expected to account for the largest share of the brain monitoring devices market in 2019.



By product, the global brain monitoring market is categorized into devices and accessories. The devices segment is expected to hold the largest share of the brain monitoring market in 2019. This is mainly due to the rising incidence of neurological, neurodegenerative, psychotic, and sleep disorders; the need for early diagnosis; the availability of innovative portable and wearable home-based monitoring devices; and increasing patient awareness.



The electrodes segment to register the highest growth rate in the forecast period.



The electrodes segment is expected to register the highest growth rate in the forecast period. Technological advancements have enhanced the tissue interface of electrodes and facilitated the development of cost-effective, high-performance electrodes in this market. In addition, the introduction of disposable electrodes has also greatly driven their adoption and the growth of this market segment.



North America to be the largest regional segment in the brain monitoring market during the forecast period.



Based on the region, the global brain monitoring market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia, and the RoW. North America is expected to hold the largest share of the global brain monitoring market in 2019, while Asia is projected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. Growth in the market in Asia is due to the growing geriatric population, the availability of low-cost labor and skilled manpower, increase in disposable incomes, rising prevalence of neurodegenerative disorders, and increasing government emphasis on healthcare reforms in the region.



Research Coverage



The report segments the brain monitoring market based on region (Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and RoW), product (devices and accessories), disease type (traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, dementia, headache disorders, sleep disorders, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, Huntington's disease, and other diseases), end-user (into hospitals, neurology centers, diagnostic centers, ASCs & clinics, and other end-users). The report also provides a comprehensive review of market drivers, restraints, and opportunities in the Brain Monitoring market.

The brain monitoring market is dominated by a few globally established players such as Natus Medical, Inc. (US), Nihon Kohden Corporation (Japan), Philips Healthcare (Netherlands), GE Healthcare (US), Siemens Healthineers (Germany), Compumedics, Ltd. (Australia), Medtronic (Ireland), CAS Medical Systems, Inc. (US), Drgerwerk AG & Co. KGaA (Germany), Advanced Brain Monitoring (US), Masimo Corporation (US), Spiegelberg GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), Cadwell Industries (US), NeuroWave Systems, Inc. (US), Nonin Medical, Inc. (US), Integra LifeSciences Corporation (US), Neurosoft (Russia), and Rimed (US)



Key Topics Covered

1 Introduction



2 Research Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Premium Insights

4.1 Brain Monitoring: Market Overview

4.2 Brain Monitoring Market, by Product

4.3 Brain Monitoring Market, by End-user

4.4 Geographic Snapshot of the Global Brain Monitoring Market



5 Market Overview

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Market Dynamics

5.2.1 Drivers

5.2.1.1 Increasing Incidence and Prevalence of Neurological Disorders

5.2.1.2 Rising Awareness of Neurodegenerative Disorders

5.2.1.3 Growing Incidence of Traumatic Brain Injuries

5.2.1.4 Increasing Applications in Clinical Trials

5.2.2 Restraints

5.2.2.1 High Cost of Complex Brain Monitoring Procedures and Devices

5.2.2.2 Unfavorable Reimbursement Policies

5.2.3 Opportunities

5.2.3.1 Increasing Demand for Non-Invasive and Minimally Invasive Devices

5.2.3.2 Expanding Therapeutic Applications of Brain Monitoring Devices

5.2.3.3 Growing Healthcare Market in Emerging Economies

5.2.4 Challenges

5.2.4.1 Shortage of Trained Professionals

5.2.4.2 Issues Related to Product Approval and Commercialization

5.3 Impact of COVID-19 on Brain Monitoring Market



6 Brain Monitoring Market, by Product

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Devices

6.3 Accessories



7 Brain Monitoring Market, by Medical Condition

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Traumatic Brain Injury

7.3 Stroke

7.4 Dementia

7.5 Headache Disorders

7.6 Sleep Disorders

7.7 Parkinson's Disease

7.8 Epilepsy

7.9 Huntington's Disease

7.10 Other Diseases



8 Brain Monitoring Market, by End-user

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Hospitals

8.3 Neurology Centers

8.4 Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) & Clinics

8.5 Diagnostic Centers

8.6 Other End-users



9 Brain Monitoring Market, by Region

9.1 Introduction

9.2 North America

9.3 Europe



Companies Mentioned

Advanced Brain Monitoring

CAS Medical Systems

Cadwell Industries

Compumedics

Draegerwerk AG & Co. KGaA

GE Healthcare

Integra LifeSciences Corporation

Masimo Corporation

Medtronic

Natus Medical Inc.

NeuroWave Systems

Neurosoft

Nihon Kohden Corporation

Nonin Medical

Philips Healthcare

Rimed

Siemens Healthineers

Spiegelberg GmbH & Co. KG

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/841g9i

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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President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan June 28, 2019. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

President Donald Trump has barely acknowledged the reported poisoning of a top critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Alexei Navalny, Putin's most prominent critic, is hospitalized and in a coma. It's suspected he was poisoned.

This is part of a long, well-documented trend of Trump coddling dictators.

"What troubles me right now is our voice is missing ... President Trump is not only indifferent to democracy, he embraces Putin the autocrat and makes excuses for him," said a former US ambassador to Russia in an MSNBC interview.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's critics and opponents have a habit of getting poisoned. President Donald Trump has a habit of brushing it off.

More than 12 hours after the reports emerged that Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny had likely been poisoned, the Trump administration on Thursday had barely said a thing.

Trump, who as president has exclusive access to what is arguably the most sophisticated intelligence apparatus in the world, told reporters he hadn't seen anything about Navalny yet.

"We haven't seen it yet. We're looking at it. And [Secretary of State Mike Pompeo] is going to be reporting to me soon. Okay?" Trump said.

The State Department did not offer a comment when contacted by Insider.

Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny. Reuters

Normally, American presidents would issue a statement expressing serious concern after such reports or incidents, decrying them as an assault on democracy while offering any necessary support.

But Trump, who is making baseless allegations about widespread voter fraud that undermine America's democracy, is an unorthodox president who has habitually been soft on authoritarian leaders like Putin.

"There is good and there is evil in the world. For years, for decades Americans  Democrats and Republicans  have stood on the side of good against evil, and evil people, autocrats, had to think about that," former US ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul said in a Thursday MSNBC "Meet the Press" interview regarding Trump's relative silence on the alleged poisoning of Navalny.

Story continues

"What troubles me right now is our voice is missing ... President Trump is not only indifferent to democracy, he embraces Putin the autocrat and makes excuses for him. He assigns moral equivalency between the United States of America and Putin's Russia. And when you do that ... you are enabling this kind of behavior," McFaul added.

Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) August 20, 2020

'A lot of killers'

Trump in a Fox News interview in 2017 equated actions of the US government with those of Putin's authoritarian government, defending the Russian president.

"He's a killer," then-Fox News host Bill O'Reilly said to Trump of Putin.

"There are a lot of killers. You think our country's so innocent?" Trump said in response.

In one of the most infamous moments of his presidency thus far, Trump also appeared to side with Putin over the US intelligence community on the subject of Russian election interference during a summit in Helsinki in July 2018. Trump's performance at the summit led to bipartisan condemnation in Washington.

Putin has a long history of flouting international law and norms, ranging from the annexation of Crimea to his record of going after dissidents and opponents.

Navalny, 44, who is believed to be Putin's latest poisoning victim, is the Russian president's most prominent opponent. The anti-corruption campainger is hospitalized and in a coma in intensive care. He fell ill on a flight back to Moscow from the Siberian city of Tomsk, prompting an emergency landing.

Kira Yarmysh, Navalny's assistant, suspects he's been poisoned. The only thing Navalny consumed that morning was tea, and Yarmysh believes this is likely how the poison was delivered, BBC News reported. Navalny is now reportedly being treated for poisoning at a hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk.

While Trump has barely shrugged at this news, other world leaders have expressed severe concern.

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday said they're both willing to offer Navalny medical assistance and asylum.

"We are obviously ready to give Navalny and his loved ones all the assistance they need in terms of health, asylum, protection," Macron said during a joint news conference with Merkel.

Putin is not the only dubious leader who's received this type of lax treatment from Trump.

The president has remained a steadfast ally of Saudi Arabia despite the fact the CIA reportedly concluded Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the brutal killing of Washington Post reporter Jamal Khashoggi.

And Trump in 2018 said he takes North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "at his word" when it comes to the death of US student Otto Warmbier. Warmbier was detained in North Korea, placed in a prison camp, and later released to the US in a vegetative state. He died not long after. Warmbier's parents issued a scathing statement after Trump sided with the North Korean leader.

Experts on authoritarianism have continuously warned that Trump's refusal to take a stand against the anti-democratic behavior of autocratic leaders worldwide only serves to embolden them.

Read the original article on Business Insider
India and Bangladesh will create a new mechanism to regularly review the progress of bilateral development projects, with five such ventures, including an oil pipeline and three cross-border rail links, set to be completed in 2021.

The setting up of the high-level monitoring mechanism to review ongoing projects was discussed during foreign secretary Harsh Shringlas meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka on Tuesday, external affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said.

People familiar with developments said the monitoring mechanism will be jointly chaired by the Indian envoy in Dhaka and the Bangladesh foreign secretary. It will be on the lines of a similar mechanism India has created with Nepal, the people said on condition of anonymity.

Indias developmental assistance for Bangladesh and connectivity and power projects were discussed during the meeting between Hasina and Shringla, who made an unannounced two-day visit to take forward the bilateral relationship. Shringla also delivered a message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Hasina.

Several of these projects, including the Rampal Maitree power plant, India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline, and rail links between Akhaura-Agartala and Chilahati-Haldibari and Khulna-Mongla rail line are expected to be completed next year, said Srivastava.

India also proposed that the next meeting of the Joint Consultative Commission at the level of the foreign ministers should be convened shortly to review the entire gamut of bilateral ties and the development projects, he said.

Indias proposal to launch a travel air bubble between the two countries with limited flights for official, business and medical travellers was appreciated by the Bangladesh side, Srivastava said.

The two sides also discussed the celebrations of the 100th birth anniversary of Mujibur Rahman in 2020 and 50 years of the liberation of Bangladesh and the establishment of diplomatic ties in 2021. India plans to issue a commemorative stamp on Rahman during Mujib Barsho and the two sides propose to hold joint events.

India has also provided Covid-19 related assistance to Bangladesh and organised capacity-building courses for Bangladeshi medical personnel following the video conference of Saarc leaders and creation of the Saarc Emergency Response Fund. Bangladesh has committed $1.5 million for the fund.

Also Read: Speakers conference: India asks international community to isolate Pakistan

In the last few years, India and Bangladesh have amicably resolved complex issues, including the land and maritime borders, and have taken several initiatives to boost connectivity and trade, including commencement of movement of Indian cargo from Agartala to Kolkata via Chattogram, expansion of the scope of the protocol that governs trade and transit on inland waterways, Indias gifting of 10 locomotives to Bangladesh, and introduction of parcel and container train services between the two countries, Srivastava said.

Shringlas visit was useful in discussing specific initiatives in key areas of mutual interest and also reflected the priority that India accords to Bangladesh as part of its neighbourhood first policy, he added.
Miles Taylor, Homeland Security Department chief of staff under Kirstjen Nielsen  President Trump's last Senate-confirmed DHS secretary  announced Monday that he is voting for Trump's Democratic rival, Joe Biden, explaining he had seen Trump do "terrifying" things in his two and a half years working in his administration. And his feelings about Trump's unfitness for office weren't unique, Taylor told MSNBC's Hallie Jackson on Wednesday. "In fact, I would be willing to go as far as to say I can think of very few people that I served with in the Trump administration that don't feel the same way about the president as I do."

When Jackson brought up Trump's family separation policy, Taylor said he had always been against it, and though it "was appropriately halted, I think what's more alarming is that every single month after we halted that policy, the president would tell us he wanted to restart it, and not only restart it, he wanted to expand it and actually go further, and deliberately rip children from their parents as a means to deter people from coming to the border. That's inhumane and it's un-American."

Jackson asked Taylor to name the most "disturbing" thing he recalls Trump advocating. "We could probably go on for days about that," he said. "The president's talked before about wanting to purchase Greenland, but one time before we went down [to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria], he told us not only did he want to purchase Greenland, he actually said he wanted to see if we could sell Puerto Rico. Could we swap Puerto Rico for Greenland? Because in his words, Puerto Rico was dirty and the people were poor. These are Americans, Hallie, and we don't talk about our fellow Americans that way."

The New York Times, which first reported this story, said Trump was joking when he suggested swapping Puerto Rico for Greenland. "I did not take it as a joke," Taylor said, adding that Trump displayed "deep animus toward the Puerto Rican people behind the scenes," even as they "were recovering from the worst disaster of their lifetimes."

Story continues

Trying to trade away Puerto Rico was "beyond galling, but this was a real thing," Taylor said. "This is the president, this is the man who sits behind the Resolute Desk, and these are the thoughts he has when Americans are in danger and recovering."

More stories from theweek.com

5 bitingly funny cartoons about the Democratic National Convention

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A confused Kirsten Dunst asks Kanye West why he put her on his campaign poster


Since we were able to take our classes 100% virtual in May, more than 850 real estate professionals have taken our classes. We are so pleased we can help realtors stay relevant, keep up with their required CE credits, and maintain some sense of normalcy during this crazy pandemic period.

Since COVID-19 health and safety protocols went into place this spring, Cook & James, the Atlanta-area based real estate law firm known for pioneering at-home closings, has moved its popular continuing education (CE) classes to a completely online format and ramped up safety measures in their office for those clients who now choose to close their real estate transactions there.

Since we were able to take our classes 100% virtual in May, more than 850 real estate professionals have taken our classes, said Heather James, co-founding partner at Cook & James. We are so pleased we can help realtors stay relevant, keep up with their required CE credits, and maintain some sense of normalcy during this crazy pandemic period.

The Cook & James digital class offerings including License Law, Fair Housing & Assistance Animals, Ready to Close, Environmental & Historic Preservation Topics in Real Estate, Real Estate Ethics, Social Media 101, YouTube for Real Estate Agents, and Real Estate Advertising. These CE classes are approved by the Georgia Real Estate Commission and realtors can apply them to the 36 hours of ongoing education required every four years to maintain their license.

To present classes, Cook & James partners with a variety of Atlanta-area real estate organizations. Each class is designed somewhat individually, with some being fee-based and open only to that partner organizations members; other classes are free to attend by anyone. Most classes allow up to 100 participants, are three hours long and Cook & James monitors and verifies attendance to meet the Real Estate Commissions stringent parameters.

In addition to offering classes in a new way, the COVID-19 quarantine period presented the firm with challenges about how to safely conduct their essential work of closing real estate transactions. In April, Cook & James innovated a new solution, the curbside closing, which the firm continues to offer, but has also notably increased safety protocols for in-office work.

Because of the highly sensitive nature of our work, the proprietary personal information we handle in real estate transactions, and the burgeoning rate of cybercrime, remote work is sometimes just not an option for us, said Kara Cook, co-founding partner at Cook & James.

So, to accommodate a safe in-office work environment, each employee now has their own personal office space, all doors are kept closed and meetings are conducted via zoom office to office, rather than in person. Each employee has a temperature check upon arriving to work every morning, masks are worn at all times and hand sanitizer is plentiful, as are hand washing stations. Cook & James has installed a medical grade air purifier and filtration system and, when a client chooses to close in a conference room, the firm sanitizes all surfaces, closing papers, pens, etc. with Lysol disinfectant and a UV light wand, and requires masks for everyone. Care is taken to minimize touching and passing papers back and forth between people. Finally, the firm uses an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant cleaner morning and night, applying it through the entire office space with an electrostatic sprayer.

To learn more about any of these safety initiatives or register for any of the below upcoming classes, email info@CookandJames.com or call 404-704-0440.



License Law which reviews real estate license maintenance, unfair trade practices, advertising rules, brokerage relationships and escrow (3 hours CE credit). Class dates: September 22 and October 22.

Environmental & Historic Preservation Topics in Real Estate which provides an overview and understanding of environmental and historic preservation issues that can arise during the real estate transaction process, including environmental hazards that may affect title and real estate values, historic preservation as well as the law of takings (i.e. Eminent Domain), and sustainability and green building in real estate (3 hours CE credit). Class dates: September 17 and October 15.

About Cook & James

Founded in 2006 to fill a void in real estate transaction services, the attorney team at Cook & James is a pioneer of at-home closings. Specializing in refinancing, purchases, corporate relocations and more, team members can be 100% mobile to offer buyers, sellers and real estate agent partners the flexibility of closing anywhere that is convenient, including at-home. Cook & James attorneys and paralegal professionals bring everything needed to the closing to facilitate a smooth experience. Using a proprietary at-home closing platform, the firms residential real estate legal solutions and expertise include purchases, mortgage refinances, title clearance, deed preparation, corporate relocation assistance and more.

Kara Cook and Heather James are co-founding partners. The firm is based in the north Atlanta suburb of Roswell, Ga. has a satellite office in Woodstock, Ga. Cook & James is also licensed to do business in Connecticut, New York and South Carolina. Learn more at http://www.CookAndJames.com.

# # #
The Libyan National Army led by General Khalifa Haftar will reopen Libyas oil ports for a short while to empty tanks with crude oil and condensate and ship them abroad, a spokesman for an LNA affiliate said in a televised statement.

Libya will export some of the fuel, the statement suggested, while the remaining fuel will be shipped into eastern Libya to feed its power plants.

The instructions were to allow for the emptying of tanks holding crude and condensate stored at the oil ports to be loaded and exported, LNA spokesman Ahmed al-Mismari said, as quoted by Bloomberg. The decision taken yesterday doesnt mean the reopening of fields or the resumption of exports.

The move followed media reports earlier this week that said Haftar, whose LNA holds Libyas oil ports, may reopen them to tackle a power shortage problem in the east of the country: the headquarters of the alternative Libyan government with which Haftars group is affiliated.

Releasing fuel from the tanks at the oil ports could go towards solving another problem, too. The tanks overflowing with crude and fuels pose a disaster risk, the National Oil Corporations chairman Mustafa Sanalla said last week.

The LNA blockaded the ports in Libyas Oil Crescent, effectively suspending production as well. Libya produced more than 1.2 million bpd last year while the ports operated as usual. Now, this has fallen to below 100,000 bpd, with NOCs chairman estimating that the company has so far suffered losses of some $6 billion from the oil port blockade and the production outage.

These prompted NOC to institute a force majeure on oil exports early this year. In July, the company lifted the force majeure as the Haftar-affiliated forces agreed to reopen the facilities after an agreement for the fairer distribution of oil revenues was struck. Just two days later, however, the blockade was back, and so was the force majeure, leaving production crippled.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
New Delhi: The Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) result is likely to be announced on Friday (August 21). The students will be able to check their results on the Karnataka Examination Authority's official website- kea.kar.nic.in, karresults.nic.in.

According to reports, Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister CN Ashwathnarayan said the counselling process will be held online this year in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic situation. Ashwathnarayan is quoted as saying, There will be two rounds of counselling and one round of extended counselling and there will be no additional round of counselling.

Students should follow the steps given below to check KCET result 2020:

1. Students should first visit KEA's websites- kea.kar.nic.in, karresults.nic.in

2. They should click on the CET- 2020 result link

3. Now enter your registration number and roll number

4. Students can see their results appearing on the screen

5. They should download their results and take a print out for future reference

The CET exams were organised on July 30 and 31 amid social distancing guidelines for COVID-19.

According to the KEA statistics, physics paper was attended by 1,75,428 candidates (90.23% of enrolled), Chemistry was attempted by 1,75,337 (90.10%), while biology and mathematics were attended by 79.90% and 91.92% respectively.

In 2019, a total of 1.4 lakh candidates became eligible for engineering and Technical courses.

Notably, the students who will receive a rank after qualifying the examination and they will be allowed to participate in the counselling process. The process includes registration, document verification, filling of choices of colleges and courses, allotment, and reporting to allotted institutes.

For more details, students should visit the Karnataka Examination Authority's official website.
As always, if we can be of assistance to you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact my office. My door is open and I have made it a goal to be accessible to the constituents of our district. Please stop by any time. My e-mail address is mkolterman@leg.ne.gov, and the office phone number is 402-471-2756. Tyler and Katie are always available to assist you with your needs. If I am not immediately available, please do not hesitate to work with them to address any issues that you may need assistance. Please continue to follow me on Facebook at Kolterman for Legislature and on Twitter at @KoltermanforLegislature.
(Photo : Unsplash) (Photo : Unsplash)

North American Dental Group (NADG) strongly disagrees with the World Health Order's recent recommendation of delaying oral care routine and non-essential dentistry-related concerns because of the practice's potential to contract the Novel coronavirus or COVID-19.

Just last week, United Nation's specialized agency for international public health, World Health Order, released a recommendation stating that oral health care routine should be delayed during this pandemic, as reported by Voice of America.

However, a press release published by the North American Dental Group says otherwise and disagrees with WHO's recommendations.

"Dentists across the country have been treating patients for months. There is no evidence that routine dental care has contributed to the spread of this virus," NADG co-founder and chief medical officer, Dr. Andrew Matta, said.

Dr. Matta and dentists worldwide agree that dental health significantly impacts the overall well-being of a person. Oral care is as critical as any other concern, for they are detrimental to a person's health.

"Routine care is often preventive care, and it is extremely important in helping to avoid oral infections and

diseases, which could impact a person's quality of life," he added.

The organization also says that this pandemic is an eye-opener that proves dentistry as essential health care that people must consider and keep.

ALSO READ: 3 Ways Tech and Innovation Have Transformed The Dental Industry

Dentists and NADG's efforts in stemming the spread of COVID-19

Dr. Matta reiterated that ever since the pandemic began, dentists have been gearing up and preparing to accommodate patients and prevent the spread of the virus.



Dentists who are part of the NADG network are putting their efforts into building a safe environment in their respective clinics. Personal-protective equipment is worn by staff and thorough sanitation of different rooms that patients and personnel go to. This is said to help in minimizing the risk of transmitting COVID-19.



NADG stated that the dentistry practice had made efforts in implementing additional safety protocols that will help in stemming the spread of COVID-19. Dentists are also concerned about the comfortability and safety of their patients whenever they visit the clinic for essential and non-essential reasons.



Dr. Matta further assures people that there should be no worries when visiting oral care professionals, stating that it is safe to visit the dentist. He also added that the dental industry will make sure that patients will have the option to seek out oral care whenever they need it.

What Dentistry looks like in COVID-19 pandemic era

A report from USA Today explores a dental clinic based on Bellmore, New York, headed by Dr. Scott Asnis. They describe the clinic to have changed a lot since their last visit in February and have adhered to preventing the further spread of COVID-19.

Upon checking in with the receptionist separated by a plastic barrier, people will be asked to wait in their respective cars until the supposed appointment. When called back, there is a face mask requirement and routine temperature check. Patients are also asked to wash their hands thoroughly and gargle with peroxide solution to kill bacteria inside the mouth.

Usage of usual dental tools and dental aerosols for cleaning patient's teeth will no longer be used. Doctors and dental technicians are required to wear full-body personal protective equipment or PPE.

Dr. Asnis upholds dental clinics and offices as one of the "safest" environments to go to during this pandemic.

ALSO READ: New Study Proves Growing Concern Over the Negative Effects of Touchscreen Devices on Toddlers Unfounded

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Isaiah Alonzo

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Virginia Tech on Thursday reported a record-setting year of donations, despite a pandemic that has ravaged the economy and imperiled the universitys budgets.

The university received more than $185.4 million in gifts and commitments for donations over the fiscal year that ended June 30.

That reflects a $3.5 million increase over the previous record, set in the 2018-19 fiscal year, when the universitys new $1.5 billion capital campaign was still in its quiet phase.

Tech has raised $657.2 million for its Boundless Impact campaign, which launched publicly in October and which is expected to end around 2027.

The way that momentum carried on even after the pandemic emerged this spring was incredible, Charlie Phlegar, the universitys vice president for advancement, said in a news release. COVID-19 changed how we were able to connect as Hokies by keeping us apart, physically. But it did not keep our alumni and friends from showing their support for Virginia Tech. We are extremely grateful to all of them.

Over the preceding fiscal year to the one ending June 30, Tech saw its number of donors increase more than 14% to 41,524 individuals, corporations and foundations.

The campaign will fund the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; construction of a business and analytics complex in Blacksburg; health sciences programs in Roanoke; and efforts to attract and retain a diverse student body, among other initiatives.

Tech also received more than $1 million for a scholarship program that the university matches dollar-for-dollar, and which it says will help 331 students this upcoming academic year.

Despite a record haul for its capital campaign, sources of funds for the universitys operating budget  supported largely by tuition dollars and state revenue  remain in flux.

Virginias General Assembly is revising the state budget, which faces a $2.7 billion shortfall over the next two fiscal years, according to estimates. Tech has adopted a 5% reduced budget, and it projects a loss of $210 million if its forced to move fall classes online.

Techs Board of Visitors in June voted to hold tuition at the same level as the previous year, because of the financial challenges that the pandemic has posted to many households.

Within the last two months, Tech has backpedaled on proposals for new fees, one for campus parking and another for mental health services, after condemnation from students and others pointing out the challenging economic times.

Tech spokesman Mark Owczarski said in an email Thursday that the fee proposals were not initiated to compensate for budget shortfalls caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The university said Aug. 11 it would begin charging a $20 visit fee per counseling session after a students 10th session.

In order to respond to current fiscal conditions, not reduce the number of clinicians, and not further increase the Health Services Fee, Cook will be implementing a new fee structure for some of our services effective August 17, Tech said in a post.

The post said most students who use the counseling services do five to six psychotherapy sessions per year. It also said it would charge $15 for psychiatry appointments and increase no-show fees to $30.

Two days later, after intense backlash from students and others, Frank Shushok, vice president for student affairs, said the university would not impose new fees after all.

A beautiful community is one that speaks up, listens, learns, and works to understand multiple perspectives, Shushok wrote in a statement. This week, student leaders have shared candidly a conviction that new fees in Cook Counseling Center will have a disparate and deleterious impact on students most in need of support. I am convinced that our students are right. As such, the only reasonable action is to reverse course and cancel the implementation of any new fees.

Some students and alumni have also expressed rancor over a university decision announced July 20 to start charging campus visitors for weekday parking from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Daily visitor permits, which many universities have, will cost $6 or vary based on parking meters.

Students argued the new fees would discourage them from visiting campus in the evenings and strain the local bus system at a time when its occupancy is capped amid the pandemic.

Two weeks ago, Tech said it would start offering a new Evening Only parking permit that would be available to all users from 5 to 10 p.m. only. Those permits cost $50 per semester  or $100 annually.

Tech said it offered the new option in response to requests from the community.

Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Thieves have stolen 71 lambs from a Devon farm just weeks after the release of figures which show rural crime is at an eight year high.

Livestock were stolen from a farm in the Bratton Clovelly area of Devon at some point between 5 and 12 August.

The lambs are said to be the Suffolk cross mule breed and have red spray marks on the left hand side of their neck or ear.

Anyone with information are urged to contact Devon and Cornwall Police or Crimestoppers UK quoting the crime reference CR/068266/20.

The force added: "Dont let stolen meat enter the market or food chain. Help protect rural livelihoods."

It follows the release of figures which show that rural crime costs have reached an eight year high in the UK - totalling 54m in 2019.

NFU Mutual's report shows that livestock theft increased last year, with the cost going up 9% to 3 million.

Gangs taking large numbers of sheep, which are thought to enter the food chain illegally, are driving the increase.

How can I better protect livestock?

To deter livestock thieves, NFU Mutual advises farmers to:

 Padlock field gates

 Ensure stock is clearly marked and records are up to date

 When possible graze livestock in fields away from roads

 Check stock regularly - and vary times of feeding/check ups

 Consider a high-tech marking system such as TecTracer which puts thousands of coded microdot markers into a sheeps fleece

 Ask neighbours to report any sightings of unusual vehicles loading sheep

 Join a FarmWatch scheme

The rural insurer has established that there are three distinct types of livestock thefts currently taking place:

 Large scale theft  organised crime with livestock destined for the food chain

 Pedigree  rams stolen for their high value as breeding stock

 Money laundering  organised criminal gangs buying and selling on sheep at auctions to launder money
JAMUL, Calif., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Jamul Indian Village Development Corporation (Jamul), a wholly-owned enterprise of Jamul Indian Village of California (Tribe) and the owner and operator of Jamul Casino (Casino), has filed a lawsuit against Lexington Insurance Company (Lexington), a wholly-owned subsidiary of American International Group, Inc. (AIG). The complaint, served on August 6, 2020, was filed due to Lexington's denial of coverage for Jamul's losses related to COVID-19. Jamul had three active "all risk" policies (policy) with Lexington when the Casino closed during the initial outbreak of the virus. Jamul's lawsuit, case number CVJ-2020-0003-GC, filed in the Intertribal Court of Southern California alleges causes of action for Declaratory Relief, Breach of Contract, and Breach of the Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing (Bad Faith). Jamul has requested a jury trial.

"Jamul believes that Lexington didn't interpret our policy correctly and has wrongly denied coverage," said Erica M. Pinto, Chairwoman of the Jamul Indian Village Development Corporation Board of Directors. "We have an 'all risk' policy, which was intended to cover any and all risks. We believe that includes losses related to the pandemic."

As mandated by tribal declaration and order, and consistent with local, state, and federal emergency declarations and orders related to COVID-19 at the time, Jamul Casino closed operations effective March 20, 2020, and remained closed for approximately two (2) months. Jamul's lawsuit alleges that Lexington has now wrongly required "physical" damage or destruction of property to trigger coverage under the "Interruption by Civil Authority" provision of the policy, despite the fact that the word "physical" does not appear in this provision.

Additionally, Jamul asserts that Lexington is unreasonably relying on a "pollution exclusion" of the policy, which does not specifically exclude coverage for losses related to contagious diseases such as viral or bacterial infections. These types of communicable disease exclusions were included in many policies after the SARS outbreak of 2003, but there was no such language in the Jamul policy with Lexington.

Chairwoman Pinto added, "There are no virus or other remotely related exclusions in our policy. In fact, Lexington added language when our policy renewed this July for 'communicable diseases,' so, clearly, they know they are wrong but still don't want to compensate us for our losses. It's not fair or right, so we will hold them accountable to live up to the terms of our policy." She continued, "We look forward to a quick resolution and payment of our claim so we can continue to help our people recover from this difficult situation."

Jamul is seeking payment for its COVID-related losses, including business interruption damages, cleaning and disinfection expenses, and attorney's fees and costs. The lawsuit notes that Jamul distributes revenues earned from the Casino's operations to the Tribe, which uses those revenues to support governmental programs for elders, youth, health, safety, housing, and education. The Casino also provides significant financial support to the San Diego County Fire Department.

About AIG and Lexington

AIG is a global insurance organization with 100 years of experience. AIG member companies provide property and casualty insurance, life insurance, retirement solutions, and other financial services to customers in more than 80 countries and jurisdictions. Lexington is a subsidiary of AIG.

About Jamul Casino

Opened in 2016, the Jamul Casino, located in Jamul, California, is owned and operated by Jamul Indian Village Development Corporation (JIVDC), a wholly owned enterprise of the Jamul Indian Village of California. The $430 million, award-winning Casino features nearly 1,700 slot machines, 39 live table games, a dedicated poker room; and various restaurants, bars and lounges. Jamul Casino supports more than 1,000 permanent jobs in the region. For more information about Jamul Casino, please visit www.JamulCasinoSD.com.

Media Contact: Beth Binger

BCIpr

619-987-6658

[email protected]

SOURCE Jamul Casino

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American Airlines will drop flights to 15 smaller U.S. cities in October when a federal requirement to serve those communities ends.

The airline blamed low demand during the coronavirus pandemic, which has triggered a massive slump in air travel and huge losses for the carriers. Airlines and their labor unions are seeking billions in new taxpayer relief.

American said its schedule covering Oct. 7 through Nov. 3 will drop flights to cities including Sioux City, Iowa; New Haven, Conn.; and Springfield, Ill.

"This is the first step as American continues to evaluate its network and plans for additional schedule changes in the coming weeks," the airline said in a prepared statement.

More than half of the cities that American is dropping have no other airline service. It will be a major blow to Tweed-New Haven Airport, but the airport's executive director, Sean Scanlon, held out hope that the loss will be temporary.

"I'm confident that we will see other carriers here once the industry bounces back from COVID, regardless of what happens with American," Scanlon said.

A massive pandemic-relief measure approved in March set aside up to $50 billion in cash and low-interest loans for the nation's passenger airlines. American was the largest recipient  $10.7 billion if a pending loan wins final approval from the U.S. Treasury Department.

In return for taxpayer dollars, airlines were barred from furloughing workers and were required, in most cases, to continue serving destinations they had before the pandemic. Both of those conditions expire Sept. 30. Passenger airlines and their labor unions are lobbying for an additional $25 billion to keep paying workers and avoid furloughs through next March. Cargo airlines and contractors would get $7 billion.

The push by airlines and labor has received significant support in Washington. A majority of the Democratic-controlled House endorsed the additional money, so did 16 Senate Republicans. President Donald Trump spoke favorably about helping the airlines when asked about the proposal.

However, the provision is wrapped up in discussions over a larger virus-relief package that would include extended unemployment benefits and, Democrats hope, aid to cities and state governments. The fate of that measure is unclear after negotiations between congressional Democrats and the White House broke down more than a week ago.

An American Airlines executive cited the stalemate in Washington for the airline's decision to cut service to some destinations.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

"We have been holding off, hoping that we would come to some sort of agreement that would extend (the payroll money) and would extend the service requirement. That broader negotiation does seem to be stalled, and this is an unfortunate casualty of that," said the executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity to explain private discussions about the decision.

Without more federal money, airlines may lay off or furlough tens of thousands of workers as early as Oct. 1. American has warned 25,000 workers they could lose their jobs. United Airlines has sent notices covering 36,000 employees. The final number of cuts will depend on how many employees take offers of buyouts, early retirement or long-term leave.

The requirement to preserve most routes that airlines flew before the pandemic has been unpopular with airlines because many of them carry few passengers. The Transportation Department agreed to let airlines drop a few cities if other carriers continued flying there, but many other requests were denied.

American Airlines lost more than $2 billion in its most recent quarter.

American could continue to serve the smaller cities in a limited capacity, through flights at nearby airports or by selling tickets to flights operated there by another carrier, a practice called code-sharing.

Other cities that American dropped from the October schedule are Del Rio, Texas; Dubuque, Iowa; Florence, S.C.; Greenville, N.C.; Huntington, W.V.; Joplin, Mo.; Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, Mich.; Lake Charles, La.; New Windsor; Roswell, N.M.; Stillwater, Okla.; and Williamsport, Pa.
A new measurement technology developed at the University of Bern provides unique insights into the climate of the past. Previous CO 2 concentrations in the atmosphere could be reconstructed more accurately than ever before, thanks to high-resolution measurements made on an Antarctic ice core. The study, which analyzed the Earth's atmospheric composition between 330,000 and 450,000 years ago, was made possible by the commitment of experts, and their decades of experience, at the University of Bern. The results of the study have been published in Science.

Melting ice masses disturbed the ocean circulation

In 2008, the Bern ice core specialists were able to show that the CO 2 concentration in the atmosphere during the last 800,000 years was consistently much lower than today. Since then, the ice core experts have built upon those findings enabling a much more detailed reconstruction of the 330,000 to 450,000 year time window. Until now, the maximum speed and frequency of naturally occurring centennial scale jumps in the CO 2 concentration remained unknown. This study shows that abrupt CO 2 rises are a pervasive feature of our climate system and that they can even occur during interglacial periods. "Until now, it had been assumed that the climate was very stable during previous interglacial periods and that there were no abrupt changes in the atmospheric CO 2 concentration," explains Christoph Nehrbass-Ahles, lead author of the study, who earned a doctorate from the University of Bern and is now based at the University of Cambridge. According to Nehrbass-Ahles, the abrupt rises were always evident when melting ice masses in Greenland or Antarctica considerably disturbed the ocean circulation. If the CO 2 in the atmosphere rose quickly, simultaneous changes in the Atlantic Ocean's circulation could also be detected.

CO 2 increase was ten times slower than today

The fact that rapid CO 2 jumps could be detected not only during glacial periods but also during two previous interglacial periods surprised the researchers. "We measured these events in the ice several times and always came to the same conclusion," explains Nehrbass-Ahles. Why the CO 2 concentration in the atmosphere suddenly rose during previous interglacial periods cannot be conclusively explained by the researchers. "We do not know why this happened yet," explains Bernese climate researcher Thomas Stocker, co-author of the study: "This raises new research questions." However, the CO 2 jumps in previous interglacial periods are far exceeded by the current development: "These natural jumps in the CO 2 concentration in the atmosphere happened almost ten times slower than the human-driven increase over the last decade," Nehrbass-Ahles emphasizes.

The largest jump in the past corresponds to the current CO 2 emissions over only six years

The researchers compared the CO 2 jumps of the past with the ongoing human-driven rise of CO 2 concentration in the atmosphere. According to Stocker, the largest centennial CO 2 jump in the past was around 15 ppm (parts per million is the unit for atmospheric CO 2 concentration), which is approximately equivalent to the increase caused by humankind over the last of six years. "This may not seem significant at first glance," says Stocker, "but in light of the quantities of CO 2 that we are still allowed to emit in order to achieve the 1.5C climate target agreed in Paris, such increases are definitely relevant." The findings of this study put us under even greater pressure to protect the climate.

###
Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, has launched three additional Community Mining Schemes in the Ashanti Region.

The Bekwai Municipal, Adansi Asokwa and New Edubiase areas Community Mining Schemes were jointly launched at Bekwai on Thursday.

The Community Mining Schemes are in fulfillment of the ruling New Patriotic Partys 2016 manifesto promise.

In all, there are about 120 concessions under the Community Mining Scheme in the three areas, with 16,000 jobs expected to be created.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Asomah-Cheremeh reiterated that the Community Mining Scheme is a novel gold mining model being introduced by the NPP Government to address some of the underlying causes of illegal mining (galamsey), within the mining communities throughout the country.

According to him, the Scheme is an adaptation of small-scale mining as provided for under sections 81-99 of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).

He noted that it is yet another innovative policy initiated under the Nana Akufo-Addos administration which is aimed at providing members of mining communities the opportunity to engage in lawful and meaningful mining ventures and ensure sustainable livelihoods for the beneficiaries of the Scheme.

As provided for within small scale mining, the Scheme is reserved for only Ghanaian citizens but with an emphasis on host communities. Simply put, the Scheme is of the people, by the people and for the people of the Community.

Strategies

To ensure a successful implementation of the scheme, the Minister reiterated that some key strategies have been infused into the Community Mining Scheme.

The strategies, he mentioned, are: formation of Community Mining Oversight Committees; Adoption of the Small Scale Miners Code of Practice; and provision of support services to the community miners.

Traditional and political actors from the three areas, Bekwai Municipal, Adansi Asokwa, and New Edubiase, hailed the Government and the Lands Ministry, for coming out with such an innovative and Community oriented mining scheme.

They expressed the belief that the scheme will go a long way to improve the living conditions of residents through the creation of decent jobs, among others.

Nana Amoanimaa Dede II, the Omanhene of Bekwai Traditional Council, was full of praise for the introduction of the Community Mining Scheme and Governments efforts to ensure the protection of the environment and water bodies.

He therefore warned the miners not to destroy the environment and water bodies.

He also urged them to pay the necessary taxes to the State for the development of the country.

---Daily Guide
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 20)  A lawmaker is asking that a beauty product manufacturer be blacklisted after it labeled Manila as a province of China.

Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles on Thursday shared a photo of the packaging of Ashley Shine Keratin Treatment Deep Repair which bore the label.

In a statement, Nograles said the act could have been deliberate.

It is hard to dismiss this insult as a simple error... The label clearly shows Manila, as a province of China. This incident must be investigated at the very least, and the manufacturer and importer should be blacklisted, as soon as legally permitted, he said.

Nograles wrote both the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) about the issue, saying Any act to undermine our sovereignty must be taken seriously. It is in this light that we respectfully ask your Office to immediately investigate this detestable and repulsive offense against our nation, and, if legally justified, prohibit the continued distribution of these products in our country.

There was no immediate comment from DTI or FDA.

Nograles said based on the information received by his office, the product bearing this information was manufactured in 2018 and is still distributed throughout the country.

The business establishment Elegant Fumes Beauty Products Inc. in Binondo, which sold the product in question, has been ordered shut by Manila Mayor Francisco Isko Moreno Domagoso.

Kung usapin rin lamang ng lisensya sa pagnenegosyo sa Maynila, meron na agad silang violation. 'Yan po ang misrepresentation ng kanilang address, the mayor said in a live video aired on his Facebook page on Thursday evening.

[Translation: If were talking about the license to operate a business in Manila, they already have a violation: the misrepresentation of their address.]

He added that the store was found to have no permit to sell the beauty products, which he noted are not FDA-approved.

The shop's five owners, which include two Chinese nationals, will no longer be allowed to operate a business in the city, according to Moreno. He said he will also ask the Bureau of Immigration to deport the two foreign nationals and declare them as undesirable aliens.

The mayor delivered a stern warning to businessmen who violate local and national rules, particularly striking a firm note against Chinese nationals who "seemingly disregard Philippine sovereignty."

Hindi ko po papayagan itong unti-unti na namang pamamaraan ng isang bansa na para bang inaangkin ang malayang bansa, he said. No way na harap-harapan niyong aalipustahin ang aming lungsod.

[Translation: I will not allow this certain country's seeming gradual way of claiming our free nation. Theres no way that youll outright insult our city.]
Press Release

August 20, 2020 Imee: Condone farmers' debts to enhance food security amid pandemic Farmers who borrowed money from the government to buy land will soon be able to avail of new loans, as if they were free from debt, Senator Imee Marcos said. Marcos, who chairs the Senate committee on economic affairs, has sought to condone the unpaid loans of agrarian reform beneficiaries acquiring farmland, among the government's response and recovery interventions in the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act (Bayanihan 2) to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. "The measure will help ensure food security by giving back to our farmers who play the major role in ensuring it," according to Marcos, who is also a member of the conference committee reconciling the Senate and House versions of Bayanihan 2. "The pandemic has disrupted food supply chains and pushed farmers into deeper debt, with community quarantines delaying the transport of farm production needs and the delivery and sale of harvested goods," she explained. "Condoning unpaid loans will give farmers fresh access to other government lending programs that will help them maintain, if not increase, their productivity amid the pandemic," Marcos added. The proposed write-off of unpaid loans used to acquire farmland will cover principal amounts as well as interest payments and penalties, following general banking laws and regulations of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Liens and encumbrances attached to farmlands being acquired through government loans should also be lifted, Marcos said. The Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) will be issuing a certification of each write-off, paving the way for farmers to avail of other government lending programs. Marcos lamented that although the LBP exceeded what the law prescribes that at least 10% of a bank's total loans should go to farmers, loan growth in 2019 decreased to 6.4% compared to 21.1% in 2018. Department of Finance data and the LBP's 2018 annual report showed that loan growth to farmers rose from Php183.4 billion in 2017 to Php222 billion in 2018 but slowed to Php236.31 billion in 2019. Also, the percentage of the LBP's total loans that went to farmers decreased from 27.8% in 2018 to 26.5% in 2019, Marcos added. "Bayanihan 2 is ready for a third reading and already includes a provision to enhance farmer access to credit during the pandemic. We just need to flesh out the provision to include condoning the unpaid loans of agrarian reform beneficiaries to make that happen," Marcos said.
Fauci, a member of the White House coronavirus task force, made the remarks during a video talk organised by George Washington University.

Washington: Anthony Fauci, the United States' top infectious diseases official, said Wednesday the government wouldn't make any future COVID-19 vaccine obligatory for the general public: though local jurisdictions could make it mandatory for some groups, like children.

"You don't want to mandate and try and force anyone to take a vaccine. We've never done that," said Fauci, a member of the White House coronavirus task force, during a video talk organised by George Washington University.

"You can mandate for certain groups of people like health workers, but for the general population you can't," he added, citing the example of the National Institutes of Health, where health workers can't treat patients without a flu shot.

Australia's prime minister Scott Morrison hours earlier announced that coronavirus vaccines, once approved, would be mandatory for everyone in his country, barring medical exemptions.

But the United States' decentralised system of government, and anti-vaccine sentiments that have been building for decades, had in any case made a program of mandatory immunisation unlikely.

"It would be unenforceable and not appropriate," said Fauci.

This, however, doesn't prevent states from making a vaccine mandatory for children to attend school, as is already the case for certain diseases such as measles, though some are exempt for medical or religious reasons.

The administration of President Donald Trump has pre-ordered hundreds of millions of vaccine doses from six companies and these will be distributed for free.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sixty percent (60%) of companies have hired at least one employee since the beginning of the pandemic, according to new research from The Manifest , a business news and how-to website. The hiring trend persists for companies, despite COVID-19's negative effect on the job market, with the unemployment rate currently hovering around 10.2% .

Nearly half of companies (46%) have hired 10 or more employees since the pandemic's start  a surprising phenomenon in the new era of remote work and virtual onboarding.

New data from The Manifest reveals that nearly half of companies have hired 10 or more employees during COVID-19. Few HR professionals expect their employees to leave within the next year, according to The Manifest's new study.

One reason to hire new employees in groups is to keep training and onboarding efficient. "Onboarding in groups is much more efficient and less time-consuming," said Allan Borch, founder of DotcomDollar .

While group onboarding can feel impersonal, companies can use multiple communication channels to build connections, such as video calls with new hires.

Employees Likely to Stay With Current Company Due to Economic Uncertainty

More than sixty percent of HR professionals (61%) expect new hires to stay at their company for two or more years, according to The Manifest' study. This finding aligns with the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2018 report that the average time wage or salary workers stay at their position was 4.2 years .

The economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic could raise the average number of years an employee spends at a company.

In fact, only 3% of HR professionals expect more than one-third of their workforce to quit within the next year.

Increased employee retention helps improve company morale and culture.

Work-Life Balance Affects Employee Retention

More than one-third of HR professionals surveyed (37%) say that employees are likely to leave their company within the next year due to work-life imbalance.

Within the constraints of the remote age, creating a work-life balance is both more difficult and more essential than ever before. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in increased availability for many employees. Businesses should look to strike a balance between effectively using remote workers and ensuring their mental and physical health.

As companies continue hiring during the remote work age, they can employ creative tactics to effectively onboard new employees.

The Manifest's survey included 500 HR professionals in the U.S. and 234 additional employees.

Read the full report here: https://themanifest.com/hr/hiring-trends-4-tips-onboard-new-employees-remotely .

For questions about the survey, comment on the findings, or an introduction to the industry experts included in the report, contact Abby Saldana at [email protected].

About The Manifest

The Manifest is a business news and how-to website that compiles and analyzes practical business wisdom for innovators, entrepreneurs, and small and mid-market businesses. Use The Manifest as an approachable tour guide through every stage of the buyer journey. With three main offerings  data-driven benchmarks, step-by-step guides, and agency shortlists  The Manifest strives to make your business goals a reality.

Contact

Abby Saldana

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(202) 350-4344

SOURCE The Manifest

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Pakistans Prime Minister Imran Khan wished all Hindu citizens on the occasion of Diwali. Prime Minister Imran Khan wishes a happy Diwali to all Hindu citizens, tweeted Prime Ministers Office in Pakistan.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has categorically rejected any possibility of establishing diplomatic relations with Israel, according to a media report.

"Our policy on Israel is clear: The Quaid-i-Azam (Muhammad Ali Jinnah) had said that Pakistan can never accept state of Israel until the people of Palestine get rights and an independent state, Khan said in an interview with private news channel Dunya TV' on August 18.

Pakistan and Israel do not have diplomatic relations and their aircraft are not allowed to use each other's airspace.

Also read: For Palestinians, Israel-UAE deal swaps one nightmare for another

"If we recognise Israel and ignore tyranny faced by the Palestinians, we will have to give up Kashmir as well, and this we cannot do, he said.

His remarks came in the backdrop of recent peace overtures between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel, with the former becoming only the third Arab nation to enter into a peace deal with the Jewish state.

Questions were also asked in Pakistan why it was following an antagonistic policy toward Israel when the Arabs were embracing the Jewish state in the changing regional political alignment.

When asked to comment on the UAE's ties with Israel, Khan said that every state had its own foreign policy.

He also rejected the impression that Pakistan's relations with Saudi Arabia were under stress due to the Kashmir issue. Saudi Arabia is one of our key friends and our relations are still fraternal and unchanged, he said.

Khan praised Pakistan's ties with China and said that the country's future was linked to China which stood with it in all difficult times. He also said Chinese President Xi Jinping would visit Pakistan in the coming winter.

Also read: Abraham Accord | Why Israel and the UAE have reached a deal

Prime Minister Khan also talked about several domestic issues, including the government's successful handling of COVID-19 pandemic.

"Initially even my party leaders were against my strategy and were asking why strict lockdown was not being imposed in the country, he said, adding that the our smart lockdown strategy worked and helped to curtail the virus.

Khan's interview coincided with the completion of two years of his government. His policies were repeatedly attacked by the opposition parties.
(Getty Images)

On her second day in her new job, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland updated millions of Canadians who receive the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) with an extension to the program and three new benefits.

CERB, the $2,000 a month benefit, was launched as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but was set to wind down at the end of the month. Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough, who joined Freeland for the announcement, says the CERB will be extended for an additional 4 weeks, for a total of 28 weeks.

Ottawa has received 8.58 million unique applications for CERB to date and has paid out $68.46 billion.

At the beginning of this crisis our government promised it would do whatever it takes to support Canadian workers and to support Canadian businesses. That is what were doing today and what we promise to continue to do, said Freeland, during a news conference.

New Benefits

Qualtrough also announced three new benefits for people who wouldnt qualify for EI.

The Canada Recovery Benefit for self-employed workers and other workers not eligible for EI will get $400 per week. But they will have to repay 50 cents on every dollar earned above $38,000.

The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit for eligible Canadians who are unable to work because they need to care for a child, family member, or dependent will be $500 per week. The benefit only applies in cases where care centres, schools, or day care have been shut down. For example, anyone keeping their kids home voluntarily will have to provide medical evidence for why they cant attend.

Both are available for 26 weeks over a one year period.

The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit is for those who are sick themselves or have to self-isolate because of COVID-19, and pays out $500 a week. It will be available for two one-week periods over the year.

Qualtrough says the new measures will cost around $37 billion. She also says recent labour market reports show Canadians would rather work than live off of benefits.

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When jobs are available Canadians will take them because they want to work and provide for their families, she said, during the news conference.

Legislation related to the programs will be introduced in the first week of the return to parliament, which is prorogued until Sept. 23. The federal government is targeting October for applications to open for the new programs and 3 to 5 days for money to go out.

Transitioning to EI

Ottawa expects most of the people claiming CERB will automatically be switched over the EI once the program ends.

The transition to EI starts on September 27, and everyone who qualifies will get at least $400 a week. There will also be more flexibility around having enough hours worked to qualify. Applicants will have to show they worked 120 hours over the past 52 weeks.

EI premium rates for employers will be frozen for 2 years.

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.
As reported by the Boston Globe, Massachusetts school officials have reported dozens of families to state social workers for possible neglect charges because of issues related to their childrens participation in remote learning classes during the pandemic shutdown in the spring, according to interviews with parents, advocates, and reviews of documents.

In Massachusetts, the trend was most common in high-poverty, predominantly Black and Latino school districts. A mother who struggled to work her full-time job and monitor her sons schooling, eventually got a call from the states Department of Children and Families. The school had accused her of neglect because her 7-year-old missed class and homework assignments.

Here in Texas, the TEA reported that truancy laws will apply to students who fail to attend school, but remote attendance satisfies attendance requirements. But the pandemic has raised questions for parents with children who are learning at home in this upcoming semester. How will parents have to monitor their children in online classes? What if parents don't have the time to assist with their children's schoolwork and it goes undone?

HISD told Chron that students who are engaged in daily learning will be considered present and will not be marked absent. But truancy laws will be in effect for virtual classes as well.

The HISD Press Office told Chron, "the TEA has stated that truancy laws will be in effect during the 20202021 school year for students receiving remote instruction due to COVID-19 related closures or health concerns."

There will be extended measures to ensure student success in remote learning.

"Teachers and campus staff will monitor student engagement and academic progress daily base on three different criteria: student participation in daily live instruction, time and activities completed in the learning management system (HUB) and submission of daily assignments," the spokesperson said.

As the days swiftly pass during the pandemic, students can become less and less engaged in their school work. The fatigue of working on a computer screen with limited interaction is enough to make students check out of their schoolwork-- I remember, because in March in the final semester of my masters degree, I struggled with remote learning.

Even some Twitter users have shown how distance learning isn't effective for their kids.

The pandemic is revealing so much about education, and there are larger disparities at hand. Some students may have limited access to WiFi, may not have adequate help for homework, or may have other responsibilities that take them away from their learning.

Forcing children to sit at a computer screen all day almost seems unfair, and to label them truant because of it only makes the reality of online learning worse than what it is.

For many pupils the ongoing pandemic is something they've never experienced-- though they're young, they are also learning to navigate through this national crisis everyday. Among everything families are enduring through this pandemic, counting their absences to label them truant is cruel.
MKSK, a planning and design firm working with the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority, has met with local leaders to study areas around planned stations in Munster, Dyer, Ogden Dunes/Portage, Garys Miller area and Michigan City, and is producing the first drafts of transit development districts there.
NEW JERSEY  Gov. Phil Murphy has once again rejected growing calls from the business industry and lawmakers to reopen on a regional basis, and he's pushing back against demands to reopen gyms and indoor dining.

Murphy is also nixing demands that New Jersey reopen businesses in the same way he's reopening schools, telling MSNBC on Thursday that education is not practiced in a "one-size-fits all" statewide fashion and "not every family is configured or looks the same and has the same degree of freedom as others."

Murphy appeared to be responding to a joint letter from the New Jersey Business & Industry Association and the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce, which said: It appears that deferring to industry experts and local officials for COVID-19 reopening decisions is the proper process, except when it comes to the reopening of our businesses."

The New Jersey Business Coalition has repeatedly called for a regional approach to the reopening of New Jerseys economy. In doing so, the coalition noted the DOHs current reporting of COVID-19 cases on a county-by-county basis," the statement read. "It recommended that a grid of safe vs. cautious counties can easily be developed."



The New Jersey Business & Industry Association and the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce was also scheduled to put forward its own reopening plan during a Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee meeting on Thursday.

The New Jersey Restaurant & Hospitality Association also put out a statement saying the organization repeatedly asked for a meeting with Murphy to discuss reopening indoor dining and was rejected.

Marilou Crane Halvorsen, who heads the trade group, noted that Murphy, during his Wednesday news conference, "called me out by saying 'I only texted him today requesting a meeting.'

"The protocol to request meetings is through his office, which I did 10 times since the beginning of June. I was told 'no' in mid-July," she said on Wednesday. "I received his cell phone number last night and out of desperation for my industry, I contacted him directly.

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"I make no apologies for advocating for restaurants and small businesses in New Jersey," she said. "I hope he honors what he said about meeting with us."

Murphy, meanwhile, backed up his statewide approach to his decisions by pointing to a map used by the state Department of Health that shows how some counties are currently better off than others in dealing with the coronavirus.

Murphy, who lives in Monmouth County, said a regional approach wouldn't work if indoor dining was reopened in Bergen County  where coronavirus activity is now low - and not in his home county.

"I could drive up to Bergen County and have dinner," Murphy said during his Wednesday news conference.

That's not the the case with schools, he said, where "you've got to go the school you're enrolled and, in an overwhelming number of cases, where you live."

"The decision on indoor activities has to be taken on a statewide basis," Murphy said. "You don't have that luxury on schools."

In their letter, the New Jersey Business & Industry Association and the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce say they "strongly maintain that there is no reason why the same approach embraced by the DOH for informing local educational decisions cant be used for ending the extenuated pause on our businesses."

In reopening our schools, the governor noted that only those schools which can certify that they can meet the state guidelines can open," the letter said. "This is exactly the protocol that the business coalition has advanced for the reopening of our businesses, as well - putting public health first."

Read more: NJ: 139 School Districts Want All-Remote Start Amid Coronavirus

The letter goes on to say that it's "disheartening" that the governor fails to acknowledge that the reopening is more critically about the return of livelihoods for thousands of our business owners."

"It is about saving their personal investments borne of years of sweat equity, the hundreds of thousands of jobs they provide and all they bring to the states economy," the letter said. "Its about predictability and being able to plan  the hallmarks of any business endeavor. And its also about the mental health of those struggling to survive, and those who are shut in."



Murphy, during his Wednesday news conference, did indicate that he's closer to reopening gyms than indoor dining.

Murphy said he would guess that both types of businesses would not be able to open at the same time because masks can be worn continuously at gyms, but not in restaurants.

"That's not to say we're not going to get to both. I hope sooner than later," he said.

But he said that he's still not ready to reopen both, citing lack of ventilation and air circulation as key issues.

His statements came after NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo said bowling alleys in his state will open, and gyms also will soon receive guidance from the state on reopening. New Jersey typically follows what New York does, but not in this case. Read more: New York Bowling Alleys Can Reopen; Gym Guidance Coming Soon

Sen. Steve Oroho, R-Sussex, has called on Murphy to reopen gyms, saying "regular exercise is a powerful tool that can improve your physical strength, mental health, immune system, and overall well-being.

With heightened isolation and reduced physical activity being an adverse effect of the COVID shutdown, the importance of reengaging in physical fitness cannot be understated," he said. "Allowing gyms to open while ensuring social distancing, sanitation measures, and safety parameters are in place will keep both patrons and employees healthy, safe, and well.

Murphy said reopening gyms will involve two important aspects: Reducing capacity and "heavy" use of face coverings.

"Indoor dining is harder," he said.

Last week, Murphy offered some idea as to why he reversed course on reopening indoor dining in early July, while trying to offer some hope that he'll change course once again.



Murphy cited a study published in Emerging Infectious Diseases that looked at a restaurant in southern China in January, when the coronavirus was plaguing the country.



The study shows how one infected diner at middle table passed coronavirus to nine others seated nearby  including some who were seated 14 feet away.

They were infected not because they were failing to social distance, nor because they weren't wearing masks. They were merely seated in a straight line from an air conditioner, Murphy said.

The finding shows that preventing outbreaks caused by indoor dining will be a lot more complicated than originally thought, Murphy said. And every restaurant may need to follow their own sets of requirements to stay safe.

"I think any of us can name any number of restaurants we go to which have a seating arrangement and an air conditioner not unlike this restaurant half-way around the globe," Murphy said.

Here is animation from the study that shows people getting infected, and how it happened:

WATCH THIS.A case study of coronavirus spread in January that occurred in a restaurant in southern China.One infected and contagious diner was able to spread coronavirus to nine other diners. All of these patrons were seated in a straight line from an air conditioner. pic.twitter.com/5nVBdZiHPf

 Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) August 10, 2020

Murphy said airflow is a constant concern, and it's why he hasn't pilled the trigger to bring indoor dining back into the fold just yet.



"Allowing diners to sit maskless for an extended period of time in a restaurant where the air conditioning unit is silently spreading coronavirus is a risk we cannot take," he said.

This article originally appeared on the Brick Patch
More details about a new soda ash plant project near Green River have emerged as work continues with state and federal agencies.

The site is located west of the Flaming Gorge Reservoir and will utilize a solution mining process. The company behind the project, Pacific Soda LLC, is conducting core hole drilling in the area. A Research and Development License application through the Wyoming Department of Environmental Qualitys Land Quality Division is in its public comment phase, which will run through August.

According to a newsletter to stakeholders involved in the Pacific and Atlantic S...
Hindustan Copper Ltd is quoting at Rs 40.55, up 1.25% on the day as on 12:54 IST on the NSE. The stock is up 32.95% in last one year as compared to a 3.6% gain in NIFTY and a 10.98% gain in the Nifty Metal index.

Hindustan Copper Ltd is up for a third straight session in a row. The stock is quoting at Rs 40.55, up 1.25% on the day as on 12:54 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is down around 0.84% on the day, quoting at 11312.15. The Sensex is at 38253.26, down 0.94%. Hindustan Copper Ltd has added around 7.7% in last one month.

Meanwhile, Nifty Metal index of which Hindustan Copper Ltd is a constituent, has added around 19.6% in last one month and is currently quoting at 2513.15, up 0.82% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 21.52 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 16.5 lakh shares in last one month.

The PE of the stock is 0 based on TTM earnings ending March 20.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Headaches, stomachaches and nausea sent Elena Sabay to the doctor, who told her that she was just stressed. Owing $6,000 in rent will make a person feel sick to their stomach.

Sabay, a hotel housekeeper who lost her job when the pandemic shut down California, hasnt worked since March 15.

Meanwhile, the rent still comes due. She doesnt pay it, of course, because she doesnt have the money  and because city, county and state law prohibits evictions of tenants whove lost their jobs due to the shutdown.

But the rent is still hanging over her head.

Were in debt for $6,000 already, Sabay told me as we sat in the living room of the East Oakland apartment she shares with her husband and three children. Its like a constant debt. You want to pay off what you owe, but the next month is coming.

Oaklands eviction moratorium will be in place until the City Council lifts the local state of emergency. But these questions must be answered soon: What happens after the moratorium expires? How will the back rent be paid?

Losing a job or having hours cut during the pandemic puts renters at risk of accruing massive debt that will be difficult to pay off. At worst, they could face eviction. The California Legislature must do something to ensure renters can stay in their homes until they get back on their feet.

The states elected officials have one job to do before they adjourn at the end of the month: Keep people housed.

It really should be the role of government to provide a safety net for everyone, especially during times like this, Oakland Councilwoman Nikki Fortunato Bas told me. Its out of peoples control that theyre not working, that they may not be able to pay the bills. We need to have some mechanisms to make sure that people dont become homeless.

Two bills moving through the Legislature are somewhat promising. According to reporting by my colleague Alexei Koseff, AB1436 would prohibit landlords from evicting tenants who cannot pay their rent because of a loss of income before April 1, 2021, or 90 days after the end of the statewide state of emergency, whichever is sooner. Renters in arrears would then have another year to, somehow, to come up with thousands of dollars in late rent.

Another bill, SB1410, would give landlords tax credits equal to the amount of rent. Starting in 2024, landlords could use the credits or sell them sooner for cash. Tenants would pay back their rent interest-free to the state over the course of a decade, also starting in 2024. If they dont pay, the state would be on the hook for any money it doesnt recover, a bill that could reach billions of dollars.

Both measures would need a two-thirds majority vote to take effect immediately. The Legislature adjourns Aug. 28.

It really puts pressure on the Legislature to act, Assemblyman Rob Bonta, D-Alameda, said. I think we can do it. The pressures on us to act. We cant be leaving our tenants in a lurch.

Almost half of all renters in the Bay Area  48%  were rent burdened before the pandemic, according to the National Equity Atlas, a report card on racial and economic equity released in July. People who are rent burdened are spending too big a percentage of their pay on rent. After spending money on necessities like a cell phone, food and other bills, there isnt much left over to put away for a rainy day or a pandemic.

The National Equity Atlas is a collaboration between PolicyLink, an Oakland-based nonprofit focused on advancing racial and economic equity, and the USC Equity Research Institute.

In Oakland, 52% of all renters are rent burdened, but the burden is, unsurprisingly, greatest for people color. Almost two-thirds of Black renters  64%  are rent burdened. Next are Latinos at 55%, Native Americans at 54% and Asians at 51%. White people have the lowest rent burden in Oakland and Bay Area, at 38% and 41%, respectively.

You see that nearly half of the renters in the Bay Area are overpaying for rent, but its disproportionately renters of color, Sarah Treuhaft, vice president of research at PolicyLink, said. What you see with rent burden is a picture of how inequality is affecting Bay Area residents.

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.

People of color are more likely to rent than own. In the Bay Area, 61% of white households own their homes compared with just 32% of Black households, according to Treuhaft.

If you look at renters, youre already looking at a dimension of equity, she said. That, of course, relates to policies that are inequitable, that have prevented Black people (and) brown people from owning homes at the same rate as white people.

If we dont do something to prevent this eviction tsunami, the racial inequity we see in the Bay Area will be exacerbated.

Time is running out for renters desperate for help from government.

Last week, California judicial leaders voted to allow state courts to resume hearings on Sept. 2 for evictions of tenants for nonpayment of rent. The ban was scheduled to expire Aug. 3, but the Judicial Council decided to give legislators more time to come up with a fix. Theyve got eight days.

Sabay told me her daughters always ask her whats wrong. Shes tried to find another job. Her husband, Alfredo Romero, picks up shifts delivering furniture to the homes of people who presumably dont get sick worrying about paying bills.

My daughter makes fun of me, saying, Mom, were looking like were going to become homeless, Sabay said.

She held her chest as she laughed.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Otis R. Taylor Jr. appears Mondays and Thursdays. Email: otaylor@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @otisrtaylorjr
The Founder and flagbearer of the Ghana Freedom Party, Akua Donkor and Wontumi Communications Limited in the Ashanti region have been sued for defaming a former Parliamentary Candidate in Asante Akim North on the ticket of the NDC, Mary Awusi.

In a suit, the plaintiff is demanding a total of 1,000, 000 Ghana cedis from the defendants for claiming that the plaintiff was having an affair with former President John Mahama.

Among the declarations being sought by the plaintiff include;

A declaration that the words uttered and published by the 1st Defendant in the interview AS PLEADED IN PARAGRAPHS 11 AND 12 in the statement of claim are defamatory.

A declaration that the words uttered and published by the 1st,2nd and 3rd Defendants AS PLEADED IN PARAGRAPHS on the 20th August,2020 are defamatory of the Plaintiff.

A declaration that the Plaintiffs reputation has been injured by reason of the false, malicious, unjustifiable and reckless defamatory statement uttered by the 1st Defendant and further repeated in her interview with the 2nd Defendant on the platforms operated by the 3rd Defendant.

An order of the Honourable Court directed at the Defendants to publish an unqualified retraction and an apology on the Platforms operated by the 3rd Defendants with the same prominence the defamatory words received within 14 days after the judgment.

An order of the Honourable Court for interlocutory and perpetual injunction restraining the Defendants, their agents, assigns and servants from further publishing any defamatory words against the Plaintiff.

The sum of Three Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH300,000.00) in general damages against the 1st defendant. The sum of One Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH 100,000) in general damages against the 2nd Defendant for using his radio programme to publish the defamatory statements of the 1st defendant.

The sum of Six Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH600,000.00) as punitive damages against the Defendants.

Below is the full suit by the Plaintiff:

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF JUDICATURE

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE

GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION

ACCRA  A.D. 2020

SUIT NO.

BETWEEN

MARY AWUSI PLAINTIFF

MT 14

MANET COTTAGE

SPINTEX ROAD

ACCRA

AND

AKUA DONKOR

ACCRA

OHENEBA NANA ASIEDU WONTUMI COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED

STATEMENT OF CLAIM

The Plaintiff is a Ghanaian citizen. The 1st Defendant is a Ghanaian citizen, a politician and the founder and leader of Ghana Freedom Party (GFP). The 2nd Defendant is the host of a political talk show WONTUMI MORNING SHOW broadcast on Wontumi television, a television station operated by the 3rd Defendant and its YouTube channel. The 3rd Defendant is presumed by reason of the limited appearing at the end of its name, to be a company registered under the laws of the Republic of Ghana and operates the following mass media platforms Wontumi Television(Wontumi Tv) Wontumi radio on the frequency modulation of 101.3

wontumionline.com

Plaintiff avers that she is a married woman and has two children from the marriage. Plaintiff avers that she is the Chief Executive Officer of the companies called Crest Energy and Yamamay Ventures. Plaintiff says that she is the first female Parliamentary Candidate in Asante Akim North on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress and also she was the Parliamentary Candidate for the National Democratic Congress in the 2016 Presidential and Parliamentary elections. Plaintiff says that she is an Executive board member of Crest Energy Ghana Limited, also she is the Deputy Regional Womens organizer for the National Democratic Congress and trainer for Women Academy for Africa organized by the Labour Party in the United Kingdom. Plaintiff avers that she holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology and Adult Education, a Masters degree in Sociology and she is enrolled at the University of Ghana as a PhD student in Adult Education and Human Resource Studies.

Plaintiff says that during a radio interview, the 1st Defendant made a libelous statement without any justification whatsoever against the person of the Plaintiff and same interview was further uploaded on youtube thereby reaching many people.

Plaintiff repeats paragraph 9 and avers further that the 1st Defendant made the defamatory statement in the twi language to wit;

Journalist : amanfuo se papa no papa no papa no . Errr papa no wo nim nipa kr) y3 fr3 no papa no?

Akua Donkor: errr John Mahama Journalist : err wose 3yE whana?

Akua donkor: 3y3 John Mahama Na 3y3 papa no. 3ny3 omonkoaabebree hy3 h)

Journalist: saa

Akua Donkor: errr

Journalist: ehenfonabebree hyehy3 hor?

Akua Donkor: baakowor agogo. Err 2016 kraaogyinaMp 3wor agogo hor Na omoantoamano. Ono no di3 )wo y3 kraaa, Wa wo b3y3 S3 bosom b3 y3 3nae os3 enumnie. Bosom num kraaambae )nemahama. Obi Na 3b3 ka kyir3 me s3 wawo. Wawo w) hospital kraaa. Wakor tor fie kraaamano w) Tema . Na otesuotuom. Na otesuotum Na wak)t) fie w) tema.

Akua Donkor: We hu s3 Nea ma Kyr3s3 odimpwohor no, wo k) h) no mo ahh kobisaobiaa y3 b3 ka s3 y3 fr3 no may. Mary no Na ya y3 no May. Ntisaa. )no Na 3mano gyinamp no. Sika puduo ahh okukuru Di maano S3 onfankokodi ne mp no ny3 agr).

Plaintiff says that the defamatory statement in paragraph 10 in the English Language reads:

Journalist: there are rumors and speculations about a name Papa no do you have any idea who he is?

Akua Donkor: err he is John Mahama.

Journalist: (exclaims) who did you say he is?

Akua Donkor: it is John Mahama. The ladies are many not only about them.

Journalist:Really?

Akua Donkor :?there is a woman who contested the agogo seat in 2016. She wasnt voted for. She has a 4 to 5 months baby with John Mahama. I was told she gave birth at the hospital. John Mahama bought a house at Tema for her. Previously she was staying at Sowutum.

Akua Donkor: you see the lady I am talking about, you can verify from everyone in her constituency. She is Called May, Mary for short. John Mahama supported her MP bid with a huge sum of money to contest as Mp. All the female MPs who contested as Parliamentary Candidates are his concubines. He gave all of them money to contest.

Plaintiff says that she called the 1st Defendant to question her on the malicious and reckless claims. Plaintiff says that on the 20th August,2020, the 2nd and 3rd Defendants in the most reckless and malicious manner gave their platforms to the 1st Defendant to repeat and utter the defamatory statements against the Plaintiff without any justification.

Plaintiff repeats paragraph 13 and says that 2nd Defendant in his interview with the 1st Defendant encouraged the 1st Defendant to repeat the defamatory statement by saying in twi,

1st Defendant: 3nra kraa me b) nipa ne din kraa ma se siaa ya k) piemu w) abrokye h) ama 3nra y3 fr3 no ma ne no kasa y3 . )no nso fr3 me s3 Aden ti na medi no Ato dwa. Nso me k) so aah me ka ninyinaa

2nd Defendant: maame me ba oo, wo bor obidin ma ne fr3 Wo bisa s3 Aden na wo di ne din ato dwa?

1st Defendant : Aani Agogo ni no. )ne no awo mienu kraa. 3na ose Aden nti na mede no Ato dwa na oware sremu nii nti. Me nnim ne kunu sremu nii biaa me nim John Mahama nkoaaa . )ne me twa so nti okaa na me nso maka. Op3 s3 )ka bribi kyr3 me nso me so me ka nia meka.

To wit in the English language,

1ST Defendant: Yesterday, I mentioned one of the names and I had a call from abroad so I spoke to her. She questioned me on why I had to put her name in the public domain as a kept saying everything.

2nd Defendant: Maame, did you really say you mentioned a name and she questioned why you exposed her?

1ST Defendant: Yes! The lady from Agogo. She has two kids with him. And she questioned why I exposed her name because she is married to a Northerner. As for me, I dont know any husband who is a Northerner. The only person I know is John Mahama. She argued with me. She wanted to say something but I told her that I have said what I had to say.

Plaintiff avers that the interviewer and host of the radio programme failed and or neglected to dissociate himself from the defamatory statement made by the 1st Defendant and also failed and or neglected to get the 1st Defendant to retract the defamatory statement.

Plaintiff says that the said interview with the 1st Defendant was published to thousands of listeners.

Plaintiff avers that by uttering and causing to be published falsely of and concerning the Plaintiff in paragraphs 10 and 11 herein, the 1st Defendant meant and ordinarily understood by right  thinking members of the society to mean that the Plaintiff is an unfaithful spouse, an unchaste person,a pervert, a person of low moral character, a person of no integrity and that the second child of her marriage is not the child of her husband but that the child is the child of a man she is not married to.

Plaintiff avers that the Defendants by publishing the said defamatory statement, did so with the sole purpose of denting the hard won reputation of the Plaintiff without any justification. Plaintiff says that the false and malicious utterances made by the 1st Defendant were designed to disparage her and create embarrassment, resentment and disaffection for her in the minds of right  thinking members of the society and thereby reduce her in the estimation of right thinking members of the society. Plaintiff will rely on the following facts and matters in support of the claim for damages, including aggravated damages for malicious defamation: The defamatory words were uttered, broadcast and published by the Defendant recklessly and not caring about the irreparable damage that will be caused to the reputation of the Plaintiff; The defamatory words were uttered, broadcast or publicized without caution in a malicious manner with intent to cause damage and injury to the Plaintiffs hard- earned reputation. Plaintiff avers that the Defendant have injured the image of the Plaintiff and brought her hard-won reputation into hatred, ridicule, odium, discredit, contempt, opprobrium and reproach and as such right thinking members of the society question the integrity of the Plaintiff. WHEREFORE Plaintiff claims against the Defendant: A declaration that the words uttered and published by the 1st Defendant in the interview AS PLEADED IN PARAGRAPHS 11 AND 12 in the statement of claim are defamatory.

A declaration that the words uttered and published by the 1st,2nd and 3rd Defendants AS PLEADED IN PARAGRAPHS on the 20th August,2020 are defamatory of the Plaintiff.

A declaration that the Plaintiffs reputation has been injured by reason of the false, malicious, unjustifiable and reckless defamatory statement uttered by the 1st Defendant and further repeated in her interview with the 2nd Defendant on the platforms operated by the 3rd Defendant .

An order of the Honourable Court directed at the Defendants to publish an unqualified retraction and an apology on the Platforms operated by the 3rd Defendants with the same prominence the defamatory words received within 14 days after the judgment.

An order of the Honourable Court for interlocutory and perpetual injunction restraining the Defendants, their agents, assigns and servants from further publishing any defamatory words against the Plaintiff.

The sum of Three Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH300,000.00) in general damages against the 1st

The sum of One Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH 100,000) in general damages against the 2nd Defendant for using his radio programme to publish the defamatory statements of the 1st

The sum of Six Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH600,000.00) as punitive damages against the Defendants.

Cost including lawyers fees and

Any other order or orders as to this Honourable Court may deem fit in the circumstances.

DATED AT AYINE AND FELLI LAW OFFICES, H/NO. C808/29, 1ST CLOSE LILY STREET, EAST LEGON, ACCRA, THIS 19TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2020.



GODWIN KUDZO TAMEKLO ESQ

LICENCE NO. eGAR02107/20

LAWYER FOR THE PLAINTIFF

BP NO: 3000024883

THE REGISTRAR

HIGH COURT

GENERAL JURISDICTION

ACCRA

AND TO THE ABOVE- NAMED DEFENDANTS OR THEIR LAWYERS.

---starrfmonline
By ANI

NEW DELHI: India has asked Pakistan for Kulbhushan Jadhav to be represented by an Indian lawyer for filing a review petition against his death sentence, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.

"We are in touch with Pakistan through diplomatic channels. We believe for a free and fair trial in keeping with the letter and spirit of ICJ judgment, we have asked that Jhadav be represented by an Indian lawyer," MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said during a virtual briefing.

"However, it is important that Pakistan needs to address the core issues and these core issues involve providing all the necessary documents in this case as well as providing unimpeded consular access to Jadhav," he said.

Earlier, this month Islamabad High Court (IHC) had formed a larger bench to hear the petition case pertaining to the appointment of legal representative for Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, who is on death row in Pakistan.

Geo News had reported that the larger bench, comprising IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Mian Gull Hassan Aurangzeb, was formed on Friday and it will hear the case on September 3. The decision came after India continued to pressurise Pakistan into allowing consular access to Jadhav.

Pakistan media had reported earlier that Islamabad Court has said Indian officials should be given an opportunity to present their stance. India had said that it had not received any communication from Pakistan government.

India has also said that Pakistan has blocked all avenues for effective remedy available to it in the case. Pakistan claims that Jadhav was arrested from Balochistan in 2016 on charges of espionage.

India has rejected Pakistan's allegations and said he was kidnapped from the Iranian port of Chabahar. In early 2017, a Pakistani military court sentenced him to death. The International Court of Justice upheld India's claim that Pakistan has committed an egregious violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations on several counts.
Coillte has today released new figures revealing that there was a large increase in visitor numbers to some forests in Kildare.

Two of Coilltes forests in Kildare, Donadea forest park and Mullaghreelan recreation forest, can track visitor numbers and these recorded 50,272 visitors between June and August. This was a significant increase on visitor numbers in April and May, during the height of Covid-19 travel restrictions.

During March and April 2020, when Covid restrictions were at their most limiting, Coillte saw a large drop in visitor numbers as non-essential travel was restricted. However, since travel restrictions were lifted on June 19, visitors have begun returning to Coilltes forests across Ireland.

Coillte is Irelands leading provider of outdoor recreation activities in Ireland with more than 3,000 kilometres of trails, 260 recreation sites and 12 forest parks across the country.

Imelda Hurley, Chief Executive of Coillte said: Since restrictions were eased and people could move more than five kilometres from their homes, we, unsurprisingly, saw an immediate large increase in visitor numbers.

"In fact, there was a significant increase in visitor numbers in two of Coilltes Kildare forests since lockdown restrictions were eased in June, Donadea and Mullaghreelan. This continued, steady increase is heartening for all of those who cherish our amenities.

Access to nature is very important for the body, mind and spirit and that is why we work hard to maintain our tracks, parks and outdoor recreational facilities across Kildare.

As we approach the end of August, and people take time to enjoy our forests, we ask that visitors continue to adhere to the social distancing rule of two metres when meeting others outside of their household, as well as the other guidelines on outdoor gatherings announced by the Government.

" I want to thank the public for adhering to the Governments travel restrictions during the Covid-19 lockdown. If we continue to remain vigilant, we can all play our own part in protecting our communities.
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Linkedin Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 20, 2020 13:54 517 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066f45e71 1 National BPOM,airlangga-university,BIN,Indonesian-Army,COVID-19-aid,COVID-19-drugs Free

The Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) has said potential COVID-19 remedies being developed by Airlangga University in Surabaya, East Java, require additional clinical trials.

BPOM head Penny Kusumawati Lukito said that upon inspecting the clinical trial of the drug -- developed in collaboration with the Indonesian Army and the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) -- on July 28, the agency found several critical findings that affected the tests validity.

According to the agency, the clinical trials had not fulfilled the BPOMs protocols in randomizing the test subjects, including symptom severity variations.

The research needs to be conducted at random to better represent the Indonesian population, Penny said Wednesday.

The tested drug was also administered to COVID-19 asymptomatic patients, whereas the BPOMs protocol stated that tested drugs should be given to patients with mild, moderate and severe symptoms.

Penny added that the trial showed no significant results, with the drugs effects being similar to existing remedies used to treat COVID-19 patients.

The BPOM also called for the researchers to note possible side effects in future tests, given that the drug contained combinations of a number of potent medications.

Read also: 'It's for humanity': Indonesians step up to volunteer in vaccine trials

Airlangga University rector M. Nasih previously touted the potential drug in development as "the first COVID-19 cure" in the world. It contained combinations of existing medicines, namely lopinavir/ritonavir and azithromycin, lopinavir/ritonavir and doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin.

Health experts, however, urged the public not to get their hopes up, as the three combinations had been included on the list of potential COVID-19 remedies undergoing clinical trials initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO).

While the research team had not responded to the BPOMs report, Penny said Army chief of staff Gen. Andika Perkasa had acknowledged the agency's findings as he supported efforts to continue clinical trials and ensure the drugs' efficacy.

Separately, BINs deputy head of communication and information, Wawan Hari Purwanto, said the research and development team was committed to following up on the BPOM's recommendation.

We have yet to convey any new development because we need time to make the required corrections, Wawan said on Wednesday. We are always in touch [with the BPOM] because we cannot proceed to the next stages if we do not fulfill their requirements.

The research team hoped to finish the drug as soon as possible in accordance with existing protocols.

Penny added that it was common for drug research to receive corrections from the BPOM before it passed and received the distribution license.
All over the world, including Australia, the trade of wildlife species as exotic pets, unsustainable as it is, is also responsible for a large number of alien invasive wildlife species frequently and massively introduced in ecosystems and environments.









A New Study

The findings of a study were published in the Neobiota journal. Researchers looked into the Australian demand for illegal and alien animal pets and the trends in the trade of wildlife. The study also suggested some means by which biosecurity awareness can be improved in Australia.

READ: Vietnam Bans Wildlife Trade to Reduce Pandemic Risk





Australia's Alien Wildlife Trade

For the past 20 years, there has been a significant increase in the influx of alien wildlife species into Australia. These are animals that are widely popular in the international wildlife pet trade, including the red-eared slider terrapin, the corn snake, and the rose-ringed parakeet. Such alien species are often smuggled as illegal commodities, many of which are subsequently released or escape into the wild.

The regulations set by the Australian government regarding international trade in exotic pets are generally stringent. These rules are meant to minimize conservation risks and strengthen biosecurity.

Some trendy wildlife pets presently pose a conservation threat and a threat to biosecurity due to their invasion via owners releasing their pets. The lack of regular surveillance on these alien species, regardless if they were obtained legally or not, is currently the main challenge.

READ ALSO: Some Lions Are Living It up During the Worldwide Lockdown, Others Are in Serious Danger





Legal and Illegal Trade

Some species can be legally imported and traded domestically within Australia's borders. Still, pet keepers are known to be capable of acquiring the exotic pets they want both through legal and illegal means. The latter is used when legal importation is not possible, and just how many these illegal traders are is not known.

Most exotic species in the country are poorly regulated or imported illegally. Thus, researchers and the government find it hard to assess the level of demand and trade for alien species of wildlife.

Study Methodology

University of Adelaide's Adam Toomes, who is the study's lead author, said that they looked into anonymous public inquiries concerned with the legality of importing species of alien wildlife. These were addressed to Australia's Department of Agriculture, Water, & the Environment. The study, he said, investigated if the desired wildlife species in the country leaned towards species that are threatened with extinction, or towards other species.

The Study's Findings

The analysis and results of the study showed that the exotic pets that Australians want to be leaned significantly towards invasive wildlife, threatened species, and those species that are well-known in the pet trade in the US.

Toomes said that the results are a significant concern to biosecurity government agencies since they show how illegally traded wildlife could be selected to possess characteristics correlated with alien invasive wildlife.





Possible Future Trends

The results showing bias towards US-traded species may be useful in predicting Australian demand in the future.

Future studies will look into whether Australian confiscations of illegal exotic pets could be predicted with the use of trade data from the US. This research will be conducted by the University of Adelaide's Invasion Science and Wildlife Ecology Group.

READ NEXT: Risk of Coronavirus Transmission Found Higher in Wildlife Trade Supply Chain

Check out more news and information on Exotic Pets in Nature World News.
Just a few weeks after Chinas imposition of a new national-security law on Hong Kong, we can already see the laws effects: It has emboldened the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to suppress dissent, punish activism, and create fear within the citys democracy movement.

In 1997, the United Kingdom returned Hong Kong, which it had governed for 99 years under a lease extorted from the Qing Dynasty, back to the Peoples Republic of China. At the time, the PRC promised to preserve the political autonomy and freedoms the city had enjoyed under the British until 2047. The national-security law and the crackdown it initiated marked the breaking of that promise.

Beijings move to exert increased control over the city reflects several factors, first and foremost among them the rise of Xi Jinping. Xi has attempted to strengthen the CCPs control of China and his control of the CCP, and after tightening his grip on the mainland, he naturally sought to inflict the same fate on Hong Kong. The citys democracy movement, in turn, erred by forgetting that it ultimately was dealing with Xis regime, which had already crushed all opposition at home, and in demanding what the Hong Kong authorities could never provide (full democracy) while delivering what the CCP could never abide (chaos).

Hence the imposition of the national-security law by Beijing, with results worse than anyone predicted.

The NSL criminalizes separatism, subversion, and terrorism. All of those crimes are vaguely defined, with ultimate interpretation up to Beijing, which uses similar restrictions to stifle dissent on the mainland. Special judges will be appointed to oversee national-security trials, which can be conducted in secret. Chinese security agents now operate in Hong Kong and defendants can be sent to the mainland for trial. The law singles out collusion with a foreign country or with external forces to endanger national security, which is so broad it could cover something as simple as criticizing Beijing in an interview with a foreign reporter. Under the law, Beijing even claims the power to charge foreign nationals for acts committed overseas, and indeed has already attempted to do so. Those convicted can receive life imprisonment.

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Representatives of Hong Kong, who had no say in formulating the measure, have spent the weeks since its enactment desperately seeking to defuse international criticism. No doubt, Xis regime would prefer to win widespread compliance through intimidation; mass arrests would take effort, create international controversy, and undermine Beijings image. Ultimately the CCP hopes to use indoctrination backed by coercion to tranquilize Hong Kongs population.

Indeed, regime allies in the citys government admitted as much when the law was first implemented. Stanley Ng, a delegate to the National Peoples Congress, the mainlands rubber-stamp legislature, said the law was ambiguous by design in order to incorporate the real effects of intimidation and deterrence. You can see the rebels in Hong Kong are now in turmoil. Tam Yiu-chung, another NPC apparatchik, also lauded the laws impact: Those who have stirred up trouble and broken this type of law in the past will hopefully watch themselves in the future. If they continue to defy the law, they will bear the consequences.

The law was, in short, intended to trigger the democracy movements broad retreat from the public square, and it has. But there are already signs that its effects will be much more far-reaching.

On Monday, Hong Kong authorities arrested Apple Daily publisher Jimmy Lai, along with two of his sons and four company executives, for alleged collusion with foreign groups. Around 200 police officers raided the paper. Chinas nationalistic Global Times tagged Lai as a modern traitor. On passage of the NSL, Lai had warned: Whatever we write, or whatever we say, they can label secession or subversion or whatever they decide according to their expedience.

Detained separately were members of the now-disbanded group Scholarism and an election-monitoring organization, as well as 23-year-old pro-democracy politician and protest leader Agnes Chow. Over the weekend, Chow cited surveillance of her home on social media. After the plethora of arrests, another democracy activist, Sunny Cheung, observed: Everyone, lets mentally prepare. The road ahead will be darker and more terrifying than what weve imagined.

Such arrests might have been expected within Hong Kong when the law was passed. But last week, the authorities also issued warrants for six activists based overseas. The police refused to discuss the case, but the Chinese state-owned CCTV network helpfully explained that the activists were wanted for promoting secession and colluding with foreigners.

One is Samuel Muk-man Chu, the head of the Washington-based Hong Kong Democracy Council, which lobbies the U.S. government. Chu, born in Hong Kong, has been an American citizen for 25 years. He is best known for his work as a pastor and for running several social-justice organizations. China seeks to jail him for promoting the cause of human rights in Hong Kong from the U.S. I might be the first non-Chinese citizen to be targeted, but I will not be the last, he told CNN. If I am targeted, any American/any citizen of any nation who speaks out for Hong Kong can  and will be  too.

Also charged was Nathan Law, a leader of the 2014 Umbrella Revolution democracy protests. He was elected to the Legislative Council in 2016, but subsequently disqualified at Beijings direction. He wisely fled to the United Kingdom after the NSLs passage. If the law is not being applied retrospectively, as China claims it is not, he is being indicted for actions he undertook after leaving the territory.

Simon Cheung, another target, worked for the British consulate in Hong Kong. When visiting mainland China last year, he was detained for 15 days, apparently tortured, and questioned about the democracy movement. After his release, he was granted asylum by the United Kingdom. The charges against him apparently relate to his work there.

Amid all of these efforts to intimidate dissenters into silence, the laws passage has also prompted Hong Kongs Beijing-backed chief executive, Carrie Lam, to postpone the September Legislative Council elections, allowing Beijing to decide the bodys make-up until the vote is held next year. Lam, who defended the NSL despite not having seen it before it was enacted, claimed that political considerations played no role in the postponement, which she blamed on the COVID-19 pandemic. But the PRC had real reason to fear that the opposition would gain control of the Council for the first time if the election had been held as scheduled.

The councils makeup is determined through a hybrid system, some lawmakers are directly elected by Hong Kongers, while some are chosen by interest groups. Historically that has ensured that China-friendly elites have the upper hand in governing the city, but hostility toward Beijing has peaked in the aftermath of the NSLs imposition, so much so that the traditional barriers to democratic governance were unlikely to hold if the election had been held. Last November, democracy activists won control of 17 out of 18 district councils normally controlled by establishment parties. Even pro-Beijing Legislative Council members expected another devastating election defeat. The vote delay gives the regime even more opportunity to threaten and arrest anyone who poses a threat to its aims.

Even before the election was postponed, the Hong Kong government had disqualified a dozen candidates, including four sitting legislators, on the grounds of promoting self-determination/independence, seeking foreign intervention (such as sanctions against Hong Kong and/or Beijing), opposing the NSL, and promising to reject government initiatives. Beijings Liaison Office, the territorys real government, explained that these unscrupulous individuals who are plotting to destroy Hong Kong could not be allowed to sit on the Council. After the election delay was announced, the government admitted that other candidates are being reviewed: We do not rule out the possibility that more nominations would be invalidated.

With unintended irony, Lams government mixed its announcement with the statement that it respects and safeguards the lawful rights of Hong Kong people, including the right to vote and the right to stand for elections. Two weeks ago, the same government suggested that 600,000 Hong Kongers may have violated the NSL by voting in an informal primary for democracy activists. If the goal of the ballot was objecting or resisting every policy initiative of the [Hong Kong] government, Lam said, it may fall under the category of subverting the state powerone of the four types of offenses under the national-security law. The police subsequently raided the offices of the polling organization that ran the vote.

The authorities also recently arrested four activists, as young as 16, for inciting secession. They were members of Studentlocalism, a group for pro-independence students in secondary school. Notably, the organization ended operations before the NSL officially took effect, but those detained had posted support for independence on social media afterward, and the police explained that making such statements constituted incitement. Regina Ip, one of the PRCs most reliable local factotums, applauded the arrests, which, she told the New York Times, show the authorities are acting in accordance with the law.

After the laws passage, tenured law professor Benny Tai was dismissed by the University of Hong Kong for his pro-democracy activities. Previously punished for his participation in the 2014 demonstrations, he was recently cited by Beijing for assisting in the unofficial primary. The PRC liaison office blamed him for having poisoned Hong Kongs political environment, calling him the culprit behind the chaos in Hong Kong and the representative for colluding foreign powers, and his removal a just act of punishing evil and promoting good and conforming to the peoples will.

Other Teachers are being targeted, too. Last month, 92 percent of those surveyed by the Hong Kong Professional Teachers Union said they felt government pressure and had a negative view of the educational systems future; 80 percent avoided sensitive subjects in the classroom. Many who protested or endorsed anti-government demonstrations were reprimanded and in some cases fired. The Education Bureau called for the elimination of any teaching materials that could provoke any acts or activities which endanger national security. Some subjects, such as human rights on the mainland, seem likely to become verboten. At an education meeting, Lam ominously said that she hoped the national-security law is also a turning point for returning education to education and returning students to the right track.

Beijing has conducted a broad, cruel, and shockingly effective campaign to destroy political and intellectual liberty in Hong Kong in a very short time. There is no need to wait to judge the impact of the national-security law: It has already chilled free speech, precluded political protest, and silenced critics of the PRCs increasingly oppressive rule. Hong Kongers now face the same fate as mainland Chinese, free to talk only about what the government allows them to talk about. Speak out on anything else, and they risk arrest, prosecution, and prison.

The West, at least at the moment, has no satisfactory answer to the crackdown facilitated by the NSL. But we should be under no illusions: Xi Jinping is bringing his increasingly totalitarian rule to Hong Kong. Just over a month and a half after the laws passage, that much is all too clear.

More from National Review
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 20

By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend:

Turkmenistan and Iran exchanged experience in the fight against infectious diseases, as well as ways to prevent them, Trend reports with reference to Turkmenistans State News Agency.

The talks were held during a videoconference between representatives of the Ministry of Health of Turkmenistan with a group of representatives of the Iranian Health Ministry, headed by Director General of the International Cooperation Department of the ministry Mohsen Asadi Lari.

It was noted that the health care sector in Turkmenistan has improved thanks to the international documents on the fight against infectious and non-communicable diseases.

In this regard, the importance of the initiative of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to create a council of medical scientists to provide conditions for regular exchange of views between medical scientists, experts and other specialists was emphasized.

At another meeting held on May 12, 2020, the two countries discussed issues related to ensuring security at the checkpoints of the Turkmen-Iranian border due to the epidemiological situation in the world.

As reported, the sides also discussed cooperation in the field of transportation, healthcare and construction of joint facilities within implementation of agreements reached between President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and President of Iran Hassan Rouhani.

Earlier, new automobile bridge opened to connect namesake cities of Sarakhs on the two sides of Turkmen-Iranian border.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @JeilaAliyeva


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Who is more humble? The one who apologizes or the one who forgives?

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The act of forgiveness is something that we must continually practice, but it does not come easily. Forgiveness is complex, and it involves the act of humbling ones self, as well as extending grace to others.

When I think about the concept of humility coexisting with forgiveness, the person apologizing is usually the one who is humbled. However, I have come to see this in a different light. It is actually a humbling experience  and often a very difficult one  to be the person who is required to forgive.

Forgiving someone who has wronged us means that we have to admit that something they did bothered us. It requires us to be honest about the fact that we have the potential to be hurt by someone, which inherently implies that people have power over our feelings.

Jesus asks us to turn the other cheek, and when we are in the process of being verbally hit by someone, this can seem like the most difficult thing to do. But when the fight is over, it can be easy to become self-righteous, and even feel like we are better than the other person because we backed down. Anyone who has been in a feud knows this is rarely the end of the encounter. Rather, the true test comes afterwards when Jesus asks us to forgive them for hurting us, even if they didnt ask us to.

As Christians, we should be all too familiar with the act of forgiveness because we are offered it every day by the One who laid down His life for us. But it can often be much easier to accept forgiveness than to give it. Sometimes, there may be good reasons for why we should create boundaries with certain people, but we should also check our hearts when we do so to make sure that we arent holding onto grudges against them in a way that will perpetuate a cycle of pain.

We have the greatest opportunity to be face-to-face with forgiveness every day, because each day we do something wrong that requires us to go to God and confess. This isnt so that we end up in a cycle of shame or guilt. Rather, we confess to our Creator so that we can maintain a close and intimate relationship with Him. Its the same with people. When we forgive others, we are able to figure out the truth about why we were hurt by an action of theirs  and we are able to have a closer relationship because of it.

C.S. Lewis said it best in a letter to his lifelong friend, Arthur Greeves: To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.[1] When we forgive others, we are able to draw closer to God and have a deeper appreciation for His capacity and willingness to forgive us.

[1] Letter to Arthur Greeves, 31 Aug 1918, Letters vol 1, 394.
The Alberta Teachers' Association is calling on the province to push back the first day of school until after Labour Day to give teachers and principals more time to prepare for teaching through the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the school year set to begin the first week of September, ATA president Jason Schilling says the government should postpone classes until at least Sept. 8. At that point, Schilling says individual schools should be left to decide if they're ready to reopen.

Schilling met with Education Minister Adriana LaGrange Wednesday afternoon to discuss the association's concerns with the province's back-to-school plan.

Schilling said no agreements were struck during the meeting but with just two weeks left until the start of school, he expects to hear back from the minister soon after she speaks with school boards.

"We're taking a medical plan that's been put forward by the chief medical officer of health and trying to make it an education plan. And teachers and principals need time to reconcile those two things together," Schilling said at a news conference following Wednesday's meeting.

"They need time to get this right and I would much rather be overprepared than underprepared with the start of the school year."

Last week, the B.C. government announced students would return to school on Sept. 10, instead of Sept. 8, as part of the province's gradual restart to classes.

Call for smaller classes, more support

The meeting comes as the association continues to pressure the government into bolstering measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in schools and increase support inside the classroom.

It laid out a list of seven priorities earlier in August, from establishing a COVID-19 education working group to improving ventilation in schools. Then, at the association's annual assembly last week, teachers from across the province passed resolutions calling for smaller classes, increased support staff, better mental health support and public nurses in schools.

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The assembly's motion of non-confidence in the minister was ultimately referred to the ATA's executive council after debate continued into early Saturday morning. That day, Schilling demanded a meeting with LaGrange to discuss teachers' concerns.

"Ensuring the safety and well-being of our staff and students has guided all decision making around school re-entry since we first cancelled in-person classes in March and we thank the ATA for their role in helping us develop the current school re-entry plan," Minister LaGrange said in a statement after Wednesday's meeting.

Smaller classes have been a pillar of the ATA's demands. Schilling says teachers are concerned about managing health protocols, especially in classes of upwards of 30 students.

School boards, he says, will need money from the province to address the issue.

"There was really no conclusive discussion about how that would look," Schilling said. "I know that school boards will have to look at what that means for them and how they can address those issues but they'll need funding from the province in order to do that."

Supplied by Ted Bauer

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, the province's chief medical officer, has suggested the classroom, in many ways, reflects the broader community when it comes to COVID-19. If community transmission rates are low, Hinshaw says the evidence suggests transmission rates will be similarly low in schools.

At a news conference Tuesday, she pointed to Sweden where she says elementary teachers had a lower risk of contracting COVID-19 than the general population and their class sizes were on average over 20 students.

Hinshaw is recommending schools cohort their classes, in part to make contract tracing easier and limit the number of people who need to self-isolate if there's a confirmed COVID-19 case. In elementary schools, that means classes stay together throughout the day.

Most Edmonton high schools will adopt a quarterly system. Students can take up to two classes each quarter, compared to four in the typical two-semester year, which the schools anticipate will minimize contact between students. The Calgary Board of Education, the province's largest school board, plans to keep classes as they are.

In a tweet Thursday afternoon, Edmonton Catholic Schools said each of its schools are expected to post re-entry plans by Monday morning.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 20, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan warned citizens against letting their guard down over the coronavirus outbreak, and called for strictly and maximally adhering to the safety guidelines and face mask rules.

"We have weakened our vigilance a bit more than required and the realistic in the level of individual responsibility, he said at a televised Cabinet meeting. I am calling upon our countrymen to maximally adhere to the coronavirus safety guidelines, with the face mask rules being of primary importance. Also given the fact that these rules have been significantly eased, Pashinyan said.

The Armenian Center for Disease Control reported 263 new cases of COVID-19 on August 20.

Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan; Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
BRIDGEPORT  Sentenced Thursday to five years for raping a teenage girl who had come to his aid, Santiago Avila complained that he would have gotten better treatment in his native Mexico.

I am not native to this country and nobody understands me here, the 47-year-old Avila told Superior Court Judge Kevin Russo via video conferencing from his cell in the basement lockup of the Fairfield County Courthouse. I would have more rights in my native country. I was mistreated by police here.

But the judge pointed out that the state had DNA and video linking Avila to the crime.

What they didnt have was testimony from the victim because she is still too traumatized from the crime to take the witness stand, according to Senior Assistant States Attorney Ann Lawlor.

A young lady was violently abused and you stand before us complaining you are in jail. That young lady is in her own jail, Russo told Avila through a Spanish interpreter. I had hoped you would take the time to reflect on the damage you have done but I dont think you have that in you.

He then sentenced Avila, who had previously pleaded guilty to second-degree sexual assault, to five years in prison, followed by five years of special parole. Avila must also registry as a sex offender.

With credit for the time he has spent awaiting trial, Avila could be released in a year, according to court records. His lawyer, Assistant Public Defender James Pastore, declined comment.

On Dec. 4, 2017, officers were dispatched to West Liberty Street in Bridgeport for a sexual assault complaint. When they got there, police said they found a 15-year-old girl in the street hysterically crying: He hurt me, he hurt me.

Police said the victim was taken to Bridgeport Hospital where it was determined that she had been raped.

In a subsequent forensic interview, police said the victim told them she had been walking home when she came upon a man crying for help on the sidewalk. The man claimed he had gotten hurt and needed assistance getting to his home.

Police said the teen helped the man to his house when he suddenly grabbed her, dragged her inside and sexually assaulted her. He then stuck a $20 bill in her jacket and told her she could leave, police said.

Police said the teen later led them back to Avilas home and identified him as her assailant from a photographic lineup. Surveillance video showed Avila with his arm around the teen outside his home, police said.

Her voice choked with emotion, the victims mother told the judge that her daughter could not come into court to testify against Avila.

The trauma my daughter had gone through has left her in a bad state, the mother said. My daughter has had several suicide attempts; she is in and out of psychiatric hospitals. Im just trying to get her to a stage of mental stability.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged the people, especially those in mining communities, to take advantage of a community mining scheme introduced by the government to develop their capacity in the industry.

We believe that the participation by Ghanaians or people in mining communities will set us on a path to boost the rural economy and infrastructure development and also improve livelihoods through shared wealth, he said.





The President was speaking during the launch of three community mining schemes at Evalue-Gwira, Akango/Duale and Aboso, all in the Western Region, last Tuesday as part of his working visit to the region.



The schemes, launched at Evalue-Gwira, are expected to create about 2,000 jobs in the area, including Evalue-Gwira and Akango-Duale, while about 10,000 jobs are to be created at Aboso.



Scheme



President Akufo-Addo said as a responsible government, one of the measures it had instituted to deal with the menace of galamsey was the community mining scheme.



He explained that the initiative was aimed at encouraging responsible small-scale mining, in line with the Minerals and Mining Law, 2015, Act 703, in communities across the country.



He mentioned the damage caused by illegal mining to include the pollution of water bodies, land degradation, the non-reclamation of degraded lands and the use of dangerous chemicals such as mercury and cyanide.



I was of the view, a view shared happily by majority of Ghanaians, that if we allow illegal mining to continue, we will be jeopardising our lives and the future of the country, he added.



Sod cutting

The President also cut the sod for the construction of the Abosso Tailings project, a One-district, One-factory (1D1F) initiative being established to treat and process tailings waste to produce gold dore.





As part of the project, a gold processing facility is to be constructed within six months with a total capital outlay of some $12 million for the steady production of gold dore.



The benefits of this project are both environmental and economic. It will introduce technology and safe working practices to small to medium -scale underground sites and rehabilitate contaminated sites for agricultural purposes and for development, he said.



Within five years of the project, it will contribute approximately $1.35 million in royalties and $54,000 as small-scale mining sustainable levy to the government annually.



Cumulatively, a total amount in excess of $8.7 million will be contributed as corporate tax (CIT) over the five-year period.



President Akufo-Addo called for the cooperation and support of the chiefs and the people in the beneficiary.

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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India's third Covid wave likely to peak on Jan 23, daily cases to stay below 4 lakh: IIT Kanpur scientist

WHO lauds Gujarat's efforts to contain coronavirus

India

pti-Madhuri Adnal

Ahmedabad, Aug 20: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has lauded various steps taken by authorities in Gujarat to contain the spread of coronavirus in the state, said a top government official on Thursday.

The WHO organised a webinar on Thursday to know more about Gujarat's COVID-19 response and best practices put in place to contain the virus, said Principal Secretary, Health, Jayanti Ravi.

Coronavirus: India records nearly 70,000 COVID-19 cases in last 24 hours; Tally over 2.8 million

Covid-19 curfew in Punjab again | Surge in Covid cases in Punjab | Oneindia News

Around 20 WHO experts from India and Geneva office of the world body took part in the online session where Gujarat government officials gave a detailed presentation about various measure taken to fight the pandemic, Ravi told reporters in Gandhinagar.

"The WHO appreciated the efforts we all put in to contain the spread of the virus in the state. WHO experts lauded the role played by people, political leadership, officials and private as well as public health practitioners," said Ravi.

She added that WHO experts also suggested to replicate some of Gujarat's "unique and best practices" in other states of India or countries.

With surge in COVID cases, Punjab imposes daily night curfew from tomorrow

In the presentation given to the WHO team, the state government particularly highlighted how surveillance was scaled up with the help of over 5,000 teams and introduction of 'Dhanvantari Raths' (mobile vans) for testing and basic health check-up.

"We also highlighted how we have beefed up testing. Just yesterday (August 19), we conducted over 63,000 tests in a day. Our recovery rate now stands at almost 79 per cent. Over 51,000 beds are available at present across Gujarat for coronavirus patients," Ravi added. Gujarat has so far recorded 83,262 COVID-19 cases and 2,855 deaths.
Courtesy of Art Cummings

New Milfords Community Emergency Response Team has spent hundreds of hours helping out this summer, and now its looking to bolster its ranks.

Anyone interested is asked to email membership chair Wendy Del Monte, at info@newmilfordcert.com for more information leading up to the fall training session, Mayor Pete Bass announced.
Matielyn Jones, a mom of two from Georgia, did everything she could to help her school-age son succeed as he navigates remote learning this semester -- investing in a new laptop, desk and chair so he could be as prepared as possible to succeed in his virtual classes.

When her son's first day of third grade rolled around, however, his school district's remote learning portal abruptly crashed. Jones, who recently left her full-time job mostly to help her children with virtual learning this semester, felt helpless.

"It made me laugh a little on the inside, I think our teachers are doing the best they can, and our system, theyre trying," Jones said. "I knew wed have a bumpy start."

PHOTO: Matielyn Jones said she bought her son a new laptop, desk and chair for his virtual semester amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Courtesy Matielyn Jones)

Still, Jones said while she is confident her school district is "working out the kinks" and that she is happy her son can safely stay home, she expressed concern over how these tech hiccups will impact her son's education this year.

"I do think for my son being in third grade, this is the first year that's normally a standardized testing year," she said. "I dont know how that will go."

PHOTO: Matielyn Jones is pictured here with her son as he attends school virtually amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Courtesy Matielyn Jones)

As the coronavirus pandemic causes millions to work and learn from home, some educators and parents have expressed concerns over whether the technology infrastructure is in place for such a massive remote experiment.

MORE: Distance learning tips: Affordable online tutoring services and ways to boost your Wi-Fi signal

Jones' experience in Georgia was not unique. Parents across the country including in North Carolina and Florida reported similar issues amid the pandemic.

The bandwidth issue has come up as school districts are "not just talking about some students being online, but all students," Keith Krueger, the CEO of Consortium for School Networking, an educational technologies advocacy group told ABC News.

"Especially, when you add video and other intense applications, that has huge implications," he added.

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Cybersecurity on these educational platforms is also paramount, Krueger noted, as students' records and other information by law must be kept private and secure, "so the bandwidth needed if kids were at school doing that is different than when it has to go through the firewall, on the way up and the way down from the home."

Network operators have reported traffic surges in home broadband internet since late March, with one tech expert equating the new daily demand for connectivity to a typical years Super Bowl Sunday.

Krueger said many of the challenges with remote learning arose because of the abrupt transition and lack of adequate training for educators. Moreover, the lack of an existing platform or management system added confusion for many students, teachers and parents.

'A digital chasm'

Tech barriers to remote learning also disproportionately impact low-income and minority students, Krueger said, contributing to a widening gap that leaves some students at risk of falling behind.

"Equitable access to devices, but particularly robust internet at home is certainly foundational," he said. "You can't do remote learning, or what we would prefer to call effective distance education, without that access."

When a handful of school districts across the country suddenly were forced to switch to remote learning almost overnight, "We realized that it wasn't just a digital divide for some students, but it was a digital chasm for particularly low-income, disproportionately students of color," he said.

PHOTO: A student distance learning. (STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images)

Part of the issue, especially among low-income families, is that asking whether a family has internet access at home or a device with internet access at home is very different than asking what kind of internet access each family has.

"With lower-income families, typically it's a data-capped mobile device," Krueger said. "And you can imagine, if we're doing virtual learning, that the second or third day of the month, you could have hit your data cap easily."

Moreover, Krueger noted if a family has a parent also working from home and siblings also doing distance learning, it puts greater pressure on the networks.

"It's pretty clear that home internet access and access to a device appropriate for learning, the less income you have, the more likely that you don't have those things," he said. "And when you break it down to look at who those are, they're disproportionately Black and Hispanic families."

Krueger lauded the "Herculean effort" by local educators to ameliorate these inequities, through calling families individually and checking to make sure they have the tech tools they need. These efforts have largely been left up to local districts and school systems.

MORE: School district bans pajamas for students learning remotely from home

Miscellaneous costs associated with distance learning may also lead to different results for low-income students.

PHOTO: A student remote learning. (STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images)

More than 60% of parents with school-aged children said that remote learning during the COVID-19 outbreak would negatively impact their finances, according to a Bankrate survey released last week. Some 30% of parents said they would incur additional miscellaneous costs such as on technology due to remote learning, and some 22% said they -- like Jones -- would have to cut back on their work hours.

"I think the most important thing as far as being at a disadvantage is if your parent cant stay home," Jones said. "Last semester was very difficult working from home and trying to [do] digital learning."

She acknowledged that it was a privilege being able to leave her job and thought was the best thing for her family, but that not all parents can do that. She said her school district has said it would provide laptops to students who need them, but so far she thinks buying the computer for her son was "worth the investment."

There are many advantages to distance learning when done right, and it has the potential to improve efficiency and more for many students, according to Krueger. He said further efforts need to be made, however, to ensure that students, parents and teachers gain access to the technology they need to do it well.

"What we really need is dedicated funding at the national level, so that it doesn't matter which district, which state you live in," he said. "Unfortunately, Congress and the White House have not come to an agreement on a new stimulus package."

Tech barriers to remote learning send parents scrambling, expose 'digital chasm' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
<! Colonel Assimi Goita: head of Mali junta: ECOWAS calls emergency meeting >

Colonel Assimi Goita has emerged the head of the military junta in Mali that ousted the elected government of President Boubacar Keita on Tuesday.

Goita introduced himself Wednesday at a meeting with the secretaries-generals of government ministries.

He chose the title of President.

Let me introduce myself: I am Colonel Assimi Goita, the president of the

National Committee for the Salvation of the People, he told the press at the meeting,

Until his appointment as head of the CNSP, Goita was head of special forces in central Mali.

One of the colonels who was constantly mentioned since the putsch yesterday, Colonel Malick DIAW, was named vice-president of the National Committee for Peoples Salvation.

The coup in Mali started with a mutiny at Kati Garrison, 15 Kms from Bamako.

President Keita, Prime Minister Boubou Cisse and others, who were arrested by the mutinous soldiers, are still being detained at the Kati barracks.

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YPSILANTI, MI  Eastern Michigan University students will begin fall classes on Aug. 31, and EMU President James Smith said some still will take place on campus.

Smith and EMU administrators announced a plan earlier this month that includes daily health screenings for students and employees, face coverings everywhere on campus, practicing physical distancing and frequent, in-depth cleaning of public areas and campus buildings.
New Delhi: Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on Thursday (August 20) declared Indore as India's cleanest city fourth time in a row under it Swachh Bharat Mission, while Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha seat, was declared the 'Best Ganga Town' in the country, followed by Kanpur, Munger, Prayagraj, and Haridwar.

In the Centre's latest annual cleanliness survey, Bihar's capital Patna has been declared as the dirtiest city in the country with a population of more than 1 million. Indore is followed by cities like Surat and Navi Mumbai which grabbed the second and third positions respectively.

Surprisingly, Delhi fails to find any suitable ranking in the cleanliness survey to justify it being the national capital city. South Delhi is ranked 31st, North Delhi at 43rd while East Delhi was placed at 46th spot. Union Territory of New Delhi, however, ranked first among the cleanest capitals in the country.

Three cities of Maharashtra--Karad, Saswad, and Lonavala-- have grabbed the top three positions among the cities with a population of less than one lakh.

Among the states with more than 100 cities, Chhattisgarh is the cleanliness state, while Jharkhand is on the top among the states with less than 100 cities. These two states are often counted among the most backward states of India, but they have pipped the bigger states of the country. Among the states with more than 100 cities, Karnataka is at the last number, while Arunachal Pradesh is the worst among the states with less than 100 cities.

Among the dirtiest cities in India, Bihar's capital Patna has grabbed the top slot among cities with more than 1 million population, followed by East Delhi and Chennai. Among the cities with less than 10 lakh population, Bihar's Gaya is the worst, followed by Buxar city of Bihar and Abohar in Punjab. Residents of these cities need to question their representatives as they failed to make these cities cleaner.

The DNA report will try to understand the cleanliness saga of Indore and why did other cities like Patna, East Delhi, Gaya, or Chennai fail to follow this example. For this, you need to know the persistent effort of the Indore administration along with and the contribution of its citizens, who have also been fined for not following the cleaning guidelines.

Indore's Municipal Corporation continuously communicates with the citizens to inculcate in them the habit of cleanliness while taking the help of NGOs. The district administration has also set up a command center to track the garbage collected in the city besides installing GPS trackers on all the garbage collecting vehicles.

The administration has also removed large public dustbins and rather collects garbage from house to house. The roads of Indore are cleaned in the night instead of in the morning. This way, when people venture out of their homes in the morning, they see their city clean and tidy and are also saved from the dust.

The administration has also taken the support of children to create awareness about cleanliness and made them brand ambassadors of cleanliness.

Currently, 56 million kg of garbage is generated in India every year, but this will reach 1.45 lakh crore kg per year in 2030, according to a report of the Ministry of Environment. By 2050, India will have 7 times more garbage than today, and it will weigh 4 lakh crores kilograms.

The waste collected from your home is managed in a three-way; firstly, manure is produced from garbage; secondly, garbage is recycled to make it reusable; and the third method is to convert the waste into energy to generate electricity.

Till 2015, Indore was at 149th position in terms of cleanliness, but in just two years, it miraculously emerged as the cleanest city in the country due to collective efforts of its more than 32 lakh residents.

Notably, over 4000 cities have been included in the cleanliness survey, which also includes sparsely populated cities, termed as Local Bodies, so that the maximum number of municipal corporations are covered under it to fix their accountability.

Key highlights of Swachh Survekshan 2020 are:

- 1.87 crore citizen feedback received

- 1.7 crore citizens registered on Swachhata App

- Over 11 crore impressions on social media

- Over 4 lakh contractual employees employed by Urban Local Bodies

- Over 21,000 Garbage Vulnerable Points identified and transformed

- Over 5.5 lakh sanitary workers linked to social welfare schemes and over 84,000 informal waste pickers integrated into the mainstream



A total of 6 cities--Indore, Ambikapur, Navi Mumbai, Surat, Rajkot, and Mysuru--have been rated as 5-star cities, 86 cities as 3-Star and 64 cities as 1-Star, as per Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairss Star Rating Protocol for Garbage Free Cities.

Swachh Survekshan 2021 also witnessed the introduction of a new performance category, the Prerak DAUUR Samman which has a total of five additional subcategories -Divya (Platinum), Anupam (Gold), Ujjwal (Silver), Udit (Bronze), Aarohi (Aspiring).

Since its launch in 2014, Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U) has made significant progress in the area of both sanitation and solid waste management. 4,324 Urban ULBs have been declared ODF, 1,319 cities certified ODF+, and 489 cities certified ODF++ as per MoHUAs sanitation protocols.
Giuliani has said he consulted with Manafort about the theory that it was Ukraine that interfered in the 2016 race. In a text message to The Post on Wednesday night, Giuliani wrote that none of the information I received over a year and half ago had any connection to Russia. He called the Senate Intelligence Committees report a one side inquiry, adding that people who wrote this report never contacted me, or my witnesses or asked to see the documents I have or tapes.
Meghan Markle made a bold plea to women across the US to take part in the upcoming presidential election, speaking out about the need for 'change' at an online voter summit, while telling participants: 'If we aren't part of the solution, we are part of the problem.'

The 39-year-old made her stance on the 2020 presidential race incredibly clear when she addressed viewers at the When All Women Vote Couch Party - an online event organized by non-profit organization When We All Vote, which was founded by 'her friend' Michelle Obama.

Appearing as the opening speaker at the summit, Meghan expressed her 'excitement' at taking part, before telling those involved with the organization: 'We need [your work] now more than ever.'

Speaking out: Meghan Markle urged women across the US to vote in the 2020 election, telling a digital voter summit, 'If we are not part of the solution, we are part of the problem'

Making a statement: The 39-year-old did not name the candidate who she plans to vote for, but made clear her political stance, telling the summit to vote for 'the change we all need'

'I'm really thrilled that you asked me to be a part of this,' the mother-of-one began, adding: 'I think this is such an exceptional time [and I am] happy to be here for my friend Michelle Obama's When We All Vote, and to kick off the When All Women Vote Couch Party.'

Speaking directly to the volunteers and workers tuned into the summit, Meghan continued: 'It is fair to say that we are all very grateful for your work because we need it now really more than ever.'

Although the Duchess of Sussex has not named the candidate that she plans to vote for in the election, she made it incredibly clear that she believes there needs to be a change to the current administration, warning summit participants that 'there is so much work to be done' before they cast their votes.

'When I think about voting and why this is so exceptionally important for all of us, I would frame it as: We vote to honor those who came before us and to protect those who will come after us because that's what community is all about and that's specifically what this election is all about,' she said.

If we aren't part of the solution, we are part of the problem. If you aren't going out there and voting you are complicit. If you are complacent, you are complicit

'We're only 75 days away from election day and that is so very close and yet there is so much work to be done in that amount of time because we all know what is at stake this year.

'I know it, I think all of you certainly know it. And if you're here on this fun event with us then you are just as mobilized and energized to see the change that we all need and deserve.'

The Duchess of Sussex then turned her attention to the 19th Amendment, celebrating the 100th anniversary of women's right to vote - while also pointing out the fact that women of color had to wait decades longer to earn that same right.

'And as we look at things today, though it had taken decades longer for women of color to get the right to vote, even today we are watching so many women in different communities who are marginalized still struggling to see that right come to fruition,' she said. 'And that is simply not OK.'

She continued her speech by blasting attempts at 'voter suppression', warning the summit that it is more important than ever to 'support each other' and to galvanize one another to keep 'fighting'.

'When we look at the attempts at voter suppression and what that's doing it's all the more reason we need each of you to be out there supporting each other, to understand that this fight is worth fighting, and we all have to be out there mobilizing to have our voices heard,' the former Suits star said.

Meghan then made a personal call to action to all voters, particularly women, to take part in the election, insisting that 'if we aren't part of the solution, we are part of the problem'.

Call to action: Meghan warned summit participants that 'there is so much work to be done' before the election because 'we all know what is at stake this year'

Last minute addition: The mother-of-one's participation in the online event was only announced on Wednesday, one day before it took place

'We are obviously faced with a lot of problems in our world right now, both in the physical world and in the digital world,' she said.

'But we can and must do everything we can to ensure all women have their voices heard because at this juncture if we aren't part of the solution we are part of the problem.

'If you aren't going out there and voting you are complicit. If you are complacent, you are complicit.'

She also encouraged people to focus on the bigger picture, insisting that individual issues are not the most important aspect of the election, but rather the need for an overall change.

'I think when we are looking at all the diff ways we can engage, we can support one another, it doesn't really matter what issue it is that speaks to your heart,' she said.

'Whatever it is, we can make the difference in this election, and we will make the difference in this election.

'It is the countdown to the change that we would all like to see for the better for our country.

We can make the difference in this election, and we will make the difference in this election. It's the countdown to the change that we would all like to see for the better for our country

'In the fraught moment right now we find our nation [in], exercising your right to voice isn't simply being part of the solution, it's being part of a legacy.'

Meghan's appearance at the summit is the latest in a series of interviews and speeches that the Duchess has made in an attempt to become more politically active - having reportedly grown 'frustrated' at her inability to get involved in politics while she was working as a senior royal.

Earlier this month, she confirmed her plans to vote in the 2020 election, while speaking to Marie Claire about the importance of voting.

At the time the Duchess also shared a poignant quote from New Zealand's most famous suffragist leader Kate Sheppard, revealing that both she and husband Prince Harry 'have referred to [her words] often' for inspiration and guidance.

'I know what it's like to have a voice, and also what it's like to feel voiceless,' Meghan said.

'I also know that so many men and women have put their lives on the line for us to be heard.

'And that opportunity, that fundamental right, is in our ability to exercise our right to vote and to make all of our voices heard.'

She then shared a quote from Sheppard - New Zealand's most outspoken suffragist leader whom Meghan has previously quoted - explaining that it is 'one of her favorites' and 'one that my husband and I have referred to often'.

'Do not think your single vote does not matter much,' the quote begins. 'The rain that refreshes the parched ground is made up of single drops.'

Meghan concluded: 'That is why I vote.'

The former Suits star's decision to speak out about her political plans marks yet another major break from royal tradition for Meghan; traditionally members of the monarchy are expected to remain politically neutral, and therefore do not speak out about their opinions in public.

Familiar! Meghan filmed her speech in the same corner of the $14.65 million Montecito home that she and Prince Harry appeared in during a video call on Monday

However, Meghan confirming to the world that she will be voting in the presidential election will come as no surprise to those closest to her - particularly after it was revealed by a royal source in January that the Duchess of Sussex was aiming to become more 'politically engaged' after she and Prince Harry quit their roles as senior royals at the start of the year.

At the time, an insider told the Daily Mail that Meghan had grown 'frustrated' by the fact that she was not able to be actively involved in politics while she was a senior member of the monarchy, and that she wanted to 'take advantage' of the freedom to share her opinions with the world.

'The Duchess is said to be frustrated that she was forced to stay out of politics after getting engaged to Harry,' the source said.

'She has strong political opinions and will now take advantage of the greater freedom she has to express them publicly.'

Meghan did not reveal who she is planning to vote for the in the upcoming election - however, before marrying Prince Harry, she was incredibly outspoken about her dislike of President Donald Trump, branding him 'misogynistic' and 'divisive' during a talk appearance in 2016, shortly after he had won the election.

Criticism: Before marrying Harry, Meghan was outspoken about her dislike for President Donald Trump, branding him 'misogynistic' and 'divisive' in a 2016 interview after he won the election

When Trump made an official state visit to the UK in June 2019, Meghan did not join the other royals in meeting him - a move that some royal sources claimed was her way of showing her disapproval of the President, although officially, her absence was blamed on the fact that she was still on maternity leave.

However, it was revealed in November 2019 that Meghan had invited Hillary Clinton to visit her and baby Archie at Frogmore Cottage - the family's home in the UK - where the two women were said to have enjoyed a 'very warm, sweet' meeting.

Meghan's interview with Marie Claire is not the first time that she has spoken out about the importance of voting however; during an official visit to New Zealand with Prince Harry in 2018, the Duchess of Sussex marked the 125th anniversary of women getting the right to vote by once again quoting Sheppard during a speech at Government House.

'The achievements of the women in New Zealand who campaigned for their right to vote, and were the first in the world to achieve it, are universally admired,' Meghan said at the time, before going on to praise the country's suffrage movement.

'Womens suffrage is not simply about the right to vote for women but also about what that represents: the basic and fundamental right of all people, including those members of society who have been marginalized, whether through reasons of race, gender, ethnicity or orientation, to be able to participate in the choices for their future and their community.'

Meghan then concluded her speech by sharing another quote from Sheppard: 'All that separates, whether race, class, creed, or sex, is inhumane, and must be overcome.'

The Marie Claire interview is also not the first occasion that Meghan has shared her 'favorite' Sheppard quote.

In November 2018, during their official visit to New Zealand, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared the suffragist leader's words on Kensington Palace's official Instagram account, while posting an image of Meghan cradling her baby bump while surrounded by giant redwood trees in Rotorua.

Along with the quote from Sheppard, the couple thanked the people of New Zealand for a 'wonderful' visit.
The probable source of the outbreak, according to the CDC, is bagged peaches supplied by Wawona Packing Co. to retailers in multiple states. These stores below are currently recalling contaminated peaches and food made with them, such as peach salsa.. If you suspect that you purchased a recalled product, click on the retailers name to be directed to more information. All affected peaches should be discarded or returned to the store where purchased for a full refund.

Stores issuing a recall include:

Aldi

Products: 2-pound bags of Wawona peaches and 2-pound bags of organic peaches, and loose bulk peaches

Locations: Select stores in Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin

Food Lion

Products: 2-pound bags of Wawona bagged organic peaches, and bulk yellow and white peaches sold between June 1 and Aug. 20

Locations: Select stores in Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia

Hannaford

Products: Wawona bagged and bulk yellow and white flesh peaches sold between June 1 and Aug. 20

Locations: Select stores in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont

Kroger, Jay C, King Soopers, City Market, Frys, Ralphs, Food 4 Less, Foods Co. and Smiths



Products: 2-pound bags of Prima peaches, Kroger brand peaches and Wawona peaches

Locations: Select stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri Ohio, Louisiana, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia

Russ Davis Wholesale

Products: Crazy Fresh, Quick & Easy, and Clear Label brands of Perfectly Peach Salsa

Locations: Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming

Target



Products: 2-pound bags of Prima Tree-Ripened Peaches, 2-pound bags of organic peaches, and loose peaches (including white)



Locations: Not specified

Walmart and Sams Club

Products: Bulk and loose Prima Wawona peaches

Locations: Select stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming

Wegmans

Products: 2-pound bags of Wawona and Wegmans peaches purchased June 1 through Aug. 19. Select white, yellow, organic 2.5-pound box peaches sold June 1 through Aug. 21. Bakery items including vanilla trifles; a variety of cakes, pies and fruit tarts purchased Aug. 16 through Aug. 21

Health officials continue investigation

The CDC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and local health officials are investigating to determine if other products or retailers are linked to the current outbreak.



Minnesota is the state with the most people infected with the outbreak strain, Salmonella enteritidis, reporting 23 cases. (There are more than 2,000 strains of salmonella).

The CDC advises consumers to throw away Wawona-brand peaches purchased since June 1, even if no one has exhibited signs of illness from eating them. In addition, wash and sanitize areas where the peaches were stored, such as countertops and inside the refrigerator.

Annually in the U.S., salmonella bacteria cause about 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths, the CDC estimates. The CDC is currently investigating two separate salmonella outbreaks: one is linked to red onions grown in California, and the other is tied to backyard poultry across 48 states.

Symptoms of a salmonella infection
Ex-customs official denied release from detention in case over abuse of power

 Moskva city news agency, Alexander Avilov

14:48 20/08/2020

MOSCOW, August 20 (RAPSI)  The Basmanny District Court of Moscow refused to put ex-chief of the Federal Customs Services customs investigations directorate Alexander Kizlyk charged with abuse of office under house arrest and extended his detention until November 22, according to the courts press service.

In late July, prosecutors lodged a motion with Moscows Meshchansky District Court seeking to forfeit to the state assets worth over 121 million rubles (over $1.6 million) belonging to Kizlyk and his wife. The prosecutors check revealed disproportion between the spouses revenue and the cost of assets they owned. Thus, between 2001 and 2019, having a joint income of 34.7 million rubles they bought and acquired property worth over 121 million rubles including monetary funds in the amount of more than 89 million rubles, two gold bars and one silver bar, jewelry, watches, luxury pens worth nearly 32 million rubles, historical and cultural value icons.

In December 2019, the Basmanny District Court of Moscow placed Kizlyk in detention on charges of abuse of office. Reportedly, searches were earlier conducted in the Federal Tax Services headquarters, Vnukovo and Domodedovo customs. Three other defendants charged with abuse of power are Kizlyks deputy Alexey Serebro, deputy chief of the Vnukovo customs Konstantin Mishin and deputy chief of the Domodedovo customs Yury Cherkashin.
The James Beard Foundation will not give out awards for best chefs or outstanding restaurant or bar programs this year. The culinary foundation announced Thursday that it will overhaul its 2020 award ceremony and not present awards in those categories. The winners would have been selected from a list of finalists announced in May. Often regarded as the Oscars of the culinary world, the James Beard Award gala and ceremony is one of the most prestigious celebrations of the food and beverage industry.

Birminghams Automatic Seafood & Oysters was a finalist for this years James Beard Foundation award for Best New Restaurant in America.

The choice comes as the culinary industry reels from the effects of COVID-19 after months of forced shutdowns and re-openings at reduced capacity.

In both a statement on its website and a detailed press release, the foundation explained its decision:

Today the James Beard Foundation announced that its annual awards program will not present winners in the remaining categories at the upcoming ceremony on Friday, Sept. 25, an unprecedented decision in the Awards 30-year history. The choice comes as restaurants continue to suffer the grave negative effects of COVID-19, and as substantial and sustained upheaval in the community has created an environment in which the foundation believes the assignment of awards will do little to further the industry in its current uphill battle. The awards usual positive impact on restaurants and chefs businesses will likely not be fully realized due to the current state of the industry, with many restaurants closed permanently or temporarily or operating at minimal capacity. These factors helped to inform the decision not to assign winners during a time of such turmoil.

READ THE FULL STATEMENT HERE

We did not come to this decision lightly, James Beard Foundation CEO Clare Reichenbach said in the statement. The uncertainty of this time for our industry is already a hard reality and considering anyone to have won or lost within the current tumultuous hospitality ecosystem does not in fact feel like the right thing to do. In short, an honor which we know is held in high regard, at the moment, feels minor when compared to the dire situation we are in.

The James Beard Foundation will hold a scaled back virtual ceremony on Sept. 25. The event, which will broadcast live on Twitter in the host city of Chicago, will only celebrate the honorees in previously announced categories, such as Americas Classics, Lifetime Achievement, Humanitarian of the Year, Design Icon, and Leadership.

The foundation already announced its annual media awards winners on May 27 with a press release and virtual ceremony.

The James Beard Foundation also announced that it will forgo the traditional awards ceremony in 2021. Since the awards recognize work done in the previous calendar year, the foundation said the intent to hold a ceremony with those traditional categories after a year of unprecedented hardship in the culinary and beverage industries would be unfair and misguided.

Instead, next years ceremony will celebrate the independent restaurant community and those who have shown leadership and made significant impacts in their communities. The celebration will be held in Chicago and broadcast nationwide in May 2021.

The announcement comes days after California chef David Kinch, who was nominated for this years award in the Outstanding Chef category, said he would withdraw his name from awards consideration, reports Eater.

The awards will resume in 2022, but with changes to the nomination process. In the press release, the foundation also announced its awards committees would work with an outside social justice agency to overhaul the policies and procedures for the annual honors with the goal to remove any systemic bias, " increase the diversity of the pool of candidates, and maintain relevance. The change comes amid calls for the foundations awards and categories to properly and realistically reflect todays culinary and media scenes as culinary and media professionals question the pertinence of the James Beard Foundations role in the industry. In the response to the calls, the foundation has slowly started heeding some of the advice, inviting thought leaders to share their opinions and making small structural changes on committees and advisory boards.

Since March, the James Beard Foundation has devoted programming, including webinars and informative guides, to help independent restaurants around the country navigate the effects of COVID-19 amid shutdowns and financial insecurity. In the spring, the foundation launched a relief fund, later issuing more than 300 grants and $4 million in funding. As independent restaurants plead the federal government for financial assistance tailored to the culinary industry, the foundation has partnered with the Independent Restaurant Coalition to lobby for changes. In early August, a survey released by the foundation and the IRC found that participating restaurants and bars had only 66% confidence they could stay open through October amid mounting debt, reduced capacity, and unpredictable shutdowns.

Alabama has a solid history of James Beard award nominees and winners. The majority of restaurateurs and bar owners honored by the foundation have been able to reopen after the state permitted restaurants and bars to resume on-premise consumption on May 11.

Feizal Valli and Rachael Roberts of The Atomic Lounge retained the majority of their staff and were able to pay them out of a savings account while the bar was temporarily closed. But many other establishments are working with a reduced staff.

In June, Automatic Seafood & Oysters was one of the first restaurants in the Birmingham area to publicly announce it would close temporarily after learning that a staff member tested positive for COVID-19. The Atomic Lounge, The Bright Star in Bessemer and two of chef Frank Stitts restaurants -- both of which had reopened for curbside only service -- also closed temporarily for testing after staff members tested positive for COVID-19. All establishments have since reopened. Stitt still has not reopened Highlands Bar & Grill, which won the 2018 James Beard Award for most Outstanding Restaurant in America. Highlands Bar & Grills Dolester Miles also took home the 2018 foundation award for Most Outstanding Pastry Chef.

In Mobile, Chef Duane Nutter pivoted his fine dining restaurant Southern National to a barbecue concept in an effort to navigate the pandemic. Chef Chris Hastings, who had initially planned to reopen Hot & Hot Fish Club and OvenBird in June, later decided to keep the restaurants closed due to the increase of COVID-19 number in the area.

Chef Rob McDaniel, a five-time James Beard Foundation semifinalist for Best Chef: South, is fortunate to be starting from scratch as he forges ahead with plans to open Helen, his new contemporary Southern grill in downtown Birmingham. The restaurant is slated to open with a small staff on August 25.
Photo: MacDill Air Force Base

A live air-to-air missile discovered at a small central Florida airport has been secured in a munition storage facility at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa.

The unarmed French S-530 air-to-air missile was found at Lakeland Linder International Airport on Friday.

It is secured and safe and they are just waiting on when and where they are going to dispose of the missile. Those details are yet to be solidified," Lt. Brandon Hanner, chief of media operations at MacDill, told The Ledger.

Hanner said typically these kinds of weapons are taken to the explosives range and detonated. But this one is too large to do that at MacDill, so the disposal logistics are being planned out.

The only thing out of the ordinary about this is it is not a U.S.-made missile, which is why we were dispatched out to it, Hanner said.

The missile was found near Draken International, a defence contractor located at the airport. The discovery led to a partial evacuation of the airport, the newspaper reported.

MacDill's explosive ordnance team secured the device, then the logistics readiness squadron assisted them in bringing it to Tampa on a flatbed trailer, Hanner said.
New Delhi: India's coronavirus cases breached the 28-lakh mark with the highest ever single-day spike of 69,652 fresh cases of infections. While the death toll rose to 53,866 with 977 fatalities reported in the last 24 hours.

The total cases stand at 28,36,926 which is inclusive of 6,86,395 active cases, 20,96,665 cured cases and 53,866 the number of deaths.

On Wednesday, a record of 9,18,470 samples were tested said the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) taking the total number of samples tested till August 19 to 3,26,61,252.

As per the Ministry, Maharashtra remains the worst affected state with a total of 1,56,920 active cases, 4,37,870 cured patients while the death toll stands at 20,687.

Followed by Tamil Nadu with 53,860 active cases, 2,89,787 discharged patients and death toll of 6,007.

Andhra Pradesh`s active case tally stands at 85,130 while the number of cured patients are 2,18,311 and 2,820 fatalities while Delhi has a total of 11,068 active cases, 1,39,447 discharged patients and 4,226 deaths.
The owner of a restaurant in the northern Vietnamese province of Bac Ninh has been arrested after he forced a female customer to kneel and apologize for posting a bad review of his service on social media.

Nguyen Van Thien, the 47-year-old owner of Hien Thien barbecue restaurant in Bac Ninh City, the capital of the namesake province, has been held in custody, local police said on Wednesday night.

Officers also started legal proceeding against the man for humiliating others.

On Monday, a 27-year-old woman from the neighboring province of Bac Giang visited Thiens restaurant to have dinner with her friends.

As the group of friends found helminths in their food, they reported the issue to the restaurants attendants and owner, only to receive their silence.

The woman then posted the story on her personal Facebook account.

Afterward, Thien, through an acquaintance, asked the guest to come to the restaurant to sort out the issue.

When she arrived on Tuesday evening, Thien forced her to get down on her knees and apologize for the negative review.

Police officers inspect Hien Thien barbecue restaurant in Bac Ninh City, Bac Ninh Province, Vietnam, August 19, 2020. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A video that circulated on social media later showed Thien, sitting on a chair, constantly swearing at and threatening the woman.

Meanwhile, other people, who appeared to be the restaurants staff, stood nearby and watched the scene.

The victim appeared shaken and was crying and doing as she was asked to in the video.

At the police station, Thien admitted his wrongdoings.

Police officers are collaborating with other agencies to further clarify the case.

In response to the incident, chairman of Bac Ninh City Nguyen Song Ha has ordered the establishment of an inter-agency team to inspect food safety and the prevention of COVID-19 at restaurants and eateries in the city from Wednesday.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Photograph: Eric Baradat/AFP/Getty Images

A single mother of three children, Sandra Bivin of Denver, Colorado, is now being forced to try to survive on $58 per week on unemployment since the $600 per week expanded unemployment benefits expired on 26 July.

It is not easy.

Before the pandemic hit, Bivin worked as a driver for Uber and Lyft, and had a part-time job in accounting. Because of her part-time position, she doesnt qualify for pandemic unemployment assistance offered to independent contractors until her regular employment runs out in another seven weeks.

In the meantime, Bivin has struggled to make ends meet and will be ineligible for the $400 per week unemployment benefits from Donald Trumps executive order when it goes into effect.

My mortgage alone is $1,100 a month. I already sold my car in order to live off unemployment I was receiving. Im almost completely out of savings and I have no idea what Im going to do without the $600, said Bivin.

The scale of the jobless crisis in America is immense. For 20 straight weeks, new unemployment claims in the US were above 1m. About 30 million Americans claiming jobless benefits are being left to rely on state unemployment benefits while waiting on Trumps reduced federal benefits of $400 a week to begin if they are eligible to receive them.

Trumps executive order has been criticized by Democrats and labor groups for circumventing Congress and the obstacles it places on recipients and state unemployment systems that have already been struggling with backlogs of claims and amending claims for recipients to receive back pay for weeks they missed while waiting to be processed.

My only choice right now is for us to eat the bare minimum, pay what I can toward at least my rent and vehicle payment and hope for the best, said Michelle Cieslewski, 51, of Cleveland, Ohio, who lost her two jobs in March, in construction and at an auction house, when the pandemic hit.

Single and caring for her 11-year-old grandson, her state unemployment benefits only provide $281 per week.

Story continues

Protesters rally demanding economic relief during the coronavirus pandemic, at Time Square in New York City on 5 August. Photograph: Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images

Across the US stories of scraping by are mounting.

We didnt ask for this pandemic and we have no control of it. I was a hard working man before this and if I could find a job paying what I was making I would gladly take it. Unfortunately I cant, said Robert Bonner, who lost his job as a line cook at a hotel in Cleveland, Ohio in March.  I cant provide for my children with $200 a week.

In Spring, Texas, Midge Finnell, a single mom with two daughters, was laid off as a job recruiter in early May due to company cuts.

What I was getting was barely enough to pay my bills. I lost my health insurance. I lost my 401k. I lost everything because the government shut everything down and they dont even have a plan. Its not fair, said Finnell. I wont be able to pay rent if we dont get any relief. Theres so much my mind races over every single day. I cant sleep.

Even with the federal expanded benefits of $600 per week, many Americans on unemployment had to rely on food banks or utilize online fundraising tools like GoFundMe to cover gaps in lost income or afford medications and medical care they could no longer pay for due to losing health insurance.

Cody Wessel of St Louis, Missouri, lost his furniture retail job in May 2020, and with it the health insurance he relied on to be able to afford insulin. He started a GoFundMe campaign to try to help cover his insulin costs over the next few months and was able to receive some insulin doses through a charity.

Now that the extra $600 has ended, my income has been reduced to less than $1,000 a month, said Wessel. Without that GoFundMe, I would have no place to live, I would have nothing to eat, I would have no way to go to the doctor, I wouldnt be able to afford my medicine even with Medicaid. It really saved my life.

The spending and economic benefits of the $600 enhanced unemployment benefits were supporting millions of jobs, as spikes in coronavirus cases due to business reopenings have stalled or even reversed job recovery. Around 14 million more Americans are unemployed than currently available job openings.

I cant pay my rent, electric bill, food, or car payments. Im able to get the bare minimum with my allotted food stamps, said Sabrina Wickward Arce, a cosmetologist who is struggling to find a new job in Miami, Florida.

Kat Ferrel of Angelina county, Texas worked as a home healthcare worker before the pandemic and hasnt been able to return to work because her client passed away.

I went from getting $1,614 every two weeks to now getting $414 every two weeks, said Ferrel. Theyve put us right back in worse shape. Who can live on $414 every two weeks?
As US Democratic and Republican candidates make final dashes for the presidency, Beijing's top envoy in Washington said China would not "waste time" waiting for the outcome of the election but stands ready to work with the current administration to resolve problems straining bilateral relations.

"Maybe some people believe that China is just waiting for the result of the US presidential election in November. Let me make it very clear here: We are not waiting for anything, and we are never willing to waste time in waiting," Chinese Ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai said.

The remarks, made during a webinar with a score of US scholars and former US government officials at the Brookings Institution a week ago, were released by the Chinese embassy on Wednesday.

Fewer than 80 days before the election, the Democrats have nominated former vice-president Joe Biden to attempt to deny President Donald Trump another four years in the White House.

There have been conflicting reports about which candidate China may support, though Beijing has repeatedly said it has no interest in other nations' domestic affairs.

Presidential campaigns also have tied bilateral relations to the election, with each side attempting to position itself as tougher on China than its rival.

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro has claimed that China is waiting until the November election for further action on the trade talks.

Navarro told reporters Wednesday that China is now "betting, putting their bet behind Joe Biden, and they're going to wait until after the election for any future negotiations; that's very clear that's what their strategy is".

Cui noted that American domestic dynamics are "well beyond what we can predict or influence".

"We have no intention or interest to get involved," Cui said. "We are ready to work with the current administration to search for solutions to existing problems anytime, anywhere, even today or tomorrow."

Tensions between the two countries have run high this year, with some US hawks promoting an alternative view of bilateral relations  that engagement was a mistake; and they are obsessed with great-power competition and strategic rivalry.

Students from the Alice Deal Middle School pose for a group photograph with a visiting delegation from Beijing on Thursday in Washington. ZHAO HUANXIN/CHINA DAILY

"Alarmingly, there are attempts now to negate what has been built up so painstakingly by generations of Chinese and Americans over the decades and to deliberately push our two countries into conflict and confrontation," Cui said.

"I hope people will not try to negate all this and let the relationship go down a very dangerous path," he added.

The Chinese ambassador said none of the major international crises in the 21st century  the Sept 11 terrorist attacks, the global financial crisis of 2008, and the current COVID-19 pandemic  could be resolved with the toolbox of great-power competition, as they are all of a strategic nature.

"It is natural for major countries to have differences and even competition, but they do not justify confrontation," Cui said. "Stigmatization will not make anybody great. Ideological crusades will not solve any problem in today's world and are doomed to fail."

He warned that it is "nothing but wishful thinking" to believe that stoking confrontation could slow down and contain China's development and even bring about a regime change, as history has proved repeatedly that external pressure will only make China stronger and lead to greater unity of its people.

For those who like the term "Cold War" and those bolstered by their victory in the Cold War, Cui cautioned that they should not forget the price the world paid for it over four decades.

In particular, he pointed out that the United States and other countries paid bitter costs in the two hot wars, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, fought during the Cold War.

"If the negative trend of China-US relations is allowed to continue, China might have to face more difficulties and challenges. But the initiators of the so-called New Cold War' must weigh the costs they have to pay and the consequences for the world," he said. "For whom the bell tolls, there will be a day of reckoning."

Cui said the US has to make a "fundamental choice"  whether getting ready to work with China and other countries to ensure the international order and global system meets the needs of the entire world  or instead remain obsessed with a zero-sum game and major-power competition and let the situation spiral out of control and fall into the "Thucydides Trap".

"I just hope that they will free themselves from the panic and paranoid, which is costing them common sense in such a shocking way," Cui said.

Instead, people from all walks of life in China and the US should stay guarded against "vicious" attempts to push the bilateral relationship to confrontation and conflict, resist any resurgence of McCarthyism, and expand two-way exchanges and cooperation to get the China-US relationship back on the right track, he concluded.
In that next phase, thousands of people get the vaccine and a relatively equal number receive a placebo. Then the groups rates of infection are compared to see if vaccinated people fare better. Ideally, the test subjects are people who are more likely to be exposed to the virus because they live in hot spots, work at jobs where exposure is more likely or are part of a racial or ethnic group in which the disease is causing more illness and death.
Unusual for U.S. Treasury to get a cut of any TikTok sale: White House aide FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump holds press briefing on the U.S. economy and unemployment numbers at White House in Washington

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump wants to deny China some of the proceeds from the sale of ByteDance's U.S. operations of its video-sharing app TikTok, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on Wednesday, but it would be unusual for any company that acquires TikTok to provide funds to the U.S. Treasury.

"Well he's said that," Kudlow told CNBC when asked about Trump's demand that part of the proceeds from the TikTok sale he has ordered go to the U.S. Treasury.

"I acknowledge that it's unusual. The president has his own mind on some of these things," Kudlow said.

"I don't know whether that will end up being the case when the Treasury gets its bids in from potential bidders. But the president has said that. I think he probably would like to deny China some of the proceeds of the TikTok sale," Kudlow added.

Trump ordered ByteDance last week to divest TikTok's U.S. operations within 90 days, the latest effort to ramp up pressure on the Chinese company over concerns about the safety of the personal data it handles.

Trump has said he would support an effort by Microsoft Corp to buy TikTok's American operations if the U.S. government gets a "substantial portion" of the proceeds, but has also said there are other interested potential buyers.

Oracle Corp has joined some of the investors of TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance in pursuing a bid for the app's operations in North America, Australia and New Zealand, according to people familiar with the matter.

(Reporting by Tim Ahmann; Writing by Mohammad Zargham; Editing by Eric Beech and Will Dunham)
The One and Only Ivan

Director - Thea Sharrock

Cast - Angelina Jolie, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Helen Mirren, Danny DeVito, Brooklynn Prince

With enough Oscar winners in its cast to clog up a Vanity Fair red carpet, The One and Only Ivan is yet another high-profile childrens film that Disney has dumped online during the pandemic. The would-be franchise-starter Artemis Fowl was roasted upon release, and now all eyes are on Mulan, the most expensive film ever made by a female filmmaker with a reported $200 million budget. The One and Only Ivan, to use a network TV analogy, feels like lead-in programming.

The trouble with the film, if youve seen the trailer, is that despite featuring the talents of Angelina Jolie, Sam Rockwell, Helen Mirren, Danny DeVito and others, it restricts them to playing CGI animals of different shapes and sizes. The only recognisable live-action performer is Bryan Cranston, who, dont get me wrong, is a wonderfully talented actor with his own devoted fanbase, but hardly someone who can sell a big-budget film targeted at children.

Watch The One and Only Ivan trailer here

None of these actors, with the exception of Rockwell (who plays the titular gorilla Ivan, a role that would have gone to Owen Wilson a decade ago), Cranston (Ivans smarmy circus ringleader), and DeVito (who plays a blabbermouth dog named Bob), have much to do. With a running time of around 90 minutes, The One and Only Ivan provides only about a dozen lines each to its talented cast  Im sure that Jolie, who also serves as producer, wrapped recording her material in a day.

Do children care how famous the man or woman voicing the serene elephant in the film is? Probably not. But their parents might.

Casting movie stars in animated films is a trend that began in the early 2000s, when Dreamworks, in an effort to set itself apart from Pixar, lured audiences in with glossy marketing campaigns featuring some of the biggest names. Which is precisely the strategy used in this film. It remains as distracting now as it used to be in the past.

The One and Only Ivan is an uncommonly pensive Disney film  one that is closer thematically with Christopher Robin and Petes Dragon than, say, Aladdin or The Jungle Book. Writer Mike White and director Thea Sharrock slather the film with a layer of melancholy that might be too intense for children.

Ivan, who used to be the star of the show once upon a time, finds that he no longer has any desire to perform daily shows at a strip mall. All he wants to do is retire in peace. I didnt expect this movie to remind me of The Irishman, another film in which a character devoted to their job is struck by mortality, but there you have it. In scene after scene, Ivan sits in silence, stewing in a mixture of regret  at a life not lived  but also hope, of going out on his own terms. Rockwell is excellent, despite being severely hindered by ones and zeroes.

This image released by Disney Plus shows Ivan the gorilla, voiced by Sam Rockwell, left, and Bob the dog, voiced by Danny DeVito, in a scene from The One and Only Ivan. (AP)

Like fellow Disney+ live-action and CGI hybrid Lady and the Tramp, The One and Only Ivan features stunning visual effects work. The animals, especially Ivan, are breathtakingly realised. Their expressions arent as animated as they wouldve been in a motion-capture movie  recall the almost human-like faces of the beasts in Andy Serkis Planet of the Apes films and Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle  but neither does the film resemble National Geographic documentary footage.

Along with its stupendously dark parallels to slavery  Ivan was shipped over to America from Africa, and spent nearly 30 years dancing to the tunes of a white man  the films computer-generated effects are its highlights. They wouldve looked brilliant on the big screen.

Also read: Hamilton movie review: Disney+Hotstar gives you a front row seat to history; dont squander it

The filmmaker Nia DaCosta  days before news of her working with Disney on Captain Marvel 2 broke  speculated that Mulan director Niki Caro being a woman had something to do with the studios decision to release the film on streaming. I wonder if similar reasoning went into putting this film out online as well. Theres no way of knowing. The One and Only Ivan might be a little dour for children during quarantine, especially if theyre expecting a lighthearted film about talking animals, but its certainly not as unhealthy as the stuff they normally consume.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

The author tweets @RohanNaahar
Sandhya Suri, among the first women officers to serve on a warship, has strongly condemned the wrong portrayal of facts in the newly released flick "Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl" and said that the story has been distorted badly only to promote its actress Janhvi Kapoor and has nothing to do with the real character of Gunjan Saxena.

"As an officer, I refused to watch the film because its initial portrayal in the trailer was wrong as they projected Gunjan to be the first woman officer to fly in the Air Force, which is a wrong fact. Next, the way she has been shown ragged and abused, projects the armed forces in a bad light. It never happens the way it has been shown," the ex-officer told IANS.

Sandhya was the third batch woman officer who wanted to join the armed forces even before the induction of women came into force. "I wanted to do something worthy and was inspired by the uniform," she said.

"In the forces, you have to work and prove that you don't need protection and special treatment. The qualification and criteria remains the same if someone needs to be sent to the front," she said, adding that this film, however, shows feminism, which is not okay. Sexist things have been shown in the film contrary to the real fact that the whole training is to enable you to lead your men, who are also in uniform, she said.

"We were two women and 250 men while serving on board a warship. We all knew what it meant to be in uniform," she said, adding: "The story it seems has been distorted to promote one person, who is none other than Janhvi Kapoor."

Surprisingly, Gunjan has not spoken even once on this issue.

"The film shows the importance of Janhvi Kapoor; in fact, it's all about Janhvi. Had she really wanted to do justice with the film, she should have sat with Gunjan and spoken to her to dig into her role. Had she done her homework, she could have known how the story is being overplayed and then she could have put her foot down," said Sandhya.

"For armed forces, it is a very wrong projection; I know some of these girls who were officers in the initial years in the Air Force. They also said it is the extreme which has been shown in the film," she added.
General Secretary of the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia says the presentation by Vice President Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia could not be better and more important than his official work.



According to him, he did not have interest and spare time to watch or listen to the presentation of Dr. Bawumia on NPPs infrastructure achievements.



I didnt get time to listen or watch Dr. Bawumias presentation and it does not interest me. I had better things to do and so yesterday was the only day for me to work on very important issues in the office after spending many days on the field during the voters registration exercise. Yesterday, I had to put my phones off and lock myself up in the office to focus on very important work, he said.



Speaking on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, the NDC Chief Scribe said he did not follow whatever the Vice President, Dr. Bawumia and his entourage presented except to see that people rather assessed his performance and compared on social media what Dr. Bawumia said in 2016 to the presentation.



General Mosquito as popularly called said that his concern has to do with the role of the Vice President, Dr. Bawumia in the policing and security of the country as those are his responsibility as enshrined in the constituency coupled with the current state of security in the country.



"We should rather assess and evaluate the security situation in the country to see if the Vice President, Dr. Bawumia has done well or not because he is the Chairman of the Ghana Police Council. What is the state of policing in the country? What is the state of security in the country? he rhetorically asked.





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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A New Orleans man has pleaded not guilty to charges that he used an assault rifle to spray a car with bullets on a Harvey street, injuring one of the vehicle's occupants.

The Jefferson Parish District Attorney's Office filed a bill of information Monday formally charging Jerod Fedison, 38, with three counts of attempted first-degree murder.

After years-long friendship ends in deadly brawl, Metairie man charged with manslaughter The anger between two men who were once friends erupted on a Metairie front lawn, leading to a deadly fight during which one man got the bette

Fedison was also charged with domestic abuse battery against a 15-year-old in a related case, court records said.

He pleaded not guilty on all the charges.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office investigators say Fedison opened fire on a car near the intersection of Colombo and Spanish Oaks drives in Harvey on April 29.

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A 29-year-old man suffered gunshot wounds to his back while two others inside the vehicle were unharmed, according to authorities.

No details were available about the domestic battery case.

Fedison was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2011 after he pleaded guilty in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm and conspiracy to obstruct justice. He was arrested along with New Orleans rapper Christopher B.G. Dorsey and Demounde Pollard during a traffic stop in a stolen car with guns.

It's not clear when Fedison was released from federal prison. In 2016, Fedison was a witness in the trial of Central City drug kingpin Telly Hankston and hit man Walter Porter. Both were later convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

Fedison was being held Wednesday at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in lieu of a $750,500 bond.
Kenya woman's ordeal highlights newly identified sex trafficking route Sharon Dimanche, Chief of Mission at International Organization for Migration (IOM) Kenya, speaks during a Reuters interview in Nairobi,

By Ayenat Mersie

NAIROBI (Reuters) - J's cousin promised her a well paid job in India as a housekeeper. Instead, she found herself in a brothel until the United Nations brought her home to Kenya when it was alerted to the human trafficking route.

"When I heard there were job vacancies in India, I was so happy," said J, asking that only her initial be used to protect her privacy.

When she got there, her passport was confiscated and she was forced into sex work to pay off $9,000 her traffickers, fellow East Africans, told her she owed them for her travel and lodging, she said.

In the past year, the International Organization of Migration (IOM) repatriated 12 Kenyan women who had been trafficked to India, the first time it said it had been asked to help Kenyans there.

Most Kenyans who have been trafficked end up in the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia, according to Kenya's National Crime Research Center, which did not have a more specific country-by-country breakdown available.

Now IOM worries that the economic fallout of the coronavirus lockdown in East Africa will make people more vulnerable to exploitation, at home or abroad.

Nearly a third of low-income Nairobi residents lost their jobs in the past month, and another 15% who had been self-employed are without work, a July survey from Nairobi-based market research firm Tifa Research showed.

It flew J home weeks before Kenya's closure of its borders against the spread of the coronavirus. The borders reopened on August 1.

"With the economic losses that we are experiencing as a result of the pandemic we are potentially going to see more cases (of people) being trafficked or re-trafficked," said Sharon Dimanche, head of the IOM in Kenya.

J, who had been diagnosed with cancer and had leapt at the chance to save money for treatment, said her experience shows that Kenyans should be wary of job offers abroad.

"I never thought I would get back to my kids," she said. "When they took me to the embassy, I could not believe I am going to see family again and not return in a coffin."

(Reporting by Ayenat Mersie; Editing by Katharine Houreld and Philippa Fletcher)
While Dhaka's distress at the reports of cattle smugglers being lynched or killed in shootouts with the BSF is understandable, it does itself no favours by ignoring the magnitude of the challenge the force is up against or the menace of cattle smuggling launched from its borders.

On Wednesday, Bangladesh's foreign ministry expressed deep concern over killings at the India-Bangladesh border by 'BSF, Indian nationals' and called for the Border Security Force to exercise maximum restraint.

While Dhaka's distress at the reports of cattle smugglers being lynched or killed in shootouts with the BSF is understandable, it does itself no favours by ignoring the magnitude of the challenge the force is up against or the menace of cattle smuggling launched from its borders.

The cattle smuggling industry, estimated by some at a billion dollars, sees tens of thousands of animals illegally transported to Bangladesh through the border, a demand that is always high and which usually peaks ahead of Eid festivities.

In 2019, 16,350 cattle were seized and 50 Bangladeshi and 70 Indian smugglers have been arrested, as per the BSF. In 2018, 38,950 cattle were seized from the South Bengal border in 2018.

And while the BSF has been using 'non-lethal' weapons to reduce deadly incidents with smugglers since 2011  the toll from 2009 to 2017 was only 294 compared to 1,000 between 2001 and 2009  the attacks on BSF personnel have not stopped with more than 800 personnel being injured by smugglers (16 in 2020 alone), as per this Observer Research Foundation piece.

The BSF maintains that it fires only when a situation turns "ugly" and the lives of its troops are in danger. A top BSF officer said: "Forces open fire only when the situation gets out of hand, otherwise normal procedure is followed to nab the smugglers who are then handed over to the police".

As per The Times of India, 2017, 2018 and 2019 saw 937, 1,274 and 2,014 personnel being injured with 445, 414, and 746 fence breaches, as per statistics put out by the BSF.

Just last month, three BSF personnel were brutally beaten with bamboo sticks and a sharp-edged cleaver like weapons near the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal. as per PTI.

'Treated like traders'

According to an official, speaking on condition of anonymity to PTI, cattle smugglers from India are treated as traders once they cross over to Bangladesh. "All these smugglers need to do is to furnish taka 500 [Rs 438] per animal to the officials in Bangladesh afterwards they are free to sell it to whoever they wish," he said.

"Since there is a huge demand for cattle in Bangladesh, smugglers never lose a single chance to cross over to the neighbouring country where they earn easy money. The demand and supply chain has to be broken," the official said.

Floating banana stems are hugely popular for illegally sending cows, oxen and buffaloes across the border into Bangladesh using the flow of river. Vast rivers with strong water currents are favourable for the smugglers who prefer sending the cattle after sunset to avoid detection.

The smugglers place the heads of the bovines between two strong banana stems and tie them together before they are pushed in the deep water, allowing the currents to take the animals to the other side of the border where their accomplices wait for the livestock.

How Bangladesh benefits

As per the official, Bangladesh generates income at three stages from this vicious cycle of cattle smuggling.

First, they get revenue at the entry of the animal in Bangladesh, second in meat export and third is the industries related to it like textiles.

The factors contributing to cattle smuggling include the supply and demand chain, unabated movement of cattle from the hinterland to border areas. Porous border and unfenced gaps are favourable conditions for the smugglers.

Since it is a source of income for the government of Bangladesh, the BSF does not get any support from its counterpart Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to stop cattle smuggling, the official said.

BSF-BGP at odds

In July, the BSF, in a first, put out a statement citing religious and medical reasons outlining why smuggled cattle is not fit for consumption and even accused the BGP of supporting the "inhuman, merciless and seditious" activity of cattle smuggling.

As per Indian Express, the press statement dated 6 July signed by DIG SS Guleria of South Bengal Frontier, read: "When they [cattle] arrive in Bangladesh, there are hundreds of Bangladeshi cattle smugglers who capture these animals, using their speedboats. This task is sometimes done with the agreement of the Border Guard Bangladesh personnel."

The BGB quickly hit back at the BSF in a press statement, saying the lack of action on part of the BSF "undoubtedly raises questions when the Indian smugglers gather cattle heads on their soil and smuggle those through waterways along the borders".

For making more profit, the Indian smugglers become very enthusiastic about smuggling cows to Bangladesh which also affects local farmers, the BGB added. The BGB further alleged that the news was published only to "cover up" the BSF's failure to curb cattle smuggling.

The relationship between the two countries over cattle smuggling wasn't always so acrimonious.

In 2019, the 48th bi-annual Director General-level talks between the BSF and the BGB concluded in Dhaka during which it was mutually decided to enhance cooperation to better check crime and smuggling of cattle and narcotics across the shared 4,0960-km frontier.

Brigadier Jalal Gani, Commander of the North West Region, Bangladesh, had said that smugglers are poor people who indulge in the illegal activity just to sustain themselves and not to lead a lavish lifestyle.

"Regarding the killing of smugglers by the BSF, this is our request that we should follow the law of the land. Killing is not the solution," the commander said.

That may be true, but Bangladesh would be better served trying to clean up things on its own side before pointing fingers at India.

With inputs from PTI
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals Delhi model of tackling Covid-19 has led to significant improvement in the situation and the national capitals case doubling rate has gone up to 101.5 days as against 28.8 days for the rest of India, an official statement said on Thursday.

The case fatality rate in Delhi for the month of August has also come down substantially to 1.4 per cent, as against 1.92 for rest of the country, it said, adding that the recovery rate in Delhi is 90.2 per cent as compared to 72.5 for rest of the country.

A large drop has also been witnessed in positivity rate between June 18 and August 16, the statement said. The positivity rate of RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen tests both have seen a sharp decrease, claimed the statement.

The efforts made by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to deal with the Covid-19 situation in Delhi are showing successful results. Delhis position is much better than the rest of the country, the statement said.

At present, the doubling rate of coronavirus cases in Delhi has gone up to 101.5 days as compared to the rest of the country which stands at 28.8 days, it said. Moreover, the mortality rate in Delhi has also considerably decreased due to the multiple efforts being made by the chief minister to bring the death figures to zero, it said. In a meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) held on Wednesday, the Health department of the Delhi government presented fresh data regarding the coronavirus situation in Delhi. The figures are not only strengthening the case for Delhi Models success in defeating coronavirus but also bringing relief to the residents of Delhi, it said. The chief minister is closely monitoring the evolving situation of the COVID pandemic in Delhi, it added.

In the month of June, there was panic in Delhi over COVID but the situation is showing a lot of improvement now, the statement claimed. On July 1, the doubling rate of Corona cases in Delhi was the same as with the rest of India at 20 days. Since then, the doubling rate of Delhi has been steadily rising. It was 58 days on July 17, around 90 days on August 1, and has currently increased to 101.5 days. In comparison, for the rest of India, the doubling rate has remained between 20 and 27 days since July 1, the statement claimed .

While reiterating that the situation of coronavirus is improving in Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal has maintained that the main aim of the authorities and the Delhi government is to save as many lives as possible. For this, many improvements have been made inside the hospitals such as ramping up the infrastructure, increasing ICU beds and wards, and supplying oxygen concentrators to patients recovering in hospitals as well as home isolation, it said. The recovery rate of Delhi on June 20, was same as the rest of India at 55.2 per cent. Since then, the recovery rate of Delhi has been consistently higher than the rest of India. Currently, the recovery rate in Delhi is 90.2 per cent as compared to 72.5 per cent recovery rate for the rest of India. Out of a total of 1,57,354 cases in Delhi, 1,41,826 cases have recovered, which shows a significant improvement in the Corona situation in the city, it said. The success of Delhi Model is also seen in the sharp decrease in test positivity rate over last two months. On 18 June, the test positivity rate in Delhi was 24.59 per cent, which reduced substantially to 5.25 per cent on August 16, the statement said. More importantly, the positivity rate has dropped for both RT-PCR tests and Rapid Antigen Tests, it claimed.

On June 18 , a total of 9,088 RT-PCR tests were conducted of which 2,804 were positive - a positivity rate of 30.85 per cent. However, on August 16, out of total 4,106 RT-PCR tests conducted, 434 were positive - a positivity rate of 10.57 per cent, it claimed. It added that similarly on June 18, 3,316 Rapid tests were conducted in Delhi of which 247 emerged positive - a positivity rate of 7.42 per cent. The positivity rate improved to 3.24 per cent, on August 16, as out of total 10,882 Rapid tests 353 were positive, claimed the government statement.
 Flash

China urges relevant U.S. politicians to take into account the well-being of the people in China, the U.S. and all other countries, heed calls from the international community, and work with China to bring China-U.S. relations back on the track of coordination, cooperation and stability, according to a Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Wednesday.

Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on recent remarks by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the relationship between the U.S. and China.

"It is our consistent belief that China and the United States stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation," Zhao said. "Cooperation between China and the United States can benefit both countries and the whole world, and confrontation between the two countries is not in line with the interests of the international community."

He said the sound and steady development of China-U.S. relations has a bearing upon the current and future development of both countries and the world. It meets the shared aspirations of people in China, the United States and across the globe.

The reason why China-U.S. relations have encountered serious difficulties is that the U.S. government unilaterally stirred up troubles and through its words and deeds interfered in China's internal affairs, undermined China's interests and damaged China-U.S. bilateral ties, Zhao said.

"Driven by selfish motives, a small number of U.S. politicians have been instigating anti-China sentiments, antagonism and confrontation. Such retrogressive moves, unpopular as they are, have been and will continue to be strongly criticized and rejected by visionary people in China and the U.S., as well as peace-loving people all over the world," Zhao said.

"We urge certain U.S. politicians to take into account the well-being of the people in China, the U.S. and all other countries, heed calls from the international community, discard the obsolete Cold War mentality, view China and China-U.S. relations objectively, and work with China to bring bilateral ties back on the track of coordination, cooperation and stability, and to jointly safeguard world peace, stability and development," Zhao added.
Things were looking pretty promising in NSW this morning - we reported just one new coronavirus case among 32,580 tests.

Then Victorias Chief Health Officer suggested all that testing meant people would wait longer, only. theyre not.

Dr Brett Sutton wants Victoria to test more than 20,000 people a day, but not much higher else people will wait too long for their results.

At Victorias COVID-19 press conference, a journalist has pointed out to Professor Brett Sutton that NSW did close to 30,000 tests yesterday, but Professor Sutton said testing numbers was a 'balancing act'.

"You push out the turnaround time - New South Wales would be pushing out their turnaround time as they stretch to 30,000-plus cases - and, when you've got a long turnaround time for your results, you've got people potentially who are infectious moving about in the community ... I think the main thing with our 20,000-plus tests every day is that people who are symptomatic are getting tested. That's the primary thing."

But NSW is still managing turnaround times of 24 to 72 hours even at time of high demand, a NSW Health spokesperson said.

NSW Health could only give me the turnaround time for tests process by public health laboratories, not private labs.

But of the 15,831 samples tested by NSW Health Pathology in the last 24-hour reporting period, the median turnaround time was 22 hours.

I got swabbed with the masses on Wednesday in Inner Sydney. It took 29 hours to get an SMS telling me I was negative (I saved the phone number as The COVID for dramatic effect).

But 72 hours can still feel like a long time to self-isolate, especially when you have a job to get to, bills to pay, children to look after and loved ones you want to see.

A fair few people have told me they had to isolate for three days before they received their results. They got tested after developing slight symptoms, feeling it was their civic duty only to have their symptoms abate before their results arrived.

They wont rush to do it again for anything less than full-blown cant-get-out-of-bed symptoms, which is a problem. The wait was a powerful disincentive.

Shortening the turnaround time will be essential if NSW is to maintain high test rates while confirmed case numbers are so low.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-21 01:07:41|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia's confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 35,836 after 1,778 new COVID-19 positive cases were confirmed on Thursday, the country's Ministry of Health said.

This is so far the highest daily increase in the Horn of Africa country.

The ministry, in a statement issued on Thursday, said 20 more patients succumbed to illnesses related to the COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the East African country to 620.

According to the ministry, some 13,536 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 had so far recovered, including 228 in the last 24 hours period.

The ministry also said that a total of 21,678 COVID-19 patients are still undergoing medical treatment, out of which 248 are in severe conditions.

Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa is currently the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic accounting for about 70 percent of all confirmed COVID-19 cases, according to the Ethiopia Ministry of Health.

Ethiopia, Africa's second-most populous nation with about 107 million people, confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on March 13.

The East African country had so far conducted some 694,093 COVID-19 medical tests, including 21,456 medical tests during the last 24-hours period, according to the ministry.

Amid the rapid spread of the virus in recent weeks, the government is intensifying its mass COVID-19 testing campaign.

The Ethiopian government is currently mobilizing resources to ensure there's no shortage of laboratory materials and quarantine centers.

Ethiopia is also boosting its COVID-19 testing capacity at border points with neighboring countries.

The East African country has already officially launched a nationwide month-long testing campaign, which the Ethiopian government said "will determine the next steps to undertake in the new year," which will start on September 11.

As the East African country strengthened the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese engagement has injected much-needed momentum in Ethiopia's anti-pandemic efforts.

Earlier this month, the Chinese technology and social media giant, ByteDance, donated 100,000 COVID-19 testing kits in support of Ethiopia's anti-COVID-19 pandemic efforts. Enditem
Good evening, everybody. As youve seen by now, this isnt a normal convention. Its not a normal time. So tonight, I want to talk as plainly as I can about the stakes in this election. Because what we do these next 76 days will echo through generations to come.

Im in Philadelphia, where our Constitution was drafted and signed. It wasnt a perfect document. It allowed for the inhumanity of slavery and failed to guarantee women  and even men who didnt own property  the right to participate in the political process. But embedded in this document was a North Star that would guide future generations; a system of representative government  a democracy  through which we could better realize our highest ideals. Through civil war and bitter struggles, we improved this Constitution to include the voices of those whod once been left out. And gradually, we made this country more just, more equal, and more free.

The one Constitutional office elected by all of the people is the presidency. So at minimum, we should expect a president to feel a sense of responsibility for the safety and welfare of all 330 million of us  regardless of what we look like, how we worship, who we love, how much money we have  or who we voted for.

But we should also expect a president to be the custodian of this democracy. We should expect that regardless of ego, ambition, or political beliefs, the president will preserve, protect, and defend the freedoms and ideals that so many Americans marched for and went to jail for; fought for and died for.

I have sat in the Oval Office with both of the men who are running for president. I never expected that my successor would embrace my vision or continue my policies. I did hope, for the sake of our country, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously; that he might come to feel the weight of the office and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care.

But he never did. For close to four years now, hes shown no interest in putting in the work; no interest in finding common ground; no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends; no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves.

Donald Trump hasnt grown into the job because he cant. And the consequences of that failure are severe. 170,000 Americans dead. Millions of jobs gone while those at the top take in more than ever. Our worst impulses unleashed, our proud reputation around the world badly diminished, and our democratic institutions threatened like never before.

Now, I know that in times as polarized as these, most of you have already made up your mind. But maybe youre still not sure which candidate youll vote for  or whether youll vote at all. Maybe youre tired of the direction were headed, but you cant see a better path yet, or you just dont know enough about the person who wants to lead us there.

So let me tell you about my friend Joe Biden.

Twelve years ago, when I began my search for a vice president, I didnt know Id end up finding a brother. Joe and I came from different places and different generations. But what I quickly came to admire about him is his resilience, born of too much struggle; his empathy, born of too much grief. Joes a man who learned  early on  to treat every person he meets with respect and dignity, living by the words his parents taught him: No ones better than you, Joe, but youre better than nobody.

That empathy, that decency, the belief that everybody counts  that's who Joe is.

When he talks with someone whos lost her job, Joe remembers the night his father sat him down to say that hed lost his.

When Joe listens to a parent whos trying to hold it all together right now, he does it as the single dad who took the train back to Wilmington each and every night so he could tuck his kids into bed.

When he meets with military families whove lost their hero, he does it as a kindred spirit; the parent of an American soldier; somebody whose faith has endured the hardest loss there is.

For eight years, Joe was the last one in the room whenever I faced a big decision. He made me a better president  and hes got the character and the experience to make us a better country.

And in my friend Kamala Harris, hes chosen an ideal partner whos more than prepared for the job; someone who knows what its like to overcome barriers and whos made a career fighting to help others live out their own American dream.

Along with the experience needed to get things done, Joe and Kamala have concrete policies that will turn their vision of a better, fairer, stronger country into reality.

Theyll get this pandemic under control, like Joe did when he helped me manage H1N1 and prevent an Ebola outbreak from reaching our shores.

Theyll expand health care to more Americans, like Joe and I did ten years ago when he helped craft the Affordable Care Act and nail down the votes to make it the law.

Theyll rescue the economy, like Joe helped me do after the Great Recession. I asked him to manage the Recovery Act, which jumpstarted the longest stretch of job growth in history. And he sees this moment now not as a chance to get back to where we were, but to make long-overdue changes so that our economy actually makes life a little easier for everybody  whether its the waitress trying to raise a kid on her own, or the shift worker always on the edge of getting laid off, or the student figuring out how to pay for next semesters classes.

Joe and Kamala will restore our standing in the world  and as weve learned from this pandemic, that matters. Joe knows the world, and the world knows him. He knows that our true strength comes from setting an example the world wants to follow. A nation that stands with democracy, not dictators. A nation that can inspire and mobilize others to overcome threats like climate change, terrorism, poverty, and disease.

But more than anything, what I know about Joe and Kamala is that they actually care about every American. And they care deeply about this democracy.

They believe that in a democracy, the right to vote is sacred, and we should be making it easier for people to cast their ballot, not harder.

They believe that no one  including the president  is above the law, and that no public official  including the president  should use their office to enrich themselves or their supporters.

They understand that in this democracy, the Commander-in-Chief doesnt use the men and women of our military, who are willing to risk everything to protect our nation, as political props to deploy against peaceful protesters on our own soil. They understand that political opponents arent un-American just because they disagree with you; that a free press isnt the enemy but the way we hold officials accountable; that our ability to work together to solve big problems like a pandemic depends on a fidelity to facts and science and logic and not just making stuff up.

None of this should be controversial. These shouldnt be Republican principles or Democratic principles. Theyre American principles. But at this moment, this president and those who enable him, have shown they dont believe in these things.

Tonight, I am asking you to believe in Joe and Kamalas ability to lead this country out of these dark times and build it back better. But heres the thing: no single American can fix this country alone. Not even a president. Democracy was never meant to be transactional  you give me your vote; I make everything better. It requires an active and informed citizenry. So I am also asking you to believe in your own ability  to embrace your own responsibility as citizens  to make sure that the basic tenets of our democracy endure.

Because thats what at stake right now. Our democracy.

Look, I understand why many Americans are down on government. The way the rules have been set up and abused in Congress make it easy for special interests to stop progress. Believe me, I know. I understand why a white factory worker whos seen his wages cut or his job shipped overseas might feel like the government no longer looks out for him, and why a Black mother might feel like it never looked out for her at all. I understand why a new immigrant might look around this country and wonder whether theres still a place for him here; why a young person might look at politics right now, the circus of it all, the meanness and the lies and crazy conspiracy theories and think, whats the point?

Well, heres the point: this president and those in power  those who benefit from keeping things the way they are  they are counting on your cynicism. They know they cant win you over with their policies. So theyre hoping to make it as hard as possible for you to vote, and to convince you that your vote doesnt matter. Thats how they win. Thats how they get to keep making decisions that affect your life, and the lives of the people you love. Thats how the economy will keep getting skewed to the wealthy and well-connected, how our health systems will let more people fall through the cracks. Thats how a democracy withers, until its no democracy at all.

We cant let that happen. Do not let them take away your power. Dont let them take away your democracy. Make a plan right now for how youre going to get involved and vote. Do it as early as you can and tell your family and friends how they can vote too. Do what Americans have done for over two centuries when faced with even tougher times than this  all those quiet heroes who found the courage to keep marching, keep pushing in the face of hardship and injustice.

Last month, we lost a giant of American democracy in John Lewis. Some years ago, I sat down with John and the few remaining leaders of the early Civil Rights Movement. One of them told me he never imagined hed walk into the White House and see a president who looked like his grandson. Then he told me that hed looked it up, and it turned out that on the very day that I was born, he was marching into a jail cell, trying to end Jim Crow segregation in the South.

What we do echoes through the generations.

Whatever our backgrounds, were all the children of Americans who fought the good fight. Great grandparents working in firetraps and sweatshops without rights or representation. Farmers losing their dreams to dust. Irish and Italians and Asians and Latinos told to go back where they came from. Jews and Catholics, Muslims and Sikhs, made to feel suspect for the way they worshipped. Black Americans chained and whipped and hanged. Spit on for trying to sit at lunch counters. Beaten for trying to vote.

If anyone had a right to believe that this democracy did not work, and could not work, it was those Americans. Our ancestors. They were on the receiving end of a democracy that had fallen short all their lives. They knew how far the daily reality of America strayed from the myth. And yet, instead of giving up, they joined together and said somehow, some way, we are going to make this work. We are going to bring those words, in our founding documents, to life.

Ive seen that same spirit rising these past few years. Folks of every age and background who packed city centers and airports and rural roads so that families wouldnt be separated. So that another classroom wouldnt get shot up. So that our kids wont grow up on an uninhabitable planet. Americans of all races joining together to declare, in the face of injustice and brutality at the hands of the state, that Black Lives Matter, no more, but no less, so that no child in this country feels the continuing sting of racism.

To the young people who led us this summer, telling us we need to be better  in so many ways, you are this countrys dreams fulfilled. Earlier generations had to be persuaded that everyone has equal worth. For you, its a given  a conviction. And what I want you to know is that for all its messiness and frustrations, your system of self-government can be harnessed to help you realize those convictions.

You can give our democracy new meaning. You can take it to a better place. Youre the missing ingredient  the ones who will decide whether or not America becomes the country that fully lives up to its creed.

That work will continue long after this election. But any chance of success depends entirely on the outcome of this election. This administration has shown it will tear our democracy down if thats what it takes to win. So we have to get busy building it up  by pouring all our effort into these 76 days, and by voting like never before  for Joe and Kamala, and candidates up and down the ticket, so that we leave no doubt about what this country we love stands for  today and for all our days to come.

Stay safe. God bless.
Weather Alert

...Spotty Black Ice Tonight... Slick spots on area roads may persist overnight as temperatures continue to fall. Snow will linger across west Kentucky through about midnight then diminish. Untreated roads and bridges are most likely to see black ice development. Motorists should use caution if driving overnight.
Pompeo warns Russia, China against ignoring move to reimpose U.N. sanctions on Iran U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo visits Austria

By Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Russia and China not to disregard the reimposition of all United Nations sanctions on Iran, which President Donald Trump has directed him to trigger at the U.N. Security Council in New York on Thursday.

Pompeo will meet with Indonesia's U.N. Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani - council president for August - to submit a complaint about Iran's non-compliance with a 2015 nuclear deal, even though Washington quit the accord in 2018.

The nuclear deal between Iran, Russia, China, Germany, Britain, France and the United States aimed to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons in return for sanctions relief. That accord is enshrined in a 2015 Security Council resolution.

In response to what the United States calls its "maximum pressure" campaign of unilateral sanctions - a bid to get Iran to negotiate a new deal - Tehran has breached central limits of the 2015 pact, including on its stock of enriched uranium.

Diplomats say the so-called sanctions snapback process will be messy as Russia, China and other countries question the legality of the U.S. move given that Washington itself is no longer complying with what Trump called the "worst deal ever."

Given questions over the U.S. move, diplomats said Russia, China and other countries are likely to simply ignore it and not reimpose the sanctions on Iran.

When asked if the United States would target Russia and China with sanctions if they refuse to reimpose the U.N. measures on Iran, Pompeo told Fox News on Wednesday: "Absolutely."

"We have already done that, where we have seen any country violate ... the current American sanctions, we've held every nation accountable for that. We'll do the same thing with respect to the broader U.N. Security Council sanctions as well," he said.

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.

Story continues

Pompeo said it was unfortunate that the European members of the council abstained on the U.S. attempt to extend the arms embargo and that the move "makes the European people less safe."

"They just are wedded to this crazy nuclear deal, they're trying to hang on to it," he said.

Once Pompeo submits the 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 snap back. Any attempt to extend the sanctions relief would be vetoed by the United States.

Pompeo will also meet with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Eric Beech; Writing by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Sandra Maler and Cynthia Osterman)
A 9-year-old Oklahoman boy who has spent six years in foster care has gotten offers from potential adoptive parents in droves since hitting headlines with his heart-wrenching story. Jordan just wants a mom and dad to call his own; his younger brother, Braison, has already been adopted.

After Jordans plea for a family went public on Aug. 11, over 5,000 potential parents from as states as far as Florida, Illinois, and Kentucky placed inquiries within just 12 hours. Jordan, who lives in a group home, told KFOR that an adoptive family is important to him so I could have some people to talk to anytime I need to.

I hope one of yall pick me, he added.

State worker Christopher Marlowe revealed in an update that he and an army of helpers are in the process of reading through applications to identify a family with whom they can move forward.

Unfortunately, the physical and behavioral needs of a child in foster care who has experienced trauma can be overwhelming for many potential parents. Marlowe had previously interacted with a couple of families that expressed interest in adopting Jordan, but after certain disclosures, he said, the families decided that the 9-year-old wasnt the right fit for their situation.

Placing Jordan, who has been through a whole lot compared to most of the kids under Marlowes supervision, has been extremely difficult. After a run of rejections, the staffers overseeing Jordans adoption application process have kept Jordan in the dark about his rising viral fame.

They dont want to get his hopes up.

Jordans younger brother, Braison, is living with his adopted family in Oklahoma. The boys want to remain close to one another, and Braisons adoptive parents have already agreed that they would be open to facilitating playdates.

Oklahomas Department of Human Services (Screenshot/Google Maps)

The brothers first made headlines in 2017, before Braison was adopted, stating that they desperately wanted to live together. They had been living in separate foster homes for two years after being taken in by Oklahomas Department of Human Services (DHS) as toddlers.

All they talk about when they talk about forever homes is, My brother, my brother, my brother, their caseworker at the time, Elsie Chocho, told KSWO in 2017. [T]hey understand what a forever home is.

At the time of writing, there are over 7,700 children in Oklahomas DHS custody alone. There are over 400,000 children in the U.S. foster care system nationwide, reports the North American Council on Adoptable Children; around a quarter of these kids are desperately waiting to find families of their own.

Of the foster kids in care in Oklahoma, roughly 500 are ready for adoption. Marlowe said that he hopes the publicity surrounding Jordans heartbreaking case will provide the boost that his team needs to secure a happy ending for the brother left behind.

Im really excited about this, Marlowe shared, and very hopeful this is going to be the breakthrough we needed to find this kid a home.

We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc
Mark Zuckerberg is said to have testified under oath for two days as part of the Federal Trade Commission's anti-trust investigation into Facebook.

The social network's CEO spoke with the agency remotely in testimony that could be used to build a case against the social media giant, Politico reports.

Headed by Chairman Joseph Simons, the FTC is leading a probe into how the social media giant's practices affect its digital competition and whether the platform broke anti-trust laws. Simons had refused to say whether they planned to speak with Zuckerberg regarding the antitrust probe when asked on August 5.

But the move is not said to mean the commission will definitely pursue an antitrust lawsuit; the agency is said to often interview relevant parties under oath. Neither Facebook or the FTC have commented.

Mark Zuckerberg, pictured, is said to have testified under oath for two days as part of the Federal Trade Commission's anti-trust investigation into Facebook

Headed by Chairman Joseph Simons, pictured, the FTC is leading a probe into how the social media giant's practices affect its digital competition and whether the platform broke anti-trust laws. Simons had refused to say whether they planned to speak with Zuckerberg regarding the antitrust probe when asked on August 5.

News of the FTC's latest interest comes weeks after Zuckerberg faced a congressional antitrust hearing along with the heads of Google, Apple and Amazon.

In July it was reported the FTC were looking at deposing Zuckerberg and his chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg. The agency had already been criticized for not speaking with Zuckerberg as part of the Cambridge Analytica investigations.

And officials at the social media platform were said to have been braced for the possibility of depositions and concerned that they could happen, a person familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal.

While many of the complaints about Facebook are about how it handles content such as political misinformation and hate speech, some activists say Facebook was allowed to squelch competition by buying up smaller rivals, and that this could form the basis of an antitrust action.

A Federal Trade Commission review of acquisitions dating back to 2010 could potentially 'unwind' some of the deals.

The four major tech firms whose chief executives testified at a congressional antitrust hearing at the end of last month face a variety of complaints about their dominance in the US and elsewhere.

Investigations are being led by antitrust enforcers at the FTC as well as the Justice Department and by authorities in US states. The FTC says it aims to 'preventing anticompetitive, deceptive, and unfair business practices'.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks via video conference during a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on antitrust on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, July 29

In July it was reported the FTC were looking at deposing Zuckerberg and his chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg. The agency had already been criticized for not speaking with Zuckerberg as part of the Cambridge Analytica investigations

The Justice Department and the commission both oversee antitrust issues in the US and typically must establish who will take the lead in different investigations into competitive practices.

Citing unnamed sources, the Journal previously reported that the FTC was to look into whether Facebook engaged in what it called 'unlawful monopolistic behavior.'

The Justice Department, in turn, would probe Google and a review of Apple's degree of influence over app development, the New York Times reported.

Facebook has recently faced criticism from lawmakers and regulators over its privacy practices. Last year, it agreed to pay a record $5 billion fine to settle a Federal Trade Commission data privacy probe.

The social network is reaching close to three billion people worldwide with its core platform along with Instagram and messaging services WhatsApp and Messenger.

An estimated seven-in-ten US adults use Facebook and its reach allows it to play an outsized role in digital advertising and in delivering news and information.
New Delhi: The winner of popular reality show 'Bigg Boss 13', Sidharth Shukla has once again won a million hearts with his gesture. The actor, who got massive fan support during the show came to the rescue of his fan, whose father battled a deadly coronavirus.

Sidharth's fan took to Twitter and wrote: Dear @sidharth_shukla i need your help my dad has been tested positive for covid & he has been shifted to brahmakumaris hospital of andheri but their is a bed problem their can you in any way help if you know someone from the hospital please @Sid_ShuklaFC @Siddians @aashiiixo

Dear @sidharth_shukla i need your help my dad has been tested positive for covid & he has been shifted to brahmakumaris hospital of andheri but their is a bed problem their can you in any way help if you know someone from the hospital please @Sid_ShuklaFC@Siddians@aashiiixo  sakshi. (@sawadekhe) August 19, 2020

The TV actor replied saying: Sorry just came across your tweet ... is he good plz give me five mints I will figure out ...let me know if he still needs it ... and a way to contact you

Sorry just came across your tweet ... is he good plz give me five mints I will figure out ...let me know if he still needs it ... and a way to contact you  Sidharth Shukla (@sidharth_shukla) August 19, 2020

Spoke to her.. and had arranged for a bed also. But she doesnt need it right now as her dad got admitted to another hospital. Wishing for his speedy recovery. Prayers for him..  Sidharth Shukla (@sidharth_shukla) August 19, 2020

Sidharth Shukla and his mother have been associated with Brahmakumaris for long. In fact, soon after his 'Bigg Boss 13' win, he along with his mom inaugrated a new ward at their hospital in Mumbai.

The actor's noble gesture has won a million hearts as Sid has previously too been associated with charitable work.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo formally demanded on Thursday that crippling international sanctions be reinstated against Iran.

"The process to re-impose sanctions on Iran begins," he said in a tweet. "Today I hand-delivered a letter to @UN Security Council President Dian Triansyah Djani to formally notify the Council of something we all know too wellIran's failure to meet its commitments under the terrible nuclear deal."

The process to re-impose sanctions on Iran begins. Today I hand-delivered a letter to @UN Security Council President Dian Triansyah Djani to formally notify the Council of something we all know too wellIran's failure to meet its commitments under the terrible nuclear deal. pic.twitter.com/MltLupj7lg  Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) August 20, 2020

Members of the E3  France, Germany and the United Kingdom  rejected the attempt to initiate what's known as a "snapback," a mechanism built into the Iran nuclear deal signed under President Barack Obama in 2015. The countries noted that the United States ceased to be a participant in the 2018 Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA.

"We cannot therefore support this action which is incompatible with our current efforts to support the JCPOA," the E3 said in a statement.

President Donald Trump had directed Pompeo to travel to the United Nations Security Council in New York to enforce the so-called snapback.

This would reinstate all United Nations sanctions on Iran that were lifted in exchange for curbs on the country's nuclear program. The problem for Trump is that none of the other co-signatories  China, Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany and France  believe the president has the power to do this because he withdrew from the deal in 2018.

Story continues

"The United States intends to restore virtually all of the previously suspended United Nations sanctions on Iran," President Donald Trump said Wednesday. "It's a snapback."

The move comes after the Security Council roundly rejected a U.S. resolution to extend an arms embargo on Tehran on Friday. The only country out of 15 to support Washington was the Dominican Republic.

A State Department statement Wednesday said: "Secretary Pompeos notification to the [U.N. Security] Council follows its inexcusable failure last week to extend the arms embargo on the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism and anti-Semitism."

Image: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP - Getty Images)

The move to reimpose U.N. sanctions has drawn criticism from China, Russia and across Europe, and even opposition from John Bolton, the former national security adviser and renowned Iran hawk.

Supporters of the nuclear deal maintain it's the best way to delay any attempt by Iran to build nuclear weapons, avoiding a more immediate crisis.

Trump pulled the U.S. out of the deal in May 2018, calling it "the worst deal ever negotiated" for allowing Iran a possible path to nuclear weapons in the future.

On Thursday, Iran continued to ignore U.S. calls to halt its ballistic missile program, displaying a new cruise missile and surface-to-surface ballistic missiles that its defense minister said had a range of 870 miles. The surface-to-air missile is named after Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the powerful Iranian military leader killed in a U.S. airstrike in January.

Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics

Pictures of the weapons were shown on state TV, billing one of the models as "the newest Iranian cruise missile that will further strengthen Iran's deterrence power."

The nuclear deal is now on the brink of collapse, after Trump's withdrawal and Iran's subsequent breach of limits on its uranium stockpile and concentration.

Pompeo's trip to the United Nations could also further alienate Washington from the other world powers and undermine the legitimacy of the U.N. Security Council itself.

Under the snapback mechanism, any participant to the deal can raise a complaint to the Security Council if they believe another country is guilty of "significant non-performance of commitments."

The process can only be stopped by a Security Council vote  and the U.S. has a veto. After 30 days, all of the U.N. sanctions previously placed on Iran would "snap back" into place.

Image: A new cruise missile unveiled by Iran and called martyr Abu Mahdi at an unknown location (WANA / Reuters)

This is where things get very murky. China, Russia and signatories in Europe have already said they don't believe the U.S. has the power to do this, because it left the deal in 2018.

Bolton, a former Iran hawk in Trump's administration, has called the U.S. position "too cute by half," arguing that it lost its snapback privileges when it withdrew from the deal. Iran Foreign Minister Javad Zarif highlighted the former national security adviser's comments.

"At least he is consistenta trait notably absent in this US administration," Zarif tweeted, adding that the U.S. has "no leg to stand on."

.@AmbJohnBolton 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.



US recourse to Dispute Resolution Mechanism in 2231 has NO LEG TO STAND ON. pic.twitter.com/txNBhyOkv4  Javad Zarif (@JZarif) August 16, 2020

Some analysts have suggested that the other countries may just ignore the U.S. demands, perhaps waiting it out until November in the hope that until then the American sanctions enforcement mechanisms won't be able to cope with the widespread noncompliance.

Irans reaction would also be crucial. It too could wait it out until November or pull out of the deal altogether, the latter infinitely complicating matters even if Biden were to become president.

Pompeo told Fox News on Wednesday that the U.S. has "held every nation accountable" for sanctions violations so far, and "we'll do the same thing with respect to the broader U.N. Security Council sanctions as well.

"They just are wedded to this crazy nuclear deal, they're trying to hang on to it," Pompeo said of the European members of the council who abstained.

Reuters contributed to this report.
The state government has opened a quarantine facility for people infected with COVID-19, spending $9.97 million to take over a boutique hotel in Melbournes city centre for the next year.

Brady Hotels will earn an average of more than $27,000 a day so its 146-room hotel in Little Latrobe Street can be used to accommodate those who test positive for the coronavirus but are unable to isolate or recover at home.

The Brady Hotel Central Melbourne, which the state government has turned into a 'hot' hotel for COVID infected patients Credit:Joe Armao

A typical room in the Brady Hotel Central Melbourne was previously listed on travel websites at $109 a night, although rooms can occasionally be rented for as little as $87, one website shows. Averaged out, the Central Melbourne will take in almost $197 a room every night over the year the government has contracted it for.

The Brady Hotel was not part of the controversial returned travellers program, where systematic breakdowns in security and containment measures at two other quarantine hotels have been identified as the source of 99 per cent of all second wave COVID-19 infections. The outbreaks have put Victoria under curfew and caused hundreds of deaths.
A 27-year-old woman living in Kano, Saratu Yau, who slaughtered her five year-old son, like an Eid-el-Kabir ram, has been sent by a Kano High Court, to a psychiatrist.

Saratu was on Wednesday arraigned before the court for the murder of the child.

The defendant, who resides at Sabon Birni Village in Gwarzo Local Government Area of of the state, is facing a count charge of culpable homicide.

The Prosecutor, Mr Lamido Sorondinki, told the court that Saratu committed the offence on 12 June, 2018 at Sabon Birni, Gwarzo.

Sorondinki said Saratu slaughtered her 5-year-old son with a sharp knife. like killing a ram, causing his death.

The prosecution filed an application before the court in reference to Section 280 (1,2,3 and 4) of the Criminal Justice Law 2019.

It prayed the court to send the defendant to psychiatric hospital for medical evaluation.

According to the prosecution, the offence contravened Section 221 of the Penal Code.

The defendant, however, pleaded guilty to the charge.

The trial Judge, Justice Ibrahim Karaye, ordered the defendant to be refered to psychiatric hospital for medical examination.

Karaye adjourned the case until Oct. 8, for hearing.

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The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence released its fifth and final report on Russian activities during the 2016 presidential election. While the 966-page volume correctly concludes that there was no collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government, it still justifies four years of criminal investigations into the presidents associates, a two-year special counsel investigation targeting the president, himself, and a media obsession with delegitimizing President Trumps victory by stating as fact that Russia engaged in an aggressive, multifaceted effort to influence, or attempt to influence, the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.

The report points to online trolling and Facebook advertisements as part of Russias multifaceted efforts to influence a nearly three-billion dollar American election. The Russia hack on the Democratic National Committees servers is the centerpiece of that allegation. After all this time, however, not a single investigator or forensic analyst within the federal government or outside of it has proven the hack took place.

Guccifer 2.0, you may recall, is the hacktivist persona who took credit for breaking into the DNC computer servers days after WikiLeaks announced that it had juicy DNC emails back in June of 2016. The timing of Guccifer 2.0s coming-out party was always a little too pretty. On June 12, Julian Assange announced that WikiLeaks had emails relating to Hillary Clinton. On June 14, Ellen Nakashima of the Washington Post reported, after being briefed by the DNCs computer security company CrowdStrike, that Russian government hackers had breached the DNC computer network. On June 15, Guccifer 2.0 surfaced and claimed responsibility for the hack. Interestingly, Guccifer 2.0 explicitly denied being Russian but then left so many breadcrumbs leading back to Russia that it became a universally accepted fact that Guccifer 2.0 was a persona operated by the Russian military intelligence agency GRU. On July 13, 2018, Special Counsel Robert Mueller indicted twelve GRU agents for allegedly perpetrating the cyberattacks.

If Guccifer 2.0 were the equivalent of one of our NSA counterespionage special operators, he was so sloppy in his tradecraft that he either intentionally wanted to be caught or should never have been trusted with anything more substantial than selling laptops at Best Buy. Larry Johnson, a former analyst for the CIA and the State Departments Office of Counterterrorism, published an article last December in which he lists all the ways Guccifer 2.0 dropped clues linking his work to Russia. Johnson finds the sheer number of forensic fingerprints connecting Guccifer 2.0 to Russia so inexplicable that the only thing that the Guccifer 2.0 character did not do to declare its Russian heritage was to take out full page ads in the New York Times and Washington Post.

Brennan, Comey, Rosenstein, and Mueller have presented a theory of the case that Russia was intentionally attacking American democracy, and many Democrat politicians and pundits have framed the 2016 WikiLeaks release of Clintons emails as nothing less than an act of war by Russia against the United States. With so much inflammatory rhetoric during a time when misunderstanding and miscalculation between two nuclear powers could have unleashed any number of horrific consequences, the accepted narrative-of-record that Mueller set down in his report is that Putin attempted to undermine the 2016 presidential election by using cyberespionage specialists so incompetent at what they do and lazy in covering their tracks that they accomplished the digital equivalent of hanging a big flashing neon pink sign around their work saying, Made in Mother Russia.

Johnson doesnt buy it, and neither do former NSA officials Bill Binney, Ed Loomis, or Kirk Wiebe, all of whom are willing to testify that the DNC emails published by WikiLeaks could not have been obtained by the type of spearphishing hack the Department of Justice has long pinned on the Russian GRU. Binney, the former Technical Director of the NSA, teamed up with Johnson back in 2019 to write an essay entitled, Why the DNC Was Not Hacked by the Russians. The paper proceeds to dissect the last modified digital time stamps of all the DNC email files stored on WikiLeaks and concludes that the data was obtained using a physical storage device, such as a USB thumb drive, and not downloaded over the internet as a result of a spearphishing or other online hack.

Binney and Johnson go on to make three other observations in that paper: (1) CrowdStrike waited forty-five days after allegedly uncovering the Russian hack before taking concrete steps to secure the integrity of the DNC servers; (2) the DNC never allowed the FBI access to its servers in order to conduct a real forensic examination; and (3) the National Security Agency had the technical collection systems in place to identify when the information was taken and the route it moved after being hacked from the server but apparently found so little evidence to support the official 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment that Russia hacked the election that NSA only backed the report with moderate confidence. Because none of these three facts nor the digital time stamps comport with the governments theory of the case, Binney and Johnson conclude that Russian hackers had nothing to do with the theft of the DNC emails, that the theft was an inside job, and that persons within our law enforcement and intelligence community conducted a campaign of misinformation.

If the DNC emails obtained by WikiLeaks came from a DNC insider or employee who physically copied content from DNC computers using a thumb drive, the theory of the case perpetuated by Brennan, Comey, Rosenstein, Mueller, and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence that the Russian military hacked the DNC servers in the guise of Guccifer 2.0 in order to sabotage Hillary Clinton falls apart rather quickly.

After pressure from then-Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell in May, Adam Schiffs office released a number of witness transcripts, including one from CrowdStrikes Shawn Henry, who stated under oath that CrowdStrike had no evidence that Russia exfiltrated emails from the DNC.

After four years of investigations into a Russia hack that has been the central focus of efforts by James Comeys FBI, John Brennans CIA, Robert Muellers special counsel, and Richard Burrs Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to portray President Trump as the beneficiary of Russias actions during the 2016 election, the only entity allowed access to the DNC servers, CrowdStrike, is on the record admitting that no evidence of a successful Russian hack exists.

If the national media pursued truth, rather than partnering with Democrats and members of the federal government to undermine President Trumps legitimacy, this fact would shatter four years of reporting. If the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence pursued truth, rather than balancing the political interests of its committee members, the glaring omission of direct evidence for a Russian hack would be highlighted and underlined on page one of each of its five lengthy volumes.

Hat tip to YoBubba.

Image: Pixabay
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2020 / Aegis Capital Corp. ("Aegis") a full-service wealth management, financial services and investment banking firm is pleased to announce that Victor Halpert has joined the investment banking department as a Managing Director / Co-Head of Israeli Issuers

Victor Halpert started working in the financial services sector in 1993 as a technology equity research analyst. Mr. Halpert was formally with Salomon Brothers, Inc. and Robertson Stephens, Inc. where he was the Director of Equity research for Israeli companies and the technology sector. Afterwards Mr. Halpert managed a technology fund and was a Managing Director at J.P. Morgan's Moscow office, managing their research department. Mr. Halpert has been involved with strategic advisory and M&A for technology companies, both in the US and Israel. Mr. Halpert served in the Israeli Defense Forces and was honorably discharged at the rank of sergeant.

Robert Eide Aegis' CEO commented: "We are thrilled Victor has joined Aegis and with his significant industry knowledge of the Israeli market and a commitment to provide a high level of service, he is a great fit with our firm's culture and will be a valuable addition to our banking department. Aegis has led numerous capital raising transactions for Israeli technology and life sciences companies. Victor will be a valued addition to both our investment banking team and our Israeli banking companies."

Michael Pata Aegis' Head of Business Development commented: "We are excited to welcome Victor to the Aegis investment banking team and we are proud that he will be Co-Head of Israeli Issuers, along with Isaac Livni. Aegis has built a bridge between Israeli companies, namely in the life science and technology sectors and the US markets. Victor will be a valued addition to Aegis Capital's continued growth and will be a value-add to both our retail and institutional clients."

About Aegis Capital Corporation

Aegis Capital Corporation "Aegis" has been in business for over 35 years catering to the needs of private clients, institutions and corporations. Aegis was founded in 1984 and offers its investment representatives a conflict free service platform and is able to provide a full-range of products and services including investment banking, wealth management, insurance, retirement planning, structured products, private equity, alternatives, equity research, fixed income and special purpose vehicles. Aegis is able to provide quality service through its primary clearing relationship with RBC Correspondent Services whose parent company, Royal Bank of Canada (RY), is one of the world's leading diversified financial services companies. Member: FINRA / SIPC

Any questions contact:

Michael Pata, Head of Business Development

Telephone: 1-212-813-1010

SOURCE: Aegis Capital Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602632/Aegis-Capital-Corp-Announces-the-hiring-of-a-New-Managing-Director-of-Investment-Banking
- Aisha Langoni lost her life while receiving treatment at Pandya Hospital, Mombasa

- Her father, the late Ramadhan Kajembe, was laid to rest at his family home in Kwa Shehe in Jomvu on Saturday, August 8

- Kenyans condoled and prayed for the family following the recent deaths that have affected the Kajembes

The family of the late ex-Changamwe MP Ramadhan Kajembe has been thrown into deep mourning again following the death of the former lawmaker's daughter Aisha Langoni.

The deceased lost her life while receiving treatment at Pandya Hospital, Mombasa, just two weeks after her father succumbed to COVID-19 disease.

READ ALSO: Nairobi lady bemused after Nduthi guy professes his love for her: "I'll have to find another"

The late Aisha Langoni during her graduation ceremony. Photo: Adede Adede.

Source: Twitter

READ ALSO: Jowie Irungu: Kenyans in awe of ex-prisoner's voice after release of gospel song Nishikilie

Langoni's death was confirmed by her family and also came a month after her mother died of the respiratory illness.

Kajembe died on Friday, August 7, at Pandya Hospital in Mombasa where he was receiving treatment and was laid to rest at his family home in Kwa Shehe in Jomvu on Saturday, August 8.

He passed on barely five months after losing his two wives. His first wife Mama Aziza Kajembe died on July 24, 2020.

READ ALSO: Abiria apokea kichapo cha makanga na dereva kwa kuwakumbusha sheria za COVID-19

She breathed her last at a private hospital in Mombasa where she was undergoing treatment with the ex-MP missing the burial ceremony as he had also been admitted in a critical condition.

Aziza's death came barely four months after the demise of the MP's second wife, Mama Zaharia Kajembe, who lost her life while receiving treatment at Aga Khan Hospital in Mombasa.

READ ALSO: Federico Bernardeschi: Juventus offer midfielder to Man United in exchange for Smalling

Netizens took to their social media pages to condole with and pray for the family after losing several family members in a span of few months.

Francis Mukiebe: "We are called to pray for this family. This is harsh."

Eng Mokoti: "Sad, the family of former Changamwe MP late Seif Kajembe loses their eldest daughter Aisha Langoni Kajembe at Pandya Hospital just two weeks after her dad's death and a month after the mother died from COVID-19."

Robert Alai: "Pray for this family."

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.

Kenyans react to the revenue sharing formula row | Tuko TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
Younger people should not feel 'invincible' as draconian coronavirus restrictions are lifted, a World Health Organization official has said.

Dr Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, admitted he was 'very concerned' that under-24s are regularly appearing among new cases.

And he warned low risk does not mean no risk, saying the disease 'may stick to your body like a tornado with a long tail'.

The proportion of those infected aged 15-24 has risen three-fold in about five months, WHO data shows. Pictured: People standing in queue to enter a restaurant in Miami Beach, Florida, amid the pandemic

In a briefing with journalists today, he said: 'Young people are at the forefront of the Covid-19 response and they have a very powerful message to convey through their behaviour and their communication.

'Low risk does not mean no risk, no one is invincible and if you do not die from Covid-19, it may stick to your body like a tornado with a long tail.

'While young people are less likely to die than older people they can still be very seriously affected, this virus affects organs throughout the body.'

Dr Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, admitted he was 'very concerned' that under-24s are regularly appearing among new cases

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

It is thought that younger generations have contributed to recent resurgences of Covid-19 by gathering for parties, barbecues and holidays amid the easing of lockdown restrictions.

The proportion of those infected aged 15-24 has risen three-fold in about five months, rising from around 4.5 per cent to 15 per cent, WHO data shows.

Dr Kluge's warning comes after the global coronavirus death toll topped 788,000.

'Younger people also need to take on board that they have a responsibility,' said WHO emergencies chief Mike Ryan in an online discussion.

'Ask yourself the question: do I really need to go to that party?'

Young people are less likely to suffer a severe form of the respiratory disease than their parents or grandparents.

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.

Mr Ryan said young people were often also reticent in giving their details or disclosing friends' names to contact tracers.

'It's tough but it is what is needed to stop the virus,' he said.

Even in Geneva, where the global UN health body is based, cabarets and clubs were closed last week after evidence that nearly half of new cases were coming from there.

Swiss newspapers said that in one night club in Zurich, from which several coronavirus cases emerged recently, partygoers had given fake names including 'Donald Duck'.

WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove said that as well as reducing risks to others, young people should be more careful as even a mild version of the disease might have long-term consequences.

It was announced earlier today that the global Covid-19 related death toll had topped 788,000 as dozens of countries reintroduced tighter regulations in a bid to stop the spread of the deadly virus.

However, at the beginning of July Chancellor Rishi Sunak warned that a generation of young people risked being 'lost' to the coronavirus unless the public started spending in pubs and restaurants.

Mr Sunak asked Britons to 'eat out to help out' in a bid to boost the economy and avoid a jobs meltdown that will hit the young hardest.

He said he feared that the younger generation would otherwise be 'scarred by coronavirus'.

He told the Times: 'This is a consumption-driven economy; people used to, three months ago, go out with their friends or family to go and have a meal or buy a car, or upgrade their house, or move house.'

Mr Sunak added that it was important to get 'the next few bits right' in order to save the younger generation's jobs and lifestyles.

The Bank of England's chief economist Andy Haldane predicted this week that Britain was headed for a V-shaped recovery.

Addressing the comments, the chancellor said 'we all want Andy to be right' but conceded some hardship was inevitable.
Scientists have demonstrated a new way to precisely target cells by distinguishing them from neighboring cells that look quite similar.

Even cells that become cancerous may differ from their healthy neighbors in only a few subtle ways. A central challenge in the treatment of cancer and many other diseases is being able to spot the right cells while sparing all others.

In a paper published 20 August in Science, a team of researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle describe the design of new nanoscale devices made of synthetic proteins. These target a therapeutic agent only to cells with specific, predetermined combinations of cell surface markers.

Remarkably, these 'molecular computers' operate all on their own and can search out the cells that they were programmed to find.

"We were trying to solve a key problem in medicine, which is how to target specific cells in a complex environment," said Marc Lajoie, a lead author of the study and recent postdoctoral scholar at the UW Medicine Institute for Protein Design. "Unfortunately, most cells lack a single surface marker that is unique to just them. So, to improve cell targeting, we created a way to direct almost any biological function to any cell by going after combinations of cell surface markers."

The tool they created is called Co-LOCKR, or Colocalization-dependant Latching Orthogonal Cage/Key pRoteins. It consists of multiple synthetic proteins that, when separated, do nothing. But when the pieces come together on the surface of a targeted cell, they change shape, thereby activating a sort of molecular beacon.

The presence of these beacons on a cell surface can guide a predetermined biological activity -- like cell killing -- to a specific, targeted cell.

The researchers demonstrated that Co-LOCKR can focus the cell-killing activity of CAR T cells. In the lab, they mixed Co-LOCKR proteins, CAR T cells, and a soup of potential target cells. Some of these had just one marker, others had two or three. Only the cells with the predetermined marker combination were killed by the T cells. If a cell also had a predetermined "healthy marker," then that cell was spared.

"T cells are extremely efficient killers, so the fact that we can limit their activity on cells with the wrong combination of antigens yet still rapidly eliminate cells with the correct combination is game-changing," said Alexander Salter, another lead author of the study and an M.D./Ph.D. student in the medical scientist program at the UW School of Medicine. He is training in Stanley Riddell's lab at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

This cell-targeting strategy relies entirely on proteins. This approach sets it apart from most other methods that rely on engineered cells and operate on slower timescales.

"We believe Co-LOCKR will be useful in many areas where precise cell targeting is needed, including immunotherapy and gene therapy," said David Baker, professor of biochemistry at the UW School of Medicine and director of the Institute for Protein Design.

###

This research was conducted at the Institute for Protein Design, the Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and the UW Department of Bioengineering.

The co-lead authors of this work are Marc J. Lajoie (supported by a Washington Research Foundation Innovation Postdoctoral Fellowship and a Cancer Research Institute Irvington Fellowship from the Cancer Research Institute), Scott E. Boyken (supported by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award at the Scientific Interface), and Alexander I. Salter (supported by the Hearst Foundation and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Interdisciplinary Training Grant in Cancer Research).

This work was also supported by the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Nordstrom Barrier Institute for Protein Design Directors Fund, Hearst Foundation, Washington Research Foundation and Translational Research Fund, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Open Philanthropy Project, and The Audacious Project organized by TED.

Several authors are inventors on patents related to this work. Some hold equity in Lyell Immunopharma. Some authors are now employees or consultants of Lyell Immunopharma.
President Jimmy Carter at a Presidential News Conference

President Jimmy Carter takes questions from members of the press at a presidential news conference at the Old Executive Office Building, on April 15, 1977 in Washington, DC. Credit - David Hume KennerlyGetty Images

On March 22, 1977, newly-elected president Jimmy Carter sent a letter to Congress recommending a package of electoral reforms. The president was concerned that America ranked twenty-first in voter participation among the worlds democracies. He argued that the problem was not voter apathy but that millions of Americans are prevented or discouraged from voting in every election by antiquated and overly restrictive voter registration lawsa fact proven by the record rates of participation in 1976 in states like Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota that let voters register on Election Day. Carter recommended same-day registration be adopted universallytempering concerns that such measures might increase opportunities for fraud by increasing penalties against it to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

He asked for $25 million to help states comply, an expansion to congressional elections of the current system of federal matching funds for presidential campaigns, and closing a loophole in campaign finance law that advantaged rich contenders by allowing them to evade spending limits if they funded their own campaigns. He proposed revising the Hatch Act to allow federal employees not in sensitive positions the same rights of political participation as everyone else when not on the job. Most radically, he recommended a constitutional amendment to scrap the Electoral College, which, three times so far, had selected as president a candidate who had received fewer votes than his opponent.

It was among the most sweeping political reform proposals in U.S. historyand soon afterward, legislators from both parties stood together at a news briefing to endorse all or most of it. The bill for universal registration, which RNC chairman Brock called a Republican concept, was cosponsored by four Republicans. Senator Baker suggested going even further by making Election Day a national holiday, keeping polls open twenty-four hours, and instituting automatic registration. House minority leader John Rhodes, the conservative disciple of Barry Goldwater, predicted the proposal would pass in substantially the same form with a lot of Republican support, including my own.

Story continues

More democracy: who could object?

The answer was: the New Right, which took their lessons about electoral reform from legends of Kennedy beating Nixon via votes received from the cemeteries of Chicago.

The next issue of Human Events, a conservative newspaper, was bannered, ELECTION REFORM PACKAGE: EUTHANASIA FOR THE GOP. It argued that the current electoral system had never disenfranchised a single citizenat least no citizen who cares enough to make the minimal effort. So why was Carter proposing to change it? Because, Kevin Phillips insisted, it would blow the Republican Party sky high. Phillips claimed that Carter had calculated that since he had won Wisconsin by a tiny margin, defying predictions, and since most electoral analysts credited that upset to the 210,000 allowed to register on election day, he wanted to expand the scam to all fifty states. A Berkeley political scientist, Human Events noted, predicted national turnout would go up 20 percent under Carters reformsa bad thing, the editors said, because the bulk of these extra votes will go to Carters Democratic Party . . . with blacks and other traditionally Democratic voter groups accounting for most of the increase. Conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, meanwhile, got out one issue brief arguing that instant registration might allow the eight million illegal aliens in the U.S. to vote, and another arguing that it was a mistake to take for granted that it is desirable to increase the number of people who vote.

Ronald Reagan had been making similar arguments for years. Look at the potential for cheating, he thundered in 1975 when Democrats proposed a system allowing citizens to register by mail. A voter can be John Doe in Berkeley, and J. F. Doe in the next county, all by saying he intends to live in both places. . . . Yes, it takes a little work to be a voter; it takes some planning to get to the polls or send an absentee ballot . . . thats a small price to pay for freedom. He took up the same cudgel shortly after Carters inauguration when California adopted easier procedures: Why dont we try reverse psychology and make it harder to vote? Now, following Carters electoral reform message, Reagan wrote in his column that what this all was really about was boosting votes from the bloc comprised of those who get a whole lot more from the federal government in various kinds of income distribution than they contribute to it. . . . Dont be surprised if an army of election workersmuch of it supplied by labor organizations which have managed to exempt themselves from election law restrictionssweep through metropolitan areas scooping up otherwise apathetic voters and rushing them to the polls to keep the benefit-dispensers in power.

Ronald Reagan waves to the crowd on the final night of the Republican National Convention in Kansas City on Aug. 19, 1976. David Hume KennerlyGetty Images

He added, in a newsletter column on Hatch Act reform, The intent of the bill seems to be to convert your friendly neighborhood bureaucrat into a machine politician. After all, he does have an interest in keeping government growingand if successful it would render the Republican Party as dead as the dodo bird. He dedicated a radio broadcast to what he called the most terrifying idea of all: popular election of presidents. The very basis for our freedom is that we are a federation of sovereign states. Our constitution recognizes that certain rights belong to the states and cannot be infringed upon by the national government. John C. Calhoun had pioneered that argument in South Carolina in the 1830s, as a way to cloak attempts to preserve slavery in noble constitutional raiment.

And the party establishment soon became convinced.

Republican National Committee Chairman Bill Brock met in Los Angeles with Reagan, who subsequently told supporters that the chairman had assured him he is opposed to the election reform package, which might better be called the Universal Voter Fraud Bill. Brock then penned an article in the RNC magazine First Monday on the Democratic Power Grab; when it had been proposed he called it a Republican idea. The RNC passed a resolution claiming that same-day registration would endanger the integrity of the franchise and open American elections to serious threat of fraud. Representative John Rhodes, after what the Washington Post called unremitting opposition for his original standincluding a cartoon in the Citizens for the Republic newsletter depicting a bleeding GOP elephant stabbed by a figure labeled Rhodes and Universal Registrationdirected his House Republican Policy Committee to adopt a statement of formal opposition.

Several months later, thirty conservatives met in a private dining room at the Capitol Hill Club, the famous home away from home for GOP lawmakers, for a ceremony in which Nevada Senator Paul Laxalt, Reagans 1976 campaign chairman, and Richard Viguerie, godfather of the New Right, received bronze plaques inscribed, FOR LEADERSHIP IN PRESERVING FREE ELECTIONS, for their role in defeating same-day voter registration.

From REAGANLAND: Americas Right Turn 1976-1980 by Rick Perlstein. Copyright  2020 by Eric S. Perlstein. Reprinted by permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
(Natural News) The Democrats seem to have no problem with, and are actually encouraging, Black Lives Matter (BLM) and Antifa terrorists to protest in person whenever and wherever they wish. Why, then, is it not okay for people to vote in person?

Donald Trump Jr., the executive vice president of the Trump Organization, asked this question the other day during an appearance on Fox Business Morning with Maria program.

Trump Jr. stated plainly that Democrats seem fine with looting in person, but are simultaneously whining about people having to vote in person. This disparity is completely nonsensical, he noted, adding that, if you can loot in person, you can vote in person.

We are fine, and my fathers been very clear about being fine with absentee balloting, where one individual goes through a procedure, requests a ballot, Trump Jr. went on to explain, debunking the conspiracy theory myth that President Donald Trump disapproves of all forms of mail-in voting.

This is a system thats worked very well in Florida and many other states, but its tied to an individual with an actual form of identification to eliminate that fraud, he added. And if you go through that process, were 100 percent fine with that for those who dont necessarily want to go to the polling booth that day. So, its not that were trying to say you cant do any of it.

Why wont Democrats agree to absentee voting?

As you may recall from back in June, President Trump was censored by Twitter for tweeting about the problems with mail-in voting  problems that Democrat Jerry Nadler several decades ago likewise warned might put the integrity of elections at risk.

Piggy-backing on what Nadler himself earlier admitted, Trump warned that there is no way mail-in ballots will be anything less than substantially fraudulent  and he is exactly right. The process has never been done on a national scale, and it is simply inconceivable to think that it will go smoothly and honestly.

Mail boxes will be robbed, ballots will be forged & even illegally printed out & fraudulently signed, Trump went on to tweet.

Twitter, of course, deemed this information false, and put up a fact-check to supposedly debunk it. But nothing has been debunked, as mail-in voting in the way Democrats are pushing it is ripe for fraud, just as Trump is warning.

The simple solution for people who feel uncomfortable voting in person is to simply go through the normal absentee process, which would seem like a common sense solution. But the Democrats are resisting the common sense approach in favor of reinventing the wheel, which of course would work in their favor.

Again, were 100 percent fine with absentee balloting, Trump Jr. reiterated during the interview. People go through the regular process. And you know that one person is getting one vote. Thats the way our system is designed, and were 100 percent fine with that.

Commenting on the news, several Breitbart News commenters noted that there are many things people can do in person, without masks, if rioters and looters are able to wreak havoc and cause destruction without them.

If you can loot without a mask, you can go to church without a mask, wrote one.

Others noted that absentee voting is different than mail-in voting because the latter option, at least in the way Democrats want to do it, involves sending out mass voting ballots without even updating their voter registration, so guess what  every dead person that hasnt been taken off will get a ballot  and if you just moved, you can fill out another and another  pure fraud.

For more related news about the left-wing lies being spread as we approach Nov. 3, be sure to check out Deception.news.

Sources for this article include:

Breitbart.com

NaturalNews.com
Photograph: Mandel Ngan/AP

Mike Pompeo has set the US on a collision course with most of its UN partners in an attempt to extend the isolation of Iran.

Instead it was the US which appeared beleaguered, with Pompeo clashing bitterly with European allies, emphasising a deepening Transatlantic rift.

The US secretary of state went to the UN on Thursday to set in motion a diplomatic gambit, claiming the US is still a participant in the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran  from which Donald Trump explicitly withdrew two years ago  and therefore retains the right under the rules of the deal to trigger a snapback or resumption of full UN sanctions.

Very few other UN member states think the US has the authority to do this. Even before he made a scheduled announcement at the UN headquarters in New York, the UK, France and Germany issued a statement saying the the US was not a participant and they would not support it.

In response, Pompeo denounced the Europeans as having chosen to side with the Ayatollahs.

Their actions endanger the people of Iraq, of Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, and indeed their own citizens as well, he told reporters. America wont join in this failure of leadership. America will not appease. America will lead.

The extent of US isolation was illustrated by a related vote in the security council last week, in which it received support from the Dominican Republic alone, despite an intense and targeted lobbying campaign.

Related: US sees embarrassing UN defeat over Iran arms embargo proposal

Pompeo met the UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, and the current chair of the UN security council, the Indonesian permanent representative, Dian Triansyah Djani, in New York on Thursday, to deliver formal notice that the US considers Iran to be in non-compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The snapback mechanism was written into the JCPOA to give the parties to the deal confidence that any one of them could reimpose sanctions if Iran violated the agreement. It was not intended for a state that had left the agreement to exploit it. The US is claiming still to be a JCPOA participant through a legal technicality, based largely on the fact that it is named as a participant in a UN resolution endorsing the JCPOA. But that stance was quickly rejected by European governments.

Story continues

France, Germany and the United Kingdom (the E3) note that the US ceased to be a participant to the JCPoA following their withdrawal from the deal on May 8, 2018, a joint letter from the three governments said. We cannot therefore support this action which is incompatible with our current efforts to support the JCPOA.

After a notice of non-compliance has been served, there is a 30-day window after which, in the absence of a security council resolution to the contrary, all UN sanctions in place under the 2015 deal will snap back into place.

It is likely Pompeo has timed his visit to the UN so that the month-long grace period will end in time for Donald Trumps speech to the UN general assembly summit in the last week of September, allowing the president to declare that UN sanctions have been restored.

The US is seeking to rally support and to put particular pressure on the UK, which has thus far stuck with European powers on the issue.

Richard Gowan, the UN director at the International Crisis Group, said that US leaks earlier in the year, revealing that it had threatened the UK and other European countries with sanctions if they did not take action against Iran, had backfired.

That was an exceedingly stupid move because, especially in London, ministers were deeply offended that the US was treating them in this way, and actually that was probably the first moment that the Johnson administration in London started to stiffen its spine and wonder whether it really wanted to end up supporting the US in this process, Gowan said.

The outcome is expected to be messy, with conflicting versions of reality, and no clear adjudicator. The matter could be referred to the international court of justice in The Hague, but a ruling could take a year.

Ellie Geranmayeh, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations said: Other nations appear poised to treat it like a tirade from a rampaging toddler and hope that the US swiftly grows out of its maximum pressure phase.

Wendy Sherman, a former state department official who was lead US negotiator on the JCPOA, said: This is really a process that will just be mucked around in the procedural political process of the United Nations, and at the end of the day, well go out with a whimper, not with a bang.

Confusion may suit the Trump administration, which would be seen domestically as tough on Iran and the UN. It will also make banks and companies more skittish about financing Iranian purchases of even humanitarian goods on the global market, increasing pressure on Tehran.

Most observers believe Trump and Pompeos ultimate aim is to provoke Iran into retaliatory action, formal withdrawal from the JCPOA and expulsion of nuclear inspectors, for example, which will make it impossible to salvage the 2015 agreement even if Joe Biden wins the presidency in November.
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 23:02:36|Editor: huaxia

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HEFEI, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has visited flood-stricken residents in east China's Anhui Province.

While visiting Funan County in the city of Fuyang, 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.

As floods have basically receded, local farmers in Anhui have resumed farming to secure a bumper harvest in autumn, with the help of agricultural technology.

Twenty-five-year-old Xi Wei manages an 87-hectare rice farm in the city of Wuhu. Every day he rides an electric bicycle to learn the growth of rice seedlings. From time to time, he stops for a quick check on soil conditions -- on his smartphone.

The farm is on the banks of the Zhanghe River, a tributary of the Yangtze River. It is a "smart" agricultural demonstration project initiated in 2018 by Zoomlion Agriculture Machinery Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., Ltd., one of China's leading high-tech equipment manufacturers.

An app in his phone provides information about soil moisture and temperature. Sensors in the fields monitor the soil conditions around the clock and relay the readings to him via WiFi.

Xi Wei just checked the moisture of the soil in the paddy fields.

"It is necessary to drain all the water in the fields so that the permeability of soil can be increased, and the roots of the seedlings can grow deeper," he said.

Since the launch of the project, the company has installed many high-tech devices in the fields, such as soil sensors and insect-monitoring lamps. The data collected by these devices will be transmitted simultaneously by the Internet of Things (IoT) to smartphones and computers.

Despite the rare floods since mid-June, the rice seedlings in the fields have not been affected much because of the equipment embedded here.

"The information-driven rice planting is the primary feature of our fields. Meteorological stations, soil sensors, insect-monitoring lamps, and the IoT are cutting-edge tools we use to cope with natural disasters and mitigate losses," said Xi Wei.

The project also uses satellite navigation technology to level the fields to increase yield of rice.

"With the help of the global navigation satellite system, the machine levels the fields with an average error of less than 3 cm for each patch," said Xi Wei, adding that the result was impossible for the traditional farming machines.

With constantly improving flood prevention systems, water conservancy infrastructure and mechanization over the past few years, major grain producers in China have upgraded their capabilities in countering natural disasters.

China attaches great importance to food security. President Xi Jinping has spoken of the issue on many occasions. Grain production, with farmland as the fundamental element, is supported by water conservancy systems, facilitated by science and technology, and driven forward by policies. Issues relating to these key points must be addressed earnestly and properly to attain breakthroughs in grain production, he has said.

China issued a guideline regarding advancing the development of agricultural high-tech industry demonstration zones in 2018, highlighting the importance of technology in modernizing agriculture and the role of demonstration zones in spearheading the efforts.

The country has been promoting key technologies in agriculture, such as high-yield hybrid rice varieties developed by Yuan Longping, the "father of hybrid rice," and the wide use of smart farming machinery.

The application of agricultural science and technology has played a positive role in increasing grain output. In 2018, the contribution of scientific and technological progress to agriculture reached 58.3 percent, an increase of 42.8 percentage points from 15.5 percent in 1996, according to a white paper titled "Food Security in China" issued last year.

As the world's top food producer and consumer, China saw its grain output reach a record high of 664 million tonnes last year, the 16th bumper year in a row. The country's summer grain output reached a historic high of 142.81 million tonnes this year, up 0.9 percent from last year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

In addition to the improved infrastructure, Anhui has also been mobilizing resources and using upgraded technology to ensure grain security, and make up for losses from flood and other natural disasters.

In Funan County, Kang Guoping was busy shoveling up the ditches to clear the remaining floodwater in his farmland, ready to plant sweet potato seedlings distributed by the local government.

The flooding is unlikely to cause a sharp decrease in grain production since the reinforced dikes and embankments along the Yangtze River have made farmlands safer, said Wu Liquan, a professor at Anhui Agricultural University.

Improved irrigation and drainage facilities, coupled with advanced agricultural technologies, have further improved safety, according to Wu.

"I'm looking forward to a bumper harvest this year as my paddy fields have become more disaster-resistant, with the improved water conservancy facility and smart farming technology," said Xi Wei. Enditem
Daniel Torrance of Liberty Resources (right) hands boxes of fresh produce to Rashera Sharpe (left) and Karimah Cannon (center), both of Patterson Transportation, a LogistiCare transportation provider responsible for delivering food to Philadelphia residents with disabilities in need.

Daniel Torrance of Liberty Resources (right) hands boxes of fresh produce to Rashera Sharpe (left) and Karimah Cannon (center), both of Patterson Transportation, a LogistiCare transportation provider responsible for delivering food to Philadelphia residents with disabilities in need.

Philadelphia, PA, Aug. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Philadelphia, P.A.  LogistiCare, the nations largest non-emergency medical transportation company, is partnering with Liberty Resources, Inc. to deliver food to Philadelphia residents in need. The delivery of food is an initiative first launched by LogistiCare in New Jersey when the company received approval to use its excess capacity to deliver food. The company is now delivering food in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida, with more states coming online. Since April, LogistiCare and Liberty Resources have delivered nearly 5,500 meals to residents in Philadelphia, averaging approximately 882 households per month.

Liberty Resources is the Center for Independent Living in Philadelphia, which advocates for and works with people with disabilities to ensure their civil rights and equal access to all aspects of life in the community. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Liberty Resources operated a small food pantry, serving approximately 50-70 households once a month. When the pandemic began, Liberty Resources heard about issues with food access from the individuals they serve  with households no longer able to get to the store or a local food pantry, some even forced to go without food altogether.

Liberty Resources sought a solution, turning to the City of Philadelphia, the Share Food Program, Live Nation and LogistiCare to help get food into the hands of a greater number of those in need. LogistiCare's local transportation providers  Patterson Transportation, Medical Transportation Providers, LLC, Wheels Take You There Transportation  was called upon to deliver food packages right to the homes of certain food-insecure members of the community who were not able to obtain food elsewhere.

Story continues

To date, the partnership is yielding an average food distribution of 5 tons of food per week, delivering more than 75 tons of food since efforts first began. Food insecurity in Philadelphia existed long before the pandemic hit; however, it has been exacerbated for communities that often rely on subsidized supports and community resources such as food pantries. The disabled community comprises 16% of Philadelphia residents.

A large part percentage of our disabled community are at high risk for COVID-19 and do not have the supports/means to access food at city-wide distribution centers, said Lauren Alden, an Independent Living Services Manager at Liberty Resources, Inc. We saw an immediate need for food delivery so Philadelphians with disabilities could remain safe and independent. While the demand is high, we are serving close to 900 households a month through the partnerships with LogistiCare, the Share Food Program, Live Nation and the City of Philadelphia. Pandemic or not, no person or family should go without food in a city that has the organizations and services to provide food. Liberty Resources and our partners quickly organized efforts to make sure we could get food to the homes that need it the most.

The pandemic has created a great need for expanded nutrition benefits for those most at risk of contracting COVID-19, especially as the economic crisis continues and food insecurity increases across the country, said Senator Bob Casey (D-PA). Ensuring that every older adult and person with a disability has access to nutritious food and meals in their own home is a key strategy to contain the virus.

Collaboration has been the key to the programs success to date. A list of food recipients and food packages are provided to LogistiCare by Liberty Resources and the Share Food Program. LogistiCare then uses pre-existing resources with its local transportation partners to create routes and deliver food those who need it most.

We are so pleased to partner with Liberty Resources and the Share Food Program in delivering food to households, who due to their disabilities have suffered even greater hardships than many during the COVID crisis, said Kathryn Stalmack, SVP and General Counsel of LogistiCare. Access to food should not be a barrier to health and quality of life. This partnership is of great importance and is one that provides great satisfaction to us and to our transportation providers in Philadelphia who are making it happen.

Liberty Resources is offering contact free deliveries for individuals with disabilities who cannot access a food distribution site either them self or through a family member or caregiver. To be added to the waiting list, please call or text (215) 709-9619.

About Providence Service Corporation and LogistiCare:

LogistiCare, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Providence Service Corporation, is the nations largest manager of non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) programs for state government agencies and managed care organizations. LogistiCares services include NEMT ride management, call center management, transportation provider network development and credentialing, and vendor administration.

LogistiCare is focused on providing access to convenient, cost-effective, safe and reliable transportation. LogistiCare delivers tech-enabled solutions that provide enhanced functionality, stronger network performance, streamlined workflow processes, and higher overall system efficiency. Annually LogistiCare manages over 63 million trips for more than 24 million eligible riders in 50 states and the District of Columbia. For more information about LogistiCare, visit www.logisticare.com.

About Liberty Resources, Inc.:

Liberty Resources Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in Pennsylvania that has served the disabled community for 40 years. Liberty Resources provides advocacy and additional services that protect an individuals right to choose the care he or she wants and needs while remaining safely and comfortably in their home. Its home care services include non-medical personal care, homemaking and personal organization, companionship, and mobility products and home modifications. For more information about Liberty Resources, Inc., visit http://libertyresources.org/.

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CONTACT: Liz Thomas Thomas Boyd Communications (609) 923-9946 liz@thomasboyd.com




Hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients have declined from their mid-July peak, with cases dropping in 45 states and territories, a senior federal health official said.

Admiral Brett P. Giroir, MD, assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and lead for COVID-19 diagnostic testing, told reporters Aug. 19 that since the third week in July, which marked the latest peak in new COVID-19 cases:

New cases have decreased by 22%

Hospitalizations have decreased by 24%

ICU patient volume has decreased by 13%

COVID-19 hospitalizations totaled 1,088 for the week ending Aug. 8, down from 2,551 for the week ending July 18, according to the tracking site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Death rates, a lagging indicator, are flat after recent increases.

We are hopeful and anticipate [deaths] will decrease as long as we continue with the current aggressive plans, working collaboratively with the states and locals to continue on with current plans, Giroir said.

Among the 56 U.S. states and territories, new COVID-19 cases are:

Declining in 45

Flat in 6

Increasing in 5

The jurisdictions with increases include California, Indiana and Vermont.

California Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly, MD, said on an Aug. 18 media call that the states COVID-19 hospitalizations had been declining for two weeks but jumped this week by 86 new cases. California hospitals have 5,058 COVID-19 patients, down from 7,170 on July 21, according to the state's tracking site.

Were reaching out to some of our hospital partners about what might have led to that increase, Ghaly said.

California has struggled in recent weeks to ensure accurate totals after computer errors were blamed for the exclusion of nearly 300,000 patient records from state totals.

National implications of the latest data

At least four states moved to at least partially ban elective procedures as a result of the July surge. But Giroir said such aggressive steps are not needed.

Im generally positive because trends are going in the right direction and we have very good data  theoretical and real data  that the plans were implementing are working and will continue to work just about equivalently to a shutdown, Giroir said.

The case rates Giroir reported were markedly better than those from some private pandemic trackers, which some observers have cited to press for more lockdowns. For instance, a tracker by the Kaiser Family Foundation designates 32 states as current hotspots either based on increases in cases and positive rates or relative to various thresholds.

Giroir said the federal data is based on testing results provided directly from labs and hospitals.

Testing set to increase substantially

Although the Trump administration is more focused on goals such as reducing hospitalizations instead of increasing overall testing numbers, Giroir said, he does expect testing capacity to continue to rise.

The latest seven-day average of daily tests is 820,000, he said.

The administration expects up to 90 million tests to be performed nationwide in September, including 40 million at the point of care. That would be a significant increase from July, when 25 million were performed overall.

The increase in testing will be driven by the availability of between 20 million and 23 million 15-minute tests, expected in September, with the possibility that 20 million more such tests may become available, he said.

Testing equipment also is expected to be widely available to all nursing homes by the end of September, Giroir said. The federal government will fund the initial round of equipment deployment to those organizations, and they will be able to buy more on their own using the $2.5 billion the administration distributed last week through the CARES Act.
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 communicate with you concerning our service (for example by email, push notifications text messaging, and online messaging channels), so that we communicate news regarding the website to you, details about new features and content available on the the website, and special offers, promotional announcements, contests and consumer surveys, and to assist you with operational requests such as password reset requests.

 For marketing (where you have agreed to this) and for market research purposes, including internal demographic studies, to provide, optimize and personalize our services and to send you newsletters and information (where you have agreed to this) about our products and services.

 determine your requirements and provide personalized suggestions, tips and news alerts for various topics all of which we think will be of interest to you;

 prevent, detect and investigate potentially prohibited or illegal activities, including fraud;

 analyze and understand our audience, improve our service (including our user interface experiences) and optimize content selection, recommendation algorithms and delivery;

 Notify you about changes in terms of service.

 Allow you to participate in interactive features (notify you about events, run competitions and games) offered through our Services.

 Carry out our obligations and enforce our rights arising from any contracts entered into between you and us, including for billing, chargeback and collection.



We may use your information to provide you with personalised experience when you visit/use one of our sites/apps, and for insight and marketing purposes.

We provide personalisation by using data you submit to us in terms of cookies, IP addresses, web beacons or similar technologies in relation to the devices you use. By doing so, we can provide you with contents and/or advertising that we believe is more relevant to your interests. Please provide explicit consent for the same when we collect your data and/or adjust your user preferences in your account profile concerning your choices/preferences provided.

You can click on http://www.youronlinechoices.eu to modify your choices with respect to capturing of cookies from your website.

You can also raise a request to alter your consent choices at GDPR@nw18.com.

Information used by the company

The Information as supplied by the users enables us to improve the Services and provide you the most user-friendly experience. In some cases/provision of certain service(s) or utility (ies), we may require your contact address as well. All required information is service dependent and the Company may use the above said user Information to, maintain, protect, and improve the Services (including advertising on the "Application") and for developing new services. We may also use your email address or other personally identifiable information to send commercial or marketing messages with your consent, as applicable by local laws [with an option to subscribe / unsubscribe (where feasible)]. We may, however, use your email address without further consent for non-marketing or administrative purposes (such as notifying you of major changes, for customer service purposes, billing, etc.)

Any personally identifiable information provided by you will not be considered as sensitive if it is freely available and / or accessible in the public domain like any comments, messages, blogs, scribbles available on social platforms like Facebook, twitter etc. Any posted/uploaded/conveyed/communicated by users on the public sections of the website or the Application becomes published content and is not considered personally identifiable information subject to this Privacy Policy. In case you choose to decline to submit personally identifiable information, we may not be able to provide certain services to you. In any case, we will not be liable and or responsible for the denial of certain services to you for lack of you providing the necessary personal information. When you register with the Application or Services, we contact you from time to time about updating your personal information to provide the users such features that we believe may benefit / interest you.

Disclosure to third parties

a. General Disclosure

At times the website may make certain personal information available to strategic partners that work with the website to provide service, or that help the website market to customers. For example, when you purchase and activate subscription, you authorize the website to exchange the information you provide during the activation process to carry out a service. If you have approved the service, your account will be governed by the websites privacy policy. Personal information will only be shared by the website to provide or improve our service and marketing aspects; it will not be shared with third parties for their marketing purposes.

We may also carefully select other companies to send you information about their products or services which are related to the site's service but are not necessary to its operation (an "Extended Service"). If the website intends to use personally identifiable information for an Extended Service, the website site will provide you with the ability and requisite instructions to decline this service.You may also stop the delivery of informational or promotional mail from the website by following the instructions on the mail.

People we may disclose your personal information will include:

 Members of Web18;

 Members of Web18;

 our related companies;

 advertisers and content partners, either in an aggregate form e.g. 5,000 users clicked on a banner ad;

 Credit-reporting and fraud-checking agencies;

 Our professional advisers, including our accountants, auditors and lawyers;

 other telecommunication and information service providers;

 by disclosing individual records such as IP addresses as may be required by law; or

 Government and regulatory authorities and other organisations, as required or authorised by law. We will ensure that these people only use such information to perform the above functions, and that they have adequate procedures in place to deal with your data securely. Some of these people may be based outside India.



b. Advertising

When we present information to our advertisers -- to help them understand our audience and confirm the value of advertising on our websites or Applications -- it is usually in the form of aggregated statistics on traffic to various pages / content within our websites or Applications. We use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit our websites or Applications. These companies may use information (including your name, address, email address or telephone number or any other personally identifiable information) about your visits to this and other websites or application, in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. We do not provide any personally identifiable information to third party websites / advertisers / ad-servers without your consent.

c. Service Providers

We may disclose your information if we use third party processors to administer and process your personal information for the purposes notified in the Privacy Policy, e.g. for hosting activities related to the use of our Sites or services. The website may include links to various third-party websites that may collect Your Personal Information. Use of Your information collected by such third-party platform will be governed by the privacy policy in such third-party platform. Such websites or applications are governed by their respective privacy policies, which are beyond our control. Once you leave our servers (you can tell where you are by checking the URL in the location bar on your browser), use of any information you provide is governed by the privacy policy of the operator of the application, and you are visiting. That policy may differ from ours. If you can't find the privacy policy of any of these sites via a link from the application's homepage, you should contact the application owners directly for more information.

We may share non-personally identifiable information publicly and with our partners  like publishers, advertisers, developers, or rights holders. For example, we share information publicly to show trends about the general use of our services. We also allow specific partners to collect information from your browser or device for marketing/promotions and measurement purposes using their own cookies or similar technologies.

d. Promotional Offers

Well share or disclose your personal information outside of the website when we have your consent. For example, providing SMS and E-mail related services such as marketing newsletters, promotions and offers.

e. Business Transfers

We provide personal information to our affiliates and other trusted businesses or persons to process it for us, based on our instructions and in compliance with our Privacy Policy and any other appropriate confidentiality and security measures. For example, we may use service providers to help us with customer support. We may share your information with other members of the Web18 Group. As used in this Privacy Policy the Web18 Group includes Web18 Holdings Limited, Cayman Islands and all of its subsidiary and affiliated entities, including companies such as those branded under Network18 labels. In this Privacy Policy "we", "us", "our" and "ourselves" means any member of this Group.

In the event Network18 Media and Investments Ltd. is merged with or acquired by another company or in case of re-organization or re-structuring of business, we and our affiliates may share your personal information, wholly or in part, with another business entity.

f. Legal

The website may disclose personally identifiable information if required to do so by law or in the good-faith belief that such action is necessary to:

 We find that your actions on our web sites violate the Web18 Terms of Service or any of our usage guidelines for specific products or services;

 conform to the edicts of the law or comply with legal process served on the site or its owners;

 protect and defend the rights or property of the site-owners, the site or the users of the website;

 Act under exigent circumstances to protect the personal safety of users of the website, the site, its owners, or the public.

 We may need to share details with third parties (such as auditors or legal advisors) to obtain advice. Any such processing will be governed by an agreement in the form required by law, preserving any statutory data protection rights.



Your Controls and Choices

Managing Your Information

When you use the Services from Network18 (websites or any of its sub sites), we make good efforts to provide you, as and when requested by you, with access to your personal information and shall further ensure that any personal information or sensitive personal data or information found to be inaccurate or deficient shall be corrected or amended as feasible, subject to any requirement for such personal information or sensitive personal data or information to be retained by law or for legitimate business purposes.

We ask individual users to identify themselves and the information requested to be accessed, corrected or removed before processing such requests, and we may decline to process requests that are unreasonably repetitive or systematic, require disproportionate technical effort, jeopardize the privacy of others, or would be extremely impractical (for instance, requests concerning information residing on backup tapes), or for which access is not otherwise required. In any case, where we provide information access and correction, we perform this service free of charge, except if doing so would require a disproportionate effort. Because of the way we maintain certain services, after you delete your information, residual copies may take a period of time before they are deleted from our active servers and may remain in our backup systems.

To exercise rights applicable to you as a data subject, you must write to us at and raise a request for the specified right. Kindly ensure you use appropriate subjects to mention the right (e.g. Data Access Request, Data Portability Request, Data Deletion Request) while raising all such requests, this would help us process your requests in a faster and more efficient manner.

We may take 30 days from the date of receipt of request to complete your requests. However, if the nature of the requests are excessive in nature or would require significant effort then may ask for an extension of 60 days by giving a prior notice to you with the reason for the extension.

We provide you the ability to exercise certain controls and choices regarding our collection, use and sharing of your personal information. In accordance with applicable law, your controls and choices may include:

a. Data Access and Data Portability

The EU  General Data Protection Regulation) entitles you, as the data subject, to request copies of your personal information held by us. You may also be entitled to request copies of personal information that you have provided to us in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format and/or request us to transmit this information to another service provider (where technically feasible).

b. Rectification of Inaccurate or Incomplete Information

You can ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete personal information concerning you (this is the information which you cannot update yourself within your Network18 account) by sending us an e-mail.

You can access and update some of your personal information through your account settings. If you have chosen to connect your the website profile to a third-party application, like Facebook or Google, you can change your settings and remove permission for the app by changing your account settings. You are responsible for keeping your personal information up-to-date. The website may send you periodic reminders via e-mail to maintain the accuracy of your personal information.

c. Data Retention and Erasure

We retain your personal information as long as necessary for the legitimate interests specified in this policy and for us to comply with our legal obligations. If you no longer want us to use your information then you can request that we erase your personal information and close your account.

Please note that if your request for the erasure of your personal information;

 We may retain some of your personal information as necessary for our legitimate business interests, such as fraud detection and prevention and enhancing safety. For example, if we suspend a account for fraud or safety reasons, we may retain certain information from that account to prevent that user from opening a new account in the future

 We may retain and use your personal information to the extent necessary to comply with our legal obligations and reasons of public interests in the area of public health. For example, we may keep some of your information for tax, legal reporting and auditing obligations.

 Information you have shared with others (e.g., Reviews, forum postings) may continue to be publicly visible on the website, even after your account is cancelled. However, attribution of such information to you will be removed. Additionally, some copies of your information (e.g., log records) may remain in our database, but are disassociated from personal identifiers.

 Because we maintain copies of personal information to protect from accidental or malicious loss and destruction, residual copies of your personal information may not be removed from our backup systems for a limited period of time.

 For archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes



d. Withdrawing Consent and Restriction of Processing

For withdrawing your consent at any time during the tenure of your services with us, you may choose to do so by sending us an e-mail. We shall review your request and may ask you to verify your identity. Post verification we will withdraw the consent for which request was made by you and stop any further processing of your personal information

e. Objection to Processing

Where your personal information is processed for direct marketing purposes, you may, at any time ask us to cease processing your data for these direct marketing purposes by sending an e-mail to us.

Please be aware that if you do not allow us to collect personal information from you, we may not be able to deliver certain experiences, products, and services to you, and some of our services may not be able to take account of your interests and preferences. If collection of personal information is mandatory, we will make that clear at the point of collection so that you can make an informed decision whether to participate. If you have questions about the specific personal information about you that we process or retain, and your rights regarding that personal information, please contact our customer support team.

If you fail to provide consent

It is our duty to inform you that the website is an ad-serving platform. Advertisements form the core of our business, therefore permissions to use and process your personal information to provide advertisements is essential for us to provide services to You. Use of personal information for ad-serving is a binding criterion and we will not be able to provide you with Our services if you fail to authorise us to use your personal information for the purpose of ad-serving and the activities related to it.

Childrens Privacy

The website is not intentionally designed for or directed at persons less than 16 years of age. Network18 Media and Investments Ltd. does not knowingly permit any person who is under 16 years of age to register with the services or to provide any other personally identifying information. If Network18 Media and Investments Ltd. becomes aware that any personally identifiable information of persons less than 16 years of age has been collected on the website without verified parental consent, then Network18 Media and Investments Ltd. will take the appropriate steps to delete any such information and notify the parent.

However, we consider it the responsibility of parents to monitor their childrens use of our services. Nevertheless, it is our policy not to collect and process any personal information from children below 16 years of age or offer to send any promotional materials to persons in that category. Network18 Media and Investments Ltd. does not seek or intend to seek or receive any personal information from children. Should a parent or guardian have reasons to believe that a minor has provided Network18 Media and Investments Ltd. with personal information without their prior consent, please contact our customer support team to ensure that the personal information is removed from the website.

Data transfer, storage & processing globally

We operate globally and may transfer your personal information to individual companies of the Network18 Media and Investments Ltd. affiliated companies or third parties in locations around the world for the purposes described in this privacy policy. Wherever your personal information is transferred, stored or processed by us, we will take reasonable steps to safeguard the privacy of your personal information. Additionally, when using or disclosing personal information transferred from the European Union, we use standard contractual clauses approved by the European Commission, adopt other means under European Union law for ensuring adequate safeguards.

Security and compliance with laws

We are continuously implementing and updating administrative, technical, and physical security measures to help protect your information against unauthorized access, loss, destruction, or alteration. Some of the safeguards we may use to protect your information are firewalls and data encryption, and information access controls. If you know or have reason to believe that your account credentials have been lost, stolen, altered, or otherwise compromised or in case of any actual or suspected unauthorized use of your account, please contact us by contacting our customer support team.

Change in Policy

This Privacy Policy is subject to change from time to time. We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to modify the terms of this Privacy Policy from time to time in order to ensure compliance with applicable laws (Updated Terms). The Updated Terms shall be effective immediately and shall supersede the terms of this Privacy Policy. We will notify you of any changes to this privacy policy if the changes made to the policy significantly affects your rights or as may be required by law. You shall be solely responsible for reviewing the Privacy Policy from time to time for any modifications. By continuing to use the website after the updated Terms have been published, you affirm your agreement to the updated terms.

Contact information

a. Support

If you require any information or clarification regarding the use of your personal information or this privacy policy or grievances with respect to use of your personal information, please email us at GDPR@NW18.com

b. Data Controller Officer

The data controller for the News18.com is Network18 Media & Investments Ltd with the business address of:

First Floor, Empire Complex,

414 Senapati Bapat Marg,

Lower Parel, Mumbai-400013

Maharashtra, India

Ph: +91 22 4001 9000



The data protection officer (DPO) appointed by Network18 Media & Investments Ltd. is Tasneem Udaipurwala, who can be contacted at DPO@nw18.com

c. Complaints

You can write to our data protection officer in case of any grievance or compliant. You have the right to complaint about the data processing activities carried out by News18.com before the competent data protection authorities.

If you have any queries, complaints regarding the collecting, processing, transfer of personal data/information or regarding this policy please do contact our Data Protection Officer.
The world is racing to produce a coronavirus vaccine so that life can return life to normal.

There are currently 160 vaccines under development worldwide and scientists are now more confident than ever an inoculation is on the way.

Scott Morrison's government brought huge hope to Australians on Wednesday, announcing a 'letter of intent' with one of the world's leading vaccine candidates.

The agreement should mean Australia is at the front of the queue when the vaccine is approved by the end of the year or early in 2021.

But in reality, there are no guarantees Australia will ever receive the jab.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured left) and Professor Peter Kelly (pictured right) meet with team members of the Analytical Laboratory at AstraZeneca on August 19, 2020 in Sydney

1. There is no formal agreement

While the 'letter of intent' with Oxford University and AstraZeneca is positive news, it is not a formal agreement.

In fact, a statement by the British pharmaceutical giant on Thursday appears to shoot down Mr Morrison's claim that a 'deal' had been struck to secure 25 million doses.

'The LOI doesn't go into any detail about costs or numbers or anything until we have an idea of what the manufacturing capacity is - that's a critical piece in the puzzle,' AstraZeneca told the Daily Telegraph.

'There is a letter of intent which is a good first step. The critical next step is to determine manufacturing capacity.'

A University of Oxford scientist is pictured working on coronavirus vaccine trials on June 25, 2020

2. No money has changed hands

The price of developing a vaccine and distributing it to everyone in Australia has not been confirmed.

But almost everyone agrees the costs will soar into the billions.

In other countries, a price has already been decided upon and the agreements have been finalised.

'This is a Prime Minister who has completely jumped the gun in his announcement but he has not jumped the gun on the substance,' Labor shadow health minister Chris Bowen said.

'The government says it is not yet time to sign an agreement with AstraZeneca but other countries have.'

'The US has, the UK has. Japan has. India has. Brazil has, South Korea have. China has, Argentina and Mexico have. But Australia has not.'

Australians are eager for life to return to normal with a COVID-19 vaccine. Pictured: two woman wearing face masks stroll through Sydney

3. Australian may not have the capacity

The only organisation in Australia with the capacity to roll out a vaccine in a hurry is CSL - the nation's largest biotechnology company.

Morrison's government has approached the biomedical giant to begin preparations.

'I'm obviously not a medical expert, but my advice is that, you know, we have the capacity to produce that type of a vaccine here in Australia and it's just a matter of basically getting the formula and off you go,' he told Channel 10.

But comments from the top ASX-listed firm who are currently developing their own vaccine with CEPI and the University of Queensland, have been much more subdued.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is an 'adenovirus' vaccine, a type which has never been produced in Australia before.

CSL are now assessing a range of options including the 'fill and finish of bulk product imported to Australia through to manufacturing of the vaccine candidate under licence.'

'We clearly want to do the right thing and we're not sure which vaccine will work, or if either one will work,' CSL chief executive Paul Perreault told the Australian Financial Review.

'We would need to manufacture the virus-based vaccine, so there's a lot to do there like putting the virus into plants, cleaning facilities, turning it around and validating it and we don't even have the process developed yet.

'But I can't over commit and just say we can do it if we could fall flat on our face.'

Scott Morrison (pictured) government brought huge hope to Australians on Wednesday, announcing a 'letter of intent' with one of the world's leading vaccine candidates

4. Australian may not have enough needles

Even if Australia secures a vaccine, in the short term there may not be enough syringes to administer the inoculations.

Just days ago, the Australian government entered into a deal with American company Becton Dickinson to supply 100 million needles.

The $24.7 million agreement should mean Australia will have a more than an adequate stockpile.

But if a vaccine does become available before the end of the year it could spark a global syringe shortage that may jeopardise any previous arrangements.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has cut the sod for the redevelopment of the Takoradi Market Circle, as part of his of two-day working visit to the Western Region.



President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has cut the sod for the redevelopment of the Takoradi Market Circle, as part of his

of two-day working visit to the Western Region.



The 48million project is being financed by Export Credit from Duetches Bank SPAA Italy, with Export Credit Guarantee support from SACE, the Italian Export Guarantee Agency.



It is estimated to be completed within 30 calendar months and would have 2,408 stores, 33 restaurants and food courts, bulk breaking area, visitors parking space, union offices, a police station, fire station, post office, clinic, an administrative offices, waste separation dock and a changing room for staff.



President Akuffo- Addo in an address explained that the redevelopment of the Market and its infrastructure would address the underlying cause of fire outbreaks since appropriate specification including fire detection and combatting system would be provided.



He said the drainage system would also be upgraded to alleviate flooding and unsanitary conditions, improve social infrastructural facilities such as toilets, covered drainage networks and a health post.



It would also improve upon waste collection and disposal, and reduce traffic congestion in the surrounding areas of the market, to provide on sight bulk breaking facilities to take such activities off the main market circle roads.



President Akufo-Addo pointed out that, the project would create between 400 to 500 direct jobs and a 1,000 to 2,500 indirect jobs, adding that security and safety in the market would also be improved.



He urged the contractor to complete the project on time and on budget and also appealed to the traders and shoppers to provide a congenial working atmosphere for the contractor to enable him deliver the project on schedule.



The Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama explained that the project when completed would increase the number of leaseable stores, boost the local economy and generate revenue for the Assembly.



She said the redevelopment had become necessary as the market had become congested with inadequate storage facilities, vehicular congestion, inadequate drainages leading to flooding, weak wooden structures, poor electrical works exposing traders to health and safety risks.



"It is for these reasons that the construction of the Takoradi market has become a necessary investment," she stressed.



Hajia Alima Mahama urged the market women to comply with instructions on where they would be relocated to make the work easier and to help complete the work on schedule.



Areas such as Junior Staff Quarters area, ECG pay point at market circle, Main Spain area, Paa grant at New Takoradi road and Osei area at kokompe as some places earmarked for the relocation exercise.



The Western Regional Minister who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Takoradi, Mr. Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah said the project was in fulfilment of the promise made by the President when he visited the Region in 2017.



He announced that the President had also promised to construct a double road from Sekondi to Takoradi and from Takoradi to Tarkwa.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Travis Air Force Base, California, is immediately evacuating all non-mission essential personnel as a growing wildfire threatens the area.

Officials announced Wednesday that personnel living in base housing or staying in lodging facilities must evacuate immediately, according to a release.

Read next: Inspectors Said Her Toxic Leadership Was 'Worst Seen in 20 Years.' She Just Became a 1-Star

"Mission essential personnel should contact their chain of command for duty status," the release states.

The evacuation order comes as the LNU Lightning Complex Fire continues to burn in nearby Fairfield and Vacaville, California. The base is adhering to the Solano County Fire Department's mandatory evacuations, the service said. Travis Air Force Base is located northeast of San Francisco.

The fire, spanning five counties and 124,100 acres, has been active for two days, with limited containment, according to California wildfire data.

"There is currently no lodging available on Travis Air Force Base and members are directed to stay with family or friends, proceed to evacuation centers, or secure commercial lodging outside of the evacuation area," the release states.

Personnel have been told to leave through the south and north gates and to avoid leaving via the main or hospital gate, it adds. The base is also standing up an Emergency Family Assistance Center aid in relocation orders.

Families who need emergency financial assistance as a result of the fires can contact the Red Cross.

"Once the evacuation order has been lifted, additional information will be released through the comptroller squadron regarding reimbursement of lodging and per diem expenses for mandatory evacuees," the release states.

The LNU Fire has damaged more than 175 structures, including housing and commercial facilities, per CalFire. No injuries have been reported.

Air Force C-130 cargo aircraft designed for firefighting are already battling wildfires scorching thousands of acres across the state.

The Air National Guard has activated several units that use the specialized Modular Airborne Firefighting System, or MAFFS, which drops hundreds of pounds of fire retardant out of a C-130.

According to Air Force Magazine, four C-130s from the California Air National Guard's 146th, the Wyoming Air National Guard's 153rd, and Nevada Air National Guard's 152nd Airlift Wings have been dropping retardant on blazes including the Lake Fire north of Santa Clarita, the Salt Fire near Stockton, and the LNU Fire.

The Air Force Reserve Command's 302nd Air Expeditionary Group out of Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, is managing the requests, according to Air Forces Northern. Since July, the aircraft collectively have made more than 100 drops against wildfires in the state.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Related: American Red Cross Military Resources
Germany, France, Italy and Spain have seen their highest number of coronavirus infections in months, raising concerns that a second wave could be hitting the continent.

Germany recorded 1,707 new cases of the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, the highest daily toll since April, while authorities in France say 'the transmission of the virus is accentuating'.

Meanwhile Spain has recorded a new single-day record for Covid-19 cases since the country emerged from a three-month lockdown in mid-June.

Germany has fared better than many European neighbours in suppressing the virus so far but like elsewhere, the number of cases has jumped significantly over the summer holidays.

Much of the rise has been blamed on returning holidaymakers as well as parties and family gatherings.

The latest figures, from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases, bring to 228,621 the number of infections in the country since the start of the pandemic.

It takes the daily toll back to a level not seen since late April, when the pandemic was considered to be at its peak.

The daily record of new cases in Germany is just over 6,000, registered in early April.

Ten new deaths were reported in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 9,253.

Faced with a surge in cases, Germany earlier this month introduced free, mandatory tests for anyone returning from areas deemed a high risk for COVID-19 infections.

Chancellor Angela Merkel warned on Tuesday there could be no further relaxation of coronavirus restrictions

Chancellor Angela Merkel warned on Tuesday there could be no further relaxation of coronavirus restrictions.

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.

Some experts however have said that the jump in the infection toll could be explained by a sharp rise in the number of tests being carried out in the country.

France recorded more than 3,700 new cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours.

Health authorities say that's 1,500 more than the previous day. The number hospitalized and in ICUs was slightly down. But health authorities say 'the transmission of the virus is accentuating' among all age groups, especially young adults.

President Emmanuel Macron told Paris-Match magazine that 'we can't bring the country to a halt'

President Emmanuel Macron told Paris-Match magazine that 'we can't bring the country to a halt.' But he'd consider 'targeted reconfinement if the situation calls for it.'

French officials have confirmed nearly 30,500 deaths from COVID-19, seventh highest in the world.

Meanwhile Italy on Wednesday recorded the sharpest increase in coronavirus cases since late May, the health ministry said, after 642 new coronavirus infections were reported in 24 hours.

The total number of Italian cases recorded since the start of the pandemic is now 255,278, while the death toll stands at 35,412.

Spain's Health Ministry says 3,715 coronavirus infections have been diagnosed in the past 24 hours, a new single-day record since the country emerged from a three-month lockdown in mid-June.

With 136 cases per 100,000 inhabitants for the past two weeks, Spain tops the European chart of the highest cumulative incidence. It's one of the main indicators closely monitored by epidemiologists.

New regulations, including on hours of nightlife and close outdoor smoking, take effect Thursday in the Spanish capital.

The country added 127 deaths to reach nearly 28,800 confirmed victims. However, the number doesn't count those who suffered from the coronavirus but weren't tested.

The World Health Organisation today warned that the Balkans region is a 'hotspot' for coronavirus amid mounting speculation Croatia could be added to the UK's quarantine travel list tomorrow.

The WHO said the Balkans have been a 'concern of ours since early June' because of an increase in case numbers as it urged the region to impose additional measures to 'nip transmission in the bud'.

The comments are likely to fuel fears that ministers will add Croatia to the Government's travel 'red list' before the weekend.

In eastern Europe, Ukraine on Thursday reported a record daily increase in coronavirus infections, exceeding 2,000 new cases for the first time.

Health authorities recorded 2,134 new infections in the past 24 hours, bringing Ukraine's total to 98,537.
ALBANY - Police identified the two teenagers who were killed in separate shootings on Monday.

Police said Akeem Hobdy, 17, was shot and killed on Southern Boulevard around 2 p.m. on Monday. Hobdy was in the backseat of a car leaving a funeral when at least two suspects fired from another vehicle. The 25-year-old driving Hobdy was wounded in the shooting.

Roughly eight hours later, Ramone Gonzalez, Jr., 19, was killed on Moore Street near St. George's Place.

Teen killed, man wounded when gunmen ambush car in Albany

Teen dies in shooting hours after another was killed in Albany ambush

The two were the 12th and 13th homicide victims in the city this year.

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.

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.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

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.

Gonzalez was shot and killed around 10 p.m. Monday on Moore Street near Saint George's Place, just hours after a Hobdy 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.

Hobdy died earlier in the day when gunmen in a car ambushed the vehicle he was riding in on Southern Boulevard. The shooting happened after Hobdy and the 25-year-old driver left a nearby funeral.

Police have not disclosed whose funeral the two men were attending but the service 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.
China on Thursday branded as malicious slander accusations from Taiwan about hacking attacks linked to the Chinese government, further adding to tensions between Beijing and Taipei.

Taiwan has been urging its people to be alert for what officials call omnipresent infiltration from China, ranging from Beijing-backed media campaigns to cyberattacks, against the island that China considers its territory.

This week, Taiwan said hacking groups connected to the Chinese government had attacked at least 10 government agencies and some 6,000 email accounts of government officials in an infiltration to steal important data.

Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian poured scorn on the allegation.

The criticisms from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities are malicious slander, pure and simple, Zhao told reporters, referring to Taiwans ruling party. China is a staunch defender of cybersecurity, and is one of the victims of hacking attacks.

The Chinese government routinely denies involvement in hacking and says it punishes those who do it.

The hacking allegations come during a period of growing strains between the island and China.

China has stepped up its military activity near Taiwan and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under its control.
- Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina, a ODM member, has hinted at supporting Ruto going forward

- His remarks stirred social media considering he has been a vocal supporter of former prime minister Raila Odinga

- Netizens were quick to notice his message expressed in an indirect way.

They say a day is a long time in politics. In Kenya's fast-changing political landscape, the fortunes of a politician can change drastically just in the course of a single week.

In this, no position remains the same as there are no permanent friends or enemies in politics.

READ ALSO: Retired bishop Silas Yego's properties to be auctioned over KSh 143M debt

Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina speaking at a Senate event. Photo: Ledama Ole Kina.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Jowie Irungu: Kenyans in awe of ex-prisoner's voice after release of gospel song Nishikilie

Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina, a staunch supporter of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, has expressed his admiration for Deputy President William Ruto in a coded message using the late Nandi chief Koitalel Samoei's image.

"No matter what we do with the formula (counties third basis allocation procedure) this guy is always winning ....Koitalel Arap Samoei the true wizard lives forever," Ledama said in a tweet on Thursday, August 20.

Netizens were quick to notice his message expressed in an indirect way.

Here were some of the reactions:

Chebet Kirui: "If you know you know."

Alex wa Nyandarua: "Haha okay, correct me if I am wrong....Did you mean the current William Samoei?"

Mohamed James: "Parable of the highest order , I thought you said the formula is not about parties . Anyway it's okay as you're leaving ODM I wish you all the best sir!"

Ole Kina has in the recent past joined Ruto's allies to condemn the government over what he termed as a return to the "old dark days".

In a series of tweets on his page, he argued the Moi dictatorship was slowly creeping back.

"I told you guys the Moi era is back! We have sunk so low! Now embrace yourself for a rough ride! The reformers have turned errand boy of dictators," he said in reference to the three senators who were arrested over their alleged stand on the third basis revenue formula.

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.

Kenyans react to the revenue sharing formula row | Tuko TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
A supplementary charge sheet was filed on Thursday by federal probe agency NIA at a court against a couple for their alleged role in the trafficking of young Bangladeshi girls and running a prostitution racket in Hyderabad and in nearby places, according to an official statement.

The accused named by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) are Mohammed Abdul Salam (47), a resident of Hyderabad and his wife Shiuli Khatun (30), a resident of Bangladesh.

Both the accused have been chargesheeted under different sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 and The Foreigners Act, 1946, "for their role in trafficking of young Bangladeshi girls and illegally crossing the international border for running a prostitution racket in Hyderabad and in nearby places", the statement issued by the NIA said.

The case arose out of a FIR registered on April 21, 2019 at Chatrinaka police station, Hyderabad pertaining to the rescue of six Bangladeshi girls from brothel houses run by accused Mohd Yousuf Khan, Bithi Begum & Sojib Shaik, it said.

The case was re-registered by the NIA on September 17 last year. "NIA arrested accused Ruhul Amin Dhali and filed the first charge sheet against Mohd Yousuf Khan, Bithi Begum, Sojib Shaik and Ruhul Amin Dhali on March 10," the statement said.

Investigation established that Mohd Abdul Salam alias Kounla Justin and Shiuli Khatun alias Sheela Justin along with accused Mohd Yousuf Khan, Bithi Begum, Sojib Shaik, Ruhul Amin Dhali and others, were trafficking poor and young Bangladeshi girls into India through a well-organized network of agents in Bangladesh and India, by giving them false inducements of lucrative jobs, and subsequently forcing them into prostitution, it said. Three more girls were rescued by the NIA on May 23 this year from a rented house of Mohammed Abdul Salam and Shiuli Khatun in Hayathnagar, Hyderabad, the probe agency said.

"During the raid, many incriminating articles and documents were seized from the house including multiple identity documents of trafficked girls, contraceptive pills, mobile phones and large number of diaries and registers containing names & mobile numbers of various brothel agents to whom the trafficked girls were sent for sexual exploitation on commission basis," it said.
2nd Grade Classroom (Before)

St. Paul's Lutheran School 2nd grade classroom before whiteboard installation

St. Paul's Lutheran School 2nd grade classroom before whiteboard installation

2nd Grade Classroom (After)

St. Paul's Lutheran School 2nd grade classroom after whiteboard installation

St. Paul's Lutheran School 2nd grade classroom after whiteboard installation

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis., Aug. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Glenroy Inc., a Menomonee Falls-based flexible packaging manufacturer, announced today that it has donated whiteboards and office furniture to St. Pauls Lutheran School in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. The donation from Glenroy helped transform the K4-8 school by providing an updated teaching and learning environment.



The large donation comes after the closure of EverWhite, a manufacturer of custom graphic and standard dry erase whiteboards, owned by Glenroy. The companys donation of whiteboards to St. Pauls includes traditional boards, and mobile boards on wheels, that were on display in EverWhites offices. In addition, EverWhite manufactured custom combination boards with cork and dry erase whiteboard to fit each classroom. These custom whiteboards deliver a modern and convenient tool to aid the St. Pauls teachers and students in their everyday learning activities.

Its a privilege for Glenroy and our ownership to give back to the community by donating needed items to a great school in the area, says Tom Danneker, Glenroy President & CEO. As a 3rd generation family-owned company, our business is rooted in serving others, and were grateful for this opportunity to help out St. Pauls.

St. Pauls Lutheran School is a fully accredited private Christian school located in downtown Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Since 1877, St. Pauls Lutheran School has been educating the future leaders in the Oconomowoc and surrounding Lake Country area. The school continuously strives to deliver the highest quality Christian education for local students and their families.

According to Jill George, St. Paul's Lutheran School Principal, St. Paul's Lutheran School is honored to receive such a generous donation to help us further our mission of educating future Christian leaders. This gift will provide our teachers another option as they address the individual learning styles in each classroom, thus enriching each students learning experience.

Story continues

About Glenroy Inc.

Since 1965, Glenroy Inc. has been a trusted converter and printer of sustainable flexible packaging. A privately-held company headquartered in suburban Milwaukee, Glenroy manufactures sustainable flexible packaging films and stand-up pouches for a variety of end uses, including food and beverage, household and personal care, pharmaceutical, pet food and treats, nutritional, cosmetic, medical device, and industrial. Glenroy is also the exclusive converter of the premade STANDCAP Pouch. For more information on Glenroy's sustainable flexible packaging solutions, visit www.glenroy.com or call (800) 824-1482.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/82e9bbff-8ad2-4130-a27e-0798ccf90abd

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/993d5a31-7c1d-4970-88b0-07ff502806f3

CONTACT: Editorial Contact Ken Brunnbauer 800-824-1482 ken.brunnbauer@glenroy.com www.glenroy.com




By collaborating with Adobe, Bolt will help retailers detect fraud, convert more customers at checkout and create increased lifetime value  all with a superior single-click checkout experience that is simple, seamless, and safe.

Bolt, the worlds first Checkout Experience Platform, today announced that it has joined the Adobe Exchange program as a Premier partner. The Adobe Exchange Premier-level partnership recognizes best-in-class technology solutions that help drive innovation, and Bolt joins as one of 24 Premier technology partners. Bolt will provide Magento Commerce merchants with a hyper-optimized, dynamic checkout experience that scales as they grow, creating a durable and future-proof experience for shoppers during their buying experience.

With the average shopping cart abandonment rate at about 70%, there is a major opportunity for online businesses to increase conversion by improving the experience they are providing their customers at checkout. And in a world where Amazons 1-click checkout dominates, its never been more important for independent retailers to keep pace with the rising expectations of shoppers today. By collaborating with Adobe, Bolt will help retailers detect fraud, convert more customers at checkout and create increased lifetime value  all with a superior single-click checkout experience that is simple, seamless, and safe.

Magento Commerce has stood out amongst the rest with its highly engaging and personalized shopping experience, said Ryan Breslow, CEO and Co-founder of Bolt. Bolt extends that experience through our single-click checkout, dynamic personalization, custom messaging, opt-ins and dynamic up-sells. The technology that were bringing to the table will help all Magento Commerce retailers have an equal stake in todays competitive economy. We couldnt be more thrilled to join forces.

This Premier-level partnership will be critical in bringing choice, control, and customization to the thousands of retailers powered by Magento Commerce, which have now been given one single product for managing one of the most important parts of ecommerce: checkout. From presenting payment options to securely processing payments and mitigating fraud, Bolt handles everything on the backend thats required to power a successful transaction, while providing a frontend customer experience that feels like magic.

Bolt already has a strong penetration into the Magento ecosystem with $550M (and counting) of retailer payment volume processed since 2018, and more than 100 joint customers on the Magento platform, including HUF Worldwide, Hyperice, Cariloha and Dita.

What Bolt provides is game-changing for companies like Dita, said Cody Cho, Global VP of Ecommerce, at Dita. Given the opportunity, why wouldnt you provide a premium checkout experience and address painful fraud related issues, and solve for these pain points while making more money? This opportunity will uplevel the go-to-market, co-marketing, and product support needed to bring the Bolt and Magento integration to the next level.

Additionally, for any repeat purchases, Bolt offers a login-free, network-wide, single-click checkout experience. By integrating this unique offering, among many others, with Magentos robust features, retailers now have even more justification for choosing this combination as the backbone of the full-funnel stack:



Speed: An optimized Magento ecommerce engine complemented by Bolt offers one of the fastest checkout experiences available. When returning to a merchants website, it only takes a single-click to complete your purchase.

Security: Unparalleled fraud control and Level 1 certified PCI compliance means a safer checkout for shoppers and less worry for merchants

Future-proofing: Real-time updates and enhancements with cutting edge features are well documented and available for Magento Commerce and Bolt collectively

Through our collaboration with Bolt, thousands of our customers now have the tools they need to succeed, said Andy Barker, Director of Product Management, Payments for Adobe. The innovations Adobe and Bolt are bringing to market complement each other and empower companies of all sizes and across all industries to make every shopping experience simple, seamless and personal. We are excited to welcome Bolt as a Premier partner, as we continue to develop the leading commerce ecosystem.

# # #

ABOUT BOLT

Bolt is the worlds first Checkout Experience Platform, designed to give retailers the freedom to focus on their brand while Bolt perfects the purchase. People have more options than ever when shopping online, and retailers need to provide the best experience or customers will move on. Bolt solves the complicated technological challenges involved in checkout, fraud detection, and digital wallets, so that retailers can devote their energy to what matters mostgrowing their product, brand, and customer base. Bolt was started in 2014 with the mission to decentralize commerce. Ryan Breslow is its CEO and Co-founder. Investors include WestCap, Activant Capital, Tribe Capital, Glynn Capital, Human Capital, and executives at nearly fifty of the top 500 internet retailers. For more information visit bolt.com or follow @bolt on Twitter.


YEREVAN.  The residents of Yekmalyan Street in capital city Yerevanand who have fallen victims to the eminent domainon Thursday again gathered again outside the main building of the government of Armenia.

We hoped that something would be resolved during this government because we have been waiting impatiently for many years, we were told, "Wait, there will be an investor, that other one will be," but we are still waiting, one of these residents told the journalists.

The demand of these residents is but one: to pay attention to them and to resolve their housing issue.

Back in 2006, their apartments on Yekmalyan Street were demolished as eminent domain, but they have received neither new apartments nor compensation to date.
HANGZHOU and SHAOXING, China, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascletis Pharma Inc. (HKEX code: 1672) announces today that it completed bridging study of ASC18, first one-pill, once-a-day fixed dose combination (FDC) as the complete hepatitis C treatment developed by a Chinese biotech.

ASC18 FDC consists of 200 mg Ravidasvir (RDV) and 400 mg Sofosbuvir (SOF). This phase I bridging study was a randomized, two arms [ASC18 FDC tablet and (RDV 200 mg + SOF 400 mg given in separate pills)], two cycles, two phases (single dose phase and multiple dose phase), two-sequence crossover design. The results from this phase I bridging study (n=20 subjects) indicated that ASC18 FDC one-pill once-a-day showed comparable pharmacokinetics (PK), safety and tolerability with RDV 200 mg + SOF 400 mg given in separate pills. ASC18 FDC will further enhance Ascletis' competitiveness in HCV marketplace.

The STORM-C-1 phase II/III trial, conducted by Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) and reported at the International Liver Conference in Paris on April 12, 2018, enrolled 300 HCV patients administered with separate 200 mg RDV tablet plus 400 mg SOF tablet for 12 weeks for patients without liver cirrhosis and for 24 weeks for those with compensated cirrhosis. The results showed an overall cure rate (Sustained Virological Response, SVR12) of 97%, 96% in cirrhotic subjects, and high cure rates (SVR12) across the genotypes studied: genotype 1a: 99%, 1b: 100%, 3a: 96%, 3b:100%, and 81% among the small group of genotype 6 subjects. The cure rates (SVR12) are high for people living with HIV using their usual treatment (97%) and people infected with genotype 3 (97%) including those with cirrhosis (96%).

On July 29, 2020, Ascletis received NDA approval of its first all-oral HCV treatment (RDV/DNV Regimen) by China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). RDV/DNV Regimen is Ravidasvir (Asclevir) in combination with Danoprevir (Ganovo), demonstrating a cure rate (SVR12) of 99 % with a short treatment duration of 12 weeks in genotype 1 non-cirrhotic patients. In patients with baseline NS5A resistance mutations, RDV/DNV Regimen demonstrated a cure rate (SVR12) of 100%.

"While the treatment of HCV has been transformed in recent years, there are still some considerations for selecting appropriate treatment regimens, including genotype, resistance mutation, liver disease severity and HCV/HIV co-infection," said Dr. Handan He, Chief Scientific Officer of Ascletis, "ASC18 FDC is the first one-pill, once-a-day complete oral regimen for HCV treatment developed by a Chinese biotech and an upgraded version of RDV/DNV regimen."

About Ascletis

Ascletis is an innovative R&D driven biotech with three commercial products and listed on Hong Kong Stock Exchange (Ascletis, 1672.HK). Ascletis is committed to developing and commercializing antiviral, steatohepatitis, and tumor-related innovative drugs for unmet medical needs in China and globally. Led by a management team with deep expertise and a proven track record, Ascletis has developed into a fully integrated platform covering the entire value chain from discovery and development to manufacturing and commercialization. Ascletis' pipeline is focused primarily on three therapeutic areas: 1. HCV: two commercial stage products and two R&D stage drug candidates. Ganovo (Danoprevir) is the first direct-acting anti-viral agent for hepatitis C, developed by a domestic firm in China. Asclevir (Ravidasvir) in combination with Ganovo (Danoprevir) (RDV/DNV Regimen) is the first all-oral HCV regimen developed by a domestic company in China. 2. HBV: one commercial stage product and three R&D stage drug candidates. Pegasys (Peginterferon alfa-2a) is a leading marketed pegylated interferon for hepatitis B&C partnered with Roche. 3. NASH (Non-Alcoholic SteatoHepatitis): three R&D stage drug candidates against three different targets for combination treatments. For more information, please visit www.ascletis.com.

SOURCE Ascletis Pharma Inc.

Related Links

http://www.ascletis.com


As the global race for a COVID-19 vaccine heats up, the U.S. is looking to prove it can deliver in a national crisis while China is in its own moment to demonstrate its scientific capabilities.

The big picture: Beyond protecting citizens and bolstering the economy, displays of scientific prowess and tilting geopolitics are driving the development of new vaccines and drugs.

China is "very mindful that the eyes of the world are watching them," says virologist Richard Kuhn of Purdue University.

"They want to demonstrate that China is not an emerging power, but a power comparable to the U.S.," he adds.

What's happening: Of the 202 COVID-19 vaccines in development around the world, 20 involve teams in China, per the Milken Institute.

The Chinese teams are taking several approaches  from traditional ones that use inactivated forms of the virus to spur immunity to more experimental DNA and RNA vaccine platforms that have yet to be approved for human use for any virus.

The vaccines from China are in various stages of development, but three  from Sinopharm and Sinovac Biotech  are in phase III human trials.

China has controlled the country's outbreak to the point that it has had to look abroad  to Brazil, Indonesia and the UAE, for example  to test the vaccines on a larger scale.

It is also, controversially, testing vaccines on members of the military and construction workers traveling overseas.

There's a lot at stake for China in this urgent moment  but also beyond it.

The country has invested heavily in R&D over the past two decades, aiming to become a scientific powerhouse on the global stage  especially in biotechnologies.

China already produces about 20% of the world's vaccines. But shifting from research-for-hire and pharmaceutical manufacturing to discovering and developing new drugs is a priority under President Xi Jinping's "Made in China 2025" plan.

Researchers in the country are pushing scientific boundaries  and at times sparking controversy  in cloning and regenerative medicine, gene editing and other areas of biomedicine.

And China has built up its scientific infrastructure and instrumentation, constructing maximum-security biological laboratories, purchasing sophisticated cryo-electron microscopes and running massive numbers of genome sequencers  all powerful tools and major scientific status symbols.

Another key prong of the strategy has been attracting researchers trained overseas back to China, says Ray Yip, a former director of the U.S. CDC's office in China.

"Chinas part in this is not just the immediate race for the first safe and effective vaccine  it's really the culmination of a much longer strategic plan that they have," says David Fidler, an expert on cybersecurity and global health at the Council on Foreign Relations.

The headwinds: Biotech in China faces hurdles, including a continued reliance on Western countries to train researchers, and the common challenge that, even with resources and experience, it is just plain difficult to discover drugs and create vaccines.

And a lack of transparency in the political system can affect the perception of science at home and abroad.

Prior to the pandemic, Chinese citizens' trust in their country's vaccine companies was rattled by bribery scandals and problems with ineffective vaccines.

In the current pandemic, the Chinese government  from local to central levels  has been criticized for its early actions, including delays in the release of the SARS-CoV-2 genome sequence and information about human-to-human spread of the virus.

Yes, but: "WHO experts genuinely thought Chinese scientists had done 'a very good job' in detecting and decoding the virus, despite the lack of transparency from Chinese officials," AP reported in June.

On the global scientific stage, transparency and data-sharing are key to science being verified and trusted.

Russia last week announced it had approved the world's first COVID-19 vaccine before completing phase 3 trials in humans and without publicly releasing data about the vaccine, a move that drew skepticism and criticism among scientists.

From China, CanSino Biologics and Sinopharm recently published results from Phase 1 and 2 trials of their vaccine in scientific journals.

Russian and Chinese hackers have been accused of trying to steal coronavirus vaccine research from the U.S.

Keep in mind: "So much of vaccine development is a game of chance," says Ryan Ritterson of Gryphon Scientific, a consulting firm that focuses on life sciences. "Failure doesnt necessarily mean they arent where they need to be."

What to watch: Vaccine diplomacy is underway, with Pakistan, the Philippines and others entering deals for testing vaccines from China, per WSJ.

"A vaccine can be a channel for increasing influence, and the IOUs it builds up strategically around the world are intended to increase Chinas prestige vis-a-vis the U.S.," says Fidler.

The bottom line: "If China is one of the first to develop a safe and effective vaccine, they would be in an extraordinary diplomatic and scientific moment in how they chose to share it," says Ritterson.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include information about Russian and Chinese hackers accused of targeting U.S. vaccine research.
Pandemic or no pandemic, Back to school season is upon us. Motorola has prepared for the event, and in the US, through its online store, it's currently hosting a bonanza of sales on a lot of its smartphones.

Let's start with the headliner. The Razr 2019 is once again $999.99, which is $500 off its usual going price, but we have to assume this sale is connected to the fact that this handset's successor is going to be unveiled next month.

Here's what else you can expect. The Moto G Fast goes for $169.99 in this promo (down from $199.99), the One Action is $199.99 (down from $349.99), the Edge+ is $799.99 (down $200), the Moto G Power is $229.99 ($20 off), the Moto G Stylus is $269.99 (down $30), the One Hyper is $299.99 ($100 off), the G7 Play is $129.99 (down from $199.99), the Moto E6 is $99.99 ($50 off), the One Zoom is $319.99 (down from $449.99), and the G7 Power is now $179.99 ($70 off). The Moto G6 is $130 off for the 32GB model, and $170 off for the 64GB one.

All of these offers are good through August 30 at 11:59 PM CDT, or "while supplies last".

Source | Via
FILE PHOTO: Planes of Lufthansa's Austrian unit Austrian Airlines are parked at Vienna International Airport in Schwechat

VIENNA (Reuters) - The management board of Lufthansa <LHAG.DE> unit Austrian Airlines said on Wednesday they would hand back their recent bonuses after Austria's finance minister said the payments were "unacceptable" for a company that is being bailed out.

Austria's conservative-led government agreed in June to pay the airline 450 million euros ($537 million) in grants and loans as it reeled from a collapse in air travel because of the coronavirus pandemic. In exchange, the airline pledged to protect Vienna as a Lufthansa Group hub.

"We have decided today after consulting with Finance Minister Gernot Bluemel to voluntarily hand back the management board's bonuses paid for 2019," Austrian Airlines Chief Executive Alexis von Hoensbroech said in a statement.

As details emerged this week of 2.9 million euros in bonuses paid to some 200 Austrian Airlines managers this summer for their performance last year, opposition parties slammed Bluemel for failing to stop the bonuses as part of the bailout deal.

Bluemel criticised the bonuses on Tuesday, then hardened his stance on Wednesday to demand that the board pay them back.

"To claim state aid for the company while having staff on shorter working hours and at the same time to pay out bonuses to management is completely unacceptable," Bluemel said in a statement, urging the board to repay the bonuses "immediately".

The four-man management board was awarded 500,000 euros in bonuses in total, a fraction of the 2.9 million euros, but the airline said the board's move met Bluemel's demand.

Whether that will satisfy the opposition remains to be seen.

Shortly after the announcement the Social Democrats, the biggest opposition party in parliament, called a news conference for Thursday, repeating a call for a ban on bonuses at bailed-out companies.

(Reporting by Francois Murphy;Editing by Elaine Hardcastle and Gareth Jones)
(Natural News) Professor forced to correct syllabus by administrators

(Article by Jennifer Kabbany republished from TheCollegeFix.com)

An Iowa State University English professor who told her students they could not criticize Black Lives Matter, gay marriage or abortion in their papers was forced on Monday to correct her syllabus to better protect free speech rights on campus.

English Professor Chloe Clark had told her students that in their papers and projects you cannot choose any topic that takes at its base that one side doesnt deserve the same basic human rights as you do (ie: no arguments against gay marriage, abortion, Black Lives Matter, etc). I take this seriously.

She included the admonishment to students in her English 250 class, described as a written, oral, visual and electronic composition course, under a subhead she titled GIANT WARNING in all caps, according to a copy of the syllabus obtained by Young Americas Foundation.

[A]ny instances of othering that you participate in intentionally (racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, sorophobia, transphobia, classism, mocking of mental health issues, body shaming, etc) in class are grounds for dismissal from the classroom, the professor wrote.

A statement Monday to The College Fix on behalf of the university stated the issue had been reviewed and corrected:

The syllabus statement as written was inconsistent with the universitys standards and its commitment to the First Amendment rights of students. After reviewing this issue with the faculty member, the syllabus has been corrected to ensure it is consistent with university policy. Moreover, the faculty member is being provided additional information regarding the First Amendment policies of the university. Iowa State is firmly committed to protecting the First Amendment rights of its students, faculty, and staff. With respect to student expression in the classroom, including the completion of assignments, the university does not take disciplinary action against students based on the content or viewpoints expressed in their speech.

Clarks LinkedIn profile states she is an assistant professor of teaching and has taught at the university since August 2019. Clark did not respond to emails Monday from The College Fix seeking comment.

YAF spokesman Spencer Brown told The College Fix his group is happy the university sided with free speech in this case.

It is hopeful news to see a university take the side of the First Amendment and the free expression rights of its studentsstill, it is shameful that a faculty member ran so far afoul of basic educational practice and the Constitution that such a retraining of this kind is necessary, Brown said. Based on what we at YAF see and hear from our student activists, many administrators and professors could use a refresher on the First Amendment as the fall semester begins.

The original report from YAF on Monday had sparked a debate on Twitter, with state Rep. Skyler Wheeler, a member of Iowas house education committee, tweeting @IowaStateU wants more of your tax money so they can give it to professors like this.

@IowaStateU wants more of your tax money so they can give it to professors like this. https://t.co/Rt4rF68a9o  Skyler Wheeler (@skyler_wheeler) August 17, 2020

The Iowa State College Republicans also tweeted Its a shame that low quality professors use their power over students to suppress free speech!

https://twitter.com/IStateCRs/status/1295423038427729922

Earlier this year, Iowa State had settled a lawsuit filed against it by a free speech legal advocacy group that argued the public institution was suppressing free speech.

The case, filed by Speech First, was settled last spring after the university agreed to rescind its policy banning political chalking and emails.

In 2019, Iowa State University also reformed its bias response team protocols to no longer contact or meet with students who are reported to it for allegedly committing acts of bias.

Read more at: TheCollegeFix.com
Highlights Nokia has launched a new streaming device called the Nokia Media Streamer.

Nokia Media Streamer has 8GB of storage and supports Android apps.

It offers Dolby Audio feature on sound but lacks HDR for the price of Rs 3,499.

Nokia has launched a new media streaming box in India. It is calling the box Nokia Media Streamer, which is not a very catchy name in front of devices such as Mi TV Stick and Amazon Fire TV Stick but, for the right reasons. It is not a stick, it is a square box with rounded edges that is accompanied by remote control. It is more like the Mi Box 4K but less compact.

The Nokia Media Streamer costs Rs 3,499 and will ship starting August 28. For this price, you also get the Mi Box 4K (Review) and the MarQ Turbostream but there is a cheaper alternative. The Mi TV Stick at Rs 2,799, which is way too less than what the Nokia's streaming device costs. Amazon Fire TV Stick costs Rs 3,999, on the other hand.

Nokia is partnering Flipkart for the sale of the Nokia Media Streamer, as it did previously with the Nokia Smart TV. This collaboration means the device will only be available on Flipkart, at least initially.

Much like other streaming devices, Nokia Media Streamer is based on Android 9 Pie. The software allows you to install any compatible app on the 8GB of storage on the device. Nokia's streaming device also supports Chromecast and Google Assistant but there is not a hotkey on the remote control to summon it. What you do get on the remote control are the hotkeys for Netflix and, weirdly, for ZEE5, among other buttons. Remote controls from other platforms have YouTube and Amazon Prime Video hotkeys prominently.

An octa-core processor powers the Nokia Media Streamer in tandem with 1GB of RAM, which is also what you get on other devices from the same category. The Nokia Media Streamer also supports Dolby Audio, which is a good feature to have for that type of content. But I hope Nokia could have at least given HDR support for videos on the streaming device. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and even Disney+ Hotstar have HDR content aplenty and it only makes sense to have that feature on your streaming device, especially for the price of Rs 3,499.

I have used both smart televisions and streaming sticks over the past few years, only to find the latter more reasonable. A streaming device can turn a totally dumb TV into a smart one, the one that can run all popular apps and offers quality content from the streaming services. But the change in the TV market brought by the likes of Realme, Xiaomi, TCL, Kodak, even a Rs 13k television runs Android now. So the use of these streaming devices gets narrowed down to the televisions that are moderately old.
The foreign ministers also talked about arrangements for upcoming meetings between them

Egypts foreign minister Sameh Shoukry discussed on Wednesday with his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio bilateral relations and the latest developments in Libya and Palestine in a telephone call, the Egyptian foreign ministry said.

Shoukry and Di Maio also talked about arrangements for upcoming meetings between them to discuss ways to bring stability in the region through political solutions.

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Facebook-owned photo and video-sharing app Instagram has introduced universal QR codes. Users can now generate QR codes that can be scanned from any supporting third-party camera apps. The feature, which was first launched in Japan last year, is designed for the convenience of users as well as business owners as they can print QR code and have customers scan it to visit their Instagram account. Customers after scanning QR codes can get information like working hours and items on sale, or follow the account.

Instagram had previously deployed a similar feature, Nametags, which acted as internal QR-like codes that could only be scanned from the app's camera function.

How to generate QR code:

In order to generate QR code, go to the settings menu and select QR code. Their username or name tag will appear first but once saved it acts as a QR code. One might still see Nametag there, but after the update, it'll eventually become QR code. One can also save or share the QR code image.

The Instagram app also offers different themes for the background and an option to select colours, emoticons, and even take selfies while generating QR codes. Users can also scan a QR code by clicking on "Scan" option at the bottom of the screen.

However, Instagram's new update is only meant for smartphone users. The code for sharing Instagram profiles is relatively same as its Nametag feature with the difference being that previously the app generated proprietary code could only be scanned by Instagram's built-in camera, reports 9to5Mac.

Instagram, in a statement, said, "As many stores remain closed and social media serves as an online Main Street, the shift to doing business online is more urgent than ever. We're announcing new ways for people to support and discover small businesses, along with more tools for keeping businesses informed and connected with their customers."

Multiple other social media apps - Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, and Spotify - also use their proprietary QR-like feature, with only Twitter supporting actual QR codes. But with the COVID-19 pandemic, it is not surprising to see Instagram embrace QR codes. Even restaurants have started using QR codes instead of physical menus, that people scan to order.

(Edited by Vivek Dubey)

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Privatisation of the Thiruvanathapuram airport is snowballing into a conflict with multiple layers.

First is the conflict between the state an the Centre. Soon after the Union Cabinet cleared a proposal on August 19 to lease out three airports, including in Thiruvananthapuram, state Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying the move was "against the wishes of people."

The three airports, also including Jaipur and Guwahati, are currently run by the Airports Authority of India and have been leased out to the Adani Group.

Disapproving of the move, Vijayan in his letter said that the Centre ignored repeated requests from Kerala for entrusting the airport to a special purpose vehicle, with the state as a major stakeholder. Pointing out that litigation on the matter is pending before the Kerala High court, the Chief Minister said, "It will be difficult for Kerala to offer cooperation for implementation of decision."

Later on August 20, the state's Finance Minister, Thomas Issac tweeted:

But the LDF government in Kerala may not get any support on the issue, with Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor saying that the PPP model may be the best suited for developing the airport. Congress (I) is also part of the Opposition UDF in Kerala.

"The people of Thiruvananthapuram want a first-class airport worthy of the city's history, status, and potential. In this context, a decision, however controversial, is preferable to the long delay we have suffered," the Congress leader tweeted.

"The reality is that a private entity running the operations competitively is the only way this airport could flourish. Whoever it is, the ownership of land and airport as well as the responsibilities of ATC, Security, Customs and Immigration still remains with the Government agencies," he added.

The three are part of the six airports for which Adani Group had won bids in 2019. The other three are, Lucknow, Ahmedabad and Mangaluru. Earlier this year in February, the Group had signed the concessionaire agreement to start operations in Mangaluru, Ahmedabad and Lucknow airports.

Overall, the Modi government plans to put about 35 airports on the PPP model, over the next five years.

Aviation minister weighs in

Later in the day, Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri joined the debate, by point out that the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation, or KSIDC, had participated in the bids, but came second.

"It was stipulated that if the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) bid comes within the 10% range of the winning bid, they would be awarded the work. There was a difference of 19.64 percent between them and the next bidder when bids were open," Puri said.

He added:

"Winning bid quoted 168 per passenger, KSIDC quoted 135 per passenger & third qualifying bidder was at 63 per passenger. Thus, despite special provision of RoFR being given to GoK, they could not qualify in international bidding process carried out in a transparent manner."

The hurdles

The Kerala government had taken the matter to the Supreme Court, which earlier this year had sent the petitions back to the state High Court. Apart from the state, the airport employees union had also filed a petition against the PPP move.

While the case continues to drag along in the High Court, which has been unable to take it up because of the COVID-19 disruption, it is unlikely that the Adani Group will be able to run the airport without the state's co-opearation.

As Tharoor had pointed out, some of the critical functions within an airport is handled by the state.
Hong Kong has warned the US stands to lose just as much or even more by suspending three bilateral treaties on the extradition of fugitives and sentenced criminals along with tax exemptions for the shipping industry, amid concerns that the citys maritime hub status would also be hit.

In a severe reprimand issued by the government on Thursday, a spokesman said the treaties were not a question of preferential treatment for Hong Kong, as characterised by US President Donald Trumps administration in punitive action over Beijings imposition of the new national security law on the city.

They are bilateral agreements negotiated in good faith to benefit the peoples and businesses of both sides in areas of law and order, shipping and tax treatment. The US unilateral decision reflects its disrespect for bilateralism and multilateralism under the current administration and should be condemned by the international community.

Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China.

The decision to end a bilateral agreement related to taxes on shipping will result in double taxation for US firms, the Hong Kong government has argued. Photo: Winson Wong

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian voiced Beijings support for Hong Kongs strongly worded response.

The city government said it had, under instructions from Beijing, informed the US consulate that it would suspend the treaties accordingly.

Beijing said it had also suspended Hong Kongs agreement with the US on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters in retaliation for Washingtons erroneous move.

The Hong Kong government said: The move by the US does not only smack of political manipulation and double standards, but is also gross interference in Chinas internal affairs and a grave violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations.

The US State Department on Wednesday suspended the treaties on the surrender of fugitive offenders, the transfer of sentenced persons, and reciprocal tax exemptions for shipping companies.

Story continues

It marked a further deterioration in US-China relations since Beijing imposed the sweeping law banning acts of succession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with external forces to harm national security.

US allies Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Germany, France and Britain have also suspended their extradition treaties with Hong Kong in recent weeks.

The HKSAR government strongly objects to and deplores the US action, which is widely seen as a move to create troubles in the China-US relationship, using Hong Kong as a pawn, the government said.

The US move is yet another knock-on effect of President Donald Trumps decision to sign an executive order declaring Hong Kong no longer sufficiently autonomous from the mainland. Photo: EPA

The US State Department said it was following up on Trumps July 14 executive order declaring that Hong Kong was no longer sufficiently autonomous to justify differential treatment in relation to the Peoples Republic of China.

Earlier this month, Washington also sanctioned the citys leader and 10 other current and former Hong Kong and mainland officials for their involvement in the imposition of the national security law.

In making its point that the suspension of the extradition treaty would have greater impact on the US enforcement operation, the government cited figures showing that since the agreement was signed with Washington in 1998, a total of 69 fugitive offenders had been surrendered to the US, and 23 to Hong Kong.

Since the crimes committed by fugitive offenders were mostly serious, such as murder, drug trafficking and rape, the spokesman said, allowing them to evade justice meant the US will need to be answerable to the rule of law, to the American people and to the international community at large.

The government also warned that US companies would suffer most from the suspension of the agreement on tax exemptions for international shipping that have been effective since 1989.

The termination of the agreement increases the operating costs of the shipping companies concerned, in particular, the US companies, as they will be subject to double taxation. It would hamper the development of the shipping sector between Hong Kong and the US, and is to nobodys interest, the spokesman said.

Beijings imposition of a national security law on Hong Kong has amplified ongoing tensions between the US and China. Photo: Sun Yeung

With no details on when the suspension would take effect, US-Hong Kong container shipping businesses were left in a sea of uncertainty.

They face great uncertainty and even anxiety due to the sudden changes to the arrangement that has been put in place for more than 30 years, said Louis Chan Wing-kin, the Hong Kong Trade Development Councils assistant principal economist in global research.

There are collateral impacts on Hong Kong and the US shipping firms, shipowners, ships that use the city for repairs and maintenance, and the shipping companies will have to recalibrate tax obligations.

Chan said this would add to the woes of global trade, already reeling from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The United States was Hong Kongs No 2 trading partner after mainland China last year, with bilateral trade worth HK$517 billion (US$65 billion), or 6.2 per cent of the citys total. The US last year had a trade surplus of US$26.4 billion with Hong Kong, the countrys highest.

Chan noted Hong Kongs reputation for its simple, low-tax regime, which attracted many ships to register in the city.

As of July, about 2,600 ships were registered in Hong Kong. The city, Panama, the Marshall Islands and Liberia are among the top choices for registration in the world.

Simon Shen Xu-hui, an academic at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said the suspension of the extradition treaty could hurt the city.

He warned of the possibility that the US would label the city as a money-laundering haven next if it escalated the financial war against Hong Kong further.

But a senior police source said he was agitated by the hypocrisy in the politically driven decision, which reflected the US had given up on investigating transnational crimes.

If whistle-blower Edward Snowden comes back to Hong Kong, shall we welcome him with open arms? he said, referring to the former National Security Agency employee who leaked highly classified information in 2013 and flew to Hong Kong in May that year.

The United States decision to end three bilateral treaties with Hong Kong was done to create troubles in the China-US relationship, a government spokesman said on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Although the US wanted Snowden for espionage and theft of government property, the Hong Kong government refused to arrest him on legal technicalities, which allowed him to leave the country for Russia.

As for the Agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, the government spokesman said, it allowed sentenced persons to return to their place of origin to serve their terms.

The US decision to terminate the agreement eliminates the possibility of such transfers and defies values of humanitarianism, the spokesman said.

Chinese University academic Wilson Chan Wai-shun, who conducts research into Hong Kongs external relations, said the US had sent a strong and clear signal indicating it meant business when it warned that it would take such measures.

Other developed countries will monitor closely if the US is really going to take further steps in the near future to treat Hong Kong the same as the rest of China, Chan said.

This article National security law: US stands to lose just as much or even more by suspending three bilateral treaties, Hong Kong warns first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020.
Assam Rifles has accused the Mizoram government of violating the directions of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) by restricting the operational movement of its personnel, the central paramilitary force has said in a statement.

The allegation came days after media reports said 15 personnel of the Assam Rifles forced their way through a check gate at Vairengte on the Mizoram-Assam border in defiance of the entry and screening protocol put in place to contain the spread of Covid-19.

The government of Mizoram denying entry has clearly violated the directions of MHA which has serious implications for national security and is a cause of grave concern, a statement by the paramilitary said on Wednesday.

The guidelines issued by the MHA have clearly made exceptions in respect of defence and central armed police forces (CAPF), it said.

The Mizoram government shot back, saying the act of wilful disregard of safety protocol on the part of Assam Rifles had seriously compromised the safety of the people and negated the sincere efforts of the state government to contain the spread of Covid-19.

The statement by the paramilitary force said, The restrictions imposed by the state government on the operational movement of Assam Rifles is seriously hampering the smooth functioning of the force impacting the primary task of guarding the border. The Assam Rifles has not caused any community spread of Covid-19 in the state and has been managing its coronavirus patients at its own quarantine centre at Zokhawsang near Aizawl, it said.

The statement noted the state government had been approached several times and requested to pass suitable instructions to its officials at Vairangte entry gate and all other entry points to allow unobstructed movement of personnel of the force.

Claiming that the personnel of the paramilitary force were not asked to undergo any medical test at Vairengte on August 18, the statement said, Assam Rifles has always assured the state government that all its personnel entering the state will be put through the mandatory Covid-19 quarantine protocols and has never denied to undergo any medical test by state medical authorities. Meanwhile, the states home department, in a letter to Brigadier Vinod S, the DIG of sector 23 of Assam Rifles, claimed on Wednesday that its troops crossed the border into the state without complying with the norms for medical screening at the check gate.

It urged the Assam Rifles authorities to ensure that such acts were not repeated.

The letter alleged, on Tuesday, at least 15 Assam Rifles personnel from 46 Battalion forced their way through the border gate after refusing to comply with the entry and medical screening protocol put in place by the state government.

Despite various regulations, orders, guidelines and instructions issued by the state government and repeated appeals to curtail avoidable inter-state movement of troops, the Assam Rifles has been less cooperative, the letter said.

The entry of as many as 1,124 Assam Rifles personnel was allowed from May to August 10, and 10 per cent of them tested positive for Covid-19, the letter said.

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga had earlier appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to temporarily stop inter-state movement of all paramilitary personnel in August to contain the further spread of Covid-19 after many of them were found to be infected with the virus.

According to the states health department, at least 339 security personnel have tested positive for Covid-19 so far, accounting for 38.83 per cent of the total 873 cases.

Of the 339 security personnel, 101 were from Assam Rifles, 230 from BSF and four each from the CRPF and the Army, it said.
NOTE: The Press Council has not upheld a complaint about this article. Read the full adjudication here.

Theres nothing like the scrambling of a government office when a Category 5 media storm hits.

A trove of emails from Treasurer Dominic Perrottets office, the Treasury itself and workers' compensation authority icare have landed on our desk. The emails paint a picture of how the spin doctors employed by these three taxpayer-funded entities responded to the Herald's investigation into mismanagement and unethical practices at icare. They dont make for pretty reading, unless you think our public servants should be engaging in lashings of Soviet-era paranoia.

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet. Credit:Steven Siewert

On LinkedIn, we saw our known detractors share the Herald story. Their posts had minimal traction and we continue to monitor, a report circulated by icares communications team said on July 27. The email went on to name the known detractors - a trio of mid-level health and insurance operatives. Their crime? Talking about icare on social media.
The Batman director Matt Reeves revealed the official logo for his take on the Caped Crusader on Thursday.

Taking to Twitter, the director, 54, shared the first look at the superhero film's new logo as well as artwork of Robert Pattinson in the title role.

Reeves also teased the potential for more reveals at DC FanDome, which is set to take place on Saturday, as he shared the logo which had a bat symbol engraved over the name of Bruce Wayne's alter-ego.

Tease: The Batman director Matt Reeves shared a first look at the film's logo and artwork with fans on Thursday... amid claims that 'production will resume on the flick in September'

The artwork saw a brooding Batman watch over the city of Gotham from a high vantage point while bathed in black and red.

A full look at the character's batsuit could also be seen in the artwork, which was made by comic book artist Jim Lee who is also the Publisher and Chief Creative Officer of DC Comics.

Matt gushed about the new imagery in his caption: 'Excited to share the very first look at our official #TheBatman logo, and some very cool additional #DCFanDome artwork by the amazing @jimlee.'

He then teased: 'see more of #TheBatman at the #DCFanDome global event in the Hall of Heroes this Saturday, 8/22! #TheBatman #DCFanDome #ForTheFans (sic).'

Exciting: The logo featured a bat symbol engraved over the name of Bruce Wayne's alter-ego

Wow! The artwork of Batman by Jim Lee saw the brooding superhero watch over the city of Gotham from a high vantage point while bathed in black and red

The director's post comes after it was claimed on Wednesday that production would resume on The Batman in September, it was reported by Variety.

According to the publication cameras will begin to roll at the beginning of the month in Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden, after filming came to a halt in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Reeves' take on the caped crusader, which stars Robert Pattinson in the title role, was nearly seven weeks into its filming schedule in London at the time of its hiatus, meaning there is reportedly three months of material left to shoot.

Busy schedule: The director's post comes after it was claimed on Wednesday that production would resume on The Batman in September

It was claimed that because of this the film could finish filming by the end of the year, but it is yet to be seen if that will be the case.

The publication also reported that crews have been busy building new sets for the comic book film throughout August, so that they will be ready in time for filming to begin again next month.

MailOnline contacted Warner Bros' representatives for comment at the time.

The Batman's release date was delayed until October 2021, after production was halted on March 14 due to the global pandemic.

Earlier this year director Reeves confirmed production on The Batman was being put on hiatus for the foreseeable future.

Warner Bros originally said it was taking a 'two-week hiatus' due to the coronavirus pandemic, and Matt confirmed that filming was paused for the time being.

'Yes, we have shut down till it is safe for us all to resume,' he stated in a tweet, before the Hollywood blockbuster was bumped back.

On hold: Earlier this year director Reeves confirmed production on The Batman was being put on hiatus for the foreseeable future

Filming had initially been relocated from London to Liverpool before being halted altogether.

A statement at the time read: 'Warner Bros. Pictures feature production of 'The Batman' will be on a two-week hiatus starting today. The studio will continue to monitor the situation closely.'

Zoe Kravitz will appear as Catwoman, while Andy Serkis will play Bruce Wayne's butler Alfred Pennyworth.
Yves here. One of the problems in discussing monopoly policy is that monopolies often operate in local, regional, or narrow markets, which impedes enforcement in our current regime, and even in the more stringent environment of 50 years ago. The milk example below looks straightforward, but you could anticipate the producers arguing for different market definitions that might make an anti-trust case somewhat less compelling.

By contrast, for instance, private equity has been buying up kidney dialysis centers. No one travels very far for kidney dialysis, since it has to be done several times a week. But then how do you define a market?And are any of those markets big enough to justify an anti-trust action?

By Eileen Appelbaum, the co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, and Jared Gaby-Biegle, an intern at the Center for Economic and Policy Research. Originally published at the Institute for New Economic Thinking website

People rarely think about where the milk on supermarket shelves or the cheese on their pizzas comes from. But COVID-19 and the lock down of the economy in March 2020 brought with it the specter of unhappy dairy farmers dumping milk while supermarkets rationed milk products and food banks could not keep up with demand. The fault lines in Americas system of production and distribution of milk and dairy products stood out in bold relief. Nearly 40 years of consolidation and specialization in milk and dairy foods processing have rendered the dairy system inflexible, lacking resilience, and unable to adjust to challenging circumstances.

Our new Working Paper shows how the decline in the number of family dairy farms accelerated in the 1980s and after. Advances in technology have made large scale dairies more productive and able to produce milk at far less cost than on smaller farms. Fluid milk, butter and cheese processing also underwent technological changes that made large-scale production of dairy products feasible.

But technology is only part of the story. In dairies and processing operations  as elsewhere in the economy  changes in the approach of anti-trust regulators to mergers led to increased industry consolidation. In 1982, President Reagans anti-trust enforcement chief rewrote the rules and replaced a mandate to protect markets from domination by a few firms with a mandate to safeguard consumer welfare, narrowly conceived of as lower consumer prices. This unleashed a wave of consolidation that is still ongoing. Technical scale requirements have little to do with the huge size of the handful of companies that dominate dairy products processing.

For the first seven decades of the 20thcentury, local dairy cooperatives  owned by their dairy farmer members  maintained creameries and plants that processed some of their members raw milk into dairy products they sold to schools and restaurants as well as groceries. They sold the rest of their members raw milk to other processing plants. The co-ops negotiated the price paid to farmers, and shared profits from the creameries with farmer owners. But new rules on mergers and acquisitions opened the dairy industry to consolidation in later decades.

Investor-owned corporations like Dean Food went on a buying spree, scooping up competitors. By 2001, Dean Food was the second largest dairy producer in the U.S. That year, it was acquired by Suiza Dairy, the number one dairy producer at that time. The combined company took the Dean name and dominated markets across the country. Dairy cooperatives followed a similar path, with large cooperatives buying up smaller ones and recruiting (sometimes coercing) independent dairy farmers to become members. Four large regional cooperatives merged to become Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) in 1998 and expanded into other parts of the milk product supply chain. As of early 2020, DFA had more than 13,000 dairy farmer members and owned 42 manufacturing facilities across the country. DFA pays farmers for their raw milk, but does not share the profit made from its own processing operations or sales of raw milk to other dairy products processors with the farmer members who are nominally its owners.

DFA, Dean Food and Borden Dairy have dominated the dairy industry for most of the 21stcentury, culminating with DFA acquiring Dean Food in 2020. Monopolization of dairy products processing has caught many family farmers in a vicious cycle of consolidation and overproduction as processors with dominant positions have set prices for raw milk below the cost of production for smaller dairies. To survive, farmers have increased the number of cows and the scale of production to reduce costs  increasing the supply of milk, while the demand for milk falls as consumers seek out nondairy alternatives. Oversupply of raw milk has led to a 40 percent fall in price between 2014 and 2019, driving thousands of smaller farms into bankruptcy.

Pursuit of profit led large dairy processors to have each plant specialize in production of a narrow range of products. When the COVID-19 pandemic led to the shutdown of restaurants and schools, the dairy industry was unable to adjust. To change from producing for high volume buyers to producing for groceries and food banks would require retooling an entire processing plant and overhauling logistics and delivery. Two separate and inflexible supply chains  one serving retail markets for consumers, the other serving commercial markets for institutional customers characterize the dairy industry. Plants specialized to produce for commercial customers were incapable of producing for consumers served by supermarkets or food banks. Some farmers had no choice but to dump milk.

Dumping milk has slowed considerably since May. In part, this is due to steps taken by the Department of Agriculture to bail out dairy farmers and to get milk products to where they are needed. USDA announced in mid-April that it would provide $!6 billion of CARES Act funds in direct support to agricultural producers, including dairy farmers. The agency also agreed to purchase $3 billion in fresh produce, dairy, and meat, spending $100 million per month to get a variety of dairy products to food banks and nonprofits as part of its new Farmers to Families Food Box Program

USDAs rules for distributing CARES Act funds favor large dairy farms. An investigation by NBC News found that 20 percent of the money went to the top one percent of recipients; 60 percent went to the top 10 percent. The bottom 10 percent of recipients got just 0.26 percent of the funds. Nearly 2,300 farms got more than $250,000; almost 7,000 got less than $200. USDAs Farmers to Families Food Box Program was designed to bail out agricultural food processors and get agricultural products to food banks and hungry families. The contracts went to large operators like Borden Dairy, which received the largest contract in the program

Like too-big-to-fail banks, the challenges of breaking up national and global milk and cheese processors and the complex logistics involved in getting a perishable product to markets all over the U.S. will take a national effort as well as a change in antitrust rules and enforcement. But that doesnt mean that the strangle hold monopoly producers have on milk processing cant be broken

As examples discussed in our paper show, state policies that support rural dairy farms can promote coordination among smaller raw milk producers, limit the domination by large dairy processors, and make the industry more resilient and better able to meet the needs of farmers and consumers.
By ANI

NEW DELHI: On the occasion of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's 76th birth anniversary, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday paid tribute to his father at Veer Bhumi here.

He offered rose petals and prayers at his father's memorial.

In a tweet earlier today, Rahul said, "Rajiv Gandhi was a man with a tremendous vision, far ahead of his times. But above all else, he was a compassionate and loving human being."

He further said that he was "incredibly lucky and proud" to have the former Prime Minister as his father.

Rajiv Gandhi was a man with a tremendous vision, far ahead of his times. But above all else, he was a compassionate and loving human being.



I am incredibly lucky and proud to have him as my father.



We miss him today and everyday. pic.twitter.com/jWUUZQklTi  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 20, 2020

"I am incredibly lucky and proud to have him as my father. We miss him today and every day," read the tweet.

To mark the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier today paid tributes to the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 76th birth anniversary.

"On his birth anniversary, tributes to former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi Ji," read PM Modi's tweet.

Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pays tribute to Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary at Veer Bhumi pic.twitter.com/Yptrhtv3n1  ANI (@ANI) August 20, 2020

Rajiv Gandhi took over the charge of the Congress in 1984 following the assassination of his mother and then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He became India's youngest Prime Minister at the age of 40.

Born on August 20 in 1944, he was assassinated by a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide bomber during an election rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu on May 21, 1991.
The Uttar Pradesh Police may interrogate slain gangster Vikas Dubey's sons with regard to the Bikru encounter that took place last month. Gangster Vikas Dubey was the main accused in the encounter that took place in Bikru village in Chaubeypur area of Kanpur, in which a group of assailants opened fire on a police team, which had gone to arrest Dubey.

The Uttar Pradesh Police may interrogate slain gangster Vikas Dubeys sons with regard to the Bikru encounter that took place last month, Kanpur Rural SP Brijesh Srivastava said on Thursday.

Both the sons of Dubey were present in Bikru village with their mother Richa Dubey one day before the encounter. Gangster Dubey had misbehaved with former SI Vinay Tiwari in the presence of his sons that day. Gangster Vikas Dubey was the main accused in the encounter that took place in Bikru village in Chaubeypur area of Kanpur, in which a group of assailants opened fire on a police team, which had gone to arrest Dubey.

Read More: PM CARES Funds cannot be transferred to National Disaster Response: SC

Eight police personnel were killed in the encounter that took place last month. Dubey was arrested by the Madhya Pradesh Police on July 9 from the premises of the Mahakal Temple in Ujjain after he was on the run for some days following the encounter in Kanpur, where eight policemen were killed.

The Uttar Pradesh Police killed Dubey in an encounter on July 10 after he attempted to flee while being taken to Kanpur from Ujjain. (ANI)

Read More: Big win for Sushants family, SC orders CBI probe, asks Maharashtra to provide evidence

Read More: No connection to Aaditya Thackeray: Rhea Chakrabortys lawyer on Sushant Singh Rajputs death probe
Technavio predicts the global cloud computing market to grow by USD 190.32 billion during 2019-2023. One of the primary drivers of the market is the growing inclination towards cloud computing in a bid to implement cost-cutting. The growing focus toward reducing overall CAPEX has led many businesses to opt for cloud computing solutions. This is because cloud solutions enable the deployment of applications without the need for provisioning hosting capabilities. This results in cost savings, which is fueling the growth of the global cloud computing market. Download Free Sample Report with COVID-19 Impact Analysis

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The University of Melbourne's vice-chancellor says Australia's "lockdown mindset" in response to COVID-19 risks doing more damage than the virus itself, particularly to the lives of young people.

Professor Duncan Maskell, an expert in infectious diseases and the head of Australias wealthiest university, said Australia had to move beyond the lockdown phase of its response or risk experiencing even greater loss of life from poverty and suicide.

Melbourne University vice-chancellor Duncan Maskell says Australia's "lockdown mindset" must change. Credit:AFR

"At what point do the measures that we take to suppress the infectious disease rate actually start to do more damage than the disease itself?" Professor Maskell said.

"Im very concerned actually that if we carry on in this kind of lockdown mindset for too long, we will seriously damage young people's lives."
Demand for community Covid-19 swab tests has soared by 210% in the last few weeks, it has emerged.

HSE boss Paul Reid said a complex set of demands have emerged for workplace settings, close contacts and people whose first language is not English.

He told the HSE briefing that demand for testing doubled in one week.

That is putting a different challenge on us in terms of the increased volume but also increased complexity, Mr Reid added.

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He said an increase in testing had led to a longer turnaround time and that the number of close contacts is very significantly up.

However, Mr Reid denied claims from a University College Dublin academic that the system was falling apart.

He said such alarmist comments may get attention but are not borne out by the facts.

In my view theyre actually hugely unhelpful. We want people to come forward for testing and demonstrate that the testing system is meeting demand, he added.

A total of 21,000 community tests, more than 16,000 hospitals tests and 17,000 serial tests have been carried out in the past week.

The HSE completed its highest number of swab tests in one day, with more than 11,000 in 24 hours.

Over the last three days, the median turnaround time for a test is 2.3 days, an improvement on 2.8 last week.

Mr Reid said there has been a 10-fold increase in the numbers of people deployed to carry out contact tracing.

Our contact tracing teams have gone from very small numbers per week to now 4,000 calls completed last week and close contacts are certainly now up Paul Reid

We now have five contact tracing centres being mobilised all across the country, he added.

Our contact tracing teams have gone from very small numbers per week to now 4,000 calls completed last week and close contacts are certainly now up.

Mr Reid said common themes were emerging from the outbreaks, including issues around language barriers in meat plants.

Close working conditions have been a common consistent factor in terms of some outbreaks, including shared recreational facilities between canteens and toilets and shared accommodation, he added.

There is also the need for occupational health supports and a real need  particularly in larger organisations, whether its a GP on site or an available GP  to give guidance to organisations about appropriate actions to take at appropriate times.

A total of 1.7 million people have downloaded the Covid-19 tracker app.

More than 200 people diagnosed with Covid-19 have uploaded their positive results to the app, which has led to 487 people being made aware they are a close contact.

HSE chief operations officer Anne OConnor said the Citywest Hotel continues to receive referrals to use the self-isolation facilities for healthcare workers and those who cannot isolate at home.

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In total we have 107 under the general self-isolation and 67 healthcare workers in self-isolation, Ms OConnor added.

We have seen a definite increase in the numbers, this number has changed hugely over the period of Covid, down to very low numbers at one point but today we have 174 people in Citywest for isolation.

We are continuing that and we are reviewing that in the context of Direct Provision and meat plants and the need for isolation.

The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) is meeting on Thursday to discuss restrictions in Kildare, Laois and Offaly.

The restrictions are due to be lifted on Sunday after they were imposed on August 7 following an outbreak in the three counties.

Meanwhile, the Government was forced to clarify the number of people allowed to attend cultural venues following conflicting statements and widespread confusion.

There have been calls for clarity about Tuesdays announcement following confusion over the permitted number of people allowed to attend indoor and outdoor events.

The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht said on Wednesday that events in venues like cinemas, galleries and theatres where there is physical distancing and controlled measures can continue under current guidelines.

The current limit is 50 for indoor events and 200 for outdoors.

However, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly later said indoor concerts could not exceed six people from three different households.

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This led to confusion, with the National Campaign for the Arts calling for the department and the Government to provide clarity about cultural events.

In a statement from the Taoiseachs department on Thursday, a spokeswoman said: Following consultation with the ministers of Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht and the Minister for Health, the following clarification applies to measures introduced with respect to the cultural sector.

Businesses/services such as museums, cinemas, theatres and art galleries are deemed to be controlled environments, with appropriate protective measures in place such as physical distancing between people.

These venues can continue to operate where appropriate physical distancing and all other protective measures can continue to be maintained. Individual groupings attending these venues must be limited to six people from no more than three households.

Overall attendance must adhere to an overall limit of 50 people.
At the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, Hillary Clinton said that she hoped the man who defeated her in the 2016 election would have done a better job as commander in chief.

I wish Donald Trump knew how to be a president, Clinton said in a live speech from her Chappaqua, N.Y., home. Because America needs a president right now.

For four years, people have said to me, I didnt realize how dangerous he was. I wish I could go back and do it over. Or worst, I should have voted, Clinton said. Well, this cant be another woulda, coulda, shoulda election.

The former secretary of state, who won the 2016 popular vote by more than 2.8 million votes but lost to Trump in the Electoral College, urged voters to cast their ballots early, regardless of how they choose to vote.

Dont forget: Joe and Kamala can win by nearly 3 million votes and still lose, Clinton said. Take it from me.

She said that Democrats need to turn out in overwhelming numbers so Trump cant sneak or steal his way to victory.

Vote to make sure we  not a foreign adversary  choose our president, Clinton said.

Hillary Clinton speaks during the virtual Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19, 2020. (via Reuters TV)

Clinton said the country needs a president who shows the same compassion, determination and leadership in the White House that we see in our communities, particularly amid a coronavirus pandemic that has left more than 170,000 Americans dead.

Theres a lot of heartbreak in America right now, she said. And the truth is, many things were broken before the pandemic. But, as the saying goes, The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places. Thats Joe Biden. He knows how to keep going, unify, and lead, because hes done all of that for his family and his country.

Clinton, who in 2016 became the first woman nominated for president by a major U.S. party, also took a moment to note Tuesdays 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment  a landmark piece of legislation mandating that citizens right to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Story continues

One hundred years ago yesterday, the 19th Amendment was ratified, Clinton said. It took seven decades of suffragists marching, picketing, and going to jail to push us closer to a more perfect union. Fifty-five years ago, John Lewis marched and bled in Selma because that work was unfinished. Tonight, Im thinking of the boys and girls who see themselves in Americas future because of Kamala Harris, a Black woman, daughter of immigrants and our nominee for vice president.

Clinton, who like Biden emerged from a bitter primary fight against Sen. Bernie Sanders, urged party unity  even name-checking the Vermont independent.

Remember in 2016 when Trump asked: What do you have to lose? Well, now we know: our health, our jobs, even our lives, Clinton said, adding: As Michelle Obama and Bernie Sanders warned us on Monday: If Trump is re-elected, it will get even worse. My friends, we need unity now more than ever.

_____

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Today, citizens of Jermuk and residents of the nearby villages arrived in Yerevan to protest against the Amulsar gold mine project (photos).

At the same time, a group of environmentalists from Yerevan have gathered at Liberty Square and will soon join the citizens of Jermuk.

The environmentalists have drums and are holding posters calling on the Armenian government to repeal the Environmental Impact Assessment of the Amulsar gold mine and stating that they are the protectors of Armenians mountains and stones.

The protesters against the Amulsar gold mine project declared that they are laying the foundation for a long chain of peaceful disturbances.

Its time for the government to show political will and put an end to the Amulsar gold mine project. There are many and multi-layered grounds to prohibit the operation of an open mine at Amulsar. We would also like to briefly state that the Prime Minister has promised that the results of monitoring of ELARD will serve as a basis for the governments decision. Its time for the government to fulfill its promises, the environmentalists press release reads.

The Armenian Environmental Front has declared that it will also join the protest in Yerevan.
Warning: This story contains graphic language some might find offensive.

Syracuse, N.Y.  Common Council President Helen Hudson bashed police union President Jeff Piedmonte Thursday, saying he is using his authority and power to intimidate her by seeking dirt on her adult son.

Hudson said Piedmonte submitted a Freedom of Information Law request to the city seeking video footage of her son, 39-year-old Karreem Wofford, during a pair of encounters with police.

In a Facebook post, Hudson called Piedmonte a piece of shit.

But Piedmonte said hes only looking to defend his officers against claims Hudson has made of police brutality against her son. He called her comments unprofessional.

Jeff Piedmont is a piece of shit. Everyone in Syracuse knows my son is struggling with addiction and mental health and I... Posted by Helen Hudson on Thursday, August 20, 2020

In a public meeting this summer, Hudson said her son had been beaten by police. Piedmonte said a reporter asked him about those comments. He then requested body camera footage from interactions officers have had with Wofford recently.

She made comments that we werent professional, Piedmonte said. So I requested the videos because I wanted to see whats on them.

Piedmonte said he hasnt yet received the footage, which he requested six weeks ago.

Hudson said she didnt know what prompted the union presidents Freedom of Information request. She noted that shes previously said the police beat her son. And she mentioned a statement she issued last year, criticizing the officers involved in the forceful arrest of Shaolin Moore, who was dragged out of his car after being pulled over for playing his music too loud.

She said, however, that seeking the video of her son is a clear attempt to intimidate her by attacking her family.

He is coming after me personally, Hudson said. Its personal intimidation by the people who are supposed to protect you.

Hudson said her son has issues with drugs and mental health -- something shes been vocal about for years.

Everyone in Syracuse knows my son is struggling with addiction and mental health and I have never made it a secret, Hudson wrote in the post on Facebook. But for Jeff Piedmont (sic) to foil a video of my son to get at me. You coming for me you piece of shit COME FOR ME!

Piedmonte said he doesnt know Hudsons son, Wofford, but that officers had two encounters with him in the last two years. He said Wofford refused to get out of the street late one night last summer and was aggressive toward officers. He wasnt arrested.

The other interaction, Piedmonte said, was a domestic dispute this summer.

Piedmonte said he wasnt necessarily planning to publicize the footage. He wanted to review it to defend against Hudsons accusations, he said.

I wasnt looking to embarrass her, Piedmonte said. I was trying to defend my guys ... if she didnt make the comments she made about us abusing her son, I dont think it would have been a story.
A man currently detained by Australian Border Force at the Kangaroo Point Central Hotel in Brisbane is accused of possessing and distributing "child exploitation material".

The detention facility has been at the centre of several recent refugee rights protests, including one demonstration last weekend that resulted in the arrest of at least four protesters.

Refugee advocates protest the continued detention of 120 men in a hotel at Kangaroo Point on Saturday, August 15. Credit:Jim Malo

Police executed a search warrant of the male detainee's room on Thursday and seized electronic devices, which investigators allege belonged to the man.

He was issued with a notice to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on September 18 for one count each of possessing child exploitation material and distributing child exploitation material.
Volkswagen has started series production of the ID.4, an all-electric SUV and the first under the automaker's new ID label to be headed to the United States.

Series production of the ID.4 kicked off Thursday at the company's Zwickau factory in Germany ahead of the vehicle's world premiere that is scheduled for September. The ID.4 follows the ID.3, the first model in Volkswagen's all-electric ID brand and the beginning of the automakers ambitious plan to sell 1 million EVs annually by 2025. A production version of the ID.3 was unveiled in September 2019. Deliveries for the ID.3 will begin in September.

The ID.4 is also the second electric vehicle to use the German automaker's MEB platform, a flexible modular system  really a matrix of common parts  for producing electric vehicles that VW says make it more efficient and cost-effective. The ID.3, an electric hatchback that will only be sold in Europe, is the first vehicle to be based on the MEB platform.

Unlike the ID.3, this SUV will be produced and sold in China, Europe and the U.S. Production is beginning at the Zwickau manufacturing plant, which VW has invested some 1.2 billion ($1.4 billion) in to convert it to a facility that will only produce electric vehicles. By next year, the Zwickau plant will be producing 300,000 electric vehicles annually.

Two factories in China will begin production of the ID.4 this year, according to Thomas Ulbrich, a VW Group board member responsible for e-mobility. The company's factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee will start ID.4 production in 2022.
Former Indian Air Force pilot Gunjan Saxena has been made the centre of a controversy following the release of a biopic on her life, starring Janhvi Kapoor and directed by Sharan Sharma. Since the films release, concerns have been raised about its historical accuracy, particularly about Gunjans stature as the first female IAF pilot to fly in combat zone. A fellow pilot, retired Flight Lieutenant Sreevidya Rajan, has claimed that she was the first female pilot, and not Gunjan.

In an interview to Mid-Day, Sreevidya has said that it was an oversight on the filmmakers part to not include any mention of her at all, and to propagate an alternate narrative that excluded her achievements. She said that in a conversation she had with Gunjan in 2017, shed asked about the film, and was told that it would be about Gunjans life.

I cannot question a filmmaker why they chose her and not me. When I saw her being portrayed as the first woman pilot, my friends and colleagues suggested I respond to it. But I thought as long as the story inspires women to join the forces, I am happy, she said. Sreevidya also mentioned that she spoke to Gunjan earlier this week, and expressed her concerns. I told her it was an oversight on her and the filmmakers part to not reflect me at all, she said.

Gunjan in an interview to NDTV on Tuesday had spoken about the confusion. She said, When I went to Kargil, I never went there thinking of setting any records, or trying to make history. My only focus was to fly and do my job as well as possible. She said that towards the end of the conflict, the IAF arranged for a media interaction, and it was then that her name was projected as being the first woman to fly for the IAF in a combat zone. From July 1999 till today, my name has featured in a number of headlines, in a number of articles, and in the Limca Book of Records, and in one of the promotion exams taken by the air force, she said.

Also read: Gunjan Saxena responds to Sreevidya Rajans claims of being first female combat pilot: Never flew with her at the same time

Shedding some light on the media perception of the events, Sreevidya continued, When the first batch went to war, only designated senior officers from Delhi were allowed to speak to the media; we were [barred from] interacting with them. I remember speaking only to Barkha Dutt, who had specifically asked for an interview with a woman pilot [carrying out missions]. By the time the second crew came, the media was allowed and Gunjan was interviewed. Naturally, people assumed she was the first woman [to achieve the feat], but after the war, the IAF arranged for press interactions with both of us. As per the IAF rules, course mates cannot fly together in the same aircraft, so she flew the sortie for NDTVs video interview.

About their current equation, she added, I have nothing against her. She is a woman of achievements that havent even made it to the film. Neither Gunjan nor I will throw muck at each other on a public platform. When you have served in a war together, you are like siblings. A film can never come between us.

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ANN ARBOR, MI  A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit over anti-Israel protests outside an Ann Arbor synagogue.

In an 11-page order Wednesday, Aug. 19, U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts ruled the First Amendment more than protects the expressions by defendants.
American financier Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell jetted into Australia at the beginning of the summer of 1995... but there were reasons the trip was so short

Billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein's mysterious tour of Australia in the 90s was cut short because both the local women and weather failed to live up to his expectations.

That's according to Virginia Giuffre (nee Roberts), one of the Manhattan financier's most outspoken accusers, as she shed further light on the previously unknown trip on Thursday.

Daily Mail Australia revealed this week that Epstein and his now-infamous lover Ghislaine Maxwell had flown Down Under at the beginning of summer in 1995.

The pair planned to party on Sydney Harbour, visit friends in Melbourne and soak up the summer at an exclusive Great Barrier Reef resort.

But the only evidence for the visit was a small gossip item printed in a city newspaper ... and now Ms Giuffre has revealed the trip didn't quite go as Epstein had hoped.

'He didn't stay long,' she said. 'He told me it was too rainy.

Virginia Giuffre, perhaps Epstein's most outspoken survivor, said Australia was 'too rainy' for the billionaire paedophile - and the women hadn't matched his stereotype

Giuffre (above, with Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell in a famous 2001 photo) said 'the only reason' Epstein went to Australia 'was because Aussie girls are pretty, blonde-haired surfer looking, and he wanted to see if it was true'. But his stereotype didn't live up to reality

'And the only reason he went there was because Aussie girls are pretty, blue-eyed blonde haired surfer looking and he wanted to see if it was true.

'He said it was not. '

At least one of the sex traffickers victims, Maria Farmer, has previously referenced a trip by the pair to Australia - but the only record of the visit surfaced just this week.

An archived report in the 1995 Christmas Eve edition of The Sun-Herald newspaper resurfaced almost 25 years after it was first published.

In the article, well-known Sydney gossip columnist Ros Reines described Maxwell - a British socialite who was far better known than Epstein at the time - as 'the beautiful, feisty 34-year-old daughter of the late disgraced media baron Robert Maxwell.'

Ms Reines told readers Epstein was a businessman 'who is given to zipping around Manhattan in a Rolls Royce Silver Spirit'.

'The only reason he went there was because Aussie girls are pretty, blue-eyed blonde haired surfer looking and he wanted to see if it was true. He said it was not. Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre

'The couple is on a fleeting visit to Sydney after stepping off in Melbourne,' she reported.

The gossip writer said 'they will probably end up spending Christmas on the exclusive Lizard Island,' a luxury Great Barrier Reef retreat.

Trucking magnate Lindsay Fox was rumoured to be hosting the much-less-famous pair on a boat on Sydney Harbour - but he shot that down in a statement this week.

Via a spokesman, Mr Fox told Daily Mail Australia that he had never even met Epstein or Maxwell, or even been in the country at the time.

'Indeed, at the time of the 'harbour cruise' in Sydney as suggested by the article, Lindsay's diary records confirm he was in Hawaii celebrating Christmas with family,' the spokesman said.

British socialite Maxwell was well known as the daughter of late newspaper proprietor Robert Maxwell, who drowned at sea near his yacht, which was named after her. Above, she alights the yacht, named The Lady Ghislaine, in 2000

Gossip writer Reines suggested the pair would 'probably' retire to the luxury Lizard Island resort

Trucking magnate Lindsay Fox has shot down a rumour that Epstein and Maxwell planned to attend a boat party he was hosting. Mr Fox said, via a spokesman, that he was in Hawaii on holidays at the time of the alleged event - and had never even met the pair

Ms Giuffre's tweet is evidence that, at the very least, the pair came to Australia.

The long-time gossip columnist Reines said, of Maxwell: 'She was a social star at the time.'

The quarter-of-a-century-old newspaper clipping was unearthed by the Jeffrey Epstein, Prince and the Pervert podcast.

The only prominent Australian to be linked to Epstein is Katherine Keating, the daughter of 90s-era prime minister Paul Keating.

Video emerged last year of Ms Keating leaving Epstein's Manhattan apartment as Prince Andrew waved goodbye in 2010.

Ms Keating, who lives in the United States, once interviewed Maxwell for The Huffington Post in 2014.

Key moment: At 4.40pm on December 6, 2010, Keating emerges from Epstein's house, pauses for a moment and turns around to face the door

Carefree: The video showed Prince Andrew waving goodbye to Keating, apparently unconcerned that he might be seen at the home of a convicted pedophile

Neither she or her father have ever spoken publicly about how became acquainted with the pair.

Epstein was awaiting trial on sex crimes charges when he was found dead in his New York prison cell on August 10 last year.

He was a convicted paedophile and served a 13-month prison sentence a decade ago.

Maxwell was arrested and charged with federal crimes including enticement of minors, sex trafficking, and perjury. She is awaiting trial.

A US court this month heard Maxwell is in isolation at a Brooklyn jail, with prosecutors saying that was for her own safety.

It comes as DailyMail.com published pictures of former US President Bill Clinton receiving a neck message from one of Epstein's victims during a trip to Africa.

Do you know more? Contact this reporter at daniel.piotrowski@mailonline.com
(Natural News) The wave of engineered rioting in Seattle is ongoing. Late on Sunday, August 16, rioters threw explosives and other projectiles at Seattle Police Department (SPD) officers, injuring at least six. Eighteen rioters were arrested during that nights clashes between the violent mob and the police.

The rioters were taking part in a demonstration against the Seattle Police Officers Guild, the main union that represents rank-and-file members of the SPD. According to SPD reports, officers were assaulted with projectiles such as rocks, bottles and fireworks, and at several points during the evening, explosives were thrown.

Many of the recent riots are most likely a response to the fact that the Seattle City Council recently passed a measure that defunded the SPD, and that police chief Carmen Best announced her resignation right after in protest. These actions will no doubt further demoralize the citys law enforcement, and make the rioters they have been working hard to fight against even more aggressive.

It really is about the overarching lack of respect for the officers, the men and women who work so hard, day in and day out, said Best after she announced her resignation. The idea that weve worked so incredibly hard to make sure our department was diverse, that it reflects the community that we serve, to just turn that all on a dime and hack it off, without having a plan in place to move forward, is highly distressful for me.

Antifa and the Black Lives Matter domestic terrorist organizations using explosives is nothing new. Listen to this episode of the Health Ranger Report, a podcast by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, and learn about how BLM is firing into vehicles with the intention of killing civilians, proving precisely how important it is for law-abiding Americans to exercise their right to bear arms and defend themselves.

Seattle rioters injured at least three police officers, and three other individuals

According to SPD reports, a group initially made up of around 100 people began marching at around 7 p.m., beginning at the International District in the center of the city. This group started making their way south to the SoDo neighborhood, where the Seattle Police Officers Guild building is located.

For around three hours, SPD officers had to endure an unending torrent of projectiles being thrown at them  mostly rocks, bottles and fireworks  until one of the rioters set off an explosive device that injured at least six people, including three police officers.

One officer suffered a burn to the neck. Another received a very serious eye injury, which got that officer hospitalized overnight in Harborview Medical Center in the downtown area.

Breaking update: Seattle police say at least 10 people have been arrested, 3 officers injured (1 with serious eye injury  taken to Harborview). This video is from earlier. Group has cleared the area. @KIRO7Seattle pic.twitter.com/F8uXx6PvHL  Michael Spears (@MichaelKIRO7) August 17, 2020

The explosion, along with the many criminal acts perpetrated by the violent mob during the rally, forced the SPD to declare the gathering a riot. The declaration legally allows them to use crowd control munitions to aid them in dispersing the crowd, such as pepper spray and blast balls  grenade-like objects that, upon exploding, generate a loud noise and bright light and release either pepper spray gas or tear gas. Several rioters were arrested during this initial dispersal.

The mob was forced to move north, back towards the International District where they first gathered. Upon arriving in this area, several more rioters were arrested. By 11:30 p.m., the rioters had been thoroughly cleared out. A total of 18 people were arrested and booked into the nearby King County Jail. Four of the cases have already been sent up to the King County Prosecuting Attorneys Office (KCPAO) for review.

In response to the violence on Sunday, Casey NcNerthney, spokeswoman for the KCPAO, said in an email:

We cannot overemphasize the important distinction between people who are gathered to nonviolently air grievances against their government and those who take advantage of the otherwise peaceful protest to commit acts of violence, victimize peaceful protesters or commit acts of arson, property destruction and theft. Each of the cases we file are public, and we believe that when people in the community read those public documents theyll see the distinction, too.

Seattle rioters heavily organized

Sunday nights riot was organized by the Youth Liberation Front Seattle Division (Seattle YLF), a group that is affiliated with Antifas network of nationwide radical leftist organizations. They describe themselves as a student and youth-led antifascist and anti-capitalist organization. (Related: OBEY: Owners of Seattle shops are expressing support for BLM even as their businesses are attacked.)

This Sunday we march against the [Seattle Police Officers Guild], this union protects killer cops from accountability, wrote the group on their social media in the days leading up to the riot. They continually attack the police union for its efforts in leading the fight against defunding the SPD.

The Seattle YLF has been meeting every night since August 10 at Cal Anderson Park in the Capitol Hill neighborhood in order to terrorize the city of Seattle.

Unfortunately, the Seattle YLF is not alone in its crusade to cause chaos and civil unrest in the country. Learn about how Antifas networks are able to carry out their criminal activities in cities like Seattle and Portland by reading the latest articles at AntifaWatch.news.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

King5.com

FoxNews.com

Q13Fox.com

KIRO7.com

Twitter.com
A woman wearing a protective mask walks on the Columbia University campus in New York on March 9, 2020. (Photo by Jeenah Moon/Getty Images)

Beijing Leverages Global Network to Lure Top Scientists, Gain Technology, Report Says

The Chinese regime has built a worldwide network of 600 outposts to recruit foreign experts and scientists in a bid to acquire advanced technology, according to a new report.

U.S. officials have increasingly warned that Beijing uses state-backed recruitment plans to facilitate the transfer of American technology and know-how to China. Under these plans, foreign experts are paid to work in China, including opening labs and conducting research at Chinese institutions.

The report by the think tank Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) details for the first time the extensive global system used by Beijing to scout and lure scientists from Western research institutions and companies.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leverages at least 600 talent recruitment workstations around the world to support its talent programs, the report found. The United States has the most stations with 146, with other technologically-advanced countries including Germany, Australia, UK, Canada, Japan, and France, also hosting dozens of outposts each.

The stations work on behalf of the Chinese Government to spot and pursue talent abroad, the report stated.

First established in 2006, the regime has drastically dialed up its rollout in the past few years, the report stated. More than 115 of the 600 sites identified were set up in 2018 alone, it added.

Between 2008 and 2016, the CCPs talent plans recruited almost 60,000 overseas professionals, the report stated, citing official statistics. The regime runs more than 200 talent recruitment programs, with the most well-known being the Thousand Talents Plan.

These stations are typically run by local groupssuch as community, professional, student, or business associationswho are contracted by Chinese authorities to recruit individuals, according to the report. They can be paid as much as $29,000 for each person they recruit, and up to $21,000 a year for operating expenses, it stated.

Overseas offices of Chinese companies also host recruitment stations, and one was also set up in the Confucius Institute at University College Dublin, the report added. Confucius Institutes are Beijing-funded language centers that have drawn backlash over its role in spreading propaganda and silencing dissent in American classrooms.

The findings come as the United States intensifies scrutiny over the regimes efforts to obtain technology by attracting American talent. U.S. officials cited the Houston Chinese consulates ongoing work targeting local scientists for recruitment to China as a reason for ordering the consulates closure in July. The U.S. Justice Department in the past year has brought a spate of prosecutions against Chinese and American researchers who allegedly hid their ties to and funding from China, sometimes while simultaneously receiving federal grant money.

Earlier this year, the former chair of Harvard Universitys chemistry department, Charles Lieber, was indicted on charges related to making false statements about his participation in the Thousand Talents Plan and receiving $2.25 million in Chinese funding over three yearsa case described by prosecutors as one of the most egregious charges of misconduct related to a talent-recruitment program. Officials said that Lieber had received more than $15 million of federal funding since 2008.

Lieber has pleaded not guilty.

While participation in Chinese talent programs isnt in itself illegal, researchers are required to disclose foreign funding when applying for federal grants. U.S. officials have asked universities to tighten vetting for conflicts of interest and foreign sources of funding.

The report stated that many of the units were established by agencies under the CCPs United Front Work Department (UFWD). The UFWD coordinates thousands of groups to carry out foreign political influence operations, suppress dissident movements, gather intelligence, and facilitate the transfer of technology to China. A range of other Chinese bodies is also involved in setting up overseas recruitment facilities, including universities, state-backed scientific associations, and foreign expert affairs bureaus, it stated.

The Chinese military also uses the same network for talent recruitment, according to the report. Top Chinese research institutions affiliated with the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) and Chinese state-owned defense companies both actively recruit overseas experts, it said. For instance, the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics, which runs the PLAs nuclear weapons program, recruited 57 scientists through the Thousand Talents Plan as of 2014, the report stated.

The report highlighted how the talent recruitment efforts are linked to economic espionage cases. In May 2019, Tesla sued former employee Cao Guangzhi for allegedly stealing the companys source code autopilot features before joining a rival startup, the Guangzhou-based Xiaopeng Motors. Cao later conceded to uploading the files to his iCloud but denies that his actions caused any harm to Tesla. The case has yet to go to trial.

A decade before the suit, Cao co-founded the Association of Wenzhou PhDs USA, which has worked closely with Wenzhou authorities since its inception, the report found. Wenzhou, a city south of Shanghai, is a center for Chinese commerce and manufacturing.

The association, which was was contracted to run a talent-recruiting station in 2010, grew to more than 100 members in a few years, and included engineers from top tech firms such as Google, Apple, and Amazon, academics from Harvard and Yale, and U.S. government employees, the report stated.

The association also helped Wenzhou University recruit a materials scientist from the U.S. governments Argonne National Laboratory, according to the report.
ED records statement of director Rumi Jaffery in Sushant Singh Rajput PMLA case

India

pti-Madhuri Adnal

Mumbai, Aug 20: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday recorded the statement of film maker Rumi Jaffery in connection with a money laundering case probe linked to the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, officials said.

They said Jaffery reached the central probe agency's office at Ballard Estate here around 11:30 AM. The director's statement, as per sources, is being recorded with regard to his reported plans of directing a movie with the late actor and the finances involved in this upcoming project.

Sushant Singh Rajput case politicised to 'malign' Mumbai Police, govt: Shiv Sena

Jaffery has earlier been questioned by the Mumbai Police which is probing the death of the actor under the accidental death report (ADR) procedure. Rajput (34), was found hanging at his home in a Bandra locality here on June 14.

Early this week, the agency had recorded the statement of Rajput's father K K Singh in this case. The father had on July 25 filed a complaint with the Bihar Police in Patna against Rajput's friend and live-in partner Rhea Chakraborty, her family members including mother Sandhya Chakraborty and brother Showik, Rajput's manager Samuel Miranda and Shruti Modi and unknown persons accusing them of cheating and abetting his son's suicide.

The Bihar police had lodged a criminal FIR based on the complaint. The ED case under the criminal provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) has been filed on the basis of this FIR. Last week, the agency had also questioned Rajput's elder sister Meetu Singh. Rajput has four sisters.

The ED has also quizzed Rhea Chakraborty, her brother Showik, father Indrajit Chakraborty, Rajput's business managers, chartered accountants, house workers, his friend and flat mate Siddharth Pithani in the case till now and their statements have been recorded under the PMLA.

Sushant death probe: CBI team will have to apply to BMC for quarantine exemption

The CBI had re-registered the Bihar police's FIR as a fresh case and named the same people as accused. The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave its nod to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to go ahead and launch its investigation in the case.

Singh has also alleged financial irregularities in his complaint to the police. 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.
Since the order, and even for a time just prior to its writing, Chicago cops have repeatedly blocked protesters access to the block with groups of officers and barricades. Police have often kept protesters contained at the nearby corner of Kimball and Wrightwood avenues, though one standoff between activists and officers last month saw police go as far as bringing in an armored vehicle in case things got out of hand.
The FBI has been slammed over a 'reckless' tweet where it shared a link to the anti-Semitic hoax text 'The Protocols of Learned Elders of Zion' that inspired Hitler's 'Mein Kampf'.

The FBI Records Vault, the bureau's Freedom of Information Act Library consisting of thousands of files and records, tweeted a link to a 139-page selection of files on 'The Protocols of the Elders of Zion' Wednesday afternoon.

The tweet provided no context or information other than the title of the notorious text, leading many outraged social media users to accuse the bureau of condoning and even promoting the text's anti-Semitic messaging.

The Auschwitz Memorial, which preserves the site of the Nazi concentration camp where millions of Jewish people died in the Holocaust, blasted the FBI for sharing the files without any 'context'.

'The Protocols of the Elders of Zion' was a hoax text that claimed to prove Jews were planning world domination.

It was first published in Russia in 1903 before being translated into multiple languages and shared worldwide.

Despite being proven as a hoax in 1921, it was widely circulated by automaker and anti-Semite Henry Ford through the 1920s, was used in Nazi propaganda to justify the persecution of Jews and continues to be held up as genuine by neofascist groups despite being proven to be a hoax.

The FBI has been slammed over a 'reckless' tweet where it shared a link to the anti-Semitic hoax text 'The Protocols of Learned Elders of Zion' that inspired Hitler's 'Mein Kampf'

'The Protocols of the Elders of Zion' (left) was a hoax text that claimed to prove Jews were planning world domination. It was widely circulated by automaker Henry Ford in the 1920s and inspired 'Mein Kampf' (right) and was used in Nazi propaganda to justify the persecution of Jews

The FBI tweeted a link to a file that includes the text along with records denouncing it as a 'fabricated "historic" document.'

However, with the tweet being sent without context or a disclaimer, social media users voiced concerns the bureau appeared to be promoting the 'Protocols.'

The Auschwitz Memorial Twitter account blasted the FBI tweet saying it proved the necessity of providing context alongside offensive historical documents.

'Context REALLY matters. FBI Records Vault tweets out files it is releasing by including the subject. Without context,' they wrote.

The tweet pointed out that the FBI files detail the fraudulent and anti-Semitic nature of the text but that this message was lost in the FBI's tweet.

'Judging by the responses, it did not go well this time. Quite the contrary. The context of the horrible antisemitic hoax is there. Hidden deep inside the PDF,' the Auschwitz Memorial wrote.

Several other social media users slammed the bureau over its actions.

The Auschwitz Memorial Twitter account said the FBI tweet proved the necessity of providing context alongside offensive historical documents

'What in the holy Hell is happening?' one outraged person tweeted.

'Has Henry Ford taken over the #FBI twitter account?' another asked, referring to the carmaker who funded the printing of 500,000 copies of the book.

Another branded the bureau's actions 'reckless' for 'seemingly validating' the book's anti-Semitic messaging.

'What were you thinking? Seriously? Seemingly validating anti-semites world wide was beyond reckless,' they tweeted.

Social media users slammed the bureau saying it appeared to be promoting the 'Protocols'

The Protocols of the Meetings of the Learned Elders of Zion The Protocols of the Meetings of the Learned Elders of Zion was first published in Russia in 1903. It was translated into multiple languages and shared worldwide. The text claims to outline a Jewish plan for global domination. It was exposed as an anti-Semitic hoax by UK newspaper The Times in 1921 and German Frankfurter Zeitung in 1924. Despite being proven as fraudulent, US carmaker Henry Ford funded the printing of 500,000 copies to distribute across America in the 1920s. The text then inspired Adolf Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' and was used as Nazi propaganda to justify the mass genocide of Jewish people in the Holocaust. Several neofascist and anti-Semitic continue to claim the text is genuine. Advertisement

Another wrote: 'So the FBI is distributing the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion without mentioning that it's an antisemitic paranoid conspiracy-theory hoax.

'That's fun. FBI account tweets out Protocols of Learned Elders of Zion without context.'

Several people warned of the dangers of fueling hate at a time of deep divides across America.

'Unbelievable. At a time when antisemitic attacks are going up. With friends like these...,' one person tweeted.

Another wrote: 'A government account shared the most anti-Semitic document in history.

'This is unconscionable, but sadly consistent with Trump's penchant for promoting white supremacy & anti-Semitism. Nothing less than the soul of our nation is on the line.'

The FBI post had retweeted more than 12,000 times by Wednesday evening.

The FBI later expressed 'regret' for the 'distress' caused by its tweet and said the social media post was the automatic work of a bot.

Records requested under the FOIA are posted on the Vault and then an automated system promotes their release on Twitter.

'Earlier today FOIA materials were posted to the FBIs Vault and FOIA Twitter account via an automated process without further outlining the context of the documents,' the bureau told DailyMail.com in a statement.

'We regret that this release may have inadvertently caused distress among the communities we serve.'
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) promoted universal child care during her Wednesday evening address to the Democratic National Convention.

Why it matters: Warren argued that child care should be part of the "basic infrastructure of this nation," adding that Biden and Harris "will make high-quality child care affordable for every family, make preschool universal and raise the wages of every childcare worker."

What she's saying: "Childcare was already hard to find before the pandemic, and now parents are stuck with no idea when schools can safely reopen and even fewer child care options."

"The devastation is enormous, and the way I see it, big problems demand big solutions. Now, I love a good plan, and Joe Biden has really good plans."

Of note: Warren spoke from the Early Childhood Education Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, which has been closed for months because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Massachusetts health officials announced another 28 coronavirus deaths on Wednesday, bringing the statewide death count to 8,645.

Officials also confirmed another 262 cases of COVID-19, for a total of 115,048 cases statewide. Thats based on 19,508 new molecular tests reported on Wednesday.

There are currently 365 patients hospitalized with the virus, DPH said.

The latest numbers come the day health officials announced that all children ages 6 months or older who are attending Massachusetts child care, pre-school, kindergarten, K-12, and colleges and universities must get a flu vaccine. Students are expected to have received a flu vaccine by Dec. 31 for the 2020-2021 flu season unless either a medical or religious exemption is provided.

Wednesdays statistics also come the day after Gov. Charlie Baker said that state officials have notified federal officials about applying for additional COVID-related unemployment relief. Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order allocating Federal Emergency Management Administration funds for unemployed workers.

Earlier this week, Baker 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 is coming 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.

Related Content:
The Democratic and Republican candidates for governor have released dueling health care proposals, touching on issues from the novel coronavirus pandemic to Medicaid expansion and prescription drug costs.

Late last month, Republican candidate Greg Gianforte, who is Montana's lone representative in the U.S. House, released his "Montana Comeback Plan" that dealt on a broad range of issues, including health care. Democratic candidate Mike Cooney, who is the lieutenant governor, announced his proposal at a press conference in Bozeman on Wednesday.

Cooney's plan specifically addresses the pandemic, saying as governor he'd require insurance companies operating in Montana to fully cover both the cost of COVID-19 testing and treatment. He also called for implementing infectious disease standards in workplaces.

"This plan outlines big, bold steps Montana can take to decrease the cost of prescription drugs and increase access to health care for those who need it, including protecting the health and safety of Montanans through the COVID-19 pandemic," Cooney said Wednesday in Bozeman.

Gianforte's "Montana Comeback Plan" does not directly address the cost of COVID-19 testing or treatment or workplace safety related to the virus, but does say that adaptions during a stay-at-home order show that remote work is possible for many types of jobs.

"Our comeback plan also focuses on increasing access to affordable health care, bringing down prescription drug prices, protecting people with pre-existing conditions and preserving access to rural care," Gianforte said in a Helena gathering in late July that capped a week of events around Montana introducing his plan. " ... This is a distillation of all the best ideas from across the state."

Medicaid expansion has dominated much of the conversation when it comes to health care in Montana for the last half-decade. In 2015 a coalition of moderate Republicans and Democrats in the state Legislature approved expanded Medicaid to cover those who earn up to 138% of the federal poverty level.

The program was extended in the 2019 Legislature to run through 2025. While that provides some clarity, it by no means 100% ensures the program that covers 85,000 Montanans will continue without hiccups.

Medicaid expansion is allowed for under the Affordable Care Act. On Nov. 10, after the Nov. 3 election, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case that could strike down the entire ACA. That would end Medicaid expansion and other popular provisions such as protections for those with pre-existing conditions.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration's Justice Department filed a brief in that case that called for the high court to strike down the full ACA, which would end protections for those with pre-existing conditions since Congress has not passed any other measure preserving that provision. Gianforte voted against an amendment that would have stripped the U.S. Justice Department's funding to challenge the ACA, though that passed the Democratic-controlled House.

Gianforte has said in the past he would like to see the ACA, also known as Obamacare, repealed and replaced. Democrats often point to this in saying that Gianforte's statements about protecting coverage for those with pre-existing conditions and respecting the safety net provided by Medicaid expansion ring hollow, saying if the act were repealed without a replacement, those provisions would fall.

Gianforte's official office said when the Trump administration's brief was filed that the congressman "thinks a legislative approach to fixing our broken health care system is the way to go" and that any reforms to the ACA should protect pre-existing conditions.

When asked about the potential for the possible repeal of the ACA without any other measure in place, Gianforte has pointed out that he's cosponsored the Pre-existing Conditions Protection Act, which would make insurance companies cover people with pre-existing conditions but has yet to become law.

"I've voted multiple times to protect people with pre-existing conditions in committee and on the House floor," said Gianforte, who serves on the Subcommittee on Health, in July. Gianforte's plan cites a commitment to protect coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, but does not specify an action to do so.

In Cooney's proposal, he said he would veto any attempts to weaken Montana's existing Medicaid expansion program and support "repealing bureaucratic barriers to care for eligible Montanans." His campaign said later those barriers included work requirements, which were added to the program in its 2019 renewal. While Cooney would not bring forward legislation to that effect, he would support efforts to do so.

"Medicaid expansion has been a lifeline fur rural Montanans, and I'm damn proud of the work that we put in to reauthorize that program. ... Anyone who wants to mess with Medicaid expansion in Montana will have to come through me first," Cooney said Wednesday.

The Democrat also said he would oppose any effort to repeal the ACA and that he would work to codify protections for people with pre-existing conditions at the state level.

Gianforte said in July that he supported the continuation of Medicaid expansion in Montana, but wanted more stringent asset and income verification.

In his plan, Cooney called for incentives for behavioral health providers to practice in Montana. He also said he wanted to see a doubling of the number of rural providers, "with preferences for mental health and addiction services."

Gianforte's plan says he would increase access to mental health care and suicide prevention services by working "with stakeholders to implement a strategy to increase the number of mental health practitioners in the state," as well as expanding tele-medicine services to reach more people.

Both candidates' proposals highlight the high costs of prescription drugs. Cooney said he would work to allow for the importation of prescription medication from Canada by "entities other than manufacturers or the Food and Drug Administration."

Cooney also said he would cap the price of insulin copays at $50 for a 30-day supply, not subject to a deductible. His proposed legislation would apply to state-regulated commercial insurance and public employee plans, and include emergency refills.

If elected, Cooney said he would propose the "Montana Anti-Prescription Drug Price Gouging Act." It would require drug manufacturers to justify a 25% or more increase in a wholesale acquisition price, over a period of six months, to the state Attorney General.

Gianforte said he would work with the Legislature to introduce a bill that Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock vetoed in the 2019 session that would have targeted pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs. Those are the so-called middle men in the prescription drug world who work between drug makers and drug purchasers to set prices.

The 2019 bill was crafted by Republican state Auditor Matt Rosendale, who is running for Gianforte's seat in Congress this year. It would have established a method of determining payment amounts, required health insurance companies to use rebates to lower drug costs and more. It passed both the House and Senate by wide margins, but was vetoed, and the Legislature did not override that veto.

Cooney and Gianforte's plans are fairly similar in calling for the streamlining of overly burdensome licensing processes for health workers and support for increasing options for tele-medicine and the broadband access to facilitate that.

Additionally, Cooney called for an increase in the wages for direct-care workers in the next state budget. He also said he would continue the Tribal Health Improvement Program. The program is a partnership between the eight federally recognized tribes in Montana and state and federal governments.

In his document, Gianforte says he will aim to end surprise medical billing by working with providers and insurance companies to increase transparency.

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SAO PAULO, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo  Sabesp (Sabesp or Company) provides the following clarifications, requested by the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission - CVM, through Official Letter 188/2020 / CVM / SEP / GEA-2, received on this date, the content of which is described below:

"Official Letter n 188/2020/CVM/SEP/GEA-2"

Rio de Janeiro, August 19, 2020.

Mr. Director

1. We report on the news published on the pages of the Valor Economico and Folha de S. Paulo newspapers on the world wide web on 19/08/2020, entitled, respectively, "Sabesp will return to the capitalization program, says Doria" and " Doria announces capitalization of Sabesp and shares fall more than 10% ", with the following content:

Sabesp will return to the capitalization program, says Doria

Cristiane Agostine

The governor of Sao Paulo, Joao Doria (PSDB), said on Wednesday that the State will carry out the capitalization of Sabesp. Doria said that the company will return to the capitalization program of the Sao Paulo government and, starting this month, will provide services to other states .

'[Sabesp] is going to dispute concessions for the distribution and treatment of water and waste,' he said. '[Sabesp] will have exponential growth and its value will be listed on the broad privatization program that we are going to announce .'

The governor spoke about the company when attending an online conference promoted by a bank in Sao Paulo. Doria, however, did not provide a timetable or detail the proposal.

Doria announces capitalization of Sabesp and shares fall more than 10%

Julia Moura

The governor of the state of Sao Paulo, Joao Doria (PSDB), announced on Wednesday (19) the return of Sabesp (Basic Sanitation Company of the State of Sao Paulo) to the Sao Paulo capitalization program.

"The decision of the Sao Paulo state government is to capitalize Sabesp. The company will return to a capitalization program and, starting in August, providing services to other Brazilian states, it will participate in concessions in the area sanitation, water treatment and distribution, and also waste treatment, "said Doria at a Santander event.

After the declaration of the governor, the company's shares on the Brazilian Stock Exchange fell 10.7% and entered into auction . At the auction, the stock continues to be traded, but goes out of business for a short period due to sudden price fluctuations. Around 11:46 am, they fell 8.8%, to R$ 50.64.

Sabesp is a mixed capital company, with the state of Sao Paulo as the main shareholder (50.26% of the shares). The expectation of privatization has led the company to appreciate about 60% since 2019.

Sabesp's capitalization process, capital increase, has been planned since the government of Geraldo Alckmin, with the company's corporate restructuring law approved in 2017.

Privatization and capitalization were under study in the Doria government, with the latter being considered the most viable at first.

The capital increase through the creation of a holding company that would control Sabesp was approved in 2018 by the company's board, with the objective of raising R$ 5 billion, of which R$ 4 billion would go to the state and R$ 1 billion to the company.

Doria did not give details of the operation on Wednesday, but said that the capitalization will be released soon to the president of Sabesp, Benedito Braga, and to the secretary of Finance and Planning of the state government, Henrique Meirelles.

2. Regarding the excerpts highlighted above, we require your statement regarding the veracity of the information provided in the news, and, if so, we request additional clarifications regarding the subject, as well as informing the reasons why you considered it not to be the subject of a Material Fact, pursuant to CVM Instruction 358/02.

3. We also request that the Company inform which documents filed in the IPE Module of the Empresas.NET System contain recent information on the matter .

4. Such statement must include a copy of this Official Letter and be forwarded to the IPE System, category "Notice to the Market", type "Clarifications on questions from CVM / B3". Compliance with this request for a statement by means of a Notice to the Market does not exempt the eventual determination of liability for the timely non-disclosure of a Material Fact, pursuant to CVM Instruction 358/02.

5. We emphasize that, pursuant to article 3 of CVM Instruction No. 358/02, the Investor Relations Officer is responsible for disclosing and communicating to the CVM and, if applicable, the stock exchange and organized over-the-counter market entity in which the securities issued by the company are admitted for trading, any relevant act or fact that occurred or related to its business, as well as ensuring its wide and immediate dissemination, simultaneously in all markets where such securities are admitted for trading.

6. We also remind you of the obligation set forth in the sole paragraph of article 4 of CVM Instruction 358/02, to inquire the management and controlling shareholders of the Company, as well as all other persons with access to relevant acts or facts, in order to ascertain whether they are aware of information that should be disclosed to the market in order to ascertain whether they would be aware of information that should be disclosed to the market.

7. We warn that it will be up to this administrative authority, in the use of its legal attributions and, based on item II, of art. 9, of Law 6,385 / 76, and in art. 7, combined with art. 8, CVM Instruction No. 608/19, determine the application of a fine, without prejudice to other administrative sanctions, in the amount of R$ 1,000.00 (one thousand reais), for non-compliance with the formulated requirements, until 9:00 am August 20, 2020. "

Clarifications:

Initially, with regard to Sabesp's operations in other states, in view of the recent approval of Law No. 14.026, on July 15, 2020 ("Basic Sanitation Framework"), the market expectation in general is that there are new commercial opportunities in the sector.

That said, Sabesp will monitor the opportunities that may arise from the regulation of the Basic Sanitation Framework and will evaluate participation in projects, including in other states, which it considers economically advantageous, as authorized by its Bylaws.

This information was disclosed by the Company in item 12 of the 2nd Quarter 2020 Earnings Release, made available on August 14, 2020 on the Company's website and on the Empresas.net system of this CVM, in the "Economic-Financial Data" category , like "Press Release".

In addition, the information was transmitted on the 2nd Quarter 2020 Results Videoconference, held on August 18, 2020, the recording of which is also available in full on the Company's website.

In the view of management, the information does not characterize a Material Fact, as there is, to date, no competitive process or specific project in progress in which the Company has formally taken the decision to participate.

Regarding the structure for the corporate reorganization and privatization of Sabesp, in view of the atypical fluctuation seen in the volume and price of its shares, and also its lack of knowledge about the possible definition of the structure for its implementation, the Company immediately acted to obtain relevant clarifications from its controlling shareholder.

In response, the Government of the State of Sao Paulo, through the State Capital Protection Council (Conselho de Defesa dos Capitais do Estado - CODEC), informed, in Official Letter CODEC No. 125/2020, attached to this Material Fact, that "there is no decision made on SABESP's model of corporate reorganization, since the working group constituted by the State Privatization Board Of Directors, on 04/24/2019, did not complete its activities, awaiting the analysis of vetoes by National Congress of Law No. 14,026, of July 15, 2020, which updates the legal framework for sanitation, to continue its work. "

Therefore, Sabesp reaffirms that, on this date, there is no material information additional to those already widely disclosed in the Material Facts of May 12, August 2, September 5 and 15, 2017 and April 26, 2019 and Notice to the Market of April 3, 2019.

The Company reinforces its commitment to keep its shareholders and the market in general informed about any relevant developments on the subject matter of this Material Fact, in compliance with the Law and regulations in force.

Sao Paulo, August 20, 2020.

Rui de Britto Alvares Affonso

Chief Financial Officer and Investor Relations Officer

Anexo

Oficio CODEC n 125/2020

CODEC OFFICE No. 125/2020

Sao Paulo, August 19, 2020.

Dear sir,

We refer to the Official Letter dated August 19, 2020, whereby this Company requests clarification regarding the news released on that date regarding the possible corporate reorganization of SABESP under the privatization program, in order to allow the disclosure of the information to the market through the appropriate channels, thus ensuring compliance with the applicable regulations.

From the point of view of the controlling shareholder, it is important to clarify that there is no decision made on SABESP's model of corporate reorganization, since the working group constituted by the State Capital Protection Council, on 04/24/2019, has not concluded its activities, being awaiting the analysis of the vetoes by the National Congress of Law no. 14,026, of July 15, 2020, which updates the legal framework of sanitation, to continue its work.

Furthermore, it should be remembered that this Company, on April 3, 2019, has already filed Notice to the Market to report on the same topic.

Kind regards,

RODRIGO GARCIA

Secretary of Government

President of CODEC

To

RUI DE BRITTO ALVARES AFFONSO

Investor Relations Director at

COMPANHIA DE SANEAMENTO BAISCO DO ESTADO DE SAO PAULO - SABESP

IR Contacts:

Mario Arruda Sampaio  (55 11) 3388-8664 ([email protected])

Angela Beatriz Airoldi  (55 11) 3388-8793 ([email protected])

SOURCE Sabesp

Related Links

http://www.sabesp.com.br


The Upper West Region has recorded 65 per cent Open Defecation Free (ODF) coverage, Mr Agambire Alhassan Inusah, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Upper West Regional Environmental Health and Sanitation Department, has said.



According to him, out of a total of 1,167 communities in the Region, 758 communities had attained ODF status.



Mr Agambire, who said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Wa, added that from January to July 2020, 32 communities were converted to ODF with Jirapa Municipality recording 16 ODF communities within the period.



The rest were: Nadowli/Kaleo District, eight communities, Wa and Sissala East Municipalities recorded three ODF communities each while Daffiama/Bussie/Issah District recorded two ODF communities within the period of January to July 2020.



The Upper West Regional Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee on Sanitation (RICCS) and development partners had been implementing projects and programmes, including the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) and GoG/ UNICEF Results Based Financing (RBF) propramme in the Region, which were geared towards achieving a region-wide ODF by the end of 2021.



Mr Inussah explained that the COVID-19 pandemic had adversely affected the ODF campaign activities in the Region.



He said due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sanitation officers could not visit communities to engage people on sanitation related issues including Open Defecation (OD).



"Sanitation is a matter of behaviour change and officers have to visit the communities to engage the people, but because of COVID-19 we could not do so. Because of that some households who started digging their pits did not complete them," he explained.



The M&E Officer stated that they would resume vigorous community engagement to sensitise the communities to help change their attitude towards OD and sanitation in general.



He noted that currently, Jirapa Municipality, Wa West, Nadowli/Kaleo and Daffiama/Bussie/Issah Districts were implementing the RBF project, and touted Jirapa Municipality for being the best performing Municipality in the implementation of the RBF programme.



He observed that all efforts to get the various Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) in the Region to enact and gazette sanitation by-laws to help fight the menace of OD had yielded no results.



"It will be difficult to prosecute sanitation offenders if the by-laws are not there and people will continue to defecate in the open," he said.



However, as part of efforts to improve access to sanitation services, including toilets, the Toilet Engineers and Sanitation Service (TESS) Limited in the Upper West Region, had been constructing affordable and descent bio-digester toilets for household, offices and public places such as schools and markets.



Mr Inussah told the GNA that TESS was ready to partner any organisation to improve Sanitation in the country.

Source: GNA









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Featured Video
Joe Biden is vowing to unite an America torn by crisis and contempt.

Biden accepted the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday, achieving a pinnacle in an unfinished quest that has spanned three decades and been marred by personal tragedy, political stumbles and more dynamic rivals.

The past hurdles fell away as Biden addressed his fellow Democrats and millions of Americans at home who he hopes will send him to the White House to replace Donald Trump.

Biden declared, Here and now I give you my word, if you entrust me with the presidency, I will draw on the best of us, not the worst. He said, Ill be an ally of the light, not our darkness.

The nights keynote address was the speech of a lifetime for Biden, who at 77 would be the oldest president ever elected if he defeats President Donald Trump in November.

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HERES WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THURSDAYS DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION:

 Takeaways from the final night of the Democratic convention

 Biden vows end of national darkness in convention finale

 AP FACT CHECK: Democrats on minimum wage and poverty

 For Biden, a long path to a potentially crucial presidency

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Follow APs election coverage at https://apnews.com/Election2020

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HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

The Democratic Party officially has its presidential nominee.

Joe Biden formally accepted the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday, a position he has sought for more than 30 years and through three White House bids. His running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, accepted the vice-presidential nomination on Wednesday.

Biden served three decades as a senator from Delaware before being tapped as President Barack Obamas vice-president. He first ran for president in 1988 and tried again in 2008 before launching his 2020 campaign last year.

President Donald Trump will formally be renominated as his partys candidate during the virtual Republican National Convention next week.

The general election is 75 days away. Trump has been struggling in the polls amid a confluence of health, economic and racial crises.

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A boy whom Joe Biden bonded with on the campaign trail over their joint struggles with stuttering says the former vice-president is someone who cares.

Brayden Harrington met Biden at an event in New Hampshire and asked for help overcoming his stutter. Biden struggled with a stutter as a boy and continues to counsel youngsters who are going through the same.

Brayden said at Thursdays Democratic National Convention that Biden told him he improved his speaking by reading aloud verses by the poet Yeats.

Brayden says, Joe Biden made me feel confident about something thats been bothering me my whole life.

He added: Without Joe Biden, I wouldnt be talking to you today.

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Businessman Mike Bloomberg is urging Americans to evaluate President Donald Trump like a coworker or employee when deciding whether to give him another term.

At Thursdays Democratic National Convention, Bloomberg asked: Would you rehire or work for someone who ran your business into the ground, and who always does whats best for him or her, even when it hurts the company?

He asked, If the answer is no, why the hell would we ever rehire Donald Trump for another four years?

Bloombergs addition to the convention lineup is another example of Biden trying to appeal to moderate and even Republican voters. Bloomberg has been a Republican, independent and a Democrat throughout his career.

Bloomberg was particularly effective at getting under Trumps skin. Hes now telling voters that Trumps slogan of Make America Great Again makes a pretty good case for Joe Biden.

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Pete Buttigieg says his experience as an openly gay man and military veteran shows how far the U.S. has come in just a few years and how much farther it has to go.

The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, says when he was born in 1982, it was unthinkable for an openly gay person to seek any federal office. Yet he noted Thursday at the Democratic National Convention that he had campaigned for the presidency.

He says he did so often with my husband at my side, winning delegates to this very convention.

Buttigieg, a combat veteran in Afghanistan, also noted that when he joined the military, firing me because of who I am wasnt just possible  it was policy, because of Dont ask, dont tell.

He said theres still a long way to go in making America a place of healing and not exclusion, but he says if things changed so much in major social issues for the country over the last 10 years, imagine how much they could during the next.

Joe Biden is right, Buttigieg said. This is a contest for the soul of the nation.

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Joe Biden is honouring his late son Beau as he prepares to accept the Democratic nomination for president.

A video tribute that aired Thursday at the Democratic National Convention recalled Beau Biden through his life as a major in the Army National Guard and as Delawares attorney general.

Beau died in 2015 of brain cancer. Biden often speaks of his son on the campaign trail as one of his heroes, and in the video he was described as an inspiration to his father even now.

The video featured President Barack Obama delivering Beau Bidens eulogy, saying that some folks may never know that their lives are better because of Beau Biden, but thats OK.

The videos voiceover declared of Beau that you never had to ask if hed do something the right way  he didnt know any other way.

The video closed with Beaus own words from his 2008 convention speech. He told the audience that he wouldnt be able to be with his father during the fall campaign and asked them to be there for my dad like he was for me.

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Sen. Tammy Duckworth says Donald Trump is a coward in chief who has proved himself unfit to lead the U.S. armed forces.

The Illinois Democrat and military veteran lost her legs during a helicopter crash while serving in Iraq. She said at Thursdays Democratic National Convention that Joe Biden understands the sacrifices military families make.

Duckworth says, Joe knows the fear military families live because hes felt that.

Bidens late son Beau served as a major in the Army National Guard.

Duckworth says Trump, on the other hand, is uninterested, doesnt read his daily briefing and has been manipulated by dictators who are enemies of the U.S.

She says, Donald Trump doesnt deserve to call himself commander in chief for another four minutes, let alone four more years.

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Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin is sharing her struggles with a childhood illness to tout the importance of health coverage for preexisting conditions.

Baldwin said at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday that she was hospitalized for three months as a 9-year-old. Her grandparents were her caregivers, and their insurance did not cover her. Baldwin says she then struggled to get health insurance as an adult.

She asks: Do we want to be a country where medical bills bury people in debt?

Baldwin is touting her support under the Obama-Biden administration for the Affordable Care Act. It allows young people to stay on their parents insurance until they are 26.

Baldwin spoke from Milwaukee, the city where the convention was set to be held before the coronavirus pandemic forced most of the events to be held virtually.

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The final night of the Democratic convention was designed to be Joe Bidens moment to soar.

But actor and comedian Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the master of ceremonies on Thursday, gave him a run for his money, uncorking a brutal roast of President Donald Trump.

American carnage, she said, referring to the dominant theme of Trumps inaugural speech. I assumed that was something he was against, not a campaign promise.

Invoking Bidens Catholic faith, she mocked a recent Trump photo op outside a church during protests against police brutality.

Just remember: Joe Biden goes to church so regularly, that he doesnt even need tear gas and a bunch of federalized troops to help him get there, she said.

Later, following a segment on voting, she quipped: If we all vote, there is nothing Facebook, Fox News or Vladimir Putin can do to stop us.

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Cory Booker has evoked the memory of his late grandfather to argue that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris can bolster unions and empower the middle class.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris know the dignity of all working Americans, the New Jersey senator said Thursday on the final night of the virtual Democratic National Convention. They know the urgency and the demand of our dream.

Booker says the Trump administrations policies have left working people under attack and the middle class shrinking. Booker says, He has failed us.

Booker added of his grandfather, If he was alive, Joe and Kamala, he would be so proud of you.

And hed tell us, take another by the hand, and another, and lets get to work, Booker said. This dream aint free, you gotta work for it.

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Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has invoked the legacy of civil rights icon John Lewis as she encourages people to vote.

Congressman Lewis would not be silenced, and neither can we, Bottoms said. We cannot wait for some other time, some other place, some other heroes.

Lewis represented the Atlanta area in Congress for decades. He was among a group of freedom riders who were beaten by Alabama State Police on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma in 1965.

Before he died of cancer in July, he published an essay encouraging people to exercise their right to vote.

Bottoms said Lewis was a God-fearing man who did what he could to fulfil the as-of-yet-unfulfilled promise of America.

And she urged others to live up to his call.

We must register and we must vote, Bottoms said.

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Democrats are opening the fourth and final night of their convention with a not-so-subtle dig at Republicans mispronouncing Democratic vice-presidential nominee Kamala Harris first name.

I cannot wait to see her debate our current vice-president, Mika Pints. Or is it Paints? said actor Julia Louis-Dreyfus, referring to Vice-President Mike Pence. After Democrat Andrew Yang suggested it was Ponce, Louis-Dreyfus responded, Oh, some kind of weird foreign name.

Harris is the child of immigrants, and her first name reflects her Indian heritage. Her name is pronounced comma-la, like the punctuation mark.

But President Donald Trump and other members of his party have been saying it wrong, even after they have been corrected.

The bit came after brief remarks by Yang, who ran in the Democratic primary.

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom says wildfires raging in his state should give pause to anyone who denies climate change.

Newsom spoke at the virtual Democratic National Convention on Thursday from a forest near Californias Central Coast after visiting a nearby Red Cross evacuation centre.

More than two dozen major wildfires were blazing across California, blanketing cities and towns in smoke and putting tens of thousands of people under evacuation orders.

Newsom recorded the video after choosing to scrap the prerecorded video he originally recorded.

I confess this is not where I expected to be speaking here tonight, he said in a video recorded on a cellphone.

He added, If you are in denial about climate change, come to California.

Newsom criticized President Donald Trump for working to roll back vehicle emission standards meant to curb climate change and for threatening to withhold funding from California.

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President Donald Trump says Joe Biden is no friend of Pennsylvania as he criticizes the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee near his childhood hometown of Scranton.

Trump isnt laying low during the Democratic National Convention. Hes mocking Biden and blaming him for supporting trade policies that he says resulted in manufacturing job losses.

Trump is attempting to frighten voters about the future of their retirement investments as well if Biden is elected, and he bragged that markets are up despite the coronavirus.

Hes also evoking images of violence in some of the nations biggest cities during his own presidency, saying it will only spread if Biden is elected. He says that if voters want a vision of your life under a Joe Biden presidency, imagine the smouldering ruins of Minneapolis and the violent anarchy of Portland coming to every city.

Theres only one thing standing between your family and the radical left-wing mob, he says. And thats your vote this November.
The Worldcom Public Relations Group, the leading global partnership of independent public relations firms, continued building out its partnership by recently welcoming GRIP Agency AG.

"Our organization is committed to building a trusted, collaborative partnership of independent agencies that pursue the highest level of excellence on their own, and collectively, help us achieve even greater heights," said Todor Ianev, Managing Partner of Janev Janev and Worldcom's EMEA Region Chair. "GRIP Agency is an outstanding agency and an important addition to our partnership. They provide us with a strong presence in Zurich, across Switzerland and add an important asset to our strong team across Europe."

The welcoming of GRIP Agency AG to the Worldcom Public Relations Group marks the completion of a rigorous Worldcom partner recruitment and vetting process that ensures the compatibility of the agency applying for partnership and their ability to meeting the standards of trust and collaboration that has defined the Worldcom PR Group since its founding in 1988. As the Group's newest partner, GRIP Agency AG joins a robust group of global partners who openly share knowledge, best practices, utilize each other to meet expanding client roles and to collaborate on new opportunities scaled to the local, regional and global needs of any prospect.

"Breakthroughs begin with curiosity. Because curiosity disrupts every routine, shows us new paths, lets us explore undreamt-of perspectives. Hardly any other force drives us forward more than human curiosity. So curiosity is a precious commodity today, unfortunately not a matter of course, but of decisive importance. We do everything in our power to actively support and encourage our employees in their curiosity. This is why we are very pleased to be part of Worldcom and to network with our colleagues around the world and exchange expertise and ideas in order to turn challenges into opportunities," says Patrick Milo, Managing Partner of GRIP.

GRIP, based in Zurich, is a communications agency with many years of experience in the Swiss market and has extensive experience in communications management, mainly for real estate, banking, finance and fintech companies, but also for the construction, retail, health and tourism sectors. Its range of services comes from a single source and includes strategic brand and marketing communication, public relations, the development of digital solutions and social media content marketing.

"We believe that brand value is the currency of the 21st century, which is why we always focus on the brand story without channel preference. The element that connects everything is creativity. The mixture of intelligent insights and innovative ideas creates moments that are captivating and convincing. We use our expertise and our entire range of services to achieve this, and we are firmly convinced that Worldcom will help us to achieve this goal even better than today," says Thomas Biedermann, Managing Director of GRIP.

About The Worldcom Public Relations Group

The Worldcom Public Relations Group is the world's leading partnership of independently owned public relations firms, with 143 offices employing some 2,000 staff in 115 cities across six continents. In total, Worldcom partners reported combined revenue of US$300+ million last year from 3,034 clients. Established in 1988, the group was formed so that the strongest, most capable independent firms could deliver immediate impact and sustained value through the intelligent use of communications wherever in the world a client needs support. Partners serve national, international, and multinational clients, while retaining the flexibility and client-service focus inherent in independent agencies. Through Worldcom, clients have on-demand access to in-depth communications expertise from professionals who understand the language, culture and customs of the geographic areas in which they operate. Learn more about Worldcom at www.worldcomgroup.com or by calling 1-800-955-9675.

Connect with Worldcom PR Group on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Learn more about Worldcom at www.worldcomgroup.com or call Todd Lynch at 1-800-955-9675.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200820005012/en/

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More than 18,000 Australians abroad are trying to return home but limits on international arrivals are posing a significant challenge, a Senate inquiry has been told.

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade official Fiona Webster says 27,000 Australians have registered overseas, with 18,800 of them wanting to come home.

Most were in India, the Philippines, South Africa and Vietnam, she said on Thursday.

More than 18,000 Australians abroad are trying to return home but limits on international arrivals are posing a significant challenge, a Senate inquiry has been told. A repatriation flight is seen arriving in Canberra from India

More than 371,000 Australians have returned home since March 13, when the public was urged not to go overseas because of the coronavirus health crisis.

The federal government has organised 64 repatriation flights home, with 13 of those from India.

Dr Webster said limits on international arrivals posed a 'significant challenge' for Australians overseas.

INTERNATIONAL ARRIVAL LIMITS Melbourne: no international passenger arrivals Sydney: 350 passenger arrivals a day Perth: 525 a week Brisbane: 500 a week Adelaide: 500 a week Canberra and Darwin: limits discussed with jurisdictions on a case-by-case basis Hobart: no international flights Advertisement

'We can only work within the quarantine capacity,' she said.

DFAT has tried to help vulnerable Australians or those in exceptional circumstances, but had limited sway with airlines, she added.

Nearly 400 people have been given emergency loans to help cover the cost of airfares home.

States requested limits on international arrivals so hotels could cope with the mandatory two-week quarantine program.

The current limits will remain in place until at least October 24.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd said the government's expert medical panel didn't provide advice on arrival caps.

'These are determinations being made by each state and territory based on what they feel is a safe number of people able to come into the country and be monitored and supported in hotel quarantine,' he told reporters in Canberra.

'We are aware that there are many Australians who do wish to return to the country, to return to their families.'
Census experts and advocates warn that the Trump administration's decision to end the decennial count a month earlier than expected will result in a dramatic undercount of Black and Latino communities across the country, which could have grave effects on federal funding and political representation in their neighborhoods.

They point in particular to alarmingly low response rates in places such as the Rio Grande Valley in Texas and the Bronx in New York, where the coronavirus pandemic had already interrupted outreach in some of the country's hardest-to-count census tracts. National nonprofits and community activists are putting together urgent persuasion campaigns in an attempt to cram three months of work into two - driving through neighborhoods with bullhorns taped to vehicles, pouring funds into geotagged digital advertising, and phone-banking.

"We're in the middle of a global pandemic, and they might be shortchanging every Latino community for 10 years to come. This is cruel," said Lizette Escobedo, who leads the census program for NALEO Educational Fund, a nonpartisan Latino rights organization.

The census represents an important fault line in the battle over structural racism and equity, with high stakes. It dictates the allocation of federal dollars and influences everything from infrastructure investments to education programs like free and reduced lunch to public health-care spending. The data is also used when deciding the boundaries of legislative districts.

People who do not self-report their information are usually visited by a Census Bureau worker. Because of delays caused by the pandemic, the federal government earlier this year extended the deadline for in-person follow-up, from mid-August to Oct. 31. But the administration abruptly announced last week that it would require data collection to end by Sept. 30 instead.

By law, the final census count must be delivered to the president by Dec. 31 of the year it takes place. Census Bureau officials have said the shortened deadline is part of an effort to meet that requirement. The bureau declined to comment about the risk of undercounting communities of color, but issued a statement announcing it would hire more workers to achieve a complete count.

Escobedo and others said they believe the decision was motivated by a desire to suppress the political power of communities of color, which traditionally vote Democratic.

Even in non-pandemic times, the likeliest communities to be undercounted are typically also the most marginalized in the country, said Diana Elliott, a principal research associate at the Urban Institute, a nonpartisan think tank. That includes communities of color, people living in rural areas or without permanent addresses, high-poverty neighborhoods, immigrant communities and places where government distrust is high. People in majority White and affluent communities, by contrast, are likelier to be counted.

"If certain areas are not represented with their full accurate count, that means their funding will be diminished as well," Elliott said. "I think, for example, of the Rio Grande Valley. That area of Texas will get less money than, say, the suburbs of Dallas. And that's not really a fair and equitable distribution of resources."

Critics have previously accused the Trump administration of politicizing the census. Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court stopped the census from asking participants if they are American citizens, which activists and experts said would discourage undocumented people from participating.

Last month, President Donald Trump signed a memorandum in support of excluding the estimated number of undocumented immigrants in the country from the count used to apportion congressional districts. Several groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and a coalition of state attorneys general, have filed lawsuits to block the shift in policy.

The administration's efforts to exclude undocumented immigrants, a radical departure from past policy, has support among some conservatives. Hans von Spakovsky, a senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation, said he believes including them in the count unfairly dilutes the political power of American citizens.

"None of them have any right to representation in Congress because they are not citizens of the United States," said von Spakovsky. "If you got rid of noncitizens in the apportionment process, California would probably lose five congressional seats."

The new deadline, however, could disenfranchise American citizens and legal residents, too.

Four previous Census Bureau directors testified at a hearing last month that the shorter time frame is likely to lead to an inaccurate count. The State Data Center, a partnership between the Census Bureau and U.S. states and territories to make census data available to the public, also opposes ending field activities a month earlier, said Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., chairman of the House Oversight subcommittee on civil rights and civil liberties.

"At this point, we're seeing an undercount of Black communities everywhere. Deep undercounts of places in the South," said Rashad Robinson, the president of Color of Change, a nonprofit organization working to maximize the census count among Black communities. "As covid continues to rip through those communities, it is a very challenging thing to see communities that absolutely need resources that could be left out."

On Wednesday, the National Congress of American Indians joined several other prominent Indigenous rights groups in denouncing the administration's accelerated timeline, calling it a direct threat to their well-being during a public health crisis that may have lingering effects for years.

"Our tribal nations and tribal communities have been ravaged by COVID-19, and an extension of the Census enumeration period was a humane lifeline during an unprecedented global health catastrophe," the groups said in a statement. "An inaccurate Census count will decimate our ability to advocate for necessary services for our most vulnerable communities."

Several experts said they are especially worried about the Latino count in Texas, where more than a dozen Latino-heavy counties have the lowest participation rates in the country.

One in four Texans live in hard-to-count areas where poverty, rural, and a lack of internet connections drive down census participation, said Katie Martin Lightfoot, who coordinates the grass-roots Texas Counts campaign, an informal committee that brings together local leaders and census organizers across the state. Data shows that Latinos in particular have the lowest response rate statewide.

Data experts on her team have estimated that even a 1 percent undercount would lead to a loss of $300 million per year for the next decade.

In some ways, the deck was already stacked for a potential undercount there. While other states dedicate tens of millions of dollars to census outreach efforts meant to boost the count, the Texas state legislature provided no funding at all. That left the task of encouraging participation up to local philanthropies and nonprofits, Martin said.

"Think about covid-19 and the pandemic and how much we're relying on these resources now. And people are still going to need those services, and that burden will fall on the state and the local governments," she said.

The overall self-response rate in Texas so far is 58 percent, compared to 64 percent by this point in 2010, said Martin. But as few as 37 percent of households have responded in some counties in the Rio Grande Valley.

About 63 percent of all households in the United States have completed the census, according to the Census Bureau.

The new timeline has jolted state and local officials even in places where abundant resources have been allocated toward the count.

California invested $187 million in outreach efforts to directly target the hardest-to-count communities. Officials in California say the new deadline will present significant challenges but they are confident about their response rate so far given the geographic and demographic diversity of the state.

"The next few months are very critical. Our job is made more difficult with some of the most recent actions by the federal government, and so we want to focus on tactics that are showing to be really effective, like phone banking with a patch through to the U.S. Census Bureau," said Maricela Rodriguez, who works in the office of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat.

Laura Russell, a census coordinator for Carroll County, Md., said the mostly White, suburban county has one of the best self-response rates in the nation. And yet even there, officials worry about an undercount, especially among preschool children and the area's small Latino community. They are mindful, she said, that they could lose up to $1,800 a head in federal funding.

Russell said county officials and volunteers have approached Latino community leaders and businesses to help solicit responses. All materials about the census were handed out in Spanish and English. The committee also worked with Latino-owned businesses and worked with the faith community, such as the Catholic Church.

"I think the No. 1 reason (Latinos have a low response rate) is they're afraid of the government. They don't want anybody to know they're here or to ask them questions," she said.

The pandemic has derailed even carefully tailored plans and tried-and-true methods of reaching these communities, including canvassing events outside grocery stores or census-focused events at local parks.

In New York, political leaders had signaled the 2020 Census was a significant priority, but those plans largely fell by the wayside when New York City became the initial epicenter of the pandemic in the United States. Escobedo, who runs NALEO's census outreach, said many of the funds the state had allocated toward the census were never distributed.

While Escobedo had prepared for some of the political challenges the census has faced this year, she could not have anticipated the pandemic.

"Latinos are dying at a faster rate. Latinos are suffering financially more than anyone else," she said. "So now you're going into a community where you're reminding them the census funds schools and funds transportation. And they're thinking, 'I don't really have the time and space to think about the census.' "

But the administration's revised timeline, she said, is in some ways more troubling than the disruptions caused by the pandemic because it is a self-inflicted wound coming from within the government.

"Folks are actually terrified of what a full count of Latinos can mean. But we're not going anywhere. This is our country. We are American as everyone else. This fight doesn't keep me up at night, it wakes me up every morning," she said. "I want to make sure that I can take that political potential and turn it into political will."
Alibabas other major growth driver was its up-and-coming cloud division, which expanded 59%. On the surface, this is laudable; however, that business continues to bleed money with operating loss margins running at 14.4%, the same level as three months earlier. Sure, this margin has narrowed over the past year, but as yet theres little indication that Alibaba can be expected to deliver sustained economies-of-scale as that category grows, especially in the face of stiff competition from the likes of Tencent Holdings Ltd.
As one of Paxful's brightest young leaders, Tugba Abadan is helping the global next-generation peer-to-peer (P2P) Bitcoin marketplace bring financial inclusion to the underbanked and unbanked in underserved communities across the emerging markets of Africa and the Middle East.

Tugba Abadan, Head of Africa, Paxful

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

It was then I realised how differently people live around the world and how many people lack the same kind of opportunities and financial inclusion as the Western world enjoys

You're the Head of Africa at Paxful. Tell us more about your role here.

I want to bring financial inclusion to Africa so that individuals have access to financial products and services in a responsible and sustainable way.

What is the core function of Paxful?

Do you have any role models? If so, who?

One of Paxfuls values is Be a Hero and I get inspired by everyday heroes I come across in my role.

We don't hear of many successful females in the cryptocurrency space. Tell us about your journey of getting into this space.

In 2017 I was introduced to blockchain technology, which led me to work on a project with Ripple, a US-based currency and remittance network. From that moment onwards I saw the true potential of blockchain technology and how it can be used to improve everyday lives.

What advice can you share for females wanting to get into cryptocurrency?

I encourage everyone to start learning more about cryptocurrencies and find their path to follow.

What are the trends you are seeing on the continent regarding cryptocurrency?

As the Head of Africa at Paxful, how do you manage to keep a work-life balance?

I do work longer hours, but I have so much fun doing that, plus I see the difference we are making and its so rewarding that the time really flies.

What do you think governments can do to encourage businesswomen?

As we celebrate Women's Month in South Africa. Do you have any words of encouragement for all the women out there?

Just keep doing what youre doing and keep empowering and educating other strong females. I encourage everyone to explore the crypto world and grab onto the opportunities it provides. It is time for women to shine bright and succeed in the industry!

Passionate about developing crypto-entrepreneurship and teaching others about the endless opportunity that P2P finance has to offer, Tugba has spearheaded Paxfuls Peer / Affiliate Program in 2019. The global entrepreneurship initiative aims to boost cryptocurrency education and build a pipeline of new crypto businesses, particularly across the African continent. Since January this year, the Peer Program expanded its roots to include many other markets such as Latin America, Russia and IndiaTugba Abadan, Head of Africa, Paxful, share her journey with us this Women's Month.I was born and raised in Turkey. I was always interested in different countries and cultures but never had the opportunity to travel, until I went on a high-school exchange in the US that changed my life. I came to America when the 9-11 tragedy struck, which made it quite a chaotic experience to be there as a foreigner. The experience was life-changing because it was the first time I left Turkey and ended up in a melting pot of different cultures and customs.. As a foreigner, I experienced it first-hand as I struggled to access the financial services; I couldnt open a local bank account and the fees for AMEX, Western Union and other money transfer services were enormous, so my parents even used to mail me cash in envelopes at some point - not a safe option at all. My friends from developing countries had similar issues so then and there I really started thinking about the importance of financial inclusion and the ability to transfer funds easily.It is no secret that Africa is the next frontier for cryptocurrency. Africas high crypto adoption rate has attracted many crypto companies to its shores. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg and there is still a lot of work to do in terms of education. My role is in line with Paxfuls mission of bringing financial freedom to everyone.I work towards that goal by focusing on education, developing communities, teaching about entrepreneurial opportunities and partnering up with trusted companies in Africa.Hence, we try to educate the masses about blockchain and use of cryptocurrencies and how Africans can make a living through bitcoin.We partner up with leading educational institutions and associations in our main countries (South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya) and make their courses free for everyone, so that quality education is available to everyone. This month alone we sponsored courses from Blockchain Academy, CoinEd, Startup Grind and they are free to use.In addition to education I believe in building strong local communities. We launched our entrepreneurship program, the Paxful Peer Program, in South Africa in November 2019 to help African crypto enthusiasts to become their own bosses while they are leading and educating their local communities about peer-to-peer bitcoin finance.Paxful is a peer-to-peer finance platform for trading bitcoin and soon other crypto currencies. It is a listing service, an escrow and wallet in one that allows you to buy, sell and store BTC in a secure and efficient way. Using our platform, you can send money abroad, invest, trade BTC and so much more.With over 300 payment methods and over 150 currencies available on Paxful marketplace, we make sure anyone can find a suitable payment solution thus promoting financial inclusion. Our mission is to empower the forgotten four billion unbanked and underbanked, so they have control of their money in a way they've never had before.I dont really have any specific role models, but I get inspired by people who accomplished great things under difficult circumstances.Ive met very strong women in Africa who started their own businesses, who lead life-changing projects despite the unstable economy, and I can say with confidence these women are my heroes and inspiration.After my exchange year in the US, I went back to Turkey to study Business Administration. I believe my exchange year in America shaped my career as I ended up working mainly for the financial institutions and banks, hoping to give people better financial opportunities.I worked on many projects before I ended up in crypto, from creating a cashless society by a payments system company to improving internet- and mobile banking access, I always had this vision of improving access to financial services.Bitcoin seemed to be one of those cryptocurrencies really making a difference so thats how I ended up joining Paxful in 2019. Paxful's mission of financial inclusion particularly attracted me, so now, I am bringing 10 years of experience in the finance industry to Africa, because everyone deserves to have a safe and easy access to financial services.My advice would be; Don't wait to enter the crypto world. There are a lot of opportunities waiting for women in the crypto industry. The crypto economy needs all the skills that the traditional global economy requires (and more) e.g. Product Development, Marketing, Legal Services, Data Analytics, Human Resources, Education, etc. or even day crypto trading, which is also a great option, where women actually prove to be very successful traders and often earn more than men, studies show. The opportunities are endless.Paxful is here to help, we have weekly Africa webinars on Wednesdays where we discuss different industry related topics. I highly recommend all females join these webinars. They can see how Paxfuls team in Africa is 75% female and why these ladies are my heroes.Crypto adoption is on the rise in Africa and it seems like the continent will define the future of crypto and Bitcoin especially. It could be because despite its diversity, the countries in Africa often share an incredible ability to innovate in order to overcome issues like poor infrastructure and limited access to financial services so they use Bitcoin differently to how the Western world does.Adopting it to everyday life uses, starting businesses, sending and receiving money and so on. That makes Africa a perfect ground for crypto growth.The top 10 countries ranking on the topic of cryptocurrency include Uganda, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and Ghana, which shows the growing interest in this space. The future of crypto is bright, and it seems that Africa will be the one deciding it.Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life - the saying used to sound such a cliche until I started working at Paxful, because this is how I feel now.Paxful also takes care of its employees and, in addition to a bunch of perks, I can work from home or flexible hours when I feel like it.I think governments need to provide women with educational courses and materials. In addition to education, they need to tackle workplace discrimination and encourage women to become entrepreneurs. Its very important that women can have some sort of work experience before they start their own business and perhaps the government could also help with that, via organised internships, for example.Another possibility is that governments could start financially supporting female entrepreneurship, providing grants or interest free loans, this could definitely help encourage them to build their own business.I met so many amazing women when I was in South Africa. Most of our business partners in South Africa are women and I love working with them because they are the real hustlers. They are creative, strong, inspiring, honest and hard-working.
Firefighters from Barstow tackle hotspots along Highway 9 during the CZU Lightning Complex fire Sunday in Boulder Creek, Calif. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)

A series of fires raging through five North Bay counties grew to more than 124,000 acres by Wednesday night, destroying more than 100 structures and threatening 25,000 others.

The firestorm was the largest of several fast-moving blazes in the San Francisco Bay Area and elsewhere in Northern California  many caused by intense lightning storms  that spread quickly overnight, burning homes and forcing thousands to flee.

The newest fires stretched from wine country to the Santa Cruz Mountains, moving with ferocious speed amid an intense heat wave that also has brought rolling blackouts. Smoke from the fires has caused terrible air quality across the region.

Many of the fires were believed to have been caused by lightning strikes. Northern and Central California began experiencing an unusually active sequence of largely dry lightning strikes Sunday morning, the most widespread and violent in recent memory in the Bay Area on one of the hottest nights in years, according to Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UCLA and the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

Over the last 72 hours, there have been some 10,849 lightning strikes throughout California, state officials said.

As of Wednesday afternoon, 367 major fires were burning statewide, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom.

"This fire season has been very active and, not surprisingly, that activity has taken shape in a number of counties up and down the state," he said during a news briefing.

At this time last year, crews had responded to a total of 4,007 fires throughout the state, Newsom said. They've already been dispatched to 6,754 this year.

More than 300,000 acres have burned statewide in 2020, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. By comparison, California wildfires charred about 270,000 acres in 2019, the smallest number since 2011.

The rapid outbreak of new blazes has stretched the state's firefighting resources to their limit.

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Jeremy Rahn, the lead Cal Fire public information officer for the LNU Lightning Complex fires, said Wednesday that the state had already requested 375 additional fire engines as well as additional hand crews from out-of-state agencies, and hired "nearly all available private firefighting 'call when needed' aircraft in the western United States."

"The size and complexity at which these incidents are burning is challenging all aspects of emergency response," he said during a media briefing. Firefighting resources are depleted as new fires continue to ignite.

Newsom, however, expressed confidence that California is prepared to rise to the challenge and thanked the leaders of other states  including Arizona, Nevada and Texas  for their pledges to send additional resources.

California is "putting everything we have on these fires," he said, and "were now getting the support of some of our partners in the Western United States, and for that, again, were very grateful."

The LNU Lightning Complex, which has burned at least 124,000 acres, comprises several fires in Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Yolo and Lake counties.

The most serious fire in the complex is the Hennessey fire, which began Monday morning on the eastern edge of Lake Hennessey in Napa County and marched into Solano and Yolo counties Wednesday morning, forcing residents to flee overnight and burning homes and other structures.

As of Wednesday night, 105 structures had been destroyed, 70 more had been damaged and 25,000 were threatened, fire officials said.

Officials have ordered the evacuation of the western edge of Vacaville  a city of 100,000 residents about halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento. The Vacaville Fire District also ordered evacuations of Pleasants Valley Road, which lies west of the city, and the English Hills and Gibson Canyon Road areas north of the city. A KPIX-TV reporter tweeted a video of a home burning off Pleasants Valley Road.

The fire was also forcing the evacuations of some northern neighborhoods in the city of Fairfield west of Interstate 80. By Wednesday afternoon, the fire jumped Interstate 80, forcing it to shut down in both directions between Fairfield and Vacaville. The interstate reopened later Wednesday night.

Evacuation orders and warnings have also been also issued for a stretch of Highway 121 in the Vaca Mountains northeast of the city of Napa, and in the mountains about eight miles northeast of St. Helena. On Wednesday night, evacuation orders extended closer to Napa Valley, and included the communities of Angwin and Deer Park north of St. Helena.

Mandatory evacuations were also ordered Wednesday night for non-essential personnel at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield.

And in Lake County, residents living around Hidden Valley Lake and Jerusalem Valley were ordered to evacuate as well.

The LNU Lightning Complex's fires in Sonoma County triggered evacuation warnings on both sides of the Russian River. The Walbridge fire was burning north of Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve and the community of Guerneville on the Russian River. South of the Russian River, evacuation warnings were issued as a result of the Meyers fire.

Vegetation throughout the area is extremely dry and considered to be in severe drought, according to Cal Fire.

Officials said the Walbridge and Meyers fires were likely to push southeast Wednesday as they burned through timber and the coastal forests understory.

The complexs northern fires were burning through brush and oak woodland and heading south toward Mount Vaca earlier on Wednesday.

The fires have sent American Red Cross staff and county workers from across the Northern California region scrambling to prepare for evacuees, said Denise Everhart, the Red Cross Pacific Division disaster executive.

The Red Cross has set up between 10 and 15 temporary evacuation points where residents needs are assessed before theyre sent to a hotel or motel. Everhart said that while more than 100 families were placed in rooms Tuesday night  some driving up to an hour away for lodging  its not a sustainable model if the evacuations continue to expand.

The LNU Lightning Complex fire may trigger up to 35,000 more evacuations, Everhart said, explaining that historically, between 1% and 3% of evacuees go to shelters.

She sought to assuage any concerns that going to a shelter could put people at risk of the coronavirus.

Weve put precautions in place, she said. If youre told to go, go. Were all working together to keep people safe. ... The fire is the risk.

Though emergency officials have opened multiple evacuation centers in Vacaville, many of those forced to leave their homes in the middle of the night were setting up camp in parking lots instead of entering buildings.

Those with RVs had generators up and running and their front awnings open. Others sat in folding chairs by their cars or in their front seats. Still more had already checked into local hotels, where rooms were filling fast.

Shawnee Whaley and her 79-year-old mother, Sharon Whitaker, sat inside an evacuation center Wednesday afternoon wrapped in American Red Cross blankets.

Whaley said they had no warning that the fire might be a threat when they went to sleep Tuesday night. But when Whaley was woken up by a phone call from a friend and saw that the power was out, she flung open her front door and "saw the glow of the fire." She used a ladder to climb onto her roof and spotted flames approaching.

Barefoot and still wearing pajamas, she ran across the street to her mothers trailer to wake her. Whaley grabbed a mask and her glasses but forgot her wallet. She left the front door open so her cat, Jitterbug, could hopefully escape.

Meanwhile, Lloyd Broughton, 78, evacuated after a firetruck came up his road at 3 a.m. He, his wife Anne, 73, and daughter Kristine, 35, gathered their seven rescue cats and packed two cars.

All three suffer from breathing problems and, with a heavy layer of ash falling, they were already coughing and having trouble, Kristine said.

While evacuating during a fire is always a stressful experience, it's been made all the more so because of the coronavirus outbreak  which has raised new fears among displaced residents who would normally pack into closely quartered emergency shelters and created new challenges for the agencies that operate them.

No one is ready for it, Broughton said of having to leave in the middle of a pandemic.

Numerous fires have broken out across the region since the lightning event a couple of day ago. Below is a snapshot of the fires currently burning in our area as well as a new start that was just detected along the Big Sur coast. #cawx #CAfires pic.twitter.com/36huYclMLE  NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) August 19, 2020

Another rapidly growing fire was burning in the mountains southwest of Silicon Valley, on the border of San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties. The CZU August Lightning Complex fire  which consists of 22 fires  has burned at least 25,000 acres and forced the evacuation of more than 22,000 people, officials said Wednesday night.

Evacuations were ordered around Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Ano Nuevo State Park, Butano State Park and Pescadero Creek Park. Other evacuations included the area around Bonny Doon. Evacuations centers were set up at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville and at Pescadero High School.

At least 20 structures, likely single-family homes, have been destroyed, officials said during a Wednesday evening press conference. In San Mateo County, the CZU August Lightning Complex fire was threatening the communities of Pescadero and La Honda. In Santa Cruz County, structures have been lost in the Swanton Road area, and a Cal Fire station was being threatened by flames.

Firefighters expressed worry about the fire reaching the communities of Boulder Creek, Ben Lomond and Felton, located northwest of Santa Cruz. The weather conditions for the next three days are grim, said Mark Brunton of Cal Fire.

That makes that threat very direct and very real, he said. Were doing everything we possibly can to protect life and property.

Rita Mancera, the executive director of Puente, a community organization based in Pescadero, was at the evacuation center at Pescadero High School on Wednesday helping evacuees locate hotel rooms and provide logistics for pets and livestock.

Among those fleeing the CZU August Lightning Complex fire was Steve Cobb of Dearborn Park. He evacuated his home Tuesday evening, with his wife, 14-year-old daughter, dog and two cats. They packed into their camper, already stocked from a recent trip to Yosemite, and headed to the beach.

Cobb moved to Dearborn Park 17 years ago and said that as a Bay Area native, hes never witnessed anything like what hes seen in the last few days.

Those storms were not ordinary, he said. They were tropical... Constant flashes of light, crashing thunder and rain.

Some residents looked for ways to help others threatened by the fire.

At home with his wife, three kids and 40-acres of hay farm, Jeff Moorehead of Vacaville put out a message on a local Facebook group at about 6 a.m. inviting anyone with livestock to bring their animals to their place. Eventually, Moorehead had about 25 new animals at his farm.

"We got alpacas, miniature horses, a little bit of everything, he said with a chuckle.

Offering relief to animal owners has become a regular part of his response to local wildfires, he said. In 2017, he helped shuttle animals from the Atlas fire in Napa County to Vallejo in Solano County.

"You have empathy for animals a lot of times and you have the same empathy for people, he said.

Latest evacuation zones. Bonny Doon south of Ice Cream Grade, to include Pine Flat Road South is now under an evacuation order. (Zones CRZ7, CRZ8). Areas adjacent to the Bonny Doon and San Lorenzo Valley - Prepare to evacuate. - Aug 19, 7:00 am #LNULightningComplexfire #zonehaven pic.twitter.com/I42ZjArVMD  Zonehaven (@ZonehavenInc) August 19, 2020

On Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a statewide emergency in order to help California respond to the outbreak of fires .

Newsoms office said the state had secured assistance 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.

The rash of fires has also led to a spike in traffic to Cal Fire's website, overloading it and intermittently crashing it, officials said. Cal Fire personnel were working with their technology department Wednesday morning to try to handle the crush of visitors.

By Wednesday, another blaze, dubbed the Dolan fire, has grown to at least 2,500 acres and had prompted evacuations in Monterey County near Big Sur.

As of Wednesday morning, the fire was actively burning in all directions, according to Los Padres National Forest officials. Because of the fire, Highway 1 was been closed from Ragged Point in San Luis Obispo County to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park in Monterey County, officials said.

The River fire, also in Monterey County, burned through more than 15,000 acres in steep mountainous terrain south of Salinas and destroyed six structures and damaged two others, according to Cal Fire. More than 2,750 structures remain threatened by the blaze, which has prompted mandatory evacuations.

The River fire was spreading to the north, fanned by downsloping winds and getting closer to homes on Las Palmas Parkway south of Salinas, said Greg Bertelli, the Cal Fire deputy incident commander. It was also spreading to the south.

Just south of the River fire is the Carmel fire, fanned by winds from the northwest pushing flames to the southeast, Bertelli said.

A cluster of fires is also burning in sparsely populated, mountainous terrain east of Silicon Valley and the East Bay and west of the Central Valley. This grouping, the SCU Lightning Complex fire, began early Sunday. It has burned at least 102,000 acres in five counties  Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Stanislaus and San Joaquin. Officials have issued evacuation orders for all counties and established evacuation centers at Creekside Middle School in Patterson and the Milpitas Library.

Authorities reported 5% containment on that fire Wednesday night.

Another blaze, which authorities named the 3-4 fire, was reported Wednesday morning southwest of Red Bank Road in Tehama County and has already burned 1,000 acres, according to Cal Fire.

To the southwest, in Glenn County, the August Complex fire rapidly grew overnight into Wednesday morning, and by nightfall was at least 65,000 acres, threatening the tiny town of Elk Creek, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The August Complex fire, which consists of at least 35 blazes, was caused by lightning strikes on Sunday in the Mendocino National Forest.

The western section of Glenn County has been placed under a mandatory evacuation order. Smoke could be seen on Interstate 5 from Willows, the county seat of Glenn County, to Red Bluff, the county seat of Tehama County.

In Marin County, the Woodward fire  more than 1,000 acres  was burning in the Point Reyes National Seashore west of Olema.

And in Fresno County, a firefighting helicopter crashed Wednesday morning while on a water-dropping mission for the 1,500-acre Hills fire, killing the pilot, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The helicopter was privately owned and contracted with the state to help fight fires, and the crash sparked a brush fire that has grown to about 50 acres and is spreading toward the Hills fire, officials said.

The numerous fires are blanketing the Bay Area with smoke and ash, wreaking havoc on local air quality.

Those with lung disease, asthma or other respiratory conditions should be especially careful to avoid smoky air, as should older adults and young children, said Dr. Grant Colfax, San Francisco's public health director.

The best thing you can do is to avoid outdoor air, San Francisco Mayor London Breed said.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District also has issued smoke advisories through Wednesday afternoon for residents in the area of the Ranch 2 fire, which is burning near Azusa, as well as the Lake fire near Lake Hughes.

Firefighters are battling flames amid a 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 temperature reading on Earth in almost 90 years.

Temperature records for the day were broken across California on Tuesday, with Woodland Hills hitting 112, breaking a record last set for Aug. 18 in 1949; Burbank reaching 109 degrees, shattering a record last set in 1986, when the mercury hit 100; and Santa Ana, which hit 106 degrees, breaking a record last set in 2010, when the high for the day was 95.

Death Valley also hit a record high for the date, reaching 126 degrees, breaking the high of 125 set in 2001.

Other spots that reached record temperatures for the day included Needles (118), Barstow (113), Paso Robles (111), Sacramento (109), Merced (107), Modesto (106), Anaheim (105), Gilroy (104), El Cajon (102), Long Beach (100), UCLA (97), Camarillo (95), Oxnard (90) and Newport Beach (87). Riverside hit 108, tying a record for the day last set in 1950.

Lin reported from San Francisco, Chabria from Vacaville, Rust from Pescadero, and Money and Serna from Los Angeles. Times staff writers Leila Miller and Colleen Shalby contributed to this report.
New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday urged the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) to issue an advisory to all media houses for enforcing a code of conduct to curb the "sensationalist and toxic nature" of televised debates.

A delegation comprising Rajya Sabha MP and Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi, another party spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill and AICC secretary Pranav Jha appeared before the NBSA and made the request for the advisory.

Media houses, journalists, anchors and spokespersons must be held accountable for their actions and conduct, a Congress statement quoted Singhvi as saying before the NBSA.

The delegation called for the "issuance of advisory by the NBSA to media houses for enforcing a code of conduct to curb the sensationalist, slanderous and toxic nature of televised media debates and strict adherence to the NBSA guidelines".

NBSA guidelines, dated December 13, 2012, had put an obligation on all media houses to ensure that their programmes do not become a platform to spread acrimony. The News Broadcaster's Association holds the authority to ensure compliance with its guidelines and instructions.

The delegation said that in the current political atmosphere, civil, respectful and factual temperament of television debates have been overpowered by on-air noise, friction and tussle, according to the party statement.

They sought for issuance of advisory, clarification on the term "acrimonious" and instruct anchors, panelists and media channels not to indulge in acts of "personal name-calling, instigation and mic control".

The News Broadcasting Standards Authority is an independent body set up by the News Broadcasters Association. Its task is to consider and adjudicate upon complaints about broadcasts.

Last week, Shergill had urged the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to take steps to restore "civility" in television debates and pitched for issuance of an advisory to enforce a code of conduct by news channels.

The Congress' demand for action against "toxic" TV debates comes after the death of party leader and spokesperson Rajiv Tyagi following a heart attack. He was 52.

Tyagi suffered the attack soon after participating in a TV debate from his residence in Sector 16 of Vasundhara in Ghaziabad.
She's known for always looking her best, on and off the red carpet.

And Katie Holmes knocked it out of the park again on Wednesday, when the 41-year-old stepped out for a stroll in New York City serving casual chic vibes.

The Dawson's Creek alum paired a long denim skirt with a baggy gray sweater as she walked the Manhattan streets solo.

Taking it easy: Katie Holmes knocked it out of the park again on Wednesday, when the 41-year-old stepped out for a stroll in New York City serving casual chic vibes

Katie wore her trademark wavy brunette tresses pulled back in a high pony tail as she walked.

The Batman Begins actress covered up with dark shades and a medical mask, too.

Meanwhile, Holmes declared her support Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on Instagram this week with a busty throwback snap taken in April for her InStyle cover shoot.

Casual hump day: The Dawson's Creek alum paired a long denim skirt with a baggy gray sweater as she walked the Manhattan streets solo

Katie shares her 14-year-old daughter Suri with her ex-husband, celebrity Scientologist Tom Cruise, whom she was married to from 2006 to 2012.

She told The Telegraph recently: 'I like to keep [Suri] out of my interviews, but I will say that this time of quarantine has been such a lesson.'

Said Katie: ''Just really looking at everything you have and celebrating the simplicity of making dinner and [spending] that time together.'

The Batman Begins actress initially began dating Tom in 2005, and seven weeks into the relationship, they were engaged.

Their Scientologist wedding was held at the Castello Orsini-Odescalchi in Bracciano in November 2006, seven months after their daughter Suri was born.

Katie filed in 2012 for a divorce that was finalized only 10 days later, with Suri's mother retaining primary custody, though Tom could visit, according to People.

Low maintenance: Katie wore her trademark wavy brunette tresses pulled back in a high pony tail as she walked

Ron Miscavige, father of Scientology leader David Miscavige, told the MailOnline in 2016 that Katie's misgivings about Scientology - including the effect it could have on Suri - contributed to her decision to leave Tom.

Tom has not been pictured with Suri in seven years and an Us Weekly source alleged in 2018: 'Every person is allowed to see their child if they wanted to. He chooses not to because she is not a Scientologist.'

This July Katie followed Thandie Newton on Instagram after the latter spoke about a 'nightmare' experience working with Tom on the 2000 film Mission Impossible II.

'I was so scared of Tom. He was a very dominant individual. He tries superhard to be a nice person. But the pressure. He takes on a lot. And I think he has this sense that only he can do everything as best as it can be done,' Thandie told Vulture.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 16:21:59|Editor: huaxia

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A woman walks out of a store in Sydney, Australia, on Aug. 20, 2020. Australia's trade relationships with East Asian countries, primarily China, are key to helping the country recover from COVID-19, according to an analysis article released Thursday by local think-tank, the Lowy Institute. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)

SYDNEY, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Australia's trade relationships with East Asian countries, primarily China, are key to helping the country recover from COVID-19, according to an analysis article released Thursday by local think-tank, the Lowy Institute.

Author of the article John Edwards used to be a member of the Board of the Reserve Bank of Australia and is now an adjunct professor with the John Curtin Institute of Public Policy at Curtin University. He declared Australia's economic recovery to be underway despite a second wave of infections in the State of Victoria, with less economic damage than previously feared.

"The handling of the crisis by Australian governments, hospitals, health care workers, and public officials has been more successful than in some comparable countries. So too, the economic response has been swift, well targeted, and substantial," Edwards said.

However, he pointed to several serious challenges that remain for Australia, including ballooning unemployment, which is expected to reach 10 percent of the workforce by the end of the year, and government debt which is at its highest peacetime level ever.

According to Edwards, crucial factor working in Australia's favour are it's existing trade relationships in East Asia, particularly with China, where the pandemic recovery is expected to outpace the rest of the globe by some margin.

"The impact for Australia of lower global demand and production is mitigated because three-quarters of its goods exports are to East Asia, a region that is growing faster than Europe or the United States and which, in most cases, has handled the pandemic well," Edwards said.

According to International Monetary Fund projections, global economic output will contract nearly 5 percent in 2020, however as a group developing Asian countries will contract by less than 1 percent, and China's output is predicted to increase.

With China by far Australia's largest trading partner, the country is well-placed to benefit from it's regional neighbour's success. According to official figures released earlier this month China's share of Australian exports hit an all-time high, rising to 48.8 percent, primarily in iron ore.

However, as well as its impact on global health, COVID-19 has also exacerbated existing international tensions.

Edwards said that while Australia has "inescapably" tied itself to the East Asian economic community centred around China, it also has a long-standing history with the United States as a defence ally.

Edwards points out that Australia is unlikely to overturn the prosperity found in the relationship, which has been developing for several decades.

"Australia would not find new markets for iron ore and coal to replace even a part of what it now sells to China. Nor could it easily replace exports of wine, meat, dairy products, and manufactures to China. The largest share of foreign tourists are from China, as is the largest share of foreign students. Without trade with China, Australia's living standards would be lower, its economy smaller, and its capacity to pay for military defence reduced," Edwards said.

Edwards says that the relationship with China and the United States should be better handled moving forward if Australia wants to benefit from the opportunities provided to it.

He says that while Australia can express its own concerns, recently it has acted imprudently by involving itself with other countries' policies towards China-related issues, leaving it open to backlash.

"Refusing to take sides in the trade and technology competition between China and the United States is Australia's declared policy. It was wisely adopted -- but not deftly implemented," Edwards said.
The apparent endorsement of aspects of the QAnon worldview by Trump and his associates has alarmed scholars of extremism and digital communications, some of whom characterize the theorys adherents as a cult. Experts have also observed a striking overlap between key tenets of the conspiracy movement and the central themes of the presidents reelection campaign. Among these are the valorization of Trump as a quasi-messianic figure battling the so-called deep state, the vilification of both Democrats and Republicans who cross him and the depiction of his rivals as criminal and illegitimate.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 17:14:41|Editor: huaxia

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VIENTIANE, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Lao government continued to closely monitor people entering the country to prevent a second wave of COVID-19 outbreak.

Deputy Director General of the Department of Communicable Diseases Control under Lao Ministry of Health, Phonepaserd Sayamoungkhoun, told a press conference on Thursday that people entering Laos will be sent to quarantine centers for 14 days and they must have the appropriate travel documents and authorization from the National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 prevention and control.

On Wednesday, 1,125 people entered Laos from Thailand, 16 from China, and 707 from Vietnam. A total of 115 people entered the country via the Wattay International Airport in the capital of Vientiane.

The National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control announced that it has been monitoring 3,768 people at 55 accommodation centers across the country.

The Lao government has warned people countrywide and relevant authorities not to neglect containment and preventive measures.

As of Thursday, Laos has tested 35,428 suspected cases with 22 cases tested positive, and 19 patients have recovered. Another three patients have been treated in the designated hospital, Mittaphab Hospital (Hospital 150) in Lao capital Vientiane.

Laos announced its first two COVID-19 confirmed cases on March 24. Enditem
As India and a significant population in the US continues to cheer for Kamala Harris' historic VP nomination, not all Indian policymakers seem to be entirely thrilled with the development. There are several reasons for that but the most obvious ones stem from their open pro-Pakistan backing on the Kashmir issue.

Joe Biden's running mate for the 2020 White Hosue presidential race Kamala Harris has been a vocal and sharp critic of India's Kashmir policy, especially after the revocation of Artice 370 and special status that was granted to the union territory.

Notably, last year, when Senator Harris was running her own campaign for the Democratic nomination, on two occasions she was asked about her stance on the Kashmir issue, and unsurprisingly she backed the demand for international intervention, specifically the US.

In one of her interviews, she stated 'We have to remind Kashmiris that they are not alone in the world. We are keeping track of the situation. There is a need to intervene if the situation demands.'

The Democrats have generally been less inclined towards India than Republican Presidents, for a variety of reasons generally related to America's geostrategic interests and Pakistan's proclivity towards fostering an economic and diplomatic model that is reliant on military and humanitarian aid, investments and hand-outs.

As #Indian, am thrilled with #Kamala #US nomination. Sadly, history teaches tht #Democrats are consistently more Anti india thn #Republicans in most issues. #Biden & #Kamala likely 2b same, possibly worse. Kamala may also hv 2adopt compensatory bias qua #India cos of her origins!  Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) August 13, 2020

On the eve of India's Independence Day, when US President Donald Trump in his usual rant, launched an attack on democrats  but this time directed it at Kamala Harris, and was quoted as saying, 'I have more Indians than she has.'

This remark has less racial and ethnic prejudice than many would think considering the fact that for a significant section of Indian Americans and NRIs working in the US, Trump may be a better option, here's why:

Read | When Kamala Harris asked aunt in India to break coconuts for her good luck at temple

1) Biden-Harris' support of pro-Pakistan lobbies in the US

President of Voice of America and Hindus for America, Ram Sastry, in a townhall organised in the US had unambiguously stated Biden was not a good choice for Indians owing to her 'anti-India' stance. He called her 'Hinduphobic' and 'pro-Pakistan'. The NGO's president minced no words in his interaction with the media when he called the presidential hopeful a 'flip-flop politician.'

The US, in the last few decades, has banked on Pakistan being a key hub for its strategic interests in the region, being given free reign to conduct numerous activities from and on Pak soil that few sovereign nations would allow. However, US has also suffered the consequences of putting its faith in Pakistan's paper civilian governments while its military-deep state has used US aid to proliferate non-state actors across the region - including rampant terrorism across all its borders.

2) Far-left politics with inclination to socialist policies

Several smaller groups and Hindu organisations in the US see Harris as a threat to India and America's growth. Another such group, Americans4Hindus, chaired by a senior cardiac surgeon in San Francisco Dr Romesh Jhapra, dismissed the senator's Indian lineage and supported his argument saying 'She (Harris) has moved too far to the left and supports ultra-socialist policies.' He further went on to extend the support of the group for President Trump and incumbent administration.

Read | Joe Biden, Kamala Harris take double-digit lead against Trump, Pence in latest poll

3) Opposing views on Kashmir Article 370 and CAA

Kamala Harris has been accused by Republican candidate Nisha Sharma, who she ran against in California as 'playing on people's emotions.' The Senator has repeatedly taken a strong stance against India's national interest in matters of CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) and revocation of Article 370 which abolished the temporary special status granted to Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Nisha Sharma also attacked her national policies and said Harris' policies go 'against the fabric of US and against meritocracy'.

Pakistan's complicity with terror led to the neutralisation of Osama Bin Laden within a few thousand feet of a Pak military compound in Abottabad by US forces in 2011(check). US-Pakistan ties have soured greatly over the last few years as various US administrations' schemes have come undone even as a desperate Pak has tilted towards China; whereas India has emerged as the most significant counterbalance to China in the region. During the recent global animosity towards China, it was India that gave the PLA a bloody nose and banned Chinese apps, whereas Donald Trump and Pompeo have largely played to the galleries before the November elections.

4) Demystifying Indian identity

When India passed the CAA, five Indian American lawmakers, all of them Democrats, spoke out against the Bill and pushed a resolution in Congress urging that the bill be removed. Later when EAM S Jaishankar was in the US he refused to meet with one of the lawmakers on the reason that their understanding of the Kashmir situation is 'unfair and biased'.

Somanjana Chatterjee, a political strategist in the US made scathing remarks against Harris' relationship with the Indian-American community. She said, 'Living in California for more than 10 years, I have never heard of Kamala mentioning her Indic roots up until her campaign fundraisers for Senate race.' She further alleged that while serving as California's Attorney General, she was 'non-cooperative' when approached for intervention in the State's public schools and revision of depiction of Hinduism in textbooks.

Read | Netizens guess how 'desi' Kamala Harris is with hilarious #YoKamalaSoIndian memes

5) Continued silence on Pak-sponsored terrorism & Chinese violations

While senator Kamala Harris and the Democratic party leave no stone unturned when it comes to attacking India, they remain mysteriously quiet on the subject of Chinese LAC violations and border incursions. They have maintained a resolute silence on Pakistan-sponsored terrorist attacks in the valley, or pass any resolutions on forced religious conversions in the region. Their apathy towards the mistreatment of minorities and various counts of human rights violations also seem alarming.

Strategic maneuvering in the name of national or personal interest?

The outrage against India or the calculated cosying up to China and Pakistan are strategic and political in nature. A mere ploy to gain favour with the larger Pakistani-origin voter base for democrats. Despite this, Kamala Harris has not shied away from brandishing her Indian heritage as the Indian American community is one of the largest, wealthiest, and most politically driven groups in recent times.

In the larger scheme of things, Kamala Harris is still an American politician trying to woo Indian American voters, of which there are about 10 million people in the country, making that 5% of the overall voting population. Although Kamala Harris has raised no red flags about the Indian government yet, it might still be too early to decisively say whose interest she holds closer to heart.

Read | Trump campaign calls Joe Biden, Kamala Harris 'spineless' ahead of US elections
A newborn baby's death is now being handled by homicide detectives, who are looking to interview the mother.

The baby was just one day old when it was found dead at a home on Cassidy Road in Thornlie, in Perth's south-east around 1pm on Wednesday.

Detectives are now looking to speak to the baby's 26-year-old mother, who was taken to Fiona Stanley Hospital in the back of an ambulance escorted by police.

A newborn baby had only been for a day when it was found dead at a family home in Perth, while a man was lead away from the scene in handcuffs (pictured)

The baby was found at a home in Thornlie, located 18 kilometres south-east of the city's CBD

A man was also led away from the home in handcuffs as a towel covered his face late on Wednesday. His arrest was reportedly unrelated to the child's death.

Joel Alexander Douglas, 26, made a brief appearance at Armadale Magistrate's Court on Thursday, where he is accused of breaching a police order and possessing methamphetamine, according to The West Australian.

Friends called emergency services about 1pm but the baby, whose sex has not been disclosed, was believed to have died before paramedics arrived.

Forensic officers spent the night scouring the home for any clues into the baby's death and the house is known to police, Seven News reported.

Local detectives spoke to neighbours in the area and the house remains under police watch.

The death is now being treated by homicide detectives who are looking to interview the 26-year-old mother (pictured, outside the house on Wednesday)
Gov. Doug Ducey is holding another weekly press conference to give updates on the state of Arizona's response to the coronavirus and what changes might look like going forward.

PHOENIX (AP)  COVID-19 conditions in Arizona have improved to the point where it is safe for four largely rural counties to reopen schools for partial in-person learning, state health officials said Thursday.

The counties given the green light to reopen schools for a mix of virtual and in-person instruction were Apache, Cochise, Coconino and Yavapai. Cities in those counties include Flagstaff, Prescott and Sierra Vista. Apache County includes part of the Navajo Nation, which was a national virus hotspot in the spring.

Arizona's other 11 counties, including Maricopa, which includes Phoenix, and Pima, where Tucson is located, still haven't cleared benchmarks based on case numbers, testing positivity and hospital visits.

Arizona became a national hotspot in June and July, with new infections rampant, hospitals nearing capacity and deaths soaring.

The sharp rise in cases started about two weeks after Gov. Doug Ducey allowed stay-at-home orders to expire on May 15, and bars, nightclubs and other large venues became packed with patrons.

In mid-June, Ducey relented and allowed local governments to require people to wear masks in public. On June 29, he ordered bars, nightclubs and water parks to close as daily case counts neared 5,000 a day.

Those actions appeared to have a major effect, with new cases dropping quickly.

The Department of Health Services on Thursday reported 723 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases and 50 additional deaths, increasing the states totals to 196,280 cases and 4,684 deaths.

COVID-19-related hospitalization metrics posted by the Department of Health Services have returned to levels last reported in early June.

While the COVID-19 burden on hospitals has been decreasing, it is important for everyone to continue working to prevent a new surge," the department said on Twitter. Wear a mask, stay home if you are sick, and physically distance while in public."

Meanwhile, according to Johns Hopkins University data analyzed by The Associated Press, seven-day rolling averages of cases and deaths in Arizona continued to decline over the past two weeks.

The seven-day rolling average of new daily cases dropped from 1,990 on Aug. 5 to 873 on Aug. 19, and the rolling average of deaths per day dropped from 68 on Aug. 5 to 41 on Aug. 19.

The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested. Studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick. boilerplate on cases.

Only a few Arizona school districts have reopened for general in-person learning. One that tried to do so was blocked by a teacher sickout and has resumed virtual instruction for now.

The J.O. Combs Unified School District board voted 4-1 Wednesday night to resume remote learning starting Thursday. The district's board will meet again on Aug. 27 to review updated state coronavirus metrics on reopening schools to again consider whether to resume in-person instruction while continuing remote learning, Superintendent Gregory Wyman said.

Wyman said the Pinal County community on the southeastern outskirts of metro Phoenix was deeply divided about reopening schools.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

In another virus-related development in Arizona, a health care provider in Phoenix is enrolling 1,500 people to participate in a trial of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University and AztraZenca, a British-Swedish pharmaceutical company, the Arizona Republic reported.

The fact that it is a leading candidate right now, just made it a more exciting prospect to be involved, said Justin Bayless, CEO of Bayless Integrated Healthcare. For us, it was a no-brainer.
Facebook employees, in an open letter to the company's leadership, have demanded that it should acknowledge and denounce anti-Muslim bigotry and ensure more policy consistency, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

The letter comes days after an article in the Wall Street Jounal, which alleged that a top Facebook India official turned a blind eye to hate speech by a BJP leader and three other Hindu nationalist individuals and groups to avoid damaging the social media platforms business prospects.

The report drew strongly worded reactions on Twitter, with some condemning the "free pass" for hate speech by right-wing leaders on the platform, and others questioning the silence of media outlets in India on the issue.

Another foreign publication follows up the Facebook India fiasco, meanwhile the press, think tanks, journalists in India are busy defending.Facebook and its employeeshttps://t.co/XyMaLFZvTh Cyril Sam (@cyrilsam) August 19, 2020
India reported its worst single-day spike of 69k cases, taking the total to 2.8 million, according to the Health Ministry. India has left the US and Brazil behind in seven-day average of daily new cases.Around 53,866 people have died in the country from Covid-19 so far, with 977 people succumbing to the disease in the last 24 hours.



Five most affected states by total tally of cases are Maharashtra (628,642), Tamil Nadu (349,654), Andhra Pradesh (306,261), Karnataka (249,000), and Uttar Pradesh (162,434).



Meanwhile, Delhi Disaster Management Authority has given its approval for opening of hotels and weekly markets in the national capital. 29% of Delhi has corona antibodies, shows new sero-survey. "A total of 15,000 samples were collected during the second serological survey which was conducted between August 1-7": Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain

Cuba kicks off clinical trials next week of a potential vaccine called "Soberana 01" ("Sovereign 01") developed by its state-run Finlay Institute, with results due in February, state-run media said on Wednesday. The potential coronovirus vaccine will be delivered in two injections during the trials that will involve 676 people aged between 19 and 80 years and conclude on Jan. 11.


In early 2020, NanoCellect announced a partnership with Novogene (Northern China). Later that year, Biostar (Southern China), Genmall Biotechnology (Taiwan), and Filgen (Japan) joined NanoCellect's global distribution network. In October 2019, the company announced an agreement with Singapore-based Research Instruments to distribute its cell sorter, single-cell dispenser, consumables, and software throughout Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam. DAON BioSciences was selected as the exclusive distributor for the Korean market. Also in 2019, NanoCellect partnered with Millennium Science to support its sales network in New Zealand and Australia.

In April of 2019, NanoCellect announced a formalized partnership with Bucher Biotec. Bucher is responsible for distributing the WOLF Cell Sorter in Switzerland. Also in late 2019, they expanded distribution in Europe specifically in Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Norway when they signed RAMCON as part of their distribution partnership network. In early 2020, I&L Biosystems was added to provide sales and support in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, UK, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, and Italy.

Dr. Will Alaynick, Co-founder and VP International at NanoCellect commented, "NanoCellect is eagerly supporting COVID-19 research efforts by providing a benchtop cell sorter that uses sterile, aerosol-free, disposable cartridges with no cross-contamination between samples. While many core facilities continue to have limited service availability due to the pandemic, researchers who are performing single-cell and 10x Genomics assays, immune profiling, antibody discovery, or functional assays are using the WOLF for optimal sample preparation in their lab, especially in BSL2 and BSL3 settings. These distribution partnerships allow our easy-to-use sorter to reach essential researchers' laboratories."

NanoCellect's microfluidic flow cytometry platform is used by scientists to analyze and sort cells for stem cell cloning and cell line development, single-cell genomics and sample preparation, among other life science research applications. The company was founded in late 2009 as a spinout from the University of California, San Diego. Six years were dedicated to perfecting WOLF's technology platform before introducing the product to early adopters in 2016. Initial funding of the company was provided by 19 NIH SBIR grants and contracts. Today, Illumina Ventures, FusionX Ventures, Anzu Partners, Agilent Technologies, Vertical Ventures (Highlander Fund and Triton Fund), and other private investors continue to support NanoCellect's growth and success.

To learn more about NanoCellect Biomedical's global distributors and partnerships, click here or email.

About NanoCellect Biomedical

Co-founded by Drs. Will Alaynick, Jose Morachis, Nate Heintzman, Sung Hwan Cho, and Professor Yuhwa Lo in 2009, NanoCellect Biomedical, Inc. is a privately-held life science company focused on developing pioneering solutions and commercializing cell analysis and sorting that is based on microfluidic technology. NanoCellect's mission is to facilitate breakthrough biomedical discoveries by making cell sorting and analysis technology portable, affordable, and easy to use. Its WOLF platform is used in a growing number of scientific applications including antibody discovery, cell line development, genomic sample preparation, CRISPR genomic editing, and plant and animal genomics. Follow NanoCellect on Facebook , LinkedIn , Twitter , and Instagram .

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The global automotive wiper system market is predicted to grow at a 5.6% CAGR over the forecast period (2018-2023), states the new Market Research Future (MRFR) report. A wiper system is a tool or device in a vehicle used to remove debris, ice, snow, and rain from a windshield or windscreen. An automotive wiper is powered either by a pneumatic power or an electric motor.

Wiper systems are a vital part of a car that comprises of two wiper arms and wiper drive. They are made from fabrics, metal, plastics, and molded substrates. Latest technologies are being introduced in the market for reducing noise and improving the effectiveness of the wiper system such as removing of dust and cleaning of water.

Various factors are propelling the automotive wiper system market growth. These factors, as specified by the Market Research Future (MRFR) report, include growing production and sales of cars across the globe, increasing disposable income in India as well as China, increasing adoption of rear wipers in SUVs, rise in GDP, improved standard of living, and growing demand for driver and vehicle safety. Additional factors boosting market growth include rising automotive R&D spending, technological advancements, demand for smarter auto components, use of sensors in wiper system, the ever-present threat of car accidents, growing population, demand for electric cars, and an improving economy.

On the contrary, complex design of systems, lack of skilled drivers, and lack of standard protocols for developing automotive wiper systems are factors that may impede the automotive wiper system market growth over the forecast period.

Market Segmentation

The Market Research Future report provides a wide segmental analysis of the automotive wiper system market based on propulsion, vehicle type, application, motor type, and arm type.

Based on arm type, the automotive wiper system market is segmented into pantograph arm and synchronized radial arm.

Based on motor type, the automotive wiper system market is segmented into brushless, brush, and stepper.

Based on vehicle type, the automotive wiper system market is segmented into commercial vehicle and passenger car. Of these, the passenger car will have the largest share in the market over the forecast period.

Based on propulsion, the automotive wiper system market is segmented into electric vehicle and ICE. Of these, the electric vehicle segment will dominate the market over the forecast period.

Based on sales channel, the automotive wiper system market is segmented into aftermarket and OEM.

Regional Analysis

Based on the region, the automotive wiper system market report covers growth opportunities and the latest trends across the Asia Pacific (APAC), Europe, North America, and the Rest of the World (RoW). Of these, the APAC region will lead the market over the forecast period. This is due to the increasing production of automobiles in Japan, Korea, India, and China. Besides, increasing purchasing power of consumers, growing population, infrastructure development across this region, and growing industrialization are accelerating market growth.

The automotive wiper system market in Europe is predicted to have significant growth over the forecast period. This is due to the growing number of light vehicles and stringent regulations all across the European Union.

Key Players

Leading players profiled in the automotive wiper system market report include Mitsuba Corp. (Japan), B. Hepworth and Company Limited (UK), Am Automotive (US), Pilot Automotive (US), DENSO Corporation (Japan), Magneti Marelli (Italy), WAI Global (US), DOGA Automotive (Spain), Robert Bosch GmbH (Germany), and Valeo S.A. (France) among others. The key players have adopted different strategies to make a foothold in the market, such as acquisitions, mergers, partnerships, research and development, and more.

April 2019: Valeo, a leading auto component manufacturer has opened a new wiper motor manufacturing facility at Vallam, Chennai. This plant will manufacture rear wiper motors that will cater to the needs of the aftermarket and OEMs segments. Currently, this facility makes left-hand motor for specifically sufficing the needs of the OEM as well as possess the capability of producing medium and short version wiper motors.
New Delhi, Aug 20 : The efforts made by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to deal with the Covid-19 situation in Delhi are showing successful results as Delhi's position has become much better than the rest of the country, the city government said on Thursday.

"At present, the doubling rate of corona in Delhi has gone up to 101.5 days, as compared to the rest of the country which stands at 28.8 days. Moreover, the mortality rate in Delhi has also considerably decreased," the Delhi government added.

The doubling rate in the case of coronavirus is defined as the number of days it takes for the count of cases to double. On July 1, the doubling rate of corona cases in Delhi was the same as the rest of India at 20 days.

The government added, "Since then, the doubling rate of Delhi has been steadily rising. It was 58 days on July 17, around 90 days on August 1, and has currently increased to 101.5 days. In comparison, for the rest of India, the doubling rate has remained between 20 and 27 days since July 1." For the month of August so far, the mortality rate in Delhi is 1.4 percent, while the country has a mortality rate of 1.92 percent.

In a meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) held on Wednesday, the Health Department of the Delhi government presented fresh data regarding the situation of coronavirus in Delhi.

"The figures are not only strengthening the case for Delhi Model's success in defeating corona but also bring relief to the residents of Delhi." To prevent new cases and to reduce deaths due to COVID, Kejriwal has been directing all the concerned departments, including the health department, to take necessary steps.

This is the result that compared to June, when there was panic in Delhi over COVID, the situation is showing a lot of improvement today.

The case fatality rate in Delhi for the month of August has improved substantially to 1.4 percent whereas, for the rest of India, the case fatality rate is 1.92 percent.

While reiterating that the coronavirus situation is improving in Delhi, Kejriwal has maintained that the main aim of the authorities and the Delhi government is to save as many lives as possible.

For this, many improvements have been made inside the hospitals such as ramping up the infrastructure, increasing ICU beds and wards, and supplying oxygen concentrators to patients recovering in hospitals as well as home isolation.

"On June 20, the recovery rate of Delhi and the rest of India was similar at 55.2 percent. Since then, the recovery rate of Delhi has been consistently higher than the rest of India. Today, the recovery rate in Delhi is 90.2 percent as compared to 72.5 percent recovery rate for the rest of India." Out of a total of 1,57,354 cases in Delhi, 1,41,826 patients have recovered, which shows a significant improvement in the corona situation in Delhi. The success of the Delhi Model is also seen in the sharp decrease in the test positivity rate over the last two months.

On June 18, the test positivity rate in Delhi was 24.59 percent, which reduced substantially to 5.25 percent by August 16.

Notably, the positivity rate has dropped for both RT-PCR tests and Rapid Antigen Tests. On June 18, 9088 RT-PCR tests were conducted of which 2804 positives emerged - a positivity rate of 30.85 percent. In comparison, on August 16, 4106 RT-PCR tests were conducted of which 434 positives emerged - a positivity rate of 10.57 percent.

The city government said, "Similarly, on 18 June, 3316 Rapid tests were conducted in Delhi of which 247 positives emerged - a positivity rate of 7.42 percent. In comparison, on 16 August, 10,882 Rapid tests were conducted in Delhi of which 353 positives emerged - a positivity rate of 3.24 percent."
Credit - Illustration by Ben Wiseman for TIME

At home in Kentucky in mid-August, Mitch McConnell didnt sound the slightest bit concerned. The Postal Service is going to be just fine, the Senate majority leader drawled, echoing the soothing talking points of other Republicans: the Trump Administration was just reforming a 228-year-old institution, and President Donald Trumps new Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy, was making it more efficient. The same day, Trump described the situation in his own, half-joking way: I want to make the post office great again, O.K.?

But the lighthearted talk just highlighted the spreading national panic that had triggered it: less than 80 days before a presidential election that will rely more heavily on voting by mail than any previous race in U.S. history, the great machinery of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) seemed to be sputtering to a halt. The operational pivot DeJoy announced in July, which included restrictions on staff overtime and transportation costs, produced a backlog of undelivered mail, according to postal union representatives. The Department of Veterans Affairs acknowledged that prescription drugs mailed to veterans via USPS had been delayed by an average of almost 25% over the past year. Small businesses, which rely on the affordability of USPS rates, began facing angry customers whose packages were lost in distribution centers for weeks.

At the end of July, the Postal Service itself sounded the alarm, sending warning letters to 46 states, including the electoral battlegrounds of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Florida, alerting them that the USPS might not be able to meet their election deadlines. In all, more than 159 million registered voters live in the 40 states that received the most urgent warnings, according to the Washington Post.

Panicked constituents papered the door of DeJoys D.C. apartment building with fake ballots reading, Save the post office, Save our democracy; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called lawmakers back for an emergency session to vote on a bill to protect the USPS; and Democratic Senator Gary Peters launched an investigation into DeJoys operational changes. Its a level of concern I havent seen in the past, says Melissa Rakestraw, a mail carrier in Illinois.

Story continues

Postmaster General DeJoy visits Capitol Hill in August Erin SchaffThe New York Times/Redux

DeJoy, who spent more than three decades running New Breed Logistics, a national supply-chain services provider with 7,000 employees, seemed blindsided by the fallout. The Postal Service has lost money for years, thanks to the rise of the Internet, perennial mismanagement and heavy-handed but ineffective government interventions. The point of his reform agenda, which included reassigning or displacing 23 veteran postal executives, was to cut costs and increase performance for the election and upcoming peak season, he wrote in an internal memo obtained by CNN. The slowdowns and backlogs, he said, were unintended consequences.

But outsiders spotted a pattern. Behind the daily chaos, Trumps presidency has one abiding characteristic: using the vast power and reach of the U.S. government to serve Trumps own political ends. He has repeatedly explained executive actions by pointing to the political benefit they bring him, and a steady parade of his top advisers have offered detailed examples after leaving the Administration in exasperation. Trump tried to turn the Department of Homeland Security into a tool used for his political benefit, said the agencys former chief of staff, by, for example, ordering officials to close stretches of the border in Democraticled California rather than GOP-led Arizona and Texas. The President pleaded with the leader of China to make trade decisions that would bolster Trumps relationship with crucial farm-state voters ahead of the 2020 election, according to former National Security Adviser John Bolton. And of course, Trump was impeached eight months ago in part for allegedly withholding military aid from Ukraine until the country investigated Trumps political rivals. The list goes on.

If there were any doubts about the Administrations motives for the so-called reform of the Postal Service, the President himself seemed to put them to rest. In an Aug. 13 interview with Fox Business, the President said he was blocking Democrats proposed $25 billion for the USPS and $3.5 billion for additional election resources because that outlay would help the Postal Service handle a surge in mail voting this year. They need that money in order to make the post office work, so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots, Trump said. Now, if we dont make a deal, that means they dont get the money. That means they cant have universal mail-in voting, they just cant have it.

Less than a week later, DeJoy announced the suspension of much of his reform agenda until after the election to avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail. But the damage may already have been done.

Whatever happens to the USPS in coming months, Trump benefits from having cast doubt on the USPS and mail voting and from having unleashed a specter of impropriety over the core exercise of democracy. When Americans lose faith in the electoral process, voter turnout slumps, and if Trump supporters dont believe their votes were fairly counted, theyre less likely to accept an outcome in which he does not win.

Most Americans love the Postal Service, and rely on it, regardless of their politics. More than 90% view the agency favorably, according to a 2020 Pew Research Center poll. George Washington himself saw a national postal network as an amplifier of democratic ideals and that egalitarianism continues today: FedEx and UPS pin a premium on letters destined thousands of miles away, while a letter mailed by USPS anywhere within the country costs just 55.

But as the Post Office has faced new challenges over the years, lawmakers of both parties have advocated for reform. In 1970, after more than 150,000 postal workers went on strike, halting the delivery of vital mail, the Democraticled Congress oversaw a reorganization of the USPS, demoting the Postmaster General from the Cabinet and, crucially, cutting off taxpayer support: the Postal Service as we know it today funds itself from its own sales.

Americans worried that delivery delays might impact mail voting protested outside DeJoy's D.C. apartment this month Michael A. McCoyGetty Images

With the rise of the Internet, those sales have plummeted. In 2001, the USPS moved more than 103.7 billion pieces of first-class mail; in 2019, the number was almost half that, at 55 billion. Rising fuel prices and trucking costs and an uptick in the number of packages have exacerbated the problem.

In 2006, Congress again went after the Postal Service, this time passing a bipartisan billit was approved by unanimous consent in the Senatemandating that the USPS pre-fund health benefits for its retirees and invest those funds in government bonds, which offer dismal returns. It is a requirement that no other entity, public or private, must meet, and it costs the USPS more than $5 billion per yearroughly 7% of its total operating costs. The requirement is responsible for a large portion of the agencys annual shortfall, according to its financial reports. Last year, USPS tallied $79.9 billion in expenditures and finished the year with $11 billion in outstanding debt.

The parties have long been divided over how to fix these deficits. For decades, Democrats accused Republicans of sabotaging the Postal Service in an effort to privatize it. Republicans denied the charge and defended their reform efforts by pointing, not incorrectly, at the USPSs hemorrhaging balance sheets. But then came the Trump Administration, with its tendency to say the quiet part out loud. In 2018, the White House suggested for the USPS a future conversion from a government agency into a privately held corporation.

Over the past five months, this relatively obscure policy fight was transformed into a democracy-defining battle. In April, the USPS asked Congress for $75 billion to help it weather the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. When stores shuttered, the Postal Service saw first-class mail, its most profitable product, decline, while the volume of packagesthe most labor-intensive to deliversurged, as Americans increasingly shopped online. Democrats are pushing for more USPS funding in their latest relief bill, but the White House has so far resisted. (In late July, the Treasury Department authorized the agency to borrow up to $10 billion under strict conditions.)

In May, DeJoys appointment to the top Postal job seemed to confirm Democrats worst fearsthat what had been an ideological push to privatize the Postal Service had morphed into an effort to swing the election for Trump. DeJoy has deliberately enacted policies to sabotage the Postal Service to serve only one person, President Trump, said Representative Gerald Connolly of Virginia, whose House subcommittee oversees the USPS.

Democratic lawmakers had no say in the appointment of DeJoy, who donated more than $1.1 million to the Trump Victory campaign fund from August 2016 to February 2020. Under normal circumstances, the USPSs Board of Governors, which appoints the Postmaster General, is bipartisan: Presidents name each of the nine Senate-confirmed members to seven-year terms. But Senate Republicans blocked Obamas nominees, allowing Trump to inherit an empty board, which he happily filled with like minds.

Unable to prevent DeJoys rise, congressional Democrats helplessly pointed at his apparent conflicts of interest. At the time he was appointed Postmaster General, the GOP megadonor held at least $30 million worth of stock in a supply chain company that contracts with the USPS, raising questions of whether he is violating ethics rules that prevent officials from participating in government matters affecting their personal finances. DeJoy also holds stock options that allow him to purchase Amazon shares at a below-market rate. As Amazon increases the proportion of packages it delivers itselfand toys with the idea of delivering non-Amazon parcels, toothe retail giant is quickly becoming a direct USPS competitor.

DeJoys announcement on Aug. 18 that he would suspend much of his reform agenda until after the election may seem like a win for Democrats. In the coming weeks, DeJoy will be hauled in front of both the House and Senate for hearings, and a congressional investigation into this summers events is ongoing. But the politics arent so simple.

DeJoys reversal left a host of unanswered questions. What would happen to the dozens of mail-sorting machines and drop boxes that have already been hauled off? When will workers overtime be approved? Will postal workers be able to take more than one trip per day? Will states have to buy more expensive postage to circumvent delays? Without proactive moves to safeguard mail delivery, hundreds of thousands of ballots may still end up in the trash. In 32 states, ballots must arrive by Election Day, according to an analysis by the National Conference of State Legislatures. During this years primaries, at least 65,000 mailed ballots were discarded for various reasons, according to NPR. While that represents only about 1% of the ballots in most states, according to the NPR analysis, tiny margins matter: in 2016, Trump won Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, each by margins of less than 1%, but that was enough to claim 46 electoral votesand the presidency.

The best-case scenario for the agency is that Congress gives it emergency funding, public scrutiny persists and DeJoy makes good on his promise to deliver the nations election mail on time. But that cant undo whats been done.

By discrediting the Postal Service and mail voting, Trump has already tainted the election results, whatever they may be. According to an Axios-Ipsos poll in August, 47% of voters supporting Vice President Joe Biden said they planned to vote by mail, compared with just 11% of Trump supporters. If that disparity holds true in November, the fallout could be bad for both parties. Older and rural voters, who have in the past relied on mail ballots and tend to support Republicans, may be discouraged from voting at all. Trump could also appear to be ahead on election night among in-person voters, only to be overtaken as disproportionately Democratic mailed ballots are slowly counteddays and weeks later.

Its not hard to imagine the damage that a hung election, like the 2000 Bush-Gore debacle, could exact in the era of Trump-fueled disinformation. Democracy, after all, is not unlike flying in Peter Pans world; if you stop believing in it, it ceases to work.

With reporting by ALANA ABRAMSON
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has scrapped one of West Michigans four flat mail sorting machines because the catalog and magazine mail volume is down, according to union representatives.

The remains of the massive machine, which has five feed stations and sorts thousands of catalogs and magazines every day, were being disposed of Wednesday, Aug. 19 at the USPS facility on Patterson Avenue in Kentwood.

These machines are key pieces of equipment used to expedite the mail delivery process. News of the machines being scrapped and disabled comes as concerns have been raised over recent cuts and changes at the USPS ahead of the November general election.

They took out a fully-functioning flat sorter machine, said Jim Haggarty, president for the Michigan chapter of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union.

They say its because the mail volume is down  When things start to normalize, that mail could go back up.

Haggarty said that, if needed, flat mail sorting machines could also sort absentee ballots.

The machine is just one of at least several functional mail-sorting machines in the Grand Rapids area being taken apart this week by the USPS officials.

Amy Puhalski, president of American Postal Workers Union Local 281, told the Holland Sentinel on Wednesday that USPS officials this week took the electrical components out of two mail sorting machines in downtown Grand Rapids.

Puhalski said the machines sort letters and that their removal would delay mail processing time.

She said the machines are unusable without the components and that officials have not given word to put them back in.

Officials were working on gutting a third machine, she said, but stopped after U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on Tuesday ordered a halt to equipment scrapping and other organizational changes until after the election.

Related: Snail mail and a pinky promise: Why Michigan is still suing after USPS walked back changes

Decreasing the number of mail-sorting machines as well as mail drop boxes are initiatives DeJoy has branded as cost-cutting measures.

Theyve raised concerns of voter suppression in the upcoming general election, where absentee ballot voting is expected to skyrocket because of the pandemic.

DeJoy said on Tuesday he would suspend the measures until after the general election to avoid even the appearance of impact on election mail.

I dont have any other information to share beyond what is in our Postmaster Generals statement, Grand Rapids-area USPS spokesperson Sabrina Todd said, declining to talk about the machines.

Michigan is joining other states in filing a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Postal Service over recent changes that have caused mail delays, Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Tuesday.

Related: Michigan joins lawsuit against USPS over mail delays

USPS engineer Jeffrey Werth was on site Wednedsay at the Patterson Avenue facility overseeing the flat mail sorting machine being scrapped.

The only thing Ill say is its not whats put out there. Its an exaggeration, Werth told MLive. I really suggest you contact our public relations department.

He declined to say what the machine being scrapped was or whether it was functional before it was tossed out.

Youre not supposed to be on public property, Werth said. Im going to have to ask you to leave right now.

The removal of the machines is the latest challenge for postal workers trying to get mail out on time.

In addition to pandemic-related challenges, recent cuts to overtime have hamstrung a workforce still short employees from before the Great Recession, Haggarty said.

Theyre setting us up to fail, he said. Even the supervisors and the managers get frustrated. The people like me that have been around 20, 25, 30 years, were very concerned because we see the degradation of our service.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 21:57:08|Editor: huaxia

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WINDHOEK, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Namibia to date has exported 973,412 metric tons of beef to the Chinese market, according to the country's meat processing and marketing entity, Meatco on Thursday.

Namibia through Meatco has been able to export beef products to the Chinese market since the export process was declared an essential service in Namibia under the COVID-19 State of Emergency regulations, Meatco's spokesperson Undamuje Hambira told Xinhua on Thursday.

"A total number of 32 containers have been channeled successfully to the Chinese market since the beginning of this year and the last shipment was on July 28, 2020," she added.

According to Hambira, Namibia is set to increase its export quantities to China as most farmers are expected to come out of the restocking phase in which they are currently in and marketing to the export abattoir and other facilities will increase.

"At the moment we have orders that are still coming in and we will be loading five times more orders from the last week of August," she added.

Meatco currently strictly only operates with beef products and only exports bone-in beef and beef offal products to the Chinese market. Enditem
Arguing Over the Permanent Fund

Budgets at Issue

Two of the nations reddest states just grew more conservative. Perhaps a dozen Republican legislators were unseated in primaries in Alaska and Wyoming on Tuesday, beaten by challengers running to their right.In Alaska, Senate President Cathy Giessel trailed by more than 40 percent of the vote in Tuesdays voting. Tyler Lindholm, the majority whip in the Wyoming House, lost his seat, as did two other committee chairs in the state.In both states, challengers received significant funding from political action committees pushing for a change in legislative direction. The Alaska House has a Republican majority on paper but is run by a Democrat-heavy coalition. Not surprisingly, Republican members of the coalition were targeted in primaries. The House is a tossup as to whether it retains the bipartisan coalition, says Jerry McBeath, a political scientist at the University of Alaska at Fairbanks.The Wyoming Legislature is solidly Republican, but incumbents there faced challengers who complained they were too soft on taxes and gun rights. Half the Senate GOP incumbents and more than a third of those in the House faced primary challenges  double the number in 2018. One challenger, Nina Webber, put up billboards showcasing herself holding a red, white and blue rifle and pledging to go western on RINOs (a derogatory term for Republicans in name only).The action in Alaska and Wyoming followed a pattern thats been clear all year. Most incumbent legislators win renomination easily, but plenty are being challenged for being insufficiently ardent as partisans. Republicans are facing challenges from the right, while Democrats are having to fend off often younger, more progressive opponents.Its open season on incumbents nationwide, McBeath says, and that extends to Alaska.In Kansas, a dozen moderate Republicans were taken out by conservative candidates in primaries earlier this month. Republican legislators have also been unseated in states such as Idaho and West Virginia, including West Virginia Senate President Mitch Carmichael. On the Democratic side , several legislators apiece have gone down to defeat against progressives in Minnesota, New Mexico, New York and Pennsylvania.The longstanding trend toward polarization will clearly continue, with voters ready to punish apostates and offering few rewards to legislators who reach across the aisle.We see very similar divisions in these primaries for Republicans and Democrats, says Jaclyn Kettler, a political scientist at Boise State University. Bipartisanship is going to be, theoretically, even harder.Three Florida House members lost on Tuesday, Democrats Kimberly Daniels and Al Jacquet and Republican Mike Hill. Jacquet and Hill had made controversial or offensive statements, while Daniels lost support among Democrats due to her support of school vouchers and abortion restrictions.Daniels and Jacquet were among several Democrats who faced more progressive opponents, although the others survived. There was less ideological wrangling among majority Republicans, who in Florida have left potential opponents with few lines of attack.Most of the Republicans in our state legislature are pretty conservative and theyre pretty pro-Trump, at least out loud, says Aubrey Jewett, a political scientist at the University of Central Florida. They all seem cognizant of the possibility that they might be challenged if theyre not sufficiently conservative, or not sufficiently pro-Trump.Due to falling oil prices, Alaska already faced a budget shortfall prior to the coronavirus pandemic. In the spring, state revenues plunged by nearly half , the worst decline in any state.That provides part of the backdrop to the primary fights on the Republican side. Several GOP legislators who are not part of the House coalition also found themselves targeted due to debate over the permanent fund dividend. Alaska has no state sales or income taxes, relying instead on severance taxes from oil, which also provide a dividend to residents. Due to plunging prices, the state hasnt paid out the full permanent fund dividend since 2016.The embattled incumbents noted that the fund accounts for three-quarters of state revenues. Challengers said they could cut spending enough to be able to pay out higher dividends.That proved to be a winning argument. Five Republican House members and four GOP senators, including Giessel, trailed when vote-counting stopped early on Wednesday morning.Some of them may stage a comeback. The state wont count absentee ballots until next week. Those are expected to lean more to the left, with labor unions and other groups encouraging independents  who make up a majority of registered voters in Alaska  to vote by mail.But Giessel was down by 40 points in election day voting. Shed have to win three-quarters of the absentee vote to make up the difference, according to an estimate by the Anchorage Daily News Some other incumbents are clearly goners. Coalitions including Democrats have run the Alaska House for the last two sessions. That might be over. The Senate, which is firmly in Republican hands, nevertheless has a functional majority that might also lose its grasp on power.Last year, GOP Gov. Mike Dunleavy faced an unsuccessful recall effort due to spending cuts, including a proposed 41 percent reduction in state assistance to the University of Alaska. There could be more belt-tightening to come. Paying out the full permanent fund dividend would likely lead to a 50 percent reduction in total state spending.Arguments over levels of government spending were also central during the Aug. 4 Kansas primary. Conservatives were angry about increases in education spending (although they were demanded by the state supreme court), as well as a deal to expand Medicaid proposed by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, who did not seek re-election.Kansas has the clearest factionalism in the country, with power ping-ponging over the past decade between conservative and moderate Republicans. Moderates scored gains in 2016 in response to the aggressive tax-cutting agenda of former GOP Gov. Sam Brownback. They gave back some of those seats in the state House during the 2018 primaries. They lost more this month. This years primaries represented the first chance conservatives had to take out Senate moderates elected in 2016 and they largely succeeded.Some former Republican moderates have switched to the Democratic Party, including state Sen. Barbara Bollier, who is her new partys candidate for the U.S. Senate this year. As in other states, suburbs in Kansas are tilting more toward the Democratic Party.But while Democrats may still gain some ground in November, the overall tilt of the Legislature will be more conservative, says Patrick Miller, a political scientist at the University of Kansas. We may have more Democrats in Topeka, but a legislature thats even less friendly to Gov. Kelly than it is now, he says.I think well see more conservative leadership in both chambers, Miller continues. We could have more gridlock out of this and it will be harder getting the budget done. Certainly, theres going to be less bipartisanship.The state of Wyoming faces a two-year budget shortfall of about $1.5 billion. Challengers warned that incumbents stood ready to raise taxes. The incumbents, for the most part, touted their own conservative bona fides, but warned that their challengers would defund education and infrastructure.Most of the incumbents survived. Ninety-three percent of the incumbents who were running were renominated, says Jim King, a political scientist at the University of Wyoming. Most of the incumbents were running uncontested.But a total of four incumbents lost their seats. Given the well-funded nature of the anti-RINO challenge, not too many Republicans will be eager to step out of line when the question of raising taxes to address the budget shortfall comes up. If it comes up.The outcome of those races will make a big difference on the mentality of members of the Revenue Committee if were going to really present some suggestions or if its really not worth our time, state Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, who chairs the committee, told the. If there are five more people who pledged not to raise taxes, then theres no reason to waste time bringing these bills forward.
By Trend





Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR could have opportunities to expand its presence in Romania, Niculae Havrile?, State Secretary of the Ministry for Economy, Energy and Business Environment of Romania, told Trend.

Havrile? noted that the Romanian company Romgaz expressed last year the interest in expanding its activity in foreign markets, exploring new opportunities and identifying efficient options for expansion through a potential collaboration with SOCAR.

"On the Azerbaijani side, there was an interest in exploring and exploiting Black Sea offshore fields in partnership with Romgaz, should the Romanian company decide to get involved in these offshore projects. The topic was further discussed between the two companies on the sidelines on the last SGC Advisory Council meeting in February 2020, in Baku," noted the state secretary.

Havrile? pointed out that the very good bilateral relationship between Romania and Azerbaijan was an essential factor in the process that led to the entry of SOCAR on the Romanian market.

"Although SOCAR's activity focuses mainly on the offshore perimeters of the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea is an important energy bridge between Caspian region and the European market. Romania holds a strategic interconnection position on the Black Sea coast and has the capacity to contribute to the transit of energy from the Caspian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea towards Central and Eastern Europe," said the state secretary.

Moreover, he added that the Black Sea has significant natural gas reserves and can be an area of interest in the context of Azerbaijan's substantial and constant efforts to develop new perimeters to feed into the Southern Gas Corridor.

"That would be also in the interest to diversify the supply sources for this project beyond those in the Caspian area. It is important to note in this context that the tender for new on-shore concessions have been announced and off-shore concessions will be announced soon by the Romanian Mineral Resources Agency/NAMR. These could provide opportunities for SOCAR to expand its presence in Romania," said Havrilet.
Stacker compiled a history of U.S. military aircraft using government sites, military news reports, and manufacturing company data. Stackers gallery touches on the conflicts where the aircraft saw combat, the companies that designed them, and all their notable trailblazing specifications.
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Shirley Webers CSU Ethnic Studies Bill is Now State Law

Gov. Newsom signed AB 1460 into law on Monday, Aug. 17.

The new state law requires California State University (CSU), the nations largest four-year public university system, to provide courses in Ethnic studies at each of its 23 campuses, beginning with the 202122 academic year and requires CSU students to take a 3-credit course in Ethnic studies in order to graduate, beginning in the 2024-2025 academic year.

The bill was introduced last year by Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), professor emeritus of Africana studies at San Diego State, on behalf of the California Faculty Association (CFA) and with support from the legislative ethnic caucuses (Black, Latino, and Asian Pacific Islander). It passed on Aug. 3, after legislators engaged in personal and passionate debates during committee hearings and on the floor of the Assembly and Senate as each expressed their perspectives on the pressing need for our society to deal with its history of racial inequities.

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Ethnic studies is an interdisciplinary study of race and ethnicity that gained acceptance nationally in universities following the 1960s Black student uprisings. Research shows that students of color and White students benefit academically and socially from taking Ethnic studies courses. These courses can play an important role in building an inclusive multicultural democracy.

According to Charles Toombs, CFA president and a professor of Africana Studies at San Diego State, Ethnic studies differs from other disciplines. It is crucial in its own right.

Because of that, AB1460 specifies that CSU students take a course in one of the four historically defined racialized core groups: African American studies, Latino studies, Native American studies or Asian American studies.

The bill states, It is the intent of the Legislature that students of the California State University acquire the knowledge and skills that will help them comprehend the diversity and social justice history of the United States and of the society in which they live to enable them to contribute to that society as responsible and constructive citizens.

AB 1460 passed despite opposition from CSU Chancellor Timothy White, the Academic Senate of the California State University, and the leadership at all 23 CSU campuses.

Chancellor White asked the Executive Senate Committee at each CSU campus to write a letter of opposition when the bill was introduced. Allison Wren from CSU Academic Affairs Division presented CSUs three main objections to AB 1460 at an Assembly Higher Education Committee Hearing.

First, we believe the legislature should not impose curriculum, Wren said. A legislative mandate, such as this will set the dangerous precedent of allowing the government to determine curriculum. And this does in fact threaten the academic freedom of our campuses.

Second, the proposed bill is not necessary, she continued. We already have cultural diversity requirements on all 23 campuses. Many of these requirements are met by existing courses in Ethnic studies or courses and other departments such as Anthropology, History, gender Womens Studies, among many others.

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Finally, such a requirement could adversely impact our associate degrees for transfers programs. The bill could potentially also adversely impact CSU graduation.

Weeks before AB 1460 passed, CSU trustees approved an Ethnic studies and Social Justice studies graduation requirement as an amendment to the schools general education curriculum. Its critics say the approval was timed to present Newsom with an alternative to AB 1460.

The 13-5 vote of CSU trustees marks the first significant change to the universitys general education requirements in 40 years. The approved courses include the four core Ethnic studies disciplines AB 1460 requires, and adds courses on the history and culture of other oppressed groups, such as Muslims, Jews or LGBTQ people. The requirement goes into effect in the 2023-24 school year.

The board members acknowledged the need for more Ethnic studies, citing that the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police and the national protests over police violence and systemic racism, resonated in their thoughts as they voted.

However, in a letter to Chancellor White before the trustee vote, legislators, led by Assemblymember Weber, pointed out that the policy does not respond to the challenges we currently face, has been rejected by the faculty, and is not supported by students.

The changes proposed by the Chancellors office will significantly water down the intent of AB 1460 and will result in something akin to a diversity requirement, which was not developed in collaboration with the CSU Council on Ethnic Studies, she added.

CFA said, How the board can look at anyone with a straight face and say that an Ethnic studies requirement can be fulfilled without ever having to take a course in Ethnic studies is beyond believable.

Weber followed that statement up by commenting that though its written as an Ethnic studies requirement, the policy approved by the CSU board permits students to meet it without actually taking an Ethnic studies course.

By signing AB 1460, Newsom sided with Weber and her legislative colleagues in deciding that a strict definition of Ethnic studies was needed to supersede the policy that CSU trustees approved.

AB 1460 is the first time the Legislature dictated a CSU graduation requirement.

The Legislature fully debated this departure from precedent and concluded that the CSU system, on its own, lacked the will to adequately tackle societys reckoning around race and inclusion.

Weber in explaining why it was necessary for the legislature to act said, I know the Ivory Tower seldom opens its door unless the doors kicked down. And thats the reality of the Ivory Tower.

AB 1460 is inspired by the legacy of Ethnic studies that arose out of the protests and activism of CSU students demanding course offerings that covered the experiences of oppressed racial American communities.

Newsom, by acknowledging that legacy, is advancing the proposition that radical change on race in our public higher education system has to be fostered and is directing that policy be instituted that assures CSU students are introduced to perspectives critically needed to solve societys most pressing problems as a requirement for graduation.

Joe W. Bowers Jr. is an advocate for education opportunities for all and the education writer for CBM. He is a retired corporate engineer and business executive and is a graduate of Stanford University.
A former Deputy Communications Minister, Felix Ofosu Kwakye says the Akufo-Addo government supervised the completion of some 16 health projects started under the Mahama government because there was nothing the government could do about the projects.

According to him, the funding was readily available for the projects in question.

He said funding was disbursed by the Exim Bank directly to the contractors, hence government played virtually no role in the completion of the projects.

For this reason, Ofosu Kwakye argued that the Akufo-Addo government cannot praise itself for the completion of the health projects.

EXIM bank projects are such that they use it to promote trade in the country where the money is coming from so the money doesnt go through the government of Ghana. The bank disburses directly to the contractor. All the government of Ghana does is to certify that work has been done and they sign off. So there are projects that they dont have a say in and if they did, they would have abandoned those projects as has been the case in the NMS projects and the Saglemi projects, he said on The Point of View on Citi TV.

The NDC Abura Asebu Kwamankese parliamentary candidate made the argument on the back of claims by Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia that the Akufo-Addo had completed 16 out of 30 health projects started under the Mahama government.

Dr. Bawumia at a recent town hall meeting in Accra said: Contrary to propaganda, in addition to what we have done, we have also completed several health projects that we inherited from the previous government. Out of the 30 projects that we inherited from the previous government in the health sector, we have completed 16 of them including ten polyclinics, two district hospitals, there is also ongoing construction of another nine district hospitals.

But Ofosu Kwakye insisted that the Akufo-Addo government would have abandoned the health project, just like other projects started under the Mahama administration, if it had its way.

---citinewsroom
Manitobans can now go online to find out how much of a risk COVID-19 presents, what to do about it and the places they need to avoid or increase their vigilance.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/8/2020 (518 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitobans can now go online to find out how much of a risk COVID-19 presents, what to do about it and the places they need to avoid or increase their vigilance.

The province unveiled its #RestartMB Pandemic Response System Wednesday that features a scale with four colour-coded levels: low-risk green  when the virus is broadly contained and a vaccine or treatment is available; cautionary yellow; restricted orange, indicating the virus is spreading through the community; and red  when the situation is critical and the virus is spreading out of control or there's a significant strain on the health-care system.

JESSE BOILY / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Premier Brian Pallister announces a new alert system at the Legislative building on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Bethesda Place nursing home in Steinbach was listed as "critical" with a red stop sign icon. Although there is just one COVID-19 case reported there, the risk to residents warrants restrictions. The entire province rated a yellow "caution" triangle Wednesday, signalling Manitobans should follow the current recommendations.

The beauty of the colour-coded response system is it allows public health to target sectors, regions or facilities at an elevated risk level without having to impose broad shutdown orders, chief provincial health officer Dr. Brent Roussin told a news conference accompanied by Premier Brian Pallister.

"This will provide Manitobans with clear, detailed and localized information about the risk responses and recommended action we can all take to prevent the spread of COVID-19," Pallister said.

THE CARILLON / NICOLE BUFFIE Bethesda Place Care Home in Steinbach, Manitoba was listed as "critical" with a red stop sign icon even though there is just one COVID-19 case reported there.

"It's an overall picture of the situation throughout the province with specific, targeted measures that may be put in place by region, by community, by sector and/or site."

The information can be updated quickly so it's current, and is based on COVID-19 indicators monitored by public health.

The simple, colour-coded visual aid is based on a complex set of indicators and variables. It's easy on the eyes but difficult to explain when restrictions will be dialed up or down.

Unlike the roadside forest fire hazard dial Manitobans are familiar with, the risk level isn't determined by simple measurements such as temperature, precipitation or wind direction.

The pandemic response system is based on indicators that include community transmission rates, test-positive percentages, the capacity of hospitals and the public health system, the risk of importation of the virus and when there are outbreaks in vulnerable settings, such as the Steinbach nursing home.

JESSE BOILY / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Dr. Brent Roussin speaks to media giving a COVID-19 update at the Legislative building on Wednesday.

It goes well beyond looking at one indicator in isolation, Roussin explained.

"We could see a test positivity rate of three per cent but we know that the majority of those positives are part of a known cluster that's isolated, that's contained," he said. "Then we would not necessarily rely on the test positivity rate. We could be in a situation where we saw 1.5 per cent test positivity but saw widespread outbreaks and a strain on our health-care system. Then, we might have to have restrictions."

For example, Manitoba's community transmission rate is close to 18 per cent  above the 12 per cent level the province was at earlier and Roussin was OK with  but it's not high enough to implement further restrictions, considering other factors, such as health-care system capacity. Just six people are hospitalized with COVID-19 in the province, Roussin noted.

"This will provide Manitobans with clear, detailed and localized information about the risk responses and recommended action we can all take to prevent the spread of COVID-19."  Premier Brian Pallister

Restrictions can also be applied or rolled back on schools, individual businesses or sectors, child-care centres, gyms, casinos and elsewhere, if COVID-19 risk is elevated.

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.

Most of the cases in Winnipeg and Brandon are linked to clusters or other known cases, but there is evidence of community spread in both cities  particularly Brandon  that public health officials are watching closely, he said.

"That could be an area where we see it going to that next level of restriction," he said.

Roussin ruled out more specific geographical information for the system in a place such as Winnipeg, saying that would not be helpful. Someone who tests positive could live in north Winnipeg, work in west Winnipeg and have family in south Winnipeg, he said.

Situations such as the one in Niverville/Ritchot health district that has a COVID-19 cluster and the most active cases in the Southern health region  but none are in the town of Niverville or the RM of Ritchot  are tricky, said Roussin, who stopped identifying cases reported on Hutterite colonies to avoid stigmatization.

"Health districts sometimes don't have great names," he said. "We're back at that balance of identifying certain groups and the risk and benefits of doing that."

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
Tumbling oil production and alleged corruption have led to the weakening of the countrys currency.

South Sudan, battered by years of conflict and corruption, has run out of foreign exchange reserves and cannot stop the pounds depreciation, a senior central bank official in the oil-producing nation said on Wednesday.

South Sudan gets almost all of its revenue from crude oil, but current output, at about 180,000 barrels per day (bpd), has plummeted from a peak of 250,000 bpd before the outbreak of conflict in 2013, according to official figures.

It is difficult for us at the moment to stop this rapidly increasing exchange rate, because we do not have resources, we do not have reserves, Daniel Kech Pouch, the banks second deputy governor, told a news conference.

South Sudan has three exchange rates  one from the central bank, from commercial banks, and from the unofficial market. Pouch said the rate for the pound from the central bank is 165 a dollar, from commercial banks about 190, and 400 from the parallel market.

In addition to lower oil production, corruption is also driving the crisis, said Brian Adeba, the deputy director of policy at United States-based watchdog The Sentry, which has released several reports documenting high-level corruption. The government has denied the findings.

For a long time, egregious corruption and the deliberate destruction of institutional mechanisms for checks and balances have resulted in officials using the central bank as their personal ATM, so this [running out of foreign exchange] is not surprising, Adeba told the Reuters news agency.

South Sudan ended five years of civil war in 2018 but disagreements between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, who led the main rebel group, have stalled the conclusion of the peace process.

The war  marked by ethnic cleansing, extreme sexual violence and pockets of famine  displaced around a third of the population from their homes. The conflict killed an estimated 400,000 people and created Africas biggest refugee crisis since the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

The Bank of South Sudan and ministry of finance have created serious economic blunder by taking out the SSP reserve from the treasury and giving it to businessman  This is dangerous for the peace agreement because it will create fear, said James Okuk, researcher at the Juba-based Center for Strategic and Policy Studies.
In 2015, he was a first-round draft pick.

By 2017, he was packing his bags.

Three year later, he can finally call himself a big-league pitcher.

Introducing Yankees Insider: Get exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text message directly with beat writers

Former New York Yankees top prospect James Kaprielian made his major-league debut Sunday for the As, and he didnt disappoint, pitching two innings out of the bullpen for Oakland in a 15-3 win over the San Francisco Giants.

I feel like I belong here, Kaprielian said, per the San Francisco Chronicle. But I think I did feel a little numb. There were times I was going through my mechanics and I was wondering where my arms going.  But it was fun. I definitely feel like I settled in a little, but at the same time I was still kind of pulling off the mound and just a little overexcited and rushing a little bit. Every single person I talked to has basically been like, Yeah thats pretty normal, its your debut. I felt like when I was throwing strikes I was successful, so at this point its getting ahead in the count. If Im able to get ahead in the count, I feel like my stuffs going to play really well at this level.

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Kaprielian took the long road to The Show. The Yankees used the No. 16 pick overall in the 2015 MLB Draft to select Kaprielian out of UCLA. But by 2017, he was sidelined after having Tommy John surgery. That year, he also had to change his mailing address, when the Yankees shipped him, outfielder Dustin Fowler and infielder Jorge Mateo to Oakland for right-hander Sonny Gray.

The 26-year-old Kaprielian missed all of 2018, but returned last year, advancing all the way to Triple-A and compiling a 3.18 ERA in 68 minor-league innings for the As organization.

In his debut on Sunday, Kaprielian gave up a home run to Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford on his third pitch. It would be the only hit he gave up during his two-inning appearance, with the Chronicle reporting Kaprielian averaged 96.4 mph on his fastball.

Looks fully healthy now, As manager Bob Melvin said. He had a tough road for a while where he couldnt get all the way healthy. We had him a few springs, the (velocity) wasnt quite there, it looked like he maybe was guarding his shoulder a little bit. But now its all the way back.

Oakland called up Kaprielian from its taxi squad before his debut on Sunday, but sent him back to the teams alternate training camp on Wednesday.

Get Yankees text messages: Cut through the clutter of social media and text during games with beat writers and columnists. Plus, exclusive news and analysis every day. Sign up now.

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Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip he
S hares in Burford Capital fell today after a Dubai court refused to hand over possession of a 353 million superyacht named Luna to a divorcee of a Russian oligarch.

Tatiana Akhmedova had been fighting to get her hands on the boat as part of her divorce settlement from billionaire Farkhad Akhmedov.

The ruling means Tatiana and her litigation finance backer, Burford Capital, cannot now seize the asset which was once owned by Roman Abramovich.

Back in 2016 Tatiana Akhmedova was granted a 41.5% share of her ex-husband's 1 billion fortune at the High Court in London.

But since the judgement Burford and Tatiana have recouped less than one per cent of the 453 million.

Burford recently hired US based intelligience company Arcanum to try and help it secure further assets from Farkhad Akhmedov.

Commenting on the Dubai ruling, Carlo Fedrigoli, a lawyer acting for Farkhad Akhmedov, said: Tatiana and her backers have now - at very great expense - come to the end of the road in their attempts to enforce the matrimonial judgment in the UAE and remove Luna from her rightful ownership.

"Their multiple and misguided attempts to bypass UAE public policy, family and Sharia law and enforce this matrimonial and maintenance judgement in Dubai have now been rejected for good."

Burford shares were down 4%.
The Covid-19 pandemic may trigger a 'baby boom' because hundreds of thousands of women have lost access to contraceptives and abortion services since the life-threatening disease first emerged.

Data crunched by Marie Stopes International revealed 1.9million fewer women used their services across the world between January and June compared to last year.

The report predicted that there will be 900,000 unintended pregnancies as a result of the disruption to reproductive health services.

The report by the MSI, one of the largest providers of reproductive health services, mirrors a warning from the World Health Organization earlier this month.

Two-thirds of 103 countries reported reproductive health services were disrupted between May and July, according to the WHO. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has said the world could see as many as 7million unintended pregnancies as a result.

Throughout history, spikes in deaths because of war, disease or famine have been followed by a wave of pregnancies as countries get back to normal.

Almost two million women have lost access to contraceptives and abortion services throughout the coronavirus pandemic (stock picture)

After World War II, the end of hardship worldwide led to celebration among couples who may have been torn apart for years.

But any up-tick in pregnancies during Covid-19 is likely to be down to the disruption to reproductive health services.

COVID-19 WON'T LEAD TO A BABY BOOM, EXPERTS PREDICT There will not be a Covid-19 baby boom straight after the pandemic because couples will be too concerned about their money, experts predicted last month. Throughout history, spikes in deaths due to war, disease or famine have been followed by wave of pregnancies as countries get back to normal. People thought this might happen after the Covid-19 because couples were spending more time together and might have more sex. But births are likely to decline after the crisis because the impact of lockdowns will be so long-term, Italian researchers said. Financial strain will probably be the biggest reason couples in wealthy countries are put off parenthood. Widespread redundancies have been the result of months-long lockdowns, and with less money, rearing a child won't be so attractive. School closures would also have led couples to re-assess childcare whether they already have a child or not. Poorer countries have already seen births decline over recent decades and the coronavirus is likely to continue this downward trajectory, the researchers believe. Advertisement

A similar spike was seen in West Africa following the Ebola crisis in 2014, which was the largest outbreak of that disease since it was discovered in the seventies.

MSI's report also predicted there will also be 1.5million unsafe abortions and more than 3,000 maternal deaths.

Discussing the estimates, Dr Clare Wenham, an expert in global health policy at the London School of Economics, said it was 'predictable'.

She told The Daily Telegraph: 'We saw it with the Ebola outbreak, we saw it with the Zika outbreak.

'And so governments could have done something to prevent this situation had they stopped to think about reproductive health issues.'

Strict lockdowns which saw health services prioritise coronavirus care contributed to a reduction in access to reproductive healthcare and shortages of contraception.

In the US several states  Texas, Utah, Idaho and Alabama  classified abortion as a non-essential medical service so they couldn't be accessed during the coronavirus pandemic.

General fears from the public about getting infected are also believed to have added to the drop in women getting healthcare.

And early on in the pandemic, the United Nations warned of a 'devastating' condom shortage after coronavirus lockdowns forced major producers to close factories.

While the British Pregnancy Advisory Service told MailOnline that women were 'struggling to access contraception' during the height of the outbreak. Large manufacturers of contraceptives in Asia had to halt production or operate at reduced capacity.

According to MSI, India has been the worst hit of all three dozen nations it operates in  with 1.3million fewer women accessing services provided by the organisation.

One survey, done by Ipsos Mori, found that just under a third of people looking for an abortion in India said their local clinic was closed.

And the country is expected to see an extra one million unsafe abortions, 650,000 unintended pregnancies and 2,600 maternal deaths alone.

Dr Rashmi Ardey, director of clinical services at MSI's India, said: 'Women are bearing the brunt of this global calamity.'

She also noted that sexual health is already under prioritised but it has been rapidly decreasing even further because healthcare services are under such huge strain due to coronavirus.

Dr Wenham added: 'Humanitarian crises often lead to an increase in fertility rates often among displaced migrants or refugees affected by war.'

But she also said that it is too soon to identify an increase in pregnancies because it took a while to spread across the world. In the UK there has so far been a decline in pregnancies.

However, a surge in teen pregnancies has been reported in Kenya. Country director at NGO Plan International, Kate Maina-Vorley, said the situation was a 'shadow pandemic'.
The United States suspension of a reciprocal tax exemption arrangement with Hong Kong for shipping companies will jack up the cost of trade and fuel uncertainty and anxiety for the pandemic-ravaged industry, ending up in a lose-lose situation, stakeholders warn.

As part of US President Donald Trumps executive order last month to terminate trade privileges granted to the city under the Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992, Washington announced on Thursday it would suspend a bilateral agreement that allowed shipping firms to avoid double taxation since 1989.

Without giving details on when the decision would be executed, the move left US-Hong Kong container ships in a sea of uncertainty.

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They face great uncertainty and even anxiety due to the sudden changes to the arrangement that has been put in place for more than 30 years, said Louis Chan Wing-kin, the Hong Kong Trade Development Councils assistant principal economist in global research.

There are collateral impacts on Hong Kong and the US shipping firms, shipowners, ships that use the city for repairs and maintenance, and the shipping companies will have to recalibrate tax obligations.

Hong Kong is one of the top choices to register ships in the world. Photo: Martin Chan

He added that the news would add to the woes of global trade which was already reeling from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The United States was Hong Kongs No 2 trading partner after mainland China last year, with bilateral trade worth HK$517 billion (US$65 billion), or 6.2 per cent of the citys total. The US last year had a trade surplus of US$26.4 billion with Hong Kong, the countrys highest.

Trump stripped the city of its economic privileges after accusing Beijing of eroding Hong Kongs autonomy under the one country, two systems principle by imposing the national security law on the city on June 30. Washington also sanctioned the chief executive and 10 other current and former Hong Kong and mainland officials for their involvement in the legislative process.

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The Hong Kong government denounced the US decision to suspend the agreement on tax exemptions, which covered income derived by residents or companies from the international operations of ships.

Should the agreement between Hong Kong and the US be terminated, for the US companies, they would need to pay taxes to both the US and Hong Kong governments, whereas Hong Kong companies will be required to pay tax to the US government only, as their shipping income is exempted from tax liability in Hong Kong by virtue of Section 23B of the Inland Revenue Ordinance, a government spokesman said.

He said the termination of the agreement did not help any party because it would add to the operating costs of the shipping companies, in particular US ones, as they would be subject to double taxation.

It will hamper the development of the shipping sector between Hong Kong and the US, and is to nobodys interest, he said.

The US and seven other countries  Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Britain  all had separate bilateral agreements with Hong Kong to avoid double taxation on shipping income.

Chan, the economist, said Hong Kong was known for its simple and low-tax regime, which attracted many ships to register in the city.

Under the agreement that took effect in August 1989, either party can terminate it by a written notice, he said.

As of July, about 2,600 ships, totalling 129 million gross tonnes, registered in Hong Kong. The city, Panama, the Marshall Islands and Liberia are among the top choices to register ships in the world.

The Hong Kong Shipowners Association, whose members own or manage 40 per cent of about 2,400 ocean-going Hong Kong-flagged ships, said the new arrangement would raise the operating costs of some companies in both Hong Kong and the US, even though the impact on individual firms varied and depended on the trading patterns of their vessels.

It is in the interest of both the US and Hong Kong shipping sectors for the existing arrangement to avoid double taxation to continue, it said in reply to the Posts queries.

Indeed, facilitating global trade and ensuring the smooth function of the worlds supply chains of essential items is particularly important in this difficult time for all.

According to Kathy Kun Chau-ying, senior manager at Ernst & Young Hong Kongs national tax centre, Hong Kong shipping companies which derive any transport income from the US shore will be subject to a 4 per cent tax on their gross income after the arrangement ends.

Their US counterparts, if making casual calls at Hong Kong ports, are still exempted from taxes, but the Inland Revenue Department has the authority to evaluate whether to impose a 16.5 per cent profit tax on them based on how frequently they visit.

Therefore, the more frequent US shipping companies call on Hong Kong ports, the higher the chance the city will have more tax income from them, Kun said.

Hong Kong Shippers Council chairman Willy Lin Sun-mo called the suspension a lose-lose situation.

The [tax] sanction is more about window dressing in suppressing Hong Kong, Lin said. The US puts Hong Kong on a knife edge, is it a glorious thing for a big country to do to a small city?

Trump also suspended a bilateral agreement on the extradition of fugitives and terminated a mutual agreement on transfer of sentenced persons on Thursday.

Last week, he demanded Made-in-Hong Kong exports to the US be changed to Made in China on product labels as part of sanctions.

This article Washingtons suspension of US-Hong Kong reciprocal tax exemption deal for shippers a lose-lose situation, experts warn first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020.
Working collaboratively and providing opportunities for nurses to advance are just a few of the areas in which Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County excels.

The Southwest Region of the 2020 Wyoming Nurses Association recently awarded Sweetwater Memorial in three areas. The hospitals COVID-19 Preparedness Incident Command Team and its Surgical Services Team each received the Collaborative Practice Award for best practice in improved patient outcomes. Registered Nurse Rachelle Harris received the Face of our Future nursing award.

Working collaboratively is one of our five key values,...
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Isabel Lucas has been spotted for the first time since she she went undercover while discussing the coronavirus 'agenda' on a live chat with conspiracy theorists and lockdown critics including controversial chef Pete Evans.

The former Home and Away star and staunch anti-vaxxer went to great lengths to stay anonymous during the Zoom call on Saturday, covering her face with a black hoodie and mask and using the alias 'X'.

However, safe in the womb of Australia's anti-vax capital of Byron Bay this week, and with another storm brewing over whether or not a COVID-19 vaccine should be compulsory, the 35-year-old actress wasn't being so secretive.

Lucas was spotted looking carefree on Tuesday as she ran errands in her hometown, where her former boyfriend of three years, Chris Hemsworth, also lives with his family.

Dressed down in distressed jeans and a white knit, the outspoken activist dropped off an Australia Post parcel and clutched her car keys.

During her bizarre anonymous appearance on the live Zoom call days earlier, Lucas told her co-panellists that she needed 'to be careful about being outspoken' because she was a famous Australian film and television actress.

'I'm here and I don't want to be anonymous, but I am about to start filming a film and I do need to be careful about being outspoken because you can get dropped from charities, you can lose campaigns with car companies,' the 35-year-old said.

'It has happened to me in recent times for speaking out. I feel careful and I don't want to elicit any aggressive, threatening responses.

Lucas said she felt '100 per cent called' to 'shine a light on the reality of what's really going on' in reference to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown directives.

The actress has signed on to feature in The Ogilvy Fortune, an adventure film currently in pre-production, just months after she was dropped as an ambassador for Plan International Australia, a charity for girls' equality following her controversial comments about vaccinations.

Lucas appeared carefree as she walked through one of Australia's anti-vaxxer hotspots, Byron Bay, on Thursday

Days earlier Lucas (top right) went undercover while appearing on a live chat with coronavirus conspiracy theorists and lockdown critics including former celebrity chef Pete Evans (bottom centre) and anti-5G activist Zev Freeman (top left)

Chris Hemsworth and Isabel Lucas at the 2006 TV Week Logie Awards. The duo both featured on Home and Away and were romantically linked for three years from 2005

'There's a certain level of agenda and darkness that has had authority ... and that has had a lot of people believing lies,' she said in the Zoom chat with other well-known figures in the anti-lockdown and anti-mask community.

The Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen actress also claimed she met several doctors while living in California who dropped out of the medical field due to 'corruption'.

'All of what they were speaking about is what we're facing right now. When we are in a fear state, we just follow what we're told.

Lucas said that at the beginning of the pandemic in March she was asked by her local council to film a video calling on locals to stay at home to stop the spread of the virus.

She appeared in the clip urging viewers to avoid travelling in NSW to slow the spread of coronavirus, saying: 'This is not the right time to be visiting Byron or other coastal towns, it's a good chance to give nature a break and ourselves.'

Lucas revealed she regretted appearing in the clip during the Zoom chat.

'I saw that there was all these other great people doing it and it's that sort of thing where you can get looped in without realising you're being looped in,' she said.

'But those with a strong conscience and strong integrity won't as easily sell out.'

While Lucas went to great lengths to keep her identity hidden, facilitator Matt Lawson named her as a guest in the conference in the days leading up to the event (pictured)

Lucas said she feels '100 per cent called' to 'shine a light on the reality of what's really going on' in reference to the COVID-19 pandemic

The actress was spotted looking carefree in Byron Bay on Tuesday as she ran errands throughout town

Lucas also revealed that she left Hollywood in 2016 because Donald Trump won the presidential election during the strange Zoom discussion.

But she said she has since had a change of heart about the president after watching a 'mind-boggling' YouTube video about Trump being a 'lightworker'.

A lightworker is a term used in hippy spiritual circles to describe 'beings who feel an enormous pull towards helping others'.

Lucas was joined by a string of other coronavirus deniers and lockdown critics during the live-stream.

The chat was spearheaded by Matt Lawson, who has built up a cult following on Twitter by slamming the Victorian government over its 'draconian' lockdown.

He gave Lucas' identity away by revealing the Australian actress would be joining him in the live chat when trying to recruit other celebrities.

'Doing a live Zoom meeting with Pete Evans and Isabel Lucas as well as Nurse and ADF whistleblower... Would you be available to join?,' he wrote on Twitter last week.

He asked a string of retired AFL stars and politicians if they would join the Zoom call but none of them replied.

Days later, Lawson changed Lucas' name to 'X' when uploading the footage on YouTube.

Lucas was also joined by prominent anti-5G activist Zev Freeman, and lawyer Serene Teffaha, who is planning a class action against the Victorian Government over their 'unlawful' vaccine mandates and lockdown directives.

Lucas' manager Lizzi Morrisey told Daily Mail Australia it was 'speculation' that the actress went undercover for the chat, but refused to deny it was her.

Lucas said that at the beginning of the pandemic in March, she was asked by her local council to film a video calling on locals to stay at home to stop the spread of the virus. During the Zoom chat, she said she regretted appearing in the clip

Lucas has previously clarified that her issues lie solely with 'mandatory vaccination', rather than immunisation on its own.

She has also expressed her distrust of mainstream media and reporting of the 5G telecommunications rollout, which she believes is harmful.

'I choose to support the thousands of medical doctors and top EMF scientists around the world who have issued appeals for urgent action to stop 5G and protect public health,' she said back in April.

'My family raised me to believe that its wise to calmly question important topics in my community. Recently Ive been saddened to witness friends being labeled or attacked for respectfully questioning and examining certain topics.

'To clarify, I would never suggest COVID-19 is 5G related, (some have speculated). I'd like to support cohesive, clear, calm communication that welcomes healthy questioning.'

Earlier this year she compared the movement questioning the safety of 5G technology to the #MeToo movement for sexual harassment.

'Why has it been proven that microwave radiation (EMF) is a powerful immune suppressant, harmful to humans, animals, plants - yet telco companies are installing the towers on top of schools, hospitals and near our homes... whilst we are in lockdown?' she asked her followers.

In April, Lucas was dropped as an ambassador for Plan International Australia, a charity for girls' rights, over her controversial comments on coronavirus vaccines and 5G technology

Who's who in the anti-lockdown Zoom conference Pete Evans: Celebrity chef Pete Evans is one of the most outspoken members of the anti-vaxx movement within Australia. He has repeatedly claimed the public is being 'lied to' about the COVID-19 pandemic and expressed distrust toward politicians and mainstream media. He has also falsely suggested that vaccines are unsafe, and that jabs are somehow linked to autism in children. Vaccinations are a simple, safe and effective way of protecting people against harmful diseases before they come into contact with them. Isabel Lucas: The Australian actress and activist has been vocal about her distrust of vaccinations. She has faced criticism for her opinions but remained adamant that she just wants to help facilitate a discussion about matters that don't necessarily conform with mainstream opinions. Lucas is against the rollout of the 5G network and mandatory vaccinations. Zev Freeman: Zev Freeman has been an avid campaigner for human rights, and outspoken in his disapproval of 5G technology. He helped to block the installation of 5G technology in Byron Bay. Serene Teffaha: Teffaha is a lawyer who focuses on complex matters. She is planning a class action against the Victorian Government over their 'unlawful' vaccine mandates and lockdown directives. She said she has heard of countless scenarios where families are finding themselves in 'unfathomable' situations during the lockdown. 'I'm blown away by what I'm witnessing... Forced vaccinations, elderly abuse in aged care facilities, people not being allowed to see their families at the moment of their death. 'How many bullies are there do you have to mitigate? How many fires do you have to put out. This is a nation that is encouraged to bully each other. In an emergency you are saying that anything goes.' Matt Lawson: Matt Lawson's profile has raised significantly throughout the pandemic for his outspoken nature. He is the administrator behind a popular anti 5G Facebook page and organised the Zoom conference. Lawson reached out to several celebrities asking them to contribute to the conference. Advertisement

In recent months, bizarre new conspiracy theories have circulated on social media claiming that 5G causes coronavirus by 'sucking oxygen out of your lungs'.

These claims have been debunked by medical experts and technological experts.

In a lengthy statement, Lucas defended her right to freedom of speech and stressed the potential dangers of 5G.

'Freedom of speech is a human right - is it a risk?' she began.

'If over 4,000 peer reviewed reports describe injuries from wireless and thousands of EMF scientists and medical doctors (and ex-Telco employees) around the world are reporting harmful biological effects from wireless radiation - these would be rational questions, wouldn't they?'

The actress also asked fans to do their own independent research rather than only following information reported in the mainstream media.

Lucas was also slammed alongside surfer Taj Burrow for promoting alternative medicines as an answer to the COVID-19 pandemic in response to an Instagram post by controversial celebrity chef Pete Evans.

Lucas said she 'didn't trust the path of vaccination' while Burrow, 41, claimed that vaccines are 'not needed' despite the coronavirus outbreak.
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Cellphone data has tracked the movements of hundreds of thousands of Americans traveling to an annual motorcycle rally in South Dakota and those vacationing in Las Vegas amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The maps created by data visualization company Tectonix, with the help of location-data firms X-Mode Social and SafeGraph, shows the extent of the widespread travel from across the country.

Just last week, South Dakota's annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally drew more than 460,000 vehicles during the 10-day event.

The visualization used anonymous cellphone data to track the movement of rallygoers into Sturgis in the days leading up to the event.

The majority of those who traveled to Sturgis came from the Midwest and South, according to the tracking data.

SOUTH DAKOTA: Just last week, South Dakota's annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally drew more than 460,000 vehicles during the 10-day event. The visualization used anonymous cellphone data to track the movement of rallygoers into Sturgis in the days leading up to the event

The South Dakota Department of Health issued a warning on Tuesday that one person who spent several hours at a main street bar in Sturgis during the 10-day event had since tested positive for COVID-19 and may have spread it to others

Many came from Sunbelt states with large coronavirus outbreaks, including Texas, Arizona and Georgia.

Photos from the event showed a few people wearing masks and social distancing but many others packed close together at bars and rock shows throughout the event.

The South Dakota Department of Health issued a warning this week, saying that one person who spent several hours at a main street bar in Sturgis had since tested positive for COVID-19 and may have spread it to others.

With people traveling to the rally from all over the country, the mass gathering has raised concerns among health officials that it could become an epicenter of infections that are hard to track as rallygoers head home.

South Dakota has already been experiencing an uptick of COVID-19 infections with cases steadily rising over the last month.

Meanwhile, a separate visualization related to Las Vegas shows exactly where people traveled to after visiting the Strip when casinos reopened for business back on June 4.

An analysis of cellphone data over a four day weekend in July showed that visitors had traveled to and from Las Vegas from almost every state on the mainland except for Maine.

A separate visualization related to Las Vegas (above) shows exactly where people traveled to after visiting the Strip when casinos reopened for business back on June 4. This maps shows where travelers went after visiting Las Vegas over a weekend in July

Las Vegas reopened its casinos on June 4. Guests arrive at Bally's Las Vegas grand reopening celebration on July 23

The majority of visitors - 3,700 mobile devices - over that four day period were from Southern California. About 2,700 devices traveled to and from Arizona and about 1,000 came from Texas.

All three of those states are COVID-19 hotspots states that saw infections skyrocket in June and July.

Nevada has seen record single day spikes in the number of COVID-19 deaths in the last week. Cases have been declining across the state since mid-July. The state currently has 63,000 cases and more than 1,100 deaths.

It comes as new coronavirus cases across the United States continue to drop with the average number of COVID-19 cases across the country per day coming in at just over 47,000 on Wednesday.

That is the lowest it has been in seven weeks following the huge spike in infections in the Sunbelt hotspot states.

The current daily case average is down considerably from the record high of 77,000 cases reported on a single day back in mid-July.

While infections have been steadily declining for a month now, deaths across the US have been plateauing for three weeks with an average of 1,000 Americans dying per day.

Deaths are a lagging indicator and can potentially rise several weeks after new cases start to decline.

The current daily death rate, while still high, remains below levels seen back in April when 2,000 people a day, on average, were dying from COVID-19.

Coronavirus infections in the US have now topped 5.5 million and more than 173,000 have died of COVID-19 since the pandemic started.

The average number of COVID-19 cases across the country per day was at just over 47,000 on Wednesday, which is the lowest it has been in seven weeks following the huge spike in infections in Sunbelt hotspot states
Michigan will pay $600 million to compensate Flint residents whose health was damaged by lead-tainted drinking water after the city heeded state regulators advice not to treat it properly, an attorney involved in the negotiations told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Details will be released later this week, according to the attorney, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about it ahead of an official announcement. The settlement was first reported by The Detroit News, MLive.com and WXYZ-TV.

It is intended to resolve all legal actions against the state for its role in a disaster that made the impoverished, majority-Black city a nationwide symbol of governmental mismanagement, the attorney said.

The state of Michigan has reached a settlement with residents of Flint following the devastating water crisis that saw huge levels of contamination in the city's supply. Flint resident Jessica Owens holds a baby bottle full of contaminated water, during a news conference in 2016

The offices of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel have been negotiating for more than 18 months with lawyers for thousands of Flint residents who have filed suits against the state.

Under the deal, the state would establish a $600 million fund and Flint residents could file claims for compensation. The amount awarded per applicant would be based on how badly they were harmed, the attorney told AP.

It calls for devoting 80% of the money to people who were under age 18 during the period when Flint was using river water

It calls for devoting 80% of the money to people who were under age 18 during the period when Flint was using river water, the attorney said.

If approved, the settlement would push state spending on the Flint water crisis over $1 billion. Michigan has already pumped more than $400 million into replacing water pipes, purchasing filters and bottled water, children's health care and other assistance.

Ryan Jarvi, a spokesman for Nessel, declined to confirm the reports of a deal Wednesday night.

'We and the other parties are bound by a federal court order to maintain the confidentiality of detailed settlement and mediation communications until we reach a certain point,' Jarvi said. 'We have not yet reached the point where we can discuss a potential settlement.'

Flint switched its water source from the city of Detroit to the Flint River to save money in 2014, while under control of a state-appointed emergency manager.

State environmental regulators advised Flint, located about about 70 miles (112.65 kilometers) north of Detroit, not to apply corrosion controls to the water, which was then contaminated by lead from aging pipes.

Residents of the city with a population of nearly 100,000 people quickly began complaining that the water was discolored and had a bad taste and smell. They blamed it for rashes, hair loss and other health concerns, but local and state officials insisted it was safe.

New water pipes awaiting installation in 2016 in Flint

Volunteers load cases of free water into waiting vehicles at a water distribution center in 2016

Researchers with Virginia Tech University reported in summer 2015 that samples of Flint water had abnormally high lead levels. Shortly afterward, a group of doctors announced that local children had high levels of lead in their blood and urged Flint to stop using water from the river.

Then- Gov. Rick Snyder eventually acknowledged the problem, accepted the resignation of his environmental chief and pledged to aid the city, which resumed using Detroit water.

Residents used bottled water for drinking and household needs for more than a year. Researchers said in late 2016 that lead was no longer detectable in many homes.

Lawsuits against the state are being overseen by U.S. District Judge Judith Levy, who would have to approve the settlement.

Other suits are pending against Flint, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and private consultants that advised the city on water issues.
She is enjoying a relaxing getaway with her billionaire husband Francois-Henri Pinault.

And Salma Hayek looked incredible as she shared a sizzling swimwear snap to her Instagram on Thursday.

The Frida star, 53, displayed her sensational curves in a black bikini as she posed on the terrace of their holiday accommodation.

Wow! Salma Hayek looked incredible as she shared a sizzling swimwear snap to her Instagram on Thursday from her Greek getaway

Salma styled her brunette locks into a sweptback relaxed bun and went makeup-free as she displayed her radiant complexion.

The actress, who wore a pair of black sunglasses, playfully posed with a cup of coffee for the snap.

It comes after Salma posted a loved-up snap with her billionaire husband Francois-Henri, 58, to Instagram on Wednesday.

In the photo, the couple shared a cheeky kiss while both fully masked up amid the Covid-19 crisis.

'Love in the time of corona': It comes after the actress, 53, posted a loved-up snap with her billionaire husband Francois-Henri, 58, to Instagram on Wednesday

'Love in the time of corona El amor en los tiempos de corona. #love,' the 53-year-old star wrote alongside the picture of herself and her husband.

Salma and her French businessman husband have been married since 2009, after tying the knot in a lavish Paris ceremony on Valentine's Day. Their nuptials are said to have cost an eye-watering $3.5 million.

Their big day took place in the famous Venice opera house Teatro La Fenice, and the lovers were joined by an A-List group of well wishers, including Penelope Cruz, Woody Harrelson and Bono.

Last year, it was reported that Francois-Henri is worth an estimated $33.2billion. (He is the chairman and CEO of Kering since 2005, and president of Groupe Artemis since 2003.)

Enjoying the moment: In the photo, the couple shared a cheeky kiss while both fully masked up amid the Covid-19 crisis

The Oscar-nominated actress remains tight-lipped about their relationship, but last year she did address trolls who apparently criticised the union.

'A lot of people are very shocked that I married who I married,' she said in an interview with Town & Country.

'And some people are even intimidated now by me. But it's another way of showing racism. They can't believe this Mexican ended up in the life that she has, and they're uncomfortable around me.'

Salma added: '[Pinault] is the best husband in the world. I get to be who I am with him, and I don't feel that somebody tries to limit me.'
This article is adapted from The Climate Beat, the weekly newsletter of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism initiative strengthening coverage of the climate story.

ITS RARE TO HEAR THE TERM CLIMATE EMERGENCY in media and political discourse in the United States, even though that is the term thousands of scientists say most accurately describes the situation facing humanity. More than thirteen thousand scientists have now signed the World Scientists Warning of a Climate Emergency, which begins by affirming that scientists have a moral obligationto tell it like it is  before enumerating all the many alarming trends [that make] it urgently necessary to act.

With the Democratic and the Republican conventions unfolding this week and next, its high time for news coverage to catch up with science and make the climate emergency a leading topic in the national political conversation. To be sure, climate change has gotten much more attention in 2020 than in previous campaigns; the first night of the Democratic convention featured several overtures toward climate action. But by and large, climate is still treated as just another issue. Thats partly because most candidates still dont say that we face a climate emergency (though Joe Biden comes closer than any major-party nominee in history). But its also because many news outlets still seem not to recognize climate change as different from the other political subjects they cover. This one has a strict, rapidly closing time limit: wait too long to take aggressive action, and the climate emergency accelerates beyond resolution.

THE MEDIA TODAY: Google plays hardball in Australia over news payment law

Thats why scientists deliberately choose the words climate emergency. As in science, language matters profoundly in politics. Its one thing for a politicianand for a news storyto say that climate change is an important issue or problem. Issues and problems, however worthy, are a dime a dozen on the campaign trail, as is news coverage thereof. It is something else to say that a problem rises to the level of an emergency. An emergency, by definition, demands immediate action. An emergency is not merely one in a long list of worthy concernsit is a supreme priority that allows no time for delay, half measures, or distractions by less urgent matters.

A few journalists do use the term climate emergency. Al Roker, the weatherman and chief climate correspondent at NBC News, is one. Bill Weir, the climate correspondent at CNN, is another. The Guardian makes a regular practice of it after revising its style guide last year to prefer climate emergency or climate crisis over the more anodyne terms climate change and global warming.

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Most newsrooms, though, especially in the United States, have avoided the emergency framing, regarding it as activist. Its true that many activists use the term. So, for that matter, have hundreds of national, regional, and local government bodies, including the parliaments of the United Kingdom, France, Portugal, Canada, and Argentina. But the nervousness in newsrooms misses the point: when political actors use this term, they are doing so in accordance with climate sciencethe same science that should be guiding news judgments.

The political conventions this week and next offer an opportunity for newsrooms to treat the climate emergency with the urgency that science demands. No country is more important to defusing the emergency than the United States. Not only is the US the worlds largest economy and historically its biggest climate polluterit has also been the greatest obstacle to climate progress, especially during the Trump administration. Yet Trump has faced relatively little media criticism of his climate record. It seems taken as a given that Trump opposes climate science, which he has dismissed as a hoax, so much so that news coverage doesnt even bother to call him out on it anymore. The result is journalistically indefensible: it gives the president a pass on arguably the most important challenge of our time.

An emergency is not merely one in a long list of worthy concernsit is a supreme priority that allows no time for delay, half measures, or distractions by less urgent matters.

Joe Biden also deserves attention on this front. Without question, Bidens words and proposed policies are immeasurably better aligned with the science than Trumps. The former vice president has said that there is no more urgent crisis facing this nation and the world than the threat posed by climate change. His climate plan endorses a Green New Deal in all but name, promising $2 trillion in spending to achieve a zero-carbon electricity sector by 2035 while earmarking 40 percent of federal climate spending for communities of color and low income communities [that] have faced disproportionate harm. And the Biden campaigns social media posts have occasionally used the term climate emergency. The candidate himself, however, seems not to have used those words. Does that reflect a caution about not looking more extreme than he deems prudent? Or does it signal that Biden takes climate change seriously but does not regard it as an emergency?

Perhaps Biden will clarify this in his convention speech Thursday night. In any case, between now and Election Day, journalists must make clear to voters what science says: we face a climate emergency, and only immediate, far-reaching action can preserve a livable future. Journalists should ask candidates in both parties and at all levels of government what they plan to do about this emergency. Of course, it is not journalists role to tell people how to vote, but it is our responsibility to help them understand what is at stake so they can decide what to do about it in the ballot box.

ICYMI: Ed Yong tells the whole story of Americas pandemic

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Mark Hertsgaard is the co-founder and executive director of Covering Climate Now and the environment correspondent for The Nation.
Scott Morrison will urge state premiers to 'get practical' and reconsider their position on border closures, as the lockdowns continue to split the country apart.

In addition to the human cost, the closures are wreaking havoc on the economy, which is already teetering on the brink of ruin amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The prime minister is expected to address the issues with border closures at a cabinet meeting on Friday, after desperate families revealed they were denied urgent medical treatment in Queensland.

The federal government will push state leaders to reconsider their positions on keeping borders shut - particularly states without any community transmission.

'Well we've got to be practical about these things, and we've got to act on medical advice and that has to be transparent,' Mr Morrison said earlier this week.

The decision comes as Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk came under fire for her staunch approach to borders, earning her the nickname 'Comrade Anna'.

Scott Morrison (pictured) will urge state premiers to 'get practical' and reconsider their position on border closures as families are separated and sick people are denied treatment

Police officers are seen stopping drivers at an intrastate checkpoint on the Forrest Highway near the border in WA (pictured)

On Tuesday she announced Queensland will keep its hard border lockdown in place until New South Wales and Victoria completely eliminate community transmission of coronavirus.

The decision is expected to cost the state economy upwards of $17million every single day, with up to 30 per cent of the workforce reliant on tourism.

The move was slammed by Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, who worried premiers were 'politicising' their border policies.

'When you have states with zero cases closing their borders to states with zero cases, there doesn't seem to be any medical reason or health reason or any logical reason for those to remain closed,' Mr Joyce said during a press conference,' he said.

'At the moment it doesn't seem to be medically or scientifically based. It seems to be more politically driven.'

Mr Joyce called on the federal government to implement some guidelines to help airlines get back on their feet and to encourage domestic travel 'as soon as it is safe'.

Qantas will not begin flying internationally again until at least July 2021 as it records a $2billion loss in the 2020 financial year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pictured: Melbourne's empty departures terminal on August 20

A couple are seen leaving one of the few Qantas domestic flights between Melbourne and Sydney on August 8 (pictured) as they prepare to enter a two-week hotel quarantine

'It's a problem for all business, it's a problem for our business and eventually it's going to be a problem for our economy,' he said.

'If it's safe, we need to reopen them.'

Qantas will not begin flying internationally again until at least July 2021 as it records a $2billion loss in the 2020 financial year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At least 6,000 staff lost their jobs and another 20,000 were stood down as the embattled airline's profits plunged by 91 percent after the crisis grounded almost all international travel in early 2020.

The Flying Kangaroo is relying on domestic tourism to bolster its return to the airs within the coming months.

At present, people from certain states can't even get into the Sunshine State when requiring urgent medical care, let alone for a holiday.

Mr Morrison has been fielding hardship requests from families seeking exemption to enter the state, and is expected to address the strict policies currently in place.

Travellers are temperature tested by health officials after arriving on a Qantas flight from Melbourne to Sydney on July 7

'People have got to get access to medical treatment. I mean we fund hospitals, and Medicare, and services all around the country so Australians wherever they live, can get to those services,' he said.

There have been examples of families torn apart at borders and patients unable to receive adequate medical treatment as a result of the hard borders.

On Tuesday, Ms Palaszczuk was slammed for saying Queensland hospitals were 'for our people only' - after a woman pregnant with twins in far northern NSW was forced to fly all the way to Sydney for emergency surgery.

The premier made the controversial comment when asked about the woman, who lived in Ballina, just 30km from the Queensland border, who was told she was unlikely to be given an exemption to pass into the state.

She was forced to wait 16 critical hours to go to a Sydney hospital, despite her unborn twins who were just 24 weeks along, needing urgent care.

Ms Palaszczuk said she while she was not aware of the specifics of the case. the decision about who to let into Queensland would be made by health professionals, not politicians.

Baby Harvey was airlifted to Brisbane not long after he was born on Friday (pictured with parents Glen and Chantelle Northfield following the birth)

Motorists are stopped at a checkpoint at Coolangatta on the Queensland- New South Wales border earlier this month

'People living in NSW they have NSW hospitals. In Queensland we have Queensland hospitals for our people,' she said.

Another young mother was also left heartbroken as she was separated from her newborn son due to the draconian border restrictions.

Chantelle Northfield, from Casino in northern New South Wales, welcomed her second son Harvey at nearby Lismore Base Hospital last Friday.

Little Harvey had difficulty breathing and was airlifted to Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital for lifesaving treatment.

But his terrified mother was unable to be at her newborn's bedside as she would need to quarantine for 14 days first.

Similarly, a mother was told she couldn't travel from northern New South Wales to Brisbane to be with her 28-year-old son after he was diagnosed with leukaemia this week.

Keegan is preparing to undergo an aggressive form of chemotherapy in Brisbane after the diagnosis.

Ms Palaszcuk has been slammed for her tight border restrictions, with critics arguing they are destroying the economy (pictured, the border on August 7)

Despite living in a small town 521 kilometres northwest of Sydney, mum Kate must still apply for exemption to cross the border and would have to quarantine for 14 days once she arrives.

'What I find contradictory is that they may allow me over the border under compassionate grounds but then they're going to imprison me in a hotel for 14 days when I can't see my son,' Kate said.

Ms Palaszczuk has indicated the borders could remain closed until December despite any economic costs.

'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.

Motorists are seen approaching a checkpoint at Coolangatta on the Queensland- New South Wales border earlier this month

A worker crosses the street in Melbourne's central business district on August 19 amid lockdowns

Similarly, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian closed the borders to Victoria following the second outbreak, costing an estimated $73million every week.

Mr Morrison has reportedly spoken with several premiers to inform them of his plans to encourage a road map out of the current situation.

Ms Palaszcuk is expected to offer the most resistance to the plan.

She previously told her constituents that she would not be pressured into making a decision that was not in the best interests of Queenslanders.

'The national strategy needs to be focusing on Victoria to get all of their cases under control and NSW so that all of Australia can open up,' Ms Palaszczuk said.

People wearing face masks ride a train in the city centre in Sydney as state premiers debate border closures

An arrivals board displays flights at the Qantas terminal at Melbourne Airport on August 20

'We will always take the advice of the chief health officer to keep Queenslanders safe. I'm not going to bend to anyone.'

The Queensland border remains closed to anybody from Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

Mr Morrison said it wasn't practical to keep borders closed until the virus was eliminated entirely.

'The suppression strategy is to ensure we get no community transmission. I think what's been demonstrated, particularly in NSW, is that outbreaks can be addressed and they've got another challenge at the moment, but the cases have come right down there,' he said.

'I'm pleased that we are turning the corner in Melbourne and Victoria.'
The Minister of Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has called for collaboration with all stakeholders ahead of governments plans to reopen schools following the shut down in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak.



Dr. Prempeh made this call earlier today when he inaugurated a 10-member committee in Accra to deliberate and advise on modalities for the re-opening of schools in the pre-tertiary subsector for the approval of the President.



He told the committee that in its deliberations, it must ensure that all stakeholders are brought on board in drawing up its recommendations for transmission to the President and thanked them for accepting this important national assignment.



In reply, the chairman of the Committee, Prof. Dominic Fobih, a former Minister of Education and currently the chairman of the GETFund Board of Trustees, thanked the Minister for entrusting them with this responsibility and assured him that the committee would be diligent in all its deliberations and learn lessons from the recent limited reopening for final year students.



The committee is expected to report to the Minister on Monday 21st September 2020 on its recommendations.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Aqua-Tots Swim Schools now open to offer dedicated, year-round, indoor swim lessons to families in West Atlanta, Midtown and Buckhead. This years pandemic has caused many parents to work from home. Children are also at home, and they are bored. This has resulted in an increased rate of drowning all over the country." Franchise Owner Jesse Rhodenbaugh

Aqua-Tots Swim Schools has announced the opening of its 113th worldwide franchise location in Atlantas upper westside. Located in the shopping area of Westside Village at Moores Mill, along Marietta Boulevard and Coronet Way, Aqua-Tots Westside Village is now serving families in West Atlanta, Midtown and Buckhead. They officially opened their doors on Monday, August 17, 2020.

Aqua-Tots Swim Schools has been the leader in the swim instruction industry since 1991, offering comprehensive swim curriculum for children as early as four months old. With over 100 locations in 14 countries, families all over the world experience the dedicated, year-round, indoor swim facilities where their children can become safe and confident swimmers by completing the proven Aqua-Tots curriculum.

The 4,500 sq. foot swim school is the sixth Aqua-Tots location in Georgia and fourth Atlanta area location for Franchise Owners Andrew George, Jesse Rhodenbaugh and Tommy Fisher, who also own locations in Alpharetta, Briarcliff and Roswell, Georgia.

Were excited to serve the families of West Atlanta, Midtown and Buckhead, said Franchise Owner Jesse Rhodenbaugh. This years pandemic has caused many parents to work from home. Children are also at home, and they are bored. This has resulted in an increased rate of drowning all over the country. In fact, 69% of children who drown are not expected to be in or near a pool at the time of an incident. We are very proud to offer families in Atlanta a year-round place to equip their children with the water safety skills they need for a lifetime.

According to the National Institutes of Health, Consistency in formal swim lessons reduces the risk of drowning by 88% among children ages one to four years old. Thats an encouraging reality since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that drowning is the leading cause of unintentional, injury-related death among children ages one to four.

Aqua-Tots Westside Village is committed to keeping families safe, healthy and comfortable when attending swim lessons. As such, they have implemented the Aqua-Tots Full Circle of Safety to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in their swim school. These procedures focus on a modified swim school environment for the health of their families and staff, safety of their lessons and cleanliness of their facility. Preventative measures include social distancing in the lobby, hand sanitizer stations, enhanced cleaning procedures, masks for swim school staff and temperature checks for staff prior to each shift.

Additionally, a properly maintained and sanitized pool is still considered a safe environment for children and families. According to the CDC, There is no evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, spas, or water play areas. Proper operation and maintenance (including disinfection with chlorine and bromine) of these facilities should inactivate the virus in the water. The Aqua-Tots pool contains a commercial sanitation and filtration system which maintains the proper chlorinated levels.

For a limited time, those who enroll in monthly swim lessons will receive a free swim lesson to get started. Aqua-Tots Westside Village is open seven days a week and encourages families to reserve a spot in small group (4:1 ratio), semi-private (2:1 ratio) or private (1:1 ratio) lessons before classes fill up. Aqua-Tots Westside Village will also feature the Special Needs Aquatic Program (S.N.A.P.), which tailors lessons to each childs special needs and abilities, Fast Track, which serves as a jumpstart to lessons, and birthday parties.

Aqua-Tots Westside Village is now hiring front desk staff and swim instructors. To apply, please contact Aquatic Manager Ally Gibson at westsidevillageam@aqua-tots.com. If youd like to learn more about Aqua-Tots Westside Village or to pre-enroll in swim lessons, visit aqua-tots.com/atlanta-westside-village or call (770) 927-8155.

About Aqua-Tots Swim Schools

Aqua-Tots Swim Schools serves over 100 communities worldwide, offering dedicated, year-round, indoor swim instruction, community outreach and drowning prevention education to children of all abilities from four months to 12 years old. As the worlds largest swim school franchise, their hand-selected instructors are passionate about teaching children how to remain safer in and around the water, using tried and true curriculum, 29+ years in the making and trusted worldwide to teach 2.9 million swim lessons annually. To learn more, visit http://www.aqua-tots.com.
Four young people have been charged over a six-hour pre-dawn crime spree on Wednesday morning in Melbourne's south-east that involved two stolen cars, an assault and multiple burglaries.

They have also been fined for breaking Chief Health Officer directives.

Police allege that four males and one girl first stole a car from Valencia Circuit in Cranbourne at midnight, before allegedly committing an assault and a theft at a business on Thompson Road in Patterson Lakes a few hours later at 3.50am.

The teens allegedly then committed an aggravated burglary in Governor Arthur Drive in Patterson Lakes at 4am, and attempted another in Moxham Drive in Clyde North at about 5.20am, according to Victoria Police.
Schitts Creek star and co-creator Daniel Levy is taking a free University of Alberta course called Indigenous Canada  and he wants others to join him.

The Toronto-raised actor, writer and showrunner promoted the online course in a video on his social media.

Levy said he recently signed up for the course, which has 12 lessons that explore Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada.

The universitys website says the course is told from an Indigenous perspective and highlights national and local Indigenous-settler relations.

Levy said he plans to host weekly discussions with the course professors, starting this Sunday afternoon.

The comedy creator is up for four trophies at next months Emmy Awards for the CBC comedy Schitts Creek, which has a total of 15 nominations for its sixth and final season.

I thought if I am going to sign up and learn, maybe some other people would want to join me and we could do this as a group, Levy said in his social media video.

So every week Im going to be hosting discussions and Q-and-As with the profs so that we could better understand and delve deeper into the curriculum.

Because if youre anything like me, I was not a good student and I need group support, and I thought this could be a really great way of doing that.

Levy added: If 2020 has taught us anything, its that we need to actively relearn history  history that wasnt taught to us in school  to better understand and contextualize our lives and how we can better support and be of service to each other.
Thousands of people were under orders to evacuate in regions surrounding the San Francisco Bay Area on Aug. 19 as nearly 40 wildfires blazed across the state amid a blistering heat wave now in its second week.

Smoke blanketed the city of San Francisco.

Police and firefighters went door-to-door before dawn Wednesday in a frantic scramble to warn residents to evacuate as fire encroached on Vacaville, a city of about 100,000 that lies between San Francisco and Sacramento. Fire officials said at least 50 structures were destroyed and 50 were damaged and that four people were injured.

Television footage showed some homes in flames and thick ash dropping in a rural area near Interstate 80 as the fire appeared to head toward more densely populated areas.

Diane Bustos told KPIX-TV that she and her husband tried to drive out but their vehicle caught on fire and they had to flee on foot.

I got all these flames on me and I lost my shoe, but I made it. God saved me, she said.

Many evacuees were alerted by calls to flee around 2:30 a.m., the Vacaville Reporter newspaper said.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said that blaze and others were exhibiting extreme fire behavior and challenging firefighters. There is rugged terrain in several of the areas and unexpectedly strong winds overnight fanned the flames.

Throughout the state of California right now, we are stretched thin for crews because of the fires, said Will Powers, a state fire spokesman. Air resources have been stretched thin throughout the whole state.

To the south in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, about 22,000 people were ordered to evacuate because of a fire that was burning in dense wooded parkland but threatened communities, Cal Fire spokesman Jonathan Cox said.

This is a very active timber fire burning in two counties with a serious threat to both public safety and for structures that are out in front of it, he said.

Thousands of homes and businesses were also threatened in the wine-growing counties of Napa and Sonoma in an area devastated by a series of deadly blazes in the last three years. At least seven fires were grouped together as one of two major Lightning Fires in Northern California, a nod to their origins just a day earlier.

Powers said much of the fire was burning through rural areas with steep terrain, making it difficult to get crews in.

In Napa County, Gail Bickett, 80, loaded up her three dogs in a truck to evacuate as the fire burned behind houses across the road, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Its scary, she said. Its overwhelming.

State Sen. Bill Dodd, who represents the area in the state Legislature, said the fires burning in Napa and Sonoma counties were mostly affecting less populated areas.

I think the people around here, even the people that have structures in harms way, understand that theyre in a more rural area and that the people in more densely populated areas have to get the resources first, he said.

In the East San Francisco Bay, a cluster of 20 separate lightning-sparked fires threatened about 1,400 structures in rugged terrain with dense brush. Strong winds and low humidity made the firefight challenging.

Blazes engulfed rural and forest areas near the San Francisco Bay Area, near Salinas in Monterey County, around Oroville Dam north of Sacramento, forested areas west of Silicon Valley, in remote Mendocino County and near the Nevada state line north of Lake Tahoe.

Several also were burning in northern coastline areas and in Southern California.

Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered a statewide state of emergency Tuesday, saying the blazes were exacerbated by the effects of the historic West Coast heat wave and sustained high winds.

The cluster of wine country fires threaten an area that only last year grappled with another massive blaze that forced 200,000 to flee  a task made more complicated this year because of the pandemic.

Tuesday afternoon, the fire was moving toward an area called Atlas Peak that burned in 2017 in a blaze that killed six people and destroyed nearly 800 buildings. The California Highway Patrol said helicopter crews were unable to do rescues in the area because the smoke was too thick to fly in.

Robin Sisemore hosed down vegetation in front of her mothers adjacent house. Both homes were new, replacing ones that burned just three years ago.

To the south, evacuations were ordered for all of Boulder Creek to the west of Silicon Valley, a community of 5,000 high in the Santa Cruz mountains where windy, long, forested roads, some paved, some dirt, can easily become blocked during storms or fires. About 6,000 structures were threatened by that blaze.

Associated Press writer Robert Jablon in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

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

Topics California Wildfire
The Bank of East Asia (BEA) said efforts to arrest a surge in bad loans in its mainland China business are paying off, as earnings improved from its worst year in a decade despite pressure from the coronavirus pandemic in its two biggest markets.

Hong Kongs largest independent and family-run lender said while the outlook for the mainland economy is considerably worse than it was at the start of the year, there is optimism that activity will improve in the second half.

The banking group, whose business is focused primarily on Hong Kong and mainland China, reported a 53 per cent increase in profit to HK$1.53 billion (US$197.4 million) in the six months through June 30 from a year earlier. Net charge for impairment losses almost halved from a year earlier and losses in its mainland operations narrowed.

Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China.

The 101-year-old bank announced in February that it was reorganising its mainland operations after posting its worst annual results in a decade last year . The bank said it would continue to actively manage its asset quality in this challenging macro environment after its attempts to to tap growth potential in lower-tiered cities in China backfired with rising loan delinquencies, particularly in the commercial property sector.

Mainland banks reported a drop in earnings last quarter as bad-loan ratio rose to a decade-high. Chinas banking regulator last month asked them to make preparations for a big rise in delinquencies as the nations financial system braces for shocks from the coronavirus at home and a hostile environment abroad.

Beyond the immediate impact of Covid, political and compliance risks are on the rise given the escalating Sino-US geopolitical tensions, Adrian Li Man-kiu, co-chief executive, said on a conference call with journalists. We shall watch the changing circumstances closely and adapt to new regulations and sanctions.

Story continues

Relations between Washington and Beijing have become increasingly strained this year over a variety of issues, including technology, trade and Hong Kongs autonomy.

This month, the US sanctioned 11 Hong Kong and mainland officials, including Chief Executive Carrie Lam Yuet-ngor, following Beijings decision to impose a controversial national security law for the city, which critics have claimed could stifle speech and other freedoms in the former British colony.

The sanctions do not have a significant impact on our business operations, Li added. The bank has established procedures to comply with all laws and regulations, as well as treating our customers fairly.

BEAS shares declined 0.4 per cent to close at HK$18.10 in Hong Kong on Thursday.

The lender said that its net charge for impairment losses fell sharply to HK$2.9 billion in the first half largely due to reductions in losses in its mainland business. That compared with a charge for impairment losses of HK$5.1 billion in the prior year period.

The banks mainland business reported a pre-tax loss of HK$602 million in the first six months of 2020, compared with a loss of HK$3.8 billion a year earlier. In Hong Kong, pre-tax profit fell to HK$1.41 billion from HK$3.69 billion a year earlier, driven by higher loan provisions, compression of its net interest margin and mark-to-market revaluation losses on its debt and equity portfolios.

His brother Brian Li Man-bun, also co-chief executive, said BEA took an extremely prudent approach to its loan book in the mainland, reducing its corporate loan balances by 6.8 per cent year-to-date and cutting its reliance on stressed segments, such as the property sector.

BEA said its overall impaired loan ratio worsened to 1.29 per cent at the end of June from 1.22 per cent at the end of December 2019, with both mainland and Hong Kong units reporting higher ratios. In Malaysia, the bank suffered an impairment loss of HK$220 million from its share of an associate unit.

The bank said the impaired loan ratio for its mainland business remained at an elevated level of 3.92 per cent in June, but that was mainly a result of delayed recovery from the economic fallout of the coronavirus, rather than new non-performing loans.

Net interest income declined 17.7 per cent to HK$6.11 billion in the first half. Net fee and commission income increased 6.7 per cent to HK$1.44 billion in the first six months of the year. Its cost-to-income ratio worsened to 51.3 per cent in the first half, compared with 48.2 per cent a year earlier.

More from South China Morning Post:

This article Bank of East Asia interim profit jumps on efforts to contain bad loans from ill-fated strategy in mainland China business first appeared on South China Morning Post

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KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Parliamentary panel discusses concessional loans to women entrepreneurs, institutional finance for micro enterprises

Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Anand Sharma House chaired the panel

The panel has asked the MSME Ministry to provide data on job losses in the sector

It was also suggested that interest payments on loans could be waived for six months along with extended time period for loan repayment

MSME sector represents 90% of India's industrial units, and contributes to 45% of total industrial value addition

Concessional loan scheme for women entrepreneurs and helping micro enterprises to access bank credit were among the two key suggestions discussed by a parliamentary panel to revive the crisis-hit micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector. As per the 73rd round of National Sample Survey (NSS), the total number of MSMEs are 6.33 crore and out of these micro, small and medium enterprises comprise 99.47%, 0.52% and 0.01% respectively.

Also read: Swachh Survekshan 2020: Indore retains top spot as India's cleanest city for 4th year in a row

While the House panel chaired by senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Anand Sharma on Wednesday noted the suggestions, it asked the MSME Ministry to provide data on job losses in the sector. The MSME sector represents 90% of India's industrial units and contributes to 45% of total industrial value addition. India's estimated 45 crore informal workers comprise 90% of its total workforce, with 50 lakh to 1 crore workers added annually. About 40% of these workers are employed with MSMEs, according to a joint report by Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), and National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP).

Sources familiar with the development said that the House panel chief wanted to understand the impact of pandemic on the sector and the progress made so far after unlocking of the economy. MSME Secretary AK Sharma who appeared before the parliamentary panel briefed the members on measures taken by the government to help the industry, and also various schemes for the small units.

Also read: GST Council to hold virtual meet to finalise compensation to states on Aug 27

The Secretary listed out schemes announced under Atma Nirbhar Bharat package in May by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. One of the members of the parliamentary panel expressed concern over micro enterprises not getting institutional credit. The need for boosting demand was another area of focus in the key meeting. It was noted that the benefits of the government schemes were not reaching the micro enterprises.

It was also suggested that interest payments on loans could be waived for six months along with extended time period for equated monthly installments (EMIs). The MSME sector had earlier demanded payroll support from the government as well as waiver of interest payments. They had argued that many countries provided direct cash support to small enterprises to help them tide over the coronavirus impact, and India too should consider it.

Also read: COVID-19 crisis: Rise in fiscal deficit expected to affect construction sector in 2020, says IndRa

Surat-based Prashant Industries Director Prashant Patel said that banks may not be in the position to waive interest charges, and hence government should come up with some mechanism to extend interest and collateral free loans against statutory payments made by the industry since the onset of pandemic. "The loans can be repaid a year later without interest," Patel said.
BlackBerry has had a tough go of it since the iPhone stole its popularity in the late 2000s, but somehow the brand has managed to limp along. Now, though, it looks like it will be getting a more serious attempt at a revival.OnwardMobility just announced that, in partnership with BlackBerry and FIH Mobile Limited (a Foxconn Technology Group subsidiary), it will be launching a BlackBerry brand 5G smartphone. The device, which is expected to land in North America and Europe in the first half of next year, will have one of the trademarks of the original BlackBerry devices: a full physical keyboard.BlackBerry smartphones are known for protecting communications, privacy, and data. This is an incredible opportunity for OnwardMobility to bring next-generation 5G devices to market with the backing of BlackBerry and FIH Mobile, said OnwardMobility CEO Peter Franklin.
SEATTLE, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- KPMG and the CCFA identified high-growth retailtech enterprises that strive to advance digitalization, intelligence, and integration for the retail industry. Malong Technologies (https://www.malongtech.com), a leading computer vision technology provider, was selected for delivering significant value to retailers by reducing shrinkage (inventory loss) and improving the customer experience at in-store self-service systems.

Using the KPMG proprietary Startup Insight Platform (SIP) and a team of experts, 50 leading enterprises specializing in retailtech with major deployments in the Chinese retail market were selected through a quantitative analysis on six different aspects including the team, technology, product, market, business model and funding. The winners were announced at the annual CCFA International Retail Innovation Summit held in Shanghai.

As a global leader in AI for product recognition, Malong Technologies has been committed to providing smart retail solutions to retailers worldwide. For example, RetailAI Fresh, an AI-powered self-service scale solution that integrates state-of-the-art product recognition with built-in loss prevention technology, provides a proven solution to delight Walmart customers in self-service shopping by reducing queueing and significantly improving efficiency. Malong's technology seamlessly integrates into Walmart's already-deployed traditional self-service scales, transforming them into smart scales which can "see" the products placed on the kiosk and continuously "self-learns" new products via Malong's AI platform.

During use, customers simply place the bagged items (e.g. fruits, vegetables, and other loose/dry goods) on the kiosk, and then the system accurately identifies the product in an instant with a single "click." Compared to traditional methods, there were multiple screens and taps involved in the past, which needed customers to click through several screens to find the correct product among hundreds of possible options. Now, powered by Malong Technologies' AI, the smart self-service scales can even recognize items within multiple layers of clear plastic bags and with the granularity to differentiate grains of rice.

As proven in Walmart stores, the self-service weighing shopping experience has improved for customers by reducing transaction times by 40% on average.

The retail industry is innovating and reforming in the face of digitalization. Malong Technologies is looking forward to cooperating with more retailers globally to deeply explore the massive potential value of smart retail and upgrading intelligent innovation in more scenarios.

About Malong Technologies

Malong Technologies is a global leader in artificial intelligence for product recognition. Since its founding in 2014, the company has focused on advanced deep learning research and development in product recognition for retail applications. Malong invented the CurriculumNet weakly-supervised learning algorithm, which won the inaugural WebVision Challenge of CVPR by a large margin. Malong Technologies is on a mission to help the retail industry transform with AI to significantly improve operational efficiency, asset protection and customer experience via its RetailAI suite  RetailAI Protect and RetailAI Fresh. Malong is an Accenture portfolio company, Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, Dell Technologies Partner, and a NVIDIA Inception Premier member.

Related Links:

Malong Technologies Company Website: https://www.malongtech.com

More on KPMG's China Leading Retailtech 50 Report: https://home.kpmg/cn/en/home/media/press-releases/2020/08/kpmg-announces-china-50-leading-retailtech-enterprises.html

More on RetailAI Solutions in Walmart Stores: https://chainstoreage.com/walmart-uses-ai-streamline-store-shopping-produce-china

More on RetailAI Protect (AI-based loss prevention at self-checkout kiosks): https://www.malongtech.com/en/protect.html

More on RetailAI Fresh (AI-based loss prevention at self-weighing kiosks): https://www.malongtech.com/en/fresh.html

Contact:

Kelly Kang

+86 13996813765

[email protected]

SOURCE Malong Technologies

Related Links

http://www.malongtech.cn/


A doctor banned from treating patients for beating his wife is allowed back to work again after he said he had felt 'left out' of the weekly NHS Clap for Carers.

Dr Abdul Basit, 36, was suspended after he grabbed his wife by the throat and manhandled her during a string of arguments as she tried to adapt to a new life with him in the UK.

The unnamed victim, a junior doctor whose father is a renowned physician in Pakistan, said she was also mocked by her husband about her academic record.

She also accused him of being a 'penny pincher' who would only let her spend 10 a week on lunches.

Dr Abdul Basit, 36, was suspended after he grabbed his wife by the throat and manhandled her during a string of arguments

Last April, Basit, who worked in the Dermatalogy Department at Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, Cumbria, was found guilty of serious professional misconduct.

The General Medical Council accused him of a 'pattern of emotional, psychological and verbal abuse.'

But last week following a review hearing at Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service his four month suspension was lifted and he was allowed to return to work.

Tribunal chairman Ms Ijeoma Omambala told the Manchester hearing told that Dr Basit had felt 'left out of the recent hand clapping for the NHS during lockdown'.

He said that Dr Basit had realised that it was his own 'misconduct' that was the reason he couldn't work and wasn't included in this.

He said: 'He has sought to maintain his knowledge and skills and the tribunal considered this to be indicative of a doctor who takes his profession seriously.'

Dr Basit told the tribunal he took 'full responsibility for his actions' and they were satisfied that 'his insight is genuine'.

The Manchester hearing was told the Basits had married in her native Pakistan in 2015 where she worked as a research assistant and she joined him in the UK in February the following year.

But over the ensuing months he would belittle, push and shove his wife known as Dr A during minor arguments which led her to finally file for divorce.

She was initially too scared to tell anyone about her ordeal but police were alerted in May 2016 after a violent argument between Basit and his wife.

Last week following a review hearing at Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in Manchester, pictured, his four month suspension was lifted and he was allowed to return to work

Following a family meal at a restaurant, Basit was heard 'screaming and shouting' at his wife and a fight broke out when her brother, also a doctor, intervened.

Basit punched his wife in the face and on the ear then hit her brother.

She suffered swelling and bruising to her left eye in the incident.

She told the hearing how she came to the UK to be with Dr Basit and wanted to make the relationship work so she 'would stay and give him chances' despite the abuse.

Dr A said told how the 'relationship centred around fear' for both her physical well-being and for her family's reputation in Pakistan.

She said: 'He told me that he did this because he wanted to break me down sociologically and emotionally but at the same time he did say that he did love me.

Dr Basit would belittle, push and shove his wife, known as Dr A, during minor arguments which resulted in her getting a non-molestation order against him in 2017

She added: 'He would also grab my neck, squeeze it and then ask: 'how does that feel?' I couldn't understand why he was doing this and he just said: 'I am just seeing what it feels like.'

Dr A described it as 'humiliating' that Dr Basit would make her 'beg for money' and would tell her to 'make do with 10 a week' to buy lunches during her first month in the UK.

In 2017 she went to court to get a non-molestation order against him after initially declining to report her husband to police.

Dr Basit told the review hearing: 'I see patients with mental health problems and sometimes the patients are women who are or were subject to violence and they will find it very upsetting if they come to know about the proven allegations regarding the doctor providing them care.

'I always treat them with respect and compassion in spite of my current issues and always make their safety my priority.'

But Miss Shirlie Duckworth lawyer for the GMC said: 'It is not safe for him to return to unrestricted practice.'
Inmate hand crew cuts through vegetation charred by the Cave Fire in Santa Barbara. David McNew/Reuters

The reduction of inmates available to serve in hand crews due to early release because of the coronavirus leaves Cal Fire vulnerable to deal with the extreme conditions with a limited number of inmate fire crews to draw from.

"Some of the toughest work that's done out there on the lines, some of the most important work, is done by these hand crews," Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement in July.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

As more than 360 fires burn across the state of California, the coronavirus pandemic is creating a shortage of inmate fire crews to battle the wildfires.

California has relied on incarcerated firefighters as its primary "hand crews" since the 1940s, and in the past few years, the number of inmate firefighters has grown to 3,500, nearly a fourth of the state's 15,500 wildfire fighters, according to Cal Fire, the department overseeing the state's forestry and fire protection.

The reduction of inmates available to serve in hand crews due to early release because of the coronavirus leaves Cal Fire vulnerable to deal with the extreme conditions with a limited number of inmate fire crews to draw from. And the intensity of the wildfires combined with the public health fallout from the pandemic has put a strain on resources for California to address the extreme fires.

Nick Schuler, a deputy chief with Cal Fire, said that 90 of the 192 inmate fire crews were available to fight the wildfires as of Friday, the Los Angeles Times reports.

In response to the shortage, Governor Gavin Newsom said that California plans to put $72.4 million of emergency aid toward the hiring of 858 firefighters and six California Conservation Corps crews through October.

"Some of the toughest work that's done out there on the lines, some of the most important work, is done by these hand crews," Newsom said in a statement in July. "We have some urgency to provide supplemental support in terms of seasonal firefighters."

Story continues

According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, about 2,200 inmate firefighters are used to fight wildfires across the state. Inmate firefighters do the hazardous work of cutting firelines, a gap in vegetation that serves as a barrier to slow the spread of fires.

Inmates who participate in fire crews are required to go through the same training as the state's seasonal firefighter employees and often must work on the front lines of the fires. However, people on the inmate fire crews are paid between $2 and $5 a day, with an additional $1 per hour when they are on a fire, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Inmate fire crews are often the first line of defense against wildfires and with their shortage, state fire officials are working on finding new hand crews to fill their place, according to the Sacramento Bee.

While inmate fire crews are an essential part of Cal Fire operations, the number of inmates eligible to work at the camps has been decreasing, and state officials have been reducing the size of prison populations in recent months as a response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Correction 08/20/2020: An earlier version of this story included outdated information: There are currently "no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state's Conservation Camp Program and there are no conservation camps on quarantine," according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. We regret the error.

Read the original article on Insider
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The Supreme Court has disposed of student petitions seeking a cancellation of the CBSE Compartment Exam 2020. The compartment exams of CBSE Class X and CBSE Class XII are scheduled to be held in September 2020. However, it said that the petitioners can challenge the notification by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)

A bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar said that the petitioners have the freedom to challenge the CBSE notification of July 2020 that had announced the compartment exams for students who have failed in one of the five main subjects.

While the exact dates are yet to be announced, CBSE has released the application forms to apply for the compartment exams that will be held in September 2020.

The petitioners told SC that the compartment exam must be cancelled in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. Advocate Shakti Pandey said during the SC hearing that CBSE must release the exam dates in case it is not able to cancel the compartment exams.

Also Read: SC advocate writes to PMO to postpone JEE/NEET exams

The All India Students Association had also written to education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank citing safety concerns due to COVID-19 and sought that the CBSE compartment exams be cancelled. This body in its August 14 letter had demanded that students who have failed in one or two subjects be passed by CBSE after giving them grace marks.

CBSE had said on August 12 that the schools have to submit the list of candidates who will be appearing for the compartment exam. The education board had also said that the compartment exam dates will be announced soon. These compartment exam will be held in physical examination centres.

Student petitioners had cited that several state governments have cancelled the compartment exam to seek a similar directive from SC on CBSE.

On June 26, CBSE had announced that the remaining board examinations for Class X and Class XII will be cancelled due to the Coronavirus outbreak. The results of the board examinations were declared in July.
A man has been arrested after eight people, including six French aid workers, were murdered by armed men near the capital Niamey, said Niger's interior minister Alkache Alhada.

The aid workers, two men and four women from a French NGO called ACTED, were killed on 9 August with their Nigerien guide and driver while visiting the Koure National Park, a giraffe haven and tourist hotspot outside the capital where they were based.

"At the moment, a suspect is in the hands of Niger's central counter-terrorism service and investigations are continuing," Alhada told the French news agency AFP late Tuesday.

"We are in the process of evaluating some of the material which he has and which he was able to use," the minister said.

"We currently have serious leads, leads that can take us to the perpetrators of these acts. We have certain information that gives us indications on probable actors in these horrible crimes," he said.

Claim

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, which was carried out by gunmen on motorcycles.

Suspicion has fallen on the Islamic State in the Great Sahara (ISGS), active in the shared border region of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, where it is being pursued by France's Barkhane force fighting jihadists in the Sahel.

A source close to an investigation by French anti-terror prosecutors told AFP that it appeared the attack had been planned and targeted at mainly westerners.

France has classified all of Niger - except the capital - as red under its colour-coded security advice. The decision has left many Nigeriens furious with the former colonial ruler.

"The Nigerien public have found this measure unfair and they have expressed this at various levels," Alhada said.

"I say that this is a decision of a sovereign state that wants to protect its citizens and therefore it is legitimate," he said, though he hoped that "this measure will be lifted as soon as possible".

(with AFP)
The Serum Institute of India (SII) has registered its phase II/III clinical trials of the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccine candidate, Covishield, with the Clinical Trials Registry of India (CTRI). The trails will be conducted on 1,600 healthy participants across India.

New Delhis All India Institute of Medical Sciences is one of the 17 sites selected to conduct Phase II/III, observer-blind, randomized, controlled study, to check the safety and immune response of the vaccine in healthy Indian adults. The study is planned for seven months. The date of the first enrolment will be August 24, according to CTRI.

SII is the worlds largest vaccine manufacturer by the number of doses produced and sold globally. It has a manufacturing partnership with AstraZeneca to produce the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

Also read: Oxford Covid-19 vaccine could be the first to be available to Indians: 5 key developments

On August 3, Indias drugs controller gave approval to SII for conducting phase II and III clinical trials of the vaccine candidate in the country.

Dr Prasad Kulkarni will be the principal investigator for SII, who will spearhead the trials at 17 hospitals across the country. The hospitals include Andhra Medical College (Visakhapatnam), JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research (Mysore), Seth G. S. Medical College and KEM Hospital (Mumbai), KEM Hospital Research Centre (Vadu), B J Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital (Pune).

KEM Hospital Research Centres Ethics Committee has received the mandatory approval for the trials. The approval is under process for the rest of the 16 hospitals.

Institute Ethics Committee clearance is mandatory to begin any clinical studies in India.

Covishield will be administered as a two-dose schedule on days 1 and 29 as 0.5 ml dose intramuscularly. Placebo will be administered as a two-dose schedule on days 1 and 29 as 0.5 ml dose intramuscularly.

Healthy participants, both men and women, selected for the trials are above 18.

Those, who are ineligible, include people with acute illnesses with or without fever at the time of study vaccine administration, history of laboratory-confirmed Covid-19 disease in household contact or close workplace contact, etc.

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Last Monday night Israeli fighter jets executed airstrikes on the besieged Gaza Strip for the ninth night in a row in an act that may be another on Israels long list of possible war crimes.

Israeli leaders characterized the actions as retaliatory, naming Gazan incendiary balloons and riots as justification.

This is just the latest in what mainstream media generally depicts as a protracted conflict between the militant group Hamas and Israel, after months of calm (5 Gazans have been killed in 2020; Israel has shot at farmers and fishermen hundreds of times; no Israelis have been killed).

The plight of Palestinians in Gaza, a population of almost two million crammed into a region the size of Detroit, has been hidden from the view of most, even as the US funds its occupier with over $10 million a day in military aid.

Not only does Israel limit the amount of food and medicine entering the Strip, but it has also attacked the population in three massive incursions and countless smaller forays, killing thousands while only suffering relatively minor casualties itself.

The current escalation is one example of the constant oppression and violence Gazans have experienced for thirteen years.

Palestinian resistance

Hamas is the democratically elected political party in Gaza, with a wing that engages in resistance against Israels 53-year de facto occupation and 13-year blockade  both of which are illegal. International law condones such resistance.

Most recent cases of incendiary balloons were not the work of Hamas, but of independent activist groups in the Strip, which have also been responsible for launching several rockets.

The incendiary balloons have caused some fires on Israeli farmland and forests, but have never killed or injured anyone; in the 19 years that militants have fired rockets out of Gaza, about 30 Israelis have been killed  the most recent in May 2019.

Actions that Israel describes as riots that are described in Associated Press as dozens of Palestinian protesters who have gathered nightly at the border fence with Israel.

Israels punishing response

Israeli reprisals have been harsh, as its leaders acknowledge. The IDF responds with all its might against incendiary balloons, according to a Jerusalem Post report.

Actions include nightly strikes by IDF fighter jets, attack helicopters, and tanks against what Israel calls Hamas targets. Arab news outlets describe hits to many homes (injuring women and children) and farmlands, as well as structures belonging to resistance groups. IDF also targeted a cement factory.

Last Thursday morning, residents discovered an unexploded missile inside a UN school in a Gazan refugee camp.

Israel has also closed all crossings into and out of Gaza, blocking the delivery of needed food and fuel to run Gazas only power plant. The plant has shut down as of Tuesday.

In addition, Israel has completely shut down Gazas fishing zone until further notice, directly impacting nearly 5,000 Palestinians employed by the fishing sector.

Gazas demands

While mainstream media rarely addresses the reasons for Gazan resistance  or relegates it to the last paragraphs of articles  the peoples appeals are accessible.

Hamas officials have charged that Israel is reneging on its promises to ease the 13-year-old blockade, causing starvation in Gaza.

Elsewhere, activists have expressed anger at Israeli violations against Al-Aqsa Mosque and Netanyahus annexation plans, as well as policies that paralyze daily life and disrupt efforts of combating coronavirus.

Israeli leaders confessions

In the words of Israels own leaders, they are perpetrating collective punishment and disproportionate actions on Gazas Palestinians  war crimes under international law.

In addition to unjustifiably holding Hamas responsible for every militant action in Gaza, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz has vowed to continue punishing all Gazans until the resistance ends:

By launching rockets and explosive balloons, the heads of Hamas are undermining the interests of the residents of Gaza and are impairing their ability to live in dignity and securityThe IDF will respond forcefully to any violation of sovereigntyIf [Israeli border town] Sderot isnt quiet, Gaza wont be either.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated his intentions to mount a disproportionate attack after incendiary balloons arrived in Israel:

There will be a very heavy price for the balloon terror. We will not suffer this, we will act and exact a heavy price.

Ongoing war crime investigations

Israel is already under investigation for actions in 2014 and possibly 2018. Chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Fatou Bensouda stated,

There is a reasonable basis to believe that war crimes have been or are being committed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.

The ICC cited Israels disproportionate use of force in the 2014 military action that left 2,200 Palestinians and 73 Israelis dead  as well as other possible war crimes, including collective punishment and transfer of population into occupied territory.

Israel insists, not that it is innocent, but that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Palestinian territories.

Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention designates collective punishment as a war crime. The International Committee of the Red Cross elaborates,

[S]uch practices, by reason of their excessive severity and cruelty, [keep] alive and [strengthen] the spirit of resistanceThey are opposed to all principles based on humanity and justice.

Feature photo | A Palestinian boy inspects the damage in his family home following Israeli airstrikes in Buriej refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, Aug. 15, 2020. Khalil Hamra | AP

Kathryn Shihadah writes for MintPress News and If Americans Knew. She speaks regularly about the injustice and demonization Palestinians face at the hands of Israel with complicity from the United States, especially to Christian audiences. Kathryn has lived in the Middle East for ten years and has traveled extensively. She blogs at PalestineHome.org.
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Genesco Inc. (NYSE: GCO) today announced that the Company will report results for the second quarter fiscal 2021 on September 3, 2020, before the market opens, and hold its quarterly earnings conference call at 7:30 a.m. (central) the same day.

A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available at http://genesco.gcs-web.com/financial-information/quarterly-results

An audio archive of the call will be available at http://genesco.gcs-web.com/financial-information/quarterly-results for up to one year

In addition, a summary of the second quarter results and guidance will be available on the Genesco website on September 3, 2020 , at http://genesco.gcs-web.com/financial-information/quarterly-results

About Genesco Inc.

Genesco Inc., a Nashville-based specialty retailer, sells footwear and accessories in approximately 1,475 retail stores throughout the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, principally under the names Journeys, Journeys Kidz, Schuh, Schuh Kids, Little Burgundy, Johnston & Murphy, and on internet websites www.journeys.com , www.journeyskidz.com , www.journeys.ca , www.schuh.co.uk , www.littleburgundyshoes.com , www.johnstonmurphy.com , www.johnstonmurphy.ca , www.trask.com , and www.dockersshoes.com . In addition, Genesco sells wholesale footwear under its Johnston & Murphy brand, the Trask brand, the licensed Dockers brand, the licensed Levi's brand, the licensed Bass brand, and other brands. For more information on Genesco and its operating divisions, please visit www.genesco.com .

SOURCE Genesco Inc.

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http://www.genesco.com


Saudi Arabia issues desperate call for extension of anti-Iran UN arms ban

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 19 August 2020 10:05 AM

The Saudi regime has issued a desperate call for the extension of a UN arms embargo against Iran only days after the UN Security Council said a resounding 'No' to a US resolution seeking an illegal extension of the embargo.

The cabinet, chaired by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on Tuesday, demanded the extension of the arms embargo on Iran, alleging that the removal of the sanctions will lead to "more destruction" and further fuel conflicts in the Middle East region.

It also pledged the kingdom's support for all international measures that contribute to stopping Iran's regional clout.

The Security Council on Friday rejected a US resolution to extend the arms embargo on Iran that is due to expire in October under a 2015 nuclear agreement between Tehran and six other world countries.

Besides the US, only one of the Council's 15 members  the Dominican Republic  voted in favor of the US-drafted resolution, which had the support of the Saudi regime and its allies at the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The vote highlighted the division between Washington and its European allies since US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from Iran's nuclear accord, which is officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and has been endorsed by Security Council Resolution 2231, in May 2018.

Prior to the session, Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the UN Abdul Aziz al-Wasel had called for the extension of the arms embargo on Iran, claiming that Tehran funnels weapons to certain groups to disturb the peace in the Middle East.

The allegations come despite the fact that Saudi Arabia is known to be actively supporting and aiding the Takfiri terrorist groups wreaking havoc across the region.

Moreover, the oil-rich conservative kingdom has been engaged in a bloody campaign against neighboring Yemen since March 2015 with the aim of reinstating a Riyadh-friendly former government there.

The Riyadh regime has not been alone in the atrocious campaign. It has been flanked by regional allies and enjoys arms supplies from its Western backers.

Over 100,000 people have been killed, according to some semi-official figures.

The war has also destroyed and shut down Yemen's infrastructure. The Yemeni population has been subjected to large-scale hunger and diseases aggravated by the naval blockade imposed on the country by the coalition of aggressors.

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Despite COVID-19, Bengaluru was a top occupier location for technology companies. The IT city topped the charts with a net absorption of 0.5 million square meters in H1 2020. It was also Asia Pacifics second largest Grade A office market by stock after Tokyo, says a new report.

Bengaluru saw gross absorption of 172,000 sq m in the second quarter. Delhi-NCR was also firm, although Mumbai slowed down noticeably, says a report by Colliers International.

Over the first half of 2020 as a whole, the biggest drivers of new supply in Asia Pacific (APAC) were Indian cities, the report said.

At least seven major Indian cities saw gross leasing fall by only 36 percent over H1 2020 as a whole despite a lengthy national lockdown. Bengaluru led the way with new supply of 641,000 sq m, followed by Delhi-NCR at 445,000 sq m.

While the bulk of this new supply represented projects in the final stage of completion that had been held back from 2019, it is surprising that so much activity took place in India despite a national lockdown. Other major drivers of supply included Melbourne CBD, where 218,000 sq m of new office stock (all grades) were delivered over the first half of the year, the report said.

Bengaluru continues to remain the strongest market for office leasing, backed by a historic absorption in 2019. The city has shown resilience in H1 2020 by being at the top despite a slowdown due to the lockdown. Over the period 2022-24, growth in office space demand in APAC will be led by both India and China. We anticipate most south India markets to see sharp recoveries and growth in 2021 in comparison with 2020, said Arpit Mehrotra, Managing Director, Office Services (South India) at Colliers International India.

Going forward, for Bengaluru, Colliers predicts new supply of 1.9 million sq m in 2020, up 24 percent year-on-year. For Delhi-NCR, it predicts new supply of 1.68 million sq m in 2020, up more than three times from 2019 and the highest level in three years.

If COVID-19 spreads further in India, development projects may see delays, but this did not happen in the first half, the report noted.

As for outlook for the next five years, Colliers expects new supply in Bengaluru and Delhi-NCR to ease from the high levels of 2020, but to remain above 1 million sq m annually. In contrast, it expects new supply in Mumbai to settle at around 540,000 sq m per annum.

Rents should start to pick up in 2021

Rents are expected to increase marginally from this years lows in 2021 as the forecasted economic recovery becomes evident. Over the next five years, Singapore, Bangkok and Bengaluru should see rents increase by 3 percent or more, while Delhi-NCR, Auckland, Melbourne and Taipei should see rents increase in excess of 2 percent as demand catches up with planned supply.Steady vacancy levels with tight demand and supply should support increasing rents in these markets, the report added.
It is one of America's oldest unsolved mysterious, but a hobby archaeologist believes to have uncovered the truth behind the Lost Colony of Roanoke.

In 1587 a group of English settlers arrived on Roanoke Island to start a new life, but three years later more than 100 of the colonists vanished  leaving only the word 'CROATOAN' carved in a wooden post.

Scott Dawson has spent decades investigating their disappearance and stands firm on the idea that the group integrated with the Croatoan tribe on Hatteras Island - and has uncovered writings that support this theory.

John White, one of the settlers who returned to a deserted camp in 1590, wrote he was never able to search Hatteras Island because of weather and dwindling supplies, but his writings indicate he took solace in the message carved into the post.

'I greatly joyed that I had found a certain token of their being at Croatoan where Manteo was born,' reads the passage.

Manteo, a leader of the Croatoan tribe, befriended the Lost Colony settlers before traveling back to England with the explorers.

'They were never lost,' Dawson told PilotOnline. 'It was made up. The mystery is over.'

Scroll down for video

In 1587 a group of English settlers arrived on Roanoke Island to start a new life, but three years later more than 100 of the colonists vanished  leaving only the word 'CROATOAN' carved in a wooden post

The Lost Colony of Roanoke is one of America's oldest unsolved mysteries and has attracted experts from around the world with the hopes of uncovering clues to what happened to the English settlers.

More than 400 years ago, Queen Elizabeth I and explorer Sir Walter Raleigh had hoped the 1580s expedition to America would create a new capital for England.

The ship, carrying 115 explorers, was the first to bring women and children to the Americas.

The group included Governor John Whites pregnant daughter Eleanor White Dare.

Scott Dawson (pictured) has spent decades investigating their disappearance and stands firm on the idea that the group integrated with the Croatoan tribe on Hatteras Island - and has uncovered writings that support this theory

John White, one of the settlers who returned to a deserted camp in 1590, wrote he was never able to search Hatteras Island because of weather and dwindling supplies, but his writings indicate he took solace in the message carved into the post. 'I greatly joyed that I had found a certain token of their being at Croatoan where Manteo was born,' reads the passage

Several weeks after they landed in Roanoke, Eleanor gave birth to the first English baby born in the New World and named her Virginia Dare.

Governor White soon returned to England to ask for more supplies, but was held up in England for three years while the English warred with Spain.

When he was finally able to make it back in 1590 on his granddaughter's third birthday, the colony was deserted.

Numerous theories have surfaced about what happened to the English settlers.

Some suggest they died from disease, were massacred by either Native Americans or Spanish settlers or assimilated into a nearby Native American tribe, either as friends or slaves.

However, others, including Dawson, believe a group traveled to Hatteras Island.

Dawson published a book in June titled 'The Lost Colony and Hatteras Island' that describes his findings along with a team of archaeologists from the University of Bristol

Dawson published a book in June entitled 'The Lost Colony and Hatteras Island' that describes his findings along with a team of archaeologists from the University of Bristol.

Dawson, a Hatteras native, has long been intrigued by the history and grew up hearing stories of the colony, Wavy News 10 reports.

He and team of archaeologists have found tens of thousands of artifacts from both English settlers and Native Americans  all of which were mixed together.

There were swords and guns in the same region as Native American pottery and arrowheads, Dawson told PilotOnline.

Along with years of excavating the site, Dawson also spent time sifting through records with the hopes of finding anything that shows the groups integrated  and documents of Jamestown reveal the Roanoke colony did leave their camp to live with their native friends.

The settlers are said to have lived happily among the tribe and had mixed families that carried on for generations.

John Lawson, another English explorer, landed in what is now Charleston, North Carolina about a century after the lost colony and to his surprise encountered natives with blue eyes who could 'speak out a book,' according to his personal records.

The excavation site on Hatteras Island is believed to have been what was a 'survivors camp,' where most of the colonist moved and integrated with the Croatoan tribe.

Along with artifacts pulled from the ground, the team found round pot holes where natives constructed their homes that sat just 25 to 60 feet away from square post holes made by English during the same period.

'They were in the Indian village surrounded by long houses,' Dawson said.

A slate tablet and lead pencil was also discovered at the dig that may have belonged to White, Dawson said.

The tablet had etchings that depict an Englishman shooting a Native American in the back, which lines up with records that describe a similar event.

Wingina, chief of the Secotans that was an enemy of the Croatoans, was shot twice in the back by an Englishman in 1586, Dawson said.

A slate tablet and lead pencil was also discovered at the dig that may have belonged to White, Dawson said. The tablet had etchings that depict an Englishman shooting a Native American in the back, which lines up with records that describe a similar event

Dawson believes this happened when the Secotans ambushed the settlers, who had help from their allies -the Croatoans.

'You're robbing an entire nation of people of their history by pretending Croatoan is a mystery on a tree,' he said. 'These were a people that mattered a lot.'

Not only does Dawson's book discuss the Lost Colony, but also highlights the Native Americans who inhabited the area for thousands of years.

'We've got some evidence of a runaway slave they were harboring, there's lots of side stories that are in this book that have nothing to do with the colony,' Dawson told Wavy News 10.

'The biggest accomplishment of this book is not that we found the colony. It's that these Indians are no longer here.'

'They showed nothing but love and charity and kindness to take these people in and feed them and assimilate with them and show them love and kindness  and no one even knows who they are.'

Scott Dawson and team of archaeologists have found tens of thousands of artifacts from both English settlers and Native Americans  all of which were mixed together. There were swords and guns in the same region as Native American pottery and arrowheads

The trove was mostly tools, beads and arrow heads of Native American origin, but along with the objects were those that belonged to English settlers, such as this iron rapier (pictured)

The Lost Colony of Roanoke is one of American's oldest unsolved mysteries, which has attracted experts from around the world to what is now the Outer Banks of North Carolina

The Croatoan was a small group that lived along the coast of what is now North Carolina.

The tribe received its name from the nearby island, Croatoan, which is now Hatteras Island.

Like many of the natives living in America when settlers arrived, they fell victim to infectious disease, such as smallpox in 1598.

And experts say they became extinct in the early 17th century.

This tribe learned English and was also able to communicate with the Roanoke colonists, Dawson explained.

He and Mark Horton from the University of Bristol began digging on the island in 2009, finding copper rings, sword handles, earrings, a token, writing slates and glass  sparking the belief they came from the Lost Colony.

However, it was the items that appeared to have once belong to women, as the 1587 voyage was the only one that brought them to the New World.

'When these colonies become abandoned, you get massive political eruptions and disagreements and people walking out and things,' said Horton.

'So it's not unlikely that one group might have gone up the Chesapeake, up the Albemarle.

'But I'm pretty confident one group at least, probably the pretty substantial part, came out to Hatteras Island.'

He explained that the island provided clear views of ships coming to the shore, which would be an ideal spot to setup came to wait for the returning vessel.

The Native American communities living there were also friendly and served as allies for the settlers who just arrived on the unknown land.

Along with tens of thousands of artifacts found on the island, a separate dig in 1937 uncovered what is known as the Dare Stone.

Another clue was discovered in 1937, the Dare Stone. Discovered on the North Carolina-Virginia border, the stone was believed to be written by Eleanor White Dare, Roanoke Governor John White's daughter, and possibly tells the story of what happened to the settlers when they left their colony on Roanoke

Discovered on the North Carolina-Virginia border, the stone was believed to be written by Eleanor White Dare, Roanoke Governor John White's daughter, and possibly tells the story of what happened to the settlers when they left their colony on Roanoke.

Scholars have since been able to transcribe the markings.

On the first side, below a cross (the emergency symbol) the message reads: 'Ananias Dare & / Virginia Went Hence / Unto Heaven 1591 / Anye Englishman Shew / John White Govr Via'.

The other side of the stone told the supposed story of what happened to the colonists after Governor White returned to England in 1587, in more detail. Written from the perspective of Eleanor, the writer says the colonists left Roanoke and had two years of 'Misarie'.

According to experts , the stone says more than half the settlers died and eventually there was news that a ship had arrived off the coast.

The Native Americans worried the Europeans would take revenge, so they fled. Soon after that, shamans warned of angry spirits and all but seven of the rest of the colonists were killed, including Eleanor's husband Ananias and her daughter Virginia. The stone says they were buried four miles east of 'This River' and their names have been written on a second rock.

The stone also notes it should be taken to Governor White and the Native American to bring it to the governor will receive 'Plentie Presents'.

It was signed 'EWD' for Eleanor White Dare.
BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- DiamondRock Hospitality Company (the "Company") (NYSE: DRH) today announced it has priced an underwritten public offering of 4,400,000 shares of its 8.250% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock ("Series A Preferred Stock"), liquidation preference $25.00 per share. Gross proceeds to the Company will be approximately $110,000,000 before deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses. The offering is expected to close on August 31, 2020, subject to customary closing conditions. As a part of the offering, the Company granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 600,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock solely to cover over-allotments, if any. The Company has applied to list the Series A Preferred Stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "DRH Pr A."

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include the repayment of amounts outstanding under its senior unsecured credit facility, capital expenditures, the improvement of properties in its portfolio, working capital and other general purposes.

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC is serving as representative of the underwriters for the offering and joint book-running manager with BofA Securities, Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. TD Securities (USA) LLC and U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. are acting as joint lead managers for the offering. BMO Capital Markets Corp., PNC Capital Markets LLC, KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. and Regions Securities LLC are acting as senior co-managers for the offering. Barclays Capital Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. are acting as co-managers for the offering.

The offering was made pursuant to the Company's existing shelf registration statement, which automatically became effective upon filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on August 8, 2018. The offering of these securities was made only by means of a prospectus and a related prospectus supplement, which will be filed with the SEC. A copy of the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to these securities may be obtained, when available, by contacting Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Attention: WFS Customer Service, 608 2nd Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402, at (800) 645-3751 or emailing a request to [email protected]. 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.

About the Company

DiamondRock Hospitality Company is a self-advised real estate investment trust (REIT) that is an owner of a leading portfolio of geographically diversified hotels concentrated in top gateway markets and destination resort locations. The Company owns 31 premium quality hotels with over 10,000 rooms. The Company has strategically positioned its hotels to be operated both under leading global brand families such as Hilton and Marriott as well as unique boutique hotels in the lifestyle segment.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws and regulations, which reflect the Company's expectations regarding future events and plans, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the closing of the offering, the underwriters' option to purchase additional shares of common stock, and the Company's anticipated use of net proceeds from the offering. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "continue" and other similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions and forecasts of future results. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to differ materially from those anticipated at the time the forward-looking statements are made. These risks include, without limitation, that the closing of the aforementioned offering is subject to, among other things customary closing conditions and customary rights of the underwriters to terminate the underwriting agreement and the other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2020, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2020, filed on May 11, 2020 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2020, filed on August 10, 2020. Although we believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that the expectations will be attained or that any deviation will not be material. All information in this release is as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in our expectations.

SOURCE DiamondRock Hospitality Company
As she accepted the Democratic nomination for vice president on Wednesday night, California Sen. Kamala Harris recounted how she had been taught to "put family first."

That covers both "the family you're born into and the family you choose," she said. Family is her husband, she said, and her two step-kids. Her sister, her sorority, her best friend, her godchildren. And then, she added, "Family is my uncles, my aunts and my chittis."

That last word, a Tamil term of endearment for the younger sisters of one's mother, was met with a fierce outpouring of pride across social media on Wednesday night.

For many Tamil Americans, Harris's use of the phrase - which can also be spelled out phonetically in English as "citti," "chitthi" or "chitthi" - was more than just another word for "auntie." It was a small but significant way for the vice-presidential candidate to say, before an audience of millions, that she is one of them, too.

"Americans everywhere are googling 'chitthi' but @KamalaHarris we know," Gautam Raghavan, a former Obama White House staffer, wrote on Twitter. "And we love you for it."

Padma Lakshmi, the food personality and TV host, wrote that she had "tears in her eyes," prompting at least half a dozen others to declare that they, too, had burst out crying during that moment in Harris's address.

"My heart is so full right now," Lakshmi added.

By now, the basics of Harris's Black and South Asian identity are familiar: Born to a Jamaican father and an Indian mother who met as graduate students, she was raised to appreciate her Black and South Asian heritage but prefers to call herself simply "American."

Yet less commonly acknowledged in that biography is the regional heritage of her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, in Tamil Nadu, a South Indian state whose majority ethnic group is known for a deep pride in its distinct language and culture.

More than 240,000 people in the United States speak Tamil at home, according to census data, and a growing number of Tamil Americans - including Google CEO Sundar Pichai, actress Mindy Kaling, and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash. - have risen to national prominence in recent years.

In 2015, the comic Aziz Ansari featured lengthy snippets of Tamil dialogue during a much-celebrated episode of "Master of None," when his real-life parents appeared on the show to played his fictional ones.

But there's nothing quite like prime-time politics.

"A Tamil word in an acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention. Still blows my mind," wrote Hari Sevugan, the former deputy campaign manager for Pete Buttigieg. "Despite this president, 'only in America' is still a thing."

As her multiracial heritage challenges American notions of identity, and some have accused Harris of playing down her South Asian roots - or merely not playing them up as much as her Black identity - her use of "chittis" was a swift reproach.

"My Indian mother knew she was raising two Black daughters," the candidate told the Los Angeles Times in 2015. "But that's not to the exclusion of who I am in terms of my Indian heritage."

After her parents' divorce in the early 1970s, Harris often traveled as a child to visit relatives in Chennai, the Tamil Nadu city where her maternal grandparents had settled. She wore saris to family events and spoke Tamil with her relatives, the Times reported.

In her autobiography, Harris described how her mother would often use Tamil around the house to express "affection or frustration."

Her use of the word chitti is a reflection of the family structures and specific language used by Brahmin Tamils, a group that includes Gopalan and her family in India, said Vasu Renganathan, a lecturer in Tamil at the University of Pennsylvania.

The combination of linguistic Tamil roots that mean "little mother," it can also be used to refer to a stepmother or even a friend of one's mother who is a bit younger than her. A popular Tamil soap opera called "Chitti," which first aired 20 years ago, tells of the relationship between a young girl who loses her mother and the woman she begins to treat as a maternal figure.

Hours after Harris's speech, Renganathan told The Washington Post he was disappointed that Harris did not sprinkle in more Tamil phrases.

"Tamils are passionate about their homeland, and many want to identify themselves as Tamil in order to distinguish from North Indians or other South Indians," he said. "She could have at least talked about her 'amma,' her own mother."

But, he added, it's only a matter of time before she uses more Tamil on the campaign trail.
When Kristin Kohn opened up Silver in the City on Massachusetts Avenue two decades ago, she wanted to make a difference. Now, with the newly created Silver Linings Fund, the store plans on helping minority-owned businesses in Indianapolis.

Our No. 1 mission has always been to make every person who walks into our store feel welcome, thats part of our overall mission and vision, Kohn said. The protests definitely helped us drill down and think about things we can do and changes we can make to make an environment that feels more familiar to people of color.

Through the fund, Kohn and the staff of Silver in the City will raise money through donations from customers and through a $5 sticker which reads I Love Silver Linings. Thanks to a partnership between the store and the Central Indiana Community Fund (CICF), the money will provide grants to minority-owned businesses affected by COVID-19.

As a white-owned business, I want to help owners who may not have access to the kinds of credit or opportunities that we have, Kohn said.

So far, Kohn said her shop has raised over $7,200, which shes donated.

Kohn said being a business owner in downtown Indianapolis comes with the obligation of acknowledging and addressing the disparities that exist within the community. That obligation, she said, became apparent during the aftermath of the protests downtown.

The staff of Silver in the City boarded up their windows preemptively  something Kohn said she was initially against  because the store couldnt handle the financial burden of replacing windows after being closed for nearly three months due to COVID-19. Workers designed the boards, featuring the names of African Americans who were killed at the hands of police.

When reporters were looking for business owners to address property damage following the protests, Kohn didnt want any part in that narrative.

I felt like all I was seeing were stories about the damage, Kohn said. I didnt want to be a part of that story, I wanted reporters to focus on the reason why people were protesting. Thats what should have gotten the attention.

The Silver Linings Fund isnt the first time Silver in the City has given back to the community. In the past, the shop has had 100% donations days, where funds supported reproductive rights and the Indiana Youth Group, a foundation supporting LGBTQ youth and young adults. However, with racial disparities still evident in Indianapolis and an ongoing pandemic, Kohn has long-term plans for the fund.

I found out The Mind Trust is creating Community Learning Centers, and that immediately flew to the top of our list, Kohn said. Id like to raise enough for both [business grants] and creating safe learning centers for students to go to during the day for their virtual learning.

While Hoosiers are grappling with the effects of COVID-19 and the economic issues that have come along with it, Kohn said shes confident the Silver Linings Fund will continue to be a success, because as she said, giving is in the Hoosier spirit.

I think, in general, Hoosiers are connectors, Kohn said.  I do think its something that Hoosiers will support, and theyll want to connect with communities other than their own to help bring about change.

Contact staff writer Breanna Cooper at 317-762-7848. Follow her on Twitter @BreannaNCooper.
Thursday, 20 August 2020 14:34:04 (GMT+3) | Istanbul

The Mexican Ministry of Economy has announced that it has initiated an administrative review regarding the countervailing duty on cold rolled coil (CRC) imports from Russia and Kazakhstan, following a request from local steel producers Ternium Mexico and Altos Hornos de Mexico (AHMSA).

The ministry said the period of review goes from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019, while the period of analysis starts on April 1, 2014 and ends on March 31, 2019. The current countervailing duties for cold rolled coil imports from Russia and Kazakhstan stand at 15 percent and 22 percent respectively.

The products subject to the administrative review are currently classified under Harmonized System code numbers 7209.16.01 and 7209.17.

The ministry imposed on July 1, 2015 a countervailing duty on the imports of the given products over a period of five years.
chief and



MLA from Chhindwara was formally declared as the leader of opposition in the state Assembly on Wednesday.

Pro-tem Speaker Rameshwar Sharma declared Nath, 73, as the leader of opposition.

"The Vidhan Sabha secretariat has received a letter in this regard from the on Wednesday. Taking cognisance of the letter immediately, has been declared the leader of opposition in the state Assembly," Sharma told PTI.

Home Minister Narottam Mishra congratulated Nath and said, "I hope that the opposition will play a responsible and positive role in the development of the state."



Nath resigned as chief minister on March 20 after his government was reduced to a minority following resignations of 22 MLAs who later joined the BJP under the leadership of former union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.

(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.)
Locally-invested Son Ha Group is teaming up with German giant Bosch to establish a new factory and take part in the mostly untapped electrical motorbike market in Vietnam (photo source: congthuong.vn)

The deal, signed last week, will see Boschs expertise in vehicle technology offer comprehensive powertrain, mobility, and electrification solutions.that aim to contribute to low-carbon mobility in Vietnam. The factory in the northern province of Bac Ninh is expected to come online in 2021 to churn out 20,000-30,000 units per year.

Hoang Manh Tan, director of Son Ha Development of Renewable Energy JSC, a member of Son Ha Group, explained to VIR that the company has prepared for the deal for over a year.

The trend of replacing traditional motorbikes with electrical ones promises to bring a green and clean look to major cities around the world as well as provide a better living environment for residents.

Guru Mallikarjuna, general manager of Bosch Vietnam, said during the signing ceremony, Vietnam is an emerging market with demand for persistent growth in eco-friendly mobility solutions.

After researching and analysing the market, as well as evaluating existing potential, Son Ha decided to follow the development trend and invest in manufacturing and assembling of electric motorcycles.

Tan did not deny that the COVID-19 pandemic also affects his groups plans in the short term. However, he expressed optimism over recent trends in Europe, where a change of habits has led to a 300-per-cent increase of electric motorcycle and bicycle sales.

Tan estimates that the price of Son Has vehicles will be about 20-40 million ($870-$1,700) per unit. However, the competition is already present as Son Ha shares the same market segment with VinFast which is operating a factory in the northern port city of Haiphong with a capacity of 250,000 units per year, planning to increase to 500,000 units annually.

Despite the local competition, Son Ha also shows an ambition to export its products to the overseas market.

Last month, another local electric bike manufacturer, PEGA, announced a $3-million deal with its partners in Cuba, despite the ongoing pandemic, marking the first time that Vietnams electrical motorbikes are to be exported overseas.

Commenting on Son Has endeavour, PEGA CEO Doan Linh said that it is great news for Vietnams motorbike market, which is dominated by gas-powered two-wheelers from Honda, Yamaha, and Vespa, among others.

Insiders expect that the participation of newcomers will boost the domestic electrical vehicle sector and further enhance the countrys plans for sustainable development.

Tan from Son Ha suggested that, besides tax incentives and other support, the government should have specific regulations to encourage and develop the charging network for electric vehicles. It is necessary to have a common ecosystem so that all electrical vehicles can take advantage of these charging points everywhere. Then, the trend of converting gas-fuelled vehicles into electrical ones becomes inevitable, he said.

Currently, the motorbike market in Vietnam is dominated by gasoline-powered vehicles, accounting for nearly 95 per cent of total volume. However, in recent years, statistics from the Vietnam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (VAMM) show that there is an underground shift, with a significant increase in e-motorbikes and bicycles.

The VAMM  which includes the five members of Honda Vietnam, Piaggio Vietnam, Vietnam Suzuki Corporation, SYM Vietnam Company, and Yamaha Vietnam  boasted an accumulated sales volume of 731,000 vehicles for the first quarter of 2020, a decrease of 3.03 per cent in comparison to the same period in 2019. However, as of now there is no available sales data for electrical motorbikes.

Meanwhile, Vietnam is also tightening its motor vehicle regulations and setting emission standards for new means of transport, along with a roadmap to control emissions for tens of millions of older cars and motorcycles due to air quality concerns.

According to a report by the Vietnam Environment Administration, the number of personal vehicles is increasing strongly in the larger cities. Specifically, in 2008, Hanoi only had 2.2 million vehicles, whereas by 2017 it had already increased to six million vehicles.

At present, on average, Hanoi sees about 27,000 newly-registered cars and motorbikes each month, while Ho Chi Minh City also shows a high growth in personal vehicles, with the number of motorbikes rising by 10-15 per cent each year.
Across the country, Sokolow and students like him are looking beyond this fall  and beyond the academic year  to a changing and uncertain future for the performing arts, an industry unstrung by social distancing. The university arts programs and conservatories they attend are looking ahead, too. Theyre scrambling to come up with coronavirus-safe ways to prepare young artists for professions that arent going to function as before, given the health risks of live performances in indoor spaces with live audiences. With the virus still on a rampage, many of the age-old, hands-on ways of training musicians, dancers and actors have had to be tossed out the window or, at the very least, drastically reshaped.
New Delhi, Aug 20 : India's federal drug monitoring and enforcement agency has seized high quality contraband in Mumbai on Thursday, which was sourced from Belgium's Brussels.

India's Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB) arrested a couple and seized a total of 3,010 MDMA pills (969 gm), commonly known as ecstasy, sourced from Belgium on August 10 at DHL Express India (P) Ltd in Goregaon in Mumbai.

"The couple identified as HA Choudhary and R Batharey, sourced the drug from Belgium was arrested and sent to Judicial Custody," said KPS Malhotra, a zonal director with the narcotics watchdog.

The investigators stated the pills were concealed inside the false cavity of the card board box containing the consignment.

The NCB team then identified the people who ordered the consignment and raided the premises of the accused. The sleuths recovered 46 tablets (17.5 grams) of MDMA from the Navi Mumbai residence of a couple who procured the drugs from Belgium.

The high quality ecstasy pills seized were in different colours - Orange, Pink and Green. The drug was meant for supply in the party circuits of Mumbai.

NCB is investigating the linkages of this case to the wider syndicate trafficking supply of party drugs into India.

MDMA (methylenedioxy-methamphetamine), commonly known as ecstasy, a party drug that alters mood and perception, is chemically similar to both stimulants and hallucinogens and produces feelings of increased energy and pleasure.

As per UNODC World Drug Report 2020, "ecstasy" continues to be manufactured primarily in Europe, most notably in Western and Central Europe.

Europe accounts for two thirds of the "ecstasy" laboratories dismantled worldwide.

The current seizure of ecstasy is from Belgium and has its source in Central Europe. The total quantity of "ecstasy" seized worldwide has doubled over the period 2009-2018.

"This is also reflected in the rapidly increasing popularity of such synthetic drugs in India," said Malhotra.
Do you know that a man/woman may be a Billionaire and yet a beggar? Do you know that poverty is perhaps more about the state of mind than a situation? And do you know that greed is the absence of contentment?

When leaders with the mentality of beggars rather than those with a creative mentality run a nation they RUIN IT, such is the sad tale with the enterprise called Nigeria, and this must stop.

We have a government run by beggars, they have gone aborrowing, forgetting that he who goes aborrowing goes asorrowing. They are desperate to borrow in the name of infrastructural development, but we are not deceived. Sooner rather than later the truth shall bludgeon through the present falsehood. They are borrowing funds from China, from the EU, from World Bank, from the Paris Club, from the IMF, from Local Banks, and perhaps from the Devil, as the Debt Management Office weaves one lie after another in defense of the indefensible, and sadly no one in government cares about the burden that befalls posterity.

What happened to the Build, Operate and Transfer programmatic that obtains in other climes? If the government considers the projects for which they go aborrowing viable, important and apposite, why arent they asking the Contractor companies to bring in their funds, build, operate (toll the roads, run the rails for a number of years) recoup their monies with profit and transfer the infrastructure to Government? Who for Godsake is deceiving who?

Since the military disrupted our space in 1966, thieves and rampaging Buccaneers have held the Nigeria hostage trading one lie and hubris after another, as one successive government out-steals and out-loots its predecessor. Nigeria has become a bazaar of sorts, as the uninformed partisan swears in defense of his or her own thief. Pretty sad!

Let no one deceive you any further about why we must borrow for infrastructural development, when they come with their lies ask them what happened to the BOT programmatic, please remind them that when we RESTRUCTURE this dysfunctional enterprise we shall unbundle Nigeria for growth, progress and prosperity. Tell them that we need the return of wealth from our arable land, tell them that we want the return of the pyramids of groundnut, tell them that we want to see the silos of cocoa, of grains and of sesame, tell them that we want to make great wealth not only from Crude Oil but from our many mineral resources (Gold, Tantalite, Lead, Zinc, Uranium, Coal, Iron, etc) from Palm produce, from Timber and Plywood, from Rubber and from the variegated endowments of our flora and fauna, and tell them that RESTRUCTURING is the way out of the present mess.

Compatriots with the way the present government is borrowing funds for God knows what, this cruel generation of leaders shall bequeath nothing but a heavily pauperised and failed state to the future. We must speak up and speak out now.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Teamsters Local 492 announced its support for U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan in his run for the U.S. Senate in New Mexico.



As the son of a union worker, Congressman Lujan has served working families in New Mexico with passion and dedication since 2009. In the 116th Congress, Rep. Lujan supported legislation to protect Teamster retirees from pension cuts, voted to make it easier for workers to form and join a union, and voted to protect middle-class wages.

"During his time in the U.S. House, Congressman Lujan has been a friend and an ally of working families," said Mike Butler, Local 492's Secretary-Treasurer. "The U.S. Senate needs new leaders like Ben Ray, and we know he'll be a powerful voice for workers in the Senate."

"In the U.S. Capitol and in communities across New Mexico, Ben Ray Lujan has been a leader in the fight for economic justice," said Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa. "Congressman Lujan has been a champion for workers in the U.S. House and he will take that same dedication to the U.S. Senate."

Contact:

Melissa Malcom, (505) 344-1925

SOURCE Teamsters Local 492
Military families all over the world get this news every day. Deployments are always difficult, but preparing for one in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, when everything else feels so unsteady, is a particular challenge. My wife and I prayed a lot about this  why us, and why now? We concluded that our sacrifice is small compared with the sacrifices of others, and that we need not understand what God is doing in order to trust him. Nonetheless, we mourned the separation.

Two of our children were at camp when we got the news. I was supposed to leave town to teach a weeklong intensive course. This spring and summer had been a difficult one for the children, with online classes, online church, extended isolation and racial upheaval. How would they handle the added stress of an absent parent? How would I handle teaching at a college with its own combination of in-person and remote teaching while helping the kids, who would not be in school full time? Beyond that, my wife and I have been a team and have worked through life together the past decade and a half. How would I manage so long without her?

As unsettling as this deployment is for our family, we are not alone: Among those in active duty, about 15 percent are deployed at any given time. In the military community, there is always someone who is going through or who has been through what is happening to you. When I called one of my good friends, who is a reservist, to tell him the news, he told me that he, too, had been called up active duty and would be gone for even longer than my wife.

The community knows how to rally around families during a deployment, offering meals, babysitting and emotional support. The community came through for us as we prepared for my wifes deployment: They provided welcome insights, prayer and counsel.

They reminded us that my wife has a good deployment. It is not dangerous or overly long by military standards. But her job is complicated. Being a doctor in the military is always about balancing the health of your patients with the needs of the military. It is the job of the doctor to advocate for the emotional and physical well-being of servicemen and servicewomen, even when they deeply desire to get back to duty.
China may have already trialled a coronavirus vaccine on miners at a site in Papua New Guinea, using workers at companies owned by the communist state as lab rats.

An investigation has been launched after the Chinese-owned Ramu Nickel plant claimed its workers had already been immunised against the deadly virus.

PNG Health Minister Jelta Wong said an official statement given to the department stated 48 employees had been vaccinated on August 10, The Australian reported.

The statement said anybody who had been vaccinated may show symptoms within a week due to antibodies.

Nearly 50 workers at the Ramu Nickel mining site in Papua New Guinea (pictured) have been given a vaccine against COVID-19

A scientist is seen testing a potential COVID-19 vaccine in a laboratory in Beijing (pictured) in April

'If they need to be tested again for COVID-19, it is suggested to be conducted at least seven days after the vaccination date,' it says.

The Chinese government has already given the go ahead for two potential vaccines to be trialled in employees overseas as well as in the state's military.

Ramu Nickel is in the island's Madang Province and is owned by the Metallurgical Corporation of China Ltd - one of the state's largest enterprises.

The claim comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Wednesday that all Australians will get a free dose of an Oxford University COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it is deemed effective and safe.

The approval process for the vaccine candidate is expected to be concluded late this year or early next year.

As part of its multi-billion dollar COVID-19 treatment and vaccine strategy, the government has also announced a contract with US company Becton Dickinson to supply 100 million needles and syringes at a cost of $24.7million.

China has already given the go ahead for two potential vaccines to be trialled in employees overseas as well as in the state's military (pictured, Chinese President Xi Jinping)

Scott Morrison announced on Wednesday that all Australians will get a free dose of an Oxford University COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it is deemed effective and safe (pictured scientist at AstraZeneca's headquarters in Sydney)

An expert panel would rule which Australians should receive the first doses of the potential vaccine, with those suffering from two or more conditions moved to the front of the queue - as well as the elderly.

The vaccine, licensed by UK drug firm AstraZeneca, is in phase three trials on thousands of people in the UK, Brazil and South Africa.

Earlier trials of the Oxford University vaccine found it generated a strong immune response and a four-fold increase in antibodies against coronavirus in 95 per cent of participants.

The government hopes a coronavirus vaccine will reach Australia by early next year and wants 95 per cent of people to get the jab.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the vaccine would not be made compulsory but would be as 'mandatory as possible' without it being illegal to refuse a dose.

'We will never be looking at enforcing a vaccine - that's never been the government's position,' Mr Hunt said on A Current Affair.

'But in particular where we have items like "no jab, no play, no jab no pay" they would always be options.'

Scott Morrison is seen with Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape. Mr Morrison said Australia would support countries in the Pacific to roll out a potential coronavirus vaccine

Scientist tests potential coronavirus vaccine at a production plant (pictured) in Beijing in April

Mr Morrison said on Wednesday he'd spoken to leaders of Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Indonesia about providing the vaccine.

'We have a regional role to play here as well as a domestic role  and we will be living up to all of those responsibilities as we progress this day,' he said.

'And look, to be honest, in the Pacific that's expected.'

Papua New Guinea's health minister, Mr Wong, said the country had been in discussions with Mr Morrison over the vaccine.

'Prime Minister Morrison has been vocal to the big countries that when a vaccine is found, it should be spread around at the lowest value, so that all small countries can participate,' he said.

Papua New Guinea has had 347 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and three deaths but due to limited testing and poor resources, this number is expected to be higher.
AFP via Getty Images

Prison psychologists are secretly watching Ghislaine Maxwell for hours every day, her lawyers have claimed in court documents.

Attorneys for Ms Maxwell, who is accused of grooming and abusing underage girls, say she is under constant surveillance. Her mental health is being frequently evaluated, they added.

The defense recently learned that some of these guards were, in fact [Bureau of Prisons] psychologists who were observing Ms Maxwell and evaluating her for hours each day without her knowledge, the former British socialites lawyers wrote in a letter to District Court Judge Alison Nathan on Monday.

We are aware of no other pretrial detainee receiving such treatment.

Ms Maxwell, an associate of the late disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was arrested on 2 July.

She stands accused of recruiting, grooming and sexually abusing girls as young as 14, as part of Epsteins alleged years long criminal enterprise.

Ms Maxwell, the 58-year-old daughter of the late media tycoon Robert, pleaded not guilty to all the charges and was denied bail at a pre-trial hearing in July. She is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn.

Ms Maxwells lawyers have said their client is being subjected to multiple searches. Prison guards routinely wake her up during the night, it is alleged.

They have also requested that their client be moved into the general prison population at the Brooklyn detention centre.

The lawyers say Ms Maxwell is receiving different treatment because of her status and the circumstances surrounding the death Epstein.

Epsten was found dead in his New York prison cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on charges relating to the trafficking and sexual abuse of minors.

A coroner ruled that Epstein died by suicide. The investigation into his death revealed a host of alleged safeguarding failures by prison staff who were supposed to be monitoring him.

But Ms Maxwells lawyers say she has never been suicidal and is, therefore, being treated unfairly.

Story continues

She, unlike Mr Epstein, has never been suicidal and was never diagnosed as exhibiting risk factors for suicide, the lawyers wrote in a separate filing earlier this month.

Reports have claimed that an entire floor of the prison has been emptied to accommodate Ms Maxwell while she awaits her trial, which has been scheduled for July 2021.

She has been limited to 30 minutes a month for personal phone calls, while other prisoners get 500.

Prosecutors say Maxwell has been isolated for safety and security reasons.

Ms Maxwell will be placed into the general population if and when BOP is assured that such placement would not pose a threat to the orderly operation of the institution, prosecutors added in a filing last week.

Read more

Maxwell tried to recruit Paris Hilton for Epstein, new series claims
Flight prices from the UK to Portugal have gone up SIXFOLD just hours after the government announced it was bringing in an air bridge with the popular holiday destination.

Average fare prices to Faro - the airport used by holidaymakers heading to the Algarve - rocketed from just 35 to 190 in the hours after the announcement was made by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps today.

One website showed a BA flight fare from London to Faro had jumped from 90 to 580 - with a claim it had been reduced from 594 - in a day.

Google searches by MailOnline also showed one BA round trip from London to Faro, leaving this Saturday - the day the quarantine rule is lifted for Portugal - and returning next Saturday - costing 1,069.

Prices from London to Faro have also spiked for travel this Sunday, while flights to Lisbon, another popular city break destination, have also rocketed since the announcement, from around 55 to 185, according to Google.

One exasperated holiday-hopeful said on Twitter: 'And instantly the holidays prices go up to Portugal!'

Flight prices from the UK to Portugal have gone up SIXFOLD just hours after the government announced it was bringing in an air bridge with the popular holiday destination

Average fare prices to Faro - the airport used by holidaymakers heading to the Algarve - rocketed from just 35 to 190 in the hours after the announcement was made by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps today. Pictured: A Google price chart showing how prices on flights to Faro on Sunday have rocketed today

One website showed a BA flight fare from London to Faro had jumped from 90 to 580 - with a claim it had been reduced from 594 - in a day. Pictured: A Google price chart showing how prices on flights to Faro on Saturday have rocketed today

Flights from London to Lisbon on Saturday have also rocketed today, from around 50 to 181

The cheapest round trip flights from London to Faro are currently around 195 with easyJet, with one stop

One British Airways round trip from London to Faro going from this weekend and returning next weekend is priced at 1,069

It comes as Mr Shapps today warned holidaymakers to 'only travel if you content to unexpectedly quarantine', after he himself was caught out, as Austria, Croatia and Trinidad were added to Britain's no-go list.

Referencing his own experience, in which he was left facing a two week quarantine when his department suddenly added Spain to the quarantine list in July, Mr Shapps warned any air bridge could be axed at short notice.

In a tweet today, in which he announced Croatia, Austria and Trinidad would be added to the Government's 'red list', and Portugal taken off, Mr Shapps said: 'Data shows we need to remove Croatia, Austria and Trinidad & Tobago from our list of #coronavirus Travel Corridors to keep infection rates DOWN.

'If you arrive in the UK after 0400 Saturday from these destinations, you will need to self-isolate for 14 days.

'Data also shows we can now add Portugal to those countries INCLUDED in Travel Corridors.

'As with all air bridge countries, please be aware that things can change quickly. Only travel if you are content to unexpectedly 14-day quarantine if required (I speak from experience!)'

The Transport secretary today said spikes in infection in the three countries added to the quarantine list meant they could no longer be treated as safe destinations.

However, he said the latest data showed Portugal could now be added back to the safe list of countries which people can travel to without having to quarantine for 14 days when they return.

The updated travel advice will come into force from 4am on Saturday this weekend.

Grant Shapps today announced that Croatia, Austria and Trinidad & Tobago have all been added to the Government's quarantine list

Today's Portuguese travel chiefs welcomed the move as 'useful for all those who travel between Portugal and the United Kingdom'.

In a tweet, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Portugal, said: 'This decision is proof of the good outcome of intense bilateral work.

'It allowed for an understanding that the situation in the country has always been under control, with Portugal standing as one of the European countries with more tests, fewer deaths and fewer hospitalisations.'

Meanwhile, consumer group Which? said the change in rules for Portugal was 'likely to come too late to help many struggling holiday companies'.

Which? Travel editor Rory Boland told the BBC that the government had 'now made it clear that countries can be removed or added from the travel corridor list at a moment's notice'.

He said: 'That policy currently makes it too risky for anyone who is not able to quarantine for 14 days on return to travel anywhere abroad.'

'Yet, those holidaymakers who want to heed the government warning to not undertake non-essential travel to Spain, France and now Croatia and Austria are finding it increasingly difficult to claim a refund.

He added: 'The addition of Portugal is likely to come too late to help many struggling holiday companies who are at the point of collapse, as summer trips have already been cancelled.'

Following the announcement, holiday firm Jet2.com and Jet2holidays said it will resume its flights and holidays programme to Faro, in Portugals Algarve, from Monday.

Holiday firm Jet2.com and Jet2holidays said it will resume its flights and holidays programme to Faro, in Portugals Algarve, from Monday

In a tweet, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Portugal, said: 'This decision is proof of the good outcome of intense bilateral work.

It will then have multiple weekly flights departing from all nine of its UK bases.

The move to add Croatia to the quarantine list comes after mountain speculation that the Mediterranean country would be added to the UK's so-called 'red list' this week after an uptick in case numbers.

There are around 20,000 British tourists currently in Croatia, experts predict.

Darija Reic, the Croatian tourist board's UK representative, said placing Croatia on the quarantine list is 'very disappointing', while Mato Frankovic, Mayor of Dubrovnik, a popular destination for UK tourists, said the city was still safe for tourists.

He told Sky News: 'I do hope those British citizens who want to come to Dubrovnik still do, and I want to send a very strong message that Dubrovnik is a COVID-safe town.'

He added that tourists immediately started to cancel hotel room bookings in the city when the quarantine was announced.

Meanwhile, expectations of all non-essential travel to the country being banned increased this morning after the World Health Organisation said the Balkans region is a 'hotspot' for coronavirus.

The WHO said the Balkans have been a 'concern of ours since early June' because of an increase in case numbers as it urged the region to impose additional measures to 'nip transmission in the bud'.

Mr Shapps said a 'range of factors' had been taken into account by ministers and officials when deciding which countries to add to the quarantine list.

He said they included 'estimated prevalence of COVID-19 in a country; the level and rate of change in the incidence of confirmed positive cases; the extent of testing in a country, the testing regime and test positivity; the extent to which cases can be accounted for by a contained outbreak as opposed to more general transmission in the community; government actions; and other relevant epidemiological information'.

The decision to require travellers returning from Croatia, Austria and Trinidad & Tobago to self-isolate for 14 days came as Germany, France, Italy and Spain all reported their highest number of coronavirus infections in months, raising concerns that a second wave could be hitting the continent.

Germany recorded 1,707 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours, the highest daily toll since April, while authorities in France said 'the transmission of the virus is accentuating'.

Spain has recorded a new single-day record for Covid-19 cases since the country emerged from a three-month lockdown in mid-June.

Dr Catherine Smallwood told a WHO press conference this morning: 'The situation in the Balkans has been a concern of ours since early June when we started to see cases increase and it's been very much a sub-regional hotspot over the summer period.'

She added: 'We really need communities to take this on board, take the adequate steps both at a country level, in terms of the basic contact tracing, case identification and isolation and testing the systems that need to be in place.

'And then where there are hotspots and increased transmission, additional, targeted measures need to be brought in place, very quickly, to nip transmission in the bud, stop it from spreading and keep the level of transmission at controllable levels.'

Croatia has seen an upsurge in coronavirus cases over the past week and yesterday the Adriatic nation posted numbers which almost matched its highest point in August.

The numbers were being closely monitored by the Department for Transport and the Foreign Office.

Croatia currently has a cumulative rate of 27.4 cases per 100,000 people over the past seven day.

The UK Government has set a threshold for imposing quarantine restrictions at 20 cases per 100,000.

Fears had been raised that Greece could also be added to the banned list as its case numbers increase but it is still below the threshold at 14.3 cases per 100,000.

The updated travel advice came as there were signs of a potential second wave of coronavirus on the continent.

Germany has fared better than many of its European neighbours in suppressing the virus so far but like elsewhere its number of cases has jumped significantly over the summer holidays.

Much of the rise has been blamed on returning holidaymakers as well as parties and family gatherings.

The latest figures, from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases, bring to 228,621 the number of infections in the country since the start of the pandemic.

It takes the daily toll back to a level not seen since late April, when the pandemic was considered to be at its peak.

The UK Government remains under intense pressure to ease its 14 day quarantine rules.

Airlines and the travel industry believe the restrictions could be slashed by introducing coronavirus testing on arrival at airports.

This would see travellers asked to self-isolate until they get their test results, with a negative test and a follow up a number of days later, allowing them to return to normal life.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said yesterday that ministers are working with Heathrow Airport to find a way for coronavirus testing to reduce the quarantine period.

He told Sky News: 'We're working with Heathrow and with other airports on this project.

'The challenge is because the virus can incubate inside your body without coming forward and without therefore a test being positive even if you've got it.

'The challenge is how to do that testing in a way that we can have confidence enough in to release the quarantine.'
Ulysses, N.Y.  A woman stands accused of stealing more than $12,000 from an Ithaca-area business.

Lorraine A. Evans, 53, of Alpine, has been charged by the New York State Police with taking money from a business while working as a bookkeeper in Tompkins County. Troopers did not name the business.

Evans was arrested at the end of July. Troopers announced her arrest Thursday in a news release.

The investigation started in 2019 when the owner of a Ulysses business discovered Evans had been stealing money, troopers said. She had forged checks to pocket over $12,000 from her employer over the course of several months, troopers said.

Evans was charged with second-degree forgery and fourth-degree grand larceny, both felonies.

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.
Average daily cases of coronavirus in Africa fell last week, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).



The continent-wide daily average was 10,300 last week, down from 11,000 the week before.



The director of Africa CDC, Dr John Nkengasong, said it was a "sign of hope".



Africa has recorded 1,147,369 cases, more than half of which are in South Africa, and about 26,000 deaths.



Dr Nkengasong said he was hopeful "that we are beginning to bend the curve slowly" but added that "it's very, very early - we are dealing with a very delicate virus that spreads rapidly".



"We take this news with cautious optimism," he said, explaining that he didn't want people to get complacent and stop trying to prevent the spread of the virus.



"We really want our population not to show what we call 'prevention fatigue', where we slow down on the measures that we are putting in place."



He urged people to continue their efforts to prevent the spread of the virus, specifically saying that people needed to continue to wear masks, to maintain social distance and that more testing is needed.



Dr Nkengasong also said that more than one million tests had been conducted across the continent, with South Africa being one of the main countries to test people.



Recorded cases and deaths are relatively low compared to other parts of the word such as parts of Europe, Latin America and the US, which alone has more than 5,500,000 cases, but some experts warn that there may be many more cases than are recorded in Africa because of the lack of testing.



The spread of the virus appeared to be relatively slow in Africa in the early stages of the pandemic but the recorded rate of infection gradually accelerated, especially in South Africa.



South Africa has 596,060 cases of coronavirus, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. That is more than half the cases across Africa and the fifth-most cases in the world.



The country's cases have been falling, and this has been driving the fall in cases across the continent. At its peak, there were more than 12,000 daily confirmed new cases and that has fallen to an average of 5,000.



The next African country to feature on the list is Egypt, in 31st place in the world with 96,914 cases.

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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Volunteers of Bharat Scouts and Guides, Prayagraj, have set up unique banks like Soap Bank, Anaaj Bank, Sanitary Pad Bank and even a Time Bank to help the needy during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The volunteers of this organisation are distributing soaps, sanitary pads and essential cereals collected by them among the needy. Some, attached to the Time Bank, are devoting their time to visiting old and infirm people at their homes in different villages in close coordination with respective gram pradhans to inquire about their health and needs at a time when many are finding themselves alone and helpless during the pandemic, said Firoz Alam Khan, an academic resource person with the states basic education department, who is the district scout master of Prayagraj.

There are scouts and guides in almost 665 government-run primary and upper primary schools, besides 185 secondary schools and 30 degree colleges of the district. In these institutions, around 35,000 students are a part of this movement, which is managed by 240 warranted scout masters and 1,400 more scout masters and guide captains. It is these volunteers who are managing and operating these unique banks, he said.

A part of this mission is Reeta Sharma, a teacher at a government-run primary school at Bighiya in Soraon, who is also a guide captain and in charge of the Time Bank in her area. These are unprecedented tough times. Through these banks, we are just trying to help those who are most vulnerable, she explained.

Several needy people are benefiting through these banks that started functioning from May 25. Around 250 bars of soaps have been distributed in the slums of Baihrana and Fakirganj besides 150 sanitary pads and 900 facemasks, as well as essential cereals for a month to around two dozen people. To run these banks, a collection centre has been set up at the government primary school in Allenganj where all the items are collected and deposited for distribution through these banks, Reeta said.

District secretary of Bharat Scout and Guide Association Yogesh Chandra Tripathi said, Different scout and guide masters are leading this mission in their respective areas. So, we have primary school teachers like Akhilesh Kumar in Bahariya, Ram Gopal in Manda, and Satyendra Kumar in Meja heading the Time Bank in their areas, while a teacher at the Upper Primary Government School in Jugnideeh, Holagarhs Brijesh Yadav and Dhunupurs Manoj Maurya are managing the same in their areas.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR K Sandeep Kumar K Sandeep Kumar is a Special Correspondent of Hindustan Times heading the Allahabad Bureau. He has spent over 16 years reporting extensively in Uttar Pradesh, especially Allahabad and Lucknow. He covers politics, science and technology, higher education, medical and health and defence matters. He also writes on development issues. ...view detail
Last week, on holiday with a group of friends aged 15 to 84, I asked the stylish octogenarian what she thought of M&S. "The problem," she replied sadly, "is that it's so often frumpy, shapeless and the fabrics are poor quality." There was no point asking the millennials. They don't shop there, even though they might like the underwear. There are just too many other places to browse.

When a senior citizen tells you you're not stylish or modern enough, you've got problems. When 15 to 25-year-olds are oblivious to your existence, you're in crisis territory - a fact confirmed yesterday with the announcement it is to cut 7,000 UK jobs on top of the 950 already announced last month.

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"The biggest frustration working with M&S," a fashion consultant told me years ago (let's not forget, the company has been in difficulties since the start of this century), "is that they try to cater for everyone. That might have worked in the 70s, but it's insane when there's far more choice available. They need to stop trying to appeal to every age group."

Self-evidently, you can't please everyone all the time. But dismissing a brand because it aims to serve a wide age span seems a fundamental misinterpretation of what appealing to multi-generations means. If you're a passionate photographer, it doesn't matter whether you're 19 or 90. A Leica lens still holds as a gold standard.

There's a cross-generational bridge for those who love style or fashion too. Zara, for instance, makes shoppers, regardless of their income and age - there are plenty of 60 and 70-year-olds who regularly shop there - feel fashionable and stylish. This summer, particularly, it has demonstrated that mass fashion doesn't have to mean shoddy fabrics, excelling with lovely summer tops and dresses in cottons and linens.

What does shopping for clothes at M&S make you feel? Loyal? Dogged? Both of those. I can generally find something satisfying among its cashmere, linen, leather gloves and beanie hats. More importantly for its bottom line, so, previously, has Holly Willoughby, a paid ambassador in 2018. But it takes time and a sharp eye to scroll through its website sorting the wheat from the chaff.

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What shopping at M&S doesn't make you feel is aspirational. It's not that there is no decent merchandise - one of its downfalls is its uninspiring photography. The perception of patchy quality that echoes in so many reviews on the M&S website is another. You can slash prices as much as you want, but for some customers, they will never be low enough. Far better to focus, as it traditionally did, on quality and flair.

True, M&S is a considerably more comfortable experience than Penneys. But shrewdly, Penneys - or Primark, as it is known elsewhere - has made the scrum an emblem of its popularity. Primarketeers identify as a tribe of take-no-prisoners bargain hunters.

That tribal allegiance is crucial and brands don't win it by being apologetic. The real problem with M&S is that it suffers from a crippling lack of self-belief, and has done since around 2001, when its ever-reliable annual increase in profits began to dip.

You can see that in its dithering: one year engaging in a race to the bottom to compete with Penneys' prices, then attempting to position itself as a fashion Mecca, but without the je ne sais quoi of Zara. It's the Sam Smith of the once proud high street - great back catalogue, steeped in good intentions, but lost.

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Year after year, the cumulative effect of this has seen its quality plummet, its fabrics, once a byword for longevity, and its fashion lurch from garish trends to items that look as though they were designed by committee in order to appeal to customers who only buy clothes when they absolutely have to.

It wasn't always like this. When it launched its womenswear in 1936, it hired a team of Parisian designers to oversee it. Hard though it may be for today's thirtysomethings to compute, M&S was, for decades, a reassuring hallmark of understated, well-designed, well-made classics. It was never groovy, hip or cool. Nor did it try to be. It was the place you went when you grew up and developed some discerning antennae for quality and timelessness.

For half a century or so, it was a destination for beautiful wool coats - cheaper than Jaeger but probably just as good - classic skirts that looked more expensive than they were (not that it was obsessed with being cheap then, so much as value for money). Well-dressed working women relied on M&S for all their basics and more.

There are still savvy shoppers, whose wardrobes are dotted with machine washable pinafore maxis, belted shirt dresses and skirts with pleats that look as fresh as they did when they were put out on the shop floor 30 years ago. The fabrics and patterns were bold and fitted beautifully, because the design team understood that no trend, however 'happening', works unless it's cut from a decent block.

It's no coincidence that the old St Michael label (abandoned in 2000), is highly sought after on eBay.

There's still huge affection for this 136-year-old brand. Erin O'Connor, the aristocratic-looking Anglo-Irish model born in the UK's West Midlands told me all the O'Connors dreamed of shopping in M&S, "but it was far too upmarket, except for very special occasions". Later she became one of their faces - along with Twiggy, Helena Christensen, Amber Valletta and various other supermodels.

Presumably the intention behind this oddly disparate mix - the girl next door Twiggy and the ethereal-looking Valletta - was to show that M&S appealed to broad tastes. But instead, in another sign of confused hedge betting, Twiggy looked like someone from a catalogue while Valletta was lit like a shoot from 90s American Harper's Bazaar.

Back in 1996, when I worked on Vogue, my assistant, Plum Sykes (who went on to be a glamorous US Voguette) returned from her lunch in a fabulous grey wool princess line coat. Knowing her salary, I was pretty sure she hadn't just splurged in Prada, but assumed the brand had gifted it to her. "Nope. M&S," she said proudly.

Those were the days - when M&S's design team wasn't chasing poly-blend leopard prints, but discreet gems that would become backbones of the wardrobe. In 2000, Autograph was launched in collaboration with a team of well-known British fashion designers, including Betty Jackson and Julien Macdonald - some better than others at intuiting what would appeal to an M&S woman.

Eventually, Autograph morphed into an upmarket line of Joseph-like investment pieces. Autograph's initial prices proved too high for something that was perceived to be a chain store product (even though it was only available in a few dozen flagships), and it was Per Una that became more financially successful. But it was Autograph that served as a flag waver for what M&S could do. I still treasure its last great hit - the 2012 suede tan A-line skirt, which while it wasn't cheap at 299, was still excellent value for the quality and design.

M&S has had other hits since then. That pink coat which sold and sold (lovely style, nasty fabric as it turns out), the sell-out collection that Alexa Chung designed, predicated on its archives, with its standout trench and pie-crust blouse, almost anything Holly Willoughby wore, the Rosie Huntington-Whiteley lingerie line (although am I the only one who finds it impossible sourcing comfortable, no VPL knickers that aren't thongs, in M&S?).

I will never give up on M&S, because it always yields a few gems, but until it becomes as focused in its fashion offer as it is with its food, I'm not sure the same is true of my daughters.

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Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]
The Vice-President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, on Tuesday listed government's infrastructural projects within the past three and half years and threw an open challenge to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its flagbearer, ex-President John Dramani Mahama, to show Ghanaians what they accomplished by way of infrastructure initiative in their first term at the helm.

According to him, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo, has steadily ensured that every constituency or district benefits from some infrastructural projects under government's core policy to leave no district or constituency behind.

Addressing the 8th Town Hall Meeting and Results Fair in Accra, the Vice-President said government had implemented a total of 17,334 infrastructural projects encompassing agriculture, education, energy, health infrastructure, housing infrastructure, industrial, market, railway, road, safety and security, with 8,746 completed and 8,588 ongoing.

Infrastructure Details

He disclosed that a total of 542 agriculture infrastructural projects were being undertaken, with 403 completed and 139 still ongoing, while a total of 2,699 projects were being carried out under education infrastructure, with 1,253 completed and 1,446 ongoing.

On energy infrastructure, Dr. Bawumia said 2,824 out of a total of 3,844 projects being undertaken had been completed, with 1,020 ongoing, whereas 378 health infrastructural projects had been delivered out of a total of 673, with 295 still ongoing.

According to him, these are besides a total of 1,229 projects being implemented under the housing infrastructure, with 232 completed and 997 ongoing. He added that a total of 191 projects were being undertaken under industrial infrastructure, with 77 completed and 114 ongoing.

Market infrastructure has 276 completed and 194 ongoing, bringing the total to 470 while railway infrastructure has three projects completed and another three ongoing.

Dr. Bawumia said government had completed 1,307 projects under road infrastructure, with 620 still ongoing at the various parts of the country, totalling 1,927 projects.

He disclosed that a total of 79 steel and concrete bridges were being constructed at critical need areas in the country, with 46 of them completed.

He stated that to accomplish the infrastructure-for-all strategy, government had implemented several policy initiatives.

In the area of safety and security, he asserted that the NPP government had completed 103 projects, with 77 ongoing,

These, he disclosed, included one constituency $1 million (it does not matter which constituency or region. You will get allocation), one village one dam, one constituency one ambulance, one district one factory, one district one warehouse and the Zongo Development Fund.

Infrastructure Vehicles

These are all vehicles that we have put in place to ensure equitable distribution of infrastructure, he noted while addressing the 8th Town Hall Meeting and Results Fair in Accra.

He said, historically, the provision of infrastructure had been concentrated in the big cities to the exclusion of the deprived and rural communities that lack basic infrastructure.

To ensure equitable and inclusive growth, the provision of infrastructure amenities or facilities should not be dictated narrowly by our politics, he noted and added that every community, district and region deserves expansion opportunities for growth and improvement in the standard of living of its residents.

It should not be for the government or politicians to decide on the sharing of infrastructure amenities on the basis of tribal, ideological and political preferences, Dr. Bawumia argued.

Our opponents are welcome to show us what they accomplished by way of infrastructure initiative in their first term of office.

They should bring the data and we will interrogate. This is because virtually all the key projects that they point to were completed in their second term, he pointed out.

Comparison

The Vice-President said, however, that the Akufo-Addo administration was happy to compare its three-and-half-year record with the NDC's eight-year record in the area of infrastructure.

In many communities across the country, the data will show that the infrastructure we have provided in many districts over just three and half years surpasses what they provided in eight years in those districts, he indicated.

Value for Money

What is most important and interesting to note is that we have done all these while spending less on infrastructure as a percentage of our GDP. We have done more by spending less and that means we have more value for money. That is what it is, he posited.

Former President John Dramani Mahama, who is staging a comeback after his heavy defeat in 2016, has been going round and accusing the NPP government of abandoning projects it inherited from his erstwhile administration.

However, Dr. Bawumia said contrary to the propaganda of the NDC, there is evidence that the NPP government had also completed and was working to complete many projects that it inherited.

Nation-Building

He noted that the NPP government was not just building infrastructure as it had shown commitment to its social contract with Ghanaians of providing free Senior High School education, creating jobs, transforming agriculture, industrializing the economy, sustaining the National Health Insurance scheme, digitizing the economy, ensuring the safety of Ghanaians and keeping the lights on.

We have also put in place a solid-based digital infrastructure to propel the digital economy of Ghana, he asserted and continued that the future is bright if we stay the course. That is why we are asking the good people of Ghana to give Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the NPP four more to do more for you, he concluded.

---Daily Guide
The scene after a multiple shooting on Halloween at an Airbnb rental home in Orinda, California (Ray Chavez/East Bay Times via AP)

Airbnb is banning house parties worldwide as it tries to clean up its reputation and comply with coronavirus-related limits on gatherings.

The San Francisco-based home sharing company said it will limit occupancy in its rental homes to 16 people.

It may offer exceptions for boutique hotels or other event venues.

Airbnb said it may pursue legal action against guests and hosts who violate the ban.

Last week, for the first time, Airbnb took legal action against a guest who held an unauthorised party in Sacramento County, California.

Airbnb has always prohibited unauthorised parties, and the company said nearly 75% of its listings explicitly ban parties.

But after a deadly shooting at a California Airbnb rental last Halloween, the company has taken multiple steps to crack down on parties.

Five people were killed in the shooting, which happened during an unauthorised party.

Last November, Airbnb started manually reviewing US and Canadian reservations to weed out suspicious rentals, such as a guest who booked a one-night stay close to their home.

It expanded that programme to Australia last week.

In July, Airbnb banned US and Canadian guests under 25 with fewer than three positive reviews from booking entire homes close to where they live.

It expanded that policy to the United Kingdom, Spain and France last week.

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The company said it also plans to expand a hotline for neighbours to report unauthorised parties.

Airbnb  which has more than seven million listings  offers hundreds of homes that can accommodate 16 people.

There are at least 53 in London, 277 in Beijing, 170 in New York and 116 in Los Angeles, according to the companys website.

Twelve-year-old Airbnb has been trying to shed its couch-surfing image and appeal to more types of travellers ahead of its initial public offering, which could happen later this year.

Last year, it announced an effort to verify all of its properties, for example.

The company also said it wants to make sure it is complying with public health mandates.

Los Angeles County has a ban on gatherings of people from different households, for example.

Airbnb said the coronavirus-related closure of bars and nightclubs has led to an increase in big house parties, sometimes at its rentals.

We do not want that type of business, and anyone engaged in or allowing that behaviour does not belong on our platform, Airbnb said in a post on its website.
Ashraf Ghani, the President of Afghanistan has mentioned that "the Kabul government will not be releasing the 320 other prisoners belonging to the extremist group Taliban until the latter does not agree to release 20 Afghan security personnel," said a report by TOLOnews.

Read | AP's COVID-19 graph rises with 9,393 new cases; tally reaches 3.25 lakh

Read | 150 terrorists neutralized so far: Security forces crackdown on terrorism in Kashmir

Earlier, the government of Afghanistan had agreed to release 400 insurgents that the government had held captive, to remove the only remaining obstacle to the peace talks, which were brokered by the US government.

Read | 'Gully Boy' to have a special screening at TIFF later this month in Ontario; Read more

Read | Sania Mirza nails a handstand in latest IG post after picking up yoga during lockdown

"The peace talks, which were supposed to begin on August 20, have now been deferred indefinitely due to the decision by the president," said a report by the APTV.

"Though the step might threaten the entire world, it is necessary to maintain peace in the region," mentioned President Ghani in a conversation hosted by James B Cunningham, former US ambassador to Afghanistan.

"With the release of the prisoners, peace talks between the insurgents and Kabul government can begin by next week," suggested another report.

In another related step, the US government was in talks with the governments of Australia and France, who had objected over the release of six insurgents involved in the assassination of the citizens belonging to the latter nations in the country.

"It is expected that a solution, which would be acceptable to both the sides would come forward," said Geran Hewad(as quoted by TOLOnews).

The foreign ministry of Afghanistan is also negotiating with the governments of Australia and France, for the release of the prisoners belonging to the extremist group.

"We had called upon the US govt to keep their promises and convince their allies to agree to the release so that peace talks would begin," said Mawlavi Qalamuddin, the former head of the religious police department in the regime of the Taliban.

"The group has fulfilled its promises and was not aware of any other security personnel in its custody who had to be set free," said Suhail Shaheen, the political spokesperson of the insurgent group(as quoted by the APTV).

"The leaders of the nation must not repeat the blunders done by them in the past," said Zalmay Khalilzad, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation. "The peace talks have already entered a stage which is hopeful," further added Khalilzad.

Read | BlackBerry to launch 5G smartphones in the year 2021 after a long gap

Read | UN chief continues to follow developments in Mali very closely: Spokesperson

(With Inputs from ANI and APTV)

(Image Credits: ANI)
Vanessa Hudgens took a lot of flack for her controversial stance on the COVID-19 lockdown back in March.

But the former Disney star has begun returning to her regularly scheduled social life after months of quarantine.

She put on a summer chic display Wednesday in a nude lace slip dress, which put her gorgeous figure on display, as she picked up lunch and got her hair done in Los Angeles.

Going nude: Vanessa Hudgens put on a summer chic display Wednesday in a nude lace slip dress, which put her gorgeous figure on display, as she picked up lunch and got her hair done in Los Angeles

The 31-year-old accessorized the look with silver earrings, matching bracelets, a bold turquoise necklace and brown alligator pointed clogs.

She took precautions against COVID-19 in a black face mask, as she stepped out with a to-go bag.

Hudgens later took to her Instagram Story to show off her new 'do, after visiting hairstylist Violet Teriti.

She played with her cascading waves in a boomerang, which she took at the Beverly Hills salon Hair by Violet.

Dripping in jewels: The 31-year-old accessorized the look with silver earrings, matching bracelets, a bold turquoise necklace and brown alligator pointed clogs

Hair goals: Hudgens later took to her Instagram Story to show off her new 'do, after visiting hairstylist Violet Teriti

Feeling cute: She played with her cascading waves in a boomerang, which she took at the Beverly Hills salon Hair by Violet

Carpool karaoke: The Spring Breakers star also flaunted the look with a butterfly face filter, in a video of herself jamming out to the 2003 Ashanti track Happy

The Spring Breakers star also flaunted the look with a butterfly face filter, in a video of herself jamming out to the 2003 Ashanti track Happy.

She later escaped the sweltering SoCal summer heat, taking a dip in a retro chic yellow bikini for a sexy photo, captioned: 'Heatwaveeee'

Hudgens took to her Instagram Story last week, as she was spotted out with a film crew, writing: 'So happy to be back at work. All safely.'

Taking a dip: She later escaped the sweltering SoCal summer heat, taking a dip in a retro chic yellow bikini for a sexy photo

Back to work: Hudgens took to her Instagram Story last week, as she was spotted out with a film crew, writing: 'So happy to be back at work. All safely'

Tropical getaway: She previously returned from vacation with friends to Turks and Caicos, shortly after international travel resumed, amid the global pandemic

She previously returned from vacation with friends to Turks and Caicos, shortly after international travel resumed, amid the global pandemic.

It came after she posted a particularly cavalier video statement regarding the lockdown, back in March.

She said on her Instagram story at the time: 'Even if everybody gets it, like yeah, people are going to die which is terrible, but inevitable?'

Hudgens later apologized: 'It's a crazy time, it's a crazy, crazy time and I am at home and in lockdown and that's what I hope you guys are doing too. Yeah I don't take this situation lightly, by any means, I am home.'
Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/20/2020 -- Latest added Global Safety Signs Market research study by AMA Research offers detailed outlook and elaborates market review till 2025. The market Study is segmented by key regions that are accelerating the marketization. At present, the market players are strategizing and overcoming challenges of current scenario. The study explored is a perfect mix of qualitative and quantitative Market data collected and validated majorly through primary data and secondary sources.

Major Players in This Report Include,

Accuform Manufacturing (United States), ZING Green Safety Products (United States), Northern Safety (United States), Brady (United States), Glowway (Finland), Jalite (United Kingdom), American Permalight (United States), Banner Stakes (United States), Ecoglo International (New Zealand) and Big Beam Emergency Systems (United States).

Free Sample Report + All Related Graphs & Charts @: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/50432-global-safety-signs-market

Safety signs are a type of sign designed to warn of hazards, indicate mandatory actions or required use of Personal protective equipment, prohibit actions or objects, identify the location of firefighting or safety equipment, or marking of exit routes. Safety signs in the workplace are an indispensable way of protecting employees from accidents. Their purpose is to convey information in a comprehensive way about objects and situations that can be dangerous.

The latest edition of this report you will be entitled to receive additional chapter / commentary on latest scenario, economic slowdown and COVID-19 impact on overall industry. Further it will also provide qualitative information about when industry could come back on track and what possible measures industry players are taking to deal with current situation. Each of the segment analysis table for forecast period also high % impact on growth.

The report concludes with in-depth details on the business operations and financial structure of leading vendors in the Global Safety Signs market report, Overview of Key trends in the past and present are in reports that are reported to be beneficial for companies looking for venture businesses in this market. Information about the various marketing channels and well-known distributors in this market was also provided here. This study serves as a rich guide for established players and new players in this market.

Market Drivers

- Upsurging demand due to increasing traffic across the globe

Market Trend

- Growing Demand from Commercial industries

Restraints

- The rising number of smart applications

Opportunities

- The increasing demand from developing countries and untapped regions

The Global Safety Signs segments and Market Data Break Down are illuminated below:

Application (Industrial, Commercial, Residential), Sales Channel (Online Sales Channel, Offline Sales Channel), Material Type (Polymer, Metal, Fiberglass)

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The regional analysis of Global Safety Signs Market is considered for the key regions such as Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America and Rest of the World. North America is the leading region across the world. Whereas, owing to rising no. of research activities in countries such as China, India, and Japan, Asia Pacific region is also expected to exhibit higher growth rate the forecast period 2020-2025.



Highlights of the report:

- A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent market

- Important changes in market dynamics

- Market segmentation up to the second or third level

- Historical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volume

- Reporting and evaluation of recent industry developments

- Market shares and strategies of key players

- Emerging niche segments and regional markets

- An objective assessment of the trajectory of the market

- Recommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the market



Limited scope research document specific to Country or Region meeting your business objective.

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Strategic Points Covered in Table of Content of Global Safety Signs Market:

Chapter 1: Introduction, market driving force product Objective of Study and Research Scope the Global Safety Signs market

Chapter 2: Exclusive Summary  the basic information of the Global Safety Signs Market.

Chapter 3: Displaying the Market Dynamics- Drivers, Trends and Challenges of the Global Safety Signs

Chapter 4: Presenting the Global Safety Signs Market Factor Analysis Porters Five Forces, Supply/Value Chain, PESTEL analysis, Market Entropy, Patent/Trademark Analysis.

Chapter 5: Displaying the by Type, End User and Region 2014-2019

Chapter 6: Evaluating the leading manufacturers of the Global Safety Signs market which consists of its Competitive Landscape, Peer Group Analysis, BCG Matrix & Company Profile

Chapter 7: To evaluate the market by segments, by countries and by manufacturers with revenue share and sales by key countries in these various regions.

Chapter 8 & 9: Displaying the Appendix, Methodology and Data Source

finally, Global Safety Signs Market is a valuable source of guidance for individuals and companies.

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Key questions answered

- Who are the Leading key players and what are their Key Business plans in the Global Safety Signs market?

- What are the key concerns of the five forces analysis of the Global Safety Signs market?

- What are different prospects and threats faced by the dealers in the Global Safety Signs market?

- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?

Definitively, this report will give you an unmistakable perspective on every single reality of the market without a need to allude to some other research report or an information source. Our report will give all of you the realities about the past, present, and eventual fate of the concerned Market.

Thanks for reading this article, we can also provide customized report as per company's specific needs. You can also get separate chapter wise or region wise report versions including North America, Europe or Asia.

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Our Analyst is tracking high growth study with detailed statistical and in-depth analysis of market trends & dynamics that provide a complete overview of the industry. We follow an extensive research methodology coupled with critical insights related industry factors and market forces to generate the best value for our clients. We Provides reliable primary and secondary data sources, our analysts and consultants derive informative and usable data suited for our clients business needs. The research study enable clients to meet varied market objectives a from global footprint expansion to supply chain optimization and from competitor profiling to M&As.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra will not ship with 100W charging, or anything of the sort. That also applies to the other S21-series smartphones, as theyll match the S21 Ultras charging, or offer even slower charging.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra will support 60W fast charging, according to a tipster, Chun. He shared the information via Twitter, confirming Samsung wont look to match the competition.

He did not mention other Galaxy S21 handsets, to be quite honest, but they wont offer faster charging than the Galaxy S21 Ultra, thats for sure. Chun is somewhat reliable, but he can be wrong, so take the information with a grain of salt.

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The Galaxy S21 likely wont match 100W+ fast charging its competitors are offering

In any case, 60W fast charging is plenty fast, no doubt about that. OPPO, Xiaomi, and Qualcomm spoiled us with 100W+ fast charging recently. Many people would assume Samsungs next-gen flagships will include such charging, but it seems like that is not in the cards.

60W fast charging is nothing to scoff at. Just to be clear, were talking about wired charging here, not wireless charging. Were still not sure how fast will wireless charging be on the Galaxy S21 series.

Those devices are still far away at this point. The Galaxy Note 20 series launched quite recently. The Galaxy S21 series is expected to arrive in Q1 2021, quite probably in February or March.

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Not much is known about the Galaxy S21 series at this point, though some tidbits did surface. Those devices will not include an under-display camera, if rumors are to be believed. Samsung will once again utilize display holes.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra is expected to sport a new 108-megapixel camera

A recent rumor also claims that the Galaxy S21 Ultra will sport a 108-megapixel main sensor once again. That will be a new sensor, though, as it will succeed the HM1 unit.

The Snapdragon 875 will fuel the devices in the US and China, almost certainly. In Europe and India, that series will likely include the next-gen flagship Exynos processor from Samsung.

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Android 11 will come pre-installed on all Galaxy S21 smartphones, along with Samsungs custom UI. Were guessing that the company plans to release three devices once again.

Samsung does need to change something moving forward in order to push out the competition. The Galaxy S20 sales have not been great for the company, and COVID-19 probably played a part in that.

The company cannot blame the pandemic for it, though, as something else is off as well. The Galaxy S20 series is quite expensive, and there are plenty of competitors out there at this point.

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It remains to be seen how is Samsung planning to compete with the Galaxy S21 series. It also remains to be seen if the Galaxy Note 20 series sales will be as good as expected.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The 18th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) was held on Thursday where the two sides agreed to resolve outstanding issues in an expeditious manner.

The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary (East Asia) Naveen Srivastava while the Chinese side was led by Wu Jianghao, Director General of the boundary and oceanic department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The two sides had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on the existing situation in the India-China border areas. They reaffirmed that in accordance with the agreements reached between the two Foreign Ministers and the two Special Representatives, the two sides will continue to sincerely work towards complete disengagement of the troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector. The two sides were in agreement that restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas would be essential for the overall development of bilateral relations, MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said.

ALSO READ: Want Kulbhushan Jadhav to be represented through an Indian lawyer: MEA

India and China are involved in a standoff along the LAC in eastern Ladakh. Relations soured after a violent face-off between Indian and Chinese troops on June 15 leading to the death of 20 jawans.

While Beijing claims that disengagement is complete in most areas, New Delhi maintains that it is an ongoing and complex process.

Srivastava said that the two sides further acknowledged the need to maintain close communication through both the diplomatic and military channels so as to ensure complete disengagement. In this regard, they also agreed to continue their ongoing engagements including through the meetings of the WMCC.

Peace must at border

The two sides agreed that restoration of peace and tranquility in the border areas would be essential for the overall development of bilateral relations.
Crude oil futures edged lower to Rs 3,209 per barrel on August 20 as participants increased their short positions. Prices slipped on a gloomy outlook by the US Federal Reserve and less-than-anticipated decline in US crude inventory.

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that US crude declined by 1.6 million barrels for the week-ended August 14 against the expectation of a decline of 2.6 million barrels.

The OPEC+ alliance urged members to adhere to limiting output as the coronavirus pandemic threatens a demand recovery.

The range move in crude oil is still intact amid mixed factors. The bounce back in the US Dollar Index has capped gains. Also, weighing on price was the US EIA weekly inventory report, which was largely mixed to negative. OPEC review meeting also failed to impact crude prices. So all in all, gains in oil might be in check as bears have a slight edge in todays (August 20) session, said Ravindra Rao, VP- Head Commodity Research at Kotak Securities.

In the futures market, crude oil for September delivery touched an intraday high of Rs 3,223 and a low of Rs 3,204 per barrel on the Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX). So far in the current series, black gold has touched a low of Rs 2,945 and a high of Rs 3,285.

Crude oil futures for September delivery slipped Rs 19, or 0.59 percent, to Rs 3,209 per barrel at 15:20 hours IST on a business turnover of 3,820 lots.

The value of September's contract traded so far is Rs 333.89 crore.

Tapan Patel- Senior Analyst (Commodities), HDFC Securities, expects oil prices to trade sideways to down for the day with support at $41 and resistance at $43.50 "MCX September Crude Oil futures has support at Rs 3,140, with resistance at Rs 3,250."

West Texas Intermediate crude slipped 1.14 percent at $42.62 per barrel, while Brent crude, the London-based international benchmark, was down 1.10 percent to $44.87 per barrel.
On Bombs And Bombings

By Caitlin Johnstone

August 19, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - For a full week now the Israeli army has been bombing Gaza, a population that is about to run out of fuel for its only power plant due to a years-long Israeli program of deliberate siege warfare.

Yesterday the US ordered an airstrike on Syrian forces, killing one, when they refused to let the illegal occupying force past a checkpoint in northern Syria.

In both cases an arm of the US-centralized empire used wildly disproportionate force against people who stood against a hostile occupation of their own country. In both cases the more powerful and violent occupiers claimed they were acting in self-defense. In both cases dropping explosives from the sky upon human beings barely made the news.

ISRAEL is dropping bombs on Gaza and no one is talking about it.. WHYYYYY.????#Gaza #GazaUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/gGhl8bYKOk  Elaa Naqvi (@greyhairs_) August 17, 2020

Bombs should not exist. Explosives designed to blow fire and shrapnel through human bodies should not be a thing. In a sane world, there wouldnt be bombs, and if some mentally unbalanced person ever made and used one it would be a major international news story.

Instead, bombs are cranked out like iPhones at enormous profit, and nearly all bombings are ignored. Many bombs are being dropped per day by the US and its allies, with a massive civilian death toll, and almost none of those bombings receive any international attention. The only time they do is generally when a bombing occurs that was not authorized by the US-centralized empire.

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This is one of those absolutely freakish things about our society that has become normalized through careful narrative management, and we really shouldnt allow it to be. The fact that explosives designed to rip apart human anatomy are dropped from the sky many times per day for no other reason than to exert control over foreign countries should horrify us all.

An interesting social experiment when you talk to someone might be to tell them solemnly, Theres been a bombing. Then when they say What?? Where??, tell them The Middle East mostly. Our government and its allies drop many bombs there per day in order to keep a resource-rich geostrategic region balkanized and controllable.

Then watch their reaction.

I think we don't talk enough (or at all) about how US bombed Laos 270 Million times, making it the most bombed country ever.



There were approximately more than 580,000 bombing missions on Laos between 1964 and 1973, thats one every eight minutes, every day, for NINE YEARS pic.twitter.com/n9O6ieW5bH  Edug-kun (@wing_of_night) August 13, 2020

You will probably notice a marked change in demeanor as the person learns that what you meant is different from what they thought you meant. They will likely act as though youd tricked them in some way. But you didnt. You just called a thing the thing that it is, and let their assumptions do the rest.

When someone gravely tells you Theres been a bombing, what they almost always mean is that there has been a suspected terrorist attack in a western, majority-white nation. They dont mean the kind of bombing that kills exponentially more people and does exponentially more damage than terrorism in western nations. They dont mean the kind of terrorism that our government enacts and approves of.

Theres a lot of pushback nowadays against the racism and prejudices that are woven throughout the fabric of our society, and rightly so. But what doesnt get nearly enough attention in this discourse is the fact that while some manifestations of bigotry may have been successfully scaled back somewhat in our own countries, it was in a sense merely exported overseas.

The violence that is being inflicted overseas in our name by the US-centralized empire is more horrific than any manifestation of racism were ever likely to encounter at home. It is more horrific than the pre-integration American South. It is more horrific than even slavery itself. Yet even the more conscious among us fail to give this relentless onslaught of violence a proportionate degree of recognition and condemnation, even while the consent for it is largely born of the unexamined bigoted notion that violence against people in developing and non-western countries does not matter.

Is there an "-ism" to describe a complete lack of regard for the lives of people in developing nations?https://t.co/M1Hm3sF0jL  Geri Danton (@DantonGeri) March 20, 2019

Like many other forms of bigotry, this one has been engineered and promulgated by powerful people who benefit from it. If the mainstream news media were what it purports to be, namely an institution dedicated to creating an informed populace about whats truthfully going on in the world, we would see the bombings in foreign nations given the same type of coverage that a bombing in Paris or London receives.

This would immediately bring consciousness to the unconscious bigotry that those in the US-centralized empire hold against people in low and middle income countries, which is exactly why the plutocrat-owned media do not report on it in this way. The US-centralized empire is held together by endless violence, and the plutocrats who run it have built their kingdoms upon the status quo of that empire.

When people set out to learn whats really going on in their world they often start cramming their heads with history and geopolitics facts and figures, which is of course fine and good. But a bigger part of getting a clear image of whats happening in the world is simply turning your gaze upon things you already kind of knew were happening, but couldnt quite bring yourself to look at.
Hey, everybody, its me, Kamala. Tonight we are going to hear from so many phenomenal women who are working to help us build that more perfect union. Tonight Im thinking of the girls and boys who see themselves in Americas future because of Kamala Harris  a black woman, the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, and our nominee for vice president. This is our countrys story: breaking down barriers and expanding the circle of possibility.  Im in love with my future, and you dont know ...  Donald Trumps ignorance and incompetence have always been a danger to our country. Covid-19 was Trumps biggest test. He failed miserably. Today America has the most Covid deaths in the world and an economic collapse. My mom worked hard and paid taxes, and the Obama administration told her she could stay. My dad thought you would protect military families. So he voted for you in 2016, Mr. President. He says he wont vote for you again after what you did to our family. The wife of a U.S. Marine veteran was deported to Mexico. Instead of protecting us, you tore our world apart. My mom is a good person, and shes not a criminal. Donald Trump hasnt grown into the job, because he cant. And the consequences of that failure are severe: 170,000 Americans dead. Millions of jobs gone, while those at the top take in more than ever. Our worst impulses unleashed, our proud reputation around the world badly diminished, and our democratic institutions threatened like never before. But more than anything, what I know about Joe, what I know about Kamala, is that they actually care about every American, and that they care deeply about this democracy. They believe that in a democracy, the right to vote is sacred, and we should be making it easier for people to cast their ballots, not harder. They understand that in this democracy, the commander in chief does not use the men and women of our military, who are willing to risk everything to protect our nation, as political props to deploy against peaceful protesters on our own soil. This president and those in power, those who benefit from keeping things the way they are, they are counting on your cynicism. They know they cant win you over with their policies. So theyre hoping to make it as hard as possible for you to vote, and to convince you that your vote does not matter. With only one nomination received and pursuant to our rules, I hereby declare that Kamala Harris is elected as the Democratic candidate for vice president. She is the first black woman, first South Asian woman to be named on the Democratic ticket. This is a historic pick. Someone who looks like us on a presidential ticket, thats crazy. That I am here tonight is a testament to the dedication of generations before me: women and men who believed so fiercely in the promise of equality, liberty and justice for all. This week marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment. And we celebrate the women who fought for that right. Yet so many of the Black women who helped secure that victory were still prohibited from voting long after its ratification. But they were undeterred. Without fanfare or recognition, they organized and testified and rallied and marched and fought, not just for their vote, but for a seat at the table. My mother taught me that service to others gives life purpose and meaning. And oh, how I wish she were here tonight, but I know shes looking down on me from above. I keep thinking about that 25-year-old Indian woman, all of five feet tall, who gave birth to me at Kaiser Hospital in Oakland, Calif. On that day she probably could have never imagined that I would be standing before you now and speaking these words: I accept your nomination for vice president of the United States of America. Make no mistake: The road ahead is not easy. We may stumble. We may fall short. But I pledge to you that we will act boldly and deal with our challenges honestly. We will speak truths, and we will act with the same faith in you that we ask you to place in us. God bless you, and God bless the United States of America. [music and applause]
WASHINGTON - Federal approval of a controversial gold and copper mine in Alaska that would be the largest in North America may be put on hold after a small group of influential Republicans - including the president's son, Fox News host Tucker Carlson, a wealthy Trump donor and one of the vice president's former top aides - launched a full-court press to block the project.

The proposed Pebble Mine was on the verge of winning a key permit from the Trump administration despite concerns from environmentalists that it could significantly damage Alaska's world-renown sockeye salmon fishery in nearby Bristol Bay.

That also happens to be a fishing spot of Donald Trump Jr., who made an impassioned case against the mine to his father during an early August fundraiser he hosted at his Bridgehampton, N.Y., home. Andrew Sabin, a Trump donor who was at the seaside gathering, also told the president that the mine was a bad idea. And last week, Carlson argued against the proposed mine on his television show.

This last-minute campaign by a handful of high-profile Republicans - including Vice President Mike Pence's former chief of staff Nick Ayers - has prompted the White House to reassess the mine, according to two individuals familiar with the matter. Both individuals, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said administration officials are now weighing whether to delay granting a key permit to the mine's sponsor, Pebble Limited Partnership.

This marks an abrupt turn of fortunes for the project and underscores the freewheeling nature of decision-making in Trump's White House, as well as the persuasive power of the unofficial lobbying campaign, both public and private, to block the mine.

"For the three minutes, the president listened attentively to what Don Jr. was saying," Sabin, a precious metals magnate, recalled in a phone interview. "He said he was going to look into it. ... I've got the feeling you're going to see something big happen in the next 30 days on Pebble."

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spent two years analyzing the operation's potential environmental impact and concluded late last month that it would have "no measurable effect" on the area's fish populations. That conclusion cleared the way for issuing a "record of decision" the mine needs from the federal government. That move could come as early as next week, although the Corps is still negotiating how the company will make up for the 2,200 acres of wetlands and 105 miles of streams the operation would permanently destroy.

Trout Unlimited President Chris Wood, who has worked to marshal Republican opposition to the mine, said the flurry of appeals from members of Trump's inner circle could prove decisive. Both Trump Jr. and Carlson are members of Trout Unlimited, a nonprofit dedicated to the conservation of fish habitats, and Trump Jr. has fished in Bristol Bay several times; his brother Eric celebrated his bachelor's party there.

"Those of who have been working on this for a long time realize this central fact, that Republicans fish, too," Wood said in a phone interview. "I think there's been a lot of people for years who have been quietly against the mine. We're now in a point in the process that time is short. Either people speak up now, or we hold our tongues and there's a massive mine in the world's biggest salmon fishery."

A White House spokesman declined to comment, noting that the public comment period on the permit decision is ongoing, and deferred questions to the Army Corps of Engineers.

John Budnik, a public affairs specialist at the Army Corps' Alaska district, said that while preparing the record of decision, "it is inappropriate for us to comment on opinions, to speculate on potential outcomes of our deliberations in response to media inquiries, or to answer technical questions."

Pebble Limited Partnership CEO Tom Collier, however, said he remained optimistic the project would move forward. The firm was continuing to negotiate with the Corps over its plan to offset its environmental footprint, which he said would "far more than adequately compensate for our impact on wetlands in the region."

"I don't see that this issue requires presidential involvement, and I don't see any indication that the president is getting involved," said Collier, who served as then-Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt's chief of staff during the Clinton administration. "The mainstream of the Republican Party continues to support no political influence in permitting. ... I don't see the president returning to Obama-like political influence in the permitting process."

But the unlikely coalition fighting the mine has unleashed a fusillade to try to do just that. This summer, Ayers and Carlson found themselves cabin neighbors at a resort outside Jackson Hole, Wyo., and bonded over their shared love of the American West. When Carlson said he would be eager to help in the effort to halt the mine, Ayers suggested using his hour-long show on Fox News to make the pitch.

On Friday, Carlson aired a segment called "The Case Against Alaska's Pebble Mine," in which he interviewed Bass Pro Shops founder and CEO Johnny Morris. Carlson, who has voiced concern about the mine in the past, suggested that "a number of Republicans" oppose the plan and that they think: "Maybe you should do whatever you can not to despoil nature. Maybe not all environmentalism is about climate."

Both Ayers and Trump Jr. have urged the president on Twitter to halt the project. After Jane Fonda shared a Washington Post article describing their efforts, tweeting, "I never thought I'd be in agreement with VP Pence's former chief of staff, but I stand with @nick_ayers on this. And @DonaldJTrumpJr does too," the president's son responded with a joke about her activism against the Vietnam War.

"You think you're shocked? I never thought I'd be in agreement with Hanoi Jane!" he tweeted, including a winking emoji.

Asked Wednesday about Pebble Mine, Trump Jr.'s spokesman declined to comment. Ayers also declined to comment.

The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, a bipartisan hunting and fishing group whose CEO used to work for then-Sen. Thomas Daschle, D-S.D., is running ads on Fox News and Twitter this week decrying the mine.

Sabin and Ayers, meanwhile, have made personal appeals to some of the highest-ranking members of the administration, including Trump himself, said people familiar with the discussions. Ayers has also spoken with Pence and Pence's current chief of staff, Marc Short, among others.

Sabin, who gave $100,000 to Trump's joint fundraising vehicle with the Republican Party in 2016, said he enlisted the help of Trump's former top domestic policy adviser Joe Grogan, "who's been out hunting for rattlesnakes with me." The longtime Republican and environmental philanthropist spent 16 hours tuna fishing with Trump Jr. off Long Island earlier this month, and has met with Grogan's successor, Brooke Rollins, as well as the president's top domestic energy adviser, Francis Brooke.

Sabin said he has been making the business case against the project, saying it was equivalent to someone suggesting they wanted to build an 80-story skyscraper in Manhattan, and adding: "I've never built one g-----n brick in my life. But you know, you give me a permit, and I'll go find someone to build it.

"I've produced millions of ounces of gold, silver, platinum. I own a silver mine in Canada. In Cobalt, Ontario, I recycle precious metals. So I know the precious metals business," he said. "How did it ever get this far?"

Earlier investors in the mine, including Anglo American and Rio Tinto, pulled out in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

Collier, whose firm is a subsidiary of the Canadian mining company Northern Dynasty Minerals, said his firm continues to be in talks with "potential new partners" about the project. "We have always anticipated adding a major mining company as an operating partner," he said.

Once the Corps makes its final decision on the mine's federal permit, Collier said, it "will increase the interest of those potential new partners."

But mine opponents like Wild Salmon Center President Guido Rahr, who made contact with Ayers only recently, said federal approval is not predetermined at this point. "People having a good look before a permit is issued is important. I'm grateful that it's getting some scrutiny," he said.
Tehran routinely unveils technological achievements for its armed forces, space programme, and its nuclear efforts.

Iran displayed locally made ballistic and cruise missiles  a move certain to anger the United States as it prepares to demand that all UN sanctions be reimposed on the country.

State-run TV said officials unveiled the two new missiles on Thursday  National Defence Industry Day in Iran. They are named after top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who were killed outside Baghdads international airport in a US strike in January.

Defence Minister Amir Hatami said the ballistic missile had a range of 1,400km (600 miles) and the new cruise missile had 1,000km (400 miles), ignoring US demands that Tehran halt its missile programme.

Images of the missiles were shown on state-run TV, which it said was the newest Iranian cruise missile that will further strengthen Irans deterrence power.

Missiles and particularly cruise missiles are very important for us The fact that we have increased the range from 300km to 1,000km in less than two years is a great achievement, said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Our military might and missile programmes are defensive.





Also on Thursday, Iran unveiled a fourth-generation light turbo-fan engine for its advanced drones.

Iran also inaugurated the production line of its domestically produced Owj engine for the Iranian-made twin-seat Kowsar fighter jet.

Iran routinely unveils technological achievements for its armed forces, its space programme, and its nuclear efforts.

Snapback sanctions

The announcement comes as Washington is pushing to extend a UN-imposed arms embargo against Iran, which is due to expire in October under Tehrans 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

Tensions have been high between Tehran and Washington since 2018, when President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the deal and reimposed crippling sanctions on Iran.

Washington says its aim is to force Tehran to agree to a broader deal that puts stricter limits on its nuclear work, curbs its ballistic missile programme and ends its regional proxy wars. Iran has rejected talks as long as US sanctions remain in place.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday Trump has directed him to trigger a snapback  a return of all sanctions on Iran  at the UN Security Council in New York on Thursday, after the council rejected Washingtons bid to extend Tehrans arms embargo.

Pompeo warned Russia and China not to disregard the reimposition of all UN sanctions on Iran.

Pompeo will meet with Indonesias UN Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani  council president for August  to submit a complaint about Irans non-compliance with a 2015 nuclear deal, even though Washington quit the accord in 2018.

Held accountable

The nuclear deal between Iran, Russia, China, Germany, Britain, France and the US aimed to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons in return for sanctions relief. That accord is enshrined in a 2015 Security Council resolution.

Russia, China and other countries are likely to simply ignore it and not reimpose the sanctions on Iran.

When asked if the US would target Russia and China with sanctions if they refuse to reimpose the UN measures on Iran, Pompeo told Fox News on Wednesday: Absolutely.





We have already done that where we have seen any country violate  the current American sanctions, weve held every nation accountable for that. Well do the same thing with respect to the broader UN Security Council sanctions as well, he said.

Russia described statements by the US on reimposing UN sanctions against Iran as absurd, adding Washington has no legal or political grounds to do so, the RIA news agency cited Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying on Thursday.

Ryabkov added that such a step would result in crisis at the UN Security Council, the Interfax news agency cited him as saying.

Diplomats say the so-called sanctions snapback process will be messy as Russia, China and other countries question the legality of the US move given that Washington itself is no longer complying with what Trump called the worst deal ever.

Pompeo said it was unfortunate that European members of the council abstained on the US attempt to extend the arms embargo and the move makes the European people less safe.

They just are wedded to this crazy nuclear deal, theyre trying to hang on to it, he said.

Once Pompeo submits the 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 snap back. Any attempt to extend the sanctions relief would be vetoed by the US.

Pompeo will also meet with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday.

In response to what the US calls its maximum pressure campaign of unilateral sanctions  a bid to get Iran to negotiate a new deal  Tehran has breached central limits of the 2015 pact, including on its stock of enriched uranium.
At the fourth meeting of the Chattanooga Beer Board where El Embargo was on the agenda, Galdino Chavez, its 18-year-old owner, was approved for a beer license. At the previous meetings there was confusion and uncertainty about an under-age owner and the legality of his running a business that sells alcoholic beverages.

At the June 4 board meeting, the application was for Fugencio Chavez and his son Galdino to jointly own and run the restaurant/bar as a partnership. Both had worked there for five years when it was named Embargo and they recognized that the business, with what was described as a family atmosphere, had a big fan base. The application was tabled at that time because of a citizenship issue with the elder Chavez.

The next time the application came before the beer board, the sole owner was Galdino Chavez who is underage when it comes to alcohol. At that time Assistant City Attorney Melinda Foster said she found nothing in the city code that restricts issuing a beer license to an 18-year-old even though they cannot buy, sell or possess it. The problem then became how that would affect buying beer for the restaurant and paying for it. The next meeting, a 30-year-old manager who would be given that responsibility, accompanied Mr. Chavez.

During the Thursday meeting, board member Christopher Keene spoke to both the president of the Malt Beverage Association, and a lawyer from the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission for opinions. They agreed that a business can buy beer to sell if the 18-year-old owner is not drinking it.

This actually will be a family business, said Mr. Keene and due to circumstances beyond his control, it has to be done this way. I feel that his dad will be looking over his shoulder. The board issued a beer permit to Galdino Chavez for El Embargo, with the understanding that he will be solely responsible if something goes wrong since it is in his name.
WASHINGTON (AP)  On Joe Bidens big day, President Donald Trump is planning to show up in his rivals old backyard.

Trump, in what can only be described as piece of campaign trolling, on Thursday afternoon was staging an event just outside the former vice presidents birthplace in Scranton, Pennsylvania, mere hours before Biden formally accepts the Democratic nomination for president.

The political tradition of a presidential candidate lying low during the other partys convention has eroded over the decades but  to the private delight of Trumps advisers  the presidents trip looked to be a particularly in-your-face piece of counter-programming designed to rattle an opponent.

The campaign said Trumps speech would cover a half-century of Joe Biden failing America. The event points to the importance of Pennsylvania as a battleground state  and to the urgency of the presidents effort to close the gap in the polls.

Joe Biden is hiding and taking voters for granted but the Trump campaign wont make the same mistake, said Trump campaign spokeswoman Samantha Zager. Bidens socialist agenda would kill jobs and hurt families in the Keystone State, which is exactly why he wont confront voters in his hometown.

Bidens speech will come hours later from his Delaware hometown and, as the culmination of the four-day convention, will surely dominate headlines and cable news chyrons. But Trump has offered a robust slate of competing activity, holding multiple in-person events this week meant to draw a contrast with the largely virtual campaign that Biden has conducted during the coronavirus pandemic.

He visited two other battlegrounds  Wisconsin and Arizona  as well as Minnesota, one of the few blue states from 2016 that Trumps team feels like he may have a chance to flip this fall. But Trumps campaign has been warily watching his standing falter in the trio of Rust Belt states that carried him to the presidency in 2016.

The so-called Blue Wall of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, meant to provide electoral college insurance for Hillary Clinton, instead all broke for Trump by slim margins. He captured Pennsylvania by a mere 44,000 votes four years ago and has since then clashed with the states Democratic governor over efforts to reopen its economy.

People applaud during a campaign rally for President Donald Trump, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, in Yuma, Ariz. (Randy Hoeft/The Yuma Sun via AP)AP

Many in the Trump campaign have all but written off Michigan, a state battered by the virus, and whose governor has repeatedly fought with the president. But advisers believe Pennsylvania, like Wisconsin, remains in play and could be captured again if the economy continues to rebound.

The number of GOP registrations in Pennsylvania has outpaced Democrats this cycle and many political observers believe that the state, which features many white, older voters, could become stronger for Republicans. But Trump has stubbornly trailed Biden, whose team aims to return Pennsylvania to the blue column, where it had been from 1992 until 2016.

The former vice president is particularly suited in the Democratic field to carry Pennsylvania, with his deep ties to Scranton and messages catering to white working-class voters and Black voters in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Scranton is in Lackawanna County, which went for Clinton in 2016, and Biden's team hopes to increase turnout there.

The Biden campaign dismissed Trump's visit as a lame campaign gambit.

Trump put the health of countless families across the Keystone State in danger and plunged the strong economy he inherited from the Obama-Biden Administration into a tailspin, said Biden spokesman Andrew Bates. This sideshow is a pathetic attempt to distract from the fact that Trumps presidency stands for nothing but crises, lies, and division.

The Trump campaign has been concerned about an exodus of suburban voters, particularly women, in the areas around Philadelphia.

In an attempt to offset that, the Trump campaign has prioritized turnout among rural and exurban voters. It has also prepared to blanket the airwaves with attack ads that link Biden to China, hoping to tarnish the Democrat with an association to the country where the pandemic originated and by playing up his ties to globalization and trade deals blamed by some for closing factories and shedding manufacturing jobs in the state.

Top campaign advisers have briefed the president that his support had slipped in battleground states, particularly among seniors in states with aging populations like Pennsylvania. But advisers believe that Trump has begun to reverse that momentum in part due to his efforts to link Biden to radical left elements of the Democratic Party.

Trump has also been campaigning as an avid supporter of fracking in Pennsylvania, where the technique unleashed an oil and gas boom.

Trump and TV ads by a pro-Trump super PAC, America First Action, accuse Biden of wanting to ban fracking. Biden calls that entirely false and has said a ban would likely be politically and legally impossible. He says he wants to bar permits for new oil and gas drilling on public lands, which account for less than a tenth of production.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama speaks by video feed during the virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention as participants from across the country are hosted over video links from the originally planned site of the convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. August 19, 2020. 2020 Democratic National Convention/Pool via REUTERS

Former U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday assailed his successor, Donald Trump, as deeply unfit for the office he occupies and argued that voting for his former No. 2, Joe Biden, was necessary to ensure the survival of American democracy.

"He's shown no interest in putting in the work; no interest in finding common ground; no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends; no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves," Obama said of Trump during the third night of the Democratic National Convention.

After avoiding direct criticism for most of Trump's first term, the scathing broadsides from Obama constituted an unusually harsh appraisal of one president by another - although Trump has rarely hesitated to attack Obama, often leveling accusations of misconduct without evidence.

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Obama blamed Trump for the 170,000 Americans who have died from the coronavirus, the millions of jobs lost to the ensuing recession and the diminishment of the country's democratic principles at home and abroad.

His assertion that Trump, a Republican, is incapable of meeting the demands of the presidency echoed the remarks from his wife, Michelle Obama, on Monday, that Trump "simply cannot be who we need him to be."

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

"Donald Trump hasn't grown into the job because he can't," Obama said. "And the consequences of that failure are severe."

On Twitter, Trump responded to Obama's appearance in all capital letters, suggesting Obama's decision to endorse Biden only after his Democratic rivals dropped out indicated doubts about Biden's candidacy.

But on Wednesday, Obama delivered a full-throated endorsement of Biden and vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris, saying they "actually care about every American, and they care deeply about this democracy."

Biden, 77, was formally nominated on Tuesday night to take on Trump, 74, in the Nov. 3 presidential election. Obama, 59, was unsparing in his praise for his former vice president, saying Biden became a "brother" to him.

"For eight years, Joe was the last one in the room whenever I faced a big decision," he said. "He made me a better president  and he's got the character and the experience to make us a better country."

For Obama and Biden, the election is a chance to help secure their administration's legacy, including the restoration of dozens of policies on immigration, climate change and healthcare that Trump has systematically sought to dismantle.

The Biden campaign will deploy Obama, who remains a popular figure, as a key backer during the campaign's closing months, although the coronavirus pandemic has all but eliminated traditional in-person events such as rallies.

Obama's address to the virtual convention was delivered from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, the city where the U.S. Constitution and the country's founding democratic principles were drafted.

"The one constitutional office elected by all of the people is the presidency," he said. "So at a minimum, we should expect a president to feel a sense of responsibility for the safety and welfare of all 330 million of us. ... But we should also expect a president to be the custodian of this democracy."

Trump, he said, had failed those tests.

An emotional Obama urged Americans to vote, warning that Trump and his Republican allies can win only by suppressing and undermining votes, rather than on the merits of their policies.

"Do not let them take away your power," Obama said. "Do not let them take away your democracy. Make a plan right now for how you're going to get involved and vote."

Expand Close In this image from video, former President Barack Obama speaks during the third night of the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020. (Democratic National Convention via AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp In this image from video, former President Barack Obama speaks during the third night of the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020. (Democratic National Convention via AP)
Renewable energy and revenue alike are set to be generated at the biggest solar farm in Manitoba, which was powered up in Fisher River Cree Nation Wednesday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/8/2020 (518 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Renewable energy and revenue alike are set to be generated at the biggest solar farm in Manitoba, which was powered up in Fisher River Cree Nation Wednesday.

"The goal of the Fisher River community is to become self-sufficient in terms of not relying so much on federal funding," Fisher River Cree Nation Chief David Crate said.

The $2.4 million project was funded in part by the Fisher River community, which is around 200 kilometres north of Winnipeg and has around 2,000 members, and with $1 million in funding Western Economic Diversification Canada and a $750,000 loan from RBC. Fisher River also partnered with Indigenous-owned renewable energy firm W Dusk Energy Group Inc. and green energy provider Bullfrog Power.

The facility, which was built entirely by Indigenous employees, utilizes 3,000 solar panels and distributes energy into Manitoba Hydros power grid network, which will buy energy generated from the one-megawatt farm over a 20-year period. Crate said the First Nation is looking at around a 15-year loan repayment period.

The project was finished well ahead of schedule  solar panel installation took only five days and twelve community members were trained and certified in the process.

The discussion of building green energy projects in the Fisher River community is one that has been running for a long time, Crate said  about seven years  and Crate said the community is sowing a vested interest in clean energy into younger generations for the future.

"Our younger members may take an interest in getting into the green energy area  be it solar, wind, geothermal  and technologys always evolving too, so we want to create that interest, especially with the younger people in the community," he said.

The community was part of a pilot project with Manitoba Hydro and Aki energy to provide geothermal energy  a more sustainable substitute for fossil fuels  for heating and cooling homes. Out of the 500 residential units in the community, just over half are using geothermal energy.

"We were a wood-burning community, up until five, six years ago we harvested a lot of wood in the area, the majority of our homes have wood, electric furnaces," he said.

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"Thats not the case now. Were not utilizing the forest like we used to, which is really good for the environment."

Fisher River is undertaking a study right now to decide on its next sustainable project, Crate said, and said they will turn their focus on possibly powering commercial facilities using sustainable energy.

What Fisher River does can be replicated in communities across the province, Crate said, and its an opportunity to take up environmentally sustainable projects with a built-in revenue stream.

"It builds capacity in the community, because we now have a number of individuals trained in green energy, its also a source of revenue for the community," he said.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: malakabas_
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammed Babandede, has alleged fraudulent activities in a contract on resident permit for expatriates signed between the ministry of interior and tech company, Continental Transfert Technique Ltd (CONTEC) in 2007.

The company is a partner to NIS on Combined Expatriate Resident Permit and Alien Card (CERPAC).

CERPAC is mandatory for expatriates in Nigeria. It allows them to live and work in the country and can be renewed annually or every two years depending on the validity of the period given.

The allegations come about 18 months after interior ministry, under former minister Abdurahman Dambazau, reviewed the fees for the card from $1,000 to $2,000 on December 13, 2018, following a request by CONTEC.

Mr Dambazzau exclusively told this newspaper that the review was a part of reforms aimed at checking fraudulent practices by firms granted expatriate quota as well as increasing opportunities for Nigerians.

Following the reviews, Nigerian lawyer, Femi Falana sued the company, interior ministry and the immigration service over the fraudulent contract. A judge, Rilwanu Aikawa, of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court, described as unconstitutional the contract between the interior ministry and Contec, for the collection of the CERPAC fee.

He upheld Mr Falanas position that the minister lacked the power to increase the fee without a money bill presented by the president and passed by the National Assembly.

Allegation

Mr Babandede on Wednesday, complained that except that from the CERPAC, the revenue generated by the NIS goes to the Treasury Single Account (TSA) of which CONTEC takes a large chunk before the rest is deposited into the coffers of the federal government.

He disclosed this when he appeared before the Senates joint committee on finance and national planning. It was the first day of a five-day public hearing on the 2021-2023 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP).

The NIS boss said CONTEC, through the lopsided contract agreement, cornered N15 billion out of N20 billion realised in 2018 and N23 billion out of N40 billion realised in 2019.

We have six areas where revenue is generated, one is passport, in the year 2018, the projection we gave to government was that we will generate N14.2 billion but we generated N14,772,051,641. So we generated more than we promoted.

In 2019, we projected would be able to generate N22.6 billion but we were able to generate N16,777,643,573. The reason is very clear, we introduced a new generation passport, it is higher than the old one. We thought we could run it in all the states but we were not able to roll, that is why there was a shortfall.

In 2020, we dreamed that we will generate N23.2 billion but unfortunately due to COVID-19 we have only generated N5.7 million as at June 30. Now that we are opening our offices we hope that we will be able to get more revenue, he explained.

The agreement signed between the ministry of interior and the company, he further said, is that if someone, a non-Nigerian, buys a resident permit, the money is shared between, CONTEC and the interior ministry.

initially its CERPAC was $1,000 and at that figure, CONTEC collects 72 per cent. Later the ministry of interior changed the price to $2,000 and adjusted the payment model.

CONTEC, 55 per cent; federal government, 33 per cent; immigration, seven per cent and ministry of interior, five per cent.

Way out

When asked the way out by the panel, Mr Babandede said the case has been reported to the ministry of justice and the AGF is acting on it.

He prayed that the power to issue resident permit be given to the NIS. This, he said, is because CONTEC takes large amount of money and does very little in return.

We can do without them. This job (issuing resident permit), we can do it. It is not rocket science. This has been on for many years, this is a company that took Nigeria to court, to arbitration, it is a huge issue, I dont want to discuss more because the ministry of justice and Mr President have taken it very seriously.

Nobody should defend CONTEC as a company to do business in Nigeria. This is a company that took us to court, this is a company that wanted to seize our property, including our mission and NNPC building. Two thousand dollars for resident permit, we can make that resident permit with $500, $1,500 can go to the federal government, we throw away the company, and government will make more money, he said.

The panel thereafter, vowed to ensure that the Senate carries out an investigation into the fraudulent contract.

CBN, NPA others might be sanctioned

Meanwhile, the chairman of the committee, Adeola Olamilekan, threatened sanction on heads of some revenue generating agencies of the federal government if they failed to appear before it on Thursday.

Heads of the mentioned agencies include, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, Executive Vice Chairman of Nigeria Communication Commission, Executive Secretary of Nigeria Shippers Council and Director General of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

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The threat was issued after the panel noticed that principal officers of the agencies failed to appear despite the invitation while others sent in representatives that could not speak on the revenue figures of their agencies with any authority.

The hearing is expected to run till next Tuesday.

The 2021-2023 MTEF/FSP was transmitted to the Senate on July 20 for consideration by President Mohammadu Buhari preparatory to the presentation of the 2021 Appropriation Bill. It was, thereafter, referred to the committee for consideration even while members are on recess.

National Assembly

The federal government proposed N12.6 trillion as aggregate budget for the 2021 fiscal year with a deficit of N5.16 trillion, partly financed by a total loan package of N4.28 trillion.

It also targets N481.4 billion as statutory transfers  also known as first line charge (a category into which the National Assembly budget falls). About N5.7 trillion was pegged as recurrent expenditure, N3.3 trillion for capital expenditure and N3.12 trillion for debt servicing.
HOUSTON, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Myrtle Consulting Group, a leading operations consulting company, announced today that its CEO and Founder Edwin Bosso has been named a Most Admired CEO by the Houston Business Journal. Myrtle also made the 2020 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America making it the sixth time the company has been on the list.

Myrtle Consulting's team of experts specializes in delivering operational transformation, supply chain efficiency, and change management for leading manufacturing organizations, delivering optimized productivity and positive business outcomes. The company is committed to implementing customizable and sustainable strategies that lead its clients to more profitable operations.

"Myrtle Consulting Group was founded with the philosophy that bringing diverse backgrounds, talents, and ideas together would create a stronger consultancy for our employees and clients," said Edwin Bosso, CEO of Myrtle Consulting Group. "Our unwavering focus on our core values and commitment to a diverse workforce have inspired Myrtle's growth. On a personal level, I'm humbled by the Houston Business Journal's recognition of my leadership and honored to be among such a remarkable group of nominees."

A leading expert in business transformation and change management, Bosso is the author of "6,000 Dreams: The Leader's Guide to a Successful Business Transformation Journey," published in 2020 by ForbesBooks.

In his comments about "6,000 Dreams," Dave McBeain, Senior Vice President, Supply Chain and Operations for Post Consumer Brands and Weetabix said, "Edwin has created a consulting organization and process that enable companies to achieve their aspirations by engaging all organizational levels on a shared and nonjudgmental journey. The power of Edwin's method is rooted in helping individuals and groups envision and strive for their full performance potential."

Bosso combined his experience living in different countries, his passion for communication and fluency in multiple languages, as well as his expertise in helping transform some of the world's largest manufacturing organizations to found Myrtle Consulting Group. Over the course of his nearly three decades of consulting success spanning countries on five continents, Bosso has honed his innovative approaches and deep convictions about business transformation, helping him build and grow Myrtle Consulting Group into the diverse, world-class consulting organization it is today. Born in the Ivory Coast, Bosso holds an MBA from Rice University. To learn more about Bosso's innovative approach, visit www.edwinbosso.com .

About Myrtle Consulting Group

Myrtle Consulting Group drives operational transformation within manufacturing, processing, and distribution organizations globally. Using a practical, needs-based approach, Myrtle incorporates values, methodologies, and technologies into custom solutions toward specific customer challenges that improve operational performance and generate lasting business transformation. Learn more at www.myrtlegroup.com.

Media Contact:

Jenn Pratt

Carabiner Communications

404.655.2273

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Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

COVID-19 may still be wreaking havoc with nearly every facet of American life, but George Walt Benson and Wende Schwingendorf see opportunity in the crisis.

The candidates seeking to represent the northern district of Bernalillo County say there is potential for a silver lining, saying the county could leverage its relatively low rate of coronavirus infections compared with other metropolitan areas along with its other qualities  such as a relatively low cost of living  to make long-term gains.

Benson, a small-business owner and husband of a physician assistant, said its a good time to address the shortage in the local health care workforce.

This is a great time to attract providers from cities on the East and West coasts, developing a program that recruits and retains clinicians that will allow us to have greater services here in the community, Benson, a Republican, said in a virtual candidate town hall hosted this week by the commercial real estate development association NAIOP.

Schwingendorf, meanwhile, said the county should seize the telecommuting moment.

I also think we should explore the potential in the permanent increase in remote work thats being brought about by the pandemic  with more affordable housing than many U.S. cities, we could benefit by attracting these remote workers who in time could actually end up owning businesses in our community, said Schwingendorf, a Democrat.

In a discussion dominated by the pandemic and the economy, Benson said he wants to see the county focus more on incentivizing growth through mechanisms such as industrial revenue bonds, which provide tax breaks for companies that build or expand in the area. He also said pushing state lawmakers to reform the New Mexico tax code would help support prosperity and advancing projects such as Santolina  a planned community for as many as 90,000 residents southwest of Interstate 40 and 118th Street  could be a boon.

Creating jobs, he said, will help combat crime.

People arent breaking into stores on the way to work, he said.

Schwingendorf, who works for a local credit union, said shed focus on giving small businesses the tools and resources needed to tap into financial supports that already exist. She said she would also harness the countys existing data experts to explore untapped federal resources, like grants for roads and broadband infrastructure, saying New Mexico traditionally underperforms in procuring such funds.

She also touted the potential of economic development projects like rejuvenating the Kirtland Rail Spur.

I believe in planned, incremental growth  building where infrastructure exists, she said. I believe that we must grow in a way where resources are allocated fairly between new growth and our older communities that have deteriorating infrastructure, she said.

Benson and Schwingendorf are competing in District 4, the only contested Bernalillo County Commission race on the Nov. 3 ballot. Democrats Steven Michael Quezada (District 2) and Adriann Barboa (District 3) won June primaries but face no Republican opposition in the general election.

NAIOP, the forums host, has given to several County Commission candidates this year, according to campaign finance reports.

Benson has received $3,000 from NAIOPs political action committee, while Quezada has reported $2,000. NAIOP also donated $2,000 to one of Barboas primary opponents, Marcos Gonzales, and $500 to one of Bensons primary opponents, E. Tim Cummins.
Hashem Abedi has refused to attend his sentencing hearing. (GMP/PA)

The brother of the Manchester bomber has refused to attend a courtroom for sentencing after he was convicted of mass murder for his role in the 2017 attack, a judge has said.

Hashem Abedi, 23, whose brother Salman detonated a homemade device at an Ariane Grande show at Manchester Arena in May 2017, was found guilty in March of 22 counts of murder, one count of attempted murder and plotting to cause an explosion.

Abedi had claimed he had nothing to do with the plot and that he had been unaware of Salmans intentions.

As his sentencing got under way at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, judge Justice Jeremy Baker said Abedi was in the court building but was refusing to attend court.

Shrapnel that was recovered after Salman Abedi set off his bomb at the Manchester Arena. (GMP/PA)

He said Abedi was legally unrepresented and said: Generally for trial  albeit this is a sentencing hearing  the court is prohibited from proceeding if the defendant is absent from the court, unless the defendant has waived his right to attend.

I have required in this case Hashem Abedi to be brought to Central Criminal Court. That is what I have done.

You will also no doubt be aware that the court has no legal right to direct a prison officer to use force to compel a prisoner to attend court.

My understanding is that having been brought to this building, Hashem Abedi has refused to come into the courtroom.

Salman Abedi in the Manchester Arena on 22 May, 2017, moments before he detonated his bomb. (GMP/PA Wire)

That is a matter for HM Probation Service rather than myself. Force cannot be used.

The court heard Abedi met with solicitors last month, but a letter from their firm said that Abedi made it clear to us that firstly he will not be attending the sentencing either in person or remotely, and secondly he doesnt wish to be represented by us or any other firm of solicitors.

The judge said: He has had every opportunity and has been encouraged to have legal representation.

But he has made it clear and I am satisfied that he does not wish to be present at this hearing.

The court heard Abedi would have been eligible for a whole-life sentence had he been over the age of 21 at the time of the Manchester Arena bombing.

Story continues

Justice Baker said it was not a matter for the courts but a matter for Parliament who pass legislation which prevents the court of making a whole-life order in the circumstances of this case.

Abedis trial heard how he and Salman would order chemicals and stash bomb components at different addresses to their Manchester home.

Hashem Abedi, younger brother of the Manchester Arena bomber, in the dock at the Old Bailey in London at a previous hearing. (Elizabeth Cook/PA Wire)

The prosecution said Abedi was just as guilty as Salman, despite having been in Libya when the attack took place. Salman returned from Libya to Manchester to complete preparations before detonating the bomb in the Manchester Arena foyer, killing 22 people.

Abedi was later detained in Libya and extradited to face trial in the UK.

Partway through his trial, his attendance dropped off as he cited illness and flashbacks  claims dismissed by healthcare professionals  and he instructed his defence lawyer not to provide a closing speech, a move almost without precedent at the Old Bailey.

Wednesdays hearing has included a series of moving statements from the families of the bomb victims.

Figen Murray, the mother of 29-year-old public relations manager Martyn Hett, said she can no longer go to sleep until after 10.31pm, the time the bomb was detonated.

I still cannot reconcile that I was fast asleep while my son lay dead on the floor, and I am ashamed about that, she said.
Savannah Chrisley is one of the brightest stars of the hit reality series, Chrisley Knows Best. Chrisley has been starring on the show since it debuted in 2014 and over the years, she has proven to have the business savvy and likeability to succeed at whatever she tries. Chrisley recently announced an exciting new business venture and while details are sparse, theres no doubt that it will go over well with her multitude of fans.

Chrisley Knows Best is a popular reality series

RELATED: Chrisley Knows Best Star Julie Has a Popular Cooking Website

In 2014, viewers everywhere were introduced to the Chrisley family when Chrisley Knows Best premiered on the USA network. The family, led by wealthy real estate mogul Todd Chrisley, was based out of Atlanta, Georgia, in the first few seasons before moving to their new primary residence in Nashville, Tennessee. In each episode, viewers followed along with the family as they navigated the perils of everyday life in a large, busy household.

Right away, Savannah Chrisley made an impression with fans. Although Chrisley is not the oldest sibling in the family, she frequently helped to encourage and inspire her older brothers and sister, impressing her parents with her responsible nature.

Chrisleys good grades and no-nonsense attitude ensured her a place at the university of her choosing. Even though she has since achieved fame, Chrisley has remained down-to-earth, frequently interacting with her fans on social media and proving that, to her, the family will always come first.

Savannah Chrisley has her own reality show spinoff

Savannah Chrisley | Tommy Garcia/USA Network/NBCU Photo Bank

In early 2019, fans were treated to even more of the Chrisley family when a spinoff, titled Growing Up Chrisley, was announced. The spinoff, which debuted on television in April 2019, focused on Chase and Savannah Chrisley, and their lives as new adults.

Although Savannah Chrisley is now the star of her own series, she has continued to appear as a main character in the original reality show, much to the delight of viewers around the world.

Chrisleys romantic life has been the subject of speculation in recent years. In late 2017, she began dating Nic Kerdiles after the two met and started flirting on Instagram. They got engaged in 2018 but didnt reveal the happy news to their fans until 2019.

For over a year, they have been sharing wedding updates with their fans  then, in early 2020, Savannah Chrisley announced that she and Kerdiles had put their wedding on indefinite hold and were back to just dating, while they figured out their next steps. Her Instagram page still features several recent photos of Kerdiles, so it seems as though they are still romantically involved.

When is Savannah Chrisley releasing her makeup line?

In addition to her reality show projects, Savannah Chrisley has something else in the works. Several times over the past few months, Chrisley has teased on social media that she is working on her very own line of cosmetics, which is tentatively titled Sassy by Savannah.

While she has not revealed an exact release date, she has stated that the cosmetics line has been a work in progress for several years, and was born from her love of the beauty industry. As to what products the line will include, she has remained mum  although she has stated that her fans might be shocked at what the very first collection released will feature.

Theres no doubt that Chrisley will experience success with her cosmetics line, just as she has with every other venture that she has worked on in the past.
Tricia Dilleys carefully designed morning routine used to begin with the quiet car  one of two designated cars of the 6 a.m. train where she would do her makeup, listen to a podcast or maybe read during her hourlong commute from West Orange, N.J., to her office in Manhattan.

Talking and cellphones are verboten in the quiet car  a respite Ms. Dilley, 40, an executive assistant at a data company, anticipated daily, as a mother of three young boys: Wesley, 8, Grayson, 7, and Darien, 4.

These days, Ms. Dilleys mornings are more of a boisterous contrast to the quiet car, a tag-team effort of getting the boys out of bed and dressed for the day, while her husband, Anthony Dilley, 43, a vice principal at a charter school, starts on breakfast.

But breakfast quickly gets derailed: recently, with an elaborate Steve Urkel Did I do that? impression by Darien. Ms. Dilley and her husband have been introducing their children to Family Matters, a 1990s sitcom they watched as they grew up.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 04:09:36|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. government on Wednesday said it had sanctioned two companies based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for their support of Iranian airline Mahan Air, a move to increase its pressure campaign against Tehran.

The U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement that the two UAE-based companies, Parthia Cargo and Delta Parts Supply FZC, provided key parts and logistics service for Mahan Air, which have been blacklisted by the United States since 2011.

UAE-based Iranian national Amin Mahdavi, the CEO and owner of Parthia Cargo, was also designated by the Treasury.

"The Iranian regime uses Mahan Air as a tool to spread its destabilizing agenda around the world, including to the corrupt regimes in Syria and Venezuela, as well as terrorist groups throughout the Middle East," Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin said in the statement.

According to the statement, all property and interests of the property of designated entities and the individual in the United States have been blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with them.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani earlier in the day vowed continued resistance against the U.S. sanctions that would eventually "break and go away."

The designation came amid a fresh round of U.S. maximum pressure campaign against Iran. Following its failed attempt last Friday in the UN Security Council to extend arms embargo against Iran, the United States threatened to invoke snapback sanction, restoring all pre-2015 UN sanctions against Tehran.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo doubled down the snapback rhetoric on Wednesday during his joint press briefing with visiting Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein.

Hussein, however, did not comment when asked his stance on U.S. snapback decision on Iran, only saying Iraq sought good relations with both Iran and the United States.

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
Although trade between Israel and its neighbors Jordan and Egypt never boomed despite normalization, its expected to be different with the UAE, a federation of seven emirates. Unlike Jordan and Egypt, the UAE never fought in any of the six Arab-Israeli wars. Plus Dubai is a business hub for the region and Abu Dhabi is keen to lessen its dependence on hydrocarbons. As soon as the normalization deal was revealed Aug. 13, ministers from the UAE and Israel rushed to open phone lines and unblock internet access, while companies in the two countries announced new pacts. In addition, the accord puts Israels plan to annex parts of the West Bank on ice -- though there are different interpretations of how long the freeze will last -- and solidifies a growing alliance between Israel and some Arab countries with Sunni Muslim majorities to contain Iran, whose population is mostly Shiite Muslim.
T Muruganandham By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Taking a firm stand on the restrictions imposed for the Vinayaka Chaturthi celebrations this year, the Tamil Nadu government on Thursday requested the public to celebrate the Chathurthi festival in their homes in order to curb the spread of COVID infection.

The government has already barred the installation and procession with Vinayaka idols in public places.

An official release here said the Madras High Court which heard many Public Interest Litigations seeking permissions for the installation of idols had directed that the public should adhere to the orders of the government in this regard.

The government also cited the guidelines issued by the Central government -- religious festivals and gatherings have been barred across the country to prevent the spread of the viral infection.

A few days ago, BJP State president L Murugan and senior functionaries called on Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami at his residence and requested him to allow installation of Vinayaka idols this year. However, the government has rejected their request by being firm on the restrictions.
For those who read my recent op-ed article, My colleagues are making a pathetic fuss about returning to school.... and took offense, please understand that I am well aware of the countless dedicated teachers and unions who are out there, and I will readily admit they should have been mentioned. Owning up to an oversight is not a problem for me.

In regard to teachers who do have serious health concerns or live with people who are compromised, they should absolutely 100% stay home and take care of themselves and their loved ones. If I were one of those teachers, I would also stay home, and I guess I'd be frustrated by people who I saw as taking advantage of the situation.

I am blessed to work in an outstanding building and none of the colleagues I referred to even teach in our district. I also spoke man-to-man with a terrific gentleman from the Elizabeth Educators Association and we had a productive and enjoyable conversation.

Ultimately, that is all I want out of this  conversation. Believe me, I have gone to bat for fellow teachers several times over the past two decades. In this case, I just felt the children should have a voice that they have been denied over the past five months.

Finally, I would like it known that I have spent the past week monitoring and consoling a 14-year-old daughter who had to attend a wake a week ago that never should have happened.

I worry about my kids, I worry about your kids, and I worry about all kids right now. We have the power to do something about it, so let's fire our best shot. Thank you.

Marc Gesualdo

Note: The writer is a teacher at Woodrow Wilson Middle School in Edison.

Misinformed take on Newarks policing initiatives

A recent op-ed (To make Black lives matter, we need to reimagine public safety) by Yale Ph.D. candidate Phillip V. McHarris mischaracterizes the City of Newarks longstanding efforts to make public safety a community effort, not just a police responsibility.

First, McHarris contention that $12 million for community-based crime intervention is insignificant is misinformed. Before this national cry to defund, we were using police funds to engage drug abuse and homelessness, hire social workers and create ongoing police-resident engagement activities  all geared to treat violence as a public health issue.

Our new Office of Violence Prevention will oversee our civilian violence reduction efforts, including the Newark Community Street Team, the Brick City Peace Collective, the Shani Baraka Center, (which circumvents domestic abuse) and other organizations that helped Newark achieve 60-year lows in violent crime. The office will include social services to victims of violence deal with the ensuing trauma and break the intergenerational cycle of violent behavior.

None of this, as McHarris states, expands the scope of policing. In fact, it lessens police action by blunting violent behavior before it becomes criminal. Also, for McHarris to criticize these civilian efforts as directly linked to partnerships with police and criminal-legal system ignores and undermines the enormous trust our community intervention groups have built with residents.

Finally, the article twists my statement that people want police to suggest I believe police are solely responsible for public safety, when our policies clearly show the opposite. We know crime reduction requires a holistic approach that needs significant funding and, eventually, equal funding with enforcement.

Our efforts in Newark are not reactionary, but since this moment calls for an expeditious and broad response, we are pushing forward faster.

Ras J. Baraka, Mayor, Newark

Pence not tense about veep debate

The Aug. 17 syndicated editorial cartoon by Mike Luckovich depicting Vice President Michael Pence as hiding under the sofa  because Joe Biden selected Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate  is outrageous.

There is no way Pence would hide from Harris. Pence has performed extremely well in his role and will have a strong vice presidential debate with Harris.

She is not the moderate that the Star-Ledger and other liberal papers want us to believe. Some organizations state that Harris had the most liberal voting record among all senators in 2019.

Harris has only one goal, and that is to be president. She could not do it on her own in 2020; she flamed out before the first primary.

By the way, I have not seen any cartoons depicting Joe Biden hiding in his basement from President Donald Trump. It will be interesting to see Biden on a debate stage without a teleprompter.

Jim Konzelmann, Verona

No article remembering the end of WWII

True, there is a lot going on that bears serious reporting, but (for the Star-Ledger) to not acknowledge the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II on Aug. 15  the date in 1945 that Japan announced its surrender to the Allies  is a disgrace.

Steve Rosen, Edison

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The SUV-sized asteroid, which zoomed past around 2,950km above the Earths surface on Sunday, was identified by an international collaboration that comprises two students from the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B). Named 2020 QG, it is the closest known asteroid to fly by the planet without impacting it.

The students, Kunal Deshmukh and Kritti Sharma, who are part of a collaboration searching Near Earth Asteroids, identified this object just hours after it passed by Earth, using data from the robotic Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) in California.

While analysing ZTF data, the two reported five streaks as potential asteroids, unknown to the fact that one of it was the record-breaking asteroid. The data looked like all other near-earth asteroids we have seen so far, said Deshmukh, a final-year student in the department of Metallurgy and Materials Science at IIT-B.

Helping make a discovery like this, so early in my research project, is beyond what I had ever imagined, said Sharma, third year student of mechanical engineering.

The students reported their findings to the International Astronomical Union Minor Planet Center, after which several global telescopes followed up to learn more about the asteroids size and orbit.

We at IIT-Bombay are ratified by the Center and study the data recorded by ZTF, California. So when the students reported the discovery to the Center, the same had to be verified by other independent observers too, said Varun Bhalerao, assistant professor, department of physics, IIT-B, and an advisor to the students.

The feat has now been verified by observers.

The asteroid flew so close to the planet that earths gravity significantly changed its orbit, says ZTF co-investigator Tom Prince, the Ira S Bowen Professor of Physics at Caltech and a senior research scientist at JPL, which Caltech manages for NASA. Asteroids of this size that fly roughly as close to earth as 2020 QG do occur about once a year or less, but many of them are never detected, he said.

According to a release on the official website of Caltech, each night, machine-learning programs automatically sort through about 100,000 images in search of these streaks, and then narrow down the best asteroid candidates to be followed up by humans. This results in about 1,000 images that team members and students sort through by eye every day.

Asteroid 2020 QG was identified by Kunal Deshmukh, a student at the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay. Deshmukh had been scanning that days images along with Kritti Sharma, also at the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay, and Chen-Yen Hsu at National Central University in Taiwan, the release said.

Arvind Paranjpye, director of Nehru Planetarium, called it a very important discovery because it was so close to earth that the planets gravity could perturb its course. We need more such discoveries of inter-planetary missiles and this discovery is a matter of pride for the country, he said.

Asteroid 2020 QG is about 10 to 20 feet (3 to 6 metres) across, or roughly the size of an SUV, so it was not big enough to do any damage even if it had been pointed at Earth; instead, it would have burned up in the planets atmosphere. The previous known record of an asteroid that flew this close to the planet was in 2011. The asteroid, 2011 CQ1, discovered by the Catalina Sky Survey, was around 2,500km higher than 2020 QG.

We are very excited about our next phase: studying such objects with the robotic GROWTH-India Telescope at Hanle, Ladakh, Bhalerao said.

GROWTH-India is a partnership between the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru, and IIT-B, with support from the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) and the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) of the Department of Science and Technology (DST). It is a part of the international GROWTH collaboration.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-21 01:04:58|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government issued a severe reprimand on Thursday against the U.S. administration for its unilateral decision to suspend or terminate three bilateral agreements with the HKSAR.

The HKSAR government strongly objects to and deplores the U.S.' action, which is widely seen as a move to create troubles in China-U.S. relationship, using Hong Kong as a pawn, a spokesperson for the HKSAR government said.

The U.S. Department of State announced on Wednesday the suspension or termination of three bilateral agreements signed between the HKSAR government and U.S. government, namely the Agreement on the Surrender of Fugitive Offenders (SFO), the Transfer of Sentenced Persons (TSP) Agreement and the Agreement concerning Tax Exemptions from the Income Derived from the International Operation of Ship.

The agreements are not U.S.' preferential treatment for Hong Kong, said the spokesperson, instead they are those negotiated in good faith to benefit people and businesses of both sides in areas of law and order, shipping and tax treatment.

"The U.S.' unilateral decision reflects its disrespect for bilateralism and multilateralism under the current administration and should be condemned by the international community," the spokesperson said.

Referring to the earlier U.S. measures on Hong Kong products exported to the U.S., the spokesperson said that the HKSAR government will take action at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against U.S.' measures.

The HKSAR government also urged the U.S. administration to immediately stop interfering in HKSAR's internal affairs, and retract its baseless allegations against the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Enditem
BERWYN, Pa., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Triumph Group [NYSE:TGI] announced that its Triumph Systems & Support business unit has been awarded a contract from Diehl Aviation for the supply of mechanical controls for the Airbus A321XLR. The indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) award includes the service panel lever and cable controls for the waste-water tank on the aircraft.

"This win underscores the successful program and delivery performance we have provided to Diehl Aviation over the years. We are pleased to continue our partnership with two key products on the A321XLR," said Ian Reason, President of Triumph Systems & Support  Mechanical Solutions. "This agreement is evidence that Triumph offers competitive mechanical control solutions for the civil aviation market, which are backed by strong technical expertise and close collaboration with the customer."

The proximity of Triumph's German facilities where work will be performed near Diehl Aviation in Dresden, Germany provides an added benefit. First serial production will commence in 2023.

Triumph is a long-standing supplier of mechanical control products to Diehl Aviation supporting both their sanitary and freshwater systems.

Triumph Group, Inc., headquartered in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, designs, engineers, manufactures, repairs and overhauls a broad portfolio of aerospace and defense systems, components and structures. The company serves the global aviation industry, including original equipment manufacturers and the full spectrum of military and commercial aircraft operators.

More information about Triumph can be found on the company's website at www.triumphgroup.com.

More information about Triumph Mechanical Solutions can be found at mechanicalsolutions.triumphgroup.com/

SOURCE Triumph Group

Related Links

www.triumphgroup.com


LOW BLOW JOE

In todays Sound Off I see some pro-Trump comments and some questions concerning Bidens ability to perform in office. How does a person run for president and not take questions regarding their platform? How does a person run for president from their basement? It is very evident that the Democratic Party has no confidence that Joe can appear in public without embarrassing himself.

MASTER OF FAILURE

Philadelphia has a mayor who believes that just managing failure rather than providing solutions is an acceptable way to govern our city. Our school system is failing, our transportation system is failing and violent crime is surging. However, he seems to have spent a lot of wasted P.R. in attempting to erase our history by tearing down statues, painting over murals and appeasing those fringe groups that make the most noise. Clearly, his priorities are misplaced. But we are not alone judging from what is going on across our urban landscape nationwide. What we have here is not a failure of our cities, it is a failure in their leadership.

A DEM PLOT

Good morning. As an American. I demand that I have the right to vote in person. The protesters and the rioters can do what they want to do and nobody complains about them. Theyre not 6 feet apart. I can go food shopping with a mask. If mask are protecting us, why cant we vote? Why cant we go in person? This is the Democratic Party wanting all the votes to be sent in of people who are dead and no longer vote. This is a political game. I want to vote in person. Its my right as an American citizen to vote in person.

CATERING TO THEIR AUDIENCE

There was a request from a previous writer that we should stop watching CNN and MSNBC and watch Fox News because they tell the truth. I watch all three stations because I want different opinions. What I come away with is, if you are Republican, Fox News is the station because they say what you want to hear. If you are a Democrat, CNN an MSNBC are the stations because they say what you want to hear. I was watching a news show. They talked about how Biden cant talk right, cant remember things, etc., but never mentioned that Trump cant pronounce the correct name of a country, or a national landmark. That is what is wrong with this country. Too much hate!

DISAPPOINTED

FOLLOW THE LEADER

Its obvious that those gym owners in Belmar are pure Trump supporters They are arrogant, ignorant and selfish. They fought the law and dont care about flaunting just like Donald Trump does. These people should have their license completely revoked and never be allowed to own another gym again.

THE GOP CLUB

Whats with all these Republicans at the Democratic Convention? Theres Colin Powell. Theres John McCains widow. Theres John Kasich. Ive never seen so many Republicans.

WONDERING ON WOODLAND

WHO YOU GONNA CALL?

Asking two simple questions. All these nutcases call in and say they want to do with away with the police. I want to ask them a question. Does that mean if we do away with the police on the police disappear, then all the bad people that the police protect us from, theyll disappear, too? I dont think so. Another question: Who were you going to call if we have no police? Are you going to call a politician or you going to call a social worker or you going to call a lawyer or you going to oh, yeah, call a doctor? I dont think so. Are you going to call any of those people? Because if you cant call the police, theres no one else you can call.

BOB FROM BOOTHWYN

THE BIDEN PLAN

So I dont care for any politicians of either party. I find it amazing watching Mr. Bidens aims and objectives. It he becomes president he wants to cut our dependence on China. While he was number two for years under President Obama, what did they actually cut our dependence on China? The only thing I remember Obama doing it was lifting a lot of the boycotts and sanctions.

against them.
The newly appointed All India Congress Committee general secretary in charge of Rajasthan, Ajay Maken, will visit Rajasthan next week to take stock of the functioning of the party organisation and the government in the state, a senior leader of the party said.

Maken, who is also part of a three-member committee formed by the Congress high command to look into issues raised by former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot and his supporters, will be on a week-long visit to the state from August 24, the party leader said.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the Congress leader said that Makens visit is not directly connected with the work of the AICC constituted panel that will look into the Pilot camps grievances and functioning of the government.

But he (Maken) will be interacting with the MLAs one to one; hold a meeting with the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) members in Jaipur, which is pending for long; and also hold district-wise meetings at divisional headquarters, the leader added.

The AICC general secretary will spend two days in Jaipur before holding the divisional level meetings, in which he will be interacting with workers and leaders, the Congress leader told HT.

Maken was a member of the Congress team, which handled the recent month-long political crisis in Rajasthan, while staying with the MLAs in Jaipur and Jaisalmer.

The aim of his visit is to further strengthen the party organization after what all happened in the last two months, the Congress leader said, adding that, During his interaction with the MLAs and other leaders, he will be taking feedback on functioning (of the state unit) and strive to strengthen the organisation at the district and the block level.

Also Read: Rajasthan CM Gehlot to launch Indira Rasoi Yojana today

He said Maken will be accompanied by AICC co-incharge and newly-appointed state president, Govind Singh Dotasara, at the divisional level meetings.

An AICC office-bearer said the modalities of the panel constituted to address rebels grievances are still not finalised. The panel will be sitting once Maken returns. However, feedback of the visit will be taken into account.

He said the cabinet expansion and political appointments have nothing to do with the committee report, as such issues are dealt directly between the high command and the chief minister. The panel formed will look into the grievances of the MLAs.

Also Read: State govt has resolved to meet peoples livelihood challenges: Rajasthan CM

Meanwhile, more than 50 lawmakers from the Gehlot camp have expressed their desire to interact with the panel, which was originally formed to look into the grievances of the 18 rebel MLAs led by Sachin Pilot. Sources claimed that they arent happy that the dissident MLAs are making statements against the government and Gehlot.
New York, Aug. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Vietnam Air Conditioners Market, By Product Type, By End Use, By Region, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2025" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05949197/?utm_source=GNW



Vietnam air conditioner market is project to witness double digit growth in the coming years and reach $ 2.9 billion by 2025. Growth of air conditioners market in Vietnam can be attributed to the increasing tourism and hospitality sector, development of energy-efficient air conditioners, increasing urban population and rising temperature levels in Vietnam. Rising disposable income, changing lifestyle and increasing technological innovations are other factors contributing to growth of air conditioners market in the country.



Vietnam air conditioners market is categorized into By Product Type, By End User, By Region and By Company.In terms of Product Type, the market is segmented into Splits, VRFs, Chillers, Windows, and others.



Among these, Split air conditioners market captured majority of the market share in 2019 and is anticipated to lead the market throughout the forecast period.In terms of End User, the countrys air conditioners market is segmented into Residential and Commercial/Industrial end user segments.



Among these, the residential segment accounted for majority of the market share in the countrys air conditioners market in 2019, and is anticipated to lead the market throughout the forecast period as well due to increasing number of flats, houses, etc.In terms of region, Vietnam air conditioners market is categorized into North Vietnam, Central Vietnam and South Vietnam.



South Vietnam region held the largest market share in 2019, followed by North Vietnam and Central Vietnam.

Some of the major players operating in Vietnam air conditioners market include Panasonic Vietnam Co., Ltd., Daikin Air Conditioning Vietnam JSC, LG Electronics Vietnam Haiphong Co., Ltd, Toshiba Carrier Vietnam Air Conditioning Co., Ltd., Sharp Electronics (Vietnam) Company Limited and others.



Years considered for this report:



Historical Years: 2015-2018

Base Year: 2019

Estimated Year: 2020E

Forecast Period: 2021F 2025F



Objective of the Study:



 To analyze and forecast the market size of Vietnam Air Conditioners market.

 To classify and forecast Vietnam Air Conditioners market based on product type, end user, regional distribution, and company.

 To identify drivers and challenges for Vietnam air conditioners market.

 To examine competitive developments such as expansions, new product launches, mergers & acquisitions, etc., in Vietnam Air Conditioners market.

 To conduct pricing analysis for Vietnam Air Conditioner market.

 To identify and analyse the profile of leading players involved in the Vietnam Air Conditioners market.

The analyst performed both primary as well as exhaustive secondary research for this study.Initially, the analyst sourced a list of manufactures across the country.



Subsequently, the analyst conducted primary research surveys with the identified companies.While interviewing, the respondents were also enquired about their competitors.



Through this technique, the analyst could include manufactures which could not be identified due to the limitations of secondary research. The analyst also examined the service offerings, and presence of all major manufactures across the country.

The analyst calculated the market size of Vietnam air conditioners market using a bottom-up approach, wherein data for various categories across various product types, end users was recorded and forecast for future years. The analyst sourced these values from the industry experts and company representatives and externally validated through analyzing historical data of these product types and applications for getting an appropriate, overall market size.



Various secondary sources such as company websites, news articles, press releases, company annual reports, investor presentations and financial reports were also studied by the analyst.



Key Target Audience:



 Air Conditioners manufacturers, suppliers and other stakeholders

 Organizations, forums and alliances related to air conditioners market

 Government bodies such as regulating authorities and policy makers

 Market research and consulting firms

The study is useful in providing answers to several critical questions that are important for the industry stakeholders such as partners, end users, etc,. besides allowing them in strategizing investments and capitalizing on market opportunities.



Report Scope:



In this report, Vietnam air conditioners market has been segmented into following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

 Market, By Product Type

o Splits

o VRFs

o Chillers

o Windows

o Others

 Market, By End User:

o Residential

o Commercial/Industrial

 Market, By Region:

o North Vietnam

o Central Vietnam

o South Vietnam

 Market, By Company:



Competitive Landscape



Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in Vietnam air conditioners market.



Available Customizations

With the given market data, we offers customizations according to a companys specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:



Company Information



 Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

Profit Margin Analysis

 Profit margin analysis in case of direct and indirect sales channel.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05949197/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
Jeju Air plane at Seoul Incheon International Airport. Benard | Andia | Universal Images Group | Getty Images

Low-cost carriers (LCCs) are likely to have an advantage in a price-sensitive and regionally focused air travel market, analysts told CNBC. However, one observer cautioned that the benefit can only be enjoyed when demand recovers. The coronavirus pandemic decimated the global tourism market when border restrictions were put in place, and airlines were no exception. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said there is pent-up demand for travel, but consumer confidence is weak because, besides fears over the virus, there are "concerns over job security and rising unemployment."

More so than ever now, when individuals and companies alike are looking at cost-effective options, LCCs will of course have an upper hand. Shantanu Gangakhedkar Frost & Sullivan

In such a market, LCCs have an edge over full-service carriers (FSC), analysts said. "That, I think is very much the feeling at the moment  Going into next year as well, it's going to be a price-sensitive market, low-cost carriers do come off a lower base," said Peter Harbison, chairman emeritus at CAPA Centre for Aviation. He told CNBC's "Street Signs Asia" last week that full-service carriers worked when airlines could generate higher revenues so the profit margin was still "sufficiently great." "The problem we have now is, if an airline is high cost, we're not going to see the sort of business travel revenue, corporate travel revenue we've expected in the past. So the top line starts to become a bit lower," he said.

Shantanu Gangakhedkar of Frost & Sullivan said attractive prices have always been the "primary reason" for the success of low-cost carriers in Asia. "More so than ever now, when individuals and companies alike are looking at cost-effective options, LCCs will of course have an upper hand," he said, adding that the competition between these carriers would be "fierce." Gangakhedkar, an Asia Pacific aerospace and defense consultant, also noted that domestic air routes are opening first, whereas many international travel restrictions remain in place. "LCCs have already started flying domestic routes and are even offering discounts and promotions to attract passengers and thus are expected to start moving into green much before most FSCs," he said. Low-cost airlines are "better suited" for such short-haul routes because they mainly fly narrow-body aircraft, he added.

Greg Waldron, Asia managing editor of FlightGlobal, agreed that leisure and even business travelers may choose to fly low cost, but said that depends on a recovery happening to begin with. Southeast Asia in particular, is in a "really difficult hibernation mode," he told CNBC via video call. "There is some activity happening, but it's very limited. It's certainly not the stuff that recoveries are built on."

The problem is that the market has just collapsed and ... all the advantages they have in their model can't really be brought to bear anymore. Greg Waldron FlightGlobal
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 20

Trend:

Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 37 times, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

Armenian armed forces were using large-caliber machine guns.

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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 22:29:43|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) Commission said the "unconstitutional change" of government in Mali further complicates the situation on the ground, particularly the implementation of the peace and reconciliation agreement as well as the current efforts in the fight against terrorism and transnational organized crime in the country.

The statement was made by the the Peace and Security Council of the AU Commission, which also on late Wednesday suspended Mali from the AU membership during its latest meeting that dwelt upon the situation in the western Africa country.

"The Council strongly condemned the unconstitutional change of government in Mali, which took place on August 18, 2020, which further complicates the situation on the ground, particularly the implementation of the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Mali emanating from the Algiers process, signed in 2015, as well as the current efforts in the fight against terrorism and transnational organized crime in the country," the Council said in a statement issued on late Wednesday.

The Council had also decided "to immediately suspend the participation of Mali in the activities of the AU until the restoration of normal constitutional order in the country, in line with the relevant AU instruments, particularly the AU Constitutive Act, the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, the 2000 Lome Declaration on Unconstitutional Changes of Governments and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, as well as the 2009 Ezulwini Framework for the Enhancement of the Implementation of AU Measures in Situations of Unconstitutional Changes of Government."

Noting the urgent need for a rapid resolution of the current crisis based on respect for constitutional order and reflecting the aspirations of the people of Mali within the framework of the relevant AU instruments, the council further appealed to the Malian people "to remain calm and to work together to resolve the crisis in their country."

It also called on the Malian defence and security forces to respect the country's constitution, uphold their professionalism, stick to their constitutional mandate and to unconditionally return to the barracks, as well as to refrain from interfering in the country's political processes.

It also demanded "the unconditional release of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister H.E. Boubou Cisse, and that defence and security forces to ensure creation of a conducive environment for an unimpeded return to civilian rule."

It also encouraged "all Malian political actors to embrace dialogue and reconciliation, within the framework of the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Mali, as the only viable approach for addressing the current challenges facing the country."

The council further encouraged expediting the implementation of the provisions of the Agreement, in order to reach a lasting solution to the crisis prevailing in the country."

It also commended and "fully supports" the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for the sustained efforts being deployed in Mali, with a view to assisting the Malian stakeholders to find a consensual, peaceful and lasting solution to the current crisis in the country, and "looks forward to the outcome of the Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government scheduled for August 20, 2020."

It also encouraged the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) to continue supporting the Malian stakeholders, including in the implementation of the 2015 Agreement. It also called on partners to continue providing support to Mali.

Noting the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the council also underscored the imperative for Africa Centers for Decease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) "to continue deploying its efforts in the fight against the novel coronavirus disease pandemic," as it emphasized the need to take "the necessary steps to ensure enhanced support to Mali to enable the country to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on its population."

The council also decided to remain actively seized on the matter.

Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, currently detained by soldiers in the military camp in Kati, a town close to Bamako, announced late Tuesday night his resignation and the dissolution of the National Assembly and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse's government.

Leaders of the military coup said Wednesday they would enact a political transition and stage elections within a "reasonable time."

For months, the opposition coalition has been organizing demonstrations to demand Keita's resignation, accusing him of worsening the security situation in the northern part of the country and Mali's economic recession. Enditem
New Delhi, Aug 20 : The Parliamentary Panel on IT has summoned representatives of Facebook to appear before the committee on September 2 to discuss the subject of "safeguarding citizens' rights and prevention of misuse of social/online news media platforms including special emphasis on women security in the digital space".

Officials of the IT Ministry have also been asked to be present during the meeting, as per an official statement.

The development comes amid a full-fledged battle between the BJP and the Congress on the issue of Facebook and a BJP committee member demanding removal of panel Chairman, Congress' Shashi Tharoor, from the post.

After privilege notices from both sides, BJP's Nishikant Dubey on Thursday sought the removal of Tharoor as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology.

In a letter to Speaker Om Birla, he requested him "to invoke Rule 283 with provisions in rules of procedures for removing Shashi Tharoor as Chairman of the IT panel".

He alleged that Tharoor had showed "disdain" in summoning Facebook and sending notice on breach of privilege against him. "He (Tharoor) is not a new architect in creating unnecessary controversies to grind his political ambitions and at the same time, targeting my party, even by misusing the parliamentary institutions," he said in the letter.

Tharoor gave notice for breach of privilege against Dubey for his alleged "disparaging" remarks, and Dubey hit back with a privilege notice against him as well as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Throughout nearly six months of quarantining, in some small way Netflix has felt like a savior in offering an entertainment-starved nation an endless string of new content, including the Chris Hemsworth thriller Extraction, Spike Lees latest joint Da 5 Bloods, Charlize Therons supernatural actioner The Old Guard and the ubiquitous Tiger King.

The streaming giant was in hot water Thursday, though, and forced to apologize for marketing imagery used for their upcoming dance drama, Cuties, after it was widely criticized for sexualizing children.

Cuties is a coming-of-age story about a group of young girls in France. (Photo: Netflix)

The poster for the French-language film features four young skin-bearing girls, some in seductive poses that look straight out of a Cardi B video.

The backlash came quickly online, both through social media as well as a Change.org petition, urging Netflix to remove the title from its service receiving over 60,000 signatures.

The thing about the Netflix campaign for Cuties is how disgustingly sexualized these girls are. Compare the poster and blurb from Netflix versus the ones on IMDb, s*** is as different as night and day, wrote Weekend Warrior on Twitter. Someone should get fired. Weekend Warrior was far from alone.

The thing about the Netflix campaign for Cuties is how disgustingly sexualized these girls are. Compare the poster and blurb from Netflix versus the ones on IMDb, shit is as different as night and day.

Someone should get fired. pic.twitter.com/XrAL7njMBN  Weekend Warrior (@wwarrior_1) August 20, 2020

Disgusting! @Netflix sexualizing young girls. Barack & Big Mama Michelle have a deal w/ Netflix. Someone needs to ask the Obamas about this.



Netflix Apologizes For Inappropriate Cuties Poster That Was Criticized For Sexualizing Children https://t.co/FDeGEw3rXC via @Deadline  Jesse Lee Peterson (@JLPtalk) August 20, 2020

Just looking at the damn poster for "Cuties" gives me the creeps   Is Netflix serious??

Of course, this has been going on for many many years.

How is this ok??? How am I supposed to raise my daughter in a world that sexualizes her like this??? pic.twitter.com/IkBRBTwSbA  #WeLoveYouJennaMarbles (@deputy_mom) August 20, 2020

Netflix apologized for its marketing gaffe soon after the criticism poured in for Cuties, which is known as Mignonnes in France and won the World Cinema Dramatic Directing Award when it premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival in January.

Story continues

We're deeply sorry for the inappropriate artwork that we used for Mignonnes/Cuties, the streamer issued by tweet. It was not OK, nor was it representative of this French film which won an award at Sundance. Weve now updated the pictures and description.

We're deeply sorry for the inappropriate artwork that we used for Mignonnes/Cuties. It was not OK, nor was it representative of this French film which won an award at Sundance. Weve now updated the pictures and description.  Netflix (@netflix) August 20, 2020

As IndieWire notes, the film  directed by French-Senegalese filmmaker Maimouna Doucoure  uses its storyline to openly criticize the ways in which society puts pressure on young girls to be overtly sexual. The coming-of-age tale stars Fathia Youssouf as Amy, an 11-year-old girl from a strict Senegales-Muslim family who joins a free-spirited dance clique named Cuties. According to the films official synopsis, the Cuties become aware of their own femininity through dance.

The original American poster then, was likely intended to center those themes, if in an obviously poorly conceived misstep.

Other users on social media have noted the stark contrast between the American and French posters.

its interesting to compare the french version of the cuties poster to the american version...

like the French version has more "kids having fun!" vibes, while the American version is just fucking.... gross.

I feel like the #Netflix marketing team has a lot to answer for. pic.twitter.com/c8QrX0EY75  kitti (meow) (@yeetdere) August 20, 2020

Cuties is scheduled for release Sept. 9 on Netflix.

Watch the trailer:

Read more on Yahoo Entertainment:
By Lee Hyo-jin







Health authorities are grappling with groundless rumors regarding the recent spike of coronavirus cases, with populist conservative pastor Jun Kwang-hoon claiming the government fabricated test results.







Jun issued a statement in a full-page ad printed in local daily newspapers, Thursday, saying there is a huge religious-affiliation misrepresentation in the number of confirmed patients announced by the government.







Sarang Jeil Church pastor Jun Gwang-hoon

In a statement, he claimed the government is classifying random people who tested positive as Sarang Cheil church members. He also said the authorities are deliberately increasing the number of confirmed cases by forcing asymptomatic people to get tested.







"The government should reveal the percentage of confirmed cases to the people, not just numbers. The government forced our church members to be tested who had not even participated in the demonstration on Aug. 15. Some members haven't even attended the church for years," he said in a statement.







The 64-year-old pastor tested positive for the virus, Monday, after leading an anti-government rally in central Seoul two days prior on Aug. 15. He is currently hospitalized at Seoul Medical Center in northeastern Seoul.







The government has been urging all participants of the rally to get tested, as more than 10,000 people from conservative and Christian groups, including congregants Jun's church, attended the demonstration.







However, many of them reportedly refused to get tested as they believe the government is persecuting them due to their anti-government activities. An unverified story is circulating that those who attended the rally are classified as confirmed patients at public health centers regardless of test results.







A video clip uploaded to YouTube, Tuesday, is labeled as a recorded phone call of a conversation with a person who appeared as a public officer at a public health center in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul. In the conversation, a woman claiming to be a petitioner said, "Why are confirmed patients getting negative results when retested at other hospitals? The public health center is evidently lying." She also argued that the center prescribed tranquillizers for the confirmed patients.







Seocho-gu Office immediately dismissed the report, saying the virus testing has been only conducted in a makeshift clinic. But the video clip was widely spread online, eroding trust in public medical centers.







As similar rumors have been spreading through messenger chatrooms, Facebook and Twitter, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) has stepped forward for clarification, Wednesday.







Lee Sang-won, an official at the KCDC, labeled the spreading rumors as fake news. "It is impossible to fabricate test results and the government has no reason to deliberately raise the number of virus cases," Lee said, reiterating calls for cooperation from church members.


Delhi and the national capital region received heavy rainfall on Thursday which caused waterlogging in several parts of the city.

The India Meteorological Department has predicted that Delhi and parts of northwestern and central India will receive heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours.

Several areas in Delhi and Gurgaon continue to remain waterlogged. Delhi traffic police in a series tweets informed citizens of traffic snarls that resulted due to the waterlogging.

The IMD put out an orange alert given the intensity of the rains. In its advisory, IMD has asked citizens to check traffic routes before they leave for their destination. In its press release IMD said that there are possibilities of reduced visibility due to the downpour.

THINGS TO DO DURING RAINS -

 Keep mobile phones charged in case of emergency communication.

 Track weather-related developments from trusted sources.

 Keep first-aid, medicines and food stored.

 Do protect valuables and important documents stored in water-proof bags.

 Batteries, torches and candles should be kept handy.

THINGS TO NOT DO DURING RAINS -

 Do not venture into waterlogged areas.

 Broken electric poles and exposed wires should be avoided.

 Do not stand below high-pressure power lines

 Do not remain close to debris, sewage lines and wires

 Do not stand below trees or park vehicles underneath trees

 Consume hygienic food, avoid food from outside.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Thursday expressed happiness over four major cities of the state finding place in the list of top 10 cleanest cities of India.

Rupani gave credit to people, elected representatives and officials of these cities for accepting the appeal of Mahatma Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi about cleanliness, which helped in getting the rankings.

As per the Swachh Survekshan 2020 findings, released in New Delhi on Thursday, Surat is the second most cleanest city in India after Indore which retained the top ranking for a fourth straight year.

Three other Gujarat cities in the top 10 are Ahmedabad (5th spot), Rajkot (6th spot) and Vadodara (10th spot), said Rupani in a statement.

It is a matter of great happiness and pride that four Gujarat cities have made it to the top 10 list of Swachh Survekshan 2020.

I congratulate people, elected representatives and mayors of these four cities for achieving this feat, said Rupani.

Its a matter of pride for all Gujaratis because we are walking on the path shownby Mahatma Gandhi about maintaining cleanliness.

Our PM, too, had initiated a major social movement to make people understand the importance of cleanliness, said Rupani.

The people of the state accepted the appeal of these two sons of Gujarat and this helped the four cities figure in the top 10 cleanest cities of the country, he said.

Terming the survey results as encouraging,Rupani said Gujarat is committed to create more cleaner and greener cities.
Gautham S By

Express News Service

Silicon Valley-based engineer Alok Rathore and his family landed in Mumbai from the US on March 1 for a holiday at their family residence in Goregaon, Mumbai.

However, with the Covid-19 lockdown being declared soon after, he couldnt fly back to the US and continued to work for his company remotely from India. Few days into the lockdown, Alok heard the plight of migrant workers struggling to manage two-square meals and being out of work due to the unprecedented crisis.

Pained by what he witnessed, the IT professional decided to start distributing food and drinking water to the needy. Now, Alok heads the RotiSabji campaign in Mumbai, which has supported around 1,500 families with ration kits and drinking water in just a matter of months.

Soorya Krishnamoorthy, founder-director of the SOORYA Stage and Film Society narrates how this NRI engineer turned into a saviour of thousands. Sooryas son Lakshman is Aloks friend and donor of the campaign.

Alok Rathore

Alok was shattered by the mass exodus of migrant labourers from Mumbai. But he really got a sense of the gravity of the situation when an Uttar Pradesh native who used to supply vegetables to his family regularly decided to return to his state. Thats how the campaign took birth, says Soorya.

Alok is assisted by 20 volunteers who include his father Yogendra Singh Rathore and family friends. The campaign locates the needy everyday in Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and provides them with essentials.

Though Alok ran the initiative on his own in the beginning, the campaign now has around 430 donors, including CEOs and CFOs of many companies in Silicon Valley. They have donated around Rs 35 lakh for the initiative. The essentials are procured by Alok and his father for distribution in Mumbai, adds Soorya.

Around 1,100 female hygiene products, procured by Alok from local Jan Aushadhi Stores, were also distributed through the campaign.

According to Soorya, the situation of migrant labourers a few months back was distressing. The government in Kerala treated them well by supplying good food and rehabilitation but the condition in Mumbai was very different. Thats when Alok stepped in to support them. Though the Maharashtra government has now initiated programmes for labourers, Alok continues to work for them.

Alok, who has been settled in US for the past 15 years, lives with his wife Neha and three-year-old daughter Anjali. He plans to go back by next month, but wishes to continue supporting the migrant workers as much as he can.

They shouldnt go out begging on the streets. The eventual goal was to ensure these families arent suffering without essentials. Now I wish to support the education and skill development of kids coming from underprivileged backgrounds. I plan to start a not-for-profit business and generate employment opportunities. A charitable society will be formed through which all these initiatives will be streamlined, says Alok.
Steve Bannon

Federal prosecutors announced the indictment of former Trump campaign manager and PR strategist Steve Bannon on fraud charges connected to fundraising for the president's border wall.

The We Build the Wall online donor campaign raised money from the public to erect a barrier on the US/Mexico border.

Bannon is among four people that allegedly received hundreds of thousands of dollars in donor funds from We Build the Wall, which they each used in a manner inconsistent with the organizations public representations.

They each face two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. Each charge carries up to 20 years in prison.

Bannon is the second Trump campaign manager to face charges. Paul Manafort was convicted of fraud in 2018.
Two years after a garment factory building collapsed, killing more than 1,100 people and drawing worldwide attention to dangerous conditions in Bangladeshs apparel business, authorities Monday charged 42 people with murder in the countrys deadliest industrial disaster.

The accused included the owner of the Rana Plaza factory complex, Sohel Rana, and national and local officials who oversaw building safety and inspections. Rana and others initially had been expected to face lesser charges of culpable homicide, but the murder charges mean they could face the death penalty, if convicted.

Authorities said the severity of the charges was due to the scale of the disaster, a signal that Bangladesh was serious about repairing the image of its troubled garment export industry, the second largest in the world and supplier to such major U.S. companies as Gap, Fruit of the Loom, Target, Wal-Mart and Macys.

Cheap, submissive labor has propelled Bangladeshs $20-billion clothing industry, the source of 80% of the countrys exports. Many of the garment manufacturing sectors 4 million workers are women, which has also driven social change in the overwhelmingly Muslim nation.

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Since the disaster, officials have launched a new inspection regime for factories, raised worker pay, allowed unions to register for the first time and pledged other reforms. Major apparel retailers and brands in the United States and Europe formed consortiums to monitor safety at factories that produce their clothes  a sign of how Bangladesh has become a crucial supplier, particularly to low-cost brands.

They see this as a necessary step to maintain the attractiveness of Bangladesh as a source country, particularly for the U.S. and European markets that are strategically important to the industry, said Sarah Labowitz, co-director of the Center for Business and Human Rights at New York Universitys Stern School of Business.

The brands need Bangladesh too, because no other country can compete on volume and cost, Labowitz said. So we are at a moment where dramatic change is possible because its in the interests of both Bangladesh and international companies.

Yet of the 42 accused on Monday, some two dozen are fugitives  a reminder of the challenges Bangladesh faces in prosecuting suspected abuses in an industry beset by problems.

Even after the minimum wage for garment workers was nearly doubled, it remains just $68 per month, one of the lowest in the world.

Scores of new unions have been formed, but workers say some who tried to unionize have faced intimidation, threats, dismissal and physical attacks by factory managers. Few unions have been able to reach collective bargaining agreements with employers.

Bangladesh deserves credit for giving unions the leeway they need to organize, said John Sifton, Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. But the most important thing is to create institutions that give nascent unions a remedy when factory owners ignore them, crush them or otherwise make them ineffective.

Workers have long been vulnerable to corrupt, politically connected factory bosses who face little oversight.

On the morning of the disaster in April 2013, authorities say, factory owners and managers ordered reluctant workers to enter the nine-story building a day after large cracks had appeared in the structure. Workers have said that some managers threatened them, in keeping with a feudal labor system in which they were often subjected to physical and verbal abuse, denied bathroom breaks and refused sick leave.

Eighteen of those accused of murder were also charged with violating building codes by adding extra floors to what was originally a five-story complex. About 2,500 people were rescued from the building after it collapsed, many suffering severe injuries.

Rana, owner of the plaza complex on the outskirts of the capital, Dhaka, and active in the Awami League, the political party that runs the country, was arrested days after the collapse while trying to flee to India. He remains in police custody. Ranas parents were also charged with murder, along with the owners of several other factories in the complex.

Despite pledges by Bangladeshi authorities and international companies, experts worry that the root problems that contributed to the huge death toll at Rana Plaza have not been addressed.

Through two consortiums, American and European brands and retailers such as Adidas, Marks & Spencer and Abercrombie & Fitch have taken responsibility for monitoring workplace and fire safety at about 1,800 supplier factories. But researchers say the total number of factories in Bangladesh is closer to 7,000, including many small- and medium-sized operations that lie outside the reach of international companies and Bangladeshs own inspection regime  yet employ half of the garment industry workforce.

The government has been busy training inspectors, but has not laid out a clear plan for how to help factories pay for renovations that can reach into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, contributing to a system in which smaller, less well-funded factories remain dangerous.

On Sunday, the day before the Rana Plaza indictments, a fire reportedly caused by a short circuit broke out at a garment factory near Dhaka, causing the top five floors of the seven-story building to collapse. Factory owners said there were no casualties among the 3,000 workers, who were on their lunch break when the fire occurred.

I totally welcome a criminal prosecution to address the terrible crimes that happened at Rana Plaza, Sifton said. But thats not enough to prevent factory disasters in the future. At the end of the day the real work in improving Bangladeshs labor situation is in the smaller, mundane issues of labor reform.

Special correspondent Kader reported from Dhaka and Times staff writer Bengali from Mumbai, India.

Follow @SBengali on Twitter for news out of South Asia
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-21 00:09:21|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese police have retrieved more than 40,000 items of cultural relics since the Ministry of Public Security began to launch special annual crackdowns on crimes involving cultural relics in 2018, the ministry said on Thursday.

The recovered cultural relics were involved in more than 3,480 cases cracked by police officers nationwide, the ministry said.

The crackdown operations were jointly carried out by the Ministry of Public Security and the National Cultural Heritage Administration.

The ministry has launched an online platform publicizing information on lost or stolen relics in the hope of soliciting tip-offs, and is sharing the information with Interpol to track down lost Chinese cultural relics overseas. Enditem
For all of the over-the-top, self-serving silliness Google is stuffing into Gmail these days, one thing that's long been missing is a simple and effective way to interact with your calendar from your inbox.

Yeah, there's that little gadget thingamajigger in the right-hand panel area of the website, but, I mean, c'mon: That's almost more of a token gesture than anything. It doesn't actually let you interact with your calendar from a message  or, in what'd be the most useful option of all, give you any easy way to coordinate and schedule meetings via email.

Not to fear, though: While Google is neglecting Calendar and focused instead on shoving Meet down our throats, another company has stepped up to the plate to fill in the void. Boomerang, the creator of one of my favorite Gmail add-ons, has come out with a new Gmail-integrated Calendar scheduling system that has the potential to seriously simplify your workflow and save you mountains of precious time.

[Get more Googley tips in your inbox every Friday with JR's Android Intelligence newsletter. Exclusive extras await!]

I've been using it for the past couple weeks, and it really is one of those things that seems so logical and obvious, you take to it almost immediately  and you mostly just find yourself wondering why it wasn't already built into Gmail in the first place. You also absolutely won't want to give it up once you get used to having it there.

The way it works is simple: Once you've installed the Boomerang extension (available for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and even Opera and Safari) and then granted it the necessary access to operate, you'll see a new calendar icon at the bottom of any email you're writing on the Gmail website. Clicking that icon pulls up two quick-scheduling options  first, the option to share your available times for the next few to several days, based on existing events in any of your Google Calendar calendars:

...and second, the option to suggest your own custom set of appointment choices for your message recipient to choose from:

Everything happens right then and there, within the regular Gmail interface. And when you're done, Boomerang automatically fills in your email for you, with an interactive appointment-selecting system right in the body of the message. You can add to or edit the text of the message if you want, and then all that's left to do is send it.

Your recipient will see that same exact grid of options right within the email, and they can click on any time you offered to select it.

Doing so will take them to a confirmation screen:

And once they click confirm, the event will automatically be added onto your calendar. You'll receive a confirmation of that in your inbox, and they'll receive an official invite to add the event into their calendar, too. The invite will work with Google Calendar, of course, but it'll also work with Outlook and any other standard calendar software. And the recipient doesn't have to be using Boomerang or anything like that.

Pretty nifty, right? The nice thing about this compared to other scheduling tools, such as the widely used and impossible-to-say-three-times-in-a-row Calendly, is that it feels very much like a native part of the regular Gmail interface instead of revolving around its own standalone app and a series of plain-text links. All the core actions happen right within the Gmail website and are placed directly into actual emails, which makes it incredibly easy and convenient for everyone to use. (The one caveat: The feature isn't available on Android yet, unfortunately, but I'm told that's in the cards for the future.)

It's also a fitting complement to Boomerang's other Gmail-dwelling additions, including its excellent super-snoozing function (which lets you set a message to return to your inbox at a specific time only if its recipient hasn't responded by then  something I've come to rely on heavily in my own email setup) and its interesting Inbox-like delivery option (in which you can keep certain types of incoming emails on hold and have them appear en masse at specific, set times of day). In fact, it actually works alongside those same features as part of the same single add-on.

As for that add-on, it's free  to a point. You can get up to 10 uses per month of Boomerang's base features without paying a dime. Or you can upgrade to an unlimited plan (which also unlocks certain advanced features) for five bucks a month and up.

The scheduling feature, specifically, is free and unlimited for now while it's in beta mode. It'll follow the lead of Boomerang's other features and shift into a freemium sort of model eventually, wherein you'll get some manner of its services for free but then be required to pay for other parts of the feature (or perhaps get the full monty for free but with a limited number of uses per month, as is the case with the snoozing system).

The reason for that arrangement is simple: Boomerang doesn't sell, share, or do anything shady with your data, so the premium subscriptions are how the company stays afloat. On that note, you do have to grant Boomerang access to your inbox in order for the add-on to work  obviously  but the company makes its stance on privacy perfectly clear. Its Chrome extension has over a million users with a four-star average rating, too, and it's been around for ages. Ultimately, only you can decide what you are and aren't comfortable with, but there's certainly nothing here that raises any red flags or causes for concern in my mind.

And if you do any manner of scheduling over email, the potential benefit to your productivity is enormous. That's exactly the type of tool I love to find  and the type of tool I'm happy to bring into my own humble and curiously musty ol' inbox.

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[Android Intelligence videos at Computerworld]
France and Germany have recorded their highest daily infection rate in months.

France reported 4,771 new coronavirus cases over 24 hours on Thursday, 1,000 more than Wednesday, health authorities said.

The spike in new cases marked the first jump of more than 4,000 in a day since May.

France becoming masked territory

On Wednesday, Toulouse in southern France became the first French city to declare face masks compulsory outdoors across its entire precinct.

Masks are already mandatory on public transport in France as well as indoors in public places.

Many cities, including Paris, have imposed compulsory wearing of masks in outdoor public spaces

On Tuesday, the French government announced that face masks would be required at the workplace from September, even while seated at ones desk.

Holidaymakers return, children back in school in Germany

The number of Covid-19 cases has jumped significantly in Europe over the summer holidays in July and August.

As the summer break comes to an end, there are fears that the mass movement of people will lead to a further spike in infections.

For example, Germany, which has been praised for containing the coronavirus better than its European neighbours, reported more than 1,700 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours.

This is the countrys highest daily toll since the peak of the pandemic in April.

Much of the rise has been blamed on returning holidaymakers as well as parties and family gatherings.

(Below - illegal rave parties in France have been criticised and evacuated by police for not practising social distancing measures and favouring the spread of the virus during the summer period)

Schools already resumed last week in parts of Germany.

Chancellor Angela Merkel warned this week there could be no further relaxation of coronavirus restrictions.

(With AFP)
The Australian government has reached a deal to secure 25 million doses of a potential COVID-19 vaccine from British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca that is currently undergoing late-stage human trials.

The new vaccine, dubbed AZD1222, was developed by Britain's University of Oxford and licensed to British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca. "The Oxford vaccine is one of the most advanced and promising in the world," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Wednesday in a statement announcing the deal. Morrison said if the vaccine passes the human trials, it will be offered for free to every Australian, hopefully by early next year.

But the prime minister said the government is also in talks to secure other potential coronavirus vaccines, including one being developed by domestic drugmaker CSL Limited in cooperation with the University of Queensland, warning "there is no guarantee that this, or any other, vaccine will be successful."

Morrison also said Australia intends to play a role in "supporting our Pacific family" by supplying a safe and effective vaccine to its regional neighbors, including Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Fiji.

The deal between the Australian government and AstraZeneca comes as authorities in southern Victoria state are dealing with an escalating surge of COVID-19 infections that has forced a strict lockdown of Melbourne, Victoria's state capital.






President Muhammadu Buhari and CAN officials

The Christian Association of Nigeria has said it will not accept the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 because it would snuff life out of the church and rank the church as a secular institution under secular control.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had on August 7 signed into law, the Companies and Allied Matters Bill, 2020. The bill which has been passed by the National Assembly replaced the 1990 CAMA.

According to a report by Punch, the Christian body described as satanic, section 839 (1) and (2) of the law which empowers the supervising minister to suspend trustees of an association (in this case, the church) and appoint the interim managers to manage the affairs of the association for some given reasons.

The PUNCH had earlier reported that the Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, Dr David Oyedepo, had also advised the Federal Government to expunge the part of the law that gives the minister the power to remove the board of trustees of churches without recourse to the court.

CAN in a statement signed on Thursday by Adebayo Oladeji, Special Assistant on Media and Communications to CAN President, Rev Samson Ayokunle, noted that the Federal Government has declared war on the church if it moved on to implement the law.

The statement was titled, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) rejects CAMA Completely.

The statement read in part, The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria rejects outrightly the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 that was assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari recently.

The law, to say the least, is unacceptable, ungodly, reprehensible, and an ill-wind that blows no one any good. It is a time bomb waiting to explode.

While we are not against the government fighting corruption wherever it may be found, yet we completely reject the idea of bringing the church, which is technically grouped among the NGOs, under control of the government. The Church cannot be controlled by the government because of its spiritual responsibilities and obligations.

CAN queried, How can the government sack the trustee of a church which it contributed no dime to establish? How can a secular and political minister be the final authority on the affairs and management of another institution which is not political? How can a non-Christian head of government ministry be the one to determine the running of the church? It is an invitation to trouble that the government does not have power to manage.

It advised the government to face the business of providing infrastructure for the people. Let them focus on better health provision, food, education, adequate security employment, etc. The government should not be a busy body in a matter that does not belong to it. The government does not have the technical expertise to run the church of God because of its spiritual nature.

If the government is bent on imposing a law on us which the entire Church in Nigeria is against, then, they have declared war on Christianity and the agenda to destroy the Church which we have spoken against before now is coming to the open more clearly. If you cannot give us good amenities of life, we would not allow you to take away our liberty to worship our Maker, it vowed.

CAN, therefore, called on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to stop the implementation of the obnoxious and ungodly law until the religious institutions are exempted from it and return the law to the National Assembly for immediate amendment.
About 10 p.m. on Wednesday, the protest was declared an unlawful assembly and Pittsburgh police ordered the protesters to disperse or face possible arrest, an order that was followed by tear gas. The mayors office said a long-standing noise ordinance kicked in at 10 p.m. and was explained to demonstrators by police near his home. Police say demonstrators continued to use bullhorns, sing and chant, but protesters say that they were following orders from police and organizers.
"I enjoyed writing my part of this book almost as much as I enjoyed reading the perspectives of other doctors," Dr. Katinka explained.

Dr. Katinka van der Merwe is included in the list of more than forty influential medical professionals who have contributed to the best-selling Amazon book, Wakeup: Miracles of Healing From Around the World, available now in Kindle format and in paperback.

Raised by her father, a chiropractic doctor in Johannesburg, South Africa, Dr. Katinka van der Merwe has the love for caring about others in her blood. As a young woman, she followed in her fathers footsteps and became a chiropractor herself.

Dr. Katinka completed extensive post graduate training in functional neurology and biologic medicine. She is the author of two books, Taming the Beast: A Guide to Conquering Fibromyalgia and Putting Out the Fire: New Hope for RSD/CRPS.

The book focuses on the miracles that this collection of doctors have seen in the medical world. It serves a workbook of sorts to help expose patients and other medical professionals to these miracles, both small and large. The goal is to bring hope to those currently living through medical emergencies and issues, proving that miracles are possible, no matter how slim the odds may seem.

"I enjoyed writing my part of this book almost as much as I enjoyed reading the perspectives of other doctors," Dr. Katinka explained. "It is always interesting to see the world through someone else's eyes. I was able to learn things and look at situations with a fresh perspective, and what I learned will absolutely stick with me as I continue to help my patients for years to come."

The stories span from all over the world, covering tragedies and heartbreaks, love stories, silver lining moments, obstacles, and amazing words of inspiration. Within the book, each author shares their example of a miracle that changed their lives and stayed with them throughout their careers. Additionally, this book tells a bit about their illustrious careers and how they have changed the lives of thousands of patients around them.

The book currently has a 5-star rating on Amazon and has received glowing reviews from patients, holistic doctors, and more. To see a book that really inspires everyone in the medical field is quite something, Dr. Katinka says. Sometimes, medical professionals can be a bit competitive, but this book shows how much we can accomplish if we listen and learn from one another.

Also included in this collaborative book are Dr. Joe Dispenza, Dr. Paul Drouin, Dr. John W. Brimhall, Dr. Patrick K. Porter, Mariel Hemingway, and many more influential medical professionals.

For more information about Dr. Katinka van der Merwe and her 12 Week Neurologic Rehabilitation program, please visit The Spero Clinic website.

More About The Spero Clinic

At The Spero Clinic, Dr. Katinka van der Merwe and her team use a Neurologic Recovery Program to help patients who are suffering from severe chronic pain like RSD/CRPS. They focus on Neurologic Rehabilitation and restoring balance to the Autonomic Nervous System. Dr. Katinkas world leading 12 Week Neurologic Rehabilitation program helps treat hopeless cases worldwide.

For more information, please visit https://thesperoclinic.com/ or call us at (479) 304-8202.
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There is not one but two tropical systems that could threaten the United States -- and specifically the Gulf Coast -- in the next few days.

And theres a chance both could make landfall on the same day.

The National Hurricane Center continued to track Tropical Depression 13, which was in the central Atlantic east of the Leeward Islands on Thursday. The depression was disorganized late Thursday but is still expected to become a tropical storm this weekend and could take aim at Florida and then move into the Gulf as a hurricane by early next week.

But new on Thursday is another tropical depression. Tropical Depression 14 formed in the central Caribbean and is forecast to become a tropical storm on Friday as well. It is forecast to track northward and toward Texas and Louisiana early next week and could be a hurricane as it nears landfall next Tuesday.

The next names on the storm list are Laura and Marco. It had been assumed that Tropical Depression 13 would strengthen first, and be named Laura. However, its possible the newest depression, TD 14, could beat it to the punch and become Laura instead.

The hurricane center said TD 14 appeared to be getting more organized on Thursday night and was nearly a tropical storm.

A hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning have been issued for part of the eastern Yucatan Peninsula late Thursday. Tropical storm warnings continue for parts of Mexico and Central America.

WHERE IT IS

As of 10 p.m. CDT Thursday, Tropical Depression 14 was located in the western Caribbean about 65 miles east of Cabo Gracias a Dios on the Nicaragua-Honduras border.

WHERE ITS GOING

The new depression was tracking to the west-northwest at 14 mph, which is slower than earlier today. Its expected to stay on that trajectory and slow down tonight and into Friday.

On that track, the hurricane center said, it will move near or over extreme northeastern Nicaragua and northeastern Honduras, including the Bay Islands on Friday. It will approach the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico on Saturday.

It will cross over the peninsula Saturday night and emerge into the southern Gulf of Mexico on Sunday.

The long-range track now shows a hurricane approaching the north-central U.S. Gulf Coast on Tuesday. Both Texas and Louisiana are in the forecast cone at this point.

TRACK UPDATE

The hurricane center said the center of the storm has reformed a bit farther north, and forecasters adjusted the track slightly northward as well for the next 24 hours. That means the center of the storm wont be over land in Nicaragua or Honduras, if it makes landfall at all. That could allow it to strengthen some before it makes its first landfall in Mexico on Saturday.

The hurricane center noted that some strengthening is anticipated while it moves northwestward over the western Gulf of Mexico early next week, but it is too soon to know exactly how strong it will get or the location and magnitude of impacts it will produce along the central or northwestern Gulf Coast.

HOW STRONG

The depression had winds of 35 mph. It appeared to be getting more organized on Thursday evening and is expected to strengthen to a tropical storm (either Laura or Marco) on Friday, which is a change from earlier today. It initially had been expected to strengthen to a tropical storm today.

It could be near hurricane strength when it nears Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula late Saturday, the hurricane center said.

Hurricane force winds begin at 74 mph.

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

Tropical storm watches have been upgraded to warnings on Thursday.

A tropical storm warning is now in effect from the Honduras/Nicaragua border westward to Punta Castilla, Honduras, the Bay Islands of Honduras and Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, northward to the Honduras/Nicaragua border.

The hurricane center said more watches or warnings, including for the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, may be needed later tonight.

THE FORECAST

Tropical Depression 14 could bring 3 to 6 inches of rain to the eastern portions of the Mexican states of Quintana Roo and Yucatan.

One to 2 inches of rain will be possible in Jamaica and northern Nicaragua, and 2 to 4 inches for parts of Honduras through Saturday.

The hurricane center said tropical storm conditions are expected to reach the eastern Yucatan coast by Saturday afternoon.

Hurricane conditions are also possible within the watch area by late Saturday. Tropical storm conditions are expected to reach the Honduras and Nicaragua within the warning area later tonight and early Friday.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

The official forecast map as of late Thursday now shows the system becoming a hurricane on Saturday night when it nears the Yucatan Peninsula.

It is expected to weaken again as it crosses over the Yucatan but could reintensify on Monday as it tracks northward across the Gulf.

ANOTHER STORM IN THE GULF?

The hurricane center was also tracking Tropical Depression 13 on Thursday, which is expected to strengthen to a tropical storm this weekend.

TD 13 was east of the Leeward Islands on Thursday and is expected to continue westward and approach the Bahamas and South Florida by Monday. It could be a hurricane when it does so. However, a reconnaissance aircraft found it to be disorganized late Thursday.

The long-range track shows that storm entering the Gulf of Mexico as well by Monday or Tuesday.
The plane Navalny was taking had to make an emergency landing.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was hospitalized with signs of poisoning.

That's per his press secretary Kira Yarmysh, who took to Twitter to break the news.

Navalny felt sick on the plane he was flying from the city of Tomsk.

His rapidly deteriorating condition forced the captain to do an emergency landing in Omsk.

"We assume that Alexei was poisoned with something poured into his tea. It was the only thing he drank this morning. Doctors say the toxin absorbed faster through hot liquid. Now Alexei is unconscious," the spokesperson wrote.

Read alsoDiplomat from Russian mission to WTO oversaw secret hit squad  mediaLater, Kira Yarmysh added that Navalny had been admitted to a local intensive care unit.

Previous poisoning suspicion

In July 2019, Navalny detained after a rally for admitting independent candidates to the elections to the Moscow City Duma, and the very next day he was hospitalized with signs of poisoning. Then the doctors diagnosed an "acute allergic reaction." Navalny said the skin on his face, neck and ears was "burning and itching". At the same time, Navalny's doctor complained that the cause of skin irritation had not been ultimately identified.

Who is Navalny and what is his stance on Ukraine

Alexey Navalny is a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He has produced multiple probes into local corruption in Russian regions.

Navalny positions himself as a Russian nationalist. In 2012, he advocated a geopolitical union of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus under Moscow's leadership.

In June 2017, Navalny admitted that the Russian military were fighting in Donbas, and promised to withdraw troops once he becomes president.

In 2014, Navalny and his brother were convicted for embezzlement and further legalization of funds. In the U.S., the court verdict was branded as aimed at suppressing and punishing political activism, while the EU assessed it as politically driven.
The Manhattan District Attorney's office fought Thursday to reinstate the indictment against President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, according to court documents filed in the case.

Manafort had been charged in New York for allegedly conducting a yearlong residential mortgage fraud scheme before the case was dismissed in December due to its similarity to earlier federal charges.

The Manhattan DA's office argued, according to court filings, that the state's double jeopardy law contains an exception that would allow the case to proceed.

MORE: Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort released to home confinement amid coronavirus concerns

"[The statute] permits a successive prosecution where the offenses in the second prosecution contain different elements and the defining statutes were designed to prevent very different kinds of harm or evil than the offenses in the first prosecution," the court document states.

In the case against Manafort, the district attorney's filing said the "defendant overlooks the distinct harms that the federal and state offenses were designed to target."

PHOTO: Paul Manafort arrives for a hearing at US District Court on June 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images, FILE)

Manafort, 71, had been sentenced to more than seven years for charges related to special counsel Robert Muellers investigation in a federal correctional institution in central Pennsylvania. He was found guilty of tax fraud and conspiracy and was sentenced by a federal judge in March 2019.

MORE: Paul Manafort's sentence in DC case means he faces 81 months total behind bars

He was released from prison in May to serve the remainder of his sentence in home confinement because of concerns over the novel coronavirus, two sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.

Manafort was just one of several associates of President Trump's that were charged for crimes as part of the nearly two-year investigation led by Mueller. So far, Manafort was the only one to spend a significant period in jail.

Story continues

Manafort's longtime partner and former Trump deputy campaign manager Rick Gates pleaded guilty and cooperated with federal prosecutors in the case against Manafort in 2018.

Recently, Trump commuted the sentence of his longtime political adviser Roger Stone who also faced a series of charges born from the Mueller probe.

MORE: Roger Stone tells ABC News, 'I feel good. I feel great' after Trump commutes sentence

Stone and Manafort were also longtime partners in a political consulting firm.

ABC News' Katherine Faulders and John Santucci contributed to this report.

Prosecutors looking to reinstate indictment against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort for mortgage fraud originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Kylie Jenner looked ready for a hot date night on Wednesday evening.

The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star was pictured in a tight-fitting black mini dress as she arrived at private members club Soho House in Malibu, California.

Kylie, 23, wore her hair tied back for the occasion and took precautions by wearing a black safety mask while she exited her vehicle - a Bugatti Chiron, said be worth around $3 million.

Hot date? Kylie Jenner looked ready for a date night on Wednesday evening at Soho House in Malibu, California, arriving in her $3 million Bugatti Chiron

She completed her look with a pair of bulky black boots, contrasted with an elegant pearl necklace, as she arrived in one of the many luxury cars that she owns.

The Kylie Cosmetics mogul has an impressive fleet of cars including a Lamborghini Aventador, a Rolls-Royce Wraith, a Ferrari 458 Italia, a Rolls Royce Ghost, a Ferrari LaFerrari and a Rolls-Royce Phantom.

She also owns a Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG as well as the first car she bought, a Land Rover Range Rover.

Elegant: The make-up mogul wore a pearl necklace for the evening out

Figure-hugging: Kylie showed off her frame in a tight black mini

Luxury: The reality star owns an impressive fleet of luxury cars

Earlier this week, Kylie shared photos from her birthday trip to Turks and Caicos last week, posting sweet videos of her daughter Stormi, two, playing with her cousin True.

'My loves' she captioned a clip of the tots squealing as they played on the beach and splashed in the water.

This comes after Kylie's baby daddy Travis Scott, with whom she shares Stormi, told GQ that he is mindful of how he is raising his daughter.

Arriving in style: Kylie Jenner makes her way to Soho House Malibu

Kylie and Travis have been co-parenting Stormi and often spend time together as a family in LA and on vacation.

The Sicko Mode rapper revealed that he was having an 'amazing' time watching Stormi grow as he spends time in quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic and said the pair do not have a set daily routine.

Travis said: 'I just get it going ... I just go. It's amazing just to watch my daughter, you know.'

The good life: Kylie recently delighted fans with this snap of her using an outdoor shower as she cooled off during her birthday vacation to the Bahama

He also said fatherhood has made it easier to relate to his parents and has strengthened their relationship.

When asked if his relationship with his parents had changed after he welcomed Stormi, Travis explained: 'No, not at all, man. It's actually cool, because now we have things to relate on, right? Just raising a daughter. I'm always talking to my parents. They try to remind me of how I was when I was kid.'

He continued: 'I was energetic. I was super energetic. Jumping off the walls ...
(Natural News) Scott Morrison, the obese, vaccine-loving prime minister of Australia, has decided that all Australians will need to be vaccinated for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) once one becomes available, save for those with medical exemptions.

Citing the few hundred deaths total throughout Australia that were supposedly linked to Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) infections, Morrison says it is critical that all Aussies be forced to line up and get jabbed for the safety of the general public.

I would expect it to be as mandatory as you could possibly make it, Morrison told Melbourne radio station 3AW, as reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation earlier in the week.

There are always exceptions for any vaccine on medical grounds, but that should be the only basis. We are talking about a pandemic that has destroyed the global economy and taken the lives of hundreds of thousands all around the world, and over 430 Australians here.

The Australian government has reportedly secured an international deal with Swedish-British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca to purchase a Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine candidate currently under development in partnership with the University of Oxford.

As soon as this vaccine breezes through clinical trials, it will be made free for all Aussies  meaning taxpayers are footing the bill for a chemical jab that will soon be forced on them at gunpoint.

It really does seem like we are now entering the final stages of the total extermination of humanity, using the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) plandemic as cover. Check out the following episode of The Health Ranger Report with Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, to learn more:

Do NOT let this happen here, America!

Morrisons announcement comes as Melbourne is already facing some of the strictest lockdown measures in the entire world.

Area residents are already prohibited from leaving their homes after 8pm, and are barely even allowed to exercise except within strict confines. Now they will soon face a no jab, no play policy with an upcoming Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, which will presumably be a requirement to attend school or hold a job.

Mandatory face masks, by the way, are a prelude to mandatory vaccinations. The no mask, no service policies being implemented by grocery stores, airlines, and even state governors, in some cases, are priming the public for facing similar requirements once a vaccine is released.

If the general public, including here in the United States, does not stand up to this tyranny now while there is still time, then you can expect mandatory Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines to eventually go global.

According to Zero Hedge, similar forced vaccination efforts are likely to occur in the United Kingdom, as well as in Canada and some parts of Europe. Americans should likewise be on-guard against similar efforts here, which are sure to manifest once President Donald Trumps Operation Warp Speed program comes to full fruition.

Such is the gist of their made-up no jab, no play rule, wrote one Zero Hedge commenter.

The idea being to divide society between conformists and anti-vaxxers, the latter being treated as persona non grata, i.e. being denied basic freedoms. IOW, government instituted discrimination. Over a fake pandemic.

Another, quoting Frank Zappa, wrote:

The illusion of freedom will continue as long as its profitable to continue the illusion. At the point where the illusion becomes too expensive to maintain, they will just take down the scenery, they will pull back the curtains, they will move the tables and chairs out of the way and you will see the brick wall at the back of the theater.

More up-to-the-minute news about the globalist plot to vaccinate the entire world for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is available at Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com
MARYLAND  First-time unemployment claims ticked up slightly last week in Maryland after five weeks of decline, according to the state's labor department.

Data released Thursday show 14,191 workers applied for jobless relief in the week ending Aug. 15. That represents an 8.1 percent increase from the 13,117 jobless claims that were filed the prior week. While the number may be higher, it still follows a five-week trend of declining claims.

Prior to the pandemic, first-time unemployment filings in Maryland hovered between 2,000 and 6,500 per week. During the public health crisis, however, these numbers have fluctuated between 2,090 and 109,263. The all-time pandemic high was for the week ending May 2.



Here's a closer look:

Graph: Patch / Source: Maryland Department of Labor

Since early March, more than 1.1 million people in Maryland have applied for jobless aid.

Of the 14,191 workers who applied last week, 3,876 filed for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)  a federal program for gig workers, contractors, and other self-employed people who otherwise are ineligible for regular jobless benefits.

The jurisdiction with the most PUA claims was Prince George's County, with 730, according to state data.

Claims filed for Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)  a federal program that provides an additional 13 weeks of pay to workers who've exhausted their other benefits  was 1,447.

The most PEUC claims were filed in Baltimore County. The total stands at 276.

Several weeks ago, the state began offering an additional 13 weeks of jobless aid to those who have exhausted both their unemployment and PEUC benefits.

Last week's filings for extended unemployment benefits (EB) was 587. Most applications came from Baltimore County, with a total of 106.

On top of those benefits, unemployed Maryland workers may get more cash as early as next month.

On Wednesday, Gov. Larry Hogan announced that the state applied to a federal program that gives people an additional $300 per week.

Story continues

FEMA has since approved that funding. The payments are expected to be distributed in late September.

"Maryland is doing much better on our health metrics than most of the rest of the country, we are doing much better on our economic recovery than most of the rest of the country, and we want to do whatever it takes to keep it that way," Hogan said. "But far too many Marylanders are still struggling to make ends meet during this pandemic. With this critical funding, we can help those struggling Marylanders weather this storm, get back on their feet, and recover."

To receive the extra $300 a week, Marylanders must qualify for a weekly benefit amount of at least $100 and must self-certify that they are unemployed or partially unemployed due to disruptions caused by the pandemic. Claimants do not have to file a new application to receive Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) benefits.

According to officials, eligible claimants will receive $300 per week in benefits retroactive to the week ending Aug. 1 and ending no later than Dec. 26.

This article originally appeared on the Rockville Patch
Three crew members on board the International Space Station will spend the weekend in the vessels Russian segment while they search for the source of a cabin air leak, NASA and Russian space agency Roscosmos said on Thursday, Reuters reports.

In September 2019, NASA and its international partners first saw indications of a slight increase above the standard cabin air leak rate, NASA said in a statement.

It said the crew, composed of NASAs Chris Cassidy and Russias Ivan Vagner and Anatoly Ivanishin, would close the stations hatches this weekend to monitor air pressure and find the source of the leak.

NASA and Roscosmos said the situation represented no immediate danger to the crew or to the space station.
Victoria has recorded another 179 new cases coronavirus on Friday, but only 24 new mystery cases, a sharp contrast to the hundreds at the start of August.

At the start of August Premier Daniel Andrews cited 760 mystery cases as a catalyst for implementing stage four restrictions.

Mystery cases are worrying because they are cases in which the source of the infection can't be linked to known outbreaks or positive cases and therefore close contacts can't be isolated to curb the spread.

There are 3808 cases from an unknown source.
More cases of journalists blackmailing businesses have been discovered and prosecuted in the last three years.

Le Van Ly of Nhan Dao & Doi Song (Humanity and Life) online magazine has been caught by Ba Ria-Vung Tau Police extorting VND40 million from a building material company.

Dao Thi Thanh Binh

Just a short time before, Tran Trong Lam from Suc Khoe va Doi Song newspaper (Health and Life) was caught extorting VND210 million from the Kinh Do Clinic headquartered in Bac Giang province.

Lam, after discovering that the clinic made some mistakes, threatened its shareholders, telling them if they did not pay him in exchange for his silence, he would write articles about the mistakes and publish them in the newspaper.

Two other reporters, including Tran Tuyet Nhung and Bui Thi Xuan, also got involved in the case, and were detained by the Bac Giang Police.

On July 20, the Thanh Hoa Police issued a decision to prosecute and detain six defendants, including two reporters from the Tai Chinh Doanh Nghiep Magazine (Corporate Finance) for extorting assets.

On May 12, some strangers came to see Ho Dinh Tung, deputy chair of Tinh Gia district Peoples Committee, and asked for consultancy on compensation for site clearance. After an exchange, a man put a notebook with banknotes inside Tungs hands and filmed the scene.

The strangers used the clip to extort Tung, demanding VND5 billion. Tung then asked for help from the police.

More cases of journalists blackmailing businesses have been discovered and prosecuted in the last three years.

On December 20, 2018, the Bac Giang Police released a decision to take legal proceedings against Dao Thi Thanh Binh, who was then a reporter of Thuong Hieu va Cong Luan newspaper (Brand and Public Opinion), for extorting assets.

Binh discovered that Luxshare-ICT Vietnam, a foreign invested enterprise in Bac Giang province, with 4,000 workers, started building dormitories for workers while it was still waiting for licensing. She contacted the company and told the company to pay money, or Binh would write an article about the problem.

Binh, through a broker, said she wanted $100,000 in exchange for her silence. She was told that the company accepted to pay $70,000.

The company reported the case to the police and Binh was arrested.

On October 31, 2019, the Dong Hoi City Police in Quang Binh province released the decision to put Nguyen Huu Nhat, born in 1993, in Quang Hoa commune, Ba Don Town, into detention for property appropriation.

The police caught Nhat extorting VND8 million from Dong Hoi Hospital.

In August 2019, the My Tho Court sentenced Phan Dung in HCMC to 8 years and 6 months in prison and Nguyen Van Uan in Dak Lak for 7 years in prison on charges of asset appropriation.

Le Bang - N. Hien

Probe into Tenma Vietnams alleged bribery underway: police official The investigation into the Japanese-invested Tenma Vietnam companys allegation of bribing civil servants and tax and customs officers of northern Bac Ninh province is still ongoing, according to a police official.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2020 / Viva Gold Corp. (TSXV:VAU)(OTCQB:VAUCF) (the "Company" or "Viva") is pleased to advise that it has retained a number of industry leading consultants to initiate technical studies at its Tonopah gold project ("Tonopah") in Nevada, in the areas of groundwater hydrology, geotechnical slope study, metallurgical testwork and to update existing archeological studies with the intent to advance toward a carefully prepared feasibility study and to build on the foundation of the robust PEA economics announced May 12, 2020 .

"These technical studies are expected to further de-risk and generate data that will be used as the basis for future permitting and feasibility studies for the potential open pit mine, heap leach gold recovery operation at Tonopah. This work will provide greater insight into gold recovery and mine design and assist management in determining the most effective ways to improve upon a strong PEA, it is our intention to unlock the full value of the project for our shareholders," remarked James Hesketh, President & CEO. "In addition, Viva is currently drilling hole number seven of its 14-hole reverse circulation drill program at Tonopah, previously announced on July 2nd, 2020. Assay results will be released as they become available and we expect to report on initial results soon. We anticipate mobilizing a core drilling rig to the site in early September for a five-hole program to capture core samples for geologic review, assay, metallurgical, geotechnical and environmental testwork," he added.

The groundwater hydrology study is initially focused on analyzing the extensive database of information generated by prior operators on the site, including Kennecott, Newmont, and Midway Gold, as well as a large volume of publicly available data. This analysis will be used to determine if any additional study, monitoring, or testwork is required. Geotechnical studies will commence with analysis of existing data that includes over 20 oriented core holes completed by Newmont and Midway, prior structural and geotechnical studies and available geologic and hydrologic data. This study will provide initial slope angle recommendations for open pit design with recommendations for further optimization study. A metallurgical testwork program is currently being designed to include crushing testwork including the use of high-pressure grinding rolls, bottle roll, column leach recovery tests and rock characterization studies. It is anticipated that this program will provide information for initial heap leach and plant design. The archeological study will update a prior study completed by Newmont in 2003 and is designed to meet all current regulatory guidelines.

James Hesketh, MMSA-QP, has approved the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this press release. Mr. Hesketh is not independent of the Company; he is an Officer and Director.

About Viva Gold Corp:

Viva Gold is a gold exploration and project development company with a focus on Nevada. Viva holds 100% of the advanced Tonopah Gold Project, a large land position of approximately 8,800 acres with demonstrated high-grade measured, indicated and inferred gold resources, located on the prolific Walker Lane gold trend in Nevada, about 30 kilometers south-east of the Round Mountain mine of Kinross Gold and 20 kilometers north from the Town of Tonopah. Viva's management team has extensive experience in mining exploration, development and production and are supported by a Board of Directors and advisors who are proven mine finders, deal makers and financiers. Viva trades on the TSX-V as "VAU", on the OTCQB in the US as "VAUCF" and on the Frankfurt exchange under "7PB". For additional information on Viva Gold and the Tonopah Gold Project, please visit our website: www.vivagoldcorp.com.

For further information please contact:

James Hesketh

President & CEO

(720) 291-1775

jhesketh@vivagoldcorp.com

Valerie Kimball

Director, Investor Relations

(720) 933-1150

vkimball@vivagoldcorp.com

Forward-Looking Information:

This news release contains certain information that may constitute forward-looking information or forward-looking statements under applicable Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking information"), including but not limited to drilling operations and estimates of gold mineral resource at the Tonopah Gold Project. This forward-looking information entails various risks and uncertainties that are based on current expectations, and actual results may differ materially from those contained in such information. These uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, the strength of the global economy; the price of gold; operational, funding and liquidity risks; the potential for achieving targeted drill results, the degree to which mineral resource estimates are reflective of actual mineral resources; the degree to which factors which would make a mineral deposit commercially viable are present; the risks and hazards associated with drilling and mining operations; and the ability of Viva to fund its capital requirements. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed in the Company's disclosure materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada available at www.sedar.com. Readers are urged to read these materials. Viva assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from such information unless required by law.

Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors - The United States Securities and Exchange Commission permits U.S. mining companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce. We use certain terms in this report, such as "measured," "indicated," "inferred," and "resources," that the SEC guidelines strictly prohibit U.S. registered companies from including in their filings with the SEC.

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: Viva Gold Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602527/Viva-Gold-Initiates-Technical-Studies-in-Preparation-for-Feasibility-Study-at-Its-Tonopah-Gold-Project-in-Nevada-Provides-Drilling-Update
With two days to go for Ganesh Chaturthi in Tamil Nadu, leaders of the national ruling party BJP and the state ruling party AIADMK have been trading barbs over a state government decision to curb public celebrations. The state governments decision to permit opening of liquor shops in Chennai city (from August 18), while not permitting installing of Ganesha idols, taking them on processions, immersion rituals has irked the BJP. BJP leaders have questioned the Tamil Nadu government on their manliness, asking them to take a cue from the neighboring Karnataka government that has permitted the festival to be celebrated amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

On August 13, the Tamil Nadu government had issued guidelines stating that, in view of the Covid-19 situation, they were prohibiting erecting Ganesha idols, celebrations in public, carrying them around the city in processions and also immersing them in water bodies. The Government instructed the public to follow physical distancing and mask-wearing norms while stepping out to buy essentials and other items for the festivals. The government urged people to celebrate the festival at their respective homes.

The government statement added that, places of worship that earn less than Rs.10,000 per annum have been permitted to remain open across the the state, mentioning that they can carry on with festive traditions, in accordance with the stated norms.

However, the decision to prohibit the celebrations touched a raw nerve with Hindu groups in the state which had planned on celebrating the festival in a big manner. An outfit named Hindu Munnani had stated that they would celebrate the festival across the state by installing about 1.5lakh idols.

BJP leader H. Raja had initially tweeted out hailing the BJP state government in Karnataka saying that they were a manly and macho government as they had allowed the public display of Ganesha idols and celebrations of the festival. Though it does not mention the AIADMK government by name, it isa clear potshot at a Dravidian party, which is an ally of the BJP-led NDA.

Raja had also tweeted out taking a dig at the rationalism of Dravidian parties. State-run Liquor outlets are open in Chennai as well, from Tuesday. So keeping liquor outlets open wont spread corona, but allowing 5-10 devotees to carry out rituals and celebrations while maintaining social-distancing would spread corona? Rationalism!, read his tweet in Tamil.

AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan was quick to retort and shot back at Raja saying that manliness is being able to win in a Scouts election, this was a dig at Raja who failed to win an election in the Tamil Nadu Bharat Scouts and Guides.

Another AIADMK leader lashed out saying that, Ammas government did not need a Sharmas certificate. This was a reference to H. Rajas family name.

On Wednesday, the Madras High Court had dismissed a plea that sought action against the Hindu Munnani leaders for saying that they would violate the government guidelines and celebrate the festival. However, the court had refused to pass orders on the PIL, saying that there was no reason to doubt that the government would not implement the ban imposed by int to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
His argument was that he was immune from prosecution  or even investigation  by state or local law enforcement, simply because he is president. There was little precedent for that claim. But Trumps lawyers said his immunity was so broad that he could, in theory, shoot someone on Manhattans Fifth Avenue and not be prosecuted.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a California law that forbids California state employees from taking taxpayer-funded business trips to expos or conferences in Texas.

California adopted the sanctions in response to a 2017 Texas law allowing foster care and adoption agencies to deny services based on religious beliefs. Opponents decried the law for giving the child-placement agencies legal cover to discriminate against LGBT people and others.

Supporters said the law does not have a discriminatory effect because it requires the child placement agencies, upon refusal to work with a family, to make referrals to other organizations.

Paxton, in a statement Monday, called Californias ban economic warfare and an attempt to punish Texans for respecting the right of conscience for foster care and adoption providers.

The law California opposes does not prevent anyone from contributing to child welfare, Paxton said. Boycotting states based on nothing more than political disagreement breaks down the ability of states to serve as laboratories of democracy while still working together as one nation  the very thing our Constitution intended to prevent.

A case generally has to escalate from lower courts before it reaches the Supreme Court, but the high court has exclusive jurisdiction over civil disputes between two or more states.

For subscribers: California travel ban to Texas over LGBT adoption bill could spell trouble for tourism industry

California lawmakers passed the ban on state-funded travel in a law, which became effective at the start of 2017.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But in mid-2017, when adding Texas to the list of restricted-travel states, he said it was because California will not tolerate discrimination. The ban affects 11 states, including Alabama, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky and South Carolina; one of the states, Oklahoma, has imposed a retaliatory ban on California.

Discriminatory laws in any part of our country send all of us several steps back, Becerra said. That's why when California said we would not tolerate discrimination against LGBTQ members of our community, we meant it.

For subscribers: Texas House approves bill that would allow private adoption agencies to deny adoptions based on religion

The action Monday marks the latest battle between the largely liberal California and the red state of Texas in a long-running feud, which has lately been playing out not just in the political arena but more and more in federal court. Texas is leading the multi-state suit seeking to strike down the Affordable Care Act, for example, while California leads a coalition of states defending the ACA.

The two states are on opposite ends of lawsuits that will determine the future of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which allows children of undocumented immigrants reprieve from deportation while they study and work.

The Texas v. California legal clashes also underline the increasing influence of politics on the types of cases that the attorney general decides to pursue.

Religious liberty has become one of Paxtons passion issues throughout his tenure. Just within the past year, he has sued the city of San Antonio for rejecting Chick-fil-A from its airport because of company leaderships anti-gay marriage views. And Paxton has said he will not defend a state agency being sued for punishing a Waco judge who wont officiate same-sex marriages because of her religious beliefs.

Ricardo Martinez, CEO of Equality Texas, said the California travel ban is just one example of the economic effects that discriminatory legislation can have. He added that Texas foster children have slept in state offices for years in part because of a lack of placements.

Paxtons religious liberty excuses are a false argument to continue his clear and ongoing war on LGBTQ Texans, as evidenced by the dozens of actions he has taken against our community while in office, Martinez said.
The ex-wife of Golden State Killer Joseph DeAngelo has broken her silence for the first time in over two years since he was arrested for 13 known murders and dozens of rapes across California.

Sharon Huddle, a Sacramento divorce attorney, shared her devastation at learning the truth about her ex-husband and his heinous crimes in a victim impact statement submitted to Sacramento Superior Court Judge Michael Bowman this week.

Huddle, who did not mention DeAngelo by name in her statement, described how she has suffered from post traumatic stress disorder and lived in constant fear ever since he was identified as the Golden State Killer.

DeAngelo, 74, in June pleaded guilty to 13 counts of murder and 13 counts of kidnapping that occurred between 1975 and 1986. He also confessed to 161 other crimes - many of which were rapes - that he couldn't be charged for because they took place outside the statute of limitations.

He is set to be sentenced on Friday and faces life in prison after avoiding the death penalty under a plea deal with prosecutors.

Thursday marked the third day of heart-wrenching testimony from DeAngelo's victims and survivors, including Huddle.

The ex-wife of Golden State Killer James DeAngelo revealed her heartbreak over his crimes in a victim impact statement submitted to a Sacramento court during his sentencing hearing. DeAngelo is pictured on Thursday during the second day of victim testimony

Huddle and DeAngelo married in 1973 and have three daughters and a granddaughter together.

They had been separated since 1991 but remained legally married until last year, after DeAngelo's arrest in April 2018.

In her statement, obtained by the Sacramento Bee, Huddle recounted how her husband had lied to her about where he was going when she was working night shifts - leaving her completely in the dark about his horrific attacks.

She described the 'devastating and pervasive affect' DeAngelo's crimes have had on her and her family, even though they didn't experience the violence directly.

'I will never be the same person,' Huddle wrote. 'I now live everyday with the knowledge of how he attacked and severely damaged hundreds of innocent people's lives and murdered 13 innocent people who were loved and have now been missed for 40 years or more.

'I live everyday with post traumatic distress where any unexpected noise, or movement of any person or object, can be perceived by my mind as a threat to me.

'Simple everyday experiences such as a car moving from one lane into another lane behind your car can bring fear to me.'

DeAngelo is pictured in the early 70s when he worked with the Exeter Police Department. He married Huddle in 1973

She went on to explain how even the most banal tasks like grocery shopping have become a source of terror.

'Once while shopping at Trader Joe's grocery store, a hand touched my forearm while I was looking into a freezer.

My heart began to race and my body jolted. I was terrified that I was about to be harmed, when in reality someone I knew just wanted to say hello to me,' she wrote.

'I have lost my ability to trust people. I trusted the defendant when he told me he had to work, or was going pheasant hunting, or going to visit his parents hundreds of miles away.'

She noted that she was often working during the night - either on the graveyard shift at a Jack in the Box restaurant or when studying for law school.

'When I was not around, I trusted he was doing what he told me he was doing,' she wrote.

'Now, without the ability to trust, my relationships with other people are severely impacted.'

Huddle concluded her words by saying she does not want her words to detract from the impact statements from DeAngelo's other victims and their loved ones.

DeAngelo, 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

SacBee reported that Huddle's statement was not expected to be read aloud in court even though it was submitted to the judge.

Huddle's only previous statement came back in June 2018, two months after DeAngelo's arrest.

'My thoughts and prayers are for the victims and their families,' she said at the time.

'The press has relentlessly pursued interviews of me. I will not be giving any interviews for the foreseeable future. I ask the press to please respect my privacy and that of my children.'

Prior to marrying Huddle, DeAngelo was engaged in the early 70s to Bonnie Jean Colwell, who broke off the engagement. At least one victim of the Golden State Killer reported that her attacker said 'I hate you Bonnie' during the assault.

DeAngelo came face to face with his ex-fiancee - now Bonnie Ueltzen - on the second day of his sentencing hearing Wednesday.

Bonnie Ueltzen, right, who was engaged to DeAngelo in the early 1970s before breaking it off, was not allowed to speak to the court but she joined rape victim Jane Carson-Sandler, left

Ueltzen was not allowed to speak to the court as she is not listed as a victim of his crimes but she joined rape victim Jane Carson-Sandler.

Introducing Ueltzen, Carson-Sandler said: 'I also want to especially thank a friend who is accompanying me here today. That friend is Bonnie.

'If Bonnie were able to speak Joe, she would want you to know Joe that as just a teenager 50 years ago she broke her engagement to you when she realized that you had become manipulative and abusive.

'Even a gun pointed at her face could not make her choose you.'

Standing in the front row, Bonnie removed her face mask so DeAngelo could see her face and looked him in the eye.

During the testimony, the killer sat in an orange jail jumpsuit, staring straight ahead and wearing a mask as protection against the coronavirus.

Carson-Sandler told the court: 'DeAngelo, I want you to look at me...and I want you to remember what I say.

'You didn't destroy my life in your cowardly, cruel and sick behavior.

'One quarter of me, being a Christian, I want to say to you: 'May God have mercy on your soul." Then there is another three-quarters of me that want to say to you, 'Buddy, just rot in hell.''

Jane Carson-Sandler confronts Joseph James DeAngelo during the second day of victim impact statements at the Gordon D. Schaber Sacramento County Courthouse on Wednesday

During the testimony, the killer sat in an orange jail jumpsuit, staring straight ahead and wearing a mask as protection against the coronavirus

Years before DeAngelo is suspected of starting his reign of terror, he met Bonnie Colwell when they were both students at Sierra College in Rocklin, California, 20 miles from Sacramento.

'We always thought there was a Bonnie significant in his life, it could be a mother, a wife, a girlfriend, a childhood crush,' Paul Holes, an investigator who has been looking into the case for years, told The Mercury News.

'Most certainly if he's making the statement: "I hate you, Bonnie," while he's attacking another female, he is what we call an anger retaliatory rapist. Instead of directing his anger at what's making him angry, he's directing it sideways on to someone else to be able to satisfy that anger,' Holes said.

Many victims have said they thought justice would never come as the former police officer seemingly vanished after each crime, confounding investigators until he was arrested in 2018 by using a new form of DNA tracing.

More than four decades after the crimes, some of the victims finally got the chance to say their piece this week.

Rape victim Gay Hardwick said Wednesday: 'I've heard that he may have been abused as a child, that he experienced sad things in his life, that he had to move around a lot, that his fiancee jilted him.

'But a lot of people go through bad times, and they don't become serial rapists and murderers.'

Gay Hardwick, left, is comforted by her spouse Bob Hardwick, center, and San Joaquin County's District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar during the second day of victim impact statements with Joseph James DeAngelo present

The only time DeAngelo looked down Wednesday was during testimony from his youngest victim, Mary Berwert, who was 13 when he raped her.

'He truly is an evil monster with no soul,' Patti Cosper, the daughter of rape survivor Patricia Murphy, read from her mother's statement.

Lisa Lilienthal described DeAngelo as a sadistic 'boogeyman' as she testified by video about the attack she witnessed on her mother.

DeAngelo's nicknames illustrated the 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 DeAngelo's crimes after he escalated to attacking couples instead of single women and girls.

He would force his victims to bind themselves with shoelaces then balance plates on the man's 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. 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,' said Strauss' mother, Dolly Kreis.

'Today the devil loses and justice wins,' said Debbi Domingo McMullan, the daughter of Cheri Domingo, said on Thursday.

Debbi McMullan (left) and Melanie Barbeau confront DeAngelo at the Sacramento County Courthouse during the third day of victim impact statements on Thursday. DeAngelo killed McMullan's mother, Cheri Domingo, and Domingo's boyfriend, Gregory Sanchez, in 1981

Domingo, 35, was killed alongside Gregory Sanchez, 27, on July 27, 1981. McMullan said she was just 15 at the time, 'a fragile teenager whose world had just been turned upside down'.

'I had watched my mom and Greg dance carefree across our living room for the last time,' she recalled through tears while DeAngelo sat expressionless, as he has throughout the hearings.

The trauma led to her years-long 'downward spiral' of depression and drug abuse that left her 'hopeless, homeless,' before a newfound faith in God put her on a new path.

McMullan called DeAngelo a 'pathetic excuse of a man who will now, finally, be held accountable for his actions'.

Another woman who spoke Thursday was Elizabeth Hupp, whose father Claude Snelling was killed in 1975 while trying to stop DeAngelo from kidnapping his then-16-year-old daughter.

'My dad died saving my life that night and he is my hero,' Hupp said as she broke down in tears.

Elizabeth Hupp, daughter of Claude Snelling, breaks down in tears as she reads her victim impact statement in court on Thursday. Snelling died thwarting DeAngelo's attempted kidnapping of his daughter Hupp when she was 16 in 1975

While DeAngelo was able to live a normal life with his family for all those years, her dad's killing left 'a huge hole in my heart', she said, because he wasn't there to walk her down the aisle at her wedding or be a grandfather to her children.

'Little did we know that the man stalking me was actually a police officer, someone who is sworn to protect people and not to terrorize and harm people,' she said.

DeAngelo was known as the East Area Rapist by February 2, 1978, when he fatally shot Katie Maggiore, 20, and Brian Maggiore, 21, as they walked their dog around their Rancho Cordova neighborhood in Sacramento County.

'You no longer live in the shadows, we all know who you are,' Katie's brother, Ken Smith, told DeAngelo about his acts of 'terror and evil.'

'You lurked in the dark so you could prey on innocent victims,' Smith said. 'Well, now you are prey, DeAngelo, and you can look over your shoulder the rest of your life' in prison.

DeAngelo kept his eyes trained on the table in front of him throughout much of Thursday's hearing in Sacramento County Court

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.

While his real identity remained a mystery until then, his crimes earned him a series of ominous names.

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

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.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaking at the 6th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea - AFP

Kim Jong-un has made a frank admission that North Koreas economic progress has been seriously delayed, in the latest indication that his authoritarian state is struggling to cope with the triple whammy of international sanctions, the coronavirus pandemic and severe flooding.

The North Korean leader acknowledged the hardships faced by his population on Wednesday during the first meeting of the ruling Workers Party of Koreas central body in eight months, stating that the country faced unexpected and inevitable challenges in various aspects.

He pledged to unveil a new five-year economic development plan by this coming January at a rare Workers Party congress, state media reported.

Planned attainment of the goals for improving the national economy have been seriously delayed and the peoples living standard had not been improved remarkably, he said in an unusually candid admission from a leader who normally trades on the infallibility of his familys dynastical rule.

The new economic blueprint would examine the deviations and shortcomings of the current plan, which had fallen short of its objectives due to internal and external circumstances, reported the Korean Central News Agency.

The current five-year plan was unveiled at a party congress held in May 2016, the first since Kim took the reigns of power in 2011, and it was supposed to achieve its economic prosperity goals by the end of this year.

State media made no mention this week of the tough economic sanctions imposed to curb the countrys nuclear and long-range missile programmes but Pyongyang has repeatedly slammed the international policy in the past.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (top, L) attending the 6th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea - AFP

In an interview with the Telegraph in 2018, Ri Gi Song, one of the countrys leading economists, hinted at the regimes frustration that the financial penalties were holding the economy back.

Frankly, if there were no sanctions our development pace would be much faster than now, he said.

A diplomatic detente that saw Kim hold several unprecedented nuclear negotiations with Donald Trump, the US president, has since collapsed, crushing any hopes that sanctions may be lifted any time soon.

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This year Kim has faced multiple other difficulties on a domestic front, including a reported health scare that saw him disappear from the public eye for weeks.

The pandemic has compounded the economic crisis by cutting off remaining minimal opportunities for trade as Pyongyang locked down the borders to prevent the virus from decimating the countrys ailing health system.

Torrential rains this summer have also wiped out farmland, increasing food insecurity for the impoverished population, of which 40 per cent already suffer from malnutrition, according to the United Nations World Food Programme.

Kims statement this week was the latest sign of the dire situation faced by his regime. In recent months he has publicly lashed out at officials over lax virus management and for allegedly careless spending in the construction of a showcase general hospital in Pyongyang.

The outbursts have led to speculation that he could be preparing for a shake-up of the ruling politburo.
UBI involves unconditional cash payments to all citizens whatever their income. Photo: Getty

German researchers are to give a group of people just over 1,000 ($1,307) a month each, in a trial looking at the potential benefits of introducing a wider universal basic income (UBI).

The experiment will asses how giving 120 people 1,200 (1,085) a month will affect work patterns and leisure time. They will be studied against a comparison group of 1,380 people who do not receive the payments.

UBI involves unconditional cash payments to all citizens whatever their income, either replacing or complimenting other targeted welfare benefits or tax allowances.

Supporters of UBI argue the policy is the most effective way to keep every household above the breadline by helping to tackle poverty, encourage more flexible working practices, and allow some people to devote more time to caring for older family members.

Campaigners argue UBI is more effective and less bureaucratic than most targeted support schemes, which often fail to reach all their intended recipients.

The concept has drawn growing interest around the world as millions of households have taken an economic hit from coronavirus lockdowns. Some advocates also argue that it would prevent those who need income to survive from going to work when sick and risk spreading COVID-19 further.

Researcher Jurgen Schupp, who is leading the My Basic Income project at the Berlin-based German Institute for Economic Research, said he wanted to discover how a reliable, unconditional flow of money affects peoples attitudes and behaviour.

READ MORE: UK employers give lowest pay rises in 10 years

So far, the debate about the basic income has been like a philosophical salon at best and a war of faith at worst. It is, on both sides, shaped by cliches, he told Germanys Der Spiegel newspaper.

Opponents claim that with a basic income people would stop working in order to lie on the couch with fast food and streaming services.

Proponents argue that people will continue to do fulfilling work, become more creative and charitable, and save democracy. We can improve this [debate] if we replace these stereotypes with empirically proven knowledge.

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The researchers want to expand the study and are looking for one million applicants for wider participation by this November. From that group, 1,500 people will then be selected for a three-year income experiment.

The majority of the British public support giving people UBI during the coronavirus pandemic to ensure their financial security, according to a YouGov poll.

In April, UK chancellor Rishi Sunak ruled out introducing a universal basic income (UBI) in Britain, dashing the hopes of some campaigners.

He said it was not the right response to the COVID-19 pandemic and defended the existing welfare system.

READ MORE: German government sees Tesla plant as catalyst for other large-scale projects

Over 9.5 million people have since been furloughed by their employer under the governments job retention scheme which sees the state pay 80% of furloughed staffs wages up to a maximum 2,500 per month.

The scheme is set to run until the end of October but is already winding down, with employers having to contribute to the cost of the scheme from August. Experts fear the end of the scheme could herald a surge in redundancies as many find they dont have a job to return to.

In April, Scotlands first minister Nicola Sturgeon said the coronavirus had strengthened immeasurably the case for UBI. She welcomed a report by the Reform Scotland think tank that proposed giving every adult 5,200 a year and under-16s 2,600 a year. Sturgeon said at the time that she hoped to discuss UBI with the UK government.

Listen to the latest podcast from Yahoo Finance UK
While movie theaters across the country are still largely closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, drive-in theaters have seen a rise in popularity.

Earlier this month, Walmart set up drive-in theaters at 160 of its locations, including two screenings at its New Caney location this week.

The free tickets were gone within a couple of hours for the Tuesday showing of Back to the Future and the Wednesday showing of Wonder Woman in New Caney.

As patrons drove into the Walmart parking lot to the roped-off area for the theater, they were treated to a bag full of snacks from sponsors and an assortment of drinks.

John Thomas and his wife Deborah saw the movie screening advertised on television and decided to try for the Wonder Woman screening. Its been a long time since the couple, who went to high school together, went to see a movie at a drive-in theater and they decided to use the opportunity to have a date night.

We just had our 44th wedding anniversary, Thomas said. Were rekindling our youth.

The couple said they regularly shop at Walmart and thought the drive-in was a good way for the retail corporation to give back to the community.

Thomas and his wife havent been going out much because of the pandemic. The drive-in was their first real date night out in months and the first movie theyve seen since social distancing started.

Were retired teachers, so were rule followers. Weve been staying in and trying to wear a mask and follow the rules, Deborah said. We thought this is an opportunity to get out, support the community.

The space reserved in the parking lot could hold around 100 cars but the Wednesday night showing was expected to have around 70. Small cars were directed to the front while larger cars were placed in the back. All the moviegoers needed was a working FM radio for the movie audio.

Kelsey Faulks father works at Walmart which is how she got a ticket to the show on Wednesday, which also happened to be her birthday. It was also the first time she had ever been to a drive-in movie.

It was a local event and something we could do while practicing social distancing, she said.

Going out still makes her a bit nervous these days, its why she does the pickup online option when shopping.

A few cars away, Marcus Williams and his 1-and-a-half-year-old son were getting ready to enjoy the film. Williams wife was an EMT at the event, so he and his son got some quality father-son time. Williams has already seen all the Marvel movies, including Wonder Woman, but was excited to share them with his son.

I feel like its great, he said of the drive-in event. People can congregate but youre still social distancing, and they can enjoy each others company while watching the movie. Thats a great thing.

More information about future screenings can be found at thewalmartdrivein.com.

jamie.swinnerton@chron.com
The 2020 Democratic National Convention has featured speaker after speaker describing President Donald Trumps misdeeds. Ordinary people and politicians including former President Barack Obama have denounced Trumps self-dealing, his family separation policies, his deployment of military troops on peaceful protesters, and his attacks on the integrity of both the 2016 and 2020 elections as violations of the law and the Constitution. (It wasnt so long ago, one may recall, that Trump was impeached for his role in the Russian election-meddling scandal and his obstruction of special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into it.)

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But the Democrats this week havent yet said that a President Joe Biden should or will investigate and prosecute Trump if the former vice president wins the November election. New York Times op-ed columnist Michelle Goldberg, though, did make that argument recently. I interviewed Goldberga former Slate colleagueon my podcast The Gist on Wednesday to discuss the convention, the column, and the merits and dangers of such an investigation or prosecution. A portion of our conversation is transcribed below; it has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.

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Mike Pesca: In contemplating whether to put out this column, how much did you marshal the case against Donald Trump, and argue for holding him to account legally, because thats what the law requires? And to what extent did you calculate, Is this the right time to say it? Is this the message we should be giving? I have a big platform. Is this where I want the conversation to be going? Because a lot of the criticism is essentially, Yeah, yeah, yeah, but dont say it now.

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Michelle Goldberg: I actually think people need to say it now, because I think you need to get at least some sort of commitments in that area, right? I mean, I dont think that it should be a centerpiece of the convention. I dont think it should be a chant at Joe Biden events, if there were public Joe Biden events. But I do think theres a reason that progressives are starting to put out these plans right now. Theres a reason that the Center for American Progress, which is very close to the Democratic Party, has put this out. Theres a reason that Protect Democracy is starting to do all this work.

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Partly, its because when and if a Joe Biden administration starts, its going to be mired in so many interlocking crises that there are going to be a lot of arguments, some of them persuasive, not to do this. Just as there were arguments not to do this with George W. Bush when Barack Obama came into office. And those arguments made sense at the time. He [was] facing an economic crisis; this is all hands on deck. The bandwidth of the administration is limited. He wants to move the country forward. He sort of ran on this post-partisan, bringing the country together [message].

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Its easy for me to see why they felt like those arguments were persuasive at the time. But you look at the result: It created even more of a culture of impunity in the Republican Party. And so, it created a culture, I think, where the people who are now enacting illegal schemes on Trumps behalf probably feel very little compunction about what this might mean for their future careers. So I think its just very, very important, both for justice, and also for some attempt at creating a baseline public understanding of what weve been through and what we continue to be going through, but also as an example for the next proto-authoritarian president.

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And this isnt just something that the Biden administration would be spearheading, and in some sense, it might not be something that the Biden administration is spearheading at all. It could easily, I thinkmaybe [it] should take the form of an outside commission. It could be a special committee in Congress. I know that there are people in the House who are starting to think about what this could look like. And then theres a bunch of investigations that are going on at the state level that just need to be allowed to proceed. But I do think that there should be a kind of baseline understanding in the party that there certainly cant be pardons and the next attorney general might need tofor example that this Republican-led Senate committee made criminal referrals for many people close to Donald Trump and the Justice Department never, apparently, took them up. I think there should be an expectation for the next Justice Department, not that its going to prosecute, but that its going to investigate.

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Yeah. I do think, for our democracy, its in the abstract bad for each presidential election to be somewhat of a referendum on whether to indict the previous president. If we have successive presidencies and theyre engaged in the project of locking up the last one, were never going to function.

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I think thats right, but right now, we sort of are holding up these norms single-handedly. So the Republican administrations come in and do prosecute their predecessors on totally specious bullshit charges, and then Democrats come in and say, Well, we have to uphold these norms, so were not going to prosecute or investigate actual systemic crimes. And theres no reason to believe that is going to be reciprocated in the next Republican administration.

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I actually think there is truth to that, [but] I dont think thats the most compelling argument. I think, in the specific, there are exceptions to the rules of not prosecuting the predecessor, and I think Donald Trump very well might be the exception. We talk about norms, but norms are there when laws arent, and when laws are there and theyre being violated, we cant shirk our responsibility.

But you said the important thing to do about it now is to get commitments. I understand that; that is a good strategy. On the other hand, by emphasizing that, it might imperil the entire project of getting elected. So lets say Joe Biden were asked this point-blank: Would you prosecute Donald Trump, if elected? Whats his ideal answer?

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Well, he has been asked it point-blank. And he sort of said, I think it would be very, very bad for democracy, but I wouldnt stand in the way if the Justice Department decided to pursue something. I wouldve liked him to have been maybe a little bit less negative about the whole thing, but I think I dont want him to say, Im going to direct the Justice Department to do this. To me, the important thing is him saying, I wont stop the Justice Department from doing this.

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I think all of that can be true, but I do worry a little bit about getting that out there, because Republicans need something to run on, and I dont think stronger showerheads are going to be it. If the whole thing becomes a referendum on Do elections become prosecutions of the last guy? maybe that will give some wind in the Republican sails.

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Yeah, but Mike, I dont have the power to make the election a referendum on my ideas. You know, I dont think that theres any reason to think this is going to rise that far in public discussion any more than this election is going to be a referendum on Do we resurrect the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau? Right? These are questions that I think dont capture the attention of ordinary voters evaluating the economy and the response to COVID, but theyre going to be very important in terms of staffing up a new administration. Again, I dont think that me putting this out thereI wish I had the power to set the agenda, but I obviously dont.

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I know you dont have the sole power to set the agenda, but if this becomes a big talking point, it could be bad for the Democrats, but thats a side point. My main point is, I think that you and I have a little bit of a difference in that Im very, very, very concerned about the precedent. Perhaps even as concerned as whatever it was that Trump did that deserves prosecution. Part of my concern is that when people cite that we should have prosecuted George W. Bush, I actually disagree with that. Every president probably violates the laws.

No, no, no, I dont think we should have prosecuted George W. Bush. I think there should have been something that Patrick Leahy and Sheldon Whitehouse proposed, some sort of truth commission, just to kind of get the truth out there about torture, about the origins of the Iraq war. I think that there should have been a public airing of all of that, which is something thats very different than a prosecution. I dont think there were really grounds to prosecute George W. Bush.

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But a lot of people do, and once those spirits are released  I interviewed Elizabeth Holtzman. You probably have too, and she got a lot of attention because she introduced articles of impeachment against Richard Nixon and advocated that against Trump. And yet, if you look at her record, she introduced or favored articles of impeachment of every Republican president from Nixon to the present.

Even Gerald Ford?

Ill have to look back at that. Every elected Republican president, I should say. [Ed. note: There was no formal impeachment investigation into Ford during his presidency.]

Well, I would say thats different than the argument that Im making. Part of the problem is that there have been a lot of crimes committed by a lot of Republican presidents. But I also think that Trump has been qualitatively and quantitatively different. And there has to be a way to underline that, to take this episodeif were lucky enough to be able toand sort of cauterize it. To look at it. As much as I think that Trump, in a lot of ways, is a product of trends that have been going on in the Republican Party and the conservative movement for a long time, I also think that there should be a way to mark if we canyou know, inshallahthese four years as abhorrent and turn Trumpism into an epithet for the foreseeable future.

Subscribe to The Gist on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or listen to the full episode below. Join Slate Plus, and enjoy ad-free episodes of the show.
| By UMSOM Media Relations

For the first time in its 13-year history, the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Mini-Medical School for Kids program was streamed online, allowing over 200 children from Baltimore City and across the country to participate in this years cohort.

This years program was like no other, says Diane Marie St. George, PhD, associate professor of epidemiology and public health, MPH program director, and Mini-Medical School for Kids program director. We had children from here in Baltimore and as far away as Canada logging in each week to learn from our faculty and guest presenters about health and science.

For five consecutive weeks, students learned about infectious diseases, hand hygiene, nutrition, forensics, DNA, and the importance of physical activity through interactive, two-hour sessions on Zoom. This years presenters included Rena Lapidus, PhD, assistant professor of medicine; James Campbell, MD, MS, professor of pediatrics, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health; Mariellen Synan, community outreach manager, and Asunta Henry, community outreach specialist, both from the University of Maryland Medical Center; and Rana DellaRocco, MS, F-ABC, deputy director of forensics, Baltimore Police Department.

These presentations were reinforced with smaller group activities or breakout sessions led by 20 UMSOM postdoctoral, medical, and graduate students.

Dr. Fernandes facilitating a group discussion on forensics and DNA.

It has been a great experience teaching the kids, says preventive medicine resident and MPH student Eseosa Fernandes, MD. While the program has had to make some changes, more students now than ever have a taste of what its like to be a student at the School of Medicine.

The 2020 program concluded with a STEM Panel, moderated by Vincent Conroy, PT, DScPT, assistant professor of physical therapy and rehabilitation science, which included a mixture of University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) graduate and professional student panelists. Mini-Med students were also honored in a special graduation ceremony with E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, executive vice president for medical affairs, UMB, and the John and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and dean of the School of Medicine.

All 211 graduates received a special gift from Dean Reece and a certificate of completion.

Oriyomi Dawodu, MS, who is communications and public health specialist in the UMSOM Office of Public Affairs & Communications and directs all of the UMSOM community public health education programs, conceived, developed, managed and implemented the virtual Mini-Med School for Kids. She expanded a program, which typically includes 50 children from the local community, and with the help of UMSOM faculty and students, attracted nearly 300 participants to this years virtual program  including kids as far as Texas and California, as well as from Mexico and Canada.
WASHINGTON  Although the Democratic National Convention broadcast is a nightly ode to unity, some progressive delegates say their wing is being sidelined amid efforts to bring change to the event and the candidate, a problem exacerbated by the virtual format.

Hundreds of delegates supporting Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont voted against the Democratic platform ahead of the convention, sources said, but the Democratic National Convention Committee has not released the results of that vote.

Many Sanders delegates also objected to the amount of speaking time allotted to Sanders and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-Bronx, who nominated him. They signed an open letter warning the presidential nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, against choosing certain foreign policy advisors.

Progressives said they plan to vote for Biden, but many lack enthusiasm for his agenda and want to tug him in a more populist direction after the election.

We have to be ready to battle the Biden administration," said Jeff Cohen, a Sanders delegate from Woodstock and co-founder of Roots Action, a progressive organizing group. "We are all agreeing on a two part campaign: one, to vote [President Donald] Trump out and two, to challenge the Biden administration from day one.

Secluded in their homes, Sanders delegates have organized their own virtual conventions with speakers and panels this week. They discuss the Democratic National Convention over a Slack channel that bubbled with anger when California and Nevada cast more delegate votes for Biden than Sanders, although Sanders won the primary and caucus in those states, said Jay Bellanca, a Sanders delegate from Salem and co-chair of the New York Progressive Action Network.

Im just a little disappointed at the lack of inclusion of the progressives," Bellanca said. Im sensing a lot of dissatisfaction with the establishment delegates running the whole thing.

New York Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs said Thursday that Democrats are united in 2020 "unlike weve been ever in the past, certainly more united than we were in 2016."

"We still have our differences and there may be outliers out there, but virtually everyone understands the stakes that we have in this election," Jacobs said. "Theyre just too high to waste our vote and throw away our vote on a spoiler like was done in 2016 or not come out and vote.

But a recent survey of 510 Sanders' delegates conducted by the Bernie Delegates Network found 33 percent strongly disapprove of Biden and his running mate , Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., while 19 percent somewhat disapprove, 24 percent are ambivalent, 17 percent somewhat approve and 7 percent strongly approve.

Some Sanders supporters find solace in the fact that Sanders worked with the Biden campaign to craft joint policy recommendations for his agenda. They point to Harris' liberal voting record.

"There is a great need to show unity right now for Democrats," said Patrick Campbell, professor of political science at Skidmore College. "That also gives Sanders supporters a lot of leverage, and progressives generally a great deal of leverage right now, even though they can't disrupt the convention proceedings in a televised way. They can still threaten this facade of unity."

In 2016, Patrick Nelson was one of the Sanders delegates who raised signs and wore wristbands decrying the Transpacific Pacific Partnership and shouted support for Sanders, he said. At that convention, with distrust for the Democratic National Committee running high among Sanders supporters, Sanders delegates booed people endorsing former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Over the last four years, I think things have gotten better," said Nelson, a Stillwater resident running for state Senate. "Are we where I want us to be? No.

But Nelson said he didn't want to squander a shot to elect a Democrat over some policy differences.

The sense of things in 2016 was were going to win and we need to hold this person accountable and drive them," Nelson said. "I dont know if were in the same position this year. ... Its not a foregone conclusion  the consequences of not winning this year are much much too high.

Nelson's words echoed Sanders' own warning in his Democratic National Convention speech Monday night.

"Let me take this opportunity to say a word to the millions who supported my campaign this year and in 2016," Sanders said. "Our campaign ended several months ago, but our movement continues and is getting stronger every day. Many of the ideas we fought for, that just a few years ago were considered radical, are now mainstream. But, let us be clear, if Donald Trump is re-elected, all the progress we have made will be in jeopardy."

Sanders celebrated aspects of Biden's platform including raising the minimum wage, passing paid family leave and transitioning to clean electricity, while acknowledging Biden's refusal to embrace Sanders's single-payer, government health care system, Medicare for All.

"While Joe and I disagree on the best path to get to universal coverage, he has a plan that will greatly expand health care and cut the cost of prescription drugs," Sanders said. "Further, he will lower the eligibility age of Medicare from 65 to 60."

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

The exclusion of Medicare for All from the Democratic platform prompted many Sanders delegates to vote against the platform. Cohen, Bellanca and Nelson all voted in opposition. A petition circulated among the 2020 Bernie Delegates Network encouraged a no vote.

Delegates have not been informed of how many delegates voted for and against the platform as of Wednesday. A spokesperson for the Democratic National Convention said the platform was adopted, but did not provide the vote tally.

Many Sanders supporters were also upset when language that called for end of fossil fuel subsidies and tax breaks was quietly removed from the final draft of the platform after it was voted on. A DNC spokesperson said it was removed because it was included in the platform in error.

Party platforms have become less important in modern politics because candidates do not have to commit to running on them, but they do signal where a party is going, said Zoe Oxley, professor of political science at Union College.

The progressive push against the platform is another example of their effort to shape the Biden agenda. Four hundred delegates, including nine from New York, signed an open letter to Biden urging him to hire new foreign policy advisors and ditch, among others, Susan Rice, an Obama administration national security advisor who Biden considered for his vice presidential pick.

The work doesn't stop there, Cohen said. Progressives hope to elect more like-minded politicians to the House and Senate and use them to influence a potential Biden administration.

Its an exciting time to be progressive if Biden is the president and we have such great advocates in Congress, Cohen said.

If Biden alienates the progressive wing, the risk is low voter turn-out, Campbell said.

"In the 2016 election, several states were won by quite narrow margins by President Trump, but particularly in those battleground areas," Campbell said. "Think of Wisconsin, which President Trump won by like 23,000 votes. In those 23,000 votes, his victory does not represent a great turn-out among Trump forces. It represents rather the absence of turn-out by Democratic voters, voters who had gone to the polls before for President [Barack] Obama did not show up for Hillary Clinton. I think that's one of the dangers here."

In 2016, an estimated 12 percent of people who voted for Sanders in the primaries went on to back Trump in the general election, according to a Tufts University study. But this year, many Sanders delegates feel more warmly toward Biden than they did Clinton and also fear a second Trump term.

Biden's centrism also may win him more moderate and independent voters, many of whom are older and generally more likely to vote than younger progressives, Campbell said.

"Biden and the Democratic party are trying to do two things this week, two important things," Oxley said. "Certainly one of the most important things they need to do is enthuse Democratic voters of all stripes. They want to make sure whether they are centrist, conservative or progressive, they want to make sure all Democrats turn out to vote and vote for Biden in November."

"Biden also seems to be taking the approach that he can peel off some centrist moderates and undecided/independent voters, we see that in the choice to highlight Republican speakers at the convention," Oxley added. "That fits in with Biden as a person and his governing philosophy that's his exhibited over decades."
<! Mamman Daura: Flown abroad for medical treatment >

By Muhaimin Olowoporoku

Nephew and close confidant to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mamman Daura has reportedly been flown to the United Kingdom for urgent medical treatment.

The report has continued to make round stirring controversies as speculators make different verdict regarding development on Dauras health.

He was said to have been flown in a private jet to the UK on Thursday after exhibiting respiratory difficulties with symptoms similar to Coronavirus.

However, Nigerians have begun airing their reaction on the matter with many voicing out their rage on the government as controversies trail the state of health of the presidents close confidant.

Here are comments made on Twitter as regards Mamman Dauras health state

As long as they refuse to do the needful, none of em deserves our sympathy!

You quickly forgot that this same Nigerians morn over the death of the likes of YarAdua & Dr Adadevoh. Maybe you should check the integrity and patriotism of the persons involved.

Why fly Mamman Daura https://t.co/uuKiSy1h09  CERTIFIED TROUBLE MAKER ? (@Iam_KingBuchi) August 20, 2020

No hospitals in Nigeria again ???? No hospitals in the north ?????? Shame  Sickill (@stagespirit) August 20, 2020

Who the Fuck is Mamman Daura that Nigerians need to be united for his sake? Ethno religious bigots are the first set of clowns to accuse others of bigotry. Jokers https://t.co/N2AP9b5SSL  IKECHUKWU (@iykimo) August 20, 2020

Nigerians reaction to Mamman Dauras health travails shouldnt be a surprise. 90% of the elite dont deserve pity when death stares them in the face. Yall blurred our humanity, when you decided to loot and destroy our lives. Die mutherfuckers, we just dont care.  Gov Udoms Hypeman (@romeocza) August 20, 2020

Aisha Buhari in Dubai for neck pain till today. Mamman Daura in UK for treatment. Hopefully by Sept 1, the oga pata pata of dem all also will visit UK to go and drink milk. ?  AyeMojubar ? (@ayemojubar) August 20, 2020

Abba Kyari was so unlucky, will Mamman Daura get lucky now hes been flown to UK? Btw, UK is Buharis country of choice for the almighty medical tourism he vowed to end! Now Nigerians wait for the GOOD NEWS. The last of the Three Musketeers may become another VVIP in hell..  NEFERTITI (@firstladyship) August 20, 2020

On the 8th of November 2019, @APOSTLESULEMAN made a prophecy that there would be no Cable alive in Aso Rock come 2021. Abba kyari?gone

Isa Funtua?gone

Mamman Daura?sick Dont take Gods words for granted! Always do good and gain peoples prayers!?? pic.twitter.com/eksu9MyBv4  kezman (@kezman8711) August 20, 2020

Some weeks ago, Mamman Daura set the media abuzz after he had an interview with the BBC and aired his opinion that competence, not geography should determine the next president of Nigeria in 2023.

Related
2020 Shanghai Book Fair ends in success

By:An Ranran | From:english.eastday.com | 2020-08-20 16:54

The seven-day 2020 Shanghai Book Fair, in its 17th edition, ended on Tuesday. Despite the impact of the unexpected epidemic, the fair this year has seen numerous reading events both online and offline, attracting numerous visitors to enjoy the fun of reading.

Due to the Covid-19 epidemic, lots of domestic and international book fairs have been canceled or delayed. Shanghai has taken many preventative measures to ensure the safety of visitors and staff. According to the regulations, visitors had to register with their identity cards in advance, show health codes and get their temperatures checked before entering the venue. The organizers also limited the number of daily visitors.

In addition to these physical precautions, this years fair also held online platforms to satisfy the demands of people who couldnt come to Shanghai. A lot of big-name publishers, including Shanghai Century Publishing Group, East China Normal University Publishing and Yue Yue Book, introduced the latest books and best sellers on livestreaming platforms, which boosted sales.

Statistics show that by Monday, online events had been watched over 6 million times and online pages related to the fair had been visited about 114 million times. The fair this year made innovations in both content and form, promoting the development of bookstores and stimulating consumer enthusiasm.

Launched in 2004, the Shanghai Book Fair has grown into a big cultural festival for both locals and visitors. Next year, the fair will celebrate its eighteenth anniversary.
Solano County faced down the raging LNU Lightning Complex of fires on Wednesday, but information was limited.

There were widespread reports of homes being destroyed in Vacaville at the southern end of the fire complex.

At 7 p.m. Wednesday evening, Cal Fire said group of fires stretching from Napa, Sonoma and Solano counties north into Lake and Yolo counties covered more than 124,000 acres, and they all were burning out of control.

A regional news photographer posted images on Twitter on Wednesday of homes in or near Vacaville being devoured by flames the night before. He wrote at midday that he could see "dozens of destroyed homes," but authorities did not provide details.

Nearly 6,000 households and other PG&E customers in Vacaville lost power late Wednesday, as did another 582 in Winters to the north, according to the utility - outages that reportedly were related to fire damage.

In Fairfield to the south, at about 4 p.m. on Wednesday the California Highway Patrol closed Interstate 80 in both directions after the fire jumped over the freeway. The road reopened about 9 p.m.

At 8:35 p.m., Sgt. John Divine, a public information officer with Fairfield police, issued a statement saying that no one in Fairfield had died and no structures there had been destroyed and requesting patience of residents.

"The fire is being fought aggressively by the fire department," Sgt. Divine wrote. "However, at this time we do not have information on when the evacuation order will be lifted, allowing residents to return to their homes. We understand your frustration, as there are many first responders fighting this fire whose families have been displaced as well. Please be assured everything is being done to get families reunited with their loved ones and residences as soon as possible."

At 10 p.m., Vacaville police announced on Twitter that evacuation orders for areas south of I-80, including Alamo Drive to Marna Drive, California Drive and Peabody Road, had been lifted. At the southwestern edge of town, those streets surround the California Medical Facility, the main hospital for the state prison system.

Evacuation orders remained in effect in northwestern parts of Vacaville: the north Alamo and Foothill areas north of Fruitvale Road and west of North Orchard Road and west of Brown Valley Road, according to the police department's tweet.

And Cal Fire issued a new evacuation order for communities at the opposite, northern edge of the LNU complex in southern Lake County. That order covered the east side of Highway 29 north of the Napa-Lake county line up to the Southern Intersection of Highway 29 and St. Helena Creek Road, across from the Twin Pine Casino, and all of St Helena Creek Road - but not Middletown proper.

A continually updating map of the fires that make up the LNU complex can be found at bit.ly/LNUcomplex.

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.
Todd Laurie Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network that helps every member grow professionally and make an even greater impact on the business world.

Todd Laurie, EVP of Fund Services for Baceline Investments, has been accepted into Forbes Real Estate Council, an invitation-only community for executives in the real estate industry.

Mr. Laurie was vetted and selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of his experience. Criteria for acceptance include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics, as well as personal and professional achievements and honors.

We are honored to welcome Mr. Laurie into the community, said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes Forbes Real Estate Business Council. Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network that helps every member grow professionally and make an even greater impact on the business world.

As an accepted member of the Council, Mr. Laurie has access to a variety of exclusive opportunities designed to help him reach peak professional influence. He will connect and collaborate with other respected local leaders in a private forum. Mr. Laurie will also be invited to work with a professional editorial team to share his expert insights in original business articles on Forbes.com, and to contribute to published Q&A panels alongside other experts.

Finally, Mr. Laurie will benefit from exclusive access to vetted business service partners, membership-branded marketing collateral, and the high-touch support of the Forbes Councils member concierge team.

I'm honored to be a part of the Forbes community and look forward to contributing to the wealth of knowledge already present with the other members. As one of the largest and oldest operators of small-business focused neighborhood centers, Baceline has rare insight into this nuanced and undervalued asset class, said Mr. Laurie.

ABOUT FORBES COUNCILS

Forbes Councils is a collective of invitation-only communities created in partnership with Forbes and the expert community builders who founded Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). In Forbes Councils, exceptional business owners and leaders come together with the people and resources that can help them thrive.

For more information about Forbes Real Estate Business Council, visit forbesrealestatecouncil.com. To learn more about Forbes Councils, visit forbescouncils.com.

ABOUT BACELINE INVESTMENTS

Founded in 2003, Baceline Investments, LLC is a Denver-based privately held boutique real estate investment and management company that specializes in the acquisition, management, and sale of cash-flowing, necessity-based everyday goods and services neighborhood shopping centers located in select secondary markets across America. Learn more at http://www.bacelineinvestments.com or LinkedIn.
CALIFORNIA - After decades of waiting, almost all of the victims of the "Golden State Killer" called him a monster when they took the stand against him.

On behalf of victim Cathy Roger, Detective Carol Daly, who is one of the initial detectives which were assigned to the case in Sacramento shared that the nightmare has ended and he will be forever alone in the dark.

Aside from being known as the "Golden State Killer," Joseph James DeAngelo was also known as the Original Night Stalker, East Area Rapist, and Visalia rapist over the course of his crimes which happened across California.

After charged with raping more than 50 women and murdering 13 people, DeAngelo pleaded guilty last year to raping more than 50 women and murdering people during the 1970s and 1980s. He also admitted to crimes that he has not been charged with as a part of a plea deal, CNN reported.

Victims and their family members took the stand one by one as they share the disgusting detail and horror that they had experienced.

A woman, who was 7 years old during the incident, shared that her mother was asleep when DeAngelo raped her and threatened not to make any sound to avoid getting caught.

She also mentioned that the former police officer threatened to cut her ear off and she could sense the evilness around.

She compared DeAngelo to "Hannibal Lecter" a fictional character who is a cannibalistic kind of serial killer. She emphasized that DeAngelo was proof that monsters were real as she met the boogeyman.

Others shared the numbness that they had experienced for months after they were tightly bound during the said sexual attacks.

Forty years after the said incidents, victims shared their lifelong scars. Other victims also testified and showed that the damage done by DeAngelo was not a hindrance for them to find their real happiness.

On behalf of her sister Phyllis, Karen Veilleux emphasized that may DeAngelo rot in hell.

Another woman also punctuated her "subhuman" statement with a middle finger.

In order to avoid the death penalty, DeAngelo made his plea.

A man who spoke on behalf of his mother said that their effort was just futile after the plea made by DeAngelo.

Read also: Missing Mom Found Dead, Possibly Tortured With All Teeth Removed

Justice After Decades

Despite avoiding the supposed death penalty, DeAngelo will likely serve 11 consecutive terms without parole with 15 concurrent life sentences and there will be additional time for his weapon charges.

Victims who came from one of the six counties that brought charges against him unanimously voted to accept the guilty plea.

According to CBS, Todd Spitzer, District Attorney of the Orange County shared during the filing of the plea deal that it will never bring their loved ones back or even restore the sense of security that they once felt but lost. But after 40 years of uncertainty, dozens of victims and the whole nation heard that he finally admitted the terror that he is the only responsible for.

The crimes committed by DeAngelo occurred during the 1970s and the 80s.



Related article: 11-year-old Girl Shot Dead Four Years After She Appeared in Anti-Gun Campaign Video

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Stella Moris said it is a monumental legal case with unthinkable ramifications.

The WikiLeaks founder has been held at Belmarsh Prison in London for the past 16 months, ahead of his extradition hearing in September.

Launching the appeal to fund his defence via the Crowdjustice platform, Ms Moris, the mother of their two young children, said: Julian is being targeted by the United States administration for the crime of journalism.



It is a battle of David v Goliath and we cant do this alone. We are calling on people everywhere to join us in this fight.

He helped expose war crimes and human rights abuses which the US would have preferred to keep hidden from public view. No-one has been held responsible for the serious crimes Julian has exposed. This extradition aims to entomb and silence him forever.

This is a monumental legal case which is an attack on everyones right to know about scandals which politicians and governments want buried. If the US government is successful, the ramifications are unthinkable.

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It is a battle of David v Goliath and we cant do this alone. We are calling on people everywhere to join us in this fight.

She said Assange is confined to his cell at least 23 hours a day and has had no visitors since March.

Baltasar Garzon, who leads Assanges international defence, said: This is an unprecedented legal battle and so much is at stake.

Doing justice to Mr Assanges defence is a vast undertaking. The legal team is having to do this with Julian, the most able person to contribute, locked away in prison.
Haryanas deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala said on Thursday he will follow up with the Union government and the President the issue of approval for the states ordinance that reserves 75% of private sector jobs for those who belong to the state.

The remarks came after Haryana governor decided to send the ordinance to the President, a move Chautala said was the governors prerogative.

However, we will be tabling a Bill, a replica of the ordinance to provide 75% reservation to local candidates in private jobs, during the assembly session starting on August 26, said Chautala who holds the portfolio of labour and employment department as well.

The governors move to reserve the ordinance for the consideration of President is being seen as a setback for Chautala whose Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) made a poll promise to implement the quota.

Chautala though on Thursday said the development will not have any impact on JJPs relations with its coalition partner, the BJP. The proposed law has a clause which gives it an overriding effect over other laws. Probably, thats why it was sent to the President, Chautala said.

The Law secretary had advised that the proposed law be reserved for the consideration of the president as its section 23 gave it an overriding effect over other laws and has the potential to be repugnant to an Act of the Parliament. The second aspect was that provision providing for preference in jobs to the local candidates domiciled in Haryana seemingly was in contravention of Article 14 of the Constitution pertaining to equality before law and Article 19 (1)(g) which provides for protection of certain rights to practice any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business.

Asked about the move of the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh to provide public employment only to local candidates, the deputy chief minister said that the constitutional barriers cannot be overlooked.

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President Donald Trump and the prime minister of Iraq met Thursday to discuss ways to confront Iranian aggression in the region, threats from Islamic State sleeper cells and the presidents desire to shrink the US militarys footprint in the country.

There are more than 5,000 American troops in Iraq now. Last month, the top US general for the Middle East said he believed the US will keep a smaller but enduring presence in the country. Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, the commander of US Central Command, said after he met with Iraqs new prime minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, that he believes the Iraqis welcome the US and coalition troops, especially in the ongoing fight to keep IS fighters from taking hold of the country again.

McKenzie would not say how many US troops might stay. But he said Iraqi conventional forces now operate on their own. US and coalition forces continue to conduct training and counterterrorism operations, including with Iraqi commandos. Any final decisions, he said, would be coordinated with the Iraqi government.

Al-Kadhimi, who is backed by the United States, assumed office in May when Baghdads relations with Washington were precarious following the US killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike at the Baghdad airport.

Al-Kadhimi has often had to walk a tightrope due to the US-Iran rivalry. Asked if he was bringing any messages from Tehran following a recent visit there, al-Kadhimi told The Associated Press before he left for Washington: We do not play the role of postman in Iraq.

The US recognizes the cultural and religious ties that exist between Iran and Iraq, but the administration wants to decrease Irans destabilizing influence, often exercised by pro-Iranian militias, on the political and security in Iraq.

Al-Kadhimis administration inherited a myriad of crises. State coffers in the crude oil-dependent country were slashed following a severe drop in prices, adding to the woes of an economy already struggling with the aftershocks of the global coronavirus pandemic. The US wants to make sure the Baghdad central governments limited resources also find their way to the Kurdish autonomous region in northern Iraq.

State violence used to quell the mass protests that erupted in October brought public trust in the government to a new low. Tens of thousands of Iraqis marched decrying rampant government corruption, poor services and unemployment, leading to the resignation of the previous premier, Adel Abdul-Mahdi.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who met Wednesday with Iraqs foreign minister, Fuad Hussein, said the US was committed to helping Iraq regain and maintain security, despite Trumps oft-stated desire to reduce and then eliminate American troops presence there. Armed groups are not under the full control of the Iraqi prime minister, Pompeo said. He said those groups should be replaced by local police as soon as possible and that the US could and would help.

The Iraqi prime minister told Pompeo that Iraq currently does not need direct military support on the ground, and that the levels of help will depend on the changing nature of the threat. Three years since Iraq declared victory over IS, sleeper cells continue to stage attacks across the countrys north.

Pompeo and the Iraqi foreign minister expressed hope that as the security situation improves, there will be greater economic cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the energy sector.

On Wednesday, Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette announced energy agreements worth up to $8 billion between the Iraqi minsters of oil and electricity and five US companies  Honeywell, Baker Hughes, GE, Stellar and Chevron. Brouillette said US private investment will help Iraqis energy sector and stressed a need for Iraq to reduce its dependence on energy from Iran.
Ejaz Kaiser By

Express News Service

RAIPUR: Moved by the distress of a girl from the tribal community who lost her house and books in a flash flood, Bollywood actor Sonu Sood promised to rebuild her house and to provide a new set of books.

Anjali's house was wrecked in heavy rains at Komla village in strife-torn Bijapur district, about 400 km south of Raipur. The district administration too reached out to alleviate her anguish.

Along with her parents and other villagers, she had to shift to safer areas at Mingachal, some five kilometers away from Komla, during the intervening night of August 15-16.

On her return, a couple of days later, she was shocked to find her home collapsed and the books kept on a bamboo rack lying submerged in muddy water.

After completing her Class 12, she was preparing for the pre-agricultural test (PAT).

On finding out the devastation of her house, she burst into tears -- which was captured on video and shared on Twitter by local resident Mukesh Chandrakar who also tagged Sonu Sood in the post.

The actor tweeted assurance to the girl by offering to help her get new books and a house.

The Bijapur district administration swung into action after her video had gone viral on social media.

Our procedural step to assist her didnt come as a reaction to any social media or the actors response. We acted promptly.

Its sheer coincidence that our financial assistance and the support pledged by Sonu Sood happened simultaneously.

She was given a cheque of Rs 1,01,900 and a bag for new books, which were delivered to the girl.

As Bijapur remains a left-wing extremism affected area, the incessant rains for the past few days brought a demanding task for the administration. Many areas have been terribly affected, said Ritesh Kumar Agrawal, Bijapur collector.

Bijapur Congress MLA Vikram Mandavi along with other officials also visited the girl offering her every possible help for her education and handed over the cheque. Civilians too came forward with their support.
K amala Harris made history today as she became the first black and Asian-American woman to be officially nominated to a major party's presidential ticket.

The US Senator said her mother could never have imagined that her daughter would be joining a presidential ticket.

With that, Ms Harris said: I accept your nomination for vice president of the United States of America.

During her acceptance speech Ms Harris condemned Donald Trump's "failure of leadership", adding that it had cost lives and livelihoods during the pandemic.

"We are a nation that is grieving - grieving the loss of life, the loss of jobs, a loss of certainty," she said.

Kamala Harris delivers her acceptance speech / REUTERS

Ms Harris also paid tribute to the black women who had come before her.

"Without fanfare or recognition, they organised, testified, rallied, marched, and fought, not just for their vote, but for a seat at the table," she said.

"These women and the generations that followed worked to make democracy and opportunity real in the lives of all of us who followed..

"They paved the way for the trailblazing leadership of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton."

Joe Biden, 77, named Ms Harris, 55, as his running mate last week to face incumbents Donald Trump, 74, and Vice President Mike Pence, 61.

The vice president nominee delivered her speech from a hotel ballroom in Mr Biden's hometown of Wilmington, Delaware on the second night of the virtual Democratic National Convention.

She described her vision of America as a "beloved community, where all are welcome, no matter what we look like, no matter where we come from or who we love.

"A country where we may not agree on every detail, but we are united by the fundamental belief that every human being is of infinite worth."

Kamala Harris urged voters to back Joe Biden / AP

The California senator spoke of her Jamaican immigrant father and getting a strollers eye view of the civil rights movement as her parents protested in the streets in the 1960s.

"Let's be clear: there is no vaccine for racism," she said. "For George Floyd. For Breonna Taylor. For the lives of too many others to name. For our children. For all of us.

"We must elect a president who will bring something different, something better, and do the important work. A president who will bring all of us togetherBlack, White, Latino, Asian, Indigenousto achieve the future we collectively want."

George Floyd's brothers speak at the Democratic National Convention

Ms Harris gained prominence in the Senate for her interrogations of Donald Trump nominees, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Attorney General Bill Barr.

She is the first black woman and first person of Indian descent to be nominated for national office by a major party, and only the fourth woman to be chosen on a presidential ticket.

She was preceded in the convention program by Barack Obama, meaning the nations first black president introduced the woman trying to be the first black person to hold the vice presidency.

Mr Obama said Ms Harris was an ideal partner for Mr Biden and was more than prepared for the job.

The first two nights of the four-day Democratic convention showcased statesmen and rising stars in the party who said Mr Biden's election would repair a pandemic-battered United States and put an end to the chaos of Mr Trump's four years in office.

The Republican National Convention, also largely virtual, takes place next week.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Since COVID-19 emerged late last year, there's been an enormous amount of research produced on this novel coronavirus disease. But the content publicly available for this data and the format in which it's presented lack consistency across different countries' national public health institutes, greatly limiting its usefulness, Children's National Hospital scientists report in a new study. Their findings and suggestions, published online August 19 in Science & Diplomacy , could eventually help countries optimize their COVID-19-related data  and data for future outbreaks of other diseases  to help further new research, clinical decisions and policy-making around the world.

Recently, explains study senior author Emmanuele Delot, Ph.D., research faculty at Children's National Research Institute, she and her colleagues sought data on sex differences between COVID-19 patients around the world for a new study. However, she says, when they checked the information available about different countries, they found a startling lack of consistency, not only for sex-disaggregated data, but also for any type of clinical or demographic information.

"The prospects of finding the same types of formats that would allow us to aggregate information, or even the same types of information across different sites, was pretty dismal," says Dr. Delot.

To determine how deep this problem ran, she and colleagues at Children's National, including Eric Vilain, M.D., Ph.D. , the James A. Clark Distinguished Professor of Molecular Genetics and the director of the Center for Genetic Medicine Research at Children's National, and Jonathan LoTempio, a doctoral candidate in a joint program with Children's National and George Washington University, surveyed and analyzed the data on COVID-19.

The research spanned data reported by public health agencies from highly COVID-19 burdened countries, viral genome sequence data sharing efforts, and data presented in publications and preprints.

At the time of study, the 15 countries with the highest COVID-19 burden at the time included the US, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Iran, China, Russia, Brazil, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Together, these countries represented more than 75% of the reported global cases. The research team combed through COVID-19 data presented on each country's public health institute website, looking first at the dashboards many provided for a quick glimpse into key data, then did a deeper dive into other data on this disease presented in other ways.

The data content they found, says LoTempio, was extremely heterogenous. For example, while most countries kept running totals on confirmed cases and deaths, the availability of other types of data  such as the number of tests run, clinical aspects of the disease such as comorbidities, symptoms, or admission to intensive care, or demographic information on patients, such as age or sex  differed widely among countries.

Similarly, the format in which data was presented lacked any consistency among these institutes. Among the 15 countries, data was presented in plain text, HTML or PDF. Eleven offered an interactive web-based data dashboard, and seven had comma-separated data available for download. These formats aren't compatible with each other, LoTempio explains, and there was little to no documentation about where the data that supplies some formats  such as continually updated web-based dashboards  was archived.

Dr. Vilain says that a robust system is already in place to allow uniform sharing of data on flu genomes  the World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID)  which has been readily adapted for the virus that causes COVID-19 and has already helped advance some types of research. However, he says, countries need to work together to develop a similar system for harmonized sharing other types of data for COVID-19. The study authors recommend that COVID-19 data should be shared among countries using a standardized format and standardized content, informed by the success of GISAID and under the backing of the WHO.

In addition, the authors say, the explosion of research on COVID-19 should be curated by experts who can wade through the thousands of papers published on this disease since the pandemic began to identify research of merit and help merge clinical and basic science.

"Identifying the most useful science and sharing it in a way that's usable to most researchers, clinicians and policymakers, will not only help us emerge from COVID-19 but could help us prepare for the next pandemic," Dr. Vilain says.

Other researchers who contributed to this study include D'Andre Spencer, MPH, Rebecca Yarvitz, BA, and Arthur Delot-Vilain.

About Children's National Hospital

Children's National Hospital, based in Washington, D.C., celebrates 150 years of pediatric care, research and commitment to community. Volunteers opened the hospital in 1870 with 12 beds for children displaced after the Civil War. Today, 150 years stronger, it is among the nation's top 10 children's hospitals. It is ranked No. 1 for newborn care for the fourth straight year and ranked in all specialties evaluated by U.S. News & World Report. Children's National is transforming pediatric medicine for all children. In 2020, construction will be complete on the Children's National Research & Innovation Campus, the first in the nation dedicated to pediatric research. Children's National has been designated twice as a Magnet hospital, demonstrating the highest standards of nursing and patient care delivery. This pediatric academic health system offers expert care through a convenient, community-based primary care network and specialty outpatient centers in the D.C., metropolitan area, including the Maryland and Northern Virginia suburbs. Children's National is home to the Children's National Research Institute and Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation and is the nation's seventh-highest NIH-funded children's hospital. It is recognized for its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as a strong voice for children through advocacy at the local, regional and national levels.

For more information, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

SOURCE Childrens National Hospital
After the Supreme Court gave its nod for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, the Special Investigation Team of the central agency on Thursday chalked out its strategy for the probe. The SIT arrived in Mumbai on August 20 evening and will stay at the DRDO guest house in the Santa Cruz area of the city.

The CBI team, led by CBI Superintendent of Police Nupur Prasad has formed three teams to take the investigation forward, according to sources. The first team will examine all the case diaries, related to the case, that it got from the Mumbai Police, forensic report of Mumbai and autopsy report.

At the same time, the second team will take the statement of the people involved in this case, which includes all those people whose statements were taken by the Mumbai Police.

While the third team will go to Sushant's flat with the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) experts and recreate the entire scene once again. This team of CBI has three Physicists and six Scientists from 3 Chemistry division who will study the hanging the incident.

At the same time, a team of CBI will interrogate the people associated with this case as well as those who live in that area or keep coming or who have knowledge about the people of that area. With this, the CBI will scan CCTV footage of the entire area for June 14.

The CBI has also prepared a list of questions asked to all the accused, including Riya Chakraborty and after getting different answers, the accused can be questioned face to face.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced that the CBI team has been exempted from home quarantine. A BMC official said the central investigation agency had applied for exemption from the home quarantine rule. "They are on official duty and sought an exemption from quarantine norms. They have been given exemption from the home quarantine rule," said the official. The team is likely to stay in the city for around 10 days, another official said.

As per Maharashtra Government norms, government officials on important duty and doctors on COVID-19 duty are exempt from the home quarantine rule for a period of seven days but have to apply to BMC for an exemption if they plan to stay in the city for over a week.

The CBI team, which includes forensic experts, landed at Mumbai airport around 7.30 pm, an official said, adding it will visit the actor's residence, where he was found dead. Mumbai police will hand over evidence collected in the case to CBI and will help in the investigation, he said.

The Supreme Court had on August 19 upheld the transfer of an FIR, lodged at Patna against actress Rhea Chakraborty and others for allegedly abetting Rajput's suicide, to the CBI. The apex court said that the Bihar government is competent to transfer the case to the CBI for investigation.

The top court delivered its verdict on a plea by Chakraborty who had sought transfer of the FIR lodged against her at Patna 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.

While pronouncing the verdict, the bench said that if any other case is registered regarding Rajput's death, the same shall be probed by the CBI only. It said that jurisdiction of Mumbai Police, which is conducting probe under section 174 of the CrPC which deals with the procedure to be followed in cases of unnatural death and suicide, is limited.
A middle-aged man has been confirmed dead in an accident involving a trailer and a shuttle bus at Amansea along Awka -Enugu Expressway, Anambra, on Wednesday night.

Andrew Kumapayi, Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Thursday.

Mr Kumapayi noted that the accident, which occurred around 9.p.m., was caused by speeding and loss of control.

The FRSC boss noted that four male adults were involved in the accident and one of them died in the crash.

The crash involved a red coloured Mark trailer with enlistment number JJT206ZY and a shuttle bus with registration number NEN04XQ.

According to witnesses, the trailer driver was on excessive speed leading to loss of control.

One of the passengers died instantly. The other three injured victims were rushed to Amaku General Hospital in Awka by FRSC rescue team for medical attention, he said

Mr Kumapayi said the driver of the trailer had been handed over to the police for further investigations.

While condoling with the families of the dead, he warned motorists against speeding, especially within built-up areas.

(NAN)
The state government has said that its proposal to match the offer made by the highest bidder  the Adani group  for Thiruvananthapuram airport was not allowed by the Centre, and therefore the people would oppose the move. In the letter, the CM said it would be difficult for the local administration to cooperate with the Centre following the latters move. ...

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MONTREAL, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - MHI RJ Aviation Group is pleased to announce five Airlines who have achieved exceptional performance as winners of the 2019 CRJ Series Airline Reliability Performance Awards. These awards serve as recognition of worldwide operators of CRJ Series regional jets who have achieved industry-leading dispatch reliability rates of 99 per cent or better during 2019. MHI RJ Aviation Group (MHIRJ), with the acquisition of the CRJ Series Aircraft Program in June, is proud to be partnered with a such a distinguished group of regional airlines and to continue the tradition of recognizing superior performance.

The winners are Air Nostrum (nominated twice), Air Wisconsin, China Express Airlines and Jazz Aviation. For more details on the winners and prizes, please refer to the appendix at the end of this press release.

In light of global COVID-19 pandemic concerns, MHIRJ will not be holding a celebration event as it has in the past, rather notifying the winners with their trophy, individually.

"These awards demonstrate the superior capabilities of the Regional Airlines, the strength of their teams, and emphasize the long-standing collaboration between operators, suppliers and the MHIRJ team" said Ismail Mokabel, Senior Vice President, Head of Aftermarket for MHI RJ Aviation Group. "Our commitment to partner with our customers and perpetuate the success of the CRJ Series family of aircraft for years to come remains our top priority".

"The 2019 CRJ Series Airline Reliability Awards carry on the tradition of recognizing outstanding performance and the strength of the Regional Aviation business," said Hiroaki Yamamoto, President and CEO for MHI RJ Aviation Group. "It is an enduring demonstration of our admiration towards our customers and our committed talent here at MHIRJ that help them achieve their performance goals."

The winners of the 2019 Airline Reliability Awards are listed in Appendix A.

About MHI RJ Aviation Group

MHI RJ Aviation Group (MHIRJ) provides comprehensive critical operational, engineering and customer support solutions including maintenance, refurbishment, technical publications, marketing and sales activities for the global regional aircraft industry. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, and bolstered by an Aerospace Engineering Centre, MHIRJ's network of service centres, support offices and parts depots are positioned in important aviation hubs in the U.S., Canada and Germany. MHI RJ Aviation Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.

For more information about MHI RJ Aviation Group, please visit: www.mhirj.com

About MHI

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), headquartered in Tokyo, is one of the world's leading industrial firms with 80,000 group employees and annual consolidated revenues of around US$38 billion. For more than 130 years, the company has channeled big thinking into innovative and integrated solutions that move the world forward. MHI owns a unique business portfolio covering land, sea, sky and even space. MHI delivers innovative and integrated solutions across a wide range of industries from commercial aviation and transportation to power plants and gas turbines, and from machinery and infrastructure to integrated defense and space systems.

For more information, please visit MHI's website: www.mhi.com/index.html

*CRJ, CRJ Series and MHIRJ are trademarks of MHI RJ Aviation ULC or its affiliates.

Appendix A

Winners of the 2019 Airline Reliability Awards



CRJ100/200 Aircraft Programs Dispatch Reliability %





Europe: Air Nostrum 99.5





North America: Air Wisconsin 99.2





CRJ700/CRJ900/CRJ1000 Aircraft Programs Dispatch Reliability %





Europe: Air Nostrum 99.6





Asia Pacific: China Express Airlines 99.8





North America: Jazz Aviation 99.0

SOURCE MHI RJ Aviation Group
(CNN) - The ads are everywhere - germicidal ultraviolet lights that can disinfect surfaces and perhaps help stop transmission of coronavirus.

But how well do they work? Maybe not as well as people may think, the United States Food and Drug Administration says.

Spotty, limited use

Lamps that use ultraviolet light to kill germs can inactivate coronavirus, but they are not always safe and it's not clear how good a job they do at killing the virus, the FDA says on a newly posted advisory.

Ultraviolet light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum emitted by the sun and can be produced by light bulbs, also. UVC rays are absorbed by the ozone in the Earth's atmosphere ozone, but rays of UVA and UVB do reach the Earth's surface and can cause sunburn and skin cancer if people get too much.

The FDA said UVC wavelengths are better than UVA and UVB light at destroying viruses, but UVC lamps have their limits.

"The effectiveness of UVC lamps in inactivating the SARS-CoV-2 virus is unknown because there is limited published data about the wavelength, dose, and duration of UVC radiation required to inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus," the FDA said in a newly posted statement.

Plus the lamps only work in limited circumstances, which don't mimic many real life situations.

"It is important to recognize that, generally, UVC cannot inactivate a virus or bacterium if it is not directly exposed to UVC. In other words, the virus or bacterium will not be inactivated if it is covered by dust or soil, embedded in porous surface or on the underside of a surface," the FDA said.

There are real dangers

There's been an explosion of products on offer to fight coronavirus, including germicidal lamps. The World Health Organization warns against trying to use them to disinfect human skin, including the hands.

If a light is going to inactivate a virus, it takes both time and intensity to do so. A quick flash of weak light is not going to do any harm to a virus, and if it is strong enough to take apart a virus, it could damage human skin and especially tender eyes.

"Direct exposure of skin and eyes to UVC radiation from some UVC lamps may cause painful eye injury and burn-like skin reactions," the FDA cautions. "Never look directly at a UVC lamp source, even briefly."

In addition, some UVC lamps generate ozone, which can irritate airways. "UVC can degrade certain materials, such as plastic, polymers, and dyed textile," the FDA added.

"Some UVC lamps contain mercury. Because mercury is toxic even in small amounts, extreme caution is needed in cleaning a lamp that has broken and in disposing of the lamp."

Pulsed xenon lamps can be used to disinfect hospital rooms, but the strong light means they are used when people are not in the room, the FDA said.

LED lamps can produce UV radiation but they don't cover much area, making them "less effective for germicidal applications," the FDA said.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Ultraviolet UVC sanitizers can be dangerous and have limited use against coronavirus, warns FDA"
AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Two lawyers from Austin-based business litigation firm George Brothers Kincaid & Horton LLP have earned "Lawyer of the Year" honors in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. The veteran trial lawyers are among four firm attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers, one of the most prestigious peer-review attorney guides in the nation.

Name partners D. Douglas Brothers and B. Russell Horton, partner Gary L. Lewis, and Of Counsel Julie A. Ford are honored for their work based on nominations from other lawyers and votes from peers in the same practice areas.

This year, Mr. Horton earned individual distinction as "Austin Lawyer of the Year" for Securities Litigation. A Best Lawyers honoree since 2014, Mr. Horton's practice includes the representation of both plaintiffs and defendants in complex commercial, patent, trade secret, antitrust and securities disputes. He is board-certified in both Civil and Personal Injury Trial Law.

Ms. Ford, recognized twice this year for her First Amendment work, was also named "Austin Lawyer of the Year" for excellence in First Amendment Litigation. Now in her 14th year as a Best Lawyers honoree, Ms. Ford's First Amendment practice includes nearly three decades of successfully representing news organizations, television networks, magazines and book publishers.

In his 13th year as a Best Lawyers honoree, Mr. Brothers has earned recognition in three practice areas: Bet-The-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, and Legal Malpractice. A 2016 "Austin Lawyer of the Year" honoree for Bet-The-Company Litigation, Mr. Brothers has earned an impressive track record of wins for both plaintiffs and defendants in trials, appeals and arbitration proceedings in a variety of business disputes.

Mr. Lewis is recognized by Best Lawyers for his work in Commercial Litigation. A Best Lawyers honoree since 2019, Mr. Lewis works on a wide range of complex legal issues, from employment disputes, breach of contract and discrimination cases, to shareholder oppression actions, class actions, and product liability claims.

"We are so happy for Russ and Julie. To have two of our attorneys receive Austin Lawyer of the Year recognitions is an incredible honor," said Mr. Brothers. "Our firm's focus has always been to use our skills and experience to help our clients reach the best possible outcome, so to be recognized by our peers  those who know exactly what we do every day  is truly wonderful."

George Brothers Kincaid & Horton LLP is nationally recognized for exceptional representation in high-stakes commercial litigation including intellectual property, securities, insurance, professional liability, media and First Amendment disputes. The firm's partners are seasoned trial lawyers who have earned the respect of clients, adversaries, and colleagues. For more information, please visit http://www.gbkh.com/

Media Contact:

April Arias

800-559-4534

[email protected]

SOURCE George Brothers Kincaid & Horton LLP

Related Links

https://gbkh.com


Its demands include the release of all political prisoners.

The Coordination Council for the Transfer of Power in Belarus has voiced its main requirements.

A resolution issued following the first meeting of the council's presidium was posted on the KYKY Kuluary Telegram channel.

Read alsoEU leaders agree to slap sanctions against Belarus over rigged vote results

The Coordination Council says their main goal is "to find ways to overcome the political crisis in Belarus and ensure harmony in society," rather than to change the country's policy or constitutional order.

The Coordinating Council demands:

End of violence and political persecution, an investigation into the incident;

Release of all political prisoners and payment of compensation to victims;

Non-recognition of the presidential elections on August 9 and the announcement of new elections according to international standards with a new composition of all election commissions, including the Central Election Commission.

The members of the presidium called on the Belarusian authorities to immediately begin negotiations with the opposition and warned that until new elections are called, the people of Belarus will continue to exercise their rights to strike, peaceful actions and freedom of expression.

The Coordination Council of the Opposition and Lukashenko
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has held out hope that a US bid to extend a UN arms embargo on his country will fail

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani expressed "great hopes" Wednesday that a US bid to extend an arms embargo on his country will fail, warning of consequences if the UN Security Council backs it.

Rouhani's remarks came after Iran's ambassador to the United Nations said the US would have to redraft its proposed resolution on the issue after being "rebuffed" by Security Council members.

"We have great hopes that America will fail," Rouhani told a televised meeting of his cabinet.

The ban on selling weapons to Iran is set to be progressively eased from October under the terms of Resolution 2231, which blessed the Iran nuclear deal that world powers agreed in July 2015.

But a UN embargo on materials and technology that Iran could use for its ballistic missile programme is to remain in place until 2023.

The European Union has said it will continue to enforce its own embargo against Iran after the lifting of the first UN restrictions.

Under the accord officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Iran committed to limiting its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

The JCPOA has been on life-support since the US under President Donald Trump withdrew from it and reimposed unilateral sanctions in 2018.

Iran has since taken small but escalatory steps away from compliance with the agreement as it presses for the sanctions relief it was promised.

- 'Blatant violation' -

"We have great hopes that America will realise its failure and see its isolation," the Iranian president said.

"But our stance in any case is clear. If such a resolution comes to pass... it means a blatant violation of the JCPOA," he added, warning the "consequences will rest with the perpetrators of this act".

Iran's envoy to the UN, Majid Takht Ravanchi, said on Wednesday that the US "was forced to retreat" from its draft resolution after being "rebuffed by UNSC members" and had to propose a fresh version.

Story continues

"The new draft is similar -- in its NATURE and GOAL -- to the previous. Confident that the Council will -- again -- reject this move."

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said earlier the new draft was a "five-page resolution reduced to five sentences", and added that by presenting it as new, the US was disrespecting Security Council members.

The original US text, seen by AFP in New York, effectively called for an indefinite extension of the arms embargo on Iran and used hawkish rhetoric.

- 'Unholy mess' -

A new US-drafted resolution also seen by AFP was slimmed down from that one, but it still calls for an indefinite extension.

With most European countries in the 15-member Council expected to abstain, the new text is unlikely to get the nine votes it needs to pass.

If it does, China and Russia intend to veto the resolution.

Richard Gowan, a New York-based UN expert at the International Crisis Group, said the US had "mishandled the diplomatic choreography over this resolution".

"They wanted to push their hardline draft and then make a show of compromising on a shorter text, which they hoped Estonia or Tunisia would introduce," he said.

"But the Estonians and Tunisians, like most other Council members, seem to have decided that they want as little to do with this unholy mess as possible.

"After talks on Monday, both turned down the opportunity to table the compromise text," he told AFP in New York.

"So now the US has had to do that itself. But the goal, which is to move towards snapback, remains the same."

European allies of the US -- Britain, Germany and France, who along with Russia and China, are parties to the JCPOA -- have voiced support for extending the conventional arms embargo but their priority is to preserve the nuclear deal.

Washington has threatened to use a contested argument that it remains a "participant" in the JCPOA -- despite its withdrawal -- and if UN sanctions are not extended, it can force their return if it sees Iran as being in violation of the accord's terms.

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Meeting of the OPEC and Non-OPEC's Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee, JMMC, took place via videoconference on Wednesday 19 August 2020, under the Chairmanship of Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Salman, Saudi Arabias Minister of Energy, and Co-Chair Alexander Novak, Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation, Trend reports citing Zawya.

The Committee reviewed the monthly report prepared by its Joint Technical Committee, JTC, and developments in the global oil market since its last meeting on 15 July 2020. The Committee also considered market prospects for the second half of 2020 and for 2021.

The Committee emphasised the ongoing positive contributions of the Declaration of Cooperation, DoC, in supporting a rebalancing of the global oil market. It recalled the historic decisions taken by all Participating Countries in the DoC at the 10th (Extraordinary) OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting on 12 April 2020 to adjust downwards overall crude oil production, and the unanimous decisions taken at the 179th Meeting of the OPEC Conference and the 11th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting on 6 June 2020.

The outcomes of the June Meetings extended the first phase of the production adjustments until 31st July, 2020; provided a compensation mechanism for participating countries that could not achieve full conformity; and endorsed monthly meetings of both the JMMC and the JTC to strengthen monitoring and keep abreast of very dynamic market fundamentals.

The Committee reviewed the crude oil production data for the month of July 2020 and welcomed the significant performance in overall conformity for participating OPEC and non-OPEC countries of the DoC, which was recorded at 97 per cent in July 2020, including Mexico as per the secondary sources.

The Members of the JMMC reaffirmed their commitment in the DoC to achieve full and timely conformity. In addition, the underperforming Members of the Committee reaffirmed their commitment to compensate for the shortfalls in May, June, and July 2020 by the end of September 2020. It also requested other underperforming participating countries to submit their plans for implementation of the required compensation for the overproduced volumes to the OPEC Secretariat by the end of next week, 28th August, 2020.

The Committee emphasised that achieving 100 per cent conformity from all participating countries in the DoC and compensating for the shortfalls in May, June and July 2020 is not only fair, but vital for the ongoing rebalancing efforts and to help deliver long-term oil market stability.

It instructed the JTC and the OPEC Secretariat to closely monitor and report to the JMMC on the implementation of the required compensation by the underperforming participating countries as stipulated in their plans.

The Committee observed that there are some signs of gradually improving market conditions, including the inventory build in July 2020 being reversed and the lessening of the gap between global oil demand and supply. Nevertheless, the pace of recovery appeared to be slower than anticipated with growing risks of a prolonged wave of COVID-19.

It underscored the fragility of the market and significant uncertainties, particularly associated with oil demand, and called for vigilance by all participating countries.

The Committee thanked the JTC and the OPEC Secretariat for their contributions to the meeting.

The next meetings of the JTC and the JMMC are scheduled for 16th September and 17th September, 2020, respectively.
Trevor Nordquist, 27, paddles at Codorus State Park in York County. He visited 121 state parks in 303 days. Read more

Last summer, Trevor Nordquist was in Colorado, exploring every inch of that state while he worked for the volunteer public-service program Americorps. With a newfound love of the outdoors, he returned to Pennsylvania.

Nordquist, 27, a graduate student at Slippery Rock University in Butler County, north of Pittsburgh, realized he didnt really know his home state at all. So he packed up his camping gear and pointed his Hyundai Elantra, well, everywhere. He visited every state park in Pennsylvania  121 of them in 303 days  and finished up last week in Lancaster County.

A motorcycle club also accomplished the every park feat in recent years, according to the PA Parks and Forests Foundation. The state gives out bandannas to those who log all of them.

Nordquist, who studies Japanese and Arabic, said he hopes to create a website about his journey and possibly write a childrens book.

Whats the first state park you visited on your journey?

It was Oct. 15, 2019, and the park was Oil Creek State Park, near Oil City [in Venango County, Western Pennsylvania].

What constitutes a visit in your eyes? Is it overnight? A few hours?

There are a few state parks that are basically a picnic bench or a plaque, and I stepped out and took a photo there. At each park, I tried to see a scenic vista or a point of interest. In some I kayaked, in others I hiked. I tried to do something different at each one.

 READ MORE: Pa. survivalists have been prepping for a disaster scenario like coronavirus. Now, many feel vindicated.

How did you plan them out?

I planned by geography. I would look on a map and plan to see a certain amount with each trip. Some days, I would hike so much, the last thing I wanted to do was sleep in a tent and wake up uncomfortable. I did tent by myself for the first time, though. I have friends across the state, too, so sometimes I stayed with them, and sometimes I got a local hotel room.

Do you have a favorite of all the 121 parks you visited?

Salt Springs State Park [in Susquehanna County] was my favorite. Nearby there is Ricketts Glen State Park and it seemed like everybody knows about that and its waterfalls. It was extremely crowded and not that enjoyable for me. But at Salt Springs, theres also waterfalls and you drive up this dirt road to the top and theres a giant meadow full of wildflowers. I just wanted a really peaceful experience and found it there.

What was your least-favorite park?

Marsh Creek State Park in eastern Pennsylvania [Chester County] was pretty underwhelming. It was right outside of a big housing plan. It just felt unnatural.

See any interesting animals along the way?

In Elk County, as I was driving, I had to stop multiple times to let elk cross the street. I had never seen them before in Pennsylvania. At Susquehannock State Park, my last park just the other day, I made it to the last overlook and saw a bald eagle right over the Susquehanna River. That felt like a fitting end.

 READ MORE: Bear attack or encounter? Latest incident fires up debate over hunting New Jerseys most controversial animal.

Whats the best piece of advice for someone trying to repeat your accomplishment?

Have a reliable car. Also, be mind mindful of your waste. Every park I traveled to reminded visitors to take out what they take in, but I saw a lot of trash at many parks. Everyone should carry a trash bag with them.

Whats the most interesting thing you ate on the road?

Well, Im vegan, so I cant say that I did scrapple or the Philly cheesesteak. In Lancaster, I stopped at an Amish farm and had real, fresh root beer, and that was a great experience.
MBABANE - The African Development Bank Group provided an E86.6 million (US$5 million) institutional support grant to the AU towards the establishment of the AfCFTA secretariat.

AfCFTA is the acronym for African Union Commission inaugurates African Continental Free Trade Area. Last year, the Kingdom of Eswatini was competing against some of the continents biggest economies to win hosting rights for the AfCFTA Secretariat. The African Development Bank (AfDB) congratulated the African Union (AU)/AfCFTA on the investiture of the Secretariat hosted by Ghana on August 17, 2020. The Bank is delighted to be associated with this groundbreaking, game-changing, transformational continental initiative in furtherance of the objective to create the Africa we want, said Solomon Quaynor, the Banks Vice-President for the Private Sector, Infrastructure and IndustrialiSation.

Our support to the AfCFTA is in keeping with the Banks role of continental leadership in helping to build special-purpose vehicles that are critical to the successful implementation of crucial institutions to accelerate Africas economic development objectives, Quaynor added. At a ceremony this past Monday to commission the permanent secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Ghanas President Nana Akufo-Addo and Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairperson of the AU Commission, reiterated the importance of the body to the continents economic transformation agenda.

Integration

The economic integration of Africa will lay strong foundations for an Africa beyond aid. Africas new sense of urgency and aspiration of true self-reliance will be amply demonstrated by todays ceremony, Akufo-Addo said. Ghana was selected as the venue for the headquarters by African leaders during a Summit of AU Heads of states in Niamey in July last year, to launch the implementation phase of the agreement, which is expected to spur regional trade among member countries. Currently, 54 states have signed on to AfCFTA, out of which 28 have ratified.
Ellen DeGeneres found herself in hot water after staff from The Ellen DeGeneres Show called her out for her rude and unprofessional behavior. Now, all eyes are on the comedian to see what shell do and how her show will fair.

Even if DeGeneres gets canceled by her fans, it seems she has her house flipping business to fall back on. And shes talked in the past about how she buys home after home, lives in them, and flips them once shes bored and looking for something new.

Ellen DeGeneres has been flipping houses since 2004

RELATED: Ellen DeGeneres Replacement Chatter Has Fans Talking About Shows Irrelevance and Cancellation

While Degeneres is best known for her talk show, it seems shes actually been flipping homes for nearly two decades. The comedian grew up in Louisiana and worked as a house painter prior to finding success with her comedy skits. And she spoke to Architectural Digest back in 2011 about her home-flipping ventures and why she started buying houses just to sell them again.

We never had a house when I was growing up, she shared. We always rented. But my father would dream, and we used to look at houses all the time. Id pick out which bedroom would be mine and get all excited.

Degeneres then explained that as soon as she attained a good amount of money from her show, she started buying homes. Her wife, Portia de Rossi, then added that Rossi continued to purchase another one and another one. As of 2011, Rossi and DeGeneres bought a new home for every year they were together.

DeGeneres talked about selling her homes after she gets bored

Ellen DeGeneres during the Fox Presents the IHeart Living Room Concert For America | Fox via Getty Images

While most folks find their dream home and plan to stay there for awhile, such isnt the case for DeGeneres. She explained to Today that after she gets a little bored with one of her properties, she prepares to sell it and move on.

We buy a house and we love it, and we stay in it, DeGeneres said, Business Insider notes. Then we get a little bored because we like a different style or different aesthetic  and I love furniture and decorating  so if I find something else, and we make money, why not move to another house?

It seems DeGeneres is making quite a lot of money from fixing up homes. In 2019, Architectural Digest reported she sold properties that were $6.98 million, $15.5 million, and $23 million  and that was all in one year. Back in 2003, she sold her first flipped property for Will Ferrell for $9 million when she bought it for $6 million.

She bought one of her own homes twice

It seems DeGeneres loved one of her own properties so much, she bought it twice. Curbed LA reported in 2014 that DeGeneres sold one of her homes to Jodie Fosters wife back in 2007. And DeGeneres bought back the property in 2014 after it was completely remodeled.

DeGeneres paid quite a lot to buy back the property, too. The publication notes she spent $10 million on the house and property next to it. The home boasts four bedrooms, four bathrooms, two-car garage, two fireplaces, and plenty of other modern conveniences the rest of us cant even imagine purchasing.

Since DeGeneres was re-buying one of her old places, that meant she was getting rid of the condos she resided in at the time, too. The south unit was going for $8.5 million, and the north was selling for $7.5 million.

Were not sure where the current drama with The Ellen DeGeneres Show will leave the comedian when it comes to her time on television. But it seems she has this passion as a backup plan if all else fails.

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Gov. Gavin Newsom will address the Democratic National Convention on Thursday in a prime-time slot colloquially known as the Obama spot.

Thats the perch in the speakers lineup reserved for the partys next rising star, which then-Ilinois state Sen. Barack Obama became after electrifying the convention in 2004 with a speech in which he famously said, There is not a liberal America and a conservative America  there is the United States of America. Four years later, he was elected president.

But while Newsom, 52, is on the top shelf of the partys national stars, his path to the presidency recently became more complicated.

If Joe Biden is elected, his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, could be vice president or president for the next 16 years, said veteran California Democratic strategist Rose Kapolczynski. While she could choose her own vice president in 2028, it is not going to be another Californian.

So in terms of his national aspirations, (Newsom) could be running for president for the first time when hes 68 years old, she said. But hey, thats young by presidential standards of this year, when the top three Democratic primary candidates were Biden, 77, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, 78, and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, 71.

Further complicating Newsoms path is that he will be sharing Thursdays stage with other rising stars, including Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois; former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg; Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms; and entrepreneur Andrew Yang. All but Duckworth, who is also 52, are younger than Newsom.

Kapolczynski said some of those prime-time speakers will be auditioning for Cabinet positions in a possible Biden administration. But some will also be playing the long game in laying the groundwork for a White House run.

Newsoms best hope, in terms of his national aspirations, would be a Democratic nightmare: President Trump wins re-election, putting 2024 up for grabs. As governor of the nations largest state, home to the partys deepest pool of donors and activists, Newsom will always be near the top of the prospective candidate list.

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

Harris, who fared poorly in her own run for president last year, would be facing historical headwinds if she decided to run again in 2024. In this century, the only two vice presidential nominees on losing tickets who later launched their own presidential runs, Democrats Joe Lieberman and John Edwards, came up well short of the White House. In fact, no one has succeeded since Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Democrats losing No. 2 in 1920, won the presidency 12 years later.

Complicating matters further: Newsom could be reluctant to take on Harris in 2024, as they share the same donor base and core California supporters.

So for now, said Nate Ballard, a longtime Newsom confidant and former spokesman who is also friendly with Harris, the next generation is waiting in the wings. (Harris) has that top spot now. But the Democratic Party has definitely handed Gavin that plum assignment (Thursday). He will be top of mind whenever the next presidential spot is open.

In the meantime, Newsoms task Thursday will be first, to talk up Biden and Harris. And second, to tell Californias story as the nations innovation hub.

A lot of things, like a $15-an-hour minimum wage and paid family leave policies and an aggressive climate change plan, that are on the partys platform are already being done here, Kapolczynski said.

Newsoms ascent to a prime speaking position caps a remarkable reclamation job with party leaders. Most of the Democratic establishment froze him out in 2004 after Newsom, then mayor of San Francisco, authorized same-sex marriages at City Hall.

Obama, then running for the U.S. Senate, refused to be photographed with Newsom when he was in San Francisco for a fundraiser. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, then the most influential Democrat in California, said the same-sex marriage move was too much, too fast, too soon.

Newsom had no role in the 2004 national convention, as most Democrats wanted to avoid the issue. But slowly, the older generation of Democrats changed their minds. In 2012 the party backed same-sex marriage in its platform, and Obama announced his support.

By then, Newsom was well on the way to redeeming himself in the eyes of party activists and the national media. At the 2008 convention, he hosted one of the weeks most popular parties at an artsy Denver warehouse, and Time magazine labeled him one of its five hotshots to watch in the Democratic Party.

Two of the others on Times list: Cory Booker and Kamala Harris.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg this week testified at a Federal Trade Commission investigative hearing related to the federal agency's antitrust investigation into the tech company, the company confirmed to CNBC on Thursday.

"We are committed to cooperating with the US Federal Trade Commission's inquiry and answering the questions the Agency may have," Facebook spokesman Joe Osborne said in a statement.

Politico was first to report Zuckerberg's testimony with the FTC. Zuckerberg testified virtually over the course of two days, according to Politico.

It's unclear what exactly Zuckerberg spoke about, but the testimony is the latest sign that the FTC is pushing forward with an antitrust probe that the agency opened into the social media company in June 2019. However, the testimony does not necessarily mean that the agency will pursue an antitrust lawsuit agains the company, according to Politico.

The testimony follows a public hearing last month before the House Antitrust Subcommittee alongside Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Apple CEO Tim Cook and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai. At the hearing, Zuckerberg was grilled over the competitive nature of the company's $1 billion acquisition of Instagram in 2012 and the $19 billion purchase of WhatsApp in 2014.

You can read the full Politico report here.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 03:11:41|Editor: huaxia

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NICOSIA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Tourist arrivals in Cyprus plunged 85.3 percent in the first seven months of this year, reflecting the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on one of the main economic sectors of the eastern Mediterranean island, the Statistical Service of Cyprus (CYSTAT) said on Wednesday.

It said arrivals from January to the end of July totaled 320,589 compared with 2,181,994 in the same period of 2019. About two-thirds of this year's tourists had arrived up to the middle of March, before the COVID-19 crisis hit Cyprus. No tourist arrivals were recorded in April and May.

After the lifting of a total lockdown in the country, just 9,119 tourists arrived in June, and the number went up to 64,914 in July, a year-on-year drop of 88.2 percent.

Tourism contributes almost 22 percent to Cyprus' annual GDP of 21.9 billion euros provisionally estimated for 2019.

Greece was its main source of tourists in July, followed by Germany, but no arrivals were recorded from the United Kingdom, traditionally the biggest tourist source for Cyprus.

Britain was included in Group B countries, from where travelers are required to have a negative coronavirus test before boarding.

However, the fact that there are no major laboratories undertaking coronavirus tests outside the National Health Service, plus the high cost of the test, prevented Britons from coming to Cyprus.

Deputy Minister of Tourism Savvas Perdios said on Tuesday that Cyprus does not expect many tourists from the United Kingdom even after Jet2, Britain's second biggest tour operator, resumed flights to Cyprus as of Monday.

"Our expectations are low, although we are happy that the British market opened as Category B and despite the fact that yesterday Jet2, with whom we had an agreement, began bringing tourists from the UK to Cyprus," Perdios said.

He said his ministry is targeting other countries, such as France, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Austria and Germany, which have been added to the flight program of budget airline Wizz Air, a Hungarian low-cost airline, to offset the loss of the British market.

"These are the markets that are completely harmonized with what we want to achieve as a ministry," Perdios said.

Tourist arrivals in Cyprus reached 4 million in 2019, about four times the island's population. (1 euro =1.19 U.S. dollars) Enditem
KITCHENER  The new dashboard for the supervised consumption site in downtown Kitchener is online.

Region of Waterloo Public Health launched the dashboard on the regions website Wednesday after a short delay to share monthly data, including the number of visits, unique clients, overdoses reversed, needle retrievals, 911 calls and security incidents.

The goal is to help the community get a better understanding of how the Duke Street site is operating, and how many people are helped. Data on harm-reduction programs including the consumption and treatment services site is normally shared in reports to regional council.

The dashboard for Duke Street is similar to the regions COVID-19 public dashboard.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks at the St. Nicolas National Shrine during an event in Manhattan on Aug. 3, 2020. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters)

Cuomo Signs Bill to Expand Absentee Voting in the State

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill on Aug. 20 to allow New Yorkers to vote by mail if theyre concerned about spreading or contracting the CCP virus.

I just signed legislation to guarantee that New Yorkers can vote safely & that EVERY vote counts, Cuomo, a Democrat, wrote on Twitter. All voters can now request an absentee ballot if they are concerned about COVID.

Cuomo said residents can now request absentee ballots starting Aug. 20.

This legislation ensures that every vote counts, he wrote, adding that state Board of Elections departments have to count all ballots postmarked on or before Election Day [and] received within 7 days after Election Day, and they must count all ballots without a postmark received on Nov. 4, which is the day after Election Day.

Previously, New York state law only provided absentee ballots to voters who were absent from their county or werent able to get to a polling site because of an illness, a physical disability, or if they are a caretaker.

These actions will further break down barriers to democracy and will make it easier for all New Yorkers to exercise their right to vote this November, Cuomo said in another statement.

The governor previously signed a measure allowing all New York residents to vote by mail in the primary election on June 23. He also cited concerns over COVID-19, which is caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

The legislation also removes a statutory provision that prevents voters from getting absentee ballots until 30 days before Election Day.

State legislators said that removing certain requirements will provide voters, state election boards, and post offices more time to process ballots.

With an increasing number of voters planning to vote by absentee ballot this year, it is important to give local boards of election sufficient time to process applications and send out ballots, and maximize the time voters have to complete and return them, state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, a Democratic sponsor of the bill, said in a statement on the governors website.

Cuomo on Aug. 20 said that President Donald Trumps attempt to change U.S. Postal Service operations was a reason for the signing of the bill and accused the president of an unprecedented attack on the U.S. Postal Service and with COVID-19 threatening our ability to have safe, in-person voting.

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced on Aug. 18 that he will delay several reforms to the USPS after mostly Democratic lawmakers raised concerns about mail delivery. DeJoy is slated to testify in front of the Republican-controlled Senate on Aug. 21, and he will appear before the Democratic-controlled House Oversight Committee next week.
JUBA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- A team of Chinese medical experts arrived in South Sudan on Wednesday to strengthen the east African nation's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The eight-member team from China's Anhui Province consists of experts in the fields including laboratory technology, infection, insensitive care, public health, and nursing.

During their nine-day mission, the Chinese medics will share knowledge and experience with senior South Sudanese government officials, local health experts, medical institutions and also train South Sudanese medical staff on COVID-19 response.

"We hope together with our African friends, we will put efforts and enhance the war against COVID-19," Team leader Liang Chaozhao said upon arrival in Juba.

The Chinese government also donated medical supplies for COVID-19 response in South Sudan.

Elizabeth Achuei Yol, South Sudan's health minister, said the Chinese medical aid came at the right time when the country's fragile health system is grappling to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

"On behalf of my country to the Chinese people and government, thank you so much because you have been supportive to the people of South Sudan and we appreciate whatever we get from you," Achuei said.

The medical experts were accompanied by the eighth batch of the Chinese medical team to South Sudan. The 15-member team will provide free medical service in the conflict-torn country for one year.

Hua Ning, Chinese ambassador to South Sudan, said the arrival of the medical experts demonstrated China's continued support to South Sudan's health sector.

"This is a concrete action to implement the results of relevant conferences and promote the China-Africa community of shared health. We will never forget the strong solidarity and support South Sudan has extended to China during this most difficult time of our battle against the pandemic," Hua said.

The Chinese envoy said the medical experts will boost South Sudan's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

South Sudan's total confirmed COVID-19 cases stood at 2,494. It had reported 47 deaths and 1,290 recoveries as of Tuesday. Enditem




The Delhi High Court has held that the scheme approved by the Supreme Court for assessing students due to cancellation of CBSE exams in light of COVID-19 will also apply to students, who appeared for improvement examinations as they are equal victims of the pandemic.

The high court said like regular students, those who appeared for improvement exams would also be entitled to avail of the scores as per the assessment scheme or appear for the optional examination whenever it is held by the Central Board of Secondary Examination (CBSE).

The student having sacrificed one full year and also having improved his scores in two of the subjects to a much higher level than what he had scored in the previous year, in the opinion of the court, there is no reason as to why he should be treated differently from the regular candidates, Justice Prathiba M Singh said.

The high courts order came while hearing a plea by a student who appeared in CBSE class 12th exams held in February-March, 2019 and secured 95.25 per cent.

Thereafter, to improve his score, he dropped one year and decided to re-appear in Accountancy, English Core, Economics and Business Studies for an improvement examination in 2020.

While other exams were held as per schedule, the Business Studies exam, which was slated for March 24, was cancelled due to the lockdown announced on account of COVID-29.

The student, Sanyam Gupta, sought that his result for the improvement examinations ought to be declared and in respect of the cancelled paper of Business Studies, he should be treated at par with the regular students for whom an assessment scheme was approved by the apex court.

The high court directed the CBSE to issue a corrected marksheet to the student.

Let the consolidated marksheet reflecting the scores in the improvement examinations for all four subjects, that is, English Core, Economics, Business Studies and Accountancy after applying the assessment scheme dated July25, 2020, be released within a week, it said.

The high court said, An improvement student is equally a victim of the pandemic just like a regular student. In the case of an improvement student like the petitioner, the cancellation leads to a greater loss in as much as his entire effort and hard work for the last one year has been put to naught.

The pandemic has affected one and all. If students have been able to appear in a few examinations and for no fault of theirs, one of the examinations is getting cancelled, they should be able to score the average of their improvement scores in the improvement examination as per the scheme of the CBSE which has been approved by the Supreme Court, it said.

The CBSE had submitted that it had taken a separate decision in respect of students who had appeared for the improvement examination and that the assessment scheme which was placed before the apex court was only concerned to regular students.

It had contended that improvement students could not be treated at par with regular students as they had already had the opportunity to appear once in the examinations.

The high court said that in case any students score is reduced in the improvement examination, by applying the assessment scheme, the said students would have the benefit of the legal position, that is, they would be able to rely on the better of the scores.

As far as CBSE is concerned, the CBSE would apply the assessment scheme for release of the marksheets in the case of all improvement candidates in respect of their cancelled examination as well.
Perth, Australia, Aug 19, 2020 - (ABN Newswire) - Torian Resources Limited (ASX:TNR) is pleased to announce that the Board has appointed experienced geologist Mr Dale Schultz as a Non-Executive Director.



Dale Schultz has over 30 years of experience in the mining and exploration industry in North and South America. He has a M.Sc. from the University of Saskatchewan and is a registered Professional Geoscientist in the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan.



Over the years, Mr. Schultz has been the Qualified Person (QP) for a number of projects including Solex Resources' Pilunani and Macusani projects in Peru, Channel Resources' El Mozo project in Central Ecuador, Aurelians' Bonza-Penus resource campaign on the Condor Project in Central Ecuador, Majescors' Douvray porphyry copper-gold project in Haiti, Nova Minerals' Estelle project in Alaska and spent time at Battle Mountains' Kori Kollo mine in Bolivia.



Mr. Schultz has also extensive experience in a number of other gold mining operations in Canada and brings with him invaluable experience ranging from initial exploration stages through to underground and open pit mine production of large gold systems.



The Company also wishes to advise that Mr Louie Simens has stepped down as Non-Executive Chairman, with the Chairman role to be filled by current Executive Director, Mr Paul Summers.



The Company thanks Mr Simens for his contribution and his devotion to the Company over the past 6 months and wishes him all the best for his future.



Torian Executive Director Mr Peretz Schapiro said, "Since joining Torian's geological team in March 2020, we have been very impressed with Mr Schulz's technical expertise and expert analysis.



We are about to embark on a very exciting period for the Company, with an extensive drilling programme at the Mt Stirling Gold Project to get underway during the current quarter. Having a geologist of Mr Schulz's calibre and expertise on our Board, broadens our board's skill set, and most importantly gives us the confidence that we are on the right track to be making some significant discoveries.



We would also like to thank Mr Louie Simens for his time as Chairman. Mr Simens has worked tirelessly for the company over the last 6 months and has played a significant part in the company's strategic review and recapitalisation. Although he will be stepping down from the Board, Mr Simens will continue to be involved with the Company moving forward."





About Torian Resources Limited:



Torian Resources Ltd (ASX:TNR) is a gold exploration and development company with an extensive and strategic land holding comprising eight projects and over 400km2 of tenure in the Goldfields Region of Western Australia.



Torian's flagship project, Zuleika, is located along the world-class Zuleika Shear. The Zuleika Shear is the fourth largest gold producing region in Australia and consistently produces some of the country's highest grade and lowest cost gold mines. Torian's Zuleika project lies north and partly along strike of several major gold deposits including Northern Star's (ASX:NST) 7.0Moz East Kundana Joint Venture and Evolutions (ASX:EVN) 1.8Moz Frogs Legs and White Foil deposits.



Torian's other projects include the strategically located Mt Stirling and Malcolm Projects in the Leonora region (near Red 5's King of the Hills Project), where it recently completed updated Mineral Resource Estimates and preliminary scoping studies, and a suite of other projects in the Kalgoorlie region including Credo Well JV Zuleika JV, Bonnie Vale, Gibraltar and Mount Monger/Wombola.



Contact:



Peretz Schapiro

Executive-Director

info@torianresources.com.au



Source:



Torian Resources Limited



Copyright (C) 2020 ABN Newswire. All rights reserved.
South Africa: President Ramaphosa assures AFCFTA of unwavering support

President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity as the African Union (AU) Chairperson, has assured African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretary General, Wamkele Mene, of his unwavering support in the execution of his duties to promote the AfCFTA.

President Ramaphosa gave Mene his support during the handover ceremony of the AfCFTA Secretariat building in Accra, Ghana, to the African Union Commission (AUC).

Ghana was selected to host the AfCFTA Secretariat by AU Member States on the occasion of the 12th AU Extraordinary Summit in Niamey, Niger, in July 2019.

President Ramaphosa has, on behalf of the AU and the continent, expressed his profound gratitude to the government and people of Ghana for generously offering the building that houses the AfCFTA.

This day is indeed a milestone and a strong affirmation of the vision of an integrated Africa, which was envisioned by the founding fathers of the OAU, including Kwame Nkrumah, 57 years ago.

It is a fitting tribute that the AfCFTA headquarters are being housed in Ghana, said President Ramaphosa.

President Ramaphosa has also assured the Secretary General of the AUs commitment to the successful implementation of the AfCFTA, as a practical contribution to the economic development of Africa. He welcomed the progress achieved thus far in the implementation of the 12th AU Extraordinary Summit.

President Ramaphosa also acknowledged the challenges that exist in the negotiations, particularly around the issue of the Rules of Origin and trade offers, as well as trade in services.

We are confident that through your leadership and the determination of the AU Member States, all bracketed issues should be resolved, President Ramaphosa said.

Mene is the first Secretary General of the AfCFTA. He was elected in February 2020 with a mandate to administer the free trade agreement, which creates a single market for AU Member States, with a combined population of over 1 billion and a total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of about US $2.5 trillion.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-08-20. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Midnight Oil begins with a panorama of a place thats become cemented in the mythology of present-day Philadelphia: the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery.

Wow, look at this place, a mans voice says, awestruck, as the camera shakily pans across the massive facilitys pipes and towers. I never imagined  like, how did I end up here? You know? Im not good with my hands. Always wanted to be an artist. But now Im here, after 15 years.

Theres a wistfulness to this admission, a nod to an entire lifes worth of dreams stowed away. The kind of dreams you set aside for the realities of the world: Your family needs to eat. You need to eat. Youre just trying to survive.

But as the film unfolds, we learn that his dream has been realized. The documentarys narrator is Bilal Motley, a former refinery worker and the one behind the camera.

Its these two competing threads that run through a series of shorts focused on labor being screened virtually at this years BlackStar Film Festival. The films, part of a shorts program called The Grind that will screen Sunday, center on workers who are not often in the spotlight  nail technicians, cleaners, caregivers  unless theyre being exploited or otherwise done wrong.

In those mainstream stories, forces act upon them. They are the victims, lacking any agency in a cruel world set up to see them fail. In these films, the workers are the heroes. Not the kind of heroes that popular media would manufacture in a rags-to-riches story or a story of overcoming the odds. And certainly not the kind of worker heroes that marketers have sought to brand during the pandemic.

No, these workers are the heroes in that they are the stars, the leading men and women of these films. They narrate the story. They shape it. Theyre artists in their own right, in a way that society often chooses to overlook. At the same time, theyre flawed, desperate, dreaming of something else yet working all the same.

That is how we survive, says an Irula snake catcher of his work in the documentary Nila  a stark contrast to how the film depicts his work as a near-mystical and dangerous art form. But in these films, workers are afforded that complexity.

In See You Next Time, filmmaker Crystal Kayiza honors the relationship between a Chinese nail technician in Brooklyn and her Black client with close shots of the nail artist at work, massaging her clients hands and carefully gluing tiny jewels onto her nails. Scenes in the salon are cut with shots of Black and Asian models, where the cameras graceful pan and the classical music make it seem like theyre dancing ballet.

Kayiza, whose film also screened at Sundance this year, has said she hoped to showcase what she called the artistic collaboration between nail techs and their clients and to take time to celebrate the people in our communities that take care of us. And though the film provides a stage for the intimacy and the artistry between manicurist and client, Kayiza also wanted to honor another reality: At the end of the day, its a job, she said in a filmmaker panel set to screen after The Grind.

 READ MORE: 3 Asian American artists talk labor: The emotional, the invisible, the inconsequential

By showing labor in all its nuances  its beauty, the people it connects us to, but also its mundanity and its dangers, which the manicurists pre-COVID-19 face mask suggests, Kayiza pays respect to workers whose labor is not often depicted as meaningful or important.

Motley similarly complicates a narrative that divided Philadelphians over the last year: the fate of the South Philly refinery, the site of a debilitating explosion last summer. In first-person shots where hes directly talking to the camera on his phone, he takes us through his internal struggle. The refinery is the place that allowed him to comfortably raise a family and that employed many people he cares about, but what has it done to the community around it? And what has the racism he experienced as a Black man at the refinery done to him?

By now, the story of what happened after the refinery exploded, how it revealed the pain and trauma that many Philadelphians had been living with for years, has been written over and over again. But watching Midnight Oil, which garnered Motley death threats after it was first screened, feels like seeing the refinery saga with new eyes. Its a story that only a worker could tell.
Home Two wheelers COVID-19 Pandemic: Yamaha Motorcycles India To Lay-Off Employees As Part Of Major Restructuring oi-Rahul Nagaraj

Yamaha Motors India is said to be planning on a major restructuring of its operations in the country. According to reports from ET Auto, the two-wheeler manufacturer has been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, causing a major reshuffle at its two facilities in India.

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Air quality will be tested four times a day, local occupation authorities say.

A leak has been reported at the Crimean Titan plant, a major manufacturer of titanium dioxide, in the northern part of the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula, close to the de-facto border with mainland Ukraine.

Chief of the "Russian administration of Armyansk" Vasily Telizhenko said that the expert would test air quality for the three next days four times per day after reports of a leak at the plant, according to RFE/RL.

The official has claimed via Facebook that the concentration of hazardous substances in the air does not exceed permissible levels.

Read also"Humanitarian crisis" in Crimea narrative invented by Russian propaganda  KulebaEarlier, head of the Titanovie Investitsii LLC branch in Armyansk, Eduard Kurmachev, said that on August 18, an "insignificant cloud" had formed over the plant, which dissipated within 10 minutes.

Leaks at "Crimean Titan": background

In August 2018, an unknown substance leaked into the air over northern Crimea. In Armyansk and Yana Kapu (Krasnoperekopsk), metal objects were being covered with rust, leaves were falling from trees, and birds were seen dying amid a persistent acid stench in the air. Due to air pollution, local doctors said residents started reporting respiratory complaints at an unusual rate.

Another release of chemicals was reported in mid-September 2018. Occupation "authorities" in Crimea claimed that the reason for the pollution was the evaporation of acid from a storage tank used by the "Crimean Titan" plant as a result of the heat and drought. The state of emergency was introduced in Armyansk and a decision was made to suspend operations at the plant for two weeks, to evacuate children and women.

Ukrainian intelligence said the environmental situation deteriorated after projectiles reportedly hit chemical waste sedimentation tanks at titanium and soda plants during Russian military drills.
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman urges Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE: KODK) investors with losses in excess of $250,000 to submit your losses now . A securities fraud class action has been filed and certain investors may have valuable claims.



Class Period: July 27, 2020 - Aug. 7, 2020

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Oct. 13, 2020

Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/KODK

Contact An Attorney Now: KODK@hbsslaw.com

844-916-0895

Eastman Kodak Company (KODK) Securities Class Action:

The complaint alleges that Defendants perpetrated a scheme to profit from the use of material non-public information by misrepresenting and concealing material facts regarding a purported deal Kodak reached with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).

Specifically, on July 27, 2020, Defendants caused Kodak to issue a statement to media outlets based in Rochester, New York, where Kodak is headquartered, on the imminent public announcement of a new manufacturing initiative involving the DFC and the response to COVID-19. Following media publication of Kodaks initial statement on the deal, the Company claimed this information was released inadvertently.

That same day, Kodak granted several insiders options to purchase approximately 1.885 million shares of the Companys common shares, including Executive Chairman and CEO Jim Continenza, who received options to purchase 1.75 million shares, and CFO David E. Bullwinkle, who received options to purchase 45,000 shares.

On July 28, 2020, the price of Kodaks shares jumped 200% following news that the Company had won a $765 million government loan from the DFC to produce pharmaceutical materials, including ingredients for COVID-19 drugs. Shares continued to surge by over 300% the next day. This massive stock price increase allowed Kodak insiders to enrich themselves from the compensation scheme.

In days following the deal announcement, media outlets uncovered Defendants compensation scheme. As a result of these revelations, the SEC is reportedly investigating, the DFC paused the deal, and Kodaks share price has declined sharply thereby damaging Class Period investors.

Were focused on investors losses and holding Kodak and its insiders accountable for their fraudulent compensation scheme, said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.

If you are a Kodak investor who lost over $250,000 on Class Period investments, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman .

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Kodak should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email KODK@hbsslaw.com .

About Hagens Berman

Hagens Berman is a national law firm with nine offices in eight cities around the country and eighty attorneys. The firm represents investors, whistleblowers, workers and consumers in complex litigation. More about the firm and its successes is located at hbsslaw.com . For the latest news visit our newsroom or follow us on Twitter at @classactionlaw .
-- Net sales increased 36% quarter-over-quarter and 169% year-over-year

--Adjusted EBITDA of $11.4 million, increasing 131% quarter-over-quarter

-- Positive cashflow from operations of $10.4 million

- Anticipates 2020 full year net sales of at least $192 million and adjusted EBITDA of at least $45 million; Expects continued positive cashflow from operations in the second half of the year

NEW YORK and TORONTO, Aug. 20, 2020 /CNW/ - TerrAscend Corp. ("TerrAscend" or the "Company") (CSE: TER) (OTCQX: TRSSF), a leading North American cannabis operator, today reported financial results for its second quarter ending June 30, 2020.

Second Quarter 2020 Financial Highlights

(Unless otherwise stated, comparisons are made between Fiscal Q2 2020 and Q2 2019 results and are in Canadian dollars)

Net sales increased 169% to $47.2 million from $17.6 million .

increased 169% to from . Gross margin increased to 56%, compared to 9% (before gain on fair value of biological assets).

increased to 56%, compared to 9% (before gain on fair value of biological assets). Adjusted EBITDA 1 was $11.4 million , or 24% of net sales.

was , or 24% of net sales. Positive Cashflow from operations of $10.4 million .

of . Cash & equivalents (including restricted cash) of $75 million , compared to $17 million .

Management Commentary

"We are producing strong revenue growth while maintaining our focus on delivering industry leading margins and profitability," said Jason Ackerman, CEO and Executive Chairman of TerrAscend. "I am incredibly proud of the performance we have achieved to date and want to thank our entire team for the great execution. After achieving our first quarter of positive EBITDA in Q1, we have now achieved another significant milestone of positive cashflow from operations in Q2. Moving into the second half of 2020, we look forward to continued strong revenue and profitable growth as we bring our high-quality products to New Jersey patients through our first Apothecarium dispensary in the state, further expand our cultivation capacity in Pennsylvania, and add to our retail footprint in California. We are also very excited to complete the buildout of our cultivation facility in New Jersey which will begin to generate material sales in early 2021".

Second Quarter 2020 Operational Highlights

Subsequent Events

2020 OUTLOOK AND GROWTH PLANS

Based on the ongoing strength of the Company's operations, TerrAscend anticipates full year net sales of at least $192 million driven by second half 2020 net sales growth of at least 34% versus the first half of 2020 and 109% year over year. Adjusted EBITDA for the year is expected to be at least $45 million. The outlook is driven by the company's continued emphasis on further expansion of its most profitable business in Pennsylvania and ramp up and further expansion of its retail footprint in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and California while maintaining a tight overall focus on costs.

Key financial highlights are summarized as follows:

Q2 2020 Financial Summary

(In ooo's of Canadian Dollars, Except Per Share Amounts) Q2 2020 Q1 2020 Q2 2019







Net Sales $47,230 $34,798 $17,572 QoQ increase 36%



YoY increase 169%











Gross profit (loss) before gain on fair value of biological assets 26,464 15,546 1,509 % of Net Sales 56% 45% 9%







General & Administrative Expense 15,706 14,600 11,376 % of Net Sales 33% 42% 65%







EBITDA1 3,777 1,802 (16,777)







Total adjusted EBITDA1 11,431 4,941 (8,649) Adjusted EBITDA % of Net Sales 24% 14% -49%





1. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are Non-IFRS measures. Please see discussion and reconciliation of Non-IFRS measures below.

Net sales increased 169% to $47.2 million in the second quarter of 2020 ("Q2 2020"), as compared to $17.6 million in the second quarter of 2019 ("Q2 2019"). Net sales in the U.S were $42.2 million in Q2 2020, contributing 90% of total consolidated net sales, reflecting TerrAscend's continued focus on this important market. This increase was driven by the operational scale-up of TerrAscend's U.S footprint, which the Company has strategically expanded through investments in production capacity as well as its wholesale and retail sales presence. The Company continued to expand organically through an increase in production and wholesale capacity in Pennsylvania and store expansions in Pennsylvania and California.

Gross margin, before gain on fair value of biological assets, was 56% in Q2 2020, compared to 45% in Q1 2020 and 9% in Q2 2019. The increase in gross margin is the result of the Company's shift to higher margin opportunities in the U.S., as well as ongoing initiatives to optimize its Canadian operations to focus on a more profitable and sustainable business.

Q2 2020 G&A expense was $15.7 million, representing 33% of Net Sales, a reduction from 42% of Net Sales in Q1 2020 and 65% of Net Sales in Q2 2019. TerrAscend expects to continue to strategically invest in acquiring the talent and developing the appropriate infrastructure to ensure continued success in the high-growth U.S market while driving operating leverage as the Company's operations continue to scale.

Adjusted EBITDA was $11.4 million in Q2 2020, compared to $4.9 million in Q1 2020 and an Adjusted EBITDA Loss of $(8.6) million in Q2 2019. Adjusted EBITDA margins expanded sequentially to 24% in Q2 2020 from 14% in Q1 2020.

Cashflow from Operations was $10.4 million, representing the first quarter of positive cashflow from operations for the Company.

Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash, were $75 million as of June 30, 2020, compared to $17 million as of June 30, 2019, and $31 million as of March 31, 2020. The sequential increase in cash and equivalents was driven by the previously announced $37 million non-brokered private placement and positive cashflow from operations.

Conference Call

TerrAscend will host a conference call today, August 20, 2020, to discuss these results. Jason Ackerman, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Keith Stauffer, Chief Financial Officer, and Jason Wild, Chairman, will host the call starting at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time. A question and answer session will follow management's presentation.

DATE: Thursday, August 20th, 2020 TIME: 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time WEBCAST: Click to Access DIAL-IN NUMBER: 1 (888) 664-6392 CONFERENCE ID: 45891339 REPLAY: (416) 764-8677 or (888) 390-0541

Available until 12:00 midnight Eastern Time Friday, September 3rd, 2020

Financial results and analyses are available on the Company's website ( www.terrascend.com ) and SEDAR (www.sedar.com).

The Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About TerrAscend

TerrAscend provides quality products, brands, and services to the global cannabinoid market. As the first North American Operator (NAO), with scale operations in both Canada and the US, TerrAscend participates in the medical and legal adult use markets across these jurisdictions. TerrAscend operates a number of synergistic businesses, including Ilera Healthcare, Pennsylvania's premier medical marijuana cultivator, processor and dispenser; The Apothecarium, an award-winning cannabis dispensary with several retail locations in California; Valhalla Confections, a manufacturer of premium cannabis-infused edibles; and Arise Bioscience Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of hemp-derived products. TerrAscend holds a cultivation permit in the State of New Jersey and is pending approval for a vertically integrated medical cannabis operation with the ability to operate up to 3 Alternative Treatment Centers. Additionally, TerrAscend holds a Medical Cannabis Processor License in the State of Utah. For more information, visit www.terrascend.com.

Non-IFRS Measures, Reconciliation and Discussion

Certain financial measures in this news release are non-IFRS measures, including Pro forma revenue, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. These terms are not defined by IFRS and, therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures provided by other companies. These metrics have no direct comparable IFRS financial measure. Such information is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. For more information, please see "Non-IFRS Financial Measures" in the Company's Interim MD&A available on www.sedar.com .

Pro forma revenue is a non-IFRS measure which management uses to capture total revenue plus revenue from pending and closed acquisitions as if such acquisitions had occurred at the beginning of the performance period. The Company considers this measure to be an appropriate indicator of the growth and scope of the business.

EBITDA is a non-IFRS measure which management uses to evaluate the performance of the Company's business as it reflects its ongoing profitability. EBITDA is calculated as earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization.

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS measure which management uses to evaluate the performance of the Company's business as it reflects its ongoing profitability. The Company believes that certain investors and analysts use Adjusted EBITDA to measure a company's ability to service debt and to meet other payment obligations or as a common measurement to value companies in the biopharmaceutical industry. The Company measures Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA less unrealized gain on changes in fair value of biological assets and other income plus fair value changes in biological assets included in inventory sold, purchase accounting adjustments, transaction costs, share based compensation and unrealized loss on investments. The Company believes that this definition is suited to measure the Company's ability to service debt and to meet other payment obligations.

Certain comparative figures have been reclassified to conform to the current period's presentation.

Caution Regarding Cannabis Operations in the United States

Investors should note that there are significant legal restrictions and regulations that govern the cannabis industry in the United States. Cannabis remains a Schedule I drug under the US Controlled Substances Act, making it illegal under federal law in the United States to, among other things, cultivate, distribute or possess cannabis in the United States. Financial transactions involving proceeds generated by, or intended to promote, cannabis-related business activities in the United States may form the basis for prosecution under applicable US federal money laundering legislation.

While the approach to enforcement of such laws by the federal government in the United States has trended toward non-enforcement against individuals and businesses that comply with medical or adult-use cannabis programs in states where such programs are legal, strict compliance with state laws with respect to cannabis will neither absolve TerrAscend of liability under US federal law, nor will it provide a defense to any federal proceeding which may be brought against TerrAscend. The enforcement of federal laws in the United States is a significant risk to the business of TerrAscend and any proceedings brought against TerrAscend thereunder may adversely affect TerrAscend's operations and financial performance.

Forward Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as, "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "expect", "anticipate", "believe, "intend", "plan", "forecast", "project", "estimate", "outlook" and other similar expressions, and include statements with respect to future revenue and profits. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management in light of management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors relevant in the circumstances, including assumptions in respect of current and future market conditions, the current and future regulatory environment; and the availability of licenses, approvals and permits.

Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, current and future market conditions; risks related to federal, state, provincial, territorial, local and foreign government laws, rules and regulations, including federal and state laws in the United States relating to cannabis operations in the United States; and the risk factors set out in the Company's annual information form dated May 31, 2019, filed with the Canadian securities regulators and available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

Financial Outlook

This press release contains a financial outlook within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. The financial outlook has been prepared by management of TerrAscend to provide an outlook for the first quarter of 2020 and may not be appropriate for any other purpose. The financial outlook has been prepared based on a number of assumptions including the assumptions discussed under the heading "Forward Looking Information" above and assumptions with respect to production, pricing, and demand, The actual results of TerrAscend's operations for any period will likely vary from the amounts set forth in these projections and such variations may be material. TerrAscend and its management believe that the financial outlook has been prepared on a reasonable basis. However, because this information is highly subjective and subject to numerous risks, including the risks discussed under the heading "Forward Looking Information" above, it should not be relied on as necessarily indicative of future results. Except as required by applicable Canadian securities laws, TerrAscend undertakes no obligation to update the financial outlook.

TerrAscend undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of TerrAscend, its securities, or financial or operating results (as applicable).

SOURCE TerrAscend

For further information: Keith Stauffer, Chief Financial Officer, [email protected]; Rob Kelly, Investor Relations, Mattio Communications, [email protected], 1-416-992-4539
By Akbar Mammadov

The Azerbaijan Defence Ministry has said that the practice of using foreign mercenaries is widely used in the Armenian armed forces due to the lack of conscripts and mobilization resources in that country.

In the statement posted in its official Facebook page on August 19, the ministry also spoke about the April battles of 2016 where Armenian forces were defeated.

The Armenian people should know that [Former President Serzh] Sargsyan and his military-political regime are the cause of the crushing defeat of the Armenian army in the April battles, the ministry said.

The ministrys statement comes after Sargsyans false allegations yesterday about the presence of military instructors from Turkey and Israel in the Azerbaijani Army during the April battles.

The ministry said that Sargsyans statement was aimed to restore his reputation amid the Armenian parliamentary commissions investigation of Armenias defeat in the April war.

It is not surprising that Sargsyan, who partially recovered from the impact of the blow he received four years after the April war, voiced such nonsense in order to justify himself, the ministry stated.

The ministry said that the Azerbaijani army is presently staffed with professional military personnel trained both in the country and in the worlds most prestigious military educational institutions, and has the state-of-the-art weapons and military equipment in its arsenal.

The Azerbaijani army is capable of preventing any Armenian provocation, the ministry concluded.

The ministry also reminded Armenias military provocation on the border with Azerbaijan last month, saying that the Azerbaijani army resolutely repelled the Armenian attack.The cross-border clashes on the border started with Armenia's shelling Azerbaijani positions in Azerbaijan's strategically-important Tovuz district on July 12. The Armenian attack killed 12 Azerbaijani servicemen, including an army general, as well as a 76-year-old civilian. Armenian forcers retreated after suffering losses in Azerbaijan's retaliation.

The April battles of 2016, also known as the four-day-war, were initiated by Armenian military provocation on the line of contact. During the battles, the Azerbaijani army displayed military superiority over the Armenian, repelling the Armenian attack and liberating parts of Aghdara, Fuzuli and Cabrayil regions from occupation.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
The prime minister called on entrepreneurs to take part in the shaping of the Strategy.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal says a new economic strategy will be developed in Ukraine, which will be the basis for the development of further national target programs.

The decision was made at a meeting held upon an initiative of the prime minister on August 14, between the Government members, representatives of the Office of the President of Ukraine, the leadership of the National Bank of Ukraine and Ukrainian businesses, the Cabinet's press service said on Friday.

The meeting was attended by CEOs and top managers of more than 50 companies to discuss development of the National Economic Strategy 2030.

Target programs

"National target programs encapsulating the initiatives laid out in the document will be developed and implemented in 2021," the press service said.

The prime minister called on entrepreneurs to take part in Strategy shaping.

Securities market

Shmyhal has noted the need to create a full-fledged and civilized securities market among the strategic goals for the next decade.

"It is a tool enabling citizens to invest, in particular, in their own national companies and generate income. At the same time, it will contribute to capitalization of national businesses to make their operation and reporting more transparent," he said.

Process moderator

The Economic Recovery Center has been designated as an analytical center and moderator of Strategy drafting, CEO of Advanter Group Andriy Dligach wrote on Facebook, adding that he is the Center's co-founder.

Shmyhal's advisor Kyrylo Kryvolap wrote on Facebook that an "intensive sprint" is planned "until mid-December."

"A public discussion will start in September (preceded by work in expert groups). Solid draft  in October. The final document plus a series of government resolutions activating the main elements, draft laws, and state targeted programs that launch funding is scheduled for December," he said.

According to Kryvolap, "specific vectors of development" will be identified during the development of the strategy.

New ministry

In July 2020, Ukraine's government established the Ministry for Strategic Industries.
President Muhammadu Buhari has again violated the Covid-19 protocol by allowing a private jet fly his nephew Mamman Daura to the UK for urgent medical attention on Wednesday.

Nigeria has yet to approve re-opening of international flights since March.

But Dauras casehe was allegedly showing symptoms of covid-19made the Buhari-government defy the order.

Daura, one of the most powerful of the Aso Rock cabal, is 79.

In the early days of the pandemic lockdown, Buharis CoS Abba Kyari also fell sick, showing similar symptoms.

The presidency, however, could not fly him to his hospital in the UK because of the ban on international flight by the UK.
After everything we learned during the Hayne royal commission about the danger of poor culture in the finance industry, AMPs continued insistence that one of its most senior executives, Boe Pahari, remain in his position is inexplicable.

Mr Pahari was recently appointed as AMP Capital chief executive and is described as a rainmaker for the troubled financial services giant. In 2017 he was fined $500,000 (a quarter of his annual bonus) for what the company dismissed recently as low level disciplinary issues, revolving around "comments made and language used" to a young female subordinate.

The woman at the centre of these issues, Julia Szlakowski, has been frustrated by AMPs response and Mr Paharis promotion, and earlier this week released to the Sydney Morning Herald the gritty details of a long night in London which she says amounted to sexual harassment.

After a work meeting, she claims Mr Pahari repeatedly asked her to use his credit card to buy clothes so he could take her to dinner at a swanky restaurant. When she refused he allegedly told her she was effectively accusing him of having a limp dick.

She says he took her to a private club with his mates from the Ferrari club, called another employee a fag, asked how old her oldest boyfriend had been, suggested they communicate via the encrypted WhatsApp message system to avoid company attention, bombarded her with late-night text messages and paid to extend her stay in London. All of this happened after he had brought her to the meeting from the United States on the companys coin when her immediate boss saw it as unnecessary, according to her complaint.
In the various stage-managed goings-on at this weeks Democratic National Convention, the presence of the United Auto Workers stands out.

In her appearance, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer delivered her remarks live from a UAW local hall in Lansing. In a pre-recorded speech, former UAW President Bob King nominated Bernie Sanders for the partys presidential ticket, purely a formality given the majority of the delegates are pledged to Biden and Sanders himself long ago endorsed Biden. UAW Secretary-Treasurer Ray Curry appeared alongside US Senator Gary Peters (who, given the large number of right-wing Republicans invited to speak at this years convention, we are obliged to confirm is a Democrat) as the representatives of the Michigan delegation.

(Image Source: Screen Capture from video stream)

Curry and Peters joint statement was particularly significant because they praised the role played by Biden in the Obama administration's 2009 restructuring of the US auto industry. The Detroit-based automakers were returned to profitability through tens of thousands of job losses and the slashing of wages for new hires by one-half; in return for its cooperation, the UAW received tens of billions of dollars in GM stock and a seat on its board of directors. We'd be nowhere without Joe Biden. A lot of people wanted Detroit to go bankrupt, Peters declared.

In fact, while Detroit-based auto corporations received tens of billions of dollars in federal bailouts, the city of Detroit was forced into bankruptcy in 2013. This was the result of a conspiracy involving both Republican then-governor Rick Snyder and Detroit Democrats, including the city's emergency manager and Obama backer Kevyn Orr, to loot the coffers of Detroit, converted by decades of plant closures from the center of the global auto industry to the poorest large city in America, to pay off its Wall Street creditors. Obamas Justice Department specifically intervened to block any lawsuits from retired city employees who wanted to protect their pensions.

The promotion of the UAW and other unions by the Democrats is calculated to portray this party of Wall Street and the Pentagon as a supposed champion of the working class. In reality, it demonstrates that one of the chief constituencies of the Democratic Party is the corrupt union apparatus, which both big business parties rely on to suppress the class struggle, increase the exploitation of workers and promote economic nationalism and militarism.

For autoworkers who are the victims of decades of betrayals, the oversized presence of the UAW at the convention is something of a provocation. After all, the UAW has been thoroughly exposed as a bought-and-paid-for agent of the auto companies. On Monday, two days before the appearance of UAW officials, the Detroit News reported that the Justice Department was seeking to impose a 10-year-long federal oversight on the UAW to settle criminal corruption charges.

Ten UAW officials have already pleaded guilty to federal embezzlement and corruption charges, including bribes from FCA officials in exchange for favorable contract terms that cut wages and eliminated the eight-hour day. General Motors alleged in court earlier this month that the scale of corruption at FCA alone is an order of magnitude larger than what has already been uncovered, running in the tens of millions and involving an elaborate system of offshore bank accounts.

While the true scale of the bribery and graft which is endemic in the UAW may never be publicly revealed, Curry himself no doubt has an intimate knowledge from his position as secretary treasurer of the national union. Federal investigators, were they so inclined, could well have detained Curry for questioning the moment his video feed ended.

Former UAW President Gary Jones was unavailable to speak because he is awaiting sentencing after having pleaded guilty to embezzling $1 million in union dues. Nor is the schedule open for Jones' predecessor Dennis Williams; he is on the verge of being indicted and the UAW itself has cut off financial support for his legal fees. While current President Rory Gamble was no doubt consulted in preparing the stage-managed appearances of Curry and King, it would not have been politic for Gamble himself to have appeared on camera, given the fact that he himself has been identified as the subject of an investigation.

While King has not been charged (so far), an earlier indictment revealed that King was fully aware of the illegal payoffs to union officials, telling a UAW vice president and a FCA executive at a 2011 private meeting that their amateurish scheme of laundering bribe money through the business of the union officials wife was a bad idea that could land him in jail.

Having imposed one sellout contract after another for more than four decades, including a sellout of last year's strike at General Motors, the UAW is now playing the key role in forcing autoworkers to work during the coronavirus pandemic and covering up the true scale of the infections in the plants.

The pushing forward of the UAW at the convention amounts to a stamp of approval by the Democratic Party for the services it has rendered and will in the future. In fact, Whitmer and other Democratic governors have been instrumental in the return to work in their states, even when such measures have violated their own lockdown orders. California Governor Newsom even allowed Tesla CEO Elon Musk to re-open his electric car plant in northern California during local lockdown orders, without the slightest repercussions.

A third scheduled appearance further demonstrates the farcical character of the presentation of the UAW bureaucracy as the representatives of the working class. A puff piece in the Detroit Free Press last week described Gerald Lang as an ordinary autoworker from General Motors' Lake Orion Assembly, catapulted into stardom by an unexpected and deeply humbling invitation by Joe Biden to speak on his behalf at the convention.

Only in the fourth paragraph does the Free Press inform its readers in passing that Lang is Vice President of UAW Local 5960. They forget to inform their readers at all that he is a member of the Democratic Party's State Central Committee. While Lang has not yet delivered his speech as of this writing, he informed the Free Press that he would give a plug for my company (emphasis added) and attack overseas competition.

This nationalist and pro-company perspective has been the basis for the UAW's enforcement of one round of concessions after another. The Lake Orion facility is one of the poster children for this. The plant, which produces electric vehicles and prototype self-driving vehicles, was the subject of a secret memorandum of understanding, signed by UAW Vice President for GM Cindy Estrada, allowing the company to replace half of the workforce of 1,300 with low-wage temporary and contract labor.

For GM, the plant is a test-bed for its intended workforce of the future, composed of impoverished casual workers building easier-to-assemble electric vehicles.

One might ask: in pushing the UAW to the forefront of its convention, to whom exactly are the Democrats trying to appeal? Do they really expect the UAW's appearance to do anything but repulse autoworkers?

Widespread disgust with the party in de-industrialized states contributed to its debacle in 2016. The Democratic Party was wiped out in Michigan and Ohio, the center of the auto industry, and voter turnout for the Democratic presidential candidate fell especially sharply in the city of Detroit, where the party is correctly associated with a social catastrophe. Trump is also deeply unpopular in both states, but the only institution which might be more discredited than the two capitalist parties is the UAW itself.

The UAW has faced off against repeated rebellions from autoworkers, including the rejection of the 2015 Fiat Chrysler contract which was since revealed to have been pushed through with bribes, the 2019 GM strike and, most importantly, a wave of wildcat strikes this year which temporarily defeated the UAW-company attempt to keep the plants running during the pandemic and forced a two-month shutdown in the North American auto industry. Now, autoworkers at plants throughout the country are taking the next step by forming rank-and-file safety committees independent of and in opposition to the UAW.

The answer to this question is simple. The UAW's presence at the convention is because they, together with the union bureaucracy as a whole, form part of the real constituency of the Democratic Party. All of the other privileged constituencies also received their own speaking appearances. The financial oligarchy is represented by, among others, billionaire CEO Meg Whitman and the senator from Wall Street Chuck Schumer; the military-intelligence apparatus, represented by Colin Powell, countless other retired generals and Pentagon officials and Biden himself; and the upper-middle class and bourgeois proponents of identity and racial policies. The trade union bureaucracy, earning declared incomes in the hundreds of thousands sweated out of the backs of the working class, is one of the privileged constituencies.

In the fall, workers will be under immense pressure by the media and political establishment to vote for Biden. The argument will be made that failure to vote for the Democratic candidate, either by abstaining or voting instead for a third party or socialist candidate, will make them personally responsible for the rise of American fascism.

The danger represented by Trump is certainly real. But the lineup on the party's virtual platform of the thieves and gangsters in the union bureaucracy alongside war criminals, billionaires and millionaires provide a glimpse of the real face of the Democratic Party. They are, no less than Trump, representatives of the real social base of dictatorship: the capitalist ruling class.

This is why the Democrats, who have done nothing in the face of Trump's attempts at a presidential coup while impeaching him for jeopardizing the drive to war against Russia and appealing to the military against him, are opposing Trump largely from the right. While they have made certain muted criticisms at the convention of Trump's handling of the pandemic, the Democrats fully support his drive to re-open schools and workplaces, exposing millions to infection and possible death to pay for the massive bailout of Wall Street and the corporations fully backed by both parties. To impose this, the Democrats will promote their own brand of authoritarianism.

This is also why the first condition for the fight against dictatorship, as well as the fight against the homicidal return-to-work campaign, is the political independence of the working class from capitalist politics, in all of its forms, and a break from their agents in the trade unions. This requires in the first place the development of a network of rank-and-file safety committees at auto plants, schools and workplaces throughout the country.

It also requires the building of an independent political movement of the working class, based on revolutionary socialist politics. The building of such a movement is why the Socialist Equality Party, which publishes the World Socialist Web Site, is running its own candidates, Joseph Kishore and Norissa Santa Cruz, in the presidential elections.
A cap on the number of students allowed places on medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and teaching courses will be lifted  in a lifeline for pupils affected by the exams debacle.

The Department for Education also pledged extra funding to help universities afford to teach increased numbers of students after grades were boosted.

The move means applicants to these high-cost, competitive courses will be able to enrol this year or next, after universities said they may run out of capacity.

A cap on the number of students allowed places on medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and teaching courses will be lifted in a lifeline for pupils affected by the exams debacle

Universities minister Michelle Donelan said: I am delighted that the Government and the higher education sector have agreed that all students who achieved the required grades will be offered a place at their first-choice university.

I want universities to do all they can to take them on this year or offer alternative courses or deferred places where required.

She added: This pandemic has highlighted more than ever the importance of our fantastic healthcare services and the need to invest in them.

Universities minister Michelle Donelan said: I am delighted that the Government and the higher education sector have agreed that all students who achieved the required grades will be offered a place at their first-choice university

Universities have been struggling to deal with the potential moves of 15,000 students, who now could revert to their first-choice destinations after initially missing out when they were awarded botched Ofqual grades.

The sector welcomed the announcement, but warned that more investment was needed to help universities deal with the shock.

Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of Universities UK, said: The policy U-turn on A-levels has created significant challenges for universities caused by late movement of students between institutions.

'Government now needs to urgently confirm funding both to ensure the financial stability of institutions suffering from a loss of students, and to offer further support to maintain and build capacity where needed.

Dr Tim Bradshaw, head of the elite Russell Group of universities, added: The Governments decision today to provide additional funding for high-cost courses, such and chemistry and physics, and to lift the number caps on specialist courses, including medicine and dentistry, is a very positive step which will allow us to increase capacity and help more students to benefit from a high quality education.

Universities said they will honour all offers to students who fulfil the criteria with their new grades  but they may need to wait a year if the course is already full.

Students can self-release through UCAS if they have already accepted an offer from a second-choice destination, and revert back to their first preference.

The Government has already lifted the overall student numbers cap in response to the results fiasco.

Ofqual yesterday confirmed that A-level grades have surged to record highs after the U-turn.

An incredible 40.9 per cent of Further Maths students were given an A*, up from 24 per cent last year, while 53.1 per cent of classical subjects students got an A or A*, and 58.3 of German students achieved an A or A*  up from 40.4 per cent.

The proportion of A-level entries receiving an A or higher also increased to a record high of 38.1 per cent for England, from 25.2 per cent last year.
In an interview with the BBC, Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, also known as Corinna Larsen, has given an account of her relationship with former king Juan Carlos and spoken about allegations of financial irregularities.

The BBC interview gives much prominence to the trip to Botswana in 2012. The safari was a tenth-birthday present from the then king to her son, and it was to result in huge controversy because of the photo of Juan Carlos and the elephant that he had hunted.

Sayn-Wittgenstein, who says that she is a hunter but would never kill an elephant, suggests that the trip marked a turning-point. They had been romantically associated between 2004 and 2009, something which the Spanish public had not been aware of. She wasn't keen on making the trip and felt that it was an attempt by Juan Carlos to get her to go back to him. After the photo appeared and also after Juan Carlos fractured a hip while on the trip, Sayn-Wittgenstein says that the "exhaustive monitoring" of her (and of Juan Carlos) began. At the same time, there was the corruption investigation into Juan Carlos's son-in-law, Inaki Urdangarin, while unemployment in Spain was at 23%.

She says that she began to receive "unwelcome attention" from the CNI, Spain's intelligence service, and that her apartment in Monaco was searched while she wasn't there.

Of the allegations of financial irregularities, Sayn-Wittgenstein says that she was "very surprised" to have received an "enormously generous gift" from Juan Carlos. This was after the Botswana trip; the amount was roughly equivalent to 65 million euros. This was supposedly what was left from a payment of 100 million dollars by the late king of Saudi Arabia to a Swiss bank account; the beneficiary was King Juan Carlos. She insists that Juan Carlos was not trying to hide or launder the money; he had given her the money "out of love".
So MTS is a big deal after all, and a tricky one. Luckily for LSE, it has an alternative option  offering to sell Tradeweb instead. It probably wont want do go down that route. Nor will Europe want to lose the chance to repatriate ownership of this hugely symbolic financial platform. But reconciling the conflicting European interests here will not be easy.
Coup leaders in Mali faced a wave of international pressure on Wednesday, a day after they forced out a president weakened by months of mass protests.

The chorus of disapproval was led by the United States, African Union and European Union -- all demanding that the military leaders release President Boubacar Keita, Prime Minister Boubou Cisse and other officials taken captive on Tuesday.

Keita, pressed by months of protests over economic stagnation, corruption and a brutal Islamist insurgency, said in a televised address that the military leaders had given him no choice but to resign.

Jubilant crowds had cheered the rebels on Tuesday as they arrived in the capital Bamako.

Map showing the West African country of Mali and the sequence of events leading to resignation of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.. By Janis LATVELS (AFP)

However, there were few obvious traces of the previous day's drama on Bamako's streets on Wednesday -- troops had not been deployed en masse despite the coup leaders announcing a night-time curfew.

The UN Security Council was due to hold emergency talks on the situation on Wednesday as international diplomats swung into action to seek a way out of the crisis.

Both France and Germany backed the mediation of West African countries, but an effort by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) last month to broker a unity government fell flat after the opposition rejected it.

The current chairman of the African Union (AU), South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, called for the "immediate return to civilian rule and for the military to return to their barracks" and the EU's Charles Michel said all prisoners should be freed immediately.

"The freedom and safety of detained government officials and their families must be ensured," said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

'Take responsibility'

The coup leaders appeared on television overnight to pledge a political transition and new elections within a "reasonable time".

President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita said he had no choice but to resign. By - (ORTM/AFP)

Malian Air Force deputy chief of staff Ismael Wague said he and his fellow officers had "decided to take responsibility in front of the people and of history".

There were no reports of casualties during the military takeover but the coup leaders announced a curfew and border closures, in effect sealing off the country.

They took Keita into custody and were holding him at the Kati military base, an ironic twist as the facility was also the site of the 2012 coup that brought him to power.

A source in a committee established by the military after the coup told AFP that Keita was still being held on Wednesday.

Anti-jihadist fight

French President Emmanuel Macron was among the first to condemn the mutiny -- Mali is the cornerstone of French-led efforts to roll back jihadists in the Sahel.

Malians hold up a placard reading 'Long live CMAS (Coordination of movements and associations sympathetic to Imam Mahmoud Dicko) - long live Mali - Good Bye IBK (for Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita) as they demonstrate at Independence Square in Bamako on August 18, 2020, after rebel troops seized Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse in a dramatic escalation of a months-long crisis. Neighbouring states in West Africa, along with France, the European Union and the African Union, condemned the sudden mutiny and warned against any unconstitutional change of power in the fragile country.. By STRINGER (AFP)

Colonel Wague said "all past agreements" would be respected, including Mali's support for anti-jihadist missions such as the UN force in Mali (MINUSMA), France's Barkhane force, the G5 Sahel, and European special-forces initiative Takuba.

The coup leaders also remain "committed to the Algiers process", a 2015 peace agreement between the Malian government and armed groups in the north of the country, he said.

Swathes of Mali's territory are outside of the control of central authorities and years of fighting have failed to halt an Islamist insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives since emerging in 2012.

The failure fuelled frustrations with Keita's rule and tensions flared in April after the government held long-delayed parliamentary elections, the results of which are still disputed.

Need for 'stability'

ECOWAS condemned the coup in a statement, pledging to close land and air borders to Mali and push for sanctions against "all the putschists and their partners and collaborators".

The burnt-out home of the former justice minister after an attack by protesters was one of the few visible signs of the overthrow. By ANNIE RISEMBERG (AFP)

The 15-nation bloc -- which includes Mali -- also said that it would suspend the country from its internal decision-making bodies.

Further afield, Morocco on Wednesday stressed the need for "stability" in Mali, calling for "responsible dialogue, respect for constitutional order and the preservation of democratic gains."

The coup coincided with opposition plans to resume protests against Keita.

The June 5 Movement, named after the date of its first protest, focused public anger against the leader and made increasingly strident demands for his resignation.

Its campaign veered into crisis last month when 11 people were killed during three days of unrest sparked by a demonstration. Neither the movement nor its informal leader, imam Mahmoud Dicko, have yet reacted to the coup.

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Why Is Fair Housing Still A Distant Journey For Black America?

Public pressure to restore a key HUD rule has united civil rights, public and private sector stakeholders in a swelling and nearly daily drumbeat of concern calling for fair housing to be supported and HUDs replacement rule be rescinded.

On July 23 the rule known as Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) HUD Secretary Ben Carson termed the rule as a ruse for social engineering under the guise of desegregation.

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The worst thing we can do in a major health pandemic is increase housing instability, homelessness, and overcrowding  which is what will happen if the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing provision is significantly weakened, noted Lisa Rice, President and CEO of the National Fair Housing Alliance. Taking away strong fair housing tools makes all of our communities less safe and increases housing instability. We have learned that lesson and we should not repeat that mistake. We will not allow Trump to take away tools to fight discrimination or make our neighborhoods less safe.

The government helped create entrenched, pernicious residential segregation and has an obligation to undo it, said Nikitra Bailey, an Executive Vice President with the Center for Responsible Lending. By rejecting the Fair Housing Acts mission to dismantle segregation and the inequity it created, this Administration is eschewing its responsibility and will be on the wrong side of history.

Initially promulgated under the Obama Administration AFFH required local jurisdictions receiving HUD funds to take meaningful actions to halt decades of discriminatory policies and practices that perpetuated racially segregated communities. Under the Trump Administration the rule was suspended and then replaced by a new one termed, Preserving Community and Neighborhood Choice. Under the new rule HUD grantees are no longer required to actively pursue local plans to eliminate segregated housing.

Across the nation, civil rights and housing advocates agree that historical segregation is largely responsible for the nagging inequity that Black America still confronts today.

Additionally, it is also particularly noteworthy that HUD finalized its new rule without providing an opportunity for public comment  a serious departure from the regular federal rulemaking process.

For the nations estimated 70 largest and oldest public housing authorities that together serve more than one million low-income households who live in federally-assisted housing, the rule is an affront to fair housing advocates across the country.

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In an August 3 letter to HUDs Carson, The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) and Reno & Cavanaugh, PLLC wrote in part, [R]ather than enforce an act of Congress, which they are obligated to do, HUD and the Administration endeavor to demonstrate Congressional support for the New AFFH Rule simply by relying on statements by individual members of Congress that every community should be free to zone its neighborhoods and compete for new residents according to its distinct values.

As HUD is fully aware, CLPHA continued, phrases like distinct values have historically been used to justify segregation, discrimination, and overt suppression of the economic advancement of minority communities and communities of color. As HUD is also fully aware, public housing was often intentionally developed in segregated neighborhoods of high poverty and historically has been chronically underfunded because of these same distinct values.

Days earlier on July 27, three U.S. House leaders: Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee; Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary; and Congressman William. Lacy Clay (D-MO), Chair of the Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development and Insurance issued a joint statement.

The Fair Housing Act makes housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status and disability illegal, wrote the lawmakers. The law includes a requirement that recipients of federal housing funding and the agencies of the federal government must affirmatively further fair housing, meaning that they must administer funds and programs in ways that actively undo and do not perpetuate patterns of historic residential segregation and systemic disinvestmentThis senseless and misguided decision to roll back that important progress comes as the President peddles racist rhetoric that is reminiscent of the fearmongering tactics of those who supported racial segregation prior to the Fair Housing Act.

The House Members also announced in their statement, that legislation to reinstate the AFFH rule would be introduced.

Also adding its voice and collective influence to preserve fair housing is the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the nations largest trade association, representing more than 1.4 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

According to its President, Vince Malta, NAR maintains that a strong, affirmative fair housing rule is vital to advancing our nations progress toward thriving and inclusive communities. With the pandemics disproportionate impact on people of color reminding us of the costs of the failure to address barriers to housing opportunity, NAR remains committed to ensuring no American is unfairly denied this fundamental right in the future.

NARs Malta makes a timely point. With federal stimulus funds expired, not only has $600 weekly unemployment aid ended; but one in five of the 110 million renters face the looming prospect of eviction by the end of September, according to an Aspen Institute research report entitled Strong Foundations: Financial Security Starts with Affordable, Stable Housing. The report also found that nearly all very low-income renters, half or more of their monthly income is spent on housing.

This housing unaffordability finding is also held by the National Low-Income Housing Coalition that measures affordable housing as no more than 30% of monthly income. In its 2020 report, however, Americas housing affordability challenges were widespread even before the pandemic:

11 million extremely low-income households are priced out of local market rate apartments;

Minimum wage employees need to work an average of 79 hours  just shy of two full weeks  to afford a one-bedroom apartment. That same minimum wage worker would need to work 97 hours to afford a two-bedroom dwelling; and

A full-time employee needs an hourly wage of $19.56 to afford a one-bedroom apartment, or $23.96 an hour to afford a two-bedroom unit.

According to an early July U.S. Census Bureau survey nearly 43.4 million Americans  or 25.3% of the adult population  either missed last months rent or mortgage payment, or have little to no confidence that they can pay next months rent or mortgage on time.

These and other societal ills were the focus of a recent op-ed authored by 27 U.S. mayors representing 13 states. Published by the Washington Post, mayors from large cities like Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston and Philadelphia joined with mid-sized cities including Durham (NC), Eugene (OR), Lansing (MI), and Ithaca (NY), made a public plea for housing.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, housing has always been the primary contributor to this countrys massive racial wealth gap, wrote the mayors. Systemic racism created a society where white households have 10 times the wealth of Black households. We are at risk of history repeating itself if federal COVID -19 relief measures primarily benefit white householdsAfter decades of disinvestment and denial, now is the time for Congress to show its commitment to housing programs that support the stability and mobility of people of color.

How much longer must Black America and other people of color wait for fair housing?
Investors from Norway and Austria plan to build a computer data center in Zaporizhzhia region, which will become one of the largest in Europe, and capacities for electrolytic hydrogen production.

On August 19, representatives of H2 LLC signed memoranda with National Nuclear Energy Generating Company of Ukraine (NNEGC Energoatom) and PJSC Ukrhydroenergo [the leading producer of electrical power from renewable sources in Ukraine], an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

The memoranda of cooperation were signed as part of the presentation of the Zaporizhzhia Region Development Strategy until 2027.

One of the largest data centers in Europe will be built in Zaporizhzhia. The amount of investment is over $700 million. Currently topical energy areas will also be developed. The electrolytic production plant with a capacity of 200 MW is to be located on the territory of the Dnipro hydroelectric power plant or the adjacent territory within the framework of the implementation of the electrolytic hydrogen production project. The amount of investments is over EUR 300 million, said Mykhailo Fedorov, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, who presented the Zaporizhzhia Region Development Strategy until 2027.

As reported, during a working trip to Zaporizhzhia region on August 19, President Zelensky stated that presentation of development strategies for each region of Ukraine started from Zaporizhzhia region. The strategies were elaborated over the past year by experts, public figures, managers, and local communities.

Zelensky inspected the repair works on the M-18 Kharkiv-Yalta highway and got acquainted with the construction of bridge crossings across the Dnieper River.

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Jack Miller, who has served as President and CEO of Pacific College of Health and Science for over 32 years, has been named Pacific Colleges Board of Trustees Chair. Current COO and New York campus director Malcolm Youngren will step in this November as Interim CEO while the board conducts an executive search for Mr. Millers successor.

During his time as President, Mr. Miller expanded the college from its original San Diego campus to three campuses, with additional locations in New York and Chicago. On January 1, 2020, Mr. Miller ushered in a new era when the institution officially changed its name to Pacific College of Health and Science from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, reflecting the expanding interests of its students, faculty, and alumni. Most recently, he led the institutions seamless pivot from a combination of on- and off-site learning to completely remote instruction during the pandemic, showcasing the colleges agility and flexibility while providing a safe, top-tier educational experience for its students.

Its been an honor to serve the students, staff, and faculty at Pacific College of Health and Science as President and CEO. As Board of Trustees Chair, I look forward to continuing our mission while creating even more opportunities to expand the influence of Chinese medicine in allied healthcare and other related fields, said Mr. Miller. I couldnt ask for a better Interim CEO than Malcolm, with whom Ive worked closely for eight years and trust to continue our mission. He has embraced the spirit of Chinese medicine wholeheartedly. Im proud to have overseen this institution as it has become one of the leaders in holistic and integrative healthcare education. As board chair I will continue to ensure that the college delivers what our students want and need to be successful now and in the future.

His new role as Board of Trustees Chair allows Mr. Miller more time to consider strategic growth and alliances, and to develop instructional design that provides students and faculty with state-of-the-art educational experiences. As President, he evolved Pacific College from a focus on Chinese medicine and massage to one that also provides degrees in holistic nursing, health & human performance, medical cannabis, and public health education and promotion, all while maintaining a central role for Chinese medicine in those newer programs. Mr. Miller can now devote additional energy to building other programs that spread the benefits of Chinese medicine into relevant health professions.

About Pacific College:

Pacific College of Health and Science was founded in 1986 in San Diego to offer licensure-qualifying programs in Chinese medicine and massage therapy. The college subsequently established branches in New York and Chicago. It holds regional accreditation with the WASC Senior College and University Commission, as well as Chinese medicine and nursing programmatic accreditation. Over the years, it has expanded its programs to include a Bachelor of Science in Holistic Nursing, a certificate in Medical Cannabis, a Master of Science in Health and Human Performance and a Bachelor of Science in Public Health Education and Promotion. Pacific College is home to a faculty of over 200 professors at the forefront of curriculum development. The college offers on-site education to 1,500 students and online training to another 800. More than 5,500 students have earned degrees at the college, with hundreds more earning certificates.
BEIJING Aug. 20 -- Recently, a special combat brigade under the 72nd Group Army of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) conducted the sea-crossing and island-landing training in waters of East China Sea, including maneuvering on rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB), swimming in battle gears, armed cross-country race, island-landing and cliff-climbing, etc., in a bid to test the comprehensive combat capabilities of the service members under extreme conditions.
Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher is out with her first television ad for her re-election campaign in Houstons 7th Congressional District.

In the new ad that starts airing on TV this week, the Democrat touts her record of supporting energy sector jobs and working with both parties to get things done in Washington.
Highly anticipated: You can expect to see Sony pour a lot of money into promoting the PlayStation 5. The TV commercials havent yet officially begun, but the first of these was briefly published on the companys Hungarian YouTube account today.

The ad doesnt show any upcoming titles gameplay, focusing instead on the PS5s DualSense controller and the consoles 3D audio, promising to envelop players in a new world of immersion. The video was quickly removed, but not before Italian channel multiplayer.it grabbed a copy (check the tweet below if it's been pulled).

Sony has talked a lot about its upcoming DualSense controller and how the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers will add extra immersion to titles. Theres also the 3D audio powered by the Tempest Engine, which will make it feel like sounds are originating from around the player, relative to where they are in a game.

New PS5 ad. (In Hungarian only for now lol) pic.twitter.com/ZIPd0DWITQ  Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) August 20, 2020

The ads appearance, while brief, does suggest that Sony will soon kick off the PS5s advertising campaign in full, and that should mean well get the two pieces of information everyones waiting for: the price and release date.

Sony still gives the PS5s release date as a vague holiday season window, though it seems almost certain to be sometime in November. Were expecting it to launch near the Xbox Series X, which is thought to arrive on November 6.

Price remains a tricky area. Back in June, PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan said the PS5 would emphasize value over pricea statement that can be interpreted in many ways. We also heard at the start of the year that Sony was concerned about the high price tag, which is a result of the consoles cutting-edge hardware. The good news is that based on this ads arrival, all should be revealed soon enough.
Community Leaders Come Together Against Racism and Discrimination Protesting Senate Bill 793

Community leaders gathered with hundreds of marchers to protest the discriminatory Senate Bill 793. The goal of SB793 is to ban the sale of flavored tobacco, prohibiting e-cigarettes and vaping; however, menthol cigarettes are also included in the band while excluding hookah. A clearly racist and discriminatory exclusion.

Many would ask, why is this discriminatory? The fact is, studies show that eighty eight percent of African Americans who smoke, smoke menthol cigarettes. If the simple act of a consensual adult purchasing a menthol cigarette becomes a criminal act, then that makes the SB793 a direct hit towards African Americans.

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The community leaders concern is the unintended consequences of this bill will be over-policing and enforcement in communities of color, which already suffer from systematic racism and police brutality. With the Black Lives Matter movement in full effect, bringing attention to the injustices that are already happening, SB793 gives law enforcement another reason to stop and harass people of color.

Hundreds of people marched in front of the home of California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, letting their voices be heard. Alongside faith leaders and other activists, the protest was peaceful while wearing masks and practicing social distancing. We must defeat this bill; it is another reason for African Americans to be at the mercy of law enforcement. So many already have the anxiety of being stopped, beaten and or killed at the hands of aggressive police officers, we do not another neighborhood to prison pipeline. We dont send people to Sacramento to make laws that will give law enforcement a reason pulls us out of a car, beat us or to jail us states Pastor K.W. Tulloss president of Baptist Ministers Conference. Today we served notice to California Speaker of the House that SB 793 is a bad bill thats not good for California. The unintended consequences are real. Bills like this take us backwards and not forwards.

Just last week Mayor Aja Brown of Compton shared with us about her being stopped and harassed by law enforcement for a no apparent reason. If this is the kind of treatment that a Black Mayor in her city gets from rogue officers, we certainly do not want to give more reasons for them to stop or harass the great people of California.

Nearly 200 people of color marched against separatism, racism and discrimination today, all coming together to stop SB793.
(Natural News) A rare fireball brightened the night sky in Shandong Province in northeastern China. It is said to be the brightest fireball to occur on Earth in years and is even more luminous than a full Moon.

According to the Chinese Meteor Monitoring Organization (CMMO), the fireball shone and exploded at about 11 p.m. on August 16. The explosion temporarily lit the sky for miles around and was also observed in the Jiangsu Province, south of Shandong. It generated a sound that was strong enough to shake nearby buildings in the city of Linyi.

The meteor illuminated the whole earth and shook the landscape with a loud sound, said Zhou Kun, a staff member at the CMMO.

Fireball in China brightest in years

A fireball is an unusually bright meteor with a visual magnitude of -3 and above when seen from the observers zenith. Fireballs that explode in the atmosphere are called bolides although the two terms are often used interchangeably.

A fireball occurs as a result of a meteor burning up. As a space object enters the atmosphere, it is slowed down and heated by atmospheric friction. It develops a bow shock  what is often seen as the bright curvature that radiates from the front end of a fireball  where gases are compressed and heated. A portion of the energy created during this process erodes the space object which, in some cases, causes it to disintegrate and explode.

Due to the velocity at which they strike the Earths atmosphere, fragments larger than one milliliter have the capacity to produce a bright flash as they streak through the heavens above, explained the International Meteor Organization in Belgium.

The CMMO runs an automated camera in Shandong Province that monitors meteors above the coast of the Yellow Sea. The fireball that they detected was said to have a visual magnitude of -20, making it 900 times brighter than a full moon.

A fireball of this magnitude occurs only once in every ten years. In contrast, a fireball as bright as the full moon occurs once every five months. Hence, while fireballs are not uncommon, the one seen in Shandong is rare. (Related: NASAs space station live feed goes offline again; just after the sighting of a glowing object moving toward Earth.)

Fireballs and meteor showers in 2020

The fireball in China is one of the many notable fireballs in 2020.

In April, a meteor also burst into the atmosphere and caused a large fireball display over the English Channel. It was witnessed from several countries near the strait such as the U.K. and the Netherlands. An eyewitness from the U.K. described the sighting as amazing and added that the brilliant display of light produced colors of orange, red, yellow and brown.

Meanwhile, a person from the Netherlands reported, I was inside at the moment and saw the ball moving along the curtain from top to bottom. Moved very fast from NW (northwest) towards N (north). Certainly not an airplane!

Denver also witnessed a notable fireball at the end of July. Footage shows a bright meteor sparkling as it zoomed into the atmosphere. Authorities said that the meteor was no more than a few feet across and likely broke apart as it got closer to the surface. Space scientists said it wasnt uncommon especially because Earth was around the peak of two meteor showers at the time: the Delta Aquariids and the Alpha Capricornids. In fact, a local observatory in Denver also spotted four fireballs in the last seven days prior to the present one.

Meanwhile, the Perseid meteor shower just peaked on August 11 and 12. It occurs every year from mid-July to late-August and can be seen anywhere in the sky. And though the meteor shower is past its peak, it will remain active until August 26, according to the American Meteor Society.

In several eyewitness reports, Perseid flashed brilliant colors of pink, green, orange and purple. They were also accompanied by the appearance of Jupiter and Saturn.

One time-lapse video condensed several shooting stars during one night.

For more fireballs and meteor showers in 2020, visit Space.news.

Sources include:

StrangeSounds.org

CNEOS.JPL.NASA.gov

Express.co.uk

SpaceWeather.com

9News.com

Twitter.com

Space.com

Flickr.com
RuPaul's Drag Race alum Chi Chi DeVayne (born Zavion Davenport) passed away, age 34, on Thursday after being hospitalized with pneumonia in his Shreveport hometown.

Shortly after news of his passing broke, Chi Chi's family posted an official statement to the star's Instagram page.

'On behalf of the Davenport/Wyandon family, it is with tremendous sorrow that my family and I announce the passing of my beloved son Zavion Michael Davenport, the world renowned "Chi Chi DeVayne,"' the statement began.

RIP: RuPaul's Drag Race alum Chi Chi DeVayne passed away, age 34, on Thursday after being hospitalized with pneumonia in his Shreveport hometown (pictured in 2018)

Statement: Shortly after news of his passing broke, Chi Chi's family posted an official statement to the star's Instagram page

'Out of respect for the immediate family, please await additional information and directives regarding the final arrangements, memorials, and the method to remit condolences and expressions of kindness.

'His final words to his family and friends, "Never give up", the statement concluded.

Along with the family's words, there were also three images of Chi Chi and a bible verse that read: 'We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.'

Chi Chi's untimely passing occurred a month after he was discharged from the hospital following a biopsy for suspected kidney failure and high blood pressure.

'Hey guys, I'm back in,' Chi Chi told his 502K followers via Instastory on Saturday. 'Keep me in your prayers, I'll be back soon.'

'Hey guys, I'm back in. Keep me in your prayers, I'll be back soon': It happened a month after the Louisiana native (born Zavion Davenport) was discharged from the hospital following a biopsy for suspected kidney failure and high blood pressure

In February, DeVayne revealed on Hey Qween that he was diagnosed with scleroderma, a chronic incurable illness that causes the skin to tighten and thick scar tissues to form around internal organs, thereby impairing their ability to function.

The Southern University alum finished in fourth place on the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2016 and eighth place on the third season 3 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars in 2018.

Before finding fame, Chi Chi paid the bills by working at a car wash and grocery store while performing back flips and lip-sync shows at Central Station, according to Shreveport Times.

In January, DeVayne felt 'blessed' and 'grateful' to be playing Jo-Jo in a fabulous stage production of Women Behind Bars at The Montalban in Hollywood.

'You got this cheech': In February, DeVayne revealed on Hey Qween that he was diagnosed with scleroderma, a chronic incurable illness that causes the skin to tighten and thick scar tissues to form around internal organs

Drag sisters: The Southern University alum finished in fourth place on the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2016 and eighth place on the third season 3 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars in 2018 (pictured)

Entertainer: Before finding fame, Chi Chi paid the bills by working at a car wash and grocery store while performing back flips and lip-sync shows at Central Station (pictured in 2016)

'Blessed': In January, DeVayne felt 'blessed' and 'grateful' to be playing Jo-Jo in a fabulous stage production of Women Behind Bars at The Montalban in Hollywood

The bajou beauty also appeared in the January 17th episode - titled 'The Son' - of Apple TV+ anthology series Little America.

RPDR creator RuPaul Charles tweeted that he was 'heartbroken' and 'so grateful that we got to experience her kind and beautiful soul.'

'She will be dearly missed, but never forgotten. May her generous and loving spirit shine down on us all,' the 59-year-old drag legend wrote.

'On behalf of VH1, World of Wonder and the cast and crew of RuPaul's Drag Race, I extend my deepest sympathy - from our family to hers.'

Mama Ru: RPDR creator RuPaul Charles tweeted that he was 'heartbroken' and 'so grateful that we got to experience her kind and beautiful soul'

The reigning RuPaul's Drag Race champion Jaida Essence Hall shared his condolences with a pictured emblazoned with 'gone too soon': 'An angel! Can't believe this'

The reigning RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars champion Shea Coulee tweeted that he was 'literally so devastated and sick to his stomach' writing: 'Wake me up when it's all over'

The reigning RuPaul's Drag Race champion Jaida Essence Hall shared his condolences with a pictured emblazoned with 'gone too soon': 'An angel! Can't believe this.'

The reigning RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars champion Shea Coulee tweeted that he was 'literally so devastated and sick to his stomach' writing: 'Wake me up when it's all over.'

Canada's Drag Race contestant Priyanka shared a clip of Chi Chi calling him 'one of the most beautiful queens to hit the @RuPaulsDragRace franchise.'

RuPaul's Drag Race #9 alum Nina Bo'nina Brown tweeted his condolences: 'Rest in no more pain, no more worry, and no more sorrow.'

'Love you Chi Chi!' Canada's Drag Race contestant Priyanka shared a clip of Chi Chi calling him 'one of the most beautiful queens to hit the @RuPaulsDragRace franchise'

RuPaul's Drag Race #9 alum Nina Bo'nina Brown tweeted his condolences: 'Rest in no more pain, no more worry, and no more sorrow'

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars #5 alum Ongina tweeted that DeVayne was 'seriously one of the nicest people I've ever met.'

RuPaul's Drag Race #5 alum Detox Ic*** was one of the queens who asked fans to send love to their 'sweet sister' back in the hospital, so when news broke he wrote: 'Shine on baby. Damn.'

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars #2 alum Roxxxy Andrews called Chi Chi his 'beautiful sister' and wrote he was 'heartbroken.'

RuPaul's Drag Race #1 alum Pandora Boxx called DeVayne's death 'heartbreaking' and tweeted: 'My heart goes out to all of Chi Chi's family, friends and fans.'

'We will miss you!' RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars #5 alum Ongina tweeted that DeVayne was 'seriously one of the nicest people I've ever met'

RuPaul's Drag Race #5 alum Detox Ic*** was one of the queens who asked fans to send love to their 'sweet sister' back in the hospital, so when news broke he wrote: 'Shine on baby. Damn'

'Rest In Peace': RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars #2 alum Roxxxy Andrews called Chi Chi his 'beautiful sister' and wrote he was 'heartbroken'
Lucknow:

Question Hour of Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday washed out amid uproar by BJP members demanding resignation of controversial minister Azam Khan for his alleged remark on the sensational Bulandshahr gangrape case.

BJP and BSP members trooped into the Well of the House as soon as it met with separate banners demanding resignation of Azam Khan and over poor law and order situation in the state.

BJP members were demanding resignation of Khan for his alleged remark on Bulandshahr rape victims. BSP members having banners mentioning SP government as Bhrasthachari and kisan virodhi sarkar (corrupt and anti-farmer government) and poor law and order in the state.

Amid the din, Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey adjourned the House for entire Question Hour. Later, talking to reporters BJP legislative party leader Suresh Kumar Khanna demanded Khans resignation. He has no moral right to sit in the House. He should resign and we are demanding it.

The Supreme Court had on August 29 taken note of the alleged controversial remarks of Khan that the gang rape case was a political conspiracy.

On November 17, the apex court directed Khan to tender an unconditional apology for his remarks and last week it accepted his sincere and heartful remorse. Initially, the FIR was lodged by the Uttar Pradesh Police under various provisions on July 30. The CBI re-registered the case on August 18 in pursuance to the Allahabad High Courts interim order in the case.
The government on Thursday relaxed eligibility criteria to offer half of three months' salary as unemployment benefit to the industrial workers hit by job loss due to the coronavirus crisis between March 24 and December 31, 2020. The move is expected to benefit almost 40 lakh industrial workers.

The proposal was presented before the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) meeting today. ESI, under the labour ministry, is a self-financing health insurance scheme for formal sector workers in India and is managed by the ESIC. Industrial workers with a monthly salary of up to Rs 21,000 fall under the ambit of the ESI scheme

"The move will give cash benefits equivalent to 50 per cent of the last drawn average wage to eligible insured persons (IP) under ESIC for three months," Amarjeet Kaur, a board member of the ESIC, told the Mint.

"The claim may be submitted directly in the ESIC branch office and the verification of the claim with the employer will be done at the branch office level. The payment shall be made in the bank account of the IPs directly," the daily also said citing the meeting's agenda.

According to the daily, the relief would become due for payment 30 days from the date of unemployment now compared to 90 days earlier. Aadhaar number would be used for identification of the claims.

Meanwhile, at least 4,98,262 people joined the formal workforce in June, according to the latest payroll data released by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) revealed Thursday. Almost half are fresh joinees out of the total new subscribers.

Also read:Nearly 5 lakh people joined formal workforce in June

Also read: COVID-19 impacts EPFO withdrawals: 8 million members pull out Rs 30,000 crore during April-July
B Anbuselvan By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: In the brewing political discontent between the BJP and AIADMK, the latest ingredient is the tussle over Vinayagar Chaturthi celebrations. While the State government has decided not to permit any festivities in the public, to avoid further spread of Covid, the BJP and fringe outfits continue to appeal and threaten the government.

As the prohibitory orders are in effect till August 31, the police have informed festival organisers that they would not be permitted to install idols this year. This has come as a big jolt for right-wing organisations that have shaped this festival into an event of public mobilization across the country.

In Tamil Nadu, the festivities and mobilization around the festival has grown steadily since the nineties, and the Hindu Munnani has played a crucial part in it. Installation of 10-20 feet tall idols, which were not a regular sight in Tamil Nadu until then, became synonymous with the festival as in Mumbai and Hyderabad, accompanied by music, chants, and massive gatherings.

This year, ahead of a major election, the festivities have been stalled. The BJP, understandably, is upset. H Rajas statement on Wednesday, in this context, sparked security concerns, as he claimed that the lack of permission had made the festival a battleground for Hindus, and called upon the public to gear-up for the festival.

While the ruling government seems to be viewing these matters as a security and health concern, the a few BJP and its fringe outfit leaders continue to attract unpopular attention. In July, a youngster associated with the Bharat Sena was arrested and booked under the stringent National Security Act for desecrating a Periyar statue.

A week later, a similar attempt was made on the statue of AIADMK founder, MG Ramachandran, in Puducherry. Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami termed the act as shameful and barbaric. This was followed by controversial statements by BJPs S Ve Shekhar, who was later booked under the National Honour Act for insulting the Tricolour.

Subsequently, BJP State General Secretary GKS Selvakumar and few others were charged with violations of prohibitory orders issued under the Epidemic Diseases Act and various other provisions under IPC, for hoisting the Tricolour at the party office in Coimbatore. Combined, these incidents have strained the BJP-AIADMK relations, but its leaders continue to assert all-is-well.

The organisations have sought just one day to install the idols, but police refused it, says BJP spokesperson Narayanan Tirupathy. The decision is unfair and unacceptable. He, however, maintained that the alliance with AIADMK was intact and there was no strain in the relationship.

AIADMK spokesperson Vaigai Chelvan attributed the governments decision to Covid-19 outbreak and rubbished rumours of other motives. Several festivals have been cancelled during lockdown. Permission for Vinayagar Chuturthi is routine process and it cannot be linked with ideological differences between two parties.

KMDK urges State government to permit Chaturthi celebrations

Chennai: DMK ally Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi on Wednesday urged the State government to offer permission to celebrate Vinayagar Chaturthi in public places. In a statement, the partys general secretary ER Eswaran said, it was not logical to deny permission to celebrate the festival when the government has permitted reopening of liquor shops. KMDK is the first party from the DMK-led alliance to voice support with the demand of Hindutva groups on the issue
The Bank of England has warned that Britain is heading for its worst recession in 300 years

The FTSE 100 closes down 1.61 per cent or 98.64 points at 6,013.34 and the pound was at $1.32 against the dollar.

Mike Ashley's Frasers Group said it plans to spend around 100million on its digital 'elevation strategy' as it reported a 14million annual rise in its core earnings in a year that Mr Ashley called the most challenging in the company's history.

Qantas will not begin flying internationally again until at least July 2021 as it recorded a 1billion loss in the 2020 financial year due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has already caused it to shed about 6,000 staff.

Airbnb has announced it has filed preliminary paperwork to sell stock on Wall Street after losing around $1billion in revenue and axing 25 percent of its workforce amid the coronavirus pandemic.
(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump helped to clinch an unprecedented deal among the worlds largest crude producers, but the pact hasnt stopped Americas oil industry from bleeding.

The Covid-19 pandemics devastating effect on the oil market is rippling throughout the supply chain, from explorers to the companies that provide them with workers and equipment. London-based Valaris Plc, owner of the worlds largest offshore rig fleet, became the latest casualty on Wednesday. In North America alone, dozens of producers and oilfield servicers have gone bust in 2020, and Mizuho Securities USA predicted earlier this year that as many as 70% of U.S. shale producers may go bankrupt.

Oil prices pulled out of a freefall after an agreement by OPEC and its allies, prodded by Trump, to rein in production. But after embarking on aggressive growth plans when crude was trading above $100 a barrel a few years ago, the U.S. industry is still grappling with crushing debt loads, and demand for oil and petroleum products remains well below normal as nations struggle to control the spread of the virus. Longer term, oil companies are facing investor calls to address climate change and transition away from fossil fuels.

ELECTION 2020: What a Biden drilling ban could mean for oil and gas industry

Trump tweeted in April that the OPEC+ pact was a great deal for all and would save hundreds of thousands of energy jobs in the United States. He met with oil producers at the White House and directed the Energy Department to buy crude for the Strategic Oil Reserve, but a plan to steer financial aid to drillers didnt gain traction. U.S. producers are in dire straits just months ahead of a presidential election that could have significant consequences for the oil industry, with Trump trailing Joe Biden in most polls.

Oil probably in the second quarter faced the biggest challenge its ever seen with the largest demand shock that oil has ever experienced, James West, an analyst at Evercore ISI, said Wednesday in a phone interview. But weve still got plenty of runway for fossil fuels and hydrocarbons. While theres still a movement to bring in alternatives, they lack some critical mass, and were going to be using oil and gas, particularly natural gas, for the foreseeable future.

U.S. shale drillers, many of which borrowed heavily to pay for drilling rights in prime areas and kept boosting output even as crude prices slumped from the highs reached in the last decade, were among the first to go bankrupt. High-profile victims so far this year included Whiting Petroleum Corp., once the largest oil producer in North Dakotas Bakken shale region, and Chesapeake Energy Corp., the archetype for Americas extraordinary shale-gas fortunes. Though international oil majors like BP Plc and Chevron Corp. have stronger balance sheets, theyve eliminated thousands of jobs.

FINANCE: Investment firm launches during oil downturn

Oilfield servicers and offshore rig providers soon followed shale drillers into bankruptcy. Oil contractors at sea are going bust at the fastest pace in three years as explorers spurn high-cost drilling to deal with the worldwide slump in commodity prices. While newer deep-water projects are less expensive, they still take longer to develop than land-based shale wells and typically are more costly.

Valaris, which was created in 2019 out of the combination of Ensco Plc and Rowan Cos., joins rivals Noble Corp. and Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. in bankruptcy. Pacific Drilling SA earlier this month said it may return to bankruptcy court for the second time in less than three years, and Transocean Ltd., the worlds biggest owner of deep-water oil rigs, has said its exploring strategic alternatives.

Offshore drilling is structurally damaged, and recovery is not imminent, Bernstein analyst Nicholas Green wrote Wednesday in a note to investors. New contract tenders are few, highly competitive and low priced; most players are badly over-levered and in desperate need of cash.

Mixed Record

Valariss bankruptcy comes days after the Trump administration authorized a sweeping plan to sell drilling rights and spur oil development in Alaskas rugged Arctic refuge. While Trump has touted U.S. energy dominance, his record in addressing oil-industry priorities has been mixed. Even as he personally intervened to help broker a global pact to cut oil output this spring, the president trumpeted low crude and gasoline prices as a tax cut for consumers.

Energy industry leaders have griped that despite his supportive rhetoric, Trump has routinely prioritized other segments of the U.S. economy, including coming to the defense of coal at the expense of natural gas and adopting steel tariffs that sparked concern about higher pipeline costs. They were also disappointed in his decision to forgo a chance to expand offshore oil and gas leasing in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, amid concerns it would hurt his chances of re-election in Florida. Other moves to aid energy interests have been blocked in court.

FUEL FIX: Now more than ever, you need our energy news in your inbox

Under Trump, the Interior Department has rebuffed offshore oil producers pleas for a blanket waiver lowering the royalties they pay the federal government for crude and gas extracted from federal waters.

Still, the oil industry largely views Trump as the preferred alternative to Biden, whose $2 trillion climate plan aims to end U.S. reliance on fossil fuels.

The cascade of oil-patch bankruptcies isnt likely to stop until supply and demand come back into balance, which could take some time. Global oil demand will rebound next year as the world emerges from the coronavirus pandemic, but wont fully recover until 2022 at the earliest, the International Energy Agency said in June.

Producers are responding to investor demands for lower spending, however, which will eventually result in a tighter oil market and higher prices, Paul Sankey, founder of Sankey Research, said in a note to investors.

We are on the path to consumers yelling for oil companies to increase investment, Sankey said.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank on Wednesday released the Students Learning Enhancement Guidelines through a virtual medium in New Delhi.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that during the present-day pandemic of COVID-19, institutions under the Ministry of Education worked together and attempted to take school education to children at home through digital means.

The documents such as Alternative Academic Calendar, PRAGYATA Guidelines, Digital Education-India Report, NISHTHA-Online, etc are some of the initiatives that have been undertaken to maintain continuity in school education for children. Amidst efforts to provide school education to the students through alternative ways, concerns from various stakeholders were raised about the learning of those children who do not have access to digital resources. In addition to this, it was also revealed that due to unequal access to digital resources to get school education at home, the concerns of equity and inclusion can lead to deficiencies in learning of children, he said.

In view of this, NCERT has prepared Students Learning Enhancement Guidelines on the direction of the Ministry of Education for the present situation and also for the post-pandemic situation. The Minister said that these guidelines are suggested for the following three types of situations. Firstly, in which students do not have any digital resources. Secondly, in which students have limited digital resources available. Lastly, in which students have digital resources available for online education.

The Minister said that these guidelines emphasise upon the community working closely with the school to get learning materials such as workbooks, worksheets, etc delivered at the doorsteps of children by teachers and volunteers. It also suggests teaching local students by volunteers or teachers setting up television at the community centre and maintaining social distance norms.

Pokhriyal said that these guidelines also talk about setting up of a helpline at the community centre with the help of members of the community and Panchayati Raj. It recommends the orientation of parents to support and participate in the learning of their children. He added that in all the three situations, use and implantation of Alternative Academic Calendar is suggested.

The commendations given in these guidelines are based on a survey undertaken by the NCERT on the accessibility of digital resources in the schools of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti and Central Board of Secondary Education and also on Continuous Learning Plan prepared for the States/UTs by the Ministry of Education.

The Minister highlighted that these guidelines will help children, who do not have digital resources to get learning opportunities at home with their teachers or volunteers. Apart from this, it will also help in efforts to overcome the learning deficiencies of all those students who are learning at home through various alternative ways i.e., using radio, TV, smartphone, etc.
AUSTIN - As schools begin to reopen and Gov. Greg Abbott faces pressure to relax shutdown measures, it is impossible to determine where Texas stands on a COVID-19 metric that has guided the governors decisions on when to tighten or loosen restrictions on businesses and public activity.

Over the past week and a half, the state began reporting coronavirus data from a backlog of 500,000 viral tests that officials say accumulated because of coding errors from Quest Diagnostics, Walgreens and CHRISTUS Health  all private entities that process the tests.

The result has been an ongoing miscalculation of the positivity rate, the rate at which people test positive for the virus.

Last week, it reached as high as 24.5 percent, and suddenly dipped back down again to about 11 percent this week as more backlogged tests were included in the data. Abbott has said a sustained positivity rate below 10 percent would allow for further reopenings in the state.

Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

The influx of backlogged tests, dating as far back as March, has also exposed a convoluted reporting system that requires state officials to receive lab results, send them back to counties and wait for them to return to the State Department of Health Services before counting them.

The result is a mess of information reported recently to the public in data dumps that include test results from months prior, skewing statewide coronavirus statistics and positivity rates.

The timing of it is horrible because its right at the beginning of opening the schools, when you want your data to be as accurate as possible, and its not, said Darrell Hale, a Republican commissioner in Collin County.

The county on Wednesday pasted a disclaimer to its COVID reporting site declaring no confidence in the states numbers, which Hale said have ballooned in recent days even as lab-confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations have declined.

COVID-19 DEATHS UNDER-REPORTED: COVIDs true toll in Texas is higher than reported, data shows

Denton County on Wednesday said it would also no longer report a daily positivity rate, as its health department recently received more than 800 previously unreported positive tests from the health services department that are more than a week old.

The effect of the backlog is different in each of the 254 Texas counties, which rely on the states numbers in different capacities. Some larger counties directly receive test results from outside labs and manage their own positive cases, allowing them to calculate a county-wide positivity rate.

Statewide, the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 has been falling slowly since mid-July, an encouraging, albeit delayed sign of the current status of the pandemic. The positivity rate in large counties including Harris and Bexar has remained above 10 percent, according to their local dashboards.

A week ago, the governor said health officials were investigating the statistics as the number of positive cases climbed but the number of people tested fell. Its unclear whether the investigation has been completed, but Abbott said Wednesday that the issue had mostly been resolved, and he is more confident than I was before about the numbers.

Abbott faulted private labs for the glitches, as well as technological issues in the states own reporting system, which did not have the capacity to process more than 48,000 tests per day until Aug. 1. The state did not disclose the issue as it built up throughout July, when as many as 67,000 tests were conducted each day.

TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

There may be, still, another day or two while that info is leveled out, but by the time this week ends, we should have pretty accurate data, Abbott said during an interview with Dallas KXAS.

As of Wednesday, the seven-day coronavirus positivity rate stood at 10.8 percent - a slight dip from the day before, according to the most recent data from the state.

An Abbott spokesman did not respond to a request for comment on whether the governor trusts the current positivity rate, and whether he still plans to use the metric as a threshold for reopening bars.

Positively vexing

DSHS spokeswoman Lara Anton said the state has been working on the backlogs for the entire month of August. The first backlog, caused by the states inability to process more than 48,000 tests daily, was cleared in the days after a system upgrade on Aug. 1. The state had 346,000 tests in that backlog.

Then came the backlog attributed to coding errors as tests were reported from private labs. Anton said the issues were identified over the past several weeks  354,000 backlogged tests from Quest Diagnostics, 95,000 from CHRISTUS Health and 59,000 from Walgreens.

Once the state was able to begin processing the 500,000 backlogged tests from private firms, it filtered the results down to the counties to check for duplicate cases, address mistakes and other errors, Anton said. But each local health department reports the results differently  some separating old and new cases, some grouping them together, she said.

The discrepancy could cause the states most recent testing numbers to include infections from weeks or months ago, painting an inaccurate portrait of the current state of the pandemic.

Anton said there is no way to know the true positivity rate or how much of the backlog has been cleared, since the counties also do not report back how many old tests they have worked through. The state has since hired outside consultants from Deloitte and Persivia to help parse through the data and decide whether to overhaul the current numbers reported by the state, she said.

Ricardo B. Brazziell, MBR / Associated Press

Weve got a team of data consultants helping us right now, Anton said. Theyre helping us figure out how we can streamline it, identify errors that could cause a backlog sooner.

The majority of the backlogged cases, she said, including all of those from Quest, were from June and July - likely indicating that the states resurgence of coronavirus cases earlier this summer was worse than previously indicated.

But even those numbers are a point of contention. Quest Diagnostics said in a statement that it identified and resolved the coding issue by mid-May, and did not respond to a request for clarification when asked why the state reported that most of their backlogged tests came from June and July.

Walgreens said it was notified of the coding error on Monday - two days after Anton said the state began processing the tests - and immediately assessed the problem, which has now been fixed. CHRISTUS said DSHS recently asked us to resubmit records in an amended format.

Anton - and the commercial labs - stressed that the reporting errors did not impact patients, who were notified directly of their testing results.

The states outdated and decentralized reporting structure has impacted the positivity rate since day one, said Diana Cervantes, the director of the epidemiology program at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth and former epidemiologist for DSHS and Tarrant County. The number of new COVID-19 infections comes from local health departments, while the number of tests conducted comes from the state, and can be from a different time period - so the numerator and the denominator are not from the same place, which has always been an issue, she said.

The backlogs only further agitate an already-troubled system.

You don't know what this kind of backlog means for the positivity rate, she said. To call it a positivity rate is really a bit of a push.

But parents depend on those metrics to send their kids back to school, and business owners use them as a marker to reopen their doors. Anton said that, because Texas is so large, the statewide positivity rate may not be relevant in local reopening decisions.

They would need to work with their local officials and talk about whats happening in their communities, she said.

In smaller counties, which rely on the state to oversee case management, the backlog could mean that contact tracing wasnt performed when positive tests were identified.

During a daily briefing in San Antonio Wednesday, Dr. Golareh Agha, the chief of informatics in the citys health department, said the backlog is a challenge but wouldnt say whether she had lost confidence in the states data.

We process our own numbers after verifying what the state gives to our jurisdiction, Agha said. We trust our numbers.

Marina Starleaf Riker contributed reporting from San Antonio.

jeremy.blackman@chron.com

cayla.harris@express-news.com
YEREVAN, AUGUST 20, ARMENPRESS. President Armen Sarkissian and Singapores President Halimah Yacob have discussed the coronavirus response and the existing situation in both countries, Sarkissians Office said in a readout of the telephone conversation.

President Yacob thanked Sarkissian for Armenias ratification of the Eurasian Economic Union-Singapore Free Trade Agreement  which the Armenian President said will create big possibilities for the development of bilateral and multilateral commercial ties.

President Armen Sarkissian also introduced his Advanced Tomorrow (ATOM) Presidential Initiative, a project aimed at boosting the tech field and transforming Armenia into a regional high-tech and Artificial Intelligence arena. The Armenian President said that many renowned tech enterprises and international financial institutions have already expressed desire to cooperate with the initiative, and preliminary contracts will be signed with several of them soon.

Speaking about his idea to launch a Small and Successful States Club, the Armenian President said he has discussed the initiative with several world leaders and received approval. The goal of the initiative is to unite small countries for exchange of experience and ideas, developing visions for the future and help each other. The President of Singapore expressed great interest for Sarkissians idea on creating the club.

President Yacob invited the Armenian President to visit Singapore in a convenient time.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 23:30:42|Editor: huaxia

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MUSCAT, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Omani Health Ministry on Thursday announced 163 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the Gulf state to 83,769, the official Oman News Agency (ONA) reported.

Meanwhile, the overall number of recoveries reached 78,386, while the death toll increased by six to a total of 609, according to a ministry statement quoted by ONA.

The ministry added that 151 patients are currently receiving intensive care treatment.

The Omani authorities this week lifted a ban on night-time movement that was imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19. Enditem
It was a night steeped in history -- a celebration of diversity where the nation's first Black president set the stage for the first Black woman and first Asian American to appear on a presidential ticket.

The third night of the Democratic National Convention, though, was really about the urgency of the present moment -- and not letting the party's feelings now fade. It was an acknowledgment that, for all the self-congratulatory tributes and gauzy messaging a convention makes possible, Democrats' visions of the future matter almost not at all if they don't defeat President Donald Trump.

That has become the true theme of this convention -- a theme that has grown, if virtually, as the week has gone on and the Democrats' bigger stars have spoken.

"Donald Trump's failure of leadership has cost lives and livelihoods," Sen. Kamala Harris said, in accepting the spot on former Vice President Joe Biden's ticket. "We're at an inflection point. The constant chaos leaves us adrift. The incompetence makes us feel afraid. The callousness makes us feel alone."

PHOTO: Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris speaks on the third night of the Democratic National Convention from the Chase Center, as she accepts the nomination, Aug. 19, 2020 in Wilmington, Del. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Former President Barack Obama used a backdrop featuring a copy of the Constitution in Philadelphia to argue that democracy itself is at stake if his successor wins a second term  as stark a warning as any member of the presidents' club has ever issued about the current occupant of the Oval Office.

"Donald Trump hasn't grown into the job because he can't," the former president said, in a measured tone that belied how stunning his actual words were. "The consequences of that failure are severe."

MORE: Kamala Harris accepts VP nomination

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton -- who lost to Trump four years ago despite winning the popular vote -- warned that Trump could "sneak or steal his way to victory." She said the nation won't get a third chance if it elects Trump twice.

"Remember back in 2016 when Trump asked, 'What do you have to lose?' Well, now we know: our health, our jobs, even our lives," Clinton said.

Story continues

Said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., also laid the nation's COVID-19 toll at the president's feet: "This crisis is on Donald Trump and the Republicans who enabled him."

Few would begrudge these Democrats in particular from airing strong views on Trump. The president has derided Harris as a "madwoman," "nasty" and a "phony"; has said Obama is guilty of unspecified felonies, based on falsehoods, and is to blame for all manner of national woes; and continues to mock women he calls "Crooked Hillary" and "Pocahontas."

MORE: Democrats 'haven't done enough' to develop relationships with 'incredibly diverse' Latino community: Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham

Yet placing Trump at the center of the campaign is a gamble some Democrats had hoped to avoid. There are well-earned concerns that playing Trump's game probably means losing at it, since he's willing to throw out any rules along the way.

PHOTO: Former President Barack Obama speaks by video feed on the third night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Aug. 19. 2020. (Democratic National Convention)

The president's all-caps Twitter broadsides Wednesday night suggested that he was indeed watching. Still, these were not the speeches that any of the Democrats speaking Wednesday expected to give -- and the COVID-19 crisis was only a part of the scrambled expectations.

Harris once hoped to accept the presidential nomination at this convention. Obama imagined a post-presidency where he could build on the lofty optimism of his first convention speech, when he famously saw beyond "red" and "blue" Americas by relying on "the audacity of hope" back in 2004.

Clinton had hoped to be on her way to a second term as president by now. In that world, it's likely that Biden would be in political retirement, enjoying the family we've heard so much about this week.

In this upended real world, though, Democrats sense the urgency of the coming months -- and they feel it more than anything else because of Trump. Their challenge now will be to keep those sentiments front of mind, with so much else -- up to and including the president -- competing for attention.

Harris closed her speech by describing a future conversation with "our children and our grandchildren."

"We will tell them, not just how we felt. We will tell them what we did," she said.

Democratic convention sharpens, as Harris, Obama take fight to Trump: ANALYSIS originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
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After Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday ordered Deputy Commissioner of Dumka to provide pure drinking water to the residents of Jojotola in Masalia block, a hand pump was installed at the site later in the day.

After the Chief Ministers direction, Deputy Commissioner Dumka told the Chief Minister that the Engineer and Block Development Officer of Drinking Water Department were asked to go to Masliya to take stock of the situation for necessary action in the case. The drinking water was provided to the tribals of Masalia block by providing a hand pump in the area

The Chief Minister was informed that the poor tribal people of Jojotola are forced to drink dirty water. The Chief Minister was requested to provide clean drinking water to the people of the village.

Soren also directed the Deputy Commissioner of Giridih to inform the families of late Jeevlal Mandal of Baray village of Birni Block by providing them assistance in connection with ration as well as all government schemes.

The assistance was provided within two hours of the order being issued.

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Medicomp Systems, the leading provider of clinician-driven, point-of-care solutions that fix EHRs, announced today a new version of Quippe Nursing, the industry's first dedicated care planning and clinical documentation solution. Medicomp will demonstrate its latest release of Quippe Nursing, designed to meet the needs of U.S. nurses, at the virtual 2020 ANIA Annual Conference August 20 through 22.

Holy Name Medical Center, a comprehensive 361-bed acute care facility in Bergen County New Jersey, will be the first healthcare organization in the country to take advantage of Quippe Nursing's streamlined documentation workflows and evidence-based tools when it goes live on its new health information system later this year. Holy Name selected Quippe Nursing based on the solution's ability to help nurses meet compliance and audit standards and remain focused on the delivery of high quality, efficient and personalized patient care.

"For almost a decade, thousands of nurses across Southeast Asia have benefited from the highly efficient workflow and documentation tools within Quippe Nursing. We are excited to offer our latest Quippe Nursing solution, which is designed to meet the unique documentation, care planning and compliance needs of nurses in the U.S.," said David Lareau, Medicomp CEO. "Like our other Quippe solutions, Quippe Nursing is powered by Medicomp's MEDCIN engine and extends the vision of our founder Peter Goltra, who dedicated his career to developing easy-to-use technologies that empower clinicians and advance the delivery of patient care."

Quippe Nursing is designed to:

Reduce documentation time by as much as 30 minutes per patient, per shift. With pre-built templates, structured and auto-populated fields based on the CCC terminology, nurses can complete care planning within minutes, giving time back to patient care.

Integrate with existing EHRs. Quippe Nursing utilizes a clinical engine to filter data from the EHR into structured, usable information for generating care plans as a product of nursing practice workflow, not as an additional documentation task that must be completed or updated every shift.

Complement existing nurse workflows. Nurses can complete shift changes and document admissions and discharges in a way that is convenient for both the nurse and patient  while avoiding duplicative efforts that create frustration and dissatisfaction.

Ensure compliance with CMS and Joint Commission requirements. Through the filtering of relevant clinical data and linking to appropriate Clinical Care Classification (CCC) terminology, nurses can be assured that care plans and documentation are accreditation compliant, audit proof and demonstrate best practice, evidence-based care.

"Holy Name Medical Center has been developing a new state-of-the-art health information system that will revolutionize the way clinicians work and think," said Michele Acito, DNP, NP, NE-BC, executive vice president and chief nursing officer for Holy Name Medical Center. "When evaluating options to improve the nursing documentation process, we quickly realized that Quippe Nursing provided the customizable, evidence-based functionality we required to turbo-charge the efficiency of care planning and documentation. We look forward to going live on Quippe Nursing and giving our nurses more time for patient care and pro-active planning."

Medicomp, which is the Platinum and Keynote Sponsor for this week's ANIA conference, is scheduling demonstrations of Quippe Nursing at the Medicomp Systems virtual exhibit room on Thursday August 20 at 1:30pm ET and Friday August 21 at 1:15pm ET. More information is available here.

About Medicomp Systems

In 1978, Medicomp Systems' founder and President, Peter Goltra, pioneered the patented MEDCIN Knowledge Engine, co-designed with physicians, to transform disorganized, complex arrays of medical information into structured, clinically relevant data to fix EHRs at the point of care. Leveraging its flagship engine, Medicomp's Quippe suite of solutions uniquely delivers longitudinal patient information within problem-oriented clinical views, mirroring the way physicians think and work to drive optimal patient outcomes. Quippe also includes wizard-based documentation functionality, which integrates into existing clinical workflows and EHRs, enabling health systems to further enhance EHR usability. With Quippe, healthcare organizations of all sizes can satisfy quality measures and regulatory compliance, increasing physician productivity while effectively positioning themselves for future market demands. Today, leading hospitals and health systems and more than 100,000 users/day rely on Medicomp's proven domain expertise and clinician-designed technology to improve the quality and efficiency of care delivery. For more information, please visit http://www.medicomp.com/.

Media Contact:

Stacy State

Amendola Communications for Medicomp Systems

502.744.7409

[email protected]

SOURCE Medicomp Systems

Related Links

https://medicomp.com/


Mr. Bernard Guri, the Executive Director for Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Organisational Development (CIKOD), has emphasized the need for a nationwide promotion of traditional, agro-ecological and organic farming for mitigation of the effects of climate change.



He expressed concern that climate change was causing depletion of the ozone layer, saying that had become a great threat to sustainable food production and security.



According to him rainfall was no longer predictable for farmers due to climate change, hence the need for the nation to encourage and provide the enabling environment for farmers to support the move for traditional, agro-ecological and organic farming for national interest.



Mr. Guri made the call when he spoke at the opening of a training on traditional, agro-ecological and organic farming for selected members of farmer groups including Peasant Farmers Association and Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) officials at Techiman in the Bono East Region.



The two-day training was organised by CIKOD, a Ghanaian non-governmental organisation with the main purpose of developing methodologies to strengthen traditional authorities and civil society organisations to facilitate sustainable grassroots organisational development that gives voice to the poor and vulnerable rural families.



It was funded by Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa and the 11th Hour Project at Techiman for more than 70 participants drawn from the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regions, to among others build their capacities to focus on traditional, agro-ecological and organic farming not only to mitigate climate change, but to promote food security in the country.



Mr. Guri charged the participants to seriously apply the knowledge acquired at the training and impart it to other farmers in their communities to contribute to achieving the objectives of the training at the community, regional and national levels.

As part of the training, a field trip was organised for the participants to some demonstration farms in the Techiman Municipality to observe actual agro-ecology and organic farming, which is environmentally friendly for indigenous farming, conservational agriculture and mixed farming.



A participant, Nana Ameyaw Manu who is the national vice president of the Peasant Farmers Association later in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, appealed for more support of MoFA extension officers to equip farmers with knowledge about modern agriculture best practices for production of healthy foodstuff for consumption and export.





Source: GNA









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Vladimir Putin is evil. Over the past 20 years, Russias current leader has constructed a ruthless dictatorship. He has shut down independent media and civil society organizations, and he has arrested critics and business leaders who dare to challenge his unconstrained powers. Abroad, Putin has annexed Ukrainian territory, sent troops to Syria to prop up one the most brutal dictators of our time, violated American sovereignty in 2016 to try to influence the outcome of our presidential election, and is interfering again in our election now. At home and abroad, Putins regime and its proxies have repeatedly killed, or tried to kill, its critics. Navalny may have just become his latest victim.
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It is possible to enjoy forest bathing in the village of Vinne, eastern Slovakia, possible to discover with our travel guide.

The Forest Bath is a special project in Slovakia. The project came into being as a part of ecotourism, whose aim is the protection of the environment and also motto to experience and protect values.

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A forest bath is basically therapy in the forest, said director of Kosice Region Tourism, Lenka Vargova Jurkova, as quoted by the TASR newswire. People can relax, enjoy peace and draw positive energy from nature.

NGO Lesna Pedagogika, which is behind the project, has been operating in the field of environmental and experiential education on forests and nature for almost ten years.
After joining the saffron fold, these five former MLAs met BJP president JP Nadda.

New Delhi: Five ex-Congress MLAs from Manipur, including nephew of former chief minister and senior Congress leader Ibobi Singh, who recently resigned from the state Assembly and the party, on Wednesday joined the BJP.

The BJP claimed that the state government has support of 34 MLAs in the Assembly, which has effective strength of 47 as there are 13 vacancies. The BJP-led coalition government had won the trust vote by 28-16 on Monday after eight Congress MLAs, including the five who joined the BJP, skipped the Assembly session defying the party whip. Those who joined the BJP include, Henry Okram, Paonam Brojen, Oinam Lukhoi Singh, Ngamthang Haokip, and Ginsuanhau Zou.

Joining the saffron fold at the BJP headquarters in presence of state chief minister N Biren Singh, the former MLAs were welcomed by the national general secretary and the partys pointsman for the Northeast Ram Madhav and vice president Baijayant Panda. Madhav, who accused the Congress of trying to unsettle the popular NDA government in the state, said there is no threat to the N Biren Singh government and claimed that the NDA government will not only complete its tenure but will be re-elected by majority. After joining the saffron fold, these five former MLAs met BJP president JP Nadda.

Manipur faced Congresss bad governance for 15 years. In 2017, BJP led coalition government was formed and in the last 3.5 years, Manipur has become one of the fastest growing states in the Northeast. It has witnessed 16 percent GDP growth, it was chosen by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Ghar Ghar Jal project, additional 3,000 crore has been sanctioned for the roads. After almost 15 years, the state has come out of the overdraft under Biren Singhs leadership. But Congress made various unsuccessful attempts to destabilize the government run by a popular CM...what the Congress accused the BJP for in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, actually it has been doing all those unfair undemocratic practices in Manipur. They made an unsuccessful attempt during the recent Rajya Sabha polls also. But Manipur people support the BJP led NDA government, said Madhav.
THE MARINE TECHNOLOGY SOCIETY ANNOUNCES ITS 2020 AWARD RECIPIENTS

Recognizing Engineers, Scientists, Technologists, Policy-Makers, Educators, And Students Who Have Made A Significant Impact On The Profession Or In Their Community

The Marine Technology Society has announced its 2020 Award Winners. The diverse field of individual recipientsstudents, young professionals, and career professionalshave 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 arent 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 years 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 Administrations (NOAA) Acting Chief Scientist and Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research

At NOAA, CAPT (Ret.) Craig McLean directs and implements NOAAs 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 worlds 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. CODARs 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 Sections 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 chapters 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 Societys 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 Societys 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 assess 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 Societys 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 NOAAs 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 worlds 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 years 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 years 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.

MTS Contact:

Joshua Speiser, +1 (202) 827 7176, joshua.speiser@mtsociety.org
New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday paid rich tributes to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary, with Rahul Gandhi saying his father was a man with a tremendous vision and was far ahead of his time. Taking to social media and using the hashtag "Remembering Rajiv Gandhi", several Congress leaders hailed Rajiv Gandhi's contribution to nation-building and his leadership.

Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi visited his father's memorial, Veer Bhumi, and paid homage on his 76th birth anniversary in the morning. Rahul Gandhi described his father as a compassionate and loving human being, and a man with tremendous vision, far ahead of his time.

"Rajiv Gandhi was a man with a tremendous vision, far ahead of his times. But above all else, he was a compassionate and loving human being. I am incredibly lucky and proud to have him as my father. We miss him today and every day," Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

Amid rainfall, Rahul Gandhi reached Veer Bhumi to pay respects to his father, with party leaders and Indian Youth Congress activists present there. They raised slogans hailing the former prime minister.

The birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi on August 20 is observed as 'Sadbhavna Divas' (harmony day) by Congress.

Scores of Congress leaders and party workers marked the occasion with various events and took to social media to hail Rajiv Gandhi's contribution to the country. Videos of messages by Congress leaders were also posted on the party's official Twitter handle.

Congress' general secretary in-charge, organisation KC Venugopal said Rajiv Gandhi's leadership and dreams laid the foundation for modern India, while Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala hailed the former prime minister for ushering in the telecom revolution.

Senior Congress leader and AICC treasurer Ahmed Patel said, "Rajiv ji's political life was short, but in that duration, he managed to give a new direction to the nation's progress. He believed India's unity was strengthened by her diversity." "Rededicating ourselves to his ideals is the best tribute we can offer him, on his birth anniversary," he said.

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said it was Rajiv Gandhi's vision that dreamed of an India in the 21st century. "He (Rajiv Gandhi) said that the 21st century would be driven by technology, computers and innovation. That vision sparked the economic liberalisation of 1991," the former finance minister said.

Senior Congress leader Mallikarjuna Kharge said Rajiv Gandhi firmly believed that if India is to become a world leader it has to become an economic powerhouse for which "we need to make use of modern technology".

Former Defence minister A K Antony said Rajiv Gandhi was the hope of the Indian youth. He took the Indian youth and India as a whole into the 21st century, Antony said.

Senior Congress leader and former Union minister Shashi Tharoor also hailed Rajiv Gandhi, saying, "If today we are what we are, we owe a great deal to Rajiv Gandhi. Let us remember him with pride and honour, a life snuffed out too young but which achieved much in a very short time."

Rajiv Gandhi, who was prime minister between 1984-89, was born on this day in 1944 and assassinated by the LTTE during an election campaign in 1991.
The City Beautiful failed to make it to the top 10 cleanest cities in the country for the second year in a row, but improved its ranking from last years 20 to 16 in the latest Swachh Survekshan rankings announced on Thursday.

Chandigarh was also adjudged the Best State Capital/Union Territory in citizens feedback.

It was in 2018 last when Chandigarh was ranked among the top 10 cities  the third cleanest. The good run ended with UT dropping to the 20th position in last years rankings.

Indore in Madhya Pradesh continued to reign as the countrys cleanest city (having population of more than 1 lakh). Surat in Gujarat, which was ranked 14 last year, jumped to the second position. Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra climbed to the third position from last years seventh.

Indore scored 94.12% (5,647.56 out of 6,000), while Chandigarh got 82.83% (4,970), improving from 2019s score of 75.74%.

The Swachh Survekshan is conducted to study the progress of Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) and rank cities based on cleanliness and sanitation parameters. Four parameters were used for arriving at the overall ranking of a city  certifications (1,500), direct observation (1,500), service level progress (1,500) and citizen feedback (1,500).

WHAT PUSHED CITY UP?

A major factor in the citys climb from 20th to 16th position was it doubling its score in the certifications parameter.

There are two categories under this parameter - garbage free cities (GFC) star certification and open defecation free (ODF) certification.

It achieved ODF++ from the earlier ODF ranking. Similarly, it gained 3-Star GFC status against the previous 2-Star GFC. Consequently, it improved its score from 40% marks last year to 73.33% this year in the certification category.

Had the city got the 5-Star GFC certification, which it had applied for, it would have broken into the top 10 list. But, its claim was downgraded to a mere 3-Star rating.

WHATS HOLDING CITY BACK

Municipal corporations poor solid waste management, particularly waste segregation and disposal, led to continued poor showing of countrys first planned city in the 2020 rankings.

This was reflected in citys marks dropping from 90% last year to 76.33% this year in the service level progress parameter, which is largely indicative of efficiency in solid waste management.

DIFFERING VIEWS

Former Union railway minister and UT member of Parliament Pawan Kumar Bansal said, According to a report of the Centre for Science and Environment, based on Swatch Bharat Mission inputs, Chandigarh has recorded 90% waste processing, 100% door-to-door garbage collection and 95% waste segregation in 24 of 26 wards. These high claims are not only untrue but border on the ludicrous and bizarre.

It is shameful that even after spending crores on the segregation and disposal of waste, the BJP-led MC has failed miserably, said Devinder Singh Babla, Congress leader of opposition in MC

On the other hand, mayor Raj Bala Malik said, Sanitation and cleanliness has improved since last year, which the positive citizen feedback substantiates. Only due to Congresss legacy, the waste treatment plant and dumping site has slowed down our progress. We have started mining of legacy waste and taken over the plant. So, we will improve on these parameters also next year.

We couldnt be in top 6, because we didnt get 5-star GFC certification. We have scored well in citizen feedback. The city has become much cleaner, but we need to improve on solid waste management, which we are working on, said KK Yadav, MC commissioner.
(Natural News) The Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) blame game rages on, with the Left accusing President Donald Trump of somehow not doing enough to address the crisis. But as anyone who has been paying attention well knows, Trump did try to help by promoting the use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has continued to stonewall at the expense of the tens of thousands of lives that have now been needlessly lost.

At last count, upwards of 48,000 Americans have died just since July 1 when the FDA delayed issuing an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for HCQ. Doctors and medical professionals all across the country have repeatedly tried to get the FDA to cooperate with their requests to administer HCQ to their patients, only to have the FDA reject their petitions.

The latest rejection came on Aug. 10 when the FDA told Dr. John McKinnon and his team from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit that they cannot prescribe HCQ either for outpatient prevention or for inpatient early treatment. Under no circumstances is HCQ allowed to be prescribed, in other words, even though a clinical trial conducted by Dr. McKinnon resulted in a 51 percent reduction in deaths when HCQ treatment was initiated within 24 hours of a patient being admitted to the hospital.

Dr. Peter McCullough and his cardiology team at the Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute in Dallas apparently peer-reviewed Dr. McKinnons paper and findings, agreeing that HCQ is a useful tool in the fight against the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). But this is not so, according to the FDA, which continues to resist all attempts by actual doctors to provide much-needed relief to their suffering patients.

Steven Hahn is responsible for tens of thousands of American deaths

Despite the fact that HCQ was approved as safe and effective by the FDA back in 1955, and ever since has been successfully used in millions of patients, Steven Hahn, the current head physician at the FDA, says no go. Hahn was appointed by the Trump administration back in December, by the way, so dear leader is likewise complicit in this tyranny by the FDA against the American people.

Hahn continues to rehash the false narrative that HCQ is causing outpatient harm, which has been thoroughly debunked. Hahn also continues to ignore all scientific evidence showing benefits from the use of HCQ, particularly when administered alongside zinc and the antibiotic drug azithromycin.

An outpatient primary care study conducted by Dr. Vladimir Zelenko found that treatments of HCQ, azithromycin, and zinc resulted in an approximately 80 percent reduction in deaths when given within seven days or less of the emergence of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms.

Dr. Harvey Risch, an epidemiologist from Yale University, has likewise come forward to present evidence showing the effectiveness of HCQ in treating Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) patients. According to Dr. Risch, as many as 100,000 American lives could have been saved had the FDA allowed HCQ to be used as treatment.

The FDA used a standard of may be effective for the rapid May 1 EUA given to the experimental anti-viral remdesivir, based on one controlled clinical trial terminated early, writes Dr. Elizabeth Lee Vliet, M.D., for WND. Yet FDA is now requiring a higher standard of a randomized controlled clinical trial for the already FDA-approved HCQ in safe use for 65 years.

Remdesivir, by the way, has shown very little benefit in hospitalized Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) patients, not to mention the horrific side effects it has reportedly induced. By none of this matters since remdesivir appears to be the anti-viral drug of choice chosen by the deep state as the only available remedy for the plandemic.

For more related news about FDA corruption, be sure to check out FDA.news.

Sources for this article include:

WND.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com
Community-based social capital interventions appear to be an interesting tool for mental health promotion. This is what Dr. Annahita Ehsan, a researcher at the LIVES Centre, wanted to investigate in her doctoral thesis, defended on June 29, 2020.

Based on the local action-research project Les Quartiers Solidaires (Neighborhoods in Solidarity), the young researcher examines how these interventions can promote mental health.

For her doctoral thesis entitled "Community-based social capital interventions and mental health promotion for older adults", Dr Annahita Ehsan investigated the impact of the community-based social capital interventions of Neighborhoods in Solidarity on the mental health promotion of older adults in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland.

This research, conducted over four studies, shows to what extent the collaborative skills of individuals, the geographic context, and sociodemographic factors are influential when designing a community intervention of this type.

Indeed, Dr Ehsan observed that the sense of belonging to a specific neighbourhood in the city had an influence on the perception of Neighborhoods in Solidarity approaches. This intervention made it possible to build bridges between the northern and southern residents of this municipality, which in turn influenced the residents' sense of belonging.

Finally, it is likely that people who have less social capital, and are therefore less inclined to forge ties, did not benefit from this measure, even though they could benefit the most. Dr Ehsan recommends continuing research on interventions that promote social capital, a field that is still underdeveloped.

Dr Ehsan also finds that a real knowledge exchange between researchers and professionals in the field could lead to quick and concrete results.

In the case of the commune where the studies were conducted, collaboration with the researchers enabled Neighborhoods in Solidarity to add an English-speaking discussion group, thus integrating a large part of the commune's population, which felt excluded from these interventions.

The members of the jury congratulated Dr Ehsan on her work, which integrates three different empirical approaches at three different scales:

A meta-systematic review

A cross-sectional study of several Neighborhoods in Solidarityprojects

A mixed-method longitudinal case study

An article based on this thesis will be published soon in Elsevier's journal "Health and Place".

LIVES offers a doctoral program which is aimed primarily at doctoral candidates in the social sciences and psychology who integrate a life-course perspective into their work. This program aims to promote courses that lead to quality doctorates within a reasonable time frame as well as professional integration, particularly in academic careers.
The artist responsible for some of the worlds most incredible underwater works of art just debuted a new installation in a stunning setting: the Museum of Underwater Art off the coast of Queensland, Australia.

Haunting sculptures found in Jason deCaires Taylor's

Working with scientists at James Cook University and the Australian Institute of Marine Science, Jason deCaires Taylor has created a collection of figurative sculptures and other structures forming the first artificial reef ever to be installed in the waters near Australias famous Great Barrier Reef. The Coral Greenhouse, located at John Brewer Reef, opened to visitors in August 2020.

Haunting sculptures found in Jason deCaires Taylor's

Haunting sculptures found in Jason deCaires Taylor's

Sharing a message of reef conservation and restoration, the museum is filled with 20 reef guardian sculptures. They may be still and silent, but theyre actually doing the highly-important task of propagating coral. Thats right: more than 2,000 fragments from marine nurseries have been planted into the sculptures to help the site generate its own marine ecosystem. Installed just prior to coral spawning season, itll offer clean surfaces made of pH-neutral marine cement, to which coral larvae can easily attach.

The 60-foot-deep installation includes a 40-foot-long skeletal building that houses the sculptures, which itself is anchored securely enough to the sea floor to withstand a Category 4 cyclone. Scientists are monitoring the water salinity, pH, and oxygen levels and recording the development of coral with underwater cameras. Each of the sculptures is modeled on a member of the local indigenous community who traditionally own the land. Alongside Taylor and a team of local artists, they participated in workshops to construct and install the statues.

Adventurous visitors can book guided tours of the museum through a variety of different local dive operations, snorkeling or scuba diving right next door to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, to boot. These tours vary from shorter group trips to full-day excisions and are held on private chartered boats.

Story continues

A second installation is a little more accessible to the average person.  emerges from the water at the end of Townsvilles Strand Jetty, a popular tourist attraction thats part of a 1.5-mile waterfront business district. Modeled after 12-year-old Takoda Johnson, another member of the Wulgurukaba people, the sculpture shifts in color according to the oceans temperature using data collected by the Davis Reef weather station.

:Ocean Siren,

She looks over the land of her forefathers, says Taylor.

The Museum of Underwater Art represents Taylors first time working in the Pacific Ocean. The UK-born sculptor and scuba diving instructor first gained international renown in 2006 for Viscissitudes, a ring of 26 children set underwater off the coast of Grenada, Spain at the Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park. After that, he launched a series of underwater art museums across the globe, including Museo Atlantico near the Spanish island of Lanzarote and the M.U.S.A. Museo Subacuatico de Arte in Cancun, Mexico.

Taylor, a lifelong environmentalist, hopes his work will inspire a sense of urgency around protecting our oceans and the life they contain.

Haunting sculptures found in Jason deCaires Taylor's

Our oceans are going through rapid change, and there are huge threats, from rising sea temperatures to acidification, and a large amount of pollution entering the system, he told The Guardian. Part of creating an underwater museum is about changing our value systems  thinking about the sea floor as something sacred, something that we should be protecting and not taking for granted.
Beirut has recorded a 180 per cent increase in Covid-19 cases since the city was rocked by the explosion that killed at least 178 people earlier this month, according to a human rights group.

As the Lebanese capital continues to recover from the fallout of the devastating blast, which also injured thousands and has left 300,000 people homeless, concern has been raised over how the citys health services will handle a second coronavirus wave.

The deadly port explosion destroyed at least three major hospitals, putting them out of service, and damaged another two.

One of the hardest hit was St George, among the countrys main coronavirus treatment and testing facilities.

An assessment conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) also showed that dozens of clinics and health centres in the capital are non-functional. An estimated 500 beds have been lost in total.

Massive explosion rocks central Beirut Show all 24 1 /24 Massive explosion rocks central Beirut Massive explosion rocks central Beirut Smoke rises after an explosion in Beirut Karim Sokhn/Instagram/Reuters Massive explosion rocks central Beirut Firefighters douse a blaze at the scene AFP via Getty Massive explosion rocks central Beirut Reuters Massive explosion rocks central Beirut A wounded man walks near the scene of the explosion AFP via Getty Massive explosion rocks central Beirut Grabs from a video show the explosion Twitter Massive explosion rocks central Beirut A man reacts at the scene AFP Massive explosion rocks central Beirut A wounded man is checked by a fireman AFP via Getty Massive explosion rocks central Beirut The blast, which rattled entire buildings and broke glass, was felt in several parts of the city AFP via Getty Massive explosion rocks central Beirut Damage is seen Reuters Massive explosion rocks central Beirut Soldiers search for survivors AP Massive explosion rocks central Beirut Damage and debris EPA Massive explosion rocks central Beirut A man walks by an overturned car Getty Images Massive explosion rocks central Beirut Fires burning at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut AFP via GettY Massive explosion rocks central Beirut AP Massive explosion rocks central Beirut A man walks past damaged buildings Reuters Massive explosion rocks central Beirut Glass was blown out of many buildings AFP via Getty Massive explosion rocks central Beirut AP Massive explosion rocks central Beirut AFP via Getty Massive explosion rocks central Beirut People move a gurney at a damaged hospital Reuters Massive explosion rocks central Beirut A woman takes pictures of a damaged church AP Massive explosion rocks central Beirut Police and forensic officers work at the scene AFP via Getty Massive explosion rocks central Beirut AP Massive explosion rocks central Beirut An injured man sits next to a restauran AFP via Getty Massive explosion rocks central Beirut AP

Now, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), a humanitarian aid group, has warned that Beirut is facing the prospect of a new surge in cases which could further cripple a city already on its knees.

It said authorities had recorded a 180 per cent increase in cases since 4 August, the day of the blast, with 589 new infections reported on Wednesday alone  the highest daily figure since the beginning of the pandemic.

Matias Meier, country director for the IRC in Lebanon, said: People are still trying to recover from the devastation that the explosion caused  theyre still trying to process what happened. And none of the worries that they had before the explosion, have gone away.

People still cant afford food. People are still out of work  and 70,000 more have now reportedly been left unemployed. For Lebanon to have a chance at getting back on its feet, we need to stop the coronavirus from spreading any further.

Amid the recent surge in cases, the Lebanese government announced earlier this week that it will impose a two-week lockdown to contain the virus.

Markets, shopping centres, gyms and pools will have to close from Friday and there will be an overnight curfew.

The WHO said last week that Lebanon had done a very impressive job of tackling the coronavirus, which has killed at least 107 people in the country since February.

However, even before the blast there had been an upward trend in the daily numbers of new cases, prompting the government to declare a partial lockdown to help manage hospitals caseloads.

While coronavirus cases were at more than 3,300 on the day of the explosion, this figure has since risen to 10,347, according to the latest data from Johns Hopkins University.

Addressing the new restrictions that come into place on Friday, the IRC said that peoples livelihoods are likely to further deteriorate.

Without support, vulnerable communities will continue to struggle in silence putting lives at risk amidst a faltering health system, collapsing economy, and a rampant dangerous disease, said Ms Meier.

Were providing emergency cash assistance to those most in need, but it is essential that humanitarian agencies are supported and able to continue their work through this critical time so that all those who need support can receive it.

Investigations are underway into the causes of the explosion.

Initial assessments show it was caused by nearly 3,000 tonnes of poorly stored ammonium nitrate, that is used to make fertilisers and bombs, catching fire.

The countrys leadership has come under fire after it emerged both president Michel Aoun and prime minister Hassan Diab knew about the dangerous stockpile three weeks before the explosion.

The United Nations said earlier this month that 8,000 structures were damaged by the blast, among them 640 historic buildings of which 60 are at risk of collapse.
With the renewed support from Hg and the additional backing of TA Associates, Sovos is ready for the next stage of growth at a crucial time, as the digital transformation of government, technology and business converge.

Global tax software provider Sovos today announced that Hg  a leading global software investor, partner and supporter of the expansion of Sovos for more than four years  will lead a further, majority investment in the company through the Hg Saturn 2 Fund. TA Associates, a leading global private equity firm with more than four decades of software investing experience, will also join as a significant minority investor to support the next wave of Sovos growth. Following this new investment, Sovos is poised to continue its geographic expansion, deepen its partner ecosystem, and respond rapidly to emerging tax and regulatory changes around the world.

Sovos has grown substantially since Hg first invested in the company in 2016. Since then, Sovos has acquired more than 10 companies across North America, Latin America and Europe; more than doubled its customer base to 8,000-plus, including half of the Fortune 500 companies; and added more than 1,000 employees working across 10 countries. With the continuity of support from Hg and the added resources and experience from TA Associates, Sovos will advance its initiatives in adjacent segments, as well as the overall growth strategy integral to its mission to Solve Tax for Good everywhere its customers do business.

Hgs new investment in Sovos is a sign of their confidence in our market, our position and our unique ability to deliver a complete solution for modern tax, including tax determination, continuous transaction control compliance and tax reporting, said Andy Hovancik, CEO, Sovos. With the renewed support from Hg and the additional backing of TA Associates, Sovos is ready for the next stage of growth at a crucial time, as the digital transformation of government, technology and business converge.

In 2016, Hg invested in the Sovos vision to put tax compliance software where it belongs  in the modern, digital financial core, said Jonathan Boyes, partner at Hg. Since then, Sovos team has executed perfectly on a formidable strategy. In addition to strong organic growth generated from a robust recurring revenue model, Sovos has also executed on its targeted acquisition strategy, bringing new entrepreneurial founders into the business. As we move further into a world of digitized tax and regulation, Sovos is a trusted, future-ready solution for its multi-national customers.

Sovos leads a large, acyclical, global sector driven by increasingly complex tax regimes, said Hythem El-Nazer, managing director at TA Associates. Without a global solution, the rise of digital taxation has the potential to disrupt supply chain and finance transformation efforts. Sovos recognized that, and its leadership team has built the regulatory expertise, product innovation and business strategy to address it. We believe Sovos is ready to execute globally, and TA Associates is ready to support the company as it enters this next stage of growth.

Sovos has been a cornerstone partnership for Hg as weve expanded into the U.S. over the years, said Gero Wittemann, partner and co-lead of Hgs New York team. The new Hg investment marks a new stage for the business, with Sovos offering an increasingly valuable proposition for customers with complex multinational operations. Were absolutely delighted to continue our support for the Sovos team.

The terms of the deal, which is expected to close in the second half of 2020 pending regulatory approvals and closing conditions, were not disclosed. William Blair and Jefferies served as financial advisors to Sovos. Hg was advised by Goldman Sachs and Shea & Company, and TA Associates was advised by Barclays. Skadden and Kirkland & Ellis provided legal counsel, and accounting and tax advice was provided by Ernst & Young and Deloitte.

Upon closing of the transaction, Gero Wittemann of Hg and Hythem El-Nazer and Morgan Seigler of TA Associates will be appointed to the Sovos Board of Directors.

About Sovos

Sovos was built to solve the complexities of the digital transformation of tax, with complete, connected offerings for tax determination, continuous transaction control compliance, tax reporting and more. The company supports more than 8,000 customers, including half of the Fortune 500, operating in over 70 countries. Its SaaS products and proprietary Sovos S1 Platform integrate with a wide variety of business applications and government compliance processes. Sovos has employees throughout North America, Latin America and Europe. For more information visit http://www.sovos.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About Hg

Hg is a leading investor in software and services, focused on backing businesses that change how we all do business. Deep technology expertise, complemented by vertical application specialisation and dedicated operational support, provides a compelling proposition to management teams looking to scale their businesses. Hg has funds under management of over $30 billion, with an investment team of over 140 professionals, plus a portfolio team of more than 35 operators, providing practical support to help our businesses to realise their growth ambitions. Based in London, Munich and New York, Hg has a portfolio of over 30 software and technology businesses, comprising over 30,000 employees across the UK, US and Europe. For further details, please visit the Hg website: https://hgcapital.com/.

About TA Associates

TA Associates is a leading global growth private equity firm. Focused on targeted sectors within five industries  technology, healthcare, financial services, consumer and business services  TA invests in profitable, growing companies with opportunities for sustained growth, and has invested in more than 500 companies around the world. Investing as either a majority or minority investor, TA employs a long-term approach, utilizing its strategic resources to help management teams build lasting value in high quality growth companies. TA has raised $33.5 billion in capital since its founding in 1968 and is committing to new investments at the pace of over $2 billion per year. The firms more than 85 investment professionals are based in Boston, Menlo Park, London, Mumbai and Hong Kong. More information about TA Associates can be found at http://www.ta.com.
August 20 : After the Supreme Courts green signal to probe Sushant Singh Rajputs death case, the CBI Special Investigation Team (SIT) will reportedly question the two Deputy Commissioners of Mumbai police who were investigating the case earlier.

A Times Now report says that the two Deputy Commissioners of Mumbai police, Abhishek Trimukhe and Paramjit Singh Dahiya will be quizzed by the CBI SIT over their possible lapses. Paramjit Singh Dahiyas name came up when the late actors father revealed that in February this year, the family of Sushant had informed DCP Paramjit Singh Dahiya via Whatsapp message that the late actors life was in danger. However, it is reported that no action was taken by DCP Dahiya. He also didnt communicate this message to other Mumbai police officials after the death of the late actor.

On the other hand, DCP Abhishek Trimukhes name came up when Rhea Chakrabortys call records revealed that the DCP, who was a part of the investigation, had exchanged calls with Rhea, the prime suspect as per the late actors fathers FIR with Patna police.

Meanwhile, CBI team will begin the probe through a simulation exercise to ascertain if the death was by suicide or murder. CBI officials told The Economic Times, that reconstruction of the crime scene will help them to establish the sequence of the events. This will also help in the line of their investigation, it is reported. The CBI has earlier used the reconstruction strategy in high-profile cases like the Aarushi murder case.

Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery
RTHK: No need for lockdowns, WHO tells European states

Spikes in coronavirus infections in European countries caused alarm on Thursday but the World Health Organisation (WHO) said the continent should be able to fight the pandemic without reimposing full lockdowns.

While Italy registered 845 new cases on Thursday, its highest daily tally since May, France reported 4,700 fresh infections  a massive increase on the previous day. While Spain's daily increases topped even those of France, Germany was examining its own resurgence.

Worrying trends also emerged in India as a new study suggested more than a quarter of Delhi's 20 million people may have been infected without showing symptoms  backing up several similar studies.

The figures added urgency to the desperate bid to find a vaccine for the virus, which has infected more than 22 million and killed hundreds of thousands since it first emerged in China late last year.

With many nations creeping back towards restrictive measures, the WHO said European health authorities are now better prepared and should not need to resort to the complete closures endured particularly by the Spanish and Italians.

"We can manage the virus and keep the economy running and an education system in operation," said Hans Kluge, head of the WHO's European branch.

Russia announced on Thursday it was pushing forward with testing on more than 40,000 people of its candidate drug, known as Sputnik V, which as already been hailed by Russian officials as a success even as experts questioned the rigour of the testing regime.

Africa provided a brighter perspective on Thursday, registering a significant drop in the number of infections last week.

"We have begun to bend the curve slowly... it's important to recognise those slight tendencies that are positive," said Dr John Nkengasong, head of the African Union's health body, Africa CDC.

The continent has suffered less harm than most other regions from the pandemic, which has hit the Americas harder than anywhere else.

The United States continues to bear the brunt in health terms and is suffering grim economic fallout.

The number of Americans filing claims for joblessness each week topped one million again, US officials said on Thursday, an increase on the previous week's figures. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2020-08-20. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
(Natural News) How can you be an American politician and hate the president (and by default, your own country) so much you cant bring yourself to name the country where a virus that is still killing Americans came from?

Thats a great question, but its one Sen. Kamala Harris of California  named last week to be Democratic presidential nominee Joe Bidens running mate  should be made to answer.

In her first speech as running mate, Harris never mentioned the Wuhan coronavirus one time, but she sure lambasted President Donald Trump for it, though you could say he (and the rest of the worlds leaders) inherited it from the Chinese.

Notes Breitbart News:

The coronavirus originated in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, and spread to the rest of the world, sickening more than 20 million and killing nearly 750,000, according to World Health Organization statistics.

The coronavirus pandemics toll on the global economy was expected to be the worst since the Great Depression of the 1930s, according to the International Monetary Fund.

But no matter. All of this business is Trumps fault, she claimed:

The presidents mismanagement of the pandemic has plunged us into the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, she said, knowing full well that it was states, not the federal government, that made the individual decisions to shut down their economies (and not all of them did).

Just look where theyve gotten us; more than 16 million out of work, millions of kids who cannot go back to school, a crisis of poverty, of homelessness afflicting black, brown, and indigenous people the most, a crisis of hunger afflicting one in five mothers, who have children that are hungry, and tragically, more than 165,000 lives that have been cut short, many with loved ones who never got the chance to say goodbye, she added.

In fact, the president and Republicans have helped pass a number of coronavirus relief packages for Americans. The president was an early advocate for reopening states (which he has no authority to do on his own like he has no constitutional authority to order them closed). And thanks to his pre-virus economic policies, the recovery is V-shaped  that is, its just as dramatic as the downturn was. (Related: New Zealand rolls out mandatory coronavirus quarantine camps, and its disarmed population is now powerless to stop it.)

But as far as assigning blame for the economy, which continues to lag, she failed to mention the Democrat mayors and governors who have kept COVID-19 lockdowns in place, preventing business owners, factories, and shops from reopening if theyve been deemed non-essential.

She also never mentioned that bonehead in New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who ordered eldercare facilities in his state to accept patients stricken with the virus, despite the fact that immunologists knew early on that it affects older people and those with pre-existing health conditions the worst.

Continuing, Harris did not mention that a politician from her own state  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi  in February was downplaying the virus (even as Trump was closing off travel from China and taking other measures to prepare for the coming pandemic). Pelosi took a trip to Chinatown in San Francisco, which is her district, to tell citizens get out, get around, have fun, nothing to worry about!  just because it was the opposite of what the president was saying.

And of course, Pelosi sided with the Communist Chinese against our own president, which is despicable in and of itself.

Harris went on to claim, erroneously, that the virus has struck the United States the worst. In fact, there are several other advanced nations  including the United Kingdom, Belgium, Spain, Italy, and Sweden  with a higher death rate per 100,000 residents than the U.S., Breitbart News noted.

Its beyond ironic to hear Harris and Biden call out President Trump for dishonesty when she lies like its her job and, of course, without getting fact-checked by the mainstream media which has long been the propaganda wing of the Democrat Party.

Sources include:

Breitbart.com

NaturalNews.com

NewsTarget.com
This summer, tens of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets to demand that Benjamin Netanyahu resign. Netanyahu, who has served as prime minister for eleven years, is on trial in three separate cases, involving breach of trust, bribery, and fraud; two of the cases involve meddling in the media for favorable coverage. Last year, his grip on powerwhich had held firm since taking officeloosened considerably. And just as his leadership looked more vulnerable than ever, the coronavirus arrived in Israel. As it spread, people outraged by Netanyahus failure to protect the public healtheven as he enacted harsh and invasive monitoring measuresturned out for demonstrations. Theyre now being held all over the country; crowds gather in front of Netanyahus residence in West Jerusalem almost daily.

Or-ly Barlev, a forty-eight-year-old independent journalist and activist, broadcasts from the protests on Facebook Live. Recognized for her red lace-up boots and her investigative work on Israels gas monopoly, Barlev attends every demonstration, filming for hours with her smartphone while narrating the scene for viewers, many of whom cheer her on and tell her that its thanks to her broadcasts that they decided to show up. She interviews protesters, artists, and politicians; she also demands answers from officers about police brutality and efforts to block the demonstrations. Her videos have reached hundreds of thousands, peaking thus far at 300,000 viewers; the size of her audience competes with that of Israeli televisions prime-time news.

Recently, I called Barlev at her home, in a town in central Israel. Im not interested in being branded a protest leader, protest princess, protest queen, protest iconthis protest has no leaders, she wanted CJR readers to know. While I identify with the message of the protestIm not objective, I have an agendaIm an independent journalist who has no part in organizing or leading this protest. We spoke about her countrys press, what the pandemic has revealed about Israeli-Palestinian relations, and a post-Netanyahu future. This interview has been translated from Hebrew and edited for clarity and length.

What is your background in journalism?

I worked in mainstream media; I know that world. My first major position was as a reporter for Kol Yisrael [Israels national public radio], between 1997 and 2000. Since the 2011 social justice protests, I started doing citizen journalism on a voluntary basis. I funded the effort from my own savings.

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I have been doing a weekly news broadcast every weekend for the last two years. Its called News Flash from the Only Democracy in the Middle East. I dont cover everything. Im a one-woman show, so I do what interests me: democracy, government corruption, capital-government relations, economyas far as tycoons and monopolies, and the gas industry.

I started livestreaming the protests a month ago, so I have integrated my news flash into them. Facebook Live is my studio. I dont have a teleprompter. I prepare notes in my head and I just talk. Livethe most live you can get. I dont have an assistant or a producer. Nobody holds up cards. I step aside for a few minutes from the protest and give a speech to the nation. For example, that Netanyahu has been leading a campaign to demonize the protesters. I outline why he is doing this, what tools he is using to do it, and what the medias role should be. I include a lot of media criticism.

In recent years, my independent journalism is increasingly funded by the public. I started a crowdfunding campaign in January 2019, and since then Ive been on the map as a publicly funded independent journalist. The public is validating my work.

I heard you dont have a government press card. Is that right?

Lately the police have been asking me to show one. I havent needed one until now. My application is currently stuck in processing. Its just a certificate that eases access to certain government press conferences. As I have explained to the police recently, the government doesnt get to decide who is or isnt a journalist. A person is a journalist based on their actions, if they have readers, viewers, listeners.

What is happening in the mainstream Israeli media?

People tune in to my broadcasts largely due to the failure of the media to tell the real story about what is happening here. Netanyahu controls many media outlets, to different degrees. Netanyahu understood a long time ago that the key to power is controlling the public consciousness. And it works for him. He was one of the first to take advantage of digital media as a tool to communicate directly to the people.

He has built his public image. He has very good connections with editors and manages to get his people into the studios. In the past two years, he has planted people in every panel, every studio; there is always someone speaking on behalf of Bibi. Not representatives of the right. Not right-wing intellectuals. Mouthpieces. Propagandists. And he feeds the media spins, which some journalists eat up. Journalists dont push back. Theres a lot of capitulation. Its a feeble media. Doesnt ask tough questions, doesnt boycott press conferences when Netanyahu refuses to take questions. So you have a weak media up against false narratives.

It looks like these mass protests are one of the few times in Israeli history that both right-wing and left-wing Israelis are protesting in the same place with the same message. How do you see it?

The determination of the protesters is amazing. There are many young people who have nothing to lose. They feel their future has been taken. They have no income. The situation is really bad, and its only going to get worse. The protests arent about right and left; that division is a lie. The political process [with the Palestinians] isnt real, theres no peace plan right now. The annexation plan is a spin. Netanyahu uses his power to escape trial and prison. Thats it. Thats his primary motive. And that veil has now been lifted with the pandemic.

Do you think the recent announcement of a US-brokered deal between the UAE and Israel to normalize ties in exchange for a temporary shelving of annexation has any effect on the protests, and how do you see the deal itself?

It has no bearing on the protest, which is about the threats to democracy, corruption, and the economic collapse. The criminal defendant [Netanyahu] does not have the public or moral mandate to take on such fateful decisions. Democracy, integrity, values, and managing a country by centering on its peoplenot its leaderare much more crucial to Israel than normalizing relations with the UAE.

The media adopted government talking points when covering Saturday nights protest. The new message: The protests are dwindling. Its a spin that the media just ate up. Its nonsense. [According to organizers who distributed bracelets, 20,000 came out for demonstrations on the Saturday night after the deal was announced.] This protest has been going on for eight consecutive weeks, several times a week, all over the country, by diverse Israelis protesting in a variety of ways.

You interview a lot of people at the protests. Why do you think they trust you? And how do you see your work affecting the media landscape?

Its already changing the media. I see more outlets broadcasting from there. At first they were stationed outside the protest. They saw I was inside, so they started to come inside as well. As far as my journalistic work, all Im doing is talking to people. I listen to them. I am eager to make their voices heard. I see it as an honor to be their megaphone. Part of the sanctity of the profession. Thats my job. I say what I think, but I show everything. I am loyal to the truth. I am loyal to facts.

Its citizen journalism, and it exists in Israel, but Ive never seen one person reach the level of attention that you have. Part of your appeal is that you dont seem to identify as either right or left.

I insist on it, despite the fact that they try to pigeonhole me as a leftist. I have my own personal, private views, but I dont share them. I made a conscious choice to only focus on socioeconomic issues, on democracy. It is a pragmatic decision. I dont talk about politics because it immediately bars one side from listening. And honestly, everyone annoys me, from all sides.

Will you say whether you oppose Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, which Netanyahu has advanced?

I dont talk about the occupation.

And thats not political?

I didnt say whether it is or isnt, but I dont cover those topics. The occupation is one of the most divisive issues in Israel. To reach a solution, Israeli society has to first rebuild internal dialogue. This can take place within a socioeconomic discourse. Netanyahu plays with right and lefthe activates that dialogue, and its destructive to both sides. To all sides.

What happens the day after Netanyahu?

A lot of work. A lot. Healing, rehabilitation. But its already started. One of Bibis tools is to divide and fracture, and people are uniting. The contra has started. The antidote started working.

RECENTLY: The context for the crisis: A Q&A with Penny Abernathy

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Mairav Zonszein is an Israeli-American freelance journalist who covers Israel and its role in US politics. She has written for the Washington Post, the New York Review of Books, and the New York Times, among others. She is a longtime contributor to +972 Magazine and tweets at @Mairavz.
With the completion of the $3.5 million project, funded through the State of Illinois Bond Program, the station is now fully compliant with the accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The facility features a new street-level depot complete with vendor space, a waiting area and restrooms. The project also included rehabilitation of the stations north and south head houses as well as the stairways leading to the platform. The platform warming shelters were also renewed.
The PS5 is leaked to launch on November 13 in the US. The Xbox Series X is leaked to launch on November 6 in the US. Both the PS5 and Xbox Series X are leaked to be priced at $499.

Less than 3 months for the PS5 and Xbox Series X to release, and we still don't have a concrete launch date or price for the consoles. While Microsoft has confirmed that the Xbox Series X will launch in November, Sony has only said Holiday 2020 as a launch date for the PS5. Now new information has appeared online suggesting the release date and price of the upcoming console. The information comes from Roberto Serrano who apparently doesnt have the best track record for leaking information. So why are we considering his leaked information in this story? Well, it does lineup with what's being presumed and the release date of the Series X does line up with the previously leaked controller. So lets look at what he has to say about the price and release date of the new console.

*BREAKING NEWS*



@Xbox and @PlayStation fans



According to latest news (more than a rumor or speculation), the next-gen console release date should be



#XboxSeriesS 11.05.2020 399 $/

#XboxSeriesX 11.06.2020 499 $/

#PS5 11.13.2020 $/ 499 - Digital $/ 399



*TBC* pic.twitter.com/XwEXtblL8n  Roberto Serrano' (@geronimo_73) August 18, 2020

PS5 release date and price

As mentioned above, Sony has been tight-lipped about the launch and price of the PS5. While previous information suggests it costs Sony about $450 to make a PS5, Sony hasnt given us much information or even hinted at a possible price. During the reveal of the PS5, Sony did confirm that the PS5 will be available in 2 variants - one with a Blu-ray drive and one All Digital.

According to the new leak, the All Digital PS5 will be priced at $399 (Rs 30,000 approx. directly converted) and the PS5 with a Blu-ray drive will be priced at $499 (Rs 38,000 approx. directly converted). According to the leak, both versions of the PS5 will go on sale on November 13, 2020, in the US. Earlier leaks suggested that the PS5 would go on sale in Japan on November 14 followed by a worldwide release on November 20. Considering how important a market the US is, it is possible the PS5 could release there first.

Since the PS4 also launched in the US on November 15, 2013, the release date for the PS5 seems somewhat plausible. However, we do remind you to take the above information with a grain of salt.

In India as well, there is a page live on e-commerce websites and Sonys own online store highlighting the features of the PS5. So we can expect the console to launcher sooner in India than the PS4. The PS4 launched in India in January 2014, 2 months after its US release.

Xbox Series X and Series S release date and price

While Microsoft has given us a lot of information about the Xbox Series X, the Series S console is its worst kept secret. A next-gen Xbox controller was leaked recently and the box highlighted the existence of the Series S console. While Microsoft is yet to officially unveil the Series S, information circulating the internet suggests it will be a more affordable less-powerful Xbox but will house the same CPU and SSD technology as the series X. As mentioned above, Microsoft has confirmed the Series X will launch in November and leaks on the internet suggest Number 6 as the launch date.

According to the new leak, the Xbox Series S will launch on November 5 for $299 (Rs 22,500 approx. directly converted) undercutting the All Digital PS5 by $100 while the Series X will launch a day later on November 6 for $499 (Rs 38,000 approx. directly converted), the same as the PS5.

Again wed like to tell you to take the leaked information with a grain of salt as this is not official and Sony and Microsoft could change their launch plans anytime.

PlayStation Lead Architect Mark Cerny promised us a teardown of the PS5 when the technical specs were revealed, and we are yet to see that. So it is safe to say that Sony probably has at least 1 more big PS5 event planned before the console hits store shelves. Same for the Xbox where we can expect the company to officially announce the Series S.

While we wait for some official information on the pricing and release date of the next-gen consoles, you can check out our comparison of the specs of the PS5 and Xbox Series X here and a comparison of the design of the two consoles here.
President Donald Trump talks to reporters during a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi in the Oval Office at the White House on Aug. 20, 2020. (Anna Moneymaker-Pool/Getty Images)

Trump Laments Arrest of Bannon, Denounces Private Border Wall Project

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he felt very badly about the arrest of Stephen Bannon, his top aide during the 2016 campaign and former White House strategist, but clarified that he hasnt been dealing with the former right-hand man for a long time.

I feel very badly. I havent been dealing with him for a long period of time as most of the people in this room know, he said.

Bannon was charged earlier the day along with three other organizers of the We Build The Wall online fundraising campaign for allegedly defrauding hundreds of thousands of donors.

In December 2018, Kolfage and others created an online crowdfunding campaign via GoFundMe called We Build the Wall that raised more than $25 million to build a private border wall along the southern border.

Its unclear how many miles of border wall the project has built.

According to a complaint filed by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York, Brian Kolfage and Bannon allegedly took $350,000 and $1 million from the fund respectively, despite Kolfage assuring during the fundraising that he will not take a penny in salary or compensation.

Bannon and Kolfage could not be immediately reached for comment.

Unlike the government-built border wall he committed to build and fought to fund, Trump had no enthusiasm for the private border wall and showed his unhappiness with it publicly.

I disagreed with doing this very small (tiny) section of wall, in a tricky area, by a private group which raised money by ads. It was only done to make me look bad, and perhaps it now doesnt even work. Should have been built like rest of Wall, 500 plus miles, he wrote in a Twitter post back on July 12.

I disagreed with doing this very small (tiny) section of wall, in a tricky area, by a private group which raised money by ads. It was only done to make me look bad, and perhsps it now doesnt even work. Should have been built like rest of Wall, 500 plus miles. https://t.co/L8RUPCAhqc  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 12, 2020

He criticized the project as showboating efforts after the charges against the organizers were announced.

I know nothing about the project other than I didnt like when I read about it  This is for government. This isnt for private people. And it sounded to me like showboating, he said. It was showboating and maybe looking for funds.

The Trump Administration has built over 300 miles of border wall and will have almost 500 miles completed by the end of the year, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement.
Returned travellers could soon be forced to wear ankle monitors if they are deemed a risk of sneaking out of mandatory hotel quarantine.

The Western Australian government is looking at the idea after two Adelaide women, 19 and 20, allegedly left the Novotel Hotel in Perth to go to a party.

The pair were initially refused entry into the state after not having an entry permit, appeared in court on Thursday.

Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan said he was considering forcing potential flight risks to wear electronic ankle monitors.

The Western Australia government is planning on forcing ankle monitors on anyone they deem a risk of breaking the rules (stock)

'What we are looking at doing is this - if we identify people who are potential flight risks or who might have a criminal history we are looking at applying monitoring bracelets to them,' Mr McGowan said.

'If someone is identified as a risk we have the legal power now to put an ankle bracelet on them and that's what the police will look to do.'

Mr McGowan said his government was looking at boosting security guard numbers at hotels to ensure no one escapes.
Belarusian Protesters Defy Lukashenka As EU Rejects Election Result

By RFE/RL August 19, 2020

Hundreds of Belarusian protesters gathered in Minsk on August 19 in defiance of a new push by President Alyaksandr Lukashenka to clear the streets of the capital on the 11th day of rallies against his rule as the European Union refused to recognize the reelection of the longtime authoritarian president and said it will soon impose sanctions on his government.

With thousands taking to the streets daily since the August 9 vote and strikes crippling many state enterprises, the longtime authoritarian leader ordered the Interior Ministry on August 19 to put down mass protests that erupted across the country against the results, which gave Lukashenka just over 80 percent of the vote.

The European Union held an emergency summit on the crisis, with EU Council President Charles Michel saying afterward that the 27-nation bloc's message "is very clear. Stop the violence,"

"We stand firmly behind the right of Belarusian people to determine their own fate, and the EU will impose shortly sanctions on a substantial number of individuals responsible for violence, repression and election fraud," Michel said.

"The election was neither free nor fair. And that's why the result of the election cannot be recognized," German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency added at the end of the summit.

Opposition candidate Svyatlana 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.

Earlier in the day, Lukashenka also ordered border controls to be tightened to prevent what he alleged was an influx of "fighters and arms" from abroad.

"There should be no more riots in Minsk. People are tired; people demand peace and quiet," Lukashenka said during a meeting of his security council, signaling another escalation after a week and a half of mass demonstrations against his rule, in which at least three people were killed and more than 7,000 detained, according to reports.

The third fatality was registered on August 19, when a 44-year-old Brest resident who had been wounded by live ammunition during the protests died in a military hospital in Minsk, acording to media reports.

Hundreds of people released from detention have spoken of brutal beatings they suffered in detention.

Lukashenka said he had instructed border authorities to beef up defenses "along the entire perimeter" of the country to "prevent militants, weapons, ammunition and money from other countries from entering Belarus to finance the riots."

"We see that this money is coming," he told officials.

Defying the security forces, hundreds of protesters assembled in front of the Interior Ministry, which runs the police, by early evening on August 19. A large number of officers were stationed there with vans, but they took no action.

Demonstrators chanted "Resign!" and "Let them out!" in reference to those still detained, while passing cars honked their horns in the rain.

Earlier, police dispersed a demonstration and detained two people at the Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ) plant that was once considered a bedrock of Luksahsenka's base.

Police also took over of the main state drama theater in Minsk, a flashpoint for protests since its director was fired for speaking out against the mistreatment of demonstrators.

Opposition candidate Svyatlana 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 Belarusian election committee said on August 19 that Lukashenka, who has ruled with an iron fist for 26 years, would be inaugurated as president for a new term within the next two months, but that no date had yet been set, the TASS news agency reported.

Earlier on August 19, Tsikhanouskaya called on EU leaders in a video address to "support the awakening" of her country and respect the choice of the Belarusian people amid widespread anger over a controversial presidential election.

As opposition leaders on August 18 formed a coordinating council to organize a transfer of power, Lukashenka described the move as an attempt to stage a coup.

In her video address, Tsikhanouskaya, who left for neighboring Lithuania after the vote, called on EU leaders "not to recognize these fraudulent elections," adding that Lukashenka "has lost all legitimacy in the eyes of our nation and the world."

Speaking in English, she also denounced a postelection crackdown, saying: "People who came out to defend their votes on the streets of their cities all across Belarus were brutally beaten, imprisoned, and tortured by the regime desperately clinging on to power."

The opposition's coordinating council met for the first time on August 18, saying it represents the people and seeks to negotiate a peaceful transition of power "without political goals or a program."

Olga Kovalkova, a representative of opposition figure Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, said at a press conference establishing the coordinating council that she expected Tsikhanouskaya 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."

Tskihanouskaya said in an online video earlier this week that she was prepared to temporarily take over the leadership.

Poland's Foreign Ministry said on August 19 that prominent Belarusian opposition activists Valery and Veranika Tsapkala had arrived in the EU member state.

Ex-diplomat Valery Tsapkala was barred from standing in the August 9 election, while his wife, Veranika, gained prominence for flanking Tsikhanouskaya at opposition rallies during the campaign.

EU leaders held their emergency video summit after the bloc's foreign ministers agreed last week to prepare new sanctions against Belarusian officials responsible for "violence, repression and the falsification of election results."

Michel spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 18, expressing concern about election irregularities and a crackdown 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.

Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron also spoke with Putin in separate calls on August 18.

According to her press service, Merkel told Putin 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.

Lukashenka spoke with Putin twice over the weekend, stating afterward that the Russian leader promised him security assistance if Belarus needs it. Russia has close economic and military ties with Belarus.

On August 19, U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden warned Russia not to interfere in the Belarus crisis, which he said "is not about geopolitics but the right to choose one's leaders."

Former Vice President Biden, who on August 18 won his party's presidential endorsement at the ongoing Democratic convention organized online because of the coronavirus pandemic, tweeted, "The brave citizens of Belarus are showing their voices will not be silenced by terror or torture. The U.S. should support Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's call for fair elections. Russia must be told not to interfere -- this is not about geopolitics but the right to choose one's leaders."

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, dpa, and AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-won-t -recognize-belarus-vote-santions- to-be-imposed/30792157.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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No casualties were reported in the past day.

Ukraine has reported three violations of the latest ceasefire agreements by Russia-controlled armed groups in the Donbas warzone on Wednesday, August 19.

"In total, over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian military recorded three ceasefire violations by enemy forces," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) Command said in a Facebook update as of 07:00 Kyiv time on August 20, 2020.

In particular, the enemy opened fire from small arms near the village of Luhanske and twice near the town of Popasna.

The shots posed no threat to the lives and health of Ukrainian troops so Joint Forces did not return fire.

Read alsoTrilateral Contact Group on Donbas agrees on four new disengagement sitesNo casualties were reported in the past day.

Since Thursday 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.
Credible compiled a list of 20 U.S. metro areas where homes are selling the fastest, using data from Zillow and ranking homes according to the average number of days they were listed before there was a pending sale in December 2020, the most recent month in which data was available for all metros.
Vietnamese tea makers are now faced with choosing to either renovate or leave the industry.

Vietnams tea export turnover in the first five months of the year decreased by 10.1 percent in comparison with the same period last year, according to the Import-Export Department, the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Vietnams tea producers have suffered heavily from Covid-19 as export markets have shrunk.

Taiwanese, Chinese and Russian markets have become frozen since the epidemic broke out. As for other markets, Vietnams enterprises cannot sign new contracts, while partners have asked to lower the prices for old contracts, delay the delivery time, or cancel contracts.

The East African Tea Trade Association predicted that the tea price in the world market would decrease in the time to come. This, plus the limitations in cargo transportation, the lower demand in many markets, and the decrease in orders from EU partners all foretell big difficulties for Vietnams tea industry ahead.

Taiwanese, Chinese and Russian markets have become frozen since the epidemic broke out. As for other markets, Vietnams enterprises cannot sign new contracts, while partners have asked to lower the prices for old contracts, delay the delivery time, or cancel contracts.

This has forced tea export companies to think of restructuring their production activities and business strategies.

Long Dinh JSC in Lam Dong province is an example. The company now owns 50 hectares of high-quality tea growing area certified as meeting requirements for export. More than 90 percent of the companys products are exported to Taiwan.

The companys raw exports have decreased by 30 percent since March. It is now stepping up restructuring, making higher-end products, including True Organic, an organic tea for domestic consumption.

Long Dinh now has 10 hectares of growing area with True Organic certification granted by the US Department of Agriculture. However, with high production costs, selling domestically is a headache for the companys managers.

Tea experts estimate that 90 percent of total domestically consumed tea amount is from small production workshops which have unstable quality. Only a few tea brands are well known in Vietnam, such as Cozy, Phuc Long, Cau Tre, Cau Dat and Vinatea.

Nguyen Huu Tai, chair of the Vietnam Tea Association, said on Nhip Cau Dau tu that it is not easy to set up a distribution network to sell processed products, because it costs three times higher than the setting up of a plant.

Meanwhile, the States current policies just focus on measures to support production, not distribution.

The Import-Export Department predicted that tea supply would fall short in the time to come and Vietnams exporters could grab an opportunity to boost exports.

Production activities in Vietnam have resumed as the country has contained Covid-19. Meanwhile, other big exporters including India, Kenya and Sri Lanka are still busy fighting against the epidemic.

Linh Ha

Moc Chau plateau, a refreshing retreat Moc Chau plateau in Son La province is a popular tourist destination in Vietnams northern mountain region.
Gardai have arrested a man in relation to a robbery at a petrol station in West Cork yesterday.

Shortly after 6pm a man, armed with what is believed to be a knife, entered a petrol station on Fax Bridge in Clonakilty and demanded money from staff.

The man then left the scene having taken a sum of cash.

Detectives from Clonakilty Garda Station attended the scene and began reviewing CCTV footage whilst uniform gardai carried out a search of the area and began house-to-house enquiries.

After reviewing the CCTV footage a potential suspect was nominated.

A man, aged in his 20s, was arrested a short time later and brought to Bandon Garda Station where he is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
A U.S. Army soldier has become the fifth American service member to die from COVID-19, according to Pentagon data published Wednesday.

The Defense Department did not release any information about the individual or details of the death, which was noted in a case count the department releases every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Read Next: Opposition Mounts to Trump's Proposed Pardon for Edward Snowden

Officials referred questions to the Army, which did not immediately respond to a request for more information.

Nearly 50,000 people associated with the DoD have tested positive for the virus since the outbreak began, including service members, dependents, civilian employees and contractors.

Of those, 75 have died, including the five service members, 47 civilian DoD employees, seven dependents and 16 military contractors.

Deaths from the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus remain rare among U.S. troops. The first to lose his life to the illness was New Jersey Army National Guard Capt. Douglas Hickok, 57, a physician assistant who died in late March. The other three service members fatalities are Army Reserve Spc. Curtis Lamar Fort, 61, who died July 30; Army Reserve Sgt. Simon Zamudio, 34, who died May 22; and Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Charles Thacker, 41, a sailor who served on the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt.

The number of cases among military personnel has risen to 34,584, up more than 7,000 from the start of this month. Roughly 540 troops are currently hospitalized.

According to Pentagon officials, the average rate of positive cases among active-duty personnel has remained fairly steady at 5.3% -- well below the 8.7% of positive tests recorded nationwide last week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Among service members, 11,915 soldiers, 4,323 Marines, 8,208 sailors, 5,399 airmen and 4,430 Air and Army National Guardsmen have had COVID-19 since the pandemic began, according to Pentagon data through Aug. 18.

Across the U.S., there have been more than 5.5 million cases and 172,667 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. Worldwide, more than 22.2 million cases have been recorded, with 783,525 deaths.

This story will be updated

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Related: VA's Active Cases of COVID-19 Dip as Deaths Rise Steadily in August
This month marks the centennial of vaudeville performer Mamie Smiths Crazy Blues, a watershed for both blues recordings and Black womens cultural expression. Smiths August 1920 recording, lamenting a love gone wrong, eventually sold about 2 million copies and, over the next two decades, led to a flurry of hit records by Black women singing about their bodily desires. These included Ma Rainey with Sweet Rough Man and Bessie Smith (no relation to Mamie) with Taint Nobodys Biz-ness if I Do or, later, the not-at-all subtle Need a Little Sugar in My Bowl. In her book Good Booty: Love and Sex, Black and White, Body and Soul in American Music, critic Ann Powers describes how early blues stars like Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey served as erotic ambassadors.

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A century later, a pair of similarly frank erotic ambassadors are sitting atop the hit parade, demanding more than sugar. WAP by Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion enters Billboards Hot 100 at No. 1, fueled by tens of millions of views of its gleefully ribald, vividly acrobatic, shamelessly horny video, which brings to life such lyrics as I want you to park that big Mack Truck right in this little garage. Conservative critics are frothing that the songwhose title stands for Wet Ass Pussy and whose lyrics probably make it the dirtiest chart topper in Hot 100 historyhas set the entire female gender back by 100 years.  And the irony, when you think back to Bessie Smith, is that it quite literally has. As far as Cardi and Megan are concerned, its everybodys business if they do.

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This is the fourth Hot 100 topper for Belcalis Cardi Almanzar (after Bodak Yellow, I Like It, and her feature on Maroon 5s Girls Like You) and the second for Megan Thee Stallion Pete (after her collaboration with Beyonce on Savage), but its the first time either one of them has debuted in the penthouse. It also continues an empowering 2020 trend for one-off female pairings. In a pop year that has already seen No. 1s by Megan with Beyonce, Doja Cat with Nicki Minaj, and Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, this summit by hip-hops two reigning queens makes the loudest noise of all. WAP opens to the largest streaming total of the year to date: 93 million U.S. streams, which probably could have made the song No. 1 even if it hadnt sold a single dollar download or gotten any radio play.

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That streaming total not only handily beats the best weeks of Roddy Ricchs winter monster The Box (which maxed out at 77 million in late January), it ranks as the top streaming debut ever by any song in its first week. While considerably lower than the all-time streaming record of 143 million set last year by Lil Nas Xs Old Town Road featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, among songs by women, Cardi and Megans streaming total ranks second on the all-time list, just behind the 94-million peak week for Grandes 2018 smash Thank U, Next. Grandes hit racked up its highest streams after the belated launch of its video, which was packed with celebrity cameos and pop culture references and generated its share of headlines. And the WAP video? It came freighted not only with its own share of celebrity gawkingincluding an appearance from one token white celebrity, Kylie Jenner, whom half the internet wished hadnt shown upbut also headlines that made the ones that Next inspired look rather tame.

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This is one of those moments in this long-running Slate series where you probably think I dont need to tell you why, broadly speaking, this song is No. 1. Whether or not youve been following the tick-tock of takes on WAP over the past two weeks, one look at that video will give you an idea. Sure, the visual was vital to the success of the audible, even if youre not actually hearing the original song in that video. To ensure maximum YouTube play, Cardi Bwho is setting up her forthcoming second albumagreed to sync the clip not to the songs original, unexpurgated Wet Ass Pussy lyrics but rather to the bowdlerized, radio-permissible Wet and Gushy, which, cleverly, winds up sounding filthier somehow. (If youd like to study the uncensored lyrics more closely, the duos team has provided a lyric video illustrated with a cornucopia of food metaphors.)

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Even if youre down with Cardi and Megans no-holds-barred sex-positive feminismwhich, to be clear, I amskeptics might wonder whether this is really the No. 1 song in America or just the No. 1 video. When it comes to the charts, is the (ladies quest for) tail wagging the dog?

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Seven years after Billboard added YouTube data to the Hot 100 and some of us critics fretted aloud that we might see dance crazes and gaudy spectacle overtake the chart, WAP might appear to some to be Exhibit A. But in the YouTube era, we have been confronted before by hit songs overpowered by their videos. The actual Exhibit A might be Childish Gambinos 2018 hit This Is America, a song that, like WAP, entered the Hot 100 on top and was the eventual, unlikely Grammy winner for Record and Song of the Year. Even before that Donald Glover conversation piece about Americas history of racism and violence, there were other hits powered to the top by videos serving up exposed flesh. Robin Thickes now-infamous Blurred Lines was boosted in the summer of 2013 by its video featuring nude (in one NSFW version, topless) supermodels. Later that year, Miley Cyrus Wrecking Ball made a huge pole vault to No. 1 upon the release of its clothing-optional clip; three months later, it went back to the top spot driven by an affectionate parody video in which a bearded fan stripped down to his undies and rode a yoga ball in homage to Cyrus. And in 2014, Nicki Minaj scored her biggest hit to date, the No. 2 Anaconda, thanks to its posterior-celebrating video, which scored then-record YouTube views. (Minaj missed the Hot 100s No. 1 spot due to unlucky timing, dropping her track the same week as Taylor Swifts smash Shake It Off  which, come to think of it, had its own controversial video featuring twerking butts.)

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So: Show some skin, top the charts, right? Except shaking butt doesnt work if you dont have the song to back it up. Does anybody remember Jennifer LopezIggy Azalea teamup Booty? I wouldnt blame you if you didnt. The 2014 video, a seeming (un)dress rehearsal for WAP, served up the veteran Latin pop superstar and the then-hottest new female rapper, just months after she had scored the Song of the Summer, writhing and jiggling while singing and rapping about their eponymous assets. And yet the track was, pardon the expression, a stiff, debuting in the Top 20 on a weeks worth of video views and plummeting out of the Top 40 a week later. The song did fine in clubs but was a nonentity at radio. Even in the YouTube age, a sexy video cant save a fundamentally boring song.

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And WAP is anything but boring. Among the points that have been more gently debated in the media is whether the song is worthy of the hype surrounding it. Its not my absolute favorite by either Cardi or MeganId nominate either Be Careful or I Like It for the former and Savage for the latterbut its smartly constructed and often dazzling. Right from the jump, the track builds off a witty sample thats a classic in the history of Baltimore club music: rapper Al T McLarans throaty, chanting hook about some whores in this house, from DJ Frank Skis song of the same name. The track is the handiwork of production team Ayo N Keyz, who also worked with Cardi on her studio debut, Invasion of Privacy, andfrom that sample to the songs rubbery thumpchannel her winning, unfiltered persona. In terms of the actual rapping, Cardi deploys her usual mix of two parts bravado to one part bravura rhyming. But Cardi is most generous in showcasing her guest, Megan, who is the songs blazing lyrical technician. Megans triple-time cadence on lines like Gobble me, swallow me, drip down the side of me put me in mind of Bun Bs head-spinning rhymes on Jay-Zs 20-year-old classic Big Pimpin apropos, since both Megan and Bun B hail from Houstons rap scene and are reportedly mutual fans.

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We now have better ways of measuring the reach of libidinous jams.

Yes, the song is worthy, and for all the attention the video is getting, the numbers show that more Americans are consuming it as a song. Buried deep in Billboards rundown of the tracks many chart feats is the revelation that, among songs by women, it pulled the biggest-ever week of on-demand U.S. audio streams at services like Spotify (edging out yet another Grande smash, last years 7 Rings). Its audio streaming number of 54.7 million is more than half of its total first-week streams of 93 millionmeaning the video is not taking the lions (tigers?) share. Another data point: WAP sold 125,000 copies, a staggering sum in an age where the weeks top-selling download might shift one-fifth of that number. Yes, that sales total was fueled in part by the now-common gimmick of limited-edition physical singles packaged with instant downloadsbut thats still a whole lot of people who wanted to own WAP as a recording, staring at nothing more lurid than its bright pink vinyl.

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Predictably, the only place WAP didnt come out on top is on the airwaves. Its 11.6-million-impression radio audience is too low to make Billboards Radio Songs chart (where, by the way, the Weeknds enduring techno-pop smash Blinding Lights this week sets a record for most weeks atop radio playlists, surpassing a 22-year-old song by the Goo Goo Dolls). WAP has made inroads at rap radio, where its already a Top 20 hit, and R&B/hip-hop radio, where its in the Top 30. But as I noted above, the songs FCC-skirting clean version, Wet and Gushy, isnt exactly mild fare for family car rides. I could be wrong about the songs eventual radio-friendlinessIve been wrong beforebut lets say, like the jarring This Is America, the licentious WAP never becomes a big radio hit. Does that matter?

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Probably not anymore. The song is already, instantly at No. 1 because we now have better ways of measuring the reach of libidinous jams. For comparison, take a quick trip with me in the wayback machine to this month in 1987, when the No. 2 song in America was George Michaels blunt and then-shocking I Want Your Sex. (I know, Dontcha think its time you had sex with me? sounds downright wholesome next to Cardis Bring a bucket and a mop for this wet-ass pussy.) Michaels supposed ode to monogamysomething he had to say to placate moralizers and MTVwas a bestseller in the age of AIDS, a single that eventually went platinum at a time when 45 sales were slumping and few singles even went gold. The week Sex peaked at No. 2, it was the bestselling song in the country, reportedly by a massive margin, but it had already peaked at No. 5 at radio stations, which were leery of playing it. (Many stations resorted to editing the track to repeat Michaels line I want your love over and over, removing the sex entirely.) Because the Hot 100 back then used a pre-computerized formula where the magnitude of a top seller couldnt be quantified (i.e., a top song selling 200,000 copies or 50,000 copies would be functionally equivalent in the charts math), the massiveness of George Michaels sales couldnt overcome his handicap at radio, and the song peaked in the runner-up slot. Whereas now, a song like Cardi and Megans, with overwhelming digital streams and sales, doesnt need radio to dominate the charteven if Cardi still cared enough about radio gatekeepers to produce the Gushy version.

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Weve come a long way in 33 years: from a paean to sex whose author, a closeted gay man, felt compelled to call it an ode to fidelity and couplehood and ran up against cultural anxiety anyway, to a bald demand for gratification by a pair of liberated Black women that has already won in the court of public opinion. WAP doesnt need me to stick up for it: From newspaper columnists to pop critics, the acclaim is pretty much universal, and only the most risible right-wing clowns are bloviating against it, almost as if Cardi herself set them up as straw men. Not just her lust but her joy is infectious. The thing I love most about its sample of Whores in This Housewhat reminded me of those century-old recordings by Mamie Smith, Ma Rainey, and Bessie Smithis how Al McLarans gutbucket vocal ties the song back to the origins of the blues. The great news, though, is neither Cardi nor Megan has the blues at all.
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This is the filthy, cockroach-infested Hollywood apartment of accused serial rapist and former porn star Ron Jeremy.

A woman who met Jeremy, 67, in 2017 said she went to his rundown one bedroom apartment to use the restroom and was so shocked by what she saw she began snapping pictures.

'It was disgusting, I was so shocked. You could hardly open the front door and you couldn't get in the bathroom at all.

'There was trash piled up, old porn memorabilia stuffed in overflowing boxes. His kitchen table looked like an unkempt outside porch, there were plants that had grown around the table legs and into the floor.

'I honestly thought he was on that show Hoarders. There were cans of roach spray left on the side, piles of medication, books, DVDs, paperwork and he had pet turtles.'

This is the filthy, cockroach-infested Hollywood apartment of accused serial rapist and former porn star Ron Jeremy.

A New York woman who met Jeremy in September 2017 said she went to his apartment to use the restroom and was shocked by what she saw. The woman says she isn't surprised about the allegations against Jeremy because he was so sexually aggressive with her and tried to grope her in her car (pictured)

Photos obtained by DailyMail.com show Jeremy's lounge filled with dozens of boxes, while the kitchen sides were filled with paperwork, used candles and empty bottles.

The woman said: 'There was trash piled up, old porn memorabilia stuffed in overflowing boxes. His kitchen table looked like an unkempt outside porch, there were plants that had grown around the table legs and into the floor'

Photos obtained by DailyMail.com show Jeremy's lounge filled with dozens of boxes, while the kitchen sides were filled with paperwork, used candles and empty bottles.

One corner of the apartment - which is in a high rise block called Franklin Towers - is seen filled with medication and discarded pill bottles and prescriptions with his real name, Ron J Hyatt written on them.

There's barely enough room to move around in the apartment due to the junk left on the floor which is black with dirt.

The carpet in the lounge looks as old as Jeremy's early porn movies and the walls are not much cleaner.

The woman, a blonde New Yorker in her late 30s, works as a flight attendant for a private jet firm and was in Los Angeles on a work trip.

She said she bumped into Jeremy outside a store along the famous Sunset Strip where he was being 'filmed'.

'It was during the day and I saw him outside this store, he had a camera guy with him and was being filmed and we started talking.

'Later he said the guy was his driver but I quickly worked out it was someone he was just hanging out with.

'Then I realized the camera they were carrying around didn't actually work, it was fake and all a ruse to meet women.'

The woman gave DailyMail.com two photos of her with the famous porn star - who has appeared in more than 2,000 adult movies.

One corner of the apartment - which is in a high rise block called Franklin Towers - is seen filled with medication and discarded pill bottles and prescriptions with his real name, Ron J Hyatt written on them.

The carpet in the lounge looks as old as Jeremy's early porn movies and the walls are not much cleaner

The woman added: 'I honestly thought he was on that show Hoarders. It was disgusting, I was so shocked. You could hardly open the front door'

There's barely enough room to move around in the apartment due to the junk left on the floor which is black with dirt. Pictured: Jeremy's apartment building Franklin Towers

In one photo Jeremy appears to be attempting to grope the woman's breasts as they sit in her car, while in the other shot Jeremy, nicknamed 'The Hedgehog', is seen with the woman holding the 'fake' video camera.

The woman said that after meeting Jeremy he invited her to have a drink with him and having nothing really else to do, she accepted.

'I thought, ''it's Ron Jeremy'', I figured it would be fun. He said he had to pick something up from his apartment and I went with him. He asked me to stay in the lobby but he was gone a while and I needed the bathroom so called him and he came down to bring me up.

'I think he was a little embarrassed at me seeing the state of his apartment. I was so shocked, I couldn't open the front door, I didn't even use the bathroom because it was so bad and you couldn't get to it.

'In his bedroom there was just a queen size mattress on the floor that had no covers on it. That room was probably the most cleaned out.'

The woman claims Jeremy aggressively came on to her while she was in his apartment.

'He said, "come check the view on the porch". He came from behind and came on pretty aggressively and I was like, "back off". It was unwanted but I could handle it, I'm no gilded lily.'

The woman gave DailyMail.com two photos of her with the famous porn star - who has appeared in more than 2,000 adult movies. In one photo Jeremy appears to be attempting to grope the woman's breasts as they sit in her car, while in the other shot Jeremy, nicknamed 'The Hedgehog', is seen with the woman holding the 'fake' video camera (pictured)

The woman went with Jeremy to the Netflix premiere of Season 3 of Narcos at Paramount Studios. She said: 'It was fun but at some point in the evening I told him I was getting a glass of wine and decided to leave, I really didn't want to get into another situation with him.' The woman showed DailyMail.com a text message from Jeremy, in which he wrote at 11.15pm: 'Where are you? You didnt (sic) say goodbye to anyone. Call me. R. Jeremy.' 'The next day I was getting a plane ready to go back to New York and he was ringing me off the hook,' she recalls

That night, September 1, 2017, Jeremy invited the flight attendant to the Netflix premiere of Season 3 of TV crime drama Narcos at Paramount Studios.

'I went along and I remember meeting some of the cast and we were hanging out with a couple of guys he knew,' she recalls.

'It was fun but at some point in the evening I told him I was getting a glass of wine and decided to leave, I really didn't want to get into another situation with him.'

The woman showed DailyMail.com a text message from Jeremy, in which he wrote at 11.15pm: 'Where are you? You didnt (sic) say goodbye to anyone. Call me. R. Jeremy.'

'The next day I was getting a plane ready to go back to New York and he was ringing me off the hook,' she recalls.

'He was so angry that I took off without saying goodbye. He was enraged, it was really unsettling how angry he got.'

The woman says she isn't surprised about the allegations against Jeremy because he was so sexually aggressive with her and tried to grope her in her car.

In June Jeremy, who is in custody awaiting trial, was charged with raping three women and sexually assaulting another.

In June Jeremy, who is in custody awaiting trial, was charged with raping three women and sexually assaulting another. Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said the adult movie star, 67, is accused of forcibly raping a 25-year-old woman at a home in West Hollywood in May 2014

The porn star, full name Ronald Jeremy Hyatt, is also accused of forcibly raping a 30-year-old woman at the same bar in July 2019

Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said the adult movie star, 67, is accused of forcibly raping a 25-year-old woman at a home in West Hollywood in May 2014.

He then allegedly sexually assaulted two more women, ages 33 and 46, on separate occasions at a West Hollywood bar in 2017.

The porn star, full name Ronald Jeremy Hyatt, is also accused of forcibly raping a 30-year-old woman at the same bar in July 2019.

He faces a possible maximum sentence of 90 years to life in state prison if convicted.

In a tweet, the porn actor said: 'I am innocent of all charges. I can't wait to prove my innocence in court! Thank you to everyone for all the support.'

A number of women had already alleged the 40-year porn veteran groped them without their consent. That led to Jeremy being banned from most of the adult industry's high-profile events.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 04:51:35|Editor: huaxia

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LIMA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- An ultralight plane disappeared while flying south of Peru's capital Lima with two people on board, Peru's National Police reported on Wednesday.

According to a report by local TV network ATV, the white Haley brand aircraft was flying over an area known as La Quebrada de Chilca, about 40 km south of the capital, during an instructional flight with two foreigners on board, an Ecuadorian and a Spaniard.

The plane, which took off at 3:35 p.m. local time Tuesday, should have returned at 6 p.m., but never landed.

Peruvian Air Force (FAP) teams were dispatched to the area where the plane is believed to have disappeared.

Civil aeronautics officials and police said they were investigating to determine the cause of the disappearance. Enditem
Graduate praises studies at Wrexham Glyndwr University for helping secure dream teaching job

This article is old - Published: Thursday, Aug 20th, 2020

A graduate whose studies at Wrexham Glyndwr University helped her secure a dream job in education is urging others to consider taking up teaching.

Danielle Williams began her studies at Glyndwr with a three-year BA (Hons) in Education Studies and followed that with a one-year Primary PGCE Course, which is taught at Glyndwr in collaboration with St Marys University, Twickenham, London.

As part of that course, students are encouraged to source a short placement for themselves based on their individual interests  and staff at Danielles chosen school The Lifehouse, an independent special needs school in Bettws Cedewain near Newtown, were so impressed with her she has since been offered a full-time role.

She began working for the school the September after finishing her studies at the university  and has found herself adapting her work to ensure the children she works with carried on receiving the help they need while the school has been physically closed during the coronavirus pandemic.

Our school is based in Wales, with children coming from both Powys and Shropshire, said Danielle.

Im a learning lead, meaning I am in charge of a group of eight children. My job role, as well as teaching, includes organising their learning timetable  each child has a personalised timetable, a bit like a high school timetable  and all other paperwork for them, such as action plans.

I also organise a small group of staff who mostly work with my children.

Most children have 1:1 lessons for the majority of the time, however, we do try small group learning too. We have a STEM group, which tends to work well as we do practical based activities based on a topic.

Each child has a champion as well, a key member of staff who supports them more in terms of wellbeing.

Since the school closed physically in March, Danielle and her colleagues put a range of measures in place to ensure they kept in touch with their pupils throughout the school year  both virtually and in person.

She added: During the school year, every child in lower school  ages 9-15 was receiving a phone or video call every school day, as well as receiving more limited calls during Easter and summer half term.

This has been working really well. Whilst on video call, we have been doing all sorts of activities, such as chess, online quizzes, art, craft, ICT and lots more. I have been sending personalised learning packages to each child in my group. They also have access to online learning platforms such as My Maths and Century.

During the daily calls, parents also have a chance to speak to us if they need support with anything.

As restrictions eased, the team added to their online work and began running an outreach package, travelling out to an open space near their students home to work with them for an hour  then, later, they worked to welcome a few students in once or twice a week to provide them with special support.

The team are now preparing themselves for the new school year, which is set to start in the coming weeks.

Danielle has praised her studies at the university for helping to prepare her for work at The Lifehouse both through her studies the placements undertaken while at Glyndwr  which in her case, led her directly to her current job.

She said: I really enjoyed studying at Glyndwr- the tutors were so approachable and were always on hand to provide help and support where needed. I felt like they truly cared.

There were lots of practical sessions, which were great because my class would regularly have meaningful and thought-provoking discussions.

These practical sessions provided me with important theories and strategies, which I was able to identify and translate into practice when on placement.

My placements were great  they were local to home and provided me with some invaluable experiences, which has helped shape my learning.

If anyone is thinking of studying a course like I did at Glyndwr, Id tell them  go for it! It is truly one of the most challenging yet rewarding things I have ever done.

I have learnt so much along the way, and it has led me to my dream job! I am so lucky to have a job that I absolutely love, and to work in a school that puts the child in the centre of everything.

Programme Leader for PGCE Primary Education, Karen Rhys Jones, said: The work that teachers like Danielle have been doing in recent months has made a real difference to the children they teach and stems from genuine care for childrens learning and wellbeing.

Their work has been recognised by parents who share with teachers a desire for ensuing the best learning experiences for each child and it has been recognised by politicians as we saw with a recent announcement from the Welsh Government that they will be expanding the number of roles for teachers in Wales.

I would like to congratulate Danielle for securing her dream job and using that role to show exactly why our teachers are so valued.

More about studying for a Primary PGCE with QTS Course, which is taught at Glyndwr in collaboration with St Marys University, London, can be found here. Or, for another way into teaching find out about studying for a BA (hons) Primary Education with QTS Course here:
FLINT, MI -- Attorneys in a massive Flint water crisis lawsuit recommend that that the preliminary and partial settlement with the state of Michigan be approved by the Flint community and the court.

During a Thursday, August 20 news conference, Interim Class Counsel Michael Pitt said the $600 million partial settlement isnt perfect, but its very good.

We should never let perfect be the enemy of the good, Pitt added.

A perfect settlement would have included more money and reparations, Pitt said.

The settlement sets up a claims process for Flint residents harmed by lead or bacteria in their water. Several things need to happen before the agreement can be finalized and because of those steps, many of the details must remain confidential for now, Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a video statement released by her office Thursday morning.

It is a fair settlement because it adheres to principles of equality, equity, parity and due process. And it was arrived at with plenty of court oversight, Pitt said.

The money is not justice: Flint mothers express relief, skepticism about water crisis settlement

Children 6 years old and younger during the Flint water crisis are the biggest potential beneficiaries of the settlement. Nearly 80 percent of the settlement, which state officials said is likely the largest in Michigan history, would be paid to children who were younger than 18 when they were first exposed to Flint River water, which contained elevated levels of lead and bacteria in 2014 and 2015.

Pitt said the settlement is the result of five years of litigation against the state and 18 months of court-supervised negotiation through mediators, a special master and court-appointed special counsel to represent the interests of the various groups impacted by the disaster.

The settlement includes a $12 million payment to provide support services to Flint school children and sets aside $35 million to compensate the forgotten children who may apply for an award any time before they turn 19.

Youngest Flint water crisis victims to get 80 percent of historic $600 million settlement

Although Flint children will be eligible to recover part of the settlement without proof of personal injury, adults will be eligible to recover compensation only with proof of personal injury. A formula would provide larger individual payments to those who can show personal injuries, blood or bone lead levels, or who lived in homes with lead service lines.

How much?

It is still unclear how much money individuals will receive, said Theodore J. Leopold, a partner at Cohen Milstein and co-lead counsel in the Flint case.

We cant answer that question now because, although there is a fixed amount of money, depending on how many people participate in the settlement will depend on the amount of money that will be there for individuals, he said.

Flint residents can call 1-866-536-0717, Text Flint to 47177 or visit https://www.flintwaterjustice.com to learn more about the tentative settlement.

Approximately 28,000 claims of damage or injuries from individuals are already pending in civil lawsuits filed in state and federal courts.

The lawsuits will continue, but state agencies and employees, including former Gov. Rick Snyder, will no longer be defendants if a federal court judge, a state Court of Appeals judge and Genesee Circuit Court Judge Joseph Farah accept the settlement -- something that could happen after the settlement is finalized in the next 45 days.

Attorney Corey Stern, co-liaison for residents, called the settlement the first chapter toward closure for the residents of Flint

The full settlement was not released by the state, but a document highlighting the deal shows Flints youngest children at the time of the water crisis stand to gain the most from it.

After accounting for attorney fees and administrative expenses, the agreement specifies that about 80 percent of the settlement fund would be spent on the claims of children who were minors when first exposed to the Flint River water, with a large majority of that amount -- 64.5 percent -- for those who were six and under when they were first exposed to Flint River water.

Ten percent of the settlement would be awarded to children ages 7-11, and 5 percent would be allocated for those 12-17 years old.

Two percent of the settlement would be earmarked for special education services in Genesee County, the Department of Attorney General said, and 18 percent of the funds would be spent on claims of adults and for lead exposure and property damage.

Approximately 1 percent of the settlement would pay claims for business losses.

Read more:

Water crisis settlement includes $9 million for special education services in Flint-area schools

$600 million settlement likely coming in Flint water cases, councilman says

$600M Flint water crisis settlement is more than the state has paid out for the last decades worth of lawsuits combined

Flint water crisis lawsuits for kids 6-12 go to front of the line in federal court

As Flint was slowly poisoned, Snyders inner circle failed to act
For example, all societies need protein, but whereas people in the United States often get much of their protein requirements from beef, others rely more on fish.

To help facilitate cross-cultural sharing, OCM has been working with partners like Lutheran Family Services and the Tri-Faith Initiative.

The American Muslim Institute also has played a key role in bringing the show to Omaha.

We thought this would be fantastic for Omaha, said AMI board member Farhan Khan. For me it was important because I spent a lot of time at the Childrens Museum with both my children. I thought, How would they feel if they saw something talking about them and their parents culture? Its exciting, and its a way to educate youngsters in the community in a super-cool, fun way.

For example, Kahn, who came to the United States 30 years ago from Zimbabwe, likes that the exhibition has such a global focus. The majority of Muslims are not from the Middle East. That will be eye-opening for a lot of visitors. It puts a human face to the culture.
Just before the start of the brief Monsoon Session of Uttar Pradesh Legislature, the Samajwadi Party on Thursday staged a protest in the Vidhan Bhawan against the law and order situation and the governments handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the government needs to answer the queries on various issues like unemployment and the law and order situation.

In a tweet in Hindi, Yadav said, This session of the UP Legislative Assembly is going to be historic in a number of ways. The government has to answer questions raised by the opposition and its own people on coronavirus, unemployment, casteist atrocities and poor law and order. The Governments thoko neeti (encounter policy) has become a point of internal discord (aantarik kalah) instead of becoming a point of reconciliation (sulah), Yadav claimed.

Party members of both houses of the legislature staged a protest in front of the statue of former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, holding banners against the state government.

Speaking on the occasion, Member of the Legislative Council Naresh Uttam alleged that there was jungle raj in the state .

Incidents like murder, loot, rape and kidnapping were taking place on a daily basis and it appeared that criminals had no fear of law, he said.

The Yogi government has totally failed to check Covid-19 pandemic. The height is that in the name of this disease funds are being misused, Uttam alleged.

Another member of Legislative Council, Anand Bhadoria, alleged that bad law and order has added to the woes of people facing problems due to coronavirus.
An attendee holds up a QAnon t-shirt at a Make America Great Again rally in Mesa, Ariz., on Oct. 19, 2018. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

White House Press Secretary: Trump Focused on Pandemic, Not QAnon

President Donald Trump is focused on dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic issues resulting from pandemic-fueled lockdowns, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Thursday when asked whether he supports the QAnon movement.

The media talks a lot about this so-called QAnon, Ive never heard the president mention it. I talk to him oftentimes 10 times a day. Not once have I heard him mention this group. The media talks about and asks about it, but this president is focused on the pandemic that hes navigating a historic response for, a V-shape recovery as the economy gets back to work, she said during an appearance on Fox News. The media can focus on QAnon, but this president is focusing on the American people.

Asked if Trump is supporting this conspiracy theory, she said, No, what the president is doing is working for the American people.

The host pointed to Trumps comments the previous night, particularly the portion when Trump said that from what hes heard, QAnon is full of people that love our country.

He is talking about his supporters, he believes his supporters are good, hard-working people that love this country. Hes not in the business of basket of deplorable politics,' McEnany said, referring to former Democratic Presidential nominee Hilary Clinton calling some Americans deplorable in 2016.

He has not at all looked into who QAnon is. Again, were in the middle of a global pandemic, she added, appearing to become exasperated with the line of questioning.

President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Aug. 20, 2020. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

QAnon is a movement that started on 4chan and 8chan message boards with a trickle of clandestine-sounding posts, often centered on the theme of big government plots to curb individual liberties and advance so-called deep state and globalist agendas. It grew into a large underground movement with a number of splinter groups and sometimes claims that members of the worlds social, economic, and political elites have engaged in child sex trafficking, abuse, and cannibalism.

The conspiracy theories have included claims that Clinton and other high-level politicians will land in jail for committing crimes.

A moderator of a private QAnon discussion group on Facebook, a former U.S government security adviser, told The Epoch Times in 2018 that QAnon represents alleged updates on the promises made by Trump from the beginning of his campaign to drain the swamp by purging corruption, expose the fake news media, and stand up to globalist and special interest groups.

The theories arent widely known. When asked earlier this year how much theyd heard or read about QAnon, just 3 percent of respondents to a Pew Research survey answered a lot, while 76 percent said nothing at all.

Tom Ozimek contributed to this report.
Asm. Cooper Calls Out Environmental Orgs Racism

Assemblymember Jim Cooper (D-Sacramento) inked a two-page open letter to leaders of environmental organizations, calling out racism and the lack of diversity in their organizations.

Cooper, who represents the 9th District and is Chair of the Assemblys Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on State Administration, released the letter through his Twitter account, stating that Its time we have a discussion about environmental racism.

The Sierra Club California (SCC), the California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV), the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and Environment California have long had all White or (mostly) leadership teams, Cooper wrote.

These organizations from their leaders to their funders, are nearly all White, and attempt to trade on race issues by branding their efforts as: environmental justice  for which they do not apologize, Cooper wrote in the letter dated Aug. 3.

Cooper backed his allegations, adding, these organizations consistently push legislation that is designed to protect or improve the environment, but fall way below addressing the needs of disadvantaged communities, he wrote.

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In the letter, Cooper included information provided by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), an independent nonprofit research institution based in San Francisco.

PPIC reported that California residential electric power rates are 55.8% higher than the average of other states. The report also says that California drivers are dishing out more at the pump to pay for the second-highest gasoline prices in the nation at 98 cents per gallon (47% higher than the average of the 49 other states).

These higher costs impact disadvantaged communities, especially those who live in areas like the Central Valley, and force them to pay more for energy costs than coastal community households do, Cooper stated.

These disadvantaged communities throughout the state are mostly comprised of Black and Brown people.

Cooper penned the letter after the Sierra Club California recently announced its commitment to invest $5 million of its budget into initiatives to diversify its staff and environmental and racial justice efforts.

Michael Brune, the Executive Director of the Sierra Club California, released a statement on July 22. In it, he apologized for his organizations substantial role in perpetuating white supremacy.

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The Sierra Club California is the legislative and regulatory advocacy arm for Sierra Club chapters in California. It is one of the nations oldest and largest environmental organizations.

The Sierra Club California has chapters in every state and a national membership that exceeds 1 million. California is unique among states in that it has 13 chapters of the organization, representing more than 400,000 members and supporters.

Its time to take down some of our own monuments, starting with some truth-telling about the Sierra Clubs early history, Brune stated. That will be followed by posts on how weve had to evolve on issues of immigration and population control, environmental justice, and Indigenous sovereignty.

Cooper commended the 128-year-old organization for the public apology and putting up funds to address internal and external racial issues. But the Assemblyman still pointed out the Sierra Clubs timing.

Recent and continuing racial strife in the country, including the death of George Floyd on May 25, played heavily into the environmental organizations decision, Cooper said.

I have to ask why it took the murder of an unarmed Black man, nationwide civil unrest, and protest? Cooper stated.

In his July 22 letter, Brune also admitted that SCC was an exclusive organization that catered to certain members and screened out any applicants of color from 1892 to the 1960s.

One of SCCs founding members is environmentalist and naturalist John Muir, the Father of the National Parks. Muir Woods National Monument near Mill Valley, Calif., is named in honor of the Scottish American.

The Whiteness and privilege of our early membership fed into a very dangerous idea  one thats still circulating today, Brune wrote. Its the idea that exploring, enjoying, and protecting the outdoors can be separated from human affairs. Such willful ignorance is what allows some people to shut their eyes to the reality that the wild places we love are also the ancestral homelands of Native peoples.

Before joining the Assembly in 2014, Cooper served as a Captain in the Sacramento County Sheriffs Department for 30 years and spent 15 years as Elk Groves founding mayor and councilmember.

Elk Grove, located 15 miles south of downtown Sacramento, is the second-most populous city in Sacramento County with more than 172,000 residents.

In response to Coopers Aug. 3 letter, Environmental Racism and Lack of Diversity, and Brunes July 22s press release, Pulling Down Monuments, the assemblyman engaged in some back-and-forth dialogue with Mary Nichols.

Nichols is the Chair of the California Air Resources Board (CARB). CARB is charged with protecting the public from the harmful effects of air pollution and developing programs and actions to fight climate change.

On Nichols Twitter account, which has since been removed, she posted a disturbing message in regard to the death of George Floyd, who died when a Minneapolis, Minnesota, police officer pinned his knee on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

Nichols posted on June 1, I cant breathe speaks to police violence, but it also applies to the struggle for clean air. Environmental racism is just one form of racism. Its all toxic. Government needs to clean it up in word and deed.

Cooper responded by tweeting, How dare you use a dying mans plea for help as a way to discuss your agenda. Have you no shame?

Nichols later issued an apology via Twitter, stating I apologize for speaking at the wrong time about the wrong topic. Racism comes in many forms and I believe we must fight every instance of it in our society.
Rating Action: Moody's confirms rating on one class of notes issued by Ares XXXIX CLO Ltd.; action concludes review

Global Credit Research - 19 Aug 2020

New York, August 19, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has confirmed the rating on the following notes issued by Ares XXXIX CLO Ltd. (the "CLO" or "Issuer"):

U.S.$18,800,000 Class E-R Mezzanine Deferrable Floating Rate Notes Due 2031 (the "Class E-R Notes"), Confirmed at Ba3 (sf); previously on April 17, 2020 Ba3 (sf) Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade

The Class E-R Notes are referred to herein as the "Confirmed Notes."

This action concludes the review for downgrade initiated on April 17, 2020 on the Class E-R Notes issued by the CLO. The CLO, originally issued in July 2016 and refinanced in April 2019, is a managed cashflow CLO. The notes are collateralized primarily by a portfolio of broadly syndicated senior secured corporate loans. The transaction's reinvestment period will end in April 2024.

RATINGS RATIONALE

Despite the credit quality deterioration stemming from the coronavirus outbreak, Moody's concluded that the expected losses on the Confirmed Notes continue to be consistent with the notes' current rating after taking into account the CLO's latest portfolio, its relevant structural features and its actual over-collateralization (OC) levels. Consequently, Moody's has confirmed the rating on the Confirmed Notes. According to the July 2020 trustee report[1], the weighted average rating factor (WARF) was reported at 3465, compared to 3024 reported in the March 2020 trustee report[2]. Moody's calculation also showed the WARF was failing the test level of 3144 reported in the July 2020 trustee report[3]. Based on Moody's calculation, the proportion of obligors in the portfolio with Moody's corporate family or other equivalent ratings of Caa1 or lower (adjusted for negative outlook or watchlist for downgrade) was approximately 16.6% as of August 2020. Nevertheless, according to the July 2020 trustee report[4], Moody's noted that the OC tests for the Class A/B, Class C, Class D, and Class E Notes, as well as the interest diversion test were recently reported as passing.

Story continues

Moody's modeled the transaction using a cash flow model based on the Binomial Expansion Technique, as described in "Moody's Global Approach to Rating Collateralized Loan Obligations."

For modeling purposes, Moody's used the following base-case assumptions:

Performing par and principal proceeds balance: $487,128,809

Defaulted Securities: $6,187,796

Diversity Score: 77

Weighted Average Rating Factor (WARF): 3429

Weighted Average Life (WAL): 5.7 years

Weighted Average Spread (WAS): 3.41%

Weighted Average Recovery Rate (WARR): 48.3%

Par haircut in O/C tests and interest diversion test: 1.1%

In consideration of the current high uncertainties around the global economy and the ultimate performance of the CLO portfolio, Moody's conducted a number of additional sensitivity analyses representing a range of outcomes that could diverge, both to the downside and the upside, from our base case. Some of the additional scenarios that Moody's considered in its analysis of the transaction include, among others: additional near-term defaults of companies facing liquidity pressure; additional OC par haircuts to account for potential future downgrades and defaults resulting in an increased likelihood of cash flow diversion to senior notes; and some improvement in WARF as the US economy gradually recovers in the second half of the year and corporate credit conditions generally stabilize. The rapid spread of the coronavirus outbreak, the government measures put in place to contain it and the deteriorating global economic outlook, have created a severe and extensive credit shock across sectors, regions and markets. Our analysis has considered the effect on the performance of corporate assets from the collapse in the US economic activity in the second quarter and a gradual recovery in the second half of the year. However, that outcome depends on whether governments can reopen their economies while also safeguarding public health and avoiding a further surge in infections. As a result, the degree of uncertainty around our forecasts is unusually high. We regard the coronavirus outbreak as a social risk under our ESG framework, given the substantial implications for public health and safety.

Factors that Would Lead to an Upgrade or Downgrade of the Rating:

The performance of the rated notes is subject to uncertainty in the performance of the related CLO's underlying portfolio, which in turn depends on economic and credit conditions that may change. In particular, the length and severity of the economic and credit shock precipitated by the global coronavirus pandemic will have a significant impact on the performance of the securities. The CLO manager's investment decisions and management of the transaction will also affect the performance of the rated securities.

The principal methodology used in this rating was "Moody's Global Approach to Rating Collateralized Loan Obligations" published in August 2020 and available at https://www.moodys.com/research/Moodys-Global-Approach-to-Rating-Collateralized-Loan-Obligations--PBS_1235535. 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. The analysis relies on an assessment of collateral characteristics to determine the collateral loss distribution, that is, the function that correlates to an assumption about the likelihood of occurrence to each level of possible losses in the collateral. As a second step, Moody's evaluates each possible collateral loss scenario using a model that replicates the relevant structural features to derive payments and therefore the ultimate potential losses for each rated instrument. The loss a rated instrument incurs in each collateral loss scenario, weighted by assumptions about the likelihood of events in that scenario occurring, results in the expected loss of the rated instrument. Moody's quantitative analysis entails an evaluation of scenarios that stress factors contributing to sensitivity of ratings and take into account the likelihood of severe collateral losses or impaired cash flows. Moody's weights the impact on the rated instruments based on its assumptions of the likelihood of the events in such scenarios occurring. For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of debt or security this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series, category/class of debt, security or pursuant to a program for which the ratings are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt, in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would have affected the rating. For further information please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com. For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit support from the primary entity(ies) of this credit rating action, and whose ratings may change as a result of this credit rating action, the associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity. Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures, if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.

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

This rating is solicited. Please refer to Moody's Policy for Designating and Assigning Unsolicited Credit Ratings available on its website www.moodys.com.

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

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

At least one ESG consideration was material to the credit rating action(s) announced and described above.

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] Trustee Report 08-Jul-2020

[2] Trustee Report 20-Mar-2020

[3] Trustee Report 08-Jul-2020

[4] Trustee Report 08-Jul-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.

Monica Chau Analyst Structured 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 David H. Burger VP - Senior Credit Officer Structured 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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CREDIT RATINGS ISSUED BY MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC. AND/OR ITS CREDIT RATINGS AFFILIATES ARE MOODY'S CURRENT OPINIONS OF THE RELATIVE FUTURE CREDIT RISK OF ENTITIES, CREDIT COMMITMENTS, OR DEBT OR DEBT-LIKE SECURITIES, AND MATERIALS, PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND INFORMATION PUBLISHED BY MOODY'S (COLLECTIVELY, "PUBLICATIONS") MAY INCLUDE SUCH CURRENT OPINIONS. MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE DEFINES CREDIT RISK AS THE RISK THAT AN ENTITY MAY NOT MEET ITS CONTRACTUAL FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS AS THEY COME DUE AND ANY ESTIMATED FINANCIAL LOSS IN THE EVENT OF DEFAULT OR IMPAIRMENT. SEE MOODY'S RATING SYMBOLS AND DEFINITIONS PUBLICATION FOR INFORMATION ON THE TYPES OF CONTRACTUAL FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS ADDRESSED BY MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE CREDIT RATINGS. CREDIT RATINGS DO NOT ADDRESS ANY OTHER RISK, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: LIQUIDITY RISK, MARKET VALUE RISK, OR PRICE VOLATILITY. CREDIT RATINGS, NON-CREDIT ASSESSMENTS ("ASSESSMENTS"), AND OTHER OPINIONS INCLUDED IN MOODY'S PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT STATEMENTS OF CURRENT OR HISTORICAL FACT. MOODY'S PUBLICATIONS MAY ALSO INCLUDE QUANTITATIVE MODEL-BASED ESTIMATES OF CREDIT RISK AND RELATED OPINIONS OR COMMENTARY PUBLISHED BY MOODY'S ANALYTICS, INC. AND/OR ITS AFFILIATES. MOODY'S CREDIT RATINGS, ASSESSMENTS, OTHER OPINIONS AND PUBLICATIONS DO NOT CONSTITUTE OR PROVIDE INVESTMENT OR FINANCIAL ADVICE, AND MOODY'S CREDIT RATINGS, ASSESSMENTS, OTHER OPINIONS AND PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT AND DO NOT PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO PURCHASE, SELL, OR HOLD PARTICULAR SECURITIES. MOODY'S CREDIT RATINGS, ASSESSMENTS, OTHER OPINIONS AND PUBLICATIONS DO NOT COMMENT ON THE SUITABILITY OF AN INVESTMENT FOR ANY PARTICULAR INVESTOR. MOODY'S ISSUES ITS CREDIT RATINGS, ASSESSMENTS AND OTHER OPINIONS AND PUBLISHES ITS PUBLICATIONS WITH THE EXPECTATION AND UNDERSTANDING THAT EACH INVESTOR WILL, WITH DUE CARE, MAKE ITS OWN STUDY AND EVALUATION OF EACH SECURITY THAT IS UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR PURCHASE, HOLDING, OR SALE.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 20:48:59|Editor: huaxia

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Students have a class in Hubei Shuiguohu No. 1 Middle School in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Aug. 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhao Jun)

BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Education (MOE) has required efforts to restore normal teaching at the country's schools and universities with effective anti-epidemic measures in place.

A circular, issued by the office of the MOE's leading group for COVID-19 responses, asked local education authorities as well as colleges and universities to make plans in preparation for the reopening of schools and universities in the upcoming autumn semester.

Such plans must take local anti-epidemic situations and the schools' realistic conditions into account, the circular said, adding that the faculties should be prepared for the school reopening, and health monitoring measures for teachers and students should be properly in place.

It also required an overhaul of all kinds of safety risks on campus.

Anti-epidemic measures should be carried out in a scientific and targeted manner, the circular said, demanding a coordinated system among the schools and local health authorities for epidemic containment.

The schools should have contingency plans and material reserves ready for possible emergencies, and they should keep records for every student regarding their returning routes, the document said.

Containment measures at some key sites such as the schools' classrooms, canteens, dormitories, and laboratories should be strengthened, and epidemic-related information should be reported daily even if there are no relevant cases, according to the circular.

It also asked the schools to enhance their capabilities in handling possible emergencies with relevant well-trained personnel. 
Wildfires across the state push many animals out of their natural habitats, and often into residential areas. For 25 years SWCC, the Southwest's largest wildlife animal sanctuary has offered wildlife rescue, recovery and rehabilitation. Visitors are welcome at the sanctuary, which is open for tours with special precautions for safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Many people in the Valley know about our Random Acts of Kindness program," said Jeff Meshey, President and CEO at Desert Financial Credit Union. "When we learned about the important work this quiet sanctuary has been doing for so long, we knew now was the time to make this gift. Our staff also had a wonderful time touring the center and connecting with the animals, and the very special people that care for them."

SWCC is the only sanctuary in Arizona capable of caring for large mammals such as black bears, mountain lions and Mexican gray wolves, but sees a broad variety of wildlife including foxes, bobcats, beavers, coyotes, skunks, raccoons and other animals making a home in the desert.

Animals in need of help under any circumstances find their way to the SWCC by way of referrals from the local police or Arizona Game and Fish. They are often reported by residents of neighborhood spaces into which the animals flee to avoid smoke. After providing refuge and rehabilitation, SWCC's goal is to return these animals to their natural habitat when they can successfully make the transition. Animals unable to survive in the wild can spend the remainder of their days at the sanctuary, where a small staff and many volunteers deliver care 24/7.

"We often say that it takes the support of a 'village' to accomplish the work of Southwest Wildlife," said SWCC Executive Director Linda Searles. "We are grateful that Desert Financial has become part of our village during these unusual times and made it possible for us to continue to fulfill our mission of saving wildlife, one life at a time."

SWCC features 10 acres of land and typically cares for up to 150 animals at a time. Numbers today have increased closer to 300. The center recently signed an agreement with Maricopa County to build a cooperative facility in McDowell Mountain Park on 100 acres of land over the next five years. For more information on tours and education or to make a donation, visit: Southwestwildlife.org

About Desert Financial Credit Union

Celebrating 81 years in Arizona, Desert Financial is the state's largest local credit union with $6 billion in assets, more than 330,000 members and 47 locations across the Valley. As a not-for-profit cooperative, Desert Financial takes pride in sharing success. In 2019, Desert Financial gave nearly $11 million to Valley nonprofits, the community and members. Learn more at Desert Financial Credit Union.

About Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center

Southwest Wildlife (SWCC) rescues and rehabilitates native Arizona wildlife that have been injured, displaced and orphaned. Once rehabilitated, they are returned to the wild. Sanctuary is provided to those animals that cannot be returned to the wild. Educational and humane scientific research opportunities are offered in the field of conservation medicine, including advice on living with wildlife and the importance of native wildlife to healthy ecosystems. SWCC receives no government funding and relies upon tours, events and donations to continue its mission of saving wildlife, one life at a time. Learn more at southwestwildlife.org

SOURCE Desert Financial Credit Union

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Intelligence report says Kims younger sister is now responsible for the nations relations with the US and South Korea.

South Koreas intelligence agency believes that Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, is serving as his de facto second-in-command but has not necessarily been designated his successor.

Ha Tae-keung, an opposition party legislator on the South Korean parliaments intelligence committee, on Thursday told reporters that Kim was helping to run the regime with mandated authority from her brother.

She is now responsible for the isolated nations relations with the United States and South Korea, according to an intelligence report cited by the legislator.

Believed to be in her early 30s, Kim Yo Jong is the leaders only close relative with a public role in politics, recently spearheading a new, tougher campaign to put pressure on South Korea.

The bottom line is that Kim Jong Un still holds absolute power, but has turned over a bit more of his authority compared to the past, Ha said, following a closed-door briefing by the Souths National Intelligence Service.

Kim Yo Jong is a de facto second-in-command, Ha added, in a transcript of remarks seen by the Reuters news agency.

More authority on economic and military policy has also been delegated to several other senior officials, although at a lower level, possibly to reduce strain on Kim Jong Un as well as help him avoid blame for any failures, Ha said.





Kim Yo Jong won fame ahead of her brothers 2019 summit with US President Donald Trump in Vietnam, when her efforts to ensure everything went well included holding an ashtray for the North Korean leader at a railway station on his journey.

Her prominence in the campaign against South Korea this year highlighted a substantive policy role that goes beyond being merely Kims assistant, analysts say.

She issued her first public statements to spray criticism at the neighbouring nation, and the Norths state media portrayed her as playing a decision-making role.

In July, she offered personal views on diplomacy with the US in an unusual statement in state media, saying her brother had given her special permission to watch recordings of that countrys Independence Day celebrations.

When rumours and speculation arose in April about Kim Jong Uns health, his sister was seen as a possible placeholder to take over the family dynasty until one of Kims children is old enough.

Kim Yo Jong has been absent from the plenary gathering on Wednesday, said NK News, a Seoul-based website that tracks North Korea. That has stirred some speculation about a possible demotion.

Five-year plan

Earlier on Thursday, state media reported that the North Korean leadership wanted to present a new five-year plan at a rare party congress in January.

At a meeting on Wednesday chaired by Kim, the Workers Party Central Committee decided to present the economic plan at the party congress.

The plenary meeting decided to convene the party congress to set forth a correct line of struggle and strategic and tactical policies on the basis of the new requirements of our developing revolution and the prevailing situation, the official news agency KCNA reported.

The agency noted that the economy had not improved in the face of unexpected multiple challenges. The goal of noticeably increasing peoples standard of living had also not been achieved.

The Eighth Congress of the Workers Party will be convened in January.

The Congress, which was originally supposed to be held every five years, is the partys most important body. But the seventh congress in May 2016 was the first to be held in 36 years.

At that time, Kim Jong Un was elected to the newly created post of party chairman.
Rajasthan crisis: This is not my voice, ready to face probe: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on audio tape

All Indians to be vaccinated by December says Union Minister

Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat tests positive for COVID-19

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Aug 20: Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has tested positive for Covid-19. The minister announced the same in a tweet.

The minister has been admitted to a hospital. The minister also advised those who have come in contact with him to test and isolate themselves.

Singh an MP from Rajasthan is a Union Cabinet Minister in the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

Meanwhile, the condition of Union Home Minister Amit is stable and a team of multidisciplinary specialists led by AIIMS director, Dr Randeep Guleria is monitoring his health.

A report in the Hindustan Times said that Shah's condition is stable, while citing people aware of the matter at the AIIMS.

The Union Home Minister was admitted to AIIMS on Monday night, three days after being discharged from Medanta Hospital in Gurugram after testing negative for coronavirus.

Contempt Case: SC rejects Prashant Bhushan's plea to defer sentencing | Oneindia News

"Sh Amit Shah, Honourable Home Minister, has been complaining of fatigue and body ache for last three or four 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 the hospital," AIIMS said in a statement on Tuesday.

Upon his discharge from Medanta, Shah had tweeted, "today my Covid-19 test report has come negative. I thank god. And, I also express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who supported me and my family by wishing me good health. I will be in home isolation for few days on advice of doctors."

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Story first published: Thursday, August 20, 2020, 13:59 [IST]
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.20

By Nargiz Ismayilova - Trend:

Azerbaijans AzerGold CJSC has announced a tender to select a company for exploration and field services on perspective structures.

Tender will be held through surveying.

"The company must perform the following works: digitalization of geological data on the Dashkasan iron ore deposit in Azerbaijan, conducting topographic surveys, exploration and field survey work on perspective structures," the announcement said.

All those willing to take part in the survey should send their proposals until 15:00 (GMT+4) on August 21, 2020.

Phone: (+994 12) 505 02 02

Contact: Aygul Taghiyeva

(1 USD = 1.7 manat on Aug.20)
Was Wang Yi's visit intended to remind India of 1962, asks Claude Arpi?

IMAGE: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks at a press conference in Beijing. Photograph: Roman Pilipey/Pool via Reuters

On August 14, a mysterious visit took place in Tibet.

Beijing issued a communique mentioning that State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi 'conducted an investigation in Tibet and held discussions with leaders of the autonomous region party... Wang Yi introduced the current international situation and the main status of diplomatic work.'

It further emphasized that in recent years, the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) had adhered to the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee; the release continued with the usual stuff; complimenting the TAR leadership for following ]'the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.'

Nothing mysterious in this.

As a good Communist, Wang Yi repeated the words of his boss, Xi Jinping, 'Tibet's security and stability are related to the overall development of the party and the country and the diplomatic front could only work if the comrades of the TAR earnestly implement the party's strategy for governing Tibet in the new era, establish the 'four consciousnesses' and strengthen the 'four confidences' to achieve the 'Two Maintenances'.'

That is the usual Communist jargon.

The communique ended saying that during his visit, Wang Yi went to the border areas of Tibet 'to conduct field investigations on poverty alleviation, border infrastructure and construction of well-off villages.'

So why call the visit 'mysterious'?

For a number of reasons.

IMAGE: Wang Yang in Tibet.

First, it was the third 'important' visit by a Chinese big shot to Tibet in the last five weeks.

On July 9, Xinhua reported that Wang Yang visited the mountainous region. Wang is a member of the all-powerful Politburo's Standing Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee; in other words, No 4 in the Red hierarchy.

Wang spoke of 'continuous efforts to consolidate the foundations of enduring peace and stability in southwest China's Tibet'.

Please note 'China's Tibet'.

Do we need to write 'India's Tamil Nadu' or 'India's Uttarakhand'?

Does it mean the Communist leadership is not sure that Tibet is part of China? Otherwise, what is the need (apart from insecurity) to repeat this formula in every article or press release?

In Lhasa, Wang Yang observed: 'The efforts should centre on safeguarding the country's unity and strengthening ethnic solidarity, resolutely combating separatism, forestalling and defusing major risks and challenges and continuously consolidate the foundations of long-term peace and stability.'

Wang Yang, who spent three days in Tibet, did not speak of the situation on the frontier with Ladakh.

He visited several villages 'relocated' under the pretext of poverty alleviation, pastoral areas, industrial parks and religious sites in Shigatse and Lhasa.

During a symposium, he mentioned his favorite themes, 'raising the social awareness of religious believers, as well as the promotion of patriotism to adapt Tibetan Buddhism to the socialist society.' In other words, monks should be good Communists.

What makes Wang Yi's visit strange is that another 'important' visit had taken place four weeks after Wang Yang's.

From August 3, Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua, a member of the Politburo and head of the national leading group on poverty alleviation, also 'inspected' many sites in Tibet.

Two weeks later, Chinese Web sites were still urging the Tibetans to 'carry out the spirit of Vice Premier Hu Chunhua to extremely high altitude areas'.

Apparently, Hu, who served in Tibet several years ago, 'went deep into the eastern part of Ngari Prefecture, western Nagchu City and other extremely high altitude areas to investigate poverty alleviation and animal husbandry development.' He had to give feedback to the leadership assembled in the seaside resort of Beidaihe for the annual ultra secret conclave.

It was reported that Hu Chunhua went to the home of herders in remote Dawa village in Tsochen county in Ngari Prefecture to check the production and conditions of farmers and nomads living in high altitude areas.

It was probably the first time that these neglected populations met a politburo member (and for many, Xi Jinping's heir-apparent).

The Chinese media reported that Hu 'successively' walked into the most remote counties of Ngari Prefecture; he went deep into villages, visited enterprises and grassroots organizations (incidentally, Hu speaks good Tibetan).

So, what was the need of a third visit?

According to The South China Morning Post (Jack Ma's newspaper is fast becoming a mouthpiece for Beijing), Wang Yi's visit to Tibet was to 'send message to India over border dispute'.

The Hong Kong newspaper says: 'China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi made a rare visit to Tibet on Friday, including a trip to the disputed border with India, as the three-month military stand-off between the two countries continued to drag on with little sign of resolution. Although a terse statement issued by the foreign ministry did not mention India, Wang's border trip was described by Chinese observers as an unusual and symbolic gesture.'

But there is more to the mystery of Wang's visit.

Why was his 'inspection' not mentioned by Chinese and Tibetan Web sites dealing with Tibet (contrary to the two earlier VIP visits)? After hours of search, I could only get a screenshot which appeared two days after the 'important' visit (soon after this was removed).

About the threat to India, Beijing seems to be shooting from the South China Morning Post's shoulders.

The 'mysterious' border area that Wang Yi visited is most likely Tsona county, north of Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

Was the visit intended to remind India of 1962?

In which case, the foreign minister should have done some homework; despite the overall defeat of the Indian troops in 1962, he should have known how valiantly Indian troops fought on the front, just south of the place he visited, particularly the 2 Rajput battalion in the Namkha Chu area who inflicted heavy casualties to the People's Liberation Army; ditto in the east in the Walong sector or in Rezang La in Ladakh.

Would China decide to 'teach another lesson' to India, there will be many Rezang Las or Walongs and this time, India would use the Indian Air Force, without speaking of severe economic and political retaliations (Beijing could forget about its dear 'One China Policy') -- Tibet and Taiwan could immediately be recognized by India.

There is no doubt that Wang Yi (who is also the Special Representative in the border talks between India and China and the counterpart of Ajit Kumar Doval, the national security advisor), has been sent by the top leadership who is bound to have discussed India's stand in Ladakh.

What report could he give? He did not meet the top brass of the Tibet Military District, including the powerful Political Commissar Lieutenant General Zhang Xuejie and the Commander, Lieutenant General Wang Haijiang, who were nowhere to be seen during Wang's visit to the border with India?

How powerful is such a message, with most of the Chinese media, particularly in Tibet, banned to report about Wang's visit?

Strange are the ways of a State which suddenly realised that it has taken too big a piece to chew; if Xi Jinping thought that the Ladakhi adventure would a quick and easy one to digest, he has not probably fully read Sun Tzu's The Art of War.

That is not all; Gyaltsen Norbu, China's selected Panchen Lama, described by Radio Free Asia as 'a senior Buddhist monk hand-picked by Beijing to replace a candidate more widely recognized by Tibetans as authentic', is also on an 'inspection' in Tibet.

While the Panchen Lama recognised by the Dalai Lama is languishing in an undisclosed place in Beijing, Norbu arrived in Lhasa on July 31; he was 'greeted by Chinese authorities, students, and civil servants', said the Chinese media.

The photos however show a handful of people around him.

IMAGE: The Panchen Lama visits Jokhang temple, the most revered monastery in Lhasa.

On August 3, he went to pray at Lhasa's Jokhang temple: 'Few in Lhasa appear to have been aware of the Panchen Lama's visit', wrote RFA, adding that 'access to the Jokhang and Lhasa's central Barkhor old town area are usu ally tightly restricted... but a few days ago even more police were deployed there than usual. Gyaltsen Norbu was probably visiting then... Not many Tibetans know about the China-appointed Panchen Lama, and only those who don't know his background will care much about him'.

All this shows that all is not rosy in 'China's Tibet', the region is boiling.

And if the Communist leadership counts on the Tibetans to defend the Middle Kingdom's frontiers, they may be in for an unpleasant surprise.

Claude Arpi is one of the earliest contributors to Rediff.com.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
(Newser)  A helicopter pilot died Wednesday fighting one of hundreds of wildfires burning in California. Authorities say the Bell UH-1 helicopter crashed for unknown reasons while making water drops in a remote area near Coalinga, Fresno County, the Fresno Bee reports. The crash ignited yet another brush fire. Fast-moving fires have forced thousands of people in northern California to flee their homes, and Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency, the BBC reports. "We are experiencing fires the likes of which we haven't seen in many, many years," the governor said Wednesday. He said at least 23 fires burning in the state are now considered major blazes.

story continues below

Cal Fire spokesman Chief Jeremy Rahn said Wednesday that a "historic lightning siege" of more than 11,000 strikes, combined with a heat wave, has caused 367 fires in recent days, the New York Times reports. Cal Fire officials say the LNU Lightning Complex group of fires west of Sacramento is threatening around 25,000 structures and is currently 0% contained. The fires have forced evacuations in Vacaville, between Sacramento and San Francisco. Travis Air Force Base, around 10 miles south of the city, has ordered the evacuation of all "non-mission essential personnel." In the eastern San Francisco Bay area, the SCU Lightning Complex cluster of fires is threatening thousands of buildings and has injured at least five people, the AP reports. (Read more California wildfires stories.)
One of the changes borne out of the COVID-19 pandemic is increased mindfulness about cleanliness and sanitation to help stem the spread of the disease. With most people having become neat freaks over the past few months, businesses make sure to keep their premises clean to avoid violating health regulations and facing possible liability in case of COVID-19 transmission.

According to Eric Hu (pictured), senior risk engineer at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, COVID-19 has made cleaning and disinfection a top risk management and C-suite-level concern. This is a huge departure from half a year ago, when CEOs were unlikely to lose sleep over how often surfaces were cleaned and how.

Cleaning and disinfection may seem synonymous to each other, but, according to Hu, it is especially important during a pandemic to know the distinction between the two.

Cleaning is the removing of soiling  visible or invisible  on a surface, and is a key step to take prior to disinfection, in which the presence of even a small particle of dust or dirt renders itself ineffective, said Hu. Not appreciating the differences, businesses may unknowingly disinfect before cleaning or disinfect without cleaning, both of which would not effectively eliminate the COVID-19 virus.

Due to the current health crisis, the process of cleaning and disinfecting has changed dramatically and, because of that, proper training of staff undertaking this task is essential for effectiveness and safety of employees and customers when reopening public spaces, he said.

What are the risks involved?

Hu said that companies should also thoroughly vet all third party contractors hired to undertake the cleaning and disinfection process on their behalf.

Due to the increased demand for such services, many cleaning companies who have previously not been very active in the field are now aggressively marketing their services.

It is important that businesses consider the third partys qualifications and track record of providing such services and also have an auditing program in place to ensure the job is being done to the level of detail needed to be effective, Hu said.

Another important consideration when selecting a third-party provider is whether they have adequate general liability cover.

Take the example where youre an office tower, and the cleaning and disinfection is outsourced to an external service provider, Hu said. In the case where someone contracts COVID-19 and it is traced back to the building, while the owner of the building would be liable, the cost would be borne by the third party provider and covered under their general liability policy.

Increased storage of disinfectant agents containing high percentages of alcohol puts premises at higher risk of fires, while certain disinfectants can cause irritation to skin without the proper protective measures, and prolonged exposure to UV lights may damage skin and eyes.

Cleaning too often or with agents that are too harsh for the surfaces material could result in physical damage due to erosion, Hu added. This could lead to additional costs to replace the damaged material or surface. Disinfecting too often with an unsuitable agent may also cause resistant germs to emerge.

Hu reminded businesses to always refer to their local government, health agencies and the industry bodies or the guidance and standards required when it comes to cleaning and disinfection.

Importance of proper information dissemination

While best practices may vary depending on many factors including industry, size, the organizations purpose and customer demographics, it is important that cleaning and maintenance staff know what to do in advance as well as receive training. They must also know how to handle any new materials and equipment they need to carry out their part of the cleaning and disinfection plan.

Aside from cleaning and maintenance staff, customer-facing staff must also be well-informed, so they are able to address questions from customers.

Customers need to know what you are doing and why you are doing it to feel comfortable and understand any role they have to play, such as hand sanitization and wearing face masks, Hu said.

Furthermore, Hu reminded organizations to put more effort into disseminating information and avoid relying solely on email or posters.

Communicate the plan on a personal basis where possible, especially to those who it will impact the most, such as cleaning staff, and those who need to communicate the plan to others, such as reception and HR staff, he said. Communication is key to the adherence to a plan. People need to understand why they must do things. If they do not understand this, then they are far more likely to cut corners.
San Francisco, Aug 20 : As the devastating wildfires tore through Northern California, Google on Thursday launched a new wildfire boundary map in Search and Maps SOS alerts to provide deeper insights for areas impacted by an ongoing wildfire.

When people look for things like "wildfire in California" or a specific fire like "Kincade fire" in Search, they will be able to see a wildfire's approximate boundary of the fire, name and location, as well as news articles and helpful resources from local emergency agencies in the SOS alert.

"On Google Maps, people will have access to the same details, including the fire boundary, and receive warnings if they're approaching an active blaze," the company said in a statement.

Google has taken help from satellite data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) GOES constellation of satellites and Google Earth Engine's data analysis capabilities.

It has created a digital polygon - the red boundary shown on the map in Search and Google Maps - that represents the approximate wildfire impact area.

"If multiple large fires are active in the same region, people may see several polygons," the company said.

A group of fires west of Sacramento, known as the L.N.U. Lightning Complex, doubled in size throughout the day, growing to 124,000 acres and threatening about 25,000 structures after forcing evacuations in Vacaville, California fire officials were quoted as saying in The New York Times.

Google has worked with local agencies to build features that provide critical, accurate information during wildfires.
The Harris County Constable Precinct 1 Constable's Office is issuing a warning to pet owners after discovering a dog tethered to a chain that apparently died from heat exhaustion.

The precinct's animal cruelty unit last Friday found the dog tethered to a weighted down metal chain in the backyard of a home located in the 2800 block of Loganberry Park Lane in Houston, according to a recent Facebook post from police. In a video sent to the Houston SPCA by a concerned resident, the dog can be seen gasping for breath, police said.

PACT SIGNED INTO LAW: Animal cruelty is now a federal felony in the U.S.

There was no shade, water or food available to the dog. The dog's internal temperature was measured at 106.5 degrees; its external body temperature showed 122.9 degrees.

An investigation is ongoing and could lead to prosecution, police said.

"The Harris County Precinct One Constables Office encourages you to bring your pets inside during this extreme heat," officials said in the post.

In 2007, the Texas Legislature passed a bill addressing tethering standards in extreme weather, among other conditions. But according to the Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN), the actual enforcement of the bill is rare.

"The [2007 version] law...is unenforceable because no citations can be issued, only warnings," THLN stated on its website. "Because there has not been a single prosecution since the law's passage, it is time to fix this statute where citations can be issued before the dog's situation becomes a cruelty case."

On HoustonChronicle.com: Harris County Animal Cruelty Task Force credits spike in cases to pandemic, domestic abuse

The 2019 "Adequate Shelter and Restraint Bill," also known as Senate Bill 295, would have made it a criminal offense if owners unlawfully restrained their dogs with chain leashes and do not provide adequate shelter, food, shade and water. A companion bill, HB 940, would have helped enforce the adequate shelter bill by not forcing officers to wait before issuing pet owners a violation. Both bills failed, according to BillTrack50.

However, 2019 did see the passing of the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act (PACT) into law. The law, signed by President Donald Trump in Nov., makes animal cruelty a federal felony on interstate commerce and federal property with a punishment of a fine or up to seven years in jail.

Anyone that witnesses or suspects animal cruelty is asked to call the precinct's Animal Cruelty Hotline at (832) 927-1659 or the SPCA animal cruelty hotline at 713-869-SPCA. Cruelty cases may also be reported to the Harris County Animal Cruelty Task Force at 832-927-PAWS or on the task force website.

rebecca.hennes@chron.com
Bernard A. Krooks and Amy C. O'Hara Named to Best Lawyers in America

Best Lawyers in America has recognized Bernard A. Krooks, JD, CPA, LLM, CELA, AEP (Distinguished) and Amy C. OHara, Esq., partners in the law firm Littman Krooks LLP, for excellence in Elder Law and Trusts & Estates. A listing in Best Lawyers is widely regarded by both clients and legal professionals as a significant honor conferred on a lawyer by his or her peers.

In addition, Krooks was named as 2021 Lawyer of the Year for excellence in Elder Law. He has been included in Best Lawyers guide to legal excellence in the U.S. in the field of Elder Law and Trusts and Estates every year since 2008.

Krooks is a founding partner of the law firm Littman Krooks LLP and Chair of its Elder Law and Special Needs Department. He is a nationally-recognized expert in all aspects of elder law and special needs planning. He is a member of the Estate Planning Hall of Fame by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC). He is also past President of the Board of Directors of the Arc of Westchester, the largest agency in Westchester County serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

This is the first year that OHara has been named to Best Lawyers. Along with Krooks, she is recognized as a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) by the National Elder Law Foundation. She is Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Special Needs Alliance, a national organization comprised of attorneys who practice law and advocate for people living with special needs and disabilities, the elderly, and their families. OHara is also President of the Board of Directors of Westchester Disabled on the Move, Inc., a not-for-profit organization that aims to improve the quality of life and the rights for all people with disabilities.

Read more about Krooks and OHara.

About Littman Krooks LLP

Littman Krooks provides sophisticated legal advice and the high level of expertise ordinarily associated with large law firms along with the personal attention and responsiveness of smaller firms. These ingredients, which are the cornerstone of effective representation and are necessary to a successful lawyer/client relationship, have become the foundation of the firms success.

Littman Krooks LLP offers legal services in several areas of law, including elder law, estate planning, special needs planning, special education advocacy, and corporate and securities. Their offices are located at 399 Knollwood Road, White Plains, New York and 655 Third Avenue, New York, New York. Visit us at http://www.littmankrooks.com/.


If youve driven by a Forest Service road sign in the southwest United States, chances are it was made by Phil Archuletta.

He was working at Ojo Caliente Craftsmen in the early 1970s when the Forest Service first asked the business to manufacture road signs.

I thought it would just be a contract for the Carson and Santa Fe National Forests, but it turned out to be the entire Region 3 of New Mexico and Arizona, Archuletta said. Before I knew it, I was filling purchase orders from 12 different forests. It helped create a lot of jobs for that rural community.

Archuletta was the only non-government representative on a committee that worked from 1973 to 1988 to standardize the shape, colors and material of Forest Service signs across the country.

Now U.S. Forest Service Chief Victoria Christiansen has officially recognized the group for making a lasting shift in the sign program.

The collaborative work of the collective to improve the quality and consistency of Forest Service signs is a noteworthy accomplishment, whose positive impact still benefits the Agency forty years later  a legacy we are proud of, Christiansen wrote in a July 25 letter.

The group tested signs from Hopewell Lake, New Mexico, to Truckee, California, to see which materials could do the job of guiding travelers.

Forest signs can get covered up with 10 feet of snow, Archuletta said. So we would put up a sign in the spring or summer, then rangers would go back later and all the material would be on the forest floor. We had to test sign materials to see what worked and what didnt.

The result was a national standard for Forest Service signage that still holds today.

Archuletta now runs P&M Signs in Mountainair. Its one of only a handful of corporations with a license to print the image of Smokey Bear.

A lot of those signs built in the 70s and 80s are still guiding traffic today, even though they were only supposed to last 10 to 15 years, he said.

Other committee members recognized by Chief Christiansen are Tom Nettleton, Dick Alexander, Stan Versan, Paul Weaver, John Barksdale, Milt Taylor, Richard Almgren, John Wagner, Lester Pence, Doug Morrison, Bob Hartman, Jerome A. Miles and Max Peterson.
A decision over a planned 40m bioenergy plant at Giant's Park in Belfast has been deferred

A decision over a planned 40m bioenergy plant at Giant's Park in Belfast has been deferred.

Energia Group wants to build the massive plant with Government funding under the Renewables Obligations Scheme.

It had been recommended for approval by Belfast City Council's planning committee this week.

However, the project was withdrawn from the agenda of Tuesday night's council meeting so that a site visit can take place.

The plant would use anaerobic digestion to convert organic waste such as food into methane-rich biogas, which would be turned into green electricity via a generator.

Energia has said the method is a "highly sustainable and environmentally beneficial way of producing electricity".

"It will help Northern Ireland to meet its climate change and carbon reduction objectives, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and also avoiding food waste going into landfill," it added.

But Belfast Harbour, which owns film studios close to the proposed site, claims it is "incompatible" with its plans to extend the studios.

And Giant's Park Development Ltd, which intends to deliver a leisure-led development on the site, also claims it would jeopardise that project.

Belfast Harbour would not make any further comment on the planning process.

Energia says the plant would convert organic waste into energy through natural means "providing this power to homes and businesses throughout Northern Ireland".

"It is the largest regeneration site in Belfast and a strategic location for a bioenergy plant which will operate in an entirely complementary manner to all other nearby businesses, developments and the wider community," it added.

Energia also says the plant will contribute to the redevelopment of the former landfill site and could help draw other industrial business uses wishing to avail of a renewable energy source.
A total of 13 licensed premises in Ireland were found in breach of Covid-19 safety guidelines by the Gardai as part of Operation Navigation last week.

While the vast majority of licensed premises operating have been found to be in compliance with regulations and licensing laws to date, 13 potential breaches were found by Gardai between Tuesday, August 11 and Sunday, August 16, and files will now be prepared for the DPP in each of these cases.

In all these cases, Gardai found customers consuming alcohol, but no evidence of food also being consumed and no evidence of receipts to show that food had been sold.

From Friday, July 3 to Sunday, August 16, An Garda Siochana conducted thousands of checks on licensed premises throughout the country under Operation Navigation to support public health guidelines.

The cumulative total of potential breaches since Operation Navigation began is now 138.

Deputy Commissioner, Policing and Security, John Twomey said, "The continued high level of compliance among licensed premises is very welcome. However, there remains a minority who are putting their employees, their customers and their local community at risk of getting COVID-19. Everyone in the community has a role to play in stopping the spread of COVID-19 including licensed premises.

"Customers of such licensed premises also have a responsibility to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 to protect their family, friends and neighbours.

"Now, more than ever, it is imperative that we individually and collectively follow the public health advice and adhere to the public health regulations to flatten this new curve in the virus.

Operation Fanacht

At midnight on Friday, August 7 2020, following the announcement by An Taoiseach of Certain Temporary Restrictions, in counties Kildare, Laois and Offaly, An Garda Siochana recommenced Operation Fanacht, a localised proactive policing operation, focused on supporting public compliance with travel restrictions.



On Saturday, 15 and Sunday, 16 August 2020 there were a total of 354 checkpoints conducted in Kildare, Laois/Offaly and all surrounding Divisions (Meath, Westmeath, Roscommon/Longford, Galway, Tipperary, Kilkenny/Carlow, Wicklow and Wexford).

Of these, 164 were in Kildare and Laois/Offaly Divisions, the remaining 190 were conducted in the other surrounding Divisions.
Ghislaine Maxwell is watched by a team of prison psychiatrists who are compiling a secret file on her mental health, her lawyers have claimed.

In a letter protesting about the 'uniquely onerous conditions of her confinement' in a Brooklyn jail, her legal team claim she has been kept under constant surveillance without her consent.

Maxwell is asking the judge in her case to order that her lockup conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center be modified to be the same as other inmates.

Her lawyers say she is allowed just 30 minutes of phone calls a month - fewer than the 500 granted to others in the jail - and say 'unlike other defendants', she does not have a desk or writing surface.

Maxwell was arrested last month on charges that she assisted her former boyfriend - convicted pedophile and late financier - Jeffery Epstein in the sexual abuse of minors between 1994 and 1997, and lying under oath. She has pleaded not guilty.

The daughter of the late British media mogul Robert Maxwell is also said to be under constant surveillance by prison guards because of Epstein's suicide in a Manhattan jail cell last year.

Lawyers for Ghislaine Maxwell - the alleged madame and former girlfriend of convicted pedophile and late financier Jeffery Epstein - have said psychologists have been evaluating her for hours on end, and that she is under 24/7 surveillance

The British socialite, 58, is currently being held in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn (pictured), New York, as she awaits trial over her alleged involvement in the crimes of pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein

Maxwell's legal team, which includes Christian Everdell, a former New York prosecutor who helped put down El Chapo, are protesting her conditions.

'Ms. Maxwell continues to be surveilled 24 hours a day by security cameras and is under constant observation by multiple prison guards,' Everdell wrote in a letter Monday night.

'The defense recently learned that some of these prison guards were, in fact, BOP [Bureau of Prisons] psychologists who were observing Ms. Maxwell and evaluating her for hours each day without her knowledge,' he added. 'We are aware of no other pretrial detainee receiving such treatment.'

Typically, a coordinator - normally the prison's chief psychologist - is supposed to work with other prison staff to monitor the 'mental status' of inmates, according to The Times.

The psychologist should make a weekly round, checking the daily logs of the prison officer in charge, and if a prisoner becomes suicidal they are placed on 'suicide watch'.

Once an inmate is on suicide watch, the chief psychologist must evaluate them at least once a day, while the prisoner should be kept under the 'least restrictive available conditions' to ensure both the control and safety of the prisoner.

Maxwell's legal team, which includes Christian Everdell (pictured) a former New York prosecutor who helped put down El Chapo

The 58-year-old socialite - who once mixed with celebrities, presidents and royalty at high-class parties - is now bedding in at the Metropolitan Detention Center which was once described by a judge as 'like a third-world country'.

Unlike other prisoners, she does not have access to email and was granted only 30 minutes of personal phone calls each month, which her lawyers said was 'far fewer than the 500 minutes granted to other pretrial detainees since the Covid-19 crisis.'

'Unlike defendants in the general population, she does not have a desk or a writing surface where she can take notes' and until recently she was denied access to the prison commissary, they said.

Prosecutors have said that Maxwell is being held apart from other inmates because of reasons including 'safety' and 'security', while her lawyers have said they will withdraw their request for her to be housed with other inmates if she is afforded the same privileges as them.

'She, unlike Mr Epstein, has never been suicidal and was never diagnosed as exhibiting risk factors for suicide,' her lawyers said last week.

Since then, officials have changed her regime. She is now able to review the voluminous materials produced by her case between 7am and 8pm each day, her lawyers said.

Ghislaine Maxwell has claimed her conversations with lawyers in prison have been recorded, undermining her chances of a fair trial. Pictured: Maxwell appears via video link in Manhattan Federal Court on July 14

However, she is still 'surveilled 24 hours a day' by cameras, guards and psychologists. 'She is also still being awakened several times in the middle of the night,' they claimed.

Guards at the jail, which is different to the one where Jeffrey Epstein died last year, have been jailed for raping female prisoners, while the jail also lost power for an entire week during winter last year - leaving inmates locked in freezing, dark cells.

It is unclear exactly how long Maxwell will remain in the jail, which is typically used as a waiting room for those with an upcoming court date.

In other recent court filings her lawyers claimed Maxwell's phone conversations with her defense counsel have been recorded by prison guards.

The filing, reported by The Sun, said: '[Maxwell] continues to be surveilled 24 hours a day by security cameras and by multiple prison guards, many of whom do not appear to be regular MDC personnel.

'These prison guards constantly observe Ms Maxwell and take notes on her every activity, including her phone conversations with defense counsel.

'Her cell is [still] searched multiple times a day and she has been forced to undergo numerous body scans.'

Her lawyers argued the Federal Bureau of Prisons' treatment of Maxwell 'is a reaction to the circumstances surrounding the pretrial detention and death of Mr. Epstein'.

Lawyer Chris Everdell said Maxwell is being treated worse than other similarly situated pretrial detainees, which significantly impacts her ability to prepare a defense.

Maxwell (right), who is accused of acting as Jeffrey Epstein's (left) 'madam' by finding him young women to abuse and then 'training' them to comply with his desires, was arrested on July 2 at a mansion she owned in New Hampshire

His letter asks that Maxwell 'be released to the general population and be granted the privileges given to other pretrial detainees'.

Everdell also requested for her to be given more computer time in order to review the reams of documents relating to her case.

His team are asking that she be given the names of three anonymous women who are accusing her of grooming and abusing them.

'Maxwell cannot prepare for or receive a fair trial without this information,' her lawyers argued.

It comes after a judge shot down Ghislaine Maxwell's latest attempt to delay the unsealing of potentially explosive documents on Wednesday.

Her legal team claimed they had discovered 'critical new information' that would impact both her criminal sex trafficking case and her civil defamation case.

New York judge Loretta Preska denied Maxwell's request, writing in a two-page order that Maxwell 'knows, her ipse dixit does not provide compelling grounds for relief', using the Latin term that means making an assertion without proof.

On Monday night, the former British socialite had attempted to delay the unsealing of documents pertaining to a defamation suit brought against her by Jeffrey Epstein's 'sex slave' Virginia Roberts Giuffre in 2015.

Jeffrey Epstein was initially charged with sex trafficking in Florida in 2006, before being hit with a 53-page FBI indictment the following year.

In 2008, he was offered a controversial plea deal that saw him sentenced to 18 months in prison for soliciting underage prostitutes.

He was then rearrested in July 2019 and charged with sex trafficking, when he was moved to a maximum security jail in Manhattan.

On August 10 he was found unconscious in his cell with injuries to his neck and later died in what was officially ruled a suicide.

Epstein had been on suicide watch but was taken off just days before his death, on the condition that he be placed with a cellmate and constantly monitored.

But the day before his body was found his cellmate was moved out and not replaced, and guards failed to carry out checks on him.

Maxwell, who is accused of acting as Epstein's 'madam' by finding him young women to abuse and then 'training' them to comply with his desires, was arrested on July 2 at a mansion she owned in New Hampshire.

The socialite - who once mixed with celebrities, presidents and royalty at high-class parties - was moved on July 6 to Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center, once described by a judge as 'like a third-world country'

Guards at the jail, which is different to the one where Jeffrey Epstein died last year, have been jailed for raping female prisoners, while the jail also lost power for an entire week during winter last year - leaving inmates locked in freezing, dark cells.

In total Maxwell is facing six counts - four relating to child sex trafficking, and two of perjury for lying under oath about the trafficking during a previous lawsuit.

If convicted on all charges, she is facing up to 35 years behind bars.
Russia is looking for a partnership with India for producing Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V, Kirill Dmitriev, the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), said on Thursday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had announced that his country has developed the worlds first vaccine against Covid-19, which works quite effectively and forms a stable immunity against the disease.

Sputnik V has been developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, along with the RDIF. The vaccine has not been tested in Phase 3 or larger clinical trials.

Click here for complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic

Addressing an online press briefing, Dmitriev said several nations are interested in the production of the vaccine from countries in Latin America, Asia and the Middle East.

The production of the vaccine is a very important issue. Currently, we are looking for a partnership with India. We believe that they are capable of producing the Gamaleya vaccine and it is very important to say that those partnerships to produce the vaccine will enable us to cover the demand that we have, he said.

Dmitriev said Russia is looking forward to international cooperation.

We are going to do clinical trials not just in Russia but also in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, probably in Brazil and India. We are planning to produce the vaccine in more than five countries and there is a very high demand from Asia, Latin America, Italy and other parts of the world regarding the delivery of the vaccine, he said.

Also read: Russia to begin Covid-19 vaccine trials on 40,000 people next week

Alexander Gintsburg, the director of the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology and an academician at the Russian Academy of Sciences, said more than 20,000 people have taken part in the clinical trials of vaccines and drugs, based on human adenoviruses or human adenoviral vectors.

Vaccines do not contain live human adenoviruses, but human adenovirus vectors, that is, human viruses that cannot multiply in the body and are completely safe, he said.

Also read| Surface structure of Covid decoded findings may aid vaccine development: Report

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 of SARS-CoV-2 that causes Covid-19.

The approach of the Gamaleya Institute with the vaccine, using two human adenoviruses serotypes: number 5 (Ad5) and number 26 (Ad26), has a clear advantage over the one-vector approach used by other developers, Gintsburg said.
A federal judge rejected President Donald Trump's latest bid to block the Manhattan district attorney's subpoena of his tax records, but a planned appeal could push the matter past the election.

U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero Thursday rejected Trump's claims that the subpoena to his accountants at Mazars USA was issued in bad faith and is overbroad. District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. is seeking eight years of the president's taxes and other financial records as part of a grand jury investigation looking into payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.

"High respect for the President does not imply diminished respect for the ancient functions of the grand jury or the long-established standards governing challenges to its subpoenas," Marrero said in a 103-page opinion.

"We will appeal," the president's personal lawyer Jay Sekulow said in a text message. Indeed, Trump's lawyers filed an emergency notice of appeal soon after Marrero's ruling and also asked for an order blocking Mazars from complying with subpoena in the meantime.

Even if Vance defeats Trump's further legal challenges and receives the documents, they will still be covered by grand jury secrecy laws. The public might only see the records if prosecutors bring charges based on them.

The case was back before Marrero after the U.S. Supreme Court last month rejected Trump's argument that he's immune to state criminal investigations. In a new complaint filed after that decision, the president called for the subpoenas to be tossed as "wildly overbroad." He claims the investigation is limited to the hush payments made by his former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, to Daniels, who says she had sex with Trump, and that Vance is seeking unrelated evidence to harass the president. Vance has indicated his probe is broader.

Trump denies having had an affair with Daniels. His lawyers have asked the judge to let them inquire into the grand jury probe and the bases for the subpoena, a request Marrero rejected Thursday.

In his decision, Marrero cited the argument by Trump's lawyers earlier in the case that "nothing could be done" by prosecutors if the president were to shoot someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue, at least until he left office. The idea that the president has absolute immunity endangers the rule of law, the judge said.

"At the core, the argument declares that a sitting president, as well as, derivatively, his or her staff, relatives, and business associates, current and former, stand above the law and beyond the reach of any judicial process in law enforcement proceedings pertaining to potentially criminal conduct and transactions involving an incumbent," Marrero wrote.

"That notion, applied as so robustly proclaimed by the president's advocates, is as unprecedented and far-reaching as it is perilous to the rule of law and other bedrock constitutional principles on which this country was founded and by which it continues to be governed."

The case is Trump v. Vance, 19-cv-08694, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan).
Ten fragments of stone plaquettes extensively engraved with abstract designs were uncovered at Les Varines, Jersey, between 2015 and 2018. The plaquettes are believed to have been made by the Magdalenians, an early hunter gatherer culture dating between 23,000 and 14,000 years ago. The Magdalenian era saw a flourishing of early art, from cave art and the decoration of tools and weapons to the engraving of stones and bones.



Since the discovery of the findings, a team of scientists from the Natural History Museum, the University of Newcastle and University of York have been analysing the prehistoric markings and believe they represent the earliest evidence of artistic expression discovered in the British Isles.

Dr Silvia Bello, Researcher at the Natural History Museum, London, said: 'Microscopic analysis indicates that many of the lines, including the curved, concentric designs, appear to have been made through layered or repeated incisions, suggesting that it is unlikely that they resulted from the stones being used for a functional purpose. The majority of the designs are purely abstract, but others could depict basic forms such as animals, landscapes or people. This strongly suggests that the plaquettes at Les Varines were engraved for purposeful artistic decoration.'

Examples of etched Magdalenian plaquettes have previously been discovered at sites in France, Spain and Portugal. Although Magdalenian settlements are known to have existed as far north-west as Britain, no similar examples of artistic expression have previously been discovered in the British Isles of such an early date.

The research and excavation team, which also included experts from the universities of St. Andrews, Strathclyde, Liverpool, Wales, as well as UCL Institute of Archaeology and the British Museum analysed the stones for traces of how the markings were made.

The analysis revealed that the plaquettes are engraved with groups of fine lines, thought to have been purposefully made using stone tools. The geometric designs are made up of a combination of straight lines more or less parallel to each other and longer, curved incisions. The research team say that the two types of marks are likely to have been produced using the same tools, possibly by the same engraver and in short succession, giving new insight into the processes used to create the ancient designs.

Dr Chantal Conneller, Senior Lecturer, Newcastle University, said: 'These engraved stone fragments provide exciting and rare evidence of artistic expression at what was the farthest edge of the Magdalenian world. The people at Les Varines are likely to have been pioneer colonisers of the region and creating engraved objects at new settlements may have been a way of creating symbolic relationships with new places.'

The stones discovered at Les Varines, in the south east of Jersey, were found in an area thought to have been used as a hearth. Three of the fragments had been recovered from an area of granite slabs which may have served as paving, highlighting that the plaquettes were engraved in a domestic context.

Dr Ed Blinkhorn, Senior Geoarchaeologist at University College London and Director of excavations at the site, said: 'the plaquettes were tricky to pick apart from the natural geology at the site - every stone needed turning. Their discovery amongst hearths, pits, paving, specialist tools, and thousands of flints shows that creating art was an important part of the Magdalenian pioneer toolkit, as much at camp as within caves.'

The research took place as part of the Ice Age Island project, funded by Jersey Heritage, the British Academy, the Society of Antiquaries and the British Museum and the Human behaviour in 3D project funded by the Calleva Fundation and is published in PLOS ONE.

ENDS

The paper was published on 19 August 2020.

Notes for editors

Media contact: Tel: +44 (0)779 969 0151 Email: press@nhm.ac.uk



About the Natural History Museum:

The Natural History Museum is both a world-leading science research centre and the most-visited natural history museum in Europe. With a vision of a future in which both people and the planet thrive, it is uniquely positioned to be a powerful champion for balancing humanitys needs with those of the natural world.

It is custodian of one of the worlds most important scientific collections comprising over 80 million specimens. The scale of this collection enables researchers from all over the world to document how species have and continue to respond to environmental changes - which is vital in helping predict what might happen in the future and informing future policies and plans to help the planet.

The Museums 300 scientists continue to represent one of the largest groups in the world studying and enabling research into every aspect of the natural world. Their science is contributing critical data to help the global fight to save the future of the planet from the major threats of climate change and biodiversity loss through to finding solutions such as the sustainable extraction of natural resources.

The Museum uses its enormous global reach and influence to meet its mission to create advocates for the planet - to inform, inspire and empower everyone to make a difference for nature. We welcome over five million visitors each year; our digital output reaches hundreds of thousands of people in over 200 countries each month and our touring exhibitions have been seen by around 30 million people in the last 10 years.
UW TEI and College of Education Aim to Improve Quality of K-12 Online Learning with Free Workshop

UW TEI and College of Education put together the free Digital Teaching and Learning Workshop for a cohort of Wyoming K-12 teachers to help improve the K-12 online learning experience in Wyoming. Assistant Professional Lecturer Joseph Schroer (top image) presents during a zoom session.

Teachers and school districts across the nation have spent the last several weeks preparing for the coming school year. While many schools will start in-person classes, others are preparing for online or hybrid delivery as a precaution during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

No matter what the future holds, two University of Wyoming College of Education faculty members are working to ensure that Wyomings teachers will be prepared to deliver quality online instruction, if the need arises.

Assistant Professor Mia Kim Williams and Assistant Professional Lecturer Joseph Schroer, both online teaching experts, are virtually presenting the K-12 Digital Teaching and Learning Workshop over the next few weeks to teachers across Wyoming at no cost to participants or their districts. One teacher from each of the 48 K-12 school districts in Wyoming has been invited to take part in the course that will take place via videoconferencing and other technologies over five intensive days.

This year, educators will need to remain flexible to meet the needs of students. Teachers and students will need to be able to shift quickly from learning in a classroom to learning online, says Laurel Ballard, supervisor of the Student and Teacher Resource Team at the Wyoming Department of Education. The training that the University of Wyoming has developed provides the support Wyoming teachers need at a time when they need it most.

One of the greatest strengths of the K-12 digital teaching and learning effort is the collaboration across education stakeholders to provide support when it was needed. The project has been coordinated and facilitated by the UW Trustees Education Initiative (TEI), which uses established relationships across the state to align the various partners and to help ensure the professional experience aligned with the unique needs and challenges of Wyomings K-12 education system.

TEI teamed up with College of Education faculty members, the Ellbogen Center for Teaching and Learning (ECTL), the Wyoming Department of Education and our partner K-12 school districts to get this professional development to our states educators, says Leslie Rush, UW College of Education interim dean and TEI executive director. We want to acknowledge and back up our Wyoming educators during this challenging time, and we will continue to support their professional growth.

Williams says K-12 school districts are making tough decisions about how to best meet the learning needs of students as the school year begins. The workshop is intended to support their process by exploring some best practices for online teaching and learning, and by providing a forum for collaboration and support across the districts.

K-12 teachers have many complex decisions to make because they have assessments and accountability at one end, and they are working with children at the other end, Schroer says. The greatest challenge that we are reflecting upon is the support and adaptation of digital learning experiences for the K-3 early childhood environment. There are some important developmental considerations for teachers in this age group that need to be addressed, or we risk demotivating children and families attempting online learning.

The ECTL provides research-based programs, services and resources to UW faculty members to support the continued development of high-quality teaching and learning experiences for university students.

Williams and Schroer have worked to customize Digital Teaching and Learning, a course previously developed by the ECTL for college-level teaching, to apply to current best practices in K-12 education.

The two will demonstrate innovative technologies that can be used to assist and enhance online learning, and they will share strategies to design online experiences that are rich and engaging for all students. Participants will focus on developing their online teaching presence and learning strategies to motivate students in the online environment.

During the workshop, each teacher will work with the UW faculty members to develop a lesson plan that is designed to be delivered online. Williams and Schroer will assist each participant in identifying and creating priority learning objectives; designing activities that effectively use media and other digital tools to support learning; and creating high-quality assessments to measure student learning.

Participants will bring a complete online lesson plan back to their home districts, and they will be empowered to share what they learned with their peers. At the end of the workshop, the teachers will develop an action plan to share their knowledge in their districts. Williams and Schroer will provide continued support to participants throughout the school year as they implement and lead their own workshops with their colleagues.

Those interested in further developing their online teaching abilities can explore the 12-credit-hour Online Instruction Certificate Program offered by the UW College of Education. Additionally, the college also offers masters and doctoral degrees in learning, design and technology, and curriculum and instruction for those who find a deep passion for exploring the systems and approaches that enhance learning.

For more information, call the UW College of Education at (307) 766-3145 or visit www.uwyo.edu/education.
Chinas ZTE is set to launch a new smartphone with no visible camera module on the front. Here is what you need to know about whats being called as the worlds first commercial phone with under-display camera.

ZTE has already announced plans to launch a new smartphone with an under-display camera in China next month. Called ZTE Axon 20 5G, the smartphone is said to be the worlds first commercial smartphone with an under-display camera. Ahead of an official launch, a render of the phone has appeared online, giving a much better look at the phone.

Shared by a Dutch website, the render reveals ZTE Axon 20 5G comes with no cut-out or notch whatsoever. The render also shows the back panel of the phone which has a vertical camera module up left corner followed by ZTE branding. The back panel appears to have a radiant look and feel, as seen in some of the older Realme and Redmi phones.

Another render shared by ZTEs president of mobile devices Ni Fei shows multiple black dots under the display that may work as the camera sensors.

ZTE Axon 20 5G (via Weibo)

In terms of specifications, ZTE Axon 20 5G is said to launch with a large 6.92-inch full HD+ OLED display. The phone runs on an octa-core processor coupled with up to 12GB of RAM and up to 256GB storage. It could be backed by a 4,120mAh battery.

On the back, it will have four cameras including a 64-megapixel primary sensor + 8-megapixel sensor and a couple of 2-megapixel cameras. The front under-display camera will be a 32-megapixel sensor.

Race for under-display camera

Smartphone companies have long aimed at delivering an all-screen phone to consumers. For now, theyve relied upon workarounds such as pop-up camera mechanisms. The waterdrop notch is also getting fast replaced by punch-hole cameras on the front.

For those seeking the perfect, notchless smartphone screen experience  prepare to be amazed. 



You are taking a very first look at our under-display selfie camera technology. RT!  pic.twitter.com/FrqB6RiJaY  OPPO (@oppo) June 3, 2019

Apart from ZTE, Oppo and Xiaomi have also shown interest in developing an under-display camera phone. Huawei is also said to be working on a similar under-display camera phone.

Last year, Oppo had shown a prototype of an under-display camera phone. The company had then cautioned that the technology was still in its early stages and was far from perfection.
Russian Fighter Scrambled to Intercept US Spy Plane Over Baltic Sea, Military Says

Sputnik News

15:44 GMT 19.08.2020

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - A Russian fighter jet was scrambled to intercept a US reconnaissance plane over the Baltic Sea, the National Centre for Defence Control (NDCC) said Wednesday.

"To identify the airborne target and prevent it from breaching the Russian state border, Su-27 fighter jet was scrambled", the centre said.

The US plane was identified as Boeing RC-135 reconnaissance plane.

On 17 August, the NDCC reported that a Su-27SM fighter had escorted a US Air Force reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea. Later the same day, Russian fighter Su-27 was scrambled to intercept three US and British reconnaissance aircraft over the Black Sea.

Recently, US reconnaissance aircraft have been approaching Russian borders increasingly frequently, with more than ten such incidents reported in August alone.

After the US planes turn back away from the Russian border, the Su-27 fighters safely return to the airfield.

A Sputnik

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Gov. Pete Ricketts hailed the 2020 Legislature's package of increased property tax relief and new economic development initiatives as "a fantastic accomplishment" during an outdoor bill-signing ceremony in front of the Capitol on Thursday.

Fifteen state senators, including most of the key figures who achieved the compromise that propelled the bill (LB1107) ahead to 41-4 passage on the final day of the coronavirus-interrupted legislative session last week, gathered behind the governor at the celebratory event.

"This is generational in nature and scope," Ricketts said while standing in front of the north steps to the Capitol before an invited crowd of organizational leaders affected by the legislation.

"A monumental bill," the governor declared before handing out a couple dozen signed copies of the legislation, which was hammered together by a group of six state senators in the waning days of the session.

The bill creates a new program that will supply property tax relief through state income tax credits, beginning with a $125 million allocation and moving to $375 million by no later than 2025.

That would come in addition to the current $275 million in property tax relief supplied through a state property tax credit cash fund.

Also included in the big legislative package is incremental funding for a new business development tax incentive program that could cost $150 million in its fifth year and the pledge of $300 million in state funding to help create a proposed national pandemic and disaster response center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

The ambitious $2.6 billion project at the Omaha campus would include a new state-of-the-art academic facility and relies on a federal designation and commitment of $2 billion in funding.

The $300 million in state funding would be matched by $300 million in private donations.

That project would lead to creation of 8,700 new jobs at an average salary of $75,000 a year, Ricketts said.

Nebraska farmers and ranchers, in particular, will benefit from the additional property tax relief at a time when families are struggling, he said.

During the event, a woman's voice occasionally could be heard yelling nearby and out of sight, asking what the state is doing to provide funding for food, day care and other family needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key legislative figures who hammered out the compromise were recognized by Ricketts and spoke briefly.

"This bill was a long time coming," Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, chairwoman of the Revenue Committee, said.

Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward said senators used the legislative delay triggered by the virus to "make a good bill even better."

"It's once-in-a-generation legislation," Sen. Tom Briese of Albion said, and "it will help grow our state."

"This bill would not have happened without Speaker (Jim) Scheer's leadership," Ricketts said. It was Scheer, a Norfolk senator, who formed the committee that finally hammered out a compromise agreement.

A key figure in reaching the compromise, Appropriations Chairman John Stinner of Gering, was unable to attend the event.

Photos: Wrapping up the 2020 session

Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSdon

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Southern Pines, NC (28387)

Today

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low around 40F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

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Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low around 40F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Months of planning paid off for Catholic schools in the Diocese of Grand Rapids as thousands of students returned for in-person classes amid the coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday, Aug. 19.

The school system  an alliance of 31 learning communities serving more than 6,340 preschool through 12th grade students across West Michigan  is offering full, in-person learning five days a week this fall.

Each student went through temperature checks and symptom screenings before being led to their classrooms by teachers.

Students were required to keep their masks on throughout the day except during meals, with K-5 students allowed to remove their masks only when seated in their classroom.

Despite some initial nerves, school leaders say they were surprised with how well students followed mask rules and social distancing throughout the day.

So far, so good, said Michelle Morrow, principal at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School, which serves about 260 K-8 students in Grand Rapids.

Our kids are super resilient, and they are actually adhering to everything weve asked them and going at it willingly and with excitement. I would say the biggest thing is the energy is back in the building.

From evaluating air filtration systems, to gathering personal protective equipment, to outfitting classrooms to accommodate social distancing, teachers and administrators in the Catholic school system have spent the last few months preparing for students to return to the classrooms.

While the school system is also offering the option of remote learning this year, the vast majority of families opted to return for in-person learning this fall, said David Faber, superintendent of Catholic schools in the diocese.

Our families in a large majority are very happy to be back, he said. They told us throughout this summer very clearly that they value in person learning and believe we could do that safely and prudently. And we agreed.

At West Catholic High School, for example, about 95 percent of the schools 450 students chose to return for in-person learning this year, Principal Cynthia Kneibel said.

Fewer than 10 students at St. Paul the Apostle School opted out of face-to-face learning for safety concerns, Morrow said.

RELATED: Back to school parent primer: Pack a mask and other guidance

Faber said each school is following the safety guidelines set by its corresponding county health department.

For example, Catholic schools in Kent County are required to conduct screening surveys and temperature checks with families each morning before kids come to school.

The school day began at St. Paul the Apostle School, located at 2750 Burton St., with a screening survey emailed to families around 6 a.m.

Each family is required to complete the questionnaire, which asks about any coronavirus symptoms or potential exposure, by 7:30 a.m. before the student can enter the school.

Any students who dont complete the screening survey will be stopped at the door and must answer the screening questions in person.

There was one family on Wednesday who had not completed the questionnaire before coming to school, Morrow said. She said teachers stopped the students at the door to conduct a screening and temperature check, which the students did not pass.

The students were asked to go home and could return after testing negative for COVID-19, Morrow said.

(The screening) did its job in flagging so we were able to ensure that they did not come into the building, she said.

Once students were properly screened, teachers led them to their classrooms through the outside door that each classroom has leading to the playground. Both students and teachers were fully masked, and remained in their masks until after the teacher had explained the safety protocols for inside the classroom.

Theyre following all of those rules extremely well, she said. And the students know that weve been talking about COVID-19 for several months now, so they know its serious and theyre taking all of our precautions that we put into place seriously.

For K-5 students, students are asked to wear masks throughout almost the entire day, except during meals and when seated in their classroom.

Staff and students in grades 6-12 are asked to keep their masks on during the entire day, with the exception of meal times.

Weve adopted masks and movement, so masks up no matter what grade that you are, if you are in movement, Morrow said. We know that for kids  especially our youngest age kids, but all kids really  movement is a key role in education and learning.

Morrow said on the first day, kids were adapting to the mask rules quickly and easily.

The kids are forgetting theyre even wearing their masks, o theyre not really getting too many reminders because theyre just not taking them off, the principal said. Its just become an accessory.

As they move around the classroom, you see them with their masks up and moving around and you know, giving each other space, because were teaching them, Its just important to give each other space in the room because thats what being a good friend means right now.

West Catholic High School, located at 1801 Bristol Ave., also had a successful first day of school, Kneibel said.

She said students complied with the mask rule and wore masks all day without any problems, she said. With a large building, it was easy for kids to social distance throughout the day.

But the best part about the day, Kneibel said, was seeing how happy students were to be back together after months apart.

I will tell you, the biggest joy, which almost brought me to tears, was when I walked into the cafeteria at the beginning of lunch and the kids were eating, and they were smiling and laughing, and you could just feel the joy of these kids, you know, being back together, she said.

Even though they had to be, you know, sitting far apart, across from each other. It was just really nice to see the kids back in the building.

Kneibel said she believes students will continue to adhere to safety procedures for the remainder of the year. But her primary concern is whether students will be as diligent with safety outside of school.

I think the bigger concern I have, and youre seeing a little bit on the college campuses, is, I can control these kids when theyre here in my building, she said. But we cant necessarily control what happens when the students leave this building.

As college students across the state have returned to campus for the start of the fall semester, many universities are now grappling with controlling the spread of the virus among young people.

Despite safety procedures set in place in the classroom and residence halls, administrators have had difficulty controlling the socializing that takes place in off-campus apartments.

RELATED: Michigan college students are returning to campus, and so are their parties amid coronavirus

While Kneibel isnt worried her high school students will be partying to the extent that college students have, she is worried that there could be some level of socialization among teenagers, which could lead to the spread of COVID-19.

Our parents do a really good job and theyre wonderful, but the fact of the matter is, we have teenagers, she said. So, thats my worry, is just the things I cant control.

To help you navigate this complicated fall, were pleased to offer you a simpler way to get all of your education news: Our new Michigan Schools: Education in the COVID Era newsletter delivered right to your inbox. To receive this newsletter, simply click here to sign up.

More on MLive:

Remote or in-person? Jackson County schools offer a choice

Saginaw Public Schools revising return plan, aims to start online

Back to school parent primer: Pack a mask and other guidance

These are the pros and cons for Michigan parents still looking at education options for the fall
Washington: American universities will reportedly offer Chinese students code names and the chance to opt out of political discussions to protect them from being targeted under Beijing's new national security law for Hong Kong.

Several top institutions will offer warning labels when their classes resume in the northern autumn, according to the Wall Street Journal, amid fears that the new law could lead to students and teachers facing prosecution from the Chinese authorities.

Peter B Lewis Library, Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey. Credit:File

Chinese politics students at Princeton University will be given codes to use instead of their names when submitting their work, while Harvard Business School will allow students to sit out class discussions on politically sensitive issues, the newspaper reported.

The new national security law, aimed at stamping out anti-government protests in Hong Kong, gives the authorities the ability to impose lengthy jail terms for vaguely defined national security crimes, such as subversion, secession, terrorism and colluding with foreign forces.
Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing's expensive upgrades has an environmental impact equivalent to removing 1300 cars from the road each year

Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing, located in Lee, MA, made expensive eco-friendly updates to their facility.

Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing, located in Lee, MA, made expensive eco-friendly updates to their facility.

Lee, Massachusetts, Aug. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing (BSM) received more than $165,000 from Eversource and Berkshire Gas, a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc., as an energy incentive for installing more expensive yet energy efficient equipment in their sterile filling lines. The more efficient equipment reduces power plant demands for additional power generation and ultimately delays the need to build additional generation capability.

The total energy savings from the improvements were estimated to be 733,381 kWh of electricity and 26,626 therms of gas annually. The combined decrease in energy use equates to a reduction of 13,174,624 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year. This reduction in carbon dioxide is comparable to planting 275,000 mature trees (approximately 50 acres of forest) or removing 1300 cars from the road each year.

A major energy savings resulted from replacing older equipment used to produce injectable grade water (critical for manufacturing injectable treatments) with a more efficient still. Injectable grade water, also known as water for injection (WFI), is high quality water with no significant contamination and is used to produce injectable medicines. WFI can be produced by distillation but must first undergo extensive pretreatment through various filtration steps, deionization and removal of chlorine. After introduction into the still, the pretreated water is heated to produce steam. This removes heavier ions, particulates, and endotoxins from the water. The pure steam is condensed with chillers producing WFI that is safe to inject. Less expensive and less efficient equipment uses large amounts of energy to produce the WFI required for drug manufacture.

Story continues

Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing replaced their steam powered still that produces WFI with a very efficient modern triple effect lower pressure still. The new system requires less gas to produce the steam and less chilled water, produced by electric chillers, to condense the steam. Additional energy savings will come from high-efficiency HVAC equipment, LED lighting, and a reduction in cleanroom size by using isolator technology.

BSM produces sterile injectable drug products for pharmaceutical and biotech companies in clinical trials with new drugs. The company has recently produced numerous COVID-19 drugs currently in clinical studies in the US and overseas.

Energy efficiency and reducing our carbon footprint is an important priority for BSM. We worked hard to identify technologies and equipment which reduced the use of gas and electricity, said Ron Trefzger, Senior Engineering Manager at BSM, who oversaw the selection and purchase of the equipment. We appreciate the collaboration and incentives provided by Eversource and Berkshire Gas, he added.

Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing is doing important work to aid in the fight against COVID-19 and Eversource is proud to help them increase the efficiency of their operations and save on their energy costs, said Eversource Vice President of Energy Efficiency Tilak Subrahmanian. "This project, in particular the use of isolation vessels in the clean room, is a great example of the innovative ways in which we help customers optimize their energy use."

The energy efficiency improvements are part of the ongoing $20 million expansion at Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing, which was financed by Berkshire Bank and Lee Bank. The buildout and expansion are expected to be completed in December 2021. As a result of this expansion BSM anticipates hiring an additional 40 to 50 employees by end of 2021.

This significant state-of-the-art expansion will increase BSMs capacity, provide higher quality products, and enhance sterility assurance while reducing our carbon footprint, said Dr. Andrea Wagner, BSMs Senior Vice President of Business Development.

Attachment

CONTACT: Andrea Wagner Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing 4132430330 sbkinney@berkshiresterile.com Andrea Wagner Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing 4133276052 awagner@berkshiresterile.com




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The Kremlin has wished Putin's arch-rival Alexei Navalny a 'speedy recovery' as doctors battle to save his life amid claims he was poisoned with a toxin that was poured into his tea.

The lawyer and anti-corruption campaigner was left screaming in agony after falling ill on a flight from Tomsk to Moscow on Thursday morning, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing in the Siberian city of Omsk.

Video shows the 44-year-old opposition leader being stretchered from the aircraft into a waiting ambulance before being rushed to intensive care. More footage taken on board the plane reveals he was screaming in pain before falling unconscious.

Navalny, one of President Vladimir Putin's fiercest critics, is now in a 'deep coma' and hooked up to a ventilator, with doctors saying his condition is 'grave', press secretary Kira Yarmysh revealed.

'Doctors aren't just doing everything possible. The doctors are really working now on saving his life,' the hospital's deputy head doctor Anatoly Kalinichenko told journalists in Omsk.

Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said he was on a ventilator in a coma and his condition was serious but stable.

'Alexei has toxic poisoning,' Yarmysh wrote on Twitter, describing how he was taken ill during the flight from the city of Tomsk to Moscow.

The hospital has not given any diagnosis while the regional health ministry said Navalny was in a natural, not induced, coma.

His team said the hospital was ill-equipped and his doctor Anastasia Vasilyeva said she had asked for the Kremlin's help to transfer him to a European clinic.

Navalny's organization was scrambling to make arrangements to transfer him to Germany for treatment; a German group said it was ready to send a plane for him and that a noted hospital in Berlin was ready to treat him.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov this afternoon wished Navalny a 'speedy recovery' and insisted 'the best doctors' are doing everything they can to help him.

He said there is no evidence yet that the politician was poisoned, adding that 'assumptions are only assumptions'. If it can be proved that he was given a toxin, then an investigation would be launched, Peskov added.

Alexei Navalny, arch political rival and critic of Valdimir Putin has apparently being poisoned at an airport

Kira Yarmysh, Navalny's press secretary, says she suspects poison was added to a cup of tea that he was pictured drinking before falling ill on a flight and being rushed to hospital

Navalny was unconscious when he was taken from the plane, and had to be put on a ventilator. He is now in a coma, and doctors say his condition is 'grave'

Yulia Navalny, Alexi's wife and mother of his two children, is pictured arriving at Ormsk hospital alongside opposition politician Ivan Zhdanov

How Alexei Navalny has been punished for defying Putin 2011: Navalny is arrested and jailed for 15 days for 'defying an official' after leading protests in Moscow 2012: Jailed for 15 days after leading an anti-Putin protest in the wake of presidential elections. His apartment is subsequently raided, and some of his private emails posted online 2013: Put on trial for embezzlement, amid claims he tried to steal wood from a state-owned company. He is convicted and sentenced to five years, but allowed out on bail. The conviction is subsequently overturned 2014: Placed under house arrest, again charged with embezzlement alongside brother Oleg. Again, the conviction is overturned 2017: He is re-convicted in the first corruption case, and ordered to repay millions of rubles of compensation in the second While leaving his office, a pro-Kremlin activist throws green disinfectant dye in his face, partially blinding him 2018: Arrested twice for leading protests against presidential elections he was barred from running in. Jailed for a total of 50 days in jail 2019: Arrested and jailed for a total of 40 days for leading protests during Moscow Duma elections. While in jail he was rushed to hospital, suffering from what medics called an allergic reaction. Others believe he was poisoned 2020: Navalny is rushed unconscious to hospital and placed on a ventilator after falling ill on a flight. His allies say he was poisoned Advertisement

Asked whether Navalny's illness is significant, given his criticism of the government, Peskov said the government 'has many critics' before adding: 'Doctors and law enforcement take all citizens equally seriously.'

Quizzed over why police officers and FSB agents had arrived at the hospital where Navalny is being treated, Peskov refused to comment, and also refused to say whether Putin is aware of Navalny's condition.

'Media reports are available to absolutely everyone, and are also available to the head of state,' he added.

Yarmysh said she suspects poison was added to tea that Nalvany was pictured drinking at the airport, in an image widely circulated on social media. She told a Moscow radio station that she was 'sure it was intentional poisoning'.

Pavel Lebedev, a fellow passenger, said that Navalny went to the bathroom at the start of the flight 'and didn't come back.'

'He started feeling really sick. They struggled to bring him round and he was screaming in pain,' he added.

The manager of the Vienna Cafe at Tomsk airport, where the image was taken, said the staff member who served Navalny the drink now cannot be found.

The cafe has been closed and an investigation is now underway, the manager said.

Medics rushed on board the plane after it landed to help the stricken Navalny, who was taken unconscious to a nearby hospital that was quickly flooded with police and FSB agents.

Yarmysh said medics initially gave a diagnosis of 'toxic poisoning', but have since refusing to discuss Navalny's condition or possible causes.

The BAZA media outlet reported that his initial diagnosis was a 'coma of unknown genesis' possibly caused by 'acute poisoning', though there has been no official confirmation of this.

She claimed that medics and police were seen speaking in private, and that police had requested to search Nalvany's possessions along with his luggage.

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel joined French President Emmanuel Macron in expressing concern over Navalny's condition and said he could receive treatment in Germany or France.

In this handout photo taken provided by gluchinskiy, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, centre, and Kira Yarmysh, foreground left, pose for a selfie inside a bus on their way to an aircraft at an airport outside Tomsk, a city in Siberia, Russia earlier today. Russian opposition leader Navalny is in a coma in a hospital in Siberia after falling ill from a suspected poisoning. His spokeswoman said Navalny felt unwell on a flight to Moscow and the plane made an emergency landing

A view of Tomsk Bogashevo Airport. A plane flying from Tomsk to Moscow made an emergency landing in Omsk earlier today due to the suspected poisoning of Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny

A deputy head of emergency medical care hospital nuber1, Anatoly Kalinichenko informs journalists about the current condition of an opposition blogger Alexei Navalny who was delivered with poisoning in Omsk, Russia, today

In this file photo taken on May 05, 2018 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny addresses supporters during an unauthorized anti-Putin rally in Moscow, two days ahead of Vladimir Putin's inauguration for a fourth Kremlin term

'I hope that he can recover and naturally whether it be in France or in Germany he can receive from us all the help and medical support needed,' Merkel said in a joint news conference with Macron.

A German group, meanwhile, said it was sending an air ambulance to Russia for Navalny at 2200 GMT.

'We will send at midnight an air ambulance with medical equipment and specialists with which Navalny can be brought to Germany,' said Jaka Bizilj, who heads the Cinema For Peace foundation, adding that Berlin's Charite hospital was ready to treat Navalny.

Member of Pussy Riot art collective requests plane to bring Navalny to Germany for treatment An ambulance aircraft with a team specialised in treating coma patients is due to leave Germany to pick up stricken Russian dissident Alexei Navalny on Thursday evening, the Berlin-based Cinema for Peace Foundation NGO said. In 2018, the Foundation, founded by Slovenian-born activist and filmmaker Jaka Bizilj, arranged to have anti-Kremlin activist Pyotr Verzilov brought to Berlin for treatment after he was poisoned in Moscow. The activists said that Verzilov, a member of the dissident Pussy Riot art collective, had requested a plane be sent for Navalny. 'For humanitarian reasons, at Pussy Riot's Pyotr Verzilov's request, we will send at midnight an air ambulance with medical equipment and specialists with which Navalny can be brought to Germany,' Bizilj said in a statement. 'We are in contact with the authorities and hope that all permits for the transport and a medical report for the coma patient will be given tonight,' he said, adding that Berlin's Charite hospital was ready to take him. No one at the hospital was immediately available to comment. Bizilj told Bild newspaper that the plane would return from Omsk on Friday morning, provided Navalny was in a fit condition to travel. Advertisement

The Kremlin said it would help move him abroad if needed.

Deputy chief doctor Anatoly Kalinichenko, who works at Ormsk hospital, told the media: 'Alexei is on a ventilator, his condition is grave but stable.

'There are now several diagnoses that are being clarified. During today, the diagnosis will be determined.

'There is no certainty the cause is poisoning, but this is one of the versions. I cannot tell you more details because of medical secrecy.'

Medics later said they were 'working on saving his life'.

Earlier, as Navalny was being taken to hospital, Yarmysh posted from his ambulance: 'We assume that Alexei was poisoned with something mixed into the tea. It was the only thing that he drank in the morning.

'Doctors say the toxin was absorbed faster through the hot liquid. Alexey is now unconscious.'

She added: 'This morning Navalny was returning to Moscow from Tomsk. On the flight he started feeling ill.

'The plane made an emergency landing in Omsk.'

Navalny is seen as Putin's most charismatic and potentially dangerous foe.

He has faced constant legal attacks and has served a number of jail sentences.

His anti-corruption organisation was dubbed a 'foreign agent' by the Russian authorities.

Police have conducted repeated raids on his offices, and this is not the first time that Navalny has suffered a physical attack.

In 2017 he was left partially blind in one eye after attackers threw green dye used as a disinfectant at his face outside his office.

In August last year he suffered rashes and his face became swollen while he was in a police detention centre serving a short term for calling for illegal protests.

He was taken to hospital where doctors said he had suffered an allergic reaction but Navalny asked for an investigation into poisoning.

Navalny's press secretary uploaded this image of police in the corridors of the hospital where he is being treated, saying 'there are more police here than doctors'

Police are seen talking outside the hospital in Omsk where Navalny is being treated after he lost consciousness on a flight, amid suspicions he has been poisoned

Journalists wait for news outside the hospital in Ormsk, Siberia, where Navalny is being treated

Navalny (file image) was on a flight from Tomsk to Moscow when he suddenly fell ill, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing in Omsk shortly after take-off

Yulia Navalny, Alexi's wife and mother of his two children, is pictured arriving at Ormsk hospital alongside opposition politician Ivan Zhdanov

'He was poisoned in the police detention centre. I'm sure that now the same thing happened. It's different symptoms, evidently a different drug,' Yarmysh said.

She told the radio station that she met Navalny to go to the airport in the Siberian city of Tomsk on Thursday morning when he seemed 'absolutely fine.'

'He only drank black tea in the airport,' she said.

'Straight after takeoff he quite quickly lost consciousness.'

Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko has blamed Navalny for fermenting the protests in his country, but without providing proof.

In one recent expose, Navalny claimed Putin's ecology chief Svetlana Radionova was linked to a luxury property deal and that her wealth could not be explained.

Navalny has vowed his aim is to topple Putin and replace him as president.

His press secretary explained that after the plane took off from Tomsk, Navalny, 44, 'said that he was feeling unwell and asked me for a napkin, he was sweating.

'He asked me to speak to him because he needed to concentrate on the sound of the voice. I was talking to him, then they brought a trolley with water.

'I asked if water would help, he said no. Then he went to the toilet, and after that he fainted.'

ALEXANDER LITVINENKO TO SERGEI SKRIPAL: HIGH-PROFILE KREMLIN CRITICS WHO WERE POISONED Alexei Navalny is just the latest in a long line of Kremlin critics and Russian dissidents who have found themselves falling victim to poisonings. Perhaps the most high-profile case was that of Alexander Litvinenko, a former FSB agent who defected and came to live in the UK, where he became a harsh critic of Putin - allegedly coining the phrase 'Mafia state'. In 2006 he was rushed to hospital and later diagnosed with poisoning using radioactive isotope polonium-210, a rare radioactive material that is thought to have been slipped into his tea at a sushi restaurant in London. Alexander Litvinenko fell ill in November 2006 after radioactive polonium-210 was slipped into his tea at a sushi restaurant in London. He died from radiation poisoning three weeks later (pictured in hospital shortly before his death) It took Litvinenko more than three weeks to die from the slow-acting poison, which removed all of his hair and left him emaciated, which is how he appeared in an infamous photo taken in hospital shortly before his death. The UK government blamed Russia for the killing, and a public inquiry in 2015 resulted in a verdict that his death was the result of an FSB operation that was personally approved by Vladimir Putin and Nikolai Patrushev, then head of the FSB. In 2018, another former FSB agent turned defector - Sergei Skripal, and his daughter Yulia - were also poisoned in the UK, using a rare nerve agent called Novichok which was developed by the Russian state. It is thought that a pair of Russian GRU agents, later identified as Alexander Mishkin and Anatoliy Chepiga, used a perfume bottle to smear the agent on the door handle of Skripal's home in Salisbury, where the pair were taken ill. The pair were rushed to hospital in critical condition and spent several weeks in a coma before making a recovery and being released. Skripal has not been seen in public since, but daughter Yulia held a video interview with a tracheotomy scar on her neck, caused by medics cutting open her windpipe to hook her up to a ventilator. The poisoning inadvertently killed Dawn Sturgess, after her partner Charlie Rowley found the perfume bottle containing the poison in a bin and gave it to her, which she sprayed on her wrist. Rowley also fell ill, but survived. Sergei Skripal and daughter Yulia were poisoned with nerve agent Novichok at their home in Salisbury in 2018. The pair were taken to hospital in a coma but survived Other prominent poisonings include... VLADIMIR KARA-MURZA The Russian opposition activist says he believes attempts were made to poison him in 2015 and 2017. A German laboratory later found elevated levels of mercury, copper, manganese and zinc in him, according to medical reports seen by Reuters. Moscow denied involvement. GEORGI MARKOV A Bulgarian writer, journalist and opponent of his country's then-communist leadership who defected to the West in 1969, Markov died on Sept. 11, 1978 after he felt a sharp sting in his thigh while he waited for a bus on London's Waterloo Bridge. According to accounts of the incident, Markov looked behind him and saw a man picking up an umbrella that had fallen on the ground. The man mumbled 'sorry' before walking away. Markov later died of what is believed to be poisoning from ricin, for which there is no antidote. Dissidents accused the Soviet KGB of being behind the killing. ALEXANDER PEREPILICHNY The 44-year-old Russian was found dead near his luxury home on an exclusive gated estate outside London after he had been out jogging in November 2012. Perepilichny had sought refuge in Britain in 2009 after helping a Swiss investigation into a Russian money-laundering scheme. His sudden death raised suggestions he might have been murdered. British police ruled out foul play despite suspicions he might have been murdered with a rare poison. An inquest into his death has yet to give a definitive conclusion as to how he died. A pre-inquest hearing heard that traces of a rare and deadly poison from the gelsemium plant had been found in his stomach. Perepilichny had enjoyed a large bowl of soup containing sorrel, a popular Russian dish. Russia denied involvement. VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO Yushchenko, then a Ukrainian opposition leader, was poisoned during the campaign for the 2004 presidential election in which he stood on a pro-western ticket against the pro-Moscow prime minister, Viktor Yanukovich. He said he was poisoned while having dinner outside Kiev with officials from the Ukrainian security services. Russia denied any involvement. His body was found to contain 1,000 times more dioxin than is normally present. His face and body were disfigured by the poisoning and he had dozens of operations in the aftermath. He won the presidency in a re-run poll after Ukraine's Supreme Court struck down results declaring Yanukovich the winner amid street protests dubbed the 'Orange Revolution'. Advertisement

Navalny has pledged to topple Vladimir Putin - who recently passed a law allowing him to rule for another eight years - from power and take his place

It was later reported that Navalny in intensive care had regained consciousness but was 'struggling to speak'.

Alexander Murakhovsky, the chief doctor treating Navalny, assessed his condition as 'grave'.

Separately, TVK citing the health ministry in Omsk reported that he remained unconscious.

This contradicted an earlier report that he had come round. Navalny coordinator in Tomsk, Kseniya Fadeeva, told Russian news source Open Media: 'He was completely fine before he drank tea at Tomsk airport.'

Vyacheslav Gimadi, a lawyer with Navalny's foundation, said the team is requesting Russia's Investigative Committee open a criminal probe.

'There is no doubt that Navalny was poisoned because of his political stance and activity,' Gimadi said in a tweet on Thursday.

This afternoon, Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he was 'deeply concerned' by reports of Navalny's condition. Mr Raab said: 'My thoughts are with him and his family.'

Navalny is not the first opposition figure to come down with a mysterious poisoning.

In 2018, Pyotr Verzilov, a member of Russia's protest group Pussy Riot, ended up in an intensive care unit after a suspected poisoning and had to be flown to Berlin for treatment.

Opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza was hospitalized with poisoning symptoms twice - in 2015 and 2017.

Both said they believed they were poisoned for their political activity.
Seven men and two women are being questioned about terrorist activity (Niall Carson/PA)

Nine people have been arrested as part of an investigation into dissident republican group the New IRA.

The seven men and two women, aged between 26 and 50, are being questioned at Musgrave Street police station in Belfast.

As part of the police operation, codenamed Arbacia, gardai in the Irish Republic carried out six searches in Dublin, Laois, Cork and Kerry.

Nine people arrested under Terrorism Act. pic.twitter.com/uTPvczPLEv  Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) August 19, 2020

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Barbara Gray said: I can confirm that nine people were arrested on Tuesday under the Terrorism Act in connection with an ongoing investigation into the activities of the New IRA. All nine remain in custody.

The seven men and two women, aged between 26 and 50 years, were arrested as part of Operation Arbacia.

They are currently in Musgrave Serious Crime Suite, where they continue to be questioned on suspicion of a wide range of terrorist activity.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 20, 2020 15:27 517 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066f4ac0a 4 Business ikea,West-Bandung,West-Java,COVID-19,coronavirus,SMEs,job-creation,small-and-medium-enterprises,small-business Free

Sweden-based furniture store IKEA is set to operate a new store in West Bandung, West Java, opening more opportunities to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as well as employment in the regency, an official has said.

IKEA will market our MSMEs in the store. They have prepared the space," West Bandung Regent AA Umbara Sutisna said on Wednesday.

"We will follow IKEAs method [in selling MSME products]; we are gathering MSMEs owners, especially those whose [products] don't sell so well. They can sell their products there [in IKEA]," he added as quoted by kompas.com.

Diva Yohana, IKEA Bandung store manager, said the store was eyeing 300 workers from three villages in West Bandung.

We will recruit around 300 employees at IKEA Kota Baru Parahyangan. Basically, [candidates] should have experience in retail and at warehouses, she said.

Read also: Govt. channels Rp 11.84t to MSMEs and cooperatives, admits slow disbursement

Aa Umbara said he would prioritize residents from three villages in the regency to work at the IKEA store, which will start operating in mid-2021, namely Kertajaya, Cipendeuy and Cimerang villages.

In addition to opening the store, the company also donated 500 staple food packages for people in Bandung whose livelihoods had been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The social assistance will be distributed to those who need it in West Bandung," the regent said, noting that there had been no social aid distribution in the regency for almost a month.

IKEA Indonesia, which is a subsidiary of publicly-listed retail company Hero Supermarket, currently operates stores in Alam Sutera, Tangerang, Banten and Sentul City, Bogor, West Java. (ggq)
Shortly after he left the West Wing, documents show, Mr. Bannon entered into a financial relationship with Mr. Guo, a onetime member of Mr. Trumps private club Mar-a-Lago who also goes by the name Miles Kwok. That arrangement eventually led to a $1 million contract between Mr. Bannon and a media company bearing Mr. Guos name. Both men have said they forged a rapport based on a shared disdain for the Chinese Communist Party.

Mr. Guo moved to a $68 million Manhattan apartment overlooking Central Park in 2017 and turned against the Chinese government, accusing family members of the countrys top anticorruption official of secretly controlling a stake in a major conglomerate. The charges were never substantiated, and Mr. Guo became Chinas most-wanted man, accused of a battery of crimes, including bribery and rape.

In New York, Mr. Guo lived a life of luxury, plying guests with Opus One wine and posing with his white bichon frise puppy. His constant attacks against the Chinese Communist Party won him the attention of many conservatives, including Mr. Bannon, as well as the admiration of Chinese people opposed to the partys hold on power.

Around the same time, Mr. Bannon also returned to the far-right website Breitbart, attempting to ignite a Trump-style populist movement that targeted moderate Republican senators.

But that fizzled in December 2017 after he went all in on Roy S. Moore, the former judge accused of sexually abusing teenage girls who was running in a special election for one of Alabamas Senate seats. Mr. Bannon scoffed at the allegations, sent Breitbart writers on a mission to discredit the accusers and campaigned more enthusiastically for Mr. Moore, who went on to lose in one of the reddest states in the country, than almost any high-profile Republican.

In January 2018, he was pushed out of Breitbart, which he took over after the sudden death of its founder, Andrew Breitbart, in 2012.

Its billionaire funders, the reclusive Mercer family, told friends that they had grown tired of Mr. Bannons impulsive and attention-seeking antics and, according to one associate, said they were concerned about his spending on travel and private security. Mr. Bannon was also quoted in a book by the author Michael Wolff disparaging the presidents son (treasonous) and daughter (dumb as a brick), another major contributing factor to Mr. Bannon losing his Breitbart job, according to people familiar with the events, and prompting Mr. Trump to disavow him publicly as having lost his mind.
A school child used a disinfectant solution as she arrived at her school in Saint Jean de Luz, southwestern France in May. Read more

As schools reopen in parts of the United States, a paper published Thursday found that some children have significantly higher levels of virus in their airways than the most severely ill adults  suggesting their role in community spread might be larger than previously believed.

The study in The Journal of Pediatrics comes on the heels of two others that offer insights about children and COVID-19 transmission. On July 30, researchers reported in JAMA that children younger than 5 with mild or moderate illness have much higher levels of virus in the nose compared to older children and adults. Shortly before that, investigators in South Korea found in a household study that older children passed on the virus as readily as adults, while younger children did not.

All three studies were small and contradicted each other in some details so researchers said they could not draw any definitive conclusions based on any one of them alone. But taken together, they paint a worrisome new picture of children's role in the pandemic.

Alessio Fasano, a physician at MassGeneral Hospital for Children and one of the new study's authors, said that because children tend to exhibit mild symptoms or none at all, they were largely ignored in the early part of the outbreak and not tested. But they may have been acting as silent spreaders all along.

"Some people thought that children might be protected," Fasano said. "This is incorrect. They may be as susceptible as adults  but just not visible."

Lael Yonker, lead author and a pediatric specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital, expressed surprise that the viral loads of hospitalized adults who are usually kept isolated may be "significantly lower than a 'healthy child' who is walking around with a high SARS-CoV-2 viral load."

Since the virus first appeared on Dec. 31, its impact on children has been among the most baffling. Time has confirmed that most children appear to have mild disease or no symptoms, but why that is remains a mystery.

 READ MORE: Restaurant owners eager to restart indoor dining await Phillys decision

The new paper provides one of the most detailed looks at the immune reaction in children, exposed to the coronavirus. Of the 192 pediatric patients seen at Boston's Massachusetts General Hospital and Mass General Hospital for Children, 49 were diagnosed with acute infection and another 18 with MIS-C, the multi-inflammatory syndrome linked to the virus. The mean age of the children in the study was 10 years. The percentage of children who tested positive for the virus was about 25 percent, Fasano said, as compared with about 20 percent for adults.

Among the other preliminary findings: Age did not impact viral load (or amount of virus present) and that viral load appeared especially high about two days into the infection.

Another eye-opening finding involves immune receptors known as ACE2 that the virus uses to invade the body. Scientists had hypothesized that because children may have lower numbers of the receptors, they may be less likely to be infected or to transmit the virus. The data confirmed that younger children do have lower numbers of receptors than older children and adults  but that this did not seem to be related to viral load.

A separate paper out this month from Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C. of 177 children and young adults with SARS-CoV-2 infections between March 15 and April 30 found that the youngest and oldest children were more likely to be hospitalized and the oldest were most likely to require critical care.

Roberta DeBiasi, an infectious-disease expert, and her coauthors noted that asthma was the most common underlying diagnosis in the children infected  but that they were not overrepresented in those who were hospitalized or critically ill.

"This suggests that although children and young adults with asthma may commonly experience exacerbation in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, asthma exacerbation is not the primary determinant of more severe disease requiring hospitalization," they wrote.

Bill Kapogiannis, a National Institutes of Health researcher in pediatric infectious diseases who was not involved in Fasano's study, called those findings "potentially concerning" but said further investigation is needed to understand some of the signals.

"It's interesting, but we need a bigger cohort to make strong conclusions," he said.

 READ MORE: Pa. lawmakers concerned guidance for schools could open the door to COVID-19 lawsuits

Several such efforts are in the works. NIH has pledged as much as $20 million over four years to study biomarkers and other indicators that will characterize how the disease progresses in children and be able to predict severe illness in children.

"The central question is why is it that so many more children have milder illness compared to adults?" Kapogiannis said. "There is valuable information that we could learn and harness that could be used to treat this in all of us."

Adrienne Randolph, a critical care specialist at Boston Children's Hospital and a professor at Harvard Medical School, is leading a group involving 73 medical centers across the United States that is collecting records and biological samples from children. They are looking at numerous aspects of serious illness, such as the mix of antibodies present and how they change over time, and genetic sequencing of different types of patients.

Most importantly, Randolph said, these teams are taking a deeper dive into trying to understand therapies and overcoming COVID.

So far most of the treatment regimens have been formulated on-the-fly through experimentation and word-of-mouth. But this work will hopefully be able to quantify the treatments and outcomes.

The most important lesson she said pediatric specialists have learned over the past eight months is that "this disease never stops surprising us."

I think we shouldnt make any assumptions that minimize the virus, Randolph said.
A homeless person sleeps beneath a blanket on a bus bench in downtown Los Angeles. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

You cant spend time on the streets of any large city in California and not ask this question: Why do so many of our most vulnerable, severely mentally ill Californians not get the care they so urgently need?

We hoped this critically important public policy question, and others, would be answered when we asked Californias state auditor last year to closely examine the laws governing involuntary treatment of those with a serious mental illness.

The main law in California dealing with this issue is the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, which was enacted in 1967. Its laudable goal was to try to right the horrific injustices of prior decades, when those perceived to have serious mental illness were too often locked up for long periods of time in appallingly abusive environments.

The act created three specific criteria for when a court can order an individual to be confined to a mental health facility without his or her consent: when people are a danger to themselves, a danger to others or gravely disabled.

Voluntary treatment and care is always the better approach where possible. But that can be tricky, especially since one symptom many people with severe mental illness experience is an inability to recognize that they are ill.

Involuntary treatment should only be used as an engagement tool of last resort, when people are at great risk and cannot or will not accept care. But even with that in mind, the 1967 law seems too restrictive, which is why we asked for the audit.

The just-published audit report is at once revealing and incomplete. It found what all Californians already know anecdotally: that individuals with serious mental illnesses rarely receive adequate ongoing care. But most of the audit focused narrowly on just one segment of Californias mentally ill population, those who were involuntarily committed and then released without adequate aftercare.

Ultimately, the audit repeated what similar reports have urged for decades. It called for supportive community-based services for people with serious mental illness who have been released from short-term involuntary commitment, so-called 5150 holds. It called for immediate, real-time sharing of private health information about people with serious mental illness among all providers trying to help them. And it called for better reporting and outcome measurements for our fragmented mental health care spending.

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These are all important calls for action, but the audit must not be the last word on LPS reform. By choosing to narrowly focus on people who had been committed and released, it avoided the much more difficult and controversial question of whether the act should be strengthened by broadening its reach.

Specifically, the audit did not address the plight of the tens of thousands of mentally ill Californians who never get care  voluntary or involuntary  in the first place. What about the thousands of mentally ill inmates in prisons, the exploding populations pitching tents on our streets, and the countless neglected whose serious mental illness worsens with each passing day? Are we turning our backs on people who cannot care for themselves and using the stringent "gravely disabled" criteria as a rationalization?

The audit concluded that the standard for mandatory treatment in the current law does not need to be strengthened to address these issues. But in our view the law failed to adequately address them because they werent so urgent half a century ago when it was passed.

We need to strengthen the definition of grave disability. And we also need to ensure access to effective treatment, housing and services for thousands of human beings languishing on our streets.

Most people will accept care and housing when it is offered. But we cant forsake those who dont because of the severity of their untreated mental illness. Thats what is happening today because the law has not been interpreted in a commonsense manner.

Any person who has been homeless due to profound mental illness for years and will not accept shelter when offered is, by any commonsense definition, gravely disabled. Yet the protection intended by this standard, which is to care for people unable to care for themselves, is clearly not working. If it were, we wouldnt have thousands of homeless people living on the streets, where their lives are shortened by an average of 25 years.

How could the state modernize the LPS statute without violating the civil and human rights of people already suffering immense pain and indignity? We can start by defining grave disability in a more honest and detailed way to make sure it covers those who most need the care.

To that end, consistent with judicial opinions, the Legislature should replace the term grave disability in the law with a term more faithful to the original intent of the LPS Act, changing the criteria for who can be involuntarily treated to include all those unable to live safely in the community. Such a standard would allow mental health workers to address the needs of severely ill people who live on the streets despite being unable to adequately care for themselves.

The Legislature should also address shortcomings in the act pertaining to conservatorships. LPS conservators are currently not allowed to manage physical health conditions for instance. They should be. The law should also be changed to allow testimony in conservatorship court hearings  via video or teleconferencing when necessary  not only from treating doctors but also from knowledgeable family members, friends or acquaintances.

Most importantly, the Legislature should ensure the availability of dedicated resources for housing and treatment to facilitate the recovery of anyone who has been placed under a conservatorship.

We believe the audit to be the beginning, not the end, of our collective battle to make mental health the public health priority it must be.

Jonathan Sherin, M.D., Ph.D., is director of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. Darrell Steinberg is the mayor of Sacramento and founder of the Steinberg Institute, a statewide advocacy institute for mental health policy change.




Students who were quarantined were those who spent more than 15 minutes and were less than 6 feet apart from the student who tested positive, Knazur said. While the number was small and the school has safety measures in place, the students were asked to quarantine preventatively for 14 days as a third layer of insurance, he said.
The Supreme Court will later on Thursday hear Prashant Bhushan before sentencing him days after the activist lawyer was held guilty of criminal contempt of court on August 14. According to the Contempt of Courts Act, the offence carries a punishment of up to six months in prison or a fine up to Rs 2,000 or both.

A three-judge bench of justice Arun Mishra is expected to commence the hearing after 11 am.

Bhushan, on Wednesday, moved the Supreme Court seeking deferment of the proceedings till a review petition is filed and considered.

The court on August 14 said Bhushans tweets dated June 27 and June 29, criticising Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde and raising questions about the conduct of former CJIs and the court, were based on distorted facts. It added the tweets have the effect of destabilising the foundation of the Indian judiciary.

The Indian judiciary is not only one of pillars on which the Indian democracy stands but is the central pillar. An attempt to shake the very foundation of constitutional democracy has to be dealt with an iron hand, the three-judge bench said.

In his defence to the court in an affidavit filed on August 2, Bhushan said: I am entitled to form, hold, & express (opinion) under Article 19(1)(a).

Also read: Supreme Court remained a mute spectator when Delhi burnt: Prashant Bhushan refuses to apologise

Some supported the courts actions, pointing to Bhushans support for such actions in 2017 when the court took Calcutta high court judge justice CS Karnan to task for making allegations against Supreme Court judges. Others said the court was being a tad touchy in seeing comments against judges as those against the court.

In its judgment of August 14, the court said the allegations levelled in the tweets against the court and CJI are malicious in nature and have the tendency to scandalize the court and such conduct was not expected from Bhushan, who is a lawyer of 30 years standing at the Bar.

The court observed that the Indian judiciary is considered by the citizens as the last resort when they fail to get justice elsewhere. It added an attack on the Supreme Court will hamper not just the confidence that the public has in it but will also shake the confidence that judges of other courts in the country have in the Supreme Court.

The court took cognizance of the tweets after a petition was filed by advocate Mehek Maheshwari.

Bhushans first tweet, reproduced in the court order, said: When historians in the future look back at the last six years to see how democracy has been destroyed in India even without a formal Emergency, they will particularly mark the role of the SC in this destruction, and more particularly the role of the last four CJIs.

The second referred to the Bobde and was also cited in the order. It said: The CJI rides a Rs 50-lakh motorcycle belonging to a BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] leader at Raj Bhavan, Nagpur, without wearing a mask or helmet, at a time when he keeps the SC on lockdown mode denying citizens their fundamental right to access justice!

Bhushan refused to apologise for his tweets, contending they are protected by the freedom of speech guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution. He cited the speeches on dissent made by Supreme Court judges DY Chandrachud on February 15 and Deepak Gupta on February 24 to buttress his case.

In defence of his perception that the Supreme Court aided in the destruction of democracy, Bhushan referred to the press conference held by four judges  justices Jasti Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan Lokur and Kurian Joseph -- of the Supreme Court in January 2018 against the manner in which cases in Supreme Court were being assigned to selected benches.

Regarding the tweet of June 27, the apex court held that tweet is directed against the Supreme Court and gave an impression that the apex court and its four CJIs had a major role in the destruction of democracy in the last six years.

There is no doubt that the tweet tends to shake the public confidence in the institution of judiciary. The tweet undermines the dignity and authority of the institution of the Supreme Court of India and the CJI, the court said.

Regarding the June 29 tweet, the court said that it was intended to give the impression that the CJI kept the Supreme Court shut denying fundamental rights to citizens even though the court was functioning through video conferencing.

Another suo motu contempt petition is pending before the same bench against Bhushan for calling past chief justices corrupt in a 2009 interview to Tehelka magazine.
In an interview about sexism in the yachting industry, former Below Deck Mediterranean stew Lauren Cohen revealed that she thought one of the male deckhands was going to physically assault her.

Sandy Yawn, Hannah Ferrier, Adam Glick, Bugsy Drake, Lauren Cohen, Malia White, Max Hagley, Bobby Giancola, Wes Walton |Virginia Sherwood/Bravo/ NBCU Photo Bank

She felt so threatened by the deckhand that she approached a camera operator. Cohen asked if producers would stop her from being assaulted. Halfway through production, Im talking to the camera guy, saying this guys really about to punch me in the face, she told Mens Health. Are you going to stop this?' Cohen did not name the deckhand in the article.

Cohen said the interaction was never included in the episode. I completely shut down to the point where I didnt want to get involved in anything to do with the show, she said adding that instead she was told to suck it up.

Crew members thought Ashton Pienaar was going to hit Kate Chastain

While Cohens encounter was not filmed, the aggression from bosun Ashton Pienaar toward Kate Chastain was included on Below Deck. During a drunken van ride back to the boat, Chastain rode in a vehicle with Pienaar and three male crew members. Pienaar became angry when Chastain asked Pienaar about his mother, viciously punching the inside of the van door.

I thought Ash was going to punch her in the face, recounted deckhand Tanner Sterback in the Below Deck After Show. Deckhand Rhylee Gerber agreed that Pienaar gets emotional when he drinks too much. Ashtons a bad drunk, she said. Hes either really sloppy because hes f**king everything, or hes sloppy because hes hitting everything.

RELATED: Below Deck Crew Members Thought Ashton Pienaar Was Going to Hit Kate Chastain

Chastain also felt physically threatened. He punched the window, he came over the seat towards me, she recounts. The only reason he didnt get to me is because Kevin, who hates me, held him back. If I had been in a van with Simone or Courtney, or not two strong males, I dont know what Ashton would have done.

Some women feel unsafe in the industry

Sexual harassment but also violence is a top-of-mind subject for many women who work in yachting. A female crew member reported a male crew member for rape in 2015, which isnt uncommon, Superyacht News reports.

This is, unfortunately, a very sad reality in the industry, a female crew member, who asked to remain anonymous said. I know of a few incidents where girls have been in similar situations, luckily none of them as bad as what was reported [in 2015]. I myself, unfortunately, experienced unwanted attentions from a male crewmember to the point where he came into my cabin drunk and pulled me out of my bunk, I was lucky as there were other people there.

RELATED: Exclusive: Rhylee Gerber From Below Deck Responds to Sexism in the Yachting Industry

The crew member said the captain did nothing when she reported the crew member. The reason was he was well-liked by the guests.

It is not unusual for stewardesses to lock their cabins to prevent unwanted visits in the night from drunk crew, she added.

With alcohol being involved and the way society is, it is often blamed on the girl for having sent out the wrong messages, or because she is passed out and cant actually defend herself from unwanted advances.
The launch of the Kickstart Scheme to create jobs for younger people on Universal Credit is still lacking the final details despite being announced nearly two months ago, This is Money can reveal.

Meanwhile, some employers are already advertising for future roles through the scheme, with several spotted on recruitment platforms LinkedIn, Monster and Totaljobs - but the Government is advising them not to.

The DWP said: 'We will be publishing details about the Kickstart Scheme and how employers can get involved shortly.

'Until then, we urge employers to be patient and to not start advertising roles they want to be covered by the scheme.'

Kickstart Scheme: It is designed to prevent huge numbers of young people from becoming stuck in an unemployment rut - pictured, Chancellor Rishi Sunak

When pressed for a reason to halt the recruitment drive and to give a date on when more clarity would be given, a DWP spokesperson said it couldn't comment further but assured that details would be published 'very shortly in accordance with the Chancellor's announcement'.

It's been seven weeks since Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the Government's intention to launch the Kickstart Scheme in his emergency coronavirus mini-budget in July.

It will aim to create new, 'quality' jobs for those aged 16 to 24. It is set to cost 2.1billion, but according to Treasury documents the final costs and timing of spending is 'subject to take up.'

He said in his 'A Plan for Jobs 2020' speech: 'Employers can apply to be part of the scheme from next month, with the first Kickstarters in their new jobs this autumn.'

But to date no application process has been set up for employers to register their interest in taking part and autumn is now technically weeks away.

The Chancellor also urged employers big or small, national or local, to hire as many Kickstarters as possible.

He highlighted that these jobs had to be 'new' and that 'funding would be conditional on the firm proving these jobs are additional'.

However, there were no warnings given at the time not to advertise jobs in order to hire young workers in time for the autumn.

What is the Kickstarter Scheme? The Kickstart Scheme is a six-month high-quality work placement designed to get long-term unemployed young people onto the career ladder. Skills minister Gillian Keegan describe the scheme as focused on 'individuals furthest from the jobs market and at risk of not ever entering it'. The Kickstart Scheme will directly pay employers to create new jobs for six months provided they:  Can prove that the role is a new job and addition to the company;  Hire young workers aged between 16-24 years of age;  Hire workers that are currently claiming Universal Credit;  Made the young recruits work for a minimum of 25 hours per week and paid at least the National Minimum Wage. The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, said: 'That means for a 24 year old the grant would be around 6,500.'

'Waiting in the wings'

Big names have been said to be supporters of the Kickstarter Scheme including companies such as Barratt, the UK's biggest house builder, Sainsbury's, BT and Barclays.

Meanwhile, a number of SMEs have voiced their concerns and frustrations on the lack of information available about how to register for the scheme and start the recruitment process.

Sara Keel, chief executive and founder of Babycup Ltd which sells and promotes baby feeding products, said she is champing at the bit to start recruiting.

Sara Keel, chief executive and founder of Babycup Ltd said she is keen to move forwards if the detail of Kickstart is as good as Rishi's headlines made it sound

She said: 'The Chancellor announced this 2billion programme some weeks back now but so far no stakeholders have been able to jump on it and get moving as no detail has been forthcoming.

'We've read of experts warning of practical challenges for businesses to consider but who knows what those are as we don't even know yet how to apply to the scheme or what the fine print contains.

'Like many British businesses, Babycup is keen to move forwards and if the detail of Kickstart is as good as Rishi's headlines made it sound, we'd like to get cracking with a placement for a young person to join us as soon as possible.'

She adds: 'This is so frustrating for all the young people who could benefit from this scheme and for all the businesses who are keen to get involved and offer Kickstart roles.'

Sadie Hopson, CEO of mental health and wellbeing specialists We Work Well says she's also been waiting on more clarity regarding the Kickstart Scheme

Sadie Hopson, chief executive of mental health and wellbeing specialists, We Work Well said she was also awaiting more clarity from the Government as they're keen to recruit a training administrator to support trainers and develop content.

She said: 'I understand that interested employers will need to go through an application process so have been awaiting more information from the government about the next steps to take to enter into the scheme.

This is so frustrating for all the young people who could benefit from this scheme and for all the businesses who are keen to get involved and offer Kickstart roles Sara Keel, chief executive and founder of Babycup Ltd Sara Keel, chief executive and founder of Babycup Ltd

Olamide Adenugba of property and planning consultants Tunji Adebayo & Co, also voiced her frustrations: 'We are literally waiting in the wings to hire someone on this scheme and have spoken to a few people who are fresh out of university.'

Some entrepreneurs are refusing to engage in potential recruitment talks until more clarity is given.

Naomi Bennett, chief executive and founder at digital firm LesFlicks, said: 'I don't think we can advertise a job. The scheme says you have to prove the job didn't exist before the scheme - so promoting the job now would go against you.

'I have some key roles in mind - all new, but until we have details I'm not moving. I need to make sure I'm eligible.

'As a digital new business, I'm quite excited to see if I can find some ambitious young talent.'

Thousands of unemployed youth

The news of a potential delay in the announcement of the workings of the Kickstart Scheme come as fresh figures from the Office for National Statistics revealed today that an estimated 765,000 young people aged between 16-24 were not in education, employment or training (NEET) in April to June 2020.

Lianne Onslow, founder of LMO Development says the Kickstart Scheme is enticing and is needed as it will help young people furthest from the job market

The ONS said this was a decrease of 28,000 compared to April to June 2019 and was down by 6,000 compared to January to March 2020.

The ONS added: 'Of all young people in the UK who were NEET in April to June 2020, an estimated 39 per cent were looking for, and available for, work and therefore classified as unemployed; the remainder were either not looking for work and/or not available for work and were classified as economically inactive.'

Commenting on the ONS figures, Janine Chamberlin director at LinkedIn, said: 'We're facing the toughest labour market in a generation, especially for younger people.

'LinkedIn data shows that there are three times as many people applying to every role compared to a year ago.'

It comes comes after the A Level and GCSE exam results fiasco. The scheme is aiming to create up to 350,000 new roles.

It's ideal for those wanting to make a difference

Despite the delay, the Kickstart Scheme has been welcomed by recruitment experts.

Lianne Onslow, founder of LMO Development a talent and learning consultancy, said: 'Kickstarter is enticing, and as a concept to help young people furthest from the job market it is so well needed.

'I genuinely think that the success of the Kickstarter Scheme rests on managing the expectations of small business owners.

'Businesses get some level of staffing support at no cost, and are supporting a young person into work which is fantastic from a social point of view, they just also need to be willing to put the additional support and time in that may be needed to help that young person grow.

'For a business wanting to make a difference and with an understanding of their role in this young person's journey, they are ideal.'
Two more universities reported coronavirus cases among students in Greek life housing on Tuesday, one day after Oklahoma State University began its semester with an entire sorority under quarantine.

At Auburn University, a fraternity dorm and one floor of a sorority dorm were put under a two-week quarantine after an undisclosed number of students connected with the housing tested positive for the virus, NBC affiliate WSAV in Savannah, Georgia, reported.

North Carolina State University said it has identified a coronavirus cluster as well as a number of separate cases within the Greek life community, NBC affiliate WRAL in Raleigh reported.

The cluster, which the state defines as five or more linked cases, was tied to an off-campus housing location in Raleigh.

"Several individuals who have tested positive as part of this cluster have been identified, including some who are NC State students," said a university statement. "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."

The school statement said that a party was held at the off campus housing on Aug. 6 and anyone who was at that party is encouraged to follow up with a doctor or student health services.

A university spokesperson said eight members of fraternities and sororities at the school have tested positive for coronavirus, WRAL reported. Since the cases are in six separate fraternities or sororities but not consolidated in one house, those cases are not considered a cluster.

School officials did not immediately respond to messages seeking information about the cluster and the cases related to the fraternities and sororities. But the university reported 27 new positive cases among students as of Wednesday, on top of 41 students who tested positive for the coronavirus between Aug. 11 and Aug. 17.

Auburn University officials did not immediately return NBC News' requests for comment Wednesday. The school on Tuesday announced that masks would be required to be worn both indoors and outdoors while on campus.

On Monday, Oklahoma State University began its semester with the entire Pi Beta Phi sorority under quarantine after 23 members tested positive for the coronavirus.
(Natural News) More than 360 fires tore across California on Wednesday, amid a record-breaking heatwave and unusual lightning storms that began early Sunday.

Despite around 6,900 firefighters and emergency personnel responding to the fires, California asked for additional fire engines and hand crews from neighboring states, a spokesman from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Agency (CAL FIRE) told The Wall Street Journal.

Strong gusts of wind spread the roaring fires throughout northern California, prompting local authorities to issue evacuation orders across communities surrounding San Francisco.

Fire officials also reported that about 1,900 homes in the area were under threat of the blazes, and about 50 had already been destroyed. This number is expected to climb as wildfires continue to advance.

People in Sonoma and Napa counties were also ordered to evacuate as residents as far east as Stockton and Fresno reported ash fall and hazardous smoke.

Fire officials said that lightning storms, which began early Sunday, had sparked most of the fires across the state. The storms had caused almost 11,000 lighting strikes in just 72 hours, a historic record-high.

Hundreds of forest fires and major infernos seen across California

State officials said that 23 of the 367 fires caused by the lightning storms are major infernos. Firefighters were hard-pressed to control these wildfires, which grew exponentially overnight.

In Vacaville near Sacramento, about 100,000 residents were under partial evacuation orders as a combination of small and major fires overtook homes in the area.

That group of fires, called the LNU Lightning Complex, had grown to 46,225 acres with zero containment and stretched across five counties.

The wildfires have also stretched resources thin. We are sharing resources up and down the state as there are many large fires that are turning in different counties, said Fire Incident Commander Chief Sean Kavanaugh.

East of San Francisco, another group of fires, called the SCU Lightning Complex, had grown to 85,000 acres across five counties.

Further south, the CZU August Lightning Complex, which spanned 25,000 acres with zero containment, also threatened to engulf homes and prompted urgent evacuations in the Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties. This third combination of fires also proved to be among the most challenging for firefighters because of the steep terrain and dense vegetation, according to CAL FIRE forester Sarah Collamer.

Together, the wildfires have burned more than 300,000 acres across the state, CAL FIRE spokesman Jeremy Rahn told The New York Times.

Longer fire seasons, higher temperatures are culprits behind recent fires

The 2020 fire season has produced more fires than last year, said California Governor Gavin Newsom. The state has recorded 6,754 fires so far compared with the 4,007 fires last year during the same time frame.

Moreover, California has been in the middle of a long and intense heatwave even before the fires began, leaving experts with little to no doubt about the cause of the fires.

Local authorities also suspect that overgrown forests and housing construction in fire-prone areas had contributed to the rapid spread of the fires.

According to Max Moritz, a fire specialist from the University of California, Santa Barbara, Theres no simple problem and no simple answer. Its all of these things mixed together.

Experts have also noted that Californias fire season is now 75 days longer than it used to be four decades ago.

Moreover, records show that in the last decade alone, California has seen 10 of its most destructive fires, seven of its largest and five of its deadliest.

Rising temperatures, drier summers and longer fire seasons, therefore, make wildfires more frequent and expand the window when the state can experience these events.

In addition, Californias growing population means that fires can consume more homes, structures and buildings and spread faster across much larger areas than before.

Pandemic complicates fire response

While fighting the numerous fires in the midst of a pandemic, firefighters have been wearing masks and avoiding close contact with residents.

However, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has left California in need of more firefighters due to lockdowns in prisons, where the fire department usually gets some backup. The pandemic has also complicated evacuation plans and strategies due to concerns about transmission risk among evacuees.

Scientists have taken to calling the combined threats of COVID-19 and the recent wildfires as compound disasters. Jennifer Balch, an associate professor at the University of Colorado Boulder and the director of the Earth Lab Project, said that both disasters require solutions that are in direct conflict with each other.

COVID-19 is forcing us outside to reduce transmission risk while extreme wildfire smoke is forcing us back inside where the air is better, explained Balch. People are running out of options to cope under the weight of compound disasters.

Prior to the fires, the state-wide heatwave caused power outages and blackouts, as people who were staying indoors due to COVID-19 turned their air conditioning units to full blast to combat the sweltering heat. This put a strain on the states power grid and forced California officials to call for rolling blackouts.

And now, with ash raining down and the acrid smell of smoke hanging over the entire state, experts have expressed concern about the safety of COVID-19 patients, as ash and smoke can exacerbate their symptoms. (Related: Coronavirus harms the brain and nervous system of one in three patients.)

Experts also say that diagnosing COVID-19 in light of the recent fires may become more difficult since both the disease and smoke exposure can cause coughs, headaches and shortness of breath.

Learn more about the environmental impact of wildfires at Environ.news.

Sources include:

WSJ.com 1

WSJ.com 2

NYTimes.com

TheGuardian.com
Im an ardent supporter and defender of first responders.

Those who protect and defend us. Those who run toward the disaster, assuming the personal risks that come with it.

Those who serve a purpose larger than themselves, for the good of their communities and the social system that holds us together securely.

Police officers and firefighters and EMTs and nurses. Military personnel, doctors and nurses, public service workers.

And journalists.

Yes  reporters and photographers and videographers. More now than ever, in the unknowns of a pandemic and the tumult of social justice activism, America needs us on the front lines.

I say this for two reasons: First, MLive has been involved in two high-profile incidents this year where police doing their jobs impacted our ability to do OUR jobs. On May 30, one of our photographers covering civil unrest in Detroit was shot with riot pellets from close range by a police officer. And on Saturday, Aug. 15, one of our reporters was dragged to the ground and arrested while providing live coverage of clashes between Proud Boy members and counter-protesters.

Second, there is a growing, alarming disrespect and disregard for press freedoms  rights that are enshrined in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. So far this year, according to tracking by news industry organizations, there have been more than 700 aggressions against journalists covering the Black Lives Matters protests. Nearly 60 journalists have been arrested, and another 180 have been assaulted by authorities.

People, its not like we are just showing up on the scene in 2020. Nellie Bly traveled alone around the globe in 1888 to share the wonders of an exotic world to rapt readers back home. Ernie Pyle died on the front lines in World War II sending back dispatches about what citizen soldiers were facing in the fight against fascism. Journalists who covered the 9/11 attacks have gotten sick and died, just like firefighters and police.

Every time I write about press freedoms and my journalists commitment to doing their jobs, I get some negative responses. One common theme is Dont break your arm patting yourself on the back, and another is Get out of the way of police.

Look: Working journalists arent looking for praise. We dont need a Journalists Lives Matter meme. We just demand the right to do our jobs with respect for what the law  the Constitution  says we are entitled and expected to do for this countrys democracy.

Heres the thing  journalists and other first responders share circumstances. I started as a reporter, and I have been at many a tragic scene  devastating fires, fatal car accidents, slayings. I always appreciated access and respected the work the responders were doing, but also always sensed that there was a mutual, professional respect for what I was doing, and why it mattered.

I wasnt in the way. I was the eyes and ears for our readers, our communities. So you could see how our public agencies were working, so you could share the grief of your neighbors and so we could come together to help those in need.

I was writing the history of a community, and literally helping keep us all on the same page. In a chaotic world, our journalists are doing essential work to keep you informed now, and help future generations understand what we went through, how we changed, and what we learned.

One lesson I hope we learn is that what our countrys founders envisioned  making sure professional journalists are free to work without harassment or harm  continues to be as essential as putting out a fire.

Because there are a lot of fires burning in America right now, and were going to continue running toward them.

# # #

You can support the important work MLive journalists do every day in Michigan with a digital subscription. Click here for subscription plans and easy signup.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo offered some hope Wednesday that movie theaters in New York could reopen soon.

Movie theaters I think are next, he said during an interview on WAMC. They are a situation that we have to attend to.

Theaters are among the last businesses that have not been allowed to reopen in New York after months of shutdowns due to the coronavirus. Cuomo said earlier this week that gyms could reopen as soon as Monday.

Other businesses and activities that have not been allowed to return yet include the states nontribal casinos, plays and musicals and indoor dining in New York City.

Cuomo said previously that the businesses that are still closed are least essential and highest risk. He has been speaking for months about the potential for the virus to spread easily in indoor, air conditioned spaces like movie theaters.

But the virus has remained under control in the state, even several months into reopening. The positive test rate for the virus has been less than 1% in the state for the last 12 days in a row.

Regal Cinemas and AMC Theatres, the nation's two largest theater chains, have been planning their reopenings for months. Both plan to begin reopening this week in states where it's allowed.

Like other nonessential businesses in New York, movie theaters closed in March to help slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. The state began reopening businesses in phases in May.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources

New NY state rule bans ticketed music events at bars: This is devastating

In 3 CNY holdout towns, theyre trying football: To play anything at this point is awesome

Local gyms can reopen but a heavy lift remains: Its almost like starting all over again

Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com

Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598
"With so many organizations focused on building additional opportunities for independent seniors, we're proud to support this project that supports those in need of 24-hour nursing support," said Eric Gurley, Immanuel president and CEO. "A new building for Immanuel Fontenelle fulfills our not-for-profit mission to improve and reinvest in our communities and continuously provide intuitive services for residents."

The new building will replace the 44-year-old existing structure and be more fully suited to resident and employee needs. With a new, home-like neighborhood design serving 96 residents, the space more fully supports resident-centered care and efficiency for team members. Separate common spaces and family areas, modern dining options and private rooms will all be incorporated into the new community designa modern, yet comforting atmosphere on the cutting edge of long-term care and skilled nursing offerings.

Immanuel is pleased to partner with SFCS Architects, Hitchcock Landscape Design and Weitz Construction on this project.

Immanuel Fontenelle, located in the heart of Omaha at 6803 N 68th Plaza, is part of the Immanuel Village campus and designed to serve residents in need of long-term care, short-term rehabilitation and memory support.

Since 1887 Immanuel has been providing Christ-Centered Service to Seniors, Each Other and the Community. As a not-for-profit, serving arm of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) Immanuel's house of brands includes: Immanuel Communities, Immanuel Pathways, Immanuel Community Foundation and The Immanuel Vision Foundation. More about Immanuel's brands: Immanuel Communities owns and operates 14 independent living, assisted living and long-term care retirement communities on nine campuses; Immanuel Pathways operates three PACE Centers in Iowa and Neb.; the Immanuel Community Foundation, a Resident Assistance Fund provides financial assistance to independent living residents; and the Immanuel Vision Foundation extends financial support to non-profit, charitable 501(c)(3) organizations that share purposes in alignment with Immanuel's service centered mission.

Photos: Immanuel Fontenelle New Building, outside view, lobby view, dining

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jennifer Knecht

Vice President Marketing and Sales

Immanuel

1044 N 115th Street, Suite 500, Omaha, NE 68154

Telephone: (402) 829-2929

[email protected]

SOURCE Immanuel

Related Links

immanuel.com


Attorney General of India KK Venugopal told the Supreme Court on Thursday that lawyer-activist Prashant Bhushan should not be punished for criminal contempt of court, in an unexpected twist to the proceedings even as the court reserved its judgment and gave time to Bhushan till August 24 to tender an unconditional apology for his tweets criticising it and Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde.

During the hearing before a three-judge bench headed by justice Arun Mishra, Bhushan stuck to his position saying speaking up was his duty as a citizen, refused to tender an apology, and indicated he was unlikely to change his mind. Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, appearing for Bhushan, cited the range of public interest causes Bhushan has been involved in.

Also read| Prashant Bhushan case: Spotlight on AGs role after hearing

The Supreme Court, on August 14, held Bhushan guilty of contempt of court for two tweets  the first, on June 27, where he was critical of the top court and the role of the last four chief justices, and, the second, on June 29, where he criticised the current CJI. The hearing on Thursday was to decide on the sentence to be imposed on Bhushan.

Appearing in his personal capacity before the three-judge bench, Venugopal  whose consent was not obtained before the matter was taken up and who was not heard by the Supreme Court during the contempt hearings  said that while he is not seeking a review of the courts judgment, the court should be magnanimous in not imposing any punishment on Bhushan.

I request your lordships not to punish him (Bhushan), AG Venugopal said, adding that Bhushan had done a lot of public good.

Also read: What KK Venugopal said in 1987 speech

The AG also attempted to draw the attention of the court to previous instances when judges of the Supreme Court have criticised the functioning of the court and raised concerns of corruption in higher judiciary. I have a list of five judges of Supreme Court who said democracy has failed. I have a list of nine judges who said there is corruption in higher judiciary. Of these nine judges, two made statements while they were sitting judges and seven immediately after they retired. I myself gave a speech in 1987 at the Indian Law Institute

The bench, however, cut short the AGs arguments, stating that its judgment of August 14 will not be reconsidered and the AG should not make arguments on the merits of the case since the case had already been decided. The bench asked the AG to restrict his submissions to the sentencing aspect.

We are not on merits here. We are not hearing any review. Our judgment of August 14 stands, justice Mishra said.

The bench, which also comprised justice BR Gavai and justice Krishna Murari, maintained that it can show leniency only if Bhushan expressed regret and reconsidered his statement where he declined to apologise.

Bhushan had prepared a statement which he read out to the court when the hearing of the case began on Thursday. He expressed dismay at the judgment of August 14, which, he said, arrived at a conclusion against him without providing any evidence of his motives. He said he stood by his tweets, and invoked Mahatma Gandhis stance in a case slapped against him by the colonial British government.

I can only humbly paraphrase what the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi had said in his trial: I do not ask for mercy. I do not appeal to magnanimity. I am here, therefore, to cheerfully submit to any penalty that can lawfully be inflicted upon me for what the court has determined to be an offence, and what appears to me to be the highest duty of a citizen, Bhushan said, reading out from his statement.

The bench, however, said, We can become lenient only if the person enters an apology in the real sense. Let us give him some more time to think over his statement.

Justice Mishra told Bhushan, We can give you time to consider it. We will give you 3 to 4 days time to think about the statement made today.

AG Venugopal said that Bhushan was unlikely to change his stance, while Bhushan maintained that his statement was well considered and thought out and it was unlikely that he will make any substantial changes to it. He, however, said he would consult his lawyers and get back to the court.

The role of the AG  the governments most senior law official  has come into sharp spotlight in the case. The case itself has its genesis in a petition filed on July 9 by Mehek Maheswhari, an advocate. As per section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act and Rule 3 of Rules to Regulate Proceedings for Contempt of Supreme Court, a criminal contempt petition filed by a private individual can be heard by the court only if the petitioner has obtained the consent of the AG.

Maheswari had not obtained such consent, which would have normally led to the registry of the court rejecting the petition outright without listing it before the judges. But the court proceeded suo motu (on its own) with the contempt case after the registry brought the petition to the notice of the court on the administrative side.

The court listed the case for the first time on July 22 and issued notice to Bhushan the same day. The court also issued notice to AG Venugopal that day. However, when the case was heard on merits on August 5, the AG was not heard though he was present throughout the day-long hearing.

The hearing on Thursday regarding sentencing also witnessed a repeat of the same, as the bench heard the AG only towards the end of the hearing and did not allow him to complete his arguments.

Experts believe this is unusual.

There is a reason why the AGs consent is required before a private individual can prosecute a criminal contempt case. It is a safeguard which ensures application of mind by an independent person because in a contempt case, the court is both the prosecutor and the judge. In this case, since the AGs consent was not taken, they issued notice to him so that they could hear him in case they need his advice. In such cases, the AG acts as a guardian and a guardian has to act or speak only when called upon to act or speak. Therefore, the AG was seen but only heard almost at the very end, senior counsel Sanjay Hegde told HT.

Senior counsel Rajeev Dhavan, appearing for Bhushan, pointed to the activist-lawyers credentials and his contributions to the cause of public interest. He mentioned the coal mining case, the Odisha mining case, the case on removal of the Central Vigilance Commissioner, the 2G case, the police reforms case, the euthanasia case, the street vendors case, the Singur land acquisition case, and the RTI cases as Bhushans work. All these cases are pro bono (work undertaken without charging fees). He has not received any advantage out of these, Dhavan said.

The court appreciated Bhushans work but said there are limits and boundaries to the freedom to criticise courts and judges.

We appreciate all your efforts in filing good public interest cases; we welcome all that. But there is a lakshmana rekha (limit). Why do you cross it? You are part of the system. You forget it, justice Mishra said.
NATO Secretary General discusses eastern Mediterranean, Libya with Foreign Minister of Turkey

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

19 Aug. 2020

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg spoke by telephone with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Wednesday (19 August 2020). They discussed recent developments in the eastern Mediterranean, as well as in Libya.

Secretary General Stoltenberg expressed concerns regarding current tensions in the eastern Mediterranean. He stressed that dialogue and de-escalation are in the best interest of the region, and that the situation must be resolved in a spirit of Allied solidarity and in accordance with international law. Mr. Stoltenberg recalled that Turkey and Greece have been committed NATO Allies for decades, working together with all other Allies to address common security challenges.

On Libya, the Secretary General emphasised that NATO fully supports the work of the United Nations to find a political solution to the crisis. He stressed that all parties in Libya, and all members of the international community, should support the UN-led process and respect the UN arms embargo. Mr. Stoltenberg also expressed support for the Berlin Process, which is complementary to the UN's efforts to achieve peace and stability in Libya.

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People wear face masks to avoid COVID-19 infection in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo: AFP/VNA)



The Faculty of Medical Science at the Ramathibodi Chakri Naruebodindra Hospital said a Thai returnee from Dubai of the UAE, who spent 14 days in state quarantine before being released, returned with symptoms on August 19.

The same day, the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration also confirmed a new imported case which is a 37-year-old Thai woman returning from India.

Cumulative infections in Thailand, to date, are 3,382, with 3,199 recoveries and 58 deaths.

Meanwhile, Secretary General of Thailands National Security Council Somsak Rungsita said emergency rule against the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand might be extended for another month.

He told reporters that his agency will propose the extension of the emergency decree, enforced nationwide since last March when the disease broke out in the country, until September 30 for the sake of the effectiveness of measures against the pandemic./.


MELBOURNE, Australia, Aug. 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clean TeQ Holdings Limited (Clean TeQ or Company) (ASX/TSX:CLQ; OTCQX:CTEQF) advises that, in accordance with ASX Listing Rule 3.13.1, its next Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Thursday, 15 October 2020 at 12.00pm (AEDT). An election of directors will be held at this AGM pursuant to ASX Listing Rule 14.5. Details of the Directors to be elected will be included in the forthcoming Notice of AGM.

The Closing Date for receipt of nominations for the position of Director is Thursday, 27 August 2020. Any nominations must be received in writing no later than 5:00pm (Melbourne time) on Thursday, 27 August 2020 at the Companys Registered Office.

The Company notes that the deadline for nominations for the position of Director is separate to voting on Directors elections. Details of the Directors to be elected will be provided on the Companys Notice of AGM in due course.

For enquiries, please contact:

Melanie Leydin

Company Secretary

+61 3 9692 7222



This announcement is authorised for release to the market by the Board of Directors of Clean TeQ Holdings Limited.



About Clean TeQ Holdings Limited (ASX/TSX: CLQ)  Based in Melbourne, Australia, Clean TeQ is a global leader in metals recovery and industrial water treatment through the application of its proprietary Clean-iX continuous ion exchange technology. For more information about Clean TeQ please visit the Companys website www.cleanteq.com.



About the Clean TeQ Sunrise Project  Clean TeQ is the 100% owner of the Clean TeQ Sunrise Project, located in New South Wales. Clean TeQ Sunrise is one of the largest cobalt deposits outside of Africa, and one of the largest and highest-grade accumulations of scandium ever discovered.



About Clean TeQ Water  Through its wholly owned subsidiary Clean TeQ Water, Clean TeQ is also providing innovative wastewater treatment solutions for removing hardness, desalination, nutrient removal and zero liquid discharge. The sectors of focus include municipal wastewater, surface water, industrial waste water and mining waste water. For more information about Clean TeQ Water please visit www.cleanteqwater.com.
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. 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 administrations proposal of 110,000 refugees for fiscal year 2016.
In the second test of a new radar-linking system, air and missile defense soldiers on Thursday shot down a low-flying cruise missile, while tracking and destroying a high-altitude, short-range ballistic missile.

It was the final live-fire exercise in a limited user test of the Army's Integrated Battle Command System, or IBCS, at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

IBCS is being developed to link Sentinel, Patriot and other radar systems across long distances so they can relay targeting information to Patriot missile launchers in an effort to meet future complex air and missile threats.

Read Next: State TV Says Iran Unveiled 2 New Missiles

The Army currently has a "litany of systems that get after unmanned aerial systems, ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, airplanes, rotary-wing aircraft" and other threats, said Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Joseph Martin, who witnessed Thursday's test.

"What we see in the future fight is that these systems, and their follow-on systems, need to be linked together," Martin told reporters during a roundtable discussion. "The Integrated Battle Command System is at the center of delivering that like nothing else we have now or anybody else has."

Last week, soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, completed a similar test of the IBCS that allowed the unit to track and destroy two cruise missiles with Patriot interceptor missiles while under an electronic warfare attack that jammed one of the integrated fire-control network relays.

Thursday's test did not include an electronic warfare challenge, but the "jamming will show back up" in the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation phase next year, program officials said.

The limited user test (LUT), which is scheduled to end in mid-September, has been far more successful than the first LUT of IBCS, which suffered multiple software challenges and resulted in the program being delayed by four years, said Brig. Gen. Brian Gibson, director of the Air and Missile Defense Cross Functional Team.

"In the first LUT, we couldn't get the car out of the garage," he explained.

Army officials acknowledged that the roughly $2.5 billion program must still overcome more complex tests in the future before it is ready for fielding.

"If we had it our way, we would like it to take less time, but the capability nevertheless is critical as we go into the future and face near-peer adversaries in a warfighting environment that none of us have seen before," Martin said.

The Pentagon is scheduled to make a Milestone C production decision on the program Nov. 20 and begin Initial Operational Test and Evaluation 13 months from now, said Col. Phil Rottenborn, project manager for Program Executive Office Missiles and Space, adding that the service hopes to be at initial operating capability for IBCS in late fiscal 2022.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct that the missiles shot down were not simulated, that one was a short-range ballistic missile and that last week's test jammed a fire-control network relay. It also corrects the overall cost of the program.

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

Related: In Test, Army Defense System Destroys Cruise Missiles While Under Jam Attack
This is...a lot. Holy shit.



These poor women.









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Something I rarely feel the need to say but: put his ass right back in prison and lose the key, please.

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Damn, Indya stays messy. I can at least understand the motive behind checking out an exes new gf/bf's socials but keeping tabs on women who have been abused by your ex is creepy as fuck at best. Girl, get it together.



Chance the Rapper never passes up an opportunity to defend men who shit on Black women so his nonsense doesn't surprise me one bit.

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i was so surprised when he defended noname during that whole j.cole shit show but ofcourse that ended up being the one exception

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I am in no way generally supporting Chance and I have since adopted a rule of thumb that if Chance is defending a man (and this is no exception), hes likely trash but from the link source, the documentary isnt defending him for this but because of Malcolm Londons Presumed retaliatory arrest for his work in protests in 2015: London was arrested on a felony aggravated battery charge for allegedly punching a police officer in 2015, during the protests over the wrongful death of Laquan McDonald at the hands of police. Those charges were later dropped. As London explains in the documentary, he believes he was the target of an orchestrated arrest of someone who was leading protests.

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Thank you for this. :)

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I didnt say Chance was defending him for that in the doc, it was simply put there of an example of them knowing each other/being friends for a while now (as opposed to Malcolm being someone Chance/Vic knew nothing about).

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You know, when I was reading this, at first I was thinking - well, isn't this what we want of sexual assaulters? To truly take accountability, to follow the lead of the survivor-led transformative justice process, and to continue to be upfront about what they did and how they are continuing to commit to the work of being held accountable?



But then, of course, I got to the part where he's done this to multiple women and has not acknowledged this and it wasn't an isolated incident, it's a pattern of abuse.



So yikes, Indya, get out of there.

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I guess I don't know if I consider it stalking if she's following public accounts. I also don't want to make excuses for her but it's possible he directed her to follow them, or even that she is interested in knowing what they have to say about him for her own benefit (though that's probably a stretch). It's just clear this dude is a repeat assaulter/abuser and I believe she's been assaulted and abused in the past so I worry what their relationship is like for her. But she is going to have to be accountable for the way her actions are affecting victims, too.

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i don't know, man. she could easily be a victim too. i'll be interested in hearing what she says, or if she'll be like nicki minaj and pretend it's not a problem

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afaik Indya identifies as they/them

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i'm... fucking horrified. let me delete my indya icons real quick lmao. them following their boyfriend's victims is almost like a damn threat towards said victims? i don't know how to explain it, but that is seriously messed up.

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Yeah. Like its one thing to date the dude (not to say its okay because uggh disgusting) and something else completely to participate in keeping tabs on his victims. Thats playing party to further victimization and thats...a lot.

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Why the how the why even look up your boyfriend's victims?

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this is what i cant fucking understand

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You'd think she'd keep her blinkers on a bit longer, but okay.

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"He has a past but he's changed he promise he won't hurt me. He loves me" . If you also told this lie to yourself, please please find a safe place and take care of yourself.

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I read about his new allegation and the CA process he went through a couple years ago from a previous allegation. Really disappointing to see that Indya is cosigning Malcolm's abuse.

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not surprised chance is capping for this monster but somehow i expected more from vic smh. idk how long indya has been with this pos but i hope they're not being abused too.

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yeah i thought vic was making peace with himself and holding himself/violent men accountable now



lmao figures

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Jujus post was really worth reading but also makes me question how effective community based accountability can be, especially when it comes to violence against women. There has to be a level of repentance from the abuser and Malcolm wouldnt truly allow himself to be held accountable. Idk as we move toward defunding and abolishing the police, I wonder what will take place to protect black women. I know the police doesnt rn, but something needs to

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This is also what I think about the most in terms of defunding the police. Because the transformative justice process needs the abuser to participate and it just seems, of all types of crimes and harms, that is the least likely area where that will happen.

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It's not effective at all usually because whatever accountability the group can come up with is just "we made them say sorry and read some feminist literature" which doesn't work and misunderstands the mindset of people who commit sexual assault, casting them as people who just didn't know any better. Shunning and deplatforming the abuser from participating in community led events can have some degree of effectiveness and I think they're useful short-term strategies, but they're not practical for long-term. The prison system needs to be fully re-imagined so the only people in it are class traitors and violent offenders.

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This whole community narrative going on in the BLM movement and even in restorative justice movement is really misguided i think. Like community isn't this one thing and a lot of the times, it's the very structure that allows violence against women and LGBT to go unaddressed. Like sometimes the very community is the one that needs to be reformed.

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I am very early on in my education about restorative justice/abolition but that is a sizable roadblock for me. The justice system is broken and, generally, incarceration only inflicts more trauma. But impartiality--which is just a theory within our current justice system--is useful when holding someone accountable for their actions. How can a community, which may have its own agenda with regard to the abuser, truly hold that person accountable? We already see how that goes wrong within insular communities.

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this is a good point. i think that there is always an objective third party needed, tbh. communities can absolutely help and lift each other up, but also will instinctively protect each other from outside scrutiny. reminds me of the story that came out last year about rape and incest in the amish community.

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I'm up for a US version of the Gulabi Gang.

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This is horrifying.

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From what I gathered, there's at least one allegation that took place post-transformative process or whatever he was on about.

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yup i read the beginning half of the statement and thought it was a really well-written apology but then saw the allegations were from years after...woof.

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I'm currently reading Why Does He Do That? There's a bit early in the book that explains how some abusive men can convincingly adapt & regurgitate self-accountability/therapeutic language to make it seem like they've changed and are changing... without actually doing so. It's just to get through the moment as easily & quickly as possible. It's PR. At worst, they utilize the therapy they've had/are in and Woke Verbiage to continue abusive behaviors.



I read about halfway through his statement before feeling sick and thinking of that. And low and behold, he was abusive AFTER 'understanding' what consent was. Ugh.

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Jeez. This is horrific and sad. Smfh @ Vic Mensa as well. Mess

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I believe in transformative justice for the vast majority of crimes except for sexual assault/rape because in my experience the abuser is never truly repentant and almost certainly has multiple victims. It all usually leads to a coverup among local activists that leads to a schism when others find out about it, protest, and then leave organizations/space the abuser is a part of.

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tbh, I am skeptical of restorative justice for this reason. I feel like 90% of the time it's invoked, it's in the case of a man abusing (or even murdering) a woman. I never see it invoked for like, white collar crime or property theft, or even nonsexual violence between two men. Why?



I know some practitioners are sincere, but I have this issue with it.

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I deeply sympathize with people who tout it because they're trying to find alternatives to our current prison system which is blatantly unhelpful, racist, and evil. Theoretically it is supposed to be used for issues like neighborly disputes, theft (which anyone worth their salt talking about this issue would also be for the eradication of poverty so instances of theft would drastically decrease), and other issues that can be solved through communication or social programs.



This is why I don't subscribe to full blown prison abolition because there are people who need to be punished by not participating in society, like rapists and white collar criminals who built their livelihoods on the back of the working class. Not everyone should get the guillotine and they need to go somewhere.

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that's very interesting and I totally believe you btw.



what I have co e across, and found most interesting, is the implementation of accountability in all parts of our lives, not just these extreme incidents of violence.



It's a cultural shift that needs to be fully integrated into our daily lives and among our closest loved ones if that makes sense. not just introduced for the first time when someone is violently harmed.

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When I did get a customer service rep, I may have embellished the situation a bit.

Yeah, you guys have a pole down blocking a busload of Cub Scouts on their way to free COVID testing over at the Baptist Church. Pretty urgent from what I can tell.

Maybe I didnt embellish it quite that much, but they promised to have someone out the following Friday between the narrow window of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

On that day, as I worked from home, I happened to glance out the window and saw this companys truck. It had apparently turned around in the driveway at the opposite end of yard from the leaning pole and was driving away, no knock, no phone call from outside.

NO! I screamed and bolted through the front door and out into the street, running and waving my arms. This is admittedly not unusual behavior in my neighborhood, but away he drove.

As I started to call the company once more, my phone rang. It was the technician. He apparently wanted to get somewhere safer, away from the leaning pole, before calling, claiming the pole for his company and assuring me a construction crew would be out  eventually.

Nearly a week later, eventually has yet to arrive. Phoning, waiting, cussing and chasing, the worst pole dance I have ever experienced goes on.

Scott Hollifield is editor/GM of The McDowell News in Marion, NC and a humor columnist. Contact him at rhollifield@mcdowellnews.com.
Partnering with a company like Celerant, that gives the small business owner great tools to access our vast selection of military, tactical, and outdoor goods offered through their platform, is a winning combination. stated Howard Somberg, President, Rothco.

Celerant Technology, the #1 provider of innovative retail solutions, today announced an integration with Rothco, a leading supplier of military, tactical and outdoor products. Through Celerants retail software, dealers can offer Rothcos products in store and online, automatically reorder inventory, and leverage Rothcos retailer services to drop ship orders.

Catalog Import: Build your retail database with NO manual entry

Rothco offers an extensive line of clothing, footwear, military and tactical gear, firearm accessories, camping equipment, police supplies, uniforms and more. Through Celerants retail software, dealers can easily access Rothcos product catalog, and import the products they want to carry directly into the point of sale.

Rothco has been committed to the independent retailer since 1953, stated Howard Somberg, President, Rothco. Partnering with a company like Celerant, that gives the small business owner great tools to access our vast selection of military, tactical, and outdoor goods offered through their platform, is a winning combination.

Purchase Orders: Order inventory just in time from Rothco

Celerants integration with Rothco makes it easy for dealers to reorder inventory. Through the point of sale, dealers can access their inventory counts in real-time, generate purchase orders, and send the purchase orders to Rothco electronically. Dealers can also automate the reordering process by setting minimum/maximum stock levels; and easily adjust their required stock levels to account for any promotions or change in demand per season.

Endless Aisle: Offer more products in store and online with less effort

To be more competitive, dealers can offer Rothcos entire available inventory in store and/or online without having to stock or ship additional merchandise. Celerants eCommerce websites and in store kiosks can pull Rothcos live vendor feeds, which can instantly display thousands of Rothco products. This allows the dealers customers to browse through an endless aisle of products, with up-to-date product data, including name, description, images and real-time stock levels.

After an order is placed online or in store, the dealer can fulfill the order with their own inventory, or automatically send the order to Rothco for drop shipping. Based on the dealers preference, Rothco can either drop ship the merchandise directly to the customer, and/or deliver the order to the store for customer pickup.

Now, more than ever, SMB retailers need retail technology that allows them to be more competitive, stated Ian Goldman, President and CEO of Celerant Technology. Integrating with Rothco does exactly that. Rothcos dealers can save time by eliminating manual entry; get online faster by pulling Rothcos products and images; and offer more products in store and online by leveraging Rothcos live feeds and drop shipping services.

Choose the solution thats right for your business

Rothcos integration is available for Celerants two retail solutions Cumulus Retail, an affordable and powerful point of sale and eCommerce solution for small business; and Stratus Enterprise, a custom omnichannel commerce platform with advanced features. For more information about Celerants integration with Rothco, please visit http://www.celerant.com/partner/rothco.

About Celerant Technology

Celerant Technology is an innovative retail software provider enabling retailers to expand their businesses past their physical storefronts' and into the online world. Topping the RIS LeaderBoard for 15 years in-a-row, Celerant supports retailers through point of sale, inventory management, promotions and loyalty rewards, eCommerce, distributor integrations, marketplace integrations (i.e., Amazon, eBay, Walmart), integrated email marketing and more. To learn more, subscribe to our blog- http://www.celerant.com/blog.

About Rothco

Rothco, a division of Morris Rothenberg & Son, Inc., is Americas foremost wholesale supplier of military, tactical and outdoor products. We carry an extensive line of apparel and gear available for domestic and overseas sale to re-sellers of all types: retail, wholesale, military, police, security, outdoor products, public safety, tactical, screen printers, uniform dealers, fashion retailers, sportswear, and apparel shops. For more information on Rothcos full line of military clothing and accessories, visit http://www.rothco.com.
Fewer Americans say they'd get a vaccine against COVID-19 than about three months ago, an alarming new poll has found.

In a poll released by CNN on Wednesday, when respondents were asked if they would personally try to get a vaccine to prevent COVID-19 if one was made widely available at a low cost, only 56 percent said they would, while 40 percent said they wouldn't. The percentage of Americans who say they would get vaccinated is down 10 percentage points from May, when 66 percent in the same CNN poll said they'd get the vaccine.

CNN reports the decline "seems to be concentrated among Trump supporters, 51 percent of whom said they would seek out a vaccine in May compared with 38 percent who say the same now." In response to the poll's finding, CNN's Jim Sciutto tweeted, "The attack on science has consequences."

According to the new CNN poll, the number of Americans that would be willing to take a coronavirus vaccine has dropped by 10% since May 10th. Will take the vaccine: 56% (66%)

Won't take the vaccine: 40% (33%)  Ryan James Girdusky (@RyanGirdusky) August 19, 2020

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, previously warned that if too many Americans refuse to get a COVID-19 vaccine, it's "unlikely" the U.S. will get to herd immunity.

That's why, he explained to CNN, it's important for "people to understand that we're doing everything we can to show that it's safe and that it's effective, and it's for the good of them as individuals and in society to take the vaccine." Fauci added, however, that keeping in mind the "anti-science, anti-authority, anti-vaccine feeling among some people in this country," health officials, unfortunately, have "a lot of work to do."

The poll was conducted by SSRS by speaking to a random national sample of 1,108 adults over the phone from Aug. 12-15. The margin of error is 3.7 percentage points. Read more at CNN.

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The government announced on Tuesday that a Roadmap for Resilience and Recovery will be published next month on September 13th.

It is still unclear what measures will be put in place for the hospitality sector, as so far regarding the road map the Government has said:

"This will map how we balance public health, economic and social aspects of living with COVID-19 in the short to medium term and try to bring some greater certainty so that society and business can at least plan forward."

The latest figures for the hotel and guesthouse sector show that occupancy levels reached 42 per cent for July and 49 per cent for August.

This compares to an average of 90 per cent last year. Meanwhile, hotels are reporting average occupancy levels of 23 per cent for September and 17 per cent for October based on current bookings.

Viable economy

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Elaina Fitzgerald Kane, president of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF), states that public health goes hand in hand with ensuring a viable economy when this pandemic has passed.

People must have livelihoods. Prior to Covid-19, tourism supported almost 270,000 jobs, making it Irelands largest indigenous employer.

It is a key driver in communities the length and breadth of the country in both economic and social terms

However, Ms Fitzgerald Kane is confident that tourism can recover. Ireland still has enormous potential as a tourism destination. But, we are at a critical juncture.

She said that with ongoing restrictions, the Government must provide more sector specific supports to safeguard the livelihoods the 270,000 who were employed pre-Covid.

"Tourism also created some 90,000 new jobs following the financial crisis, demonstrating our industrys ability to rebound given the right supports," she said.

She also said there needs to be long term planning from the Government:

"The supports announced so far, including those contained in the July stimulus, are all welcome but they only offer short-term fixes and particularly against the backdrop of ongoing public health restrictions.

"People who are healthy could be tested before travelling and provide verification that they do not pose a risk."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 21:05:05|Editor: huaxia

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PARIS, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The military operation by the French forces continues in Mali, Minister for the Armed Forces Florence Parly said on Thursday, two days after a mutiny led to the forced resignation of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of the western African country.

"The Barkhane Operation, asked for by the Mali population and authorized by the UN Security Council, continues," said Parly on Twitter.

Some 5,000 French troops started Barkhane Operation in 2014 in Sahel to help G5 Sahel countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger) maintain control of their territory while also preventing the region from becoming a safe-haven for Islamist groups.

On Tuesday night, a mutiny, which happened in Kati, a town near the capital Bamako, led to the arrest of Malian president, prime minister and several other members of government. Keita, detained by mutinous Malian soldiers in a military camp, announced his resignation and the dissolution of the National Assembly and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse's government.

France "reaffirms its attachment to sovereignty, respect of institutions, democratic life and stability in Mali. It encourages all political and social forces to engage a dialogue to find a solution to the deep crisis the country is going through and calls for the immediate re-establishment of civil power," said Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves le Drian.

He added that Paris had taken note of Keita's resignation, urging his "immediate release" as well as members of his government who are currently detained.

The United Nations Security Council strongly condemned the mutiny in Mali. The African Union Commission decided to suspend Mali from the pan-African body.

Leaders of the military coup said Wednesday they would enact a political transition and stage elections within a "reasonable time." Enditem
DALLAS, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Association of Black Professional Firefighters (IABPFF) announces its new President Carrie Edwards-Clemons. The IABPFF works to improve the economic development and employment opportunities for minorities. As Black firefighters, it is our challenge to make the fire services more relevant to the needs and aspirations of minority citizens and communities across the world.

President Carrie Edwards-Clemons

Carrie joined the IABPFF in 2000 and since then has served as Executive Vice President, Recording Secretary and North Central Region (NCR) Director. She has served the NCR as Second Vice Director, Recording Secretary and Black Women in the Fire Service Chair. Carrie has served her local Chapter, Society of Minority Firefighters  Flint, as Vice President, Recording Secretary and Trustee. She continues to serve her local chapter as Executive Director. Carrie has also held the positions of First Vice President, Second Vice President and Trustee of IAFF Local 352.

Our President has over 21 years in the Fire Service. She was hired into the Flint Fire Department in 1999 as a Firefighter/Trainee and has served the department and community as a Firefighter/Paramedic, Fire I & II Instructor, Instructor Coordinator, Suppression Sgt., EMS Supervisor, Haz-Mat Technician, Emergency Vehicle Operator Instructor, Building Inspector and Code Enforcement Sgt. and EMS Coordinator. Carrie is the first female to hold the rank of Deputy Fire Chief in the department's history. Carrie is also the grant writer for the department and has secured SAFER, Assistance to Firefighter grants and Community Development Block Grants in excess of $20M throughout her career.

"I am honored to be able to serve my IABPFF brothers and sisters!" stated Carrie. "As president, I will work to strengthen our current partnerships and cultivate future opportunities in hopes providing more support and resources to firefighters and communities globally."

To learn more about IABPFF, please visit www.iabpf.org.

Media Contact:

Deyhanna Thompson, Executive Assistant

810.874.5874

[email protected]

SOURCE International Association of Black Professional Firefighters (IABPFF)

Related Links

https://iabpf.org/


Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 20, 2020) - Jiminex Inc. ("Jiminex" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a purchase agreement (the "Agreement") with an arm's length third party individual (the "Purchaser"), to sell its non-core asset, the Misehkow Gold Property, located in the Patricia Mining Division, Northwestern Ontario, Canada (the "Misehkow Gold Property"). The Misehkow Gold Property has been inactive for a number of years, with the Company having written of all costs related to the Misehkow Gold Property in prior years.

Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company has agreed to transfer to the Purchaser 140 unpatented mining claims situated in the Patricia Mining Division, Northwestern Ontario, in consideration for a cash payment of CAD $20,000. The transaction is expected to close on or about August 21, 2020.

Further Information

For further information, please contact:

Jiminex Inc.

Binyomin Posen, CEO and Director

Telephone: (416) 481.2222 x 246

Email: bposen@plazacapital.ca

Cautionary Statements

This press release may contain certain forward-looking information and statements ("forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, that are not based on historical fact, including without limitation, statements containing the words "believes", "anticipates", "plans", "intends", "will", "should", "expects", "continue", "estimate", "forecasts" and other similar expressions. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third-parties, its securities, or financial or operating results (as applicable). Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking information in this press release are reasonable, such forward-looking information has been based on expectations, factors and assumptions concerning future events (including, but not limited to, the assumption that the transactions contemplated in the Agreement will be completed on the terms and within the timelines anticipated by the Company) which may prove to be inaccurate and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. The forward-looking information contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and are made as of the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intention and has no obligation or responsibility, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Story continues

This press release is intended for distribution in Canada only and is not intended for distribution to United States newswire services or dissemination in the United States. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

Not for distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/62205
More than 70,000 new mining jobs are expected to be created by Government under the Community Mining Scheme in the Ashanti Region, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh has disclosed.

He said this on Thursday, August 20, 2020, as he jointly launched the Community Mining Scheme in Bekwai, Adansi-Asokwa and New Edubiase in the Ashanti Region.

According to him, there are about 120 concessions under the Community Mining Scheme in Bekwai, Adansi-Asokwa and New Edubiase.

He stated that the introduction of the Scheme in the areas will lead to decent jobs and wealth creations.

The Scheme has the capacity to create meaningful employment (for large members) in the rural and host communities across the mining areas, the Minister indicated.

According to him, within the Obuasi and its enclave alone, an estimated 70,000 direct jobs are to be created, and its multiplier effects could be 30,000 indirect jobs.

He added that the Scheme will stimulate wealth creation and improve the local economy through the value generated staying within local communities in Ghana and not leaving the shores of the country.

According to him, it will further enable Community involvement in mining in answer to the legitimate desire by host communities to participate in the mining industry value chain.

He added that the Scheme will create horizontal, vertical as well as other linkages with the other sectors of the economy.

---Daily Guide
Updated Fri., Aug. 21, 2020:

The Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Marshals Service notified the court of its plans to appeal U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simons preliminary injunction to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The injunction remains in effect while the appeal is pending. Lawyers for the federal officers previously had asked the judge to put a hold on his injunction as an appeal proceeded, but he declined to do so.

A judge Thursday granted a preliminary injunction against federal officers that will continue to exempt journalists and legal observers from orders to disperse after the officers declare riots at Portland protests.

The order bars federal officers from assaulting or threatening to use force against the press or the legal monitors.

A U.S. Department of Justice lawyer had argued that the press doesnt hold any special right when police declare an unlawful assembly or riot and order crowds to break up.

Lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon contend journalists documenting actions by officers have a right to keep doing so even as authorities tell people to leave.

The ACLU 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 in downtown since early July.

A temporary restraining order, which exempted journalists and legal observers from dispersal orders, was set to expire at 5 p.m. Thursday.

U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon found journalists and legal observers have a right to document whether the governments closing of public streets amid riot declarations are lawfully done. He also found that federal officers use of force against members of the media and legal observers during protests hasnt been inadvertent.

The relevant protests are happening after business hours, and there is no indication that allowing journalists and legal observers to stay despite a general dispersal order interferes with public access, the judge wrote in a 61-page ruling. Thus, none of the governments proffered interests outweigh the publics interest in receiving accurate and timely reporting, video, and photographic information about the protests and how law enforcement is treating protestors.

At the same time, the judge wrote that no journalist or legal observer protected under his order may impede, block, or otherwise physically interfere with the lawful activities of the federal officers.

His order also encouraged journalists to stand off to the side of a protest, not engage in protest activities and not be intermixed with persons engaged in protest activities, though those steps arent required.

Simons ruling comes as the city prepares for the 85th 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.

The judge also encouraged both sides to come to an agreement on what additional unique, identifiable markings could be placed on certain federal officers uniforms so they can be better identified at a reasonable distance and without interfering with their work.

The judge exempted from the marking requirement undercover agents and those deputy U.S. marshals or courtroom security officers who are usually stationed in Portland.

If the parties cant agree on the markings, then the judge will decide based on proposals from each side.

Federal officers who unintentionally violate the injunction wont be held liable, the order said.

Many declarants note that they have covered protests in war zones around the world and in areas with riotous protests such as Hong Kong, Oakland, and Seattle, and have never been subjected to the type of egregious and violent attacks by law enforcement personnel as they have suffered in Portland, Simon wrote. If military and law enforcement personnel can engage around the world without attacking journalists, the Federal Defendants can respect Plaintiffs First Amendment rights in Portland, Oregon.

The judge was convinced that force used by federal officers against journalists and legal observers in the protests here appeared deliberate.

Plaintiffs submit numerous declarations and other video evidence describing and showing situations in which the declarants were identifiable as press, were not engaging in unlawful activity or even protesting, were not standing near protesters, and yet were subjected to violence by federal agents under circumstances that appear to indicate intentional targeting, the judge ruled. Contrary to the Federal Defendants arguments, this evidence does not show that the force used on Plaintiffs was merely an inadvertent consequence of otherwise lawful crowd control.

The judges ruling follows a night when a group of protesters and federal officers clashed outside the U.S. Immigration and Enforcement field office in South Portland once some in the crowd threw rocks, broke windows of a security booth out front and spray-painted graffiti on the buildings front windows.

It was the first time federal officers had encountered protesters in 21 days since Gov. Kate Brown reached an agreement with the the acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The agreement called in state police on July 30 to help safeguard federal buildings for two weeks.

Oregon State Police withdrew their approximately 100 troopers from Portland protest coverage last week 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.

The governors agreement was aimed at curtailing clashes between federal officers and some protesters outside the federal courthouse. 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.

Bolstering the ACLUs argument was a sworn statement from Gil Kerlikowske, a former commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and a former Seattle police chief. He said the firing of impact munitions by federal officers at people not involved in violence or threatening violence was improper and reflected a lack of training for civil disturbances.

Kerlikowske said the federal officers sent to Portland repeatedly used undisciplined, unnecessary and excessive force against journalists and legal observers.

Jordan Von Bokern, a Justice Department lawyer, urged the court to disregard Kerlikowskes opinion, arguing he isnt an expert witness and wasnt familiar with the operations on the ground.

Instead, federal officers filed a response from Christopher Bishop, an acting deputy director of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection/Law Enforcement Safety and Compliance Directorate.

Bishop said Customs and Border Protection officers are acting under a use-of-force policy that Kerlikowske 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 judge found Kerlikowskes input instructive. The Court finds Mr. Kerlikowske to be a well-qualified expert whose opinions are relevant, helpful, and persuasive, Simon wrote.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian

Subscribe to Facebook page

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
DUBLIN, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) - Market Insights, Epidemiology and Market Forecast - 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The report delivers an in-depth understanding of the MPM, historical and forecasted epidemiology as well as the MPM market trends in the United States, EU5 (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and United Kingdom), and Japan.



The MPM market report provides current treatment practices, emerging drugs, MPM market share of the individual therapies, current and forecasted MPM market size from 2017 to 2030 segmented by seven major markets. The report also covers current MPM treatment practice/algorithm, market drivers, market barriers and unmet medical needs to curate best of the opportunities and assesses underlying potential of the market.



Epidemiology



The MPM epidemiology division provide the insights about historical and current MPM patient pool and forecasted trend for each seven major countries. It helps to recognize the causes of current and forecasted trends by exploring numerous studies and views of key opinion leaders. This part of The report also provides the diagnosed patient pool and their trends along with assumptions undertaken.



Key Findings



The total Incident cases of MPM in the 7MM were observed to be 11,431 cases in 2017 which are estimated to decline during the study period (2017-2030).



The disease epidemiology covered in the report provides historical as well as forecasted MPM epidemiology [segmented as Total Incidence of Mesothelioma, Total Incident Cases of MPM, Total Incident Cases of MPM Segmented by Age and Gender, Total Type-specific Cases of MPM, Total Incident Cases of MPM by Stages, and Treated Patient Pool of MPM] scenario of MPM in the 7MM covering United States, EU5 countries (Germany, France, Italy , Spain, and United Kingdom), and Japan from 2017 to 2030.



Country-Wise Epidemiology



Mesothelioma incidence rates in most of the 7MM countries (except Spain and Japan) are in the declining trend due to reduced population wide exposure to asbestos. Among the European Countries, highest MPM incident cases observed in the UK in 2017.



Drug Chapters



Drug chapter segment of the Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma report encloses the detailed analysis of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma marketed drugs and late stage (Phase-III and Phase-II) pipeline drugs. It also helps to understand the Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma clinical trial details, expressive pharmacological action, agreements and collaborations, approval and patent details, advantages and disadvantages of each included drug and the latest news and press releases.



Marketed Drugs



Opdivo (Nivolumab): Bristol-Myers Squibb/ONO Pharmaceutical



Opdivo (Nivolumab) by Bristol-Myers Squibb is a human immunoglobulin (Ig) G4 monoclonal antibody directed against the negative immunoregulatory human cell surface receptor PD-1, with immune checkpoint inhibitory and antineoplastic activities. In Japan, ONO launched Opdivo for the treatment of unresectable advanced or recurrent malignant pleural mesothelioma which has progressed after chemotherapy in August 2018. For MPM, it is approved only in Japan; however, in the US and Europe, it is currently in phase III clinical trial.



NovoTTF-100L System in Combination with Chemotherapy: NovoCure



NovoTTF-100L - a product of NovoCure is a noninvasive, antimitotic cancer treatment that delivers tumor treating fields to the region of the tumor, a therapy that uses electric fields tuned to specific frequencies to disrupt solid tumor cancer cell division. It has been approved by the US FDA for the first-line treatment of unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic, malignant pleural mesothelioma. It is worth mentioning that, NovoCure has applied for CE certification to market NovoTTF-100L in the EU.



Emerging Drugs



TR002: Trizell



Trizell is evaluating its gene therapy TR002, an adenovirus-mediated interferon alfa 2b (rAd-IFN),in ongoing phase III clinical study in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma who have failed the first-line standard of care chemotherapy. It is administered by catheter into the pleural cavity, where the virus enters the cells lining the pleural cavity. Inside the cells, the virus breaks down leaving the active gene to do its work. A previous Phase II study of TR002 is at Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center included 40 mesothelioma patients who were newly diagnosed or failed standard chemotherapy (Pemetrexed, and Cisplatin). Patients showed an overall disease control rate of 87.5%.



Imfinzi: AstraZeneca



Imfinzi (durvalumab; MEDI4736) - a product of AstraZeneca, is a human immunoglobulin G1 kappa (IgG1) monoclonal antibody. PrECOG, a cancer research group formed as a not-for-profit limited liability company in 2006 by the ECOG Research and Education Foundation, with funding from AstraZeneca, has initiated clinical trials investigating Imfinzi, in first Line treatment in Advanced Pleural Mesothelioma patients. At present two clinical trials are ongoing, which are NCT02899195 (PrE0505), and NCT04334759 (DREAM3R).



Tecentriq Plus Avastin: Hoffmann-La Roche



Tecentriq (Atezolizumab) is a product of Roche. It is a programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) blocking antibody which works by blocking the action of a certain protein in cancer cells. This helps the immune system to fight against the cancer cells and helps to slow tumor growth. Presently, the company in collaboration with the European Thoracic Oncology Platform (Sponsor) is involved in a multicenter randomized Phase III trial (NCT03762018) comparing Atezolizumab plus Bevacizumab and standard chemotherapy vs. bevacizumab and standard chemotherapy as first-line treatment for Advanced Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma.



Pegargiminase: Polaris Pharmaceuticals



Pegargiminase (ADIPEG 20), an arginine degrading enzyme is a product of Polaris Pharmaceuticals currently being investigated in ATOMIC-Meso Phase II/III Study (NCT02709512) clinical study. Pegargiminase is administered by intramuscular injection and works by depleting the external supply of an amino acid called arginine.



MTG201 Plus Nivolumab: Momotaro-Gene



MTG201 is novel investigational gene therapy with unique dual mechanisms of action capable of addressing a range of cancers. In September 2019, Momotaro-Gen announced enrollment of first patients with Relapsed Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. The Phase II trial (NCT04013334), which is being conducted at the Baylor College of Medicine is an open-label, single-arm study designed to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of intratumoral administration of MTG201 in combination with nivolumab. Apart from this, Momotaro-Gene has completed Phase I trial of MTG201, demonstrating encouraging safety and tolerability in patients with malignant. This study was conducted with relapsed malignant pleural mesothelioma patients in Japan by Kyorin Pharmaceuticals.



Market Outlook



According to the report, Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma market in the 7MM is expected to change in the study period 2017-2030. The therapeutic market of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma in seven major markets was found to be USD 290 million in 2017 which is expected to increase during study period (2017-2030).



The United States Market Outlook

In 2017, the total market size of MPM therapies was found to be USD 112 million in the United States which is expected to increase in the study period (2017-2030).

EU-5 Countries: Market Outlook

In 2017, the total market size of MPM therapies was found to be USD 142 million in the EU-5 countries which is expected to increase in the study period (2017-2030).

Japan Market Outlook

The total market size of MPM therapies in Japan was found to be USD 36 million in 2017.

Pipeline Development Activities



The drugs which are in the pipeline includes:

TR002 (nadofaragene firadenovec; rAd-IFN): Trizell Ltd: Phase III

Imfinzi (durvalumab; MEDI4736): AstraZeneca: Phase III

Tecentriq (Atezolizumab) Plus Avastin (Bevacizumab): Hoffmann-La Roche: Phase III

MesoPher (Vaccine): Polaris Pharmaceuticals: Phase II/III

Pegargiminase (ADI PEG 20): Polaris Pharmaceuticals: Phase II/III

Keytruda (MK-3475; Pembrolizumab): Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.: Phase II/III

GALINPEPIMUT-S (Vaccine): Sellas Life Sciences Group: Phase II

MTG201 Plus Nivolumab: Momotaro-Gene: Phase II

Anetumab ravtansine (BAY 94-9343): Bayer/ImmunoGen/MorphoSys: Phase II

Lurbinectedin: PharmaMar: Phase II

Yondelis (trabectedin): PharmaMar: Phase II

Tremelimumab: MedImmune LLC: Phase II

Nintedanib (BIBF 1120): Boehringer Ingelheim Limited: Phase II

*List is not exhaustive, full list and products detail will be provided in the report



Market Developments



Key Points



1. In December 2019, PharmaMar and Jazz signed an agreement of exclusive license for the commercialization of lurbinectedin in the United States. In January 2020, PharmaMar received the initial payment of 200 million down payment on behalf of the agreement signed with Jazz Pharmaceuticals.



2. In July 2019, TCR2 Therapeutics announced that it has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to collaborate on the use of TCR2's proprietary T cell receptor (TCR) Fusion Construct T cells (TRuCTM-T cells) as a cancer therapeutic agent against mesothelin in the Company's ongoing Phase I/II trial of TC-210.



3. In February 2019, the US FDA have granted orphan drug designation to TC-210 for the treatment of mesothelioma.



Drugs Uptake



Among emerging therapies, nivolumab in combination with ipilimumab whose topline phase III results recently announced by BMS in first line setting is expected to have an edge over Optune plus chemotherapy regimen owing to physicians familiarities, NCCN is already recommending the combo in second line or later setting and also nivolumab monotherapy is already approved in Japan for relapsed or refractory pool; nivolumab plus ipilimumab combo expected to generate significant revenue by 2030, due to expected entry of biosimilars in upcoming years erosion in sales value of Opdivo is anticipated



KOL Views



To keep up with current market trends, we take KOLs and SME's opinion working in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma domain through primary research to fill the data gaps and validate our secondary research. Their opinion helps to understand and validate current and emerging therapies treatment patterns or Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma market trend. This will support the clients in potential upcoming novel treatment by identifying the overall scenario of the market and the unmet needs.



Competitive Intelligence Analysis



The publisher performs Competitive and Market Intelligence analysis of the Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Market by using various Competitive Intelligence tools that includes - SWOT analysis, PESTLE analysis, Porter's five forces, BCG Matrix, Market entry strategies etc. The inclusion of the analysis entirely depends upon the data availability.



Scope of the Report

The report covers the descriptive overview of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma, explaining its causes, signs and symptoms, pathophysiology and currently available therapies.

Comprehensive insight has been provided into the Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma epidemiology and treatment in the 7MM.

Additionally, an all-inclusive account of both the current and emerging therapies for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma are provided, along with the assessment of new therapies, which will have an impact on the current treatment landscape.

A detailed review of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma market; historical and forecasted is included in the report, covering drug outreach in the 7MM.

The report provides an edge while developing business strategies, by understanding trends shaping and driving the global Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma market.

Report Highlights

In the coming years, Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma market is set to change due to the rising awareness of the disease, and incremental healthcare spending across the world; which would expand the size of the market to enable the drug manufacturers to penetrate more into the market.

The companies and academics are working to assess challenges and seek opportunities that could influence Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma R&D. The therapies under development are focused on novel approaches to treat/improve the disease condition.

Major players are involved in developing therapies for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. Launch of emerging therapies, will significantly impact the Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma market.

A better understanding of disease pathogenesis will also contribute to the development of novel therapeutics for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma.

Our in-depth analysis of the pipeline assets across different stages of development (Phase III and Phase II), different emerging trends and comparative analysis of pipeline products with detailed clinical profiles, key cross-competition, launch date along with product development activities will support the clients in the decision-making process regarding their therapeutic portfolio by identifying the overall scenario of the research and development activities.

Companies Mentioned

Trizell Ltd.

AstraZeneca

Hoffmann-La Roche

Polaris Pharmaceuticals

Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.

Sellas Life Sciences Group

Momotaro-Gene

Bayer/ImmunoGen/MorphoSys

PharmaMar

MedImmune LLC

Boehringer Ingelheim Limited

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/tk2o4y

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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President Donald Trump holds a news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, on Aug. 19, 2020. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Iran Will Never Have a Nuclear Weapon: Trump Weighs In on Anticipated US Move to Seek Snapback Sanctions

President Donald Trump on Wednesday pledged that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon as long as he is President of the United States just hours after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the United States is set to trigger the snapback of all United Nations sanctions against Iran.

Today Im directing the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to notify the U.N. Security Council that the United States intends to restore virtually all of the previously-suspended United Nations sanctions on Iran, its a snapback, not uncommon, Trump told reporters on Wednesday.

Related Coverage US to Trigger Snapback Sanctions Against Iran

Pompeo announced hours prior that the United States will on Thursday submit a complaint to the U.N. Security Council to formally notify of Irans non-compliance under the deal, thereby triggering a potential snapback of all U.N. sanctions that existed before the Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed in 2015.

Trump said at the press briefing that his administration had pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and that the disastrous deal was a product of the Obama-Biden foreign policy failurea failure like few people have seen in terms of the amount of money we paid for absolutely nothing and a short-term deal.

The deal funneled $150 billion  plus $1.8 billion in cash to the Iranian regime, Trump said. He also questioned Obamas authority to give the $1.8 billion cash to the regime.

Trump said that sanctions have crippled Irans economy and limited the amount of money it can use to support terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda.

He said the money would have funded all of the chaos and the bloodshed and the terror in the region and all throughout the world. And I wont say anything because I dont like saying it but Iran doesnt have so much money to give to the world anymore.

If and when I win the election, within the first month, Iran will come to us and they are going to be asking for a deal so quickly because they are doing very poorly, the president said.

Trump said that a good deal was the one the United States made with United Arab Emirates and Israel, adding that other countries now want to join the deal. And all of a sudden youre going to have peace in the Middle East, and you couldnt have done it with this ridiculous Iran nuclear deal, as they call it, he said.

I imposed the toughest-ever sanctions on Iran and this has caused great difficulties for them giving money to terrorist organizations. And if they do, they will have hell to pay, he continued. My administration will not allow this Iran nuclear situation to go on. [Iran] will never have a nuclear weapon.

When the United States entered into the Iran deal, it was clear that the United states would always have the right to restore the U.N. sanctions that will prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, he noted. We paid a fortune for a failed concept and a failed policy, a policy that would have made it impossible to have peace in the Middle East.

The snapback of U.N. sanctions would extend the 13-year arms embargo on Iran, ban Iran from developing ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, and require that Iran suspend its nuclear program. The snapback sanction mechanism is a provision of the U.N. resolution endorsing the Iran nuclear deal.

Russia and China have argued that the United States does not have the right to trigger the reimposition of U.N. sanctions when it withdrew from the deal.

The latest U.S. move to trigger the potential snapback sanctions on Iran comes after the United States failed at the United Nations last week to extend an arms embargo on the regime, winning just one other yes vote, with China and Russia opposed and the 11 other members of the U.N. Security Council abstaining.

The embargo on conventional arms sale was imposed on Iran by the U.N. Security Council as a part of the Iran nuclear deal, and is due to expire on Oct. 23 if no action is taken. This could allow China, Russia, and other countries to sell conventional weapons to Iran.

The Iran nuclear deal in 2015 was promoted by then-President Barack Obama as the best optionthe only way, even temporarily, to keep Iran from wielding nuclear arms.

But the Iranian regime has been reported to have gone in the opposite direction. Among various other actions, the regime in 2017 announced a 150 percent increase in its military budgetdeveloping long-range missiles, armed drones, and cyber-war capabilitieswhile putting to use some of the up to $150 billion in assets abroad that had previously been frozen due to sanctions.

Last year, the regime began breaching the uranium enrichment limits set out in the deal.

Trump has been increasing pressure on Irans leaders since May 2018, when he quit the Iran nuclear deal and signed an Executive Order to reimpose tight sanctions on Iran previously lifted as a part of the deal.

The United States recognizes Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism and has long criticized it for funding terror groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.

Ella Kietlinska, Reuters, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Read More Why the US Pulled out of the Iran Nuclear Deal
Sacha Baron Cohen was recently spotted filming in the costume of his controversial character Borat in Long Beach, California. The 48-year-old Ali G star has sparked speculations amongst his fans about a potential sequel of the 2006 film Borat: Cultural Learnings Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan. A TikTok user shared the clip featuring Sacha Baron Cohen in the costume of his iconic character from the 2006 film. The clip was later shared all over social media. Read on to know more.

MY WIFE!! Haha thinking about watching #Borat today. Such a classic comedy. A little in appropriate to watch around kids so I watch it by my self or with my wife (Borat voice) haha I hope he makes a second borat movie because the character is too funny. pic.twitter.com/WraLPsW0Yu  Paul Obango (@paul_obango) August 18, 2020

Read | 'Cuties' on Netflix receives backlash before its release, here's why

Will there be a Borat 2?

In the clip, Cohen is seen driving a car, while he is being led filmed by a camera crew. Two cameramen can be spotted inside a truck that is driving ahead of Cohens car. The cameramen can be seen only for a few seconds in the clip.

The actor was seen driving a worn-out yellow pickup truck and had worn his conic grey trouser suit. The characters look was completed by a thick moustache. During the short clip, Sacha was seen attempting to change out of Borat's grey suit while still driving the vehicle.

Just saw a live shooting of Borat driving some yellow hooptie truck in my hood!!! .... pic.twitter.com/NSDmrKgPPe  Switzon S. Wigfall, III (SSWIII) (@switzonthegreat) August 17, 2020

Neither the original films director Larry Charles nor Cohen have revealed if there will be a Borat 2. However, many fans had been speculating about Borat 2 filming for some time now. Many social media users also pointed out the fact that the original film was too problematic. Some expressed their opinion claiming that it will be cancelled in 2020.

Read | Guillermo del Toro's Netflix 'Pinocchio' stop-motion film lands a star-studded cast

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan,

Borat was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, at the 79th Academy Awards. Sacha Baron Cohen had won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture that year. The 2006 film follows the character Borat around the United States as he makes a 'documentary' about life in the states and attempts to marry Pamela Anderson.

Borat goes to the doctor in America pic.twitter.com/9XfGp8pf1I  Borat Clips (@BoratClips) August 19, 2020

Read | What time does 'DeMarcus Family Rules' release on Netflix? See details here

According to a report on Daily Mail, at the time of its release, Kazakhstan banned the film from being shown. DVD sales of the controversial film had also been banned. However, in 2012, the Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, Yerzhan Kazykhanov had thanked Sacha for increasing tourism to the country following the spoof film.

Read | Netflix introduces 'Shuffle Play' option for viewers who are tired of searching content

Sacha Baron Cohen in The Spy

The 48-year-old actor was recently seen in the Israeli Espionage series The Spy. The series is based on the life of Israel's top Mossad spy Eli Cohen, who is portrayed by Sacha Baron Cohen. The show is now available on Netflix.
Back in 2016, North Koreas freshly minted leader, Kim Jong-un, held the countrys first ruling Workers Partys congress in three decades and laid out an ambitious five-year economic plan to build what he called a great socialist country by 2020. On Thursday, he admitted that theplan had failed. One calamity after another has hit North Korea since 2016. Led by the United States, the United Nations Security Council imposed devastating economic sanctions to retaliate against the North for its pursuit of nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic ...
Philadelphia: Former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Curt Schilling is listed as part of the advisory board for the "We Build the Wall" fundraising campaign that former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon and three associates are accused of defrauding.

The indictment, unsealed on Thursday, alleges that four leaders of the campaign to build a wall along the Mexico-US boarder - Bannon, "We Build the Wall" founder Brian Kolfage, Andrew Badolato and Timothy Shea - defrauded donors and took steps to hide the scheme when they learned their actions were under investigation.

Ex-Major League Baseball player Curt Schilling.

Several other prominent supporters of President Donald Trump are listed as members of the campaign's advisory board, but not charged or mentioned in the indictment, including Schilling, former Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke, former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach and former Colorado Representative Tom Tancredo.

Schilling joined the nonprofit in January 2019, saying in a press release he was "an early donor" to the fundraising campaign. Shortly thereafter, he travelled to the border as part of a group of "MAGA all-stars" to promote the fundraising effort, which raised more than $US20 million ($27.8 million) on GoFundMe.
Kevin Conklin didnt think twice -- even with a new iPhone neatly tucked away in his shorts pocket -- when he heard a distressed mother calling out for her young son.

Tropical Storm Isaias on Aug. 4 was sweeping through the Lehigh Valley, dumping torrential rains and swelling the areas creeks and rivers. When it was all said and done, between 2 and 8 inches of rain fell in parts of Lehigh and Northampton counties, along with nearby areas including Berks County, Bucks County and the Poconos.

Conklin, 16, and his mother that afternoon decided to take a walk from his Bethlehem home near Liberty High School, where he is a rising junior, to Farmersville Road at Bethlehem Township Municipal Park.

His mother, Qiang Conklin, pointed out she was wearing rain boots while Kevin wore flip flops -- unaware they would be encountering anything significant in their travels. Soon, the pair spotted the boy -- estimated to be around 5 years old -- wearing goggles over his eyes and in swim trunks wading in the rain water by the drain pipe.

I feel something not right. I said, You sure you want to swim in here?, " Qiang Conklin recalled Thursday to lehighvalleylive.com. I said again, Are you sure you want to swim in here? I said it twice. Then, he quickly disappeared.

And then both Qiang and Kevin heard the boys mother panic, they said. Kevin has a background in swimming as a member of an area swim team and is an experienced diver, his mother said.

The teen then dove into the drain pipe, which he said had rain water up to his waist. He helped the boy to the other side, where at that point other bystanders gathered, including a man with a ladder.

Qiang Conklin said she was scared for Kevin but amazed by her sons bravery. The mother has raised Kevin as a single mom since her husband died in a car accident in 2018.

I didnt know... he was sucked in and he disappeared, too, she said. He didnt come out. I was freaking out, I started crying.

The bystander with the ladder helped both the teen and boy out of the drain pipe. Both had minor scratches and bruising and were taken to an area hospital for treatment by ambulance.

Kevin said he hasnt seen the boy since. Qiang continues to be shaken by the incident and has made multiple trips to visit the site since. She wants to spread awareness of the dangers of swimming in rain water near drain pipes.

Today I was honored to present a proclamation to Kevin Conklin declaring it Kevin Conklin Day in Bethlehem. As you may... Posted by Bob Donchez on Tuesday, 18 August 2020

Bethlehem Mayor Robert Donchez, along with Bethlehem Area School District Superintendent Joseph Roy, this past Tuesday outside City Hall recognized the altruistic effort by proclaiming Aug. 18 as Kevin Conklin Day.

Kevin is to be commended for his heroic actions and for putting his life in danger to try to save a young boy, the proclamation states.

Bethlehem Township Police Chief Daniel Pancoast plans to issue Kevin a citation for bravery at 10 a.m. Aug. 26 at the flagpoles of the Bethlehem Township municipal building, said Sgt./Investigator Shaun Powell, the departments public information officer.

Kevin remains humbled by all the fuss. An online fundraiser also was launched to help replace his water-damaged iPhone and to buy new headsets, surpassing an original goal of $500 and raising $1,488. Another online fundraiser has since been launched to help start a college fund for Kevin. By Thursday morning, $1,775 was raised toward a $189,116 goal.

Asked if he considers himself a hero, Kevin replied he doesnt and did what any Good Samaritan would have done in that same moment.

Its a bit too much, Kevin said about the attention, with a laugh.

Tropical Storm Isaias brought other serious consequences to the region. Torrential downpours from the storm sent a river flowing through the lower portion of Dorney Park in South Whitehall. Heavy rainfall and winds also were to blame for tree damage and thousands of power outages.

Yesenia Then, a 44-year-old woman from Allentown, died after her car was swept away by a flood while driving through Upper Saucon Township on her way home, authorities said.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
She recently enjoyed a holiday to St. Tropez, France.

And Victoria Silvstedt looked sensational on Thursday after jetting off to Sardinia, Italy, for a last minute getaway.

The Swedish model, 45, showcased her age-defying figure in a white bikini set as she soaked up the sun during a pool day at her luxury hotel.

Stunning: Victoria Silvstedt looked sensational on Thursday after jetting off to Sardinia, Italy, for a last minute getaway

Victoria highlighted her ample assets in the plunging top and displayed her toned abs in broderie anglaise bottoms.

Adding some glamorous touches, the former beauty pageant queen opted for a luxury gold watch and oversized black sunglasses.

Victoria styled her luscious blonde locks into a sweptback bun and added a slick of sun-kissed make-up.

Work it: The Swedish model, 45, showcased her age-defying figure in a white bikini set as she soaked up the sun during a pool day at her luxury hotel

Bombshell! Victoria highlighted her ample assets in the plunging top and displayed her toned abs in broderie anglaise bottoms

The model appeared in great spirits as she made the most of her relaxing last minute getaway.

Later in the day, Victoria teamed her bikini with a white sleeveless broderie anglaise kimono which added a stylish touch to her swimwear ensemble.

Earlier this week, the blonde bombshell posted a picture of herself onboard a luxury private jet as she revealed she was going on a last minute getaway.

Victoria has since shared several updates from her Italian getaway and the luxury hotel she is staying at.

Glamorous touches: Adding some glamorous touches, the former beauty pageant queen opted for a luxury gold watch and oversized black sunglasses

Effortlessly chic: Victoria styled her luscious blonde locks into a sweptback bun and added a slick of sun-kissed make-up

Relaxing: The star had to readjust the bottoms of her white two-piece as she made the most of the holiday

As well as frequenting St Tropez and Italy, the media personality also spends a large part of her year in tropical St Barts.

The blonde bombshell had been lapping up the sunshine in St Barts since the start of 2020, with many celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio, Bella Hadid and Rita Ora jetting to the Caribbean to ring in the New Year.

Victoria goes to St Barts every year and has enjoyed a lengthy stint in the spotlight after being chosen to represent her country in the Miss World pageant in 1993.

Chill time: The model appeared in great spirits as she made the most of her relaxing last minute getaway

Stylish: Later in the day, Victoria teamed her bikini with a white sleeveless broderie anglaise kimono which added a stylish touch to her swimwear ensemble

Living the life! As well as frequenting St Tropez and Italy, the media personality also spends a large part of her year in tropical St Barts

Down time: The star soaked in the sun as she relaxed on a sun lounger, showcasing her enviable physique

At peace: The Scandinavian beauty is often jet setting and has been making the most of her holidays this summer

Travelling in style: The model then boarded a blue car as she was whizzed away from the pool

Getaway: Victoria boarded the car, which belonged to the hotel she was staying at, during the sunny day

Making moves: The blonde bombshell sat alongside the driver who wore a face mask and a cap

After her pageant days, the Scandinavian stunner was spotted by Hugh Hefner and went on to become a Playboy Playmate.

Since her career rocketed, Victoria has modelled for some of the world's most prestigious fashion houses, including Chanel, Dior and Valentino.

Despite the glamorous veneer to her lifestyle as a young model, she revealed there was a dark side in a recent interview with Female First.

Victoria said: 'I started very young to model in Paris when I was 18, I remember like starving myself to fit into the clothes and it was an amazing experience but you know I did shows for Valentino, Chanel, so it was really prestigious.'

Returning: The star stepped into the open top vehicle as she headed back to the hotel

Racing away: The tiny car was ferrying people on the popular Italian resort island on Thursday
Top commander: Iran's defense industry strongly supports nat'l security

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, August 19, IRNA -- Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri said on Wednesday that the defense industry is strongly supporting the armed forces to defend the independence and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In a message on the occasion of Defense Industry Day, Major General Baqeri extended congratulations to the officials, jihadis, experts, and staff of the country's defense industry, also stressed that the Iranian experts in the field of the defense will develop defense capacities more than before.

Declaring that the national defense industry is a strong supporter of the armed forces in defending the independence and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran and protecting the achievements, values, and ideals of the Islamic Revolution and Establishment, Major General Baqeri said, "The country's defense industry has taken great steps towards self-sufficiency through the persistent and constant efforts of national expert forces."

The top Iranian general added that the country's defense industry is manufacturing advanced and modern military products, including fighter jets, drones, ballistic and precision missiles, radars, satellites, submarines, helicopters, tanks, and other defense needs and what the country's defense industry does have become an encouraging model for the success of other production areas, especially in the field of economy and industry which uses its non-military abilities for resolving countries' need in confronting coronavirus pandemic".

Pointing to the shameful failure of the United States to pass a resolution to extend the arms embargo on Iran, he said, "Surely, the improvement of Iran's defense industry with complete independence is because of the untiring efforts of the Islamic Revolution forces, which with expertise, commitment and self-confidence have made Iran self-sufficient in obtaining advanced defense technologies."

Major General Baqeri emphasized the need to promote defense powers components for the Iranian system and nation, as well as comprehensive support from the armed forces.

3266**2050

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Wherever Church leaders in the USA have Latin/a communities near them must read Robert Chao Romeros new book, Brown Church. Why? Because most of us dont know anything about the history and formation and distinctiveness of the Brown church witness to the gospel.

Notice Romeros own background from his DNA test:

I am La Raza Cosmica. I am Chinese (43.5%); Native American (18.9%); Manchurian and Mongolian (2.1%); Siberian (.4%); broadly Chinese and Southeast Asian (5.8%); broadly Northern Asian and Native American (1.9%); broadly East Asian and Native American (.8%); Iberian (14%); broadly Southern European (6.1%); broadly European (.6%); Con-golese (.5%); Senegambian & Guinean (2%); Nigerian (.1%); broadly West African (.3%); broadly Sub-Saharan African (.2%); South Asian (.3%); North African & Arabian (.1%); broadly Western Asian & North African (.3%); and unassigned (4%). I am blessed to have the blood of most of the cultural family groups of the world  Asian, Native American,European, African, and Middle Eastern  coursing through my veins.

Well, thats the Abrahamic promise fulfilled in one man! He embodies the diversity of Mexico.

Knowing this history, and how my genes corroborate this history, makes me feel betrayed. I feel like I have been lied to my whole life. I know now that my familys obsession with whiteness reflects the values of the three-hundred-year-old colonial caste system that idolized Spanish racial identity. As part of this racial hierarchy, those deemed Spanish reigned supreme and received special socioeconomic, political,and religious benefits and privileges; those racially categorized as Indian and African" were at the bottom; and the castas, or mixed race individuals of Spanish and indigenous ancestry (mestizos) or Spanish and African heritage (mulatos) occupied an intermediary racial status and lived their lives on the edges of the Spanish world. In fact, the Spanish created an insidious system of 14 to 20 official categories of racial mixture. Other categories included Castizo (light-skinned mestizo); Morisco (light-skinned mulato); Zambo (Black-Indian); ahi te estas (there you are); and tente en el aire (hold yourself suspended in mid-air). These categories were fluid, depending on phenotype and wealth, and some passed into the Spanish realm by gaining wealth, becoming a priest, or being appointed to a high governmental posts. In such cases, racial standing was raised to the level of Spaniard - sometimes through the of certificates called limpieza de sangre (blood cleansing) or petitions of gracias al sacar (dispensation).

This kind of colonialism and imperialism, tied as it was to the churchs teachings and power, denied the gospel mandate to bring all to the Table of Jesus.

According to their twisted, unbiblical logic, those from Spain possessed a monopoly on Jesus and cultural civility, and in order to become his follower, one had to first become a Spaniard. They confused and conflated Spanish culture with Christianity and thereby idolized themselves. This idolization of Spanish culture and identity is blasphemy, and continues to pervade Latin American and US Latina/o media, society, and even churches, to the present day.

The genius of this 3d chp in Romeros book is his sketch of three vital figures in the history of multicultural Brown gospel theology. Following the important footsteps of Montesinos and Las Casas in the sixteenth century, Garcilaso de la Vega el Inca (mestizo), Guaman Poma de Ayala (indigenous), and Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz (Spanish/mestiza) struggled for racial and gender equality and laid the second layer of foundation of the Brown Church in the seventeenth century.

Put differently, what many today think was discovered in the wake of modern liberation theologians was already at work in the Brown Church from the 16th Century onwards! What many think of today as wokeness is nothing new to the Brown Church.

It is a shame that not enough of us know this story.

This chp looks at these three people, and youll have to read the chp to get the details. I will provide a very very brief summary to the courageous life and witness of each.

Garcilaso de la Vega el Inca (mestizo): this man deconstructed the narrative told by the Spanish Conquest and crreated (as a mestizo) a theological legitimation of mestizo life and culture and bodies, and thus reconstructed an alternative narrative. He put on the table the indigenous Inca culture and story and theology.

He stands uniquely as the first mestizo historian and intellectual of the Brown Church. It is significant to note that though he condemned the cruelties of the Spanish conquest, he did not give up on Jesus. Rather, he saw through the colonial misrepresentations of Christi-anity and still encountered Christ. Moreover, he was. ableto disassociate the misrepresentations of colonialism from other Spaniards who were more moderate and regardful of the honor. ofGod and the expansion of the holy Catholic faith.

Guaman Poma de Ayala (indigenous): he was a critic of imperialism and so protested injustices against the indigenous population of Peru. From the Bible and the Catholic tradition, he advocated for indigenous autonomy and Christian self-government. A powerful prophet of the Brown Church who protested imperial, Christian injustices against the people.

Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz (Spanish/mestiza): the Brown Churchs First Feminist Theologian! Shes from the 17th Century. Learned from her mother. Sor Juana had the passion for learning, study, Bible, theology, poetry, and all the sciences. She was a renaissance type thinker. She could not get enough of study. Decided to be a nun in order to fulfill her God-giftedness.

Big issue, of course: the male Christian establishment fought her, opposed her. She played their game and held her own. She defended her gifts, her writing, her multidisciplinarity, and she defended the feminist voice. She, in the end (and sadly), collapsed under the weight of opposition and issued a public statement of repentance and withdrew into the monastery.

She died at 45 yrs old.

Her writings and voice was suppressed until 1952!
BeaTrust co-founder Masato Kume, co-founder and chief executive officer Kunio Hara and Ryo Nagaoka, vice president of engineering

Founded just four months ago, Tokyo-based BeaTrust has raised a JPY 300 million (about USD $2.83 million) seed round for its enterprise collaboration platform. The startup's ambitious goal is to change corporate culture at large Japanese companies before expanding into other countries.

The round came from CyberAgent Capital; DNX Ventures; ITOCHU Technology Ventures; STRIVE; One Capital; Delight Ventures; PKSHA/SPARX Algorithm 1st; and Mizuho Capital, along with undisclosed individual participants.

BeaTrust's platform allows employees at large companies to discover colleagues in different departments with similar interests and skills, and gives them tools to work together on projects.

The startup's co-founders, Kunio Hara and Masato Kume, met while working at Google in Japan. Before Google, Hara held positions in Tokyo and Silicon Valley at Sumitomo Corporation, SoftBank, Silicon Graphics and Microsoft, while Kume worked at Asatsu-DK. During their time at Google, the two focused on helping Japanese startups scale by using Google's tools.

Hara told TechCrunch that BeaTrust was inspired by his experience working at companies in the United States and Japan, and by the co-founders' time at Google, where they found cross-department collaboration was an intrinsic part of the culture. The two began to think about how they could bring the same qualities to large Japanese corporations.

Image: BeaTrust

"From the standpoint of employees at Google, working there is like a lifestyle. We work together and think about how to facilitate cross-cultural innovation among employees, and that needs a communication and digital infrastructure to support those ideas," said Hara.

BeaTrust wants to transform Japanese corporate culture, which Hara described as "very siloed and top-down, with very strict rules," making it harder for people in different teams or departments to communicate or even get to know one another. "There are a lot of initiatives to hire talented people, but it's not an environment that helps people connect with one another and ask each other for help, which is what leads to new projects," he added.

Story continues

The platform is currently in closed beta stage, testing with three late-stage startups that have about 100 to 200 employees each. Its first feature is employee profiles that list skills and experience. Next, BeaTrust will launch tools for users to visualize how teams at their company are organized and modules to enable collaboration on different kinds of projects, including software development.

BeaTrust's founders said as the platform grows, its target audience will be large enterprises with thousands of employees. The platform is not meant to be a replacement for Slack, which launched in Japan three years ago, or other enterprise communication tools like Microsoft Teams or ChatWork, but serve as a complement, Kume said. Slack and its competitors are meant to enable individual teams within large companies to collaborate, while BeaTrust is designed to help employees discover and strike up working relationships with colleagues they dont know yet.

While its initial goal is to reshape corporate culture in Japan, BeaTrust founders are also eyeing expansion into European and Asian countries, and markets where large companies are continuing to mandate or encourage remote work because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Thats becoming imperative for us because what we hear from a lot of large enterprises is that employees are not used to working remotely, so they need to think about how to shift their lifestyle and continue employee innovation," Kume said.
Gmail, Google Drive and Meet, and other online services appear to have stopped working.

Google said that it was aware its users were having problems and was working to understand the cause of the outage.

Not all of the services are entirely broken. Some users are able to load Gmail as normal, for instance  and others can access their messages, but are unable to send them.

Google's problems came at the same time as issues at Slack, which said that some of its customers "may have trouble loading new messages or connecting to Slack". As with the Google outage, the problems do not appear to be affecting all of the service's users.

A post on Google's status page indicated it was aware of the problems and was still "investigating".

Recommended Google brings Meet video calls into Gmail app

"We're investigating reports of an issue with Gmail. We will provide more information shortly," it said, with another, later update indicating that the investigation was still ongoing.

The page showed problems with Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Meet and Google Voice. The rest of its services  such as Calendar and Chat  continue to work as normal, it said.

Tracking website Down Detector showed vast numbers of issues with Gmail and Google's other services.
Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with regional officials via tele link in his residence on March 30

Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with regional officials via tele link in his residence on March 30 Credit - Mikhail KlimentyevSputnik/AFP/Getty Images

Another government friendly to Moscow is in trouble. As Belarus continues to be gripped by protests following rigged presidential elections on Aug. 9, many expect to see Russias Vladimir Putin intervene. Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus President for the past 26 years, certainly hopes Putin steps in to bail him out. He would be better off spending that time packing his bags.

Russias invasion of Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014 and the enthusiasm with which it jumped into the Syrian morass have given the impression in recent years that Putin has a very low threshold when it comes to meddling in the affairs of others. But Belarus is a different story.

Instead of looking to Georgia and Ukraine, it is more instructive to look at the case of Armenia, where another Moscow-friendly government fell in 2018. Rather than marching in to ensure its preferred candidate held on to power, Moscow opted to work with Armenias opposition to negotiate a political transition in the country; Russia got to keep its outsize influence in Armenian politics as a result, and at minimal cost.

Putin is gunning for the same out-come in Belarus. Its made possible by the fact that the protests in Belarus arent anti-Russian or pro-Western, as the Ukraine protests were, but specifically anti-Lukashenko. According to polls out of MGIMO University, as recently as November nearly 90% of Belarusians wanted to be on some kind of friendly terms with Russia (10% preferred a more neutral relationship; just 0.2% wanted relations to be hostile). Putin wants to keep it that way. Sending in Russian troops uninvited by those currently on the streets would only serve to make enemies of the Belarusian people, and Moscow already has enough of those. Moscow has said that it would deploy troops to Belarus in case of foreign interference, but that should be read more as a warning shot against NATO and Western interference in Russias orbit of power than an intention to use the military.

Story continues

For Putin, stepping in to prop up Lukashenko would also put Russia in the crosshairs of major E.U. and U.S. sanctions, an outcome Moscow would have been desperate to avoid even before the coronavirus began squeezing the global economy. At this point, the Russian economy is in no shape to shoulder the political and economic costs of further military adventurism.

If Lukashenko were a particularly loyal or competent Russian ally operating out of Minsk, Putin might have been more tempted to intervene decisively. But that ship has sailed. At this point, the smart money is on Russias working behind the scenes on a brokered political transition to ensure it keeps its privileged position with the Belarusian government, no matter who emerges from the political fray.

Of course, just because this is Moscows preferred outcome doesnt mean a Russia-approved political transition will play out. Its possible that a transfer of power comes in spite of Russias best efforts to control the outcome, in which case the eventual government in Minsk could well tilt toward Brussels rather than Moscow, a worst-case scenario for Putin. Its also possible Lukashenko manages to hold on to power so long as his security services remain loyal, leading to a Venezuela-like situation on Russias own border, an outcome that would be as tragic as it would be ironic given Russias past support of Venezuelas Nicolas Maduro.

But as the protests intensify, both of these outcomes are long shots. The only longer shot is that Russias military will step in.
Chinese online insurance technology platform Waterdrop Inc. has raised $230 million in a new funding round led by reinsurer Swiss Re and Chinese internet giant Tencent Holdings, it said on Thursday.

Waterdrops existing investors, including IDG Capital and Wisdom Choice Global Fund, also participated, it said in a statement.

Two sources with knowledge of the fundraising told Reuters that Waterdrop was valued at nearly $2 billion in the funding round. One of them said that Swiss Re itself had invested $100 million.

About Waterdrop Waterdrop, also know as Shudi, describes itself on its website. Here are edited excerpts: Waterdrop is the first platform for Chinas Internet health insurance protection. Waterdrop Insurance Mall and Waterdrop Mutual Assistance form the business section of Waterdrop Company. Waterdrop Chip and Waterdrop Public Welfare form the social responsibility section of Waterdrop Company. They form a complete insurance protection system of pre-protection + post-assistance, using Internet technology to help promote insurance and medical care for the masses, and realize the mission of protecting hundreds of millions of families. Water Drop Insurance Mall, formerly known as Water Drop Insurance, is a national insurance broker company. Didiqian is the pioneer of domestic Internet personal illness fundraising with zero service fees. It has provided free fundraising services to hundreds of thousands of severely ill patients with financial difficulties. Waterdrop Mutual Assistance is a network mutual assistance community. All members join the community to help each other to resist risks such as cancer and accidents. If members are unfortunately ill or encounter an accident, they can follow the rule of one person is sick, everyone shares and can get a health mutual aid fund of up to 300,000 yuan.

Swiss Re declined to comment on its investment size, but said the companys participation in the round was part of its long-term commitment to China.

The fundraising comes ahead of Waterdrops initial public offering plan in the United States, according to two separate people.

The company has hired Bank of America and Goldman Sachs for the float, which could happen as early as this year, the people said. They added that preparations were still in the initial stages.

Waterdrop and the two banks declined to comment. The sources could not be named due to confidentiality constraints.

Founded in 2016, Beijing-headquartered Waterdrop distributes insurance policies online via Waterdrop Insurance Mall, provides illness insurance crowd-funding via its platform Waterdrop Crowdfunding, and operates mutual funds.

The insurance business, with 120 million unique policy holders, reported a total written premium of $865 million in the first half of this year, the company said in its statement. It expects to double its total written premium in 2020.

With the new capital, Waterdrop said it will tap into artificial intelligence and big data for its products and services, and accelerate its initiatives in medical and healthcare services.

Waterdrop, founded by Shen Peng, a former executive at Chinese food delivery and local services giant Meituan Dianping, also counts his ex-employer as an investor.

(Reporting by Kane Wu and Scott Murdoch; Additional reporting by Sumeet Chatterjee; Editing by Jan Harvey)

Topics USA China Funding Training Development
University student Tara Tolhurst was studying for an exam last November when she looked out her window and saw smoke clouds, before fire rolled over hills in the distance.

"Id never experienced a bushfire before," she said. "My exam was the next day and suddenly I was wondering whether I needed to pack a bag in case I couldnt get home."

It was the third emergency event Ms Tolhurst had lived through, following flash floods near Newcastle in 2015 and drought more recently  none of which she felt prepared for. She is among a majority of young people who say they want better disaster education after the Black Summer bushfires.

Last season's devastating bushfires have left many young people wanting better disaster education. Credit:Nick Moir

Our World, Our Say, a new report that surveyed 1477 Australians aged between 10 and 24, found 88 per cent thought they were not taught enough to protect themselves and their communities from disasters in the wake of the Black Summer bushfire season.
A man who murdered a judge and two other people in a five-year campaign linked to Family Court proceedings should be jailed for life for the "atrocious, detestable, hateful, odious, gravely reprehensible and extremely wicked" crimes, a court has been told.

Leonard John Warwick, 73, was locked in a court dispute with his ex-wife over their daughter and home when he targeted judges who presided over the case, a solicitor who appeared in the proceedings, and the court itself in a shooting and a series of bombings.

Justice David Opas was shot dead outside his Woollahra home in June 1980 when he answered the door as his family sat at the dinner table. Pearl Watson, the wife of Justice Ray Watson, was killed by a bomb blast in July 1984 when she opened the front door to usher him off to work.

In March 1984, Justice Richard Gee survived a blast that destroyed his Belrose home while his family slept. In February 1985, a bomb was placed under the bonnet of a car, intended to target a lawyer in the case who no longer lived at that address. The bomb did not detonate.
HEFEI, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has encouraged Magang Group, a subsidiary of China Baowu Steel Group, to seize the opportunity in the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta.

The steel subsidiary should combine its own reform and development with the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta and strive to develop itself amid the process, Xi said Wednesday during his inspection tour in east China's Anhui Province.

In the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic, Magang Group, with its timely work resumptions, reported year-on-year growth in both output and revenues, which showed the strong resilience of the state-owned economy, Xi said.
BEIJING, Aug. 19 -- The US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin sailed through the Taiwan Strait on August 18, which was tracked and monitored by the naval and aerial forces under the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) for the entire course, said Senior Colonel Zhang Chunhui, spokesman for the PLA Eastern Theater Command, in a written statement published on Wednesday.

Recently, the US has been harassing China regarding Taiwan-related issues and sending wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" forces, seriously threatening the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, Zhang said.

He pointed out in the statement that any words or moves undermining the one-China principle and stirring up troubles in the Taiwan Strait are not in the fundamental interests of both China and the United States, harm the common well-being of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, and pose real threats to regional peace and stability, which is extremely dangerous.
A new pilot study from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai suggests that COVID-19 is causing significant dilation of the blood vessels of the lung, specifically the capillaries. This vasodilation is contributing to the very low oxygen levels seen in COVID-19 respiratory failure and also helps explain why the disease behaves differently than classic acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The study was published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

In classical ARDS, pulmonary inflammation leads to leaky pulmonary blood vessels that flood the lungs with fluid, making the lungs stiff and impairing oxygenation. Many patients with COVID-19 pneumonia demonstrate severe hypoxemia that is markedly out of proportion to the degree of lung stiffness. This disconnect between gas exchange and lung mechanics in COVID-19 pneumonia has raised the question of whether the mechanisms of hypoxemia in COVID-19 differ from those in classical ARDS.

The discovery was serendipitous. Researchers were initially assessing cerebral blood flow in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients with altered mental status to look for, among other things, abnormalities consistent with stroke. They used a robotic transcranial Doppler (TCD), the Lucid Robotic System by NovaSignal, to perform a bubble study, which is a non-invasive and painless ultrasound technique.

It is remarkable that a diagnostic machine used to study the brain could give us insight into the pathophysiology of a pulmonary disease. The benefit of using this particular system was that automated monitoring allowed providers to assess cerebral blood flow while minimizing the potential for exposure to COVID-19, said Alexandra Reynolds, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, and Neurology, at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Director of TeleNeurocritical Care for the Mount Sinai Health System.

During this study, agitated salinesaline with tiny microbubblesis injected into the patients vein and TCD is used to determine if those microbubbles appear in the blood vessels of the brain. Under normal circumstances, these microbubbles would travel to the right side of the heart, enter the blood vessels of the lungs, and ultimately get filtered by the pulmonary capillaries, because the diameter of the microbubbles is bigger than the diameter of the pulmonary capillaries. If the microbubbles are detected in the blood vessels of the brain, it implies that either there is a hole in the heart, so that blood can travel from the right to the left side of the heart without going through the lungs, or that the capillaries in the lungs are abnormally dilated, allowing the microbubbles to pass through.

In the pilot study, 18 mechanically ventilated patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia underwent TCD with bubble study. Fifteen out of the 18 (83 percent) patients had detectable microbubbles, indicating the presence of abnormally dilated pulmonary blood vessels. The number of microbubbles detected by the TCD correlated with the severity of hypoxemia, indicating that the pulmonary vasodilations may explain the disproportionate hypoxemia seen in many patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Previous studies have demonstrated that only 26 percent of patients with classical ARDS have microbubbles during a bubble study; furthermore, the number of these microbubbles does not correlate with the severity of hypoxemia, implying that pulmonary vascular dilations are not a major mechanism of hypoxemia in classical ARDS.

It is becoming more evident that the virus wreaks havoc on the pulmonary vasculature in a variety of ways. This study helps explain the strange phenomenon seen in some COVID-19 patients known as happy hypoxia, where oxygen levels are very low, but the patients do not appear to be in respiratory distress. If these findings are confirmed in larger studies, pulmonary microbubble transit may potentially serve as a marker of disease severity or even a surrogate endpoint in therapeutic trials for COVID-19 pneumonia. Future studies that investigate the use of pulmonary vascular constrictors in this patient population may be warranted, says senior author Hooman Poor, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Director of Pulmonary Vascular Disease at the Mount Sinai  National Jewish Health Respiratory Institute.

The pilot study has since expanded to collect data from approximately 80 patients, including those with less severe disease, and will evaluate the severity of microbubble transit and how it varies during the course of the disease.

About the Mount Sinai Health System

The Mount Sinai Health System is New York City's largest academic medical system, encompassing eight hospitals, a leading medical school, and a vast network of ambulatory practices throughout the greater New York region. Mount Sinai is a national and international source of unrivaled education, translational research and discovery, and collaborative clinical leadership ensuring that we deliver the highest quality carefrom prevention to treatment of the most serious and complex human diseases. The Health System includes more than 7,200 physicians and features a robust and continually expanding network of multispecialty services, including more than 400 ambulatory practice locations throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, and Long Island. The Mount Sinai Hospital is ranked No. 14 on U.S. News & World Report's "Honor Roll" of the Top 20 Best Hospitals in the country and the Icahn School of Medicine as one of the Top 20 Best Medical Schools in country. Mount Sinai Health System hospitals are consistently ranked regionally by specialty by U.S. News & World Report.

For more information, visit https://www.mountsinai.org or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
A lack of solid support for the Pound left the British Pound to Canadian Dollar (GBP/CAD) exchange rate under lasting pressure this week. Investors were hesitant to buy the British currency even as this weeks UK data beat forecasts, while the Canadian Dollar continued to strengthen despite rising coronavirus fears and weaker commodity prices. A slew of key UK and Canadian ecostats could influence the pair tomorrow.

The Canadian Dollars bullishness has lightened this week, but GBP/CAD continues to trend with a fairly downside bias regardless.

Since opening this week at the level of 1.7362, GBP/CAD has generally been trending lower.

GBP/CAD briefly attempted a rebound in the middle of this week, but yesterday the pair tumbled again. At the time of writing, GBP/CAD continues to trend below the weeks opening levels in the region of 1.7333.

Sterling has attempted a recovery rebound multiple times in recent weeks, but the currency lacks the drive needed to sustain a solid recovery.

Concerns about Britains mixed coronavirus and Brexit outlooks, and how they are negatively impacting economic activity, are weighing heavily on the Sterling outlook.

This weeks UK ecostats have generally beaten forecasts so far, and have offered some limited support to the Pounds movement.

However, even though some stats have beaten forecasts, investors are still anxious about Britains economy. Markets are still anxious about Britains severe contraction in Q2, revealed last week. According to Samuel Tombs at Pantheon Macroeconomics:

The severity of the slump was chiefly a by-product of the very long lockdown in the UK, necessitated by the governments laissez-faire attitude in the early days of the pandemic, which meant the virus spread more widely than in other countries,

On top of economic jitters, economists at Westpac also predict that weakening confidence in the UK government is weighing on the Pound. Analysts said:

A humbling Govt. U-Turn on education policy this week has highlighted public discontent with the Govt.s handling of responses to COVID-19. YouGov opinion polls show that PM Johnson is now less popular than the new opposition Labour Leader Kier Starmer. UK/EU post-Brexit negotiations have restarted this week and the lack of progress is being highlighted by media as another example of Govt. inability to achieve its goals. It seems highly unlikely that any progress on the slew of issues to be addressed can be made this week

Canadian Dollar (CAD) Exchange Rates Resilient despite Weaker Oil Prices

The Canadian Dollar has been recovering from lows in recent weeks. This has been due to various factors, including a rise in prices of oil, Canadas most lucrative commodity.

The Canadian Dollar has also been benefitting from signs of resilience in Canadas economic data. Last weeks Canadian manufacturing data came in well above expectations, and todays Canadian employment change data from ADP also beat forecasts.

ADPs employment change data was expected to show that a smaller number of new jobs were made last month. However not only were over a million jobs made once again, the data even came in stronger than the previous figure.

According to Analysts at Westpac, the run of strong Canadian data is making investors more optimistic:

That may well fuel some further near-term CAD upside, as will the persistently solid data run of late. While high-frequency mobility indicators show a levelling out in Canadas recovery through August, traditional data continues to show the recovery gaining momentum.

Still, the Canadian Dollars appeal was limited. The currency struggled to push GBP/CAD much lower and slipped against some other currencies today, as oil prices fell from recent highs.

As prices of oil fell, the oil-correlated Canadian Dollars appeal also weakened.

GBP/CAD Exchange Rate Forecast: Slew of Friday Data Could Lead to Late-Week Movement

UK and Canadian data this week has been too mixed to lead to any big movements in the Pound to Canadian Dollar exchange rate. This evenings speech from Bank of Canada (BoC) Deputy Governor Paul Beaudry is unlikely to be particularly influential either.

However, this could change depending on tomorrows key UK and Canadian ecostats.

Fridays European session will see the publication of Britains July retail sales results, followed by Markits August PMI projections for the nation.

During the American session, Canadian retail sales figures from June will be published, as will Canadian new housing price figures from July.

If UK retail sales results beat forecasts, they could boost hopes of resilience among UK consumers.

Canadas retail stats could be even more influential. Strong Canadian retail figures could help the Canadian Dollar to hold its recent gains more easily.

Of course, any surprise Brexit developments or shifts in the global coronavirus outlook could also influence the Pound to Canadian Dollar exchange rate.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 11:24:46|Editor: huaxia

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File photo taken on June 27, 2019 shows Senator Kamala Harris of California being interviewed after the second night of the first Democratic primary debate in Miami, Florida, the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. senator from California Kamala Harris, who was chosen by Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden to be his running mate in the 2020 presidential election, delivered a speech Wednesday to formally accept her nomination as the party's vice presidential candidate. 
French President Emmanuel Macron wearing a mask. France has seen a sharp uptick in cases in recent days and was removed from the UK's travel exemption list last week. (Getty)

France, Germany, Italy and, Spain have all recorded their highest increase in daily coronavirus cases since they lifted lockdown, increasing fears of a second wave in Europe.

Many of Europes largest countries have been struggling in recent weeks to keep the number of daily cases under control, with Wednesday being the worst for many nations.

Prime minister Boris Johnson warned last month there were signs of a second wave of coronavirus hitting Europe, and the government removed Spain from the UKs travel quarantine exemption list shortly after.

The government added Portugal to the exemption list on Thursday, but removed Croatia, Austria and, Trinidad and Tobago.

Officials said the decision to add the three countries to the quarantine list was based on a significant change in both the level and pace of confirmed cases.

The new measures come into force at 4am on Saturday.

! TRAVEL UPDATE !



From 04:00am on Saturday 22 August, if you are returning to England from the following countries you must now self-isolate for 14 days:



 Austria

 Croatia

 Trinidad and Tobago pic.twitter.com/2nPJ44yGsN  UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) August 20, 2020

Currently, all foreign arrivals entering the UK must self-isolate for two weeks, unless they have come from a list of nations that is exempt from restrictions.

France was taken off the list last week, alongside The Netherlands and Malta.

Also on Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced Europe was no longer the epicentre of the pandemic but did say the Balkans is currently a hotspot for coronavirus.

On Wednesday, Spain recorded its highest daily increase of COVID-19 cases since coming out of lockdown, with 3,715 confirmed positive in the past 24 hours.

Read more: Children may carry more Covid-19 in systems than previously thought

Story continues

A man undergoes a swab test for Covid-19 at the testing site of Turin airport, Italy. (Getty)

The country was one of the worst-hit in Europe during the height of the pandemic and after initially getting cases to relatively low numbers it has struggled to keep them under control since reopening.

In the past 24 hours it has suffered 138.7 cases per 100,000 people compared to the UKs 20.9.

France is facing a similar situation, since lifting lockdown the government has had to act quickly to try and contain an uptick in cases.

Masks are now mandatory in all public spaces in Toulouse  Frances fourth-largest city  with similar measures implemented in Paris earlier this month.

France recorded 2,500 new cases on Wednesday, the largest daily increase since May, with officials acknowledging the situation was getting worse.

Read more: Coronavirus patients still suffering from complications three months later

The latest data showed France had 46.8 cases per 100,000 people.

Italy is also suffering from a recent sharp rise in cases, with 642 confirmed on Wednesday, the largest increase since May.

Italy was the first European country to be hit by the pandemic with more than 250,000 infections, peaking at about 6,000 cases a day in March.

Lombardy, the site of the countries original outbreak, is still one of the worst-hit areas and recorded 91 more cases.

However, Italys cases per 100,000 remain low at 10.7 and it is not currently thought to be considered for removal from the UKs travel exemption list.

The government has closed nightclubs and tightened mask-wearing rules in recent days.

Germany, which has been praised for its initial handling of the pandemic due to their low number of deaths and cases also saw a rise on Thursday.

German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Emmanuel Macron. Both nations have seen a sharp rise in coronavirus cases in recent weeks. (Getty)

Read more: NHS sickness rate hit record high during coronavirus peak

The central European nation recorded 1,707 cases on Wednesday, the highest since late April.

Its cases per 100,000 are low at a relatively low 17.9.

Several other European countries are also suffering from a rise in coronavirus cases, which is being closely watched by the UK government.

The number of cases per 100,000 people in Croatia  which was taken off the exemption list on Thursday  has risen to 41.7 in the past 24 hours.

Austria, which was also taken off the list, is at 30.8 cases per 100,000.

The governments approach to taking countries off the quarantine exemption list in short spaces of time has come under criticism.

Britons across France were forced to stop their holidays and attempt to scramble home last week before the quarantine rules came into effect.

Airlines have complained the current quarantine rules are hammering their already weakened industry, with the sudden changes in guidelines proving even more damaging.

Coronavirus: what happened today

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Tenants Organize

Pandemic pressures spur the AATU's revival.

by Eve Silberman

From the August, 2020 issue

Seventeen years after it disappeared, the Ann Arbor Tenants Union is back. "We started actively organizing during the pandemic," emails Ozge Savas, the group's spokesperson, as Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti renters began holding virtual meetings hoping to strengthen their bargaining power as tenants.



Some tenants in Wilson White properties, including Nob Hill and Wyndham Hill, were angered by letters they received in April with an ultimatum: sign a new lease at a small increase within two weeks or be prepared to cough up big if they waited. In a letter shared with the Observer, the difference came to $215 a month.



Working with the AATU, almost forty tenants sent a group email protesting the ultimatum. There was no "official response," says a Wyndham Hill resident, and the effort at collective resistance petered out--but the resident nonetheless believes that the support from AATU helped individual renters negotiate better deals with management. More recently, members were involved in an anti-eviction effort in Ypsilanti.



The original Tenants Union coordinated a citywide rent strike in 1969 and 1970 and for many years operated an office in the Michigan Union with paid staff to advise students in landlord-tenant disputes. It closed its doors in 2003 after losing funding from the Michigan Student Assembly.



The reborn AATU has only a Facebook page (a2tenantsunion); Savas, who recently earned her doctorate in psychology, emails that they "are currently not seeking funding from the university."



While it's unclear if the loose-knit coalition will develop the muscle of its predecessor, Covid-19 has catalyzed years of frustration over high rents. "Raising rent in the middle of one of the worse economic crises we've had in a long time--we've heard from tenants that this can't continue to happen," says med student and activist Alex Reardon.



[Originally published in August, 2020.]








Over 500 members of the Ghana National Tailors and Dressmakers Association have received loans from government's GHS 1 billion Coronavirus Alleviation Programme Business Support Scheme (CAP BuSS) managed by the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI).

The CAP Business Support Scheme which was launched in May 2020 was part of the governments economic relief package scheme for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across the country affected by the pandemic.

CAP BuSS offers two main products  the 'Adom' micro soft loans and 'Anidasuo' soft loans, as well as a technical support component for MSMEs.

Our members numbering over 500 have duly received the Adom loans. Thus, on behalf of my Association, I wish to thank the President through NBSSI for providing this timely relief to sustain our businesses, said the President of the Ghana National Tailors and Dressmakers Association, Joana Eshun.

She, however, appealed to NBSSI to extend the support to more of its members.

According to the NBSSI, GHS135 million has so far been distributed to beneficiaries, with the loan value ranging from GHS500 to GHS10,000 per beneficiary.

The beneficiaries comprise 72 percent female and 27 percent males from all regions of the country.

The business sectors that have so far received loans include commerce and trade, dressmakers and tailors, agri and agro-processing, manufacturing, food and beverages, textile and garments, transportation and tourism, and hospitality.

The GHS1 billion stimulus package comprises GHS 600 million in soft loans, and the remainder as matching funds from the participating financial institutions.

At the recent mid-year Budget Review presented by the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, Government of Ghana announced an additional GHS150 Million with a one year-moratorium and two-year repayment period to support in relieving Ghanaian MSMEs from the challenges brought on board by COVID-19 Pandemic.

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Climate activist Greta Thunberg arrives for a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the chancellery in Berlin (Kay Nietfeld/dpa via AP)

Young activists including Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg have met German Chancellor Angela Merkel to press their demands for tougher action to curb climate change.

Ms Thunberg, Luisa Neubauer from Germany and Belgians Anuna de Wever van der Heyden and Adelaide Charlier were accompanied by a handful of climate protesters as they arrived at the chancellery for a 90-minute meeting.

They are the first high-profile talks the youth activists have held with a world leader since the start of the pandemic.

We are here, we are loud, because our futures being stolen, the protesters chanted as Ms Thunberg was mobbed by photographers.

Expand Close Climate activists Greta Thunberg, centre, and Luisa Neubauer, front right, arrive for a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin (Kay Nietfeld/dpa via AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Climate activists Greta Thunberg, centre, and Luisa Neubauer, front right, arrive for a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin (Kay Nietfeld/dpa via AP)

The 17-year-old shot to fame after starting her solo protests outside the Swedish parliament two years ago.

Students around the world began following her lead, staging regular large protests, and Ms Thunberg was invited to speak to political and business leaders at UN conferences and the annual World Economic Forum in Davos.

But the coronavirus outbreak has prevented the Fridays for Future movement that Ms Thunberg inspired from holding its mass rallies in recent months, dampening its public profile.

Im actually surprised that we were able to do this so quickly, Ms Thunberg said after her meeting with Mrs Merkel.

It feels good, I would say.

The activists sought a meeting with Mrs Merkel because Germany currently holds the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union, which together with Britain accounts for 22% of all man-made greenhouse gas emissions.

Mrs Merkel has in the past lauded the youth activists for putting pressure on politicians to act against global warming.

Ms Thunberg said she appreciated being given the opportunity to talk to Mrs Merkel for 90 minutes, more time than the Chancellor spends with many world leaders.

Expand Close Greta Thunberg started her solo protests outside the Swedish parliament two years ago (Kay Nietfeld/dpa via AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Greta Thunberg started her solo protests outside the Swedish parliament two years ago (Kay Nietfeld/dpa via AP)

That really made it possible to have a more in-depth, deep conversation, which we really appreciated, Ms Thunberg told the Associated Press.

Climate campaigners argue that governments around the world are doing too little to curb the emissions that are heating up the atmosphere.

In a letter sent to world leaders last month, Ms Thunberg and others called for numerous measures including ending financing for oil and gas projects and setting binding annual carbon budgets.

Ms Neubauer said Mrs Merkel appeared to take the science behind climate change seriously.

Shes a physicist, so thats a start, Ms Neubauer said, adding that the Chancellors perspective was to focus on progress achieved during her 30-year political career  Mrs Merkel served as Germanys environment minister in 1994-1998  rather than the decades to come.

We look () towards the future and we see how, well, bad it looks to us, said Ms Neubauer.

This discussion today was possibly at least the attempt to bring those perspectives a bit together.

Expand Close Luisa Neubauer, left, and Greta Thunberg following the meeting with Angela Merkel in Berlin (Markus Schreiber/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Luisa Neubauer, left, and Greta Thunberg following the meeting with Angela Merkel in Berlin (Markus Schreiber/AP)

Ms Thunberg said the activists also discussed the EUs emissions targets and the lack of willingness by governments to take decisive action soon.

We are sort of in a loop where everyone blames each other because obviously no-one can do everything, Ms Thunberg told the AP.

So then no-one does anything.

Mrs Merkels spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer said the German government recently agreed to to cut emissions by up to 55% over the coming decade compared with 1990 levels.

It also backs plans for an EU Green Deal and for making Europe the first climate neutral continent by 2050.

The subject (of climate change) is an issue of central importance for the entire German government, Ms Demmer said.

As such, an exchange with (the activists) is certainly beneficial.

Ms Charlier said Mrs Merkel had assured the group that she did not support an EU trade agreement with the Latin American Mercosur bloc that opponents say would be harmful to the environment and human rights.

Expand Close From left, Luisa Neubauer, Greta Thunberg, Anuna de Wever and Adelaide Charlier in Berlin, Germany (Markus Schreiber/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp From left, Luisa Neubauer, Greta Thunberg, Anuna de Wever and Adelaide Charlier in Berlin, Germany (Markus Schreiber/AP)

Mrs Merkels office did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation.

The activists said they are hoping world leaders will start to treat climate change as a crisis, the way they are doing with the pandemic.

Of course, we are in a health emergency globally and we are seeing second waves everywhere, Ms Neubauer told the AP.

Yet the climate crisis doesnt pause.

Ms Neubauer said activists are planning to stage another global climate strike on September 25, although the pandemic situation will determine whether it is held online or on the streets.
Cairo has provided aid to ten African countries and is preparing two more batches to be sent to 23 countries

Egypt has provided medical aid worth nearly $1.6 million to ten African countries to help them fight the coronavirus pandemic and is preparing for two more batches worth $2.2 million, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly told the African Union (AU) during a meeting on Thursday.

The virtual meeting, which included the leaders of African states and the chairs of AU regional economic communities (RECs), dealt with the efforts exerted to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Addressing the meeting, Madbouly said Egypt is preparing its second and third batches of medical aid, with an estimated value of $2.2 million, to be sent to 23 African countries.

The virus has so far infected 1,157,122 people in Africa and caused 26,792 deaths.

The prime minister stressed the necessity that African countries obtain the anticipated vaccines and drugs as soon as they are discovered.

Madbouly also said that international financial institutions, Africa's partners, and the African and international private sectors should be urged to supply African states with all needed support to overcome the consequences of the pandemic.

He reiterated Egypt's support for establishing an African platform for unified procurement, stressing the country's readiness to exchange expertise to run this platform in light of what he called "the successful Egyptian experience in establishing the Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement.

He said that African companies should be given the priority in offering their products through this platform.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the current AU chair, expressed his appreciation to Egypt for its efforts.

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Sen. Kamala Harris paid tribute to her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, during her acceptance speech for the Democratic nomination for vice president on Wednesday night, saying: "My mother instilled in my sister, Maya, and me the values that would chart the course of our lives."

Why it matters: Harris, the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, is the first Black and Asian American woman to accept a spot on a major partys presidential ticket. Family was the overarching theme of Harris's acceptance speech, which capped a night of convention programming that included a blistering rebuke of President Trump by former President Obama.

What she's saying: "She raised us to be proud, strong Black women. And she raised us to know and be proud of our Indian heritage," Harris said of her mother. "She taught us to put family firstthe family youre born into and the family you choose."

"Family, is my husband Doug, who I met on a blind date set up by my best friend. Family is our beautiful children, Cole and Ella, who as you just heard, call me Momala. Family is my sister. Family is my best friend, my nieces and my godchildren."

"Family is my uncles, my auntsmy chitthis. Family is Mrs. Sheltonmy second mother who lived two doors down and helped raise me. Family is my beloved Alpha Kappa Alpha...our Divine 9and my HBCU brothers and sisters. Family is the friends I turned to when my motherthe most important person in my lifepassed away from cancer."

"And even as she taught us to keep our family at the center of our world, she also pushed us to see a world beyond ourselves."

The big picture: Harris said her mother's teachings on justice led her to become a lawyer, a district attorney, an attorney general and a senator.

"And at every step of the way, Ive been guided by the words I spoke from the first time I stood in a courtroom: Kamala Harris, For the People," Harris said.

"Ive fought for children, and survivors of sexual assault. Ive fought against transnational gangs. I took on the biggest banks, and helped take down one of the biggest for-profit colleges."

"I know a predator when I see one."

In the room: Axios' Alexi McCammond, who was a pool reporter in the largely empty Chase Center in downtown Wilmington as Harris took the stage, describes what it was like to witness Harris' historic speech in such a surreal setting:

"We got another COVID check despite getting tested in the morning. We were asked to wear medical masks instead of the ones we had. We sat in an auditorium that felt like a college lecture hall and watched the convention on a big projection screen. Then we were escorted to this room where it was so silent you could hear a pin drop. No one could get up from chairs except for photographers."

"Harris didnt greet us when she came out (obviously not supposed to because shes going live), but that added to the weirdness of the new normal reality. She delivered this sweeping speech to a silent room of 30 reporters."

"Afterward, no applause (obviously). Biden came out and it was even more awkward because they stood so far apart. Harris clapped at the screen after her speech. Then her husband Doug and Dr. Jill Biden came out and they waved, and then they left."

The bottom line: "My mother taught me that service to others gives life purpose and meaning. And oh, how I wish she were here tonight but I know shes looking down on me from above," Harris said as she prepared to officially accept the nomination.
After meeting Thursday at a medieval island fortress in the Mediterranean, France's Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel made the offer of an EU-led mediation for Belarus, where police have cracked down on post-election protests against President Alexander Lukashenko.

"A dialogue between the authorities, the opposition and civil society is essential... We hope that this dialogue can be established by the Belarusians themselves," Macron said after talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

But the European Union "stands ready to help if our role in mediation can be useful and is desired by the Belarusians along with other institutions ... and including Russia", Macron said.

At an EU meeting a day earlier, EU leaders said they would not recognise Lukashenko's re-election.

"There is no doubt that there were massive rule violations in the election," Merkel told reporters in Berlin after an emergency video summit with EU leaders. "The election was neither free nor fair. And that's why the result of the election cannot be recognised." Germany currently holds the six-month rotating EU presidency.

Inside the walls of Fort de Bregancon, the traditional summer residence of French leaders, the German chancellor and French president tackled the most pressing issues on the global agenda.

Macron said that he and Merkel have also discussed mounting tensions between Greece and Turkey over disputed Mediterranean waters.

We have a shared agenda in the Eastern Mediterranean, he said. We are standing together with Greece and want to ensure stability for the region, while favouring de-escalation.

Earlier on Thursday, the French president made clear his tough line on Ankara, saying that his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan was conducting an "expansionist policy that mixes nationalism and Islamism, which is not compatible with European interests" in an interview with Paris Match. Macron also accused Turkey of being a "destabilising factor".

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Were also working together on Libya, Macron added, referring to the civil war that has racked the North African country since 2011, with the Turkish-backed, UN-recognised Government of National Accord taking the upper hand over the Russia-backed Libyan National Army in recent months. The priority is to obtain a ceasefire and political resolution. The EU mission must be bolstered, those who break the UN embargo must be sanctioned, Macron continued.

The French president also said that he wants to see a united Europe when it comes to China, as well as in regard to support to Lebanon in the humanitarian response to the August 4 Beirut explosion and co-operation in Africa on issues such as Tuesdays military coup in Mali.

We need to ramp up our co-operation, whether its Lebanon or Belarus or Covid-19, Merkel said. Even though we dont enjoy global leadership, we will ensure EU makes its voice heard, she continued  echoing Macrons theme of European sovereignty.

Merkel emphasised that the Covid-19 pandemic is far from over and the EU needs to stick together to combat the crisis. No country can go alone, entire countries cant lockdown again, so we need co-operation on international level, she continued.

With regard to the 750 billion Covid-19 stimulus package agreed in June, the German chancellor said France and Germany needed to work together to ensure the right strategic decisions are made to make best use of the funds  vowing that the two countries will work together with business leaders. The money will disproportionately benefit southern European countries such as Italy  which was hit hard by the virus in its early stages, but also had high public debt before the pandemic struck  to the chagrin of the EUs so-called Frugal Four, the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark and Sweden.

Meanwhile Macron and Merkel expressed their concern for Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who is being treated for suspected poisoning, and offered their assistance.

Macron said France stood ready to provide help in terms of Navalny's health, asylum or protection, while Merkel said the Kremlin critic could receive medical treatment in either country.

(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS and AFP)
Panaji:

Unattached Congress legislator Atanasio Monserratte on Wednesday announced the formation of his own political party ahead of the Goa assembly polls and expressed his desire to contest against Union Minister Manohar Parrikar from Panaji constituency.

I wish I could fight Parrikar. I have a feeling that I would even defeat Parrikar. For me it makes no difference, I am fighting from Panaji. I hope Centre sends Parrikar down to fight the election with me.

At least my wish would be completed, Monserratte told PTI after he announced his intention to align with the Congress for the polls through his newly formed outfit United Goans Party.

Parrikar, the former Chief Minister of Goa, represented Panaji from 1994 till 2014, after which he was elevated to the Union cabinet.

Monserratte said he would be contesting the upcoming assembly elections from Panaji constituency.

As far as I am concerned, I am here to fight this election from Panaji constituency. I assure you, I will win this election by more than 3,000 votes, Monserratte said.

The legislator representing St Cruz constituency was expelled this year from Congress party due to anti-party activities during a by-election in Panaji constituency, which was held after Parrikar landed the Central job.

Panaji constituency is currently represented by Siddharth Kuncolienkar of BJP.

Stating that Panaji has always been considered as Parrikars bastion, Monserratte alleged that the constituency has not seen any development during the last 25 years.

Monserratte, whose wife is a Congress MLA from Taleigao constituency, said he had proved his mettle in Panaji when the panel fielded by him won three elections of the civic body Corporation of City of Panaji.

It clearly shows that people are unhappy the way BJP is functioning. I believe the Corporation as well as Panaji MLA should work hand in hand, he said.

The legislator said the state polls would be fought on development issues. This fight is about development, it is about people. It is the people who have got you elected, he said.

Responding to a question, Monserratte said he formed a new political party because he was expelled from the Congress.

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Former U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent, a Republican, crossed party lines to endorse Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden Wednesday.

Dent represented the Lehigh Valley and part of central Pennsylvania and earned a reputation as a centrist during his 13 years in Congress. Dent wrote an opinion piece for CNN explaining why hes backing Biden, the former vice president, and also delivered scathing criticism of President Donald Trump.

In the CNN op-ed, Dent said he disagrees with Biden on many issues and hopes he wont cave to the more extreme elements of the Democratic party if hes elected.

Still, Dent contends Biden is the clear choice.

Biden is fundamentally a decent and honorable man who respects the American tradition, supports the rule of law, embraces Americas friends and allies, and will restore some semblance of normalcy to the functioning of government, Dent wrote. Thats all I want -- and not too much to ask of a President. Biden will perform these duties respectfully and with dignity.

Conversely, Trump has undermined the federal government and embraced Americas enemies while alienating allies, Dent argued. He also faulted Trump for his utterly incoherent and ineffective response to the coronavirus pandemic.

To my friends and supporters who tell me they dislike Donald Trump but like his tax and regulatory policies, and judicial appointments  I like lower taxes and a lighter regulatory touch, too. But there are principles more important than a tax cut or a beneficial regulatory change, Dent wrote.

Subordinating the role of Congress to the Presidency and Judiciary disrupts the constitutional order that undergirds our system of government, he added. President Trumps policies on national security, trade and health care are reckless, ill-considered and short-sighted.

Pennsylvania is a key battleground in the presidential election. Trump won the Keystone State by less than a percentage point in 2016, and Democrats are banking on Biden, a Scranton native, on putting Pennsylvania back in the blue column. Both Biden and Trump have made a host of appearances in Pennsylvania.

Trump has garnered the backing of Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey and the states GOP congressional members. Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr., like Biden a Scranton native, and Democratic house members are solidly behind Biden.

On Thursday, Trump is slated to visit the Scranton area, where Biden grew up, as he continues to court Pennsylvania voters.

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I have watched every Democratic National Convention since 1960. I have written extensively about every convention of both parties since 2004.

This year, I havent watched a minute of the Democratic Convention. This isnt something Im proud of. As a citizen and writer about politics, I should be watching at least some of the proceedings. I just cant bring myself to do it.

In lieu of coverage by me, I offer this article by Dan McLaughlin. He focuses on the speeches last night by Barack Obama and Kamala Harris.

McLaughlin finds that Obama upstaged Harris. This seems to be the consensus among those who watched both addresses. Its not a surprising development.

I dont doubt that Obama gave an effective speech. I was struck, though, by this passage quoted by McLaughlin:

I have sat in the Oval Office with both of the men who are running for president. I never expected that my successor would embrace my vision or continue my policies. I did hope, for the sake of our country, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously; that he might come to feel the weight of the office and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care. But he never did. For close to four years now, hes shown no interest in putting in the work; no interest in finding common ground; no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends; no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves. Donald Trump hasnt grown into the job because he cant.

Im sure this sounded good to Democrats and to some who arent Democrats. But it is a breathtakingly superficial critique of Trump, as befits his chronically superficial predecessor.

Superficiality can be forgiven in a political speech. However, Obamas statement doesnt even ring true. Its another example of not taking Trump seriously, a mistake that has cost Democrats in the past.

I dont know how much work Trump is putting into the presidency, and neither does Obama. But hes clearly using his office to help others.

His economic and domestic policies, like all economic and domestic policies, generate winners and losers. The winners are helped by Trump, and are intended to be.

For example, Trumps protectionist trade policies, whether or not one agrees with them, help certain industries and their workers. His immigration policies, to the extent they are allowed to be implemented, help certain types of workers and promote public safety. The people these policies help are the ones candidate Trump promised to help.

Even the jailbreak criminal sentencing legislation that was enacted thanks to Trump helps some people  the criminals who serve less jail time and perhaps some of their family members.

Trump also helped people through measures he has taken in response to the Wuhan coronavirus. The federal push to produce ventilators, for example, must have saved lives. A number of governors, including Andrew Cuomo, praised Trump for his efforts.

If Democrats want to argue that aspects of Trumps response have been misguided and that his overall response has been inadequate, thats fine. But to pretend he has no interest in helping to combat the virus is ridiculous.

As for finding common ground, Trump has been at least as interested in this as Obama ever was. Trump found common ground with Democrats on sentencing reform. Even Van Jones applauded the administration for this.

Trump also tried to find common ground with Dems on DACA reform. Recall his televised meeting with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle.

Obama never showed interest in finding common ground with Republicans. Sure, many Republicans werent interested in working with Obama, just as many Democrats arent interested in working with Trump. However, Obama couldnt even find common ground with Susan Collins on health insurance/care. He rammed through Obamacare without the support of a single GOP Senator.

The Democrats cant have it both ways on Trump. Either hes a frivolous guy whose only interest is in calling attention to himself or hes a serious president who, from the Democrats perspective, poses a serious threat because he aggressively pushes policies that have a huge impact on peoples lives  the wrong kind, from the Dems perspective.

If I were a Democratic politician, Id be pushing the second view. Maybe other speakers at the Convention are doing so. I dont know, because Im not watching.

Transcript of Obamas speech here. Transcript of Harris here.
Robert O'Neill was banned by Delta Air Lines after he refused to wear a mask aboard a flight and bragged about it on Twitter. Phillip Faraone/Getty Images

Robert O'Neill, the former Navy SEAL famous for his role in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, was banned by Delta Air Lines on Thursday for refusing to wear a mask on a flight the day before.

O'Neill tweeted a maskless selfie on Wednesday captioned, "I am not a p----." He deleted the tweet five hours later.

On Thursday, he tweeted that the airline had banned him.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Related video: Experts on how to make and wear effective DIY face masks

A former Navy SEAL famous for his part in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden was banned by Delta Air Lines after he refused to wear a mask aboard a flight and bragged about it on Twitter.

Robert O'Neill, who says he fired the shot that killed bin Laden during the 2011 raid, was on board a flight on Wednesday when he tweeted a selfie with the caption "I'm not a p----." Unlike a fellow passenger in a US Marine Corps hat and a flight attendant visible in the photo, O'Neill was not wearing a mask.

Screenshot/Twitter

Delta requires passengers to wear masks in the airport and on all flights unless they are quickly eating or drinking. The airline also said it would ban passengers who refuse to wear the face coverings.

O'Neill, who left the Navy in 2012 and works as a public speaker and Fox News contributor, deleted the tweet after about five hours. A spokesperson for Delta confirmed the airline was investigating the incident but declined to comment on specifics.

On Thursday, O'Neill tweeted again, saying Delta banned him.

"I just got banned from @Delta for posting a picture," he tweeted. "Wow."

Screenshot/Twitter

A spokesperson for Delta confirmed O'Neill's ban.

"Part of every customer's commitment prior to traveling on Delta is the requirement to acknowledge our updated travel policies, which includes wearing a mask," the spokesperson, Anthony Black, told Business Insider in an email. "Failure to comply with our mask-wearing mandate can result in losing the ability to fly Delta in the future."

Story continues

The airline recently strengthened its mask policy, requiring anyone claiming a medical exemption to consult with a Delta-contracted telehealth medical professional before boarding.

"Any false claims of a disability or health condition to obtain an exemption from wearing a mask or face covering may result in the suspension of travel privileges on any Delta flight for the duration of the mask/face covering requirement," the airline said when it announced the plan.

The airline has already banned more than 100 people for refusing to comply with the mask requirement, CEO Ed Bastian said on NBC's "Today" on July 22.

"If you board the plane and you insist on not wearing your mask, we will insist you don't fly Delta," Bastian said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
What lies beyond the pandemic? MassForward is MassLives series examining the journey of Massachusetts small businesses through and beyond the coronavirus pandemic.

__________________

Dont expect downtown Northampton to look the same over the next 48 hours.

The city of Northampton has shut down traffic in the heart of the communitys business district as workers remodel Main Street in efforts to improve the downtown shopping experience during the coronavirus pandemic.

The remodeling is the result of a nearly $200,000 grant awarded to the city by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation earlier this month. Officials are expected to use the money to enhance the upper half of Main Street.

Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz told MassLive last week the citys work to remodel much of Main Street is a very specific response to COVID-19.

The pandemic has created this economic situation that has really forced us to act quickly to reallocate space, because were trying to create more outdoor seating capacity for restaurants, he said.

The project will be installed between Thursday and Saturday on Main Street between King and Pleasant streets as well as New South Street.

All traffic on Main Street was closed at 6 a.m. on Thursday and will reopen Friday. A parking ban was put into effect earlier Thursday morning and will last until 4 p.m. on Friday.

The $199,800 is from the MassDOT Shared Streets and Spaces program, which was launched in response to current public health crisis to support safe mobility and renewed commerce in communities.

The program provides cities and towns with grants as small as $5,000 and as large as $300,000 to improve sidewalks, curbs, streets, on-street parking spaces and off-street parking lots to support bolster both public health and business.

MassDOT, which has put $5 million into 100-day program, has noted that grant applications will be accepted until Sept. 29.

The overarching goal, and this was part of the reason MassDOT set up this Shared Spaces grant program, was recognizing that many communities now are scrambling to reconfigure outdoor space and roadways and set up outdoor dining for supporting economic recovery, Narkewicz said.

In Northampton, the state funds will be put to use to expand communal spaces for socially distanced walking, biking, shopping and dining in the business district.

By the time the project is complete by weekends end, the citys downtown will be littered with temporary materials, including roughly 100 planters for flowers, street murals produced by artists in the area and concrete barriers used to designate the expanded public space.

A designated bike lane and a new bus stop configuration is also expected to be set up at the Hampshire County Courthouse with the aim of speeding up traffic and reducing collisions, according to officials.

The four local artists charged with painting the new shared street space are Andrae Green, Eben Kling, Kim Carlino and Sean Greene. Painting, planting and other final work is expected to wrap up Saturday.

The upper Main Street redesign comes nearly three months after the city received a private $10,000 grant from the Lawrence & Lillian Solomon Foundation to encourage outdoor dining and easy curbside purchases on Main Street in Northampton and Florence that abide by social distancing practices.

In June, Northampton rolled out its first efforts to make lower Main Street a safe destination for retailers to open their doors again and shoppers to venture downtown. The main goal was to aid the reopening process for many of the struggling businesses in the communitys most popular dining and shopping areas.

Similar to what is expected from the enhancements currently underway on upper Main Street, outdoor dining areas were set up earlier this summer using parking spaces on the lower section of the street, and concrete barriers were erected that have since been colorfully decorated.

The foundations money allowed for less congested sidewalks and easy parking, the mayor noted, adding that the public response to the newly reconfigured lower Main Street has been largely positive.

I think [it] has been very well-received and has been, I would say, successful, just judging by the vibrancy of when you go down through that part of lower Main Street, Narkewicz said. Theres outdoor dining in multiple restaurants that are utilizing it, and our local artists stepped in and decorated the barriers, not just on lower Main, but Pleasant Street and other areas well.

On the current work to enhance the upper half of the street, the mayor said, This is a continuation of that, and really, its to address the rest of Main Street, the big middle section as well as up near the Pulaski Park area.

Its again an effort to create more public space, shared space for more outdoor seating. It also addresses some social distancing needs by creating more public space for pedestrians as well as for cyclists, Narkewicz said. Thats sort of the overall vision, but it all ties back to this idea of wanting to support downtown retailers.

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Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

Mostly clear skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain late. Snow may mix in late. Low 34F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Mostly clear skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain late. Snow may mix in late. Low 34F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
HOLYOKE  The three candidates vying to represent Holyoke at the Statehouse differed on remedies to problems at the Soldiers Home, schools and other aging infrastructure during an online debate Wednesday.

David K. Bartley, Patrick Beaudry and Patricia Duffy are running for the 5th Hampden District state representative seat currently held by Aaron Vega, D-Holyoke, who is not seeking reelection. All three candidates are Democrats and there are no Republican candidates for the office, meaning the Sept. 1 primary election likely will determine who goes to Beacon Hill.

Wednesdays debate was livestreamed by Holyoke Media and sponsored by the Holyoke Taxpayers Association and Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce. Moderators were Helene Florio, the association president, and Andrea Marion, the chambers executive director.

Bartley represents Ward 3 on the Holyoke City Council since 2012, and has said this will be his last term. Beaudry is manager of public affairs for the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission in Springfield. Duffy is Vegas longtime legislative aide.

The candidates were allowed a three-minute opening statement, with Bartley being the first to speak. Bartley, a practicing attorney, said he learned about state government working for the state auditors office.

Bartley said he loves public service and is good at it, citing his time on the City Council. He thanked his parents for encouraging his candidacy, particularly his father, David M. Bartley, a former state representative who was House speaker from 1969-75.

Beaudry said he first gained political and government experience in Boston shortly after graduating from college. While praising his opponents, he called himself a unity candidate who voters could live and work with.

Duffy said her candidacy drew support from several unions, members of which were essential workers during the coronavirus pandemic. She also gained endorsements from Vega and members of the Latino community.

Florio asked what the candidates would do to prevent another horrific tragedy at the Soldiers Home in Holyoke, where 76 residents died from COVID-19.

Bartley said the problems were tied to management and scant state funding.

Beaudry said the government has failed aging Vietnam veterans who are becoming the facilitys majority population. He supported a wholesale renovation of the Soldiers Home and blamed the state for the failures.

Duffy said the situation was an unspeakable breach of trust. If elected, she would likely serve on a House investigative committee. She said health care workers are underpaid and were not listened to as the virus savaged the facility.

The candidates were asked how they would help market the city for economic development. Beaudry said the city needs to pick its spot on where to invest, especially as Holyoke was configured initially for 60,000 residents. Its population today is estimated at about 40,000. Beaudry said he would work with existing businesses to understand better what is needed on the ground.

Duffy said the state representative needs to partner with local and state officials in transforming Holyoke, including working with the Holyoke Redevelopment Authority.

Bartley said the state representative should not tie an anchor around taxpayers necks. He criticized Vega and Mayor Alex Morse, saying they spearheaded the debt exclusion override in 2019, which proposed raising property taxes to build two middle schools. Holyoke voters defeated the measure 4,872-2,694.

He later asked his opponents about the vote.

Duffy said she supported the override because she prioritized public education and improving the conditions of the citys public school buildings. But she said people she thought would support the ballot initiative actually voted against it, citing strained household budgets.

Beaudry, a former student at Peck School, said the facility continues to deteriorate and that the city must show its serious about education. We are maxed out on raising revenues locally, and the matter must be addressed at the state level, he said.

In return, Beaudry questioned Bartley on what taxes and fees he supported raising. Bartley said he did not support raising taxes either at the local or state level.

Later in the debate, Bartley said nearly 90% of the citys school budget comes from state dollars. He said the Student Opportunity Act allows Holyoke to create a trust to build its funding capacity, which could go toward building the middle schools.

Florio noted the middle school fight highlighted inequities in the Massachusetts School Building Authoritys funding formula, which would have reimbursed Holyoke at a lower rate than some other communities.

Beaudry did not want to litigate the battles of the past, and said Holyoke must learn why the authority set the citys reimbursement rate under 60%. Duffy said the formula is unfair to urban communities and Gateway Cities.

Bartley said the building authority gave Holyoke a take it or leave it option. He wants net school funding placed in a trust until Holyoke secures an 80% reimbursement rate.

Florio said a large, impending problem is the citys aging infrastructure, especially old water pipes.

Duffy called for massive investments in infrastructure projects and increased state allocations.

Bartley said highway funding has been stuck in neutral at $200 million annually. He said Holyoke remains a crossroads and hub for transportation. He added the City Council bonded for current and future water-main projects.

Beaudry he has worked on stormwater and sewer improvement issues with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. He noted the Western Massachusetts Statehouse delegation works as a team in securing more infrastructure money.

The citys economic future was discussed by the candidates, particularly during the COVID-19 era. Duffy said the cannabis industry is suited for the massive mill complexes downtown.

Bartley disagreed strongly with a question that characterized Holyoke as an aging industrial community. He said Holyoke Gas & Electric has been prevented from expanding its natural gas infrastructure.

Beaudry said while natural gas does not have a long future ahead, businesses are now forced to use propane, a dirtier fuel option. He called for more research into cleaner energy sources.

Duffy said Beaudry wrote on social media that he was not the establishment pick. She asked who he thought was the establishment pick.

Beaudry said Duffy used her position as a legislative aide and the time of her campaign announcement to gain an early advantage, which Beaudry and Bartley were not afforded. Vega announced he would not seek reelection Jan. 28, and Duffy announced her candidacy hours later.

The primary election is Sept. 1. Early voting begins Aug. 22 at Holyoke City Hall. More than 1,000 registered voters already sent in absentee ballots to city clerks office, which also installed a drop-off box at City Hall.

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The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) on August 19 launched the Make in Vietnam Awards.

Ministry of Information and Communication Nguyen Manh Hung at the launching ceremony of the "Make In Vietnam" Awards.

This is a prestigious award aiming to promote the development of Vietnamese digital technology enterprises.

The goal of the awards is to find and honor excellent Make in Vietnam digital technology products and solutions that can solve Vietnam's issues.

In late 2018, MIC began looking for a slogan for Vietnams ICT industry. According to the ministry, the phrase "Made in Vietnam" means only production in Vietnam and does not include initiative. The message "Make in Vietnam" means to be invented, designed, integrated, developed and produced in Vietnam, by Vietnamese people, contributing to development of the Vietnamese technology community. The phrase "Make in Vietnam" creates an effect in the media and expresses the initiative of the Vietnamese people in mastering and developing technology.

Responding to MICs Make in Vietnam strategy, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc called on the business community and businesspeople of Vietnam to "strongly promote patriotism, and express the desire to build a resilient economy; unanimously carry out the historic mission of not letting the country fall into the middle-income trap; and be determined to build a strong and prosperous Vietnam."

"After 30 years of outsourcing, Vietnam has fundamental conditions to switch to creating and making Vietnamese technology products. Vietnamese people have enough qualities to create technology and technological products. We need to formulate and explicitly declare a development strategy of Vietnamese technology businesses; innovation in Vietnam, design in Vietnam as well as Vietnam owned technology, and be proactive in production," the Prime Minister said.

Ministry of Information and Communication Nguyen Manh Hung

There are a number of awards honoring products and solutions in the information technology and communication sector such as Nhan Tai Dat Viet (Vietnamest Talent), Sao Khue, Vietnam Digital Awards .... However, to promote the strategy "Make in Vietnam", it is necessary to have an award to honor and promote the products and solutions that can solve Vietnams current issues.

MIC, thus, has launched the Make in Vietnam awards, which is considered strong motivation to encourage digital technology firms to research and create digital technology products to solve Vietnams problems. The award will honor excellent digital products with practical value contributing to the development of a digital government, digital economy, digital society, and digital nation.

The awards will comprise 5 categories, including: Outstanding Digital Platform Award; Excellent Digital Product Award; Outstanding Digital Solution Award; Digital Gap Narrowing Award (urban  rural areas, disadvantaged people, the reverse side of digital technology); and Potential Digital Product Award.

Application time: From August 20 to October 20, 2020 via online form at https://makeinvietnam.mic.gov.vn/

The jury includes experts in the field of digital technology, scientists, representatives of investment funds and experienced ICT journalists and is led by Dr. Mai Liem Truc, former Deputy Minister of Post and Telecommunications.

VietNamNet

Vietnams ICT industry grows 26% annually in 2015-2019 Vietnam aims to have around 50,000 IT and electronic and telecommunications companies, of which 10 large companies will have revenues of at least US$1 billion each.
The Leadership and Arts Coalition (LAC), a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC is pleased to announce their inaugural Art Sets Your Imagination Free artist showcase and fundraising event. It will highlight the work of visual and performance artists from around the country, beginning at 7:00pm on Thursday September 10, 2020. They invite all artists, philanthropists, advocates, educators, and all supporters of the creative arts to join them for this 
BUFFALO, N.Y., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Garwood Medical Devices, a leader in groundbreaking medical device technology, today announced a Series C financing round of $4 million to support additional preclinical testing for its BioPrax device.

Infection is the most serious complication of joint replacement. 2.2 percent of prosthetic hip or knee replacements develop infection over the lifetime of the prosthetic joint resulting in treatment costs over $12B annually. BioPrax, a minimally invasive device is currently under investigation to evaluate whether the device can help eliminate biofilm infections on prosthetic joints during early-intervention procedures. In in-vivo animal models BioPrax has shown a 99.6% biofilm reduction with no increased bone or tissue damage as compared to antibiotics alone, which achieved only 81.17% reduction.

The FDA granted BioPrax Breakthrough Device Designation October 11, 2019, for products that may provide more effective treatment or diagnosis of life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating diseases or conditions. BioPrax swine studies are expected to begin in September and first in-human studies in the third quarter of 2021.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has forever changed the healthcare system and is motivating medical professionals to reevaluate all treatment standards" said Wayne Bacon, Garwood Medical's CEO. "During this time of reinvention, hospital administrators are actively seeking out new technologies that have the potential to support the delivery of safe, effective treatment options with the least amount of risk to patients."

Garwood Medical, a $40M company, was over-subscribed by $800,000 in its Series B round lead by the WNY Impact Investment Fund who invested $500,000 in November 2019.

Participants in the Series C financing, led by The Murray Family with a $600,000 investment, will be eligible to purchase additional units through September 2021 and take advantage of an additional equity offering through 2025.

About Garwood Medical Devices

Garwood Medical Devices, headquartered in Buffalo, NY was founded in July 2014. Garwood specializes in healthcare innovation and holds the exclusive license for the core BioPrax technology developed by the University at Buffalo. UB and Garwood continue to partner in technology development and protection for the long-haul to support future market success. Its mission is to advance infection control through innovation. The company currently holds 10 registered and pending patents. https://garwoodmedicaldevices.com/

Media Contact:

Wayne Bacon

716-322-3222 ext. 101

[email protected]

SOURCE Garwood Medical Devices

Related Links

https://garwoodmedicaldevices.com/


The southeast, north and central districts of Delhi recorded the highest prevalence rate of antibodies  33.2%, 31.6% and 31.4% respectively  in Delhis latest Covid-19 sero survey, the result of which was shared by the citys health minister Satyendar Jain on Thursday.

Southeast Delhi also recorded the highest increase (of 11.08 percentage points) when compared with the previous sero-survey for which blood samples were collected between June 27 and July 10 to assess the number of people who have developed antibodies against the coronavirus disease, including those who may have contracted the Sars-CoV-2 infection and overcome it without realising it.

Follow latest updates on coronavirus here

Southwest district was the one which recorded the lowest prevalence rate of the antibodies  16.3%. And, at 24.6%, New Delhi district recorded the second lowest, according to the data released on Thursday which suggested that around 29.1% of the capitals population has developed antibodies against the virus.

The sero prevalence rate reflects the number of people out of a given sample size (around 15,000 in this case) who contracted the Sars-Cov-2 virus and recovered from the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). When infected, individuals develop antibodies in their blood. The sample size is calculated by experts to ensure that at any given point it is fit for extrapolation for reflect trends inclusive of the entire population of a state, city or district, explained a senior official in the health department.

Also read| Covid-19: What you need to know today

Sero survey helps in the analysis of trends and better assessment of asymptomatic population, case detection rate and infection-death ratio. The results can be used by the administration and experts , said Dr Lalit Kant, former head of epidemiology and communicable diseases department in the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

HT on Thursday spoke with several district officials to get a better sense of how they interpreted the data in terms of actions that need to be taken in the days to come. Several of them suggested that both high and low prevalence rate of antibodies found through the sero survey in any district demand more or less the same efforts in testing, isolation and surveillance.

A high prevalence rate of antibodies means a large number of people were infected but they were not diagnosed, even after testing was scaled up. It means more tests need to be done and they have to cover more asymptomatic individuals. We have to scale up testing, with focus on special surveillance groups (SSGs) and individuals residing in densely populated areas, said a district surveillance official who did not wish to be identified.

Another district official said, Low prevalence rate of antibodies means that a larger population in the concerned area are still vulnerable. This also demands that the district should continue with aggressive testing, surveillance and isolation mechanism to protect the population which is yet to contract the virus.

Also read| 3 in 10 Delhi residents have antibodies for Covid-19: New sero result

Rahul Singh, district magistrate (southwest), which has the lowest prevalence of antibodies (16.3%) said the result means the district has the lowest infection rate in the entire city.

Its a good thing. Based on the latest sero survey results, directions have been issued to all officials in the district to continue aggressive testing and strict enforcement. We are focusing on high-risk groups (HRGs) and SSGs and Covid-19 test is available at all dispensaries in the district. Proactive surveillance and additional camps at all markets and public places for testing have been set up, he said.

In a statement, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal lauded the Delhi model of test, track and treat and said the doubling rate of Covid-19 cases in Delhi has gone up to 101.5 days, compared to 28.8 days for rest of India. He also said there has been a significant drop in the positivity rate in two months, from 24.59% on June 18 to 5.25% on August 16.

Click here for complete coronavirus coverage

The positivity rate has dropped for both RT-PCR tests and rapid antigen tests. On June 18, 9,088 RT-PCR tests were conducted of which 2,804 positives emerged  a positivity rate of 30.85%. In comparison, on 16 August, 4,106 RT-PCR tests were conducted of which 434 positives emerged  a positivity rate of 10.57%. Similarly, on June 18, 3,316 rapid tests were conducted in Delhi of which 247 positives emerged - a positivity rate of 7.42%. In comparison, on August 16, 10,882 rapid tests were conducted in Delhi of which 353 positives emerged  a positivity rate of 3.24%, Kejriwal said.

Delhis health minister Jain said: A few districts witnessed a significant increase in prevalence rate of antibodies in the sero survey because several localities in those districts witnessed a spike in Covid cases in different points in the last one month.

In the days to come, we will compare this survey with the previous one thoroughly and decide whether we need to draft new strategies or change our approach in certain aspects concerning Covid-19 management.

Senior government officials also said the latest finding that those aged less than 18 years were found to have the maximum antibodies compared to other age groups would play a crucial role in the Delhi governments decisions on opening schools and colleges in the coming months.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, in his Independence Day speech, said the government will not open schools until it is fully convinced the city has put the worst behind it.
A member of the NSW Police Force escorts a returning overseas travellers onto waiting buses at Sydney Airport on March 30, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Sydney Bus Strike Over Masks Called Off

Sydney bus drivers have called off a planned strike after the NSW government agreed to their demands for a review of mandatory mask-use on public transport.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union met with government officials at the Industrial Relations Commission on Aug. 20, in hopes an agreement could be reached to avoid a strike next week.

The union had sent a letter to the Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Aug. 17, demanding that community consultation take place over government plans to privatise some bus services.

The letter also asked that mask-use to be mandated where the number of people on board public transport outnumbered the green social distancing stickers, and for clarity on who was responsible for enforcing social distancing.

The issue of mask wearing on public transport has been significantly elevated this week and the NSW Government has undertaken to review health advice and guidelines if community infection levels increase, union secretary David Babineau said in a statement on Aug. 20 evening.

Bus drivers and their union will remain vigilant and we hope for a more constructive response from government to any future concerns so we can avoid reaching this point again.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance thanked the union for cancelling the strike in a statement, and said the parties would meet again on Monday.

Earlier this week he ruled out mandating mask use on public transport, and argued the strike would force more people on to less buses and actually put the non-striking drivers at more risk.

When it comes to masks, we get our advice from (NSW chief medical officer) Kerry Chantwe dont have advice to mandate masks across our community and fine people, but we have advice urging the community to put them on, he said.

By Tiffanie Turnbull
South Africas government has started talks with private entities interested in buying into the countrys insolvent national carrier, which needs at least 10 billion rand ($583 million) to resume operations.

A team from the Department of Public Enterprises and advisers from FirstRand Ltd.s Rand Merchant Bank began negotiations after receiving as many as four promising proposals regarding South African Airways, according to Kgathatso Tlhakudi, the DPEs director general.

The state ideally wants SAA to resume operations by the year-end, he said in an interview on Wednesday, although much will depend on a pick up in demand amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

While Tlhakudi declined to identify SAAs suitors, the government has said previously that approaches have been made by private-equity firms and potential aviation partners.

Ethiopian Airlines Group, Africas largest and only consistently profitable carrier, has in the past said it may be interested.

SAA has been in administration since December and hasnt flown a commercial passenger flight since March, when South Africas borders were closed to help contain the coronavirus.

The airline has long been a drain on state finances, relying on bailouts and debt guarantees since last making a profit almost a decade ago. Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has made clear that any fresh cash injection must come from private sources.

Listing Plans

The government is keen to replicate the privatization of former state phone monopoly Telkom SA SOC Ltd., which was partially sold to outside investors ahead of a listing on Johannesburgs stock exchange, Tlhakudi said. The state retains a minority stake in the carrier.

That proved to be a very good model for Telkom as it brought into the company management discipline and the important discipline of delivering a product on time to the market, Tlhakudi said.

SAA may eventually also be listed, the director general added.

Airlines around the world have been hammered by travel restrictions to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, with many, including Deutsche Lufthansa AG and Air France-KLM, needing billions of dollars in government bailouts.

While South Africa domestic flights resumed this week, the country remains closed to international travelers  the bulk of SAAs customer base.

SAAs administrators agreed with the government and labor groups to cut the workforce to about 1,000 employees from more than 4,000, and that process should be completed by the end of September, Tlhakudi said.

Now read: Petrol price drop expected for September
On December 27, 1963, a holy relic was stolen from the Hazratbal shrine in Jammu and Kashmir. The incident led to violent protests in West Bengal and in then East Pakistan till it was recovered mysteriously on January 4, 1964. Miles away in Kolkata, 'Tatha', a young student of civil engineering in Bengal Engineering College at Shibpur in Howrah, was very upset. Then, he came across a few who cheated death and survived the communal clashes after the theft of the holy relic.

The tale of horrific communal violence, bloodbath and plight of refugees drew him towards the nearest Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) shakha in Bengal and a samarpit (dedicated) activist of Hindutva was born.

Meet Tathagata Roy, the former governor of Meghalaya who is set to retire on Wednesday evening (August 19, 2020).

A descendant of a prosperous family from what is now Bangladesh, Roy, who was born in Kolkata, has grown up on stories of affluence: large tracts of cultivable land, unadulterated milk, ghee, and other by-products from their dairy farm, fresh fish from the large household pond, and respect for the family name that stems from more than a century of being part of the landed gentry.

He grew up with tales of his grandparents forced to leave behind everything in erstwhile East Bengal, which became East Pakistan after Partition and, subsequently, Bangladesh. He grew up with the pain and agony of refugees and their stories that made their way across the border as a part of the single largest migration in human history in 1947, and then in 1971.

While Tatha was deeply influenced by the Sangh as a saviour of Hindus refugees, his younger brother Saugata Roy, presently a Trinamool Congress MP, grew up with stories of communist oppression in Bengal and believed in the Gandhian ideology.

Both were mentored by Pramatha Nath Bishi - an Indian author, educationist, and parliamentarian from West Bengal. He was a member of the West Bengal legislative council from 1962 to 1968 and a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha from 1972 to 1978. However, Tathagata and Saugata chose different ideologies in their lives.

Speaking exclusively to News18.com from Meghalaya, Tathagata Roy said, Yes, you are absolutely right. We both were mentored by Pramatha Nath Bishi. Bishi sir was an intensely anti-Left person and extremely Gandhian. Saugata got one part of his thinking and I got another part. To be precise, Saugata started believing in Gandhian ideology and I got the anti-Left part from Bishi sir. But the Hindu ideology is my personal acquisition.

The Hazratbal shrine incident in Jammu and Kashmir drew his attention towards the RSS and BJP, Roy confirmed. "Then people were killed and some students escaped and got admitted to our college. They narrated the ordeal they passed through. I was upset with the atrocities faced by the refugees. Later, I joined the Indian Railways, but in 1990 I quit the job and joined the BJP because the plight of refugees refused to go away from my mind. In the BJP, I progressed gradually and I also faced inner-party problems. It happens everywhere and I had my share too. In 1999, I had gone to Ranchi and stayed their three weeks for the RSSs Sikhsha Varga. It was arduous and the training was tough. I had to wake up at 4 in the morning. There were parades, lessons, exercise and that gave me a lot of insight into the RSS. The Sikhsha Varga was supposed to be for three years but before I could get any further chance, I was made the BJP Bengal president in 2002. I was the state BJP president till 2006 and at that time the BJP did not have any stake in Bengal because the politics was polarised, he added.

Explaining his journey (in the context of Saugata Roy) from "brothers in arms" to "Ram Lakhan", though it may be "Ram" for one and may not "Lakhan" for the other, Tathagata laughed and said, Yes, we do have different ideologies but we do interact with each other. We dont get time to interact frequently but yes we do talk  mostly over the telephone. Most of the time he is busy and so am I. When we meet or talk over the phone, we discuss political theories, history and we exchange ideas of Chinese and Pakistani menace and NRI influence in Indian politics. He asked me about my books and writings.

In the context of his brother, Tathagata Roy had once said that he would make sure that "our paths dont cross in Kolkata". Does he still have the same feelings? He is an MP and Bengal is going to witness assembly elections in 2021. So how could our paths cross? he said.

When asked if there are any suggestions that he would like to share with the state BJP leadership or any areas where the state BJP needs to pay more attention to plug loopholes, he said, Yes, there are areas but I dont want to discuss it right now. Despite a remarkable performance in the last Lok Sabha election, we lost three bypoll seats in a row. This includes Dilip Ghosh's own constituency.

And what would his role be ahead of the 2021 assembly polls in Bengal? I dont know. I have to talk to the party. I have to speak to the leaders to decide where I can fit in.

Speaking about the chemistry he shares with his wife Anuradha, and two daughters Malini and Madhura, Roy said, My wife is not at all interested in politics. She is into English literature and we discuss literature during spare time, and my daughters invariably dont forget to remind me that I've put on weight and are happy to see me doing morning walks.

Tathagata Roy was born on September 14, 1945. He was governor of Tripura from 2015 to 2018 and governor of Meghalaya from August 2018 to the end of his term on August 19, 2020.

He was a member of the BJP national executive, the partys central policy-making body, from 2002 until 2015.

Roy briefly had additional charge of the office of governor of Arunachal Pradesh from July 2016 till August 2016, during which he handled the ouster of chief minister Kalikho Pul following a Supreme Court judgement, and swore in Pema Khandu as the new chief minister.

His younger brother Saugata Roy is the Lok Sabha MP representing Dum Dum constituency. He is a senior member of the TMC and he was union minister of state for urban development in the Manmohan Singh government.

Time will decide the roles that will be played by the Roy brothers in Bengal politics, but presently Tathagata is eager for a ghar wapsi to play a crucial innings in Mamata Banerjees bastion
(Photo : Screenshot from Twitter post of @nghiaduc4) China Reveals 'Sky Thunder,' Its Latest Stealth Missile That Can Drop 240 Bombs (Photo : Screenshot from Twitter post of @nghiaduc4) China Reveals 'Sky Thunder,' Its Latest Stealth Missile That Can Drop 240 Bombs

China revealed its newest weapon, a 1,100lb precision-guided stealth missile called "Sky Thunder." The details of the air-to-surface missile were unveiled after a Chinese state media released a footage of the country's latest weapon.



Russian military experts are skeptical of the range of the latest long-range cruise missiles that China demonstrated at its national parliamentary review on October 1, 2019.pic.twitter.com/LnbHKf6eW2 Russian experts are skeptical of China's new supersonic cruise missile.Russian military experts are skeptical of the range of the latest long-range cruise missiles that China demonstrated at its national parliamentary review on October 1, 2019. https://t.co/sD2DvaiKCR  nghiaduc (@nghiaduc4) October 9, 2019

Also Read: NASA Psyche Mission to Mine an Asteroid with Solid Gold Core, Pure Nickel, Metallic Iron Worth $10,000 Quadrillion

According to China's official defence programme, the missile can drop up to 240 bombs across 64,000 square feet, completely destroying its targets. The weapon, which came during the spiking tensions between Washington and Beijing, is described as one of the most essential advanced weaponry that the Chinese military currently have.

Also Read: SpaceX Sends Another Batch of Starlink Satellites Using Record Breaking Falcon 9 First Stage Booster

China Central Television featured the weapon, known as the Tianlei 500 in Chinese, on a military programme on Friday, Aug. 14. The report of Beijing's state broadcaster stated that China's weapon is a precision-guided, multi-functional and modular ammunition.

Its square cross-section does not only increase its explosive load capacity but can also allow the weapon to evade radar detection. Chinese soldiers can deploy the missile at a farther distance from the enemy because its range spans more than 60 kilometres or 37 miles, allowing the country's military force to attack the enemies without entering their zone.

How effective the Sky Thunder at destroying ground targets

The senior weapon engineer, who wanted to stay anonymous, claimed that the weapon can carry six kinds of submunitions to destroy ground targets such as tanks, and even airports.



Russian military experts are skeptical of the range of the latest long-range cruise missiles that China demonstrated at its national parliamentary review on October 1, 2019.pic.twitter.com/LnbHKf6eW2 Russian experts are skeptical of China's new supersonic cruise missile.Russian military experts are skeptical of the range of the latest long-range cruise missiles that China demonstrated at its national parliamentary review on October 1, 2019. https://t.co/sD2DvaiKCR  nghiaduc (@nghiaduc4) October 9, 2019

"It can drop different types of submunitions depending on different types of targets to achieve effective destruction," told the expert.

Song Zhongping, a Hong Kong-based military analyst explained that it can effectively blast various kinds of ground targets all at once. The Chinese state media confirmed that China's latest missile was introduced the same day that Taiwan closed an arms deal with the U.S., which includes the sale of 66 new American-made fighter jets.

Pentagon said that the deal cost $62 billion. However, the name of the buyer was not specified. The announcement was made on the United States Defense Department's official website.

For more news updates about China's advanced weaponry, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Also Read: [BEWARE] China's All-Seeing Massive Surveillance Could Monitor Every 'Millimeter' of an Entire Populaton

This article is owned by TechTimes,

Written by: Giuliano de Leon.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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Linkedin Laurie Chen (Agence France-Presse) Guilin, China  Thu, August 20, 2020 10:07 518 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066f40db6 2 Environment Howey-Ou,China,climate,climate-activists,climate-crisis,environment Free

While most of her peers are preparing for university or enjoying summer vacation, 17-year-old Howey Ou is braving intimidation and criticism in China to save the world from climate catastrophe.

Young environmental activists around the world have skipped school to attend marches in protest at global inaction over climate change.

But in China, grassroots social movements are heavily suppressed by the government, and the movement is severely lacking in participants.

It has changed Ou's life though. She was inspired by Swedish teenage climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, and held her own week-long solo protest in May last year outside her local government buildings, gaining international recognition.

"The climate emergency is the biggest threat to the survival of mankind. I feel anxious every day about the climate and the extinction of animal species," said Ou, an intense figure who speaks in a fast monotone, reeling off a trove of scientific data from memory.

"I feel like we're all on a sinking ship but everyone is still eating, drinking and being merry."

While Thunberg has addressed global leaders at the UN Climate Action Summit and received awards for her work, the Chinese activist has been kicked out of school for refusing to give up her campaigning.

Known as Ou Hongyi in China, she has also faced run-ins with police, family pressure, and harsh online criticism.

But the teenager says it is her "life mission" to sound the alarm before it is too late.

She told AFP that although she "wasn't scared of the police", her parents were under pressure from authorities.

"After I was interrogated by the police, my parents tried to stop me by all means, such as by keeping me at home, not letting me accept interviews or take part in the climate movement, and searching my electronic devices," she said.

"One day I argued with them for eight hours. I found it very difficult and painful."

After her protest outside the government offices, she started planting trees in the surroundings of Guilin, the southern Chinese city where she lives, and studied methods of non-violent protest, poring over the works of Mahatma Gandhi.

She has also tried to recruit more young people to join her cause, but most of the time she is a lone figure, carrying hand-painted placards as people walk by, oblivious.

Read also: Young activist aims to bring India's tribal wisdom to the climate fight

'Never oppose the government'

As her campaigning attracted more attention, Ou chose to move out of her family home -- highly unusual for a minor in China -- and now lives alone at a hostel in Guilin.

Her parents worry about her safety, and her father is anxious that she may be lagging behind her peers due to start university.

"I don't see a future for her if she stays on this road," her father, who did not wish to be named, told AFP.

"I warned her never to oppose the government and the Party in her activism."

Ou, however, insists she is not trying to go against authorities, and sees it instead as "a question of morality".

Read also: UN chief invites young climate activists to meet, give input

Lone journey

Ou has thousands of followers on social media but has struggled to find wider support within China. Last summer she traveled solo around the country on a shoestring, meeting with environmental NGOs and activists.

But she says many had little understanding of the climate crisis -- and the journey formed the loneliest period of her life.

"I didn't know the way and didn't know what kinds of people in China would support me... I felt like I was in a very open and empty place, isolated and cut off from support," she recalled.

Then last October, she faced criticism from millions online when a German media interview with her went viral on Chinese social media.

Many accused her of attention-seeking and "armchair activism", while others made unflattering comparisons to Thunberg, who is a frequent object of ridicule on the Chinese internet.

She avoided social media for several months after that.

During the hardest moments, Ou says she drew comfort and strength from the spectacular natural scenery in her hometown -- something she has enjoyed since childhood.

"My reconnection with nature helped me to see my own value," she said.

Ou believes the Chinese public are either ignorant or dismissive of the climate crisis, but she still hopes to build a youth movement, like her idol Thunberg.

"There are many young Chinese people who may only need a bit of encouragement to bravely step forward. But if my voice does not reach them... we can't unite," she said.

"So right now I am trying my hardest to make sure my voice gets heard."
The language young adults use to describe the effects they feel from drinking alcohol may give insight into their drinking habits, according to a new Penn State research.

A team of researchers led by Ashley Linden-Carmichael, assistant research professor in the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center, examined the language young adults use to describe different levels of inebriation.

The team was able to not only discover the language young people are using, but also discovered four distinct classes of drinkers: happy drinkers, relaxed drinkers, buzzed drinkers and multi-experience drinkers.

Linden-Carmichael said the results -- recently published in the journal Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology -- can not only give insight into the drinking habits of young adults, but could also help researchers and clinicians fine-tune their language during interventions and research studies.

Were finding that young adults have a wide range of vocabulary they use around drinking, and we should make sure were using words that they are using instead of more clinical terms like intoxicated, Linden-Carmichael said. Even the word drunk may not be seen as the highest level of drinking. As researchers or clinicians, we need to incorporate contemporary language into our work.

According to the researchers, the young adult age range from 18 to 25 is a high-risk period for dangerous alcohol use, with about 37 per cent of young adults reporting binge drinking -- typically defined as five or more drinks in two hours for men or four or more for women -- at least once in the past month and 10 per cent reporting binge drinking on five or more days in the past month.

Linden-Carmichael said that understanding the drinking habits of young adults is critical to intervention efforts, and that some recent research suggests that how drunk someone feels may be a better predictor of risky behaviour than an objective measure of how drunk they actually are, like blood alcohol content (BAC).

If a young adult is particularly risk-prone and is considering driving home after a night of drinking, are they going to do the math of how many drinks theyve had over a certain number of hours or are they going to ask themselves how they feel? Linden-Carmichael said. How drunk someone feels is subjective, but understanding how to measure that could be helpful in preventing risky behaviour.

For the study, the researchers recruited 323 young adults who reported having at least two heavy episodes of drinking in the previous month. The participants filled out a 10-minute survey during which they provided words they typically used to describe how they feel while drinking. They also answered questions about their typical drinking habits.

We wanted to get a good representation of language used across the whole United States, Linden-Carmichael said. We used Amazons Mechanical Turk as a crowd-sourcing platform to reach young adults from across the country and to have them generate words to describe light, moderate and heavy drinking episodes.

After analyzing the data, the researchers found that most of the participants could be sorted into four categories, each with their own vocabulary and habits.

The largest group was happy drinkers, who made up 31 per cent of participants and who mostly reported feeling happy when drinking. The next group, at 24 per cent were relaxed drinkers, who reported feeling happy, relaxed, and buzzed. Buzzed drinkers made up 18 per cent of participants and reported feeling buzzed and dizzy. Relaxed drinkers tended to report heavier alcohol use and buzzed drinkers tended to report drinking less often.

Finally we had the group that we called the multi-experience drinker class, which made up 27% of our participants, Linden-Carmichael said. They reported feeling buzzed, tipsy, drunk, and were also the only group to report wasted as a common word to describe how they feel while drinking. So this group might be the one most likely to drink for the purpose of getting drunk.

Linden-Carmichael added that studying these language differences may help give insight into peoples motivations for drinking and that those motivations may give further clues about how much someone is drinking and how often.

When interventionists are working with young adults who are struggling to reduce their drinking, they might benefit from using the same language that their participants are using, Linden-Carmichael said. For example, the word intoxicated isnt commonly used and may be associated with winding up in the hospital because of alcohol poisoning. So they could benefit from being sensitive to differences in the way people use different words.

(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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A Bihar-bound bus with 45 passengers overturned on the Agra-Lucknow expressway in the wee hours of August 20. The bus originated in Delhi and was on its way to Madhubani in Bihar.

"The bus lost its balance and overturned on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway," Senior Superintendent of Police Etawah Akash Tomar said, as per a report by India Today.

While no casualty has been reported thus far, at least 30 were injured in the mishap. The injured passengers were admitted to the PGI Saifai hospital in Uttar Pradesh's Etawah, the report said.

Track this LIVE blog for all the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic

Around 16 people, who sustained critical injuries, are admitted at PGI Saifai while other 14 were discharged after receiving first aid.

The Uttar Pradesh police is probing the incident and the reason behind the accident.

In an unrelated incident, a private bus with 34 passengers on board was allegedly hijacked by some people from a finance company in Uttar Pradesh's Agra. The bus was recovered from a dhaba in Etawah district on August 18, more than 12 hours after it was hijacked.

A total of 34 passengers were on board the bus, according to police.

Earlier in the day, Agra Senior Superintendent of Police Babloo Kumar said three people who got off the bus informed police that representatives of a finance company had boarded it.

Later in the evening, he said the finance company people had taken over the bus not over the financing of the bus but due to money-related trouble between one of the suspects and the bus owner. He said the action of the men was "audacious".

(With agency inputs)
New Delhi:

The Uttarakhand government has signed an agreement with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for bringing the metro rail in the state.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for preparing the detailed project report for the Haridwar-Rishikesh-Dehradun Metro rail project was signed between the state Urban Housing Development Authority (UUHDA) and DMRC in the presence of chief minister Harish Rawat.

UUHDA's chief administrator R Meenakshi Sundram and director (management), DMRC, Somdutt Sharma signed the pact for the project on Monday.

An initial amount of Rs 2.10 crores has been sanctioned by the Uttarakhand government to the DMRC. DMRC will submit an initial report after a month and submit the DPR after 5 months.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  With unusual candor, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un acknowledged his plans to improve the countrys dismal economy aren't succeeding as his ruling party scheduled a rare congress in January to set development goals for the next five years.

The Workers Party said North Koreas economy has not improved in the face of the sustaining severe internal and external situations"  a reference to a triple blow of U.S.-led sanctions, the coronavirus pandemic and devastating floods  and that development goals have been seriously delayed and the peoples living standard (has) not been improved remarkably.

Kim announced his first five-year development plan with goals of improving North Koreas power supply and agricultural and manufacturing production during the last Workers Party congress in 2016, its first in 36 years.

But at Wednesday's meeting of the partys decision-making Central Committee, Kim acknowledged economic shortcomings" caused by unexpected and inevitable challenges in various aspects and the situation in the region surrounding the Korean Peninsula, the North's official Korean Central News Agency reported Thursday.

Experts say the coronavirus derailed some of Kims major economic goals after North Korea imposed a lockdown that significantly reduced trade with China  its major ally and economic lifeline  and likely hampered its ability to mobilize its workforce.

In a closed-door briefing to South Korean lawmakers on Thursday, Seouls spy agency said the stress of managing state affairs had caused Kim to recently delegate some of his powers to a select group of senior officials, including his sister Kim Yo Jong, who is now chiefly involved in shaping policies toward Washington and Seoul.

Lawmaker Ha Tae-keung said officials from the National Intelligence Service, which has a mixed track record in reading developments in North Korea's secretive ruling elite, insisted that Kim Jong Uns rule over his country remains absolute. There are no signs that Kim is experiencing health problems or is grooming his sister as his successor, Ha paraphrased NIS officials as saying.

Kim Byung-kee, another lawmaker who attended the briefing, said the NIS believes North Koreas foreign currency reserves are being depleting rapidly because of prolonged border controls imposed under its anti-virus campaign which have led to cutbacks in construction and other activities.

Story continues

The NIS did not confirm the lawmakers comments.

Last week, Kim Jong Un sacked his premier after an evaluation of the Cabinets performance in economic policies. He also said the country was facing a dual challenge of fending off COVID-19 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.

North Korea had originally planned to lavishly celebrate its economic achievements (from Kims first five-year plan) at the Oct. 10 celebration of the 75th anniversary of the partys founding ... but couldnt foresee the huge setbacks caused by COVID-19 and floods, said Cheong Seong-Chang, a senior analyst at South Koreas Sejong Institute.

While scheduling the new party congress for January likely reflects hope that the pandemic will ease by then, North Korea may struggle to fully revive cross-border trade, especially if its poor healthcare system continues to raise concern, Cheong said.

The party congress in January will set forth a correct line of struggle and strategic and tactical policies after reviewing the experience of the last five years, it said in a statement published on KCNA.

The report didnt directly mention nuclear diplomacy with the United States, which has stalled over disagreements in exchanging sanctions relief and denuclearization steps. But Its possible Kim could use the party congress, which would take place after the U.S. presidential election in November, to announce a new foreign policy approach toward the United States and South Korea.

Kims economic setbacks have left him with nothing to show for his high-stakes summitry with President Donald Trump. Their diplomacy deteriorated after the collapse of their talks last year in Vietnam, when the Americans rejected North Koreas demand for major sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of its nuclear capabilities.

Some experts say the North is likely to avoid serious negotiations with the United States before the election since U.S. leadership could change.

By January, (Kim) will know the result of the U.S. presidential election so may update North Koreas position on denuclearization talks, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

However, North Korea continues to expand its capabilities despite economic challenges and independent of diplomatic signaling. While much of the world is focused on the pandemic and contentious elections, the Kim regime is advancing its nuclear, missile and cyber programs for coercion, not just deterrence.

During the 2016 congress, Kim declared his country will not use its nuclear weapons first unless its sovereignty is threatened and he proposed talks with the South. South Korea had employed a hard line until the 2017 inauguration of President Moon Jae-in, a dovish liberal who met Kim three times in 2018. But bilateral relations have cooled during the stalemate in U.S. nuclear diplomacy and Seoul's refusal to defy the sanctions.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the Return to Learn bill agreed to by the governors office and Michigan legislative leaders late last week, the governors office announced midday Thursday.

The bill provides for some stability in planning for the funding for the 2020-21 school year by using last years pupil counts to determine this years funding.

Over the past week, we have taken crucial steps to help Michigan schools and families navigate the new school year. Alongside this bipartisan agreement, I announced nearly $65 million in federal funding to help give students, parents, educators, and support staff the resources they need to provide the best and most safe education possible, Whitmer said in a statement announcing the bill.

A highlight of the bill is that school are provided flexibility around the number of school days and instructional hours as well as student count and attendance.

The plan approved also requires school districts to explain and describe how the schools will provide education, with the districts having flexibility in how it will do. So while districts can decide between in-person learning or virtual online classes, or a hybrid of both, but the districts must describe their plans to the community so residents and parents will know how instruction for core academic areas will be provided and how student progress will be measured.

Districts must also explain to the public how students with disabilities will be given equitable access. If education is provided virtually, districts must show how students will be provided with equitable access to technology and working internet.

Last week, The Associated Press reported that one part still missing is how school districts what the per-student funding will be. Tax shortfalls due to the shutdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are leaving Michigan with a potential $3 billion shortfall, and the states fiscal year starts Oct. 1.

But for now, school districts are given the flexibility in implementing their local plans for resuming learning, deciding on a local basis how they will do this.

These bills will help schools implement their comprehensive safety plans going into the 2020-21 school year, Whitmer said. I am proud of this bipartisan package and will continue working with everyone who wants to ensure our schools are safe during COVID-19. These are great steps, but we will need a comprehensive bipartisan plan and funding from the federal government. It is time the Republicans in Congress to do their part to protect families and students across the country.
BELLEVUE, Wash., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Timeshare Exit Team, the industry leader in timeshare exits, won a legal victory against the Attorney General of Washington State casting further public doubt on the legitimacy of the Attorney General's allegations about the company. On Friday, August 14, the King County Superior Court denied the State of Washington's motion for a preliminary injunction in its lawsuit against Reed Hein & Associates (doing business as Timeshare Exit Team). The Court found that the evidence presented by the State did not show that it was sufficiently likely to succeed on the merits of its claims to support a preliminary injunction.

"This ruling by Judge McHale is a clear indication that the claims brought by the AG's office are insufficient at best," said Brandon Reed, a founding member of the Coalition to Reform Timeshare and CEO of Timeshare Exit Team. "We are thankful for the diligent and thoughtful process undertaken by the Court and we look forward to continuing down this path until it is clear to all that these accusations are entirely without merit. "

Timeshare Exit Team has successfully assisted more than 22,000 people in getting out of their timeshares since its founding in 2012, despite massive pushback from the timeshare industry that brought in more than $10 billion last year. In the face of desperate spin and frivolous legal action from leading developers, Timeshare Exit Team has continued to live up to its promise of ethically and transparently helping consumers who have felt tricked and trapped by timeshare companies that are largely and dangerously unregulated.

Rather than get caught up in distractions, Timeshare Exit Team is urging Attorney General Ferguson and other Attorneys General who are serious about protecting consumers to shift their microscope to the massive, unregulated, timeshare industry that has been widely accused of trapping and deceiving consumers.

"There are tens of thousands of people in this country who right now are struggling just to get by while also being weighed down by the burden of unwanted timeshare ownership, and Timeshare Exit Team will keep battling against this $10.2 billion industry that wants nothing more than for us to go away," said Reed. "In the meantime, we urge timeshare owners and consumer advocates to push developers to adopt the Timeshare Bill of Rights that was put forth by the Coalition to Reform Timeshare."

About Timeshare Exit Team

Timeshare Exit Team is the industry leader in helping people exit their unwanted timeshares. Understanding this hardship, Timeshare Exit Team started in 2012 with one goal in mind: help consumers find financial and emotional freedom from their timeshare situation. To date, it has helped more than 22,000 timeshare owners exit their timeshare contracts. For more information, visit the company online at https://timeshareexitteam.com.

SOURCE Timeshare Exit Team

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Vietnam recorded 14 new Covid-19 cases Thursday evening, taking the national count to four figures at 1,007 with 439 active cases.

Eleven of the new cases are from the central city of Da Nang, one from neighboring Quang Nam Province and two are imported, the Health Ministry said.

The Da Nang patients, numbered 994 to 998 and 1,001 to 1,006, are aged 24-65. They include six caregivers, one medical worker and one patient at the Da Nang Hospital and the Da Nang Oncology Hospital. The remaining three are people who'd come into contact with people later diagnosed with Covid-19.

"Patient 999", a 26-year-old resident of Quang Nam, is the husband and brother-in-law of two previously confirmed Covid-19 patients who were treated at the Da Nang Hospital. He is being treated at the Quang Nam General Hospital.

"Patient 1,000," a 33-year-old Filipino man in Khanh Hoa, is an expert who flew from South Korea to the south-central province's Cam Ranh Airport on August 14, and was quarantined upon arrival. He is being treated at the Khanh Hoa Hospital for Tropical Diseases.

"Patient 1,007" is a 27-year-old resident of Ho Chi Minh City who had landed July 29 in Hanoi's Noi Bai Airport on a repatriation flight from Equatorial Guinea and quarantined at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases on arrival. He self-quarantined himself at home in HCMC starting August 14, before testing positive for the novel coronavirus on August 19. He is now under treatment at HCMC's Cu Chi field hospital.

Also Thursday evening, "Patient 994," an 87-year-old man, was taken off Vietnam's tally of Covid-19 patients after testing negative for the virus thrice. He had been recorded as a Covid-19 patient in Hanoi Thursday morning. However, the octogenarian is still being monitored at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi's Dong Anh District.

Nine Covid-19 patients were confirmed recovered Thursday - one at the Da Nang Lung Hospital and the rest at the city's Hoa Vang District medical center.

The health ministry also said Thursday that the country's biggest Covid-19 outbreaks in Da Nang, Quang Nam and Hai Duong have "basically been put under control."

The northern province of Hai Duong has not recorded any new case in the last two days, while "suspected cases in Da Nang and Quang Nam have been traced, tested and quarantined" per Covid-19 prevention protocols.

While the number of new cases in Da Nang and Quang Nam has markedly dropped of late, new cases could still spring up, so authorities should continue to be on the lookout to detect and trace them, it added.

Of the 1,007 Covid-19 cases recorded to date in Vietnam, 542 have recovered, 439 are active cases and 25 have died.
At least 150 guests invited to the wedding of an employee of Kahama Water Authority in Shinyanga Region, Tanzania were last Sunday, August 16 left disappointed and confused after the ceremony failed to happen due to lack of funds.

It is alleged the brother of Ehprahim Jonasi, the groom, stole the funds and escaped to an unknown destination ahead of the anticipated wedding, which was to be held at a social hall in Kahama.

Jonasi was to exchange wedding vows with Bisunga Nyabusani, an employee of Kahawa water board.

The couple had already printed invitation cards and gave them to at least 150 guests, who contributed to the wedding kitty.

One of the guests, Marco Jackson, arrived at the Niteshi social hall in Kahama at around 7am Sunday, and found the wedding venue nearly empty, with only a handful of the invited guests confused over the absence of both the groom and the bride.

I have been here for three hours now, and there are no signs that the wedding will take place. Guests are coming and leaving almost immediately. When I asked one of my fellow wedding attendees, he told me that the ceremony has been cancelled. Why cant the wedding organisers come out and tell us the truth? posed Jackson as quoted by Global Publishers.

What they have done is inappropriate. You cant invite people to a ceremony, then cancel it on the day that the event is to take place. Worse still, fail to communicate why the function is being called off, added Jackson.

Another disappointed guest, Zephania Kisandu, said the couple that was to wed Sunday, should refund all financial contributions made by the invitees.

I contributed Tsh50, 000 (Ksh2,300) to their wedding kitty, used my own money as bus-fare to get here, then I am told that the wedding has been called off; and those informing me of the cancellation are not even the man and woman supposed to exchange wedding vows, but my fellow guests! That is improper. I only need a refund of my money, said Zephania.

Another disappointed person was the events chief catering officer, Aziza Haji, who said she had used her money to prepare food for at least 150 guests, and that she was promised to be paid after Jonasi and Bisungas reception was held.

I brought the food at 7pm Sunday evening. The bride and groom had told me to prepare a meal that would be enough for at least 150 people. It is now midnight, there are no people to be seen here. Who will eat this meal, and how will I recover the money I used on preparing this food? posed Aziza, who revealed she risked losing Tsh850,000 (Ksh40,000).

Aziza and other invited guests later Sunday filed a report at a Kahama police station.

The wedding committee chairperson, Josephat Bukwimba, told police that the treasurer, who is the grooms biological brother, took off with the contributed funds amounting to hundreds of thousands of shillings.

We do not know what has befallen him. Our phone calls to him are not going through, and we do not know where he is. We have already filed a report at a Kahama police station. We apologise for inconveniencing the wedding guests, it wasnt our wish that things pan out this way, said Bukwimba.

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Dubai Trade  DP World, UAE Regions single window platform for cross-border trade  has announced the launch of ZADI, a unified food import platform aimed at facilitating the import and re-export of food shipments throughout Dubai ports.

The first-of-its-kind platform in the Middle East is part of Dubai Trades plan to be the leading integrated platform in all import and re-export services. It also aligns with the UAE plan for the post-Covid-19 era that will ensure the countrys robust recovery and development, a statement said.

Initiated by the Dubai City Makers of the General Secretariat of the Executive Council of Dubai, and through synergy of efforts between DP World-UAE Region, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Customs and Dubai Trade; the platform is positioned to help over 18,000 companies in Dubai execute 360,000 transactions annually via its streamlined process.

Mohammed Al Muallem, CEO and Managing Director, DP World, UAE Region, said: The launch of ZADI by Dubai Trade comes as part of our commitment to fulfilling the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make the UAE one of the leading countries worldwide in the post-pandemic economic recovery. We can achieve this from lessons learned from the crisis and develop innovative solutions to combat future effects of the pandemic.

Al Muallem added: The core function of the ZADI platform is protecting the food supply chain from monopoly and disruption, as this may lead to spoilage of food crops, which will be difficult to compensate once the farming season is over. We efficiently connect food traders with food sources, enabling them to easily access food supplies. The presence of DP World in more than 50 countries makes this possible. Food traders can also transfer their shipments, choosing from a wide array of DP Worlds shipping line partners. ZADIs integration with Dubai Customs and Dubai Municipality helps to seamlessly facilitate the import and re-export process. This end-to-end integration allows us to offer our online services and logistics capabilities to the world, helping secure vital food supplies, both locally and regionally.

Typically, Dubai Customs conduct security and customs inspections at Jebel Ali Port and Dubai Municipality teams check food safety and quality. The new system enables customers to submit their requests for both food or customs inspection via one unified platform which reduces their operational costs in addition to saving time and effort.

Eng. Dawood Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality, said: ZADI guarantees distinctive short- and long-term benefits. On a short-term phase, it simplifies the integration with Dubai Customs, to control the food import and re-export process, ensuring that food shipments comply with our standards of quality. It also unifies service delivery channels by ensuring that there is no duplication of any processes. In the long-term, the platform facilitates the release of imported food and unifies service delivery channels to meet the customers expectations. ZADI also gives decision-makers proper insight by providing integrated and comprehensive data which enables them to track local and external food supplies to secure our strategic food reserve.

Through ZADI, traders can access food products either to sell in the local market or for re-export. They can easily request food evaluation form for the first phase instead of accessing several websites. The unified platform enables them to submit their requests for both food or customs inspection. Thus, the process is faster and more efficient. This helps companies reduce their operational costs, increase their profitability and eliminate manual transaction costs.

Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director General of Dubai Customs, said: Since the world after COVID-19 is unlikely to return to the world that was, we are confident about ZADIs capabilities of being a Game-Changer in food trading business. In Dubai Customs, we deal with food shipments carefully and sensitively. Through the new platform, we will accelerate customs inspections and clearance of food shipments. ZADI facilitates our transactions through the integration of parties involved in food trading  especially Dubai Municipality. This will reduce the time and effort needed for inspection. The platform also allows us to plan and manage our operations around DP World operations and ship arrival schedules. We applaud the efforts made by the Dubai Trade team to build interconnectivity in our systems.

ZADI adds new capabilities to Dubai Trade portal which gives Dubai a competitive advantage in attracting more business and trade. The platform not only contributes to the sustainability of the strategic food reserve, but also reinforces Dubais effective response capacity to meet current and future societal needs.TradeArabia News Service
OTTAWA, ON, Aug. 20, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - The National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC), which represents Canada's major air carriers (Air Canada, Air Transat, Jazz Aviation LP and WestJet), wrote today to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, congratulating her on her appointment and urgently requesting the development of a sectoral support plan for aviation. A copy of the letter is available at www.airlinecouncil.ca under Resources.

"Our members look forward to working with Minister Freeland in her new responsibilities. While we would have preferred that our first letter to the Minister did not move immediately to policy requirements, the devastating impact of the pandemic on our industry, and the reality that there is no clear timeframe for when government will allow aviation to move forward, requires us to urgently look at sectoral support for airlines", said NACC President and CEO Mike McNaney.

Over the past several months NACC members have worked diligently with federal and international aviation authorities to develop and implement global best practices to safely and responsibly re-start commercial aviation. Based on science-based and risk-based frameworks created by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), as well as the federal government's release of Flight Plan, Canada's major carriers continue to invest millions of dollars in new procedures and operating practices to protect the health of passengers and employees. Other jurisdictions globally have begun to safely restart their aviation sectors domestically, and on a targeted basis internationally, based on ICAO's work and their respective domestic plans.

Canada however has chosen to remain at Stage Zero, and has not agreed to accept targeted international re-opening such as with the European Union, or achieve a consistent approach within Canada concerning quarantine and travel measures for domestic flights.

"Canada's major carriers impact every sector of the economy, in every region of the country, in communities large and small. If aviation is to remain at Stage Zero for an indeterminate time period due to government policy, we need to begin work now on measures to sustain the industry. While the federal government has put forth non-sectoral support programs for all industries, those programs were not designed in the context of a specific industry remaining at Stage Zero, with no indication of when it can methodically re-open" concluded McNaney.

The NACC's letter includes a series of principles it believes should be followed in developing a sectoral support program, including ensuring assistance does not distort the competitive landscape of the sector, and benchmarking against current programs in the European Union and United States.

About the National Airlines Council of Canada:

The National Airlines Council of Canada represents Canada's largest national and international passenger air carriers: Air Canada, Air Transat, Jazz Aviation LP and WestJet. It promotes safe, sustainable and competitive air travel by advocating for the development of policies, regulations and legislation to foster a world-class transportation system. Collectively, its member airlines carry over 80 million passengers annually, directly employ over 60,000 people and are a critical component of Canada's overall air transport and tourism sector which supports more than 630,000 jobs.

SOURCE National Airlines Council of Canada

For further information: For media requests, please contact: Francesca Iacurto, Senior Director, Public Affairs, National Airlines Council of Canada, [email protected], Telephone: 613.231.7223 ext.104

Related Links

https://airlinecouncil.ca


When paleontologists digging in a quarry in southwestern China uncovered the nearly complete skeleton of a giant, dolphin-like marine reptile known as an ichthyosaur, they didn't expect to find another fossil in its stomach. This second skeleton belonged to a four-meter-long, lizard-like aquatic reptile known as a thalattosaur and is one of the longest fossils ever found in the stomach of a prehistoric marine reptile. While the researchers can't say for sure whether the thalattosaur was scavenged or preyed upon, their work could be the oldest direct evidence that Triassic marine reptiles like ichthyosaurs--previously thought to be cephalopod feeders--were apex megapredators. The findings appear August 20th in the journal iScience.

"If you look across all the similar marine reptiles that lived in the age of dinosaurs, we've actually never found something articulated like this in the stomach," says co-author Ryosuke Motani, a professor of paleobiology at the University of California, Davis. "Our ichthyosaur's stomach contents weren't etched by stomach acid, so it must have died quite soon after ingesting this food item. At first, we just didn't believe it, but after spending several years visiting the dig site and looking at the same specimens, we finally were able to swallow what we were seeing."

Because stomach contents are rarely found in marine fossils, researchers rely on tooth and jaw shapes to learn what prehistoric species may have eaten. While prehistoric apex predators are typically thought to have large teeth with sharp cutting edges, some modern predatory species like crocodiles use blunt teeth to consume large prey items with grasping force instead of cutting. Ichthyosaurs share these blunter teeth, but with no direct evidence of large prey consumption in these prehistoric marine reptiles, scientists believed that they fed on small prey like cephalopods.

However, the discovery of the giant thalattosaur in the stomach of the ichthyosaur found by Motani, Da-Yong Jiang, a paleontologist at Peking University in China, and their team suggests that this was not the case. "Now, we can seriously consider that they were eating big animals, even when they had grasping teeth," says Motani. "It's been suggested before that maybe a cutting edge was not crucial, and our discovery really supports that. It's pretty clear that this animal could process this large food item using blunt teeth."

While the researchers now know that the ichthyosaur could eat animals as large as the thalattosaur, they don't know if it killed this individual, or simply scavenged it. "Nobody was there filming it," says Motani. However, there is reason to believe this was not a case of scavenging: modern marine decomposition studies suggest that if left to decay, the thalattosaur's limbs would disintegrate and detach before the tail. Instead, the researchers found the opposite in these fossils. The thalattosaur's limbs were at least partially attached to its body in the stomach, while a disconnected tail was found many yards away, leading the researchers to believe it was ripped off and left behind by a predator like the ichthyosaur.

Whether or not the ichthyosaur killed its last meal, the fossil provides the oldest direct evidence that these giant marine reptiles consumed animals larger than humans. "We now have a really solid articulated fossil in the stomach of a marine reptile for the first time," Motani says. "Before, we guessed that they must have eaten these big things, but now, we can say for sure that they did eat large animals. This also suggests that megapredation was probably more common than we previously thought."

The team is still excavating the site where the pair of fossils were found, which has now been turned into a museum. "We've been digging in that particular quarry for more than ten years now, and still, new things are coming out," says Motani. "At this point, it's beyond our initial expectations, and we'll just have to see what we'll discover next."

###

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the National Geographic Society Committee for Research and Exploration.

iScience, Jiang et al.: "Evidence supporting predation of 4-meter marine reptile by Triassic megapredator." https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(20)30534-4

iScience (@iScience_CP) is an open-access journal from Cell Press that provides a platform for original research and interdisciplinary thinking in the life, physical, and earth sciences. The primary criterion for publication in iScience is a significant contribution to a relevant field combined with robust results and underlying methodology. Visit: http://www.cell.com/iscience. To receive Cell Press media alerts, contact press@cell.com.
Testa was also the attorney for the state GOP when it sued the Murphy administration, challenging Murphys right to borrow almost $10 billion without approval from voters. Murphy is borrowing the money as an emergency measure in response to COVID-19s affect on state revenues.

The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that Murphy does have the right to borrow the funds.

Murphy, a Democrat, has said the states 6.2 million registered voters will get a ballot beginning Oct. 5, along with a prepaid return envelope. Ballots postmarked by Nov. 3 will be accepted up to a week later.

Voters can also go to the polls on Election Day and fill out a provisional paper ballot instead, and those who have handicaps that prevent them from filling out a paper ballot will be permitted to vote by machine.

Voters who fill out vote-by-mail ballots have the option of returning them postage-paid through the U.S. Postal Service, by dropping them in numerous secure drop boxes that will be distributed throughout each county, by hand delivering them to the Atlantic County Board of Elections in the Old Court House in Mays Landing, or by giving them to a poll worker on Election Day at their polling place.
Photo: Jorge Silva/AFP via Getty Images

It was widely assumed that Robert Muellers investigation would uncover what, if anything, lay at the bottom of the bizarre and sometimes creepy level of deference Donald Trump extends to Russia. Mueller found some clues, the largest of which was a campaign negotiation to give Trump rights to a Moscow building project that stood to hand him hundreds of millions of dollars in profit at zero risk, and the secrecy of which gave Russia blackmail leverage over Trump.

But Mueller never uncovered the full extent of Trumps financial ties to Moscow. Neither Mueller nor the Southern District prosecutors sought out Trumps financial records or obtained his tax returns, Jeffrey Toobin reports. The mystery of Trumps solicitousness to Putin remains unresolved. And he continues to give reasons for suspicion.

Earlier this week, Trump announced a pullback of 12,000 troops stationed in Germany. He framed the decision as punishment for a long and amorphous list of offenses over a quarter century, including both unspecified trade deals and alleged delinquency on bills.

We dont want to be the suckers anymore, Trump said. The United States has been taken advantage of for 25 years, both on trade and on the military. Were protecting Germany, so were reducing the force because theyre not paying their bills.

The bills do not exist. But even assuming Trump is referring to Germanys military expenditures, how exactly is Germany supposed to meet these demands, given that he also added unspecified economic offenses to his list of provocations? It seems much more likely that his intent was to punish Germany, and trade and delinquent bills was the pretext.

Also this week, Trump gave a surreal interview to Axios reporter Jonathan Swan about his most recent phone call with Vladimir Putin. Swan asked Trump if he raised any questions about reports, which had been included in his Presidents Daily Brief, that Russia had paid bounties to the Taliban for killing American soldiers. Trump said he hadnt. He insisted the intelligence never reached my desk, which is false.

Swan asked Trump about the fact that Russia supplies weapons to the Taliban, which has obviously been fighting American troops in Afghanistan. Well, we supplied weapons when they were fighting Russia, too, he explained.

The distinction between how Trump processes Germanys self-interest and Russias self-interest is telling. If Germany has done something Trump deems contrary to American interests  sell us too many high-tech goods, or fail to maintain a large enough army  he treats it as an offense requiring punishment. If Russia has done something against American interests  arm a radical militia were fighting  he simply accepts it as natural. Self-interest is an excuse for Russia, but not for Germany.

Trumps decision to pick a fight with Germany has two curious aspects. One is that it doesnt come from the normal channels that usually drive his policy moves. His policy advisers havent been pushing for a German troop drawdown, nor have any talking heads on Fox News made this a priority. It is one of the very few Trump initiatives that seems to have sprung fully formed from his own brain.

The second aspect is that, of course, driving a wedge between the U.S. and Germany is a long-term Russian foreign-policy goal. And Trump could have merely framed his decision as a budget-saving move, or a desire to increase the troops presence elsewhere in Europe. Instead he presented his decision specifically as a punishment for Americas ally.

Again, none of this proves Trump has some kind of corrupt ongoing relationship with Putin. Maybe he just likes Putin and happens to agree with a lot of his views. But the notion that he has been cleared of any untoward ties, that Mueller proved that Trumps stream of lies and obfuscation about his connections with Russia turned out not to hide anything, is simply not the case.

If Trump wanted to demonstrate his innocence, he would follow every previous president for the last 40 years and release his financial information. He might be innocent after all. But he has never acted like an innocent person would.
The jurisdiction tug of war between the Mumbai Police and Bihar Police with regard to the Sushant Singh Rajput case somewhat reached a resolution with the Supreme Court handing the case over to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Actress Koena Mitra, who says she has been following the case closely, hopes that we don't get distracted and follow up on the case until there are solid answers about what happened with Sushant.

"I don't know if this case will ever come to an end and give us answers. There's a lot happening. So far what I've observed is that something keeps happening that diverts our attention to something else. And people will forget the matter. But I hope this doesn't happen," she said, speaking to Hindustan Times.

"I just hope we don't disappoint them. Politicians disappoint karein, Bollywood disappoint kare toh chalta hai, but law shouldn't disappoint us. We lose hope and faith if that happens. I like the josh and the way the public and many actors are fighting for justice for Sushant," she added.

Koena further said, "The way the cops from Bihar were treated forced me to think there is something fishy about the case. There are many theories, but my only concern is that the judiciary of the country shouldn't disappoint. His family and fans have a right to know how Sushant passed away."

On the nepotism and insider-outsider debate that Sushant's death sparked in the country, Koena said, "It has made many think before they start idolising somebody today. It's important to think before you empower people without any proof. The truth lies beyond the colourful packaging."

A special investigation team has already been formed by the CBI to investigate Sushant's death. They will soon visit Mumbai to conduct their probe.

ALSO READ: CBI For Sushant: Late Actor's Family Thanks Fans, Friends And Well-Wishers Who Stood By Them

ALSO READ: Sushant Singh Rajput Case: CBI Team To Visit Mumbai Soon, Issues First Statement After SC Verdict




CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The euro depreciated against its major counterparts in European deals on Thursday amid risk aversion, as minutes from the Federal Reserve's latest meeting indicated considerable concern about the outlook for the U.S. economy.



Worries about a resurgence of coronavirus infection in Europe also weighed, as Germany recorded more than 1.000 new cases for a third day and Spain reported its highest number of daily infections since April.



Norway said on Wednesday it will impose a 10-day quarantine on all people arriving from Britain, Austria, Greece and Ireland from Aug. 22.



The European Central Bank will publish the account of the monetary policy meeting held on July 15-16 at 7:30 am ET. The central bank has committed to stabilize the economy, but it is unlikely to make any increases in its current programmes.



Data from Eurostat showed that Eurozone's construction output growth sharply slowed in June, after a strong recovery in May following three months of steep declines.



Construction output rose 4 percent from May, when it surged 29.4 percent, revised from 27.9 percent.



The euro pulled back from its previous highs of 1.1869 against the greenback and 125.78 against the yen, falling to a 6-day low of 1.1812 and an 8-day low of 125.25, respectively. The euro is seen finding support around 1.15 against the greenback and 122.00 against the yen.



The European currency edged lower to 1.0783 against the franc and 0.9026 against the pound, down from its prior high of 1.0842 and a 3-day high of 0.9069, respectively. On the downside, 1.06 and 0.88 are possibly seen as the next support levels for the euro against the franc and the pound, respectively.



After rising to 1.5679 at 3:30 am ET, the euro eased off to 1.5631 against the loonie. If the euro slides further, it may find support around the 1.54 level.



The euro, however, trended higher against the kiwi and the aussie, reaching a 2-day high of 1.8130 and a 6-day high of 1.6530, respectively. The euro is likely test resistance near 1.84 against the kiwi and 1.68 versus the aussie.



Looking ahead, at 7:30 am ET, the European Central Bank releases the account of the monetary policy meeting of the Governing Council held on July 15-16.



The U.S. weekly jobless claims for the week ended August 15 and leading index for July are set for release in the New York session.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone bask in the glow of the cinema screen in 'La La Land'. (Credit: Lionsgate)

Industry body Cinema First has launched a new campaign, called #LoveCinema, aimed at encouraging the UK population back to the multiplex.

The centrepiece of the campaign is a montage of clips from films old and new, featuring more than 50 movies  including upcoming blockbusters like Tenet, No Time to Die and Wonder Woman 1984.

The montage was crafted by Empire Design and also features memorable moments from some of cinemas most celebrated classics, from The Wizard of Oz to The Shawshank Redemption.

Read more: Russell Crowe on why audiences love the big screen

Its set to three separate versions of This Little Light of Mine, with renditions by the Rend Collective, Dionne Warwick and one created especially for the campaign.

Cinemas in England were given the green light to open their doors from 4 July, having been closed for almost four months as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

New releases have rubbed shoulders with classics in recent weeks, ahead of the release of Christopher Nolans time-bending Tenet on 26 August  the first major blockbuster of the summer.

Read more: Tickets finally on sale for Tenet

Iain Jacob, chairman of Cinema First, said: As an industry that employs over 20,000 dedicated people, of which 40% of are under the age of 30, they need our support.

Cinemas are ready to welcome audiences back, and we are calling on the great British film-loving public to escape back to the cinema and enjoy a safer big screen experience.

'Tenet' is the first big blockbuster of the summer, arriving as cinemas open after the lifting of the coronavirus lockdown. (Credit: Warner Bros)

Cinemas currently open in England are abiding by rules in order to enforce social distancing and minimise the risk of spreading COVID-19.

Allocated seating and pre-booked screenings are in operation, with start times staggered to reduce the numbers of people congregating in foyers and corridors.

Read more: What to expect from COVID-19 era cinemas

Customers are now asked to wear face coverings until they take their seat in the auditorium.

Since cinemas opened their doors, classic films have been attracting audiences, including Star Wars classic Empire Strikes Back and a re-release of Christopher Nolans Inception to prepare audiences for Tenet.
Saudi Arabias new strategy to have the OPEC+ laggards in production cuts fall in line with their quotas looks to be succeeding as the Saudi Energy Minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, is forcing non-compliant members of the pact to compensate for previous overproduction.

According to Bloombergs Grant Smith, the Saudi princes strategy to pressure quota cheaters such as Iraq and Nigeria seems to have started to bear fruit. Instead of taking on the additional burden with the production cuts as it did in the past, the Saudi Prince is now insisting that those countries that have pumped above their quotas between May and July should make up for their own poor compliance in August and September.

This new strategy seems to be working, at least partially, as Iraq and Nigeria  although not complying fully with their quotas  are making efforts and promise extra cuts on top of their share of the reduction.

According to Bloomberg estimates, Iraq and Nigeria both showed compliance rates of 85 percent with their quotas, which is as high as they have ever shown in the past, and in contrast with previous deals when Iraq wasnt complying at allwhen the Saudi Prince wasnt the one running the show.

Earlier this month, OPECs second-largest producer, Iraq, promised additional cuts of around 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) this month in order to compensate for the lack of compliance with the OPEC+ agreement in the previous months. Related: Saudi Oil Minister: Oil Demand Could See A 97% Recovery By The End Of 2020

The OPEC+ panel, the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC), said after its meeting on Wednesday that the overall OPEC+ compliance with the cuts was 97 percent in July.

The underperforming Members of the Committee reaffirmed their commitment to compensate for the shortfalls in May, June, and July 2020 by the end of September 2020, OPEC said, adding that all underperforming participating countries should submit their plans compensation cuts to the OPEC Secretariat by the end of next week, August 28.

The Committee emphasized that achieving 100% conformity from all participating countries in the DoC and compensating for the shortfalls in May, June and July 2020 is not only fair, but vital for the ongoing rebalancing efforts and to help deliver long-term oil market stability, OPEC said.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Kuwait is running out of money for the salaries of public servants and will have no money to cover these after November, the countrys finance minister told parliament.

Unless oil prices rise, the money being used now, withdrawals from the General Reserve Fund, will simply be depleted, Middle East Monitor reports, citing the official, Barak Al-Sheeran.

Kuwaits budget deficit hit $18.44 billion in fiscal 2019-2020, which ended in March. The deficit will widen this fiscal year on the back of the oil price collapse and the pandemic, potentially reaching $45.78 billion (14 billion dinars). This is up from a previous deficit projection of $25.18 billion (7.7 billion dinars).

In January this year, when Kuwait was budgeting for fiscal 2020-2021, the size of the deficit stipulated in the budget was $3.33 billion, based on oil price projections of $55 a barrel of Brent. The budget gap was 19 percent higher than the deficit for the previous fiscal year as the country relies almost entirely on oil revenues for its income and had not been able to shake off the effects of the previous oil price crash before this one hit.

To avoid depleting the fund it uses to cover the current shortfall and keep paying salaries to its administration, Kuwaits parliament is debating a new debt law that will untie the governments hands to borrow up to $65.4 billion (20 billion dinars) over the next 30 years.

The General Reserve Fund shed as much as $13.04 billion (4 billion dinars) in just a hundred days since the pandemic hit, according to Kuwaits sovereign wealth fund, the Kuwait Investment Authority.

Kuwait is one of the six Gulf economies that are too dependent on oil revenues for their own comfort. In a recent forecast from analysts polled by Reuters, the Gulf economies were all expected to contract this year before they rebounded in 2021. Judging by the latest from Kuwait, not all would be able to rebound so soon.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
MetService is forecasting a continued period of unsettled conditions, with several lows and associated fronts bringing wet weather for many in the coming days.

The upper North Island got a brief taste of yesterday's active weather in the morning as the first of a series of fronts swept across, bringing thundery weather for some.

A couple of frontal rain bands had thunderstorms embedded in them, and there was some accompanying lightning activity over Northland and Auckland," says MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane.

Rain and showers feature for most of the North Island today as the fronts move over, gradually spreading down the western South Island, where some areas are under a Heavy Rain Watch.

The ranges of Buller and northern Westland could get a period of heavier falls on Friday."

A few showers linger over the western parts of the country into Saturday. However, by the end of the day attention turns back to the upper North Island as the next wave of weather progresses from the Tasman Sea.

Sunday looks to mirror todays template, with the rainy weather spreading across the North Island and upper South Island, bringing a close to what has been an unsettled weather week.

Those in Canterbury who have been waiting for anything more than the scraps of drizzle of late may get a brief respite early next week with hints of some rain from a low to the east of the country
What is artificial intelligence?

What is Artificial Intelligence? What do the words 'artificial' and 'intelligence' mean? And what are the consequences of developing AI?

Instead of reiterating received definitions or surveying the field from a disciplinary perspective, Peter and Suman put two differing standpoints into conversation in their new book What is Artificial Intelligence? to engage with these questions and more.

Peter is an AI engineer: with his applied approach, he focuses on how to make AI work. Suman is a humanities researcher: his approach is conceptual and so he concentrates on what people and academics mean when they say 'AI'.

Covering issues such as the meaning of 'automation' and 'language', What is Artificial Intelligence? A Conversation between an AI Engineer and a Humanities Researcher outlines some of the processes through which these concepts may be technologically grounded as AI. The book also covers the important issue of policy, discussing matters such as rights and responsibilities and comparing different countries' data usage and state-level strategies.

This book will interest a broad readership, ranging from the general informed reader to those working in areas such as computing, philosophy or current affairs analysis. The book is appropriate for undergraduate students and upwards, or those whose interest is more conceptual than the general user of technology.

What is Artificial Intelligence? A Conversation between an AI Engineer and a Humanities Researcher retails for US$98 / 85 (hardcover) and is also available in electronic formats. To order or know more about the book, visit http://www. worldscientific. com/ worldscibooks/ 10. 1142/ q0255 .

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About the Authors

Peter H Tu earned his BS degree in Systems Design Engineering from University of Waterloo, Canada, and DPhil in Engineering Science from Oxford University, UK. In 1990, Dr Tu joined Sony Research in Tokyo, Japan, where he developed a number of computer vision algorithms for man-machine interfaces. While at Oxford University, his research was devoted to the development of computer vision methods for the automatic analysis of seismic imagery. In 1997 he became a senior research scientist working at General Electric's Global Research Center. In partnership with Lockheed Martin, he has developed a set of latent fingerprint matching algorithms for the FBI Automatic Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS). He has also developed optical methods for the precise measurement of 3D parts in a manufacturing setting. Dr Tu was the principal investigator for the FBI ReFace project, tasked with developing an automatic system for face reconstruction from skeletal remains. In 2006, he was the principal investigator for the National Institute of Justice's 3D Face Enhancer Program. This work was focused on improving face recognition from poor quality surveillance video. In 2008, Dr Tu led the GE video analytics team that participated in the DHS STIDP demonstration program--the goal of STIDP is to establish an effective defence against suicide-bomber attack. He is the principal investigator for the DARPA-sponsored effort associated with group-level behaviour recognition at a distance. Currently Dr Tu is GE's Chief Scientist for Artificial Intelligence. He has helped to develop a large number of analytic capabilities, including: person detection from fixed and moving platforms, crowd segmentation, multi-view tracking, person reacquisition, face modelling, face-expression analysis, face recognition at a distance, face verification from photo IDs and articulated motion analysis. Dr Tu has over 50 peer-reviewed publications and has filed more than 50 US patents.

Suman Gupta earned his MPhil degree in English from University of Delhi, India, and DPhil in English Literature from Oxford University, UK. Prior to joining the Open University in 2000, Gupta lectured at Nottingham University and the University of Surrey Roehampton (now Roehampton University). He has led a series of international collaborative projects since 2002, including: Globalization, Identity Politics and Social Conflict, 2002-2006; The Nigerian Film Industry and Independent Publishing in English in India, 2006-2008; a cluster of projects on English Studies in Non-Anglophone Contexts, 2007-2014; Framing Financial Crisis and Protest, Northwest and Southeast Europe, 2014-2016; and Entrepreneurial Literary Theory, 2016-2017. He has held visiting positions in Delhi University, India; Peking University, China; University of Texas Austin, USA; Federal University of Campinas, Brazil; CRASSH, Cambridge University, and Wolfson College, Oxford University, UK. He is Honorary Senior Research Fellow at Roehampton University. Gupta has authored 15 and edited 10 books, and published around 60 scholarly papers and chapters, in the areas of literary studies, cultural theory and politics. Books include: Corporate Capitalism and Political Philosophy (Pluto 2002), The Theory and Reality of Democracy (Continuum 2006), Globalization and Literature (Polity 2009), Imagining Iraq (Macmillan 2011), Philology and Global English Studies (Macmillan 2015), Usurping Suicide (Zed 2017, co-authored with M Katsarska, T Spyros and M Hajimichael).

About World Scientific Publishing Co.

World Scientific Publishing is a leading international independent publisher of books and journals for the scholarly, research and professional communities. World Scientific collaborates with prestigious organisations like the Nobel Foundation and US National Academies Press to bring high quality academic and professional content to researchers and academics worldwide. The company publishes about 600 books and over 140 journals in various fields annually. To find out more about World Scientific, please visit http://www. worldscientific. com .

For more information, contact Natalya at nkahn@wspc.com.

This story has been published on: 2020-08-20. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
"Da Nang Kitchen" volunteers prepare free meals to send to hospitals and quarantine zones in Da Nang. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Phuong.

Some visitors from across Vietnam could have left Da Nang, Vietnams biggest Covid-19 hotspot, but decided to open a kitchen to feed those in quarantine for free instead.

When Vietnam lifted its social distancing campaign in late April, Hanoian Tran Phi Long rushed to Da Nang to open a beer club overlooking Han River to expand his restaurant chain.

For over three months afterwards, Vietnam did not record a single case of Covid-19 community transmission. While international flights remain suspended since late March, domestic tourism flourished in the three-month period, especially in July.

Long, decorating his restaurant on Tran Van Tru Street, slated opening for the first day of August. But about a week before this anticipated joy, Da Nang on July 25 announced Vietnams first local infection in over three months.

Three days later, the city placed its more than 1.1 million residents under semi-lockdown, with all means of transportation in and out suspended. Long, stuck in the city, grew increasingly nervous as daily infections soared across the central city. On July 31, it recorded the biggest spike of 45 cases in a single day.

On August 1, the planned opening ceremony of Longs beer club, there were no congratulatory toasts or flowers - but dozens of mask-wearers preparing over 2,000 meals destined for hospitals and other locked down areas in the city.

Long arrived in the kitchen at 8 a.m. He put on a mask, a plastic hairnet and started to prepare rice, soup and desserts for two quarantine zone deliveries at 10:30 a.m and 5 p.m. Wary and exhausted, he looked nothing like a senior manager of a restaurant chain by 9 p.m.

The location previously earmarked for Longs beer club became the third volunteer "Da Nang Kitchen", founded by Nguyen Truc Chi, a Saigonese stranded in Da Nang since July 28.

Over 100 food and beverage volunteers, including several top restaurant managers, responded to her call to set up a community kitchen supplying hospitals and quarantine zones.

The volunteer kitchen, sourcing all ingredients from Da Lat, operates in total compliance with food safety regulations. All volunteers must be tested for the novel coronavirus and report their health status daily. Three shifts normally include around 10 volunteers each.

Meal boxes set out by "Da Nang Kitchen" volunteers. The menu changes every day. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Phuong.

Long and his team of 20 said they would set the dream of making money aside and together support Da Nang amid the public health crisis.

Preparing meal boxes proved a challenge for first-timer Long, who once botched a 300-serving rice order.

Before Da Nang entered semi-lockdown in late July, over 80,000 tourists fled the city in the wake of new infections. However, Bich Huong, a resort communications director, chose to stay put in the city to protect her parents in the Mekong Delta against infection risks.

Huong learned about Chis Da Nang Kitchen initiative and joined up. On peak days, the new volunteer only slept three to four hours at a stretch.

Bich Huong (left) and a volunteer sticks "Da Nang Kitchen" logo on meal boxes. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Phuong.

Da Nang Kitchen, in close cooperation with the citys health department, has been running over two weeks. All meals are screened before being distributed by medical staff. For now, the philanthropists survive on community donations.

Long feels happiest on mornings when no new infections are reported in Da Nang, hoping the city would soon be able to contain the virus.

Huong, meanwhile, enjoys her "new job" but plans to fly home immediately when Da Nang is Covid-19 free.
Late actor Sushant Singh Rajputs father has issued a clarification, saying that only he and his daughters should be treated as representatives of the family, and that anybody else claiming to represent Sushant (excluding their legal counsel) does not have his consent. In the wake of the actors death, several people have emerged from the woodwork to talk about him.

It is hereby declared that I am the legal heir of late Sushant Singh Rajput and in that capacity, any arrangement that Sushant had during his lifetime for the engagement of any lawyer, Chartered Accountant and other professionals came to an end upon the death of Sushant and thereafter no lawyer, Chartered Accountant or other person is entitled to represent the estate of Sushant without my express consent, the actors father, KK Singh, said in a statement.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected actor Rhea Chakrabortys petition to transfer the investigation from Patna to Mumbai in Sushants death case. The court said that the Bihar government was competent to give consent to CBI for probing the Patna FIR. Rhea has been accused by Sushants father of abetting his suicide, siphoning off his funds, among other allegations. Sushant died by suicide on June 14.

Also read: Sushant Singh Rajput death case goes to CBI, Kangana Ranaut says shes thrilled

Sushants father continued in his statement, It is also made clear that only I and my daughters comprise the family of Sushant and we have authorized Varun Singh (SKV Law Offices, Commercial) as our Advocate and through him Vikas Singh, Sr. Advocate, to represent the family. Any other person claiming himself to be family member does not have my consent.

After the SC verdict, the actors family issued a joint statement. Now that the countrys premier investigating agency has taken over, we believe that all those involved in the dastardly crime will be brought to justice, the family said.

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Coronavirus is continuing its spread across Syria, with new infections and deaths reported in all different areas of control.

The Syrian Ministry of Health recorded five deaths and 80 new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours.

On Wednesday, SANA quoted the ministry as saying that the total number of deaths from the virus has reached 73, and the total number of infections hit 1,844, while six new recoveries were recorded, bringing the total number of recoveries so far to 431.

In the opposition areas, the Free Aleppo Health Directorate recorded today the first death due to the coronavirus in northern Syria. According to a statement issued by the directorate, an 80-year-old woman with chronic kidney failure died as a result of being infected with the coronavirus in al-Quds Hospital in Dana, north of Idleb.

Following the incident, the al-Quds Hospital imposed a quarantine on the entire hospital.

To date, the number of infections in northern Syria is 54, distributed between 26 in Idleb and 28 in Aleppo, of which 46 have been cured.

Last Friday, the Syrian Interim Government issued a set of instructions to limit the spread of the virus in the region, announcing the provision of batches of face masks, free of charge.

The ministry stressed, the continued closure of the internal crossing points, the imposition of face masks in public places at risk of paying a penalty, and applying the same rules on people in restaurants, cafes and public parks, who should adhere to the rules of social distancing.

The Health Authority of the Autonomous Administration announced on Wednesday that 34 new cases were recorded, 14 of which were detected yesterday, while all precautionary and preventive measures were absent in its regions, with people visiting regime-controlled areas and coming back.

This brings the number of infections in the areas under the Autonomous Administrations control to 144, with 34 new cases distributed as follows: 13 in Hassakeh, 11 in Qamishli, five in al-Malikiyah, four in Amouda, and one case in Rumailan.

The Health Authority did not reveal any new deaths, which keeps the toll at 15 in the Autonomous Administrations control areas, while eight new recoveries have been recorded, which raises the number of recovered cases to 36.

The rate at which the Kurdish Autonomous Administrations Health Authority has been announcing new cases has significantly increased, noting that the first official announcement was through a press conference held by the head of the Health Authority of the Autonomous Administration, Joan Mustafa, in early May.

SY 24 reported that the family of a woman who had passed due to the coronavirus was not able to take possession her body from al-Mahaini Hospital in Damascus, days ago.

SY 24 emphasized that, the family members of the woman who lost her life to the virus did not find their mothers body in the hospitals mortuary, despite being there to sign the death certificate and the discharge form.

According to sources, it later became clear that the missing body had been handed over to a family from Jeroud, who had also lost someone. The coffin was not opened before burial for fear of transmitting the virus to the family.

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.
US Senator Kamala Harris' who became the first Black and Indian American woman to receive a major party's presidential ticket addressed the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee on Wednesday. The Senator spoke about her Indian American heritage, her mother, the Black Lives Matter movement, structural racism, impact of the pandemic and her vision for how the US' President should be. In her powerful speech of 17 minutes, what stood out for the desis was her shout-out to her 'chithis' or aunts. Desi Twitter erupted with joy at Harris' mention of her chithis.

"Family is my husband Doug, who I met on a blind date set up by my best friend. Family is our beautiful children, Cole and Ella, who as you just heard, call me Momala. Family is my sister. Family is my best friend, my nieces and my godchildren. Family is my uncles, my aunts and my chithis," she said.

The Senator also spoke at length about her mother Shyamala Gopalan who raised her on her own in the US. "There's another woman, whose name isn't known, whose story isn't shared. Another woman whose shoulders I stand on. And that's my mother -- Shyamala Gopalan Harris. She came here from India at age 19 to pursue her dream of curing cancer. At the University of California Berkeley, she met my father, Donald Harris -- who had come from Jamaica to study economics," she said.

Also read: US Presidential elections: Kamala Harris accepts VP nomination, hails Indian connection

Her father and mother fell in love during the civil rights movement in the 1960s, she said. Harris said that her parents split up when she was 5 year old, following which Shyamala Gopalan raised her on her own. Reminiscing about her mother's tough life, Harris said that she worked around the clock to make it work for her and her sister Maya. "She made it look easy, though I know it never was," said Kamala Harris during her speech.

"She raised us to be proud, strong Black women. And she raised us to know and be proud of our Indian heritage," said the Senator, adding, "She taught us to put family first - the family you're born into and the family you choose."

Kamala Harris said that her mother taught her to keep family at the centre but also to see the world beyond themselves. She said her mother taught her to be conscious and compassionate about the struggles of people and that public service is a noble cause. "That led me to become a lawyer, a district attorney, attorney general and a United States Senator," she said.

Also read: Kamala Harris recounts long walks with grandfather in Chennai, idlis, and memories of mother

"My mother taught me that service to others gives life purpose and meaning. And oh, how I wish she were here tonight but I know she's looking down on me from above. I keep thinking about that 25-year-old Indian woman - all of five feet tall - who gave birth to me at Kaiser Hospital in Oakland, California. On that day, she probably could have never imagined that I would be standing before you now speaking these words: I accept your nomination for vice president of the United States of America," she said.

Kamala Harris pushed for Joe Biden's presidency. She said that Joe Biden and she can rejuvenate a country that has felt the severe impact of the pandemic and deeply affected by inequity in education and technology, injustice in reproductive and maternal health care, and excessive use of police force. "There's no vaccine for racism," she said.

The mention of chithis -- probably the first time a Tamilian word has been used during a US Democratic speech -- sent viewers globally to look up the meaning of the world.

On the other hand, Indian Twitter could not stop itself from gushing on the Senator.

Also read: US Presidential Polls: Kamala Harris to blast Donald Trump in her VP acceptance address
China faced demands on Thursday to explain why a state-backed firm claimed it had vaccinated dozens of staff against the coronavirus before sending them back to work at a mine in Papua New Guinea.

The China Metallurgical Group Corporation (MCC) -- which controls a major nickel mine in the country -- warned local authorities that 48 staff who returned from China this month may test positive for the virus because they had received a vaccine.

In response, Papua New Guinea authorities called for "immediate clarification" from Beijing and blocked a charter flight full of Chinese workers that was due to land Thursday.

The pandemic has disrupted operations at several lucrative mines in Papua New Guinea, one of the Pacific's poorest nations.

While moving its staff into place, MMC's subsidiary firm Ramu NiCo told Papua New Guinea authorities that any positive coronavirus test results were "the normal reaction of the vaccination and not due to infection", according to a Chinese and English-language statement obtained by AFP.

The 48 members of staff at its multi-billion-dollar mine had "been vaccinated with SARS-COV-2 vaccine" before their return, it said.

China has previously indicated that it would test vaccines on military personnel and staff at state-backed companies, but it is not clear whether these tests were carried out on workers heading overseas.

"It takes around seven days to produce antibodies in the vaccine recipient's body after being vaccinated," the statement reads.

"If they need to be tested again for COVID-19, it is suggested to be conducted at least seven days after the vaccination date."

Papua New Guinea's pandemic tsar David Manning told AFP he wanted answers and had blocked the arrival of a flight with around 150 Chinese workers on board due in Port Moresby on Thursday.

"I am demanding an explanation from the Chinese ambassador as to how this has happened," he said.

Story continues

"I have written to the Chinese government through the Chinese ambassador -- to explain how these 48 employees of this state company were vaccinated."

- Call for clarity -

There are growing concerns that Ramu NiCo staff may have circumvented arrival quarantine procedures, that the vaccinations may have been administered unlawfully in Papua New Guinea, or that they were tested on Papua New Guinea citizens.

Anyone arriving in Papua New Guinea must receive a coronavirus test before boarding their flight and undergo quarantine on arrival.

In a letter from Manning to the Chinese ambassador, also seen by AFP, he demanded "immediate clarification" and stated that Papua New Guinea "does not currently acknowledge a vaccine" for coronavirus and will not until national regulators and the World Health Organisation have given their approval.

He also issued a decree banning coronavirus testing, trials and unapproved vaccine treatments in Papua New Guinea.

Chinese ambassador Xue Bing told AFP: "We don't have any comments for the moment. However, one thing is for sure, China is not doing (coronavirus) tests here in PNG."

Papua New Guinea -- which has an already under-resourced health sector -- had largely dodged the worst of the virus outbreak until recent weeks.

The country saw 12 new cases on Thursday taking its total to 359, with 159 active cases amid low rates of testing. At least three people have died from the virus.

Coronavirus clusters recently forced the closure of major mines including the vast Ok Tedi copper and gold mine.

China's Ramu NiCo is no stranger to controversy and was temporarily shuttered in late 2019 after spewing slurry into the Bismarck Sea and turning parts of the surrounding coastline ochre red.

Nickel is a highly prized metal widely used in batteries, including for electric cars.

str-arb/al/kaf
DENVER, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cologix, a network-neutral interconnection, ecosystem and hyperscale edge data center company, today announced it signed a definitive agreement to purchase vXchnge's 16,000 square foot data center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Upon completion of the deal, Cologix will have more than 60,000 total square feet of data center space in the 511 building, Minneapolis's carrier hotel and the most connected building in Minnesota.

"Minneapolis continues to be a strong data center market with enterprises seeking dynamic cloud ecosystems and onramps to support their cloud migrations," said Bill Fathers, Chairman & CEO of Cologix. "We are thrilled to continue our investment in our Minneapolis footprint by adding our fourth interconnection hub in the market in response to customer demand. With added capacity in the 511 building, we will enable more businesses to connect to Cologix's robust ecosystem of networks, clouds and partners very quickly through the Cologix Platform to meet their growing business needs."

This agreement brings Cologix dozens of customers operating within this data center as well as additional capacity to respond to growing customer demand. This acquisition will strengthen the Cologix Platform with more space, power and connectivity in the region, while cementing Cologix's market position as the interconnection leader. New customers will be able to accelerate their digital transformations with access to Cologix's robust ecosystem and low latency cloud onramps to AWS via Amazon Web Services Direct Connect and Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute.

Market Highlights:

Located in downtown Minneapolis , the 511 building is the most connected building in Minnesota and is the network hub for Upper Midwest and gateway to "Northern Route" to Seattle .

, the 511 building is the most connected building in and is the network hub for Upper Midwest and gateway to "Northern Route" to . According to a recent CBRE report, Minneapolis was the 12th busiest market for data center leasing in the United States last year.

was the 12th busiest market for data center leasing in last year. CBRE said that the market's data center inventory grew by 1.5 megawatts in 2019 on a year-over-year basis to 51.1 megawatts. Even with this new supply, the market's vacancy rate dropped 510 basis points.i

About Cologix Inc.

Cologix provides reliable, secure, scalable hyperscale edge data center solutions from 30 prime interconnection hubs and 4 hyperscale capacity facilities across 10 strategic North American markets. Over 1,600 leading network, managed services, cloud, media, content, financial services and enterprise customers trust Cologix to support their business critical infrastructure and connect them to customers, vendors and partners. Our dedicated, experienced local teams and scalable solutions enable us to provide industry-leading customer service and the ability to successfully support customers at the Internet's new edge. For a tour of one of our data centers in Ashburn, Columbus, Dallas, Jacksonville, Lakeland, Minneapolis, Montreal, New Jersey, Toronto or Vancouver visit www.cologix.com or email [email protected]. Follow Cologix on LinkedIn and Twitter.

i https://rejournals.com/a-hot-market-in-minneapolis-data-centers-still-in-demand/

SOURCE Cologix Inc.

Related Links

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The $441,000 repayment is far less than the $792,638 sought by the church that was presented to Bransfield last November. Current Bishop Mark Brennan said the final repayment was approved by the Congregation for Bishops in Rome. He said the money will be placed in a fund to pay for counseling victims of sexual abuse, added to money already set aside by the sale of Bransfields former residence.
WASHINGTON - The effort began only days after Paul Manafort resigned as chairman of Donald Trump's presidential campaign in August 2016.

Manafort faced scrutiny for accepting millions in off-book payments from pro-Russian Ukrainian officials - an uncomfortable situation for the longtime lobbyist, since accusations were then emerging that Russia was interfering in the White House race to help Trump defeat Hillary Clinton.

According to a new bipartisan report by the Senate Intelligence Committee released Tuesday, Manafort began quickly working with a Russian employee based in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on a counternarrative - that it was the Ukrainians who were actually interfering in the U.S. election, not Russia, and that they were framing Manafort to help the Democrats.

That claim has persisted ever since, even after U.S. intelligence and law enforcement officials said it had no merit - promoted by Russian President Vladimir Putin abroad and President Trump himself at home.

It has been embraced by Trump's allies in conservative media and in Congress. It was touted on the right during Trump's impeachment last year and has carried into the present as the backdrop to an ongoing GOP effort to use Ukraine to attack Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.

In fact, the idea that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 campaign began as a Russian influence operation designed to distract attention from the Kremlin's own activities that year, the Senate Intelligence Committee concluded after an exhaustive three-year investigation.

It was advanced for years by Manafort's employee, Konstantin Kilimnik, whom the committee identified as a Russian intelligence officer who, among other things, used a false persona on Twitter to circulate and promote the Ukrainian counternarrative, the report found.

Manafort was personally involved in promoting the disinformation, as well, the committee found, strategizing with Kilimnik in secret meetings in Madrid in early 2017 and pushing the idea with the president's son Donald Trump Jr. around the same time.

Kilimnik's role - and his influence in getting Trump and his supporters to seize on the propaganda - shows how the interests of the president and the Kremlin have aligned, long after the 2016 election.

Trump and Republican senators said Tuesday that the most important takeaway of the new Senate report is that there was no evidence of "collusion" between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. Indeed, the panel did not conclude that Trump entered into a knowing conspiracy with the Kremlin to win the election.

But the bipartisan investigation - like the report by special counsel Robert Mueller III before it - did find that Russia engaged in an aggressive, multifaceted effort to affect the outcome of the election and that the Trump campaign sought to benefit from those efforts. The panel also concluded that a number of key campaign aides were vulnerable to Russian influence, sometimes unwittingly.

Manafort, who was convicted in 2018 of financial crimes related to his work in Ukraine, in particular posed a "grave counterintelligence threat" to the country, the committee found.

Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the ranking Democrat on the committee, said its report should be seen as a warning to members of Congress and all Americans.

"This report was not fundamentally about trying to write the history of 2016," he said in an interview Wednesday. "It was trying to say: How do we prevent it from happening again in 2020?"

Asked about the committee's findings on Ukraine, White House spokesman Judd Deere did not directly respond. Instead, he said in a statement that the committee's report "affirms what we have known for years. There was absolutely no collusion between the Trump Campaign and Russia."

An attorney for Manafort did not respond to a request for comment. Kilimnik, who was charged in 2018 with obstruction of justice and is believed to be in Russia, also did not respond to an email requesting comment. He has previously denied ties to Russian intelligence.

In its nearly 1,000-page report on Russian counterintelligence threats released Tuesday, the committee said Russia's influence operation included "overlapping false narratives which sought to discredit investigations into Russian inference in the 2016 U.S. elections and spread false information about the events of 2016."

The committee said the disinformation campaign claiming Ukraine's role began in late 2016 and continued until at least January 2020 and was promoted not just by Manafort and Kilimnik but by "numerous Russian-government actors," including an oligarch named Oleg Deripaska who had business ties to Manafort.

The committee wrote that "similarities in narrative content, the use of common dissemination platforms, the involvement of Kremlin agents Kilimnik and Deripaska" led them to conclude that "the influence efforts were coordinated to some degree."

The bipartisan finding was released at a key moment, just weeks after the country's top counterintelligence official described Russia's efforts to again try to shape public opinion in the United States before a presidential vote - and named a Ukrainian lawmaker as a key participant.

Earlier this month, William Evanina, director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, publicly asserted that Russia is using a "range of measures" to denigrate Biden and said that Kremlin-linked actors are working to boost Trump's reelection bid.

Evanina cited the recent release by pro-Russian parliamentarian Andriy Derkach of leaked phone calls dating to 2016 between Biden and the former Ukrainian president as part of a Russian effort to hurt Biden.

The new Senate Intelligence Committee report also identified Derkach as a figure who played a role in promoting the false narrative that Ukraine interfered in the U.S. election to help Democrats.

Earlier this week, Trump retweeted an account promoting snippets of one of the recordings promoted by Derkach to his more than 85 million Twitter followers. The account has since been suspended by Twitter for violating the site's policies on "platform manipulation and spam."

The White House did not respond to questions about the tweet.

Derkach, the son of a KGB officer who also attended a school associated with the former Soviet intelligence service, has met at least twice in the past year with Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani.

In a statement to The Washington Post earlier this year, Derkach said allegations that he is working in the interests of foreign intelligence services are attempts to pressure him into stopping his activity. "There is not a single confirmed or reliable fact of my illegal activity or wrongful connections," he said.

Derkach also said that he had provided information to two Senate committees investigating Biden and the 2016 Russia probe. Spokesmen for those committees, led by Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, deny that they received information from Derkach.

In the wake of the report by the Senate Intelligence Committee, Democrats renewed their calls for Johnson and Grassley to end their ongoing probes.

"The findings of this bipartisan report are yet more evidence that their investigation is giving credibility to disinformation pushed by Russian intelligence," Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said in a statement.

"The bottom line is that Senate investigations must not be based on conspiracy theories propagated by Russian intelligence officers and discredited foreign nationals," he said. "This one is, which is why Republicans should abandon it immediately."

Johnson has forcefully denied Democratic claims that he is promoting Russian propaganda.

A spokesman for Johnson's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee rejected the Democratic criticism Wednesday, calling it "yet again another false claim from Democrats as they try to politicize foreign election interference and discredit our investigation."

The spokesman, Austin Altenburg, said in a statement that the panel "has never received nor taken information from Kilimnik or Derkach, and it's shocking that Democrats continue peddling Derkach's conspiracy theories even after the intelligence community has communicated that Derkach is spreading Russian disinformation. It's simply a pathetic attempt to mislead the American people and only leaves us with one question: what are they afraid we'll uncover?"

Taylor Foy, a spokesman for Grassley, said that the Senate Finance Committee he chairs has not made use of anything provided by Derkach and that Kilimnik has nothing to do with its work.

"Unsupported innuendo that our work is somehow inspired or orchestrated by foreign actors, or anyone else for that matter, is simply untrue, and very likely the product of a foreign disinformation campaign," he said in a statement.

Trump has repeatedly claimed that Ukrainians interfered in the 2016 election to help Clinton. "They tried to take me down," he told advisers in an Oval Office meeting in May 2019, according to testimony during the congressional impeachment inquiry.

FBI Director Christopher Wray has said there is "no evidence" to support the theory. Fiona Hill, who served on Trump's National Security Council, told Congress last year that it was a "fictional narrative" advanced by the Russian security services.

The Senate Intelligence Committee found that Kilimnik was probably behind some of the first public suggestions that Ukrainians were interfering in the election to help Democrats. Behind the scenes, he pushed the claim that the "black ledger" that tracked Manafort's payments as a private consultant in Kyiv before he went to work for Trump - the document that led to Manafort's ouster from the campaign - had been forged and leaked by Clinton allies, the report said.

According to the committee, Manafort and Kilimnik were in close contact during the campaign and after the campaign. Manafort on "numerous occasions" shared with Kilimnik internal information about the Trump campaign, including polling data and its battleground strategy, the committee wrote.

The panel said it had difficulty discerning why Manafort passed along the material or with whom Kilimnik shared the information. But the committee noted that the two took steps to hide their communications by using encrypted apps and a burner phone and by saving their most sensitive conversations for in-person contact.

One key meeting between the two took place at a Manhattan cigar bar while Manafort was still leading Trump's election effort, according to the report.

According to the committee, Kilimnik privately promoted to journalists the idea that Ukraine interfered in the U.S. election - not Russia - as early as August 2016. He later helped ghostwrite a February 2017 opinion piece that argued that pro-Clinton Ukrainians had "manufactured" a case against Manafort, the report found.

The column, which ran under the byline of a Ukrainian parliamentarian in U.S. News & World Report, also dismissed possible ties between Trump and Russia.

For his part, Manafort pressed the same theory with Trump Jr. in February 2017, the committee found, citing an email Manafort wrote the president's son. It linked to a Politico report that Manafort claimed laid out "the conspiracy to implement the disinformation campaign on me between the DNC/Obama Administration and the Govt of Ukraine."

Starting later that year, other "Russian-government proxies and personas" were echoing the same "false narrative" online, according to the report.

One cyber-persona the committee said was controlled by Russian military intelligence alleged in July 2017 on its blog that Ukraine had interfered in the U.S. election. A day later, a Twitter handle the committee said was operated by a company with ties to the Russian government tweeted that Clinton and her campaign colluded with Ukraine.

Nine days after that, Derkach sent a formal letter to Yuri Lutsenko, then serving as Ukraine's top prosecutor, asking him to investigate Ukrainian interference in the U.S. election.

By the following month, Manafort and Fox News host Sean Hannity were exchanging text messages about "Ukraine interference," according to messages made public by prosecutors in Manafort's criminal case.

In spring 2019, the theory that Ukrainians had worked to help Democrats in 2016 gave way to a separate assertion that Biden, then rising in the polls as a 2020 candidate, had used his role as vice president to protect his son, who served on the board of a Ukrainian gas company.

Giuliani has said that his efforts to uncover information about Biden in Ukraine began when he set out to explore the idea that Ukraine had interfered in the 2016 election. Acting as Trump's defense attorney, Giuliani has said he thought he could help Trump face down the Mueller investigation.

"I knew they were hot and heavy on this Russian collusion thing, even though I knew 100 percent that it was false," Giuliani told conservative broadcaster Glenn Beck last year. "I said to myself: 'Hallelujah. I've got what a defense lawyer always wants. I can go prove someone else committed this crime.' "

Giuliani has said he consulted with Manafort about the theory that it was Ukraine that interfered in the 2016 race.

In a text message to The Post on Wednesday night, Giuliani wrote that "none of the information I received over a year and half ago had any connection to Russia."

He called the Senate Intelligence Committee's report a "one side inquiry," adding that "people who wrote this report never contacted me, or my witnesses or asked to see the documents I have or tapes."

By summer 2019, the two ideas had become fully fused for Trump, who pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to open investigations of both subjects on a July 25 phone call.

"They say a lot of it started with Ukraine," Trump told Zelensky in the call, pressing him to work with Giuliani or Attorney General William Barr to "get to the bottom of it." Trump also pressed Zelensky to investigate Biden and his son Hunter.

The call prompted a whistleblower complaint that led to Trump's impeachment.

Portions of the Senate report that appear to deal with some of these topics were redacted from public view.

But the evolution of the Ukraine-related claims could be seen in messages posted by a Twitter handle used by Kilimnik, the committee found.

In 2017 and 2018, the onetime Manafort aide used the handle @PBaranenko to promote the idea that Ukraine interfered in the last U.S. presidential election.

By 2019, Kilimnik had moved on. In that year, the committee wrote, the alleged Russian intelligence officer "repeatedly tweeted information related to the Bidens and Ukraine."
Sir David Attenborough describes the early days of his career as 'the best time of my life' in the first footage from his forthcoming film.

The minute-long video features archive footage of the 94-year-old broadcaster traversing the globe as a young man.

The documentary film, A Life On Our Planet, is being released alongside a book detailing Sir David's career.

Sir David Attenborough, pictured, describes the early days of his career as 'the best time of my life' in the first footage from his forthcoming Netflix film A Life On Our Planet

The film, which serves as Sir David's witness statement for the natural world, will launch on Netflix in the autumn

The minute-long video features archive footage of the 94-year-old broadcaster traversing the globe as a young man

It will also recount the decline of the planet's environment and biodiversity he has observed first-hand.

In the video, he says: 'Wherever I went there was wilderness. Sparkling coastal seas, vast forests, immense grasslands. You could fly for hours over the untouched wilderness.

'And there I was, actually being asked to explore these places and record the wonders of the natural world for people back home.

'To begin with it was quite easy. People had never seen pangolins before on television, they had never seen sloths before, they had never seen the centre of New Guinea before.

'It was the best time of my life.'

The film, which serves as Sir David's witness statement for the natural world, will premiere in cinemas on September 28 before launching on Netflix in the autumn.

It was created by natural history filmmakers Silverback Films and global environmental organisation WWF.

He recalls that in the beginning it was 'quite easy' to record the wonders of the world for people back home as they'd never seen things like pangolins or sloths before

Sir David remembers those early years travelling the globe as 'the best time of my life' in a new video released about his upcoming Netflix film

In the video, he says: 'Wherever I went there was wilderness. Sparkling coastal seas, vast forests, immense grasslands. You could fly for hours over the untouched wilderness.'

Cinema showings will feature a conversation between Sir David and Monty Python star Sir Michael Palin, who shares a love of the natural world.

Sir David's book, A Life On Our Planet: My Witness Statement And Vision For The Future, will be published in the autumn.

He previously said of it: 'This book records some of the dreadful damage mankind has already wrought upon the natural world and the real and imminent danger that things could get much, much worse if we do not act now.

'But it is also a hopeful book - it offers a different future.'
Catrambone had quit his job at Do-Rite to go into sales when his cousin suggested they make doughnuts and sell them at farmers markets. After building a following over two years at the Wicker Park farmers market, Catrambone partnered with Herb-N-Juice to open the new space at 810 W. Armitage Ave. He has two employees and additional help from his sisters, aunt and cousins.
Under the terms of the agreement, 80 percent of the monetary award will go to residents who were younger than 18 at the time of their exposure. More than half of that amount will go toward the children younger than 6  whose age put them at greatest risk for lead poisoning and the physical damage and neurological problems that can result.
Women are central, essential, crucial  pick your adjective  to Joe Bidens chances for winning in November. On Wednesday night, Democrats leaned hard into that political truth, and reminded Donald Trump that women will lead the charge to make him a one-term president.

The star-studded convention night, capped off by Kamala Harris historic acceptance of the vice presidential nomination, was the ultimate flex for Democrats. The party displayed their commitment to female voters by rolling out powerhouses ranging from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, marking an evening program where three-quarters of the keynote speakers were women. In between, the spotlight shined on Joe Bidens policy record in lifting up women, and his authorship of the 1994 Violence Against Women Act.

Both in message and messengers, the third night of the Democratic National Convention was a reminder of Trumps role in activating Democratic women at every level, fueling historic gains by women in statehouses and in the halls of Congress. And it served to reveal the Democrats strategy, where landslide support among college-educated women, especially suburban women, is not only necessary to deliver Biden the White House, but a Senate that would help him enact his policies.

The energy in the Democratic Party has been women from the day Donald Trump claimed victory, said Mary Anne Marsh, a Boston-based Democratic strategist. When it comes to the destiny of our country and our democracy, it's in the hands of women. And if we're going to save either one, or both, it's going to be because of women.

Jen Palmieri, who served as an advisor for both Clinton and former President Barack Obama, noted that the line-up was organic because these are the leaders of the party, meanwhile, Republicans dont have that.

Democrats hope that disparity is obvious to voters, as the Republican National Convention is scheduled to get underway next week. First Lady Melania Trump, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst are all expected to speak, but its unlikely that women will outweigh men as speakers.

Story continues

One reason: there are considerably less Republican women in office. There are twice as many women Democratic governors as Republicans, a fact on display Wednesday night. Congress is similar story: In January 2019, Democrats swore in a historic 89 women to the House, comprising nearly 40 percent of the Democratic caucus. On the Republican side there are just 13, making up just 6.5 percent of the GOP conference.

Its an intentional contrast, said Amanda Litman, co-founder and executive director of Run for Something, a progressive group that backs down ballot candidates. Women are bearing the brunt of the recession, theyre bearing the brunt of the childcare, and weve been thoroughly screwed, so this is a moment to claim that power.

The gender gap confronting Trump has widened to a gender chasm in some public polling, with Biden leading the president among women voters by often double-digits. In a Wall Street Journal/NBC poll in June, Biden jumped ahead by more than 20 points, though more recent polling shows him slightly below that high-water mark.

Back in 2016, Clinton won a majority of women overall, but she did so by a slightly slimmer margin. She also lost white women to Trump. In her own speech Wednesday night, she nodded toward those voters: This cant be another woulda coulda shoulda election, she said. We need numbers [that are] overwhelming.

This constituency goes by many names  soccer moms, security moms or, now newly coined, rage moms  but theyre often key swing voters. Look no further than two years ago for evidence. Women voters, particularly suburban women voters, drove Democrats victories across the country in 2018, carving a path to flipping the House through red-leaning districts from Charleston to Oklahoma City to Orange County, Calif.

Women are everything. The gender gap expanded in 2016 and got even bigger in 2018, said Anna Greenberg, a Democratic pollster. [Women] drove the Democratic pick-ups in 2018, and in states like Arizona, Texas, Georgia, where the suburbs are growing, youre going to see more picks up in the House, the Senate and the presidential because of those shifts.

Trump has noticed hes hemorrhaging support among suburban, often white, women, and is making overt last-minute efforts to win them back. Last week, he tweeted that the suburban housewife will be voting for me because they want safety & are thrilled that I ended the long running program where low income housing would invade their neighborhood.

Where suburban women are right now is a concerning sign for us, and its not just a problem for the top, but for our candidates up and down the ballot, said one Republican pollster, granted anonymity to discuss the issue candidly. Where we stand today, were behind the eight ball with them.

Democrats are eager to highlight Trumps toxicity among women voters  and to showcase what a party where women control the levers of power looks like. So Wednesday evening included video montages connecting the Suffrage Movement to the Womens Marches in 2017, cameos from members of the 2018 House class, and a pre-show event designed to spotlight the six women Democratic governors.

I wouldve never run for office, but for Donald Trump, and  tonight pays respect to all those women who ran and voted, said state Sen. Yvanna Cancela, who is serving in the first and only majority-female Democratic state legislature in Nevada. Its a very public commitment from our party to say, we value women in leadership.

There were also nods, albeit brief, to the several women who ran for president in the Democratic primary, but ultimately lost to Biden.

Now, I love a good plan, Warren said, hearkening back to her campaign slogan. And Joe Biden has some really good plans.

But the crowning moment of the night came when Harris accepted the vice presidential nomination.

Virginia Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy said she watched Harris become the first Black and Indian-American vice presidential nominee from her couch. But she saw it through young Jennifers eyes, who did not know Black attorneys growing up, and that for young Black girls, its hard to be what you cant see.

Never in the history of our party has there been such a focus on the pipeline of powerful women, and especially women of color, and now, not only do we have women leading courthouses, statehouses, but a woman leading the country, said Carroll Foy, who is now running for governor of Virginia in 2021. Im in awe.

Stephanie Murray contributed to this report.
Japan is leading the way in embracing diversification, with Vietnam becoming a beneficiary to the strategy, Photo: Le Toan

As one of the early birds exploring business in Vietnam, aerospace and healthcare manufacturer Nikkiso Vietnam in late July decided to expand its production by $3 million.

As a subsidiary of Nikkiso Group, Nikkiso Vietnam was established in 1996 and placed its production base in Ho Chi Minhs Tan Thuan Industrial Park (IP). A modern production line and Nikkisos know-how have made it possible for the Vietnam branch to manufacture high-quality medical products, including blood tubes for dialysis treatments.

Nikkiso Vietnam legal representative Satoshi Okawa said, Although the group had a facility in Thailand, it still decided to expand its production in Vietnam as one solution to reduce risks while value chains were disrupted by COVID-19.

This year many Japanese enterprises showed ambition to establish new projects and expand existing business in Vietnam, demonstrating the countrys position as an attractive destination for foreign investors.

New investment wave

According to the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), there are 15 Japanese enterprises currently registered to invest in Vietnam in an attempt to diversify supply chains, strengthen cooperation between Japan and the ASEAN, and move out of China.

In the past, Japan has based its supply chains in China and South Korea, but in recent years expanded to ASEAN countries, thereby expanding its supply chains to more than just one location, said a JETRO representative.

Amid the pandemic, Japan issued a support package of 243.5 billion ($2.23 billion) to help manufacturers shift production out of China as the health crisis disrupted supply chains between major trading partners, including Vietnam.

Masahico Makata, CEO of Long Duc Investment Co., Ltd., said that the companys Long Duc IP in the southern province of Dong Nai has attracted investment since 2013. Up to now, more than 200 hectares for industrial development have been rented out. Meanwhile, many Japanese enterprises want to continue investment, so the company has proposed procedures for the expansion of Long Duc IP.

Meanwhile, Lixil Global Manufacturing Vietnam Co., Ltd. has increased its investment capital by $25 million in Dong Nai where in 2014, the company developed a project with the total investment of more than $440 million, built on an area of 55ha. The project manufactures all kinds of door frames, windows, and accessories made of aluminium and plastic for civil and industrial constructions.

Explaining the reason for Japanese business expansion in Vietnam, Wakamatsu Hiroyuki, director of Chubu Rika Vietnam said, Labour is the main attraction of the country as labour costs are cheaper compared to China, while the quality is very good. Therefore, products made at factories in Vietnam meet high-quality requirements while production costs remain very reasonable.

Hiroyuki added, The investment of Japanese enterprises in Vietnam is increasing and their aim is also to provide products for Japanese consumers.

Chubu Rika Vietnam currently has four factories with its main products used for machinery and vehicle parts.

Key to success

As Vietnam is considered to be an attractive location for Japanese investors, they have established a strategy in order to carry out business here called the 1+1 model.

Accordingly, Japanese investors are cooperating with enterprises that have already invested in Vietnam to form a production chain in IPs. These activities also receive support from banks and localities.

Additionally, the model creates an ecosystem for Japanese businesses. Hanoi-based Thang Long IP, funded by Japans Sumitomo Group, for instance attracted about 100 projects with total capital of $2.5 billion by using this model, mostly in the technology sector.

Aguin Tooru, chief representative at the Japan Bank for International Cooperation said, More than 100 Japanese enterprises submitted documents for investments in Vietnam, and our bank will continue to support them.

Meanwhile Makata from Long Duc said that the JETROs support, which includes information, specialists, and technicians, has also contributed to Japanese investors success in Vietnam.

According to the JETRO representative, besides traditional investment sectors like manufacturing, Japanese investors are also grasping onto new sectors such as healthcare, clean energy, and customer services.

Vu Tien Loc, chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, suggested that the country should create a sufficient plan in order to upgrade its skilled labour force, and added that cooperating with internal associations will be a necessary step to further attract Japanese investors.
Here is why PAN card holders could be fined Rs 10,000 for not linking it with Aadhaar by Mar 31

Link PAN with Aadhaar by this date, if not your PAN could become inoperative

180 million PANs could become defunct by March 31

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Aug 20: A massive crackdown is being planned on those who have multiple PANs. The Income Tax Department is set to nab tax evaders conducting high value transactions by using multiple PANs. Over 180 million PANs could become defunct if they are not linked with Aadhaar before the March 31 deadline.

The government is also likely to expand the list of high value transactions to track expenditure patterns of unscrupulous people, who spend large amounts on luxuries but underreport their income and evade tax, a report in the Hindustan Times said.

The report while quoting an official said that in a population of 130 crores only 1.5 crore people contribute to the I-T.

ITR filing deadline for FY19 extended till July 31; PAN-Aadhaar linkage till March 2021

It may be recalled that Prime Minister, Narendra Modi had unveiled India's first charter of taxpayers' rights and duties on August 13. He had appealed to the people to introspect that only 15 million people in a population of 130 crore pay I-T.

Contempt Case: SC rejects Prashant Bhushan's plea to defer sentencing | Oneindia News

There are 509.5 million PAN cardholders in the country as on June. Only 64.8 million file income tax returns and only 15 million actually pay I-T. The report also said that around 4.098 crore people file ITR. But they either show zero liability or claim the full amount of tax paid through ITR.

Multiple PAN Cards are used to hide value transactions as a result of which only 32.71 crore PANs are linked with Aadhaar. Over one third PANs will come under the scanner unless linked with Aadhaar before March 31, the report also said.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, August 20, 2020, 12:51 [IST]
In essence, Lozoya accused Pena Nieto and his closest associates of using bribes from Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht to help win the presidency and then to pass an energy reform that could greatly benefit that company and others. To that end, some opposition lawmakers were bribed for their votes, he said. Other allegations carried over from the prior administration of Calderon.
Education ministers in Africa have pledged to enhance collaboration to improve access to, equity and quality of secondary education on the continent.



They said secondary education was critical to the development of the African child, for which reason efforts must be made to ensure that every child attained secondary education.





They were contributing to a virtual panel discussion on a report launched by MasterCard, a foundation that seeks equal opportunities for all, titled: Secondary education in Africa: Preparing youth for the future of work, in Kigali, Rwanda.



The ministers posited that secondary education would also help provide relevant skills for young people to improve productivity, particularly in the informal sector.



Commitment



Leading the discussion, Ghana's Minister of Education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, said the government would ensure that every child who attended Primary One completed secondary education, adding: We need the necessary human capital to propel the country into economic prosperity.



He said the ministry also recognised that after Basic Nine (JHS), there was the need to inculcate the ethics of work into students.



On digitisation, he said the sector was on course, and that in reforming our curriculum, we decided to include computerisation and coding to pupils in as low as Primary Four because we believe that is where we can start the training.



According to Dr Prempeh, 21st century learning required digital literacy, adding: We cannot be part of the 21st century world without embedding digital literacy, including cyber safety skills, into our educational system and lifestyles.



Rwanda



The Minister of State in charge of Primary and Secondary Education of Rwanda, Mr Gaspard Twagrirayezu, said the focus of his country was on increasing quality education because you may have the numbers, but that will mean very little if the students are not achieving what they are supposed to because access is just one way.



He said Rwanda was revising its educational framework to ensure that barriers in general secondary education and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) were broken.



We are committed to breaking those barriers and making sure that TVET is not seen as a second choice, he added.



Sierra Leone



The Sierra Leonean Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Mr David Moinina Sengeh, also said his country had come to the realisation that the only pathway to national development was through education.



He said the government had, therefore, improved access to basic and secondary education and was also ensuring that no child of school age was left.





Source: Graphiconline.com









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GMail users woke up to a global outage today. If you opened GMail and could not send mails and attachments smoothly, then you are not the only one. GMail users from across the world have not been able to send e-mails. The email service is currently not working globally.

Users are complaining that they are unable to send across emails and attach files to emails. Whenever users try to perform these tasks a message appears on their device which says, "Unable to attach. The operation couldn't be completed (com.google.HTTPStatus error 503,)".

Meanwhile, Google has admitted that it is aware of the issues its users are facing. "We are continuing to investigate this issue. We will provide an update by 8/20/20, 1:39 PM detailing when we expect to resolve the problem," wrote Google on its service page.

On its service page, Google has also written that they have received reports of issues related to GMail from across the world. Google is working to fix the issues but has not disclosed what is causing the errors. Commenting on the issue, Google noted, "We're investigating reports of an issue with Gmail. We will provide more information shortly."

Besides e-mail attachment issues, some users are also complaining about issues related to Google G-Suite services. Google's service page shows issues with Gmail, Google Drive, Google Chat, Google Meet, Google Groups, Google Docs, Google Keep, and Google Voice.

As of thousands of GMail users have been facing trouble for the last few hours. Several of them took to Twitter to tell people that GMail was not working. Some users were also seeking help on how to fix these errors.

#gmail down looks like half of India and most of Japan. I'd estimate the US is worse but people are sleeping. @OANN is this a hacking? pic.twitter.com/FXZvUdQMoh - Elsie Draco (@ElsieDraco) August 20, 2020

Never thought #Gmail could have server down or technical problems. Is anyone else facing issues while uploading attachments through your G Suite or personal gmail? @gmail@Google - Pawan G Rochwani (@pawan_rochwani) August 20, 2020

Gmail reminding us about 2020 pic.twitter.com/OwltyAuf2Q - Raghvendra Singh (@raghvendra_950) August 20, 2020

Also Read: Kerala opposes Trivandrum airport transfer to Adani group, 'will not cooperate'

Also Read: Airtel Rs 401 Disney+ Hotstar plan revamped to offer 30GB data
Ulster University has confirmed that it is actively preparing for additional student places on some of the most popular courses at its Magee campus.

It comes after this weeks A-level results changes that mean many students will be awarded higher teacher assessed grades.

As a result universities will have to offer additional places with Queens University Belfast (QUB) saying it may need up to 1,000 extra.

That will necessitate the lifting of the maximum student numbers (MaSN) cap.

However, at yesterday's Economy Committee meeting at Stormont, Derry MLAs Gary Middleton and Sinead McLaughlin raised concerns that if the correct decisions aren't made it could lead to further regional imbalance with more students enrolling in Belfast courses.

DUP MLA Gary Middleton said there are several hundred unfilled places at Magee.

While, SDLP MLA Sinead McLaughlin said that if Ulster University wants to see growth at Magee it has to be 'engineered' through the relocation of courses and the university has to invest in the marketing of the campus.

The Department for the Economy (DfE) controls the number of undergraduate places available at QUB and Ulster University (UU) for students from NI and those from outside the UK.

Both institutions are allowed to accept between 3,000-3,500 new undergraduates from Northern Ireland every year

The cap exists in Northern Ireland in order to keep tuition fee costs down but results in huge competition for places.

It also means that on some courses NI students are expected to get higher grades than their counterparts applying from Great Britain.

Derry politicians have called for the MaSN cap to be lifted to allow universities to accommodate more students.

Theyve insisted that the Magee campus should be prioritised, citing long-promised expansion to 10,000 students.

However, it is courses that will determine demand and in turn additional places.

A UU spokesperson said that it envisages increased demand for Magee courses such as Computer Sciences, Artificial Intelligence and Personalised Medicine.

She commented: At Ulster University, students are our absolute priority and we will be as flexible as possible in order to accommodate the maximum number of students possible within our existing funding and the additional flexibility already provided by Department for the Economy.

We are actively preparing for the anticipated additional demand by building in additional places for some of our most popular courses including Computer Sciences, Artificial Intelligence, Engineering, Law, Accounting, and Personalised Medicine.

To avail of these additional places, we urge students to contact us as soon as possible on 028 7028 7028 to discuss your options with an advisor.

The DfE pointed out that responsibility for MaSN allocation lies with Higher Education institutions.

A spokesperson for the DfE said: Until the local universities have received access to the full range of revised grades for all applicant students, they will not be able to confirm places for students or otherwise.

As such, until this process has been completed, there is no way of assessing the number of any additional HE places there may be, nor what the impact might be for each HE institution with regards to their respective MaSNs.

She added: With regards to the MaSN cap, it is allocated on an institutional-level basis and relates to all full-time undergraduate NI and EU domiciled students; it is for each institution to decide how to allocate its MaSN across both subject areas and campuses.

The Economy Minister has stated that she will be working with Executive colleagues to ensure that additional places and extra resources are put in place to support universities as soon as possible.

Enrolments for previous years are available at https://www.economy-ni.gov.uk/articles/higher-education-enrolments
A federal judge on Thursday denied a motion from the federal government to dismiss a lawsuit seeking a new recovery plan for the endangered Houston toad.

The Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group that filed the suit in February, estimates that fewer than 1,000 such toads may remain in the wild and they can only be found in the central coastal region of Texas. The organization alleged the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service failed to update a plan for conservation and survival of the amphibian, as mandated by the Endangered Species Act.

U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden in the District of Columbia denied the governments motion to toss the suit. McFadden rejected arguments that the conservation act doesnt impose a mandatory duty to revise a 1984 plan for the toad and that the claims are untimely, according to Thursdays ruling.

The Houston toad has continued to decline despite being protected under the Endangered Species Act for 50 years, and we need to do all we can to ensure this unique creature doesnt vanish, Jenny Loda, a biologist and lawyer with the nonprofit, said in a statement. A new recovery plan is long overdue and will provide the necessary roadmap for the toads survival.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated the toad as endangered nearly 50 years ago, according to the lawsuit. Federal officials issued a document styled as a recovery plan in 1984 for the amphibian, but a five-year status review in 2011 found the document did not contain any recovery criteria, did not address all five listing factors relevant to the species, and was no longer based on the best available science. No new plan had been released by the time the suit was filed.

A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Interior declined comment. The Fish and Wildlife Service did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

With the suit, the group seeks to, in part, urge the agency to issue a recovery plan.

The toad, which is about 2 to 3 inches long, was historically found in the central coastal region of Texas but disappeared from its namesake in the 1960s likely due to the combination of rapid urban expansion and a prolonged drought, according to the suit. It is believed to now be extirpated from Harris, Fort Bend and Liberty counties.

Although the Houston toad no longer hops across its namesake city due to drought and growth, the Houston Zoo maintains a 1,200-square-foot facility where it breeds and rears Houston toads for release into the wild, part of an effort to save it from extinction.

alejandro.serrano@chron.com
privacy regulators are wrangling over the penalty Ireland's data privacy watchdog was set to issue for a data breach, pushing back the case's long awaited conclusion under the bloc's tough new data privacy rules.

The Irish Data Privacy Commission was expected to issue its decision in the case, which would be its first involving a US technology company since the new privacy law, known as GDPR, took effect in 2018, allowing for hefty fines.

But it said Thursday that its counterparts in other countries - so-called concerned supervisory authorities - challenged a draft decision it circulated in May.

A number of objections were raised, the Irish regulator said in a brief statement.

However, following consultation a number of objections were maintained and the (Irish Data Privacy Commission) has now referred the matter to the European Data Protection Board," the independent body representing the bloc's privacy regulators. It provided no other details. The board has up to two and a half months to come up with a decision.

Under the EU's General Data Protection Regulation, a single regulator takes the lead role in cross-border data privacy cases as part of a one-stop shop system.

and other US tech like Apple, Facebook and Google have their European headquarters in Dublin, making the Irish watchdog their lead privacy regulator in the EU.

But in this system, the main regulator has to share its draft decision with regulators in other EU member states and take their feedback into consideration.

The Twitter case could foreshadow more disagreements and delays that Irish authorities may face as they wrap up about two dozen other investigations involving the Silicon Valley giants. The Twitter case stems from a security breach that affected its Android app users and let anyone view protected tweets over more than four years.

The Irish regulator said in a June report it was investigating the company for failure to report the breach within 72 hours.

Under GDPR, that don't make such timely disclosures can be fined up to 10 million euros ($12 million) or 2% of a company's annual revenue, whichever is higher. In 2019 Twitter's revenue reached $3.46 billion, making a potential fine worth up to $69 million.

(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.)
RTHK: Ex-Trump aide Bannon faces wire fraud charge

Steve Bannon, a former senior adviser to US President Donald Trump, has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in relation to a fundraising campaign to support the building of Trump's promised US-Mexico border wall, the US Justice Department said on Thursday.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan announced that Bannon was charged in an unsealed indictment along with several others including Brian Kolfage, Andrew Badolato and Timothy Shea for allegedly defrauding hundreds of thousands of donors through a US$25 million crowdfunding campaign called "We Build the Wall."

The donors thought the money would go toward helping to build a border wall, prosecutors said. But Kolfage, whom they described as the public face and founder of the operation, received thousands of dollars that he used to fund a lavish lifestyle.

Bannon, a prominent figure on the American political right, served as a campaign and White House adviser to Trump, who made the construction of a border wall a key campaign promise in 2016.

Kolfage is due to appear in federal court later on Thursday in Florida, while Bannon is set to appear in federal court in Manhattan. The other two defendants are due to appear in courts in the Middle District of Florida and Colorado.

A spokeswoman for Bannon could not be immediately reached for comment. (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2020-08-20. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Alabama

Montgomery: Gov. Kay Ivey said the state is seeking to provide out-of-work people with an additional $300 per week in unemployment assistance for a short time through a plan announced by President Donald Trump. The Alabama Department of Labor said in a news release that the state is applying for the Lost Wages Assistance Program created by Trump. It is unknown how long the extra payments would last, and it might be only for a short time. The state Labor Department said federal guidance indicated states would get three weeks worth of funding. Additional weeks would be granted on a weekly basis if funds are available. To be eligible for the benefit, the Alabama Department of Labor said recipients must receive at least $100 in unemployment and must certify that they remain unemployed or partially unemployed because of the disruptions caused by COVID-19. The Labor Department said unemployed workers will be automatically notified if they are eligible. No additional application is required. Payments would be retroactive to Aug. 1. The state will begin issuing the payments following approval and receipt of funds.

Alaska

Anchorage: The Municipality of Anchorage has reached a settlement with the owners of a restaurant that remained open for dine-in service in defiance of an emergency coronavirus order. Kriners Diner agreed to abide by a temporary injunction issued by Superior Court Judge Eric Aarseth last week and to obey the city's emergency order stopping indoor service at all restaurants and breweries, The Anchorage Daily News reported. In return, the municipality agreed to suspend fines incurred when the diner defied the court injunction. Aarseth issued the injunction when Kriners Diner continued dine-in service after the city's order went into effect Aug. 3 and the business failed to comply with a stop-work order. Andy Kriner, who owns Kriners Diner with his wife, said in a social media video post that the restaurant cannot afford to pay daily fines that could grow in size. Anchorage previously requested a contempt of court hearing after the restaurant defied the judges order. Under the agreement the diner will pay $3,300 in fines, but can pay the funds to the Food Bank of Alaska or a similar entity, Kriners attorney Blake Quackenbush said. Kriners Diner is required to follow the citys emergency order until Sept. 1 and will be subject to fines of $5,000 per defendant per day if the business provides indoor service.

Story continues

Arizona

Phoenix: A judge has refused a Phoenix-area health club chains request to hold Gov. Doug Ducey in contempt after it challenged his order closing gyms to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Timothy Thomason ruled late Monday there was no indication that Duceys reopening plan for gyms violated due process standards. The judge wrote that Mountain Fitness has not even given the process a chance to work. Mountainside Fitness said in a court filing Aug. 12 that Duceys reopening plan lacked firm deadlines and clear standards. Mountainside also said gyms that assure the state they are operating safely should be allowed to open once they turn in key paperwork. Thomason previously ordered Ducey to create an application process for reopening gyms and the plan unveiled Aug. 10 allows gyms to reopen at a limited capacity and with health precautions once the spread of the virus within their county is downgraded to moderate or minimal.

Arkansas

Little Rock: A Republican congressman in central Arkansas whom Democrats hope to unseat this fall launched a campaign ad Tuesday in which he touts the federal coronavirus relief the state has received, as negotiations over further assistance remain deadlocked in Washington. U.S. Rep. French Hill, who has represented Arkansas 2nd Congressional District since 2015, launched the ad a week after Democratic rival Joyce Elliott began airing a spot. Hills campaign wouldnt say how much its spending to air the spot, but reports filed with the Federal Communications Commission show it has spent at least $32,000 to run on Little Rock television stations through the end of August. Efforts for new emergency relief have stalled in Washington, and hopes for a swift compromise have dwindled. Elliott said Hills vote for the virus aid shouldnt be viewed in isolation and said more work needs to be done.

California

Sacramento: Health officials in California are concerned about the confluence of the coronavirus and flu in the upcoming months, noting a substantial decline in child vaccination rates since the pandemic. Dr. Mark Ghaly, Californias health and human services secretary, said the number of children vaccinated for measles, mumps and rubella as they prepare to enter elementary school plummeted when schools and businesses closed in the spring, and childhood vaccinations have generally fallen from a year ago. The flu usually stresses hospitals, which are also now grappling with coronavirus cases, especially in children, he said. This year together flu and COVID make us particularly worried and have caused us to jump start some of that flu planning, Ghaly told reporters during a briefing. Dr. Nael Mhaissen, medical director of pediatric infectious diseases at Valley Childrens in Madera, in the Central Valley, said he has similar concerns about how hospitals will handle the confluence of these illnesses in children. The Central Valley has seen some of the largest spikes in coronavirus infection rates in recent weeks. That could potentially be disastrous as to how things would be for children in general, and for pediatric health care centers, because that will exhaust our resources significantly, he said. California is dealing with a surge in coronavirus cases but has recently seen signs the spread could be slowing. The state reported 4,636 new cases and 100 deaths on Tuesday and saw an uptick in hospitalizations following two weeks of declines, Ghaly said. More than 11,300 people have died in California.

Colorado

Colorado Springs: More than 150 students at Colorado College were quarantined after a student tested positive for the coronavirus over the weekend, officials said. Positive cases were also reported at the Air Force Academy. The colleges near Colorado Springs have recently reopened in-person classes for fall instruction. Students at Colorado College were tested as they arrived to campus on Friday. A student living in Loomis Hall received positive test results Saturday. The student did not follow the schools social distancing protocols between when he was tested and received his results, Colorado College spokeswoman Leslie Weddell said. Several people in the hall were exposed to the student, The Gazette reported. As a result, 155 people will be quarantined for 14 days to prevent further spread of the virus on campus. Students will only be permitted to leave their rooms to use the restroom. Any movement in or out of the dorm will be prohibited. The Air Force Academy had a number of cadets test positive for the coronavirus as well, but officials said they were not able to provide details, citing Department of Defense guidance. Currently positive COVID-19 cases remain considerably less than 1% of our Air Force Academy Cadets and Preparatory School Cadet Candidates, Lt. Col. Mike Andrews said in an email to the Gazette. Nearly 750 students are tested per week, Andrews said.

Connecticut

Hartford: Cases of COVID-19 and associated deaths were more prevalent in Connecticuts for-profit nursing homes, as well in larger facilities and homes that are part of chains and located in communities with high infection rates, according to a preliminary, third-party review released Tuesday. The report from the Princeton, New Jersey, research firm Mathematica, and ordered by Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont, reviewed how the state, nursing homes and assisted living centers prepared for and responded to the coronavirus pandemic. It found that early responses to the coronavirus outbreak were undermined by gaps in scientific knowledge about the how the virus spreads, the factors that put people at risk and the range and severity of symptoms  especially among older people. More than 3,000 residents of nursing homes and assisting living have died of COVID-associated causes during the pandemic in Connecticut. That represents about 74% of states total deaths from COVID-19. Adults over age 85 were the most severely impacted. Some state legislators criticized the report for not offering much new information. The state spent about $450,000 in federal coronavirus funding on the review.

Delaware

Dover: Attorneys for Democratic Gov. John Carney are resisting attempts to have him questioned under oath in a federal lawsuit over limitations on worship services he imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to attorneys for a Delaware cleric challenging Carneys actions. Attorneys for the Rev. Dr. Christopher Allan Bullock said in a letter to the court Tuesday that they have been trying for several weeks to accommodate and cooperatively schedule Carneys deposition, but Carney refuses to be deposed. Given that he is the sole defendant and key fact witness, he denies everything in his answer, and this is the only deposition plaintiff intends to take, his refusal presents a problem, wrote Tom Neuberger, whose firm is representing Bullock. Bullocks attorneys said they have been told by Deputy Attorney General Allison McCowan that Delaware Department of Justice officials do not see or understand the necessity of scheduling Carneys deposition. Frankly, theyre just being obstructive, Neuberger said. A spokesman for Carney did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The judge plans to discuss a schedule for the case with attorneys Thursday. Bullock, a well-known New Castle County pastor and community activist, filed a lawsuit in May claiming Carneys restrictions on worship services were unconstitutional and discriminatory. Carney then rescinded many of the restrictions, and his attorneys argued Bullocks claims were now moot. But Bullocks attorneys are asking for an injunction to prohibit the governor from imposing similar limitations on religious practices in the future.

District of Columbia

Washington: Zookeepers at Washingtons National Zoo are on furry black-and-white baby watch after concluding that venerable giant panda matriarch Mei Xiang is pregnant and could give birth this week. Its a welcome bit of good news amid a coronavirus pandemic that kept the zoo shuttered for months. We need this! We totally need this joy, said zoo spokeswoman Pamela Baker-Masson. We are all in desperate need of these feel-goods. Although phantom pregnancies are common with pandas and other large bears, Baker-Masson said an ultrasound scan revealed a really strong-looking, fantastic fetus that could be delivered this week. The announcement of the pregnancy has already touched off a fresh round of panda-mania for one of the zoos feature attractions. Viewership on the zoos panda-cam has increased 800%. The zoo reopened on a limited basis July 24, with restrictions in place to keep the crowds down. However, all indoor exhibits, including the extremely popular panda house, have remained closed. Visitors can still view the outdoor panda enclosure, but Mei has mostly been staying indoors, creating a nest out of branches. She can still be viewed on the panda cam. Panda births are inherently tricky, with stillbirths and miscarriages happening frequently. There is also a phenomenon called resorption whereby the fetus is unexpectedly absorbed back into the mothers body. Baker-Masson said that is rare with a fetus this well-developed. Another potential complication is the age of the mother. Mei, at 22, would be the oldest giant panda to successfully give birth in the United States. The oldest in the world gave birth in China at age 23. Mei Xiang has successfully given birth to three cubs: Tai Shan, Bao Bao and Bei Bei. All were transported to China at age 4, under terms of the zoos agreement with the Chinese government. Mei was impregnated via artificial insemination, a process which was heavily affected by precautions over the COVID-19 pandemic. The procedure was conducted shortly after the entire zoo shut down on March 14.

Florida

Jacksonville: Students at two Jacksonville private schools were asked to quarantine following a gathering that resulted in multiple COVID-19 exposures, school officials said. On Monday, an email to parents from Episcopal School of Jacksonville Associate Head of School Keesy Goebertus said "a social gathering" with a "large group of Episcopal and Bolles students" took place last week, days before the first day of school on Aug. 13. The email said "several" students who attended the gathering tested positive for COVID-19. No social distancing was observed and no masks were worn, according to Goebertus' note  in direct conflict with federal and county recommendations. Jacksonville is in Phase 2 of its reopening plan along with most of Florida, which includes limiting social gatherings. According to Episcopal School of Jacksonville spokeswoman Meg Sacks, contact tracing led to "a number of students" being sent home to quarantine, including the students who were at the gathering and their siblings, who in some cases also attend the school and are in different classes.

Georgia

Atlanta: Gov. Brian Kemp announced new spending plans for federal COVID-19 aid to schools Tuesday as the states newly confirmed infection numbers continue to fall but remain the highest per capita in the nation. Kemp, a Republican, said he would allocate more than $65 million of the remaining $105 million in discretionary money he has to aid schools, pending expected approval by the U.S. Department of Education. Of that money, at least $17 million will go to the states Department of Early Care and Learning to subsidize programs to help private child care centers provide daytime supervision for students whose school systems are providing all-virtual instruction. One of the biggest problems that were having right now is schools that are going virtual, Kemp said. The parents cant go back to work because theyre stuck home with the kids. So were trying to get some more child care. 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. Students whose school systems are offering any in-person classes would not eligible for the program, which could start as early as next month.

Hawaii

Honolulu: The worlds largest maritime military exercise is scheduled to be held this week in Hawaii, but the event has been scaled back significantly, mainly because of the coronavirus pandemic. The 27th Rim of the Pacific international military exercise will be considerably smaller than usual primarily, Hawaii Public Radio reported. The exercise will be limited to sea training activity with minimal personnel on land to prevent potential spread of the coronavirus. The exercise is held every two years on land, in the air and on the seas around the Hawaiian Islands. The shift is a significant change from past exercises  which included large, land-based training events, shore leave for sailors and numerous social gatherings. This years event will feature 10 participating countries including Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. There were 26 participating nations involved in 2018. The U.S. Navy declined to provide reasons former partners declined to participate this year, although the pandemic is a likely cause because some some governments have suspend overseas military training. Thailand announced in July it would indefinitely suspend overseas exercises after a dozen Thai soldiers tested positive for COVID-19 following exercises with the U.S. Army in Hawaii. The U.S. Navy delayed and reconfigured the exercise following a request by Democratic Hawaii Gov. David Ige, but resisted pressure to cancel it. Navy Capt. Jay Steingold, exercise director for the event that goes by its acronym RIMPAC, said the U.S. and partners enacted health precautions including placing 14-day movement restrictions on participants, who will be monitored for symptoms.

Idaho

Boise: An Idaho hospital on Tuesday reported the states first case of a pediatric inflammatory illness associated with the new coronavirus. A 7-year-old with no known previous health conditions was diagnosed with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children, a potentially serious disease sometimes called MIS-C, said St. Lukes Regional Health System spokeswoman Anita Kissee. The child was treated in the pediatric intensive care unit but released on Sunday, Kissee said. The illness is newly recognized and is believed to be a delayed complication of coronavirus infection, often causing a fever, evidence of inflammation and severe illness involving more than two organs. Symptoms can vary, but sometimes resemble toxic shock syndrome or Kawasaki disease, another rare illness that can cause fever, inflammation of the blood vessels, lymph nodes and mucous membranes in children. Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children can cause coronary arteries and other blood vessels to enlarge or form aneurysms, Kissee said in a social media post, emphasizing that it is a very rare complication of COVID-19. Dr. Kenny Bramwell, the system medical director for St. Lukes Childrens Hospital, said the girl was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit from another hospital last week. She was well enough to go home on Sunday. Bramwell said he didnt want to alarm families, but said parents should be aware of the illness. He said more cases are likely coming to Idaho  nationally, there has been about one MIS-C case for every 1,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Illinois

Chicago: Chicago Public Schools on Tuesday released a final reopening framework that gives specifics on how much time each grade will spend daily learning remotely as the coronavirus pandemic continues. The Chicago Teachers Union immediately criticized school officials, saying they created a plan without imagination and without consulting union officials. As we prepare for an unprecedented start to the upcoming school year, weve set clear expectations for students and staff to improve remote instruction and ensure that our students are supported and their unique needs are met, schools CEO Dr. Janice K. Jackson said in a statement. The districts plan establishes expectations for remote learning, instruction time by grade, emotional and social supports for its approximately 350,000 students, plans to assist non-English-speaking students and the distribution of devices to students who need them. Teachers union President Jesse Sharkey said the union has filed a grievance about the districts remote learning guidance. He contended it fails to provide teachers with the instructional tools necessary to deliver proper instruction in a remote context as required by the labor contract. Officials said schools will be fully remote through early November, when they will decide if the district will move to a hybrid model.

Indiana

South Bend: The University of Notre Dame on Tuesday 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 there have been 147 confirmed cases of coronavirus on campus since the start of classes for the universitys approximately 12,000 students. Jenkins said he decided against sending students home after consulting with the St. Joseph County Health Department. Instead, university officials decided steps could be taken short of closing the campus while still protecting students health and safety. The university is advising off-campus students not to visit the campus and on-campus students not to venture off-campus and is restricting student gatherings to 10 people or less. The university is allowing graduate student access to research laboratories and libraries. Athletic teams subject to surveillance testing can continue to gather for sanctioned activities, but will be closely monitored. According to Jenkins, the university has traced the spike in COVID-19 cases to off-campus gatherings where neither masks were worn nor physical distancing observed. He said students infected at those gatherings passed it on to others, who in turn passed the virus on to others, resulting in the positive cases, with all but one student.

Iowa

Iowa City: Webster County said Tuesday that a clinic failed to report up to 3,000 negative coronavirus test results, as concerns about inaccuracies in the states official pandemic data continued to mount even as schools use it to determine their fall plans. County Public Health department spokeswoman Kelli Bloomquist said her agency uncovered the clinics failure to report negative tests last week, and the clinic belatedly submitted the 3,000 results. The county didnt say why the clinic was not reporting the negative results. The state system rejected the submissions, but a subsequent review confirmed that many tests had not been entered, Bloomquist said. The new information dramatically reduced the countys 14-day positivity rate, which the state is using to determine whether school districts must return for at least 50% in-person instruction. The Fort Dodge Community School District announced late Monday that the lower positivity rate would allow school to start on Tuesday as initially envisioned. Last week, the district announced a plan to delay the start date given the seemingly high level of community spread following a major outbreak at a prison. Separately, Humboldt Community School District Superintendent Jim Murray said he learned Tuesday that the county positivity rate of 22.6%  highest in the state  will be lower once unspecified data errors are corrected. He said the district would not seek a waiver to start online.

Kansas

Topeka: Fans can attend Kansas State University football games this fall, but no tailgating will be allowed. The Riley County Commission approved on Monday the universitys plan to open the Bill Snyder Family Stadium at about 25% capacity, the Topeka Capital-Journal reported. The university has developed new ticket options that will be unveiled to season ticket holders later this week. Face coverings will be required upon entering the stadium and while inside when 6 feet of social distancing cannot be maintained. Kansas State Athletic Director Gene Taylor said in a statement they are implementing several new policies that will be strictly enforced. Fans will not be permitted to re-enter the stadium to help eliminate congestion at gates and they will be encouraged to enter the stadium immediately after parking. For the first time, fans will be allowed to buy beer and wine in general seating sections. Hand sanitizing stations will be available throughout the stadium and signs will encourage social distancing. Stadium employees will wear protective gear and face coverings. Also on Tuesday, local health officials said in a news release that a Kansas State University fraternity has been associated with a coronavirus outbreak. The Riley County Health Department said 13 fraternity members tested positive for COVID-19.

Kentucky

Frankfort: A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by seven medically vulnerable state inmates who sought release from the Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women because of the coronavirus pandemic. U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove said in his ruling Monday that the inmates showed evidence of being incarcerated under conditions that pose a risk of serious harm, but failed to show that Kentucky officials are ignoring risks posed by COVID-19, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported. Based on the evidence presented, it is evident that respondents are aware of and understand the potential risk of serious harm to petitioners through exposure to the COVID-19 virus. It is also evident that respondents have taken numerous precautions to address the particular risks faced by individuals detained at KCIW, he wrote. As of Monday, 243 inmates and 32 employees have been infected with the coronavirus at the prison in Shelby County, the newspaper reported. The ACLU of Kentucky filed the suit in June on behalf of inmates who had preexisting health conditions that would make them more vulnerable to COVID-19. ACLU staff attorney Heather Gatnarek said she was deeply disappointed by the ruling. The Department of Corrections said the ruling recognized the agencys continuing efforts to minimize health risks for inmates.

Louisiana

Baton Rouge: Gov. John Bel Edwards said Tuesday 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 of serious harm from COVID-19. The decision by the Democratic governor will block the plan offered by Republican Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin for the Nov. 3 presidential election and a Dec. 5 state election. The proposal needs backing from the majority-GOP Legislature and Edwards to take effect. I do not support his plan. I dont believe that it accommodates all the voters that should be accommodated in this public health emergency, Edwards said. He added: That plan will not be carried out for these elections. Unless Ardoin revises the plan and can win approval from lawmakers and Edwards, it appears a federal lawsuit filed by voting rights advocates that seeks to widen mail-in voting options will decide what elections in Louisiana look like this fall. Ardoin said he wont alter the plan he submitted, which was scheduled for its first legislative hearing Wednesday. Louisianas absentee balloting procedure is limited to people 65 or older, members of the military, overseas voters, people who are hospitalized and people who wont be in their parish for the election.

Maine

Augusta: Tests for the coronavirus in wastewater from the Greater Augusta Utility District confirmed a small presence of the virus that coincided with two people testing positive in Kennebec County, officials said. Two tests of wastewater samples showed no detectable levels of the virus but a third test yielded a small concentration of the virus, officials said. We want to be mindful that COVID-19 is a part of our daily lives. Wastewater testing and monitoring of the results will continue to guide our efforts to return to the new normal, said Augusta City Manager William Bridgeo. The tests were conducted by Massachusetts-based Biobot, which tests sewage for genetic fragments of the virus in human waste. The water district serves thousands of home and businesses in Augusta, Hallowell, Manchester, Monmouth and Winthrop.

Maryland

Salisbury University has tested more than 1,000 students and employees for COVID-19  with 0.4% of them positive  as it prepares for the start of the fall semester.

Salisbury: Salisbury University has tested more than 1,000 students and employees for COVID-19  with 0.4% of them positive  as it prepares for the start of the fall semester. To meet the University System of Maryland's requirement that students, faculty and staff test negative for COVID-19 before moving into campus housing or entering campus buildings, SU has been making testing free for the campus community this month. A news release showed that as of Friday, results for four of the more than 1,000 people tested have come back positive. This free testing opportunity is expected to provide a baseline for SU. Approximately 15% of the university community will be able to access free testing each week throughout the semester as a way to keep SU and local health officials updated on COVID-19 trends on campus. Anyone who tests positive will be asked to remain home for at least two weeks, according to the release, or test negative before returning to campus. The Dogwood Village student housing complex will serve as isolation space for students who test positive, but are unable to leave because of special circumstances. SU has also expanded its one-day move-in to a full week starting Monday so that physical distancing policies can be followed. Classes begin Aug. 31.

Massachusetts

Boston: About 70% of Massachusetts public school districts plan to bring children back to the classroom at least part-time this fall, Gov. Charlie Baker said Tuesday. Those districts plan either a hybrid model or full in-person instruction, he said at a news conference to discuss the states response to the coronavirus pandemic. More than 370 districts have reported their fall plans to state education officials, he 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 Republican said. Students have been away from their classrooms and their teachers and peers since March. Since then we have learned a tremendous amount about COVID and have put together guidelines to allow for a productive and safe learning environment that adapts to the challenges that come with COVID-19. The governor has long made clear his desire for in-person learning, despite pushback from the states largest teachers unions that are encouraging remote-only learning for at least the start of the school year until school buildings can be made safe. The administrations guidelines include a statewide map that groups communities into four coronavirus risk categories. The two lowest risk categories have been encouraged to bring students back to the classroom.

Michigan

Michigan State University's 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.

East Lansing: 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. 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. Last September, Michigan States total enrollment was 49,809 students, with 39,176 undergraduates. 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 paid for the fall semester. The University of Michigan said 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.

Minnesota

Sartell: Sartell-St. Stephen students from early childhood to fifth grade will return to school in-person, almost six months after schools closed at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a school board decision. Students in grades 6-12 will attend school in-person and online to limit the number of people in facilities to 50% capacity, according to the district's safe learning plan. That decision was made based on state rules to determine who can return to school, using COVID-19 cases in Stearns County per 10,000 residents over a period of 14 days. In the two-week period from mid-July to Aug. 1, Stearns County had just over 11 cases per 10,000 people, according to health department numbers, which requires the district to use a hybrid plan for its 6-12 grade students. On Aug. 27, updated 14-day case rates will be given to schools, Superintendent Jeff Schweibert said at the board meeting. With Stearns County case rates declining, he said, it's possible the district could start entirely in-person. When the COVID-19 situation in the region changes, districts will have to adjust their models throughout the year. Unless there's a drastic increase in cases, Schweibert said, the district will try to remain in the same model for two weeks, and communicate any changes with families a week before.

Mississippi

Tutwiler: An outbreak of the coronavirus at a private prison in Mississippi has infected 80% of the Vermont inmates housed there and more test results are pending, the head of the Vermont Corrections Department said. A total of 176 Vermont inmates at the Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility in Tutwiler tested positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, and 33 have tested negative, Interim Vermont Corrections Commissioner Jim Baker said. One inmate is hospitalized. More test results are pending, he said. Vermont houses 219 inmates in Mississippi because of a lack of capacity in its prisons. In late July, six inmates who were returned to Vermont from Mississippi prison tested positive when they arrived at the Marble Valley Correctional Facility in Rutland. That prompted Vermonts Corrections Department on July 30 to order that the remaining Vermont inmates in Mississippi be tested. Most of the Vermont inmates who have tested positive are asymptomatic and 119 are in medical recovery, he said. About 20 are considered to be vulnerable based on their health conditions, he said. The Corrections Department is watching four inmates very closely, Baker said. CoreCivic, the operator of the prison, is now in the process of testing the remaining inmates from other states, Baker said.

Missouri

Columbia: Dr. Deborah Birx, President Donald Trumps top coronavirus adviser, called on everyone in Missouri to wear masks and refrain from attending parties. Birx met with Republican Gov. Mike Parson in his Capitol office. Afterward, she said political affiliations are irrelevant in the ongoing fight to slow the spread of COVID-19. It doesnt matter if youre a Democrat or a Republican, Birx said. You need to wear a mask and socially distance. You need to not have parties in your backyard and your living room. Birx also talked to Parson about enacting a statewide mask mandate similar to one in Texas, where Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in July required masks in counties with 20 or more positive coronavirus cases. Parson called that a great model but didnt directly answer a reporters question on whether he would enact such a policy. He said local officials already require masks in Missouris hot spots. I support those local leaders in that decision and have since Day One, Parson said. I also want to add that just because masks arent mandated everywhere does not mean you shouldnt wear one, especially if you cant social distance.

Montana

Missoula: An assisted living facility has been ordered to comply with state and local requirements for employees to wear masks while at work to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Missoula City-County Health Department issued the order Friday to Ty Harding, owner of the Beehive Homes franchise in Missoula. Harding told the Missoulian newspaper that Beehive was not aware that the countys mask rules were more strict than the statewide mask mandate. The governors mandate allows an exception for face coverings when speaking to hearing-impaired persons. The countys mandate does not include that exception. Six complaints were made against the facility from July 16 to Aug. 11, the order stated. Staff were notified that the stricter mask mandate applied in Missoula County on July 16. However, other complaints followed about staff and contractors. Beehive has ordered transparent face masks so staff can communicate with residents who are hearing impaired, Harding said. Facility manager Erin Heitzmann said she disagrees with the countys order. Were taking away the last little shred of humanity, she said, arguing the residents might fare better with traditional person-to-person contact. We love them. They know us, and they are important to us. Montana has had two large outbreaks of COVID-19 at assisted living facilities. One in Toole County resulted in six deaths and one in Billings led to 16 deaths.

Nebraska

Omaha: A busy coronavirus testing site in Omaha is closing this week, so local health care providers are seeking another way to provide more testing in the area, which is home to several meatpacking plants and a large Hispanic community. More than 1,900 of Douglas Countys more than 12,000 coronavirus cases have come from just one ZIP code in the area near the southeastern Omaha testing site, officials said. The states main testing service, TestNebraska, operates three drive-through testing locations elsewhere in Omaha, but none of them are close to southeastern Omaha. We do need another option in our community, said Andrea Skolkin, the CEO of OneWorld, a health center based in that part of the city. Particularly east Omaha, it doesnt seem like anyone is paying attention.  South Omaha is the hot zone. I dont understand it. Matt Miltenberger, Gov. Pete Ricketts chief of staff, said the state is looking for locations to set up a TestNebraska site in southeastern Omaha. We want to be up ASAP, he said. The current drive-through testing site in southeastern Omaha that can test up to 300 people a day has been a joint effort of OneWorld, the Douglas County Health Department and other groups. The site has been staffed primarily by Nebraska Medicine employees for the past eight weeks. But a hospital spokesman said those employees are needed back at their regular jobs now that Nebraska Medicine has resumed most of its normal operations, including elective surgeries that were put on hold during the spring. Skolkin said her health center is testing about 50 people per day at its locations and that it might be able to increase that to 100, but the private lab it uses has longer waiting times for test results.

Nevada

Las Vegas: Labor unions in Las Vegas began a campaign Tuesday to get area lawmakers to require employers to return furloughed casino, tourism, hospitality, airport, entertainment and hospital employees to their jobs when the coronavirus pandemic ebbs and business resumes. Several hundred idled workers demonstrated at the Clark County Government Center before representatives asked the all-Democratic county commission to consider a law Sept. 1 giving workers a Right to Return to former positions. Im here because they should respect my seniority, said Moises Cuellar, an out-of-work casino employee with nearly 10 years experience at the New York-New York resort on the Las Vegas Strip. Like many in the crowd, he wore a red Culinary Union T-shirt. The 52-year-old married father of two said he has a home and a mortgage, and he was worried that co-workers with less time on the job have already been called back to work. The Nevada State AFL-CIO said the fledgling Save Our Jobs drive represents some 87,000 Nevada nurses, bartenders, operating engineers, service employees, teamsters, auto industry and stage and theatrical workers. We want people to have peace of mind, to get through the pandemic and still have jobs, said Geoconda Arguello-Kline, a top official with the powerful local Culinary Workers Union.

New Hampshire

Concord: Billboards and banners are part of the plan to ensure the annual Motorcycle Week gathering in Laconia stays safe, Gov. Chris Sununu said Tuesday. The event is scheduled to begin Saturday and run through Aug. 30. for Aug. 22-30. Liquor enforcement officials have been reaching out to restaurants and bars to remind them of rules to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, and city and state officials also are working with campground owners and lodging properties to spread the word, Sununu said. The state also plans to put up billboards and fly planes carrying banners reminding attendees that masks are required for large events with more than 100 people. Weve made it clear that any intentional disregard of safety guidance is unacceptable, Sununu said.

New Jersey

Bellmawr: A judge has imposed nearly $130,000 in fines against the owners of a gym that has repeatedly defied Gov. Phil Murphys executive order to remain closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Atilis gym in Bellmawr opened its doors in May, starting a legal battle over whether Murphys order for nonessential businesses to remain closed was constitutional. The owners, Ian Smith and Frank Trumbetti, have said they have taken steps to ensure social distancing and taken other safety precautions. In issuing his order Tuesday, state Superior Court Judge Robert Lougy said the gym could not ignore orders with which it does not agree. The decision requires the gym and its owners to pay almost $125,000 overall for violating a court order on eight days between Aug. 1-14. and about $10,500 to the state for the legal costs of its contempt of court action. The gym owners and their attorney could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

New Mexico

Belen: A central New Mexico family that has three medical practices has closed its offices because of coronavirus exposure, and two members of the family are recovering from symptoms of the virus. The Albuquerque Journal reported Dr. Roland Sanchez, who has a family practice in Belen, and his wife, Elia, have been diagnosed with the coronavirus. A statement from the family didnt provide details of their conditions. Family spokesman Tom Garrity said with two exceptions, the family members who have tested positive are asymptomatic. Along with Sanchezs medical practice, those of his sons, Dr. Roland Sanchez II, who owns Conquistador Dental, and Dr. Florian Sanchez, owner of Yucca Veterinary Medical Center, closed their offices on Aug. 10. According to voice recordings at each office, all three planned on reopening this week.

New York

Poughkeepsie: The Poughkeepsie City School District will only offer remote learning when school resumes Sept. 10. Superintendent Eric Rosser confirmed the decision in a letter to district parents Wednesday morning. After careful and deliberate consideration and planning it has been determined that the most appropriate instructional delivery model to begin our school year will be distance learning (remote instruction), the letter read. This was not an easy decision to make, but please know that it was made with the best interest of all of our students, teachers, staff and parents in mind. Poughkeepsie joins several Dutchess County school districts that have committed to remote learning for the start of the academic year. Arlington Central School District, Wappingers Central School District and Red Hook School District made similar decisions in response to the ongoing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rosser attributed the decision to the parent response in the districts reopening survey, as well as the need for additional time to meet health and safety requirements to bring students back to school. Of the parents to respond to the survey, 57.8% said they preferred a remote learning model. In preparation for the shift to remote learning, the district will be distributing Chromebooks, musical instruments and other supplies to students and families, as well as instructions and guidance on how the plan will be implemented. The district will also establish 13 locations for students to pick up free breakfast and lunch that would be offered under normal circumstances.

North Carolina

Raleigh: The states public schools returned to class on Monday, with most students still learning from home through computers to start the year because of continued worries about COVID-19. The first day was marked by technical challenges beyond those that video conferencing and virtual learning bring. Districts reported trouble for children and instructors logging on to the North Carolina Education Cloud. The portal provides access to several digital applications, including tools for grading and attendance, instructional materials and lesson plans. The product experienced a degradation in service this morning, the Department of Public Instruction said in a news release. The service was working as of midday Monday, the agency said, and the vendor that provides the service will explain what went wrong. In a Facebook post, the Craven County Public Schools said the system experienced an overload due to so many students across the state trying to log in at the same time. Under Gov. Roy Coopers plan, school boards could start the year by offering full remote learning, in-person instruction with strict social distancing or a mix. School buildings were shuttered in March amid the pandemic and never reopened this past year. School districts are expanding their online instruction. More than half of Wake Countys school enrollment signed up for the districts virtual academy. However, the State Board of Education declined last week to increase enrollment for two virtual charter schools.

North Dakota

Bismarck: State health officials said Wednesday the number of COVID-19 deaths in the state has hit 130. The North Dakota Department of Health reported two new deaths, including a woman in her 70s from McLean County and a woman in her 90s from Grand Forks County. Health officials said both women had underlying health conditions. North Dakota confirmed 188 new coronavirus infections, raising the states total to 8,968 since the pandemic began. Of the new cases, 42 are in Burleigh County and 11 are in neighboring Morton County. The counties that include the Bismarck metropolitan area have taken over as the states hot spot for the virus in recent weeks. Cass County, which includes Fargo, reported 36 new cases, a total that includes two from out of state. The number of active cases in North Dakota on Wednesday was 1,209, an increase of 40 from Tuesday. On Wednesday, 49 patients were hospitalized, up two from the previous day.

Ohio

Columbus: All Ohio high school sports can go forward this fall, with an option for sports like football or soccer to be delayed until the spring if schools wish, Gov. Mike DeWine said in one of his most anticipated coronavirus-related announcements that came just days before the start of the school year. The governors order  which takes effect Friday  prohibits spectators at events other than family members or individuals close to athletes, with final decisions on those people left up to schools. Similar limits are in place for family members of marching bands and drill teams. Our order provides the best guidance to play sports as safely as can be played in the era of COVID-19, DeWine said. DeWine said a decision on performing arts events, such as school plays, was coming this week, and hinted they would be allowed with precautions such as moving audiences farther back. It will be up to schools to police the limits on attendance at sporting events, but the Ohio High School Athletic Association will send site monitors to games, and schools found in violation of the governors orders could forfeit games and face disqualification from further competition, said Lt. Gov. Jon Husted.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma City: Oklahomas application for $300 per week federal unemployment benefits to people left jobless because of the coronavirus has been approved, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Oklahoma becomes the ninth state to be approved for the program announced earlier this month by President Donald Trump, according to a Tuesday night statement from FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor. Gov. Kevin Stitt announced Monday that he had applied for inclusion into the program for the unemployed who are receiving at least $100 in state unemployment benefits. As we are months ahead of other states in our recovery and Oklahoma is open for business, many Oklahomans have returned to work or are in training to take on a new career, Stitt said Monday. However, we also want to continue to help those who are still working to secure employment. The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission reported a 6.6% statewide unemployment rate for June, the most recent report. Julys jobless numbers are to be released Friday. Unemployed Oklahomans have faced numerous challenges in receiving unemployment benefits, often lining up for blocks outside the commission.

Oregon

Salem: Oregonians still waiting for their unemployment benefits can apply for a one-time payment of $500 beginning Wednesday. The $35 million relief check program, that was approved by lawmakers in mid-July, could help up to 70,000 Oregon residents facing financial hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus, which has infecting thousands of Oregonians and killed nearly 400, has also caused a surge in unemployment. More than 500,000 people have filed unemployment claims since the start of the pandemic, causing major delays in people receiving funds. The purpose of the new relief program, which would use funds from the CARES Act, is to provide support to Oregonians while the agency continues to work through its backlog. After months of hearing from increasingly desperate Oregonians who were doing everything right and still not getting the unemployment they were owed, we hope this effort offers a streamlined way for some financial relief, House Speaker Tina Kotek said Wednesday. The state is stepping up, and I hope Congress will act soon to provide more support that is desperately needed. People eligible for a relief check must have made less than $4,000 before taxes per month before losing a job, be an Oregon resident, be 18 or older and the employer must have closed or the persons income decreased significantly because of executive actions by Gov. Kate Brown to slow the spread of COVID-19. People are not eligible for the program if their unemployment benefits are up to date. For more information on how to apply for the one-time payment visit emergencychecks.oregon.gov.

Pennsylvania

Harrisburg: The annual Pennsylvania Farm Show was canceled as an in-person event on Wednesday because of the coronavirus pandemic, ending the prospect of hundreds of thousands of people converging on the Harrisburg complex in January. Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said the Jan. 9-15 event will be conducted virtually instead, with a theme of cultivating tomorrow. While this field may lie fallow in January, we are cultivating tomorrow, Redding said. Farm Show organizers expect to release more details about the virtual event, which will aim to educate people about the states agricultural industry. Competitive events held virtually will not require the purchase of an animal. How we keep the threads of the competitiveness there, particularly in our youth programming, is one of the issues were working on real-time, Redding said. He said there will be no livestock shows at the Farm Show Complex, but perhaps events can be held in local communities. The Farm Show bills itself as the countrys largest agricultural exposition under a single roof, featuring about 6,000 animals and 10,000 competitive exhibits. Like an enormous state fair without the rides and carnival barkers, the Farm Show is part professional development for farm families, along with a range of entertainment, from horse shows and tractor pulls to an annual butter sculpture.

Rhode Island

Providence: Almost 9% of people who tested positive for the coronavirus over a week in early August reported having recently visited a bar or a restaurant, according to a Rhode Island Department of Health analysis. Because people are getting more mobile as the states economy reopens, its getting harder to identify exactly how people got sick, Joseph Wendelken, a spokesman for the Department of Health, said in an email. But according to a recent story in The New York Times, restaurants and bars have been a focal point for recent outbreaks. The national restaurant industry pushed back forcefully against that report, saying it mischaracterized the safety of restaurants. And locally, people involved in the business said theyre taking their responsibilities seriously  making it safe to go out to eat, indoors or outdoors. Its safe, because the rules make it safe, said Dale Venturini, president and CEO of the Rhode Island Hospitality Association, whose members include hundreds of bars and restaurants in Providence. Venturini said there have been a few cases among workers in the industry, one or two each, and no outbreaks. But thats at least in part a result of aggressive testing among workers in the industry, she said: Businesses want to know if their employees have gotten sick, and have tried their best to find out. As to the states recent analysis showing almost 9% of cases over a week in August had visited a restaurant recently, Venturini noted that its easier to do that sort of study on the industry  because under the states rules, restaurants have to keep peoples information. Other industries or settings dont have to keep such meticulous records.

South Carolina

Moore: Construction on a coffee roasting and packaging facility that has been in the works for more than two years has been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, according to officials. The Keurig Dr. Pepper plant being built in Spartanburg County is now set to be completed in early 2021, The Spartanburg Herald-Journal quoted site leadership team member Chuck Hollingsworth as saying. Coffee and Keurig single-serve K-Cup pods will be manufactured at the $350 million facility in Moore, which was first announced in May 2018, according to the news outlet. Keurig Dr. Pepper said it planned to create 500 jobs in connection with the site. It was not immediately clear when the plant was originally set to be completed. Officials did not comment further on the delay.

South Dakota

Hobo Day, a South Dakota State celebration meant to focus on the traditions and honors of of students, alumni and others, won't happen like usual this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, the university stated in a press release Wednesday.

Sioux Falls: South Dakota State University is canceling one of its longest-standing Homecoming traditions this fall. Hobo Day, a celebration meant to focus on the traditions and honors of of students, alumni and others, won't happen like usual because of the coronavirus pandemic, the university stated in a press release Wednesday. College officials and the 2020 Hobo Day committee met over the summer to explore how to hold the event with health and safety at the forefront, the release stated. But after many conversations and planning meetings with school officials made the choice not to move forward with the annual Hobo Day parade this fall, with the understanding that not having a fall football season at SDSU was a distinct possibility, the release stated. The Hobo Day Committee understood hosting the annual Hobo Day parade would create logistical challenges and significant health and safety concerns for attendees in the midst of a global pandemic, the release states. "These are challenging times, and the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the lives of everyone," the release stated. "The spirit of Hobo Day, however, is one thing that will remain intact." Instead, the committee will focus on finding ways to celebrate the tradition and still honor the homecoming event through new avenues, the release stated.

Tennessee

Knoxville: Students at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville could face punishments as stiff as expulsion if they are irresponsible in hosting big parties, if they wont cooperate with COVID-19 contact tracing or if they dont complete forms documenting their self-isolation, the chancellor said Tuesday. The news comes as Tennessee school officials grapple with identifying and publicizing virus-related data in schools across the state. Its possible that you could be expelled from school and I will not hesitate to do that if people, our students, are irresponsible, Chancellor Donde Plowman said in a video conference. Plowman also noted five cases linked to an off-campus party last week. Wednesday was the first day of classes at the flagship campus. School officials have confirmed 75 active COVID-19 cases there, involving 66 students and nine employees. About 6,500 students have moved in on campus, and 30,000-plus live off-campus. The campus has 270 people in isolation because of contacts, symptoms or positive tests, including 51 students living on campus, Plowman said. Plowman also said students wont be punished for telling contact tracers they attended a party with underage drinking.

Texas

Corpus Christi: The Alice ISD board of trustees voted Tuesday to postpone the districts 2020-21 start date to Sept. 8  thus pushing back the reopening of its campuses until October. The original start date was Monday. The later date was needed because the delivery of 500 digital devices for students was delayed, and internet repairs at William Adams Middle School are ongoing, Superintendent Carl Scarbrough said. The district distributed about 2,200 devices for students to be taught remotely, and another 500 students need devices. After theyre delivered, schools will need to install remote learning programs on the devices and give students time to practice using them, Scarbrough said. The district previously planned to give only remote instruction for the first four weeks of the school year, meaning in-person instruction would have begun in mid-September. With the new start date, schools will reopen in early October, district spokeswoman Ofelia Hunter said. Teachers can use the extra time to reach students and prepare remote lessons, Scarbrough said. The district will hold more training sessions on remote instruction for parents. And officials are keeping an eye on COVID-19 cases, he said.

Utah

Salt Lake City: Hispanic and nonwhite people in Utah were disproportionately hit by workplace COVID-19 outbreaks, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released Monday. From March to early June, 12% of the states coronavirus cases were tied to workplace outbreaks, mostly in manufacturing, construction and wholesale trade. The report found that 73% of the cases in these outbreaks were Hispanic or other nonwhite people, even though they only make up 24% of the workers in those industries. The report noted that nonwhite workers typically have less flexible work schedules and fewer telework opportunities compared to white employees. That lack of flexibility along with unpaid sick leave policies might prevent workers from staying home when theyre ill, resulting in more workplace exposures and increased virus spread. These racial disparities in work-related outbreaks in Utah are similar to those seen in meat processing facility outbreaks in other states, according to the report. The CDC report recommended that employers ensure that opportunities for paid sick leave and remote work are offered equitably to non-white workers to avoid potential outbreaks.

Vermont

Burlington: Mayor Miro Weinberger has proposed new rules for the citys bars and for gatherings to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus as college students return. Weinberger proposed that bars stop selling alcohol at 10 p.m. and that outside gatherings on residential properties be limited to 25 people. Indoor gatherings would be restricted to 10 people, with families excluded. Weinberger called for a special City Council meeting on Thursday to approve the emergency resolution. Police plan to inform residents in neighborhoods across the University of Vermont of the changes, if approved. Violators could be ticketed or bars could be fined. Weinberger said Tuesday that he hopes the regulations are only needed for a short time. If virus transmission levels in Burlington remain very low after both the public schools have opened and weve gotten through this transition of the colleges reopening and getting into the rhythm of their new testing rhythm, we will happily reevaluate the necessity of their regulations and consider lifting them, he said. Nearly 12,000 UVM students have decided to return to campus, said UVM President Suresh Garimella. They are being tested before they arrive and upon arrival. He said 8,700 pre-arrival tests were ordered and of the 1,150 results that have come back, two were positive. Since Aug. 7, 955 students have been tested on campus and two of those tested positive.

Virginia

Richmond: More than 80% of coronavirus cases in Virginias capital city are among its Black and Latino populations. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported Tuesday that the virus runs rampant in close quarters and heavily impacts low-wage workers who lack paid sick leave and adequate workplace protections. Latinos in Richmond have been hit particularly hard. They have nearly three times the number of virus cases than white residents. Latinos make up 7% of the citys population. Dr. Danny Avula, director of the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts, said a lack of workplace protections fueled the impact. People in the Black and Latino communities were forced to make a choice: stay home and risk being fired, or go to work and potentially get sick.

Washington

Olympia: State health officials said mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus are being reported in eastern Washingtons Benton and Yakima counties. The Washington Department of Health said seven positive samples have been reported in Washington so far this year. No human cases have yet been reported. In Washington, the West Nile virus season starts as early as July and can last until early October. Officials said it can be a serious, even fatal, illness that can affect people, horses, birds, and other animals. The virus is almost always spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito, which becomes infected after feeding on birds that carry the virus. Health officials urge people to avoid mosquito bites. The majority of people infected with the virus do not get sick. About one in five will develop symptoms that go away without medical treatment. Even fewer, about one in 150 people infected, will have more severe symptoms, officials said. Severe symptoms might include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, paralysis, and coma. People with any of those symptoms should contact their healthcare provider right away.

West Virginia

Charleston: About 540 furloughed workers at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races have been permanently laid off because of the coronavirus pandemic. The employees final day was Sunday at the casino, news outlets reported. Casino owner Penn National Gaming of Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, said in a statement that although it was hopeful to have employees return, normal operations wont happen at its properties for the foreseeable future. Penn National announced the furloughs of about 26,000 workers nationwide in April. Casino sports bar server Wayne Thomas of Martinsburg said the workers are especially upset that they will not be paid for unused and accrued personal time off. We can understand all the layoffs, Thomas said Monday. We get it. But we earned that PTO.

Wisconsin

Madison: With more positive coronavirus cases in Wisconsin linked to parties and other gatherings, state health officials on Wednesday released a new tool that people can use to measure risk levels of different activities. Positive COVID-19 cases tied to mass gatherings grew from 7% of cases in May to 21% in June and 20% in July, the state Department of Health Services said. Overall, nearly 67,500 people have tested positive in Wisconsin, with 1,060 deaths. That death count is the 28th-highest in the country overall and the 37th-highest per capita at 18 deaths per 100,000 people. Over the past two weeks, the rolling average number of daily new cases has decreased by 209, a decrease of 25%. There were 174 new cases per 100,000 people in Wisconsin over the past two weeks, which ranks 24th in the country for new cases per capita. The tool unveiled Wednesday allows people to answer a series of questions to determine the risk of certain behaviors, like who will be gathering, where will people be getting together and how widespread is COVID-19 in the area. The state health department also released guidelines for school districts to follow in preventing, investigation and controlling COVID-19 outbreaks. The guidelines include instructions for school staff in identifying cases and close contacts among students as well as best practices for isolation and quarantine of infected students and staff.

Wyoming

Casper: The University of Wyoming has 42 active cases of coronavirus, as of Tuesday, after the school identified 30 new staff and students with the disease over the weekend. Two of the new cases are students who live in residence halls. University spokesman Chad Baldwin declined to say if the students were athletes, but he said its believed that they contracted the virus from within the community or from visitors. Forty-seven members of the UW community have been directed to quarantine because of exposure to a person who tested positive.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 50 States
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 18:10:46|Editor: huaxia

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A woman wades through a flooded road after heavy rains in Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab, eastern Pakistan, on Aug. 20, 2020. At least 18 people were killed and multiple others were injured in rain-related incidents in different parts of Pakistan's eastern Punjab province on Thursday, rescue officials said. (Photo by Sajjad/Xinhua)

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- At least 18 people were killed and multiple others were injured in rain-related incidents in different parts of Pakistan's eastern Punjab province on Thursday, rescue officials said.

Rescue officials told local media that several houses have been completely destroyed by heavy downpour and thunderstorms in the province and the majority of the deceased lost their lives due to roof collapse incidents.

The roof of an old house collapsed due to rains in the Harbanspura area of Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab, killing four people and injuring five others, according to rescue officials.

In another incident, nine members of a family were buried under debris when the roof of their house collapsed due to heavy rains in the Malian Kalan area of Sheikhupura district. Resultantly, three people including a child were killed and six others were injured.

Separately, a mother and her four children lost their lives when the roof of their house collapsed in Mandi Bahauddin district of the province.

Moreover, at least three laborers were crushed to death when a landslide occurred in a coal mine where they were working due to rainfall in the Qasba Bhal area of Chakwal district. Five other workers also sustained injuries in the unfortunate incident.

Three people lost their lives in different incidents of electrocution and roof collapse in Faisalabad district.

Earlier this week, the Pakistan Meteorological Department informed that strong monsoon currents were likely to penetrate from Wednesday that will produce widespread rains in the country during the next three to four days.

Heavy rainfall may generate flash flooding in local nullah and streams of Punjab and northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and urban flooding on Thursday and Friday, according to the weather department. Enditem
The authoritarian leader of Belarus has complained that encouragement from abroad has fuelled daily protests demanding his resignation.

President Alexander Lukashenkos comments came as European Union leaders held an emergency summit on the countrys contested presidential election and fierce crackdown on demonstrators.

Mr Lukashenko ordered his government to relay the official point of view on the post-election protests to the leaders of France, Germany, Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine and to warn them  no need to be shy  about the responsibility for fomenting unrest.

Russia echoed his sentiment, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov alleging attempts of direct interference in Belaruss internal affairs.

Expand Close European Council president Charles Michel, top of screen, speaks with EU leaders during an EU summit in video conference format (Olivier Hoslet, Pool Photo via AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp European Council president Charles Michel, top of screen, speaks with EU leaders during an EU summit in video conference format (Olivier Hoslet, Pool Photo via AP)

Mr Lukashenkos statement at a meeting with government officials came after his top challenger in the August 9 election urged the EU not to recognise the official results, which gave the countrys longtime president his sixth consecutive term with 80% of the vote and the candidate who finished second 10%.

I call on you not to recognise these fraudulent elections. Mr Lukashenko has lost all the legitimacy in the eyes of our nation and the world, opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said in a video statement released before the start of the EU summit.

Ms Tsikhanouskaya, a former English teacher who entered the presidential race after her husband was jailed and drew tens of thousands of supporters at campaign events, dismissed the election results as falsified and demanded a recount.

She left Belarus for Lithuania last week, a move her campaign said was made under duress.

On Monday, Ms Tsikhanouskayas associates announced the formation of a co-ordination council to help plot a peaceful solution to the political crisis in Belarus.

The council convened for the first time on Wednesday.

Expand Close Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya released a video statement (Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya campaign office via AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya released a video statement (Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya campaign office via AP)

It will lead the process of a peaceful transition of power via dialogue. It will immediately call for new fair and democratic presidential elections with international supervision, Ms Tsikhanouskaya, 37, said in the latest video statement.

Mr Lukashenko, 65, has repeatedly rejected demands to step down and bristled at the idea of talks with the opposition.

He denounced the co-ordination council as an attempt to seize power in the country and threatened prosecution for creating alternative (government) bodies.

Hundreds of thousands of people protested over the election results across Belarus.

During the first four days of demonstrations, police detained almost 7,000 people and injured hundreds with rubber bullets, stun grenades and clubs.

At least three protesters died.

This week, workers at several major industrial plants, including a huge factory that accounts for a fifth of the worlds potash fertiliser output, went on strike to also demand the embattled presidents resignation.

On Wednesday morning, protest rallies resumed in the capital Minsk for an 11th straight day, some of which police moved to break up after nearly a week of not interfering with the peaceful protests.

Expand Close Protesters gather in front of the Minsk Tractor Works Plant to support workers leaving the plant after their shift (Dmitri Lovetsky/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Protesters gather in front of the Minsk Tractor Works Plant to support workers leaving the plant after their shift (Dmitri Lovetsky/AP)

Several dozen people were detained in front of the Minsk Tractor Factory, where workers have been on strike since Monday, Sergei Dylevsky, leader of the factorys strike committee, told the Associated Press.

The countrys Interior Ministry said in a statement that police detained only two protesters and pushed the remaining crowd aside.

Police blocked all entrances to the Janka Kupala National Theatre in Minsk, where the troupe on Tuesday gave notice en masse after its director, Pavel Latushko, was fired for siding with protesters.

Actors who arrived at the theatre on Wednesday morning were not allowed in.

Its unprecedented that in the 21st century law enforcement is deployed to a cultural institution. The situation speaks for itself, Mr Latushko said.

Western officials refused to recognise the election as free or fair and criticised the violent crackdown.

The EU is preparing a list of Belarusian officials who could be blacklisted from Europe over their roles.

In a letter inviting leaders of the bloc to the teleconference taking place on Wednesday, European Council president Charles Michel said that what we have witnessed in Belarus is not acceptable.

He said the violence against peaceful protesters was shocking and has to be condemned. Those responsible must be held to account.
MADISON, Wis. - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Attorney General Eric Holder delivered a stark reminder to Wisconsin Democrats on Thursday about the importance the battleground state plays in the presidential election less than 11 weeks away.

No pressure, its all riding on Wisconsin, Pelosi told more than 100 Democrats during a virtual meeting tied to the final day of the Democratic National Convention. No pressure.

Democrats, as well as President Donald Trump, have made no secret how essential winning Wisconsin is to the race this year. Wisconsin did not get the national attention it hoped for when the Democratic convention originally planned for Milwaukee moved online. But Trump and his surrogates have flooded the state this week, drawing a sharp contrast with Democratic nominee Joe Biden, who decided against travelling to the state to accept the nomination due to concerns over COVID-19.

Still, after Trumps narrow victory of less than 23,000 votes in 2016, and polls showing another close race this year, Democrats are pledging not to downplay the importance of Wisconsin in Bidens efforts to defeat Trump.

The road to the presidency runs through Wisconsin, said Holder, who was attorney general under former President Barack Obama. The fate of the United States, the fate of the western world, is on your shoulders. Not too much pressure.

Holder and Gov. Tony Evers also stressed the importance of denying Republicans the six seats needed in the Wisconsin Legislature to have a veto-proof super majority headed into the once-a-decade process of redistricting next year. Wisconsin has been at the front of the national battle over redistricting, with Democrats taking a challenge of the current maps all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Republicans need to pick up three seats in the Senate and three in the Assembly to have super majorities that could override any Evers veto. That would enable the GOP-controlled Legislature to enact any map it wishes after redistricting next year, just as it did in 2011 when Republican Scott Walker was governor.

Evers and Democrats have rallied around a Save the Veto message, with the first-term Democrat saying Thursday he had temporarily suspended fundraising for his own reelection to focus on that effort.

Evers predicted that Republicans would convene within seconds to override his veto of the maps if they have the votes to do it.

Thats what this years election is all about for me, and I think for you also, Evers said. Sure, its about defeating the Trumpster and making sure his brand of nonsense comes nowhere near the White House again. I know Joe is going to win in November, but its also about maps.

Holder said Wisconsin had the most gerrymandered maps in the country.

We need to make sure that Democrats have a seat at the table, Holder said. This is an existential presidential election, I get that. But so are the races happening down the ballot in Wisconsin as well, and across the country.

___

Follow Scott Bauer on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sbauerAP
Thats not surprising since the previous leaks and rumours have pointed out the same. It is just that these have been shown in images this time, so you get a better idea.

It is that time of the year when the smartphone case makers start receiving dummy units of the upcoming iPhones so they can start making cases by the time the devices launch. And thanks to these dummy units, we now have a clearer look at how these upcoming iPhone 12 devices will look like. Shared by Apple fan community in Israel called HaAppleistim (via 9to5Mac), the images suggest them to have an iPhone 4 like design. The handset came back in 2010.

Now thats not surprising since the previous leaks and rumours have pointed out the same. It is just that these have been shown in images this time, so you get a better idea.

iPhone 12 dummy units (via 9to5 Google)

As one can see in the images, the back-camera setup carries the same squarish setup. However, the number of lenses inside the setup might be different this time. In addition, at the bottom you will likely see dual speakers with a charging port in the centre.

Since these dummy units are made solely for case makers, they dont focus on bringing each and every design change such as the number of camera lenses, notch size and more. Thats because of the case shape is not governed by these factors.

But nonetheless, those who always the iPhone 4 or iPhone 5 design in iPhones, will finally be getting them this year.

iPhone 12 dummy. (via 9to5 Mac)

Apple is expected to launch four iPhones in September or October under its iPhone 12 series. The lower end models might be the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Max, while the higher-end versions might fall under the iPhone 12 Pro Max moniker. Also, the iPhone 12 and 12 Max is said to feature 5.4-inch and 6.1-inch screen sizes, while the rumoured iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max might sport 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screens.
S IR Keir Starmer has stuck his oar into the row over new compulsory charges to swim at the Hampstead ponds.

The Labour leader has written to the City of London Corporation to ask why it is not trialling a voluntary payments system or introducing a hardship fund for bathers with less money. Prices for adult pond swimmers rose from 2 to 4 earlier this year.

Starmer, the local MP, said he wanted to understand the rationale behind refusing to at least trial Option 2  an arrangement which would make payments voluntary. He added that it was a concern that the new online booking system means those without internet access cannot use the ponds. Alix Lemkin of campaigning group Forum 71 said the group had been trying to get the issue noticed by Sir Keir. We did leaflet him one day. Its good to get his attention, she told The Londoner.

Lemkin added that there was "mounting agitation against what is happening" and hoped that would make the City "sit up and listen." Forum '71 will hold another protest on the Heath this Saturday. "Maybe we should issue [Starmer] with a direct invtiation," Lemkin mused. "We're very happy that he's making some noises".

Anne Fairweather, of the City of London Corporation, told the Ham and High the ponds were accessible to people from all backgrounds, adding that a new support system would be introduced for swimmers unable to afford the charges.

Pressure builds on the City.

--

MI5, MI6 and GCHQ are seeking six auditors. A jobs listing reads: So dont just think of financial controls. Think of covert surveillance, agent running and emerging technologies ... When you join us, its all yours to audit. Surely this isnt related to Dominic Cummingss recent tour of the agencies ahead of a defence and foreign policy review?

--

Andi Oliver

CHEF Andi Oliver has a message for food giant Heinz: Stop mucking around and get tinned spotted dick back out there. The Great British Menu judge explains to the Off Menu podcast: The best part of my day at school was pudding. Spotted dick or jam roly-poly, of course. She adds: I like them when Im hungover ... I want it in a tin, next to the Fray Bentos. Canned joy

--

SW1A

That mooted US trade deal isnt looking so hot. Lauri Torgerson of American charity Farm Sanctuary warns that consumers want to know that the animals they are eating have been treated well... we cant say that in the United States, at all and praises UK standards. Given the PMs fiancee Carrie Symonds is a great supporter of animal rights  and Togersons remarks were written up in industry mag Farming UK, a huge headache for the government is coming

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Getty Images

Jacob Rees-Mogg posed with fellow Tory MP Richard Drax yesterday as they ate ice creams, with which Drax struggled. Boho Gelato... may even turn me into a Bohemian, Mogg said. Fat chance. But he adds Sixtus might have a lesson or two to give the great Richard Drax though in how to eat an ice cream. Thats Sixtus his three year old child. Ouch.

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Its a boys day out for Becks and sons

David Beckham enjoyed a meal in the sun with his three sons Romeo, Brooklyn and Cruz aka my boys. Singer Emeli Sande teased her new album saying her fourth record is under construction. Lily Allen wrinkled her face as she posed in a leopard print bikini in Croatia, And Keith Lemon (AKA comic Leigh Francis), dressed up as ginger aquaman explaining: todays loungewear. Are scales comfy?
Iran's FM says U.S. "miscalculations" led to its int'l failure

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 14:51, August 19, 2020

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.

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Every severe economic crisis shakes the basic foundations of seemingly mainstream policies and ideas and makes one wonder whether the recessions impact could have been mitigated by timely and ambitious decisions. Despite being the country with the lowest GDP drop this year in Europe, Poland seems to be smitten by such nationwide deliberation and perhaps unsurprisingly substantial attention is dedicated to the future of coal. For decades Poland was among the worlds top coal producers, to the extent that up to today no EU member burns more coal than Poland (75% of its electricity generation). Yet the intra-European pressure to canvass a greener and more sustainable future has brought Poland to the least probable of candidates, nuclear energy.

Replacing coal with other forms of energy will prove to be not only an economic challenge for Poland, in many ways coal is ingrained in the regional psyche of South and Southwest Poland (Silesia) where coal production has already started in the late 18th century. After reaching an all-time annual high of 266 million tons in 1988, Polands consumption has first plummeted on the back of the post-Soviet demand crunch and then started to decline by an average 2% year-on-year in the new millennium. Despite a generally declining trend, coal still matters a lot to Poland, home to Europes largest coal plant (in Belchatow, generating some 20% of Polands electricity), remaining the most coal-dependent economy in Europe with a population of almost 40 million.

Despite its coal reserves bounty, Poland has started to import substantial amounts of better-quality anthracite which has raised political alarms with the ultra-conservative ruling party (PiS) banning state-owned entities to participate in such transactions, although private firms are still allowed to do so. Yet what can Poland do  endowed with vast reserves of lower-than-necessary-quality coal and compelled to align with the European Unions going green (not to mention that the current government was voted into power with a very powerful pro-coal platform)? The Polish government seems to be siding with a gradual phase-out, perhaps not as ambitious as the 2036 coal halt deadline mentioned in Polish newspapers yet still aspirational enough to convince the EU that Warsaw means it, despite being the only EU country not to commit to the 2050 carbon neutrality objective.

Graph 1. Polands Coal Production vs Consumption in 2000-2019 (exajoules).

Source: BP Statistical Survey.

Two main trends will push gradually coal into the red zone economically  increasing production costs as miners have to dig deeper and deeper and Europes emissions trading scheme that penalizes the coal industry with particular force. The answer to Polands energy woes might lie in the realm of renewables, all the more so as wind energy has been making some real headway. Polands onshore wind capacity from complete zero some 12 years ago to 5.9 MW installed capacity yet as Polish analysts point out themselves the country will not be able to supplant decreasing coal capacities by relying on onshore wind solely; for a tangible paradigm shift Warsaw would need to tap into its windiest part, the Baltic Sea. Yet even this would not be enough and here enters the latest, perhaps missing, piece to the puzzle  nuclear energy.

Poland has had a contorted history with nuclear energy. Although the main thrust of the 1986 Chernobyl catastrophe radiation front fortuitously spared most of Poland, the radiation levels attested at the Polish-Soviet border still make it the third most-affected nation. This is itself would be enough to substantiate Polands anti-nuclear stance. Yet there is more  Poland has been one of the staunchest opponents of the Ostrovets Nuclear Plant in Belarus, going as far as to banning potential nuclear imports from Belarus under the pretext of it being unsafe. Yet Poland itself has already flirted with the idea of buying into nuclear  Lithuanias Visaginas nuclear plant, which was supposed to replace the Soviet-era Ignalina power plant but was ultimately cancelled due to it being thoroughly loss-making, might have seen Polish participation and investment.

In 2009, the Polish Economy Ministry has called for the construction of at least 2 nuclear plants which were supposed to provide around 15% of electricity by 2030, with coals share decreasing by the same measure to 60%. After a decade spent on creating on sorting out regulatory issues, Poland now seems fully committed to get the nuclear ball rolling. According to the newly formed Ministry of Climate, the construction of the 1st reactor is expected to take place in 2026 and the nuclear plant would be commissioned around 2033/2034 with further reactor additions in the follow-up. The location of the nuclear plant is still undecided, yet everything seems to be pointing Zarnowiec in Pomerania  as it happens, the site where Poland had 4 VVER-440 nuclear units under construction in the 1980s, only to abandon the project altogether once the country has shed its Soviet ties.

Judging by the preferences of Polish authorities, Warsaw wants the United States to build the nuclear plant  an odd choice given the tender-based nature of the deal, rendered even weirded by US firms massively underperforming potential openings abroad. The economic rationale behind Polands nuclear plans is fairly straightforward  as coal is increasingly becoming beyond the producers means, natural gas and oil is being imported (does not matter if it is from Russia or Norway) and thus always subject to the authorities antipathy, nuclear turned out to be the most cost-effective conventional solution. The environmental rationale is also evident  nuclear is to replace coal as the baseload capacity for the countrys north, with no carbon emissions attached to it. All the rationales look good on paper, however, telling that to the approximately 100 000 miners all across Poland is a straight-out political suicide.

Graph 2. Polands Electricity Generation in 2000-2019 (in Tera-Watthours).

Source: BP Statistical Survey.

By Viktor Katona for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The Millennium City kept its annual date with monsoon on Wednesday resembling an ocean after heavy rains and waterlogging inundated the city and left people stranded. The citys limited drainage capacity, which results in Badshahpur drain overflowing during heavy rains, disruption of the hydrological flow of natural drains, which has stopped the flow of water into traditional dams, and delayed monsoon preparedness were the main reasons for Gurugram sinking after Wednesdays rains, experts said. We take a look at five things why Gurugram gets flooded every time it rains.

Delay in monsoon preparedness

Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) and Gurugram Metropolitan Development (GMDA) officials have attributed the delay behind monsoon preparedness to the raging Covid-19 outbreak. The draining cleaning operations started only in June because of the pandemic.

GMDA looks after all master drains in the city, while the MCG takes care of the arterial ones.

A master drain carries the sewage of more than one sector or a neighbourhood, while an arterial drain is a network of pipelines in a residential colony or a sector.

Earlier on March 21, MCG officials were instructed to take care of basic civic amenities and put a stop all other work owing to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Later, though the civic authorities turned their attention to the cleaning of drains in mid-April, however, work didnt get underway until June. It was a case of too little, too late.

Too little time left, too much to do

Usually, any cleaning operation for a drain takes about two months, including desilting, ahead of the monsoon season.

Typically, MCG and GMDA authorities float tenders for cleaning the drains in March and April, and by May, the work is at an advanced stage.

But the civic bodies plans came unstuck this year because of the unprecedented Covid-19 outbreak. MCG authorities floated the first set of tenders in May. While GMDA authorities followed suit and got into the act in early June.

GMDA had to do the heavy-lifting for crucial stretches such as IFFCO Chowk-Rajiv Chowk, areas along the Delhi-Gurgugram Expressway, Subhash Chowk-Vatika Chowk on Sohna Road, Bakhtawar Chowk-Subhash Chowk in Sector 34, and near Hero Honda Chowk.

The civic body was found wanting in the end.

Acute manpower crunch

It takes at least three weeks to award a contract. However, amid the Covid-19-triggered hard times, the contractors faced an acute shortage of manpower, as most of the migrant workers had left for their native places in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh following the nationwide lockdown restrictions that were enforced from March 25 to contain the spread of the contagion.

Contractors manpower strength was reduced to 30%. Consequently, the work progressed at a snails pace amid a looming monsoon.

No outlet for rainwater

The drainage system in Gurugram leaves a lot to be desired, as was evident from the flooding of seven underpasses on Wednesday.

Every year, the Haryana Urban Development Authoritys (HUDA) master drainage lines either get choked at critical points or are bursting at their seams during monsoon. There is no outlet for the accumulating rainwater to be released. Raman Sharma, chief engineer, MCG, said most of the rainwater flowed back into Gurugram due to lack of outlet, flooding the satellite towns thoroughfares and residential areas.

Blocked natural drains

Gurugram of the 1980s was a pristine landscape, dotted with jheels, or water bodies in the low-lying parts of what has since morphed into a millennium city with its distinctive skyline of glitzy skyscrapers and glass-fronted offices and trendy shopping malls. The water bodies in the Aravallis were ideal to drain the rainwater. Rapid urbanisation through the 1990s and the turn of the new millennium led to blockage of natural drains.

A land revenue record from 1956 showed Gurugram had around 640 water bodies, which has since whittled down to 251 in 2018-19.

And, there hangs the tale of the annual flooding woes of the Millennium City.
The parents of a 21-year-old man who died in a horrific car crash on the Gold Coast have revealed the heartwarming last words he said to them.

Bryton Thompson, Jamie Hunter and Marnie Zuk died after two cars collided on Rifle Range Road in Upper Coomera on Sunday.

The three were travelling in Bryton's Suburu when it slammed into another vehicle that was being driven by a 28-year-old driver, who suffered pelvic injuries.

Bryton's parents Arthur and Krystan have been left distraught by the tragedy and last saw their son on Sunday morning before the crash.

'His last words to me was Sunday morning when he yelled out across the street: "I love you Mum",' Mrs Thompson told Courier Mail.

Bryton Thompson (pictured with his sister Courtney) was killed in a horrific car crash on the Gold Coast on Sunday

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash, with reports Bryton's car reached speeds of 150km/h before the crash.

Mrs Thompson quashed the rumours, saying although he loved his cars, he was not a reckless driver.

'Doing that speed on that stretch of road just doesnt make sense, especially considering Bryton wouldnt do that,' she said.

Mr Thompson is a truck driver and issued an emotional plea for drivers after his 'perfect' son lost his life.

He hopes no parent ever has to go through the emotional trauma of losing their son in a horrific accident.

'We want other boys and girls to please, slow the hell down,' Mr Thompson said.

Friends and family have flooded social media to pay tribute to the trio, saying they will be sorely missed.

'Losing a workmate is like losing family,' friend Billy McKinnon posted.

17-year-old Marnie Zuk and her 21-year-old boyfriend Jamie Hunter (pictured together) were also killed in Sunday's crash

'The terrible news I received late last night of a young bloke who works for me passing away in a car wreck will be forever in my mind.

'It's always the good people who are taken from us way too soon. Rest In Peace Bryton Thompson you'll be missed severely mate.'

'My heart is hurting for the sudden and unexpected passing of our beautiful Marnie Zuk and her partner and his cousin,' Katrina Crouch wrote.

'Fly high our precious angel. We love you sweetheart. Watch over your beautiful mum.'

'Remembering Marnie Zuk...a beautiful girl who laughed and danced around our house many years ago,' Diana Bryson wrote.

'You will be celebrated for the gorgeous woman you were becoming. I feel like I've lost a daughter...'

Friends and family have flooded social media in tribute to the three young people, saying they will be missed severely

Gold Coast High Acuity Response Unit paramedic Gary Berkowitz, who attended the incident, said the scene had been distressing.

'As paramedics, we're often called to the worst half an hour of someone's life,' he said.

Three of the crash victims were trapped for about half an hour and firefighters had to cut at least one person from the wreckage.

Mr Berkowitz said members of the public also stepped in to help.

'I heard there were some people who were suffering from anxiety-related problems from what they saw ... I believe some of our paramedics did speak to [them].'

Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler said investigations would determine if speed was a factor, and pleaded with parents to speak with their children about road safety.

'I would just ask parents out there - please speak to your children, speak to your young adults, tell them they've got to slow down, drive to the conditions,' he told reporters on Monday.

'This loss of life is needless, it's preventable and it just shouldn't happen.'

The trio were all travelling in the same car when it slammed into another vehicle (pictured)

He said eight people under the age of 22 had died on Gold Coast roads in the past month.

'Unfortunately our police and emergency services attend these scenes far too frequently,' he said.

'Many of our police and partner agencies...have got kids that age. It's incredible stressful.'

Investigations are continuing and police have urged anyone with dashcam footage who was in the area about the time of the crash to come forward.
The Covid-19 pandemic has worsened the press freedom situation in countries such as China, Russia, and Turkey, where authorities have used it as a smokescreen to crack down on critical media, according to speakers at an international conference on media freedom.

International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Deputy General Secretary, Jeremy Dear, participated in the webinar Virus on Freedom of Expression, hosted by the FreeWord Committee of Human Rights Solidarity.

In his keynote speech, he pointed out that the pandemic has increased existing attacks against press freedom across the world. He said that global attacks on press freedom are not the result of the pandemic but that authoritarian regimes have used it as "a smokescreen" to further crackdown on press freedom. "They say the measures are temporary but all too often they become permanent", he said. He highlighted an increase in arrests, intimidation, fake news laws and economic pressures around the world, all of which were undermining independent journalism.

The webinar featured eleven speakers, including correspondents, editors, representatives of human rights and journalists' organizations, and a former MEP. Participants claimed increasingly authoritarian leaders in Russia, China and Turkey have used the pandemic to increase the trend to intimidate journalists and silence critical reporting.

Before the pandemic, China and Turkey had the highest numbers of imprisoned journalists worldwide, while censorship and threats to some independent journalists have characterized the Russian media landscape.

China has sent journalists into forced quarantine, made media outlets take down articles, expelled foreign journalists and intimidated Chinese nationals not to speak to international media. Megha Rajagopalan, who worked as a correspondent for BuzzFeed News in China, pointed out that the intimidation of sources is a "very serious issue" because foreign nationals depend on locals' information.

In Turkey, the Turkish journalist union (TGS) reported that 85 journalists are currently imprisoned and face a serious risk of a Covid-19 infection in overcrowded prisons. Direct censorship, intimidation and forced media closures further impede quality reporting on the pandemic.

In Russia, journalists have been arrested for covering the government's handling of the pandemic. Digital censorship and intimidation campaigns against journalists have also increased in recent months.

Not only do authoritarian leaders threaten media freedom using the excuse of the pandemic, but they also do it at a point in time when quality information can save lives. Jeremy Dear emphasized that it is vital for people to access information about health risks, treatments and precautions.

The IFJ has repeatedly exposed Covid-19 related actions which threaten media freedom and launched the Global Platform for Quality Journalism, with long-term solutions to protect media, save jobs and support the most precarious media workers.
Mr. Movahheds extensive background in clinical operations will bring great value to our pharmaceutical clients who are conducting clinical trials in a variety of therapeutic areas including oncology, neurology, and cardiology.

NDA Partners Chairman Carl Peck, MD, announced today that Hassan Movahhed, a Clinical Operations executive with expertise in clinical trial planning and feasibility, regulatory inspection readiness, and clinical investigator and CRO management, has joined the firm as an Expert Consultant. Throughout his career, Mr. Movahhed has helped design and manage oncology, neurology, cardiovascular, and anti-infective clinical trials and has prepared for pre-approval regulatory inspections.

Prior to joining NDA Partners, Mr. Movahhed served in Vice President or Senior Vice President roles at several companies including Exelixis, Forty-Seven, Inc., United Therapeutics, Elan, Geron, and Threshold Pharmaceuticals. He was formerly Senior Director and Head of US Development Operations and Clinical Affairs at Amgen and Senior Director of Clinical Operations at ICOS. In his early career, he served in roles of increasing responsibility at Bristol-Myers Squibb in infectious disease clinical research and drug pharmacokinetics and metabolism research.

Mr. Movahheds extensive background in clinical operations will bring great value to our pharmaceutical clients who are conducting clinical trials in a variety of therapeutic areas including oncology, neurology, and cardiology. We are pleased to welcome him to NDA Partners, said Dr. Peck.

Mr. Movahhed earned a masters degree in biology and bachelors degree in zoology from the University of Michigan.

About NDA Partners

NDA Partners is a life sciences management consulting and contract development organization (CDO) focused on providing product development and regulatory services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries worldwide. The highly experienced Principals and Expert Consultants in NDA Partners include three former FDA Center Directors; the former Chief Executive Officer and Chief Science Officer at the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP); an international team of more than 100 former pharmaceutical industry and regulatory agency senior executives; and an extensive roster of highly proficient experts in specialized areas including nonclinical development, toxicology, pharmacokinetics, CMC, medical device design control and quality systems, clinical development, regulatory submissions, and development program management. Services include product development and regulatory strategy, expert consulting, high-impact project teams, and contract management of client product development programs.

Contact

Earle Martin, Chief Executive Officer

Office: 540-738-2550

MartinEarle@ndapartners.com
After the two largest watch fairs in the world cancelled their physical events (with Watches & Wonders moving all their planned activities onto their new digital platform), 2020 heralded a different era for the watchmaking microcosm. As a consequence, a number of watch companies, both established heritage brands and young independents, came together to create a new watch exhibition: Geneva Watch Days.

Over the course of a weekend, Jean-Christophe Babin (Bulgari), Patrick Pruniaux (Girard-Perregaux and Ulysse Nardin), Georges Kern (Breitling), Edouard Meylan, (H. Moser & Cie.), Maximilian Busser (MB&F), Felix Baumgartner (Urwerk) and Pierre Jacques (De Bethune) joined forces in this unprecedented project.

The participating brands, Bulgari, De Bethune, H. Moser & Cie., Urwerk, Breitling, Ulysse Nardin, Girard-Perregaux, Bovet, Czapek, Louis Moinet, Maurice Lacroix, Reuge, Ferdinand Berthoud and Artya will be present in individual showrooms in the most sumptuous hotels of Geneva. They will present their new products to around 300 retailers and journalists (a number necessarily limited by the guidelines recommended by health authorities).

"The decentralized format of this unique gathering of watch brands will allow us to be safe," said Jean-Christophe Babin. "In addition, we have implemented strict hygiene rules for all participants and visitors. No risks will be taken. Bringing together the entire Swiss watch industry in one place, Geneva, is a major and unique opportunity to rekindle the flame of the watchmaking sector which has been slowed down in recent weeks".

The WorldTempus team will be covering Geneva Watch Days in full, led by our editor in chief Suzanne Wong, so don't forget to follow all our real-time updates on Facebook and Instagram, so as not to miss anything of this exceptional multi-brand event!

Further information:

Welcome Desk located at the Rotonde du Montblanc (Geneva Watch Days Official pavilion)

Quai du Montblanc 10, 1201 Geneva
Russia rebukes Norway for expelling diplomat

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 19 August 2020 4:15 PM

Russia's Embassy in Norway has expressed its protest to Oslo following the expulsion of a Russian diplomat on suspicion of having links to a spy case.

A spokeswoman for the Norwegian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday the Russian man, who worked in the trade section of the embassy, "has engaged in actions that are incompatible with his role and status as a diplomat."

The expulsion came after a Norwegian citizen suspected of illegally passing information to the diplomat was arrested by Norway's PST security police at a restaurant in Oslo on Saturday.

The Russian Embassy said in a statement on Wednesday that it had lodged a protest against what it believed to be a violation of the diplomat's immunity.

"The deputy trade representative was apprehended by the PST without cause during a meeting with a Norwegian citizen," it added.

"He was searched and was not allowed to contact the embassy or to summon representatives from the consular department."

Konstantin Kosachev, the head of the Russian upper house of parliament's foreign affairs committee, said his country would expel a Norwegian diplomat in response.

"I have no doubt that Russia in this case, as always, will adhere clearly to the principle of reciprocity," Interfax news agency quoted Kosachev as saying.

The Norwegian citizen worked at the oil and gas unit of DNV GL, a company that provides certification for insurance and other purposes for the shipping, oil and gas and renewables industries.

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On Wednesday, rebels who arrested and detained Malis president and prime minister Tuesday, pledged a political transition and new elections within a 'reasonable time'

Egypt is closely following with deep concern rapid political developments occurring in Mali, especially the dangerous juncture into which the political crisis in the country has descended, the Egyptian foreign ministry said Thursday.

Egypt stresses its condemnation of all forms of violence in the context of the ongoing crisis and calls all Malian parties to exercise restraint and adhere to peaceful methods and dialogue to settle the crisis, the statement added.

On Tuesday, rebel soldiers took President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse into custody and drove them to a military base on the outskirts of Bamako. Later Keita said he had resigned to avoid bloodshed.

The Egyptian foreign ministry also stressed the importance of preserving the country's constitutional and legal frameworks and the need to rapidly restore constitutional order in Mali.

The Egyptian foreign ministry affirmed Cairo's support for all political efforts aimed at resolving the crisis in Mali, topped by recent mediation efforts carried out by both the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union to reach a peaceful political settlement to the crisis.

On Wednesday, rebels pledged a political transition and new elections within a "reasonable time."

Both the European Union and African Union, however, called Wednesday for the immediate release of Keita and Cisse.

Egypt extends its sincere condolences to the Malian people for the victims of the latest violent incidents, and calls upon sisterly and friendly countries to provide support and assistance to Mali in order to overcome the current crisis and achieve peace and stability in the country, the foreign ministry statement added.

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Mandatory voting could diminish the demographic skew at the ballot box. (Christina House / For The Times)

The United States should require every eligible American to vote  or at least participate  in general elections.

As states and municipalities strive to make the 2020 elections full and fair amid political controversy and the limitations imposed by the pandemic, it should be remembered that even in normal times, our elections have two crucial shortcomings: low voter participation and an electorate that does not reflect the nations increasingly diverse population.

The solution to both problems is straightforward: Make voting a universal civic duty. Mandatory voting is already in place in 26 countries, including Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Ecuador, Greece, Singapore, Switzerland and Uruguay.

In Australia, participation in elections has been mandatory since 1924. The government, political parties and civic groups all work to educate citizens about their responsibilities and to make voting fully accessible to all. Election day, which falls on a weekend, is treated like a community celebration. Although participation is mandatory, choosing a candidate is not: Voters can cast a blank ballot or provide a valid and sufficient reason to abstain. After each national and state election, those who did not participate are sent a letter asking why. If no reason is supplied after two attempts, the nonparticipants are fined the equivalent of about $15.

The system is widely popular in Australia and functions well in other countries too. Yet there has been virtually no discussion of this potentially game-changing policy in the United States. We are now seeking to change that.

For two years, 27 scholars and advocates, including the two of us, have studied mandatory voting. Our conclusion is that adopting universal civic-duty voting in the U.S. would have major benefits for American democracy.

It would dramatically increase participation in elections. In Australia, Belgium and Uruguay, participation rates have remained near 90% for the last two decades. In the 2018 midterms, the U.S. achieved a much-touted record turnout, but still only an anemic 53.4% of eligible voters cast their ballots; in 2014, the figure was 42%.

Story continues

Mandatory participation would also diminish the demographic skew at the ballot box. Voting rates now vary dramatically by income, education, age and race. Although African Americans vote in higher proportions than whites when income is factored in, communities of color, especially African Americans, have faced a variety of voter suppression policies and tactics.

One reason jury service is mandatory is to assure that jurors will reflect the population as a whole, and that, as a result, they will render fairer judgments. The same logic applies to voting. Near universal participation among Americas racially and ethnically diverse voting-eligible population will yield more equitable and responsive representation.

The adoption of universal civic-duty voting could also help shift our election laws away from policies that, intentionally or not, keep some groups from the polls. It would encourage same-day registration, ending felony disenfranchisement, pre-registering 16- and 17-year-olds, paid leave to vote, and expanded early and mail-in voting. Schools would have a strong incentive for robust civic education to prepare 18-year-olds to vote. Civic organizations could invest more in public education about voting, and spend less on driving voter turnout.

Its even possible that political campaigns would change for the better. If everyone is voting, then everyone is listening, and candidates and parties will need to make efforts to attract broad support, rather than focusing solely on rallying their base supporters and discouraging turnout on the part of their opponents.

There will be resistance to the idea of civic-duty voting. Libertarians will object to another government mandate, and challenge the ideas constitutionality. Among advocates for low- income and historically marginalized communities, imposing even a small fine may raise alarms. And some may worry that a voting requirement would encourage ineligible voters to participate.

We took all these objections very seriously.

We believe the proposal is constitutional, since a blank ballot, a vote for none of the above or acceptance of a conscientious objection to voting will assure all voters of their ability to speak as they wish. Our current system has effective safeguards in place that, coupled with public education, can ensure against inadvertent violations by ineligible voters.

As for enforcement, states and municipalities can offer community service as an alternative to paying a fine, or they could employ incentives as opposed to penalties to minimize potential adverse effects of whatever enforcement mechanism, however slight, is in place.

This election year, the United States finds itself questioning old assumptions and seeking new ideas to further its goals of justice and equality. For those of us who have fought for decades against voting restrictions and for the right of communities of color to have their voices fully heard, universal voting is a powerful innovation. In this moment of reckoning and change, it could be a giant step toward a truly inclusive democracy.

Miles Rapoport, formerly Connecticuts secretary of the state, is a fellow at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School. Janai S. Nelson is associate director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.




Win McNamee/Getty Images

Hailing her multi-racial, immigrant heritageand celebrating generations of female leaders of color who came before herSen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) accepted the Democratic Partys nomination for vice president on Tuesday night, making history as the first woman of color ever to formally join a major-party presidential ticket.

Harris, who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination herself in 2019, is a nationally known political figure. But in a roughly 20-minute long speech, Harris effectively reintroduced herself to the nation as Joe Bidens running mate, delving into her upbringing in California, her education at Howard University, and her work as a district attorney and state attorney general.

But for a candidate who was praised for her ability to, as she frequently put it, prosecute the case against President Donald Trump, Harris soon got down to the business of lacing into the incumbents record. She snuck in barely-veiled digs earlyI know a predator when I see one, she said of her days as a prosecutorand edged into a brisk indictment of Trumps handling of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Kamala Harris Just Revived the American Dream

Donald Trumps failure of leadership has cost lives and livelihoods, said Harris. We can do better and deserve so much more. We must elect a president who will bring something different, something better, and do the important work.

Citing the racial disparities of the outbreak that have hit communities of color hard, Harris pointedly said, there is no vaccine for racism.

Any lingering tension from the Democratic Partys 2020 primarywhich saw Harris at one point land a blow on Bidens record on race that stung for months afterwas nowhere to be found during the Democrats virtual gathering, now in its third night.

The California senators speech, which came after a long rebuke of Trump by former President Barack Obama, blended her own personal story with Bidensdrawing heavily, in particular, on her friendship with Bidens late son, Beau. When both were attorneys general of their respective states, Harris recalled, they spoke every day while working together to hammer out a landmark mortgage settlement with the federal government after the 2008 financial crash.

Story continues

The speech, delivered to a largely empty arena in Wilmington, Delaware, denied Harriswidely seen as one of the partys strongest oratorsthe normal, energizing beats of applause and cheers that are so typical of convention addresses. At the end of her remarks, Harris waved and cheered at a massive screen filled with video feeds of supporters nationwide applauding her. Biden and his wife, Jill, appeared onstage to applaud Harris, toobut they couldnt join hands or embrace in the customary show of ticket unity, preferring a show of social distancing best practices.

Wednesday night was not Harris first foray into convention politics. In 2012, while serving as Californias attorney general, she gave a vigorous address outlining the importance of electing Obama to a second term.

Speaking back then to a whistling, in-person crowd to promote the Obama-Biden White House (without mentioning Biden by name), Harris used her roughly six minutes of speaking time by starting with a directivelets get right down to businessand ending with a wishlist of what she believed was possible to achieve under Democratic-led top leadership.

In some ways, that moment of nearly a decade ago served as a preamble for the Democratic National Conventions third night, as she sought to deliver some of the no-nonsense truth telling that she made a hallmark of her own 2020 campaign.

The road ahead is not easy, Harris said. I pledge to you we will act boldly and deal with our challenges honestly. We will speak truths, and we will act with the same faith in you that we ask you to place in us.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 23:34:59|Editor: huaxia

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SHANGHAI, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Medicines selected through the current round of the Chinese government's new centralized drug-procurement program, which took place in Shanghai on Thursday, will be 53 percent cheaper than normal, on average, for those public health facilities that purchase them, according to the National Healthcare Security Administration.

The third round of the centralized drug-procurement program saw 189 companies bidding to provide medicines to public health facilities, including hospitals. Of those companies making bids, 125 were successful on Thursday, with 191 products involved.

These products represent a total of 55 varieties of medicine, from an original list of 56 open for bidding.

The centralized procurement system, which was launched last year, was designed in part to help reduce costs to public health facilities, and the first three rounds of bidding have shown the program to be successful in this respect.

It has gained widespread attention within the pharmaceutical industry and has been hailed by experts as a means of boosting drug accessibility for Chinese patients and reducing the financial burden of treatment. Enditem
Canadian Businesses with Aerospace Capabilities, Remote Piloted Systems and Autonomous Technologies Are Encouraged to Apply

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 19, 2020 /CNW/ -- General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS), announced that it will engage Canadian companies to participate in the development and success of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian RPAS. Companies with an interest in participating can apply using GA-ASI's web-based participation request form.

"GA-ASI is always looking to build on our existing Canadian industry relationships," said Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI. "A strong North American industrial partnership contributes to the growth and success of our domestic and international endeavors. Team SkyGuardian Canada is aimed at building long-term relationships that advance Remotely Piloted Systems and Autonomous Technologies (RPS-AT) and developing sustainable jobs in Canada."

Companies with proven aerospace and defense capabilities in the following areas are encouraged to apply:

Aircraft Operations & Maintenance (O&M)

Sensor Data Processing, Exploitation and Dissemination (PED)

Airborne Sensors/Payloads

Global Supply Chain for aircraft components & manufacturing

Research and Development (R&D) related projects for Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Canadian companies are invited to submit a request to participate, along with their company profiles and additional information requested through the Strategic Industry Engagement Request form, located at https://www.ga-asi.com/canada-industry-engagement. The registration site will remain open until September 19, 2020. Companies will be notified in October if they have been selected to participate.

Hi-resolution images of MQ-9B SkyGuardian are available to qualified media outlets from GA-ASI. For more information on Team SkyGuardian Canada, go to http://www.ga-asi.com/teamskyguardiancanada.

About GA-ASI

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a leading designer and manufacturer of proven, reliable Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems, including the Predator RPA series and the Lynx Multi-mode Radar. With more than six million flight hours, GA-ASI provides long-endurance, mission-capable aircraft with integrated sensor and data link systems required to deliver persistent flight that enables situational awareness and rapid strike. The company also produces a variety of ground control stations and sensor control/image analysis software, offers pilot training and support services, and develops meta-material antennas. For more information, visit www.ga-asi.com.

SkyGuardian, SeaGuardian, Predator and Lynx are registered trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

GA-ASI Media Relations

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

+1 (858) 524-8101

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Ask Dr. Land: How should Christians respond to Black Lives Matter?

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Question: There's strong social pressure to support Black Lives Matter, but how should Christians process this movement and should they support it?



In light of the recent societal and cultural upheavals related to racism and social justice, it is vitally important for Evangelicals to be explicit and forthright about how their spiritual convictions guide them on these issues. As an Evangelical institution called to equip students to proclaim the Gospel, engage the culture, and defend the truth (including the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible), Southern Evangelical Seminary (SES) stands for the inherent value of all human life (Gen. 1:27) and against racism in all its insidious forms (Zech. 7:10; Prov. 28:16; Acts 10:34-35; Gal. 3:28) while also acknowledging that some professing Christians throughout the churchs history have attempted to hijack the Gospel message for racist causes.

Evangelicals certainly affirm the belief that Black Lives Do Matter. In fact, all human lives are sacred, whatever their ethnicity. Why? The fact that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died on the cross to purchase eternal salvation for every human being who will accept Him as their Lord and Savior makes every human beings life sacred.

However, in the midst of the very emotion-laden debate currently rending the social fabric of our society as we seek once again to deal with the racism that has always been the serpent in Americas Eden, it is critically important to take extraordinary measures to do everything within our power not to be misunderstood, as well as seeking to bring greater understanding to the discussion.

Consequently, while nearly all true Evangelicals affirm that black lives matter as a subset of all human lives are sacred, we must separate ourselves emphatically from the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement which espouses beliefs that are antithetical to basic foundational tenets of the Christian faith. The BLM organization espouses an anti-biblical definition of love, freedom, and justice, as well as opposing the nuclear family and promoting same-sex and transgender ideologies, and is a self admittedly Marxist organization. (see BlackLivesMatter.com).

Along with fellow Evangelical ministries such as the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the American Family Association, SES has grave, fundamental disagreements with BLMs moral, cultural, and political agenda. Consequently, Evangelicals should not mouth the mantra black lives matter, lest we be misunderstood as supporting their godless agenda.

Having stated this position, it is important to acknowledge that the cancer of racism still exists in America. Racism plagues every nation because this disgusting form of sinful human pride is common to the fallen human condition (Jer. 17:9; Rom. 3:23). We are committed to fighting the corruption and darkness of racism with the salt of the law and the light of the Gospel (Matt. 5:13-16), understanding that all of us are part of the one human race (Gen. 1:26-28).

While there are many well-meaning people who protest peacefully while holding signs that proclaim Black Lives Matter, and have no intention of supporting the BLM organizations goals, many observers will understandably be confused or misled into believing that such protesters do support such an anti-Christian agenda. Thus, it seems prudent for Christians to avoid even the appearance of evil and find other ways to express their justifiable outrage at racial injustice.

For this reason, SES embraces the more inclusive and less misunderstood phrase that all human lives are sacred while emphasizing the need to pursue truth, goodness, and justice for all ethnicities.

Racism is an affront to the Gospel and completely contrary to the good all human beings are called to pursue. The Gospel alone provides complete forgiveness, healing, reconciliation, and victory over the sin of racism and every other manifestation of sin (John 3:16; 1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 6:1). Our Christian convictions undergirded by classical natural law reasoning compel us to resist racism wherever it is found and to stand for truth, justice, natural rights, and the freedoms they secure. This is true social justice. That is why SES is committed to equipping students with the philosophical and theological tools necessary to engage these cultural issues effectively and comprehensively.

On a personal note, I will never abandon Dr. Kings dream of an America where all will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. Like millions of other Americans who heard that speech, as a 16-year-old, it changed my life  and my understanding of my country, for which I will be forever grateful.

Dr. King was issuing a clarion call for America to live up to the universal promises (based on natural law) of our founding documents not to descend instead into the fetid swamp of cultural Marxism and critical race theory.

As the then future president Barack Obama declared in his rousing keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, There is not a Black America and a White America and Latino America and Asian America  theres the United States of America.

As Senator Ted Kennedy proclaimed in a different context in an earlier Democratic National Convention (1980), The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dreams shall never die.

Amen!
NRA will ensure transparency, provide equal opportunities to all: Amit Shah

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Aug 20: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said the National Recruitment Agency (NRA), approved by the Union Cabinet, will provide equal opportunities to all sections of the society and will ensure transparency in the appointment process.

In a series of tweets, Shah also said it was a landmark day for India's youth and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the "unprecedented step".

"#NationalRecruitmentAgency is a unprecedented step taken by Modi govt as it would create an uniform transformative recruitment process. PM @NarendraModi ji has given the due right to the job seeking youth of the country by ensuring transparency & ease in the recruitment process," he tweeted.

Union Cabinet approves setting up of National Recruitment Agency

The home minister said the NRA will provide equal opportunities to all sections of the society as each district will have an exam centre, test will be in multiple languages and Common Eligibility Test score will be valid for three years.

Shah said a single test will also reduce the financial burden, which will greatly benefit the candidates and termed it as a "landmark day for India's youth!".

Contempt Case: SC rejects Prashant Bhushan's plea to defer sentencing | Oneindia News

"I thank PM @NarendraModi ji for approving the creation of #NationalRecruitmentAgency in today's cabinet. This transformational reform will remove the hurdles of multiple exams for central govt jobs through Common Eligibility Test," he said.

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the creation of the NRA for conducting a common eligibility test for central government jobs.

Briefing the media on the Cabinet meeting, chaired by the prime minister, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said it was a historic decision that will allow job-seekers take one common test and save costs and time spent on writing multiple exams.

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Story first published: Thursday, August 20, 2020, 10:12 [IST]
MILWAUKEEJoe Bidens acceptance of his partys nomination for president of the United States, which formally begins his campaign against Donald Trump, caps one of the most unusual political conventions, in one of the most unusual times, in U.S. history.

Unprecedented: A Democratic National Convention staged entirely on screens due to a pandemic, with no balloon drops or chanting crowds or glory for the nominal host city of Milwaukee.

Unprecedented: The vice-presidential nominee Kamala Harris was the first Black woman, and the first South Asian-American woman, to accept a major partys nomination.

Unprecedented: Former president Barack Obama delivered the most direct attack on a sitting president ever made by a former president in modern times.

Unprecedented: The sitting president actively campaigned in the same state where the Democratic convention was underway, and was even scheduled to deliver a kind of prebuttal speech in Bidens hometown hours before Biden took the stage.

Unusual: A plate of calamari played a prominent role in Rhode Islands roll call vote.

As former Ohio governor John Kasich, one of several Republicans who endorsed the Democratic candidate, said in his speech Monday, These are not normal times.

And as Harris said in her speech Wednesday, Its a lot.

She was speaking about the constant chaos and incompetence she said characterized Trumps presidency, but the phrase could serve as a slogan for the whole of 2020.

In Milwaukee, some of the crises she was talking about were visible in the area around the convention site: streets that were expected to be filled with conventioneers were barren of tourists, with many bars and restaurants in nearby blocks closed, and those that were open mostly empty. Its been so desolate that Mayor Tom Barret said he hopes Milwaukee might get a do-over by hosting the next Democratic convention.

In the streets around the Wisconsin Center, the most prominent demonstrations were by members of Black Lives Matter. On Thursday afternoon, protesters gathered at nearby Red Arrow Park, where Dontre Hamilton, a Black man, was shot dead by police in 2004. We are here to defeat Trump, tell Biden and other Democrats to stop cops from killing Black men and other people, and build our movement, said Ryan Hamann, one of the protest organizers.

The malaise of America  the reckoning over racial justice, the death and illness of the pandemic, the high unemployment it has caused  hung heavy over the convention.

Tying those ills to the current president was one of the key themes of the convention, carried out most prominently and effectively by former first lady Michelle Obama, in her intimate keynote from home on Monday, and by her husband, in his grave and formal address Wednesday on the jeopardy to democracy. Thats what at stake right now  our democracy, the former president said.

The other theme was building the positive case for Biden as the solution to that malaise  and the Democrats approach was to line up testimonials by the dozens to his compassion, empathy, experience and basic decency. The argument was made by regular folks, such as the elevator operator Biden befriended who made his formal nomination, and by more prominent people such as Cindy McCain, the widow of former Republican presidential nominee John McCain.

It was also made by Bidens wife, Jill, who said his experience of personal loss and ability to make emotional connections with people are what the country needs. How do you make a broken family whole? The same way you make a nation whole, she said. With love and understanding, and with small acts of kindness. With bravery. With unwavering faith.

One big question going into the convention was how much the absence of crowds and a rally-type atmosphere would hurt the presentation of what is, essentially, a weeklong advertisement for the nominee. But while some of the politicians speeches were noticeably missing an element of excitement and energy, they were also kept far shorter than usual by the format  which for most viewers was probably a plus.

Using video feeds from remote locations allowed the party to show off the scenery and diversity of a big country, and to allow people of various ethnic backgrounds, abilities, sexual identities and ages to appear from where they live, effectively broadening the unity potential the Biden campaign was trying to emphasize.

The use of documentary-style video segments to outline policy priorities  gun control, health insurance expansion, immigration reform, fighting climate changewas far more effective than podium speeches could ever be. That was particularly so in the case of a segment narrated by an 11-year-old girl named Estella, whose father was a Trump-voting Marine and whose mother was deported as an undocumented immigrant. She addressed Trump directly: Every day that passes, you deport more moms and dads and take them away from kids like me.

Necessity is the mother of invention, and in at least some respects, the innovations forced by the pandemic turned the convention into a more compelling experience.

Part of the message the speakers were pitching to voters, especially as the week went on, was that perhaps the same could be true of a recovery from the crises the country is going through. Its in their slightly clunky slogan, Build Back Better. It was in the theme of Bidens speech, Americas promise. It was in Barack Obamas appeal to a defence of participatory democracy, to ensure that America becomes the country that fully lives up to its creed.

Or as Hillary Clinton put it in her speech Wednesday, As the saying goes, the world breaks everyone, and afterward, many are strong at the broken places. Joe Biden knows how to heal, unify, and lead, because hes done all of that for his family and his country.

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The Ulster Orchestra is very much in tune despite Covid-19 and yesterday gathered for a recording with a difference.

As they get to grips with social distancing they are currently recording an important series of concerts in the Waterfront Hall for later transmission on BBC Radio 3.

The Belfast Telegraph was invited along to see them in action as this week they are completing the first concert under their Honorary Conductor Jac van Steen from the Netherlands, with Ulster's own Barry Douglas the soloist in the Piano Concerto No1 by Shostakovich.

The other work is the famous Verdi Quartet arranged for string orchestra.

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To comply with social distancing rules, the players are three metres apart, and where possible they use iPads rather than traditional music scores. They are required to wear masks when moving around the Waterfront Hall and some also wear masks when playing - though this is not mandatory.

The Waterfront Hall stage has been removed and the players are seated in the otherwise empty auditorium, in a scene which has not been witnessed before in this building.

The Orchestra is scheduled to record several concerts under Jac van Steen and its new chief conductor Daniele Rustioni, with a live concert being broadcast on the BBC3 network early next month.

In a break from recording yesterday Jac van Steen said: "This is really challenging musically for a conductor, but very worthwhile. The piano is three metres away from me and the players are three metres in front of me, so there is a sense of isolation from each other.

"However this means that we all have to open our ears even more.

"The main priority is to make live music and to hear the Ulster Orchestra playing together once more. There is very high commitment throughout the orchestra. Everyone is eager to be able to play 'live' again and to meet their colleagues socially. Music is our life."

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Jac van Steen helped to guide the orchestra through a serious financial challenge which nearly destroyed it several years ago. He said: "The financial crisis is over, and in the past four years the management has ensured that the orchestra has maintained a very high artistic standard. The role now is to survive and to overcome this pandemic and to show that we make an important contribution to our society."

Jac van Steen has a high musical reputation throughout Europe, but he has not conducted since March 12 when he had to leave the stage in Czechslovakia while directing an orchestra, because of the abrupt lockdown there. He said: "This week is the first time that I have started waving my arms again as a conductor! Many of the big orchestras in the UK and Europe are still not playing again and it is wonderful to be able to conduct the Ulster Orchestra with the luxury of so much space in the Waterfront Hall."

He found some advantages in the lockdown. "I travel so much every week but I had an opportunity to spend much more time with my wife at our farm, where we breed Icelandic horses as a hobby."

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Patrick McCarthy the Orchestra's head of Artistic Planning and Operations said: "There has been a great deal of work in planning this series of concerts and we have been working on it from the end of April. We were delighted to be offered the Waterfront Hall and the great space allowed us to perform larger scale works with proper social distancing. Depending on the rules about social distancing we hope to bring small groups to hear the orchestra playing, and from the New Year we might perform to larger groups with perhaps two performances to different audiences in the one day."
Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell has a stark warning for her fellow Democrats: The spike in violence in many urban areas, combined with attacks on the police, could become the wedge issue that once again costs her party the electoral votes of her state, and possibly the election.

Law enforcement and support of law enforcement is an issue I am seeing in the suburbs [and] is an issue we really do need to pay attention to, Dingell told the Yahoo News Skullduggery podcast. Youve seen whats happening in the urban cities and some of this crime and the violence that youre seeing at some of these protests. And Donald Trump is trying to use it as a wedge issue.

Dingell, the widow of the popular Michigan Rep. John Dingell, famously warned the Hillary Clinton campaign four years ago it was in danger of losing Michigan because of frustration among voters about trade agreements that critics charged cost the jobs of American workers. Her forecast proved prescient as Trump narrowly carried the state by 11,000 votes.

Now, she said, violence and lawlessness could play the same role this year as trade did in 2016 if the Biden-Harris campaign and the Democratic Party as a whole doesnt make a stand for public safety. Its a message she says she has delivered to the Biden campaign, but worries that Democrats will find it too uncomfortable a subject to talk about.

Ive flagged it for everybody that this could be the trade issue and we cant let [Trump] use it as a wedge issue, Dingell said in the interview.

Dingell made clear she has been supportive of the Black Lives Matters protests in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. And Biden, for his part, while endorsing the protests, has also said that he opposes calls to defund the police. And in remarks that were broadcast on the opening night of this weeks virtual convention, Biden affirmed that most cops are good.

But Dingell indicated that Biden  who will formally accept his partys nomination Thursday night  may need to do more than that.

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Although most polls show Biden with a comfortable lead in Michigan right now  with some giving him as much as a 16-point lead  Dingell said she doesnt believe them and sees worrisome trends in recent weeks. In light of a spike in violence in Detroit, she said that she is being invited to an increasing number of support law enforcement events in her district, which surrounds the city, and she worries the national party isnt taking the threat seriously enough.

Every Sunday the last month theres been an event in my district and I am there and Im thanking law enforcement for what they do, Dingell said. This COVID is just creating a lot of stress. I have had several really tragic murders. In my district alone, a family of four was killed last weekend, another family was. In those communities its the law enforcement, its the local police and the sheriffs departments who are going in, figuring out whats wrong, finding the perpetrators, arresting them.

There are bad apples in law enforcement and we have to have the discussion about systematic racism in this country and it is a fact that a young Black man will be treated differently than a young white man if stopped, Dingell added. But we can have both discussions and too many people are afraid of having uncomfortable discussions  and that is a mistake for us as Democrats.

Dingell emphasized the critical role that law enforcement has played in a Michigan grappling with the coronavirus, including by supporting overwhelmed citizens.

They do wellness calls, they respond to domestic violence, they are the glue of a lot of the communities as well, Dingell said.

Dingell said it is important for the Democratic Party to remember that, as with teachers, law enforcement should be considered essential personnel.

Our law enforcement, like our teachers, are social workers, she said. Domestic abuse is really on the rise. ... Whos the first responding?

Dingell said that despite Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmers popularity and the polls showing Biden ahead, Democrats should not assume Michigan will go their way in the presidential election. Among other things, Dingell said, many swing voters in Michigan are upset with Whitmer for her stay-at-home order, issued at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.

Weve got to work very hard to make sure every single vote turns out in November, Dingell said.

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Well, first of all, let me just say Im infuriated by the ComEd scandal. We will not let us be distracted by that kind of thing. This is the type of corporate scandal that the dictator in chief is famous for, Newman said. And we as the Democratic Party, we have to fine to the fore, be united and fight this tooth and nail. So, we will not be distracted by this in any way, we will move forward and we will win in November.
Washington: US President Donald Trump has distanced himself from his former adviser Steve Bannon, who was charged with defrauding hundreds of thousands of donors over a shonky scheme to build a wall along the Mexican border.

Bannon was arrested on Thursday, US time, for his role in an online crowd-funding campaign known as We Build the Wall, which collected more than $US25 million ($35 million) from Trump supporters under the pretence of constructing a barrier preventing people from illegally entering the US.

Former Trump campaign chief Steve Bannon. Bloomberg

The idea of a border wall was a central plank of the President's 2016 election campaign, in which Trump repeatedly claimed that the barrier would be paid for by Mexico.

However, in this case, prosecutors allege that Bannon siphoned about $US1 million from the We Build The Wall scheme, some of which he used "to cover hundreds of thousands of dollars" in personal expenses for himself and campaign founder Brian Kolfage.

It is also alleged that Bannon, Kolfage and two other defendants created a non-profit and shell company, using fake invoices, sham "vendor" arrangements and other measures to conceal the payments.

Bannon was arrested while aboard a 150-foot yacht called the Lady May owned by Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui - a vocal critic of the Chinese government now wanted by Beijing on charges of fraud, blackmail and bribery, according to The Washington Post.

The stunning allegations, only 74 days from the US election, are a blow for Trump, adding to a long list of current and former associates who have faced criminal charges, including Paul Manafort, Michael Cohen and Roger Stone.

Bannon appeared in court late on Thursday and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Asked about the matter earlier, the President insisted: "I know nothing about the project, other than when I read about it I didn't like it.

"I thought that was a project that was being done for showboating reasons; I didn't know that he was in charge, I didn't know any of the other people either," he said. "But it's a bit sad. It's very sad."

US President Donald Trump and then-White House chief strategist Steve Bannon in 2017. AP

Bannon was once an influential figure in the White House, and helped to elevate Trump's populist appeal and nationalist ideology during the campaign against Hillary Clinton.

Before he was tapped to lead Trump's 2016 presidential campaign in its critical final months, Bannon led the conservative Breitbart News.

He worked as the President's chief strategist until he was ousted in August 2017, after the pair reportedly had a falling out. Trump insisted on Thursday that he hadn't "been dealing with him at all".

Democrats nonetheless seized on the news as another example of the contrast between Trump and presidential nominee Joe Biden, who gave his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention later on Thursday.

Biden campaign spokeswoman Kate Bedingfield said Trump had consistently used his office "to enrich himself, his family and his cronies, so is it really any surprise that yet another one of the grifters he surrounded himself with - and placed in the highest levels of government - was just indicted?

"Sadly it is not," she said.

Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon. AP

Bannon is named in the indictment alongside Kolfage, Andrew Badalato and Timothy Shea.

In a statement, Manhattan's acting US Attorney alleges that they "defrauded hundreds of thousands of donors, capitalising on their interest in funding a border wall to raise millions of dollars, under the false pretense that all of that money would be spent on construction".

All four of the defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

In another major legal development on Thursday, a federal judge rejected Trump's latest effort to block the Manhattan District Attorney from obtaining his tax returns.

"This is a continuation of the witch-hunt - the greatest witch-hunt in history," Trump said.
Centrica staff support strike action, according to a union. Photo: PA

Thousands of staff at Centrica overwhelmingly support strike action, after the British Gas owner announced sweeping job cuts and changes to contracts, according to a union.

In June Centrica (CNA.L) announced 5,000 job cuts and plans to simplify and modernise terms and conditions, saying workers had 80 different contracts. Around half the job losses are expected to hit managers.

A spokesperson said on Thursday that working practices had to be more flexible to give customers what they want, when they want it, at a price theyre willing to pay.

But the GMB union claimed the company had made a fire and rehire threat, after it told staff they could be given notice and re-hired on new terms if no deal can be agreed with unions.

The union said a ballot of members at Centrica-owned British Gas and PH Jones saw 95% back industrial action, with two-thirds of its 10,000 members voting.

But the poll was only consultative, highlighting workforce discontent. It spurred union leaders to warn it paves the way for a formal strike ballot in the autumn.

READ MORE: Centrica plans 5,000 job cuts as earnings slide

Justin Bowden, national secretary of the GMB, claimed Centrica chiefs were threatening to set fire to the terms and conditions of this loyal and dedicated workforce.

Todays 19 to 1 vote demonstrates GMB members are not prepared to tolerate fire and rehire threats and are determined to have their own insurance policy too. Its time for the Centrica Board to wake up and smell the gas.

When it unveiled the plans, Centrica warned its earnings had halved in recent years. Domestic energy giants have been grappling with greater competition and a government price cap in recent years, amid controversy over the rising cost of household bills in the 2010s.

It had already announced plans to slash 400m ($507m) from its spending this year in early April, as it warned on the impact of the pandemic. Bonus payouts for managers were paused, and a final 2019 dividend cancelled.

Story continues

READ MORE: Rolls-Royce job cuts a body blow to town where turbojets born

Domestic energy usage has increased among customers working at home, but Centrica has also seen a more significant reduction in business demand as firms closed sites during the lockdown.

It has warned of an expected increase in bad debt too, with falling business and household incomes hitting customers ability to pay. Meanwhile prioritising essential work to minimise virus risks has hit revenues from non-essential services.

A Centrica spokesperson said: We know that change can be very difficult and we are doing all we can to support our people  but we urgently need to act now to win back customers, grow our company and protect more jobs in the long run.

She said the company was committed to reaching a negotiated settlement this year, and said unions accepted the need for change. Workers base pay and pensions would be protected, but said changing terms and conditions was essential.

Centrica shares were trading 0.9% lower on Thursday, though declines were less steep than across the FTSE 100 (^FTSE), which slid 1.3%.
(The Straits Times)  Chinas top diplomat is visiting Singapore and South Korea in what could be viewed as a bid to improve Chinas relations with its Asian neighbors amid deteriorating relations with the United States.

Yang Jiechi, a member of Chinas powerful Politburo and head of the Chinese Communist Partys foreign affairs office, is in Singapore on a two-day visit ending Thursday at the invitation of the Singapore government, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

He will call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, Singapores Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean will also host him for lunch, and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan will host breakfast.

Yang will then travel to Busan Friday and hold talks with South Koreas new National Security Adviser Suh Hoon Saturday.

The talks will center on Covid-19 response cooperation, bilateral relations and the situation in the Korean peninsula, a South Korean presidential office spokesman said.

The two sides will also discuss Chinese President Xi Jinpings planned visit to South Korea, which had been shelved because of the pandemic. Xi was last there in 2014.

South Korea was the first country in May to establish a green channel with China to allow certain business people to travel between the two countries. Singapore followed suit.

Yang is widely regarded as Chinas foreign policy czar. He was ambassador to the U.S. from 2001 to 2005 and foreign minister between 2007 and 2013.

He was last in Singapore in 2015, accompanying Xi on his first state visit to the republic to mark 25 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Deputy Prime Minister Heng said last month that he was looking forward to welcoming Vice Premier Han Zheng to Singapore for the annual Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation meeting, which has usually been held in September or October.

A date has yet to be set, given the pandemic.

The two countries take turns hosting the meeting, the most important platform for discussing bilateral ties.

This article was originally published by The Straits Times.

Contact editor Bob Simison (bobsimison@caixin.com).

Support quality journalism in China. Subscribe to Caixin Global starting at $0.99.
Muharram is the first month of Islamic calendar which is ten or twelve days shorter than the Gregorian calendar followed by the West. Also known as Al Hijri or Arabic New Year, the Islamic New Year is celebrated on the first day of Muharram.

In India, if the crescent moon is sighted on Thursday evening, Al Hijri 1442 or Islamic New Year will be celebrated on August 21. Muharram is considered a holy month by followers of Islam, next only to Ramadan, since it was in this month that Allah saved the Children of Israel from Pharaoh. To thank Allah for saving them, Prophet Musa observed a days fast on the tenth day of the month.

ALSO READ: Muharram 2020: Al Hijri date, significance of the Islamic New Year

Later, in 622 CE, it was in the month of Muharram that Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Medina. Hijra Anniversary of the Holy Prophet is marked in this month. It was in Medina that he learnt from the Jews about Prophet Musa and his followers fasting on Ashura, tenth day of Muharram and decided that he would observe a fast too both on the ninth and tenth day of Muharram.

With Islamic New Year or Al Hijri 1442 just around the corner, here are some WhatsApp messages, Facebook status, quotes and SMS to wish your family and friends and boost their faith on Muharram 2020.

1.May All The Praises And Thanks Be To Allah.To Whom Belongs All That Is In Heavens & In The Earth. Have A Blessed Muharram!

2.As the Hijri New Year begins, let us pray that it will be a year full of peace, happiness and abundance of new friends. May Allah bless you throughout the new year.

3.May GOD Create This year Full Of Happiness. Joy Goodness And Security Of All Muslim Members. And Forgive Our Past Sinc. SUMAMEEN. Remember The Muslims Who are In Hardships In You Are Prayers!!!

4.On the auspicious day of Muharram, may Allah bless you with health, wealth, peace and happiness!

5.Sending you prayers for your and your familys well being. Happy Hijri New year.

6.May Allah shower you with gifts of love, bravery, wisdom, contentment, health, patience and cleanliness this Al-Hijri.

7.May this new year brings a lot of peace, prosperity and happiness to the world. May Allah protect us.

8.All the praises and thanks be to Allah to whom belongs all that is in heavens and in the earth. Have a blessed Muharram. Wishing you and your family a new year full of peace and happiness! May Allah bless you throughout the new year! May 1442 be a year full of kindness, healing, happiness and health!

9.Sending you prayers for your and your familys well being. Happy Islamic New Year.

10.May your faith in Allah always bring you peace and prosperity. Al Hijri 1442 Mubarak!

Apart from the aforementioned achievements marking the rich Islamic history, the tenth of Muharram also witnessed the massacre when Imam Hussain was said to be beheaded in the battle of Karbala. The Shia sect of Muslims observe abstinence and fast on this day to mourn the martyrdom of Imam Hussain who was the son of Hazrat Ali and the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 23:22:29|Editor: huaxia

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Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, visits poverty relief cadres and learns about their work before a meeting, in Kangle County of Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Gansu Province. Wang presided over the meeting on consolidating achievements in poverty alleviation for the 14th Five-Year Plan period from 2021 to 2025 held on Wednesday in Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture and delivered a speech. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

LANZHOU, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese political advisors held a meeting on Wednesday to pool wisdom on consolidating achievements in poverty alleviation for the 14th Five-Year Plan period from 2021 to 2025.

Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, presided over the meeting held in Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Gansu Province, and delivered a speech.

Based on ensuring a timely and high-quality victory in the battle against poverty, more should be done to formulate a policy framework and working mechanism for consolidating the achievements made in poverty alleviation to create conditions for promoting the overall revitalization of villages, and gradually narrowing the gap between urban and rural development, Wang said.

Political advisors at the meeting fully recognized the achievements in poverty alleviation and the historic changes that have taken place in rural areas in the western region. But they also said some places are still vulnerable to poverty, so western regions that have been lifted out of poverty must continue to consolidate their achievements in poverty alleviation during the 14th Five-Year Plan period.

They highlighted opportunities brought by a new development pattern known as dual circulation, which takes the domestic market as the mainstay while letting domestic and foreign markets boost each other.

They also suggested efforts to strengthen the infrastructure construction in the western region, cultivate industries with distinctive advantages, support the development of leading enterprises, and encourage private enterprises to participate in poverty alleviation. Enditem
A suspect has been arrested after eight people, including six French aid workers, were murdered by armed men near the capital Niamey, Niger's interior minister Alkache Alhada has said.

The aid workers, two men and four women from a French NGO called ACTED, were killed on August 9 with their Nigerien guide and driver while visiting the Koure National Park, a giraffe haven and tourist hotspot outside the capital where they were based.

"At the moment, a suspect is in the hands of Niger's Central Counter-Terrorism Service and investigations are continuing," Alhada told AFP late Tuesday.

"We are in the process of evaluating some of the material which he has and which he was able to use," the minister said.

"We currently have serious leads, leads that can take us to the perpetrators of these acts... We have certain information that gives us indications on probable actors in these horrible crimes," he said, adding that he expected "positive results".

A map of Niger locating the attack on French aid workers in Koure. By AFP (AFP)

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, which was carried out by gunmen on motorcycles.

Suspicion has fallen on the Islamic State in the Great Sahara (ISGS), active in the shared border region of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, where it is being pursued by France's Barkhane force fighting jihadists in the Sahel.

A source close to an ongoing investigation by French anti-terror prosecutors told AFP that it appeared the attack had been planned and targeted at "mainly Westerners".

France has classified all of Niger except the capital as red under its colour-coded security advice, a decision that has left many Nigeriens furious with the former colonial ruler.

"The Nigerien public have found this measure unfair and they have expressed this at various levels," he said.

"I say that this is a decision of a sovereign state that wants to protect its citizens and therefore it is legitimate," he said, though he hoped that "this measure will be lifted as soon as possible".
NEW YORK  As President Donald Trumps lawyers moved swiftly Thursday to appeal a federal judges ruling that granted Manhattans top prosecutor access to his tax returns, Trump blasted the long-running quest for his financial records as a continuation of the most disgusting witch hunt in the history of our country.

U.S. District Judge Victor Marreros ruling echoed his prior decision in the case, upheld last month by the U.S. Supreme Court. The high court had returned the case to Marreros courtroom to give Trumps lawyers a chance to raise other concerns about the subpoena issued by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.

Vance has been seeking Trumps tax returns from the presidents longtime accounting firm, Mazars USA, for more than a year, since Trumps former personal lawyer Michael Cohen told Congress that the president had misled tax officials, insurers and business associates about the value of his assets. Congress is also pursuing Trumps financial records.

Trumps lawyers immediately appealed Marreros Thursday ruling to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. The president said he expected the case to end up back before the Supreme Court.

The appeal means it is unlikely Vances office will get its hands on Trumps tax returns before Novembers presidential election. Because they are being sought as part of a confidential grand jury investigation, they would not automatically be made public.

The Supreme Court said its a fishing expedition. You dont have to do it, Trump said. And this is a fishing expedition, but more importantly, this is a continuation of the witch hunt  the greatest witch hunt in history. Theres never been anything like it, where people want to examine everything youve ever done to see if they can find that theres a comma out of place.

Trump is the only president in modern times who has refused to make his tax returns public. Before he was elected he had promised to release them.

Messages seeking comment were left with Trumps lawyer. Vances office declined comment.

Trumps lawyers have said that the request for tax records dating back to 2011 was retaliatory after the presidents company, the Trump Organization, disputed the scope of a subpoena seeking records from June 1, 2015, through Sept. 20, 2018.

That time span pertains to an investigation related to payoffs to two women  porn actress Stormy Daniels and model Karen McDougal  to keep them quiet during the 2016 presidential campaign about alleged extramarital affairs with Trump. Trump has denied the affairs.

Trump, through his lawyers, has argued that the subpoena was issued in bad faith, might have been politically motivated and amounted to harassment of him, especially since the wording mimicked the language in congressional subpoenas.

Vances attorneys said they were entitled to extensive records to aid a complex financial investigation and they cited in their papers public reports of extensive and protracted criminal conduct at the Trump Organization.

In July, the Supreme Court rejected Trumps arguments that he cant even be investigated, let alone charged with any crime, while he is in office. But the court left open the prospect that Trump could make new arguments in a bid to keep the subpoena from being enforced.

Also in July, the Supreme Court kept a hold on banking and other documents about Trump, family members and his businesses that Congress has been seeking for over a year and returned the case to a lower court.

Trump, in reacting to Thursdays developments, boasted about previous legal victories  including in Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation of Russian election interference  as he doubled down on his contention that there was a concerted effort to make him look bad.

Were not doing things wrong, but theyll say, Lets go in and inspect every deal hes ever done,' Trump said. Lets get papers from 10 years, every paper, every deal hes ever signed, maybe we can find where some lawyer made a mistake, where they didnt dot an i, where they didnt put a comma down someplace, and then we can do something.'

___

Associated Press writers Larry Neumeister in New York and Mark Sherman and Kevin Freking in Washington contributed to this report.
At least eight people were hurt in four separate shootings across Toronto on a violent Wednesday in the city.

Police were called to a shooting near Jane Street and Shoreham Court, south of Steeles Avenue, in North York at about 7:50 p.m. Three people suffered gunshot wounds to their legs, and multiple shell casings were found.

Police are searching for two Black males in the shooting. One was seen wearing a white hoodie and black track pants with white stripes. The other was last seen wearing a black or grey hoodie, a baseball cap and blue jeans.

Two more shootings took place about an hour earlier in Etobicoke.

At 6:40 p.m., police received reports of one person being shot in the leg on Pittsboro Drive, near Martin Grove Road and Finch Avenue West. One vehicle was left riddled with bullet holes, and police are now looking for a driver in a dark coloured SUV.

At 6:34 p.m., about a five-minute drive away, police also responded to reports of multiple shots heard near Mount Olive Drive and Kipling Avenue, north of Finch Avenue West.

One woman suffered minor injuries to her finger, and another man was found with what police said appears to be gunshot wounds to his back.

These are active investigations and officers will be working to establish the circumstances and motive behind each incident. At this time, it is too early to say whether they are linked but we continue to urge any witnesses to come forward, Const. Michelle Flannery said.

Earlier Wednesday, two people were injured in an overnight shooting near Wellesley Street East and Jarvis Street.

One man was found around 1:20 a.m with gunshot wounds to his foot. Police said there were indications another woman was also shot, but officers havent been able to locate her and are concerned for her safety.

Police said shes white, in her early 20s, five foot six and has shoulder-length brown hair. She was last seen wearing a dark coloured short-sleeve shirt and black pants.

After an unrelated event Thursday, Mayor John Tory said he spoken to acting police Chief James Ramer about the spike in gun violence.

Its a challenge that doesnt have an easy answer, Tory told reporters. A lot of this is related to gang activities, to drug activities, to trafficking activities. I can just tell you there is no letting up on (the polices) part of addressing it and investigating and bringing these people to justice. Just as there cant be any letting up on our part on the need to make continuous investments on our part in communities across the city to make sure we try to address root causes of this activity.

When it comes to the debate over defunding police or boosting their budget, Tory said Ramer has a plan that will modify some of the activities police engage in while still reallocating resources to ensure were doing this in the best way we can.

Gun violence continues to be near record levels in Toronto.

The total number of shooting incidents recorded this year by police  including ones that result in no injuries  has been worse than 2019, with 296 shootings as of Sunday, 23 more than last year.

As of Sunday, 133 people had been killed or injured in shootings this year, down from 153 by that date last year, the most by Aug. 16 in police data that goes back to 2004.

Based on the data, shootings in the city have increased steadily since reaching a low in 2014, which saw 66 people shot by Aug. 16.

Twenty-six people have been killed by guns so far in 2020, according to the police data.

With files from Ed Tubb, Raneem Alozza and David Rider

Miriam Lafontaine is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @mirilafontaine
Lightning strikes sparked wildfires across Northern California on Wednesday, scorching vast acres of sun-parched land. Thousands of people were ordered to evacuate, officials said.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that firefighters are battling over 300 blazes in the state. Twenty-three of those are major fires or complexes.

There had been more than 10,800 lightning strikes seen in California for over 72 hours.

As the historic lightning strike siege left firefighters scrambling to extinguish fires from one end of the state to another, Newsom declared a statewide emergency. He called for extra personnel and equipment to battle the flames from the ground, and in the air, ABC News reported.

In a news conference Wednesday, he said that what has occurred in the 72 hours 'has certainly stretched the resources of this state."

Newsom said that Arizona, Nevada, and Texas are sending in extra equipment to help with the sheer volume of flames. Various fires have stretched California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) thin.

Newsom said Arizona, Nevada, and Texas are sending extra equipment because the sheer volume of the fires has stretched CalFire, the state's firefighting agency, thin.

"They're wearing a lot of gear, carrying equipment, hiking to remote locations, so it's a stress on the body," Cal Fire Spokesperson Lynette Round said in a Reuters article.

Two of the largest fires in the area are CZU August Lightning Complex in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties and the LNU Lightning Complex near Vacaville, California. Both fires are 0% contained.

Wednesday morning, the pilot of a Bell UH-1H helicopter died in a crash as he was on a water-dropping mission at the Hills Fire, reported NBC News. Cal Fire said the pilot worked for a private company contracted by the agency.

Smoke from over 30 blazes has led to alerts in some Bay Area communities for residents to shelter in place.

What caused such a phenomenon?

It's bad enough that the state has already been suffering from a record-breaking heatwave. Now, the lightning strikes are adding to the state's various weather-related problems.

According to a Forbes report, meteorologists said the lightning storm was caused by excessive moisture from a tropical storm off the California coast and the extreme heat. These two weather issues created an unstable atmosphere.

The authorities urged residents to be ready if they are asked to leave at a moment's notice. While they recognize that the events can be quite stressful to many, they asked residents to go with their plan.

Evacuation orders have already been issued to neighborhoods in the path of SCU, and LNU blazed. But Cal Fire Deputy Chief Sean Kavanaugh said people are free to leave on their own without orders.

He said people could leave, especially if they have stuff packed up and feel any threat to their lives.

"Make that decision to please leave your home," Kavanaugh said. He added the Cal Fire would not want people to be trapped in their homes, unable to get out.

Check these out!

Rare 'Firenado' Spotted as Heat Wave Scorches California; Probably the First Time

Death Valley Temperature Reaches 130 Degrees, Hottest Day on Site in 107 Years

Over 3.3 Million California Homes to Lose Power Due to Rolling Blackouts
(Natural News) Despite signing a so-called Right to Try bill that allows for terminally ill patients to take unapproved, experimental Big Pharma drugs, President Trump has yet to make any formidable attempt at setting free alternative healthcare remedies that are either being censored or criminalized, to the detriment of public health.

Nearly four years into his tenure and Trump has yet to take a stand against the unjust War on Drugs, nor has his administration even tried to dismantle the systemic corruption that keeps alternative medical treatments under strict lock and key. Consequently, a petition has been formed calling on Trump to stop ignoring these crimes against humanity and get to work.

Entitled, Stop the government from criminalizing and censoring alternative healthcare information, the petition explains that We the People have a constitutional right to use substances like chlorine dioxide, a detoxifying agent that has just been approved for use in Bolivia, but that remains a point of contention here in the United States. It also calls on other substances currently illegal or maligned to be freed from the clutches of prohibition, which continues to stand in opposition to a free and just American society.

The FDA appears to be in full assault mode on anyone [who] educates the public regarding this [phenomenon]. Specifically, Mark Grennon [sic] and his family, the petition states.

In case you missed it, the Grenons are being held as religious prisoners due to the corruption and tyranny of the FDA, which disapproves of their selling of chlorine dioxide as a remedy for a variety of ailments, including the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19).

They (the FDA) have a financial conflict of interest when inexpensive, non pharmaceutical agents successfully heal or detoxify, the petition adds. Allowing any governmental agency to restrict a citizens [sic] right to use or discuss any such substance is potentially life threatening and should be stopped. Please sign.

You can read and sign the petition at this link.

Constitutionally speaking, Americans already have the right to use whatever health remedies they see fit

Nowhere in the Constitution is the government given the authority to restrict plants, food, or anything else from the public. The government simply took it upon itself from long ago to grant itself that authority, and for whatever reason Americans accepted this unconstitutional power grab.

People are waking up, though, and coming to the realization that government entities like the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the FDA exist and operate far outside the bounds of what is constitutionally permitted. In many ways, these agencies should not even exist in the first place, seeing as how their job is to persecute and tyrannize anyone who dares to leave the Big Pharma plantation.

If President Trump is truly a man of the people as he claims, then he has a moral duty to fight for the abolishment of these agencies, and the restoration of health freedom for all Americans. It is simply not enough to say that people have a right to try untested pharmaceutical drugs when they are still being deprived of legal access to cannabis, for instance.

Though not as professionally written as we would have hoped, this petition calling on the government to respect health freedom is a necessary next-step towards restoring what is rightfully ours as Americans.

Even though there are penalties currently in place for exercising it, we do already have the right to try whatever we wish for our own health. Hopefully we will now be successful in attaining the ability to do so without fear of persecution or imprisonment.

For more related news about government persecution against those who dare to leave the pharmaceutical plantation, be sure to check out HealthFreedom.news.

Sources for this article include:

WhiteHouse.gov

Petitions.WhiteHouse.gov

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com
By PTI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday denied reports of a rift with Saudi Arabia and said the two countries enjoy strong ties, amid reports of strain in their relations over Riyadh's reluctance to toe Islamabad's line on the Kashmir issue.

Foreign Office spokesman Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have strong economic, political, security and military cooperation at all levels. "Prime Minister Imran Khan's remarks and Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa's recent visit to Saudi Arabia attest to the unchanged fraternal relations and close contact between the two countries. Pakistan remains firmly committed to the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia," Chaudhri said during his weekly press briefing.

He said that Pakistan appreciates the Kingdom's role in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan has been pushing the 57-member organisation, which is the second largest intergovernmental body after the UN, for the foreign ministers' meeting since India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August last year.

However, there has not been any positive response from Jeddah-based OIC, the biggest bloc of Islamic countries in the world, to Pakistan's request so far. A major reason behind the OIC's inaction has been Saudi Arabia's reluctance to accept Pakistan's request for holding a meeting specifically on Kashmir.

Riyadh's support is crucial for any move at the OIC, which is dominated by Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries. Pakistan has been unsuccessfully trying to drum up international support against India for withdrawing Jammu and Kashmir's special status.

India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 of the Constitution was its internal matter. It also advised Pakistan to accept reality and stop all anti-India propaganda.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, for the first time, criticised the Saudi government in a recent TV interview and threatened to call an OIC meeting by sidestepping the Gulf country. Saudis avoided directly responding to Qureshi's remarks, but reportedly stopped renewing a USD 3.2 billion oil credit facility to Pakistan despite requests from Islamabad.

Pakistan has also paid back USD 1 billion loan to Riyadh which, according to some reports, the Saudis had demanded. In 2018, Saudi Arabia granted Pakistan a USD 3 billion loan and USD 3.2 billion oil credit facility to help its balance of payments crisis after Prime Minister Khan visited the country to seek financial support.
The Nigerian army said it was in full control of a north-eastern town on Thursday where hundreds of people had been taken hostage by militants linked to the Islamic State armed group. Many of the victims had just returned to the town after fleeing a bloody attack there two years ago.

"The situation in Kukawa is now calm with troops in full control," defence spokesman John Enenche said in a statement.

Hours beforehand, fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) had stormed the town in the Lake Chad region, taking hundreds of people hostage.

The hostages' whereabouts remain unknown despite the Nigerian army's reassurances that everything is under control.

Many of the victims seized late on Tuesday had just gone back to their homes after spending nearly two years in displacement camps, according to local militia leader Babakura Kolo.

Enenche said: "The attack by the terrorists was a deliberate attempt to reverse the milestone achievements regarding internally displaced persons in the areas of peace building and resettlement."

Growing threat

Three soldiers died and two were wounded during the gun battle in which eight jihadist fighters were killed, Enenche added.

A splinter group of Boko Haram, the ISWAP has grown in power and influence in recent years, waging a guerrilla war across north-eastern Nigeria and elsewhere on the lakes periphery.

The decade-long jihadi conflict in the country's north-east has forced some two million people to flee their homes, with many of them moving to displacement camps in the regional capital of Maiduguri.

Authorities have been trying for the last two years to get them to return to their home towns even though international charities have insisted it is not safe to do so.
The South African branch of consumer credit reporting agency Experian disclosed a data breach that impacted 24 million customers.

The South African branch of consumer credit reporting agency Experian disclosed this week a data breach that impacted 24 million customers.

The company revealed that only personal information was exposed in the data breach, no financial or credit-related information was compromised.

The company declared that it has identified the origin of the attack and has already wiped stolen data from the devices used by the attackers.

The credit agency did not disclose the exact number of impacted users, but according to a report published by the South African Banking Risk Centre (SABRIC) the security incident may have impacted 24 million South African citizens and 793,749 local businesses.

Experian  a consumer, business and credit information services agency  has experienced a breach of data which has exposed some personal information of as many as 24 million South Africans and 793 749 business entities to a suspected fraudster. reads the report.

The company already reported the incident to law enforcement and the appropriate regulatory authorities and is going to notify the impacted customers.

The local authorities were able to identify the crooks behind the attack. A court order obtained by Experian allowed to seize the fraudsters equipment and stolen data was secured and deleted.

At the time the company is not aware of fraudulent use of the stolen data, it also pointed out that the attackers did not compromise its infrastructure.

Our investigations indicate that an individual in South Africa, purporting to represent a legitimate client, fraudulently requested services from Experian. The services involved the release of information which is provided in the ordinary course of business or which is publicly available. reads a statement released by the agency.

We can confirm that no consumer credit or consumer financial information was obtained. Our investigations do not indicate that any misappropriated data has been used for fraudulent purposes. Our investigations also show that the suspect had intended to use the data to create marketing leads to offer insurance and credit-related services.

I would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused to any affected parties. Our first priority is to help and support consumers and businesses in South Africa. said Experian Africa CEO Ferdie Pieterse.

Experian advises anyone who may have concerns to regularly check their credit report.

Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs  hacking, Experian)
The Union Cabinet has approved a proposal for leasing out three airports through public-private partnership (PPP) for a period of 50 years. The move has been called "daylight robbery" by the LDF government in Kerala.

On August 19, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said the Cabinet had approved the proposal for leasing out Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram airports through the PPP model.

"The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is not giving these airports permanently to the private operator. After running them for 50 years, the private operator would be handing over the airports back to the AAI," said the minister.

The minister said the AAI would receive Rs 1,070 crore as an upfront amount from the private operator for leasing the three airports and this fund would be used to develop airports in smaller cities.

"Another benefit of leasing these airports is that passengers will get good services," Javadekar noted.

Adani Enterprises had won the rights to run six airports including these three -- the other three being Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Mangalore -- through the PPP model after a competitive bidding process in February 2019.

In July 2019, the Union Cabinet had approved the proposal for leasing out Ahmedabad, Mangalore and Lucknow airports to Adani Enterprises.

Currently, all the aforementioned six airports are owned and managed by the government-run AAI.

The decision did not go well with the LDF government in Kerala and Opposition Congress. They lashed out at the Centre over its decision to lease out three airports, including the one in Kerala, to the Adani group and charged it with privatising all Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) while the country was battling COVID-19.

Terming the decision as "daylight robbery", the Kerala government demanded that it be withdrawn. Congress too made a similar demand and said the airport belongs to the state.

The Kerala government also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and reconsider the handing over of the management and operation of the Thiruvananthapuram airport to the Adani group, saying it would be "difficult" for the state to cooperate in implementing the decision.

(With inputs from PTI)
Photo: (Photo : Instagram/naibaybay)

In May 2019, Lenai and Matt Schier found out through a 20-week scan that their unborn daughter has a tumor in her tailbone. Two months later, the 32-year-old mom gave birth to Zalya prematurely. Doctors told the couple from Darwin, Australia, that their child could have spina bifida.

Two days after the scan, doctors found out the fetus had sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT). It is a rare birth defect tumor found at the base of the tailbone, or coccyx.

Removed tumor through surgery

In July 2019, born three months early, Zalya underwent six hours of surgery to remove the tumor. Now, she is a thriving one-year-old baby girl.

See also: Women Who Gave Birth to Premature Infants Are More at Risk of Early Death, Study Proves

Lenai and Matt, who are also parents to Wilder, 2, were thrilled upon knowing they are having their second child. Lenai's pregnancy was normal until the doctor saw the tumor in May 2019. After being referred to a high-risk pregnancy team, she learned that her growing baby had a type II tumor. It meant the tumor was inside her daughter's body.

Baby could be stillborn

Doctors advised the couple to abort the fetus since there is a big chance that the baby could be stillborn. However, since the MRI showed that the tumor was not affecting the baby's organs, they decided to go on with the pregnancy.

See also: California Woman Dies Tragically on the Same Day She Gives Birth to Miracle Baby

Zalya's heart could not handle the blood flow to the tumor, so she developed anemia. Due to that, Lenai had to have three ultrasound scans in a week.

Lenai's water broke on her 28th week of pregnancy, and her daughter came out only weighing two pounds three ounces. Days after, doctors removed Zalya's tumor. Doctors revived her many times and gave five blood transfusions. After that, they placed the tiny infant in NICU so Lenai had to wait ten days before she could cuddle her newborn.

See also: Alaska Mom Suddenly Gives Birth After Airplane Took off [Son Receives Unique Name]

Tumor was benign

They stayed in the hospital in Adelaide for 57 days before they were discharged. Five months after, the medical team allowed them to go home to Darwin. Thankfully, Zalya's tumor was benign so her organs did not get damaged.

Although she could not walk yet right now, she is thriving and is chasing her brother around the house.

The mom researched about the tumor

When Lenai found out about the tumor, she researched and found out that females get it more than males. Doctors would remove her daughter's tailbone to prevent the tumor from growing back.

During her pregnancy, she tried her best to prevent the growth of the tumor. She started drinking hot water squeezed with fresh lemon juice first thing in the morning.

Admittedly, Lenai said that she got depressed at one time, but moms who were once in her shoes helped her. They answered many of her questions and helped her to expect what might happen in the future.

The tumor could have been a twin

Some doctors believed that the tumor could have been a twin that never formed fully. It made sense to her because her mom is a twin and her dad-in-law is too.

After doctors removed Zalya's coccyx bone, they closely monitored her and got regular blood tests to make sure the tumor does not come back. Lenai found that the risk is high until her daughter turns five.

Lenai said that all she wants is for her daughter to be happy and healthy. Someday, she hopes that Zalya could talk to the other survivors. She also said that she is now helping other moms whose unborn baby is diagnosed with SCT. Sharing has healed her, so now, she is connecting to those who have gone through the same thing as her.
Those five companies now constitute 20 per cent of the US stock market's total worth, a level not seen from a single industry in at least 70 years. Apple's stock market value, the highest of the bunch, reached $US2 trillion ($2.8 trillion) on Wednesday  double what it was just 21 weeks ago.

A rally in technology stocks elevated Wall Street's S&P 500 stock index to a record high on Tuesday even as the pandemic crushes the broader economy. The stocks of Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft and Facebook, the five largest publicly traded US companies, rose 37 per cent in the first seven months this year, while all the other stocks in the S&P 500 fell a combined 6 per cent, according to Credit Suisse.

Now the upheaval has lifted them to new heights, putting the industry in a position to dominate business in a way unseen since the days of railroads.

The tech companies' dominance of the stock market is propelled by their unprecedented reach into our lives, shaping how we work, communicate, shop and relax. That has only deepened during the pandemic, and as people shop more frequently on Amazon, click on a Google or Facebook ad or pay up for an iPhone, the companies receive a greater share of spending in the economy and earn ever larger profits. This is why investors have flocked to those stocks this year at the expense of the scores of companies struggling in the health crisis and are betting that their position will be unassailable for years.

"COVID was the perfect positive storm for these guys," said Thomas Philippon, a professor of finance at New York University.

The tech companies' dominance of the stock market is propelled by their unprecedented reach into our lives, shaping how we work, communicate, shop and relax. That has only deepened during the pandemic.

The companies' deeper encroachment into American lives can be seen in web traffic numbers for Alphabet, Facebook and Amazon, which own the four most visited US sites. The traffic on these sites was immense before the pandemic, but daily visits increased sharply in March, when stay-at-home orders began, with Facebook up 15 per cent and YouTube 10 per cent, according to SimilarWeb, an online data provider.

The web traffic has held steady at the higher plateau, with more than 1 billion daily visits to the big four sites in the United States alone. And the same pattern is evident worldwide. Facebook reported that the number of daily users of its services globally in June was 12 per cent higher than a year earlier.
RALEIGH, N.C., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A total of seven North Carolina Trial Attorneys from the law firm of Edwards Kirby were selected for inclusion in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Four of the firm's attorneys  John Edwards, David Kirby, Bill Bystrynski, and Kristen Beightol  were named to this year's list after having been selected in previous editions. Attorneys Cate Edwards, Mary Kathryn Kurth, and Andrew Avram  who were named to Best Lawyers' "Ones to Watch" list  earned their first selection to The Best Lawyers in America.

Each year, Best Lawyers sifts through thousands of the most accomplished practitioners to compile lists recognizing the top attorneys in each state, and relies on the nominations and feedback of other Best Lawyers honorees and members of the judiciary to make the final cut.

The result: a rating system hailed for its substantive and meaningful evaluations, and for being a reliable resource to those in need of proven representation.

For the attorneys at Edwards Kirby, inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America speaks volumes about the respect and esteem they've earned from their peers, as well as the record results they've secured on behalf of Plaintiffs in complex claims involving serious personal injury, medical malpractice, insurance litigation, civil rights, employment law, and other high-stakes torts and civil claims.

Edwards Kirby attorneys named to this year's Best Lawyers list include:

John R. Edwards : Former U.S. Senator and Vice-Presidential nominee John Edwards is a Founding Partner at Edwards Kirby. Recognized among the nation's most accomplished litigators, Edwards was named to Best Lawyers in Medical Malpractice Law, Personal Injury Litigation, Product Liability Litigation, and Professional Malpractice Law  all for Plaintiffs. He is a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates , an invite-only group of the top 100 plaintiffs' trial lawyers in the U.S.

Former U.S. Senator and Vice-Presidential nominee is a Founding Partner at Edwards Kirby. Recognized among the nation's most accomplished litigators, Edwards was named to in Medical Malpractice Law, Personal Injury Litigation, Product Liability Litigation, and Professional Malpractice Law  all for Plaintiffs. He is a member of the , an invite-only group of the top 100 plaintiffs' trial lawyers in the U.S. David F. Kirby : Founding Partner David Kirby, also a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates , David Kirby has been named to Best Lawyers every year since 2001, and has twice received its highest "Lawyer of the Year" recognition in previous years in Medical Malpractice Law  Plaintiffs (2012), and Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs (2014). Kirby was named to The Best Lawyers in America 2021 in the areas of Medical Malpractice Law, Personal Injury Litigation, and Product Liability Litigation. Kirby, together with Partner John Edwards, helped secure the largest personal injury jury verdict awarded in North Carolina history in 1997.

Founding Partner David Kirby, also a member of the , has been named to every year since 2001, and has twice received its highest "Lawyer of the Year" recognition in previous years in Medical Malpractice Law  Plaintiffs (2012), and Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs (2014). Kirby was named to 2021 in the areas of Medical Malpractice Law, Personal Injury Litigation, and Product Liability Litigation. Kirby, together with Partner John Edwards, helped secure the largest personal injury jury verdict awarded in history in 1997. William B. Bystrynski : Recognized among The Best Lawyers in America since 2013, Edwards Kirby partner Bill Bystrynski was named to the 2021 list in Personal Injury Litigation and Product Liability Litigation  Plaintiffs. Over the course of a career dedicated to fighting for victims of negligence, Bystrynski has handled complex and high-profile claims involving wrongful death, serious injuries, nursing homes, and medical malpractice. He has also litigated before the Supreme Court in two cases, one of which resulted in an $8.2M verdict for his client and the other of which helped reform North Carolina's Medicaid Law to allow more aid for injured people.

Recognized among since 2013, Edwards Kirby partner was named to the 2021 list in Personal Injury Litigation and Product Liability Litigation  Plaintiffs. Over the course of a career dedicated to fighting for victims of negligence, Bystrynski has handled complex and high-profile claims involving wrongful death, serious injuries, nursing homes, and medical malpractice. He has also litigated before the Supreme Court in two cases, one of which resulted in an verdict for his client and the other of which helped reform Medicaid Law to allow more aid for injured people. Kristen L. Beightol : Named to Best Lawyers for the second consecutive year, Kristen Beightol earns her 2021 selection in Litigation  Insurance, Medical Malpractice Law  Plaintiffs, and Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs. Backed by insight into both sides of civil practice, having represented insurance carriers, businesses, and governments in major litigation, Beightol has put her experience to work for victims in cases involving medical malpractice, premises liability, wrongful death, insurance coverage, and other matters of serious personal injury.

Named to for the second consecutive year, earns her 2021 selection in Litigation  Insurance, Medical Malpractice Law  Plaintiffs, and Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs. Backed by insight into both sides of civil practice, having represented insurance carriers, businesses, and governments in major litigation, Beightol has put her experience to work for victims in cases involving medical malpractice, premises liability, wrongful death, insurance coverage, and other matters of serious personal injury. Cate E. Edwards: Cate Edwards earns her first selection to The Best Lawyers in America this year, and was also named to Best Lawyers ' "Ones to Watch" list, which recognizes highly accomplished attorneys in private practice for less than 10 years. A partner at Edwards Kirby, Cate Edwards represents victims of civil rights violations and corporate negligence in claims involving wrongful death, serious injury, police and government misconduct, sexual harassment, and whistleblower retaliation. She has been named to The National Trial Lawyers ' Top 40 Under 40, the 2019 and 2020 Lawyers of Distinction Lists, and the NC Super Lawyers Rising Stars.

Cate Edwards earns her first selection to this year, and was also named to ' "Ones to Watch" list, which recognizes highly accomplished attorneys in private practice for less than 10 years. A partner at Edwards Kirby, Cate Edwards represents victims of civil rights violations and corporate negligence in claims involving wrongful death, serious injury, police and government misconduct, sexual harassment, and whistleblower retaliation. She has been named to ' Top 40 Under 40, the 2019 and 2020 Lawyers of Distinction Lists, and the NC Rising Stars. Mary Kathryn Kurth : Also selected to Best Lawyers ' "Ones to Watch," attorney Mary Kathryn Kurth was selected to The Best Lawyers in America 2021 in the areas of Appellate Practice and Medical Malpractice Law  Plaintiffs. Concentrating her practice on matters of medical negligence, health lien resolution, and serious personal injury, Kurth has recovered millions in compensation for her clients. She has also been named to The National Trial Lawyers ' Top 40 Under 40, and the North Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Stars.

Also selected to ' "Ones to Watch," attorney was selected to 2021 in the areas of Appellate Practice and Medical Malpractice Law  Plaintiffs. Concentrating her practice on matters of medical negligence, health lien resolution, and serious personal injury, Kurth has recovered millions in compensation for her clients. She has also been named to ' Top 40 Under 40, and the Rising Stars. Andrew C. Avram : A Raleigh native and former insurance defense attorney, Andrew Avram has become an invaluable asset to victims and families seeking justice and compensation in cases of serious injury, workplace accidents, and medical malpractice. Known for his talent as a strong legal writer, Avram has also excelled in protecting the rights of clients with complex employment law cases, including discrimination, retaliation, wrongful discharge, and other business-related claims.

Edwards Kirby is one of North Carolina's most trusted civil trial practices. Led by former U.S. Senator John Edwards and David Kirby  two of the nation's most acclaimed plaintiffs' trial lawyers, the firm has secured millions for clients and record results in a range of complex and high-profile cases. That includes NC state records for the largest personal injury verdict, the largest personal injury settlement, and the largest medical malpractice verdict, as well as the national record for the largest workplace violence verdict. Learn more about the firm's areas of practice by visiting www.edwardskirby.com.

SOURCE Edwards Kirby, LLP

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Haryana Governor Satyadeo Narain Aryas decision to seek Presidents approval for the state cabinets decision to reserve 75% of jobs, generated by the private sector in the state, for locals can have legal implications for other states that have announced regulations to reserve private sector jobs for state residents, say legal experts.

Aryas decision to seek Presidents approval was based on Haryanas law secretarys view that the proposed law could be seen as a violation of two articles of the Constitution --- Article 14 that allows equality before law and Article (1)(g) that allows freedom to practice any profession or trade to all citizens.

However, Haryanas advocate general M B Mahajan said the proposed reservation in jobs for locals did not violate any Central law. It also does not come in conflict with Article 14 of the Constitution, either, Mahajan said.

But, legal experts said Aryas decision could have implications for other states, which have or are in the process of adopting similar reservation norms for private sector jobs to protect interests of the locals.

The ground for giving reservation has to be socio-economic backwardness. Place of birth and residence cannot be a ground. This has been clearly stated by the Supreme Court in at least 10 various judgments, if not more, since 1954. Providing reservation in any other form could be seen as contrary to the Constitutional norms, said senior Supreme Court lawyer and Congress leader Vivek Tankha.

Another senior Supreme Court lawyer Ashok Arora said reservation in private sector jobs to the locals can be provided, if the state can provide quantifiable reasons for the same to ensure equality. The state governments will have to provide reasonable ground for reserving jobs for locals which is quantifiable. And, this can be achieved only through a proper scientific study, he said.

The Supreme Court, through various judgments, has said that reservation to castes or classes can be provided only after a detailed study providing evidence of their socio-economic and educational backwardness. In the past, the SC had struck down other backward classes (OBC) reservation in government jobs for castes such as Jats in Haryana and Marathas in Maharashtra in absence of a detailed study.

Experts say for reserving jobs for locals in the private sector, the state governments will have to show economic backwardness, which may not be easy. As per a January 2020 report by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation (MOSPI), Haryanas per capita income was Rs 2,26,644 in 2018-19, the sixth highest in the country after Goa, Delhi, Sikkim, Chandigarh and Puducherry.

Some other states, which have provided for reservation to locals in private sector jobs, such as Maharashtra (up to 80%), Andhra Pradesh (75%), Karnataka (75%) and Madhya Pradesh (70%), also rank high on per capital income. Maharashtra is ranked seventh, Andhra Pradesh 16 and Karnataka 17 on the countrys per capita income index released by MOSPI.

The Andhra Pradesh Employment of Local Candidates in Industries/Factories Act, 2020, that stipulates reservation in private sector jobs is under challenge in the state high court on the ground that it violates Article 16(2) and (3) of the Constitution which prohibits discrimination in employment on the grounds of place of residence.

The courts bench of Chief Justice GK Maheswari and Justice Kanneganti Lalitha in May, 2020, asked the state government to submit a reply within four weeks on whether the law violates the Constitution. The next hearing of the case is slated for September. The court has not stayed the application of the law.

Telangana has joined other states such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh in insisting that the private sector provide reservations to the locals for employment.

Last week, the Telangana cabinet approved a policy giving incentives such as tax concessions to industries that reserve jobs for locals in the state. The cabinet felt that the locals should have more opportunities in the industries being set up in the state, said an official statement.

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday announced that all government jobs in the state would be reserved for students of the state, who have cleared class X and XII examinations from a school in the state.

He said the regulations in this regard would be issued soon. The officials said that this was being done since, like many other states, MP cannot impose a language restriction to prevent outsiders from getting government jobs.

Written and spoken knowledge of Marathi in Maharashtra, Tamil in Tamil Nadu, Kannada in Karnataka and Bengali in West Bengal is a must to be eligible for a government job. However, Jammu and Kashmir in its new domicile policy had made it easier for outsiders to get a job in the state for the purpose of national integration.

As Hindi is the official and spoken language in the state, we cannot impose language restriction like many other states. So, the government is working on introducing schooling from the state, as a criteria, for applying for a government job, a state government official said.

Tankha said providing 100% reservation in government jobs is a violation of SC judgment which caps reservation at 50%.

But, this renewed bid of the political parties to reserve jobs for locals is seen as an attempt to attract voters before elections even though it may not be legally tenable.

The promise of reservation for locals in private sector was made by the ruling party of Andhra Pradesh, YSR Congress, ruling alliance partners in Maharashtra -- Shiv Sena and Congress, Jharkhands ruling party, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and Jannayak Janata Party of Dushyant Chautala, which is in power with Bharatiya Janata party in Haryana, just before assembly elections in these states in 2019.
At the meeting (Photo: CPV)

The working meeting mentioned the building of the Party and political system in combination with realization of socio-economic development, defence and security as well as external relations, especially the implementation of the Politburo directive on Party Congresses towards the 13th National Party Congress and the Politburo directive on leading the election of National Assembly deputies term XV and deputies to the Peoples Council at all levels term 2021-2026.



Gia Lai is a province in the North of the Central Highlands, with a natural area of more than 15,510 square kilometers; population of over 1.5 million people, of which ethnic minorities account for 46.23%. The province has a 90 kilometer border with Cambodia. This is a province holding important position in economics, politics and defense-security; and potential, advantages and many favorable conditions for development of Pleiku Airport and Dong Truong Son Road, connecting Gia Lai with different domestic and international localities.

So far, 100% of grassroots level Party Congresses and nearly 81% of district-level Party Congresses have been completed, with thorough preparations of personnel work and congress organization. The province has also completed draft documents for the 16th provincial Party Congress.

Over the past 5 years, the province has actively carried out the national and provincial Party Congresses resolutions and the guidelines of the central level. As a result, the gross regional domestic product reached 7.83% on average each year, at VND80.989 trillion, increasing by 1.65 times compared to 2015; the average income per capita in 2020 reached VND52.54 million, an increase of 1.5 times compared to 2015; the poverty rate among ethnic minority people was reduced from 40.1% to 6.25%; and there has been remarkable improvement in peoples living standard, with stable political security and social order.

Praising the provinces achievements, Pham Minh Chinh suggested the province should well prevent and overcome the consequences of COVID-19 and diphtheria while leading to strengthen solidarity in the Party; and thoroughly prepare for the provincial Party Congress, especially during the complex development of COVID-19.

The Party official noted that proper planning for the development of the province should be worked out to efficiently exploit its potential and competitiveness. It also needs to maintain, reinforce and develop the friendly and traditional special relationship with localities in the Cambodia  Laos  Vietnam development triangle, he said./.
In some parts of the world, new outbreaks of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are occurring after weeks or months of no cases at all. Some instances are the recent occurrence of local cases in Vietnam, New Zealand, and Beijing. A recent study published on the preprint server bioRxiv* in August 2020 suggests that foodborne contamination may underlie these outbreaks and that this route of transmission should not be overlooked to contain the pandemic.

Xinfadi, Beijing

Almost two months of having zero new cases, a cluster of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients were detected in the Xinfadi wholesale market in Beijing. This was officially attributed to contaminated food imported from outside the region. Following this, measures have been put in place to prevent other outbreaks in China. The world at large, however, remains unaware of such a risk, and thus it is mostly ignored.

Reasons for Fresh Outbreaks

New outbreaks may occur due to unrecognized asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2, with continuing community transmission. Another mechanism might be travelers bringing in the virus, which then jumps from host to new host. This would mean that either an asymptomatic infected traveler was tested as false negative or that a confirmed infected traveler broke quarantine rules. This could lead to occult SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

However, the researchers calculate that this is an improbable scenario, given that the odds of the virus passing through 20 generations undetected is only one in a thousand, even if the reproduction number is 1, and with a continuing chain of transmission, and a detection rate of one in twenty infections. In such a situation, occult transmission seems unlikely to be the cause of the recent outbreaks.

Infection Clusters Linked to Foodstuffs

A third possibility is that contaminated foodstuffs transported between regions are carrying the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This is credible given that many SARS-CoV-2 infection clusters have occurred in meat and seafood processing plants all over the world. Examples include a poultry processing factory in the UK, a ready-to-eat meal production facility again in the UK, tuna canneries in Portugal and Ghana, and abattoirs in Australia and Germany. In fact, in the last case, more than 1,500 workers were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in a large abattoir in Gutersloh, Germany. This cluster of infections led to the implementation of lockdown in two districts housing over 600,000 people.

Thus, the question of the origin of the recrudescences seems to revolve around food processing plants where contaminated food is imported, transferring the infection to local inhabitants and seeding new chains of viral spread. The SARS-CoV-2 virus has been found on workers at the Xinfadi market, and on cutting boards where salmon imported from outside was sliced.

The officials responded by taking millions of swabs from market workers, people staying near the market, and other components of the Beijing food supply chain. This led to the detection of 335 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Shrimp from Ecuador were also detected to be positive for the virus.

Subsequently, salmon from Europe was banned, as well as later on from any facility where SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks were known to have occurred. This included the US, Germany, and Brazil. Ecuadorean shrimp were also suspended.

Verifying Infectious Virus in Frozen Meat

Many scientists openly doubted this route of transmission, since earlier studies have reported no detectable SARS-CoV-2 on copper, cardboard and stainless steel/plastic surfaces, at a temperature of 2123C, when tested after 4 hours, 24 hours, and 3 days. The authors of the current study, therefore, looked at how long the virus could survive on frozen or refrigerated meat and salmon over a period of 3 weeks. This allowed them to test the potential for fresh outbreaks seeded by imported food containing the viable virus.

Quantification of the infectious virus over 21 days. Viral titers were determined by limiting dilution. Titres are expressed as mean  SD log10 TCID50/mL. SARS-CoV-2 was stored alone or in the presence of fish, chicken or pork and tested under refrigeration (4C); and frozen (-20C and -80C).

They tested 500 mm3 cubes of salmon, chicken, and pork bought from supermarkets in Singapore, to which the virus was added at a dose of 200 l of 3 x 106 TCID50/ml. These were stored at 4C, 20C and 80C. They then tested for the virus at 1, 2, 5, 7, 14, and 21 days later. They found that the viral titer remained at the same level at all three temperatures, and all the samples remained infectious.

In accordance with the general thinking of today, the World Health Organization advises that foodborne or food packaging-associated COVID-19 spread is improbable. The researchers say, While not a major infection route, the potential for movement of contaminated items to a region with no COVID-19 and initiate an outbreak is an important hypothesis. This makes it imperative to assess the risk of such foodborne infection surviving the transport and storage process involved in the import trade.

Meat Trade and COVID-19

The high rate of infection among abattoir and meat processing plant workers, as evidenced by the increased number of infection clusters, may point to the risk factors like crowded workplaces, high noise levels making shouts necessary, and lack of adequate ventilation. The meat is handled manually, while automated lines typically handle salmon. In situations where salmon is also handled manually, the risk of contamination arises.

Such workers may also continue to work after being infected since they typically come from low economic strata, they are at higher risk of both catching the virus and passing it on in their crowded homes. They also travel by public transport, which is typically crowded.

The fact that most surfaces in such facilities are likely to be stainless steel, the low temperatures, and lack of sunlight, which contains ultraviolet rays, favor a longer life for the virus. Thus, environmental and individual factors all predispose to meat and fish contamination during the handling of raw meat and further processing.

The researchers explain that while butchering is typically at standard or room temperatures, the meat is then kept at a low temperature below 12oC to be cut up, and the meat is stored at 37C as per food regulations.

Implications

The study shows that all types of meat in everyday use, namely, chicken, pork, and salmon, can carry the infectious virus throughout the transport and storage periods and conditions involved in the import and export of these foods. Notably, the tested temperatures cover that of standard refrigeration and standard freezing. The absence of conditions like drying and temperature variation, as regulated for such foods by law, favors virus survival. And in fact, they failed to detect any decrease in viral titer, signifying a loss of infectivity.

Thus, they conclude, We believe it is possible that contaminated imported food can transfer the virus to workers as well as the environment. An infected food handler has the potential to become an index case of a new outbreak.

Given the high volume of international food trade, it is quite possible that uncommon transmission events can occur and trigger outbreaks where the virus spread had been eradicated previously. To prevent such outbreaks, food hygiene must begin at the factory, including repeated and meticulous cleansing of the hands, work surfaces, and other food contact surfaces, materials, and utensils.

Worker conditions should be inspected. Staff should be trained and encouraged to absent themselves if they are ill, and checks should be carried out. Such worker leaves should be incentivized to promote worker and consumer safety. The use of personal protective equipment should be inspected until a habit is in place, while social distancing at all times should be taught and encouraged.

In the import market, cleaning of hands, utensils, and surfaces should be carried out regularly to prevent contamination of other foods. Consumers should be taught to wash their hands after touching any raw food and to cook the food properly to destroy the virus.

The current study and other reports of the detection of the virus on imported frozen chicken and shrimp packaging material should serve as a warning to food regulatory and public health authorities to set relevant guidelines in this new situation, where old norms may not be useful to avert a non-traditional food safety risk.

*Important Notice

bioRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
According to a report, the search is on for a driver who escaped after being chased by Upper Darby police and eventually crashing his car into a pole in West Philadelphia.

The chase began in Upper Darby and eventually ended on Haverford Ave. just over the line in Philadelphia.

Police say the driver was able to get out of the vehicle and run into nearby woods. Although they were able to follow a blood trail, the driver has not been found.
An Aldi shopper has revealed her simple technique for slowing down checkout workers at the discount supermarket.

The budget chain is renowned for scanning shopping at lightning speed as customers rapidly try to pack their bags.

This is widely believed to be a way Aldi cuts the costs of its groceries, as by serving customers quickly it does not need to hire as many checkout staff.

The speedy scanning can leave some shoppers feeling flustered, but one savvy Australian has found a way to make the experience more manageable.

An Aldi shopper has revealed her simple technique for slowing down checkout workers at the discount supermarket

'You can ask them to slow down, I do,' one shopper said on the Aldi Mums Facebook page.

'I always ask the checkout workers at my local Aldi to slow down a bit so I don't get overwhelmed. They always say yes and it's always very pleasant, never had a problem,' another shopper agreed.

But not everyone was pleased with the suggestion, including a supermarket worker.

'Yes, we do mind! We are just too polite to hurry you up,' they explained.

'You are literally holding up everyone else behind you and causing other registers to open, taking other staff away from important jobs,' another woman wrote.

The budget supermarket chain is renowned for leaving shoppers flustered as they try to quickly bag their groceries which have been scanned at lighting speed (stock image)

'If staff numbers increase so do the prices. Just put your things back in the trolley and pack at the packing bench. You can take as long as you like over there packing your bags and checking receipts.'

'Imagine going to Aldi and asking them to slow down (which is totally acceptable if you are elderly or disabled... but we aren't robots, we know if you need a little extra time)' another said.

Others said the checkout experience was simply part and parcel of shopping at Aldi.

'Keeping up with the Aldi checkout workers is a game for me. It should be an Olympic sport!'

An Aldi employee previously revealed staff are encouraged to scan quickly as part of the store's business model to keep staff numbers, and product prices low.

Brooke Hoskin, an Aldi employee in Sydney, recently shared a TikTok video where she revealed workers are timed on how quickly they scan items and move on to the next shopper.

'It's not a major part of performance reviews, however if you're consistently slow, managers might not be a big fan of that,' Ms Hoskin said in the video.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation outlining expectations for schools reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic Thursday, formalizing a deal reached last week between the administration and legislative leaders ahead of the new school year.

The three-bill package signed into law this week  House Bills 5911, 5912, and 5913  largely leaves it to local districts to determine school reopening methods and guidelines, taking local COVID-19 metrics and recommendations from individual health departments into account.

The plan doesnt require districts to offer in-person education options to be eligible for state funding, although districts must maintain minimum levels of teacher-student interaction in virtual settings.

Over the past week, we have taken crucial steps to help Michigan schools and families navigate the new school year, Whitmer said in a statement. These bills will help schools implement their comprehensive safety plans going into the 2020-21 school year...These are great steps, but we will need a comprehensive bipartisan plan and funding from the federal government.

Related: Michigan schools need cash to keep kids safe from coronavirus, but the coffers are running low

The legislation will weight per-pupil funding for districts this school year based on 75 percent of last years enrollment numbers and 25 percent of the current school year. Districts will have to provide at least two two-way interactions a week between at least 75 percent of enrolled students and their teachers.

Under the plan, school boards will be required to review their districts instruction plans on a monthly basis in public meetings. Schools will be required to provide benchmark assessments to determine where students are at academically.

The three bills passed both the House and Senate last week despite concerns from some legislative Democrats, who unsuccessfully pushed to further loosen requirements tying state funding to student attendance and benchmark assessments as schools navigate educating students during a pandemic.

Two major education unions, the Michigan Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers, were supportive of the compromise, although they questioned some aspects of the deal. School administrators and superintendents are concerned the plan further complicates back-to-school plans already in motion and doesnt address state funding uncertainties.

The bill signings come one day after Whitmer announced $65 million in federal funding would be put into Michigan schools. The bulk of that money will be targeted towards schools with more than half their students in high-need groups, such as economically disadvantaged students, special education students and English language learners.

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.

Related:

Education unions give Michigan back-to-school plan thumbs up, despite lingering budgetary concerns

What do Michigan teachers fear most about in-person learning? The students sitting in their classrooms

Are Michigan students really going back to school? Teachers, health officials say reopening is a minefield

Betsy DeVos has long been the boogeyman of public education. Critics say her push to reopen schools shows why.

More virtual classrooms? House OKs Return to Learn bills in late-night session

More health, school spending in 2020 budget revised by Michigan legislature Wednesday

Opinion: The Right Balance To Meet Public Health and Education Challenges
The Malian soldiers who forced President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita to resign in a coup have promised to organise new elections after their takeover was condemned by the international community.

In a statement carried by state broadcaster ORTM, the soldiers who staged Tuesday's military coup identified themselves as the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, led by Colonel Major Ismael Wague.

"With you, standing as one, we can restore this country to its former greatness," he said, announcing that borders were closed.

The news of Mr Keita's departure was met with jubilation by anti-government demonstrators in the capital Bamako, and alarm by former colonial ruler France and other allies and foreign nations.

The UN Security Council scheduled a closed meeting for yesterday to discuss the situation in Mali, where the UN has a 15,600-strong peacekeeping mission.

The West African regional bloc Ecowas said it was sending a high-level delegation to "ensure immediate return to constitutional order".

The bloc condemned the overthrow of Mr Keita, denied "any kind of legitimacy to the putschists", and demanded sanctions against those who staged the coup.

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the coup.

Mr Keita, who was democratically elected, had three years left in his term, but his popularity had plummeted.

On Tuesday, soldiers forced his hand by surrounding his residence and firing shots into the air. Mr Keita and the prime minister were detained and hours later he appeared on ORTM. A banner across the bottom of the television screen referred to him as the "outgoing president".
Both longtime businessmen, Robert and Donald had strikingly different personalities. Donald Trump once described his younger brother as "much quieter and easygoing than I am," and "the only guy in my life whom I ever call 'honey.'"

Robert Trump began his career on Wall Street working in corporate finance but later joined the family business, managing real estate holdings as a top executive in the Trump Organization.

"When he worked in the Trump Organization, he was known as the nice Trump," Gwenda Blair, a Trump family biographer, told The Associated Press. "Robert was the one people would try to get to intervene if there was a problem."

Robert Stewart Trump was born in 1948, the youngest of New York City real estate developer Fred Trump's five children.

The president, two years older than Robert, admittedly bullied his brother in their younger years, even as he praised his loyalty and laid-back demeanor.

"I think it must be hard to have me for a brother but he's never said anything about it and we're very close," Donald Trump wrote in his 1987 bestseller "The Art of the Deal."
Xiaomis Mi 10 Ultra wireless charging can reportedly fill up its 4,500mAh capacity battery in just 40 minutes. Thats a feat that the company says surpasses most phones wired recharge capabilities. And it isnt wrong. At 50W, the charging protocol is actually faster than most fast-charging solutions by more than 22W.

But Xiaomi didnt just pack in a more powerful wireless charging pad and hope for the best, either. The solution underpinning that charging is as complex as the Mi 10 Ultra 120W wired charging. That charging solution powers the device from nothing to 100-percent in just 23-minutes, according to the company. And it recently took to the Chinese social media site Weibo to outline just how complex its wireless charging is.

Heres how Mi 10 Ultra uses next-gen hardware right now

There are several key factors behind how the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra is able to accomplish 50W wireless charging. The first, and most obvious, is one of the same factors behind the 120W charging noted above. Namely, the company switched to a much new charge pump, offering 98.5-percent efficiency. By comparison, last generations pumps only achieved around 97-percent efficiency in terms of voltage conversion.

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But it also changed how those are laid out in the internal design. Namely, by moving away from two pumps being placed in series. Instead, those are placed parallel to one another.

Each pump is also charging the two cells of the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra via a newer graphene-based material. That prevents overheating and allows better conductivity.

In terms of the coil receiving all that power, Xiaomi utilized a 5-layer design for the wireless charging hardware. And it keeps that in communication with the charger at all times to better optimize the charging. That likely also helps prevent overheating since the output of the charger can be adjusted on the fly.

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Why does this matter?

Battery materials have not, overall, undergone many transformations in the past several years. Instead, companies have consistently worked on the software side to optimize power efficiency. Similarly, OEMs have put bigger batteries in their devices, to begin with. But without a big change to battery technology itself, its difficult to improve the user experience on that front.

As a result, manufacturers have turned to faster, more efficient charging. By charging up phones more quickly, it matters less how long the battery lasts between charges. At 50W, Xiaomis new wireless charging technology pushes that forward with the most convenient solution yet. In effect, setting a new standard for others to aim for and potentially surpass.
Katy Perry is ready to give birth any day now but her impending due date is not slowing the star down from promoting her exciting new album.

The 35-year-old expectant mother dropped an acoustic music video for her latest single, What Makes a Woman, to give fans a 'taste' of the album, on Thursday.

Perry's fifth studio album, Smile, drops in a little over one week.

Smile: Katy Perry dropped an acoustic music video for her latest single, What Makes a Woman, to give fans a 'taste' of the album, on Thursday

The What Makes a Woman video was shared to Katy's official YouTube page and featured the pregnant star backed by a full band clad in 'Smile' protective facemasks.

Katy sweetly cradled her baby bump at the beginning of the melodic tune wearing a long purple caftan with large white polka dots.

Her platinum blonde hair was down in a bob style with an indigo headband covered in pearls.

'Could spend your whole life but you couldnt // Describe what makes a woman // Shes always been a perfect mystery'

Hot momma: Katy sweetly cradled her baby bump at the beginning of the melodic tune wearing a long purple caftan with large white polka dots

'Could spend your whole life but you couldnt // Describe what makes a woman And thats what makes a woman to me,' she crooned in the chorus.

Hear her roar: The slow song is part feminist anthem, part love long to herself and her fellow women

'Could spend your whole life but you couldnt // Describe what makes a woman And thats what makes a woman to me,' she crooned in the chorus.

The slow song is part feminist anthem, part love long to herself and her fellow women.

Katy shared a snipped of the tune on her Instagram account and captioned the video: 'May I present... the next taste of #SMILE before it comes out NEXT! FRIDAY! (AUGUST 28TH!)'

Katy shared a snipped of the tune on her Instagram account and captioned the video: 'May I present... the next taste of #SMILE before it comes out NEXT! FRIDAY! (AUGUST 28TH!)'

Exciting: The song is off of Katy's fifth studio album, Smile, which is set to be released next Friday

Staying safe: The What Makes a Woman video was shared to Katy's official YouTube page and featured the pregnant star backed by a full band clad in 'Smile' protective facemasks

When she revealed her new album title and cover art, the popstar said at the time that it was about her 'journey towards the light'.

'I wrote the title track from the album when I was coming through one of the darkest periods of my life and had lost my smile,' she wrote in her post.

In addition releasing KP5, the star is also set to return as a judge on season four of ABC's American Idol, it was revealed on Wednesday.

'I wrote the title track from the album when I was coming through one of the darkest periods of my life and had lost my smile,' Katy previously said of the album

Busy bee: In addition releasing KP5, the star is also set to return as a judge on season four of ABC's American Idol, it was revealed on Wednesday.

The 13-time Grammy nominee tweeted that she did have a request for the upcoming season: 'Can #babycat get a high chair next to the desk?'

Adding: 'She's gonna be a workin' Mama WERKIN' it on @americanidol for season 4!'

Although this is Katy's first child, her fiance Orlando is already father to nine-year-old son Flynn, whom he shares with Australian model ex Miranda Kerr, 37.

Katy and Orlando, who first began dating in 2016, became engaged on Valentine's day in 2019.
In a year that has been full of surprises, this might be one of the biggest: Texas is a battleground state in the 2020 presidential race. Recent polls show shows former Vice President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump neck and neck in the Lone Star State, including a University of Texas at Tyler poll with Biden ahead by 5 points.

My fellow disaffected Republicans, let this be a sign that you are not alone in your doubts about Trump. And if there are any Texas Republicans out there who still feel like you need an excuse or permission to vote for Biden this fall, allow me to ease your way.

Im no Democrat. Im a gun totin Texas property owner who called himself a Republican until 2016 when that title lost all meaning. Back in my school days, I was even co-president of the Young Republicans Club and supported George W. Bushs election both times. Im a graduate of West Point and formerly an officer in the U.S. Army. I led soldiers from the First Infantry Division into combat against the Taliban throughout 2011. To do all of that, I first swore an oath to protect this country against all enemies  foreign and domestic.

Well, we have met the enemy, and he is a bigoted, failed businessman whose primary use of the American presidency has been to dodge accountability for his own misdeeds, to distract from ongoing Russian attacks on both our election systems and our soldiers, and of course, to line his pockets with money squeezed from the blood and sweat and suffering of Americans nationwide.

He has even sent federal agents, dressed like my soldiers were in Afghanistan, to a city near you with the prime goal of beating, assaulting and abducting women, veterans, and others exercising their First Amendment rights as part of a program of unconstitutional proactive arrests. (Never has a more Stalinist term been uttered in this decade.)

Trump is an existential threat to the United States. That is not hyperbole. Many Republican friends will say that they, too, understand that fact, and find his behavior abhorrent. Yet, when it comes to considering Joe Biden, the struggle remains very real.

Their solution instead is to pick a third party, write-in Captain America or simply not cast a ballot at all.

This would be an evasion of civic responsibility. The right to vote is sacred and hard-earned, and to waste it on what amounts to abstention is an insult to those who have given their lives to protect that privilege.

The only powers we citizens have against such a reckless and cruel administration as Trumps are the voice and the vote. While one voice and one vote may seem too minimal to have any impact against a government so powerful, if we all join in chorus, a nationwide roar, we can reclaim our America from under the boot of an abusive, corrupt and shameful administration.

Staying home this fall or voting for a write-in under these conditions would be a gutless act. The two-century experiment in self-government thats given us all so much is in need of just one thing to keep from withering: A sensible vote from responsible citizens.

In the face of a national leader so toxic to the Republic and her people as Trump, the policy goals of his opponent become irrelevant next to the preservation of the Union. What we need right now more than anything is stable, honest leadership and serious accountability for those whove wronged this nation and her people. We need a President Joe Biden.

As for the Republican Party, perhaps someday in the distant future, they will have reformed themselves into something respectable that I could support once again. After all, the shame of Watergate and President Richard Nixons resignation was separated from Ronald Reagans monumental landslide by just six short years. But until the last remnants of Trumps caustic influence have been wiped from this country, the only conscionable recourse for us last true Republicans is to cross the aisle until the party changes course.

I will be voting for Biden this fall  and for M.J. Hegar for Senate and, with some reluctance, Sheila Jackson Lee for the U.S. House of Representatives  because, at this dark hour, it is the right and responsible thing to do. It is what all patriotic Americans  Democrats, Republicans and Independents  must do to preserve our country.

Im willing to announce it, openly and proudly, because while it may not align with my policy goals, it aligns perfectly with my oath to protect this nation from danger. I understand that others cannot take that position publicly. But when you fill out your ballot, whether you do it at home or in a voting booth, remember: Im on your side, and always have been.

Well be secret allies for now, and later, when our country has healed, we will take pride together, knowing that we did our part to save it.

Treadway is a Republican from Houston and a veteran of the U.S. Army.
The parliamentary standing committee on information and technology has summoned representatives of social media company Facebook to appear before it on September 2 to present their views on the issue of safeguarding citizens rights and prevention of misuse of social and online news media . The summons come in the backdrop of the controversy that has erupted after a Wall Street Journal report that showed that Facebooks top lobbyist in India recommended against taking down hate speech posts of a BJP leader on the ground that this could spoil the media companys relationship with the government.

The committee headed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has also summoned representatives of the ministry of communications (department of telecommunications), ministry of home affairs and the representatives of the state of Bihar, union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and union territory of Delhi on September 1 to discuss the subject of suspension of telecom services/ internet and its impact. On the same day it will also hear the views of the representatives of news broadcasters Association, press Council of India and Prasar Bharati on the subject of ethical standards in media coverage.

While the BJP has denied the allegations made in the WSJ report, its Lok Sabha MP Nishikant Dubey on Thursday wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla seeking the removal of Tharoor from the position of chairman of the standing committee on IT. Former union minister and BJP MP, Rajyavardhan Rathore has also written separately to the Lok Sabha speaker complaining against Tharoor.

Dubeys letter comes a day after he and Tharoor filed breach of privilege notices against each other following a disagreement over the Congress leaders remarks on summoning Facebook India executives.

In his letter to Birla, Dubey has said speaking in Spenserian English with a foreign accent does not give freedom to an individual to not only disregard our glorious parliamentary institutions/organs to meet his own political ambitions but also to abuse our constitution.

Rathore, who, like Dubey, is also a member of the IT committee said members have no issue on summoning whosoever the committee feels needs to be summoned for the protection of the rights of citizens of our country but added that the matter should be discussed in the panel first.

Responding to the allegation leveled against Tharoor, the Congress said Dubey made disparaging remarks on social media over the decision to summon a panel meeting to discuss the alleged misconduct of Facebook.

The Congress-BJP spat over the issue exacerbated when BJPs IT cell head Amit Malviya alleged that Congress leader Manish Tewari wrote a letter to Facebook management on 18th August, where he says that Facebook management can get in touch with his senior policy advisor Bharat Gopalaswamy in the USA.

Can Indian MPs hire lobbyists in US masquerading as advisors? Whose interests do these US based lobbyists serve when they advise Congress MP Manish Tewari? Malviya tweeted.

Tewari shot back, Reactions of both @BJP4India & @Facebook demonstrate that the @WSJ story has probably opened a can of worms. Employees at @Facebook are asking serious questions as to why hate speech rules were bent by @Facebook & overlap between government relations & businesses interests.

He also said, Nothing demonstrates alleged collusion between certain elements @Facebook & certain elements in @BJP4India than tweeting of my letter to Facebook Senior Management sent-18th August 2020 in the evening by @amitmalviya. Who in Facebook gave letter to @amitmalviya without it being even formally acknowledged by @Facebook. 

He said Dr. Bharat Gopalaswamy is director of South Asia Centre at Atlantic Council and advises him pro bono on policy issues.
Dubai state carrier Emirates Airline will serve all of its 143 destinations by the summer of 2021, with the frequency of flights depending on demand, the company's chief operating officer said this week.

Travel was disrupted by widespread lockdowns as countries closed their borders in a bid to control the spread of the coronavirus. Emirates currently flies to fewer than 80 destinations, according to its website.

But COO Adel al-Redha told CNBC's "Capital Connection" that the airline will have flights to 143 cities next year. Emirates is one of the biggest long-haul carriers in the world.

"We can easily say, by summer (2021), we'll be serving 100% of our network destinations," he said.

That outlook is optimistic compared to Australia's flag carrier Qantas. The airline expects only 50% of international operations to return by the middle of 2022, chief executive Alan Joyce said on "Squawk Box Asia."
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2021 Washington, D.C. Auto Show will now be open to the public from Friday, March 26 through Sunday, April 4, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The 2021 version of the show had been scheduled to be open from Friday, January 29 through Sunday, February 7.

"We believe this scheduling change is in the best interests of our attendees, our partnering auto manufacturers, and the District of Columbia," said Washington, D.C. Auto Show CEO John O'Donnell. "Our top priority is to ensure the safety of all involved in this show, and we believe strongly that a two-month delay will better allow us to produce the type of well-rounded and immersive show that our attendees are accustomed to."

The Washington, D.C. Auto Show is the District of Columbia's largest annual indoor event, and has been held every year since the end of World War II. The 2020 show, which commenced before the COVID-19 pandemic, was one of the best-attended shows in the event's history, and featured more than 600 new vehicles from nearly three-dozen auto manufacturers.

Under the new schedule, the 2021 Washington, D.C. Auto Show's Public Policy Day, featuring a host of public policy and auto industry-focused events, will be held on Thursday, March 25, the day before the show opens to the general public. The show will not be holding a pre-show MobilityTalks International conference in 2021.

Further details about the auto show's programming, including participating manufacturers, media and industry-related events, and much more, will be announced in the coming months. The Washington, D.C. Auto Show's organizers are also working on a robust health and safety plan that will prioritize consumer and staff safety and cleanliness, while reflecting the best practices and guidelines that remain in effect in late March of 2021.

"We at The Washington, D.C. Auto Show want to thank our many loyal supporters  from the general public that comes out in droves each year, to our manufacturer partners, sponsors, and the District government  for their support during this schedule change," O'Donnell said. "This pandemic has created a lot of uncertainty and upheaval for everyone, and we are working diligently to make the 2021 show both as safe and exciting as it can be."

For more information on The Washington, D.C. Auto Show, please visit www.washingtonautoshow.com.

About The Washington, D.C. Auto Show

The Washington, D.C. Auto Show is the largest annual indoor public event in the District of Columbia. Held each year at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, the 2021 show will be open every day from Friday, March 26 through Sunday, April 4.

SOURCE Washington Auto Show

Related Links

https://www.washingtonautoshow.com


'If timely action was taken by the CBI, the other three murders could have been prevented.'

IMAGE: Dr Narendra Dabholkar. Photograph: Kind courtesy Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti/Facebook

Anti-superstition activist Dr Narendra Dabholkar was shot dead in Pune while out on a morning walk on August 20, 2013.

The Maharashtra police began investigating his murder, but there was hardly any progress in the investigation.

After nine months the case was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation following a high court order.

The CBI has been investigating the case for six years, but so far has not arrested the mastermind behind Dr Dabholkar's murder.

Hamid Dabholkar, Dr Dabholkar's son, speaks to Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com about the progress made by the CBI probe into his father's murder seven years ago this day.

My father's case was transferred to the CBI by a high court order six years ago.

The first nine months of the investigation was handled by the Maharashtra police and after that the Bombay high court ordered it to be transferred to the CBI.

Eighteen months after my father's assassination, Comrade Govind Pansare was murdered.

Two years after my father's case was transferred to the CBI, we filed a petition in the Bombay high court through Advocate Abhay Nevagi, asking for supervision of the CBI probe by the court as the CBI probe was going nowhere in nabbing the assailants of my father and the mastermind behind it.

Now for the last four-and-a-half years my father's case is being supervised by the Bombay high court.

In my father's case there are three chargesheets filed by the CBI, one of which is about Virendra Tawde as the suspected mastermind behind my father's murder.

The second chargesheet is about the suspected shooters, Sachin Andure and Sharad Kalaskar.

And the third chargesheet was filed against Sanjeev Punalekar and Vikram Bhave for charges of supporting the conspiracy behind my father's murder and destruction of evidence.

The chargesheet mentions that these four murders -- of Gauri Lankesh, Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and M M Kalburgi -- are inter-related and there was a wider conspiracy to eliminate rationalist thinkers in India.

If there is a wider conspiracy, then obviously there is a mastermind who has conspired to this, but there is hardly any progress in nabbing the mastermind.

And after six-and-a-half years of the CBI taking charge, the investigation in my father's case is not complete though they have made some progress by arresting people and filing chargesheets, but the case has not come to a logical conclusion.

Virendra Tawde is in jail and he has applied for bail, but it was rejected once and now he has applied for bail again.

Sharad Kalaskar and Sachin Andure are in prison and they have not applied for bail as of now in my father's case.

Vikram Bhave applied for bail and it got rejected and now he has applied again for a bail.

Punalekar is out on bail.

When the case was taken over by the CBI the first thing I expected from them was that they will be able to unravel the plot of a wider conspiracy, but that did not happen.

And since they were late in unravelling a wider conspiracy, there were a few more murders of rationalist thinkers.

Nobody paid attention to that and soon after my father's murder, Pansare, Gauri Lankesh and Kalburgi were murdered.

If timely action was taken in my father's case by the CBI, the other three murders could have been prevented.

I feel that if social activists who have done so much for society's good, if their murder investigation is taking more than six years it tells you something about the law enforcement agencies of our country.

The CBI investigation did make some progress in my father's murder case and there is no doubt about it as they filed a chargesheet and found the potential shooters, but they took a long time despite the high court's monitoring.

And till date the CBI has not nabbed the mastermind in my father's murder case.

It was a wider conspiracy against people who were working for the upliftment of the common man and working to prevent them from getting fooled by people who were misusing their faith in God and religion.

Seven years after my father's death, I expect the CBI to arrest the masterminds of all the cases as all these murders are interlinked, and finish the probe as soon as possible.
UPDATE: Penn State freshmen face backlash for party that might be the reason everyone goes home

Videos of a large and rowdy student party circulating on Twitter are likely to put more pressure on Penn State University officials to change their decision to hold in-person classes on campus amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The videos, which show students reveling outside East Halls on Wednesday night, are already garnering a lot of disdain. Calls were coming to lock down the students, most likely freshmen who had arrived on campus just two days earlier.

This seems to have been an all-out back-to-school blast. The videos show the crowd of several dozen young people jumping, dancing, twerking. No social distancing by any stretch of the imagination. An absence of face masks.

No authorities were seen to be intervening on the videos, but CBS 3 in Philadelphia reported that University Park Police broke up the party around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The on-line reactions werent positive.

Yeah, psu is gonna get shut down in a week, one commenter wrote.

Youre smart enough to get into penn state but too dense to find something fun and safe to do the week before classes start? foh i didnt realize 18 year olds needed to be entertained like toddlers 24/7 when theyre here for an education, tweeted another.

penn state shouldve made all freshmen do classes remotely this semester idc pic.twitter.com/KKz06E2gfn  madison (@mlburnard) August 20, 2020

Penn State President Eric Barron issued a statement Thursday afternoon sharply criticizing the partygoers and warning such incidents could undermine the schools intent to hold in-person classes.

Penn State officials made their decision to bring students back to campus for the fall semester and offer a mix of in-person and online instruction. Some other universities in recent days have decided to opt to offer only remote instruction, such as University of Pennsylvania, Dickinson College and Drexel University. The University of Pittsburgh this week announced it would at least start the term offering remote instruction through mid-September.

PSU leaders said the intent was for students to practice social distancing, wear face masks and take other antiviral precautions. Signs on campus showed the Nittany Lion wearing a mask.

That all seemed to fly out the window on Wednesday night, however.

Even before the party Penn State had come under fire for the decision to reopen. Some faculty and students have criticized the decision as disregarding the safety of those at the university and in the surrounding community.

In the wake of the party, Onward State reported that a petition to send all freshmen home circulated online by Change.org had garnered more than 2,000 signatures.

Last week, Spotlight PA reported that the school is forcing students to sign a liability agreement and assume all risk of COVID-19 prior to returning to campus for the fall semester. The university later said it would revise the language to provide an alternative to students, saying some have misinterpreted the language of the compact as a waiver of students rights, which was neither the case, nor the intent.
Efforts by Facebook to appear politically neutral are growing complicated as critics on the left allege the company is over-pandering to conservatives and critics on the right allege the tech giant is biased against them.

Why it matters: Because of the enormous role Facebook plays in political campaigns, it risks being blamed for the outcome of the presidential election  regardless of who wins.

Driving the news: Facebook on Wednesday said it had taken action on thousands of QAnon accounts, posts, groups and ads on Facebook and Instagram as a part of updating policies around dangerous individuals and organizations.

Facebook said it will restrict the spread of QAnon content, but it will still let people post in support of the movement if they're not violating Facebook's other polices.

The policy is aimed at curbing organizations and movements "that have demonstrated significant risks to public safety" but do not meet the criteria to be banned from Facebook altogether.

The QAnon conspiracy has shifted from a fringe conspiracy theory into a sprawling network of falsehoods tacitly and sometimes explicitly endorsed by high-level officials.

President Trump said during a Wednesday press briefing that QAnon supporters "like me very much" and "love America."

Between the lines: The move comes amid a growing body of stories and research suggesting the tech giant gives conservative groups a wide berth to skirt its rules in an attempt to defuse unproven claims from right-wing politicians and media figures that it's biased against them.

Facebook scaled back its voter registration kickoff following complaints from the Trump campaign, the Tech Transparency Project said Wednesday, citing company emails to state officials obtained by the group. CEO Mark Zuckerberg in June said Facebook wanted to help 4 million people register to vote.

Facebook fired an employee who had collected evidence of right-wing pages getting preferential treatment, BuzzFeed News reported earlier this month.

NBC News separately reported, citing anonymous Facebook employees, that Facebook let conservative outlets and personalities spread false information without penalty.

Yes, but: Conservatives don't feel pandered to. Republicans used their time during the blockbuster hearing with Big Tech CEOs last month to accuse their companies of political bias against conservatives.

Facebook and other tech companies have recently taken greater efforts to crack down on President Trump's posts that contain misinformation.

What they're saying: "While many Republicans think we should do one thing, many Democrats think we should do the exact opposite," a Facebook spokesperson said. "Our job is to create one consistent set of rules that applies equally to everyone."

"You can never win," a longtime tech industry Republican told Axios. "Oftentimes, if people are mad on both sides of the aisle, it means you're doing something right."

The other side: "I think Facebook peddles this narrative in which the fact that both sides are always yelling at them proves theyre appropriately neutral," Jesse Lehrich, a Democratic strategist and co-founder of Accountable Tech, told Axios. "But the two sides are often asymmetrical. And when it comes to truth, or hate, or democracy, being neutral is nothing to be proud of."

The big picture: Most Americans say it's at least somewhat likely that social media platforms intentionally censor political viewpoints that they find objectionable, according to a new Pew Research Center survey.

The survey indicates that the right has succeeded in turning its censorship claims into a mainstream belief.

Go deeper: Most Americans think social media platforms censor political viewpoints
Celebrating ratification of the woman's suffrage amendment, Alice Paul (seated, second from left) at the National Women's Party headquarters in Washington, D.C., sews a 36th star on a banner in August 1920. The star represented Tennessee, whose ratification completed the number of states needed to put the amendment into the Constitution. (Associated Press)

Regarding Tell More Stories of the Women Who've Brought Us this Far [Aug. 16]: I know Lorraine Ali couldnt list every show that had an episode dealing with suffrage, but since she noted female creators and producers are telling these tales from myriad angles, I would mention the episode The Campaign from Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.

Dr. Quinn was the first hourlong drama with a female showrunner, Beth Sullivan, and this episode, which touches on the dramatic fight to cast a ballot of ones own, was written by a woman, Joanne Parrent. The title character (Jane Seymour) runs for mayor and during her campaign the women in town begin to understand how disenfranchised they were in the 19th century.

Julie Bixby



Huntington Beach

::

Everything Ali wrote is important, but I was surprised there was no reference to Suffragette, the British film about the womens movement in the U.K., which started in 1898 and ended when all women achieved the right to vote in 1928.

Whether its Britain or the U.S., the stories are similar. Men didnt want women to have rights or equality.

Jim Plannette



Los Angeles

::

I applaud Lorraine Alis call for more stories presenting women contributing to society. Women have a wide range of consciousness in dealing with vital issues [and] offering smart solutions. Womens perceptions level the barriers to open doors of light and freedom.

Edie Liberatore



Sherman Oaks

::

Regarding "Suffrage Exhibit on the Button" by Dessi Gomez, [Aug. 17] on the L.A. County Museum of History virtual exhibit celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Womens Right to Vote. It should be remembered that California women had the vote in 1911.

There were seven Western states that gave women the vote before the 19th Amendment.

Jim Plannette



Los Angeles

Safety first

Regarding "Kamala Harris is Not, Ahem, 'Safe'" by Mary McNamara [Aug. 13]: Harris is far from being a safe Biden VP pick. She is a seasoned prosecutor, politician, senator and debater.

Story continues

Mike Pence says he cant wait to debate Harris. Unfortunately for him, he will get his wish.

Donald Peppars



Pomona

::

I thank [Mary McNamara] for pointing out [that] Harris is a woman, Black. In all of the fawning media coverage of her race and gender at the expense of an even cursory analysis of the content of her character, I hadnt noticed.

Ron Reeve



Glendora

Latinx 'x' factor

Regarding Poll Finds Few Latinos Use Gender-Neutral Latinx by Daniel Hernandez [Aug. 12]: I am in academia and have real misgivings about the use of the term "Latinx," which is now commonplace at many institutions. I grew up in Mexico City, and I love the Spanish language.

But I find "Latinx" to be somewhat offensive to my language of birth. It is an Anglicism which extends even further the influence of the United States on the hemisphere. The "x" in Spanish is an elusive, hardly ever used letter. In Mexico, it has at least three distinct sounds. It only sounds like the English "x" [if] there is an "e" in front of it, as in "El ex-presidente." Otherwise it sounds like a "j" or an "sh." So Mexico is pronounced "Mejico."

In Argentina and Chile people are using the letter "e" to disguise gender. So "Latines" is used to that end.

That sounds more like Spanish than the horrible "x" at the end.

George Leddy



Valley Glen

Race and Desi Arnaz

Regarding He Loved Lucy. Maybe [Aug. 11], in his review of Darin Strauss' novel Mark Athitakis described I Love Lucy as a comedy about a mixed-race couple. That is astounding and profound in revealing how little is understood about Latinos and how deep prejudice and racism still run against Latinos in the United States.

Desi Arnaz was white, a descendant of Spanish emigres or colonizers of Cuba. There is a clear distinction in Latin America and Spain about who is white and who is not. It is the basis for white supremacy in Latin America.

Arnaz was a hero to me, as he succeeded in Hollywood when few Latinos had made any inroads. It is clear that his Spanish surname and accent were enough for him to be seen as not white.

Now, 70 years later, few Latinos have succeeded in Hollywood and even fewer dark skinned Latinos, who are by far the majority of all Latinos in the United States. That is a story that needs to be told.

Moctesuma Esparza



Los Angeles

::

There is a difference between ethnicity and race.

Desi was ethnically Hispanic but white.

This is something that I and many Hispanics have to explain to those who still do not understand the complexities of our ancestry.

Manuel Carrera



Van Nuys

Man of 'Mars'

In Meredith Blake's article on the TV series "Lovecraft Country" ["The Horror of a Racist Writer," Aug. 13] the sci-fi novel A Princess of Mars is mentioned.

That was the first of the John Carter Mars stories by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

The community of Tarzana in the San Fernando Valley is named for one of Burroughs' other creations.

Gary Glasser



Burbank

Sculptured walks

Regarding "Walk Among Giants" [Aug. 12]: Christopher Knight didn't mention Robert Graham, a 20th century sculptor whose lovely columns guided me down the steps at the northeast corner of the garden for the 18 years I worked at UCLA.

A stroll through sculpture the garden never failed to let one catch ones breath and lower the blood pressure.

Eileen Flaxman



Claremont

::

Although I realize that the story of Susannah and the Elders is viewed as apocryphal by some sects, it is part of the Christian Bible as recognized by the Roman Catholic and Orthodox groups. Was it really necessary for Christopher Knight to describe it as a fictional story popular in Baroque Europe?

Carolyn Gill



Redlands

Musical complexities

Regarding "How to Listen: America Unites In its Sound [Aug. 12]: I have always found Coplands Appalachian Spring to be a clever, lovely, appealing score. But now  in these troubled times  as a consequence of Mark Sweds searching essay I am sure to hear it with new ears, so to speak, appreciating its multilayered historical, political, racial, sexual, sociological underpinnings.

Herbert Glass



Los Angeles

In memoriam

I had hoped that after his death at 92, I might see an obituary in The Times for Leon Fleisher.

Apparently those commemorating, among others, the deaths of the head of an awards show panel, a man who ran a carousel and that of another who kept a collection of baseball memorabilia were deemed more important. This is not to denigrate those three, who were no doubt accomplished at what they did.

But Leon Fleisher was the greatest American pianist of his generation. This must still mean something.

David Reskin



Los Angeles

Editor's note: Inna Falkis wrote an appreciation of Fleisher as an op-ed: "Making Music in Small Spaces," Aug. 10.

Why should the U.S. get a piece of the action?

When the presidents company closes a sale, do some of his proceeds go to the U.S. Treasury? Wendy Lee's article [Tiktok Will Fund 19 U.S. Creators, Aug. 11] says President Trump is open to Microsoft buying TikTok's U.S. operations "provided that some of the proceeds go to the U.S. Treasury."

Beverlee Nelson



North Hollywood
Motorists make their way through flooded roads near Dunmanway in Cork (Damien Storan/PA)

Business owners and residents in West Cork have been left to clean up mud and water from their properties after severe rain led to flooding overnight.

Images posted to social media showed flooding in Skibbereen where multimillion-euro flood defences had been installed in recent years.

Angry business owners have called for an investigation into how properties were flooded despite expensive flood defences in place.

The fire service and Civil Defence spent hours pumping flood water away from homes and businesses as Storm Ellen swept across Ireland.

Louise ODonovan, co-owner of Eldon Hotel in Skibbereen, said they are spending the next two days disinfecting the property which was flooded.

We have fogging machines in to disinfect and sanitise the whole place and we are just cleaning all the muck and water that is everywhere, she said.

The water came in through every door, if you tried to block one door it was coming in worse through other doors.

This has happened before but because the council hasnt sorted the problem in the first place it happened again.

We reopened the hotel on June 29 and will have to close today but hope to reopen tomorrow if we can. There is a big team here working.

This shouldnt be happening in Skibbereen.Millions spent on flood protection.The entire town should be dry even in this intense rainfall. Part of me is not surprised. The flood committee flagged that this area needed more protection.OPW need to provide answers. #StormEllen pic.twitter.com/pPr061LOz9  Christopher OSullivan TD (@COSullivanTD) August 19, 2020

Elaine Doolan, who owns Fusion Home Interiors, had its car park flooded.

She said that within half an hour of the storm hitting the town, a river of water was running down the road outside their shop.

The yard behind us was building up with water at an awful rate. Some water came into the building but it was limited thanks to the fire service and Civil Defence, she said.

They had two pumps going for three hours and pumped it into another field by midnight.

It was crazy. We have flood barriers up because we were flooded a number of years ago which caused about 100,000 euro worth of damage.

Our staff had to go out into the main street and lift the storm drains last night as they are all blocked. We have to do that because the flood works were never carried out in our part of town.

It was like a waterfall coming through the wall so we were getting it in every direction. There is a lot of volume of water coming off the land.

We have been out power washing away all the dirt and grime gathered up in the yard. We are preparing for tonight as there has been another rain fall warning.

21 homes & businesses are damaged on Bridge St & the Cork road. The Eldon hotel had 3 feet of water, fire services were pumping water out of buildings.



Understandably people are confused as to why this happened when there was an 18million euro flood relief scheme in Skibbereen.  Holly Cairns TD (@HollyCairnsTD) August 20, 2020

Holly Cairns, Social Democrat TD, tweeted: 21 homes and businesses are damaged on Bridge St and the Cork road.

The Eldon hotel had three feet of water, fire services were pumping water out of buildings.

Understandably people are confused as to why this happened when there was an 18 million euro flood relief scheme in Skibbereen.

There are a few reasons it seems. There was a temporary grate on the stream in the cutting, there should have been a permanent one.

The culvert on the cork road was meant to have undergone works three years ago, this still hasnt happened.

There is a culture of approaching flood management in a piecemeal fashion when we desperately need a more comprehensive approach. To deal properly with flooding we must consider the broader landscape.

Cork South West TD Christopher OSullivan tweeted: This shouldnt be happening in Skibbereen. Millions spent on flood protection. The entire town should be dry even in this intense rainfall. Part of me is not surprised. The flood committee flagged that this area needed more protection.

He added that the Office of Public Works need to provide answers.
20.08.2020 LISTEN

Following yesterdays military coup in Mali, in which soldiers from the National Committee for the Peoples Salvation (CNSP in French) stormed the home of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and arrested him along with several other officials, Amnesty Internationals West and Central Africa Director Samira Daoud said:

We are concerned by the military juntas detention of several government officials, including President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse. All those arrested during the coup must be immediately released or charged with a recognizable criminal offence. We call on coup leaders to guarantee that the rights of all the population including the detainees are protected, including by granting them access to lawyers of their own choice, to their family, and clarifying on which legal basis they have been detained.

We have also documented the deaths of four people yesterday evening and injuries to 15 others. All the victims were hit by bullets in unclear circumstances and were dispatched to the Gabriel Toure hospital in the capital Bamako.

We call on the CNSP to investigate the conditions in which these deaths and injuries occurred and, where there is evidence of crimes and other human rights violations, to ensure that those responsible are held accountable through fair trials.

Amnesty International is closely monitoring the situation in Mali and exhorts the military authorities to respect and defend human rights and international human rights law and to account for all the individuals arrested during the coup.

Background

Mali has been contending with a wide protest movement calling for the resignation of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, led by the Mouvement du 5 Juin-Front patriotique de resistance (M5-RFP) since June. The demonstrations of 10 July were brutally repressed by the security forces, leading to at least 14 deaths and 300 injured.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been mediating with the parties for a solution to the political crisis, caused by the proclamation of the legislative results in April 2020. It is in this tense political context that the coup occurred.

A mutiny began in the Soundiata Keita military camp of Kati on 18 August. In the middle of the afternoon, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was arrested at his home in Sebenikoro (Bamako), together with the Prime Minister, Dr. Boubou Cisse by the mutineers. Both were taken to Kati.

According to reports, several other officials were arrested by the soldiers in the morning, including the Minister of Finance Abdoulaye Daffe, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Tiebile Drame and the Minister of Defense General Ibrahim Dahirou Dembele.

During the evening, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita announced on TV the dissolution of the government, of the National Assembly and his resignation, stating: "I want no blood to be spilled to keep me in power."

While ECOWAS the African Union, and the UN have condemned the coup, coup leaders have called for a civilian-led transitional government and new elections.

In a statement, ECOWAS suspended Mali from all its decision-making bodies, announced the closure of borders with Mali, and called for the immediate implementation of sanctions against the coup leaders and their collaborators.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2020 / Skeena Resources Limited (TSX:SKE)(OTCQX:SKREF) ("Skeena" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received final approval to list the Company's common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX"), following its graduation from the TSX Venture Exchange.

The Company's common shares will begin trading on the TSX at the market opening, today, August 20, 2020. To ensure continued and seamless trading for the Company's shareholders and as a result of the graduation, there will be no further trading of Skeena's shares on the TSX Venture Exchange after Wednesday August 19, 2020. Skeena's common shares will be delisted from the TSX Venture Exchange at the commencement of trading on the TSX. The trading symbol for the common shares of Skeena on the TSX will remain unchanged as SKE. The Company's common shares will continue to be listed in the USA on the OTCQX under the symbol SKREF.

Skeena believes that a TSX listing is a consistent next step in the Company's growth, which should facilitate access to a broader range of investors as well as provide exposure to larger pools of capital, including long-term institutional investors and large investors abroad.

Walter Coles Jr., President & CEO commented, "Skeena's graduation to the TSX senior exchange is a natural evolution in the growth of the Company. We've demonstrated a very robust project at Eskay Creek while at the same time have managed to sign a deal to acquire 100% ownership of the mine. We currently have six drills turning at Eskay with more on the way. Assay results are expected shortly. The timing to improve our access to capital markets with the new TSX listing could not be better."

About Skeena

Skeena Resources Limited is a junior mining company focused on developing prospective precious metal properties in the Golden Triangle of northwest British Columbia, Canada. The Company's flagship project is the Eskay Creek gold-silver mine. Skeena is also exploring the past-producing Snip gold mine.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Skeena Resources Limited,

Walter Coles Jr.

President & CEO

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements

Certain statements made and information contained herein may constitute "forward looking information" and "forward looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. These statements and information are based on facts currently available to the Company and there is no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements and information may be identified by such terms as "anticipates", "believes", "targets", "estimates", "plans", "expects", "may", "will", "could" or "would". Forward-looking statements and information contained herein are based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, metal prices, taxation, the estimation, timing and amount of future exploration and development, capital and operating costs, the availability of financing, the receipt of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title disputes and other matters. While the Company considers its assumptions to be reasonable as of the date hereof, forward-looking statements and information are not guarantees of future performance and readers should not place undue importance on such statements as actual events and results may differ materially from those described herein. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or information except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CONTACT:

Walt Coles Jr.,

President & CEO

Kelly Earle, Vice President Communications

Email: kearle@skeenaresources.com

Tel: (604) 684-8725

SOURCE: Skeena Resources Limited

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602500/Skeena-Graduates-to-Toronto-Stock-Exchange
NSW's snow level could drop to 600 metres this weekend as the state's ski resorts had falls of up to 15 centimetres of snow overnight.

Thredbo and Perisher both recorded 15 centimetres on their gauges on Friday morning, with snow continuing to fall.

Australia's east coast is being hit by what Weatherzone senior meteorologist Ben Domensino referred to as an "Antarctic blob", a powerful weather system that will bring damaging winds to many regions and drop snow over elevated areas stretching from Tasmania to northern NSW.

The big chill was "the sting in the tail" of a deep low pressure system that spawned several cold fronts, and will be notable for prolonged strong winds over a wide swath of Australia, Mr Domensino said.
Michael Montonen, Wavestone US Lead Principal "Its top-caliber talent like MichaelIT leaders who bring real-world experience to deliver real-world business resultswho continue to drive Wavestones momentum in the market despite todays disruptive environment, says Jeff Vail, CEO of Wavestone US.

Wavestone US is pleased to announce the recent appointment of strategic digital leader Michael Montonen as Lead Principal. He brings more than 20 years experience in driving digital transformation and innovation in Fortune 500 companies and other leading global conglomerates based in the US, Europe, and Latin America. With a strong background in sourcing advisory, IT strategy, enterprise architecture, cloud services, and infrastructure optimization, he has helped CIOs, COOs, and CEOs utilize IT effectively to improve business performance.

Prior to joining Wavestone US, Montonen held several senior-level positions at Atos, Deloitte, WEPS, Accenture, and Gartner. At Atos, he served as the client executive digital transformation leader for a global retail company in a multimillion-dollar deal, successfully steering the 200-strong account team to grow the business and create new revenue streams. At Deloitte, he was instrumental in driving revenue growth and profitability of the firms technology strategy and architecture practice. Montonen also led sourcing strategy and RFP development for Accentures Latin America region, resulting in millions in savings on IT infrastructure outsourcing over five years.

Michael has the depth and breadth of expertise and leadership experience to deepen Wavestones digital transformation bench. Its top-caliber talent like MichaelIT leaders who bring real-world experience to deliver real-world business resultswho continue to drive Wavestones momentum in the market despite todays disruptive environment, says Jeff Vail, CEO of Wavestone US.

Wavestones differentiated consulting model based on practical experience sets up IT and business leaders and their organizations for sustainable success, says Montonen. Its great to be part of such a unique organization and I enjoy the opportunity to work with a team of world-class IT experts driving meaningful change in leading organizations.

All Wavestone senior consultants are seasoned business and IT leaders with a strong track record of producing results. Averaging more than two decades of experience as former C-level executives, they are more than equipped to offer the bold, new thinking needed to face the new challenges in the post-pandemic environment. This peer-to-peer approach has been effective in the transformations of more than 200 Fortune 1000 companies across a wide range of industries. Wavestone US advisory services include IT strategy and planning, IT cost and run optimization, cybersecurity, business operations improvements, and IT talent solutions.

Keep in touch and join in the conversation on:



About Wavestone

In a world where knowing how to drive transformation is the key to success, Wavestone's mission is to inform and guide large companies and organizations in their most critical transformations, with the ambition of a positive outcome for all stakeholders. Thats what we call "The Positive Way.

Wavestone draws on some 3,000 employees across 8 countries. It is a leading independent player in the European consulting market.

Wavestone is listed on Euronext Paris and recognized as a Great Place to Work.
National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah met senior party leaders at his residence at Gupkar Road in Srinagar on Thursday. The move came in the backdrop of the Jammu and Kashmir administration denying in court the NCs contention that several party leaders were in illegal confinement at their homes.

Abdullah said the meeting  the first at his Gupkar residence since the nullification of Article 370 on August 5, 2019  was called to find out whether his party colleagues could come out of their homes.

NC general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar and former ministers Mohammad Shafi Uri, Abdul Rahim Rather and Nasir Aslam Wani attended the meeting.

Baramulla MP Mohammad Akbar Lone, Anantnag MP Hasnain Masoodi and NC treasurer Shammi Oberoi, too, were seen entering the residence of Abdullah, the Srinagar parliamentarian.

Today, they came out from their homes and came here. I am hopeful this is not for just one meeting. They should now be free people, Abdullah said, briefing the media.

Abdullah also said all detained leaders should be set free. ...when all the leaders are set free, we will sit and discuss all the things, and then media will be briefed on future plans about J&K.

On July 13, Abdullah and his son, Omar Abdullah, filed a habeas corpus petition in the high court, contending that several NC leaders were being held in brazen violation of constitutional guarantees of the right to liberty.

The party decided to convene Thursdays meeting after the administration told the court that none of the 16 leaders, who the party said were in illegal confinement, were detained.

How sad that we have normalised this illegal detention! That we have to be allowed to meet freely in spite of the government claiming in court that none of these leaders are detained is a blot on Indian democracy & rule of law, Omar Abdullah tweeted.

An NC spokesperson said the party president chose to call all the incarcerated leaders in batches of four to meet him at his residence keeping in mind Covid-19 protocols and government advisories.

As part of the programme, five other party leaders  Mubarak Gul, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzaan, Shameema Firdous, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi and Basharat Bukhari will call on the party president at his residence on Friday, the spokesperson said.

The government nullified Article 370, which accorded special status to Jammu and Kashmir, last August and bifurcated the erstwhile state into two Union territories  Jammu and Kashmir with a legislative assembly and Ladakh without one.

As protests erupted in the wake of the announcement, several political leaders and activists including former chief ministers were detained as a preventive measure. While prominent politicians such as ex-CMs Farooq and Omar Abdullah have been released, about 20 leaders, including Peoples Democratic Partys Mehbooba Mufti, are still in detention.
Authorities in the border province of Lao Cai expressed concern that the water level could rise to alarming levels.

China's Hekou Yao County announced recently that the Madushan Dam would open its floodgates from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday as heavy rains had caused the dam to reach its maximum capacity, Vu Van Cai, director of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Lao Cai Province, said Thursday morning. He cited a communication to this effect from the Hekou Yao Department of Foreign Affairs.

The amount of water discharged has not been confirmed by Chinese authorities, Cai said.

"They did not provide a specific number, only saying that water levels in the Red River would be higher than what it was on August 18. This morning (Thursday), the water level in Lao Cai Town was 80.2 m," he added.

As of Thursday afternoon, a Chinese station about 80 km from the Vietnamese border observed the water level slowly rising, according to Vietnams National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting.

However, considering the dam's capacity to hold around 550 million m3 of water, the impact of the water discharge would not be too significant, said Tran Quang Hoai, deputy head of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention.

Nevertheless, provincial authorities have requested districts and communes located along the river, including Lao Cai Town and the districts of Bao Thang and Bao Yen to stop fishing activities and waterway traffic, and to deploy flood prevention measures.

Other northern Vietnam localities, including the provinces of Yen Bai, Phu Tho and Vinh Phuc as well as the capital city of Hanoi should also closely monitor the situation to prevent flooding and landslides, evacuating vulnerable people if necessary, the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention said Thursday.

The Madushan Dam, in China's Yunnan Province, has a capacity of 300 MW and is about 350 km from Vietnam's border.

The Red River, over 1,100 km long, originates in China and runs through Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc and Hanoi. The river section that flows through Vietnam is about 510 km long.

Floods and landslides triggered by torrential rains in northern Vietnam have killed seven people and injured another four since August 17. The houses of around 1,000 families have been damaged and many households have been evacuated to safer ground.

Natural disasters, including drought, floods and landslides, killed 133 Vietnamese citizens last year and caused losses of around VND7 trillion ($302.6 million), according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

In the first half of this year, natural disasters including drought, flooding and landslides, killed 47 people and inflicted damages of VND3.3 trillion, according to official data.
A guest at the 'covid party' that caused TikTokker Bryce Hall's house to have its power shut off by the Los Angeles Mayor has blasted the move as 'communism' and says people scared of the virus are 'chicken s**t'.

Michael Hollywood, an entrepreneur who provides strippers and dwarfs at LA parties, spoke exclusively to DailyMail.com about TikTok star Bryce Hall's 21st birthday bash in Encino on August 14 that sparked the power shutoff.

Police posted warnings at Hall's Hollywood Hills mansion after he hosted a raucous party with dozens of guests failing to practice social distancing or wear masks on August 8  but the final straw was his 21st blowout with strippers and booze just six days later at an Encino pad where videos showed hundreds of guests including other TikTok stars.

LA Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Wednesday he had ordered the city to shut off power to Hall's home, which he rents with his 'Sway House' TikTok crew Noah Beck and Blake Gray.

Tik Tok star Bryce Hall threw a huge 21st birthday bash at the Sway House in Hollywood Hills Friday. He rose to internet fame for recording videos of himself clowning around with pals inside their luxury residence

Michael Hollywood, an entrepreneur who provides strippers and dwarfs at LA parties, was at the party and spoke exclusively to DailyMail.com about it

Videos posted online showed guests standing shoulder to shoulder as they watched Hall get a lap dance from a stripper. The stripper company CEO, who attended the birthday party 'to be free for a few hours', told DailyMail.com he believed the risk of COVID-19 was exaggerated

The stripper company CEO, who attended the birthday party 'to be free for a few hours', told DailyMail.com he believed the risk of COVID-19 was exaggerated.

'At the end of the day, more people die from sugar and the flu and pharmaceutical medicine,' he said.

'In America we are a free country so isn't disconnecting someone's utilities going down the road of communism?' Hollywood said

'People are just chicken s**ts and I'm tired of it. I know people are passing but the numbers are also getting messed with.

'I'm not saying that Covid-19 is not a problem, it is, but I just think it's not a big enough problem for us to sit here and play dead until this is figured out.'

The 44-year-old CEO of Godfather Hollywood Productions, which provides strippers and dwarfs for parties plus apparel and website services, said partygoers should be free to make their own choices.

'In America we are a free country so isn't disconnecting someone's utilities going down the road of communism?' he said.

'People were not dragged down there and handcuffed to the party, these were willing people that went down there.

'There was sanitizer, they did take precautions, probably not to the standard that the Governor wanted but are we really going to cut off electricity?'

Videos of the party shared on social media showed around 20 male and female strippers, including one dressed as a police officer giving Hall a lap dance, as well as mask-less guests partying shoulder to shoulder.

The 44-year-old CEO of Godfather Hollywood Productions, which provides strippers and dwarfs for parties plus apparel and website services, said partygoers should be free to make their own choices

At least 100 people reportedly attended the party, but not one was seen wearing a mask. However, Hollywood said precautions were taken and there was hand sanitizer

The TikTok star (pictured during the festivities) threw a massive bash where guests neglected to wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines, but Hollywood claimed the hosts were 'good kids' and were doing 'nothing illegal'

Hollywood claimed the hosts were 'good kids' and were doing 'nothing illegal', although the mayor claims the party violated his order earlier in August which warned large parties would be punished by utility shutoffs.

After Hall's first party on August 8, police posted a warning outside his Hollywood Hills pad 'providing notice that violations of the Order are subject to civil and criminal penalties', and visited again at around 4am on the August 14 birthday bash to give a final notice.

On Wednesday, Garcetti announced the power to their Hollywood home had been shut off.

'Despite several warnings, this house has turned into a nightclub in the hills, hosting large gatherings in flagrant violation of our public health orders,' the mayor's statement said. 'The City has now disconnected utilities at this home to stop these parties that endanger our community.'

Hall and his TikTok crew posted a video on the app mocking the city's warnings, with the three men shirtless and turning their lights on and off with the caption 'our lights keep flickering for some reason.'

In his interview with DailyMail.com, Hollywood argued that the revelers' freedoms were more important than the '1% chance' of getting the virus  and that Hall wasn't alone in his decision to host a blowout.

'I'm waiting to see if there are any positive tests but if there is, guess what? You just have a 1% change of not making it, I'm sure the 99% chance of making it will kick in with these young kids,' the stripper CEO claimed.

On Wednesday, Mayor Garcetti announced the power to their Hollywood home had been shut off, which Hollywood calls 'communism'

Hall hit back at the clampdown posting a TikTok video of him and Gray bopping their heads along to the song 'Electric Love'

'Everybody was having a good time, it was so much fun to see people get together and celebrate freedom,' he said. 'Because guess what? We haven't seen that in months. This thing is really taking a toll on a free country like us and people are not going to go for it if it gets any worse.

'Don't cut electricity off kids who are just having fun, they all chose to get together and it was an amazing time It felt good to be free for a few hours.

'There's celebrity parties that are going on all the time, they're just indoors and they keep it quiet.

'That one (Bryce Hall's) was just huge and that's why it got broke up by law enforcement but they're everywhere.'

The Los Angeles Police Department issued citations at 13 homes hosting parties last weekend, the Los Angeles Times reported, and warned the residents their power could be shut off if they did it again.
Good morning, Bay Area. Its Thursday, Aug. 20, and wildfire smoke has made Northern Californias air quality the worst in the world. Heres what you need to know to start your day.

Californias latest wildfire season is shaping up to be another catastrophic one, with lightning-sparked fires threatening communities and forcing more evacuations around the Bay Area during a lengthy, oppressive heat wave.

The fast-moving LNU Lightning Complex fire destroyed 105 homes and damaged 70 other buildings Wednesday, nearly tripling in size to 124,000 acres across Sonoma, Lake, Napa, Yolo and Solano counties. Fire tore down the hills between Vacaville and Fairfield on Wednesday afternoon, jumping Interstate 80. Families in Vacaville who evacuated described a frantic efforts to leave with smoke and ash everywhere, with some still unsure later in the day whether their homes still stood.

Along the Santa Cruz and San Mateo county coast, thousands of people had to evacuate themselves ahead of a wall of red flames as the CZU August Lightning Complex fire overwhelmed fire crews.

With resources stretched thin from so many major fires, California called for firefighting help from out-of-state agencies.

 Fifth and Mission podcast: When fires erupt during a pandemic.

 Perfect storm: Wildfires near California wineries add to the issues in an unusually tough harvest season.

 If I get it, Im a goner: Wildfire evacuees risk coronavirus exposure as they flee.

 Fire cam: See dramatic time-lapse images of wildfire exploding near Vacaville.

 California Fire Map: Check our interactive map for the latest on wildfires in your area and across the state.

Smoke blankets Bay Area  and heightens health concerns

Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle

Wildfire smoke from multiple fires cast hazy red skies over the Bay Area on Wednesday, creating a seriously unhealthy atmosphere and adding to the region's pandemic-heightened anxiety.

The smoke is a big concern for residents with respiratory issues, including those suffering from COVID-19.

Somebody who already has a cough or is struggling with shortness of breath, the worst thing they can do is be exposed to particulate matter from the smoke, said Tom Dailey, chief of pulmonary medicine at Kaisers Santa Clara Medical Center.

Read more from Aidin Vaziri.

 A hazardous harvest: As smoke fills the air, Salinas Valley farmworkers still labor to put food on the table.

 Waiting for the plague of locusts: Smoke, heat add to Bay Area businesses woes.

 COVID-19 and wildfire smoke: What you need to know about this dangerous combo for Californians.

 Air quality map: See ratings near you.

Bay Area marks grim coronavirus milestone

The Bay Area passed 1,000 deaths attributed to COVID-19 on Wednesday  a grim benchmark of the unrelenting pandemic that illustrates both the relative success of the region in keeping its death rate low and the staggering depth of loss.

The first death was on Feb. 6 in San Jose, but went unreported for several months. The latest  but certainly not the last  were recorded Wednesday, seven victims in three counties.

Reporter Erin Allday tells some of the stories of those who died.

 San Francisco could come off Californias coronavirus watch list as soon as today: When will businesses reopen?

 Is public transit safe? Bay Area agencies push masks, cleaning, sanitation

 From Justin Phillips: YOLO and the battle for San Franciscos post-pandemic soul.

Kamala Harris has her big Democratic convention moment

Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press

Sen. Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic nomination for vice president Wednesday night, marking a historic first with a speech that was part autobiography, part campaign pitch and firmly rooted in her California background.

The Oakland native officially became the first woman of color to be on a major partys ticket on the penultimate night of the virtual Democratic convention after former President Barack Obama, the first Black president, spoke.

And the former San Francisco district attorney and California attorney general also showed off a skill Democrats hope she brings to the ticket  going on attack against President Trump.

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.

Read more from Tal Kopan and Joe Garofoli.

 Gavin Newsom has prime convention slot, but his path to White House just got tougher.

 California delegates deliver votes from a beach as Biden officially wins Democratic nomination.

Around the Bay

 Dome dining is back: San Francisco geodesic shields have already returned, with some modifications.

 Bill on verge of passing: California could soon require ethnic studies class for high school graduation.

 From Otis R. Taylor Jr.: Renters desperate for help from a Legislature adjourning in 8 days.

 I think were experiencing hell: Wildfires shut down more than 20 parks across the Bay Area.

 Lost wages assistance: California still working on application for $300 a week in extra unemployment, Newsom says.

 Clock is ticking: What you need to know about Uber and Lyft ride-hailing shutdown in California.

Mapping and mourning our lost landmarks

Jen Fedrizzi/Special to the Chronicle

Its felt like a slow bleed, as news breaks of yet another bar, restaurant, music venue or bookstore closing in the Bay Area.

The Chronicle is paying tribute and saying thank you to those lost landmarks. The first round, including Louis Restaurant, The Stud bar, Wolfman Books, Its Tops Coffee Shop and more, was chosen by our staff. The second and future rounds will be co-curated by you, our readers.

Read the roundup, see a map of these lost treasures, and follow the link to our Assignment Editor portal to tell us about the business youll miss the most. We hope these landmarks wont be just a memory, but a model and an inspiration for what future businesses can strive to be.

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.
WASHINGTON  The Trump administration has accelerated a push to sell the F-35 stealth fighter and advanced armed drones to the United Arab Emirates, at a time when the Gulf nation is working with the Trump administration on a historic plan to formalize diplomatic ties with Israel, according to American officials familiar with the discussions.

Administration officials in recent weeks gave a classified briefing about the F-35 to the Emirati military  despite some concerns among National Security Council staff about the wisdom of disclosing details on one of the Pentagons most advanced weapons to a foreign government before a decision about a potential arms sale has been completed.

American officials deny that the new push to sell the advanced weapons is a direct reward for the Emirati role in a diplomatic breakthrough, announced by President Trump last week, where the Emirates would become just the third Arab nation to recognize Israel. In exchange, Israel will suspend annexation of occupied West Bank territory.

But officials do not dispute that the new momentum on the arms sale  after years of stalled requests by the Emirates to buy the fighter jet  is linked to the broader diplomatic initiative.
As leaders on both sides of the political aisle criticized Donald Trump while praising Joe Biden at this weeks virtual Democratic National Convention, the president did his best to steal the spotlight with a range of calculated counterprogramming events and statements.

Trump is going back to his standard playbook, which is, rattle the cage, Tobe Berkovitz, a Boston University professor who specializes in political communications, told Yahoo News. Try to be disruptive, try to force attention on himself, his message and to try to attack whoever his target happens to be. So what hes doing is very typical of his type of strategy.

On its first two nights, the DNC featured speeches from former first lady Michelle Obama, former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Sen. Bernie Sanders and many others. While the speeches focused primarily on promoting Biden, the Democratic nominee for president, they also warned of the threat of another Trump presidency.

Long known to hit back at any and all criticism, Trump made sure to respond to the slights made against him at the convention. While speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump called Kasich a major loser ahead of Kasichs DNC speech.

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. Kasich, who is not a Democrat, was among several former Republican leaders to speak at the convention.

At a rally in Oshkosh, Wis., on Monday, Trump seemed intent on making headlines of his own, suggesting he should he should get eight more years in office because, he claimed, Democrats spied on his 2016 presidential campaign. He made a similar assertion at an event Tuesday in Arizona, adding that he was entitled to a third term.

On Monday, Trump teased a pardon for a very, very important person. A day later, at a White House event commemorating the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, he pardoned Susan B. Anthony  a move that, according to ABC News, some historians say goes against Anthonys legacy. At that event, Trump also said Michelle Obama, who spoke on Monday, was in over her head and said her speech was divisive, according to Politico.

Story continues

Trump addressing a crowd of supporters in Arizona on Tuesday. (Matt York/AP)

On Wednesday, Trump tweeted his displeasure that there will be a congressional hearing next Monday  during which Postmaster General Louis DeJoy will appear before the House  on the same day that the Republican National Convention is scheduled to begin.

Why are Republicans allowing the Democrats to have ridiculous Post Office hearings on Saturday & Monday, just before and during our Convention, Trump tweeted. (The Senate hearing is scheduled for Friday) Let them hold them NOW (during their Convention) or after our Convention is over. Always playing right into their hands!

He also picked a fight with the Goodyear corporation on Wednesday, suggesting on Twitter that the tire maker was preventing employees from using his trademark Make America Great Again slogan on the job. The tweet prompted a statement from the company.

Dont buy GOODYEAR TIRES - They announced a BAN ON MAGA HATS. Get better tires for far less! (This is what the Radical Left Democrats do. Two can play the same game, and we have to start playing it now!).  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2020

With the third night of the DNC getting underway, Trump pushed back the start of a last-minute press briefing Wednesday so that the two events bled into one another. At the briefing, Trump spoke of his efforts to curtail the Iranian regime, announcing that his administration intends to restore virtually all of the previously suspended United Nations sanctions on Iran.

He took his time and answered questions from the press, including a few about Goodyear. When asked about his tweets, Trump said Goodyear is playing politics and said he would stop using the companys tires, if given the opportunity.

But, on Goodyear, Trumps counterprogramming gave Bidens campaign another opening to attack him. Bidens campaign released a statement during the briefing slamming Trump for the remarks.

Goodyear employs thousands of American workers, including in Ohio where it is headquartered, the statement said. To President Trump, those workers and their jobs aren't a source of pride, just collateral damage in yet another one of his political attacks.

Although typical for Trump, his counterattacks this week are somewhat remarkable for a sitting president. Compared to earlier party conventions, its unusual for the presidents themselves to respond to whats being said and occurring at the other partys events, said Todd Belt, a professor at the Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University .

Generally, the president governs and the campaign responds, Belt told Yahoo News. Thats usually how it is. But all is one in the world of Trump. Hes going to respond and the campaign is going to respond. Hes not going to just let things go on unchallenged.

Former President Barack Obama and Sen. Kamala Harris are expected to speak on Wednesday, when Harris is also scheduled to accept the nomination for vice president. Next week, the Republican National Convention will occur virtually, with speeches expected from Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and others.

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
U.S. Senate report reveals more details between Trump campaign and Russia in 2016

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 14:56, August 19, 2020

U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday released the final volume of its bipartisan investigation report on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

The nearly 1,000 pages report confirmed former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's findings that the Russian government engaged in "an aggressive, multi-faceted effort to influence, or attempt to influence, the outcome of the 2016 presidential election."

The report also said Russia viewed the then-President-elect Donald Trump's transition team as inexperienced and sought to exploit those shortcomings.

"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 said.

The report noted that Paul Manafort's proximity to then-candidate Trump created opportunities for Russian intelligence services to exert influence over, and acquire confidential information on, the Trump campaign. Manafort was chairman of Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.

The report, however, did not conclude that the Trump campaign engaged in a coordinated conspiracy with the Russian government.

Senator Marco Rubio, the acting chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in a statement 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."

Similarly, the Mueller investigation found no evidence of the Trump campaign colluding with Russia, but "identified numerous links between the Russian government and Trump campaign personnel," Mueller wrote in the op-ed in The Washington Post in July.

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The National Company "Posta Romana" (CNPR) has been fined by the National Authority for Administration and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM) with 35,000 RON (rd 7,200 EUR, ed. n.) for the failure to deliver internal priority mailings on time.

According to a release of ANCOM, sent on Thursday AGERPRES, as a universal service provider in the field of postal services in Romania, for the period from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2019, Posta Romana had the obligation to comply with a number of minimum quality requirements imposed for domestic mail shipments in the fastest standard category in the universal service sphere, including: delivery of internal priority mail consignments within two working days from the date of filing, in a weighting of at least 85 pct and delivery of internal priority mail consignments within four working days of the date of filing, in a weighting of at least 97 pct.Following the control action carried out in July, the representatives of the above-mentioned Authority found that, during 2019, the CNPR did not comply with the minimum quality requirements imposed. Thus, the company has ensured the delivery to recipients of only 51.80 pct of all internal priority mailings within two working days from the date of filing (instead of at least 85 pct, as required by the legal obligation imposed by ANCOM), i.e. only 78 pct of the total internal priority mailings within four working days, compared to the legal obligation.CNPR has been designated, for the period from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2024, as a universal service provider in the field of postal services in Romania. According to the provisions of the decision, Posta Romana has the obligation to provide throughout Romania, at affordable rates and to certain quality standards, a number of postal services.
The Supreme Court on Thursday granted two days to activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan to reconsider his defiant statement refusing to apologise for contemptuous tweets against the judiciary and rejected his submission that quantum of punishment be decided by another bench.

The top court also rejected Bhushan's submission seeking deferment of the hearing till his yet-to-be-filed review plea against its verdict, which held him guilty of contempt of the court, is decided.

Reminding Bhushan of lakshman rekha', the top court asked as to why it has been crossed and observed that it has been asked to commit an act of impropriety by sending the case to some other bench for hearing the arguments on quantum of sentence in the contempt case.

The apex court, on August 14, had held Bhushan guilty of criminal contempt for his two derogatory tweets against the judiciary saying they cannot be said to be a fair criticism of the functioning of the judiciary made in the public interest.

He faces simple imprisonment of up to six months or with a fine of up to Rs 2,000 or with both as punishment.

We can give you time and it is better if you (Bhushan) reconsider it. Think over it. We will give you two-three days' time, a bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra told Bhushan, who held his ground by refusing to apologise for the tweets.

I did not tweet in a fit of absence mindedness. It would be insincere and contemptuous on my part to offer an apology for the tweets that expressed what was and continues to be my bona fide belief," he said.

The activist lawyer however said he will think over the suggestion of the bench, also comprising Justices B R Gavai and Krishna Murari, which posted the matter again on August 24.

The bench said that it can be very lenient if there is realisation of mistake.

Few minutes after the start of the crucial hearing, Bhushan, represented by senior advocates Rajeev Dhavan and Dushyant Dave, also addressed the bench and quoted Mahatma Gandhi.

I do not ask for mercy. I do not appeal to magnanimity. I am here, therefore, to cheerfully submit to any penalty that can lawfully be inflicted upon me for what the Court has determined to be an offence, and what appears to me to be the highest duty of a citizen, he said.

Attorney General K K Venugopal, who is assisting the bench, joined many legal luminaries and urged the court not to award any punishment to Bhushan in the contempt case saying he has already been convicted.

The tone, tenor and content of Bhushan's statement makes it worse; is it defence or aggravation, the bench told Venugopal and made clear that it cannot consider his request unless Bhushan reconsiders his earlier stand of not apologising for his tweets.

Justice Mishra, who is retiring on September 2, said that he never punished any person for contempt in his entire career as a judge and this was his first such judgement.

The regret and realization of the offence should come from within, he said.

There is a lakshman rekha' for everything. Why cross it. We welcome pursuing good cases in public interest but remember, it is now after conviction. And it is a serious thing. I have not convicted anyone of contempt in 24 years as a judge. This is my first such order, Justice Mishra said.

At the outset, the bench was told by Dave that the court should defer the hearing on quantum of sentence till Bhushan's plea, which is to be filed, seeking review of the August 14 judgement is decided or as alternative, the case be transferred to some other bench.

Dismissing the submissions of deferment or the transfer, the bench said, You (Dave) are asking us to commit an act of impropriety by saying that the arguments on sentencing should be heard by other bench... Has it been ever done that the hearing on sentencing has been undertaken by the other bench when the main bench is existing.

The bench however said: I can assure you that the if we inflict any punishment on you it will not be acted upon till review is decided.

It also rejected the plea of adjournment and said that the review can be decided only after the present hearing concludes.

The bench said it will hear the arguments on sentencing and was not inclined to hear the application filed by Bhushan on Wednesday seeking deferment of hearing on the sentence till his review petition is decided.

Dave told the bench that heavens are not going to fall if the apex court will suspend the hearing on quantum of sentence.

The bench told the Attorney General that it will first hear Bhushan on the issue of sentencing.

When Dave said that Venugopal should be allowed to argue first, the bench said, Don't remind us of the professional norms.

Bhushan, who himself addressed the court, said that he has been grossly misunderstood.

On August 14, in its 108-page verdict, the top court had said: The tweets which are based on the distorted facts, in our considered view, amount to committing criminal contempt.

In the result, we hold alleged contemnor No.1 - Mr. Prashant Bhushan guilty of having committed criminal contempt of this Court.

The top court had analysed two tweets of Bhushan posted on the micro-blogging site on June 27 on the functioning of judiciary in past six years, and on July 22 with regard to Chief Justice of India S A Bobde.
Prosperity in the last half of the 20th century found the small village of Sanford, Michigan, expanding right along with the rest of the country. Living by the lake continued to grow in popularity. City water became available. In 1958, the idea of having their own high school in the Sanford area began taking shape. And three parks: Midland County Sanford Lake Park, Veterans Memorial Park and the Village Park became a reality.

In June 1945, the Sanford Lake Improvement Association was formed. Clarence Crittenden was elected president. Tom Maticka, Jr. was elected vice president. Dexter Fales was secretary. Arthur Kastle became financial secretary and Tom Maticka, Sr. became treasurer of the fledgling organization. Their purpose was to make Sanford Lake better for boating and swimming. For revenue, they sponsored boat races. After a short five years, the Sanford Lake Improvement Association became the Michigan Outboard Association in 1950.

Reverend Harold Arman was the pastor of two churches, the Averill Methodist Church and the Sanford Methodist Church in the mid 40s. A devout man, his oldest son, Bill, contracted Polio when he was 17 years old and died after a short illness. Home from college for the summer, I went to see Reverend Arman. At the end of my visit he said to me, I found I was praying for a clay body when I should have been praying for a shining soul.

Midland County Sanford Lake Park began when Jerome Township purchased 7.8 acres of lake frontage. The next step was when the Midland County Board of Supervisors purchased 24 acres next to the 7.8 acres owned by Jerome Township. To expedite the creation of a park on Sanford Lake, Jerome Township gave their 7.8 acres to the Midland County Board of Supervisors. A boat launch was put in as well as picnic tables, grills and a parking lot. Every year saw the attendance increasing.

In 1920, the Department of Conservation had created the Midland Game Refuge at Sanford. In 1951, Carl Hermann was Game Warden and opened an office in Sanford and in 1952, fire equipment arrived. In the 1955 fire season, Fire Officer Robert Bienz was assigned to the Sanford station.

In 1951, Veterans Memorial Park took shape and today is under the supervision and direction of the Parks and Recreation Committee of the Midland County Board of Commissioners. But the history of the land goes back to 1886, when a man named John Howe purchased land from the Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad. The land lay unused until 1951, when the idea of a Veterans Memorial Park became a viable idea. Today, Veterans Memorial Park is a favorite spot for tours, school trips, field trips and family outings.

In 1952, my sister, Jean Moore was expecting her first baby and ther doctor, Karl Linsenmann, told her to go to that new doctor in Sanford, Joseph Bernier. Complications set in, but Dr. Bernier pulled Jean and her baby girl through. He was the epitome of what a doctor should be.

In 1963, the Village of Sanford was incorporated, and in 1965, the village council approved the purchase of about 15 acres of land along the Tittabawassee River with the idea of making the area a village park. Drained and tiled, a street was put through. Eventually, Little League games were played there, and a senior center was built. (In 2019, a new senior center was built on West River Road.)

As Sanford continued growing, more and more facilities were required, and new positions needed to be filled. As men retired, new ones came to replace them. Sometimes, an entirely new position was created. The village council decided Sanford needed its own law enforcement man. In June 1969, Edgar Gensel became the village marshall, a position he filled admirably.

We build highways and parks and subdivisions and bridges and schools, but behind each and every one there was a man or a woman who said, I was thinking and the thought became a reality. That happened in the village of Sanford. So many names to remember because they created something where there had been nothing.

Charles Mayer took on the helm of superintendent of the new Meridian School District and helped make it the great success it became. I met him in 1966, after seeing in the paper that they needed teachers in the Meridian District. After introducing myself and saying I wanted to teach, he said, Which one do you want? Second grade? Fourth grade? Junior high? Physical education? The Meridian District lost a great educator when he retired.

In 1963, incorporation of the Village of Sanford was approved, and a five man charter commission was electedc including Elmer Leigeb, Donald Crippen, Lionel Dancer, Ace Mitchell and Henry Bergtold.

In 1970c we had a lot of newly-elected people in established positions. The Sanford Area Chamber of Commerce saw Stanley Raymond, president; Frank Raymond, vice president; Mrs. Lionel Dancer, secretary; and Mrs. Richard Melchi as treasurer. The Meridian Public School District Board of Education saw Garry Coveart, president; James Draves, vice president; Donald Mitchell, treasurer; Ferd McCrary, secretary; and Mrs. Frances Smerdon, James Ochsankehl and Oscar Chapin as trustees. The Sanford Village Council saw A. J. Rogers serving as president; William Jung was clerk; Norma Clark was treasurer; and we had four councilmen, James Rupp, Scott Supinger, Pat Sanford and Gerald Weiler.

New faces were appearing, but we still had Allan Cole who was fire chief for 50 years. When he retired, Robert McNett took over the position and still later Wayne McNett was fire chief from October 2019 to May 2020. Jerry (Jake) Cole is the current fire xhief, following in his dads footsteps.

The year 2020 sees new people in leadership roles for the village of Sanford. Currently Dolores Porte is president; Laura Forbes, clerk; and Linda Geiger, treasurer. Council members are Marlene Glinski, Lon Wackerle and Carl Haman. Brett Spangler is building inspector. Tom Chritz is electrical inspector and Greg Younk is mechanical inspector.

The local historical society, which began in 1970 for Sanfords Centennial, has Charles Dinsmore, president; Janet Biggs, vice president; Linda Fisher, secretary; and Kendra Melchi, treasurer. Trustees are Jeff Bowen, Mary Herkner and Donovan Miller.

Some wonder if Sanford will come back? Well, will the sun come up tomorrow?

Midland writer Virginia Florey pens a Midland Remembers column on the first and third Thursday of each month.
Come August, Pursat provinces Kampong Luong commune is usually flooded from the swelling Tonle Sap Lake. The waters fill the villages dusty paths, with all activity conducted around seven meters above ground level.

This year, there are villagers selling groceries and other items on the ground level, the small dirt paths in the village are still dry and dusty. There has been no flooding this year, with water levels in the lake at a record low, according to the Mekong River Commission.



The dropping water levels have hit Thoeun Veuns daily fish catch, which has reduced from eight kilograms a day last year to just around 500 grams a day. The Kampong Luong-based fisherman said the water levels were lower than last year, especially since it has been three months since the onset of the monsoon.

There is little fish this year. Next year, it will be worse, he said.

Now it is August already, but it still dried up and dusty, added the father of four children.

Thoeun Veun said the main reason fish catch is low was that the water levels were insufficient for fish eggs to hatch or for the hatchling to grow or mature.

The villagers along the river are hopeful for more water so the fish can hatch. If there is no water, how can fish hatch, he added.

Veuns family has had to resort to selling groceries and small items to supplement their livelihoods. For the last two years, Mich Kimsruon has sold day-to-day products to help her family.

I am concerned that in the future, I will go to live on the land. But I dont know what to do, said the 35-year-old wife of Thoeun Veun.

I am concerned that the next generation will not know Cambodian fish types since we dont have fish now. In Chhnuk Tru commune, another floating village in neighboring Kampong Chhnang province that is reliant on fishing, villagers shared similar concerns over a lack of flooding in the area.

Sim Vantha, a local fisherman, is sitting on the edge of his boat ruing the reality that there was little or no fish to support his family.

Yesterday I could catch fish only two kilograms, which is low. Before, I could fish like 8 kilograms, said the 28-year-old fisherman and father of two.

Last year this time, the water was here already, but now there is no water, he added, pointing close to the boat.

Villagers along the Tonle Sap said they have no idea why the waters are receding every year, but that they have heard that hydropower dam construction along the Mekong River, which feeds the lake during the monsoons, was causing falling water levels.

The Mekong River Commission said in early August that Cambodias Tonle Sap Lake, which relies on reverse flows from the Mekong River during the wet season, has recorded the lowest flows since 1997. The lake is critical as a source of fish, both for sustenance and livelihood, for the millions of Cambodians dependent on the lake.

The commission asked countries along the waterbody to share data of falling water levels in the river, especially in light of the record dry conditions witnessed in the Tonle Sap lake area. We call on the six Mekong countries to increase data and information sharing on their dam and water infrastructure operations in a transparent and speedy manner with the MRC. It is time to walk the talk and to act in the common interest of the entire Mekong River Basin and the affected communities, said Dr. An Pich Hatda, the MRC secretariats chief executive officer.

The Mekong River runs through China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

The Cambodian government in mid-July released data to show low water levels in the Mekong, largely attributing the drop to climate change.

As of August 20, Cambodian government data water levels at Kampong Luong, near the mouth of the Tonle Sap, were 1.74 meters, 10 centimeters higher than the previous day.

While the government didnt provide historical data for water levels at Kampong Luong, further south along the Tonle Sap river, water levels at Prek Kdam in Kandal province were more than 3 meters lower than average levels for this time of year.



Other experts, especially the U.S.-based Stimson Center, contend that Chinese hydropower dams have not released water despite good precipitation in the upper Mekong River. The U.S.-based Stimson Center, which tracks development along the river, published new data in April that suggests the lower Mekong Basin was facing a severe drought despite the upper basin had high rainfall and snowmelt, with Chinas dams restricting nearly all of this record flow.

However, Chinas Foreign Ministry has dismissed the findings, saying it was unreasonable that Chinese dam construction along the river was causing droughts downstream.

In a press conference on August 11, Chan Yutha, secretary of state at the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, said Cambodia was facing the effects of El Nino.

[No rain] is linked largely to the El Nino phenomena, which happened since 2019 and continued till early 2020, he said.



The El Nino effect is caused by warmer-than-average temperatures in the Pacific region that causes changes in weather patterns, such as flooding or, more commonly, drought in the Mekong region.

Te Navuth, secretary-general of the Cambodia National Mekong Committee, said that the main reason for water shortages in the Mekong River and Tonle Sap Lake was the absence of no rain and drought caused by the El Nino effect.



He conceded that the dams along the Mekong River had a minor contribution minor to low water levels.
ONTARIO, Calif., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nestle Waters North America (NWNA) today announced that its Ontario, California water bottling site is the first food and beverage factory in the world to earn Platinum certification under the rigorous Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Standard. Nestle Waters is also the first company of any type to achieve this advanced certification in North America.

The AWS Standard is the first, comprehensive global standard for measuring responsible water stewardship across social, cultural, environmental and economic criteria. As part of the AWS certification process, independent auditors look at a number of factors within the watersheds where sites are located, such as water quality, water quantity and the health of important water-related areas. Extensive engagement with key, water-related stakeholders, such as water agencies, NGOs, public officials and community members, is important to identify opportunities and ensure the water stewardship actions are beneficial to local communities. Achieving a Platinum rating involves moving well beyond Core AWS requirements and having significant and positive regional impacts. Independent auditors from California-based SCS Global Services determined that the Ontario site's actions represented best practice and truly advanced-level efforts.

"Nestle Waters North America's Ontario AWS Platinum certification is reflective of the site's commitment to meeting the highest standards of water stewardship," said Matt Howard, Director for AWS North America. "This re-certification includes the factory's continued focus on water stewardship onsite and at spring sources. Additionally, this advanced-level of certification reflects the positive contributions NWNA has made to the people, economy and nature in the catchment. We are excited to finally have an AWS Platinum-certified site here in North America."

NWNA's leadership in and commitment to water stewardship have been the driving force behind the Ontario factory's extensive history of managing for long-term sustainability, fostering community engagement, and collecting and sharing data. Among these efforts is NWNA's participation in the California Water Action Collaborative's (CWAC) work to improve California's water security. As members, NWNA helped establish baselines for project selection and evaluation, collaborated on watershed restoration projects, and contributed Ontario AWS data to support efforts to define guidelines for setting context-based water targets with the Pacific Institute and CEO Water Mandate. As part of the Arrowhead Spring Special Use Permit issued in 2018, NWNA worked in close coordination with the United States Forest Service to develop an Adaptive Management Plan (AMP), which is predicated on responding to local conditions. Successful implementation of the AMP provides transparent, science-based data that can be used for making informed water governance decisions in the San Bernardino National Forest and beyond.

"We are extremely proud that our Ontario facility is the first food and beverage factory in the world to achieve AWS Platinum certification, globally recognized as the most rigorous water stewardship standard for businesses to meet," said David Tulauskas, Chief Sustainability Officer at NWNA. "It attests to the years of our community-first approach and the effort we have put into many water stewardship initiatives in California  on our own and as part of collective actions. We are working to achieve platinum-level certification at more of our sites, and encourage others in our industry and beyond to do the same."

Ontario's AWS Platinum certification recognizes the site's positive contribution to the local catchment, including best practice examples of the site's community engagement, implementation of water education efforts, participating in water, sanitation and health (WASH) education outreach, and providing water donations to local food banks and emergency relief efforts. Representatives from the Ontario factory meet frequently with local authorities and stakeholders to discuss shared water challenges and best practices in water stewardship. One result from these meetings led to a collaboration with a water agency to improve the resiliency of the local water supply. Since 2016, the site has been engaging in collective action with the Cucamonga Valley Water District (CVWD) to treat contaminated groundwater, enabling the district to generate up to 250 million gallons of potable water annually for the community.

"The Cucamonga Valley Water District is committed to providing for the needs of our community and securing a reliable water supply, now and in the future," said John Bosler, CVWD General Manager. "A significant piece of that is stewardship of natural resources achieved through strategic planning and innovative technologies. Nestle Waters shares that vision, and they have demonstrated their commitment to water stewardship in a variety of ways including enhancing local water supplies. The achievement of Platinum-level certification is a testament to the hard work and outstanding results achieved by NWNA Ontario's efforts."

All AWS implementation efforts rely heavily on understanding stakeholder interests, which help highlight important opportunities, and developing an appropriate water stewardship plan that includes those interests. These efforts are increasingly important when applying for an advanced-level certification. As a site implements water stewardship activities (such as habitat restoration or data gathering efforts) and discloses the results of water stewardship efforts, it is critical to obtain honest stakeholder feedback regarding actions and impacts. Only through open dialogue, based on trust between parties, can ongoing improvements be achieved.

"It's great to see NWNA demonstrating what good water stewardship looks like in practice with their industry-leading AWS Platinum certification," said Jason Morrison, Head of the UN Global Compact CEO Water Mandate. "Nestle was one of the co-founders of the CEO Water Mandate over a decade ago, and has been a great partner in the intervening years. We look forward to working locally with the Ontario NWNA site to leverage AWS-related efforts for future collective action projects that will benefit the catchment and beyond."

In 2018, Nestle Waters pledged to certify all of its water bottling sites by 2025. Thus far, the company has certified thirty sites around the world, ten of which are located in the United States. To date, all of NWNA's California factories, including Ontario, Sacramento, Livermore, Cabazon, and Los Angeles have been certified under the AWS Standard in the U.S., and these factories are now recertifying under v2.0 of the Standard.

About Nestle Waters North America

Nestle Waters North America offers an unrivaled portfolio of bottled water brands for healthy hydration, including Arrowhead Brand Mountain Spring Water, Nestle Pure Life, Perrier, S. Pellegrino and Acqua Panna Natural Spring Water. The company also owns and operates ReadyRefresh by Nestle, a customizable water and beverage delivery service. Just Click and Quench.

Based in Stamford, Connecticut with approximately 7,000 associates in the United States, we manage natural resources for long-term sustainability, and we conserve more than 18,000 acres of natural watershed area. We currently source water for our six regional spring water brands from 38 active springs throughout the United States. We are also committed to creating shared value and being a good neighbor in the more than 120 communities where we operate in the U.S. For more information, visit us at https://www.nestle-watersna.com/en and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook: @NestleWatersNA.

About the Alliance for Water Stewardship

AWS is a global membership-based collaboration that unites organizations behind its mission: To lead a global network that promotes responsible use of freshwater that is socially and economically beneficial and environmentally sustainable. AWS achieves this through a global water stewardship system, centered on the International Water Stewardship Standard (the AWS Standard), that drives, recognizes, and rewards good water stewardship performance. The AWS vision is that water users and managers are responsible water stewards, who protect and enhance freshwater resources for people and nature. The AWS Standard provides a globally applicable framework for major water users to understand their water use and impact, and to work collaboratively and transparently for sustainable management within water catchment areas.

SOURCE Nestle Waters North America

Related Links

www.nestle-watersna.com


A Comal County Sheriff's Office deputy was shot while on duty Thursday afternoon.

According to officials, deputies were at a home in the 1400 block of Springwood in Spring Branch attempting to serve a felony warrant when the shooting occurred. The deputy was airlifted to University Hospital in San Antonio with non-life threatening injuries.
2020 began a decade that I think will be defined by irony. Ill skip over the prominent political examples and jump right into social media and drill down to focus on Facebook.

Last week we ran a survey asking people which of the CEOs that were questioned by Congress last month is the most trustworthy. Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg took the dubious prize for last place. Tim Cook of Apple was voted the most trustworthy of the four CEOs.

Online survey of ECT News Network visitors conducted Aug. 3  10, 2020

These results reveal overwhelmingly that issues of trust exist for these big tech company leaders across-the-board. With that said, I think this survey and Zuckerbergs image showcases an incredible level of incompetence, particularly given that Facebook appears to be tied so deeply to the amount of fake news that is currently surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak  and I believe it will eventually lead to the mother of all class-action lawsuits against the company.

If you think about it, you have a CEO of a company that is structured to mine user information and manipulate opinion, and a firm that still mostly sells hardware. There shouldnt be any competition; Facebook has the tools and information access to assure it is beloved. Yet Apple, which doesnt have anywhere near that level of reach nor engagement, has a far better image.

Lets talk about ironic incompetence this week, and well close with my product of the week: a stand-alone Microsoft Teams appliance that belatedly makes the video phone real (sort of).

The Potential Power of Facebook

For those that participate on Facebook, the company has data on you that is unprecedented. It knows when you were born, where you like to vacation, where you work, your title, your close friends (at least those on Facebook), what makes you mad, and what makes you happy. Facebook knows much of what you buy, who you are likely to vote for, and it likely knows who you voted for in past elections.

With the level of information Facebook collects on you, it could manipulate you, emulate you, and either do you great harm or, potentially, help you out a great deal. Harm could include aggregating comments youve made over time to make you appear sexist or racist. Doing you well could include making you visible in a positive way to those that have some control over your career or might be convinced to give you a job offer.

There is also little doubt Facebook has the capability to change the outcome of an election or change the impression of a sitting politician.

It can also help keep you safe by pointing out false information that puts you at risk, or it can (as Facebook did in my case) spread information that could put your life at risk.

With that kind of massive power, the person running the company needs to be trustworthy, because, if he or she isnt, we are not only in a world of hurt individually, but likely in a world of hurt as a nation. I believe that by the end of the year it is very likely that well conclude that, for the good of the nation, Facebook will need to be shut down  and it doesnt need to end that way.

With Great Power

With high power comes great responsibility is one of the most memorable Stan Lee Spiderman quotes, and that is hard to argue with. What we often talk about is the abuse of power and the other well-known quote, power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. Facebook has an unprecedented amount of power, and it has the potential to be a great force for good in the world. Instead, it the company has chosen a very different path, and Mark Zuckerberg is seen as the face of that problem.

The ideal person to run a company like Facebook is someone who both understands the technology that Facebook uses and the social science underneath human interaction. That grants the core skills to steer the company; but if we want the company to do good rather than evil with the power, the person leading the company needs some other skills.

The leader must understand strategy to assure long-term outcomes. They need empathy so they are less apt to harm intentionally or by accident, they must have a strong ethical core, and the person needs to be successfully charismatic. Together these attributes would assure the company is run by someone that people trust, and is trustworthy, and that Facebooks power isnt used to abuse people.

As TikTok is exemplifying, if a social media service is seen as a threat, a government can ban it. There is a decent chance that enough people will see Facebook as a problem during both the pandemic and the coming election that a more serious effort to shut down the service  along with other social media properties  will result. Thats on top of the possible class action litigation over false information tied to folks who now arent socially distancing.

Fast forward a year, and I doubt there will be a jury pool or judge that did not lose someone due to this false information being spread on social media. Since Facebook is at the heart of this issue and appears to have deep pockets, itll be an extremely attractive target, particularly given how poorly Zuckerberg does in testimony.

Discovery to Judgement

I was reminded last week of how advanced discovery tools had become when I was briefed by Celebrate, who has one of the newer class of AI-driven solutions. I expect internal emails, notes, and employee social media posts will showcase that a large number of Facebook employees have been concerned with the firms spread of false medical (and other) information. This information should build a case for intentional gross negligence that, in turn, will be tied to the historic death toll we are likely to see by year-end.

I, and other Facebook users, have been actively trying to fight this false information. But we dont have the tools or scale that Facebook enjoys, and when we lose loved ones, as a result, we are likely to make credible and motivational statements about Facebooks culpability.

Its not just the deaths directly connected to not wearing masks and socially distancing. Millions of people could become insolvent by the end of next month, suicides are on the rise and likely not to peak before year-end, and divorces are expected to spike in the coming months. A large percentage, if not most, of these outcomes, should be partially tied to the spread of critical false information on Facebook.

In short, once we can again open the courts, Facebook is on the shortlist of companies likely to be blamed for the avoidable severity of this pandemic. This outcome is not only because it had the power, but it failed to use it to stop the dissemination of false information, but Facebook will be shown to have profited from the spread.

Wrapping Up: Facebook Needs a New CEO

If Facebook doesnt step up to the challenge (and frankly it may be too late) of using the incredible power it has responsibly and for the good of its users, it is likely to be put down much like what may happen to TikTok.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Zuckerberg may find that even his extreme wealth isnt enough to cover the liability he has accrued. The company desperately needs a new face and better leadership to both fully utilize the potential of a social media platform at scale, and to assure it is a force for good  and not partially responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths and the millions of devastated people we are likely to be talking about by the end of 2020.

The firm needs to be run by someone trusted and trustworthy, and that isnt Mark Zuckerberg. Not even close.

I first got excited about video conferencing in the mid-60s after seeing the AT&T exhibit at Disneyland. The future was coming, and it sure as heck took a lot longer than anyone expected for this technology to catch on. With the pandemic, the need to replicate in-person meetings with video technology has become the go-to solution for most of us.

However, using your laptop to do a video call and also to do work is problematic because you are consuming your limited screen real estate for both note taking and the call itself. It makes multitasking, where you are listening to a meeting while catching up with your work, far more difficult. But if you take the call on separate hardware, like a phone, your laptop remains untouched, and you can continue to function much like you would with a hands-free phone call. That is what the Lenovo ThinkSmart View does.

Tied to Microsoft Teams, which is fast becoming the new enterprise standard for video collaboration; this is an affordable (US$349.99), easy-to-use device that is dedicated to video calls. Reviews by Microsoft Teams users have generally been positive. However, there have been issues with the camera placement being too low, and the lack of support for other collaboration platforms like Zoom or WebEx. (The video conferencing industry is on a 40-year whirlwind effort to improve interoperability.)

Lenovo ThinkSmart View

The ThinkSmart View is a first-generation product, but it did borrow from Lenovos impressive digital assistant design. You do need a business Teams license to use it properly and, while it has a great speaker, you may find pairing a set of headphones works better to both keep the background noise down and limit how much you annoy your spouse.

For the right user and business, the ThinkSmart View could be an ideal tool to connect remote employees more solidly with their teams and management. As a result, the ThinkSmart View is my product of the week.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ECT News Network.
Knitting has become a new booming industry in Dachong Village, Hezhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [For China Daily/Wang Kaihao]

Before 2018, when a drivable road finally reached this stockade village in Hezhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the only way out for locals living on the mountain was by foot.

The distance to the nearest town, which took about four hours on foot to reach, was enough to besiege residents of Dachong Village with a difficult life. Nearly 500 people from 87 families live in the village, which is home to the Tuyao Community, a part of the Yao ethnic group.

Tuyao literally means "indigenous Yao", which not only indicates the preservation of the traditional lifestyle and culture of the ethnic group, but also shows that its development was once blocked by poor transportation links.

Ancestors of Tuyao people migrated to Hezhou from elsewhere about 700 years ago. However, when they arrived, as the better farming land had been occupied by locals, these "new residents" had to climb up the mountains, where there was little land left to cultivate crops.

To make ends meet, Pan Qinglan, a 44-year-old woman, had to carry wild tea leaves, ginger and wood to the next town to exchange for rice, oil and other food.

"The path was dangerous," Pan recalls. "But we had no choice. It was hard to grow crops here... We set off when it was still dark. To stave off the fear, we walked in groups and always sang songs."

Landslides were a regular occurrence as a result of the area's changeable weather. Even on a sunny day, cliffs and rivers were still obstacles that needed to be overcome.

"Fairs were organized several times a month in the town," she says. "We would make sure to get everything we needed in a single visit."

Pan Jieyin raised 500 packages of tea leaves at home. [For China Daily/Wang Kaihao]

It often took villagers two to three days to finish one "shopping tour "and they would stay overnight in the town.

Even while recalling the tough years, Pan wears a smile. For first-time visitors to the village, it indeed needs imagination to picture the old days of Dachong, which has experienced a huge shift in fortunes over the past few years.

According to Zhao Wanxing, the Party chief of Shidong, the village complex in which Dachong is a part, in 2014, about 90 percent of people in Dachong lived under the poverty line and the annual income per capita was just over 3,000 yuan ($433).

"This is the debt left by history and nature which we have to pay," Zhao says. "Upon hearing the news there would be a road built, many villagers volunteered to join the construction team. They learned quickly from construction workers."

Work on the paved roads began in 2016 and, in 2018, a nearly 10 million yuan fund from central and local governments was also allocated to improve the local infrastructure.

Pan and her husband, Feng Qiubao, were among the first ones to join the construction team.

Pan says: "Building a road was our biggest dream."

When entering Dachong, people will see some stone slabs paving the entry of stockade. They are carefully chosen from the leftover materials from the construction of the road as "a monument", to mark the locals' great effort.

It now takes the couple just half an hour on a motorbike to reach the town.

As always, the villagers of Dachong do not want to forget their past. For example, electricity was wired into the village in 2008.Before that, people relied on a dynamo system to generate power.

"We take care of the dynamo and exhibit it in the village, making sure it still functions well," Feng says. "That not only bears our nostalgia, but also reminds the younger generation to cherish the better life they have today."

The road leading to Dachong brings more tourists and opportunities for prosperity. [For China Daily/Wang Kaihao]

Pan Manbao (L) and Feng Qiugu [For China Daily/Shi Ruipeng]

Hoard of Tea

After their "biggest dream" was realized, the villagers soon found many more things to dream of.

In 2018, Zhou Huafeng, a tea entrepreneur from Hunan Province, was invited by the local government to visit Dachong to see whether there were any opportunities to boost the local economy. Upon a first glance of the old houses in the village, he was overjoyed.

"Once I saw those earthen houses, I thought of my childhood," Zhou recalls. "Such traditional architecture used to be common in my hometown, but has almost disappeared as people's lifestyle has changed."

In Zhou's eyes, those earthen housesor more specifically their dark, well-ventilated wooden atticswould be perfect warehouses for the natural fermentation of dark teas.

"I found that some villagers also used their attics to store tea in stacks of gunny bags," Zhou says. "What I needed to do was to inherit that tradition so that it could benefit more people."

Pan Jieyin is from one of 12 households in Dachong participating in Zhou's project. They call it "raising", or aging tea. His livelihood used to come from selling wood and doing odd jobs.

Feng Qiubao (L) and Pan Qinglan [For China Daily/Wang Kaihao]

Now, every morning and evening, he lights a small bonfire in the atrium to smoke the tea. To fully arouse the aroma, this is a key process in the tea's fermentation, which can take more than a year to complete. When it comes to dark teas, the longer the fermentation, the more valuable the product. The only other thing he needs to do is to rotate the packages of tea from time to time to ensure they all get evenly smoked.

Upon seeing neighbors demolishing their old houses and building new ones, Pan Jieyin wanted to follow suit.

"I didn't realize my old house was so valuable until I started aging tea," he laughs. "Now I have to take good care of it. You see, patience is important, not only in making good tea, but also in life in general."

Pan Jieyin has aged 500 packages of tea leaves. For each package, he will get 30 yuan a year.

Zhou has also encouraged him to grow tea to earn extra money and, as a result, Pan Jieyin's annual income has increased to 30,000 yuan.

Pan Manbao, 36, and his 33-year-old wife, Feng Qiugu, have also found prosperity in tea. Their impoverished life forced them to hold off on having their wedding until they finally saved 20,000 yuan, seven years after registering for marriage. However, last year alone, they earned 12,000 yuan. So they decided to take a further 100 tea packages to mature at home this year.

"It's much easier to save money now," Feng Qiugu says. "We don't need to engage in heavy labor by carrying our produce for a long way on foot."

Pan Qinglan [For China Daily/Shi Ruipeng]

Knitting a Brighter Future

Resources in Dachong are abundant, and the only thing needed is perhaps a keen eye. As bamboo can be found all over the mountains, Zhou and villagers have concocted another way to boost the value of their product  to make a pretty, handmade package in which the dark tea can be sold at a higher price. Getting rid of the old gunny bags, they make knitted bamboo baskets to hold the tea leaves.

In 2018, Pan Qinglan, Feng Qiugu, and more than 100 women in the village, were offered the opportunity to knit the baskets. Each product nets its knitter 9 yuan.

"When I was a kid, I saw my grandma and mother knit baskets, and I also knitted some for daily use, like every family here did," Pan Qinglan says. "But nobody ever thought this craft could also make money."

Pan Qinglan regrets that she is not very skillful, but the workshop also offers training programs to hone their basket-making technique, particularly those suited to tea fermentation. The best craftswomen can fashion over 20 baskets a day.

"I can only make 10, but it's OK," Pan Qinglan says. "It doesn't interfere with my farm work. I can do it whenever I have time, like people in cities sometimes also knit sweaters."

She earned over 6,000 yuan in 2018 alone from basket-making, and the villagers in Dachong can collectively earn around 600,000 yuan annually from the baskets.

Nowadays, there are also a greater number of vehicles arriving in the village to order local produce. Pan Qinglan and Feng Qiubao's ginger has become popular, and they also operate a fishpond. Pan Manbao has started keeping bees, from which he earned 6,000 yuan last year.

"My wife makes extra money by knitting," Pan Manbao says. "I cannot lag behind. I have to start my own business."

The recent statistics show that the average income per capita in Dachong reached 9,500 yuan in 2019, tripling in five years. But Zhao, the Party chief, plans to introduce new businesses to make villagers richer.

"We see tourists drive to the village every day, from nearby cities and from (nearby) Guangdong province," he says. "Tourism can be the next booming industry if we keep improving the infrastructure."

Traditional residential houses in Dachong offer perfect venues to ferment black tea. [For China Daily/Wang Kaihao]

Wooden boardwalks and an observation deck have recently been built in the village to act as tourist tracks for future visitors, while some villagers, like Feng Qiubao, plan to turn their houses into homestay inns.

And he has other plans. The couple have never traveled outside Guangxi. Their daughter, who is graduating from college, abandoned her job as a civil servant with the local government and chose to work in Guangdong with the reasoning that "the world is big, and I'd like to see it".

An open-minded Feng Qiubao respects his daughter's decision. He also knows it is necessary to catch up with the fast-changing world, even though they live deep in the mountains. Broadband internet network facilities will be introduced into the village later this year.

"When we got married and first heard people talk about 'tourism' some years ago, I didn't even know what the word meant," he says. "But life is getting better now. Seeing tourists come here, we'd like to be tourists to travel to faraway places as well. If we can buy a car, that will be even better."

(Source: China Daily)
Lord Tony Hall will address the Edinburgh TV Festival as the BBCs director-general (PA)

Lord Tony Hall is to reflect on his seven-year tenure as BBC director-general in one of his final public appearances in the role.

He will open this years online edition of the Edinburgh TV Festival on Monday August 24, addressing delegates on issues including diversity, the role of news in public service broadcasting, and how to stay relevant while competing with streaming services such as Netflix.

Lord Hall will also discuss the importance of public service broadcasters, the challenges they face and why the Government needs to be reminded of the role it plays in the media landscape and society.

His appearance will kick off four days of discussion about the UK TV industry, which will also feature a keynote address by broadcaster and historian David Olusoga as the annual MacTaggart Lecture.

Expand Close Tim Davie is to replace Lord Hall as BBC director-general (PA) / Facebook

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BBC Studios head Tim Davie is due to replace Lord Hall as director-general of the corporation.

He was acting director-general for four months following George Entwistles resignation in November 2012 before Lord Halls appointment.

Lord Halls exit comes amid a turbulent time for the BBC, with the spotlight on a number of issues around equal pay, diversity, free TV licences for the over-75s and competition from streaming services, as well as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The BBC also faces criticism over its planned shake-up of regional TV news and local radio in England, axing some 450 jobs.

Earlier this year it announced plans to cut more than 150 roles in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Video of the Day

Fran Unsworth, director of BBC news and current affairs, has said the corporations News at Six and News at Ten may become obsolete as viewing habits change in future.

She told the Daily Telegraph: I think TV journalism will still be around because of the power of pictures to tell a story, but it wont necessarily be received in quite the form it currently is.

Expand Close Fran Unsworth is the director of BBC news and current affairs (Kirsty OConnor/PA) / Facebook

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Ultimately, in 10 years time, we probably wont be consuming linear bulletins. I might be wrong about that but I doubt it.

Asked if News at Ten might survive but not News at Six, she replied: Possibly. Or maybe the other way round.

Lord Halls address will be broadcast at 9.35am on Monday.

This years Edinburgh TV Festival will take place from August 24 to 27 in a digital format.

More details can be found at thetvfestival.com.
A former Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ima Niboro, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to rename the corporate headquarters of the agency after another former Managing Director of the agency, Wada Maida, who passed away on Monday.

In a condolence message, Mr Niboro said the present corporate headquarters of the agency was built by the late Mr Maida, and it is only fit and proper for the president to direct its renaming after him.

Mr Niboro said when he embarked on the renovation of the NAN corporate headquarters in 2014, the plan was to rename the edifice after Mr Maida.

As the renovation was on, we went to visit him in his Abuja residence, in company of his nephew, Mal Lawal Saleh Maida, who was our protocol officer in NAN, to intimate him of our intentions and ask his blessing before seeking formal presidential approval. But even before this, I had hinted the former President of my intentions and he didnt object to it, so we were certain to get approval.

Unfortunately we were unable to fully complete the renovation before I left NAN in February 2016. But Mal Maida welcomed the idea, and even in death, his memory will be well served on the edifice which it is on record, he almost single handedly built from the scratch and commissioned,  he said.

Mr Niboro added that even if at 70 he had reached the proverbial three score and ten years, he was still no where near an age that we all could say, yes, he had lived out his life in full. At 70, Mal Maida still had a lot to offer the nation, the present administration, and his family and associates. It is thus with a heavy heart that we today mourn his untimely passage.

We are however comforted that he lived a good life, and left an indelible mark on tapestry of our national life, and in the annals of his chosen calling: journalism, he said.

Ima Niboro

He condoled with President Buhari over Mr Maidas passage, noting that he was more to be described as the presidents friend and confidant than his former chief press secretary.

He also condoled with the family of the late senior journalist, and prayed for fortitude in these trying times.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa says his government will abolish a constitutional amendment limiting the president to two terms.

Sri Lankas president has said he will use the overwhelming mandate received by his governing coalition in recent parliamentary elections to remove a constitutional amendment curtailing presidential powers and limiting the president to two terms.

During a policy speech at the opening of the new parliament on Thursday, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said his government will abolish the 19th Amendment as a matter of priority and then work on a new constitution.

The amendment was added by his predecessor Maithripala Sirisena to reform the countrys political system by reducing the ability of presidents to amass extensive powers.

The move will strengthen Rajapaksas grip on power because the country will return to its previous constitutional status, in which the president could head ministries, appoint and dismiss ministers, appoint officials for the police, judiciary and public service and dissolve parliament any time after one year.

Our constitution has been changed 19 times from 1978, creating a lot of uncertainties and confusion, he told the parliament.

Because the people have given us the mandate that we requested from them for a constitutional change, we will as a matter of priority be repealing the 19th Amendment as we promised the people, he said.

After that, we will get together and bring in a new constitution that is requested by and needed for the country.

Rajapaksa said he had faced many restrictions because of the 19th Amendment since being elected president last November.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa and speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena leave after the presentation of the new governments policy statement during the inaugural session of the new parliament [Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters]

In the August 5 parliamentary elections, Rajapaksas Sri Lankas Peoples Front won 145 seats and secured the support of six allies, one seat more than the minimum number needed to change the constitution in the 225-seat legislature.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his elder brother, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, had campaigned for a two-thirds majority so they could roll back reforms brought in by the previous administration.

Mahinda Rajapaksa was removed from the presidency after a decade in power when he lost the 2015 elections.

Analysts now warn the brothers would try to ensure they do not lose power again.

The Rajapaksa brothers enjoy popular support of the Sinhala Buddhist majority for spearheading the defeat of Tamil separatists in 2009 to end the bloody 37-year civil war when Mahinda was president and Gotabaya was secretary to the Ministry of Defence.

But they have also attracted criticism from the international community, with the security services they controlled accused of war crimes committed in the final months of the conflict, in which more than 100,000 people were killed.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa said the new constitution will allow the government to make decisions freely without being influenced by the extremists, an apparent reference to ethnic minority parties whose support had been crucial for previous governments.
Eight bedrooms. Ten bathrooms. All for just under $3 million. "This home is probably one of Kansas City's most historic properties," said owner and real estate agent Peter Caster. In 1910, Kansas City Star founder William Rockhill Nelson built the mansion at 4520 Kenwood as a home for his daughter, Laura Rockhill Nelson Kirkwood.
This is the chilling moment a sheep farmer plants jars of baby food laced with razor sharp shards of metal on supermarket shelves.

Nigel Wright was today found guilty of trying to extort 1.5 million from Tesco in a campaign which led to the UK's biggest ever blackmail probe.

Footage released by Hertfordshire Constabulary shows the 45-year-old entering a store in Lockerbie, Scotland before approaching the baby food aisle.

After bending down to look at the jars, Wright removes something from his jacket pocket and puts it into his trolley.

He then appears to fiddle around with items in the trolley before placing multiple jars back on the shelf and leaving the store.

Two mothers later found the dangerous metal fragments when feeding their children.

Married father-of-two Wright, who now faces up to 14 years in jail, also threatened to inject tins of fruit with cyanide and salmonella unless the supermarket giant handed over the cash in Bitcoin.

The threats sparked the largest blackmail operation seen in Britain, with more than 100 officers deployed across the country on the case.

At one stage there were in excess of 30 officers watching CCTV footage on day and night shifts.

This is the chilling moment a sheep farmer plants jars of baby food laced with razor sharp shards of metal on supermarket shelves

Nigel Wright was today found guilty of blackmailing Tesco for 1.5 million in a campaign which resulted in two mothers finding the dangerous fragments when feeding their children

Wright signed off his emails and letters 'Guy Brush & the Dairy Pirates + Tinkerbell the naughty fairy,' and claimed he represented dairy farmers who had been underpaid by Tesco.

He triggered two nationwide recalls on both Cow & Gate and Heinz baby food as a result of the threats, prompting the supermarket to clear 140,000 products from the shelves.

A detective posed as a Tesco employee named Sam Scott and handed over 100,000 in the crypto-currency to trap the blackmailer.

He was eventually arrested on February 25 of this year following an investigation led by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit with the help of the National Crime Agency.

Also involved were the Food Standards Agency, Food Standards Scotland, Public Health England, Public Health Scotland and Police Scotland.

A jar of Heinz By Nature baby food that Mr Wright laced with fragments of a craft knife

CCTV footage showed Wright in a Tesco store in Lockerbie, where he planted a contaminated jar

Assistant Chief Constable Bill Jephson, who led the investigation on behalf of Hertfordshire Constabulary, described it as the 'most serious and most challenging' product contamination case ever dealt with in the UK.

Farmer's campaign to extort 1.5 million in Bitcoin from Tesco by contaminating baby food is largest blackmail probe ever conducted in UK Sheep farmer Nigel Wright's complicated blackmail plot against Tesco saw him plant potentially lethal jars of metal-laced baby food in two of the supermarket's stores in Lockerbie and Rochdale. His campaign to extort 1.5 million in cryptocurrency from the chain lasted almost two years and led to Operation Hancock - the largest blackmail investigation ever conducted in the UK. At various points there were more than 100 officers deployed across the country on the case, and at one stage there were in excess of 30 officers watching CCTV footage on day and night shifts. Wright was eventually arrested on February 25 of this year following an investigation led by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit with the help of the National Crime Agency. Also involved were the Food Standards Agency, Food Standards Scotland, Public Health England, Public Health Scotland and Police Scotland. Assistant Chief Constable Bill Jephson, who led the investigation on behalf of Hertfordshire Constabulary, described it as the 'most serious and most challenging' product contamination case ever dealt with in the UK. Mr Jephson said there was 'very significant' concern over whether there were more contaminated jars of baby food, adding that he is confident everything that needed to be removed from the shelves was removed. Deputy Senior Investigating Officer Lucy Thomson said: 'He's clearly a man with some significant knowledge and understanding of how the internet works, and unfortunately put the understanding and knowledge to such negative purposes, which is a great shame. 'But in terms of his motivation, he's the only person who will ever truly know why he did what he did and put so many people at risk, including his family, and their livelihood.' She said his knowledge and understanding of how to manipulate cryptocurrency was 'effective'. Ms Thomson said Wright's defence that he was being threatened by travellers changed throughout and he did not maintain any consistency with that defence. 'We haven't uncovered any evidence that supports that defence,' she said, adding that inquiries were 'extensive'. Ms Thomson said cases like this are 'incredibly scarce', adding: 'I've never investigated a crime like this or been involved in an investigation of this breadth and severity.' She described what Wright did as 'absolutely disgraceful', adding: 'I think his crime was absolutely horrific and of the most cynical nature, putting babies at risk, and mothers, feeding their children. 'I don't think it gets much worse.' Mr Jephson said: 'He should be absolutely ashamed of what he has done and I hope he gets the justice that he deserves.' Advertisement

Wright was caught on CCTV buying wine and flowers for his wife after placing a contaminated jar on the shelves of a Lockerbie branch on November 29 last year.

He also placed two jars of contaminated food on the shelves of a Rochdale shop.

Scottish mother Morven Smith 'felt sick' when she spotted the shards in a jar of Heinz sweet and sour chicken her ten-month-old son was eating.

Mrs Smith, from Lockerbie, had already fed a few spoonfuls to her baby when she spotted a shard of metal in the bowl in December 2019.

She said: 'I took the bowl out of the microwave - I gave my son a couple of spoonfuls and noticed something shiny - I pulled it out with my fingers at that point.

'It was horrendous. I felt sick I was so shocked.'

Her husband found a second piece of metal at the bottom of the jar.

The incident led to a nationwide recall of 42,000 tins of the product.

A second mother, Harpreet Kaur Singh found 'shredded chippings of metal' in jars of Heinz Sunday Chicken Dinner and Cheese and Tomato Pasta Stars.

She wept as she told the court how she had been moments away from feeding them to her nine-month-old daughter.

'I put it into a bowl and when I went to microwave it there was a metal chipping in there and at first I didn't think anything of it. I binned it,' the mother said.

'But then [on a separate occasion] I opened a second jar, Heinz Cheese and Tomato Pasta Stars.

'Again I saw the metal chippings inside it.'

Prosecutor Julian Christopher, QC, said the blackmailer took 'delight' in his extravagant plan to outsmart the supermarket giant.

He believed he could 'get rich' without leaving any trace of his identity by using the bitcoin cryptocurrency and downloading the browser Tor allowing for anonymous communication.

But his emails and letters were forwarded onto police and he was soon unwittingly interacting with an undercover officer.

A draft of an email to Tesco was found on one of Wright's devices after his property was searched.

The threat read: 'Imagine a baby's mouth cut open and blood pouring out, or the inside of their bellies cut and bleeding. You pay, you save them.'

Reading excerpts of emails sent by Wright, the prosecutor said: 'Dear Sam, we have been polite and courteous as we recognise you're just an employee who goes home at the end of the day. We say you pay us then we will email you.

'It appears we both failed to do what we said we would. If you set up a bank account you can purchase bitcoin and transfer them into our account.

'As a goodwill gesture we will tell you you have eight jars of Cow & Gate baby food left on your supermarket shelves on Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 [January] there were only six jars left so only six potential dead babies.'

Wright admitted sending the emails and letters to Tesco demanding the money but told jurors he was forced to by a gang of gypsies.

He claimed the travellers had come to his farm and threatened to kill his children and rape his wife unless he paid them 500,000.

Asked why he ordered the company to pay him triple that amount, Wright said: 'I'd seen somewhere that ransoms are never paid in full, only half are paid.'

He said that he had been handed the contaminated jars by one of his alleged handlers, who followed him to the Lockerbie store in a BMW to make sure he carried out their orders.

But he admitted his threats to the company had been inspired by his own research, watching documentaries and searching for ideas on Google.

The farmer told jurors he had also experimented with tampering with jars himself, while maintaining he had only done so because he was 'curious' to see if his threats had been 'idle.'

Pictured: Nigel Wright's workshop. Assistant Chief Constable Bill Jephson, who led the investigation on behalf of Hertfordshire Constabulary, described it as the 'most serious and most challenging' product contamination case ever dealt with in the UK'

Nigel Wright was today found guilty of blackmailing Tesco for 1.5 million in a campaign which resulted in two mothers finding the dangerous fragments when feeding their children

The Tesco store in Lockerbie where the contaminated jar was discovered and a national product recall was issued

Asked why he had failed to tell police about the travellers, Wright claimed: 'I've been to police in the past and they've failed me.'

He complained that the stress of the blackmail campaign had landed him in marriage counselling with his primary schoolteacher spouse.

Tearfully, Wright told jurors: 'My wife would have been really scared.

'If I'd told her she would have probably gone to the police and I would have got into trouble.

'I was on edge this whole time.

'I should never have got involved and I should have gone to the police.'

But prosecutor Julian Christopher QC told him: 'The truth is you were not in fear at all.

'You were carrying on your life normally while hoping to make yourself rich by threatening Tesco in this way while endangering the life of others in the process.'

The Tesco store in Rochdale where Wright planted more contaminated baby food

A jury deliberated for four hours and 33 minutes to find Wright guilty of two counts of contaminating goods and three counts of blackmail for demanding cryptocurrency from Tesco in exchange for revealing where the contaminated food had been placed.

He was also convicted of a further charge of blackmail for allegedly demanding 150,000 worth of bitcoin from a driver with whom he had had a road rage altercation.

Following the incident on the A46, the driver withdrew his complaint after receiving a 'nasty anonymous letter'.

Wright stood in silence as the guilty verdicts were announced.

Wright, of Pine Meadows, Caistor Road, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, had denied two counts of contaminating goods and four counts of blackmail.

The maximum term for blackmail is 14 years while the maximum for contaminating goods is 10 years.

Mr Justice Warby listed the case for sentence on September 28 and asked for a psychiatric report on Wright to be prepared ahead of the hearing.

He warned the defendant he faced a 'lengthy custodial sentence'.
Hillary Clinton Wednesday sought to channel the lessons, energy and disappointment of her campaign to become the first female president into an effort to unseat the man who defeated her, urging Democrats who never fully unified around her to come together against President Donald Trump.

Since Clinton's loss to Trump in 2016, many Democrats have seen her as the rightful winner - robbed by the electoral college, Russia's intervention and her own mistakes. For Trump supporters, who cheered his promises to "lock her up," Clinton remains the personification of the liberal establishment and all that Trump is fighting.

On Wednesday, Clinton ceded the role of anti-Trump to Joe Biden and the status of exciting trailblazer to Sen. Kamala Harris of California.

"I know something about the slings and arrows she'll face and believe me, this former district attorney and attorney general can handle them all," Clinton said in an address aired live from her home in Chappaqua, N.Y.

Still popular with many Democrats, blamed by others for losing in 2016 and divisive for much of the country, the first woman to head a major-party ticket served Wednesday as a bridge to another historic first - and a warning of all that can go wrong.

"For four years, people have said to me, 'I didn't realize how dangerous he was!' 'I wish I could go back and do it over!' Or worst - 'I should have voted!' " Clinton said. 'Well, this can't be another 'woulda, coulda, shoulda' election."

Had Clinton won, this convention would be a celebration of her first-term accomplishments and a rallying cry for another four years. Instead, it's a nightly siren blast against what Clinton and other Democrats call Trump's efforts to suppress votes or invite foreign interference.

"If you vote by mail, request your ballot now and send it back as soon as you can. If you vote in person, do it early," Clinton said. "Bring a friend and wear a mask. Become a poll worker. Most of all, no matter what, vote."

Although part of the evening honored women of Clinton's generation, it amounted to a declaration that a younger generation is rising.

Clinton spoke in the virtual company of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., as well as several younger women who are closer contemporaries of the night's headliner, vice-presidential nominee Harris, the first woman of color on a major-party ticket.

Clinton's role is partly elder statesman and partly keeper of the dream of electing a female president, a dream Harris also pursued this cycle.

The former nominee is a link to Harris's political generation, said Jennifer Palmieri, a top aide to Clinton in 2016, but she rejected the notion that Clinton is handing the baton to a new set of female leaders. "It's not a handoff," she said. "Joe Biden is the nominee."

Clinton, 72, chose not to make a third run for president this year after losing the nomination to Barack Obama in 2008 and the election to Trump four years ago.

She admired the Democratic primary's largest-ever field of female contenders, though she thought Biden had the best chance of beating Trump, two people who have spoken with her said.

Those people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private conversations, said Clinton concluded that she would be more help to the party by engaging female voters and acting as a resource on national security issues than by running herself. Clinton served as secretary of state under President Barack Obama.

She has held two fundraising events for Biden this year, and both she and her husband, former president Bill Clinton, plan more.

It is not yet clear whether Harris can help galvanize Black voters and others who did not turn out in expected numbers in 2016. Clinton's election was considered a near certainty by leaders of both parties up until election night, and among the factors in her loss was the large number of Democrats who stayed home.

That's where Clinton's appeal against complacency comes in, Palmieri said.

"She is a personification of what is at stake in this election, among other things," said Palmieri, whose new book "She Proclaims" makes the case that women's success should not be defined by metrics built by men.

"I don't think there are many Democrats who are overconfident or who don't understand how hard it will be to win, but if you need a reminder of how much Democrats are going to have to overperform to actually out-and-out win this thing, she is the best possible spokesperson for that," Palmieri said.

Clinton has been making that argument on the speaking circuit, saying Democrats must guard against what she says are Trump's efforts to suppress the vote and undermine a fair election. She is keenly aware of intelligence agencies' conclusion that Russia intervened in the 2016 election on Trump's behalf.

"We know from recent intelligence reports that the Russians are once again trying to favor and elect Donald Trump," Clinton told an Atlantic Council audience on Monday.

A former senator from New York, Clinton did not overlap with Harris in Congress, but the two have numerous connections.

Among them is Harris's sister, Maya Harris, who was a top policy adviser to Clinton four years ago. A Clinton campaign spokesman, Tyrone Gayle, became Harris's Senate spokesman. Both Clinton and Harris spoke at a memorial service for Gayle in 2018, when he died of cancer at 30.

On Wednesday, Clinton held up the Trump administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic as one example of what she called a failure of leadership.

"I wish Donald Trump knew how to be a president, because America needs a president right now," Clinton said.

The importance of female voters to the Democratic Party has become starkly evident since Trump's election. Women have led many of the organizations opposing the president, and a large number of female Democrats won House seats in 2018. Polls show that Biden's polling advantage is driven largely by women.

The party formally recognized that Wednesday. With a program featuring female performers and a celebration of 100 years of women's suffrage, it was also designed in part to showcase the historic nature of Harris's candidacy and her relative youth. She is 55; Biden is 77.

In an interview last week with the 19th, an online news portal, Clinton did not rule out a formal role in a Biden administration.

"I'm ready to help in any way I can, because I think this will be a moment where every American - I don't care what party you are, I don't care what age, race, gender, I don't care - every American should want to fix our country," Clinton said.

A representative for Clinton did not respond to a request for comment on her speech or her potential future role, but a longtime Clinton adviser and Democratic strategist said the possibility of further public service is real.

"I'd love to see her join the Cabinet, be a special representative somewhere or an ambassador," said that person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because Clinton herself considers any such discussion premature.

For now, Clinton relishes her role as a goad to Trump. Her increasingly cheeky Twitter feed this week featured a dry assessment of a phone interview the president did with Fox News on Monday.

She noted that Trump went "from acting incredulous that I suggested he'll challenge election results to confirming he will challenge election results in about a minute."

Trump, for his part, appears not to have fully moved on from the hostility he showed Clinton in 2016. He still calls her "Crooked Hillary," and chants of "Lock her up" still mark his campaign events.

Ahead of her speech Wednesday, Trump tweeted a video alleging that the Obama administration spied on him in 2016, a notion that Democrats forcefully reject. "Welcome, Barack and Crooked Hillary. See you on the field of battle!" Trump tweeted.

Obama also addresses the convention Wednesday.

Clinton congratulated Biden in a tweet Wednesday that included a candid photograph of her with Obama and the former vice president.

"We have 75 days left to elect him the next president. Let's make them count," Clinton wrote.
TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to research conducted by the UX Writing Hub, there's an exciting new role for copywriters that's exploding right now  yet almost no one is talking about it.

The biggest lesson to come out of 2020 so far is that if there's a single industry that's going to continue to thrive, it's technology.

UX Writing Hub

That's why, today, more and more copywriters are learning how to become UX (user experience) writers, which is another name for writers who write for digital things like websites, mobile apps, emails, blog posts, and more.

What is UX Writing?

Think about a few popular websites or apps like Amazon, maybe the dating app Tinder, or perhaps Google Maps. Three very different apps for very different purposes. But what do they all have in common? They all have content and plenty of it.

From the elements that show visitors how to navigate through the app, to different buttons and information, the words that a company chooses have a big impact on the behavior of the millions of people who use the app or website.

In fact, the text on one single button can make or break the user experience of a website.

But finding the right words doesn't happen by accident. In fact, there are many smart people running tests to figure out which words work best in a digital interface, and they're called UX copywriters or, in short, UX writers.

Why it matters to copywriters

It doesn't matter if it's a small business or a startup company, the words used throughout an app or website have a huge impact on the customer experience and, ultimately, the success of a business.

Today, almost all businesses have some kind of online presence. This means they must know how to communicate their product's message to the right audience at the right time  an extremely challenging task.

The UX writing market is exploding

Most big companies are now hiring UX writers: Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and many others.

It seems almost every day now another company reaches out to the UX Writing Hub, asking to be introduced to a UX writing student. That's pretty great considering the fact that many countries are facing a recession.

How to get started with UX writing?

Read books: there are many books out there related to creating better digital experiences. This list is a great place to start.

Online groups: There are many professional UX writing discussion groups on the internet including on Facebook and Reddit.

Professional courses: the UX Writing Hub offers plenty of UX writing courses for all levels. This free UX writing module is a great way to get started.

Do you have any questions about UX Writing?

Ask away at @KeshYuval.

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SOURCE UX Writing Hub
Skamokawa News

HOT, HOT, HOT!--Last weekend started out on a very toasty note, as temperatures were in the upper 90s at this house and even the "cool" side of the house registered 95, which is not exactly my idea of a cool day! With the traffic going non-stop in the westerly direction, I am guessing it was wall to wall down there! I know one person who touted it being only 73 degrees where he was, so yes, that's about perfect temperatures to enjoy the outdoors to me. Thankfully there was a smidgen of rain Sunday night and temps were in the 80s on Monday so I thought it was a much more bearable kind of day. Sadly, many areas got hit with some huge thunder and lightning storms, which caused many more wildfires, and caused the loss of many homes and thousands of acres of land, so we can only hope that by the time you read this, that those are all under control.

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from Aug. 20-26 are Becky Ledtke, Clarity Schmitz, Kay Walters, Riley Emlen-Petterson, John Gustafson, Bowe Dean Hamman, Cindy Faubion, Linda DeBriae, Kathy Durrah, Larry Havens, Bryce Heiner, Greg Parker, LouAnn Hedges, Kody Vik, Mike Vincent, Darrell Trotter, Nicholas Keithley, Bobbie Leingang, Anita Kangas, Bob Wegdahl Jr., Ashley Silva, Keith Kehrli, Cathy Stuart, Declan Haddix, Dolly Hartley, Patty Kellum, Shannon Ellison, Wayne Bell and Sean Pedersen.

Those celebrating anniversaries this week are John and Nicole McKinley, Mr. and Mrs. Duncan Cruickshank, Russ and Kathy Durrah, Bryce and Caitlin Heiner, Larry and Lesley Horman and celebrating their first year of marriage this week are Bryan and Libby Davison Bach. May you all have wonderful celebrations.

FARMER'S MARKETS--There are still two markets going on in our area, and vendors vary at both of them, so be sure to show up at the Elochoman Marina in Cathlamet on Fridays from 3 to 6 to check out their array of things, and on Tuesday, head to Skamokawa. From 4 to 7, the cow barn at the Wahkiakum County Fairgrounds is the place to check out, as there are a variety of vendors there, too. I almost hate to mention this, but really it's time to think about those unique Christmas gifts, as there are specialty soaps and clothing items or kitchen items, as well as fresh fruits and veggies. After all, we've only got four more months to go, which is like four paydays to go as well, so don't delay! Come on down and support our locals!

ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUP--In case you hadn't heard, there is a new group that has been formed to help abused or neglected animals, or animals that have been left out in the woods or along the road to fend for themselves. They are also going to try to help with finding low cost spay and neuter programs for those who would take in an animal but can't afford the high cost of having them fixed. This group is called WAAG, which stands for "Wahkiakum Animal Advocates Group." This group has a booth set up at the Farmers Market at the Elochoman Marina on Fridays, where they sell baked goods to help raise money, so if you'd like to support them, or even just contact them about joining and helping, then there's a handy place to meet with some members and get all the info you need. Remember, 100 percent of the money raised or donated is going towards helping animals. If you are on Facebook, you can also go to their page there.

IMPORTANT LOCAL SERVICE/VOTE--Beings we live out in the country, we truly rely on our local emergency services. This November there will be a "replacement levy" for our county's Emergency Medical Services. This helps us all with training and education for EMT's, plus the purchases for life saving equipment, life jackets for different parks around our area and bike helmets for the kids as well as public education and much more, so please spread the word and keep our EMS going. We truly need this to keep our residents safe, so I hope you'll support this important life-saving measue.

DON'T FORGET--The Friends of Skamokawa are asking for donations for their annual auction, which is usually combined with a wine tasting event, but due to Covid-19, that part of it can't happen this year. However, there will be virtual auctions, so folks can still donate things to be auctioned off and you'll have a little more time to view and bid on things as well, so we hope you'll give them a call and tell them you'd like to donate something. They can arrange to have you drop them off on Tuesdays or Thursdays, and I'm pretty sure if you just can't get up there, that they would be willing to come and pick up your item. So please join in for "A Cornucopia of Treasures," the online auction at: http://www.32auction.com/fos which will take place Oct. 9-18 this year. Call 360-795-3007 and leave a message if you need more info.

THINKING OF THEM--Just wanted to give a shout out to former resident, Nancy Corbin, as I understand she had to make a trip to the hosptial recently so we hope she is doing better by the time everyone reads this. We will continue to keep her in our thoughts. Also, Derrill Corbin's daughter had to have surgery for the removal of a mass that was discovered in her brain and she was to have surgery this past weekend to remove it. We hope and pray that this surgery was a success and she will be free of her migraines and not have any more problems once this tumor is removed.

Also, we'll keep Lori Wika in our thoughts as she's still dealing with lots of issues from her battle with this nasty virus. Beings it seems everyone has some of the same health issues, there are others who suffer from different symptoms as their bodies react to it, and recover from it, so it's important to be extra vigilant at all times so you don't wind up having to go through any of them first hand.

We will keep Kathy Elliott in our thoughts, too as she was admitted to the hospital this past week.

CONGRATS--We want to wish McKenna Mackintosh a hearty "Congratulations" as she and her fellow clinician and friend, Robby Trimbo, have opened a new physical therapy business together. It is called "TrueMotion Physical Therapy" and is located in Ridgefield, at Exit 14 off of I-5. You can check them out online of course, or if you are already in the need of a PT, call 360-309-6189 for an appointment. McKenna happens to be the daughter of proud parents, Linda (Palmer) and Larry Spieth and the grand-daughter of my cousin, and former Wahkiakum resident, Donna Healy Palmer. We wish her and her partner good luck on this new venture.

SCHOOL YEAR--I know things will be a little different this year, but I hope the opening of the school year on September 2 goes well for everybody. I think it's important for parents to ready their children on some of the extra precautions they will need to take in order to help protect themselves and others. Kids are pretty doggone smart these days and I'm sure that with the right techniques and patience, you can convey the seriousness of this issue without causing them to freak out. Here's hoping they will take this new school routine in stride and realize it's important to follow the rules so that they will be able to continue to see their friends and classmates, as that is certainly better than staying at home all the time!

OUT OF THE PAST--This week back in 1950, it began hot once again and evidently, it seems Portland was "fed up" with the all the high temperatures, as it had been in the high 90's for a couple weeks. Plus, a place called Eden Ridge marked a record low humidity reading of less than two percent; unheard of! In Cathlamet, temperatures were in the 90's as well, so when a storm started coming in and it rained on Wednesday, Aug. 23, everyone was happy. Grandpa Ralph Everest was still bedridden and Dr. Fritz was making frequent home visits. Several people stopped by the house and Mrs. Dryland was nice enough to bring homemade cinnamon rolls and some freshly made apple butter to boot. At the end of the week, Krist Pedersen headed back to Alaska after a brief time home.

Back in 1960, the week started out on a nice day but that evening a storm rolled in and it wound up bringing rain every day for the entire week. The Wahkiakum County Historical Society received the papers of the Talcott Family from Mrs. Jack Hilton. The contents started in the year of 1751 with King George II of England issuing a commission in the Connecticut Horse Troop. There was also a diploma from West Point dated 1818 and from the Civil War, there were letters written by General Robert E. Lee and other high ranking officers. Another letter wrote about the formation of the Corps of Engineers.

On August 21, there was an open house at the Krist Pedersen home where a party was being thrown for Marian (Everest) and Leon Healy in celebration of their 25th wedding anniversary. Grandma Everest got a ride over to Puget Island to attend the festivities with Rosella Schuley and Mrs. Arnett Danielsen, who was also in charge of cutting the cake. Mrs. Gertrude Healy poured coffee, Miss Carolyn Madsen was in charge of the punch bowl and Miss Kay Pedersen was in charge of the guest book. A gift of "silver" was presented to the couple for their silver wedding anniversary. A nice time was had by all.

Mr. Thomas Monroe McNally, who had been born in Marianna, Arkansas but was a Cathlamet resident for many years, passed away on August 22 at the age of 76. He was survived by his wife Artelia, and his three daughters: Olga, Geraldine and Geneveive and four sons: Glen, W.W., Bob and Kenneth. Services were held at the Assembly of God Church in Cathlamet with the Rev. Edwards Stockman officiating and assisted by Rev. John Turner.

It was Wahkiakum County Fair time that week and the first day was a wet Thursday, Aug. 25. Marjorie Bunn was going to be crowned the Queen of the fair that year. All this according to my Grandma Elsie Everest's diaries.
On the whole, you will pay less than last year, but how much less and when still remains to be seen, Ms. Berg said.

First class doesnt necessarily guarantee space

Flying back recently from his second home in Tucson, Ariz., to Chicago, George Fink, who works in finance, upgraded to first class on American, using 55,000 miles for the one-way ticket in hopes of having more space. Instead, he found himself with a seatmate wearing a mask that did not cover his nose. He implored his fellow flier, who ignored him, to cover up. He next tried the flight attendant, who would not help. The back of the plane was full, too, making it impossible to move. Then the attendants served a meal.

That meant everyone in first class took off their masks and ate for half an hour so all the masking and spacing was for naught, he said.

Only Delta and Alaska have committed to reducing density in the forward cabin to 50 percent. (Southwest doesnt have a first or business class; JetBlue is blocking six of 16 seats in its forward-class Mint cabins.) Fliers opting for the upgrade on other carriers  sometimes at very attractive prices  may very well find their wider, more spacious seats just inches from the passengers next to them.

Experts advise looking for airplane configurations that include single seat configurations. For example, on the Dreamliner that Mr. Hobica, the Airfarewatchdog.com founder, booked from Los Angeles to Newark, the seat configuration in business class was 1-2-1. (Bear in mind that carriers have the right to change aircraft per their contracts of carriage.)

Its a good way to fly if you dont want someone next to you, Mr. Hobica said.

Megan Solis, a teacher in Chicago, bought three $450 round-trip tickets in business class on United in early September so that she and her husband could take her oldest child to college in Boston, using credits from a previously canceled trip. Currently, the last seat in the familys four-seat row is empty and theyre hoping it stays that way.

The relatively low fare was secondary in her decision. I was more comfortable with the space up there, even before I saw the price, she said.
HD 60 race between Baker, Travis

The Sweetwater County commissioners will get a shake up in 2021 as incumbent Wally Johnson will not be a part of the group.

During the Primary Election Tuesday, Johnson missed out on proceeding after falling to third and being unable to surpass votes for Mary Thoman and incumbent Lauren Schoenfeld, who will go on to be the Republican nominees for the two available positions on the commissioners' board. According to unofficial results, Schoenfeld and Thoman were only separated by one vote, with the incumbent receiving 2,634 and Thoman receiving 2,633. Johnson received 1,825 and Green River resident Mark Peterson received 1,439.

As ballots were being counted, Johnson said he didn't mind if he made the cut or not, saying he could go on vacation. After the last precinct was reported, he congratulated Thoman while she attempted to console him after his defeat.

"You got it, congratulations," Johnson said to Thoman.

Thoman said she is happy to have made it through the first round and looks forward to the next portion of the campaign. While the coronavirus pandemic did impact candidates' ability to meet residents, Thoman said she felt the media provided a great means of allowing candidates to talk about their platforms.

"It's been a pretty lively race, considering," Thoman said.

Johnson has been a part of the county commissioners board since 2011, after winning election to a special two-year term when the county increased the number of commissioners to five members. He spent much of that time as the board's chairman. He also served one term on the board from 2005-2008.

The two Democrats in the commissioners' race, Joe Barbuto and Dave Gray, will move on the November election as well. Barbuto received 1,768 votes while Gray received 1,332.

House District 60

Republican Mark Baker will face Democrat Lindsey Travis according to county election results. Baker defeated Ted Barney 614 to 517 while Travis defeated Mike Burd 289 to 267.

Barney said he isn't sure if he will seek election to another office as the next election is in two years and he doesn't know what he'll be doing then. However, he did make one observation.

"Two Green River natives lost to nonnatives," Barney said.

Travis issued a statement Wednesday morning thanking her supporters.

Thank you to the voters of House District 60 and to everyone who helped with my campaign. Now its time to set our eyes on Cheyenne. Thank you as well to my Democratic opponent Mike Burd, who ran an admirable campaign. I look forward to working with him in the future to build a better Wyoming," she said.

Green River City Council

While the Primary Election had no consequences for Council candidates, the results will give candidates in one ward an idea of where they stand with voters and what they should do before the November election.

In Ward I, Sherry Bushman received 494 votes to incumbent Tom Murphy's 400.

In the empty Ward II election, 76 write-in votes were received. A write-in candidate could get placed on the General Election ballot should they receive enough votes.

In Ward III, Robert Berg, running unopposed, received 766 votes.

Election statistics

Overall, 7,920 ballots were cast, which consisted of 5,266 Republican ballots, 2,329 Democratic ballots, 325 nonpartisan ballots and nine blank ballots. Sweetwater County Clerk Cindy Lane said her office received more than 3,000 absentee ballots, which she attributed to the coronavirus pandemic.
TYSONS, Va., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- PenFed Credit Union, the nation's second-largest federal credit union, today announced for the second year in a row it was selected by the Military Times as a "Best for Vets" employer of 2020. The rankings, which are editorially independent, analyzed over 150 companies on their efforts to connect with veterans and provide them a working environment that supports their success.

"We are proud to have our commitment to employing veterans and military spouses recognized by the Military Times," said PenFed Credit Union President/CEO and PenFed Foundation CEO James Schenck. "As our team of over 2,700 professionals grows, we will continue to select individuals with the skills, experience, leadership and passion for service the military community brings to the workplace."

As part of an ongoing commitment to hiring and supporting the military community, PenFed operates a Military Employment Program focused on every phase of the employment lifecycle for all members of the military community  including veterans, military and surviving spouses, wounded warriors and their caregivers, Reservists and National Guardsmen.

In addition to spending 20% of its recruiting budget on hiring and retaining veterans and military spouses, PenFed collaborates with dozens of veteran employment organizations, as well as dozens of installation Transition Assistance Program offices, to enhance employment efforts within the broader military community. PenFed also partners with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Hiring Our Heroes initiative to specifically recruit transitioning service members and military spouses.

Veterans interested in a career with a military-friendly company are encouraged to visit PenFed's designated Military Webpage. The military webpage allows members of the military community to join a talent community and search for jobs based on their former military occupational specialties.

PenFed has a strong legacy of being a military-friendly company and donates 2% of its annual net income to charitable organizations, with the majority going to military charities. The PenFed Foundation, a national 501(c)3 founded by PenFed Credit Union, was created in 2001 and, since then, has provided more than $38.5 million in financial support to veterans, active-duty service members, families and caregivers.

In March, PenFed Foundation became the first national Veterans Service Organization (VSO) to launch a COVID-19 relief program for emergency financial assistance for veterans and service members. Those interested in supporting the PenFed Foundation's mission to help the military community and their support network are encouraged to visit penfedfoundation.org.

About PenFed Credit Union

Established in 1935, Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) is America's second-largest federal credit union, serving over 2 million members worldwide with over $26 billion in assets. PenFed Credit Union offers market-leading certificates, checking, credit cards, personal loans, mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and a wide range of other financial services with members' interests always in mind. PenFed Credit Union is federally insured by the NCUA and is an Equal Housing Lender. To learn more about PenFed Credit Union, visit PenFed.org , like us on Facebook and follow us @PenFed on Twitter . Interested in working for PenFed? Check us out on LinkedIn . We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

SOURCE PenFed Credit Union

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Edited by Jennifer Haupt

Central Avenue. 288 pp. $16.99

- - -

Could there be a timelier gift to quarantined readers than Jennifer Haupt's "Alone Together: Love, Grief, and Comfort in the Time of Covid-19"? I doubt it. Author/editor Haupt's new anthology delivers on its title, with an outpouring of responses to our shared ordeal by a wonderfully diverse group of (90!) writers.

When the contract for her second novel was canceled "because of the [virus-blighted] plummeting economy," Haupt did not sit long in her misery. She thought of all the small bookstores she loved being hit hard: What could she do?

Haupt chose to recruit a "community of writers" to contribute "an essay or poem about their Covid-19 experiences to a fundraising anthology." Proceeds from its sales will benefit the Book Industry Charitable Foundation, a group founded to help struggling indie booksellers.

In the anthology's foreword, Garth Stein ("The Art of Racing in the Rain") admits that "[p]erhaps this America is doomed" and that art may "remain submerged for so long, we will not be able to revive it." But the contributors to this collection, Stein vows, mean to brighten our dark days with "little fires ... burning everywhere."

Thank heaven, these short accounts do comfort. They're compulsively readable, too, even when painful - first, because they do what good writing always does, giving us the sharp relief of recognition. But they also inform, with dramatic power. Several manage some humor. All help us feel less lonely as we negotiate each new (Groundhog) day.

NPR's poet-in-residence, Kwame Alexander, with an 11-year-old daughter at home, surely speaks for an enormous population of worried parents. Alexander declares that he is elated to be doing "some of the things ... we used to do growing up and my kid is enjoying it!" The Newbery Medal-winning author is also convinced that "[w]ords and books show us that we're all one" and that "we can be united by something bigger than all of our differences." Thus, Alexander urges parents "to help children imagine a better world" by "helping them tell their stories of the past, the present, and the future."

Intense emotion, unsurprisingly, suffuses these writings, as does longing for our prior, unthinking ease of connection and closeness. Susan Henderson, coping with her father's death during the pandemic, writes, "I cry easily these days," a declaration I've heard people make repeatedly. And yet, blasting the music of Earth, Wind and Fire while she showers, she discovers that she "can still feel joy." Henderson writes, "All I desire anymore are simple things: to be out in the world without a mask ... to sit close enough to the people I love to hear them breathe."

Organized into five sections ("What Now?," "Grieve," "Comfort," Connect," "And Do Not Stop"), these voices feel linked - often by a sudden, refocused perspective on cycles of life and loss. Grace Talusan, who lost a close friend to the virus, comes to realize that "there are reasons humans have death rituals and because we could not have them, it's hard to believe she's really gone." Talusan is forced to consider - like so many of us - the strangely altered relationship to time and to so-called productivity, that the lockdown has enforced. "I think my dead are appearing to me now," she writes, "because finally I have the time to grieve them."

It's bracing to see ourselves dig deeper, facing the worst, to devise, invent, reach out. Jane Hirshfield reports from isolation, "Today, when I could do nothing,/I saved an ant." Stephen P. Kiernan reads poetry on the phone to a stressed Jenna Blum while she stews in the bathtub. Jean Kwok finds grace in "compassion toward others and myself." Jennifer Rosner makes "a daily cooking call" to her mother and discusses recipes. Roberto Lovato finds comfort in the scent of lavender. In "Pandemic Date Night," Sommer Browning and David Shields, separated and hungry for each other, text: "S: ... I can't wait until you get here. ... D: What will we do first? (Rhetorical question?)"

No one's mincing words. Devi Laskar, formerly a reporter, "still [seeks] the truth ... but sometimes ... can't bear it." Kristen Millares Young struggles to "keep my children safe" as "the news brings fresh and hellish revelations by the minute." Hope and determination persist, if erratically. Richard Blanco wants "to sing again," and Luis Alberto Urrea warns, "Despair is the most powerful weapon of the dominant."

Something's here, in short, for each of us. In the raw surge of brave voices, "Alone Together" will, indeed, give some love, some light, some "help for pain" (subverting Matthew Arnold). Who can't use a little of those right now?

- - -

Frank's recent books are "Where You're All Going: Four Novellas" and "Try to Get Lost: Essays on Travel and Place." Her new novel, "The Outlook for Earthlings," will be published Oct. 2.
Ranchi, Aug 20 : Jharkhand Chief secretary Sukhdev Singh has expressed happiness over the state being declared the 'Cleanest State' among the less than a hundred Urban local Bodies (ULBs) at the Swachh Survekshan Awards this year.

"We are happy to get this award. We will ensure we keep the momentum going. We have 41 ULBs in the state. The state will ensure that it remains clean" said Sukhdev Singh to IANS.

The Swachh Survekshan awards were announced by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri in New Delhi on Thursday. It monitors the performance of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, launched in 2014. The survey was conducted in 4,242 cities, 62 cantonment boards and 92 Ganga towns and was completed in 28 days.

Chhattisgarh ranked first in the category of best performing states with more than a hundred urban local bodies, while Jharkhand emerged first in the less than one hundred category.

Indore city in Madhya Pradesh emerged as the cleanest city for the fourth time in a row in the category of more than one lakh population, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development announced on Thursday.

This year, Indore is followed by Surat city in Gujarat and Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra. Meanwhile, in the category of less than one lakh population, Karad, Saswad and Lonavala cities in Maharashtra emerged victorious.

Ahmedabad in Gujarat ranked first in the cleanest mega city category, while Chhattisgarh's Ambikapur secured the cleanest smallest city tag. Bengaluru won the best self-sustainability award in the mega city category and Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh won the award in the small city category.
India has promised to give priority to Bangladesh when it would start producing and sharing with its other nations the Covid-19 vaccines  a move, which is apparently aimed at stopping one of its friendliest neighbours from drifting towards China.

Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla wrapped up his two-day visit to Dhaka on Wednesday, promising that New Delhi would ensure access for all its friends, partners and neighbours to the Covid-19 vaccine doses when the antidote to the virus would be developed and its mass production would start in India. He also told journalists in Dhaka that Bangladesh had always been a priority for India, indicating that New Delhi would ensure preferential supply of the vaccines to its eastern neighbour.

The Serum Institute of India (SII) already inked a deal with AstraZeneca for production of the ADZ-1222, which has been developed by the Oxford University in collaboration with the British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant. The ADZ-1222 is one of the front-runners in the race to be acknowledged as an effective vaccine against the Covid-19 pandemic. The SII is likely to conduct the Phase II and Phase III trials on the vaccine in India soon.

Follow latest updates on the Covid-19 pandemic here

India also has two indigenously developed Covid-19 vaccine candidates  the Covaxin by the Bharat Biotech International Limited and the ZyCOV-D by the Zydus Cadila. The Phase II trials are continuing on both the vaccines.

Shringla had a meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen on Wednesday. Momen later told journalists that he had discussed with Shringla the possibility of conducting trials in Bangladesh on the vaccine candidates being developed in India.

New Delhis promise to Dhaka came almost a month after Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC) granted ethical permission for conducting trials in the country on a potential Covid-19 vaccine developed by the Sinovac Biotech Limited of China.

India took note of Chinas move to tie-up with the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR-B) for the trial of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas government in Dhaka however later stated that it had not yet taken a final decision on the trial of the Covid-19 vaccine and would do so only after assessing the efficacy of the various antidotes being developed around the world.

The Covid-19 already infected over 282,000 people in Bangladesh and killed over 3700 of them so far.

Shringla flew to Dhaka on Tuesday amid growing concerns in New Delhi over Chinas bid to spread its tentacles over Bangladesh  not only through trial of Covid-19 vaccines and by promising access to the antidotes developed by the Sinovac Biotech Limited in future, but also by granting trade concessions and by promising soft loans for infrastructure projects as well as for helping the tiny nation recover its the economy from the crisis caused by the pandemic.

He called on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen, apart from holding a meeting with his counterpart Masud Bin Momen just before returning to New Delhi on Wednesday.
Donald Trump went to Joe Biden's backyard on Thursday to attack his rival ahead of his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention - then the president stopped for some take-out pizza, which is a code word among Q-Anon conspiracy theorists.

The president, after speaking to supporters at Mariotti Building Products, a kitchen remodeler in Old Forge, made an unscheduled stop at a local pizza joint to buy a couple of pies.

It was an unusual move for Trump, who rarely makes such pit stops, unlike Vice President Mike Pence, who frequently stops at diners during his travels. Barack Obama, when he was president, also made several impromptu stops at diners and hamburger joints - which many politicians see as a way to meet and connect with 'the people.'

President Donald Trump holds a pizza during a visit to Arcaro and Genell restaurant after speaking at a campaign event where he criticized Joe Biden ahead of his acceptance speech as the Democratic nominee

President Trump was in Old Forge, which is famous for its pizza. Trump said he stopped because he heard they had 'great pizza'

The pizzas come in red or white and the most expensive will cost $18.95 - Trump appeared to have purchased a cheese pizza

It was unusual for Trump to make the unscheduled stop at Arcaro and Genell - unlike other politicians he usually doesn't do impromptu visits to diners or food eateries

Trump hopped out of the presidential limo at Arcaro and Genell Takeaway Kitchen, where the most expensive pie on the menu will set you back $18.95.

He appeared to have bought a cheese pizza - $15 on the menu, which he showed off the media traveling with him.

He said he wanted to stop 'because they have great pizza.' The boxes of pizza - and they're called cuts at Arcaro and Genell, not slices - went back on Air Force One with him.

Trump was not pictured tasting the cheesy treat. But in June 2011 Trump was heavily mocked for eating a piece of pizza with a knife and fork during lunch with Sarah Palin at a New York pizzeria.

Old Forge, Pennsylvania, is famous for its distinct style of pizza. The Old Forge pizza - which comes in red or white - has a crust that's lighter than a typical thick crust, and crispy on the bottom with a chewy center. The pies are baked in flat, rectangular trays, which is why the pieces are cuts instead of slices.

But pizza has a deeper connotation to the followers of the QAnon conspiracy collective, who believe Trump was elected to help save the world from a 'deep state.'

The followers believe falsely that the world is run by a group of Satan-worshiping pedophiles who are plotting against President Trump while operating a global child sex-trafficking ring.

Among those in on the plot, they falsely claim, are Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, George Soros, Oprah Winfrey, and Tom Hanks, among others.

Hence, in the 2016 presidential campaign, when Wikileaks published the emails of Clinton campaign manager John Podesta, QAnon followers believed there were code words in there that indicated a child-sex ring was being run at Comet Ping Pong pizzeria in Washington D.C. - a conspiracy theory that has been soundly debunked.

The followers believe Trump was elected to trigger 'The Storm' - which is when the Satan loving pedophiles will be rounded up and brought to justice. They are constantly on the look out for signals from the president they can interpret as a clue that 'the storm' is coming.

The central figure in the conspiracy is Q, supposedly a high-level government official who leaves clues - or 'drops' - on message boards about the imminent 'great awakening,' when the pedophile cabal will be ended. Followers have speculated that Trump is Q.

And the president seemed to offer them encouragement during his press conference at the White House on Wednesday.

'I've heard these are people that love our country,' he said when asked about the QAnon followers. 'So I don't know really anything about it other than they do supposedly like me.'

'If I can help save the world from problems, I am willing to do it. I'm willing to put myself out there,' he added.

Before his pizza stop, Trump attacked Biden during his campaign stop, on the eve of Biden's acceptance speech for the Democratic nomination for president.

Old Forge is about 20 minutes down the road from Biden's childhood hometown of Scranton, which Trump charged him with abandoning.

'He'll remind us that he was born in Scranton, but you know, he left, like, 70 years ago. He left a long time ago,' he said. 'He wasn't born here. He abandoned Scranton. His family had something to do with that.'

Biden's family left Scranton because his father lost his job, a story Biden often tells on the campaign trail as his way to empathize with people who are going through tough times.

But QAnon conspiracy theorists, who believe President Trump was elected to save the world from the 'deep state,' believe pizza is a codeword

President Trump's pizza stop comes a day after he offered words of encouragement to QAnon followers at his White House press conference

In June 2011, Donald Trump was heavily mocked for eating a piece of pizza with a knife and fork during lunch with Sarah Palin at a New York pizzeria.

Joe Biden stops in front of his childhood home on July 9 in Scranton, Pennsylvania

President Trump's attacks on Joe Biden come hours ahead of Biden giving his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention for their presidential nomination

When the president first made the charge of May of last year that Biden abandoned the state - a key one in November's election - Biden shot back in a long Twitter thread, sharing a story he's weaved into his campaign stump speech.

'I've never forgotten where I came from. My family did have to leave Pennsylvania when I was 10  we moved to Delaware where my Dad found a job that could provide for our family,' Biden wrote.

He argued Trump 'doesn't understand that the longest walk a parent can make is up a short flight of stairs to their child's bedroom to say, honey, I'm sorry. We have to move. You can't go back to your school. You won't see your friends because Daddy or Mommy lost their job.'

'My dad had to make that walk in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It wasn't until I was older that I realized how hard it must have been for him. But he was not alone. This story isn't unique to the Bidens. Too many people around this country have had to make that walk,' he added.

Biden often visits his childhood home in Scranton and retains such close ties to the state it was joked in the Senate he was Pennsylvania's 'third senator.'

Pennsylvania could make or break this year's presidential election. Its votes helped put Trump in the White House in 2016 when he became the first Republican to carry it in more than 20 years.

But he won it by less than 1 per cent and Biden will campaign hard there to return it to the Democrats' corner.

And Biden leads Trump in Pennsylvania by 6.4 points according to the RealClearPolitics polling average in that state.

Trump, meanwhile, began his counter-programming to Biden's big night on Thursday morning in a fury of tweets, knocking out retweet after retweet of criticism against Biden, his running mate Kamala Harris and former President Barack Obama, who presented a blistering indictment against Trump's presidency in his convention speech Wednesday night.

'President Obama is making it a habit of campaigning in Philly for losing Presidential candidates,' read one of the retweets. Obama and Hillary Clinton held the last rally of her 2016 presidential campaign in Philadelphia, just before she lost the election to Trump.

President Donald Trump will take his attacks on Joe Biden to Biden's backyard on Thursday with a campaign stop just outside Biden's childhood hometown of Scranton

President Trump will also give an interview to Fox News' Sean Hannity an hour before Joe Biden accepts the Democratic nomination for president

President Trump launched his attacks on Biden Thursday with a flurry of retweets

And he repeated his false claim that Biden wants to defund the police, with a retweet from his campaign war room featuring a clip from Fox News' Tucker Carlson and the words: 'Democrats want a world without police, without prisons, and without virtually any sort of law enforcement. These are today's Democrats. This is Joe Biden's America.'

Trump also retweeted himself from the night before questioning attack lines Harris used against Biden during the Democratic presidential primary. And he touted his campaign's counter punches to Biden's big night, including an online show Thursday evening featuring Kimberly Guilfoyle interviewing her boyfriend and Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. about the 2020 campaign.

In addition to Thursday's Pennsylvania stop, Trump will also give an interview to Fox News' Sean Hannity an hour before Biden addresses the Democratic National Convention, to formally accept the presidential nomination.

Traditionally, the nominee of the other party stays quiet during their rival's convention week.

Trump threw that rule out the window this week with his trips to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Arizona to criticize Biden.
File photo of the George W. Hill Correctional Facility (Photo by Clem Murray / Inquirer) Read more

An inmate at Delaware Countys prison has been charged with aggravated assault and related offenses for an attack last week on a corrections officer, District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said Wednesday.

Khaishaun Farmer, who has been incarcerated at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility since June on weapons charges, was still being held at the prison pending a court appearance, Stollsteimer said.

The assault happened Friday. The corrections officer, who was not named, was locking down a unit when Farmer allegedly blocked the door to his cell, and then body-slammed the officer and continued to attack him as he lay unconscious, Stollsteimer said.

The officer was hospitalized with three broken vertebrae, possible internal bleeding, and a laceration to the head.

Stollsteimer said Farmer has admitted to punching the victim, body slamming him, and then getting on top of him and striking his face.
The Convention Peoples Party (CPP) has approved 20 stalwarts of the party to contest various positions during its National Delegates Congress scheduled for Saturday, August 22, 2020.



Three individuals have been approved for the flagbearership while 17 others have been approved for the various national positions such as National Chairman, Vice National Chairman, General Secretary, Treasurer, National Organiser, Women Organiser and Youth Organiser.



Although at the close of nominations, no candidate had filed for the position of National Treasurer, the extension of the deadline to August 3, afforded two individuals to file to contest the position.



This was announced at a press conference in Accra yesterday which was addressed by a member of the party, Mr Kwesi Pratt, on behalf of the Chairman of the Council of Elders of the CPP, Mr Felix Amoah.



Candidates



For the flagbearership, former General Secretary and the 2016 presidential candidate of the party, Mr Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, will be slugging it out with four-time flag-bearer hopeful of the party, Mr Bright Oblitei Akwetey, and a newcomer, Rev. Dr Divine Ayivor.



Acting National Chairman of the party, Hajia Hamdatu Ibrahim Haruna, will seek to become a substantive Chairman but has to battle it out with Nana Oduro Kwarteng , Mr Kweku Ankrah Quansah and Nana Akosua Frimpomaa Sarpong Kumankuma.



Mr James Kwabena Bomfeh, aka Kabila, is seeking to move from Ag. General Secretary to the substantive General Secretary, a position which is also keenly being contested by a former Director of Public Affairs and External Affairs of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Nana Yaa Akyempim Jantuah.



Two individuals, Mr Moses Yirimanbo and Mr Rashid Allao are vying for the position of National Organiser while incumbent Women Organiser, Hajia Aisha Sulley Futa, is being challenged by Madam Rose Endah with Messrs Solomon Amponsah and Osei Kofi Acquah vying for the Youth Organiser position.



For the Vice Chairmanship, Messrs Onsy Kwame Nkrumah, Emmanuel Ogbojor and J.B Daniels will go unopposed for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Vice Chairmen.



Congress



Mr Amoah announced that the National Delegates Congress would not be organised at one venue as had been done previously, but would be decentralised to reduce the numbers that would meet to vote in conformity with COVID-19 health protocols.



He said it would be held simultaneously in all the 16 regions and at the national headquarters in Accra on August 22.



The CPP is ready and poised to provide a complete alternative to the Siamese twins of the duopoly who have misruled this country since 1992 and maintained a socio-economic system which has impoverished the majority of the population, he stated.

Source: Daily Graphic









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Conservatives, the thinking ones at least, know why they came up badly short in last Novembers federal election.

Simply put, under Andrew Scheer they failed to offer a forward-thinking vision that would expand the partys support beyond its western and rural base into vote-rich regions like the GTA and Greater Montreal.

The world has changed in ways we could not have imagined in the eight months since Scheer announced he would step down as leader. The coronavirus hadnt even been identified. The biggest national issue we seemed to face was a resurgence of western alienation. How quaint.

But the basic question for Conservatives, as they choose a new national leader this weekend, remains the same. Who is best-placed to appeal to the many urban and suburban voters who dont believe the party has fully embraced the realities of Canada in the 21st century?

To which one must now add: who is likely to craft the most effective alternative to the expansive (and no doubt expensive) post-pandemic plan that the Liberals sketched out this week after the abrupt departure of Bill Morneau as finance minister?

This isnt just a private matter for Conservative party card-holders. All Canadians have a stake in seeing a viable alternative to the governing party, and in seeing the Conservatives remain faithful to their heritage as a strong and progressive (in the traditional sense of the word) force for nation-building. Not, in other words, allowing themselves to become a vehicle for the type of regressive populism thats on the march in so many other countries.

The best person to take the Conservatives forward now, in our view, is Peter MacKay. He has the most impressive track record in government as a former minister of justice, foreign affairs and defence. Most importantly, he has campaigned in a way that will position the party for the next election.

Of the four candidates for the leadership, MacKay has spent the least time courting support from social conservatives, whose pet issues he once famously referred as a stinking albatross around Scheers neck. His campaign has focused on creating jobs and on a major investment in the military. And he says hes keenly aware of the need to create a more modern, forward-looking image for the party.

His leading rival, MP Erin OToole, campaigned as a centrist when he sought the leadership in 2017, but this time he has consciously positioned himself as the right-wing alternative to MacKay. He calls himself a true blue Conservative and back in January warned that MacKay would turn the party into a Liberal-party lite.

(In the same interview, OToole dismissed the Liberals as government led by the editorial board of the Toronto Star, so were well aware of the weight hell place on our opinion.)

Theres not much evidence that OToole himself is a convinced social conservative. But hes chosen to court their support this time out and if he wins the leadership it will be seen as a victory for that wing of the party. That will make it tougher for Conservatives to win over the urban/suburban voters who rejected them last year.

Of the two other leadership hopefuls, newcomer Leslyn Lewis has impressed many party members as a serious and substantive candidate. Shes campaigned on social-conservative issues but also attracted support from centrists. She may surprise with a strong showing on Sunday.

Derek Sloan, on the other hand, has stuck resolutely to the extreme right with a focus on restricting abortion and immigration, demonizing the World Health Organization, railing against face masks as political control, and so on. The less support he ends up with, the better for the party and the country.

The new leader, whoever it is, will face an enormous challenge. Trudeau and the Liberals damaged themselves with the WE Charity affair, but in the midst of a pandemic Canadians are demanding more government help, not less. The traditional Conservative message of restraint will be a harder sell than usual.

All this argues for someone who appreciates the importance of sticking close to the political centre. For Conservatives now, thats Peter MacKay.
The Mackinac Bridge connects the lower and upper peninsulas of Michigan, with its roadway standing at only 199 feet above the water at its apex. Shutterstock.com

The Coast Guard and Michigan law enforcement are working to track down a pilot who flew under Michigan's Mackinac Bridge in June.

Coast Guardsmen on a nearby boat caught the incident and recorded it but could not identify the aircraft nor stop the act from occuring

Federal aviation regulations require aircraft stay 500 feet from any structure when over water, with the Mackinac Bridge roadway only 199 feet above the Straits of Mackinac.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The US Coast Guard and Michigan law enforcement agencies are working to find the pilot who flew a small plane under northern Michigan's Mackinac Bridge earlier this summer.

Video taken from a Coast Guard patrol boat in the vicinity of the suspension bridge shows the aircraft approaching the bridge at a low altitude and flying under the main roadway at 2:50 pm on Sunday, June 28.

Nearly two months later, investigators are asking the public to help find the renegade pilot.

Authorities say the bridge, which carries Interstate 75, was packed with hundreds of cars at the time, traveling in advance of the July 4 holiday weekend. "This was extremely reckless behavior on the part of the pilot, and it imperiled the safety of everyone on the bridge that day," Sgt. Gary Demers of the state police said in a statement. "We hope that someone can come forward with information to help us make sure it doesn't happen again."

Anyone who took a photo or video of the stunt, or who has any helpful information, can leave an anonymous tip with either the Coast Guard or Michigan State Police.

Federal Aviation Administration regulations do not specifically prohibit flying under a bridge  common sense does  but do bar pilots from flying within 500 feet of "any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure" when over open water or sparely populated areas. (Otherwise, they must maintain an altitude of 500 feet.)

Story continues

The sole driveable link between the lower and upper peninsulas of Michigan, the roadway of the Mackinac Bridge stands just 199 feet above the water at its highest point, according to the Mackinac Bridge Authority, meaning the closest to the span a pilot of a fixed-wing aircraft can legally fly is 699 feet above ground level.

The FAA's enforcement division can charge between $1,100 and $27,500 for a violation of its rules, depending on the circumstances.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Google has been warned to stop engaging in scare tactics amid fears the tech giant could pull out of offering internet searches altogether in Australia.

Despite its Australian operations making $4.8billion in gross revenue last year, Google suggested, then denied, Australians could be charged for internet searches and YouTube videos if it was forced to pay for the news content it shared.

The Silicon Valley giant could go further and close down its search engine services in Australia entirely if it doesn't get its way with the competition regulator.

John Durie, a leading business analyst in The Australian newspaper, has suggested that 'Google is considering withdrawing its search functions' from Australia if it doesn't get its way with a proposed media industry code.

'The company hasn't publicly threatened withdrawal but is making it known that the move is a clear consequence of the imposition of the code,' he said.

Google has been warned to stop engaging in scare tactics with the search engine giant hinting it could stop offering free services in Australia. Pictured is their head office at Mountain View in California

Google's withdrawal from Australia would leave the internet search field to competitors including Bing, Amazon and Duckduckgo.

Professor Allan Fels, a former Australian Competition and Consumer Commission boss, however said Google was worried about Australia introducing a digital tax, which other countries would copy, if it refused to pay media companies to share their articles.

'The government has got some very big sticks in the cupboard such as imposing a tax on internet products,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'If Australia were to introduce a digital tax a lot of countries would follow it.'

With Google campaigning against the ACCC draft code, a group of concerned Australians are warning them to stop acting like bullies.

'If you want our ongoing support, we encourage you to make it mutual and reach a fair arrangement that respects our Australian media,' the Australia Institute said in full-page newspaper ads.

'Australians embrace innovators but we don't like bullies.'

The Australia Institute's Centre for Responsible Technology pointed out 5,000 journalists in Australia had lost their jobs as Google and Facebook had taken advertising away from traditional media outlets.

The Australia Institute's Centre for Responsible Technology has accused Google of acting like bullies - following their campaign against an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission proposal to make them pay for news content they share

'Now the ACCC has asked you to recognise this and contribute some of your massive profits back into media in order for this essential element of our nation's public square to thrive,' it said.

The think tank also called on Google to stop claiming it would need to hand over personal information to media companies under the ACCC proposal.

'It's as if you have taken every clause of the code and exaggerated it out of context and then attempted to create a smokescreen to scare and distract people,' it said.

The prospect of the ACCC model becoming a blueprint for action against big tech in the US and Europe has sent an understandable shudder through Google's headquarters in Silicon Valley.

Before it went rogue this week, Google had been quietly negotiating revenue sharing deals with several media companies.

Google users in Australia are now being confronted with a yellow exclamation mark next to the search engine field with the phrase: 'The way Aussies search every day on Google is at risk from new Government regulation' with a link ranting against regulation

Google users in Australia are now being confronted with a yellow exclamation mark next to the search engine field with the phrase: 'The way Aussies search every day on Google is at risk from new Government regulation.'

Google's managing director in Australia Mel Silva on Monday published an open letter warning internet users could soon be charged if it was forced to negotiate commercial content sharing deals with news organisations.

Google's managing director in Australia Mel Silva published an open letter warning internet users could soon be charged if it was forced to negotiate commercial content sharing deals with news organisations

'A proposed law, the News Media Bargaining Code, would force us to provide you with a dramatically worse Google Search and YouTube, could lead to your data being handed over to big news businesses, and would put the free services you use at risk in Australia,' she said.

A day later, it sent Daily Mail Australia an email saying it had not threatened to charge Australians for Google searches and YouTube videos.

'We do not intend to charge users for our free services,' a spokesman said.

'What we did say is that Search and YouTube, both of which are free services, are at risk in Australia.'

Google has described the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's draft code, for sharing news content, as 'unworkable'.

ACCC chairman Rod Sims said Google's open letter 'contains misinformation'.

'Google will not be required to charge Australians for the use of its free services such as Google Search and YouTube, unless it chooses to do so,' he said.

'Google will not be required to share any additional user data with Australian news businesses unless it chooses to do so.'
Burma Military Chief Blames Ethnic Armies, Govt for Myanmars Protracted Peace Process

Myanmar military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing delivers a speech at the opening of the fourth session of the 21st-Century Panglong peace conference on Wednesday. / NRPC

Myanmars army chief has blamed the government and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) for the failure of the peace process, accusing them of being dishonest and failing to strictly adhere to basic principles, while defending the armed forces role as protector of the country.

Myanmar needs to assess why we cannot attain peace today, said the commander-in-chief of defense services, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, during his address to the fourth and latest session of the government-sponsored 21st-Century Panglong Union Peace Conference, which began in Naypyitaw on Wednesday.

He said peace had yet to be attained for three reasons: the dishonest attitude of stakeholders; attempts to link the peace process with other processes; and stakeholders failure to strictly adhere to the underlying principles of the peace process.

The army chief also criticized the National League for Democracy-led government for taking the role of mediator between the Tatmadaw (Myanmars military) and the EAOs, saying the government was acting as if it were a neutral peacemaker.

The EAOs have opposed the Union and successive governments. If one studies history objectively, it can be seen that the Tatmadaw has protected the Union and successive governments, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing said. He added that based on its experience, the Tatmadaw is taking measures to prevent what should not happen from happening, and to pave the way for what should happen to happen.

Myanmar has held peace building and ceasefire talks for the past nine years, including five peace conferences. Four of these have been held as sessions of what has been dubbed the 21st-Century Panglong Union Peace Conference under the incumbent NLD government. At these peace talks, the government, Tatmadaw and the 10 EAOs that are signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) are attempting to draft plans for a future democratic federal Union.

Not all of the countrys ethnic armed groups have signed the NCA and somein particular the EAOs based in the north of the countryare still at the stage of negotiating bilateral ceasefires.

Elaborating on his allegation that stakeholders have been dishonest, the senior general claimed that The Tatmadaw has been portrayed as the creator of the armed conflicts in the country.

In regards to his final two reasons for the failure to attain peace, he said the peace process must be based on the national interest rather than individual desires, political ambition or the interests of a group.

He said the principles outlined in the NCA are the basic principles underpinning the peace process and urged negotiators to strictly follow the text of the agreement.

But Nai Hong Sar, the chairman of the New Mon State Party, told reporters in Naypyitaw on Wednesday that the army chief was wrong to suggest that the armed conflict was caused by the EAOs.

Actually, our rights are being lost and we raised this through political talks, but they responded with arms. Thus, we take up arms, Nai Hong Sar said.

State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the head of the governments peace negotiation team, said in her opening remarks to the conference that peace building is not only about stopping shooting and bombing, but is also about rejecting the logic of the current bad political culture in which might makes right and people must rely on arms to be recognized or succeed.

She added that it is necessary to end the attitude that led to this bad political tradition that taking up arms is the effective way of achieving ones goals.

During the peace conference, two Shan leaders representing an EAO and a political party respectively delivered messages about the importance of peace building, equality and maintaining the Union spirit.

General Yawd Serk, the chairman of the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), who is also leading the EAOs peace negotiations, said, We all have a responsibility and must all be accountable, as we share joint ownership of the NCA. As recently as last month, the RCSS and government troops were fighting in Kyaukme Township, Shan State.

Visibly struggling to speak in Burmese, as he was banned from speaking in Shan, his mother tongue, Gen. Yawd Serk said the principles to be added to the Union Accord have not achieved what was expected because the negotiating partners were plagued by mistrust and doubt, were overcautious, held firm to their own stands and confronted each other [the Tatmadaw and NCA-signatory armed groups].

Sai Nyunt Lwin, the vice chairman of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, highlighted the urgent need to build national unity in order to achieve reconciliation and attain peace.

The Shan politician urged Myanmar citizens to put their love for Union and love for country above their patriotism for their race and ethnic nationality.

He also urged citizens of Myanmar to live in harmony; each nationality must have equality in terms of rights, freedom and authority, and respect the identities of others.

His speech reiterated the longstanding call by Myanmars ethnic minorities for equal access to rights, self-determination and resource sharing.

However, in his speech, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing insisted there is no discrimination against minorities in Myanmar, and that ethnic rights and minorities rights are upheld as stipulated in the 2008 Constitution.

The opening of the three-day conference was attended by State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Union President, the parliamentary speakers, the military chief, representatives of political parties and the leaders of the ethnic armed groups that are the signatories to the NCA.

Other EAOs that have not signed the NCA, including the members of the northeast-based Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee, do not join the event this time.
Its not a flashy, trendy bar enticing young people. Its not a bar that serves food. Its not going to draw hundreds to party nights with the clientele downing expensive cocktails. But most importantly, its not open.

Dans Bar, on the Springfield Road in Belfast, is family run, serving the local community who like a quiet pint and a chat. Its similar to many establishments across the country that have been left on the shelf as more illustrious names in the licensing trade have re-opened their doors in the past few weeks.

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And owner Gerard Keenan, who had hoped to open two weeks ago and is still planning to open on September 1 along government guidelines, fears the doors are going to remain firmly shut unless the industry behaves for the good of all concerned.

I understand that people are desperate to make a living, but the truth is that establishments that are finding ways to flout restrictions are ruining it for everyone, said Gerard.

I have a real fear that come the date we have been given for reopening of September 1, our doors will have to remain shut.

Common sense has to prevail here, but what bars that are reopening and flouting the restrictions are doing is destroying any confidence people have that we are all able to make our pubs a safe place for people to come in to.

I firmly believe that if someone like me was able to sit down with Arlene Foster and Michelle ONeill we could come up with a way of making sure every bar was able to open safely. Gerard Keenan, Dan's Bar owner

While not mentioning any names, he told how a bar not far from his own business, has felt the consequences already.

Theres one bar that opened. It doesnt serve food, but went ahead. Within a week there were five cases of Covid. A week later there were 12. Its shut again. Is that what we really want to see happening?

Believe me, I was tempted to do it myself for a while. There are bars who have never served food who are suddenly finding a way. I had to think was I willing to put my family at risk at any cost to get the doors open again? Id love more than anything else to get the business back up and running, I have a family of six and I need to look after them, but not by exposing them to risk like that.

I firmly believe that if someone like me was able to sit down with Arlene Foster and Michelle ONeill we could come up with a way of making sure every bar was able to open safely, he said.

We were ready to open two weeks ago. We were reducing the number of people allowed in from 80 to 36. We had spent over 3,000 on stock. Thankfully a lot of that is spirits which will keep and I managed to cancel the order of kegs before they arrived otherwise we would have lost a lot of money. But the bottled beer will not keep and thats something were going to lose money on.

Solutions need to be found. We would have no objection to routinely temperature testing everyone who comes through the door. We have already bought thermometers and we has already set a new lower limit on the numbers. Its the right thing to do.

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But he says the greed of some bar owners is threatening to do unrepairable damage to the industry.

Unfortunately elsewhere greed has set in and that has led to complacency, or a lack of thought for the rest of the industry and the health and wellbeing of the community, he said.

I have already met with the head of PSNI licensing and have been told they do have new powers. If they receive a complaint and investigate to find bars have been in breach of regulations then they now have the power to shut that bar down there and then and they can only re-open once police are satisfied the business has been made safe and will run on that condition.

It should be simple for the authorities to monitor which businesses have been ordering kegs from suppliers and operating while not abiding by the restrictions. Gerard Keenan, Dan's Bar owner

Whether police act on what he has been told is another matter.

A PSNI spokesperson said: PSNI are guided by the Licensing (NI) Order 1996 and the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) Regulations NI 2020 to ensure laws are upheld and people are kept safe. We have been working with a number of licensees across Northern Ireland to ensure our communities can socialise in a safe environment.

Where Police receive a complaint, we will engage with the licensee with respect to the Licensing (NI) Order 1996 and the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) Regulations NI 2020. Where appropriate, advice and guidance is provided to ensure the continued safe and peaceful enjoyment of services.

Any warnings issues, said Gerard, have not been strong enough to deter some bars from openly flouting the advice.

There are traditional wet bars around the country that have found a way around the restrictions to re-open, whether thats serving a bowl of Doritos to customers as food, he said.

Theyre not helping any of us. Some I have been made aware of are using local chip shops to enable them to serve food. Its morally wrong and there is a real fear from the pub owners who are abiding by the restrictions on wet pubs and not opening their door that the industry will be left devastated if we are all forced to close our doors or keep them shut.

We need to be grown up about this, be responsible. What happened last time can happen again and none of us want that situation.

Im scared I will not be able to meet my bills. My family is everything for me and I want to be able to provide for them. Gerard Keenan, Dan's bar owner

And while the industry is calling for more financial support if the deadline of September 1 for reopening slips past again, Gerard is concerned that some who have been flouting restrictions will benefit as much as those who have remained shut.

Of course there will be calls for financial aid, grants to make sure businesses can survive what happens next, but here needs to be a way of making sure those who have abided by regulations are the once to benefit. I know those who have kept their doors shut will be furious if those who have gone ahead, bent the rules and opened their doors despite never having served food before benefit as well.

It should be simple for the authorities to monitor which businesses have been ordering kegs from suppliers and operating while not abiding by the restrictions.

Im scared I will no be able to meet my bills. My family is everything for me and I want to be able to provide for them, but I would never dream of putting them at risk by opening up if I didnt think it was safe to do so, but we will need assistance and that needs to be focused on the businesses who have done all they can to keep their customers safe.

Last year our premises was valued at over 500,000. Today Id expect its worth less than half of that. No-one will be interested in buying a bar in the current circumstances. Thats what a family business is up against here.
Phil Robertson says listeners of his podcast travel to Louisiana to be baptized by him

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During a recent appearance on a Christian podcast, Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson said that people from all over the country have traveled to his hometown of West Monroe, Louisiana so that they could be baptized by the outspoken Christian activist.

The 74-year-old Robertson, the founder of Duck Commander duck calls, appeared on the Edifi With Billy Hallowell podcast Saturday to discuss his new book, Jesus Politics: How to Win Back the Soul of America.

Robertson and Hallowell discussed current events as well as Robertsons Unashamed podcast. Robertson explained the premise of his podcast to the Pure Flix journalist.

Were reaching out to our neighbor and were telling him to love their God, repent and turn to God, Robertson said. Love God and love your neighbor.

According to the reality television star, his podcast has had quite an impact. He said many listeners have gone to great lengths to embrace his call to affirm Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

We convert them by the thousands, Robertson proclaimed. Theyre coming from that podcast  about nine or maybe 10 in the last three days. Theyve come all the way down here.

Ive baptized that whole little crew, he continued. Well, its that way every  day or two. I mean, they just keep coming.

In addition to baptizing a multitude of his listeners, Robertson explained that he has also offered to baptize President Donald Trump.

Robertson spoke about an exchange he had with Trump ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

During his meeting with Trump, Robertson said he told him that Jesus Christ died for Donald Trumps sins.

He conquered death for the human race, Robertson explained.

As their conversation came to a close, Robertson told Trump, who appeared interested in learning more about the Christian faith, to find somebody up here to baptize you. ... If you cant find anybody you trust, get a hold of me and Ill come up here and baptize you.

Following their exchange in 2016, Robertson said he and Trump have spoken on the phone.

Robertson said he asked the president whether or not he had been baptized since their conversation. Robertson said that the president responded by saying that he hadn't.

The last time I saw him, I gave him some verses on the new birth, being baptized and what it means, Robertson said. And Im convinced hes put his faith in Jesus and Im convinced hes a brother.

Throughout the podcast, Robertson maintained that if more people heeded the call to love God and love your neighbor, America would not find itself in a state of unrest.

You wouldnt see this mischief, mayhem, robbing, looting, [and] shooting, he said. Were at a tipping point. The forces of evil are going against the forces of good.

While he made it clear that were doing battle with the forces of evil, Robertson stressed that it was important to fight the battle in a loving way and offer the forces of evil a chance to repent.

Robertson contrasted the qualities that members of the kingdom of God subscribe to  namely love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control  with the anarchy, belligerence and vulgarity practiced by the forces of evil.

Listen to the full podcast with Phil Robertson.
The Nigerian army said on Thursday it was in "full control" of a northeastern town where sources say hundreds of people have been taken hostage by jihadists.

Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters stormed the town Kukawa on Tuesday and seized hundreds of residents who had only just returned after fleeing their homes for nearly two years, according to locals and militia sources.

"The terrorists on 18 August 2020 attacked troops' location in Kukawa town in Borno state where the attack was vehemently thwarted," defence spokesman John Enenche said in a statement.

"The situation in Kukawa is now calm with troops in full control," he said.

Kukawa's residents had returned to their homes on August 2 under military escort, on the orders of the state government.

They had been living in camps in the regional capital Maiduguri, 180 kilometres (120 miles) away, where they fled following a bloody attack in November 2018.

"The attack by the terrorists was... a deliberate attempt to reverse the milestone achievements recorded regarding IDPs (internally displaced persons) in the areas of peace building, reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement efforts by the government," Enenche said.

Three soldiers lost their lives, two wounded while eight insurgents were killed during the gunbattle with the jihadists, he added.

The decade-long jihadist conflict in northeastern Nigeria has forced around two million people from their homes, mostly in the northern part of Borno.

Many have moved into squalid displacement camps in Maiduguri and rely on handouts from international charities.
We learned if you live within 1 miles of a grocery store, youre likely to live longer because you have better options to eat healthier, said Azariah Baker, a sophomore at Westinghouse College Prep. Were providing basic necessities here that are incredibly impactful, not only with the food, but with the love and hope were also providing.
Professor Marvin Creamer sailed around the world without any navigation instruments. Credit:Rowan University Skills such as these, he long maintained, had let the master mariners of antiquity answer the seafarers ever present, life-or-death question  "where am I?". From everything Ive read, the ancients didnt feel uncomfortable out there, Professor Creamer told The New York Times in 1978. They didnt have navigational tools, but they didnt seem afraid to go to sea. I felt they might have known what they were doing, that they might have made predictable landfalls and having once hit a coast could have returned there. The same skills, he had believed since his youth, would let him do likewise. I had taken oceanography and every geography course in the book. I said to myself, I think Im the one to do this'.

Nevertheless, when the 66-year-old Professor Creamer set sail from Cape May, New Jersey, in his cutter, the Globe Star, in late 1982, he was widely considered unhinged. No mariner in recorded history had traversed the globe without at least a compass, used by sailors since the 12th century if not before, or a sextant, introduced in the 18th. His 513-day journey would entail nearly a year on the sea, plus time in ports for repairs and reprovisioning. It would take the Globe Star to Capetown, Hobart, Sydney, Whangara in New Zealand and the Falkland Islands off Argentina before a triumphant return to Cape May on May 17, 1984  an event that Professor Creamer gleefully described as one small step back for mankind. Along the way, he and his crew braved lashing storms and long, directionless days with no wind, found themselves trapped in shipping lanes amid thick fog amid terrifying horns of oncoming tankers, had whales bear down on them like freight trains, rounded the treacherous waters of Cape Horn entirely blind and were at one point pitched nearly upside-down. They were even arrested. A jolly romp, Professor Creamer called the whole thing. He knew he might meet his death on the trip, but he was far more confident, he said, of his safe return. After all, he had been preparing for the voyage for years, making many Atlantic crossings, several without instruments, in decades before.

Round-the-world sailor Professor Marvin Creamer taught geography at Glassboro State College, now Rowan University, in New Jersey, where a public art monument commemorates his historic voyage. Credit:Rowan University The third of four children of Sereno Todd Creamer and Grace (Parvin) Creamer, Marvin Charles Creamer was born on January 24, 1916, on a farm near Vineland, New Jersey, about 50 miles south of Philadelphia. His father grew potatoes and peppers but had by the mid-1920s, with a downturn in the produce market, become a carpenter and machinist. From his earliest boyhood, Marvin was transfixed by the stars and grew fascinated with the idea that once, long ago, mariners had steered by them. By the time he was a teenager, fishing in small outboards on the Atlantic, he knew he would one day cross an ocean under sail. Once I got out there, I started wondering how the ancients did it, Professor Creamer told The Times in 1980. After graduating from Vineland High School at 16, he spent years doing what odd jobs he could, including selling life insurance, making concrete vaults for cemeteries and repairing car engines. The last of these, at least, would stand him in good stead as a mariner.

It was interesting how many of the things I did to keep alive in the Depression kept me afloat when I was at sea, Professor Creamer, then 101, said in an interview for this obituary in 2017. In 1943, he earned a bachelors degree in elementary education from the New Jersey State Teachers College at Glassboro, as Glassboro State was then known. After working as a schoolteacher and principal in Alloway Township, New Jersey, he earned a masters in educational administration from the University of Pennsylvania. 'The heavy seas wrecked our self-steering gear.' But his first love had always been geography. It is almost an obligation to know the planet one lives on, Professor Creamer told The Daily Journal of Vineland in 2013. How awful to die and never know whats over the hill.

He earned a masters in geography from the University of Wisconsin, followed by doctoral-level coursework in the field there. A member of the Glassboro faculty since 1948, he helped found its geography department. In 1974, I was on my way back from the Azores, headed for Cape May, he recalled in 2017. There were two things that happened. One is that the compass light, out in the saltwater spray, began to fail every single night. Now, when youre sailing without a compass light at night, youre sailing without a compass. The other thing was, we brushed through the side of a hurricane, and the heavy seas wrecked our self-steering gear. He completed that voyage anyway, steering by the stars. And if it was possible to navigate without instruments by night, he reasoned, perhaps it was possible to do so by day. By the time I got back to shore two and a half weeks later, I had figured out that daytime steering was no problem at all, he said. We would use the wind as a reference; we would use the waves as a reference. The prospect of doing so on a round-the-world journey would consume him for the next decade, despite a flood-tide of naysayers.

He carried ample provisions, including tinned meat and eggs coated in Vaseline to keep them fresh. As a condition laid down by Mrs Creamer, he also carried a sextant, clock, compass and radio. Those instruments, however, were kept in a sealed locker below deck, to be opened only in an emergency. It never was. On March 30, 1983, the Globe Star arrived in Cape Town, where Professor Creamer found 22 letters from his wife waiting. 'Only dry air from the Antarctic, he knew, would have caused it.' On August 12, they arrived in Hobart. There, fisherman were so awed by the crews achievements that they held six parties for them inside of a week  every week. Professor Creamer and his mates stayed for six weeks and 36 parties. On December 13, a day of no visibility, the crew rounded Cape Horn without being sure that they had done so.

On December 22, working their way up the eastern edge of South America, the crew made port in the Falklands and were promptly arrested. The islands were still on alert from the war there between Britain and Argentina the year before, and without realising it, Professor Creamer had made landfall in a clandestine British military base. He soon got things sorted, and was sent on his way with food, supplies and astonished good wishes from the Royal Air Force. On one occasion, they sat, becalmed, bothered and bewildered, until his geographers ears came to their aid. As the wind started up again, a crew member happened to open a hatch. It emitted a loud squeak. That sound told Professor Creamer unequivocally in which direction the boat was facing: only dry air from the Antarctic, he knew, would have caused it. Moist air from the opposite direction would have lubricated the hatch, yielding a more congenial noise. I had a cousin who married an undertaker whose name was Frank, he said. And I used to say, when things got rough in the middle of the Indian Ocean: Not yet, Frank! Youre not going to get me yet!

On May 13, 1984, as the Globe Star negotiated the Atlantic, the crew received a visit from a housefly. They recognised it at once as a humble emissary from land. Sure enough, they arrived back at Cape May four days later. Professor Creamer married Blanche Layton in 1946. She died in 2005. He married Elaine Gillam in 2010. In addition to his son, his wife survives him, along with two daughters, Andra Creamer Hohler James and Lynn Creamer Borstelmann; a sister, Evelyn Creamer Daniels; eight grandchildren and step-grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. His many maritime awards include the Blue Water Medal, considered sailings highest honour, from the Cruising Club of America. Professor Creamer continued sailing well into his 90s. In later years, he owned a boat that came equipped with global positioning technology. He did not know how to use the technology, he said, and had no intention of learning.
Education Minister Peter Weirs rethink on accepting teachers A-levels predictions as the basis for university entry has produced calls to remove the cap on the number of students who can be enrolled.

CCEA said it will release the centre-assessed results to schools and colleges at 4pm on Thursday and they will in turn be able to share the revised A-level and AS-level gradings with their students from 9am on Friday.

The results will also be available online from 9am for those schools and colleges that have registered for that method.

Meanwhile, urgent clarity is now needed around university admissions in Northern Ireland, Queens University said, after the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of exams.

Last year the Belfast university took on just over 3,300 students, but has already confirmed places for more than 4,300 students  a rise of 1,000 on this point last year  Queens spokeswoman Jo Clague said.

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We wont be able to meet the demand for students that might be coming through from centre-assessed grades, and any uplifting grades as a result of that, without additional funded places.

She urged a more holistic approach to making offers in future, including other parts of the further and higher education sectors, adding:

We urgently seek some clarity.

Ms Clague said Queens had made offers of places to students which they may now not be able to honour.

The final number to be accommodated is still unknown but is expected to be revealed within days, she told Stormonts economy committee.

She said the number of applicants who had been rejected on the basis of their calculated grades on August 13 before the U-turn was around about 1,000 to 1,200 students.

University numbers

Economy Minister Diane Dodds is facing calls to remove the university numbers cap now that significantly more students are expected to qualify for places at Queens and Ulster University.

The number of Northern Ireland and European students both universities can take is capped by Stormont because their tuition fees are partially funded by the Department for the Economy.

Ms Dodds is expected to bring forward proposals to Thursdays meeting of the Executive around additional places and resources.

Ulster University has four campuses across the North.

Its new vice-chancellor Paul Bartholomew envisaged a large degree of asymmetry between where students wish to go and perhaps where they even feel they have a right to go, and where the vacancies remain.

A spokesperson for the Department for the Economy said: Until the local universities have received access to the full range of revised grades for all applicant students, they will not be able to confirm places for students or otherwise.

As such, until this process has been completed, there is no way of assessing the number of any additional places there may be.

The Economy Minister has stated that she will be working with Executive colleagues to ensure that any additional places that may be required, and extra resources, are put in place to support universities, and will bring forward proposals to the Executive tomorrow.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 00:04:56|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a video conference on agricultural production after natural disasters in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

BEIJING, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua on Wednesday stressed agricultural production after natural disasters to reap a bumper autumn harvest.

More should be done to restore autumn grain production and hog production capacity to achieve the annual agricultural harvest targets, Hu said at a video conference.

Local governments should promptly organize farmers to resume agricultural production after natural disasters, repair damaged agricultural facilities, and strengthen financial, material and technical support to minimize the adverse effects of natural disasters, he said.

Hu urged efforts to strengthen the prevention and control of pests, and guard against typhoons, floods, droughts, early frosts and other meteorological disasters to ensure an all-round harvest of autumn grain crops.

He also highlighted work in hog production, as well as the production of poultry meat, eggs, beef, mutton, and aquatic products, to safeguard stable market supply.
The Tower of London's ravens, which according to folklore are key to the success of the nation, are beginning to stray after becoming 'bored' in lockdown, according to reports.

The legendary birds, which are shrouded in myth, are lacking stimulation due to a lack of visitors and two have already been caught sneaking out of the precincts of their famous home in search of food, according to the Sun.

It is part of British folklore that the kingdom, the crown and the Tower of London itself will fall if the six ravens leave.

According to Ravenmaster Christopher Skaife, a lack of visitors to the Tower since the coronarivus lockdown is to blame.

The Tower of London's ravens, which according to folklore are key to the success of the nation, are beginning to stray after becoming 'bored' in lockdown, according to reports

According to Ravenmaster Christopher Skaife (pictured), a lack of visitors to the Tower since the coronarivus lockdown is to blame

He told the Sun: 'The Tower is only the Tower when the people are here.

The legend of the Tower of London ravens It is not clear how long captive ravens have been held in the Tower for, though the intelligent birds, which are common in Britain, often nested in towns throughout history. However, according to local legend, the Tower's relationship with captive ravens could date back to King Charles II, who reigned in the mid-17th century. Charles II is thought to have been the first to insist that the ravens of the Tower be protected after he was warned that the crown and the Tower itself would fall if they left. The King's order was given against the wishes of his astronomer, John Flamsteed, who complained the ravens impeded the business of his observatory. A common superstition now holds that 'if the Tower of London ravens are lost or fly away, the Crown will fall and Britain with it.' However others believe the legend is likely to be a Victorian 'flight of fantasy'. Advertisement

'The ravens have always been so important to the Tower because they've been surrounded by myths and legends.

'We really need people to come back to help the ravens.'

Around 15,000 people are said to visit the historic attraction each day in summer, with almost three-million people visiting each year - making it the UK's most visited paid-for attraction.

But the Tower closed to visitors on March 20 when the country went into lockdown due to coronavirus.

The attraction reopened five weeks ago, but visitors numbers have remained at around 800 people each day, leaving the ravens craving attention.

According to royal protocol, the Tower should house six raves, plus a spare, with Jubilee, Harris, Gripp, Rocky, Erin, Poppy and Merlina currently housed at the Tower.

Merlina and Jubilee were the two adventurous ravens spotted outside the precincts.

It is not clear how long captive ravens have been held in the Tower for, though the intelligent birds, which are common in Britain, often nested in towns throughout history.

However, according to local legend, the Tower's relationship with captive ravens could date back to King Charles II, who reigned in the mid-17th century.

Charles II is thought to have been the first to insist that the ravens of the Tower be protected after he was warned that the crown and the Tower itself would fall if they left.

The King's order was given against the wishes of his astronomer, John Flamsteed, who complained the ravens impeded the business of his observatory.

According to royal protocol, the Tower should house six raves, plus a spare, with Jubilee, Harris, Gripp, Rocky, Erin, Poppy and Merlina currently housed at the Tower

A common superstition now holds that 'if the Tower of London ravens are lost or fly away, the Crown will fall and Britain with it.'

However others believe the legend is likely to be a Victorian 'flight of fantasy'.

Today the ravens are free to roam the Tower precincts during the day and preside over four different territories within the Tower's walls.

Visitors are warned not to feed the ravens as they can bite if they feel their territory is being threatened.

The Tower of London was built on the demand of William the Conqueror after he defeated Anglo-Saxon King Harold Godwinson in the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and then marched on to London.

The castle, which took almost 20 years to build, was designed to proclaim his power over London and stave of any potential rebellion.

It was expanded and later became a prison.

Henry VI was murdered at the Tower in 1471 and, later, the children of his great rival Edward IV  the Princes in the Tower - vanished within its walls in 1483.

The tower was guarded by the the famous Yeoman Warders, known as 'Beefeaters'.

Henry VII's personal guards were the first 'Beefeaters', so named as they were permitted to eat as much beef as they wanted from the King's table.

It was also the site of the beheading of Henry VIII's wife Anne Boleyn.

Today, alongside being a tourist attraction, it is home to the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.
DALLAS, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dallas-based trial lawyers Michael Lyons and Chris Simmons, co-founders of Lyons & Simmons, LLP, have been recognized in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, the oldest and among the most-respected legal guides in the United States.

The firm was also represented by attorney Stephen Higdon in the inaugural "Ones to Watch" listing. Serving as a companion to The Best Lawyers listing, Ones to Watch recognizes the top young attorneys in the country.

"Our cases are complex and involve high exposure," said Lyons of the firm's personal injury, wrongful death, and complex business dispute caseload.

"It isn't surprising when the lawyers opposite us are some of the best in the country, and we think this is a recognition that we are always up to the challenge that presents," said Simmons.

Among their notable recent work, Lyons and Simmons represented one of five victims of the worst oilfield incident in Oklahoma history and the deadliest in the U.S. since the 2010 Macondo Deepwater Horizon blowout. The tragedy prompted a review of best practices for land-based drilling operations by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board and helped bring further attention to dangerous industry practices involving well control management and monitoring.

That type of work has propelled the firm's reputation among the top plaintiff litigation firms in the country. Their work on behalf of clients facing life-altering personal injury and wrongful death cases, as well as a proven record of obtaining outstanding results in high-stakes, high-exposure business litigation, have earned the attorneys multiple individual professional honors.

Lyons and Simmons have each been selected to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, and D Magazine's Best Lawyers in Dallas listings.

Lyons was recognized by the National Law Journal among its 2020 Plaintiffs' Lawyers Trailblazers. He also has been honored among the Top 100 Lawyers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area by Texas Super Lawyers. He is a member of the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums, as well as a member of America's Top 100 High Stakes Litigators.

Simmons was a Texas Lawyer magazine 2018 Professional Excellence Award recipient. In addition to Best Lawyers and D Magazine, he has been honored by Texas Super Lawyers and National Trial Lawyers.

Earlier this year, Higdon was selected to D Magazine's Best Lawyers Under 40 and Texas Super Lawyers Rising Stars listings.

Selection to The Best Lawyers in America is based on confidential evaluations by attorneys in the same practice area and from the same geographic region. For the full listing, visit https://www.bestlawyers.com/.

About Lyons & Simmons LLP

Dallas-based Lyons & Simmons, LLP is a trial boutique representing clients in wrongful death, personal injury, products liability and complex "bet-the-company" business litigation matters across the country. To learn more, visit http://www.Lyons-Simmons.com.

Media Contact:

Rhonda Reddick

800-559-4534

[email protected]

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American Airlines will drop flights to 15 smaller US cities in October when a federal requirement to serve those communities ends.

The airline blamed low demand during the coronavirus pandemic, which has triggered a massive slump in air travel and huge losses for the carriers. Airlines and their labor unions are seeking billions in new taxpayer relief.

American said its schedule covering October 7 through November 3 will drop flights to cities including Sioux City, Iowa; New Haven, Connecticut; and Springfield, Illinois.

'This is the first step as American continues to evaluate its network and plans for additional schedule changes in the coming weeks,' the airline said in a prepared statement.

More than half of the cities that American is dropping have no other airline service. It will be a major blow to Tweed-New Haven Airport, but the airport's executive director, Sean Scanlon, held out hope that the loss will be temporary.

'I'm confident that we will see other carriers here once the industry bounces back from COVID regardless of what happens with American,' Scanlon said.

American Airlines will drop flights to 15 smaller US cities in October when a federal requirement to serve those communities ends. An American Airlines passenger is seen leaving a ticket counter in Salt Lake City, Utah

More than half of the cities that American is dropping have no other airline service. It will be a major blow to Tweed-New Haven Airport in Connecticut, but the airport's executive director, Sean Scanlon, held out hope that the loss will be temporary

American drops 15 small US cities from its October schedule More than half of the cities that American is dropping have no other airline service. However, local officials at the following airports hope that the situation will only be temporary: 1. Del Rio, Texas 2. Dubuque, Iowa 3. Sioux City, Iowa 4. Florence, South Carolina 5. Greenville, North Carolina 6. Huntington, West Virginia 7. Joplin, Missouri 8. Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, Michigan 9. Lake Charles, Louisiana 10. New Windsor, New York 11. Roswell, New Mexico 12. Stillwater, Oklahoma 13. New Haven, Connecticut 14. Springfield, Illinois 15. Williamsport, Pennsylvania Advertisement

A massive pandemic-relief measure approved in March set aside up to $50billion in cash and low-interest loans for the nation's passenger airlines.

American was the largest recipient - $10.7billion if a pending loan wins final approval from the US Treasury Department.

In return for taxpayer dollars, airlines were barred from furloughing workers and were required, in most cases, to continue serving destinations they had before the pandemic. Both of those conditions expire September 30.

Passenger airlines and their labor unions are lobbying for an additional $25billion to keep paying workers and avoid furloughs through next March. Cargo airlines and contractors would get $7billion.

The push by airlines and labor has received significant support in Washington. A majority of the Democratic-controlled House endorsed the additional money, so did 16 Senate Republicans.

President Donald Trump spoke favorably about helping the airlines when asked about the proposal.

However, the provision is wrapped up in discussions over a larger virus-relief package that would include extended unemployment benefits and, Democrats hope, aid to cities and state governments.

The fate of that measure is unclear after negotiations between congressional Democrats and the White House broke down more than a week ago.

An American Airlines executive cited the stalemate in Washington for the airline's decision to cut service to some destinations.

'We have been holding off, hoping that we would come to some sort of agreement that would extend (the payroll money) and would extend the service requirement. That broader negotiation does seem to be stalled, and this is an unfortunate casualty of that,' said the executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity to explain private discussions about the decision.

Without more federal money, airlines may lay off or furlough tens of thousands of workers as early as October 1.

American has warned 25,000 workers they could lose their jobs. United Airlines has sent notices covering 36,000 employees.

The final number of cuts will depend on how many employees take offers of buyouts, early retirement or long-term leave.

The requirement to preserve most routes that airlines flew before the pandemic has been unpopular with airlines because many of them carry few passengers.

The Transportation Department agreed to let airlines drop a few cities if other carriers continued flying there, but many other requests were denied.

American Airlines lost more than $2billion in its most recent quarter.

Other airlines declined to comment on their plans.

Industry analysts believe American did not simply ax cities with the fewest flights or seats. The airline likely considered other factors, such as competition and important customers, they said.

'It's a network planner's nightmare to pull out of a city,' said Jim Ogden, a product director at aviation data firm Cirium and a former network planner for American. 'When you close down a city, you're cutting those customers off to your entire network.'

American could continue to serve the smaller cities in a limited capacity, through flights at nearby airports or by selling tickets to flights operated there by another carrier, a practice called code-sharing.

Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines announced on Thursday that it will continue blocking middle seats through at least January 6, covering the key holiday season, but will raise the cap on the number of passengers on its flights in October.

Delta had previously said it would block middle seats and limit overall seating capacity at 60 per cent on each flight through September.

But during the month of October, Delta will start selling up to 75 per cent of seats in the main cabin. It will review the policy again before October 31.

Among other large US carriers, Southwest Airlines is blocking middle seats through October, while American Airlines and United Airlines have all of their seats up for sale but are letting passengers know ahead of time if their flights will be full.

Overall travel demand remains depressed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Atlanta-based Delta said it is also extending a waiver on change fees for new flights purchased through September 30.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 18:21:23|Editor: huaxia

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ISLAMABAD, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi left for China on Thursday on a two-day visit for talks on bilateral matters, the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan said.

A foreign ministry statement said that Qureshi, accompanied by senior officials, will be traveling to China's Hainan province.

The foreign minister will lead the Pakistan side in the second round of the China-Pakistan foreign ministers' strategic dialogue, the statement said, adding that the first meeting of the dialogue was held in March last year.

During the dialogue, both sides will, inter alia, discuss cooperation on fighting COVID-19, bilateral relations, regional and international issues of mutual interest, according to the statement.

The visit will play an important role in further strengthening Pakistan-China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and deepen strategic communication and coordination with China on a range of issues, the statement said.

Pakistan and China are the closest friends and staunch partners. Their time-tested friendship is based on unparalleled mutual trust, understanding, and commonality of interests. Both sides are fully committed to building closer China-Pakistan community of shared future, the statement added.

Meanwhile, in a video statement released by the foreign ministry, Qureshi described his visit as "very important," saying the composition of his delegation reflects the vision of Pakistan's political and military leadership.

The foreign minister said he had detailed consultations with Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday about the visit. Enditem
At the Democratic National Convention Wednesday night, Sen. Elizabeth Warren took center stage (whatever that means now) during a speech delivered from an empty early childcare center. Her speech addressed issues like the coronavirus pandemic and the Presidents inadequate response to the crisis and, as indicated with her choice of venue, the need for the United States to provide universal childcare for American families. But eagle-eyed viewers noticed a hidden message in the background of Warrens scene.

Over Warrens left shoulder, on the right side of the screen, alphabet blocks spelled out the letters BLM. The gesture was a nod to the ongoing uprising against racial injustice and police brutality. Warren used the biggest stage she had to send a simple but clear message, without actually saying it: Black Lives Matter.

BLM spelled out in kid blocks in Sen. Warrens background here. We see you Liz. pic.twitter.com/gDlmH3NTVV  Pod Save America (@PodSaveAmerica) August 20, 2020

The gesture was talked about on all the cable news channels following the DNC, with MSNBCs Joy Reid saying they gave me a little bit of life, while CNNs Angela Rye called it Woke Sesame Street. Fox News talked about it, too, albeit in a less enthusiastic way.

However, aside from the blink-and-youll-miss-them blocks in the background of her speech, she didnt address the issue on Wednesday night, leaving many to find her actions a performative gesture at best. Her words didnt reflect on anything about racism, state violence, police brutality, nor did she mention any of the victims who the movement has been uplifting, like George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, or Tony McDade. In that way, the gesture felt like an afterthought  empty and a bit meaningless.

Despite the debate over Warrens not-so-subtle nod to Trumps least favorite movement, the Massachusetts Senator has generally been outspoken in her support for the movement since at least 2015, likening the current uprising to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Shes declared, Black lives matter. Black citizens matter. Black families matter in no uncertain terms. Warren has also consistently introduced policies that centered the needs of Black communities during her presidential campaign, including a Working Agenda for Black America that addressed Black maternal mortality rates, redlining, and public education.

Story continues

Whether or not she should have used her time to directly address the movement to show real support will continue to leave supporters and critics at adds, though Warren did use her time to address a specific platform. Warrens speech largely focused on childcare  specifically under the Trump administration, and during the coronavirus pandemic. In doing so, she put motherhood at the forefront of the DNC, though the subject was previously lapse.

We stay in this fight so that when our children and our grandchildren ask what we did during this dark chapter in our nations history, we will be able to look them squarely in the eye and say: we organized, we persisted, and we changed America.

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WASHINGTON  Mark Zuckerberg, Facebooks chief executive, answered questions under oath on multiple days this week as part of the Federal Trade Commissions inquiry into whether the company broke antitrust laws, the company said on Thursday.

The interview with Mr. Zuckerberg, reported earlier by Politico, was the first known time that regulators directly questioned a chief executive of one of the tech companies being scrutinized for potential antitrust violations. Either the F.T.C. or the Department of Justice is also investigating Google, Apple and Amazon.

Interviews with major executives can be a sign that a case is moving forward or is in an advanced stage. While the F.T.C. has already interviewed some other senior Facebook executives under oath, others are scheduled to be interviewed after Mr. Zuckerberg, a person with knowledge of the matter said. The agencys interviews with Facebook employees could stretch well into September, said the person, who would speak only anonymously because the investigation is private.

The F.T.C. declined to comment.

Andy Stone, a spokesman for Facebook, said the company was committed to cooperating with the U.S. Federal Trade Commissions inquiry and answering the questions the agency may have.
McAuliffe, who served as governor from 2014 to 2018, is a prodigious party fundraiser who has already banked almost $1.7 million in his political action committee this year. The filing change would make it easier for him to quickly switch to a gubernatorial campaign operation after the presidential election in November, associates close to McAuliffe said, but doesnt commit him to such a decision.
Nicosia, Aug 20 : A French frigate was sailing inside Cyprus' territorial waters in the context of a defence agreement between the island-nation and France amid the ongoing tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides said.

On Wednesday, the "la Fayette" frigate sailed close to the island's eastern coast after receiving permission from the Cypriot government to train its crew in diving, before resuming patrols in the open sea, reports Xinhua news agency.

It added that the frigate would stay close to the Cypriot shores before returning to patrol duties "in the context of monitoring the eastern Mediterranean".

"The presence of the French frigate in the region is sending out a message that security and stability in the eastern Mediterranean can be achieved through such defence cooperation," Christodoulides was quoted by Cyprus's state radio as saying.

Cyprus and France signed a defence cooperation agreement in April 2018, and it came into force as of August 1, 2020.

The agreement provides for cooperation between Cyprus and France in the fields of energy and maritime security, early warning and crisis management, as well as combating terrorism and piracy.

"La Fayette" was operating close to two Turkish ships being active in waters declared by Cyprus as its exclusive economic zone.

Barbaros, a survey ship, and Yavuz, a drillship prospecting for natural gas, were reportedly in an area off the eastern coast of Cyprus, after having been licensed by the Turkish Cypriot state, which is recognized only by Ankara.

The two ships were being protected by Turkish frigates.

Turkey repeatedly accused France of cooperating with the Cypriot government and Greece in trying to deprive Ankara of its rights on what it considered to be its continental shelf.

It also said that France has no littoral interests in the eastern Mediterranean.

Two French Rafale planes have also been sent to an airbase in western Cyprus to train with Cypriot military units, according to local media reports.

On August 7, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country resumed drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, a day after Egypt and Greece signed an agreement on the demarcation of the maritime borders between the two countries and setting up an exclusive economic zone between them.

Further escalating the tensions, Turkey on August 10 sent its seismic survey vessel Oruc Reis, escorted by Turkish warships, to the Eastern Mediterranean.

The country said that the Oruc Reis, which has lowered 1,750 km of seismic cables into the Mediterranean Sea for a two-dimensional seismic survey, would be operating in the Mediterranean Sea until August 23.

Greece, which also deployed warships to monitor the vessel, has called on Turkey to withdraw vessels from the area.

The discovery of rich gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean in the last decade has triggered a race to tap the region's underwater resources and sparked tensions between Ankara and Athens.
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B.R. Howard Conservation says the monument's pedestal may contain a time capsule.



By DENISE LAVOIE and SARAH RANKIN

Associated Press

AP Photo/Steve Helber [enlarge] The 27-foot-tall bronze statue sits on a 40-foot-high pedestal in Richmond, Virginia.





RICHMOND, Va.  When the bronze equestrian statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee arrived by rail in Richmond from Paris in 1890, it took 10,000 men, women and children to haul its pieces more than a mile to the site where the towering monument was erected as a tribute to a Confederate hero.





. . .
Niskayuna  In June 2017, Michael Lozman, a Colonie orthodontist, told Albany Catholic diocese Bishop Edward Scharfenberger that he was tired of seeing so much bigotry - that he felt like the Holocaust was becoming ancient history.

I told the bishop that I wanted to build a structure, a building, that would remind people of the consequences of hatred, Lozman said.

Lozman, who is Jewish, wanted to build a Holocaust memorial. He asked the bishop if he could help.

On Thursday, three years after that first conversation, Scharfenberger and Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery answered by signing over the deed to a two-acre parcel of property to the Capital District Jewish Holocaust Memorial, a local nonprofit that will soon begin fundraising to build the Holocaust memorial that Lozman has longed for.

There are so many positive things that will come from this, Lozman said. We are trying to build a memorial that speaks against prejudice and bigotry  and the [Catholic] church has been a wonderful partner for us.

The land is located near the Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery in Niskayuna on Route 7.

I want to thank Dr. Lozman for coming to me with this project and for allowing the Diocese of Albany to partner with him in making his dream a reality, Scharfenberger said in a statement. From the outset, I recognized the power and potential of his plan for a local Holocaust Memorial. It will not only provide a sacred space to remember the millions of Jewish lives lost in the Holocaust but will also provide a place and platform for educating future generations so that the evils of that particular moment in history are never repeated.

On June 20, 2019, the Niskayuna town board approved the special use permit, and the planning board later approved the final site plan and minor subdivision.

In February of this year, the planning board approved the site of the memorial after several public hearings and meetings with city officials, architects and engineers.

The layout of the memorial will feature six sides reminiscent of the points of the Star of David, and each panel will have quotes from local Holocaust survivors. One panel will have a representation of a boxcar, while another will be similar to the fencing used at concentration camps. There will also be pebbles that people visiting the memorial can place to pay their respect, which is tradition in Jewish cemeteries.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

To exit the memorial, visitors will leave through a gate with the phrase, Never again, etched on it.

Niskayuna Planner Laura Robertson said once the organization collects the money needed to build the memorial, they can begin breaking ground.

Lozman said he expects the cost of the memorial to be around $4.2 million.

This is going to be a quality, beautiful memorial that is designed to send a very specific message and to be an educational facility as well, Lozman said.

The education aspect is especially important, Lozman said, because it ensures that history will not repeat itself.

Hatred and bigotry, he said, cannot coexist with a society such as ours."
Btec students said they have been left feeling like second class students after being left waiting for their final grades.

Hundreds of thousands of students have been left in limbo after the exam board told schools and colleges not to release Btec results to pupils on Thursday.

These grades were not included in the original exam-grading U-turn, but on Wednesday  with hours to go until results day  examiner Pearson said it would regrade Btecs to address concerns about unfairness.

Caleb Taylor, 19, is waiting for the results of his Level 3 Btec in computing and business.

I think its a disgrace. He feels like he is a second-class student, and Btecs are seen as less important than A-levels because they have been sorted out last Richard Taylor

His father Richard said he has been unable to enrol at his college in Gwent to study his Level 4 next year without knowing his final grades.

He told the PA news agency: I think its a disgrace. He feels like he is a second-class student, and Btecs are seen as less important than A-levels because they have been sorted out last.

Technical qualifications shouldnt be seen as less than. My son is really anxious because he doesnt know what he will be doing next year.

He plans to go to university but it is a good thing he didnt want to go this year because he would have missed out on his space.

There has just been no communication, we just dont know what is going on.

Around 200,000 Level 1 and 2 entries were due to receive grades on Thursday, with 250,000 Level 3 grades awarded last week.

Congratulations to the hard working GCSE pupils receiving their well earned results today.



But those expecting BTEC results face further delay and confusion.



Next year's pupils must be fairly treated. Sign our petition https://t.co/tUiNdmhSU0#FairGrade2021  National Education Union (@NEUnion) August 20, 2020

Schools minister Nick Gibb apologised to students on Thursday morning for the pain and the anxiety they felt before this weeks exam grading U-turn.

He said he is hopeful that students will get their Btec results next week.

Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, called the move upsetting and chaotic.

She said: The Government must put an end to this incompetence and work quickly to ensure every young person gets the grades they deserve to move on to the next stages of their lives.

University Alliance chief executive Vanessa Wilson said: Its vital this gets sorted as soon as possible to enable young peoples aspirations to be realised and allow universities to confirm decisions on places where relevant.

Mairi Watson, pro-vice-chancellor for education and student experience at the University of Hertfordshire, said her university had offered Btec students places based on either their awarded results or predicted grades, whichever was higher.

She said: We are disappointed that these students are facing a delay in the results awarding process.

Btec students study a wide range of courses that are critical to our future highly skilled workforce, from engineering to healthcare, and are often better prepared for university studies as a result of the self-guided nature of their portfolio-based studies.

We need to give them the certainty about their futures that they deserve.
Dublin, Aug. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "eSIM Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Application; Vertical" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The eSIM market was valued at US$ 392.7 million in 2019 and is projected to reach US$ 2,282.3 million by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 27.4% from 2020 to 2027.



The tech-savvy millennial and mid-aged population across the world demand advanced technologies such as smartphones and smart wearable. Owing to this, several companies constantly engage themselves in developing robust technologies to ease their lifestyle. The US, China, Japan, Germany, India, and the UK are among the leading technologically developed countries and house a significant number of consumer electronics manufacturers and automobile manufacturers. The smartphone manufacturers contribute a significant revenue share in the embedded SIM (eSIM) market.



Based on application, the eSIM market is categorized into connected cars, laptops and tablets M2M, smartphones, wearables, and others. In 2019, the M2M segment dominated the eSIM market; however, smartphones segment is anticipated to grow at a fastest growth rate. The demand for eSIMs is constantly rising among the smartphone manufacturers, automobile manufacturers, laptop manufacturers, energy & utility sector players. The OEMs across the globe are robustly focusing on the development and integration of eSIM in various applications. The growing demand of miniaturization and IoT technology across various industries is also boosting the demand of eSIM globally.



Geographically, the eSIM market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and the Middle East and Africa. North America held the largest share of the global eSIM market, followed by Asia Pacific and Europe, in 2019. The rise in penetration of smart phones and connected cars and autonomous vehicles in North America is paving the way of eSIM adoption. The presence of a large number of telecom companies coupled with higher volumes of smart consumer electronics and automotive manufacturers are boosting the growth of eSIM market in North America. The penetration of smart technologies among the North American mass is considerably high and pertaining to this, the awareness related to the benefits of eSIM is more among the US and Canadian populations.



Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the eSIM 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 positive cases and reported deaths as of March 2020. The COVID-19 outbreak has affected economies and industries in various countries as it has resulted in lockdowns, travel bans, and business shutdowns. The overall market breakdown due to COVID-19 is also affecting the growth of the eSIM market due to factory shutdowns, disrupted supply chain, and downturned global economy.



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 eSIM 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 technology and solution type.

Key Topics Covered:



1. Introduction

1.1 Study Scope

1.2 Report Guidance

1.3 Market Segmentation



2. Key Takeaways



3. Research Methodology

3.1 Coverage

3.2 Secondary Research

3.3 Primary Research



4. eSIM Market Landscape

4.1 Market Overview

4.2 PEST Analysis

4.2.1 North America

4.2.2 Europe

4.2.3 APAC

4.2.4 Middle East and Africa

4.2.5 South America

4.3 Ecosystem Analysis

4.4 Expert Opinions



5. eSIM Market - Key Market Dynamics

5.1 Market Drivers

5.1.1 Demand for Seamless M2M Communication

5.1.2 Advancements in Telecom Sector and Adoption of Advanced Telecom Solutions

5.2 Market Restraints

5.2.1 Susceptibility to Cyber-attacks

5.2.2 Inadequate Network Infrastructure and Dearth of Regulation in Developing Countries

5.3 Market Opportunity

5.3.1 Stupendous Growth in Demand for Smart Technologies

5.4 Future Trend

5.4.1 Evolution of 5G Technology would Stimulate the Demand for eSIM

5.5 Impact Analysis



6. eSIM Market - Global Market Analysis

6.1 eSIM Market Overview

6.2 eSIM Market -Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

6.3 Market Positioning - Global Key Players



7. eSIM Market Analysis - By Application

7.1 Overview

7.2 eSIM Market Breakdown, by Application, 2019 & 2027

7.3 Connected Cars

7.3.1 Overview

7.3.2 Connected Cars Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

7.4 Laptops and Tablets

7.4.1 Overview

7.4.2 Laptops and Tablets Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

7.5 M2M

7.5.1 Overview

7.5.2 M2M Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

7.6 Smartphones

7.6.1 Overview

7.6.2 Smartphones Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

7.7 Wearables

7.7.1 Overview

7.7.2 Wearables Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

7.8 Other Applications

7.8.1 Overview

7.8.2 Other Applications Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)



8. eSIM Market Analysis - By Vertical

8.1 Overview

8.2 eSIM Market Breakdown, by Vertical, 2019 & 2027

8.3 Automotive

8.3.1 Overview

8.3.2 Automotive Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

8.4 Energy & Utilities

8.4.1 Overview

8.4.2 Energy & Utilities Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

8.5 Manufacturing

8.5.1 Overview

8.5.2 Manufacturing Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

8.6 Retail

8.6.1 Overview

8.6.2 Retail Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

8.7 Consumer Electronics

8.7.1 Overview

8.7.2 Consumer Electronics Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

8.8 Transportation and Logistics

8.8.1 Overview

8.8.2 Transportation and Logistics Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

8.9 Other Verticals

8.9.1 Overview

8.9.2 Other Verticals Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)



9. eSIM Market - Geographic Analysis

9.1 Overview

9.2 North America: eSIM Market

9.3 Europe: eSIM Market

9.4 APAC: eSIM Market

9.5 MEA: eSIM Market

9.6 SAM: eSIM Market



10. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on eSIM Market

10.1 Overview

10.2 North America

10.3 Europe

10.4 Asia-Pacific

10.5 Middle East and Africa

10.6 South America



11. Industry Landscape

11.1 Overview

11.2 Market Initiative

11.3 New Development

11.4 Merger and Acquisition



12. Company Profiles

12.1 DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG

12.1.1 Key Facts

12.1.2 Business Description

12.1.3 Products and Services

12.1.4 Financial Overview

12.1.5 SWOT Analysis

12.1.6 Key Developments

12.2 Gemalto N.V.

12.3 Giesecke Devrient GmbH

12.4 IDEMIA

12.5 INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG

12.6 NXP SEMICONDUCTORS N.V.

12.7 Sierra Wireless, Inc.

12.8 STMicroelectronics N.V.

12.9 TELEFNICA S.A.

12.10 VODAFONE GROUP PLC



13. Appendix

13.1 About the Publisher

13.2 Word Index



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/24gk0r

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




The hilarious moment a snake catcher grabs a six-foot long python from behind a TV cabinet as the family continues to watch TV has been caught on camera.

Tony Morrison, the owner of Redland's Snake Catcher, arrived at a home in Cleveland, south of Brisbane, to dispatch of the serpent on Wednesday.

Mr Morrison expected to find the homeowners in hysterics due to the giant reptile stretched across their living room floor.

The veteran snake catcher was stunned to find the nonplussed family (pictured) calmly watching TV - just metres away from the snake

Tony Morrison (pictured), the owner of Redland's Snake Catcher, arrived at a home in Cleveland, south of Brisbane, to dispatch of the serpent

WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND A PYTHON If the snake is a python, it is not venomous. Don't ever try to pick up a snake. Don't ever kill one. If you have one in your house, call a snake catcher. Source: Tony Morrison, Redland's Snake Catcher Advertisement

But when he arrived, the veteran snake catcher was stunned to find the nonplussed family calmly watching TV - just metres away from the snake.

In a video shared on Facebook, Mr Morrison can be seen shifting the furniture to reveal the serpent while the unflinching family-of-four sat serenely on the couch.

'The interesting part about this, is that it's not just a little snake  he's a good-sized snake,' he said in the footage.

Mr Morrison told Daily Mail Australia the Cleveland family's response was a surprise.

'They just kept sitting there watching TV while the snake was there and they were waiting for me to arrive,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'That not the usual response from people when they find a snake,' he laughed. 'They usually sit on the kitchen benches waiting for me.'

Facebook users were stunned at the family's response.

Mr Morrison can be seen shifting the television cabinet to reveal the serpent (pictured)

'The interesting part about this, is that it's not just a little snake  he's a good-sized snake,' he said in the footage

'I can't believe they're still watching TV,' one person wrote.

'How can such a big snake get in the house without being seen?' another asked, to which the snake catcher added: 'Not to mention the family sitting in front of the TV all afternoon, and it went unnoticed.'

Mr Morrison reminded residents that pythons are not venomous, and to call a snake catcher if they find one inside.


Firefighters battle flames along Lyon Road in Vacaville on Wednesday. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

A Pacific Gas & Electric Co. employee died while assisting crews responding to a massive Northern California wildfire, becoming the first confirmed death associated with the blaze, officials said Thursday.

The worker, who has not been identified, was found unresponsive in his vehicle Wednesday in the Gates Canyon area outside Vacaville, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Officials performed CPR before taking the worker to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The worker was clearing infrastructure  such as utility poles and lines  in the area to assist crews responding to the LNU Lightning Complex fire, according to Cal Fire.

"Please keep the family and PG&E in your thoughts and prayers," fire officials wrote in a statement Thursday.

Utility spokeswoman Brandi Merlo confirmed that "a Vacaville-based troubleman passed away while assisting first responders as they dealt with the LNU Complex fire."

"Out of respect for the familys privacy, we wont be sharing additional details at this time," she wrote in an email.

The LNU Lightning Complex is a collection of fires that, collectively, have burned at least 131,000 acres in Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Yolo and Lake counties.

It is one of a number of large-scale fires statewide that crews are working to contain.

The firestorm has already charred more than 349,000 acres in Northern and Central California and forced thousands of residents to flee their homes.
General Secretary of the People's National Convention (PNC), Atik Mohammed has called on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to provide substantial evidence to disprove Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia's results fair if they so think the Vice President lied.



Town Hall & Results Fair



The Vice President of the Republic, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, on Tuesday, August 18, 2020 held a virtual Government Townhall Meeting and Results Fair in Accra.



The Results Fair was aimed at showcasing the NPP's infrastructure record.



Dr. Bawumia described the infrastructure record of the Akufo-Addo administration as second to none when compared to the first term of any government under the Fourth Republic.



The investment in infrastructure by the NPP government over the last three years has been massive. I dare say our investment in infrastructure, our infrastructure record, is second to none for any government in its first term under the Fourth Republic.



Notwithstanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the completion times of some projects, the data indicates that in the fourth republic, no government has achieved as much in its first term of office in terms of infrastructure projects it initiated its first term as the NPP government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo'', he said.



A Call To Debate



The leadership and members of the NDC have raised questions about the Veep's data with the party's flagbearer and former President John Dramani Mahama challenging President Nana Akufo-Addo to a debate on the infrastructure records of both governments.



"In 2016, when I was talking about the value of infrastructure, friends on the other side said we don't eat infrastructure, we don't eat roads. That was what they said.



"Today, I can see a scramble to grab even KVIPs and any infrastructure and tout it as an achievement. But it is easy to settle the issue of infrastructure. After all, the President says this election is going to be an election of track records, comparing his track record to my track record.



"We can settle it easily, lets have a debate between two of us, the two Presidents. Let Nana Akufo-Addo come and sit down, let me sit down and let's debate our records. I am willing to present myself for a debate, any day, anytime, anywhere and we will settle the matter once and for all", Mr. Mahama said.



A Wrong Choice Worse Than No Choice



Atik Mohammed, speaking on ''Kokrokoo'' on Peace FM, stated that the data and projects named by Dr. Bawumia should not be taken lightly.



According to him, no developmental project is mediocre or basic as critics put it, stressing even if the government has established borehole water facilities, it goes to solve a problem.



On the issue that the government shouldn't claim credit for the infrastructure record because it's taxpayer's money they're using, Atik responded; ''Are we going to vote for the richest man in Ghana?''



''It's about who can best manage our resources. Politics, it's basic or elementary definition, is the authoritative allocation of resources. So, what we're doing is to get somebody who can allocate the resources in such a way that it will benefit us all'', he added.



Atik further advised Ghanaians to weigh the records of the Akufo-Addo and Mahama governments and make the right choice during the general elections saying ''a wrong choice or an uninformed choice is as worse as no choice at all. In fact, it's worse than no choice at all.''





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Premier Daniel Andrews will take the latest plight of border communities to the national cabinet on Friday as South Australia shut almost all Victorians out of the state, causing cries of outrage from farmers, business owners, families and workers.

The decision by the South Australian government to impose a hard border from midnight Thursday in effect traps many Victorians who live in remote communities but who normally work, shop and do business in South Australia.

Farmer Paula Gust.

Apsley farmer Paula Gust declared herself furious at what she saw as the inability of the two state governments to find a workable solution to the problems facing her family and thousands of others living on the border.

If I jump our western paddock fence, I am in South Australia, she said, speaking from her familys farm.
A nurse in the northern Philippine city of Dagupan changes gloves after attending to a patient being tested for COVID-19, May 28, 2020.

The Philippines on Thursday lifted a ban on the deployment of citizens who work abroad as nurses or health care professionals and who were told to stay home in April to help the Southeast Asian nation deal with the coronavirus outbreak.

President Rodrigo Dutertes administration issued the temporary ban on April 2, considering the continuing state of public health emergency, and enjoined the Department of Health, hospitals and health care facilities to hire those professionals to supplement the workforce.

Government-to-government talks regarding the deployment of Filipino health workers also stopped.

On Thursday, presidential spokesman Harry Roque announced nurses, doctors and other health care professionals who signed contracts with employers abroad as of March 8 would now be allowed to leave."

Those who came home to the Philippines for vacation but had been working for a long time abroad can also go, he said in an announcement broadcast on government television.

Roque said the governments Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases discussed the issue during a Thursday meeting amid complaints from nurses groups.

Previously, Dutertes spokesman had said he hoped the medical workers sense of nationalism would prevail and they would stay to help the country weather the health crisis. Earlier this month, the administration announced plans to hire 10,000 health care workers to battle the pandemic.

On Thursday, the health department reported 88 COVID-19-related deaths, bringing the toll to 2,883. The Philippines also recorded 4,339 infections, lifting the total to 178,022  the regions highest.

Globally, more than 22.4 million people have been infected with COVID-19 and nearly 790,000 have died, according to disease experts at the U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

The Filipino Nurses United, one of the nations largest industry groups, had called on the government to allow its members to leave, especially those whose contracts were signed prior to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The government has no right to force our nurses to only work in the country if they have opportunities abroad, FNU president Maristella Abenojar said in a television interview.

She said a rough estimate of between 200,000 and 240,000 nurses are unemployed or underemployed, adding that while the government committed to hiring more workers, the pay will not be as much as what they could receive abroad.

The government did not release figures of the number of health care workers employed abroad.

Get us gratitude

Shortly after the April ban, Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. began lobbying for the deployment of Filipino health workers to other countries.

Theres now a pending issue on health care workers. Im lobbying for them to go to the countries that need them now, he said in June. The kind of work they do abroad will get us gratitude of the international community.

In his remarks Thursday, Roque encouraged health workers to stay in the Philippines and serve their fellow citizens during the pandemic. He said an exodus of nurses and health workers would leave their own families vulnerable to COVID-19.

If our health workers go abroad, they will have families here, he said. I hope our health professionals will consider that."

No one will attend to their families if we are in need of health workers. I hope they will think of them, he said.
As long as humans have been around, they've been dealing with bedbugs. But it turns out that our oldest ancestors knew how to deal with pests.

Some of the earliest humans learned to control fire, create comfortable beds and even keep pests out of them 200,000 years ago, according to a new study.

Researchers discovered fossilized grass beds sitting atop layers of ash in Border Cave, an archaeological site in South Africa.

The well-known cave sits on a cliff between eSwatini (formerly Swaziland) and KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.

Inside, toward the back of the cave, researchers found bundles of panicoid grass, which is found in warm temperate areas. The grass had long since fossilized, and the scientists dated it back to 200,000 years ago.

Previously, the oldest known use of plant bedding by humans from the Stone Age dated to 77,000 years ago.

Plant material is rarely well preserved in the fossil record, which makes understanding the use of comfortable plant-based bedding used by our ancestors difficult to track over time.

The grass was arranged on layers of ash, which serves as a deterrent to pests because insects can't crawl through its fine texture, it dehydrates them and it can also block their breathing and biting.

The researchers also found remains from the camphor bush on top of the grass from the oldest bedding inside the cave. This plant is still used as a way to deter insects in rural areas of East Africa.

The study published last week in the journal Science.

Ash: The key to a cozy bed

"We see the cognitive foundations for later innovations from close to the origin of our species," said Lyn Wadley, lead study author and honorary professor of archaeology at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, in an email. "We see people's strategic control of the environment through the deliberate creation and use of fire and its products."

Wadley said she was amazed that fragments of grass could survive for 200,000 years, but their structures were so well preserved that they could identify the type of grass used in the bedding.

Some of the ash that served as the foundation beneath the grass bedding, the researchers determined, was actually the remnants of older bedding that was purposefully burned. Burning old bedding was a way to clean the cave and destroy any pests attracted to it.

There were also layers of wood ash gathered from the nearby fireplace in the cave added to help clean the bedding. Evidence of stacked fireplaces were found throughout the cave, dating from 38,000 to 200,000 years ago.

"Control of fire was an important technological foundation," Wadley said. "Through the use of ash and medicinal plants to repel insects, we realize that they had some pharmacological knowledge."

Within the bedding, the scientists found evidence of tiny grains of red and orange ocher, a natural clay pigment used by early humans. This suggested they were wearing it on their skin or using their beds as workplaces if they were making objects that involved ocher.

These early humans likely lived in hunter-gatherer societies, meaning these prehistoric ancestors of ours moved around often, but using fire and ash to clean their camps would have allowed them to extend their stay in the cave.

After burning old bedding, they would bring in fresh grass to create new, clean beds, Wadley said.

"People seemed to understand the health risks brought by pests and tried to eliminate or repel them from their camps," she said.

"This involved planning as well as technological competence, knowledge of plants and so on. At Border Cave we also found charcoal from burned camphor wood and perhaps medicinal smoke was used to dispel flying insects."

The last of the oldest grass beds they found in the cave had not been burned, meaning the site was eventually abandoned. But there is evidence that the cave was used as an intermittent shelter for humans over the span of 230,000 years.

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Giant Komodo dragons have been captured battling it out with each other in a scene that looks like it is straight out of a 1950s adventure film.

The incredible images showing the two large male dragons locked in a fight were captured on the Indonesian island of Rinca by Russian wildlife photographer Andrey Gudkov.

Mr Gudkov had been coming to the island of Rinca for several years hoping to capture the dragons in action.

Usually, fights between male dragons occur during the mating season, which lasts throughout August, but Mr Gudkov captured these impressive pictures in December. 'Finally, I happened to travel there in December. And it was then that two large males met at the top of the hill.

'My guide said that there could be a fight, and moments later, the dragons showed us two magnificent rounds of a few seconds each,' he said.

The huge Komodo dragons look like they could have been taken straight from a scene of the popular 1959 sci-fi film Journey to the Centre of the Earth.

Giant Komodo dragons have been captured battling it out with each other in a scene that looks like it is straight out of a 1950's adventure film

The incredible images showing the two large male dragons locked in a fight were captured on the Indonesian island of Rinca by wildlife photographer Andrey Gudkov

Mr Gudkov had been coming to the island of Rinca for several years hoping to capture the dragons in action

Usually, fights between male dragons occur during the mating season, which lasts throughout August, but Mr Gudkov captured these impressive pictures in December

The Komodo dragons look like they could have been taken from a scene in the popular 1959 sci-fi film Journey to the Centre of the Earth, pictured above

'Finally, I happened to travel there in December. And it was then that two large males met at the top of the hill,' photographer Andrey Gudvok said

A Russian wildlife photographer has travelled to some of the most distant and dangerous countries in the world in an effort to capture incredible images of wild animals living their natural habitat

Andrey Gudkov, 48, has travelled to Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, South Africa, Botswana, Madagascar, Indonesia, China, India, Ecuador, Chile, Mexico, Cuba, and the United States and Canada among dozens of other countries

The photographer hopes to show people the disappearing, rare beauty and variety of life forms with his mind-blowing images

Andrey explained: 'The countries I have been to, they are also dangerous places. For example, countries with an unstable political situation, where there are frequent armed conflicts'

Andrey says: 'Nature there still preserves its original beauty, untouched by the ubiquitous technological progress and globalization'

Andrey said his passion for photographing wild animals began after watching David Attenborough's TV programs

'In the late 80s, I first picked up National Geographic magazine. It was a cultural shock to me. The pictures were fascinating, I was so attracted, and all of the images seemed to be some kind of fantastic and unrealistic,' Andrey said

A stunning image of a crocodile hunting prey. The photographer said he can often spend 6-9 months to prepare and organize an expedition, and will only get three or four shooting days

He said the most difficult aspect of being a wildlife photographer is a 'very complex, specific genre of photography, requiring a photographer to be specially trained, and to have a specific kind of character'

A guerrilla is pictured in its natural habitat. Andrey says a wildlife photographer requires being prepared for 'poor living conditions and camping life. Dirt, dust, rains, sun heat and trauma will be your inevitable companions'

A spectacular image of a crab captured by Russian photographer Andrey Gudkov. 'It seems to me that most naturalist photographers are inveterate introverts,' he said

A touching image of two giraffes pictured together. 'There were times I would wake at 4 am a few days in a row and realize that I needed to go another 15 kilometers through the rain-blurred tropical forest with almost 100% humidity, with equipment weighing 20 kg for the sake of several shots,' the photographer said
By Sangmi Cha and Josh Smith

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's intelligence agency believes that Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, is serving as his "de facto second-in-command" but has not necessarily been designated his successor, a South Korean lawmaker said on Thursday.

Believed to be in her early 30s, Kim Yo Jong is the leader's only close relative with a public role in politics, recently spearheading a new, tougher campaign to put pressure on South Korea.

Ha Tae-keung, an opposition party lawmaker on parliament's intelligence committee, told reporters that Kim was helping to run the regime with mandated authority from her brother.

"The bottom line is that Kim Jong Un still holds absolute power, but has turned over a bit more of his authority compared to the past," Ha said, following a closed-door briefing by the South's National Intelligence Service.

"Kim Yo Jong is a de facto second-in-command," Ha added in a transcript of remarks seen by Reuters.

More authority on economic and military policy has also been delegated to several other senior officials, although at a lower level, possibly to reduce strain on Kim Jong Un as well as help him avoid blame for any failures, Ha said.

Kim Yo Jong won fame ahead of her brother's 2019 summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Vietnam, when her efforts to ensure everything went well included holding an ashtray for the North Korean leader at a train station on his journey.

Her prominence in the campaign against South Korea this year highlighted a substantive policy role that goes beyond being merely Kim's assistant, analysts say.

She issued her first public statements to spray criticism at the neighbouring nation, and the North's state media portrayed her as playing a decision-making role.

In July, she offered personal views on diplomacy with the United States in an unusual statement in state media, saying her brother had given her special permission to watch recordings of that country's Independence Day celebrations.

Story continues

When rumours and speculation arose in April about Kim Jong Un's health, his sister was seen a possible placeholder to take over the family dynasty until one of Kim's children is old enough.

Kim Yo Jong has been absent, however, from several recent high-level meetings, such as a plenary gathering of the ruling Workers' Party on Wednesday, said NK News, a Seoul-based website that tracks North Korea.

That has stirred some speculation about a possible demotion.

(Reporting by Sangmi Cha and Josh Smith; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
When word came down that wed have to make a decision about our two boys  aged 10 and 12  returning to in-class learning before safety concerns had been adequately addressed, things started getting tense on the home front.

My wife and I both agreed the governments half-baked, swiss cheese plan for reopening schools in September was a fiasco in the making.

Promises of more funding for health care and cleaning, which amounts to one tenth of a nurse and one third of a janitor for each school, did little to appease our concerns.

Non-stop jabbering about masks  who should wear them, where and for how long  struck us as comically absurd, given that most grade schoolers we know wouldnt distinguish between a cloth face diaper and an alien blob attached to their skull.

Nor were we impressed by the governments decision to skimp on the one safety measure experts agree is crucial: reducing class sizes to maintain social distancing, a cost-cutting move that makes heading back to school less safe than a trip to the grocery store.

But this is a confusing situation with competing, contradictory elements.

And as health experts, teachers and politicians squabble over logistics, and Doug Ford repeatedly asserts We have the best plan in the country, end of story, its left to parents to play King Soloman: send the baby to school and risk its life or keep it home and risk its mental health?

Alicias comfort level, if I were to assign a numerical score, was zero per cent in favour of the boys returning, with concerns about classrooms as festering COVID petri dishes and the fact our older son has autism and a seizure disorder that has, in the past, been triggered by seemingly benign viruses.

For my part, I knew the government plan was garbage  every educator I met told me so and Id read enough about school reopenings that resulted in dramatic COVID outbreaks to know that without socially distanced classrooms, theyll be shut down by Thanksgiving.

But because of low community transmission, our family Docs qualified thumbs up, and because, frankly, my kids are driving me nuts, I figured it was worth the risk.

A short break, I reasoned, is better than no break at all.

So back and forth we went, at loggerheads as political deliberations over safety protocol muddied the waters beyond recognition.

It was only with Education Minister Stephen Lecces announcement that schools could access reserve funds for social distancing  which sounded good at the time but has resulted in little actual change  that my wife was able to boost her tolerance quotient to 53 per cent  a solid D  and an 11th hour settlement was reached.

Back they go.

But like every parent Ive talked to, I would be lying if I said either of us feels remotely comfortable with our decision.

Parents are stuck between a rock and hard place, agrees Kitcheners Kristina Bertrand, a Grade 1 teacher in the public system who has grave reservations about social distancing in classrooms.

You get shamed if you send your kids back to school. You get shamed if you dont. And you get shamed if you home-school.

Bertrand, mom to three kids under six, understands the confusion parents feel and, to provide clarity, has enacted a social distancing display on her lawn to illustrate the folly of trying to cram up to 30 kids into an elementary classroom during a pandemic.

People are knocking on my door saying This cant really be whats happening in schools! she says of reaction to kid-sized cut-outs spaced one metre apart.

Over 50 people have stopped to ask questions. A city bus literally stopped in front of my house so people could get out to take a picture.

She sighs. A lot of people think its going to be safe because of what the government says, but when they look, theyre like Wow! Theyre quite shocked when they see the visual.

This echoes the cognitive dissonance felt by parents: the looming threat of COVID versus the fear of missing out, falling behind, having kids at home, restless and unhappy.

When we polled parents in my younger sons class, every single one admitted to struggling with their decision. And every single one  with one immunocompromised exception  decided to send their kid back.

This reflects survey results by Wateroo Regions school boards that indicate a whopping 83 per cent of public elementary students, 89 per cent of high schoolers and at least 80 per cent of all Catholic students will be heading back to class.

But for those who interpret this as a resounding vote of confidence in the governments safety plan, guess again.

Im sending my Grade 8 student back to the classroom because she needs the structure, social connection and mental health benefits, insists Kitchener parent Rachel Bolton, who has no confidence in the governments promise to do the right thing.

Im sending her back because as a single mom with a home-based business, I need to get back to full-time work. This Conservative government has had a focus on the economy over people since day one. I dont expect that to change now.

Its the same for Kitcheners Tania Bowers, a microbiology tech at Grand River Hospital who will be sending her kids back but feels squashed between two unpalatable options.

Those who can keep their children at home have a privilege many dont have, she points out, concerned about school supports for her kids, one with autism, another with learning challenges.

Its not a vote of confidence for Ford. Its parents, children and families that have no other choice and are simply hoping for the best. We have no parents to babysit.

As a front-line worker who has worked through the pandemic, she has a natural sympathy with teachers.

Ive seen directly how funding and lack of government support affects public sector workers and think its important teachers have our compassion. Its a really difficult position, because any failures are going to fall on them  just like they did for us. Doug Ford should be accountable.

My inbox, as the last time I wrote about this topic, is once again filled with letters from anguished parents who feel pressured to make what feel like life and death decisions without accurate or complete information.

Dori Mueller: I dont think theres a single parent comfortable right now with sending their children back, but they need the socialization and the structure and normalcy. I think the high percentage of return is a try and see. The minute we hear of a positive case in a school popping up, the kids will be back home.

Angus Chan: Its not a resounding vote of confidence sending our children back to school. Its about how well our region is currently performing and the emotional needs of our kids.

Jeremy Lipka: As a parent of a 13, 7 and 5-year-old Im conflicted about school opening and this whole ordeal has taken an emotional toll. I honestly dont know what the right thing to do is and at the first sign of trouble Ill be pulling my kids. I suspect October is when it will really start to hit hard.

Lisa Blundon: Many parents, myself included, have said were going back to physical school simply to hold a spot. If numbers continue to rise before Sept 8, well be pulling our children. How does any parent get any sleep right now? Whats the right decision? How do we know what to do?

Monika Smith: Its the uncertainties that are driving me nuts. My husband and I chose the distance learning option because we have a family member thats high risk and we dont feel safe sending our son back until elementary class numbers are capped at 15. Ill take an unpaid leave of absence to stay home  its the lesser of two evils.

Alecia Juvatopolos: Weve stuck with our decision not to send our kids back and to proceed with online school. The profound lack of communication with parents (and) outright harassment about the survey (to pick a schooling option) ... was incredibly stressful and frustrating. As parents we deserve answers.

In the end, says school teacher Bertrand, the best thing parents can do is voice their discontent directly to government officials who make the funding decisions.

Every parent right now is in the toughest spot weve ever been in, she notes, adding her five-year-old daughter, who has asthma, will be staying home.

Its unprecedented. We dont have the right answers. The first day of school is going to be complete chaos.

In a Facebook video about her lawn display that racked up an impressive 11,000 views, she lays out the options.

If you want to send your kids to school because you have no choice, thats fine. But you should speak up and state that you dont feel comfortable.

We want change. No one should have to choose a paycheque over sending their kids to school for their health. It should be a given.

Let the government know. Email your MPP. Sign petitions.

You need to make your voice heard.
Arnon Nampa, a Thai lawyer and anti-government protester, is detained by a police outside the criminal court in Bangkok, Aug. 19, 2020.

Updated at 9:32 p.m. ET on 2020-08-19

A lawyer who has helped lead anti-government demonstrations in Thailand was detained overnight and is expected in court on Thursday to face sedition and other charges related to a rally where he called for reform of the monarchy, his attorney said.

Attorney Arnon Nampa was one of as many as four pro-democracy activists arrested Wednesday in connection with the protests, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a statement issued Thursday morning (local time).

In a Facebook post, Arnon, 35, said more than 10 men were waiting outside while he worked with clients in a Bangkok criminal court. The men took him into custody to face charges linked to an Aug. 3 rally, according to his lawyer.

He is being charged with sedition, violating the emergency decree, using loudspeakers without permission and obstruction of traffic, lawyer Krisadang Nutcharas told BenarNews at the Chanasongkram police station late Wednesday.

Arnon was arrested at a criminal court based on an arrest warrant over his speech on Aug. 3, but he denied the accusation, Krisadang said. The investigators denied our bail request for fear that Arnon may escape.

HRW identified the three other arrested activists as Baramee Chairat from the Assembly of the Poor in Bangkok, Suwanna Tanlek from the June 24 for Democracy Movement, and Korakot Saengyenphan from the Democracy Restoration Group. The three, who were being held at the Samranrat police station in Bangkok, were also facing sedition and other charges similar to those brought against Arnon, the New York-based global rights watchdog said.

The Thai governments repeated promises to listen to dissenting voices have proven meaningless as the crackdown on pro-democracy activists continues unabated, Brad Adams, HRWs Asia director, said in the statement. The authorities should right their wrong and immediately drop the charges and release Arnon and other detained activists.

Arnons arrest came on the same day police issued warrants for him and five others in connection with a protest on Aug. 10 that featured a list of demands to reform the nations monarchy.

Speaking to about 200 people at a protest on Aug. 3, Arnon called for curtailing the power of the monarchy and expanding free speech.

We have democracy with the king as the head of state, but the monarchy has much more power than the system allows, Arnon told protesters. We need to seriously deal with this matter and allow everyone to speak out publicly and with due respect to the institution, otherwise we cant solve problems.

This doesnt mean we want to abolish the monarchy  we want to improve how the monarchy legitimately co-exists in the system, he said.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha on Wednesday urged protesters not to touch the monarchy.

You have to understand how important the monarchy is to Thailand. So I will not address the matter, Prayuth told Britains Channel 4 when asked about the students call for reform.

I know all of their demands. Only one thing I beg of them: dont touch the monarchy issue, as its respected by all Thai people, he said.

Worth the risk

Arnons comments were widely seen as among the boldest remarks on the monarchy in years in a society where criticizing the institution is both taboo and illegal.

Under Thailands Lese-Majeste law, one count of defaming, insulting or threatening the Thai royal family carries a penalty of three to 15 years in prison. Nearly 100 people have been charged under the law since 2014, according to iLaw, an online legal advocacy group.

The Lese-Majeste law has been used less frequently of late, at the request of the King himself, according to Prayuth.

Earlier this week, Arnon said that raising the matter was worth the risk because it reflected the views of many Thais.

A significant number of people in our society  citizens, university students and professors  agree with our proposal that would lead to an authentic reform of the monarchy, Arnon told BenarNews prior to an Aug. 16 rally in Bangkok. Therefore, we can say that what happens is worth the risk, if we address the matter frankly.

Supporters read a speech by Arnon Nampa in front of Chanasongkram police station in Bangkok while waiting for his release on Aug. 19, 2020. (BenarNews)

More warrants

The arrest Wednesday was Arnons second, and the seventh stemming from a series of anti-government protests in various parts of the country that began in mid-July.

Protesters have demanded that Prayuth step down, and complained that the constitution was designed to keep him and other ex-military leaders in power. As the rallies spread, police issued multiple arrest warrants on sedition and other charges.

On Wednesday, police in Pathum Thani province of metropolitan Bangkok issued arrest warrants against Arnon, Panupong Jadnok and four others over the Aug. 10 protest at Thammasat University, according to Maj. Gen. Chayuth Marayatr, chief of the provincial police bureau.

They were charged with sedition, computer crimes, violating disease control measures and using loudspeakers without a permit, he said.

While police were issuing warrants, about 400 high school students surrounded the Ministry of Education on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press. The students, who demanded better education and called for Prayuth to step down, booed Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan and his aides when they came out to meet with them.

Panusaya Rung Sithijirawattanakul, a Thammasat student leader who read out a 10-point demand to reform the monarchy and was one of the six named in the warrants, said she would fight the case because she exercised her constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech.

Come catch me, I wont escape, but I wont surrender, she told BenarNews. Its illegitimate. We affirm our constitutional rights to freedom of expression, we will fight the case.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 19:14:05|Editor: huaxia

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LAGOS, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Eight Boko Haram militants were killed when Nigerian troops repelled an attack by the extremist group in the country's northeastern state of Borno, an official said on Thursday.

Military spokesman John Enenche said in a statement that three soldiers were killed in the attack while two others sustained injuries during the attacks that took place on Tuesday in the town of Kukawa in the state.

He said the wounded troops were currently receiving treatment at the military medical station.

According to media reports, Boko Haram militants launched an attack on Kukawa on Tuesday and abducted scores of people after a gunfight with Nigerian troops.

A local chief was quoted as saying that the residents of the town, located in the Lake Chad region, had only just returned after spending two years in Internally Displaced Persons camps.

Enenche said that the state government had on July 29 flagged off the re-opening of a road leading to the town which was followed almost immediately with the resettlement of some of the displaced people in Kukawa.

He gave the assurance that Nigerian armed forces would ensure the success of its struggle to see to the rebuilding and resettlement of the displaced people.

The northeast region of Nigeria has been destabilized for more than a decade by the extremist group Boko Haram, which most notoriously kidnapped hundreds of schoolgirls in 2014.

The Boko Haram is known for its agenda to maintain a virtual caliphate in the most populous African country. Enditem
Photo: (Photo : GoFundMe)

A Colombian woman, Sandra Medina, is 37 weeks pregnant, but she got stranded in Canada due to the coronavirus. Strangers from Canada have donated money so she could pay for her delivery in the country.

Medina's daughter, Alejandra Saenz, translated what her mom had said. She explained that her mom feels very grateful for all the help she has received. The daughter also said that her mom is a little bit sentimental about the Canadian people that have helped her.

No insurance

Since Medina has no insurance, she has to pay for her impending birth bills herself. She knew she could not afford it so she set up an online fundraiser. Within 24 hours, she has already raised $5,000. As she wipes away tears from her eyes, Medina said that there are no words to express how much she feels. All she could say was "thank you so much" to all those who have helped her raise the money she needed.

See also: Premature Baby Born with Tumor Bigger than Her, Now Thriving [Parents Refused to Abort Her]

The daughter was left alone in Canada

In May, Saez's cousin suddenly died, causing her to develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. She is studying at the University of Saskatchewan. After the death of her close cousin, she was left alone with no other family in Canada. Medina rushed to be by her daughter's side to help her. Thankfully, she was able to secure a ride on a returning humanitarian ride.

Before her due date, Medina planned to return home. However, due to the pandemic, the Canadian government is still implementing border closures, which is why she could not leave the country.

See also: California Woman Dies Tragically on the Same Day She Gives Birth to Miracle Baby

Rushed to be by daughter's side

Because she left Colombia in such a rush, Medina was not able to get the insurance that could have covered her delivery bills in case she had to give birth in Canada. Based on a Saskatoon hospital document, an uninsured non-Canadian would have to pay $1,000 for a standard outpatient procedure. A standard ward for an inpatient procedure would cost about $4,500. The mom and daughter were expecting to pay between $7,000 to $8,000.

Medina said that since she is outside of her mother country, the Colombian government will not pay for her health expenses. She explained that she has been to both the Colombian and Canadian embassies but no one has helped her with her problem.

See also: Alaska Mom Suddenly Gives Birth After Airplane Took off [Son Receives Unique Name]

As a last resort, the two set up a GoFundMe page, and they could not believe the generosity that they have received. After seeing the donations pouring from the Canadian people, she was able to sleep peacefully for the first time after a long time.

As of writing, the mom and daughter have already raised more than $7,000.
You would think you couldn't go far wrong with a full English breakfast sandwich - but Heston Blumenthal's latest creation at Waitrose is really splitting opinion with shoppers. The supermarket announced the release of its new breakfast bap which includes the usual ingredients, along with a couple of very Heston-like twists.

The perfect on-the-go breakfast, Heston decided to add all the elements into a breakfast sandwich. But when we say all the elements, we dont just mean bacon and sausage.

The sandwich features baked bean flavored bread sitting either side of smokey crumbed sausage, smoked bacon, free-range sliced egg, cold-pressed mayonnaise, tomatoes, and cannellini beans in sauce  all finished off with coffee-flavored mushroom ketchup.

This is how a sandwich appears to be:

Heston's new English breakfast sandwich at Waitrose. "...between baked bean flavoured bread is smokey crumbed sausage, smoked bacon, free-range sliced egg, cold pressed mayonnaise, tomatoes, and cannellini beans in sauce...finished off with a coffee-flavoured mushroom ketchup." pic.twitter.com/DaQyb05bOG Josh Barrie (@joshbythesea) August 19, 2020

Some people were left pretty disgusted at the thought of a full English sandwich coming with its own coffee and baked beans - with others more open to the experiment.

Pretty biased towards coffee but 'coffee flavoured mushroom ketchup' is an abomination. Boki (@Bokicoffee) August 19, 2020

He is the worst thing about Waitrose Anita Singh (@anitathetweeter) August 19, 2020

This man needs to be stopped at all costs Christina McMc (@ChristinaMcMc) August 19, 2020

Thats a fucking abomination. Michael Moran (@TheMichaelMoran) August 19, 2020

The creation  which launched in stores today  normally costs 3.80, but is currently 2.85 due to an introductory offer.

V tempting to roll eyes at this, but I do actually quite like the Heston at Waitrose Padraig Reidy (@mePadraigReidy) August 19, 2020

Arrest the man for being a psychopath Tony (@StreetsOfTide) August 19, 2020

I want to eat this gene smooch (@TurbanedUrban) August 19, 2020

That is appalling, truly appalling. Of_the_Nile (@OftheNile1) August 19, 2020

Talking about his new creation, Heston Blumenthal said to Metro: "There are many reasons why some dishes become our favorites, they can be complicated master pieces of culinary delights.

"But there are times when all you want is a Full English.
YEREVAN, 20 AUGUST, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 20 August, USD exchange rate up by 0.42 drams to 484.72 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 4.50 drams to 573.71 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.04 drams to 6.56 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 4.82 drams to 636.05 drams.

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

Gold price down by 405.33 drams to 30872.12 drams. Silver price down by 13.41 drams to 427.63 drams. Platinum price down by 158.50 drams to 14742.57 drams.
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White represents purity and virtue, and purple demonstrates loyalty. Yellow symbolizes the sunflowers in Kansas, where Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton both campaigned for womens rights.

Its to celebrate not only how far women have come and our right to vote, but also our constitutional amendments, said Sioux Lookout DAR member Michelle Lupomech.

Lupomech said Nebraska was one of the key states in the effort to get the 19th Amendment  the womens right to vote  passed.

In 1919, the Nebraska Legislature became the 14th state to ratify the national amendment. Tennessee became the 36th state to support the measure a year later to meet the requirement and make it part of the U.S. Constitution.

If Nebraska had not (ratified the amendment), it probably would have taken another 10 years to get it through, Lupomech said. Nebraska was one of the key states and one of the first proponents (of womens rights).




President Ibrahim Keita of Mali

The European Union (EU) has said the removal of Malis President Ibrahim Keita by soldiers is disturbing.

Recall that yesterday, (Tuesday) some soldiers arrested him, the prime minister and other top government officials before forcing them to resign.

On Wednesday, Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton told Europe 1 that some journalists reporting to the EU have not been in touch.

He said: It (the situation in Mali) is very disturbing. We havent heard from a certain number of journalists. There are serious reasons to be concerned about what is happening.

Breton, however, disclosed that Europe will push for a democratic and constitutional process in the West African nation.

The mutineers say Keita was ousted due to the tension and violence in Mali.

They have announced their next line of action.
At least 14 schools in southeast Michigan have reported coronavirus outbreaks in the past two weeks, health officials say.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is currently gathering case counts tied to outbreaks in K-12 schools and universities, MDHHS spokesperson Lynn Sutfin told MLive Thursday, Aug. 20.

Health officials would not name the schools that have reported outbreaks in Michigan. Sutfin told MLive that, as of Aug. 6, there were 14 school-related outbreaks reported by local health departments in the following regions:

One outbreak in Region 1 , which includes Clinton, Eaton, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston and Shiawassee counties;

Eight outbreaks in Region 2 South , which includes Monroe, Washtenaw and Wayne counties and the city of Detroit;

Two outbreaks in Region 2 North , which includes Oakland, Macomb, and St. Clair counties;

Three outbreaks in Region 3, which includes Alcona, Arenac, Bay, Genesee, Gladwin, Huron, Iosco, Lapeer, Midland, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Saginaw, Sanilac and Tuscola counties.

The reported outbreaks come as many schools across the state are gearing up to welcome students back for in-person learning amid a pandemic in the upcoming weeks. Michigan health experts acknowledge that outbreaks are almost inevitable  the goal will be to limit their occurrence and scope.

RELATED: Coronavirus risk assessment for Michigan schools: Where and when is it safe to reopen?

However, when outbreaks do arise, its unlikely the districts will announce them to the public.

Sutfin said infectious disease outbreaks are not commonly announced to the media or public, unless there is broad risk to the general public and all people exposed cannot be notified.

Health departments investigate many different types of infectious disease outbreaks, including before COVID, and it is common public health practice to focus on who is actually at risk of a disease because they are a close contact, and to notify those who are at risk, she said.

Health departments will work closely with schools to make sure anyone who is at risk of exposure is notified and the proper procedures are in place. Parents whose children are at risk would always be notified.

The state health department plans to begin publishing regional outbreak data, including data about school outbreaks, in the near future, Sutfin said.

MDHHS is committed to providing accurate and timely information to keep students, parents and educators safe, she said in an emailed statement.

In some of the regions with reported outbreaks, some schools have recently announced a switch to remote learning after previously offering in-person classes

Most notably, Michigan State University  in Region 1  switched its fall class schedule to remote learning Tuesday, asking students who planned to live in dorms to stay home. MSU originally had planned for a hybrid learning model of in person and online classes in the fall. No recent outbreak has been reported from MSU.

Earlier this summer, a popular bar near the campus of MSU, Harpers Restaurant and Brewpub in East Lansing, came under scrutiny after it was identified as a coronavirus epicenter leading to more than 180 linked cases.

I felt with that data in front of us, where we saw these cases taking place and saw what happened where the number of beds set aside for quarantine or isolation were exhausted quickly (at other universities), that was a situation that we really didnt want to be in, MSU President Samuel Stanley Jr. said.

The Saginaw Public Schools Board of Education approved a new start plan Wednesday for the districts return to classes this fall, officially switching to an all-remote format after countywide spikes in COVID-19 cases.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation Thursday outlining expectations for schools reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic, largely leaving it to local districts and health departments to determine how the schools should safely reopen.

On Thursday, Aug. 20, the state reported 419 new coronavirus cases. The state is averaging 615 new cases and 11 new deaths per day, according to seven-day moving averages.

To help you navigate this complicated fall, were pleased to offer you a simpler way to get all of your education news: Our new Michigan Schools: Education in the COVID Era newsletter delivered right to your inbox. To receive this newsletter, simply click here to sign up.

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.

More on MLive:

MHSAA approves fall sports in Regions 6 and 8; rest of Michigan on hold

Crowd restrictions being enforced by party patrols, hotline during University of Michigan fall semester

These are the pros and cons for Michigan parents still looking at education options for the fall
Xiaomi launched its new budget handset the Redmi Note 9 earlier this month in the country. The new smartphone is now the third handset alongside the Redmi Note 9 Pro and Note 9 Pro Max under the company's Redmi Note 9 series. The highlight features of the phone include a quad-camera setup at the back, a large 5,020mAh battery and it is also the first handset in India to introduce the MediaTek Helio G85 processor.

The Redmi Note 9 is priced at Rs 11,999 for the 4GB RAM + 64GB storage variant while the 6GB RAM + 128GB storage variant comes with a price tag of Rs 14,999. There is also a 4GB RAM + 128GB storage variant but the pricing has not been revealed. The handset will go on sale via Amazon and Mi.com starting at 12PM noon. Sale offers include a 5-percent instant discount on HSBC Cashback cards, a 5-percent cashback for Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit card users with Prime subscription, and a 3-percent cashback for the same non-Prime cardholders. Apart from that there is the option of no-cost EMIs for select cards.

REDMI NOTE 9 SPECIFICATIONS

The smartphone features a 6.53-inch 'Dot Display' which means it comes with a hole-punch design. However, unlike the Note 9 Pro series, it has the hole sitting on the top left corner. The display offers 19.5:9 aspect ratio and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. The handset is powered by an octa-core MediaTek Helio G85 processor with up to 6GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 128GB of storage with the option of expansion using a microSD card of up to 512GB. The quad-camera setup at the back features a 48-megapixel Samsung GM1 sensor with an f/1.79 lens. There is also an 8-megapixel sensor with an f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle lens, a 2-megapixel sensor with an f/2.4 macro lens, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor with an f/2.4 lens. At the front, there is a 13-megapixel camera sensor for selfies.

Other features include 4G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v5.0, GPS/ A-GPS, USB Type-C port, an infrared blaster and a 3.5mm headphone jack. There is also a fingerprint sensor at the back along with P2i hydrophobic nano-coating. The 5,020mAh battery 22.5W fast charging along with 9W reverse charging. Xiaomi is also bundling the fast 22.5W charger in the box. The phone will be offered in three colours- Aqua Green, Arctic White, and Pebble Grey.
D uring the past five months, many parents of children with special educational needs have not had a moments respite.

Despite the Government advising that schools should remain open for vulnerable children, hardly any did; the prospect was too daunting  there were staff shortages and many families had to shield anyway.

When lockdown was imposed, the services that these families rely on were suddenly no longer available  speech and physical therapists could not visit, nor could carers. Instead, parents had to fulfil these roles, 24 hours a day.

Families felt utterly abandoned, Ali Fiddy of the Independent Provider of Special Education Advice told an MPs committee last month. The committee chairman, Robert Halfon, said the evidence provided was an incredibly depressing picture of how the pandemic had hit children with SEN and their families.

Up to 76 per cent of families had all support withdrawn in the first months of lockdown and 80 per cent of parents reported their mental health had deteriorated.

The Standard has campaigned on behalf of the hidden victims of lockdown and there are 1.1 million children in the UK with a disability. Heres how it affected four families.

Debra Morrall

50, mother of a 14-year-old boy and a 12-year-old boy with autism. Works in PR, lives in West London

I understand desperation. I have days where its really bleak but then I have to pull myself together because there is a child who needs looking after. I followed the case of the woman in Kingston who killed her three children, Tania Clarence, in 2015 and I have never felt such a strong desire to want to reach out.

Its become harder since the pandemic because other people are frightened. My son is loveable and playful but he is also five foot five with the mind of a three year old and can be like a bull in a china shop. He wont walk by my side or hold my hand; he cant wear a face mask. A stranger in Sainsburys told me I should keep him under control yesterday. We were in the baking aisle and he got excited because he loves cakes so he was touching everything. Ive learned to deal with incidents like this by just walking away, not engaging.

The biggest issue facing people with children like mine is that there is no respite. Unless your family reaches a point where someone is depressed or self-harming it is so hard to get support. Ive seen my social worker once during lockdown and it takes four weeks for them to reply to emails. I am concerned the Government will think they have managed to work this way during Covid so they wont reinstate certain services.

My husband and I had a weekend away last year and paid for a carer. That two-day break cost us more than 500 in carers fees and thats the first break we have had since my son was seven-months-old. I dont begrudge the carer a penny because the responsibility is immense. My son bites, kicks, spits, takes his clothes off in public. He wakes up at 6am and for 18 hours a day it doesnt stop.

But you dont want to burden other people with your problems all the time. You become aware that as a friend you are dull. You cant talk about that restaurant you went to, or how you lost a couple of hours in Selfridges and bought some shoes because you cant do any of that. Friends drop off. They wont ask me to come to a restaurant because they know I cant. People talk to you in a different way and you dont want to be like the charity case all the time, but your life will never be normal. I would change everything tomorrow in a heartbeat if I could and it becomes harder the older they get because they are perceived as young adults who cant behave properly.

Parents of SEN children will ruminate for hours about what is best for our children but we dont talk about how it affects us. We say it is all fine, we love our children. It is not fine. This is not the life anyone ordered and I defy anyone to say they wouldnt change things if they had the opportunity. I love my son but I can see how difficult life is for him.

Women are good at talking to each other but theres nothing that supports fathers and siblings. My husband and I have to divide and conquer  our family albums are full of my husband doing things with my eldest son and me with our youngest. We cant do much as a family. A friend had the idea of a support line like the Samaritans where you can pick up the phone and the person on the other end will understand. Sometimes all you need is to just speak to somebody for five minutes to bring you back down to ground.

Penny and Arthur Wincer at home / Matt Writtle

Joanna Elgarf

44, mother of three, including a daughter aged six, with quad cerebral palsy/epilepsy. Lives in South-West London

Nora cant talk so its hard to know when anything is wrong with her. Our whole family had Covid at the start of lockdown and for a while we wondered why she was so fatigued. I was so ill but I didnt want to go to hospital because I didnt want to leave Nora. She cant walk, sit independently or feed herself. I have to puree her food because she has trouble swallowing. She needs 24-hour care.

I cant imagine how hard it would have been if I didnt have my husband and worry for people on their own. Nora desperately needs a new wheelchair and we cant get through to wheelchair services. People presume if it looks like you are coping you are but I would like a lot more support.

I hope we go back to the days where health visitors would look in on people and volunteer help before you have to ask for it. I didnt know how much I needed help until a woman from a charity called Home Start spoke to me. I was processing the diagnosis that the child I thought I would have is a different child to what I thought she would be, all while going through the process of finding the support they need.

There is a fine line between managing and when you stop being able to cope. It doesnt take much when you are caring for a child all the time and you are tired yourself. I learned in the early days if you need something you shout for it, but I worry for those who dont. We need a system in place so people arent missed out. When Nora was four I was asked to fill in a form and I said I couldnt fill any more forms in.

What if English isnt your first language or you are unsure of the process? I worry the Government will see us as another area that they can cut back on and vulnerable people and parents cant advocate for themselves. There have already been cuts in the council  physio used to be once a week now it is every other week. Life is already complicated enough without having to have a battle for every single step.

James Hunt

39, father of two autistic boys, aged 12 and nine. Lives in Essex and is the founder of the charity Sharing Stories About Autism. His blog is storiesaboutautism.com

My sons cant be around each other  they struggle too much, so their mother and I have one each and swap every couple of days. During lockdown it became a routine of swapping them every day, which helped as they were confused at losing their routine of going to school. I felt cut off.

It was tough not being able to have a break from caring and the strange thing was not knowing when it was going to end. At least with the summer holidays, its six weeks and you can have a carer for a couple of days. In lockdown, it was three months before I was able to get some respite. It was exhausting.

As the world is opening up a bit and schools are hopefully restarting, theres still that fear  even trying to get the boys to have a Covid test if they were showing symptoms would be a horrendous ordeal. If the worst happened and one of us had it, going back into quarantine is still quite a big fear.

In general, waiting lists are getting longer, budgets are getting cut, social workers are often turning families away and it feels like to access any support you have to fight for it. For families who are feeling so stretched anyway, often they cant fight or they dont know how to, so they give up and get into an even worse state.

Penny Wincer

42, mother of two including an autistic son, aged 10. Lives in South-East London and is a photographer and the author of Tender: The Imperfect Art of Caring

Being a carer is something you really want to do because you love this person very much, but sometimes it can be too much for one person. Thats why lockdown was so difficult because we were forced into these incredibly challenging situations without the usual resources we count on.

Even losing our playgrounds was hard because thats the way my son uses outdoor space, and that was just one of a hundred things we lost. In the end we stuck to a park that had no playground at all, because my son couldnt cope with seeing a playground and not being allowed in it.

Penny, Arthur and Agnes

We did four weeks at home and it didnt go well. Arthur needs structure and routine, which isnt something I can easily replicate as a single person. He was having huge meltdowns. I also had no idea what I was going to do if I got ill, which was terrifying.Luckily Arthurs specialist school did stay open so he went back after Easter and it was a life-saver. If I felt like we were getting to a crisis point I knew I always had somebody to call. If Id had to do 12 weeks alone like some of my friends did, I dont know what wouldve happened to me. One single mother I know was in her flat for three months with her son with incredibly high needs who barely slept. We need the Government to start seeing social care as a societal problem: serious long-term consequences could come out of this  many carers suffer long-term physical and mental illnesses associated with stress and thats terrible for everyone.

There might not be lots of money in your local authority but there are hotlines you can call, as well as your GP or your childs social worker, and at the absolute worst case you can walk into A&E and tell them youre in a crisis. Its important for carers to remember theyre never alone.

For support, call 116 123 to speak to the Samaritans for free or email jo@samaritans.org. Other support networks include Carers UK, Team Domenica and Kids charities.
Kanye West has not given up on his presidential bid, with the 43-year-old rapper uploading what appeared to be a 2020 Vision banner to his Twitter on Tuesday.

And Kirsten Dunst was more than confused when she noticed her face had made it onto the grid-like banner - clearly without her permission or knowledge. The photo of Dunst was taken by Mario Testino for a 2002 Vanity Fair profile.

'Whats the message here, and why am I apart of it?' wrote the 38-year-old actress in reply to West on Wednesday evening.

Just why: Kirsten Dunst was more than confused when she noticed her face had made it onto the grid-like banner for Kanye West's 2020 Vision - clearly without her permission or knowledge; Dunst pictured in 2013

Strange: 'he photo of Dunst (centre) was taken by Mario Testino for a 2002 Vanity Fair profile. Vogue Editor-In-Chief Anna Wintour (left) is also featured in the poster

Aside from Dunst, Kanye's 2020 Vision banner featured a slew of faces, each with visibly different background, including Vogue Editor-In-Chief, Anna Wintour.

Wintour's image was also used without her knowledge, according to reports.

West, who announced he was running for president of the United States on July 4, has yet to reveal why Kirsten's face was made a part of his 2020 Vision.

The Stronger rapper qualified to appear on Utahs ballot this November as an unaffiliated presidential candidate, according to election officials on Monday.

It was verified by State Elections Director Justin Lee that West's campaign gathered the necessary 1,000 signatures from registered voters required to appear on the ballot

2020 Vision: Kanye West has not given up on his presidential bid, with the 43-year-old rapper uploading what appeared to be a 2020 Vision banner to his Twitter on Tuesday

West has so far qualified in several states including Arkansas, Oklahoma and Colorado. His effort to get on the ballot has been challenged in Wisconsin.

Aside from his political ambitions, Kanye has been reportedly enduring an increasingly strained marriage with wife Kim Kardashian, 39.

The couple, as well as their four children, daughters North, seven, and Chicago, two, and sons Saint, five, and Psalm, one, recently returned from a two-week vacation to the Dominican Republic and a luxe camp ground in Colorado.

No answers: West, who announced he was running for president of the United States on July 4, has yet to reveal why Kirsten's face was made a part of his 2020 Vision; Kanye pictured in 2019

Kim is currently in Los Angeles with their four children, while Kanye went back to his ranch in Wyoming because it's 'where he wants to live' a source told People.

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.

Trouble in paradise: Aside from his political ambitions, Kanye has been reportedly enduring an increasingly strained marriage with wife Kim Kardashian, 39; Kanye and Kim pictured in 2019

Family time: The couple, as well as their four children, daughters North, seven, and Chicago, two, and sons Saint, five, and Psalm, one, recently returned from a two-week vacation to the Dominican Republic and a luxe camp ground in Colorado

'He is moving ahead with the presidential campaign. This is a decision that no one can change his mind about.'

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.

Making it work: '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,' a source told People; Kim pictured on Instagram on Wednesday

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 his disastrous first campaign rally in North Charleston, South Carolina.

But it seems for now the pair are working through their issues despite the distance between them.

Kanye shared a video of himself with Kim at his recent his Sunday Service event in Wyoming, showing the pair kissing, which he posted to his Twitter account Wednesday.

In a video posted to his Twitter, a choir can be heard as Kim runs over to Kanye and the pair share a romantic kiss on camera.
Ameren Illinois is partnering with Google and other thermostat makers to offer customers access to smart thermostats at a reduced price or for free.

The promotion will last through Sept. 15. Customers living in certain ZIP codes, including Jacksonville and South Jacksonville, can receive a smart thermostat for free through the Ameren Illinois Smart Savers Initiative.
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Britain today recorded 1,182 more Covid-19 cases as government figures revealed the rolling average number of daily infections has risen slightly after dropping for four days in a row.

Department of Health data released this afternoon showed 1,051 Britons are now testing positive for the life-threatening disease each day, on average.

For comparison, the rolling average yesterday was 1,043 and it had been falling every day since August 15, when the figure reached a six-week high of 1,097.

It does not necessarily mean that infections are on the rise again, however, and may merely be a blip in the data. Infection rates in the coming days will help paint a better picture of the virus' current trajectory.

Daily infections had risen consistently since the start of July following 'Super Saturday'  the first major easing of lockdown, which top scientists warned would inevitably trigger a surge in cases. It spooked Boris Johnson into 'squeezing the brake pedal' on re-opening parts of the economy late last month.

But casinos, bowling alleys and beauticians were finally allowed to re-open this week after No 10 grew confident that Britain was not hurtling towards another crisis reminiscent of the darkest days of the first wave in April.

Neither hospital admissions or deaths  two other ways health bosses track the disease  ever spiked in line with cases, giving experts confidence that infections were only ever on the up because more testing was being carried out in badly-hit areas such as the North West.

England today also announced six more Covid-19 deaths  taking the official number of victims since the pandemic began to 41,403. By contrast, 16 deaths were declared yesterday across Britain and 18 last Thursday.

Just eight infected patients are succumbing to the illness every day, on average  the first time the rolling mean has dropped into single figures since before lockdown was imposed on March 23.

In other coronavirus developments in Britain today:

NHS Test and Trace gets worse as the number of infected patients' contacts being reached drops to lowest level on record, official figures revealed;

Birmingham is on the brink of being forced into lockdown after Matt Hancock chaired a Gold Command meeting over spiralling cases in the city;

Germany, France, Italy and Spain saw their highest number of coronavirus infections in the biggest sign yet that a second wave is hitting the continent;

Fears grew for thousands of Brits' holiday plans after the WHO warned the Balkans is a 'hotspot' for Covid-19, with Croatia poised to be put on UK's quarantine travel list tomorrow;

The UK Government has paid private firms 6.5billion during the coronavirus crisis - including 500,000 to test-and-trace disaster Baroness Dido Harding's ex consultancy, it was revealed.

Daily infections rose above six digits on August 9 for the first time since June 26, more than a week before lockdown was significantly eased on July 4, dubbed 'Super Saturday'.

This coincided with the finding by Public Health England that infection rates among all age groups under 65 had been rising since lockdown was eased.

Among those aged 15 to 44 in England, the rate has increased by 35 per cent since July 5  a day after 'Super Saturday' when bars, restaurants and cinemas reopened and a large chunk of the workforce returned to work.

A combination of people having more social interactions and a ramping up of widespread testing is likely behind the rise, experts say.

While cases among children have been climbing, in the older age groups - those who are more at risk of dying if they catch Covid-19 - the rate of infection is stable or falling, with a drop of almost half in the past five weeks among over-85s, from 24.4 to 13.6 cases per 100,000.

People in the older high-risk age groups are likely to be taking social distancing and hygiene measures more seriously and therefore continuing to protect themselves after lockdown.

It comes as Birmingham is on the brink of going into lockdown because of its spiralling Covid-19 outbreak and faces being hit by tougher measures next week after Matt Hancock met with local officials today to thrash out plans to control the virus.

The Health Secretary chaired the 'Gold Command' meeting this morning, which was attended by council bosses  who are desperate to prevent further damage to the already-crippled local economy through tougher lockdown measures like ones imposed in the North West and Leicester  and Public Health England representatives.

Local health bosses warned residents of the city  home to 1.1million people  that 'what we do in the next seven days will decide if we go into lockdown or not'. Dr Justin Varney, the authority's director of public health, called the spike in cases 'dramatic' and said: 'Birmingham has to stand up and stand together on this.'

Official figures show Birmingham's infection rate has more than doubled over the past fortnight, with around 25 new cases of coronavirus for every 100,000 people between August 11 and 17  up from just 11 in the first week of August. Several wards are seeing a similar amount of new infections and no specific area of the city is to blame for the soaring cases, according to government data.

It comes after Labour MP Khalid Mahmood today blamed Birmingham's escalating coronavirus crisis on diners flocking to crowded restaurants to make the most of the 'Eat Out to Help Out' scheme.

Khalid Mahmood, who represents the Perry Barr constituency, claimed Chancellor Rishi Sunak's deal  which has allowed diners to enjoy up to 50 per cent discounts on meals throughout August  has been 'really detrimental'.

He told MailOnline the scheme has been good for trade but it 'hasn't helped' with controlling the spread of Covid-19, with restaurants 'filled to the hilt' making it hard for customers to stick to social distancing rules.

Ministers are also expected to have decided today whether further restrictions are needed to contain the virus in Oldham, Blackburn with Darwen and Pendle.

The Department of Health last week offered the councils additional testing facilities and revealed they would closely monitor outbreaks over the course of this week. Any region in the UK faces the threat of stricter restrictions, which may include closing non-essential shops as well as pubs and restaurants, if cases creep up.

Official figures show the city of Birmingham's infection rate has more than doubled over the past fortnight, with around 25 new cases of coronavirus for every 100,000 people  up from just 11 in the first week of August

Birmingham is not currently on Public Health England's coronavirus watchlist, which last Friday released its list of 29 hot-spots. Officials announced Newark and Sherwood, home to around 120,000 people, was an 'area of concern'. Around 26.3 coronavirus cases were diagnosed for every 100,000 people living in the district in the week ending August 11

Council leaders are desperate to avoid further damage to the already-crippled local economy by being hit with tougher lockdown measures, like policies imposed in the North West and Leicester. Pictured, an eerily quiet street in Birmingham city centre

There are hopes Wigan will be freed from tougher Covid-19 restrictions as Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham says cases have slowed in the borough.

WHAT TOWNS ARE ON THE COVID-19 WATCH-LIST? Pendle (89.7) Oldham (82.3) Blackburn with Darwen (77.9) Bradford (56.8) Leicester (56.3) Calderdale (42.8) Burnley (39.5) Preston (38.1) Rochdale (37.3) Manchester (34) Tameside (33.3) Salford (33) Bolton (31.2) Bury (30.5) Kirklees (28.7) Hyndburn (27.2) Stockport (25) Trafford (20.3) Wigan (9.2) Rossendale (4.2) Luton (15.4) Swindon (44.1) Northampton (38.6) Newark and Sherwood (26.3) Oadby and Wigston (22.8) Sandwell (20.5) Wakefield (17.4) Bedford (14.6) Peterborough (11.4) The infection rate is how many cases were diagnosed for every 100,000 people living in the district in the week ending August 11 - the most up-to-date figures from Public Health England. Towns in bold saw their rate increase. Advertisement

Oldham's Labour council leader Sean Fielding warned a lockdown was a 'very real threat'. Official data shows the town's infection rate tipped 100 last week but has since dropped 37 per cent.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham claimed 'there is certainly no case' to give Oldham, home to 235,000 people, additional measures.

He argued it was 'clear' the current policies imposed across the region at the end of July  which ban separate households from meeting each other at home  have helped tackle spiralling cases.

And Mr Burnham has asked ministers to release Wigan from the tougher measures because its infection rate is still low and hasn't spiked. Three MPs and council leaders have also asked for the town to be freed.

Government statistics shows the infection rate in Wigan  the number of new cases being diagnosed per every 100,000 people each week  has continuously risen since the end of July to 9.4. But it is still below the national average (10.2).

Birmingham is not currently on Public Health England's coronavirus watchlist, which last Friday released its list of 29 hot-spots. If ministers decide the city is a place of concern, it will be added to the updated list that PHE will release tomorrow.

In-depth government statistics, which are published on a map by the Department of Health, show no specific wards in Birmingham are responsible for the city's soaring infection rate.

The most up-to-date figures for the postcode map show Rotton Park  in the west of the city and on the border of neighbouring Sandwell  saw the most cases between August 9 and 15 (16).

Fifteen cases were recorded in Handsworth South and 13 in Birchfield West. While 12 people were diagnosed with Covid-19 in Bordesley and 11 in neighbouring Small Heath Park, both of which are located just to the east of the city centre.

Thirty-six cases were diagnosed in the three boroughs of Smethwick, which is technically classed as being in the local government authority of Sandwell and not Birmingham.

Sandwell, which borders Birmingham, Dudley, Walsall and Wolverhampton, is currently one of the 20 worst-hit places in England with an infection rate of 21.1 cases for every 100,000 people.

It comes after officials last week announced Newark and Sherwood, an area home to around 120,000 people in Nottinghamshire, was an 'area of concern'. Around 26.3 coronavirus cases were diagnosed for every 100,000 people living in the district in the week ending August 11.

For comparison, the authority's weekly infection rate was higher than four areas that have already been hit with tougher restrictions in the North West  Stockport (25), Trafford (20.3), Wigan (9.2) and Rossendale (4.2).

Nine boroughs on the watchlist, including Swindon (44.1) and Northampton (38.6), have yet to be hit by a ban on household gatherings.

No further restrictions were imposed on Oldham last week, despite fears it would be hit with tougher measures. Mr Burnham urged the Government not to 'overreact' to the spike in cases and has since called for Wigan to be released from the measures.

Speaking at an virtual press briefing yesterday, Mr Burnham said: 'We will be going to the government today to say that the measures are working and we would want to see them remain in place in nine of our ten boroughs with the higher number of cases because obviously we need to bring those numbers down further.

'In the case of Wigan however, it is clear, I think, the measures have had a preventative impact and have stopped the increase that we've seen in other parts of Greater Manchester. I think we can say that they've worked.'
Under siege due to ethical transgressions and questionable use of parliamentary mechanisms, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is quickly composing a melodrama worthy of the legendary Sergio Leone, creator of the iconic Spaghetti Western genre.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/8/2020 (518 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Under siege due to ethical transgressions and questionable use of parliamentary mechanisms, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is quickly composing a melodrama worthy of the legendary Sergio Leone, creator of the iconic Spaghetti Western genre.

In other words: a political story that features the good, the bad, and the downright ugly.

In brief, Trudeau and now former finance minister Bill Morneau became entangled in a scandal surrounding the decision to award WE Charity, a youth-oriented international development organization, a $43-million contract to manage a student summer employment program worth $900 million.

THE CANADIAN PRESS/SEAN KILPATRICK The fallout from the conflict of interest in the WE contract tendering process has Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the run.

WE paid Trudeau's brother, mother, and wife speaking fees or travel expenses; Morneau accepted free trips and travel expenses, and one of his daughters is directly employed by the charity.

Despite a clear conflict of interest, the Trudeau-led Liberal government awarded the contract to WE without a tendering process.

JUSTIN TANG / THE CANADIAN PRESS Finance Minister Bill Morneau announced his resignation on Monday.

The fallout has Trudeau on the run, and prompted Morneau to resign his cabinet post and retire from politics.

The glimmer of good in this tortured story, such as it is, comes by way of new Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland  the first woman to hold the key cabinet post considered by most political observers to be the second-most powerful job in the federal government.

After only six years in politics, Freeland used her role as deputy prime minister to become the premier whisperer, earning praise from some of the country's most intractable provincial leaders.

THE CANADIAN PRESS/ADRIAN WYLD Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks on as Chrystia Freeland speaks to media after being appointed Finance Minister in Ottawa, Tuesday.

In the bad category, we can justifiably place Trudeau, Morneau, and the members of their families that fed robustly at the WE trough.

For many observers, the purpose and value of WE was hard to define. The charity did a lot of work to mobilize youth on issues such as social justice and international development. It did this by conscripting an impressive list of celebrities from politics, sports, arts and culture and business.

Given WE's addiction to all forms of glitterati, it's hardly surprising Trudeau and his family would want to be included; Trudeau clearly loves being considered more than just an elected official.

He is, however, primarily an elected official  and is governed by the rules that govern other elected officials. That is ultimately what the WE story is all about.

THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES/ADRIAN WYLD Co-founders Craig (left) and Marc Kielburger with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau as they appear at the WE Day celebrations in Ottawa, in 2015.

It bears mentioning this is not Trudeau's first trip to the ethics woodshed. The prime minister has repeatedly shown a willful blindness when it comes to the principles of ethics.

It's not that awarding the WE contract is remarkable in and of itself; it is Trudeau and his staff did not see why it was wrong to award the contract to WE.

Which brings us now to the ugly: Trudeau's decision to prorogue Parliament to avoid having to answer questions from opposition MPs.

Prorogation is one of the tools available to a prime minister to manage the affairs of federal Parliament. However, like omnibus bills and snap election calls, it's a blunt instrument that must be wielded judiciously.

It's not that awarding the WE contract is remarkable in and of itself; it is Trudeau and his staff did not see why it was wrong to award the contract to WE.

Asking for and receiving permission from the Governor General to shut down Parliament unilaterally, and for purely partisan reasons, can easily qualify as an affront to democracy. That is certainly the case here.

Trudeau claimed prorogation was necessary to reboot Parliament and allow him an opportunity to bring in a new throne speech, which outlines the governing party's agenda. The only problem is Trudeau does not need to prorogue Parliament to accomplish those goals.

Opposition MPs were swarming around the WE scandal, demanding documents and preparing for a good old-fashioned spit roast at committees of the House of Commons. Desperate to change the channel, Trudeau has chosen to use a weapon of mass political destruction rather than good old-fashioned issues management (a less sexy but ultimately more effective approach).

Dan Lett | Not for Attribution A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world that is sent every Tuesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

With a majority mandate, prorogation would not be much of an issue, other than having to suffer allegations about how it is perverting democracy. Previous first ministers, most notably former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper, used prorogation several times to avoid opposition scrutiny in the House of Commons.

Trudeau claimed prorogation was necessary to reboot Parliament and allow him an opportunity to bring in a new throne speech, which outlines the governing party's agenda. The only problem is Trudeau does not need to prorogue Parliament to accomplish those goals.

However, having promised a throne speech, Trudeau, leader of the minority government, now has to face a vote of confidence. With the Conservatives about to pick a new leader, and the electorate growing more cynical by the day, that may prove to be a fatal strategic mistake.

Although it would be hard to say prorogation on its own hurt Harper, it did not help him. In the 2015 election, Harper's decision to prorogue Parliament four times became prima facie evidence of a leader who had grown too hard and desperate for Canadians to support.

With their chronic and indifferent ignorance of the fundamentals of ethical behaviour, and a decision to abuse the tradition of prorogation, Trudeau and the Liberals may have written themselves a similar ending.

dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The percentage of coronavirus tests coming back positive appears to be on the decline in the state.

On Saturday -- the date for which positivity testing data was most recently available -- just 3.7% of tests came back positive, according to the Monday coronavirus report from the Ohio Department of Health.

This is nearly half of the national positivity rate of 7%, as tracked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This is below the seven-day rolling average for testing data of 4.6%. Even the rolling has been on a decline: On Friday, it was 5%.

Since July 23, masks have been mandated statewide. In urban hotspots, the state has required masks for longer. Masks are believed to be effective in stopping COVID-19 spread. They contain particles that come from the wearers mouth and nose.

The positivity rate is watched because its an indicator of how much infection and spread could be in the larger population.

New cases

The number of newly reported coronavirus cases increased 775 Monday from the day before to 109,062 total statewide, the health department said.

The 775 new cases is around 30% below the 21-day rolling average of 1,137 new cases.

Of the 109,062 total cases, 87,764 people are presumed by the health department of have recovered.

The state counts a coronavirus case by those that are confirmed through testing and those that are probable, which the CDC defines as diagnosed by a doctor when someone has been in close contact with a person who has tested positive, among other criteria.

Newly reported cases and deaths dont necessarily mean they all occurred in the past 24 hours. There is a lag between when they occur and when local entities tell the state.

New deaths

The number of people with COVID-19 who have died increased six since between Sundays and Mondays reports to a total of 3,832.

The six deaths is much lower than the 21-day rolling average of 23 deaths.

Testing

The heath department reported that 19,339 new coronavirus tests have been performed in Ohio, to a total of 1.84 million tests.

Some of those 1.84M tests are from people who have been tested more than once.

However, when someone tests positive more than once, theyre only counted as ONE case.

If you suffer from COVID-19 symptoms and want a free test, visit this site to learn where you can get one. The states mobile pop up testing sites are free and do not require an appointment beforehand.

Hospitalizations

The Ohio Hospital Association reported that 933 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 -- including 316 in intensive-care units and 175 using ventilators.

This is lower than week ago, when 967 people were hospitalized -- including 345 in ICUs and 195 using ventilators.

COVID-19 patients took up just 4% of all hospital beds; almost 7.5% of ICU beds and 22.5% of available ventilators.

This story will be updated.

Other coverage:

Ohio Restaurant Association launches $30,000 fundraising effort for workers in need

White House defends President Trumps handling of coronavirus in new report that Sherrod Brown calls propaganda

Ohio coronavirus increases of cases, hospitalizations and positive tests slowed: Friday update

The 2 sponsors of Ohio House Bill 6 say they are OK with the release documents withheld from the feds

State Rep. Emilia Sykes announces PAC to galvanize Black women voters and candidates
DNY59/iStockBy AARON KATERSKY, ABC News



(NEW YORK) -- The Manhattan District Attorney's office fought Thursday to reinstate the indictment against President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, according to court documents filed in the case.



Manafort had been charged in New York for allegedly conducting a yearlong residential mortgage fraud scheme before the case was dismissed in December due to its similarity to earlier federal charges.



The Manhattan DA's office argued, according to court filings, that the state's double jeopardy law contains an exception that would allow the case to proceed.



"[The statute] permits a successive prosecution where the offenses in the second prosecution contain different elements and the defining statutes were designed to prevent very different kinds of harm or evil than the offenses in the first prosecution," the court document states.



In the case against Manafort, the district attorney's filing said the "defendant overlooks the distinct harms that the federal and state offenses were designed to target."



Manafort, 71, had been sentenced to more than seven years for charges related to special counsel Robert Muellers investigation in a federal correctional institution in central Pennsylvania. He was found guilty of tax fraud and conspiracy and was sentenced by a federal judge in March 2019.



He was released from prison in May to serve the remainder of his sentence in home confinement because of concerns over the novel coronavirus, two sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.



Manafort was just one of several associates of President Trump's that were charged for crimes as part of the nearly two-year investigation led by Mueller. So far, Manafort was the only one to spend a significant period in jail.



Manafort's longtime partner and former Trump deputy campaign manager Rick Gates pleaded guilty and cooperated with federal prosecutors in the case against Manafort in 2018.



Recently, Trump commuted the sentence of his longtime political adviser Roger Stone who also faced a series of charges born from the Mueller probe.



Stone and Manafort were also longtime partners in a political consulting firm.



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Dayna McErlean, a prominent Northeast Portland landlord and restaurant owner, will walk away from her businesses after accounts of mismanagement surfaced on Instagram, Eater PDX reported Wednesday night.

The departure appears to mark an end to McErleans long run owning and overseeing restaurants near the busy corner of Northeast Killingsworth Street and 30th Avenue, including stylish izakaya Yakuza, intimate ristorante DOC as well as Nonna, a sister trattoria to DOC that closed last year. McErlean also runs North Portland events space The Colony, and owns the buildings home to Yakuza and its next-door neighbor, fine-dining destination Beast, according to state records.

DOC, once considered among Portlands top Italian restaurants, is not expected to reopen after the pandemic, according to the Eater PDX report. Yakuza will take over the former Nonna space, potentially under employee management. Ichiza Kitchen, a popular Goose Hollow vegan restaurant known for its chile oil wontons, will take over the Yakuza space.

The changes come more than a month after a public reckoning over toxic restaurant culture surfaced in the form of anonymous testimonies on the Instagram account of Maya Lovelace, a Northeast Portland chef and restaurant owner who was subsequently accused of mistreatment by her own employees. After Lovelace announced plans to stop posting, a new account, @86dlistpdx, picked up where she left off.

Over the past month, four separate @86dlistpdx posts have accused McErlean of mismanagement. Those included allegations that a 3 to 5 percent health and wellness charge added to customer checks didnt always materialize in promised health insurance, and that employees occasionally had to pay vendors out-of-pocket or shop last minute at a nearby grocery store in order to prepare the nights menu.

McErlean did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. Speaking with Eater PDX, McErlean said she was leaving in part due to the Instagram posts, but also because of the financial impacts of the coronavirus and a years-long desire to get out of the industry. She told Eater PDX that employees and vendors were always repaid for out-of-pocket expenses and bounced checks.

According to a 2013 profile in Portland Monthly, McErlean grew up around the building trade in Staten Island, where her father was a developer, then moved to Portland in the mid-1990s. In 1999, she bought a building at 5411 S.E. 30th Ave. and, after showing it to eventual Little Big Burger founder Micah Camden, turned the space into Yakuza, a Japanese-inspired izakaya that became known for its back patio and signature burger. Chef Naomi Pomeroys Beast went into the space next door in 2007, followed by another Camden collaboration, DOC, an intimate Italian restaurant in a rented space on the other side of Killingsworth Street. The Colony launched in 2013. At that time, McErleans businesses employed 55 people.

-- Michael Russell, mrussell@oregonian.com, @tdmrussell

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 21:02:31|Editor: huaxia

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BAGHDAD, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The total infections of COVID-19 cases in Iraq on Thursday reached 192,797, as the Health Ministry reported 3,995 new cases during the past 24 hours.

The ministry reported 87 fatalities during the day, raising the death toll to 6,208, while 2,831 more patients recovered in the day, bringing the total number of recoveries to 137,200.

The new cases were recorded after 23,268 testing kits were used across the country during the day, and a total of 1,368,727 tests have been carried out since the outbreak of the disease, according to the ministry's statement.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Health Minister Hassan Al-Tamimi said in a press release that Iraq will be one of the first countries to receive the vaccine if approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international organizations.

"Coordination is underway with the Iraqi Foreign Ministry to communicate with the countries producing the vaccines, but all the vaccines announced so far are still in the experimental phase and have not yet obtained the approval of the WHO," al-Tamimi said.

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
Treasury Designates Key Actors in Mahan Air Illicit Procurement Operations

U.S. Department of the Treasury

August 19, 2020

WASHINGTON  Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is designating UAE-based Parthia Cargo and Delta Parts Supply FZC for their material support of Iranian airline Mahan Air. OFAC is also designating UAE-based Iranian national Amin Mahdavi for owning or controlling Parthia Cargo. Together, these companies have provided key parts and logistics services for Mahan Air, which is designated under counterterrorism authorities for support to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), as well as under a counter proliferation authority that targets weapons of mass destruction proliferators and their supporters.

"The Iranian regime uses Mahan Air as a tool to spread its destabilizing agenda around the world, including to the corrupt regimes in Syria and Venezuela, as well as terrorist groups throughout the Middle East," said Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. "The United States will continue to take action against those supporting this airline."

The services provided by Parthia Cargo and Delta Parts Supply FZC help Mahan Air sustain its fleet of western-manufactured aircraft and allow it to support the Iranian regime's destabilizing agenda through activities that include the transportation of terrorists and lethal cargo to Syria to prop up the murderous Assad regime, as well as the more recent transportation of Iranian technicians and technical equipment to Venezuela to support the illegitimate Maduro regime's efforts to revive energy production ruined by corruption and mismanagement. Concurrent with OFAC's designations, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia filed criminal charges against Parthia Cargo and Amin Mahdavi related to the alleged unlicensed re-export of U.S.-export controlled aircraft parts to Iran in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

Mahan Air has transported IRGC-QF operatives, weapons, equipment, and funds abroad in support of the terrorist group's regional operations, and has also moved weapons and personnel for Hizballah. Since the onset of the Syrian civil war, Mahan Air has routinely flown fighters and materiel to Syria to prop up the Assad regime, which has contributed to the regime's atrocities and displacement of civilians. In December 2019, the Department of State designated Mahan Air pursuant to E.O. 13382, a counter proliferation authority targeting weapons of mass destruction proliferators and their supporters.

Dubai-based Parthia Cargo serves as a freight forwarding agent of Mahan Air and has regularly forwarded consignments of aircraft parts, including U.S.-origin parts, from UAE directly to Mahan Air in Tehran, as well as to Mahan Air front companies in Istanbul. Parts have typically been shipped aboard regularly scheduled Mahan Air flights between Dubai and Tehran. Several additional Iranian airlines and aviation firms have also relied on Parthia Cargo to forward U.S.-origin aircraft parts to Tehran.

Dubai-based Delta Parts Supply FZC has sold key aviation goods, including U.S.-origin parts, directly to Mahan Air or its front companies. Aircraft part orders have shipped aboard the regularly scheduled Mahan Air flights from Dubai, and have utilized the freight forwarding services of Parthia Cargo.

Parthia Cargo and Delta Parts Supply FZC are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Mahan Air.

UAE-based Iranian national Amin Mahdavi is the CEO and owner of Parthia Cargo, and has directly coordinated the shipment of parts on behalf of Mahan Air. Amin Mahdavi is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for owning or controlling Parthia Cargo.

Today's action follows recent actions targeting Mahan Air general sales agents (GSA) outside of Iran, and provides another warning to the international aviation community of the sanctions risk for individuals and entities that choose to maintain commercial relationships with Mahan Air and other designated airlines. Those in the airline industry should conduct due diligence to avoid performing services for or on behalf of a designated person, which may be sanctionable. Such activities may include freight booking, reservation and ticketing services, procurement of aircraft parts and equipment, maintenance contracts, airline grounds services, catering, interline transfer or codeshare agreements, and refueling contracts.

On July 23, 2019, OFAC issued an advisory to inform the civil aviation industry of potential exposure to U.S. government economic sanctions for providing unauthorized support to or for designated Iranian airlines, many of which, including Mahan Air, are involved in facilitating the Iranian regime's support to proxy militias and groups it supports.

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of Parthia Cargo, Delta Parts Supply FZC, and Amin Mahdavi that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC. OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all dealings by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interest in property of blocked or designated persons, unless licensed or exempt.



In addition, persons that engage in certain transactions with Parthia Cargo, Delta Parts Supply FZC, or Amin Mahdavi may themselves be exposed to designation. Furthermore, any foreign financial institution that knowingly conducts or facilitates a significant transaction or provides significant financial services for individuals and entities designated in connection with Iran's support for international terrorism or any Iranian person on OFAC's List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons could be subject to U.S. correspondent account or payable-through account sanctions.

View identifying information on the entities and individual listed today.

####

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Similarly, on health care, Mr. Biden has spoken often of the part he played in helping pass the Affordable Care Act, even though many Americans continue to see it as flawed: Just 42 percent of registered voters nationwide  including only 37 percent of independents  said the law had been a good idea, according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released in March.

But the Medicare for all proposal pushed by Mr. Sanders and other progressives was no more popular, with only 43 percent of voters supporting it, according to the NBC/Journal poll. Mr. Bidens proposal, adding a Medicare-like public option to Obamacare, was far more popular, approved of by nearly three in four voters in the poll.

When it comes to racial justice, Mr. Biden also has a delicate line to walk. He is seeking to harness the momentum of a racial-justice movement that has drawn an uncommonly strong wave of popular support  but he has shied away from embracing some of its most trenchant elements. While he supports the sweeping police reform bill passed by the House, he has resisted calls to defund the police.

Notably absent from most Democrats convention speeches this week were mentions of the clashes, in cities such as Portland, Ore., between protesters and federal agents ordered in by Mr. Trump. Polling has shown Americans roughly split on whether Mr. Trump was right to send in those officers.

Its an open question whether Mr. Biden gives voice to the outrage of many liberals who see Mr. Trumps actions in Portland as a gross abuse of power, or if he stays away from the issue out of fear of being associated with leftist organizers.

Beyond questions of policy, theres one more balancing act that Mr. Biden will have to master: assuaging concerns about his age (hes 77) and mental acuity, without mentioning it explicitly. In an attack ad released this week, Mr. Trumps campaign portrayed Mr. Biden as having lost his step in recent years, comparing a range of clips from 2015 and 2016 in which he speaks clearly and forcefully to videos from this year showing Mr. Biden fumbling for words.

Theres probably only one way Mr. Biden will be able to quiet those fears tonight: with a steady, smooth delivery  no matter what the substance is.
Press Release

August 19, 2020 Senate adopts resolution honoring the late Sen. Lim The Senate on Wednesday, August 19, 2020 adopted a resolution honoring and recognizing the contribution of former Manila mayor and Sen. Alfredo Lim in his 60 years as a public servant. Lim passed away August 8, 2020 at the age of 90. Adopted was Senate Resolution No. (SRN) 494, in consideration of SRNs 498 and 501, "expressing the profound sympathy and sincere condolences of the Senate on the death of the Honorable Alfredo 'Fred' S. Lim," former senator, former mayor of Manila, former director of the National Bureau of Investigation and former secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government. SRN 494, filed by Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, and Senators Panfilo Lacson and Francis Tolentino, stated Lim served the Filipino people "with utmost dedication, honor and dignity" for over six decades in various capacities. Tolentino, in his sponsorship speech, said Lim started his public service as a policeman at the age of 22 and became one of the most decorated policemen in the country. In his earnest effort to clean Manila of drugs, prostitution and other criminalities as a police chief, he earned the tag "Dirty Harry." After serving the city of Manila as police chief, Lim continued to serve the city as mayor (1992-1998 and 2007-2013). Lim was appointed director of the NBI in 1989 and as DILG secretary in 2000. In his brief stint as a senator (2004-2007), the resolution stated that Lim introduced bills "that would address the concerns of the people, particularly the poor, and the country such as giving free medicines, and medical care to indigent patients, protecting the families and relatives of the deceased from harassments of hospitals and funeral parlors, among others. "The untimely demise of a true public servant, who had dedicated almost his entire life in serving his countrymen and whose principles and achievements in life are worth emulating but hard to duplicate, is a great loss not only to the bereaved family but to the nation as well," the resolution further stated. Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, himself a former police chief, said most policemen looked up to Lim for his contribution to achieve peace and order in the country. "I thanked Mayor Lim for making this nation great through his humble contribution," Dela Rosa said. Sen. Joel Villanueva, together with Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Sens. Nancy Binay and Sonny Angara, filed SRN 498 "to remember the Philippines' Dirty Harry." "Indeed, the life and works of former senator and Manila mayor Alfredo S. Lim will continue to lift the spirit of the Filipino people amid the Covid-19 pandemic. His courage, bravery and service to the nation will never be forgotten," Villanueva said. Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, who was the Executive Secretary when Lim was the chief of the NBI, said the late senator was "indeed, a man of the law." "As I knew him, he would push the law to its acceptable limits because he would adhere to the rule of law. He wanted to provide a better political stability in our society then," Drilon said. Sen. Grace Poe, asking that she be made co-author in the resolutions, recalled that Lim ran and won as a senator in 2004 under the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino with her father, the late Fernando Poe Jr. as the standard bearer. Poe said her family was very grateful to Lim as he was behind the installation of a 9-foot bronze statue of FPJ along Roxas Blvd. infront of the US Embassy in 2012. "I don't think anyone has given my father that much honor, aside from the National Artist Award, and because of that, we thank him and we hope that his memory will live on," Poe said.
Legislation to require some Virginia businesses to provide paid sick leave to employees during a public health emergency died in Senate committee on Wednesday by a wide, bipartisan vote that also reflected concerns over the limitations of a program Gov. Ralph Northam proposed to help pay the costs.

The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee voted 13-2 to kill a bill proposed by Sen. Barbara Favola, D-Arlington, that would have required businesses with 21 or more employees to provide two weeks of paid sick leave during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as future public health emergencies, and an additional one week for full-time workers affected directly by the crisis.

Favola argued that the Rebuild Virginia program that Northam announced recently with $70 million in federal emergency relief funds would help affected businesses cover the costs of the paid leave, but she acknowledged under questioning that businesses that received loans or grants under the federal Payroll Protection Program wouldnt be eligible for money from the state initiative.

Its not something thats going to be a wash for businesses, said Sen. George Barker, D-Fairfax, one of many Democrats to oppose the bill.
The parliamentary standing committee on Information Technology has summoned Facebook on September 2 to discuss the issue of alleged misuse of social media platforms in the wake of claims that the US firm did not apply hate-speech rules to certain BJP politicians.

A day before, the panel will also discuss the issue of internet shutdowns and has called representatives of the Jammu and Kashmir administration and others.

Besides representatives of Facebook, the committee has asked those from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to attend on September 2 to discuss the subject of "safeguarding citizens' rights and prevention of misuse of social/online news media platforms including special emphasis on women security in the digital space".

The agenda of the committee's September 2 meeting states that to "hear the views of the representatives of Facebook on the subject 'Safeguarding citizens' rights and prevention of misuse of social/online news media platforms including special emphasis on women security in the digital space".

No immediate response was available from the social media firm on the summon.

The notification issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat came on a day when senior member of the committee and BJP leader Nishikant Dubey wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking removal of Shashi Tharoor as the panel's chairman, alleging that the Congress leader was using the platform for a political agenda.

The political slugfest has been going on between the two, which started after Tharoor's announcement that the panel would like to hear from Facebook about the report published in Wall Street Journal claiming that the social media platform ignored applying its hate-speech rules to politicians of the ruling party in India.

Tharoor's remarks evoked strong reaction from BJP members of the panel especially Dubey, who alleged that the Congress leader has been using the platform to further his and his party's political agenda. Both have sought breach of privilege proceedings against each other.

For the September 1 meeting, representatives of the ministries of communications and home affairs have also been called as well as those from Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi governments, according to the agenda notifications issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat.

Information and Broadcasting Ministry, News Broadcasters Association, Press Council of India and Prasar Bharati representatives have also been called for the discussion on 'Ethical Standards in Media Coverage' on September 1.

In its report published last week, the US newspaper cited interviews with unnamed Facebook insiders to claim that 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.

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.

(With inputs from PTI)
All Dallas-area Citypost kiosks have been upgraded to address COVID-19 concerns in Texas, with touchless mobile activation of all broadcast content now available at DART bus and light rail stations. "With COVID-19, one of the biggest public concerns is the transfer of the virus by touch. We wanted to help address that directly without any disruption of the valuable information were providing for the community, said Tom Touchet, CEO of Smart City Media.

All Dallas-area Citypost kiosks have been upgraded to address COVID-19 concerns in Texas, with touchless mobile activation of all broadcast content now available at Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) bus and light rail stations. The system upgrade makes the DART information contactless and viewable from mobile devices through embedded QR code activation. Smart City Media (SCM) managed the feature development to help as DART responded quickly to passengers needs  fusing critical transportation services, access to opportunities and public health preservation.

DART, SCM, and Landmark Infrastructure Partners unveiled the new kiosk network in February with a broader goal of bridging the digital divide by providing information and digital connectivity at mass transit stops. The kiosks, which are interactive alert stations housing smart city technology, provide transit alert data, route and community billboard information, hyperlocal advertisements, and will soon also offer 5G connectivity as well as public Wi-Fi to riders.

The process began in March, when SCM began sharing public health information about COVID-19 from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and other trusted sources, said Tom Touchet, CEO of Smart City Media. That said, with COVID-19, one of the biggest public concerns is the transfer of the virus by touch. We wanted to help address that directly without any disruption of the valuable information were providing for the community.

SCMs work for DART in North Texas is a sampling of its wider initiative to broaden government policy forums, enhance digital broadcasts and create opportunities for collaboration and commerce while adhering to six-foot safety zones.

Commenting on SCMs network, Bob Bennett, chair of the Cities Today Institute, a city-focused think tank based in London and Kansas City, Mo., said, A kiosk, when developed correctly, is more than a simple advertising platform or ticketing machine. It is, instead, a communications node that empowers organizations to link behavior, validate medical expertise and analyze critical data to better secure public health.

Jennifer Sanders, co-founder and executive director of the Dallas Innovation Alliance, also noted, Dallas-area firms, including DART and SCM, are taking the innovation challenge to keep our residents and visitors safe while continuing to provide world-class service.

Citypost, which has a presence in 30-plus major U.S. cities, collaborates with local firms and uses Internet of Things (IoT) technology to provide digital displays in high-traffic areas. SCM is also working in other regions to perfect a variation of the kiosk which integrates cameras, temperature sensors and artificial intelligence to expand access to public health screenings. SCM expects organizations to begin deploying public health variations of the kiosk within weeks.

About Smart City Media

Smart City Media (SCM) is one of the fastest growing companies in the Internet of Things (IoT) market and aims to connect the unconnected by infusing media, technology and interactivity into places and spaces it has never been before. SCM blends virtual and physical worlds together with great thought, cause and care. For more information, visit: http://www.smartcitymedia.us.

About Landmark Infrastructure Partners LP

Landmark Infrastructure Partners LP owns and manages a portfolio of real property interests and infrastructure assets that the partnership leases to companies in the wireless communication, outdoor advertising and renewable power generation industries. For more information, visit http://www.landmarkmlp.com.

About DART

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is the public transit agency for Dallas and 12 surrounding North Texas cities. It operates a multi-modal network of buses, light rail, Trinity Railway Express commuter rail and paratransit. It is a global leader in the emerging field of Mobility as a Service (MaaS), which incorporates smartphone technology into fare payment, trip planning and scheduling. DART moves more than 220,000 passengers per day across its 700-square-mile service area. For more information, visit http://www.dart.org.


West African leaders met Thursday to discuss the military coup that toppled Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, as international condemnation of the military takeover grows.

The Economic Community of West African States is trying to help resolve the crisis following earlier attempts to mediate between Keita's government and a popular protest movement demanding his resignation. Further instability in Mali could be exploited by Islamist insurgents in the north that have staged increasingly violent attacks in the region despite the presence of a 15,000-strong United Nations peacekeeping force.

"We have before us a serious situation that could destabilize security, not only in Mali, but in the entire region," Niger's President Mahamdou Issofou said at the start of the Ecowas talks.

While the regional bloc has activated its standby force, it's unlikely to intervene militarily as it did in 2017 to end a political crisis in Gambia, said Paul Ejime, an Abuja-based consultant to Ecowas on peace and security.

"The options open to it are dialog, consultation," he said. "Deploying troops would require huge financial resources. With the pandemic, it will be difficult to assemble troops and Ecowas is already stretched with missions in Guinea Bissau and Gambia."

Keita, 75, dissolved his government and resigned late Tuesday under pressure from soldiers who detained him hours after staging a mutiny at an army barracks on the outskirts of the capital. The junta, known as the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, has pledged to help form a transitional administration that will prepare new elections.

Army Col. Assimi Goita, who on Wednesday presented himself as the junta's leader, previously headed a special military unit based in central Mali, and has participated in U.S-led military exercises.

Keita assumed office in 2013 after winning an election on pledges to restore state authority nationwide, 16 months after a coup that ousted his predecessor, Amadou Toumani Toure.

The UN Security Council added to the chorus of international criticism of the army takeover, which was condemned by the U.S., France and the European Union, among others. Ivory Coast and Niger both closed borders with Mali and halted banking transactions and suspended accounts in line with restrictive measures announced by Ecowas on Aug. 18.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the current chairman of the African Union, urged an "immediate return to civilian rule" and demanded the military release Keita and other government officials, including Prime Minister Boubou Cisse, who are still held at the barracks.

It's not clear to what extent the junta has ties to the M5-RFP protest movement, an alliance of activists and opposition politicians supported by the conservative, Saudi-trained preacher Mahmoud Dicko that has called for Keita's resignation.

Dicko said on hit Facebook page on Wednesday that he was taking a step back from the opposition movement. Calls to his phone didn't connect when Bloomberg tried to reach him for comment.

The situation in Mali is reminiscent of the 2012 coup, which was staged from the same barracks where Tuesday's mutiny started and organized by junior officers angry about the lack of resources needed to fight Tuareg separatists. The subsequent power vacuum was exploited by al-Qaeda-linked Islamist groups who seized control of the north.

A French military intervention pushed back the militants, but some groups later returned and expanded to carry out attacks on civilians and peacekeepers. The insurgency has since spread across the region to countries including Niger and Burkina Faso.

"A prolonged political crisis almost certainly will worsen security conditions in Mali, and it may hasten the conflict's expansion," said Judd Devermont, director of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C.
Kenia Madrigal found herself in a situation many could easily find themselves in with just one job loss or illness.

This Houston mother found herself homeless with nowhere to go, along with her four children ranging in ages 11, 8, 3, and 1.

"The 2019 Homeless Count & Survey shows that we can expect to see 3,938 people experiencing homelessness at any given moment in the Houston region," states the Coalition for the Homeless.

WALLS OF LOVE HELPS HOUSTON'S HOMELESS: 'Walls of Love' in downtown Houston offers basics for people who are homeless

"Since June, I don't have a place to live," said Madrigal to Univision 45. "I have stayed with some friends, but with four children it's too much for one person, so I am not able to stay long."

According to a GoFundMe account, Madrigal was laid off at the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown and denied unemployment, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and unable to find work for months.

Madrigal was able to find another job during this time, but the pay is only $11.50 an hour and not enough to cover rent or other housing, according to a report by ABC13.

Madrigal spent many nights in her small SUV with her children after being evicted from their home.

In less than 24 hours, after her co-worker set up the GoFundMe account, the outpouring of support Madrigal has received went from an initial goal of $800 to over $60,000 raised for this young mother.

"These funds will go towards a safe home for Kenia and her children. They will also fund her childrens education for this new virtual school year," stated the GoFundMe page.

According to ABC13, nonprofits such as Kids'Meal Inc., and Northwest Assistance Ministries (NAM) reached out offering their assistance to Madrigal.

"My goal was to get enough to get into a place, and now I can actually give them a home," said Madrigal.

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Even by the standards of 2020, this weeks batch of congressional primaries across the US threw up a particularly shocking result: the election of far-right activist Laura Loomer to be the Republican candidate in Floridas 21st district.

While some Republicans are openly dismayed at her nomination, others have backed her, including both sitting members of Congress and Donald Trump, who votes (albeit by mail) in the district where Ms Loomer is standing.

Ms Loomer, 27, has become a celebrity of sorts in extreme right-wing circles in recent years thanks to a string of sometimes bizarre public protests and stunts, including interrupting congressional hearings, storming the stage at a New York production of Julius Caesar, and publicly asking Chelsea Clinton to sign a book for a woman who has accused Bill Clinton of rape.

Her principal causes are anti-Islamic campaigning  she has called herself a proud Islamophobe  and more recently a fight against the silencing of conservatives, a theme she has latched onto since she was banned from various major social media platforms for expressing hateful views.

Among the earliest organisations to sanction Ms Loomer were Uber and Lyft, who shut her out in late 2017 when she tweeted an anti-Islamic rant in the aftermath of a terrorist attack in New York. Claiming that onlookers in hijabs probably enjoyed the attack, she then called for the creation of a non-Islamic ride-hailing service.

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Someone needs to create a non-Islamic form of Uber or Lyft because I never want to support another Islamic immigrant driver, she tweeted.

"I'm late to the NYPD press conference because I couldn't find a non-Muslim cab or Uber Lyft driver for over 30 min!"

Twitter, meanwhile, permanently banned Ms Loomer in 2018 after she went on a rant about Minnesota democrat Ilhan Omar, one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress.

Specifically, Ms Loomer called Ms Omar anti-Jewish and wrote that she followed a cancer of a religion that oppressed homosexuals and forced her to wear the hijab.

This was beyond the pale as far as Twitter was concerned  though Ms Loomer had previously used the platform to share many other anti-Islam screeds. At one point she celebrated the deaths of 2,000 migrants in the Mediterranean sea, tweeting Good. Heres to 2,000 more.

After the ban, Ms Loomer put out a statement on social media network Gab: "My haters are celebrating today, and they are saying this is the end of my career, but I want everyone to know I'm just getting started. Everyone who knows me knows I don't back down."

She soon staged a protest, handcuffing herself to the doors of Twitters offices in New York while wearing a yellow jude star and shouting that she stood in solidarity with millions of conservatives who have been silenced. After a few hours standing in the cold, she asked to be released with bolt cutters.

In the aftermath of her primary victory, Twitter has confirmed it will not be reinstating her account.

A few months after being ejected from Twitter, she was also barred from jointly owned platforms Facebook and Instagram. The company deemed her in breach of its ban on dangerous individuals and organisations, citing her associations with extremist figures and her previous racist posts, including those about Ms Omar.

Ms Loomer sued Facebook over the decision claiming the ban was defamatory, but her case was thrown out by a federal judge.

Also banning Ms Loomer is PayPal, which shut her account in early 2019 after she was accused of having links to an anti-Muslim hate group. Complaining that the ban would leave her unable to receive donations to fund her activism, Ms Loomer wrote: I cant even exist in society because the actual Nazis in tech and on the left constantly ban me because I post facts. How am I supposed to pay my bills?

Nonetheless, Ms Loomer has triumphed in her primary. This does not mean she will make it to Congress, not least given the district leans heavily Democratic  but for now, though still banned from much of the mainstream internet, she enjoys the public approval of certain elements in her party, and of her president.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has hit back at fresh calls to relax Queenslands border restrictions, saying she "wont bend for anyone".

But there has been some small tweaks to border arrangements on Thursday to accommodate people with medical conditions who need to cross the border.

Annastacia Palaszczuk said Queenslands borders would be closed to NSW and Victoria while community transmission was active.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce has called for national guidelines on how borders are managed during the pandemic, after he announced a $1.9 billion loss for the company due to the pandemic.

Mr Joyce said his chief concern was that there seemed to him to be no rules on border closures.
DENVER, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As one of Colorado's largest family law practices, The Harris Law Firm has built a team of caring and compassionate advocates who have dedicated their careers to helping clients navigate what are often difficult and emotionally turbulent proceedings. Now, several members of the firm's legal team have been selected for inclusion in the latest edition of Best Lawyers.

Firm Attorneys Richard Harris, Jennie Wray, and Richard Zuber were each named to The Best Lawyers in America 2021 in the area of Family Law. Attorney Hannah Van Roekel was named to the inaugural Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch list for her work in Family Law.

The Best Lawyers in America recognizes top attorneys from across the country who have excelled in their practice areas while earning the respect and esteem of colleagues who've witnessed their work in action.

Based exclusively on peer review, Best Lawyers solicits nominations, extensive feedback, and votes from previously listed attorneys to select honorees for The Best Lawyers in America and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, which recognizes top young attorneys.

In total, less than 5% of all practicing lawyers nationwide are chosen to the final publication.

The Harris Law Firm: A Focus On Family Law

The Harris Law Firm focuses exclusively on family law, allowing it to take a collaborative, client-focused approach to even the most complex cases involving divorce, property division, support, and child custody. The firm's success is driven largely by a team that truly cares about clients and their futures, as well as the legal abilities of lawyers recognized among the top in their fields.

Firm attorneys named to this year's Best Lawyers include:

Richard Harris : As President of The Harris Law Firm, Richard Harris has cultivated a legacy for passionate, results-driven representation. Named to Best Lawyers since 2018, Harris has instilled within his team the selfless core values of trust, teamwork, and custom-tailored legal solutions for which the firm has become known. He has been recognized as a Top Lawyer of Colorado by The Denver Post , selected to Colorado Super Lawyers on multiple occasions, and is a passionate volunteer and philanthropist. Harris is Co-Founder and Board Chair of The Road to Hope , a non-profit devoted to development and the support of children in Haiti .

As President of The Harris Law Firm, has cultivated a legacy for passionate, results-driven representation. Named to since 2018, Harris has instilled within his team the selfless core values of trust, teamwork, and custom-tailored legal solutions for which the firm has become known. He has been recognized as a Top Lawyer of by , selected to on multiple occasions, and is a passionate volunteer and philanthropist. Harris is Co-Founder and Board Chair of , a non-profit devoted to development and the support of children in . Jennie Wray : Firm Partner Jennie Wray has been recognized by Best Lawyers since 2019. As one of The Harris Law Firm's most accomplished attorneys, Wray has been named to the Colorado Super Lawyers Rising Stars list every year since 2013 and has been nominated several years over for Denver Business Journal's Top 40 Under 40 list. Wray is actively involved in charitable and pro bono work. She has served as a Guardian Ad Litem for the Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center since 2008, and volunteers her time to numerous pro bono organizations.

Firm Partner Jennie Wray has been recognized by since 2019. As one of The Harris Law Firm's most accomplished attorneys, Wray has been named to the Rising Stars list every year since 2013 and has been nominated several years over for Denver Business Journal's Top 40 Under 40 list. Wray is actively involved in charitable and pro bono work. She has served as a Guardian Ad Litem for the Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center since 2008, and volunteers her time to numerous pro bono organizations. Richard I. Zuber : Richard Zuber serves as Special Counsel to The Harris Law Firm, and has been recognized among The Best Lawyers in America since 2012. With over 40 years in practice, Zuber leverages extensive experience to assist clients in complex cases of divorce, post-decree modifications, and high-net-worth asset and debt division. He is a frequent lecturer on matrimonial law topics, and has been named to Colorado Super Lawyers every year since 2006.

serves as Special Counsel to The Harris Law Firm, and has been recognized among since 2012. With over 40 years in practice, Zuber leverages extensive experience to assist clients in complex cases of divorce, post-decree modifications, and high-net-worth asset and debt division. He is a frequent lecturer on matrimonial law topics, and has been named to every year since 2006. Hannah Van Roekel : Attorney Hannah Van Roekel earns her first selection to Best Lawyers list of "Ones to Watch" in 2021. With a practice focused exclusively on domestic relations, Van Roekel has cultivated a wide breath of experience and the ability to help clients pursue efficient, amicable resolutions in divorce, separation, and child custody issues. Van Roekel is a recipient of the Avvo Clients' Choice Award, and serves as a volunteer with Metro Volunteer Lawyers, Denver District Court Ask-a-Lawyer Clinic, and the Arapahoe County Pro Se Family Law Clinic.

Now in its 25th year of business, The Harris Law Firm has grown into one of Colorado's largest family law-focused law firms. Backed by a team of award-winning attorneys, the firm serves clients across the state from offices in Denver, Englewood, and Evergreen, and from remote offices with the use of secure technology platforms and video conferencing. For more information, visit: www.harrisfamilylaw.com.

SOURCE The Harris Law Firm

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Vietnamese consumer behavior is shifting from traditional online shopping to e-commerce mobile applications, according to Vietnams E-commerce White Book 2020.

The Vietnam eCommerce and Digital Economy Agency (IDEA) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) released its E-commerce White Book 2020, a report detailing the countrys latest consumer trends, via its web portal on July 30.

According to the document, Vietnams retail e-commerce sales amounted to US$10.08 billion in 2019, making Vietnam the third fastest growing e-commerce market in Southeast Asia.

IDEA also pointed out that 44.8 million, or roughly 46 percent of Vietnamese, have purchased goods through the Internet, averaging about $225 per person per year, 40 percent higher than 2015.

These numbers far outshine MoITs original 2020 e-commerce forecast which suggested yearly online sales revenues would reach $10 billion spent by just 30 percent of Vietnams population.

As a whole, e-commerce accounted for 4.9 percent of total retail sales of goods and services in 2019, a slight increase from 2018.

The majority of Vietnamese online shoppers fall between 18 and 25 years old, though 77 percent of Internet users in the country tried online shopping at least once in 2019, most of whom accessed online shops through mobile devices.

The most notable trend highlighted in the white paper was Vietnamese consumers shift from traditional online shopping to e-commerce mobile applications.

Other major avenues for online sales are forums and social media networks, which reported a 57 percent year-on-year growth rate in sales in 2019 compared to 36 percent in 2018, despite the growing number of reports related to scams and phishing.

A staggering 88 percent of online shoppers chose cash payment, a two-percent drop from the previous year, while domestic ATM cards, e-wallets, and other online payment options fell slightly in popularity in both 2018 and 2019.

The white paper attributes the decline in non-cash payment to skepticism over product quality, fear of data breaches, and subpar customer service.

It also shed light on Vietnamese Internet usage behaviors. Reading news and surfing social media are the two most common reasons Vietnamese Internet users go online, followed by watching movies, enjoying music, and doing research.

The E-commerce White Book 2020 was completed before the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc in Vietnam and around the world, but it sufficiently covered the e-commerce scenario and painted a complete portrait of Vietnamese users, several experts told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

Nevertheless, the impacts of COVID-19 are growing more visible, causing major stirs in the industry, including buying patterns, the adoption of contactless payment options, and average spending.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
A recently launched center devoted to studying and stamping out racism has received a $10 million donation from Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter and Square.

The contribution to Boston University's Center for Antiracist Research was made through Dorsey's philanthropic venture Start Small, according to Dorsey's Twitter account and BU Today, a university publication.

The center was founded less than two months ago by Ibram X. Kendi, a scholar renowned for his writings on the roots of racism and how to dismantle systems that have embedded inequities.

"This research will inform and fuel much needed and overdue policy change,'' Dorsey said in a tweet Thursday. "I appreciate you Dr. Kendi, and Im grateful for your work!"

Kendi, who is also Boston University's Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities, told BU Today that whats incredible about this gift is that it allows us to begin scaling the size of our center extremely quickly, so that we can begin responding to and studying racism.

Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey is giving $1 billion to coronavirus relief efforts.

As the center gets off the ground, $1 million of Dorsey's donation can be used right away to pay for staff and initial research on racial disparities in regard to the coronavirus, while the remaining $9 million will seed its endowment, said BU Today.

$10M to Dr. Ibram Kendi and the Center for Antiracist Research at BU. This research will inform and fuel much needed and overdue policy change. I appreciate you Dr. Kendi, and Im grateful for your work! https://t.co/M2zvIQYeEO  jack (@jack) August 20, 2020

Numerous companies have denounced racism in the wake of a national protest movement sparked by the deaths of George Floyd, a Black man pinned to the ground by a white Minneapolis police officer who is charged with killing him; Breonna Taylor, killed in her apartment by officers in Louisville, Kentucky; and many other Black men and women.

Story continues

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But activists say corporate statements need to be matched by meaningful actions to dismantle systemic racism and bring about substantive change.

Follow Charisse Jones on Twitter @charissejones

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Twitter: Jack Dorsey donates $10 million to new antiracism institute
The destruction in Sanaa is the result of erratic weather that has led to flooding this year in many areas of Yemen, deepening the misery of a nation already in the grips of a civil war, a severe humanitarian crisis and the coronavirus epidemic. At least 170 people across the country have died because of flooding, more than 7,000 have been displaced, and dozens of shelters and public buildings have been destroyed, according to local authorities and aid agencies.
Suhas Rajkumar is a 24-year-old, Bengaluru-based qualified architect. He has already founded three startups, including one which claimed to produce the worlds most comfortable shoe, in almost as many years.

Rajkumars fourth is, perhaps, the most eye-catching. His company Simple Energy is readying an electric scooter which claims to be as practical as a petrol-powered scooter and substantially better than most other e-scooters.

To be priced around Rs 1 lakh, the battery-powered scooter, codenamed Mark 2, is claimed to have a drive range of more than 280 km on full charge. What is more intriguing is that Mark 2, which goes on sale in a few months, can be fully charged in 40 minutes at home and 17 minutes at a charging station.

Other conventional electric scooters like the Hero MotoCorp-backed Ather 450, takes four hours for a full charge and returns a drive range of less than 100km. The Ather 450 is priced around Rs 1.15 lakh.

Mark 2 vs Honda Activa

Rajkumar has benchmarked the Mark 2 against Indias best-selling scooter, Honda Activa. A full-tank (5.3-litre capacity) Activa 6G will power the scooter to around 250 km, considering a mileage of 50 km per litre. The ex-showroom price of the Activa 6G is around Rs 70,000.

Our first aim was to solve the range anxiety of 100-150 km of an e-scooter. When you compare a petrol vehicle with an EV, it has to give the same drive range. So our initial goal was a range higher than just 200 km. We hit 240 km on our test model while our production model will be run for 280 km, said Rajkumar.

How did Simple Energy achieve this?

According to Rajkumar, initially, engineers at the 20-month-old startup worked on getting the vehicles chassis and Battery Management System (BMS) right. BMS is the brain of the battery in an electric vehicle. It controls the voltage, current and temperature of every cell in the battery pack to produce optimum performance.

We developed the BMS in-house from scratch and also have filed a patent on it. We then went for designing the chassis. We built it according to our battery, and not the other way around. So we used the 4.2kWh, 3.7-volt single cell battery, developed by Panasonic for Tesla. We installed a cooling system in the battery that gives it a higher efficiency, added Rajkumar.

Simple Energy has filed eight patents on the chassis, three on BMS and two motor controllers.

Before Mark 2 hits the street, Simple Energy decided to test the vehicle with users in real-world riding conditions. While the company claims to have tested the prototypes for 35,000-45,000 km it is hopeful of getting the certification from the testing agencies such as Automotive Research Association of India by December.

The founder

Though Rajkumar finished his architecture studies from an institute in Tumkur, Karnataka, his interest rested in automobiles. He was one of the riders in the TVS Racing Under-19 championship. But the entrepreneur in him gave birth to three startups.

In addition to design and production of Merino Wool shoes from the startup called Airstep, his second one is engaged in robotics for space program, and Uride, a two-wheeler taxi aggregator online solution on the lines of Bounce.
While most of the other Democratic candidates for president were toiling through Iowa or New Hampshire, Mike Bloomberg was back in Texas recently doing the same thing he did weeks earlier: Trying to win over black voters.

Bloomberg, speaking in Greater Greenspoint, addressed hundreds of members of African Methodist Episcopal Churches from around the nation, bluntly telling them something he never talked much about as mayor of New York City.

The truth is, if I had been black I wouldnt have had the same opportunities and my life would have turned out very differently, the billionaire told the crowd. At the same time, I think its mostly true, that many black Americans of my generation would have ended up with far more wealth if they had been white.

Hes far from the only candidate making outreach to black voters a key part of campaign visits to Houston, and Texas overall.

During his last trip through Texas, in between private fundraisers, former Vice President Joe Biden spoke to the National Baptist Convention in Arlington, a predominately black audience. And in the fall Biden campaigned on the campus of Texas Southern University  one of nine historically black universities in Texas. Biden spent 45 minutes shaking hands, posing for selfies and hugging students.

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Other Democratic contenders such as Bernie Sanders, Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren have participated in forums at TSU to make their case to black voters there. And before he dropped out of the race, Democrat Beto ORourke kicked off his campaign by holding a rally at TSU.

If any of them think they can win without us, they wont, said Aimee Allison, the founder of a group called She The People that is pushing candidates to address issues of importance to women of color.

The 2016 elections show just how critical black voters are to any Democrat hoping to win the White House. In 2016, a record 137.5 million Americans voted in the presidential election. But a report by the Pew Research Center shows that while almost every demographic group saw a corresponding boost, for the first time in 20 years black voter turnout declined, falling from 66.6 percent in 2012 to 59.6 percent in 2016.

Allison said already in this cycle she feels that candidates are doing much more to earn the votes of communities of color. She said Warrens addressed the maternal mortality rates among minorities aggressively, Sanders has decried the rise of white nationalism in the U.S., and Bloomberg is talking about income inequality and the wealth gap between white and black communities. These are all topics that Allison said candidates have rarely given much attention in presidential primaries in the past.

Recognizing and seeing us is an important first step, Allison said.

For subscribers: Democrats address drop in black voter turnout in Houston forum

President Donald Trumps campaign has also made a point to stress its work for minority communities. In speeches, including the State of the Union last week, Trump has honed in on unemployment data that shows black Americans are doing well under his administration.

Unemployment has reached the lowest rate in over half a century, Trump said in the State of the Union. African American, Hispanic American and Asian American unemployment have all reached their lowest levels ever recorded.

Early polling suggests Biden has a huge lead among black voters in the Democratic primary. In a survey released last month by The Washington Post and nonpartisan research firm Ipsos, Biden was the choice of 48 percent of black respondents. In second place was Sanders, who had 20 percent. Warren was next, at 9 percent, and Bloomberg was at 4 percent.

Bloombergs challenge is complicated by his tenure as mayor of New York City, where he pushed so-called stop and frisk policies that gave New York police broad authority to stop and search anyone suspected of a crime  a policy that disproportionately affected minority communities. Since announcing his White House bid, Bloomberg has publicly apologized for stop and frisk, acknowledging his error in allowing it to remain in place as long as he did.

I made a mistake, Bloomberg said. If you cant apologize, I dont know how you live with yourself.

In an interview with the Houston Chronicle, Bloomberg said his internal poll numbers show hes making up ground and hes convinced future poll numbers are going to show him doing much better with black voters.

Im addressing the issues they care about, said Bloomberg, who is expected to be back in Houston yet again Thursday.

In his speech in Houston, Bloomberg emphasized his history in helping the black community as mayor of New York City and his plan to address income inequalities in America. He has outlined a program he said will triple black family wealth in three years, double the number of black-owned businesses in the nation and help a million black families buy homes. He said while mayor of the city, his administration created 500,000 jobs and 175,000 affordable housing units.

I know something about creating jobs and building a business and generating wealth, Bloomberg said. Ive done it in the private sector and Ive done it in government for 12 years as the mayor of New York City.

He calls the plan the Greenwood Initiative. That name is taken from the Greenwood Massacre of 1921 in Tulsa, Okla., in which white mobs attacked black residents and businesses in the Greenwood District. Those attacks killed 36 and left 10,000 black people homeless.

Just acknowledging that history is a big deal for Susan Leath, a Philadelphia doctor who was at Bloombergs speech in Houston.

A lot of white people dont even know about that part of history, Leath said. I was very moved by it. I think he does have not only black people, but all people in mind.

But its not just their words that the candidates are being judged on. Who they hire and bring onto their campaigns has become a key topic as well.

In Texas, Biden has won praise for tapping veteran Dallas political consultant Jane Hamilton to lead his campaigns effort to win the Texas presidential primary. And Sanders has brought on former Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner as his national campaign co-chair. While Sanders was in Washington, D.C., for the impeachment trial, Turner filled in for him before the African Methodist Episcopal Churches, making the case to voters that Sanders has a long history of working with the black community.

The fact that women of color are part of campaign teams now, and that the candidates are trying to reach out more in places like Houston, shows important change is happening in the Democratic Party, Allison said.

This is new territory in presidential politics, she said.

jeremy.wallace@chron.com
LeT commander involved in killing of CRPF jawans among 2 killed in Handwara encounter. (AFP Photo)

Handwara: One of the two terrorists, who was killed in an encounter in Handwara on Wednesday, has been identified as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Naseer-u-din Lone, said Vijay Kumar, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir.

Lone was involved in the killing of 3 CRPF jawans at Sopore on April 18, 2020, and 3 CRPF jawans at Handwara on May 4, 2020, according to IGP Kumar.

Two unidentified terrorists were killed in an encounter with the security forces in the Ganipora Kralgund area of Handwara on Wednesday.

In Shopian, one unidentified terrorist was killed in an encounter that broke out between security forces and terrorists.
View of the cabin of a Delta flight between Minneapolis and Baltimore on April 25, 2020.

Delta Air Lines will continue to limit the number of passengers it allows on each flight through early January in an effort to win over potential customers worried about flying during the coronavirus pandemic, the carrier said Thursday.

Delta had previously said it will limit capacity to 60% of of its main cabin through the end of September. But after that it will raise the limit to 75% of its main cabin, blocking some middle seats, and will continue to do so through "at least" Jan. 6 in the hopes that holiday travelers will choose the carrier over competitors. It said it would reevaluate the capacity limits at the end of October.

Carriers, facing weak demand as concerns about the virus keep many travelers home, have scrambled to find ways to convince customers that flying during the pandemic is safe.

Airlines' physical distancing policies on their flights have differed, with Delta, JetBlue and Southwest among the airlines temporarily limiting capacity while American and United do not have limits. The capacity caps come at a time of severely depressed demand so blocking some seats this year isn't as difficult as last year's peak summer season.

All U.S. airlines each require that passengers wear face coverings like masks onboard and have banned some travelers who failed to comply.

They have also increased aircraft cleaning and put up physical barriers in some of their airport facilities.
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.
SEATTLE - A suburban Seattle police officer with a long history of using force, including three fatal shootings, was charged with murder and assault Thursday for one of those killings, the first case brought against an officer since Washington voters made it easier to prosecute police for using deadly force.

Auburn Police Officer Jeff Nelson, an Iraq war veteran who joined the department in 2008, shot and killed Jesse Sarey, 26, outside a convenience store last year while trying to arrest him for disorderly conduct in an interaction that lasted just 67 seconds.

King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg said Thursday that Nelson escalated the situation with Sarey, failed to wait for backup before confronting him, and that the level of force he used was unreasonable: Nelson repeatedly punched Sarey in the head after grappling with him, shot him once in the upper abdomen and then, as the wounded Sarey reclined on the ground about 7 feet away, Nelson cleared a jammed round out of his gun, glanced at a nearby witness, turned back to Sarey and fired again into Sareys forehead.

Sarey reached for Nelsons gun at one point in the struggle, but there was no indication he was armed when Nelson shot him  contrary to statements Nelson made afterward in which he said Sarey had grabbed a utility knife from Nelsons pocket, prosecutors wrote in charging documents filed in King County Superior Court. Nelson also claimed Sarey was kneeling and in position to attack when he fired the second shot  a claim disproved by video evidence and a witness statement, prosecutors said.

Officer Nelson created the very situation that brought about his use of deadly force, special deputy prosecutor Mark Larson wrote.

After shooting him, Nelson knelt on the sidewalk beside Sarey without rendering first aid, prosecutors wrote. Backup officers who arrived two minutes later were able to restore Sareys pulse, but he died at a hospital. Sarey was found to have methamphetamine in his system.

Nelsons attorney, Alan Harvey, said his clients arrest of Sarey was lawful and that the officer acted in self-defence. Nelson, who was a rover rather than assigned to a beat in Auburn, frequently found himself in situations where he was one-on-one with suspects and needed to use force, but he has never been found to have done so unlawfully, Harvey said.

My client has been a member in good standing of the Auburn Police Department for 11 years, he said.

The government of Auburn, a city of 82,000 between Seattle and Tacoma, issued a statement saying it could not comment on the case, but expressing sympathy for the Sarey family.

We, the City of Auburn, acknowledge that this is an important time to do internal work and reflection coupled with community engagement, the statement read.

The case is the first filed against an officer since voters in Washington passed legislation in 2019, which was amended by the Legislature, that makes it easier to prosecute police for using deadly force. Previously, prosecutors had to prove the officer acted with malice  an almost impossible standard, and one no other state had. Under the new law, prosecutors must demonstrate that another officer acting reasonably would not have found deadly force necessary.

Satterberg said prosecutors had experts sync up surveillance video from nearby businesses with audio and video recorded by the recording system in Nelsons patrol car to understand what happened. Prosecutors also retained policing experts to review the case, and they agreed the deadly force was not necessary.

Prosecutors did not intend to have Nelson taken into custody pending trial, but they would seek to prevent him from possessing firearms, Satterberg said.

Nelsons repeated uses of force  at least 65 times since 2012, many of them instances where he sicced his dog on a suspect, according to court records  have been questioned in other cases. In a settlement announced separately Thursday, the city of Auburn agreed to pay $1.25 million to the family of a different man killed by Nelson, Isaiah Obet, even though the Auburn Police Department had recently defended Nelsons actions in that case.

Obet had been reportedly breaking into houses and attempting to carry out a carjacking with a knife when Nelson confronted him in 2017. Nelson released his police dog, which bit Obet, and then shot him in the torso. Obet, on the ground and still fighting off the police dog, started to try to get back up, and Nelson shot him again, in the head, police said.

Lawyers for Obets family said he posed no threat to anyone when he was shot. But in a statement on its Facebook page in June, after the family sued, the police department disagreed.

If Officer Nelson had not acted that day to protect the community, there could have been additional victims, Auburn Police Chief Dan ONeil said.

Nelson also shot and killed Brian Scaman, a Vietnam veteran with mental issues and a history of felonies including possession of stolen property, in 2011 after pulling Scaman over for a burned-out headlight. Scaman got out of his car with a knife and refused to drop it.

In another case, Nelson used his patrol car in 2018 to strike Joseph Loren Allen, a man suspected of being a felon in possession of a firearm who was running away from police. At the time Nelson struck him, pinning him against a fence and breaking both his ankles, Allen was neither armed nor posing a threat to anyone, his lawyer argued.

In asking the court for a lenient sentence, Allens attorney, Mohammad Hamoudi, compiled a document summarizing what he described as Nelsons rampant use of force. Nelson is white; in nearly half the cases, those targeted were minorities.

The summary included about three dozen times between 2012 and 2018 when Nelson sent his police dog after suspects and about a dozen times when he used neck restraint holds to render suspects unconscious.

In one 2014 case, Nelson was recorded asking another officer, Are you ready to (expletive) this guy up? before using a Taser and chokehold on a jaywalker who began cursing at them. He was reportedly disciplined for that.

Hamoudi argued that while Nelson had been a decorated member of the military, the rules of engagement were different in Iraq than they are in Auburn.

The records show that Nelson has a penchant towards violence and that the Auburn Police Department has been aware of it for some time, Hamoudi wrote.
Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami made a slew of demands to the Centre to improve the States water resources, including a request to reject Karnatakas proposal to build a dam at Mekedatu across the River Cauvery, at a meeting with Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat,

Karnataka has been constructing an anicut across River Penniyar, Palaniswami said and urged the Centre to form a tribunal to settle the dispute that had arisen over that.

He said Tamil Nadu was a water deficient State with no perennial rivers and it was dependent on the monsoon. Hence the State would need the Centres support, he said, placing the demands.

Demanding the National Water Development Authority (NWDA) to expeditiously prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) on the proposed Godavari-Cauvery River Link and also start the work on the project, the Chief Minister wanted Tamil Nadu to be allotted 200 TMC water from it.

Also he wanted the DPR on the Cauvery-Gundar Link, being prepared by NWDA, to be send to fast track the work that was within the State and also urged the Centre to sanction the Rs 10,700 crore project, Nandandhai Vaazhi Cauvery, and take it up as a national project like the Namami Ganga Project.

Palanisami also asked for including Tamil Nadu in Atal Bhujal Yojana, which is a World Bank supported scheme and to incorporate the corrections requested by Tamil Nadu on the Dam Safety Bill.

He told the Jal Shakti Minister that the Jal Jeevan Mission was being implemented in the state and that four lakh water connections to households had already been given.
After several days of high-profile Republicans calling for state party chairman J.R. Romano to resign, the 72-member body that, at the end of the day, issues his paycheck, made no effort to remove him from his role.

A person who attended the routine virtual meeting of the Republican State Central Committee Tuesday night said support for Romano and Vice Chairwoman Sue Hatfield was high among those in attendance, despite the public fallout over the arrest of 2nd Congressional District candidate Thomas Gilmer on the eve of the Aug. 11 primary.

In fact, no one attacked Romano at all, said the person, who does not speak for the party and requested anonymity.

Romano said previously, and again Wednesday, he has no intention of stepping down despite widespread calls for him to do so. He confirmed there was no effort Tuesday night to remove him from his position.

He said the party did discuss at length ways to prevent similar incidents in the future, including developing a candidate questionnaire to better help the party vet candidates prior to making endorsements.

Just hours before the meeting, Gilmer lost the primary to his opponent, Justin Anderson, in a recount  resolving at least one outstanding issue for the embattled minority party as it attempts to build momentum toward November.

Anderson apparently had a copy in May of a video that allegedly shows Gilmer committing a domestic assault. He told Romano about it and Romano suggested he take it to police, both men told Hearst Media.

Many, notably House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, have called on Romano to resign over his handling of the incident, saying that if he knew about the video, he should have brought it to police and done something to remove Gilmer from the race.

But while Klarides may be one of the two top Republicans in the state legislature and a likely candidate for governor in 2022, she has no say in the actions of the state central committee, which is largely made up of non-elected party activists.

Romano acknowledged that a vetting questionnaire filled out by candidates likely would not have weeded out Gilmer, who had no criminal record prior to his arrest.

The Republican party has struggled to attract candidates in blue Connecticut with President Donald J. Trump at the top of the ballot.

Anderson, a lieutenant colonel in the Connecticut National Guard and retired prison officer, will be the partys nominee against the Democratic incumbent, Rep. Joe Courtney, who has represented the district since 2007.

Romano has not publicly stated whether he will attend the 2020 Republican National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, next week. He now faces the daunting task of drawing up support for down-ballot Republicans vying for seats in the state legislature.

kkrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has accused mayor Kishori Pednekar of favouritism after the contracts for providing labour to Covid-19 centres, constructed in various parts of the city, were given to her sons company.

Calling it a scam, the MNS has demanded Pednekars resignation from the mayors post.

MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande alleged that Pednekar has misused her office to allot contract to Kish Corporate Services Private Limited, where her son Saiprasad is an additional director.

This is clear cut case of conflict of interest as the whole contract was tailor-made to be allotted to the firm of the mayors son. The BMC bypassed reputed manpower-providing companies citing emergency requirement and allotted the tender [to Saiprasad] due to the influence exerted by the mayor, said Despande.

There was no thought given to the experience as well as the competency of this company and the contract was arbitrarily allotted, he added.

Calling it a case of political rivalry, Pednekar has refuted the allegations.

My sons company has followed all the rules to bag the contract and there was no favouritism from my end. My son has been running the company from 2012 and he has the right to earn his livelihood like any other citizen, said Pednekar.

Some cannot digest the fact that both, me and the Shiv Sena, have received accolades for our excellent handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and hence, are levelling baseless allegations to malign us, she added.

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Case Western Reserve scientists, collaborators at Harvard and Italian university Unical, aim to 'revolutionize optics' by combining nanostructured metasurfaces with liquid crystal technology

CLEVELAND--For more than 500 years, humans have mastered the art of refracting light by shaping glass into lenses, then bending or combining those lenses to amplify and clarify images either close-up and far-off.

But in the last decade or so, a group led by scientist Federico Capasso at Harvard University has begun to transform the field of optics by engineering flat optics metasurfaces, employing an array of millions of tiny microscopically thin and transparent quartz pillars to diffract and mold the flow of light in much the same way as a glass lens, but without the aberrations that naturally limit the glass.

The technology was selected as among the Top 10 Emerging Technologies by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in 2019, which remarked that these increasingly smaller, clearer lenses would soon begin to be seen in camera phones, sensors, optical-fiber lines and medical-imaging devices, such as endoscopes.

"Making the lenses used by mobile phones, computers and other electronic devices smaller has been beyond the capabilities of traditional glass cutting and glass curving techniques," according to the WEF. "...These tiny, thin, flat lenses could replace existing bulky glass lenses and allow further miniaturization in sensors and medical imaging devices."

Making metalenses 'reconfigurable'

Now, Case Western Reserve University physics professor Giuseppe Strangi and collaborators at Harvard have taken a step toward making these "metalenses" even more useful--by making them reconfigurable.

They did this by harnessing nanoscale forces to infiltrate liquid crystals between those microscopic pillars, allowing them to shape and diffract the light in completely new ways--"tuning" the focusing power, Strangi said.

Liquid crystals are especially useful because can be manipulated thermally, electrically, magnetically or optically, which creates the potential for the flexible or reconfigurable lenses.

"We believe that this holds the promise to revolutionize optics as we know it since the 16th century," said Strangi, whose Nanoplasm Lab at Case Western Reserve investigates "extreme optics" and the "interaction of light and matter at nanoscale," among other matters.

Until recently, once a glass lens was shaped into a rigid curve, it could only bend the light in one way, unless combined with other lenses or physically moved, Strangi said.

Metalenses changed that, since they allow to engineer the wavefront by controlling phase, amplitude and polarization of the light.

Now, by controlling the liquid crystal, the researchers have been able move these new class of metalenses towards new scientific and technological endeavors to generate reconfigurable structured light .

"This is just the first step, but there are many possibilities for using these lenses, and we have already been contacted by companies interested in this technology," Strangi said.

The paper announcing the breakthrough was published in early August by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Strangi collaborated with several other researchers in the United States and Europe, including fellow Case Western Reserve researchers Andrew Lininger and Jonathan Boyd; Giovanna Palermo of Universita' della Calabria in Italy; and Capasso, Alexander Zhu and Joon-Suh Park of the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University.

Lininger said part of the problem with current applications of metasurfaces is that their shape is fixed at the point of production, but "by enabling reconfigurability in the metasurface, these limitations can be overcome."

Capasso, who pioneered the flat optics research field and in 2014 first published research on metalenses, credited Strangi for the idea to infiltrate the metalenses with liquid crystals and said this innovation represents a step toward even bigger things.

"Our ability to reproducibly infiltrate with liquid crystals state-of-the art metalenses made of over 150 million nanoscale diameter glass pillars and to significantly change their focusing properties is a portent of the exciting science and technology I expect to come out of reconfigurable flat optics in the future," Capasso said.

###

Case Western Reserve University is one of the country's leading private research institutions. Located in Cleveland, we offer a unique combination of forward-thinking educational opportunities in an inspiring cultural setting. Our leading-edge faculty engage in teaching and research in a collaborative, hands-on environment. Our nationally recognized programs include arts and sciences, dental medicine, engineering, law, management, medicine, nursing and social work. About 5,100 undergraduate and 6,700 graduate students comprise our student body. Visit case.edu to see how Case Western Reserve thinks beyond the possible.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 20, 2020) - Ridgeline Minerals Corp. (TSXV: RDG) ("Ridgeline" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received final approval from the Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") on the Company's proposed Notice of Intent ("NOI") drilling and exploration permit for up 15 drill sites at the Swift Project in Lander County, Nevada. Ridgeline's 2,000 meter ("m") Phase I drill program is scheduled to begin in early September.

Chad Peters, Ridgeline's President & CEO commented, "For years Swift was a historically underappreciated project in the middle of the Battle Mountain - Eureka Trend, a prolific mining district and host to some of the largest Nevada gold discoveries in recent history including the Fourmile and Goldrush deposits. In 1999, a drill hole at Swift intersected 16.8m @ 0.72 g/t gold ("Au"), 0.50 g/t silver ("Ag") in Lower Plate carbonate host rocks and never received follow-up drilling. Twenty-one years later, our team is excited to go back and test this highly prospective target with our Phase I drill program"

Swift Project Highlights:

51 square/kilometer (km) land package directly on-trend of the Nevada Gold Mines Cortez Mine Complex ( Figure 1.0 )

Historic core hole MCK-99-5A intersected 16.8m @ 0.72 g/t Au, 0.50 g/t Ag starting at 727m within the Lower Plate carbonate host rocks similar to multiple gold mines in the district

Highly prospective Cortez Structural Corridor extends across the Swift property and coincides with a pronounced gravity geophysics high as well as mapped dike swarms and elevated surface soils (gold-arsenic-antimony) anomalies at multiple targets (Figure 2.0)

Swift Project

Swift is a Carlin-Type gold exploration project located on the Cortez District of the Battle Mountain - Eureka Trend in Nevada with Ridgeline holding the option to earn a 100% interest in the project. The Property is immediately adjacent to the historic Elder Creek gold mine as well as directly on trend of The Pipeline, Cortez Hills and Goldrush deposits which comprise the Nevada Gold Mines owned and operated Cortez Complex. Throughout 2019 and the first half of 2020, Ridgeline completed property-wide gravity and airborne magnetics geophysics, surface soil sampling, and field mapping. The Company will target the highly prospective Fallen City and Goat targets in 2020 (Figure 3.0) with a 2,000m Phase I reverse-circulation drill program scheduled to begin in September 2020.

Story continues

Figure 1.0: Plan view map showing location of the 51 km Swift property on the prolific Battle Mountain Eureka Trend in Nevada





To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7298/62184_b559f5f9144b4bdf_002full.jpg

Figure 2.0: Plan view map showing robust Arsenic (As) in soils anomalies at surface. As "plumes" are a common indicator of covered Carlin-Type gold systems in Nevada.





To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7298/62184_b559f5f9144b4bdf_003full.jpg

Figure 3.0: Schematic X-Section A-A' highlighting the Fallen City and Goat targets. Phase I program to test projection of historic MCK-99-5A drill intercept into shallower Roberts Mtn. Formation host rocks in the Fallen City target area





To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7298/62184_b559f5f9144b4bdf_004full.jpg

Technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael T. Harp, P.Geo. the Company's Vice President, Exploration, who is Ridgeline's qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 responsible for technical matters of this release.

About Ridgeline Minerals Corp.

Ridgeline is a discovery focused gold explorer with a proven management team and a 116 km exploration portfolio across three projects in the highly prospective Carlin and Battle Mountain - Eureka Trends in Nevada, USA. More information about Ridgeline can be found at www.RidgelineMinerals.com.

On behalf of the Board

"Chad Peters"

President & CEO

Further Information:

Chad Peters, P.Geo.

President & CEO

Ridgeline Minerals Corp.

1-866-RDG-NVAU (734-6828) - toll free

info@ridgelineminerals.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements as well as historical information. Readers should not rely on information in this summary for any purpose other than for gaining general knowledge of Ridgeline Minerals Corporation ("Ridgeline", or the "Company"). Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the advancement of mineral exploration, development and operating programs. The words "potential," "anticipate," "significant," "forecast," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "may," "project," "plan" and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify forward-looking statements. Although Ridgeline believes that its expectations as reflected in any forward-looking statements, are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties and no assurance can be given that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates, opinions or other factors should change.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/62184
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Many celebrities including Chrissy Teigen and Katy Perry are getting pregnant amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are making some changes, including a presumptive second baby.

They have bought a swanky new house, prompting fans to speculate the reason behind such is because they are planning to give their one-year-old son Archie Harrison a sibling.

Upon the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's relocation to California earlier this 2020, they temporarily lived in actor Tyler Perry's 13m Los Angeles mansion in a span of many months. In June, the married pair have bought their own luxurious mansion in Montecito, Santa Barbara located 95 miles up the coast from Los Angeles, reported Daily Star.

When the Sussexes made a surprise appearance in late 2019 to visit families of servicemen and women deployed overseas, talking with some of the moms prompted Harry tp ask regarding what it is like managing two kids.

According to Susie Stringfellow, one of the moms at the event, "Having our baby so close in age to their baby, I think they were keen to chat... Harry was really quite interested in how things were with second children as well, because we both have older children. And we were trying to encourage him to have a second baby," reported Forces Network.

Prince Harry and Markle welcomed their infant son Archie on May 9, 2019 and Markle are reportedly ready to have a second baby. According to an anonymous source who claims to be one of Markle's pals, Markle hinted at having a second baby with Prince Harry during one of their recent conversations.

Also Read: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Broke? Royal Couple Reportedly Becoming Homeless

"I think they were sort of keen to chat, and chat to other parents (with) babies of a similar age. Harry was really quite interested in, you know, how things were with second children as well, as we've both got older children. We were trying to encourage them to have a second baby," according to a parent in a Twitter video.

Royal experts think that the $14.7 million mansion purchase alludes to another baby.

The duke and duchess have made efforts diligently to keep their youngster far from the spotlight but the media has witnessed glimpses here and there.

Features in their new 18,671-square-foot house include nine bedrooms and 19 bathrooms.

The new house has ignited a frenzy among social media netizens, believing this is the former royal pair's first step towards a second baby.

The mansion is located in a gated community resided by celebrities and is named as "The Chateau." It was previously a property of a Russian billionaire. It comes with features that a number of social media users have taken as a sign that Markle could be pregnant or at least hoping to be.

Among the various outbuildings on the house's grounds near the main mansion, there is a "children's cottage" that is a miniature home designated to serve as a playhouse for children. Aerial photographs of Prince Harry and Markle's home reportedly display what appears to be a large playground supposedly meant for a baby on the way.

Related Article: Kate Middleton's Princess Diana Comment Forced Prince William to Be Frank

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SAN DIEGO, Aug. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NEOVOLTA INC. (OTCQB: NEOV)  NeoVolta , a manufacturer of patent-pending Smart Energy Storage Systems, kept homes powered during heat-related rolling blackouts that struck California on Friday, August 14. The unannounced service interruptions affected as many as 2 million residents .



The California Independent System Operator (CAISO), which operates the statewide power grid, directed major utility companies to initiate the shutoffs because of high energy use at the start of a heat wave. This was the first time CAISO had imposed rolling blackouts since 2001. CAISO has since warned Californians to be prepared for additional rolling blackouts during the late afternoon or early evening hours through Thursday, August 20.

For NeoVolta customers, the power outages were no cause for concern. Kim Alger of San Diego reported that when the power went out, her NV14 system seamlessly powered all of the circuits that were connected to it. Amazing product!

Another satisfied customer who reached out to NeoVolta was Millie Panama of Menifee. Our neighborhood got hit, but we didnt notice it. A neighbor told us about it this morning and asked why our lights were still on LOL. We were proud to let him know about our new NeoVolta battery and how great it works. We are letting our neighbors know all about your product.

When a blackout occurs for any reason, NeoVoltas battery storage systems automatically disconnect from the grid and seamlessly power the critical loads needed to keep a home safe, comfortable, and connected.

The NV14 battery system has a very high energy storage capacity of 14.4 kilowatt-hours, and its smart inverter discharges 7.7 kilowatts of instantaneous power, more than most mainstream competitors. The NV14s capacity can be further expanded to 24.0 kWh by pairing it with the NV24 add-on without the expense of installing a second inverter.

For its high capacity and safe, long-lasting lithium iron phosphate battery, the NV14 was named one of Solar Power Worlds Top Solar Storage Products for 2019 .

Whether caused by extreme heat or wildfires or an aging and poorly maintained grid, blackouts have become a harsh fact of life in California and the Southwest, said Brent Willson, CEO of NeoVolta. NeoVolta systems will continue to power homes through these outages while delivering significant utility savings.

About NeoVolta - NeoVolta designs, develops and manufactures utility-bill reducing residential energy storage batteries capable of powering your home even when the grid goes down. With a focus on safer Lithium-Iron Phosphate chemistry, the NV14 is equipped with a solar re chargeable 14.4 kWh battery, a 7,680-Watt inverter and a web-based energy management system with 24/7 monitoring. By storing energy instead of sending it back to the grid, consumers can protect themselves against blackouts, avoid expensive peak demand electricity rates charged by utility companies when solar panels arent producing, and get one step closer to grid independence.

For more information visit: http://www.NeoVolta.com email us: IR@NeoVolta.com or call us: 858-239-2029

Forward-Looking Statements: Some of the statements in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, the future performance, reliability and safety of NeoVoltas NV14 storage system. Although NeoVolta believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, expectations may prove to have been materially different from the results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. NeoVolta has attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including ''believes,'' ''estimates,'' ''anticipates,'' ''expects,'' ''plans,'' ''projects,'' ''intends,'' ''potential,'' ''may,'' ''could,'' ''might,'' ''will,'' ''should,'' ''approximately'' or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including those discussed under the "Risk Factors" section of NeoVoltas Form 1-A filing filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and updated from time to time in its other public filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of its date. NeoVolta undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release to reflect events or circumstances occurring after its date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Emirates will operate repatriation flights to Indian cities of Bengaluru, Kochi, Delhi, Mumbai, and Thiruvananthapuram from August 20 to 31.

The special flights will facilitate travel for Indian citizens in the UAE wishing to return home, and for residents of UAE currently in India to return to the UAE.

The airline will operate repatriation flights to India on the following dates:

* Bengaluru: Aug 21, 23, 25, 28, and 30;

* Kochi: Aug 20, 22, 24, 27, 29 and 31. Flights from Kochi to Dubai will operate on Aug 21, 23, 25, 28 and 30 and Sept 1.

* Delhi: Daily flights until Aug 31;

* Mumbai: Daily flights until August 31;

* Thiruvananthapuram: Aug 26. Flight from Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai will operate on Aug 27 August.

All flights will be operated with the Emirates Boeing 777-300ER and can be booked at emirates.com or via travel agents. Passengers must meet all the entry requirements of the destination to be allowed to board the flights.

Flights from Dubai to India: Only Indian citizens stranded in the UAE will be allowed to fly from Dubai to the five Indian destinations.

Flights from India to Dubai: Flights will be available for UAE nationals and residents with prior entry approval from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDFRA) for residents of Dubai and ICA approval for residents of other emirates of the UAE, and whose final destination is the UAE.

Flights to/from Pakistan

Emirates has also revised its flight timings to/from Sialkot, Pakistan to offer customers better connections via Dubai with seven weekly flights - providing greater access to its current network of 75 cities across six continents. Effective August 22, Emirates flight EK 618 will depart Dubai at 20:55 hrs and arrive in Sialkot at 1:10 hrs. The return flight, EK 619 will depart Sialkot at 2:40 hrs and arrive in Dubai at 5:00 hrs.

In addition to Sialkot, Emirates offers customers direct flights to four other cities in Pakistan including Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, and Peshawar.

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.

Health and safety: Emirates has implemented a comprehensive set of measures at every step of the customer journey to ensure the safety of its customers and employees on the ground and in the air, including the distribution of complimentary hygiene kits containing masks, gloves, hand sanitiser and antibacterial wipes to all customers.

Dubai residents can check the latest travel requirements at: www.emirates.com/returntoDubai. - TradeArabia News Service
LONDON, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/-- The Commonwealth of Dominica will see its students return to formal education after curbing the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The announcement was made during the "Education in Action" programme on Dominica's Broadcasting Service by the Minister of Education, Octavia Alfred, on Wednesday. According to Alfred, students will return to school on September 7th after careful consideration by the Ministry of Health, Wellness and New Health Investment.

Dominica has registered 18 positive cases of the coronavirus with zero deaths. To ensure students are protected, extra precautions will be taken, including the installation of additional water troughs and hand-washing stations. Teachers will also be required to return to schools a week earlier to arrange final preparations before students begin.

"From September 1st staff will engage in final preparations to receive students. Teachers will be engaged in professional staff development, training and planning. This school year planning is even more essential than before since teachers and their department heads must review curriculum and prepare for pre-testing activities which will be very crucial this year," Alfred said.

Education remains a top priority for the Government of Dominica with millions funnelled into the sector from the island's Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme. Around $26 million has been utilised from the Programme to support Dominican youth studying abroad in countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. After Hurricane Maria, revenue generated from CBI helped repair 15 schools that were damaged, according to a 2019 PricewaterhouseCoopers report.

Introduced nearly three decades ago, Dominica's CBI Programme enables wealthy investors and their families to obtain the island's citizenship once making an economic contribution. There are two routes available under the Programme: either a non-refundable investment into the government fund or buying into a pre-approved real estate option. Once individuals undergo the necessary security checks, they gain access to visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to nearly 140 destinations, alternative business prospects and the chance to pass down their Dominican citizenship for generations to come.

Dominica's CBI Programme has been ranked the world's best offering for second citizenship for the last three consecutive years by the CBI Index  an annual independent study conducted by the Financial Times' Professional Wealth Management magazine.

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A French-American pastor and church planter whose life passion was reaching secular Parisians with the gospel and discipling Christian leaders in his mothers homeland has died at age 45. Edouard Nelson founded lEglise des Ternes, a church plant in Paris, which he pastored until his death. He also served in a number of other ministries where he trained and equipped the next generation.

Nelson died on August 14 after sustaining injuries from a hiking accident.

Edouard's passion was three-fold: preaching, church-planting and mentoring. And he did all three with excellence, said his friend, Raphael Anzenberger, the president of France Evangelisation.

Nelsons love for lEglise des Ternes was evidenced in his morning routines. The congregation is located in the affluent Batignolles-Monceau, Pariss 17th arrondissement, an area directly north of the Arc de Triomphe. Each morning, Nelson would walk laps in the local park, praying for church members and neighbors by name, his wife said.

Nelson was born a dual-citizen in Kokomo, Indiana, in 1975 to an American father and French mother. He spent a year of college at Oxford, where he was mentored by Vaughan Roberts, an evangelical Anglican priest with a passion for expository preaching. After graduating, Nelson returned to Oxford to do theological studies at Wycliffe Hall and then spent two years as an apprentice at St Ebbes, where he met his wife, Laura.

Throughout this time in Europe, Nelson felt a pull from across the Channel. He engaged in consistent prayer for the French people.

Edwards conviction that he should devote his life to gospel ministry grew during his time in Oxford, said Roberts, who was rector at St. Ebbes by the time Nelson started his program. He grew up bilingual, spent every summer in France, and had a deep love for the country. Conscious of how much smaller the evangelical church was in France than in America, he determined to serve his Lord there.

At one point in his studies, a spiritual leader told him to ask himself, "What can I, as the person I am and the gifts God has given me, do to best serve the kingdom of God?" As his wife recalled, Edouard immediately saw that he could serve the gospel in France.

The Nelsons moved to France in the early 2000s. Nelson first served with the campus ministry Groupes Bibliques Universitaires. In 2007, he left that to start a church, with support from City to City, Tim Kellers church-planting network.

He was passionate about developing a vibrant church, culturally adapted to its context, and solidly rooted in expository preaching, said Florent Varak, the director of Encompass World Partners Church Equipping Network.

As a pastor, Nelson was also adamant about the need to nurture young men with a call to ministry and build up the evangelical churches in France. While planting his own congregation, he began to mentor other church planters and train men to teach the Bible.

He was convinced that pastors need to be always training their replacements, Laura Nelson said, raising up the next generation, rather than arriving at retirement and looking around them for who could possibly take over.

Because of his focus on growing and strengthening the church, Nelson took a role as vice president of the Evangelical Council of Churches in France and spoke at Veritas Forum events and at conferences organized by Evangile21, the French chapter of The Gospel Coalition.

Nelson personally trained dozens of French evangelists and many preachers.

His voice was needed to remind the evangelical church that missions should always drive the agenda, said Anzenberger, a frequent ministry collaborator. According to Anzenberger, Nelson didnt just think of evangelism as a nice thing to do. He understood it was a critical need.

Here is Edouard, Anzenberger wrote. The urgency of missions. For the sake of the God who he loved the most. We will miss him deeply.

Nelson believed that church planting would be one of the best ways to reach secular France and post-Christian Europe.

Edouard was one of those unique individuals that stood with one foot in the French world and one foot in the English-speaking world, said Al Barth, a vice president at City to City who personally coached Nelson. He was deeply committed to the historic gospel of Christ and the authority of the Bible. At the same time, he had a great love for the people of Paris and France. He was uniquely effective in communicating the truth of God's word to well-educated people that at first might have been resistant to the gospel.

While much of his day-to-day ministry focused on Paris, he worked with City to City to impact church planters across the continent. He became a role model for many of them, said Rene Breuel, who pastors a congregation in Rome.

When we met at conferences, Breuel said, Id bombard him with questions about ministry in secular European cities, and he would answer them with grace and wisdom.

When Nelson wasnt working, he liked to hike in the Alps. His wife said he would have spent all his time there if given the choice.

He may have been tempted to move there, but would always saynicked from Keller, I thinkthat people are more beautiful than mountains, she said. Paris would draw him back, longing for the crowds in the metro or packed into the apartment blocks to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Nelson was a fixture in the community and several local politicians mourned his passing.

Nelson had an accident climbing in the French Alps on August 13. He was flown by helicopter to a hospital in Annecy, but suffered an inoperable head injury and died the next day. He is survived by his wife Laura and four children.

Two crowdfunding campaigns have been set up to support the family and a fund in his memory to train gospel workers for France.
Fraught ties with India, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and the Covid-19 pandemic will likely be key topics of discussion at a strategic dialogue between Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi and Pakistani counterpart, Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the sunny south China province of Hainan on Thursday and Friday.

The Chinese foreign ministry on Thursday formally announced that minister Wang, who is also the state councilor, will host Qureshi for the two-day second round of China-Pakistan strategic foreign ministers dialogue in Hainan, beginning today.

Qureshis visit will be one of the first high-profile diplomatic visits to China as the country emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic; the Indonesian FM Retno Marsudi is already here on a two-day visit, which began Wednesday.

The two top diplomats from China and Pakistan will meet at a time when both Beijing and Islamabads ties with New Delhi have taken a nosedive over the Sino-India border tension in eastern Ladakh, and (with Pakistan) on the abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir and terrorism.

This time the strategic dialogue is highly relevant and the two sides will take the opportunity to discuss anti-epidemic cooperation, bilateral ties and other regional and international issues of mutual interest, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian announced at the regular ministry briefing on Thursday.

We believe this dialogue will help to enhance our strategic mutual trust, deepen our practical cooperation and strengthen our close coordination on international and regional affairs, Zhao emphasised.

The last China-Pakistan foreign ministers strategic dialogue was held in March, 2019. Zhao said it had led to consensus on several matters and played an important role in the development of bilateral relations.

Zhao added that this dialogue mechanism is a platform for the two iron brothers to coordinate exchanges in various fields, discuss policy suggestions on the bilateral ties and enhance coordination and communication on international and regional issues.

Also Read: Qureshi heads to Beijing after Imran Khans Pak future with China remark

Tackling the Covid-19 pandemic will also be in focus, Zhao added.

Wang and Qureshi will discuss the progress of the CPEC, the flagship project under President Xi Jinpings Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the ambitious connectivity venture that aims to connect China with Asia and Europe through infrastructure like highways and ports.

Indeed, the CPEC has not progressed as planned, with several large projects shelved and others still uncompleted. The Covid-19 pandemic is likely to slow things down further, even though Pakistan on Thursday approved the costliest project to date, a $6.8 billion upgrade to railway lines, an analysis in the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post said in the first week of August.

The bilateral meeting comes in the backdrop of Beijing in July, for the first time, urging Afghanistan, Nepal and Pakistan to carry four-party cooperation in fighting the coronavirus pandemic and continue to build projects under the BRI including the CPEC.

Presiding over a virtual meeting with ministers from the three countries on July 27, Wang said the four should work together to extend the CPEC to Afghanistan.

The four countries should Give full play to geographic advantages, strengthen exchanges and connections between the four countries and Central Asian countries, and maintain regional peace and stability, Wang said.

Wang and Qureshi are also likely to discuss ways in which China could play a bigger role in war-torn Afghanistans peace process.

Interestingly in a television interview this week, Prime Minister Imran Khan said: It should be clear that our future is connected with China China also needs Pakistan very much. China is our only friend which has remained politically steadfast with Pakistan during good and bad times, PM Khan had said.

In the same interview with Pakistans Dunya News, Khan said Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit Pakistan later this year.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 23:49:13|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, poses for a group photo with newly appointed counselors of the State Council and researchers of the China Central Institute for Culture and History after presenting certificates of appointment to them in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2020. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday urged counselors of the State Council and researchers of the China Central Institute for Culture and History to play an active role in promoting economic and social development.

Li made the remarks in a speech after he presented certificates of appointment to newly appointed counselors and researchers.

Noting the contributions made by successive counselors and researchers during the past 70 years, Li expressed the hope that the newly appointed counselors and researchers will make proposals for overall development, pay attention to the livelihood of the people and voice their expectations, and better carry forward China's fine traditional culture.

Development is the underpinning and the key for solving all problems in the country, Li said, urging the counselors and researchers to make more targeted and forward-looking suggestions to keep the fundamentals of the economy stable, accomplish the targets and tasks set for this year, and lay a solid foundation for the future development amid the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 and a grave and complex economic situation.

Noting that the purpose of development is to improve the people's living standards, Li said more attention should be paid to employment, medical services, education, elderly care services, and child care services, among others.

Li also called for efforts to pass on the country's fine traditional culture throughout the whole of society, especially among young people. Enditem
Jaya Pathak, 22, is a British national of Indian descent who studies pharmacy at Brighton University in London, U.K. She is a regional Ambassador for the Holocaust Educational Trust in the U.K. and also a co-founder and deputy editor of a youth initiative called Yet Again. Using her social media, Pathak often speaks out against modern atrocities and posts on past Holocaust victims. One of her recent Twitter threads was entitled How to help the Uyghur community from the U.K., which attracted nearly 1,000 retweets and some 1.6k likes. Jaya Pathaks organization Yet Again is a youth lead initiative that on the day of its launch published an article about the Uyghurs and detailed Chinas vast network of internment camps in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), where authorities are believed to have held up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities since April 2017.

During a recent interview with RFAs Uyghur Service, Pathak called the situation in the XUAR a cultural genocidereferring to severe restrictions on religion, language, appearance, and the destruction of sites like mosques and cemeteriesand compared it to the Holocaust. Her assessment follows a recent 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.

As a minority in the U.K., Pathak experienced prejudice and discrimination in the past that led her to realize the importance of education and in creating an environment where the public can place their trust in politics. Pathak noted that many Uyghurs in the U.K. are scared of speaking out against Chinas abuses in the XUAR due to fear of reprisal from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and stressed the importance of speaking up on behalf of those who are unable to speak for themselves. Pathak also discussed concrete actions that others can take to assist the Uyghurs, including providing support for Uyghur activists by amplifying their message on social media, joining protests, and petitioning for change at the government level.

RFA: When did you first learn about Chinas treatment of the Uyghur people?

Pathak: I first learned about what was happening to the Uyghur people about four years ago. There were a couple of news articles that were released, and I keep up with current affairs, and as I was reading it, I felt sick because I was like, this is 2016. How is this happening? Is this real? Is this actually happening? Then BBC News in the U.K. did an exposethey went undercover to one of the [internment] camps [inside the XUAR] and that was on our evening news. As I was watching it, it sent chills down my spine. I was shocked and I realized this is real and it's not getting any better. It's just getting worse.



RFA: What was your first impression after learning about what Uyghurs are going through?

Pathak: I just felt like I had to do something. We have to try our best to raise awareness as to what's going on. At that time, I was involved in working in Holocaust educationI started when I was about 17. Using everything I had learned, I said to myself I'm going to really educate myself about what's going on [with the Uyghurs]. I told as many people as I could about it. And at that time that was all there was that I could do because I was still at school.

Yet Again initiative

RFA: You're co-founder and also a deputy editor at the Yet Again youth-led initiative that provides content on modern-day atrocities. On Aug. 1, Yet Again published an article introducing the Uyghurs and what is happening to them. What motivated Yet Again to publish this article?

Pathak: Yet Again  was set up to help people to understand how modern atrocities can happen, why they happen, and in the hope that this understanding allows us to prevent them from happening again in the future  And when we launched, we said that we have to address [the Uyghur issue] as soon we can. It's a present issue. It's current, and it's something that we need to be trying to stop right now. Everybody needs to be involved in trying to stop this problem from going any further. And so, it was incredibly important that we released this article at the time we also launched.

RFA: Can you talk about reader feedback?

Pathak: It was really a great response, great feedback, because so many people wanted to learn more. We had people reading our article who either didn't understand what went on before, because as we are all aware, the history of the Uyghur people in China is so extensive, it's so long. It's not just what has happened in the past four years. And so, they read this article that was so brilliantly written by one of our writers. They learned so much about what was going on. Then they were inspired to go and learn more in their own time. They went away and they were asking for resources, for books, documentaries, anything that they could find to help them. They were all wondering how they could show the support to the Uyghur community as well.

RFA: As a regional ambassador for the Holocaust Educational Trustreading, studying, and then teaching about what happened to the survivors and victims of this tragic historic situationin your opinion is the CCP committing genocide in the Uyghur region?

Pathak: From a U.N. prospective, they have very specific ways to define genocide. If it's not and if it can't be called genocide right now, it will be at some point because this persecution is a cultural genocide, at the very least. Trying to strip away the cultural rights and freedoms of this community. Because of this, it's so important to understand that whether we can use the word genocide or not, what it is right now is as terrible as it. And I think that it's such a complicated issue because of the way that the U.N. and the way that the international law looks at the term genocide. But in my view, personally, it's a cultural genocide at the very least, and it's definitely persecution if you don't want to call it genocide. Now, it's very much leading to that point. It has been going on for almost four years now. It's terrifying.

Use our voice for them

RFA: Why do you think it's important to speak up for the Uyghurs?

Pathak: For a few reasons. In 2020, we've seen a lot going on. Well, we've learned that we are all responsible for one another's happiness, positivity, quality of life. It's not just one person who affects themselves. Everybody affects each other. Collective responsibility is a result of every individual's effort to try and be accountable for their words and actions. But for us to see what's going on right in front of our eyes and to not say something is to be complicit and to let it happen.

I think that personally from my experience as someone who's been involved in Holocaust education for a little bit, you don't draw comparisons, you don't draw parallels, but you can definitely see there are echoes of the past. That's what is quite chilling for a lot of us because we always said never again. We will never let another genocide happen. We'll never let another persecution of minorities happen. In reality, it is happening. We all have a duty and a sense of responsibility to stand up for what's right and to support the Uyghur community. Lot of Uyghurs here in the U.K. are speaking up, but there are many who are also not speaking, because they're afraid of what will happen to their family in China, and we should be able to use our voice for them. That's what it's all about. And we can't let something like this happen when we have the power to do more.

RFA: Have you seen any results of your activism so far?

Pathak: I have. I've seen it in different ways. So, I posted it on my social media. I had random people contacting me, asking either to learn more or what resources they can have to learn more or asking me more directly if they are able to contribute to the work that I do, which is at the moment posting information, infographics, online so people know what the truth is without any misinformation, without any false information. And I've had people inspired to join this cause of activism. And I think that in itself is such a big result because I never expected it. What I'm doing to reach so many people and to see that it has shown that it's just one person that can do this. Imagine if so many of us came together to do it. We could reach so many people.

Reported by Shahrezad Ghayrat for RFAs Uyghur Service.
Chinas State-Sanctioned Churches Required to Worship the CCP

Churches in China are now required to praise the Chinese Communist Party in sermons and intensify patriotic education, according to Bitter Wintera publication focusing on Chinas religious freedom and human rights issues.

Public churches across China were all closed due to the CCP virus pandemic since late January. In mid-June, Chinese authorities announced that church assembly can be resumed but the prerequisite is that the priest must follow the new patriotic preaching guidelines.

A Chinese Christian posted a video online, to illustrate how the original text in the Bible The LORD is my rock, and my fortress my high tower, was altered to praise the CCP in his church.
A policeman lets a van leave a street where a father shot dead his teenage son and daughter at their home in Sydney on July 6, 2018. (PETER PARKS/ Getty Images)

Sydney Bank, Pharmacy Robbery Suspect Held

A Sydney man has been arrested after allegedly trying to rob a bank and a pharmacy in the citys south and west.

The suspect threatened staff with a knife at a bank in Sutherland about 10.30am on Aug 20, fleeing empty-handed after the sites security screens were activated.

Police were told that, about an hour later, a man armed with a hammer entered a pharmacy on the Hume Highway in Liverpool and demanded cash and drugs.

A 42-year-old Sylvania Waters man was arrested at a shop on the Princes Highway in Blakehurst about 5.40pm.

The man, who faces charges including attempted robbery while armed with a dangerous weapon and robbery armed with an offensive weapon, was refused bail to appear at Sutherland Local Court on Aug 20.

Sydney
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Eddie the old man emu might look like he's just having a rest on a comfortable grass bed but there is a heartbreaking explanation for his curious pose.

A passing driver photographed the flightless bird less than 10 metres off the road near Kojonup, in Western Australia, about 250 kilometres south-east of Perth.

Benjamin Horgan stopped to take a picture because he liked the image but was overwhelmed when a local farmer told him the sad story behind Eddie's piercing brown eyes.

Edidie the emu might look like he's having a rest on a comfortable grass bed but there is a heartbreaking - or heartwarming - story behind this curious pose. Eddie's mate died some years earlier and every breeding season he returns to where the pair used to nest

Eddie's mate had died some years earlier and every breeding season he returned to where the pair used to nest.

Male emus incubate their partner's eggs until they hatch after about eight weeks and Eddie appears to want to look after one more batch of chicks.

'I just think it's a nice story in among all this pandemic stuff,' 25-year-old Mr Horgan said. 'That an animal can miss their partner like that.'

Mr Horgan, whose family owns the renowned Leeuwin Estate winery at Margaret River, is a graphic designer who works for mining magnate Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest's Minderoo Foundation charity.

He was driving the 420km from Perth to Albany with colleague and fellow animal lover Emma Jeffree when she spotted Eddie by the side of the road about 4pm on August 6.

He was driving the 420km from Perth to Albany with colleague Emma Jeffree when she spotted Eddie by the side of the road about 4pm on August 6. Ms Jeffree took this picture

Benjamin Horgan took the photograph of Eddie the emu 10 metres off the road near Kojonup, in Western Australia, about 250 kilometres south-east of Perth

'If anything could come out of this photo, it's the sentiment to just care a little more about the world and people around us and that these beautiful creatures are capable of feeling loss in the same way we do,' Mr Horgan said. Eddie is pictured with Mr Horgan's friend Emma Jeffree

'I didn't see it because he's so low to the ground,' Mr Horgan said. 'I didn't even know it was an emu. I've never seen one sit like that.

Mr Horgan and Ms Jeffree got out of their car and climbed through a barbed wire fence to get closer, not sure if the bird would welcome their presence.

'We were quite hesitant to approach in the first instance, so kept our distance,' he said.

Emus a special breed Emus breeding in May and June, and fighting among females for a mate is common. Females can mate several times and lay several clutches of eggs in one season. The male does the incubation; during this process he hardly eats or drinks and loses a significant amount of weight. The eggs hatch after about eight weeks and the young are nurtured by their fathers. They reach full size after around six months, but can remain as a family unit until the next breeding season. Source: Wikipedia Advertisement

When a farmer arrived in his ute Mr Horgan and Ms Jeffree were worried they were trespassing. 'We thought we were going to get into trouble,' he said.

Instead, the farmer told the pair that Eddie's mate had died some time ago and how he returned to their old nesting spot every year. 'He's not going to bite you,' he reassured them.

Mr Horgan, who has been a keen photographer since he was 15 and posts on Instagram at bnjmnbyrn, eventually approached the emu and took a picture on his iPhone 11.

'I was a bit scared to get too close because he thinks he's protecting something,' he said. 'I know emus can lash out if they're provoked.'

'We were pretty overwhelmed. For me it's always about capturing genuine kind of moments. I love how he's looking straight at me.'

The farmer told Mr Horgan that Eddie had become a popular local attraction.

'He said people when they see him they stop and take photos,' Mr Horgan said. 'He told us, "I don't think I've ever seen an emu live this long".'

The farmer said he and his father brought food and water for Eddie every morning and he estimated him to be aged about 26.

Emus, who live an average 10 to 20 year in the wild, hardly eat or drink while incubating eggs, which hatch after about eight weeks.

The image drew emotional responses when posted on social media with comments including 'What a sweetheart', 'Aww bless', 'true love' and 'omg that's so sad'.

'Makes your heart sore,' one Facebook user wrote. 'Bless him...he needs to get back in the saddle and join the dating pool!' another added.

A third had a practical solution for Eddie's loneliness: 'Slip the poor guy some eggs'.

Mr Horgan was delighted his simple image had captured so much attention.

'If anything could come out of this photo, it's the sentiment to just care a little more about the world and people around us and that these beautiful creatures are capable of feeling loss in the same way we do,' he said.
Its been a busy time at the Australia Zoo in Queensland, as Bindi Irwin proudly announced that their 12-year-old giraffe called Forest has set a world record for the tallest giraffe.

Forest measures a stratospheric 18 feet 8 inches (approx. 5.7 meters), and his title was confirmed by Guinness World Records after months of measurements, backed by photos and videos.

Our sweetheart Forest has officially made it into the Guinness World Records [books] for being the tallest living giraffe! Bindi announced on her Instagram. We are proud of our towering guy, he has such a wonderful heart.

Forest was born at the Auckland Zoo in New Zealand in 2007 before moving to Queensland at age 2. Since then, Forest has been doing a lot of eating, 45 kilograms (100 pounds) of food each day, to be exact, the Australia Zoos website noted.

The extraordinary height that Forest has reached exceeds that of the tallest bulls (male giraffes) by a good 8 inches. In order to be eligible for the record, Forest had to be measured from the bottom of his hooves to the tops of his ossicones, the two horn-like parts that stick out of the top of a giraffes head.

Measuring Forest to adhere to the stringent criteria of the Guinness World Records was a tall order, literally and figuratively. After setting up a giant ruler next to a feeder, Forests keeper Kat Hansen had to help him feel comfortable with the setup.

It took several months to confirm Forests exact height as he took his time to get used to the new feeder. Now that he has received a certificate, Forest will appear in the Guinness Book of World Records 2021 edition.

Forest can also claim to be the worlds tallest living animal, given that giraffes are the tallest species of land animals. While he may not be the heaviest land animal in the world, a title that goes to the African bush elephant, Forest nevertheless weighs in at 1,900 kilograms (approx. 4,189 pounds).

Forest, the Worlds Tallest Living Giraffe, with the Irwin family, from left to right: Robert Irwin, Chandler Powell, Bindi Irwin, and Terri Irwin. (Courtesy of Australia Zoo)

The towering Forest has also paid a vital role in the giraffe-breeding program at the zoo, passing on his tall genes to 12 calves.

This is particularly important because per IUCN Red List, many giraffe subspecies are categorized as Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable in the wild, states the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF). The foundation noted that its director Julian Fennessy has already sounded the alarm a couple of years ago.

While giraffe populations in southern Africa are doing just fine, the worlds tallest animal is under severe pressure in some of its core ranges across East, Central and West Africa, Fennessy said, the GCF website stated. [W]e have been sounding the alarm for a few years now.

In addition to the amazing accomplishments of Forest the giraffe, the daughter of legendary Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin has plenty of other things to celebrate.

This isnt her first brush with the Guinness World Records, as she was awarded one of her own for most followed TV naturalist/conservationist on Instagram on March 4, 2020. She currently has a whopping 3.7 million people following her work as a Wildlife Warrior at the Australia Zoo.

Even more joyful was the announcement on Aug. 11, 2020, that she and her husband, Chandler Powell, are expecting their first baby. We couldnt wait to share the news as this beautiful little being has become the most important part of our lives, Bindi wrote on her Instagram feed.

In the meantime, she and the rest of the Irwin family are busy keeping the legacy of late Steve Irwin alive, advocating for wild animals both tall and small.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 00:19:22|Editor: huaxia

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DAR ES SALAAM, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Three Tanzanian nationals on Wednesday appeared in court charged with seven counts, including planning terror attacks and using army combat uniforms.

Halfan Hassan, Adam Kasekwa and Mohamed Lingwenya appeared before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate's Court in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam where they were not allowed to enter any plea because the lower court has no jurisdiction for that.

The prosecution led by senior state attorneys Wankyo Simon and Tulimanywa Majigo told the court that between May 1 and Aug. 1, the trio met in a hotel in Moshi district in Kilimanjaro region where they allegedly planned to carry out terror attacks in some regions of the country.

According to the prosecution, the accused persons had planned to blow up fuel-filling stations in Arusha, Morogoro and Dar es Salaam regions and set up explosives at public rallies.

The prosecutors claimed that on various dates in August, the three suspects were found in illegal possession of a pistol loaded with three rounds of ammunition and army combat uniforms belonging to the Tanzania People's Defense Forces.

The prosecution requested the court for more time to complete investigations of the case. Principal Resident Magistrate Thomas Simba granted the request and adjourned the case to Sept. 2. Enditem
WASHINGTON  In back to back speeches Wednesday at the virtual Democratic National Convention, former President Barack Obama and Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris reached out to Americans who feel left behind and alienated by the Trump administration, including voters who might not bother to cast a ballot and victims of structural racism.

The speeches were part of an evening that highlighted people who have suffered from social ills that Democrats argue the Trump White House has not addressed, such as undocumented immigrants and victims of gun violence. The two hours of programming also celebrated the strides made by women in politics, capped off by the nomination of Harris, the first woman of color on major presidential ticket. It also featured remarks from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

The evening was bookended by poignant words about the importance of voting, first from former Rep. Gabby Giffords, who was shot in the head a decade ago during a mass shooting and was left with disabling brain damage.

"America needs all of us to speak out, even when you have to fight to find the words," said Giffords, who has struggled mightily to regain the power of speech. "We are at a crossroads. We can let the shooting continue or we can act. We can protect our families, our future. We can vote. We can be on the right side of history. We must elect Joe Biden. He was there for me; he'll be there for you, too. Join us in this fight. Vote, vote, vote."

Near the end of the night, Obama made a more universal appeal to voters. In between moments of searing criticism for President Donald Trump, the former president spoke about voter suppression and addressed those who feel "down on government."

"Here's the point: This president and those in power  those who benefit from keeping things the way they are  they are counting on your cynicism," he said. "They know they can't win you over with their policies. So they're hoping to make it as hard as possible for you to vote, and to convince you that your vote doesn't matter.

"That's how they win. ... That's how a democracy withers, until it's no democracy at all. And we cannot let that happen. Do not let them take away your power. Do not let them take away your democracy," Obama said.

Harris spoke directly to people of color, describing how the coronavirus that is responsible for the death of 170,000 Americans this year is not "an equal opportunity offender."
August is not yet over, but the month of September is already taking a glimpse. On Sept. 30, a lot of things are set to be expected: a new game, a new pair of shoes, and even a new smartphone? All on the same release date. Who's excited?

Google Pixel 5 leaked release date

If you're a fan of smartphones and Google, good news is coming right after you. One of the most known leaker Jon Prosser has announced on Twitter that the next set of smartphones of Google called Pixel 5 (5G) will be released on an earlier date of Sept. 30.

It was first rumored that Google might release the 5G smartphones in August. Then, it was followed up with another leak via Google France, 'accidentally' announcing that Oct. 8 will be its official release date.

But with Prosser's info, he was sure that it will be released at an earlier date at the end of the month of September.

Android Central points out that nothing is still sure about the upcoming Google models. However, it was rumored that Pixel 5 and another upcoming Pixel 4a 5G will both have Snapdragon 765G chipset. With more premium design, water resistance, and more high-end camera sensors.

The rumored price for Pixel 5 5G ranges at $699.

Baldur's Gate 3 early access!

Not just a smartphone is rumoredly coming out on Sept. 30, a much-awaited role-playing game from Larian Studios called Baldur's Gate 3 is also making its early access on the same date.

PC Gamer reported that this date is still not sure as of now. After all, Baldur's Gate 3 has moved its release date due to the pandemic.

"We did Early Access for Original Sin 1, and we liked it a lot because it helped us to make OS1 a better game," Larian creative director Swen Vincke said. We're hoping to get the same out of Early Access for BG3."

Ready for a new Air Jordan?

Besides, a brand new pair of Nike's famous Air Jordan is also expected to arrive.

According to Nike, the shoe company will be partnered with UNION LA, a fashion and streetwear clothing line.

On Wednesday, Aug. 19, both of them revealed the next set of newly-designed Air Jordan shoes called Jordan Delta Mid and the Jordan Zoom 92.

Both of them come with a mix of suede and mesh fabrics that looks better when the UNION LA added their touch.

The new set of Air Jordans will begin its release on the same date.

ALSO READ: Google Pixel Issues: Some Pixels Keep Freezing, Getting Randomly Unresponsive For Minutes

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Jamie Pancho

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Earlier this summer, Judge Manish Shah of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois dismissed a lawsuit against AbbVie and biosimilar manufacturers of the drug Humira (adalimumab). The lawsuit involved an antitrust claim against the Humira patent estate and made a novel antitrust claim that AbbVie used its patent thicket as part of an anticompetitive scheme to block biosimilar manufacturers in the market for Humira.

While the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved five biosimilars of Humira, none have been marketed and in 2019 alone, Humira grossed nearly $20 billion in revenue.

Plaintiffs Allegations

In their complaint, the indirect purchasers of Humira argued that AbbVie intentionally created a minefield of patents issued from applications filed after the launch of Humira. The plaintiffs noted that while the average new Orange Book-listed drug from three years leading up to Humiras launch had an average number of 3.9 patents, Humira at more than 100 at the time the complaint was filed. The patents covered a range of technological aspects, including formulation and manufacturing methods. While that may be partially explained by the fact that Humira is a large molecule drug, and therefore a more complex structure and more challenging to characterize, that doesnt seem to explain the large difference in patents.

The plaintiffs also alleged that AbbVie used its seemingly impregnable fortress of patents to deter patent challenges from biosimilar competitors while encouraging those same competitors to enter into settlements that granted early market entry in exchange for not challenging Humiras patents.

District Court Dismissal

In his Memorandum Opinion and Order dismissing the case, Judge Shah found that most of AbbVies conduct was immunized under the Noerr-Pennington doctrine. The Noerr-Pennington doctrine protects use of the legal process from antitrust scrutiny, provided it is not a sham.

Judge Shah believed that AbbVies success with obtaining patents meant that those patent applications could not be considered a sham. Shah was also unable to find any antitrust violations in some of AbbVies less-justifiable patent assertions against biosimilar competitors, since there was no evidence presented that the patent assertions caused the biosimilar companies to delay a biosimilar launch.

Shah also found that AbbVies agreements with several biosimilar competitors (including Amgen, Samsung Bioepis, Sandoz, and Fresenius Kabi) actually served to increase competition by bringing competitors into the United States and European markets where the patents otherwise prohibited competition. This was possible based on a 2013 court ruling  FTC v. Actavis Inc.  especially because there was no allegation that AbbVie made a large or unexplained payment in exchange for biosimilar delay.

What Does This Mean?

Its hard to estimate what this decision will mean so soon after it has been made. It is likely that biologics manufacturers will continue to use the complexity of the biologic synthesis and manufacturing processes to build so-called patent thickets. Those patent thickets can then be used both for and against biosimilar competitors.
The Western Union Company WU recently collaborated with CARD Bank, which is renowned as a microfinance-oriented rural bank in the Philippines. CARD Bank, being a member of CARD MRI, offers financial services for supporting socially and economically challenged families in the Philippines.

Western Union and CARD Bank together will benefit customers in the Philippines, who will be able to send and receive money across more than 200 countries and territories. The collaboration will enable customers to easily engage in money transfer transactions using Western Unions services at more than 200 CARD Bank locations across the country. Customers will also be able to conduct such transactions at more than 1,500 other CARD MRI Offices.

Western Union believes that adequate financial services are a necessity for all as a result of which it intends to serve underprivileged customers in rural and remote regions via this tie-up. In fact, this collaboration is in sync with the companys aim as CARD Bank was primarily established with the sole purpose of helping socially and economically challenged families across the Philippines and improve the quality of their lives.

We believe the abovementioned collaboration highlights Western Unions efforts to strengthen presence in the Philippines, which has been recognized as the fourth-largest remittance recipient country in 2019 according to the World Bank.

Notably, Western Union already has a strong network of Agent locations in the Philippines through which it has been able to serve customers efficiently. By joining forces with CARD Bank, the company will be able to offer more locations for engaging in money transfer services across the country.

Last month, the company also teamed up with TrueMoney, a renowned financial services provider in the Philippines. The collaboration will enable customers to easily engage in money transfer transactions at more than 5,000 TrueMoney Locations across the country.

Story continues

Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 8.8% in a year compared with the industrys growth of 5.9%. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The price performance looks decent in comparison to its peers, including Repay Holdings Corporation RPAY, PayPal Holdings, Inc. PYPL and MoneyGram International, Inc. MGI. Repay, PayPal and MoneyGram have gained 110.8%, 75.2% and 1.2%, respectively, in a year. While PayPal and MoneyGram carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), Repay has the same rank as Western Union.

Other Initiatives Bode Well

Notably, Western Unions Western Union Business Solutions division has extended its partnership with Banco SEMEAR in Brazil this month. Per this deal extension, the company will offer financial institutions its WU GlobalPay for FI platform, a solution to help customers make seamless international payments with greater efficiency.

The company has also been proactive in providing assistance to small businesses, which are integral to the U.S. economy and have been adversely impacted by pandemic-induced financial woes. With startups being no exception to this trend, the second class of the Techstars & Western Union Accelerator was launched last month, which is likely to provide required impetus to several startups.

These strategic actions bode well for Western Union, considering the present situation of the remittance industry that is likely to remain stressed under the coronavirus pandemic. We believe the companys solid digital money transfer platform has somewhat helped the company to recover amid the pandemic.

Case on point, digital money transfer revenues surged 48% on a reported basis year over year in second-quarter 2020, which was released this month.

Customers preferring digital modes of money transfer over physical means amid the pandemic has reinforced the importance of online digital trading, which positions Western Union well for growth.

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Russian doctors were battling to save the life of leading opposition figure Alexei Navalny on Thursday after he was rushed to intensive care in Siberia suffering from what his spokeswoman said was a suspected poisoning.

Navalny, a 44-year-old lawyer and anti-corruption campaigner who is among President Vladimir Putin's fiercest critics, was hospitalised in the city of Omsk after he lost consciousness on a flight and his plane made an emergency landing.

"Doctors aren't just doing everything possible. The doctors are really working now on saving his life," the hospital's deputy head doctor Anatoly Kalinichenko told journalists in Omsk.

Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said he was on a ventilator in a coma and his condition was serious but stable.

"Alexei has toxic poisoning," Yarmysh wrote on Twitter, describing how he was taken ill during the flight from the city of Tomsk to Moscow.

The hospital has not given any diagnosis while the regional health ministry said Navalny was in a natural, not induced, coma. His team said the hospital was ill-equipped and his doctor Anastasia Vasilyeva said she had asked for the Kremlin's help to transfer him to a European clinic.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov wished Navalny a "speedy recovery" adding that the Kremlin would help move him abroad if needed. Peskov said claims of poisoning were "only assumptions" until tests proved otherwise.

Yarmysh claimed Putin was responsible for poisoning Navalny, saying: "Whether or not he gave the order personally, the blame lies with him."

Amnesty International urged Russia to hold a "prompt and independent investigation."

'Something in his tea'

Navalny's wife Yulia arrived in the city about 2,200 kilometres (1,400 miles) east of Moscow and visited him. Yarmysh said police and investigators had also arrived and journalists reported seeing FSB security service agents at the hospital.

"We think that Alexei was poisoned with something mixed in his tea. That was the only thing he drank in the morning," Yarmysh wrote on Twitter. She told the Echo of Moscow radio station that she was "sure it was intentional poisoning".

State news agency TASS cited a law enforcement source questioning this. "We can't rule out that he drank or took something himself yesterday," the source said, a claim Yarmysh dismissed as "complete rubbish." She said Navalny had been swimming in a river the night before and was "sober".

Political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya said that Navalny had "hundreds of enemies including some hardened individuals", pointing to his anti-corruption investigations that attract millions of views online.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab tweeted he was "deeply concerned" while EU foreign affairs high representative Josep Borrell wrote that if the suspected poisoning was confirmed "those responsible must be held to account".

US whistleblower Edward Snowden, granted asylum by Moscow, tweeted that a confirmed poisoning would be a "crime against the whole of Russia."

Muscovites said they suspected Navalny was poisoned over his political views.

"I think this is a deliberate attempt on his life because he has fought so fiercely with the government lately," said 18-year-old student Yaroslav Lyangasov.

"We have no doubt where this came from, because he is the man who is never referred to by name," said 60-year-old architect Maria Zhukovskaya, referring to an unofficial Kremlin and state media policy.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Wednesday praised the supporters of QAnon, a convoluted, pro-Trump conspiracy theory, and suggested he appreciates their support of his candidacy.

Speaking during a press conference at the White House, Trump courted the support of those who put stock in the conspiracy theory, saying, I heard that these are people that love our country. It was Trumps first public comment on the subject and continued a pattern of president appearing unwilling to resoundingly condemn extremists who support his candidacy.

QAnon has ricocheted around the darker corners of the internet since late 2017, but has been creeping into mainstream politics more and more. The baseless theory centres on an alleged anonymous, high-ranking government official known as Q who shares information about an anti-Trump deep state often tied to satanism and child sex trafficking.

Trump insisted he hadnt heard much about the movement, other than I understand they like me very much and it is gaining in popularity.

Trump has retweeted QAnon-promoting accounts, and shirts and hats with QAnon symbols and slogans are not uncommon at his rallies.

An FBI bulletin last May warned that conspiracy theory-driven extremists have become a domestic terrorism threat. The bulletin specifically mentioned QAnon. Earlier last year, the Southern Poverty Law Center warned that the movement is becoming increasingly popular with anti-government extremists.

Trumps comments were condemned by the campaign of his Democratic rival, former Vice-President Joe Biden.

After calling neo-Nazis and white supremacists in Charlottesville fine people and tear gassing peaceful protesters following the murder of George Floyd, Donald Trump just sought to legitimize a conspiracy theory that the FBI has identified as a domestic terrorism threat, said Biden spokesman Andrew Bates. Our country needs leadership that will bring us together more than ever to form a more perfect union. We have to win this battle for the soul of our nation.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who challenged Trump for the GOP nomination in 2016, also criticized the president, tweeting: Why in the world would the President not kick Qanon supporters butts? Nut jobs, rascists, haters have no place in either Party.

Pressed on QAnon theories that Trump is allegedly saving the nation from a satanic cult of child sex traffickers, Trump claimed ignorance, but asked, Is that supposed to be a bad thing?

If I can help save the world from problems, Im willing to do it, Trump said.

Qanon supporters were quick to celebrate Trumps comments on social media, with many calling them a validation of their views. Many have long contended he sends them coded messages of support, and on Twitter, one user claimed Trumps choice of a pink tie on Wednesday was another signal of support.

Within minutes, dozens of Instagram users began celebrating Trumps acknowledgement of the conspiracy theory at the White House podium, uploading videos of him.

Well weve been waiting for this moment for a while, to put it mildly thank you @realDonaldTrump, one Instagram user wrote to her 19,000 followers in a post of Trumps exchange. The video was viewed more than 1,000 times in just 30 minutes.

Holy Smokin Q, another tweeted. Our President was asked 2 questions about the Qanon movement TODAY!! We LOVE you President Trump.

On Parler, a right-wing platform popular with some Trump supporters, one Qanon supporter posted a photo of Trump and a bald eagle.

Trumps comments came a week after he endorsed Marjorie Taylor Greene, who won her GOP House primary runoff in Georgia last week. Greene called the QAnon conspiracy theory something worth listening to and paying attention to and called Q a patriot. Trump praised her as a future Republican Star.

Trump has a long history of advancing false and sometimes racist conspiracies, including last week, when he gave credence to a highly criticized op-ed that questioned Democrat Kamala Harris eligibility to serve as vice-president even though she was born in Oakland, California.

Asked about the matter, Trump told reporters he had heard rumours that Harris, a Black woman and U.S.-born citizen whose parents were immigrants, does not meet the requirement to serve in the White House. The president said he considered the rumours very serious, but later he and his campaign indicated they were not making an issue of the claim. constitutional lawyers have dismissed it as nonsense.

Facebook announced just hours before Trumps statements that it was banning some QAnon Facebook groups and accounts.

But social media had already been used for years to fuel the conspiracy theorys rise, with private and super-secret Facebook groups where members sometimes post hundreds of times a day. QAnon believers often peddle a number of conspiracy theories, from claims that John F. Kennedy Jr. isnt really dead and is staging a public comeback to baseless speculation around celebrities who have secretly been arrested for trafficking children for sex.

Mentions of hashtags social media users to promote the QAnon conspiracy theory have spiked in public Facebook pages and groups since July, generating millions of interactions, according to an Associated Press analysis of data from Facebook-owned CrowdTangle.

The conspiracy theory gained a larger online following in recent weeks, when prominent QAnon social media accounts pushed a bizarre and baseless conspiracy theory that online retail giant Wayfair was trafficking children through pricey storage cabinets that are for sale on its site. Some of the social media users shared the names and photos of missing children from around the country as proof of the scheme, even though many of the children have since been recovered.

Last month, researchers at online misinformation firm NewsGuard found that the QAnon conspiracy theory is gaining traction in Europe, with Facebook users pushing it on Facebook and Twitter, too.

-

Seitz reported from Chicago. AP writer David Klepper in Providence, Rhode Island contributed.
On August 17, 2020, Judge Marcia G. Cooke of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida granted the SEC's motion for summary judgment against Ibrahim Almagarby and his company, Microcap Equity Group, LLC (MEG). The SEC's complaint alleged that Almagarby and MEG repeatedly purchased aged debt from penny stock issuers and, after converting the debt into equity at discounted prices, sold the newly issued shares into the market at a significant profit. At the time of this conduct, neither Almagarby nor MEG were registered with the SEC as a dealer and Almagarby was not associated with a registered broker or dealer.

The court ruled that Almagarby and MEG were required to be registered as dealers because they met the statutory definition by engaging in the regular business of buying and selling securities for their own account. The court therefore found that they violated the dealer registration provisions of Section 15(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The court also held Almagarby liable as a control person of MEG under Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act.

The court ruled that injunctive relief was appropriate, but held that it would determine at a later date what additional remedies are appropriate. The court also denied the defendants' cross motion for summary judgment.

The SEC is represented by Robert K. Gordon, W. Shawn Murnahan, William P. Hicks, and M. Graham Loomis.
LEXINGTON  A North Carolina city is suing to try to secure authorization to remove a Confederate statue from its downtown.

The city of Lexington filed the lawsuit Monday against Davidson County and a chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy, The Dispatch of Lexington reported Wednesday. The lawsuit asks for judgment that the city has the right to remove the statue and seeks a permanent injunction prohibiting the return of the statue once it has been taken down.

The downtown property that includes the statue, which was erected by the Daughters of the Confederacy in 1905, is owned by Davidson County.

Chuck Frye, attorney for the county, said in a news release that North Carolina law protects the removal of statues and monuments.

There are very limited circumstances that provide for an exception to the prohibition on removal, according to the news release. None of those exceptions apply to the memorial that the (Lexington) City Council seeks to have removed.
OTTAWAAt least 1 million people could lose their jobless benefits during the pandemic if the Liberal minority government falls in a confidence vote in late September.

Such an outcome would prevent the Liberals from tabling legislation needed to implement part of a $39-billion package meant to support people who have lost work during the COVID-19 pandemic after the much-used Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) winds down in the coming weeks.

Carla Qualtrough, the minister of employment, workforce development and disability inclusion, said she believes opposition parties will support the Liberals and allow them to implement these new programs because they address concerns raised about the CERB, which has paid out more than $68 billion to 8.5 million Canadians over the past six months.

That includes creating paid sick leave, which the New Democrats have called for, and strengthening incentives for benefit recipients to start working again, something the Conservatives have demanded.

I have confidence  that well be able to find a way forward with the opposition parties, who also recognize that this is an ongoing public health and economic crisis, Qualtrough told reporters on Parliament Hill.

Speaking alongside Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, Qualtrough detailed how the government plans to extend the CERB by four weeks before replacing it with a more inclusive Employment Insurance scheme and three new jobless benefits for people who lose work during the pandemic. They framed the changes as necessary during the current crisis, while the government studies more lasting reforms to the EI system.

Qualtrough said the government expects about 3 million people currently receiving $500-per-week CERB payments to transfer into the temporary EI program, while the remaining 1 million to 1.5 million will go on the new benefit programs.

But while the EI changes can be made through regulations, the Liberals need to pass legislation to create the new programs. Since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau prorogued Parliament this week, that means the government wont have a chance to table a bill until after it delivers a new Throne Speech on Sept. 23  and only if it survives a subsequent confidence vote in the House of Commons.

Daniel Blaikie, an NDP MP from Manitoba, told the Star Thursday that his party believes the government is missing a chance to make permanent changes to EI, even though it is glad to finally see a bit of plan to create paid sick leave for all Canadians and to extend CERB for another month.

But Blaikie made clear the NDP has not decided whether it will support the Liberal governments Throne Speech, stating it was irresponsible of Trudeau to prorogue Parliament on the eve of a major policy announcement involving jobless payments for millions of people.

I dont think we should be having an election, but sometimes elections are the only cure for what ails a country, he said. We are trying to work as hard as possible to collaborate with the government as best we can on issues like CERB and EI  But we need to see over the next few weeks, are they really interested in reaching out and collaborating, or is this all smoke and mirrors?

In a written statement, Conservative MP Dan Albas criticized the changes as just shuffling Canadians between programs and said it is unacceptable that the Trudeau government announced these changes days after locking out MPs and shutting down Parliament to block investigations into their WE scandal.

The Liberals need the support of at least one official opposition party  the Bloc Quebecois, the Conservatives or the NDP  to survive the confidence vote and pass legislation to create the new jobless benefits.

The changes announced Thursday include extending the eligibility period for the CERB by a month, to a maximum of 28 weeks. That will cost about $8 billion, Qualtrough said.

After that, the government plans to implement a reformed EI system alongside three new emergency benefit programs that are slated to exist for a year, starting Sept. 27.

The reformed EI system will pay out a minimum of $400 per week for at least 26 weeks  an increase from the minimum period of 14 weeks in the regular system, according to senior public servants who briefed journalists about the changes Thursday. The government will also make it easier to qualify, so that people can get EI after working just 120 hours if they can no longer find work, they said.

This will add about $7 billion to annual EI costs for the government, the officials said.

At the same time, the government intends to freeze EI premiums for workers and their employers, forgoing about $2 billion over the next two years, Freeland said at Thursdays press conference.

Beyond that, the government plans to table legislation to create three new benefit programs that will be available retroactively to Sept. 27.

For those who arent eligible for EI, such as gig and self-employed workers, the government intends to create the Canada Recovery Benefit that will pay out $400 per week for up to 26 weeks.

There will also be a new Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit for people who stop working because theyre ill or must self-isolate due to COVID-19. They can get $500 per week for two one-week periods.

Finally, the government wants to create the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit for people who stop working to care for a family member because their school or daycare is closed during the pandemic. Officials said people can also qualify if their family member is told by a doctor not to attend school or daycare. This benefit would pay out $500 per week for up to 26 weeks, per household.

Qualtrough said the government expects these three benefits to cost about $22 billion.

The new programs also do away with the element of the CERB that cut people off from receiving the benefit if they earned more than $1,000 a month. The new programs would allow recipients to make $38,000 in a calendar year without losing the benefit, and would lose 50 cents from the payments for every dollar they earn beyond that.

This years federal deficit was already projected to hit $343 billion when the government released a fiscal snapshot on July 8.
PHOENIX, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Trutankless, Inc. (OTCQB: TKLS) released its earnings report for the second quarter 2020 indicating gross sales of $538,702, compared to $419,894 in Q2 2019 which is a 28% increase. Additionally, the Company reported an increase in gross sales to $1,078,263 for the six months ending June 30, 2020, compared to $1,058,169 during the same period 2019. The continued growth is attributed to the tremendous effort of our installer network in a rapidly changing landscape this year.

The Company had a backlog at the end of the first quarter based on the record orders it received, which continued to grow during the second quarter. Accordingly, our team has been working with our partners in the wholesale plumbing channel to ensure the best outcome by actively forecasting, sharing information, and helping to meet demand where it is needed most.

The company attributes its continued growth to several factors, including strong demand for its Trutankless line of smart water heaters amongst a growing number of the nation's largest plumbing and HVAC distributors.

"The company continues to see strong demand driving our gross profit and increased efficiencies with reduced general and administrative costs," stated Michael Stebbins, President and CEO, of Trutankless, Inc. "We are working to forge additional partnerships that will help solidify our position as the go-to product with smart home features for water heating."

Trutankless launched its first-generation Trutankless unit at the International Builders Show in 2014, where it was named "Best Home Technology Product" by the National Association of Homebuilders. The company was awarded patents with 34 claims on its innovative advances in water heating technology which helps installers create additional value for their customers.

About Trutankless, Inc.:

Trutankless, Inc. (OTCQB: TKLS ) is a technology-driven developer of accessible, next-generation home automation and efficiency systems. The Company's primary products are a line of electric tankless water heaters that surpasses traditional tank water heaters in energy efficiency, output, dependability and environmental sustainability. The Company sells its products to plumbing wholesale distributors and dealers throughout the United States. Trutankless, Inc. was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Please visit www.trutankless.com or call 855-TO-BUY-TRU.

Connect on social media:

www.houzz.com/pro/trutankless

www.facebook.com/trutankless

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Forward-Looking Statement: The statements in this press release regarding any implied or perceived benefits from the release by Trutankless of its line of electric tankless water heaters or added key strategic sales and distribution partners are forward-looking statements. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, risks of the key strategic sales and distribution partners ability to sell our product, and effects of legal and administrative proceedings and governmental regulation, especially in a foreign country, future financial and operational results, competition, general economic conditions, and the ability to manage and continue growth.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this news release include the introduction of new technology, market conditions, and those set forth in reports or documents we file from time to time with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to revise or update such statements to reflect current events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. There is no guarantee that any specific outcome will be achieved. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

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Aldi Australia is set to sell a remarkably affordable $39.99 smartwatch that will rival big tech brands such as Apple and Fitbit.

The device can track your steps, activity, heart rate, sleep and blood pressure in real time similar to gadgets that will often set you back hundreds of dollars.

Shoppers can check the weather forecast, as well as receive message and call notifications from their smartphones.

The budget product will hit shelves on Wednesday, August 26 as part of the retailer's Special Buys catalogue ahead of Father's Day.

Aldi Australia is set to sell a remarkably affordable $39.99 smartwatch (left) that will rival big tech brands such as Apple (top right) and Fitbit (bottom right)

The Aldi smartwatch with touchscreen comes with a magnetic charging base (pictured)

The watch includes many of the features you would expect with regular trackers, including multi-sports tracking, and a Bluetooth wireless connection.

If you're into swimming, you'll be happy to hear that the watch is water-resistant and designed to endure through your favourite activities.

Users can also connect to their smartphones through Bluetooth, and skip, play, pause and rewind music, directly from your wrist.

Available in assorted colours, the smartwatch with colour display and touchscreen controls comes with a magnetic charging base.

The gadget is part of the new collection from the chain's massive two-day sale.

A 50-inch smart TV is among the new range that's set to hit Aldi ahead of Father's Day

For those looking to spoil without splashing the cash, there are plenty of gifts for less than $50, including a Bluetooth headphones or coffee maker for $39.99 each

For those looking to spoil without splashing too much cash, there are plenty of gifts for less than $50, including gadgets, appliances, grooming and camping gear.

Give your father, husband or boyfriend a cafe experience from the comfort of their home with a $39.99 AeroPress coffee maker, $9.99 novelty mugs or $9.99 insulated drinkware.

The $19.99 grooming kit has everything he needs for the perfect trim or check out the $19.99 shoe shine kit that will give footwear long-lasting polish and protection.

Shoppers can enjoy non-stop music for up to 15 hours with the $39.99 Bluetooth headphones with built-in microphone and rechargeable battery.

The sale includes a $99.99 three-speed record player with detachable speakers and Bluetooth function and $14.99 vinyl records.

The $19.99 grooming kit has everything your husband or father needs for the perfect trim

the $19.99 shoe shine kit will give footwear long-lasting polish and protection while the $7.99 men's manicure kit comes with eight pieces

The man in your life can bring his vinyl collection back to life with the $99.99 three-speed record player with detachable speakers and Bluetooth function

Shoppers can get a handy nine-in-one wrench multi-tool set (left) for just $16.99 each or a $79.99 combo fishing reel and rod (right)

From tracking daily activities to monitoring blood pressure and heart rate, the smartwatch costs just $39.99 and comes complete with a magnetic charging base.

If money is no object, customers can find a $449 50-inch smart TV - complete with ultra high definition, live recording and USB media playback.

For the outdoorsman, there's a $129 heavy duty camping swag, $19.99 canvas storage bags, $69.99 gazebo hub, and $14.99 cast iron grill or frypan.

Other gifts on sale include $12.99 men's denim, cargo or chino shorts, $79.99 combo fishing reel and rod, and a $16.99 nine-in-one wrench multi-tool set.
Concept phones have flooded the conventions with futuristic designs that could be used for smartphones in the near future.

While the under-screen finger reader has become a norm, it is the turn for the camera to do the same. ZTE wants to be ahead of the curve and launch the first smartphone with an under-screen camera.

The ZTE Axon 20 5G with no visible camera on the front is slated for release on this September 1.

Inside the Phone

You may have the aesthetics on the low range phones, but what is inside is what really matters. The specs are on par with what is being currently offered in the market.

Weighing approx 198 grams, it packs a 6.92 inch OLED display with a 2K screen resolution of 2460 x 1080 pixels. For security and privacy, there is the in-screen fingerprint reader. While the brand and model processor is kept under wraps, a 2.4 GHz SoC CPU is promised on the phone.

The mighty display is powered by a modest 4120 mAh battery. The camera department has been given due attention by the ZTE.

The front camera will pack a resolution of 32-megapixels while the rear camera will sport a combination of 64, 8, and 2-megapixel camera for added clarity.

When will the ZTE Axon 20 be available?

ZTE is looking forward to launching the ZTE Axon 20 on the 1st of September this year. The company has promised release in China, the Nordic region, along with middle-east. ZTE is yet to reveal its plans regarding the US, which many experts believe to be a complex issue, citing the FCC scandal in early 2020.

Can we trust ZTE?

ZTE has been in hot waters with the USs FCC this year. Although we agree that it is not the most known brand in the smartphone market, they are among the worlds top five smartphone manufacturers.

They are the first company to publicly launch 5G smartphones, making rounds in the Chinese market.
20.08.2020 LISTEN

The Ghana Health Service has written to the management of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) detailing safety protocols for the resumption of international air travel amidst the COVID-19 outbreak.

Authorities of the health management body say they have identified overcrowding as one of the major factors contributing to the spread of the virus hence the instituted measures to stem the rates of infection during the easing of COVID-19 restrictions on flight travel.

The GHS says in view of this, the Ghana Airports Company Limited must demonstrate that it would not be a place for the transmission of the virus.

Key amongst the four measures is for the airport management to ensure that there is no form of congestion at the facility at all times and strict adherence to social distancing and compulsory wearing of face masks protocols.

Below are the measures the GHS has ordered KIA to put in place:

1. Ensure there is no congestion at all sections of the airport (arrival, departure and environs) to fail adherence to social distancing protocols.

2. Compulsory mask wearing for all passengers (both arriving and departing) as well as staff

3. Temperature monitoring to continue at both arrival and departure terminals

4. Ensure social distancing and compulsory mask-wearing at the car parks and in front of all terminals.

Ghana Health Service is hopeful should these measures be operationalized and strictly adhered to, the potential risk of COVID-19 transmission at the Kotoka International Airport as a result of the reopening of the countrys air border will be minimal.

It has also assured the airport management of its highest form of cooperation to develop the enabling protocols for ensuring passengers and staff safety.

Recently, President Akufo-Addo hinted the country is preparing to reopen its airports to human traffic .

According to the president, he has instructed the Ministry of Aviation, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and the Ghana Airports Company Limited to work with the Ministry of Health and its agencies, to ascertain the country's readiness to reopen the airport.

Already, the GHS has said it was engaging 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 in September.

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 subsidized the cost of travel and quarantine.

---citinewsroom
Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Mayor Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles, who each nearly ran for president themselves, introduced a segment about how the coronavirus pandemic has wrecked small businesses in America.

Mr. Brown spoke with a small manufacturer and a clothier, while Mr. Garcetti discussed how a restaurant owner was on the verge of losing her business because customers had stopped coming.

They were joined by Representative Cindy Axne of Iowa, who met with a farmer whose business had been wrecked first by President Trumps trade war with China and then by the pandemic.
As the campaigns for the Ondo State governorship election gather speed, the campaign organisation of Eyitayo Jegede has alleged that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu is preventing him from displaying his posters and billboards.

Mr Jegede is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and is considered the main challenger to Mr Akeredolu who is seeking reelection on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement on Thursday, the organisation, through its spokesperson, Samuel Fasua, accused the governor of muzzling political opponents in the state, by preventing them from erecting campaign billboards.

READ ALSO:

Mr Fasua said the development reeked of abuse of power and flagrant disobedience to extant laws granting political parties equal rights to relevant public utilities.

Quite shockingly, the governor who is a senior advocate and one who should be passionate on the need to uphold the rule of law, looks away as the Ondo State Signage and Advertisement Agency (OSSAA) stands the law on the head, he said.

The agency has consistently rebuffed applications by opposition parties, most especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to mount billboards of their respective governorship candidates.

One particular approach to perpetrating this subterfuge by the OSSAA, has been the deliberate hiking of their charges on signage permit to a ridiculously high level, all aimed at checkmating opposition parties.

Besides, the agency has been withholding the signage licence to any advertising agency with application to mount billboards of the PDP governorship candidate, Mr Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), without any justification for its action.

Whereas, it keeps giving express approval to the mounting of Akeredolus Aketi billboards, in any location whatsoever; and from feelers, such approvals are often granted free of charge.

Mr Fasua called on Mr Akeredolu to call officials of OSSAA to order, noting that only the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is empowered by law to regulate the activities of political parties, and not the OSSAA.

He, however, said Mr Jegedes supporters had been calm in the face of mounting hostilities.

But the states Commissioner for Information, Donald Ojogo, refuted the allegation, advising the PDP to focus on its campaign and stop looking for excuses for its imminent failure.

We urge the PDP to face its self-imposed challenges and work assiduously for the election if only to register yet another presence on the ballot, said Mr Ojogo.

We doubt if they even have billboards to erect in view of the daily depletion the party has suffered lately.

It is better for them to withdraw from the race rather than scouting for straws.

However, the spokesperson for the Deputy Governor, Tope Okeowo, told PREMIUM TIMES that the Zenith Labour Party candidate, Agboola Ajayi, was yet to witness such frustration from the agency.

For now, nobody has stopped us from erecting billboards or posters anywhere, Mr Okeowo said.

Maybe because he is still the deputy governor and he still enjoys his immunity. Otherwise, we have not experienced that kind of thing, at least for now.
OPINION: Contributor Randy Spalding writes about how recent Trump administration policies have left many foreign students and young people feeling unwelcome. "Now, I worry many of these students will abandon their dreams of studying here," he says.
What started out as a fun, creative way to uplift Texas families in the pandemic has made international headlines 5,000 miles away, in Scotland. A Cypress family discovered a way to bring a neighborhood together one rock at a time, by creating a "quarantine caterpillar."

"It was a way to bring our community together," Lyn McWilliam said, "We painted rocks, with messages of hope. Nicole and Alex (Lyn's daughters) painted a couple of rocks, and people took it from there. We now have over 700+ rocks!"

Lyn's daughter, 11-year-old Nicole first got the idea from her mom's hometown Facebook page of Monifieth, Scotland. It struck a chord. She started the "quarantine caterpillar" with just a few rocks and a sign inviting her neighbors to decorate the stones and add to it. Nicole's big sister, Alex, then helped get the creative idea off the ground, and then it took on a life of its own.

'JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW I LOVE YOU': Wife prays under husband's hospital window as he fights COVID-19

"The rocks are all different. Some of the artwork is amazing," Lyn said. "The girls just thought it would be a cool thing to do."

It's been a heartwarming project that's helped connect Cypress neighbors during the one of the most heartbreaking times in the pandemic.

"This is a glimmer of happiness," Lyn said. "It's a scary time, but we will get through this. We're not alone. We're doing this together."

So, what does this cool caterpillar mean for Nicole and Alex? Alex said the project has made people have fun during a scary time.

"It brings me closer to my friends, family and neighbors both here and in Scotland," Nicole said.

Just crawling along through a Cypress neighborhood, this "quarantine caterpillar" keeps growing with some cool, creative rocks painted with a splash of H-town pride.

"There's a rock with a NASA sign," Lyn said. "The girls are loving it. They're so proud of what they've achieved."

Once news of their crafty creation began growing, a Scottish newspaper, the Evening Telegraph reached out to Lyn to get story.

"They actually got in touch with me and wrote a story about it," Lyn said. "Scotland is our home. We moved from there 7 years ago."

The Monifieth caterpillar had inspired the McWilliam daughters. The Scottish quarantine caterpillar was started in May by Joanne Lindsey and her daughters, Megan and Olivia, according to the Evening Telegraph. The Monifieth caterpillar counterpart has now reached almost 2,000 stones.

The best part of the whole project is that it's been a shining ray of hope for this family and neighborhood during a dark time.

"With this caterpillar, we felt there is a way to bring hope, to have a purpose," Lyn said. "We will get through this."

alison.medley@chron.com
The big shareholder groups in Mandalay Resources Corporation (TSE:MND) have power over the company. Large companies usually have institutions as shareholders, and we usually see insiders owning shares in smaller companies. Companies that used to be publicly owned tend to have lower insider ownership.

Mandalay Resources is not a large company by global standards. It has a market capitalization of CA$164m, which means it wouldn't have the attention of many institutional investors. Taking a look at our data on the ownership groups (below), it seems that institutional investors have bought into the company. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Mandalay Resources.

View our latest analysis for Mandalay Resources

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Mandalay Resources?

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.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Mandalay Resources. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. 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 Mandalay Resources' historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

Our data indicates that hedge funds own 19% of Mandalay Resources. That worth noting, since hedge funds are often quite active investors, who may try to influence management. Many want to see value creation (and a higher share price) in the short term or medium term. GMT Capital Corp. is currently the largest shareholder, with 19% of shares outstanding. With 17% and 11% of the shares outstanding respectively, Ruffer LLP and azValor Asset Management SGIIC, S.A.U. are the second and third largest shareholders.

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To make our study more interesting, we found that the top 4 shareholders control more than half of the company which implies that this group has considerable sway over the company's decision-making.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There is some analyst coverage of the stock, but it could still become more well known, with time.

Insider Ownership Of Mandalay Resources

While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Shareholders would probably be interested to learn that insiders own shares in Mandalay Resources Corporation. In their own names, insiders own CA$1.9m worth of stock in the CA$164m company. Some would say this shows alignment of interests between shareholders and the board, though I generally prefer to see bigger insider holdings. But it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public, with a 39% stake in the company, will not easily be ignored. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders.

Private Equity Ownership

With an ownership of 11%, private equity firms are in a position to play a role in shaping corporate strategy with a focus on value creation. Sometimes we see private equity stick around for the long term, but generally speaking they have a shorter investment horizon and -- as the name suggests -- don't invest in public companies much. After some time they may look to sell and redeploy capital elsewhere.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Mandalay Resources 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 Mandalay Resources , 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.
Jamie Shorter sobbed Wednesday as he held his cell phone and tried to talk about the horror he saw on the first day of August.

He tried to explain how Jeramie Shorter was killed at the funeral of Jeramie's 8-year-old son. And another family member said there is "too much fake news" about the killing.

"I had to help bury my 8-year-old grandbaby. That's a horrible thing to begin with," Jamie said. "Now I'm making plans to bury his father  my own son  tomorrow (Thursday. ) I don't know how we are going to get through this. I don't know how we are going to do this.

"But I do have one thing to say: The world is wrong. The world is wrong about what happened and the world is wrong about my son, Jeramie."

On the morning of Saturday, Aug. 1 the Shorter family gathered at Weerts Funeral Home on Jersey Ridge Road, Davenport for the funeral of Jermier Leon Shorter. According to Jamie, the boy battled cancer his entire eight-year life.

Jermier was born May 15, 2012, to Kylea Crawford and Jeramie Shorter in Davenport, according to his obituary.

At roughly 11:30 a.m., Scott County Emergency Communication Center started receiving 911 calls about a disturbance at the funeral home. When Davenport Police officers and first responders arrived they found Jeramie with gun shot wounds.

Police later said the suspect, Nuemonei Laster, 24, was captured after a car chase. He faces charges of first-degree murder, felon in possession of a firearm, eluding, and interference with official acts with a weapon.

Jamie tried to explain what happened that Saturday morning.

"Nuemonei (Laster) and my son are not kin," Jamie said. "Some people have been saying that. Nuemonie had a child with the sister of one of the mothers of one of my son's children.

"Nuemonei did not come to that funeral to kill my son. He got into an argument with someone else and my son had come out of the funeral home to speak with him."

Jamie said he saw Laster had a gun and tried to grab him.

"I grabbed Nuemonei and that gun went off. Nuemonei did not intend to kill my son. One shot hit my son and killed him. There's a lot of rumors going around about how and why my son was killed.

"I know the truth. I was there."

Jamie said Laster's children were at Jermier's funeral.

"It's a horror, what those children experienced that day," Jamie said. "No one wins from this. Everyone loses. I lost a son. Nuemonei's people are going to lose him. Lives lost for nothing, for what was really a mistake."

Jamie said he's struggled with how to tell the story of what he says happened that Saturday morning.

A cousin's viewpoint

Willie Shorter, who identified himself as Jermanie's cousin, said he plans to attend Wednesday's regular meeting of the Davenport City Council.

"I'm going to speak about what (the media) did to my cousin after he was shot," Willie said. "My cousin was disrespected, killed at a funeral, and then he was disrespected by the Davenport Police and the media by running stuff about Jeramie's past record."

Willie was not clear about which media published or broadcast information about Jeramie past record. The Quad-City Times did not publish anything about Jeramie's record in any stories about his killing.

"People online talking about how it is alright my cousin got shot because 'If you live by the gun, you die by the gun.' That's fake news. That's a fake story. I don't care about how people feel about my cousin, I'm going to tell the straight story," Willie said.

Willie also called Jeramie's shooting an accident.

Laster is slated to be arraigned Sept. 10 after Seventh District Court Judge Mark R. Lawson granted a continuance Wednesday. In court documents the county attorney has not offered any reason for why Laster was at the funeral home Aug. 1 or why Jeramie was shot.

Willie said "rumors and fake news" will cause "more violence."

"Innocent people are spreading blood out here because of all the fake news," Willie said. "Not everyone up on that hill is a criminal. And people are mad that victims are called criminals and their killings are justified.

"I'm going to city hall tonight (Wednesday) to say it loud  when it's black-on-black crime the Davenport Police don't care. They will make the victim into a criminal."

Willie said "there's going to be a war over this if people don't stop telling false stories about what happened."

"The young ones are mad. They are mad at the media," Willie said. "They are mad at what they hear. I can't stop them from retaliating. Nobody wants to hear this was an accident."

For Jamie, the story of his son's death is hard to explain to "people who just make assumptions."

"My son was trying to bury his own son," Jamie said. "You don't think there can ever be anything sadder than that. And this thing happened. Nobody was there to kill anybody.

"I'm on this phone, talking to you, and we are making plans for another funeral. This can't go on. It's all a horrible mistake."

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Tulsas positivity rate compared to that in all cities without mask mandates dropped 4.3% after three weeks of its order being in place, according to MyHealth data.

Tulsas positivity rate sits at 10.2%, while all cities with mask orders combined is 9.2%, according to MyHealth data. Kendrick described those rates as remarkable because most cities that implemented mask orders started with positivity rates at 16% to 17%.

Kendrick noted that most public-health experts consider a positivity rate above 10% to be bad. Below 5% is a good level, he said.

If youve got a couple of weeks at below 5%, then youre in fairly good shape as a community, Kendrick said.

Oklahomas overall positivity rate since July has bounced each week between 8.9% and 10.4%, with the most recent week being 9%, according to the state epidemiologists weekly reports.

Kendrick said he chose to use the positivity rate rather than daily new cases because positivity is less sensitive to reductions in testing.
One dead, dozens injured as strong quake hits central Philippines A strong quake hit the central Philippines, sending residents fleeing and damaging buildings

At least one person was killed and dozens 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 kilometres west of the epicentre 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-storey 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 and said 18 people were also injured in the town. But mayor Felipe Cabatana told CNN Philippines about 48 were hurt, most of them hit by falling shelves and furniture inside their homes.

"I thought it was the end of the world," said Cabatana referring to the quake's strength.

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 underway in the region.

The quake struck as the archipelago battles surging numbers of coronavirus infections, with more than 169,000 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.

Cabatana said between 5,000 and 6,000 people would spend the night sleeping outside in Cataingan because emergency shelters were being used as COVID-19 quarantine centres, some of which were also damaged in the quake.

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"Our most urgent concern is temporary shelter because our funds have run out having been allocated for COVID," he said.

The government said help would be made available.

"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."

Dozens of aftershocks have rocked the region.

- '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 kilometres away.

In the city of Iloilo about 400 kilometres (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."

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.

bur-amj/cgm/fox
The foreign ministers of China and Pakistan will hold the second annual strategic dialogue at the island resort of Hainan on Thursday during which they are likely to discuss the bilateral cooperation in various fields including the phase II of the ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi and his Pakistan counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi would hold the strategic dialogue on August 20-21, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian announced at a media briefing here. A host of issues including the progress of the USD 60 billion CPEC and Islamabad's request for USD one billion loan were expected to figure in the talks, according to reports in the Pakistani media.

The CPEC, which connects Gwadar Port in Balochistan with China's Xinjiang province, is the flagship project of Chinese President Xi Jinping's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The BRI is a multi-billion-dollar initiative launched by President Xi when he came to power in 2013. It aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea routes.

Wang and Qureshi were also expected to finalise plans for President Xi's visit to Pakistan later this year, the reports said. Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said that President Xi would visit Pakistan in the winter.

This dialogue mechanism is a platform to coordinate exchanges in various fields, policy suggestions on the bilateral ties and enhance coordination and communication on international and regional issues between the two all-weather allies, Zhao said. The first dialogue which was held in Beijing last year in March has achieved consensus on many issues and played an important role in the development of bilateral relations, he said.

"This time the strategic dialogue is highly relevant and the two sides will take the opportunity to discuss anti-epidemic cooperation, bilateral ties and the regional and international issues of mutual interest," he said. "Considering the current fluid international situation as well as the profound impact brought about by COVID-19, China and Pakistan as comprehensive and all-weather strategic partners should enhance cooperation to meet these challenges and to deliver greater benefits to two people", he said

"We believe this dialogue will help to enhance our strategic mutual trust, deepen our practical cooperation and strengthen our close coordination on international and regional affairs," he said. In a video message ahead of his departure to China, Qureshi said he was going on a "very important trip to China".

"I am leaving on a very important visit to China. I had a discussion with the prime minister regarding this visit yesterday. My delegation will represent the stance of the political and military leadership of the country. I am hopeful that my meeting with Foreign Minister Wang will prove to be beneficial for both countries," he said. In a statement issued in Islamabad, the Pakistan Foreign Office on Thursday said that during the dialogue both sides will discuss cooperation on COVID-19, bilateral relations and regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The visit will play an important role in further strengthening Pakistan-China "All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership" and deepen strategic communication and coordination with China on a range of issues, it said. "Pakistan and China are the closest friends and staunch partners. Their time-tested friendship is based on unparalleled mutual trust, understanding, and commonality of interests," it added.
Donald Trump gave new hope to QAnon conspiracy theorists who believe he is waging a secret war against a deep state of paedophile cannibals by saying that he would be willing to help them "save the world".



Asked at his daily press conference what he thinks about the QAnon movement, the president said he didnt know much about it other than they like him very much, which I appreciate.

At the crux of the theory is a belief that the president is secretly working to save the world from a satanic cult of paedophiles and cannibals. When asked if that was something he was behind, Mr Trump said he was willing to put himself out there to help.

Well I havent heard that, but is that supposed to be a bad thing or a good thing? You know, if I can help save the world from some problems, Im willing to do it, Im willing to put myself out there, Mr Trump said.

And we are actually, were saving the world from a radical left philosophy that will destroy this country, and when this country is gone the rest of the world would follow.

The Biden campaign said Mr Trump's response to QAnon was another example of the president "giving voice to violence".

"After calling neo-Nazis and white supremacists in Charlottesville 'fine people' and tear gassing peaceful protesters following the murder of George Floyd, Donald Trump just sought to legitimize a conspiracy theory that the FBI has identified as a domestic terrorism threat," Biden campaign spokesperson, Andrew Bates, said in a statement.



The pro-Trump supporters of the QAnon theory have continued to grow since he was elected president, and often attend his rallies wearing "Q" shirts.

The first time Mr Trump was asked about QAnon during a White House press conference last week, he refused to address the conspiracy directly. When asked about one of the theory's proponent's, Marjorie Taylor Greene, who won the Republican primary for Georgia's 14th Congressional district, Mr Trump congratulated her but moved on quickly to the next question.

When asked again on Wednesday, the president said that while he doesn't know much about the movement, he does know they are people that love the country and don't like seeing it the way it is.

"I have heard that it is gaining in popularity and from what I hear, these are people that when they watch the streets of Portland when they watch what happened in New York City in just the last six or seven months, but this was starting even four years ago when I came here," he said.

"These are people that don't like seeing what's going on in places like Portland and places like Chicago, and New York and other cities and states."

Mr Trump's 2016 Republican primary opponent, Jeb Bush, was also quick to denounce the president for his apparent embrace of the conspiracy theory.

"Why in the world would the President not kick Q'anon supporters' butts? Nut jobs, rascists, haters have no place in either Party," Mr Bush said in a tweet.

Adherents to the conspiracy theory believe a mysterious but anonymous figure known as "Q" leaves cryptic but often prophetic messages on websites such as 4chan. Different theories contend that Q is a former intelligence officer, a group of people or perhaps even Mr Trump himself.

It has increasingly come into the mainstream during the course of Mr Trump's presidency, with several Republican candidates identifying themselves with it.

QAnon is linked to the notorious Pizzagate conspiracy, which claimed that Hillary Clinton and others were running a paedophile ring from the basement of a DC restaurant.

In 2016 a heavily armed North Carolina man drove to the restaurant to free the children he believed were trapped there and opened fire. However, the restaurant had no basement and there were no children. The gunman, Edgar Maddison Welch, was sentenced to four years in jail. He apologised for his actions and said he had made an "incredibly ill-advised decision".
The Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) has begun upgrading Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital from Level 4 to Level 5 health facility.

NMS Director-General Mohamed Badi said the upgrade is part of a strategy to improve delivery of health services in Nairobi.

Ours is to reach out to the people where they are. We are upgrading every hospital and building new facilities in Nairobi starting with 24 hospitals in informal settlements. As far as Mama Lucy is concerned we are upgrading it to Level 5, Badi said.

The upgrade will see the number of beds increased to 120 from the current 112. The facility will also have an 18-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The upgrade to a county referral facility is expected to ease congestion at Kenyatta National Hospital and Mbagathi Hospital.

The facility will also be able to offer medical laboratory diagnosis, major and minor surgeries, oxygen supply services and others.

To operate optimally, Mama Lucy Hospital will reportedly need 752 health personnel. It currently has 440 staff, including 21 consultants, 10 medical officers, six dentists, 15 pharmacists, 193 nurses and nonclinical staff, who serve 13,220 patients every month.
On Aug. 4, Diana Saccal, 55, was alone doing some chores at her house in Hamra, located 3 kilometers (2 miles) from the port of Beirut. When the explosion took place, the ceiling collapsed onto her head and glass shattered into her face.

I didnt understand what was going on and even though I was fully covered in blood, all I could think about was my daughter Lynn, who went out that evening, Saccal told Al-Monitor. The worst sight was on her way to the hospital when she realized the extent of the damage to buildings and streets, and the innumerable wounded bodies. It was like a zombie apocalypse horror movie.

Saccal said that since the explosion, she is constantly scared in her own house, mostly when she sits by the windows. The smallest sound makes us frightened now, says her 24-year old daughter, Lynn Zein, who saw her mother covered with blood. She said she is not getting enough sleep.

The number of people who died in Beiruts massive explosion is 178, with an estimated 6,000 people injured and at least 30 missing, the United Nations said Aug. 14. The numbers are still increasing. Experts say the blast is one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in recent history; it is believed to have been accidentally caused by a stockpile of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored at the port.

Rawane Chanouha, a 26-year-old software engineer, was in her office in downtown Beirut when she heard the initial, smaller explosion. She and all her colleagues got under the office tables, assuming that heightened tensions between Israel and Hezbollah had led to an Israeli airstrike. Because of their quick reaction, they were all protected  at least physically  when the larger second explosion tore the city into shreds. But the mental anguish has proven more difficult to escape.

Im constantly paranoid while at home, fearing the windows might break again, Chanouha said. My parents get worried every time I go out because with the uncertainty that we are living, what if another explosion took place?

Chanouha said she and a lot of her friends now have little hope for their future. These feelings are exacerbated by the lack of accountability from the political elite.

On Aug. 17, the head of Lebanons customs authority was arrested after being questioned about the massive explosion, but this is not enough for the majority of people.

Rabih el-Chammay, the director of Lebanons National Mental Health Program, told Al-Monitor that the catastrophe is bigger than anyone could handle. Reactions such as constant fear and worry are very normal after such an intense collective experience, Chammay said. He said that even before the explosion, Lebanons difficult economic predicament alone could increase mental illnesses in any country. Months of COVID-19 restrictions on movement have exacerbated the despair; Lebanon is set to undergo a two-week full lockdown starting Aug. 21 to stem the spike in coronavirus cases in the country.

The first step toward supporting the victims is to help them in a practical manner such as making sure they are getting the food they need and helping them repair their houses. All the while, we have to listen to them and make professional help accessible should they need it, said Chammay.

Nehna Haddak (We Are with You)  an initiative that started with Lebanese University psychology professors and students during the coronavirus pandemic with the goal of providing mental support  is now participating in a volunteer effort that focuses on helping the victims of the explosion. You cant start giving people mental support without making sure they are getting basic help, said Nancy Jdid, a 24-year-old psychology graduate and team leader at Nehna Haddak. You also have to know how to talk to families while helping them when they are in constant fear. Oftentimes they have lost a family member in the explosion or are missing one.

Zahraa Qays, 25, another volunteer from Nehna Haddak, told Al-Monitor that there are reactions the team will never forget, such as those of a 19-year-old girl who put her hands on her ears while talking because she could still hear noises in her head.

The most frightened and violent reactions, Qays said, came from children. There were kids who would refuse to talk to me and would shout at me to leave, but then when I manage to calm them down, they would explain to me how scary the experience was.

Children have a different way of processing things. One of those is throwing a tantrum. We should explain to them what happened in a simple, non-scary way and make it clear that the event would not occur again, Chammay said.

As for Lebanons older generation, which lived through the horrors of the 1975-1990 civil war, their reactions are different. Johny Mezher, a 68-year-old Beirut resident, said that during the explosion he was not scared; this is nothing new for him. Our generation survived a violent war and this explosion is only part of it, Mezher told Al-Monitor. But even he admits that some loud noises now get him frightened.

Chammay said that most people experiencing distress related to the explosion will recover with proper support; however, one should not underestimate the number of people who will develop mental disorders and will need mental health services in the months and years to come.

Mass violent protests have followed the Beirut explosion, where mock gallows have been set up and there have been calls for revenge against the ruling class held responsible for the explosion. Signs read, Here is where the nooses should be hung.

Asked if angry protests calling for violence against the political class are a normal reaction to such an event, Chammay said, Anger in these circumstances is very normal, especially since this catastrophe could have been avoided, so it is not up to me or anyone to dictate how people should behave after such a tragedy.
Mr. Carlson devised the supermax system after the infamous murders of two corrections officers by two different inmates in the same prison on the same day in 1983. The killers were members of the Aryan Brotherhood, a white supremacist organization based in prisons.

No event caused him more personal anguish than what happened October 22, 1983, in Marion, Illinois, then the highest security federal prison in the nation, Pete Earley, a former Washington Post reporter and author of The Hot House: Life Inside Leavenworth Prison (1992), wrote in a recent tribute to Mr. Carlson.

To punish these killers, Mr. Carlson revived the concept of solitary confinement, which by then had fallen out of favor in the United States. (He renamed it no human contact status.) He converted the Marion penitentiary into the first modern all-lockdown facility, with prisoners isolated for nearly 23 hours a day. Shortly thereafter, the states, led by California, began building their own lockdowns based on the Marion model, though they were denounced by human rights groups.

The renewed use of solitary coincided with the era of mass incarceration and the widespread closing of state-run mental-health facilities, the journalist Mark Binelli wrote in 2015 in an article about the ADX in The New York Times Magazine. The supermax became the most expedient method of controlling an increasingly overcrowded and psychologically volatile prison population.

Mr. Carlson was credited with professionalizing the Bureau of Prisons. He disciplined officers who beat inmates, setting a policy of zero tolerance for prisoner abuse. Guards were to call themselves corrections officers, and assistant wardens were to wear suits and ties. He often ate with prisoners and brought along his wife and children, to show that prison food was good enough for his own family.

And he was a stickler for cleanliness.

Mr. Carlson viewed a dirty prison as a sign of poor management; consequently floors were highly polished and walls kept painted, Mr. Earley wrote. He said that one warden was so eager to please the director that when the snow outside had turned muddy and brown, the warden had his staff sprinkle flour on it to make it look whiter before Mr. Carlson arrived.

Norman Albert Carlson was born on Aug. 10, 1933, in Sioux City, Iowa. His father, Albert Noah Carlson, was an insurance broker, and his mother, Esther (Hollander) Carlson, was a homemaker.
NEW DELHI  A father and son were hauled into a small police station in the southern Indian town of Sathankulam in June after arguing with police officers. When friends and family members went to the station, they heard screams emanating from inside, growing louder as night fell.

The next afternoon, the two men, Ponraj Jeyaraj, 58, and Beniks Jeyaraj, 31, stumbled outside surrounded by officers, blood dripping down the backs of their legs. They had clearly been tortured in police custody, family members and lawyers in the town said.

Please, find a way to get us bail, Ponraj Jeyaraj begged his sister, Jaya Joseph, as he was taken to a hospital, she recalled. She said her brothers last words to her were: We will not survive another day.

Father and son died hours apart, from severe internal injuries, a few days later. Police officials in charge of the station declined to comment, saying the case was now under federal investigation.
New Delhi:

Digital wallet major Paytm has registered fresh case against seven purported customers of the company, accusing them of duping it to the tune of Rs 3.21 lakh through 37 orders spread over last two years.

CBI has filed FIR against the purported seven customers listed by the company in its new complaint and unknown officials of Paytm.

Earlier, the investigative agency had registered a case against 15 customers of the company over allegations of cheating.

ALSO READ: (Paytm faces service outage due to 'technical error': Twitter reacts)

The company, which has named seven customers in its complaint, has not identified any of its officials despite mentioning that its employees facilitating refunds have been assigned specific login id and passwords, making it easier to identify those who processed which refunds.

CBI has registered case under provisions of criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery besides invoking provisions of Information Technology Act.

(With Inputs from PTI)
Eastern Napa County rural residents scrambled to save their property and lives as wildfires ravaged this usually peaceful, off-the-beaten-track area.

The lightning-spawned fires seemed far away from many of these rural homes even on Tuesday morning. That quickly changed as flames swept past Lake Berryessa and all the way to Mount Vaca and Vacaville in neighboring Solano County.

Standing in their path Tuesday night was Peter Kilkus home. Come Wednesday morning, the house was still there.

Kilkus described the house as an island in the middle of everything burned.

He evacuated to a Davis hotel on Tuesday evening as the fire approached. His son, Evan Kilkus, remained to keep the house safe. Aiding in the effort was a heavy-duty sprinkler system Evan Kilkus designed that sprays the house, with water coming from two 5,000-gallon water tanks.

Its like a water park, Peter Kilkus said Wednesday morning.

The fire appeared to bypass nearby Berryessa Highlands on Tuesday night, said Peter Kilkus, who runs the Lake Berryessa News. Berryessa Highlands has about 350 homes on hills overlooking Lake Berryessa.

County Fire Chief Geoff Belyea said later Wednesday that Berryessa Highlands was still of concern.

But part of Spanish Flat along the lake was destroyed, including a mobile home park, Kilkus said. He knows people who left Spanish Flat by boat and watched from Lake Berryessa as much of that area went up in flames.

What could happen worse? Peter Kilkus said. COVID, 100-degree weather, a unique fire that never happened before caused by lightning.

The west shore of the lake is a disaster area, he said.

Jim Wilson lives on a ranch along Monticello Road between the city of Napa and Lake Berryessa. He and his wife spent the night in their car at the ranch, keeping an eye on their property, yet also ready to flee.

We knew we werent getting any fire service in the area, Wilson said Wednesday morning. There was no one to fight the fire.

Meanwhile, the cows were calving.

The ranch was threatened by the October 2017 Atlas Fire, but Wilson said this time seems worse. During that incident, a fire unit from Bakersfield came to the ranch. A tractor cut a fire break.

We dont have anything like that now, Wilson said. No help.

They didnt see flames on the ranch Tuesday. But they drove a couple of miles to Moskowite Corner and saw the fire on the move. The entire sky was red. A repeat trip on Wednesday morning showed a sky of smoke and white ash.

He was surprised by the speed at which everything happened.

Yesterday, the fire was still probably about five miles from us at mid-day, Wilson said. But by later that evening, the fire was within a couple of miles of our ranch. It surprised us because the wind speed wasnt that great.

He had plans on Wednesday morning that could change, depending on the situation.

Were going to stay at the ranch, he said. Of course, theres no power. We have water. We have some food. Hopefully, things will stabilize and well get some power back.

Lisa Hirayama and her husband, Larry Carr, live at Circle Oaks, a community of 180 homes between the city of Napa and Lake Berryessa. She was in Fairfield Tuesday and received a call from Carr to come home.

Coming up Wooden Valley, I saw that huge, thunderhead-type of smoke, she said. I knew that thunderhead did not look good.

Then came the evacuation order over Nixle. Suddenly, it seemed like the 2017 Atlas fire all over again.

Definitely getting a flashback, she said.

Carr is a retired professional firefighter. He stayed at Circle Oaks as the 2017 Atlas fire approached, putting out hot spots and working with strike teams unfamiliar with the area to save the community from a fire that reached its outskirts.

He is staying at the rural outpost again this time, along with two other firefighters who live there. They are the line of defense for Circle Oaks.

Hirayama and her son evacuated to a Vacaville motel. As it turned out, the fire headed that direction. The wildfire alert system camera on the top of Mount Vaca on Wednesday morning transmitted internet images that showed nothing except orange flames.

Emergency officials ordered evacuations in north Vacaville. Hirayamas motel was outside the evacuation area, but she heard from a friend in Vacaville whose home was a quarter-mile from the fire.

Meanwhile, her mind was also on Circle Oaks.

Were still on pins and needles, because the fire (on Atlas Peak) is behind us and anything could happen today, she said Wednesday morning.

The Napa County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday morning heard an update on the Lightning Complex fires. At that time, the big question was whether the northeast county community of Berryessa Estates might have to evacuate.

By evening, the picture had changed dramatically and for the worse. The county issued evacuation orders for much of the eastern county. Fires in the more remote parts of the rural east county were suddenly threatening the more populated areas.

Hirayama said Circle Oaks residents begin worrying as soon as they hear about a fire, even if its some distance away. Shes keeping her car packed and ready to go during fire season.

Watch now: Hennessey fire as seen from Nichelini Family Winery

You can reach Barry Eberling at 256-2253 or beberling@napanews.com.

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2020 / VanGold Mining Corp (the "Company" or "VanGold") (TSXV:VGLD)(OTC PINK:VGDLF) is pleased to announce it has signed an option agreement (the "Agreement") to re-purchase three underlying royalties on its El Pinguico silver and gold project located 7km south of Guanajuato, Mexico.

CEO James Anderson stated: "We are thrilled to have reached this Agreement with the Dorado family, the original venders of the El Pinguico project. Upon closing, this Agreement will eliminate the burden of a substantial portion of both near term and long-term royalty obligations for the Company, and more closely align the interests of our Mexican partners with the interests of all VanGold shareholders."

In order to exercise the option (the "Option"), the Company will pay C$1,680,000 cash (C$5,000 paid) and issue 3,750,000 units of VanGold (as described below) to Exploraciones Mineras Del Bajio S.A. de C.V. ("EMBSA"), the original vendor of the property in order to eliminate three underlying royalties from the El Pinguico concession. VanGold has until December 31, 2020 to exercise the Option.

Hernan Dorado, a director of VanGold and Managing Director of EMBSA said "We are very pleased with this Agreement. All of us are working extremely hard toward the success of El Pinguico, and we view that success as just a first step in transforming VanGold into a significant player within the Mexican precious metals mining community."

Upon exercise of the Option, VanGold's Mexican subsidiary, Obras Mineras El Pinguico, S.A de C.V., will own its undivided 100% interest in the El Pinguico silver and gold project free from royalties, save for a 15% net profits royalty in favour of EMBSA solely on the existing above ground and underground stockpiles of mineralized material. There will be no other royalties, net smelter returns or otherwise, on the El Pinguico project including the existing stockpiled material.

Under the Agreement, VanGold has the Option to repurchase the following royalties from EMBSA:

a 4% Net Smelter Royalty (NSR) on all 'broken material' within both the above ground and underground stockpiles; a 3% Net Smelter Royalty (NSR) on all newly established in-situ material discovered on the El Pinguico property; and a 5% Net Profits Interest (NPI) on all newly established in-situ material discovered on the El Pinguico property.

In order to exercise the Option and re-purchase the above-noted royalties, VanGold has until December 31, 2020 to pay an additional C$1,675,000 cash and issue 3,750,000 units of VanGold ("Units") to EMBSA. An upfront option payment of C$5,000 has been paid to EMBSA with the execution of the Agreement. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share and one non-transferable common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant") of VanGold. Each Warrant will entitle EMBSA to purchase one additional common share of VanGold at a price of $0.175 within five years of closing.

Hernan Dorado Smith, a director of VanGold is also the Managing Director and a principal shareholder of EMBSA, and as such the Agreement constitutes a "related party transaction" for the purposes of Multilateral Instrument 61-101, Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). VanGold intends to rely upon exemptions from the requirement to obtain a formal valuation and seek minority shareholder approval for the Agreement on the basis that the fair market value of Mr. Smith's interest in the Option, if exercised, will be less than 25% of VanGold's current market capitalization.

The Agreement is subject to the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The El Pinguico Project:

El Pinguico is a high-grade gold and silver deposit that was mined from the early 1890s until 1913. Toward the end of that period it was mined exclusively by The Pinguico Mines Company of New York City, whose shares traded on the Boston and New York Stock Exchanges. The mining was done principally from the El Pinguico and El Carmen veins, which are thought to be splays off the Mother Vein, or 'Veta Madre'.

The Veta Madre is associated with a mega fault that outcrops for 25 kilometres and is the most important source of precious metal mineralization in the region. The Veta Madre may cross VanGold's property at depth, underneath the high grade El Pinguico and El Carmen veins. Very limited drilling has been done on the property and no drilling has attempted to encounter the Veta Madre at depth.

Hernan Dorado Smith, a director of VanGold and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

About VanGold Mining Corp.

VanGold Mining is an exploration and development company engaged in reactivating high-grade past producing silver and gold mines near the city of Guanajuato, Mexico. The Company's flagship El Pinguico project is a significant past producer of both silver and gold located just 7km south of the city. The Company remains focused on the near-term potential for development and monetization of its surface and underground stockpiles of mineralized material at El Pinguico, and in delineating silver and gold resources through underground and surface drilling on projects located in this historic mining camp.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"James Anderson"

Chairman and CEO

For further information regarding VanGold Mining Corp, please contact:

James Anderson, Director, +1 (778) 989-5346

Email: james@vangoldmining.com

Continue to watch our progress at: www.vangoldmining.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.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance (including, but not limited to, the Option to buy back certain existing royalties on the Company's El Pinquico project in Mexico from EMBSA and the proposed work programs, and potential for near term monetization of existing stockpiles of mineralized material, at El Pinguico) and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected including, but not limited to, market conditions, availability of financing, currency rate fluctuations, actual results of exploration and development activities, environmental risks, future prices of gold, silver and other metals, operating risks, accidents, labor issues, delays in obtaining governmental or regulatory approvals and permits, and other risks in the mining industry. In addition, there are no assurances that the Company will exercise the Option to repurchase the royalties set out in the Agreement on the terms contemplated therein or at all. There is also uncertainty about the spread of COVID-19 and the impact it will have on the Company's operations, supply chains, ability to access El Pinguico or procure equipment, contractors and other personnel on a timely basis or at all and economic activity in general. All the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required by law.

VANGOLD MINING CORP.

PH: +1(778) 989-5346 E: info@vangoldmining.com W: vangoldmining.com

CA: Suite 2820 - 200 Granville Street, Vancouver B.C. V6C 1S4

MX: Carretera - Guanajuato - Silao km 5.5, Int 4, Col. Marfil CP36250, Guanajuato, Gto., Mexico

SOURCE: VanGold Mining Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602541/VanGold-Options-Back-Royalties-to-Streamline-El-Pinguico-Ownership-Structure
Residents in this state who are facing financial hardships during the global pandemic can get another stimulus check if they get qualified and eligible for the relief aid.

Millions of Americans are still waiting for the second round of stimulus payments that will somehow help them amid the financial hardships everyone is facing due to the global pandemic. While waiting for another relief bill, Oregon announced that its residents can get another stimulus check.

The state lawmakers in Oregon approved the $35 million program in July and could potentially help around 70,000 qualified and eligible residents in the state. This is aside from the unemployment benefits residents in the state are waiting for.

There are around 500,000 individuals who applied for unemployment benefits in Oregon since the pandemic began. This caused major delays in people receiving funds. However, the state lawmakers are doing their best to make sure that Oregonians will have the help they need.

Senate President Peter Courtney said "We know $500 isn't going to solve all of these problems, but if we can help a family buy groceries for the month, pay for child care, or cover an unexpected repair, it's worth it," However, residents will get as much as $900 including the unemployment claims.

The new relief program of the state will use funds from the CARES Act. House Speaker Tina Kotek explained that the state lawmakers are stepping up and she hoped that Congress will act soon for the next round of the stimulus package.

She also said, "After months of hearing from increasingly desperate Oregonians who were doing everything right and still not getting the unemployment benefit they were owed, we hope this effort offers a streamlined way for some financial relief."

Moreover, the state set the following to become eligible for the one-time state stimulus payment:

Be a current resident of Oregon and 18 years old or older

Be able to prove their identity and that they are an in-state resident

Attest that they are experiencing severe financial hardship directly or indirectly due to the governor's Stay Home, Save Lives executive orders

Had been earning $4,000/month or less pre-tax prior to their income loss due to COVID-19

Not have received all unemployment payments they are owed

It is important to note that residents in the state who have up to date unemployment benefits are not qualified for the program. This is only a one-time state stimulus payment according to a recently published news article in KGW8.

Following the announcement of the state in the said stimulus payment, thousands wrapped around at the OnPoint Community Credit Union on Wednesday afternoon. They hoped to receive the stimulus check that the state is offering.

One of the applicants said that the stimulus check will help pay car payment and buy food for her family. On the other hand, instead of spending the stimulus check, another recipient of the stimulus check said that she already planned to save it during the rainy days.

Check these out!
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Washington State is one of the places where nurses are a rarity in school hallways, with 7 percent of schools employing one full time, and nearly 30 percent of districts having one available for no more than six hours per week. Like Ms. Benzel, many are being asked to do more than ever before, with little in the way of new resources, training or backup.

In some places, administrators have been scrambling to get more nurses into schools. New York City, the nations largest district and one of the few big cities planning to physically reopen its schools on the first day back, went on a hiring spree after the citys powerful teachers union said its members should not return to classrooms without a nurse in each of the citys roughly 1,300 school buildings.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said last week that the city had finally secured enough nurses to fulfill that demand, less than a month before the scheduled start of in-person instruction.

Those nurses will be charged with evaluating children for coronavirus symptoms and determining whether they should report to an isolation room away from other students and staff members, and communicating with parents already anxious about dropping their children off at school.
Thousands of pupils across Stratford District are finding out their GCSE results today.

Last week's A-level results were mired in controversy, but both the Government, schools and pupils will be hoping for a smoother process today.

We'll bring you all the latest GCSE news from schools across the district here:

Sibford School

Sibford School Head, Toby Spence said: This has been an exceptionally unusual year and

today is about something much more than statistics and grades. Sibford School pupils, and

staff worked exceptionally hard both before and during lockdown to ensure that real

learning continued. Yes, grades are important but the determination, grit, resilience and

creativity of our community is what has truly shone through. For example, the manner in

which Year 11 pupils engaged with our teaching after Easter and thence our Sixth Form

preparation courses which we offered during the summer term was quite inspiring.

He added: What is a particular pleasure are the strong set of grades across all subject

areas  from the creative arts to humanities and STEM subjects - underpinning the breadth

of talent we have across our holistic curriculum. As a community we can be proud of how

we responded to the circumstances and I am delighted by the outcomes for our pupils.

Studley High School

Richard Eost, headteacher at Studley High School, said: "We would like to congratulate all of our pupils on their GCSE results. We are proud of the efforts and commitment that they all showed throughout their 5 years at Studley High School and it has been a delight to share their happiness and joy around GCSE outcomes.

"We wish all of them the best in and hope that, following this period of immense uncertainty and stress, they can enjoy whatever route they have chosen for their future."

Chipping Campden School

John Sanderson, principal at Chipping Campden School, said: "Im delighted to see so many students being awarded the GCSE grades they richly deserve. They have had so much to cope with over the last few months and clearly experienced a great deal of anxiety over recent days. Both students and staff have worked extremely hard and have every reason to feel proud of their achievements this year.

"With such encouraging grades we are really looking forward to welcoming so many of our students, along with almost 70 from surrounding schools, back into our sixth form in September."

St Benedict's Catholic High School

Acting headteacher at St Benedict's, Andrew Madden, said: "At St Benedicts we wish our year 11 students huge congratulations on a superb set of results which are reflective of their hard work and commitment.

"We know this has been an incredibly challenging time for students and we have been so impressed with their maturity and resilience. There have been some very strong results that students should quite rightly feel proud of. A significant number of students achieved strong passes in English and Maths and there were many students with 7s and

higher across the board. Despite the disruption that students have faced this year, these results will provide an excellent foundation from which to make their next steps into further education or training.

"We are especially looking forward to welcoming pupils back for our new sixth form offer of

A-levels and BTECs. Although this is a results day like no other, we hope that all our students will take a moment to stand back and reflect on their achievements. All the teachers and staff at St Benedict's are proud of them and wish them all the best for their future endeavours."

Stratford School

Stratford School

Stratford School headteacher, Neil Wallace, said: "Were delighted to have been able to release the GCSE Grades to our students today, even if we have missed seeing their smiling faces in person. The uncertainty caused by government dithering and U-turns has again had an impact in delaying the release of the small number of BTEC grades that some of our students study. However, at least the GCSE grades issued have been what we feel are fair and reasonable outcomes for the Class of 2020. These grades have not been plucked out of the air, but are a robust professional view of what individuals would have achieved given the hard work put in by students and staff over the last few years.

"If weve learned anything from this sorry saga, it is surely that our education system has become far too obsessed with terminal examinations and league tables that are used to drive accountability measures. The sad truth is that in reality our system is configured to consign a third of young people to leaving school feeling that they have fallen short.

"Traditionally the focus on results day falls on high achieving individuals jumping for joy, rather than the Forgotten Third. Perhaps the absence of such images today, will enable us to reflect for a moment on how the system might look. In the longer term, we have to think again about our fixation on an exam-driven system. Lessons from the current fiasco must surely lead us to question whether government is making us assess learning in the most appropriate way. Having effectively eliminated coursework, there was nothing to fall back on in this crisis, unprecedented though it was. The government still doesnt have a contingency plan in the event of disruption next year. But it goes beyond that.

"In the 21 Century, we remain wedded to a high-stakes examination system that is rooted in the 1950s. The time has come for the government to use this opportunity to revolutionise assessment in education, utilise technology and provide a variety of assessment approaches. How many jobs rely on people sitting down and providing a handwritten response for two hours based on memory? Perhaps the time has come for our political leaders to think more creatively. In the meantime, we are constrained to work within the current system.

"Nevertheless, we are grateful to families for supporting individuals throughout the uncertainty of the last few months. At least they can now look forward with confidence to the next chapter. We wish every one of our students the very best for the future and look forward to welcoming many of them back into the Sixth Form, alongside students from other local schools who have also been enrolling online today.

"There were some standout individual performances from many students with the highest attainers being Eliza Everard, Lily Turley, George Truslove, Matthew Chong Ping, James Moore, Eva Eeleckyte, Holly Binks, Jasmine Ashfield, Saskia Hiipwell and Rosie McCormack.

"However, as a comprehensive school it is important that students make good progress from their respective starting points, regardless of their ability on intake and it is lovely to see so many students achieving grades to be proud of. Jasmine Ashfield, Amalia Popescu, Jessica Clack, Sophie Paige, Edward Greenslade, Pembe Eskier, Liv Turley, and Emily Harrison made the most progress from KS2-4 and should be particularly congratulated on their achievements."

Henley-in-Arden School

Henley School headteacher, Steve Jefferies

Steven Jefferies, headteacher at Henley-in-Arden School, said: "We're delighted that our pupils have gained a good set of results that reflect their hard work. The use of grades based on teacher assessments is positive, teachers have an in-depth knowledge of the work the students have put in and the resilience they have shown, the grades are a better reflection of them personally. Using the algorithm was never going to reward students personally."

Alcester Academy

Alcester Academy headteacher Sarah Mellors

Alcester Academy headteacher, Sarah Mellors, said: "We've had a really good year and we're very pleased that the Government U-turned on the grading, though we're disappointed that the B Tec results have not been released.

"We're pleased that we have maintained high standards at Alcester Academy and it just goes to show the resilience of our pupils during what has been a very difficult year. The success is down to the fantastic partnership we have between the children, parents and teachers."

Kineton High School

Students Maisy and Minnie Rodgers picking up their GCSE results

Helen Bridge, headteacher at Kineton High School, said: "Congratulations to all the students at Kineton High School who have received their results today.

"They absolutely deserve every success after what has been a tumultuous lead up to the results day. We have been so proud of the year group; they had been working so hard this year prior to school closure, on making the most of the lead up to exams. This set of results gives them the recognition they deserve.

"Many thanks to all the staff and parents whove supported them on the way. We look forward to seeing many of them back in our Sixth Form in September."

The Kingsley School

Isabella Fitches, Luana Bodely, Cecilia Goldwin and Molly Locke

Mrs Christina McCullough, deputy head, said: We are full of pride for all of our students and the exemplary way in which they have dealt with this very difficult year. These excellent results reflect the hard work of the students and the strong partnership between themselves, staff and parents.

"We are extremely proud of the well-rounded individuals they have become. They have conducted themselves with grace and courage and we look forward to seeing them continue to flourish in the future.

The school said that of all grades, 27% were awarded at level 9-8 (A* equivalent), 51% at level 9-7 (A* - A equivalent) and 99.2% at level 9-4 (A* - C equivalent).

King Edward VI School

Bennet Carr, headmaster at King Edward VI School

Bennet Carr, Headmaster at King Edward VI School, said: "Although denied the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities in public examinations, the excellent results received by our students are well-deserved and testament to the wonderful commitment they have shown to their studies.

"They have once again demonstrated that co-curricular and academic involvement and success are mutually supportive and they can be rightly proud of their many and varied achievements. These results give our students an excellent foundation on which to build success at A Level and I look forward to following their progress alongside those who join us in the Sixth Form."

Alcester Grammar School

Clive Sentance, principal at Alcester Grammar School

"In the light of all that has gone on over the past week, I would simply like to congratulate our year 11 students on completing their first five years at AGS. The results process this year has given them an excellent set of grades that are fully merited. This year group was the first cohort of 150 to join us, and it has been great to give them the opportunity to enjoy the full breadth of the AGS curriculum and experience.

"The majority will now be joining our sixth form along with many other high achievers from our superb local feeder schools. We are looking forward to having them in school and I am sure they are equally enthusiastic."

Stratford Girls Grammar School

Jacqui Cornell, headteacher at Stratford Girls Grammar School

Jacqui Cornell, headteacher at Stratford Girls Grammar School, said: Our Year 11s have received grades that reflect the amazing hard work they have put in, they have done exceptionally well right across the board.

Were absolutely thrilled for them and were really looking forward to them joining our Sixth Form. Weve had all of our Year 11s in today, we staggered them coming in by house, its been lovely to see them, today is all about the school offering support to the girls face to face.

There were a lot of smiles today, lots of happy faces.

Shipston School

Gavin Saunders, headteacher at Shipston High School.

Gavin Saunders, headteacher at Shipston High School, said: "Shipston High School congratulates our year 11 students on the fantastic GCSE results achieved this year. Students in year 11 have had an extremely challenging time since the cancellation of the usual examinations. These grades represent the hard work across the duration of their courses, and their commitment has been rewarded with impressive individual performances and strong results across the school. All students should be very proud.

"These results show the results of sustained hard work and the excellent progress students make at the school. After such a disrupted year, I am delighted that these results empower students to go on to fulfill their ambitions in education, training and employment.

"The school has a strong and consistent record of academic achievement. The schools focus on quality education, and our work preparing students for adult life, will enable students to move onto a wide range of fulfilling careers. 2020 results demonstrate the strong academic focus of Shipston High School as these grades have been earned through sustained effort across five years in the school.

"This is also a day to remember the community spirit that has supported our young people through the most unusual of circumstances; students are encouraged and supported by their families, friends and school staff.

"All students should be congratulated. Well done to everyone, and very best wishes for your future endeavours."
Right as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was wrapping up her speech on Wednesday night's Democratic National Convention, current Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted a meme of Lisa Simpson ripping up a speech and sobbing  evidently a nod to Clinton's passing lament about losing to Trump while beating him by nearly three million votes.

Sick partisan burn from America's top diplomat, right? Well, maybe. As Simpsons fans noted  again  this gif is from the episode where Lisa loses her civic religion.

this is from the episode where lisa sees a politician take a bribe and tears up her speech about american exceptionalism in anguish that the country she loves is actually rife with corruption at the top https://t.co/wUPqEEZVu6  Hayes Brown (@HayesBrown) August 20, 2020

"The city of Washington was built on a stagnant swamp some 200 years ago, and very little has changed: It stank then, and it stinks now," Lisa wrote in her revised essay. "Only today, it is the fetid stench of corruption that hangs in the air. ... I'm sure you can buy all the votes you need with your dirty money! And this will be one nation, under the dollar, with liberty and justice for none."

So it's maybe a little on the nose, actually. But this isn't even the first time Pompeo tweeted this gif of a cartoon girl mourning her lost faith in America to mock a real woman grieving what President Trump has done to America's body politic. Maybe this has some sort of double-secret hidden meaning. Or maybe Pompeo just has a few go-to memes he likes to use to showcase his statesmanship, like the rest of us.

"To all the young people: Don't give up on America," Clinton said Wednesday night. "Despite our flaws and problems, we have come so far. And we can still be a more just and equal country, full of opportunities previous generations could never have imagined."

More stories from theweek.com

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About two months after the dismissal of three judges of the Constitutional Court (CC) and the termination of powers of its head an opposition faction in the Armenian parliament has turned to the High Court disputing the constitutionality of the process.

In June, pro-government lawmakers came up with a bill that makes a change in a constitutional law resulting in the immediate dismissal of all CC judges who have served 12 years in office. It also envisaged that Hrair Tovmasian would be dismissed from his post of the CC chairman but would continue to serve as a judge.

The bill was passed due to the votes of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians My Step faction that has a commanding majority in the National Assembly. The opposition Bright Armenia and Prosperous Armenia parties opted out of the vote, calling the process unconstitutional.

Armenian President Armen Sarkissian pointedly declined to sign the bill into law, leaving it to Parliament Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan to do that. Mirzoyan, who is a leading member of the ruling My Step bloc, signed it in July, immediately after the end of a three-week period given by the Armenian constitution to the largely ceremonial head of state to sign bills.

Still in June Prosperous Armenia came up with an initiative to seek the annulment of the amendments at the Constitutional Court, but Bright Armenia refused to immediately second the initiative, citing a pending case involving former President Robert Kocharian that was to be heard at the Constitutional Court in July. As a result, Prosperous Armenia was just one signature short of having its application accepted by the Court.

Bright Armenia lawmaker Taron Simonian thinks that even now it is not too late for the CC to examine their application and declare the process unconstitutional. The changes have already entered into force, and it is a continuous process, that is, the process of replenishment will take place, but it does not prevent the Constitutional Court from deciding to declare this whole process null and void, and then everything will start from scratch, he said.

Simonian explained that since the consideration of Kocharians application at the CC has been postponed indefinitely, the faction saw no obstacle to applying to the High Court.

Bright Armenia claims that the termination of the CC chairmans powers and the dismissal of judges Alvina Gyulumian, Hrant Nazarian and Felix Tokhian were carried out illegally and that in doing so the National Assembly exceeded its constitutional powers as the bill was to have been sent to the Constitutional Court for its opinion before the second reading. The parliamentary factions have been deprived of the right to hear the professional opinion of the High Court, Simonyan said.

We want the article of the National Assembly Regulations, which reserves the discretionary right of the National Assembly to apply or not to apply to the Constitutional Court, to be recognized unconstitutional, because if you read that article, it is not immediately clear whether the National Assembly has the right to apply or not to apply over that constitutional issue. Meanwhile, it is clear from the content of Articles 168 and 169 of the Constitution that the National Assembly must apply and that it has no discretionary right in this process, the opposition lawmaker stressed.

My Step lawmaker Vladimir Vardanian, who heads the parliaments committee on state and legal affairs, said he had not yet read the opposition factions application, but insisted that one fifth of the deputies is not authorized to challenge constitutional amendments at the Constitutional Court.

One should not try to manipulate it, trying to mix different powers of the Constitutional Court, without understanding in which case an entity can submit such applications to the Constitutional Court, Vardanian said.

According to Bright Armenia, also unconstitutional was that President Sarkissian was deprived of the authority to sign and publish the constitutional amendments. But the pro-government MP reminds that the legislative change under which that right was reserved for the chairman of the National Assembly was signed personally by President Sarkissian.

If the president of the republic had doubts about the constitutionality of those changes, he should have applied to the Constitutional Court, Vardanian said.

Signatures of one fifth of all deputies, i.e. 27 deputies, are required to apply to the Constitutional Court. Bright Armenias Simonian said that they had gathered even more than required as members of the other opposition Prosperous Armenia faction also joined the initiative.

It is not clear when the Constitutional Court will consider whether it accepts the application for consideration or not. Chief of CC Staff Edgar Ghazarian said that no hearings have been held at the High Court since June 30 due to lack of quorum.

At this moment, the nine-member court has only six judges, which is sufficient for convening a session, but judges Tovmasyan and Arevik Petrosian have not attended sessions since June. The process of the appointment of three new judges whose candidacies are to be voted on in parliament is currently underway. It is expected to be completed in the fall.
The Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMEDK) will release the provisional answer key of its Undergraduate Entrance Test (UGET) on August 23. Students will be able to download the answer key from the official website at comedk.org.

The COMEDK UGET 2020 for Engineering Courses was held on Wednesday August 19, 2020 in two shifts. First shift was held from 9 am to 12 noon and second shift was held from 02.30 pm to 05.30 pm. Earlier, the consortium had rescheduled the COMEDK exams from July 25 to August 1, 2020 which was again postponed to August 19.

Due to Covid-19, helpline numbers have been closed. Students are advised to send their queries, if any, via email.

In view of the health concerns due to Coronavirus, our helpline will remain closed. All queries will be answered by email only. Please address your queries to studenthelpdesk@comedk.org, reads the statement flashing on the COMDEKs official website.

The author tweets @ NandiniJourno
Splits Emerge Among Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Parties Over Boycott Pledge

By VOA News August 19, 2020

Hong Kong's pan-democratic lawmakers are debating whether they should accept the government's offer to extend their terms by a year, following an announcement that the upcoming Legislative Council elections would be delayed because of COVID-19 concerns.

China's top legislative body, the National People's Congress Standing Committee, endorsed a resolution last week to delay the elections, scheduled for September 6. The Hong Kong government has offered to extend pan-democratic lawmakers' current terms until September 30, 2021.

So far, it appears more moderate lawmakers prefer to stay, while younger lawmakers argue for a collective boycott.

Political influence

Alan Leong, a veteran lawyer and the chairman of the Civic Party, said he did not support a collective boycott. He argued that would leave the pan-democratic force with no representation in Hong Kong politics.

"If we all leave the [council], how are we going to have our voices heard? If international media outlets want to interview you, you don't even have a [government] title," he said.

Another prominent figure in the pan-democratic camp, Albert Ho, former chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance, echoed Leong's stance. He said a complete boycott would serve minimal purposes in pressuring Beijing and gathering international support for Hong Kong.

"I think keeping your seat is the responsible thing to do, and it also conveys the message that democratic lawmakers will not escape and not retreat under any circumstance," he said.

Outspoken businessman Jimmy Lai said he also supported the stance. Lai, whom Hong Kong police arrested recently for allegedly violating the National Security Law for Hong Kong, said only by doing so could the opposition camp stop funding for construction projects such as Lantau Tomorrow Vision, a controversial development estimated to cost at least $80 billion.

Lai's newspaper, Apple Daily, published a front-page headline on Monday, urging the pro-democracy lawmakers to extend their terms.

Younger generation activists

Meanwhile, younger activists in the pro-democracy camp have called for their colleagues to quit the legislature to protest the government's decision to delay elections and extend everyone's terms.

Eddie Chu, a council member, said if the opposition camp accepted Beijing's terms, the ruling Communist Party might come up with other reasons to keep extending the legislative elections.

He said on his Facebook page that a collective boycott could effectively convey the message that "the Hong Kong problem is still here" to the international community and pressure Beijing to allow Hong Kong to resume its elections.

Ray Chan, the leader of People Power, another pro-democracy political coalition, indicated he was moving forward with a boycott. He said he had already asked Facebook to get rid of the word "legislator" on his official page.

Sunny Cheung, the former spokesman for the Hong Kong Higher Institutions International Affairs Delegation, accused the moderate democrats of poorly safeguarding the political rights of the Hong Kong people.

"As long as you can cast a 'no' vote at critical times, and are willing to tell the public how you are allocating resources, then you will have our support," he said. "Please stop mediating differences at the sacrifice of your principles."

Analysts say these young activists have long been dissatisfied with the actions by established democrats on the council, accusing them of not fully supporting the democracy movement in Hong Kong.

Exploiting weakness

Benny Tai, a legal scholar and a democracy activist, posted a video Tuesday night on YouTube, urging the two sides to remain united against the influence of the Chinese Communist Party.

In the video, "An Undivided Attitude," he said the democratic culture inside Hong Kong was not mature yet, and that China's Communist Party was seizing on this weakness to create conflict within the pan-democratic camp.

"All the parties must adopt a rational attitude, listen to others and practice self-reflection. Let's avoid misunderstanding, miscommunication and conflict within ourselves," he said.

He said the goal of both moderate and progressive democrats was the same: bringing real democracy to Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute launched a survey Tuesday about whether the opposition camp should extend the Legislative Council terms. The company, which organized the primary elections for pro-democracy candidates in early July, said it would release its findings Friday.

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By Tiemoko Diallo

BAMAKO (Reuters) - Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita resigned on Tuesday 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 after troops seized him along with Prime Minister Boubou Cisse and other top officials.

"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.

It was not immediately clear who was leading the revolt, who would govern in Keita's absence or what the mutineers wanted.

Images posted earlier on social media said to be taken at the Kati garrison showed Keita and Cisse surrounded by armed soldiers. Reuters could not verify the authenticity of the videos.

Mali has seen months of protests against alleged corruption and worsening security in the West African country where Islamist militants are active, and there have been calls for Keita to resign.

The M5-RFP coalition behind the protests signalled support for the mutineers' action, with spokesman Nouhoum Togo telling Reuters it was "not a military coup but a popular insurrection".

Hundreds of anti-government protesters poured into a central square in Bamako to celebrate and cheer the mutineers as they drove through in military vehicles and fired rounds of celebratory gunfire.

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, civilians and Western tourists.

Story continues

INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNATION

France and other international powers as well as the African Union denounced the mutiny, fearful that Keita's fall could further destabilise the former French colony and West Africa's entire Sahel region.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for the immediate release of Keita and the other detainees.

"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 condemned "the overthrow by putschist soldiers of the democratically elected government".

In a statement, it ordered the closing of regional borders with Mali and suspension of all financial flows between Mali and its 15 members states.

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.

(Reporting by Tiemoko Diallo in Bamako and David Lewis in London; Additional reporting by Paul Lorgerie in Bamako, Paul Carsten in Abuja, Tangi Salaun and Bate Felix in Paris, Vladimir Soldatkin in Moscow and Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Writing by Aaron Ross; Editing by Stephen Coates)
Lisa Hanna

Lisa Hanna, a parliamentary candidate ahead of the general elections in Jamaica, has been building a huge online audience after releasing her viral campaign video.

The political promotional video highlights Lisa at work in her constituency, dubbing words from the dancehall queen Spices So Mi Like song which was retitled Lisa Make Jamaica Look Good.

But, even as she continues to amass positive commentaries on social media platforms, Lisa hasnt always been a politician, having taken up an acting role and doubled as a beauty queen in the past.

Music playing through open-air sound systems has long been a part of Jamaican election rallies but, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, political candidates like Lisa made do with music videos.

Being a member of the opposition Peoples National Party (PNP), she currently serves as a member of parliament (MP) for Saint Ann South East and was a minister of youth and culture from 2012 to 2016.

Lisa defeated Ivan Anderson of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) by 3,265 votes in the 2016 general election.

Andrew Holness, Jamaicas prime minister, had recently announced September 3 for this years general elections with the countrys two main political candidates nominating persons to contest all 63 seats at stake.

Born in 1975 to a middle-class family, Rene Hanna, Lisas father, had been a farmer while Dorothy Hanna, her mother, owned a hair salon in St. Ann. They would later relocate to the United States.

While she had a flair for subjects like History, English Literature, and English Language in high school, she also became involved with martial arts and attained a black-belt ranking in the sport.

Lisa starred in Enter the Dojo on Television Jamaica but later volunteered with the World Hunger Project to make Jamaicans more aware of global hunger, starvation, and adult illiteracy.

After high school, she advocated the candlelight vigil for the UN convention on the rights of the child as the youngest goodwill ambassador to lead the UN development program in Jamaica.

Lisa won the Miss World Caribbean pageant in 1993 at the age of 18 and ultimately claimed the title of Miss World for that year  the third Jamaican to achieve the feat.

***

Source: TheCable
A group of conservative activists doesnt have grounds to sue San Antonio over the City Councils refusal to allow a Chick-fil-A restaurant at San Antonio International Airport, a state appeals court ruled Wednesday.

The group, which includes former council candidate Patrick von Dohlen, sued the city in September alleging that San Antonio was in violation of a Save Chick-fil-A law passed by Texas lawmakers last year that bars government agencies from punishing people or companies for affiliating with or donating to religious organizations.

Seven months earlier, council members had voted to approve a contract with an Atlanta-based concessionaire to bring a slate of new vendors to the airport.

But the council told the company to strike Chick-fil-A and find another food vendor, with Councilman Roberto Trevino citing Chick-fil-As history of donating to groups opposed to LGBT rights  a point that riled social conservatives.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio draws lawsuit under new Save Chick-fil-A law

However, the Fourth Court of Appeals ruled the activists had no standing to sue the city and reversing a lower court decision.

Writing for the majority, Chief Justice Sandee Bryan Marion noted the activists effectively were seeking to undo and invalidate a contract previously approved by the city council, compel the city to re-open the contract approval process, and require the city to re-award the contract to a subcontractor that will operate a Chick-fil-A restaurant in the airport.

On those grounds, the city has governmental immunity, Marion wrote.

Von Dohlen and Michael Knuffke  both of the San Antonio Family Association, a conservative organization that opposes same-sex marriage and domestic partner benefits for city employees  vowed to appeal the ruling to the Texas Supreme Court.

This is not unexpected with a court of two progressive liberal Democrat judges and one conservative judge, the two plaintiffs wrote in a joint statement.

Meanwhile, the city declared victory.

The plaintiffs tried to use the court to advance a political agenda and were glad to see this matter put to rest, City Attorney Andy Segovia said in a statement.

On ExpressNews.com: Chick-fil-A Alamodome: New documents shed light on S.A. City Councils controversial vote  and a never-before-seen proposal

The council vote last March embroiled conservatives including U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who said the city was discriminating against the company on religious grounds.

A. Truett Cathy, Chick-fil-As late founder, was a devout Southern Baptist who opted to close the companys restaurants on Sundays. Its chief operating officer spoke out against same-sex marriage in 2012.

Then-Councilman Greg Brockhouse used the controversy to court conservatives and evangelicals in his close but unsuccessful bid to oust Mayor Ron Nirenberg.

Nirenberg had cited financial considerations and passenger convenience as his reasons for rejecting Chick-fil-A. The chains policy of staying closed Sundays would deprive hungry travelers of one less option and reduce airport revenue, he said.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and the Federal Aviation Administration launched investigations into whether city officials violated any laws by excluding Chick-fil-A from the airport.

Texas lawmakers passed the Save Chick-fil-A bill, which took effect Sept. 1.

Four days later, local activists sued the city alleging that Chick-fil-A was singled out because it donates money to Christian organizations that oppose homosexual behavior.

Activists sought to force the city and Atlanta-based concessionaire Paradies Lagardere to open a Chick-fil-A at the airport as the contract originally stipulated.

They also wanted to bar the city from taking any adverse action against Chick-fil-A or any other person or entity, which is based wholly or partly on that person or entitys support for religious organizations that oppose homosexual behavior.

Though the March vote happened before the state law took effect, activists argued they could sue the city because the ban on Chick-fil-A remains in effect.

Joshua Fechter is a staff writer covering San Antonio government and politics. To read more from Joshua, become a subscriber. jfechter@express-news.net | Twitter: @JFreports
Domatokeftedes, a specialty of Santorini, are the perfect summertime meze

If youre longing to spend time in Greece but cant get there this year, these tomato fritters may be the next best thing.

Domatokeftedes, as they are called in Greek, are perfect bites of sunshine: an explosion of freshness and herb-y goodness in every bite. A taste of Greece.

Keftedes actually refers to meatballs (you can find our recipe for Greek meatballs here), but Greek cuisine has a huge repertoire of vegetarian and vegan fritters that are referred to as a composite of their primary ingredient and the word keftedes. This entire array of dishes became popular because they are less expensive to make than anything meat-based. Also, since they often contain no eggs or dairy, they are perfect for periods of lent, and for vegans as well as vegetarians.

It doesnt hurt that these mezes, or appetizers, are so easy to eat: two bites and youre done, your hands free to pick up another.

Santorini tomatoes. (Yiannis Velissaridis/Shutterstock)

Memories of Paradise

Our parents have always made all sorts of fritters: some baked, some fried, some with cheese, others without, and all perfectly delicious. Domatokeftedes, however, entered our lives a little later.

It all began when one of us took her first trip to Santorini, that idyllic Greek island known for its heart-stopping sunrises, quintessential landscape of white-washed houses with sea-blue roofs, and remarkable volcanic setting. Its got some pretty nice beaches, too.

When she was back from paradise, with Santorini memories still vivid, our parents heard of the amazing domatokeftedes that were enjoyed on the island.

About a week later, during a family dinner, the table was set buffet-style, and there amidst the tzatziki, the moussaka, and the horta was a platter piled high with these tomato fritters. Our parents hadnt said a word about them, but watched on as the lot of us scanned their offerings, our eyes finally settling on this something new.

Are those domatokeftedes? exclaimed the Santorini traveler.

They are! our parents proudly responded, in unison.

I didnt know you knew how to make these!

What do you think? Its hard? Its not hard! Now taste, and tell us what you think.

First taste went to the one of us who had eaten the amazing tomato fritters in Santorinieyes closed, mouth slowly chewing, enjoying flavors that brought back a flood of happy moments.

Sure, they werent quite the same. They werent made with the special Santorini tomatoes from the island, and the Greek breeze was not wrapping itself around us as we looked out onto the sea. Instead, when eyes opened, we were in our family kitchen, around a plastic-covered table displaying food served on mismatched platters, with our parents waiting expectantly.

These domatokeftedes didnt taste like those in Santorini. They were just a little bit better.

The Santorini Secret

Why are domatokeftedes considered a special dish in Santorini? The secret is in the tomato!

Santorini cherry tomatoes are tiny marvels, so small that you may mistake them for small berries. The unique Santorini climate and geology allow these tomatoes to grow only there, as they have done since the year 1818 when the first seed was reportedly sown by a monk named Fragkiskos at the Capuchins Monastery. Their flavor and texture comes from a combination of things, including the soil, which is replete with nutrients from volcanic ash.

Locally referred to as tomataki, or little tomato, their cultivation in Santorini flourished until the 1950s. Along with an earthquake in 1956, the largest threat to the farming of Santorini tomatoes resulted from the very thing that has so many of us falling in love with domatokeftedes in the first place: tourism. As farmers realized that the tourism industry was more lucrative than agriculture, fewer and fewer people devoted their lives and land to farming.

Its truly unfortunate, as these tiny jewels have a slightly dry flesh, an intense aroma, and a sweet taste all their own. They are so unique and special that since 2013, Santorini tomatoes have been classified as P.D.O. (Protected Designation of Origin) within the European labeling scheme.

Helpful Hints

What type of tomato should we use for these tomato fritters?

Our parents use plum or Italian (also called Roma) tomatoes for these fritters. They do so because they tend to be less juicy than other tomato varieties and the flesh is relatively thick; they hold up quite well in the fritters.

Youll note that there is also tomato paste included in the recipe. This enhances the rich tomato flavor and also helps to bind the various ingredients together.

How can we keep the fritters from falling apart while frying?

Its important to add the amount of flour required to bind your ingredients together. We use 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, but if you feel you need a bit more, go ahead and add more, 1 tablespoon at a time. Go slowly; adding more flour than you need will produce a fritter that can be a bit mushy in the center.

Can I add an egg to help bind my domatokeftedes?

You can, but you really should not have to. We choose to keep these domatokeftedes vegan and they work really well even without the egg for binding. At the same time, youll be the one enjoying these, so if you prefer to add an egg, go ahead!

What is the best way to warm up leftover domatokeftedes to eat the next day?

As with most fritters, reheating is tricky. You certainly dont want to warm them up in the microwave, because you will end up with a soggy meze. You can either re-heat them up in the oven, or on an un-oiled or dry frying pan. But more importantly, how do you have any leftover?
The 38-year-old tech billionaire has pledged to give away at least half his fortune to charity. Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival

Airbnb has confidentially filed paperwork for its initial public offering, the company announced on Wednesday.

The announcement did not offer any details on timing of the IPO, how many shares it plans to sell, or what price it expects to offer them at.

The vacation rental company, which has been rumored for months to go public sometime in 2020, has taken a hit due to the coronavirus pandemic. In May, Airbnb laid off 25% of its staff  nearly 1,900 people  and CEO Brian Chesky said that the company was expected to bring in revenues of less than half the $4.8 billion it earned in 2019.

Chesky, the 38-year-old cofounder and CEO of Airbnb, is worth an estimated $3.1 billion, according to Forbes.

Despite his wealth, the tech billionaire lives a relatively modest lifestyle. In 2016, Chesky (along with Airbnb's other two cofounders, Joe Gebbia and Nathan Blecharczyk, and Blecharczyk's wife) pledged to give at least half his fortune to charity over the course of his lifetime.

Chesky previously said in interviews that he has rented out his own San Francisco apartment on Airbnb, does weekly yoga with his girlfriend (who he met on Tinder), and has attended the famously wild Burning Man arts event in the Nevada desert.

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Here's what Chesky's life is like.

Brian Chesky is the cofounder, CEO, and Head of Community of Airbnb.

Chesky is one of Airbnb's three cofounders. REUTERS/Phil McCarten

Chesky founded Airbnb in 2008 with his then-roommate, Joe Gebbia, and Nathan Blecharczyk.

According to Airbnb's corporate website, the endeavor started off as a way for Chesky and Gebbia to pay their rent. In the fall of 2007, the roommates charged strangers $80 per night to sleep on an air mattress in their San Francisco apartment when local hotels were sold out for a design festival. The next spring, they officially launched their company, then named AirBed & Breakfast.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, Airbnb was estimated to be worth about $38 billion. Now, it's valued at $18 billion.

An Airbnb listing in Cape Town, South Africa. Airbnb

The company, which has more than seven million listings in more than 100,000 cities, has been battered by the coronavirus crisis.

In May, Airbnb laid off nearly 1,900 employees and Chesky said in a letter to staff that the company was on track for revenues of less than half the $4.8 billion it reportedly earned in 2019. Each of the laid-off staffers received a severance package that included several months' pay, a year of healthcare, and help from Airbnb finding a new job, the company said.

Airbnb has also taken on $2 billion in debt and agreed to having its valuation slashed from $31 billion to $18 billion as part of the debt financing.

Still, Chesky and the other two Airbnb founders are all billionaires.

Airbnb founders Joe Gebbia (left), Nathan Blecharczyk (middle), and Brian Chesky (right) in 2016. Mike Windle/Getty Images for Airbnb

Each of the three founders is worth an estimated $3.1 billion, according to Forbes.

Before cofounding Airbnb, Chesky had a background in design and strategy.

Rhode Island School of Design in Providence. Gretchen Ertl/AP

After growing up in upstate New York, Chesky attended the Rhode Island School of Design and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design.

It was at RISD that he met Joe Gebbia, one of the future cofounders of Airbnb.

Despite being worth $3.1 billion, the Airbnb cofounder has maintained a relatively modest lifestyle.

Chesky at an Airbnb in Cape Town, South Africa. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

In 2015, Chesky told People that he still lived in the apartment where he and Gebbia started the company.

"I still live in the original Airbnb and I still Airbnb it so you can book it," he told the magazine. "It's available throughout the year, you can book the couch for just like $50."

A source at Airbnb told Business Insider that Chesky recently moved and isn't hosting at the moment, but that he looks forward to hosting in the future.

Sometime in 2013, Chesky started dating artist Elissa Patel.

Brian Chesky and Elissa Patel in September 2017. John Lamparski/WireImage

The couple met on Tinder, Chesky told Fortune magazine in a 2015 interview.

Chesky told Fortune in 2015 that the couple does yoga together every Thursday morning.

Chesky and Patel in Sun Valley, Idaho, in July 2015. Scott Olson/Getty Images

He also said they often go on "staycations" and book an Airbnb in a different neighborhood to experience a new part of town.

A source at Airbnb declined to comment on whether the couple is still together, but they were photographed together at an Airbnb event in New York City in September 2017.

Like other tech CEOs, Chesky has reportedly attended "Burning Man," the wild nine-day arts event in the Nevada desert that's frequented by celebrities and tech moguls.

Burning Man. Jim Urquhart/Reuters

After he attended Burning Man for the first time in 2013 on the invitation of Burning Man board member Chip Conley, Chesky reportedly said: "Burning Man is what life would be like if artists ruled the world."

A source at Airbnb told Business Insider that Chesky hasn't attended the event in years.

Burning Man was canceled for the first time ever in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In 2016, Chesky signed the Giving Pledge promising to donate the majority of his fortune to charity over the course of his lifetime.

Mike Windle/Getty Images for Airbnb

"With this pledge, I want to help more kids realize the kind of journey I have had," Chesky wrote in his pledge. "I want to show them that their dreams are not bounded by what they can see in front of them. Their limits are not so limited."

Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett launched the pledge in 2010, and it has since been signed by more than 200 people, including Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

The CEO often acts as the public face of the company at Airbnb events, mingling with celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Ashton Kutcher.

Chesky and Paltrow at the 3rd Annual Airbnb Open Spotlight at the Los Angeles Theatre in November 2016. JB Lacroix/WireImage

Source: Yahoo News

Chesky has said that one of his biggest productivity hacks is making lists.

Richard Bord/Getty Images

"If you have a list of 20 things to do, you end up realizing, 'I don't need to do 20 things,'" Chesky said during a 2017 appearance on the "Masters of Scale" podcast, Business Insider previously reported. "If I do these three big things, the other 20 things will kind of happen as outcomes, or outputs, of it."

Now, it appears Chesky is planning on taking Airbnb public despite a tumultuous year.

REUTERS/Mike Segar

After taking a beating due to the pandemic in the spring, Airbnb has begun to recover somewhat as global vacation rental bookings have started to rebound.

The company's announcement Wednesday did not give any details on the timing of the IPO, how many shares it plans to sell, or at what price they would be offered.

As Troy Wolverton wrote for Business Insider, Airbnb filing the paperwork doesn't necessarily mean the company will actually go public. Companies like Postmates and Doordash also confidentially filed paperwork for an offering in the past couple of years but never went public.

Time will tell if Airbnb decides to move forward with the process.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A nurse cares for a COVID-19 patient in the ICU at the Aundh District Hospital in Pune on Aug. 11.

A nurse cares for a COVID-19 patient in the ICU at the Aundh District Hospital in Pune on Aug. 11. Credit - Atul Loke for TIME

With a white handkerchief covering his mouth and nose, only Rajkumar Prajapatis tired eyes were visible as he stood in line.

It was before sunrise on Aug. 5, but there were already hundreds of others waiting with him under fluorescent lights at the main railway station in Pune, an industrial city not far from Mumbai, where they had just disembarked from a train. Each person carried something: a cloth bundle, a backpack, a sack of grain. Every face was obscured by a mask, a towel or the edge of a sari. Like Prajapati, most in the line were workers returning to Pune from their families villages, where they had fled during the lockdown. Now, with mounting debts, they were back to look for work. When Prajapati got to the front of the line, officials took his details and stamped his hand with ink, signaling the need to self-isolate for seven days.

Atul Loke for TIME

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared on national television on March 24 to announce that India would go under lockdown to fight the coronavirus, Prajapatis work as a plasterer for hire at construction sites around Pune quickly dried up. By June, his savings had run out and he, his wife and his brother left Pune for their village 942 miles away, where they could tend their familys land to at least feed themselves. But by August, with their landlord asking for rent and the construction sites of Pune reopening, they had no option but to return to the city. We might die from corona, but if there is nothing to eat we will die either way, said Prajapati.

As the sun rose, he walked out of the station into Pune, the most infected city in the most infected state in all of India. As of Aug. 18, India has officially recorded more than 2.7 million cases of COVID-19, putting it third in the world behind the U.S. and Brazil. But India is on track to overtake them both. I fully expect that at some point, unless things really change course, India will have more cases than any other place in the world, says Dr. Ashish Jha, director of Harvards Global Health Institute. With a population of 1.3 billion, there is a lot of room for exponential growth.

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Read More: Indias Coronavirus Death Toll Is Surging. Prime Minister Modi Is Easing Lockdown Anyway

The pandemic has already reshaped India beyond imagination. Its economy, which has grown every year for the past 40, was faltering even before the lockdown, and the International Monetary Fund now predicts it will shrink by 4.5% this year. Many of the hundreds of millions of people lifted out of extreme poverty by decades of growth are now at risk in more ways than one. Like Prajapati, large numbers had left their villages in recent years for new opportunities in Indias booming metropolises. But though their labor has propelled their nation to become the worlds fifth largest economy, many have been left destitute by the lockdown. Gaps in Indias welfare system meant millions of internal migrant workers couldnt get government welfare payments or food. Hundreds died, and many more burned through the meager savings they had built up over years of work.

Now, with Indias economy reopening even as the virus shows no sign of slowing, economists are worried about how fast India can recoverand what happens to the poorest in the meantime. The best-case scenario is two years of very deep economic decline, says Jayati Ghosh, chair of the Centre for Economic Studies and Planning at Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi. There are at least 100 million people just above the poverty line. All of them will fall below it.

Rajkumar Prajapati, third from right, gives his familys details to local officials at the train station in Pune on Aug. 5. Atul Loke for TIME

The Tadiwala Chawl area of Pune emerged as a COVID-19 hotspot. Atul Loke for TIME

Workers from the Pune Municipal Corporation spray disinfectant in the Tadiwala Chawl area. Atul Loke for TIME

In some ways Prajapati, 35, was a lucky man. He has lived and worked in Pune since the age of 16, though like many laborers, he regularly sends money home to his village and returns every year to help with the harvest. Over the years, his remittances have helped his father build a four-room house. When the lockdown began, he even sent his family half of the $132 he had in savings. The $66 Prajapati had left was still more than many had at all, and enough to survive for three weeks. His landlord let him defer his rent payments. Two weeks into the lockdown, when Modi asked citizens in a video message to turn off their lights and light candles for nine minutes at 9 p.m. in a show of national solidarity, Prajapati was enthusiastic, lighting small oil lamps and placing them at shrines in his room and outside his door. We were very happy to do it, he said. We thought that perhaps this will help with corona.

Other migrant workers werent so enthusiastic. For those whose daily wages paid for their evening meals, the lockdown had an immediate and devastating effect. When factories and construction sites closed because of the pandemic, many bosseswho often provide their temporary employees with food and boardthrew everyone out onto the streets. And because welfare is administered at a state level in India, migrant workers are ineligible for benefits like food rations anywhere other than in their home state. With no food or money, and with train and bus travel suspended, millions had no choice but to immediately set off on foot for their villages, some hundreds of miles away. By mid-May, 3,000 people had died from COVID-19, but at least 500 more had died from distress deaths including those due to hunger, road accidents and lack of access to medical facilities, according to a study by the Delhi-based Society for Social and Economic Research. It was very clear there had been a complete lack of planning and thought to the implications of switching off the economy for the vast majority of Indian workers, says Yamini Aiyar, president of the Centre for Policy Research, a Delhi think tank.

One migrant worker who decided to make the risky journey on foot was Tapos Mukhi, 25, who set off from Chiplun, a small town in the western state of Maharashtra, toward his village in the eastern state of Odisha, over 1,230 miles away. He had tried to work through the lockdown, but his boss held back his wages, saying he did not have money to pay him immediately. Mukhi took another job at a construction site in June, but after a month of lifting bricks and sacks of cement, a nail went through his foot, forcing him to take a day off. His supervisor called him lazy and told him to leave without the $140 he was owed. On Aug. 1, he walked for a day in the pouring monsoon rain with his wife and 3-year-old daughter, before a local activist arranged for a car to Pune. We had traveled so far from our village to work, said Mukhi, sitting on a bunk bed in a shelter in Pune, where activists from a Pune-based NGO had given him and his family train tickets. But we didnt get the money we were owed and we didnt even get food. We have suffered a lot. Now we never want to leave the village again.

Although Indian policymakers have long been aware of the extent to which the economy relies on informal migrant labor like Mukhisthere are an estimated 40 million people like him who regularly travel within the country for workthe lockdown brought this long invisible class of people into the national spotlight. Something that caught everyone by surprise is how large our migrant labor force is, and how they fall between all the cracks in the social safety net, says Arvind Subramanian, Modis former chief economic adviser, who left government in 2018. Modi was elected in 2014 after a campaign focused on solving Indias development problems, but under his watch economic growth slid from 8% in 2016 to 5% last year, while flagship projects, like making sure everyone in the country has a bank account, have hit roadblocks. The truth is, India needs migration very badly, Subramanian says. Its a source of dynamism and an escalator for lots of people to get out of poverty. But if you want to get that income improvement for the poor back, you need to make sure the social safety net works better for them.

A doctor waits for a dose of remdesivir while a nurse attends to a newly admitted COVID-19 patient at Aundh District Hospital in Pune. Atul Loke for TIME

After her condition improved, a COVID-19 patient is helped into a wheelchair so she can be transferred from the intensive-care unit to an observation ward. Atul Loke for TIME

A young worker dressed in personal protective equipment sweeps the floor of the intensive-care unit. Atul Loke for TIME

The wide-scale economic disruption caused by the lockdown has disproportionately affected women. Because 95% of employed women work in Indias informal economy, many lost their jobs, even as the burden remained on them to take care of household responsibilities. Many signed up for Indias rural employment scheme, which guarantees a set number of hours of unskilled manual labor. Others sold jewelry or took on debts to pay for meals. The COVID situation multiplied the burden on women both as economic earners and as caregivers, says Ravi Verma of the Delhi-based International Center for Research on Women. They are the frontline defenders of the family.

But the rural employment guarantee does not extend to urban areas. In Dharavi, a sprawling slum in Mumbai, Rameela Parmar worked as domestic help in three households before the lockdown. But the families told her to stop coming and held back her pay for the last four months. To support her own family, she was forced to take daily wage work painting earthen pots, breathing fumes that make her feel sick. People have suffered more because of the lockdown than [because of] corona, Parmar says. There is no food and no workthat has hurt people more.

Girls were hit hard too. For Ashwini Pawar, a bright-eyed 12-year-old, the pandemic meant the end of her childhood. Before the lockdown, she was an eighth-grade student who enjoyed school and wanted to be a teacher someday. But her parents were pushed into debt by months of unemployment, forcing her to join them in looking for daily wage work. My school is shut right now, said Pawar, clutching the corner of her shawl under a bridge in Pune where temporary workers come to seek jobs. But even when it reopens I dont think I will be able to go back. She and her 13-year-old sister now spend their days at construction sites lifting bags of sand and bricks. Its like weve gone back 10 years or more in terms of gender-equality achievements, says Nitya Rao, a gender and development professor who advises the U.N. on girls education.

In an attempt to stop the economic nosedive, Modi shifted his messaging in May. Corona will remain a part of our lives for a long time, he said in a televised address. But at the same time, we cannot allow our lives to be confined only around corona. He announced a relief package worth $260 billion, about 10% of the countrys GDP. But only a fraction of this came as extra handouts for the poor, with the majority instead devoted to tiding over businesses. In the televised speech announcing the package, Modi spoke repeatedly about making India a self-sufficient economy. It was this that made Prajapati lose hope in ever getting government support. Modiji said that we have to become self-reliant, he said, still referring to the Prime Minister with an honorific suffix. What does that mean? That we can only depend on ourselves. The government has left us all alone.

By the time the lockdown began to lift in June, Prajapatis savings had run out. His government ID card listed his village address, so he was not able to access government food rations, and he found himself struggling to buy food for his family. Three times, he visited a public square where a local nonprofit was handing out meals. On June 6, he finally left Pune for his familys village, Khazurhat. He had been forced to borrow from relatives the $76 for tickets for his wife, brother and himself. But having heard the stories of migrants making deadly journeys back, he was thankful to have found a safe way home.

Kashinath Kale's widow, Sangeeta, flanked by her sons Akshay, left, and Avinash, holds a framed portrait of her late husband outside their home in Kalewadi, a suburb of Pune. Kale, 44, died from COVID-19 in July as the family desperately tried to find a hospital bed with a ventilator. Atul Loke for TIME

Meanwhile, the virus had been spreading across India, despite the lockdown. The first hot spots were Indias biggest cities. In Pune, Kashinath Kale, 44, was admitted to a public hospital with the virus on July 4, after waiting in line for nearly four hours. Doctors said he needed a bed with a ventilator, but none were available. His family searched in vain for six days, but no hospital could provide one. On July 11, he died in an ambulance on the way to a private hospital, where his family had finally located a bed in an intensive-care unit with a ventilator. He knew he was going to die, says Kales wife Sangeeta, holding a framed photograph of him. He was in a lot of pain.

By June, almost every day saw a new record for daily confirmed cases. And as COVID-19 moved from early hot spots in cities toward rural areas of the country where health care facilities are less well-equipped, public-health experts expressed concern, noting India has only 0.55 hospital beds per 1,000 people, far below Brazils 2.15 and the U.S.s 2.80. Much of Indias health infrastructure is only in urban areas, says Ramanan Laxminarayan, director of the D.C.-based Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy. As the pandemic unfolds it is moving into states which have very low levels of testing and rural areas where the public-health infrastructure is weak.

Read More: India Is the Worlds Second-Most Populous Country. Can It Handle the Coronavirus Outbreak?

When he arrived back in his village of Khazurhat, Prajapatis neighbors were worried he might have been infected in Pune, so medical workers at the district hospital checked his temperature and asked if he had any symptoms. But he was not offered a test. While testing has been getting better in India, its still nowhere near where it needs to be, says Jha.

Nevertheless, Modi has repeatedly touted Indias low case fatality ratethe number of deaths as a percentage of the number of casesas proof that India has a handle on the pandemic. (As of Aug. 17 the rate was 1.9%, compared with 3.1% in the U.S.) The average fatality rate in our country has been quite low compared to the world  and it is a matter of satisfaction that it is constantly decreasing, Modi said in a televised videoconference on Aug. 11. This means that our efforts are proving effective.

Parents keep their child still while a health care worker takes a nasal swab for a COVID-19 test at a school in Pune. Atul Loke for TIME

A health care worker executes a rapid antigen COVID-19 test in the local school of Dhole Patil in Pune. Atul Loke for TIME

A health care worker checks a woman's temperature and oxygen saturation in the Dhole Patil slum on Aug. 10. Atul Loke for TIME

But experts say this language is dangerously misleading. As long as your case numbers are increasing, your case fatality rate will continue to fall, Jha says. When the virus is spreading exponentially as it is currently in India, he explains, cases increase sharply but deaths, which lag weeks behind, stay low, skewing the ratio to make it appear that a low percentage are dying. No serious public-health person believes this is an important statistic. On the contrary, Jha says, it might give people false optimism, increasing the risk of transmission.

Modis move to lock down the country in March was met with a surge in approval ratings; many Indians praised the move as strong and decisive. But while other foreign leaders lockdown honeymoons eventually gave way to popular resentment, Modis ratings remained stratospheric. In some recent polls, they topped 80%.

The reason has much to do with his wider political project, which critics see as an attempt to turn India from a multifaith constitutional democracy into an authoritarian, Hindu-supremacist state. Since winning re-election with a huge majority in May 2019, Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the political wing of a much larger grouping of organizations whose stated mission is to turn India into a Hindu nation, has delivered on several long-held goals that excite its right-wing Hindu base at the expense of the countrys Muslim minority. (Hindus make up 80% of the population and Muslims 14%.) Last year the government revoked the autonomy of Indias only Muslim-majority state, Kashmir. And an opulent new temple is being built in Ayodhyaa site where many Hindus believe the deity Ram was born and where Hindu fundamentalists destroyed a mosque on the site in 1992. After decades of legal wrangling and political pressure from the BJP, in 2019 the Supreme Court finally ruled a temple could be built in its place. On Aug. 5, Modi attended a televised ceremony for the laying of the foundation stone.

Read More: The Battle for Indias Founding Ideals

Still, before the pandemic Modi was facing his most severe challenge yet, in the form of a monthslong nationwide protest movement. All over the country, citizens gathered at universities and public spaces, reading aloud the preamble of the Indian constitution, quoting Mohandas Gandhi and holding aloft the Indian tricolor. The protests began in December 2019 as resistance to a controversial law that would make it harder for Muslim immigrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, to gain Indian citizenship. They morphed into a wider pushback against the direction of the country under the BJP. In local Delhi elections in February, the BJP campaigned on a platform of crushing the protests but ended up losing seats. Soon after, riots broke out in the capital; 53 people were killed, 38 of them Muslims. (Hindus were also killed in the violence.) Police failed to intervene to stop Hindu mobs roaming around Muslim neighborhoods looking for people to kill, and in some cases joined mob attacks on Muslims themselves, according to a Human Rights Watch report.

Workers push the body of a COVID-19 patient into the furnace of Yerawada crematorium in Pune on Aug. 11. Atul Loke for TIME

During those hundred days I thought India had changed forever, says Harsh Mander, a prominent civil-rights activist and director of the Centre for Equity Studies, a Delhi think tank, of the three months of nationwide dissent from December to March. But the lockdown put an abrupt end to the protests. Since then, the government has ramped up its crackdown on dissent. In June, Mander was accused by Delhi police (who report to Modis interior minister, Amit Shah) of inciting the Delhi riots; in the charges against him, they quoted out of context portions of a speech he had made in December calling on protesters to continue Gandhis legacy of nonviolent resistance, making it sound instead like he was calling on them to be violent. Meanwhile, local BJP politician Kapil Mishra, who was filmed immediately before the riots giving Delhi police an ultimatum to clear the streets of protesters lest his supporters do it themselves, still walks free. In my farthest imagination I couldnt believe there would be this sort of repression, Mander says.

Read More: Hate Is Being Preached Openly Against Us. After Delhi Riots, Muslims in India Fear Whats Next

A pattern was emerging. Police have also arrested at least 11 other protest leaders, including Safoora Zargar, a 27-year-old Muslim student activist who organized peaceful protests. She was accused of inciting the Delhi riots and charged with murder under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, a harsh anti-terrorism law that authorities used at least seven times during the lockdown to arrest activists or journalists. The law is described by Amnesty International as a tool of harassment, and by Zargars lawyer Ritesh Dubey, in an interview with TIME, as aimed at criminalizing dissent. As COVID-19 spread around the country, Zargar was kept in jail for two months, without bail, despite being 12 weeks pregnant at the time of her arrest. Restrictions in place to curb the spread of coronavirus, like not allowing lawyers to visit prisons, have also impacted protesters access to legal justice, Dubey says.

The government used this health emergency to crush the largest popular movement this country has seen since independence, Mander says. The Indian Muslim has been turned into the enemy within. The economy has tanked, there is mass hunger, infections are rising and rising, but none of that matters. Modi has been forgiven for everything else. This normalization of hate is almost like a drug. In the intoxication of this drug, even hunger seems acceptable.

Read More: It Was Already Dangerous to Be Muslim in India. Then Came the Coronavirus

Close to going hungry, Prajapati says the Modi administration has provided little relief for people like him. If we have not gotten anything from the government, not even a sack of rice, then what can we say to them? he says. I dont have any hope from the government.

Still a change in government would be too much for Prajapati, a devout Hindu and a Modi supporter, who backs the construction of the temple of Ram in Ayodhya and cheered on the BJP when it revoked the autonomy of Kashmir. There is no one else like Modi who we can put our faith in, he says. At least he has done some good things.

Prajapati remained in Khazurhat from June until August, working his familys acre of farmland where they grow rice, wheat, potatoes and mustard. But there was little other work available, and the yield from their farm was not sufficient to support the family. Now $267 in debt to employers and relatives, he decided to return to Pune along with his wife and brother. Worried about reports of rising cases in the city, his usually stoic father cried as he waved him off from the village. On his journey, Prajapati carried 44 lb. of wheat and 22 lb. of rice, which he hoped would feed his family until he could find construction work.

On the evening of his return, Prajapati cleaned his home, cooked dinner from what he had carried back from the village, and began calling contractors to look for work. The pandemic had set him back at least a year, he said, and it would take him even longer to pay back the money he owed. The stamp on his hand hed received at the station, stating that he was to self-quarantine for seven days, had already faded. Prajapati was planning to work as soon as he could. Whether the lockdown continues or not, whatever happens we have to live here and earn some money, he said. We have to find a way to survive.

With reporting by Madeline Roache/London
We've lost count of how many times insiders have accumulated shares in a company that goes on to improve markedly. On the other hand, we'd be remiss not to mention that insider sales have been known to precede tough periods for a business. So we'll take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in Live Company Group Plc (LON:LVCG).

What Is Insider Selling?

Most investors know that it is quite permissible for company leaders, such as directors of the board, to buy and sell stock in the company. However, most countries require that the company discloses such transactions to the market.

We don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions. But equally, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. As Peter Lynch said, 'insiders might sell their shares for any number of reasons, but they buy them for only one: they think the price will rise'.

See our latest analysis for Live Company Group

Live Company Group Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when Executive Chairman & Chairman of Executive Board John David Ciclitira bought UK205k worth of shares at a price of UK0.10 per share. That means that even when the share price was higher than UK0.098 (the recent price), an insider wanted to purchase shares. Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. We always take careful note of the price insiders pay when purchasing shares. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when an insider has purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price. John David Ciclitira was the only individual insider to buy shares in the last twelve months.

You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

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Live Company Group is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Insider Ownership

Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Live Company Group insiders own 51% of the company, currently worth about UK4.3m based on the recent share price. Most shareholders would be happy to see this sort of insider ownership, since it suggests that management incentives are well aligned with other shareholders.

So What Do The Live Company Group Insider Transactions Indicate?

It's certainly positive to see the recent insider purchase. And the longer term insider transactions also give us confidence. But we don't feel the same about the fact the company is making losses. Once you factor in the high insider ownership, it certainly seems like insiders are positive about Live Company Group. Nice! So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. To assist with this, we've discovered 3 warning signs that you should run your eye over to get a better picture of Live Company Group.

If you would prefer to 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.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

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.
Singapore  In a time where digital transformation is driving change in all areas, agriculture is no exception. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased food insecurity globally, given the disruptions in our supply chains. There are many tools and technologies that can help farmers in developing countries adopt more efficient and sustainable production methods, reduce the burden of labour-intensive tasks, and manage their farms better to help build a more resilient, sustainable and productive food system.



The UNDP Global Centre in Singapore, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), recently co-hosted the first virtual Digital Innovation Dialogue on Youth Digital Innovation Solutions for Food and Agriculture. The session showcased innovative technologies and business models from entrepreneurs that are solving agricultural challenges around the world, and sought to inspire FAO offices to look at how youth can drive digital transformation for agriculture.

Youth have a tremendous potential to use digital technologies for food and agriculture, as the solutions showcased in this session show the exciting models possible that are poised to solve the problems identified within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) framework, said

Bradley Busetto, UNDP's director of Global Centre for Technology, Innovation, and Sustainable Development. Busetto highlighted this collaboration as an example of a one-UN approach needed to solve the developmental challenge.



As part of the Global Centres agricultural innovation initiative, Cultiv@te, UNDP is working with 31 promising agritech startups and R&Ds to work on implementing their solutions in 11 countries across Asia, Africa and Latin America. UNDP invited six of these teams with strong youth engagement to pitch their solutions for this dialogue, together with the winners of the FAO innovation challenge. These solutions included technologies for smart farming, food loss and waste, decentralized agricultural machinery networks, urban farming and more.

While this session was focused on youth, the UNDP and FAO will continue to work together in finding technologies and digital solutions for food and agriculture that can help developing countries accelerate towards sustainable development.
While much of the first two nights of the Democratic National Convention were spent wooing moderate Republicans put off by the divisive style and policies of President Trump, Wednesdays star-studded lineup, with actress Kerry Washington as emcee, tailored a message to younger Democrats hungry for change. The theme of the night, A More Perfect Union, put a focus on the ambitious plans the party has for fighting climate change, curbing gun violence, expanding immigration and addressing systemic racial inequality. It also set the stage for Sen. Kamala Harris to make history as the first Indian-American and first Black American to run for vice president on the ticket of a major party.

Here are the key takeaways from day 3 of the DNC.

Harris makes history

Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., accepts the Democratic nomination as vice president, at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Del., on Aug. 19, 2020. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

On Wednesday, Sen. Kamala Harris of California accepted the Democratic party nomination for vice president, the first Indian-American and the first Black American to appear on a major party ticket. If the Biden-Harris ticket wins, she will also be positioned to someday become the United States first woman president. With those milestones in mind, the stakes for Harriss speech were high.

She spoke at the beginning of the two-hour virtual session, and again at the end. Her message at the beginning was about voting, and the apparent effort by Republicans to discourage it.

Hey, everybody, its me, Kamala. So before I go onstage later tonight, I want to talk about the importance of voting. I know many of you plan to vote this year, but amidst the excitement and enthusiasm for this election, youve also heard about obstacles and misinformation and folks making it harder for you to cast your ballot. So I think we need to ask ourselves: Why dont they want us to vote? Why is there so much effort to silence our voices? And the answer is: Because when we vote, things change. When we vote, things get better.

For her closing address, accepting the nomination, Harris set about introducing herself to American voters, many of whom knew her only from glimpses on the Democratic debate stage during the primaries or during her questioning of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. It was a personal and principled speech, intended to make the case that she is equipped to lead the Democratic Party in the next decade.

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I've fought for children, and survivors of sexual assault. Ive fought against transnational gangs. I took on the biggest banks and helped take down one of the biggest for-profit colleges. I know a predator when I see one, the former San Francisco district attorney and California attorney general said, in a pointed allusion to Trump.

Harris said she was committed to the values her mother taught her, and that she shares with Biden a vision of our nation as a beloved community  where all are welcome, no matter what we look like, where we come from, or who we love.

She brought up racial disparities in health in the context of the coronavirus, and linked it to the Black Lives Matter protests that erupted nationwide following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.

This virus, it has no eyes  and yet it knows exactly how we see each other and how we treat each other. And lets be clear, there is no vaccine for racism. We have got to do the work. For George Floyd, for Breonna Taylor, for the lives of too many others to name, Harris said, referring to the emergency medical worker shot and killed by police in her apartment in Louisville, Ky.

Were at an inflection point. The constant chaos leaves us adrift. The incompetence makes us feel afraid. The callousness makes us feel alone, Harris said. And heres the thing: We can do better and deserve so much more. We must elect a president who will bring something different, something better, and do the important work. A president who will bring all of us together  Black, white, Latino, Asian, indigenous  to achieve the future we collectively want. We must elect Joe Biden.

Progressive issues get airtime

Gabby Giffords speaks during the virtual Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19, 2020. (via Reuters TV)

Much of the first hour of Wednesdays convention was given over to video montages addressing issues especially important to the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. A series of interviews with the family members of the victims of gun violence introduced an address from former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., who was shot and suffered brain damage at a campaign event in Tucson in 2011. She resigned from Congress the following year, and has made few public appearances since then. I have not lost my voice. America needs all of us to speak out, even when you have to fight to find the words, Giffords said in the longest speech she has delivered since the shooting.

A video about the important role that immigrants have played in shaping the United States intercut interviews with a speech by former President Barack Obama making the point that Trumps immigration crackdown is bad for the country. Another segment, on climate change, featured activists, farmers and scientists who said that Trump has turned his back on an impending environmental catastrophe.

A video showing tearful domestic violence survivors telling their stories, intended to highlight Bidens role in passing the Violence Against Women Act, drew an apparently derisive tweet from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo: a clip from The Simpsons showing Lisa crying and tearing up a piece of paper in disgust.

Warren has a plan to help Biden win

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., addresses the virtual Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19, 2020. (via Reuters TV)

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, one of Bidens chief rivals during the Democratic primary and a finalist in his search for a running mate, delivered a powerful speech advancing her populist economic agenda. She predicted that Biden and Harris would prioritize funding for childcare, to level the playing field for American workers.

We build infrastructure like roads and bridges and communications systems so that people can work. That infrastructure helps us all, because it keeps our economy going. Its time to recognize that childcare is part of the basic infrastructure of this nation. Its infrastructure for families. Joe and Kamala will make high quality childcare affordable for every family, make preschool universal and raise the wages of every childcare worker.

No Warren political speech is complete, however, without digs at Trump. On Wednesday, she took aim at the president over his response to the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 170,000 Americans.

Donald Trumps ignorance and incompetence have always been a danger to this country. COVID-19 was Trumps biggest test. He failed miserably. Today, America has the most COVID deaths in the world and an economic collapse, and both crises are falling hardest on Black and brown families.

Clinton has an I told you so moment

Hillary Clinton speaks at the virtual Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19, 2020. (via Reuters TV)

During the 2016 presidential campaign, the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, repeatedly warned that electing Donald Trump posed a risk to the safety and security of the nation. On Thursday, Clinton returned to the spotlight with a message that, at times, seemed to say, I told you so.

I wish Donald Trump knew how to be a president, Clinton said in a live speech from her home in Westchester County, N.Y. Because America needs a president right now.

Clinton, who, since losing a close election to Trump in 2016, has often spoken out against the president and those in his administration, recounted what she had heard from Americans distraught over the direction the country has been heading.

For four years, people have said to me, I didnt realize how dangerous he was. I wish I could go back and do it over. Or worst, I should have voted, Clinton said. Well, this cant be another woulda, coulda, shoulda election. If you vote by mail, request your ballot now, and send it back as soon as you can. If you vote in person, do it early. Bring a friend and wear a mask. Become a poll worker. Most of all, no matter what, vote. Vote like our lives and livelihoods are on the line, because they are.

Clinton won the popular vote in 2016 by more than 2.8 million votes, while losing the Electoral College to Trump, and on Wednesday, she reminded those watching that history could repeat itself in 2020.

Dont forget: Joe and Kamala can win by nearly 3 million votes and still lose, Clinton said. Take it from me.

Obama unloads on Trump

Former President Barack Obama, in Philadelphia, addresses the virtual Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19, 2020. (via Reuters TV)

Obama has largely adhered to the tradition that outgoing presidents avoid directly criticizing their successors, but he discarded that self-imposed restraint on Wednesday. In a speech that pulled no punches, Obama went after Trump in a way that Americans had not yet heard.

I have sat in the Oval Office with both of the men running for president, Obama said from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia. I never expected that my successor would embrace my vision or continue my policies. I did hope, for the sake of our country, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously; that he might come to feel the weight of the office and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care. But he never did. Hes shown no interest in putting in the work; no interest in finding common ground; no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends; no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves.

While Obama spoke glowingly of his relationships with Biden and Harris, his speech is likely to be remembered most for the tone he took in assessing Trumps legacy.

"Donald Trump hasnt grown into the job, because he cant. And the consequences of that failure are severe: 170,000 Americans dead. Millions of jobs gone. Our worst impulses unleashed, our proud reputation around the world badly diminished, and our democratic institutions threatened like never before."

As he spoke, Trump lashed out on Twitter, in uppercase:

HE SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN, AND GOT CAUGHT!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 20, 2020

But Obama had the stage, and his speech was carried on Fox News.

This president and those in power, those who benefit from keeping things the way they are, theyre benefiting from your cynicism, Obama said, adding, Do not let them take away your power. Do not let them take away your democracy.

Having made it his mission to overturn virtually every one of Obamas accomplishments, including the Affordable Care Act, Trump continued his counter-programming on Twitter, and coined a new slur, Slow Joe, for his opponent.

WHY DID HE REFUSE TO ENDORSE SLOW JOE UNTIL IT WAS ALL OVER, AND EVEN THEN WAS VERY LATE? WHY DID HE TRY TO GET HIM NOT TO RUN?  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 20, 2020

As Obama explained during the Democratic primary, he withheld his endorsement to avoid exerting undue influence on the outcome. With Biden now the nominee, he was free to say what he thought  and what he thinks is that a second Trump term would be a catastrophe.

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
Mali's ruling junta has been urged to release ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse after the leaders were arrested in a military coup on Wednesday, August 19. World leaders are fearful that this coup could be utilised by Islamic extremists to gain a foothold in the country once again.

Read: UN Condemns Mali Mutiny And Urges End To Crisis

World leader urge release of President ad Prime Minister

Mails former colonial master France has joined the United Nation in condemning the arrest of the countrys 75-year-old leader and have asked the military junta to return power to the civilian government immediately.

Meanwhile, the Economic Community of West African States has been trying to negotiate with the Mali junta leaders and held a video conference on August 20. Mails membership to the Economic Community of West African States has already been suspended and the bloc has threatened sanctions against the country.

In a similar incident back in 2012, the power vacuum created by the coup allowed jihadists to gain a foothold in the northern parts of Mali and were only liberated when a French-led military operation was conducted the following year.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said, Mali has not only descended into political chaos but also socioeconomic and security disaster with potentially tragic consequences to Mali and the sub-region.

Read: Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita Resigns To Avoid 'blood Shed' After Military Mutiny

After the arrest, the Malina President was forced to announce his resignation on live television. Marc-Andre Boisvert, a member of the UN panel of experts for Mali has stated that the military coup was well-organised and was led by a group of officers who have prior experience in the field.

The current leader of the military junta, that is in charge of the West African Country, is an army officer, Col. Assimi Goita. He was one of the five military officers that announced the military coup on the state broadcaster ORTM.

Ibrahim Boubacar Keita first came to power in 2013 in a landslide election wherein he got more than 77 percent of the votes; five years later Keita won re-election but his political fortunes have soured since his then.

(Input/Image Credit AP)

Read: Mali Mutiny: Soldiers 'arrest' President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, PM Boubou Cisse

Read: Mali Army Col. Assimi Goita Says He's In Charge Of Junta
Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny, 44, was returning to Moscow by plane from Tomsk in Siberia when began to feel ill, his press secretary Kira Yarmish said on Twitter.

He is in a coma and on a ventilator in a hospital intensive care unit, with allies claiming the suspected poisoning is linked to his political activity.

Mr Navalnys spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh suggested he may have consumed something in a cup of tea he drank at an airport cafe before boarding the plane.

During the flight Mr Navalny started sweating and asked her to talk to him so he could "focus on a sound of a voice". He then went to the toilet and lost consciousness.

Mr Raab said "I am deeply concerned" by reports that Mr Navalny "has been poisoned on a flight to Moscow and is now in a coma in intensive care".

My thoughts are with him and his family, the Foreign Secretary added.

Commons Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Tom Tugendhat suggested the Kremlin was responsible.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny / AFP/Getty Images

"Another opponent of Putins mafia state is poisoned," he said.

"Alexei Navalny is in hospital as the Kremlin again demonstrates the brutality of the Putin regime."

But Russian state news agency Tass reported that police were not considering deliberate poisoning, citing an anonymous source who said: "It is not unlikely that he drank or consumed something yesterday himself."

A medical worker speaks to police officers outside the hospital where Mr Navalny has been admitted / REUTERS

Anatoliy Kalinichenko, deputy chief doctor of the hospital in Omsk, Siberia, where Mr Navalny is being treated, said he was in critical but stable condition.

Dr Kalinichenko said medics are considering a variety of diagnoses, including poisoning.

Mr Navalny is one of the most prominent opposition figures in Russia and campaigned to challenge Mr Putin in the 2018 presidential election, but was barred from running.

Last year he was rushed to hospital from prison with what his team said was suspected poisoning. Doctors subsequently said he had had a severe allergic attack and discharged him back to prison the following day.

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Mr Navalnys Foundation for Fighting Corruption has focused on exposing sleaze among government officials, but last month he had to shut the organisation after a lawsuit from Yevgeny Prigozhin, a businessman with close ties to the Kremlin.

Mr Navalny has also been accused by Belaruss authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko of organising the mass protests against his rule in recent days following an election which has been widely criticised as rigged.
The agreement on remote work hours between France and Switzerland has recently been prolonged. How about the situation in Luxembourg?

The growth of home office culture has certainly been one of the more beneficial side effects of the pandemic. A respective agreement between Luxembourg, Germany, and France has been especially helpful to the many cross-border workers over the past couple of months. An agreement that is on the brink of meeting its expiration date.

The three countries already agreed to prolong the home office agreement once until 31 August. A recent rise in cases across all states now makes the question of continuation ever more pertinent. Switzerland's agreement with France recently came to an end, but both parties agreed to prolong it at the beginning of the week until the end of the year.

According to Quotidien, the Luxembourgish administration is currently preparing an extension, at least on the level of social security. The fiscal aspects of the agreement have not been considered yet, which means that if no consensus in the matter is found until 31 August, the pre-crisis regulations will come into effect again: 19 days for German employees, 24 for Belgian employees, and 29 for French employees.

Our colleagues from RTL 5minutes contacted the ministry of finance and were informed that requests were in fact already sent to all respective ministries abroad and that they were currently awaiting a decision.
A 54-year-old New Jersey man hid a camera in the bathroom of a Brick home and recorded five women and a teenager before posting the videos to two adult websites, authorities said.

Michael Mattina is charged with six counts of invasion of privacy, endangering the welfare of a child and distribution of child pornography, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office said in a statement.

One of the victims is a 16-year-old girl, officials said.

A spokesman for the prosecutors office declined to say how Mattina, of Matawan, accessed the residence in Brick or if he knew the victims. It wasnt immediately clear when the videos were recorded or posted online.

Mattina was issued a summons and released.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are teaming up with young activists to change the online scene.

This week, the couple teamed up for their first joint appearance from their new home in Santa Barbara with leaders from the Queen's Commonwealth Trust who are working to make digital media a force for good. And they are already thinking about what their 1-year-old son Archie will someday experience online.

Towards the end of the call, Prince Harry encouraged the activists to continue their work to end the negativity and hate that spreads online, joking that he felt he was already "way too old."

"You've got to stop, we're not old!" Meghan replied.

"But it's true," Harry said. "This is the world you're going to inherit."

Meghan quickly added, "And Archie!"

"And Archie," Harry repeated. "It's on all of us collectively to make the world a better place...and we are."

RELATED: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Never Planned to Live Full-Time in California

Chief executive of the QCT Nicola Brentnall led the 30-minute conversation, which brought together four young leaders working to make the digital space safe for everyone: Brighton Kaoma, Founder of Agents of Change Foundation in Zambia; Hunter Johnson, Founder of The Man Cave in Australia; Rosie Thomas, Co-Founder of Project Rockit in Australia; and Vee Kativhu, Study & Empowerment YouTuber and Founder of "Empowered by Vee."

Prince Harry, 35, spoke about Queen Elizabeth's goals in the modern Commonwealth, with young people being an important voice especially due to the ever-changing digital landscape.

"I think everything my grandmother wanted to achieve when she took this huge responsibility on, shes managed," he said. "Hearing you guys, and knowing the broad spectrum that QCT engulfs, youre the definition of the 21st century Commonwealth, and what it means to be part of it. You are there, standing for equality, for mutual respect and for fairness."

Meghan, 39, addressed how the coronavirus pandemic has driven people online to connect, making it more important than ever to have positive online experiences.

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"Everyone's mental and emotional well-being are perhaps more fragile than ever before, certainly with COVID and our dependability on devices right now in the absence of human interaction," she said. "People are going online more than ever before to feel community."

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

The Duchess of Sussex also said, "When you look at what these platforms are capable of with that reach, and what that propels in terms of trollingYou can either train people to be cruel, or you can train people to be kind. Its really that simple."

RELATED: Everything We Know About Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's New Life in California

Meghan and Prince Harry purchased their first home about 95 miles north of Los Angeles in Santa Barbara last month.

"This is their permanent home," an insider tells PEOPLE in this week's issue. "Ever since Archie arrived, everything has been so turbulent, and many things have been up in the air. It has not been easy, necessarily. For the first time in a long time, they have a clear focus."
The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Thursday begun his three-day working visit to the Central Region with a sod-cutting ceremony to commence the construction of Elmina fishing port rehabilitation and expansion project at Elmina in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA)Municipality.



The 85M Project being executed by Bellsea Limited,(Member of the DEME Group) is a Government of Ghana and Netherlands assisted Project.



It is a continuation of a facelift project of the Elmina short/medium term plan, which is in line with governments ongoing programme to rehabilitate and construct Fishing Ports and Landing Sites along the coastal stretch of the country.



Scheduled for completion within 12 months, the project aims at constructing adequate facilities at the habour and carry out periodic maintenance to ensure the durability of the habour located at the entrance of the Benya Lagoon.



The project involves the expansion of the port entrance to welcome larger vessels and canoes, and generally provide modern facilities of international standards for port operations.



In addition to the proposed dredging and reclamation works of Benya Lagoon, it will guarantee the sustainable revitalization of the town and the long-term development of the strategic project.



It will strengthen Elmina's position in the fishing and salt industries and place the city at the heart of the cultural ambition of the Government along the coast.



Addressing the gathering at the ceremony, President Akufo-Addo underlined the immense contribution the sector will generate in terms of employment and addition to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).



He noted that the project will be a key to the development of the fishing industry and would additionally bring about job creation and increase the food and nutritional values of the people of the area and Ghana at large.



He assured that Government was working assiduously to build more fishing infrastructure along the coastal stretch of Ghana with innovative policies and programmes to sustain the sector.



The President was optimistic that the newly-developed waterfront will have a significant positive influence on tourism activities in the Elmina enclave and called on all to support him to achieve it.



Mr. Kwamena Duncan, the Central Regional Minister enumerated the massive social infrastructural projects, factories, and unrivaled investments in agriculture, fishing- landing beaches among others.



He pledged Government's determination to construct more fisheries and coastal infrastructure with ancillary facilities to better the lot of fishers.



Nana Kojo Condua XI, Omanhen of Elmina Traditional Area expressed gratitude to the President for the honour done the historical city of Elmina and called on all to be optimistic and render their unalloyed support to complete the project as scheduled.



He pleaded with the President to ensure that the Edina Traditional Council got its share of the revenue from the Elmina Castle and thanked the Government for the quantities of outboard motors distributed to fishermen to aid their fishing expeditions.



Sector Ministers including Mrs. Elizabeth Afoley Quaye, Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Minister, Mrs. Barbara Oteng Gyasi, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister, Mr Samuel Atta Akyea, Works and Housing Minister, and Mr Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, Transport, took turns to address the elated jubilant people who showered praises on the government.

Source: GNA









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The border between the United States and Canada remains closed, but you can still get a taste of Canada thanks to Tim Hortons.

The Canadian cafe chain announced Thursday that it is offering free coffee and doughnuts to Americans who arent able to visit or take a vacation to see our neighbors to the north due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Beginning today through August 31, Tim Hortons U.S. is offering guests who missed out on their Canadian vacation, the opportunity to receive a free medium, hot or iced coffee and a donut, including the newly launched Dream Donuts, through the Tim Hortons app.

Tim Hortons owners want to bring a little bit of Canada to our guests who werent able to make their trip North this summer. Its our way to share a small taste of our Canadian heritage, said Ricardo Azevedo, Regional President of Tim Hortons U.S.

RELATED: Tim Hortons, Kelloggs partner to create Froot Loops doughnut

To enjoy a little taste of Canada, guests based in the U.S. can submit their trip cancellation story to TimsUS@timhortons.com using the email address associated with their Tims Rewards account.

The free coffee and donut offer will be added to their account on the Tim Hortons app once the email is reviewed and their account is verified. This offer is valid at participating U.S. restaurants only and is limited to the first 10,000 responses received.

Visit timhortons.com/offer-terms for more details.
Scores turn out for Phuket Job Fair

PHUKET: The concourse at the Baan & Beyond shopping mall on the bypass road was bustling with job seekers today (Aug 20) as the Phuket Employment Office held its Phuket Job Fair 2020.

COVID-19economics

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Thursday 20 August 2020, 03:46PM

Job seeking advice, counselling and even a free haircut service were also available at the job fair. Photo: PR Phuket

Phuket Vice Governor Supoj said that recently more than 20,000 people in Phuket had registered as unemployed. Photo: PR Phuket

More than 1,200 job vacancies were available at the event, explained Santi Nantasuwan, Chief of the Phuket Provincial Employment Office (PPEO). Photo: PR Phuket

Any space would do in order to fill out a job application form today. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Job seekers flocked to the Phuket Job Fair in search of work today (Aug 20). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Job seekers flocked to the Phuket Job Fair today in search of work. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

More than 1,200 job vacancies were available at the event, where people seeking work and potential employers could discuss job opportunities with each other in person, explained Santi Nantasuwan, Chief of the Phuket Provincial Employment Office (PPEO).

The aim of the event was to accelerate the [economic] recovery, to stimulate the local economy and promote employment in the area, Mr Santi said.

The job vacancies promoted today were not only in Phuket, he added. Employers present today offered jobs in the neighbouring provinces of Phang Nga and Krabi, and as far away as Ranong, Surat Thani, Nakhon Sri Thammarat and Songkhla provinces.

Applicants today could even register their availability to work abroad, he said.

A total of 30 businesses took part in the job fair, offering a variety of positions, including public relations and marketing, sales and administration. Also presented were courses in skills development training, Mr Santi explained.

PPEO officers were on hand to provide career and job-seeking advice, as well as counselling, he noted. Also available was a free haircut service.

The COVID-19 situation has had a serious economic impact. Businesses across Phuket have had to shut down and lay off workers. Most recently, more than 20,000 workers have registered that they lost their jobs due to such problems, said Phuket Vice Governor Supoj Rotreuang Na Nongkhai, present to officiate the opening of the job fair.

Events such as the job fair were much welcomed, he added.

To help people left unemployed by the COVID crisis, departments under the Ministry of Labour are working with business operators so they can offer any job vacancies directly to those seeking work, V/Gov Supoj said.

Mr Santi pointed out that the relevant officials were present at the job fair to provide advice about labour law in terms of dismissal or forced resignation, and for obtaining government benefits.

Times are tough in the job market, Mr Santi admitted, and the annual influx of new graduates entering the world of work for the first time this month are adding to the problem of the current economic situation.

Mr Santi urged any persons seeking work to register with the PPEO.

People can even register online through the Phuket Employment Office website. Their information will be entered in the Department of Employment national database, which has more than 50,000 positions available all across the country, Mr Santi explained.

This will help us to match any registrants with positions being offered by employers, and we can help applicants to call the employer for an interview, he added.
New Delhi/Beijing

India and China were unable to bridge their differences on the disengagement and de-escalation process along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) during diplomatic talks on Thursday, with New Delhi emphasising the need to resolve outstanding issues speedily.

People familiar with developments during the meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs dismissed an assertion in a readout from the Chinese foreign ministry that the two sides had positively evaluated the progress in the disengagement process.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava told a virtual media briefing the two sides will continue to work towards complete disengagement on the LAC. He added: In this context, they agreed to resolve the outstanding issues in an expeditious manner and in accordance with existing agreements and protocols.

The WMCC meeting was co-chaired by joint secretary (East Asia) Naveen Srivastava of the external affairs ministry and Hong Liang, director general of the boundary and oceanic department of Chinas foreign ministry. This was the bodys fifth virtual meeting since the standoff along the disputed border emerged in the open in May.

The people cited above, speaking on condition of anonymity, rejected the Chinese foreign ministrys assertion that the two sides had positively evaluated the progress in disengagement of troops at friction points on the LAC.

Thats their assessment. It isnt our assessment, said one of the people. The disengagement process is a work in progress and more needs to be done.

The people pointed to the external affairs ministry spokespersons comments on August 14 about some progress being made in the disengagement process, and that translating the principles of disengagement on the ground is a complex process that requires redeployment of troops by each side towards their regular posts on their respective sides of the LAC. This, they said, continues to be Indias position.

Spokesperson Srivastava characterised the discussions during the WMCC meeting as candid and in-depth and said the two sides reaffirmed that in accordance with the agreements reached between the two foreign ministers and the two Special Representatives (SRs), the two sides will continue to sincerely work towards complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC in the western sector.

He added, The two sides were in agreement that restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas would be essential for the overall development of bilateral relations.

The two sides acknowledged the need to maintain close communication through diplomatic and military channels to ensure complete disengagement, and agreed to continue ongoing engagements, including the meetings of WMCC, he said.

The Chinese foreign ministrys readout, issued in Mandarin, said the two sides reviewed the situation in the border areas and positively evaluated the progress made in the disengagement of the frontline forces of the two countries, and had a frank and in-depth exchange on remaining issues on the ground.

The two sides agreed to earnestly implement the consensus reached by the two countries foreign ministers and Special Representatives on border issues, continue to maintain dialogue and communication through military and diplomatic channels, promote further relaxation and cooling of the Sino-Indian border situation, properly handle remaining issues on the ground, and jointly maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas, the readout added.

Experts believe India now has no other option but to prepare for deploying thousands of troops along the LAC during the winter as several rounds of talks at the military and diplomatic level havent led to the restoration of the status quo as it existed in April.

Christopher Clary, assistant professor of political science at the University at Albany, said: Its been over 100 days since the first clashes at Pangong Tso and more than two months since the Galwan clash. While modest progress has been made, and it is a good sign both sides are talking, the reality is India shouldnt expect talks will achieve much.

Indias strategy of having more video teleconferences with various Quad countries is probably insufficient to change Chinas cost-benefit calculus, he said.

India can hope the nasty winter of eastern Ladakh might nudge China toward somewhat more disengagement, but it seems more likely Indian troops are facing additional long, cold months of forward deployments to prevent future Chinese land grabs, Clary added.

...
The owners of a well-known bar in Northern Ireland have said they are "absolutely devastated" after temporarily closing due to three customers testing positive for coronavirus.

Dorman's Bar, in Magherafelt, said that despite imposing stringent safety measures, three customers who visited the bar over the weekend of 15-16 August have tested positive for Covid-19.

The bar's management was informed through the Department of Health's track and trace programme.

Read More

In a statement posted on Facebook, Dorman's Bar said: "According to government guidelines we can reopen after a deep clean as its an isolated case but to ensure the protection of the health, welfare and safety of our staff and customers we have decided to close the premises this weekend and until all our staff have been tested, their results checked and the premises have undergone a thorough professional deep clean.

"We are absolutely devastated that this has happened but unfortunately it is a situation that is unavoidable and which a lot of businesses will face in the coming months.

"Thank you to all our customers for your support and our sincerest apologies for any inconveniences caused by our temporary closure."

The bar received financial support from Ulster Bank to assist them through the pandemic in May.

A loan was secured through the UK government-back Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS).

Dorman's is owned and managed by Henry and Teresa McGlone, who have operated in the Mid Ulster hospitality industry for more than 30 years.
PHSC plc

(the "Company" or the "Group")

Final Results for the year ended 31 March 2020 and Notice of Annual General Meeting

Financial Highlights

 EBITDA of 0.255m, an increase of approximately 120% from 0.116m last year (after adjustment for exceptional gain on property sale of 0.166m last year)

 Statutory loss after tax of 0.015m compared with a profit of 0.001m last year (which included gain on property sale of 0.166m last year)

 Group revenue of 4.438m compared with 5.215m last year

 Cash reserves of 0.756m at year end compared to 0.642m last year

 Write-down of 0.200m due to impaired goodwill, the same as last year

 Group net assets at 4.978m after goodwill impairment compared to 5.140m last year

 Loss per share of 0.11p compared to a profit per share of 0.005p last year

 Final dividend of 0.5p proposed, making a total of 1.0p for the year, matching the 1.0p paid last year

31.3.20 31.3.19   Profit before tax 4,999 42,494 Less: interest received (1,990) (303) Add: interest paid - 1,514 Add: depreciation 52,194 38,179 Add: impairment B2BSG Solutions Limited goodwill 200,000 200,000 Less: net gain on sale of property - (166,270) Underlying EBITDA* 255,203 115,614

* Underlying EBITDA is calculated as earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, impairment charges and non-recurring costs. This is used by the board as a measure of underlying trading and has been provided to assist shareholders in understanding the Group's trading activities.

Annual General Meeting

This year's annual general meeting (AGM) will be held at 10am on Wednesday30 September 2020 at the Old Church, 31 Rochester Road, Aylesford, Kent ME20 7PR.

The report and accounts and notice of AGM are expected to be posted to shareholders on or around 24 August 2020 and will shortly be available to view on the Company's website at www.phsc.plc.uk.

Dividend

The Company confirms that, subject to shareholder approval at the AGM, the final dividend of 0.5p will be payable on 16 October 2020 to shareholders on the register on 2 October 2020.



For further information please contact:

PHSC plc (www.phsc.plc.uk)

Stephen King (stephen.king@phsc.co.uk) - 01622 717700

Strand Hanson Limited (Nominated Adviser)

Richard Tulloch/James Bellman - 020 7409 3494

Novum Securities Limited (Broker)

Colin Rowbury - 020 7399 9427



About PHSC

PHSC plc, through its trading subsidiaries Personnel Health & Safety Consultants Limited, RSA Environmental Health Limited, QCS International Limited, Inspection Services (UK) Limited, and Quality Leisure Management Limited, provide a range of health, safety, hygiene, environmental and quality systems consultancy and training services to organisations across the UK. B2BSG Solutions Limited offers innovative security solutions including electronic tagging, labelling and CCTV.

The information contained in this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No 596/2014.

STRATEGIC REPORT

On behalf of the board, I present my review of the Group's activities and performance during financial year 2019-20, along with a commentary about the Group's plans and expectations for 2020-21.

General business review and outlook

Trading for the year ended 31 March 2020 showed consolidated Group revenue of 4.438m (31 March 2019: 5.215m) and EBITDA of approximately 255,000 for the period. In the previous year, the Group recorded EBITDA of 116,000 (excluding an exceptional gain from the sale of an unused property).

Sales within B2BSG Solutions Limited, the Group's security division which predominantly serves the high street retail sector, continued to decline during the year, as a result of the ongoing struggles within the high street retail sector impacting on the demand for our services. Revenues in the security division fell to 1.9m (31 March 2019: 2.7m), accounting for 43% of Group revenues compared with 52% in the previous year. As a result, the board considered the carrying value of its security division and decided that a further impairment of 0.2m (31 March 2019: 0.2m) was appropriate.

Revenues in the Group's health, safety and management systems businesses remained stable at 2.5m (31 March 2019: 2.5m), though accounted for 57% of the Group's overall revenue (31 March 2019: 48%).

Various actions were taken to mitigate the effect of lower sales across the Group as a whole, which led to cost savings in a number of areas. In particular, there were lower overheads and premises-related savings across the Group. The security division, whilst still loss-making, saw an improvement overall and further commentary regarding this subsidiary and the other companies within the Group appear later in this report.

Impact of COVID-19

The specific impacts of COVID-19 on each subsidiary is provided later in this report, though from a Group-wide perspective the pandemic had a marginally adverse impact on the year ended 31 March 2020. The financial consequences of COVID-19 will largely be seen in 2020-21, though are at this stage very difficult to quantify due to the uncertainty of how the UK economy will respond to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. The trading update below provides figures for Q1 of 2020-21.

Cash at bank stood at 756,000 at year end. Due to concerns about cash flow during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Group exercised an option to defer payment of VAT due for Q4 of 2019-20 but has recently made these payments in full (162,410) to HMRC.

The Group continues to enjoy a strong cash position and has an undrawn facility with HSBC plc, renewed in October each year and currently agreed at 50,000, having been reduced from 150,000.

Since the start of the pandemic, the Group has reviewed staffing levels and has made five posts redundant, including three at the security division. In addition, the Group furloughed a number of staff under the Government's Job Retention Scheme. All except one subsidiary has taken advantage of the furlough arrangements, with up to half of the Group's staff furloughed at the peak of the crisis.

Our priority has been the health, safety and wellbeing of customers and staff, and our expertise in the field of health and safety has enabled us to continue to provide various services to existing clients. We have also been able to acquire new clients who commissioned us to assist with enabling them to provide COVID-Secure environments so that they could return to work.

All Group directors elected to take a 20% reduction in pay from 1 May 2020 for the duration of the furlough scheme.

Net asset value

As at 31 March 2020, the Group's consolidated net assets stood at 4.98m (2019: 5.14m). There were 14,677,257 ordinary shares in issue at that date which equates to a net asset value per share of 34p.

As we have previously stated, the Company's ordinary shares continue to trade at a substantial discount to the net asset value. We recognise that there is a value of goodwill on the balance sheet and we review this each year to ensure that the value is fairly stated. In each of the past two years, the board has taken the decision to reduce the carrying value of our security division by 200,000, and we have done the same thing in 2019-20 in line with good accounting practice. The write-down represents a reduction of approximately 4% in the consolidated net assets of the Group. The board remains satisfied that all other goodwill valuations can presently be justified.

Outlook

Whilst the effect of COVID-19 on the economy is the greatest concern for the Group, this does not reduce the potentially negative effects of the lack of specific terms on which the UK will trade with the EU at the end of the transition period this year. That matter was causing some clients to delay certain investment decisions, and this is exacerbated by the uncertainly brought about by the pandemic. We may also be affected positively or negatively by future Government fiscal measures to assist the recovery of the UK economy and we will pay close attention to such decisions as they are announced. In the context of our security division, an important general economic factor is the purchasing power of sterling as a weaker pound erodes our gross margins. The closure of many retail premises is also a critical factor as the move to online shopping accelerates.

Trading update

Unaudited management accounts for the first quarter of 2020-21 indicate that Group revenues were 0.82m and generated an EBITDA of 108,300. This compares with total revenues of 1.08m for the first quarter of 2019-20 and an EBITDA of 84,600.

Dividends

A total dividend of 1.0p per ordinary share, (146,772) was paid in respect of the year ended 31 March 2019. An interim dividend of 0.5p in respect of the year ended 31 March 2020 was paid in February 2020 and, subject to shareholder approval, a final dividend of 0.5p, to be paid from earnings from the year ended 31 March 2020, is proposed for payment in October 2020, matching the total of 1.0p paid last year.

Pre-tax profit/(loss) per subsidiary before Group management charges

Profits before tax and management charges are reviewed by each subsidiary and by the board every month to establish whether each subsidiary is trading profitably and to determine whether intervention is necessary. To provide a more accurate picture of the performance of each subsidiary, the cross-charging of consultants between subsidiaries has been introduced so that the cost of labour is met by the invoicing company rather than the subsidiary providing that labour.

A review of the activities of each trading subsidiary is provided below. The profit figures stated are before tax, central management charges and impairment charges. The management charges are the individual subsidiary's contribution to Group overheads and are not directly attributable costs.

B2BSG Solutions Limited (B2BSG)

2020: revenues of 1,915,200 yielding a loss of 90,800

2019: revenues of 2,724,000 yielding a loss of 137,400

The fall in revenue reflects the reduced demand from B2BSG's primary sphere of operation which remains the retail sector which has continued to suffer as a result of weaker consumer demand on the high street and the move towards on-line purchasing which has accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 165,000 was saved in lower staff salaries and associated expenditure through restructuring and non-replacement of leavers. There were no redundancy payments necessary in this process.

There are bad debts of 18,730 provided for in the accounts. These stem mainly from a second period of administration by a large client, Debenhams, who have proposed a Company Voluntary Arrangement for their UK businesses and have closed their estate in Ireland entirely.

Selling into the retail sector remains challenging and the COVID-19 pandemic will have a large effect on our client base. Any further material deterioration in the retail sector and specifically in B2BSG's client base may have a significant negative effect on B2BSG's and hence the Group's prospects. In the meantime, B2BSG is making use of available business grants and the Government's Job Retention Scheme and looks forward to an increase in demand once high streets are able to recover.

Inspection Services (UK) Limited (ISL)

2020: revenues of 230,800 yielding a profit of 37,400

2019: revenues of 232,600 yielding a profit of 43,500

ISL ended the year with marginally lower sales and a slight increase in total costs compared with the prior year. ISL offers a fairly narrow range of specialised services directly to clients and, for the most part, through insurance brokers. The work involves the statutory examination and inspection of workplace plant and equipment where plant failure may lead to a serious risk of injury. This includes lifting plant and equipment, pressure vessels, power presses and bailing machines.

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) notified duty holders across the UK that the obligation to have plant and equipment examined in line with statutory frequencies was not being relaxed. Our professional association, the Safety Assessment Federation, in consultation with the HSE, deemed us to be "key workers". This enabled ISL to carry on trading as normal, subject to complying with appropriate safety protocols to safeguard staff and those they may encounter in their work and as a result, demand has remained stable during since the financial year end.

Personnel Health & Safety Consultants Limited (PHSCL)

2020: revenues of 763,600 yielding a profit of 302,500

2019: revenues of 657,100 yielding a profit of 278,000

Income from PHSCL's flagship product, the Appointed Safety Advisor Service was around 10% down year on year. However, consultancy income from non-retained clients more than doubled to around 225,000. In addition, revenue from training courses was up by 20,000.

Despite the reduction in revenue from the Appointed Safety Advisor Service, PHSCL derives most of its income from this product. There was some client churn, though generally client retention is good and has not been unduly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

PHSCL continues to meet the accreditation requirements for the ISO 9001 quality management standard, having held this "kitemark" for 23 years since becoming the first organisation of its kind to achieve the standard.

Since the financial year-end, COVID-19 has had an effect both on PHSCL and the clients we serve. There has been demand for consultancy advice in relation to preparing COVID-Secure workplaces and this has introduced us to a number of clients for whom we have not worked before. Once a degree of normality returns, we would hope to build on those relationships by offering other services.

QCS International Limited (QCS)

2020: revenues of 756,700 yielding a profit of 220,900

2019: revenues of 759,500 yielding a profit of 242,300

QCS maintained a good level of both sales and profits and performed as expected over the year. The introduction of management standard ISO 45001 (for health and safety) and work assisting clients on ISO 27001 (information security) more than offset the loss of work in the previous year relating to the transition to new quality and environmental standards.

Sales in public training and consultancy services remained strong. Full advantage was made of the investment in new training facilities that are now able to accommodate additional delegates. However, in-house training sales weakened, and this caused total sales for the year to end marginally below those for 2018-19. An internal target to increase public training sales by 12% over the period was achieved. Efforts will continue to promote in-house services and reduce the decline in that area. Consultancy sales remained consistently strong throughout the year, posting growth of 7%. QCS continues to enjoy exceptionally high levels of repeat business and has developed a loyal customer base across many economic sectors.

Departure from the EU has not yet directly affected sales, though a significant proportion of medical device work is linked to an ability to offer services linked to EU regulation. QCS now offers a 'UK Responsible Person' service in the event of a no-deal conclusion to the transition period which may present some opportunities, acting as a UK address for manufacturers of medical devices within the remaining EU. To date there have been an encouraging number of enquiries regarding the service. The weakness of sterling has the potential to work in QCS's favour.

Quality Leisure Management Limited (QLM)

2020: revenues of 353,400 yielding a profit of 75,700

2019: revenues of 437,600 yielding a profit of 106,500

QLM made a profit before tax and central management charges of 75,711, compared to 106,576 in the previous year.

Retained client renewals remained largely the same in comparison to the previous period. Small deviations are seen as contracts between local authorities and QLM clients change, or smaller clients are absorbed by larger operators though there remains a strong need for QLM's expertise with clients placing significant reliance on its services.

Although the support service remains a stable source of income, audit income fell significantly compared to the same period last year. Savings and cost cutting exercises across many local authorities has seen a knock-on effect to the resources of leisure trusts and other QLM clients. In addition, auditing functions are more frequently tackled internally by clients leading to less need for external verification and auditing. The impact of COVID-19 remains to be seen and will depend on what support is given to the sector by local authorities and central government.

Training is a core income stream and remained generally consistent with previous years. The most popular courses were IOSH Managing Safely and QLM's own (CIMSPA Endorsed) Health and Safety Management in Leisure and Culture Facilities.

One full-time consultant left the business in October 2019 and was not replaced which led to greater use of sub-contractors.

RSA Environmental Health Limited (RSA)

2020: revenues of 418,100 yielding a profit of 83,500

2019: revenues of 404,300 yielding a profit of 66,700

Revenue for the year was up by 3.4% to 418,100. Costs were effectively controlled, and this led to gross profit margin of 53% (2019: 52%).

Integration of the Envex brand into RSA has brought in some much-needed skills which have aided service delivery to our existing clients, reducing the need to rely on contractors and associates.

Whereas in previous years the focus of RSA has been on the SafetyMARK brand, providing safety services to the school's sector, this year has seen the revenues fall into four main categories; training, health and safety consultancy, food safety consultancy and SafetyMARK. This has widened the focus and spread some of the risk, leaving RSA potentially less exposed in the future.

SafetyMARK, whilst remaining the main focus, saw revenues fall within the financial year to around 90,000. This can be partially accounted for by a number of postponed audits at short notice within the last quarter. This happened due to a combination of staffing changes at key schools and the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. There was also an impact on this sector by RSA diverting its attention to fulfilling a large contract in the hospitality sector. However, demand for safety services in schools remains strong and is expected to pick up when schools are fully open in September 2020.

Training has seen an increase due to the numbers of courses being provided to clients compared to the previous year. There continues to be demand for some of our public courses within the schools' sector and for our IOSH accredited school courses. Training was not unduly affected by COVID-19 in March, with only a couple of courses having to be postponed to the next financial year

Health and safety consultancy saw the biggest change in demand for the year 2019-20 as a result of the large contract in the hospitality sector previously mentioned. This generated significant revenues for RSA but was very heavy in administrative terms.

Food safety consultancy saw strong demand, but the impact of COVID-19 saw an end to the ability to continue with auditing of our regular clients. All clients have stated that they will restore the audit programmes as soon as the various sectors are allowed to open.

PHSC plc

2020: net loss of 424,100 before management charges, exceptional costs and dividends received

2019: net loss of 523,700 before management charges, exceptional costs and dividends received

The Company incurs costs on behalf of the Group and does not generate any income. The costs incurred by the Company represent the costs of running an AIM quoted Group. The reduction in costs is due to changes in staffing arrangements between the Company and the subsidiaries. Costs in all other respects are consistent with the previous year.

PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINITIES

Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic involving the spread of COVID-19 has presented several different risks to the business. The spread was rapid and the global repercussions unprecedented.

As Government guidance evolved, a comprehensive plan was developed and updated by the directors to minimise the risk to staff, customers and business continuity. This was circulated to all staff and contained measures to maintain business productivity whilst protecting the health of employees, customers, and other stakeholders. The plan was monitored and revised in response to new information published by Public Health England. Guidance was also published on the website for staff, customers, and prospects to access.

The risk of employees contracting the virus, resulting in loss of key staff to illness was mitigated by working from home being encouraged wherever appropriate. Vulnerable workers were identified and asked to shield, and employees contacted regularly to monitor welfare. A skeleton staff remained in the head office to minimise numbers present whilst at the same time maintaining business continuity. Social distancing was exercised, and hand sanitiser provided.

Where consultants were required to visit clients' premises, mainly to advise on COVID-19 related topics, face masks and disposable gloves were issued. Consultants were asked to use their own vehicles to commute rather than take public transport. A focus was to protect PHSC's reputational risk by ensuring staff adhered to government guidelines. In the short term, all classroom training was ceased.

The risk of poor communication during the pandemic was mitigated using Microsoft Teams and Zoom to keep in touch with staff and clients. The operational directors met via Zoom each week for a business update and to share knowledge and best practice. Board meetings were also undertaken as scheduled via Zoom.

In terms of lost revenue and profit, the impact in the year ended 31 March 2020 was immaterial though the full effect will be felt in the new financial year. The UK lockdown has inevitably led to a loss of business and revenue, as schools, leisure facilities, shops and pubs/restaurants make up a significant portion of the Group's customer base. An exception to this is ISL, where the Health and Safety Executive did not relax the obligation to have plant and equipment examined in line with statutory frequencies. The engineers were deemed key workers and ISL was able to carry on trading as normal, subject to complying with appropriate safety protocols to safeguard staff. Another mitigating factor is the uninterrupted subscription income received by some of the subsidiaries which provides a base of ongoing revenue. It is also fortunate that the expertise within the Group in the field of health and safety has enabled various services to continue to be provided to existing clients and new clients have been secured who commissioned assistance with the provision of COVID-Secure environments. Income from the Government Job Retention Scheme and Business Grants have also played a key role in maintaining cash flow.

In terms of liquidity risk, the Group had a strong cash position at the year end and the start of lockdown. Good credit control has been maintained by the head office staff and with the income from the Government's schemes, the Group has remained cash generative. Payment of VAT for Q4 was initially delayed in line with an HMRC concession but was subsequently settled in full.

Although the economic outlook remains uncertain, the discipline of forecasting has been maintained, though initially with a reduced horizon. Expectations for first half of 2020-21 are that with the continued use of Government funding assistance, the Group should do no worse than break even and will maintain a strong cash position.

Regulatory/Marketplace

Approximately 50% of the Group's work involves assisting organisations with the implementation of measures to meet regulatory requirements relating to health and safety at work. If the regulatory burden was to be substantially lightened, for example if the government embarked upon a programme of radical deregulation, there could be less demand for the Group's services. Changes to the operation of the employer's liability insurance system, as proposed in some quarters, could reduce the incentive for organisations to buy in claims-preventive services such as health and safety advice. In mitigation of these risks, the board has diversified the Group's range of offerings for example, through investing in its security businesses and is exploring non-regulatory areas of environmental work to add to the current portfolio of services.

In the event of a "no deal" end to the post-Brexit transition period, the Group's security division will take appropriate steps to ensure that sufficient supplies are held of relevant products to meet the predicted needs of customers. In doing so, customers can expect more frequent requests to forecast their likely requirements over longer time horizons than usual. The security division is already dealing extensively with a wide range of imported goods, some from within the EU and others from countries beyond the EU. It is therefore well-versed in customs processes and expects to be able to apply the same or similar processes to imports from within the EU (albeit at potentially different tariff rates) should that prove necessary under a "no deal" Brexit. Matters outside the Group's control would include delays caused at customs if administrative demands on border officials are suddenly increased, resulting in slower clearance times for imported goods.

There are predictions by economists that the value of sterling may deteriorate if the UK and EU cannot reach a trade deal by the end of the transition period. Whilst the Group will take reasonable steps to hedge against the effects of a weaker pound, customers are being advised to consider pre-ordering and/or increasing their stock levels of those products supplied by the Group's security division which they see as critical to their business. Higher stock levels would have the double benefit of reducing the risk of an interruption to supply, and mitigating the impact of price rises that would ultimately work their way through to all imported goods if there is a materially weaker exchange rate. The warehouse at B2BSG has the capacity for storage of additional products and close partnership with logistics providers will allow access to further warehousing space should that prove necessary.

The Group's security division works almost exclusively in the retail sector and this has continued to suffer as a result of weaker consumer demand on the high street and the move towards on-line purchasing which has accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Any further material deterioration in the retail sector and specifically in B2BSG's client base may have a significant negative effect on the company's and hence the Group's prospects.

Technological

The Group's website is a primary source of new business. If the website became inaccessible for protracted periods, or was subject to "hacking", this may prejudice the opportunity to obtain new business. Additionally, the increase in the use of the internet for satisfying business requirements may lead to a reduction in demand for face-to-face consultancy services and the number of training courses commissioned may be affected by moves towards screen-based interactive learning. The subject of IT security is regularly reviewed by the board to ensure that appropriate strategies are in place.

Personnel

Generally, there is an excess of demand over supply for health and safety professionals. Those with sufficient qualifications and experience to be suitable for consultancy roles are in the minority. This has the combined effect of making it difficult for the Group to source suitable personnel and having to offer higher remuneration packages to attract them. The Group is dependent upon its current executive management team. Whilst it has entered into contractual arrangements with the aim of securing the services of these personnel, the retention of their services cannot be guaranteed. Accordingly, the loss of any key member of management of the Group may have an adverse effect on the future of the Group's business. The Group and each subsidiary have contingency plans in place in the event of incapacity of key personnel.

Geographical

The Group offers a nationwide service, but a number of organisations see benefit in using consultancies that are local to them and internet search engines favour local providers. With offices in Kent, Berkshire, Northamptonshire and Scotland, the Group has a good geographical spread.

Licences

The Group is reliant on licences and accreditations to be able to carry on its business. The temporary loss of, or failure to maintain, any single licence or accreditation would be unlikely to be materially detrimental to the Group, as the directors believe that this could be remedied. However, if the Group fails to remedy any loss of, or does not maintain, any licence or accreditation, this will have a material adverse effect on the business of the Group. The Group has internal processes in place to ensure that the licences and accreditations are maintained.

SECTION 172 STATEMENT

The Companies (Miscellaneous Reporting) Regulations require large companies to publish a statement describing how the directors have had regard to the matters set out in section 172 (1) (a) to (f) of the Companies Act 2006. These sections require directors to act in a way most likely to promote the success of the Group for the benefit of its stakeholders and with regard to the following matters.

The likely consequences of any decision in the long-term.

The board receives an annual business plan from the director of each subsidiary company, which forms the basis of the Group's strategic plan. The board requires that the plans include financial forecasts, KPI's, marketing strategy and an analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Subsidiary directors, via the Groups operational board of which they are members, consider the implications of their own plans in the context of what others within the Group are intending to do and the opportunities for synergies are explored. Any proposed actions that may adversely affect another subsidiary are flagged at operational board level and are resolved. Subsidiary directors are challenged on the content of their plans and the assumptions they have made, to ensure that the plans are realistic and achievable. Once agreed by the board, this plan, at Group and subsidiary level, is used as the benchmark against which to assess performance.

The interests of the Group's employees

As the Group is mainly involved in the supply of services, the board considers the staff to be the greatest asset and the interests of employees are taken into consideration in all decisions made. Each subsidiary company within the Group has in place the necessary structures to ensure effective communication with its employees. The subsidiary directors meet once a quarter and relevant information is shared with employees via team meetings held at subsidiary level. The views of employees are heard in a similar fashion, initially at team meetings, and ascending to the operational board and the main board if appropriate. Each subsidiary has its own bonus scheme, based on results for the financial year and/or tailor-made targets. There is an annual budget for staff training in recognition that the performance of the Group can be improved by the development of its employees.

The Group is committed to equality of employment and its policies reflect a disregard of factors such as disability in the selection and development of employees. During the year, a review was conducted to identify any gender-related pay anomalies across the Group and as at the date of this report, there are no known anomalies in any subsidiary that would fall into this category.

The need to foster the Group's business relationships with suppliers, customers, and others.

The Group seeks to treat suppliers fairly and adhere to contractual payment terms. The Group works with its suppliers to help drive change through innovation, promoting new ideas and ways of working. The Group has zero-tolerance to modern slavery and is committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all business dealings and relationships. The Group policy for Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking contains systems and controls to ensure that these activities are not taking place anywhere in the subsidiaries or throughout the Groups supply chains.

The Group also has zero-tolerance with regards to bribery, made explicit through its Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy. This covers the acceptance of gifts and hospitality and any form of unethical inducement or payment including facilitation payments and "kickbacks". The policy sets out the responsibilities of directors, employees and contractors and details the procedures in place to prevent bribery and corruption.

Each subsidiary is focussed on its customers. Communication takes many forms and is structured according to how each subsidiary interacts with its client base. Channels of communication include quarterly newsletters in hard copy and/or sent electronically, customer roadshows, various social media platforms and regular client meetings. An ongoing dialogue is held electronically, with most clients subscribing to email updates that are sent out periodically. There is also interaction through social media platforms such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook where appropriate.

Stephen King is the principal contact between the Company and its investors, with whom he maintains a regular dialogue. The Company is committed to listening to and communicating openly with its shareholders to ensure that its business model and performance are understood. Regular announcements are made to the market and the AGM provides a forum for information dissemination, discussion, and feedback.

The impact of the Group's operations on the community and the environment

The board's intention is to behave responsibly and ensure that management operates the business in a responsible manner, complying with high standards of business conduct and good governance. The Group has a long tradition of supporting local causes through sponsorship and community involvement, details of which can be found on the PHSC plc website (www.phsc.plc.uk). The directors are aware of the impact of the Group's business on the environment but believe this to be minimal due to the nature of its operations.

GOING CONCERN

Company law require the directors to consider the appropriateness of the going concern basis when preparing the financial statements. COVID-19 and the Government-imposed lockdowns and restrictions are inevitably having an impact on the Group's ability to trade normally. In terms of lost profit, a relatively small impact was felt in the year ended 31 March 2020 though the board's expectations for the new financial year have had to be significantly revised. Mitigating factors are the strong cash position at the start of lockdown, income from statutory examination of equipment (a requirement not relaxed during the pandemic), continuation of subscription income, demand for COVID-19 Secure risk assessments, and income from the Government job retention and business grant schemes. The Group's expectations and current banking facilities indicate that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Consequently, the directors continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the annual financial statements.

In closing, I would like to extend thanks to all our shareholders for their continued support and to everyone employed across the Group for their hard work and effort during these unprecedented times. The board acknowledges the valuable work carried out by every employee and recognises that it is reliant upon each individual member of staff and management if it is to succeed and prosper.

On behalf of the board

Stephen King,

Group Chief Executive

19 August 2020





GROUP STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

as at 31 March 2020

31.3.20

 31.3.19

 Non-Current Assets Property, plant and equipment 592,539 488,585 Goodwill 3,278,463 3,478,463 Deferred tax asset 19,582 17,627 3,890,584 3,984,675 Current Assets Stock 264,301 316,556 Trade and other receivables 885,947 973,130 Cash and cash equivalents 755,919 642,466 1,906,167 1,932,152 Total Assets 5,796,751 5,916,827 Current Liabilities Trade and other payables 622,938 675,162 Right of use liabilities 34,071 - Current corporation tax payable 40,250 54,707 697,259 729,869 Non-Current Liabilities Right of use liabilities 69,912 - Deferred tax liabilities 51,256 46,313 121,168 46,313 Total Liabilities 818,427 776,182 Net Assets 4,978,324 5,140,645 Capital and reserves attributable to equity holders of the Group Called up share capital 1,467,726 1,467,726 Share premium account 1,916,017 1,916,017 Capital redemption reserve 143,628 143,628 Merger relief reserve 133,836 133,836 Retained earnings 1,317,117 1,479,438 4,978,324 5,140,645





GROUP STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

for the year ended 31 March 2020

31.3.20

 31.3.19

 Continuing operations: Revenue 4,437,922 5,215,341 Cost of sales (2,251,867) (2,719,724) Gross profit 2,186,055 2,495,617 Administrative expenses (1,983,046) (2,418,182) Goodwill impairment (200,000) (200,000) Other income - 166,270 Profit/ from operations 3,009 43,705 Finance income 1,990 303 Finance costs - (1,514) Profit before taxation 4,999 42,494 Corporation tax expense (20,548) (41,795) (Loss)/profit for the year after tax attributable to owners of the parent (15,549) 699 Other comprehensive income - - Total comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to owners of the parent (15,549) 699 Basic and diluted (loss)/earnings per share from continuing operations

(0.11)p

0.005p





GROUP STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

for the year ended 31 March 2020



Share

Capital



Share

Premium



Merger Relief

Reserve

 Capital

Redemption

Reserve



Retained

Earnings





Total

 Balance at 1 April 2018 1,467,726 1,916,017 133,836 143,628 1,625,511 5,286,718 Profit for year attributable to equity holders

-

-

-

-

699

699 Dividends - - - - (146,772) (146,772) Balance at 31 March 2019 1,467,726 1,916,017 133,836 143,628 1,479,438 5,140,645 Balance at 1 April 2019 1,467,726 1,916,017 133,836 143,628 1,479,438 5,140,645 Loss for year attributable to equity holders

-

-

-

-

(15,549)

(15,549) Dividends - - - - (146,772) (146,772) Balance at 31 March 2020 1,467,726 1,916,017 133,836 143,628 1,317,117 4,978,324





GROUP STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

for the year ended 31 March 2020





Note

31.3.20



31.3.19

 Cash flows from operating activities: Cash generated from operations I 346,847 325,587 Interest paid - (1,514) Tax paid (32,017) (9,345) Net cash generated from operating activities 314,830 314,728 Cash flows (used in)/from investing activities Purchase of property, plant and equipment (39,529) (69,578) Disposal of fixed assets 2,250 299,495 Interest received 1,990 303 Net cash (used in)/from investing activities (35,289) 230,220 Cash flows used in financing activities Payments on right of use assets (19,316) - Dividends paid to shareholders (146,772) (146,772) Net cash used in financing activities (166,088) (146,772) Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 113,453 398,176 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 642,466 244,290 Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 755,919 642,466

All changes in liabilities arising from financing relate entirely to cash movements.



NOTES TO THE GROUP STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

for the year ended 31 March 2020

31.3.20

 31.3.19

 I. CASH GENERATED FROM OPERATIONS Operating profit - continuing operations 3,009 43,705 Depreciation charge 52,194 38,179 Goodwill impairment 200,000 200,000 Loss/(profit) on sale of fixed assets 4,430 (162,338) Decrease in stock 52,255 72,478 Decrease/(increase) in trade and other receivables 87,183 595,495 (Decrease)/increase trade and other payables (52,224) (461,932) Cash generated from operations 346,847 325,587

Notes to the results announcement of PHSC plc

The financial information set out above does not constitute the Group's financial statements for the years ended 31 March 2020 or 31 March 2019 but is derived from those financial statements. Statutory financial statements for 2019 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies and those for 2020 have been approved by the board and will be delivered after dispatch to shareholders. The auditors have reported on the 2019 and 2020 financial statements which carried an unqualified audit report, did not include a reference to any matters to which the auditor drew attention by way of emphasis and did not contain a statement under section 498(2) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006.

While the financial information included in this announcement has been computed in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), this announcement does not in itself contain sufficient information to comply with IFRS. The accounting policies used in preparation of this announcement are consistent with those in the full financial statements that have yet to be published.

Dividend

An interim dividend of 73,368 representing 0.5p per ordinary share was paid in February 2020 in respect of the year ended 31 March 2020. The board is proposing, subject to shareholder approval at the AGM, a final dividend of 73,386, representing 0.5p per ordinary share, to be paid on 16 October 2020, making a total dividend for the year of 1.0p.
(Natural News) The main purpose of this post is to engage you to watch the incredible July 28 video by Dave Cullen, titled The Rising Resistance to the New Abnormal. Only 34 minutes and 41 seconds long, it packs a big wallop directly related to the title of this article, including highly supportive video footage of Bill Gates that reveals how truly dangerous and weird this man, one of the worlds wealthiest, has become. He works and socializes a lot with Dr. Anthony Fauci, who has his own scary history of vaccine experimentation with little regard for what happens to the human subjects of his experiments. Stephen Mosher published a revealing article on LifeSite titled How Dr. Faucis fraudulent pandemic advice put millions of Americans through hell.

(Article republished from LifeSiteNews.com)

Gates and Fauci were made for each other.

Dave Cullen has been doing quite a few video commentaries recently on the Wuhan virus. He is a high-level techy guy. He can be rather blunt and use strong language at times, but he is a very pro-life straight shooter.

culturalreconquista.com gives this description of him.

Dave Cullen is an Irish YouTuber who started doing tech reviews, and then gradually made more and more political videos until it became his main focus. Lately, due to Googles Orwellian censorship and the lefts utter destruction in the market place of ideas, Dave has gone full circle and started doing more tech reviews again. He is part of the skeptic community, but one of its most conservative members. Somewhat of a Jordan Peterson type: violently opposed to any forms of Marxism, and with a great respect for the traditions, (many based in Christianity), that provide him the secular, capitalist, and individualist society he relishes.

I give you all this information about Dave Cullen because of what you are about to read below and the video that you absolutely must watch. It is a shocker about what is really going on.

Cullen is an excellent researcher who challenges you to accept dramatic conclusions and observations that he presents. I have personally concluded, along with many others, that this entire internationally coordinated Wuhan virus hysteria has one main goal. It is intended to keep everyone on the planet unnecessarily terrified since the climate change scam has failed to do so. The purpose, as Cullen describes in the video, is almost certainly to convince or force everyone to accept that the only way to finally reach what they call the new normal and end all the fear is to be vaccinated with their strange, dangerous new type of vaccine.

And if you dont believe that about the vaccine, watch this video.

And then the purpose of the vaccine, other than what might be in the vaccine that we dont know about, is to require everyone who has been vaccinated at least twice, and perhaps more times, to be given a vaccination passport or certificates and then eventually an implant of some kind that will be required to do just about anything, including travel, taking transit, have a bank account and credit card, buying food, entering school or college, any medical treatment, etc. Watch Gates awkwardly talk about the certificate requirement starting at 17:20 in the video.

There is also a notable segment in the video of Gates unconvincingly attempting to assure the public about the safety of his vaccine.

The trajectory of this entire co-opting of the Wuhan virus and manufactured hysteria is about a truly New World Order, or Global Reset, that will give totalitarian control of the worlds entire population to a self-selected elite of the worlds wealthiest and most powerful people. This is the dream and long-term goal of Freemasonry, communism, the Illuminati, and other similar militant secularist movements who are either explicitly or implicitly dedicated to Satan or Lucifer.

If you havent read my April 17 blog article, Are globalists using coronavirus crisis as battering ram to destroy, remake world order?, read by 1.1 million people so far, I encourage you to do so. It will greatly help you to understand the big picture about the exploitation of the virus. The July 27 two-part article, now updated in Part II, Explosion in mandatory masking isnt driven by science, but fear, adds newer big picture information about what Cullen and others are increasingly calling the scamdemic.

That two-part article puts mandatory masking into its essential wider context. It will take time and effort to read through the two parts, but I guarantee that you will find it well worth it. There is a wealth of verified information and quotes from numerous physicians and government and other reliable sources that should convince you that, in most cases, you absolutely do not need to wear a mask, it is often unhealthy to so and this virus is vastly less dangerous and more easily treatable than almost everyone has cruelly and falsely been led to believe.

We are living through deliberately created chaos, growing violence, and destruction of what is left of Christian civilization. What we now call the globalists have been trying for the past few hundred or more years to find a way to take over and control the world. It seems that with this virus, thanks to cooperation with the Chinese Communist Party by Anthony Fauci and quite a few other leading international scientists, an amazingly successful way has finally been found to effectively manipulate the masses.

A notably growing percentage of even healthy and young people are now willingly isolating themselves, wearing masks when wearing a mask makes absolutely no sense, starting to believe that a vaccine is the only possible way back to normal life and criticizing their neighbors and even any family members who will not conform to all the unelected health agency bureaucrat mandates.

One of the much more is also giving up, with hardly any fight at all, their essential communal religious practices as a false act of charity and patriotism to supposedly protect their neighbors lives. That constant virtue signaling about fake-science-based mask-wearing has become sickeningly exploitive of a naive and understandably poorly informed public.

As you may have noticed  at least in all the big cities, you would be noticing  the masses are following through remarkably quickly in shutting down the ability that God gave them to think and discern and are mindlessly doing all of the above-mentioned actions. What we are seeing is a mass disinformation and behavior modification program and on a scale that has never occurred in history. The tech giants are especially making this possible with their totalitarian control of what views and information people are now permitted to see and read.

It appears that Bill Gates must somehow be playing a major role in the background, working together with Dr. Anthony Fauci and all the leading globalists and their friends in the medical establishments, to suppress very inexpensive and incredibly effective medical protocols available long ago for COVID-19 infection that would essentially make mandated masking and a mandated vaccine unnecessary.

These protocols are proving that the virus is easily treatable as long as they are given at an early stage of infection. They have often even achieved near miracles with late-stage covid-infected patients.

A prophylactic dosage has shown that it can effectively protect essential service workers such as those in food processing plants, health care workers, and persons with comorbidities from getting infected or at least result in mild infection symptoms.

The suppression of accurate information about these protocols, according to Dr. Gold of the Frontline Doctors, is essentially killing many thousands of people. Dr. Gold goes so far as to call this a crime against humanity. And the goal of that suppression must be to make sure nothing gets in the way of convincing the public that the only real long-term solution is the vaccine.

I was on a special conference call with Dr. Gold today during which she confirmed all of the above and much more.

Dr. Gold also revealed during the call that she and others from her Frontline Doctors group went to the White House recently and were surprisingly not well received. That calls to mind that we had to report on July 31 the very disturbing news that Trump stated he is going to mobilize the US military to deliver the COVID vaccine to Americans once it is developed. I dont know how to explain or remotely justify that support by the president for a likely dangerous and unnecessary vaccine.

It is also deeply concerning that the President has not also long ago initiated a warp speed program to take off all the current illogical restrictions on HCQ use for Covid treatment and rapidly implement HCQ and other protocols that we now know could have, according to Dr. Gold, saved the lives of up to 75% of the persons who have succumbed to Wuhan virus infection in the US.

We have to ask what is really going on in Washington?

In the video, Dave Cullen includes a brief article from Robert Kennedy, Jr. who has dedicated many years to fighting the imposition of dangerous, not adequately safety-tested vaccines on children and adults because of the enormous suffering that he has seen caused by these vaccines, many promoted by Gates and Fauci.

Here is the text of the brief, but explosive article by Kennedy, chairman, Childrens Health Defense, regarding the most likely winner of the race for a vaccine for what is called COVID-19, but what I and many others more accurately call the Wuhan virus.

The July 21, 2020 article is titled Gates Pushes Experimental Technology on Seven Billion Humans. It states:

There is no rationale for vaccinating the entire population of the world. For one thing, millions have already been infected and will be immune for life against the virus.

Here are more notable quotes from the Rising Resistance to the New Normal video:

So that people will beg for the vaccine as the supposed solution to this problem, I predict there will be a dawning on people that this entire year has been all about the vaccine and that this entire agenda has been pushed way too far and way too fast. A vaccine cannot possibly be developed so quickly and also be safe, and more than that a lot of people wont want to take it because more and more people will come to terms to the fact that the fatality rate is in line with the flu. In addition there has been a lot of work done already in changing hearts and minds and red pilling millions of people globally. The turnout on Saturday in Dublin is proof that there is a public awakening taking place, albeit slowly, Were still in the minority and theres a long way to go, but it only takes a small number of people to throw a spanner in the works of this machine In order to bring it to a grinding halt. Keep in mind that the monsters behind this agenda are going to have to go to extreme lengths to achieve their goals and as they encounter the resistance, theyre going to have to become more desperate and more vicious. The lengths theyre willing to go by themselves will have a kind of red-pilling effect on many people as they will finally see the mask slip (no pun intended), the true face of evil will be revealed. People voluntarily wearing masks are not in control of their own lives and their own minds. Theyre operating like zombies. The mask has dehumanizing and demoralizing effects on the wearer but it also visually shows who the regime has conquered physically and mentally. Masks provide no health benefit in preventing infection from the virus but thats not the point. The mask is a mark, a badge of compliance and subservience to government mandates. Authoritarianism doesnt need to justify itself. Forcing people to wear masks in shops and in public transport doesnt need health care justification when the populace buy into it and wear masks in places where they arent required. At that point it is about seeing who trusts the government via propaganda without question. What the crisis has revealed is that there has been a huge percentage of the populace who never really understood what freedom meant. They believed that their freedoms and rights werent inalienable. We never knew just how many of these people were in our society until this crisis came along and now we know that vast swages of our fellow citizens believe their rights and freedoms come from the government as if the government is a school teacher or parent with the power to detain or ground them for being bold.

Those are strong words, but we have come to the stage now where strong words and actions are required. The good MUST actively resist NOW, as the California evangelical churches are doing as LifeSite has been reporting on location today and last week.

Read more at: LifeSiteNews.com and Propaganda.news.
The student and youth group travel industry is a significant industry segment that was on course to achieve its greatest year ever, prior to the outbreak of Covid-19, a report said.

Student & Youth Travel Association (SYTA), the international professional trade association promoting student and youth travel, and Bonard, an independent market research company, have released their Student Travel Business Barometer 2019 Annual Report.

This is the first-ever international report to gather quantitative data for the student group travel market, and provides important benchmarking for measuring growth in the recovery following the outbreak of Cocid-19.

Carylann Assante, SYTA CEO, said the landmark industry study aimed to establish a data platform for the global student group travel industry. This segment of the tourism industry lacks recognition, particularly at the government level where funding and recovery aid decisions are made, due to absence of reliable measurement.

The data gathered from 2019 measured three main performance indicators: number of students travelling, average trip duration and average group size.

Our 2019 Business Barometer shows that the student and youth group travel industry is a significant industry segment that was on course to achieve its greatest year ever, prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, said Assante. The pandemic brought that growth to a screeching halt, but the great value in our Business Barometer is that we now have a benchmark of real data that we can use to measure growth as we hopefully move into recovery phase in late 2020, 2021 and beyond.

The initiative was joined by 149 student tour operators from 26 countries across the world, which included both SYTA members and non-members. Overall, responding businesses represented 1.8 million travelling students.

According to Patrik Pavlacic, Head of Research at Bonard, this gave the project a strong voice internationally. The study was conducted quarterly, although the interruption of business due to the coronavirus necessitated a merged survey for Q3 and Q4.

Most recent data points to a healthy and growing sector pre-Covid-19. In line with a growing appetite among parents to invest in the education of their children, the majority of student tour operators noted an increase in demand for student travel in 2019. Of all quarters, Q2 recorded the highest number of respondents (65%) reporting a year-on-year increase in the number of students travelling domestically. Q4 and Q1 also performed strongly, with 60% and 54% of business reporting growth in customer volume. Regarding international trips, the biggest number of operators that saw an increase in student numbers was recorded in Q3 (56%), with Q2 (52%) and Q1 (46%) following closely.

We hope that these numbers predict a good sign for recovery later this year and into 2021, said Assante. If we can count on the strength of Q1, Q2 and Q4 in 2019, we are optimistic that we may be able to see a rebound in business in Q4 of 2020 and Q1 and Q2 of 2021. Of course the majority of our business is derived from school trips, so school openings around the world will be the real determinant of our recovery, said Pavlacic.

The research also mapped the global student tour operator landscape. Businesses catering to no more than 10,000 students travelling domestically constituted two thirds of the market. In contrast, two thirds of STOs involved in international travel sent abroad up to 1,000 students.

Seasonality and student preferences explored

Spring represents the most travel-heavy season both domestically and internationally, with May significantly leading in student volume. On

average, a tour operator carried 2,758 students as part of a domestic trip

and 1,157 students traveling abroad.

On the other hand, May trip durations were shorter compared to other

months. Students took the longest trips in January and July; an average

of 5.7 and 6.9 days respectively for domestic travels, and 10.9 and 10.3

days respectively for cross-border trips.

In terms of group size, the biggest groups embarked on domestic trips in

spring and autumn (between 57 and 61 students per group), while

international trips saw the biggest groups in March (43) and February

(39).

Within their previous research, The Student Travel Digest, SYTA and Bonard gathered considerable evidence on the impact of travel on young peoples lives. Thus it was not surprising to see trips with an educational component holding sway in domestic travel. Together with performance arts/music programs,

these trip types accounted for more than 60% of all student travelers. However, with international travel, the inclination towards educational trips in Q1 and Q2 was replaced by school and college tours in Q3 and community service and volunteering programs in Q4.

Critical global issues of concern

The Business Barometer also explored the sentiment of student tour operators on three key issues: Health and safety, the role of technology in business and sustainability.

Student travel customers continued to place cost and content aspects of their trip as their top priorities in 2019, however safety was growing as a concern. With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, safety is expected to emerge as the top global concern. Prior to the pandemic 46% of responding SYTA members claimed to be prepared for critical situations, however 59% of non-member organisations already felt challenged by safety concerns and risk management requirements.

All student tour operators make use of mobile applications and social media to communicate with schools and parents, however a majority of the operators surveyed did not use GPS devices to track students during their trips. And, finally, none of the operators recorded high demand from customers for sustainable

elements in group travel and in fact found reluctance by customers to bear higher costs to pay for sustainable features in their itineraries.

We anticipate that we may find some striking differences in the attitudes of operators and their customers to all of these issues in 2020 and beyond, said Assante. Health and safety will be #1 on each operators list of priorities for certain, and we expect both technology and sustainability to play a far greater role as trip planning transforms in a post-COVID student travel industry. - TradeArabia News Service
The West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission has directed a private hospital in Kolkata to deposit 10 lakh after a Covid-19 patient died on August 10. The hospital had refused to admit her if her family members did not deposit an initial sum of 3 lakh.

Ideally, the hospitals license should have been cancelled for this. But since many patients were still being treated and there are no other allegations of negligence, we didnt want to take such a step. We have directed the hospital to deposit 10 lakh while the case is being heard, said retired judge Ashim Kumar Banerjee, the chairman of the commission.

The commission has barred the hospital from taking any advance deposit while admitting Covid-19 patients, he added.

The 60-year-old woman died on August 10, allegedly while waiting in an ambulance outside the private hospital in east Kolkata. Her son said that the hospital demanded 3 lakh as an advance payment, without which they wouldnt admit her. While the family took an hour to arrange the money, the woman died.

This is the first case in which the commission took suo moto cognizance. It was inhuman and very unfortunate, said Banerjee.

The commission had earlier put a cap on the advance payment demanded by private hospitals in the state. It had said that private hospitals could not charge patients over 20% of the estimated cost of treatment or a maximum of 50,000 at the time of admission.

In a separate case, the commission recommended that the license of another private hospital be cancelled as it had declined to pay 2 lakh to a complainant. The commission had awarded a compensation of 3 lakh to the complainant about a year ago. The hospital only paid 1 lakh.
The daughter of Prince Albert of Monaco, Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, who was hospitalized over the weekend with worsening Covid-19 symptoms, has spoken out after being discharged.

The 28-year-old, who lives in California, first announced she had contracted the virus in early July, saying her symptoms included 'debilitating' migraines and a fever that lasted for three or four days.

But last Friday after her symptoms worsened, she was admitted to hospital spending five days there before being released to continue her recovery at home.

'Doctors are still learning and confessed they have seen other cases similar to mine. I am beyond frustrated and just want my body to find peace and comfort,' Grimaldi said in a lengthy Instagram post.

Scroll down for video

In a video posted on Friday (seen above), Jazmin Grace Grimaldi told her followers that she had experienced a new range of symptoms after first being diagnosed with Covid-19 in July

In a lengthy message on Instagram, Grimaldi told her followers that she had experienced a new range of symptoms, including 'a chickenpox-like rash...uncomfortable body aches with longer severe pain by my lungs/rib cage, flashes of fever, and debilitating migraines.' Her message also celebrated 100 years since the 19th amendment was passed

Grimaldi, pictured left, who is the daughter of Prince Albert of Monaco, right, has been suffering with Covid-19 since being diagnosed with the virus in early July. On Friday, she said the symptoms had worsened, and posed an message to her Instagram followers that she was hospitalized as a result

'The pain is so uncomfortable and debilitating and there is not much to do but to rest, and ice packs for some relief. I am sharing my story so that all of you can be aware and maybe share in similar symptoms.

'The COVID virus is so strong and mysterious,' she added. 'I know we are all over talking about COVID, hearing about COVID, and living in fear or disbelief of this virus.

'Believe me, I am more than ready to be done myself but unfortunately, I have no choice. Listen to your body!'

In early March, Jazmin's father Prince Albert (left), who first publicly acknowledged Jazmin's paternity in 2006 after the media pieced together Jazmin's story, became the first head of state to test positive for COVID-19

Jazmin Grimaldi poses alongside musician and producer boyfriend Ian Mellencamp at an awards dinner in 2018

In a video posted on Friday, Grimaldi told her followers that she had experienced a new range of symptoms, including 'a chickenpox-like rash...uncomfortable body aches with longer severe pain by my lungs/rib cage, flashes of fever, and debilitating migraines.'

Under the picture of herself in hospital, Grimaldi posted a message to her followers - first celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, and also to give an update on her battle with Covid-19

She added that a series of tests of Friday found she had low white blood cell and lymphocyte counts, as well as other indicators that the virus was active, leading to the decision to hospitalize her.

'Those of you may know I have been struggling with my health due to COVID. My immunity may be knocked down for a little while longer but my spirit is high, I'm a strong woman, I'm a survivor,' her post said.

'I am happy to admit I'm out of the hospital and now I am home on this winding road to recovery. However, I was admitted to the hospital over the weekend because my symptoms continued to worsen since I last checked in on Friday.'

She went on to say that doctors were unsure whether her condition is becuase of the earlier strain detected, or whether she had contracted a new one, adding that she had been 'put on antibiotics for possible COVID-related pneumonia' after a small nodule was found on her right lung - which could be damage from the virus.

Grimaldi, who is Prince Albert's daughter from his short relationship with American Tamara Jean Rotolo, posted the update on her health along with a message celebrating 100 years since the 19th amendment was passed, giving women the right to vote in the U.S.

'I am proud to be a woman. I am never going to throw away my right to vote or disrespect my female ancestors who took a stand,' she wrote.

'Today we celebrate 100 years since the 19th amendment was passed so that women could vote! I am happy to announce I sent in my absentee ballot today, GO VOTE!'

Four weeks ago, Grimaldi posted a message on her Instagram saying that she was 'so thankful that I am starting to finally feel like myself today after almost three weeks since I first felt Covid symptoms,' saying that the symptoms were coming-and-going.

'I do in fact have Covid symptoms that continue to linger and pop up on and off again,' she wrote.

While Jazmin is the daughter of Prince Albert of Monacco, she is not in the line of succession to the Monegasque throne due to being born our of wedlock. Her mother, Tamara Jean Rotolo, was waitress at the time she met Prince Albert.

She grew up in Palm Desert, California, and when she was younger her mother would reportedly show her pictures of her paternal grandmother - Grace Kelly - an American film actress and Princess of Monaco, and Albert's mother.

Jazmin Grace Grimaldi is the granddaughter of the late American film actress and Princess of Monaco Grace Kelly, and has done some acting and singing of her own

'One of my first and fondest memories involving my grandmother was watching' she told Harpers Bazar in 2015, speaking of the 1956 musical, in which Kelly starred alongside Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra.

'It was the first time I realized we had a connection. I'm passionate about acting, singing, and dancing,' adds Jazmin. 'I saw that in her in this movie. It was a real goose-bumps moment for me.'

While she is not in line to the throne, her father has said that his children will be taken care of financially, and stand to inherit part of his personal fortune through be more than $1 billion.

Despite her mother being open about her lineage, she did not connect with her father until she was 11 - visiting Monaco for the first time, saying she has enjoyed a great relationship with him ever since, and says she has developed a bond with Albert and his wife - Princess Charlotte.

Like her grandmother Grace Kelly, Jazmin has taken to acting and music. In 2019, she released her first single 'fearless'. Pictured above: Jazmin poses on Instagram with a mask, which displays the same name as her song, telling followers she's working to get her immunity back after suffering from Covid-19

Jazmin is also perusing both an acting and musical career in California. Her first on-screen performance was a role as a cashier in the TV series 'Jay & Pluto' in 2016, and in December 2019, she released her first single titled 'Fearless'.

In early March, her father Prince Albert, who first publicly acknowledged Jazmin's paternity in 2006 after the media pieced together Jazmin's story, became the first head of state to test positive for COVID-19.

The 62-year-old sovereign told PEOPLE at the time that he experienced mild flu-like symptoms.

'I've a slight fever, not really that bad. A little bit of a cough. I'd a runny nose the first few days, that was the first sign. I've felt a little stuffed up but that's it,' he said. After he spent several weeks self-isolating in the palace, the royal returned to his family.

Pictured: Prince Albert II of Monaco and his daughter Jazmin Grace Grimaldi attend the Monte-Carlo Masters tennis tournament in Monaco

According to Article 10 of Monaco's constitution, out-of-wedlock children are not in the line of succession to the principality's throne. It specifies that only 'direct descendants' of Monaco's monarch or siblings may inherit it.

Extramarital children are common among the ruling family of Monaco, with ever Grimaldi generation for 100 years acknowledging a child that did not have legitimacy of birth.

Some of those children have gained succession right through legitimization or adoption - including Princess Charlotte - but Jazmin could not have been legitimized because her mother's divorce proceedings were not finalized by the time of her birth - and therefore even the subsequent marriage of her biological parents would not have been enough.

Furthermore, in 2002 Albert's father Prince Rainer III (and Grace Kelly's husband) made obtaining succession rights through adoption impossible with a modification to the constitution.
His ex Fran Parman made an eye-catching return to TOWIE this week after two years.

And now James 'Diags' Bennewith has finally found love after his public split with his costar in 2017.

The reality star, 28, went Instagram official with his girlfriend Sophie Ernoult as they shared a loved-up snap.

Loved-up: James 'Diags' Bennewith went Instagram official with his girlfriend Sophie Ernoult as they shared a cute snap

Sophie has dated the hunk for six months according to The Sun but the post was the first time they have gone public with their relationship.

The couple posed for a cute mirror selfie together as Diags stuck his tongue out for the snap.

Sophie captioned the post: 'We have a good time.'

Cute: The couple posed for a cute mirror selfie together as Diags stuck his tongue out for the snap

New love: Sophie has reportedly dated the hunk for six months but the post was the first time they have gone public with their relationship.

The couple met in February while they were volunteering in Uganda for a charity which helps children.

Diags split with Fran back in 2017 when they had an acrimonious split after she initially joined TOWIE as his housemate.

It comes after Fran made a return to the show this week and nearly suffered a wardrobe malfunction.

The star made a triumphant  and eye-catching  return as she nearly revealed her ample assets.

She's back! Fran Parman was seen making a return to TOWIE, as she filmed in Essex on Monday

Sporting a new look, the 29-year-old reality star commanded attention in a deeply plunging white ruched minidress, which barely scraped her thighs.

Standing tall in a pair of white strappy heels, the brunette beauty covered up with a berry red bomber jacket, which did little to conceal her over-spilling bosom.

Fran also looked different to her old days on TOWIE, wearing her chestnut locks in long sleek waves, which she highlighted with a rich palette of makeup.

Accessorising with chunky jewellery and a pair of oversized hoop earrings, Fran looked at home as she joined co-stars Yazmin Oukello, James Lock, Clelia Theodorou, and Nicole Bass.

Runneth over: Standing tall in a pair of white strappy heels, the brunette beauty covered up with a berry red bomber jacket, which did little to conceal her over-spilling bosom

In 2018, shortly after making her exit from TOWIE, Fran was spotted suffering wardrobe malfunctions at two different London parties in as many months.

That same year, Fran unveiled her newly slimmed physique on Instagram while revealing she has lost a huge 3.5 stone.

The reality star shared her impressive transformation with before and after photos, explaining her battle with her own body insecurities to her followers.

Proud with the change in her figure, Fran explained that she had suffered from 'awful anxiety' and found herself in a 'really bad place' a few months beforehand, but persevered through her worries to overhaul her image.

Despite feeling 'anxious' in the gym and thinking that she would be 'laughed' at by going, the beauty insisted that her determination to shape up had motivated her to look past her fears and dedicate herself to her training regime.

Look: Fran was seen sporting a new sleek hairstyle and bronzed visage. Pictured right in 2019

Oops! In 2018, shortly after making her exit from TOWIE, Fran was spotted suffering wardrobe malfunctions at two different London parties in as many months. Pictured in March 2018

She penned: 'Before anyone starts commenting anything please read what I have to say here before you judge... so I was in a really bad place a few months back, got awful anxiety even when I went to the gym I was so anxious if people would look and laugh.

'But I got through it and thought, no this is my journey, I'm here for me so Im not going to worry about anyone else but myself and look at the out come, 3 and a half stone lighter now.'

Prematurely addressing any criticism or claims that she has had work done to help her weight loss, Fran then defiantly added: 'Before anyone says I've edited it or that's not me or I've had lipo suction. I haven't.

'I've done this journey for younger girls to follow my tips and do it the right way. I will be uploading tips very soon on how to loose weight. If anyone says I had lipo coz of the bruise on the side of my hip I got drunk Friday and walked in to a car.'

Body: In 2018, Fran unveiled her slimmed down physique while revealing she had lost 3.5 stone

She had starred on The Only Way Is Essex for seven series and was known for her relationship with Diags. They had dated for three years, before confirming their split in September 2017.

Sources claimed at the time that Fran 'felt lost' in the wake of their break up and was left upset after being sent messages alleging Diags had brought girls back to the apartment she had shared with him.

Insiders revealed: 'They don't talk at all now that they've split... she is utterly heartbroken it's come from him and can't stop crying. She never had any idea he was 'that' guy. They were best friends and best friends don't do that to each other.'
Shein cites as an example HSBC, which has swept up tons of business from these rate discounters because theyre able to go cheaper. He says that for independent brokers, the real value-add has to come from client service.

What a holistic approach looks like

Sheins model starts with questions. He approaches client conversations and prospects by finding out what they do for a living, what they want out of their mortgage, and how it fits into their business or their career. He doesnt discuss product until the conversation nears its end and he knows exactly which product can best serve a particular client. In doing so, he can offer products that might seem less ideal if looked at in isolation, like carrying a higher rate, but they might also reduce the clients tax burden and saving her more money overall. Its small moves like this, Shein says, that can both benefit the client and ensure their continued loyalty to a brokerage.

Building loyalty doesnt just mean working directly with the client. Sheins holistic service involves connecting directly with a clients accountant, lawyer, and financial advisor to coordinate the mortgage and ensure the plan fits within the clients wider financial life. This helps him deliver better holistic service to his client and establishes relationships with other professionals who may well become sources of new business in the future as they refer their other clients to Shein.

Sheins approach has helped him and the Peak team weather the storm during the COVID-19 pandemic. He says their numbers are up roughly 17 per cent year over year, due in part to the way a holistic approach better serves a higher net worth client. Those clients have been among the least economically affected by the pandemic and have become even bigger players in the housing market.
People should be able to recognize dangerous high temperatures to avoid illness or death from heat. AP Photo/Mark Lennihan

Heat waves are the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States, not the more photogenic windstorms and floods. Hotter summers from climate change are causing concerns over new dangers to people.

As a medical school professor, Ive focused on physiology, neuroscience, the evolution of the big brain and, more recently, climate science and civilizations vulnerability to abrupt shocks from climate change. Today Im wearing my physiologists hat and asking: How do heat waves kill?

Extreme heat will continue to plague the western third of the country through the middle of this week. ~56 million people are under heat advisories or warnings, and many daily record high temperatures are forecast. pic.twitter.com/xHUYGiFURr  NWS WPC (@NWSWPC) August 17, 2020

We can take the heat  usually

Thanks to our meat-eating ancestors, who could run down prey in long midday chases on the African savanna, we humans are able to keep our body temperature in the range where we function best in a wide range of conditions, even those combining extreme heat with extreme exertion.

So, whats the problem? Humidity. There wasnt very much of it in the African Rift Valley 2 million years ago to shape us. And evolution does not think ahead.

The combination of high heat and high humidity is most common on islands, peninsulas, the eastern half of the U.S., and the eastern third of China. NOAA.gov

Unlike the African savanna, the eastern half of the U.S. can be both hot and humid in the summer, thanks to water vapor from the Gulf of Mexico and the Great Lakes. I grew up in Kansas City in the midst of Gulf Stream humidity wafted north by the monsoon circulation, then studied physics at Northwestern University on the shores of Lake Michigan. I experienced high-humidity heat waves there, but none so severe as the Chicago high-humidity heat wave in 1995 that killed 739 people in a week.

Normally sweat evaporates off your skin and you cool down. But with high humidity, the air is already saturated with water vapor, and so evaporative cooling stops. However, you keep sweating anyway, threatening dehydration.

To spot heatstroke, check for confusion

What can overwhelm a person is a heat source that you can neither escape nor counter. Overheated people suffer from painful involuntary muscle spasms and heat exhaustion. One of the criteria for when these are advancing to the potentially fatal heatstroke is when someone is no longer thinking normally. They look flushed and their conversation becomes incoherent.

Staying hydrated is critical to avoid dangerous overheating. AP Photo/Richard Vogel

What should you do if you think someone is overheated? Test for confusion about time or place. Ask Where are you? When did you come here? Who did you come with? If you get incoherent answers, treat it as an emergency.

Take charge. After directing someone to phone for help, arrange bystanders so they cast shade over the victim. Shielding the persons billfold and phone, then pour bottled water to soak the clothing and hair. If the victim can sit up and drink, provide water but dont insist.

Heat waves can kill via the dehydration caused by heavy sweating; the altered sodium and potassium concentrations in the blood confuse both heart and nerve cells, and so breathing or heartbeat may suddenly stop.

The other major route to a fatal outcome is that prolonged overheating can create widespread inflammation, not just a flushed face. The dilation of so many small blood vessels means that much venous blood pools, failing to return to the heart. Recovery can take two to 12 months.

An unbroken series of nights, when it is too hot to sleep, poses a major threat. Should a sleepy caregiver become confused or exhausted, and no longer provide water and wet towels for children or seniors every hour, they may die.

Mega heat waves and other extreme weather surges

Stalled jet stream loops in the atmosphere have led to two mega heat waves. One in Europe killed 70,000 people in 2003, leading to the term mega. Some thought that it was one of those once-in-a-million events, unlikely to be seen again in our lifetime.

Then, a mere seven years later, 56,000 were killed in Russia. This second mega also ruined the Russian wheat crop; they immediately stopped exporting, setting the stage for the Arab Spring food riots and uprisings of 2011.

A heating ramp began in 1977 for both land and ocean surface. After 1984, land temperatures rose 150% faster than ocean surface. The problem with big heat waves, however, is with their longer duration, not the extra degree or two. Beginning about 2000, a series of five sustained surges in extreme weather occurred. All involve an increased duration of events, usually secondary to a stalled jet stream loop, unable to drift eastward, and so clouds fail to arrive to cool things off. Extreme Weather and What to Do About It, by William Calvin; data from NASA/GIS

As I describe in Extreme Weather and What to Do about It, this sort of abrupt climate shift is what we are now up against, not just the slow rise in average global temperature.

Organizing for a heat wave

When an unbroken series of hot nights are forecast, opening cooling centers is not enough. Neighbors should organize in advance, so that the able regularly check up on the less able, testing for heatstroke with questions that might reveal confusion. Phone before visiting so that you can ask, When was the last time the phone rang? Leave behind cool six-packs of bottled water and snacks for bedside consumption.

In the meantime, remind your elected officials that they must prepare for more big heat waves. They also need to address the cause with big projects that quickly remove excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to cool us off. We must now back out of the danger zone for even worse extreme weather. As we have already seen, it can take big steps as it worsens, even though overheating itself merely creeps up.

Deep knowledge, daily. Sign up for The Conversations newsletter. William H. Calvin is the president of the CO2 Foundation of Seattle.

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By Ayya Lmahamad

The volume of trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Iran amounted to $179,275 during the period of January-July 2020, local media reported with reference to the State Customs Committee on August 19.

The volume of trade turnover during the reporting period decreased by 48 percent, compared to the same period last year.

The volume of export operations from Azerbaijan to Iran amounted to $20.787 during the first seven months of the year, which is by 18 percent less compared to the same period of 2019.

Meanwhile, the volume of imports amounted to $158,488, which is by 2 times less compared to the same period last year.

Thus, there is a negative balance of $137,700, showing the decrease in the volume of trade operations between two countries, during the period of January-July 2020.

Earlier, it was reported that the volume of Azerbaijans trade operations amounted to $15.3 billion in the period between January and July.

Foreign trade turnover decreased by 30.3 percent in actual prices and by 20.5 percent in real terms, compared to the same period last year. In addition, imports decreased by 42.8 percent, while export by 4.6 percent.

During the reporting period, legal entities and individual entrepreneurs carried out trade operations with partners in 167 countries. Goods were exported to 100 countries and imported from 155 countries.

Among the European countries, Italy topped the list for importing Azerbaijani goods, while among the CIS countries, Russia accounted for the largest volume of export.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
annonce une nouvelle, qui se deroulera du 5 au 9 octobre. Le CEO Jensen Huang sera evidemment present et l'accent devrait etre mis sur l'intelligence artificielle. La derniere Keynote, de mai 2020, avait permis de decouvrir l'architecture Ampere avec le GA100. La partie gaming de l'architecture Ampere devrait profiter de son evenement propre d'ici la.
Former president Barack Obama and former Democratic Party presidential candidate Hillary Clinton were due to speak at last nights Democratic National Convention in support of party candidate Joe Biden.

Barack Obama was last night due to issue a blistering rebuke to President Donald Trump in the Democratic Party convention, accusing his successor of unleashing America's "worst impulses" and treating the presidency as a reality show "to get the attention he craves."

In excerpts released ahead of his address, the former president also put the stakes in the November election in stark terms - warning that the future of American democracy is on the line in the race between Mr Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden.

"I am also asking you to believe in your own ability - to embrace your own responsibility as citizens - to make sure that the basic tenets of our democracy endure," Mr Obama said in the excerpts.

He was due to speak live last night from Philadelphia's Museum of the American Revolution, ahead of Kamala Harris, Joe Biden's running mate - the nation's first black president handing off to the first black woman on a major party presidential ticket.

Even in the heat of campaigns, former presidents are typically more restrained than other politicians in their criticisms of a sitting president.

Yet Mr Obama's remarks - his most personal and direct critique of Mr Trump yet - reveal the 44th president's striking disregard for the nation's current commander in chief.

He said that while he hoped Mr Trump might come to take the presidency seriously, he now believes he is simply incapable of doing so.

Mr Obama's headlining role at the convention was aimed in part at galvanising younger, more liberal voters who may not have a natural affinity for the 77-year-old Mr Biden, a career politician with a more moderate record.

Meanwhile, former presidential candidate and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was due to return to the Democratic convention state to cement her legacy as a champion of women in politics - and to urge people to vote, even if they're convinced Joe Biden will win.

Mrs Clinton, who lost the presidency to Donald Trump in 2016 despite winning the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes, is a complicated figure in US political culture.

She is despised by many Republicans and viewed warily by some progressives who are increasingly assertive in shaping the modern Democratic Party.

In her speech, Mrs Clinton was due to reflect on her loss and urge Americans not to take the election's outcome for granted after some voters stayed home in 2016, according to the advance excerpts released yesterday.

"For four years, people have said to me; 'I didn't realise how dangerous he was'. Or: 'I wish I could go back and do it over.' Or worse: 'I should have voted.' Well, this can't be another woulda coulda shoulda election," she was expected to say.

Four years after she made history as the first woman nominated for president by a major party, Mrs Clinton nodded to another enduring legacy: the millions of women inspired by her 2016 bid who marched, ran for office and became a powerful force in taking on Donald Trump.

On Tuesday night, Joe Biden officially secured the Democratic nomination for US president, winning votes cast by party delegates in 57 states and territories in an online spectacle.

When his nomination became official, cameras flipped to Mr Biden, who was watching the roll call with his wife, Jill, in a Delaware school.

"Thank you very, very much from the bottom of my heart. Thank you all. It means the world to me and my family," Mr Biden said.

Former second lady Jill Biden headlined the two-hour event from a vacant classroom. Classrooms like the ones she stood in, empty now because of the pandemic, "will ring out with laughter and possibility" if her husband is elected, she said.

She was one of a mix of speakers from across the country who extolled the nominee as a man of character and virtue while making an aggressive case that Donald Trump's presidency has been a failure.

"The burdens we carry are heavy and we need someone with strong shoulders," Ms Biden said in an emotional speech about the tragedies in their lives that ended with a surprise appearance by the nominee.

"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," she said.
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ALSO takes over dicom Computer-Vertriebsges.m.b.H., an Austrian Value Add Distributor. The acquisition is part of the systematic expansion of ALSO's Solutions and Services business and at the same time complements the company's portfolio of product categories and vendors.

EMMEN, SWITZERLAND / ACCESSWIRE / August 19, 2020 / For ALSO, the acquisition will give access to new interesting customer groups, mainly in the B2B and public sector. Dicom's expertise will also be an important part of ALSO's Solutions portfolio for its resellers. The company sees an increasing trend towards cloud-based or hybrid solutions in the data center sector. The knowledge of the dicom team in the design and installation of IT infrastructures will therefore be used to quickly expand the offering in this area.

At the same time, the acquisition means an expansion of the ALSO ecosystem on the vendor side, because not all of the vendors dicom works with - Citrix, Sophos, and Fujitsu with the full range of services - were previously part of the ALSO portfolio.

"The company's profile fits perfectly into our Solutions business model and will continue to drive ALSO forward in this area. We have the same mindset and are therefore convinced that the integration will proceed very fast and successful," said Gustavo Moller-Hergt, CEO of ALSO Holding AG (SIX: ALSN).

Dicom's customers, with whom the company generated revenues of approximately 30 million euros in financial year 2018/2019, will also benefit from the acquisition, which is still subject to the standard regulatory approvals. ALSO not only gives them access to new vendors and product categories. With ALSO's Service business model they can expand their offerings via the ALSO Cloud Marketplace towards cloud-based Workplace- or Device-as-a-Service solutions and thus enter the lucrative, usage-based as-a-Service business.

Direct link to media release: https://www2.also.com/press/20200819en.pdf

Story continues

Contact person ALSO Holding AG:

Beate Flamm

Senior Vice President Communication

Telefon: +49 151 61266047

E-Mail: beate.flamm@also.com

ALSO Holding AG (ALSN.SW) (Emmen/Switzerland) brings together providers and buyers of the ICT industry. ALSO offers more than 660 vendors of hardware, software, and IT services access to over 110 000 potential buyers, who can call a broad spectrum of other customized services in the logistics, finance, and IT services sectors, as well as traditional distribution services. From the development of complex IT landscapes, the provision and maintenance of hardware and software, right through to the return, reconditioning, and remarketing of IT hardware, ALSO offers all services as a one-stop shop. ALSO is represented in 23 European countries and generates total net sales of approximately 10.7 billion euros with around 4 000 employees in the fiscal year 2019. The principal shareholder of ALSO Holding AG is the Droege Group, Dusseldorf, Germany. Further information is available at https://also.com.

Droege Group

Droege Group (founded in 1988) is an independent advisory and investment company under full family ownership. The company acts as a specialist for tailor-made transformation programs aiming to enhance corporate value. Droege Group combines its corporate family-run structure and capital strength into a family-equity business model. The group carries out direct investments with its own equity in corporate spin-offs and medium-sized companies in "special situations". With the guiding principle "execution - following the rules of art", the group is a pioneer in execution-oriented corporate development. Droege Group follows a focused investment strategy based on current megatrends (knowledge, connectivity, prevention, demography, specialization, future work, shopping 4.0). Enthusiasm for quality, innovation, and speed determines the company's actions. In recent years Droege Group has successfully positioned itself in domestic and international markets and operates in 30 countries. More information: https://droege-group.com.

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements which are based on current assumptions and forecasts of the ALSO management. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors could lead to material differences between the forward-looking statements made here and the actual development, in particular the results, financial situation, and performance of our Group. The Group accepts no responsibility for updating these forward-looking statements or adapting them to future events or developments.

Additional features:

File: ALSO_19.8.2020

SOURCE: ALSO Holding AG via EQS Newswire





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/602415/Acquisition-of-dicom-ALSO-Strengthens-Solutions-and-Service-Business




Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has denied owning Agyapa Royalties, formerly Asaase Royalties, an entity registered both in Ghana and Jersey.



In a post on his Facebook timeline, Mr Otchere-Darko said Agyapa Royalties is 100% owned by a body set up by an Act of Parliament.



That body is the Minerals Income Investment Fund set up in 2018 (Act 978), which is 100% state-owned. Agyapa Royalties shall remain 100% owned by the Ghana Government on behalf of the people of Ghana until it does its planned initial public offering on the London Stock Market or wherever, for investors to buy shares in it. Even then the Ghana Government intends to hold on to 51%., his post read.



Richard Acheampong, the NDC MP for Bia East, accused the nephew of the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of owning Agyapa Royalties.



The MP suggested that since Agyapa Royalties was formerly known as Asaase Royalties, then it means that Mr Otchere-Darko will be a shareholder in it since he owns Asaase Radio.



But Otchere-Darko noted in his post that Yes, I am a shareholder in Asaase Radio, a completely separate business with absolutely no link to that state-owned company. But should my ownership of a radio station with the name Asaase mean that I am a shareholder in Asaase Royalties, as well?

Stretching that illogic should also make me a shareholder in AsaaseGPS, Asaase Farms, Asaase Construction and the over 20 companies bearing the name Asaase!



"The name change of Asaase Royalties, in my view, was a good move and not because of Asaase Radio, per se, but because of the number of companies with similar names in the mining sector specifically and the confusion or potential passing off that could have caused.



He has, however, instructed his lawyers to sue the MP for defamation.



I am serving notice that I have instructed my lawyers to sue the MP for Bia East, Richard Acheampong for defamation.



Read Gabby's full post below:



An MP has falsely accused me of being a beneficial owner of Agyapa Royalties, formerly Asaase Royalties, an entity registered both here in Ghana and Jersey, a British dependent, for the purposes of an anticipated listing on the London Stock Exchange.



I am serving notice that I have instructed my lawyers to sue the MP for Bia East, Richard Acheampong for defamation.



Not to be outdone, the leader of the main opposition party, John Mahama, reportedly said on his campaign tour that Jersey is known as a haven for corrupt deals and he wanted to know who the owners of Agyapa were.



Jersey, like Guernsey, is a British dependent country, an established offshore jurisdiction which offers 0% income tax for listed companies, where several non-UK companies seeking to list on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) choose to register. It would have made no sense for Agyapa to be registered in the UK proper to pay corporate taxes in the UK when its only purpose there is to raise money from the London bourse.



Agyapa Royalties is 100% owned by a body set up by an Act of Parliament, where the MP earns his income. That body is the Minerals Income Investment Fund set up in 2018, (Act 978), which is 100% state-owned. Agyapa Royalties shall remain 100% owned by the Ghana Government on behalf of the people of Ghana until it does its planned initial public offering on the London Stock Market or wherever, for investors to buy shares in it. Even then the Ghana Government intends to hold on to 51%.



The London Stock Market is the most transparent and regulated stock market in the world, with some 80% (in terms of value) of its non-UK listed companies registered in Jersey, where listed companies pay no income tax or capital gains tax. Other companies listed there and operating (or with subsidiaries) from jurisdictions like Jersey include, Tullow Oil, Vodafone Group, Anglo American, Barclays, Stanchart, BP, Diageo, BHP Billiton, Glencore, Rio Tinto and Tesco.



Until its listing is done, no individual can be claimed to have even 0.0001% of equity in Agyapa. If you are interested in owning shares in Agyapa, please wait until it gets on the stock market either here or elsewhere. Until then, dont feel that any individual has gotten ahead of yourself.



Yes, I am a shareholder in Asaase Radio, a completely separate business with absolutely no link to that state-owned company. But should my ownership of a radio station with the name Asaase mean that I am a shareholder in Asaase Royalties, as well?



Stretching that illogic should also make me a shareholder in AsaaseGPS, Asaase Farms, Asaase Construction and the over 20 companies bearing the name Asaase!



The name change of Asaase Royalties, in my view, was a good move, and not because of Asaase Radio, per se, but because of the number of companies with similar names in the mining sector specifically and the confusion or potential passing off that could have caused.



According to a statement issued by MIIF yesterday, The purpose of MIIF is to hold and manage the equity interests of the Government of Ghana (GoG) in mining companies, receive mineral royalties due to the GoG from mining operations, provide for the management and investment of the assets of the Fund, finance further development of the mining sector, and monitor and improve flows into the mining sector. Regardless of who is in power, the MIIF is the custodian of Ghanas future mineral revenues. In terms of the MIIF Act, the powers of MIIF include the creation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in any jurisdiction in furtherance of its objectives, and the listing of the SPV on any reputable stock exchange that MIIF considers appropriate, and assignment of all or any of its rights to mineral income to a SPV in furtherance of the objects of MIIF.



It is common for non-UK companies seeking to list on the London Stock Exchange to register in an offshore jurisdiction like Jersey. According to a 2016 data released by the London Stock Exchange, 93 Jersey-domiciled companies were listed on the London bourse, with a market capitalization of 115.7bn. Again, a 2015 report, Using a Jersey Company for a Stock Market Listing, reads, Jersey companies have established a strong reputation with investors  with approximately 80% of the non-UK holding companies in the current FTSE 100 index being Jersey companies.



For Agyapa to list on the LSE it needs to operate from a jurisdiction acceptable to the LSE which is also tax efficient. A listed Jersey company pays no capital gains, capital transfer or corporation taxes and a shareholder of such a listed company who is not resident in Jersey is not liable to Jersey income tax on dividends or interest paid by the company. No stamp duty or other similar taxes is payable in Jersey on the issue or transfer of shares in a listed Jersey company.



Former President John Mahama has also questioned Agyapa Royalties as dubious and for the fact that it is registered in Jersey. Really?



One cannot form an offshore company in Jersey for a dubious enterprise and then list it on the London Stock Exchange!



Before forming a company in Jersey, the Jersey Financial Services Commission ("JFSC") requires the details of proposed directors of the company and details of any material ultimate beneficial owners of the company (i.e. the shareholders of the existing holding company of the group to be floated). In this case, Agyapa was first registered in Ghana, with MIIF being 100% owner and the same applying in Jersey.



I repeat, if you are interested in holding shares in Agyapa, please hold on until the IPO. Until then it is all owned by the Ghana Government and the transparent nature of the LSE, regarding shareholders of listed companies offers the greatest assurance Ghanaians can get anywhere.



Ive taken pains to search and attach a list of some of the companies registered and operating in Ghana using the name Asaase. Typical examples are Asaase Metals, Asaase Gold Trading, Asaase Mining Services, Asaase Resources, AsaaseAse Mining, and Asaasenu Mining.











An MP has falsely accused me of being a beneficial owner of Agyapa Royalties, formerly Asaase Royalties, an entity...

Posted by Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko on Wednesday, August 19, 2020



Source: ghanaweb.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 18:57:20|Editor: huaxia

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TOKYO, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed lower Thursday on rising concerns over the U.S. economic recovery which were reflected in the U.S. Federal Reserve's July policy meeting released overnight.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 229.99 points, or 1.00 percent, from Wednesday to close the day at 22,880.62.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, lost 14.53 points, or 0.90 percent, to finish at 1,599.20.

The Fed's latest policy meeting minutes reflecting concerns over the pace of the world's largest economy's recovery from the pandemic triggered a global selloff and saw the yen appreciate against the U.S. dollar in safe haven-driven moves, local brokers said.

The Fed's gloomy outlook for the U.S. economy included doubts about the economy's ability to recover, with concerns outlined that previous positive indicators like the labor market's rebound had likely stalled, they added.

Market strategists here also pointed to some policy makers being of the opinion that more easing measures may be necessary to help the U.S. economy weather the effects of the global pandemic.

"The stock prices both in the United States and Japan have been pulled up so far only by hopes of economic recovery. Investor sentiment was dampened as the minutes suggested that the expectations might have surpassed actual business conditions," Shingo Ide, chief equity strategist at NLI Research Institute, was quoted as saying.

Adding to a downbeat market mood, strategists here said that now earnings season had finished, investors were struggling to find concrete trading cues and were drifting to the sidelines and opting not to chase the market's upside higher amid a lack of positive factors.

"With earnings season over, the market is waiting for new factors," Takashi Hiroki, chief strategist at Monex Securities, was quoted as saying on the matter.

By the close of play, electric appliance, real estate and metal product issues comprised those that declined the most.

Chip-related issues here tracked their U.S. peers lower overnight on geopolitical concerns, with the Philadelphia semiconductor index losing 0.63 percent overnight.

As such, Advantest Corp. dropped 3.6 percent, Screen Holdings fell 5.2 percent, while Tokyo Electron ended the day 3.3 percent lower.

Nikkei heavyweight SoftBank Group contributed to dragging the broader market lower, falling 2.0 percent.

Panasonic market a bright spot, however, climbing 1.5 percent, after reports the company will invest more than 100 million U.S. dollars to increase its battery production for Tesla.

Issues that fell outpaced those that rose by 1,633 to 444 on the First Section, while 96 ended the day unchanged.

On the main section on Thursday, 945.67 million shares changed hands, rising from Wednesday's volume of 915.33 million shares. Enditem




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In June, Auto Forecast Solutions put out a report compiled by its vice president of global forecasting, Sam Fiorani. One item in the report covered how Fiorani had heard from "multiple sources" that Ford shut down the program to replace the Edge crossover in 2023. Assuming this came to pass, with the Lincoln Nautilus based on the Edge, the inference is that the Nautilus would retire at or around the same time. Ford's response to media queries about the report was either "No comment" or PR-speak deflection. Lincoln's statement on the matter to Motor1, a crafty non-answer, was, "The Nautilus plays and will continue to play an important role in Lincolns growing SUV portfolio which includes the Corsair, Aviator and Navigator. Lincoln is investing in growth segments like SUVs and we have no plans to exit the segment." It's possible Lincoln has no plans to leave the segment, but the Nautilus might, according to a fresh, unsourced report in Ford Authority. The site claims the Nautilus will end production at the Oakville Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada, in July 2024.

Again, we can't know how much, if any of this, is true. But we're zeroing in on a timeline for the potential end of the Edge and Nautilus in the U.S. Those are the only two products Oakville currently builds, and when the Canadian union Unifor asked Ford about the reports in June, Ford couldn't offer union reps anything concrete or reassuring. The Detroit News quoted Unifor chief Jerry Dias as saying of the automaker, "There is no question, they are going through a major evaluation of their portfolio, based on a whole host of things."

We could be seeing one of the earlier theories for Edge's potential demise coming true. Some analysts suspect Ford could be pruning its crossover lineup because it has too many similarly-sized offerings at the moment, the Edge hasn't met its sales targets in Europe, and more compact crossovers are on the way that could bring better street cred if they're associated with the Bronco or Bronco Sport.

Story continues

Unifor and Ford are now in negotiations over a new contract, so it's possible we'll get more clarity in the next month or so about Ford's plans and what will come of Oakville and its roughly 4,000 workers. If Ford walks away from the assembly plant, it will only have two engine plants left in Canada, and no vehicle assembly north of the border for the first time in about a century. It's possible Edge production for the North American market moves to Ford's Changan Hangzhou Plant, which currently builds the Edge and the Ford Taurus for that China. It's likewise possible that Nautilus production goes across the Pacific. Or the end of the road for both models could be no more than four years away.

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Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg pauses while speaking as he testifies before a joint hearing of the Commerce and Judiciary Committees on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 10, 2018. AP Photo/Alex Brandon

The Federal Trade Commission interviewed Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg under oath this week as part of an antitrust investigation, according to Politico.

"We are committed to cooperating with the US Federal Trade Commission's inquiry and answering the questions the Agency may have," a Facebook spokesperson told Business Insider.

The interview doesn't mean the agency will definitely launch an antitrust lawsuit against the social media giant, but the testimony could help inform the FTC's investigation.

The report comes a year after the FTC fined Facebook $5 million as a penalty over its handling of user data following the Cambridge Analytica data breach.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The Federal Trade Commission virtually interviewed Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg under oath this week in an antitrust investigation, according to a Politico report.

The interview does not mean that the agency will definitely launch an antitrust lawsuit against the social media giant, Politico notes, but the exec's testimony could be used to help inform the FTC's investigation into Facebook.

"We are committed to cooperating with the US Federal Trade Commission's inquiry and answering the questions the Agency may have," a Facebook spokesperson told Business Insider in an email.

Facebook was previously fined $5 million by the FTC in 2019 over its handling of user data after the Cambridge Analytica scandal surfaced. The penalty was the largest ever issued by the FTC to a tech company.

The reported testimony comes as Facebook remains entangled in a separate antitrust probe conducted by Congress. Zuckerberg faced questioning from lawmakers in a July 29 hearing alongside the CEOs of Amazon, Apple, and Google over whether or not the firms have benefited from monopolistic business practices.

Read the original article on Business Insider
U.S. Rep. John Katko and Dana Balter say they disagree with President Donald Trumps effort to block emergency funding for the U.S. Postal Service ahead of the November election.

Instead, Katko and Balter say they support providing an immediate rescue package of at least $25 billion in aid for the Postal Service to make sure it can handle an expected surge in mail-in ballots during the coronavirus pandemic.

Katko, R-Camillus, and Balter, a Syracuse Democrat challenging him in the 24th Congressional District election, said they want to reverse cutbacks that triggered a national uproar this week about reported backlogs at processing plants.

In Central New York, the Postal Service removed four high-speed mail sorting machines from its regional processing plant in North Syracuse, leading to a slowdown in mail delivery, union officials say.

The machines, digital barcode sorters, were removed in the last month without notice to employees at the Taft Road plant, union leaders told Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard.

The facility processes mail for a region stretching from Watertown to Binghamton. Union officials said changes at the plant included reduced overtime and strict new rules that resulted in delivery delays.

Critics of the cutbacks warned the cutbacks could disrupt the November election as record numbers of Americans vote by mail during the pandemic.

Trump has made unfounded claims that a surge in mail-in voting will result in fraud. The president said he will block emergency funding for the Postal Service in an attempt to hinder its ability to process ballots sent through the mail.

Katko said he disagrees with Trump on the issue. In May, he supported a bipartisan effort to provide $25 billion in emergency aid to offset the Postal Services losses during the pandemic.

The congressman said his office has heard from dozens of Central New Yorkers who have experienced mail delays and decreases in service since Postmaster General Louis DeJoy moved forward with the nationwide cutbacks last month.

He said the timing of the cutbacks could not be worse.

Right now, Central New Yorkers are more dependent than ever on the USPS to deliver life-saving medication, economic impact payments, unemployment benefits, and essential goods, Katko said in a statement.

As we near the general election, the USPS will also be ensuring the timely delivery of absentee ballots, he said. I disagree with the president: We must not allow the Postal Service to falter at our communitys time of greatest need.

Balter said the cutbacks and Trumps comments are dangerous.

President Trump has openly admitted that hes blocking funds for USPS in order to undermine vote by mail, Balter said in a statement. Lets be clear about what this means: hes attempting to rig the election in broad daylight.

Balter added, Anyone who is unwilling to call that the authoritarian move that it is doesnt belong in Congress. We cannot let (Trump) get away with it.

DeJoy, a major donor to Trump who took office in June, responded to the increasing pressure this week by announcing he would suspend the cost-cutting initiatives until after the election.

But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said DeJoy told her he has no intention of reversing cutbacks already made, including the removal of blue mailboxes and sorting equipment.

Pelosi has called for a House vote Saturday on legislation to reverse the cutbacks and provide $25 billion in emergency aid.

Balter criticized Katko for voting against a previous coronavirus relief bill in May that included $25 billion for the Postal Service.

The aid was part of a larger package totaling $3 trillion that Katko called a partisan bill. He said the bill is loaded with initiatives opposed by Republicans, including a plan to release federal prisoners considered vulnerable to the coronavirus. The House passed the bill but it has not been considered by the Republican-controlled Senate.

Katko is among Democrats and Republicans in the New York House delegation who called for Congress to provide $75 billion to the Postal Service  $25 billion in emergency appropriations to offset losses during the pandemic, $25 billion for modernization projects and $25 billion in unrestricted borrowing authority from the U.S. Treasury.

MORE ON POSTAL SERVICE CUTBACKS

Central New York mail delivery slows as sorting machines are tossed, unions say

Pelosi: Postmaster has no plans to restore mail cuts

Postal Service halts some operational changes amid concerns about mail-in voting

Mail delays likely as new US Postal Service head pushes cost-cutting

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
A 30-year-old man was allegedly thrashed, stripped and made to wear shoe garland for allegedly raping an 11-year-old girl in a village in Mahidpur tehsil of Ujjain district on Tuesday evening, said police. He was also made to shave his head.

The victim was admitted in a hospital in Mahidpur and her condition was stated to be stable, the police said.

The accused, Vijay Bherulal, is a habitual offender and is facing two more sexual harassment cases. He came out on bail from jail a few weeks ago. He was arrested again by Mahidpur police after this rape charge against him under section 376 (rape) of IPC and relevant sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) and produced before the court on Wednesday, said Mangilal Chauhan, town inspector, Mahidpur.

Also read: MP man pedals bicycle for 105 km to take son to exam centre, he has a dream

Chauhan said, The girl was going to a local grocery shop with his younger brother who is 9-year-old in her village on Tuesday evening. Bherulal lured the girl with a chocolate and asked her brother to go back home. The man took the girl to an agriculture field and raped her. Some villagers working in the field had seen him going with the girl. As he was already facing two sexual harassment cases some villagers doubted his intention. They looked for him and later caught him red-handed in the agriculture field.

The villagers thrashed him and later, some youth of the village stripped him and shaved his head. He was made to wear a garland of shoes and paraded in the whole village before handing over to the police, said Chauhan.

Ujjain additional superintendent of police Rupesh Dwivedi said, People cant be allowed to take law in their hands. We are investigating the matter and further action will be taken against villagers after investigation.

(With inputs from Anand Nigam)
AKRON, Ohio  Faced with backlash regarding the companys policy against employees wearing political attire, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. CEO Rich Kramer announced Thursday that employees are now allowed to wear apparel that shows support for law enforcement.

The statement from Kramer is the second issued by Goodyear in response to controversy erupting after President Donald Trump publicly protested the companys dress code related to political messages and called for a boycott of Goodyear tires.

Goodyear strongly supports our law enforcement partners and deeply appreciates all they do to put their lives on the line each and every day for our communities, Kramer said Thursday. We have proudly supplied tires to police and fire personnel for more than 100 years and that relationship is foundational to our company. We have clarified our policy to make it clear associates can express support for law enforcement through apparel at Goodyear facilities.

A photo taken at a Goodyear plant in Topeka, Kansas, and first reported by a Kansas television station shows that unacceptable apparel under the companys dress code includes attire with messages of Blue Lives Matter, All Lives Matter and MAGA.

Trump called for a boycott of the Akron-based company via Twitter on Wednesday, citing a ban on MAGA hats.

The company initially responded to Trumps tweet by saying it allows employees to wear messages of racial justice and equity, such as Black Lives Matter and LGBT pride, but forbids any messages supporting a political party, campaign or candidate.

In his statement Thursday, Kramer said the image aired by the station was taken in the Topeka factory, but that the slide was not approved or distributed by Goodyear Corporate or anyone outside of that facility, and that he regrets the impression it left.

Here is Kramers statement in full:

Dear Goodyear Customers:

By now, you are aware of a visual from our Topeka factory that has been circulating in the media, and I want to personally clear the record on what you are seeing and hearing. The slide in question was created by a plant employee to try to explain what is acceptable to wear in the workplace. The slide was not approved or distributed by Goodyear Corporate or anyone outside of that facility.

I deeply regret the impression it has created and want to clarify Goodyears position.

First, to be clear, Goodyear does not endorse any political organization, party or candidate. We have a longstanding corporate policy that asks associates to refrain from workplace expressions in support of any candidate or political party.

Second, Goodyear strongly supports our law enforcement partners and deeply appreciates all they do to put their lives on the line each and every day for our communities. We have proudly supplied tires to police and fire personnel for more than 100 years and that relationship is foundational to our company.

We have clarified our policy to make it clear associates can express support for law enforcement through apparel at Goodyear facilities.

The core of our company is our people and our culture. Goodyear has always supported both law enforcement and equal justice. We will always do so.

I want to thank each and every one of our customers for your partnership during these unprecedented times.

Rich Kramer, Chairman, CEO & President
Vietnams recent ban on the import and sales of wildlife and wildlife products to curb the onset of further disease outbreaks has raised the question of whether Thailand should follow suit. Steven Galster of Bangkok based anti-trafficking group Freeland thinks it should.

Heres the lowdown: With wild animals smuggled through Bangkoks Khlong Toei port, sold at Chatuchak Weekend Market and exported for sale onward; Thailand is a nexus for the global wildlife trade, and Galster thinks a law far stronger than Vietnams may protect us from the next viral disaster.

Banning this trade would drastically reduce the chance of another pandemic, Galster told Coconuts Bangkok, emphasizing that the aim is not to penalize people who hunt to feed their families but stop the profit-driven trade in animals and their parts to safeguard public health.

Thailand is a hub for trading wild animals with most of the goods moving onto places like China and Vietnam,. Species and products involved range from the perfectly legal to the illicit trade of live orangutans or tusks of dead elephants.

His group, Freeland, operates on four continents to shape government policy and prosecute wrongdoers and so protect both humans and animals from greed, corruption and organized crime. Last month it signed onto the global #endpandemics campaign.

How trafficking creates outbreaks

The commercial wild animal trade sits alongside habitat destruction as a key cause of new disease outbreaks, Galster said. Wild habitat is destroyed to make way for industrial farming, increasing contact between domestic animals such as pigs and wild animals to spread new infections.

Habitats should be protected but banning commercial trade in wild animals would make it far less likely for diseases to spread, said the environmental investigator with nearly three decades experience.

Galster revealed multiple entry points for wildlife arriving in Thailand from overseas. For example, smuggling occurs through large shipping ports such as Bangkoks Khlong Toei  a place so busy that its difficult to monitor and police. Wildlife products arrive overland, too. Body parts, such as tiger bones and rhino horns destined for traditional Chinese medicine, are sometimes hidden on commercial flights.

Story continues

Of all new and emerging human infectious diseases, some 75 per cent jump species from animals to people, the United Nations Environment Programme recently reported. COVID-19 is only the latest in a series of diseases to do this.

Described as zoonotic diseases by scientists, well-known examples include the deadly Ebola virus, which jumped to people from African fruit bats via apes and monkeys back in 1976; and the pneumonia-like SARS, which was originally discovered in Southern China in horseshoe bats and moved to civet cats and then humans in 2003.

Todays coronavirus probably started in bats too; with pangolins potentially the hosts in between, though the science is still inconclusive.

Whether or not we find out exactly which animal it came from and how, both animals carry a version of the virus, Galster said.

Thai loophole breeds pandemic risk

Commercial captive breeding, which is legal, helps mask the illegal trade.

Thailand has many animal breeding facilities  some are perfectly legal  but others, sometimes presenting themselves as private zoos, are covers for illegal trade, Galster said. In the recent past, traders who managed to smuggle something illegal in werent punished by Thai law for selling it on  provided they could show a license saying it was bred here.

The law long failed to prevent many internationally protected animals from being traded in the kingdom. There is also a long list of species, from South American rodents (capybaras) to flying possums (called sugar gliders) from New Guinea and Australia, which can be legally bred in Thailand.

Galster said that unscrupulous breeding outfits launder illegally imported animals by claiming they were bred domestically. This leads to species from elsewhere mixing with locally reared animals, increasing the risk of viruses spreading.

This year the law was upgraded.

Now if you are caught selling a species protected internationally and dont have the right paperwork, you can be arrested and penalized, Galster said.

Seeing this as a positive, he noted that a criminal trader can still falsely claim the animal was bred here. Its difficult for law enforcement to determine the truth.

Fears over lawful and unlawful trade:

The illegal wildlife trade is ranked as the fourth most serious organized crime in the world, after drugs, counterfeiting, and human trafficking according to Traffic, a global network monitoring the wildlife trade.

In 2018, Thai authorities arrested Boonchai Bach in connection with the illegal import of 14 rhino horns from Africa. He was suspected of heading up a vast syndicate trafficking poached elephant ivory, rhino horn, pangolins, tigers, lions, and other endangered species.

Bach was acquitted due, Galster said, to a weak prosecution case which called only a single witness and excluded mountains of additional evidence in possession of Thai and international agencies and NGOs.

For Galster, transnational criminals hold the door open for the spread of new viruses. But even the legal trade in wild animals can cause problems for disease control. In February 2020, a horse died for the first time in Thailand from a virus called African Horse Sickness.

As the country locked-down for COVID-19, the equine contagion spread. Leaving humans unaffected; the disease spreads through horse, mule, donkey and zebra populations by blood sucking midges and certain mosquitoes. It killed nearly 550 horses before Thai authorities brought it under control.

Experts identified an imported batch of zebras (likely destined for sale to Chinese safari park and probably carrying some kind of horsefly) as the outbreaks source. The government has now banned the import and export of zebras and related animals.

The story highlights the difficulties with legal wild animal trading. Galster points out that African Horse Sickness would not have arrived if the zebras had not been brought in.

What about Chatuchaks pet market?

A ban would affect the exotic pet section of Bangkoks Chutuchak Market, where exotic animals are sold as pets and even bred. Galsters seen it all there. Snakes, turtles and tortoises from Asia and the horn of Africa, alongside everything from sub-Saharan serval cats and feral ferrets from Myanmar to iguanas and even vultures.

Some animals are from wildlife farms outside Bangkok, and some come straight from the wild. Its hard to tell whats farmed or smuggled in. Everything is in close proximity. Dealers wear face masks and offer hand-gel, but at any time infections could be spread amongst the animals they sell, Galster said of the popular tourist destination.

Asked whether a ban would destroy the livelihoods of legal, registered traders (like those in Chatuchak) Galster suggests some of the money earmarked for post-virus economic recovery be used to compensate them and help them establish new businesses.

A ban the best plan?

Not everyone agrees with Freeland and backs a blanket ban. Richard Thomas, spokesman for trade monitoring group Traffic, says total bans are a knee-jerk reaction that are extremely difficult to implement and enforce. He cites the drug trade as an example.

If the underlying demand persists, itll be supplied, Thomas said.

Big players like the UN Environment Programme, or UNEP, agree. Recognizing in a recent report that the consumption, handling and trading of wildlife can be a factor in zoonotic disease transmission, the UNEP looks to governments to manage things better  rather than enforce a total ban.

UNEP suggests targeting specific high-risk species based on evidence such measures would be effective in stopping the spread of disease.

Particular animals (like bats) might be too risky for human consumption, and trade should be strongly discouraged, Thomas added.

He said action should be based on best outcomes.

We need to understand where and how disease spillovers occur. This isnt limited to wild animals; domestic animals have been implicated in outbreaks too, he said. Is it really safer to transport 100 domestic pigs in small cages than sell a few deer at a local market?

Galster defended the need for a ban as necessary in the face of the present global crisis.

He described such a ban as an insurance policy against another Covid 19-like disaster, saying it would mean fewer traders willing to break the law by doing business and fewer customers interested in taking the risk.

It would also restrict the flow and volume of trade so that fewer animals and fewer pathogens move about, he said.

What next?

Having spoken to advisors in Thailands public health and environment ministries, Galster is confident they are interested and says talks are ongoing. Meanwhile, many are working to better regulate the trade and enforce the laws.

Whatever the government decides to do, present circumstances dictate that it heed the link between our commercial use of animals and the emergence of future pandemics. As society gears up to build back better, the deeper point remains: safeguarding our own health means rethinking our relationships with our fellow species.

This article, Before it spawns the next pandemic, should Thailand stamp out the wildlife trade?, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters!
Most of the amount will be allocated for children who suffered health problems from lead-tainted water.

The US state of Michigan has reached a preliminary deal to pay $600m to compensate Flint residents whose health was damaged by lead-tainted drinking water after the city heeded state regulators advice not to treat it properly, officials announced on Thursday.

The amount awarded per applicant would be based on the degree of harm caused from drinking the water.

The proposed deal for residents of the impoverished, majority-Black city of Flint who were harmed by the water is a step towards making amends for a disaster that upended life in the city, Governor Gretchen Whitmer said on Thursday.

What happened in Flint should have never happened, and financial compensation with this settlement is just one of the many ways we can continue to show our support for the city of Flint and its families, Whitmer said, adding that she was deeply sorry for the uncertainty and troubles the crisis had caused.

More than 18 months of negotiations between the state and lawyers representing thousands of Flint residents produced an agreement to create a fund from which victims will be able to seek payments.

The proposed deal would need to be approved by US District Judge Judith Levy, who is overseeing lawsuits against the state.

It would rank as the largest settlement in the states history, attorney general Dana Nessel said in a statement.

Nearly 80 percent will go to claimants who were minor children during the period covered by the deal, with the largest share, 64.5 percent, devoted to children who were aged six and under when first exposed to the contaminated water.

More than 25,000 people were harmed through exposure to contaminants in Flint, including more than 5,000 children younger than 12, court records showed as of January, the Reuters news agency reported.

Lead is a powerful toxin that can harm people at any age but is especially dangerous to children, potentially damaging the brain and nervous system and causing learning and behavioural problems.

Researchers with Virginia Tech University reported in summer 2015 that samples of Flint water had abnormally high lead levels. [File: AFP]

Reports of elevated levels of lead in the blood of some children were among warning signs that prompted officials to acknowledge problems more than a year after Flint switched its water source from the city of Detroit to the Flint River in April 2014.

The move was made to cut costs while Flint was under the control of a state-appointed emergency manager during the administration of former Republican Governor Rick Snyder.

State environmental regulators advised that Flint, located about 113 kilometres (70 miles) north of Detroit, not to apply corrosion controls to the water, leading to contamination by lead that leached from ageing pipes.

Residents of the city with a population of nearly 100,000 people used bottled water quickly began complaining that the water was discoloured and had a bad taste and smell. They blamed it for rashes, hair loss and other health concerns, but local and state officials insisted it was safe.

If the settlement gains approval, it will resolve more than a hundred state and federal cases, Nessel said.

However, Nessel said that lawsuits filed by her predecessor against a subsidiary of French water company Veolia and Houston-based engineering services firm Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam (LAN) would continue unless they joined the settlement in 45 days.

A spokeswoman for Veolia North America said she did not immediately have a comment. LAN did not immediately return a request for comment.
Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin will lead an ambitious new project with 10 other U.S. institutions and global partners that has significant implications for understanding human brain health.

With support from the Next Generation Networks for Neuroscience (NeuroNex) program at the National Science Foundation (NSF), the team will examine newly discovered complexities related to synapses -- the tiny structures that form trillions of connections between nerve cells in the brain and allow us to think, sense, learn, act and remember. The partnership, which includes scientists in Germany, the United Kingdom and Canada, hopes to explore new ways to define what determines the strength of synapses and what alters their strength.

Traditionally, synapses have been treated as on or off switches -- essentially, 1-bit machines -- but this assumption is wrong. Our team discovered that the information content stored in the size of a synapse can be much higher, already found to be greater than 4 bits in some brain regions. What this outcome means is that synapses are less like light switches and more like dimmer switches that can dial in the desired strength depending on need or mood." Kristen Harris, professor in the UT Department of Neuroscience and the Center for Learning and Memory, project leader

Because new research has found synapses to be far more varied and nuanced than neuroscientists believed five years ago, the new project will examine many aspects of what's known as synaptic weight (or strength). The international scientific team will explore variation among synapses, from the level of molecules to the level of circuits, to determine what differences among them mean for our basic understanding of the brain.

Using multidisciplinary approaches, cutting-edge imaging technologies and cyber resources, the research team will generate data to predict how specific neural circuits form and function. Because recent research has uncovered the important role of differences in synaptic strength, the new project will explore how factors such as size, connectivity, volume, cellular resources and protein composition help shape these nanometer-sized structures and the effects that these differences have in the brain.

"There's still so much we don't know about how the brain works, and one of the keys to unlocking those mysteries is finding out more about specific neural circuits," said NSF NeuroNex Program Director Floh Thiels. "This requires bringing together researchers from fields including chemistry, biology and computer science and engineering, and applying the latest analysis techniques to the data they produce. This has been a goal for neuroscientists for years, and what we will see from this network of researchers is a new chapter of international collaboration and coordination."

To compare and map synaptic weights the team is developing a new form of electron microscopy called tomoSEM (tomographic scanning electron microscopy), which will be able to capture information in high resolution and across large field sizes as necessary for the research. Once completed in the Harris lab, tomoSEM will be implemented and tested across labs in this NeuroNex network, and ultimately it will be standardized for general use. The images and tools will be shared with the scientific community on a public website in collaboration with UT's Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC).

NSF has awarded more than $50 million over five years to four interdisciplinary teams, including $17.5 million for the U.S. component of the team Harris is leading. Collaborators are Alice Ting at Stanford University; Mark Ellisman at the University of California, San Diego; Erik Jorgenson and Bryan Jones the University of Utah; Clay Reid at the Allen Institute for Brain Science; Davi Bock at the University of Vermont; Narayanan Kasthuri at the University of Chicago; Linnaea Ostroff at the University of Connecticut at Storrs; Terrence Sejnowski and Uri Manor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies; Joshua Vogelstein at Johns Hopkins University; and James Carson at TACC. In addition, Viren Jain at Google (US) will participate in this project.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note was down about 3 basis points at 0.644% while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond slipped 4 basis points to 1.376%. Bond yields fall as their prices rise.

The Labor Department's report came as a disappointment to some investors, who'd hoped Thursday's report would show continued, albeit slow, improvement in the U.S. employment market. The disappointment ushered some traders toward safer assets like U.S. debt.

Treasury yields fell on Thursday after the government's latest report on the U.S. unemployment situation showed that the number of Americans filing for jobless benefits for the first time climbed back above 1 million last week.

The government's report showed jobless claims for the week ended Aug. 15 came in at 1.106 million, topping a consensus expectation of 923,000 based on a poll of economists conducted by Dow Jones. Initial claims for the prior week  that which ended Aug. 8  were revised higher by 8,000 to 971,000.

Another initial claims print over 1 million adds pressure on Washington lawmakers, who remain at odds over the next round of pandemic relief legislation.

Democrats want to continue an additional federal unemployment benefit of $600 per week that was included in a previous aid package. Republicans also favor an extension of the bolstered unemployment benefits, but at a lower rate.

"The data this month is obviously in the midst of UI benefits that were not extended and hopefully the decline in continuing claims reflected people getting jobs without the extra $600 rather than just falling off the rolls," wrote Peter Boockvar, chief investment officer at the Bleakley Advisory Group.

"One has to wonder whether some reclosings had an impact on claims but we also have to see in coming weeks what, if any, impact there will be with many schools not reopening and going virtual instead," he added.

Comments contained in the minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee's last monetary policy meeting also moved fixed-income markets overnight. Equities came under pressure after the minutes showed bank policymakers see the U.S. recovery from the coronavirus-induced downturn as "highly uncertain."

Geopolitical tensions remain on investors' radar. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday warned Russia and China not to contravene the reimposition of UN sanctions on Iran. Pompeo has been instructed by President Donald Trump to trigger the measures at the UN Security Council in New York on Thursday.

Meanwhile, White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow told CNBC on Wednesday that Trump wants to prevent China from collecting some form of payment in a deal to sell TikTok, acknowledging that redirecting some of the payment to the U.S. Treasury would be "unusual."

China's commerce ministry announced Thursday that Washington and Beijing would be returning to the table for trade talks in the coming days, after previous negotiations scheduled for last weekend were postponed.
CONWAY, Ark. (August 20, 2020)  Hendrix College film and media studies professor Dr. Joshua Glick recently signed a contract with Oxford University Press to co-edit The Oxford Handbook of American Documentary Media with Dr. Patricia Aufderheide of American University.

Never has the audience for documentaries been so large or their place in contemporary popular culture more widely discussed. The Oxford Handbook of American Documentary Media combines the interests and expertise of the projects two editors. Glick teaches and writes widely on film, TV, and emerging media formations. His book, Los Angeles Documentary and the Production of Public History (University of California Press, 2018) was recently selected as a finalist for the Richard Wall Memorial Award. Aufderheide is one of the leading experts on copyright and communication policy in the world. She also founded the Center for Media and Social Impact at American University.

Im incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to work with Oxford University Press on a project that pushes the study of documentary in new directions. It will be a thrill to bring scholars and practitioners into dialogue around the craft, aesthetics, and ethics of nonfiction media, said Glick. I look forward to drawing on this volume for my new courses and public humanities projects at Hendrix.

About the Book

This interdisciplinary volume brings together over 30 scholars from a range of fields to explore documentary media as a form of progressive advocacy, education, and artistic expression. Individual essays will examine how documentary shapes and is shaped by the economic, political, and cultural context in which it is produced.

The project will also feature a wide breadth of professionals working in the field. Including the perspective of producers, archivists, grant funders, and film festival programmers will shed light on how documentary media has changed along with initiatives to make the landscape more inclusive and diverse.

The project promises to generate new ways of thinking about the social uses of documentary and its contested place within our democracy.

From Oxford University Press

Oxford Handbooks offer authoritative and up-to-date surveys of original research in a particular subject area. Specially commissioned essays from leading figures in the discipline give critical examinations of the progress and direction of debates, as well as a foundation for future research.

About Hendrix College

A private liberal arts college in Conway, Arkansas, Hendrix College consistently earns recognition as one of the countrys leading liberal arts institutions, and is featured in Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges. Its academic quality and rigor, innovation, and value have established Hendrix as a fixture in numerous college guides, lists, and rankings. Founded in 1876, Hendrix has been affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884. To learn more, visit www.hendrix.edu.




L&T Hydrocarbon Engineering (LTHE) has signed a memorandum of understanding with power utility major NTPC to build a carbon dioxide to methanol demonstration plant.

The plant will comprise of three sub-units namely carbon dioxide capture from flue gas, hydrogen production by electrolysis of water and catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2), and hydrogen to methanol.

Subramanian Sarma, MD & CEO of LTHE, said: This development towards establishing CO2 to methanol plants is an important step towards India's commitment to combat climate change. LTHE, together with NTPC, will leverage its vast experience in engineering, construction and project management to successfully deliver this demonstration project.

Organized under offshore, onshore, construction services, modular fabrication and AdVENT (Advanced Value Engineering & Technology) verticals, LTHE delivers 'design to build' engineering and construction solutions across the hydrocarbon spectrum.

Shares of L&T lost 1.24% to Rs 966.50, as the counter witnessed some bit of profit taking. The stock had gained 2.7% in the past three sessions.

Meanwhile, shares of NTPC jumped 5.02% to Rs 99.40, as the counter regained momentum after correcting by 0.78% in the past two sessions. In the past one month, the scrip has added 13.77% as against 2.37% rise in the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex.

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As one of the leading military forces in the world, the United States Army and Marines are developing the next generation warfare that is automated to maximize combat and reconnaissance operations on the field. This robotic equipment will lessen the risk of human losses in the battlefield.

Live exercises were underway at Fort Carson, Colo, where the 4th Squadron of the 10th Cavalry Regiment has tested the unmanned Bradley Fighting Vehicles and M113 armored personnel carriers for platoon training in related military exercises.

According to army sources, the unmanned combat vehicles (UCV) just need the soldiers on point to operate the robotic units a distance away. The exact distance is 1,500 to 2000 meters, depending on the kind of terrain where the units are dispatched. The Bradley IFVs will be sent forward of the cavalry unit, to attack or recon without endangering the operators, according to Stripes.

Brig. Gen. Ross Coffman mentioned that everything is not about the technology or the robots in the field. The objective is to lessen the risk to the soldiers, with robots as tools to help in that way. Robotic technology is just at its infancy and there will be improvements in the future.

Integrating the technology with combat will be a worthy add-on to the battlefield. Coffman foresees that the U.S. will have these machines assisting their human counterparts in major operations that increase combat efficacy, according to One Alpha.

Last Thursday, Sergeant Major Michael Grinston regarded the utilization of mechanized warfare as the next phase of armed combat. Despite its potential, the robotics field is just starting and not yet sophisticated.

One of the challenges is how to seamlessly incept these warfighting machines, with their manned mechanized infantry and cavalry units, and how to best deploy them effectively.

Also read: US & Israeli F-35s Become SAM Killers After UAE-Israel Deal Formed From Iran's Threats

For example, the Bradly infantry fighting vehicle will need three men to run it, which includes the commander, driver, and gunner. Most armored vehicles need a complement of three, with no exceptions.

Army heads informed that the upcoming vehicles are ground recon drones that will go into the forward area and attack or recon any hostilities in the area. This will result in fewer operators and ground troops which are needed to recon areas with fewer casualties.

In the meantime, robot vehicles are still in need of two human operators, one driver, and the weapons operator. But there might be changes with no set operation protocol yet. Some studies are done by the military to assess the cognitive aspect that affects the remote operator.

Improvement of autonomous technology will lessen the need for operators, and one human controller may control one or a cluster of units. The military believes that IFV and the armored unit still need human input.

Coffman added that only partial autonomy is the goal, and not a full robotic one. Machines making all the decisions is not ideal. Technology is just a glorified sophisticated autopilot, so it can take some of the operating burdens from human operators.

His goal is to develop modern semi-autonomous drones that will be the cutting edge. Army and Marine corps are working together to develop this technology for both service branches. In operation, these unmanned combat vehicles need the operators to have a line of sight control. This represents the next generation of warfare for the U.S. Military.

Related article: Air Force to Send F-35s to Middle East to Blunt the Iranian Offensive

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(Natural News) In the city of Wuhan, thousands of partygoers packed a water park with no face masks in sight, dancing and cheering along as a deejay in bright yellow headphones played music on stage.

The scene is quite different from what has most have come to expect from 2020. However, this was exactly the scene at the Wuhan Maya Beach Water Park this weekend as the city returned to normal while the rest of the world continues to battle the pandemic.

Wuhan is back to normal

Wuhan was once the epicenter of the global pandemic and the site of the worlds first COVID-19 lockdown. Back in January, authorities had entirely cut off the city of 11 million from the rest of China as thousands of residents were tested and placed in quarantine over the next few months. Meanwhile, all large public gatherings were canceled and people were told to avoid gathering altogether.

As a result, Wuhan effectively became a ghost town for the first few months of the year, as work stopped and people were forced to stay at home. Even when restrictions were eased somewhat in March, people were still restricted from going out  only one resident per household was allowed to leave their residential compound for a maximum of two hours.

The lockdown was eventually lifted on April 8 and Wuhan  and the surrounding Hubei province  has not seen any domestically transmitted cases of the coronavirus since mid-May. While the cases in mid-May cause a bit of alarm, since June, the city has been slowly returning to normal.

The images of partygoers at the HOHA Water Electrical Music Festival over the weekend seem to punctuate the citys recovery. Event organizers were even offering female tourists tickets at half price in a bid to attract even more visitors.

Water park owners Wuhan Happy Valley re-opened on June 25; however, according to its deputy general manager, the park only started getting more visitors this August.

Currently, the park sees around 15,000 visitors on weekends, he said, about half of what it saw during the same time last year.

Coronavirus-free Wuhan is still vulnerable to the pandemic

While Wuhan celebrates being free from the coronavirus, experts are warning that the city is still at risk.

Australian National University associate professor in infectious diseases Sanjaya Senanayake says that even if a majority of the citys residents have been tested, there is still the risk of the coronavirus being introduced from elsewhere.

The problem is we havent eradicated Covid-19, and what that means is that as long as its not eradicated, theres still the risk of having it introduced, whether from overseas or elsewhere, he said to the BBC.

Senanayake points to the example of New Zealand which reported a new spike in cases earlier last week, even though it had no locally transmitted cases for more than three months.

A study from London came out suggesting that about 10-20 percent of people with Covid-19 are responsible for about 80% of cases, he explained.

So if youre putting large groups of people together you really have to be careful, he added. Even if one person has the virus, youre in for some rough times.

Other countries that are experiencing resurgences of the virus after having initially dealt with it successfully may serve as a warning for Wuhan. In addition to New Zealand, a new wave of cases is also afflicting South Korea, a country praised for having seemingly contained the virus early on. (Related: South Korea says relapsed coronavirus cases are testing flukes.)

Learn more about the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak over at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

BBC.com
At least 26 people were hospitalised late on Thursday evening after ammonia gas leak occurred in a dairy firm in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. The incident took place in M Bandapalli area of Puthalapattu Mandal of the district where the tank leakage occurred in a private dairy firm, Hatsun.

So far, 26 labourers have been effected. While some have been shifted to Chittoor Govt Hospital, the critical cases were rushed to the Vellore CMC Hospital in Tamil Nadu. The District Collector Narayana Bharat Guptha is monitoring the condition.

This is a developing story. More details are awaited.
They are generally eligible for COBRA, which allows them to keep their previous insurance but requires them to pay for the full cost of it, without their previous employers contributions. Normally, people have 60 days after they lose their jobs to sign up for COBRA, but the federal government has extended that window until after the national emergency of COVID-19 ends. People who dont choose COBRA right away can sign up for it later, if they have medical problems, and get coverage for medical issues that already occurred.
The claim: Trump said he would go to prison if Biden were elected president

A claim that President Donald Trump stated he would go to prison if Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden wins the election appears to be a satirical take on current events.

Facebook user Warren Lynch posted to the claim to his account on Aug. 12.

"'If you elect Joe Biden, I will go to prison.'-Donald Trump, today," the post reads.

Lynch told USA TODAY in a Facebook message that the claim was, "just a rumor that was funny."

"He will go to jail, tho," he added in reference to Trump.

Fact check: Vice President Mike Pence 'can't wait' to be on debate stage with Kamala Harris

Where did the statement originate?

Trump did not make this statement on or before Aug. 12. The claim was copied from an Aug. 2 Twitter post by user Baligubadle.

"Donald Trump today: If you elect Joe Biden I will go to prison, Baligubadle wrote. The author, whose Twitter bio reads, "tRump is not running for re-election--tRump is running to avoid prison," later admitted in the tweet thread that the post was "Satire."

Related: Joe Biden secures formal presidential nomination

The president delivered remarks from the State Dining Room on Aug. 12 about safely reopening schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the White House's website. Politico also reported on a Coronavirus Taskforce briefing held that day; a transcript of the briefing was posted to the blog Rev. There was no reference to Trump going to prison if Biden wins the presidential election during either event.

The White House released no official remarks on Aug. 2.

References to the claim did not appear in any of Trump's tweets on Aug. 2 or Aug. 12, according to the Trump Twitter Archive.

Fact check: Kamala Harris quote about 'vengeance' is fake, created by satire website

Our rating: False

We rate this claim FALSE, because it is not supported by our research. . The author of the claim admitted it was satirical. There are no references in official records to President Donald Trump having saying he will go to prison if Democratic rival Joe Biden wins the presidential election.

Story continues

Our fact-check sources:

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here.

Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Donald Trump quote is fake, originated in satire
Delhi Constables Amit Phogat and Ravinder Dhariwal have been on an extremely important and significant mission of encouraging the people of India to start donating blood, and they have been doing so by making themselves the beacon of inspiration.

In a brilliant interview with the two policemen under Delhi Capitals #SalaamDilli campaign, we got to learn about the motivation that drives constables Phogat and Dhariwal to not only maintain an extremely active network of blood donors but also visit the blood bank at least once a month and do their bit towards the cause.

According to the IGTV video shared by the Delhi franchise of the Indian Premier League (IPL), a 2015 newspaper article about the death of a person due to the lack of blood shook Phogat to the core.

After that, he made it a life goal to ensure that no other person should lose their life due to such helplessness.



At that time, it struck my mind that our countrys population is around 125-130 crore and around 1.25 crore units of blood are required annually, said Phogat. Even if 1% of people donate blood, then no one will face difficulties in the future. There wont be any death cases due to a shortage of blood.

So, the first thing that Phogat did was to make a WhatsApp group and added all of his friends to it. These group members continue to be quick on their feet and are willing to help those who are in desperate need of blood.

One year later, Phogat found huge support in Dhariwal who got posted along with him and together, they grew their network while saving countless lives along the way.

However, their mission to save lives met a big disruption with the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. With the need for blood units rising and the fear of visiting the blood bank and contracting the virus not allowing the people to donate, the duo took it upon themselves to do as much as possible.

We used to donate platelets every 25-30 days (before the pandemic) but during these times of COVID-19, we have donated every 10-15 days to help other people get over their fear.

Their hard work came to fruition as more and more people overcame the panic, started donating platelets regularly and got the system back in flow, as Phogat describes it.

We dont expect to get a Nobel Peace Prize for what we do. We just hope that one person inspires two to donate and they inspire four more, Phogat said.

We get no personal benefits out of this. It just gives us a sense of satisfaction to be the reason for someone elses smile and to save someones life. It makes us feel that we have done something worthy, Dhariwal adds.

Over the years, Constables Amit Phogat and Ravinder Dhariwal have been working for this cause selflessly and their message to the world continues to remain the same. They urge us to get over the misconception that blood donation causes weakness and request those who have never donated blood to try it once.

Salaam Dilli is a joint initiative of Delhi Capitals and Fever 104 FM saluting the citys COVID warriors. The initiative features stories of real-life heroes, working on ground zero, in their individual capacities, constantly risking their lives to serve the community.

These could be medical workers, sanitation workers, police, traffic police, doorstep delivery personnel, security personnel, NGOs, individual citizens.
Serial conman Peter Foster ended a sunny beachfront walk in handcuffs on Thursday, when he was arrested over a multimillion-dollar international sports betting scam.

Foster, a career criminal who has spent time behind bars in Australia, Britain, the United States and Vanuatu, was arrested as he walked along the beachfront in Port Douglas on Thursday.

Peter Foster was arrested on a beach in far north Queensland. Credit:IFW GLOBAL/blog.ifwglobal.com

Two Queensland detectives made the arrest posing as early-morning joggers, running along the sand where Foster had walked his two beloved Jack Russell Terriers at the same time every day for the past month.

At the centre of the alleged fraud was a company named Sport Predictions, which claimed to use experts to place bets on sporting events. However, it is alleged the bets were never placed and the money was diverted to Foster, who laundered it through NSW.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-21 00:43:24|Editor: huaxia

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SINGAPORE, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong met with Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, here at the Istana on Thursday.

Yang, also director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, said at the meeting that China is willing to join hands with Singapore and other member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to promote regional as well as global peace, stability, development and prosperity.

Noting the rising instability and uncertainties in the current international situation, Yang said that the spread of COVID-19 has made it increasingly clear that humanity shares common destiny.

China is also willing to work together with Singapore and other ASEAN countries to deepen strategic mutual trust and pragmatic cooperation and to make concerted efforts with them to safeguard economic globalization and fairness and justice in the international arena, Yang added.

In the face of the epidemic, China and Singapore have been helping each other and keeping the industrial and supply chains stable and smooth, the senior Chinese diplomat said, pointing the various bright spots in the joint anti-COVID-19 efforts between the two countries.

As this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Singapore, the China-Singapore relations are at a new historic starting point, Yang said.

China stands ready to work with Singapore to strengthen what they have achieved in the fight against the COVID-19, further promote the high-quality joint development of the Belt and Road and build the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, a joint project of western Chinese provincial regions and Singapore under the government-to-government framework of the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity.

Lee Hsien Loong, for his part, emphasized that the COVID-19 pandemic requires more than ever that countries work together and communicate with each other rationally.

The achievements the two countries have scored in their relations are beyond the imagination when the ties were forged 30 years ago.

Lee added that Singapore would take good use of the existing bilateral cooperation mechanism with China to push forward the ASEAN-China relationship and jointly spur the regional and global economic recovery.

Yang Jiechi was on a two-day visit here from Wednesday. During his visit, Yang also met with Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies and Minister for Finance Heng Swee Keat, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean and Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan. Enditem
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been put in a medically induced coma after suffering from what aides described as symptoms of poisoning. Doctors, who say his condition is critical, are now battling to save his life.

Mr Navalny, 44, is the most obvious face of opposition to Vladimir Putin inside Russia. The only opposition politician to command mass support, his investigations into graft at the highest levels of Russian government have been followed by millions. They have also made him many enemies inside the regime.

In a series of tweets on Thursday morning, Mr Navalnys press secretary, Kira Yarmysh, described how the opposition politician fell seriously ill approximately 30 minutes after take-off from Tomsk, a city in Siberia, on a flight to Moscow. The pilot was forced to make an emergency stop 500 miles away, in Omsk, from where he was rushed to a hospital. According to Ms Yarmysh, doctors initially diagnosed him with poisoning, apparently delivered via a hot liquid.

We believe Alexei was poisoned by something mixed into his tea, she said. It was the only thing he drank in the morning.

In Ms Yarmyshs account, Mr Navalny drank the tea in an airport cafe just before boarding. He began to feel ill on the plane, she said, and was sweating. I asked him whether some water would help, and he said no. Then he went to the toilet, and lost all consciousness.

Fellow passengers posted contemporaneous accounts on social media of what they saw happen. Pavel Lebedev, a native of Tomsk, described seeing the opposition leader head to the toilet and not return. He became very sick, and they have struggled to bring him round, he wrote. Hes still screaming in pain. No one is saying whats wrong with him.

A chronology of photos and videos published on Mr Lebedevs Instagram account shows Mr Navalny first drinking a hot drink in an airport cafe, then paramedics heading towards the rear section of the plane, and then, a body lying motionless in the aisle.

An early report from Russian state media insisted that law enforcement officers were not treating the incident as suspicious. At the same time, Ms Yarmysh reported that a number of police officers had arrived at the intensive care ward. The changing behaviour and nervousness of doctors around them heightened suspicions of foul play, she said. The doctor saw me in the corridor, said that some things were confidential and led police officers to another room.

Amid reports that hospital authorities were not allowing Mr Navalnys wife in to see him, the politicians longtime physician Yaroslav Ashikhmin urged doctors to help coordinate a medical evacuation to Germany. Its very important that they hand over the patient because toxicology is a very specific area of medicine and there are very few schools that can deal with a patient who was likely poisoned with some kind of toxin.

Since emerging as an anti-corruption blogger over a decade ago, Mr Navalny has become an increasingly influential opposition figure. In 2018, he made an audacious attempt to run for the presidency but was blocked on dubious legal grounds.

Over the years, authorities have stepped up an obvious campaign of intimidation against the politician. Most of the time, this has taken the form of legal frustration: exhausting challenges; fines and short-term jail sentences. However, he has been physically assaulted by Kremlin-linked goons on occasion too. A year ago, Mr Navalny claimed he had been poisoned while in detention.

History has shown that opposing the Russian regime  or the men around it  can be a dangerous business. Opposition politicians, activists, whistleblowers, journalists and defectors have frequently found themselves jailed, injured, or worse.

Poison has been suspected on several occasions, but none of these incidents have been satisfactorily investigated by police.

The Kremlin said doctors were doing all they could to help Mr Navalny, and wished him a speedy recovery as it would any other Russian citizen. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said any claims of poisoning would need to be confirmed by laboratory tests
Bodycam footage has captured the moment Phoenix police told a homeless black Muslim man who later died in custody that 'Allah can't help you now' as an officer knelt on his neck during his arrest.

An advocacy group on Thursday released what they say is previously unseen body camera footage of Muhammad Abdul Muhaymin Jr. being arrested outside a community center in Phoenix back in 2017.

Muslim Advocates, a national civil rights organization, say the video shows officers mocking the 43-year-old's religion when he cried out in pain and called for Allah as he was taken into custody.

'Allah? He's not going to help you right now,' an officer is heard saying. 'Relax dude. Stop moving. Stop resisting. You understand?'

At the time, an officer could be seen kneeling on Muhaymin's neck.

An advocacy group on Thursday released what they say is previously unseen body camera footage of Muhammad Abdul Muhaymin Jr. being arrested outside a community center in Phoenix back in 2017

Muhaymin died shortly after officers took him into custody for having an outstanding criminal warrant.

Previous body camera footage from the police included Muhaymin's plea that he couldn't breathe but left out the statements related to his faith.

Muhaymin's sister filed a $10 million lawsuit back in 2017 against the city of Phoenix alleging excessive force and wrongful death.

'The city of Phoenix and the Phoenix police targeted my brother for his race, they mocked him for his religion and disability, and then brutally killed him,' Muhaymin's sister, Mussallina Muhaymin, said in a statement on Thursday as the bodycam video was released.

'Muhammad Muhaymin Jr. was a man - a man with a family who loved him.'

She has said her brother was homeless and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and schizophrenia.

None of the officers were criminally charged or faced internal discipline for their actions.

At one point, an officer could be seen kneeling on Muhaymin's neck. Muhaymin died shortly after officers took him into custody for having an outstanding criminal warrant

Previous body camera footage from the police included Muhaymin's plea that he couldn't breathe but left out the statements related to his faith

Daniel O'Connor, a lawyer defending the officers in the lawsuit, said in an email on Thursday that he is prohibited from discussing ongoing litigation. The Phoenix Police Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Muhaymin's family see echoes of his killing in George Floyd's death at the hands of Minneapolis police officers in May.

The incident began when police were called to a community center in the city's Maryvale neighborhood in January 2017 after a dispute arose over whether Muhaymin, who suffered from mental disabilities, could bring his service dog into a public bathroom.

Muhaymin was eventually allowed to go into the bathroom but officers ran a records check and discovered he had an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court for a misdemeanor drug-paraphernalia possession charge.

Once outside the community center, tensions rose as an officer told Muhaymin to put down his dog because he was under arrest. An officer knocked the dog out of Muhaymin's hands after he said he didn't have anyone to care for the animal, according to the lawsuit.

Muhaymin's sisters, Mussallina Muhaymin and Zarinah Tavares, filed a $10 million lawsuit back in 2017 against the city of Phoenix alleging excessive force and wrongful death

Muhaymin was forced to the ground after police asked him to cooperate, and he screamed in pain as officers handcuffed him. An officer made a profane, belittling comment to Muhaymin that he was now facing a felony.

After officers brought Muhaymin to a police SUV in the parking lot, officers again urged Muhaymin to stop moving. Still, the struggle continued, with officers again forcing him to the ground. 'I can't breathe,' Muhaymin said. 'I can't breathe.'

Minutes later, Muhaymin went into cardiac arrest, began vomiting and died, the lawsuit said.

After a review, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office declined in February 2018 to criminally charge the officers involved, saying it didn't believe the officers committed acts that warranted prosecution.

Transcripts and video from depositions in the case became available after a federal judge in June denied a request made by the city of Phoenix to bar their release.

The request was made after attorneys for the city accused a lawyer representing Muhaymin's sister of using social media to garner news coverage and incite violence against officers.
WILMINGTON, Del. - Former President Barack Obama warned that American democracy could falter if President Donald Trump is reelected, a stunning rebuke of his successor that was echoed by Kamala Harris at the Democratic Convention Wednesday night as she embraced her historic role as the first Black woman on a national political ticket.

Obama, himself a barrier breaker as the nations first Black president, pleaded with voters to embrace your own responsibility as citizens  to make sure that the basic tenets of our democracy endure. Because thats what is at stake right now. Our democracy.

Throughout their convention, the Democrats have summoned a collective urgency about the dangers of Trump as president. In 2016, they dismissed and sometimes trivialized him. Now they are casting him as an existential threat to the country. The tone signals anew that the fall campaign between Trump and Joe Biden, already expected to be among the most negative of the past half century, will be filled with rancour and recrimination.

Yet on the third night of the Democrats four-day convention, party leaders also sought to put forward a cohesive vision of their values and policy priorities, highlighting efforts to combat climate change and tighten gun laws. They drew a sharp contrast with Trump, portraying him as cruel in his treatment of immigrants, disinterested in the nations climate crisis and over his head on virtually all of the nations most pressing challenges.

Democrats also demonstrated a hope that Biden, a 77-year-old white man, can revive the coalition that helped put Obama into office, with minorities, younger voters and college-educated women blunting Trumps lock on many white and rural voters.

The evening marked a celebration of the partys leading women, including remarks from Hillary Clinton, the first woman to become a major ticket presidential nominee; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who challenged Biden during the primary and is now supporting his campaign.

Harris, a 55-year-old California senator and the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, addressed race and equality in a personal way Biden cannot when he formally accepts his partys presidential nomination on Thursday.

There is no vaccine for racism. We have got to do the work, Harris said, her words emphatic though she was speaking in a largely empty arena near Bidens Delaware home.

Weve got to do the work to fulfil the promise of equal justice under law, she added. None of us are free until all of us are free.

Just 76 days before the election, Biden must energize the disparate factions that make up the modern Democratic Party  a coalition that spans generation, race and ideology. And this fall voters must deal with concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic that has created health risks for those who want to vote in person  and postal slowdowns for mail-in ballots, which Democrats blame on Trump.

Democrats hope that Harris and Obama in particular can help bridge the divide between those reassured by Bidens establishment credentials and those craving bolder change.

The pandemic forced Bidens team to abandon the traditional convention format in favour of an all-virtual affair that has eliminated much of the pomp and circumstance that typically defines political conventions. It was completely silent, for example, as Harris took the stage to make history at the Chase Center in downtown Wilmington. She was flanked by American flags but no family, and her audience consisted of a few dozen reporters and photographers.

After two nights that featured several Republicans, the proceedings on Wednesday emphasized core Democratic values on areas like climate change and gun violence that particularly resonate with younger voters.

On guns, Biden wants to repeal a law shielding firearm manufacturers from liability lawsuits, impose universal background checks for purchases and ban the manufacture and sale of assault weapons and high capacity magazines. On climate, Biden has proposed a $2 trillion plan to invest in clean energy and end carbon emissions from U.S. power plants by 2035, even though his proposals dont go as far as activists preferred Green New Deal.

Wednesday night, former Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords reflected on her own journey of pain and recovery from a severe brain injury nearly a decade after being shot while meeting with constituents. She urged America to support Biden.

I struggle to speak, but I have not lost my voice, Giffords said. Vote, vote, vote.

Its Trumps turn next. The president, who abandoned plans to host his convention in North Carolina and Florida, is expected to break tradition and accept his nomination from the White House lawn.

In the meantime, hes seeking to take attention from Biden. Trump will stop near his Democratic rivals birthplace of Scranton, Pennsylvania on Thursday. Hes also participating in a prime-time interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity.

Hillary Clinton, Trumps 2016 rival, implored Democrats to turn out in larger numbers in November to block the presidents reelection.

For four years, people have said to me, I didnt realize how dangerous he was. I wish I could go back and do it over. Or worst, I should have voted, said Clinton, the first woman nominated president by a major party. Well, this cant be another woulda coulda shoulda election.

Vote like our lives and livelihoods are on the line, she added, because they are.

Obama spoke harshly of Trump, too.

Donald Trump hasnt grown into the job because he cant, Obama said, speaking from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, a backdrop chosen to reinforce what the former president sees as the dire stakes of the moment.

I have sat in the Oval Office with both of the men who are running for president, Obama continued, describing Biden as his brother. I never expected that my successor would embrace my vision or continue my policies. I did hope, for the sake of our country, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously.

Obama confidants say that the former presidents support for Biden is unequivocal, but he worries about enthusiasm among younger voters, particularly younger voters of colour. Democrats concede that one of the reasons Trump won the presidency in 2016 was because those voters didnt show up in the same large numbers as when Obama was on the ballot.

Beyond the carefully scripted confines of the virtual convention, there were modest signs of tension between the moderate and progressive wings of Bidens Democratic Party.

In particular, some progressives complained that pro-Biden Republicans such as Ohio Gov. John Kasich have been featured more prominently than the partys younger progressive stars like New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Climate activists also complained that the party appeared ready to drop a provision in the platform that calls for an end to fossil fuel industry subsidies and tax breaks.

Sen. Warren, a favourite of progressives for demanding bold change, spoke for around five minutes.

And While Warren urged people to vote for Biden and gave a hearty endorsement for several of his economic and child care plans, she hinted that she would not retreat from her push for a more progressive agenda should her party retake the White House.

We all need to be in the fight to get Joe and Kamala elected, Warren said. And after November, we all need to stay in the fight to get big things done.

___

Price reported from Las Vegas and Peoples from New York. AP Washington Bureau Chief Julie Pace contributed to this report.
Late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had not only laid the foundation of modern India but also did the same for Ram temple, claimed the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee in newspaper advertisements published on the politician's 76th birth anniversary on Thursday.

Published by senior Congress leader Govind Goyal and his associates, the ad claimed that Gandhis speeches reflected a zeal to make India strong and great. He was the one who laid the foundation of 'Ram Rajya' in India, said the publicity material. "He (Rajiv Gandhi) on one side paved the way for establishment of a modern India and on the other, took care of Indians faith and religious beliefs," the ad said.

The advertisement underlined several facts to emphasise on Gandhis inclination to the concept of 'Ram Rajya'. Based on his efforts, the telecast of Ramayana started in the year 1985, said the ad. It also claimed that the former PM was influenced by Mahatma Gandhis 'Ram Rajya' concept.

After convincing then UP Chief Minister Veer Bahadur Singh, Gandhi got the Ram Janmabhoomi site unlocked in 1986, the advertisment said.

It further stated that Gandhi had given permission for the foundation of the Ram Mandir to be laid in 1989 and had sent former Home Minister Buta Singh, to be a part of the ceremony.

In his last press briefing in Chennai, Gandhi had said that the Ram temple would be constructed in Ayodhya, added the advertisement.

MPCC Chief and former Chief Minister Kamal Nath was among first Congress leaders who had wholeheartedly the welcomed Ram temple ceremony on August 5. Digvijaya Singh had also backed the temple construction in Ayodhya, despite maintaining his reservations the 'auspiciousness' of the date selected for the ceremony.

Nath in his statements, had repeatedly credited Rajiv Gandhi for initiating the process for construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

However, BJP was not convinced. Party spokesperson Dr Hitesh Vajpayee called Nath's statements a lie. He said Rajiv Gandhi was being credited for unlocking of the Ram Janmabhoomi site, but that he was also responsible for the massacre of Sikhs after the murder of his mother, Indira Gandhi.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2020 / Progressive Planet Solutions Inc. (TSXV:PLAN) ("PLAN" or "Progressive Planet"), an emerging leader in the commercialization of natural pozzolans to reduce the carbon footprint of cement production, ... Progressive Planet Solutions Inc.

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2020 / Progressive Planet Solutions Inc. (TSXV:PLAN) ("PLAN" or "Progressive Planet"), an emerging leader in the commercialization of natural pozzolans to reduce the carbon footprint of cement production, is pleased to announce that it has signed a second Collaborative Research Agreement with the University of Alberta in order to complete final testing on PLAN's Natural Pozzolan Blend which we intend to produce to compete with fly ash as a substantially greener supplementary cementing material.

Throughout the world, fly ash is generated as a by-product of burning coal for electricity generation. Fly ash is used as a supplementary cementing material in blended cement mixes. The supply of fly ash is directly related to the amount of coal which is combusted in power plants which in many parts of Canada, and the world, are scheduled for decommissioning or are already being decommissioned.

In December 2019, PLAN announced its first Collaborative Research Agreement with the University of Alberta to conduct work with respect to improving the rheology (slump) of the Natural Pozzolan from its Z-1 Quarry so that it possessed similar rheology to commercially available fly ash. Final rheology results of the Z-1/pulverized glass blend were superior to the rheology of the fly ash blend.

Before launching our Natural Pozzolan Blend commercially, we need to assure ready mix and pre-cast concrete businesses that concrete which contains this Natural Pozzolan Blend can withstand the conditions which concrete must withstand in Canada. This second Collaborative Research Agreement covers five tests including the following:

Story continues

Compressive strength (CSA A3004-E1),

Alkali-silica reaction (CSA A23.3-28A),

Sulphate resistance (CSA A3004-C8),

Air void (ASTM C462), and,

Freeze thaw resistance (ASTM C666, as referenced in CSA A3004-E1).

"We were very pleased with the results achieved by Dr. Vivek Bindiganavile and his team of concrete experts on the first Collaborative Research Agreement. If we achieve successful results from these additional tests, we will have completed all the testing required to give the ready mix and pre-cast concrete industries confidence to use our Natural Pozzolan Blend. With a fully functional comminution plant in place to pulverize Natural Pozzolan from the Z-1 Quarry and to pulverize post-consumer glass, we intend to introduce this product during the 2021 construction season," stated Steve Harpur, CEO.

ABOUT PROGRESSIVE PLANET

Progressive Planet is an emerging leader in supplying solutions for a livable planet by developing low carbon, pozzolan-based, cementing products which replace equivalent amounts of Portland Cement and fly ash in concrete. The production of Portland Cement is the second largest global generator of CO2 emissions.

Progressive Planet operates its flagship Z1 Zeolite Quarry in British Columbia and is earning an 100% interest in the Z2 Natural Pozzolan Property near Falkland, BC and earning a 100% interest in the Heffley Creek Metals and Natural Pozzolan Property. All three properties are within a one- hour drive of Kamloops, BC, an industrial hub with rail access to Canadian and US markets.

For further information or investor relations inquiries, please contact us:

1-800-910-3072

Investors@progressiveplanet.ca

www.progressiveplanet.ca

Forward-Looking Statements:

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Progressive Planet Solutions Inc.





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/602580/PLAN-Signs-Concrete-Testing-Contract-with-U-of-Alberta




Tomorrow the SDLP celebrates its 50th birthday, an occasion many of us thought it wouldn't be here to see.

Not so long ago the outlook was bleak. The party lost its three MPs in 2017, and the Westminster funding they secured.

Already operating on a tight budget, it put its Belfast headquarters up for sale.

That year the party's representation in Belfast City Hall was almost halved as three councillors resigned in a row over abortion.

It held its last annual conference, in 2018, in Titanic Belfast - an entirely appropriate venue for the sinking ship SDLP.

A merger with Fianna Fail was the only lifeline on the horizon. Two years later all has changed. Covid-19 means there will be no big 50th birthday bash, but the party still has every reason to celebrate.

After 20 years of decline, it's finally managed to stop the rot. It stands no chance of overtaking Sinn Fein electorally, but it is competitive again with its rival in several key constituencies.

The SDLP has an impressive front bench team that's the envy of other parties. There's an energy about them. Over the past week West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan has made the running on the A-level results fiasco and secured an emergency debate at Stormont. DUP Education Minister Peter Weir was forced into a U-turn on grades.

Leading on that issue will have done the SDLP the power of good with the young voters it desperately needs to attract, who have so often run into the arms of Sinn Fein.

But it was the party's stunning success in December's Westminster election that has really aided its revival. For so long the SDLP had been labelled as losers - a very hard tag to shake off. If success breeds success, the same is true of failure. As one party source admitted: "Nobody keeps backing a horse that never wins. You lose heart, and switch."

The SDLP didn't just win Foyle and South Belfast, it won big, and that sent out an unmistakable message that it was back in business. Mark Durkan had lost Foyle to Sinn Fein's Elisha McCallion by 169 votes. Colum Eastwood won it back with a 17,110 majority. To retake Foyle Sinn Fein needs a very strong local candidate, and none has so far emerged. The party has considerably more talent in its ranks in the Republic than it does on this side of the border.

The outpouring of emotion following the deaths of John Hume and Seamus Mallon has undeniably helped revitalise the SDLP internally and externally.

Its young leaders are now able to celebrate the party's old legends - not by standing in their shadows but, on their own ground, making their mark.

There is no need for any merger with Fianna Fail. Indeed, currently being tied to Micheal Martin and his party would damage the SDLP's electoral prospects.

It's not just the Taoiseach's less than ideal start to his term in the Republic, it's that he is seen as deeply partitionist by Northern nationalists. Greater numbers than ever before are looking to Dublin as Brexit has immeasurably changed the political environment.

To ensure continuing success the SDLP must find an all-Ireland dimension other than a partnership with Fianna Fail.

Last month Eastwood announced plans to establish a New Ireland Commission to "engage with people across the island on future constitutional arrangements".

He must start putting meat on the bones if he is to keep in step with his community's mood. Failing to make headway on this one would leave his party at risk if Sinn Fein comes to power after the next Dail election.

The SDLP also needs to hire a dynamic new chief executive to run the party, iron out local difficulties, strategise, and launch membership drives.

The SDLP will never have as many boots on the ground as Sinn Fein, but it can still use its recent successes to build its base.

The party currently has 12 MLAs and there are hopes of winning up to four more seats next time round, which would put it on course for a second Stormont ministry.

Strangford, South Antrim, Fermanagh and South Tyrone, and possibly a second seat in South Belfast, have been mentioned.

But the May 2022 Assembly election also carries great risks. The SDLP could lose seats - some of which it holds by a slim margin - in Upper Bann, East Londonderry, South Down, and Lagan Valley.

Sinn Fein has had a rough few months at Stormont all of its own making. Finance Minister Conor Murphy was embroiled in controversy over comments he previously made about IRA murder victim Paul Quinn. The Bobby Storey funeral, and now the victims' pension issue, have piled the pressure on the party.

Yet Sinn Fein remains remarkably resilient. The SDLP must stay at the top of its game, and make its own luck, as it claws its way back into contention.
That is how they get to keep making decisions that affect your life and the lives of the people you love. Thats how the economy will keep getting skewed to the wealthy and the well-connected, how our health systems will let more people fall through the cracks, he said. Thats how a democracy withers until its no democracy at all, and we cannot let that happen. Do not let them take away your power. Do not let them take away your democracy.
Prashant Bhushan told SC that he did not tweet in 'absence mindedness' and it would be insincere and contemptuous on his part to offer an apology for the tweets that expressed what was and continues to be his bona fide belief

The Supreme Court Thursday granted activist and senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan two days to reconsider his statements  which have been held contemptuous by court  and apologise. The lawyer has, however, refused the offer stating that his statements "are well considered and well thought of," Live Law reported.

Justice Arun Mishra, who is also heading the Bench that heard contempt case against Bhushan, said: "There is no person on Earth who cannot commit a mistake. You may do hundreds good things but that doesn't give you a license to do 10 crimes. Whatever has been done is done. But we want the person concerned to have a sense of remorse."

"We can be lenient when the contemnor realises his mistake and apologises," the bench was quoted as saying by Bar and Bench.

The court had met to decide on the quantum of punishment for Bhushan, who has been held guilty of contempt of court.

Bhushan, however, in a statement during the course of the hearing that he stands by his comments and does not wish to retract them merely to avoid punishment.

He said that he did not tweet in "absence mindedness" and it would be insincere and contemptuous on his part to offer an apology for the tweets that expressed what was and continues to be his bona fide belief.

Bhushan, quoting Mahatma Gandhi, said: "I do not ask for mercy. I do not appeal for magnanimity. I cheerfully submit to any punishment that the court may impose..,"

Bhushan told the bench, also comprising Justices BR Gavai and Krishna Murari, that he has gone through the 14 August judgment of the Court and was pained that he has been held guilty of committing contempt of the Court whose majesty he has tried to uphold  not as a courtier or cheerleader but as a humble guard  for over three decades, at some personal and professional cost.

"I am pained, not because I may be punished, but because I have been grossly misunderstood," he said.

The activist-lawyer said, "I am shocked that the court holds me guilty of malicious, scurrilous, calculated attack on the institution of administration of justice. I am dismayed that the Court has arrived at this conclusion without providing any evidence of my motives to launch such an attack."

Meanwhile, Attorney General KK Venugopal also appealed in favour of Bhushan arguing that his statements were no different from what many others have already observed.

"I have a list of nine judges who had said that there is corruption in the higher levels of judiciary, five judges who had observed that democracy is under threat, which is what Bhushan said. I had myself said in 1987..." Venugopal sought to argue but was interrupted by the bench. The court reminded Venugopal that he was not arguing on the 'merits of the case' but on the quantum of punishment, as per Bar and Bench.

The top court on 14 August held Bhushan guilty of criminal contempt for his derogatory tweets against the judiciary saying they cannot be said to be a fair criticism of the functioning of the judiciary made in the public interest. A contemnor can be punished with simple imprisonment of up to six months or with a fine of up to Rs 2,000 or with both.

Earlier in the day, the court had also rejected the submission of Bhushan's advocates that another bench hear the arguments on quantum of sentence in the contempt case in which he has been held guilty for derogatory tweets against the judiciary. Advocate Dushyant Dave had sought deferment of hearing on the quantum of sentence in the case saying that he would be filing a review petition against the conviction order."

The bench, however, denied the plea assuring Bhushan that no punishment will be acted upon till his review against the order convicting him in the case is decided.

The bench, also comprising Justices BR Gavi and Krishna Murari, told senior advocate Dushyant Dave, representing Bhushan that he is asking them to commit an "act of impropriety" by saying that the argument on sentencing be heard by another bench.

Interestingly, the bench also remarked that perhaps the contemnor is waiting for 'one of the judges to retire' before they file the review petition, suggesting that perhaps Bhushan's attorneys were seeking a more favourable bench.

Dave, however, said that it is a statutory right of the petitioner to file a review within 30 days of the order and it has nothing to do with Justice Mishra's retirement  which is due on 2 September.

The bench said it is not inclined to hear the application filed by Bhushan on Wednesday seeking deferment of hearing on the sentence till his review petition is decided.

During the hearing, on Thursday, Dave told the bench that 'heavens are not going to fall' if the apex court will suspend the hearing on quantum of sentence.

"You are asking us to commit an act of impropriety that arguments on sentencing should be heard by another bench," the bench said

It added: "Has it been ever done that hearing on sentencing has been undertaken by the other bench when the main bench is existing?"

Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, representing Bhushan, however argued that he is against any such deferment.

"I am not in support of this deferment. I just want to say, at the Bar, we take our Judges as they come, we don't go Bench hunting. It is immaterial if a judge is retiring," Dhavan said.

On 14 August, in its 108-page verdict, the top court had said: "The tweets which are based on the distorted facts, in our considered view, amount to committing criminal contempt. In the result, we hold alleged contemnor No.1 - Mr. Prashant Bhushan guilty of having committed criminal contempt of this Court."

The top court had, however, discharged the notice issued to Twitter Inc, California, USA in the contempt case after accepting its explanation that it is only an intermediary and does not have any control on what the users post on the platform.

It had said the company has also shown its bona fides immediately after the cognizance was taken by this Court as it has suspended both the tweets.

The top court had analysed the two tweets of Bhushan posted on the micro-blogging site on 27 June on the functioning of judiciary in past six years, and on 22 July with regard to Chief Justice of India SA Bobde.

"In our considered view, it cannot be said that the tweets can be said to be a fair criticism of the functioning of the judiciary, made bona fide in the public interest," it had said.

With inputs from PTI
May the IRS charge a $10,000 penalty for each foreign bank account that a person is required to list on a Foreign Bank Account Report (FBAR) when a person required to file that FBAR fails to file the FBAR on time and their late filing is unintentional? Or is the IRS limited to charging a single $10,000 penalty in that situation, even where the person has many different, foreign financial accounts that were required to be listed on the FBAR? This is the precise question to be decided by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the appeal of U.S. v. Jane Boyd. The outcome of this appeal will affect many taxpayers who previously failed to comply with their offshore reporting requirements.

A U.S. taxpayer must file an annual FBAR if the taxpayer has a financial interest in (or signature or other authority over) a foreign financial account, and the aggregate value of those foreign financial accounts exceeded $10,000 at any time during the year. The FBAR is filed with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the U.S. Department of Treasury. A taxpayer with an FBAR filing requirement must timely file their FBAR and report certain information on the FBAR, which in many cases includes listing various account information and the balance in those account(s). The code section at issue in this case, 31 U.S.C.  5321, provides that a penalty of $10,000 applies when a taxpayer fails to timely file an FBAR.

In U.S. v. Boyd, the taxpayer, Ms. Boyd, filed a delinquent FBAR on which she correctly reported all of her foreign bank accounts. The government acknowledged that Ms. Boyds failure to timely file her FBAR was non-willful, meaning the IRS acknowledged that Ms. Boyds failure to file the FBAR on time was unintentional and she was unaware that she had to file an FBAR at the time the FBAR was originally due. The government agreed to only assess Ms. Boyd for one year of non-compliance. However, despite recognizing her failure to timely file the FBAR was unintentional, the IRS assessed Ms. Boyd with a penalty of nearly $50,000 for failing to file a timely FBAR for the one year, simply because she had multiple overseas accounts.

The IRS, and in turn the Department of Justice (DOJ), is taking the position that the $10,000 penalty applies on a per account basis. The Law Offices of A. Lavar Taylor appealed the District Courts decision in this case to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the matter is set for oral arguments on September 1, 2020. The Firm has argued that there is no support for the position taken by the IRS and DOJ. Recognizing the importance of this case to other U.S. taxpayers, residing both in the U.S. and throughout the world, Ms. Boyd decided to be a test case on this issue.

A. Lavar Taylor, Attorney and Founder of the Law Offices of A. Lavar Taylor, LLP (http://www.Taylorlaw.com), is widely recognized as an authority in civil and criminal tax controversy law. Mr. Taylor has been named as one of "The Best Lawyers in America" and is a frequent speaker at tax and bankruptcy seminars.
A smartphone with the Huawei and 5G network logo is seen on a PC motherboard in this illustration picture taken on Jan. 29, 2020. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters)

State and Commerce Depts. Declare War on Chinese Malware, Malgear

Commentary

This past week, the U.S. State Department and U.S. Department of Commerce launched new diplomatic, economic, and legal initiatives designed to counter communist Chinas global malware and malgear offensive.

Righta malgear offensive.

Everyone with a smartphone understands malware, the cybersecurity portmanteau for malicious software. Invading malware code can sabotage, spy upon, seize control of, or even destroy a digital information device.

Malgear is my portmanteau for malicious digital equipment, malicious gear (hardware) that has the built-in ability to surveil, sabotage, and destroy when its manufacturer gives the command.

Which takes us back to the State and Commerce departments recent initiatives that expand the Clean Network program announced in April. Clean Network is a comprehensive attempt to protect the privacy and information of American citizens and corporations from aggressive intrusions by malign actors.

One component of Clean Network is Clean Store, an initiative designed to remove untrusted applications from U.S. mobile app stores.

TikTok, owned by Chinas ByteDance, is a video-sharing application many teenagers use. Spies can use the app as a perfectly camouflaged data collector to build data files on future adults and identify people the Chinese Communist Party might one day influence. For example, racy teenage imagery could leave an embarrassed 30-year-old working at the CIA open to blackmail.

Outrageous? The Commerce Department didnt think so when it told ByteDance that TikTok will be banned in six weeks if it isnt sold to an American corporation. Divest it and Americans will remove the vulnerabilities. Dont divest and the products banned. Commerce is waging economic and investment warfare.

Huaweis 5G next generation wireless communication systems are designed to connect cellphones, the internet, the internet of thingsessentially, all things digital. Huawei has tried to position itself as the worlds biggest supplier of telecommunications equipment, with the goal of dominating global and regional communications infrastructure and international digital systems.

Huaweis equipment works well enough, but the Justice Department contends Huawei telecommunications systems and its business operations mask a sinister purpose: They aid and, in fact, participate in Beijings global espionage efforts.

Huawei employees have admitted that the companys hardware can intercept communications both in mainland China and globally. The U.S. government has confirmed Huawei databases hold information on foreign personnel, phone records, and personal property that has nothing to do with Huaweis business.

In February 2020, the DOJ called Huawei a security risk and then indicted the company for racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to steal trade secretsindustrial espionage.

On Aug. 17, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo described Huawei as an arm of the CCPs surveillance state and announced ever-harsher economic and diplomatic measures to protect U.S. national security, our citizens privacy and the integrity of our 5G infrastructure from Beijings malign influence.

Pompeo praised the Commerce Departments new initiatives to prevent Huawei from circumventing U.S. law through alternative chip production and provision of off-the-shelf chips produced with tools acquired from the United States. The United States wants Huawei customers to shift to other sources of equipment, software, and technology and end their reliance on Huawei.

Huawei malgear does more than spy. An intercontinental ballistic missile can launch a communications satellitea civilian functionor carry an armed warhead to a targeta military mission.

During the Cold War, dual-use indicated a weapon system could deliver conventional or nuclear weapons. Think of Huaweis equipment as dual-use malgear. Huawei systems are a Trojan horse that Beijing can use to launch an intercontinental digital attack. Remember, a 5G system can connect the internet of things, handy things like an automatic garage door or a remote temperature control. But it can also connect things like the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems controlling a nuclear power plant or a dams floodgates.

What if a saboteur were to open the floodgates and deluge an American city? If the saboteur were a Chinese intelligence operative, would this be an act of kinetic war?

Better to deploy a clean network and deny Beijing the option.

Austin Bay is a colonel (ret.) in the U.S. Army Reserve, author, syndicated columnist, and a teacher in strategy and strategic theory at the University of Texas. His latest book is Cocktails from Hell: Five Wars Shaping the 21st Century.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Passengers tested for COVID-19 after disembarking at Rome's Ciampino airport. (AP)

Italy has recorded the highest daily rate of COVID-19 infections since it eased its lockdown.

In total there were 642 new cases and seven deaths recorded on Wednesday.

The country eased restrictions in May after enforcing one of the strictest lockdowns when it suffered a high number of casualties from the infection.

Since its outbreak came to light in February, Italy has recorded more than 35,000 deaths related to COVID-19.

On Monday, Italy shut nightclubs and made it compulsory to wear a mask outdoors in some areas during the night.

It was the first reimposition of restrictions as cases of coronavirus picked up across the country, especially among younger people.

New cases in the past week in Italy, the first European country to be hit hard by the coronavirus, were more than double those registered three weeks ago. The median age of people contracting the virus has also dropped below 40, data showed.

The new rules will run until early September.

Italian health minister Roberto Speranza (Getty)

The government had kept clubs open despite mounting criticism they attracted large crowds, that social distancing was not being respected and masks were not being worn.

The industry has yearly revenues of 4 billion, the sectors lobby group Silb said, calling on the government for support.

Industry minister Stefano Patuanelli conceded there would be economic damage, but said he saw no alternative.

Masks will be required between 6pm and 6am in areas close to bars and pubs and where gatherings are more likely.

We cannot nullify the sacrifices made in past months. Our priority must be that of opening schools in September, in full safety, health minister Roberto Speranza added on Facebook.

Speranza on Saturday urged young people to be as cautious as possible as if they infect their parents and their grandparents, they risk creating real damage.
BANGKOK  His offense was syncopated. And it rhymed.

Dechathorn Bamrungmuang, a member of the Thai collective Rap Against Dictatorship, was arrested on Thursday on charges of sedition, human rights lawyers said, part of a mounting crackdown by a government seemingly allergic to dissent.

A day earlier, the authorities took into custody for the second time a lawyer who had publicly called for the Thai monarchys powers to be reined in. At least six pro-democracy activists were also arrested on Wednesday and Thursday on charges of sedition, a crime that can carry a seven-year prison sentence, the organization Thai Lawyers for Human Rights said. Another rapper was taken in, too. Yet more student activists were served with papers that appeared to indicate they could be imminently detained.

The United Nations and concerned governments should speak out publicly against the rolling political repression in Thailand, Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement. Thai youth are increasingly demanding real progress toward democracy and the rule of law so they can freely express their visions for the future of the country.
A swan was found with its neck covered in blood after it was shot with an airgun.

Police in South London found the injured swan with air pellet injuries in its neck at Southmere Lake near Thamesmead.

The Thamesmead East Police Team said the pellet wound was found on right side of the swan's head and urged visitors to be aware of the incident when visiting Southmere Park.

Police in South London found the injured swan with air pellet injuries in its neck at Southmere Lake near Thamesmead

Some swans along the River Thames are owned by the Crown and are protected under a special decree.

But all wild birds are still protected under the law and it is illegal to harm them.

Greenwich Police are appealing for information to find the person responsible for the incident, which took place yesterday.

They urged anyone with information to contact 101 using the crime reference 3911330/20.
China has listed the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin, and the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt as national strategies.



By the end of November 2019, the central budget had earmarked 123.7 billion yuan (17.67 billion U.S. dollars) to support environment rehabilitation in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, according to the People's Daily.



Xi also visited Magang Group of China Baowu Steel Group. In a workshop, he learned about the company's resumption of work, production and operations.

Thanks to its great sacrifice and painstaking efforts, China has basically brought the COVID-19 epidemic under control and the economy is steadily reviving.



As shown by multiple mid-year indicators, China's economy has ridden out its downturn due to COVID-19 strains and bounced back to growth in the second quarter.



On Wednesday afternoon, Xi also inspected Chaohu Lake in Hefei, the capital City of Anhui Province, and spoke to soldiers and local officials as well as Party members to help battle the flood.

Continuous rainfalls in the flood season have lifted the water level in Chaohu Lake, one of China's five largest fresh water lakes.

Local authorities dispatched 3,000 soldiers as part of the flood relief efforts in July.

SOURCE CGTN
He was jailed at Canterbury Crown Court for facilitating illegal entry into the UK

was arrested and admitted driving boat in an interview

A Sudanese people smuggler has been jailed for two years after cramming nine migrants including two children into an inflatable boat and trying to cross the Channel.

Altaib Mobarak, 43, also a Sudanese national, dodged French coastguards but a Border Force boat eventually intercepted him during his attempt to smuggle the passengers into the UK from France.

His sentencing came just a day before a further 164 immigrants tried to enter the UK by similar means, including a Sudanese migrant, who is believed to have drowned in the attempt.

Handout photo issued by the Home Office showing the boat used by Altaib Mobarak, who was jailed for two years on Tuesday after admitting a charge of facilitating illegal entry into the UK

Mobarak's passengers - all ten from Sudan and Yemen - were then transferred onto the cutter and brought to Dover, Kent, where they were passed to immigration officials.

He was arrested and admitted driving the boat in an interview, which formed part of the criminal investigation into the smuggling incident.

He was jailed for two years for facilitating illegal entry into the UK at Canterbury Crown Court on Tuesday.

Dan O'Mahoney, The Home Office's newly appointed Clandestine Channel Threat Commander, said: 'People should seek asylum in the first safe country they enter and those attempting to cross the Channel, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, in unsuitable boats and without appropriate maritime skills are putting at risk the lives of all those on board.

Mobarak, pictured above, dodged French coastguards but a Border Force boat eventually intercepted him

'It is of particular concern when, as was the case here, vulnerable children are involved.

'It is precisely because of this risk to life - a reality that we have seen confirmed in yesterday's tragic incident - that we are determined to put a stop to these dangerous crossings.'

A Sudanese migrant was found dead on a beach in Calais, France, yesterday. French politicians believe the teenager went missing while attempting to cross the English Channel in a small boat.

Border Force also dealt with 11 incidents of 164 people attempting to cross into the UK by sea yesterday.

Home Secretary Priti Patel commented on the death, saying: 'This is an upsetting and tragic loss of a young life.

'This horrendous incident serves as a brutal reminder of the abhorrent criminal gangs and people smugglers who exploit vulnerable people.'

The boat used by Mobarak pictured in a handout photo issued by the Home Office. Mobarak was arrested and admitted driving the boat in an interview

Ms Patel appointed Mr O'Mahoney earlier this month. The Home Office said his brief involves working closely with the French authorities to explore tougher action in France.

This action, the department added, includes stronger enforcement measures such as adopting interceptions at sea and the direct return of boats.

Last month a joint intelligence cell was established with France and joint investigations resulted in 11 arrests, according to the Home Office.
FLINT, MI -- A deal for the state to settle all pending civil lawsuits related to the Flint water crisis is expected to net $600 million for city residents, but they will have to wait a little longer to find out how that money will be distributed and who qualifies for it.

State officials are expected to announce details of a potential settlement of the cases filed by Flint residents related to the citys water crisis some time before Friday, Aug. 21 -- a deal one city councilman says is worth $600 million.

Other key players in the settlement, including attorneys representing residents, say they are bound by court order not to discuss it now, including Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel.

A settlement of the cases would detail which Flint residents would qualify to share the funds and the conditions for receiving payment.

Councilman Eric Mays, who has worked with attorneys in some of the cases, said Wednesday, Aug. 19, that the settlement by the state is primarily going to the kids who have claimed in lawsuits in state and federal court that they were poisoned by lead in city water while state-appointed emergency managers were running the city.

Mayor Sheldon Neeley said through a city spokeswoman that he expects a settlement soon, but we have no details including potential dollar amounts.

Young children are particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of lead and can suffer profound and permanent adverse health effects, particularly to the brain and nervous system, according to the World Health Organization. Lead also causes long-term harm in adults, including increased risk of high blood pressure and kidney damage, and exposure of pregnant women to high levels of lead can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth and low birth weight, the WHO says.

The level of lead in Flint water spiked after the citys source of drinking water was changed in parts of 2014 and 2015 and the switch occurred after a series of decisions by state-appointed emergency managers and state agencies responsible for water safety.

State employees and offices involved in the water crisis are among those being sued by residents in multiple lawsuits that are pending in state and federal courts. More than 21,000 claims of damage or injuries have been filed in those cases.

A spokeswoman for Whitmer confirmed to MLive-The Flint Journal Wednesday that the governor has said more information on the settlement is coming Friday, Aug. 21.

We have not yet reached the point where we can discuss a potential settlement. As soon as that point is reached, we will provide all the details we can, Whitmer Press Secretary Tiffany Brown said in an email. Since taking office, the governors and the attorney generals teams have been working steadily to reach a resolution of the Flint Water Cases, and they continue to do so.

Flint children who are now 6 to 12 years old and who claim they were harmed by drinking city water, are on track to have some of their civil lawsuits heard first in U.S. District Court, but the first of those cases isnt scheduled to come to trial for months.

A settlement by the state would not stop the cases from moving forward but would remove the state and state employees, including former Gov. Rick Snyder, as defendants, leaving private consultants, the city of Flint and its employees, and others to face the litigation.

Ryan Jarvi, press secretary for Nessel, said in an email Wednesday that talks aimed at a settlement have gone on for more than 18 months, but he declined to comment on any details of the proposed settlement, including the method for distributing the funds from any settlement.

We and the other parties are bound by a federal court order to maintain the confidentiality of detailed settlement and mediation communications until we reach a certain point. We have not yet reached the point where we can discuss a potential settlement, Jarvi said in an email.

Nessel replaced civil and criminal attorneys from leading Flint water crisis cases in 2019, saying she was not satisfied these cases were being handled properly.

The attorney general has said she separated herself from criminal cases that were pending against city and state officials in order to work on civil filings related to the water crisis.

Mays said he knows some details about the settlement of the water crisis lawsuits because Im a councilman and Im on the front lines.

Once we take an inventory of the kids and look at their portions minus the attorney fees, Ill be able to judge whether the settlement is fair, he said.

$600 million settlement likely coming in Flint water cases, councilman says

Flint water crisis lawsuits for kids 6-12 go to front of the line in federal court

AG focuses on private companies as culprits in Flint water crisis
Coup leaders say transitional president from civilian or military ranks to be appointed as ECOWAS plans delegation.

Rebel troops who have taken power in Mali have said a transitional president would be appointed who would be drawn from either civilian or military ranks.

We are going to set in place a transitional council, with a transitional president who is going to be either military or civilian, military spokesman Ismael Wague said in an interview with France 24 TV channel on Thursday.

We are in contact with civil society, opposition parties, the majority, everyone, to try to set the transition in place, he said.

Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita resigned and dissolved the parliament late on Tuesday, hours after the coup leaders arrested him at gunpoint, plunging a country already facing an armed movement against it as well as mass opposition protests deeper into crisis.





Meanwhile, leaders of the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said they would dispatch envoys to the coup-stricken nation, as regional powers escalated efforts to block a change in government and called for Keita to be restored to office.

We have decided to immediately send a high-level delegation in order to ensure the immediate return of constitutional order, ECOWAS said at the end of a video summit on Thursday.

We call for the restoration of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita as president, it said in a closing statement, read by Nigers President Mahamadou Issoufou, who chairs the group.

Following the coup, the ECOWAS suspended Mali, shut borders and halted financial flows.

The bloc said the coup leaders bore the responsibility for the safety and security of Keita and other officials, adding that the times of taking power by force are over in this region.

The coup, which has rocked a country already in the grip of civil unrest, has been met with almost universal condemnation abroad.

The African Union, the European Union, the United States and the United Nations Security Council have all condemned the coup and demanded the release of all imprisoned leaders.

France, which is leading a military campaign against rebels in the Sahel, has voiced special concern.

Amnesty International joined calls for the immediate release of all those arrested during the coup and for an investigation into the reported deaths of four people during Tuesdays events.

Foreign interference

Meanwhile, in Mali, an opposition coalition has joined the military in rejecting foreign interference.

The M5-RFP coalition of opposition groups said it was working with the mutineers. It labelled ECOWASs initial response to the coup an overreaction stemming from some regional leaders fears that it could set off unrest in their countries.

[The leaders] are on an all-out drive to set ECOWAS against Mali, said M5-RFP spokesman Nouhoum Togo.

The capital, Bamako, was calm for the second straight day on Thursday, Reuters news agency said, as people appeared to heed earlier calls from military spokesman Wague to return to work and go about their daily lives.

The military, led by a colonel, Assimi Goita, has vowed to stage elections within a reasonable time and respect all past agreements, including international anti-rebel missions.

The coup is Malis second in eight years.

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The last one, in 2012, was followed by an insurrection in the north of the country which then developed into a rebellion that has spread into neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso.

The coup has also fuelled concerns it could disrupt a military campaign against fighters linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS) operating in northern and central Mali and West Africas wider Sahel region.

France will continue its Mali-based military operations against the fighters, its armed forces minister said on Thursday.

Landlocked Mali has struggled to regain stability since the 2012 Tuareg uprising, which was hijacked by al-Qaeda-linked fighters, and the subsequent coup in the capital plunged the country into chaos.
SEATTLE, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- MJ Unpacked, a state-specific, virtual event series designed exclusively for the cannabis industry's CPG brand and retail executives, today announced the schedule for its next event, MJ Unpacked Midwest, which covers the states of IL, MI, MO, OK, and OH and runs from September 23-24.

Jage Media Jage Media

"The landscape of cannabis in the Midwest is rapidly changing," said MJ Unpacked co-founder George Jage. "Illinois and Michigan are showing great numbers in their emerging adult-use markets, and Missouri and Oklahoma have tremendous patient counts per capita for their medical markets. These states are not as prone to competing with illicit market forces as the West Coast states and we expect them to develop strong regulated markets quickly--as seen by some of the early numbers coming from Illinois. We're excited to deliver our proven virtual event and conference platform to these markets at this critical time."

MJ Unpacked will lead off with a deep dive into consumer insights delivered by its strategic partner, BDSA, formerly BDS Analytics. This session will be followed by a panel of cannabis retail purchasing managers to discuss the process of determining new products and vendor selection. The panel will include Rebecca Gonzales, GM of Mission Dispensaries in Illinois, and Chris Young, director of retail operations for Michigan's SkyMint chain.

Jennifer Dooley, chief strategy officer of Green Thumb Industries, and Mitch Meyers, CEO of the BeLeaf Company in Missouri (and recognized as the creator of the Spuds MacKenzie campaign for Anheuser-Busch) will be among the panelists discussing launching new brands and new markets.

Additional sessions will include "Insights from Mature Markets," featuring Native Roots CEO Ryan Brown and Wana Brands CEO Nancy Whiteman, and "How to Increase Basket Size," led by former VP of Global Retail for Tilray, Charlie Cain.

MJ Unpacked Midwest follows successful virtual events for the Colorado and California markets. The highly interactive and engaging virtual platform includes attendee-to-attendee networking and live chat, an auditorium with live Q&A sessions and on-demand viewing, exhibit halls with highly customized booths and live video chat, a new products spotlight, in-event show specials, gamification, both sponsor-led and state-focused round tables, and curated 1:1 meetings for buyers and sellers. Additional information and future event dates can be found at www.mjunpacked.com

About Jage Media Headquartered in the greater Seattle area, Jage Media fills the critical gap where cannabis brands and retailers convene with its state-specific event series. MJ Unpacked enables cannabis industry decision makers to drive the future of the cannabis industry, capture the next stage of market growth, and deliver a true return on investments and objectives.

For media inquiries, please contact George Jage at [email protected] or 206-338-1642.

SOURCE Jage Media

Related Links

https://www.mjunpacked.com/


'An Aggressive, Multifaceted Effort': Five Highlights From The U.S. Senate Report On Russian Interference

By Mike Eckel August 19, 2020

The fifth and final volume of the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee's investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election landed with a reverberating thud, adding yet more to the din and rancor that has made this year's election unlike any previous one.

Weighing in at 966 pages, the report released on August 18 adds a final chapter to a 3 1/2-year effort to understand the full scope of what the U.S. intelligence community said was a campaign ordered directly by Russian President Vladimir Putin to interfere in the U.S. election on behalf of Donald Trump.

That issue has shadowed Trump's presidency since before he took office, and the bipartisan Senate effort is considered as close to an authoritative accounting of that campaign as is possible in a fractured, partisan Washington, D.C.

The report offers no new bombshell revelations: many of the details have trickled out over time in media accounts and political reports.

Among other things, it concludes that in 2016, Russian intelligence agencies saw members of the Trump campaign as easy targets for disinformation and that some Trump advisers were, in fact, willing to accept help from Russia.

Members of the Republican-led committee spun the overall conclusions differently: Republicans said it definitively showed that Trump did not collude with Russia to win the election. Democrats said it showed the exact opposite.

That disconnect makes it unlikely the report will bridge the partisan chasm.

But the final Senate volume, based on tens of thousands of classified documents and interviews with more than 200 witnesses, resonates in other ways, complementing other overlapping investigations, such as the 448-page criminal inquiry by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

It offers a detailed look at some of the characters and entities who had recurring appearances throughout the narrative of Russian election interference.

Here are some key highlights.

Who Is Konstantin Kilimnik?

The Senate report spends many pages examining the work of Paul Manafort, a longtime Republican operative, lobbyist, and campaign insider who became Trump's campaign chairman in 2016. Manafort had worked for years prior in Ukraine and was responsible for helping to resurrect the political career of Viktor Yanukovych, who was elected president in 2010 after losing the presidential race in 2004.

Revelations about Manafort's consulting and lobbying work in Ukraine resulted in him being fired by the Trump campaign in August 2016 and the extent of that work was largely exposed when he was prosecuted on fraud and financial crimes by Mueller's investigators.

During the trial that ended with Manafort's conviction, the murky world of Ukrainian oligarchs and political parties was brought into sharp relief.

Senate investigators focused in part on one of Manafort's right-hand men: a Ukrainian-Russian named Konstantin Kilimnik, who ran Manafort's office in Ukraine.

Previous reporting and investigations have examined Kilimnik's background, suggesting he might be a Russian intelligence agent; Mueller's investigators concluded he had links to intelligence agencies. He was trained in languages at a Moscow institute linked to both the Russian military intelligence agency known as the GRU and earlier, the Soviet KGB.

The Senate report states it outright: "Kilimnik is a Russian intelligence officer," it says.

"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 into the [Trump] campaign," the report says. "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."

Senate investigators also said they found information that Kilimnik, whose name appears more than 800 times in the report, may have been connected to the hacking-and-leaking operation overseen by the GRU. That operation involved stealing e-mails from top Democratic officials and then leaking them, likely via the anti-secrecy group Wikileaks.

But the evidence used to reach that conclusion was redacted in the report, making it impossible to glean insights about those ties.

Even after the 2016 election that was won by Trump, and amid growing concerns about the scope of Russia's interference, Manafort continued working with Kilimnik, the report found, to undermine U.S. intelligence conclusions and to spread false information that it was Ukraine, not Russia, that had interfered.

After being indicted by Mueller's prosecutors in June 2018 on obstruction-of-justice charges, Kilimnik kept a lower profile. However, the report says, he used an alias to create a Twitter account where he offered commentary, in English, on Ukraine, U.S. politics, and other matters.

He is believed to be living in Russia now.

Oleg Deripaska

For many years, Manafort worked with, and for, politically connected Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. A billionaire whose fortune comes from investments in aluminum, energy, construction, and agriculture, Deripaska in 2004 introduced Manafort to some of the Ukrainian business leaders who went on to fund Manafort's political work on behalf Yanukovych.

Senate investigators pulled no punches in all but describing Deripaska as an agent for the Russian government. "Since at least the time he hired Paul Manafort in approximately 2004, Oleg Deripaska has acted as a proxy for the Russian state and Russian intelligence services. Deripaska has managed and financed influence operations on the Kremlin's behalf," the report says.

"Deripaska's activities include Kremlin-approved and -directed active measures -- including information operations and election interference efforts -- conducted to install pro-Kremlin regimes and strengthen Kremlin-aligned power brokers across the globe," it says.

Manafort was a key player in these efforts on behalf of Deripaska and the work later broadened beyond Ukraine: "This included a political influence program which Deripaska financed. As part of this program, Manafort worked on influence efforts in Central Asia, Cyprus, Georgia, Guinea, Montenegro, and elsewhere in Europe," the report says.

Deripaska's Kremlin connections netted him a United Nations passport that enabled him to travel to the United States, where he had been blocked from getting a visa for years due to suspicions about ties to organized crime. One of his top aides involved in some of the Russian influence efforts was identified as Viktor Boyarkin, a GRU officer.

"Other Deripaska employees beyond Boyarkin and Kilimnik are also connected to GRU influence operations, suggesting Deripaska's operations are thoroughly integrated into Kremlin influence operations planning," the report says.

Gun Rights

In May 2016, a 28-year-old woman from the Siberian city of Barnaul named Maria Butina moved to Washington, D.C., to enroll in graduate school at American University. Back in Russia, she had successfully built a gun-rights organization, and she had befriended influential Russian lawmaker Aleksandr Torshin.

Together, the two sought to use growing relationships with the powerful National Rifle Association (NRA), as a springboard to build ties with important Republicans in Washington and elsewhere.

Butina and Torshin, the report says, "engaged in a multiyear influence campaign and intelligence-gathering effort targeting the NRA, the Republican Party, and conservative U.S. political organizations for the benefit of the Russian government.

"Their goal was to develop and use back-channel communications to influence U.S. policy outside of the formal diplomatic process to Russia's advantage and to the detriment of the United States," it says.

On several occasions, Butina and Torshin attempted to negotiate meetings for themselves with Trump and between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin," the report says.

"The committee found that Ms. Butina and her associates had told the campaign that they wanted to establish a communications back channel between the United States and Russia, outside of normal diplomatic channels," it says. "Trump campaign associates did not notify national security officials about those overtures."

In April 2018, under questioning by the committee, Butina said her Russian gun-rights group had been funded by Konstantin Nikolayev, a Russian billionaire. The report says Nikolayev had ties both to the Kremlin and Russian security services.

Three months after her committee meeting, Butina was arrested by the FBI and charged with working as a foreign agent on behalf of Russia. In December 2018, she pleaded guilty and served nine months in U.S. prison before being deported to Russia.

Veselnitskaya And Magnitsky

In June 2016 -- five months before U.S. election day -- a lawyer with known connections to the Russian prosecutor-general attended a meeting at Trump Tower attended by Manafort, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and other top campaign officials.

The lawyer was Natalya Veselnitskaya, and the meeting had been organized by an intermediary, with the promise that Veselnitskaya would deliver documents that would incriminate Trump's Democratic rival, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

According to testimony, the meeting ended up being seen as a waste of time in the end by the Trump campaign officials after Veselnitskaya and Rinat Akhmetshin a Russian-American lobbyist based in Washington, D.C., who accompanied her, instead brought up the 2012 U.S. human rights law known as the Magnitsky Act

The information that Veselnitskaya offered "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 says.

As it happens, Veselnitskaya had traveled to the United States as part of her legal work for a Russian businessman whom U.S. authorities had accused of using laundered Russian money to buy Manhattan real estate.

The stolen money had first been uncovered by a Russian whistle-blowing lawyer named Sergei Magnitsky, and his death in a Russian jail led to the passage of the Magnitsky Act -- which Veselnitskaya and Akhmetshin were trying to unravel.

In January 2019, U.S. authorities indicted Veselnitskaya on obstruction of justice related to her legal work for the Russian businessman, accusing her of secretly cooperating with the Russian prosecutor-general's office.

Veselnitskaya and Akhmetshin, the report says, "have significant connections to the Russian government, including the Russian intelligence services."

"The connections the Committee uncovered, particularly regarding Veselnitskaya, were far more extensive and concerning than what had been publicly known, and neither Veselnitskaya nor Akhmetshin were forthcoming with the Committee regarding those connections," it says.

Akhmetshin had already gained some notoriety around Washington. Some was due to his work organizing the screening of a documentary film that sought to undermine the facts about the death of Magnitsky and the tax fraud Magnitsky uncovered.

But he was known for years prior for work he had done on behalf of Kazakh opposition figures, as well.

'Putin's Favorite Congressman'

Two months before the Trump Tower meeting, Representative Dana Rohrabacher traveled to Moscow on a trip that included other members of Congress and staff members. A California Republican known as an iconoclast, Rohrabacher had been years earlier dubbed "Putin's favorite congressman" due to his pro-Russian sympathies and he openly expressed admiration for Putin.

In Moscow, Rohrabacher and his aide, Paul Behrends, separated from the main group to attend a meeting with Vladimir Yakunin, the former president of the state-owned company Russian Railways and the president of a Berlin-based nongovernmental organization called the Dialogue of Civilizations.

Yakunin was also a longtime confidant of Putin, and, two years earlier, had been hit with financial sanctions by the United States after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula.

According to the Senate report, Yakunin asked Rohrabacher if he would be interested in a report by the Russian prosecutors' office on the Magnitsky case. Rohrabacher agreed, and at a later meeting with Konstantin Kosachyov, a top Russian lawmaker who was later put under sanctions by the United States, he was handed documents that related to the Magnitsky case.

The Senate investigators compared the documents given to Rohrabacher and one that Veselnitskaya had when she attended the Trump Tower meeting two months later and found "the organization and substance of the two documents are similar, and parts of the two documents are nearly, or completely, identical."

Rohrabacher was defeated in his bid for reelection in 2018 after his Democrat opponent hammered him for being overly sympathetic to Russia and "meeting with Russian operatives."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/an-aggressive-multifaceted- effort-five-highlights-from-the-u-s-senate-report- on-russian-interference/30792396.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 little over a month after taking control over coronavirus data collection away from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the White House is giving it back, according to the Wall Street Journal.

'CDC is working with us right now to build a revolutionary new data system so it can be moved back to the CDC, and they can have that regular accountability with hospitals relevant to treatment and PPE,' said Dr Deborah Birx, coronavirus task force coordinator, while speaking with hospital chiefs and government officials in Arkansas this week.

She claimed that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) database to which information on COVID-19 hospitalizations and resources was abruptly moved in July was 'solely an interim system.'

The Trump administration faced accusations of a cover-up after it ordered hospitals to bypass the CDC and send data on hospitalized COVID-19 patients straight to the HHS database, which was deemed 'secretive' by doctors because it was only accessible by request.

CDC Director Robert Redfield said bluntly in a statement following the swift shift of data that 'no one is taking access or data away from CDC.'

While the CDC still theoretically had access to the data, collected through the HHS Protect system, the public no longer did.

Hospitalization data briefly disappeared from the public-facing CDC portal last month, then was replaced with a notice that the site would no longer be updated.

Amid outcry, the data was returned to the portal, but was no longer under the management of the CDC.

Subsequent updates were sporadic, the data was inconsistent, and frustration abounded among scientists and public health officials trying to keep up with the coronavirus pandemic.

Now, it seems, management of the unwieldy tracking of an even more unwieldy health crisis will be returned - as unceremoniously as it was taken - to the CDC, a national public health agency with decades of experience doing just that.

Dr Deborah Birx, coronavirus task force coordinator, said the COVID-19 database will be returned to the CDC while speaking with officials in Arkansas this week (pictured)

The HHS also echoed Birx's statement in emailed comments to the Wall Street Journal, saying the department was working on (another) new data system, in collaboration with the CDC.

Meanwhile, a Congressional subcommittee had been assembled to investigate whether the prior move to an HHS portal had been a politically motivated one.

It also follows the quick exit of Jose Arrieta the HHS data chief at the helm of the HHS Protect system. He left his post on Friday citing a desire for more time with his children.

Arietta was hird precisely because of his expertise in data security and privacy and came to be in charge of the COVID-19 database seen by many as secretive. f

'The Trump administration is trying to hide their failures, but that only makes it harder for us to fight this virus,' Representative Judy Chu, a Democrat from California, said on Twitter after the database was moved to HHS Protect.

Arrieta insisted his priorities were aligned with the CDC's.

Journalist CHarles Ornstein was among the first on Twitter to note the temporary disappearance of the CDC's public database

'Every leader at HHS shares Director Redfield and CDCs desire for building a much strong public health data system to counter other health threats in the long term, and we look forward to working with partners across the federal government and HHS to do that in the future,' said Arrieta.

The HHS database is available only to authorized users, and and the CDC's publicly viewable site will no longer display current hospitalization data.

The HHS itself does not have a platform through which it shares its data with the public, one of CDC's crucial functions, raising concerns about transparency and the potential for the federal government to wield too much control over COVID-19 data.

'Why would you blind the CDC to hospital data? Theres no reason to do it unless youre afraid of what the data shows and want to control it,' New York University bioethicist Dr Arthur Caplan told DailyMail.com.

Amid growing tensions between the White House and the CDC, including its director, Dr Robert Redfield (pictured), the Department of Health and Human Services told US hospitals they should no longer send COVID-19 data to the CDC last month

Between Wednesday and Thursday afternoon, the CDC's site showing how many hospital beds were occupied by coronavirus patients went blank (pictured) before it was repopulated with information from July 14 and a note that it would no longer be updated

Officials said their aim is to streamline data gathering and analysis and fix lags that have plagued the CDC's reporting efforts.

An HHS memo says that Vice President Mike Pence's directive for hospitals to send data directly to the federal government on a daily basis will ensure that resources like remdesivir, ventilators and PPE are allocated as needed.

'As of July 15, 2020, hospitals should no longer report the Covid-19 information in this document to the National Healthcare Safety Network site.'

The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) is the CDC's infection tracking system, which it says is the largest in the country.

HHS CIO Jose Arrieta said that the HHS and its partners are working to build a strong public health data system and will do so 'in the future'

NHSN was set up to surveil hospital-associated infections - those that commonly occur in and spread quickly through hospitals, such as MRSA - but anid the pandemic it provided a scaffolding for tracking resources used to treat coronavirus patients and protect healthcare workers.

CDC shares data collected through the NHSN not only with the federal government but other facilities, states, regions and the public with information about what is occurring in hospitals and what is needed within them.

Instead, the HHS offers four alternative ways for hospitals to report data to the HHS. They can share data with their states and authorize them to send data to the HHS, use a direct reporting platform called TeleTracking.

Despite the size of the network, 'today, the CDC still provides data from only 85 percent of hospitals; the Presidents COVID response requires 100 percent to report,' Michael Caputo, an HHS spokesperson told USA Today.

The CDC has struggled to keep up with coronavirus data, but in recent weeks its metrics, including case counts (pictured), have aligned closely with other tracking groups'

But how, exactly, the new system ensured a greater percentage of hospitals report data remains unclear.

'I dont see the move encouraging in any way better or more accurate reporting,' New York University medical ethicist Dr Arthur Caplan told DailyMail.com at the time.

'It seems to be just an attempt to take it away from the CDC...[the HHS] didn't put in any incentives or penalties' to ensure more consistent data reporting, he added.

It comes as tensions between the White House and CDC have continued to build.

'Its more than a technical shift, it's making it difficult for the cdc to know whats going on and make recommendations accordingly.

'Since the White House doesnt like the CDC, they've come up with a way to cope with them by undermining [the agency].'

Lags in data reporting and testing have plagued the US response to coronavirus - but experts are skeptical that the HHS's new system will improve matters

President Trump has reportedly criticized and complained about the CDC behind closed doors. His coronavirus task force also abruptly took over updates to the public in March, kicking off a three-month silence from the agency.

Before it was walked back, the move to a less accessible database represented 'a continuing effort by the White House to lie its way out of the pandemic by muzzline experts like Fauci, ignoring their self-appointed advisory task force' - which has been conspicuously less in the public eye in recent weeks - 'pretending that things are fine when the pandemic continues to spiral out of control in many parts of the country,' said Dr Caplan.

'They're claiming that testing is the cause of continued outbreaks which is blatantly ridiculous and now trying to hide information away from the CDC; it's basically that pattern amounts to culpable indifference to the deaths of Americans.'

HHS did not immediately respond to request for comment from DailyMail.com.
California Sen. Kamala Harris reintroduced herself to America at the Democratic National Convention Wednesday night, taking aim at President Trump as she celebrated her running mate, Joe Biden.

Harris, a former San Francisco district attorney and California attorney general, spoke about her time as a prosecutor and about growing up in the Bay Area as the daughter of immigrants. She also zeroed in on Trumps character, implying that he is a "predator in a line she has used on the campaign trail before.

I've fought for children and survivors of sexual assault. Ive fought against transnational gangs. I took on the biggest banks and helped take down one of the biggest for-profit colleges. I know a predator when I see one, she said.

Harris also spoke of her friendship with former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, the late son of Joe Biden.

Joes son, Beau, and I served as attorneys general of our states, Delaware and California. During the Great Recession, we spoke on the phone nearly every day, working together to win back billions of dollars for homeowners from the big banks that foreclosed on peoples homes, Harris said as she formally accepted the Democratic nomination for vice president.

Joe Biden talked about Harriss relationship with his son earlier this month, calling her an honorary Biden shortly after he announced she would be his running mate.

Sen. Kamala Harris accepts the Democratic vice presidential nomination during the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

In her convention speech, Harris slammed Trumps pandemic response as an absolute failure. As of Wednesday, more than 170,000 Americans had died of the virus.

The constant chaos leaves us adrift. The incompetence makes us feel afraid. The callousness makes us feel alone. Its a lot. And heres the thing: We can do better and deserve so much more, said Harris.

Harris highlighted disparities in how the virus has affected different racial groups. African-Americans, in particular, are significantly more likely to suffer serious complications from the virus than white people. She also spoke of Black people who have been killed by police in recent months, events that have triggered massive protests nationwide.

Story continues

This virus, it has no eyes  and yet it knows exactly how we see each other and how we treat each other. And lets be clear, there is no vaccine for racism. Weve got to do the work. For George Floyd, for Breonna Taylor, for the lives of too many others to name, Harris says.

Harris added: While this virus touches us all, lets be honest, it is not an equal-opportunity offender. Black, Latino and indigenous people are suffering and dying disproportionately. This is not a coincidence. It is the effect of structural racism.

During the primary, Harris was unable to make a lasting impression with voters and dropped out before the first contests in Iowa and New Hampshire. But since Biden chose her to be his running mate, Harris has proven popular, with 21 percent of registered voters in the latest Yahoo News/YouGov poll saying her selection made them more likely to vote for the Democratic ticket.

The third night of the Democratic convention focused largely on issues such as immigration, gun violence, climate change, domestic violence and more. Harriss speech was preceded by remarks from women party leaders, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

Harriss nomination takes a hammer to several proverbial glass ceilings. Shes the first Asian-American and the first Black woman to be tapped for a major party ticket.

As she wrapped up her address, Harris called on the Democratic faithful to vote this November, saying that their call to action would be remembered by history.

Years from now, this moment will have passed. And our children and our grandchildren will look in our eyes and ask us: Where were you when the stakes were so high? They will ask us, what was it like?

And we will tell them. We will tell them not just how we felt. We will tell them what we did.

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:




MFM

It has been revealed that the United Kingdom Charity Commission since August 2019, appointed an interim manager for the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries International.

A report by Sahara Reporters revealed that the decision came due to fraud case taking place in the church. The UK charity regulator appointed an interim manager for the church following a 2018 inquiry which raised concerns over mismanagement of funds.

The inquiry was launched after MFM with an average income of 4m annually repeatedly failed to file financial information on time.

The commission also found two alleged incidents of fraud by former employees involving significant sums, both of which were not reported until a number of years after the frauds were discovered.

It then suspended the church Board of Trustees led by Dr Daniel Olukoya and appointed Adam Stephens of Smith & Williamson as Interim Manager.

Other trustees suspended include Florence Sankey O.A, Oluwafemi Emmanuel Oladipo, Bamidele Omotayo, Kehinde Williams, and Enock Sunday Olaniyan.

The commission however, didnt state which of them engaged in fraud but it stated that the lead trustee had an issue without expressly mentioning Olukoya.

When contacted, one Stephanie at the Charity Commission press unit told SaharaReporters that she cant disclose if the church had been returned to its original trustees until further checks were made.

SaharaReporters had in 2018 reported that a pastor and former members of the church alleged that Dr Olukoya and MFM had willfully and intentionally evaded United States Customs Service duties and had evaded tax payments to the government.

The pastor of a Maryland branch in the US averred in court filings that MFM and its General Overseer, Olukoya, engaged in fraudulent activities in the United States of America, claiming that MFM International was in the practice of knowingly and deliberately making false claims to evade U.S. Customs duties and taxes on books exported from Nigeria to America.

The nature of the activities stems from the fact that Olukoya shipped prayer books (specifically, 70 Days Prayer & Fasting and Pray Your Way Into to various U.S-based MFM branches with a cover letter categorising the books as donations to be distributed to local parishioners.

However, once delivered to the United States, instructions were then emailed to U.S. pastors by MFM International and or MFM USA instructing them of the price they must charge parishioners in selling these books.

The pastors were then instructed to remit the earnings of their sales to MFM International.

Angered by the report, Olukoya filed three libel suits against the Publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore, in Nigeria and another one before the District Court of Maryland, United States.

He said he was constrained to take legal action against Sowore, SaharaReporters Media Group Incorporated, and the Incorporated Trustees of Sahara Media Foundation for their alleged failure to desist from publishing false and malicious articles against him and his church.

While all the cases in Nigeria have been dismissed, that of the US is still ongoing.

Some Nigerian pastors recently questioned the rationale behind the inclusion of religious centres and charity organisations into the Company and Allied Matters Acts signed by President Muhammadu Buhari into law on August 7, 2020.

Several of the pastors have been hit by Charity Commission sanctions over the years in the UK for fraudulent activities.

Under the new law, religious bodies and charity organisations will be strictly regulated by the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission 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 had 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.
On the first day of a long-awaited vacation in Bimini, Javier Perez and his girlfriend went straight to the hotel pool and beach, where they soon struck up a conversation with another young couple from Miami.

The pair, Josbel Fernandez and Violeta Khouri, invited them for an evening trip on Fernandezs 32-foot Everglades boat.

But by sunrise the next day, Perez, 29, would be dead, his bloodied body crumpled on a jagged rock formation after a violent boat crash. His girlfriend, Carolyn Alvarez, 26, disappeared into the dark waters off Bimini and is presumed dead. Her body has yet to be found.

The crash remains under investigation by the Royal Bahamas Police Force, which told the Miami Herald this week that a coroners inquest, a formal step that potentially could lead to criminal charges, will be held at some point.

But more than one month after the July 2 wreck, exactly what happened remains an agonizing mystery for the Perez and Alvarez families. After they visited Bimini to make inquiries and examine the wrecked boat, they put the blame squarely on Fernandez, who they believe may have been drunk at the time and then delayed calling authorities for a critical period after their loved ones had been flung overboard.

An acquaintance on Bimini named Stanley Stuart said he told the family and police investigators that Fernandez summoned him and another man to the damaged boat before authorities arrived. He said the boat, despite a jagged hole in the bow, somehow came off the rocks and had managed to travel a few more miles from the wreck site.

Stuart, in an interview with the Miami Herald, said that he also told Bahamian police that Fernandez was slurring his words in the boat and acting aggressive.

He was drunk, Stuart said. He was wasted.

An initial police report from the Bahamian Royal Police obtained by the Herald also collected an assortment of alcoholic beverages for evidential purposes from the salvaged boat. Fernandez has not been charged with any crime and the initial police report does not provide any details about his behavior or whether any sobriety tests were conducted that night.

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Still, Liz Alvarez, Carolyns mother, believes Fernandez delayed summoning official rescue help and should face criminal charges, either in the Bahamas or the United States.

If you dont have anything to hide, you call authorities for help, not your friends, Liz said. Obviously, he was drinking and he didnt want to get into trouble.

Said Jorge Perez, Javiers brother: The fact that they didnt render aid at the moment of the accident. That was precious time lost.

Relatives are demanding answers in the July 2, 2020, boat crash in Bimini that killed Javier Perez, of Miami. His girlfriend, Carolyn Alvarez, went overboard and remains missing. They were passengers on a 33-foot boat piloted by Josbel Fernandez, of Miami. The crash remains under investigation by the Royal Bahamian Police. August 13, 2020.

The Royal Bahamas Police would not discuss any details of the case or the families accusations against Fernandez but said the investigation remained open and an inquest would be scheduled at some point.

I have submitted the file to my legal department for review and have supplied the legal representatives for the family a copy of the file through the Embassy of the United States in The Bahamas. As such I am unable to comment further on your inquiries at this time, Police Commissioner Paul Rolle said in a statement issued Monday.

Fernandez did not return numerous voice mails or text messages from the Miami Herald. It was unclear if he had retained an attorney. A lawyer who represented him in an unrelated case last year did not return a phone call or email. The Perez and Alvarez families say Fernandez also has yet to communicate with them.

The families say theyve reached out to the FBI. Federal authorities, in manslaughter cases, do have jurisdiction over U.S. boats and citizens, even if they are in foreign or international waters. An FBI spokesman did not immediately comment.

The families have also hired an attorney, Daniel Grammes, and are weighing a civil wrongful-death lawsuit.

A lawyer for Khouri, 31, the other passenger in the boat, said the woman suffered a broken back, and the insurance company that covered the boat has yet to pay for her medical bills. He declined to address allegations that Fernandez had been drinking.

Shes as much a victim as anybody else, said her lawyer, Mitch Panter, of Miami.

The story of the crash has been pieced together through police reports, witness statements, court records and interviews with family members of the dead couple.

Previous boat troubles

Fernandez, 34, is the owner of a Hialeah welding company. The Bimini crash was not the first time he had run into trouble with alcohol and boats.

Last year, Fernandez was arrested twice on domestic-violence charges. In one of the cases, a former girlfriend told police that he got drunk and angry while they were on his boat on the Miami River.

She alleged that Fernandez punched her on the lip, threatened her by saying youre going to learn a lesson. In cellphone video, obtained through a public-records request, Fernandez can be heard berating the woman: Keep calling me f**king drunk! Have you lost your f**king mind?!

He then headed out to open water, refusing to drop her off, according to an arrest report. Fernandez, the woman said, finally got scared and dropped her off on a seawall near a Miami condo after she threatened to call police.

In a restraining order petition, the woman wrote that Fernandez began drinking heavily about 6 months ago and that his aggressive behavior has gotten progressively worse. He was also accused of aiming a pistol equipped with a laser sight at the woman during a later argument at his Cutler Bay house.

Josbel Fernandez

The Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office, however, wound up dismissing both charges, the last one in January after the woman said she no longer wanted to press charges.

Chance encounter

Javier and Carolyn did not know Fernandez until they met by chance in Bimini.

Carolyn, in her third year of school at Miami-Dade College, was studying to become a psychologist. Two years ago, her family suffered another tragedy: Alvarezs older sister died of a drug overdose.

Javier, who ran an e-commerce business and lived in the Brickell neighborhood, met Carolyn about a year ago. He loved Carolyn. They had a very nice relationship, said his brother, Jorge, 30.

After the first few months of the coronavirus pandemic, the couple took a ferry to Bimini and checked into the islands Hilton hotel on Thursday, July 2. His brother, Jorge, and his girlfriend, were to meet them there the following day. It was our first little escape we were going to have after all this madness, Jorge said.

After Javier and Carolyn checked in, they were at the pool by the afternoon. Javier began posting photos and videos on his Instagram account  through private messages, he explained to his brother that theyd made some new friends.

By 6 p.m., they were out on Fernandezs boat. At about 8:30 p.m., Javier called his brother on FaceTime, the video chat app, and showed him the boat. They were anchored at Honeymoon Harbour, a popular party spot on a tiny island south of Bimini known as Gun Cay.

I was a little uncomfortable because it was late. But I didnt think too much of it, Jorge said. That was the last conversation I had with him.

Liz also traded texts with her daughter that evening. We met new friends LOL ... were out on a boat, Carolyn replied.

That was the last anyone in Miami heard from Javier or Carolyn.

My whole world changed

The following morning, Friday, July 3, Jorge and his girlfriend arrived in Bimini on the ferry from South Florida. Javier was supposed to meet him there. No one showed. Phone calls to Javier and Carolyn went unanswered. Finally, a Bahamian voice answered her phone. It was a police inspector.

Before long, Jorge was inside the police station and learned the stunning news. Javier was dead. Carolyn was missing. Fernandez and Khouri had been airlifted to Broward Health North in Deerfield Beach.

Jorge had to visit the morgue to identify the body. He was very badly injured. A lot of trauma. It was very hard to see, Jorge said. I started screaming and crying. I was trying to wake him up. I lost it. My whole world changed.

Javier Perezs father Juan Perez, brother Luis Perez and brother Jorge Perez with Carolyn Alvarezs mother Liz Alvarez, all hold their phones with pictures of Carolyn and Javier, August 6, 2020. Javier Perez, a boat passenger was killed in the Bahamas along with his girlfriend Carolyn Alvarez. The family is lashing out at the boat captain, who they say left Perez and Alvarez to die in the waters off the islands.

For the Perez and Alvarez families, nothing about the crash made sense.

In the days after the crash, Liz Alvarez flew to Bimini and managed to find the boat in a dry dock at a salvage yard. Taking photos and videos, she saw beer and liquor bottles scattered inside the vessel.

More mysteriously, Alvarez said she found the power wires of the boats GPS unit had been snipped. Familiar enough with boats, she said she managed to get the unit working  and was able to review the boats movements in the days before the crash. Alvarez said she noticed that on the night of the crash, the boat veered sharply off its marked safe course, directly in North Turtle Rock, a well-known landmark two miles off shore.

The boat then traveled a couple miles before it stopped dead in the water, she said. She took a photo of the GPS track and has supplied it to the family attorney.

The exact time of the crash was also unclear.

According to the initial Bahamian police report, Fernandez claimed he was at Honeymoon Harbour until after 11 p.m. and the crash happened after that, as he was cruising at 34 miles per hour.

A local Bahamian boat captain, Thomas Butler, told the Miami Herald that he heard the first SOS call from the crippled craft at about 11:08 p.m. Butler said the boat captain explained two passengers had gone overboard. He sounded distressed, Butler said.

But Stuart, the Bimini man who spoke to Bahamas police and provided a sworn statement to the families lawyers, gave another timeline. He said Fernandez first called him at 10:38 p.m.  a half hour before the SOS, Stuart says that when he didnt immediately answer, Fernandez then called another friend identified only as Alex, who quickly found Stuart inside Resorts World Bimini to report he needed help.

Stuart told the Miami Herald he and Alex left on Alexs boat and arrived at the damaged vessel about 11:45 p.m. He said the Royal Bahamas Defense Force, which responds to marine emergencies, did not arrive until about midnight, the police about 15 minutes later, Stuart said.

A photo of the GPS map purportedly showing the boat crash that killed Javier Perez on July 2, 2020, off the coast of Bimini. The photo was taken by Liz Alvarez, mother of Carolyn Alvarez, another passenger who was flung overboard. Her body has yet to be found.

After Bahamian authorities arrived and they had transferred the injured boaters onto Alexs boat to leave for an island clinic, Stuart said he remained aboard the damaged vessel to help salvage it. At that point, Stuart told The Herald, Fernandez told me let the f**king boat sink.

The boat remained afloat and remains in Bimini. Fernandez and Khouris injuries were not considered life threatening, and they soon left the hospital in Broward.

Before filing a civil lawsuit, the Perez and Alvarez families say they are waiting for Bahamas police to finish the investigation  and hopefully to find Carolyns body.

Im a mother, Liz said. I need to know what happened to her.
Even with the awkward limitations of a virtual convention, the programming of the last three nights has built steadily and more or less smoothly toward the unveiling of Mr. Biden as a president-in-waiting. It now falls to Mr. Biden to fill the political silhouette his party has gradually sketched  one that frames him as a steady hand for difficult times, capable of bringing concrete relief to people suffering through a crisis.

In the 2020 campaign, Mr. Biden has seldom been the most eloquent advocate for his own cause. In the most important moments of his campaign, he has leaned heavily on other, more magnetic and fluid speakers: Representative Jim Clyburn in the days before the South Carolina primary, and Senator Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., before the Super Tuesday contests in March. And he will have help again tonight, from allies who will address the audience before him, including Mr. Buttigieg, Andrew Yang, a former presidential candidate, and Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois.
Rahul Gandhi had tweeted earlier on Wednesday alleging that around two crore people lost their jobs in the last four months.He again attacks govt today, claims that India wont be able to give jobs to youth.

Asserting that a large number of small and medium businesses will shut down after the moratorium period, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said the country will soon not be able to provide employment to its youth for the first time in its history.Gandhi, in a virtual press conference, said the unorganised sector is responsible for 90 per cent employment in the country and asserted that many of them will go out of business soon after the moratorium period, creating an employment crisis.

The unorganised sector is responsible for 90 per cent employment in the country. Who are these people? These are small and medium businesses, farmers. Narendra Modi has destroyed this system now. Now you will see, as soon as the moratorium period ends, companies will fall one after another, Gandhi said.He said several small and medium businesses will be wiped out and added that many of them are going out of business already.

What will happen in the country then? The country will not be able to give employment to its people. India will not be able to provide employment to its youth in the coming time. This will happen for the first time in the history of our country. This has never happened in the last 70 years, Gandhi said.Media made fun of me when I warned the country that there will be heavy loss due to COVID-19. Today, I am saying our country wont be able to give jobs. If you dont agree, then wait for six to seven months. You will see, he added.

 4    2       2                            pic.twitter.com/xXagwu5Ytx  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 19, 2020

ALSO READ : I request you to be sensitive towards farmers and hold a detailed survey of soybean crop losses: Kamal Nath to CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Reserve Bank of India had announced a loan moratorium to de-stress the countrys financial ecosystem allowing borrowers to defer or postpone repayment of all standard loans outstanding with commercial banks and non-banking financial companies till the end of August.

This comes as the pandemic has already adversely impacted several businesses as many of them had to close shops for an extended period of time to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Notably, the central government has also announced a Rs 20 lakh crore economic package to provide the necessary stimulus to the economy.

ALSO READ : Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat tests Covid-19 positive
By Akbar Mammadov

Police in Azerbaijan has detained Head of Kurdamir District Executive Authorities Jeyhun Jafarov on charges of bribery and abuse of power, the Prosecutor Generals Office reported in its website on August 20.

The district heads First Deputy Tajeddin Novruz, Head of the Department for Work with Territorial Administration and Local Self-Government Bodies of the Office of the Head of the Executive Authorities, Natig Karimov and other officials have also been detained under the same charges.

The criminal case was initiated after the investigation by the Anti-Corruption General Directorate under the Prosecutor General on violations of the law in the Kurdamir executive authorities.

The Anti-Corruption General Directorate held investigative operation in the administrative building of the Executive Authorities of Kurdamir district on August 19. Three other regional agencies - the Irrigation systems and Landscaping departments of the district, the Combine of Public Utilities and in the Representation of Kurdamir city Administrative Territorial District were also investigated.

The grounds for suspicion of taking various amounts of money as bribe from health, education and other state institutions, as well as from a number of private enterprises and other illegal actions that cause significant harm to the interests of the state have been identified by the Anti-Corruption General Directorate.

The investigation has revealed that bribes in the amount of $227,200 (AZN 386,000) were taken by Kurdamir district executive authorities led by Jeyhun Jafarov. The detained officials, directly and through other officials of the executive authorities, at various times received bribes in the amount of $80,636 (AZN 137,000) from health facilities, $34,138 (AZN 58,000) from the Combine of Public Utilities, AZN $70,624 (AZN 120,000) from educational institutions operating in the region, $41,786 (AZN 71,000) from Azbiyan LLC operating in the Kurdamir district.

The investigative-operational measures are underway to investigate violations of the law in the activities of the Kurdamir district executive authorities and other agencies operating in the district, The Prosecutor Generals office noted.

So far, the Anti-Corruption General Directorate and State Security Service have launched criminal cases and investigative measures against several local officials in Masalli, Bilasuvar, Ganja, Absheron, Sabirabad, Agjabadi, Tartar, Zardab, Neftchala, and officials in Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State Tax Department and Coastal Guard.

It should be noted that Azerbaijan ranked 7th among the 50 member states of the Council of Europe and 1st among the CIS countries for anti-corruption index, according to the recent report of Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) 2019 on June 3.

On 27 February, Azerbaijans President signed the order on approval of the National Action Plan for The Promotion of Open Government for 2020-2022. The plan has been aimed at expanding the application of the principles of openness, transparency and accountability, increase financial transparency, increase the means of ensuring the right to information, support civil society institutions and strengthen public control, to ensure the sustainability of measures to promote open government.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
A suspect is behind bars after authorities say he carjacked a man who was dragged while trying to stop the crime.

The ordeal began about 6:50 a.m. Wednesday when Jefferson County sheriffs Sgt. Joni Money said deputies received a call about a carjacking that had happened earlier. The victim told deputies that he had given a ride to a man he didnt know the night before.

While driving, the victims vehicle began to have trouble and he got out to check under the hood. Once he was done, he noticed the suspect had climbed into the drivers seat and began to pull away. The victim grabbed hold of the vehicle and was dragged for a period of time.

The injured victim later walked to the Pleasant Grove Police Department for assistance, Money said.

Detectives launched an investigation and assisted the victim with getting treatment at a local hospital for injuries sustained during the robbery. As the investigation continued, a suspect was developed from evidence collected.

Detectives also began looking for the victims vehicle using flock camera technology. The vehicle had been spotted in multiple locations throughout the county and was pinpointed to be on Allison-Bonnet Road in Jefferson County.

Deputies went to that location to search for the vehicle. They found the suspect walking with a gas can in his hands. The victims vehicle was found nearby.

Christian Gage Ridlehoover, 22, was taken into custody and transported to the Jefferson County Jail in Bessemer. He is charged with first-degree robbery and second-degree assault. His bonds total $75,000.
(Representative image)

Private-sector lender Kotak Mahindra Bank is scaling down its partnership business built on Unified Payments Interface (UPI), according to two sources. Kotak Bank will no longer partner with payment startups to offer settlements over UPI payments made through those apps and is also understood to have shut down the BHIM KotakPay app and removed it from Play Store, the sources added.

At a time when UPI as a payment mode is growing, for a new-age private-sector lender to roll back its offerings on the platform is an interesting move. It highlights two major points. One, while UPI as a payment mode is growing, revenue generation on transactions remains a question. Secondly, a large chunk of UPI transactions is concentrated between the likes of Google Pay, PhonePe and Paytm.

There is no merchant discount rate on UPI. Further P2P transactions are primarily free of cost. Kotak was one of the first banks to introduce charges on even P2P transactions. While the first 20 transactions were free, from the 21st, the bank charged Rs 2.5 for payments upto Rs 1,000 and Rs 5 for payments above that.

Kotak has shut down its partnership business on UPI and has also taken off a separate UPI app it had from the Play Store, said one of the sources.

The sources also pointed out that Khaalijeb, which was working with Kotak for its UPI partnership, has been asked to wind up the integration by middle of September. As per the NPCI website on third-party apps, Khaalijeb was using @kmbl handle in partnership with the bank.

"The bank had aggressive targets for its partners, but given the competitive market conditions, not much could be achieved in terms of market share, which could be the reason for this scale down," said the second source.

The bank did not directly comment on queries from Moneycontrol. However, Deepak Sharma, chief digital officer at the bank, said they are committed to the PSP business and not exiting it, the bank continues to be an active participant in the ecosystem and has a large network of strategic partners across categories, including payments.

With our connected banking platform, we continue to onboard new partners and routinely evaluate existing relationships. UPI is an important part of the payment ecosystem and our innovative solutions power various enterprise and payment service providers, he added.

The bank continues to work with MSwipe for the merchant acquiring business and is working with Setu to ramp up its API platforms, he said.

The bank was offering UPI payments through the mobile banking app, its dedicated UPI app, and through Khaalijeb, which is a third-party app provider. While the mobile banking app continues to offer all forms of UPI payments, the link to download the Kotakpay app had turned void and Khaalijeb partnership is being wound up.

The beauty of UPI as a payment mode was that banks could offer the backend settlement but the front end could be offered by any third party application. That is where tech giants like Google, Facebook and PhonePe built their payments business.

Google Pay works with four large banks -- HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, State Bank of India and ICICI Bank. Facebook, which offers WhatsApp Payments, is piloting currently with ICICI Bank and PhonePe offers through both ICICI Bank and Yes Bank.

If you look at the share, these top five banks have almost 90 percent UPI payments flowing between them, said one of the sources mentioned above.

From Kotaks standpoint, it can continue to offer UPI payments to its customers through the mobile banking app. Further, it can leverage UPI through the @kotak handle for all other services, like auto-debit, subscriptions for IPO and the like.
In Parliament today: Bill to amend CVC and Delhi Police Special Act to be tabled today

Delhi head constable arrested for killing man

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Aug 20: A head constable of Delhi police was arrested after he shot dead a 30-year-old man with his service revolver on Thursday morning following a quarrel between them, officials said.

Surendra (45), posted at Shahbad Dairy police station, was also dismissed from service following the incident, they said.

The incident took place near a hotel in Budh Vihar area on Thursday morning, when Surendra was returning home after finishing his night shift, police said.

1 in 3 people have antibodies for COVID-19 in Delhi, shows new Sero-Survey

Surendra was coming back in a car along with another man named Deepak Gehlot, who runs a gym in southwest Delhi's Dwarka Mor, police said.

A quarrel broke out between them following which Surendra shot Gehlot with his service revolver, a senior police officer said.

Gehlot was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead, the officer said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rohini) PK Mishra said, "He (head constable) has been arrested and a case of murder has been registered against him. He has also been dismissed from service. We are questioning him further to ascertain the motive behind the killing."

Contempt Case: SC rejects Prashant Bhushan's plea to defer sentencing | Oneindia News

It is yet to be ascertained whether Gehlot was just an acquaintance or his friend, the officer said, adding that further investigation is underway, he added.

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Story first published: Thursday, August 20, 2020, 16:44 [IST]
FILE PHOTO: The logo of technology company Nvidia is seen at its headquarters in Santa Clara

By Stephen Nellis and Neha Malara

(Reuters) - Nvidia Corp forecast third-quarter sales above expectations on Wednesday, but results from the data center business of the rising semiconductor industry star disappointed some investors, pressuring shares.

The company, with a market cap that has eclipsed Intel Corp, also beat Wall Street expectations for the second quarter.

Still, the results sent shares down 1.5% in trading after the bell. Before the market close on Wednesday, Nvidia's shares had gained more than 185% over the past year and with a valuation of about 53 times expected earnings over the next 12 months.

Nvidia said it expects third-quarter revenue of $4.40 billion, plus or minus 2%, compared with analysts' estimates of $3.97 billion, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

The company's data center segment reported second-quarter revenue of $1.75 billion beating estimates of $1.71 billion, according to FactSet data.

Nvidia said Mellanox, the Israeli networking chip firm that it acquired for $7 billion in cash this year, contributed 30% of data center segment sales.

Stacy Rasgon, an analyst with Bernstein, said the figure implied that Nvidia's core data center chips grew only about 6% on a quarterly basis, which may have been lower than some investors with sky-high expectations had hoped.

In an interview with Reuters, Chief Executive and co-founder Jensen Huang said the company is shipping its newest data center products as fast as possible after both introducing them and starting shipments in the second quarter, a process that in the past would play out over several quarters.

"We're going to do a lot more next quarter. We're going to do a lot more the quarter after that," he said. "We're going ramp up here in the second half, and that's going give us another boost."

Nvidia's gaming business posted revenue of $1.65 billion, beating FactSet estimates of $1.41 billion.

Story continues

Revenue rose nearly 50% to $3.87 billion in the second quarter ended July 26, Nvidia said, above Refinitiv IBES estimates of $3.65 billion.

Net income rose to $622 million, or $0.99 per share, in the quarter, from $552 million, or $0.90 per share, a year earlier.

On an adjusted basis, the company earned $2.18 per share in the quarter compared with analysts' estimates of $1.97 per share.

Nvidia was once primarily known for chips that helped video game graphics look more realistic. But more than a decade ago, Huang placed a major bet on the rise of artificial intelligence applications such as the image recognition or natural language processing computing that powers everything from autonomous vehicle development to voice assistants.

The rise of those technologies helped make Nvidia the biggest U.S. chip company by market capitalization in July, when it overtook Intel, which has long dominated chips for both personal computers and inside data centers.

In recent weeks, Intel shares have plunged nearly 20% as the company struggles with its chip manufacturing operations while Nvidia shares have continued to rise, leaving Nvidia with a market cap of $301.6 billion before markets closed Wednesday compared with Intel' $206.9 billion.

(Reporting by Neha Malara in Bengaluru and Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta and Tom Brown)
President Trump speaks at the White House on Wednesday. (Associated Press)

The Trump administration notified the United Nations on Thursday that the U.S. will  on its own  reinstate numerous sanctions to punish Iran after failing to rally international support to extend an arms embargo on the Islamic Republic.

In an embarrassing rebuke, numerous countries refused to go along with the United States on the embargo and now are questioning whether Washington even has standing to impose sanctions.

The dispute is the latest sign of the U.S.' loss of global influence and growing international isolation in recent years.

In a formal letter delivered in person to U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo declared his government was activating a mechanism known as snapback sanctions, which will take effect in 30 days. He cited what he called persistent violations by Iran of the landmark 2015 nuclear deal that dismantled much of its nuclear infrastructure in exchange for sanctions relief and the unfreezing of Iranian assets in banks around the world.

Pompeo was acting on instructions from President Trump, who announced the U.S. move Wednesday at the White House, where he reiterated his frequent criticism that the nuclear pact  signed by the Obama administration with Iran, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany and endorsed by the U.N.  was a "terrible deal."

Making good on a campaign promise, Trump withdrew from the agreement in 2018. According to several officials who helped draft it, withdrawing disqualifies a signatory from availing itself of its mechanisms, including the reinstatement of sanctions.

But Pompeo and other members of the administration refuse to recognize that.

"No country but the United States has had the courage to do this," Pompeo told reporters at U.N. headquarters in New York after his meeting with Guterres. "America will not appease [Iran]," he added. "America will lead."

He also threatened to punish countries with sanctions or other measures if they refused to join the U.S. action against Iran. "Our friends side with the ayatollahs," Pompeo said.

Story continues

Later Thursday, the foreign ministries of France, Germany and Britain reiterated their position that by withdrawing from the nuclear deal, the U.S. was disqualified from reimposing sanctions and said the U.S. move "is incompatible with our current efforts to support the" nuclear deal.

The administration's "maximum pressure" campaign to economically cripple and diplomatically isolate Iran because of its nuclear ambitions and support for militant groups in the Middle East has had limited success. Tehran's economy is reeling, battered additionally by the COVID-19 pandemic and drop in oil prices. But few countries have followed Washington's lead in other areas, and the other governments that signed the nuclear deal continue to attempt to keep it afloat.

Trump has been largely dismissive of multilateral organizations, from the U.N. to NATO, leaving world leaders questioning whether the United States is a reliable partner.

Pompeo disputed that characterization. "President Trump leads from the front," he said. "Hes prepared to take the courageous stands."

Critics say Trump has little to show for his foreign policy efforts. Negotiations with North Korea, initially hailed as historic, foundered and have not curtailed the country's robust nuclear program which, unlike Iran's, includes nuclear bombs. Although Trump had a hand in new normalization talks between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, his vow to forge a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians went nowhere.

"The floor is falling out from under our international credibility and faith in American leadership," Tony Blinken, chief foreign policy advisor to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, said in a recent interview.

The administration's failure last Friday to win Security Council approval to extend a 13-year-old embargo on sales of conventional weapons to and by Iran symbolized Washington's struggles. Only the Dominican Republic voted with the U.S.; 11 of the council's 15 members, including France, Britain and Germany, abstained. Pompeo said Thursday the snapback sanctions will effectively serve as a wide arms embargo on Iran.

The Europeans, along with Russia and China, oppose escalating sanctions and criticize the U.S. attempt to invoke the privileges of a deal it has attacked and jettisoned, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA.

"We have repeatedly said that the U.S. has already withdrawn from the JCPOA and therefore has no right to request the restoration of the U.N. sanctions regime against Iran," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a briefing on Thursday in Beijing.

Iran, in response to the U.S. withdrawal from the agreement, began limited enrichment of uranium, a key step in producing nuclear material. U.N. inspectors, who previously issued several reports saying Iran remained in compliance with the agreement, now say they suspect some undeclared nuclear activity by Tehran.

Iran's permanent representative to the U.N., Majid Takht-Ravanchi, spoke to reporters after Pompeo. He said the U.S. effort was "ridiculous," based on "lies" and without legal foundation.

Republican lawmakers, meanwhile, along with some conservatives came out in favor of the sanctions effort, arguing that by one interpretation of U.N. resolutions, the U.S. retains its right to trigger the snapback.

"A snapback of sanctions would make the region and the world safer," said Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "The international community must resist the urge to postpone this necessary action yet again. The U.N.s own credibility to deter further proliferation is on the line.

Other critics said the Trump administration's motive is to further undermine the nuclear deal.

All of this is a gambit by the Trump administration to try to kill the JCPOA once and for all and to make it exceedingly difficult to resurrect it, hopefully when Joe Biden becomes president of the U.S., Wendy Sherman, a top U.S. negotiator behind the deal and former undersecretary of State, said earlier this week in a teleconference.

Richard Nephew, a sanctions expert and former State Department official who also helped negotiate the Iran deal, said the administration will probably be able to satisfy itself that it has triggered sanctions because the U.N. has "no real means" of blocking the maneuver.

"The United States believes that it has standing to do this and that is really enough for U.S. purposes," Nephew told The Times on Thursday. "I don't think they mind much whether others agree, because  in their view  there is no international arbiter capable of denying us that standing."
Every team has signed up to the 2021-2025 Concorde Agreement, finally ending a long period of uncertainty for Formula 1.

Earlier, clouds floated over the commitment of teams like Renault and even Mercedes, whose boss Toto Wolff said as recently as Silverstone that the reigning champions are the "biggest victims" of Liberty's proposed deal.

But smaller teams like backmarker Williams say the new agreement, featuring "more equitable revenue distribution", is a "significant opportunity to continue on our journey back towards the front of the grid".

The small American team Haas is also celebrating, after owner Gene Haas openly admitted to contemplating pulling out of F1 until mere days ago.

"We've committed to five more years in F1," Haas announced on Twitter.

It is believed that Mercedes' main objection to Liberty's terms was the continuing preferential contractual status of its rival Ferrari.

Corriere della Sera said that while FIA president Jean Todt brags about the new Concorde making F1 "more sustainable, fair and exciting", Ferrari will still be paid more and retain its controversial rules veto.

"Ferrari's first victory of the year was at the negotiating table," the Italian newspaper declared.

Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, however, defended Ferrari's preferential status.

"We paid Ferrari more than anyone else because we got permission to use their brand," he told Auto Motor und Sport this week.

"That way, we made sure that Ferrari would never change their name - they couldn't have called themselves Alfa Romeo or Maserati during the term of the contract. That would have made the Formula 1 worth a lot less," Ecclestone added.

(GMM)
Some 100 people are expected to be exchanged from each side.

President Volodymyr Zelensky says the Ukrainian side has handed over lists for the swap of prisoners of war (POW) as part of the work of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), but it has not yet received such lists from Russia and the occupying administrations in Donbas.

"We have submitted lists for the exchange, but we have not yet received lists from the other side," he said in a comment to the media during his working trip to Kherson region on August 20, according to an UNIAN correspondent.

Read alsoZelensky expects Normandy Four summit after advisers' meeting

The president also mentioned agreements on demining and disengagement in Donbas.

"No one wanted to listen to anything, there have been arguments for a long time We reached an agreement. 20 demining sites. It is also about saving lives," he said.
The Bank of Ghana and two other bodies are currently fine-tuning a new code of conduct to guide the conduct of bankers and banking sector employees in the country.

Among other things, the new code will make it possible for practitioners that deviate from the industry's ethics and standards to be blacklisted from practicing for a specified period.



The President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIB) Ghana, Reverend Mrs Patricia Sappor, told the Daily Graphic and the Graphic Business's specialist programme on banking, the Banking and More, that the power to blacklist staff was part of a new sanctioning regime meant to police the profession and guard against waywardness.



Mode of operation

She said the institute was collaborating with the BoG and the Ghana Association of Bankers (GAB) to develop and launch the code and subsequently make the punishment regime in it operational and effective.



"It will be such that if someone does not abide by the code, the person's name is sent to the central bank, the CIB and the GAB so that the person does not find him or herself working anywhere in the banking industry.



"And if it comes to naming and shaming, we are not afraid to do that," the President of the CIB said when asked what the institute was doing to help raise the standards and instil professionalism in the banking profession.



Banking and More

Taking his turn on the programme that is prerecorded and broadcast on the YouTube channel and the Facebook page of the Daily Graphic every Monday morning, the President of the association described the recent collapse of nine banks and 411 financial institutions as unfortunate.



She said it was a sad spectacle that lent itself to a breakdown in corporate governance and non-commitment to the values of integrity, ethics, standards and professionalism.



As an institute that regulates the practice of banking and its professionals in the country, Mrs Sappor said the CIB and its membership were concerned about the development, hence the decision to introduce the code to help forestall a repeat.



"In collaboration with BoG and GAB, we are having a banking industry code of conduct such that anybody who works in the industry will be under that code."



"We are going to have one code for all; whether you are chartered banker or not, a banker or a non-banker.



"Once you are working in the banking industry, you are obliged to comply with the code," she said, adding that other professionals such as non-bankers would also be required to continue to abide by their industry-specific principles and codes.



Integrity

Mrs Sappor said integrity and ethics were the cornerstones of banking practice and the new code would exemplify that by reemphasising compliance to those values.



"I believe that banking thrives on integrity and it thrives on ethics and, therefore, enforcing the banking code of conduct, going forward, will really help the industry.



Mrs Sappor, who was the Head of Marketing and Communications at Ecobank Anglophone West Africa until her retirement in 2016, advised bankers and other employees in the sector to guard their integrity and the ethics of the profession jealously.



She said that was needed to help build and retain confidence between them and their customers for business to thrive smoothly.



Covid-19

Touching on the raging novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and its impact on banking, the President of the CIB said she expected the pandemic to fast-track digitisation in the sector.



She said banks needed to be commended as they had already developed and deployed various digital products prior to the onset of the pandemic this year.



This, she said, ensured that their customers were "accustomed" to digital products and servicing, thereby making the increased reliance on electronic banking on the back of the pandemic easier.



From the CIB perspective, she said the institute had also moved its activities online to help avoid the scourge from the disease.



She said lectures and course materials were now available online, making it possible for no programme of the CIB to be interrupted by the virus.







Source: Graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Sheryl Sculley is the epitome of by-the-book management and control. Not surprisingly, the retired San Antonio city manager has a hard time with a lot of the deal-cutting politicians do.

Without naming names, she portrays the logrolling culture as too fixated on the next election, too parochial, too short-term in its objectives.

My guess is that nothing in San Antonios modern political history offends Sculley more than the 1988 alliance between then-Mayor Henry Cisneros and San Antonio Police Officers Association President Harold Flammia, known as the .44-caliber mouthpiece.

In return for the unions support for a sales tax proposition, the goal of which was to secure funding for the Alamodome, Flammia nailed down City Council backing for a luxurious labor contract.

Among its features: free health care for officers and their families; a legal fund that paid for divorce and DWI attorneys in addition to more mundane things like wills and deeds; disciplinary rules that made it hard, if not impossible, to fire bad cops; and an evergreen clause that kept the contract in force if negotiations for a new agreement bogged down  for up to 10 years.

The San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association got essentially the same deal, and thats what the unions enjoyed for the next quarter-century, at taxpayer expense. (Not so for Flammia. A few years after clinching the contract of his dreams, he went to prison for taking kickbacks from the legal fund.)

Hired as city manager in 2005, Sculley couldnt abide the contracts. She concluded their mounting costs would eventually choke off all general-fund services  libraries, senior centers, etc.  except public safety. After cleaning up a sloppy and scandal-prone City Hall, she set out to overhaul the police contract.

We all saw what followed. The police union savaged Sculley in a series of television and radio ads, and on social media. The unions propped up Greg Brockhouse, first helping him to get elected as District 6 councilman in 2017 and then backing to the hilt his nearly successful 2019 campaign against Mayor Ron Nirenberg.

Brockhouses essential message: Sculley has amassed too much power, and its time for City Council to take back control.

A good deal of the criticism against Sculley was tinged with sexism. She was a steely, dauntingly prepared executive in a field populated mostly by men.

But theres also this: Sculley did consolidate a lot of power for an unelected official. She locked up the nearly unwavering support of City Council after City Council. She cultivated close relationships with CEOs and other power players, and everyone knew they had her back.

Now comes Greedy Bastards: One Citys Texas-size Struggle To Avoid a Financial Crisis, Sculleys 212-page chronicle of her fight with the police and fire unions.

Clearly, part of her intent is to settle scores. You can judge that from the books title and its final word: Checkmate. But Sculley, who retired in 2019, also writes at length about the sorry state of city government when she arrived here from Phoenix, a narrative that occasionally shades into self-aggrandizement.

Early in the book  on page 33  she lays out the belief that colored her 14 years as city manager: In San Antonio ... in 2020, we have a nearly $3 billion annual budget, 13,000 employees, plus the city owns the energy company and the water system. That qualifies as a major corporation anywhere in America and it requires strong management and leadership skills that often run contrary to politically oriented decision-making.

Sculley, 68, discussed Greedy Bastards and her experiences at City Hall in an hourlong Zoom interview. Ive edited the transcript for clarity and length.

Kin Man Hui /Staff photographer

The first half of your book is largely dedicated to your first few years in San Antonio. Describe the state of municipal government when you got here in 2005.

Well, it needed a lot of improvement.

First of all, about one-third of the executive positions were vacant. There was a lot of hiring that needed to be done, and the mayor and City Council wanted me to assess talent and make changes. Richard Perez was on the City Council at the time and said, Fire everybody and start over, to which I said, Wow, OK. That tells me theres a lot of work to be done. By the way, I did replace the 40 department heads  all but one. Ramiro Salazar, our library director, we commonly referred to as the last man standing.

I did replace, of course, all the deputy and assistant managers as well. Some left on their own; others left because they needed to leave.

Secondly, the financial house was not in order. I was city manager for nine months before I could get a financial report from the finance department. I almost quit over that. At the time, the city was a more than $2 billion operation, and you cant run a business if you dont know where you stand financially.

How seriously did you consider quitting?

It was very serious. I removed the finance director. I talked Ben Gorzell into assuming the role, initially on an interim basis, and later upgraded that position to chief financial officer (a position Gorzell still holds). Whether Im working on an economic development project or a major initiative for the city  to me, its important that the chief financial officer be a part of the team to keep us well-informed as to the financial implications of what were doing.

But I tell the story of Phil (then-Mayor Phil Hardberger) calling me over the Christmas holiday when I had gone back to Phoenix to be with my husband and son, who was a senior in high school, and my daughter  she was already a sophomore at the University of Texas. Phil called a couple of times and said, Youre coming back, arent you? And I said, Gosh, Phil, you didnt tell me how bad it is. He said, We didnt know. Thats why we recruited you.

But the reason I didnt leave was that we were  that was pre-Great Recession. The economy was still very strong in 06, 07. I knew that money was coming in. I just didnt know how much. I actually presented the budget without having an audited statement from the previous fiscal year. It was after the budget adoption that I actually got an audit for the previous year, but we did turn that around in less than two years.

In Phoenix, where you were assistant city manager, you got a cold call from a headhunter asking you to apply for the city managers position in San Antonio. She told you upfront they would pay you $300,000. That rarely happens  that you get a dollar amount in your first call from a headhunter. Was that offer what got you interested?

No. Actually, I was intrigued for a couple of reasons. One, Phoenix is the largest council-manager city in the country. I had been there for 16 years. I was the No. 2 person there. I had been city manager of Kalamazoo, Mich., and was recruited to Phoenix. I was the first female assistant city manager in Phoenix, which was shocking to me in 1988 to be the first female there. Working there had been an unbelievable experience. I wanted to be the city manager. My manager kept saying he was going to retire, and he never retired.

When the headhunter approached me, I gave my usual spiel: I love Phoenix. I want to be the manager here. At the end, she said, They really want to talk to you, and theyll pay you $300,000 to come here. I hesitated and I said, Why? I mean, whats going on? She said, Theyre looking for a seasoned manager whos had experience with change management because they want a tremendous amount of improvement. I was intrigued. I thought, Well, Ill give it two years. I thought, I could always come back to Phoenix if it didnt work out in San Antonio. But here I am, 15 years later.

Lets look at a specific moment early in your time in San Antonio that you refer to in the book. Youre a fan of management guru Jim Collins, who wrote Good to Great. In 2006, the International City Managers Association had its convention in San Antonio. You had a chance to meet with him over dinner with other city managers. Ill read your account: Collins talked about his good-to-great formula as it applied to cities in that conversation, and I didnt hold back. Well, heck, Im just trying to get from shitty to good right now.

What exactly did you mean by that?

Maybe its because I had worked in two previous cities that were well-regarded  council-manager cities with excellent bond ratings and excellent reputations. San Antonio didnt have that same kind of reputation. It had a great reputation as a tourism destination and for hosting conferences and meetings, and a wonderful place to visit  the downtown River Walk and, of course, the Alamo. But it wasnt as well-regarded. I viewed it as a challenge. Heres an opportunity to help make a community better. It wasnt just me. I mean, I had to assemble a team. We did this. The things we accomplished, we did together and under the leadership of 47 different officials that I worked with over the 14 years, including four different mayors. That kind of turnover is a challenge, but it was about making the community better.

I signed that initial two-year agreement, and then my contract was extended five times by the mayor and councils. We continued to make improvements for the community. I say in the book that I think some of that was overshadowed by the negativity imposed on all of us, primarily me. But to think that we did $2 billion in bond programs during that time frame, as opposed to the 15 years before me that accomplished not even $350 million. It wasnt so great when I came. I mean, the police chief was retiring, the fire chief was retiring, there was no aviation director, Development Services was a mess.

And you had inspectors on the take.

Inspectors on the take. I think shitty describes that.

We had to set some baseline accountability in place and then build from there. I think we did that, but its a work in progress. Weve never arrived. There are always areas where we can still improve. I drove over a couple of streets today, and I made a note that Im going to send after were off this call to the Public Works staff to say, Hey, the detour on Broadway is down North Alamo, and it is a Third World street. Weve got to get that paved.

Kin Man Hui /Staff photographer

At several points in the book, you note that you faced a lot of new council members every two years  for a total of 47. How problematic was that? And was there anything you felt like youd wanted to accomplish that you couldnt because you were constantly dealing with relatively inexperienced council members?

In Phoenix, the term limit was eight years, but they had two four-year terms. They werent always running. They werent always campaigning. The way our system works, new people come in, they get acclimated, which takes several months. You get about a year of productive, real work, and then theyre running again. You know what its like when people are running. Theyre more cautious. They arent thinking about the long term necessarily. Theyre thinking short term. It just makes it a bigger challenge.

Our reward system here  the political reward system  is, How much can I get for my residents in this two-year period of time that Im serving them? Each council member wants to deliver on that, and my job in leading our staff is to make sure theyre able to accomplish whats important to their part of the city while still thinking about the big picture of the community, what we want the city to be, and thats a challenge.

You had a lot of churn and you had a lot of inexperienced council members. But it seemed like, in some ways, that was to your benefit. You were the adult in the room. I mean, you could bring council into line, could you not?

I didnt look at it that way at all. In fact, it made it more difficult for my executive staff and I to really conduct business because new people would come in and theyd want to shift gears. I remember after one of the first bond programs, new council members came in and they said, Well, you can work on that stuff, but heres my list of stuff. I want you to figure out how to fund these major projects. They said, It is OK if you do that, but thats not really what Im interested in.

You write fondly about Phil Hardberger. Much less so subsequent mayors  Julian Castro, Ivy Taylor and Ron Nirenberg. Lets start with Castro, who took office in 2009. The way you introduce him is, you have a sense of urgency about the police and fire contracts. In the book, you say his response is, Are you asking me to take on the union that just supported me during my election?

He did say, and I say it in the book, that hed come back to that. He wanted to do some other things first. The contracts were expiring in 2009. We had started the process while Phil was still mayor and then the election, so we were finishing up. I wasnt surprised with his response, but I highly regard him for keeping his word with me. We worked together, of course, on SA 2020, Cafe College, the 2012 bond program and Pre-K 4 SA. After we got through all of those things, then the (police union) contract was coming up again in 14. I sat down with the mayor and his staff in the spring of 2013 and over that summer and said, I do strongly recommend that we do this. He was right there. He said, Yes, I agree. Well take it on. He was extremely supportive and, of course, led the council in appointing the legacy task force (to analyze the police and fire contracts long-term costs).

I have to say that Pre-K 4 SA is one of my proudest accomplishments. Julian turned it over to me and my team to implement that. We stood up that program, and its been highly effective and well-regarded. Ive enjoyed working with him. I thought it was a good working relationship.

I fondly remember that first council  they were the ones who brought me here, convinced me to come to San Antonio. Phil was the right person at the right time. I think that if you asked Julian, he would say he was better for having followed Phil as mayor even though he ran against Phil (in 2005 and lost).

But he was more successful because we had spent those four years getting the house in order. I dont think he could have taken on the projects that he did with the city in the condition that it was. I dont think he could have been successful with them.

In Taylors first term, the city reached a mediated settlement with the police union. It wasnt a deal you were in love with. Did you think that politics was in the drivers seat?

The council sets the policy and the direction, and I have to convince them  Heres the strategy and what we should do. I thought at the time that we left money on the table. If we, at the time, were to give the fire union the same thing we had reached with the police union, we still would have been over 66 percent of the general fund, which was the councils policy direction.

No. 2, we didnt get the disciplinary changes that we sought and that were a priority when we began the negotiations in 2014.

When the court of appeals said no on the evergreen clause, and then (the unions) had endorsed someone else for mayor (Leticia Van de Putte in 2015) and their candidate didnt win, we asked the courts to order mediation because we wanted to negotiate and they wouldnt come to the table. The court did that, and we had a mediator and were able to reach an agreement. I also thought that the eight-year evergreen clause was too long. We wanted one that was less than a year.

These were the three major points: I felt we left money on the table, I thought we shouldve gotten the disciplinary changes, and the eight years was too long for me. But we take the direction from the policy people, and they thought that once we achieved some progress on the health care, we should go with that and accept the eight years and deal with the disciplinary issues in a future contract.

Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer

The mediated settlement with the police union came after several years of acrimony. What happened in the period leading up to the settlement?

The contracts for both police and fire expired Sept. 30, 2014, but we started a year ahead of that. Actually, I started a year and a half before that with Mayor Castro to make the business case that we needed to address the financial implications. If this contract were to continue under its current terms, the projections were that it would bankrupt the city. I was showing the council the trend lines of public safety spending. It became especially evident during the Great Recession because we collected less revenue year-over-year and did not raise taxes. And we didnt cut public safety, which meant that with less revenue and their costs growing, we had to cut other services. When (public safety costs are) two-thirds of the general fund budget, that meant reducing recreation hours and library hours and social services and public health.

We made the business case for change and how it didnt mean that (police officers and firefighters) would have less health care. It meant that we needed to remodel it. It wasnt sustainable the way it was set up back in 1988, 25 years before that. Mayor Castro appointed the task force that included employee representatives and union reps as well. The other half of the task force included subject-matter experts in pension and health care. It was chaired by former council member Reed Williams. Mayor Castro asked me to be on the task force as well.

The conclusion was that their benefits were excessive by any metric, whether you compare them locally or to other police and fire departments in the state or nationally. We knew they were excessive, but the unions just dug their heels in and didnt want change. They told us that if we didnt have enough money, raise taxes, to which I replied, Easy for them to say, because less than half of our police and fire actually live in San Antonio.

We had the legacy task force. They presented their findings in early 2014. It was set up that way so that we had a transparent, data-driven, community-input process that would set the stage for what kinds of changes were needed in the upcoming contracts.

What was the rationale for the lawsuit the city filed to eliminate the evergreen clause?

That happened in November of 2014. Fire never came to the table. They refused to negotiate. The police union was on-again, off-again in the spring. Then Mayor Castro announced he was leaving in late May of 2014 (to become secretary of housing and urban development under President Barack Obama). He actually left in July, and the council elected Mayor Taylor (as interim mayor). We almost reached an agreement with the police officers in August, the night before I presented the fiscal year 2015 budget that was based upon changes and reducing costs in health care. On the night before I presented the budget, they withdrew that, but they committed to Mayor Taylor that theyd negotiate with us, so wed have a contract by the end of September. (Editors note: That didnt happen.)

The lawsuit was an attempt to get them to come back to the table. We thought if their contract had expired  for fear of losing in court and not even having any contract  that they would come to the table and negotiate. It was a way to get them to come to the table. The attorney recommended that that would get their attention. Instead, they doubled down, and thats when they started running the campaign ads against me and endorsed someone else for City Council and the mayors race. It just became very vicious and personal.

Did you ever think that you made a mistake in pursuing this lawsuit to the bitter end?

There were moments when I would say, Good grief, are we doing the right thing here? But two things I was reminded about. One, if we dropped it, we couldnt refile it and they hadnt come to the table. We didnt really have anything to lose. If we lost in the courts, we still had a 10-year evergreen clause, so why drop it at that point? We also knew that because of relationships locally in the community, we would probably lose in the district court and the court of appeals. But we have our best chance at the Texas Supreme Court.

The unions portrayed this as the city suing the police officers who put their lives on the line. Thats not what was happening. We were asking the courts for a constitutional answer on whether or not this was the right thing  that there was a 10-year evergreen clause. The Supreme Court didnt decide the issue. Of course, the unions portrayed it as, Oh, you lost at the Supreme Court. We didnt lose at the Supreme Court  they chose not to take the case. Of all the cases submitted to them, they take very few. Im told less than 10 percent.

But everyone had grown tired of that conflict. It was so misunderstood that we settled on reducing the 10-year evergreen clause to eight years. To me, it makes very little difference whether its eight or 10 years. It needs to be less than a year.

In 2018, the fire union got three charter propositions onto the November ballot. One would have made it easier to petition to upend city ordinances, including spending, by popular vote; the second capped the city managers compensation and set an eight-year term limit for the manager; and the third gave the fire union power to declare an impasse in contract negotiations and go to binding arbitration. The first one was defeated, but the other two passed. Months ahead of the vote, you wrote that you offered to resign. Why?

I thought it might be helpful to defeating those three propositions if I were out of the mix. I wasnt looking at all the TV ads and reading all the social media. I mean, (the unions) were really working hard and spending a lot of money to demonize me. If you say repeatedly, Shes the devil, shes the devil, shes the devil, then people say, Wow, is she? Maybe shes the devil. It went on for years. There were people who called me in the beginning of the process when they first started running the TV ads and said, Gosh, we need to run our own ads. I said, Please, dont  thats good money after bad. Lets just stay focused. Lets get accomplished what we need to do. But I had no idea it was going to go on for that many years. I thought (resigning) could be helpful, but I was asked not to resign. There we are, and it didnt affect me, but ironically, its two things. One, its the salary I was offered back in 2005.

I did spend the last 30 years working in the two largest council-manager cities in the country and had more than 40 years of experience in city management, so I was one of the senior city managers in the country. So I made no apologies.

Erik (Walsh, Sculleys successor as city manager) is from here and hes done an excellent job, but the council moved him up right to that top salary of $300,000 (after voters decided to cap the city managers pay and tenure). Whether or not hell stay in San Antonio for eight years at the same salary will be a decision hell have to make.

Your compensation was often controversial. Why do you think that was? And did you ever say to yourself, If I were a man, this wouldnt be such a big issue?

Oh, absolutely. Oh, no question. I think so, and the unions would not have treated a man from San Antonio the way they treated me. Im convinced of that. Yeah, there was quite a bit of sexism involved in this. But, also, San Antonio is a poor community. There are a lot of inequities, and so its hard for people who are earning low wages to even be able to relate to an executive salary. But the municipal corporation of the city of San Antonio is a big business. I mean, its a highly diversified corporation, with 40 different city departments, 13,000 employees and a nearly $3 billion annual budget.

greg.jefferson@express-news.net
Cochran and three members of Kearney Rotary clubs and Knights of Columbus expect to leave Thursday morning with the large Hot Meals USA food trailer and a large cooler. They will sleep in the large unit, which is equipped with beds.

Cochran expects to serve 3,000 lunches and 3,000 dinners every day for an unspecified period of time. Each meal will be individually packaged in plastic foam containers. We will also have some breakfast items for the first responders, he said.

Local volunteers will assist.

Initially, he will take enough food for 21,000 meals. Another semi is expected to deliver more food from Kearney next week. All the food comes from Cash-Wa.

Cochran said Tama was the hardest-hit county in Iowa. It is about five hours east of Kearney, not far north of I-80. The middle school, which had been set to open this week, suffered heavy damage.

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Cochran has no idea how long he will be in Iowa.

I thought serving lunches in Kearney (after COVID-19 broke out) was going to last a week, he said. That effort ran from mid-March to early June.
EAST LANSING, MI  Moving classes online and telling Michigan State University students to stay home for the fall semester was the best choice for public health, President Samuel Stanley Jr. said.

I think time will tell whether this is the right decision or not, Stanley, a medical doctor, said during a virtual news conference on Wednesday, Aug. 19.

In making the decision, which was announced Aug. 18, Stanley said MSU officials talked to other universities, including the University of Notre Dame and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, which started in-person classes, saw outbreaks of COVID-19 and moved classes back online.

I felt with that data in front of us, where we saw these cases taking place and saw what happened where the number of beds set aside for quarantine or isolation were exhausted quickly (at other universities), that was a situation that we really didnt want to be in, Stanley said.

Its too early now to decide if the spring semester will be in-person, he said.

Michigan State University switches fall semester to remote learning, tells students to stay home

Some students will be allowed to live on campus this fall, but its too early to tell how many, Stanley said, adding that the number will factor into a decision on future furlough of employees.

Student athletes can choose to stay in the dorms because theyll have fall workouts, Stanley said. Students who dont have access to Wi-Fi at home also would qualify for moving into the dorms, and an application for those students is being created, Deputy Spokesperson Dan Olsen said.

MSUs Samuel Stanley: Big Ten presidents reached consensus in postponing football season

All of the things we put in place to try to keep a larger number of students safe will be applied now, Stanley said. That includes the focus on mask wearing and following the executive orders for the number of students who can be in a social gathering, for example.  It will look pretty different.

Meals from the cafeterias will most likely be grab-and-go only. An app to pre-order from the cafeterias is in development, Stanley said. Resident assistants will still be on campus.

Testing is not an unlimited commodity, so were thinking very hard about how to use the tests we have, the most effectively to allow us to identify outbreaks we have and try to interrupt transmission, Stanley said.

Classes, such as laboratories and music classes needed for students to graduate, will be in-person, Stanley said. Graduate students may also have in-person classes.

Its unclear how many MSU students will live in off-campus housing for the fall semester, Stanley said. Students are asked to return home or stay home, but Stanley said hes assuming there will be students who stay in East Lansing.

Greek Life will likely agree to a pledge with MSU which says they will not have social gatherings, Stanley said. Per their by-laws, they must wait a week before deciding, he said.

Were still saying to people, Not only are you responsible for following this on-campus, were holding you responsible for following this off-campus as well, Stanley said. If your municipality has a mask ordinance, we except you to behave that way, to comply with that.

If East Lansing identifies students who are not complying with ordinances related to the novel coronavirus, MSU wants to know who they are, Stanley said. The university will look to see if the student judicial system can have an impact, he said.

MSU will talk to landlords in the area about understanding the financial burden some students might be facing with a year-long lease and no in-person classes for at least the fall semester. Since those are private companies, MSU cant force them to make concessions, Stanley said.

My hope is the landlords in the area will be receptive to students who are caught  by this, Stanley said. But ultimately, again, were talking about safety we wanted to make a decision we felt was best for the campus.

Stanley said he understands students are disappointed, but being on campus is just one part of being a MSU student. Other students and a world-class faculty are a big part of the experience, which students still have access to, he said.

Its likely that some students will decide not to attend MSU this fall because of the move to remote learning, but its too early to know how many people that is, Stanley said.

Michigan State University provides an extraordinary education, he said. You will be getting our best faculty and my hope is people will stay the course, recognizing that this is a very special place. And, recognizing the decision we made is being shared by some of the great institutions around the country.

Undergraduate classes begin Wednesday, Sept. 2.

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A still from the French film "Cuties." (Netflix)

Netflix issued an apology Thursday after thousands signed a petition demanding the immediate removal of the controversial French film "Cuties" from the streaming platform.

The movie, about an 11-year-old who rebels against her family and joins a "free-spirited dance crew," is accused in the online campaign of sexualizing young girls "for the viewing pleasure of pedophiles." Originally titled "Mignonnes," the project premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won a jury award for directing.

On social media, people are calling Netflix's poster for the movie  which pictures its four preteen stars posing in costumes baring their legs and midriffs  "disgusting," "upsetting" and "sick." Netflix has apologized for its promotional materials but there are no plans to scrap the film, which is set to debut globally on Sept. 9.

"We're deeply sorry for the inappropriate artwork that we used for Mignonnes/Cuties," Netflix said in a statement Thursday morning. "It was not OK, nor was it representative of this French film which won an award at Sundance. Weve now updated the pictures and description.

We're deeply sorry for the inappropriate artwork that we used for Mignonnes/Cuties. It was not OK, nor was it representative of this French film which won an award at Sundance. Weve now updated the pictures and description.  Netflix (@netflix) August 20, 2020

The original plot summary for "Cuties," preserved via screenshot in the petition, introduced 11-year-old Amy, "who becomes fascinated with a twerking dance crew" and "starts to explore her femininity." The Change.org campaign to delete the title had amassed more than 49,000 signatures as of Thursday morning, and Netflix's apology did not go over well with those who believe altering the poster and synopsis is not enough.

In a recent interview with Cineuropa, director Maimouna Doucoure explained the inspiration for "Cuties," which is based in part on her own childhood experiences, as well as those of girls growing up today.

"This isnt a health & safety ad," Doucoure told Cineuropa. "This is most of all an uncompromising portrait of an 11-year-old girl plunged in a world that imposes a series of dictates on her. It was very important not to judge these girls, but most of all to understand them, to listen to them, to give them a voice, to take into account the complexity of what theyre living through in society, and all of that in parallel with their childhood which is always there, their imaginary, their innocence."
New Delhi, Aug 20 : The Delhi High Court sought a response from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and the North MCD on a petition by the employees of the hospitals run by them, seeking direction for payment of their salaries due for many months now due to the outbreak of the deadly COVID-19 virus.

A division bench of the high court presided over by Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad issued notice on the petition filed by the Hospital Employees Union which challenged the irregularity in timely payment of salary to Group C and Group D employees of the hospital administration department and hospitals run by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation.

"From past five years, the Respondent No. 1 (NrDMC) has made a habit of paying salary to these employees after a delay of two-three months, that too after many representations and protests. Even during the COVID 19 pandemic, when their workload has grown manifold and when these employees have become the most vulnerable; they are not getting their salary on time," the plea said.

It added that Group C employees have not been paid their salaries for the months of May, June and July; whereas Group D employees have not got their salaries for the months of June and July.

The petitioner apprised the bench that the present petition is concerned with the right to life and livelihood of the abovementioned employees. "The present petition also highlights the violation of fundamental right of the employees under Article 23 of the Constitution," the plea said.

"The Respondents (authorities) have been extracting forced labour from the workers concerned. That extracting full work from the employees and not paying them regularly and on time is a form of forced labour," the petition said.

The petition said that the authorities have created a lot of misery for the employees by not paying them salary on time. Group C and Group D employees get very low salaries and as a result their savings are also very less. Due to the delay in the payment of salaries, all their savings have been depleted.

"The uncertainty in payment of salary has lowered the dignity of the workers in the eyes of their community as they cannot pay their bills in time," said the Hospital Employees Union in its plea.

The petition has also sought the court's direction for imposing exemplary costs on the Respondents and to pay the same to the workers to compensate for their monetary loss and agony.
A man had no idea his law office building even had an attic, so he was doubly surprised to find a portrait of Susan B. Anthony and other treasures there.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday assailed his successor, Donald Trump, as deeply unfit for the office he occupies and argued that voting for his former No. 2, Joe Biden, was necessary to ensure the survival of American democracy.

Hes shown no interest in putting in the work; no interest in finding common ground; no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends; no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves, Obama said of Trump during the third night of the Democratic National Convention.

After avoiding direct criticism for most of Trumps first term, the scathing broadsides from Obama constituted an unusually harsh appraisal of one president by another  although Trump has rarely hesitated to attack Obama, often leveling accusations of misconduct without evidence.

Obama blamed Trump for the 170,000 Americans who have died from the coronavirus, the millions of jobs lost to the ensuing recession and the diminishment of the countrys democratic principles at home and abroad.

His assertion that Trump, a Republican, is incapable of meeting the demands of the presidency echoed the remarks from his wife, Michelle Obama, on Monday, that Trump simply cannot be who we need him to be.

Donald Trump hasnt grown into the job because he cant, Obama said. And the consequences of that failure are severe.

On Twitter, Trump responded to Obamas appearance in all capital letters, suggesting Obamas decision to endorse Biden only after his Democratic rivals dropped out indicated doubts about Bidens candidacy.

But on Wednesday, Obama delivered a full-throated endorsement of Biden and vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris, saying they actually care about every American, and they care deeply about this democracy.

Biden, 77, was formally nominated on Tuesday night to take on Trump, 74, in the Nov. 3 presidential election. Obama, 59, was unsparing in his praise for his former vice president, saying Biden became a brother to him.

For eight years, Joe was the last one in the room whenever I faced a big decision, he said. He made me a better president  and hes got the character and the experience to make us a better country.

CHANCE TO SECURE LEGACY

For Obama and Biden, the election is a chance to help secure their administrations legacy, including the restoration of dozens of policies on immigration, climate change and healthcare that Trump has systematically sought to dismantle.

The Biden campaign will deploy Obama, who remains a popular figure, as a key backer during the campaigns closing months, although the coronavirus pandemic has all but eliminated traditional in-person events such as rallies.

Obamas address to the virtual convention was delivered from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, the city where the U.S. Constitution and the countrys founding democratic principles were drafted.

The one constitutional office elected by all of the people is the presidency, he said. So at a minimum, we should expect a president to feel a sense of responsibility for the safety and welfare of all 330 million of us.  But we should also expect a president to be the custodian of this democracy.

Trump, he said, had failed those tests.

An emotional Obama urged Americans to vote, warning that Trump and his Republican allies can win only by suppressing and undermining votes, rather than on the merits of their policies.

Do not let them take away your power, Obama said. Do not let them take away your democracy. Make a plan right now for how youre going to get involved and vote.

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
ALBANY, N.Y. - New York will allow voters to request absentee ballots for the general election because of an outbreak  like coronavirus  under a new state law signed Thursday.

New Yorkers can now vote by absentee in any election through Jan. 1, 2022, over concern about voting in-person during an epidemic or disease outbreak. For weeks, Democrats and voting rights groups had called on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to sign the legislation, which the Democratic-led Legislature passed in late July.

Voters were allowed to vote by absentee ballots in the June primary because of virus concerns. New York typically only allows voters to request absentee ballots if they fall into one of several categories, including absence from ones county on Election Day.

Voters in New York can start requesting absentee ballots immediately under another bill Cuomo signed.

New Yorks new legislation comes amid growing concerns about the impact of cost-cutting moves at the United States Postal Service, a potential surge in the pandemic this fall and mailing delays and other issues that plagued the June primary. An unknown number of voters didnt receive their ballot until Election Day or after, fueling calls by voting rights group for a ballot-tracking system across New York.

Some lawmakers have proposed reducing reliance on the mail by allowing drop boxes outside the usual confines of voting sites and local election offices. But State Board of Elections spokesperson John Conklin told The Associated Press its unlikely New York has the time to buy enough drop boxes to widely expand their use for November.

Election officials are expecting an even bigger flood of mail-in votes in November than for the June primary, after which results were delayed for six weeks.

Election officers worked through the pandemic to process 1.8 million requests for absentee ballots in a primary that saw nearly 40% of votes cast by absentee ballot  a monumental sum in a state whose long-restrictive absentee-voting system involves fewer than 1 in 10 voters in typical elections.

Unlike New York, 34 states allow residents to vote absentee without citing a specific excuse, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. New York state lawmakers who want to allow no-excuse voting would have to pass a proposed state constitutional amendment a second time in the next Legislature to send it to voters for ratification.

Some states, including Missouri and Massachusetts, have already expanded absentee voting this year, while similar legislation is pending in Connecticut.

Other voting-related legislation, including a bill to pass an automatic electronic system of voter registration, is still under review, according to Cuomos office.

As of early Thursday afternoon, Cuomo had not signed a bill to notify voters of issues with their absentee ballots  such as the lack of signature  and allow voters to fix them. Some state election officials calling for additional funding and time to process ballots this November from lawmakers  along with patience from voters  have warned the measure will fuel more delays.

Its unclear how the state and Postal Service will fix several issues with mail-in voting ahead of the November election.

Earlier this year, Cuomo announced the state would mail applications for absentee ballots with prepaid postage to all registered voters. His office didnt immediately respond Thursday when asked whether hell do so for November as well.

But the Postal Service failed to postmark all ballots sent with the prepaid postage in the June primary, even though its their policy to do so.

Over 4,800 ballot envelopes in Brooklyn lacked a postmark while the four other boroughs saw fewer than 100 ballots without postmarks, according to Robert Brehm, the state elections boards co-executive director. He said the state received complaints from upstate counties as well.

I am sure you agree that is an unacceptably high number, Brehm said, in an Aug. 10 letter asking the Postal Service how itll avoid more voter disenfranchisement in November.

Brehm cited a federal judge who found that discrepancy in the diverse borough  whose minority communities were hard-hit by the coronavirus  was unconstitutional.

As you are aware, a lack of a postmark results in disenfranchising voters, and our efforts should focus on preventing such disenfranchisement, he said.

Another new state law Cuomo signed Thursday would let election officials count a ballot even if it wasnt postmarked, at long as it arrived by the day after Election Day.

Still, lawmakers havent addressed the fate of ballots without a postmark that arrived several days after the June primary, and whether the state will accept such ballots in November.

Meanwhile, state and local election commissioners are calling on New York to prevent delays and give poll workers more time and funding to prepare.

The Postal Service asked New York on July 30 to require voters to request a ballot at least 15 days before the Nov. 3 election, up from seven days currently.

Brehm endorsed pushing back the deadline in a recent legislative hearing, but Cuomo and lawmakers havent indicated whether theyll do so.

And Brehm is urging the Postal Service to avoid a repeat of the 2017 November election, when large batches of absentee ballot envelopes in Brooklyn werent delivered until late April in 2018.

He said the postal service expected the city to pick up the ballots per a verbal agreement.

The Postal Service didnt respond to request for comment Wednesday or Thursday.
In ordinary times, a vice presidential candidate serves as the attack dog against the opposition. But these times are anything but ordinary in American politics, with the worst pandemic in a century, the most abrupt evaporation of jobs since the Great Depression and a self-absorbed, truth challenged, blame-deflecting president with a disdain for democracy and contempt for science and dissent.

On Wednesday night, former President Barack Obama assumed the role of prosecuting the case against President Trump, and he did so with a speech that was devastatingly effective, reminding Americans that this election was not just a choice among competing ideologies, but a fight for continuation of the quest for a more perfect union that our founders envisioned in the city of Philadelphia from which he spoke. Do not take away your power, Obama said. Do not let them take away your democracy. Obamas speech was delivered with a solemnity and clarity that amplified its sense of urgency.

It was a perfect setup for Sen. Kamala Harris in her speech accepting the nomination for vice president. She more than rose to the occasion with a speech that invoked on the ideals of the framers and the better angels of our nature. She began by embracing her moment in history, noting that her ascension as the first woman of color on a major-party ticket came on the 100th anniversary of womens suffrage in the United States. She paid tribute to her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, an immigrant from India who came to this nation to cure cancer. She honored the health-care workers and other essential workers who have put their own safety on the line for us. She implored voters to seize the chance to change the course of history, calling it an awesome responsibility and an awesome privilege.

Her delivery was among her best ever, all the more impressive considering that it was at a mostly empty venue. There will be abundant more opportunities for Harris to demonstrate her prosecutorial chops against the Trump administration, as Americans have seen in Senate hearings in which she grilled Jeff Sessions, William Barr, Brett Kavanaugh.

For at least one night, she was liberated to introduce herself: the idealistic, determined and relentlessly upbeat Kamala Harris that those who have known her for years have observed. She put it on display for the nation Wednesday night, and in doing so helped explain why she is an essential complement to Joe Biden.

Now Playing: Sen. Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic nomination for vice president Wednesday night, a historic moment that she marked with a speech about her family's immigrant heritage. Harris, an Oakland native, is the first woman of color on a major party's ticket. Video: SFGATE

What were saying in editorials

Victory for clean air: Five automakers accounting for about a third of the U.S. market reached a legal agreement with California regulators to boost average fuel efficiency even though the Trump administration would give them license to pollute more. Our editorial

Keep the cell calls going: Its taken a year but Sacramento is nearing agreement on a law requiring cell phone towers in fire-prone areas to be equipped with 72 hours of backup power. A recent spate of power blackouts makes the requirement ever more necessary. Our editorial

Guest opinions

San Liccardo and Darrell Steinberg: As mayors of big cities in California, we cannot ignore an unacceptable fact which the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated. We must take action and be held accountable for our progress  both for the people suffering from homelessness and for the communities that bear its impacts. Read their piece

Charles F. Champion: Together, readers and newspapers can save local journalism by telling representatives in Sacramento that we strongly support California Assembly Bill 323. Passing it will bolster local news outlets by granting greater access to state advertising and more time to adjust to independent contractor laws. Read his piece

Jessica Xiomara Garcia: Extending testing coverage  and eventually vaccine coverage  to the United States immigrant community safeguards a large portion of our essential workers  roughly 20 million of them are immigrants, including one quarter of all health care workers. Many of these workers do not have access to tests and treatment. Read her piece

Rep. Jackie Speier and Fatima Goss Graves: What were you wearing? Why were you drinking? Did you fight back hard enough? This is the nightmare that survivors will be subjected to both in K-12 schools and on college campuses in Trumps America, starting last week, because of the administrations rule on Title IX, the landmark civil rights law protecting students against sex discrimination in education. Read their piece

Letter of the Week

Francine Tompkins-Oliviera of Berkeley had an issue with Angela Davis apprehension about the Biden-Harris ticket:

As one of the Black women that Angela Davis describes as being the most sophisticated participants in the electoral process in this country, Im very disappointed by her lack of enthusiasm for the 2020 Biden-Harris Democratic presidential ticket.

If theres any hope for the kind systemic changes that Davis advocates, especially to end racial injustice, then our nation must turn out in massive numbers to reject the virulently racist and authoritarian-leaning Trump presidency.

Davis does not help us achieve this goal by publicly proclaiming that Democratic vice-presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris has a difficult history. Consider Harris counterpart, Vice President Mike Pence, whose anti-LGBTQ and pro-Christian agenda has harmed millions of citizens during his political career. Its a long and frustrating road to achieving equality for all Americans, but at least the Biden-Harris ticket offers a pathway to getting there.

All voters, especially those of color, must vote for a change in leadership in the Oval Office, with or without the enthusiasm of public figures like Professor Davis.

And please check out our other letters of the day responding to this and other matters. You can send us a letter via this form.

Where to follow us

We have a Twitter channel, Opinion Central (@sfc_opinions). Please add it to your stream. Youll catch our editorials and opinion pieces, as well as our drive-by comments on assorted subjects in the news. Follow me on Twitter: @JohnDiazChron

Just a reminder

The Chronicles editorials represent the collective judgment of our Editorial Board, which includes the publisher as well as the writers and editors from the opinion team. Our editors and reporters on the news side are not involved in those decisions (including election endorsements). They are charged with reporting fairly and objectively without regard to our editorial positions. It is one of the core values here at Fifth and Mission streets.

Opinion Central is a thrice-weekly newsletter from John Diaz, The Chronicles editorial page editor, and the rest of the Editorial Board. Follow along on Twitter: @sfc_opinions
Updates listed below in EST:



11:20 p.m.

Joe Biden closed his speech tonight at the Democratic National Convention with a call to action to Americans this November to get "united in our love for each other."

"Let us begin you and I together one nation under God, united in our love for America, united in our love for each other. For love is more powerful than hate. Hope is more powerful than fear, and light is more powerful than dark. This is our moment. This is our mission," Biden said.

The former vice president wants history to "say that the end of this chapter of American darkness begin here tonight as love and hope and light join in the battle for the soul of the nation."

"And this is a battle we will win, and we'll do it together," Biden said.



11:05 p.m.

Joe Biden laid out his plan to combat coronavirus on Thursday, telling voters that President Donald Trump has failed in his most basic duty to protect Americans from the virus.

Ever since the first cases of coronavirus broke out in the United States earlier this year, the 2020 campaign has been dominated by the pandemic, forcing both Biden and Trump to pivot their campaigns to the issue.

Biden dedicated a significant portion of his acceptance speech on Thursday to how he, as president, would combat the virus.

Biden, in a stark rebuke of Trump, said he would deploy rapid tests for the virus, make personal protective equipment in the United States so we will never again be at the mercy of China or other foreign countries, make sure that schools have the resources they need to reopen and put politics aside, take the muzzle off our experts.

Biden also pledged to impose a national mandate to wear a mask.

In short, we will do what we should have done from the very beginning, Biden said. Our current president has failed in his most basic duty.  That is unforgivable.



10:55 p.m.

When Joe Biden accepted the Democratic presidential nomination Thursday night, he said in Delaware that "united we can and will overcome this season of darkness in America."

"The current president's cloaked America in darkness for much too long," Biden said in an opening that targeted President Donald Trump.

"Too much anger, too much fear, too much division. Here and now, I give you my word: If you entrust me with the presidency, I will draw on the best of us, not the worst. I'll be an ally of the light, not the darkness. It's time for us  for we the people  to come together," Biden said.



10:45 p.m.

Former Vice President Joe Biden has accepted the nomination as the Democratic candidate for president of the United States of America.



10:20 p.m.



When Joe Biden, in a nationally televised interview, said he supported same-sex marriage, he put President Barack Obama, who had not publicly backed gay marriage, in a tough position and later had to privately apologize to him.

For Pete Buttigieg, Bidens statement was a sizable step in making his marriage possible, a fact he recalled in his speech to the Democratic National Convention on Thursday.

The very ring on my finger  a wedding we celebrated here where Im standing  reflects how this country can change, Buttigieg said, speaking from the event space where he held his wedding reception with his husband.

"Love makes my marriage real, but political courage made it possible  including that of Joe Biden, who stepped out ahead of even this party when he said that marriage equality should be the law of the land," he said.



Buttigieg, the first out gay candidate in American history to win a major partys presidential primary contest, said that the changes in LGBTQ acceptance and rights between 2010 and 2020 show the broader progress America can make together if Biden is elected in November.

It starts here  with the choices we are going to make in just a few weeks, Buttigieg said. Decisions not just about who will lead us, but about who we are."





10:15 p.m.

Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth did not mince words when hitting President Donald Trump on Thursday: He is the coward in chief, she said.



Duckworth, a finalist to be Bidens running mate, used her speech to the Democratic convention to tout Bidens understanding of the sacrifices made by military families.

It was a personal message for Duckworth, a US Army veteran who lost both of her legs while serving in Iraq. Her speech opened with a shot on her two prosthetic legs.

Military service doesnt just take courage and sacrifice from those in uniform  theyre required from their families, too, Duckworth said Thursday. Joe Biden understands these sacrifices, because he has made them himself. When his son Beau deployed to Iraq, his burden was shouldered by his family as well.





10:10 p.m.

Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin made a progressive populist argument for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on Thursday night, talking about the illness she suffered as a child and how it left her with the label, child with a pre-existing condition.

That was before the 2010 passage of the Affordable Care Act, which required insurance companies to cover people with pre-existing conditions. The law is being challenged now in court with the Trump administrations backing.

We all have stories like this. Stories about a time when the system was rigged against us. When we were counted out, left out, pushed out, Baldwin said.

10:05 p.m.

Dr. Vivek Murthy, the former U.S. surgeon general under President Barack Obama, said the nation is missing leadership in combating the coronavirus pandemic in a DNC speech Thursday night.

Murthy has advised Biden's campaign on policy proposals to respond to the pandemic, as well as how Biden and his staff can safely hold events and reach out to voters during the crisis.

Featuring a doctor was unusual for a political convention, but it was part of Biden's campaign's effort to underscore that he if elected, he would be guided by experts on policy matters.

He said he has seen "how he sits with people in their pain and holds them in his heart; how he pores over COVID briefings, asking smart questions, letting science guide his way, just as he did when managing the Ebola crisis."

"We need a leader who works with states to ensure that everyone who needs a test gets one and gets results quickly; a leader who secures a safe, effective vaccine and distributes it quickly and fairly; a leader who inspires us to practice distancing and wear masks, not as a political statement but as a patriotic duty, a commitment we make to one another," Murthy said.





9:55 p.m.

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker assailed the economy under President Donald Trump, saying that "he has failed us."

"Working people are under attack, the wealth gap grows, our middle class shrinks, and poverty persists," the one-time 2020 Democratic presidential candidate said. Pointing to millions of Americans who have lost their health care and face economic hardship as a result of the pandemic, he said of Trump, "He has failed us."

Booker spoke of his grandfather, who he said left the South during the Jim Crow era and moved to Detroit, where he got a union job on an assembly line during World War II.

"Together, with Joe and Kamala in the White House, well raise the minimum wage so no one who works a full time job lives in poverty. Together, well fight for those who keep us healthy; who keep us safe; who teach our kids," Booker said. "Well stand for those who cook, and serve and clean; who plant and harvest; who pack and always deliver, whose hands are thick with callouses like my grandads, who held mine when I was a boy."





9:45 p.m.

Rep. Deb Haaland, one of the first Native American women ever elected to Congress, urged Americans to vote this November because "our Constitution is under attack."

"I know we can't take our democracy for granted, especially now, as people are dying, as our land is abused, as our Constitution is under attack. We must work for it by getting involved, by registering voters, by voting. Voting is sacred; my people know that," she said during tonight's Democratic National Convention programming.





9:20 p.m.

Delaware Sen. Chris Coons, a close Joe Biden ally, called the former vice president "a man of faith and conscience" who "knows the power of prayer" in a speech that focused on Biden's Catholic faith.

"I'll never forget how Joe took the time to offer me words of comfort as my father lay in hospice," Coons said. "Time and again, I've seen him stop everything and listen, really listen to someone who needs a shoulder to cry on or a partner in prayer. That compassion, that empathy is part of his character."





9:05 p.m.

Former Democratic candidate Andrew Yang followed up endorsing Joe Biden, and encouraging voters skeptical of real change that Biden is the candidate for them.

I know many politicians promise and then fail to deliver, Yang said. I have gotten to know both Joe and Kamala on the trail over the past year  the way you really get to know a person when the cameras are off, the crowds are gone, and its just you and them. They're real people. They understand the problems we face.

9:00 p.m.

Tom Perez, Chair of the Democratic National Committee, opened the evening. He thanked the staff and production for putting the virtual convention together, and said he hoped the Republican National Convention kept public health in mind as much as the DNC had.

He then advised Americans to consider their vote in November, and the consequences of whom they vote for, before turning it over to California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Newsom talked just 1 mile away from the wildfires raging in his state, and said that climate change has worsened the blaze. He criticized the administration of President Donald Trump for its relaxing of environmental regulations, and blaming previous forest fires in the state on not raking leaves, a claim he reiterated today.

Original story:



Democratic Party luminaries, rising stars, former presidents and presidential contenders have been making a pitch for Joe Biden over three days of an atypical convention. Now the presidential nominee will make his case himself.

Biden will speak Thursday night from Wilmington, Delaware, as he closes out the fourth night of the virtual Democratic National Convention, starting at 9 p.m. ET.

The novel coronavirus forced organizers to put on a remote event with delegates and politicians beaming in via video from around the country, zapping the energy from whats usually a political jamboree. But the event has also given Biden a chance to present a curated vision of his party and principles, showcasing a diverse Democratic coalition and a still-open door to bipartisan governing that many see as a relic of a different Washington.

The theme for Thursday night is Americas Promise and the programming includes musical performances by The Chicks, John Legend and Common.

What to watch on the last night of the convention:

BIDENS MOMENT

With no physical gathering place, Biden will deliver his speech as the Democratic presidential nominee without a cheering crowd, a standing ovation or waves of balloons and confetti breaking over his head. Bidens been boxed into a more subdued position because of a virus that has shocked the U.S. economy and killed over 170,000 Americans. To persuade voters to put in him charge, expect him to use his speech to underline the gravity of the virus and the moment and draw on lessons of tenacity over tragedy that hes experienced in his own life.

TRUMP

Throughout the week, President Donald Trump has worked to counter the Democratic program with trips and jabbing at Biden. On Thursday, he traveled to Pennsylvania, the state of Bidens birth, ahead of the Democrats acceptance speech.

Trump wasn't laying low during the Democratic National Convention. Hes mocking Biden and blaming him for supporting trade policies that he says resulted in manufacturing job losses.

Trump also attempted to frighten voters about the future of their retirement investments if Biden is elected.

Hes also evoking images of violence in some of the nations biggest cities during his own presidency, saying it will only spread if Biden is elected.

BLOOMBERG

Billionaire and former Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg, who spent more than $500 million of his own fortune on a short-lived presidential run, is billed to speak shortly before Biden.

The 78-year-old moderate and former Republican being given a spot to help to close out the Democratic convention is striking. The party has promoted its diverse coalition and embraced a national reckoning on systemic racism and sexual misconduct.

One of the former New York mayor's most notable appearances during the presidential campaign came as he was pilloried on the debate stage by Democrats over his past support for the controversial stop-and-frisk policing practice and its disproportionate effect on minorities and nondisclosure agreements his company struck with women alleging discrimination or harassment.

The businessman has built up goodwill on the left for having poured hundreds of millions of dollars into fighting climate change and gun violence, two issues he will likely touch on.

FORMER CANDIDATES AND CONTENDERS

Three of the Democrats who also sought the White House this year will speak. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg will speak early, followed later in the evening by Andrew Yang, whose outsider presidential campaign was marked by a buzzy online following and a platform to give Americans a universal basic income. Several women who were considered potential running mates for Biden are also slated to appear: Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth. Other speakers include California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Delaware Sen. Chris Coons and members of the Biden family.
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2020 / Optex Systems Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB:OPXS), a leading manufacturer of precision optical sighting systems for domestic and worldwide military and commercial applications, today announced that it will be presenting at the LD 500 investor conference on Wednesday, September 2nd at 12:20 PM PST / 3:20 PM EST. CEO of Optex Systems Holdings, Inc. Danny Schoening will be presenting to a live audience.

"We continue to receive excellent feedback from these events and are excited to again participate in these efficient means of interacting with our shareholders," stated Danny Schoening, CEO of Optex Systems Holdings Inc. "We look forward to sharing our continuing path of increasing year over year revenue growth and excellent cash generation."

Register here: https://ld-micro-conference.events.issuerdirect.com/

"We have been waiting for this moment all year long. Due to COVID, it has been nearly impossible for physical conferences to even take place. I want to show the world that you can still learn, have a great time, and see some of the most unique companies in the capital markets today. All without having to step foot outside. For the first time, LD Micro is accessible to everyone, and we are honored to welcome you to one of the most trusted platforms in the space." stated Chris Lahiji, Founder of LD.

The LD 500 will take place on September 1st through the 4th.

View Optex Systems Holdings, Inc. profile here: http://www.ldmicro.com/profile/OPXS

Profiles powered by LD Micro - News Compliments of ACCESSWIRE

ABOUT OPTEX SYSTEMS

Optex, which was founded in 1987, is a Richardson, Texas based ISO 9001:2015 certified concern, which manufactures optical sighting systems and assemblies, primarily for Department of Defense (DOD) applications. Its products are installed on various types of U.S. military land vehicles, such as the Abrams and Bradley fighting vehicles, Light Armored and Armored Security Vehicles, and have been selected for installation on the Stryker family of vehicles. Optex also manufactures and delivers numerous periscope configurations, rifle and surveillance sights, and night vision optical assemblies. Optex delivers its products both directly to the military services and to prime contractors. For additional information, please visit the Company's website at www.optexsys.com.

ABOUT LD MICRO

Back in 2006, LD Micro began with the sole purpose of being an independent resource to the microcap world. What started as a newsletter highlighting unique companies, has transformed into the pre-eminent event platform in the space. The upcoming "500" in September is the Company's most ambitious project yet, and the first event that is accessible to everyone. For those interested in attending, please contact David Scher at david@ldmicro.com or visit www.ldmicro.com for more information.

Contact:

IR@optexsys.com

1-972-764-5718

SOURCE: Optex Systems Holdings, Inc. via LD Micro

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602635/Optex-Systems-Holdings-Inc-to-Present-at-The-LD-500-Virtual-Conference
RTHK: 'Putin critic in coma after suspected poisoning'

Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny was in a coma in a Siberian hospital on Thursday after drinking a cup of tea that his spokeswoman said she believed was laced with poison.

Navalny, 44, was in intensive care and on an artificial lung ventilator, spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said on social media.

A fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin, Navalny started feeling ill when returning to Moscow from Tomsk in Siberia by plane on Wednesday morning, Yarmysh said.

"We assume that Alexei was poisoned with something mixed into his tea. It was the only thing that he drank in the morning. Doctors say the toxin was absorbed faster through the hot liquid. Alexei is now unconscious," Yarmysh said.

She did not say who she believed may have poisoned Navalny, but said police had been called to the hospital.

Navalny had drunk a cup of tea at a Tomsk airport cafe before boarding his flight, Yarmysh said. The Interfax news agency quoted the cafe's owners as saying they were checking CCTV cameras to try to establish what had happened.

Navalny's plane later made an emergency landing in Omsk so that he could be rushed to hospital. Footage posted on social media by a fellow passenger showed a motionless Navalny being stretchered into an ambulance by medics.

However, one of the doctors there said it was not certain that he had been poisoned. Doctor Anatoly Kalinichenko said "natural poisoning" was one of several diagnoses being considered and tests were being carried out.

Navalny, a lawyer and anti-corruption activist, has served many stints in jail in recent years for organising anti-Kremlin protests and has been physically attacked in the street by pro-government activists.

He has helped investigations into what he has said are outrageous examples of official corruption.

Russia holds regional elections next month and Navalny and his allies have been preparing for them, trying to increase support for candidates which they back. (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2020-08-20. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
(Natural News) Nebraska Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts signed a bill prohibiting dismemberment abortions into law during a public ceremony on the steps of the state capitol on Saturday, August 15.

(Article by Martin Burger republished from LifeSiteNews.com)

The new law, known as LB 814, and first introduced by Republican State Senator Suzanne Geist, prohibits abortion providers from using the dilation and evacuation (D&E) abortion procedure. D&E procedures are characterized as dismemberment abortions because an unborn baby is torn apart limb by limb.

Dr. Anthony Levantino, a former abortionist, described the brutal procedure in graphic detail in a video. In order to perform a dismemberment abortion, the abortionist has to use what is called a sopher clamp, accessing the uterus through the cervix.

This is a grasping instrument, and when it gets a hold of something, it does not let go, Levantino said. The abortionist uses this clamp to grasp an arm or a leg. Once he has a firm grip, the abortionist pulls hard, in order to tear the limb from the babys body. One by one, the rest of the limbs are removed, along with the intestines, the spine, and the heart and lungs.

According to Levantino, removing the babys head is the most difficult part of a dismemberment abortion. The head is grasped and crushed, Levantino said. The abortionist knows he has crushed the skull when a white substance comes out of the cervix. This was the babys brains. The abortionist then removes skull pieces.

Nebraska is a pro-life state, and this week the legislature took an important step to strengthen our culture of life, Ricketts said Saturday.

Sen. Geists bill bans the horrific procedure of dismemberment abortion, which tears apart a living babys body limb by limb. This brutal procedure has no place in a humane, civilized society. I commend Sen. Geist, and the bills supporters in the Unicameral, for outlawing this barbaric practice in Nebraska.

Geist commented, I was honored to carry LB 814. This bill passed because a great majority of the legislative body and a great majority of Nebraska citizens agree with pro-life legislation. I appreciate all who prayed, who contacted their senators, and all who voted. This is a significant step forward for the pro-life movement.

LB 814 makes it a felony for a doctor to perform dismemberment abortions throughout the Cornhusker State, punishable by up to two years in jail and a fine of $10,000.

Pro-life leaders expressed their happiness about the bill being signed into law.

Nebraska Right to Life thanks Governor Ricketts and Sen. Geist for their leadership in passing the LB 814 dismemberment abortion ban, said Julie Schmit-Albin, the organizations executive director. With the assistance of many other pro-life supporters and advocates, you have proven once again that Nebraska is a pro-life state.

LB 814 passed on August 13, two days after the family of Julie Schmit-Albin, the longtime executive director for Nebraska Right to Life, announced she had gone into hospice, according to the Omaha World-Herald. Schmit-Albin had been battling cancer.

Today is a historic day for our state because Nebraska is finally putting an end to the gruesome practice of dismemberment abortion, echoed Nebraska Right to Life president Sandy Danek.

Throughout this years legislative session, LB 814 sparked a statewide discussion about the harms of dismembering a living child and the intrinsic value of every human life, she added. This bill would not have been possible without thousands of pro-life Nebraskans who provided research, education, and advocacy in support of unborn lives.

Karen Bowling, executive director for the Nebraska Family Alliance, called the signing of the bill a landmark victory for the pro-life movement. Senators had to overcome nearly every procedural hurdle in the book to get here, but 33 senators affirmed that the unthinkable act of dismembering a live baby in the womb should be abolished.

She emphasized that all babies deserve a chance at life, and no living human being should be torn apart limb by limb. LB 814 is based on science and compassion.

Marion Miner, associate director for Pro-Life and Family for the Nebraska Catholic Conference, said, We are honored to stand with Governor Ricketts, Senator Geist, elected officials, and other advocates for the unborn from across the state of Nebraska in celebration of LB 814 becoming law.

Ending the horrific practice of dismemberment abortion in our state is a significant victory, yet it is just one part of building a culture of life in Nebraska which helps provide for the needs of mothers and children, honors a common human dignity, and works to make abortion unnecessary and unthinkable, he pointed out.

Abortion supporters have challenged bans on dismemberment abortions. Recently, however, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court ruling that had blocked the 2017 restrictions on dismemberment abortions in Arkansas.

I have always advocated for the lives of unborn children and will continue to defend our states legal right to protect the unborn, Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge commented after the ruling.

Read more at: LifeSiteNews.com
Durham Gets His First Plea DealWhos Next?

Commentary

Ever since early 2017 when the Spygate scandal first began to surface, there has been intense speculation as to whether anyone would be held to account for attempting a coup against a duly elected U.S. president.

And now, more than a year after U.S. Attorney General William Barr revealed he had appointed U.S. Attorney John Durham of Connecticut to investigate how the Russiagate Hoax was launched and sustained for so long, theres a conviction at last.

It was reported on Aug. 14 in the New York Times that former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith had accepted a plea deal.

Clinesmith pleaded guilty to a federal false statement charge, admitting to the judge he altered key evidence being used in the renewal of the FBIs surveillance warrant on former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page.

Its not clear at this point what, if any, agreement Clinesmith made to get this deal. I waited to write this column until Clinesmiths plea hearing occurred on Aug. 19 to see if any aspects of the deal would be revealed, but the hearing came and went without any such disclosure.

Keeping the Russiagate Hoax Alive Just a Bit Longer

It was during the preparation for getting the Page surveillance warrant renewed for the fourth time in June 2017 that Clinesmith committed his crime.

To sum up exactly what it was that Clinesmith did, heres a paragraph from the Department of Justices official website:

Prior to the submission of the fourth FISA application, and after Individual #1 stated publicly that he/she had assisted the U.S. government in the past, an FBI Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) asked Clinesmith to inquire with the OGA as to whether Individual #1 had ever been a source for the OGA. On June 15, 2017, Clinesmith sent an email to a liaison at the OGA (OGA Liaison) seeking clarification as to whether Individual #1 was an OGA source, and the OGA Liaison responded via email to Clinesmith. On June 19, 2017, Clinesmith altered the email he received from the OGA Liaison by adding the words not a source, and then forwarded the email to the FBI SSA. Relying on the altered email, on June 29, 2017, the SSA signed and submitted the fourth FISA application to the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. The application did not include Individual #1s history or status with the OGA.

(Individual #1 is Carter Page. The OGA is the CIA. The FBI SSA was Stephen Somma.)

To keep the legal spying on the Trump administration going in June 2017, the Crossfire Hurricane teamby then working in tandem with the Mueller Special Counselhad to suppress the fact they were well aware the CIA had told them Page was their asset and that they had a longstanding relationship with him.

How can Page be a traitor to his country and a secret Russian agent for Putin if he was keeping the CIA up to date on all his contacts with Russian intelligence agents? It became imperative to the FBI team that this information be shielded from the FISA Court to maintain their fraudulent narrative, which is apparently why Clinesmith is now possibly headed for prison, if only for several months.

The Media Is Still in Denial

What made the news of Clinesmith being Durhams first conviction so interesting to me is that most media are still awkwardly refusing to accept the fact the ever-growing Spygate scandal is real after theyve spent more than three years mockingly dismissing it as a desperate right-wing conspiracy theory.

Before Clinesmiths hearing, former head Mueller team prosecutor and current NBC News legal analyst Andrew Weissmann and several other media figures were floating a narrative that nothing sinister happened here, Clinesmith is pleading guilty to a federal felony only because of small lapse in judgement. Weissmann points out that Clinesmith also sent unaltered copies of the CIA email to other people inside the DOJ and the FBI.

This attempted defense depends on accepting the premise that it was only Clinesmith who was aware that the copy of the CIA email being given to the FISA Court had been materially altered.

So the new Resistance narrative is that Clinesmith, without anybody else involved knowing about it, all by himself decided to alter that one copy of the CIA email being submitted in the warrant application to the FISA Court.

What blows up this narrative is the fact that DOJ IG Horowitz already revealed that the FBI SSA in charge of Crossfire Hurricane, Stephen Somma, also knew about Pages status with the CIA. And the Office of Inspector General clearly stated in its official report last December that Somma also hid this from the court.

In other words, Clinesmith was far from alone in hiding this Carter Page/CIA information from the court.

At his plea hearing, Clinesmith lamely offered the defense to the court that at the time he believed the CIAs official statement in the email that Page was their longtime source was not accurate, a belief that led him to correct the email before it was attached to the renewal application being sent to the FISA Court.

How Many More Spygate Indictments Are Coming?

The Mueller Special Counsels Office investigated for almost two years whether candidate Donald Trump or anyone associated with him or his campaign colluded with the Russian government during the 2016 election. Mueller not only never convicted anyone of Russian collusion, but he also couldnt find enough evidence to sustain a single charge alleging any such activity.

Now that we know who the lucky winner of the very first Russiagate indictment is, the question that arises is, whos going to be the lucky winner of Durham indictment #2?

Well have to wait and see.

Im betting very few of those involved in the Russiagate Hoax are sleeping well these days.

Brian Cates is a writer based in South Texas and the author of Nobody Asked For My Opinion  But Here It Is Anyway! He can be reached on Twitter @drawandstrike.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
by Biju Veticad

Under a 2019 reform, 10 per cent of all government jobs and admissions to higher educational institutions are reserved for disadvantaged families, regardless of caste. Enforcing the legislation would help thousands of Syro-Malabar Catholics.

Thrissur (AsiaNews)  Keralas Catholic bishops have appealed to the state government to implement a quota policy for the economically weaker sections (EWS) of the population.

Last year, following a constitutional amendment, a federal law was adopted reserving 10 per cent of government jobs and admissions to higher educational institutions to EWS, i.e. people who belong to families with an annual income of less than 800,000 rupees (US,600) and less than five acres of land.

Until last year's reform, which extended benefits to high caste poor, quotas were reserved to Dalits (outcastes), Adivasis (indigenous groups), and "other disadvantaged classes" in order to improve the socio-economic status of backward classes.

However, the central government left implementation to individual states. In Kerala the state government has not yet applied the measure, sparking the reaction of Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of Thrissur and Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt of Palai.

So far, the central issue for the Indian Church has been quotas for Dalit Christians. James Elavunkal, who heads the Kerala Dalit Association, noted that Dalits who convert to Christianity automatically lose their rights under the old quota system. "It is a social injustice against our constitutional rights," he told AsiaNews.

With the constitutional revision of 2019, even Christian Dalits would have access to government employment under the quota system.

For Father James Kokkavayalil, head of the Department for Community Awareness and Rights Protection in the Archdiocese of Changanacherry, the Syro-Malabar Church will achieve nothing if it does not speak out against the government.

"As Catholic leaders pointed out, thousands of members of our community could benefit from the reserved seats, he said.
While early polling shows Democrat Joe Biden running neck-and-neck with President Donald Trump in Texas, people seasoned in the states politics are voicing plenty of skepticism about Bidens chances of winning here  and if Biden were to win Texas, some say it would be amid a landslide in which established swing states all go against Trump, too.

Former U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke said in an interview with Axios that Bidens campaign was not doing enough to court Texas voters:

But thats nothing new. Texas has really been on its own  I mentioned its been 44 years since Texas last voted for the Democratic nominee for president. Weve been pretty much left to our own devices for the majority of that time ... I feel really good about what Texas is doing and whether or not the DNC or the Biden campaign fully invests commensurate with the opportunity that Texas represents, Texans, I believe, will carry the day.

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry wrote on Twitter:

The radical Joe Biden-Kamala Harris agenda is way out of touch with Texan values. President Donald Trump and VP Mike Pence are leading the Great American Comeback, and Texas is the economic engine behind their agenda.

IN-DEPTH: Three keys for Joe Biden if hes going to win Texas

Jessica Colon, a Houston-based Republican strategist, told Politico:

Biden is obligated by his party and the leftist movement to spend money here because they are dying to tell the Texas story in their narrative that they can turn this place blue if they just dump enough money here. What people forget, or if youve never been to Texas, is that there is a whole lot of Texas. And dropping into an urban area or two does not a Texas make.

Mark McKinnon, a longtime political strategist who has worked for Texas candidates from both parties, wrote in Vanity Fair that if Biden were to pursue Texas, he would be repeating the same mistake Hillary Clinton made in 2016 when she campaigned in Arizona before losing Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.

The bottom line is that if Texas were to truly be in play in November  a very big if  then Biden wouldnt even need Texas because hed be winning by, oh, 400-plus electoral votes, McKinnon wrote. In other words: by a landslide. So for goodness sake, dont mess with Texas.

U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, an early Biden endorser, told CBS News:

Joe Biden is also going to win Texas in the general election for three reasons. First, Donald Trump and Gov. Abbott have made tactical decisions in their COVID response that is now killing Texans en masse. Second, Biden will defeat Trump in the Texas suburbs. Finally, from a historical perspective, Biden will outperform past Democratic candidates in the rural counties.

John Weaver, an Austin-based political consultant who co-founded the Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump political action committee of current and former Republicans, tweeted this summer that Bidens odds of flipping other swing states  such as Ohio and North Carolina  are better than his chances of carrying Texas or Georgia.

But, Weaver added, an incumbent generally gets no more than 1 percent more than his/her job approval. At the current rate, all four are gettable for Biden. Fight hard. Make them defend.

Jay Aiyer, adjunct professor at the University of HoustonDowntown, told Houston Public Media that Biden will need to win big in cities and suburbs of Texas:

The advantage still remains for President Trump, but this is definitely much closer than weve seen at any time since 1976.
ACO IN CONCERT 1/2

Livestream from the ACO Studio, August 19

As Melbournes music scene weathers a bleak winter lockdown, it is heartening to see signs of spring further north. Celebrating their first concert together for some months, the NSW members of the Australian Chamber Orchestra wasted no time in unleashing their passion and energy on a wide-ranging selection of engrossing repertoire.

Australian Chamber Orchestra members rehearse for HomeCast.

Grabbing attention with the raw, visceral rhythms of the fourth movement of Waltons Sonata for Strings, the players moved seamlessly to the intensely mournful expanse of Arvo Parts Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten, a chiming bell offering a reminder of eternity amid the strings dark, gritty textures.

Modernist precision, exemplified in the third movement of Weberns Five Movements for String Orchestra, gave way to Argentinian languor in Piazzollas Oblivion. Lead violinist Richard Tognetti revelled in the headiness of the tango idiom, contributing suitably steamy solo playing. A contrasting variety of colours and textures revealed great empathy with the romantic style in an engaging arrangement of Brahmss organ chorale prelude O Gott, du frommer Gott. Superbly controlled playing brought alive Prospectors Quartet from Johnny Greenwoods score for There Will Be Blood.
Many more women face losing their jobs than men here due to Covid-19 and the impact on females has been greater due to major issues such as childcare, it's been warned.

Roseann Kelly, chief executive of Women in Business, said it "will be mostly women that are losing their jobs" in Northern Ireland as sectors such as customer-facing retail and hospitality face significant cuts here amid pandemic pressures.

And she says female entrepreneurs are suffering badly as a result of the crisis, with childcare issues becoming the biggest barrier for businesses.

"It will be mostly women that are losing their jobs," she told the Ulster Business Podcast with Bank of Ireland.

"I feel that the impact is mostly being felt by women. Look at retail, the customer service end is going and growth is in the deliveries, which predominately go to males. Women are going to lose their jobs in retail and hospitality.

"Some of the creche facilities I know of one which is not going to reopen. The margins are very tight in that industry and therefore the pay is quite low, so it's very difficult."

And she says there must be a new strategy to deal with childcare to ensure women are able to progress within their careers and help shift the balance of the volume of top jobs being held by men.

"The biggest issue for our corporate senior manages or entrepreneurs is childcare," she said.

"Childcare is a huge issue and it does fall predominately on women, and it shouldn't be a female issue in this day and age.

"We have had members furloughed who have had to take on schooling of children, and issues with that. That is key and the biggest issue we have. Even prior to Covid-19... we haven't got a childcare strategy in place. It is key for women's development."

Roseann said a recent survey pointed to a large proportion of discrimination cases around the issue of childcare.

"That was expecting people to work from home while they have children there and the pressure that brought, or they were asking people to come back in to work when they had no childcare," she said.

"There have been a lot of issues around that and it has to be addressed.

"Childcare was always a barrier. When this came about it was like, this is great, as employers can see that it can be done, and so I would have been excited about that. I still am."

She said there's also now an opportunity for some of Northern Ireland's firms to help address the low number of females in charge of our biggest businesses. "It's disappointing that just so few Top 100 business leaders are female," she said.

"It doesn't reflect the talent of the businesswomen that we have here, at all.

"When we first went into lockdown, and there was a realisation that we could work from home, that was a time for me to think 'something positive is going to come out of this in terms of women'.

"The reason we only have a couple of women in the Top 100 is because the pipeline is not there. When we've lost those other women (in top jobs) there hasn't been the quantity of women at senior management level.

"If we can sort out the childcare and flexibility that will take out a lot of the issues that are there. Then after that it's about tapping in to that unconscious bias."

You can listen to the full podcast at www.ulsterbusiness.com
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders is coming back to Texas for a rally and ramping up his campaign operations here.

On Thursday his campaign will open new field offices in Houston and Austin before opening two more over the weekend, in San Antonio and McAllen.

And on Friday, Sanders will hold a free rally in the Dallas area.

Those events come just days after his campaign announced it is expanding overall staffing in Texas and increasing its television and digital ads.

Bernies multiracial, multigenerational, people-driven movement is fueling our campaign across the Lone Star State, said Bernie 2020 Texas Field Director Chris Chu de Leon.

More Information Bernie Sanders campaign events OFFICE OPENINGS: Thursday in Houston, 6:30 p.m. at 608 S. Sgt. Macario Garcia Drive; and in Austin, 6 p.m. 4926 E. Cesar Chavez St. RALLY: Friday, 8 p.m. at Mesquite Arena, 1818 Rodeo Drive. OFFICE OPENING: Saturday in San Antonio, 1 p.m. at 110 W. Carolina St., San Antonio OFFICE OPENING: Sunday in McAllen, 1 p.m. at 601 S. 10th St., McAllen See More Collapse

For subscribers: Democrats running for White House focus on black community in Texas

The build up is happening just before Texas begins early voting in the presidential primary election. Voting begins on Feb. 18 and runs through Feb. 28. Election day is March 3.

Texas is part of Super Tuesday, when 14 states will vote.

A new national poll released on Monday, shows Sanders has jumped into the lead for the Democratic nomination. Among 665 Democratic voters, Sanders was the choice of 25 percent in the new Quinnipiac University poll. Former Vice President Joe Biden dropped to second at 17 percent. Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who has bet big on campaigning in Texas, was third with 15 percent.

On Friday night, Sanders will be Mesquite Arena, 1818 Rodeo Drive, Mesquite. That event is free and open to the public.

Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

The Sanders campaign will have a grand opening event at its new office in Houston starting at 6:30 pm. on Thursday on Houstons East End. The office is at 608 S. Sgt. Macario Garcia Drive.

On Saturday, the campaign will open its office in San Antonio at 1 p.m. at 110 W. Carolina St., San Antonio.
For the first time, Boeing dropped the "Max" branding when referring to the specific plane variant, simply calling it the "737-8," rather than the "737 Max 8." Stephen Brashear/Getty

Boeing has closed its first 737 Max sale of 2020, but something was notably different in its announcement: the airplane's name.

While Boeing still referred to the aircraft as belonging to the "737 Max" family, it described the specific variant as the "737-8." Until now, Boeing has only described the plane as the "737 Max 8."

It was not immediately clear whether Boeing planned to rebrand the plane  the original wording is still on Boeing's website.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Boeing announced on Wednesday that it had received a new order for up to four of its 737 Max series aircraft, the first sale for the troubled family of planes in 2020.

Amid the rare spot of good news for the planemaker, which is trying to revive the jet while fending off coronavirus-induced losses, one unexpected change stood out: the name of the plane.

For the first time, Boeing dropped the "Max" branding when referring to the specific plane variant, simply calling it the "737-8," rather than the "737 Max 8," the name that the planemaker has used since the aircraft entered service in 2017. It described the plane as belonging to the "737 Max" family of aircraft, differentiating it from the 737-800, which belongs to the 737 Next Generation family, the Max's predecessor.

It's not clear if Boeing is officially changing the plane's name. "We're naming the variant as there are five different types overall (-7, -8 (including denser MAX 200), -9, -10," spokesperson Peter P. Pedraza told Business Insider, noting that Boeing did use the Max name in the press release. The Max 8 naming convention remains on Boeing's website.

Polish charter airline Enter Air will purchase two of the newly named 737-8 aircraft, with the option to purchase two more. Enter Air's current fleet includes 22 older 737 NGs, and two Max aircraft.

Story continues

The sale announcement and possible renaming come as Boeing works to get the Max family certified to reenter passenger service. The Max has been grounded worldwide since March, 2019, following the second of two fatal crashes that killed a combined 346 people.

"Despite the current crisis, it is important to think about the future," Enter Air general director Grzegorz Polaniecki said in a press release, referring to the cratering of travel demand amid the COVID-19 pandemic. "Following the rigorous checks that the 737 Max is undergoing, I am convinced it will be the best aircraft in the world for many years to come."

A rebranding of the troubled jet wouldn't be too surprising. Last year, a Boeing exec reportedly said the company was open to the idea. Airlines have been working on plans for making passengers comfortable with the idea of flying aboard the troubled plane. President Donald Trump chimed in last April, tweeting that Boeing should change the name. "I would FIX the Boeing 737 MAX, add some additional great features, & REBRAND the plane with a new name," he wrote.

The 737 Max has been grounded since March 2019

The first 737 Max deadly crash, Lion Air Flight 610, plunged into the Java Sea off Indonesia in October 2018 just 12 minutes after takeoff, during which the pilots struggled to control the plane. The crash killed 189 people.

Although questions immediately emerged about a new flight-control system on the 737 Max  the latest iteration of Boeing's 55-year-old workhorse  the plane largely remained in service, with an emergency Airworthiness Directive issued by Boeing and the FAA warning pilots about possible control issues.

Within days after Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 302 crashed, killed 157 people, the Max was grounded worldwide. Tiksa Negeri/Reuters

The second crash occurred in March 2019, when Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 plunged to Earth six minutes after taking off from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, killing all 157 on board. Within days, the plane type was grounded worldwide.

Investigators found that both crashes were linked to the maneuvering characteristics augmentation system, or MCAS, which was designed to compensate for the 737 Max having larger engines than previous 737 generations. The larger engines could cause the plane's nose to tip upward, leading to a stall  in that situation, MCAS could automatically point the nose down to negate the effect of the engine size.

But the system could be activated by a faulty reading from a single angle-of-attack sensor, without any redundancies or backups. In both crashes, the sensors are thought to have failed, sending erroneous data to the flight computer and, without a redundant check in place, triggering the automated system.

Although the grounding was initially expected to last a few weeks, Boeing and the FAA found additional safety hazards, requiring Boeing to redesign the jet's entire flight computer rather than just the MCAS software.

Although the grounding was initially expected to last a few weeks, Boeing and the FAA found additional safety hazards, requiring Boeing to redesign the jet's entire flight computer rather than just the MCAS software. Lindsey Wasson/Reuters

Numerous federal investigations are underway into the design of the jet, part of an effort to determine how it was allowed to be certified in the first place and whether there was criminal negligence behind the design.

Boeing completed certification test flights with FAA inspectors in late-June, and the FAA issued a list of proposed changes to the jet earlier this month. Following a 45-day public comment period, the plane could be cleared to fly as soon as late-September.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Arrest made after Cancun police officer killed in broad daylight

Cancun, Q.R.  One man has been arrested after the broad daylight shooting of an on-duty Cancun police officer outside a convenience store Wednesday. The shooting happened on Jose Lopez Portillo Avenue in SM 68 around 5:00 p.m. Wednesday afternoon while the officer sat inside his unit in the parking lot of a convenience store.

Captured on several surveillance cameras was the image of a sole male approaching the police unit on the drivers side window and opening fire, killing the police officer. An alert was immediately posted for the arrest of the man seen on the video.

Elements of Policia Quintana Roo arrived to cordon off the area. Paramedics also arrived, only to pronounce the officer on scene.

Brian Hiram

Head of State Public Security Jesus Alberto Capella Ibarra, reported the attack on social networks, identifying the alleged shooter as Brian Hiram. Cancun police were quick to find the black getaway motorcycle and weapon believed used in the killing along Francisco I. Madero Avenue.

Shortly afterwards, Capella Ibarra announced the arrest of Hiram. The deceased Cancun police officer has been identified as Jose del Carmen Guerra Pinto.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 15:16:25|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Experts have voiced concerns over the U.S.' inaction in joining the international community to help Africa amid the pandemic, the continent hit hardest by COVID-19.

"The U.S. has basically been missing in action on the global front, which is very heartbreaking for me to see," Jeremy Konyndyk, director of the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) during the Obama administration, said during a discussion held by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

According to the Associated Press (AP), more than two dozen international aid groups wrote on June 4 to USAID Acting Administrator John Barsa, saying that "little to no U.S. humanitarian assistance has reached those on the front lines" of the pandemic.

"In spite of months of promising conversations with USAID field staff, few organizations have received an executed award for COVID-19 humanitarian assistance," the aid groups said in the letter, calling the delays of U.S. assistance "devastating," and worrying that the window is closing for Washington to help mitigate the impact of the virus.

Also on June 4, leader of the USAID COVID-19 task force, Kenneth Staley, said the Department of State and the USAID have provided almost 400 million U.S. dollars across Africa to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic. However, U.S. officials have not given details on the number of crucial items delivered to African countries where such equipment is in short supply.

When asked by AP reporters about the number of such items provided by Washington, John Nkengasong, chief of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), said, "Unfortunately, I cannot give you a number ... It has been a challenging time for many countries to fight their own pandemic."

"Rather than lead, or even join, international partners in assisting Africa, the U.S. has opted instead to harass its geopolitical rivals and undercut multilateral efforts to cope with the emergency," wrote William Bellamy, senior advisor for Africa at the CSIS and also former U.S. ambassador to Kenya, in an article published by South African online news service the Daily Maverick.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced in May that his country would sever ties with the World Health Organization (WHO) and terminate funding for the organization. Two months later, the United States notified the United Nations (UN) secretary-general of its withdrawal from the WHO.

The impact of the U.S.' exit from the WHO, a decision "both immoral and likely illegal," will be inflicted on "the COVID-19 battlefields and in every poor community that relies on UN agencies for emergency food, child immunizations, essential medicines, and guidance," Laurie Garrett, a Pulitzer Prize winning science writer, said in an article published in Foreign Policy.

"We hope that the US will focus on its own epidemic response and also contribute to the global fight against the virus through concrete deeds, instead of undermining and badmouthing other countries' response and spreading the 'political virus'," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian has said.

So far, the number of COVID-19 cases in Africa has surged to 1,136,246, the Africa CDC said on Wednesday. Enditem


Theater director Pavel Latushko saw detainees come out of prison with bruises. The detainees told him of punishment beatings. Angry, he decided to join demonstrations against the Belarus government he once represented.

Latushko used to work for the government of President Alexander Lukashenko. He held a number of jobs, and formerly served as a foreign ministry spokesman.

Since 2019, Latushko has been the head of the Janka Kupala National Theater, the oldest theater in Minsk, the countrys capital. But he was dismissed recently because of his decision to break from the government.

Soon after his removal, the actors at the theater announced their resignations. They decided to stand together with the 47-year-old Latushko.

Large anti-government protests have shaken Belarus since Lukashenko was declared the winner of presidential elections on August 9. The president and his supporters say he won 80 percent of the votes, but protestors say the election was rigged. At least two people were killed and thousands more detained by police in the street violence that followed.

In the life of every person there comes a line that cannot be crossed, Latushko told Reuters news agency.

He added, That moment came for me when I saw people coming out of prisons, talking about the violence against themI considered it my moral duty to express my position.

Latushko was removed from his position as the theaters director after speaking out against the government. Since then the theater has become a flashpoint for the demonstrations.

Red-and-white opposition flags hung from the building this week as hundreds of people gathered nearby with signs critical of the government. Protestors cried shame when Culture Minister Yury Bondar arrived to discuss productions for the theaters new season.

Resignation after resignation

Video shared by a local media group showed Bondar inside the theater. The actors shout at him and demand that Latushko be given his job back.

Bondar said the theater should not be turned into a political club. He added that the government had supported the arts and increased funding since last year. Asked about Latushko, Bondar said that an employer had the right to dismiss an employee.

One after another, the actors left a resignation in front of him and shouted go away. The protesters outside cheered as the actors left the building after offering their resignations.

For the actors and their supporters, Latushkos dismissal was a sign of the governments suppression of critics after an election that the opposition says was rigged.

Before the vote, police detained opposition leader Sergei Tikhanovsky on charges of inciting violence. His wife Svetlana offered to serve as a candidate for president. Officially, she won just 10 percent of the vote. Following the elections, she fled the country to neighboring Lithuania.

Lukashenko has ruled Belarus since 1994. He says the election was fair and that he will not hold another vote.

Im Jonathan Evans.

The Reuters News Agency reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

bruise  n. the browning or blueing of skin after it is hit

rig  v. to cheat, to make a false outcome inevitable

flashpoint  n. an important and symbolic spot for a cause

shame  n. painful emotion caused by guilt or embarrassment

funding  n. money given to a group or organization
NEW YORK, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of financial markets for 10,000 U.S. and global securities, today announced Eloro Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: ELO; OTCQX: ELRRF), an exploration and mine development company, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market. Eloro Resources Ltd. upgraded to OTCQX from the Pink market.

Eloro Resources Ltd. begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol "ELRRF". 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.

"This is a significant milestone for Eloro and its shareholders," stated Thomas Larsen, Eloro's Chief Executive Officer. "We are very pleased to begin trading on the OTCQX as it will increase our visibility and profile in the capital markets and in the mining industry. It will also offer enhanced exposure and accessibility to an expanded U.S. market of precious metals investors which will positively impact our shareholder base."

B. Riley FBR acted as Eloro's OTCQX sponsor. B. Riley FBR is the operating name for B. Riley Securities, Inc., a full-service investment bank and subsidiary of B. Riley Financial, Inc., based in Los Angeles with offices across the United States, providing corporate finance, research, sales and trading services.

About Eloro Resources Ltd.

Eloro is an exploration and mine development company with a portfolio of gold and base-metal properties in Bolivia, Peru and Quebec. Eloro has an option to acquire a 99% interest in the highly prospective Iska Iska Property, which can be classified as a polymetallic epithermal-porphyry complex, a significant mineral deposit type in the Potosi Department, in southern Bolivia. Eloro recently commissioned a NI 43-101 Technical Report on Iska Iska, which was completed by Micon International Limited and is available on Eloro's website and under its filings on SEDAR. Iska Iska is a road-accessible, royalty-free property. Eloro also owns an 82% interest in the La Victoria Gold/Silver Project, located in the North-Central Mineral Belt of Peru some 50 km south of Barrick's Lagunas Norte Gold Mine and Pan American Silver's La Arena Gold Mine. La Victoria consists of eight mining concessions and eight mining claims encompassing approximately 89 square kilometres. La Victoria has good infrastructure with access to road, water and electricity and is located at an altitude that ranges from 3,150 m to 4,400 m above sea level. Further information obout Eloro is available at www.elororesources.com.

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 10,000 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.

OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN are SEC regulated ATSs, operated by OTC Link LLC, member FINRA/SIPC.

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Thunberg and other leading Fridays for Future activists are dismayed at the lack of progress in fighting climate change.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has hosted Greta Thunberg and other leading Fridays for Future activists in Berlin for talks on the EUs climate goals.

Merkel said Swedish 17-year-old Thunberg, along with co-campaigners Luisa Neubauer from Germany and Belgiums Anuna De Wever and Adelaide Charlier, had requested the meeting and she was pleased to welcome them to the chancellery on Thursday.

We asked her to treat the climate crisis like you treat any other crisis  What we want is leaders, we want people to step up, Thunberg told reporters following their 90-minute discussion.

Merkel has a huge responsibility but also a huge opportunity, she said.

The meeting came exactly two years after Thunberg, then 15, started skipping school to strike outside the Swedish parliament to draw attention to the need for action against global warming.

Climate activists demonstrate in front of the German Chancellery [Maja Hitij/Getty Images]

The strike movement has since spread across the world and Merkel has repeatedly expressed her admiration for the masses of young people demonstrating every Friday for more climate protection.

But the activists say nothing concrete has changed.

Germanys targets

Despite its green reputation abroad, Germany is struggling to meet its own climate targets as the country remains heavily reliant on coal because of its decision to phase out nuclear energy after the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

Europes top economy was expected to miss its goal of reducing climate-heating greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent this year compared with 1990 levels.

But a government report on Wednesday said the coronavirus could unexpectedly help it meet the target after all, after the pandemic practically halted economic activity and lowered demand for polluting coal.

Germany has promised to abandon coal-generated power by 2038, a date considered far too late by climate activists.

The EU as a whole aims to achieve carbon neutrality  or net-zero greenhouse emissions  by 2050.
The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday urged mutineers in Mali to immediately release detained officials, including the country's president, and "return to their barracks without delay."

The 15 members also "underlined the urgent need to restore rule of law and to move towards the return to constitutional order," according to a Council statement.

The statement was released ahead of a behind-closed doors Security Council meeting requested by France and Niger following Tuesday's dramatic coup in the fragile West African country.

Rebel officers mutinied at a base near Bamako and proceeded into the capital, where they detained President Ibrahim Boubacar, Prime Minister Boubou Cisse and other government leaders.

Hours later, Keita -- beset by angry protests over economic stagnation, corruption and a brutal Islamist insurgency -- announced his resignation.

He said he had been given no other choice but to quit, and sought to avoid bloodshed.

The Security Council expressed "deep concern" over the putsch and "called on all Malian stakeholders to show restraint and give priority to dialogue to resolve the crisis in their country."

They also "urged those mutineers to release safely and immediately all the officials detained and to return to their barracks without delay," according to the statement.

The Security Council expressed its support for statements Tuesday by ECOWAS, in which the West Africa bloc condemned the military coup and vowed to impose financial sanctions.

It also backed a statement by African Union chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat urging the mutineers to "cease all use of violence."
In a statement released late Wednesday, Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough Jr. strongly denied allegations that he defied court orders requiring him to provide juveniles with electronic monitoring.

"Let me be clear," he said. "I am angry that I have been misrepresented to the community. As sheriff of this county, I did not  and would not  state that I would defy a court order. I did not  and would not  refuse to assist juveniles integrating into society as productive citizens, working to better themselves and their futures. I did not write it; I did not say it; I did not even imply it."

Kimbrough disputed that he would defy a court order  "What I did say is that in order to electronically monitor juveniles, we would need additional monitors and additional personnel to fulfill our duties as the courts and the community adjusts to the new juvenile laws and petitions."
'The move immediately caused the National Broadband Plan to raise its planned default connection speed for 540,000 rural dwellers to 500Mbs instead of its scheduled 150Mbs' (stock photo)

A broadband 'arms race' is escalating, with Virgin Media today due to announce a 1,000Mbs service for the one million homes that can use its network.

It follows similar upgrade announcements by Eir and the National Broadband Plan, with basic broadband speeds jumping this year at the same time that hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to work or to study at home.

The Virgin Media service will require a new set-top box but no extra installation, the firm says. It will initially cost 85 a month.

However, pressure from rival operators has already resulted in significant price cuts in high-speed broadband this year.

Eir recently announced a 5 price cut on its higher-end wholesale broadband services, reducing the price of a 500Mbs broadband service to that of a 150Mbs service, giving customers more than three times the speed for the price.

The move immediately caused the National Broadband Plan to raise its planned default connection speed for 540,000 rural dwellers to 500Mbs instead of its scheduled 150Mbs.

"We know our customers are using their broadband more than ever before with data usage increasing by 40pc since March," said Paul Higgins, a senior executive with Virgin Media.

"We're not announcing plans or ambitions or focusing on limited areas. Instead, from today, we're providing lightning fast broadband connectivity across the country on our gigabit network."

The country's biggest operator, Eir, has built high-end fibre-to-the-home broadband network infrastructure covering almost 400,000 premises, with a plan to increase this to 1.4 million premises. This will include most homes in the country that are not covered by the State-subsidised National Broadband Plan.

It comes as 5G mobile networks from Vodafone and Eir are also offering more areas high-speed internet coverage, although the roll-out of such networks is slow with less demand for 5G than previous mobile network upgrades.

1,000Mbs is more than 10 times faster than an ordinary landline broadband connection. Asked what type of things Virgin customers might need such a service for, Mr Higgins said the company has seen an increase in the number of devices per household requiring high-speed broadband, while activities such as gaming and ultra-high-definition movies now consume growing amounts of bandwidth.

For those outside the Virgin and Eir fibre networks, the National Broadband Plan is due to begin connecting homes at the end of 2020 or early 2021, with initial work in Cork, Cavan and Galway.
New York  Former White House adviser Steve Bannon was arrested Thursday on charges that he and three others ripped off donors to an online fundraising scheme We Build The Wall.

The charges were contained in an indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court.

Federal prosecutors alleged that Bannon and three others orchestrated a scheme to defraud hundreds of thousands of donors in connection with an online crowdfunding campaign that raised more than $25 million to build a wall along the southern border of the United States.

A phone at the office of Bannon's lawyer went unanswered Thursday morning. A spokeswoman for Bannon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

According to the indictment, Bannon promised that 100% of the donated money would be used for the project, but the defendants collectively used hundreds of thousands of dollars in a manner inconsistent with the organization's public representations.

The indictment said they faked invoices and sham vendor arrangements, among other ways, to hide what was really happening.

Before he was tapped to lead Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign in its critical final months, Bannon led the conservative Breitbart News. After Trump was elected, he moved on to a top White House strategy post.

The blunt-spoken, combative Bannon was the voice of a nationalistic, outsider conservatism, and he pushed Trump to follow through on some of his most contentious campaign promises, including his travel ban for some foreigners and his decision to pull out of the Paris climate change agreement.

But Bannon also clashed with other top advisers, and his high profile sometimes irked President Trump. He was pushed out in August 2017.
Fords new Police Interceptor Utility has the highest top speed (137 mph) and fastest acceleration from 0-100 mph among competitive police utility vehicles tested by law enforcement agencies; it also will save on fuel costs. Ford has said the first pursuit-rated hybrid police utility will save between $3,500 and $5,700 per vehicle annually in fuel costs versus the current Police Interceptor Utility. If those savings were applied to every Police Interceptor Utility sold in 2017, it would equate to between $118 million and $193 million, or more than 43 million gallons of fuel, Ford has said.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation CEO Evan Siddall lashed out at real estate industry critics that took issue with his recently leaked letter, saying that vested interests are strongest right before the fall.

Siddall decried the housing industrys attempts to cast him in the role of antagonist to home ownership.

The letter, which was addressed to Canadian lenders, called for improvements in risk mitigation by implementing tighter controls on lending to highly leveraged borrowers.
For five decades, Yassin Abdel-Wareth was one of a handful of epidemiologists in Yemen, travelling across the impoverished country to hunt for disease outbreaks that are as endemic as armed conflicts in the Middle Easts poorest nation.

He had seen cholera, malaria, Rift Valley fever and, in early June, he was worried about the new coronavirus.

Abdel-Wareth told his brother: The virus is in every house in Yemen.

Weeks later, the 72-year-old doctor-turned-epidemiologist was dead from COVID-19. His family said he may have contracted the virus while inspecting a quarantine facility set up outside the capital, Sanaa, by Houthi rebels, who have been concealing the viruss toll in Yemen.

We will need 100 years to have someone like Dr. Yassin, colleague Abdel-Salam al-Aqel said.

Abdel-Wareths family and colleagues remember a generous, kind-hearted man who protected them from Yemens ultraconservative society and a tireless doctor with an encyclopedic memory who navigated the countrys tribal and regional fault lines to educate Yemenis about disease prevention. ___

EDITORS NOTE: This is part of an ongoing series of stories remembering people who have died from the coronavirus around the world. ___

Hailing from a poor family, Abdel-Wareth was the eldest of seven siblings from the western province of Taiz, the birthplace of many of Yemens intellectuals and businessmen. He left a short stint as an air traffic controller to study medicine in the then-Soviet Union.

Years later, he returned to work at rural hospitals, where he was the only health worker, doing everything from treating malnutrition to handling surgeries. He took up epidemiology because he wanted to prevent the diseases that drove scores of patients to his hospital.

If an outbreak takes place in one place, he leads a team and heads right away, regardless of the place, if its hard to reach or not, if its morning or night, or if its during holidays or not, said Abdel Hakim al-Kohlani, a senior health official who first met Abdel-Wareth 26 years ago.

On his treks to shanty towns, remote villages and hidden valleys, he seldom wore protective gowns or masks. His family and colleagues said he believed his immune system would fight off any pathogens, even as he caught the diseases he tried to prevent.

Abdel-Wareth didnt let his bouts go to waste. He used his own experience to educate people about the dangers of disease, his family said.

Along with his boundless energy, he brought an intimate knowledge of the places and people he visited, said al-Aqel, the epidemiologist.

Al-Aqel remembered a visit to the impoverished Tihama region, where Abdel-Wareth was investigating an outbreak of Rift Valley fever, a mosquito-borne disease that infects animals and can be fatal. Humans can get it by contacting the body fluids or tissues of infected animals.

He knew where the most vulnerable are, the places where the over 60 are staying in, the underage, the pregnant, and those who need special attention, he said. Even the animals, he would know who has what kind of animals.

A year later, malaria came to the same region. The government used a field investigation by Abdel-Wareth to get funds from international donors and parliament, al-Aqel said. At the time, the mortality rate was 48% and by mid-2000 sank to below 3 per cent.

Throughout his field work, the smile never left his face. When things get so tense, in the field, among the team members, his wit and jokes would lighten the mood, al-Aqel said.

Years later, as the civil war was brewing, travelling to areas tense with tribal fighting became a challenge. In 2014, the year Houthi rebels seized the capital and set off the current war, Abdel-Wareth was leading an anti-malaria campaign in Marib, in eastern Yemen, when armed tribesmen seized and drove off with his convoy, taking with it all of their equipment and medicine.

After negotiations between Abdel-Wareth, health ministry officials and a tribal leader, the teams were invited back to work, his son Ishaq said. All the doctors refused. My father just formed new teams and headed there, he said, adding, He didnt hesitate.

At home, Abdel-Wareths family remembers his generosity and all that he did to set an example against the conservative traditions of Yemeni society.

His brother Jamal said Abdel-Wareth brought the entire family under one roof in a small house in Sanaa, where he shared his salary among his parents and siblings. He financially supported his siblings while they got educations and married.

He wouldnt think about tomorrow. If he has 1,000 dollars and there is a need, he just spends the money, without a second thought, he said.

In Yemens ultraconservative society, women are the last to eat, start trying to have children as soon as they get married, and limit interaction with the outside world. Abdel-Wareth made sure those customs didnt invade his familys life.

He would, for instance, wake each morning to buy his wife breakfast, and always made sure his mother would be the first to eat, his family said.

Niece Raghda Jamal recalled that before her wedding, he came to her with unthinkable advice in a society in which women are pressured to start having babies immediately after marriage. He told her to postpone pregnancy until she got to know her husband well.

He is my legendary hero, she said.

As the coronavirus spread around the globe this year, his brother said, Abdel-Wareth was concerned that it was making its way across his country. Then, Abdel-Wareth learned that he had become infected.

Hospitals in Sanaa refused to take him initially, fearful that doing so would expose their facilities to the virus as they struggled with limited resources and unprotected medical staff. He later was admitted to one, but then waited for nine hours to be treated. His family doesnt blame officials.

They are all at risk and we totally understand all the excuses not to help, his son said.

After his death, Abdel-Wareths phone continued to buzz: Public health and medical workers from across Yemen, unaware of his passing, were sending him messages with daily updates on disease outbreaks.

___

Michael reported from Cairo.
Just a warning: About all this controversy about the postmaster general saying that they cant get ballots in time for the mail-in voting. How is that Trumps fault or anyones fault? Theyre coming forward with plenty of time and asking states to change their mail-in deadline. If they said nothing and let the election go on as planned, then it would be their fault. Theyre warning you of a problem and giving you the opportunity to fix this.
CHAMPAIGN, IL  The University of Illinois received emergency authorization Wednesday to begin using its rapid, saliva-based coronavirus test, which could have potentially game-changing implications for testing in Illinois and across the U.S., Gov. J.B. Pritzker said.

The University of Illinois saliva-based test is less expensive, faster and uses less raw material to produce than traditional testing, Pritzker said. He touted the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations emergency authorization as some of the best news that weve had since this pandemic began.

'Troubling' Coronavirus Trends In Illinois: Pritzker

Tim Killeen, president of the University of Illinois System, said the rapid tests developed by the universitys researchers can be produced at costs that allow and permit large-scale surveillance testing.



That combination is a key to curbing the virus, allowing isolation early enough to limit the spread of the infection, Killeen said, adding the test can also identify people who have the virus but are not showing symptoms.

11 Illinois Colleges Make Princeton Reviews 2021 Best List

The test requires people to drool into a test tube that is then heated and tested. The saliva sample can be tested without opening the tube, which is then heated for another 30 minutes to deactivate the coronavirus detected in any samples, officials said.

Traditional tests, such as nasal or throat swabs, are too slow, too expensive and have too many supply-chain bottlenecks that make fast and frequent testing nearly impossible, according to Martin Burke, a University of Illinois chemistry professor who helped design the saliva-based test.

Illinois Heroes: Help Patch Recognize Those Making A Difference

By using the new saliva-based test, the University of Illinois is capable of testing up to 20,000 people per day, Burke said. Employees and graduate students were tested throughout July, during which the universitys positivity rate dropped from 1.5 percent to below 0.2 percent, Burke said.

Story continues

The FDAs emergency use authorization means the university can turbocharge its efforts to share its technology with other universities, as well as public K-12 schools and other institutions in Illinois, Killeen said. The University of Illinois has also created a team that is working to share the groundbreaking technology throughout the U.S., he said.

IL Breaks 2,000 New Coronavirus Cases For 4th Time Since May

Robert Jones, chancellor of the universitys Urbana campus, lavished praise on the many scientists, researchers and others involved in the project, who worked 24/7 to create the test.

I can only describe their collective effort as heroic and, I might also add, amazing, Jones said.

RELATED NEWS:

This article originally appeared on the Champaign Patch
The Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China border affairs will hold a meeting on Thursday, when the military dialogue between senior commanders from the two sides has hit a roadblock due to Beijings reluctance to restore status quo ante in some key friction areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

The military commanders set the timeframe and method of disengagement, while the WMCC monitors the process. The outcome of the WMCC meeting is likely to determine, when the senior commanders could meet next.

Here are five things you need to know about the India-China border dispute in the Ladakh sector:

* Five rounds of top-level military talks have failed to break the deadlock following serious differences between India and China that flared up after transgressions by the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) this summer. The Indian Army has taken the hard line with the PLA, as it seeks to restore the status quo ante of early April in eastern Ladakh.

* The sizeable Chinese troop presence at friction points, particularly Pangong lake and Depsang plains, remains an area of key concern for the Indian Army. Beijing is yet to deliver on understandings regarding disengagement reached during the July 5 phone conversation between the Special Representatives on the border issue and meetings of corps commanders.

* The Finger Areaa set of eight cliffs jutting out of Sirijap range overlooking Pangong lakehas emerged as the hardest part of the disengagement process. Disengagement has progressed somewhat smoothly at friction points in Galwan Valley and Hot Springs, but its pace remains sluggish in Gogra area.

* There is growing consensus among Indian officials and China experts that military talks are unlikely to deliver further results, and the resolution of the issue will require political and diplomatic intervention. The Indian military has made preparations for a long haul in the Ladakh sector.

* De-escalation along the disputed border can only begin after complete disengagement between the two armies on the LAC. The ground situation remains unchanged in the Ladakh sector, where both armies have deployed almost 100,000 soldiers and weaponry in both their forward and depth areas.
Michelle Obama famously said, "When they go low, we go high." She should have reminded her husband before he gave his speech for the online Democrat convention.

Standing in a room in Philadelphia, with the words "Writing the Constitution" over his right shoulder, Obama gave a speech that almost wholly ignored Biden, whom he'd ostensibly come to praise. Instead, Obama viciously attacked Trump and did a constitutional rewrite that allowed him to cast Trump as a constitutional threat.

From the start, Obama was up to his old tricks. Even while he wanted to use the Constitution to challenge Trump, he couldn't praise it. Instead, he opened by describing it as an imperfect document that "allowed for the inhumanity of slavery and failed to guarantee women  and even men who didn't own property  the right to participate in the political process."

Democrats aren't progressive; they're regressive. They draw power by telling the public that Democrats are the only thing standing between Americans and the Constitution as ratified in 1791 as if nothing has changed since then.

Still, Obama conceded that the Constitution has some virtue. That's why, said President Obama, who once boasted that "I've got a pen, and I've got a phone," was shocked that Trump has never shown "some interest in taking the job seriously, that he might come to feel the weight of the office and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care."

Obama continued, saying Trump has

shown no interest in putting in the work; no interest in finding common ground; no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends; no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves.

Without irony, Obama was describing himself. He was a famously lazy president, compared to the Trump dynamo, he massively enriched those close to him (especially Biden), and he used the presidency as a chance to rock with rappers and take exotic trips.

Obama naturally blamed Trump for Wuhan virus deaths and unemployment. It's as if it never happened that Democrat governors destroyed their economies with lockdowns and turned old age homes and care facilities into slaughterhouses.

Having insulted Trump, Obama gave a trite and short homage to Biden. He touched upon Biden's dead wife and children; Biden's habit of treating people with respect and dignity ("You're a lyin' dog-faced pony soldier," "You're full of s**t," "You're a damn liar"); and his decency (Biden enriched Hunter decently). Obama even said Biden made Obama a better president.

Having damned Biden with faint praise, Obama next praised his own policies and occasionally threw Biden's name into the mix when he did so.

Thus, Obama boasted about how he and Joe saved America from Ebola, a disease that never left West Africa, and from H1N1, a disease that sickened 60 million Americans but that Obama ignored for half a year.

Obama extolled Obamacare, which passed thanks to lies so big that even leftists called him out. Tens of millions of Americans then lost their insurance.

Obama praised the work he did to end the recession, something that was the slowest, grimmest recovery in American history. It was Trump who put the economy on steroids by lowering taxes, cutting regulations, rewriting trade agreements, and weakening China's hold on the economy.

Obama gloated about how he and Joe restored America's standing in the world by standing with "democracy, not dictators." Those not-dictators included Raul Castro, Recep Erdogan, the Muslim Brotherhood, China, and Putin (until Putin was turned into a weapon against Trump). And, of course, we cannot forget the Iranian mullahs whom Obama supported during the Green Revolution and to whom Obama sent billions in cash and a license to produce nuclear bombs.

Having self-praised, Obama contended that Trump was destroying democracy by using "the men and women of our military ... as political props" deployed against those famous "peaceful protesters." There's a lot to unpack there. First, Obama left the military in the weakest condition it's been since before WWII, as well as using it as a grand social justice experiment.

Second, was Obama referring to the peaceful protesters who destroyed 1,500 buildings in Minneapolis/St. Paul? The ones who, in Portland, beat random people, who almost killed a man, and who've spent 83 days battling law enforcement there? Or maybe he's talking about CHAZ/CHOP? Who knows? Obama doesn't. He's just stirring the pot.

There was more, but it was boilerplate social democrat pap of the type you've heard repeatedly.

Thankfully, Trump is...well, Trump, and he tweeted out a vigorous, real-time opposition to Obama's unscrupulous speech:

HE SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN, AND GOT CAUGHT!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 20, 2020

WHY DID HE REFUSE TO ENDORSE SLOW JOE UNTIL IT WAS ALL OVER, AND EVEN THEN WAS VERY LATE? WHY DID HE TRY TO GET HIM NOT TO RUN?  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 20, 2020

HE SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN, AND GOT CAUGHT!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 20, 2020

All in all, Obama's was both a singularly despicable statement from a former president and a disgraceful example of projection as Obama imputed to President Trump all the sins Obama himself committed during his presidency.

Image: Barack Obama by DonkeyHotey, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 20:51:44|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Jan. 12, 2019 shows the White House and a stop sign in Washington D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- China's Foreign Ministry on Thursday urged certain U.S. politicians to stop dragging China into its election campaigns, and stop their "despicable performance."

The ministry's spokesperson Zhao Lijian said this at a routine press briefing in response to recent remarks by Director of the White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy Peter Navarro, who accused the U.S. Democratic Party and China of entering into "a common cause" to defeat Donald Trump by blaming the Trump administration's mishandling of the COVID-19 response.

"Navarro is a habitual liar and rumor-monger who has been spreading 'political viruses' and false information," Zhao said, adding Navarro has zero credibility and dismissing his remarks as groundless.

Zhao said that the American people are in the best position to judge the performance of the U.S. government in fighting the COVID-19 epidemic, and the international community is keeping an eye on it.

"We advise Mr. Navarro and his ilk to put aside the trick of 'shifting blame' and stop their despicable performance, otherwise they will only humiliate themselves," said the spokesperson.

The U.S. election is the internal affair of the United States, he said, noting China has no interest and has never interfered in it.

"We urge U.S. politicians to stop dragging China into its election campaigns out of their own selfish motives," Zhao said. 
BERLIN A German woman who joined the Islamic State group fell on such hard times that she had to sell her wedding present, an AK47 rifle, according to prosecutors in Germany.

In a statement Thursday, German federal prosecutors said they have indicted Zeynep G. on three counts of participating in the activities of a foreign terrorist organization, breaching arms control laws and committing a war crime.

G., a German citizen whose last name wasnt released due to privacy reasons, is alleged to have traveled to Syria in September or October of 2014 to join the extremist group. After marrying a Chechen fighter she ran his household and used social media to urge a friend in Germany to join IS.

Following the first husbands death she married a fellow German IS member in October or November of 2015 and moved to the groups stronghold of Raqqa. German prosecutors say the couple occupied the home of someone who had fled from IS, which would amount to looting or pillaging under international law and is considered a war crime.

Prosecutors said the woman requested a Kalashnikov rifle as a wedding present and training in how to use it, but after several weeks it had to be sold due to a shortage of money.

Her second husband died in 2017 and G. was detained by Kurdish fighters two years later, but managed to flee. She was detained in Turkey in February and arrested on her return to Germany in May, where she now faces trial.

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
Photo: The Canadian Press

Former White House adviser Steve Bannon was arrested Thursday on charges that he and three others ripped off donors to an online fundraising scheme We Build The Wall.

The charges were contained in an indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court.

Federal prosecutors alleged that Bannon and three others orchestrated a scheme to defraud hundreds of thousands of donors in connection with an online crowdfunding campaign that raised more than $25 million to build a wall along the southern border of the United States.

Multiple messages were left seeking comment from a spokeswoman for Bannon and his lawyer.

According to the indictment, Bannon promised that 100% of the donated money would be used for the project, but the defendants collectively used hundreds of thousands of dollars in a manner inconsistent with the organization's public representations.

The indictment said they faked invoices and sham vendor" arrangements, among other ways, to hide what was really happening.

We Build the Wall originally promoted a project for 3 miles of fence posts in South Texas that was ultimately built and largely funded by Fisher Industries, which has received about $2 billion in funding for wall contracts. Tommy Fisher, CEO, didnt respond to calls for comment.

Trump recently criticized that section of wall after it showed signs of erosion, saying it was only done to make me look bad, even though it was built by his supporters.

Bannon led the conservative Breitbart News before being tapped to serve as chief executive officer of Trumps campaign in its critical final months, when he pushed a scorched earth strategy that included highlighting the stories of former President Bill Clintons accusers. After the election, he served as chief strategist during the turbulent early months of Trumps administration.

The blunt-spoken, combative Bannon was the voice of a nationalistic, outsider conservatism, and he pushed Trump to follow through on some of his most contentious campaign promises, including his travel ban on several majority-Muslim countries. But Bannon also clashed with other top advisers, and his high profile sometimes irked Trump. He was pushed out in August 2017.

Bannon, who served in the Navy and worked as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs before becoming a Hollywood producer, has been hosting a pro-Trump podcast called War Room that began during the presidents impeachment proceedings and has continued during the pandemic.
BEIJING - China honored "the most beautiful doctors" on the country's third Doctors' Day, which fell on Wednesday.

This came as part of China's efforts to honor medical and health workers for their contributions in the fight against COVID-19.

A total of 10 individuals and a team, excelling at both medical skills and work ethics, received the title from the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the National Health Commission.
MERV ratings are given out based on a range of efficiency at capturing those slightly larger 0.3-micron particles. The more efficient, the higher the rating. The coronavirus family resides in the 0.1-micron range.

In the latest installment of the HFA Design Thinking Blog Series, Mechanical Designer Nathan Meehan examines how Mechanical air filtration can not only create a welcoming space but a healthy one, especially in the era of COVID-19.

Particulate filters are nothing new, and as such, their importance can easily be overlooked as a staple of any HVAC system. They are often neglected as part of a recommended maintenance routine, even when it's evident to the naked eye that they're accomplishing something great for the space, said Meehan.

What particulate filters are the best for curbing the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in workplaces to keep everyone who walks through the door healthy? While there is no tried and true blanket approach, looking to reputable sources like ASHRAE, for instance, is a step in the right direction. At HFA, this direction led to an upgrade to MERV 13 in the compatible HVAC systems.

MERV ratings are given out based on a range of efficiency at capturing those slightly larger 0.3-micron particles. The more efficient, the higher the rating. The coronavirus family resides in the 0.1-micron range, said Meehan.

Meehan concludes, However, virus particles alone aren't just emitted from an infected host. Instead, they are contained in droplets or aerosols containing water, saliva, other organic materials, and proteins, which altogether are at or well over 1 micron in size. These aerosolized droplets are easily captured by MERV filters and above, with higher MERV ratings capturing slightly smaller particles but with much higher financial and pressure loss costs.

As a company, HFA has 30 years of experience in various industries that give us the unique ability to use that knowledge and expertise to help further the architecture and engineering industry, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Contact: Daryl Whitmer, Director of Marketing and Business Development, (479) 2737780 ext. 274 or daryl.whitmer@hfaae.com.
Rating Action: Moody's assigns Aa2 to Vancouver, WA's LT 2020 GO bonds; affirms outstanding ratings

Global Credit Research - 19 Aug 2020

New York, August 19, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service has assigned a Aa2 rating to Vancouver, WA's $6.7 million Limited Tax General Obligation Refunding Bonds, 2020. Moody's also affirms the outstanding Aa2 general obligation unlimited tax (GOULT) equivalent issuer and general obligation limited tax (GOLT) ratings for the city affecting approximately $45.6 million outstanding and the Aa2 rating on the city's Downtown Redevelopment Authority's (DRA) $40.4 million 2013 Project Revenue Refunding Revenue Bonds (City Debt Service Guarantee). Moody's also affirms its A3 rating on $15.6 million of the DRA's Sales and Lodging Tax Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2013.

RATINGS RATIONALE

The Aa2 GOULT-equivalent issuer rating reflects the city's large tax base and economy, average wealth measures, strong financial position despite modest reliance on economically sensitive revenues, and manageable debt and pension burdens.

The Aa2 new sale and outstanding GOLT ratings reflect the general credit characteristics of the city, as well as the strong legal pledge for these types of obligations in Washington, which carry the full faith and credit and all available revenue pledges of the city and are not subject to appropriation. We generally rate limited general obligations equivalent to a local government's GOULT or Issuer rating in Washington.

The Aa2 rating of the Downtown Redevelopment Authority's Conference Center Project Refunding Revenue Bonds (City Debt Service Guaranty), Series 2013 reflects the limited tax general obligation pledge by the city to cover any debt service shortfalls from net DRA project revenues.

The A3 rating on the DRA's Sales and Lodging Tax bonds, Series 2013 reflects the city and county's sizable and relatively stable economic base, and an overall satisfactory legal structure including a monthly set-aside of gross revenues until debt service and supplemental reserve funds are filled. The rating also incorporates the mixed strength of pledged revenues that has experienced only modest declines through the coronavirus pandemic, with a narrow lodging tax complementing broad city and county sales taxes.

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We regard the coronavirus outbreak as a social risk under our ESG framework, given the substantial implications for public health and safety. Vancouver's strong liquidity and reserves positions it well to absorb the impacts of the outbreak. While the city's DRA has one series of debt secured solely by more economically sensitive sales and lodging taxes we believe debt service coverage on these bonds will remain adequate given adequate recent revenue performance and we do not see an immediate material credit risk. The longer-term impacts will become clearer as the outbreak continues and if our view of the credit impact changes will update our opinion at that time.

RATING OUTLOOK

Outlooks are not typically assigned to local government credits with this amount of debt outstanding.

FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OF THE RATINGS

- Significant strengthening of local residents' wealth and income profile

- Continued tax base expansion

- Multi-year improvement of debt service and MADs coverage (Sales and Lodging Tax bonds)

- Sustained growth of pledged revenues (Sales and Lodging Tax bonds)

FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO A DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS

- Structurally imbalanced operations driving an erosion of reserves or liquidity

- Meaningful financial support of outstanding DRA bonds

- Sharp tax base contraction

- Weakened debt service coverage ratios (Sales and Lodging Tax bonds)

- Increased revenue volatility and declines (Sales and Lodging Tax bonds)

LEGAL SECURITY

The city's general obligation limited tax bonds are secured by the city's full faith, credit, and resources and pledge to levy taxes annually within the constitutional and statutory tax limitation provided by law without a vote of the people.

The DRA's Conference Center Project Refunding Revenue Bonds (City Debt Service Guaranty), Series 2013 are considered limited tax general obligations of the city given Vancouver's obligation to cover any debt service shortfalls from net DRA project revenues.

The Vancouver DRA Sales and Lodging Tax Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2013 are secured by a City of Vancouver PFD 0.033% sales and use tax, a Clark County Public Facilities District PFD 0.033% sales and use tax, and a City of Vancouver 2% lodging tax.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Proceeds of the current issuance will refund a portion of the city's 2010 GO bonds for net present value savings.

PROFILE

The City of Vancouver is 160 miles south of Seattle (Aaa stable) and 15 miles north of Portland, OR (Aaa stable). The city's 2020 population was roughly 190,000, up from 143,560 in 2000.

METHODOLOGY

The principal methodology used in the general obligation ratings was US Local Government General Obligation Debt published in Juy 2020 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBM_1230443. The principal methodology used in the special tax rating was US Public Finance Special Tax Methodology published in July 2017 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBM_1077147. Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of these methodologies.

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.

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.

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.

Joseph Manoleas Lead Analyst Regional PFG Northeast Moody's Investors Service, Inc. One Front Street Suite 1900 San Francisco 94111 US JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 William Oh Additional Contact Regional PFG West 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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The people of Belarus continue to protest by the tens of thousands against a manufactured election victory by President Alexander Lukashenko. Their courage in the face of brutality by security forces and the looming threat of Russian intervention deserves our support. The challenge is finding ways to help that don't make the situation worse or run risks that Western publics wouldn't support. Yet by using the tools of free societies - transparency , the rule of law, market access, asylum - we can make a difference on the side of human dignity and political liberty.

Lukashenko falsely accused NATO of deploying forces to the Belarussian border, insisting he won't "surrender the country." The Institute for the Study of War assesses that "Continuous accusations by Lukashenko and the Kremlin that NATO is stoking the protests indicate that Lukashenko may take continued demonstrations as a pretext for requesting Russian aid against an 'external enemy'." That appears to be happening.

The fate of Belarus matters for our security, even if we in the West are hesitant to risk confrontation with Russia. We ought not to encourage pretenses of military support. But there are numerous ways to assist positive change that do not cede to Russia the power to determine Belarus' fate.

We in the West can bear witness, pay attention, pressure our businesses to advance our values and hold governments accountable. Doing so can help give heart to people facing down danger in Belarus. We should be amplifying the work of open-source analysts such as Bellingcat, the Institute for the Study of War and the American Enterprise Institute's Critical Threats Project that shine light on the actions of the Belarussian and Russian governments; supporting groups such as the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute that strengthen civil society; encouraging tech companies to shield activists' communications from government surveillance. Congress should threaten international scrutiny of Lukashenko's banking and the corporate financing of his cronies' businesses.

Governments, however, should be careful not to increase the danger to protesters in Belarus. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo tweeted, "Whether it's in Belarus or Lebanon or Hong Kong, people just want to live in freedom," then proceeded to make it about the Chinese Communist Party. He's right, but universalizing the protests in Belarus - making them about the global issue of advancing freedom - will actually make freedom harder for the people of Belarus to achieve. It will stoke Putin's fears of encirclement by stable, prosperous, Western-oriented countries, and could precipitate Russian intervention. We help the people of Belarus most by treating their desire for an end to corrupt government as a local issue.

Call for the election to be re-run with international observers, as the European Union has. Appeal for restraint by security services and government. But don't use the struggle in Belarus to score points on China or to increase the likelihood of Russian intervention. And save the trumpeting of success for when the people of Belarus achieve it.

The president and secretary of state should be privately telling their Russian counterparts that NATO is not marshalling forces to intervene, and that Russia would incur disadvantages if it did so - including a shift in the public focus of responsibility from Minsk to Moscow. We should be making clear to Russia that attempts to claw back control of countries yearning for freedom will only increase their desire for NATO protection and EU membership, and also make us more likely to agree. And we should coordinate those conversations with allies to ensure Russia hears a consistent message.

The Treasury Department should slap sanctions on Lukashenko as well as on the corrupt forces keeping him in power. Identify the individuals committing violence against protestors and ensure they have no ability to travel or invest in western countries. Make public their identities and shun their money. If Russia intervenes, sanctions should be extended to any Russians involved.

The U.S. Embassy in Minsk should offer shelter to protest leaders if they are targeted by the government or at risk from Russian agents. Our top diplomat there should attend funerals of people killed by security forces, make prison visits and appear often with opposition politicians when there is concern for their safety.

We and our allies should press the International Monetary Fund and World Bank to prevent assistance to the Lukashenko government unless it steps back from violence against protesters. All of these things would be easier if the Trump Administration hadn't spent the last three and a half years denigrating allies and institutions that magnify America's power and advance our interests.

Finally, and morally repugnant as it is, we should offer Lukashenko asylum if he peacefully leaves the country. While the rise of international legal prosecutions has many advantages, it can discourage dictators from leaving power. Violence on a massive scale would almost certainly have been the outcome in the Philippines in 1986 if the Reagan Administration had not negotiated the departure of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos from the Philippines. Here, the U.S. position on the International Criminal Court, and even President Trump's distasteful camaraderie with dictators, could help persuade Lukashenko that we would allow him to live quietly under U.S. protection to achieve peaceful regime change.

These are mostly small measures, but taken in concert they add up to consequence. They also put us on the side of protesters without making their hard work more dangerous.

- - -

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Schake leads the foreign and defense policy team at the American Enterprise Institute.
US President Donald Trump has condemned the long-running quest for access to his financial records as a continuation of the most disgusting witch hunt in the history of our country.

His comments came after a federal judges ruling that granted Manhattans top prosecutor access to his tax returns.

US District Judge Victor Marreros ruling echoed his prior decision in the case, upheld last month by the US Supreme Court.

The high court had returned the case to Judge Marreros courtroom to give Mr Trumps lawyers a chance to raise other concerns about the subpoena issued by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.

Mr Vance has been seeking Mr Trumps tax returns from the presidents longtime accounting firm, Mazars USA, for more than a year, since Mr Trumps former personal lawyer Michael Cohen told Congress that the president had misled tax officials, insurers and business associates about the value of his assets.

Expand Close Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr, right (John Minchillo/AP) / Facebook

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Congress is also pursuing Mr Trumps financial records.

Mr Trumps lawyers immediately appealed over Judge Marreros Thursday ruling to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

The president said he expected the case to end up back before the Supreme Court.

The appeal means it is unlikely Mr Vances office will get its hands on Mr Trumps tax returns before Novembers presidential election.

Because they are being sought as part of a confidential grand jury investigation, they would not automatically be made public.

The Supreme Court said its a fishing expedition. You dont have to do it, Mr Trump said.

And this is a fishing expedition, but more importantly, this is a continuation of the witch hunt  the greatest witch hunt in history. Theres never been anything like it, where people want to examine everything youve ever done to see if they can find that theres a comma out of place.

Mr Trump is the only president in modern times who has refused to make his tax returns public.

Before he was elected he had promised to release them.

Mr Trumps lawyers have said that the request for tax records dating back to 2011 was retaliatory after the presidents company, the Trump Organisation, disputed the scope of a subpoena seeking records from June 1 2015 until September 20 2018.

Were not doing things wrong, but theyll say, Lets go in and inspect every deal hes ever done' Donald Trump

That time span pertains to an investigation related to payoffs to two women  porn actress Stormy Daniels and model Karen McDougal  to keep them quiet during the 2016 presidential campaign about alleged extramarital affairs with Mr Trump.

The president has denied the affairs.

Mr Trump, through his lawyers, has argued that the subpoena was issued in bad faith, might have been politically motivated and amounted to harassment of him, especially since the wording mimicked the language in congressional subpoenas.

Mr Vances lawyers said they were entitled to extensive records to aid a complex financial investigation and they cited in their papers public reports of extensive and protracted criminal conduct at the Trump Organisation.

In July, the Supreme Court rejected Mr Trumps arguments that he cannot even be investigated, let alone charged with any crime, while he is in office.

But the court left open the prospect that Mr Trump could make new arguments in a bid to keep the subpoena from being enforced.

Also in July, the Supreme Court kept a hold on banking and other documents about Mr Trump, family members and his businesses that Congress has been seeking for more than a year and returned the case to a lower court.

Mr Trump, in reacting to Thursdays developments, boasted about previous legal victories  including in special counsel Robert Muellers investigation of Russian election interference  as he doubled down on his contention that there was a concerted effort to make him look bad.

Were not doing things wrong, but theyll say, Lets go in and inspect every deal hes ever done, Mr Trump said.

Lets get papers from 10 years, every paper, every deal hes ever signed, maybe we can find where some lawyer made a mistake, where they didnt dot an i, where they didnt put a comma down someplace, and then we can do something.
Iran displayed a surface-to-surface ballistic missile on Thursday with a range of 870 miles and a new cruise missile, ignoring U.S. demands that Tehran halt its missile programme.

'The surface-to-surface missile, called martyr Qassem Soleimani, has a range of 1,400 km and the cruise missile, called martyr Abu Mahdi, has a range of over 1,000 km,' Defence Minister Amir Hatami said in a televised speech.

Pictures of the missiles were shown on state TV, which it said was 'the newest Iranian cruise missile that will further strengthen Iran's deterrence power'.

A new cruise missile unveiled by Iran and called martyr Abu Mahdi is seen in an unknown location in Iran on August 20

A missile unveiled by Iran is launched in an unknown location in Iran in this picture

Qassem Soleimani (pictured above), head of Iran's elite Quds Force was killed in January in a U.S. strike on their convoy in Baghdad airport

Soleimani, head of Iran's elite Quds Force, and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were killed in January in a U.S. strike on their convoy in Baghdad airport.

'Missiles and particularly cruise missiles are very important for us ... the fact that we have increased the range from 300 to 1,000 in less than two years is a great achievement,' said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

'Our military might and missile programmes are defensive.'

A new cruise missile unveiled by Iran and called martyr Abu Mahdi is pictured today

'The surface-to-surface missile, called martyr Qassem Soleimani, has a range of 1,400 km and the cruise missile, called martyr Abu Mahdi, has a range of over 1,000 km,' Hatami said in a televised speech

Pictures of the missiles were shown on state TV, which it said was 'the newest Iranian cruise missile that will further strengthen Iran's deterrence power'

The announcement comes as Washington is pushing to extend a U.N.-imposed arms embargo against Iran, which is due to expire in October under Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday Trump has directed him to trigger 'snapback' - a return of all U.S. sanctions on Iran - at the U.N. Security Council in New York on Thursday, after the council rejected Washington's bid to extend Tehran's arms embargo.

The Trump administration is set to demand the restoration of all international sanctions on Iran in a move that will further isolate the U.S. at the United Nations, test the credibility of the U.N. Security Council and possibly deal a fatal blow to one of former President Barack Obama's signature foreign policy achievements.

Tensions have been high between Tehran and Washington since 2018, when President Donald Trump pulled out the United States from the deal and reimposed crippling sanctions on Iran. Above, a missile unveiled by Iran is launched in an unknown location

At President Donald Trump's direction, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to New York on Thursday to notify the world body that the U.S. is invoking the 'snapback' mechanism in the Security Council resolution that endorsed the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

'The United States intends to restore virtually all of the previously suspended United Nations sanctions on Iran,' Trump said on Wednesday. 'It's a snapback.'

As set out by the resolution enshrining the 2015 deal, snapback would re-impose U.N. sanctions that were eased in exchange for curbs on Iran's nuclear program.

But the U.S. move faces steep opposition and could prompt a revolt from the council's other members. None of them believes the U.S. has the standing to do it because Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal two years ago.

Tensions have been high between Tehran and Washington since 2018, when President Donald Trump pulled out the United States from the deal and reimposed crippling sanctions on Iran.

Washington says its aim is to force Tehran to agree a broader deal that puts stricter limits on its nuclear work, curbs its ballistic missile program and ends its regional proxy wars.

Iran has rejected talks as long as U.S. sanctions remain in place.
With today's coronavirus update, the City of Laredo has officially surpassed over 10,000 cases of the novel coronavirus.

City and Webb County officials confirmed 90 additional COVID-19 positives in Thursday's update, bringing the total number of cases to 10,047. Officials also confirmed three additional deaths.
Record rains have inundated central China with floods striking an underground subway system, damaging dams and riverbanks, and causing landslides and building collapses.

Beijing has touted its massive dam network as a remedy for its devastating annual floods, but deluges in recent years have killed hundreds of people and submerged thousands of homes.

Here are five questions about why China still endures severe flooding every year.

- Do the dams work? -

China has historically relied on dams, levees and reservoirs to control the flow of water.

Around 30 billion cubic metres of floodwater were intercepted last year by dams and reservoirs in Asia's longest river, the Yangtze, mitigating flooding downstream in areas including Shanghai, China's emergency management ministry said.

But the country's vast water management schemes are unable to contain all the flooding while there are questions about the endurance of dams built decades ago.

On Tuesday night, the army warned a damaged dam in Henan province "could collapse at any time" after a record downpour. Troops blasted an opening in the dam to release water and raced to reinforce other embankments with sandbags across the province.

Last year, authorities in eastern Anhui province were forced to blow up two dams to release water from the rising Chuhe river over cropland.

And fears re-emerge periodically over the structural integrity of the Three Gorges Dam on the upper Yangtze, the world's largest hydroelectric dam, built in an area criss-crossed by geological faultlines.

- What impact is climate change having? -

The burden on China's dams is likely to grow as climate change makes extreme weather events more common.

As the Earth's atmosphere gets warmer, it holds more moisture, making downpours more intense, Benjamin Horton, director of the Earth Observatory of Singapore, told AFP.

Water levels reached historic highs in 53 rivers during China's summer last year, according to China's ministry of water resources, as authorities warned the Three Gorges Dam is facing the largest flood peak since it began operating in 2003.

Story continues

Meanwhile Zhengzhou, at the centre of this week's torrential downpours, saw an average year's worth of rain in just three days, officials said.

Li Shuo, a climate analyst for Greenpeace East Asia, told AFP that the floods "ring an alarm bell for China that climate change is here."

- Could 'sponge cities' help? -

The country's rapid development and breakneck urbanisation has also exacerbated flooding.

Urban sprawl has covered more and more land in impermeable concrete -- increasing the risk of rapid water buildup on the surface during heavy rain with nowhere to drain into.

Horton also said that some of the country's big lakes have been drastically reduced in size.

One of the government's solutions has been a "sponge city" programme which began in 2014.

It seeks to replace impermeable urban surfaces with porous materials - permeable pavements, more green spaces, drainage areas and reservoirs to stop water accumulating on the ground.

"The objective is that stormwater goes into drains or the green areas, and affects the built areas less," Cecilia Tortajada, a researcher of water policy at the National University of Singapore, told AFP.

- Who suffers most from flooding? -

But sponge cities will be little consolation for rural communities in the path of diverted water, which have suffered severe damage to their homes and crops.

"While urban dwellers in China's megacities are largely spared from the rising water, much of the country's hinterlands along the Yangtze River were put on the frontline," Li said.

Entire villages are routinely allowed to flood, with residents evacuated, in order to spare densely populated cities.

In recent days, rainwater has damaged some 20,000 hectares of crops in rural areas around Zhengzhou, said Xinhua, with a direct economic cost of more than $11 million.

- What more can be done? -

China is also turning to increased flood surveillance and early evacuation to mitigate the human cost of flooding.

In addition to conventional weather monitoring technology, Anqing city in China's Anhui province is using virtual reality goggles linked to river-monitoring cameras that use 5G internet to transmit images to inspectors, according to Xinhua.

Last year, the ministry of emergency said the number of people dead or missing as a result of summer flooding between June and August fell to 219 -- less than half the average figure each year in the past five years.

However, the economic costs soared 15 percent, reaching 179 billion yuan ($26 billion).

Tortajada said that ultimately, flood prevention will also require global action against climate change.

"While countries are getting better prepared, the world as a whole is not prepared," she told AFP.

tjx-rox/apj/jfx
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China's Foreign Ministry on Thursday urged certain U.S. politicians to stop dragging China into its election campaigns, and stop their "despicable performance."

The ministry's spokesperson Zhao Lijian said this at a routine press briefing in response to recent remarks by Director of the White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy Peter Navarro, who accused the U.S. Democratic Party and China of entering into "a common cause" to defeat Donald Trump by blaming the Trump administration's mishandling of the COVID-19 response.

"Navarro is a habitual liar and rumor-monger who has been spreading 'political viruses' and false information," Zhao said, adding Navarro has zero credibility and dismissing his remarks as groundless.

Zhao said that the American people are in the best position to judge the performance of the U.S. government in fighting the COVID-19 epidemic, and the international community is keeping an eye on it.

"We advise Mr. Navarro and his ilk to put aside the trick of 'shifting blame' and stop their despicable performance, otherwise they will only humiliate themselves," said the spokesperson.

The U.S. election is the internal affair of the United States, he said, noting China has no interest and has never interfered in it.

"We urge U.S. politicians to stop dragging China into its election campaigns out of their own selfish motives," Zhao said.
Hyundai Now Ties for the Most Combined IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ and TOP SAFETY PICK Awards

SEE ALSO: Hyundai Venue Preview - Specs, Prices and options

Hyundai now offers 10 TOP SAFETY PICK/TOP SAFETY PICK+ models in the U.S.

Hyundai once again is tied as the most prolific TSP/TSP+ awarded brand in the industry when equipped with optional front crash prevention and LED headlights

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Aug. 20, 2020  The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) announced that Hyundai tied for the most combined TOP SAFETY PICK+ (TSP+) and TOP SAFETY PICK (TSP)-rated vehicles in the automotive industry today. Hyundai has 10 award-winning vehicles. Hyundai also tied for top honors in Feb. 2020.

The Hyundai Venue SUV has been awarded a 2020 TSP rating when equipped with optional LED headlights, which are available on SEL trim with Premium Package and top-of-the-line Denim model. The Venue is Hyundais 10th vehicle and its 6th SUV to receive a top safety rating. As a result, now all Hyundai SUV models have TSP or TPS+ honors. The addition of the Venues designation ties Hyundai as the brand with the most TSPs in the industry.

Hyundais TOP SAFETY PICK+/TOP SAFETY PICK award winning SUVs are:

1. Hyundai Venue SUV  TSP with specific headlights

2. Hyundai Kona SUV  TSP with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights

3. Hyundai Tucson SUV  TSP with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights

4. Hyundai Santa Fe SUV  TSP with specific headlights

5. Hyundai Nexo SUV  TSP+

6. Hyundai Palisade SUV  TSP with specific headlights

Hyundais TOP SAFETY PICK winning cars are:

7. Hyundai Elantra  TSP with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights

8. Hyundai Elantra GT  TSP with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights

9. Hyundai Veloster  TSP with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights

10. Hyundai Sonata  TSP with specific headlights

Our commitment to safety is stronger than ever, said Brian Latouf Chief Safety Officer, Hyundai Motor North America. We are extremely proud that our entire SUV line has TOP SAFETY PICK or TOP SAFETY PICK+ ratings. From our smallest SUV, to our hydrogen powered Nexo, to our eight-passenger Palisade, shoppers can find a safe choice. The Hyundai brand continues to shine as an industry leader in IIHS accolades.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Unable to march in the streets, a group of white senior citizens staged a sit-in outside the home of Kentuckys attorney general to demand justice for Breonna Taylor on Thursday.

One of them ended up getting arrested and six others were given citations, police said.

More than a dozen protesters gathered on the front lawn of Attorney General Daniel Camerons suburban Louisville home. They sat in chairs they brought and held up signs that included: Grannies for Breonna, and Listen to Your Elders, Black Lives Matter, said 78-year-old protester Dotti Lockhart.

We cant march, Lockhart said in a phone interview. We all wanted to be involved in some kind of action for Breonna Taylors family. ... I thought that a direct action and a little civil disobedience would be something we could risk.

Mary Carrigan Holden, who spent her time during the sit-in mending a dress, was arrested and charged with criminal trespass at the end of the approximately hourlong protest.

The 68-year-old retired teacher later said it was worth getting arrested because Louisville needs to wake up and make sure were on the right side of history.

Cameron is leading the investigation into whether Louisville police officers involved in Taylors death will be criminally charged for their actions in the early morning hours of March 13.

Taylor, a Black 26-year-old emergency medical technician, was shot multiple times when officers burst into her apartment with a warrant during a drug investigation. No drugs were found.

Since then, the names of Taylor and George Floyd have been on the lips of demonstrators nationwide, and their deaths have become part of a national reckoning over racism and police actions. Floyd, a Black man, died after a white Minneapolis police officer put his knee on the handcuffed mans neck for several minutes, even after he stopped moving and pleaded for air.

Cameron has declined to put a timetable on deciding whether to bring charges. He has said hes waiting for information on ballistics tests being conducted by the FBI.

Protesters have gathered previously outside Camerons home and at Kentuckys Capitol in Frankfort to demand justice for Taylor.

On Thursday, one protester outside Camerons home was arrested on a misdemeanour criminal trespass charge and six others were given citations, said Grady Throneberry, police chief for Graymoor-Devondale, a suburban city outside Louisville.

They were all told that they could move to the street, stay on the side of the street, as long as they didnt impede traffic and that would be fine, the chief said. But they had to leave the lawn.

Holden, was arrested after she declined to leave, he said.

John Mills, a deputy police chief, told The Courier Journal that six people who received citations for criminal trespassing moved off the lawn.

Holden later said she had avoided mass protests demanding justice for Taylor because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Holden has a preexisting health condition.

I took a risk today because sometimes ideals are more important than health, she said.

The senior citizens wore masks during their sit-in, Holden said. She was not handcuffed by police and camped out by a hand sanitizer dispenser during her booking, she said.

Lockhart, a retired school teacher, said she was among those cited. The protesters planned to sit silently for an hour and then leave, but police arrived quickly, she said.

We felt like elderly white people standing up for justice, for Black families and Black people was worth the risk of arrest, the risk of being cited, Lockhart said.

Some legal experts have said prosecutors might face significant obstacles to bringing homicide-related charges against the officers. Taylors boyfriend was with her at the apartment and fired a shot at a police officer after the door was broken down. The officer was struck in the leg and returned fire, along with other officers outside the apartment. Taylor was unarmed.
With a flurry of smartphones being introduced every month, a lot of brands are gearing up to launch new smartphones with exciting features across price segments. Get ready for a new set of devices which will enhance your smartphone experience and are coming your way soon. Here is a list of smartphones that are expected to launch in the month of September this year.

OPPO F17 Pro & OPPO F17

OPPO, is all set to introduce yet another smartphone the OPPO F17 Pro in the Indian market that will succeed the popular OPPO F15 that was launched in India earlier this year. It is expected to be launched in September and is going to be the sleekest F-series smartphone the brand has ever offered. The device will feature a 7.48mm ultra-thin design making it the sleekest design of 2020. Built to deliver AI-powered photography, the OPPO F17 Pro will come equipped with a suite of 6 AI portrait cameras and video stabilization features to further elevate the experience in portrait photography.

Nokia 2.4 & 3.4

Nokia is all set to launch two new affordable smartphones, namely Nokia 2.4 and Nokia 3.4 in September. The Nokia 2.4 was initially expected to be introduce at IFA 2020 but as the fate of the event is unclear, Nokia might go ahead with the launch of these affordable smartphones ahead of its flagship Nokia 9.3 PureView and mid-range Nokia 7.3 5G and Nokia 6.3. The specifications of Nokia 2.4 and Nokia 3.4 remain vague at the moment and Nokia hasnt given out any information on them.

Motorola Razr 2020

Motorola is introducing its next premium device Moto Razr 2020 on 9th September. After months of speculations and leaks, Motorola teased the launch of its upcoming foldable deviceMotor Razr in a media invite that was sent to the journalists. The leaks suggest that Moto Razr 2020 features a 6.2-inch Flex View P-OLED flexible screen, 2.7-inch Quick View G-OLED display and has Snapdragon 765 Soc paired with 8GB RAM and 256GB of storage. The new device is speculated to be a more feature-rich foldable device and is a major upgrade over the previously launched Moto Razr.

Samsung Galaxy M51

The latest entrant on the Samsung Galaxy M series is expected to be Samsung Galaxy M51. The Galaxy M51 is tipped to launch with a Snapdragon chipset and 8GB RAM having a quad-camera set-up with a 64MP primary camera, just like the Galaxy M31s. The primary camera is said to feature in-house ISOCELL Bright GW1 64MP sensor and since its an M series phone, a massive battery with 25W fast charging support can be expected. The new phone is expected to run on OneUI 2.0 based on Android 10. The phone is expected to launch in September, yet there is no official word on the release date.

Realme7 /Realme7 pro

Realme introduce yet another new phone adding on to the number of devices already launched this year. The CMO has posted a picture hinting at the launch of the new Realme 7 series. The series is expected to have two products  one with a 4,300mAh battery and support for 65W fast charging and the flagship variant with a 4,500mAh battery and support for 65W fast charging. The thickness of the device is expected to be around 8mm and both devices are assumed to weigh less than 200 gms.

ZTE Axon 20 5G

ZTE Axon 20 5G was spotted on TENAA recently and the device is set to be the first smartphone to sport an under-screen camera. Expected to launch on 1st September, ZTE Axon 20 is tipped to sport a 6.92-inch (1,0802,460 pixels) OLED display, powered by an unknown octa-core CPU and pack up to 12GB of RAM. Internal storage is expected to be up to 256GB, and the phone is reported to sport a quad camera setup at the back and a 32-megapixel selfie camera on board is expected as well.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Teamsters Local Union 492 announced its support for U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres-Small (D-2nd District) in her bid for re-election in the upcoming Nov. 3 election.

In her first term, Rep. Torres-Small has served working families in southern New Mexico with determination and dedication. To date, the congresswoman supported Teamster-endorsed legislation more than 80 percent of the time in her first term in Congress.



"In her first term, she co-sponsored legislation to protect retirement, protect wages, protect quality healthcare and protect workers' right to organize a union in their workplace," said Mike Butler, Local 492 Secretary-Treasurer. "Congresswoman Xochitl Torres-Small is looking out for workers. She has earned our support and deserves another term."



"In the U.S. Capitol and in communities across New Mexico, Congresswoman Xochitl Torres-Small has shown she's an ally in the fight for economic justice and security," said Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa. "Working families and the middle-class have a champion in Rep. Torres-Small."

Contact:

Melissa Malcom, (505) 344-1925

SOURCE Teamsters Local 492
The president of the Nomads outlaw motorcycle gang has been arrested for his alleged involvement in three separate shootings.

Michael Wayne Clark, 34, has been accused of supplying guns used in three shootings in the Batemans Bay area last year.

The Canberra-based bikie boss was arrested in a car park on Wednesday wearing a black hoodie and blue track pants.

He is due to appear in the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday, where NSW Police will apply for his extradition to NSW to face charges related to firearms and directing a criminal group.

The Canberra-based bikie boss was arrested in a car park on Wednesday wearing a black hoodie and blue track pants

Following his arrest police raided homes in Kingston and Kambah, where they found two motorbikes and various bikie paraphernalia, including patches (pictured)

Following his arrest police raided homes in Kingston and Kambah, where they found two motorbikes, a gun, cash, prohibited drugs, jewellery and various bikie paraphernalia, including patches.

Nine others have also been arrested and face 49 charges.

AFP detective Superintendent Scott Moller said he expected more charges to be laid.

'At this time, investigations are still ongoing in relation to ACT specific offences relating to drug and property matters,' he said.

He is due to appear in the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday, where NSW Police will apply for his extradition to NSW to face charges related to firearms and directing a criminal group

During the raid police also found a gun (pictured), cash, prohibited drugs and jewellery

'With the arrest of this Nomads national president, the influence of this club within Canberra is now extremely limited.'

Detective Superintendent Robert Critchlow issued a stern warning to lawbreakers.

'If you wish to jeopardise the safety of the community through criminal activity in New South Wales, it is only a matter of time before we find you, no matter where you choose to hide,' he said.

'We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners across the country to ensure those who endanger the lives of others through their illegal behaviour, are put before the courts and held accountable.'
NORRISTOWN  The Montgomery County Board of Commissioners recently authorized a series of contracts related to the COVID-19 pandemic totaling more than $17 million.

Most notably, a $16,445,076 contract with Mako Medical Laboratories, LLC., of Raleigh, N.C., provides for COVID specimen testing and transportation of tests to [the] facility, according to the contract.

Montgomery County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Dr. Valerie Arkoosh praised the new venture as the firm would be contractually obligated to provide us with a 36-hour turnaround time.

The Montgomery County Office of Health and Human Services and TJ Billing Company, of Lafayette Hill, entered into an agreement for insurance claim submission services for COVID-19 tests. According to the contract, the rates are $5 per new test and $7.50 for previous tests that require a follow-up.

The commissioners also awarded a $144,517.80 contract for personal protective equipment, specifically face masks and shields, to Sun Scientific, of Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., according to the contract.

The commissioners have emphasized the importance of complying with contact tracers in order to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus. Officials approved a number of contracts related to contact tracing.

A $24,636 contract with New Era Technology of Islandia, N.Y., to allocate 150 Avaya VOIP Speakerphones for use by contact tracers working remotely, according to the agreement.

Additionally, the countys information and technology solutions and CDW Government of Chicago entered into a $69,169 agreement for equipment, which is available through a contract via the Commonwealth of Pennsylvanias Cooperative Purchasing Program. The laptops and various computer accessories would be used by county employees and contact tracers in a remote setting.

The Office of Health and Human Services will use $451,703 for contact tracing services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the contract.

However, the following amendments, totaling roughly $1.28 million, would cover the hiring of 20 more full-time contact tracers:

* A $336,804-revised contract value agreement with ACLAMO of Norristown

* A $328,550-revised contract value agreement with Family Services of Montgomery County of Eagleville

* A $236,244- revised contract value agreement with Montgomery County OIC of Norristown

* A $325,588- revised contract value agreement with VNA-Community Services of Abington

The next Montgomery County Board of Commissioners meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Sept. 3.
One Meter of Pi Challenge gives you the chance to design a mini modern farm

Together with Raspberry Pi, element14 is challenging its community members to create a high-tech, sustainable farm, within just one square metre.





Image: Farnell

For the latest in its highly popular design challenge series, element14, an Avnet community, is challenging its community members to create a modern farm within just one square metre  or about 10-11 square feet. To help participants develop these micro plots, element14 has teamed up with Raspberry Pi to provide 20 applicants with a challenge kit featuring a Raspberry Pi 4 2GB single board computer along with multiple Pi accessories to help with environmental monitoring and building in a confined space, including the Pimoroni PIM487 Automation Hat, PIM486 Enviro Hat, and the Pico HAT Hacker PC.



At a time when many people are looking for ways to have a role in sustainable agriculture, this challenge allows community members to create their own mini modern farms in just one square metre of land, said Dianne Kibbey, Global Head of Community and Social Media for the element14 Community. Were looking forward to seeing our community show off their green thumbs and think outside the traditional greenhouse for what can be done when farming in a small space.



Participants are invited to use the challenge kit to create a high-tech farming system within one square meter. Potential projects could include:



 Zero gravity enclosure



 Edible algae growing system



 Electronic planting and picking operation



 High growth density mini farm



 Entirely self-contained farming system



 Robotic pest management system



The One Meter of Pi Challenge is open now until 23rd November, with winners announced at the end of November. The grand prize winner of the Design Challenge will win a 13 Macbook Air, Pimoroni 8 Retro Arcade Kit and a $200 Carbon Offset. The runner up winners will receive an iPad10, 32GB, Pimoroni 8 Retro Arcade Kit and $100 Carbon Offset.



All other participants who blog about the build process and outcome of the challenge will receive a USB Solar Bank and a Reusable Metal Straw and Cutlery Set. Posts that include rich visual imagery such as photos, videos and code samples will be viewed favourably in the judging process.



Challenge kits are available to 20 participants who apply online now until 7th September. Challenge kit recipients will be announced on 14th September. Design Challenge participants who receive the kits must use all elements of the kit in their projects and post their progress and final project in at least one blog post.



To learn more about the One Meter of Pi design challenge, please visit www.element14.com/1mofpi.



Contact Details and Archive...
A 23-year-old man was arrested today on suspicion of wasting police time and perverting the course of justice after officers launched a frantic hunt for an Audi they were told had been stolen with a child in the backseat.

The white Audi A3 which was initially said to have had a child inside and was reported missing, was later found by police who said the youngster was located 'elsewhere' and was 'safe and well'.

This evening, the Met Police confirmed a 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of wasting police time, perverting the course of justice and causing a public nuisance after reporting the theft of a car with a child inside from Beckton Triangle in Beckton, east London.

A tweet by the Metropolitan Police appealing for information was shared hundreds of times in little over an hour.

Police have launched an urgent hunt for a missing car which is thought to have a young child inside

Officers then thanked social media users for spreading the word as they revealed the search was over.

A spokesman said: 'The white Audi we appealed for has been found and the child located safe and well elsewhere.

'Were establishing the circumstances of the report.'

The force had earlier said on Twitter: 'We are urgently trying to locate a white Audi A3 reg GK20 AFU that has been reported missing.

The white Audi A3 was last seen in the Beckton Triangle retail park in Newham, east London , just after noon today

The Metropolitan Police was appealing for information on the missing car in a tweet this afternoon

'We believe there is a young child inside.

'The car was last seen in Beckton Triangle, E6 #Newham at approx 12:18hrs today.

'If seen please call 999.'
President Donald Trump wants to deny China some of the proceeds from the sale of ByteDance's US operations of its video-sharing app TikTok, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on Wednesday, but it would be unusual for any company that acquires TikTok to provide funds to the US Treasury. "Well he's said that," Kudlow told CNBC when asked about Trump's demand that part of the proceeds from the TikTok sale he has ordered go to the US Treasury. ALSO READ: Oracle working with investors to acquire TikTok's US business: Report "I ...
New York, NY, Aug. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Three years after Hurricane Harvey made landfall, many of the roughly 400,000 veterans across Houston and the Texas Gulf Coast are still impacted by the storms devastating effects. In response to the disaster, the Qatar Harvey Fund (QHF) partnered with the Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) to deploy a $6 million grant helping veterans rebuild, recover, and thrive after the hurricane. Those veterans now face new and urgent challenges of illness, unemployment, uncertainty, and isolation due to COVID-19. In the final two rounds of grants from this two-year partnership, the Bob Woodruff Foundation allocated $1.8M in funding to programs that support veterans recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Harvey and the pandemic.

His Excellency Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad Al-Thani, Qatars Ambassador to the U.S. and Chair of the Qatar Harvey Fund, said: "We are very proud of our partnership with the Bob Woodruff Foundation because they are providing critically-needed support to veterans in southeast Texas who have been hard hit by COVID-19, with many of these veterans still recovering from Hurricane Harvey. Today's announcement of the positive outcomes being generated by the Bob Woodruff Foundation and its local Texas partners is truly gratifying. Three years after the storm, the Qatar Harvey Fund remains committed to supporting the long-term recovery of southeast Texas, a region with strong bonds of friendship with the people of Qatar. Through the innovative work of the Bob Woodruff Foundation and its partners, the needs resulting from the pandemic are being met by collaboration and flexible service delivery to veterans."

As coronavirus cases continue to surge in Harvey-impacted counties, veterans still recovering from the storm must cope with new and exacerbated challenges to their mental and physical health, financial wellbeing, and ability to meet their basic needs.

The support and services provided by the Bob Woodruff Foundation-Qatar Harvey Fund partnership are now more important than ever, as Texas Gulf Coast veterans and their families face a long road to recovery from two major crises, said Anne Marie Dougherty, CEO of the Bob Woodruff Foundation. The most significant takeaway here is that our veterans dont have to face these challenges alone. Were funding incredible programs that are ready and willing to help right now, and long after the storm has passed.

Emergency Relief

The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed the recovery for thousands of veterans living in the communities impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Thanks to the Qatar Harvey Fund, the Bob Woodruff Foundation has been able to provide essential support to an already strained social services sector. The BWF-QHF partnership is addressing needs related to housing, legal assistance, financial aid, food security, and mental health, providing critical support for veterans and their families through COVID-19 and beyond.

When Bryan, a U.S. Army veteran, learned that his wife was pregnant, his excitement was followed by concern. After a year of hardships, including his brothers COVID-19 diagnosis and subsequent hospitalization, Bryans family was experiencing a period of extreme stress. Thanks to BWF-QHF funding, Easter Seals Houston provided financial assistance to help Bryan pay his mortgage and feel secure. I know its cliche, but just saying thank you is not even close to being adequateFor a long time, I have only seen the present and my circumstances for what they are, said Bryan. I am still reminded of the stress every day, but Easter Seals and donors like you have given me and my family a glimpse to a bright future. BWF-QHF funding is helping Easter Seals Houston provide virtual peer support opportunities and direct emergency financial relief to 150 veteran households whose recovery from Hurricane Harvey has slowed due to COVID-19.

Collaborating for Greater Impact

Veterans know better than most that nobody can accomplish the mission alone. By bringing together local and national best-in-class providers, the Bob Woodruff Foundation helped grow a strong network of resources and services for veterans in the Texas Gulf Coast. Working together, these programs can better assist veterans as they tackle the complex issues that come with transitioning out of the military, experiencing a major natural disaster, and weathering a global pandemic.

BWF-QHF grantee Combined Arms is built on a foundation of collaboration. In 2019, they launched the Combined Arms Community Leader program with support from BWF-QHF funding. The program grew rapidly as veterans across the Houston area raised their hands to be of service to their communities. With continued BWF-QHF support, Combined Arms is expanding the program to ultimately connect 10,000 veteran households to a network of services standing by to assist them in their recovery after Harvey, and during this new period of hardship.

Carlis, a Combined Arms Community Leader and Marine veteran, was recently laid off from his position in the energy sector and has positively refocused his energy to help fellow veterans in need. He has coordinated efforts, in collaboration with programs including BWF-QHF grantees The Mission Continues and the Houston Food Bank, to lead food drives and other recurring events to support veteran families facing food insecurity during the pandemic. Carlis has found a new passion and community by continuing to serve through Combined Arms  helping veterans and their families using the power of collaboration.

Investing for the Long-Term

As the three-year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey approaches, many veterans still require additional resources and services to help them maintain the progress they have made in the wake of the storm. To address both the urgent and long-term needs of this community, the Bob Woodruff Foundation-Qatar Harvey Fund partnership is investing in programming that addresses immediate mental health challenges while strengthening the infrastructure of mental health space in Texas.

Through several BWF-QHF grants, the STRONG STAR Training Initiatives team of experts has trained 98 veteran-serving mental health providers in evidence-based treatment for PTSD. These providers return to their communities equipped with the clinical skills to help their veteran clients recover and take back their lives. The veterans they treat gain tools to help them live with PTSD, more effectively process future challenges, and find success.

Although face-to-face treatment remains our preferred method, we are now able to deliver part or all of this treatment through telehealth, said Dr. Alan Peterson, STRONG STAR Consortium Director. As a result, funding from Bob Woodruff Foundation Qatar Harvey Fund has not only allowed us to provide a one-of-a kind, intensive outpatient PTSD treatment for Texas Gulf Coast region veterans, it has allowed us to adapt the intervention to overcome many of the challenges we have faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S. Army veteran Britton shared her gratitude for the PTSD program: This program saved my marriage and quite possibly life. The Bob Woodruff Foundation and the STRONG STAR staff changed my life. Because of their support I am able to live a more productive life and my mental health has never been better. I am grateful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

For a full and detailed list of the Bob Woodruff Foundations BWF-QHF grantees, visit here.

About the Bob Woodruff Foundation:

The Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) was founded in 2006 after reporter Bob Woodruff was hit by a roadside bomb while covering the war in Iraq. Since then, the Bob Woodruff Foundation has led an enduring call to action for people to stand up for heroes and meet the emerging and long-term needs of todays veterans. To date, BWF has invested over $70 million to Find, Fund and Shape programs that have empowered impacted veterans, service members, and their family members, across the nation. For more information, please visit bobwoodrufffoundation.org or follow us on Twitter at @Stand4Heroes.

About the Qatar Harvey Fund and the State of Qatar

Following the devastation of Hurricane Harvey in August 2017, the State of Qatar announced a gift of $30 million for the long-term recovery of the storms victims in Texas. The Qatar Harvey Fund was created to administer the gift, which included $6 million to the Bob Woodruff Foundation.

Qatar is an independent state in the southern Arabian Gulf. It has a population of approximately 2.7 million people, the majority of whom live in and around Doha, the capital. Diplomatic relations with the United States were established in 1972; in the same year, Qatars first diplomatic mission in Washington, D.C. opened. The relationship between the two countries has always been friendly, highly productive, and reciprocal. Qatar is home to many Americans, and the United States is both Qatars largest foreign investor and its largest source of imports. Qatar-U.S. relations are growing continuously in multiple areas: economic, political, military, educational, and cultural. Qatar is a close ally of the United States and a strong advocate of building a peaceful, prosperous, and stable Middle East. Qatar has provided significant humanitarian and development assistance to countries around the world, including the United States. In 2005, the State of Qatar announced the Qatar Katrina Fund, which provided $100M in grants for housing, healthcare and education projects directly to local partners across Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama to support long-term recovery in the region after Hurricane Katrina.
ONE of Limerick's top tourist attractions is set to remain open until at least the end of this year after government approved a 2.6m funding package.

In a move hailed as "great news for the area" by local TD and Minister for the Office of Public Works Patrick ODonovan, King Johns Castle will be able to open until December this year as well as Bunratty Castle.

There had been fears the drawbridge would be pulled on King Johns Castle on August 31 after Shannon Heritage said it would not re-open the site in the winter months due to a lack of tourist numbers from abroad.

The move would have seen more than 100 job losses locally.

However, following a local backlash, the semi-state company applied for 6m to keep the site open until next March.

And while only a third of this funding has come in, this means that King Johns Castle and Bunratty Castle can at least remain open until the end of 2020.

Mr ODonovan said: "This is great news for the area. Limerick can now look forward to having Shannon Heritage sites open for the end of this year."

Fellow Minister of State Niall Collins added: "I'm just happy that funding has been given to secure the operation of the Shannon Heritage until the end of the year. Obviously there is a bigger question mark over the entire Shannon group because of the fall-off in air travel. In the short to medium term, this secures the operation of the site which is what we have been seeking. We'll have to look at the operation of it next year in early 2021."

Clare TD Cathal Crowe added: "Im delighted this afternoon to have received confirmation from my colleague Minister Michael McGrath on this funding. Ive been in close contact with him, my other Dail colleagues, the workers and the management at Shannon Heritage, working to ensure a positive outcome. This fund means that these iconic sites will remain open until the end of the year, meaning staff can now breathe a sigh of relief."

He pledged to work with his colleagues to ensure this is extended even further still.

Limerick Fine Gael TD Kieran O'Donnell added: "This has been a very difficult and worrying time for staff at Shannon Heritage. Having worked to secure this 2.6m to ensure sites remained open, we will now work on securing the long-term future for Shannon Heritage, staff and the sites, which are such an important part of the tourist offering here."

Green TD Brian Leddin said: "Myself and all the other politicians in Limerick and Clare worked hard to make the case to Ministers Eamon Ryan and Michael McGrath that funding should be provided to allow these important heritage sites remain open. It's good news for the workers and good news for Limerick city. We have to work hard to market King John's Castle as an attraction now. Itish people are looking to explore their own country and there's an opportunity for Limerick to capitalise."

Fianna Fail TD Willie O'Dea added: "The structure of Shannon Heritage is being reviewed with a view to putting a system in place to help secure the business and the jobs into the future."

He added that it's great to see the employees positions secured.
Speaking in front of a live camera, Du Yongwei presented a blue guitar with exquisite patterns of phoenix and peonies, woven into the instrument as cultural elements from Dunhuang's Mogao Grottoes, a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site in northwest China's Gansu Province.

"The images imitate elements from the murals of the Mogao Grottoes, which imply their specific meanings in the Chinese culture," Du, a 60-year-old inheritor of Dunhuang-painted sculpture craft, told the audience.

Tmall, China's internet giant Alibaba's online marketplace, collaborated with the Dunhuang Museum on Sunday to hold a livestreaming activity at the replicated grottoes in the museum.

The two-hour livestream, which attracted more than 10,000 online viewers, introduced the Dunhuang culture, and unveiled the stories and background of the Dunhuang-themed cultural and creative products.

"We've found that young people are keen on Dunhuang culture and they're also willing to contribute their own power to cultural inheritance," said Liu Chang, manager of the online flagship shop of the Dunhuang Museum on Tmall.

According to Liu, since the shop opened on Tmall on May 18, it has received some 500,000 visits, with 40 percent of visitors younger than 30.

T-shirts and skateboards with patterns of flying apsaras, mooncakes in the shape of the nine-colored deer, as well as other featured products, including phone cases and key chains, won their favor with new fashion elements.

"I couldn't imagine this millennium-old culture presented on products in fashionable designs," read a real-time comment.

As museums, monuments and historical sites across China embrace the digital age, a new upsurge in online exhibitions and livestreaming has added popularity to cultural and creative products. Many have joined hands with livestreaming platforms to offer online sales of their products to the public.

So far, more than 60 museums and cultural and creative stores, both at home and abroad, have opened online shops on Tmall with more than 700 million collective visits, said Liu Qian, who is in charge of the cultural and creative business on Tmall.

"Dunhuang culture is a treasure for the world, and 200 million users of Tmall are from Generation Z, so we hope to create more opportunities for young people to know about Dunhuang," she said.

The Mogao Grottoes are home to collections of Buddhist artwork -- more than 2,000 colored sculptures and 45,000 square meters of murals -- in 735 caves carved along a cliff by ancient worshippers.

They were first constructed in 366 A.D. For more than 1,000 years, the site was a popular travelers' stop and a religious shrine on the ancient Silk Road.
An elusive protein that many consider the key of fully understanding the causes of genetic Parkinson's disease has come much more clearly into focus.

Impacting millions around the world, Parkinson's is a neurological disorder that progressively attacks motor functions, leading to lasting damage in movement and coordination, among other areas.

Researchers studying the primary causes of the disease have focused on mutations of the protein known as leucine-rich repeat kinase 2, or LRRK2. Understanding how LRRK2 disrupts normal functioning has been difficult due to a lack of information on the structure of the protein.

Since LRRK2 is a major drug target, efforts to decipher LRRK2's architecture have even included launching samples into space as a way of using microgravity conditions to help crystalize protein samples, but with no success.

Now, University of California San Diego scientists using leading-edge technologies have produced the first visualizations of LRRK2 inside its natural cellular environment and the first high-resolution blueprint of the protein.

They leveraged these depictions to describe how LRRK2 binds to cellular tracks called microtubules and acts as a roadblock for motors that move along these tracks. The findings are described in two research papers published in the journals Cell and Nature.

"These two papers take giant steps towards developing more effective therapeutics for Parkinson's Disease, which impacts so many lives," said Division of Biological Sciences Dean Kit Pogliano, PhD, a professor in the Section of Molecular Biology.

"Combining cryo-electron microscopy with live cell imaging allows researchers to see proteins working inside cells and to more rapidly determine how potential drugs affect their function. This will accelerate drug discovery and provide new hope to those suffering from this debilitating disease."

LRRK2: a key therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease

Known as a kinase, LRRK2 is a type of enzyme that adds phosphate chemical tags to other proteins, influencing their function. LRRK2 mutations are the main cause of inherited forms of Parkinson's disease, but researchers do not fully understand how this enzyme functions normally or in disease states.

The answers to such questions have been vigorously pursued, especially because kinases are one of the most established pharmacological targets for therapeutics. Since the LRRK2 gene was first cloned in 2004, there has been a tremendous amount of effort devoted to targeting it for Parkinson's treatment.

Susan Taylor, a world-renowned authority in kinases, recognized that the expertise at UC San Diego was ideally suited to tackle this problem. With support from the Michael J. Fox Foundation https://www.michaeljfox.org, an international team, including researchers across UC San Diego, set out to study LRRK2 using novel technologies.

A cellular blueprint of LRRK2 on microtubules

As described in the Cell paper, UC San Diego researchers led by Elizabeth Villa, PhD, and her colleagues leveraged new groundbreaking technology known as cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET), a modality of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), to view LRRK2 in its natural environment within cells and describe its structure at a level previously unseen.

In many cases, when researchers seek to determine a protein's structure, they begin by isolating the protein outside of cells. When using cryo-EM, scientists freeze the molecules in a thin layer of ice, preserving their structure, and determine their structure at high resolution. Instead, Villa's team images frozen cells that contain the molecules under study, taking pictures at different angles, somewhat like a CAT scan.

"We lifted the hood to look inside the cell at frozen molecules caught in the act of interacting with each other in different places in the cell," said Villa, who noted the significance of co-developing the cutting-edge instruments used in the study with Thermo Fisher Scientific and UC San Diego's considerable efforts in establishing a new cryo-EM facility on campus.

"We used electron and ion beams like a light saber to blast away parts of the cell. In the middle we left a window that contains the molecules that we are interested in looking at."

The researchers also used light microscopy to find the molecules within cells, and advanced computational modeling tools to develop a high-resolution integrative model of a mutant LRRK2. Their data revealed LRRK2 bound to cellular highways, called microtubules, decorating them in a stunningly regular and unexpected geometry, and predicted that LRRK2's kinase resembled an "overdrive" state known to occur in Parkinson's disease.

"This combination of powerful new techniques was applied for the first time in this research and made it possible to get the first glimpses into the structure of a mutant LRRK2, with the added benefit of its cellular context," said Villa.

"To our knowledge it's the highest resolution structure of a human protein that was determined inside cells before using conventional biochemical tools. We are bringing structure to cell biology."

A molecular blueprint of LRRK2

In order to understand how LRRK2 works at a chemical level and to design therapeutics, an even higher resolution structure is required to reveal the position of atoms and how they interact with potential drugs.

In the Nature study, co-senior authors Samara Reck-Peterson, PhD, and Andres Leschziner, PhD, took a deeper look at LRRK2's structure and function and teamed up with Villa's group to determine how LRRK2 interacts with microtubules.

Using cryo-EM, Leschziner's team captured the most detailed image-to-date of LRRK2's structure, down to the atomic level. Stefan Knapp, a professor at Goethe University in Frankfurt Germany, and his group were also instrumental as they determined how to make LRRK2 tractable for structural work.

The structure comprised the business end of the protein -; which includes the part that tags other proteins with phosphates. The locations of all major Parkinson's disease-causing mutations are found in this structure.

Next, the Leschziner group combined their structure with Villa's and came up with a model that explains how LRRK2 binds to microtubules.

"You can think of the kinase part of LRRK2 as a bit like Pacman, it can be either open or closed," said Leschziner, professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine and Division of Biological Sciences.

Our modeling suggested that, when bound to microtubules, the kinase needs to be in a closed state, indicating that the shape of the kinase may regulate the binding of LRRK2 to microtubules. Teaming up with the Reck-Peterson lab we decided to test this model directly." Leschziner, Professor, School of Medicine, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego

LRRK2 is a roadblock for molecular motors

Microtubules are Reck-Peterson's specialty. She and her team are interested in the molecular motors that transport cargo along microtubules, and how defects in this transport cause human neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases.

Reck-Peterson and her team wondered if LRRK2's interaction with microtubules might be detrimental for the molecular machines that move on them and carry essential cargos from place to place in cells.

Her team discovered that LRRK2 creates roadblocks that stop these molecular machines. They also showed that some drugs that target LRRK2's kinase enhance this effect, while others diminish it.

While Leschziner and Reck-Peterson are not sure yet if roadblocks play a role in Parkinson's disease, their findings already have implications for the design of therapeutic drugs that work by inhibiting LRRK2. Their work points to the possibility that kinase inhibitors that close LRRK2's kinase domain might lead to the unwanted effect of blocking the movement of molecular motors.

"It's not yet clear what role LRRK2-microtubule-binding plays in Parkinson's disease," said Reck-Peterson, professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine and Division of Biological Sciences and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator.

"But what we have now are cellular and molecular blueprints, and that's what is needed to figure out what LRRK2 does and to fine-tune therapeutic drugs that target LRRK2."
Chi and Blu constitute the hitmaking duo Nova Wav. In a typical session, Blu's on the mic humming melodies and words and Chi's at the computer stitching the pieces together, but the longtime friends trust each other to trade places. The L.A.-based pair has worked on hits for Rihanna, Kehlani, Ariana Grande and DJ Khaled, but they're perhaps best known for their work with Beyonce. All told, they've collaborated with the superstar on nine songs, including her Juneteenth "Black Parade" single and the "Mood 4 Eva" and "My Power" tracks off of "The Lion King: The Gift," which eventually helped form the aesthetically rich "Black Is King" visual album.
Con miras a coordinar aspectos del Pacto Peru, el titular de la PCM sostuvo una reunion virtual con el secretario ejecutivo del Acuerdo Nacional, Max Hernandez, en la que participaron congresistas, representantes de gobiernos regionales, partidos, gremios y sociedad civil. pic.twitter.com/FbT0rXz2Zy
A newly formed Tropical Depression 13 could pose problems for Florida in a matter of days.

The National Hurricane Center began issuing advisories on the storm, which was in the central Atlantic, late Wednesday, and the long-range path shows what could be Tropical Storm Laura hitting South Florida by the first of the week.

The forecast suggests it will be a strong tropical storm and not a hurricane at that point, but the hurricane center said there is a greater than usual amount of uncertainty about the storms long-range path and intensity.

It all depends on the storms track during the next few days.

The details of the long-range track and intensity forecasts are more uncertain than usual since the system could move over portions of the Greater Antilles this weekend, the hurricane center said in its first forecast discussion on the new storm.

However, this system could bring some rainfall and wind impacts to portions of Hispaniola, Cuba, the Bahamas, and Florida this weekend and early next week. Interests there should monitor this systems progress and updates to the forecast over the next few days.

The National Weather Service in Miami also urged caution about the track late Wednesday, tweeting that the forecast cone is over South Florida, but there is still high uncertainty to determine what, if any, impacts this system may have on South Florida at this time.

Forecasters along the Gulf Coast were also paying close attention but said its too early to speculate on what could happen next.

As of 10 p.m. CDT Wednesday, Tropical Depression Thirteen was located about 1,035 miles east-southeast of the northern Leeward Islands and was moving west-northwest at 20 mph.

The depression had winds of 35 mph and could strengthen and become Tropical Storm Laura by Thursday night, the hurricane center said.

The storm is expected to stay on a west-northwest track which will take it near or north of some of the Leeward Islands on Friday and near or north of Puerto Rico on Saturday.

Then the uncertainty ramps up. If the center of the storm manages to stay over water and avoid the mountainous terrain of Hispaniola and then avoid Cuba as well, it will have the opportunity to intensify -- possibly substantially -- before it nears Florida.

The hurricane center said that computer forecast models are in fairly good agreement on the storms general path, but some have a more northward track and others a more southward path. The hurricane centers forecast splits the difference.

Since the storm has only just formed, forecasters will get a better handle on its track in the next 24 hours.

The hurricane center is also tracking two other systems, one in the central Caribbean that could also become a tropical depression soon, and one that will move off the coast of Africa on Friday.


Taylor Swift has donated 23,000 to a fan for her university expenses.

Vitoria Mario, 18, dreamed of going to study Mathematics at the University of Warwick but feared she wouldn't be able to raise the money to accept her place at the prestigious university and had been asking for help through GoFundMe.

On her page, she explained: "I am a young Black 18 year old with a dream," she explained. "I have received a conditional offer to study Mathematics (MMath) at the prestigious University of Warwick ... However, I am still in a position of uncertainty as I may not be able to attend university due to my circumstances. I have lived in the U.K. for 4 years now, after migrating from Portugal to live with family in Tottenham. The socio-economic barriers of not being eligible for maintenance loans/grants is due not only to not having 'Home' status, but also because my family are low income, and unable to help me self-fund through university. Sadly, my father has passed away, and my mother remains in Portugal."

And Taylor admitted she was "so inspired" by Vitoria's "drive and dedication" and made no hesitation in "turning her dreams into a reality".

She shared: "Vitoria, I came across your story online and am so inspired by your drive and dedication to turning your dreams into reality. I want to gift you the rest of your goal amount. Good luck with everything you do! Love, Taylor."
Universities in the United States are responding to a draconian national security law imposed on Hong Kong by China with warnings about "politically sensitive content" for students who risk reprisals under the law.



Students studying at Ivy League schools including Harvard and Princeton will be warned of potentially "sensitive" class content ahead of time, the Wall Street Journal reported.



At Princeton, students will be offered anonymous codes to put on their assignments to protect their identities, while Harvard Business School is considering waiving participation in some discussions for students made newly vulnerable by the law, the paper reported.



At Amherst College, one professor is considering using anonymous chat rooms for class discussions to protect students.



The National Security Law for Hong Kong, which came into effect on July 1, 2020, bans secession, subversion, collusion with foreign powers, and terrorism, and has been criticized by foreign governments as being in breach of the ruling Chinese Communist Party's promise to maintain the city's freedom and autonomy.



Rights groups say the vaguely worded offenses, which carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, and cover speech or actions anywhere in the world, will enable the authorities to crack down on any form of peaceful criticism, active dissent, or political opposition.



Amid the coronavirus pandemic, many students from Hong Kong and the rest of China will be signing up for online classes, amid growing concerns that the chilling effect of the new law is already spreading far beyond China's borders.



According to the Wall Street Journal, some 370,000 Chinese students and around 7,000 from Hong Kong were studying at American universities during the 2018-19 school year.



In political science classes, Princeton assistant professor Rory Truex will use blind grading and content warnings to help students identify when they could run afoul of the new law, while Meg Rithmire said her class will offer similar measures, as topics include the mass incarceration of ethnic minority Uyghurs in "re-education" camps in Xinjiang.



The paper quoted University of Pennsylvania professor Avery Goldstein as saying that he would also put warnings on potentially "sensitive" topics for his students.



Neither Harvard nor Penn State had responded to requests for comment from RFA by the time of writing.



Ho-fung Hung, associate professor of sociology at Johns Hopkins University, said the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had already made inroads into academic freedom and censorship on university campuses before the advent of the new law, however, and that this process could now intensify further.



"The CCP's national security law has everyone very frightened," Hung told RFA. "If people are afraid, they will be very careful, and then they will stop speaking out, even if they can't touch you."



"This is how it works. We have to keep reminding ourselves to pay attention and not to self-censor," he said.



Hung said the prevalence of online learning during the coronavirus pandemic had made students and their families more vulnerable to political reprisals for things they do and say in a university setting.



Parents warned, harassed by police



Meanwhile, Chinese activists in the U.S. said their family members had recently been targeted in connection with their activities overseas.



Ji Jiabao, who co-founded a group supporting constitutional government for China in the U.S. earlier this year, said his parents and those of at least three other group members had been harassed by state security police back home, after the group spoke out against the national security law.



He said police in his hometown of Tianjin had contacted his parents after he attended an event commemorating the June 4, 1989 Tiananmen massacre, after the group was set up, and again when it issued an open letter critical of the new law.



His father later called him and tried to warn him off his activism.



"Wang Dan is an enemy of the state, so why are you in touch with him?" Ji's father said in an audio recording of the phone call. "You shouldn't get mixed up with him."



Both of Ji's parents are subject to additional pressure because they are state employees, and weren't available to comment, he said.



"I have understood the nature of the CCP regime. It is a totalitarian state," Ji told RFA. "I think the only way to survive is resistance."



But he said many of his group's members are still maintaining anonymity for fear of affecting their loved ones back home.



Another U.S.-based Chinese student, who asked to remain anonymous, said his parents had also had a similar talk with him.



"They told me that if I continued like this, I might never be able to return to China, and they would never be able to go abroad," he said.



"In this kind of situation, it's meaningless to discuss political views. We can only talk about the consequences."



He said he would be taking additional steps to protect his family, while continuing his activism overseas.



Reported by Rita Cheng and Jia Ao for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-21 05:45:17|Editor: huaxia

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People have dinner at restaurants in Washington, D.C., the United States, Aug. 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

"Initial jobless claims unexpectedly rose to 1.1M as the labor market's recovery remains precarious," U.S. senior economist Sarah House said.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The number of initial jobless claims in the United States rose back above the 1 million mark last week, casting shadow on the recovery of a labor market ravaged by the COVID-19 crisis.

In the week ending Aug. 15, the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits increased by 135,000 to reach 1.1 million, the Labor Department said in a report on Thursday.

"Initial jobless claims unexpectedly rose to 1.1M as the labor market's recovery remains precarious," Sarah House, senior economist at Wells Fargo Securities, wrote in an analysis.

As COVID-19 shutdowns rippled through the workforce, initial jobless claims spiked by 3 million to reach a record 3.3 million in the week ending March 21, and then doubled to reach a record 6.87 million in the week ending March 28.

After that, the number had been declining for 15 weeks consecutively -- though they were still at historically high levels -- before the trend was reversed in the week ending July 18 amid a resurgence in COVID-19 cases.

People collect food at a free food distribution site in New York, the United States, Aug. 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

The number then fell to 963,000 in the week ending Aug. 8, the first time it has dipped below 1 million since mid-March, but the trend was reversed again last week, another setback for the struggling job market.

With the latest numbers, a staggering 57 million initial jobless claims have been filed over the past 22 weeks, indicating a mounting economic fallout related to the pandemic.

"Improvements over recent weeks encouraging, but levels still concerning," Gregory Daco, chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, said on Twitter. "Every week for the past 5 months, new claims for unemployment benefits have surpassed the worst week of the 2008-09 GFC (Global Financial Crisis)."

An extra 600 U.S. dollars in weekly unemployment benefits expired at the end of July, but Democratic lawmakers and the Trump administration remain deadlocked over the next COVID-19 relief package, with both sides blaming each other for making little progress.

As negotiations stall, President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders to extend certain COVID-19 economic relief, but analysts believe that they are unlikely to provide a meaningful boost to the overall economy.

Customers select goods in a store on Times Square in New York, the United States, Aug. 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

One of the actions will extend extra unemployment benefits through the end of the year at a reduced level of 400 U.S. dollars per week, instead of the 600 dollars approved by Congress in late March. The new order also demands states cover 25 percent of the 400-dollar weekly benefits, but only a handful of states have approved the funding.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States totaled over 5.56 million on Thursday, with a death toll over 173,000, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Recent resurgence of COVID-19 cases, which has hindered some states' reopening efforts, could undermine the prospect of economic recovery.

According to the minutes of the U.S. Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting released Wednesday, Fed officials believed that uncertainty surrounding the economic outlook remained "very elevated," with the path of the economy highly dependent on the course of the virus.

"Several risks to the outlook were noted, including the possibility that additional waves of virus outbreaks could result in extended economic disruptions and a protracted period of reduced economic activity," said the minutes of the Fed's meeting held on July 28-29.

The minutes highlighted the need for a new round of fiscal relief, noting that "additional fiscal aid would likely be important for supporting vulnerable families, and thus the economy more broadly, in the period ahead."

A man wearing a mask walks past the U.S. Federal Reserve building in Washington D.C., the United States, on April 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

The Labor Department's jobless claims report also showed that claims under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, a federal program, totaled 542,797 in the week ending Aug. 15, an increase of 53,158 from the previous week. The program covers independent contractors or the self-employed, who are not eligible for regular state programs.

As a silver lining in the cloud, the number of people continuing to collect state unemployment benefits declined by 636,000 to 14.8 million in the week ending Aug. 8. The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending Aug. 1 also declined 197,601 to 28 million.

"Delayed and reduced supplemental payments cloud the spending outlook with 28M continuing claims across programs," House said.

Earlier data showed that U.S. employers added 1.8 million jobs in July, and the unemployment rate dropped to 10.2 percent amid reopening efforts. Despite the rebound in May, June and July, nonfarm payrolls have yet to recover even half of the jobs lost since February, remaining 12.9 million below pre-pandemic levels.

"With (jobless) claims still hovering around one million, the jobs recovery still has a long ways to go," House said. 
MANISTEE COUNTY, MI  A fisherman was floating in the Manistee River when a boater rescued him on Wednesday, Aug. 19.

Gregory Verne Savage, 69, of Plymouth went under the water near Tippy Dam around 4 p.m., police said. CPR and additional medical attention could not revive him; he was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Manistee County Sheriffs Office responded to the call on Wednesday after Savage, who was fishing, had been pulled from the water by a boater. He was reported to be in distress when the boat began its approach; by the time it reached him, he was floating, police said.

The boat transported Savage to shore and CPR was initiated, police said. Savage was then transported to Munson Medical Center in Manistee. He was later pronounced deceased.

The sheriffs office was assisted by the Dickson Township Fire Department, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Tribal Police, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and North Flight EMS.

No further information has been released.

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Fear was what first brought Mr. Lukashenko into office 26 years ago. After the fall of the Soviet Union and the subsequent economic collapse, Belarusians were in a state of shock and wanted a return to stability. Thats what Mr. Lukashenko, a former collective farm manager with a populist touch, promised  and after being elected he proceeded to oversee a sort of return to the Soviet Union, complete with a state-dominated economy and brutal political repression.

For those who have sought to change Belarus, repression has long been a fact of life. Your phones are tapped, you are stopped and held at the border, and you never know when a dubious accusation may see you detained and beaten, possibly never to return.

But if those practices were once confined to a relatively small group of people, they have now been laid bare for all to see. It is now a ritual on social media for those released from police detention  close to 7,000 people have been arrested so far  to lift their shirts and show bodies covered with black and blue from police beatings. At least two protesters have been killed, hundreds have been injured and many are missing. Mr. Lukashenko continues to claim that he is protecting the country.

Workers across the country have taken a stand against such violence and injustice. But the workers movement in Belarus is not a monolith. The Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions, of which I am the vice chair, is part of the International Trade Union Confederation and brings together the countrys independent trade unions. All these independent unions, with a membership of about 10,000 people, are on strike.

Then theres the official Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus, which claims to represent 96 percent of workers, about 4.5 million people. (The figure is grossly inflated.) This entity is not internationally recognized and its head is also the head of Mr. Lukashenkos presidential campaign. Still, there are good people in the organization, even if those at the top still support Mr. Lukashenko. Dissent is emerging here, too; in large factories, workers are leaving the official union and joining our ranks.
(CNN)  Airbnb is moving ahead with plans to go public just months after the pandemic upended the travel industry and forced the startup to lay off a quarter of its workforce.

On Wednesday, Airbnb announced it had submitted confidential paperwork with the US Securities and Exchange Commission for an initial public offering.

Founded in 2008, Airbnb upended the hotel industry by allowing individuals to rent out rooms in their homes for travelers. It became one of the most valuable private startups in the world, reaching a valuation of $31 billion at one point.

Airbnb previously said it was profitable in 2017 and 2018, setting it apart from many other unicorn companies who have bled money before and after going public. The company reportedly started losing money in 2019.

But the global pandemic rattled its business and many of the hosts who power it. In May, CEO Brian Chesky wrote in a letter to employees that its business had been "hit hard" and revenue for the year was expected to be less than half of what the company earned in 2019. He also announced that Airbnb would let go nearly 1,900 employees worldwide.

The next month, however, Chesky told CNN he was open to making a Wall Street debut happen despite the sudden downturn.

"It's not off the table, but we're definitely not committing to anything right now," Chesky told CNN's Poppy Harlow. "We're going to keep our options open."

Airbnb's board includes big names like former American Express CEO Kenneth Chenault and former Pixar executive Ann Mather. Meanwhile, Chesky also has his fair share of prominent mentors to go to for advice, including Warren Buffett, Bob Iger and Barack Obama.

Like other emerging sharing economy startups, Airbnb has faced a number of regulatory battles over the years with local and state governments over how it operates in their jurisdictions. During the pandemic, some cities temporarily cracked down on short-term rentals, and hosts were forced to pivot rentals to 30 days or longer.

Airbnb's IPO could test investor appetite for regulatory risks at a time when peers like Uber and Lyft are facing a legal showdown in their home state of California over how they classify their workers.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Airbnb files confidential paperwork for an IPO."
She last appeared on screens for the beloved reality show in 2016.

And Jess Wright is set to make a sensational return to The Only Way Is Essex for the show's 10th Anniversary, as she arrived for filming in London on Wednesday.

The reality star, 34, oozed chic in a stylish cream pinstrip suit as she joined her glamorous mum Carol to film the socially-distanced scenes.

Suited and booted: Jess Wright, 34, is set to make a sensational return to The Only Way Is Essex for the show's 10th Anniversary, as she arrived for filming in London on Wednesday

Jess cut a stylish figure in an oversized cream blazer and matching trousers as she arrived for filming in the capital.

The star teamed her look with a matching nude blouse and ankle-strap heels, as well as a white YSL Sac De Jour Tote Bag.

Carol, 60, also looked effortlessly stylish in a loose black prairie-style as she joined her daughter for their long-awaited return to the show.

Looking good: The reality star oozed chic in a stylish cream pinstripe suit as she arrived to film the socially-distanced scenes

Ageless: Jess was joined by her glamorous mum Carol, 60, who displayed her own fashion sense in a black prairie-style dress

Dressed to impress: Jess teamed her oversized cream suit with a matching nude blouse and ankle-strap heels, as well as a white YSL Sac De Jour Tote Bag

Like mother like daughter: The pair headed into TOWIE filming, marking Jess' return to the reality show, after she quit in 2016

Many of TOWIE's veteran stars are making a return to the show for the upcoming series to celebrate its 10th Anniversary.

Bosses have already confirmed that TOWIE's anniversary series will begin next month with a special looking back at a decade of Essex drama, and ex-stars including Amy Childs and Fran Perman have already been seen filming scenes.

Meanwhile Jess is in the midst of wedding preparations for her nuptials to her businessman fiance, William Lee-Kemp, in June 2021.

Exciting: Many of TOWIE's veteran stars are making a return to the show for the upcoming series to celebrate its 10th Anniversary

Back on screens soon: Bosses have already confirmed that TOWIE's anniversary series will begin next month with a special looking back at a decade of Essex drama

Bride-to-be: Meanwhile Jess is in the midst of wedding preparations for her nuptials to her businessman fiance, William Lee-Kemp, in June 2021

The pair got engaged in the glorious French Alps in March this year, and Jess has already delivered socially distanced formal invites to her 15 bridesmaids for their upcoming wedding.

The TV star wrote on Instagram: '2020 has been a strange year for us all.

'I got engaged just before this pandemic, & when rules were eased, told my (many) nearest & dearest that I wanted them to be my bridesmaids, from a distance.

'I hope everyone is keeping safe & we get through this soon & a big thank you to all our NHS & key workers for supporting us.'
Mumbai, Aug 20 : The Delhi Capitals squad led by their captain Shreyas Iyer on Thursday gathered in Mumbai ahead of their departure for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be played from September 19.

The franchise said that the squad and support staff members reached Mumbai in batches before leaving for the UAE.

"There is no doubt that it will be a challenging trip for everyone involved. But like everyone else, I've spent these last few months focusing on my physical and mental health, and taking care of my family," said batsman Ajinkya Rahane.

"So the time I've managed to spend with them has put me in a positive frame of mind. However, this IPL will be a very different experience for all of us, and we need to make sure that we are all very positive when we hit the ground running. The key is to take one step at a time," Rahane said.

"We have spent the past 4-5 months dealing with this pandemic, so everyone is aware of all the do's and don'ts. We all have been preparing mentally to live and play under such circumstances, and taking all necessary precautions for our safety and well-being," said Prithvi Shaw.

"All of us at Delhi Capitals play together as a team, and approach everything as one unit. We know people have a lot of expectations from us, but our focus will be on making the most of the training sessions we get in the UAE, and re-creating that fantastic team environment which made us so successful last year. We also have the chance to gel with the new players and then set our sights on the IPL season," he added.

Latest updates on IPL 2020
- S. Korea reports 288 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 16,346

- 1 additional coronavirus death, death toll now at 307

- 57 more patients released from coronavirus treatment, total now at 14,063



South Korea's daily new virus cases jumped by triple digits for the seventh straight day Thursday as church-linked infections in the greater capital area continued to pile up, with more virus cases being identified across the nation.



The country added 288 more COVID-19 cases, including 276 local infections, raising the total caseload to 16,346, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).



It marked a slight fall from 297 additional cases reported Wednesday, but the daily new virus cases have been in the triple digits since Friday when 103 new infections were reported. More than 1,500 cases have been newly identified over the past week.



A flare-up in coronavirus cases, mostly traced to churches, have been reported in Seoul and its surrounding Gyeonggi Province, home to half of the country's 51 million people.



Health authorities warned that this week will be a critical time in judging whether the country will face another wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.



But outside the greater Seoul area, many virus cases have been newly added over the past week, with more cases being reported in 15 cities and provinces, spawning concerns that the virus is spreading across the nation.



Of the newly identified local infections, 135 cases were reported in the capital city of Seoul and 81 from Gyeonggi Province.



Incheon, just west of Seoul, added 10 more cases and the southeastern port city of Busan reported 15 additional infections.



Cases traced to the Sarang Jeil Church in northern Seoul, a new hotbed of the latest spike in virus cases, reached 623 as of Wednesday noon, up 166 from a day earlier.



Of the identified patients, those from the wider Seoul area came to 588, according to health authorities.













The Sarang Jeil Church-linked cases marked the largest cluster infection, after more than 5,000 virus cases traced to the minor religious sect of Shincheonji were reported in the southeastern city of Daegu in late February and early March.



Health authorities also urged participants in a massive anti-government rally held in central Seoul on Saturday to immediately take virus tests regardless of showing symptoms.



The KCDC remained on higher alert over a potential explosive outbreak tied to the march as it is hard to trace the whereabouts of thousands of protesters who came to Seoul from other cities.



They were presumed to be in close contact with virus patients during the rally, in which a large number of Sarang Jeil Church members participated.



At least 10 people who joined the weekend rally were confirmed to have contracted the virus, even though they were not affiliated with the conservative church.



Alarmed by soaring virus cases, South Korea raised the level of social distancing in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province on Sunday by one notch to Level 2 in the three-tier system for two weeks. Starting Wednesday, the measure was expanded to Incheon.



Indoor meetings of more than 50 people and open-air gatherings of over 100 people are banned in principle. So-called risk-prone facilities, including karaoke rooms, clubs, PC cafes and buffets, have been ordered to shut down.



The government said it is not yet the time to consider raising the level of social distancing to Level 3.



The highest anti-virus curbs can be issued when the number of daily virus cases reaches a two-week average of 100-200 and the doubling of new COVID-19 cases occurs more than twice a week.



South Korea reported 12 imported cases, with the United States accounting for three infections. Two cases came from Kazakhstan and another two from Ukraine.



Cases coming in from overseas rebounded back to double-digit numbers since mid-June for about a month, but such infections recently slowed.



South Korea, meanwhile, reported one more death, raising the tally to 307. The fatality rate was 1.88 percent.



The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 14,063, up 57 from the previous day.



The country has carried out 1,734,083 coronavirus tests since Jan. 3. (Yonhap)
Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal looks forward to further cooperation with the United States in the implementation of projects aimed at the economic and social development of Ukraine.

PM Shmyhal made a corresponding statement during a meeting with representatives of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Government portal informs.

Head of the Government of Ukraine welcomed newly appointed USAID Mission Director for Ukraine and Belarus James Hope, thanked him for the comprehensive and consistent support to Ukraine rendered by the U.S. Government and expressed hope for further cooperation in projects aimed at economic and social development of Ukraine.

The Prime Minister also said that the Cabinet of Ministers continued to take all necessary measures to combat the spread of coronavirus, in particular on the eve of the start of the school year.

While discussing the energy sector issues, the Prime Minister noted that the Government was negotiating the implementation of the project of fair transformation of coal regions.

"This is an important area because we understand that coal generation is reaching its limits in terms of environment and productivity. Out of the thirty-three mines, twenty are unprofitable and inefficient. We understand that the problems of the coal regions will have to be solved comprehensively because sooner or later the mines will start to close. In total, there are 60 so-called single-industry towns in Ukraine which depend on one mine or one enterprise. We need to solve the problems of such localities now so that we do not get socio-demographic catastrophes in these regions in 5-10 years," the Prime Minister of Ukraine said.

The Head of Government also spoke about the consistent continuation of decentralization reform, noting that it is one of the most successful and socially supported reforms. Denys Shmyhal expressed hope that the PULSE (Policy for Ukraine Local Self-Governance) and DOBRE (Decentralization Offering Better Results and Efficiency) projects, which are nearing completion, will continue their activities after the local elections aimed to strengthen and consolidate the reform in the newly formed communities, the statement reads.

"The next stage is that we will need the newly formed communities and districts to learn as soon as possible how to live effectively in the new environment, in particular, how to reform regional state administrations. Therefore, we will be grateful for further support for these reforms," the Prime Minister stressed.

For his part, USAID Mission Director James Hope said he supported the continuation of programs to promote decentralization reform. According to him, this year Ukraine is implementing dozens of different programs and projects related to energy, economics, healthcare and other important areas.

The meeting was also attended by Charge d'Affaires of the United States in Ukraine Kristina Kvien, USAID Deputy Mission Director Susan Kutor, and Secretary of the US Embassy in Ukraine Kim Kim I.

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You may know her as a multi-millionaire investor on ABCs Shark Tank, but New York real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran didnt become one of the highest-paid female investors in the world overnight. Like many other entrepreneurs, she climbed her way to the top from nothing.

Barbara Corcoran grew up poor. Despite her external circumstances, however, she maintained a strong imagination and showed keen business acumen from a young age (she was known to set up rock stores in her backyard).

At 23, Corcoran was making ends meet by waitressing when she met future husband Ramone Simone. And though he gave her a $1,000 loan to start a joint real estate business, Simone left her to marry his secretary not long after, claiming Corcoran would "never succeed without him.

Related: 13 Million-Dollar Businesses That Turned Down 'Shark Tank' Deals

While painful, the experience lit a fire under her. Corcoran spent the next 23 years building her empire: New York City real estate brokerage the Corcoran Group. This group went on to become the largest residential real estate firm in New York before Corcoran sold it to NRT in 2001 for $66 million.

Barbara Corcorans life is a true rags-to-riches story. And now, at age 71, Corcorans legacy (and, not to mention, $80 million net worth) is proof that no obstacle is too big to overcome.

Your past doesnt define you

Barbara Corcoran grew up in Edgewater, New Jersey, sharing a two-bedroom apartment with her mother and nine siblings. While it would be easy to set her sights lower in such circumstances, Corcoran has repeatedly stated her belief that growing up poor is a key ingredient for success. Poor kids, she asserts, have nothing to lose, and nowhere to go but up.

Against all odds (or, perhaps, because of them), Corcoran refused to let disadvantage get in the way of her success. Even when her husband left her for a coworker, she refused to let disappointment stand in the way of her goals.

Related: (Podcast) Barbara Corcoran Reveals How to Not Be Afraid of Taking Risks

By looking at her life experiences, we can see that challenges and letdowns arent inherently bad: they can serve as powerful motivators for success. Ultimately, Barbara Corcoran shows that no matter your circumstances, you have the power to make a change.

Grades matter  but so does motivation

Corcoran says that she was a straight D student in high school and college. She even flunked out of several courses in her freshman year before transferring to a second high school.

She also struggled with dyslexia, and, as a result, didnt learn to read as early in life as her peers. In fact, it wasnt until her son, Tom, was diagnosed with dyslexia in second grade that Corcoran realized shed been dealing with it for her entire life, as well.

Corcoran made major personal strides without even realizing the magnitude of the odds stacked against her. Her success alone is proof that you dont have to look good on paper  get straight As, be at the top of your class, or even progress at the same rate as your peers  to succeed in business ventures (or in life).

You deserve to be heard

The New York real estate industry, like many other fields, is dominated by men. Corcoran recalls that in her early days in business, while women did make a good deal of the sales, they still worked for companies that were entirely owned or managed by men.

While progress has been made, gender barriers still exist in the working world. Corcoran says that the key is not to try to become one of the boys, but to work your female attributes to your advantage. By saying this, shes referring to her belief that women tend to excel in people skills: Were better bridge builders, we collaborate better, we dont stand on ceremony or ego, were willing to share credit and were more intuitive and trust our gut more. Were just better at running businesses than men.

You heard it from her: stand up for yourself in business, utilize your unique attributes and perspectives, and dont back down in the face of uncertainty or injustice.

Related: 'Shark Tank's' Barbara Corcoran Says She Built Her Business 'Almost Like a Man'

Need motivation? If Barbara Corcoran had backed down at her first offer for her real estate company, shed have sold it for just $22 million  one-third of its eventual worth.

Each failure is fuel for the fire

You likely wouldnt expect Corcoran, with her enormous success and impressive net worth, to refer to herself as the Queen of Failure. Many who know her story would say shes quite the opposite: she worked 22 jobs by the age of 23 before starting her real estate empire with just $1,000. But its the truth. Corcoran has even said, Failure is what Im best at.

In fact, she almost didnt accept that $1,000 loan from Simone because she was afraid of losing her job as a waitress. And when her husband left her and married his secretary, Corcoran said she considered giving up. Luckily, she refused to second-guess her instincts: she accepted the loan, built her business up, and when Simone left her, took half their business with her.

More recently, in 2008, Corcoran tried out for ABCs Shark Tank. Days before she was set to fly to L.A. for the job, however, the show told Corcoran that theyd gone with someone else.

Not one to back down in the face of rejection, she emailed the producer directly, providing details about other times in her life where shed been dismissed or rejected. She finished the message with "I consider your rejection a lucky charm," and let them know shed booked a flight to L.A. and would like another chance.

She landed the job.

You wont know what youre made of until you face a struggle

Its how you behave in the face of difficulty  not when everything is going your way t hat matters. Without the trials and tribulations she faced, Corcoran may have never gotten to where she is today. Ultimately, while it may not feel like it at the time, you will endure, because you are capable and strongeven if you dont see it.

Endure is exactly what Corcoran did when she took her rightful half of her first real estate business. Rather than mourning the loss of her former husband, she sought revenge in its best form: great success. It was her enduring spirit that led her to start the real estate firm that made her the $66 million she leveraged to become a Shark  the platform to which she credits a great deal of her current success.

The biggest takeaway from Barbara Corcorans rich life experiences is this: no matter how bleak things look or how many times you think youve failed, youve got to keep getting back up. No matter how hard, the only way to achieve success is to work through the repeated failures that life inevitably hurls your way.

Related:

5 Life Lessons You Can Learn From Shark Tank's Barbara Corcoran

Esta es la escuela barberia que se llevo 500 mil pesos de inversion en Shark Tank Mexico

VIDEO: Cuidar tu salud le paga mas a tu negocio, dice Rodrigo Herrera



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Iraqi demonstrators gather near burning tires during a protest near the governor's residence in the southern city of Basra, to protest assassinations and demand the resignation of top security officials, on Aug. 17, 2020. (Hussein Faleh/AFP via Getty Images)

Prominent Iraqi Activist Reham Yacoub Killed in Southern Iraq

Dr. Reham Yacoub, a prominent Iraqi civilian activist, was assassinated by unknown gunmen on Wednesday in central Basra, a port city in southeastern Iraq, according to reports.

Basra Police Chief Major General Abbas Naji confirmed her death, telling reporters in a statement, It was decided to form a committee of senior police officers to investigate the murder of Dr. Reham Yaqoub, according to Gulf News. He added that the perpetrators must be arrested within 72 hours, to bring them to justice.

Majid Hamid, a Baghdad correspondent for Al-Arabiya, reported that Yacoub, whose name is also spelt Riham Yaqoob, was one of four activists who was targeted and killed in Basra late Wednesday. The Saudi Arabia-owned, Dubai-based outlet published photos of the aftermath of the assassination showing a car with a broken windshield and blood-stained seats.

Yacoub, a nutritionist and media personality, was a prominent figure in Basra who participated in recent anti-government protests. She has been an activist in the local protest movement since 2018 and had led several womens marches.

The shooting took place on Al Tijari Street and was the third attack by unknown gunmen against anti-government activists in the past week, according to Abu Dhabi-based private newspaper The National.

Mohammed Qasim, identified by the outlet as a fellow activist and friend of Yacoub, told the paper that her death was like the assassination of all Iraqis and that he now fears for his own life after her death, adding that Basra has lost its sons and daughters because of Iran-backed militias.

The recent wave of violence begun when activist Tahseen Osama was assassinated on Aug. 14, sparking a return of street protests in the city for 3 days, in which security forces opened live fire on protesters who threw rocks and petrol bombs at the governors house, and blocked several main roads.

Iraqis lift national flags as they demonstrate near the governors residence in the southern city of Basra, to protest assassinations and demand the resignation of top security officials, on Aug. 16, 2020. (Hussein Faleh/AFP via Getty Images)

Following the weekends violence, Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi on Aug. 17 sacked Basra police and national security chiefs and ordered an investigation into the assassinations and violence.

Colluding with the killers or submitting to their threats is unacceptable, and we will do whatever is necessary by the Ministry of Interior and security agencies to undertake the task of protecting societys security from the threats of outlaws, he said on his Twitter account on Wednesday, according to a Google translation.

The latest killings of Yacoub and fellow activists come after a leading Iraqi security expert and researcher, Hisham al-Hashimi, was shot dead in Baghdad in early July.

Al-Kadhimi took office in May, becoming the third Iraqi head of government after months of deadly protests in the country, which has been exhausted by decades of sanctions, war, corruption, and economic challenges.

Mass protests erupted in October last year and continued for several months, with hundreds of thousands of Iraq is demanding jobs, services, and the removal of the ruling elite, which they said was corrupt.

The protests led to the resignation of then-Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, who was replaced in May by Kadhimi, a former intelligence chief.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi at the prime ministers office in Baghdad, Iraq, on June 4, 2020. (Iraqi Prime Minister Media Office/Handout via Reuters)

Al-Kadhimis administration set a lofty agenda that included enacting economic reform, battling corruption, avenging protesters, and bringing arms under the authority of the state. He has pitted his government against rogue Iranian-backed militia groups.

President Donald Trump is set to meet Al-Kadhimi at the White House on Thursday morning. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday that the Trump administration will continue to support Iraq as it confronts the threat posed by the ISIS terrorist group, and called for the Baghdad government to redouble efforts to rein in pro-Iran militias.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein speaks at the State Department during a news conference with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington on Aug. 19, 2020. (Susan Walsh/AP Photo)

Theres still work to do, Pompeo told reporters at a State Department news conference with Iraqs foreign minister Fuad Hussein. Armed groups not under the full control of the prime minister [Al-Kadhimi] have impeded our progress.

Those groups need to be replaced by local police as soon as possible. I assured [Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein] that we could help and we would help, he added.

Pompeo also said that the United States is committed to supporting Iraqs security forces to curb the power of militias that have for far too long terrorized the Iraqi people and undermined Iraqs national sovereignty.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
T he owner of The Real Greek and Franco Manca restaurant chains has said the governments Eat Out To Help Out scheme has helped it record one of its highest weekly turnover figures ever.

Fulham Shores chairman David Page told the Evening Standard that group weekly sales approached 1.5 million in the second week of August.

Trade in the first two weeks of this month was markedly up on last year.

But Page also warned three central London branches, the Strand, Aldwych and Spitalfields, will remain closed until office tenants and theatregoers return to the capital.

Footfall in the City and West End has been hurt by travel restrictions keeping tourists away, and numerous people continue to work from home.

Restaurant owners shut sites in March for the Covid-19 lockdown and were only allowed to offer takeaway and delivery services.

Sites could reopen from July 4 and most of Fulham Shores 66 venues have now reopened.

The August Eat Out to Help Out scheme offers people a discount of up to 50% on Mondays to Wednesdays on food and soft drinks. It is aimed at helping revive the hospitality sector.
Caucasian generosity and hospitality, the spirit of freedom and military traditions, the care and tenderness of female hands, the wealth of gifts of nature and the charm of folk tales, all this in the project "At the Table of the Caucasus". The nature of the Caucasus is rich and varied. Perhaps nowhere in the world can one find such a variety of landscapes. The Caucasus has many faces, each of its facets is a separate small world with its enchanting mysterious beauty, a place where ancient cultures and civilizations intersect with modern technologies. In this article, we will touch on the five most expressive culinary traditions of the North Caucasus - the region of the most delicious pies and incendiary dances, and begin our meal at a generous Lezghin table.

Lezginka is a national dance whose character, melody and mood are known throughout the world. But behind the beauty of the dance is the aroma of the unique mountain cuisine of Lezghins. Any Caucasian cuisine is hearty, and the Lezgin culinary tradition is no exception. Moreover, it is very balanced, harmoniously combining both meat and plant ingredients. The traditional form of economic activity of Lezgins is animal husbandry, so they always have lamb and beef and countless dairy products on their table. Cottage cheese in Lezghin cuisine is slightly more liquid than that of other peoples, and, as a rule, salty. The variety of homemade Lezgin cheeses is huge, cheeses are found in many salad recipes.

The hospitality of the Lezghin table can be judged at least by bread, which has more than 20 recipes. An indispensable addition to any dish are herbs: cilantro, dill, garlic, various types of salads, peppers. A huge number of wild herbs are used in their cooking and baking. For example, chirgit is based on nettles fried with beaten eggs. It is believed that Lezghin cuisine has been greatly influenced by other Caucasian traditions, but no one argues that this nation's own cooking traditions have survived to this day and have become a guarantee of health and longevity.

***

Legend has it that the ancestor of the Chechens, Nokhgo, was born with iron in one hand and cheese in the other. Iron symbolizes a warrior, cheese - a welcoming host. Among the traditions revered by the Chechen people for centuries is hospitality. Abundance does not come to a house where a guest does not come, says one of the many Vainakh proverbs. Chechen cuisine is one of the most ancient in the North Caucasus, the range of products is more than modest: corn flour, cottage cheese, pumpkin, meat, wild garlic, nettle. However, modesty and simplicity in this context are synonymous not scarcity, but moderation. However, moving away from mountain asceticism, let's look more broadly at the generous Chechen table. Rich "jizhig-galnash", boiled meat with text, served with hot garlic-onion sauce. Dough made from corn or wheat flour is cooked in meat broth. Sometimes he is offered dried sausage.

The Vainakhs call the wild garlic "the second bread". It grows in the foothills under a layer of snow and in subalpine meadows. A plant with medicinal properties (also called wild garlic) is put in pies, salted, and used as a side dish. In the markets of the Caucasus, it is sold by weight, in armfuls. Fresh wild garlic, boiled for a few minutes and then sauteed in oil, is an excellent side dish. Serve it sprinkled with fresh cottage cheese or cheese. On holidays, the main treat of the Chechens has always been ram meat, and its head was considered the most delicious part and was served to the guest.

***

The peoples of Karachay-Cherkessia have been creating their unique and distinctive cuisine for centuries. Basic dishes have survived to our time in almost the same form in which the housewives prepared them hundreds of years ago. Today we are at the Abaza table. Traditionally, in the Abaza cuisine, shish kebab stands out, which is marinated in a special way. Bread in the Abaza cuisine is baked mainly from barley flour ("gatsho shaks"). One of the old Abaza dishes is potato dzyrdza, served with hominy and bread. Another favorite dish of the Abaza is often made in large quantities, and then served as a snack or addition to other dishes - the famous Abaza curd cheese.

***

We are transported to Teberda, to the alpine meadows, to the Karachai table. The national dishes of the Karachais are diverse and have specific taste qualities, thanks to which they have gained popularity among other peoples. For a long time, dairy and meat products served as the basis of food for Karachai cattle breeders. But few people have turned out such culinary masterpieces from milk. Let's start the Karachai feast with the famous ayran. This fermented milk product can compete with medicines in useful properties, and the taste of the drink is beyond praise. This is eloquently evidenced by the high popularity of ayran far beyond the Caucasus. In addition to the original recipe, the Karachais also preserved the original methods of preparing dairy products based on ancient traditions - they knocked butter in wineskins, and fermented milk (kypy) in a wineskin. The Karchais are slightly undercooked to preserve vitamins and smell. Here, one cannot fail to mention the khychin and the king of the Karachai table - fried lamb on a spit. Karachaevskaya cuisine is one of those, whose dishes are widely included in restaurants throughout Russia.

***

Let's finish today's feast on the Ossetian soil. Despite the huge variety of dishes, pies are considered the hallmark of Ossetian cuisine. Pie is one of the cultural dominants of the Ossetian people. There are many customs associated with pies. Guests are treated to at least three pies. This is how Ossetians express respect and favor to those who come to the house. Meat dishes on the Ossetian table are always richly decorated with herbs and all kinds of spices. Ossetian housewives treat guests with meat traditionally seasoned with spicy garlic sauce with vegetables or wild garlic.

Traditions of hospitality, the harsh nature of the mountains and folk wisdom expressed in the national cuisine, the abundance of the most bizarre combinations and old recipes, all this is a separate and multifaceted world of Caucasian cuisine.
Lakshadweep Islands: Govt Sets Up Anti-Poaching Camps in Lakshadweep Amid Sea Cucumber Smuggling

August 20,2020 | Source: The Citizen

Despite the Lakshadweep Islands central administration declaring the worlds first conservation area (239 sq km) for sea cucumbers six months ago, in the backdrop of growing incidents of smuggling for sale in East Asia, these endangered and highly priced aquatic beings continue to face a commercial threat. On Thursday August 13, officials of the Lakshadweep Sea Cucumber Protection Task Force headed by range officer Abdul Raheem seized a large consignment of taxidermied sea cucumbers worth Rs.1 crore from a vacant area near the airport on Agatti Island.



Following a tipoff, officials spotted the sea cucumbers kept in containers, killed and processed with preservatives for transport to the mainland. Packed together, the 54 individuals weighed 51 kilograms. Range officer Abdul Raheem said in response to a query that such large sea cucumbers live only in the Suheli, Perumalpar, Cheriyapani and Veliyapani areas, part of the uninhabited islands of Lakshadweep. Raheem said a case had been registered under the Wildlife Protection Act and investigations were underway to arrest the offenders.



The fresh round of seizures comes at a time when four major cases reported since January are under direct investigation by the CBI Headquarters in New Delhi. The Covid-19 lockdown has slowed the investigations, evidently prompting the smugglers to act again. In spite of continuous vigilance and wildlife protection efforts by the administration of the union territory, the sea cucumbers are facing a severe challenge to their survival.



Adverse weather conditions and the limited infrastructure available with the administration pose a severe challenge to the prevention of wildlife offences in Lakshadweep, said Raheem. He further said the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had sanctioned three major anti-poaching camps on the uninhabited islands of Suheli, Thinnakara and Veliyapani, and a recruitment process was underway for the Lakshadweep Marine Wildlife Protection Watchers who will man these camps. Sea cucumbers are invertebrates who grow up to six feet length and are reportedly in high demand in China and parts of Southeast Asia for food and traditional medicine.



However, in India they are a species listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. A total ban on their harvesting and transportation in any form has existed in India since 2001 says Damodhar AT, secretary of environment and forests in the Lakshadweep administration. On February 12 a special protection force assigned by the Union administration seized 1,716 sea cucumbers weighing 882 kilograms, and worth Rs 4.26 crore on the international market, from a shipment allegedly kept ready for smuggling to Sri Lanka on the uninhabited island of Suhali, located about 60 kilometres by sea from Kavarathi, the capital of this cluster of islands.



According to marine biologists and researchers of these rare being, the seizure was the largest ever of its kind. A tip from local fish workers helped the taskforce to reach the solitary island in time to seize the shipment hidden in an unseen corner of coral reefs. In the third week of March the CBI took over the investigation, based on the recommendations of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau of India which is governed by the union environment ministry.



The transnational illegal trade in sea cucumbers is occurring in the Lakshadweep region despite the WCCB having introduced special vigil involving coastguards, police, forest officials and fish workers in all the islands, especially those which remain uninhabited like Suhali. On January 15 the special protection force comprising police and forest officials of the island administration had seized 172 sea cucumbers weighing 234 kg and worth Rs 1.17 crore from an unnamed island located about 80 nautical miles off Kavarathi.



Four persons allegedly forming part of an international marine animal trafficking syndicate have been arrested. On January 23 the same force claimed to have arrested a kingpin of the international trade and seized from him a consignment of 52 dead sea cucumbers weighing 10kg and worth Rs 5 lakh. According to Jafer Hisham, marine researcher and a member of Lakshadweep Biodiversity Council, As per the information we gathered, Sri Lanka is the hub of the illegal trade of these animals to Southeast Asian countries and China. Most people may not like their taste but the Chinese often mix it with other seafood, meat and spices. In certain parts of Southeast Asia, communities eat them raw, fried or pickled and also along with Chinese cabbage, winter melon and shiitake mushrooms.



After catching them from the sea around Lakshadweep, smugglers ship them to Sri Lanka as a frozen item. The huge demand and higher price sea cucumbers fetch in the international market is the main reason for the smuggling. Other than the sea around Lakshadweep islands, the Gulf of Mannar at the confluence of the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal is also home to sea cucumbers. As a result, many fishermen from the southern Tamil Nadu regions are also reaching Lakshadweep to hunt the species with the assistance of the local fish workers.



These Tamil Nadu fishermen have direct access to people operating the illegal trade in Sri Lanka. According to Damodhar, there has been an alarming depletion in the population of sea cucumbers, who are also known to us as earthworms of the sea.



The reasons include sea pollution, illegal fishing and rank overexploitation. The damages suffered by the marine ecosystems of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean over years have also contributed to the decline, he said. As per information available with the Bombay Natural History Society, which has long campaigned for their protection, there are around 1,450 species of sea cucumber found planetwide. 173 of these species are found in Indian seas, and 16 are considered economically very important to human activity.



Sea cucumbers are classified in the phylum Echinodermata (spiny-skin), together with many other well known marine invertebrates such as sea stars, sea urchins and sand dollars. According to Jafer, sea cucumbers are crucial to the marine ecosystem in the same way as earthworms are in the land. Their extinction would have a devastating impact on the marine ecosystem, he said.



Before 2001 there were no legal hurdles to killing sea cucumbers. The blanket ban came into effect after implementation of the Wildlife Protection Act of 2001. In the past too, sea cucumbers were directly caught and shipped overseas. Now the hunters clean and freeze and preserve them before shipping them to the market hubs.



The sea cucumber is an integral part of the coral ecosystem in the sea surrounding Lakshadweep. Calcium carbonate is one of the byproducts of the sea cucumbers digestion of sand, and it remains the key component of coral reefs. Coral reefs must have to accumulate calcium carbonate for survival, and so the sea cucumbers play a vital role in preserving the coral reefs. This endangered species also maintains the transparency of seawater by eating sewage, Damodhar explains. Only very few species of sea cucumber contain bioactive substances with pharmacological potential. There is no strong evidence supporting the purported benefits of sea cucumbers in general, said Deepak Apte, director of the Bombay Natural History Society.



As per information available with Kochi-based Central Marine Fisheries Institute, sea cucumbers in the deeper sea areas are now being targeted by the mafias involved, as those who lived in shallow coastal waters have already been killed. Their information suggests that the sea cucumber fishery in Sri Lanka will collapse soon because the harvesting pressure is so enormous.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 20

By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend:

The governments of Uzbekistan and Russia plan to introduce transparent mechanisms for the organization of labor activity of Uzbeks in Russia, Trend reports citing the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan.

This became known during a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Sardor Umurzakov and his Russian counterpart Alexei Overchuk on August 19, 2020, which was held as part of the visit of the Uzbek government delegation to Moscow.

During the meeting, a wide range of issues related to trade, economic and industrial cooperation between the two countries were discussed, said the ministry.

The parties talked prospects of organizing reciprocal visits of heads of ministries, agencies and regional administrations, as well as business representatives to work out new investment projects and conclude trade contracts as the epidemiological situation in the two countries stabilizes.

Special attention was paid to the issue of creating decent conditions for the activities of Uzbek citizens working in Russia.

In this context, opportunities for practical cooperation and implementation of concrete measures were considered, including the accelerated conclusion of relevant intergovernmental agreements, as well as the creation of special mechanisms in the area of labor migration management.

Following the meeting, joint measures to promote bilateral cooperation in this field were agreed, and concrete steps for further interaction within the framework of the outlined areas were identified.

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Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini
On March 29, four days after the country went into the lockdown, Ram Krishna Pal, a machine operator at a component unit in Dundahera village of Gurgaon was told his services were no longer needed. Going back to his home in Sitamarhi in Bihar was not an option. Now, he is finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet. "My contractor said the company has reduced the output due to new regulations and, hence, does not require as many people as before. Factories have opened up all around but employment has shrunk," he says.

Dealerships, the front end of the automobile industry, tell a similar story of despair and loss of optimism. Cut to the last fortnight of March, the first phase of the lockdown, when sales executives were putting in extra hours to liquidate stocks of BS IV vehicles by the end of the month, before BS VI emission norms kicked in from April 1. "There was a lot of pressure on us and we had stiff targets but at least the business was good," says Ambuj Sahu, who works in a two-wheeler dealership in Gonda in Uttar Pradesh. "The lockdown was a major disruption. The showroom remained shut till May 12 but the momentum had been lost. I am lucky to have the job even though I got half the salary for April. I know so many people who were doing well in March but were jobless in May."

Like Pal and Sahu, millions of others who earn their livelihood from the automobile industry had hoped at the start of the year that the new decade would bring an end to an excruciatingly long and dark period (the unprecedented slowdown was already 18 months old by December 2019). The successful culmination of the biennial Auto Expo in the first week of February, under the shadow of the coronavirus, was seen as a bold show of confidence by an industry eager to move on. The onset of the pandemic the very next month felt like a cruel joke. A complete lockdown in the last week of March, which continued till the end of April, meant not a single automobile could be sold in the first month of the fiscal year. That was a harbinger of the industry logging its worst-ever performance in a quarter; less than 1.5 million vehicles were sold in the first quarter of FY21, over 75 per cent less than in Q1 of FY20. Passenger vehicle market leader Maruti Suzuki registered its first-ever loss in a quarter since it was listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange in July 2003.

The months after April have given the industry a little hope. As governments eased lockdown restrictions in May, factories sprung back to life. Dealerships opened a tad slower but by July almost all showrooms across the country had switched on their neon lights. Monthly sales have improved in tandem with resumption of business activity, and by some estimates, the recovery has been better than expected. Decline in passenger vehicle sales, for example, improved from over 80 per cent in May (when only 36,576 cars were dispatched from factories) to 47.2 per cent in June when 1,16,928 units reached dealers. In July, the numbers improved to 1,82,779, down less than 4 per cent compared to a year ago (1,90,115 units). Two-wheelers mirrored the trend. Sales declined almost 90 per cent in May but recovered partially in June (40 per cent fall). In July, the numbers were short of the July 2019 tally by 15.24 per cent. Sale of motorcycles that account for bulk of two-wheeler sales were less by only 5 per cent.

"If we see it in the context of the current scenario where supply chain was disrupted and resumption was staggered in many parts of the country, the recovery has been remarkable. These are unusual times but it gives us hope," says Tarun Garg, Director (Sales, Marketing and Service), Hyundai Motor India Ltd.

However, considering the low base of 2019/20 - when sales had declined 18 per cent - even a recovery to the same level in the rest of this fiscal will not mean much in the larger scheme of things. The industry will still end the year with second straight double-digit decline in sales. It will signal that things have bottomed out after two years. The bigger question is whether it will sustain. There are no clear answers.

Another False Dawn?

The initial revival is largely due to two factors - robust demand from rural markets and assumption that a section of consumers is avoiding public transport to reduce the risk of contracting coronavirus.

A bumper rabi crop, harvested post-spring (in April), has kept up demand in the hinterland. Near normal rains this year and higher kharif sowing augur well for the future too. Also, villages and small towns have not been as badly impacted by the pandemic as big cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Chennai or Bangalore. "The rabi crop has been good and farm incomes will be higher. The effect of Covid-19 seems to be more in urban clusters than in rural areas. So, that is also positive," says Shashank Srivastava, Executive Director, Marketing and Sales, Maruti Suzuki.

A good harvest is great news for the two-wheeler industry. India's largest two-wheeler maker, Hero MotoCorp, says it has been a beneficiary of the upbeat sentiment in rural markets. "A major part of demand is emanating from rural and semi-urban markets. A combination of factors, including forecast of a normal monsoon, bumper rabi crop and upcoming festive season, are expected to keep the momentum going over the next few months," says Pawan Munjal, Chairman & CEO, Hero MotoCorp.

There are a number of caveats, though. The dealer community, for one, isn't fully convinced by the narrative dished out by manufacturers. They say footfalls in showrooms do not reflect the euphoria of wholesale numbers. "The manufacturers are painting a rosy picture. Maybe that is what they need to do but it's not something we are seeing on the ground right now," says Vinkesh Gulati, Vice President, Federation of Automobile Dealers Association. "June was of course better than May and July was better than June but that is because the pipeline was dry and dealers were building up stocks. This month onwards, we will have to see. It doesn't look that great in terms of offtake."

Experts say wholesale data by manufacturers does not give the full picture and needs to be seen with retail data by dealers. "The wholesale numbers are encouraging to the extent that they show as to what level manufacturers are able to produce and ship automobiles. But it should be tempered with retail sales data as that is a better barometer of demand," says Vinay Piparsania, Consulting Director, Automotive, Counterpoint Research.

Pushed Back by a Decade

Claims of a quick recovery notwithstanding, the outlook for the fiscal year remains downcast. Industry body Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has said the industry is set to post 26-45 per cent decline in sales across segments. For one, it will be nearly impossible to offset the massive sales dip in the first quarter in the remaining months of the year. Further, there are numerous uncertainties as the pandemic is yet to subside and its full impact on economy - loss of employment, salary reduction, consumers choosing to save more - haven't been factored in yet.

"We are staring into a deep slowdown. According to the most optimistic scenario, production levels are at 40 per cent as of July," says Rajan Wadhera, President, SIAM. "We do not foresee normalcy any time soon. There are too many uncertainties. It is going to take at least three-four years to go back to the peak of FY19 and this is a very aggressive assumption. For many, survival is going to be difficult."

Coming on the back of an 18 per cent fall in sales in FY20, which itself was the worst in nearly two decades, the industry would see a nearly 50 per cent contraction in just two years. "Automobile sales are running out of steam as urban incomes wilt under the pandemic. We assessed 26,000 companies that have a total employee cost of Rs 7 lakh crore. Our study indicates that over 60 per cent of this cost resides in companies expected to see a sharp reduction in revenue growth, and where employees are a meaningful cost head," says Hetal Gandhi, Director, CRISIL Research. "This is expected to lead to higher risk of job losses/pay cuts."

CRISIL says the pandemic has intensified the headwinds the industry had been facing for the last two years. Passenger vehicles, where 60-70 per cent sales involve replacing the vehicle, are expected to be hit badly. Also, close to 70-80 per cent cost is met by loans, and given the income uncertainty, fewer consumers will be willing to take a loan to buy a car.

In the commercial vehicle space, which has still not recovered from the new axle-load norms that allowed trucks to carry more load, the sentiment is equally bearish. The reason: freight demand is low. Two-wheelers and tractors are likely to recover faster because of low dependence on finance in rural markets. But if the pandemic spreads to the villages, even the expected buoyancy in rural markets may come under a cloud. Having run out of ideas, the industry is looking for government support. "It will take at least three years for the industry to recover. That is an optimistic projection," says Gaku Nakanishi, President and CEO, Honda Cars India Ltd. "We need some support from the government."

Clamour for Lower Taxes

The industry's biggest demand from the government is reduction of taxes under the GST regime. Automobiles fall under the highest tax slab of 28 per cent. Cess of 1-22 per cent takes the effective rate to 29-50 per cent. This is the highest rate for manufactured goods. The demand for lowering this rate has been rejected on many occasions in the past, most notably last September, when state governments stonewalled the Centre's rate cut move in the GST Council meeting. With the industry feeling the need for a demand stimulus, a rate cut has come back on the table. "Across the world, governments are being supportive of the industry by way of direct stimulus to demand. Even in India, we got stimulus in December 2008 after the global financial crisis and also in September 2014. As of now, we have not seen any action, but the government is listening to us," says Wadhera of SIAM. "What we are asking for is simple, a 10 per cent reduction in GST across the board."

The industry's another long-pending demand has been a scrappage policy that encourages replacement of old commercial vehicles. The industry says it will create demand for new trucks while removing older polluting vehicles from the road. Such schemes have been in place in developed economies for decades now. In India, it has been talked about since 2008."It is in the interest of the government that the industry recovers soon. It earns much more revenues from taxes than what companies earn through profits," says Vinod Aggarwal, MD and CEO, Volvo Eicher. "It is high time the scrappage policy is introduced. It has been in the making for a long time. We are told it is now in final stages and will hopefully come before it is too late."

Temporary Fix

Even before the virus struck, the component industry was in doldrums. It witnessed its worst-ever performance in almost two decades in the first half of 2019/20, the period for which latest figures are available, when revenues contracted 10.1 per cent to Rs 1.79 lakh crore. This resulted in around 1,00,000 people losing their jobs and an estimated investment loss of about $2 billion (that would have happened had the industry continued to grow). Revenues are estimated to have declined 20 per cent to Rs 3.4 lakh crore by the end of 2019/20. Another 30 per cent fall over this in the current fiscal will wipe out a big chunk of the industry.

"This is the most challenging period we will see in our lifetimes," says Soumitra Bhattacharya, Managing Director, Bosch India. "We were struggling even before Covid-19. We were losing three-four years due to the slowdown in industry volumes. Now, you can add another one-two years to that. So, we are looking at well beyond 2024 for full recovery. All of that, of course, will change if government acts fast and announces sops or if GDP grows fast."

There is, however, a ray of hope in export potential. Relatively stable demand in the US, along with a number of companies now looking at re-aligning their global supply chains to reduce dependence on China, have opened up opportunities for those flexible enough to exploit it.

"The domestic industry will not recover to peak levels any time soon. The component industry needs to be flexible," says Sunjay Kapur, Chairman, Sona Comstar. "Exports present a good opportunity to offset some of the losses. We have always been open to exports and have the know-how to make parts for all markets. That is the biggest takeaway from the pandemic; you cannot put all your eggs in one basket."

However, beyond Tier-I firms such as Bosch or Sona Comstar, not many have either the vision or the capital to quickly shift gears and cater to new customers. "It is a matter of scale and that comes only from the domestic market. Exports can be a cushion but only for the short term. A businessman will not invest only thinking about exports as our policies do not encourage that," says the owner of a forging business in Gurgaon.

Yet, as always, the industry remains confident in India's long-term potential. "In the near term, the situation will be very painful, but in the medium term, I anticipate a quick rebound for India as well as for our company, while in the long term, this remains one of the markets to be in," says Bhattacharya of Bosch.

The vehicles may not be flying off the shelves but optimism is not in short supply.

@sumantbanerji
KETCHIKAN, Alaska - An Alaska mayor has vetoed a resolution asking the state Legislature to expand sexual and gender identity protection, claiming the action could result in discrimination against Christians.

Ketchikan Gateway Borough Mayor Rodney Dial issued the veto Tuesday on the grounds that the draft equal rights resolution was anti-Christian and violated the First Amendment protection of religious expression, The Ketchikan Daily News reported.

The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly voted 6-1 in favour of the resolution Monday.

The resolution sponsored by Vice Mayor AJ Pierce and Assembly Member Sven Westergard called for the Legislature to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of attributes the state Commission of Human Rights is empowered to protect.

The resolution noted other Alaska communities have passed similar protections, including Anchorage, Sitka, Juneau, Fairbanks and Bethel.

A statewide policy change would ultimately shift discrimination from members of the LGBTQ community to Christian business owners, Dial said.

The requested action would lead to Christian persecution in our community by empowering individuals to use the law to force Christian-owned businesses to compromise their religious beliefs or face lawsuits and civil penalties, designed to force their compliance or shut them down, Dial wrote in his veto statement.

Dial urged assembly members to issue a new resolution that does not benefit one group at the expense of another.

Assembly Member Susan Pickrell cast the only vote opposing the resolution.

I dont believe that a particular group should be given additional rights in this way, Pickrell said. And I dont believe this resolution is the right way to go about that.

Pierce, Westergard and assembly members Felix Wong and Austin Otos indicated they planned to support an attempt to override the veto.

The Ketchikan assembly earlier this year passed a city anti-discrimination measure in response to an alleged case of discrimination at Heavenly Creations, a flower shop that refused to provide services for the wedding of a gay couple.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 15:53:28|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Commerce said Thursday China and the United States had agreed to hold phone talks in the coming days.

The ministry's spokesperson Gao Feng made the remarks when asked to comment on reports that the two countries will soon hold talks to evaluate progress of their phase-one economic and trade agreement. Enditem
Northern Ireland doctors are preparing to vaccinate up to 150,000 more people than normal in the annual flu jab programme.

Patients are likely to be invited to attend drive-through vaccination centres or other facilities away from GP surgeries in a bid to keep them safe from Covid-19.

The Department of Health said the flu jab programme was to be extended to help prepare the already fragile health service ahead of a potential second wave of coronavirus.

Experts have warned the combined effects of Covid-19 and flu could lead to serious and even deadly consequences for patients.

Efforts are under way to implement measures that will help reduce the number of people who require NHS treatments during the winter months.

Additional vaccines have already been secured to allow for the programme to be extended to the household contacts of those who were shielding, staff in independent care homes and children in year eight at secondary school.

Subject to availability, the vaccine will also be offered to anyone aged between 50 and 64 from December.

A spokesman from the Department of Health said last night: "We have estimated that there will be around 25,000 year eight pupils, 90,000 household contacts of those shielding and 35,000 independent care and nursing home staff. That gives approximately 150,000 people."

The chair of the British Medication Association's GP committee in Northern Ireland said family doctors had been working hard to ensure that the programme would be delivered as safely as possible.

"There are going to be an increased number of patients. It's even more important to have the vaccination this year than it has been before, (but) infection control and social distancing guidelines are a challenge," explained Dr Alan Stout.

"By the very definition, the majority of people eligible for the vaccine are in the vulnerable group of patients, so it's important that this is done as safely as possible. Individual practices will make their own decisions on how best to deliver the programme, which could be a drive-through, for example, where the patient receives the injection through the car window.

"One particular challenge we will face, however, is identifying all the household contacts of people who received a shielding letter.

"They may not always be part of the same GP practice, so they may be overlooked."

Dr Stout said anyone who lives with someone who has been shielding should contact their GP if they believe they have not received an invitation to a flu jab session.

He also stressed that it was essential that as many people as possible sign up to be given a vaccination.
By Ayya Lmahamad

Azerbaijans trade turnover with neighbouruing amounted to $508.5 million in January-July 2020, local media reported with the reference to National Statistics Office of Georgia on August 19.

According to the report, the value of trade turnover between the two countries decreased by 15.3 percent, compared to the same period of 2019.

Moreover, Azerbaijans share in Georgias trade turnover amounted to 8.4 percent. Thus, Azerbaijan was the fourth largest trade partners of Georgia after Turkey, Russia and China during the reporting period.

Likewise, Azerbaijans export to Georgia amounted to $277.8 million, while import amounted to $230.7 million.

Azerbaijan was Georgias largest bitumen exporter during the period of first seven months of the year, accounting for 59.3 percent of total volume of bitumen export.

Azerbaijan also accounted for 18.7 percent, or 114,000 tons of total volume of fuel imported to neighboring Georgia in January-July in 2020, becoming second largest fuel supplier to Georgia after Russia.

Additionally, Georgia accounted to 1.4 billion cubic meters of gas exports from Azerbaijan, during the reporting period.

It should be noted that the volume of Azerbaijans foreign trade turnover amounted to $11.7 billion in the first six months of 2020.

During the reporting period, legal entities and individual entrepreneurs carried out trade operations with partners in 167 countries. Goods were exported to 100 countries and imported from 155 countries.

Top five countries exporting Azerbaijani products were Italy, with 32 percent of exports, Turkey, with 19.2 percent, Russia with 5 percent, Israel with 4.2 percent and India with 3.7 percent. Georgia accounted for 1 percent of Azerbaijans total export volumes.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz




Sydney, Aug 20, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Minotaur Exploration ( ASX:MEP ) and Avira Resources Ltd ( ASX:AVW ) have signed a binding Terms Sheet under which, subject to it satisfying its due diligence requirements, Minotaur may acquire 100% ownership of the Pyramid tenement group located 180km south of Townsville (Figure 1*). The project, covering 150km2, embraces two main areas prospective for gold, being the West Pyramid Range and East Pyramid Range (Figure 2*).Highlights- Binding Terms Sheet allows Minotaur to acquire 'Pyramid' tenement package- 150km2 of gold prospective ground 180km south of Townsville- Substantial gold corridors at West Pyramid Range and East Pyramid Range- Historic high-grade gold drill intercepts, such as 35m @ 6.1g/t and 15m @ 5.65g/t- Minotaur to satisfy its Due Diligence within 60 days- Ground electrical geophysics to refine mineralised trendsMinotaur considers the West Pyramid area has potential to offer short-term exploration rewards building on historic work, including drilling, that defined several gold camps along 8km of fault corridor. Of note is the Gettysberg prospect where drilling outlined substantial gold mineralisation along +500m of strike. The East Pyramid Range is less advanced with only 9 holes drilled (none in the last +20 years) over an area 4km x 2km thought by Minotaur to offer potential for Intrusion Related Gold Systems (IRGS) similar in style to other well-known gold deposits in the district such as Mount Leyshon (+3.5Moz) and Mount Wright (+1Moz).Historic Exploration ResultsWest Pyramid RangePast exploration at West Pyramid Range included soil and rock chip sampling outlining a very large surface gold anomaly around 8km long straddling a fault contact between the Drummond Basin (host to the Pajingo and Wirralie epithermal gold deposits) and older Anakie Inlier basement. Drilling focused on 5 main areas of gold anomalism at Sellheim, Gettysberg, Marrakesh, Dempseys and Pradesh (Figure 2*). The best gold mineralisation encountered was at Gettysberg where it occurs in a fault corridor within sericitic sandstone associated with arsenopyrite and as free gold in stylolitic/shear veinlets. Mineralisation was traced along +500m of strike, appears to plunge shallowly north and remains open down plunge/dip (Figure 3*).East Pyramid RangeGeochemical sampling over an area 4km x 2km outlined numerous areas of strong surface gold anomalism (Figure 2*). Mapping revealed these gold anomalies (and other associated element enrichment such as S, Bi and Sr) to be spatially associated with breccia, porphyry and, in some cases, interpreted leached caps. The leached caps could be highly weathered remnants of hydrothermal alteration and sulphide products associated with IRGS mineralisation given their spatial association with surface gold anomalism and proximity to breccia and porphyry intrusive rocks. 9 holes were drilled within the broader area more than 20 years ago and prior to systematic soil sampling. Detailed soil sampling by the current owner indicates areas of surface gold anomalism have not been adequately drill tested.Activity OutlookGettysberg is an obvious target worthy of further investigation given strong gold intercepts reported from previous drilling and evidence that mineralisation is open along strike and down dip/plunge. Minotaur will utilise the due diligence period to assess the best way to progress exploration over the West Pyramid Range gold system, particularly at Gettysberg. For the East Pyramid Range it appears the next logical step is to conduct ground penetrating IP/resistivity geophysics to determine if sulphides are developed at depth below/adjacent the interpreted leached caps, possibly associated with IRGS type gold mineralisation, to assist drill targeting at depth.Acquisition TermsMinotaur will make an Option fee payment of $25,000 to Avira Resources for a 60 day Exclusivity period in which to complete its due diligence, in satisfaction of which the parties will enter into the proposed Sale and Purchase Agreement (S&PA). Under the S&PA Minotaur will commit to pay $150,000 cash (including the Option fee paid) and allot $150,000 in MEP shares (based on a 5 day VWAP) in return for final transfer of titles. On Minotaur's publication of a JORC Resource of at least 25,000 oz Au grading not less than 1.8g/t Au Minotaur will pay $150,000 cash, otherwise within 24 months of Completion Minotaur will allot a further $150,000 in MEP shares. A 1.5% NSR will apply to the first 50,000oz Au produced.To view tables and figures, please visit:About Minotaur Exploration Ltd

Minotaur Exploration Ltd (ASX:MEP) is a public company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) under the market code MEP. MEP commenced trading on ASX on 25 February 2005. Minotaur has extensive minerals exploration tenements in South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia.

The Company is governed by a Board of Directors according to Australian Corporate law and the Listing Rules of the ASX. Minotaur specialises in application of innovative geophysical techniques to locate virgin mineralisation deep below the surface. Often, economic mineral deposits are contained within basement rocks, buried below several hundred metres of transported cover (overburden) and cannot be located through conventional surface exploration methods such as soil sampling, geochemical assays and drilling. Minotaur's remote sensing and interpretative approach has proven very successful, time and time again.

The directors and management of Minotaur each have over 30 years of exploration, mining and mineral resource experience and are eminently qualified in their respective fields of expertise. Under their direction, Minotaur has earned a strong reputation for technical excellence and a high profile within the Australian resources sector. Minotaur's share register comprises 3500 shareholders.

Minotaur is actively exploring IOCG style targets in Australia, where geophysics have identified numerous sub-surface anomalies prospective for copper-gold mineralisation and other targets prospective for base metals such as zinc, lead, copper.
Jacobs Engineering Group's (NYSE:J) stock is up by a considerable 16% over the past three months. However, we wonder if the company's inconsistent financials would have any adverse impact on the current share price momentum. Specifically, we decided to study Jacobs Engineering Group's ROE in this article.

ROE or return on equity is a useful tool to assess how effectively a company can generate returns on the investment it received from its shareholders. Put another way, it reveals the company's success at turning shareholder investments into profits.

Check out our latest analysis for Jacobs Engineering Group

How To Calculate Return On Equity?

Return on equity can be calculated by using the formula:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations)  Shareholders' Equity

So, based on the above formula, the ROE for Jacobs Engineering Group is:

5.7% = US$335m  US$5.9b (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2020).

The 'return' is the income the business earned over the last year. That means that for every $1 worth of shareholders' equity, the company generated $0.06 in profit.

Why Is ROE Important For Earnings Growth?

We have already established that ROE serves as an efficient profit-generating gauge for a company's future earnings. We now need to evaluate how much profit the company reinvests or "retains" for future growth which then gives us an idea about the growth potential of the company. Assuming all else is equal, companies that have both a higher return on equity and higher profit retention are usually the ones that have a higher growth rate when compared to companies that don't have the same features.

A Side By Side comparison of Jacobs Engineering Group's Earnings Growth And 5.7% ROE

When you first look at it, Jacobs Engineering Group's ROE doesn't look that attractive. We then compared the company's ROE to the broader industry and were disappointed to see that the ROE is lower than the industry average of 10%. For this reason, Jacobs Engineering Group's five year net income decline of 3.6% is not surprising given its lower ROE. We believe that there also might be other aspects that are negatively influencing the company's earnings prospects. For instance, the company has a very high payout ratio, or is faced with competitive pressures.

Story continues

So, as a next step, we compared Jacobs Engineering Group's performance against the industry and were disappointed to discover that while the company has been shrinking its earnings, the industry has been growing its earnings at a rate of 20% in the same period.

Earnings growth is a huge factor in stock valuation. What investors need to determine next is if the expected earnings growth, or the lack of it, is already built into the share price. Doing so will help them establish if the stock's future looks promising or ominous. What is J worth today? The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether J is currently mispriced by the market.

Is Jacobs Engineering Group Using Its Retained Earnings Effectively?

In spite of a normal three-year median payout ratio of 37% (that is, a retention ratio of 63%), the fact that Jacobs Engineering Group's earnings have shrunk is quite puzzling. So there might be other factors at play here which could potentially be hampering growth. For example, the business has faced some headwinds.

Additionally, Jacobs Engineering Group has paid dividends over a period of four years, which means that the company's management is rather focused on keeping up its dividend payments, regardless of the shrinking earnings. Existing analyst estimates suggest that the company's future payout ratio is expected to drop to 14% over the next three years. Accordingly, the expected drop in the payout ratio explains the expected increase in the company's ROE to 13%, over the same period.

Summary

Overall, we have mixed feelings about Jacobs Engineering Group. While the company does have a high rate of reinvestment, the low ROE means that all that reinvestment is not reaping any benefit to its investors, and moreover, its having a negative impact on the earnings growth. Having said that, looking at current analyst estimates, we found that the company's earnings growth rate is expected to see a huge improvement. To know more about the latest analysts predictions for the company, check out this visualization of analyst forecasts for the company.

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.
The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday strongly condemned the mutiny, which happened in Kati, Mali on Tuesday and led to the arrest of Malian president, prime minister and several other members of government by some mutineers.

In a press statement, the Council members urged those mutineers to release safely and immediately all the officials detained and to return to their barracks without delay.

They also underlined the urgent need to restore rule of law and to move towards the return to the constitutional order.

They reiterated their strong support to the Economic Community of West African States' (ECOWAS) initiatives and mediation efforts in Mali and expressed their support to the two ECOWAS communiques of Aug. 18 as well as to the one from the African Union chairperson. They called on all Malian stakeholders to show restraint and give priority to dialogue to resolve the crisis in their country.

The Council members reiterated their support to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali in its efforts to stabilize the situation in Mali.

They also expressed their determination to continue monitoring closely the situation.
CLEVELAND, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Lawyer of the Year honorees Shawn M. Riley and Peter D. Welin headline a list of 42 McDonald Hopkins LLC attorneys who have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2021 Edition of the Best Lawyers in America. In addition, three attorneys have been named in the 2021 Edition of the Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch.

Riley is the president of McDonald Hopkins and the founder of the firm's Business Restructuring Services Department. As president, he chairs both the firm's Board of Directors and its Executive Committee. Riley is a 2021 Lawyer of the Year in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. It is his third time receiving this recognition. Welin, who is the managing member in the firm's Columbus office and co-chair of the firm's Construction Practice Group, was named Lawyer of the Year in the Construction Law category for the third time following his 2018 selection.

McDonald Hopkins congratulates the following attorneys for their inclusion in Best Lawyers 2020:

Lawyer of the Year

Peter D. Welin (Columbus)

Construction Law

Shawn M. Riley (Cleveland)

Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Florida

Peter M. Bernhardt

Commercial Finance Law

Commercial Litigation

Construction Law

Litigation - Banking and Finance

Litigation - Construction

Litigation - Real Estate

Litigation - Trust and Estates

Alan M. Burger

Commercial Litigation

John T. Metzger

Litigation - Real Estate

Real Estate Law

Illinois

David A. Agay

Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Steven M. Harris

Health Care Law

James P. Muraff

Patent Law

Jeffrey Van Winkle

Corporate Law

Michigan

John E. Benko

Commercial Litigation

James J. Boutrous II

Litigation - Labor and Employment

Stephen M. Gross

Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Patrick A. Karbowski

Litigation - Real Estate

Real Estate Law

Michael G. Latiff

Commercial Litigation

Antoinette M. Pilzner

Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law

Miriam L. Rosen

Employment Law - Individuals

Employment Law  Management

Ohio - Cleveland

Chad Arfons

Banking and Finance Law

Real Estate Law

Jennifer Armstrong

Criminal Defense: White-Collar

Teresa Metcalf Beasley

Economic Development Law

Richard H. Blake

Criminal Defense: White-Collar

Jeffrey P. Consolo

Litigation - Trusts and Estates

Trusts and Estates

Richard S. Cooper

Health Care Law

David B. Cupar

Patent Law

David Drechsler

Litigation - Real Estate

Litigation - Trusts and Estates

M. Collette Gibbons

Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Carl J. Grassi

Corporate Law

David H. Gunning II

Real Estate Law

Jeffrey R. Huntsberger

Real Estate Law

Brian J. Jereb

Trusts and Estates

David M. Kall

Corporate Law

Tax Law

Bernard L. Karr

Trusts and Estates

Sean D. Malloy

Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Michael J. Matasich

Commercial Litigation

Michael J. Meaney

Mergers and Acquisitions Law

William J. O'Neill

Commercial Litigation

Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants

Product Liability - Defendants

Michael G. Riley

Trusts and Estates

Shawn M. Riley

Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Roger L. Shumaker

Trusts and Estates

James E. Stief

Banking and Finance Law

Dale R. Vlasek

Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law

Katherine Esshaki Wensink

Trusts and Estates

John M. Wirtshafter

Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law

Michael Wise

Government Relations Practice

Ohio  Columbus

Peter D. Welin

Construction Law

Litigation - Construction

McDonald Hopkins congratulates the following attorneys for their inclusion in Best Lawyers 2021: Ones to Watch:

Illinois:

Serena G. Rabie

Commercial Litigation

Ohio

Adam C. Smith

Litigation  Real Estate

Amy Wojnarwsky

Corporate Law

Mergers and Acquisitions Law

About McDonald Hopkins

Since 1930, McDonald Hopkins has thrived by building long-lasting relationships with businesses and individuals who share an entrepreneurial spirit. As the business advisory and advocacy law firm celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2020, it has a renewed commitment to providing exceptional client service and insight for the challenges at hand and on the horizon. To learn more, visit mcdonaldhopkins.com.

CONTACT:

David Carducci

McDonald Hopkins LLC

600 Superior Avenue, East, Suite 2100

Cleveland, Ohio 44114

Phone: 216.348.5814

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE McDonald Hopkins

Related Links

http://www.mcdonaldhopkins.com


Three people have been charged after police seized nearly half a million dollars worth of ice and $78,000 in cash in raids across Sydney.

In May detectives from Surry Hills RES established Strike Force Grundy to investigate the supply of prohibited drugs - mainly methylamphetamine (ice) - in Sydney.

Police raided homes at Croydon, Homebush, Lugarno, and a business at Homebush on Wednesday, seizing $78,000 cash and more than 620g of ice with an estimated potential street value of $465,000.

Three people have been charged after police seized nearly half a million dollars worth of ice and $78,000 in cash in raids across Sydney

Police raided homes at Croydon, Homebush, Lugarno, and a business at Homebush on Wednesday

More than 620g of ice with an estimated potential street value of $465,000 was discovered

Officers also seized about 170g of cannabis, about 290g of unidentified powders, anabolic steroids, prescription medication and equipment consistent with the supply of prohibited drugs.

Mobile phones, electronic storage devices and documentation were also seized.

A 44-year-old woman was arrested at the Croydon home and charged with 16 offences including 11 counts of supply prohibited drug (indictable quantity), two counts of supply prohibited drug (large commercial quantity), supply prohibited drug (commercial quantity), possess prohibited drug and deal with proceeds of crime.

Police will allege in court that the woman was involved in the supply of nearly 800g of methylamphetamine - with an estimated potential street value of $600,000 - between May and August.

She was refused bail to appear at Burwood Local Court on Thursday.

A 28-year-old man was arrested at a home at Homebush and charged with supply prohibited drug.

Police seized $78,000 in cash during the raids on Wednesday morning

Police appeared to find a substance stashed away inside a can of soft drink

He was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Burwood Local Court on October 15.

A 24-year-old man was arrested after returning to the Lugarno home during the search warrant and issued a Court Attendance Notice for three counts of possess prohibited drug.

He will appear at the Downing Centre Local Court on November 13.
By Jana Kadah

Bay City News Foundation

SAN JOSE (BCN)

The San Jose City Council on Tuesday discussed plans to work with the community on police reforms following months of protests over police misconduct both nationally and locally, where the city had more than 1,000 complaints to its Independent Police Auditor between the end of May and the end of June.

The nearly four-hour conversation concluded with city leaders agreeing to create a timeline for hiring a new police chief -- Chief Eddie Garcia announced his retirement earlier this month -- and examining policing in San Jose through a community-based process called "Reimagining Policing" by Sept. 25.

"I'm saying let's engage the community, let's engage in this process, let's gather community stakeholders and stakeholders from the police union, community members who are organizing in favor of defunding the police, let's get a process bringing ideas to surface," said Councilmember Raul Peralez, who initially proposed Reimagining Policing in early June.

"It's going to be hard for the general public to really understand what we are talking about if they are not done in a more collaborative and transparent way and that's the Reimagining Policing process," Peralez said.

Among the reforms is to create a clear process to engage in neighborhoods that have historically endured high crime rates in the Reimagining Police discussions.

"I want to make sure that we do engage neighborhood folks and that there is an idea to engage neighborhood folks in areas with the most crimes," Councilmember Maya Esparza said. "I'd like to remind folks that a lot of crime victims are people of color as well."

Those same neighborhood groups, among a variety of stakeholders and members from the community, will also be able to participate in discussions regarding hiring a new police chief.

The council said it will come back to outline the process of finding a new chief, which could take at least six months.

Councilmember Sylvia Arenas said she would like to start that process as soon as possible.

"I want to make sure that our residents continue to have confidence in what we are doing and that we are being as transparent as we can and honoring their feedback," Arenas said.

Deputy City Manager Angel Rios Jr. said while it is important for the new police chief to be engaged in community conversations regarding police reform, those discussions could start before a chief was selected.

Part of the approved council steps Tuesdsay was for the IPA and the city manager to hire a consultant to conduct an independent excessive use of force review that would help contextualize the use of rubber bullets and tear gas and align SJPD protocols with the best current policing practices.

City leaders also directed Garcia to return to the City Council with a plan that would allow the Police Department to release police body camera and helicopter footage regardless of it is used in a current investigation.

The current policy allows San Jose police to withhold department-captured footage from the public if that case is being investigated or part of litigation. Police are required to resolve those cases within a year, meaning it could take a year for videos to be released.

"They never get to see the whole picture until many months after the fact, if it is released, and by that point, nobody cares anymore," Mayor Sam Liccardo said. "The moment that's relevant for transparency's sake and for accountability is actually when the public is focused on the issue."

City leaders also discussed the ban on rubber bullets in totality. The current proposed amendment to the SJPD duty manual would only ban it as a means of crowd control.

However, the City Council did not finish the conversation and will resume discussion regarding proposed amendments to the duty manual within the next two weeks.

"This is going to be some of the most important work that we do over the next few months," Rios said. "And our goal is going to be to outline a framework and a process that is going to be neutral, open-minded, candid, objective and has a racial equity lens included in it."

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 Suntreso District Police Command has arrested a 37-year- old man, said to be the kingpin of a car stealing syndicate, operating in the Kumasi metropolis and beyond.



The suspect, Alex Owusu, was arrested in possession of eight stolen vehicles.

Head of the Public Affairs Unit of the Ashanti Police Command, Assistant



Superintendent of Police (ASP) Godwin Ahianyo, who confirmed the arrest to the Ghanaian Times, said the syndicate is said to have adopted a new strategy of stealing cars by luring their victims to washing bays after hiring them for transactions.



He said preliminary investigations indicated that, Owusu usually hired the services of taxi drivers from Obuasi, Bekwai, Tarkwa and Nkwakwa to Kumasi.



ASP Ahianyo said the suspect used to hire the services of his victims under the pretense of buying excavator parts at Suame Magazine or visiting his sick mother in Kumasi, and agreed on juicy payment.



He said, upon arrival in Kumasi, Owusu convinced his victims to wash the car at a washing bay and persuaded them to leave the car with the bay attendant and accompany him to Suame Magazine to buy the supposed excavator parts.



Upon arrival at Suame Magazine, Owusu told his victims he was going to withdraw cash at a bank, and when the victims left the bay, Owusu secretly returned to the washing bay, took car keys from the bay attendant and drove away.



According to ASP Ahianyo, the police received numerous complaints of such incidents for months, and so the Ashanti Regional Police Command, together with the Kasoa District Police Command launched a manhunt for the suspect and his accomplices.



ASP Ahianyo said the police was seeking the accomplices because investigation has proven he was working with a syndicate that had secured fake number plates for stolen vehicles.



He said Owusu was currently in custody assisting police in investigation and would soon be arraigned before court for prosecution.



ASP Ahianyo said the stolen cars including a Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Atos and Daewoo Matis, were all in the custody of the Suntreso District Police Command.



He asked the victims of such cases to report to the Suntreso District Police Command or any other police station to enable investigators collaborate and arrest accomplices.



ASP Ahianyo appealed to the general public, especially drivers to be more vigilant and not fall prey to juicy offers from suspicious people.







Source: The Ghanaian Times









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Since March this year, the advent of the corona virus afforded Akufo-Addo the opportunity to come to our homes every evening for so-called updates. Few weeks of addressing the nation about the escalating threat of the virus has resulted in further mental fatigue on the already tiring President who is struggling to complete his tenure in four months time. By the time of Address No.5 many began to question the relevance of this Fellow Ghanaian science and data stories.

Interest in the whole exercise waned drastically when the president was found to be churning out dubious figures and resorting to direct attacks on his critics coupled with unwarranted mean politics. Despite this development many were expectant of Address No.15 for two reasons: to hear when our borders will be opened and when and how schools will re-open. Fellow Ghanaians were however dribbled this time again.

The President launched into a series of self-praise and deviated angrily into an emotional barrage of verbal attacks at his critics again. His demeanour showed a seriously angry fellow who is boiling right in front of his enemy. Many wondered what might have eaten up the man to that extent to forget he was addressing the nation and needed to comport himself. Poisonous words were freely flowing for those who questioned the presidents decision to allow political gathering and mass voter registration exercises during the pandemic. He contended such critics were proved wrong. He tacitly condemned his direct opponent of engaging in criticising him to remain relevant.

No one expected the president to drive himself into this adversity as he was just given a minute dose of his own medicine albeit justifiably. This is a man who called former President Mills Prof. Do Little. He took advantage of every opportunity to insult and encourage his vice Bawumia and his wife as well as Otiko Djaba to insult former President Mahama at the least chance. He had the effrontery to refer to Ghanaians who expressed concerns and wanted his reckless administration to be cautious as professional Jeremiahs and naysayers. Mahama never uttered a word to reply any of those deviant behaviours. Yet corona virus has given Akufffo Addo privileges to appear on television and waste everyones time with unpresidential effusions to disgrace himself. He simply displayed his high intolerance to the nation on Sunday.

The whole speech was as confusing as the manner in which it was delivered. The anger behind it was more influencing than any piece of information expected in it. The usual ending in local dialect was messed up for a return to English. There were palpable lies told by the President manifestly concocted for corruption purposes. The President shockingly told all of us that he had reports JHS 3 pupils were complaining of hunger. He therefore ordered the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection to provide one hot meal for each of over 580,000 pupils from 24th August to 18th September, 2020. This is a government that failed woefully to account for GHc54million for the same hot meals for few people engaging in another of the same venture.

The announcement of the decision without details as to the cost as was in the first case is a worry to all. In a crucial election period like this reckless spending is a recipe for embezzlement which the presidents governing machinery is very good at. We are therefore convinced that this unwarranted freebie is an avenue to further create, loot and share for campaign financing just as the Agyapa Royalties, PDS, KelviGVG, UNIPASS scams are set up for.

Above all the President was obviously agitated by something that is imminent, a glaring defeat in the upcoming December 2020 general elections. Indeed as the Akans say: Se aboa bi be wua, wo pri! The last days are quite dangerous for Akuffo Addo. All is not well.
The Vatican recognised Sami for his services in boosting relations between the Vatican and Egypt and supporting interfaith dialogue

The Vatican presented Egypts Ambassador to the Holy See Mahmoud Sami with the Order of Knighthood in recognition of his efforts since heading the diplomatic mission at the Vatican in 2017, the Egyptian foreign ministry said.

The Vatican recognised Sami for his services in boosting relations between the Vatican and Egypt and supporting interfaith dialogue.

The accolade is an expression of appreciation from the Vatican for the friendly and stable relations with Egypt and the exchange of visits between high officials from both states, including those of Al-Azhar Sheikh and religious institutions, the ministry said.

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At a video conferencing meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group (Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE) with the participation of Leonid Kravchuk and Vitold Fokin, 20 demining sites and four new disengagement areas have been agreed.

During a discussion on security issues, Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine Yasar Halit Cevik noted that after the introduction of a package of additional measures to consolidate the ceasefire regime, the ceasefire has been generally observed since July 27. In early August, the SMM did not record a single violation.

During 24 days, not a single Ukrainian soldier was killed in Donbas as a result of hostilities.

The security group reached agreements on 20 demining sites in accordance with the updated plan, envisaged by the communique of the Normandy Four summit held in Paris on December 9, 2019.

This will help move forward in the implementation of the agreements of the Normandy Four leaders, reached in Paris, and get closer to holding a summit of the Normandy Four in Berlin. The Ukrainian side also supported the need to develop a framework decision of the TCG on mine action, which will help optimize further work on this issue, the statement says.

As noted, the Ukrainian delegation supported the proposals for four new areas for the disengagement of forces and hardware.

When discussing the work of the economic group, it was said that the Ukrainian water supply company will continue to provide drinking water to the Ukrainian population living in the temporarily occupied territory on an ongoing basis.

Within the framework of the humanitarian working group, progress was made on the mutual release of detainees.

The Ukrainian side once again emphasized the fulfillment of all agreements regarding the confirmation of the lists for the mutual release of detainees and confirmed the information about the persons that the participants in the consultations asked for.

Ukraine expects symmetrical actions from the other side.

In order to intensify the Minsk negotiation process, taking a proactive position, the Ukrainian side during a discussion on political issues stressed the need to fulfill the Paris agreements of the Normandy Four leaders, in particular, to continue work on legislation to implement the Steinmeier formula, the Presidents Office reported.

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US CISA published an alert related to a new North Korean malware, dubbed BLINDINGCAN, used in attacks on the US defense and aerospace sectors.

The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has published a Malware Analysis Report (MAR) that includes technical details about a new strain of malware, tracked as BLINDINGCAN, that was attributed to North Korea.

According to the government experts, the BLINDINGCAN malware was employed in attacks aimed at US and foreign companies operating in the military defense and aerospace sectors.

Some of the attacks were attributed by the researchers to cyber espionage campaigns tracked as Operation North Star and Operation Dream Job.

The attack chain is similar to the one used in past campaigns, threat actors pose as recruiters at big corporations to establish contact with employees at the target organizations. The attackers use job offerings from prominent defense and aerospace entities as bait to trick victims into opening weaponized Office or PDF documents that are used to deploy malware on the victims computers.

According to the CISA alert, the attackers used the above technique to deliver the BLINDINGCAN remote access trojan (RAT) (aka DRATzarus) and access the victims system for reconnaissance purpose.

FBI has high confidence that HIDDEN COBRA actors are using malware variants in conjunction with proxy servers to maintain a presence on victim networks and to further network exploitation. A threat group with a nexus to North Korea targeted government contractors early this year to gather intelligence surrounding key military and energy technologies. reads the CISAs MAR report. The malicious documents employed in this campaign used job postings from leading defense contractors as lures and installed a data gathering implant on a victims system.

The BLINDINGCAN RAT implements the following built-in functions-:

Retrieve information about all installed disks, including the disk type and the amount of free space on the disk

Get operating system (OS) version information

Get Processor information

Get system name

Get local IP address information

Get the victims media access control (MAC) address.

Create, start, and terminate a new process and its primary thread

Search, read, write, move, and execute files

Get and modify file or directory timestamps

Change the current directory for a process or file

Delete malware and artifacts associated with the malware from the infected system

The CISA MAR also includes indicators of compromise (IoCs), Yara rules, and other technical info that could be used by system administrators to discover compromise systems within their networks.

In April, the U.S. Departments of State, the Treasury, and Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation released a joint advisory that is warning organizations worldwide about the significant cyber threat posed by the North Korean nation-state actors to the global banking and financial institutions.

The advisory contains comprehensive resources on the North Korean cyber

threat that aims at helping the international community, industries, and other governments to protect their infrastructure from state-sponsored attacks. The document also includes a list of recent attacks attributed to North Korean state-sponsored hackers.

The U.S. government is also offering a monetary reward of up to $5 million to anyone who can provide information about the activities carried out by North Korea-linked APT groups. The offer also includes information about past hacking campaigns.

Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs  hacking, BLINDINGCAN)
It's too easy to miss brilliant streaming shows, movies and documentaries. Here are the ones to hit play on or skip.

The Umbrella Academy

Netflix

Viewers with little tolerance for undies-on-the-outside shenanigans might have written off The Umbrella Academy, assuming it to be a lame Hogwarts for misfit no-name superheroes (with a talking chimpanzee, no less!). But the first season wasn't like that at all.

The impressively engaging superhero misfits team of Umbrella Academy. Credit:Christos Kalohoridis/Netflix

Sure, we did learn that one day in 1989, some 43 women around the world suddenly gave birth, despite not having been pregnant at all moments earlier  and that many of those kids wound up with superpowers of one kind or another. And that seven of them were adopted by eccentric billionaire Sir Reginald Hargreeves (Colm Feore), who raised them to be an ultraviolent crime-fighting team.

The new wrinkle was that the series started with Hargreeves having just died, and with most of the adult kids  long estranged from Hargreeves and from each other  meeting up for the first time in years to do the funeral stuff and reckon with their abusive upbringings.
Acting President of National Nuclear Power Generation Company (NNPGC) Energoatom Petro Kotin and the H2 company have signed a memorandum of cooperation on the construction of a computing data center near Zaporizhia NPP, the press service of NNPGC said on Thursday.

According to the press service, the data center will become one of the largest in Europe, and the investment will amount to $700 million.

The press service reported that the document signing took place in presence of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky during his working trip to Zaporizhia region.

As reported, during his working trip to Zaporizhia on August 19, Zelensky presented an action plan for the implementation of the Development Strategy of Zaporizhia region for the period until 2027, which provides, in particular, for the construction of data centers.

During a meeting with Acting Energy Minister Olha Buslavets in early August, Director of H2 LLC Andriy Zhovner and CEO of Yom Capital Ltd Walter Komarek voiced their interest in building a hydrogen plant and a data center in Ukraine.

Investors, in particular, are interested in the southern region of Ukraine, where there is a significant surplus of electricity, cooperation with NNPGC and PJSC Ukrhydroenergo.
Evangelical seminary condemns Black Lives Matter movement, 'wokeness' ideology

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The nondenominational Southern Evangelical Seminary has released a statement simultaneously condemning racism and warning Christians against supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, claiming the movement espouses a godless agenda.

This week, the faculty and staff of the influential Christian institution in Matthews, North Carolina, said they felt compelled to release a statement about current issues related to racism and social justice in light of the recent social unrest.

Southern Evangelical Seminary and Bible College (SES) stands for the inherent value of all human life (Gen. 1:27) and against racism in all its insidious forms (Zech. 7:10; Prov. 28:16; Acts 10:34-35; Gal. 3:28) while also acknowledging that some professing Christians throughout the churchs history have attempted to hijack the Gospel message for racist causes, the statement begins.

SES said that while it affirms that black lives matter as a subset of all human lives are sacred, it must separate itself emphatically from the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement which espouses beliefs that are antithetical to basic foundational tenets of the Christian faith.

Because the phrase black lives matter is often confused with the political organization, SES argues that it seems prudent for Christians to seek to avoid even the appearance of evil and find other ways to express their justifiable outrage at racial injustice.

[The] BLM organization, and many of its related positions, are explicitly anti-Christian," the SES statement explains. "Holding to mis-defined notions of love, freedom, and justice, BLM stands against the nuclear family, promotes homosexual and transgender ideologies, and is an admittedly Marxist organization."

Instead, the seminary said it embraces the more inclusive" and "less misunderstood phrase" that "all human lives are sacred." SES emphasized the need to "pursue truth, goodness, and justice for all ethnicities.

SES President Richard Land told The Christian Post that the college decided to release a statement on racism after receiving numerous inquiries from its alumni base and supporters asking about the academic institutions response to the unrest since the killing of African American George Floyd on Memorial Day.

Land said that what should have been a tremendous moment of unity was seized by the Black Lives Matter movement, which he condemned as Marxist, anti-biblical, and out to destroy the nuclear family.

Evangelicals for sure should not ... be embracing Black Lives Matter, he said. We felt that we needed to state and explain that we believe every human life is sacred because every human being is someone that Jesus died on the cross to redeem. And that makes every human life  preborn, at every stage of life, including being on life support  sacred.

The statement went through at least 10 revisions before it was published, according to Land. He explained that he and other staff members wanted to take every measure necessary not to be misunderstood, but bring greater understanding to the discussion.

We felt that if we were to say black lives matter without a lot of qualifications and an asterisk, we could be misunderstood as having abandoned the biblical position on human sexuality and other issues, he said. We felt that we should instead adopt the phrase that all human lives are sacred while emphasizing the need to pursue truth, goodness, and justice for all ethnicities.

Racism is the antithesis of the Bible. It is condemned in the Bible, he stressed. Yet the cancer of racism still exists in America. As Christians, we've got to be aggressive about supporting efforts to bring about racial reconciliation.

While responses to the statement have been overwhelmingly positive, Land, a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, told CP hes confident the negative feedback is coming from the fascist, left-wing Twitter mob.

So far, people are appreciating someone with a backbone, somebody willing to stand up against fascism and for biblical truth," Land, who is also CP's executive editor, said.

In its statement, SES also addresses the wokeness ideology, critical race theory, white guilt, and white fragility," ideas he says are being promoted in many churches.

Many of these ideas are built upon the bankrupt philosophy of standpoint epistemology that essentially rejects the ability of humans to know objective truth about reality, the statement reads, adding that these lines of thinking are often anti-Gospel" and make "little to no room for repentance, forgiveness, or reconciliation.

They remove any personal responsibility and choice from individuals and place guilt on a collective group of people simply because of their skin color. This is the epitome of collectivist and racist thinking. While individuals are certainly impacted and influenced by the societal structure which they have experienced, ultimately individuals are responsible for their own behavior.

Land said that its impossible to eliminate discrimination by discriminating against other people, adding that it "doesn't work" and is "counterproductive.

The idea that we are racist and we can we can never help but be racist, first of all, is contradictory to the Gospel, he said. Secondly, it's very racist and it will destroy our society.

Far too many Christians blindly embrace dangerous ideologies because they are driven by fussy thinking and emotionalism, Land warned.

We have become increasingly driven by emotion in America, he said. Large majorities of Americans are afraid to say what they believe because they're going to become the object of the politically correct lynch mobs attempting to destroy them and get them fired and get them ostracized.

Christians, he said, should resist racism wherever it is found and to stand for truth, justice, and natural rights.

As Christians, we have no fear of the truth because the truth will always lead us back to God's purposes, Land said. He created us all for a purpose. He never created a nobody. Everyone is someone for whom Jesus died. So, all human lives are sacred. That should be the bedrock of our ideals and beliefs, and it should be part of everything that we do.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s vision was a country where we were judged not by the color of our skin but by the content of our character. We have an obligation as Christians to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Its only the Gospel that can defeat racism and change hearts.
NEW YORK, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Button, the leading mobile commerce technology company, today announced its partnership with Plum, the money management AI assistant. By powering a personalized commerce program in Plum's app on iOS and soon Android, Button's technology enables users to discover offers tailored to their preferences, as well as shop and save with foremost brands like Groupon, ASOS, and Farfetch. Through this integration, Plum is able to create an additional revenue stream while also increasing the utility of its app to drive engagement, loyalty, and retention with its users.

In the Plum iOS app, users can find the Cashback feature to shop and save money with the world's largest brands, powered by Button's technology. Through Button's Personalization API, brand offers surfaced to Plum users are tailored to them, opening up more relevant shopping experiences for them to embark on. This fall, the Button-powered commerce program will be available in Plum's Android app.

Through Groupon's launch on this integration, the brand has already achieved a 66% tap-to-install rate and a 17% purchase rate based on Button platform data. All the while, Plum benefits from driving higher engagement with its users and fueling its continued growth in the UK.



"Button has been a valuable addition to Groupon's mobile growth strategy in the UK," said Maciej Zbroszczyk, Head of Affiliate Marketing EMEA & Asia-Pacific, Groupon. "Button's technology enables consumers to discover Groupon in the Plum app, unlocking install conversions for Groupon, and enabling our brand to acquire new app users to nurture into loyal, lifelong customers."

"We are honored to welcome Plum as our newest fintech partner to help the app get sticky with its users, and are proud that Groupon, our longtime customer, continues to reap the benefits of working with Button," said Michael Jaconi, Co-Founder and CEO of Button. "As more fintech apps seek diverse monetization strategies to maintain durable revenue streams through these unprecedented times, Button is excited to be their trusted partner powering their mobile business growth."



"Our main goal is to make everyone who uses Plum better off over their lifetime," said Victor Trokoudes, CEO and Co-Founder of Plum. "This means fighting on our users' behalf to put money back in Plumster pockets wherever possible. By teaming up with Button, we're able to leverage the rich transaction data we have on our user base to help them put extra aside even when they are spending. For us, the combination of Button's smart technology paired with the brands that our users love already mean that we can bring real financial benefits to our users and stay true to our philosophy of making saving effortless and automatic. We're excited to see success already with major brands like Groupon and look forward to adding more over the coming months."

For more information, reach out to Button at usebutton.com/contact.

About Button

Button (usebutton.com) is the mobile commerce technology company that is powering a commerce-driven internet. As the leading mobile commerce enablement platform, Button powers mobile growth for the world's largest brands and publishers, while offering consumers more seamless, enjoyable experiences. With each action taken, brands make sales, publishers earn revenue, and consumers get exactly what they want at the tap of a button. Founded in 2014, Button has driven over $3 billion in spending to date and has raised over $64 million in venture capital. With offices in New York City, San Francisco, and London, Button has consistently been recognized as one of the best places to work by Fortune, Inc., Entrepreneur, and Crain's.

About Plum

Plum (withplum.com) is the smartest app for managing money. Founded in 2016 by Victor Trokoudes (ex-TransferWise) and Alex Michael (ex-TicTail), Plum's mission is to banish financial instability and make everyone better off over their lifetime. The Plum app intelligently automates the parts of personal finance that people find difficult or don't have time for. It sets aside what each person can afford, finds better deals on everyday bills and offers useful spending insights. More than 1m people in the UK are already using Plum to help them be better off over their lifetime. Plum is available as an app on iOS and Android and is built by a talented team based in London, UK and Athens, Greece.

SOURCE Button

Related Links

https://www.usebutton.com


In three of the attacks, the man has worn the same gray hooded sweatshirt with Aero 1987 on the front in red letters. The suspect is described as a Black man, about 5-foot-9 to 6-foot-1, with a slim build and black hair worn in an afro.
Brasilia, Aug 20 : Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has enacted a law to exempt schools from having to meet a minimum number of school days amid the Covid-19 pandemic, making the academic year more flexible.

The new law, enacted on Wednesday, exempts primary and secondary schools from having to fulfill the mandatory 200-day school calendar and minimum 800 hours of study, both of which are required by the education law, reports Xinhua news agency.

Primary and secondary schools will however, have to comply with the workload required by law, which is already being partially carried out through online classes.

Nevertheless, workloads may be completed next year at the discretion of each school through online educational activities.

Primary and secondary schools, as well as universities in Brazil suspended in-person classes since March, replacing them with online classes, due to the pandemic.

Brazil's northwestern state of Amazonas this week partially resumed in-person classes, becoming the only one to do so thus far.

Institutions of higher learning are also exempt from the mandatory 200 days of classes, but must fulfill the study program for each course.

Brazil currently accounts for the second highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths, just after the US.

As of Thursday, the total number of cases in the country stood at 3,456,652, while the death toll increased to 111,100.

It is also the country with the maximum amount of infections and fatalities in Latin America.

Sao Paulo, the most populated state in the country and the epicentre of the pandemic, has registered over 721,000 confirmed cases and 27,591 deaths, followed by Bahia, Ceara and Rio de Janeiro.
Libya to Export Only Oil Accumulated in Terminals, LNA Says

Sputnik News

23:03 GMT 19.08.2020

CAIRO (Sputnik) - Libya, following the resumption of the operation of oil facilities, will export only oil accumulated in port terminals, crude produced at deposits will not be exported, Libyan National Army spokesman Major General Ahmad al-Mismari said.

"The opening of oil facilities means exportation of only what is in the tanks, the oil produced at deposits will not be exported", al-Mismari said during his weekly press conference.

The head of the Petroleum Facilities Guard, General Naji al-Maghrabi, announced overnight on Wednesday that oil terminals and deposits would resume operation after months of closure. He said the unblocking of the oil facilities' operation was carried out by order of LNA Commander Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar "to alleviate the suffering of Libyan citizens".

Most of Libya's oil fields and ports have been closed since January due to the blocking of oil facilities by the LNA commander's order.

The Libyan National Oil Corporation announced on 10 June that it was blocking the country's largest field, Sharara, again hours after it resumed operations. According to the Corporation, the budget losses caused by the stop of oil production in Libya exceed $6 billion.

A Sputnik

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Evening Standard

With the number of letters of no confidence in the Prime Minister said to be growing and the mood in the Tory ranks becoming more toxic, Mr Johnsons performance at PMQs was vital. With Mr Johnson under attack from all sides, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was understandably in confident mood grilling the PM on whether he misled Parliament over lockdown busting parties.
The partner of Julian Assange has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise more than 500,000 to fight against the US government's bid to extradite him.

Stella Moris, 37, said it is a 'David vs Goliath' legal case with 'unthinkable' ramifications, and accused the Trump administration of 'targeting' the WikiLeaks founder and father of her two children.

Assange has been held at Belmarsh Prison, London, for 16 months ahead of his extradition hearing in September.

The US stepped up its case at the '11th hour' last week after submitting further allegations against the 49-year-old which would see him spending even longer behind bars.

Assange faces 18 charges under the US espionage act and conspiracy to commit computer intrusion.

He is accused of working with former US army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to leak hundreds of thousands of classified documents.

Stella Moris, 37 (second right), has launched a 25,000 crowdfunding initiative to fund Julian Assange's defence. He has been held in Belmarsh prison, London, for 16 months

Ms Moris said her partner and father of her two children (pictured) is being 'targeted' by the Trump administration. She added the legal case is 'monumental' with serious ramifications

Ms Moris has launched a preliminary appeal for 25,000 on CrowdJustice to cover the costs of the defence in the magistrates court.

But she is expecting to need significantly more should the case continue all the way to the Supreme Court.

The case's spiralling legal costs have already reached more than 500,000, leaving the campaign team with the aim 'to raise as much as possible' through donations.

Launching her appeal, Ms Moris said: 'Julian is being targeted by the United States administration for the crime of journalism.

'He helped expose war crimes and human rights abuses which the US would have preferred to keep hidden from public view. No-one has been held responsible for the serious crimes Julian has exposed. This extradition aims to entomb and silence him forever.

'This is a monumental legal case which is an attack on everyones right to know about scandals which politicians and governments want buried. If the US government is successful, the ramifications are unthinkable.

'It is a battle of David v Goliath and we cant do this alone. We are calling on people everywhere to join us in this fight.'

She said Assange is confined to his cell at least 23 hours a day and has had no visitors since March.

The page has almost reached its funding target following donations from 365 people

Assange, 49, faces 17 charges under the US espionage act and conspiracy to commit computer intrusion. Pictured: Protesters outside Westminster Magistrates' Court last week

Baltasar Garzon, who leads Assanges international defence, said: 'This is an unprecedented legal battle and so much is at stake.

'Doing justice to Mr Assanges defence is a vast undertaking. The legal team is having to do this with Julian, the most able person to contribute, locked away in prison.'

The CrowdJustice appeal has so far received 17,418 from 365 donors.

Assange's lawyers worked to decide whether they would seek a further delay to his trial at a magistrates court in the Old Bailey last week, after the US brought fresh charges.

Florence Iveson, representing Assange, said the 33-page submission was 'astonishing' and 'potentially abusive', claiming the US was 'seeking to add a considerable amount of conduct and seeking to extend the case significantly'.

The extradition hearing was initially set for May, but had to be postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Ms Moris and Assange have been engaged since 2017. They fell in love after she came to work on his case five years ago.
P olice launched a desperate hunt for a young child thought to be inside a missing car in east London.

The Metropolitan Police said the white Audi A3 was last seen in Beckton Triangle, Beckton, at 12.18pm on Thursday.

Anyone who saw the car was urged to call 999.

The Met Police later said the car had been located and the child was found safe and well elsewhere.

The force added that a 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of wasting police time, perverting the course of justice and causing a public nuisance after reporting the theft of a car with a child inside.

The force said earlier on Twitter: "We believe there is a young child inside.

"The car was last seen in Beckton Triangle, E6 #Newham at approx 12:18hrs today.

"If seen please call 999."
When disaster strikes, you can count on your local Restoration 1 team of Southern West Virginia. We are locally owned and operated and believe in supporting communities where we live.

Property Restoration Experts Open in Southern West Virginia

Restoration 1 is pleased to announce the opening of a brand new franchise in the Southern West Virginia area. With over a decade of experience and hundreds of locations throughout the country, this renowned property restoration company offers a variety of restoration services to both homes and businesses.

Throughout my career, Ive found the most joy in serving others and meeting the needs of the community. Im honored to open the first Restoration 1 franchise in the state of West Virginia. When I researched various restoration franchises, I wanted to partner with a company that shared similar values and goals. Restoration 1 takes pride in their local teams, through communication, advanced technologies, and up-to-date equipment, says Owner & CEO, Craig Boggs.

Water damage is the companys most requested service, and Restoration 1 of Southern West Virginias specialists are trained in mitigating water damage and addressing all potential consequences and repercussions thereof. The most important part of water damage restoration is assessing the damage as a health hazard which can lead to possible mold problems. A recent client commented, I bought a house that had a mold infestation hidden in the drywall. I called Restoration 1 and left the rest up to them. They did a great job, worked with me, and kept me informed during the whole process. I absolutely recommend this company, Lloyd B (15 April 2020).

After a call is logged with Restoration 1 of Southern West Virginia or an online form is submitted via their website, the teams technicians will be dispatched to assess the damage to the property in an hour or less. In a time of need, our team is trained, certified, and ready to respond quickly. Our primary goal is to perform customer-focused quality restoration, mitigation, and sanitation services to get your home or business back to normal as soon as possible, says Owner & CEO, Craig Boggs.

When disaster strikes, you can count on your local Restoration 1 team of Southern West Virginia. We are locally owned and operated and believe in supporting communities where we live. Our team consists of highly trained and skilled professionals; we look forward to servicing our communities and achieving sustainable growth to create future job opportunities within the region, says Owner & CEO, Craig Boggs.

A full list of Restoration 1 of Southern West Virginias services includes water damage, sewage cleanup, storm recovery, flood damage cleanup, mold remediation, fire & smoke damage, residential service, commercial restoration, emergency service, pack out and storage, and property restoration. Restoration 1 of Southern West Virginia is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To find out more, call (304) 443-4959 or visit their website.

About Restoration 1

Restoration 1 is a nationwide licensed and insured water damage expert that also offers fire, water, and mold damage restoration services, available 24/7. Their professionals, licensed by the IICRC, have been in the business of restoring damaged residential and commercial properties for over a decade. Their reputation for fast responses, unparalleled quality, and uninhibited commitment has contributed to the growth of the company throughout the United States.

For more information about Restoration 1, their services, and locations, go to http://www.restoration1.com.
The parties selected 20 more demining areas.

The Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) consisting of representatives of Ukraine, Russia, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), has agreed on four new disengagement sites in Donbas Eastern Ukraine.

The decision was reached at a recent TCG meeting in the format of a video conference with the participation of the new head of the Ukrainian delegation, Leonid Kravchuk, and the first deputy head of the delegation, Vitold Fokin, according to the press service of the Ukrainian President's Office.

"The subgroup on security issues has reached an agreement on 20 demining sites within the updated plan sealed in the December 9, 2019 communique of the Paris Normandy Four summit," the statement said.

According to the press service, this will facilitate the implementation of the agreements reached by the Normandy leaders.

Read alsoPrisoner swap: Ukraine submits list with 100 names to OSCE

Also, the Ukrainian side supported the need to develop a framework decision of the TCG on mine action, which will help to optimize further work on this issue.

The humanitarian subgroup also reached progress on issues related the mutual release of detainees.

"The Ukrainian side has once again emphasized the importance of fulfilling all agreements on confirming the list of mutual release of the detained persons and confirmed the information about the persons checked by the participants in the consultations," it said.

Kravchuk and Fokin in TCG
Pottsville, PA (17901)

Today

Cloudy with periods of snow after midnight. Some sleet may mix in. Low near 30F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 70%..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of snow after midnight. Some sleet may mix in. Low near 30F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 70%.
A day after the Supreme Court handed over the probe into the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Shiv Sena in its mouthpiece said that this was a conspiracy to malign the Mumbai Police and the state government.

An editorial in Saamana took a dim view of the interference of the Bihar police and said that the manner in which the CBI was brought into the case was an attack on the federal structure of India.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the transfer of the FIR, lodged in Patna against actress Rhea Chakraborty and others for allegedly abetting Rajputs suicide, to the CBI. Rajput, 34, was dead at his apartment in Bandra in Mumbai on June 14. Subsequently, Mumbai Police, however, did not register an FIR in the case and was investigating the matter as an accidental death.

It expressed surprise over the apex courts order even when it found no wrongdoing in the Mumbai Polices investigation. While handing over the probe to the CBI, the apex court said, records of the case produced before this court do not prima facie suggest any wrongdoing by the Mumbai Police. Then it is surprising that the reins of the case were given to the CBI, the Saamana editorial remarked.

Also read: Rhea Chakraborty doesnt have stature to comment on Bihar CM, she should fight the legal battle - Bihar DGP

The Mumbai Polices probe in the case was in the final stages when it was stopped and handed over to the CBI on the recommendation of the Bihar government, the editorial said. Getting the CBI to probe the Sushant Singh Rajput case in this manner is an attack on the federal structure given by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar... Today, the Indian Constitution will be shedding tears if it is observed that quarantining a Bihar Police official in Mumbai gives rise to suspicion due to which the case is handed over, it added.

It furthered that it is an illusion that only the Bihar Police or the CBI can unearth the truth in the case. Several criminal cases in Bihar were investigated by the CBI. How many real culprits did the CBI arrest so far? Sushants case was politicised only to malign the Mumbai Police and the Maharashtra government, it added.
minister Vijay



Wadettiwar on Thursday said the team that arrived in Mumbai to probe the Sushant Singh Rajput's death case should undergo a COVID-19 test.

The team reached the metropolis on Thursday evening. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced that it has been exempted from home quarantine.

"The officers will be staying in Mumbai and meeting several people. They should undergo antigen test as a precautionary measure to curb the spread of coronavirus," the Relief and Rehabilitation Minister said.

"The state government should take precaution and the CBI should also follow the COVID-19 safety rules," the Congress leader added.

A BMC official earlier said that the central investigation agency had applied for exemption from the home quarantine rule.

The civic body had quarantined Bihar IPS officer Vinay Tiwari earlier this month after his arrival to oversee probe in the actor's death case.

The Supreme Court had on Wednesday upheld the transfer of an FIR, lodged at Patna against actress Rhea Chakraborty and others for allegedly abetting Rajput's suicide, to the CBI.

Rajput was found hanging at his Bandra apartment on June 14.

(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 a warm shallow sea about 240 million years ago in what is now southwestern China, a large dolphin-like marine reptile attacked and swallowed an almost equally big lizard-like marine reptile in a savage encounter that left both beasts dead.

Scientists on August 20 described a fossil unearthed in China's Guizhou Province that reveals this Triassic Period drama in exceptional detail and changes the understanding of "megapredation" in prehistoric seas.

While it long has been presumed that large apex predators preyed upon other big animals - megapredation is defined as feeding on prey of human size or larger - the Chinese fossil represents the first direct evidence of it, as demonstrated by a prehistoric animal's stomach contents.

The fossil shows the skeleton of a 15-foot-long (5 meters) Guizhouichthyosaurus, a type of marine reptile called an ichthyosaur. Its body design married elements of a dolphin and a tiger shark though it lacked a dorsal fin, also boasting four strong flippers and a mouth full of powerful but blunt teeth.

Inside its stomach was the torso of a 12-foot-long (4 meters) Xinpusaurus, a type of marine reptile called an a thalattosaur. Its body design resembled a komodo dragon with four paddling limbs and teeth equipped for crushing shells. The Xinpusaurus was beheaded in the melee and its tail severed.

"Nobody was there to film it," but it is possible to interpret what may have occurred between the two animals, said paleobiologist and study co-author Ryosuke Motani of the University of California, Davis.

The Guizhouichthyosaurus literally may have bitten off more than it could chew.

"The prey is lighter than the predator but its resistance must have been fierce," Motani said. "The predator probably damaged its neck to some extent while subduing the prey. Then it took the head and tail of the prey off through jerking and twisting, and swallowed the trunk using inertia and gravity."

Motani added, "These activities may have expanded the damage of the neck to the point it was fatal. The neck vertebral columns of these ichthyosaurs are quite narrow and once they could not hold the skull in place anymore, the predator could not breathe. Soon, it died not far from the site of the predation, where the detached tail of the prey lay."

The fossil bore evidence of this broken neck. The prey in the stomach showed little signs of digestion, indicating the ichthyosaur died soon after swallowing it.

It is among the more dramatic fossils on record, joining others such as one showing the Cretaceous Period dinosaurs Velociraptor and Protoceratops locked in combat and another of the large Cretaceous fish Xiphactinus that had swallowed whole another sizeable fish.

Guizhouichthyosaurus was the largest-known marine predator of its time, about 10 million years before dinosaurs appeared. Its teeth, however, were not the type thought to be needed for megapredation: blunt rather than having cutting edges for slicing flesh.

"Its teeth look like they are good for grasping squids. So, it was a surprise to find such large prey," said Peking University paleontologist Da-Yong Jiang, lead author of the research published in the journal iScience.

Motani noted that crocodilians also have blunt teeth and attack large prey.

"Megapredation," Motani said, "was probably more common than we used to think."
(CNN) - The Brazilian Congress has decided that the use of masks is mandatory in closed places like commercial establishments, many workplaces, religious temples and schools. In a joint session of both houses  Senate and Deputies Chamber  the legislature overturned President Jair Bolsonaro's veto on such requirements.

In votes on Wednesday, senators and deputies also upheld the right of mayors and governors to fine those who disobeyed the requirement.

The Congress also overturned Bolsonaro's vetoes of a law that sets out the federal government's duties to protect indigenous people during the pandemic. The legislators upheld aspects of the law assuring universal access to drinkable water, emergency access to beds in hospitals, the acquisition of ventilators and the delivery of free food to indigenous people and communities of slaves' descendants.

On her Twitter account, Joenia Wapichana  the first indigenous woman to occupy a federal deputy seat in Brazil  celebrated the Congress' action.

"With the Federal Law number 14.021 restored, the Government of Jair Bolsonaro is OBLIGED, by law and by the decision of the STF [Federal Supreme Court], to give due urgent and emergency attention to prevent a new genocide in indigenous peoples, due to the pandemic".

Wapichana was referring to the Supreme Court's decision which required the federal government to implement safety measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Brazilian Congress makes masks mandatory, despite president's veto"
A pair of wildfire cameras captured the moment a fast-moving blaze destroyed a camera as fires raged across much of California on August 19.

Nevada Fire Cams posted to Twitter that one camera was destroyed while the other remained intact. Footage from the cameras showed one being battered by flames and smoke before becoming non-operational, while the other is able to observe the wall of fire pushing towards the cameras tower.

Several large wildfires were burning in the state at the time, the largest of which was the SCU Lightning Complex which was estimated to have spread to 85,000 acres on August 19.

CAL FIRE reported almost 11,000 lightning strikes had occurred across the state the few days before August 19 leading to 370 new fires. Around 7,000 firefighters  from national and interstate agencies  were battling blazes across the state, according to CAL FIRE.

Smoke can be seen covering most of the state, moving into the Pacific Ocean and as far away as the state of Montana in satellite images from the National Ocean and Atmosphere Administration. Credit: AlertWildfire via Storyful
20.08.2020 LISTEN

A Gambia based Ghanaian Physics teacher and Head of the Science Department of Gambia Senior Secondary School, Mr Frank Asamoah has passed on in the early hours of today, August 20.

The well respected and multiple award winning tutor was made Head of the Science Department of the Gambia Senior Secondary School few months after he started teaching in the school.

Mr Frank was also a Chief Examiner with the regional examination body, WAEC till his sudden demise today.

A colleague teacher, Mr Musa Ceesay described the late tutor as a humble, dedicated, kind and very helpful to students and colleague teachers who are all thrown into a state of sadness.

Renowned journalist and former Press Officer at the Gambia Statehouse, Dijah Jawo who was a student of the late Mr Asamoah described him as a great teacher and a mentor.

Jawo added that he will rate Mr Asamoah as the best Physic teacher in the history of Gambia Senior Secondary School.

---
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity as African Union (AU) Chairperson, on Wednesday condemned the unconstitutional change of government in Mali.

In a statement, Ramaphosa voiced concern over the developments in Mali, which have led to the forced resignation of Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

Keita, currently detained by mutinous soldiers in the military camp in Kati, a town close to Bamako, announced late Tuesday night his resignation and the dissolution of the National Assembly and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse's government. Cisse and some other senior government officials were also detained by the soldiers.

Ramaphosa demanded that the Malian military release from detention the president, the prime minister, ministers and other government executives.

Ramaphosa called for an immediate return to civilian rule and for the military to return to their barracks.

He urged the people of Mali, political parties and civil society, to observe the rule of law and engage in peaceful dialogue in order to resolve their challenges.

Ramaphosa further urged African leaders and the entire international community to denounce and reject the military-led unconstitutional change of government and to assist the people of Mali to return to civilian and democratic rule.

For months, opposition parties have been organizing demonstrations to demand Keita's resignation, accusing him of being responsible for the worsening security situation in the northern part of the country and Mali's economic recession.

Keita was first elected president of Mali in 2013 and re-elected for another five-year term in office in 2018.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbus Children's Foundation (CCF), a national leading non-profit biotech organization helping children with ultra-rare genetic diseases, announced today that Krystof Bankiewicz, M.D., Ph.D., has been named president and chief executive officer. Bankiewicz will work closely with Executive Director Laura Hameed and CCF's esteemed board of trustee members, the CCF Cures Cabinet, and scientific advisors.

Bankiewicz, founder of multiple biotech companies and tenured professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, has been instrumental in the organization's success by developing and delivering multiple life-changing treatments as a CCF founding trustee.

According to CCF Chairman and Chief Science Officer R. Jude Samulski, "Dr. Bankiewicz has been quietly focused on bringing life-saving medicines to children that have shown tremendous therapeutic outcomes. He is a remarkable talent with a sincere focus on using his expertise to change the lives of children with significant unmet medical needs. We're thrilled to see someone with his mindset, expertise, and experience join us in this leadership role. Our organizational mission is aimed at ensuring no children are left behind when science can put cures in reach and Krystof will be a key player in effectuating that mission."

In this new role, Bankiewicz will orchestrate CCF's unique non-profit model for conducting translational research and developing pre-clinical and clinical novel therapeutic programs to advance treatments for children with ultra-rare, and often debilitating, genetic disorders.

"The significant impact Dr. Bankiewicz has had on the field of neuro-restorative medicine and gene therapy raises the Foundation's standing and its ability to accelerate curative solutions will help children around the globe," said Hameed. "Additionally, this innovative approach has the potential to change the market through developing cures while also ensuring equitable and affordable access for treatments. Access to cures without affordability creates tragic equity and access issues and I am thrilled that he has chosen to advance treatments using this innovative model. This approach brings out the best in science and humanity."

"In a world where economics do not add up for large biotech or pharmaceutical organizations to develop genetic medicine for smaller populations of children with ultra-rare conditions, by accelerating these programs in this manner, we can bring the focus needed to give these kids and their families a chance at life," said Bankiewicz. "Achieving the astounding results we are seeing in children who have already been treated and joining the Foundation to expand this impact is one of the most rewarding opportunities of my career. I look forward to doing my part to make a difference in children's lives and advance the ability to impact advancement in gene therapy more broadly."

Recognized in the medical community for groundbreaking accomplishments treating Parkinson's Disease and other conditions affecting the central nervous system, Dr. Bankiewicz pioneered delivery of gene therapeutics directly to the brain to treat neurological disorders. Among his many achievements as an industry and academic leader, he co-founded three companies, invented numerous medical patents and is author to more than 230 peer-reviewed research articles. Bankiewicz is a tenured professor of neurosurgery and Gilbert and Kathryn Mitchell Endowed Chair at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Prior to that, he served as Kinetics Foundation chair in translational research and tenured professor in residence of neurological surgery and neurology at the University of California San Francisco.

Bankiewicz earned an M.D. from Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, and a Ph.D., D.Sc., from the Institute of Neurology and Psychiatry in Warsaw. He also trained at National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD.

About Columbus Children's Foundation

Founded in 2017, the Columbus Children's Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit in Chapel Hill, N.C. As one of the leading nonprofit biotech organizations, its mission is to help children diagnosed with ultra-rare genetic diseases. The Foundation has a global footprint with a sister Foundation located in Spain. Columbus Children's Foundation is focused on ultra-rare diseases that have lagged behind due to their small populations. Because the pharmaceutical industry tends to focus on more common illnesses with greater commercial potential, ultra-rare diseases are often overlooked, prompting the need for funding from outside the industry and a new model for advancement. The Columbus Children's Foundation also helps ensure that children with such disorders can participate in clinical trials or receive therapy if their families can't afford travel and related costs. For more information, visit the Columbus Children's Foundation or call (612) 437-8836.

Media Contact:

Mark Rosenberg

[email protected]

(919) 412-7378

SOURCE Columbus Children's Foundation
Thirty-seven survivors, mainly from Senegal, Mali, Chad and Ghana, were rescued by local fishermen and later detained by Libyan officials onshore

Cairo: A boat carrying dozens of migrants bound for Europe capsized in the Mediterranean Sea off Libya and at least 45 people drowned or were missing and presumed dead, the UN said Wednesday.

The capsizing, which marked the largest number of fatalities in a single shipwreck off the coast of the North African country this year, happened Monday when the engine exploded, UN officials said. The boat, carrying at least 82 migrants, then capsized.

Thirty-seven survivors, mainly from Senegal, Mali, Chad and Ghana, were rescued by local fishermen and later detained by Libyan officials onshore, according to a joint statement by the International Organization for Migration and the UN refugee agency.

The survivors reported 45 people, including five children, had drowned off the coast of the western town of Zuwara, the statement said.

Alarm Phone, an independent support group for migrants crossing the Mediterranean, said it received a call Saturday from someone on a migrant vessel panicking and screaming that passengers were about to die.

The migrants, among them five women, two of them pregnant, said the boat engine had stopped working and they did not have any food or water, the group said. Alarm Phone said it alerted Libyan, Maltese, Italian and Tunisian authorities and provided them with relevant details on the boat.

It was not immediately clear that this was the same vessel that capsized off Zuwara. Alarm Phone said the last time it was in contact with the boat was late Saturday.

We urge states to swiftly respond to these incidents, the UN agencies said. Delays recorded in recent months, and failure to assist, are unacceptable and put lives at avoidable risk. The shipwreck was the latest maritime disaster involving migrants seeking a better life in Europe. In June, a dozen people were missing and feared drowned off the coastal town of Zawiya, about 48 kilometers (30 miles) west of the capital, Tripoli.

Libya, which descended into chaos following the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi, has emerged as a major transit point for African and Arab migrants fleeing war and poverty to Europe.

Most migrants make the perilous journey in ill-equipped and unsafe rubber boats. The IOM said in March that its estimated death toll among migrants who tried to cross the Mediterranean passed the grim milestone of 20,000 deaths since 2014.

More than 7,000 migrants were intercepted by Libya''s coast guard and returned to Libya so far this year, and at least 302 migrants and refugees have perished since the beginning of 2020, according to the two UN agencies.

In recent years, the European Union has partnered with the coast guard and other Libyan forces to stop the flow of migrants. Rights groups say those efforts have left migrants at the mercy of brutal armed groups or confined in squalid and overcrowded detention centers that lack adequate food and water.

The EU agreed earlier this year to end an anti-migrant smuggler operation involving only surveillance aircraft and instead deploy military ships to concentrate on upholding a widely flouted UN arms embargo that''s considered key to winding down Libya's relentless war.
NORWALK  The Norwalk Seaport Association is asking for help raising money to maintain the Sheffield Island Lighthouse after its largest annual fundraiser was canceled due to COVID-19.

The association announced the cancelation of the 43rd annual Oyster Festival in May amid concerns about spreading the coronavirus. The volunteer-run event is a Norwalk tradition and raises more than $200,000 annually for community groups, including for the Seaport Association.

Proceeds from the Oyster Festival go toward maintaining and preserving the Sheffield Island Lighthouse, which the group bought in 1986. But the Oyster Festival was canceled for the first time this year, along with the Norwalk Seaport Associations other regular fundraisers, which include its annual gala and cocktails and oysters party usually held at Norm Bloom and Son.

As a nonprofit, up to 90 percent of the Norwalk Seaport Associations funds come from these events. The money is funneled back into the maintenance and preservation of the Sheffield Island Lighthouse and its educational programs. Instead this year, the group is trying to raise the funds to maintain the 152-year-old property through GoFundMe.

The fundraising page lists a $5,000 goal, but Norwalk Seaport Association President Mike Reilly said the group would like to raise $100,000, which is a fraction of its normal operation costs.

Our fundraising right now is to keep the operation going and keep our renovations and keep the lighthouse looking great, Reilly said. Weve never done a general appeal like this. We always do memberships, but with all our fundraising events canceled or affected, its been a major hit for us. ... Owning a lighthouse and taking care of a lighthouse 4 miles off shore is not easy and is costly.

The Seaport Association has also canceled many of its usual educational programs as the lighthouse remains closed. Normally, thousands of students visit the historic property each year. The association has also reduced the number of daily cruises and the capacity on them, down to 25 from 49.

Reilly said he expects the lighthouse to reopen next year. In the meantime, money from the initial fundraising will go toward interior paintwork on the property, sealing up the new pavilion, which opened last year, and upgrading the sea wall.

We have been through a lot as an organization and we continue to push forward and be positive and want to make an impact on our community, Reilly said. The lighthouse is a big part of Norwalk. We need help with funding just like anyone else  $100,000 sounds like a lot, but when you think about the community involved, I think its doable.

To donate, visit the Norwalk Seaport Associations GoFundMe page or mail a check to Seaport Association, 213 Liberty Square, Norwalk, CT 06855.

erin.kayata@hearstmediact.com
As schools across the U.S. decide whether to reopen this fall, many are left wondering how to know if its safe. Public health experts say virus rates in the community should be low, but theres little agreement on a specific threshold or even a measurement.

The federal government has largely left it to state and local governments to decide when its safe to bring students back to the classroom. The result is a patchwork of policies that vary widely by state and county. Minnesota, for example, suggests fully in-person classes if a countys two-week case rate is no higher than 10 per 10,000 people. In Pennsylvania, its considered safe if a countys positive virus tests average lower than 5% for a week.

The uncertainty has become a source of tension among school leaders who say they are being pressured to reopen without clear guidelines on how to do it safely. Some school leaders say theyre left making decisions that should be made by health officials.

Parents, too, often say theyre being left to fend for themselves amid the void, scrolling through health department dashboards to scrutinize virus statistics and make decisions about whether they should send their children back to school in-person or virtually.

In Houston, a group of school district leaders pushed back this week against local officials who recommended that classes remain virtual until hospitalization rates and the trend of new confirmed cases flatten, along with a 14-day average of 5% positive tests.

The superintendents called the plan not attainable and said district officials have moved forward with their own plans.

Sarah Davidson was among the parents who supported her school superintendent, convinced that local authorities set the bar too high for a return to in-school classes. She looked up data on local hospitalization rates and spoke to neighbors who work as pediatricians before deciding her 5- and 7-year-old kids will be better off inside a classroom than with virtual lessons.

The district is starting the year with two weeks of virtual learning, and parents can decide to continue or send their kids back in person.

What really sealed it for me was to see how broken my 7-year-old was when I told him we had to do online to start the year, she said. He just sat there and you could tell on his face he was upset. Then he went alone to his room and he was just inconsolable.

Here is some of the guidance that schools and families are navigating at the start of the school year:

FEDERAL GUIDANCE

Amid President Donald Trumps calls to reopen schools, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Aug. 1 issued new guidelines urging schools to open unless there is substantial, uncontrolled transmission of the virus in their areas. But the guidance did not define what constitutes uncontrolled spread, saying only that schools should work with local health officials on any decision.

Pressed on the question later, the CDCs chief said exceptions should be made only for schools in hot spots, which he defined as places where the rate of positive virus tests is above 5%.

The White House separately issued its own guidance urging all schools to reopen, saying prolonged closures inflict massive harm on children. It said distance learning should be considered only for high-risk students or those with high-risk family members.

Earlier guidance from a White House task force laid out a phased reopening for businesses and schools. That plan said schools could reopen in phase two, after two consecutive 14-day periods with a decrease in documented cases.

STATE AND LOCAL ORDERS

Governors and mayors have issued a range of benchmarks to decide when its safe for schools to open. Many tell schools to consider the areas rate of positive virus tests, but the threshold deemed safe for classroom instruction ranges from 3% to 15%.

In New York, Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said schools can reopen in areas where the average rate of positive tests is below 5% during a two-week period. But in New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio has said schools can open only if the rate is below 3%.

Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds of Iowa, meanwhile, has ordered all schools to provide at least half of their instruction in-person unless they are granted a waiver from the state. Under her policy, schools are exempt from classroom instruction only if their countys test rate is 15% or higher, and if at least 10% of students are absent.

Many other states fall somewhere between New York and Iowa. Pennsylvanias Department of Education suggests classroom instruction when tested virus rates are 5% or below, and it recommends fully remote learning when the rate exceeds 10%. In between, it calls for a hybrid approach or fully online instruction.

In Arizona, schools are being told to delay classroom teaching until their counties see a two-week decline in new cases, and until their counties go two weeks with testing rates below 7% and coronavirus hospitalization rates below 10%.

OUTSIDE SUGGESTIONS

A range of other groups have issued their own advice on a reopening threshold. The World Health Organization advises schools to reopen only if positive test rates remain below 5% for two weeks, a metric that has been endorsed by many health officials.

Researchers at Harvard Universitys Global Health Institute have suggested a cutoff of 25 new daily cases per 100,000 people. The American Federation of Teachers, one of the nations largest education unions, has issued its own list of conditions schools should meet before reopening. It said average daily test rates must be below 5%, with a transmission rate below 1%.
Well that was a refreshing Doug Ford interlude. Since the COVID-19 crisis began, he has been everything he wasnt before, and that we didnt expect, Ontarios Gregor Samsa: metamorphosing into another creature, with appendages he never had.

Instead of promising to unleash the private sector, he released the public one. The words, gravy train, never passed his lips. Rather than lay big hates on Justin Trudeau and John Tory, he lauded them. Trump, the adored, got slagged. It had an ingenuous quality, like hed discovered an alter ego he enjoyed being.

Till the school openings. Old, dogged Doug, is on his way back.

The hinge of the retransition is class size, exclusively. You can see why parents are wrung out over it. They want their kids in school. But they also want them to have a fighting chance against the virus.

With 15 kids per room you can picture them with the defensible space weve gotten used to. With 30, its like theyll have their hands tied. All Doug needed to do is mandate 15 per class. Hes already said hell spend whatever it takes to keep kids safe. Yet no mandate.

Instead, he sounds like Trump again. When politely questioned on class size, he dodges and maunders about the superiority of his plan, best in the country, bar none. The cliches are back and they sound like cliches again.

He says hes taking advice from my chief medical officer, Dr. David Williams. Bad argument. Hes the only CMO whos been savaged publicly, often, by other MDs and clued-in journalists. Early on, the government sent in a troubleshooter to cover for him. They left him in place to sustain public confidence and give Doug someone to pass the buck to if things went sideways.

This has the quality of a small tragedy. During the crisis, Doug said he doesnt believe in passing the buck and then, remarkably, didnt do it. Even when he couldve laid blame on, say, Kathleen Wynne. (Dr. W. was on her watch.) Now the buck-passing scruple has also faded  and it was so admirable.

This clarifies why leadership matters in a pandemic. When Democrats in the U.S. whine about Trump not providing it, it sounds abstract and self-serving. But if a leader like Doug sounds like hes blustering to cover inaction and cant explain why he wont do what he said everyone should  like safe distancing in classrooms  then why the hell should any of us take it seriously? Thus does joint action disintegrate. Theyve given up all the ground they gained. Were back at Toronto City Hall and the Raptors victory rally. Cue the boos at Dougs name.

OK, but why? Why avoid the issue of class size? The other target theyve passed the buck to, is teachers unions. Doug and education minister Stephen Lecce laced into them this week, in ways that theyve never attacked long-term care companies who were disproportionately involved in thousands of deaths.

Because, I can only guess, smaller classes mean more teachers, which could strengthen unions. And folks like Doug and his party hate unions.

I differentiate between labour and leadership, says Doug. He loves the front-line folks like teachers or workers, but not unions theyve built to protect themselves and leaders theyve elected as democratically as any legislature.

Its partly based on a small or medium business mentality. You built the firm, like Dougs family, and resent outsider unions interfering with your control and your workers. It runs deep. Most of us have irrational baselines like that. None of which will stop unions from fighting for their members safety. Imagine going into a class of 30 little kids, without enough mere space to limit contact.

Theres also a devious strategy at work. The government is counting on enough parents keeping their kids out, that class sizes will fall without adding staff. But thats cruel to both sets of kids: those that go back and those that dont.

As for teachers, Im not sure Ive ever known one who didnt love going into their classroom and shutting that door. Its when the magic starts, they say, despite bureaucrats, ministries, overwork  they surely want to be there.

Rick Salutin is a freelance contributing columnist for the Star. He is based in Toronto. Reach him on email: is a freelance contributing columnist for the Star. He is based in Toronto. Reach him on email: ricksalutin@ca.inter.net

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OSLO (Reuters) - The businessman appointed to lead Norway's $1.1 trillion (839.4 billion pounds) sovereign fund should not be allowed to take up the job unless he divests his holdings in a hedge fund, the opposition Labour Party told daily VG and broadcaster NRK on Friday.

Norges Bank in March announced that Nicolai Tangen would take over the running of Norway's rainy-day assets from September, while putting his own 43% stake in London-based AKO Capital into a blind trust. Tangen has ruled out selling his AKO stake.

"We've concluded that the risks of conflict of interest are too great to be compatible with taking up that position," Labour leader Jonas Gahr Stoere told NRK.

Labour is the largest opposition party in Norway and the narrow favourite to win elections next year.

The central bank was not immediately available for comment.

The appointment was the subject of a contentious hearing in parliament on Monday, in which Norges Bank's supervisory council, a watchdog appointed by parliament, sharply criticised the appointment, while central bank Governor Oeystein Olsen defended it.

Labour's criticism puts significant pressure on the centre-right minority government, although its formal powers to directly intervene in the hiring process are limited.

Julie Brodtkorb, who heads the council overseeing the central bank, on Monday told parliament that there had been "a breach of guidelines, regulations and laws" during the hiring process.

Norges Bank has admitted to being too slow in releasing Tangen's name as part of a public list of applicants for the job to head Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), which is mandated by law.

Defending the appointment however, Olsen said Tangen is now only a passive investor in AKO and that any potential conflicts of interest had been "eliminated for all practical purposes".

The sovereign wealth fund, the world's largest, owns about 1.5% of all listed global equities and is worth three times Norway's annual gross domestic product, making its investment returns vital to the country's public finances.

Tangen's surprise appointment thrust the 54-year-old, whose private wealth is estimated at more than $500 million, into the limelight in Norway.

(Reporting by Terje Solsvik, editing by Gwladys Fouche and Steve Orlofsky)
A team of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrived in Mumbai on Thursday evening to probe the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. On being asked about working with the CBI, Mumbai commissioner Param Bir Singh said that the state police will fully cooperate with the team on the investigation.

Of course, we will cooperate, said Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh.

The CBI team arrived in the city a day after the Supreme Court allowed the CBI to continue with its probe into the case filed against Rhea Chakraborty and her family for allegedly abetting the suicide of Sushant Singh.

Also read | Truth will remain same, whichever agency investigates: Rhea Chakrabortys lawyer on SC order

While pronouncing the verdict, the apex court observed that due to the allegations made by the two states (Bihar and Maharashtra) of political interference against each other, it would be in the interest of justice to hand over the case to the CBI.

The apex court also asked the Mumbai Police to hand over all the evidence collected so far in the case to the CBI.

Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena claimed that the case of the late actors death is being politicised to malign the Mumbai Police and the Maharashtra government.

Also read | Nitish claims vindication in Sushant case, says it is about justice, not politics

In the official mouthpiece of the ruling party, Shiv Sena said that it is surprising that even though the court found nothing wrong in the Mumbai Polices probe, the case has been handed over to the CBI

Several criminal cases in Bihar were investigated by the CBI. How many real culprits did the CBI arrest so far? Sushants case was politicised only to malign the Mumbai Police and the Maharashtra government, Shiv Sena said.

Sushant Singh Rajput died by suicide on June 14 in his apartment in Mumbai.

(With agency inputs)
It is for the reader to judge how much America changed for the better under Mr. Obama, and how much hope endured

Author Andrew P. Zappia publishes over eight years of faithful work in The Obama Annals: A Weekly Chronicle of the Obama Years ($33.99, paperback, 9781631295782; $9.99, e-book, 9781631295799).

From the moment President Barak Obama was elected, Zappia knew this presidency would change America in ways no other administration had. He was inspired to keep an account of Obamas time as U.S. President, writing down each weeks happenings within days of their occurrence. Now, he is finally ready to share his painstaking collection with anyone interested in the full account of this mans eight years at the very summit of American politics.

What emerges from this chronicle is a history of the man, his times, and his efforts to transform America based on a liberal vision. It is for the reader to judge how much America changed for the better under Mr. Obama, and how much hope endured, said Zappia.

Andrew Zappia is an attorney who lives in Rochester, New York with his wife and two children. He has authored articles on various legal, historical, and current event topics, including pieces published in Legal Times, Crisis Magazine, the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Diversity & Division Magazine, the New Jersey Law Journal, and other publications. He is also the author of the Franchise Law chapter in the treatise Commercial Litigation in New York State Courts.

###

Liberty Hill Publishing, a division of Salem Media Group, is a leader in the print-on-demand, self-publishing industry. The Obama Annals is available online through amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.


The New Mexico Dept. of Transportation is looking for a firm to handle its annual $3M traffic safety marketing and video campaign.
Sen. Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic nomination for vice president Wednesday night, marking a historic first with a speech that was part autobiography, part campaign pitch and firmly rooted in her California background.

The Oakland native officially became the first woman of color to be on a major partys ticket on the penultimate night of the virtual Democratic convention after former President Barack Obama, the first Black president, spoke. It was a symbolic passing of the torch on the path to what Democrats hope Harris can achieve in November  becoming the first Black woman and first Asian American woman to be elected vice president.

And the former San Francisco district attorney and California attorney general also showed off a skill Democrats hope she brings to the ticket  going on attack against President Trump.

Speaking from Wilmington, Del., where Joe Biden will accept the presidential nomination Thursday, Harris said that the constant chaos (under Trump) leaves us adrift. The incompetence makes us feel afraid. The callousness makes us feel alone. Its a lot.

And heres the thing: We can do better and deserve so much more, Harris said, shifting to the Democrats argument that Biden can help heal a country devastated by the coronavirus, economic hard times and racial injustice. We must elect a president who will bring something different, something better, and do the important work. A president who will bring all of us together  Black, white, Latino, Asian, indigenous  to achieve the future we collectively want. We must elect Joe Biden.

Harris accepted the nomination 20 months after she began her own presidential campaign before 20,000 people in a flag-draped Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland. Then, she promised to be both a fighter for the people and someone who could unite a country torn by partisanship.

Both are qualities that endeared her to Biden. On Wednesday, Harris previewed the ferocity she would unleash on Trump and the effort she would make to be a supportive partner to the Democratic former vice president.

Right now, we have a president who turns our tragedies into political weapons, Harris said. Joe will be a president who turns our challenges into purpose.

She added, We are a nation thats grieving. Grieving the loss of life, the loss of jobs, the loss of opportunities, the loss of normalcy. And yes, the loss of certainty. And while this virus touches us all, lets be honest, it is not an equal-opportunity offender. Black, Latino and Indigenous people are suffering and dying disproportionately.

This is not a coincidence, Harris said. It is the effect of structural racism.

As she frequently does on the campaign trail, Harris talked about how formative her family was in shaping her. Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, was an Indian immigrant who came to the U.S. at 19 to earn her doctorate at UC Berkeley. Gopalan largely raised Harris and her sister, Maya, after divorcing her father, Donald Harris, a Jamaican immigrant who also was in graduate school at Berkeley when Harris was born.

Harris said Wednesday that her parents met on the streets of Oakland while marching together for justice in the civil rights movement of the 1960s. ... I got a strollers-eye view of people getting into what the great John Lewis called good trouble.

Harris directly addressed what often confounds some of her detractors: how to describe herself. She spoke of how her mother raised her and her sister as Black, but also to be proud of their Indian heritage. And she described her view of family that had room for her Indian chitthis, or aunts, and her historically Black college and university sorority sisters.

Harris said her mother taught us to put family first  the family youre born into and the family you choose.

She was nominated Wednesday by Maya Harris, niece Meena Harris, and a daughter with husband Doug Emhoff from his previous marriage, Ella Emhoff.

Ella Emhoff showcased a side of Harris that the nominee talks about less frequently  being a mom herself. Harris said her proudest title is that of Momala  the nickname her stepchildren have given her.

Youre a rock, Ella Emhoff said, not just for my dad, but for three generations of our big blended family.

Obama also mentioned family, as he spent much of his time praising character and the experience of what he called his brother Biden.

Joe and I came from different places and different generations. But what I quickly came to admire about him is his resilience, born of too much struggle; his empathy, born of too much grief, Obama said. Joes a man who learned early on to treat every person he meets with respect and dignity, living by the words his parents taught him: No ones better than you, but youre better than nobody.

Obama saved his toughest words for Trump.

Now Playing: Sen. Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic nomination for vice president Wednesday night, a historic moment that she marked with a speech about her family's immigrant heritage. Harris, an Oakland native, is the first woman of color on a major party's ticket. Video: SFGATE

I never expected that my successor would embrace my vision or continue my policies. I did hope, for the sake of our country, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously; that he might come to feel the weight of the office and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care.

But he never did, Obama said. Hes shown no interest in putting in the work, no interest in finding common ground, no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends, no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves.

Given the historic nature of Harris nomination, Wednesdays program was filled with powerful women: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, speaking with the Bay Bridge in the background; former Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords, who became a leading advocate against gun violence after being shot in Tucson more than nine years ago; 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton; New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham; and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who spoke from a child care center with alphabet blocks spelling out BLM in the background.

Clinton said she was confident that Harris is strong enough to withstand the attacks that will come at her as a woman on a national ticket.

I know something about the slings and arrows shell face, Clinton said, and, believe me, this former district attorney general and attorney general can handle them all.

Earlier Wednesday, Oakland Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee, co-chair of the California delegation, said that this moment for me, is a moment Ive been waiting for since 1972, when Democrat Shirley Chisholm became the first Black candidate for a major partys nomination.

These glass marble ceilings have been extremely difficult to crack, Lee said. She predicted that Harris would make sure womens voices are heard. ... Thats extremely important, because sometimes the issues of women of color dont make it to the top tier of the agenda.

Lee added, Its a transformational period. Some of us would say its a revolutionary period.

Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent, Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com, jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan, @joegarofoli
Lots of Plexiglass, fewer slot machines and rules to not touch the cards.

There's no set date for when casinos in B.C. might start reopening, but plans are already underway for what the "new normal" for casinos might look like during COVID-19.

The provincial government said in a statement issued Wednesday that the timing of a safe restart is a "complicated consideration." Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said in May casinos would be last on her list to consider for reopening.

Some other parts of Canada, including Saskatchewan, Alberta and Quebec, have already allowed casinos to reopen under new guidelines including physical distancing.

Ben Nelms/CBC

Industry leaders hope something similar could happen in B.C.

"We'd like to see them as soon as it's possible," said Paul Burns, president of the Canadian Gaming Association trade association.

In the meantime, the B.C. Lottery Corporation is preparing as best as it can for an uncertain future.

The BCLC says when casinos reopen they plan to:

Reconfigure seating at slot machines and table games to allow two metres distance between players.

Install Plexiglass or other physical barriers when distancing isn't possible.

Provide free hand sanitizer.

Regularly sanitize all gambling equipment, such as dice.

Only allow games where cards can be handled exclusively by the dealer.

Train all staff about new protocols.

Industry eager to reopen

Burns said the process should start incrementally, considering the impact the closures have had on revenue and thousands of staff members.

"No one walks into their business plan thinking I'm going to be closed for five, six months," he said.

In the 2018 to 2019 fiscal year, casinos brought in $1.4 billion in net income for the province of B.C., helping to fund health care, education and community programs.

Ben Nelms/CBC

Paul Finch, treasurer for the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union, said 2,800 of his members who work at casinos have been off work since March.

Story continues

"They've been hit very hard throughout this entire period as has most of the hospitality sector in B.C.," Finch said.

He said most are eligible for the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy Program, meaning they would continue taking home 75 percent of their usual wages until December.

"Anecdotally, we know that a number of people have had to seek other employment where they can," he said.

Confidence to move forward, safely

Burns is confident when it's time to reopen, casinos are well positioned to do so.

"Ultimately we want to open when it's safe to do so," Burns said.

He explained that many casinos are located in buildings with high ceilings, efficient ventilation systems and the industry is used to following government regulations.

"Staff on the gaming floors implement policies and procedures dictated by government every day and every time they go to work. So this is nothing new for gaming employees," Burns said.
DIDCOT, UK / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2020 / Altus Strategies Plc (AIM:ALS)(TSXV:ALTS) ('Altus' or the 'Company'), announces the appointment of Sandra Bates as the Company's General Counsel.

Ms Bates is an international lawyer with over 20 years' experience, having advised listed and private companies in the natural resources sector on complex commercial negotiations and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) engagement. Ms Bates is a Partner at London-based law firm Keystone Law, a non-executive director of LSE listed Adriatic Metals Plc, a non-executive director of LSE listed Pensana Rare Earths Plc and a member of Women in Mining UK.

Steven Poulton, Chief Executive of Altus, commented:

"We are delighted to welcome Sandra to the team at Altus as our General Counsel. Sandra has an impeccable track record as a natural resources lawyer and joins us at an exciting stage in the Company's evolution. Following the transformative strategic investment by La Mancha in Altus earlier this year, the number of potential project and royalty opportunities under review has increased substantially. We look forward to working with Sandra on these and other such opportunities as we continue to grow the value of our diversified portfolio of precious and base metal assets."

For further information you are invited to visit the Company's website www.altus-strategies.com or contact:

Altus Strategies Plc Steven Poulton, Chief Executive Tel:+44 (0) 1235 511 767 E: info@altus-strategies.com SP Angel (Nominated Adviser) Richard Morrison / Soltan Tagiev Tel: +44 (0) 20 3470 0470 SP Angel (Broker) Abigail Wayne / Richard Parlons Tel: +44 (0) 20 3470 0471 Yellow Jersey PR (Financial PR & IR) Georgia Colkin / Charles Goodwin / Henry Wilkinson Tel: +44 (0) 20 3004 9512 E: altus@yellowjerseypr.com

About Altus Strategies Plc

Altus Strategies is a London (AIM:ALS) and Toronto (TSX-V:ALTS) listed mining royalty company generating a diversified and precious metal focused portfolio of assets. The Company's focus on Africa and differentiated approach, of generating royalties on its own discoveries as well as through financings and acquisitions with third parties, has attracted key institutional investor backing. The Company engages constructively with all stakeholders, working diligently to minimise its environmental impact and to promote positive economic and social outcomes in the communities where it operates. For further information, please visit www.altus-strategies.com.

TSX Venture Exchange Disclaimer

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organisation of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Market Abuse Regulation Disclosure

Certain information contained in this announcement would have been deemed inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 ("MAR") until the release of this announcement.

SOURCE: Altus Strategies PLC

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602505/Appointment-of-Sandra-Bates-as-General-Counsel
American Airlines plans to suspend flights to 15 cities in October, when a federal ban against service cuts carriers agreed to as part of a multibillion-dollar coronavirus aid package expires.

The change, announced Thursday, means nine airports will lose their only airline service.

Bill Hopper, director of the Pitt-Greenville Airport Authority in North Carolina, said American called him Wednesday night to share news.

"It's unfortunate," Hopper said. "We understand there's some pretty significant challenges that the airlines are facing and we're going to work tirelessly with the local community and American Airlines to ensure that we can get the service back up as soon as possible."

The other airports are Del Rio, Texas; Dubuque and Sioux City, Iowa; Florence, S.C.; Huntington, W.Va.; Joplin, Mo.; Kalamazoo/Battle Creek, Mich.; Lake Charles, La.; New Haven, Conn.; New Windsor, N.Y.; Rosewell, N.M.; Springfield, Ill.; Stillwater, Okla. and Williamsport, Pa.

American's announcement is another sign of how the pandemic continues to shake the aviation industry, which is also preparing to shed tens of thousands of jobs come October.

In a statement, the carrier said it was dropping service to the airports between Oct. 7 and Nov. 3, citing "low demand and the expiration of the air service requirements associated with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act."

The airline said the cuts and other service changes will be under review as Congress debates whether to extend financial aid to the aviation industry through next March. The airline said it will publish its November schedule late next month.

"This is the first step as American continues to evaluate its network and plans for additional schedule changes in the coming weeks," American said.

This spring, lawmakers passed a $50 billion package designed to keep the airlines afloat as the coronavirus ravaged the business, driving down passenger volumes by as much as 95 percent. The money came with provisions designed to protect workers and smaller communities, but as the expiration of those protections approaches airline executives have said they expect their operations to be smaller.

Demand for air travel began to rebound in late April as the virus' spread slowed and growth continued steadily until mid-July. But growth has all but stalled since then and airline leaders now say they expect the ultimate recovery to be prolonged, perhaps taking several years.

On Wednesday, just 587,000 people passed through Transportation Security Administration screening checkpoints, compared with 2.3 million last year.

Hopper, whose airport serves businesses, a major medical complex and a college in eastern North Carolina, said he had witnessed the slowing of the recovery.

"I think every airport in the country is keeping their eyes on what's happening in the industry and are trying to plan how best to address it," he said.

As part of the rescue package, Congress gave the U.S. Department of Transportation the power to require airlines to maintain pre-pandemic levels of service until March 2022. But the department chose only to exercise that power until Sept. 30 of this year, when a ban on furloughs and layoffs of airline employees also expires.

Unions representing pilots, flight attendants and other workers in the industry are urging Congress to extend the part of the rescue package that supports wages and benefits through March. Airlines have said that once the ban lifts on Oct. 1, they are prepared to layoff tens of thousands of workers.

"This really could hamstring the rebound of the industry and the growth of the economy," Joe DePete, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, International, said in a virtual town hall Thursday.

A majority of House members and 16 Senate Republicans have said they support extending the payroll protections, but negotiations over a broader coronavirus relief package have been stalled for weeks.

If lawmakers do act, it's not clear whether the Transportation Department would choose to also extend the prohibition on service cuts.

While the Transportation Department generally required airlines to maintain service, it granted some exceptions and in May allowed them to end services at some airports as long as those airports continued to be served by another carrier.

At a hearing in June, Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said he was already seeing cuts to service in the communities he represents and questioned whether flights would ever return.

Nicholas Calio, head of Airlines for America, a major trade group, sought to reassure him.

"If that demand comes back, I guarantee you you'll have the flights," Calio said.
An IIT Kharagpur student staying in its campus on Wednesday tested positive for COVID-19, following which the institute decided to seal all the hostels, an official said.

The institute had in June asked all students, who got stranded because of lockdown, to leave the campus by June 30 and return two months later for the next semester, but a few of them remained there.

The student who was infected with coronavirus was one of them, said the official who does not want to be quoted.

The student was sent to Kolkata, he said without elaborating.

The hostel where the student was staying was sanitised, the official said.

All students who are presently staying in the campus must vacate the Halls (hostels) latest by Aug 23, 2020, and proceed to their hometowns, a notice issued by the institutes hall management centre said.

Prior to this incident, IIT Kharagpur authorities have decided to ask its students not to come back to the campus for the next semester, the classes for which will be held on-line from September, its Registrar B N Singh told PTI.

The COVID-19 situation is still alarming and we cannot endanger the health of our children. We have asked the guardians not to send their wards to the institute till asked, Singh said.

The institute would follow the advisories of the West Bengal and central governments regarding opening of campuses and assess the situation periodically on its own, he said.

It may take two-three months more for the students to return to the campus though public transport has partially resumed, Singh said.

However, online classes for the next semester will not be delayed. It will start from September and students will be asked to attend those classes from home, he said.

Asked what would happen to those students living in remote areas with poor connectivity or those not having smart phones or computers at home, Singh said, They will have a way out I think. They can use smart phones of others and avail network facility from a connected place nearby. Besides, if a student is unable to attend classes due to these issues, he or she would be allowed to have special classes later to clear the backlog after the resumption of campus activities.

The institute has around 12,500 students and researches who stay at hostels.
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ISIS Incite the Believers theory: Understanding motive behind Delhi-Bengaluru riots

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Aug 20: The year 2020 witnessed two massive riots-one at Delhi and the other at Bengaluru.

The probe has found various angles to these riots and one very strong among them was the planning and the purposeful intent to indulge in arson. Another point to be made here is the role played by the extremist organisations in both these incidents.

Following the Delhi riots, the Delhi Police detained an Islamic State linked couple for instigating the anti-citizenship law protests, which turned violent. Following the Bengaluru riots a man allegedly linked to the Al-Hind a wing of the ISIS was detained for questioning.

Bengaluru ophthalmologist Rehman was developing medical app to help injured ISIS terrorists

On Tuesday, the National Investigation Agency arrested a Bengaluru based ophthalmologist in connection with an ISIS Khorasan Province case. In its note, the NIA said that Abdur Rehman was linked Jahanzaib Sami Wani and his wife Hina Bashir Beigh, who were arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi police.

With the ISIS cropping up in both these cases, one must take note of the fact that this terror group carries out unconventional attacks. They include, knife attacks, arson, mowing down people with vehicles just to name a few. Following the Paris attack, the ISIS had circulated various ways of carrying out terror strikes and listed out all the unconventional styles.

Speaking of unconventional, let us refer to the video put out by the ISIS in July 2020, in which it calls for arson attacks on the United States.

Titled 'Incite the Believers,' the video calls for arson attacks in America by its followers.

The narrator says in Arabic that the followers must use lighters, matches and gasoline to start fire in places where they will not be detected.

The video that has been issued by the Al-Hayat Media Centre also shows items such as handguns, power drills that could be used in attacks. "We are sure that if you knew how and found a weapon you would not delay in fulfilling your duty to support the Muslims and do jihad. Look around yourself again, keeping an eye for a solution and not searching for a problem" as they sort through "all the means to kill and destroy.

The video goes on to urge arson jihadists to safely dispose evidence after fleeing the scene of their attacks. For the ISIS, arson has been an easy and cheap terror tactic.

Bengaluru riots: Govt nod to file writ for appointing claims commissioner

Arson has been easy and inspirational for the lone actors, who only need to find encouragement online. Arson also ensures that the suspect does not come under the radar because he does not need to purchase a firearm of get into the complexities of preparing an explosive device.

Now coming back to the riots in India, let us examine what the NIA had to say in the Delhi case.

When Rehman was questioned, he told the agency that he was conspiring with 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.

The case, it may be recalled was initially registered by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police in March 2020. The Delhi Police registered this case after arresting 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, a banned terrorist outfit affiliated with the ISIS. The couple were found to be involved in subversive activities and were also in touch with Abdul Basith, who is now lodged in the Tihar jail in connection with another case being probed by the NIA.

The probe also led to the arrest of Sadiya Anwar Sheikh and Nabeel Siddique Khatri, both residents of Pune. They were allegedly part of the conspiracy to carry out subversive activities under the garb of protesting against the amended citizenship law.

Earlier this week, the Bengaluru police detained one Samiuddin in connection with riots. The police have accused him of being in touch with the killers in the Rudresh murder case. He was further accused of being in touch with members of the Al-Hind group for the past five years.

Bengaluru ophthalmologist accused of furthering ISIS cause arrested by NIA

Al-Hindi Trust, linked to the ISIS 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.

Contempt Case: SC rejects Prashant Bhushan's plea to defer sentencing | Oneindia News

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.
World Humanitarian Day, celebrated on August 19 every year, honours humanitarians who are going the extra mile to help people. Priyanka Chopra took to her Instagram stories to celebrate the real-life heroes on this occasion.

Sharing a video made by the United Nations, the actor wrote, Kindness is a universal language that knows no borders. This #WorldHumanitarianDay, lets honour #RealLifeHeroes - humanitarians & frontline workers, whove been selflessly working to help those in need around the world.

Priyanka has been actively involved in philanthropic work and is a UNICEF goodwill ambassador as well. Last year, she was honoured with the Danny Kaye Humanitarian Award at the UNICEF Snowflake Ball in New York.

In a video shared by UNICEF USA, Priyanka said that she was drawn to childrens issues early on in her career. I had just become an actor and I was figuring out that I had this platform. I had started associating with causes that I believed were important. I was working with thalassemic children, childrens wards and suddenly I realised that there was a theme  that I was working with a lot of kids. My then manager Natasha Pal told me that there is this organisation called UNICEF and maybe I should volunteer, she said on the sidelines of the event.

Also read | Swara Bhasker on CBI taking over Sushant Singh Rajputs case: Not fair to suggest Mumbai Police were not doing a good job

Meanwhile, Priyanka recently finished writing her memoir Unfinished. She shared a page of a draft she received from the publisher and wrote in an Instagram post, Finished. What an amazing feeling seeing these pages printed on paper for the first time! #Unfinished... coming soon! @penguinrandomhouse.

Priyanka had announced Unfinished in 2018 and said that she always wanted to write a book but felt that she should wait because I wasnt (and Im still not) finished. She had said, Ive realized you dont have to be finished to tell your story, and that sometimes lifes greatest lessons are taught along the ride...when youre still figuring things out...when youre #unfinished.

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The daughter of immigrants, she described her familys only-in-America story. She also highlighted racial inequities that continue to plague American society, including the disproportionate suffering communities of color have endured during the covid-19 pandemic. But Ms. Harris, who has won several elections in the nations most populous state and boasts an impressive record as a prosecutor, state attorney general and U.S. senator, did not serve merely as an avatar of one demographic group or another. The vision she offered was of universal values  and the need to restore them after the presidency of Donald Trump. She lamented that the constant chaos leaves us adrift. The incompetence makes us feel afraid. The callousness makes us feel alone. She offered an alternative in which we may not agree on every detail, but we are united by the fundamental belief that every human being is of infinite worth, deserving of compassion, dignity and respect.
A war of words has erupted between Indian Railways technical and non-technical arms over the proposed recruitment mechanism being drafted following the nod to merge eight major national carriers cadres into a single unified service  the Indian Railways Management Service (IRMS).

In a letter, which HT has reviewed, written to railway minister Piyush Goyal last week, officers from Indian Railways Service of Engineers (IRSE) suggested that only those from the technical arm should be allowed to supervise railways operations.

Low-ranking civil services candidates, who will enter after several attempts and at an old age to IRMS can come through a separate examination, the letter suggested.

Indian Railways is a technology-driven organisation and the role of technology has only increased and it will continue because of the governments impetus on modernisation. The nature of railway operations necessitates that it continues to be managed by the highly competent technical supervision for the maintenance of increasingly complex systems ... Alternatively, UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) may conduct a separate examination for IRMS, on the lines of the Indian Forest Services (IFS) examination, where candidates can be tested for their core competence ... a separate examination would ensure that only those candidates enter service, who have consciously opted for the IRMS. This will bring in willing officers rather than low-ranking civil service candidates, who will enter after several attempts and at an old age to IRMS, the letter said while taking a dig at the railways non-technical arms.

Responding to the content of the letter, the Indian Railways civil service cadre, Indian Railways Traffic Services (IRTS), tweeted: We deplore uncivil remark of Railway Engineering Services Associations in the letter reported in media. Best and brightest are recruited through the prestigious CSE (civil services examination). Officers have routinely quit railway engineering services to join IRTS even at a loss of two-three of seniority. We are all for reforms.

Earlier, HT had reported on August 6 that the Union Ministry of Railways is considering a uniform promotion for all services until Higher Administrative Grade (HAG) based on best performing service in the grade for Senior Administrative Grade (SAG)/ HAG and future recruitment of IRMS through a CSE, while technical specialists via RDSO (Research Designs & Standards Organisation  the national transporters R&D wing).

Minister Goyal and railway board chairman VK Yadav in early August had held a meeting with railway unions and representatives from some of the railway services.

In the meeting, representatives of several services had raised concerns over the employees career progression and promotions.

According to officials present in the meeting, Yadav had communicated that seniority would not be that significant for deciding key positions and some elements of merit would also be introduced. Career growth will be linked with the organisations growth, he had told the officials.

He had also stated that there would no change in organisational structure, work culture, and work profile for the senior railway management.

At present, three of the existing railway services are recruited through the CSE, while the rest five are technical services, where the hiring is held through an engineering services examination (ESE).

The railways has also hired McKinsey, a multi-national consultancy firm, to finalise the modalities of the cadre merger. The modalities and unification of the services will be worked out by the ministry in consultation with the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) that was slated to be completed within a year.

The proposed organisational reforms approved by the Union Cabinet last year were aimed at a restructuring of the mammoth organisation that employs around 1.3 million people.

The rail operations carried 2.3 million passengers daily before the nationwide coronavirus disease (Covid-19)-induced lockdown restrictions were enforced from March 25 to contain the spread of the viral outbreak.

The government had said the restructuring move was aimed at ending a legacy marked by inefficiency in work, infighting over control of assets and resources, and inordinate delays in decision-making.
CHICAGO, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Corboy & Demetrio is pleased to announce that nine partners have been included in the 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.

Best Lawyers has published its list for over three decades, earning the respect of the profession, the media, and the public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals. Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America list are reviewed by their peers on the basis of professional expertise.

"Best Lawyers was founded in 1981 with the purpose of highlighting the extraordinary accomplishments of those in the legal profession. After three decades, we are proud to continue to serve as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals worldwide," says Best Lawyers CEO Phillip Greer.

Corboy & Demetrio would like to congratulate the following Partners named to 2021 The Best Lawyers in America list:

Thomas A. Demetrio - Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs, 35th year

Philip Harnett Corboy - Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs, 16th year

Michael K. Demetrio - Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs, 14th year

David R. Barry, Jr. - Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs, 10th year

Daniel S. Kirschner - Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs, 3rd year

Kenneth Lumb - Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs, 3rd year.

Michelle Kohut - Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs, 2nd year

Francis Patrick Murphy - Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs, 2nd year

Susan J. Schwartz - Medical Malpractice Law  Plaintiffs, 1st year

In addition, Attorney Andrew P. Stevens was named to the 2021 Edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, which recognizes attorneys for their outstanding professional excellence early in their careers.

About Corboy & Demetrio

Corboy & Demetrio is one of the nation's premier law firms, representing individuals and their families in serious personal injury and wrongful death cases. Our Chicago personal injury lawyers are renowned for their achievements in the courtroom and contributions to the community.

Putting clients first has resulted in unparalleled and exceptional success - more than $4 billion in settlements and verdicts, of which nearly 600 were in excess of $1 million.

To speak with a Chicago personal injury attorney at Corboy & Demetrio, call 312-346-3191 or email us at [email protected]. We are available 24/7. For more information about our practice, go www.corboydemetrio.com .

Media Contact: Helen Lucaitis, Esq., Communications Director, Corboy & Demetrio, 312-550-2077 or [email protected]

SOURCE Corboy & Demetrio

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The Seattle Arab Film Festival which take place between 29 August and 1 September focuses on short films

A number of films by Egyptian directors will be screened within the upcoming Seattle Arab Film Festival (SAFF), which is scheduled to take place online, between 29 August and 1 September, featuring numerous short films from the Arab world.

"Through the eyes of masterful filmmakers, audiences will encounter a diversity of Arab stories, circumstances, histories, visions, and voices," reads the festival's website.

The non-competitive festival groups films in four categories: In the Diaspora, Youth in Focus, Family and Culture, and Strong Female Lead.

In the Diaspora will screen four films, including one entry from Egypt, a short film titled Colorblind (Amma Alwan).

Directed by Menna Ekram and feauring Asser Yassin and Laila Sami, the 11-minute-long film was screened in the Short Films Competition at the El Gouna Film Festival 2019.

According to a synopsis released by the GFF, "Colorblind depicts an encounter between two Egyptians in a Victorian cemetery in Bristol. He is a husband and father who is working abroad to support his family, while she is on a two-week vacation that turned into two months. As they begin to learn more about one another, they discover that even though they come from the same country, they have almost nothing in common. The film examines gender and class through the perspectives of its two protagonists."

Amma Alwan (Colorblind) - Trailer (2019) from Menna Ekram on Vimeo.

The Youth in Focus segment of the festival features four short films from Morocco, Palestine, Lebanon and Egypt, and tackling issues of the young people.

The 18-minutes Egyptian film titled Ghalia sheds light on a "young girl who asks her mother a question about womens value in society. Her mother begins to reexamine her life and place in the world," reads the SAFF's website.

The film is directed by Ayman Sakr.

Another short by an Egyptian filmmaker is titled Intense Practice to Improve Performance (2017) and will be screened within the Family and Culture segmnt of the festival.

Directed and written by Yasser Shafiey, this comedy drama portrays "a group of workers who achieve success by appeasing bureaucracy, rather than by completing their work," reveals the synopsis posted by the SAFF.

The film participated in the Cairo International Film Festival (2018), where it was nominated to the Youssef Chahin Award for the Best Short Film at the Cinema Of Tomorrow International Competition

Two films by Egyptian directors will be featured within the festival's Strong Female Lead segment: This is My Night by Yusuf Noaman and Lama Jat Ashra by Jaylan Auf.

The 15-minutes-long This is My Night focuses on a poor woman who decides to enjoy a day out with her son who suffers from Down syndrome. As she enters a classy Cairo towns, the struggles begin.

In one of the interviews, the director explained that the film talks about hope and pain. It is about two persons representing poor community with one having Down syndrome, hence both are in a difficult position and hve a lot of needs. "They are all simple needs but they face a lot of problems."

On the other hand, Lama Jat Ashra looks into a mother who takes her daughter to the doctor on her 10th birthday. This is when the mother's childhood trauma reemerges.

The Seattle Arab Film Festival is organised by the Northwest Film Forum, a nonprofit film and arts center located in Seattle, USA which history goes back to 1995.

The NFF holds numerous film festivals throughout the year, a few of which have been moved online this year since the physical space is temporarily closed in light of public health concerns around COVID-19.

Seattle Arab Film Festival leaves the choice of payment to the viewers saying "Please pay what you can; proceeds support Seattle Arab Film Festival and NWFF during our closure! We encourage purchasing a ticket for each individual viewing this screening."

For more information regarding the festival and the ticketing, please visit the Seattle Arab Film Festival's website.

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

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Emilio CoochieMegan Thee Stallion gave her followers a graphic look at her foot injuries after being wounded in a shooting last month.

On Wednesday, the "WAP" collaborator shared two now-deleted photos, captured by The Neighborhood Talk, of the incident where she was shot in her feet and received surgery.

Megan shared a photo of her bloody, stitched-up heel and another of her being cared for by a doctor. "I got hit at the back of my feet because when I got shot, I was walking away facing the back," she captioned on Instagram. "Why would I lie about getting shot? Why are y'all so upset that I don't want to be in the bed sad? Why y'all upset that I can walk?"

"I got my stitches out my feet like two weeks ago, and I was ready to go celebrate "WAP" going number one," she continued. "I usually don't address [the] internet [mess], but y'all people are so sick! God was really watching over me, and I'm healing so well! Sorry, I'm not as sad and miserable as a lot of y'all lol, but ima keep being Megan Thee Stallion."

TMZ broke the news that Megan was in an SUV with rapper Tory Lanez, when she was shot in both her feet on July 12, after which Tory was arrested on felony weapons charges.

TMZ recently confirmed the Los Angeles District Attorney's office were reviewing possible assault charges against Tory who allegedly shot Megan while she was exiting the vehicle.

Megan described the incident as "the worst experience of my life" during an emotional Instagram Live last month. "I didn't put my hands on nobody," she said. "I didn't deserve to get shot."

By Rachel George

Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
VP candidate Harris speaks in Wilmington, Del., on Aug. 13

VP candidate Harris speaks in Wilmington, Del., on Aug. 13 Credit - Carolyn KasterAP

The election hadnt gone the way she expected, so Kamala Harris needed a new plan. Late on the night of Nov. 8, 2016, the newly elected U.S. Senator gathered her campaign team in a drab gray room in the Los Angeles event venue where she was celebrating her victoryjust as most Democrats were mourning the unexpected win of President Donald Trump. This is some sh-t, Harris said mournfully, describing a godson whod come to her in tears. The staffers faces were grave and a siren wailed in the background as she groped for words to describe what she was feeling. Weve got to figure out how to go out there and give people a sense of hope, she said.

The four years since that night have been eventful onesfor America, for the U.S. Senate and for Harris, tapped Aug. 11 as the Democratic Partys vice-presidential nominee. The ambitious pol who won her first national office that day expected to be helping a President Hillary Clinton confirm a Cabinet and Supreme Court, craft comprehensive immigration reform and pass legislation to address climate change. Instead, she found herself in Trumps Washington, crusading against the Presidents polarizing nominees, searching mostly in vain for policy victories, and before long running to oust him.

Harris time in the Senate is a relatively unexplored chapter of her record. Scrutiny of her background during her presidential run focused on her time as a prosecutor and her campaign positioning, both of which drew criticism from the left. On the near geologic scale of the Senate, her time there has been but a moment, and she began running for President just two years after she arrived. Yet Harris Senate profile sheds light on what she brings to the Biden campaign and what sort of Vice President she could be if elected. It also raises questions about what kind of national leader she may become.

Story continues

Harris became famous in the Senate for her performance on camera. Colleagues, aides and Senate watchers describe a hard-driving and determined leader who found ways to be effective, creating viral moments with her cross-examinations of witnesses.

The Senate is a place where they want you to sit and be quiet for three or four terms, and then, after 20 or 30 years, they might pay attention to you, says Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, who was the vice-presidential nominee four years ago. But Kamala has really made a mark.

Off camera, Harris is harder to define. She worked to learn policy and advance legislation, playing a major role in shaping 2018s landmark bipartisan criminal-justice reform and shepherding it to passage. Allies say she learned quickly on the job. But she lacked a signature cause of her own, and struggled to find her footing on other issues important to Democrats, such as climate, health care and national security. She struck some observers as wanting to be all things to all peoplesimultaneously progressive and moderate, principled and compromising, a partisan warrior and a dealmaking pragmatist.

Her defenders say her thin record and evolving positions are the natural result of her experience: junior Senator from California was her first time as a lawmaker. Those who have worked with her say Harris thinks through problems like a lawyer, a deliberative style that can appear indecisive but actually reflects an active intellect. Her fans also see undertones of sexism and racism in critiques of her as attention-seeking or opportunistic, qualities that are practically prerequisites to a political career. The Senates old workhorse or show horse heuristic is a cliche unsuited to todays dysfunctional Congress and polarized politics. But her tenure reflects the same difficulties that eventually doomed her presidential campaign: a privileging of personality over substance and a lack of a clearly articulated vision. Whether it stemmed from open-mindedness or political posturing, the effect was the same.

What was never in doubt, all observers say, was her instinct for the fight. That night in 2016, with her desolated campaign staff on the brink of tears, Harris outlined a path forward. I think our campaign is actually not over, she said. But its a different kind of campaign. Its not to win an office. But its going to be a campaign to fight for everything that motivated us to run for this office in the first place.

Harris rose in Senate hearings, grilling Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in September 2018 Jacquelyn MartinAP

The questions were coming fast, and Jeff Sessions began to stammer. It was June 2017, and Harris kept interrupting the then Attorney General to ask about his contacts with Russians during the 2016 campaign. Im not able to be rushed this fast, he complained. It makes me nervous.

It was an attempt at levity on Sessions part, but the comment quickly went viral, as liberals relished the sight of a Trump apparatchik squirming under Harris gaze. Episodes like these became Harris calling card as a Senator, racking up hundreds of thousands of views online. She would go on to earn similar attention for her September 2018 questioning of then Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and May 2019 interrogation of Sessions successor, William Barr. Kavanaugh appeared positively stumped when she asked, Can you think of any laws that give the government the power to make decisions about the male body?

Harris was already a political star when she arrived in the Senate, but the hearings helped cement her reputation. In an interview last September, Harris told TIME her interrogations reflected her frustration. I am new to the United States Congress, and seeing this stuff up close, its shocking, the lack of consequence and accountability, she said then. (The Biden-Harris campaign did not respond to a request to interview her for this article.)

Republicans sometimes accused her of being overly partisan. On two early occasions, the late Senator John McCain interrupted and upbraided her for not letting witnesses finish answering her questions. Those exchanges, in turn, further elevated her profile when fans accused McCain and other Republicans of trying to silence her. Some of her questions that seemed suggestive in the moment didnt bear fruit, like when she asked Kavanaugh about his contacts with Trumps personal lawyers law firm. Her questioning of Kavanaugh also drew the ire of Trump, who has referred to her as nasty, angry and a mad woman since her addition to the ticket.

But Harris colleagues say she didnt just grandstand; more than many lawmakers, who chew up half their allotted time giving speeches, she actually used hearings to elicit information from often hostile witnesses. For all of the talents of members of Congress, it still shocks me how infrequently a member can get to their question within the first two or three minutes, says Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii. Kamala, without appearing rushed, without appearing hostile, can dismantle an adversary with a smile on her face.

Harris hearing performances were well suited to a Senate that in recent years has done little traditional legislating. Its such a weird time in the Senate, because nobody really does anything, says Adam Jentleson, a former aide to former Senate majority leader Harry Reid. It is not a time that has tested peoples dealmaking abilities because there are no real deals to be made, and the few that do get negotiated are mostly done at the leadership level, says Jentleson, who supported Elizabeth Warren in the presidential primary and is writing a book about Senate dysfunction. As a Democrat, youre mostly just voting against Trump stuff the whole timethats not a knock on her, its just the nature of the institution right now.

The grillings were also central to why she made the Democratic ticket. They showed her mastery of the modern media environmenta key asset in a campaign against Trump. Introducing Harris as his running mate on Aug. 12, Biden praised her for asking the tough questions that need to be asked and not stopping until she got an answer.

With the cameras off, Harris prosecutorial edge vanishes, Democratic Senators say, revealing a warm, funny and accessible colleague who wears her star power lightly. In caucus meetings, they say, she provides important context for policy conversations by drawing on her experience as a person of colorone of just six elected Black Senators in U.S. historyand as the child of immigrants. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon recalled her looking up at him when they first methe is 6 ft. 4 in. to Harris 5 ft. 3 and cracking, With you, Im going to need a ladder! Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii was walking out of the chamber one day last summer when she saw Harris getting into a car and called out, Kamala, are you going to Iowa? Harris replied, with a laugh, Im fcking moving to Iowaan exchange that was overheard by a reporter and subsequently put on T-shirts sold by an Iowa boutique. Kamala made sure I got one of those T-shirts, Hirono says.

Aides admit Harris is a tough boss, demanding hard work from those around her and rewarding them with fierce loyalty in return. Early in her tenure, one recalls, Harris held an event at a Syrian restaurant in California addressing Trumps ban on travelers from Muslim countries. Afterward, her staff sat down to brief her, but she stopped them, insisting that everybody take a breather to eat and talk about their lives. She has worked hard to assemble a diverse staff, not an easy thing to do in an institution that has historically been overwhelmingly white and male.

Many aides recall Harris devotion to her former press secretary Tyrone Gayle, a fellow descendant of Jamaican immigrants who died of colon cancer in October 2018. Harris mother had died of the same disease in 2009, and she treated Gayle with maternal affection when his disease recurred. She found a way to treat him with so much compassion and love, but she also held him to a really high standard, which Tyrone wanted and appreciated, his widow Beth Foster Gayle recently recalled on CNN. He didnt want her to go easy on him. The day he died, Harris dropped her Senate work to join his family at the hospital in New York City, holding his hand and making him smile. To this day, her Senate office is festooned with Clemson pennants in his honor.

Harris drew praise from Republicans and Democrats alike for her work on the intelligence committee. She was a quick study and very effective, the panels former GOP chairman, Richard Burr of North Carolina, told BuzzFeed last year. The committee is known for its unusual levels of both secrecy and collegiality. Because so much of its work occurs behind closed doors, theres no press to shine for, and it doesnt really break down along partisan lines, says the committees top Democrat, Mark Warner of Virginia. Harris task was made harder by the fact that she was near the bottom in seniority, he noted. Shes down there at the end of the line, a spot where most of the questions have already been asked, but she would always find something that hadnt been asked thoroughly enough or come up with a new line of questioning.

Harris, with the intelligence committee in 2018, won GOP praise for her hard work offstage J. Scott ApplewhiteAP

During the presidential campaign, Harris record on criminal justice drew harsh criticism from civil liberties advocates and many on the left, who charged that as a prosecutor she perpetuated a punitive and unequal system rather than seeking to fix it. In the Senate, she focused much of her policy energy on criminal-justice reform. The first bill she introduced was a proposal to give people in immigration proceedings the right to a lawyer. (The bill has since passed the House but not advanced in the Senate.) She teamed up with Republican Senator Rand Paul on a bail-reform bill, which would encourage states to reduce the use of cash baila practice that opponents say criminalizes poverty and contributes to unequal outcomes. (That bill also has not advanced.) She worked with Democrat Cory Booker and Republican Tim Scott, the Senates other two Black members, on antilynching legislation that is currently blocked despite near unanimous support. Along with Booker, she was a key driver of the federal prison and sentencing reform bill that Trump signed in 2018, one of the few bipartisan accomplishments of his presidency.

Even as many of her proposals have stalled, Booker argues, she has brought fresh thinking to the tradition-bound halls of Congress. A lot of times, when you bring out a new idea, youve got to get people familiar with it, he says, noting that such efforts may take years to bear fruit. Kamala came into the Senate and made an impact.

Harris and Booker also collaborated on the Democrats police-reform bill that followed this summers racial-justice protests. It passed the House, and the Senators believed it was a good-faith effort at a compromise Republicans might be able to support. But Senate Republicans offered their own bill instead, putting it on the floor instead without the opportunity for committee deliberation, and Democrats blocked it from advancing. Its unfortunate that majority leader [Mitch] McConnell was not willing to give that legislation adequate hearing, because I think she was very effective in making the case, says Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen. But Scott, the Republican bills author, accused the Democrats of playing politics. In a July interview with TIME, he alluded to Harris position in the Veep-stakes, saying, Im hoping that the presidential politics of choosing a running mate does not stand in the way of Senate Democrats coming to the table.

Harris defenders say her shift to the left on criminal justice reflects not the political expediency of a primary candidate seeking to please the base, but the evolving national dialogue on a fraught issue. Advocates who worked with her on the topic say she was engaged, substantiveand realistic. Im a little frustrated by a lot of the criticism of her evolution on criminal-justice issues, says Holly Harris, a Republican lawyer who serves as executive director of the Justice Action Network. We dont ask a lot of male bill sponsors to explain their evolution. Were just grateful to have their support.

Harris had a harder time finding her footing on issues further afield from her own experience. Her presidential campaign notably struggled with the central issue of health care: as a Senator, she co-sponsored Bernie Sanders single-payer legislation, but after months of conflicting statements, she issued a plan that would preserve the private insurance system. Legislating is totally different than being an attorney general, says an aide to another Democratic Senator. Not being a veteran of these issue debates, she didnt necessarily know the fine points of something like Medicare for All.

Climate change was another issue on which Harris got more assertive over time. She was an original co-sponsor of the left-wing Green New Deal and signed a pledge not to take campaign money from the fossil-fuel industry. But climate activists were skeptical of her as a presidential candidate, particularly when she was the only major candidate not to immediately commit to a September CNN town hall devoted to the issue. After criticism, she changed her mind, and in her 33-minute segment she vowed to back ending the filibuster if Republicans held up climate legislation, endorsed a fracking ban and called for the prosecution of fossilfuel companies. Everybody was pretty much leading in a progressive direction, says Julian Brave NoiseCat, a climate activist who is vice president of policy and strategy at the progressive group Data for Progress. And the question was, How far were you willing to go?

The initial trepidation followed by outspoken position taking was typical of Harris approach to the high-profile issue. Harris subsequently found a niche that suited her comfort zone: environmental justice and environ-mental litigation. In July, she partnered with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to introduce a Climate Equity Act that would require environmental legislation to receive an equity score that judged how it would affect at-risk communities and create new burdens for administrative action. Her office released a new version of the proposal just days before she was announced as Bidens VP pick. Shes not driven by a desire to protect the polar bears, says RL Miller, a California Democratic activist and political director of Climate Hawks Vote, a group that advocates for aggressive climate-change policies. She is driven by the desire to protect low-income African-American people living next to the Los Angeles urban oil field.

Harris lack of firm stances on many issues contributed to her campaigns demise. But as a vice-presidential candidate, that flexibility could be an asset. Colleagues and aides say she is passionate but not doctrinaire, a team player open to others good ideas. Even some of the progressives who regard Harris with suspicion express hope that her malleability means she can be nudged leftward. The challenge for Harris will be establishing herself as a national figure in that roleshowing that her flexibility comes from pragmatism, not opportunism.

When Biden was Vice President, he brought the perspective of an old foreign policy hand to the White House and served as a sort of Senate whisperer for President Barack Obama, who had, like Harris, spent just four years in the chamber. Biden, who fetishizes the Senate as an institution, is unlikely to cede that duty to his own second-in-command. But some on the left hope recent experience will make Harris more inclined than Biden to play hardball with McConnell, who they believe has abused procedural norms to destroy the traditional policymaking process. I dont see anything in her record in the Senate that suggests shes not a strong progressive, says Jentleson, the former Reid aide. But the rubber will hit the road on issues like the filibuster. When you want to advance a very progressive policy and get stopped, do you reform the Senate to get things done?

Aside from Harris campaign promise to end the filibuster to pass climate legislation, neither she nor Biden has committed to major changes to Senate rulesa proposition thats highly contentious within the chamber on both sides of the aisle. Without such changes, it will be an uphill battle to enact the sweeping policy agenda articulated at this summers Democratic convention, even if the party wins the Senate majority in November. Would Harris time in the gridlocked body lead her to argue for drastic measures? If Biden and Harris are inaugurated next January, how Kamala Harris regards the U.S. Senate could be the question on which a Biden presidencys legacy depends.

With reporting by Anna Purna Kambhampaty, Justin Worland and Julia Zorthian
Pakistan's army chief Gen. Qamar Bajwa arrived in Saudi Arabia Monday for talks with the royal leadership. Although it was described as primarily a previously planned military meeting, it may have provided a good opportunity for removing any misunderstandings amid media conjecture that Riyadh may have been irked by recent criticism from Pakistans Foreign Ministry.

Meanwhile, the Saudi envoy to Pakistan, Adm. Nawaf Saeed Al-Malkiy, visited the army chief last week to discuss regional security and bilateral defense ties, suggesting that ties had already been smoothed.

On Aug. 5, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi expressed frustration with the Organization of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) for its lackluster response to reported rights violations in Indian-administered Kashmir, as the organization has not yet met to discuss the dispute. Speaking on an Urdu talk show, he hinted that alternatives to the OIC would have to be found. As Saudi Arabia has a prominent role in the OIC, the general perception is that the foreign minister's remarks could have offended the government in Riyadh.

As Qureshis outburst coincided with reports that Islamabad had prematurely repaid a $1 billion loan to Riyadh, the matters could be linked. Islamabad has apparently requested that Riyadh renew the $3.2 billion deferred payment facility for oil supplies after a one-year agreement between both countries expired in May this year.

However, such minor glitches cannot derail relations between Riyadh and Islamabad. Once described as probably one of the closest relationships in the world between any two countries by former Saudi intelligence chief Prince Turki bin Faisal, the historical relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have withstood the test of time.

Saudi-Pakistan dynamics date back to the pre-partition era of British India, when Arab delegations met the leadership of the All India Muslim League in 1940. Having worked together with Saudi Arabia on various global and regional forums, Pakistan was also a founding member of the OIC in 1969.

These historic ties are evident in many realms.

First, there is a significant security aspect to Pakistan-Saudi relations, as Pakistani armed forces have often helped the kingdom in various crises over the years. Being the only Muslim nuclear power, Pakistan also guaranteed the safety of the holy places of Mecca and Medina. The countries have had close military ties since the 1960s, when Pakistani soldiers were stationed in Saudi Arabia to protect the kingdom.

Since 2018, the countries have had a bilateral security pact and around 1,000 Pakistani troops remain deployed there. Saudi soldiers and pilots have received training at Pakistani military facilities on a regular basis. At one time, Riyadh was the largest importer of Pakistani small and medium conventional weaponry and it was one of the few countries to congratulate Pakistan when it carried out successful nuclear tests.

The relationship has hit hurdles, such as when Pakistan refused to be a part of the Saudi-led alliance fighting Houthis in Yemen, but there have never been any serious disagreements. That retired Pakistan army chief Raheel Sharif was asked to lead the Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism shows the level of mutual trust.

Secondly, the kingdom plays an important economic role and it has helped Pakistan with finances whenever it required assistance. Since the late 1970s, Saudi Arabia has helped Pakistan at various crucial junctures such as the economic sanctions that it faced in 1998-99.

Having provided crude oil worth $2 billion on deferred payments that were mostly converted into a grant later when Islamabad was under sanctions in 1998 and 1999, Riyadh has helped rescue the Pakistani economy.

Recalling those times, G.A Sabri, who was a top bureaucrat in Pakistans Petroleum Ministry, has said, Thats when Saudi Arabia came to our rescue and offered us an oil credit for the first time. I remember it covered around 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) of furnace and crude oil. We got the shipments on a deferred payment, which means you take the oil today but pay much later. But really it was sort of a grant as the payments were waived.

Riyadh provided such a facility once again in 2018, when the newly elected Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan went there on his first official foreign trip to ask for help in staving off the imminent economic crisis in this country. This time, the kingdom provided a $6 billion bailout package to resuscitate Pakistans economy, out of which $3 billion were deferred payments on oil imports, while $3 billion went to boosting its foreign exchange reserves.

Around 2.5 million Pakistanis work in the kingdom and send sizable remittances back home, amounting to $6 to $8 billion annually. This diaspora contributed in the building of modern Saudi Arabia and many doctors, engineers and teachers have spent their lives working in the kingdom.

Recently, even though many migrants lost their jobs due to lockdowns during the coronavirus pandemic, the Saudi government has barred companies from laying off Pakistani workers for the next three months.

Last week, the Pakistan Embassy hosted a business meeting with Saudi investors and initiatives are being planned to increase the export share as well as boost foreign direct investment in Pakistan with Saudi help.

Finally, where bilateral foreign policy objectives are concerned, according to the British think tank Royal United Services Institute, Pakistan-Saudi relations have entered the strategic domain where both countries are fine with each in pursuing their own interests independently. Having formed strategic working groups, their bilateral ties have now been institutionalized and developed into an interdependent security relationship.

Accordingly, the relationship remains unaffected by their ties with other countries. For example, even though Islamabad improved bilateral relations with Iran and Riyadh with India, both countries have sustained close ties. Even though the equation may have needed a reset at times due to divergences over the regional situation, the countries have never had any trust issues.

An important diplomatic aspect to Pakistan-Saudi bilateral relations is that Islamabad has always offered to mediate between Riyadh and Tehran. Maintaining balance between Saudi Arabia and Iran has been Pakistans successful foreign policy and it has been able to help maintain peace by remaining neutral.
Senior character artiste Naga Babu revealed the two incidents when he contemplated ending his life. In a latest interview, Naga Babu said that he went to New Zealand for a holiday along with his wife and children Varun Tej and Niharika when they were small kids.

During the holiday, Niharika went away with another person who was dressed exactly like me. She didnt come back even after 20 minutes. I lost my composure and that was the first time that I wanted to end my life along with my wife after sending Varun Tej back to Hyderabad. Niharika is my life, my angel. I couldnt imagine my life without her, Naga Babu said.

Revealing the other instance, Naga Babu said that he planned to end his life after the colossal failure of Ram Charans Orange. But I overcame that low phase thanks to the support from my brothers Chiranjeevi and Pawan Kalyan, Naga Babu said.

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- Offers over 14,000 cloud assets and over 200 industry cloud solution blueprints

BENGALURU, India, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys [https://www.infosys.com/] , a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today launched Infosys Cobalt - a set of services, solutions, and platforms that acts as a force multiplier for cloud-powered enterprise transformation. Infosys Cobalt helps businesses redesign the enterprise, from the core, and also build new cloud-first capabilities to create seamless experiences in public, private and hybrid cloud, across PaaS, SaaS, and IaaS landscapes. With Infosys Cobalt's community leverage, enterprises can rapidly launch solutions and create business models to meet changing market needs while complying with the most stringent global, regional and industry regulatory and security standards.

https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633365/Infosys_Logo.jpg [https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633365/Infosys_Logo.jpg]

Expand innovation with the cloud community and its 14,000 cloud assets

Enterprises can leverage the full potential of the cloud ecosystem and Infosys Cobalt's thriving community of business and technology innovators to drive increased business value. Working grassroots up and extending seamlessly to partner with clients, the cloud community provides access to a catalog of over 14,000 assets to help businesses leverage the potential of the cloud ecosystem. An example is the Infosys payer B2B platform creating a disruptive marketplace for employers and providers to come together to manage the health of employees. The Infosys Cobalt cloud community, over time, will expand to include start-ups, partners, academia, gig workers and citizen cloud developers.

Speed--to-market with over 200 industry cloud solution blueprints and Infosys Cobalt Labs

With Infosys Cobalt, enterprises can have ready access to a growing portfolio of over 200 cloud-first solution blueprints. Infosys Enterprise Service Management Cafe, for example, is an AI-powered solution built over the ServiceNow cloud platform, that delivers ready-to-launch applications. With Infosys Cobalt Labs, at Infosys global digital centers, businesses can also co-create new solutions and accelerate speed to market. More broadly, Infosys Cobalt Labs works with the Infosys partner ecosystem to pre-configure partnerships to prototype industry solutions as well.

Secure the globally dispersed enterprise

With Infosys Cobalt, regulatory and security compliance, along with technical and financial governance comes baked into every solution delivered. Enterprises count on Infosys Cobalt to securely access cloud capabilities and innovations from various partners with the assurance of the Infosys single-point accountability for secure outcomes.

Salil Parekh, CEO, Infosys said, "Our clients are building cloud capabilities to gain business advantage in increasingly competitive markets. The future of enterprise cloud strategy will be shaped by three key factors - speed-to-market, innovation at scale, and security of the ecosystem - this is the foundational construct of Infosys Cobalt. With Infosys Cobalt, we will set up a proven and optimal foundation for cloud-led transformation that will accelerate the next phase of growth and market leadership for businesses."

Infosys continues to invest in a growing set of services, platforms and solutions. The company's acquisitions of Fluido and Simplus - both leading Salesforce partners and recognized leaders in cloud consulting and implementation - expand its enterprise cloud capabilities. Infosys Cobalt also taps into a rich ecosystem of startups and over 30 leading providers of public and private cloud infrastructure, SaaS, PaaS, applications and enterprise security.

Ravi Kumar, President, Infosys said, "Our clients operate in hybrid and multi-cloud environments. They want to modernize and innovate at scale. They are looking to leverage this heterogeneous landscape, make the most of SaaS and PaaS capabilities, and power on-demand business solutions. They need a strong pool of talent with specialist skillsets to solve these challenges. Infosys Cobalt, together with its rich ecosystem of partners and vibrant cloud community, is securely amplifying enterprise cloud ecosystems, enabling businesses to find faster, more innovative ways to respond to changing markets and drive business resilience."

For more details on Infosys Cobalt, visit us at infy.com/infosyscobalt [https://www.infosys.com/infosyscobalt]. For a deep dive by experts on the evolution of cloud and Infosys Cobalt, watch these videos on InfyTV: https://www.infosys.com/newsroom/infytv/enterprise-evolution... [https://www.infosys.com/newsroom/infytv/enterprise-evolution...]

"We are on a continuous journey to improve responsiveness to our customers. Migrating to a best-in-class cloud data warehouse built using Snowflake and Azure has transformed the way we unlock data capabilities to accelerate customer relevance. Infosys is partnering with us to deliver the cloud data and analytics blueprint by seamlessly bringing together their partner ecosystem, providing technical expertise and solution assets to execute on our strategy. This is unleashing significant value for us through actionable insights delivered securely," said Eric Nelson, Kraft Heinz, CIO North America.

Priya Almelkar, Head of Digital Leadership at GLOBALFOUNDRIES said, "As a part of GLOBALFOUNDRIES' digital transformation, we've partnered with Infosys to help us establish a hybrid cloud foundation that will enable application and data migration to the cloud. We look forward to working with Infosys to differentiate our business solutions and deliver value to our clients worldwide."

"The current times have emphasized, like never before, the need for digital acceleration using technologies like cloud," said Lance Y. Gokongwei, President and CEO, JG Summit Holdings, Inc. "As one of the largest and most diversified Filipino conglomerates, our vision is to be the leading digital business in Philippines. We are leveraging Infosys Cobalt to set up a secure and scalable hybrid cloud environment and transform our business using SAP S/4HANA. We are also building a modern digital workplace for our workforce to be able to collaborate meaningfully and deliver their productive best. This will accelerate our responsiveness to evolving business needs and offer better services to our end customers."

"Cloud provides a platform for businesses to move at speed," said Peter Bendor-Samuel, Founder & CEO, Everest Group. "We are seeing rapid adoption of hybrid and multi-cloud environments. However, this transformation journey can be demanding as enterprises are flooded with a bewildering set of new options and associated complexities. In many cases this new operating model is proving difficult to master and is slow to yield the competitive advantages it promises. Infosys Cobalt is an effective antidote to these complexities and challenges and allows clients to focus on capturing the business results at speed that the move to cloud promised."

"The cloud is the backbone of today's enterprise technology," said Todd Lavieri, Vice Chairman of ISG and President, ISG Americas and Asia Pacific. "Among our clients, we are seeing accelerating cloud adoption, using a hybrid, multi-cloud approach across public and private clouds, to design, launch, and scale new business models. Solutions, such as Infosys Cobalt, help organizations rapidly develop the business solutions they need today while also leveraging a vibrant cloud community to continue to innovate for the future. Such capabilities are a critical part of growing business resilience through digital transformation."

About Infosys Ltd.

(CONTINUA)
STATEN ISLAND -- A class action lawsuit on behalf of Staten Island and South Brooklyn restaurant owners is in the works that will demand Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio allow them to open for indoor dining just like other parts of the state.

Attorneys, local restaurant owners and politicians gathered outside of Ho Brah taco shop on Forest Avenue Thursday outraged over the city and states decision to delay indoor dining indefinitely.

Its time to take action, said criminal defense attorney Mark Fonte, who plans to file the lawsuit on Staten Island alongside attorney Lou Gelormino in the coming weeks.

Small businesses are suffering and its time to end that suffering, and its time to bring a lawsuit, he said. Lets have a neutral magistrate make a decision as to whether or not this mayor overstepped his authority, because I think he clearly has.

With the cold weather just around the corner, Tommy Casatelli, the co-owner owner of Ho Brah, said he is unsure if he and other restaurants will be able to survive this winter without opening for indoor dining.

He recently rehired his staff to help with outdoor dining service, but said he will be forced to let them go if he has to go back to take out and delivery during the winter months.

After getting hit with several fines from the city when he opened for outdoor dining, Casatelli said he is concerned about what the citys new heating requirements are going to be come winter.

Who knows what the regulations are going to be for outdoor heaters? Who really wants to eat outside in the cold? Are we going to be allowed to have heated tents? Casatelli said.

Theres no direction, he said.

De Blasio and Cuomo postponed plans to bring back indoor dining on July 6 indefinitely after states around the country saw a spike in coronavirus cases tied to early reopening and indoor dining.

The city has allowed thousands of restaurants to open for outdoor dining, but has yet to set a date for the return of indoor dining.

The mayor provided a vague prediction Tuesday about when restaurants would be able to resume indoor dining, indicating it may not return until there is a coronavirus vaccine.

On Thursday, de Blasio said there was still no timeline on when indoor dining could resume.

Despite the citys coronavirus infection rate at less than 1%, New York City is the only region in the state that has yet to open for indoor dining.

ISLAND REPS LEAD CHARGE

We need to open up, Minority Leader Steven Matteo (R-Mid Island), said outside of Ho Brah alongside Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore/South Brooklyn). ... The science and the data does not show that we shouldnt be opened up, but you can go to other parts of this state and indoor dine? That makes no sense to me.

Matteo and Malliotakis said they have not been able to get any clear answer from Cuomo or de Blasio on what type of metrics the city and state are currently looking at to determine when indoor dining can safely resume.

You set metrics, we met those metrics, yet were not able to open indoor dining at limited capacity like every other part of the State of New York? Malliotakis said.

That to me is the question that the governor and the mayor have to answer, she said.

On Wednesday, Rep. Max Rose (D-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) and State Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) called on Cuomo to allow Staten Island restaurants to open for indoor dining at a reduced capacity just like other parts of the state.

Rose and Lanza said Staten Islands low density and infection rate and lack of public transportation infrastructure made it resemble other parts of the state already open for indoor dining more than the rest of New York City.

[D]ata from yesterday, August 18, shows Staten Island has one of the lowest numbers of new positive cases by county in the state, with numbers closer to Rockland County than the Bronx. And yet we see Westchester County, Nassau County, and other nearby counties gain access to indoor dining options while Staten Island, the most geographically isolated borough from the rest of the city, is left out to dry, Rose and Lanza said in a letter to Cuomo.

Cuomos office shrugged off the suit.

Ive stopped keeping track of the number of frivolous law suits filed against us during this pandemic, Cuomos Senior Advisor, Rich Azzopardi, said.

But de Blasio said Staten Island would be looked at together with the rest of New York City in determining when the city could bring back indoor dining.

The whole city is gonna be treated as one. I believe the state has always seen it that way as well and its about health and safety first, de Blasio told reporters during a press conference Thursday when asked about Rose and Lanzas request.

... If we kept pushing back the disease, that would open the door. So, its a little bit chicken and egg. You take too many chances, you move too fast, you make the wrong decisions, the disease comes back, then youre of course, not going to have indoor dining, so I think the cautious, strategic approach is actually the best way to get to indoor dining again one day.

-- Reporter Paul Liotta contributed to this report

FOLLOW SYDNEY KASHIWAGI ON TWITTER.
For weeks Laredo officials have expressed increasing consternation, desperation and fear as COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations have grown out of control.

But during a media briefing Wednesday, Mayor Pete Saenz said he has a new glimmer of hope.

The numbers appear to be tending in a downward curve. Hopefully that will continue, he said. Its not necessarily a trend, but obviously we need to build on that. We need to strengthen our efforts, continue to make those efforts sustainable and productive and fruitful.

Still, five more local deaths were reported Wednesday.

Health Authority Dr. Victor Trevino noted that Laredos hospitals have seen a decrease in admissions, although they are still around 80-90% capacity and experiencing a bed shortage in the intensive care unit. And patients are still being transferred to San Antonio hospitals in order for the hospitals to not hit their capacity.

He believes Laredo is experiencing a downward trajectory in its first wave, which was spurred by holidays, businesses opening and social gatherings.

As a result of these situations, the infections occurred and now the wave is on its way down, he said.

The second wave will come when schools open and businesses open more. This will merge with influenza season, Trevino said.

However the health authority warned that Laredo is not near heard immunity, which is when 50-60% of the community has had the virus, making the spread of the disease from one person to another less likely.

This question keeps coming up among my patients and in the community. Without addressing the unknown of how long one has immunity once recovered from COVID-19 ... and in absence of a vaccine, immunity would come with an insurmountable, uncontrollable amount of deaths, exponentially more than what were seeing now, Trevino said.

Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com
At a recent Heritage Foundation panel called the Protecting Children in Education Summit, activists and scholars discussed and condemned the introduction of policies that allow transgender children to dictate their own pronouns and names at school. This policy has come under fire for violating the primary authority of parents and for "sexualizing children."

Parents have organized a lawsuit against the school district to change the policy. The school district, however, has attempted to support its approach with research that indicates that transgender children in Dane County and across America had adverse outcomes in numerous categories as compared to their cisgender peers. In addition, a CDC report published in 2019 concluded that almost 3% of high schools students identify as transgender and that 35% of these students attempt suicide.

Federal law requires parental permission to change a student's name in their database. Similarly, Madison Metropolitan School District requires at least one parent's approval for any change to their online district system (Infinite Campus). However, current administrative policies in Wisconsin public schools allow students to personally dictate their names and pronouns at school without consulting parents.

According to Luke Berg, deputy counsel with the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, the policy was passed without a vote from the school board and without "broad input" from parents. Consequently, parents in Madison, Wisconsin have filed a lawsuit against the school district, Doe vs Madison Metropolitan School District. The plaintiffs argue that the policy is in conflict with federal guidelines and that transgenderism is inappropriate for children, while the defendants argue that their policies are suitable for when children do not want to come out to their parents due to a risk of losing housing or family resources.

A comprehensive guidebook created by the school district reads, "Families can request a meeting to review their child's gender support plan at any time" and "Families should be made aware of the policies, practices, and guidance that support and protect their child."

According to ChristianPost, the transgender identity policy was pushed for by groups such as the Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network, the ACLU, the Human Rights Campaign, and the National Education Association. Indeed, some of the research that informed the policy was done by the GLSEN.

Both sides of this debate are passionate about their convictions. It is necessary that level-headed, rational discussion takes place to make sure no one is harmed by policies such as these.
















The iconic American Harley-Davidson motorcycle may not be produced in India anymore, going by indications of their sales performance and announcements from the global management.

The company, which began operations in India in 2009, has a plant in Bawal (Haryana).

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the industry was already going through a prolonged slowdown. The pandemic has only made things worse, particularly for the premium segments in the country that is the largest two-wheeler market.

Responding to a query about the reports, Harley-Davidson India said: "Harley-Davidson does not comment on speculation and rumours."

In a recent announcement about plans to 'rewire the company', Harley-Davidson had said: "Harley-Davidson plans to concentrate on approximately 50 markets primarily in North America, Europe and parts of Asia Pacific that represent the vast majority of the company's volume and growth potential. The company is evaluating plans to exit international markets where volumes and profitability do not support continued investment in line with the future strategy."

There were also reports that Sajeev Rajasekharan, Managing Director, Asia Emerging Markets and India, would be transferred to Singapore and their sales and marketing operations in India would be reduced.

An H-D report mentioned that its retail sales were down 10 per cent in the Asia Pacific region in the second quarter of 2020 as compared to the same period in 2019.

In India, data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) showed that the company's domestic cumulative sales figure in the 2019-20 financial year was just under 2,500 units (2,470 for 2019-20 vs 2,676 for 2018-19). In comparison, Royal Enfield sold just over 42,000 units in FY 2019-20, according to SIAM.

If in case the company's exit plans are true and there is import of motorcycles, it will push up the cost of buying significantly due to the high import duties and taxes that are imposed on completely built units (CBUs). In fact, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly hit out at India for the high cost of importing H-D motorcycles to India.

India is primarily a mass commuter segment motorcycle market. Though there are takers for the big bikes, sales of premium segment motorbikes is very small compared to the overall market.

Recently, H-D had announced prices for its BS-VI range and had even slashed prices of its cheapest model (Street 750 is now Rs 4.69 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi). The company sells 13 models in India. The Fat Boy is priced at Rs 18.25 lakh, while the CVO Limited is around Rs 50 lakh.

H-D has 33 dealerships across India. H-D manufacturers the Street family and the plant also assembles completely knocked down kits of bigger motorcycles.
Cover Media

Brian Cox was offered a role in Game of Thrones, but turned it down as the pay was "not all that great". The 75-year-old actor has revealed in his new memoir, Putting the Rabbit in the Hat, that he was offered the role of Robert Baratheon but decided to turn it down. "I'm often asked if I was offered a role in Game of Thrones - reason being that every other b**ger was - and the answer is, yes, I was supposed to be a king called Robert Baratheon, who apparently died when he was gored by a boar in
Gmail down: Users report glitch in sending emails, attaching files; Google Drive also affected

Gmail down: Google has acknowledged that Gmail is down and the tech giant is working on a fix.

Moneycontrol News August 20, 2020 / 02:44 PM IST













Gmail and Google Drive users in different parts of the globe are experiencing errors while sending emails or attaching files. According to DownDetector, the problem persists in India, Australia, Japan, and several other countries. Several thousands of users on Twitter have also confirmed DownDetectors findings. At the time of writing, we were unable to upload, download, or share files on Google Drive. The American search giant has acknowledged the problem on the Google apps status page, We're investigating reports of an issue with Gmail. We will provide more information shortly.

Several thousands of users on Twitter have also confirmed DownDetectors findings. At the time of writing, we were unable to upload, download, or share files on Google Drive. The American search giant has acknowledged the problem on the Google apps status page, We're investigating reports of an issue with Gmail. We will provide more information shortly.

Google provided an update on the situation sometime later; We are continuing to investigate this issue. We will provide an update by 8/20/20, 1:30 PM detailing when we expect to resolve the problem.

For now, emails can still be sent out, but Gmail sends out an error when attaching a file that reads, Oops, something went wrong. Recent changes may not have been saved.
Armenian News - NEWS.am presents a daily digest of Armenia-related top news as of 20.08.2020:

As of Thursday morning, 263 new cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in Armenia, and the total number of cases has reached 41,495 in the country.

Also, three more deaths from COVID-19 were registered, making the respective total 836 cases.

Two more cases of coronavirus patients dying from other reasons were recorded in Armenia in the past one day, and the respective death toll in the country is 251 now.

A total of five people died in one day, and the respective death toll has reached 1,087.

The number of people recovered in one day is 250, the total number of people recovered so far is 35,476, and the number of people currently being treated is 5,756a drop by 8 in one day.

A total of 1,993 COVID-19 tests were conducted in Armenia in one day, and 190,560 tests have been performed to date.

Citizens of Jermuk and residents of the nearby villages arrived in Yerevan Thursday to protest against the Amulsar gold mine project.

At the same time, a group of environmentalists from Yerevan have gathered at Liberty Square and will soon join the citizens of Jermuk.

The environmentalists have drums and are holding posters calling on the Armenian government to repeal the Environmental Impact Assessment of the Amulsar gold mine and stating that they are the protectors of Armenians mountains and stones.

The protesters against the Amulsar gold mine project declared that they are laying the foundation for a long chain of peaceful disturbances.

The Armenian Environmental Front has declared that it will also join the protest in Yerevan.

By the decision of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Rafayel Avetisyan has been relieved of the post of Deputy Chairman of the Urban Development Committee of Armenia.

There are new developments in the case of a young woman who was found strangled at the gorge near the TV tower in Yerevan on Monday.

Her identity has been determined, she is a resident of Yerevan, and 26 years old, shamshyan.com reported.

According to the preliminary conclusion of the forensic doctor, traces of violence were found on her body.

Iranian citizen Hamidreza Sadefarad, 32, is sought on suspicion of committing this murder.

He temporarily lived in Yerevan, but now has crossed the Armenian-Iranian border.

The Corruption Prevention Commission of Armenia has not yet completed its study into the incident related to Hayk Sargsyan, a member of the majority My Step faction of the National Assembly. The chairperson of the commission, Haykuhi Harutyunyan, told Armenian News-NEWS.am, adding that there was respective information to be obtained, and that is why Sargsyan was called to the commission Wednesday to present clarifications.

We tried to get a comment from the MP, too, but we could not get in touch with him.

According to the information and video posted on Hraparak website on July 26, Hayk Sargsyan had organized a party at White Shorzha Beach on the shoes of Lake Sevanand despite the coronavirus-related restrictions in Armenia. According to the website, this beach is either linked to Sargsyan or belongs to him.
Announcement of Periodic Review: Moody's announces completion of a periodic review of ratings of General Electric Company

Global Credit Research - 20 Aug 2020

New York, August 20, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has completed a periodic review of the ratings of General Electric Company and other ratings that are associated with the same analytical unit. The review was conducted through a portfolio review in which Moody's reassessed the appropriateness of the ratings in the context of the relevant principal methodology(ies), recent developments, and a comparison of the financial and operating profile to similarly rated peers. The review did not involve a rating committee. Since 1 January 2019, Moody's practice has been to issue a press release following each periodic review to announce its completion.

This publication does not announce a credit rating action and is not an indication of whether or not a credit rating action is likely in the near future. Credit ratings and outlook/review status cannot be changed in a portfolio review and hence are not impacted by this announcement. For any credit ratings referenced in this publication, please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for the most updated credit rating action information and rating history.

Key rating considerations are summarized below.

The ratings of General Electric Company (GE), including the Baa1 senior unsecured rating and the P-2 short term rating, balance the continuing challenges posed by GE's Power, Renewable Energy and Aviation businesses, and the prospects for improved earnings and cash flows over time as the company realizes the benefits from its vast installed base and order backlogs. GE maintains a competitive presence in critical industries that it derived from technological leadership. The ratings also consider the progress that GE has made to date in managing its operations, improving liquidity, repaying its debt balance and addressing contingent liabilities.

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This document summarizes Moody's view as of the publication date and will not be updated until the next periodic review announcement, which will incorporate material changes in credit circumstances (if any) during the intervening period.

The principal methodologies used for this review were Manufacturing Methodology published in March 2020 and Captive Finance Subsidiaries of Nonfinancial Corporations published in August 2019. Please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of these methodologies.

This announcement applies only to EU rated and EU endorsed ratings. Non EU rated and non EU endorsed ratings may be referenced above to the extent necessary, if they are part of the same analytical unit.

This publication does not announce a credit rating action. For any credit ratings referenced in this publication, please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for the most updated credit rating action information and rating history.

Rene Lipsch 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 Robert Jankowitz 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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LONDON, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- LumiraDx, the next-generation point of care diagnostic company, announced today that it has received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the LumiraDx SARS-CoV-2 antigen test, which will help meet the global challenge of delivering fast and cost-efficient COVID-19 tests in community care settings. The test detects antigen nucleocapsid protein from a nasal swab with results in under 12 minutes from sample application in symptomatic patients. In clinical studies, the LumiraDx SARS-CoV-2 antigen test demonstrated 97.6% positive agreement versus PCR in patients tested within 12 days of the onset of symptoms, making it the fastest, most sensitive antigen point of care test currently commercially available.

"Actionable diagnostic results at the point of care lead to better health outcomes," said Ron Zwanziger, LumiraDx CEO. "Now that the FDA EUA has been received, we are working with health systems, major retail clinics, and employers to get our Platform to healthcare providers quickly to utilize in their testing programs."

The company plans to begin shipping COVID-19 antigen tests by the end of the month, expects to produce 2 million tests in September, and will ramp to 10 million tests produced in December.

LumiraDx High Sensitivity Point of Care Platform

The LumiraDx Platform simplifies, scales down, and integrates techniques used in laboratory analyzers to provide lab-comparable diagnostic tests on a single point-of-care instrument that can be easily used in community care settings. The platform consists of a small, portable instrument; microfluidic test strip; simple, standardized workflow; and seamless, secure digital connectivity to the cloud and hospital IT systems. It is designed to offer:

Lab comparable performance at point of care in minutes  Each test is developed and validated against its respective lab reference standard, which we believe gives healthcare providers the benefit of both lab comparable performance and real-time results.

 Each test is developed and validated against its respective lab reference standard, which we believe gives healthcare providers the benefit of both lab comparable performance and real-time results. Broad menu of tests on a single instrument  The platform offers an INR (International Normalized Ratio) test for the management of anticoagulation patients in Europe under CE Mark. The company has a pipeline of over 30 assays across cardiovascular, infectious disease, diabetes and coagulation disorders with capability to run immunoassay, chemistry, molecular and other technologies, as well as multiple sample types using a single platform and workflow.

 The platform offers an INR (International Normalized Ratio) test for the management of anticoagulation patients in under CE Mark. The company has a pipeline of over 30 assays across cardiovascular, infectious disease, diabetes and coagulation disorders with capability to run immunoassay, chemistry, molecular and other technologies, as well as multiple sample types using a single platform and workflow. Low cost of ownership  The LumiraDx instrument aims to lower the cost per reportable result by offering a variety of low-cost test strips on a single instrument and associated savings including reduced cost of training, maintenance and supplies.

 The LumiraDx instrument aims to lower the cost per reportable result by offering a variety of low-cost test strips on a single instrument and associated savings including reduced cost of training, maintenance and supplies. High quality assurance  The Platform performs more than 30 quality checks during its operation, with performance referenced to standard laboratory methods.

LumiraDx COVID-19 Antigen and Antibody Tests on a Single Platform

In addition to the antigen test, the LumiraDx SARS-CoV-2 antibody test, for use with the LumiraDx Instrument, will shortly be submitted to the FDA for EUA review.

LumiraDx EUA for Fast Lab Solution

LumiraDx recently also received an EUA for its molecular lab reagent kit LumiraDx SARS-CoV-2 RNA STAR, a Fast Lab Solution that utilizes LumiraDx's innovative qSTAR amplification technology in an accessible high-throughput format with open molecular systems to improve efficiency and speed. LumiraDx SARS-CoV-2 RNA STAR reduces the amplification step of the PCR process from approximately one hour down to 12 minutes.

EUA Status of LumiraDx SARS-CoV-2 Ag test and LumiraDx SARS-CoV-2 RNA STAR

The LumiraDx SARS-CoV-2 Ag test and the LumiraDx SARS-CoV-2 RNA STAR have not been cleared or approved by FDA. The LumiraDx SARS-CoV-2 Ag test has been authorized by FDA under an EUA only for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein. LumiraDx SARS-CoV-2 RNA STAR has been authorized by FDA under an EUA only for the detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2. They have not been authorized for use to detect any other viruses or pathogens. The tests are authorized in the United States for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostic tests for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C.  360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner.

About LumiraDx

LumiraDx was founded in 2014 by a group of entrepreneurs: Ron Zwanziger, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; Dave Scott, Ph.D., our Chief Technology Officer; and Jerry McAleer, Ph.D., our Chief Scientist, who have a successful track record in building and scaling diagnostics businesses over three decades, including at companies such as Medisense, Inc., Inverness Medical Technology Inc. and Alere Inc. The company has raised approximately $600 million through debt and equity from institutional and strategic investors including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Morningside Ventures and U.S. Boston Capital Corporation. Based in the UK, with primary R&D and manufacturing operations in Stirling, Scotland, and supported by its worldwide affiliates to provide access in all major markets, LumiraDx has over 600 employees worldwide.

LumiraDx develops, manufactures and commercializes an innovative point-of-care diagnostic Platform. The LumiraDx Platform is designed to deliver lab comparable diagnostic results at the point of care in minutes. It is designed to be affordable and accessible for healthcare providers globally, and to strengthen community-based healthcare.

Further information on LumiraDx and the LumiraDx Platform is available at lumiradx.com.

SOURCE LumiraDx

Related Links

https://www.lumiradx.com/


Palantir CEO Alex Karp. Photo by Julien Mattia/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Palantir has moved its headquarters away from Silicon Valley, to Denver, Colorado.

The secretive data company, which confidentially filed to go public in July, has been planning the move for at least several months. CEO Alex Karp told Axios in May that the company was "getting close" to deciding where to move its headquarters.

Karp and Palantir cofounder Peter Thiel have long taken issue with the culture in Silicon Valley. Karp has described it as a "monoculture" and Thiel has said the tech world has "an extreme strain of parochialism."

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Secretive data company Palantir has officially moved its headquarters to Denver after its CEO described Silicon Valley as a "monoculture."

The company has made the change official on its website, listing Denver as its headquarters rather than Palo Alto, California, which was previously the hub of its business.

The Denver Business Journal was the first to report the relocation. A spokesperson for Palantir did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Palantir's move out of Silicon Valley has been in the works for a while. In an interview with Axios in May, Karp said that the company was "getting close" to deciding where to move Palantir's headquarters.

"We haven't picked a place yet, but it's going to be closer to the East Coast than the West Coast," Karp said. "If I had to guess, I would guess something like Colorado."

Karp, who has been living in New Hampshire during the coronavirus outbreak, told Axios he liked "living free" there and described what he sees as an "increasing intolerance and monoculture" in the tech industry.

Palantir was founded in 2003 in Silicon Valley, but CEO Alex Karp and the company's cofounder and chairman, investor Peter Thiel, have long criticized Silicon Valley.

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"The Silicon Valley attitude sometimes called 'cosmopolitanism' is probably better understood as an extreme strain of parochialism, that of fortunate enclaves isolated from the problems of other places  and incurious about them," Thiel wrote in a New York Times op-ed last year.

Palantir's decision to center its business outside the Bay Area comes as the company is also on track to go public in September. Rumors about a Palantir IPO have swirled since 2019, but on July 6, Palantir announced it had filed a draft of its IPO paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company's IPO could be one of the biggest of the year.

Read the original article on Business Insider
By Shanima A and Zandi Shabalala

(Reuters) - Chile's Antofagasta <ANTO.L> maintained its dividend and restarted growth projects, even after lower copper prices drove down its first-half earnings by 22%, it said on Thursday, pushing its shares lower.

Its London-listed shares fell 5.4% by 1257 GMT, making it the worst performer in an index of its peers. <.FTNMX1770> Shares touched their highest since June 2018 in the previous session.

Antofagasta's mines have operated with about two-thirds of the usual workforce on site because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Disruptions to mining operations in Chile, the world's largest producer of mined copper, have been minimal, but helped to delay mining projects.

Antofagasta said a six-month delay to its flagship Los Pelambres mine had cost it $50 million (38 million pounds). It said work on all projects had resumed in stages.

The redesigning of a desalination plant at Los Pelambres would cost an additional $150 million.

Other costs are lower, however, due to cheaper fuel and a weaker local currency, and Antofagasta reiterated its full-year targets for production, costs and spending.

Realised copper prices were 12.5% lower in the first half compared to a year ago, while sales were down 2.2%, Antofagasta said.

This pressured the miner's earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA), down 22% to $1.01 billion for the six months ended June 30.

Prices of copper <CMCU3>, used in power and construction, have rebounded nearly 50% from lows in March to around $6,600 per tonne, lifted by supply concerns and higher demand from top consumer China. [MET/L]

Antofagasta, which cut its 2019 final dividend by $70 million in May, declared an interim payout that was 42% lower at 6.2 cents per share compared to the same period last year.

This was still in line with its policy of paying a minimum of 35% of underlying net earnings and was slightly ahead of consensus.

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"It (the interim dividend) does indicate that the Antofagasta team feels it and its operations have adjusted to the present situation and operations are running well," Peter Mallin-Jones, an analyst at Peel Hunt, said.

Antofagasta's bigger London-listed rivals BHP <BHPB.L> <BHP.AX>, Anglo American <AAL.L> and Rio Tinto <RIO.L> <RIO.AX> have also kept dividends, although Glencore <GLEN.L> has not.

Looking to the longer term, a final investment decision will be made in early 2022 on a second concentrator at the Centinela mine, whose cost is expected to be around $2 billion, versus the $2.7 billion previously estimated, CEO Ivan Arriagada told Reuters.

(Reporting by Shanima A in Bengaluru and Zandi Shabalala in London; editing by Uttaresh.V, Aditya Soni and Barbara Lewis)
Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi delivers a speech at the opening of the fourth session of the 21st-Century Panglong Conference in Naypyidaw, Aug. 19, 2020.

Myanmars leader Aung San Suu Kyi and its powerful military chief traded blame Wednesday for four years of fruitless efforts to end the countrys long-running civil wars, airing contrasting views within the government as it opened peace talks with 10 ethnic armies in the capital in Naypyidaw.

The fourth round of Union Peace Conference peace talks since Aung San Suu Kyi took power in 2016 pledging to end conflicts with dozens of ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) that began right after the then Burmas independence from Britain in 1948, comes 11 weeks before general elections in November.

Hopes dimmed last week when an alliance of the largest and most powerful ethnic armies, several of which are involved in active conflicts, announced it would skip the Aug. 19-21 talks, staying outside the peace process as they have since rejecting the previous governments nationwide cease-fire accord (NCA).

Aung San Suu Kyi opened the session Wednesday calling for an end to pursuing the political goal of peace solely through the use of armed force.

We aim to end the concept and the root causes of it, in which only the ones with military might, armed forces, or armed power will succeed, gain respect, and be given a role or taken seriously by others, she told a gathering of 230 government officials, lawmakers, government and ethnic army soldiers, and NGO activists.

We can say we fulfilled the duties for peace only if we achieve this goal. Enduring peace can be achieved only by eliminating the roots and motivators that have led to this corrupt political custom, said Aung San Suu Kyi, who serves as chairwoman of the governments National Reconciliation and Peace Center, as well as state counselor and foreign minister.

In his opening remarks, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the commander-in-chief of the defense forces, rejected the notion that the military  which ruled the country from 1962 to 2015 and controls the ministries of defense, border affairs, and home affairs  was solely responsible for armed conflict.

He did not directly address Aung San Suu Kyis oblique remarks, directing his criticism at the ethnic armies.

EAOs are opposing the Union and successive governments, he said. If one studies the history objectively, it can be seen that the Tatmadaw [Myanmar military] is protecting the Union and successive governments.

I would like to say that it is dishonest to drive the current peace process based on ideologies and concepts of the 1950s, he added in a reference to conflicts that erupted in first decade after independence, some of which involved communist-led insurgencies.

Min Aung Hlaing is the most senior Myanmar general facing possible referral to the International Criminal Court for prosecution on genocide-related charges over a scorched-earth military campaign in 2017 that forced more than 740,000 ethnic Rohingya Muslims to flee into Bangladesh. He is also under U.S. and British sanctions.

Myanmar's military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing (2nd from R) arrives for the fourth session of the 21st-Century Panglong Conference, Aug. 19, 2020. Credit: AFP A last resort

Nai Han Thar, vice chairman of the New Mon State Party from southeastern Myanmar, rejected Min Aung Hlaings characterization of the ethnic armed groups as Cold War relics.

He was asserting that the civil war and ongoing armed conflicts are caused by us, the ethnic groups, he told RFAs Myanmar Service. The truth is we have been demanding our rights through democratic means, but they didnt resolve the problems and tried to persecute us by force.

Ethnic armies turned to insurgencies as a last resort in their demands for ethnic minority equality, Nai Han Thar added.

Sai Nyunt Lwin, vice chairman of Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) and leader of the United Nationalities Alliance, also said that the lack of equality and rights for ethnic minorities are what has kept the wars going in northern Shan state and other conflict zones in the multiethnic nation of 54 million people.

Had we had these rights, the conflicts would not have been prolonged for the past 70 years, he said.

Those who started the armed revolution in their 20s are still fighting for the cause in their 90s, he said. The new recruits are taking over and continuing these fights only because equal rights have not been achieved.

Aung San Suu Kyi acknowledged that a lack of trust among the parties meant that they could not agree the very basic terms such as state-level constitutions to be included in a treaty to be signed during the summit.

But she urged all stakeholders at the meeting, also known as the 21st-Century Panglong Conference, to work towards creating a democratic federal union.

The first Panglong talks were convened in 1947 by her father, independence leader Aung San, but the deal on a union struck with major ethnic groups, who were part of the British colony but wary of joining Burma, unraveled within a year, spawning wars over autonomy, territory, and resources that rage on today.

Earlier this month, the Myanmar government excluded the Arakan Army (AA) from the peace conference, because the rebel force has been at war in Rakhine state since December 2018.

In March, the government declared the AA an illegal association and terrorist group.

In response to the AAs exclusion, the seven members of the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee, led by the United Wa State Army (UWSA), said they would skip the summit.

Three previous rounds of the Union Peace Conference were held in August 2016, May 2017, and July 2018.

Reported by Thiha Tun and Thet Su Aung for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
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JOLIET, IL  This summer marks the 40th anniversary since one of America's all-time favorite comedy musicals was filmed in Joliet. For the first time ever, people can watch the iconic movie starring Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi  Elwood Blues and Joliet Jake from inside the Old Joliet Prison. The Blues Brothers movie will be shown on a 45-foot-tall projection screen Friday night and again Saturday night.

"It's massive," remarked Greg Peerbolte, executive director of the Joliet Area Historical Museum. "It's a pretty magical feeling. It's watching the movie where it was originally filmed."

The 1980 movie begins and ends in Joliet, at the Old Joliet Prison, a giant limestone fortress along Collins Street.



This weekend's outdoor movie event will include a virtual appearance from Aykroyd himself, from his farm in Canada where he has been staying during the new coronavirus outbreak, Peerbolte told Joliet Patch's editor.

This month marks the Joliet's museum third annual fund-raiser to generate money for ongoing restoration efforts at the massive Old Joliet Prison property that dates back to 1858. With help from the city of Joliet, the museum opened the prison for seasonal tours in the fall of 2018.

Museum staff has been running daily self-guided walking tours at the prison since June 1.

Peerbolte told Joliet Patch that the gates will open at 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The Blues Brothers showing will begin around 8 p.m.

Tickets are $35 for adults and $20 for children 13 and younger.

The museum has gone to enormous lengths, Peerbolte emphasized, to ensure this weekend's events include proper social distancing. Guests must wear their face masks when they leave their assigned seating areas to use the bathroom or to purchase food or drinks, he said.

People will be allowed to bring their own bag chairs and blankets to watch the movie.

The food vendors for the big-screen showing of Blues Brothers will include Joliet's Jody's Hot Dogs, Auntie Anne's Pretzels, Popus Gourmet Popcorn and Life's A Slice pizza. Alcoholic drinks will also be available for purchase including Crystal Head vodka products, the beverage company Aykroyd launched.

Story continues

As of Wednesday evening, the Joliet museum had already sold 245 tickets to Friday night's movie and 300 tickets for Saturday night.

The museum is only selling the Blues Brothers movie tickets online.

"We're erring on the side of caution," Peerbolte said. "Obviously, we're very serious about the social distancing, and the staff has really been creative with social distancing guidelines and making sure they are enforced and adhered to. We're really encouraging people to get a ticket ahead of time because I cannot guarantee the ability to do walk ups."



The Joliet museum's website to order tickets online is here.

Image via Joliet Area Historical Museum collection provided by Ed Rachel





This article originally appeared on the Joliet Patch
This year hasnt exactly gone as planned for many of us, so the fact that theres going to be a New Year should be cause for celebration, Metro writes in the article When is Islamic New Year, what is it called and what year is it in Islam? Thats right, Islamic New Year is nearly upon us, which is great news for observers of the Islamic faith, more of the same for everyone else.

What is The First of Muharram?

The First of Muharram, also known as the Islamic New Year, marks the beginning of the Islamic lunar calendar year. The Islamic New Year has been observed since 622 AD when the prophet Mohammed fled from Mecca to Yathrib (now called Medina) to escape religious persecution. The legend of Mohammeds migration from Mecca is known as Hijra in Arabic, which can sometimes be spelled Hegira.

When is Islamic New Year, or The First of Muharram?

For observers of the Islamic faith in UK and across the Western Hemisphere, the First of Muharram will be Thursday 20 August. The date is chosen to coincide with the expected first sighting of the lunar crescent after the new Moon in the month of Muharram. Astronomical calculations will be used to predict when this sighting will occur, and for this reason, there are sometimes differences of up to two days as to precisely when the date falls depending on where you are. The crescent Moon may be visible a day or so after the new Moon, but weather and other factors may delay the sighting.

What year is it in the Islamic calendar?

It is currently 1441 AH in the Islamic calendar, so it will turn 1442 at the strike of midnight on Wednesday 19/Thursday 20 August. The Islamic Calendar started count of the years from the year 622. The Hijri year is how its often discussed among Muslims, and the year is often denoted with an AH, which stands for in the year of the Hijra. This is similar to how Christians will refer to a year as AD, which stands for anno Domini  or in the year of the Lord.

How is the Islamic New Year celebrated?

No hootenanny or auld lang syne here. The Islamic New Year is more a quiet time to reflect. For many Muslims, they will pray with friends and family, as well as fasting until the tenth day of Muharram. This day is known as Ashura, when the massacre at Karbala is remembered. The Battle of Karbala was fought on 10 October 680 (or year 61 AH of the Islamic calendar) between the army of the second Umayyad caliph Yazid I  a caliph is a leader of an Islamic state, or caliphate  and a small army led by Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic prophet Mohammed, at Karbala, Iraq. Mohammeds grandson was slain at the battle, and on Ashura, Sunni Muslims will give praise to the prophet in honour, whereas Shia Muslims are known to partake in more visceral ceremonies, including self-flagellation.

How to wish someone a Happy New Year on Muharram 2020

Kul aam wa anatom bekhayr is a typical greeting to wish someone a happy new year. It translates to mean I wish you well on this occasion every year
Burial Site Found on a Property Tied to Obama, Causing Tension With Native Hawaiians

After Native Hawaiian remains were found on the multimillion-dollar oceanfront lot being developed by the chair of the Obama Foundation, a state official decided to relocate the remains. Kamuela Kalai is speaking up for her ancestors.

ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.

On a Wednesday morning in early July, the Oahu Island Burial Council logged on to Zoom for its monthly meeting. Members, who are appointed by the governor to oversee and consult on the treatment of Native Hawaiian remains, faced a long agenda. Bones had been found at a variety of construction sites. Some were discovered under a sidewalk, others near a waterline replacement project.

Kamuela Kalai was there to speak up for ancestors in Waimanalo, a Native Hawaiian community in eastern Oahu. In January, workers had found human remains, or iwi kupuna, as they reshaped a multimillion-dollar oceanfront lot into a luxury compound being developed by Marty Nesbitt , the chair of the Obama Foundation and head of a Chicago-based private-equity firm. The bones were unearthed in an area where the owners were planning a swimming pool and septic system, and they were reburied months later on another part of the property. A state official made the decision to relocate the remains.

Kalai was furious with the developers.

All over the place, our kupuna, somehow it is OK to sacrifice them for the sake of buildings and cesspools and swimming pools, Kalai said, her voice trembling. Its not OK. Its not OK. I will say that until the last breath in my body can say it.

Waimanalo Beach in Hawaii. Photo: Beth

Its not uncommon for developers in Hawaii to encounter buried remains. For more than 2,000 years, Native Hawaiians buried their loved ones throughout the terrain, particularly in sand dunes, which are now prime real estate. But the discovery in Waimanalo has added to the complexity of a redevelopment project with ties to Barack Obama. State officials and community members say the former president, who grew up in Hawaii, will be among the propertys future occupants

Obamas personal office declined comment on the Waimanalo property, referring inquiries to Nesbitt. A close friend of the former president, Nesbitt declined to be interviewed. In written responses, he would not directly answer questions about ownership, only saying that he and his wife bought the property and were the developers of the estate. He said members of the Waimanalo community versed in cultural practices had respectfully reburied the remains.

It is our goal to honor Hawaiian culture in every way possible and to become good and respectful neighbors, he wrote. We look forward to developing a strong relationship with the community of Waimanalo.

Tensions are already high. The state previously approved an easement for a century-old seawall on the property, allowing owners to keep the structure in place. Now, Nesbitt is seeking a separate environmental exemption from the local government so his team can restore and expand the seawall. A Native Hawaiian community group is opposing the $3.2 million seawall overhaul, arguing that the construction will harm their local cultural restoration project. For the past two years, they have been rebuilding the walls of a historic turtle pond fronting the property and cultivating seaweed.

But for Kalai, the issue is a more personal one.

Among Native Hawaiians, human remains are believed to retain the mana, or essence, of the deceased. That mana connects the dead with those still living and becomes part of the land, physically and spiritually. But for decades, those remains were removed and relocated as real estate interests carved homes and hotels into the coastline.

The issue came to a head in the late 1980s, when developers on Maui began excavating sand dunes at Honokahua Bay to build a Ritz-Carlton resort. More than 1,100 Native Hawaiian burials, believed to date back to the year 850, were unearthed. Native Hawaiians protested, leading to current day laws and policies governing the treatment of iwi kupuna.

In recent years, the discovery of ancient burials has snarled construction of several developments, with some sidelined for years as parties battle over what should happen to the disturbed human remains.

Concerns about iwi kupuna contributed to Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwells decision this year to scrap a $1.4 million park project just a few miles down the coast from the Nesbitt property at Waimanalo Bay Beach Park.

Then-President Barack Obama, left, is seen with Marty Nesbitt, founding board member of The Barack Obama Foundation, and Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library in Austin, Texas, in April 2014. Photo by Pete Souza / Obama White House

Before Nesbitt broke ground on the Waimanalo estate, developers conducted surveys required by state law to check for Hawaiian burials. In 2018, they found the remains of a young boy.

Nesbitts consultants presented their burial plan to the Oahu Island Burial Council, and Kalai asked if she could honor the boy before he was covered back up. At the grave site, she and members of her family offered a pule, or prayer, for their Native Hawaiian ancestor, who long ago had been buried along the coast where local fishing villages once prevailed. After the burial was complete, they placed lei around the grave.

Then, in January, workers found two more sets of human remains as construction began. For months, the bones were stored in what state officials referred to as a temporary curation facility. Kalai, who visited the iwi kupuna on the property in April, said they were being stored in the bottom drawer of a filing cabinet inside a construction trailer. She said the baskets containing the bones were covered with black mildew.

The bones had been placed there while wet, said Trisha Kehaulani Watson, a consultant for the owners. That was not the condition they should have been in, she said. And I think everyone regrets that.

Although Hawaii has laws meant to preserve disappearing shorelines, beachfront property owners have been able to bypass them. Thats what happened at an expansive coastal estate officials say the Obamas will live in. https://t.co/eYGYU0Q4Ja  ProPublica (@propublica) August 18, 2020

Kalai, whose former husband and children trace their ancestry to the area, had been urging Nesbitts consultants to rebury the bones where they had been found. But that would have required relocating a planned swimming pool, or laying the concrete foundation over the iwi kupuna.

As discussions drew on, Kalai said, she was poised to perform another prayer ceremony on the property in May. But just days before, Kalai said she found out the bones had been reburied elsewhere on the property.

You dont just dig them out of the ground and put them in the bottom of a filing cabinet and forget about them, she told the Oahu Island Burial Council last month. And then you dont come to me and ask me to help you figure out the solution and then cut me off and go and pour the fricking concrete in the swimming pool so we cannot put the kupuna back now.

Watson, Nesbitts consultant, said weeks of discussions with Kalai to find an agreed upon solution were unsuccessful.

Nesbitt did not address Kalais claims directly or respond to a question about whether he considered redesigning the pool so that the iwi kupuna could be put back. But he said his team listened to community feedback.

Certain individuals have lobbied to insert themselves into the process and advocate for their preferences in the treatment of the remains, he wrote. This input was appreciated and incorporated as appropriate, and the project proceeded in strict compliance with the law and in cooperation with area practitioners.

Kukana Kama-Toth, vice chair of the Waimanalo Neighborhood Board, who helped reinter the remains, said they were treated with respect and protocols were followed.

The decision to sign off on the removal of the iwi kupuna from the ground was not an easy one, said Regina Hilo, a burial specialist for the state. While she typically advocates for preserving iwi kupuna in place, in this case, she said the owners were not only planning a pool in the area, but a septic tank for the treatment of the propertys wastewater. That waste then flows out into an underground leach field where it is absorbed into the ground.

I dont think keeping kupuna in a situation where they are adjacent to a leach field or a septic system is ever acceptable, she told the council.

Kalai now worries more Native Hawaiian burials will be unearthed, particularly if the owners get permission to break ground on the seawall renovation. In June, the burial council officially recognized her as a cultural descendent of the area, and consultants say she will be notified if any more remains are found.

The chair indicated the iwi kupuna at the Waimanalo estate would be on the agenda again for this months meeting on August 26.
TDT | Manama

Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani met with International Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Federation founding committee chairman Abdul Nabi Al Shola, along with Bahrain Small and Medium Enterprises Society board of directors chairman Dr Abdulhasan Al Dairi.

They discussed the latest developments in the federations choosing of the Kingdom as its permanent headquarters. Also present at the meeting were the ministrys Industry Affairs undersecretary Osama Mohammed Alarrayedh, Industry Development assistant undersecretary Abdulkareem Ahmed Al Rashed, and SME Development director Shaikha Abdulla Al Fadil.

The officials spoke about the economic achievements of the Kingdom in the entrepreneurship sector and support for SMEs, which it seeks, through its vision, to achieve a global position in this vital sector, as it harnesses Bahraini businesses and it makes the most of the Kingdoms geographical location and economic policies.

The federations founding committee includes more than 20 specialists from 11 countries in the fields of entrepreneurship and SME development. It will work for cooperation and coordination with authorities in all nations across the globe, such as with ministries of labour, commerce and industry; chambers of commerce; and with regional and international bodies and organisations specialised in SMEs.
Students at a major university in the US have been thrown off campus for holding crowded parties in their dormitory rooms in breach of coronavirus restrictions.

Just days after students returned to campus at the University of Connecticut, footage of what has been dubbed by US media as pandemic parties surfaced on social media.

Students began returning to campus last Friday (local time) and had to take a mandatory coronavirus test before they were permitted back into the classroom.

All were supposed to limit their contact with others during their first 14 days back at school.

A Snapchat video of a dorm room party was posted on social media site Reddit in a dedicated university forum under the caption, UConn, lets be better than that.

Imagine being stupid enough to post incriminating evidence AND have your name attached to it, one Reddit user wrote.

This is beyond parody at this point. Not only do they disregard the bare minimum of safety, but they post it with faces online. It's a big f*** you because they don't think the administration will do anything. UConn needs to make an example out of these people, otherwise, we're heading back [home] before September ends, another student said.

A video of the dorm party was caught on Snapchat before being posted online. Source: Reddit

School officials notified the campus community of the disciplinary actions and investigations in a letter on Tuesday night (local time).

Students were not wearing masks, closely assembled, and endangering not only their own health and wellbeing, but that of others at a time when UConn is working to protect our community and resume classes in the context of a deadly global pandemic, the letter sent by Eleanor Daugherty, associate vice president and dean of students, and Pamela Schipani, executive director of residential life, said.

Temporary disciplinary action was taken against an undisclosed number of students and they were removed from student housing pending a school investigation, they said.

Speaking to local news station WFSB, a number of students said they had heard about dorm parties being organised or seen them being promoted by students online.

Story continues

I have heard of them, I feel if people were to get together maybe [it should be] later on when we know whos negative and who is positive, one student said.

There [were] posts floating around on social media saying: Stay safe - your party isnt worth another death, another said.

Some students said partygoers were being shamed online for their antics. Source: WFSB

As of Wednesday (local time), UConn had received more than 5,000 coronavirus test results for on-campus students. Eight tested positive and are being isolated.

Three off-campus students also tested positive, along with two faculty and staff.

There will undoubtedly be more positive cases as more test results are returning in the coming days, and we will address each the same way as we work to protect the health of individual students and our community, Ms Daugherty said in a statement.

The university said there was no indication of a major outbreak in the dorms and said the students actions were not representative of the entire student body, most of which had been following the coronavirus protocols.

In the state of Connecticut, with a population of 3.5 million, there has been more than 51,310 recorded coronavirus cases and 4,457 deaths associated with COVID-19 during the pandemic so far.

Many US universities have changed course and moved all undergraduate classes online as schools struggle to contain outbreaks and students continue to gather in large groups without masks or social distancing.

The University of North Carolina ended in-person teaching for undergraduates this week just days after reopening, following the positive test results of dozens of students living in dorms and a fraternity house.

college sounds awesome right now pic.twitter.com/ygzup44h4N  Sam Ro  (@SamRo) August 20, 2020

On Wednesday (local time), the University of Notre Dame in the state of Indiana canceled all in-person classes and moved all instruction online for at least two weeks as it reevaluates its safety protocols.

The school has recorded more then 220 known cases, which university officials have pinned the surge in infections to off-campus parties.

The coronavirus death toll in the US has surpassed 170,000.

with AP

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Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris addresses the convention. (Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press)

Its OK that there wasnt a roaring crowd in a packed auditorium to watch Sen. Kamala Harris become the first Black woman to accept a major partys nomination for vice president of the United States. Its OK that there was just a podium and unnerving silence when she uttered the first words of the most important speech of her life. And it was even OK for those of us watching to stop weeping that her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, wasnt alive to see this.

It was OK because Harris wasn't crying when she talked about the most important woman in her life, her mother, who came from India as a 19-year-old to study at UC Berkeley, hoping to cure cancer but dying of it in 2009. She was the woman who taught her daughters that service to others gives purpose to life.

"Ohh, how I wish she were here tonight," Harris said, smiling triumphantly. "But I know shes looking down on me from above. I keep thinking about that 25-year-old Indian woman, all of 5 feet tall, who gave birth to me at Kaiser Hospital in Oakland, Calif. On that day she probably could have never imagined that I would be standing here before you now and speaking these words: I accept your nomination for vice president of the United States of America.

And that was kind of the night it was. It was a quiet convention night, but it would be hard to imagine a more powerful one. Instead of speechifying, Harris  and President Obama before her and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton before him on Wednesday night  just talked to people. It was casual, it was intimate, and it was searing.

And never far from any speakers agenda Wednesday night was the need for people to go vote. By mail, in person, whatever. Just figure it out and do it. Harris saluted the recent 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote. Yet so many of the Black women who helped secure that victory were still prohibited from voting long after its ratification," she noted. "But they were undeterred. Without fanfare or recognition, they organized and testified and rallied and marched and fought not just for their vote but for a seat at the table.

Story continues

The notion that people would not vote this year is alarming. Ive never understood how anyone today  certainly any person of color  would sit out any election when people in this country put their lives in danger to guarantee us all the right to mail in a ballot or walk to a polling place and be allowed to vote.

And thats part of what Obama spoke about as easily and authentically as if he were simply talking to you in your living room over a beer (or a glass of wine).

"Look, I understand why a lot of Americans are down on government," Obama said. "The way the rules have been set up and abused in Congress make it easier for special interests to stop progress than to make progress. Believe me, I know it. I understand why a white factory worker seeing his wages cut or his job shift overseas believes the government no longer looks out for him and why a Black mom may feel like it never looked out for her at all."

He said he understood that an immigrant may look around and wonder whether there was a place for him. He understood that a young person might look around and think this is all a circus. What's the point?

"Well, here is the point," he said. "This president and those in power and those who benefit from keeping things the way they are, they are counting on your cynicism. They know they can't win you over with their polices. So they are hoping to make it as hard as possible for you to vote and convince you that your vote doesnt matter. That is how they win. That is how they get to keep making decision that affect your life."

It was the most compelling argument I've heard to reach Americans so disenchanted that they won't vote at all.

"Do not let them take away your power. Do not let them take away your democracy. Make a plan right now for how you are going to get involved and vote."

I hope those disaffected folks were watching.
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Coronavirus may stick to young people like a tornado with a long tail, the World Health Organisation has warned, amid growing evidence that younger generations are driving spikes in infections across Europe.

Dr Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, told a press briefing he is very concerned that younger age groups are regularly appearing among new cases recorded on the continent.

Young people are at the forefront of the Covid-19 response and they have a very powerful message to convey through their behaviour and their communication, he said.

Low risk does not mean no risk, no one is invincible and if you do not die from Covid it may stick to your body like a tornado with a long tail.

While young people are less likely to die than older people they can still be very seriously affected, this virus affects organs throughout the body.

In England, the most recent data from Public Health England shows that the 15-44 age group currently has the highest rate of infection of any other group  excluding those over 85.

A recent pre-print study from Imperial College London also found that of some 120,000 swabs taken from people in England in May, the highest levels of infection were recorded among those aged 18-24.

Similar developments have been reported in Luxembourg and Croatia, where incidence in young groups is clearly rising. There have also been slight increases in the infection rate among young people in Austria, Denmark, Slovakia, Spain and Estonia.

On the basis of these trends, experts have warned that a second wave could target younger generations.

The first wave of Covid-19 has predominantly affected elderly people, those with underlying health conditions and ethnic minority groups.

But scientists fear young people enjoying their summer will be hit next  as was the case with the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic.

Last month, professor Roger Kirby, president elect of the Royal Society of Medicine, told BBC Radio 4: The winter is coming  to use a quote from Game of Thrones  and almost certainly a second wave of this virus is coming.

Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Show all 12 1 /12 Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Marc Lyons ICU Consultant, East Cheshire NHS Trust PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Emma Kelly Critical Care Nurse, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Laura Arrowsmith COVID-19 Ward Cleaner, Leighton Hospital, Crewe PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Stuart Brookfield Paramedic, South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Claudia Anghel Midwife, University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Sarah Jensen Chief Information Officer, Barts Health NHS Trust PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Anne Roberts District Nurse, Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Ali Abdi Porter, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Jack Hannay Manikum 111 call handler, West Midlands Ambulance Service PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Ade Williams Superintendent Pharmacist, Bedminster Pharmacy in Bristol PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Farzana Hussain GP, Project Surgery, Newham PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Roopak Khara General Adult Psychiatrist, West London NHS Trust PA

What we saw in 1918 was the virus change, you know, the second wave was different from the first wave and it affected a different group of people, predominantly younger people.

Dr Kluge also told BBC Radio 4 last month: We are receiving reports from civil and health authorities of a higher proportion of new infections among young people.

So for me the call is loud enough to rethink how to better involve the young people in response and engage next to them.

They have a responsibility towards themselves, their parents, grandparents and communities and we do know how to adopt good healthy behaviours so lets take advantage of the knowledge.
Description

"A little slice of the English countryside, right here in Oyster Bay: that was the vision and inspiration of W.R and Mai Coe as they created Coe Hall and Planting Fields. Explore all the ways the Coes, and their neighbors, built English country homes using innovative materials and salvaged artifacts to give their spaces an air of old world authenticity. Join Kurt Hirschberg from Jan Hird Pokorny Associates in a discussion about the allure of English country homes across the Gold Coast in the early twentieth century and the restoration of the West Portico, poised to begin in August.



The West Portico of Coe Hall is one of the most striking architectural features at Planting Fields, designed by architects Walker & Gillette and built by Cauldwell Wingate Company of New York between 1918 and 1921. In 2019, the West Portico and the surrounding area was closed to our patrons due to large pieces of limestone breaking away from the building."



Planting Fields Foundation
"Our goal has always been to showcase a premium, American-made product and to achieve that goal over a few months with no vendors, financing, customers, processes, procedures, or systems is a testament to the great team weve built.

From its inception in 2018 until earlier this year, childhood friends and recent college graduates Constantine Zotos and Mitchell Webber had grown their Houston-based, nitrogen-infused cold brew coffee subscription business to a staff of six with over 100 thriving retail and office accounts around Texas. In early March as Covid began collapsing demand for their coffee, the duo brainstormed ideas on next steps. With some quick thinking, they realized they could shift gears to fulfill societys critical need for hand sanitizer. And it was then that Modern Chemical was born.

Using the same tenacity, creativity and charisma they harnessed to build their coffee business, they formed in just one week the new Modern Chemical, and by mid-March, their new company was fulfilling its first major orders with 40 employees. Today, the new company boasts a full-time staff of 60 and services an array of B2B clients ranging from local restaurants to broadline industrial equipment, janitorial and paper service, food service, and pharmaceutical distributors across the nation  all drawn to the companys reliability, rapid lead times, private labeling capability, and the quality of their gel-based, FDA registered product with a 70% USP ethanol base.

According to Zotos, Over the course of two weeks we went from looking at the end of our Nitro Cold Brew business to starting a new company and working overtime with 10 times the staff and fulfilling hand sanitizer orders in every major US region. Our core team didnt leave the office for 3 weeks  we were bottling 24/7 and had to take turns sleeping - at least two of us had to be on the manufacturing floor all night to supervise - and during the day time we still had to work the phones to generate more sales. Our goal has always been to showcase a premium, American-made product and to achieve that goal over a few months with no vendors, financing, customers, processes, procedures, or systems is a testament to the great team weve built.

Modern Chemicals success has changed Zotos and Webbers long-term outlook on this project.

We approached this with the same failure is not an option mantra that weve applied to every challenge that has come our way. We no longer see ourselves as borrowing time in this space, said Webber. We have no idea how long Covid will affect the marketplace, but today we are competitive in this industry and dont intend to change anytime soon.

Modern Chemical operates from a brand new location better suited to its needs, which includes a blender and bottling line installation. It is currently generating 15,000 gallons of hand sanitizer per day in pump top in a variety of sizes (8, 12, 16, 32, 64 oz. and 1 gallon) helping to meet the demand for this potentially life-saving product. While Modern Chemical is doing all it can to meet the needs of its customers, at the same time, Zotos and Webber are positioning Modern Chemical for continued evolution. Modern Chemicals new facility is being hazard rated which stands to open opportunities to bottle a variety of other products.

And Modern Chemicals ability to customize its products to its customers needs is helping to further drive the brand. With Jake McDermott serving as Modern Chemicals new brand manager, client options are expanding well beyond private and custom labeling for the hand sanitizers. In addition to choosing from a wide selection of stock bottles in varying sizes and shapes, Modern Chemicals customers can now design the vessel to their preferences. Also in the works are custom scenting and color dyes, plus specialty dispensing stands.

Although the serial entrepreneurs have been all sanitizer all the time, they havent forgotten what brought them together. While the coffee company continues to supply existing nitrogen-infused cold brew coffee accounts, no new clients are being taken. With the future of traditional office work now in question, the group is taking this time to rebrand from scratch with a variety of different offerings and new look. This new era for the duos premium coffee recipe is slated to launch in Q1 2021.
(CNN)  Russian opposition leader and outspoken Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny is in a coma after falling ill from suspected poisoning, his spokeswoman said Thursday.

Navalny, 44, started feeling unwell while on a return flight to Moscow from the Siberian city of Tomsk, his spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, said on Twitter. The plane later made an urgent landing in Omsk, she added.

Loud groaning can be heard in video footage apparently filmed on the flight taken by Navalny, which was shared on the Baza Telegram channel. More video apparently filmed through the airplane window shows an immobile man being taken by wheeled stretcher to a waiting ambulance.

He only drank black tea in an airport cafe before takeoff, Yarmysh told Russian radio station Echo of Moscow. "We assume that Alexey was poisoned with something mixed into the tea. It was the only thing that he drank in the morning. Doctors say the toxin was absorbed faster through the hot liquid," Yarmysh tweeted.

Later on Thursday, Yarmysh said that Navalny still had not been diagnosed. "We don't know what exactly caused everything that happened," she said, adding that Navalny's family and doctor had decided to move him to another facility, citing concerns for his safety as well as a lack of necessary equipment for testing.

"In Omsk, the hospital where he is right now, simply does not have enough equipment that is required for the necessary tests and procedures," she said.

"On top of that, this should be done as a safety measure," she added.

Moving to an undisclosed location

Navalny was initially admitted to the acute poisoning unit of Omsk emergency hospital No. 1, where hospital head physician Alexander Murakhovsky said he was in "serious condition," according to Russian state news agency TASS.

Asked by a reporter whether Navalny had been poisoned, the hospital's deputy head physician, Anatoly Kalinichenko said: "Naturally, poisoning is considered as one of the possible reasons for the deterioration of his state. But apart from this, this could be a number of conditions that started acutely and led to the same clinical reactions. We are working on all of them: excluding, confirming.

In an earlier tweet, Yarmysh said the intensive care unit was full of police officers. "They try to get an explanation from the doctor. The doctor saw me in the distance in the corridor, said that 'some things are confidential' and took the police to another room," she said.

"The evasive reaction of doctors only confirms that this is poisoning," Yarmysh added.

Navalny's attending physician, Anastasia Vasilyeva, said she had flown to Omsk after hearing the news of his hospitalization but had not been allowed to see Navalny or been given any information regarding his condition.

"We ask for help from the Ministry of Health and other officials to obtain documents [on Navalny's condition], to determine the treatment and the need to transfer him to Moscow or abroad," she posted on her Twitter account -- a request echoed by Yarmysh's statement, which urged the Omsk hospital "not impede with our obtaining all the documents required for his transportation."

Yarmysh tweeted Thursday that Navalny's wife, Yulia Navalnaya, had prevented Russian authorities from seizing her husband's personal possessions.

"Yulia took Alexey's things with her. She said that she did not allow them to be seized, and that they could only be taken as long as she's arrested and there's a subsequent personal search," Yarmysh said.

Her tweet came shortly after another Navalny ally, Ivan Zhdanov, said investigators were taking Navalny's personal belongings from Yulia, who had been visiting her husband in hospital.

Kremlin: 'We wish him a speedy recovery'

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin was aware of media reports about Navalny's hospitalization.

"We know that he is in a serious condition. Doctors are now doing what is necessary. In Omsk, the best doctors are involved in this case," he said on a regular conference call with journalists.

"They hold consultations with specialists from Moscow. Of course, like for any citizen of our country, we wish him a speedy recovery."

Peskov said the Kremlin would be ready to consider any request for assistance from Navalny's team should they ask about taking him abroad for treatment.

Asked if the Kremlin knows whether Navalny was poisoned with a hallucinogen, Peskov said the results of tests were still awaited.

"So far, as far as we know, there are no analysis results, so [these] are only assumptions about whether it was poisoning or not. This must be confirmed by laboratory tests," Peskov said.

Western leaders responded with concern to reports of the suspected poisoning on Thursday.

French President Emmanuel Macron said his country was ready to offer Navalny "all necessary assistance" including asylum.

"We are obviously ready to provide all the necessary assistance to Alexey Navalny and his family, in terms of health, asylum and protection," Macron said Thursday evening in a joint appearance with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The French leader called for "full clarity" on the circumstances of Navalny's hospitalization.

"We will be extremely vigilant about the follow-up and the investigations that will be carried out. Above all, I hope that he can be saved," Macron added.

German NGO The Cinema for Peace Foundation said it was sending a medical plane to Russia on Thursday night, in an attempt to evacuate the activist. However it is unclear if Russian authorities would allow Navalny to be medically evacuated to Germany.

"This is not political action, but a humanitarian effort," Jaka Bizilj, the NGO's founder said, adding that if the team evacuated Navalny he would be taken to Berlin for treatment at the city's Charite clinic.

The anti-corruption activist's team earlier said that documents allowing them to transport Navalny had yet to be granted to them.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius described the reports of Navalny's suspected poisoning as "very worrying" on Twitter.

"If confirmed, those responsible must face consequences. Closely following the situation, wishing him strength and speedy recovery," he said.

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab tweeted that he was "deeply concerned" by reports that Navalny "has been poisoned on a flight to Moscow and is now in a coma in intensive care."

Health 'sharply deteriorated'

More details are emerging of the events leading up to Navalny's hospitalization.

Yarmysh told Russian media outlet Mediazona that Navalny had shown no signs of illness until after they had taken off from Tomsk.

"He said that he was not feeling well and asked me for a napkin, he had perspiration," Yarmysh told Echo. "He asked me to talk to him because he wanted to concentrate on the sound of the voice. I talked to him, after which a trolley with water came up to us -- I asked if water would help him; he said no. Then he went to the toilet, after which he lost consciousness."

S7 Airlines told TASS that the opposition leader "did not eat or drink anything" during the flight.

"Soon after the takeoff of flight S7 2614 Tomsk-Moscow, the state of health of one of the passengers, Alexey Navalny, sharply deteriorated," the company said.

According to S7, the crew "worked quickly and strictly in accordance with the procedures." The flight attendants immediately reported the incident to the aircraft commander who landed the airliner at the nearest airport.

After refueling, the plane went on to Moscow but two passengers who were flying with Navalny stayed in Omsk, TASS said.

Investigation call

Lawyers representing Navalny's Anti-Corruption Fund (FBK) will submit an application to Russia's Investigation Committee demanding that it open a criminal investigation into his alleged poisoning, FBK lawyer Vyacheslav Gimadi wrote on Twitter.

"There is no doubt that Navalny was poisoned for his political position and activities," Gimadi said.

Navalny previously suggested he might have been poisoned in July last year, while he was being held in police custody and suffered a mysterious allergic reaction. After receiving medical assistance, he was sent back to detention.

Doctors did not find any signs of poisoning after doing analysis on the opposition leader, TASS reported last year.

In an interview with CNN's Matthew Chance in 2018, Navalny said speaking out in Russia entailed a serious risk.

"Anyone who is engaged in opposition activities in Russia can be arrested or killed," he said. "This thought gives me no pleasure or joy, I assure you, but it is a simple choice: you can be silent or you can speak. Taking into account all the risks, I continue my work."

Poisoning claims

Other Kremlin critics or opponents have been involved in apparent poisoning incidents or suffered mysterious deaths.

Prominent investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who was assassinated as she returned to her Moscow home in 2006, claimed in September 2004 that she had been poisoned with tea on a flight to Rostov as she attempted to reach Beslan, North Ossetia, to report on the school hostage crisis there.

Writing in The Guardian, she described how 10 minutes after drinking the tea, "I realise that I have to call the air stewardess as I am rapidly losing consciousness." Politkovskaya says she was taken to a hospital, where she writes that a nurse told her: "My dear, they tried to poison you."

A British inquiry found that two Russian agents poisoned ex-Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko at a London hotel bar in 2006 by spiking his tea with highly radioactive polonium-210. From his deathbed, Litvinenko insisted that Putin and the Kremlin were responsible for what happened. Moscow dismissed the inquiry as politically motivated.

In March 2018, former Russian agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned in the English city of Salisbury in what British authorities assessed to be a nerve agent attack carried out by Russian military intelligence officers. Russia has denied any role in the poisoning.

Vladimir Kara-Murza, a vocal critic of Putin, said he was poisoned in 2015 and again mysteriously fell gravely ill in 2017. The Kremlin denied any involvement in Kara-Murza's illness.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 19:30:43|Editor: huaxia

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Images of U.S. Senator Kamala Harris speaking in a video feed of the 2020 Democratic National Convention are displayed on screens in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, on Aug. 19, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

It was the belief in the nobility of public service her mother instilled in her that led her to choose a political career spent mostly as a prosecutor -- district attorney of San Francisco and attorney general of California -- and then as U.S. senator.



WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Senator from California Kamala Harris, who was chosen by Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden to be his running mate in the 2020 presidential election, delivered a speech Wednesday to formally accept her nomination as the party's candidate for vice president.

Shortly before Harris spoke, her designation as the Democratic Party's choice for running for the country's second highest office was announced by Democratic National Convention (DNC) Chairman Bennie Thompson with the bang of a gavel, making her the first woman of color to be on a major party's presidential ticket.

Born into an immigrant family in Oakland, California, where her father is a Jamaican-American economist and her late mother was an Indian-American biologist specializing in breast cancer, Harris, 55, began her emotional speech by paying tribute to black women coming before her, saying that her presence was "a testament to the dedication of generations before me."

File photo taken on June 27, 2019 shows Senator Kamala Harris of California interviewed after the second night of the first Democratic primary debate in Miami, Florida, the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Naming a long list of female civil rights activists and political leaders, Harris said "they paved the way for the trailblazing leadership of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton," referring to the first African-American president and the first female presidential nominee of a major U.S. political party, respectively.

Harris then delved into the story about her mother, who she said taught her "to put family first" while caring about "a world beyond ourselves." She said it was the belief in the nobility of public service her mother instilled in her that led her to choose a political career spent mostly as a prosecutor -- district attorney of San Francisco and attorney general of California -- and then as U.S. senator.

Harris said U.S. President Donald Trump's "failure of leadership" has resulted in a nation "grieving the loss of life, the loss of jobs, the loss of opportunities, the loss of normalcy" amid the coronavirus pandemic, and that ethnic minorities being disproportionately harmed by the virus was "the effect of structural racism."

A woman at a house in Arlington, Virginia, watches news showing U.S. presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden (R, on the screen) speaking at a campaign event together with Kamala Harris in Wilmington, Delaware, the United States, on Aug. 12, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

In order to make a difference and "achieve the future we collectively want," Harris argued, "we must elect Joe Biden," touting the former vice president's past achievements to make her case that Biden will be a president "who turns our tragedies into political weapons" and who "turns our challenges into purpose."

Harris launched her presidential run in January 2019 but suspended what was initially considered a promising campaign in December, citing a shortage of funds. She seized on Biden's past controversies related to the issue of race in a clash with him during a debate in June 2019, but announced in March 2020 that she endorsed Biden, who eventually secured the nomination and picked her as running mate on Aug. 11.

"BUT DIDN'T SHE CALL HIM A RACIST??? DIDN'T SHE SAY HE WAS INCOMPETENT???" Trump tweeted in all capitalized letters, referring to Harris's history shortly after she wrapped up her speech.

Photo taken on Aug. 17, 2020 shows the control room of the virtual Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the United States. (2020 Democratic National Convention/POOL via Xinhua)

Obama and Clinton delivered remarks moments before Harris gave hers, each offering their blistering critiques of Trump while calling on voters to cast their ballots for Biden and Harris.

When Obama was speaking from Philadelphia about Trump's lack of interest in and unfitness for the presidency, Trump tweeted about his predecessor: "WHY DID HE REFUSE TO ENDORSE SLOW JOE UNTIL IT WAS ALL OVER, AND EVEN THEN WAS VERY LATE? WHY DID HE TRY TO GET HIM NOT TO RUN?"

Trump will be nominated as the Republican presidential candidate when the GOP holds its national convention next week. 
The United States remains committed to holding the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad accountable for its innumerable atrocities against the Syrian people, some of which rise to the level of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Thats why the Departments of State and Treasury released 14 new designations under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act and other authorities on July 29.

The latest tranche of designations was named the Hama and Maarat Al-Numan sanctions in honor of the victims of two of the Assad regimes most notorious atrocities. Nine years ago, Assads troops carried out a brutal siege of the city of Hama, killing scores of peaceful protesters in a shocking sign of what was to come. One year ago, the Assad regime and its allies bombed a busy marketplace in Maarat Al-Numan, killing 42 innocent Syrians during Ramadan right before families sat for Iftar.

The Assad regimes military has killed hundreds of thousands of civilians, detained and tortured peaceful protesters, and destroyed schools, hospitals, and markets without regard for human life.

U.S. authorities designated Zuhair Tawfiq al-Assad and the First Division of the Syrian Arab Army, in addition to Zuhair Tawfiq al-Assads adult son, Karam al-Assad, pursuant to E.O. 13894. The U.S. also designated Bashar al-Assads adult son Hafez al-Assad pursuant to E.O. 13894. The United States will continue to hold Bashar al-Assad and his regime accountable for their atrocities, while keeping the memory of their victims alive.

It is time for Assads needless, brutal war to end. A political solution under UN Security Council Resolution 2254 is the only credible path to peace for the Syrian people. The Caesar Act and other U.S. Syria sanctions authorities are not intended to harm the Syrian people and do not target humanitarian assistance or hinder stabilization activities in northeast Syria.

The United States will continue its humanitarian assistance even in areas under the Assad regimes control. The United States has contributed more than $11.3 billion in humanitarian assistance since the start of the conflict and will continue to do so.

There must be accountability and justice for the victims of Hama, Maarat al-Numan, and of the Assad regimes other war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Assad regime and those who support it have a simple choice: take irreversible steps toward a lasting political solution to end the Syrian conflict in a manner that respects the rights and dignity of the Syrian people or face new crippling sanctions.
It is a milestone that likely would have seemed unimaginable to the engineers that designed the Air Force's Minuteman III missile, but this week marks the 50th year of service for the intercontinental ballistic missile.

Originally envisioned to be operational for 10 years, the missile could remain in service for at least another decade until it is eventually replaced by the next generation of ICBMs.

The 400 Minuteman III's currently in service are the ground-based missile component of the U.S. military's nuclear triad that makes up the United State's nuclear deterrent. The nuclear triad also includes submarine-launched ICBMs and nuclear weapons delivered by long-range strategic bombers.

MORE: History made as first African American general leads one of the military services

When the missiles first went into service on Aug. 19, 1970, they served as a nuclear deterrent to the Soviet Union. In the decades since the end of the Cold War they have continued to play that role while Russia and China have modernized their own ICBM fleets.

PHOTO: An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launches during a developmental test at 12:33 a.m. Pacific Time Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. (U.S. Air Force)

"The missile was really only meant to be in the ground for 10 years, and so here we are at 50," Gen. Tim Ray, the commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, told ABC News.

MORE: Pentagon to conduct first-ever ICBM intercept test

Over the years, multiple maintenance programs have extended the missile's service life far longer than could have been anticipated.

"There's a lot of great engineering that went into the missile, but not an extra 40 years worth," said Ray of a missile whose basic technology was designed in the 1960s.

PHOTO: A maintainer looks over a Minuteman III in a silo about 60 miles from Grand Forks AFB, N.D., in 1989. (U.S. Air Force )

Ray praised the efforts of missile operators, maintainers and engineers who have enabled the life extensions of the last five decades.

But those teams now face new challenges as spare parts needed to maintain the missiles have been harder to find as some of the original manufacturers of the Cold War-era missile have gone out of business.

Story continues

"They've been tremendous 24-7, 365 for 50 years, and they've never faltered," said Ray.

MORE: US launches ICBM from California in overnight test

Reflecting on the success of the maintenance updates, the Air Force occasionally conducts Minuteman test launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California that strike remote targets at U.S. military ranges in the Pacific Ocean.

"This is a great story," said Ray. "But just because it's a great story doesn't mean we have to try to recreate it for another 50 years. It's absolutely time to modernize a system."

PHOTO: On Dec. 14, 1970, the last unarmed Minuteman III (LGM-30G) was test launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida (formerly Cape Kennedy). Future ICBM launches moved to Vandenberg AFB, California, where they continue today (U.S. Air Force)

The Air Force is already planning to replace the Minuteman with the next generation of ICBMs known as the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD), but the first of those missiles are not expected to be operational until the 2030s.

Ray said the new missile will be cheaper to maintain because it will be designed to include modular technology and systems that can be updated over time as needed, instead of having to find specific parts for the Minuteman.

MORE: How many nuclear weapons does the US have?

Ray believes those changes and updated technologies will add up to billions in cost savings in the future.

PHOTO: 1st Lt. Pamela Blanco-Coca, 319th Missile Squadron missile combat crew commander, and her deputy commander, 2nd Lt. John Anderson, simulate key turns of the Minuteman III Weapon System Feb. 9, 2016. (U.S. Air Force)

When those new missiles arrive a decade from now, they will go into the same underground missile silos that have housed Minuteman III's for the last 50 years.

Those silos are spread out over tens of thousands of acres in North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Wyoming.

MORE: US successfully intercepts ICBM in historic test

Junior Air Force officers known as missileers pull continuous shifts at underground "launch control centers" that control the missile operations of multiple silos.

The launch control centers are protected above ground by Air Force security teams that are also on continuous duty.

PHOTO: An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launches during a developmental test at 12:33 a.m. Pacific Time Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. (U.S. Air Force)

But even these Air Force teams have had to a different kind of threat, the coronavirus pandemic. Regular testing has been implemented and schedules have been adjusted to reduce the physical contact for missileers, which Ray said had improved the quality of life for missile teams and their maintainers.

But Ray said the isolated nature of operating the missile fleet has worked to their advantage during the pandemic because "nothing says social distancing like 26,000 acres around you, it is a big, big help."

Minuteman III ICBM marks 50 years of service this week originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross has refused to give his backing to embattled education secretary Gavin Williamson, urging him to reflect on what happened.

His comments came after the cabinet minister declined to say whether he had offered his resignation to Boris Johnson over the decision to abandon the contentious A Level results grading system  48 hours after defending it.

Mr Ross, who was appointed Tory leader in Scotland earlier this month, had called for the Scottish education secretary John Swinney to lose his job after the Scottish government dropped a similar model for determining exam results for A Level students.

I think Gavin Williamson and the government and the Department for Education will be reflecting on why did they not see the problem that the SNP had to deal with as a result of their actions in Scotland, he told BBC Radio Scotland.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 16 January 2022 The moon rises above the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, Hampshire PA UK news in pictures 15 January 2022 Demonstrators outside Downing Street during a Kill The Bill protest against The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill in London. PA UK news in pictures 14 January 2022 Ecologist Emma Smart (left) and retired GP Dr Diana Warner outside HMP Bronzefield, in Surrey, following their release from the prison where Emma undertook a 26-day hunger strike during her incarceration. Ms Smart was sentenced in November, along with other members of Insulate Britain, to serve four months for breaking a High Court injunction by taking part in a blockade at junction 25 of the M25 motorway during the morning rush hour on 8 October last year PA UK news in pictures 13 January 2022 A TV presenter holds a copy of a newspaper outside 10 Downing Streetafter the Prime Minister apologised for attending a gathering of colleagues in the Number Ten garden in May 2020, while the UK was in strict lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic Getty UK news in pictures 12 January 2022 Fitness guru Derrick Evans after receiving an MBE during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 11 January 2022 A couple walk underneath an umbrella during wet weather on Westminster Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 10 January 2022 A jogger passes the Covid Memorial Wall in London AP UK news in pictures 9 January 2021 The sun rises over horses at Seaton Sluice in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 8 January 2022 Riders compete during the Veterans Men's race at the UK Cyclo-Cross National Championships 2022 in Ardingly, south of London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 7 January 2022 A dog looks out of a car window at the wintry conditions in Killeshin, Co. Laois PA UK news in pictures 6 January 2022 People walk through frost and mist alongside a frozen lake during sunrise in Bushy Park, London REUTERS UK news in pictures 5 January 2022 A skier jumps on the slopes at Allenheads in the Pennines to the north of Weardale in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 4 January 2022 Freshly-fallen snow covers houses in Corbridge, near Hexham in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 3 January 2022 Dean Morrison, 13, receives his Covid-19 vaccine from student nurse Anthony McLaughlin during a vaccination clinic at the Glasgow Central Mosque PA UK news in pictures 2 January 2022 Konastantinos Tsimikas of Liverpool with Chelseas Mason Mount during the Premier League match at Stamfrod Bridge Liverpool FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 January 2022 New Years Eve Lasers, drones and fireworks illuminate the sky in front of the Royal Naval College in Greenwich shortly after midnight in London EPA UK news in pictures 31 December 2021 Competitors in fancy dress run across the Pennine tops near Haworth, West Yorkshire, in the annual Auld Lang Syne Fell race which attracts hundreds of runners every year PA UK news in pictures 30 December 2021 Sunrise at Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 29 December 2021 The Very Revd Dr Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, looks at Becket, a six month old red-billed chough as he visits Wildwood Wildlife Park in Kent on the anniversary of the murder of Thomas Becket PA UK news in pictures 28 December 2021 Troops of the Household Cavalry are seen reflected in a puddle during the changing of the Queens Life Guard, on Horse Guards Parade, in central London PA UK news in pictures 27 December 2021 A pedestrian walks past a winter sale sign outside a John Lewis store on Oxford street in London Getty UK news in pictures 26 December 2021 Riders take their bikes through the snow near Castleside, County Durham PA UK news in pictures 25 December 2021 Patrick Corkery wears a santa hat and beard as waves crash over him at Forty Foot near Dublin during a Christmas Day dip PA UK news in pictures 24 December 2021 People stand inside Kings Cross Station on Christmas Eve in London Reuters UK news in pictures 23 December 2021 Christmas shoppers fill the car park at Fosse Shopping Park in Leicester PA UK news in pictures 22 December 2021 The sun rises behind the stones as people gather for the winter solstice at Stonehenge. Getty UK news in pictures 21 December 2021 People take part in a winter solstice swim at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh to mark the solstice and to witness the dawn after the longest night of the year PA UK news in pictures 20 December 2021 An auction employee displays poultry to buyers and sellers attending the Christmas Poultry Sale at York Auction Centre in Murton PA UK news in pictures 19 December 2021 Joao Moutinho of Wolverhampton Wanderers looks on during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at Molineux Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 December 2021 Freight lorries queuing at the port of Dover in Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 December 2021 Newly elected Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan, bursts 'Boris' bubble' held by colleague Tim Farron, as she celebrates following her victory in the North Shropshire by-election PA UK news in pictures 16 December 2021 Brussels sprouts are harvested by workers as they prepare for the busy Christmas period near Boston in Lincolnshire PA UK news in pictures 15 December 2021 Lewis Hamilton is made a Knight Bachelor by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 14 December 2021 The Royal Liver Buildings surrounded by early morning fog in Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 13 December 2021 People queue outside a walk-in Covid-19 vaccination centre at St Thomas's Hospital in Westminster Getty Images UK news in pictures 12 December 2021 People take part in the Big Leeds Santa Dash in Roundhay Park, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 11 December 2021 People arrive at a Covid-19 vaccination centre at Elland Road in Leeds, PA UK news in pictures 10 December 2021 Stella Moris speaks to the media after the US Government won its High Court bid to overturn a judges decision not to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange PA UK news in pictures 9 December 2021 Camels are lead around Salisbury Cathedral during a rehearsal for the Christmas Eve Service PA UK news in pictures 8 December 2021 Margaret Keenan and Nurse May Parsons, a year after Margaret was the first person in the UK to receive the Pfizer vaccine PA UK news in pictures 7 December 2021 Snowfall in Leadhills, South Lanarkshire as Storm Barra hits the UK with disruptive winds, heavy rain and snow PA UK news in pictures 6 December 2021 A person tries to avoid sea spray on New Brighton promenade in Wallasey as the UK readies for the arrival of Storm Barra Getty UK news in pictures 5 December 2021 People release balloons during a tribute to six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes outside Emma Tustin's former address in Solihull, West Midlands, where he was murdered by his stepmother PA UK news in pictures 4 December 2021 People walk through a Christmas market in Trafalgar Square Reuters UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 A pedestrian carries a dog as they dodge shoppers on Oxford Street in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 2 December 2021 Duchess of Cambridge inspects a Faberge egg at the Victoria and Albert Museum Getty UK news in pictures 1 December 2021 Meerkats at London Zoo with an advent calendar PA UK news in pictures 30 November 2021 Workers put the finishing touches to the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree ahead of the lighting ceremony later in the week PA UK news in pictures 29 November 2021 Home Secretary Priti Patel is greeted by a police dog at a special memorial service for Met Police Sergeant Matiu Ratana Getty UK news in pictures 28 November 2021 Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City battles for possession with Aaron Cresswell of West Ham United during a match at the Etihad during snow Manchester City/Getty

Pressed on whether the cabinet minister should quit, he replied: That is a decision for Gavin Williamson. Its a decision for the prime minister, if he continues to have the trust of the prime minister.

Im not here to say in your report that I think Gavin Williamson has done a great job and he should continue. I think he has to reflect on what happened to so many pupils in England, students who were concerned for four days, because we had the exact same up here in Scotland for a week.

Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Williamson apologised to thousands of students across the country who had been downgraded by the algorithm, saying he was incredibly sorry for the fact that this has caused distress.

But he refused to be drawn on conversations with Mr Johnson, including whether he offered to quit as education secretary, and said the governments priority was ensuring the full return of all schools next month  five months on from their closure when Britain went into lockdown.

Boris Johnson with Douglas Ross in the MP's Moray constituency (AFP/Getty)

We are focusing on delivering the grades for those children, making 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, he told the BBC.

Nick Gibbs, the schools minister, however, said on Thursday he had considered resigning over the fiasco when pressed by LBC present Nick Ferrari.

"Of course I thought about these issues over the weekend, he said. But it would have been the wrong thing to do.

"My focus has to be to on making sure we put these issues right, that young people get the grades that are fair and that they can move on to the next stage of their career."
The World Health Organisation today said the Balkans region is a 'hotspot' for coronavirus amid mounting speculation Croatia could be added to the UK's quarantine travel list tomorrow.

The WHO said the Balkans have been a 'concern of ours since early June' because of an increase in case numbers as it urged the region to impose additional measures to 'nip transmission in the bud'.

The comments are likely to fuel fears that ministers will add Croatia to the Government's travel 'red list' before the weekend.

That would mean advising against all but essential travel to the popular tourist destination and forcing returning travellers to self-isolate for 14 days, potentially plunging the holiday plans of thousands of British tourists into chaos.

It came as Germany, France, Italy and Spain all reported their highest number of coronavirus infections in months, raising concerns that a second wave could be hitting the continent.

Germany recorded 1,707 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours, the highest daily toll since April, while authorities in France said 'the transmission of the virus is accentuating'.

Spain has recorded a new single-day record for Covid-19 cases since the country emerged from a three-month lockdown in mid-June.

There is growing speculation Croatia could be added to the UK's quarantine list after a surge in cases. Crowds of people are pictured in Crikvenica on the northern Adriatic coast on August 13

Dr Catherine Smallwood told a WHO press conference this morning: 'The situation in the Balkans has been a concern of ours since early June when we started to see cases increase and it's been very much a sub-regional hotspot over the summer period.'

She added: 'We really need communities to take this on board, take the adequate steps both at a country level, in terms of the basic contact tracing, case identification and isolation and testing the systems that need to be in place.

'And then where there are hotspots and increased transmission, additional, targeted measures need to be brought in place, very quickly, to nip transmission in the bud, stop it from spreading and keep the level of transmission at controllable levels.'

Croatia has seen an upsurge in coronavirus cases over the past week and yesterday the Adriatic nation posted numbers which almost matched its highest point in August.

The numbers are being closely monitored by the Department for Transport and the Foreign Office.

There is widespread speculation in Westminster that the rising case numbers will leave ministers with no choice but to treat Croatia the same as Spain, Portugal and France which have already been hit with travel bans.

Croatia currently has a cumulative rate of 27.4 cases per 100,000 people over the past seven day.

The UK Government has set a threshold for imposing quarantine restrictions at 20 cases per 100,000.

Any move to impose quarantine rules on Croatia is likely to wreak havoc with the travel plans of thousands of Britons.

The World Health Organisation today warned that the Balkans region is a 'hotspot' for coronavirus amid mounting speculation Croatia could be added to the UK's quarantine travel list tomorrow.

The WHO said the Balkans have been a 'concern of ours since early June' because of an increase in case numbers as it urged the region to impose additional measures to 'nip transmission in the bud'.

The comments are likely to fuel fears that ministers will add Croatia to the Government's travel 'red list' before the weekend.

In eastern Europe, Ukraine on Thursday reported a record daily increase in coronavirus infections, exceeding 2,000 new cases for the first timeHealth authorities recorded 2,134 new infections in the past 24 hours, bringing Ukraine's total to 98,537.

The UK Government remains under intense pressure to ease its 14 day quarantine rules.

Airlines and the travel industry believe the restrictions could be slashed by introducing coronavirus testing on arrival at airports.

This would see travellers asked to self-isolate until they get their test results, with a negative test and a follow up a number of days later, allowing them to return to normal life.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said yesterday that ministers are working with Heathrow Airport to find a way for coronavirus testing to reduce the quarantine period.

He told Sky News: 'We're working with Heathrow and with other airports on this project.

'The challenge is because the virus can incubate inside your body without coming forward and without therefore a test being positive even if you've got it.

'The challenge is how to do that testing in a way that we can have confidence enough in to release the quarantine.'

Fears have been raised that Greece could also soon be added to the banned list as its case numbers increase but it is still below the threshold at 14.3 cases per 100,000.

The predicted decision on Croatia came as there were signs of a potential second wave of coronavirus on the continent as Germany, France Italy and Spain all saw their highest number of coronavirus infections in months.

Germany recorded 1,707 new cases of the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, the highest daily toll since April, while authorities in France say 'the transmission of the virus is accentuating'.

Meanwhile Spain has recorded a new single-day record for Covid-19 cases since the country emerged from a three-month lockdown in mid-June.

Germany has fared better than many of its European neighbours in suppressing the virus so far but like elsewhere its number of cases has jumped significantly over the summer holidays.

Much of the rise has been blamed on returning holidaymakers as well as parties and family gatherings.

The latest figures, from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases, bring to 228,621 the number of infections in the country since the start of the pandemic.

Chancellor Angela Merkel warned on Tuesday there could be no further relaxation of coronavirus restrictions

It takes the daily toll back to a level not seen since late April, when the pandemic was considered to be at its peak.

The daily record of new cases in Germany is just over 6,000, registered in early April.

Ten new deaths were reported in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 9,253.

Faced with a surge in cases, Germany earlier this month introduced free, mandatory tests for anyone returning from areas deemed a high risk for COVID-19 infections.

Chancellor Angela Merkel warned on Tuesday there could be no further relaxation of coronavirus restrictions.

President Emmanuel Macron told Paris-Match magazine that 'we can't bring the country to a halt'

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.

Some experts however have said that the jump in the infection toll could be explained by a sharp rise in the number of tests being carried out in the country.

France recorded more than 3,700 new cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours.

Health authorities say that's 1,500 more than the previous day. The number hospitalized and in ICUs was slightly down. But health authorities say 'the transmission of the virus is accentuating' among all age groups, especially young adults.

President Emmanuel Macron told Paris-Match magazine that 'we can't bring the country to a halt.' But he'd consider 'targeted reconfinement if the situation calls for it.'

French officials have confirmed nearly 30,500 deaths from COVID-19, seventh highest in the world.

Meanwhile Italy on Wednesday recorded the sharpest increase in coronavirus cases since late May, the health ministry said, after 642 new coronavirus infections were reported in 24 hours.

The total number of Italian cases recorded since the start of the pandemic is now 255,278, while the death toll stands at 35,412.

Spain's Health Ministry says 3,715 coronavirus infections have been diagnosed in the past 24 hours, a new single-day record since the country emerged from a three-month lockdown in mid-June.

With 136 cases per 100,000 inhabitants for the past two weeks, Spain tops the European chart of the highest cumulative incidence. It's one of the main indicators closely monitored by epidemiologists.

New regulations, including on hours of nightlife and close outdoor smoking, take effect Thursday in the Spanish capital.

The country added 127 deaths to reach nearly 28,800 confirmed victims. However, the number doesn't count those who suffered from the coronavirus but weren't tested.
By Express News Service

VELLORE: In the wake of some BJP leaders mounting an attack on the Tamil Nadu government over the ban on Vinayaka Chaturthi festivities, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami asserted that he will act as per the Madras High Court order on the issue.

Talking to reporters in Vellore on Thursday, he said, "The High Court gave an order yesterday. I can't delve into it now as it is sub-judice. The state government will act as per the court order."

The Chief Minister also noted that the curbs on public celebrations were being enforced as per the pandemic guidelines.

"The Centre has given guidelines on pandemic lockdown including banning public religious events and processions. We are enforcing these guidelines," Palaniswami pointed out.

Earlier, he promised that the state would allocate funds to the tune of Rs 1000 crore for construction of check dams across Palar river, depending upon the requirements, in the combined Vellore district.

Addressing a review meeting in Vellore, he said, "The people in Vellore are demanding construction of check dams across Palar. Project assessment will be done on it. We are ready to allocate Rs.1000 crore depending upon the needs."

The CM also inaugurated the distribution of government welfare assistance to 18,589 beneficiaries to the tune of Rs 169.77 crore in the combined Vellore.

Rs 77.51 crore worth welfare assistance are be given to 5865 beneficiaries in Vellore, Rs 78.39 worth assistance for 7068 beneficiaries in Ranipet and Rs 13.85 crore assistance for 5606 beneficiaries in Tirupattur.

Foundation stone laid for two new projects in Vellore and Ranipet districts

The foundation stone was laid for two three-storey buildings with 804 houses at Karigiri in Katpadi and Bathalapalli in Pernambut of Vellore district at a total cost of Rs 70.70 crore under the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board.

Similarly, the foundation stone was laid for a Panchayat Union Office building in Arakkonam of Ranipet district at a cost of Rs 28.3 crore under the District Rural Development Authority (DRDA).

13 completed projects at a total cost of Rs 55.03 crore inaugurated

Six completed projects in Vellore at a total cost of Rs 40.66 crore, including police quarters and a quarters for prison officials, and two projects in Tirupattur at a total cost of Rs 5.80 crore including a government boys hostel with 50-occupant capacity, and five projects in Ranipet at a total cost of Rs 8.65 crore.

Minister for Commercial Taxes and Registration K.C.Veeramani, Labour Minister Nilofer Kafeel, Rajya Sabha MP Mohammad John, K.V. Kuppam MLA G. Loganathan, Arakkonam MLA S Ravi and three district collectors, A Shanmuga Sundram (Vellore), S Divyadharshini (Ranipet) and M.P. Sivanarul (Tirupattur), were also present.
In this edition of e4m Creative Zone, we speak to Hayden Scott, Group Creative Director, Famous Innovations, on how the industry has been more productive & creative than ever in the last few months

The COVID-19 global lockdown has not just confined us to our homes but thrown at us challenges of various dimensions. From the ad industrys perspective, organising and shooting an advertising campaign in these conditions proved to be the big test. However, despite these challenges our creative leaders have continued to create work that inspires all. As part of our new series  e4m Creative Zone  where we get to know how Creative heads have been surpassing the COVID hurdles.

In todays edition we speak to Hayden Scott, Group Creative Director, Famous Innovations.

As a copywriter and creative director, Scott has worked with diverse brands across categories. Along the way he has managed to reinvent a 90-year old Indian brand (Raymond); rewritten taglines of the world's most beloved brands for the cause of girl child education (Nestle); got dads to demand access to baby changing rooms (Snapdeal); petitioned WhatsApp to create an emoji for nurses (Fortis Healthcare); and recently, even designed a paintbrush for disabled foot artists (DOMS Stationery).

In conversation with exchange4media, Scott speaks of how the ad industry has managed to be more productive and creative than ever in the last few months, the upheaval brought about in creativity and more.

Edited excerpts below:

How have you been grappling with shooting and creativity amidst remote captivity?

Its funny that you say grappling, because thats a term usually associated with mountaineering and wrestling. But thats not too far from the truth. The major challenges are keeping peoples morale high, respecting their limitations (and your own) and staying happy and motivated. The shooting part is difficult, I wont lie. It sucks not being able to actually be on the set to see your idea come to life. But the creativity part is harder. We all miss the human side of the business, jamming over lunch, coffees, brainstorms and banter. This is what makes our industry special. And to take that away is a bit of a gut-punch. That having been said, I believe we have rolled with it and somehow managed to be more productive and creative than ever in the last few months.

Tell us about your campaign for Burger King and Platinum Days created during lockdown and how did it all come together despite the executional limitations?

Well, we did a couple of really fun pieces for Burger King and one for Platinum Days of Love. The Burger King pieces were the Reassuring Whopper where we reunited families and friends separated during the lockdown by sending them free Whoppers. And the other was #BailMeOutBK which rewarded first-time chefs for all their cooking fails by obviously bailing them out with a free whopper. Both of these were conducted entirely over WhatsApp and Zoom. No one left their homes and the actors shot themselves on their phones. Platinum was crazy too because our lead actors were in Colombia (Pablo Escobars hometown!) and Goa! So we shot a film across continents without ever leaving our homes. Unreal!

This situation has led to far more digital adoption and is largely moving from the conventional cracking the TVC to digital. While there are already agencies that specialise in this situation how equipped are creative agencies to take on these things?

Now is the time for ideas. Not just the big idea but many big ideas and many points of engagement. Creative agencies get ideas. And they get the fact that an idea cannot be a couple of random social media posts. So I feel the question is not so much how equipped creative agencies are, its how agile creatives are to create not just one idea, but many ideas in a shorter span of time. And if youre still approaching work from a lets crack TV first lens, you are in the wrong decade and the wrong industry.

The situation has brought in a great deal of upheaval in the way agencies are working now. Where do you see the silver lining or green shoots of opportunity is all this?

Im a student of history. I believe upheaval has always preceded something big or important. The French revolution. The Indian freedom struggle. The Spanish flu. World Wars. The fall of the Roman Empire. I could go on. Change is painful when it happens. But it ALWAYS brings with it something better. I believe with Covid-19 we are on the cusp of a Golden Age in communication. We are going to see leaner agencies, faster response times, more ideas, lower thresholds for wastage, bigger appetites for experimentation. And these are all fabulous things for creativity. Clients are very lucky to have us! ;)

Covid-19 is a humanitarian crisis. Many award shows globally have spoken about not factoring work created for these times. So what would be your take on how to create a conversation on Covid-19 without being exploitative and using it as a mere marketing ploy?

We are going to be living with Covid-19 for a long, long time. It is the zeitgeist of the times we live in. And advertising and marketing is at its heart, about creating stories that mirror where society is. So my question is, how long will award shows ban Covid-19 ideas? We have to normalise it and move forward. It happened, its there, how can my brand say something thats fresh or interesting. Relevance has never been more important. Every monkey who spent the last few years talking about brand purpose is now scared as hell. Because living up to that purpose is hard! But for me, thats where communication in the future will be. Staying true to what your brand brings to the table. And staying true to your companys values. That and that alone will keep your work from appearing exploitative or redundant.

Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)
The 44-year-old foe of Russian president Vladimir Putin felt unwell on a flight back to Moscow from Tomsk, a city in Siberia, Kira Yarmysh said on Twitter.

She said the plane made an emergency landing in Omsk, Siberia, and that Mr Navalny was suffering from toxic poisoning.

He is in a coma in grave condition, she said on Twitter.

She also told the Echo Moskvy radio station that Mr Navalny was sweating and asked her to talk to him so that he could focus on a sound of a voice. He then went to the bathroom and lost consciousness. He has been placed on a ventilator in an intensive care unit.

Ms Yarmysh said the politician must have consumed something from tea he drank earlier in the morning.

Doctors are saying the toxin was absorbed quicker with hot liquid, she tweeted, adding that Mr Navalnys team called police to the hospital.

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Anatoliy Kalinichenko, deputy chief doctor of the Omsk hospital where the politician is being treated, told reporters Mr Navalny is in grave, yet stable condition.

Dr Kalinichenko said doctors are considering several diagnoses, including poisoning, but refused to give details, citing a law preventing doctors from disclosing confidential patient information.

Last year, Mr Navalny was rushed to a hospital from prison where he was serving a sentence following an administrative arrest, with what his team said was suspected poisoning.

Doctors then said he had a severe allergic attack and discharged him back to prison the following day.

Mr Navalnys Foundation for Fighting Corruption had been exposing government officials, including some at the highest level.

Last month, the politician had to close the foundation after a financially devastating lawsuit from Yevgeny Prigozhin, a businessman with ties to the Kremlin.

Last week, Belarus authoritarian president Alexander Lukashenko accused Mr Navalny of organising unprecedented mass protests against his re-election that have rocked Russias ex-Soviet neighbour since August 9.

Like many other opposition politicians in Russia, Mr Navalny has been frequently detained by law enforcement and harassed by pro-Kremlin groups.

In 2017, he was attacked by several men who threw antiseptic in his face, damaging one eye.

The most prominent member of Russias opposition, Mr Navalny campaigned to challenge Mr Putin in the 2018 presidential election, but was barred from running.

He set up a network of campaign offices across Russia and has since been putting forward opposition candidates in regional elections, challenging members of Russias ruling party, United Russia.

In the interview with Echo Moskvy, Ms Yarmysh said she believed the suspected poisoning was connected to this years regional election campaign.

Vyacheslav Gimadi, a lawyer with Mr Navalnys foundation, said the team is requesting Russias Investigative Committee open a criminal probe.

There is no doubt that Navalny was poisoned because of his political stance and activity, the lawyer said in a tweet on Thursday.

Mr Navalny is not the first opposition figure to come down with a mysterious poisoning. In 2018, Pyotr Verzilov, a member of Russias protest group Pussy Riot, ended up in an intensive care unit after a suspected poisoning and had to be flown to Berlin for treatment.

Opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza was taken to hospital twice with poisoning symptoms, in 2015 and 2017. Both said they believed they were poisoned for their political activity.
Selling in banking & financials, select FMCG and IT stocks saw the Nifty snap a three-day winning streak to close 96 points lower at 11,312 on August 20.

Indian shares took cue from the global markets that were spooked by the Federal Reserve's July meeting minutes that cast doubts over the US economic recovery. The minutes were shared on August 19.

After opening sharply lower at 11,317.45, the Nifty hit the days low of 11,289.80 and high of 11,361.45. As the index closed near its opening levels, it formed a Doji pattern on daily charts.

A Doji candle indicates some indecisiveness among the bulls as well as the bears. Bounces were being sold in the absence of follow-up buying interest.

In the coming session, consolidation with negative bias is likely but if the index breaks 20-DEMA, placed at around 11,186, then the correction can be bigger, expert say.

Traders should avoid long positions, Mazhar Mohammad, Chief StrategistTechnical Research & Trading Advisory at Chartviewindia.in said. Intraday traders can consider shorting below 11,290 and look for a target of 11,200 with a stop above intraday high, he said.

The Nifty registered a Doji formation with a gap-down opening, hinting at the failure of recent breakout, Mohammad said. In that scenario, Nifty shall continue to remain sideways with negative bias. However, if the index breaches 20-day EMA, which successfully offered support in recent past, then there may be confirmation of a short-term reversal of trend in the favour of the bears," Mohammad said.

In that scenario, a slightly higher target of 10,882 can be expected, he said.

In between, there seems to be a good amount of support in the 11,250  11,187 zone. Upsides will remain capped at around 11,460. If the index closes above 11,400, then it can be considered as initial sign of strength, Mohammad said.

Reflecting the volatility, India VIX moved up by 3.29 percent to 20.61 levels.

Options data continued to indicate an immediate trading range of 11,100-11,500/11,600 for the coming days.

Maximum Put open interest was seen at 11,000 followed by 10,000 strike, while maximum Call open interest was at 11,500 followed by 12,000 strike. Call writing was seen at 11,300 and 11,400 strike while minor Put writing was seen at 11,000 then 10,800 strike.

The Bank Nifty opened negative at 21,989.90 and it drifted lower to hit the day's low of 21,886.70. However, it remained consolidative and hovered near 22,000 for most part of the session.

The index closed 286.40 points or 1.29 percent down at 21,999.50 and formed a High Wave candle on the daily scale, which indicates indecisiveness as the index got stuck in broader trading range.

"Now it has to continue to hold above 22,000 to witness an upmove towards 22,300 and 22,500 levels while on the downside, immediate support is seen at 21,750 then 21,400 levels," Chandan Taparia, Vice President | Analyst-Derivatives at Motilal Oswal Financial Services said.

Positive setup was seen in Tata Power, Mahanagar Gas, PFC, Indraprastha Gas, Torrent Power, TVS Motor, Voltas, Jindal Steel, Ashok Leyland, Glenmark, Tata Chemicals and JSW Steel. Weak structure was seen in ICICI Prudential, Axis Bank and HDFC, he added.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump said Wednesday he will push the United Nations to reimpose sweeping international sanctions against Iran  setting up a contentious fight with U.S. allies that could leave his administration more isolated than ever.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to New York Thursday to formally trigger the process of trying to restore the sanctions, which were suspended under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

But the fate of the U.S. effort is murky at best. For starters, the Trump administration withdrew the United States from the Iran deal two years ago  a move Trump has repeatedly touted. Other foreign leaders say the Trump administration cannot invoke a provision of an agreement it jettisoned, and they could say the U.S. move is illegitimate.

The Trump administration plans to argue that Iran is no longer compliant with the 2015 agreement, thus allowing the U.S. to invoke a provision in the deal that calls for a "snapback" of international sanctions.

"It's a snapback. Not uncommon," Trump told reporters during a White House briefing on Wednesday.

But Russia and China fiercely oppose reimposing sanctions on Iran, as do other Security Council members, including Britain and France. Those U.S. allies have tried to salvage the Iran nuclear deal, despite the U.S. withdrawal.

After Trump took the U.S. out of the 2015 agreement, Iranian leaders initially said they would keep abiding by its terms, even as Washington slapped crippling sanctions on the country. Last year, as U.S.-Iran tensions spiked, Tehran breached the agreement by enriching uranium at higher levels than the deal allowed.

More: Iran's navy shoots missile at mock-up of US aircraft carrier in the Strait of Hormuz

The Trump administration's latest sanctions push comes a week after the U.S. lost a bid at the U.N. to renew an international arms embargo against Iran. The embargo expires in October, and Pompeo has expressed concerns about the prospect of Iran being able to purchase weapons from Russia or China.

Story continues

But the U.S. proposal to renew the arms embargo failed, with China and Russia opposing the move and 11 other member countries abstaining. If the U.N. restores global sanctions on Iran, that would extend the arms embargo and require Iran to suspend all nuclear-related enrichment activities.

"We have every expectation that theyll be enforced just like every other U.N. Security Council resolution that is in place," Pompeo told reporters earlier on Thursday.

He dismissed a question about how the U.S. could trigger the sanctions now that it is no longer a party to the 2015 nuclear deal.

FILE - President Donald Trump points to a question as he speaks during a briefing with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House. TikTok and its U.S. employees are planning to take the Trump administration to court over a sweeping order that could ban the popular video app, according to a lawyer preparing one of the lawsuits.

"We are confident that every country will see that it is in their best interest that U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231 is fully enforced as it is a valid, extant, continuing set of obligations," he said, referring to the provision at issue by its official number.

But critics say the Trump administration's position is absurd. And contrary to Trump's remarks, snapback sanctions are not common, one expert noted.

"In fact it is unique and unprecedented," Richard Gowan, an expert on the United Nations and peacekeeping with the International Crisis Group, said in a tweet after Trump's remarks.

"It simply strains credulity for a state to withdraw from the nuclear deal, violate its provisions and then turn around and claim the ability to invoke it against an actual participant," the Crisis Group said in a report issued Wednesday morning.

Alireza Miryousefi, a spokesman for Iran's mission at the UN, described the U.S. move to "snapback" the UN sanctions as "manifestly illegal."

"The U.S. is no longer a 'participant' in the (nuclear deal), and as such has no rights under that accord or UNSCR 2231, which endorsed it. Even the former National Security Advisor, John Bolton, said so in 2018 and repeated it just this past weekend."

Critics say the Trump administration's move is designed to permanently kill the Iran deal.

After Pompeo files the U.S. notice on Thursday, the sanctions will automatically come back into force unless the U.N. Security Council passes a resolution barring the penalties. The U.S. would seem to have a strategic advantage, because as a permanent member of the Security Council, the Trump administration's ambassador to the U.N. could veto such a resolution.

But Gowan and others say the Security Council could simply ignore the U.S. move or try to undercut it.

The Crisis Group report suggests that other Security Council members could use procedural rules "to block or delay" the snapback of sanctions or undermine the sanctions through obstruction UN sanctions or other avenues.

Either way, the U.S. move will provoke a "vehement row" at the normally staid international body, the report says.

Contributing: John Fritze, Kim Hjelmgaard and the Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump says he will press the UN to reimpose sweeping sanctions on Iran
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The counterproposal for COVID-19 third tranche of liquidity support had been finalized by the Council of Ministers ahead of the August 14, 2020, Kingdom Council of Ministers (Rijks Ministerraad) meeting.





To receive the third tranche of liquidity support, the Netherlands' proposal included the 'new entity' responsible for managing the 3rd tranche, amongst other conditions. In response, a letter elucidating the Council of Ministers' sentiments and views was sent to Prime Minister Mark Rutte, State Secretary Knops, and the Parliament of St. Maarten on August 13, 2020, after being approved by the Council of Ministers. In the letter, St. Maarten outlined their views on how the countries can come to a consensus and explained how the approach that would be presented by St. Maarten is more in line with the Kingdom Charter and with St. Maarten's Constitution as well.





St. Maarten's counterproposal includes a three-layered approach regulating financing, supervision of these finances, and the execution of the reform measures. It further elucidates why liquidity support and the financial support for reforms should be separated. This could serve as a starting point for further discussions with the Netherlands if accepted.





Unfortunately, St. Maartens proposal was not supported by the Ministers of the Netherlands who followed the line of State Secretary Knops that the content was not in line with what the Netherlands wanted or envisioned. St. Maarten has expressed disappointment in this matter that the Netherlands is not willing to engage in further discussion on the proposal or make any significant changes to the proposal brought forward by the Netherlands since July 6, 2020. Even though St. Maarten's agenda point received no support from the Ministers from the Netherlands, it was supported by Curacao, as they still stated their intention to come to a consensus and the belief that the counterproposal was an excellent one.





St. Maartens counter proposal ensures that there is financial supervision, it ensures that we prioritize our own country packages, and that each country has a say in the monitoring of the new entity. Regardless to the level of finalization of negotiations for the second tranche of COVID-19 liquidity support, all three countries would still have to agree to the Consensus Kingdom Law and the Dutch entity proposed, to receive any funds for the third tranche of COVID-19 liquidity support. St. Maarten recognizes the need to make structural reforms and will continue working towards them, stated Deputy Prime Minister Egbert Doran.




New Zealands Labour Prime Minister Prime Jacinda Ardern announced on Monday that she had decided to shift the date of the forthcoming national elections from September 19 to October 17.

The near month-long postponement takes place amid a second outbreak of COVID-19 cases, centred in South Auckland. After 102 days with no evidence of community transmission, the countrys biggest city is now under a level three lockdown, at least until August 26.

In just over a week, 80 cases of COVID-19 have been identified in the community, not including 21 infections among people who have arrived from overseas. Almost all positive cases are in hotels that have been turned into quarantine facilities run by the military. Six patients have been hospitalised. Two of the community cases have no known link to the South Auckland cluster, including one hotel maintenance worker.

Ardern and Health Minister Chris Hipkins admitted to a breakdown of COVID-19 testing for frontline workers at borders and quarantine facilities, blaming public officials for failing the governments expectations. Ardern announced Wednesday that some 500 additional NZ Defence Force staff will guard quarantine hotels, bringing the total military involvement to over 1,000 personnel.

The countrys second coronavirus outbreak continues to grow every day, and the source of the main cluster is unknown. It has spread to a number of workplaces, including a cold storage facility, a NZ Post centre, the Ports of Auckland, two tertiary institutions and several schools. Thousands of people have been tested as close contacts of infected persons.

The election delay highlights the increasing political instability triggered by the pandemic. It is only the fourth such postponement in New Zealands history. The previous occasions were during World Wars I and II and in response to the upsurge of working-class opposition to capitalism during the 1930s Great Depression.

Ardern said her decision was based on public health concerns and was in the best interests of voters and our democracy. In fact, it was a political compromise in response to demands from the opposition National Party, which has been lagging in the polls, and the right-wing nationalist NZ First Party, which is part of the government. National claimed that the Auckland lockdown meant it could not properly campaign, and that Ardern gained an unfair advantage from her daily COVID-19 briefings.

Significantly, Arderns announcement came the day after Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, leader of coalition partner NZ First, revealed he had written to Ardern stating his preference for a delay. He publicly released the letter, he said, to make sure the governor-general knew a majority of parliament, including NZ First and National, wanted a delay. It amounted to a threat to break up the coalition and cast doubt on the legitimacy of the election, if Ardern did not accede.

Ardern publicly rejected suggestions that she had been swayed by Peters letter. Her decision, however, effectively throws NZ First a lifeline, giving the party more time to campaign. It is currently polling below the 5 percent threshold required to re-enter parliament.

NZ First is a right-wing nationalist party, notorious for its racist and anti-immigrant agitation against Chinese, Indian and Muslim people. It advocates a strong military and police force. Labour gave NZ First a major role in the coalition government, despite the party receiving only 7.2 percent of the votes in 2017. With Peters embedded as foreign minister, the Labour-NZ First-Greens coalition has further integrated New Zealand into the US military preparations against China in the Asia-Pacific region, and implemented harsh anti-immigrant policies.

Peters decided to form a coalition with the Labour Party, despite the National Party gaining more votes in 2017, because Labours anti-immigrant and anti-Chinese policies were more closely aligned with NZ First.

Arderns change of date received widespread support from the corporate media. Right-wing columnist Matthew Hooton described it in the New Zealand Herald as a masterful move, while the Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce said it gave some surety in uncertain times.

Ordinary people, however, were less enthusiastic. According to a Herald poll on August 17, before the announcement, 60 percent supported a postponement, mostly in Auckland. Elsewhere there was stronger support for the original date, with 53 percent in Wellington saying it should go ahead as planned, and 43 percent in Canterbury saying the same.

Behind the political turmoil there are rising social tensions. The pandemic has already led to tens of thousands of job losses. The tourism industry, which accounts for one in 10 jobs, has been devastated, and there have been major redundancies in retail and manufacturing. Thousands of people are struggling to sustain rent and mortgage payments.

Having been glorified by the worlds media for its response to the pandemic, including a relatively early and strict lockdown in March-April, New Zealand is now one of many countries, including Australia, experiencing serious new outbreaks. This underscores the falsehood of the conceptionpromoted by the trade unions, pro-Labour Party pundits and pseudo-left groupsthat the global pandemic could be defeated through national isolationism.

Finance Minister Grant Robinson was forced this week to announce a two-week extension to the governments wage subsidy scheme, covering approximately 470,000 jobs. The scheme, originally due to expire on September 1, is in fact a subsidy for employers who can show a revenue drop due to COVID-19 of 40 percent, and has already paid out more than $NZ13 billion.

The Child Poverty Action Group, Salvation Army, Lifewise and Auckland Action Against Poverty have all warned that welfare benefits are not sufficient to survive on. Treasury is forecasting unemployment to more than double to 10 percent this quarter.

The surge in cases is hitting the working class the hardest, particularly Pacific and Maori communities in impoverished and overcrowded areas of South Auckland. The Guardian reported on Wednesday that of the new cases linked to public transmission, Pacific Islanders make up 74 percent while Maori account for 16 percent. Its nothing to do with the virus, its the socioeconomic conditions, Dr Colin Tukuitonga of Auckland University said.

There are signs of unrest. Some 3,200 nurses and other health workers at medical centres across the country are due to walk off the job on September 3 as part of a long-running struggle for pay parity with their counterparts employed by District Health Boards.

While the Labour Party remains the business elites preferred option to lead the next government, the deepening social crisis, the coronavirus outbreak and the election delay could hinder its re-election campaign. At Labours launch on August 8, Ardern confidently declared that the campaign would be fought as a COVID election, based on her governments purportedly successful record leading the countrys so-called team of five million through the pandemic.

Whatever tactical adjustments are now made, Ardern has made it clear that there will be no repeat of Labours 2017 election campaign, which falsely promised transformative action to reduce child poverty and solve the housing crisis. None of this has come to fruition, as Labour has run a right-wing government imposing austerity and anti-immigrant measures at home, along with pro-US militarism abroad.
RTHK: Manchester bomber's brother jailed for 55 years

The brother of a suicide bomber who killed 22 people at an Ariana Grande concert in the British city of Manchester was on Thursday jailed for life for playing an "integral part" in the attack.

Hashem Abedi, 23, was convicted of murder, attempted murder and conspiring to cause explosions at a trial that ended in March, after one of the worst terror attacks on British soil.

The Islamic State group-inspired bombing, carried out by his 22-year-old brother Salman, detonated among crowds of mostly young people leaving the concert at the Manchester Arena.

The youngest victim was aged just eight. Others included parents who had come to pick up their children.

In court, judge Jeremy Baker said Abedi would spend a minimum of 55 years in prison for playing an "integral part" in the preparation of the pre-mediated attack.

The trial heard he was in Libya when the attack took place on May 22, 2017 but helped his brother plan it for several weeks, including by obtaining chemicals for the homemade bomb.

"The defendant and his brother were equally culpable for the deaths and injuries caused," he said. "The stark reality is that these were atrocious crimes, large in their scale, deadly in their intent, and appalling in their consequences.

"The despair and desolation of the bereaved families has been palpable," he added, paying tribute to the "tremendous dignity and courage" of the victims and their families.

The judge said the motivation for the attack, and its targets, would be "abhorrent" to most followers of Islam.

But he said Abedi could not be given a whole-life term  ensuring he would never be released  because he was aged under 21 at the time of the offences.

The almost three years that Abedi has already spent in custody would count towards the sentence until he was eligible for parole.

But he added: "He may never be released." (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2020-08-20. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Onam, a harvest festival that falls in the months of August/September annually, is celebrated across India and the world, and is main festival among Keralites. According to the Malayali calendar month of Chingam, the festival falls on the 22nd Nakshatra Thiruvonam, and marks the beginning of the Malayalam year, called Kolla Varsham.

The festival begins on the day known as Atham, and ends on the tenth day, known as Thiru Onam or Thiruvonam, also the most auspicious day during the festival of Onam. This year, the celebrations leading up to Onam will begin Saturday, August 22 onwards and Thiruvonam will be celebrated on August 31.

Onam festival is celebrated to honour the kind-hearted and much-beloved demon King Mahabali, who is believed to return to Kerala during this festival.

Significance of Onam celebrations

According to Vaishnava mythology, King Mahabali defeated the Gods and began ruling over all three worlds. King Mahabali was a demon king who belonged to the Asura tribe. The kind-hearted king was much-loved by the people. The Gods got insecure of King Mahabalis popularity and Lord Vishnu to step in and help contain Mahabali.

Lord Vishnu took on his fifth avatar, in the form of the Brahmin dwarf Vamana, and paid a visit to King Mahabali. King Mahabali asked Vamana what he wished for, to which Vamana responded, three pieces of land. When Vamana was granted his wish, he grew in size and in his first and second pace respectively, he covered the sky, and then the netherworld.

When Lord Vishnu was about to take his third pace, King Mahabali offered his own head to the God. This act impressed Lord Vishnu so much that he granted Mahabali the right to visit his kingdom and people every year during Onam festivities.

Rituals of Onam

During the ten-day festivities, devotees bathe, offer prayers, wear traditional clothes -- women of the household wear a white and gold saree called the Kasavu saree - participate in dance performances, draw flower rangolis called pookkalam and cook traditional feasts called sadya. Sadya is served on banana leaves during Onam.

The 10-day festivities also see people participating in boat races called Vallam Kali, Tiger dances called Pulikali, worship the God or Onathappan, Tug of War, Thumbi Thullal or womens dance ritual, Mask dance or Kummattikali, Onathallu or martial arts, Onavillu/music, Onapottan (costumes), folk songs among other fun activities.

ALSO READ: Celebrate the harvest festival by making these traditional recipes

The traditional feast

The traditional Onam sadya (feast) is a 9-course meal that consists of 26 dishes. It includes Kalan (a sweet potato and yam coconut curry dish), Olan (white gourd prepared in coconut curry), Avial (seasonal vegetables in coconut curry), Kootu curry (a dish made of chickpeas), rasam (a soup-like dish made with a base of tomato and pepper, eaten with rice and other preparations) and the much-loved dessert, Parippu payasam (a rice kheer preparation).

This year, however, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, people have been advised to celebrate Onam within their homes and use locally available flowers for the traditional floral carpet.

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The Victorian governments ban on residential evictions has been extended until the end of the year, after more than 80,000 renters sought help through official channels since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Landlords will also continue to be forbidden from increasing rents on their properties until 2021 in a move welcomed by the community sector and tenants advocates.

Treasurer Tim Pallas has extended the state's shield for residential and commercial tenants. Credit:Joe Armao

But Treasurer Tim Pallas also angered the commercial real estate sector on Thursday, when he announced the government would force landlords to cut rents for small businesses hit by the coronavirus crisis.

Mr Pallas said the state was pouring $160 million into tax relief and hardship payments for building owners whose rent-rolls were affected by the move, as well as offering one-off hardship grants of $3000 to both commercial landlords and tenants.
ALMOST 15,000 homes and businesses are without electricity across Limerick as the cleanup begins following Storm Ellen.

The worst of the weather arrived shortly before midnight and, according to Met Eireann, gust in excess of 130km were detected at Shannon Airport during the night.

While the status orange weather alert that was in place has been lifted, a status yellow warning remains in place for the entire country.

Motorists are being urged to excercise caution this Thursday morning as there are reports of flooding and fallen trees across the city and county.

There is severe flooding on the Ballysimon Road, Childers Road and at the Old Dublin Road in Limerick city as well as at the Kilmallock Roundabout on the Old Cork Road.

Gardai are also advising that there are a number of fallen trees affecting traffic on the N24.

Please drive with extreme caution around #Limerick this morning following #StormEllen. All areas hit particularly route between #LimerickCity and #Kilmallock. Trees down partially blocking roads and spot flooding in many places. @LimerickCouncil crews are being mobilised.  Limerick Council (@LimerickCouncil) August 20, 2020

According to ESB networks there are significant faults in the Cappamore, Bruff, Moylish, Ahane, Garryspillane and Kilmallock areas. There are also outages in Singland, Clarina, Patrickswell and Lough Gur.

Repair crews will be deployed as soon as it is safe to do so and initial estimates are that many customers will not have their supply restored until at least 3pm.

We apologise if you have lost power supply during #StormEllen. Please see https://t.co/cwxXH3X4kM for updates, if your area is NOT listed you can log your fault or get updates using your MPRN number here https://t.co/XU4lJt5ZZv pic.twitter.com/wbbFieE9CS  ESB Networks (@ESBNetworks) August 20, 2020

For more Limerick news click here.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 12:28:41|Editor: huaxia

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TALUQAN, Afghanistan, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Ten pro-government local militiamen and seven Taliban militants were killed in pre-dawn clashes in Afghanistan's northern Takhar province on Thursday, a provincial government spokesman confirmed.

"Taliban attacked a security checkpoint of pro-government tribal militiamen, known as local uprising fighters, in surrounding areas of Khwaja Bahawoddin district early Thursday. The clashes lasted for more than two hours, leaving the casualties," spokesman Jawad Hijri told Xinhua.

Local uprising fighters, who are receiving support from Afghan security agencies, provide security and protect remote villages and districts around the country where army and police have limited presence.

Seven militiamen and several militants were wounded in the fighting in the region, 245 km north of the county's capital Kabul.

Taliban's so-called Red Unit or Special Force members were involved in the attack in the province, which has been the scene of clashes and fighting for long, according to local villagers.

Violence still lingers in the war-torn country after a peace deal was signed between the United States and Taliban in Qatar in February, which paved the way for a phased U.S. force withdrawal.

According to the agreement, some 10,000 U.S. and NATO forces stationed in Afghanistan will withdraw by July next year. Enditem
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 (Piroschka Van de Wouw/AP)

A UN-backed tribunal has 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.

Mr Hariri and 21 others were killed and 226 were wounded in a huge blast outside a seaside hotel in Beirut on February 14, 2005.

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 Mr 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 Mr Hariri and his political allies were discussing calling for an immediate and total withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon, Presiding Judge David Re said.

Expand Close Prayers were held at Mr Hariris grave (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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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.

Mr 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 UN-backed court has no death sentence, the maximum sentence is life imprisonment.

Sketching the complex political backdrop for the assassination, the judge said that in the months before his death, Mr 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 scale of the investigation and trial was apparent from the size of the written judgment. The judge said it ran to more than 2,600 pages with some 13,000 footnotes.

Prosecutors based their case largely on data from mobile phones allegedly used by the plotters to plan and execute the bombing.

Judge 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.

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 on 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 against the verdicts.
Manganese isn't considered a major water contaminant in America, but a new study is taking a closer look at whether it should be.

A naturally occurring metal, manganese can be found in water supplies throughout the world. Over time, excessive ingestion of manganese can produce cognitive disabilities in children and symptoms similar to those associated with Parkinson's Disease in adults.

It has long been regulated as a primary contaminant in many Southeast Asian countries where the wet climate and monsoons cause manganese to leach into groundwater.

In the U.S., manganese is regulated as a secondary contaminant -- meaning its standards are unenforceable and focus primarily on cosmetic issues -- and public water supplies. UC Riverside scientists are asking whether this leaves private wells insufficiently guarded against exposure to manganese.

The researchers have received a $230,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to study whether communities relying on private wells are exposed to manganese-contaminated groundwater and if there are any associated health issues.

Though water treatment in major cities tends to remove manganese, more than 2 million Californians rely exclusively on private, untested, and untreated wells for their water.

"Private wells are shallower than public wells, which makes them more susceptible to manganese contamination," explained UCR health economist Maithili Ramachandran. "International research suggests that over-exposure to manganese is neurotoxic, so the question we would like to answer is if there is an overlooked public health issue with manganese for communities reliant on domestic wells in California."

The research team will investigate not only the connection between manganese exposure and community health, but also the socioeconomic factors that mediate a community's risk of experiencing the health effects.

Specifically, the team will examine whether manganese has an effect on infants and young children by considering, among other factors, birth weight, school test scores, and grades in areas with a more than 50% chance of exposure to manganese.

Geographically, the study will focus on California's Central Valley and coastal areas, where agricultural practices cause contaminants such as manganese to move from soil into groundwater.

"Manganese can be found in soils all over California, but it's the way we use the land that can cause too much of it to get into our groundwater," said UCR soil scientist Samantha Ying.

"Studies have tied high manganese levels in the groundwater of Southeast Asian countries to adverse health outcomes such as memory and attention deficits, but no study has yet quantified how manganese-contaminated water might affect public health in California," she said.

Ying, who will co-lead the project, studies the movement of contaminants from soil into water systems relied on by people around the world. Most recently, she led a study showing how other soil compounds affect the speed with which manganese and arsenic move into groundwater.

Ying's team used a synchrotron, which is an extremely bright light, at the Canadian Light Source, to examine the chemistry of model aquifers. They found the presence of bicarbonate in soil causes lower manganese but higher arsenic concentrations in ground water. These findings have just been published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

The conditions that cause arsenic and manganese to leach are similar, so they tend to show up in groundwater in tandem. Arsenic has long been regulated as a primary contaminant in the U.S.

"Wells are labeled unsafe if they contain arsenic, but not if they contain manganese," Ying said. "Thus, the number of wells considered safe may be greatly overestimated."

The goal of research projects like these is to gather data to understand not only how manganese moves through the environment, but also to show its effects on public health in the U.S.

"We're excited about the opportunity the NIH has provided us given there are reasons to believe that current federal and state regulations surrounding manganese in our drinking water need to be explored further," said UCR environmental economist and study co-lead Kurt Schwabe.

###
Before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau prorogued Parliament the finance committee had requested all documents related to the Liberal government's decision to task WE Charity  which has ties to the Trudeau family and members of his government  with running a $900 million student grant program.

The House of Commons will return Sept. 23. When it does, the Trudeau government will deliver its speech from the throne before facing questions about the contents of those documents in a revived Parliament.

Thousands of pages of internal government records related to the We Charity contract were released Monday evening. CBC News has scoured the contents. Below are some of the highlights.

April 20 email from deputy minister for finance:

An April 20 email from assistant deputy minister for finance Michelle Kovacevic talks about the broader student aid package. The message reveals the program wasn't developing with much efficiency.

"There has been a lot of back and forth on a student package, as you well know, and PMO has been weighing in on a version we shared with our minister on Saturday," Kovacevic wrote.

"The Canada Student Service Grant  bit of a shit show and the way it is positioned right now is not exactly how we will go forward, there is positive communication with WE to be a partner here and discussions are encouraging on that front. (but just discussions, no agreement)," she wrote in the email.

April 19 email from Rachel Wernick to WE Charity:

Rachel Wernick, an assistant deputy minister at Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), told a parliamentary committee that she reached out to WE Charity on April 19 for the first time. She said the organization had come up in discussions between officials from the Finance Ministry and ESDC. This was the first time she communicated with WE Charity about them becoming a partner, she told the committee.

"I am sorry for the 'out of the blue' email on a Sunday morning. As you know there is a lot of quick work going on to support emergency and special measures in the current context. I wondered if you would have a bit of time today to indulge me a quick conversation on something we are working on that might be of interest to WE," Wernick said in the email dated April 19.

Story continues

A reply from Craig Kielburger, WE Charity's co-founder, says he is happy to chat; he sets a time to talk later that day.

May 7 email from deputy minister for finance to Wernick:

Central to the accusations of a conflict of interest in the Liberal government's decision to give WE Charity a $43 million contract to run a $900 million student grant program, was that Trudeau, outgoing finance minister Bill Morneau and their families had close ties with the organization.

In an email to senior assistant deputy minister Wernick, deputy minister for finance Kovacevic says her "mino," taken to mean Bill Morneau's office, is connecting directly with WE Charity.

"We is connecting with my mino (they are besties).  I don't want my guys to get ahead of you and have told them that they should tell WE that you are Canada's point of contact," she said.

WE Charity thanks Youth Minister Bardish Chagger

Craig Kielburger sent an email to Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth Bardish Chagger on April 22, three days after WE Charity was first approached about the possibility of partnering with the Liberal government on the student grant program.

In that email, Kielburger thanks Chagger for listening to the charity's proposal for youth entrepreneurship programs, which was later rejected. He then goes on to thank the minister for her efforts to connect Kielburger's team with key officials.

"We appreciate your thoughtful offer to connect us with relevant members of your ministry," Kielburger said. "Our weekend team has also been hard at work to adapt your suggestion of a second stream focused on a summer service opportunity."

Cozy relationships between WE Charity, Liberals:

Trudeau's mother Margaret, his wife Sophie Gregoire and his brother Alexandre all have working relationships with WE Charity. Sophie Gregoire's relationship, Trudeau says, has been vetted by Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion.

These relationships have been central to the accusations of a conflict of interest between WE Charity and Trudeau's family and close associates.

The trove of emails reveals the tone in some of the communications between WE Charity and the Liberal government.

An email from Marc Kielburger to Trudeau's chief of staff, Katie Telford, dated April 13 saw the WE Charity co-founder thank Telford "for all that you and the prime minister do."

Another email from Marc's brother Craig to outgoing finance minister Bill Morneau dated April 26 thanks Morneau saying, "It was incredibly thoughtful of you to call."

An email from Craig to Morneau four days earlier opens informally beginning: "Hi Bill, I hope that you're doing well during times of enormous work volumes."
With almost the whole world functioning virtually during coronavirus times, Ganpati will give darshan on Zoom, Facebook and Google platforms during the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival which has been cut short from 10 to one and a half days at most places due to the pandemic. The grandeur of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Maharashtra may be unparalleled, but the homecoming of Bappa in Delhi is not lacklustre either.

Every year in August devotees bring Ganesha into their house, temple, or pandal (temporary shrine) as a guest. The idol is worshipped with elaborate rituals for 10 days along with various cultural programmes. Festival organisers spend weeks in planning the pandals, decoration, programmes and gatherings.

This year with the festival approaching on August 22 they are busy creating social media links, arranging virtual darshans and ensuring safety and health protocols for those who will be there with the elephant-headed deity.

Marathi Mitra Mandal, Alaknanda, one of the oldest mandals in NCR region, will hold aarti and darshans on FB live.

This is the second time in 35 years we are bringing Bappa for only one and a half days. It is difficult to organise festivals in COVID times and breaking tradition is considered to be a bad omen, Nivedita Pande from the organising committee told PTI.

The problem is our mandal is very old and we old people are not very tech savvy. We are taking help from the younger generation and can at least have FB live aarti and darshans, she said.

Sarvajanik Utsav Samitia, a body of prominent Marathis residing in the capital, celebrates the festival every year with theatre performances, spiritual songs and a lot of dance drama in association with Delhi Tourism at Dilli Haat, Kamani auditorium and Mavalankar hall. For the first time in 25 years they will bring Ganpati at a members house.

We can not have a big celebration this year and will welcome Ganpati at a members house at Karol Bagh. Visitors will not be allowed. There will be aarti on Zoom platform in the evening with the immersion next day, said Neena Hejib , the executive chairman of the Samiti.

Gurgaon-based Sarvajanik Ganeshotsava Samiti, in its 28th year, will have online celebrations for a week since this year is also the 100th death anniversary of Lokmanya Tilak, the founder of Ganpati festival.

There will be no physical darshan, everything will be online only. We are not even revealing the place where we are having idol sthapana, said Jeevan Talegaonkar from the organising committee.

This year we have decided not to raise funds from people or invite sponsorships and instead we are pooling in money like for a household function. We are having cultural programmes where artistes record their performance and send it or they can go live in case of a solo performance, he said.

Zoom has an option to link with FB and we will use that. We are also having one hour lecture on Tilak among many programmes, he added.

In Maharashtra Sadan, Ganesh will stay for five days and there will be no processions or any event this time.

The idol will be small and there will be only morning and evening aarti. Number of visitors will be strictly restricted while sanitisation, temperature checks will be done at the entry gate, said Pramod Kolapte, liaison officer, Maharashtra Sadan.

Ganesh Sewa Mandal, an 18 year old association in east Delhis Laxmi Nagar, will have darshan slots for 30 minutes and each slot will have a maximum of 20 visitors. They will also have FB live darshans for devotees.

It will be a small scale function of two days only where we will abide by safety and health protocols. We will have two musical programmes telecast live on FB . CCTV cameras, sanitisers and oximeters would be installed in the area, said Mahendra Ladda , the founder president of the association.

(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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New Delhi, Aug 20 : Israel and Uttar Pradesh on Thursday signed an agreement to establish the India-Israel Bundelkhand Water Project.

The project aims to demonstrate and implement the Israeli model for water management tailored to the water challenges of the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh.

The project comprises three key-components of the value chain: water conservation, water efficient transportation, and advanced water practices for agriculture.

The agreement was signed by Israel's Ambassador to India, Ron Malka and UP's Agriculture Production Commissioner Alok Sinha.

On the occasion, Malka said: "This is another example of the multifaceted partnership between Israel and India. Israel is keen to share its most advanced, innovative, and cutting-edge water technologies with the Government of Uttar Pradesh. Water security is the top priority in our strategic water partnership with India." In recent decades, cutting-edge innovation developed in Israel to tackle the water shortage have helped position it as a world leader in all aspects of water management. Israel is proud to share its expertise in water to promote water and food security around the world and especially with "precious friend" India, he said.

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Israel in 2017, Israel and India signed two major water agreements to increase cooperation in water conservation and state water utility reform in India.

In 2019, Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat visited Israel in the framework of the Water Technology and Environmental Control Conference and Exhibition in order to advance cooperation in the field of water between the two countries.

"This agreement is a flagship project in the ongoing cooperation between the two countries and opens a new chapter allowing the countries to leverage our strategic cooperation in the field of water," an Israeli Embassy statement said.
[music]

michael barbaro

From The New York Times, Im Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily. Tonight when Joe Biden formally accepts the Democratic Partys nomination for president, it will be the culmination of a 30-year quest and two failed runs for the office. My colleague, Matt Flegenheimer, on a delayed victory that looks nothing like Biden had planned. Its Thursday, August 20.

archived recording [CHEERING] America needs someone who can inspire once again in our people faith and trust in our government. America needs someone with a heart.

michael barbaro

Matt, take us back to when Joe Biden first runs for president. Where does that story start?

matt flegenheimer

That story starts at a train station in Wilmington, Delaware in June of 1987.

archived recording And we thank you, Delaware, for giving us that person, the next president of the United States, Joe Biden.

matt flegenheimer

Hes coming in the end of the second term for Ronald Reagan.

archived recording (joe biden) All right, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you!

matt flegenheimer

He is in his 40s and 

archived recording (joe biden) I tell you today that America is a nation at risk.

matt flegenheimer

 he is kind of a generational change candidate.

archived recording (joe biden) The clarion call from my generation is not it is our turn, but rather, it is our moment of obligation and opportunity.

matt flegenheimer

He uses the words my generation quite a bit. This idea that after Reagan, after a lot of stodgy older men 

archived recording (joe biden) We literally have a chance to shape the future, to put our stamp on the face and character of America. This is not merely history. It is our destiny. [APPLAUSE]

matt flegenheimer

That it was time for a kind of breath of fresh air. And he was somebody who was going to bring that.

archived recording (joe biden) We need a new kind of presidential leadership, a presidential leadership that is prepared to tell the hard truths and lead this country.

matt flegenheimer

Theres not a signature proposal hes running on. Hes really not a 12-point plan kind of candidate.

michael barbaro

That sounds like a pretty vague pitch to be making to voters.

matt flegenheimer

It is kind of vague. And he really struggled with articulating a rationale beyond wanting to be president.

archived recording (joe biden) Ladies and gentlemen, theres much more to say. But I dont want to trespass on my time.

matt flegenheimer

It was not always clear exactly why he was running.

archived recording (joe biden) Government can do many things. But in the final analysis, government can act little more than as a catalyst. We must demand more of ourselves, for nothing will suffice short of a wholesale commitment of an entire society.

michael barbaro

And why do you think he was running?

matt flegenheimer

I think he wanted to be president. He is somebody who, by his own account, talked about that in grade school. Hes somebody was elected to the Senate at 29, took office shortly thereafter when he turned 30. And this is a dream he had chased, in some measure, from the moment that he entered public office. At the same time, he also looked around at the fields in 88 and was unimpressed. They were sort of known derisively  at the field at that point on the Democratic side  as the seven dwarfs. It was sort of the put down in the press. And he looked at that group and said, Why not Joe Biden?

michael barbaro

And when he enters this race, who is Joe Biden in this moment? What is he actually known for, given his career up to that moment?

matt flegenheimer

So despite having been in the Senate at this point for going on three terms just about, hes really still known nationally best for being a kind of tragic figure. He was elected to the Senate in 1972. The following month, his wife and daughter were killed in a car crash. His two sons were injured. And he was immediately sort of identified in the public consciousness as a figure of tremendous sympathy and as someone who had been left to mourn in public by dint of his profession.

michael barbaro

So his early career in Congress is very much defined by this personal tragedy, as much as any legislative accomplishment?

matt flegenheimer

Thats certainly true.

michael barbaro

So how does this campaign in 87  how does it go?

matt flegenheimer

It goes fine for a while. He is somebody who is doing very well in fundraising early on. He was drawing crowds even before he entered the race in some of the early states he was visiting. And I think a lot of figures within the party saw him as very formidable. And then 

archived recording Now to the controversy that has suddenly erupted around the Democratic presidential candidate Joseph Biden.

matt flegenheimer

 he gets himself into trouble.

archived recording The charge that he has plagiarized parts of his speeches.

matt flegenheimer

On a couple of occasions, hes accused of lifting the words of others.

archived recording (joe biden) And I started thinking as I was coming over here, why is it that Joe Biden is the first in his family ever to go to a university? Why is that my wife, whos sitting out there in the audience, is the first in her family to ever go to college?

matt flegenheimer

The most memorable is at a debate in Iowa 

archived recording (joe biden) Is it because our fathers and mothers were not bright? Is it because Im the first Biden in a thousand generations to get a college and a graduate degree, that I was smarter than the rest?

matt flegenheimer

In Iowa, he is caught using the words of Neil Kinnock, who is a British politician 

archived recording (neil kinnock) Why am I the first Kinnock in a thousand generations to be able to get to university? What is Glenys the first woman in her family in a thousand generations to be able to get to university? Was it because all our predecessors were thick?

matt flegenheimer

 and passing them off as his own.

archived recording (joe biden) Is it because they didnt work hard? My ancestors, who worked in the coal mines in Northeast Pennsylvania and then would come up after 12 hours and play football for four hours? archived recording (neil kinnock) Was it because they were weak? Those people who had worked eight hours underground and then come up and play football?

matt flegenheimer

Hes quoted Kinnock before on the trail and cited him appropriately. In this instance, he just says the words as if they are extemporaneous Joe Biden words. Does not mention Kinnock, no citation.

archived recording (joe biden) No. Its not because they werent as smart. Its not because it didnt work as hard. Its because they didnt have a platform upon which to stand. archived recording (neil kinnock) It was because there was no platform upon which they could stand. [APPLAUSE]

matt flegenheimer

And then it gets picked up in the press.

archived recording Biden seemed to be claiming Kinnocks vision and life as his own. archived recording (joe biden) I should have said, to paraphrase Neil Kinnock. archived recording The problem here is that Senator Biden told his audience hed just been thinking about these things. And he failed to give any credit at all to his famous British speechwriter.

matt flegenheimer

So this moment begets other moments, unpleasant moments for Joe Biden.

archived recording 1 CBS News found a tape of a second instance. archived recording 2 Biden had appropriated a famous litany from the late Robert Kennedy about what the gross national product cannot measure. archived recording (joe biden) It cannot measure the health of our children  archived recording (robert kennedy) The health of our children  archived recording (joe biden)  the quality of their education  archived recording (robert kennedy)  the quality of their education  archived recording (joe biden)  the joy of their play. archived recording (robert kennedy)  or the joy of their play.

matt flegenheimer

There is a story on his record in law school 

archived recording 1 Joseph Biden admitted today that he committed plagiarism when he was in law school. He said it was a mistake, but that it was unintentional. archived recording 2 He quoted five pages of someone elses work without proper citation.

matt flegenheimer

Then 

archived recording (voter) Question, what law school did you attend? And where did you place in that class?

matt flegenheimer

 a video from the spring circulates of him 

archived recording (voter) And the other question is, could you quickly  archived recording (joe biden) I think I probably have a much higher IQ than you do, I suspect.

matt flegenheimer

 essentially telling a voter in New Hampshire who asked about his academic history, I probably have a much higher I.Q. than you do, I suspect.

archived recording (joe biden) I went to law school on a full academic scholarship, the only one in my class to have a full academic scholarship.

matt flegenheimer

And he goes on to exaggerate his record in law school, saying things like, I was the only one in my class to get a full academic scholarship, and other things that turned out not to be true. And that combination of both the exaggeration and the sort of belligerence with a member of the electorate did not sit well when that clip began circulating in a wider fashion. And this sort of snowballs unto itself.

archived recording (joe biden) If and when Ive ever quoted anyone without saying this is their quote, its either because, in fact, its been clearly known by everyone what it is, or I honestly did not know I was quoting somebody else.

matt flegenheimer

He has always been dogged by this idea, and its an insecurity hes talked about a lot himself, that he was not necessarily a policy heavyweight or a brilliant thinker. He didnt go to an Ivy League school. And there was something of a chip on his shoulder as a result of this. And he really thinks hes been disrespected in the national media, not taken seriously enough. Theres a cliche on Capitol Hill about workhorses and show horses. And the perception among a lot of people watching him is that hes a show horse.

archived recording (joe biden) I took the cases out of the law review article and the footnotes out of the law review article. And I thought what I was doing, honestly, was the right way to do it.

matt flegenheimer

And so he holds a kind of stop-the-bleeding press conference at the Capitol, trying to essentially reset his campaign and stabilize himself as a candidate.

archived recording (joe biden) And I footnoted it.

matt flegenheimer

And it does not go well.

archived recording (joe biden) I was wrong. But I was not malevolent in any way.

matt flegenheimer

He comes off defensive, defiant.

archived recording (joe biden) That I did not intentionally move to mislead anybody. I didnt.

matt flegenheimer

And you can see him really start to see his initial case, which was so rooted in his own personal integrity, start to fall away. And when that falls away, theres not a whole lot left. Because there was not a really strong policy undergirding this campaign in the first place.

archived recording [PRESS CONFERENCE CHATTER]

matt flegenheimer

By the fall, there is another thing happening.

archived recording (ronald reagan) With great pleasure and deep respect for his extraordinary abilities, I today announce my intention to nominate United States Court of Appeals Judge Robert H. Bork.

matt flegenheimer

Reagan nominates Robert Bork to the Supreme Court. And there is immediately an effort on the Democratic side to figure out how they can best prevent a deeply conservative judge from reaching the court. And Biden, who is the chairman of the Judiciary Committee in the Senate, is at the helm of that effort.

archived recording (joe biden) Those in favor of the Bork nomination will vote aye. Those opposed will vote no. The clerk will call the roll.

matt flegenheimer

So his team gets together.

archived recording (clerk) Mr. Byrd? archived recording (robert byrd) No. archived recording (clerk) Mr. Metzenbaum? archived recording (howard metzenbaum) No.

matt flegenheimer

And one of his top advisers in the Senate essentially says to him 

archived recording (clerk) Mr. DeConcini? archived recording (dennis deconcini) No.

matt flegenheimer

If we lose the Bork fight at this point 

archived recording (clerk) Mr. Simon? archived recording (paul simon) No.

matt flegenheimer

 it will be because of us. And if we win, itll be in spite of us.

archived recording (clerk) Mr. Thurmond? archived recording (strom thurmond) Aye.

matt flegenheimer

And that really resonates with him. He sees his day job as so essential, not just because he ostensibly cares about the constituency he serves, but because he has been so ridiculed as a figure of less than considerable substance. A major Supreme Court hearing is quite the forum to push back against that idea.

archived recording Mr. Hatch? archived recording (orrin hatch) Aye. archived recording Mr. Simpson? archived recording (alan simpson) Aye.

matt flegenheimer

So months before anybody even gets a chance to weigh in at the polls in Iowa and New Hampshire, Joe Biden is out.

archived recording Mr. Grassley? archived recording (chuck grassley) Aye.

matt flegenheimer

He makes the decision himself. Hes going back to the Senate to finish the Bork fight.

archived recording Mr. Humphrey? archived recording (gordon humphrey) Aye. archived recording Mr. Biden? archived recording (joe biden) No.

matt flegenheimer

And they win.

archived recording The Robert Bork nomination ended today. The Senate voted by an overwhelming 58 to 42 margin to reject 

matt flegenheimer

Bork is not confirmed. And Biden has a lot to do with that. And it was a major victory for him.

michael barbaro

So in order to protect his Senate career, he feels like he needs to end his bid for president.

matt flegenheimer

He feels like he needs to end his bid for president. And at that point, it is not at all clear that his bid for president would have gone particularly well, anyway.

archived recording (joe biden) Mr. President, Id like to make a few points here if I may.

matt flegenheimer

He goes back to the Senate and really resolves to kind of put his head down and do the work of a senator, and aspires to this sort of legacy of some of the lions of the Senate that he has gotten to know  fellow Democrats, like a Ted Kennedy, and also Republicans who hed really grown close to over the years.

archived recording (joe biden) So let me tell you, if your moral center is oil, I understand you. If your moral center is humanity, there is no comparing the restoration of Kuwait with ending of genocide in Bosnia.

matt flegenheimer

He is really pushing this kind of muscular foreign policy idea that America should be a force for good in the world.

archived recording (joe biden) And what is the message we send to the world if we stand by and we say, well let it continue to happen here in this place, but it is not in our interest?

matt flegenheimer

He is pushing legislation around violence against women, pushing the crime bill in the mid-90s under President Clinton.

archived recording (joe biden) One of the things I want to do in addition to ending the crime is end the political carnage that goes on when we talk about crime.

matt flegenheimer

He is seen as a particularly capable bipartisan figure.

archived recording (joe biden) Crime is not Democrat or Republican.

matt flegenheimer

He talks about never questioning anybodys motive  maybe their politics, never their motive. And he is seen as kind of an honest broker among Republicans, certainly in this period.

archived recording (joe biden) And I think theres a consensus among Republicans in that. Old barbed wire Republican conservatives [INAUDIBLE] want to hang them high, even those folks are saying, hey, weve got to deal with the root cause of this.

matt flegenheimer

Even if it earns him the disdain sometimes from the more liberal groups.

archived recording (joe biden) And liberal Democrats who used to say, Lets look at the sociological underpinnings of why this occurred and we have to  theyre now saying, hey, look, weve got to take back the streets. Well make that fight later.

matt flegenheimer

But he really makes a particularly concerted effort in these years when he is not running for president to bring the kind of heft to the day job that voters didnt necessarily see in 1988.

michael barbaro

So when does Biden decide in the midst of this pretty successful engagement in the Senate that hes going to try to seek the presidency again?

matt flegenheimer

Its something he never lets go of fully. So he thinks about it in 2004, as George W. Bush is seeking re-election. Decides against it in the end. But 08 is the time when he decides 

archived recording (joe biden) Friends, today I filed the necessary papers to become candidate for President of the United States.

matt flegenheimer

 hes ready for the second time.

archived recording (joe biden) And along with my wife Jill and my children Beau, Hunter and Ashley, we really look forward to being out there on the campaign trail with you and getting a chance to meet you.

matt flegenheimer

And hes running as a very different candidate, obviously. Hes been in the Senate for more than 30 years. Its his sixth term. And he brings with that a set of experiences he didnt have in 1988.

archived recording (joe biden) Ive spent the last four years traveling back and forth to Iraq, meeting with our soldiers, our generals and our diplomats, and trying my level best to convince the president to change course.

matt flegenheimer

This is a moment of unpopular wars going on in the country. And he is somebody, according to his pitch, who really understands those challenges because of the work that hes done in the Senate since his last campaign.

archived recording (joe biden) The next president of the United States is going to have to be prepared to immediately step in and act without hesitation to end our involvement in Iraq without further destabilizing the Middle East and the rest of the world.

matt flegenheimer

But as it turns out, that kind of experience did not necessarily resonate widely with voters for a whole host of reasons.

archived recording [CHANTING] Obama! Obama! Obama! Obama!

matt flegenheimer

For one 

archived recording Obama! Obama!

matt flegenheimer

 he is a figure who is running up against a historic moment 

archived recording (barack obama) Thank you!

matt flegenheimer

 in this Democratic primary.

archived recording (barack obama) Generations of Americans have responded with a simple creed 

matt flegenheimer

Barack Obama is running.

archived recording (barack obama)  that sums up the spirit of a people. Yes, we can. [CHEERING] Yes, we can.

matt flegenheimer

Hillary Clinton is running.

archived recording (hillary clinton) The question isnt whether we can keep Americas promise, its whether we will keep Americas promise. [CHEERING]

matt flegenheimer

And despite the relative inexperience in the Senate as his colleagues, the non-historic nature of the Biden campaign as a white man in his 60s really feels out of step with the times when set against these dynamic and compelling and particularly history-making candidates against him. At the same time, we see flashes of the 88 campaign Biden come to the fore very early in this race.

archived recording (joe biden) Weve got the first sort of mainstream African-American  archived recording Yeah. archived recording (joe biden)  who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice looking guy. I mean, thats a storybook, man. archived recording Yeah.

matt flegenheimer

He also just had a lot of these moments 

archived recording (joe biden) I spent last summer going through the Black sections of my town holding rallies in parks, trying to get Black men to understand it is not unmanly to wear a condom, getting women to understand they can say no, getting people in the position where testing matters.

matt flegenheimer

 these moments of sounding out of touch in kind of a cringe-worthy way. Sort of an uncle at a family gathering saying something that he probably shouldnt.

archived recording (joe biden) I got tested for AIDS. I know Barack got tested for AIDS. Theres no shame in being tested for AIDS. Its an important thing. Because the fact of the matter is, in the community, in the communities engaged in denial 

matt flegenheimer

And on the policy side, quite frankly on the most important foreign policy issue of the day, despite his experience in the Senate that he touted, hes on the opposite side of Barack Obama. He voted for the Iraq war. Obama did not. One of the points that Barack Obama made throughout is: I may not have the experience on paper, but I do have the wisdom to avoid a blunder such as that.

michael barbaro

Hm. So at just the moment when Biden thought that he had proven he was the workhorse and the steady hand and the experienced kind of gray beard of the Senate, that turned out to be the wrong kind of set of experiences for the Democratic electorate.

matt flegenheimer

It just did not fit the moment. And there was really never a moment in that campaign when he felt like a particularly serious threat to take the nomination. The voters of Iowa render their verdict. And he drops out almost immediately thereafter. But unlike 88, he really doesnt embarrass himself either, in the end. He is seen as a sort of affable, knowledgeable peer among his rivals. But he does have to leave the race.

michael barbaro

So here we have another failed presidential bid. And for the second time, Biden doesnt really get all that far in these Democratic primaries.

matt flegenheimer

No. Two campaigns, zero states won. But what he does get out of this race is 

archived recording (barack obama) For months Ive searched for a leader to finish this journey alongside me.

matt flegenheimer

 really earning the respect of the eventual nominee, Barack Obama.

archived recording (barack obama) Today I have come back to Springfield to tell you that Ive found that leader. [CHEERING]

matt flegenheimer

So when the time comes to pick a running mate 

archived recording (barack obama) A man with a distinguished record, a man with fundamental decency. And that man is Joe Biden. [CHEERING]

matt flegenheimer

 Barack Obama chooses Joe Biden. Biden at this point is not seen as particularly likely to seek the presidency again. Hes obviously in his 60s. Hes run twice and failed. But we now know theres a conversation that the two of them have as hes offering Biden the running mate slot. And Obama says to him, this is in Bidens telling, I hope you see this as the capstone to your career. And Biden says back to him, and not the tombstone.

michael barbaro

Mm.

matt flegenheimer

But that is set aside for the moment. He goes off into the Obama campaign. And of course, Obama and Biden win that election.

archived recording (barack obama) I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton, the vice president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden. [CHEERING]

michael barbaro

Well be right back. So just as after 1988, when Biden threw himself into the role of being a senator, after he loses that 08 race, he really pours himself into the vice presidency in this case.

matt flegenheimer

Absolutely. He sees himself as the sort of ultimate lieutenant for the first Black president and takes very seriously the idea that they are full partners. He wants to be the last person who Obama talks to before making a major decision. He wants to be in the room where those tough calls are happening. And I do think there is a parallel to that period in his Senate life between these presidential runs. He definitely both absorbs this idea that he should be doing the job he has and not the job that he might aspire to and seems to believe it. And there is certainly a belief among those in the Obama White House that he is not necessarily giving up on those ambitions down the line. But he is not seen as somebody positioning himself for a run either.

michael barbaro

And is that really the case, Matt? Because my sense is that by the time Obama is ready to leave office, that ember that is Joe Bidens perpetual desire to seek the presidency is glowing pretty brightly.

matt flegenheimer

It is. And it probably never went out. You dont think about such things in grade school and relinquish them in your 70s.

michael barbaro

Mhm.

matt flegenheimer

But a couple of things happened late in Obamas second term. And one of them is political. Hillary Clintons running for president again. She is effectively clearing the field, it seems. A lot of the Obama operation is already lining up behind her. Barack Obama makes clear that he sees her as a pretty suitable heir, potentially. And then tragically, there is the death of Beau Biden, Joes eldest son, his political heir to the would be Biden dynasty in Delaware. He was the state attorney general. And it was wrenching. This was someone who had already been left to grieve so publicly with such raw emotion early in his Senate life. And for the second time, he is burying a child. So this was just a particularly searing moment for all those who know and love Joe Biden. And through some combination of the rawness of that mourning and how far down the road the Clinton campaign had already gotten, he opts not to run.

archived recording (joe biden) Good morning, folks. Please, please, sit down.

matt flegenheimer

He stands in the Rose Garden beside President Obama. And theres a moment at the beginning of that press conference that he says 

archived recording (joe biden) Mr. President, thank you for lending me the Rose Garden for a minute. archived recording (barack obama) Its a pretty nice place.

matt flegenheimer

And there is this sense watching that, that it was not a place that Joe Biden would have to himself down the line, that this was probably his last window to run.

archived recording (joe biden) As my family and I have worked through the grieving process, Ive said all along what Ive said time and again to others, that it may very well be that that process, by the time we get through it, closes the window on mounting a realistic campaign for president. That it might close. Ive concluded it has closed.

matt flegenheimer

It was a poignant reminder of all that he had been through prior, and how he had come to be seen as this kind of avatar of trauma and resilience and how central that was to his public arc throughout his career. And to have this bookend this time as vice president was something that, to Democrats and Republicans, just felt unfair.

michael barbaro

And I remember, Matt, thinking after watching that news conference that this was his last chance to run for president. I think a lot of people thought that. But it turned out that his presidential aspirations did not end in the Rose Garden that day. He ran again in 2020. And after a roller coaster campaign in which he was up and he was down and for a moment it looked like he was almost written off, he prevails. And just a couple of nights ago, he is formally designated the Democratic Partys nominee for president. And so Im curious, in your mind, what he had going for him in 2020 that he didnt have in those previous two runs.

matt flegenheimer

Well, in some ways its a culmination of those runs and all that he had experienced in the time since. He is fusing the kind of personal integrity argument from his 88 campaign  his own character, his own decency  and the experience case hes making in 08, that he is somebody who has been there, has seen it and knows what to do.

michael barbaro

Mhm.

matt flegenheimer

And it turns out that that combination becomes pretty compelling in 2020. He is somebody who, through the context of this moment, found a rationale. His advisers would say he met the moment. In some ways, the moment dictated it. He ran a campaign in the primary premised not particularly on policy or ideology, but on the idea that the country is better than this and that this president has to be defeated.

archived recording (joe biden) My fellow Americans, there are moments in our history so grim, so heartrending that theyre forever fixed in each of our hearts, shared grief.

matt flegenheimer

And his campaign argument, in some ways, hinges almost exclusively on this idea that he is a figure of unique perspective.

archived recording (joe biden) Today is one of those moments. 100,000 lives have now been lost to this virus.

matt flegenheimer

In this moment of a pandemic, of a reckoning over racial justice, sort of overlapping crises and traumas 

archived recording (joe biden) I think I know what youre feeling. You feel like youre being sucked into a black hole in the middle of your chest. Its suffocating.

matt flegenheimer

He is holding himself out as somebody who knows how to overcome such things, because he has.

archived recording (joe biden) This nation grieves with you. Take some solace from the fact we all grieve with you.

matt flegenheimer

Its not as if his biography wasnt compelling in past races. But its so much more resonant in a moment of collective grief in the country and of such tremendous trauma and upheaval in peoples daily lives. But at the same time 

archived recording (joe biden) If you have a problem figuring out whether youre for me or Trump, then you aint Black.

matt flegenheimer

 he is still the Joe Biden that audiences have seen and occasionally chafed at seeing over the years. He is prone to gaffes. He had a handful of interactions with voters on the trail during the primary 

archived recording (joe biden) Youre a damn liar, man. Thats not true. And no one has ever said that. No one has heard that 

matt flegenheimer

 that I think his campaign instantly regretted. Sort of confrontational, evocative of that I have a higher I.Q. than you do moment from 88.

archived recording (joe biden) You said I set up my son to work in an oil company. Isnt that what you said? Get your words straight, Jack.

matt flegenheimer

Hes liable to get carried away in front of a crowd, to exaggerate, to misstate something on the debate stage. There is no question that those weaknesses persist.

archived recording (joe biden) And I can get things done. Thats why Im running. And you want to check my shape on lets do push ups together, man. Lets run. Lets do whatever you want to do.

matt flegenheimer

So in his first run in 88, he talked about how he saw presidential history in cycles. You had these kind of bursts of progress and upheaval, followed by these moments of correction where voters wanted to choose a candidate who could let the country catch its breath. And the implication then was that he was that candidate, that he was the generational change, the burst of progress. And the implication now is that he is the figure who can let America catch its breath. And there is such a conspicuous passage of time in that. He is not running on generational change as a 77-year-old man 

michael barbaro

Right.

matt flegenheimer

 in the way that he was 32 years ago. And that passage of time is evident. You can hear it in his speeches. You can see it in his public appearances. He has been through a lot. He has done a lot. He has earned that agedness at this stage of his career.

michael barbaro

Matt, I wonder how it will feel for Joe Biden tonight, after all these failed attempts, after all his personal tragedy, to finally have this moment arrive some 30 years after he first tries for it. And Im sure, 30 years of thinking about trying for it again. He will walk out, I guess, to a podium. This is virtual. It will be weird. And he will accept, at last, the Democratic partys nomination for president. How is that going to feel for him?

matt flegenheimer

I think like so much in his political career, itll be bittersweet. I mean, think about the scene. He will not be in an arena in Milwaukee. He will be at a remote location in Wilmington. He will not have a crowd of people chanting his name. No balloons, no We love Joe. And I think that reflects the moment but is also such a spectacular come down from the vision of this that he might have had. Hes been thinking about the presidency for decade after decade.

archived recording (joe biden) Today, I announce my candidacy for president of the United States of America. [CHEERING]

matt flegenheimer

And so much of it wont look like he expected it to in this moment of triumph.

archived recording (joe biden) God bless you and thank you.

matt flegenheimer

Both superficially, because of the convention set up, and substantially, most powerfully for him because Beau Biden wont be there. In every version of this speech that hes imagined in his life up until Beaus death, Im sure Beau Biden in the wings of the arena and helping him prepare the speech is what he had in mind. And if theres any throughline to his public life, its this commingling of tragedy and triumph. And in some ways, its a fitting coda to have him accepting the nomination in a way so radically different from what he had hoped, and so colored by the national grief and gloom of this moment and of the country that he hopes to lead.

michael barbaro

Matt, thank you very much. We appreciate it.

matt flegenheimer

Thanks so much for having me.

michael barbaro

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

archived recording (hillary clinton) The morning after the last election, I said, we owe Donald Trump an open mind and the chance to lead. I meant it. Every president deserves that.

michael barbaro

On the third night of the Democratic National Convention, the last Democratic nominee for president, Hillary Clinton, implored Americans to replace the man who defeated her in 2016 by electing Joe Biden.

archived recording (barack obama) I wish Donald Trump knew how to be a president because America needs a president right now.

michael barbaro

Later in the night, President Obama, standing before an image of the United States Constitution, offered himself as a character witness for his former vice president.

archived recording (barack obama) 12 years ago, when I began my search for a vice president, I didnt know Id end up finding a brother. Joe and I come from different places, different generations. But what I quickly came to admire about Joe Biden is his resilience, born of too much struggle, his empathy, born of too much grief.

michael barbaro

And in the nights keynote speech, Senator Kamala Harris accepted the partys nomination for vice president, calling on the country to confront structural racism and acknowledging that the challenges facing her and Biden are enormous.

archived recording (kamala harris) So make no mistake, the road ahead is not easy. We may stumble. We may fall short. But I pledge to you that we will act boldly and deal with our challenges honestly. We will speak truths. And we will act with the same faith in you that we ask you to place in us.

michael barbaro
A judge has rejected a gag order motion filed by the woman accused of helping her boyfriend dismember and bury the remains of murdered Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen.

Cecily Anne Aguilar 22, of Killeen, Texas is in custody on one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence and two counts of tampering with evidence.

Shes accused of helping her boyfriend Spc. Aaron David Robinson bury the remains of Guillen after he beat her to death with a hammer.

Aguilars attorney Lewis B. Gainor asked US Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Manske 'to prohibit parties, potential witnesses, the victims family, and their attorneys from making extrajudicial statements', which he claimed would lead to prejudice in her trial.

On Monday a judge rejected a gag order filed by the lawyer of Cecily Anne Aguilar, 22, (left) who is accused of helping her boyfriend Spc. Aaron David Robinson (right) bury slain soldier Vanessa Guillen

Vanessa Guillen, 20, was a soldier based at the Fort Hood base in Killeen, Texas who disappeared in April and was found dismembered and buried in a field in June. Her disappearance thrust Fort Hood into the national spotlight and sparked a reckoning for harassment in the Army

The motion was filed in July in response to multiple press conferences held by Guillens heartbroken family and lawyer Natalie Khawam.

Manske found the motion without merit in a ruling issued Monday.

'Simply put, there is little to indicate that her statements carry enough influence with the public to meaningfully affect the trial,' he wrote, he said to the family attorney.

'Moving forward, the court will monitor the conduct of the trial participants to safeguard these proceedings against any potential damage of negative pretrial publicity,' he added.

Guillen, a Hispanic soldier from Texas, disappeared on April 22, last seen in the parking lot of her 3rd Regiment Engineer Squadron Headquarters.

Her keys, ID card and wallet were later found in the armory room where she worked earlier that day.

Guillen, a Hispanic soldier from Texas, disappeared on April 22, last seen in the parking lot of her 3rd Regiment Engineer Squadron Headquarters. Her remains were found on June 30

She disappeared after she reported to her family she was being sexually harassed at the base.

On June 30 contractors working on a fence along the river discovered what appeared to be human remains.

Investigators 'identified scattered human remains that appeared to have been placed into a concrete-like substance and buried.'

Those remains were later confirmed to be Guillens.

Slain Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen's mother Gloria Guillen pictured with Vanessa's sister Lupe Guillen, left, and family attorney Natalie Khawam during a news conference at the National Mall on July 30 in Washington DC

President Donald Trump speaks as he meets with the family of slain Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen in the Oval Office of the White House on Thursday, July 30 to support a new bill seeking to address sexual harassment within the Army

The search for Guillen's remains took place in this area along the Leon River about 20 miles from the Fort Hood base

According to the federal affidavit released on July 2, Robinson beat Guillen with a hammer after they got into an argument in the armory room. He later dismembered her with a machete.

When authorities honed in on Robinson he shot himself in the head in the early morning of July 1 in the 4700 block of East Rancier Avenue and died at the scene.

Aguilar was later arrested. Shes the estranged wife of a former Fort Hood soldier.

Guillen's disappearance and grisly death thrust Fort Hood into the national spotlight and since then the embattled base has only been plagued with more tragedy.

This year alone there have been 11 soldier deaths recorded at the base and an independent investigation has been launched to root out the cause of violence, death and disappearances happening there.

Five of those deaths have been linked to foul play.
Google Maps is already loaded with safety features but now its also able to inform users of wildfires in near-real-time. Or, at the very least, where the wildfires boundaries are in the US, according to recent reports. All users will need to do is be looking at an area near a wildfire in Maps or via a Google search.

Then, theyll not only receive alerts about road closures and potential danger zones. Google Maps will also provide a pixel-by-pixel update of where the boundaries of any wildfires are. And those will be updated every hour using data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration GOES satellites.

Google Maps will push out those updates as long as a data connection is maintained.

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What will users see on their end?

In terms of the new UI, thats going to be clearly distinguished on the Maps in both the app and in a browser. In the latter case, that will be the map that typically shows up when users search for a location, placed below news and official alerts. Google opted for a red dashed-line to mark the borders on the maps themselves.

Thats important for end-users for obvious reasons. In practice, as with its trial run last year in California, users should be able to keep tabs on wildfires more easily. And they should have much more advanced-warning if a fire appears to be approaching. Thats in addition to having a better sense of how quickly the fire is spreading if and when that happens.

That should equate to more lives saved, just for starters.

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Will Google Maps reveal wildfires anywhere else, anytime soon?

With regard to where this is available, as noted above, this is only available in the US. Google primarily intends the feature for residents and civilians who might be traveling in an area where wildfires are present. The company does indicate it hopes to open up the feature in the future, with specific changes and improvements for emergency responders. It will likely start trials for that in California first as well.

But it will also be rolling out the feature to other countries in the future. Although theres no timeline available for that, as of this writing.
Home Minister Amit Shahs condition is stable

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Aug 20: The condition of Union Home Minister Amit Shah is stable and a team of multidisciplinary specialists led by AIIMS director, Dr Randeep Guleria is monitoring his health.

A report in the Hindustan Times said that Shah's condition is stable, while citing people aware of the matter at the AIIMS.

The Union Home Minister was admitted to AIIMS on Monday night, three days after being discharged from Medanta Hospital in Gurugram after testing negative for coronavirus.

Home Minister Amit Shah admitted to AIIMS hospital after complaining of 'fatigue & body ache'

"Sh Amit Shah, Honourable Home Minister, has been complaining of fatigue and body ache for last three or four 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 the hospital," AIIMS said in a statement on Tuesday.

Contempt Case: SC rejects Prashant Bhushan's plea to defer sentencing | Oneindia News

Upon his discharge from Medanta, Shah had tweeted, "today my Covid-19 test report has come negative. I thank god. And, I also express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who supported me and my family by wishing me good health. I will be in home isolation for few days on advice of doctors."

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, August 20, 2020, 12:40 [IST]
Tech firms are in everybodys crosshairs these days. The recent congressional grilling of high-profile tech CEOs made the companies seem like a growing public menace on many fronts: antitrust, bias, privacy, censorship, electoral interference, inequitable income distribution, and unfair labor practices.

Big tech behaving like sterotypical big business

Theres no denying that prominent tech vendors are growing uncomfortably large and influential in the world economy. Most of the so-called FAANGs (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google) are starting to behave like industrial powerhouses of old:

Funding think tanks that advocate a hands-off style to antitrust law

Positioning their dominant competitive positions as a patriotic necessary evil to ward off foreign encroachment

Emphasizing the societal value of big business, turning their backs on the scrappy startup culture from which they emerged

Addressing specific working-condition grievances in order to defuse demands for greater unionization and regulation.

The FAANGs are pulling their societal weightand then some

Nevertheless, these big tech vendors can claim regulatory special treatment because they are holding up society at large at this time. Indeed, the FAANGs are the foremost business success stories in the COVID-19 crisis. In the face of the sharpest economic contraction since the end of the Second World War, theyve continued to post striking numbers on growth, profitability, and hiring. Consider their most recent quarters:

Amazons revenue grew 40 percent year over year and the company reported a record profit, even as it invested more deeply in stabilizing supply chains and improving worker safety endangered by the ongoing pandemic.

Apple reported a better-than-expected 11 percent year-over-year increase in quarterly sales due to strong demand for apps, work-from-home devices, and a new, low-price iPhone.

Facebook reported a year-over-year revenue increase of 11 percent due to greater user engagement, even as growth slowed and it faced an advertiser boycott.

Googles parent, Alphabet, reported a decline in quarterly revenue compared with a year earlier, but still beat analyst expectations in sales. Despite being down 30 percent year over year, profit was still in excess of $6 billion.

Just as important as their consistently outstanding financials, these firms are among the primary pillars of the pandemic-stoked new normal. One can scarcely conceive how we would cope with social distancing if we didnt have smart devices (Apple), social media and messaging (Facebook), public cloud computing (Google), and on-demand, self-service, contactless e-commerce (Amazon).

Hearings give much heat but little light on wide range of tech impacts

The hearingsconducted virtually due to the ongoing lockdownswere little more than political theater for the benefit of TV cameras and to supply fresh ammunition for the social media and political culture wars.

Of course, the tech vendors responded to many important issues facing society. But little new information surfaced about any supposed transgressions on the part of the big tech firms. Likewise, no fresh proposals to address these issues were aired. Instead, we heard rehashes of the tired calls to break up the companies, subject them to more regulatory restrictions, and otherwise place the entire weight of societys anxieties squarely on their backs.

Much of the back and forth at the hearing was empty rhetoric, especially when legislators struggled to apply traditional antitrust considerations to the freewheeling IT industry. For example, one legislator asserted that mergers and acquisitions that buy off potential competitive threats violate the antitrust laws. That contention flies in the face of the Federal Trade Commissions long-standing position that antitrust laws come into the picture only when the effect of a merger or acquisition may be substantially to lessen competition, or to tend to create a monopoly. Usually, the crux of the matter is whether the merger or acquisition would be likely to harm consumers.

Another legislator criticized Facebooks acquisition strategy as a land grab. That vague accusation could conceivably be applied to any incumbent vendors merger or acquisition in the same or any adjacent market. Any vendors attempt at consolidating vertically (combining existing and acquired solutions via platformization) or horizontally (combining with competitors who operate in different geographies) could conceivably run afoul of this supposed antitrust criterion.

That would, of course, jeopardize the exit strategies of many startups and VCs looking for well-capitalized incumbents to buy them out. And that would have a disastrous impact on the flow of investment capital that has sustained the Silicon Valley miracle for the past half century.

FAANGs social, streaming, and advertising channels place them in partisan crossfire

The CEOs called to testify before Congress head some of the most innovative and successful enterprises in the history of American business. Why are these specific firms singled out for harsh scrutiny at the highest levels of U.S. government?

From a purely grandstanding point of view, legislators on both sides of the aisle made brownie points with their respective constituencies by raking FAANG CEOs over the coals. The hearings were designed to polarize the U.S. population in the run-up to the November election.

Its important to remember that Silicon Valley tends to skew culturally to Democratic, left-wing, libertarian, and other political causes that dont align with the agenda of President Donald Trump and his party. After all, Jeff Bezos owns the Washington Posta favorite whipping boy of the right wingand he has steadfastly maintained the newspaper as a high-quality, nonpartisan journalistic property, even in the face of conservative attacks dating back to the Nixon administration.

Other U.S.-based tech vendors who might have been called to testify, such as IBM and Oracle, probably didnt have sufficient visibility in consumer segments to grab the grassroots notice that the legislators were looking for from the hearings. Either that or these vendors may not be successful enough anymorehaving taken their competitive lumps in recent years from the likes of Amazon and Googleto elicit anything more than pity.

The lone exception to this is Microsoft, a consumer-grade icon and astonishing COVID-19 era success story whose CEO, Satya Nadella, was strangely missing from the proceedings. To underline how resurgent Microsoft now is, it recently reported revenue up 13 percent year over year, easily beating analyst expectations with all three of the companys operating groups seeing year-over-year growth even as the pandemic crunched down on their customers.

Perhaps Nadella was spared the indignity of testifying because Microsoft hasnt built or acquired major social, streaming, or advertising channels during the past few years. Until such time as Microsoft controls a prominent digital channel that can be used to influence campaigns, politicians probably wont feel the need to drag its CEO into these sorts of media events. Obviously, Trump knows that putting the screws to any relevant acquisition in that regard can effectively influence the sorts of political messages that may ultimately be encouraged over those channels.

Bear in mind that each of the tech CEOs called to testify before Congress controls social, streaming, or advertising channels. If you doubt that social media barons can cave to partisan political pressure, note that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly swallowed the right-wing accusation of liberal bias, resulting in Facebook relaxing misinformation rules for conservative pages.

Dont hold your breath waiting for Congress to take effective action

One might argue that, from the GOP side, one of the unstated purposes of the hearings was to tarnish the reputations of successful tech CEOs. Indeed, one of these individuals may be contemplating a future presidential bid come 2024. Thats not far-fetched, considering that former HP CEO Carly Fiorina tried and failed in the 2016 presidential election.

In addition, putting tech CEOs in an uncomfortable spotlight may also have distracted the public from the fact that the White House is currently occupied by a former CEO who has bankrupted almost every company he ever founded. The tech CEOs who took the virtual stand at the hearings are all quite good at what they do, as judged by their track records and recent financial results.

Another ulterior motive for Trumps supporters from the recent hearings might have been to gain leverage over the FAANGs in order to dissuade them from cracking down on any social-media-borne disinformation emanating from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in the weeks leading up to November 3.

Legislation unlikely this year

The recent congressional hearings were pure political theater. It would be ironic to call them Capitol Hill hearings, considering that the elected officials and tech executives were all participating virtually from their homes and other nontraditional locations.

Most of the legislators are battling for their own re-elections, so we will have to wait until the next Congress to see if there is any action on the antitrust, privacy, bias, censorship, and other tech-related matters that were discussed. Likewise, federal regulators are acutely aware that there may be change at the White House come January 20, so its unlikely that theyll undertake any radically new initiatives in the waning days of the current presidents term in office.

As we move into the latter part of the year, it would be surprising to see even a single new law or regulatory action result from what transpired in these recent hearings.
Pamphlets in hand, Brian Mayes knocked on doors in his ward Wednesday, a summer tradition for the St. Vital city councillor.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/8/2020 (518 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Pamphlets in hand, Brian Mayes knocked on doors in his ward Wednesday, a summer tradition for the St. Vital city councillor.

But it's a tradition that has taken on a different look and feel this year. With his nose and mouth covered by a mask, Mayes quickly backed about two metres away from each door in the Sage Creek neighbourhood before a resident could answer.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS With his nose and mouth covered by a mask, Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital) talks to homeowner Cheryl Lashek while door-knocking in Sage Creek.

"Im being responsible If (I) didnt have the mask, people would be upset," he said.

The politician said he decided to start door-knocking in late July, after seeking advice from city emergency management officials on how to do it safely.

Mayes said its valuable to connect with constituents face-to-face, even during a pandemic.

"Its a sounding board, you (hear) what people are thinking," he said.

Mayes said the reception at doorsteps has largely been welcoming, though there are some residents who quickly shut their doors.

Im being responsible If (I) didnt have the mask, people would be upset.  St. Vital city councillor, Brian Mayes

About a third of the councillors knocks werent answered Wednesday and another third were over as soon as a pamphlet changed hands. The rest took a few minutes to ask questions or chat.

Resident Cheryl Lashek said she felt the political visit was unusual during the pandemic.

"I think most people that come to your door are people that you are expecting," she said, adding that as long as public health recommendations are followed, it's not much different than a home delivery.

"Wearing masks, (keeping) the (physical) distance is important. If thats being respected, its good," she said.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Mayes backed about two metres away from each door after knocking, so he's at a safe distance if the homeowner answers.

Wearing masks, (keeping) the (physical) distance is important. If thats being respected, its good.  Sage Creek resident Cheryl Lashek on door knocking during a pandemic

Lisa Puddifant, another resident, agreed.

"Its crazy (times) but life has to go on and we all have a job to do and a responsibility to the community. As long as youre doing the safety precautions, you do what you need to do," Puddifant said.

Manitoba NDP MLA Jamie Moses also started door-knocking in July.

DAVID LIPNOWSKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES NDP MLA Jamie Moses at his campaign office in 2016.

Moses, who represents the provincial riding of St. Vital, said constituents have welcomed the visits.

"I think that its always really important to connect with your constituents, the people in your neighbourhood, to hear what theyre saying, especially now when things are changing so rapidly (due to the pandemic. You want to be able to have that connection with people that (you) represent," he said.

Moses said hes careful to wear a mask, keep his distance and check that people are comfortable to chat.

But opinions vary on whether door-knocking is safe. New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs announced his Progressive Conservative team wont go door-to-door or leave election materials in mailboxes before a Sept. 14 provincial election.

I think that its always really important to connect with your constituents, the people in your neighbourhood, to hear what theyre saying."  Manitoba NDP MLA Jamie Moses who started door knocking in July

And in the United States, the Democratic party has discouraged door-knocking, but Republicans continue to visit voters doorsteps.

Manitobas Liberal MLAs recently cancelled their plans to knock on doors for now. Leader Dougald Lamont said that decision was made after provincial COVID-19 case numbers began to rise.

"We want to make sure that the people whose door were knocking on stay safe. Thats the main thing," he said.

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On July 13 the number of active COVID-19 cases in the province was one. It was 223 Wednesday morning.

In an emailed statement, a Manitoba Progressive Conservative party spokesperson said the Tories have also "temporarily halted" door-to-door visits and large public gatherings, such as fundraisers, since the pandemic began.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga
BOSTON  Dianne Wilkerson wants Black Bostonians to volunteer for trials testing potential COVID-19 vaccines.

She understands why they're hesitant. Black Americans have a long history of being treated poorly by the medical establishment; many faced discrimination in medical care themselves.

Still, if they don't participate in the trials meant to establish vaccine safety and effectiveness, they'll never know whether the vaccines will work for them.

"The risks for not being involved are so great," said Wilkerson, a founding member of Boston's Black COVID-19 Coalition.

About 25% of the city's population is Black, yet Blacks have made up more than 35% of those infected and killed by COVID-19.

Nationally, the figures are even worse. Just over 80 Black Americans have died of COVID-19 out of every 100,000, compared with 46 Latino Americans and 36 white Americans, according to the American Public Media Research Lab.

Why diversity matters for vaccines

The first two large-scale vaccine trials began nationwide in late July, and at least three more will start before early fall. Each one will need 30,000 volunteers, half of whom will get an active vaccine and half a placebo.

Federal officials  including the heads of the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  have called for these trials to include a large number of people of color.

"We must make sure there is appropriate diversity in the clinical trials," FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn said in an recent interview with the editor of the scientific journal JAMA.

Even if everyone's immune system reacts the same way to the virus, differences in care and underlying health may mean people of color respond differently to infection, Hahn said: "We need to make sure those folks are in these trials so that we understand what the immunological effects are, but also the clinical effects."

Story continues

In addition to racial and ethnic diversity, most of the trials also are looking for people over 65. Older immune systems don't work as well as they used to, and older people have been disproportionately sickened and killed by the virus that causes COVID-19.

More people of color needed

Early trials haven't been diverse.

In the two small clinical trials that have published their results, one in The New England Journal of Medicine, one in The Lancet, only eight of 1,100 participants were Black. In both studies, participant age averaged in the mid-30s.

It's not for lack of enthusiasm in the trials. More than 300,000 people have already expressed interest in volunteering to participate.

The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, which is managing a registry of volunteers, is not breaking them down by demographic group. But Hahn said 19% of those who had volunteered so far were Black and nearly the same percentage were Latino.

And although 300,000 sounds like a lot of volunteers, it's not nearly enough, said Claire Hudson, a spokesperson for the center.

"Its important to note that we need millions of interested volunteers to join the online registry," coronaviruspreventionnetwork.org, she said via email.

Not all the people who express interest in volunteering will make it into one of the trials, Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, explained at a teleconference announcing the start of the first trial. Some volunteers might not live near testing sites, for instance.

"The more the better," Collins said of volunteers. "This is going to be a big American opportunity for people to come on board as our partners to try to take part in what has been a historic effort to bring to an end the worst pandemic our world has seen in over 100 years."

Inspiring more diverse volunteers

Dr. Barbara Pahud has a plan: If not enough people of color will come to major medical centers to volunteer for clinical trials, she'll bring the clinical trials to them.

As a medical student in Mexico, Pahud was given a cooler of shots to deliver to the community. Now, she's has outfitted a van that she plans to park  perhaps at a health center or church  to take vaccine trials where Americans of color spend their time.

Pahud, research director of pediatric infectious diseases at Childrens Mercy Kansas City, said she's also making an effort to hire people who speak Spanish, and to have all printed material available in two languages.

"The usual stuff that should always be done is actually being done this time, which is fantastic," she said.

Dr. Barbara Pahud, MD, MPH and Research Director of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Childrens Mercy Kansas City.

Researchers and community members will both need to take a risk.

"If we really want to do research that reflects the community that we live in, that is being impacted by this disease, we (researchers) need to change our mindset," Pahud said. On the flip side, "communities need to understand that if they want to benefit from the vaccine, they need to let their people volunteer, or we won't be able to know if the vaccine works in their population."

Others are making similar efforts.

At the University of Colorado, Thomas Campbell said his medical practice has used its electronic medical records to identify and reach out to everyone at high risk for COVID-19.

"I've already had over 100 people email me personally and said 'sign me up,'" said Campbell, also an infectious disease physician at UCHealth.

Pfizer, which has launched its own 30,000-person trial, is locating its trials in diverse communities, including some with large Hispanic and Black populations, spokesperson Sharon Castillo said.

"We're making sure that the demographics of our trial population reflects the demographics of the states and communities that have been most impacted," she said.

Pfizer also is working with partners, such as grassroots organizations and local and Spanish media, to raise awareness and encourage participation. And the company is reducing barriers to participation, Castillo said, by printing materials in five languages.

"We're learning a lot on how to go above and beyond to make sure minorities are represented," she said, promising that Pfizer would continue this approach in all its clinical trials going forward.

Outreach must come with change

But good intentions may not be enough.

Wilkerson said a recent meeting with officials at Brigham and Women's Hospital did not end where she wanted it to.

The hospital has reached out to Black leaders, including Wilkerson, for help in encouraging minority participation in these trials. Hospital officials said that meeting and others with local people of color have gone well.

"We are committed to continuing an engaging and substantive discussion on how we can work in partnership, both for the local implementation of this trial and in future clinical research more broadly," said Allison Moriarty, Brigham's vice president of research administration and compliance.

But Wilkerson said a few listening sessions and dropping flyers at local communities centers won't be enough to redress decades of mistrust, or to get Black Bostonians to participate.

"We have an opportunity to reset how (hospitals) relate to Black and brown people," she said, adding that her group plans to seize that opportunity: "We intend to get their attention."

Contact Karen Weintraub at kweintraub@usatoday.com

Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COVID vaccine trials: Black Americans, people of color are vital
Georgia Northwestern Technical College echocardiography student Christina Bullock has been named a 2020 Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) finalist while Mandy Jones, general education English instructor, has been chosen as a 2020 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year finalist by the Technical College System of Georgia.



The finalists were announced during a live streamed TCSG special presentation on Wednesday, Aug. 19.



I want to say thank you to everyone who has been in my corner and I am looking forward to participating in the state competition, said Ms. Bullock, a student on the Floyd County Campus. It is an honor to be a GOAL finalist.

At the age of four, Ms. Bullock entered the foster care system after her mother was incarcerated. It wasnt until her father, who didnt know she existed, found her at age seven that she was able to leave the system behind.



The 23-year-old was the first in her family to graduate high school, and Ms. Bullock said while that was an accomplishment unto itself, she knew she had to keep going.



In the middle of her senior year at Sonoraville High School, her dad was diagnosed with an aggressive form of lung cancer.



He was already disabled and barely making ends meet, I needed to get a job to help us both, Ms. Bullock said. He started his first round of chemotherapy and radiation, while I started my first job at Office Depot and first semester at Georgia Northwestern Technical College.



"After losing her father to a four-year-long cancer battle, Ms. Bullock has continued to show a strong work ethic, leadership and reliability in classroom attendance," said Dawn Irwin, instructor of echocardiography. "The GNTC GOAL winner also has maintained a 3.38 GPA while working full-time to pay for a mortgage and classes."

Even though my options were limited on where I could go to school, Georgia Northwestern was the only school around me with an accredited ultrasound program, she said. This meant I would have a better chance at getting a job right out of graduation.



Ms. Bullock has set her sights on graduating from GNTC this December to pursue her goal of a long-lasting career in ultrasound echocardiography.



I want to show my dad I made it, she said. Technical college is not just a stepping stone or a means to an end. It is my lifes work and it shows me that I was right to believe in myself.



The 2020 Student of the Year and state GOAL winner will serve as TCSGs student ambassador during a number of system and college functions throughout the year.



As the grand prize, a new automobile provided by Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia will be awarded to the state GOAL winner.



I am incredibly proud of Christina and all she has accomplished, said Trish Wiggins, GNTC Student Life coordinator. I am so happy for both her and Mandy. Our winners display the best Georgia Northwestern Technical College has to offer and they have worked exceptionally hard to reach this point in the competition. I know they will do well in the final judging.



An instructor at Georgia Northwestern since 2013, Mandy Jones is an English instructor on the Walker County Campus in Rock Spring. She is a resident of Chickamauga and has been an educator since 2005. Ms. Jones said that at GNTC she wanted to adjust her lesson plan so that it was more applicable to her students once they started their careers.



Creating relevance between my students needs and my curriculum was an essential part of becoming an effective English instructor at a technical college, said Ms. Jones.



She decided to do some research and found that many Georgia employers cited the lack of soft skills as a concern in their young employees.



Georgias top businesses want skilled laborers that can interact effectively, intuitively and harmoniously in the workplace, said Ms. Jones. They want skilled laborers that can be adaptable, flexible and think quickly on their feet.



Ms. Jones said that soft skills like communication, teamwork, problem solving and work ethics are crucial in todays workforce.



Deficiencies in soft skills may cause Georgia business leaders to hire outside of state lines, said Ms. Jones.



Mandy Jones is an exemplary instructor who always goes above and beyond to create a dynamic and fun learning environment for her students, said Beverly Padgett, GNTC Rick Perkins coordinator. She is full of both knowledge and personality, which her students benefit from in her classes. Both Mandy and Christina have worked extremely hard and are outstanding representatives of both GNTC and TCSG.



The Rick Perkins Award winner serves as an ambassador for technical education in Georgia. He or she will make many public appearances throughout the year, including addressing both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly.



A panel of leaders from business, industry and government will choose the Technical College System of Georgias GOAL and Rick Perkins Award winners for 2020 and recipient of the GOAL medallion. A virtual state competition is scheduled to be held in September 2020.


By Sukanya Roy, TwoCircles.net

Bahraich: Mohd. Najmuzzaman is a research scholar pursuing his PhD in Urdu literature at Aligarh Muslim University. He hails from Jarwal town in Uttar Pradesh. For the past three months, he has been unable to go home. He fears that he will be arrested by the local police, ever since his online activity has rendered him the subject of targeted communal attacks, intimidation and legal persecution.

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In April, Najmuzzaman shared a Facebook post of one shopkeeper Sabbu keeping his clothes shop open in Jarwal Kasba, flouting lockdown regulations. Since the matter had drawn scant attention, he urged the police to take stock of the implications it might have on public health and safety. Sabbu, a prominent member of the local traders association, reportedly shares a closeness with its president, BJP leader Pramod Kumar. Najmuzzaman questioned why influential people were exempted from following lockdown rules which were enforced persistently for poor traders.

Sabbus cousin, Iqrar Ahmad, retaliated to this post with abuses and death threats over a call. When Najmuzzaman tried to lodge a complaint against him, Jarwal police asked him to come to the station and submit an application. Najmuzzaman, who was stuck in Delhi due to the lockdown, was unable to do so. Consequently, his complaint was not recorded.

A week later, a minor from Jarwal was detained for sharing a status against Sabbu and company. When the minor came out of custody, people asked him why he had blamed Najmuzzaman in this case, which left him very surprised.

Najmuzzaman explained this to TwoCircles.net in two ways, Sabbus cousin, Iqrar Ahmed, saw this as a ripe opportunity to frame me. Firstly, I had shared the status against Sabbu who had kept his shop open during the lockdown.

Secondly, in December last year, some people in Jarwal had decided to take out a rally protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Bill. The police denied us permission. So, I had posted a picture of the police standing along with local members of BJP and allied traders, who had taken out a rally of their own in support of the controversial CAB, he added.

The Jarwal Police filed an FIR on 23 April, under Sec. 66 (1) and Sec. 505 (inciting communal disharmony), against him. It has been over 100 days since the FIR was filed, but the police have not detailed a chargesheet against Najmuzzaman. He says, It is fishy that a chargesheet has not been drawn out yet, which leaves it open to the possibility of arbitrary charges. I have applied for zamanat (bail) in the district court, but that is useless without a chargesheet, he said.

Najmuzzaman adds quietly, I am scared I will be walking into a trap. I have stayed away from home for Eid and Bakri-Eid now. I dont know when I will be able to return.

Speaking on the phone, his 70-year old mother, Shamsunnisa, said, I wait for him with a heavy heart. Every day I ask him, when are you coming home? I am very troubled by his condition, and hope he can be by my side soon.

The sinister angle to Najmuzzamans name being included in the FIR is the police backing it up with a video of an anti-CAB protest at Aligarh Muslim University, where one can catch a glimpse of him shouting slogans during the burning of the draft bill. The official perspective on Najmuzzamans accusation proves one thing: a rightful exercise of ones freedom to peacefully protest, may be taken out of context when a suitable political need arises.

On 15 August, first-year journalism student Misbah was arrested for sharing an Independence Day message criticising the RSS. On 4 August, police arrested six people from Jarwal Kasba. One of them had posted a status regarding completion of one year since Kashmirs semi-autonomous status was revoked, and the inauguration of Ram Mandir in this context.

TwoCircles.net spoke to Sahibe Aalam, one of those arrested and sent to jail. On 4 August, my friend, Aleem Ahmad was arrested by the police at 11 am for posting the status. He sent out a broadcast message on WhatsApp informing friends of the situation. I was concerned, so I took out my bike and rode to the police station 9 kilometres away, says Aalam, the owner of a four-wheeler repairing shop.

When I arrived, I saw that the police had confiscated Aleems phone and the cyber cell team had arrived. They sent a few people over to my shop and confiscated my phone as well. Then they summoned Qamruddin Babbu to the PS, another friend of ours, and took his phone too. We were charged under Sections 153 (A) and (B), 295 (A), 298, 505 (1) and (2). All of these criminalise the spread of divisive ideas on grounds of race, religion and caste.

Further, Shahabuddin, Salman Ahmad and Md. Fahad was also asked to come to the station. Then, their gruelling wait started. All six of them were kept in custody at the police station for over 55 hours. They kept asking us, what are you all up to, tell us everything. We didnt know what to say, we didnt have a secret plan. Sure we were sharing dissenting messages, but how can we agree to word-to-word with something unfair that the government is doing? asks Aalam.

The press note released by the Jarwal police on 6 August paints a false narrative of the situation, he says. It mentions that Aleem, Sahibe Aalam and Qamruddin were found sitting together in Aleems chemist shop and sharing online propaganda messages. They had to be nabbed as a preventive measure against communal unrest. Soon, the trio was taken to the District Jail where they were kept for another 25 hours before being produced in front of the magistrate.

We were at our respective places of work that day. Qamruddin doesnt even have a smartphone, what online messages could he have shared? There has been an atmosphere of fear since December of last year in Jarwal. People are being arrested for false or vague reasons. We too were asked many questions but didnt get any answers, Aalam states.

Shahabuddin, Salman and Fahad were released after the 55-hour detention. However, this experience was not without its scars for them either.

Shahbuddin, who is a middle-school teacher in Jarwal, says, I lost my face after this incident. My students were wondering why their teacher was taken into police custody. People in my neighbourhood also cast their suspicion on me. I feel it will be difficult to recover my reputation now, although I didnt do anything illegal.

He adds, The children of our community cant be blind to the situation in their country, and just study their textbooks. Arent these detentions demotivating them to think critically?

Although Najmuzzaman is still unable to go home and has regular anxieties regarding his future, he quotes a couplet by Rahat Indori, not only to honour the famed Urdu poets memory but illustrate his own predicament, as he finds his life mirrored in art: Wo keh raha hai ke kuch dino me mita ke rakh dunga nasl teri / hai uski aadat dara raha hai, hai meri fitrat dara nahi hu (translation: they claim that they will wipe out my breed soon/ while it is their habit to threaten, my spirit keeps me unafraid).
Thousands of Californians are being evacuated in Central California due to an explosion of wildfires, exacerbated by a damaging heat wave. Smoke from the fires is affecting San Francisco and the surrounding metropolitan area, endangering the health of more than five million residents. Air quality in Southern California has also worsened significantly.

At last count there were one hundred fires raging across California. A heat wave of historic proportions is affecting the entire state. Last Sunday temperatures reached 107 degrees Fahrenheit (41.7 Celsius) in coastal Santa Cruz, south of San Francisco, and 130 degrees Fahrenheit in Death Valley (54.4 Celsius) on the California-Nevada Border, one of the hottest temperatures ever recorded. Temperatures along the agricultural Central Valley exceeded 110 degrees F (38.3 C). The heat wave has triggered numerous lightning storms (firenadoes) that are igniting the dry vegetation beneath.

The entire state has been affected and a state of emergency has been declared. There are not enough fire crews (the fire-fighting system relies in part on prison labor), airplanes and helicopters to adequately put out the fires.

This week California Governor Gavin Newsom (a Democrat) openly admitted that, while this climate crisis had been anticipated, the state was not prepared for the current situation. A simple question arises: Why?

A recent article in the Los Angeles Times likened the current heat wave and fire emergency to the 2006 heat wave that resulted in thousands of emergency room visits for heat-related illness and hundreds of excess deaths. Medical experts are bracing for a jump in such heat casualties, which they fear will be worsened by the closure of air-conditioned public spaces due to coronavirus restrictions, the newspaper reported.

Scientists are also concerned that the heat wave is not abating, due to high humidity and high nighttime temperatures, making it harder for people to cool off, increasing the risk of heat strokes, dehydration and other ailments. Extreme heat also increases the risk of complications for people with a spectrum of chronic illnesses including kidney disease, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Three meteorological events combined are producing this heat and wildfire emergency: a heat wave affecting the western part of the US, Tropical Storm Elida, and a thunderstorm in northern Mexico. This combination of heat, moisture and high pressure resulted in lighting strikes and tornado-like winds.

Like the COVID-19 pandemic, this weather pattern and the wildfires are entirely predictable and are the direct result of the global warming crisis. This has raised average temperatures in California and across the world, as carbon dioxide levels continue to increase the number of wildfires. Californias fire season starts earlier and lasts longer each year. In 2018 there were 78 more fire days that in 1968. Fires have also gotten deadlier and larger.

Even before the heat wave, and before the pandemic broke out in force, there were predictions in April that the current fire season would be worse than others due to the lack of snow accumulation in the northern California mountains, creating drier conditions at higher altitudes, potential fuel for high altitude wildfires. So far in 2020 there have been over 6,000 wildfires, including the hundreds that are currently burning, compared to a total of a little over 8,000 in 2019.

However, the response to all three natural calamities reveals a criminal lack of preparation in the state. There are not enough firefighters and not enough equipment.

During the last few decades, much of the hand work in fighting fires was done by state prisoners. Typically, crews of 17 prisoners each are deployed every wildfire season. Prisoners are paid a miserable stipend of between $2 and $5 per day and $1 per hour. At times, working 24-hour shifts, these so-called volunteers are brutally exploited. They are used for back-breaking tasks, such as cutting fire breaks around communities. Up until this year, there were more than 2200 prisoner-firefighters.

When not fighting fires, inmate firefighters carry out conservation and community service projects, performing a wide range of duties, such as clearing brush and fallen trees to reduce the chance of fire, maintaining parks, sand bagging, flood protection and reforestation.

Despite their performance and training, after their release the ex-prisoners are not allowed to become civilian fire fighters. Even before the current coronavirus pandemic the number of eligible prisoners was declining. This year 77 crews were formed before the pandemic set in, down from 90 in 2019. By late June, the rate of COVID-19 infections among prisoner fire crews had placed 12 of the 43 northern California inmate fire crews out of commission, following a massive coronavirus outbreak in the Lassen County Prison, where prison fire crews are trained. Since then the lockdown lowered the number of crews available to 30.

There is also not enough capacity in the electricity grid to respond to heat waves that are becoming increasingly common. A 2018 Statewide Summary Report warned of the coming shortage of electricity due to the changing climate conditions.

On August 14, as temperatures were rising, the manager of Californias Independent System Operator (ISO), which manages the electricity grid, called on utilities to cut power to hundreds of thousands. Such rolling blackouts had not taken place in the state since May 2001, when, as a result of market manipulation by the Enron Corporation, millions were denied electricity in a series of rolling blackouts.

Over the weekend the ISO restricted electric supply to Californias electricity and power monopolies. The blackouts affected over 400,000 people.

Once again, these devastating developments have the power to reveal the inability of the capitalist system to utilize its enormous social resources to protect lives and the environment. Instead, the state hands out trillions to banks with no strings attached and a tiny oligarchy reaps unprecedented profits while working people look death in the eye on a daily basis.
If one truly understands the policies advocated by today's Democrat party, one will indeed be challenged not to agree that the party and its leaders are, in fact, enemies of America's constitutional republic, founding documents, and indeed the Founders themselves.

Students of American history (taught prior to the advent of so called "progressive" far-leftist teachers and professors) know that America's Founders intended for the new nation to be one with limited government, an abundance of individual liberty, and free markets, along with guaranteed freedoms of speech, religion, the right to bear arms, and other freedoms and rights contained in the original Bill of Rights.

The Founders placed heavy emphasis on citizens being individually responsible for their behavior and actions. While the term "capitalism" is not in America's founding documents, this is the economic system that allowed the nation to become the world's economic powerhouse, making it possible for fewer and fewer persons to live in poverty than ever before.

Regrettably, the above American attributes and successes are opposed by today's Democrat party as evidenced by the following examples of "enemy traits":

1. Democrats advocate for socialism or what some of them call "democratic socialism." Regardless of terms, Democrats have "harmful designs" against the nation's economic, political, and social fabric and underpinnings. They want to greatly enlarge the role of government in every citizen's life. No more limited government (or what's left of it) for America; Democrats want and lust for greater control and power over the daily lives of Americans.

2. Democrats have "harmful designs" and exhibit "antagonistic activities" against Americans' freedom of speech and religion rights. Democrats and Democrat-supported and controlled organizations regularly censor the words and speech of non-Democrats who do not support the Democrat agenda. Democrats initiate legal action against Christians and other religious groups who use their freedom of speech rights to speak against some of the social doctrines of the Democrat party.

3. Democrats have "harmful designs" and exhibit "antagonistic activities" against the 2nd Amendment rights of Americans to bear arms. Evidence of such designs and activities is found in the Democrat party's insistence upon and dedication to gun confiscation via mandatory gun buy-back programs in different states.

4. Democrats have "harmful designs" and exhibit "antagonistic activities" against America having secure national borders to better control and prevent illegal immigration, drug-smuggling, and human-trafficking into the United States. Democrats advocate for and sponsor sanctuary cities and states where the protection of illegal aliens, many with criminal records, is paramount.

5. Democrats have "harmful designs" against American capitalism and free markets. Democrats believe that socialism is the best thing for America where the government or government-controlled entities control the means of production, set prices, determine products and services to produce and provide, and so forth. A prime example of such disastrous, centralized planning was the Obamacare hospitalization program with the individual mandate.

6. Democrats have "harmful designs" and exhibit "antagonistic activities" against America's police departments by advocating for these departments to be defunded in one way or another. In other words, Democrats care more about maintaining chaos and crime in America than they care about maintaining law and order and the protection of law-abiding citizens.

7. Lastly, Democrats in general exhibit deep vitriol for a duly elected president of the United States, and this hatred extends to the people and voters and the electoral system that enabled the currently sitting president to take office.

In conclusion, the above examples of "enemy traits" exhibited and practiced by members of the Democrat party fully warrant characterizing this organization as an enemy of the United States. Voters will be wise to refuse to place into any political office any and all candidates supporting the Democrat platform and policies.

Paul S. Gardiner is a retired Army officer, Vietnam veteran, and avid lover of America. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Alabama, and the United States Army War College.
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Personal Lubricant Market Growth & Trends

The global personal lubricant market size is expected to reach USD 1.6 billion by 2026, based on a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., exhibiting a CAGR of 8.1%. New product launches to meet demand for natural lubricants is expected to aid market growth over the forecast period.

Emerging players are trying to capture higher share by developing lubricants made from natural and organic ingredients. Good Clean Love, Inc., an Oregon-based company in the U.S., was the first to develop organic lubricants. In November 2016, the company received a patent for its formulation of organic lubricants.

Moreover, promotional activities from manufacturers to destigmatize societal perception of using personal lubricants has positively impacted growth. For instance, in January 2019, Reckitt Benckisers Durex brand launched a marketing campaign on a global platform to challenge the misconceptions of using lubricants for female sexual discomfort.

Request a free sample copy or view report summary: Personal Lubricant Market Report

Personal Lubricant Market Report Highlights

Water-based lubricants dominated the market in 2018, owing to lower prices and as they are easy to wash off

Leading brands such as Durex, Sliquid, and Astroglide retail a range of water-based lubricants with variations in flavors, pack size, and packaging

In July 2018, Trigg Laboratories, Inc. reinvented its entire product line with new packaging and products, which had contemporary, sleek, and modern designs. It also launched a new product lineWet Hemptation and Wet Dessert

The growing presence of e-commerce platforms and online retailers that offer freedom to select any product and make discrete delivery has helped overcome social taboo of buying these products

Manufacturers, retail pharmacies, and supermarkets have also launched websites for providing easy access to customers.

Geographically, North America held the largest share in 2018. The personal lubricant market is regulated by the U.S. FDA and manufacturers must comply with good manufacturing practices, and receive 510(k) medical device clearance for marketing

In May 2016, Trigg Laboratories received FDA approval for Wet Original Personal lubricant by meeting the provisions for labeling, good manufacturing practices and prohibitions against adulteration and misbranding

According to U.S. Census data and National Consumer survey, in 2018, K-Y lubricants were used by 28.58 million people, aiding it to capture significant share in the U.S.

Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing market during the forecast period. Aging population and high incidence of vaginal dryness & erectile are anticipated to drive demand.

Personal Lubricant Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global personal lubricant market based on type, distribution channel, and region:

Personal Lubricant Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2026)

Water-Based

Silicone-Based

Oil-Based

Personal Lubricant Distribution Channel Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2026)

E-commerce

Drug Stores

Others

Personal Lubricant Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2026)

North America US. Canada

Europe UK Germany France Italy Spain

Asia Pacific China Japan India

Latin America Brazil Mexico Argentina

Middle East & Africa South Africa Saudi Arabia



About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.
- A Swedish man based in Dubai has decided to go back home to his family and opted to sell his mega-mansion with a free Rolls-Royce and a Ferrari

- The luxury house owned by Michael Alibhai is to be sold for the sum of 25 million (KSh 3.9 billion)

- He says after completing the house just a week ago, he came to understand the importance of family

A 14,000-square-foot mega-mansion in Dubai with a free Rolls-Royce and Ferrari is up for sale at 25 million (KSh 3.9 billion).

The mega-mansion is said to have been completed just a week ago for a Swedish entrepreneur and it is located on Dubais Palm Jumeirah island.

READ ALSO: Skilled woman wows social media with her simulated airplane restaurant

The luxury house, which is owned by Michael Alibhai, is to be sold for the sum of KSh 3.9 billion. Photo: How Africa

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Woman makes it big, buys mansion sitting on 53-acre-land

According to the How Africa, a Rolls-Royce Wraith Coupe and a Ferrari 599 GTO are also being sold alongside the house.

The owner, Michael Alibhai, said he wanted to move back to his native country Sweden to be with his family.

READ ALSO: Alexei Navalny: Russian opposition leader hospitalised after suspected poisoning

The owner of the mega-mansion has decided to return to Sweden to be with his family. Photo: How Africa

Source: UGC

A fully custom mustard-yellow Harley-Davidson Ultra Glide is also being sold with the house. The car is parked as a piece of art in the hallway.

Speaking of his decision to sell the house, 43-year-old Alibhai said just as he had completed the piece of art, he came to realise the importance of family.

READ ALSO: Mali coup: Colonel Assimi Goita declares himself new military leader after Keita's ouster

The mansion boasts of sculptures from Finnish artist Eero Arnio and French artist Richard Orlinsky. Photo: How Africa

Source: UGC

I have been missing out on valuable moments in life and having close friends passing away during COVID-19 forced me to reconsider my life," he said.

The mansion boasts of sculptures from Finnish artist Eero Arnio and French artist Richard Orlinsky.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Disabled school director moves into his office, hawks sweets to make ends meet

The owner of the house says after completing the house just a week ago, he came to understand the importance of family. Photo: How Africa

Source: UGC

One will find furniture like Fendi and Bentley in the mansion.

There is also a champagne vault stocked with Cristal and vintage Dom Perignon.

In other news, Real estate mogul Nick Candy is selling his yacht for the sum of 59.5 million (KSh 7,615,894,607) and his reason was that he wants to build a bigger one.

The billionaire businessman said people tend to have a change sometimes and at this point in his life, he is still expanding.

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
HALIFAX - Nova Scotias response in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic shrunk its surplus to $2.3 million for the fiscal year that ended March 31  a figure $31.3 million smaller than initially projected in the 2019 budget.

Finance Minister Karen Casey said Thursday the province saw a $485.5-million increase in expenses, mainly due to $120 million in COVID-19 relief funding, demand for various health care and other social services, and the remediation of Boat Harbour.

The impact of our COVID-19 response has been significant, Casey told reporters. The month of March saw the beginning of that impact.

Also on the books, Casey said, is an additional $50 million for a COVID-19 support fund for individuals and businesses, which is being managed through an agreement with Dalhousie University. The new money doubles the fund to $100 million.

In total, she said there was an additional $198 million in spending by 14 government departments.

Another notable new cost was $40 million for the now-closed Northern Pulp effluent treatment lagoons near the Pictou Landing First Nation. Officials estimated the cleanup of Boat Harbour, which has yet to begin, will cost $291.9 million.

The new spending was partially offset by revenues that were up $454.1 million from the 2019 budget, primarily because the province collected more in taxes and in federal transfer payments.

At year end, the net debt was $15.2 billion, while the net-debt-to-GDP ratio for fiscal 2019-20 was 33.1 per cent.

Casey said a stronger economy over the last two years enabled the Liberal government to balance its books for the fourth consecutive year  although just barely.

That track record is definitely in peril after the province said in late July it would end fiscal 2020-21 with a projected $853-million deficit, because of costs associated with the pandemic and the resulting economic downturn.

Our province was strong coming into this pandemic and we will continue to focus on the health and well-being of Nova Scotians, Casey said. And we will continue to apply the same principles of good fiscal management as we move through the recovery phase in the months ahead.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 20, 2020.

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The commerce ministry has initiated a review to see whether there is a need for continuation of existing anti-dumping duty imposed on the import of certain auto components from China. Local company Bharat Forge Ltd has lodged a complaint with the ministry's investigation arm the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) for the review of the duties on imports of front axle beam and steering knuckles, used in heavy and medium commercial vehicles, from China.

Bharat Forge Ltd has requested for continuation of the anti-dumping duty imposed on the product coming from China. According to a notification of the directorate, the applicant has alleged likelihood of continuation or recurrence of dumping of the goods from China and consequent injury to the domestic industry.

Also read: Auto component industry records worst performance in FY20, dips 12%

India on April 12, 2010 imposed the duty for five years.The duty was again extended for another five years in October 2015 after the first sunset review. The current anti-dumping duties are valid up to October 20, 2020.

It has said that there is "sufficient prima facie evidence" that the normal value of the goods in China is higher than the ex-factory export price, "indicating, prima facie, that the subject goods are being dumped into the Indian market by the exporters" from China. "For the purpose of this investigation, China is the subject country...the period of investigation will be from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020. The injury investigation period will cover the periods April 1, 2016 to March 31 2019," it added.

Also read: India's dependence on China for APIs exposes vulnerabilities in pharma: Jairam Ramesh

Countries initiate anti-dumping probes to check if domestic industry has been hurt because of a surge in below-cost imports. As a counter-measure, they impose duties under the multilateral WTO regime.

Also read: Chingari receives funding from Tinder CPO and OLX founder
YEREVAN, AUGUST 20, ARMENPRESS. Converse Bank has received Euro STP Excellence Award 2019 from Commerzbank AG for operational excellence in processing of international transfers via SWIFT both quantity and quality-wise.

We are happy to announce that Converse Bank has been awarded with the Euro STP Excellence Award 2019 by Commerzbank AG for operational excellence in processing of international transfers via SWIFT both quantity and quality-wise. This prominent award once again proves that services provided by Converse Bank meet the highest international standards where the processing of remittences is fully automated ensuring the highest speed of execution. In past years, Converse Bank has been awarded with the Euro STP Excellence Award 2017 and Euro STP Excellence Award 2018 by KBC Bank NV., Brussels for operational excellence in execution of international transfers.

Worth to note that in 2019 Converse Bank was also presented with the Trade Finance Award 2018 prize by Commerzbank AG for unprecedented high volume of transactions, in honor of excellent cooperation in Trade Finance, and in recognition of high-level and successful relationship.

The oversight of the Bank is exercised by the Central Bank of Armenia, ARMENPRESS reports reads the statement of Converse Bank.
I had a Chinese scholar say to me: If we could convince all the countries in the world to come together and damage those pillars of U.S. strength, we could not be as successful as Donald Trump has been single-handedly, said Paul Haenle, director of the Carnegie-Tsinghua Center in Beijing and former China director on the National Security Council under Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush.
Raging wildfires throughout the Bay Area are pumping out massive amounts of wildfire smoke, and where this sooty air settles is highly dependent on wind activity and patterns.

With an ocean breeze in the forecast, Friday is likely to see smoke conditions similar to those on Thursday, when coastal areas experienced moderate air-quality levels and inland areas sat under a thick blanket of sooty air with levels dropping to unhealthy levels.

The best air quality across the region is expected mid-morning with levels deteriorating in all areas through the day. But keep in mind, smoke forecasts are difficult to nail down as the slightest shift of wind can move a mass of smoke from one area to another.

"The amount of smoke in the air depends on where youre at," said Roger Gass, a forecaster with the National Weather Service's Monterey office. "A good portion of the Bay Area doesnt look as bad this morning. The heavier concentrations are still in the Central Valley and still along the Central Coast and Monterey Bay Area. As long as we see the fires burn, the overall air flow is going to push smoke into the Bay Area."

On Friday morning, low pressure off the coast is pushing a marine layer onto the coast and winds kicked up, pushing smoke from the coast areas into valleys. This gives residents some coastal relief from the choking air while socking the East Bay in with heavy smoke. On the immediate coast the smoke was trapped under a marine layer in the early morning and beaches smelled like a BBQ.

As the coastal winds move inland, over the mountains and through the Delta, they shift more westerly, further pushing the smoke to the east. The California Central Valley is experiencing some of the worst air quality levels in the world.

This weather pattern is expected to continue into Saturday. High pressure and hot temperatures are forecast to return as early as Sunday and into next week, and poor air quality is likely to be more widespread and return to the coast.

NWS forecaster Drew Peterson said that fire activity tends to increase in the later afternoon and overnight, pumping out high amounts of smoke, and late morning is typically the best time to step outside for a walk or run if you want to avoid smoky conditions. If you smell smoke outside, the Air District advises staying inside.

In a Wednesday press conference, S.F. Mayor London Breed advised residents to stay indoors amid smoky conditions. "Please continue to stay home as much as possible," Breed said. "Its important for the slowing of COVID-19 and limiting exposure to wildfire smoke."

The city said there are no plans at this point to close testing centers due to air quality but officials are exploring opening clean-air centers with social distancing measures in place.

RELATED: Northern Calif.'s air is worst in the world, according to real-time air quality index

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued a Spare the Air alert through Sunday, warning of the high amount of particulate matter pollution in the air.

"It is illegal for Bay Area residents and businesses to burn wood or manufactured fire logs in fireplaces, wood stoves and inserts, pellet stoves, outdoor fire pits, or any other wood burning devices," the district said. "In addition to not burning wood, you can help improve air quality by working remotely and driving less every day."

In the grips of a rare summer weather pattern marked by blistering heat and violent thunderstorms, California has seen hundreds of wildfires sparked by lightning strikes erupt into monstrous conflagrations that are tearing through a parched landscape and swallowing homes.

Cal Fire spokesperson Jeremy Rahn spoke to the extreme conditions at a Wednesday press briefing and said in the last three days the state experienced a "historic lightning siege" with 10,849 lightning strikes starting more than 367 fires in three days.

In all, these fires have burned 300,000 acres, he said. The greater San Francisco Bay Area is seeing some of the state's most severe wildfire conditions with raging blazes in the North Bay, Peninsula, South Bay and East Bay.

Find updates on air quality here.

MORE WILDFIRE COVERAGE:

Map: See where wildfires are burning in Bay Area

CZU Lightning Complex: Fire grows at rate of 700-1,000 acres an hour in Santa Cruz, San Mateo

LNU Lightning Complex: 4 dead, nearly 500 homes destroyed in North Bay fires

SCU Lightning Complex: Blaze spreads to 230k acres across five counties overnight

What to do to keep wildfire smoke out of your house

Amy Graff is the news editor for SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.
Storm Ellen has hit the southern coast of Ireland, with winds over Co Cork becoming very severe and destructive as the night progressed, with reports of power cuts and fallen trees blocking roads. Social media also carried reports of coastal flooding.

Tweets from Cork Safety Alerts reported trees down and blocking roads across the county. Flooding is reported in Skibbereen, while power outages across Cork are thought to be affecting thousands of homes. There was also lightening and thunder in the Macroom area.

This shouldnt be happening in Skibbereen.Millions spent on flood protection.The entire town should be dry even in this intense rainfall. Part of me is not surprised. The flood committee flagged that this area needed more protection.OPW need to provide answers. #StormEllen pic.twitter.com/pPr061LOz9

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 Christopher OSullivan TD (@COSullivanTD) August 19, 2020

Winds were reaching 115km/h in gusts at the Fastnet Rock lighthouse at 11pm.

Met Eireann has issued a status red warning for wind in Co Cork, which is in effect until midnight.

The rest of Munster, and counties Galway and Mayo are under a status orange alert lasting until 6am on Thursday.

The Kinsale Energy Platform gusting to 139kmh now! #StormEllen pic.twitter.com/6Njws7QBCt  Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) August 19, 2020

Forecasters think a rare sting jet could develop, bringing the potential for a narrow corridor of 160km/h wind gusts to buffet parts of the country.

Sting jets are notoriously difficult to forecast but have occurred in Ireland before  the damage caused by Storm Darwin in February 2014 may have been due to a sting jet.

Cork County Council advised home owners around the county, particularly in coastal areas, to stay indoors.

Property owners, residents and visitors are advised to prepare for this dangerous weather event, to protect property, to avoid unnecessary journeys and stay indoors during the warning periods, the council in a statement.

People holidaying or living on campsites and caravan parks have been warned to seek alternative accommodation, with head of Coast Guard operations Gerard OFlynn saying people should avoid the coast.

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Were heading towards what we call astronomical high end, low water tide which means we get a very, very high tide and very, very low tide, he said.

We are asking people to stay away from the coast and to stay away from the sea and to avoid the temptation to try and get a fancy photograph or a selfie.

People get hit by waves crashing on the Front Strand in Youghal, Co Cork. Photo: Niall Carson/PA

A red wind warning has been issued by Met Eireann for Co Cork, and an orange warning has been issued for counties Galway, Mayo, Clare, Kerry, Limerick and Waterford, as Storm Ellen sweeps across the country. Photo: Niall Carson/PA

The head of forecasting with Met Eireann, Evelyn Cusack, warned that as Storm Ellen approaches orange weather alerts could be issued anywhere across the country.

The rest of the country has been issued with a status yellow wind warning for Wednesday night and throughout Thursday.

Ms Cusack told Newstalk Breakfast that Storm Ellen will hit Kerry and the south-west of Ireland on Wednesday evening and then head up along the west coast and possibly pass across the remainder of the country overnight.

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The worst of the winds will be during the night hours, she said, but there could be damage as this is the time of the year when trees are in full leaf and it is also one of the wettest months.

Ms Cusack added that while the worst of the winds should have passed over the country on Wednesday night, there would still be gales and high seas on Thursday and Friday.

While the storm itself may pass tonight, you're in for very, very poor unseasonable weather and a very challenging few days.

Western Europe + Atlantic Infra Red Satellite Animation showing Track of #StormEllen.

All current warnings see https://t.co/ozrQHtoOkt pic.twitter.com/KbUdEuepM5  Met Eireann (@MetEireann) August 19, 2020

The nationwide yellow alert could escalate to orange alerts because of the uncertainty associated with the storm, she said. So all areas really have to be on alert for orange level impacts tonight.

Ms Cusack also warned of flooding, both in coastal areas, and also from rivers and in inland areas. There could be high waves on lakes, she said and she advised that people should not be out hill-walking.

Though a storm in August is unusual, it is not unprecedented  Hurricane Charlie hit the country at the same time of year in 1986.

Storm Ellen is also unlikely to be a record breaker. Irelands worst storm on meteorological record is still the Big Wind of 1839, while Storm Darwin on February 12th, 2014, may have caused the most damage.

Additional reporting: Vivienne Clarke, Press Association
Asked about the matter, Trump told reporters he had heard rumors that Harris, a Black woman and U.S.-born citizen whose parents were immigrants, does not meet the requirement to serve in the White House. The president said he considered the rumors very serious, but later he and his campaign indicated they were not making an issue of the claim. Constitutional lawyers have dismissed it as nonsense.
An aerial view of the flooded area in China's southwestern Chongqing on Aug. 19, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinese Officials Warn That Worst Yet to Come as Flooding Reaches New Record

Months of sustained downpours have battered China with floods unseen in decades, displacing millions and testing the limits of the worlds largest hydroelectric dam.

Such rainfall is far from over, according to Chinese officials who, in a rare admission, said grim challenges are ahead.

July and August usually bring some of the heaviest rains in China, which swell the flood-prone Yangtze River. Yet, Zhou Xuewen, the vice minister of water resources tasked with containing floods, said the rain season will continue through September, with a very high likelihood of severe floodings, according to a recent State Council Information Office press conference.

The flooding since June has affected at least 63.5 million people and caused close to 179 billion yuan ($25.9 billion) in direct economic losses, according to authorities. Stormwaters have overwhelmed more than 600 Chinese rivers and destroyed harvests in 1.14 million hectares (more than 2.8 million acres) of arable land in the lower reaches of the Yangtze.

Typhoons and more rains are expected to befall northern China in the coming weeks.

The Three Gorges Dam saw its water rise to 16.81 meters (55.15 feet) above warning level on Aug. 20, the highest peak since the dam was commissioned in 2003. Its predicted to climb by another 3.7 meters (12.1 feet) on Aug. 22. Eleven discharge gates were opened on Aug. 20 to ease pressure on the dam.

While Beijing has consistently asserted that the site, built along the upper reaches of Yangtze River, has shielded surrounding regions from flooding, experts have raised concerns that the structure has made matters worse.

A security guard looking at his smartphone while water is released from the Three Gorges Dam, a gigantic hydropower project on the Yangtze River, to relieve flood pressure in Yichang, central Chinas Hubei Province, on July 19, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Whether the Three Gorges can play a role in preventing flooding in the current situation, or if the Chinese government has deceived the Chinese public from the beginningthis has been made pretty clear for people throughout the years, Wang Weiluo, a Chinese hydrologist based in Germany, told The Epoch Times in a recent interview.

The megacity Chongqing experienced its most widespread flooding in four decades on Aug. 18, forcing authorities to raise the flood alert to the maximum level. The citys officials shouted via loudspeakers for anyone on the streets to take urgent safety measures before the flood water rushed in.

In nearby Sichuan Province, as muddy waters rose over the toes of the 233-foot Leshan Giant Buddha statue, officials had to evacuate about 180 tourists from the 1,200-year-old UNESCO World Heritage site.

In Gansu Province, northeast of Sichuan, mudslides blocked a river in the tourist town of Bikou in Wen County and created a large lake, while waters submerged several four-story buildings, according to interviews with locals and media reports.

The owner of a rice noodle restaurant, located near the local government buildings, learned the news from her relatives, who warned her and her husband to run to whichever high place you can think of. They left hurriedly, leaving everything inside, including cash and their phones, to be lost to the floods.

If we were slower by just a bit, my husband and I  would have drowned in there, she told The Epoch Times.

Rescuers evacuating residents at a flooded area following heavy rains in Leshan in Chinas southwestern Sichuan Province, on Aug. 18, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Another local restaurant owner described the flooding as the most damaging he could remember.

This year has had the most disasters, he said. It has rained way too much.

When Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited Chongqing on Aug. 20, however, local officials appeared eager to strike a different tune.

Li walked through the receding floodwaters in mud-covered rain boots, accompanied by the citys Communist Party secretary, Chen Miner.

Please raise any difficulties you have, Li said to a crowd of local officials, according to a video that has since generated internet buzz. Before Li finished his next sentence, a voice cut him off: We dont have any difficulties right now.
By Gabriela Baczynska

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union has so far rebuffed British calls for talks on a deal to allow London to send unwanted migrants back to Europe from 2021, and could use the issue as potential leverage in wider Brexit negotiations, diplomats and officials said.

The agenda for this week's EU-UK talks on their future relationship after a post-Brexit transition period runs out at the end of 2020 did not include specific talks on returning migrants, though London has long pressed for such a deal.

Brussels diplomats and officials following discussions on Britain's departure from the bloc told Reuters the EU was playing hard to get, believing an agreement on migrants was more important to Britain than the bloc's 27 member states.

Hundreds of people, including some children, have tried to cross the English Channel to southern England from makeshift camps in northern France this month - many navigating one of the world's busiest shipping routes in overloaded rubber dinghies.

Britain's Home Office said this week the uptick in the numbers attempting the perilous crossing was frustrating.

"That is why the (government) is committed ... to ensuring we have legislation ready following the end of the transition period," it said. "This legislation will build on our continuing work with the French government to stop these crossings."

Britain wants to be able to ship such migrants back to France or Belgium, where they embarked.

But without a new deal with the EU, once its current arrangements with the bloc end it would be obliged under international humanitarian law to take responsibility for anyone landing on its coast, being fished from the water by its ships or brought to its ports by other vessels.

Unlike with Turkey, where the EU needed a migration pact to ensure Ankara keeps on its soil the millions of Middle Eastern refugees it hosts - the 27 EU countries are in no rush.

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"The UK has interest in this. We can wait," said an EU diplomat dealing with migration. "The 27 are not that worried. Of that, 25 do not really care at all. France and Belgium can be to some extent preoccupied, but far less than the UK is."

Authorities on Wednesday found a dead Sudanese boy on a beach in northern France, as Paris and London said they would shut down the migrant route across the Channel.

SECURITY TRADE-OFF

Sources in Brussels hope a final Brexit agreement will be ready for an Oct.15-16 EU leaders' summit, allowing time for ratification by year-end, though some have warned it might come later.

EU sources said migration would not ultimately be a deal maker or breaker in the negotiations, where fisheries and state aid arrangements are the biggest lingering hurdles.

But a second EU diplomat said migration could play a role, suggesting a trade-off for talks on a new security and defence pact, which the bloc wants but London has refused to engage in so far.

"If they don't get the overall deal - they don't have a migration deal either," said the person, speaking on condition of anonymity. "If they do go for a deal - they may get something on migration as well."

The U.N. migration agency expressed concern this week about Britain's plans to deploy its navy to intercept people and return them to mainland Europe.

"Our collective response should be... from saving lives to combating smuggling rings, expanding legal options, and ensuring that all those who are in need of protection can effectively access it," said the International Organization for Migration.

It called on London to ensure vulnerable migrants, such as unaccompanied minors, can continue reuniting with families in Britain after Brexit.

(Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska; Additional reporting by Kate Holton in London; Editing by Alex Richardson)
By Trend





Georgia is gaining popularity as an attractive market among the S.Korean investors, said Georgia's Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Natia Turnava, Trend reports via the ministry.

She made the remark at an online meeting with the Minister of Environment of the Republic of Korea Cho Myung-rae.

According to the ministry of economy, the ministers hails the economic cooperation between the two countries and highlighted the growing dynamics in both bilateral trade and cooperation in the field of tourism.

Turnava notes that in 2019 the number of visitors from Korea increased by 25 percent year-on-year.

The ministers raised the issue of cooperation in the field of energy between the two countries.

"Georgia is gaining popularity as an attractive market among the Korean investors. Up to 80 companies are operating in Georgias various sectors with Korean capital. The largest energy projects in Georgia Nenskra Hydropower Plant (HPP) is implemented by a large Korean company K-Water," Turnava said after the meeting.

Turnava adds that Nenskra HPP is a strategic project aimed at increasing Georgias energy independence and energy security.
The question of whether to build a new terminal at San Antonio International Airport is on hold until the spring or summer of 2021, another delay caused by coronavirus pandemic.

A committee appointed to draft a master plan for the airport originally expected to make its recommendations to the mayor and City Council this summer. One of its key considerations: what to do about the cramped, 36-year-old Terminal A, which houses most of the airlines serving San Antonio.

On ExpressNews.com: Jefferson: San Antonios Terminal A was built in another world and looks it

Travel restrictions stemming from the pandemic  passengers fear of contracting the virus  have devastated the airline industry and slashed the number of travelers passing through U.S. airports. Concerns about the viruss spread also have effectively stopped the Airport System Development Committees work, which began in early 2018.

Officials have postponed a series of community meetings to gather public input on how to improve the airport over the next two decades. The citys aviation director, Jesus Saenz Jr., told the Airport Advisory Committee on Tuesday that the planning process cant continue without public input.

Weve put the plan on hold because it's important that we communicate everything, he said. It's going to be a while before we can go out there.

It may take several years for San Antonio International to reach its pre-COVID passenger numbers, and Saenz said the master plan will have to reflect reduced demand.

Despite the downturn, Saenz said the airport must have a new terminal.

When the market fully recovers, we will be needing to have additional facilities in place to counter the demand, he said. We were stretched to the limit on the number of gates we had pre-COVID-19.

The airport had seen 10 consecutive years of increases in passengers until the virus cut the number of travelers to a trickle.

Travel has rebounded somewhat, but statistics that Saenz presented to the advisory committee showed passenger traffic at the airport in early August was down by about 70 percent from the same period last year.

On ExpressNews.com: Travelers return to San Antonio International Airport  a few of them, anyway

Terminal A, which has 17 gates, opened in 1984. Its concourse is 70 feet wide, as little as half the width of more modern airports concourses. And despite more than $30 million in renovations, the terminal lacks basic amenities, including enough womens restrooms, according to a 2018 consultants report.

Terminal A has reached the end of its effective use, John Dickson, chairman of the Airport System Development Committee, told the Express-News last month. And cities compete on terminals.

The committee, appointed by Mayor Ron Nirenberg, also will address Stinson Municipal Airport, the citys general aviation field, in the master plan.

San Antonio Internationals smaller, more modern Terminal B, which serves United Airlines and American Airlines, was renovated in late 2010, but the terminal has only eight gates.

The master plan also will determine whether an additional runway should be built at the airport. San Antonio International has three, but because they are overlapping, only one can be used at a time.

During heated community meetings last year and early this year, residents complained that some runway additions under consideration would result in the tearing down of their houses.

Delaying the master plans completion until later in 2021 will give San Antonio officials more time to weigh the airports future needs, said Christopher Schaberg, an English professor at Loyola University in New Orleans who has written a book on airports.

While air travel in and out of smaller airports was on the uptick even a year ago, its hard to know if this trend will return or if travel will increasingly end in bigger hubs, with travelers using rental cars or other modes to reach their final destinations, he said.

Building a new terminal, a project that would cost hundreds of millions of dollars, will likely be a controversial issue  if thats one of the committees recommendations.

Under the committees original timetable, its 21 members would have handed off the master plan in the heat of the 2021 mayors race. The election will be in May. Shifting delivery of the master plan to the summer of 2021 could help Nirenberg, who is expected to run for a third term.

In addition to city dollars, federal funds and airports fees could help pay for a new terminal. But airlines may be hard-pressed to pony up funds without a major recovery in passenger demand for air travel.

Randy Diamond covers tourism and the travel industry. To read more from Randy, become a subscriber. randy.diamond@express-news.net
Cory Watson Attorneys is proud to announce that 16 of the firms attorneys were recognized for their legal excellence in the 20201 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

In addition, Firm Co-Founder and Principal Leila H. Watson was named as a Best Lawyers 2021 Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year award in Birmingham. This is the fourth year that Ms. Watson has been honored with this annual award for her outstanding achievements.

On behalf of our thousands of clients nationwide, the team at Cory Watson Attorneys congratulates this outstanding group of lawyers for their achievement and well-deserved recognition.

BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA 2021

The eight Cory Watson Attorneys named as the 2021 Best Lawyers in Birmingham include:

Ernest Cory, Co-Founder & Managing Shareholder



Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action  Plaintiffs

Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs

Leila H. Watson, Firm Co-Founder



Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action  Plaintiffs

Medical Malpractice Law  Plaintiffs

Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs

Product Liability Litigation  Plaintiffs

Douglas A. Dellaccio, Jr., Principal Attorney



Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action  Plaintiffs

Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs

Product Liability Litigation  Plaintiffs

Elizabeth E. Chambers, Principal Attorney



Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action  Plaintiffs

G. Rick DiGiorgio, Principal Attorney



Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs

F. Jerome Tapley, Principal Attorney



Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action  Plaintiffs

Stephen Hunt, Jr., Principal Attorney



Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action  Plaintiffs

Hirlye Ryan Lutz, Principal Attorney



Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action  Plaintiffs

BEST LAWYERS : ONES TO WATCH 2021

Eight of our firms talented attorneys also received 2021 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch recognition:

Adam W. Pittman, Principal Attorney



Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions  Plaintiffs

Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs

Product Liability Litigation  Plaintiffs

J. Curt Tanner, Principal Attorney



Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions  Plaintiffs

Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs

Product Liability Litigation  Plaintiffs

Joel Caldwell, Attorney



Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions  Plaintiffs

Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs

Andrew S. Herring, Attorney



Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions  Plaintiffs

Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs

Product Liability Litigation  Plaintiffs

Nina Towle Herring, Attorney



Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions  Plaintiffs

Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs

Product Liability Litigation  Plaintiffs

Lauren S. Miller, Attorney



Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions  Plaintiffs

Medical Malpractice Law  Plaintiffs

Mitchell Theodore, Attorney



Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions  Plaintiffs

Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs

Product Liability Litigation  Plaintiffs

Tiffany L. Webber, Attorney



Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions  Plaintiffs

Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs

About Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers is one of the oldest and most respected peer-review publications in the legal profession. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers lists are compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation. Corporate Counsel Magazine has called Best Lawyers the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.

About Cory Watson Attorneys

Cory Watson Attorneys is a nationally recognized personal injury law firm with offices in Birmingham, Alabama; Memphis, and Nashville, Tennessee. The firm has recovered more than $3 billion for clients across the country. Cory Watson Attorneys are frequently at the forefront of major class actions and multidistrict litigations involving dangerous pharmaceuticals and product liability, and are often appointed to leadership positions in national cases. Firm practice areas include Personal Injury, Product Liability, Class Action, Asbestos, Business & Commercial Litigation, Dangerous Pharmaceuticals, Defective Medical Devices, and Environmental/Toxic Torts.

To learn more, visit CoryWatson.com.
Democratic candidate, Joe Biden received a major support Tuesday night as Collin Powell called on Americans to massively vote for him.

Biden has been officially nominated to run for the White House on November 3.

Powell, a former Secretary of State, is the latest top Republican to openly support Biden.

The endorsement confirms his opposition to the re-election of his party member, President Donald Trump.

Powell expressed confidence that a Biden presidency would restore Americas leadership and moral authority.

The former U.S. top diplomat stated that the country is divided.

Powell accused the president of doing everything in his power to keep it that way.

He noted that there would be difference if America has a leader who unites us, who restores our strength and our soul.

I still believe that in our hearts, we are the same America that brought my parents to our shores, an America that inspires freedom around the world. Thats the America Joe Biden will lead as our next president, Powell said.

Recent polls put Biden, a former vice president, ahead of Trump.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
For more than a decade, Joe Biden had been defined by association  to the president he worked for and, in its contrast, to the one he is trying to unseat.

On Thursday, Biden set himself apart from them both.

Biden, accepting the Democratic Partys nomination for president on the conventions final night, expanded on the searing indictment delivered Wednesday by former President Barack Obama and offered his own blistering criticism of President Donald Trump.

And in a campaign that has served almost singularly as a referendum on Trump, he cast his candidacy as an affirmative alternative  a path of hope and light.

We can choose a path of becoming angrier, less hopeful, more divided, a path of shadow and suspicion, Biden said. Or we can choose a different path and together take this chance to heal, to reform, to unite.

Bidens balance

Much of Bidens speech recalled the opening of his campaign 16 months ago when, looking past a league of primary competitors, he positioned himself as the moral antithesis to Trump.

Ill be a president that will stand with our allies and friends and make it clear to our adversaries the days of cozying up to dictators is over, he said on Thursday. Under President Biden, America will not turn a blind eye to Russian bounties on the heads of American soldiers. Nor will I put up in foreign interference in our most sacred democratic exercise, voting.

The president, Biden said tonight, has cloaked America in darkness for much too long. Too much anger. Too much fear, too much division.

Bidens critique of Trump was broader than Obamas appeal on Wednesday to democratic norms. And it served to establish Bidens own vision of a post-Trump era.

It is in the nations darkest moments that weve made our greatest progress, that we found the light, he said. And I believe were poised to make progress again.

In truth, the bar for Biden was low. The reason that the Democratic National Convention has focused all week on Bidens more basic traits  he is a decent man, not perfect, really good  is because his opponent, President Donald Trump, is deeply unpopular.

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But there is value in definition, which can help to brace a candidate against negative attacks. And Biden did more to define himself on Thursday than he ever had before. There was the personal  testimony from his children Hunter and Ashley and public remarks Beau Biden made before he died.

In his own speech, Biden said, Here and now I give you my word: If you entrust me with the presidency, I will draw on the best of us, not the worst.

Kamalas competition hanging around

In this image from video, California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during the fourth night of the Democratic National Convention on Thursday.

Yes, Kamala Harris is suddenly the heir apparent, and even her detractors largely agree she owns the likeliest path to the Democratic Partys presidential nomination the next time its up for grabs, whether thats in 2024 or 2028.

But as Bidens unusual path through the primaries demonstrated this year, theres no such thing as a clean shot in presidential politics. If Biden loses in November, Harris stock will plummet. If Biden wins but runs again and loses in 2024, same thing. And no matter what, other party stars will want to make a run for it.

[Michigan Gov. Gretchen] Whitmers not going to run? [Gavin] Newsoms not going to run? one Democratic strategist asked incredulously.

On Thursday, Newsom, the California governor, came on screen just before the 9 p.m. hour, after wildfires ravaging his state forced a reconsideration of his initial, planned appearance. Standing in front of a tree, he said was a mile or so away from one of the fires.

Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg and other failed 2020 candidates made more traditional appearances. The evening featured a gaggle of Bidens former competitors all heaping praise on him.

Harris is not Dan Quayle. But consider how far his once-ascendant career had fallen by 1999, when the former vice president couldnt even make it to Iowa caucus day. Ending his presidential campaign that year, Quayle said, "There's a time to stay and there's a time to fold. There's a time to know when to leave the stage.

Even if Harris doesnt wind up on a losing ticket, Quayle demonstrated, too, that there are other ways to stumble. And no one can say with certainty where the progressive movement will be four or eight years from now, or how Harris will be viewed within it.

We thought 2020 was nuts," a Democratic strategist who works closely with major party donors wrote in a text message. "Just wait for 24.

Work for it

For all the ways Democrats hammer Donald Trump, one of the more effective lines of attack this week has been the contrast between the blue-collar workers and a president who never was.

Im here because a union job lifted my family out of poverty and into the middle class, Sen. Cory Booker said. Or as Sen. Tammy Baldwin asked, Do we want to be a country where millionaires get to dodge taxes or one where working families get a break?

If the connection wasnt abundantly clear, former President Barack Obama set the table the previous night.

I did hope, for the sake of our country, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously, Obama said. But he never did."

And he was followed by Sen. Kamala Harris, who said in her acceptance speech of tackling racism: Weve got to do the work.

A Hunter backfire?

Family members gather for a road naming ceremony with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, centre, his son Hunter Biden, left, and his sister Valerie Biden Owens, right, joined by other family members during a ceremony to name a national road after his late son Joseph R.

It was the DNC programming Republicans had been thirsting for: Hunter Biden, Joe Bidens son, who Republicans are investigating for ties to Ukraine. But paired with Bidens daughter Ashley, Hunter Biden delivered one of the most direct, personal endorsements Biden could have hoped for.

Biden, his son said, will make your grandkids feel what they have to say matters.

During the primary, there was little Biden seemed to detest more than questions about his sons work for a Ukrainian gas company while he was vice president. Biden called it a distraction from Trumps attempts to get the Bidens investigated by Ukrainian authorities, which led to the presidents impeachment.

Its probably a no-win issue, though some Republicans seem to disagree  at least the ones wearing the Wheres Hunter? T-shirts. On Thursday, the Trump campaign released an ad attacking Hunter Biden.

On one hand, according to a POLITICO/Morning Consult poll in February, a majority of voters (52 percent) believe it was inappropriate for Hunter Biden to have worked for the gas company Burisma. But that judgment hasnt reflected back on Joe Biden much, despite Trumps efforts.

Conventions are changed forever

In a political climate as pitched as it is, the banter between Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Andrew Yang was probably a mistake.

But thats curable. For four days, the DNC went largely without a glitch. And the future of national conventions will change forever.

The parties will go back to in-person gatherings, of course. But conventions had largely become infomercials before the coronavirus. The pandemic then took that evolution to the extreme and tested its effectiveness.

Most significantly, the virtual format this week allowed the DNC to rigorously control its message, pre-recording politicians statements and training the camera  and the publics focus  exclusively on them. There were no protesters to pan to, and there was little room for unforced errors.

Some of that will be lost when in-person gatherings return, but not all. The filming of regular Americans in their natural habitats was, on balance, more interesting and effective than putting them on a stage.

In many ways, said Tom Perez, the DNC chairman, the virtual convention was a more accurate reflection of where our country is than any traditional convention could have been.

Schools are going hybrid. Future convention organizers may take a lesson from that and try to do the same.

This convention, which started kind of as a, feeling like a  public access cable show from the 1980s, suddenly has become must-watch TV, from the calamari to the characters, from the moving stories to the music that is hitting us, Eric Garcetti, the Los Angeles mayor and a co-chair of Bidens campaign, said on a call with reporters Thursday morning. This is the best convention Ive ever seen.

The Trump effect

The narrative will shift markedly next week, when attention shifts to the Republican National Convention.

But the bracketing that used to work for Trump, like the rallies he held during the Democratic primaries, hasnt had the same oomph this week. And timing has not been the presidents friend.

On Thursday morning, Steve Bannon, a former senior White House adviser to Trump, was indicted by a federal grand jury in New York on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering in connection with a private effort to build sections of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Trump claimed he didn't "know anything about the project at all."

At a campaign event in Pennsylvania hours before Bidens speech, near the former vice presidents hometown of Scranton, Trump lit into his rival, saying, If you want a vision of your life under a Biden presidency, think of the smoldering ruins in Minneapolis, the violent anarchy of Portland, the bloodstained sidewalks of Chicago and imagine the mayhem coming to our town and every single town in America.

Trump said sarcastically, per a pool report, Slow Joe will speak at the Democratic convention and Im sure hell just knock them dead.

But even Republicans are skeptical of what the Trump show will all add up to this year. One prominent GOP strategist wrote in an email, Its pathetic. QAnon, Goodyear, Bannon, a complete mess. The strategist continued: POTUS needs attention on Biden instead of trying to refocus on himself.
Reham Yacoubs killing marks the third attack in Basra in less than a week where activists have been targeted.

A female activist has been killed in the southern Iraqi city of Basra by unidentified gunmen who opened fire on the car she was in.

Reham Yacoub, a doctor and activist in the local protest movement since 2018, was shot by an assault rifle-brandishing gunman on the back of a motorcycle on Wednesday. Three women in the car at the time were wounded, one died later.

Known for organising womens marches, Yacoub had previously received threats against her life when she participated in training courses supervised by the US consulate in Basra in 2017 and 2018.

Yacoubs killing marks the third incident this week in which gunmen targeted anti-government political activists after one was killed and a separate attack saw assailants open fire on a car carrying at least two others.

Translation: Activist Reham Yacoub has joined the caravan of martyrs

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor condemned Yacoubs murder.

The continuing policy of impunity in Iraq encouraged the escalation of systematic assassinations outside the law, the most recent of which was the assassination of the prominent protest activist Reham Yacoub on Wednesday, the Geneva-based monitor said in a statement.

Iraq has witnessed a series of assassinations and forced disappearances of journalists and political activists, as well as the killing of hundreds of protesters since October 2019, the start of demonstrations in against corruption, political and security deterioration, and the economic crisis.

The most recent wave of violence began when activist Tahseen Osama was killed inside the headquarters of a local internet company last Friday, following the escalating protest movement in the province and demands for basic services.

    #_       #    #         . pic.twitter.com/KgrSg0P8oi   (@zaidalftlay) August 19, 2020

Translation: Whos next? Reham Yacoub, an activist and doctor has been murdered in cold blood in Basra, joining the list of Iraqs young martyrs who are being killed by the worst of Gods creation.

Osamas killing prompted the return of street demonstrations for three days, during which security forces opened live fire on protesters, who threw rocks and petrol bombs at the governors house and blocked several main roads.

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi subsequently sacked the Basra police and national security chiefs on Monday and ordered an investigation into the violence.

On the same day, two activists  Ludia Raymond and Abbas Subhi  were attacked by gunmen in Basra, which resulted in severe injuries.





Last month, unknown gunmen assassinated a well-known security analyst, Hisham al-Hashemi, in the centre of the capital Baghdad following a press interview in which he criticised the behaviour of one of the armed factions in Iraq.

The Euro-Med Monitor said one main factor in the recent extrajudicial killings of activists and media professionals is the local authorities neglect of conducting serious investigations to find the perpetrators and taking adequate measures to ensure accountability and justice.

The perpetrators awareness of their impunity in assassination crimes will only lead them to commit more of them in the future, which requires the Iraqi authorities to take serious and practical action to not tolerate this kind of crimes against individuals, it said.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Railways Thursday said around 29,000-30,000 deaths occurred due to "trespassing and other untoward incidents" on its premises in the past three years, after the Niti Aayog raised questions over its zero fatality claim in the last fiscal.

Railway Board Chairman VK Yadav's clarification came days after Niti Ayog CEO Amitabh Kant took note of the Railways' claim and questioned the reliability of the data, pointing out that over thousands deaths occur in Mumbai suburban section every year.

"I would like to draw your attention to the fact that many of these deaths are caused by people falling overboard or from the platform on to the tracks. Hence, this should not be excluded from the purview of RRSK (Rashtriya Rail Sanrakshan Kosh). It should be ideally recorded officially," the government think tank CEO said in a letter to Yadav.

In a press briefing Thursday, Yadav said the Railways keeps a record of all the deaths that occur on its premises under three separate heads -- consequential accidents, trespassing and untoward incidents.

"It is true that consequential accidents were indeed zero in 2019-2020 and so far this year as well," he said.

"We keep records of deaths due to trespassing like when people come on the tracks and are run over or people standing on the footboard of trains or hanging out of trains. In the last three years, around 29,000 to 30,000 people have lost their lives due to either trespassing or untoward incidents."

This data will be given to Niti Aayog, he said.

In fact, after the 2018 tragedy in Amritsar wherein 59 people were killed and over 100 injured after being run over by two passenger trains while they were watching Dussehra celebrations, the Railways said that it was a case of trespassing.

Yadav also said that efforts are on to ensure that deaths due to such incidents too reduce, and "over the years they have".

After Yadav's briefing, the Railways issued a statement saying that while more than 8 billion passengers travelled by trains last year, there were zero passenger fatalities due to accidents.

"This has been achieved with a lot of efforts on the part of the Railways. While the deaths of passengers due to railway accidents has become Zero, unfortunate Casualties do occur due to trespassing and untoward incidents like falling from trains and that due to negligence or carelessness on the part of passengers/public."

"These are incidents on which the Railways have little or no control. Efforts are on to sensitise the public on avoiding such situations," it said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 20)  Late-night cravings of restaurant and fast-food meals can now be fulfilled within Metro Manila as mayors have agreed to allow 24/7 operations of these establishments.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority General Manager Jojo Garcia said Thursday that restaurants and fast-food chains are already authorized to do deliveries even during wee hours.

Garcia said this was specifically for health workers and other night shift employees who need to eat while at work.

Restaurant workers as well as delivery partners are exempted from the longer curfew hours which start at 8 p.m. and end at 5 a.m. implemented across Metro Manila as the region returned to general community quarantine yesterday.

Food establishments are also allowed to accept dine-in customers, but local governments will set the maximum operating capacity.
LINCOLN  A candidate to replace State Sen. Ernie Chambers to represent North Omaha in the Legislature missed his scheduled hearing before the Nebraska Board of Pardons on Wednesday, but he says he wasnt aware he was on the agenda.

Terrell McKinney, a Creighton University law student and former All-American wrestler at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, said later Wednesday that he and his attorney had decided against pursuing a pardon for several misdemeanor crimes that occurred six to 10 years ago.

McKinney, 29, said he didnt understand why his name would have appeared on the Pardons Boards agenda, because he hadnt requested it.

Getting or not getting it doesnt have too much effect on me right now, he said.

McKinney placed second in the spring primary, and hell square off against former Omaha City Council member Fred Conley to replace Chambers, who cannot run for reelection this year because of term limits. Chambers served a record 46 years in the Legislature and has spoken in support of McKinney.
DENVER, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pet Releaf, the market-leading CBD hemp health brand for pets, is pleased to announce the recent hiring of two leadership positions as they look to expand their footprint globally. Joseph Rosentel, MS, DVM, Ph.D. will join the company as Vice President of Product Development and Supply Chain overseeing all product research and development, supply chain and quality assurance functions within the organization. David Martinelli is joining as Vice President of Marketing and will oversee the brand strategy, creative development, and expansion of all of the marketing and communications efforts. Both of these positions are crucial additions to the Pet Releaf brand as it looks to increase its product offering and grow into new international markets.

"We are excited to welcome both Joe and David to the Pet Releaf team as we poise ourselves to maintain and extend our leadership position in the pet CBD space and ready ourselves for aggressive growth in the near future," says Alina Smith, Co-Founder and CEO.

Dr. Rosentel joins the team with over 18 years of experience in both veterinary pharmaceutical services and product development, most recently working at Zoetis as the Executive Director of Global Development and Operations. "The experience and knowledge that Joe brings to our team will not only enhance our product performance and offering, but it will continue to push us as the industry leader in an ever-changing market as we expand our product line-up and footprint," says Steve Smith, Co-Founder and CEO.

"I am excited to leverage my industry experience throughout this rapidly growing market to bring innovative products to our customers that will benefit the health and well-being of pets," says Dr. Rosentel.

Martinelli joins the team with over 15 years of experience in marketing and communications for major consumer goods and retail brands, including McDonald's and most recently, Crocs where he was the Global Director of Integrated Marketing at Crocs LLC. "David brings a wealth of experience in both consumer goods and retail, and I'm excited and enthusiastic by the opportunities we will be able to create with the addition of David to our team," says Chelsea Gennings, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President.

"I look forward to elevating the Pet Releaf brand through innovative and industry leading practices to get our product and brand in front of new customers on a global scale," says Martinelli.

Pet Releaf most recently announced its Equine Releaf and Pet Professional line for veterinarians as it positions itself to not only extend its animal care line, but begin to reach a new consumer on a global scale. For more information or to see the extensive product offering of CBD hemp health products for pets, visit https://petreleaf.com or join the conversation on Facebook or Instagram.

About Pet Releaf

As the industry's pioneer and market leader in CBD products for pets, Pet Releaf's mission is to change what healthy means for pets. By producing the highest quality hemp products for dogs, cats, and many other mammals, they are doing just that. All of their products incorporate hemp that is certified USDA organic and grown at their joint-venture hemp farms strategically located across Colorado. By utilizing the entire hemp plant, extracting their full-spectrum hemp oil using a super-critical CO2 method, and making products using all-natural and organic ingredients, Pet Releaf has created products with proven positive results for animals. Pet Releaf products are sold in over 6,000 independent retail stores across the United States.

For more information, please visit www.PetReleaf.com.

Media Contacts:

David Martinelli | [email protected]

SOURCE Pet Releaf

Related Links

https://petreleaf.com


- Ruto said politicians should go about their jobs without involving police officers or public servants

- The DP urged law enforcers not to bow to politicians' demand to carry out their agenda

- This came days after the second in command rebuked the government for the arrest of three senators on Monday, August 17

Deputy President William Ruto has asked policemen to do their work professionally and avoid running political errands for politicians.

Ruto said the police service should not bow to intimidation and blackmails of anyone in power to carry out their political agendas.

READ ALSO: Langoni Kajembe: Family says ex-legislator's daughter suffered shock following father's death

William Ruto said police officers should not run politicians' agenda. Photo: William Ruto.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Jowie shows off cute daughter in his new song Nishikilie

Speaking after hosting Kibra and Langata residents at his Karen residence on Thursday, August 20, the DP said politicians should do their job without involving law enforcers or other public officers who have nothing to do with politics.

"I want to tell every public officer and every police officer in Kenya, they must serve professionally, in accordance with the Constitution and nobody should intimidate them to run political errands," he said.

On his frequent donations to the youth, the second in command said he was helping the "hustlers" in his capacity as the deputy president since the role of the government was to serve Kenyans.

READ ALSO: William Ruto happy to be isolated from COVID-19 multi-billion scandal

"The government does not serve the interest of leaders but the aspirations of the people," Ruto said.

This came a day after the DP rebuked the government over the arrest of three senators on Monday, August 17 due to the ongoing stalemate of the revenue sharing formula.

Ruto faulted his own government for what he termed as intimidation of the elected leaders by use of the police force.

READ ALSO: Familia ya marehemu Kajembe yafichua kilichomuua binti yao

He urged the MPs to find the middle ground over the contentious bill saying a win-win situation in the matter would be an act on leadership and wisdom.

"The abuse of police and criminal justice to bully citizens, threaten and intimidate leaders and now blackmail senate is wrong.Very wrong. It's not the reason millions woke up early to vote for us," he said.

Senators Cleophas Malala (Kakamega), Christopher Lang'at (Bomet) and Steve Lelengwe (Samburu) were nabbed on Monday before a Senate sitting.

Just like Ruto, Elgeyo Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen claimed the arrests were aimed at intimidating and stopping them from voting against the bill.

The senators were, however, released a day after.

Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news.

My grandmother sold me to men for beans and maize in exchange for sex | Tuko TV.

Source: TUKO.co.ke
Senior advocates on Thursday expressed concern over Attorney General (AG) KK Venugopal not being heard in detail during the Prashant Bhushan contempt-of-court hearings in the Supreme Court.

Venugopal, 89  whose consent, which is otherwise required, was not obtained before the matter was taken up by the Supreme Court and who was not heard by the court during the contempt hearings  appeared in his personal capacity before the bench on Thursday and argued the judges shouldnt impose any punishment on Bhushan.

The activist-lawyer was found guilty of contempt of court for two tweets on August 14.

The Attorney General (AG) is the pre-eminent member of the Bar and generations of judges have known and understood the high constitutional authority of that office. The manner in which he was ignored for four-and-a-half hours during the conviction hearing and then interrupted repeatedly today by the presiding judge is a slight against the entire Bar. Under the Constitution, the AG doesnt need anybodys permission to appear -- the fact that the present incumbent is a gentleman should not be taken as a sign of weakness, said senior advocate Gopal Shankarnarayanan, who was following the proceedings of the court.

Other lawyers said they were glad that Venugopal spoke up on the matter and tried to argue against his sentencing. I am relieved the AG has appeared before the court now, and has taken a stand which befits his position, said senior advocate Anjana Prakash.

On the first hearing, he sat there for four hours and he wasnt heard, said Dushyant Dave, senior advocate and one of the lawyers appearing for Bhushan. In court, Dave cited the Contempt of Court Act of 1972, which makes it mandatory for the AG to give his consent to a contempt petition in writing.

Also read: Law has to be fair and balanced: Congress on Prashant Bhushan contempt case

I requested the court twice to hear him but they didnt, said Dave. Fortunately for the country , the AG made himself heard but the way they treated him was a grave miscarriage of justice. Mr Venugopal is one of the most respected, knowledgeable and wise lawyers in the country today. Any court would have deferred to his assistance and advice.

Venugopal has been practising since the 1950s and was appointed additional solicitor general by Prime Minister Morarji Desai after 1977. He was appointed AG in 2017. When the single-page order in the case heard by the justices Arun Mishra, BR Gavai and Krishna Murari was published on Thursday evening, the record of proceedings mentioned all lawyers who appeared but for Venugopal.

Senior advocate Chander Uday Singh, who was appearing for activists such as Aruna Roy in the case, contended that the bench did not give Venugopal a fair hearing. I think it was improper of the court of having called the AG, having issued him notice, not to give him fair hearing, Singh said.

In court on Thursday, the three-judge bench cut short the AGs arguments and said its judgment of August 14 will not be reconsidered, and that the AG should not make arguments on the merits of the case. The bench later gave Bhushan 3-4 days to reconsider his stand.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

For more than six months, the family of Jacqueline Jacque Vigil waited for word that her killer had been caught.

They had no idea, her husband, Sam B. Vigil, told the Journal on Wednesday, that a man identified back in January as the primary suspect in the homicide had been in federal detention in Texas for months.

Since the death of his wife of 18 years, Vigil said, he would get regular calls from Albuquerque police reminding him detectives were working the case. But he said he was left with that anxiety that not enough is being done.

Then came the phone call in July asking if he would appear with President Donald Trump at the White House. On July 22, he spoke about his wife as the president announced a new federal crackdown, Operation Legend, to help cities including Albuquerque tackle such cases.

Vigil said an FBI-led violent crime task force quickly took over the investigation and he began to see progress.

When I would hear the rumors, my hopes would get high that maybe somebody was going to get arrested.

Not until Wednesday did Vigil finally know the details when he received a phone call from John Anderson, the U.S. attorney for New Mexico.

Thats when he learned that the suspect, Luis Talamantes, 33, had been picked up based on a number of anonymous tips to Albuquerque Police Crime Stoppers in the weeks after the homicide.

Vigil said he still struggles daily with the loss of his wife, who was shot to death in her 2006 Cadillac as she left her home for the gym that early morning on Nov. 19, 2019.

Talamantes isnt charged in Vigils death, but federal prosecutors cite the homicide in seeking an enhanced sentence of 20 years in prison on his pending charge of aggravated illegal reentry.

Once the federal agents started working the case, things began to happen, Vigil said during the Journal interview.

If they hadnt been assigned?

Im not really sure, he told the Journal. We might not even be having this conversation, and its sad.

Mayor Tim Keller said in a news release Wednesday that the suspect had been arrested as a result of the work of APD homicide detectives long before Operation Legend and the U.S. attorney got involved.

For many months, we have been aware that we were making real progress on the case but couldnt comment publicly, or push back on a lot of myths being said about our Police Department, he said.

Vigil said that he still doesnt know how his wifes case was selected by the Trump administration for the Operation Legend project, but that he wonders about other families still waiting to hear of arrests in their loved ones unsolved killings.

When I went to Washington, my hopes were elevated. But I didnt really think things were going to happen so quickly. They really went for it.

The months since Jacques death havent been easy, he said.

I still struggle on a daily basis. Its really hard to be without my wife. Like Ive said, we were handed down a life sentence  not just me, but other people who lost loved ones through violent crimes. It doesnt make any sense.

Yet, he said, he now may start to sleep better at night.

I think I will, knowing that somebody is locked up, he said.
STUDENTS in the Henley area will be receiving their GCSE results today after concerns about the way grades are awarded.

The Government U-turn earlier this week means centre assessment grades will now be used for both A-levels and GCSEs.

This came after 40 per cent of teachers predictions were downgraded by exam regulators.

However, those who took BTecs will have to wait as these qualifications are being re-graded.

Early figures show the overall GCSE pass rate in England has risen from 70 to 79 per cent.

Results have been awarded without summer exams, which had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

This forced students to engage with home-schooling, while some were able to attend school if their parents were key workers during lockdown.

If you are collecting your results this morning, we would love to hear from you. Email ladams@henleystandard.co.uk or call 01491 419444.
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Puri said that despite special provision of right of first refusal being given to the Kerala govt, the KSIDC could not qualify in the bidding process for the Thiruvananthapuram airport

New Delhi: The Kerala government did not qualify in Thiruvananthapuram airport's bidding process that was carried out in a transparent manner, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Thursday.

The Kerala government has opposed the Union Cabinet's approval on Wednesday to lease out the Thiruvananthapuram airport to Adani Enterprises through public private partnership (PPP) for a period of 50 years.

Talking about the airport's 2019 privatisation process on Twitter, Puri said, "Winning bid quoted Rs 168 per passenger, KSIDC (Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation) quoted Rs 135 per passenger and third qualifying bidder was at Rs 63 per passenger."

Per passenger fee was the criteria for the bidding process that was conducted in early 2019 for six airports  Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Mangalore, Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram. Adani Enterprises turned out to be the highest bidder for these six airports.

Before the bidding process, the Centre and the Kerala government had agreed that if the KSIDC's bid comes within the 10 percent range of the winning bid, it would be awarded the airport, Puri said.

However, since the difference between Adani's bid and KSIDC's bid was 19.64 percent during the bidding process, the former was qualified as the winner.

"Thus, despite special provision of RoFR (right of first refusal) being given to GoK (government of Kerala), they could not qualify in the international bidding process carried out in a transparent manner," Puri stated on Twitter.

In another tweet, the minister highlighted the difference of opinions among the senior Congress leaders on this issue by pointing to the statements of Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor and Karnataka Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh.

Tharoor stated on Wednesday evening that a private entity running the operations competitively is the only way this airport can flourish. On the other hand, Ramesh tweeted on Thursday morning, "At this rate, AAI (Airports Authority of India) could well mean 'Adani Airports of India'!"

The Centre-run AAI owns and manages more than 100 airports across India, including the aforementioned six that have been privatised.

The Kerala government on Thursday called an all-party-meeting to discuss and protest against the Centre's decision to hand over the management and operation of the Thiruvananthapuram airport to the Adani group.

"Thiruvananthapuram airport privatised to Adani rejecting the claim of Kerala govt, even after offer to match Adani's rate. PMO's promise to accept Kerala proposal broken. People of Kerala will not accept this act of brazen cronyism. #Airportprivatisation," State Finance Minister Dr Thomas Isaac tweeted on Thursday.

In February 2019, Adani Enterprises was declared the winner for all six airports as it was the highest bidder. In July 2019, the Union Cabinet approved the proposal for leasing out three of them - Ahmedabad, Mangalore and Lucknow - to the Ahmedabad-based company.

Eight months after the Cabinet approval, Adani Enterprises signed the concessionaire agreement with the AAI on 14 February this year for operation, management and development of these three airports.

In June this year, the AAI gave three more months to the Ahmedabad-based company to take over the management of these three airports due to the COVID-19 situation. This means the deadline for takeover has been pushed from 12 August to 12 November.
Former first lady Michelle Obama wore a necklace designed by Chari Cuthbert during her speech to the Democratic National Convention on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. (Democratic National Convention via AP Photo)

During a Tuesday afternoon interview, Chari Cuthberts Zoom background was a blank canvas for her jewelry. She perched on a beige couch, between two cream-colored prints on a white wall. Layered atop her pale dress were at least two sets of hoops, a cuff earring, a necklace, five bracelets and two handfuls of rings. And she woke up like this.

How you see me is how I go to bed, she said. I shower like this. I work out like this. I go to Pilates like this. I hike like this. I woke up like this.

She did not, however, wake up on Monday morning knowing that Michelle Obama would wear her VOTE necklace to speak at the Democratic National Convention that night. She did not wake up knowing that her jewelry line, BYCHARI, would sell 4,000 pieces (at $295 each) in two days when, on a normal day, her seven-woman team would receive around 200 orders.

The best way I can put: It's everything that we've worked for, Cuthbert told The Times the following day. It's everything that we've worked for happening in one day, in 24 hours.

When Obama's longtime stylist, Meredith Koop , came to Cuthbert about the necklace, she had no idea the former first lady would wear it during her DNC speech. Cuthbert wasnt even sure the hoops Obama was wearing were also her handiwork until Koop confirmed it.

But you'd better believe she was watching that speech.

She stayed late at the shops downtown L.A. office because she didnt want to risk missing it on the drive home. Once those four golden letters appeared onscreen, the messages started rolling in. A steady stream of texts, DMs, calls and shares stunned Cuthbert  so much so that she rewatched the speech to make sure she didn't miss anything.

Jewelry designer Chari Cuthbert (Chari Cuthbert)

She sat at her desk, she said, and cried for five minutes, describing the moment as "overwhelming in the best way possible."

Michelle Obama is the Holy Grail, Cuthbert said. She's the queen. She is the woman to be. She's the woman to listen to.

Story continues

As the jewelry designer sat in that bubble at her desk, friends and family reaching out, she didnt even think to look at the shops website  or its sales. Then a friend from Jamaica, where Cuthbert was raised, reached out. You're breaking Twitter, her friend messaged. Do you have a link for me?

The necklace was, in fact, all over Twitter. It was all over the whole internet. It topped Googles trending searches in the last hour of the convention. The next day, the press phone calls began to roll in.

They're like, 'People want to talk to you, Cuthbert said. "I'm like, 'Me? What did I do? I didn't wear the necklace.

Cuthbert decided to block off one day to talk to reporters. Then, she would tackle the growing stack of orders.

This is all great: interviews and phone calls and me looking cute, she said on Tuesday afternoon. I'm going to be in sweatpants cutting chain until probably midnight tomorrow. I'm going to be in the trenches with the girls.

The necklace might be going viral now, but its been around for four years. Cuthbert first spelled out VOTE with a spaced-letter necklace during the 2016 presidential election. And she did it again for the midterm elections in 2018. This time, she decided to share it on social media.

I very rarely take to social media with my personal messaging or voice, she said. And I thought it was just so important, especially at the time, it was all about women's rights. And I thought, Why not use my platform?

Cuthbert said her designs have never been about catching the latest trend. Rather, they aim to tell stories (sometimes literally, in the case of the spaced-letter necklace.) The VOTE necklace itself began as a subtle, beautiful way of spreading a message.

We do T-shirts, we do hats, but who did a necklace? Cuthbert said. And I thought that would've been a really beautiful way, and it also is a gift to somebody, to encourage them to use their platform, say their piece.

Now, she hopes to have a pervasive impact on the community. But it certainly hasnt always been this way.

Born in the U.S. to Jamaican parents, the designer grew up in Jamaica, moved to Miami and attended the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale for three years After that, she ping-ponged between Las Vegas and Los Angeles and then moved to Hawaii on a whim, where she photographed weddings for a year before launching her jewelry line in 2012..

She said importing materials to the island state proved expensive, so four years ago, it was deep breath, big leap, back to L.A. Shes been here ever since.

The business grew slowly and steadily at first, helped along by Rocky Barnes, a model and friend of Cuthbert's who regularly tags the brand on Instagram. In 2016, Barnes posted a selfie showcasing a custom ROCKY necklace.

Cuthbert draws inspiration from the women around her  so much so that many of the pieces are named after them. The new everyday essential Serinda hoops , for example, are an homage to friend Serinda Swan. She is, in the designer's words, a classic woman.

Cuthbert, too, comes across as a classic. In many ways, she evokes Michelle Obama: choosing her words carefully, full of poise and grace. She stumbled a couple of times doing the rounds with press, she said, but she felt good about it. She emits a quiet pride.

The jewelry line is an extension of who I am, she said. It's simple, sexy and timeless.

She says its not about her, its about how the jewelry makes the wearer feel. Its about generations of women enjoying one simple thing. She pointed out that the women in her life, from her moms friends to her toddler nieces, wear her jewelry.

Its something the creator envisions mothers passing down to daughters, the way her mom gave her the gold pinky ring she waves in front of the camera. She aims to create everyday pieces that evoke the feminine.

It's not so much necessarily down to the design aspect, Cuthbert said. Sometimes it's more about a feeling and a moment and how something should lay on your neck and how earrings should look during summer with your hair in a bun.

Before the unexpected Michelle Obama moment, the brand had been planning to gift friends and celebrities with jewelry to help spread the word. And, when this crest of orders settles down, that's still the plan. BYCHARI also plans to continue donating to organizations like Elizabeth House , GirlTrek and Girl Code. And it plans to keep growing.

This is a timeless moment. I mean, when am I gonna get this again?" Cuthbert said. "Everybody's like, this is downhill from here. I'm like, no, no, no. We're only going up from here.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
To the editor:

We applaud the brave, determined protesters who praised the postal workers for upholding the United States Constitution. Being a Bay City girl originally, it makes me proud to see Midland make the national news in such a brilliant way! This is not an issue we can accept lying down.
Brewing giant Carlton & United Breweries is the latest big company to underpay staff, admitting hundreds of workers were shortchanged a total of about $1 million in penalty rates.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has launched an investigation into CUB, which in a statement on Thursday said it "self-reported" the underpayments.

The Carlton & United Breweries plant in Abbotsford. Credit:Andrew De La Rue

The brewer confirmed 635 hospitality workers across Australia were underpaid about $1 million over a 10-year period. It has about a dozen hospitality venues around Australia linked to its beer brands or operations, including one in Abbotsford, in Melbourne's inner-east, near its giant Melbourne brewery.

The brewer had "unreservedly apologised to affected employees" and paid them back with interest, a CUB spokesman said. It had incorrectly paid workers under the restaurant rather than hospitality award.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 19)  The government was able to maximize the time during which Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces went under strict movement restrictions that enabled authorities to recalibrate infection control strategies, the Department of Health said Wednesday.

Health spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire told an online forum the DOH and the coronavirus task force were able to go on the ground to assess the impact of COVID-19 in communities while Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, and Bulacan were under modified enhanced community quarantine from August 4 to 18.

Vergeire said they talked to local chief executives to clarify their roles on how to stop the COVID-19 transmission in communities.

Vergeire also said they introduced the Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic or CODE protocol, which aims to bring back a health-focused, driven approach in responding to COVID-19 by providing stronger support to local governments which need it the most.

Part of the protocol is for CODE teams to go house to house in high-risk communities, checking if anyone has COVID-19 symptoms, and testing those who do. Those who tested positive will be immediately isolated as well as treated if need be.

Vergeire expressed hope the local governments will follow suit and do active case finding as well.

On August 1, the medical community asked President Rodrigo Duterte to reimpose strict enhanced community quarantine in Mega Manila for two weeks, noting the need to recalibrate strategies since the response at the time was not able to bring COVID-19 under control.

Duterte made a compromise by placing Mega Manila under MECQ for 15 days.
I write this in my final day of hotel quarantine in Sydney. The trip back was endlessly delayed and horribly expensive. And the past weeks were a bit of a chore. But its been made infinitely easier by the efficiency and politeness of everyone involved  from the immigration official at the airport to the nurse who called each day to check I was OK to the young army guy who just came to the door to place an "all-clear" band around my wrist.

Dr Anne Gallagher is director-general of the Commonwealth Foundation and president of the International Catholic Migration Commission.

Hotel quarantine, at least in NSW, is now a well-oiled machine and it shows off Australian officialdom at its very best: straight-talking and friendly behind the mask  just as long as youre doing the right thing.

This time tomorrow Ill be on my way down the South Coast. I work in London but have come back to see my dying mother, probably for the last time. My story is not especially interesting. There are many more out there and Im home, so now one of the lucky ones.

I think about people who dont have the money, or the persistence, or the luck that finally got me on board that almost-empty plane. I think about those whove been stuck overseas because they listened to the government back in March when the message was: stay put if you can.
A2Z Smart Technologies Meets with Top Israeli Government Officials About Making its FTICS Technology Mandatory in All Motor Vehicles In Israel

YAVNE, ISRAEL / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2020 / A2Z Smart Technologies, Inc. (TSXV:AZ) (OTCQB:AAZZF) (FSE:A23) ("A2Z" or the "Company"), an innovative technology company specializing in state-of-the-art automation and electronics technology, is pleased to announce that its management team met with a senior government official, Mr. Yitzchak Pindros, in Jerusalem, Israel. Mr. Pindros is a member of the Israeli parliament. The meeting was part of A2Z's efforts for its FTICS technology to become mandatory in every new motor vehicle sold in Israel.

FTICS is a unique cutting-edge lifesaving technology that is located within the fuel tank of a car. Upon collision, FTICS releases a proprietary substance into the gas tank, solidifying the fuel and eliminating the possibility of combustion and thereby preventing fires. The fuel tank is also lined with a special coating to ensure the fuel does not leak. This eliminates vehicle fires, saving lives and preventing serious harm to passengers, as well as saving billions in property damage.

To see how it works press here:

https://vimeo.com/user105821568/download/385092549/2b6aef48d4

After the meeting, Mr. Pindros went on record, stating that "Following the successful completion of the company's pilot program, we will promote a bill mandating the installation of A2Z's FTICS technology in every new car sold in Israel. The protection, safety and saving of human lives is our priority."

Also present at the meeting was Mr. Israel Morgenstern, Chairman of ZAKA, a leading Israeli search and rescue organization, which is also responsible in recovering the bodies from accidents. Mr. Morgenstern, stated, "Our courageous employees work day and night and encounter the devastation and carnage from fatal car accidents in Israel. ZAKA will fully support the initiative to pass legislation that will make this FTICS technology mandatory for every new car sold nationwide as this will save countless lives."

A2Z's Chief Executive Officer, Joseph Bentsur, commented, "We had a very constructive and productive meeting and I would like to personally thank Mr. Pindros for taking the lead initiative in introducing legislation that will save countless lives. In Israel alone, eight cars per day catch on fire."

According to FEMA(*) data between 2014-2016, eighty-three percent of highway vehicle fires occurred in passenger vehicles. In addition, insulation around electrical wiring and flammable liquids in the engine area were the most common items first ignited in highway vehicle fires.

According to Automotive Industry Portal MarkLines(**), 253,938 new light vehicles were sold in Israel in 2019. If such legislation is passed it could translate up to a $127 million dollar annual income for the Company.

Stock Option Grants

The Company also wishes to announce the granting of 600,000 options to directors and officers and 1,240,000 options to consultants, pursuant to the Company's stock option plan (total of 1,840,000). 792,000 options vest immediately, and the balance vest over the following 24 months. All the options are exercisable into an equal amount of shares of the Company at an exercise price of CAD $0.50 per Share and expire 5 years from the Initial Date.

Sources:

https://www.statista.com/statistics/377006/nmber-of-us-highway-vehicle-fires/

(*) https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/statistics/v19i2.pdf

(**) https://www.marklines.com/en/statistics/flash_sales/salesfig_israel_2019

For more information on Member of Parliament, Mr. Yitzchak Pindros:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yitzhak_Pindros

For more information on ZAKA:

https://www.zaka.org.il/

For news article in Hebrew covering the event:

https://www.jdn.co.il/breakingnews/1369235/

https://www.bhol.co.il/news/1126893?utm_source=whatsapp&utm_medium=link

About A2Z Smart Technologies, Inc.

A2Z Smart Technologies, Inc. is an innovative technology company based out of Israel, specializing in military technology and expanding into the civilian markets. A2Z has been operating for over 30 years and has a client base with 75 recurring clients, including the Israel Defense Forces, Security Forces, and Ministry of Defense among others. A2Z plans to leverage their cash flow-generating core-business to expand into the civilian robotics and automobile markets.

According to Zion Market Research, the Military Robotics space is expected to reach $53.93B by 2027 for a projected CAGR of 13.5%.(Summary of Report)

For additional information, please visit: https://a2zas.com

Twitter: @A@Z_Advanced

On Behalf of the Board,

Bentsur Joseph, CEO

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 include forward-looking statements that are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. All statements within this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements include fluctuations in market prices, including metal prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable laws.

Corporate Contact:

Gadi Levin

+972-8-932-4333

gadi@a2zas.com

Investors:

ClearThink

nyc@clearthink.capital

SOURCE: A2Z Smart Technologies, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602579/A2Z-Smart-Technologies-Meets-with-Top-Israeli-Government-Officials-About-Making-its-FTICS-Technology-Mandatory-in-All-Motor-Vehicles-In-Israel
Logically, the nations leading Managed IT Services Provider (MSP) to small and midsize organizations, today announced that their annual TechStravaganza event will be held virtually, in light of current conditions.

Kicking off September 24th, 2020, from 8:00AM TO 5:00PM EST, the highly anticipated event will feature presentations from subject matter experts at Logically in addition to several breakout tracks in Security and Compliance, Managed Services, and Professional Services. There will also be a Q and A panel and a networking reception.

While the face of the event might look a little different this year, we are still thrilled to bring the same incredible opportunities for sharing valuable insights, practices, and knowledge with our attendees, said Mike Cowles, CEO of Logically.

Patrice Andrews, the Chief of Police of Morrisville Police Department, will be the Keynote Speaker at the event, where she will discuss how technology impacts citizens. During her 23-year law enforcement career, Andrews has held positions in Uniform Patrol, Criminal Investigation Division, Special Operations Division, Warrant Squad, Office of the Chief of Police, and the High Enforcement Abatement Team.

Space is limited for the event - please visit the Techstravaganza event page to reserve your spot today.

About Logically

Logically is the leading Managed IT Service Provider (MSP) to small and midsize organizations. We take care of your Information Technology, so you can take care of business. Since 1999, we have made IT management easy and secure for hundreds of corporations, healthcare organizations, non-profits and public sector agencies. We set the standard for responsiveness and operational excellence for organizations seeking to augment existing IT teams or outsource IT completely. Logically, powered by OpLogic, a self-healing, Intelligent MSP platform, cost-effectively amplifies our customers competitiveness. We strategically implement and manage the right balance of mature and emerging information technologies that improve collaboration, security, cloud adoption, customer experiences, productivity and business results. Coupled with the support of our dedicated Care Teams, we deliver deep and complete technical expertise and customer service. As your trusted IT ally, we will run through brick walls for you. Visit http://www.logically.com to learn more.

To learn more about Logically, please visit: http://www.logically.com.

Contact: Jennifer Noto

Jennifer.noto@logically.com
Queensland police are investigating a fresh claim of fruit tampering after a Logan man found two needles in strawberries he was cutting up for his daughter's lunch.

"My daughter could have choked on that," Raymond Kelly said. Credit:Joshua Gane

Raymond Kelly of Meadowbrook, Logan, found needles in two strawberries while preparing his six-year-old's lunchbox for school on Thursday.

"I was gutted, my daughter could have choked on that," Mr Kelly told Seven News.

The find comes two years after a nationwide needle scare that saw the introduction of tough laws lifting the maximum prison sentence for food tampering offences from 10 years to 15 years.
The US governments aid cuts in northern Yemen are increasingly out of step with realities on the ground and civilians are paying the price, six international relief organizations told John Barsa, acting administrator for the US Agency for International Development (USAID), in a letter obtained by Al-Monitor.

"Time is running out for tens of millions of Yemenis," wrote the executives at the International Rescue Committee, Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Oxfam America, CARE, Save the Children USA and Mercy Corps. "Humanitarians have stayed and delivered in Yemen in the midst of complex crises. But our ability to do so now is jeopardized unless the U.S. changes course."

Nearing its sixth year, the war in Yemen has created what the United Nations describes as the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. Hunger stalks the regions poorest country, with half of all children under the age of five expected to be malnourished by the end of the year.

Diseases like cholera, diphtheria and now the coronavirus run rampant, and the recent deadly flooding has added to Yemens woes. Roughly 80% of the population relies on some form of humanitarian aid to survive, and yet the United Nations has received only 21% of its $2.4 billion humanitarian appeal this year for Yemen.

The humanitarian response is critically underfunded despite being the largest humanitarian response in the world, Sultana Begum, NRC advocacy manager for Yemen, told Al-Monitor.

The United States remains one of the largest humanitarian donors to Yemen but has cut its contribution significantly in 2020. The Donald Trump administration accuses the Iran-aligned Houthis, who are fighting the Western-backed, Saudi-led military coalition, of interfering with food distribution and diverting supplies away from those who need it.

After slashing $73 million in assistance for that reason in March, the administration announced in May it would provide $225 million in emergency aid for Yemen. US officials said they suspended funds to programs that would not be implemented as they were designed due to the Houthi interference.

Humanitarian carve-outs for critical life-saving NGO activity in Houthi areas were included, but the relief groups describe them as too narrow to deliver an effective response.

Programs to treat severe acute malnutrition were included in the carve-outs, for example, but funding is suspended for health workers who identify at-risk children and pregnant women, the aid organizations wrote. Hygiene, sanitation and clean water programming are similarly excluded at a time when the coronavirus is spreading unchecked throughout the country.

Without a lifting of the suspension, some NGOs in Yemen will be forced to close life-saving programs and field offices or even end their presence in the north, the relief groups wrote, describing the cuts as increasingly out of step with the humanitarian situation and the realities of our operations on the ground.

The aid organizations acknowledge the ongoing risk of aid diversion in northern Yemen, but say there has been a significant improvement. The Houthis, for example, have dropped their demand for a 2% tax on humanitarian activities and have cooperated with independent assessments of needs and monitoring missions.

The US government is the only country trying to apply pressure through withholding aid, Begum said. Youve got six of the largest aid agencies operating in Yemen saying to the US, your approach isnt right.

Speaking before the Security Council on Tuesday, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Ramesh Rajasingham called on countries, especially Yemens Gulf neighbors, to fulfill the pledges they made at an international donor conference in June.

Without urging funding, Rajasingham said the UN will scale back water and sanitation programs in 15 cities in the coming weeks, and halt its support to nearly 400 additional health facilities next month.
HOUSTON, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Insgroup, Inc., the leading closely held insurance brokerage firm in the state of Texas, announced the firm's President and Chief Executive Officer, Brian J. Kapiloff, will be honored at a virtual awards ceremony this afternoon for the Houston's Business Journal's 2020 Most Admired CEOs.

"I am humbled to be included amongst this group of well-respected leaders  many of whom I know and admire for the work they're doing on behalf of their own organizations and within the Houston community," said Kapiloff.

Judges for the third annual award named Kapiloff as the only insurance industry CEO within the 31 for-profit honorees. A panel of judges looked for characteristics such as contribution to company success, civic involvement, career achievement and more when selecting this year's finalists. The honorees represent Houston's diverse business landscape and include leaders from health care, hospitality, construction, energy, real estate and others.

Hundreds of CEOs were nominated by colleagues and peers before the list of 50 finalists from the for-profit and non-profit sectors were announced. Kapiloff's nomination was championed by Insgroup's Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Ryan Shinkle.

"Brian has led Insgroup from a relatively small insurance agency to one of the largest firms in the region because he's created professional development opportunities for his colleagues and surrounds himself with a diverse group of people and skill sets," said Shinkle. "He empowers us to think differently and fosters a culture of inclusion and growth mindedness."

The 50 honorees will be recognized in a special section of HBJ's weekly edition on August 21st and at a virtual event via a live stage today at 2 p.m. CST.

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.



SOURCE Insgroup, Inc.

Related Links

www.insgroup.net


New Delhi: Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut is known for her feisty and fiery statements. Her social media handle is equally creating a storm online. While Kangana' Team officially handles her Twitter and Instagram, often her statements hog the limelight and create a controversy.

Recently, the official handle of Kangana Ranaut shared a news piece on late actor Sushant Singh Rajput's alleged relationship with 'Kedarnath' co-star Sara Ali Khan which was based on late actor's friend's social media post.

A fan posted on the article and soon Kangana replied with a tweet referring to actor Hrithik Roshan.

As soon as she mentioned the 'Super 30' actor, netizens couldn't keep calm and soon Hrithik Roshan started trending on Twitter. While some sympathised with the actress and her alleged past with the actor, others backed the 'War' superstar with memes and posts on the two splashed all over.

Kangana has been in the news for publicly calling out Bollywood biggies and questioning their silence on late actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death.

The actor was found dead at his Bandra residence on June 14, 2020. The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered a CBI probe into his death case.
Dr. Mustafa al-Jazi was arrested by the religious police affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, after an art show that reportedly clashed with Islamic law writes SY 24.

The al-Falah Center, the new name for the religious police affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, arrested Dr. Mustafa al-Jazi, Director of the Midwifery School in Idleb, yesterday.

Local sources said that, those in charge of the center have arrested Dr. Jazi, because the school, which is supported by the Syrian American Medical Association (SAMS), hosted an artistic event in which they exhibited drawings by a distinguished student, Ghaitha Zankeeh.

According to the same sources, the center justified its action by saying that the drawings depict content that violates Islamic law.

Zankeeh was also summoned for questioning at the center this morning.

The drawings touch on various themes. They highlight the importance of the medical staff confronting the coronavirus, the position of Syrian women and their importance in society, in addition to some of them containing messages about the humanitarian situation in Idleb.

Activists condemned the incident, as, according to them, the people in charge of the center have no right to arrest any person as long as legal institutions and judicial courts are operating, in addition to the fact that the centers work should not include arrests in the event of any violation.

The Syrian NGO Alliance (SNA) issued a statement stressing that the incident coincides with International Humanitarian Day, and happened at a time when everyones efforts are directed towards addressing the spread of coronavirus in northern Syria. The center, according to the SNA statement, seems to have ample time on its hands to restrict freedom of expression and infringe upon cultural activities and artistic work produced by students.

The Midwifery School in Idleb organized a protest this morning to express its resentment at the disappearance of its director after he was summoned to the al-Falah Center for investigation.

The Syria Humanitarian Response team said in a statement today that it is monitoring the situation and is greatly concerned about the kidnappings and random arrests of humanitarian workers in northwestern Syria by some military authorities in the region, in addition to the attacks on medical cadres involving robbery and armed attacks.

The Syria Humanitarian Response team recalled memories of the religious police which, since its establishment three years ago, have committed many violations and abuses against the people of Idleb, be it harassing, pressuring or intimidating them, which on many occasions Hayat Tahrir al-Sham chalked up to personal mistakes.

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.
(TNS) - Evacuations widened in the San Francisco Bay Area overnight as wildfires ringing the region scorched hundreds of square miles of land, edged toward San Jose and produced perhaps the world's worst air quality.In all, more than 349,000 acres have burned in Northern and Central California  the equivalent of 546 square miles, more than the land area of the entire city of Los Angeles. At least 134 structures have been destroyed, and the fire-fanning weather conditions that have brought record temperatures and thousands of lightning strikes in the past few days are not expected to abate soon.The largest cluster of fires overnight was in wine country, the LNU Lightning Complex fire, which has blackened a combined 124,100 acres and triggered the evacuation of nonessential personnel from Travis Air Force Base in Solano County and patients from Adventist Health St. Helena hospital in Napa County.In Sonoma County, the entire city of Healdsburg was under an evacuation warning early Thursday.Fires were also prompting evacuation orders on the eastern edge of San Jose, a result of the SCU Lightning Complex fire, which has burned 102,000 acres in multiple locations generally east of Silicon Valley and the East Bay and west of the Central Valley. Flames were nearing the famed Lick Observatory, which serves astronomers from the University of California.Additional evacuation orders were issued in the path of the CZU August Lightning Complex fire, which was raging in the remote mountainous area southwest of Silicon Valley, on the border of San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties. That fire has burned 25,000 acres and forced the evacuation of more than 22,000 people, officials said Wednesday night.In San Mateo County, the CZU August Lightning Complex fire was threatening the communities of Pescadero and La Honda. In Santa Cruz County, structures have been lost in the Swanton Road area, and a Cal Fire station was under threat.The evacuation zone for this fire has expanded rapidly and now includes the communities of Davenport, Ben Lomond and Boulder Creek.The weather conditions for the next three days look grim, said Mark Brunton of Cal Fire."That makes that threat very direct and very real," he said. "We're doing everything we possibly can to protect life and property."According to the website PurpleAir, the Bay Area was home to the world's worst air quality overnight Thursday. Air quality is especially bad in Silicon Valley, San Mateo County and Livermore Valley, according to local air quality management officials."Smoke can irritate the eyes and airways, causing coughing, a dry scratchy throat and irritated sinuses," the Bay Area Air Quality Management District said. "Elevated particulate matter in the air can trigger wheezing in those who suffer from asthma, emphysema" and other chronic respiratory ailments.The National Weather Service office for the Bay Area warned that elevated fire weather would persist into Thursday morning, with possible gusty winds in the higher elevations."Very dry and warm conditions will persist across the interior and in the region`'s higher elevations," the weather service said. "Smoky and hazy conditions are likely to impact portions of the region through at least this upcoming weekend."As of Wednesday afternoon, 367 major fires were burning statewide, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom."This fire season has been very active and, not surprisingly, that activity has taken shape in a number of counties up and down the state," he said during a news briefing.At this time last year, crews had responded to a total of 4,007 fires throughout the state, Newsom said. They've already been dispatched to 6,754 this year.The rapid outbreak of new blazes has stretched the state's firefighting resources to their limit.Jeremy Rahn, the lead Cal Fire public information officer for the LNU Lightning Complex fire, said Wednesday that the state had already requested 375 additional fire engines as well as additional hand crews from out-of-state agencies, and hired "nearly all available private firefighting 'call when needed' aircraft in the Western United States.""The size and complexity at which these incidents are burning is challenging all aspects of emergency response," he said during a media briefing. "Firefighting resources are depleted as new fires continue to ignite."Newsom, however, expressed confidence that California is prepared to rise to the challenge and thanked the leaders of other states  including Arizona, Nevada and Texas  for their pledges to send additional resources.California is "putting everything we have on these fires," he said, and "we're now getting the support of some of our partners in the Western United States, and for that, again, we're very grateful."Lin reported from San Francisco and Miller, Money and Serna from Los Angeles. Times staff writers Anita Chabria, Taryn Luna, Susanne Rust and Colleen Shalby contributed to this report.2020 the Los Angeles TimesVisit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Police in Derry have launched an investigation after an image emerged of a masked gunman in the Bogside.

The individual is seen brandishing a high-powered assault weapon in an alleyway off Drumcliff Avenue.

It was captured around midnight on August 15 in the aftermath of the Meenan Square bonfire.

There have been unconfirmed reports that a volley of shots was fired on the night.

A couple visiting from Belfast said they were convinced they heard shots.

The pair, who are originally from Derry, were staying in a city centre hotel and watched the bonfire from the City Walls.

The man who did not wish to be named said: "Growing up as a teenager in Derry I got to know what gunfire sounds like. There were definitely gun shots. They were definitely not fireworks."

Video footage has since circulated online in which a series of loud bangs can be heard, appearing to corroborate that account.

French politics student Hadrien Holstein took the photograph of the armed man.

He studies at the University of Paris and for his PhD is focusing on Irish republicanism

Mr Holstein told the Derry News that he arrived in Ireland over a week ago with plans to attend anti-internment bonfires in Belfast before travelling to Derry for the annual Meenan Square pyre.

DUP Deputy Mayor of Derry City & Strabane District Council, Graham Warke, said the weekends bonfires were fuelled by sectarian hatred.

The majority of people want to move forward for a better future for all our children but will we ever with masked men still in the shadows, he added.

His party colleague, Gary Middleton MLA insisted that the PSNI and Chief Constable Simon Byrne

need to be clear about what action they are taking.

He said: These disgusting displays have no place in our society.

Dissident republican party Saoradh said it had no response regarding images or reports of a suspected armed man in the Bogside.

They were however critical of the PSNI for arresting party members on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Detective Chief Inspector Dunny McCubbin stated: Police are aware of a video posted on social media and we are making enquiries.

We are also aware of an image published in the media earlier this week showing a masked individual holding a suspected firearm. The image was reportedly taken in Derry over the last week.

We would appeal to anyone who has information about this to call detectives at Strand Road on 101.

You can also submit a report online using our 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 Office was one of the funniest shows to ever grace television, thanks to Steve Carells portrayal of Michael Scott. While the Worlds Best Boss was undoubtedly written well, Carell brought something unique to the role when he improvised during scenes.

One of the funniest scenes from The Office was an improvisation from Carell.

Steve Carell | Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal

Gay Witch Hunt is an important episode of The Office

Fans of The Office probably remember the Gay Witch Hunt episode as the one where Michael kissed Oscar (Oscar Nunez).

Gay Witch Hunt was the first episode of season 3. It featured a Jim-less (John Krasinski) Scranton branch  he had moved to Stamford, Connecticut after professing his love for Pam (Jenna Fischer) and getting denied  and a Michael Scott eager to demonstrate tolerance in the workplace.

Naturally, Michael thought the best way to do that was to kiss the sole gay man in the office.

Theres an important message of tolerance hidden within the laughs

As funny as that episode is, it also served as a critical commentary on a prevalent social issue at the time  homophobia in the workplace.

The writers did that a lot  poke at social issues that other shows would not, Baumgartner pointed out on his podcast, An Oral History of The Office.

When Gay Witch Hunt debuted on television, corporate America observed a Dont ask, dont tell policy. Same-sex marriage was not yet legal, and people were still using thats so gay as an insult.

As the first person of color playing a gay man on prime time television, Nunez believed The Office could make anything comedy as long as the writing was done tastefully. For him, The Office was funny and intelligent because the writing came from the right place.

Fortunately, audiences and critics had nothing but good things to say about the iconic episode.

That reason that episode works is because its reinforcing the belief that its totally fine to have gay friends in your life, critic Emily VanDerWerff explained. There is a joke buried in that episode that is very progressive in its values and the way it talks about what it means to be a gay man in America. But also the joke on its surface is Oh my god, Michael Scott is going to try and kiss Oscar.

Ironically, that joke wasnt written into the original script. Carell felt like it was the right thing to do.

Steve Carell improvised the kiss in Gay Witch Hunt

As a talented actor, Carell had a knack for knowing when to improvise in a scene.

Steve had an ability to understand the subtext of all the text [in a script], writer Jen Salata explained. She called Carells kiss with Nunez one of the best moments of the whole show.

In the original script, Nunez explained how Carell was only supposed to hug him in that conference room scene.

RELATED: The Most Cringe-Worthy Moments in The Office

[The kiss] was not scripted, Nunez told Baumgartner.

He just did it. I thought at the time he was just messing around because he was bored. [Then I thought] No, no, no. He did it because he was just hugging me. Up to that point he kept hugging me, and thats nothing  not for an Office scene. Not for a conference scene. Somethings gotta happen in that conference room.

And happen it did.

Whenever you come into the office, I want you to think about this, an uncomfortable Michael Scott said as he pressed his lips to Oscars.

Carells improvisation  as awkward as it was  worked. As Salata mentioned, it was on story, it was on theme, and it was funnier than what was scripted.
Michigan election officials say 846 Michigan voters who cast ballots in Michigans primary died before election day, and none of those votes were counted, because theres a system in place for that.

The Secretary of States office says it receives monthly updates via the social security master death index to update the states Qualified Voter File. If a voter died between mailing out their ballot and election day, the system flags that ballot so that it isnt counted.

Its one of several steps Michigan takes to ensure its elections arent tampered with, officials said.

When these people requested their ballots, they were alive, their identities were verified via the signature match process for applications, and they were issued a ballot, said Tracy Wimmer, spokesperson for the Secretary of States office.

The votes of those who died before the election make up about 8 percent of the 10,694 absentee ballots rejected by the state in the August primary.

Nearly 60% of all the absentee ballots rejected by the state couldnt be counted because they arrived to their local clerks office after election day, according to the Secretary of States office. About 21% couldnt be counted because of issues with signatures, and 10% werent counted because the voters address changed.

Wimmer said the number of people who died before their vote was counted was actually a little low compared to other elections, given the number of absentee ballots cast overall. More than 1.6 million people mailed their votes in Michigans primary and the state expects as many as 3 million people to vote via absentee in November.

For context, in the Nov. 2016 presidential, roughly 1,700 people died in that same window and had their ballots rejected, though 400,000 fewer people voted (absentee ballots) that year, Wimmer said.

Mailing issues with the United States Postal Services and the volume of absentee ballots has state officials and nonpartisan voting organizations pushing for changes to improve the voting process before the general election in November.

The increase in people choosing to mail in their votes prompted the nonpartisan group, League of Women Voters, to ask the Michigan Supreme Court to allow clerks more time to count ballots postmarked by or on election day.

Related: Michigan Supreme Court asked to reconsider absentee ballot deadline in light of uncounted primary votes

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel this week pressed forward with a lawsuit that aims to stop recent changes at the USPS, even after the agencys leader agreed to back off some of the changes that were being made ahead of the election.

Michigan is one of at least 20 states suing over operational changes under Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, which include decreasing the number of mail-sorting machines and blue collection boxes; new constraints on when mail can go out for delivery; and the elimination of most overtime.

Related: Snail mail and a pinky promise: Why Michigan is still suing after USPS walked back changes

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has been advocating for Michigan lawmakers to allow more time for clerks to accept and count ballots. Currently, clerks can cant begin counting absentee ballots before election day, and absentee ballots must be delivered by 8 p.m on election day to be counted.

Disenfranchised voters in (the) statewide primary could have easily had their votes counted with small changes in law, Benson said after the election.

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.

Related: Most of Michigans rejected August primary absentee ballots had signature, late arrival issues

There are three pending bills Benson is calling on Michigan lawmakers to pass, two of which she said would have prevented 8,600 ballot denials in the primary.

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 an absentee ballot doesnt match the name registered with the state.
Mr. Benjamin Yeboah Sekyere, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tano South Constituency in the Ahafo Region on Thursday, described the level of development brought to the area under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos government as unprecedented.



He emphasised that water, road, health and the agriculture sectors had been improved in almost all the communities to better the lives of the people.



Mr. Sekyere who is the Deputy Ahafo Regional Minister said the government had not neglected any community in terms of development, and therefore called on the people to justify that and show appreciation by voting to retain the government in Election 2020.



If the people do this, Mr. Sekyere said, the government would also be motivated enough and concentrate on developing Ghana beyond aid for the betterment of the people.



In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Bechem, the MP highlighted several development projects brought to the area, and expressed the hope that the people would not disappoint him and Nana Akufo-Addo in the forthcoming December 7, Presidential and Parliamentary elections.



He said so far about 60 physical infrastructural development projects had been completed in the constituency, spread across various communities, while electricity had also been extended to deprived communities.



Some of the projects include a modern market at old Brosankro, 10-seater water closet toilet facility at Bechem, solar-powered mechanized borehole at Derma-Beposo number two, borehole at Techimantia Presby Primary, another mechanized borehole at Samuel Otu SHS, Techimantia, Solar-powered mechanized borehole at Derma Atoase and three unit classroom block at Derma Methodist Primary B.



Others included mechanized borehole at Techimantia Bungalow, electricity-powered mechanized borehole at Derma- Beposo number two, borehole at Agyimkrom, solar-powered mechanized borehole at Owen Nkwanta, 20-seater water closet toilet facility at Derma SHS, electricity extension to Kwadwo Fordjourkrom and six-unit classroom block at Techimantia Samuel Otu SHS.



Mr. Sekyere indicated one number three unit classroom has also been constructed at Derma Presby JHS, one number three unit classroom blocks at Derma SDA JHS, community centre at Derma and rehabilitation of Bechem town roads phase two.



In addition, he said rehabilitation works on the Techimantia-Derma-Asuoso road, under cocoa roads project was progressing, while the re-construction of 40.4 km Bechem-Techimantia-Akomadan road was nearly completed.



Ohia, Brosankro, Tweapease and Masin communities had also benefited from one number three unit classroom blocks each, while electricity power had been extended to new settlements at the Bechem township.



The MP said the governments school feeding programme had been extended to Kofikrom local Primary, Derma SDA Primary, Dwomo R/C, Kwasu Presby Primary and Bechem SDA Primary schools.



He added that more than 5,000 street bulbs and 7,000 energy saving led bulbs had been distributed to enhance lighting systems in the area.



Mr. Sekyere added that more than 3,000 farmers in the area had also been provided with fertilizers and other farm inputs and agro-chemicals, while 10 motorbikes had also been donated to the Municipal Directorate of Education.

Source: GNA









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SPRINGFIELD  Two days before the U.S. House of Representatives is supposed to reconvene to act on a bill to prevent a reduction of postal services, U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal said cuts in mail delivery are a deliberate effort by the Trump administration to interfere with mail-in voting measures prior to the November election.

This is an effort to disenfranchise millions of members of the American family who simply want to participate, in the coronavirus atmosphere, by voting by mail, Neal said.

He said as much as 40% of voters will cast ballots by mail nationwide, as more states  including Massachusetts  have embraced voting by mail as an alternative to voting at a polling place.

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on Tuesday announced he was halting until after the election some operational changes that critics blamed for delays. But postal union representatives said some mail sorting machines and collection boxes have already been removed around the country.

At a press event Thursday outside Springfields main post office branch at Main and Liberty streets, Neal said urgent action is needed now to stabilize the Postal Service and prevent disaster.

Surrounded by several current and retired Postal Service employees and union officials, Neal said slowing mail delivery to gum up the works on election day also has a spinoff effect of interfering with e-commerce, and delaying the delivery of social security checks to the elderly and prescription medication to the elderly and veterans, he said.

He called on DeJoy, a Trump fundraiser named to lead the Postal Service earlier this year, to resign.

It is time for Postmaster DeJoy to go, Neal said.

Since DeJoy was appointed June 15, he has eliminated employee overtime, reorganized the Postal Service administration, and directed some mail sorting machines to be taken offline. There are reports that, in cities across the country, mail collection boxes are being removed from public spaces.

DeJoy has said the changes were needed to address an operational deficit that has been made worse by the coronavirus, but critics say it is part of a broader move to interfere with mail-in voting, which President Trump frequently rails against.

Neal, one of those critics, said enough is enough.

At a very time when we ought to be encouraging people to vote, encouraging people to stand up for a basic constitutional right that people have died for, we are witnessing this effort by the Trump administration to discourage people from actually voting, Neal said

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has reconvened the House from its August break and instructed members to be in Washington for a vote Saturday on the Delivering for America Act.

The bill would prevent the Postal Service from enacting any operational changes that would affect mail delivery before the election. It also calls for $25 billion in emergency funding for the Postal Service.

The amount of money is the same as what was included in the HEROES Act, a $3 trillion relief package approved by the House in May. The bill has been stalled in the Senate in an impasse over funding.

Neal said he is confident the Senate is prepared to act, as members including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are wary of making it into an election issue in November.

I can assure you the Senate is about to be more aggressive on this on Saturday ... because that legislation is going on on Senator McConnells desk, Neal said.

I think by calling attention to the inadequacies of the funding, the Senate will be forced to act before the election, Neal said.

In May, Neal staged a similar event in the same spot to express his support for the Postal Service and he expressed hope that the Senate would act swiftly to pass the HEROES Act.

At the time he said, Everyone acknowledges the problem even if we have a temporary disagreement on the solutions.

Politico reported that McConnell, R-Ky., said this week that he hoped the impasse between the House and Senate versions of funding would be resolved soon, but he added, I cant tell you with certainty were going to reach an agreement.

In the same interview, McConnell said, Were going to make sure that the ability to function going into the election is not adversely affected.

Michael Harazmus, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers Local 46, which represents postal workers in Western Massachusetts, said two sorting machines have been taken offline at the Hartford mail facility, where letter-sized mail for Western Massachusetts is processed for distribution. That affects the mail in Western Massachusetts, he said.

Patricia Madamais of Westfield, a retired letter carrier, said what is happening to the Postal Service is appalling.
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide please call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text TALK to 741741 or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.

Carol Burnett and her husband have filed court documents seeking legal guardianship of her teen grandson due to what they say are her daughter's drug addiction issues.

Burnett and her husband, Brian Miller, filed a petition in Los Angeles County Superior Court asking for legal guardianship of their 13-year-old grandson, Dylan Hamilton-West. The boy is the son of Burnett's daughter Erin Hamilton with her ex-husband, Tony West.

Hamilton, 52, is one of Burnett's three daughters with ex-husband Joe Hamilton, whom she divorced in 1984.

Celebrity Sightings In Los Angeles - April 30, 2018 (Bauer-Griffin / GC Images)

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"Due to addiction issues and other circumstances that my daughter, Erin, has been struggling with impacting her immediate family dynamic, my husband and I have petitioned the court to be appointed legal guardian of my 14-year-old grandson," Burnett said in a statement to TODAY. (In the court filing, the boy's age is given as 13.)

"Guardianship will be for oversight purposes concerning his health, education and welfare and not intended to deny him nor the parents proper visitation with one another. We look forward to recovery being the next stepping stone towards normalization and ask for privacy at this time to allow that process to occur."

Burnett, 87, said in court documents obtained by NBC News that her daughter has "suffered from severe substance abuse and addiction issues" for much of her adult life and has been in and out of rehabilitation and institutionalized eight times in the past 19 years. She and West were married for four months before getting divorced in 2006, according to the court filing.

The comedy legend also said in the filing that her daughter sent multiple text messages on July 15 to Dylan and her adult son, Zachary Carlson, in which she threatened suicide. Dylan told his father, who called the Los Angeles Police Department, which conducted a wellness check on Erin and placed her on a 51/50 hold for "suicidality and drug use."

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The 50th Annual Golden Globe Awards (Ron Galella Collection via Getty)

Erin Hamilton was taken to two hospitals for treatment and released on July 24, according to the filing.

Burnett and Miller added in their petition that Tony West checked himself into a rehab center in Los Angeles on Aug. 7 and "is unable to provide financial support for Dylan."

"Dylans living environment has long been unstable, unpredictable, and unhealthy for a child," the couple said in the filing.

The California Department of Children and Family Services also conducted investigations in 2018 and 2019 into Dylan's living conditions, according to the court documents.

In one instance, Burnett said she took him on a trip to Lake Arrowhead in the San Bernardino Mountains while his mother was at a drug abuse treatment facility. Burnett said he began to cry and begged her not to take him to his father's house when it was time to go home.

West was later awarded physical custody of his son in November 2019, and Hamilton was allowed to see him in monitored visits. The boy was living with West at the beginning of the pandemic but moved in with a friend's family in Ojai, California, when West checked into rehab, according to the filing.

"This is not a long-term solution, however, and Dylan needs responsible adults in place to make decisions regarding his housing, education, health and welfare needs," Burnett said in the documents.

A hearing on the petition for guardianship is scheduled for Jan. 8, 2021.

The petition for custody comes after Burnett opened up in AARP the Magazine's August and September 2020 issue about her late daughter, Carrie Hamilton, who also experienced substance abuse issues.

Burnett said Carrie was able to overcome her addiction issues as a teen, and the two had a strong bond before Carrie died at 38 in 2002 from pneumonia as a complication of lung cancer.

"My daughter Carrie got into drugs. In that situation, dont be their best friend. When we got her into a third rehab, oh, she hated my guts! You have to love them enough to let them hate you," she told the magazine.

"She got sober before her 18th birthday, and we had a good 20 years  we were joined at the hip for a while there. Carrie died of cancer at 38. But in the hospital she said, 'Every day I wake up and decide today Im going to love my life.' And that was her mantra."
A helicopter pilot died in a crash while fighting one of hundreds of wildfires raging in California after lightning storms.

The west coast state was hit by nearly 11,000 lightning strikes in 72 hours, sparking 367 fires, from Tuesday.



While over 50 structures were destroyed in northern California's wine country where thousands fled their homes, authorities said.



In the central region of the state, a helicopter was on a water dropping mission in Fresno County when the aircraft crashed, Mirror reported.

The pilot, who was the only person on board, was killed, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said in a statement.



To the north of San Francisco, a group of fires covering over 46,000 acres near the city of Vacaville raced through hills and mountains, destroying 50 homes and other structures.
India-China to hold 8th WMCC meet today: Focus on Finger areas

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Aug 20: The Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) will meet today in a bid to find a solution to the border town along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

On whether a meeting of the Corps Commanders will be held after this, a source told OneIndia it would depend on how the WMCC meeting goes. A lot would depend on the outcome of the WMCC and also how the Chinese are inclined, the source also said.

It may be recalled that the seventh meeting of the WMCC was held last month. Both sides had agreed on complete disengagement along the LAC at eastern Ladakh. The talks are headed by the joint secretary-level officials from both sides.

Ready to address differences with India, develop bilateral ties: China

On asked about the possible outcome of the talks, the source cited above said that it appears to be low. However efforts will be made to find a solution, the official also said.

The Chinese have not disengaged in the Finger Area, Depsang Plains and Gogra despite multiple rounds of talks. The Chinese have been camping in the Finger Areas for the past three months and have been constructing bunkers and sangars.

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.

Xis strong critic who accused him of provoking conflict with India expelled

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 producer of games like I Am Bread and Surgeon Simulator (pictured at top), Bossa will allow employees to either work remotely, work from its London office, or combine a mix of the two to suit the working preferences and personal needs of each employee. The company calls its new flexible approach a radical shift in studio working structure as reported by U.K. trade publication MCV/DEVELOP.

Bossas decision to make the change was based on employee feedback, in which over three-quarters of its employees expressed a preference for WFH or were neutral on the matter. Additionally, 43% of staff said that their productivity increased at home, while 82% of management reported that remote meetings were more efficient or the same as meetings held at the studio. On the downside, 11% of staff reported a decline in productivity.

Vince Farquharson, COO at Bossa Studios, provided a statement to MCV/DEVELOP about how they arrived at the decision to make WFH a permanent option for employees:

Once we had everyone in the business setup to work from home we began to consider what the future was for working at Bossa. We had heard a lot of positive comments from staff and our first step was to gather feedback and quantify it. Was everyone happier and able to do their jobs? Was it feasible for them to continue to work from home. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, so we knew we had a will, but we had to work out the way. Bossa is built of specialist teams who all have different working needs. However, not a single area of our business, from the development teams of Surgeon Simulator 2 and I Am Fish through to Marketing and People, has found working from home to be negative. Additionally, management team members are the most supportive of continuing this way of working. Flexible, and entirely optional, remote working is a change that allows Bossa to find talent that may not have been able to work in a traditional, 100% office-based studio.

The big question that remains is whether the WFH model could also apply to sister industries like animation and vfx. Its hard to say because of the variables in the different types of animation production, the variety of roles within every studio, and the different regions in which animation is produced.

In conventional animation production at least, certain parts of the process, like pre-production and story development, benefit from in-person collaboration and dialogue between artists. But its not unreasonable to suggest that other parts of the process further down the pipeline, for example animation and clean-up in tv production, can be accomplished with less collaborative input, thus reducing the need to have everyone in the same location.

Even so, some animation studio owners seem to be highly resistant to the idea of permanently offering WFH for their employees. Among them is Ottawa, Canada-based service studio Mercury Filmworks, whose owner Clint Eland has said that the company is currently losing money because of offsite production and that long-term offsite production is not a viable option for the type of animation that Mercury produces.

In any case, the animation world is at the beginning of the discussion about the physical necessity of animation/vfx/gaming studios. Though its not clear yet how most companies will move forward into the future, it is already evident that not all studios will return to their pre-pandemic business models.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump is taking his effort to block his critics on Twitter to the Supreme Court.

The Justice Department on Thursday asked the high court to review a federal appeals court ruling that found the president's practice of blocking critics violates the First Amendment.

Trump, who now has more than 85 million Twitter followers, prompted the court battle in 2017 by blocking some of the social media company's users from following his Twitter account. Seven of them went to court, charging that he was seeking to "suppress dissent."

A federal district court ruled against the president in 2018, and a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit followed suit in 2019. Earlier this year, the full appeals court refused to rehear the case.

These tweets are published by a public official clothed with the authority of the state using social media as a tool of governance and as an official channel of communication on an interactive public platform, appeals court Judge Barrington Parker wrote.

Acting Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall told the justices Thursday that Trump's account was created in 2009 when he was a private citizen. Wall said the president has continued to use it for both personal and official pronouncements.

President Donald Trump's Twitter feed is shown on a computer screen.

"The president uses his account to speak to the public, not to give members of the public a forum to speak to him and among themselves," Wall said.

"Denying him the power to exclude third parties accounts from his personal account  a power that every other owner of a Twitter account possesses  would deter holders of his office from using new technology to efficiently communicate to a broad public audience."

The president tweets regularly at @realDonaldTrump, often multiple times a day. Since establishing the account, he has tweeted more than 54,000 times  an average of about 13 per day. Typical are his rants against opponents, such as one unleashed Wednesday night after Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris' acceptance speech to the Democratic National Convention.

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BUT DIDNT SHE CALL HIM A RACIST??? DIDNT SHE SAY HE WAS INCOMPETENT???  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 20, 2020

The Justice Department acknowledged that Trump uses the account for government business but said the appeals court failed to understand that blocking followers is his personal decision.

"By ignoring the critical distinction between the presidents (sometimes) official statements on Twitter and his always personal decision to block respondents from his own account, the opinion blurs the line between state action and private conduct," Wall said in asking the Supreme Court to hear the case.

"The result of the court of appeals novel ruling will be to jeopardize the ability of public officials  from the president of the United States to a village councilperson  to insulate their social-media accounts from harassment, trolling, or hate speech without invasive judicial oversight."

Typical of the seven Twitter users who brought the case in 2017 was Rebecca Buckwalter of Washington, D.C. After Trump tweeted "Sorry folks, but if I would have relied on the Fake News of CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS washpost or

nytimes, I would have had ZERO chance winning WH, she replied: To be fair you didnt win the WH: Russia won it for you.

Those blocked from a Twitter account cannot read tweets, respond to them directly, or contribute to the comment threads.

After the 2018 district court ruling, the White House unblocked the seven individuals who brought the case, along with others blocked because of their viewpoints. But it did not unblock those who could not specify the tweet that caused Trump to block them, or those blocked before he became president.

This case stands for a principle that is fundamental to our democracy and basically synonymous with the First Amendment: government officials cant exclude people from public forums simply because they disagree with their political views, said Jameel Jaffer, executive director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, which represents the plaintiffs.

The Supreme Court likely will decide this fall whether to hear the case next year.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump asks Supreme Court to let him block critics on Twitter
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
Sahil, a South Delhi manicurist, is back at work. His salon reopened in June. He did not get his salary for April and May, during the lockdown, when the parlour was shut. Now he has some work, but no regular salary. The footfalls are too few, his bosses say. Sahil has to make do with just 30 per cent of the amount the customers pay for his services.

My earnings at the end of the month barely cover my expenses. But I have no choice. I have to come to work just to keep my job, he says, from behind a mask and a face shield. Sahil is in his twenties, single and lives with his family. He concedes that he is relatively lucky. Without family support, he says, he wouldnt have been able to survive in Delhi on his current earnings.

Sahil could well be the face of the lockdown generation. In the time of the pandemic, his story is all too common. According to recent data from the Centre for Monitoring the Indian Economy (CMIE), one of Indias leading business information companies, 17.7 million regular salaried jobs were lost in April alone this year.

By July, that figure had shot up to 18.9 million, CMIE data shows. The CMIE data analysis underlines a grim fact during Unlock 3.0. The economy has been opening up in a phased manner since June, and some of the jobs are coming back, but the recovery has been largely in informal jobs. More and more young people find themselves in Sahils situation.

While salaried jobs are not lost easily, once lost they are also far more difficult to retrieve, CMIE notes.The beauty industry, one of the largest job-generators in this country during pre-coronavirus times, is one among many sectors that has been badly hit.

Even rich customers are wary of spending much time inside parlours though the staff wear protective gear and safety protocols are maintained. Many back alley parlours in urban India have shut down.

The bigger parlours that have survived are functioning at 30-40 per cent of their staff strength. More than a dozen beauty salon workers died by suicide during the lockdown, according to reports in the media. The All India Hair and Beauty Association, which has around eight lakh salon professionals, have launched a Save Salon India campaign.

The grim data about job losses and further casualisation of the workforce in a country where only 21 per cent have regular salaried jobs bears out an unsettling reality.

While the elderly have absorbed the worst of the health impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, the young are likely to be disproportionately absorbing its economic and social impacts in the times to come.

A recently released report by the International Labour Organisation and the Asian Development Bank titled Tackling the Covid-19 Youth Employment Crisis in Asia and the Pacific estimates that in India, the job losses will affect at least 4.1 million youths.

Construction and agriculture have witnessed the major job losses among seven key sectors, the ILO-ADB report pointed. In India, two-thirds of firm-level apprenticeships and three quarters of internships were completely interrupted during the pandemic, the report said.

Huge chunks of the service sector have also been gutted -- hotels, restaurants, beauty parlours, wholesale and retail, real estate and many other businesses are severely hit and millions of workers, especially the young, are seeing their dreams going up in smoke.

Those who have been laid off or are desperately looking for jobs are being asked to start their own businesses, but just how easy is it to follow that prescription and how are women faring in the current context?

A recent article by academics Dipa Sinha and Sona Mitra in the Leaflet makes some pertinent points. The post-Covid stimulus package focused majorly on easing credit availability for the MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) through these schemes.For example, the Covid package announced by the Government of India includes Rs 50,000 crores in equity infusion for MSMEs, almost Rs 300,000 crores in collateral-free loans for MSMEs and other businesses, and two per cent interest subvention on Mudra Sishu loans  68 per cent of these beneficiaries being women. However, it does not mention special provisions for women-owned micro-enterprises or the sectors which have a concentration of womens businesses, say Sinha and Mitra.

Further, as the authors point out, the emphasis of the announcements remains on easing loans and credit rather than providing access to markets, which becomes crucial in the post-lockdown scenario.

It is not only the disruption in supply, but the slackening of overall demand within the economy, which can potentially lead to closures of many such small businesses, especially for women -- who are anyways perceived as secondary earners within a household.

Analysing the distribution of the impact of the Covid-19 crisis is needed for the targeted policy intervention to help the most affected and more vulnerable sections of the population.

Providing income support to workers and enterprises is an immediate policy concern, argue Basit Abdullah and Kashif Mansoor, research scholars at the Centre for Development Studies in Keralas Thiruvananthapuram, in a recent report for the Azim Premji University.

It is important that the youth are not long-term unemployed since it affects their future career prospects and earning potential. Massive short-term training and skill development programmes for youth along with social protection expansions will increase the chances of them finding employment in growing sectors post the pandemic. This will help limit the long-term effects of the pandemic on the youth labour market, the authors advocate.

The ILO has warned that young people could well be left behind in large numbers as the world finally emerges from the pandemic and that the initial shock to young people will last a decade or longer than a decade.

For India, a country with a dominantly young population, this is a terrifying scenario with political and social repercussions. Indias economy was already in a slowdown mode.

The lockdown knocked it down further. If there are no policies and initiatives specially targeting the youth the lockdown generation -or if they are not followed through, and young people go without jobs for long stretches, the famed demographic dividend would turn upside down and morph into a demographic disaster.

We simply cannot let that happen.
Trader Who Earned USD 11m Shares Trading Techniques, Offers Advice

A bitcoin (BTC) trader has shared the story about how he earned over USD 11 million, and offered some technical advice for beginner traders.

Source: Adobe/petunyia

The trader told his story in an interview with bitFlyer Japan, a trading platform, which described him as one of "the most famous" of the "prominent traders who are actively publishing information," per an emailed release.

The man, known as Mr. European, started investing back in 2011 during his university days. Back then, he used his part-time job paychecks to pay for Japanese stocks and forex (foreign exchange market) trading investments.

However, the timing of these first investments was also significant. As Mr. European said, this was around the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Nikkei average was low, and the exchange rate was around 80 JPY/USD.

Mr. European said,

"It was almost profitable. Thanks to the market at the time, I got a good start. Once my career started, I had more money and I wanted to take on more investments."

Three years later, in 2014, he made his crypto bow. He was introduced to and bought some bitcoin (BTC) when it cost around USD 265 per coin.

In 2015, he started using bitFlyer, and this was the point where he decided to invest some USD 50,000 in the world's number one cryptocurrency.

2016 saw the price near USD 1,000, while by the end of 2017, it had surpassed USD 20,000.

He stated,

"I didn't sell it every time, so I don't really know the maximum potential amount of my assets. I sold at the end of the bubble in 2017, though. I paid about JPY 500 million (c. USD 4.7 million) in taxes and got about JPY 600 million (c. USD 5.6 million) in cash. So, you could say I had at least JPY 1.2 billion (c. USD 11.25 million) in profit."

As for his crypto trading techniques, he said he focuses on three indicators above all when looking at market prices:

The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) chart, compiled by the US-based bitcoin investment trust Grayscale: it enables investors to closely watch trade volume trends. GBTC has a premium (divergence rate), which makes GBTC more expensive than actual bitcoin, and while regulations prevent purchasing actual BTC, if institutional investors buy GBTC, strong trends can be observed. Mr. European stated, "However, you have to consider your position when the premium is too high. Thats when you look at GBTC." The 200-day average movement line: a concept that originated from stocks and is used by many traders over the world - the line gets its name from the fact that 200 days is approximately the number of days in a year one can trade on a traditional market. However, as crypto moves the entire year, perhaps a 365-day line would be better. Hashrate, the computational power of a network: if a trader considers where mining becomes profitable, they can use current hashrates to see if they are gaining profits or taking losses.

When it comes to good techniques for beginner, Mr. European explained,

"Do you mean a method that uses foreign funding rates that anyone can use and get good results? I think this is still a simple category. You can get a feeling of when it is overheating by looking at the funding rates of foreign derivative exchanges. When it is overbought or oversold, do the opposite."

Meanwhile, Mr. European is concerned that recent bitcoin price movements are too slow. But he also says BTC prices are becoming more clearly correlated with stocks.

He added,

"Bitcoin may have been put into large-fund portfolios with other assets like stocks and other assets. When a stock is sold, the value of the stock in the portfolio goes down and the value of bitcoin goes up relatively, and vice versa. If there is a lot of fund rebalancing like this, drops in stocks could see bitcoin drop as well."

Lastly, the world's top cryptocurrency has not been able to escape the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic either. "Bitcoin isn't particularly compatible with a pandemic, but other financial assets are lowering in price, so some may choose it as their investment avenue," said Mr. European.

He added, however, "It seems that people who have never shown interest in cryptoassets are beginning to change their opinion."

Furthermore, while central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are not crypto, he said, these could serve as "a tailwind for bitcoin once people become comfortable with digital currencies. I doubt that the digitization will be undone. We wont go back to analog currencies."

____

Learn more:

These Two Institutional Investors Allocated At Least 1% To Bitcoin

Crypto Insider Traders Run Free, Hurting Unregulated Market
In her opening remarks at the third night of the Democratic National Convention, Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee Kamala Harris encouraged Americans to form a plan to vote in November.

"I know many of you plan to vote this year, but amidst the excitement and enthusiasm for this election, youve also heard about obstacles and misinformation and folks making it harder for you to cast your ballot," she said. " When we vote, we address the need for all people to be treated with dignity and respect in our country. So each of us needs a plan. A voting plan."

MORE: 2020 Election: Voter registration deadlines for each state

The Biden campaign set up a text line to remind voters about deadlines in their area. Harris directed voters to sign up for updates in their states.

"Joe and I want to make sure you're prepared. If you text vote to 30330, we'll help you come up with your plan. And remember deadlines and get ready to vote in your community. So send that text and encourage your family and friends to send one too," she said.

The coronavirus pandemic brought on a number of changes to the way elections are conducted around the country, with a massive expansion of absentee and vote-by-mail programs. Nine states plus Washington, D.C. have decided to automatically send every voter a ballot for the November general election to help those who wish to avoid polling places because of the potential to contract coronavirus.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump takes questions during a press briefing at the White House, Aug. 19, 2020. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

Those changes havent come without pushback, especially from President Donald Trump, who repeatedly makes inaccurate claims about election fraud. In recent weeks, the USPS has come into the political fray as changes to the post office have given way to concerns about the impact on voting in November. Trump appointed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is set to testify in front of both chambers on recent changes to the USPS starting Friday, and he announced Tuesday that he will suspend several cost-cutting initiatives in an effort "to avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail."

Story continues

MORE: Postmaster general agrees to testify before Senate, House lawmakers amid mail-in voting firestorm

While those issues are still being addressed and amid a variety of voting options, heres what you need to know to form a plan to vote in November:

Check your voter registration

Most secretaries of state allow voters to check or update their voter registration online through a portal on their websites. Just enter a name, birth date and address and you can make sure you are registered to vote at your current address.

Many states are also sending out mailers to voters who may have old or inaccurate information on their voter registration. Keep an eye on your mailbox for official mail from your state or county election officials asking to update information.

The deadline for registering is fast approaching for November in many states.

Check the rules surrounding absentee voting in your state

Twenty-eight states have made changes expanding or relaxing vote-by-mail processes. Some of these changes could mean automatically sending every voter a ballot in November, as is the case in California, Vermont and seven other states, plus Washington, D.C.

It could also mean automatically sending every registered voter an application to cast an absentee ballot, which is often seen as an additional safeguard for states which dont have an established automatic vote-by-mail program. So far, eight states are currently going to send every voter an application in the mail.

Call your county board of elections or visit your secretary of states website to learn more about the rules in your state for voting absentee in November. Election officials are there to help you cast your ballot safely and accurately, and many offices are even hiring additional staff to help answer questions.

"There's one thing that I always recommend for voters and that is look for the official election material logo. And then, that is the little logo that election officials can use -- and only election officials can use. That is the best way to know that it is the official information," Tammy Patrick, the director of election information for Democracy Fund, told ABC News.

If you automatically receive an application, all that's left to be done is to fill out your information and the reason why you are requesting an absentee ballot. Many states have waived excuse requirements, making it easier to cite the coronavirus as a reason to not want to visit a polling place.

These applications are being sent out soon: North Carolina will be the first state, starting on Sept. 4, with many others to follow.

Decide how you want to vote, fill out and return your ballot

After youve determined the options available to you, decide which way you want to cast your ballot.

The National Conference of State Legislatures has detailed information on what states allow which methods of voting absentee and the National Vote at Home Institute can provide information to voters on deadlines in each state.

PHOTO: Voters wait in line to cast their ballots in the state's primary election at a polling place in Atlanta, June 9, 2020. (Ron Harris/AP, FILE)

"So the main thing we're trying to emphasize is, apply early," said Gerry Cohen, a member of the board of elections in Wake County, North Carolina. "Send your ballot early. North Carolina is the first state to start voting on Friday, September 4, and we're hoping that by doing that people will have plenty of time."

The post office suggests applying at least 15 days in advance and mailing a ballot back to election officials at least seven days in advance, but many election officials suggest trying to give your ballot even more time to move through the postal service.

If you send your ballot in the mail, many states are lengthening the time frame ballots need to be returned by. Most states, though, will require that ballots be postmarked by Election Day.

If you choose to vote absentee by mail and are worried about your ballot getting delivered in time, you also have the option of using a drop box in some states. Otherwise, you can return your ballot by hand to election officials at your county board of elections -- but make sure to check the time by which those ballots need to be back with your secretary of state, as it can sometimes be a few hours before the polls close.

MORE: Early in-person voting seen as strong option for concerned voters

Make sure to keep up to date with local news sources, as many states still have lawsuits ongoing about the rules for absentee voting in November.

Most states will also host early in-person voting, which means you can visit a polling place to cast your ballot in person, sometimes up to two weeks before Election Day. This option was originally included to give voters more time to get to the polls, but now it helps poll workers and election officials keep crowds small to account for social distancing.

Kamala Harris urged Americans to make a 'voting plan.' Here's how to get started. originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The Maharashtra Congress on



Thursday paid rich tributes to former Prime Minister on his 76th birth anniversary and recalled his contributions in laying the foundation stone of the IT revolution and a strong economy of the country.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray paid floral tributes to the former PM and recalled his contributions to the nation.

In view of the COVID 19 pandemic, the Congress function was organised through video conferencing.

Shiv Sena leader and deputy chairperson of the legislative council Neelam Gorhe said telecommunications, amendments in education policyand the panchayat raj, in which women got more representation in local bodies, were among the highlights of Rajiv Gandhi's tenure as PM.

State PWD minister and Congress leader Ashok chavan and senior leader Ulhas Pawar recalled Rajiv Gandhi's "historic" public meetings in Maharashtra.

Earlier in the day, state Congress president Balasaheb Thorat visited the Cooperageground in south Mumbai and paid floral tributes to at his life-size statue.

(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 Higher Funding



Agency of the Union Ministry has released Rs 206.94 crore to Pondicherry University to develop its infrastructure.

Vice-Chancellor of the varsity Gurmeet Singh said the grant would be utilised to construct new buildings for various departments, hostels, research centres and staff quarters.

The main campus of the institution here and also the campuses of the varsity's annexes in Karaikal and Andaman and Nicobar Islands would be equipped with new facilities.

The Vice-Chancellor said the University Grants Commission (UGC) had asked the university to submit proposals for an additional grant of Rs 90 crore to construct new buildings for the Departments of Food Science, Performing Arts and also for a lecture hall atthe community college run by the university.

He said the institution had already submitted proposals to the UGC for introducing new courses in virology and pharmacology in the university with modern lab facilities to conduct research on communicable, non-communicable and rare diseases, including the novel coronavirus.

Gurmeet Singh said the university was in the process of revising the syllabi for all the academic programmes in agreement with the New Policy on the basis of the guidelines of the UGC. "The syllabi will be duly updated and made industry-friendly," he said.

Online academic programmes would also be introduced to enable those who could not get enrolled in the on-campus programmes. "More students will be benefited by this offline academic programmes," the Vice-Chancellor said.

"Presently, 50,000 students are applying for admission to various courses under on-campus programmes. But, only 30,000 students are able to get on-campus admission," he said.

The Vice-Chancellor said steps were under way to provide at least two smart classrooms in each department in the university fitted with microphones and cameras to telecast lectures live through the university's website.

He is optimistic that the varsity would achieve in the next couple of years the targets set in the New Education Policy.

(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.)
Many people haven't yet flown in the post-lockdown era and are probably curious about what the experience is like.

A fascinating new video by The Points Guy UK (TPG UK) travel advice site will go some way to lifting the veil of mystery around it.

It documents three of its team flying from three different airports on three different airlines, producing head-to-head coronavirus-era comparisons between Heathrow, Gatwick and London City, and British Airways, easyJet and Loganair. The experiences varied considerably.

Gatwick 'didn't feel safe', Heathrow was 'big on signage' and hand-sanitising  and the BA lounge was 'impressive' - and London City felt 'private, clean and easy'.

BA's in-flight approach saw TPG UK given free hand sanitiser and a wipe, while the easyJet reviewer had to ask for wipes  and Loganair stocked wipes in the toilet. And scored top points for the fun factor...

HEATHROW AIRPORT TO EDINBURGH WITH BRITISH AIRWAYS

TPG UK said that Heathrow 'went big on signage, encouraging mask-wearing and hand-washing'

Pictured is Nicky Kelvin, the site's Director of Content at Heathrow, before his BA flight

'There were hand sanitising stations all over the airport,' said Nicky after his T5 experience

The Heathrow/British Airways experience was taken up by Nicky Kelvin, TPG UK's Director of Content.

He flew from London Heathrow to Edinburgh from Terminal 5.

He said that Heathrow 'went big on signage, encouraging mask-wearing and hand-washing' and that 'there were hand sanitising stations all over the airport'.

He said that no one actively enforced these rules, though.

Nicky is pictured here in the British Airways Galleries First Lounge, in which he had an 'interesting and positive' experience

He continued: 'Temperature checks were conducted at check-in, but only for flights to certain destinations, such as Italy. There were no special measures at security, and no forms to fill out, as this was a domestic flight, but this would vary by destination.

'Most of the airport amenities - including high-end shops, restaurants and duty free - were all open.'

The airport highlight was the British Airways Galleries First Lounge.

Nicky said: 'The British Airways lounge experience was interesting and very positive. The buffet was closed. Instead, there were QR codes on each table. Scanning the QR code brought up a page which showed the available menu. You then order food and drink directly from this menu, and your order is brought to your table. The service was incredibly fast, and the food was great.'

Nicky, pictured, said that each BA passenger was issued with a small pack including hand sanitiser and a disinfectant wipe

Boarding for his flight 'was conducted in row groups from back to front with status and class of travel all disregarded, with social distancing encouraged'.

He explained that the flight was almost full, but that he had a free seat next to him.

'Most people were sitting right next to another passenger. BA are selling all seats on the plane,' Nicky revealed.

Nicky noted that the crew all wore masks throughout the flight

Each passenger, he said, was issued with a small pack including hand sanitiser and a disinfectant wipe.

And while BA usually offer a buy-on-board service on short-haul flights, Nicky said that this had been replaced with a complimentary snack in economy.

On his flight, he was offered a granola bar, biscuits and a bottle of water.

He added: 'Passengers were advised to wear a mask throughout the flight, and to use the toilets you had to check the light was green - i.e the toilet was free.'

Queuing or loitering in the aisle or galley was a no-no.

Nicky also noted that the crew all wore masks throughout the flight and that disembarkation was conducted in the same way as boarding, with the rows called in groups from the front to the back.

EASYJET FROM GATWICK TO EDINBURGH

Social Media Lead Liam Spencer, pictured, flew with easyJet from London Gatwick to Edinburgh

This still from Liam's footage shows just how busy Gatwick was on the day he flew

Social Media Lead Liam Spencer flew with easyJet from London Gatwick to Edinburgh and had a more mixed experience.

He said that Gatwick displayed 'numerous signs regarding social distancing' and had installed 'multiple hand sanitising stations'  but like Heathrow, no one enforced the rules.

Inside, though, he 'didn't feel particularly safe'.

Liam says on the video that only the masks gave away that there was a pandemic going on

On the video he says that he's 'shocked at how busy it is' and that if it weren't for people wearing masks, you 'wouldn't have any idea that there was a pandemic going on'.

Once he was through security, he ventured into the Club Aspire Lounge.

'Once inside the majority of people removed their masks,' he said. 'There was no table service and some of the hand sanitising stations were empty.'

Liam said: 'The boarding gate area was packed. There were no seats available'

Passengers on easyJet flights are told to wear masks throughout the trip

The boarding experience wasn't reassuring, either.

Liam said: 'The boarding gate area was packed. There were no seats available. The easyJet plane boarded back to front in three groups, but there was no social distancing maintained in the queue.

'Nobody took my temperature or asked if I felt ok during the entire process.'

However, the flight was about 60 per cent full (easyJet will sell every seat if possible) and Liam had a free seat next to him.

Liam's flight was about 60 per cent full and he had a free seat next to him

The cabin crew, he said, all wore masks, with passengers told to do the same.

'A regular meal service started shortly after taking off,' he added. 'But I wasn't offered any sanitiser and had to ask for disinfectant wipes.

'Disembarkation was called out row by row.'

LOGANAIR FROM LONDON CITY TO DUNDEE

Jean Arnas flew from London City, which he said felt 'private, clean and easy'

Jean Arnas, Head of UK Video at TPG UK, drew the Loganair from London City to Dundee straw.

He said: 'Flying from London City Airport felt private, clean and easy. I was virtually the only passenger in the airport, but there were plenty of staff both at check-in and security, so no queues and great service.

'There were hand sanitisers in every corner of the airport and every person was wearing a mask, which made me feel safe.'

However, he was disappointed that not many shops or restaurants were open, apart from Pret a Manger  'the only hot food option' - Boots, WHSmith and Duty Free.

Flying with Loganair was fun, said Jean, with the ATR 42-500 twin-turboprop plane, pictured, feeling like something from an old movie

Jean said: 'I like to have a proper airport experience, but there isn't one to be had.'

Flying with Loganair, though, was 'fun'. Partly because the service was operated by an old-fashioned ATR 42-500 twin-turboprop plane.

'It felt like something from an old movie,' said Jean.

He said he was given 'no food or drinks, not even water', but added that the solo cabin crew was 'friendly' and wore 'a beautifully designed tartan face mask for the entire flight'.

Jean was easily able to social distance on the plane, because there were only 11 people on it

Jean said that there were anti-bacterial wipes in the toilet on his Loganair flight

There were only 11 other passengers onboard, he revealed, 'giving an entire row to each passenger so plenty of social distancing, which felt great'. And there were anti-bacterial wipes in the toilet.

So Jean's experience was quite positive, but he mused that it would have felt a bit different if it was busy.

Some flights will be, as Loganair is selling as many seats as demand requires.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dr. Woody Myersa Black man  did it.

He developed a campaign commercial that connected with the Black community.

If you missed Myers commercial you can find it on social media rather easily. In it, he lays out the challenges hes faced in health care as a Harvard-trained physician.

He talks about being called a racial slur while trying to provide medical care to a drunk patient.

He points out how he was faced with the challenge of delivering babies without significant training for Latinx women, but white women received the highest level of medical attention.

He connected because he talked about the challenges of being a Black man in America.

Buoyed by his training at prestigious institutions, he still engaged in the struggle of valuing Black life and felt the sting of the lack of valuing Black life in our society.

Myers has a way to go and time is starting to tick for him to become the household name he will need to be in order to win the governors race this fall.

A Black man running for a statewide office in Indiana is an uphill battle, but he is taking it on. His campaign is showing life.

Im looking forward to seeing how he capitalizes on this commercial as well as his next moves as the Myers campaign seeks to make history.

2020 has been a year.

A Republican governor said Black Lives Matter and Black Livelihoods Matter.

Weve been waiting for months to hear from the governor about his response to the civil unrest that not only happened here but the other protests that happened around the state.

By some calculations at least 26 Indiana cities participated in some type of protest following the George Floyd murder.

We dont talk about Black Republicans enough (with the notable exception of Curtis Hill) but Ive heard that behind the scenes many Black Republicans engaged the governor in a team effort to personalize a lot of the grievances and indignities Black people face daily.

For some, the governors proposal may feel underwhelming: a new position focused on equity, inclusion and opportunity, data collection, a promise to increase diversity in government including the state police, body cameras and use of force training.

After 400 years of slavery, Jim Crow and a host of failed opportunities to address pertinent issues facing the Black community, and the fact that Black legislators laid out additional common sense policy proposals like banning chokeholds, civil oversight commissions for police and police insurance that were omitted I can see how some might see the governors speech as underwhelming.

I tend to think the governors speech showed a bit of political courage, maybe a political calculation and a nod toward history.

Lets face it. The governor riled his own base quite a bit. If you dont believe me check out the comments on news sites that ran his speech. You never should read the comments. I did. And I wish I hadnt.

The governor may also be making the calculation that he can reach for history because he feels a level of comfort in the upcoming gubernatorial race. I know we shouldnt discount sincere beliefs and evolutions in people, but during an election cycle its hard not to do so.

By all accounts Holcomb isnt some rabid racist or one of those colorblind conservatives, but he hasnt been on our side either.

He put forth some proposals and used some language that is bold for Republicans, but unfortunately commonplace for everyone else. He gets credit for saying Black Lives Matter only because even some Democratic elected officials in blue Marion County have struggled with saying those wordsbut the reality is he needs to show us something and much more than what he suggested in his speech.

Hes made a good start.

Ill be looking for him to show leadership on these issues, which will include listening and acting on the ideas of Black legislatorswho just so happen to understand what Black people want better than non-Black legislators.

Well know he is serious this next legislative session where our issues become his priorities and he uses his political capital to actually do something meaningful for Black people including pushing the legislature on issues.

And I repeatlistening to Black legislators will be key. If they are missing in the policy discussions our community wont trust the reformsplus its just plain stupid and insulting to believe white legislators know whats best for the Black community.

Its past time that Black issues not be a political negotiation. Our pain is real.

What Im hearing

My column on trying to figure out what to do about Indiana Avenue resonated. I learned that Martindale-Brightwood was one of the early quality of life programs before a lot of money was associated with those programs.

The Reclaim Indiana Avenue Coalition is leading the effort to advocate for Indiana Avenue. They also have a plan to reimagine the avenue focused on economic development and opportunity for the area. The hearing examiner meeting for the Buckingham project is at 10 a.m. on Sept. 10 via zoom. More about that meeting later.

Marshawn Wolley is a lecturer, commentator, business owner and civic entrepreneur. Contact him at marshawnwolley@gmail.com.
NEW YORK - President Donald Trumps former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, was pulled from a luxury yacht and arrested Thursday on allegations that he and three associates ripped off donors trying to fund a southern border wall, making him the latest in a long list of Trump allies to be charged with a crime.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 20/8/2020 (517 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FILE - In this May 27, 2019 file photo, former White House strategist Steve Bannon pauses prior to an interview in Paris. Bannon was arrested Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, on charges that he and three others ripped off donors to an online fundraising scheme We Build The Wall. The charges were contained in an indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)

NEW YORK - President Donald Trumps former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, was pulled from a luxury yacht and arrested Thursday on allegations that he and three associates ripped off donors trying to fund a southern border wall, making him the latest in a long list of Trump allies to be charged with a crime.

The organizers of the We Build The Wall group portrayed themselves as eager to help the president build a big beautiful barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border, as he promised during the 2016 campaign. They raised more than $25 million from thousands of donors and pledged that 100% of the money would be used for the project.

But according to the criminal charges unsealed Thursday, much of the money never made it to the wall. Instead, it was used to line the pockets of group members, including Bannon, who served in Trump's White House and worked for his campaign.

He allegedly took over $1 million, using some to secretly pay co-defendant Brian Kolfage, an Air Force veteran who lost both legs in a mortar attack in Iraq and the founder of the project, and to cover hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal expenses.

This case should serve as a warning to other fraudsters that no one is above the law, not even a disabled war veteran or a millionaire political strategist, said Philip R. Bartlett, inspector-in-charge of the New York office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which arrested Bannon aboard a luxury yacht at 7 a.m.

FILE - In this Nov. 8, 2019 file photo, former White House strategist Steve Bannon arrives to testify at the trial of Roger Stone, at federal court in Washington. Bannon was arrested Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, on charges that he and three others ripped off donors to an online fundraising scheme We Build The Wall. The charges were contained in an indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court. (AP Photo/Al Drago, File)

Hours after his arrest, Bannon, 66, of Washington, D.C., pleaded not guilty during an appearance in a Manhattan federal court. He is the latest addition to a startlingly long list of Trump associates who have been prosecute d, including his former campaign chair, Paul Manafort, whom Bannon replaced, his longtime lawyer, Michael Cohen, and his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn.

Trump has also made clear that he is willing to use his near-limitless pardon power to help political allies escape legal jeopardy, most recently commuting the sentence of longtime political adviser Roger Stone.

Bannon was taken into custody on a 150-foot (45-meter) yacht called Lady May, which was off the coast of Connecticut, authorities said. The boat is owned by exiled Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui and currently for sale for nearly $28 million. According to Marine Traffic, a commercial tracking service, the vessel's transponder signal went dark on June 17, shortly after it departed a port in Connecticut en route to Miami, potentially indicating its beacon was inoperable or had been turned off.

FILE - In this Jan. 14, 2016 photo, retired U.S. Air Force Sr. Airman Brian Kolfage speaks to the media during a groundbreaking ceremony for a new home he and his family were receiving through the Gary Sinise Foundation's RISE program at Sandestin, Fla. Former White House adviser Steve Bannon was arrested Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, on charges that he and three others, including Kolfage, ripped off donors to an online fundraising scheme We Build The Wall. (Devon Ravine/Northwest Florida Daily News via AP, File)

At his hearing, Bannon appeared by video with his hands cuffed in front of him and a white mask covering most of his face. He rocked back and forth on a chair in a holding cell with his lawyers on the telephone. The magistrate judge approved Bannons release on $5 million bail, secured by $1.75 million in assets.

When he emerged from the courthouse, Bannon tore off his mask, smiled and waved to news cameras. As he went to a waiting vehicle, he shouted, This entire fiasco is to stop people who want to build the wall.

Kolfage, 38, of Miramar Beach, Florida, did not respond to requests for comment. Also charged were Andrew Badolato, 56, of Sarasota, Florida, and Timothy Shea, 49, of Castle Rock, Colorado, the owner of an energy drink company called Winning Energy. The company's cans feature a cartoon superhero image of Trump and claim to contain 12 oz. of liberal tears. Shea appeared at a brief virtual hearing in Denver.

Graphic shows associates of Donald Trump who have been indicted;

Other prominent members of the wall group included former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, its general counsel; Erik Prince, founder of the controversial security firm Blackwater; former Republican Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado; and former major league baseball pitcher Curt Schilling. They were not named in the indictment.

After the arrest, Trump quickly distanced himself from Bannon and the project.

When I read about it, I didnt like it. I said this is for government, this isnt for private people. And it sounded to me like showboating, he told reporters at the White House.

President Donald Trump's former chief strategist Steve Bannon exits the court after pleading not guilty to charges that he ripped off donors to an online fundraising scheme to build a southern border wall, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, in New York. . (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

An immigration plan unveiled by Trump last year included a proposal to allow the public to donate toward his long-promised wall, as the Kolfage group had originally said was its mission before shifting its focus to private construction. But Trump later denounced the project publicly, tweeting last month that he disagreed with doing this very small (tiny) section of wall, in a tricky area, by a private group which raised money by ads and claiming, It was only done to make me look bad.

Attorney General William Barr told The Associated Press he had been made aware of the investigation into Bannon months ago but did not say whether the president had been informed.

According to the indictment, the defendants used fake invoices, another non-profit and sham vendor arrangements to try to hide their efforts to siphon money. Under the arrangement, Bannon and his co-defendants allegedly paid Kolfage $100,000 up front and an additional $20,000 monthly, all while claiming they served as volunteers and that Kolfage was not paid.

President Donald Trump's former chief strategist Steve Bannon leaves federal court, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, after pleading not guilty to charges that he ripped off donors to an online fundraising scheme to build a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

The indictment said Kolfage went so far as to send mass emails to his donors asking them to purchase coffee from his unrelated business, telling donors the coffee company was the only way he keeps his family fed and a roof over their head.

Kolfage eventually spent some of the over $350,000 he received on home renovations, payments toward a boat, a luxury SUV, a golf cart, jewelry, cosmetic surgery, personal tax payments and credit card debt.

All four were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Each charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

President Donald Trump's former chief strategist Steve Bannon leaves federal court, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, after pleading not guilty to charges that he ripped off donors to an online fundraising scheme to build a southern border wall. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

Originally called We the People Build the Wall, the campaign launched in December 2018 and raised approximately $17 million in its first week. But it soon drew scrutiny, according to the indictment. The crowdfunding site that hosted the campaign suspended it and threatened to return donations unless the money was transferred to a legitimate non-profit. Bannon was brought in around that time.

Dustin Stockton, who helped start the campaign and then left the project to work on the upcoming presidential election, said it seemed clear that prosecutors were attacking political infrastructure that supports President Trump right before the election." He was not charged in the case.

Benjamin Harnwell, who with Bannon launched an institute in Italy to train future populists, called the indictment spurious and evidence that the forces of darkness would stop at nothing to destroy the combative Bannon.

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President Donald Trump's former chief strategist Steve Bannon exits court after pleading not guilty to charges that he ripped off donors to an online fundraising scheme to build a southern border wall, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

A voice of nationalist, outsider conservatism, Bannon led the conservative Breitbart News before being tapped to serve as chief executive officer of Trumps campaign in its critical final months. He later served as chief strategist during the turbulent early days of Trumps administration and was at the forefront of many of its most contentious policies, including its travel ban on several majority-Muslim countries.

But Bannon, who clashed with other top advisers, was pushed out after less than a year. And his split with Trump deepened after he was quoted in a 2018 book making critical remarks about some of Trumps adult children. Bannon apologized and soon stepped down as chairman of Breitbart.

Bannon, who served in the Navy and worked as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs and as a Hollywood producer before turning to politics, now hosts a pro-Trump podcast called War Room, which began during the presidents impeachment proceedings and has continued during the pandemic.

A day before the indictment was unsealed, Kolfage was a featured guest on the show and solicited donations.

___

Long and Colvin reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Jennifer Peltz in New York; Nomaan Merchant in Northbrook, Illinois; Cedar Attanasio in Santa Fe, New Mexico; Dave Collins in Hartford, Connecticut; Mike Balsamo in Cleveland; Nicole Winfield in Rome and Michael Biesecker in Washington contributed to this report.
By Trend

Turkey on Wednesday witnessed the opening of the country's first and Europe and the Middle Easts only integrated solar panel manufacturing facility, which promises to further develop the country's renewable energy resources.

Established in Ankara's Bashkent Organized Industrial Zone, the major solar ingot-wafer-module-cell production factory of Kalyon Holding was opened in a ceremony attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The facility will be operated through an investment of $400 million (TL 2.9 billion) at a 100,000-square-meter (nearly 25-acre) closed area and will employ 1,400 people, Erdogan said in his speech.

I believe the facility will take our country to leadership in the solar panel industry, he stressed.

The factory will manufacture solar panels with a capacity of 500 megawatts (MW) per year, the president noted. We are going to prevent millions of dollars worth of imports of solar panels and components," Erdogan said.

Turkey has come to a position in renewable energy area where it can manufacture technology, Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak said in his speech at the ceremony, expressing belief that the country will move forward in other areas of technology as well.

Also addressing the ceremony, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Donmez said the facility would help prevent nearly $100 million worth of imports each year.

Our factory, which came to life with an investment of $400 million, will be the world's only fully integrated solar panel plant operating under one roof," he said.

Turkey has managed to become ninth in the world and third in Europe among countries that have increased their installed solar power capacity since it started bringing solar plants into action in 2014, Donmez said.

With the commissioning of the plant, the share of solar energy in electricity production in Turkey will increase by 25% and the annual emission of 2 million tons of carbon dioxide will be prevented, the minister added.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Kalyon Holding Chairman of the Board Cemal Kalyoncu stressed the facility was a very important investment in the field of national energy.

Kalyoncu also pointed out that the factory is the first and only fully integrated factory in the world that combines all stages of solar panel production, including research and development (R&D), under a single roof.

Kalyon's facility will produce components for Turkeys biggest solar power plant, which will be established in the Karapnar district of the central Anatolian province of Konya as part of the first solar Renewable Energy Resource Zone (YEKA) tender with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts.

Kalyon Holding, together with a South Korean Hanwha Q-Cells consortium, won the tender for Turkey's biggest solar power plant project  the Karapnar Renewable Energy Resources Zone Project  in March 2017 at a cost of $0.0699 per kilowatt-hour. However, Hanwha will not continue with the project, and China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) has stepped in to construct the facility and to provide an additional two years of technical assistance after the turnkey contract expires.

CETC is one of the biggest companies in China and is known for building China's first satellite, airborne radar and guided missiles, and for developing and manufacturing electronics.

Under the tender rules, solar components are to be produced locally, and the tender also stipulates that local engineers should constitute 80% of the project's workforce.

The construction of the module cell factory to produce four units  ingot, wafer, module and cell  was inaugurated at a groundbreaking ceremony in December 2017.

The factory will have an R&D center for the development of solar power technologies. The center will employ about 100 engineers.

The components produced at the facility will be used for Karapnar YEKA in the first three years of operations, after which the Turkish company might explore supplying other local projects and international markets.

The factory will add to the dynamism of the renewable energy industry, Donmez said in his speech.

The facility holds a significant place in Turkeys national energy policy.

One by one, we are taking steps to end our countrys external dependency, Albayrak said. We are starting to produce our national energy with our clean and independent energy technology, the minister said on Twitter prior to the opening.

Two-thirds of the countrys electricity generation is derived from domestic and renewable resources, Albayrak added. Turkeys electricity generation from domestic and renewable resources reached 90% on May 24," he said.

The country plans to boost its wind and solar capacity by 10,000 MW each year over the coming decade through YEKA. Donmez announced plans to hold YEKA tenders for solar energy in a new form, known as mini YEKA, which are due to be held in October.

Of the two types of technology most widely utilized in solar panels worldwide, Kalyons panel facility will produce the higher efficient monocrystalline solar panels rather than polycrystalline solar cells.

Monocrystalline solar panels are currently the most widely used worldwide and are even expected to become more widespread in the future.

Turkey regaining pre-epidemic momentum'

Regarding the coronavirus situation, Erdogan said the outbreak in Turkey "is still under control" despite a slight rise in cases over recent days.

As of Tuesday, Turkey reported 251,805 COVID-19 infections, while the total recovery tally stood at 232,913, according to the Health Ministry data. The country's death toll stood at 6,016.

"We see that air traffic has regained the momentum it lost (due to the pandemic)," he said, adding that the arrival of a large number of Russian, Ukrainian, and German tourists has lifted Turkey's tourism sector.

He said the production industry's strong performance in June put Turkey among the top five fastest recovering economies in the world.

There was a 17.6% increase in Turkey's monthly production in June, the president said.

Erdogan stressed that Turkey's economy has regained its pre-epidemic momentum despite externally-caused challenges, vowing all possible efforts to further improve the situation.

--
A helicopter pilot has died after his aircraft crashed while he was battling "extraordinary" wildfires in California.

Hundreds of fires are burning across the US state, including 23 major fires which governor Gavin Newsom blamed on "all of these lightning strikes".

He said the state has recorded nearly 11,000 lightning strikes in 72 hours and knows of 367 fires.

The helicopter pilot, who has not been named, crashed an hour from New Coalinga Municipal Airport while dropping water in western Fresno County.

The pilot was working with Guardian Helicopters, based in Fillmore, which had a contract with CalFire to provide emergency services as needed, officials said.

California Wildfires: August/September 2020 - In pictures 1 /90 California Wildfires: August/September 2020 - In pictures The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area Noah Berger/AP The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area Getty Images A man pulls out a garden hose as he helps Fire Fighters with Cal Fire protect the St. Helena Water Treatment Plant from the Glass Fire in Napa Valley, California AFP via Getty Images An air tanker drops retardant on the Glass Fire burning in Calistoga AP Firefighters knock down flames on a dog house while battling the Glass Fire burning in St. Helena AP Cal Fire Capt. Jesse Campbell works to save the Louis Stralla Water Treatment Plant as the Glass Fire burns in St. Helena, AP The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California Getty Images Embers fly from a tree as the Glass Fire burns in St. Helena AP Grape vines at Chateau Boswell Winery burn as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California Getty Images An air tanker drops retardant as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through the Spanish Flat community in unincorporated Napa County AP Chula Vista firefighter Rudy Diaz monitors the LNU Lightning Complex Fire REUTERS Following the LNU Lightning Complex fires, a scorched VW Microbus rests in a driveway of the Spanish Flat community in Napa County AP Fire consumes land recently deforested by cattle farmers near Novo Progresso AP Smoke rises from the LNU Lightning Complex wildfires as seen from an AlertWildfire camera looking east from Mount St. Helena, north of Calistoga, California via REUTERS Firefighters Cody Nordstrom, Kyle Harp and Robert Gonzalez, from left, of the North Central Fire station out of Kerman AP Fire consumes land recently deforested by cattle farmers near Novo Progresso AP Flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires leap above Butts Canyon Road AP A charred vehicle is parked in front of a home after the CZU Lightning Complex AP Resident Alyssa Medina reacts after finding an intact cup amidst the burned remains of her home AFP via Getty Images Flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires leap above Butts Canyon Road AP Howard Forest Helitack firefighters return to their helicopter after battling the LNU Lightning Complex AP Vehicles and homes have been burned by the CZU Lightning Complex Fir AP AP A vehicle drives along Knoxville Road, with flames from the LNU Lightning Complex in the background in Napa County AP Firefighters take refuge in their trucks in a cleared field as a wildfire also known as the Hennessey Fire jumped Knoxville Berryessa Road, west of Sacramento AP A resident hoses down a burning bicycle and tree as flames from the Hennessey approach a property in the Spanish Flat area of Napa, California AFP via Getty Images An outbuilding burns as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through the Spanish Flat area of unincorporated Napa County AP Bill Nichols, 84, works to save his home as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through Vacaville AP Residents extinguish spot fires while protecting their property as the LNU Lightning Complex fire burns through the area in Fairfield, California Getty Images A bicycle and palm tree burn at a residence during the LNU Lightning Complex fire in the Spanish Flat area of Napa, California AFP via Getty Images Mobile homes burn at the Spanish Flat Mobile Villa as the LNU Lightning Complex Fire burns through the area in Napa, California Getty Images Firefighters monitor flames as they approach a residence in the valley area of Vacaville, northern California during the LNU Lightning Complex fire AFP via Getty Images Horses stand in an enclosure as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through the Spanish Flats community in unincorporated Napa County AP A CalFire crew from Coulterville takes a break while fighting the River Fire near Salinas AP A massive column of smoke rises above Highway 1 just north of the Santa Cruz County line as a section of the CZU August Lightning Complex burns above Waddell Beac AP Debris piles burn as the LNU Lightning Complex fire burns through the area in Fairfield, California Getty Images Fire burns along the closed Interstate 80 Getty Images In this long exposure photograph, flames consumes both sides of a segment of Lake Berryessa during the Hennessey fire in the Spanish Flat area of Napa AFP via Getty Images In this long exposure photograph, embers fly off a burning tree during the Hennessey fire in the Spanish Flat area of Napa, California AFP via Getty Images Mobile homes burn at the Spanish Flat Mobile Villa as the LNU Lightning Complex Fire burns through the area in Napa, California Getty Images Fire crews maintain a backburn to control the River Fire near the Las Palmas neighborhood in Salinas AP Flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires burn in unincorporated Napa County AP A pickup truck drives on a freeway overpass as flames from the LNU Lighting Complex Fire approach Interstate 80 on the outskirts of Vacaville, California REUTERS Mobile homes burn at the Spanish Flat Mobile Villa as the LNU Lightning Complex Fire burns through the area in Napa, California Getty Images Firefighter David Widaman directs water onto a tree that had exploded in flame as a fire crew defends a house northwest of Santa Cruz AP A home burns as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through the Spanish Flats community in unincorporated Napa County AP Flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires lick above a fire truck in unincorporated Napa County AP A flag flies as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires crest a ridge in Napa County AP Flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires jump Interstate 80 in Vacaville AP Fire crews maintain a backburn to control the River Fire near the Las Palmas neighborhood in Salina AP Flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires jump Interstate 80 in Vacaville AP AP AP AP AP AP AP AP Douglas Forest Protective Association AFP via Getty Images AP AFP via Getty Images Getty Images AP Butte County Sheriff Butte County Sheriff Butte County Sheriff Butte County Sheriff

Up to seven people have been injured in a fire in Stanislaus County, south east of San Francisco, Sheriff Jeff Dirkse told the Sacramento Bee.

One had major burn injuries and they were all taken to hospital for treatment, he said.

Two fires in Solano County prompted evacuation orders for 8,000 residents near the Russian River, while in Healdsburg, with a population of about 12,000, people were warned late on Wednesday to be ready to flee.

Ash and smoke has filled the air in San Francisco, which is surrounded by wildfires to the north, east and south.

The LNU Lightning Complex is made up of several fires in five counties north of San Francisco, including Vacaville, a city of some 100,000 people between San Francisco and Sacramento.

Police and firefighters warned residents to evacuate as flames encroached on Vacaville. At least 50 structures were destroyed, including some homes, and 50 were damaged.

Flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires jump Interstate 80 in Vacaville / AP

Nearby Travis Air Force Base ordered non-mission essential personnel to evacuate.

The fire had consumed nearly 194 square miles by Wednesday night, an area larger than the size of San Jose.

It jumped the Interstate 80 motorway on Wednesday afternoon, briefly blocking traffic in both directions.

Several thousand people in the small communities of Angwin and Deer Park were ordered to evacuate.

In eastern San Francisco Bay, a cluster of 20 separate lightning-sparked fires called the SCU Lightning complex threatened about 1,400 buildings in rugged terrain with dense brush.

Smoke rises from the LNU Lightning Complex wildfires / via REUTERS

To the south of San Francisco in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, some 22,000 people were ordered to evacuate because of a fire in dense wooded parkland, fire department spokesman Jonathan Cox said.

At least 20 homes had burned, fire officials said.

About 22 fires are part of the complex and most were relatively remote until strong winds overnight on Tuesday pushed them into more populated areas, merging some of the fires together.

"This is an incredibly emotional and stressful time for most of us who've endured a number of wildfires over the last few years," said Sonoma County Sheriff Mark Essick.

Dangerously hot weather and rough terrain is challenging firefighters' efforts to contain the fires.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 09:49:46|Editor: huaxia

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WARSAW, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The 19-year-old Polish forward Bartosz Bialek has signed a contract with VfL Wolfsburg, the German club announced on Wednesday.

According to Polish media, VfL Wolfsburg paid five million euro (about 5.9 million U.S. dollars) for the teenager. Previously the striker played for Polish side Zaglebie Lubin. He was also in talks with Borussia Monchengladbach but he decided to join "Die Wolfe". The player has signed a contract until 2024.

"We're very pleased to have signed a very talented player, who at a young age has already produced very good performances," claimed VfL sporting director Marcel Schafer in the interview for the club's official site.

"He's young and fits our philosophy perfectly. We're convinced he can take the next step in his development with us and will help us achieve our objectives in the coming years." added Schafer.

At Volkswagen-Arena, Bialek will wear number 21.

"For me, moving to the Bundesliga is a dream. I'm really looking forward to the challenge of continuing my journey in one of the strongest leagues in the world," said the player. Enditem
The Trump administration has announced measures intended to boost childhood vaccination rates that have sagged during the coronavirus pandemic, putting hundreds of thousands at risk of contracting serious and life-threatening diseases.

The Department of Health and Human Services is giving permission to pharmacists nationwide to administer all scheduled shots to children as young as 3, including the flu vaccine, a step that makes immunization more convenient for parents.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday that a high-dose flu shot aimed at better protecting people 65 and older will guard against four strains of the virus this year, rather than three. Because the conventional flu vaccine can be less successful in older people, an enhanced shot to boost their immune system has been offered in recent years and this one is stronger than ever.

Protecting against the impending flu season in the United States is foremost on the minds of public health officials, who worry about the confluence of cases of flu and Covid-19 hitting hospitals this fall and winter. On Wednesday, Massachusetts announced that it will require all students, ranging from 6-month-olds in day care centers to those under 30, to get flu shots by Dec. 31. It is the first state to institute such a sweeping requirement for the shot, which is rarely mandated in the U.S.
Truck driver survives electric shock, set alight after steel structure load hits overhead power lines

PHUKET: A truck driver is lucky to be alive after he was set alight by an electric shock he received while getting out of his truck on Chao Fa West Rd in Wichit today (Aug 20) after the steel structure in the back of the truck hit overhead power lines.

Safety

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Thursday 20 August 2020, 05:21PM

The driver suffered burns to his left arm and both feet. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The driver suffered burns to his left arm and both feet. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The steel structure in the back of the truck contacted overhead power lines. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Wichit Municipality rescue workers were called to the scene, the intersection of Chao Fa West Rd and Muang Chaofa Rd (see map below), at around midday.

At the scene, officers saw the six-wheeled truck still stopped in the right southbound lane with the steel structure in the back still in contact with the power lines.

In front of a restaurant nearby was the truck driver, who rescue workers did not name, with burns to his left arm and both feet, and injuries to his mouth and chin sustained when he collapsed to the ground after being shocked.

Footage from a CCTV camera overlooking the intersection showed the truck slowly moving off after the lights turned green. A flash of blue-white can be seen as the steel structure in the back of the truck connected with power lines hung across the intersection, before the truck slowed to a halt.

The driver dismounted from the cab only to have flames erupt along his body as he touched the ground. The driver then collapsed onto the road, and his friend in the truck immediately raced off to get help.

People nearby when the incident happened explained to rescue workers that after they realised what had happened, they approached the driver, careful not to touch him, to see what assistance they could provide.

While standing near the truck, the front tyre exploded, prompting people from shops nearby to use an electrical fire extinguisher to douse the truck as a precaution.

With people standing by unable to touch him, the truck driver rolled himself to the side of the road before they could be confident in rendering assistance with being shocked themselves.

A rescue worker told The Phuket News that they provided immediate first aid to the driver before taking him to a hospital nearby.

However, the rescue worker said he could not confirm the severity of the drivers burns.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took part in the presentation of the Development Strategy of Kherson region for 2021-2027 within his working trip to the region on Thursday, according to the presidential website.

"The strategy of each region is created not in high offices in the capital, but directly on the spot, in constant dialogue with people," the head of state said.

According to Zelensky, the common task of the central and local authorities and all citizens is to maximize the potential of the region and overcome the challenges facing it. "Kherson region has incredible potential in agriculture, tourism, renewable energy, transport sectors. Kherson land is incredibly fertile," the president said.

The head of state also drew attention to the fact that Kherson region borders on the occupied Crimea, and expressed his belief that the peninsula will definitely return to Ukraine. "I am sure that when next to it there is prosperous, shining, successful Kherson region, such return will happen much faster," Zelensky said.

Presenting the Development Strategy of Kherson region, Chairman of the Regional State Administration Yuriy Husev said that one of the promising sectors of the region is agriculture and, in particular, the direction of irrigation can get an additional impetus after the implementation of the land reform in Kherson region. He said that in the near future, together with the government, he is presenting an irrigation development strategy with pilot projects in the region.

Husev noted the great potential of the tourism industry, shipbuilding, significant infrastructure opportunities.


Akshay Kumar, Huma Qureshi, Lara Dutta and Vaani Kapoor star together in Bell Bottom. The official Hindi remake of the Kannada film is currently being shot for in Scotland. The actor left with the entire cast of the film a few days back and finally after quarantining, they cast and crew began filming today. They had left by a chartered flight and members of the cast like Akshay and Lara took their family along for the shooting schedule. As times are rough, no one wanted to take a chance to be away from their family.





Today, Akshay took to Twitter to post a video from the sets of the film and captioned it as, Lights, Camera, Mask On and Action. Following all the new norms and filming on for #BellBottom! Its a difficult time but work has to go on. Need your love and luck. Akshay is seen with a clap board in his hand as he gave a clap with his mask on.Team Bell Bottom is the first crew to begin filming abroad post the lockdown, we wish them all the best for the same.
DETROIT, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Stratview Research announces the launch of a new research report on Pultruded Panels Market by End-Use Industry (Building & Construction, Transportation, Aerospace & Defense, and Others), by Matrix Type (Polyester Composites, Vinyl Ester Composites, and Other Composites), by Reinforcement Type (Glass Composites and Carbon Composites), and by Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World), Size, Share, Trend, Forecast, Competitive Analysis, and Growth Opportunity: 2020-2025.

Stratview Research maintains its approach in conducting comprehensive studies in the niche market subjects that possess huge growth potential in the long run. This time, we have developed a comprehensive report on the pultruded panels market to complete our research portfolio of the FRP Panels & Sheets Market. The report studies the short-term as well as long-term repercussions of the pandemic in the business of pultruded panels at the global, regional, as well as country levels. Also, the report estimates the possible loss that the market participants will endure due to the pandemic in the coming five years. Apart from the pandemic's detailed impact assessment, the report forecasts the long-term market view along with the identification of low-hanging fruits for the market participants.

Pultruded Panels Market: Highlights from the Report

Pultrusion requires no additional recognition for its contribution to the composites industry. The technology has earned a remarkable position over a period of time, especially in building & construction. A multitude of applications including rebars, structural profiles, windows, gratings, ladder rails, panels, and handrails, are increasingly fabricated through this process. Now, the composites industry stakeholders are heavily betting on the technology for the further penetration of composite materials in the mammoth construction sector, which still relies on the traditional materials, preferably steel.

Among all applications of pultrusion, panels are considered one of its major applications and are used in a gamut of end-use industries including building & construction, defense, and transportation. The panels made via pultrusion are gradually becoming a choice in all the major composite markets, driven by their inherent benefits including shorter lead time, higher strength, higher fiber-to-resin ratio, customizable parts, design flexibility, and uniform thickness.

The pultruded composites market is extremely fragmented with the presence of more than 500 companies equitably present across the world out of which some major companies have been efficacious in attaining indisputable market leads in their region. All the key market participants have gained excellent product development capabilities, an excellent distribution network, and a good customer base in various end-use industries.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Pultruded Panels Market

The rapid spread of the pandemic across the world has suddenly paused the composites industry's growth. All the composites industry verticals are somehow affected by the pandemic. Pultruded panel, an application occupying a diminutive share of the total composites industry, could not escape itself from the pandemic and is anticipated to mark a huge decline in its sales in 2020.

Stratview Research followed a three-way approach to understand as well as estimate the severity and recovery cycle of the market from the pandemic. Primary interviews with the industry stakeholders; past industry downturns caused by recession and pandemic; and available authentic data sources disclosing the possible decline due to the pandemic were considered as a base to estimate the pandemic's impact on the pultruded panels market. The collective outcome of the study suggests that the market will follow a V-shaped recovery as it recorded in other downturns (The Great Recession); however, the recovery cycle would be slackened, taking a longer time than the ones taken during the great recession.

Also, there will be a double-digit decline in the demand for pultruded panels in the year 2020, followed by a hefty recovery in 2021 and a sequential growth in the coming years. As a result, the pultruded panels market is expected to reach US$ 0.5 billion in 2025.

Click Here and Run Through the TOC of the Report: https://www.stratviewresearch.com/toc/1022/pultruded-panels-market.html

Market Segmentation

It becomes extremely crucial for the market participants to target the right applications/products. Our segment analysis will help them to build their short- as well as long-term growth strategies to sustain in this crucial time as well as to leverage healthy growth opportunities in the long run.

By End-Use Industries: Building & construction is the largest application

Among a gamut of end-use industries, building & construction, transportation, and aerospace & defense are the major ones, leveraging the benefits of pultruded panels. However, Building & Construction is expected to remain the largest market for pultruded panels in the coming five years. The demand for pultruded panels in building & construction is worryingly being affected by the pandemic. However, a quick recovery is anticipated in the coming years, filling the voids generated due to the pandemic. Transportation and aerospace & defense are anticipated to mark a huge decline in their pultruded panels' demand in 2020 while anticipating a healthy recovery recouping their 2019-market size by 2025.

By Resin Type: Polyester resin dominates driven by lower cost and good properties

The selection of a resin system varies from application to application. Polyester, vinyl ester, and epoxy are the most common resin systems used widely in pultruded panels. Among all the resin systems, polyester composite is anticipated to maintain its lead in the market in the foreseen future. The resin system is also dominant in the entire pultruded composites market, driven by several factors including its lower cost and good properties.

By Fiber Type: Glass fibers are mainly used to make pultruded panels

Similar to resins, the selection of fiber for panels depends on several parameters including cost, performance, weight, etc. Glass fiber and carbon fiber are used in pultruded panels. Glass fiber composite is expected to maintain its supremacy in the market over the next five years, whereas carbon composite is expected to maintain its excellent growth pace by 2025. Carbon composites offer large number of benefits over glass composites. However, the high cost of carbon fiber restricts its widespread usage in the market, limited to high-performance applications demanding enormous weight saving.

Register Here for a Free Sample of the Detailed Report: https://www.stratviewresearch.com/Request-Sample/1022/pultruded-panels-market.html

Regional Analysis: North America to remain the largest market for pultruded panels

In terms of region, North America is expected to remain the largest market for pultruded panels during the forecast period, mainly driven by the USA. Despite registering massive business loss in the region, the region is anticipated to maintain its lead in the global market in the coming five years, propelled by the huge demand for composites coupled with a robust supply chain.

After absorbing the COVID shockwave, Asia-Pacific, another major pultruded panels market, is anticipated to bounce back fast, imprinting an overall healthy recovery in the coming years. Increasing penetration of composite materials with pultrusion as one of the major manufacturing processes will further augment the demand for pultruded panels in the region. China, India, Australia, and Japan to be the growth engines of the region's market during the forecast period.

Key Players

There is a high synergy between other pultruded products with pultruded panels. Most of the companies having pultrusion process capability are either fabricating pultruded panels or have the capability to fabricate pultruded panels. The supply chain of this market comprises raw material suppliers, pultruded panel suppliers, distributors/part brokers, tier players, and end-users.

The key players in the pultruded panels market are

Strongwell Corporation

Creative Pultrusion, Inc.

Exel Composites Oyj

Bedford Reinforced Plastics

Rochling Group (Glastic Corporation)

Fibergrate Composite Structures Inc.

KREMPEL GmbH

Fiber-Tech Industries, Inc.

ISOVOLTA AG.

New product developments and strategic alliances are the key strategies adopted by major players to gain a competitive edge in the market.

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 pultruded panels market and has segmented the market in four ways, keeping in mind the interest of all the stakeholders across the value chain. Following are the four ways in which the market is segmented:

Pultruded Panels Market, By End-Use Industry Type:

Building & Construction ( Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Transportation (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Aerospace & Defense (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

, , , and RoW) Others (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Pultruded Panels Market, By Matrix Type:

Polyester Composites (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

, , , and RoW) Vinyl Ester Composites (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

, , , and RoW) Other Composites (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Pultruded Panels Market, By Reinforcement Type:

Glass Composites ( Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Carbon Composites (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Pultruded Panels Market, By Region:

North America (Country Analysis: The USA , Canada , and Mexico )

Europe (Country Analysis: France , Germany , The UK, and Rest of Europe )

Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: China , Japan , Australia , and Rest of Asia-Pacific )

Rest of the World (Sub-Region Analysis: Latin America , The Middle East , and Others)

Stratview Research has several high value market reports in the advanced materials industry. Please refer to the following link to browse through our reports:

https://www.stratviewresearch.com/market-reports/Advanced-Materials.html

Other related reports from Stratview Research:

Aircraft Interior Sandwich Panel Market by Aircraft Type (Narrow-Body Aircraft, Wide-Body Aircraft, Very Large Aircraft, Regional Aircraft, and General Aviation), by Application Type (Floor Panel, Sidewall Panel, Ceiling Panel, Stowage Bin, Galley, Lavatory, and Others), by Core Material Type (Nomex Honeycomb, Aluminum Honeycomb, and Others), by End-User Type (OE and Aftermarket), and by Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World), Market Size, Share, Trend, Forecast & Competitive Analysis: 2020-2025.

Fiber-Reinforced Plastic (FRP) Panels & Sheets Market by Process Type (Continuous Laminates, Pultruded Panels, Prepreg Laminates, Sandwich Construction, and Others), by End-Use Industry Type (Aerospace & Defense, Building & Construction, Recreational Vehicle, Transportation, Marine, and Others), by Resin Type (Thermoset Composites {Polyester and Others} and Thermoplastic Composites), by Fiber Type (Glass Composites and Carbon Composites), and by Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World), Trend, Forecast, Competitive Analysis, and Growth Opportunity: 2020-2025.

About Stratview Research

Stratview Research is a global market intelligence firm providing wide range of services including syndicated market reports, custom research and sourcing intelligence across industries, such as Advanced Materials, Aerospace & Defense, Automotive & Mass Transportation, Consumer Goods, Construction & Equipment, Electronics and Semiconductors, Energy & Utility, Healthcare & Life Sciences, and Oil & Gas.

We have a strong team of industry veterans and analysts with an extensive experience in executing custom research projects for mid-sized to Fortune 500 companies, in the areas of Market Assessment, Opportunity Screening, Competitive Intelligence, Due Diligence, Target Screening, Market Entry Strategy, Go to Market Strategy, and Voice of Customer studies.

Stratview Research is a trusted brand globally, providing high quality research and strategic insights that help companies worldwide in effective decision making.

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A key automotive leader for Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCEVs) in Northeast Asia has nominated Hexagon Purus, a subsidiary of Hexagon Composites, for the serial supply of composite cylinders for their current zero-emission Fuel Cell Electric SUV. Hexagon Purus' cylinders will be installed in the vehicle model starting by 2022.

The scope of the nomination is over a two-year period with an estimated sales value of 25 million Euro. The nomination also positions Hexagon Purus for further projects within a large range of vehicle applications with this OEM. The supply contract is subject to final negotiations of terms and conditions.

About the market

Northeast Asia is among the largest automotive markets in the world in terms of size. Today the region dominates the global hydrogen economy with hydrogen cars, charging stations and fuel cell applications.

The shift to zero emissions vehicles is driven by the desire to improve air quality and reduce CO2 emissions, as well as to support energy independence.

Driving energy transformation

"The push for decarbonization is gaining momentum. We see game-changing market opportunities and we are mobilizing to accelerate the development of zero emission mobility solutions." says Morten Holum, President Hexagon Purus. "Our extensive experience in Type 4 cylinder technology and deep systems understanding makes us well-prepared to meet the accelerated demand we expect for zero-emissions solutions."

"Northeast Asia is among the leading regions in the world promoting hydrogen energy. We are excited about this opportunity to engage in the region and support efforts to drive energy transformation," says Michael Kleschinski, EVP Hexagon Purus. "Hydrogen is the main focus of Hexagon Purus. We are pleased to become an approved supplier to a major OEM in this large market, and to bring our leading Type 4 cylinder technology to a new innovative collaboration."

Hydrogen is a clean and safe energy carrier that can be used as fuel for power in a wide range of applications and can be easily stored on a large scale. Hexagon's lightweight, durable all-composite pressure cylinders enable OEM's to scale up their fuel cell vehicle production in a cost-competitive way.

Timing

The first prototypes of the 700 bar high-pressure cylinders are due to be delivered by the end of this year.

Contacts:

Karen Romer, SVP Communications, Hexagon Composites

Telephone: +47 950 74 950 | karen.romer@hexagongroup.com

David Bandele, CFO, Hexagon Composites

Telephone: +47 920 91 483 |?david.bandele@hexagongroup.com

About Hexagon Purus

Hexagon Purus, a Hexagon Composites company, enables zero emission mobility for a cleaner energy future. Hexagon Purus is a world leading provider of Hydrogen Type 4 high-pressure cylinders, complete vehicle systems and battery packs for fuel cell electric and battery electric vehicles (FCEV and BEV) including hybrid mobility applications on light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles, transit buses, ground storage, distribution, marine, rail and aerospace.

Learn more at www.hexagongroup.com and follow @HexagonASA on Twitter and LinkedIn

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
ECOWAS has moved to suspend the country from its decision-making body, with neighbours closing borders as the UN urged the immediate release of arrested government members.

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.

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.

Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the arrest of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and members of the government, calling for their immediate release, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

French President Emmanuel Macron also reiterated his condemnation of the coup in Mali.

Al Jazeeras Ahmed Idris reports.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-21 00:18:50|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Delta Air Lines will add two more weekly flights between China and the United States starting from Aug. 24, the airline said Thursday.

The move is aimed at meeting increasing customer demands and rebound in the air travel market, said Delta.

In late June, Delta became the first U.S. airline to resume passenger flight services between the U.S. and China following a temporary suspension in February due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The newly added flights will depart from Seattle and Detroit, respectively, and arrive in Shanghai, both via Seoul. With the new additions, the airline will be operating four weekly flights between China and the United States.

Delta will provide hygienic and safe flight services to passengers by constantly improving quality standards based on advice from medical experts and customer feedback, said the airline. Enditem
San Francisco, Aug 20 : Facebook has removed thousands of Pages, Groups and accounts on its main app and Instagram tied to offline anarchist groups that support violent acts amidst protests, US-based militia organizations like Antifa and far-right conspiracy theory group QAnon.

The social network said it removed over 790 groups, 100 Pages and 1,500 ads tied to QAnon from Facebook, blocked over 300 hashtags across Facebook and Instagram, and additionally imposed restrictions on over 1,950 Groups and 440 Pages on Facebook and over 10,000 accounts on Instagram.

QAnon emerged in the US President Donald Trump era and its supporters believe that Trump is waging a hidden battle against a secretive elite known as the "Deep State".

For militia organisations and those encouraging riots, including some who may identify as Antifa, it removed over 980 groups, 520 Pages and 160 ads from Facebook.

"We've also restricted over 1,400 hashtags related to these groups and organisations on Instagram," Facebook said in a statement late on Wednesday.

Antifa is an anti-fascist political movement in the US, comprising a diverse array of autonomous groups that aim to achieve their objectives through the use of both non-violent and violent direct action rather than through policy reform.

The US government has been trying to tackle several anti-government extremists, specifically those who support the far-right "boogaloo" movement and left-wing radicals who identify as Antifa.

Facebook said that Pages, Groups and Instagram accounts associated with these movements and organisations will be removed when they discuss potential violence.

"We will continue studying specific terminology and symbolism used by supporters to identify the language used by these groups and movements indicating violence and take action accordingly," it said.

In the near future, content from these Pages and Groups will also be ranked lower in News Feed.

"We will prohibit nonprofits we identify as representing or seeking to support these movements, organizations and groups from using our fundraising tools," Facebook said.

Twitter in July removed more than 7,000 accounts associated with QAnon, citing concerns about offline harm.
Browse 2020 Auction Catalog

ATLANTA (Aug. 20, 2020)  The Carter Centers marquee annual fundraiser is going virtual this year, giving everyone the opportunity to gather online for a celebration that will include special messages from President and Mrs. Carter, up-close-and-personal looks at some of the Centers programs, and the chance to bid on priceless artwork and memorabilia.

The 2020 Carter Center Weekend is actually two events in one  a four-day online auction that begins on Wednesday, Aug. 26, and a live show at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29.

Carter Center Weekend has been a favorite event of both donors and staff for more than a decade, said Jason Carter, chairman of The Carter Center Board of Trustees and co-host of Saturdays show alongside Carter Center CEO Paige Alexander. COVID-19 makes it impossible for us to see each other in person this year  but on the bright side, the fact that were doing this virtually means we can invite the entire world to be part of it.

Saturdays broadcast will feature messages from Willie Nelson, Jon Stewart, and Hank and Billye Aaron, among others; a town hall meeting with Jason Carter and Paige Alexander; and staff discussions about Guinea worm eradication and election observation.

This will be my first Carter Center Weekend event, Alexander said. Im really looking forward to spending time online with some of our most devoted supporters and sharing details about what the Center has been able to accomplish during these challenging times.

As in years past, the auctions highlight is an original oil painting by President Carter. The winning bidder can choose from one of three  one featuring a branch of mountain laurel, one featuring two Northern Cardinals, and one featuring Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt.

Other notable auction items include:

A vintage Remington typewriter from Tom Hanks personal typewriter collection.

A photo of President Carter with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, signed by all three.

A collection of Beatles memorabilia featuring a framed copy of Help! signed by Ringo Starr and a block of wood from the church where John Lennon and Paul McCartney first met.

A case of Presidential Reserve Rum bearing President Carters signature made at the Richland Rum Distillery in Richland, Georgia.

A collection of Willie Nelson memorabilia that includes a signed guitar and a signed picture of Nelson and Mrs. Carter on stage.

A handmade bowl that wood turner Matt Moulthrop made from a bulletwood tree that spent years submerged in the Panama Canal.

A painting of monarch butterflies titled Migration, by artist Sherri Richards.

A silkscreen by legendary Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl featuring his drawing of the throne he sat in on stage after he broke his leg on tour.

A Damascus Bowie knife with a railroad spike handle hand forged by artist Jeremiah Jeremy Cohn.

Bidding for these and 60 other items opens on Wednesday, Aug. 26, and runs through the evening of Saturday, Aug. 29. Go to cartercenter.org/cartercenterweekend to learn more about the auction and the broadcast, which will stream live on cartercenter.org and the Carter Centers Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Note: Auction item photos available upon request. Learn more about how to participate in these events here.

###

Contact: Soyia Ellison, soyia.ellison@cartercenter.org

The Carter Center

Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope.



A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.
The report, originally circulated in June, has classified and unclassified sections, and it represents the consensus of the C.I.A. and other intelligence agencies. It still supports the overall notion that Communist Party officials hid important information from the world, U.S. officials said. The report says senior officials in Beijing, even as they were scrambling to pry data from officials in central China, played a role in obscuring the outbreak by withholding information from the World Health Organization.

But the report adds to a body of evidence that shows how the malfeasance of local Chinese officials appeared to be a decisive factor in the spread of the virus within Wuhan and beyond.

An internal U.S. government assessment of the differences in fault between Chinese leaders and local officials potentially has significant policy implications.

It makes a huge difference if it was Wuhan or Beijing, said Michael Pillsbury, a China scholar at the Hudson Institute who informally advises Mr. Trump.

If Mr. Xi was not the main person at fault, he said, then that meant that top Chinese officials had not engaged in total deceit on the coronavirus, and American officials had some basis for still trying to engage in good-faith negotiations with Beijing on issues of mutual interest.

Though Mr. Pillsbury advocates competing with China, he also supports diplomacy and sticking to a trade agreement that Mr. Xi and Mr. Trump signed in January. Some of Mr. Trumps other advisers, notably Mr. Navarro, have advocated an economic decoupling with China and denounced the trade deal.

Mr. Trump oscillates wildly on China. At times, he and other officials have asserted the idea of a cover-up by China to justify policy decisions such as cutting funding to the World Health Organization. When the president announced that move in late May, he accused the W.H.O. of helping China cover up the initial outbreak, though the organization has denied that.
On his application for the appointment, Weingberg wrote: Id like to serve the community with an eye to the future growth and livability of the city. I am a long range thinker, a necessary requirement of the position. As a property owner and as an individual with a vested interest in the future growth of the city, I have followed with interest the desires of the various constituencies that comprise the city. All need to be heard and have their applications reasonably and thoroughly evaluated.
A woman stands with a sign that reads "No Justice No Peace" during a demonstration in St. Paul, Minn., on June 24, 2020. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

No Justice! No Peace!On Russiagate, the Right May Have to Steal From the Left

Commentary

In a well-wrought article for the National Review, Kyle Smith exposes how Democratic loyalists such as CNNs Chris Cillizza are already downplaying the results of John Durhams investigation of the TrumpRussia fraud, specifically the guilty plea of Kevin Clinesmitha lawyer who falsified a government email in order to permit spying on a man who not only wasnt a spy but was completely innocent.

This permission from the FISA court, exercised four times, gave the true spiesthe FBIthe license to snoop on virtually anyone who had ever even met that man (Carter Page). That would include the president.

Pretty despicable, no? More is undoubtedly on the way. But the question iswho is listening? Will the lefts prevent defense be successful at repressing the most significant political scandal of our lifetimes (yes, far more than Watergate, because systemic).

It would be like sweeping cancer under the rug.

That is what was going through my mind as I read a review copy of Lee Smiths compelling new The Permanent Coup: How Enemies Foreign and Domestic Targeted the American President. This book functions as a template for what actually happened in our country and the world from 2013, when the Maidan Revolution brought freedom lovers to the streets of Kyiv, Ukraine, all the way to 20192020, when a bogus impeachment trial occurred in our Senate based on the flimsiest evidence from that same country.

Ironically, the name Joe Biden ricochets between the two with the even more bogus Russia fraud and the ensuing eye-rolling, fake-from-the-start Mueller investigation shoehorned in between.

(Lee Smith is also the author of The Plot Against the President, which went to No. 1 on Amazon earlier this year.)

Both Smiths are obviously doing their parts to keep the story front and center, as are many here at The Epoch Times, as well as, obviously, Fox News commentators with the names Tucker, Laura, and Sean.

But is this all a roundelay of preaching to the choir, those already convinced, waiting for the latest tidbit from investigative reporters John Solomon or Sarah Carter, or attorneys Andrew McCarthy or Jonathan Turley?

You dont have to be Tolstoy or even John Grisham to imagine whats going on behind the scenes all over Washington now, lawyers with clients whose surnames begin with a B, C, M, S, and P  and probably others we dont know about  counseling them to be cool and keep their mouths shut, at least until Nov. 3.

Biden will be elected then, and all will go away. Poofno more investigations! No Bill Barr. No Durham. They will be vestigial lame ducks. Impotent. Who knowsmaybe even Andrew Weissmann will be attorney general this time? Happy elitist days are here again!

It could happen. So what do we do?

If things were reversed, the left wouldnt put up with it. Not for a minute. They have no mercy. (Just today, Clintonista Joe Lockhart rescinded his tweet wishing Rush Limbaugh well in his battle with cancer.) They accuse us of lacking empathy, but they have less.

They would take to the streets instantly to protest. At first, it would seem peaceful, but soon enough, the more militant would break some windows, light fires, and smash cars, maybe blow up a couple of police stations and laser a few cops in the eyes, then beat up some civilians and leave them bleeding on the sidewalk. They should have been quarantining anyway.

And they get away with it because the mayors of their cities and governors of their states dont care, probably secretly siding with them.

No justice, no peace! is their cry.

No justice for whom? What about the tens of millions who voted for Trump? How about people who dont want American presidential elections turned into a frame-up and then their elected president hounded constantly from well before he takes office until hes pushed out the door?

The truth is, the way they get away with it in the streets mirrors the way they get away with it in the conference rooms and SCIFs (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities).

If you watch that infomercial known as the Democratic National Convention 2020, you find no mention of any of this, not a word of the violence going on (much of it record-breaking in terms of shootings and deaths) in the streets of Portland, Seattle, Chicago, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Milwaukee, Memphis, Albuquerque, Philadelphia, New York, and on and on. Its magically wiped away and ignored.

The punishment is light at best, and what there is usually comes from the federal government.

So if Barr and Durham dont come up with enough or arent able to give the miscreants their just deserts and send up people who apparently manipulated the FBI, CIA, and other government agencies for the most egregious illegal and seditious purposes, and Trump loses, maybe we should steal a march from the left and for once throw away our scruples and politesse and do what they dotake to the streets and hold up society, force it to turn our way, with violence if necessary.

Well, scratch the violencethats their way.

But we should lock arms and march down Fifth Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard and the Washington Mall, millions of us, everywhere in America, shutting it down until we get our way and chanting, you guessed it, No Justice! No Peace!

Roger L. Simon is an award-winning novelist, Oscar-nominated screenwriter, and co-founder of PJ Media. He is now a 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.
OTTAWA - Opposition parties are taking issue with the black ink applied to many of the thousands of pages of newly released documents about the WE Charity controversy, suggesting the redactions are part of a continuing coverup by the federal Liberals.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/8/2020 (518 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre holds up redacted documents during a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020. The documents were tabled by the Government at the House of Commons Finance Committee. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA - Opposition parties are taking issue with the black ink applied to many of the thousands of pages of newly released documents about the WE Charity controversy, suggesting the redactions are part of a continuing coverup by the federal Liberals.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ordered the 5,000-plus pages released to MPs on the House of Commons finance committee Tuesday as he announced the prorogation of Parliament until Sept. 23.

The documents contain numerous exchanges between federal civil servants, ministerial staff and WE Charity officials about the plan to have the Toronto-based organization run a multimillion-dollar program encouraging students to volunteer during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Canada Student Service Grant program gradually took shape over a period of weeks, initially including the possibility of a scholarship or bursary, and eventually fixed sums linked to the number of hours spent volunteering.

By proroguing Parliament, Trudeau put a temporary end to the four committees that have spent the summer probing the decision to enlist WE Charity, which has close connections to the families of the prime minister and Bill Morneau, who resigned as finance minister this week.

Trudeau announced the launch of the program on June 25. But there was immediate controversy over his perceived conflict of interest and WE Charity pulled out of the agreement, which was to have paid the organization $43.5 million, on July 3.

The newly released documents seem to back up the Trudeau government's assertion it was federal public servants who recommended the student service grant program be administered by WE Charity.

They also suggest bureaucrats may have been encouraged to pursue that course by their political masters.

Yet many of the pages have been blacked out, either in part or in their entirety.

In a letter to the clerk of the finance committee that was released with the documents, the clerk of the Privy Council said the redactions were made in accordance with the committee's own decision to protect cabinet secrets and personal information.

"The committee's motion stipulates that cabinet confidence and national security information are to be excluded from the package," Ian Shugart wrote to committee clerk David Gagnon on Aug. 7.

"A principled approach was adopted to this information to ensure a non-selective application of the protection afforded by cabinet confidentiality. As a result, considerable information on the Canada Student Service Grant that would otherwise constitute cabinet confidences is being released."

Shugart went on to say that information on the pages was withheld if deemed not relevant to the grant program.

Still, the redactions emerged as a focal point for opposition anger and frustration on Wednesday, with Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre waving several partially and completely blacked-out pages during a news conference on Parliament Hill.

Among the documents that Poilievre focused on was an email that WE co-founder Craig Kielburger sent to Morneau on April 26 with two attached documents, the contents of which are withheld.

"We'd love to learn about the attached documents in it, but unfortunately, in what is to become a trend throughout this package, all the relevant information in the two documents are completely blacked out," Poilievre said.

Poilievre held up several other redacted documents before tossing them aside.

"This page blacked out," he said. "This page blacked out. This page, blacked out. Why don't we ask what's in those pages at a parliamentary committee? Well, I'll tell you why: Justin Trudeau shut down those parliamentary committees."

The New Democrats also complained about the documents Wednesday, with NDP finance critic Peter Julian writing a letter to finance committee chair and Liberal MP Wayne Easter arguing it wasn't up to the government to make redactions.

Rather, he said the committee's motion had called for the government to provide unredacted documents for the parliamentary law clerk to vet, with the understanding members would then be able to challenge redactions they thought were excessive.

"Nearly a quarter of the documents provided to committee members were redacted in whole or in part," Julian wrote. "It is over 1,000 pages that we as parliamentarians do not have full access to shed light on this scandal."

MPs on the finance committee actually received late Tuesday a second version of the same documents, which had been undergoing vetting by the parliamentary law clerk since they were submitted to the committee Aug. 9.

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That version redacted all the names and email addresses of bureaucrats so that it is impossible to tell who wrote what or who was talking to whom, which rendered them far less informative than the set Trudeau ordered released.

Easter said he does not fault the law clerk for being cautious, but the end result rendered the documents essentially useless.

"Our intent as a committee in terms of the motion was (to find out) who's talking to who and what time did they talk to who and what did they say. So without the names they're not going to be very effective for you, if at all," Easter said.

If not for Trudeau ordering release of the documents as originally submitted to the committee, Easter said, there would have been far less information available.

"I think what the prime minister's documents show is the prime minister's trying to be transparent."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 19, 2020.
Tanya Cully and Michael Doran are accused of robbing an off-duty garda in Dublin city centre

An off-duty garda was repeatedly stabbed in the head with a fork and robbed of his badge during a "savage, frenzied" attack in front of his partner on a Dublin street, a court heard.

The officer was allegedly set upon by three people and left with "horrible" injuries after he attempted to seize drugs that were offered to him in the city centre.

As well as being stabbed, Dublin District Court was told the garda was struck with what one onlooker described as a "haymaker" punch to the head.

A pregnant mother-of-two, her partner and his brother have all appeared in court accused of robbing the garda.

Judge Carol Ann Coolican granted them bail and adjourned the case, for the directions of the DPP.

Drugs

Tanya Cully (30), with an address at a city hostel, her partner Michael Doran (33) of no fixed address and his brother John Doran (35) of Richmond Park, Monkstown, are all charged with robbery.

The court heard the incident happened at Aungier Street on August 15 last.

Giving evidence in Michael Doran's case, Garda Fionnuala Lawlor said the incident happened at 11.20pm.

The alleged victim was an off-duty garda who was approached and offered drugs, she said.

Paracetamol tablets were crunched up and wrapped up "as if they were cocaine", the court heard.

It was alleged John Doran gave this to the garda who then identified himself and attempted to seize it.

He was allegedly attacked by the three suspects, Gda Lawlor said. He was punched and kicked, and stabbed multiple times in the head with the head of a fork, Gda Lawlor said.

During the attack, the garda fell to the ground where the three rifled through his pockets and his official Garda ID badge was taken, as well as the 'drugs'.

The badge had been in a wallet containing his bank cards.

The garda sustained deep lacerations to the top of his head and face, running along his eye socket and down by his nose, the court heard. He also suffered a concussion.

He was treated at St James's Hospital where he received stitches and a tetanus shot.

The attack was "so savage and ferocious in nature" that several witnesses intervened.

It was also witnessed by the garda's partner, the court heard.

One of the punches he suffered was described by a witness as an "absolute haymaker".

"It made a sickening thud, the sound was awful."

A witness had described the alleged robbery as a "frenzy".

The alleged victim had not yet been interviewed as he still had concussion.

"He was in such a bad state we weren't able to take a statement from him," Gda Lawlor said.

The court heard gardai were alleging Michael Doran and Ms Cully kicked and punched the garda but did not use any weapon.

Cross-examined by Michael Doran's solicitor Rory Staines, Gda Lawlor accepted his version of events was "very different" to the prosecution's but she said the State's case was that the three acted in concert.

Applying for bail, Mr Staines said Michael Doran was arrested on Parliament Street on Tuesday. He was living on the streets but gardai "don't seem to have any trouble locating him".

Garda Christopher Fitzgerald gave similar evidence in his objection to bail in Ms Cully's case.

He said she was alleged to have picked up the garda badge from the ground during the attack. The badge had since been recovered.

Gda Fitzgerald said while no assault charges were brought against the accused, it was alleged that violence was used.

Ms Cully had two children, was pregnant and living at a hostel on Stanhope Street, Mr Staines said.

Blood

Another garda objected to bail in John Doran's case, citing the seriousness of the allegations.

Blood believed to be the alleged victim's was found on the accused's tracksuit, he said.

John Doran's solicitor also made a bail application and said the threshold for refusing bail had not been met.

Judge Coolican said the accused were all entitled to a presumption of innocence. She granted them bail in their own bonds, with no cash lodgements required, subject to conditions.

Under bail terms, John Doran is to sign on daily at a garda station, stay out of the area in question and have no contact with either co-accused.

Among Michael Doran and Ms Cully's bail terms, they are to sign on at a garda station daily, stay away from the location, and from co-accused John Doran.

They were all remanded on bail, to appear in court again on September 7.
Over 11.2 lakh Indians have returned from abroad after the government launched the "Vande Bharat" evacuation mission on May 7 in view of the coronavirus pandemic, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday.

Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said the bilateral air bubbles arrangements with US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, UAE, Qatar and Maldives are functioning well.

An air bubble is a bilateral arrangement with a set of regulations and restrictions in which the carriers of the two countries can operate international flights.

Referring to an announcement by the Minister of Civil Aviation earlier this week, Srivastava said negotiations on air travel arrangements with 18 more countries -- Australia, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Nigeria, Bahrain, Israel, Kenya, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka -- are ongoing.

This will benefit stranded Indians and nationals of these countries, he said at an online briefing. "As on August 19, 2020, 11.23 lakh Indians stranded abroad have been repatriated by different modes under the Vande Bharat Mission," Srivastava said.

In the ongoing Phase 5 of the Vande Bharat Mission, around 500 international flights and 130 domestic feeders have been operated so far from 22 different countries and reaching 23 airports across India, he said. Around 375 more international flights are scheduled to be operated by the end of August 2020, he added.

"Based on a continuous assessment of demand received from our Missions, Posts abroad, flights have been added for repatriation from Kuwait, Maldives, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Australia, UK and Canada. In addition, number of flights from other GCC countries have been further augmented," he said.

(Photo Credit: PTI)
In the days before New Jerseys third-largest city held municipal elections in May entirely by mail, postal workers became suspicious when they found hundreds of ballots bundled together.

The discovery triggered an investigation that led to charges of voter fraud against two local elected leaders and resulted in nearly 20 percent of the ballots being rejected. It also prompted President Trump to cite the case as an example of how mail-in voting can corrupt elections, though election experts staunchly disagree.

On Wednesday, a New Jersey judge ruled that the election in Paterson, N.J., had been irreversibly tainted and ordered a new vote to be held in November to settle the race for the City Council seat.

The superior court judge, Ernest M. Caposela, wrote that the election was not the fair, free and full expression of the intent of the voters.
The growth of British convenience store sales have more than doubled this year thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, with customers rushing to support local businesses, new data reports.

Sales are up eight per cent, compared to the three per cent achieved last year, according to market insight experts Mintel.

And a quarter of Britons say they are now shopping more with local businesses due to the coronavirus crisis while 80 per cent of shoppers agreed that convenience stores provide an essential service for the community.

Nick Carroll, Associate Director of Retail Research, said: 'A major long term positive of the crisis will be how the "essential" status of convenience stores in communities will be reinforced.'

The growth of British convenience store (pictured) sales have more than doubled this year thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, with customers rushing to support local businesses, new data reports

The significant increase in in-home food and drink experienced as a result of COVID-19 will see the convenience store market increase from 44.1billion in 2019 to an estimated 47.5 billion in 2020, according to the data.

This is despite the hit to 'on-the-go trade' such as items eaten out-of home - including those for breakfast and lunch.

This rate of growth is outperforming the wider grocery sector, which is expected to increase by around six per cent in 2020.

While Brits flocked to local stores during lockdown, the peak in demand is estimated not to continue into 2021 - especially social distancing measures continue to be relaxed and consumer budgets are squeezed further.

Sales are up eight per cent, compared to the 3 per cent achieved last year, according to market insight experts Mintel (stock photo)

Mintel estimates a decline of 3.9 per cent in the market next year, as it rebalances before reaching more consistent lower growth through to 2024 (of 2-3 per cent).

According to the research, 94 per cent of shoppers use a convenience store at least once a month.

Nick said: 'The shift to localised shopping during the peak of COVID-19 has benefited the convenience sector, driving larger-basket demand and sales as consumers necessarily shopped more in their local communities.

'Longer term, the importance of convenience stores within these communities and consumers' desire to support them will only be reinforced - providing a solid platform for convenience retailers to build upon.'

He continued: 'Not all aspects of the sector, however, are benefiting. On-the-go food and drink, for example, is a significant part of convenience trade and has naturally been constricted by lower levels of public movement and more working at home since the lockdown. In particular this has impacted convenience stores in travel hubs.'

'It is encouraging for the sector that providing essential services to the community is widely held by today's shoppers - this is what convenience stores are all about.

Nick added: 'Localism and a more internal looking consumer base was a trend far before COVID-19, but naturally confined to local areas, consumers have become more aware and engaged with their communities.

'Combined with this is a growing realisation of the need to support small business owners.'
This week, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) coordinated regional and global efforts to call on authorities in Hong Kong and China to respect democracy and a free press in Hong Kong. It included a joint statement from IFJ affiliates and media unions in the Asia Pacific as well as a statement from global press freedom and human rights organisations, including the IFJ.

The joint actions follow the adoption, on June 30, 2020, of a national security law by Beijing and the subsequent use of the law by Hong Kong authorities to target journalists. The imposition of national security legislation has seen press freedom and independent media come under severe threat. In light of the deeply concerning decline in media freedoms in Hong Kong, the IFJ-led actions strongly condemn the new legislation and express deep concern for its ramifications for the citizens of Hong Kong.

Twenty media unions from countries across the Asia Pacific issued the statement saying: The threats against press freedom, independent media and the erosion of democracy not only hampers democracy, but weakens Hong Kongs standing in the eyes of the world. Journalism is not a crime. The authorities must protect freedom of expression and the rights of journalists in Hong Kong.

The other statement from a coalition of groups comprising Alliance for Journalists Freedom (AJF), Article 19, Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Freedom House, IFEX, and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said: Hong Kong has long been respected as a powerful global economic hub and lively political and democratic space, supported by a proud and strong independent media. Yet the imposition of the new national security law has undermined fundamental rights and freedom of expression and severely damages Hong Kongs autonomy.

The national security law provides for criminal penalties of up to life imprisonment for the broadly-defined crimes of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign powers. To date, Hong Kongs Chief Executive Carrie Lam has remained silent on how the law might be applied against journalists and the media.

Since the laws introduction, police have arrested a number of prominent pro-democracy voices like Apple Dailys Jimmy Lai, pro-democracy activist and politician Agnes Chow and activists Wilson Li and Andy Li.

The IFJ said: The current situation in Hong Kong is gravely concerning not only for media, but for all Hong Kong citizens. These joint statements call on authorities to respect democracy and human rights in Hong Kong, noting that a failure to do so will undermine not only individual freedoms but also the stability and economic success of Hong Kong.

Read the IFJ affiliate and media union statement here. Read the international coalition of press freedom organisations here.
Israeli and United Arab Emirates flags line a road in the Israeli coastal city of Netanya on Aug. 16, 2020. (Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images)

UAEIsrael Peace Treaty Signals Big Changes on Horizon

New agreement will make Iran even more desperate to maintain relevance in rapidly changingand more Israel-tolerantMideast

Commentary

The Israeli peace deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is viewed as a very smart deal, with the latter acknowledging the reality and legitimacy of a Jewish state in the Middle East.

The treaty also reveals a new approach to an old problem by the United States, which brokered the deal.

Direct Result of Trumps Deal of the Century

There are several things that make this peace treaty pivotal for the region. For one, its not a cross-border agreement. Unlike Egypt and Jordan, who have signed peace treaties after being defeated on the battlefield by the formidable Israeli Defense Force, the UAE is nowhere near Israel and faces no such threat from the Jewish state.

Out-of-the-box thinking is a central aspect to President Donald Trumps Art of the Deal and is seen in the so-called Deal of the Century roadmap to peace he crafted for Israel and the Palestinians. That deal, however, remains unsigned. But it has yielded at least one with the UAE that will be signed.

As one of many Islamic states in the Gulf Region, the UAE doesnt face the possibility of an Israeli military ground force sweeping over its territory in the event of a conflict. And, on the flip side, no Israeli military planner has ever worried about the armies from the UAE invading Israel in a surprise attack.

The fact that the UAE didnt have to sign any kind of deal with Israel, nor are they a big player in the region, is a key point. But they have done so anyway. Thats one of several reasons why some are viewing it as a stroke of sheer geopolitical genius by the Trump administration.

New Message to Islamic World

Why, then, did the UAE, a Muslim nation, make peace with Israel?

Israel, after all, is regarded by most Muslim nations as an occupying force in the land of Palestine. All the wars and intifadas waged against Israel have been from that perspective, with the stated goaleven today among Palestinians and othersof the destruction of Israel.

Yet coincidently, those nations and entities that have waged war with Israel, from Egypt to Jordan to Syria and the Palestinians, have all languished in economic malaise for decades.

At the same time, Israel has grown rich and technologically advanced, leading the world in cybersecurity, the biological sciences, and many other fields, as well as turning the formerly desolate land into verdant fields and a major exporter of fruits, vegetables, and even fine wine.

Understandably, the UAE, with its newly launched Martian probe, the first such achievement in the Arab world, has much more in common with Israel than with the Palestinian Authority or Iran.

Clearly, the UAE views Israel in a more positive light. With Israel the dominant economic, military, and scientific power in the region, why wouldnt they want to reap the economic and scientific benefits that peace would likely bring?

Besides, Israeli doctors are getting close to a coronavirus vaccine. The UAE cant expect a cure to come from the Palestinian Authority, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, or Yemen, can they?

Sure, its possible, but not very likely.

A Message to Palestinians, Too

The new peace agreement also is a clear message to the Palestinians. To put it bluntly, peace with Israel is no longer dependent on the Palestinian question. Over the past several decades, the Palestinian leadership has blown chance after chance for a two-state solution.

Why should the entire region be held hostage to the corrupt buffoonery of the so-called Palestinian leaders?

Thats not just the viewpoint of the UAE, either. Saudi Arabian leaders are thinking the same thing. And Israel has no gripe with the Emirates or the Saudis. In fact, Israel has been working closely in a security context with several Gulf states.

Whats more, the UAEs actions have now put enormous pressure on Palestinian leadership, such as it is, to do something to improve the future of their people.

The Camels Nose Under the Peace With Israel Tent?

Interestingly, Saudi Arabia has yet to comment on the treaty. They havent approved of it yet, but they certainly havent condemned it. As noted above, they continue to work closely with Israel on security. They are also close to the UAE, and likely have given their tacit approval.

In that light, it wouldnt be surprising to see other Gulf states sign peace treaties with Israel, especially those that are high on Irans hit list. That would include Saudi Arabia, of course, but it may also include Oman and Bahrain, too. Even Sudan may have an interest in doing so.

A Diminishedand Desperate Iran

Unlike in the past, the common thread that runs through all discussions really isnt the Palestinian cause, at least, not anymore. Now, its the widespread concern among the wealthy oil sheikdoms of Iranian aggression.

In that context, Israel has effectively diminished Irans nuclear capabilities and continues to do so with military strikes on installations inside Iran. It also counters Iranian military positions in Syria and Lebanon. As far as the Gulf states are concerned, as the old Middle Eastern aphorism goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Israel is more than happy to fulfill that role if it yields a peace dividend.

But as those relationships are established and developed, Irans prestige and influence in the Mideast and the region at large may well diminish, despite its proxy wars in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Israel. Such a failure would threaten the power of the Islamic clerics who have run Iran into the ground for the past 40 years.

Mideast Is Polarizing

The downside of Muslim nations making overt peace with Israel is that they can no longer hide behind the ambiguity of anti-Israel rhetoric and pro-Israel cooperation on the sly. By signing peace treaties, theyre making a very public commitment.

If more peace treaties are signedand its an even bet that some willpro-Israel and anti-Iran political alliances become clearer. It will surely enhance trade and cooperation among all signatories, but will also publicly polarize the region.

But ultimately, such polarization doesnt matter. Iran has and will continue to lead the anti-Israel forces. Tehran, however, may be forced to up its game.

Forcing the Hand of Iran, Russia, and Turkey?

Does that mean that Iran will lean more heavily than before on its nefarious allies, Russia and Turkey?

Or that Russian and Turkey will be able to get more leverage out of Iran?

Both are quite likely.

In the short run, Russia is after control of Syrian oil fields. In the longer run, they also want control of Israels Leviathan oil and natural gas fields in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. So, too, does Turkey.

Turkey is already threatening to halt Israels planned pipeline through Cyprus and Greece, and Russia knows that Israeli natural gas exports to Western Europe, undercutting Russian prices, would virtually bankrupt Russia more than it already is.

Still, even as it prepares for war in a region full of hostile enemies, a wise nation makes peace where it can, if the terms are right.

Israel must do no less.

James R. Gorrie is the author of The China Crisis (Wiley, 2013) and writes on his blog, TheBananaRepublican.com. He is based in Southern California.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Y ounger people should not feel "invincible" as coronavirus restrictions are lifted, a World Health Organisation (WHO) official has said.

Dr Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, told a press briefing he is "very concerned" that under-24s are regularly appearing among new cases.

It comes as a new study suggests that children may carry much more coronavirus in their system than previously thought.

Infected children were shown to have a significantly higher level of virus in their airways than hospitalised adults in ICUs for Covid-19 treatment, researchers say.

Dr Kluge said that young people are at the forefront of COVID-19.

Low risk does not mean no risk, WHO warns / AFP via Getty Images

"Young people are at the forefront of the Covid-19 response and they have a very powerful message to convey through their behaviour and their communication", he said.

Dr Kluge added: "Low risk does not mean no risk, no one is invincible and if you do not die from Covid it may stick to your body like a tornado with a long tail.

"While young people are less likely to die than older people they can still be very seriously affected, this virus affects organs throughout the body."

As schools plan to reopen, understanding the potential role children play in the spread of the disease and the factors that drive severe illness in children is critical, experts say.

Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Mass General Hospital for Children (MGHfC) in the US, suggest their findings indicate children may play a larger role in the community spread of the virus than previously thought.

18 out of 192 paediatric patients aged 0-22 had late-onset Covid-19-related illness / AFP via Getty Images

In a study of 192 paediatric patients aged 0-22 years, 49 children tested positive for coronavirus, and an additional 18 had late-onset, Covid-19-related illness.

Infected children had a high viral load, a finding which surprised the researchers. Viral load refers to the amount of virus in a persons blood.

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Lael Yonker, director of the MGH Cystic Fibrosis Centre, and lead author of the study, said: I was surprised by the high levels of virus we found in children of all ages, especially in the first two days of infection.

I was not expecting the viral load to be so high.

You think of a hospital, and of all of the precautions taken to treat severely ill adults, but the viral loads of these hospitalised patients are significantly lower than a healthy child who is walking around with a high Sars-CoV-2 viral load.
For many Bay Area residents, preparing for hurricane season is old hat. But like so much in 2020, the coronavirus pandemic has made many things different.

Regional emergency management coordinators across Harris and Galveston counties say much of the preparation and evacuation advice remains the same, such as having important documentation, prescription medication and first-aid kits gathered and ready to go, but they said there are some key differences you need to know this season, especially if you need to evacuate.

For one thing, the Centers for Disease Control recommends that you stock your emergency kit with extra face masks, hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol and disinfecting wipes to frequently clean high-touch surfaces.

If you wind up in a shelter, the CDC has on its website a laundry list of ways to protect yourself from the coronavirus, including: wearing a mask if youre over the age of 2; keeping with your family and staying at least 6 feet away from other people; and washing your hands often and covering coughs and sneezes. It also recommends not sharing your food or drinks with anyone in the shelter outside of your immediate family.

Brian Mansfield, the city of Friendswoods emergency management coordinator and fire marshal, said that because there are no shelters in the area, peoples best bet for evacuation locations are with out-of-town family members.

I would recommend going to family, as its probably a safer environment than a community environment like a shelter, he said.

Of course, hotels are always an option if you find yourself in a hurricanes way and no family to stay with. In fact, Mansfield said hotel room availability is likely one thing the pandemic has made easier this year.

Storm information resources Galveston County Office of Emergency Management (includes tracking of potential storms): https://bit.ly/2Qba6hZ Harris County (information about preparedness tips regarding storms and COVID-19): readyharris.org City of Friendswood storm page (includes video message and evacuation zone map): https://bit.ly/324oeiw Galveston County disaster guide for kids:https://bit.ly/2CLUHBH See More Collapse

A benefit this year is that folks arent traveling as much, he said. Especially in big cities, the hotels arent as packed right now.

Nevertheless, Mansfield said checking ahead with hotels is still a good idea, especially as the Red Cross is looking to put people in hotels instead of community shelters should a hurricane hit and people have to leave their homes.

Theyre trying to reduce the amount of people (theyd have to put) in shelters, he said.

During one of his Mayor Mikes Minute informational videos, Friendswood Mayor Mike Foreman discussed ZIP Zone evacuation maps. He urged city residents to familiarize themselves with Friendswoods ZIP Zone B and its designation as 77546s to understand which evacuation routes to use and how and when to leave. To see the evacuation map, click here.

If its not done in the correct sequence, the resulting traffic backup can become hazardous, he said.

Foreman added people should be familiar with possible alternate routes, as well, in an effort to avoid clogging roadways.

Mansfield and other area leaders, including Galveston County Judge Mark Henry, said preparation is key not only to weathering a hurricane but also to moving you and your family out of harms way quickly.

In a video on the county website, Henry urged everyone to make a plan, build a kit and stay informed. He also pointed out a new addition to the countys resource center, including a disaster guide for kids that is found here.

The guide, which can be downloaded, not only has good information for how youngsters can get ready and stay safe during hurricane season, but it also offers games and coloring sheets.

Galveston County residents can click here to access a wealth of information including how to prepare a to-go kit, how to ready their homes to weather a potential storm, to learn about evacuation routes and access several other county and local resources depending on their needs.

Harris Countys readyharris.org site has detailed information about preparedness about everything from taking care of pets in a disaster to how to buy flood insurance.
US authorities have approved a plan to release more than 750 million genetically modified mosquitoes across the Florida Keys, despite objections from local residents.

British-based firm Oxitec are behind the project, that will test whether the altered mosquitoes can work as an alternative to pesticides to control the spread of diseases, such as Zika, dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever, according to CNN.

The male mosquito, which is named OX5034, has been created to produce female offspring that die at larval stage, before they grow big enough to spread disease and bite.

Female mosquitoes bite for blood while they mature their eggs, but males do not carry the diseases as they feed on nectar, according to Sky News.

The mosquitoes will be released in the Florida Keys in 2021, but will be expanded into Harris County, Texas, after the Environmental Protection Agency granted Oxitecs request for an experimental use permit.

Jaydee Hanson, policy director for the International Centre for Technology Assessment and Centre for Food Safety, released a statement on Thursday, where he criticised the decision.

With all the urgent crises facing our nation and the State of Florida  the Covid-19 pandemic, racial injustice, climate change  the administration has used tax dollars and government resources for a Jurassic Park experiment, he said.

Now the Monroe County Mosquito Control District has given the final permission needed. What could possibly go wrong? We dont know, because EPA unlawfully refused to seriously analyse environmental risks, now without further review of the risks, the experiment can proceed, Mr Hanson added.

Zika was declared an international emergency in 2016, and although it was later downgraded, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said it was still a significant public health challenge requiring intense action later that year.

The WHO records around 390 million dengue infections each year, as half of the worlds population are at danger of being infected, according to Sky.

This project will be the first of its kind in the US, but follows on from a similar trial in Brazil in 2016, where researchers recorded a decline in disease-carrying mosquitoes and found they did not cause harm to other insects.

Since the initial announcement of the project in May, more than 230,000 people have signed a petition against the proposal, which was supported by more than 30 local physicians.

Local media reported that residents were unhappy to be treated as guinea pigs for the experiment, as the petition claimed that the GMO (genetically modified organisms) mosquitoes could pose major risks to fragile ecosystems.

This argument was echoed by Dana Perls, a programme manager at Friends of the Earth, who released a statement on Wednesday where she said she was concerned about the damage the mosquitoes may cause to the local ecosystem.

The release of genetically engineered mosquitoes will needlessly put Floridians, the environment and endangered species at risk in the midst of a pandemic, Ms Perls said

However, in a statement on Wednesday, Oxitec CEO Grey Frandsen claimed that the programme will be beneficial to the area and said the company plan on working with local authorities during the project.

Our team is incredibly thankful to the FKMCD commissioners, regulators and our diverse partners for placing trust in us. Were ready to get to work, and we couldnt think of better partners than the FKMCDs professional staff and collaborators in this project.

Were looking forward to working hand-in-hand with the Keys community to demonstrate the effectiveness of our safe, sustainable technology in light of the growing challenges controlling this disease-spreading mosquito.
2,700 evangelicals warn against politicizing coronavirus, urge Christians to take vaccine

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A coalition of more than 2,700 high-profile evangelicals spanning the fields of science and religion have signed onto a statement billed A Christian Statement on Science for Pandemic Times, which warns against the politicization of the new coronavirus and urges Christians to take appropriate action against it, including taking a vaccine when its ready.

We are deeply concerned about the polarization and politicization of science in the public square when so many lives are at stake. The word science has become a weapon in the culture wars. Scientists are vilified and their findings ignored, while conspiracy theories go viral. Sadly, Christians seem just as susceptible to these trends. Thoughtful Christians may disagree on public policy in response to the coronavirus, but none of us should ignore clear scientific evidence, the statement published online by the nonprofit organization BioLogos says.

"We call on all Christians to follow the advice of public health experts and support scientists doing crucial biomedical research on COVID-19."

BioLogos was founded by U.S. National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins, a devout Christian geneticist, and his wife, to foster discussions about the harmony between science and biblical faith. Collins was honored earlier this year with the Templeton Prize, a financial award of $1.3 million for his storied career using science to advocate for the integration of faith and reason.

Some of the influential evangelicals who have already signed the statement include: Bishop Claude Alexander, senior pastor, The Park Church, Charlotte, North Carolina; National Association of Evangelicals President Walter Kim; William Phillips, a distinguished professor of physics at the University of Maryland who was a co-recipient of the Nobel Prize of Physics "for development of methods to cool and trap atoms with laser light" in 1997; and Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.

The signers affirm that they "uphold the authority of Gods Word and see science as a tool to understand Gods world."

The statement comes in the wake of the fragmented response in the Christian community to the coronavirus which has fed skepticism about how it has been handled and challenged advice from public health officials on issues such as the wearing of masks to stem the spread of the disease.

A vocal minority of churches also spoke out against calls from federal and local government authorities to close their churches amid the new coronavirus pandemic, risking fines and arrests. As recently as Sunday, North Carolina Bishop Patrick Wooden Sr. of the conservative Upper Room Church of God in Christ in Raleigh, slammed Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, who is director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, as a backslidden Catholic and self-professed humanist who is being used as a political tool by the left.

Humanists do not believe in prayer, humanists do not believe that God intervenes, humanists do not believe that we need help from the Lord at all. That may be one of the reasons he could easily recommend that churches be closed, but he fumbled and waffled when they suggested perhaps the protests should be curtailed because they spread the virus, he asserted.

The statement acknowledges that while Christians have a valid reason to be skeptical of the scientific process, it would be unwise to dismiss their research.

It is appropriate for Christians to be skeptical of claims made by scientists who speak outside their area of expertise. We firmly reject claims that science has somehow shown God does not exist or faith is mere superstition. Such claims go beyond what science is capable of investigating. We lament the times when science and medicine have been misused to perpetrate atrocities like the racist Tuskegee experiments. But Christians should listen to scientists and doctors when they speak in their area of expertise, especially when millions of lives are at stake, the statement warns.

It also explains that while some of the scientific guidance on the virus may seem confusing at times, its simply the nature of the process of trying to fight a virus they are still learning about each day.

Experts have been communicating their knowledge in real time as the pandemic progresses, which has led to some confusion. In the early days, they advised the public against masks when supplies were needed for healthcare workers, but later they changed their message in response to more data. A change in expert advice is not a sign of weakness or unreliability, but of good scientific practice and honesty," it notes.

On the biggest points, scientific predictions have been proven right: scientists said stay-home orders would reduce cases, and thankfully those measures worked. Scientists predicted that ending quarantine too soon would increase cases, and that has been the case.

While any individual scientist may be biased, the community actively critiques each others work to reduce bias and errors until together they develop a consensus on what the data are saying. Its not a perfect process and one can always find dissenters, but scientists working together are far more accurate than one persons theory on YouTube. Scientists are trained to communicate where the consensus is uncertain and to not overstate conclusions. They may speak in sound bites in an interview, but if you listen a bit longer you will hear the caveats. So when Dr. Fauci, the nations leading infectious disease expert, tells us what scientists have learned about this infectious disease, he should be listened to.

On the reopening of churches, signers of the statement agree that "Christians need to balance Gods call to meet together with Gods call to protect the vulnerable among us."

"Our faith calls us to sacrifice ourselves for others and accept temporary limitations on our freedoms because we have a permanent and complete freedom in Christ (Hebrews 10:34). Our faith helps us be humble and patient when discussing contentious issues (Ephesians 4:2-3). It is our faith, not science, that overcomes fear and brings hope."

The statement acknowledges that the economic losses and social hardships of the pandemic are painful, and thoughtful Christians will disagree on how to balance those needs with health needs.

Nevertheless, it urges Christians to wear masks, get vaccinated, correct misinformation, work for justice and pray.

"Mask rules are not experts taking away our freedom, but an opportunity to follow Jesus command to love our neighbors as ourselves," it says. "Christians are called to love the truth; we should not be swayed by falsehoods.

Get vaccinated against COVID-19 when a safe and effective vaccine is available and as directed by a physician. A large fraction of the population needs to be vaccinated to develop the herd immunity which protects the immuno-compromised and others who cannot be vaccinated. Vaccination is a provision from God that will prevent disease not only for ourselves but for the most vulnerable among us (Matthew 25:31-36).
UPDATE: Oregon exhausts its $500 payouts, which brought relief to some and frustrations for others

It didnt seem plausible when Stephanie Roberts saw the news on Facebook: banks and credit unions handing out $500 to struggling Oregonians?

I didnt think it was real at all, Roberts said Wednesday afternoon. But I thought it was worth a try.

Laid off from her customer service job at a research marketing firm, and with two kids at home, Roberts, 30, headed down to OnPoint Community Credit Unions Southeast Hawthorne branch  and discovered the money was real. And so were the lines.

After two hours of waiting, Roberts was near the front of the line by midafternoon Wednesday. She said the $500 would help compensate for jobless benefits she has been counting on, but the Northeast Portland resident expects shell burn through it right away.

Im going to pay my lights and put it towards my rent, Roberts said.

Thousands of people lined up all over Oregon on Wednesday for one-time, $500 relief payments the state Legislature authorized in July for as many as 70,000 Oregonians who meet the income and hardship qualifications. Wednesday was the first day the money was available and its first-come, first served.

Somebody giving out free money? You know lines gonna be long, said Nini Carter, 29, who was also skeptical the payments were real until she saw photos of Wednesdays lines on Snapchat. She was there with a friend, Christina Sanders, and they brought chairs to make the wait in the toasty afternoon sunshine a bit more comfortable.

Similar scenes were reported around the state, albeit sometimes under cloudier skies. Though in some places people suggested applicants grew agitated by the long lines.

Rogue Credit Union is one of eight credit unions that teamed up with the State of Oregon to provide assistance for people impacted by COVID-19. The credit union is helping members and non-members apply for $500 payments. https://t.co/54zlFSy4no  Curry Coastal Pilot (@currypilot) August 19, 2020

Fewer banks serve Oregons small communities and in Tillamook one applicant said she was told she would have to wait until August 31 for an appointment to collect the money. She feared the states funds would be exhausted by then.

Nobody knows how long the money will last and state legislative leaders wouldnt venture a guess Wednesday morning. At the end of the day, legislative staff said the state had paid out more than 12,000 of the $500 claims.

With the tremendous interest in receiving the checks, we are asking people to observe social distancing precautions inside and outside our branches, including mask requirements and staying six feet away from others in line, the credit union said in a statement.

Christina Sanders, left, and Nini Carter in line for the $500 relief checks Wednesday outside OnPoint Community Credit Union's Southeast Hawthorne branch. Sanders said she plans to use the $500 to buy groceries and gas  and put the rest away for savings. You dont know whats coming up, she said.Mike Rogoway/The Oregonian

An hour into her wait, Sanders said she plans to use the $500 to buy groceries and gas  and put the rest away for savings.

You dont know whats coming up, Sanders said.

Lawmakers used $35 million in federal coronavirus relief money to fund the one-time, $500 payments and unveiled the program Wednesday morning. To prevent fraud, the state is requiring people to show up in person to fill out an application and collect their money. Applications and payments are available at more than 150 financial institutions statewide.

Instructions are posted online at https://emergencychecks.oregon.gov. To qualify for the money, people must be Oregon residents with valid identification who are suffering financial hardship due to the pandemic and who were earning less than the equivalent of $48,000 per year before the coronavirus hit (the states average annual wage is about $57,000.)

Oregons jobless rate was 10.4% in July, near the peaks the state reached in the worst days of the Great Recession.

Lawmakers created the $500 payout program in hopes of offering relief to tens of thousands of Oregonians who havent received their benefits from the states faltering jobless claims system. But people dont actually have to be unemployed to qualify for the $500.

Those who have filed for jobless benefits, though, are only eligible for the $500 if the state is behind in making their benefits payments.

The mood was upbeat outside OnPoint on Wednesday afternoon. Nearly everyone waiting for their $500 was wearing masks and many had their children with them. Some were enjoying popsicles in temperatures that were well into the 80s.

With waits stretching for hours, though, and the line well over a block long and more people arriving every few minutes, it seemed unlikely everyone would get their $500 on Wednesday. And it wasnt immediately clear what will happen to those people waiting at the end of the day.

Sonja Malone, 48, walked out of OnPoint with $500 in cash a little after 2:30 Wednesday afternoon.

I have children and bills and my truck needs help, said Malone, who said she is on Social Security Disability Insurance.

Sonja Malone, 48, walked out of OnPoint with $500 in cash a little after 2:30 Wednesday afternoon. I have children and bills and my truck needs help, she said.Mike Rogoway/The Oregonian

The Southeast Portland resident said the application was simple, straightforward and while she waited more than an hour in line she spent just 10 minutes inside as tellers processed her paperwork and provided her money.

It was a really short application, Malone said. Just be here.

For more information on the $500 payment program, including the financial institutions making the payments, visit the states website for the program at https://emergencychecks.oregon.gov.

-- Mike Rogoway | twitter: @rogoway |

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Contempt of court: SC gives Prashant Bhushan two days time to reconsider statement

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Aug 20: The Supreme Court has assured advocate, Prashant Bhushan that if any punishment is inflicted for contempt, it would be done only his review is decided

Contempt Case: SC rejects Prashant Bhushan's plea to defer sentencing | Oneindia News

The court also assured Bhushan that it would not do anything that will impair his right to review.

Prashant Bhushan then read to the SC a prepared statement in which he refused to apologise. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, he said I do not ask for mercy. I do not ask for magnanimity. I shall submit cheerfully to whatever punishment the court imposes on me lawfully.

Bhushan also said that his relationship with the court was neither of a courtier or a cheerleader but an officer of the court. He also said that he has fought cases for the public interest at some personal and professional cost. My tweets were not done in a fit of absent-mindedness. My expressions are permissible before any democracy.

On why CJI did not wear a helmet, Bhushan says didnt notice bike was on a stand

Justice Mishra remarked that doing good things is welcome. We appreciate all those efforts. But why is balancing. If you do not balance your comments, you will destroy the institution. We do not punish for contempt so easily. Balancing has to be there, restraint has to be there. There is a Lakshman Rekha for everything. Why should you cross the line, Justice Mishra also said.

When the Bench asked whether they should give Bhushan time to reflect on his statement, Attorney General K K Venugopal said that he should be. He has done a tremendous amount of public good. You have held him guilty for contempt, but do not punish him, the AG also said.

The Bench then asked Bhushan to reconsider his statement observing that it could be very lenient only if the person concerned showed a sense of remorse. The Bench has asked him to respond in two days.

The SC today took up the sentence hearing in the case after it had last week held Bhushan guilty of contempt.

The case concerns Bhushan's comments on the judiciary during an interview to the Tehelka magazine in 2009.

The contempt case was taken on the basis of a complaint by senior advocate Harish Salve. This was in relation to a 2009 interview given by Bhushan to the Tehelka magazine.
August 20 : The shooting for director Kaashvie Nairs debut film starring Arjun Kapoor and Rakul Preet Singh was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic in March. It is now reported that the entire team will start shoot in Mumbai from Monday.

According to a Mumbai Mirror report, the shooting for the cross-border love story was almost complete when the lockdown struck. Now the producers of the untitled film, Bhushan Kumar, Nikkhil Advani, and John Abraham, have decided to resume shooting at Film City Studios from Monday. About 14 days shoot is left. John, who has a cameo in the film, will also join the shoot.

Quoting Nikkhil Advani, Mumbai Mirror reported that the producers have ensured that all actors and other crew members are safe at the set, as all safety protocols certified by the Maharashtra government have been followed.

The report further quoted Nikkhil that a 10-day shoot with the entire cast will take place at the studio, and later in September, after the rains, the remaining four days shoot will take place.

The film also features Neena Gupta and Kanwaljit Singh, who will also join the team for the shoot from Monday. Kanwaljit Singh had raised an objection against the governments resolution to prohibit actors above the age of 65 from shooting. The resolution was challenged in the Bombay High Court and was quashed.
A health worker of Hanoi's Cau Giay district takes a throat swab from a boy recently returning from Da Nang for COVID-19 testing (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi - Vietnam reported four new locally infected cases of the coronavirus on August 19 evening, raising the total to 993, according to the national steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control.

Of the new patients, two are female medical workers in the central city of Da Nang, with the 25-year-old one at the Gia Dinh (Family) General Hospital and the other, 37, at the Da Nang Hospital.



Another case is a 34-year-old man in Cam Thanh commune of Hoi An city, central Quang Nam province. His wife was earlier confirmed as a COVID-19 patient and used to undergo treatment at the Da Nang Hospital.



The fourth case is a 40-year-old woman in Tan Binh ward of Hai Duong city, the northern province of Hai Duong. She previously had close contact with two other COVID-19 patients linked with the hotbed on Ngo Quyen street of Hai Duong city.



Also on August 19, there were 13 patients discharged from hospital, raising the number of recoveries so far to 533.



Among those still under treatment, 33 have tested negative for the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 once, 36 twice, and 29 others thrice.



Of all COVID-19 cases, 653 are local infections, including 513 related to Da Nang since the latest outbreak began there on July 25.



As many as 81,585 people having close contact with confirmed cases or coming from pandemic-hit regions are under quarantine at present.
Here in Spain, the government appears to have attempted to divert media, and therefore public, attention to the political crisis in Belarus. Yesterday, the Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya called for the cessation of violence and a national dialogue in Belarus in a telephone conversation with her Belarusian counterpart before an emergency EU meeting on the crisis. Meanwhile in the UK, the argument of A level results continues to drag on and much of it is fueled by certain members of the government.

But, the art of diversion is not working because the ongoing war against Covid-19 is continuing to rage and I get the impression that the general public are more worried than they ever since the outbreak of the pandemic. When we were all in lockdown, in particular house confinement during phase one it appeared cut and dried. It was not pleasant but there was a much higher level of clarity, we all knew what we had to do.

But since Monday when the new measures came into force, numerous people have told me that they feel lost, confused and some in a panic with regards to what is exactly going on and what the future holds. The level of social uncertainty is mounting and I would like to see the local and national governments being much more honest to ease our fears and concerns and stop flip-flopping with new restrictions.
Victorians will be allowed to drive within 5km of their home to exercise after complaints about the safety of locals.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton will work with Victoria Police to loosen the restriction, which previously carried a fine of $1652.

'We are aware that people have talked about that as an unreasonable constraint,' Prof Sutton said.

'I don't want anyone to feel unsafe getting to a place of exercise.'

Victorians will be allowed to drive within 5km of their home to exercise after complaints about the safety of locals

Victorians will be allowed to drive within 5km of their home to exercise after complaints and warnings about the safety of locals

Victorian residents who have outstanding fines from when it was considered a breach will be able to request a review and apply for it to be waived.

The Department of Health and Human Services website will be updated to clarify that driving within 5km of your home is no longer prohibited.

The easing of the restriction comes after police on Wednesday warned Victorians not to drive somewhere else to exercise, even if it was within 5km of their house.

The Department of Health and Human Services has also advised that sitting in parks or on park benches is allowed while exercising with one other person.

Victorians still aren't allowed to exercise more than once a day or for over an hour, and only with one other person from outside their household.

Residents can visit the beach if they live within 5km of one, but all indoor sports, gyms and pools remain closed.

Prof Sutton is hoping for a day without a single new outbreak, in the wake of a growing list of encouraging COVID-19 trends.

The state recorded 216 new infections on Wednesday, its lowest daily increase in cases in more than five weeks, while the number of active cases dropped by 119.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton will work with Victoria Police to loosen the restriction, which previously carried a fine of $1652

Victorians still aren't allowed to exercise more than once a day or for over an hour, and only with one other person from outside their household

Mr Sutton said only four new outbreaks had been detected in the 24 hours to Wednesday morning, fuelling hopes that the worst is over for the nation's most-affected state.

'That is the smallest number (of outbreaks) we've seen in for many, many weeks,' he told reporters.

'So trending in the right direction but I would like to see a day of zero new outbreaks and very little community transmission.'

He said Wednesdays were usually a 'spike day' following testing over the weekend.
After the immense success of Amazons Fire TV Stick more and more consumer electronics companies have started manufacturing streaming devices.

The latest addition to the list is the new Nokia Media Streamer.

Well, the Android-based streaming device from Nokia is a part of Flipkarts branding partnership with Nokia.

Similar to other streaming devices like the Mi TV Box, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and the Mi TV Stick, the new Nokia Media Streamer connects to your TV via the HDMI port and it helps stream Internet-based content using WiFi.

So heres everything you need to know about the new Nokia Media Streamer.

Pricing And Availability

The Nokia Media Streamer is priced at Rs 3,499 or roughly $47. You can purchase the streaming device from Flipkart starting August 28.

It is worth noting that, the streaming device has been made and marketed by Flipkart as its the licensee of the Nokia brand here in India.

Nokia Media Streamer: Specifications And Features

Nokia Media streamer is capable of streaming full-HD up to 60 frames per second content. It supports every mainstream streaming service like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Hotstar+, Spotify, and many more.

An unspecified quad-core processor coupled with Mali 450 GPU power this streaming device. Nokia Media streamer comes with built-in Chromecast support and it even has Dolby Audio.

Furthermore, the streaming device has 1GB RAM and it comes with 8GB of internal storage for applications and OS.

Similar to other streaming devices out there, Nokia Media Streamer runs on Googles Android operating system namely Android TV 9 Pie.

You can download a bunch of apps directly from the PlayStore and use it on your streaming device. Luckily, the streaming device offers 2.4GHz/5GHz dual-band support.

As a result, you can stream content at fast speeds using the 5GHz band. Nokia Media Streamer comes with a physical remote with Google Assistant, Netflix, and ZeeTV hotkeys.
George and Gloria Rogan, of Buffalo Grove, right, walked their dog across the Robert Parker Coffin Road Bridge in Long Grove Aug. 20, 2020 and noticed the damage to the structure after it was struck the day before by a box truck. The damage from that incident marked the second time in the same week the bridge had been hit and damaged by a vehicle. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press)
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday took a swipe at the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over actor Sushant Singh Rajputs death case being transferred to the central investigation agency by the Supreme Court.

Pawar said he hoped that CBI will not carry out the investigation in the actors case like it had in Dr Narendra Dabholkars murder. At the same time, he said, he was sure the Maharashtra government will cooperate with the agency, respecting the apex courts decision.

I hope the investigation will not be carried on, as was done with Dr Narendra Dabholkars murder also under investigation by the CBI, which commenced in 2014 and remains unresolved, Pawar said in a series of tweets on Thursday.

Also Read: Swara Bhasker on CBI taking over Sushant Singh Rajputs case: Not fair to suggest Mumbai Police were not doing a good job

Pawar was pointing out to the case of Dabholkar, an anti-superstition crusader, who was shot dead from a close range in broad daylight by unknown gunmen on August 20 ,2013. The Bombay high court had transferred the case to the CBI in May 2014. The case, which is yet to be solved, is said to be linked to other three murders, those of rationalist and Communist leader Govind Pansare, Kannada scholar M M Kalburgi and journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh.

I am sure the Maharashtra Govt will respect the judgement of the Supreme Court to hand over Sushant Singh Rajputs case to the CBI and fully cooperate in the investigation process, Pawar further said.

He had publicly ticked off his grand-nephew Parth Pawar over demanding CBI investigation in the case. He, however, had also said that there was no reason to oppose the CBI investigation. Maharashtra and Mumbai police are capable and I have 100% trust in them. If someone still wants a probe by CBI or any other agency, then there is no reason to oppose it, he had said, immediately after ridiculing his grand-nephew on the issue.

Also Read: Conspiracy to malign Maharashtra govt: Shiv Sena after SC hands Sushant Singh Rajput case to CBI

The Supreme Court on Wednesday decided to transfer Rajputs case to the CBI. The actor was found dead at his Mumbai apartment on June 14 and Mumbai police was investigating the case and the home department is with the NCP. States Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government was opposing transfer of the case to the CBI.

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Since Floyds death in May, protesters have repeatedly taken to streets across the country to denounce policing tactics, and many activists have called for police department funding to be cut and money shifted to social services. Abbotts proposal sets up a possible clash between local and state officials in Texas on an issue that has tormented city councils nationwide this summer. He announced the idea Tuesday while joined by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R), Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen (R) and Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price (R).
Astra Publishing House, the new company backed by Beijing-based Thinkingdom Media Group, has hired childrens literature expert Leonard S. Marcus as editor-at-large to help develop Astras childrens list, particularly picture books published under its mineditionUS imprint. With this move, the company, which publishes books in English, Chinese, French, Spanish, and German, hopes to both expand its reach into the international childrens book market and build up its presence in the U.S. Further extending its reach, Astra has partnered with Penguin Random House to distribute mineditionUS titles.

Marcus, who assumed his new responsibilities in early July, is working remotely from Brooklyn, where he lives, for the global publisher. Besides the U.S., Astra Publishing House has personnel working from mainland China, Hong Kong, Switzerland, France, and Germany.

In a release, Astra Publishing House COO Ben Schrank stated, As a renowned historian, author, critic, exhibition curator, and public educator, Leonard Marcus brings an unparalleled range of international childrens book knowledge and experience, which will further enhance Astra Publishing Houses unique global perspective and commitment to creating world-class books for every child.

mineditionUS editorial director Maria Russo, who joined the company in May, told PW, Leonard is practically an institution in the childrens book world. Hes incredibly erudite, but hes also funny, adventurous, and always up for a new challenge. We laugh, we share a sensibility, we ask the same kinds of questions.

Marcus is working with Russo and minedition founder Michael Neugebauer, who is based in Hong Kong, to acquire and edit picture books from around the world, and said he has already facilitated mineeditionUSs acquisition of two picture books. Marcus declined to provide more information, other than to note that one had been published originally in Spain and the other in Colombia. I became aware of them through a good friend in the Spanish-language world, he said.

Marcus has also been tasked with hosting public programs promoting picture books in the U.S., China, and elsewhere, spearheading special projects revolving around childrens books. He promises that an announcement will be made in a month or so about his first such venture under Astras auspices. It involves writers for children around the world, Marcus said.

While Marcus, who has written more than 30 books, curated numerous exhibitions on childrens literature, and spoken at the Bologna and Shanghai childrens book fairs, is well known in publishing circles, this is the first time he has actually worked in the industry. Its something that he had considered for some time, he told PW, explaining that due to his network of professional contacts around the world, he was always hearing about books published abroad that he thought would resonate stateside, and meeting international authors and illustrators whose work he considered appropriate for U.S. readers. After Russo, whom he has known for years, assumed the position of editorial director, the two discussed the possibilities for him with Astra, and it just fell into place.

I really love the international focus of [Astras] list, Marcus said, Publishing is really the crossroads between commerce and culture. At Astra, were playing it out in a beautiful way. Theres the commerce side, but theres also the culture.

Russo said she considers Marcuss expertise and contacts, both in the U.S. and abroad to be essential components in fulfilling mineditionUSs mission of publishing board and picture books by international authors and illustrators that will resonate with children in the U.S., as well as books by U.S. authors and artists that will appeal on a global level.

We want to put more international books in the hands of American children to help them become global citizens, she said. We also want to bring American talent into the minedition model. We want to find authors and illustrators who we can publish well here and also have great potential for audiences abroad.

mineditionUS Moves Forward

On the job for little more than three months, Russos first order of business has been strategizing on how best to promote the books on mineditions backlist that may not have gained traction in the U.S. previously, with the goal of [getting] more of these books into the hands of American children. For instance, she said, Yusuke Yonezu, a Japanese graphic designer who has created about a dozen board books, is a genius whose books have sold millions of copies around the world but havent caught on in the U.S. mineditionUS is publishing Yonezus latest board book, Sharing, in October. His visual style is so clean, so bright, Russo said, He makes [the concept of] sharing seem so amazing.

Russo also hopes to promote Guiliano Ferris Brick by Brick, a 2016 release, along with the Italian artists newest board book, Masquerade Party (Oct.), explaining, We want every preschooler to have this board book about working together to build bridges instead of walls. His board books are a cut above typical board books.

There will be 13 frontlist releases on mineditionUSs fall list, which was scheduled before Russo came on board. In January, Russos first acquisition will be released: The Kings Golden Beard by Belgian artist Klaas Verplancke, about a tyrannical ruler who is ego-driven and ignores science. Russo describes it as a good read-aloud that is also graphically exciting and visually witty.

While the Museum of Modern Art published Verplanckes nonfiction picture book, Magrittes Apple, in 2016, Russo regards The Kings Golden Beard as Verplanckes American storytelling debut. The book will also introduce Russos imprint within the mineditionUS imprint; it and subsequent mineditionUS books will be released as mineditionUS/Maria Russo Books. Besides The Kings Golden Beard, the spring 2021 list will include a picture book acquired by Neugebauer, Pangolina, written by Jane Goodall and illustrated by Chinese artist Daishu Ma, about pangolins, an endangered species of anteaters recently demonized as carriers of the new coronavirus.

The five books on the spring 2021 list, Russo said, really represent a lot that I want to be doing at mineditionUS. Certain things across cultures call out for sensitive treatment in childrens literature, particularly books on the environment and other issues of global concern. While not providing specifics, Russo disclosed that books that resonate in the context of the pandemic will be included on future lists. She and her colleagues, Neugebauer and Marcus, currently are working on acquisitions for the spring fall 2022, anticipating nine or 10 frontlist releases during each of those seasons.

Reflecting upon the present, as well as the future of mineditionUS, Russo noted that Astra already has Europe and Asia well covered in terms of publishing childrens books by authors and artists residing on those two continents. She hopes to move beyond Europe and Asia in acquiring and publishing books for the U.S. marketplaces like South America, Iran, and Africa.

Were slowly building on our connections and looking for good projects, she said. Theres a strong tradition of childrens books in Iran. Many [Iranian creatives] work under difficult conditions. Were looking to add an Iranian author-illustrator on our list very soon.
The French health ministry has reported 4,711 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours, a new post-lockdown record and a level last seen during the height of the epidemic in France.

Germany confirmed 1,707 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, the highest daily toll since April, official figures showed.

Brazil has expressed cautious optimism that the countrys coronavirus outbreak could be about to slow down, with cases and deaths on a weekly basis falling from their late July peaks.

South Korea has reported a seventh day of triple-digit cases with infections growing outside Seoul.

More than 22 million people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 around the world, and more than 14 million have recovered. More than 787,600 people have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Here are the latest updates:

Thursday, August 20

23:41 GMT  Irelands EU commissioner, minister under fire for attending golf event

An Irish Cabinet minister apologised unreservedly for attending a social event with more than 80 people  reported to have included European Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan  which may have breached COVID-19 regulations.

Agriculture Minister Dara Calleary and Cabinet colleagues significantly tightened nationwide coronavirus restrictions on Tuesday, including limiting indoor gatherings to just six people. The next night, 81 people, including current and former politicians, attended a dinner hosted by the Irish parliaments golf society in a hotel, according to the Irish Examiner.

Calleary said in a statement that in light of the updated public health guidance, he should not have attended the event.

I wish to apologise unreservedly to everyone. We are asking quite a lot from everyone at this difficult time. I also offer this apology and my sincere regret to my government colleagues, he said.

20:50 GMT  Trump calls on Pennsylvania governor to reopen state amid pandemic

President Donald Trump has called on Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf to reopen the state, telling a rally of supporters the Democrat would wait until the day after the November 3 election to do so.

Hes got to open this state up, Trump said during a speech in Old Forge, Pennsylvania. What is he doing? What is he doing? So the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, were going to get it open. And I know when hes going to do it. You know when it is? November 4.





20:25 GMT  One in five US nursing home short on PPE, staff: Study

One in five US nursing homes faced severe shortages of protective gear like N95 masks this summer even as the Trump administration pledged to help, according to a study released Thursday that finds facilities in areas hard-hit by COVID 19 also struggled to keep staff.

Significantly, there was no improvement from May to July in the shortages of personal protective equipment, known as PPE, or in the staffing shortfalls, according to the analysis of federal data by academic researchers. The summer has seen the coronavirus surge across the South, and much of the West and Midwest.

People living in long-term care facilities represent less than 1 percent of the US population, but account for 43 percent of coronavirus deaths, according to the COVID Tracking Project. Similar glaring disparities have been seen with nursing home residents in other countries, but in the US the issue has become politically sensitive for President Donald Trump, who is trying to hang on to support from older voters in his reelection bid.

A study that shows that 1 in 5 nursing homes has a severe shortage of PPE and a shortage of staff, and that it did not change from May to July, should be a massive read flag, said Terry Fulmer, president of the John A. Hartford Foundation, a nonprofit that works to improve care for older adults. We have had no coherent federal response, added Fulmer, who was not involved in the research.

19:50 GMT  Spains emergency chief admits virus fight not going well

Spains emergencies director has warned that things are not going well in his countrys fight to ramp down COVID-19 transmission as cases keep rising.

Fernando Simon, the health ministrys emergencies director, urged social media influencers to help make young people in particular aware of the ongoing danger of contamination.

Nobody should be in any doubt, things are not going well We cannot let the situation elude us again, Simon told a press conference, warning of the dangers of a rebound in cases which Spain has seen in recent weeks.

Many of the new cases are asymptomatic with the number of hospitalised sufferers as well as fatalities well down on the spring peaks.

19:10 GMT  Kuwait to end coronavirus curfew

Kuwait will end a curfew imposed due to the cornavirus in all regions of the country on Sunday, August 30 at 3:00 am local time, the cabinet announced in a statement.

19:05 GMT  UK records second-highest daily COVID-19 cases since June as testing expands

Britain has recorded 1,182 new coronavirus cases, the second-highest daily total since June 21, government figures showed, in part reflecting the higher number of tests being processed.

Thursdays official data showed 190,434 tests were processed, compared to 117,971 on June 21.

Britain also reported a further six deaths of people who died within 28 days of receiving a positive coronavirus test result, taking the total number of fatalities on this measure to 41,403.

18:40 GMT  France reports 4,771 new coronavirus cases

France reported 4,771 new coronavirus cases over 24 hours on Thursday, 1,000 more than Wednesday, health authorities said.

The spike in new cases marked the first jump of more than 4,000 in a day since May, although the number of new patients hospitalised at 149 was down on 162 for Wednesday, the DGS public health directorate said.

During lockdown, France saw a peak of 7,578 infections per day on March 31, but since then, there have been only a few days with the number of new infections per day rising above 4,500.

People stroll down Bordeauxs main shopping street Sainte-Catherine, where wearing a mask is compulsory as of August 15, 2020, to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 [Mehdi Fedouach/AFP]

18:00 GMT  Nigeria to deny entry to countries that bar Nigerians

Nigeria will bar entry to citizens of countries that do not allow in Nigerians due to coronavirus restrictions, Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika has announced.

The principle of reciprocity will be applied, Sirika told reporters. If you ban us from coming to your country, the same will apply the other way.

Nigeria earlier this week announced plans to resume international flights on August 29. All but essential international flights were halted in late March in an attempt to stem the spread of the virus.

The resumption will begin with four flights daily to both Lagos and Abuja, but Sirika said that initially the number of passengers would be limited to 1,280 a day.

17:30 GMT  Northern Ireland tightens COVID rules

Northern Ireland has tightened restrictions on the size of gatherings as it faces a rise in new cases of COVID-19.

Outdoor gatherings will from next week be limited to 15 people, reduced from 30, while indoor gatherings in private dwellings are now limited to six individuals from two households, from 10 previously.

Events such as weddings, church services and sporting events can be bigger if there is strict social distancing.





17:15 GMT  Surging coronavirus deepening Libya crisis: Red Cross

Coronavirus cases have skyrocketed 15-fold in Libya since June, the Red Cross said, warning this was further deepening the dire humanitarian crisis in the conflict-ravaged country.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said known COVID-19 cases in Libya had soared from 571 in June to more than 9,000 on Thursday.

Families bombed out of their homes.

Health care facilities destroyed.

Infrastructure crumbled.

Economy collapsed.

now over 9,000 COVID-19 cases. After 9 years of conflict, over half a million people in Libya need health care. New footage for media: https://t.co/3R4K16Cq1i pic.twitter.com/7S73KF5qXG  ICRC (@ICRC) August 20, 2020

17:00 GMT  Johnson & Johnson to test vaccine in 60,000 volunteers

Johnson & Johnson aims to test its experimental coronavirus vaccine in up to 60,000 volunteers in a late-stage trial scheduled to start in September, according to a US government database of clinical trials.

The trial would be conducted in nearly 180 sites across the United States and other countries including Brazil and Mexico.





16:45 GMT  Italy sees 845 new COVID-19 cases

Italy has reported 845 new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said, marking the highest daily increase since May, when the government eased its rigid lockdown measures.

Italy, one of Europes worst-hit countries, managed to contain the outbreak after a peak in deaths and cases between March and April. However, it has seen a steady increase in infections over the last month, with experts blaming gatherings of people associated with holidays and nightlife.

16:30 GMT  Republic of Congo to reopen air borders on Monday

The Republic of Congo next Monday will reopen air borders that it closed in late March to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, officials have said.

Land, river and sea borders will remain closed, except for the transport of cargo, which has been authorised.

15:45 GMT  Sweden signs on to EUs AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine

Sweden said it has agreed to take part in the European Unions deal with pharmaceutical group AstraZeneca to secure a supply of a coronavirus vaccine as soon as it is discovered.

The deal means Sweden, a country of 10.3 million people, would get around six million doses of the vaccine in an initial phase and two million more in a later phase.

Within two weeks we will have three more (vaccine) agreements to consider, and after that there will be another three or four in a month or two. We are negotiating with everyone to make sure we are covered, Swedens national vaccine coordinator Richard Bergstrom told reporters.

AstraZeneca said in July that its vaccine, developed together with the University of Oxford, should be available by the end of the year.

15:15 GMT  Morocco imposes restrictions on movement to contain coronavirus

Moroccan authorities has imposed tight controls on movement in Casablanca and Marrakesh, the North African countrys economic and touristic capitals, following a spike in coronavirus cases.

Several districts of the two cities were to be sealed off, and opening hours shortened for restaurants, coffee houses, businesses and public parks. Several beaches were closed in Casablanca, Moroccos largest city with 3.3 million inhabitants, following similar measures imposed on Tuesday near the capital, Rabat.

Partial lockdowns were ordered on Tuesday in Rabat and the port city of Tangiers, with armoured vehicles deployed on the streets and police manning checkpoints. COVID-19 infections have been on the rise since the start of August, reaching a rate of 1,000 new cases a day in the country of 35 million.

Wednesdays tally was more than 1,500 cases and 29 deaths. Morocco has confirmed a total of more than 46,000 cases of novel coronavirus, including more than 740 deaths.

The North African country has so far recorded more than 46,000 coronavirus cases [File: Fadel Senna/AFP]

14:30 GMT  Germany can cope with rising number of infections for now  RKI

Germanys health authorities can cope with the rising number of infections at present, the deputy director of the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases told Reuters news agency, but urged people to do everything to help reverse the trend.

At the moment, the numbers are rising a little slower than in spring  thats good  but as long as they are rising this is of course not a pleasant development, RKI deputy director Lars Schaade said.

The growth is still there and we hope of course that the growth will start to slow down in the next few days. Everyone can help, he said, urging people not to travel to high-risk countries and to stick to social distancing and hygiene rules.

He said Germanys health authorities were currently in a good position to carry out contact tracing, despite the growing number of infections, but said at a certain level they might need to concentrate on just large outbreaks.

14:05 GMT  Nigeria considers using private firms for coronavirus tests after foreign flights resume

Nigeria is considering partnerships between state governments and private firms to ramp up testing and tracing of coronavirus cases after international flights resume this month, the head of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said.

Nigeria will reopen its airports for international flights from August 29. They have been closed since March 23 to all but essential overseas flights to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic in Africas most populous country.

State governments are responsible for testing and tracing but the influx of travellers will increase the pressure on already stretched authorities in Nigeria, which has had 50,488 cases resulting in 985 deaths.

Lagos, Nigerias largest state and the epicentre of its outbreak, has 200 tracers for a population of 25 million  fewer than one per 100,000 people, compared with around 14 per 100,000 in Turkey for example.





13:45 GMT  Survey: Majority of Japanese firms oppose Olympics next year

A majority of Japanese companies among almost 13,000 surveyed oppose holding the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics next year, according to an online study published Thursday.

The survey by a Japanese research company, published by the Kyodo news agency, showed 27.8 percent want the games to be cancelled, and 25.8 percent said they should be postponed again. The Olympics were originally planned for this year but were postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Japanese organisers and the International Olympic Committee have said if the Olympics cannot be held next year, they will be cancelled.

In the survey, 46.2 percent said they wanted the games to go ahead in some form and open on July 23, 2021. The survey was conducted by Tokyo Shoko Research and covered 12,857 companies, Kyodo said.

Some 46.2 percent of respondents said they wanted the games to go ahead in some form and open on July 23, 2021 [File: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters]

13:40 GMT  Proportion of contacts reached by English COVID-19 tracing scheme falls

Englands test and trace scheme reached 71.3 percent of identified contacts of new COVID-19 cases in the past week, Britains health ministry has announced, a fall on the previous week.

In the week to August 12, 4,803 people were transferred to the test and trace system following a positive COVID-19 test, of whom 78.8 percent were reached and asked to provide contacts.

Of the 16,897 contacts identified, 71.3 percent were reached and asked to self isolate, down from 74.2 percent in the previous week.

13:25 GMT  Russias Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine to be tested on 40,000 people

Mass testing of Russias first potential COVID-19 vaccine to get domestic regulatory approval will involve more than 40,000 people, the TASS news agency cited the vaccines developer as saying.

The vaccine, called Sputnik V in homage to the worlds first satellite launched by the Soviet Union, has been hailed as safe and effective by Russian authorities and scientists following two months of small-scale human trials, the results of which have not yet been made public.

The vaccine has been hailed as safe and effective by Russian authorities and scientists following two months of small-scale human trials [Russian health ministry via Anadolu]

12:35 GMT  Vietnams coronavirus infections pass 1,000 mark

Vietnams tally of coronavirus infections since January passed the 1,000 mark on Thursday, after 14 new cases were reported.

More than half of the total confirmed cases are linked to a new outbreak that began late last month in the central coastal city of Da Nang, the health ministry said.

The ministry said 86,644 people are currently undergoing quarantine, most in their homes.

Vietnams tally now stands at 1,007 infections and 25 deaths, among the lowest in the region, having successfully contained earlier outbreaks [Bui Cuong Quyet/AP]

11:50 GMT  EU, CureVac in talks on 225 milion doses of potential vaccine

The European Commission said on Thursday it had concluded exploratory talks with CureVac regarding the purchase of 225 million doses of the German biotech firms potential COVID-19 vaccine.

Today we concluded talks with the European company CureVac to increase the chances of finding an effective coronavirus vaccine, EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said.

The EU will now begin talks on a contract with CureVac aimed at securing the supply of its potential vaccine for all 27 EU member states should the shot prove safe and effective against COVID-19.

11:10 GMT  Germany records highest daily infection toll since April

Germany confirmed 1,707 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, the highest daily toll since April, official figures showed on Thursday.

The latest figures, from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases, bring to 228,621 the number of infections in the country since the start of the pandemic.

The daily record of new cases in Germany is just over 6,000, registered in early April. Ten new deaths were reported in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 9,253.

Much of the rise has been blamed on returning holidaymakers as well as parties and family gatherings [Sascha Schuermann/Getty]

10:35 GMT  Germany adds parts of Croatia to list of coronavirus risk areas

Germanys public health agency on Thursday declared the Croatian counties of Sibenik-Knin and Split-Dalmatia, which are popular with tourists, coronavirus risk regions.

Croatia is the country with the third-highest number of infections among people returning to Germany, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), after Kosovo and Turkey.

The RKI also added the Valcea region of Romania to its coronavirus risk list, having previously designated several other parts of Romania as high-risk.

10:00 GMT  Emirates to serve all network destinations by summer 2021

Dubai-based airline Emirates expects to resume flights to all network destinations by summer 2021, its chief operating officer said, after the coronavirus pandemic halted most global air travel.

The Middle Easts largest carrier, which has a fleet of 270 wide-bodied aircraft, halted operations in late March. Shortly afterwards, it resumed limited passenger flights focused on repatriations and has since been gradually expanding its network after Dubai eased travel restrictions to revive its tourism industry.

I think we can easily say by summer 2021, well be serving 100 percent of our network destinations, Adel al-Redha told CNBC.

According to the Emirates website, the airline currently serves 70 destinations [Christopher Pike/Reuters]

09:30 GMT  Philippines confirms 4,339 more cases, 88 deaths

The Philippine health ministry on Thursday reported 4,339 new coronavirus infections and 88 additional deaths.

It said total confirmed infections have risen to 178,022 while deaths have reached 2,883.

The Philippines has reported the most COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia and the regions second-highest death toll, after Indonesia.

08:50 GMT  Indonesia sees 2,266 new infections, 72 deaths

Indonesia reported 2,266 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, bringing the total number of cases in the Southeast Asian country to 147,211.

Data from the health ministry showed an additional 72 deaths, taking total fatalities to 6,418.

08:15 GMT  Russias coronavirus death toll passes 16,000

Russias death toll from the novel coronavirus passed 16,000 on Thursday, as the country reported 110 new deaths in the past 24 hours.

The countrys coronavirus crisis response centre registered 4,785 new cases, bringing its nationwide tally of infections to 942,106, the worlds fourth highest caseload.

The death toll now stands at 16,099.

Only the US and Brazil have reported more cases than Russia [Reuters]

07:30 GMT  Nigeria reports more than 590 new cases

Nigerian health authorities confirmed on Thursday 593 new infections, pushing the national tally to 50,488.

At least four people died from the virus in the past 24 hours, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control reported, taking the total number of fatalities to 985.

07:00 GMT  Ukraine registers record daily high of 2,134 new cases

Ukraine registered 2,134 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, a new daily record for infections in the country, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said.

Stepanov said the new data surpassed the previous record of 1,967 reported the previous day.

The total number of cases has reached 98,537, including 2,134 deaths.

Ukraine has 112,650 coronavirus cases to date and 2,398 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University [File: Reuters]

06:45 GMT  Coronavirus: What did they get wrong? | Start Here

More than eight months after its first international transmission, the pandemic is showing no signs of slowing down.

We have learned a lot about the virus but there have also been mistakes.

So why has it been so tough to get our heads around COVID-19? And when are we likely to get the virus under control?

Start Here looks back at what went wrong and what we might expect.





06:15 GMT 

Hello, Im Hamza Mohamed in Doha taking over from my colleague Kate Mayberry in Kuala Lumpur.

05:30 GMT  Germany reports highest number of daily cases since April

Germany has recorded 1,707 cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours, the highest since April.

Official figures from the Robert Koch Institute show Germany with a total of 228,621 confirmed cases. An additional 10 people died from the disease, COVID-19.

04:15 GMT  India reports record daily jump in coronavirus cases

India has reported a record jump in coronavirus cases.

The Health Ministry confirmed 69,652 cases on Thursday, and also reported 997 more deaths.

Indias caseload is the third highest in the world after the US and Brazil.

03:50 GMT  Indonesia infection rate highest in Southeast Asia

Indonesia has officially reported 6,346 deaths from COVID-19, the highest toll in Southeast Asia, but the Reuters news agency reports that including people who died with acute COVID-19 symptoms but were not tested, the death toll is three times higher.

In a comprehensive report on the situation in the archipelago, the news agency says problems with testing as well as a lack of contact tracing has contributed to the rapid spread of the disease.

This virus has already spread all over Indonesia. What we are doing is basically herd immunity, Prijo Sidipratomo, dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the National Veterans Development University in Jakarta told Reuters. So, we should just dig many, many graves.

You can read the story here.

03:30 GMT  China reports fourth day with no local transmission of coronavirus

China has reported its fourth day in a row without any local transmission of coronavirus. The seven cases announced on Thursday were all imported from overseas, according to state media.

Chinese mainland reports 7 new #COVID19 cases, all from overseas, the fourth consecutive day with no new domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases. more: https://t.co/FxsW8E1Wmp pic.twitter.com/WUWxG7VrBY  CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) August 20, 2020

03:00 GMT  Australias Victoria reports 240 new cases, 13 deaths

The Australian state of Victoria has reported 240 new cases of coronavirus over the past 24 hours, up slightly on the 216 announced on Wednesday.

It also reported 13 deaths.

The state is the epicentre of a new wave of the outbreak in Australia and its capital city, Melbourne, has been locked down with a curfew imposed.

#COVID19VicData for 20 August 2020. 240 new cases of #coronavirus (#COVID19) were detected in Victoria yesterday. Sadly we report 13 deaths from the virus. More information later today. pic.twitter.com/fiQChvG3Oh  VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) August 19, 2020

01:55 GMT  South Korea reports seventh day of triple-digit cases

South Korea has reported its seventh consecutive day of triple-digit cases, with the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirming 288 cases  276 locally acquired  in the past 24 hours.

Many of the cases have been traced to churches in Seoul, but an increasing number are appearing elsewhere in the country, including in the cities of Busan, Daejeon and Gwangju.

The largest cluster is linked to the Sarang Jeil Church in northern Seoul.

01:40 GMT  China state media defends Wuhan pool party

Chinas state media has come to the defence of a theme park in Wuhan which hosted a massive music festival and pool party over the weekend and raised concern about COVID-19 when pictures and videos were widely shared overseas.

The Global Times said the packed event was a sign of life returning to normal in a city that spent 76 days in lockdown and accused critics of sour grapes. The virus first appeared in Wuhan late last year.

Criticizing #Wuhan residents for having fun at water park music festival shows foreign sour grapes. People should reflect on why their countries' epidemic control failed rather than smear Wuhan people and their hard-won victory over #coronavirus https://t.co/NJVBmxLiHk https://t.co/BRQBJvZtoe  Global Times (@globaltimesnews) August 19, 2020

VIDEO:  Crowds packed out a water park over the weekend in the central Chinese city of #Wuhan, where the #coronavirus first emerged late last year, keen to party as the city edges back to normal life pic.twitter.com/SJFBmx5sU8  AFP news agency (@AFP) August 17, 2020

01:15 GMT  Qantas posts $1.4bn loss amid pandemic restructuring

Australian airline Qantas says it had a loss of 1.96 billion Australian dollars ($1.4bn) in the financial year ended June 30, as a result of restructuring and accounting charges linked to the pandemic.

Chief Executive Alan Joyce said business conditions were the worst in the carriers 100-year history with international flights suspended and domestic routes hampered by border closures within Australia.

Joyce added that international flights were unlikely to resume until a vaccine was widely available, which might not be until late next year.

00:30 GMT  Harris says Trump failure on coronavirus cost US lives

Kamala Harris will accuse US President Donald Trump of a failure of leadership during the coronavirus pandemic that has cost countless lives and jobs, when she accepts the Democratic Partys nomination to be their candidate for vice president at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday night (US time).

Harris will also attack Trumps abilities and character, according to excerpts released to news agencies.

Trumps incompetence makes us feel afraid [and] the callousness makes us feel alone.

The US has recorded the most cases and the most deaths from coronavirus of any country in the world.

You can keep up-to-date with all the developments from the convention, which is being held online, here.

Vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris will accuse incumbent President Donald Trump of a failure of leadership when she formally accepts the Democratic Party nomination on Wednesday night (US time) [Carlos Barria/Reuters]

00:15 GMT  Trump touts convalescent plasma as coronavirus treatment

US President Donald Trump is touting the use of convalescent plasma as a treatment for coronavirus, saying he has heard fantastic things about it.

Trump made his comments after the New York Times reported that the Food and Drug Administration had put on hold emergency approval for the treatment because of concerns the data on plasma use was too weak.

The president, who is facing re-election in November, claimed the decision could be political.

You have a lot of people over there that dont want to rush things because they want to do it after November 3, Trump said, referring to the election.

Ive heard numbers way over 50 percent success. And people are dying and we should have it approved if its good and Im hearing its good. I hear from people at the FDA its good.

The blood plasma of people who recover from COVID-19 contains antibodies that were created to fight off the infection. It has been used in some countries including China to help other patients battling the disease.

00:00 GMT  Cautious optimism in Brazil as study shows transmission rate below one

Brazils Health Ministry says there are signs the coronavirus outbreak in the country  the worlds second-worst  could be about to slow down.

The number of confirmed cases dropped to 304,684 last week, compared with a peak of 319,653 in the week ending July 25. The number of deaths reported on a weekly basis has also fallen to 6,755 from a peak of 7,677 in the last week of July.

A study by Imperial College London also shows Brazils transmission rate has fallen below one, according to local media. That means each person diagnosed with the disease will infect fewer than one person, which will slow the outbreak.

In a way, it is a trend. We have to see how the disease behaves in the next two weeks to see if there is a significant drop, Arnaldo Medeiros, Secretary of Health Surveillance, told reporters on Wednesday.

Daily figures continue to show a steady rise in cases and deaths with the country registering a total of 3,456,652 cases of the disease and 111,100 deaths.

-

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 19) here.
JERUSALEM Israeli police dispersed dozens of protesters outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus official residence on Thursday ahead of a planned rally by supporters of the Israeli leader.

Some of the protesters, including a former head of the Shin Bet internal security service, chained themselves to roadblocks before police unbound them and dragged them away.

Clearing part of the encampment is a violent act against the protesters, Carmi Gillon, the former Shin Bet chief, was quoted as saying by the Haaretz newspaper. The right to protest is a right I will not allow to be taken away from me.

He raised his arms as he was led away, showing what appeared to be bruises and scrapes.

Protesters have staged a series of demonstrations this summer calling on Netanyahu to resign over corruption charges and criticizing the governments handling of the coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout.

Police have clashed with protesters on a number of occasions and used water cannons to clear them off of main streets and squares, though in recent weeks the gatherings have been calmer.

Netanyahu has vowed to remain in office despite being charged last year with bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three long-running corruption investigations. He has rejected the allegations as a witch hunt and lashed out at the judiciary, law enforcement and media.

He has also faced anger over the governments response to the coronavirus outbreak, which has worsened since authorities abruptly lifted a nationwide lockdown in May.

Israel has reported more than 98,000 cases, including 789 deaths, since the pandemic began. The economy, meanwhile, has struggled, with unemployment remaining over 20% despite the reopening of most businesses.

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
VLCC orders continue ( ) Newbuilding VLCCs were again making the news this week.



ClassNK updates rules ( ) ClassNK has released an updated edition of its Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships.




Russia will not stop cooperating with Iran in defiance of US threats of sanctions, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Thursday.

"We are guided exclusively by our own interests, our obligations and international law," Ryabkov was quoted by RIA Novosti news agency as saying.

On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo threatened to punish those countries that oppose its effort to re-impose sanctions on Iran.

Russia condemns US intentions to restore United Nations (UN) sanctions against Iran, Ryabkov said.

It is regrettable that as a result of Washington's irresponsible actions, the UN Security Council is plunging into a very serious crisis, which distracts the Security Council from working on a wide range of issues within its mandate and creates certain political and psychological tensions, he said.

Despite Washington's latest moves on Iran, Russia will continue to cooperate with the United States because without dialogue the situation could become even worse, Ryabkov said.

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A virtual reality simulation system costing 300,000 is being trialled by the Royal Air Force (RAF) in an effort to make combat training more immersive and realistic.

The 'first-person shooter' -style combat game is being developed under contract with the UK Ministry of Defence by the veteran-run software company SimCentric.

The simulation software  dubbed 'SAF-TAC'  is built on top of Epic Games' Unreal Engine 4, which also powers the popular video games Fortnite and Borderlands 3.

SAF-TAC features bespoke training scenarios, high-definition surround sound, high-fidelity graphics, haptic feedback and intuitive gesture-based controls.

SAF-TAC will also be put through tests this year with members of the British Army and the Royal Marines, alongside the air force.

It is intended that the virtual simulator will become a routine part of the armed forces' wider training programme to support and enhance real-life exercises.

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A virtual reality simulation system costing 300,000, pictured, is being trialled by the Royal Air Force in an effort to help make combat training be more immersive and realistic

The 'first-person shooter' -style combat game, pictured, is being developed under contract with the RAF by the veteran-run software company SimCentric

'As a veteran and current reservist, Im proud to help train the armed forces of the future,' said SimCentric's director of innovation, Tom Constable, formerly of the British Army air corps.

'I joined the British Army in 2006 and later served in Afghanistan,' he explained.

'This gave me a passion for building technology that will reduce the risk to our armed forces and improve the quality of training.'

SimCentric's work, he added, has 'the ultimate aim of saving lives.'

According to the RAF, it is 'crucial' that they keep up with the acceleration in technological developments  both to understand their current capabilities, but also to make such fit their evolving training needs.

SimCentric's combat simulator has already been trialled by the air force's Training Wing, which is based out of RAF Honington in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

Sargent R.E. Minshall of Training Wing's Training Support Squadron said that the trial of the combat simulator had 'allowed [him] to gain further understanding of how we can incorporate VR into training.'

'With the given opportunity to have input from the instructors on the trial, it will make for a system that is fit for our needs.'

'I am looking forward to seeing this become incorporated into out training in the future.'

'I can see its many of benefits being used to enhance the training that Training Wing provides to all phases.'

It is intended that the virtual simulator will become a routine part of the armed forces' wider training programme to support and enhance real-life exercises. Pictured, an RAF member trials SimCentric's virtual reality combat simulator

The simulation software, pictured  dubbed 'SAF-TAC'  is built on top of Epic Games' Unreal Engine 4, which also powers the popular video games Fortnite and Borderlands 3

SAF-TAC will also be put through tests this year with members of the British Army and the Royal Marines, alongside the air force. Pictured, air force members trial the simulator

The tests of the SAF-TAC combat simulator come amid a wider push by the British Armed Forces towards virtual war gaming.

According to the Financial Times, defence chiefs have tasked software firm Improbable to create a digital replica of Britain, with the aim of testing the country's resilience to future pandemics, natural disasters and attacks from hostile nations.

'This would have been really useful in understanding the spread of the pandemic, [...] of measures taken to inhibit it and improving public communications,' said former head of Britains joint forces command, Richard Barrons.

'We still need one for whatever [crisis] happens next.'

The 'single synthetic environment'  which will marry maps of geographical terrain with those of critical infrastructure like fuel, power and water supplies  will be used to simulate disaster scenarios with the aid of artificial intelligence.

Future simulations could also include realistic reconstructions of overseas combat arenas  and, in fact, one of Improbable's prototypes is based on a Baltic country, the Financial Times reported.

They added that the Ministry of Defence has already invested 25 million in contract with the software development firm.
India will launch a new cargo ferry service to the Maldives, which will link Kochi and Tuticorin with Male, in the third week of September to further bolster bilateral trade relations.

A vessel operated by the Shipping Corporation of India, capable of carrying 200 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) or containers and 3,000 tonnes of general cargo, will be used for the service, the Indian high commission in the Maldives said in a tweet on Thursday.

The turnaround time for the cargo ferry service will be 10 days, the high commission said.

Sea-connectivity for prosperity! A direct Cargo Ferry Service connecting #Kochi/#Tuticorin with #Male will be flagged off [from India] in the 3rd week of Sep, the mission tweeted, adding the service will fulfil a commitment made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the Maldives in June 2019.

It is expected to revolutionise bilateral trade linkages & support dvpt. of the northern atolls with extension of the service to #Kulhudhuffushi in future, the mission said in another tweet.

The launch of the ferry service was discussed during a virtual meeting between external affairs minister S Jaishankar and his Maldives counterpart Abdulla Shahid on August 13.

During the same meeting, India unveiled a $500-million package to help the Maldives build a connectivity project linking its capital Male with three islands, and provided $250 million as budgetary support to help the Indian Ocean archipelago cope with the Covid-19 crisis.

People familiar with developments said the direct cargo ferry service will be an opportunity for India to replace other countries and become the top trade partner of the Maldives. Exports from India had registered a relative increase amid the Covid-19 pandemic, making the country the second largest exporter to the Maldives, the people said.

With many bilateral projects slated to commence in the next few months, this is the right time to start a cargo ferry service with the Maldives, said one of the people cited above.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rezaul H Laskar Rezaul H Laskar is the Foreign Affairs Editor at Hindustan Times. His interests include movies and music. ...view detail
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 20)  Close to three million coronavirus cases in the Philippines may have gone undetected, according to a non-peer-reviewed academic paper published on the website of Ateneo de Manila University.

Using epidemiological and statistical modeling to estimate underreporting in the Philippines, researcher Jan Frederick Cruz found that COVID-19 cases in the Philippines from April to June may have been 2,812,891 instead of the reported 34,354. Cruz said this means that only 1.22 percent of the infections were detected during that time.

We looked at a methodology from an established paper, trying to compute for underreporting in industrial economies that became major epicenters of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cruz said in an interview with CNN Philippines on Thursday.

Cruzs paper also looked into the COVID-19 situation in four other Southeast Asian states using the same computations and methodology employed to determine the prevalence of the coronavirus in the Philippines.

His analysis revealed that 96 to 99 percent of infections in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore in the second quarter of the year may have been unconfirmed, with his calculations suggesting that Indonesia missed the most cases among the five Southeast Asian countries. But he pointed out that the high ballpark figure for Indonesia may be due to its high population, which is more than double than that of the Philippines.

According to Cruz, there was a delay in government intervention that led to the outcome the Philippines is facing. Travel restrictions were first placed in Metro Manila midnight of March 15, and travel ban was first imposed in February for people coming from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau.

For the Philippines, an estimated 98 percent of the infections were not discovered during the second quarter of the year, he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Thailand may have had 89,357 infections instead of the reported 1,520, and Malaysias estimated cases may have reached 158,237, contrary to the official tally of 6,011.

The five economies in Southeast Asia are collectively referred to as ASEAN-5 in the research paper.

Derivation

Cruz computed what he calls his crude estimates by multiplying the number of reported infections with the value derived from dividing the case fatality ratio or CFR of a country by the CFR of Singapore.

Singapore was used as a baseline since it has the lowest CFR among the ASEAN-5 countries.

Cruz also noted that the CFR does not account for those who did not undergo medical diagnosis because of either immediate recovery or non-showing of serious symptoms that would necessitate formal treatment.

"Given this assumption, the product of said ratio and the reported cases in country n is a ballpark estimate of the true extent of viral infection in that country, inclusive of underreported cases," he added.

The equation was adopted from the peer-reviewed studies published by Hien Lau and other researchers, he explained.

The researcher warned that the conservative figures create a false sense of complacency within the community in terms of the spread of COVID-19 and may reduce the urgency to act among public and private stakeholders and key decision-makers.

He added that low detection rates undermine government efforts to formulate effective, comprehensive, and credible public health and economic policies.

Test, trace, isolate

The findings, according to the author, reinforce the recommendation of the World Health Organization to test, trace and isolate, and for the government to devote resources to do these to avoid long-term health and economic distress.

He also said that the overarching goal of this research is to use the ballpark figures to dramatize the urgency of a mass testing policy in the Philippines.

Not appropriate to compare different health systems

Meanwhile, the Department of Health said it is incorrect to compare the country's health care system to others because of different capacities.

In a televised briefing, Health Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said Thailand has a very organized primary health care system and facilities for tourism. Singapore, even with a small population, has adequate services.

"Hindi naman po sa dinidiskwento natin ang Pilipinas, meron din po tayo naman. Kaya lang yun sa atin kasi, we are decentralized, and we have the different facilities na meron pong pakakaiba-iba ng kakayanan across the whole country... Now if you compare it with the numbers right now, tapos hindi po natin isasama yung kapasidad ng isang bansa, parang hindi naman po appropriate din yun." she said.

[Translation: We are not discounting the Philippines, because we do have facilities. But we are decentralized, and we have different facilities that have different capabilities across the whole country...

Now if you compare it with the numbers right now, and then not include the capacity of a country, that doesn't seem to be appropriate.]

If we want to make a policy based on evidence, we have to make sure that at least the information that we are using is reflective of the true situation, Cruz said, adding that the government should ideally test five to ten percent of the population.
- The UN recognised the difficult circumstances in which the humanitarian workers discharge their duties

- To honour them, the UN General Assembly set aside August 19 as the World Humanitarian Day

- This was in memory of 22 workers killed in the 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad

- Among the nine individual was Kenya's Umar Omar and Isaac Otieno

- Omar is the founder of a mobile doctors unit that offers basic medical care to more than 17 villages in Lamu

- Otieno is in charge of seven education departments in South Sudan

As the world marked the 11th humanitarian day on Tuesday, August 19, the United Nations (UN) honoured 19 individuals from 16 countries for their work.

Among them were two Kenyans, Umar Omar from Lamu and Isaac Otieno, for their outstanding humanitarian work.

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Umar Omar is the founder of a mobile doctors unit that offers basic medical care every. Photo: Daily Nation.

Source: UGC

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Daily Nation reported the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) termed the two and the others as dedicated people.

Self-sacrifice of these real-life heroes represents the best of humanity as they respond to the COVID-19 crisis and the massive increase in humanitarian needs it has triggered, it said.

The OCHA, which coordinates global emergency response recognised the difficult circumstances in which the humanitarian workers discharge their duties.

To honour them, the UN General Assembly set aside August 19 as the World Humanitarian Day in memory of 22 workers killed in the 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad.

READ ALSO: Alexei Navalny: Russian opposition leader hospitalised after suspected poisoning

Omar is the founder of a mobile doctors unit that offers basic medical care every month to hundreds of people in more than 17 villages in Lamu.

She responded to the need of people in rural areas who are often ignored and side-lined by the Kenyan health system.

She came back to Kenya in 2014 from the United States where she lived and worked just a few months after Al-Shabaab terror attacks that had rocked Lamu county.

She learnt that a medical project that was supporting the community had since stopped operating and decided to revived it.

READ ALSO: Mali coup: Colonel Assimi Goita declares himself new military leader after Keita's ouster

For a year, Omar had to raise KSh 50,000 to pay a nurse and fuel a motorbike used in the project.

She said since vaccines and medicines were available, her task now was to get someone to go round administering them.

I did that for a whole year, she said.

Two years later, the project became Safari Doctors which delivered primary medical care and health education by boat, air and land to Bajuni and Aweer, two minority communities in Lamu.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Disabled school director moves into his office, hawks sweets to make ends meet

In 2016, Omar was even named a CNN hero for her work.

I think humanitarian work needs to stop being a by the way thing. It should be something that we are living as the norm, she said.

On the other hand, Otieno, who works in South Sudan is in charge of seven education departments in the war-torn country.

Through his programmes, he has promoted children going to school offering them psychological support as well as food.

READ ALSO: Skilled woman wows social media with her simulated airplane restaurant

He is said to have gone to South Sudan as a humanitarian worker in 2015 and was struck with how the country was struggling to pull itself together after the 2013 war.

After returning to Kenya, he realised he wanted to do something for the most vulnerable people and founded an organisation.

That is a typical South Sudanese community  they are not dependent, they want to drive things forward, Otieno was quoted by Daily Nation.

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
Parents and education experts in Armenia are questioning the wisdom of the latest decision of the government to reopen schools in September with a number of coronavirus-related safety measures put in place to avoid major outbreaks of the disease.

Shushan Doydoyan, a mother of four school-age children, considers the re-opening of schools with restrictions imposed by the Ministry of Education ineffective.

In all schools re-opening on September 15 students will have to wear face masks during classes, schools will have to provide disinfectants, and classrooms will need to be disinfected every day before and after classes. Instead of five days, lessons will be held six days a week to reduce class hours. There will be a maximum of 20 students in classrooms and classes will be held in two shifts. Less time spent by children at schools will also help keep school canteens closed, authorities say.

A decision that is detached from the needs of the public has been made. No one has asked the opinion of parents or teachers. The public has not been involved in the making of these decisions at all, Doydoyan complained.

She believes that proper control over the safety measures at schools is impossible. In any case, they are children. Without parental supervision and with one teacher for more than 10 children, it is simply impossible to properly monitor how correctly and safely they wear masks, because a mask protects only if worn correctly and safely. If you constantly touch it with dirty hands, if you drop it on the floor and then put it back on your face, it is fraught with unpredictable health problems, Dodoyan said.

Samvel Martirosian, a teacher at the Aregnazan educational complex attended by about 400 students, expects chaos to reign in schools after September 15.

The educational process will be very difficult for teachers considering that they will have to go to work also on Saturdays. There is a big question about whether it is a wise decision. I believe that in a month or two teachers will simply start running out of steam. I think that the situation will descend into chaos unless mistakes are addressed and new solutions are found along the way, Martirosian said.

Education specialist Serob Khachatrian believes that the introduction of a six-day school week increases the risks for those students and parents who use public transport. He suggests that schools be reopened for only students in grades 1-6, while students of higher grades should continue to study online.

If the duration of the lesson is shortened, say, to 25-30 minutes, then in this case the question will again arise: which is better  to go to school for a 25-minute lesson or conduct a 45-minute lesson remotely? he said.

The specialist also thinks that intervals between lessons should be made at different times for different classrooms so that children could leave classrooms. A lot of aggression may accumulate in children if they are kept in classrooms during class breaks, Khachatrian said.

Pediatrician Mari Darakchian said that children attending schools should have their body temperature measured properly, schools must have a certain supply of masks and teachers must have special training to work with children in such conditions.

If correct psychological work is carried out with children, they will wear masks with great pleasure. In the lower grades it can be done through play, for older children, of course, it should be done through explanatory work, Darakchian said.

Earlier this week Education Minister Arayik Harutiunian stressed that wearing face masks is the best way to prevent the spread of infection in schools and the more properly masks are worn, the more likely it is that these restrictions will be removed in the near future.

Armenia has recorded more than 42,000 coronavirus cases and 833 deaths since the start of the epidemic. In recent weeks, however, the countrys heath authorities have been reporting a decreasing number of new COVID-19 cases and fatalities.

The current state of emergency in Armenia that was first introduced in March and led to the closure of all schools ends on September 11. The government has indicated that it will not seek its extension unless the coronavirus situation takes a turn for the worse.
Jackson suffered through attacks in the 1828 election on his wife, Rachel, who it was said  apparently with some justification by historians  had not yet divorced her first husband before marrying Jackson. She died of a heart attack after Election Day but before Jacksons inauguration, and at her funeral, the president-elect blamed his campaign opponents for her death. "May God Almighty forgiver her murderers, as I know she forgave them," he said. "I never can."

While social media may have energized todays political exchanges  for good or bad  use and abuse of new means of communication are not new, either. In the presidential election of 1928, eventual winner Herbert Hoover ran against three-term N.Y. Gov. Al Smith, the first Catholic to be nominated by either major party. Smiths religion was a major factor in the campaign, just three years after the Ku Klux Klan held a major parade in the streets of Washington, D.C.
A human rights group, Initiative for the Downtrodden, has written a petition to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, reporting how a French citizen ordered the arrest of a woman after a failed attempt to rape her.

The French citizen named Gueho Benoit, attempted to rape one Mrs Ukpoji in his house on Saturday before security guards rescued her.

According to the petition, the womans husband works as a driver for Bourbon Inter Oil Nigeria Limited, Ikoyi, Lagos, while the wife works as a steward for Benoit and they both live in the accommodation provided by the company.

The group stated that Benoit summoned the victim and made moves to rape her but the woman was able to fight back and cry out for help.

Having lured the wife into his apartment under the guise of reporting the husbands attitude, Benoit then sexually harassed, assaulted, abused, molested and brutalised the wife to the extent of striping her half-naked upon her refusal to surrender.

The woman screamed very hard before the security officers on duty and others came to rescue her by forcing the door open.

He was caught in the act fully naked and the wife half-naked, Comrade Kenpeacemaker Onojah, President of Initiative for the Downtrodden, narrated.

He added that after so many pleas, Benoit was freed while the victim reported the matter to the oil company.

He, however, stated that on Sunday, police officers stormed the home of the victim to brutalise her.

Benoit pleaded and promised that he would pay N200,000 to the victims as compensation. The victims immediately reported the matter to the Bourbon Inter Oil Company via the Personal Assistant to the Managing Director, who assured the victims of justice and that the management had already commenced the managerial investigative steps into the matter, he added.
President Donald Trump praised the supporters of QAnon, a convoluted, pro-Trump conspiracy theory, and suggested he appreciates their support of his candidacy.

Speaking during a press conference at the White House on Wednesday, Trump courted the support of those who put stock in the conspiracy theory, saying, I heard that these are people that love our country. It was his first public comment on the subject.

QAnon has ricocheted around the darker corners of the internet since late 2017, but has been creeping into mainstream politics more and more. The baseless theory centers on an alleged anonymous, high-ranking government official known as Q who shares information about an anti-Trump deep state often tied to satanism and child sex trafficking.

Trump insisted he hadnt heard much about the movement, other than I understand they like me very much and it is gaining in popularity. Trump has retweeted QAnon-promoting accounts, and shirts and hats with QAnon symbols and slogans are not uncommon at his rallies.

Pressed on QAnon theories that Trump is allegedly saving the nation from a satanic cult of child sex traffickers, Trump claimed ignorance, but asked, Is that supposed to be a bad thing? If I can help save the world from problems, Im willing to do it, Trump said.

Trumps comments came a week after he endorsed Marjorie Taylor Greene, who won her GOP House primary runoff in Georgia last week. Greene called the QAnon conspiracy theory something worth listening to and paying attention to and called Q a patriot. Trump praised her as a future Republican Star. Trump has a long history of advancing false and sometimes racist conspiracies, including last week, when he gave credence to a highly criticized op-ed that questioned Democrat Kamala Harris eligibility to serve as vice president even though she was born in Oakland, California.

Asked about the matter, Trump told reporters he had heard rumors that Harris, a Black woman and US-born citizen whose parents were immigrants, does not meet the requirement to serve in the White House. The president said he considered the rumors very serious, but later he and his campaign indicated they were not making an issue of the claim. Constitutional lawyers have dismissed it as nonsense.
Top negotiators from China and the United States at trade talks in Beijing on March 29, 2019.

The U.S. and China have agreed to go back to the negotiating table in the coming days to review the progress of their "phase one" trade deal, according to the Chinese commerce ministry.

Both sides will hold the "discussion over the phone," the ministry said. It comes after talks scheduled for last Saturday were postponed due to a scheduling conflict, according to Reuters.

Spokespersons for the U.S. Treasury and Office of the U.S. Trade Representative were not immediately available when contacted by CNBC.

The "phase one" trade deal, signed in January, paused a damaging trade war between the world's two largest economies that involved retaliatory tariffs being slapped on billions of dollars worth of goods.
ALBANY, N.Y, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Rise in demand for wheeled mobility devices among people suffering some sort of disability has led manufacturers to aim at constant technology advances. They are aiming at offering better pneumatics in wheelchairs. They are also incorporating robotics to make them more collaborative and autonomous to use with their caregivers, making them easy to operate.

Analysts at TMR project the wheelchairs market to reach worth of US$ 6,253.6 mn by 2026-end.

Institutional users such as government organization, clinics, charities, and hospitals are aiming at meeting the autonomous mobility needs of elderly patient populations.

Government of developing countries have also increased their initiatives to have access to assistive devices to the affected population.

Request for Analysis of COVID-19 Impact on Wheelchairs Market https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/covid19.php

Key Findings of Wheelchairs Market Report

Of the various products, power segment held the dominating share in 2017

Among the various end users in the wheelchairs market, personal use segment held the leading share in 2017

Institutional use is a promising segment and is expected to remain so through 2026

Geographically, North America was the leading market in 2017

was the leading market in 2017 Asia Pacific market is expected to rise at remarkable pace during 2018  2026

market is expected to rise at remarkable pace during 2018  2026 Among the various functions, standard segment held a major market share in 2017.

Explore pages of top-notch research and insights on Wheelchairs Market (Product - Manual, Powered; Function - Standard, Bariatric, Sports; End use - Institutional Use, Personal Use) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2018  2026 at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/60672

Wheelchairs Market: Key Driving Factors and Promising Avenues

Rising incidence of wheelchairs due to prevalence of autoimmune diseases in baby boomers is a key trend bolstering the prospects in the wheelchairs market. A prominent case in point is North America .

. Prevalence of lifestyle diseases and osteoporosis has led to large demand for mobility devices. The trend is prevalent especially in Asia Pacific .

. Rising demand for technologically advanced wheelchairs has increased substantially in developing regions. Changing demographics has been a key factor behind the growing demand.

Growing population globally who are suffering with spine injury, and rheumatoid arthritis has boosted the prospects of the wheelchairs market.

The market is also receiving momentum from a growing body of multidisciplinary studies on the utility of smart wheelchairs to improve the life of disabled patient population.

New technologies have come to the fore. For instance, pneumatically powered waterproof powered system has gained some attention among patients and caregivers.

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Wheelchairs Market: Regional Assessment

Among the various regions in the wheelchairs market, North America is a vastly lucrative market. Rise in non-institutionalized users in countries such as the U.S. has boosted the demand for autonomous wheeled mobility devices. Not just these users, non-institutional segment is also rising at promising pace in the regional market. Prevalence of autoimmune diseases has also helped reinforce the revenue potential of the regional market.

Asia Pacific is expected to be a strikingly lucrative market during the forecast period. The opportunities in the regional market is driving is the demand for power mobility devices among geriatrics. The regional population has seen the availability of low cost devices. In addition, the affordability for these devices has also increased.

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Wheelchairs Market: Competitive Landscape Assessment

Most players in the wheelchairs market are leaning on integrating their products with robotics. Manufacturers are also focusing on the safety aspect in the path of product innovations. They take into account users' and caregivers' feedback.

Some of the promising players in the wheelchairs market are Karman Healthcare, GF Health Products Inc., Medical Depot, Inc., Pride Mobility Products Corp, Ottobock, Sunrise Medical LLC, and Invacare Corporation.

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The Wheelchairs Market can be segmented as follows:

Product

Manual

Powered

Function

Standard

Bariatric

Sports

Others

End-user

Institutional Use

Personal Use

Region

North America

U.S



Canada

Europe

U.K.



Germany



France



Italy



Spain



Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

India



China



Japan



Australia & New Zealand

&

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil



Mexico



Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

& South Africa



GCC Countries



Rest of Middle East & Africa

Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Healthcare Industry:

Personal Mobility Devices Market: The global personal mobility devices market is estimated to generate ~ US$ 11 Bn revenue in 2019, and is expected to expand at a CAGR of ~ 7% during the forecast period, increase in the geriatric population and large population suffering from physical disabilities are projected to boost the growth of the global market during the forecast period

Durable Medical Equipment Market: According to the report, the global durable medical equipment (DME) market was valued at US$ 153.1 Bn in 2018 and is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 6.2% from 2019 to 2027, increasing number of people with one or more disabilities, rising government initiatives in preventive health care programs are projected to drive the global market during the forecast period

Mobility Aid Devices Market: The global mobility aid devices market is projected to reach US$ 13,826.1 Mn by 2026, expanding at a single digit CAGR during the forecast period. Increase in the geriatric population fuels the growth of the global mobility aid devices market. Moreover, economic growth, increase in adoption of technologically advanced products such as advanced powered wheelchairs for activities are expected to propel the Market

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Authorities have identified two Jefferson County men as suspects in a weekend shooting at Alabama State University.

Central Alabama Crime Stoppers on Thursday identified the suspects as Willie Smith Jr., 17, of Fultondale, and Rodrick Lawhorn Jr., 19, of McCalla. Both face possible charges of reckless endangerment, said Crime Stoppers Executive Director Tony Garrett.

The shooting happened at 11:40 p.m. Saturday in the Acadome parking lot, police said. The victims included one ASU student and two others who were not students. All three suffered minor injuries, said ASUs Director of Public Safety Kelvin Kendrick. The student was treated and released from the hospital.

The schools Department of Public Safety on Monday released photos of the two males in hopes of getting the publics help in identifying them. Smith turned himself in for questioning on Wednesday, Garrett said, but Lawhorn has not yet made himself available to authorities.

The investigation is ongoing.
Parts of Ireland were hit with severe flooding late on Wednesday, August 19, and into the following day as Storm Ellen brought strong winds and high tides to coastal towns, reports said.

Numerous power outages were reported, as well as reports of severe flooding in West Cork, Echo Live reported.

Met Eireann issued a Status Red warning for very severe and destructive winds, with rain bringing a risk of flooding.

This video shows the storm lashing the seaside town of Blackrock in County Louth. Local reports warned residents of the risk of flooding and potential traffic disruption as Ellen continued to batter Ireland Thursday. Credit: Ventis Jansons via Storyful
Below is the transcript of a First On CNBC interview with Alan Joyce, CEO, Qantas. If you choose to use anything, please attribute to CNBC, Martin Soong, Sri Jegarajah and Will Koulouris.

Martin Soong (MS): Mr Joyce, a pleasure having you with us, and appreciate your time, and hope you're keeping safe. There's so many things to talk to you about  update us on the cost cutting, first off.

Alan Joyce (AJ): Yeah, well, obviously the big driver for all of us at the moment is COVID-19. And it impacted us by $4 billion in revenue in the last financial year, a $1.2 billion at the underlying level, we still made a slight profit at the underlying level. And as a result of COVID-19, we've now launched a recovery plan, a restructuring plan that involves us making 20% of our workforce redundant, standing down 15,000 people for maybe up to a year, and dramatically changing a lot of what we do. We're probably in one of the best positions of any airline group in the world, and we're burning less than $40 million a week in total cash, and that includes financing and reinvesting costs. And we've raised our nearly 2 billion in debt and a billion and a half in equity. So, we have four and a half billion on liquidity. So, we have enough bandwidth to get through 21 and well into 22.

MS: Alright, let me push a little bit harder on the cost of cuts, if I could, Mr. Joyce here. Three-year plan - you're hoping or wanting or planning to cut a staggering $15 billion out of your costs. Can you say confidently that you are on track to hit that number?

AJ: Yes, so a large element of that is not flying because we're grounding the aircraft and putting them into long term storage, like the A380s. The ongoing benefits that we believe we will have by financial year 23 is a billion dollars of cost reductions out of our cost base. And we think we need to do that because the environment is going to be very different, post-COVID. We're going to go into probably a massive recession worldwide. We're probably going to be in a position where competition is a bit different, where there will be opportunities and challenges for us. So, getting that annual billion-dollar cost reduction is very important to us. And we have a track record of delivering on this. In 2013, we did a restructure of the group back then we have plans to get 2 billion and cost savings on an annual basis we delivered or over delivered on that. And it led to a period of really strong profits on Qantas, and nearly over $4 billion of return to shareholders once we implemented that strategy. It's an aggressive plan but our track record is we do deliver on these.

Sri Jegarajah (SJ): Alan, when do you reckon the dividend is going to come back? Because your announcement today from the board said distribution to shareholders is going to be essentially frozen. When could you restore it?

AJ: So obviously the first base that we have to do is making sure we get back to a positive cash flow position. We have to make sure that we're in a position where we strengthen our balance sheet post-COVID. Then once we are there, we've got a financial framework that is very clear and that we have surplus capital available. We give it back to shareholders. We've been very disciplined in doing that. As I said, over the last five or six years, we've given 4 billion back to shareholders in that period of time. And once the group has recovered, it's in a position that has strengthened its balance sheet, it's starting to grow again, because we think our investment opportunities as well that we want to balance out, then we look at reinstating the dividend.

SJ: Alan, the future of flying in a post COVID era. Is it looking more regional to you and if so, how are you going to be tailoring the fleet accordingly for this new normal? And can you give us a line on Project Sunrise as well? Is that categorically a no go now given the current environment?

AJ: Oh, yeah, it's interesting. We're doing as you can imagine a lot of research of our customers and 95% of Qantas' customer base is saying that they want to fly again in the next year. There's a huge interest in domestic firms. So, people want to see family and friends taking the domestic holiday. And we think given that most of our profits used to come from Qantas domestic and Jetstar, that's a real positive for us. That in the domestic Australia market, we think we'll do exceptionally well, particularly because our competitive position is really strong now, a major competitor that's going on into administration and come out of it differently, or even internationally. A lot of our customers and Aussie's love traveling around the globe and say that they want to get back and fly internationally. And I can say, you know, some of the borders opening recently showed us a massive pent up demand. So, some routes that we have open today like Brisbane to Cairns or in Queensland, we're now getting more traffic on that route at nearly eight flights a day than we had pre-COVID-19 because the borders open. So, we were very confident that there is demand, there's pent up demand, and that we should be able to benefit from that domestically. And internationally, we think we'll take a bit of time to recover. So, we in financial year 22, we're only expected to get 50% of our international operation back. And we're thinking we'll take three years before we can get our A380s back in the air. And then when we do, we'll start getting back to pre-COVID-19 levels.

Will Koulouris (WK): Now, Alan, you had an exceptional result when it did come to your frequent flyer loyalty program, underlying EBIT 341 million, but I want to ask you about how you're functioning when it does come to that, because a lot of people can't travel right now, because there's 13.4 million people, a lot of people focus on those status credits. Is there any thought of perhaps easing off that support mechanism that you've got currently in place and just waiving off this entirely, considering many people aren't just going to be able to get back to travel?

AJ: Yeah, so we have very recently launched an adjustment for all of our frequent fliers, to maintain people status to allow people that still to earn points through all our mechanisms and allow them to redeem points through all mechanisms. And what we've seen is actually the MPS, the customer satisfaction, loyalty has reached record levels. And a lot of our earnings through loyalty come from other businesses now - it's very diversified. Credit cards and credit card expenditure is a big part of it. The fact 33% of all credit card expenditure in Australia is on the Qantas points earning credit cards. We have a health insurance business, a life insurance business, we have a range of new businesses that are performing very well. So that's helped us very different from a lot of other airlines. It gives us the first revenue stream and we're very conscious of keeping that engagement with our customers. And the research is telling us that the frequent fliers will initially want to use the points domestically when the borders opened up but giving them access to hotels for points and other ways of using those points. And in fact, some of our ways, like the Qantas Wine Club, has gone through the roof and people using the points to get wine. So, we know that engagement is still very high and will continue to make it very high going forward.

WK: Now, there wasn't a number of government assistance that you did receive you got the 267 million for JobKeeper, 515 million the total. You've had really strong engagement with the government as of yet, but is there anything that perhaps you want or need from the Australian government that you are discussing currently with them that you're hoping to see coming forth over the next couple of months?

AJ: Yeah, we're still talking about the continuation of these programs while the borders are closed. The big one is JobKeeper, which is the way we actually subsidize our people that are stood down, they get the money, the company doesn't get money for those people who are stood down. And that's been unbelievably helpful. And the Prime Minister has extended it to next March, it's helped a lot of people. There are a couple of other programs to help the business. There's a minimal viable network that the government subsidizes. And we have, we're having constructive dialogue with the government about extending that. The big thing we need is about certainly around borders. So at the moment, there's very inconsistent approach between the states about when borders open and when they close, and we're talking to the federal government of the state governments about having a rule based, medical advice based criteria for when the borders open, and when they close. I think that will give certainty to our business for a lot the tourism industry in Australia, which supports a billion jobs. And we need to get that industry back up and working when the program ends, because there's going to be a big, big hit to the economy.

SJ: Alan, are we only really going to see a sustainable and a meaningful recovery in air travel demand once we get a vaccine and effective vaccine, and does imply that we're about 18 months, two years away from that.

AJ: So, I think it'll be different in different parts of the world, like domestically, I think Australia has done very well with suppression of the virus except for the second wave that's occurred and the audience. And the strategy here has always been about suppression and New South Wales, so far, has managed to keep the virus at extremely low levels of cases here, less than 10 a day in recent times. And if that can continue, and then you could see the borders opening up and travel resuming in that environment. And we think we're very optimistic about domestic getting there. For international, it's very clear that there could be borders opening up with countries that are in a similar position from New Zealand and Australia - potentially a bubble may exist there. And the governments are still talking about that, that could happen in early 21, is our view, if we can keep the suppression strategy working in both countries. And then that may expand to other destinations. But some of the big markets like the United States, I think we're going to be dependent on the vaccine, and I think the optimism now is that that's likely to happen maybe in the middle of next year towards the end of next year, could cause some good progress being made on vaccines. Our chief medical officer is a lot more optimistic than he was a couple of months ago.

MS: And Mr Joyce, on a lighter note, I know Sri is very keen to find out how he can get ahold of some of those smoked almonds that you have in your first class online. But before that, though, you know, just over your right shoulder I'm noticing you've got some models of airplanes if I'm not mistaken. I think that's a 787 Dreamliner. You are mothballing pretty much your entire Dreamliner fleet, together with your A380s. And this is over the Mojave Desert in the US. I'm just curious, in terms of cost savings, that's one thing, but how much does it actually cost you to mothball these planes? In the desert, in the sand?

AJ: Yeah, so there is a bit of work in preparing the aircraft for long term storage, which our engineers have done. And then we have a big maintenance base in LA and the engineers drive out to the Mojave Desert to review the aircraft, to look after the aircraft to make sure that they'll be ready when we want to get them back into service. And we have made the decision the A380s are probably the last aircraft we'll put back in the air because they're very big and we don't think the demand will be there for at least three years. And the 787s we're keeping that more flexible, we don't think there'll be a need extensively for them until the middle of next year, or keeping two available if we need to get them in the air. And of course, we have a lot of A330s that can fly internationally. So if international recovers earlier than that, places like New Zealand, we'll have plenty of aircraft that we can operate. But of course, every airline is trying to minimize the amount of cash burn they have at the moment. And making decisions like that help get us to less than $40 million a week, which is one of the best cash burns of any major airline group in the world. And that includes investing cash. So we compare to the some of the other airlines, it's less than 20 million a week. And that gives us a long, long way. And we want a long runway with four and a half billion dollars in liquidity. This gets us all the way through to 2022. And that's important I think for the airlines.

SJ: It's so important to get that first visibility and have that visibility during these very, very challenging market conditions and times, especially for your staff and workers. We wish you all the best, Alan, thank you very much indeed for joining us today. Alan Joyce, the CEO of Qantas.

END

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Former President Barack Obama at a rally for Democratic candidates in Miami in 2018. Associated Press

Former President Barack Obama delivered a forceful endorsement of his former vice president, Joe Biden, on Wednesday during the third night of the Democratic National Convention.

He sharply contrasted Biden's leadership style and qualities with those of President Donald Trump.

"I did hope, for the sake of our country, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously  that he might come to feel the weight of the office and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care," Obama said. "But he never did."

Obama was one of several high-profile Democratic speakers to address the convention, but this year's virtual conference also featured several prominent Republicans.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Former President Barack Obama delivered a forceful endorsement of his former vice president, Joe Biden, on Wednesday during the third night of the Democratic National Convention.

Obama delivered his remarks from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, choosing the location as a means of emphasizing the primary theme of his speech, that America's democracy was in danger.

Americans should expect the president to be a "custodian" of democracy, Obama said.

"At a minimum, we should expect a president to feel a sense of responsibility for the safety and welfare of all 330 million of us, regardless of what we look like, how we worship, who we love, how much money we have, or who we voted for. But we should also expect a president to be the custodian of this democracy," Obama said.

Related: How Kamala Harris compares with Joe Biden

"We should expect that regardless of ego, ambition, or political beliefs the president will preserve, protect, and defend the freedoms and ideals that so many Americans marched for, went to jail for, fought for, and died for."

The former president sharply contrasted Biden's leadership style and qualities with those of President Donald Trump. Obama skewered Trump for his response to the coronavirus pandemic, with the US having recorded nearly 5.5 million infections and more than 171,000 deaths  both the most of any country.

Story continues

Though Obama has largely stayed out of the limelight since leaving the White House and generally avoided criticizing Trump directly, he did not hold back Wednesday night.

"I did hope, for the sake of our country, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously  that he might come to feel the weight of the office and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care. But he never did," Obama said. "For close to four years now, he has shown no interest in putting in the work, no interest in finding common ground, no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends."

The former president wrapped up his speech with a call to action, imploring Americans to vote and stay engaged in the democratic process.

"You can give our democracy new meaning. You can take it to a better place," Obama said. "You're the missing ingredient  the ones who will decide whether or not America becomes the country that fully lives up to its creed."

He continued: "We have to get busy building it up  by pouring all our effort into these 76 days and by voting like never before  for Joe and Kamala, and candidates up and down the ticket, so that we leave no doubt about what this country that we love stands for."

Obama said the Trump administration had "shown it will tear our democracy down if that is what it takes for them to win."

Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) August 20, 2020

Trump responded to Obama's speech with anger via Twitter.

"WHY DID HE REFUSE TO ENDORSE SLOW JOE UNTIL IT WAS ALL OVER, AND EVEN THEN WAS VERY LATE? WHY DID HE TRY TO GET HIM NOT TO RUN?" Trump tweeted.

Obama largely remained on the sidelines of the Democratic primary until it became clear that Biden would be the party's nominee. He formally endorsed his former running mate in April.

This year's Democratic convention featured several themes that sought to bridge the ideological and generational divides between different factions of the Democratic Party. Keynote speakers included Obama, the former first lady Michelle Obama, former Secretary of State John Kerry, former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and former acting Attorney General Sally Yates.

Several Republicans also spoke or appeared at the convention, including former Gov. John Kasich of Ohio, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, former Rep. Susan Molinari of New York, former Gov. Christine Todd Whitman of New Jersey, and Quibi CEO Meg Whitman. Cindy McCain, the widow of Sen. John McCain, also lent her voice to a video tribute about the "unlikely friendship" between Biden and her husband.

Biden formally received the Democratic Party's presidential nomination on Tuesday night; he is scheduled to officially accept it with a speech Thursday night.

Read the original article on Business Insider
DAMASCUS, Syria  Wesam Kanaan tried to get his colleague's father admitted to a hospital in Damascus Aug. 13, but to no avail. The 80-year-old man who had contracted the coronavirus died the following morning.

We received a call from a colleague asking us to help her with her 80-year-old father. He was a coronavirus patient and she felt that he needed to go to a hospital immediately, said Kanaan, a Syrian journalist and writer.

He told Al-Monitor, We reached out to several public and private hospitals, but it was an impossible mission even though we used our contacts from high-profile artists and figures.

The Syrian government claims that the coronavirus cases in the country stood at 1,764 on Aug. 17, with 425 recovered cases and 68 deaths. But many signs indicate that the real numbers are much higher.

The burial bureau in Damascus announced July 29 that 133 people had died in Damascus, compared to 25-35 daily deaths in previous years. In addition, the deputy health director of Damascus implied that in Damascus and rural Damascus the number of coronavirus cases stand at 112,000.

Since doctors and health officials are reluctant to report the real numbers, various officials and public figures are commenting on the uncontrollable situation in the country. Ahmad Rafeh, a well-known actor who was diagnosed with the virus that causes COVID-19 and was treated at a public hospital, said in an Aug. 9 interview that there are about 60 daily deaths related to the virus.

Despite the absence of reliable data, a policy memo released by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) anticipates that the current infection rate could lead to 2 million cases in the country by the end of August.

The policy memo provides four different scenarios, specifically for the month of August, where the number of cases can vary according to containment measures and public awareness. It also estimates the actual number of currently infected cases to be around 35,500.

In the first scenario, public awareness slowly increases but no effective containment measures would be adopted by the government, leading to a macro-level spread of 2 million cases and 119,000 deaths.

The Syrian government should impose a complete lockdown including the closure of all economic activities except the essential ones, Zaki Mehchy, a researcher at LSE and leading author of the memo, told Al-Monitor. In fact, the government did adopt strict mitigation measures in April for a few weeks when the number of cases was still relatively low. But it seems that the government has its reasons not to implement such measures again now."

The second and third scenarios could be considered in cases of widespread public commitment and effective strict containment measures. For these scenarios, the cases could range from 101,000 to 290,000 cases, depending on the levels of awareness and containment measures.

It seems that given the current situation, the two applicable scenarios are either scenario 1 or scenario 4, given that the government still withholds to apply the needed measures.

Scenario 4 suggests phased progress that includes the three scenarios. In this scenario, the number of cases can reach 449,000 with 24,100 deaths.

Scenario 1 is based on this strong assumption as the basic reproductive number is changing not only with strict preventive measures but also with higher awareness among people, Mehchy noted. This is exactly whats happening now in Syria  mainly in big cities  the majority are wearing facemasks and avoiding direct contact. So shifting to scenario 4 is possible with a better awareness and commitment of Syrians.

The authors also recommend an international response to the current situation, where international aid can be directed to the less politicized civil society, compared to Syrian local authorities.

Despite the fact that aid to the health sector is not affected by the economic sanctions imposed on the country, Mehchy said that such a response can still face several challenges.

Many providers prefer to avoid the risk of dealing with Syria. That's why there is a need for parallel structures and financial channels that are monitored and secured to directly support civil society initiatives inside Syria without legitimizing the regime, he added.

While the policy memo only forecasts possible scenarios for August, the governments failure to effectively contain the spread can only be a sign of a catastrophic health crisis in the country.

It is no surprise for Syrians that major hospitals are not able to admit new cases. The wrecked health sector was severely affected by the conflict.

According to another policy memo released by LSE, there are only 325 available ICU beds with ventilators in the country. While most of them are located in Damascus (96) and Lattakia (77), some cities only have a few or even none  Aleppo (5) and Deir ez-Zor (0).

While the hospitals in Damascus are overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases, local initiatives in the city are increasing their public services as an alternative. AKMHA, an independent youth-led initiative, has been providing portable oxygen ventilators for free to those in need, along with medical support and counseling.

Since the spike in coronavirus cases a few weeks ago, several local organizations have been working to provide the needed care for COVID-19 patients in Damascus and rural Damascus.

The Syrian authorities confirmed the first coronavirus case on March 22, and followed this announcement with a series of strict preventive measures, which were lifted in April for economic reasons.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced last month that government bailouts for universities in financial crisis will be conditional on slashing dozens of courses deemed low-value.

This marks a new stage in the governments assault on higher education and presages a fundamental restructuring of the sector.

The coronavirus pandemic has dealt a staggering blow to universities, already weakened by years of marketisation and privatization. A quarter of institutions were in deficit in early March this year, with several teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. Now, according to analysis by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, 13 universities face a very real prospect of going bust, while the sector more broadly could see losses of between 3 billion and 19 billion in the long term.

Students in UK lecture hall (credit: Jirka Matousek via Flickr)

Williamson has responded by announcing that government loans will be granted to struggling institutions on a case by case basis, provided they meet a list of demands. These conditions are geared towards closing off access to university education for working class students by axing dozens of courses and allowing the bankruptcy of poorer universities.

The education secretary explained, We need our universities to achieve great value for moneydelivering the skills and a workforce that will drive our economy and nation to thrive in the years ahead. Higher education providers, he said, would only receive assistance as a last resort and would be required to focus on providing subjects that result in better job prospects for graduates. Even with the cull of low-value courses, and despite the threat of whole universities going bankrupt, the plans state that There is no guarantee of support.

By low-value courses, Williamson means degree programs with low graduate earnings. This criterion specifically targets courses taken by poorer students at predominantly working-class universities. Graduates from lower income backgrounds earn less than those from higher income backgroundsan average of 30 percent less than those from the wealthiest one fifth of families. Degrees from less prestigious universities (with much higher proportions of working-class students) command significantly lower salaries. A sociology degree from Bradford University, for example, sees graduates earning 17,500 three years after graduation, whereas the same degree from Cambridge earns graduates an average of 29,000.

Working class youth will therefore have the range of courses they can access slashed, particularly in the arts and social sciences, whose graduates are especially poorly paid. Some poorer communities will lose entire universities. In 2019, according to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, 28.75 percent of the most disadvantaged four-fifths of 18-year-olds began a full-time degree, compared to 57.7 percent of the most advantaged fifth. This disparity will grow as whole sections of higher education are cut away.

The demand that universities axe low-value courses is part of a long-developed plan. In 2018, the Augur Review was established by Theresa Mays Tory government to address low value, low quality degrees, with a focus on promoting further education training as an alternative to universities. At the time, Education Secretary Damian Hinds called on universities to drop or revamp courses that dont give value for money and Robert Halfon, chair of the education select committee, argued that Existing universities that do not provide a good return on academic courses could reinvent themselves as centers of technical excellence. The 2019 Tory manifesto pledged to find ways to tackle the problem of low-quality courses.

With the onset of the crisis in higher education triggered by the pandemic, these elitist ideas have been kicked up a gear. The Policy Exchange think tank has submitted a report to the Department for Education which argues, The UK is unusual in that universities are private charities and not subject to direct state control but current bail out conditions provides Government short term leverage to weed out weaker courses. The Institute of Economic Affairs also asks ministers to consider closing many institutions and courses and offering the assets and staff to people and organizations who wish to try something new.

The key motivation for these arguments is the fact that huge numbers of graduates cannot repay their student loans as repayments start only when a graduate begins earning more than 26,575 a year. Around 45 percent of the value of these loans will never be recouped by the governmentadding 12 billion to its deficit, rising to 17 billion in three years timebecause wages are so low. Now, the government and its advisors intend to use these same low wages to justify gutting young peoples already severely limited educational opportunitiesconsidered a financial sinkhole by the ruling class.

This is the culmination of a bi-partisan policy of marketisation in higher education. The process began with the introduction of tuition fees by the Labour Party in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with the specific intention of making universities reliant on private sources of income. It reached an inflection point with the Conservative Partys 2017 Higher Education and Research Act which established the Office for Students, whose mandate was to act as a market regulator and competition authority. The result is a destructive cycle of competition amongst universities for student numbers and private investment, driving the losers, overwhelmingly those institutions catering for poorer students, towards bankruptcy.

In the next months and years, the working class, already relegated to bottom-tier universities in the market system, will either be kicked out altogether, crammed into overcrowded bare-necessities courses, or moved into a second-class further education and vocational system. High quality, well-rounded education will be reserved for the elite. On July 9, Williamson officially junked Tony Blairs target of sending 50 percent of young people to universityitself an entirely fraudulent promise of social mobility.

The consequence of these attacks will be the cultural impoverishment of the working class and the loss of essential skills. Whether a course is kept or discarded will not be based on its value to an individual and their development, or the broad social, political, and cultural needs of wider society, but on whether or not it serves the interests of the super-rich.

Chancellor Rishi Sunaks Kickstart Scheme, a cheap labour programme announced as part of the governments multibillion-pound bailout package, shows the alternatives which the Tories have in mind for young people. Under the scheme, under-18s are taken under the wing of massive companies (including McDonalds, Costa, Tesco, and Aldi) and labelled apprentices before being paid a pitiful 4.15 per hour, 6.45 once they reach 18 and eventually peaking at just 8.20 for 21-24 year olds. The firms are incentivized with 2,000 for every additional apprentice they take on.

As with government bailouts of the banks and big business, and corporate restructuring programs costing thousands of jobs, the ruling class has seized on the pandemic to advance its reactionary objectives in higher education. It is given a free hand to do so by the Labour Party and the University and College Union (UCU), who for years have limited university workers and students to ineffective strikes over single issues.

The campaign for universal high-quality and well-rounded education must base itself on the independent struggle of the working class for socialism. The pandemic has brought to the surface the complete irreconcilability of the bankrupt capitalist system with the needs of society. A political offensive must be waged against the profit system as the only viable means to protect the interests and welfare of the working class and young people.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 20:54:28|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has signed a State Council decree to publish the revised regulation on the implementation of the budget law.

The revised regulation, which will go into effect on Oct. 1, incorporates the outcomes of fiscal and taxation reform as well as the fruits of budget management practices in recent years, aiming to ensure that public finances truly benefit the people.

The revision clarifies how the public budgets at various levels should be created, tightens requirements on transparency, and improves the transfer payment mechanism.

It also enhances the management of local government bonds and standardizes the handling of special fiscal accounts. Enditem
ATLANTA, Aug. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ATLANTA, Aug 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Monarch Private Capital (MPC), a nationally recognized tax-advantaged investment firm that develops, finances, and manages a diversified portfolio of projects that generate federal and state tax credits, including ESG investment opportunities that provide a quantifiable impact, is pleased to announce the financial closing of low-income housing tax credit equity (LIHTC) for a 48-million-dollar senior living development called Preserve at Peachtree Shoals in Dacula, Georgia.

Preserve at Peachtree Shoals is located at 2995 Old Peachtree Road in Dacula, Georgia. This new development will consist of 240 apartment units for seniors 55 and older and will have an affordable rent structure for households earning 30 to 80 percent of the area median income (AMI). The development comprised of one, two and three-bedroom units, is expected to be available to rent in the first quarter of 2022. To complete the project, MPC partnered with Dominium, the nations fourth-largest provider of affordable housing, and Searles Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides gracious living services to elderly and disabled residents.

Preserve at Peachtree Shoals will be an excellent and much-needed addition to the Dacula area. It will provide seniors with beautiful housing that is affordable, said Mark Sween, Vice President & Project Partner of Dominium. We are excited to begin construction and to work again with our state housing tax credit partner, Monarch Private Capital.

Dacula, Georgia is part of Gwinnett County, which has been a titan of social and economic progress for decades. Dacula has its own unique factors, however, that make it a great candidate for revitalization. Dacula is at the center of Georgias Innovation Crescent. Covering nearly 40 percent of Georgias population, the Innovation Crescent is the states hub for life sciences but is quickly becoming that of the entire Southeast. The crescent includes top research organizations such as Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Georgia, the CDC, Georgia Gwinnett College and Gwinnett Tech. In addition, the hub hosts a wide range of scientific companies, large and small, bringing in a variety of people and revenue to the community.

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This new affordable senior living development will help strengthen the Dacula area by providing residents with quality homes, enriching programs and services, and greater access to the unique variety of resources located throughout the city, said David Searles Jr., CFO of the Searles Foundation. We recognize the importance of the happiness and well-being of our senior residents and stay committed to fostering a friendly and valuable community for all.

The development of Preserve at Peachtree Shoals will not only address the need for affordable, senior living opportunities in the area, but it will also have a major positive impact on the local economy. In just the initial year, the project is expected to create over 300 direct and indirect jobs and generate over $20 million in local tax revenue. The project will continue to benefit the area in the years to follow, paving the way for a lively and prosperous community for all.

By building clean, well-constructed apartment units in an area that lacks adequate senior living facilities, we will help accelerate the growth of the community while also filling a significant housing void, said Steve LeClere, Director of LIHTC Development at MPC. We appreciate our collaboration with Dominium, whos leadership and expertise will help make this project a reality.

For more information on MPCs programs and services, please contact Brent Barringer by emailing bbarringer@monarchprivate.com.

About Monarch Private Capital

Monarch Private Capital manages ESG funds that positively impact communities by creating clean power, jobs, and homes. The funds provide predictable returns through the generation of federal and state tax credits. The Company offers innovative tax credit equity investments for affordable housing, historic rehabilitations, renewable energy, film, and other qualified projects. Monarch Private Capital has long-term relationships with institutional and individual investors, developers, and lenders that participate in these types of federal and state programs. Headquartered in Atlanta, Monarch has offices and tax credit professionals located throughout the U.S.

About Dominium

Dominium is an affordable housing development and management company headquartered in Plymouth, Minnesota. The firm has developed more than 30,000 apartments in 22 states and is the nations 4th largest provider of affordable housing. Dominium has 45+ years in the business and owns over $3 billion in properties. Dominium employs a professional staff of more than 1,000 employees.

About Beverly J. Searles Foundation

Founded in 2007 by Richard and David Searles, The Beverly J. Searles Foundation is a not for profit organization that provides gracious living services to elderly and disabled residents of affordable housing and other residential communities. Their goal is to enhance the quality of life for their residents by encouraging independence and choices, while celebrating individuality, preserving dignity, privacy and nurturing the spirit.

The Searles Foundation is also a developer and owner of multi-family housing in the affordable and market-rate area, providing quality housing, excellent resident services with high standards, extraordinary experiences and a holistic approach to health and wellness. The foundation has planned, developed and/or operated about 2,000 new housing units, including 11 assisted living communities with 821 assisted living and memory care units. In early 2020, The Searles Foundation and its partners have $148 million under construction, representing 686 age-restricted apartments at five Georgia locations all using Housing Tax Credits.

Attachments

CONTACT: Jane Rafeedie Monarch Private Capital 4702838431 jrafeedie@monarchprivate.com




Unidentified gunmen killed Wednesday in the southern city of Basra a key female Iraqi activist involved in months-long protests against corruption and mismanagement.

Reham Yacoub died after the assailants on a motorbike fired at her car. Three other women in the same car were wounded.

She emerged to public after taking active role in the local protests which erupted in 2018.

Reham Yacoub is the second prominent activist to be killed in recent days. Another public figure, Tahseen Osama was assassinated last Friday, prompting a return of street demonstrations for three days in which security forces opened fire on protesters who lobbed the governors house with rocks and petrol bombs and blocked several main roads, reports say.

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, reportedly in reaction to Tahseen Osamas killing, sacked the Basra police and national security chiefs the following Monday and ordered an investigation into the violence. The moves calmed protesters down.
Topplasma.com scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team

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PAGE TITLE TopPlasma.com DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS posted, check out the original source, out the original source here, the original source here , check out the original, out the original source, the original source here



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President Donald Trump said he would call on the United Nations Security Council to restore all nuclear-related sanctions on Iran, an attempt to kill off the 2015 nuclear agreement and force Tehran back to the negotiating table.

Mark it down, Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, Trump said at a White House news conference on Wednesday. We paid a fortune for a failed concept, a failed policy that would have made it impossible to have peace in the Middle East.

The move will set the Trump administration on a collision course with other world powers, including key allies, who say the US doesnt have the authority to reimpose international sanctions and that they wont go along. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo will formally propose the snap back of sanctions at the UN on Thursday.

While many nations are wary of Iran, the US has been almost totally isolated at the UN in its most recent efforts to raise pressure on the Islamic Republic, abandoned by even close allies such as France and the U.K.

An effort last week to indefinitely extend an expiring, 13-year-old arms embargo on Iran was defeated in historic fashion: 11 members of the Security Council abstained, with just the Dominican Republic joining the US as China and Russia vetoed the measure.

The State Department referenced that rebuke in a statement after Trump spoke on Wednesday.

Secretary Pompeos notification to the Council follows its inexcusable failure last week to extend the arms embargo on the worlds leading state sponsor of terrorism and anti-Semitism, according to the statement. It added that the snapback would extend the arms embargo by default.

Since taking office, the Trump administration has used increasingly tough sanctions and diplomatic pressure to try to convince European allies to quit the 2015 nuclear deal, saying Iran used the revenue it got from eased sanctions to finance conflicts from Syria to Yemen without permanently ending Tehrans ambitions for a nuclear weapon.

The president long called the agreement reached during the Obama administration the worst deal ever, and his announcement came just hours before President Barack Obama was due to speak at the Democratic convention.

Trump has repeatedly said he believes that ending the deal under tough restrictions will convince Irans leaders to enter talks on a bigger, better accord that will help foster peace across the entire Middle East.

The sanctions did deal a crippling economic blow to Tehran. European allies supportive of the nuclear deal struggled to find a way around the US restrictions, depriving Iran of investment and causing its currency to plunge and widespread shortages of basic goods. But President Hassan Rouhanis government stood firm and repeatedly ruled out any talks while under the force of what they called blackmail.

Under the unique snapback process outlined in the 2015 nuclear deal, once the US submits its complaint, the Security Council has 30 days to vote on a resolution to continue Irans sanctions relief, a move the US could then proceed to veto. If such a resolution is not adopted, UN sanctions that were eased in return for constraints on Irans nuclear program would theoretically be restored, effectively killing the Iran nuclear deal.

Any US attempt to reimpose sanctions will be controversial, given the Trump administrations withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, and likely to create deadlock at the Security Council, International Crisis Group analysts wrote in a report on Wednesday. The administrations goal is clear: Kill the deal or make it that much harder for a successor administration to rejoin it.

The process, as enshrined in a UN resolution, appears straightforward, but every other party to the multinational deal, including Americas European allies, say the US cant invoke the process from an accord it already quit. They argue that snapback was a right given to the deals participants, and since the US said it is no longer a part of the accord, its move will be seen as invalid.

Europe will not support unilateral proposals leading to the return of sanctions, French Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere said in June. They would only deepen divisions in the Security Council and beyond and would not be likely to improve the situation on the ground of nuclear nonproliferation.

Yet the US has a different legal interpretation, arguing that UN Resolution 2231 lists the US as a participant for purposes of snapping back sanctions.

The resolution describes the US as a participant of the nuclear agreement and includes no provision for altering that definition based on the future behavior or activities of the defined parties, Richard Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, which has helped guide the Trump administrations Iran sanctions policies, wrote. Therefore, the United States remains a participant in perpetuity, as defined by the resolution, he added.

Pompeo vowed to hold countries like Russia and China accountable if they refuse to go along with the US declaration that the nuclear deal is void and, instead, move ahead with sales of advanced weapons to Iran once the arms embargo expires in October.

Absolutely, Pompeo said Wednesday when asked in a Fox News interview whether the US would sanction those countries. Weve already done that when we see any country violate our current sanctions, the current American sanctions, weve held every nation accountable for that. Well do the same thing with respect to the broader UN Security Council sanctions as well.

A Debate Since 2015

Supporters of the agreement say it took Iran off a path toward nuclear weapons, but since the day it was reached critics said the deal provided the Tehran government with economic benefits in the short-term without any long-term guarantee that the nation wouldnt eventually decide to restart its nuclear program.

In the years after the accord was reached, inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency repeatedly affirmed that the Iranians were abiding by the accord. But after the US quit the deal and began reimposing sanctions, Iran starting abandoning parts of the agreement, stockpiling enriched uranium beyond agree upon levels but saying it would reverse course if the US returned to the accord.

The dispute between the US and the rest of the permanent members of the Security Council could plunge the body into a crisis with no clear path toward a resolution.

It will be one of the worst crises to face the UN Security Council in a generation because the council will be hopelessly divided, without any clarity on how to move forward, said Richard Nephew, who was the lead sanctions expert for the Obama administration team that negotiated the accord.
(Natural News) While the Left-wing mainstream media continues to paint Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris of California as political moderates who will seek to govern from the center, nothing could be further from the truth.

Once upon a time Biden could be counted on as a loyal Washington establishment figure, like voting for the NAFTA trade deal back when it was very cool among RINOs and Democrats to surrender Americas sovereignty and jobs.

But thats about to change. If hes elected, the hard-Left is ready to pounce on him the next day to enact their Marxist agenda so they can literally transform our country into something our founders rebelled against.

As Politico reported Monday:

Joe Biden was just about the last Democrat that progressives wanted as the nominee.

But now that hes the one taking on President Donald Trump, theyre working harder to put him in office than they ever did for Hillary Clinton  then planning to give him hell the minute he sets foot in the White House.

Theyll already have an ally in the new administration: Kamala Harris, who has consistently been a far-Left stooge and Marxist authoritarian throughout her time in politics.

Most recently, she has embraced the prohibitively expensive and buffoonish Green New Deal proposed by bartender-turned-lawmaker Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. She believes in the climate change hoax. She hates the Second Amendment and the fact that Americans are armed. And she doesnt have much use for unborn babies, either.

Indeed, as Life Site News reported, both she and Biden have endorsed plans to enshrine effectively unlimited abortion-on-demand into federal law, which would use the Justice Department to tie the hands of states that try to enact even modest pro-life restrictions.

According to David Daleiden, who heads up the Center for Medical Progress, a pro-life investigative organization, notes from first-hand knowledge that she is the greatest threat to First Amendment civil rights our country has ever seen.

I know because she had my home raided for speaking the truth about her political patrons at Planned Parenthood, he wrote in a Twitter post last week.

https://twitter.com/daviddaleiden/status/1293342689585442817

Life Site News added:

During her time as Attorney General of California, Harris played a key role in defending Planned Parenthood over its sale of aborted baby parts (which violated multiple federal laws, according to undercover video of abortion industry personnel). Most of the footage was taken in California, yet Harris announced she would investigate CMP journalists rather than Planned Parenthood, and went on to raid Daleidens home while accepting the abortion giants donations for her Senate run.

Other pro-life figures ripped Bidens pick of Harris, though its pretty clear no matter which Democrat he chose as a running mate, he or she was going to be radically far Left because thats the make up of the party today. (Related: Catholic leader: Kamala Harris ringleader of the anti-Catholic bullying in Democrat party.)

Kamala Harris  a fearless fighter so that Planned Parenthood can freely dismember, slaughter and sell the body parts of this little guy, wrote Lila Rose along with a graphic of a 10-week-old fetus in a womans womb showing its size.

Kamala Harris  a fearless fighter so that Planned Parenthood can freely dismember, slaughter and sell the body parts of this little guy. https://t.co/W29xGcg7j9 pic.twitter.com/S1CnKwSEZz  Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) August 12, 2020

Years ago my friend @daviddaleiden home was raided by officials under the office of then California AG @SenKamalaHarris for exposing @PPFA selling baby body parts CNN, MSNBC, NYT, WaPo, etc will not be mentioning thisas if it never happened#VPPick, investigative journalist James OKeefe wrote.

Years ago my friend @daviddaleiden home was raided by officials under the office of then California AG @SenKamalaHarris for exposing @PPFA selling baby body parts CNN, MSNBC, NYT, WaPo, etc will not be mentioning thisas if it never happened#VPPick pic.twitter.com/ZWYSwPi6Xy  James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) August 11, 2020

Added Students for Life president Kristan Hawkins, For Americans who vote pro-life first the choice is clear for November, if they check the record. Sen. Kamala Harris has already proved that she will use any legal authority available to her to target pro-life Americans, and, in plans announced during her Presidential run, she was direct in saying she wanted more power.

Kamala Harris has been bought and paid for by Planned Parenthood, which wields incredible political power on the left, Operation Rescue president Troy Newman noted in a statement. Whatever Planned Parenthood says, goes in the Democrat Party. Harris was Planned Parenthoods pick.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

NaturalNews.com
BALTIMORE, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- GrandView Aviation, Maryland's largest private jet and helicopter charter operator, announced today that it was named to Inc. Magazine's 2020 Inc. 5000 list, their third year on the list. According to Inc., companies on this year's presitigious list produced an aggregate revenue of $209 billion in 2019. GrandView has defined its consistent reputation on the Inc. 5000 list with sales increased by 164% from 2016 to 2019 and over 3,500 flight hours flown last year.

GrandView expects to continue its upward trajectory with expansion into new regions this year. In addition to its Baltimore, Austin, and Chicago locations, the company plans to launch a base in Atlanta in September. GrandView currently employs 55 aviation professionals and is in an active state of recruiting for additional employees.

"It's rare to be on the Inc 5000 list once, and to be listed a third time speaks to the dedication our team has to fueling our growth," said Jessica Naor, Chief Operating Officer at GrandView Aviation. "We're excited to continue to grow and bring great aviation careers to every new city we enter. Being on the Inc. 5000 list is a true honor."

The company's Phenom 300 aircraft provide exceptional range that outperforms most light jets. This fleet, in tandem with its rotor-wing counterpart, allows for a high degree of utility to support GrandView's dedication to charter and medical missions.

GrandView Aviation

GrandView Aviation operates a fleet of Phenom 300 charter jets and helicopters giving access to departure points from the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, and Central United States. GrandView Aviation is a FAA Part 135 certificated aircraft operator & carries the elite Wyvern Wingman safety rating. For more information about GrandView Aviation, please visit www.flygv.com.

SOURCE GrandView Aviation

Related Links

flygv.com


President Donald Trump denied Thursday knowing anything about the scheme that saw his former campaign manager Steve Bannon arrested on allegations he fleeced supporters of the boarder wall for millions of dollars.

The president also tried to distance himself from Bannon, who served as a senior counselor in the White House for the first eight months after Trump took office and ran the final days of his successful 2016 presidential campaign.

'I feel very badly. I haven't been dealing with him for a very long period of time,' Trump said in the Oval Office shortly after federal prosecutors announced Bannon's indictment, adding: 'I haven't been dealing with him at all. It's a very sad thing by Mr. Bannon.'

'He was involved in our campaign and for a small part of our administration,' the president claimed.

'Sad.' President Donald Trump tried to distance himself both from his former adviser Steve Bannon - saying he had not dealt with him for a long time - and the wall scheme, despite its ties to his family and inner circle

In handcuffs: Steve Bannon was arrested and was due to be taken to federal court in Manhattan to face a judge on fraud charges

Steve Bannon served both on President Trump's campaign and in the first eight months of his administration - above President Trump congratulates Bannon during the swearing-in of senior staff in the East Room of the White House on January 22, 2017

The White House pointed to this July 12 tweet from President Trump as proof he had disavowed the build the wall project Steve Bannon was involved with

Bannon was the CEO for the Trump presidential campaign's last 88 days after the ousting of Paul Manafort - who is now a convicted felon himself - and then was Trump's 'Chief Strategist,' with a West Wing office close to the Oval Office.

Bannon was arrested Thursday and charged with defrauding hundreds of thousands of people as part of a group which promised to use private money to build a section of border wall, a signature issue of the president.

The We Build The Wall scheme raised $25 million to fund its own barriers in Texas and New Mexico, some of which have been built. The group's online appeal for funds included a picture of President Trump and a stamp that said 'Trump Approved.' His son Don Jr. visited one section in Sunland Park, New Mexico, in July 2019.

But prosecutors say it was a scam: donors' cash was also funneled to its founder Brian Kolfage and to Bannon.

President Trump also tried to distance himself from the scheme despite its ties to his inner circle and his eldest son Don Jr.

'I don't like that project. I thought it was being done for showboating reasons. It was something I very much thought was inappropriate to be doing,' he said.

The White House pointed to a July 12 tweet from President Trump disavowing the wall project as proof of his lack of involvement.

'I disagreed with doing this very small (tiny) section of wall, in a tricky area, by a private group which raised money by ads. It was only done to make me look bad, and perhsps it now doesnt even work. Should have been built like rest of Wall, 500 plus miles,' the president tweeted after a report that federal inspectors would be examining a section of the wall the group built because it was eroding.

'President Trump has not been involved with Steve Bannon since the campaign and the early part of the Administration, and he does not know the people involved with this project,' White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement.

Bannon's last day at the White House was on August 18, 2017 and there remains controversy over whether he quit - at the request of then-chief of staff John Kelly - or was fired.

He caused a firestorm with the president's family after he cooperated with author Michael Wolff in his scathing Trump takedown, 'Fire and Fury,' the president fired him and took aim at family members.

Bannon called the infamous 2016 Trump Tower meeting about dirt on Hillary Clinton that was attended by Trump Jr., Paul Manafort, and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner 'treasonous' and 'unpatriotic.'

He predicted to authorities: 'They're going to crack Don Jr. like an egg'  something which did not happen.

He is also quoted in Wolff's book calling first daughter Ivanka Trump 'dumb as a brick.'

His relationship with Kushner and Ivanka Trump was a poison pen that would ultimately sink him in the White House - he had clashed with the president's powerful son-in-law and daughter too many times.

Steve Bannon battled with President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner when he served in the White House; Kushner and Bannon are seen above during the 2016 campaign at a September 14, 2016 rally in Canton, Ohio

Steve Bannon is quoted in Michael Wolff's book calling first daughter Ivanka 'dumb as a brick' Pictured: Jared Kushner, Ivanka and Bannon in 2017

How it was marketed: This was the GoFundMe originally set up to 'privately fund' a border wall

Trump world star: Donald Trump Jr. visited a section of the wall built by Brian Kolfage's scheme in New Mexico in July 2019; Kolfage was indicted along side Bannon

The investigation that resulted in Bannon's arrest on Thursday did not involve the FBI - but did involve the U.S. Postal Inspectors. It was led by prosecutors from the public corruption unit of the United States Attorney's office in Southern News York - the same unit which charged Jeffrey Esptein and arrested Ghislaine Maxwell.

Bannon is accused of getting $1 million in the alleged scheme, spending hundreds of thousands of that on 'expenses. He was arrested on a 150-foot yacht off the coast of Westport, Connecticut, NBC News reported.

The group's founder, Brian Kolfage, is also accused of fraudulently pocketing funds. He claimed he did not get a cent from the scheme but instead got $100,000 up front and $20,000 a month salary, prosecutors allege, living a lavish lifestyle at Miramar Beach in the Florida panhandle.

Kolfage, an Iraq war veteran who had both legs amputated and lost his right arm in a rocket attack, was arrested at his home in Florida.

HOW ALLEGED FRAUD WORKED In 2018, Kolfage set up the GoFundMe account in support of President Trump and to prove the nation's appetite for a border wall between the US and Mexico. It was inundated with donations from Republicans and had collected more than $20million by December that year. GoFundMe became suspicious of where the money was going and warned Kolfage to donate it to a legitimate charity or refund everyone who'd given to it. That is when, prosecutors say, Bannon, Timothy Shea and Andrew Badolato got involved. They used shell companies and We Build The Wall Inc, a not-for-profit formed by Bannon to launder the money back to Kolfage and keep some for themselves, it's claimed. The fund would pay the shell companies, then they would deposit the money back into accounts held by Kolfage or his wife, marking the transactions down as for 'media', 'consulting' or 'social media', it is alleged. Despite claiming on the GoFundMe that he'd 'never take a penny' from the donations, the indictment alleges that Kolfage took a $20,000-a-month salary from it in addition to a one-off, $100,000 payment. In total, he took $350,000, it's claimed. Bannon allegedly took $1million from it - some of which he used to pay Kolfage, but some he allegedly kept and spent on hotels, travel and credit card debt. Advertisement

Prosecutors say the group promised donors it was a volunteer effort that would direct all funds toward a crash effort to construct wall without government red tape. In reality, say federal prosecutors in New York, the group's founders siphoned off funds for themselves.

'As alleged, the defendants defrauded hundreds of thousands of donors, capitalizing on their interest in funding a border wall to raise millions of dollars, under the false pretense that all of that money would be spent on construction,' according to the indictment unsealed in the Southern District of New York Thursday morning.

'While repeatedly assuring donors that Brian Kolfage, the founder and public face of We Build the Wall, would not be paid a cent, the defendants secretly schemed to pass hundreds of thousands of dollars to Kolfage, which he used to fund his lavish lifestyle,' according to the indictment.

'In particular, to induce donors to donate to the campaign, Kolfage repeatedly and falsely assured the public that he would 'not take a penny in salary or compensation' and that '100% of the funds raised . . . will be used in the execution of our mission and purpose' because, as Bannon publicly stated, 'we're a volunteer organization.'

The indictment states that Kolfage, 37, who lives in Miramar Beach, Florida, with his wife Ashley, 34, 'covertly took for his personal use more than $350,000 in funds that donors had given to We Build the Wall' through a non-profit he controlled.

It states that Bannon, 66, who became wealthy through film investments, consulting, and formerly running the conservative Breitbart website, 'received over $1 million from We Build the Wall, at least some of which Bannon used to cover hundreds of thousands of dollars in Bannon's personal expenses.'

Postal Inspector-in-Charge Philip R. Bartlett: 'As alleged, not only did they lie to donors, they schemed to hide their misappropriation of funds by creating sham invoices and accounts to launder donations and cover up their crimes, showing no regard for the law or the truth.'

The stunning indictment comes on Day Four of the Democratic convention, when Joe Biden is set to speak.

'No one needed a federal indictment to know that Steve Bannon is a fraud,' said Biden deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield on a conference call with reporters.

Trump, she said, 'has consistently used his office to enrich himself, his family and his cronies, so is it really any surprise that yet another one of the grifters he surrounded himself with and placed in the highest levels of government was just indicted? Sadly, it is not.'

Steve Bannon served as an adviser to President Trump in the first eight months of his administration; above President Trump speaks on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Oval Office on January with, from left, then-White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, Vice President Mike Pence, and Bannon

Steve Bannon was also CEO of President Trump's 2016 campaign and is seen with Trump, then a candidate, ahead of a November 2, 2016 campaign rally at the Bayfront Park Amphitheater in Miami, Florida

The indictment says the alleged fraudsters used a non-profit and a shell company controlled by Kolfage.

They used fake invoices, sham vendors as part of the effort, keeping the system 'confidential' and 'need to know,' according to the indictment, which quotes from a Kolfage email.

TRUMP-WORLD FIGURES IN THE WALL SCHEME Steve Bannon: Trump campaign CEO and chief strategist and now high-profile advocate for president is charged with fraud Erik Prince: Billionaire mercenary who is the brother of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is a director. Prince is close to Bannon Kris Kobach: Former Kansas secretary of state who led probe into claims of electoral fraud which was closed before it found any is We Build The Wall's attorney Donald Trump Jr.: Visited section of the wall in New Mexico in July 2019 and features prominently on its website Eric Trump: Posed with Brian Kolfage and his wife at Mar-a-Lago Advertisement

Also indicted are Andrew Badolato of Florida and Timothy Shea of Colorado.

According to financial disclosures when he joined the White House staff, Bannon was worth between $10 million and $48 million in 2017, with most of the value in his consulting firm, Bannon Strategic Advisors.

But more recently Bannon has been an influential Trump world voice, appearing frequently on television and running a podcast where Trump aides are guests. There have been persistent reports of regular contact between the two men, but no known in person meetings.

Board members of We Build the Wall include Erik Prince, a the billionaire mercenary who is and brother of U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach - another Trump-world figure who led the failed inquiry into alleged voter fraud - and former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling.

Kolfage, a Purple Heart triple amputee veteran behind the effort, pushed back at critics after he was accused in public of using funds to fund a lavish lifestyle  which included flying in private jets and buying a $600,000 boat.

He says he bought the vessel a year before the $20 million GoFundMe campaign for the wall. Kolfage was wounded during the Iraq war in 2004.

Pushing back against online critics, We Build The Wall Inc. posted a video on Facebook that showed a factory producing steel bollards.

They wrote: 'Just when we thought that the fake news media couldn't get more ridiculously desperate, they're now proving how low they'll go by claiming that 'We Build The Wall' founder, Brian Kolfage, bought a yacht with the GoFundMe money

Husband and wife scam: Prosecutors say Brian Kolfage funneled cash to himself to pay for boat payments, cosmetic surgery and tax and credit card debt, with his wife Ashley, 34, getting cash which was concealed too. She is not indicted

In Trump world: Brian Kolfage and his wife Ashley were guests at Mar-a-Lago in February last year where they posed with Eric Trump. Kolfage frequently tagged Donald Trump and his son Don Jr. on Instagram

The group also financed wall in Sunland Park, New Mexico, near El Paso, Texas. The group sells tickets for private tours of this section of wall for $20

'We Build the Wall' has tackled two projects, the three-mile stretch along the Rio Grande in Texas

The group 'We Build the Wall' raised money for construction of this portion of the wall, promoting updates on its social media pages

The explosive indictment comes weeks after Trump fired the U.S. attorney for SDNY in June. It was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss, who has stepped into the role after Trump failed in an effort to install his own preferred replacement.

It charges Bannon used the funds he took to secretly repay Kolfage and cover hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal expenses.

The group's original documents posted publicly stated that '100 per cent' of funds would go to the government for wall construction. After Bannon joined the effort, it shifted to building private wall sections.

The group ultimately had to go back to donors to get approval for the new arrangement, and promised them that Kolfage 'will take no salary.'

Despite 'numerous public statements' that Kolfage wouldn't get paid, the men leading the group reached a 'secret agreement' where Kolfage got $100,000 'up front' and '20 [per] month.'

They 'schemed' to pass the payments 'indirectly' through third parties due to the prior pledge.

An email from Bannon stated that there would be 'no deals I don't approve' from a non-profit he set up that was used to make the payments, which then went forward at $20,000 per month.

To conceal the payments, Kolfage directed Badolato that payments 'should be made to Kolfage's spouse,' according to the indictment. The non-profit issued a 1099 form that nonprofits file with the IRS stating that it had paid Kolfage's spouse for 'media.' That was a reference to Kolfage's wife Ashley, 34.
Many businesses are unsure about whether they should ask employees to return to the workplace. Weve taken a look at the different approaches that some companies have taken.

What are some of the current approaches to returning to the workplace?

Marie-Anne Lampotang, General Manager at Stone & Chalk in Sydney, noted that many start ups had already started coming back into Stone & Chalks collaborative workplaces.

A lot of start ups have transitioned back to work. Theyre doing it in a number of ways: coming different days, coming only if people want to come in  theres nothing mandated. The number one issue start ups are concerned about is actually public transport.

She also emphasised the importance of safety. It is full security at the moment. Theres no random people coming in and we make sure people comply to social distancing rules which is particularly important in enclosed spaces such as meeting rooms.

Nevertheless many start ups were still largely working from home. Theres plenty of room for those who are coming right now and were not really at the stage where overcrowding is an issue. Most people who come in are happy to find theres a lot of space and theyre not cramped.

Moreover, social distancing rules have meant that personal connections have dwindled, making it harder for start ups to make the connections that are crucial to their success.

Weve got a lot of in-person gatherings that cant happen anymore. Those accidental collisions when people meet  they dont happen when you dont see people.

Were working harder than before to engineer these connections. Were not just a collaborative environment, we help with connections and networks to help these start ups grow.

However for many companies, the workplace is an indispensable part of their business model. Cibby Pulikkaseril, Founder and CTO at Baraja, put in place a rotating schedule for his business to ensure that both employee safety and customer demands could be met.

When coronavirus hit, many other start ups started doing 100 per cent [work] from home. It wasnt an option for us because we make laser sensors for self driving cars and most of the work was in hardware.

You can work from home for a couple days, but without hardware you cant make progress. We also ship parts to customers and so without a team on site wed let down customers.

So we set up isolated shifts. We split the company into three teams. Red and blue for office workers. Half of your team would be in the office and half [would be at work] at home, and then the next week youd switch over. Every night we have a thorough clean.

For manufacturing we have a green team. They are isolated from the other half by space. They work downstairs in the office and the other staff in red and blue teams cannot go down. All deliveries and parcels are handled through the lift.

Should employees be allowed to work from home forever?

Companies such as Atlassian announced that employees had the option to work from home indefinitely. To combat uncertainties during the pandemic, Atlassian announced their TEAM Anywhere program where employees were given the option to work from home forever.

Speaking at a virtual panel with Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield, Atlassian CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes described COVID-19 as the worlds largest telecommunications experience.

The genesis of [TEAM Anywhere]  is that we need to change how we work and where we work. We need to separate these two concepts.

People often combine them. If you think about that, how do you have a meeting? You walk into the same room together. Youve said where we work is going to drive how we work. We need to firstly change how we work, in order to enable people to work where they want.

So our policys been very clear about communicating to employees and giving as much notice as possible that where you work is going to be up to you  but how we work has to be standardised.

If you decide to return to the workplace, what else do employers need to keep in mind?

Make your workplace safe

When deciding to return to work, employers must have a safe and healthy workplace. To help plan this, the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission has an online planning tool to help employers.

If an employee has symptoms, the employer must direct the employee to not work or to work from home and ask the employee to seek medical advice.

Keep up-to-date with your state or territorys government directions

Individual states and territories have their own government directions on asking employees to return to work or to return to the workplace.

Employers can direct employees to work normal hours if it is reasonable to do so (excluding employees on approved leave). Ordinary work health and safety and legal obligations will still apply. Employees can refuse to return to work if workplaces have inadequate safety precautions.

If employers wish to ask employees on Jobkeeper to return to work, an employer can lift the previous stand down direction or replace it with a different stand down arrangement.

Understand what duties you can ask your employee to perform

Employers may need to change an employees usual duties when returning to the workplace. This must comply with any applicable award, agreement or employment contract.

If these duties are not a part of the employees usual duties, they must be within an employees skill and competency.

For more information, see https://coronavirus.fairwork.gov.au/coronavirus-and-australian-workplace-laws/returning-to-work-and-the-workplace.

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Northern Ireland pupils face a fresh round of results chaos after exam board Pearson pulled its BTec results on the eve of releasing them.

The exam board said it would be re-grading all its BTecs to bring them in line with A Levels and GCSEs, which are now being graded by school-based assessment's following a u-turn by devolved governments across the UK.

Pearson, who announced the move on Wednesday evening, apologised to pupils and acknowledged the additional uncertainty this would cause.

However, the late decision will cause further disruption to students seeking places in further and higher education.

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Ken Webb, chairperson of the Further Education College Principals' Group in Northern Ireland, said it was "extremely disappointing" that Pearson waited until the eleventh hour to communicate its decisions.

To ensure that no student is disadvantaged any further as a result of the delay in issuing results, the six regional colleges of further education have taken steps to ensure that a place is reserved for any student who has already applied for a further education or training course and who meet the entry requirements, " Mr Webb said.

"In addition, the colleges application processes will remain open to allow other young people to submit applications for courses once they receive their results.

We feel desperately sorry for the students affected in a year when they have already undergone far too much disruption and hope that Pearson will act to issue revised grades within days. We encourage all students to contact their local college for further advice.

Sinn Fein MLA Caoimhe Archibald called for immediate action.

The East Derry MLA said it was "simply unacceptable" that BTec pupils were only informed of the decision to delay awarding grades 24 hours before pupils were due to receive them.

Many young people will be depending on these grades to progress to further courses and apprenticeships," she said.

"The withholding of grades will leave them in a state of limbo and further compound what is already a stressful and anxious time.

Those young people awaiting results need urgent clarity.

I am urging the Economy Minister to immediately engage with the awarding body and the English Education Minister to ensure this situation is resolved as a matter of urgency.

Pearson said in a statement: "BTec qualification results have been been generally consistent with teacher and learner expectations, but we have become concerned about unfairness in relation to what are now significantly higher outcomes for GCSE and A-levels."

A Department for Education (DfE) spokesperson said: "We know this delay to BTEC results will be disappointing for students and understand their frustration.

"The awarding organisations have decided to take more time in order to make absolutely certain no student is inadvertently worse off due to changes in how grades are assessed.

"Critically, no student will see their result downgraded as a result of this review, so results already issued will either stay the same or improve.

"The relevant awarding organisations have assured us that students will receive their results as soon as possible.

"Ofqual, Ucas and the relevant awarding organisations are also working to ensure students seeking entrance to university are not disadvantaged, and we are working with colleges and other further education providers to make sure students looking to continue into further education can still do so."
Ex-Trump aide Steve Bannon arrested in border wall fraud case Former top Trump aide Steve Bannon's arrest is the latest in a string of high-profile legal battles faced by members of Trump's inner circle as the Republican runs for re-election in November

Former top Trump strategist Steve Bannon was arrested and charged Thursday along with three others for defrauding hundreds of thousands of donors in a Mexico border wall fundraising campaign, in a blow to the Republican incumbent.

The man credited with orchestrating Donald Trump's 2016 presidential bid denied one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and another of conspiracy to commit money laundering, according to US media. He was released on $5 million bail.

"This entire fiasco is to stop people who want to build the wall," he told reporters outside court, smiling broadly as he removed his face mask and got into a waiting car.

The online crowdfunding campaign known as "We Build the Wall" raised more than $25 million, prosecutors said, which the defendants promised would go towards construction of a southern border barrier but which they instead siphoned off.

The arrest is the latest in a string of high-profile criminal probes into Trump's inner circle, and comes just months before the November vote in which the Republican hopes to win re-election.

The president aimed to distance himself from the plot, saying: "Don't know anything about the project at all."

"I think it's a very sad thing for Mr Bannon," Trump said, adding he felt "very badly" and he hasn't "been dealing with him for a long period."

Manhattan federal prosecutors said Bannon, the organization's founder Brian Kolfage, venture capitalist Andrew Badolato and owner of a pro-Trump energy drink company Timothy Shea, "received hundreds of thousands of dollars in donor funds from We Build the Wall, which they each used in a manner inconsistent with the organization's public representations."

Federal postal inspectors intercepted Bannon, 66, on a $35 million, 150-foot yacht off the coast of Connecticut, according to The New York Times. The paper said the boat belonged to Guo Wengui, the exiled Chinese tycoon.

Story continues

- Early suspicions -

The fundraising scheme began in 2018 as a GoFundMe campaign to raise money organizers said would go towards the border wall Trump promised during his 2016 campaign.

One week after launching, the online appeal took in $17 million, which raised suspicions at the crowdfunding site and prompted it to temporarily shut the campaign down.

GoFundMe said organizers would need to identify a legitimate nonprofit where the money was headed or it would be returned.

The four men began using both a Bannon-controlled non-profit and a Shea-led shell company, as well as vendor agreements and fake invoices, to conceal their tracks, court documents said.

Prosecutors say the men gave repeated false assurances to donors, vowing that all funds raised would go "only directly to wall!!! Not anyone's pocket."

Kolfage, a Florida-based 38-year-old, at one point even urged donors to purchase coffee from another company he ran, saying it was the only way to keep "his family fed and a roof over their head," prosecutors said.

- Boat payments and plastic surgery -

Some donors wrote personally to Kolfage saying they were low on funds and skeptical of online fundraising, "but they were giving what they could because they trusted Kolfage would keep his word about how their donations would be spent," the indictment said.

Kolfage -- a US Air Force veteran and triple amputee wounded while serving in Iraq -- repeatedly assured them their money was safe, but in fact, prosecutors say he took more than $350,000 for his own use, funding personal expenses including boat payments, a luxury SUV, a golf cart, cosmetic surgery and credit card debt.

Badolato, Shea and Bannon each received hundreds of thousands that went to expenses including travel, hotels and consumer goods, according to the documents.

Bannon in particular received over $1 million of the donations which he funneled through his non-profit, using some of it to pay Kolfage while a substantial sum lined his own pockets.

The men learned their scheme might be under federal criminal investigation in approximately October 2019, when they began crafting additional measures to conceal it, prosecutors said.

- Another Trump aide indictment -

Prior to leading Trump's 2016 presidential bid, Bannon -- a brash, aggressively conservative proponent of US nationalism -- headed the far-right outlet Breitbart News.

Once a prominent voice in the president's ear, Bannon was behind some of Trump's most controversial moves, including his ban on some travelers from abroad and the decision to pull the United States out of the Paris climate change agreement.

After frequent clashes with others in the White House including Trump, Bannon was pushed out in August 2017.

Half a dozen close Trump associates have been indicted or convicted since he took over the White House, including several key leaders of his 2016 campaign effort.

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An gender identity box will be added to Newark police reports as one several reforms the city says it will undertake in the wake of the death of Ashley Moore, a Black transgender woman.

Moore, 26, was found unresponsive outside of the YMCA on Broad Street in Newark on April 1.
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Dog owners in Germany could be legally required to walk their pets twice daily, in accordance with a new law introduced by the countrys agriculture minister, Julia Klockner.

"Dogs are not cuddly toys. They also have their own needs, which need to be taken into account," Klockner said in explaining the regulations, according to The Guardian.

The law, under Germanys Dogs Act, will require that owners take their dogs out for at least one hour twice a day, meaning a quick jaunt around the block wont suffice.

Klockner said the new rules are based on scientific findings showing that dogs need a "sufficient measure of activity and contact with environmental stimuli" in order to thrive.

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RELATED: You May Be Walking Your Dog Incorrectly, Says PETA President: 'It's More Than a Bathroom Break'

As such, dogs may not be left alone at home all day and the tethering of dogs on a chain or a leash for long periods could also be banned.

Klockners proposed regulations would affect a significant number of Germans, as there are an estimated 9.4 million pet dogs in the country. It has raised questions about whether the government will be able to properly enforce such a law.

RELATED: Mississippi's New Animal Cruelty Law Celebrated by Activists for Holding Abusers Accountable

Compulsory Walkies for Dog Owners? Rubbish! one opinion article in Germanys Bild newspaper read. A spokesman for the VDH German Dog Association similarly told Reuters that the rule was "unrealistic."

"I find it patronizing to be told how long I should take my dog out for. And who is going to check up on me?" Berlin resident Barbel Kleid, the owner of a five-year-old Yorkshire terrier named Sam, told The Guardian. "Will the neighbor call the police if they suspect me of not taking Sam for long enough walks? He wouldnt manage two hours a day anyway."

Walther Schweiz, who lives in Cologne, added, "They should trust people to get on with their own lives. Theyll be telling cat owners how often they need to change their litter trays next."
Bannon and three associates were indicted in a federal investigation in the Southern District of New York. Prosecutors allege the four defrauded donors by raising "more than $25 million to build a wall along the southern border of the United States," but some of that money was used for personal gain.

Bannon pleaded not guilty during a court hearing later Thursday, and he was expected to be released, according to NBC News. Bannon is getting a $5 million bond that is secured by $1.75 million in cash or property that Bannon has to post by Sept. 3. He is not allowed to use private jets or yachts, and he must surrender his passport. His travel will be limited to Connecticut and the New York and Washington, D.C., areas.

Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon was arrested Thursday after being charged with defrauding hundreds of thousands of donors through his "We Build the Wall" fundraising campaign.

Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon exits the Manhattan Federal Court, following his arraignment hearing for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, in New York, August 20, 2020.

The indictment said the defendants "collectively received hundreds of thousands of dollars in donor funds from 'We Build the Wall,' which they each used in a manner inconsistent with the organization's public representations."

The campaign was intended to raise money to help President Donald Trump fulfill a campaign promise to build a border wall. Instead, prosecutors allege that Bannon and his team profited off the arrangement.

Others in the indictment are Timothy Shea, a 49-year-old from Colorado accused of owning a shell company, Brian Kolfage, a disabled Iraq war veteran, and Andrew Badolato, who according to his own website was a contributor to Breitbart News, the conservative publication Bannon used to run.

Leaders of We Build the Wall Inc. discuss plans for future barrier construction along the U.S.-Mexico border, Thursday, May 30, 2019, in Sunland Park, N.M. The group expects to finish a segment of 2,300 feet of bollard-style fencing on private land, after raising around $23 million through a crowd-funding website. Organizers say it will have money left over for future projects.

"The defendants defrauded hundreds of thousands of donors, capitalizing on their interest in funding a border wall to raise millions of dollars, under the false pretense that all of that money would be spent on construction," Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said in a statement. "While repeatedly assuring donors that Brian Kolfage, the founder and public face of We Build the Wall, would not be paid a cent, the defendants secretly schemed to pass hundreds of thousands of dollars to Kolfage, which he used to fund his lavish lifestyle. We thank the USPIS for their partnership in investigating this case, and we remain dedicated to rooting out and prosecuting fraud wherever we find it."

In this Jan. 14, 2016 file photo, retired U.S. Air Force Sr. Airman Brian Kolfage. What started as an online fundraiser by Kolfage to provide President Donald Trump with donations for his southern border wall has morphed into a new foundation whose members vow to build a wall themselves.

Kolfage's effort quickly went viral and raised millions of dollars from hundreds of thousands of donors  but GoFundMe threatened to suspend the campaign unless he "identified a legitimate non-profit organization into which those funds could be transferred," according to the indictment.

Kolfage, a 37-year-old triple amputee, launched the crowdfunding campaign in late 2018 on GoFundMe to build the wall. His effort came amid a stalemate over government funding on Capitol Hill, where Trump demanded that any spending package include billions of dollars to go toward the border barrier. The deadlock culminated in the longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history.

Prior to his campaign to crowdfund the border wall, Kolfage had been involved in a string of far-right news blogs and groups, one of which had been scrubbed from Facebook for allegedly using fake accounts to drive up website traffic. Some of the sites peddled false conspiracy theories and racist content. As his wall-funding campaign gained national attention, Kolfage had frequently appeared on Fox News and Fox Business, where he defended Trump and slammed his critics for suffering from "Trump Derangement Syndrome."

Badolato notes on his own website that he has been an "infrequent freelance contributor in the past to Breitbart News," a conservative news outlet Bannon used to run. Badolato also says on his site that he was involved with a number of other conservative publications linked to Bannon including Clinton Cash and The Undefeated: The Rise of Sarah Palin.

Shea, according to an NBC TV station in Colorado, is married to the group's treasurer, Amanda. She told the station that she and her husband opened a P.O. Box in order for donors to send checks. Amanda Shea insisted to NBC, in late 2018, that the checks were being made to Kolfage of "We Build the Wall."

Kris Kobach, a former Republican nominee for a Kansas Senate seat and a team member of "We Build the Wall," previously told the New York Times that Trump gave his "blessing" for the project. Kobach was not mentioned in the indictment.

A year after that story was published, Trump said he disagreed with the move by a "private group" to create a section of the wall "which raised money by ads," he said in a tweet.

Tweet:

The White House press secretary said in a statement that Trump had no involvement the project while distancing the administration from Bannon and the group.

"President Trump has not been involved with Steve Bannon since the campaign and the early part of the Administration, and he does not know the people involved with this project," Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement.

Read the DOJ's full release below:

Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Philip R. Bartlett, Inspector-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the United States Postal Inspection Service ("USPIS"), announced the unsealing of an indictment charging BRIAN KOLFAGE, STEPHEN BANNON, ANDREW BADOLATO, and TIMOTHY SHEA for their roles in defrauding hundreds of thousands of donors in connection with an online crowdfunding campaign known as "We Build the Wall" that raised more than $25 million. The defendants were arrested this morning. KOLFAGE will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Hope T. Cannon in the Northern District of Florida. BANNON will be presented today in the Southern District of New York. BADOLATO will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Wilson in the Middle District of Florida. SHEA will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kristen L. Mix in the District of Colorado. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres in the Southern District of New York. Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: "As alleged, the defendants defrauded hundreds of thousands of donors, capitalizing on their interest in funding a border wall to raise millions of dollars, under the false pretense that all of that money would be spent on construction. While repeatedly assuring donors that Brian Kolfage, the founder and public face of We Build the Wall, would not be paid a cent, the defendants secretly schemed to pass hundreds of thousands of dollars to Kolfage, which he used to fund his lavish lifestyle. We thank the USPIS for their partnership in investigating this case, and we remain dedicated to rooting out and prosecuting fraud wherever we find it." Inspector-in-Charge Philip R. Bartlett said: "The defendants allegedly engaged in fraud when they misrepresented the true use of donated funds. As alleged, not only did they lie to donors, they schemed to hide their misappropriation of funds by creating sham invoices and accounts to launder donations and cover up their crimes, showing no regard for the law or the truth. This case should serve as a warning to other fraudsters that no one is above the law, not even a disabled war veteran or a millionaire political strategist." According to the Indictment[1] unsealed today in Manhattan federal court: Starting in approximately December 2018, BRIAN KOLFAGE, STEPHEN BANNON, ANDREW BADOLATO, and TIMOTHY SHEA, and others, orchestrated a scheme to defraud hundreds of thousands of donors, including donors in the Southern District of New York, in connection with an online crowdfunding campaign ultimately known as "We Build The Wall" that raised more than $25 million to build a wall along the southern border of the United States. In particular, to induce donors to donate to the campaign, KOLFAGE repeatedly and falsely assured the public that he would "not take a penny in salary or compensation" and that "100% of the funds raised . . . will be used in the execution of our mission and purpose" because, as BANNON publicly stated, "we're a volunteer organization." Those representations were false. In truth, KOLFAGE, BANNON, BADOLATO, and SHEA received hundreds of thousands of dollars in donor funds from We Build the Wall, which they each used in a manner inconsistent with the organization's public representations. In particular, KOLFAGE covertly took for his personal use more than $350,000 in funds that donors had given to We Build the Wall, while BANNON, through a non-profit organization under his control ("Non-Profit-1"), received over $1 million from We Build the Wall, at least some of which BANNON used to cover hundreds of thousands of dollars in BANNON's personal expenses. To conceal the payments to KOLFAGE from We Build the Wall, KOLFAGE, BANNON, BADOLATO, and SHEA devised a scheme to route those payments from We Build the Wall to KOLFAGE indirectly through Non-Profit-1 and a shell company under SHEA's control, among other avenues. They did so by using fake invoices and sham "vendor" arrangements, among other ways, to ensure, as KOLFAGE noted in a text message to BADOLATO, that his pay arrangement remained "confidential" and kept on a "need to know" basis. * * * KOLFAGE, 38, of Miramar Beach, Florida, BANNON, 66, of Washington, D.C., BADOLATO, 56, of Sarasota, Florida, and SHEA, 49, of Castle Rock, Colorado, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, each of which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants would be determined by the judge. Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the USPIS and the Special Agents of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. She also thanked the U.S Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida for their assistance. The case is being handled by the Office's Public Corruption Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicolas Roos, Alison G. Moe, and Robert B. Sobelman are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

CNBC's Kevin Breuninger contributed to this story.

Correction: This story was updated to correctly identify defendant Timothy Shea, 49, of Colorado, not Timothy Shea, who in May was announced as the acting administrator of Drug Enforcement Administration.

This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.
Under months-long lockdowns, women across 37 countries unable to access sexual and reproductive healthcare, report says.

Millions of women and girls globally have lost access to contraceptives and abortion services because of the coronavirus pandemic, as they bear the brunt of the global calamity, warned an international aid group.

Across 37 countries, nearly two million fewer women received such services between January and June than in the same period last year, Marie Stopes International said in a new report on Wednesday. India, with its abrupt months-long lockdown, has been hit especially hard, with 1.3 million women affected.

The organisation expects an additional 900,000 unintended pregnancies worldwide as a result, along with an additional 1.5 million unsafe abortions and an additional more than 3,000 maternal deaths.

This pandemic has strained healthcare services all over the world, but sexual and reproductive healthcare was already so under prioritised that once again women are bearing the brunt of this global calamity, Dr Rashmi Ardey, director of clinical services at MSIs India programme, said in a statement.

The World Health Organization (WHO) this month said two-thirds of 103 countries surveyed between mid-May and early July reported disruptions to family planning and contraception services. The UN Population Fund warned of up to seven million unintended pregnancies worldwide.

Lockdowns, travel restrictions, supply chain disruptions, the huge shift of health resources to combat COVID-19 and fear of infection continue to prevent many women and girls from care.





Some countries did not deem sexual and reproductive health services as essential under lockdown, meaning women and girls were turned away.

India listed abortions as essential services under lockdown but many were not aware, Dr Shewetangi Shinde, who is part of the India Safe Abortion Youth Advocates organisation, told The Associated Press news agency.

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In Indias megacity of Mumbai, one woman was unable to find a pregnancy testing kit after the lockdown started in March, and then could not find transport to reach care in time, said Shinde, who attended to her in a public hospital. By then, medical abortion was not an option since the pregnancy was too advanced.

The pandemic has highlighted how difficult it already was for many women to safely access abortion services, Dr Suchitra Dalvie, a gynaecologist in Mumbai and coordinator of the Asia Safe Abortion Partnership, said.

In Africa, a surge in teen pregnancies was reported in Kenya, while some young women in Nairobis Kibera slum resorted to using broken glass, sticks and pens to try to abort pregnancies, said Diana Kihima with the Women Promotion Center. Two died of their injuries, while some can no longer conceive.

In parts of West Africa, the provision of some contraceptives fell by nearly 50 percent compared with the same period last year, said the International Planned Parenthood Federation.

MSI warned that the global figures of women being affected will likely be greatly amplified if services falter elsewhere in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

Meanwhile, womens health providers have scrambled to find solutions such as telemedicine, home deliveries of contraceptives and home-based medical abortions.

In many countries the worst effects of COVID-19 are yet to come and in others a second wave is on the horizon, but there is an opportunity to use this as a catalytic moment to transform services and make womens lives better tomorrow than they are today, Simon Cooke, MSIs chief executive, said.
The issue is clear that Mnangagwas crack unit which is unconstitutional and unlawful is on a witch-hunt. It is an attempt to take away what the progressive forces got from the people and repose it into rejected Zanu PF, Zvidzai said. Newsday
Experts shared how important AI can be in business activities

An online forum on the application of AI in business activities was held at the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) on August 18 where experts shared their experiences and studies about the importance of AI in production and life.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy made a speech at the forum

"The event aims to promote online platforms when digital transformation is being more widely applied in sectors in Industry 4.0, he noted.

The forum was held with the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to update information to help businesses stabilise activities and recover from faults in the supply chain, thus ensuring jobs for labourers. AI is considered a solution to help businesses save cost and time.

Joumana Ghosn, director of Applied Machine Learning Research at Mila AI institute (Canada), said that AI is being applied widely in life, from healthcare to mining, but most of businesses are still inexperienced in the field. With AI, businesses should keep an open mindset for improvement and keep calm with mistakes because this is a process of self-studying and perfection.

The Mila representative recommended businesses to apply AI because it is simply necessary. She also emphasised the role of high-ranking leaders, human resources, and readiness to deal with risks.

Representatives from VietinBank and Vingroup also agreed with the importance of AI in business activities.

Nguyen Thanh Lam from VinAI Research of Vingroup said that when Vsmart was introduced, VinAI Research was able to produce FaceID technology, instead of spending a huge amount of money on buying it from China or the US. However, money remains an important factor in the production of quality AI products.

Sharing these views, Dr Stefan Hajkowicz from Australia said that AI is present in all economic sectors and localities in his country. At present, the Australian government and leading experts and businesses are seeking to prevent economic slowdown from COVID-19 thanks to business activities and the development of new industries applying AI.

According to experts, while the application of AI has long been popular in the world, Vietnam is still a step behind,

The important thing is to have key national strategies and select the proper sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, agro-fisheries-forestry to tap into their strong points, said expert Nguyen Xuan Phong.

Tran The Trung, head of FPT Technology Research Institute, said that data plays an important role in developing AI. However, the use of data has been a sticking point because of the unclear legal framework, hindering businesses in accessing data.

The forum is one of the activities that are part of the annual 2020 Vietnam AI Day (AI4VN 2020) which is jointly launched by the MoST, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee with support of Aus4Innovation, and FPT.
New Zealand health authorities reported five new coronavirus cases on Thursday, all related to the community outbreak in one city.

The country's Health Minister Chris Hipkins said while the smaller number of cases was encouraging he warned people against complacency.

"This is not the time that we can afford to relax, we do need to continue to maintain our focus and all play our part here, we need to be continuing to take the proper precautions," Hipkins said.

New Zealand Ministry of Health's Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said all five cases were new community infections in Auckland.

Bloomfield said out of the 80 cases in the current community outbreak, 78 are linked to one cluster and the two other cases were being investigated.
The Dodge County Center for the Arts is preparing to open its doors for the first time since March, with precautions being taken to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

DCCA Secretary/Treasurer Kraig Kasten said quite a few of the nonprofit organizations volunteers are older and have decided to step away because of the pandemic.

Its completely understandable because theyre high risk, he said. So now is the time that we really need for people to come forward so we can keep this great place going.

Chris Frinak, vice president of DCCA, said a core group of volunteers have been busily sprucing up the space at 130 W. Maple Ave., Beaver Dam, in recent weeks.

The entire main floor of the building has been painted a shade of gray and the boardroom has been relocated downstairs, thereby opening up another area for exhibits. In order to alleviate the need for tools, nails or screws, a track hanging system was installed so framed art pieces could be hung and rearranged easily.

Setting up exhibits will now be less time consuming and we wont constantly be putting holes in the walls, said Frinak.
Louis DeJoy was a wealthy transportation executive and Republican megadonor with a limited national profile just months ago. He's now in the middle of a roiling political fight between Democrats and President Donald Trump over voting and the integrity of the November election.

DeJoy, the postmaster general, is set to be questioned over two days on Capitol Hill. On Friday, he is to go before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and on Monday he is to face the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Both will be forums for DeJoy and Republicans to defend his management of the Postal Service and for Democrats to tether him to Trump and to mail slowdowns that they say could tarnish the presidential election.

"I've heard from over 7,300 people across the country about how postal delays are harming them," Senator Gary Peters of Michigan, the top Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee, said in a statement. "Postmaster General DeJoy has repeatedly refused to clearly answer key questions and I'm going to be pressing for answers."

Republicans might seek to blame the Obama administration for decisions to trim costs that were put in play since DeJoy arrived in June while also arguing that they are necessary. Those have included scrapping sorting machines, removing mail boxes and restricting overtime that has left mail piled up as workers' shifts end.

DeJoy, in a statement on Tuesday, said he had put in place "operational initiatives -- efforts that predate my arrival at the Postal Service" and announced that he was suspending them. He pledged that mail processing equipment and blue collection boxes would remain where they are, and overtime would be approved as needed.

GOP lawmakers are likely to use the hearings to counter calls for more funding for the beleaguered agency, which members of both parties say is overdue for profound reform.

"Democrats have fabricated a baseless conspiracy theory about the Postal Service and now they are asking American taxpayers to foot the bill for their fake crisis," Representative James Comer, of Kentucky, the top Oversight Republican, said in a statement.

A statement from the office of Representative Steve Scalise, the second-ranking House Republican, said that the recent changes are "sensible reforms designed to get the American people their mail on time and get the USPS on a sustainable fiscal path."

Scalise said the Postal Service moves mailboxes that receive little use, and "Democrats are using this routine practice to amplify misinformation."

The office of the Postal Service inspector general in 2016 said that nationally, the number of collection boxes had declined over five years by more than 12,000. It outlined "a tough balancing act" that weighs the convenience of the boxes versus the expense of maintaining even those that are barely used.

Trump, who has claimed without evidence that voting by mail is ripe for fraud, complained that the hearings would run into the start of the Republican National Convention on Monday. He blamed Republicans, tagging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in a tweet, for letting that happen, even though the Monday hearing is in the Democratic-controlled House.

DeJoy's announcement on Tuesday didn't mollify critics.

"The postmaster general's alleged pause is wholly insufficient and does not reverse damage already wreaked," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement on Wednesday. She said said she had spoken with DeJoy who "frankly admitted that he had no intention" of replacing sorting machines and mailboxes or allowing "adequate overtime, which is critical for the timely delivery of mail."

Pelosi has called the House back from a break to vote Saturday on legislation that would bar Postal Service cutbacks and provide it with $25 billion in additional funding. McConnell has given no indication the Senate would take up the bill.

"There has been documentation that mail processing equipment and blue collection boxes have already removed in some locations around the country," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a letter Wednesday to DeJoy. "Will USPS replace those items?"

The service's recent travails have become a potential liability for vulnerable Senate Republicans running in states where the Postal Service plays a critical role, including Maine, Alaska, and Colorado.

Senator Susan Collins of Maine is leading a bipartisan effort for a $25 billion Postal Service bailout, separate from the House measure, with substantial Republican support. Neither McConnell nor Trump has backed the extra money, though White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Wednesday the administration might consider that amount.

DeJoy was selected by the Postal Service Board of Governors, which is controlled by Trump appointees.

He was well-known in Republican and North Carolina power circles, and his wife, Aldona Z. Wos, was nominated in February as the U.S. ambassador to Canada.

He once played host to Trump at his North Carolina home and served as national finance chair for the Republican National Convention, which was scheduled to be held in his home state's biggest city, Charlotte.

Since 2009, DeJoy and Wos have given $2.6 million to Republicans, Federal Election Commission records show. A little less than half that amount went to Trump Victory, the large-donor fundraising organization that shares contributions among the president's campaign, the Republican National Committee and state parties. DeJoy also gave $100,000 to Trump's inaugural committee in 2017.

DeJoy nurtured family-owned New Breed Logistics as it grew from 10 employees into a nationwide provider of logistics services employing more than 9,000 people, according to the Postal Service. New Breed Logistics was a contractor to the the Postal Service for more than 25 years, the service said in a statement announcing DeJoy's selection.

Greenwich, Connecticut-based supply chain company XPO Logistics bought New Breed in 2014 for $615 million, and DeJoy used $30 million of proceeds from the transaction to purchase restricted stock from the company, XPO said in a news release. The company counts the Postal Service among its customers.

DeJoy served as chief executive of XPO's supply chain business in the Americas until December 2015, when he joined XPO's board of directors, where he served until 2018, according to the Postal Service. DeJoy's 92-page financial disclosure shows that he owns a stake in XPO worth between $30 million and $75 million. Officials disclose the value of their assets in broad ranges.

USPS senior ethics counsel Jessica Brewster-Johnson told CNN, which first reported DeJoy's ownership stake, that issues related to the company haven't been presented to DeJoy, and wouldn't likely rise to his level.

Postal Service Board of Governors Chairman Robert Duncan is to join DeJoy at Monday's hearing. Duncan was chairman of the Republican National Committee from 2007 to 2009, raising an unprecedented $428 million and growing the donor base to 1.8 million, according to his biography on the Postal Service website.
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New Yorkers living in poor areas of New York City are twice as likely to have tested positive for coronavirus antibodies, suggesting they've already had the infection, new health department data reveal.

Across the Big Apple, more than 27 percent of the nearly 1.5 million tests came back positive for a built-up immune response against COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.

That rate is up from previous antibody testing-based estimates that one in five people in New York City had had COVID-19.

But the health department data shows marked disparities in both how coronavirus itself has affected New Yorkers of different socioeconomic classes and how the city has responded to the pandemic. More people living in affluent areas were tested for antibodies in the first place, but positivity rates were higher in poorer ZIP codes.

Among the five boroughs, the highest rate of positive antibody tests was in the Bronx - of which half the neighborhoods live in high or extreme poverty - at 33.1 percent.

Meanwhile, Manhattan - where residents have a median income of about $109,000 - had the lowest rate at 19 percent. Notably, some 40 percent of people living in wealthy neighborhoods like SoHo and the Upper East Side fled the city between March and May as the pandemic took off in New York City, potentially dodging coronavirus infection and testing for antibodies against it.

Interestingly, New Yorkers in neighborhoods with fewer cases were more likely to seek antibody testing compared to residents of harder-hit areas.

The data shows a tale of two cities, in which people living in poverty-ridden neighborhoods had higher exposures to the virus due to their jobs and living conditions, while residents of more affluent areas were either able to telecommute or flee to their summer homes and other vacation destinations.

The Bronx was the borough of New York City that had the highest rate of positive coronavirus antibody tests at 33.1% while Manhattan had the lowest rate at 19%. Working-class areas were much more likely to have high rates compared to affluent neighborhoods

Although residents in poorer areas had higher positive rates, New Yorkers in more affluent areas were much more likely to actually be tested. Manhattan had the most per 100,000 and the Bronx had the lowest (above)

In ZIP codes classified as 'very high poverty,' 35% of residents tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies compared to 18.5% of those in 'low poverty' areas (above)

Of the nearly 1.5 million coronavirus antibody tests in New York City, more than 27% came back positive (above)

The highest rate was in Corona, Queens, a majority-Hispanic neighborhood at 51.6%, while the lowest rate was in Long Island City, Queens, a newly-developed area at 12.4%. Pictured: A man in Staten Island

The ZIP code with the highest rate of positive tests was 11368, which makes up Corona, a majority-Hispanic neighborhood in Queens.

Data shows 51.6 percent of residents tested positive for antibodies.

But experts say that's not surprising. Corona is mostly made up of workers who have so-called 'essential' jobs, which increases the risk of exposure, as well as crowded households and a high reliance on public transportation.

The second hardest hit ZIP code was 11219, which is the Borough Park neighborhood of the Bronx, at 46.8 percent positive.

Borough Park is home to a large Hasidic Jewish population, which is made up of large, close-knit families who often shun outsiders.

Additionally, many religious leaders recommended that synagogues and schools remain open even after health officials advised them to close.

Many Hasidic Jews in the city contracted the disease in early March when they celebrated the holiday of Purim with big parties and gatherings, while many other neighborhoods with Jewish denominations, such as Reformed and Conservative, canceled their festivities.

The data shows that New York City residents were more likely to test positive if they lived in low-income neighborhoods.

For example, 35 percent of people living in 'very high poverty' ZIP codes - in which one-third or more live below the Federal Poverty Level - tested positive.

A little more than 30 percent of people in 'high poverty' ZIP codes, where between 20 and 29.9 percent live below the poverty line, had antibodies.

However, per 100,000 people, more people in 'low poverty' areas actually had a test conducted. About 22,500 per 100,000 people had a test performed compared to 16,300 per 100,000 people.

In Corona, for example, the neighborhood with the highest positive rate, 26,760 residents - just 23 percent -were tested, meaning the true rate could be much higher.

In ZIP code 10025, which consists of the end of the Upper West Side and Manhattan Valley, more than 21,000 people were tested, but 3,600 came back positive. In an affluent area of Brooklyn, ZIP code 11215, nearly 17,000 residents were tested, but only 13 percent came back positive.

Making the contrast even starker, Corona's household median household income in 2018 was about $54000 while Manhattan Valley's was about $85,000.

Five percent of New York City's population, or 420,000 people, left between March 1 and May 1 amid the coronavirus pandemic. The bottom 80%, who earn less than $90,000 per year, mostly stayed while the top 1%, who earn about $2.2 million per year, fled

Popular destinations among so-called 'coronavirus refugees' include Martha's Vineyard, Cape Cod, Rhode Island, the Hamptons, Hudson Valley, the Jersey Shore and southern Florida

Meanwhile, it's a completely different picture in more well-to-do areas.

The lowest rate came from a ZIP code in Long Island City, Queens, a relatively newly-developed area with several high-rises. Only 12.4 percent tested positive for antibodies.

Many Manhattan ZIP codes also had rates below 13 percent, mainly in Financial District, SoHo, Upper West Side, and Upper East Side neighborhoods.

Interestingly, no neighborhoods below 96th Street - a major crosstown thoroughfare and the border between ritzy Manhattan and less well-to-do areas - had a rate above 20 percent.

The lowest rate in Brooklyn, 13.2 percent, was in Park Slope, an area with historic brownstones and an average household income of about $167,000.

The lower rates among Manhattan neighborhoods are not just due to residents having better access to healthcare or jobs that enable them to work remotely.

It's also because a great number of wealthy residents fled as the pandemic gripped the city.

Smartphone data analyzed by The New York Times found that five percent of the Big Apple left between March 1 and May 1.

That means about 420,000 residents out of nearly 8.4 million people headed to popular destinations such as Martha's Vineyard, Cape Cod, Rhode Island, the Hamptons, the Hudson Valley, the Jersey Shore and southern Florida.

While there was relatively little change in some ZIP codes, others such as SoHo, the West Village, Morningside Heights, the Upper East Side, the Financial District, Midtown, Gramercy and Brooklyn Heights emptied by at least 40 percent.

Manhattan's overall population fell by almost 20 percent.

Mail-forwarding requests showed that Miami, Los Angeles and Virginia were among the top destinations to where New York City residents moved.

Income was perhaps the strongest indicator of how many residents in a particular neighborhood had fled with nearly 90 percent of the top 10 percent leaving.

The bottom 80 percent, who earn less than $90,000 per year, mostly stayed while the top one percent, who earn about $2.2 million per year, fled.

The residents of these wealthy neighborhoods where more than 25 percent fled are overwhelmingly white, about 68 percent.

However, this is not representative of New York City's population because less than half the city - 42.7 percent - is white, according to US census data.
(Newser)  President Trump lost another legal battle in regard to his tax returns Thursday, but it remains unlikely they will be released before the November election, reports the Hill. In the latest setback for Trump, a federal judge in New York ruled that Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. is entitled to see the financial records. This was a follow-up to a Supreme Court ruling last month that rejected Trump's claim of immunity from criminal investigations as president. After the ruling by US District Judge Victor Marrero, Trump's legal team immediately appealed, per the AP. The appeal means the case will almost certainly still be in the court system come Nov. 3.

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This is a fishing expedition, but more importantly, this is a continuation of the witch huntthe greatest witch hunt in history," Trump said Thursday. "Theres never been anything like it, where people want to examine everything youve ever done to see if they can find that theres a comma out of place. Among other things, Vance is looking into hush-money payments made to two women during the 2016 campaign who alleged having affairs with Trump. Congress is separately pursuing Trump's financial records.

(Read more President Trump stories.)
The upcoming Bihar Assembly polls, the first such exercise in the country to be held amid the Covid-19 pandemic, will cost the state exchequer an estimated Rs 625 crore, more than double the amount spent to hold the last state polls in 2015, and one-fifth of the total amount is estimated to be spent in ensuring safety arrangements for voters and polling personnel at booths as per guidelines to be issued by the Election Commission soon, officials in the state election department have said.

Compared to the 2015 polls, when around Rs 270 crore was spent on the exercise, there will be an estimated increase of 131.48% in the expenses of holding elections this year, thanks to the raging pandemic.

Also read: Curbs at rallies, booths likely in first Covid-19 polls

The expenditure for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections was Rs 535 crore, as per state government records.

While the cost of holding Lok Sabha elections is borne by the central government, respective states foot the bill for holding Assembly elections.

According to officials familiar with the matter, the drastic rise in poll expenses this time is on account of safety measures like purchase of PPE kits for six lakh polling personnel, besides gloves and masks, and sanitizer for voters before they enter the booths.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is also considering other proposals for safety of electors, including putting circles outside the booths where voters would be asked to stand before casting their vote to ensure social distancing.

Also read: Jitan Ram Manjhi-led HAM-S exits Grand Alliance ahead of Bihar assembly polls

The expected expenditure on transportation of polling personnel and central armed police force (CAPF) is another factor for cost escalation. This time, requirement of buses, trucks, SUVs and other vehicles will be much higher than previous elections to ensure there is no crowding inside vehicles ferrying polling personnel, said an official engaged in poll preparations.

This time, counting centres will be much bigger so that polling agents and poll personnel can maintain proper social distance during the counting process, he said.

The increase in number of booths by 45%, with creation of 33,797 auxillary booths apart from 72,727 booths to cap the number of voters to 1000 or below in each booth for maintaining safety norms, is another reason behind cost escalation, sources said.

Bihar has a total 243 assembly constituencies.

There is an assessment that Rs 2 crore-plus per assembly constituency would be spent on election-related activities. Besides, an additional Rs 125 crore will be spent on purchasing safety gears and implementing various measures for social distancing. The figure can even go up, said the official.

The assessment of high cost to be incurred in the coming polls is also reflected in the budget 2020-21. While the initial budgetary provision for the states election department in this years budget was Rs 627 crore, an additional allotment of Rs 250 crore was made in the recently approved supplementary budget by the state government, based on the election departments revised cost estimates.

This means the state government has made a total budgetary provision of Rs 877 crore, of which Rs 122 crore has been provisioned for payment to central security forces to be engaged for poll duty.

Bihars chief electoral officer H R Srinivasa refused to comment on the projected cost of Rs 625 crore. Sufficient budgetary provisions have been made for the election expenditure. We have adequate funds, he said.

Principal secretary (finance) S Siddharth said the state election department had been allotted funds as per demand for conduct of polls.  The state government has made additional allotment in supplementary budget for election purposes, he said.

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This article first appeared on the Boston Business Journals website.

Once upon a time, Worcester had been forecast to be the cannabis capital of Massachusetts, as its number of licenses grew. The states industry regulators even moved their headquarters from Boston to the states second largest city.

But now, a different city an hour's drive west of Worcester  and 90 minutes from Boston  is the new leader in terms of the number of completed license applications, according to a Boston Business Journal analysis of submitted recreational marijuana licenses through July 9.

The city of Holyoke has reported 40 completed applications that had been submitted to the state. That's 5% of the 841 total licenses received to date.

Those licenses include four licensees that have opened  a manufacturing and cultivation license under Rise Holdings, and two dispensaries owned by Canna Provisions and Boston Bud Factories. Another 21 licenses have received provisional approval, and 15 have self-attested to submitting a completed application to the state.

By comparison, Worcester counted 28 licenses: five open, 19 provisionally approved, and four submitted applications. Pittsfield reported 26 licenses, while Fitchburg counted 24, ranking third and fourth.

All told, Holyoke would have one dispensary for every 1,000 residents if all applications are approved. That's a higher concentration than Worcester, which would have one per every 6,600 residents, as well as both Pittsfield and Fitchburg.

And according to Marcos Marrero, director of planning and economic development for the city of Holyoke, the number of cannabis businesses in the city is no coincidence. It has absolutely been a concerted effort, he said.

According to Marrero, a number of factors have helped propel Holyoke towards becoming a cannabis hot spot, starting with Mayor Alex Morse and the city council.

Morse was one of the first mayors in the state to endorse the legalization of recreational marijuana, Marrero said. Additionally, the city council has been willing to approve zoning laws to become more marijuana-friendly, and as cannabis companies have come before the city council for special permits, the council has approved every one.

Its not just one person. Holyoke voters voted affirmatively 57% in favor of cannabis, which is over the state average, Marrero said. Councilors see that as well and understand this is something the population desires  Thats the kind of stability that goes beyond one individual.

The city has created a streamlined process for signing a contract with the town, easing one common stumbling block for cannabis operators in other communities. The host community agreement outlines both the excise taxes the town will take and the community impact fees that will be provided to the town to mitigate the effects of the establishment.

And while some municipalities have used it as an opportunity to exact donations and annual payments from cannabis operators, Holyoke has taken the opposite approach. The city provides a template that asks for the 3% tax and 3% fee outlined by state law. Dispensaries that want a contract can fill one out and have it signed the same afternoon  a timeline that's practically unheard of in most communities, where negotiations often take three to six months.

But Marrero said the city also benefitted from another factor: It was perfectly primed for cannabis businesses, with 2 million square feet of vacant real estate, long a burden for the citys tax rolls. Thats played to the citys advantage for companies looking to locate large cultivation or manufacturing plants in the city. Holyoke also has some of the cheapest electrical rates, an attractive bonus to cultivators in particular.

City officials hope the effort will pay off in research and chemical manufacturing, providing a link to the pharmacy sector in the eastern part of Massachusetts and connecting the states divergent regions.

The burgeoning industry can also help employ local residents, 50% of whom are Latino. The city requires local cannabis companies to hire 30% of staff from the community, and has provided entrepreneurship opportunities through Holyoke Community College and coworking space EforAll Holyoke.

By moving quickly, Holyoke hopes to create an economic cluster both in the city and in Western Massachusetts, bringing ancillary businesses to the region as well.

Were trying not just to attract many companies because we see the benefit as being the sum of its parts, though thats important. The more buildings you fill, more taxes, more assessed value, the more people they will employ, Marrero said. Its about creating a cluster effect.
Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) has detained seven people for the kidnapping attempt of one of the leaders of the Donbass peoples militia organized by Ukrainian intelligence services, the FSB Public Relations Center said.

"Russias FSB as a result of conducting a special operation has uncovered and intercepted the unlawful act of Ukraines special services of kidnapping on Russian territory and forceful transporting to Ukraine one of the leaders of the Donbass peoples militia who took active part in warfare against the Ukrainian armed forces. Immediately during the kidnapping attempt were detained Russian citizens Makarov T.B., Mishchenko M.S., Kapkayeva O.D., Kormich A.M., Pyzin M. Yu., Moroz Ye.A. and Dolgov V.V. The kidnapping was organized and coordinated by Ukrainian citizens Andrey Baydala and Igor Mishchenko." TASS cited the Center as saying.



According to the FSB, the kidnapping organizers were directed by the department head of Ukraines security services. "Baydala and Mishchenko were acting on an assignment and under general direction of Ukraines security service counterintelligence department head A. Rusnak and director of the 5th directorate of the counterintelligence department of Ukraines security service A. Poklad. Thus, Department No. 4 directly dealing with organized criminal groups on Russian territory functions as a part of the aforementioned directorate," the FSB Public Relations Center reported. In order to create an alibi for the perpetrators, the Ukrainian intelligence services have disseminated in advance in the news outlets the reports of "Baydalas detention for illicit possession of arms." Mishchenko and Baydala have formed two assault groups consisting of members of a Russian criminal structure in order to kidnap forcefully a Russian citizen. They promised Makarovs group $200,000 and paid an advance of $50,000. "Baydala, allegedly detained in Ukraine, was remotely personally directing both groups in real time. The organizer of the channel for the illegal forceful transport was Russian citizen Moroz Ye. A. A criminal case has been opened on the kidnapping of a person by an organized group," the Center reported.



According to the FSB, Baydala is known to the security structures and the DPRs competent bodies as the unofficial staff member of Ukrainian security services and of the Chief Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, as well as an authorized representative of the 5th directorate of the counterintelligence department of Ukraines security service under an alias of Swede. There is a number of criminal cases in the DPR opened against Baydala as an organizer of implemented and prevented terrorist acts, including the murder of Zakharchenko.
The government is planning to sell part of its stake in Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corp (IRCTC) in the current fiscal, and has invited bids from merchant bankers for managing the sale process.

"The GoI intends to disinvest a part of the paid up equity capital of IRCTC out of its shareholding through 'Offer for Sale (OFS) method of shares by promoters through the stock exchanges' as per Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) Rules and Regulations," DIPAM said while inviting Request for Proposal (RFP).

The merchant bankers will have to submit their bids by September 10.

The government currently holds 87.40% stake in IRCTC. To meet Sebi's public holding norm, the government has to lower its stake in the company to 75%.

Shares of IRCTC closed at Rs 1,346.65 apiece on the BSE, down 1.20% over its previous close.

IRCTC, the only entity authorised by Indian Railways to provide catering services to railways, online railway tickets and packaged drinking water at railway stations and trains in India, was on the stock exchanges in October 2019. The company had raised ?645 crore through the IPO.

IRCTC OFS will help the government inch forward in meeting the ?2.10 trillion disinvestment target. Of this, ?1.20 trillion will come from disinvestment of public sector undertakings and another ?90,000 crore from stake sale in financial institutions.

So far in the current fiscal, the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) has not been able to sell stake in any CPSE as the coronavirus outbreak has impacted equity markets. However, through Bharat Bond ETF-II, the government has garnered subscription worth ?11,000 crore for 'AAA' rated bonds of CPSEs.

DIPAM Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey had last month said restrictions on international travel due to COVID-19 pandemic have put brakes on strategic disinvestment of CPSEs, like Air India and BPCL, but completing the transactions remains a priority of the government.

DIPAM, which manages the CPSE stake sale process, has also set into motion the process of listing of the country's largest insurer Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) and appointed pre-IPO transaction advisor. The government is looking at listing the insurer on domestic bourses in the January-March quarter of the current fiscal.

The government is also looking at launching initial public offering (IPO) of Indian Railway Finance Corp Ltd (IRFC) and had in January filed draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India for IPO of over 140 crore equity shares.

The Union Cabinet had in April 2017 approved listing of five railway companies. While four of them -- IRCON International Ltd, RITES Ltd, Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd and IRTC -- have already been listed, IRFC is likely to be put on the block this fiscal.

Also Read: Kerala opposes Trivandrum airport transfer to Adani group, 'will not cooperate'

Also Read: Airtel Rs 401 Disney+ Hotstar plan revamped to offer 30GB data
British holidaymakers say changes to travel rules are costing them thousands of pounds as travellers returning from three more countries were told they will need to quarantine.

Travellers arriving from Croatia, Austria and Trinidad and Tobago will now need to isolate for 14 days, as they were added to a list of countries that also includes France, the Netherlands and Belgium.

Steve Davies, from Yeovil, Somerset, is on holiday in Drasnice, Croatia, and said quarantining when he returns will cost him up to 1,200 in unpaid wages, which he said is more than the cost of the holiday.

The 50-year-old, who works as a production supervisor for Leonardo helicopters, told the PA news agency: The announcements are a shambles with little warning to return why cant the Government work two weeks ahead on these announcements?

I refuse to be panicked and I will not return early: its safer here than where I am in the UK.

Steve Davies, in Croatia, says he will not be panicked (Steve Davies/PA)

Mr Davies is travelling on to Poland, which is exempt from the need to isolate, on August 25 and then Britain on August 30.

According to Government rules, this means he would need to isolate for nine days on his return, taking him to 14 since leaving Croatia.

Jess, from Milton Keynes, had was booked in for a 6,500 family holiday to Greece from next week, but rescheduled it for next year after reading articles that suggested it too was likely to be added to the quarantine list.

When the changes were announced on Thursday, though, Greece was not on the list and she feels the change, which she said cost an additional 3,000, was unnecessary.

Its just frustrating, she told PA.

If wed have known this yesterday we would still be going to Greece and be 3,000 better off.

The holiday had already been rescheduled once from the start of the school summer holidays to the end due to the pandemic.

If the Government could stop the fake news published (about rule changes) that scares readers it would help, she said.

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Frustratingly we booked this holiday as a special treat as (me and my husband) are both 40 this year.

Too late for us, we are off camping to Cornwall.

Jess is a teacher and is unable to quarantine due to schools returning, while her husband distributes personal protective equipment (PPE).

We both worked so hard through lockdown and sent the kids to school so we could work and this is how we are repaid, she said.

The quarantine rules for the three new affected countries come into force at 4am on Saturday.
The warning from ECOWAS was not the first time the bloc has invoked the potential use of it its standby military force. In 2017, a similar call was issued to then-Gambian President Yahya Jammeh when he refused to acknowledge defeat in an election. Jammeh ultimately agreed to go into exile and no military action was taken.
Cancer June 22-July 22 It is usual for you to be torn in a million directions. After all, you are the mother or father Hen of the zodiac and like to be there for all and sundry. Today as the moon in your private, domestic zone faces off against Mars in your sector of image and career you'll, and struggle, to juggle both. Leo July 23-August 22

You're not scared to take a walk on the wild side, especially if it's lucrative, but usually weigh up both sides of the coin. It's these sort of gutsy moves that earn you the admiration and respect all Felines seem to effortlessly attract. However, today is not the time to be cocksure. Make sure your risks are calculated. Virgo August 23-September 22 Before the sun leaves your sector of subconscious thought, spirituality and mysticism for another year you may want to spend the next day or two deeply involved in some soul searching. The moon is in your sector of finances which is also associated with non-material values so now is a good time to look at what's really important. Libra

September 23-October 22 Today you'll be gripped by a sense of sentimentality and may feel more emotional than usual as the moon enters your sign. Although Mars in your relationship sector is encouraging you to keep a stiff upper lip this placement is also making you feisty and prone to dig your heels in. Compromise but not at the expense of your principles. Scorpio October 23  November 22 Today you'll be gripped by a sense of sentimentality and may feel more emotional than usual as the moon enters your sign. Although Mars in your relationship sector is encouraging you to keep a stiff upper lip this placement is also making you feisty and prone to dig your heels in. Compromise but not at the expense of your principles.

Sagittarius November 23-December 20 Take friends' advice with a pinch of salt. They may be well intended and honest but completely off the mark, especially when it comes to the romantic arena. Do what's good for you and follow your intuition whether you feel you should flirt and strike while the iron's hot or show some restraint and mystery. Capricorn December 21-January 19

Although ambitious you usually prefer to stay in your comfortable slippers however today you should adopt a nothing ventured, nothing gained attitude. Entertaining seemingly crazy possibilities will create breakthroughs. Unanswered doors that youve long since given up on can once again be reopened thanks provided you are intrepid, tenacious and willing to take a risk. Aquarius January 20-February 18 You may have been looking at the big picture so much and for so long that you're skipping some of the finer details yet still important. It may seem like minutiae but the little things are what provide the underpinning of a bigger enterprise. It may seem boring but being meticulous will prevent you from backtracking. Pisces
MINSK, Belarus - Prosecutors in Belarus opened a criminal investigation Thursday against opposition activists who set up a council to negotiate a democratic transition of power amid massive protests against official election results that extended the 26-year rule of the countrys authoritarian leader.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has dismissed the protesters demanding his resignation as Western puppets, had threatened opposition leaders with criminal charges. Following up on his warning, prosecutors opened an inquiry against the new councils founders on charges of undermining national security.

The Belarusian Prosecutor Generals office said the creation of the Coordination Council that met for the first time Wednesday violated the constitution.

The creation and the activities of the Coordination Council are aimed at seizing power and inflicting damage to the national security, Prosecutor General Alexander Konyuk said.

The council members have rejected the accusations and insist their actions fully comply with Belarusian law. The United States on Thursday urged the authorities to engage in a dialogue with the opposition council and described the Aug. 9 presidential election that handed Lukashenko a sixth term as neither free nor fair.

The post-election protests continued in the capital of Minsk and other cities for the 12th straight day. About 1,000 protesters rallied on Minsk central Independence Square, chanting Go away! to demand that the countrys leader since 1994 leave office. .

The Belarusians have changed, Olga Matusevich, a 29-year-old entrepreneur, said. The protest will not end until Lukashenko steps down.

During the first four days of protests, police detained almost 7,000 people and injured hundreds with rubber bullets, stun grenades and clubs. At least three protesters died.

The crackdown fueled massive outrage and swelled protesters ranks, forcing authorities to change tactics and stop breaking up crowds that grew to an unprecedented 200,000 on Sunday.

I was born and grew up under Lukashenko and I heard nothing but threats, said 26-year-old biologist Maria Fando. But its impossible to scare the majority, and they wont be able to jail everyone.

After standing back for days, police again beefed up their presence on the streets of Minsk on Wednesday, blocking access to some government buildings and also deploying outside major factories where workers have been on strike since Monday while backing the anti-Lukashenko protests.

They are again trying to scare us, Maxim Shukevich, 32, who works at the Minsk Tractor Plant, said. The authorities are striking back. Our factory is being flooded with law enforcement agents.

The industrial action that has engulfed major factories across the country cast a tough challenge to Lukashenko, who had relied on blue-collar workers as his core support base.

In a bid to stop the strike from spreading, the Belarusian leader on Wednesday said that the participants would face dismissal and ordered law enforcement agencies to protect factory managers from opposition pressure.

Hundreds of state television employees have also gone on strike, shaking the governments control of the media.

The Belarusian leader warned members of the Coordination Council that they could face criminal responsibility for their attempt to create parallel power structures.

The council has called for a new presidential election organized by newly formed election commissions, as well as for an investigation into the protest crackdown and compensation for victims of police violence.

The groups goals drew increasing support from governments in Europe and beyond this week. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday that Washington remains deeply concerned by serious flaws in the the Aug. 9 election and strongly condemns the violence against protesters.

Pompeo said the vote in Belarus didnt meet the standards for free and fair elections. He urged officials there to actively engage Belarusian society, including through the newly established opposition council, in a way that reflects what the Belarusian people are demanding.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the European Union was ready to play a mediating role in Belarus if Belarusian protesters want that. EU leaders on Wednesday said they were preparing sanctions against Belarusian officials responsible for alleged election fraud and for police brutality against protest participants.

Macron, who discussed the situation in Belarus with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week, said Putin was favourable to the idea of mediation by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the top trans-Atlantic security and rights group.

We are ready to bring all our assistance and our mediation, the French president told reporters. We insisted on the need to have a democratic, inclusive transition in Belarus that passes via dialogue.

The Belarusian opposition body consists of top associates of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who was Lukashenkos leading challenger in the Aug. 9 election, as well as rights activists and representatives of striking workers. It also includes Belarus most famous author, Svetlana Alexievich, who won the 2015 Nobel Prize in literature.

The only former senior official on the council, Pavel Latushko, who headed a leading national theatre and was fired earlier this week for siding with protesters, said he wouldnt leave the country despite being threatened with arrest. The facade of his house in Minsk was splashed with red paint overnight.

Another opposition council member, Sergei Dylevsky, the leader of striking workers at the Minsk Tractor Plant, also dismissed the official accusations as total nonsense.

There is a sharp conflict between the people and the government, and we only represent a body that would try to mediate it, Dylevsky said. We arent aiming to overthrow the government and seize power, our goal is peaceful dialogue.

Prosecutors summoned Tsikhanouskayas lawyer, Maxim Znak, who also sits on the council, to come for interrogation Friday as part of the probe.

Tsikhanouskaya, 37, a former English teacher who went to neighbouring Lithuania after the election in a move that her campaign aides said was made under pressure, met Thursday with Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis, who promised to help achieve free and fair elections in Belarus.

Facing Western criticism, Lukashenko, 65, has turned to Russia for help, saying that Putin promised him security assistance if Belarus needs it. The two nations have an agreement that contemplates close political, economic and military ties.

Asked about the EUs decisions, Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reaffirmed Moscows warning against foreign meddling.

We continue to convey our stance that we consider any foreign influence on the developments in Belarus unacceptable, he told reporters.

___

Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow, Matthew Lee in Washington, Angela Charlton in Paris and Liudas Dapkus in Vilnius, Lithuania contributed to this report.

___

Follow APs coverage of the political turmoil in Belarus at https://www.apnews.com/Belarus
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Bharat Book Bureau Provides the Trending Market Research Report on Environmental Sensing and Monitoring Technologies: Global Markets under Environmental Category. The report offers a collection of superior market research, market analysis, competitive intelligence and Market reports.

For the purpose of this report, Environmental Sensing And Monitoring Technologies are sensors, equipment and other technologies that detect chemical and biological contaminants, measure physical phenomena and convert that information into measurable data. Environmental sensor monitoring networks represent the aggregation of large numbers of individual sensors into large networks. Environmental sensors can be in thousands of forms and types based on a wide range of physical and chemical principles with varying types of usable output. Typically monitored contaminants include metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), biological contaminants and radioisotopes. The field applications of sensors are also extremely varied. Areas of environmental focus include water supplies and watershed data, vehicular emissions, combustion of fossil fuels, agricultural runoff, industrial and mine waste disposal, ocean spills and dumping, climate change, weather monitoring and seismic events.

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The scope of this report covers the global environmental sensing and monitoring technologies market for various end-use industry applications. The market is broken down by application, type, sensor, sampling method and end-use industry. Revenue forecasts from 2020-2025 are given for each segment and regional market with estimated values derived from manufacturers total revenues.

The report also includes a discussion of the major players in each regional market. Further, it explains the major drivers and regional dynamics of the global environmental sensing and technologies market and current trends within the industry.

The report concludes with a special focus on the vendor landscape and includes detailed profiles of the major vendors.

Report Includes:

- 80 tables

- An overview of the global market for environmental sensing and monitoring technologies

- Analyses of global market trends, with data corresponding to market size for 2019, estimates for 2020 and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2025

- Market share analysis of three main categories of sensors, i.e., physical sensors, chemical sensors and biological sensors

- Characterization and quantification of environmental sensors market based on passive, active, electromechanical and semiconductors

- Breakdowns of sensor applications into categories including temperature sensing, moisture detection, and biological and chemical detection

- Identification of emerging growth areas, such as large-scale monitoring networks

- A look at the regulatory affairs and the level of government spending committed to the environment that will determine the future level of demand for environmental sensors

- Company profiles of the leading players in the industry, including 3M Co., Bosch Sensortec GmbH, Danaher Corp., Honeywell, PerkinElmer Inc., Shimadzu Corp. and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

Summary:

In this report, Our Research examines global environmental sensing and monitoring technology market revenue potential and the current state of the market. The analysis includes a detailed survey of upcoming organizations in the market as well as existing players. At the industry level, Our Research identifies, examines, describes and provides global and regional market size for 2019, 2020 and 2025.

While a wide range of companies operate in the market, the companies can be broadly classified -

- Sensor manufacturers.

- Other hardware manufacturers (monitors, probes, ICs, optics, etc.).

- Software manufacturers.

- Large diversified technology manufacturers (in multiple technology verticals).

In terms of market demand (or market size) North America is the largest market for these technologies.

However, APAC is witnessing the strongest growth rate and is expected to continue to be the strongest growing region in the coming years. APAC is also the second largest market. Europe is the third largest market and is expected to see a growth rate similar to that of North America. Demand for environmental sensing and monitoring technologies is expected to be low in the Middle East and South America and the growth rate in these regions is expected to be low in the coming years.

In the analysis presented in this report, Our Research identified the following key points -

- Global demand for environmental sensing and monitoring technologies is estimated to have reached REDACTED in 2019.

- Global demand is further estimated to increase to REDACTED by the end of 2020 and to further increase to REDACTED by 2025.

- Geographically and segment-wide, CAGR is projected to be REDACTED over the forecast period (2020-2025), indicating strong growth.

Segmentation by application shows that, currently, air monitoring is the largest application and one of the strongest growing segments. Air monitoring is followed by the water and soil monitoring technology segment. Water monitoring is also expected to grow strongly in the coming years. Noise monitoring, on the other hand, is a small segment and will be among the slowest growing segments. While noise monitoring has its niche uses and applications, higher focus from government and environmental bodies on air and water quality monitoring will drive these segments, resulting in a much higher growth rate than noise monitoring. Air and water quality monitoring technologies are also expected to see strong growth, worldwide.

Browse our full report with Table of Content : https://www.bharatbook.com/marketreports/environmental-sensing-and-monitoring-technologies-global-markets/2113090

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Burma Myanmar Seizes Massive Methamphetamine Hauls Destined for Malaysia and Indonesia

Suspects and drugs seized at Kyeinnali Beach in Rakhine State on August 16. / Central Committee for Drug Abuse and Control / Facebook

Yangon  Myanmars police say they have seized 112 billion kyats (US$81.6 million) worth of crystal methamphetamines or Ice apparently destined for Malaysia and Indonesia at Kyeinnali Beach in Rakhine State and Sel Eaintan Beach in Yangon Region, according to the military-controlled Ministry of Home Affairs.

Police seized 1,380 kg of crystal meth worth of 32 billion kyats ($23 million) on Myanmars market from a vessel docked southwest of Kyeinnali in southern Rakhine State on Sunday. Police also arrested five suspects in connection with the drugs haul and said the drugs were transferred from another vessel near Mawkin Village in Thandwe. Police say they are looking for other suspects.

In another case, police seized 1,000 kg of crystal meth worth 80 billion kyats near the fishing port at Sel Eaintan Beach in Yangons Kungyangon Township on July 31. The police said the drugs came from southern Shan State and were destined for Malaysia.

Police also arrested seven suspects separately in Hopong and Taunggyi in Shan State, Leiktho in Karen State and Mingaladon and South Dagon townships in Yangon. Police have sealed off three houses and seized nine cars and a speedboat for further investigations.

All the seized drugs were disguised as Chinese teabags, including Guan Yin Wang and Refined Chinese Tea. In August last year, Myanmars military raided a meth factory in Namhsan Township and seized crystal meth packed in Chinese brand teabags.

The authorities seized 11.5 billion kyats ($8.4 million) worth of meth and heroin in Kyethi Township on August 15 this year, 25 billion kyats ($18.2 million) worth of meth in Tachileik Township on August 13 and 797 million kyats ($581,000) worth in early August in Tachilek.

Over 24.6 billion kyats ($18 million) worth of meth and heroin were seized on Kengtung-Loimway-Wanlone junction in Namhsan on June 7, and 78.7 billion kyats ($57 million) worth of drugs were seized on May 24 and May 29 on Loilem-Taunggyi and Taunggyi-Kalaw roads.

In March last year, Myanmars navy said it seized over 43 billion kyats ($31.3 million) of crystal meth off the Tanintharyi Region coast from a vessel from Gwa in southern Rakhine. The navy reported at least three seizures of meth worth hundreds of billions of kyats from vessels near Tanintharyi. The drugs were destined for Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, according to the navy.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko

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Joe Bidens presidential campaign is staying online in the last months of the election, but organizers say Democratic enthusiasm is at an all-time-high, even if the coronavirus pandemic is keeping voters separated by digital screens.

The Michigan Democratic Party spent the last three years rebuilding its organizing networks after President Donald Trump smashed through the blue wall and became the first Republican to win the state in a generation. But as soon as Michigan Democrats cast votes for Biden in the March primary, the COVID-19 pandemic forced their grassroots army to stay home and start organizing virtually.

Related: In must-win Michigan, Trump campaign takes fight door to door as polls show Biden with strong lead

Michigan Democratic Party Chairwoman Lavora Barnes said the transition to online campaign work hasnt hindered efforts to connect with voters. Part of that is due to their early start -- the party aims to build on a strong showing in 2018 for Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and candidates who swept statewide offices -- but Barnes said Trumps mishandling of multiple ongoing crises is also mobilizing voters against him.

The fact that he has completely bungled this COVID response that has put lives in danger, that has allowed this epidemic to spread wider, faster and harder than it had to, and its effect on the economy right now, all of these things are the reasons that folks who may have supported Trump in 2016 will now come support the Biden-Harris ticket, Barnes said.

Republican and Democratic party leaders said its uncertain whether either candidate will make a single visit to Michigan before Nov. 3. Thats left it up to organizers to drum up enthusiasm without voters hearing directly from Trump or Biden.

Trump held downsized rallies in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Pennsylvania this week, but the campaign hasnt announced any plans for Michigan. His campaign has been holding in-person events and knocking on doors since June, while Democrats have largely kept their events online.

I think that given what this pandemic has done to devastate communities here in Michigan, it makes sense for us to remain safe, Barnes said. Were not in a place with this pandemic where it feels practical or smart, in terms of public health, for us to have gatherings like that where people are in offices or on peoples porches just yet.

Bidens Michigan team invited MLive to log into online events this month to observe the shift to virtual campaigning. In some ways, the events are more intimate. College organizers shared recommendations for a playlist running in the background during a recent training, while volunteers snuck a glimpse of a triumphant unicorn figurine on Attorney General Dana Nessels desk during a phone bank for women voters.

The campaign held a flurry of events this week coinciding with the Democratic National Convention, scheduling over 450 organizing events this week. The online events MLive attended largely had one theme in common, best summed up by Nessel:

Go back in your minds to how you felt the day after the election in 2016 ... Go back in your mind and think What could I have done differently to help stop this disaster from happening?

Two votes per precinct

Michigan Democrats tie Hillary Clintons surprise loss in 2016 with her lack of presence in the state. Trumps campaign blitzed Michigan with 14 visits from August through November, while Clintons campaign held half as many rallies.

Brandon Dillon, who led the Michigan Democratic Party from 2015-19, said the threat of a contested convention left Democrats slow to build up an organizing presence in 2016. Dillon said the Clinton campaign also failed to understand the ground was shifting beneath their feet, unaware that Trumps message on trade was connecting with union Democrats.

Related: Michigan women lead online Biden rally featuring shark week jokes and urgent call to beat Trump

Still, Democrats are quick to note that Trump didnt run away with Michigan. He won the state by only 10,704 votes, a margin of 0.3%. The close loss still haunts Democratic organizers four years later.

In her speech at the Democratic National Convention this week, former First Lady Michelle Obama noted that one of the key states that determined the outcome of the 2016 presidential election was lost by just two votes per precinct. That was Michigan.

Related: Michelle Obama mentions Trumps tight Michigan victory during Democratic National Convention speech

U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, recognized a need to mobilize voters earlier, even before candidates were chosen, using the 2018 midterms as a launching point. She assembled Dillon and Barnes with a plan to expand the partys field program in Michigans 83 counties.

Stabenow said Democrats have essentially been knocking doors since June 2018. Now, she says Michigans coordinated campaign is the largest of any state.

Dillon said organizers are better equipped to mobilize key constituencies. The party boasts seven times as many field staffers compared to 2016, including 19 field staffers in Detroit.

The state party went from what was mostly just a fundraising and support system for statewide candidates to a first-class field operation that is there to identify voters, get them out to vote and is communicating with folks 365 days a year, Dillon said.

Democrats need to improve turnout in urban areas -- particularly among Black voters -- and suburban communities that have trended more blue in recent elections. Field staff are also beating the bushes in rural Republican counties where Democrats havent tread in past election years, Barnes said.

It appears to be paying off. Votes cast for Democratic congressional candidates in the August primary more than doubled compared to 2016. Votes for Democratic candidates tripled in four key congressional districts -- Michigans Republican-controlled 3rd and 6th districts, and two districts Democrats flipped in 2018, the 8th and 11th.

Democrats improved on their margins in every congressional district except Michigans 10th, which Trump won by 32 percentage points during his first campaign.

Everything is bigger, Barnes said. Weve built this knowing that part of the downfall of 2016 is that we took too long to build it and tried to build it too fast. I think that if we had the numbers of voter contact compared to where we were at this point in 2016, we would be astronomically ahead of where we were.

Im going to get that two extra votes per precinct.

Everything is at stake'

If Trump was elevated in 2016 because voters strongly disliked his opponent, Democrats expect the reverse is true in 2020. Dillon said divisive culture wars, the death of 170,000 Americans from COVID-19 and the loss of nearly 13 million jobs has left Trump with a lot to answer for.

You cannot take any election for granted, especially with Trump, Dillon said. Hes shown that hes able to motivate folks on the right that will only turn out for him. But Trump is not an abstract concept anymore. Theres a lot of folks who may have held their nose and voted for him because they didnt like Hillary who are not going to do that this time.

Democrats have repeatedly communicated a sense of urgency with just over two months left until the election. During a Biden campaign event last week, U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint, said voters need to band together with the same energy as striking union workers in the 1930s.

Stabenow said everything is at stake on Nov. 3.

No, Im not exaggerating that this is the most important election of my lifetime, she said. Its hard to imagine a worse situation, other than this president being reelected and continuing a downward spiral of division. We are at a moment where everything is at stake. Literally our lives, our livelihoods. The safety of our children.

Stabenow said Trumps recent attacks on absentee voting and reports of mail sorting machines being removed from postal offices across the country show the president is trying to sow chaos ahead of the election.

I think more and more people are looking at what really appears to be his out-of-control behavior and having a lot of questions about whether they want to continue this the next four years, Stabenow said. Theyre just exhausted. Theyre tired of the chaos ... They really feel like in the middle of this pandemic we should be trying to find unity as a country.

Polls of Michigan voters consistently show Biden with a strong lead over the summer, but Democrats like U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell of Dearborn have warned the campaign not to put too much stock in them. She told reporters this week she still sees strong support for Trump among union voters in her district who cast a ballot for him after previously supporting the Obama-Biden ticket in 2012.

However, Dingell said Trumps handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has left many union voters uncertain about how the economic fallout will affect their lives. Bidens campaign has put a heavy focus on his 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.

State-level employment data for July isnt yet available, but Michigans 14.8% unemployment rate in June was the 6th worst in the country.

The economic pain we are facing right now is because the President of the United States has not taken control of this pandemic, Dingell said.

Stabenow said Democrats have highlighted Bidens strengths, rather than enumerate Trumps shortcomings. Michigan is the consummate ticket-splitting state, she said, and voters wont cast a ballot out of a feeling obligation.

People expect us to work hard and earn every vote, she said.

U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, said voters need to see a Democratic agenda that isnt just being anti-Trump, during a DNC watch party organized by the Biden campaign. Slotkin flipped a House seat previously held by Republicans and has acknowledged that many of her voters in 2018 likely supported Trump two years earlier.

Bidens campaign touts a big tent in Michigan, claiming the former vice president has built support among a diverse coalition of progressives, independents and former Republicans. Speakers at the DNC this week included several Republicans, like former Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former U.S. Rep. Susan Molinar of New York, while also making space for progressives like U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.

This election is bigger than Democrats and Republicans. It really is about our country and our democracy and whether or not were going to be able to just stop the chaos and division going on right now, Stabenow said.

READ MORE ON MLIVE:

Michigan women lead online Biden rally featuring shark week jokes and urgent call to beat Trump

Michigan Democrats organize hearings, lawsuits to prevent USPS mail delays

Biden campaign aims to blame Trump for economic impact of COVID-19 in Michigan

Michelle Obama mentions Trumps tight Michigan victory during Democratic National Convention speech

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says Biden saved Michigans auto industry in Democratic National Convention speech
COVID-19: How South Korea prevailed while the US failed

COVID-19 is now the third leading cause of death in the United States. The U.S. accounts for about 25 percent of COVID-19 cases (4.4 million) and deaths (170,000) in the world today while comprising less than 5 percent of the population.

In a commentary published ahead of print in The American Journal of Medicine, researchers from Florida Atlantic University's Schmidt College of Medicine and a collaborator, compare responses to the pandemic from two democratic republics: South Korea and the U.S., demonstrating stark differences in public health strategies, which have led to alarming differences in cases and deaths from COVID-19. After adjusting for the 6.5 fold differences in populations, the U.S. has suffered 47 times more cases and 79 times more deaths than South Korea.

At the beginning of the pandemic, South Korea had more COVID-19 cases than anywhere else in the world outside of China. Today, they have approximately 14,269 cases and 300 deaths. Ironically, the public health methods they employed closely followed those developed and introduced by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which formerly served as a scientific beacon for such activities worldwide. South Korea instituted effective containment and mitigation strategies, which they maintained in place until new cases and deaths were practically nonexistent.

In contrast to South Korea, the U.S. government mounted a delayed and fragmented response, which they maintained only until a "flattening of the curve," according to the researchers. Further, containment and mitigation strategies were piecemeal and resulted from individual responses of individual states. Ironically, following the 2013 prediction of an impending pandemic by the Gates Foundation, it was the U.S. government that created a Pandemic Emergency Response Task Force, placing the U.S. as No. 1 worldwide by the World Health Organization (WHO) in their ability to contain and mitigate any future pandemics. This task force was disbanded in 2017, and today the U.S. in the No. 1 spot worldwide in COVID-19 cases and deaths.

In addition, the U.S. government has removed the CDC from its decades' long functions of receiving and providing analyses of surveillance data on COVID-19. The authors note that this continues a longstanding trend of politicization of the CDC, which is producing continuing harm to its longstanding reputation of worldwide respect and admiration.

"The anticipated number of deaths from COVID-19 may become comparable to the most lethal epidemic of influenza in U.S. history, which occurred from 1918 to 1919 when approximately 675,000 Americans died," said Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., Dr.PH, senior author and the first Sir Richard Doll Professor and senior academic advisor in FAU's Schmidt College of Medicine. "In stark contrast to both the current U.S. epidemic of COVID-19 and the Spanish Flu of 1918-19, the 2018-19 flu season affected about 42.9 million Americans, of which 647,000 were hospitalized and about 61,200 died."

The authors raise the specter that, if the current numbers of cases and deaths and their trajectories in the U.S. continue, a coordinated national shutdown of sufficient duration, which was not achieved previously, may become necessary. For example, the continued exponential growth of the virus in the U.S. is reflected by the markedly decreasing number of days to achieve each million case from 97 to 44 to 28 to 15 days.

The U.S. remains the epicenter of the pandemic worldwide, due, at least in part, to the massive surge in cases in Florida, California, Arizona, and Texas. Moreover, only California and Texas have issued statewide mask mandates. The authors further state that the failure to mitigate COVID-19 in the U.S. will paralyze the healthcare delivery system as well decrease the ability to provide lifesaving measures for patients with COVID-19 or other serious conditions. They further state that it is more imperative than ever that the U.S. abandon "pandemic politics" and focus solely on effective public health strategies.

Measures such as those employed by South Korea, especially widespread, free and rapid, point-of-care testing, meticulous tracing and quarantine of all contacts as well as masking, social distancing, crowd avoidance, and frequent hand and face washing, are likely to be at least as effective as any safe vaccine that may be developed and approved for widespread use by the general public in the U.S. and worldwide.

"In the U.S., there is an urgent need for a unified national approach for the implementation of effective public health mitigation strategies including social distancing, masking, avoidance of crowds, as well as frequent hand and face washing," said Joshua Solano, M.D., first author and an assistant professor of integrated medical science and director of quality improvement and patient safety in FAU's Schmidt College of Medicine.

South Korea is not alone in serving as a model for the world for COVID-19 as similar successes have been achieved in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Germany, Iceland, the United Arab Emirates, Greece and Argentina.

###

Co-authors of the commentary are Terry Adirim, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., professor and chair of the Department of Integrated Medical Sciences and senior associate dean for clinical affairs, FAU's Schmidt College of Medicine; Richard D. Shih, M.D., professor of integrated medical science and division director of emergency medicine, FAU's Schmidt College of Medicine; and Dennis G. Maki, M.D., professor of medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and an internationally renowned infectious disease clinician and epidemiologist. Maki and Hennekens served together for two years as lieutenant commanders in the U.S. Public Health Service as epidemic intelligence service officers with the CDC.

About the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine:

FAU's Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine is one of approximately 155 accredited medical schools in the U.S. The college was launched in 2010, when the Florida Board of Governors made a landmark decision authorizing FAU to award the M.D. degree. After receiving approval from the Florida legislature and the governor, it became the 134th allopathic medical school in North America. With more than 70 full and part-time faculty and more than 1,300 affiliate faculty, the college matriculates 64 medical students each year and has been nationally recognized for its innovative curriculum. To further FAU's commitment to increase much needed medical residency positions in Palm Beach County and to ensure that the region will continue to have an adequate and well-trained physician workforce, the FAU Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine Consortium for Graduate Medical Education (GME) was formed in fall 2011 with five leading hospitals in Palm Beach County. The Consortium currently has five Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited residencies including internal medicine, surgery, emergency medicine, psychiatry, and neurology.

About Florida Atlantic University:

Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University, with an annual economic impact of $6.3 billion, serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at sites throughout its six-county service region in southeast Florida. FAU's world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University is placing special focus on the rapid development of critical areas that form the basis of its strategic plan: Healthy aging, biotech, coastal and marine issues, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, informatics, lifespan and the environment. These areas provide opportunities for faculty and students to build upon FAU's existing strengths in research and scholarship. For more information, visit fau.edu.

This story has been published on: 2020-08-20. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
After touring the La Crosse Post Office on Wednesday, Rep. Ron Kind offered strong support for the United States Postal Service, which he said has been politicized and jeopardized in recent weeks.

The last thing we can afford as a country is to politicize the U.S. Postal Service, the Democratic congressman from La Crosse said, emphasizing that during a global pandemic, protecting postal workers is essential.

The USPS has been on the minds of many Americans lately, as President Donald Trumps actions have sought to undermine its services, just ahead of an election expected to bring out record mail-in ballots because of the pandemic.

On Tuesday, Trumps new postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, reversed several changes to the postal service that many feared would slow mail just in time for the November election.

Instead, DeJoy said the changes  like removing mailboxes and sorting machines, and slashing overtime and implementing furloughs  would pause until after the election.

Trump has also walked-back statements he made saying he supported changes to the USPS because it would slow mail-in voting, by saying he supports absentee ballots but not mass voting-by mail, though the two concepts are interchangeable.

Why the president has decided to declare war on mail-in ballots and absentee ballots is inexplicable to me, Kind said, noting that the Trump family had already received their absentee ballots this week.

People need to have the confidence that they are going to vote safely from home, that their ballot is going to count, that their voice is going to be heard, he added.

Congress is beginning to act, being called out of their regular August recess to pass funding and to bring DeJoy in to testify before the House.

On Saturday, the House is expected to pass COVID-19 relief for the USPS amounting in $25 billion, a number requested by the postal services Trump-appointed board of governors to ensure operations are maintained.

Kind said he was happy that DeJoy suspended his plans, but agreed with many who feel its not enough to reverse the damage already done, but that this funding would at least protect voters this fall.

Theres still the feeling that he needs to repair the damage that has already been done, too, to guarantee the timely delivery of everything going through the postal, not just the ballots, Kind said.

This legislation will prevent any more of that restructuring that could have an adverse impact on the vote this fall, he added.

Many are expected to vote by mail in November, which many leaders and officials have encouraged to ensure safety during the pandemic.

But the recent shake-ups with the USPS have caused many voters to panic, wondering whether voting absentee is really the best way.

In Wisconsin, all absentee ballots must be postmarked and received by the clerks office by 8 p.m. on election night, or it wont be counted.

And regardless of any recent slowing of mail delivery, the Coulee Regions mail is already largely first shipped to the Twin Cities before being delivered, adding extra time.

Officials advice: Vote early

Absentee ballots in Wisconsin will begin going out starting Sept. 17, according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission. But those who request one after that date could wait around a week to receive their ballot in the mail.

Voters also have the option of dropping off absentee ballots to their municipal clerks office, the WEC said, and some have secure drop boxes available outside their buildings.

On election days in La Crosse, voters can also bring their absentee ballots directly to their polling place to be counted as well, if theyre worried about having it mailed on time.

Though the USPS will be crucial for this years election, Kind was quick to note that many depend on the mail for year-round essential services, like veterans, seniors, medication, social security checks, and connecting rural communities.

Our United States Postal Service is the envy of the world, Kind said, and we tend to take it for granted, and yet all these workers in the middle of the coronavirus are still showing up every day, doing their job.

The life of a mail carrier

Rep. Kind was joined by a former La Crosse mail carrier on Wednesday, who described the job as more than just stuffing letters into mailboxes, and more of a public servant.

There wasnt one day that I didnt work at this post office that I regretted going to work, said Gary Knudtson, who worked in the postal service for 31 years, 29 of those in La Crosse.

Mail carriers are more than meets the eye, Knudtson said, but they are often veterans, they are essential workers during a pandemic, they often encounter and aid in first responding or act on things like burglaries while on the job, conduct food drives and monitor elderly or sick patrons day-to-day.

And the Trump administrations derailing of the USPS affects its employees as much as the patrons it serves, furloughing many and slashing overtime that they desperately need to get their work done.

And its on top of persistent fears already felt in the agency.

In La Crosse specifically, Kind said that the post office is facing about 60% turnover of mail carriers in the next five years because of retirements.

But in general, much of the postal services resources are unequally burdened, Kind said. Its currently the only government agency that has to pre-fund its pension program, which drains $5 billion from its resources annually.

And packages from other organizations like FedEx, UPS and Amazon are often reliant on the USPS to get the last mile to doorsteps, putting even more pressure on the service.

This is all on top of an additional layer, that postal workers are essential workers during a global pandemic, continuing their work while others stay home, resulting in some falling ill and even dying because of the virus.

During his tour of the La Crosse Post Office, Kind said he heard about the extra mile staff went to get ballots counted during the August primary.

Postmasters throughout the district were literally digging through the mail and grabbing those ballots that had come in on election day, and running those, personally, to the clerks office to make sure it was there by 8 p.m. that night, Kind said.

Thats not the position they should be put in, Kind said.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 21:01:50|Editor: huaxia

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HANOI, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam reported a total of 14 new cases of COVID-19 infection on Thursday, bringing its total confirmed cases to 1,007, with 25 deaths from the disease so far, according to its Ministry of Health.

Among them, two people, one Filipino and one Vietnamese, have recently entered Vietnam from abroad, said the ministry, noting that the Vietnamese man tested positive for COVID-19 while he was quarantining at home after the 14-day quarantine at a local hospital upon arrival.

Other cases included those reportedly in contact with people confirmed to be infected with COVID-19, a patient, a medical staff member and patients' caregivers at local hospitals in Vietnam's central city of Da Nang, according to the ministry.

Among the 1,007 confirmed cases in Vietnam as of Thursday, 666 are locally-transmitted ones, Vietnam News Agency reported.

Da Nang city has confirmed nearly 400 COVID-19 cases so far, making it the locality with the highest number of cases in Vietnam, according to the health ministry.

As many as 542 patients have totally recovered from the disease as of Thursday, with nearly 83,700 people being quarantined and monitored in the country, according to the ministry. Enditem
Surge in demand for polyurethane foam from building & construction industry for building insulation to conserve the energy drives the growth of the global flexible foam market. Based on region, Asia-Pacific contributed to the highest share in 2019, and will maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period.

Portland, OR, Aug. 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the report published by Allied Market Research, the global flexible foam market generated $44.1 billion in 2019, and is estimated to reach $61.3 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 5.2% from 2020 to 2027. The report offers an extensive analysis of the changing market dynamics, key winning strategies, business performance, major segments, and competitive scenarios.

Surge in demand for polyurethane foam from building & construction industry for building insulation to conserve the energy drives the growth of the global flexible foam market. However, stringent government environment regulations regarding usage of flexible polyurethane foam is anticipated to restrain the growth of the market. Furthermore, development of carbon dioxide and bio-based polyols is expected to provide new growth opportunities during the forecast period 2020-2027.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/7008

Covid-19 scenario:

Major flexible foam manufacturers across the globe have halted their production activities due to disrupted supply of raw materials amidst lockdown.

Flexible foam is primarily used in the building & construction, furniture, and automotive industries. During lockdown these industries had slowed down their operations due to which theres been a significant decline in the demand for flexible foam during the forecast period.

The report offers a detailed segmentation of the global flexible foam market based on type, application, and region.

Based on type, the polyurethane (PU) foam segment contributed to the largest share in 2019, accounting for more than three-fifths of the global market, and is estimated to maintain its dominant position during the forecast period. However, the polypropylene (PP) foam segment is estimated to portray the highest CAGR of 5.6% during the forecast period.

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Based on application, the furniture & bedding segment accounted for the largest share in 2019, holding more than two-thirds of the total share, and is expected to maintain the its top status throughout the forecast period. However, the packaging segment is expected to register the highest CAGR of 7.2% from 2020 to 2027.

Based on region, Asia-Pacific contributed to the highest share, accounting for more than two-fifths of the total market share in 2019, and will maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period. In addition, it is also expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 5.6% from 2020 to 2027.

Leading market players analyzed in the research include Covestro AG, BASF SE, Huntsman Corporation, The Dow Chemical Company, Sekisui Chemical Co. Ltd., INOAC Corporation, The Woodbridge Group, Recticel NV, and Rogers Corporation.

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Defence Minister of Ukraine Andriy Taran and Defence Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili have signed the defence cooperation program between the countries ministries in Tbilisi today.

The ministers discussed topical issues of mutual interest, in particular, the security situation in Ukraine, Georgia and the Azov-Black Sea region, measures to combat the spread of coronavirus infection in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Georgian Defence Forces, the development of cooperation in the NATO-Georgia-Ukraine format, the press service of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine informs.

"One of the common challenges for Ukraine and Georgia is to restore the territorial integrity of our states and liberate the territories occupied by Russia. This is the goal of our strategic partnership, and security and defence cooperation is one of its main elements," Taran said.

The ministers paid special attention to the state and prospects for implementation of defence reform tasks. The Ukrainian delegation got acquainted with the plans for the development of the Georgian Defence Forces and shared its own experience of the transformation of the armed forces when combating the Russian aggression.

The parties discussed the priorities of defence cooperation in the areas of strategic communications, cyber security, military-technical field, joint participation in military exercises and implementation of NATO standards in the armed forces.

"The agreements we have reached will help strengthen the defence capabilities of our countries, increase the operational and combat capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Georgian Defence Forces which in general will guarantee peace and prosperity of our peoples," Taran said.

During the visit, the Ukrainian delegation laid a wreath at the memorial to the heroes who died for the unity of Georgia and visited the occupation line in Tskhinvali region.

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Students at a Texas high school were studying art via Zoom this week when they were left aghast by the antics of a freshman, who lifted his shirt and proceeded to make sexually explicit gestures and remarks directed at their teacher.

The disturbing display took place on Tuesday during a remote-learning class at Edison High School in San Antonio, which was attended by more than a dozen students from various grade levels.

Junior Eduardo Corpus told KSAT that multiple students were in on the stunt.

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This unnamed student at Edison High School in San Antonio, Texas, on Tuesday was caught making sexual advances at a teacher during a virtual art class

Video from the Zoom session shows the teen gyrating and groping himself

More than a dozen students from different grade levels witnessed the crude stunt

'They were pulling their shirts off and saying, like, really disgusting stuff to the teacher, making her feel uncomfortable,' Corpus said.

Video from the Zoom session that was shared with the news outlet showed a boy lifting his shirt, suggestively groping his own chest and gyrating.

'Why you so sexy, Ms?' the boy could be heard saying in the recording.

The station reported that the same student also said he would perform a sexual act on the teacher.

Junior Eduardo Corpus (left) said that multiple students took part in the prank

The local school district said that disciplinary action will be taken against the student

'I just dont understand what goes through the kids heads, you know? Like what? What are they thinking when they do that?' Corpus said.

The San Antonio Independent School District has released a statement promising to take 'appropriate disciplinary action' against the culprits.

'Even with remote learning, we are following the SAISD student code of conduct, which has policies in place to promote and maintain a positive, safe and effective learning environment for students and adults,' the statement continued.
Barbers Hill ISD's dress code policy that forbids long dreadlocks has been ruled discriminatory by a federal judge, a month after the district's board of trustees voted to keep the policy.

The district, which is located about an hour east of Houston in Mont Belvieu, made national headlines earlier this year when two students, cousins Kaden Bradford and DeAndre Arnold, spoke out against its dreadlock policy after both were faced with in-school suspension unless they cut their locks. Arnold was also banned from walking in his graduation ceremony and Bradford was prohibited from participating in school activities.

Both refused to cut their hair and subsequently transferred to new schools, which resulted in Arnold graduating from a different school in a new district, away from his friends and peers that he has made as a longtime student of Barbers Hill, according to the lawsuit filed against the district.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Texas teen who refuses to cut dreadlocks for school invited to Oscars by 'Hair Love' producers

The controversy sparked national outrage from advocates who say the policy is racist and an example of hair discrimination. Arnold and Bradford's long hair is a deeply personal choice and honors their familys West Indian heritage, per the lawsuit.

The district's dress code policy - which applies to only male students - states that a male student must keep their hair length above the shirt collar, earlobes and eyes. After Arnold and Bradford filed grievances against the policy, the district's school board in late July unanimously voted to keep the policy in place, NRP reported.

The length restriction, whether unintentionally or intentionally, is racist," Christina Beeler, a staff attorney with the Juvenile and Children's Advocacy Project at the University of Houston Law Center told NPR. "It doesnt allow him to keep his culturally significant hair. The cultural significance is that they should not be cut, similar to many Native American cultures."

A month after the district's vote, federal Judge George Hanks, Jr. with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas ruled that the dreadlocks ban is discriminatory. Following the ruling, Bradford will be allowed to return to his high school for his junior year without facing suspension for his dreadlocks.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Ellen to host student at center of Barbers Hill ISD dreadlock controversy

We are encouraged by the courts decision to grant our request to enjoin enforcement of BHISDs discriminatory dress and grooming policy, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) Senior Counsel Michaele Turnage Young said in a statement. It is heartening that the court has recognized [Bradford's] prospects for success on our race discrimination, gender discrimination, and freedom of expression claims in this lawsuit, and ensured that [Bradford] does not have to continue enduring discrimination that disrupts his learning and reinforces a damaging message of intolerance in the educational environment.

Arnold and Bradford's fight against the district landed them in the national spotlight, earning praise from advocates, football stars and lawmakers alike. Arnold was invited to appear on the Ellen Degeneres Show where he was gifted $20,000 for college. A month later, he flaunted his dreadlocks on the Oscars red carpet.

The bill also inspired members of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus to bring the CROWN act to the 2021 legislative session, the Texas Tribune reported. The bill, which originated in California and stands for "Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair" bans hair discrimination in public schools and the workplace.

"Our main goal has always been to change the policy to where it wouldn't discriminate against different racial groups," Bradford told ABC. "I'm ready to go back to school and focus on getting good grades and deciding what college I want to attend."

A comment from Barbers Hill ISD was not met as of Wednesday afternoon.

rebecca.hennes@chron.com
- The Palace has commented over the alleged error of a hair product

- A netizen shared a photo of a certain hair product which claimed that Manila is a province of China

- Due to this error, a lawmaker wanted to investigate this incident and to ban the manufacturer in the country

- However, the Palace just brushed off the issue and called it nonsense

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The Palace has spoken regarding the issue that a hair product stated that the capital city of the Philippines is a province of China.

KAMI learned that the Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque brushed off the issue.

Photo from Getty Images

Source: Getty Images

In a Facebook post by ABS-CBN News, PBA Party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles said that the error of the manufacturer is an insult.

It is hard to dismiss this insult as a simple error, Nograles said.

According to the lawmaker, the mistake should be investigated and that the country should ban the said Chinese manufacturer.

According to Roque, the issue is nonsense and should not be given attention.

Kalokohan po 'yan, dapat hindi pinapansin 'yan. Walang naniniwala na tayo ay probinsya ng China, he said.

However, it will be up to the Food and Drug Administration if the Chinese product should be banned in the Philippines.

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Earlier, a netizen shared on social media that a certain hair product stated that Manila is a province of China.

However, the manufacturer of the product shared a photo of their hair product after receiving backlash from many netizens.

In 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte joked that China can make the Philippines its province and he called it as: Province of Philippines, Republic of China.

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Israeli police are investigating claims that a 16-year-old girl was gang-raped by 30 men in the coastal resort of Eilat.

Two men have been arrested so far over allegations that the girl was repeatedly assaulted while she was drunk in a hotel room, before she went to police last Friday.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the alleged gang-rape was 'not just a crime against the girl... it a crime against humanity'.

One suspect has told investigators that a large group of men had sex with the girl but claimed that it was consensual, according to the Times of Israel.

Israeli police are investigating claims that a 16-year-old girl was gang-raped by 30 men in the coastal resort of Eilat (file photo)

Some of the men are alleged to have filmed the attacks on their phones, according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

The first suspect was reportedly arrested after messages emerged showing that there was video footage of the alleged rape.

Police say the girl was not a guest at the hotel, but had gone to the bathroom after drinking there with some of her friends.

She was then allegedly taken to one of the hotel rooms and raped by the group of men, who did not all know each other.

One suspect claims that the men 'lined up' outside the girl's room before going inside to assault her.

Another of the alleged attackers was said to have entered the girl's room under the pretence of being a medic who wanted to help.

The alleged attacker 'took advantage of her and slept with her when she was out of control', the friend told Israeli television.

Authorities are now awaiting the results of a medical examination, while one man has been ordered to stay in custody by a magistrates court.

Local media said the suspect was a 27-year-old from northern Israel, while a second suspect, also 27, was arrested this morning.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured) said the alleged gang-rape was 'not just a crime against the girl... it a crime against humanity'.

Commenting on the allegations, prime minister Netanyahu said on Twitter that 'this is shocking, there is no other word'.

'This is not just a crime against the girl, it is a crime against humanity itself that deserves all condemnation and that those responsible for it should be brought to justice,' Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu's coalition partner and defence minister Benny Gantz asked: 'What is a man who is standing on a crowded line with dozens of others, on the way to a room where a young, disoriented girl is lying down, trying to prove?

'The police investigation is still underway, but it's important that I convey a message to those who participated or bore witness to this case or others: The only thing you've proven is what depravity of your soul and morality you are capable of.'

Last year a group of Israeli men were at the centre of a rape allegation involving a British teenager in Ayia Napa, Cyprus.

The 19-year-old Briton's allegation led to 12 Israeli men being detained and subsequently released.

She later withdrew her allegation, but claims she was coerced by Cypriot police into dropping the case.

The woman was given a suspended sentence in January this year after being found guilty of public mischief.

The UK government said it had 'numerous concerns about the judicial process in this case and the womans right to a fair trial'.
T he BBC received more than 8,000 complaints about an "insensitive" report on migrants crossing the Channel by boat on its Breakfast news show.

A segment on August 10 saw reporter Simon Jones broadcast live from alongside a dinghy containing some people who said they were from Syria. Cameras caught their packed inflatable getting into difficulty.

After providing commentary on the "pretty dangerous" situation the people were in, he waited until the occupants were picked up by the UK Border Force.

Some 8,340 complaints were made on the grounds that viewers felt the programme showed offensive/insensitive coverage of migrants".

Migrants seen in an overloaded boat / PA

During the segment, Mr Jones said: We have seen them trying to get water out of the boat, theyre doing that at the moment, they are using a plastic container to try to bail out the boat.

Obviously its pretty overloaded there. People are wearing life jackets, it is pretty dangerous, just the number of people on board that boat.

After asking whether they were safe, Mr Jones remained with the boat until help came.

A BBC spokeswoman said: This report was a stark illustration of the significant risks some people are prepared to take to reach the UK.

"Channel crossings is a topic of huge importance and we always endeavour to cover the story sensitively. In this instance, the Dover Coastguard were aware of the boat before our crew spoke to them and at no point did they, or those in the boat signal that a rescue operation was required. The Coastguards instead alerted Border Force, who then safely picked up the occupants and took them to shore.

The BBC report also detailed other complaints made to the company and noted that in some instances invitations to complain had been posted online.

Another 508 complaints were made to the BBC over a news report which contained a racist term, additional to the 18,656 who initially objected.

During a report last month on a suspected racially-motivated attack in Bristol, social affairs correspondent Fiona Lamdin repeated a racial slur which was allegedly used during the incident.

The story ran on the BBC News Channel and local news programme Points West on July 29, although later that day the broadcaster stopped running the report which featured the offensive language.

The corporation initially received a total of 18,656 complaints up to August 2.

Between August 3 and 16 it received an additional 508.

BBC Two documentary American Historys Biggest Fibs, hosted by Lucy Worsley, also drew 158 complaints after using the racial slur.

It came during a repeat which aired on August 1, tackling the subject of the US confederacy and the freedom of slaves.

Ms Worsley later apologised on Twitter, saying her use of the word wasnt acceptable and I apologise.
In a strikingly thoughtful and original reflection, the political scientist Adam Seagrave reconnects Martin Luther King, Jr. to the deepest wellsprings of American religious and political thought. Today, the great advocate for civil rights is typically seen as the heir to the pacifism and civil disobedience promoted by Thoreau in the nineteenth century and Gandhi in the twentieth. But Seagrave establishes that, more fundamentally, King drew upon a venerable Western and American tradition that perceived a parallel reality that could not be directly sensed or experienced but that was as present and powerful as those things that are perceived more directly and narrowly through the senses. King, like earlier American revolutionaries such as James Otis and Thomas Jefferson, knew that pragmatic reality did not exhaust the full reality experienced by human beings. Seemingly abstract principles like God, nature, the soul, and human dignity were essential parts of any ethics or politics worthy of human beings. Seagrave persuasively argues that the politics of parallel reality was at once revolutionary and moderate, aspirational without being utopian. It provided an ongoing standard for judging human action, a challenging practical task for realizing and sustaining a political order rooted in liberty and human dignity.

Throughout the Stamp Act crisis of the 1760sthe Prologue to Revolution, according to the title of historian Edmund S. Morgans published collection of documentsthe British North American colonists sent petition after petition to both houses of the British Parliament. These petitions frequently asserted the rights that the colonists possessed as British subjects. According to the Resolutions of the Stamp Act Congress in 1765, the colonists were entitled to all the inherent rights and liberties due to them as natural born subjects of the British king. They possessed the same rights of Englishmen that had been possessed by British subjects since the time of Magna Carta. Among these rights was that of immunity to taxation without representationthe birth of the rallying cry that now constitutes just about all that most Americans can tell you about the American Revolution.

Most of the colonists at this time argued on the ground of the universally acknowledged geopolitical reality: the British colonies in North America existed under the British imperial constitution and within the jurisdiction of British political authority. They were British subjects with British rights.

Against this backdrop of pragmatic, predictable political debate, James Otiss The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved stood out like an electric guitar in a classical string ensemble. Although Otis did acknowledge the legitimate political authority of Great Britain and its Parliament over the colonies, he imagined an entire realm beyond and underneath this geopolitical one. He opens the discussion by describing someone searching after the foundation of any of their rights, stopping first at a charter from the crown, and then at old Magna Charta, until finally: They imagine themselves on the borders of Chaos . . . and see creation rising out of the unformed mass, or from nothing. Peering across this border throughout the pamphlet, Otis proceeds to trace the rights of our fellow subjects in Great Britain directly to God and nature.

Both Otis and Jefferson engaged in political action on the basis of a more expansive perception of reality than that of their contemporaries: a perception of a parallel reality that could not be directly sensed or experienced.

Otis, according to contemporary accounts, suffered from mental illness in the later part of his life. Perhaps he was already losing his grip in 1763. But if he was crazy to imagine a parallel reality in which God and nature were the foundations for the colonists rightsboth black and white, we might addso, too, was Thomas Jefferson a decade later. Jeffersons Summary View of the Rights of British America similarly soars well beyond the politics of pragmatic reality and attaches the colonists rights to God and nature, raising the outlandish claim that the early colonists actually emigrated from England to begin entirely new political societies in North America. Jeffersons then-ridiculous historical claims became political reality two years later, however, when his Declaration of Independence justified colonial independence on the basis of the twin pillars of his and Otiss parallel reality: the laws of nature and of natures God.

Both Otis and Jefferson engaged in political action on the basis of a more expansive perception of reality than that of their contemporaries: a perception of a parallel reality that could not be directly sensed or experienced. They tried to convince the people of their time that the things that seemed most real to these peoplethings like British imperial political power or their traditional political rightswere actually less important or even less real than abstract principles like God and nature. Their politics of parallel reality was visionary without being utopian, and aspirational without being progressive. The parallel reality of a divinely created natural order was less a goal to be reached and more a standard already and always present. Aligning with this standard was not a historical inevitability but an ongoing practical task.

In highlighting aspects of reality that could not be directly seen, heard, or felt, early Americans like Otis and Jefferson were not just imagining things. Nor were they simply engaging in hyperbolic rhetoric. They were also engaging in a kind of premodern natural science, the kind that holds a more expansive view of nature as including not two, but four, constituent dimensions. Aristotle had enumerated four causes of natural motion or change: material, efficient, formal, and final. The first two can be sensed directly, while the last two cannot. The formal dimension is most often associated with the soul, and the final involves concepts like happiness and, ultimately, religious beliefs about an afterlife. The formal and final dimensions, on this older, broader understanding, run like a parallel reality throughout the entire natural world. They are always present and powerful but exist beyond the reach of our physical senses. We ordinarily sense the world in 2-D, but it actually exists in 4-D. By attending to these additional dimensions in their political arguments, Otis and Jefferson werent seeing things. They were seeing more and further than their contemporaries, or the many sensible historians who have dismissed their ideas, could.

Kings dream was not only about an imagined future reality but also, and more profoundly, about a present reality that walks silently alongside and powerfully influences the one that we see.

Martin Luther King, Jr. is most often associated with the high-flying, fluffy-and-fuzzy rhetoric that these sensible historians tend to ascribe to Otis and Jefferson. His best-known speech is about a dreammellifluous, certainly; serious and sensible, most certainly not. Malcolm X is the hard-hitting, serious realist; King is the soft-headed idealist. A closer look, however, reveals a very different King: a King whose dream was not a sleepy look into the future but a clear-sighted perception of the waking world around him. Kings dream was not only about an imagined future reality but also, and more profoundly, about a present reality that walks silently alongside and powerfully influences the one that we see. In line with the tradition of Otis and Jefferson, King consistently engaged in the politics of parallel reality.

This can be seen most clearly by carefully attending to Kings strategy of nonviolent civil disobedience. The common perception is that Kings strategy was basically the same as Gandhis, buttressed by Thoreau and then window-dressed with conventional American references to the Founding, Lincoln, and Christianity. Although Gandhis example was an important influence on Kings strategy, and Thoreau was an important influence on many nonviolent protest movements (including Gandhis), this common perception entirely misses the core of the strategy in Kings own eyes.

Kings Letter from a Birmingham Jail is probably the most profound, thorough, and lengthy statement that King ever provided in explanation of his strategy of nonviolent civil disobedience. In it, King traces the lineage of this strategy through the Boston Tea Party, Socrates, the early Christians, and finally, all the way to the incombustible trio of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. King even quotes T. S. Eliot at one point. Gandhi and Thoreau? They dont even merit a mention.

A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law."

Instead, King relies on Saint Augustine, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Martin Buber, and Paul Tillich in his succinct explanation of the justification for civil disobedience: A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law. The eternal law and natural law run parallel to human law as real and essential components of law; to paraphrase James Otis, everyone sees human laws, but few trace their foundations to an unseen reality behind them. Just as Thomas Jefferson and the American Revolutionaries justified their declaration of independence with reference to the laws of nature and of natures God, so King justifies his strategy of nonviolent civil disobedience with reference to the moral law or the law of God. In both cases, concrete political action is justified by an unseen, immaterial world in which God exists, sets things in order, and legislates for humanity.

This pattern continues in Kings other writings and speeches about his strategy and the philosophy behind it. Gandhi and Thoreau are mostly absent. In their place is a persistent emphasis on acting in light of physically imperceptible realities. At the outset of his 1958 essay The Power of Nonviolence, King admits that his philosophy didnt make sense to most of the people in the beginning. It didnt comport with their most familiar and direct experiences of life and of the world that they could see, hear, and feel regularly around them. External physical violence was something obvious, evident; nonviolent resistance, on the other hand, was an internal matter whose effects could not be physically seen.

In the last speech of his life, ten years later, King related the encounters of protesters with Bull Connor in Birmingham, Alabama. Explaining Bull Connors tactics of setting dogs on the protesters and spraying them with fire hoses, King did not say that Bull Connor was an unjust oppressor, a racist, or even ignorant. In fact, he specifically noted Connors knowledge of physics. The point that King emphasized is that while Connor knew a kind of physics, he did not connect this knowledge to the transphysics that we knew about. In an interesting twist on the biblical story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that he had referenced in his Letter from a Birmingham Jail, King noted the fact that there was a certain kind of fire that no water could put out. After rhetorically transforming physical fire into spiritual fire, King did the same thing to the water: If we were Baptist or some other denomination, we had been immersed. If we were Methodist, and some others, we had been sprinkled, but we knew water. The physical water of the fire hoses became the spiritual water of religious baptism.

Viewing the resonances of Martin Luther King, Jr.s thought with that of the American Revolutionaries in terms of the politics of parallel realityinstead of the conventional terminology of Christianity or natural law theoryshines much-needed light on crucial aspects of both.

All men are created equal is not forward-looking but an immediately present reality.

First, it provides an essential supplement to Lincolns famous interpretation of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution as primarily forward-looking. The aspirational quality of the phrase all men are created equal consists in the fact that the concrete, physical reality that we see does not match up with the parallel reality that we dont see. This was as true in the moment Jefferson drafted the Declaration in 1776 as it was in the moment Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and, for that matter, in every moment between these and our current one. All men are created equal is not forward-looking but an immediately present reality; we just think of it as forward-looking because we are looking forward to a time when our concrete, physical reality looks more like this parallel one.

Second, it helps us navigate the long-standing difficulty of trying to reconcile the moral principles that imbued the American Founding era with the starkly contrasting realities of African American slavery, Native American displacement, the political exclusion of women, and numerous other unjust practices of the time. Statements relating to religious belief (whether natural or revealed) or human naturesuch as all men are created equalare not statements about physical, tangible reality but rather about an immaterial, invisible parallel reality. This is one way of understanding what Lincoln meant when he said that the Founders did not mean to assert the obvious untruth, that all were then actually enjoying that equality. . . . They meant to set up a standard maxim for free society, which should be familiar to all, and revered by all; constantly looked to, constantly labored for, and even though never perfectly attained, constantly approximated. Jefferson and the other Founders, in other words, werent talking about concrete, sensible reality in these statements of moral principle. Nor were they talking about the future. They were talking about a constantly present parallel reality.

. . . the King-led African American civil rights movement of the 1960s was more like the American Revolutionary movement of the eighteenth century than it was like any other twentieth-century rights movement.

Third, it simultaneously connects Martin Luther King, Jr. with a much broader, older philosophical-religious tradition and provides a simple, straightforward way of contrasting his outlook with that characteristic of Malcolm X and his followers. Martin Luther King, Jr. differed from Malcolm X in the content and centrality of his religious beliefs to his political activism, in his identification with the American political tradition going back to the Revolution, in his reliance on natural law theory, and in his indefatigable optimism (among other things). All these elements can be comprehended under the heading of the politics of parallel realityseeing a 4-D world rather than a 2-D one. The quarrel between King and Malcolm X was, in fact, a version of the one between Plato and Machiavelli: where Malcom X typically emphasized the physical, effectual dimensions of reality, King was preoccupied with the immaterial ones that cannot be seen from inside the cave.

Martin Luther King, Jr. and British North American colonial leaders in the mid-eighteenth century similarly relied on a fusion of religious beliefs with philosophical principles to motivate political action. It was only by engaging in the politics of parallel reality that they were able to bring about momentous change in the part of reality that too often holds our focus. In this way, the King-led African American civil rights movement of the 1960s was more like the American Revolutionary movement of the eighteenth century than it was like any other twentieth-century rights movement.

S. Adam Seagrave writes about and teaches American political principles in the dual contexts of the history of political philosophy and American political history. He is a cofounder and codirector of the Race and the American Story Project and the associate director of the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership at Arizona State University. He is the author of The Accessible Federalist and editor of Liberty and Equality: The American Conversation.

This essay may be republished for free with attribution. (These terms do not apply to outside articles linked on the site.) Images and photos that appear with this essay are not available for republishing.
The Chilean authorities shut down a mall in downtown Santiago on Monday morning after hundreds of people crowded into the precinct to buy merchandise to sell, just hours after a lockdown for the area was eased.

At least 300 people queued outside the Asia Pacific mall, which specializes in selling Chinese-made products, ahead of opening hours and rushed inside as private security guards attempted to dispense alcohol gel and take temperatures, in some cases resulting in physical clashes with shoppers.

The mall is situated in the capital's Central Station, a low-income area popular with informal workers and migrants, where a strict lockdown over the past three months was eased on Monday morning.

Like many Latin nations, Chile has a large population of informal vendors who struggled after movement restrictions reduced their customer base.

The reopening of Central Station, along with the adjoining Central Santiago which hosts government offices and business headquarters, passed off largely uneventfully, albeit with larger concentrations of people in reopened shops and on public transport.

Around 12 of the Asia Pacific mall's 70 shops reopened, according to the municipality.

Felipe Alessandri, the Santiago mayor, said some stores had offered "irresistible" sales that had attracted shoppers from across the capital's province. He warned that short-term thinking would see the quarantine reinstated.

"There is now greater freedom, and more responsibility needed, but clearly human stupidity knows no bounds," he told journalists outside the mall as the authorities arrived to close it down.

Isabel Zuniga, the owner of one of stores that reopened, said she had sought to implement an appointment booking system for customers on Facebook, but had been overwhelmed by crowds.

"It's understandable because these people are street vendors who haven't worked for three of four months," she said. "They don't get government support, and they are desperate to restore their businesses and feed their families."
Douglas was elected to the Senate in 1847. He and prominent Whig Sen. Henry Clay fashioned the Compromise of 1850. It settled the matter of lands ceded in the Mexican War and put Douglas' notion of popular sovereignty  that U.S. territories could decide whether to allow slavery  into the political lexicon.

The idea delayed the Civil War and helped him best Lincoln in his 1858 bid for reelection to the Senate, long remembered because of a series of debates between the two, but proved his undoing by the time the two squared off for president in 1860.

The father of Douglas' first wife bequeathed a Mississippi plantation with 100 slaves to his daughter in 1847. Douglas hired a plantation manager while using his 20% share of the income to fund his campaigns, according to Blumenthal.

Menard, who became a successful fur trader in southwestern Illinois nearly 30 years before statehood and was the states first lieutenant governor, owned slaves as late as 1830, records show.
Until his death, Keniebi Okoko was a renowned philanthropist, an advocate for sustainable development in the region, who envisioned rapid industrialization for his home State, Bayelsa.

A memorial microsite, showcasing a legacy inspirational Leadership and philanthropy by the late Keniebi Okoko, a renowned Niger Delta Businessman and Philanthropist will be launched in October.

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.

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 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 to bring about a transformation, that only a visionary can engineer.

Keniebi 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 inspired 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.

Until his death, Keniebi Okoko was a renowned philanthropist, an advocate for sustainable development in the region, who envisioned rapid industrialization for his home State, Bayelsa. 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, according to him:

Im a product of a scholarship, I had never been abroad up until 2003 when former governor, late Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, thought it wise to sign my scholarship of N11 million and I went to Canada and it was like a dream, but for that opportunity given me, how would I have done it? My father could not afford that from his lecturer salary, so we should be able to give those opportunities to our younger ones too. he once said in an interview.

The Micro-site Project being put together by family and close friends of Keniebi is expected to inspire the next generation of Niger Deltans unto the greatness and attaining sustainable development for the region.
Cargo volumes increased at Shannon by nearly a quarter to top 3,750 tonnes, while Dublin Airport saw volume slip by 6.4pc to below 29,000 tonnes (stock image)

The Dublin and Shannon airports combined to handle more than 32,500 tonnes of air freight during the second quarter, only 3.8pc lower than a year ago, reflecting strong demand from exporters despite a massive falloff in available flights.

Cargo volumes increased at Shannon by nearly a quarter to top 3,750 tonnes, while Dublin Airport saw volume slip by 6.4pc to below 29,000 tonnes.

The resilient cargo volumes were recorded despite the Covid-19 grounding of many wide-body commercial aircraft that normally are used to ferry cargo in their holds to the US and Middle East. Some exporters here have had to resort to shipping their Irish-made goods by truck and ferry to Heathrow because of reduced carrying capacity on smaller narrow-body jets now being used on some pared-down transatlantic services.

Most of the world's top pharmaceutical and medical devices firms have Irish factories that produce products and ingredients here for global export, much of it delivered by air rather than slower sea cargo routes.

This is driving growth in air freight, which in the first half of this year rose by 5pc to 69,726 tonnes versus the first half of 2019.

The resilient second-quarter figures also reflect a surge in imports of personal protective equipment (PPE), chiefly from China, as the pandemic arrived in Ireland.

Overall, the CSO figures show strong demand for air cargo services, especially amid an unprecedented fall in the number of available flights, particularly in long-haul services to North America, the main destination for many pharma goods.

Aer Lingus says it has kept its limited links running with New York, Boston and Chicago to deliver cargo on aircraft that are carrying less than a tenth of their usual passengers.

The CSO said the number of flights to and from Irish airports in the second quarter fell below 6,400 - more than 67,500 fewer than in the same period of 2019. Its report combined data from Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Knock and Kerry airports.

Cork reported handling six tonnes of cargo, down from 13 tonnes a year ago.

Knock was closed throughout the second quarter. It handled two tonnes' worth in the same period of 2019.

Only 72,000 passengers travelled to Ireland and 90,000 passengers departed during the quarter, down 98.6pc and 98.3pc respectively from April-June 2019.
WATERLOO REGION  Police are cautioning residents to be more vigilant after dozens of people have fallen victim to Bitcoin scams in Waterloo Region this year.

The police service says 78 people have fallen victim to the scam since Jan. 1, resulting in a total loss of more than $430,000.

The scam involves fraudsters making telephone calls and posing as Service Canada, Service Ontario, Canada Revenue Agency, or law enforcement agencies. Fraudsters reportedly used threatening and coercive language to scare residents to make a payment in cyber-based currency, also known as Bitcoin, rather than be arrested.

In some instances, fraudsters claimed that the victims Social Insurance Number (SIN) had been compromised. Other times, the victim was informed that he or she owed money to the Canada Revenue Agency or Service Canada.

Victims were usually asked to verify personal and financial information, including their social insurance number. They were then directed to make a withdrawal from their bank and to make a Bitcoin transaction using a specific QR code at specific locations.

The fraudster tries to keep the victim on the phone and, in some instances, direct the victim to visit several different Bitcoin locations to make the deposits.

In other instances, victims said they received a call from what appeared to be the Waterloo Regional Police non-emergency number (519-570-9777). This is a form of spoofing in which fraudsters try to disguise a phone number from an unknown source by making it appear to be from a known, trusted source.

Other times, a victim received a phone call from a SIN card customer service representative and was advised that more than 25 bank accounts were opened in their name and several were involved in money laundering and fraud. The victim was directed to deposit $10,000 in various Bitcoin machines across Waterloo Region to resolve the issue, and directed to not communicate with any friends or family members during the transaction.

Another victim was told to visit a Bitcoin ATM location in Waterloo and deposit $19,000.

In July alone 29 people fell victim to these financial scams, police say.

Members of the public are advised to be wary of such scams. Police say accredited businesses, government and law enforcement agencies will not:

call you and ask for personal information, while threatening to arrest you if you do not comply.

negotiate payments over the phone.

accept Bitcoin as payment.

If you have been a victim of a scam and suffered a financial loss, report the incident online at www.wrps.on.ca/onlinereporting or call 519-570-9777.

If you received one of these calls or messages but did not lose any money, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or visit www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.

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Meanwhile back home, rockets have continued to strike at the seat of his government, while assassination plots have targeted more civil activists this month in southern Iraq, compared to the period at the height of the protest movement in October, monitors said. Iran-backed Shiite militia groups are widely suspected of being behind both types of attacks.
Save a last-minute intervention, Ayetoro, a coastal community in South-west Nigeria, may soon be swept into the bin of history.

This is as a result of natural and human activities, worsened by the abandonment of a multi-billion naira shore protection project, which was first awarded in 2004 and awarded again in 2009 by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Ayetoro, otherwise known as Happy City because of the unique and communal lifestyle of its inhabitants, is located in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

But today, the community, which is one of about 400 villages and towns that make up the local government area, has lost its happiness. it is now almost a ghost of its old self.

The rise in sea level  a result of both global warming and oil exploration  has led to floods that have washed away homes, the cemetery and the iconic worship centre of the town.

Sixteen years after the multi-billion-naira shore protection project aimed at rescuing the community was awarded by the NDDC, with billions of naira already paid the contractors, nothing is on the ground to stop the ocean surge that is fast washing the community away.

The NDDCs intervention

As early as 2004, just four years after its creation, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)  a government agency tasked with providing essential services for oil-producing communities  awarded the contract for the construction of a shoreline protective wall designed with a geo-tube technology in Ayetoro.

Gallet Nigeria Limited was awarded the original contract at a cost of N6.4 billion, of which 25 per cent was reportedly paid. Later, Gallet was adjudged to be incapable of handling the project.

While it was not clear whether additional money was paid to the contractor before the revocation of the contract, in 2009, the contract was re-awarded to Dredging Atlantic Limited at an undisclosed cost. The new contractor, which according to NDDC was selected after a competitive bidding process, was reportedly paid 15 per cent of the cost for mobilisation.

However, 11 years after the new contractor took over, and 16 years after the contract was first awarded, there is nothing on ground to show any intervention by the government.

Happiness turned agony

The community dwellers told our reporter that in the beginning, the discovery of oil in Ayetoros neighbourhood did not derail the peaceful co-existence and orderliness enjoyed by the people until exploration activities in nearby communities contributed to rising sea level, thereby gradually making the town uninhabitable.

According to Priscilla Offiong, in a report entitled; Nigeria Relies on Oil Despite Having Large Coal Reserves, and published by Climate Scorecard, an organisation focused on environmental sustainability, Ondo State contributes 60,000 per barrel of crude oil per day to the countrys oil production. Ilaje Local Government Area is said to be the states only oil-producing local government.

The 60,000 BPD, Ms Offiong noted, amounts to about 3.7 per cent of Nigerias total oil production with the state ranked 5th among Nigerias eight oil producing states captured by the NDDC law.

But what was meant to be a blessing soon turned into a curse for the peace-loving people as the once-friendly atmosphere became so violent that a hitherto happy city has now been enveloped by gloom.

Submerged Ayetoro Happy City College.

Fishing  the peoples main occupation  has also become impossible due to the polluted water and high tide. Those who have tried, have sometimes paid with their lives. The pollution of the area and rising sea level have led to the loss of properties, plants, animal species, among others, while some families have been separated over the need for shelter.

Residents of the community point accusing fingers at the oil exploration activities at nearby oil well such as Opuekepa, Omuro, Ojumole, Malu, Eko, Parabe, operated by oil giants including Chevron Nigeria Limited

Experts on possible causes of ocean surge

An expert in Marine Biology, Ecosystem Health and Risk Assessment, Lucian Chukwu, linked ocean surge to natural occurrences and consequences of human activities.

Mr Chukwu, a professor and former dean of the postgraduate college at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, said Ondo State has Nigerias longest coastline of about 180 kilometres, noting that the impacts of various structures such as drill ridge and others that can change the hydrodynamic properties of the ocean water affect wave patterns and eventually lead to surge.

He said; Now, this ocean surge usually happens during the rainy season. Oftentimes, between the months of April and October but usually more in August. It is usually as a result of meteorological changes which are caused by something called roaring forties  strong winds that we normally have in the southern hemisphere.

Pupils of Ayetoro community relocating their school structure.

The strong winds are usually generated through the earth rotation and temperature changes that we have here below the equator in the southern hemisphere. So when you have a combination of the very strong winds, and a very low pressure occurring out there at sea, it generates the ocean surge. What Im saying, in essence, is that it is a natural phenomenon that continues to occur and will continue to occur along that area.

The don, who said he had visited the area for research activities, noted that the impacts of the natural phenomenon on the beach can be exacerbated by anthropogenic activities.

He added; What are these anthropogenic activities? They are oil exploration, oil development, among others. But to just wake up and say the surge is a result of exploration alone is like a wild goose chase. We must pinpoint the activities of the oil companies that are implicated in the catastrophic impacts and these could include dredging. This is because if some areas are dredged, the wheel actions will be deflected and their patterns will change. That can create some more problems in terms of flooding around that area.

As a scientist, Mr Chukwu would not come to a conclusion without scientific evidence.

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Similarly, Mr Chukwus colleague at UNILAG, a geologist, Samson Bankole, also blamed the development on nature and human activities including logging, sand mining, dredging, among others.

He said; So coming to the question of whether it is as a result of the activities of oil companies in those areas, let me explain that oil companies embark on a series of activities during exploration, so it depends on where the oil is found, where drilling is taking place, where wells are located, and where they locate their flow station. If it is along the coast, especially the coastal swamp and the mangrove, it is possible that their activities will disturb natural defences such as beaches.

The expert added that if the activities of humans intrude into the coastal environments, anytime there is a storm surge, as a result of hurricanes or tropical cyclones, there is a sudden rise in sea level and that can be devastating because for quite sometimes, those areas will be under the water.

Oil firms deny culpability

While it did not deny operating in Ondo State, the management of Chevron Nigeria Limited has said the company does not engage in any oil activities in the community.

In a short response to PREMIUM TIMES enquiry, and signed by the general manager, policy, government and public affairs, Esimaje Brikinn, the company blamed the development on natural phenomenon.

The statement reads; Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) has no operation in Ayetoro community, in Ilaje Local Government of Ondo State. The natural phenomenon of ocean surge in the community has nothing to do with CNLs operations. We are aware that incidents of ocean surges are common in many coastal communities around the world as a result of global climate change. CNL remains committed to protecting people and the environment and conducting its operations reliably and safely.

Though CNL does not operate in Ayetoro town, it does operate within the Ilaje Local Government Area. And as suggested by experts, the surge may not be entirely unconnected to its operations and those of other oil companies in the area.

In a similar development, a source at the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, who does not want to be named for lacking the official power to speak on the matter, told our reporter that the surge in the community can also be traced to the activities of the residents. The source cited activities such as logging.

But the firms spokesperson, Folu Olapade, declined to comment on the development, saying the company has a procedure for engaging the public.

Ugly experiences

It was Tuesday, October 8, 2019, and a torrential rainfall across major parts of Ondo State, South-west Nigeria, had forced many residents of Ayetoro out of their homes. Many converged on the city centre and near its wharf, with their arms wrapped around their chests. They shivered in the cold as all businesses were halted.

The abandoned wharf project at the community

The raging sea incursion, which has claimed more than a three-kilometre length of land space of the island community has continued to render many families homeless.

At the communitys primary school and Happy City College, a public secondary school, the scene had depicted the anguish of struggling lads, whose resolve to cling on to life is resolute. Against the odds of rampaging flooding, biting cold and the trepidation of collapsing classrooms, these pupils insisted on salvaging their future.

Submerged Happy City College building.

It was the third time the primary school would be relocated in under five years over the violent rage of flooding, and on this day, while the rain was yet to completely subside, the pupils were busy making arrangements for new classrooms.

Some had removed their uniforms and wore only knickers, while others never minded being drenched. Aged between six and 10, they carried heavy planks to a new location approved by the community.

The headteacher, Alfred Okunuwa, expressed frustration over what he described as the governments abandonment of the communitys only public primary school. He said the sea incursion had claimed many of the schools structures, including offices.

Ayetoro primary school claimed by the incursion.

These are young children whose future should be the priority of any government. But as you can see, we cannot even afford labourers to help pack the planks. So you can see the kids defying the rain to move these items. They are used to it but this shouldnt be part of their learning experience, Mr Okunnuwa said.

He added that he had written letters of complaints to the authorities many times but has not received a single response. He said only 10 teachers are in charge of 350 pupils and some of the teachers are community-sponsored.

The situation is similar at the secondary school where the remaining four classrooms for the entire school are also flooded.

Both the schools principal, Fagbile Johnson, and bursar, Nelson Iyapo, while conducting our reporter round the destroyed laboratories, offices and classrooms, said but for the communitys leadership, there would have been nothing left of the school.

Community indigene, Taiwo Asemudara (left) and Happy City College Bursar, Nelson Iyapo at the destroyed school building.

Mr Johnson said: Just before the last incursion that destroyed all these structures, we were only lucky to have removed some of the important files. The situation here is pathetic.

A human rights lawyer, Ige Asemudara, whose ancestral home has been washed away by the rampaging ocean, said he has since moved his mother to Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area.

He said, It is not only the living that have suffered this menace but the dead too. Our communitys burial ground is no more, and there is no way to trace the graves of our forefathers.

Residents told PREMIUM TIMES that the corpses of the communitys first traditional ruler, Ethiopia Ojagbounmi; his successor, Omotuwa Okenla; the third ruler, Charles Akinluwa, and the fourth, Michiaih Olasela, were part of the hundreds already washed away by the angry sea.

We havent abandoned project  Contractor

Despite clear evidence showing otherwise, the representative of the contractor- Dredging Atlantic Limited, Olusola Oyinloye, said his company has not abandoned the project.

Mr Oyinloye, who spoke to our reporter on the phone, said the difficulties faced by the company, particularly the non-availability of enough sand at the site and the increasing tide informed a new decision by both the NDDC and the government of Ondo State.

He said, It is true we have not been to the site for a long time but it isnt our fault. When we did the assessment, there was still enough sand that could serve the geo-tube purpose, but by the time the contract was eventually awarded, other contractors working on road projects within the area had further dredged the place to pack available sands.

Relic of contractors equipment at the site.

Then, we had to move more than 10 kilometres away to pack sands using wooden boats, and we soon realised the futility of the efforts. By this time, the impact had increased significantly and the budget could no longer fund more than half of the design.

Mr Oyinloye added that both the government of Ondo State and the NDDC later visited the site and concluded on redesigning the project to change the geo-tube system to concrete pile system.

We were told Ondo State Ministry of Environment would do the design and will be jointly funded and monitored by both the state and NDDC. We have been waiting for the new design ever since, Mr Oyinloye said.

Asked how much the contract was awarded and how much the company has received so far, Mr Oyinloye said the authentic information should be sought from the contract awarding agency.

Relics of equipment of the contractor already overtaken by the incursion.jpg

Whatever I give you will be from the perspective of the contractor, so it is important you approach NDDC. But one thing is clear, we are willing and eager to return to site because abandoning the project will be much more damaging than we could imagine, he added.

NDDC keeps mum

For more than four months, requests for information sent to the NDDC, relying on the freedom of information law, were not replied.

Speaking on the phone with our reporter, the NDDCs director of public affairs, Charles Odili, said the agencys area office in Ondo State was in the best position to speak on the matter.

But when confronted with the claim by the area office that only the headquarters has the capacity to talk on any of the agencys projects, Mr Odilli said a formal letter would be required to secure information.

But again, when our reporter said an FOI request on the project, among many others, had earlier been sent to the office, Mr Odilli said he was going to find out what transpired. However, till date, there has not been any response from the spokesperson.

Were looking into the matter  Akeredolu

The state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has said his administration has not forgotten and will never forget the plight of the people of Ayetoro.

Speaking through his chief press secretary, Segun Ajiboye, the governor said the huge number of NDDC abandoned projects being reviewed across the state may have simply caused the delay of the project.

According to the government, rather than allowing a shoddy project done in Ayetoro, it would prefer to exercise patience in order to see a durable project executed.

He said; I can assure you that we are very concerned about the plight of our people. If you look at the turnaround across the state, and even the riverine areas, you would realise how many abandoned projects we are currently working on with NDDC.

The Ayetoro shore protection project involves huge resources and it is better we tackle the challenge once and for all than doing shoddy work.

Save our soul Community

Aratolu Ajinde is the leader of the youth of Ayetoro community whose storey building could be the next victim of the sea incursion.

According to him, the ground floor of the building is already overtaken by flood, and in a couple of months, the once beautiful edifice may give way to the rampaging flood.

He said, My wife has just been delivered of a baby, we moved upstairs and whenever it rains, the ground floor is completely overtaken by flood.

Submerged Ayetoro Happy City College.

We have been here since the 1940s and we lived happily without the government supporting us. But the oil exploration has made our lives miserable instead of boosting our development. All that we ask for is this embankment which has been abandoned. We did not cause this damage, the government did and should help us.

In a similar development, the communitys spokesperson, Mr Akinluwa, said all efforts to see to the completion of the abandoned shore protection project have been unsuccessful.

This community has totally been brought down by the insensitivity of our government. Ayetoro wasnt like any other community; we were independent and self-sustaining but the discovery of oil has brought us more pain than gain.

All our infrastructure put together through the peoples ingenuity and sweat have now been washed away. Markets, halls, schools and more than 50 houses have been washed away. We are tired of the rhetoric by both the NDDC and government, he said.
What does the future hold for the Indian economy, which is most likely to contract in 2020-21? The six-member MPC of RBI deliberated over the likely economic scenarios in the first week of August to set the policy rates. The iconic American cruiser bike maker has sold less than 30,000 units in India in 10 years, which is half of what Royal Enfield sells in a month. This rising awareness about health protection among millennials in light of the coronavirus pandemic is perhaps an unprecedented positive outcome of COVID-19. Read for more top stories from the world of business and economy:

1. MPC minutes: Recession or stagflation? RBI's key scenarios for Indian economy

The six-member monetary policy committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) deliberated over the likely economic scenarios in the first week of August to set the policy rates.

2. AGR case: SC fears telco dues will be wiped out in IBC process

The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed concerns that nearly the entire Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) dues pending against the telcos facing insolvency proceedings will be wiped out in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) proceedings.

3. Five reasons why Harley Davidson failed in India

Already facing declining interest among young customers in markets around the world, the pandemic has only expedited the need for a restructuring. To stay afloat, Harley Davidson is planning to trim its product portfolio by a third and shrink its global footprint to 50-odd profitable markets.

4. Millennials' next big concern -- health insurance

A survey conducted by Max Bupa Health Insurance company found that millennials - people in the age group of 25 to 35 years - were increasingly curious to understand health coverage.

5. Air travel to get costlier with aviation security fee hike from September 1

Airlines collect the ASF from passengers when they book their tickets and then give it to the government. The ASF is used to fund the security arrangement at airports across the country.
West African leaders on Thursday said they would dispatch envoys to Mali to help secure "the immediate return of constitutional order" following a military coup and called for its ousted president to be restored to office.

Rebel soldiers seized power on Tuesday, detaining President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Prime Minister Boubou Cisse and other officials in a fresh setback for a country battling chronic instability and a jihadist revolt.

"We have decided to immediately send a high-level delegation in order to ensure the immediate return of constitutional order," the regional bloc ECOWAS said at the end of a video summit in a statement read by President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger.

Colonel Assimi Goita, the head of Mali's new junta -- the self-described National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP). By ANNIE RISEMBERG (AFP)

Issoufou said that through talks, ECOWAS would "convey to the leaders of the military junta that the times of taking power by force are over in this region."

The bloc also called for "the restoration of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita as president."

The coup is Mali's second in eight years.

A putsch in 2012 was followed by an insurrection in the north of the country which developed into a jihadist insurgency that now threatens neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso.

Thousands of UN and French troops, along with soldiers from five Sahel countries, have been deployed to try to stem the bloodshed.

"Mali is in a critical situation, with serious risks that a collapse of the state and institutions leads to reversals in the fight against terrorism and organised crime, with every consequence for all our community," Issoufou warned.

Keita's overthrow culminated months-long protests in which ECOWAS -- the Economic Community of West African States -- had tried to play a mediating role.

The bloc proposed setting up a unity government including opposition representatives, but also stood firmly by the 75-year-old Keita. The package was bluntly rejected by the opposition.

In addition to the president and the prime minister, the military detained Defence Minister Ibrahima Dahirou Dembele; Security Minister M'Bemba Moussa Keita; and the president of the National Assembly, Moussa Timbine, according to various sources.

They also arrested army chief of staff General Abdoulaye Coulibaly; the president's personal chief of staff, General Oumar Dao; air force chief General Souleymane Doucoure; and the head of the National Guard, Ouahoun Kone.

The African Union, the European Union, United States and UN Security Council have all condemned the putsch and demanded the release of detained leaders.

Reports of deaths

Calling itself the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, under the leadership of a colonel named Assimi Goita, the junta has vowed to stage elections within a "reasonable time" and respect "all past agreements," including international anti-jihadist missions.

It also urged citizens to return to normal life and warned against acts of vandalism after some buildings were torched.

Soldiers were stationed in Bamako Thursday in front of the administrative centre which houses most of the ministries.

The new military junta warned against acts of vandalism after some buildings were torched. By ANNIE RISEMBERG (AFP)

Markets were open and Malians, who seemed to generally welcome the change of regime, went about their business as usual.

Amnesty International joined calls for the immediate release of all those arrested during the coup and for an investigation into the reported deaths of four people during Tuesday's events.

The NGO said 15 others were wounded.

"All the victims were hit by bullets in unclear circumstances and were sent to the Gabriel Toure hospital in the capital Bamako," Samira Daoud, Amnesty International's director for West and Central Africa, said in a statement.

The junta has denied that there were any casualties during the mutiny.

ECOWAS comprises 15 members, including Mali, but within hours of Keita's overthrow, the group announced it was immediately suspending the country from its internal decision-making bodies.

That statement also called for the immediate release of Keita and other detained leaders, said its members would close land and air borders to Mali and threatened sanctions against the coup leaders.

Mali coup: A timeline. By Janis LATVELS (AFP)

It also requested an "immediate buildup" of the ECOWAS Standby Force, a multidisciplinary force of military, civilian and police personnel.

ECOWAS has intervened in several crises in West Africa, including in The Gambia, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Public anger

Keita won election in a landslide in 2013, putting himself forward as a unifying figure in a fractured country.

He was re-elected in 2018, defeating Cisse.

But public anger snowballed over his failure to roll back a bloody jihadist revolt, mixing explosively with frustration at Mali's moribund economy and perceptions of government graft.

Mass protests began after long-delayed legislative elections in April were followed by a disputed outcome.

On Wednesday, the June 5 Movement, a broad coalition of protest groups, said it "took note of the (junta's) commitment" for a civilian transition.

It promised to work with it on "developing a roadmap," and said it planned to organise large rallies on Friday to "celebrate the victory of the Malian people".
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Philadelphia and its surrounding counties issued a series of "stay-at-home" orders on March 17, 2020 in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. In the months that followed, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) saw a marked decrease in healthcare visits for both outpatient and hospitalized asthma patients. New research from CHOP and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania suggests the cause may have been fewer rhinovirus infections due to masking, social distancing, and hygiene measures.

The findings were published today in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice.

Researchers reviewed the 60 days leading up to March 17, 2020 and compared them to the 60 days following stay-at-home orders. They found a 60% decrease in the total daily asthma healthcare visits across CHOP's hospital and Care Network, which includes more than 50 primary care offices, specialty care and surgical centers, urgent care centers, and community hospital alliances throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

In reviewing cases of rhinovirus after March 17 and comparing them to the number of cases over the same time period in 2015 to 2019, the researchers found cases decreased following the introduction of public health interventions designed to limit viral transmission of SARS-CoV-2. The researchers also analyzed pollution levels after March 17, 2020 and compared them to the same period in 2015 to 2019, but they did not find statistically significant reductions in pollution levels from the available data.

"Pollution and respiratory viruses, particularly rhinovirus, can worsen asthma symptoms and trigger exacerbations," said David A. Hill, MD, PhD, senior author and attending physician with the Division of Allergy and Immunology at CHOP. "When we saw this decrease we initially thought it must be some combination of these factors. We were surprised to see that pollution did not actually decline substantially when compared with historical trends in the Philadelphia region as a result of stay-at-home orders, so we believe this change is more directly a result of infection prevention measures, including wearing a face mask, washing hands frequently, and social distancing. Above all, this paper demonstrates that social distancing is an effective tool in reducing transmission of any virus, whether it's a coronavirus or an asthma-exacerbating rhinovirus."

The researchers analyzed the visits by asthma patients after March 17, 2020 and found telehealth video visits, which were not previously available, became the most highly utilized way of seeing a doctor by asthma patients, with 61% of asthma-related appointments being telehealth visits. The research team also saw a decrease in outpatient steroid prescriptions after stay-at-home orders went into effect. Despite this decrease, Black patients and patients with Medicaid coverage saw the highest rates of steroid prescriptions, with Black patients seeing a 70% increase and Medicaid patients seeing a 63% increase. Black patients made up a lower proportion of telehealth video visits, a difference the authors noted should be the focus of future studies and quality improvement efforts.

"These findings can help inform how we care for asthma patients, not only during this pandemic, but also after we return to a new normal," said Hill. "Asthma is one of the most common chronic childhood diseases, affecting one out of every 12 school-aged children in the United States. We should explore whether enhanced infection-prevention measures have utility in children with asthma, irrespective of COVID-19."

Taquechel K, Diwadkar A, Sayed S, Dudley J, Grundmeier R, Kenyon C, Henrickson S, Himes B, Hill DA. "Pediatric Asthma Healthcare Utilization, Viral Testing, and Air Pollution Changes during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, online August 19, 2020, DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2020.07.057

About Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals, and pioneering major research initiatives, Children's Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 564-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit http://www.chop.edu

Contact: Camillia Travia

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

(267) 426-6251 (office)

(425) 492-5007 (cell)

[email protected]

SOURCE Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Related Links

http://www.chop.edu


File image

While nearly 1,000 questions have been listed by legislators for the Rajasthan Assembly session, which resumes on August 21, only one of them is related to the over month-long political crisis in the state which started after deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot's rebelled.

The Assembly had been adjourned after Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government won the trust motion on the floor of the house on August 14. This came days after a truce between Gehlot and the Pilot camps.

According to a report by The Indian Express, of the 974 questions which have been listed with the Assembly secretariat, just one is directly related to the political crisis in the state. That one question, regarding phone tapping allegations, has been listed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator and former state health minister Kalicharan Saraf.

"Is it true that a phone tapping case has happened recently? If yes, then under which law and by whose order?" the question reads, according to the newspaper. As many as 43 questions concern the state home department, though apart from Saraf's, none of them are related to the political crisis.

During a debate in the Assembly on August 14, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Gulab Chand Kataria had attacked the state government for "constantly targeting the BJP."

"You have been constantly targeting BJP. I have a humble prayer, if Gulab Chand Kataria has done anything wrong then send me to jail, the government is yours, the police is yours," Kataria had said.

The BJP leader had also accused the government of using police for its "personal use" and putting "police's honour on the line."

"You deployed them (the police) at the camps, are they your servants? Did you deploy them after depositing the money with the state? You are misusing the police to save your government..." Kataria had said. However, no question regarding the deployment of the police and the expenses incurred thereof, has been listed.

"There is a difference in speech and questions. But we can perhaps ask about the expenses incurred in the deployment of police. I have handled that department. You can deploy police for personal security, but you have to deposit money," Kataria told the newspaper. He added that the BJP will see if it can ask other questions in future.

"The answers take 10 days to come and the House session will be short," Kataria said.

According to the report, 100 questions have been listed with the health department and 31 with the Disaster Management and Relief Department, most of them concerning the COVID-19 pandemic and locusts.
Large forces of trained community health workers and standardised healthcare systems could reduce the number of maternal, newborn and foetal deaths, a study has recommended.

Meta-analysis of three studies, published today in the Lancet, examines the outcomes of 70,000 women in Mozambique, Pakistan and India between 2014-7.

The study aimed to reduce deaths associated with pre-eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia is a condition that causes high blood pressure during pregnancy and after labour. Globally, pre-eclampsia is the second leading cause of maternal mortality, with 76,000 maternal deaths and 500,000 foetal and new-born deaths every year worldwide. Delays in triage, transport to healthcare facilities and treatment contribute to the high numbers of deaths among mothers and infants.

The Community Level Interventions for Pre-eclampsia (CLIP) trials divided women between control and intervention groups. Control groups continued with their local standard of care, whereas intervention groups had access to community health workers who could detect, treat, and refer to hospital women with hypertension, a symptom of pre-eclampsia. Women were also taught how to recognise problems during pregnancy and health workers had access to an app that could help determine the risk to patients and blood pressure and blood oxygen devices so that they could assess women in their homes.

The analysis shows that when there were enough community health workers to provide care there were fewer deaths of mothers, fewer stillbirths and fewer deaths of newborns. However, when there were not enough community health workers, there was no impact.

Researchers recommended expanding the community health worker workforce so individual women were in contact with care providers at least eight times in each pregnancy, and to improve standards of healthcare systems.

Professor Peter von Dadelszen, from King's College London, said: "We designed the three CLIP trials in Pakistan, India, and Mozambique to have the results pulled together into this analysis. Previously, most efforts had focussed on hospital-based care and we moved the focus to the care of pregnant women in their communities, with that care being given by community health workers. Overall, a shortage of community health workers in these communities meant that we did not improve outcomes through our intervention. However, when implemented as planned, these digital health-supported community health workers assessing women in their homes were able to prevent the deaths of pregnant women and their babies both before and soon after birth."

###
Vietnam brought home 340 citizens stranded in the U.S. because of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on Thursday.

The citizens were taken to centralized quarantined centers in line with the countrys regulations after landing at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on Thursday morning.

The flight, which departed from San Francisco, was arranged by Vietnamese authorities, the countrys representative agencies in the U.S., national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, and relevant U.S. agencies.

The passengers were Vietnamese citizens from various states in the U.S. as well as those stranded in Haiti due to flight suspension.

The Vietnamese mission in the U.S. sent staff to assist the citizens in completing procedures and handling urgent issues before boarding the flight.

During the flight, the passengers strictly followed regulations on security, safety, disease prevention, and epidemiological hygiene.

Upon landing at Noi Bai International Airport in the capital city, all the passengers and crew members received health check-ups and were placed under quarantine as per the countrys regulations.

In the time ahead, disadvantaged Vietnamese will continue to be brought home based on the citizens needs, COVID-19 developments, and the capacity of local quarantine centers.

As of Thursday morning, Vietnam has logged 994 COVID-19 cases, including 25 deaths and 533 recoveries.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Boris Johnson took a pasting on social media after he finally broke his silence over the English exams chaos - with two short tweets.

The Prime Minister has not been seen since heading to Scotland for a week's holiday on Monday in the middle of chaos over A-Level grades.

He has so far resisted widespread calls for him to cut short his break to take control of the public confidence crisis from beleaguered Education Secretary Gavin Williamson.

He issued a short message to GCSE students receiving results today - based on predicted grades after a 'standardisation' algorithm was abandoned amid claims it was biased against high achieving pupils from poorer backgrounds.

He wrote: 'Congratulations to everyone receiving their GCSE results today. I know the last few months have been tough and this isn't how you imagined you would be finishing Year 11, but you can be proud of how you helped to keep the virus under control.

'You have literally saved lives through staying at home and keeping distance from others. Thank you for protecting yourselves, your families and your communities this year. And once again  congratulations and well done!'

There was no apology or mention of the chaos that has accompanied this year's exam results and the message was greeted with disdain by social media users.

An exclusive poll for MailOnline today revealed that just one third of voters back Mr Johnson's decision to take a break during the coronavirus crisis with four in ten now viewing the Government as 'incompetent'.

A survey conducted by Redfield & Wilton Strategies showed some 41 per cent of people disapprove of the Prime Minister's break in Scotland with only 29 per cent saying they approve.

The poll of 2,000 people was conducted on August 19 when the Government's education debacle was at its peak and some 41 per cent of respondents said they now view the Government as 'incompetent' with 26 per cent believing Mr Johnson and his top team are 'competent'.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that there are no plans to issue a photograph of the PM and his family on their holiday, a tradition followed by his predecessors.

The Prime Minister has not been seen since heading to Scotland for a week's holiday on Monday in the middle of chaos over A-Level grades

A Redfield & Wilton Strategies poll showed some 41 per cent of people disapprove of the Prime Minister's break in Scotland with only 29 per cent saying they approved

The poll of 2,000 people was conducted on August 19 when the Government's education debacle was at its peak and some 41 per cent of respondents said they now view the Government as 'incompetent'

There was no apology or mention of the chaos that has accompanied this year's exam results. And the message was greeted with disdain by social media users

Mark Berry wrote: 'Great that so many have passed despite the failures of this Government who have been too focused on awarding contracts to their friends and donors instead of doing their jobs properly!'

A record high proportion of GCSE entries in England were today awarded the equivalent of A* or As after a Government U-turn meant results could be based on teachers' estimated grades amid cancelled exams.

Hundreds of thousands of youngsters received their results at 8am this morning following major changes - but around 200,000 Btec pupils will not get their final results following a last-minute review of grades.

More than one in four (25.9 per cent) GCSE entries in England scored one of the three top grades of 7 to 9 this year, up from just over a fifth (20.7 per cent) last summer, figures from exams regulator Ofqual show.

The surge comes after Education Secretary Gavin Williamson scrapped the controversial algorithm system for both A-level and GCSE results following a mass outcry from students and parents - and conceded teachers' predicted grades must be used to mark pupils who could not sit their exams because of the pandemic.

The proportion receiving the top grades - at least a 7 or an A grade - is a record high based on available data following the decision to award grades based on teachers' assessments, rather than an algorithm. It also raises the prospect of a record number of students going on to do A-levels at colleges and sixth forms.

The subject with the highest proportion of pupils gaining a 7 to 9 grade was classics at 74.6 per cent, followed by modern languages other than French, German and Spanish, and triple science (biology, chemistry and physics) at 53 per cent.

More than three in four (76 per cent) entries were awarded at least a 4 or a C grade in England this summer, which is up 8.9 percentage points on last year when 67.1 per cent achieved the grades.

It comes after GCSE and A-level students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were told they would now be awarded the higher of either their teachers' grade or the moderated grade following an outcry.

Boris Johnson shuns cheesy tradition of the PM's holiday photo Whether it was Theresa May striding purposefully through the Swiss countryside or David Cameron chillaxing on a Cornish beach, the prime ministerial holiday snap has become a fixture of the summer break. The premier and their family usually try to get away from the stress and pressure of politics with some private time, but allow a brief interruption to feed the publicity beast. But not Mr Johnson and his new family. His situation is slightly different this year as he is taking an enforced domestic holiday. His previous break was at the end of last year on the private Caribbean island of Mustique with carrie Symnonds, before the birth of son Wilfred. Mr Johnson is reticent about shining a light into his often tumultuous private life. But he cannot use a young child as a reason. David Cameron, Gordon Brown and Tony Blair all had young children when they were in office. Theresa May walking in a forest with her husband Philip at the start of a summer holiday in the Alps in Switzerland in 2016 David and Samantha Cameron have a coffee outside the Galleon Beach Cafe in Polzeath in Cornwall in 2015 Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah walk through Whitlingham Country Park in Trowse, Norfolk in 2008 Tony Blair and his wife Cherie pose for photographers at Charlestown's port, near Truro in Cornwall in 2001 Advertisement

The great exams fiasco continues: 450,000 BTEC students must wait a WEEK for grades after exam board Pearson axed results at 'nearly the 12th hour' despite warnings of 'systemic issues' with algorithm a week ago

Almost 500,000 BTEC students will have to wait another week to get their grades after the exam board axed results hours before they were due to be released today.

Pearson, the provider of BTECs, yesterday told schools and colleges not to publish results in the vocational qualifications to give them time to re-grade them in line with A-levels and GCSEs - which are now being graded via teacher assessments.

This means that students face another week waiting for their BTEC grades - including 250,000 who received 'downgrades' marks last week for their A-level equivalent exams.

The 11th hour move last night came despite Pearson being warned a week ago about a 'systemic issue' with grading, it was claimed today.

The parent of one BTEC student said the decision to withhold final grades has left his son feeling like a 'second-class student'.

Caleb Taylor, 19, is waiting for the results of his level three Btec in computing and business.

His father, Richard, said he has been unable to enrol at his college in Gwent for next year without knowing his final grades.

He said: 'I think it's a disgrace. He feels like he is a second-class student, and Btecs are seen as less important than A-levels because they have been sorted out last.

'Technical qualifications shouldn't be seen as less than. My son is really anxious because he doesn't know what he will be doing next year.

'He plans to go to university but it is a good thing he didn't want to go this year because he would have missed out on his space.

'There has just been no communication, we just don't know what is going on.'

This morning, David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'We'd been talking to Pearson ever since the results came out last Thursday and we knew there were lots and lots of problems, lots of students not getting the results they really should have got, lots of colleges saying to us that actually this just doesn't look right, and we were saying to Pearson 'is this just isolated cases or is it a more systemic issue'?

'I think what they've realised is that both the level three results last week, but perhaps more importantly for the results that were due today, that this was a system issue and they really needed to do a thorough review.'

Exam board Pearson has pulled its BTEC results less than 24 hours before releasing them, sparking a fresh round of results chaos for nearly half a million pupils (stock)

BBC Radio 4 was told by Bexleyheath Academy in South East London that some results papers give both grades on the same piece of paper - so the principal is giving out BTEC grades today because there are on the same piece of paper as the GCSEs.

Schools minister Nick Gibb today told Sky News that BTEC results were being reviewed and they will be 'they'll be reissuing them hopefully next week'.

The National Education Union's co-general secretary said the Government now 'must put an end' to the 'incompetence' around the issuing of the Btec results.

Dr Mary Bousted said: 'Teachers know their students better than any model or algorithm and it will be a relief to many that the grades they receive are now a fairer reflection of their achievements.

'To add to the GCSE and A-level fiasco, the decision by (examiner) Pearson not to issue Btec results at the eleventh hour compounds the upsetting and chaotic experience for students.

'Government must put an end to this incompetence and work quickly to ensure every young person gets the grades they deserve to move on to the next stages of their lives.'

The development will also cause even further disruption to students seeking places in higher education, with universities under pressure from thousands of pupils scrambling to get their first choices after the U-turn led to improved grades.

Mr Hughes added: 'This is a decision that is kind of the result of lots and lots of poor decisions over many weeks.

'One thing we've got to do I think in the fullness of time is a full review, independent review, open and transparent into what went wrong, not to blame people, but really to understand what's happened, because confidence in the system has been completely blown.

'Ofqual wanted integrity in the system to be at the heart of all this, and I think that's the last thing that's been achieved. So the decision by Pearson last night, really late in the day, 11th hour, almost the 12th, hour was probably the right decision, just a shame it came so late.

Pearson, the provider of BTECs, told schools and colleges not to publish level 1 and 2 results in the vocational qualifications to give them time to re-grade them in line with A-levels and GCSEs - which are being graded via teacher assessments (stock)

'But sometimes it is better to make the right decision rather than carry on and get very, very unfair outcomes for students.'

Labour's Shadow Education Secretary Kate Green told ITV's Good Morning Britain: 'I think it's utterly outrageous, it's chaos after chaos now and at the end of this are young people psyching themselves up to receive their results, wanting to plan their futures for the next step in their studies and being let down again and again by the Government.

'And now to hear that not only the results that were due today are delayed until we don't know when but some of the results received last week might have to be reviewed and adjusted, and still don't know what they should do next. I think it's absolutely shameful, they are in the middle of a fiasco no way of their making.'
Mothercare has announced a new business model after talks with franchisees (PA)

Babycare group Mothercare has announced a new business model after talks with franchisees as it also finalised a deal with Boots to sell goods across the chain in time for the autumn season.

The firm  which last year put its UK stores into administration with all 79 shops closing and 2,500 jobs lost  said the new franchise arrangements would ensure a more sustainable and less capital-intensive business model.

It will see the groups franchise partners pay for products directly to manufacturers.

The group added it had finally completed the deal with Boots to become its UK and Ireland franchise partner  first announced in December  which will see it sell Mothercare-branded clothing from this autumn and goods including pushchairs and car seats in larger stores and online.

We believe this new way of working will ultimately have the added benefits of improving pricing for franchise partners Mothercare

The Boots deal had suffered a series of delays due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Shares jumped in morning trading, rising as much as 18% at one stage before settling around 4% higher.

On the new franchise plans, Mothercare said: We believe this new way of working will ultimately have the added benefits of improving pricing for franchise partners, which in turn should better incentivise retail sales growth and assist our manufacturing partners in reinstating credit insurance for future seasons.

As well as the 10-year Boots deal, Mothercare said it had also struck a new 20-year franchise arrangement with Alshaya Group, its main franchise partner.

But Mothercare added that it still expects to take a 10 million hit from the UK stores administration last November.

The administration left Mothercare refocused on simply providing branded products to retailers.

In June, the group was also dealt a blow when temporary boss Glyn Hughes said he did not want the job on a permanent basis.

He quit in June, leaving Mothercare to be led by the chief operating officer and

chief financial officer, under the watchful eye of chairman Clive Whiley.
Siam Cement Group releases results for Philippine operations

20 August 2020

Thailands Siam Cement Group has reported a 39 per cent YoY decline in revenue to PHP5.34bn (US$109.7m) from its Philippine operations for the first half of the year, on the back of a weak performance in its building materials business, reports The Philippine Star.



In the 2Q20, the companys local operations posted a 53 per cent decrease in revenue to PHP2bn.



The news follows the release of SCGs overall results last week, which saw a 33 per cent YoY rise in profit for the second quarter.

Published under
Union Commerce and Industry Minister on Thursday said that along with being the 'Pharmacy of the World', India will also become the 'Hospital of the World'.

Speaking at the inauguration of CII's 12th MedTech Global Summit here, Goyal was quoted in a statement as saying that "we will also become the 'Hospital of the World', where the world will be able to use facilities, high quality medical care and high quality treatment that India will provide to the rest of the world".

According to the minister, the medical devices industry will be at the forefront of bringing technology to India and "ensuring our rightful place in global trade for equipment and global engagement with hospitals internationally".

Besides, Goyal pointed out that the pharmaceutical industry persevered to ensure an adequate supply of medicines for India and the world.

"The medical devices industry laboured and helped us indigenously prepare products required to fight Covid-19," he said in the statement.

"Our doctors, paramedics and medical fraternity have made the nation proud by serving the common man relentlessly through their commitment to ensure the safety and well-being of India."

Furthermore, he said that industries of pharma, medical devices and medical profession will evolve with the realisation that being self-reliant is important to care for the lives of the people.

Goyal said that preventive health care through wellness centres will be the way forward. "Staying fit has been the mantra of our government," he added.

--IANS

rv/sn/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.)
Uber's former chief security officer, Joe Sullivan, was charged Thursday for obstructing justice and concealing a felony for his role in attempting to cover up a 2016 hack that compromised the data of millions of Uber customers and drivers.

The big picture: The hack didn't become public until a year after it happened, prompting the company's then-new CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, to fire Sullivan and some of his deputies for their handling of the incident.

Sullivan is now the second former Uber executive to face criminal charges, following self-driving technology expert Anthony Levandowski (for a separate case).

Details: The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of California revealed the charges in a statement.

"Silicon Valley is not the Wild West," U.S. Attorney David Anderson said. "We will not tolerate corporate cover-ups. We will not tolerate illegal hush money payments."

If convicted, Sullivan faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the obstruction of justice charge and three years for the concealment of a felony charge.

From Uber:

"We continue to cooperate fully with the Department of Justices investigation. Our decision in 2017 to disclose the incident was not only the right thing to do, it embodies the principles by which we are running our business today: transparency, integrity, and accountability."

 Uber spokesperson

From Sullivan:

There is no merit to the charges against Mr. Sullivan, who is a respected cybersecurity expert and former Assistant U.S. Attorney.

This case centers on a data security investigation at Uber by a large, cross-functional team made up of some of the worlds foremost security experts, Mr. Sullivan included. If not for Mr. Sullivans and his teams efforts, its likely that the individuals responsible for this incident never would have been identified at all. From the outset, Mr. Sullivan and his team collaborated closely with legal, communications and other relevant teams at Uber, in accordance with the companys written policies. Those policies made clear that Ubers legal department -- and not Mr. Sullivan or his group -- was responsible for deciding whether, and to whom, the matter should be disclosed.

 Spokesperson for Joe Sullivan

Editor's note: The story has been updated with a statement from Uber and a Sullivan's spokesperson.
FUZHOU, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2020 / Zhuding International Limited (OTC PINK:ZHUD) did not layoff any employees due to the coronavirus pandemic, CEO Xiang Mulin said Wednesday.

"We don't want our team to worry about their jobs during a time like this, we told them all, there's no issue, and we're all going to be working now through year-end. We need to obviously take care of our shareholders, but I think the way we do that best is by taking care of our employees, taking care of our customers and stepping up and doing the right thing," Mulin Xiang said.

Zhuding International Limited is giving options to its business customers to push back repayments on purchases at no additional cost. This is also in-line with the government agenda to keep the fundamentals of the industrial chain and supply chains stabilized amid the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 and complex economic situation.

"We're basically trying to give small businesses the flexibility to deal with the issues they have right now. We're one of the largest suppliers of construction materials to small businesses, and we're going to continue to provide that where we can," he said.

About Zhuding International Limited

Zhuding International Limited operates as a building materials manufacturer. The Company uses its own patented technology to create lightweight composite wall panels suitable for use in commercial and residential construction from recycled materials derived from mining, industrial, agricultural, and domestic waste.

For further information, please contact:

Han Jin

cream@fjzhuding.com

SOURCE: Zhuding International Limited

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602602/No-Layoffs-Amid-COVID-19-Zhuding-International-Support-Small-Businesses
If the amendment passes, Pritzker says Illinois would raise the tax rate on the 3% of highest-income earners, generating about $3 billion more the first full year . The Democratic governor and his allies think its such a nifty idea to go after taxpayers to make up for the sins of profligate politicians that we fear the longer-term consequences: If Springfield is freed from the constitutional constraints of a flat tax rate, soon enough middle-class earners also will get hit with a rate increase. Thats because lawmakers find it easier to hike taxes than cut spending, reduce regulatory burdens or take other actions to encourage employers to stay in Illinois, invest and grow the economy.
China's Foreign Ministry on Monday warned the U.S. that it should respect China's red line on the Taiwan question, after the island finalized the purchase of F-16 fighter jets from U.S. aircraft manufacturer Lockheed Martin on August 14.

The Pentagon announced on Friday the 10-year, 62-billion-U.S.-dollar contract with Lockheed Martin for the new production of the F-16 Foreign Military Sale aircraft.

The ministry's spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters at a daily briefing that the Taiwan question concerns China's core interest and China will firmly defend its sovereignty.

China has repeatedly opposed U.S. arms sales to Taiwan authorities, stating that it seriously violates the one-China principle and three communiques between China and the U.S., Zhao said.

He also warned the deal would jeopardize China-U.S. relations and the stability of the Taiwan Straits.

Taiwan is part of China, Zhao said, adding that the arms sale will harm China-U.S. relations and the U.S. should immediately suspend the deal and any military contacts with the island.

Ni Feng, director of the Institute of American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that the U.S. move is dangerous because it steps on and even crosses the Chinese mainland's red line on the Taiwan question.

The risk of a confrontation continues to rise, he added.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) said it had conducted live combat drills in the Taiwan Straits and its northern and southern ends in response to what it called U.S. provocation and Taiwan secessionist activities.

The exercises, Ni said, are an obvious response to recent U.S. and Taiwan secessionists' "provocative moves," highlighted by U.S. health chief Alex Azar's Taiwan visit.

The PLA has been enhancing and normalizing military drills around the island of Taiwan not only to deter secessionists on the island, but to train the troops and gain the capability of turning the exercises into real military actions if necessary, Ni said.
The international version of documentary series Century Masters is to release its second season on online platforms, including Xuexi.cn, Tencent Video, iQiyi, Sohu TV starting Aug 21. [For chinadaily.com.cn]

In good news for history buffs and culture lovers, the second season of Century Masters, a large-scale docuseries featuring the legacy of 20th-century Chinese artists, is now translated into several foreign languages and will be available online starting Aug.21.

With a total of five episodes, each about 52 minutes long, the stories of five outstanding figures  including painter Li Kuchan, Peking Opera artist Shang Xiaoyun, and painters Guan Shanyue, Wu Guanzhong and Huang Zhou, are told to a much broader audience outside the Chinese-speaking world.

The content will stream on new media platforms, such as Xuexi.cn, Tencent Video, iQiyi, Sohu TV and so on, accessible in English, French, Russian, Spanish and Arabic.

The second season of Century Masters, tells the stories of five outstanding figures  painter Li Kuchan, Peking Opera artist Shang Xiaoyun, and painters Guan Shanyue, Wu Guanzhong and Huang Zhou. [For chinadaily.com.cn]

Li Kuchan was a renowned Chinese painter, calligrapher and art educator who specialized in free-stroke brush paintings. Born into a poor peasant family in East China's Shandong Province, Li had to work really hard to pay for art school in Beijing.

In 1923, he began to study under Qi Baishi (1864-1957), one of the most renowned contemporary Chinese painters. Later on, Li created a unique kind of bird-and-flower painting using the free and spontaneous "xieyi" style (freehand brushwork used in traditional Chinese painting).

The second season of Century Masters, tells the stories of five outstanding figures  painter Li Kuchan, Peking Opera artist Shang Xiaoyun, and painters Guan Shanyue, Wu Guanzhong and Huang Zhou. [For chinadaily.com.cn]

The early 1900s are widely considered the golden age of Peking Opera. The four artists, Mei Lanfang, Cheng Yanqiu, Shang Xiaoyun and Xun Huisheng, are widely known as the Four Great Dan of Peking Opera.

Shang Xiaoyun's style was known as "bang", the Chinese term for "bravo". Shang started his opera journey as a martial arts character and his performance style was powerful. He was particularly adept at portraying brave and heroic women characters.

The second season of Century Masters, tells the stories of five outstanding figures  painter Li Kuchan, Peking Opera artist Shang Xiaoyun, and painters Guan Shanyue, Wu Guanzhong and Huang Zhou. [For chinadaily.com.cn]

The late painter Guan Shanyue led his peers at the Lingnan School of Painting, formed in the early 20th-century in the southern city of Guangzhou, to revolutionize the classic Chinese mountain-and-water paintings.

The gigantic piece, The Land is So Rich in Beauty, at the Great Hall of the People is among his most famous creations. Guan also donated some 800 of his paintings to build an art museum named after him in Shenzhen in 1997.

The second season of Century Masters, tells the stories of five outstanding figures  painter Li Kuchan, Peking Opera artist Shang Xiaoyun, and painters Guan Shanyue, Wu Guanzhong and Huang Zhou. [For chinadaily.com.cn]

Wu Guanzhong, whose fusion of Western modernism and traditional Chinese painting, made him one of China's most forward-looking and admired artists. Coming back to China from Paris, he taught in several prestigious Chinese art institutes.

Trained in traditional Chinese ink and brush painting, as well as Western-style oil painting, Wu went on to develop an artistic hybrid style expressed in landscape views captured on painting trips all over China and beyond.

The second season of Century Masters, tells the stories of five outstanding figures  painter Li Kuchan, Peking Opera artist Shang Xiaoyun, and painters Guan Shanyue, Wu Guanzhong and Huang Zhou. [For chinadaily.com.cn]

Masterpieces by Huang, like A Blizzard in the Wilderness, Celebrating the Harvest and On Patrol, represent innovative achievements in contemporary Chinese painting with vigorous strokes and a strong personality.

He co-founded the Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Painting with famous painters Li Keran, Cai Ruohong and Hua Junwu, and presided over the establishment of the Yan Huang Art Museum. His artistic practice and theory exerted a significant influence on the development of contemporary art.

(Source: chinadaily.com.cn)
Airbnb is banning house parties worldwide as it tries to clean up its reputation and comply with coronavirus-related limits on gatherings.

The San Francisco home sharing company will now limit occupancy in its rental homes to 16 people. It may offer exceptions for boutique hotels or other event venues.

Airbnb said the coronavirus-related closure of bars and nightclubs has led to an increase in big house parties, sometimes at its rentals.

'Some have chosen to take bar and club behavior to homes, sometimes rented through our platform,' according to Airbnb.

'We think such conduct is incredibly irresponsible - we do not want that type of business, and anyone engaged in or allowing that behavior does not belong on our platform.'

Airbnb has always prohibited unauthorized parties, and the company said nearly 75 per cent of its listings explicitly ban parties.

But the ban will now cover all parties and limit bookings to no more than 16 people.

Airbnb says around 2 per cent of the 7 million properties listed on its site can accommodate 16 or more people. There are at least 170 in New York, 116 in Los Angeles, 53 in London and 277 in Beijing, according to the company's website.

Airbnb said it also plans to expand a hotline for neighbors to report unauthorized parties, and may pursue legal action against guests and hosts who violate the ban.

Footage on Instagram that appeared to be taken inside a Jackson Township party showed people dancing and drinking within close proximity despite coronavirus restrictions

Last month, a party took place in Jackson Township, New Jersey at a mansion that had been rented out for $795-a-night on Airbnb

The move follows a number of complaints and legal issues coming as a result of people hosting parties during the coronavirus pandemic that violated social distancing guidelines in the areas they were staying.

The company said that based on this - a global ban on parties and events is the 'best course of action to take in the interest of public health'.

A house party in Middletown, New Jersey is believed to have sparked 65 cases of coronavirus, with 52 of those infected between 15 and 19 years old.

The latest move is a continuation of efforts launched by Airbnb in 2019 to impose stricter limits on the number of people that can stay at or visit a property they list.

The firm said that historically they've allowed hosts to use their judgement over whether to allow small parties such as baby showers - but that is to end.

'This party ban applies to all future bookings on Airbnb and it will remain in effect indefinitely until further notice,' the property sharing company said.

Party houses have often sparked complaints from neighbors and in some high profile cases been the scene of violence and shootings.

Last week, for the first time, Airbnb took legal action against a guest who held an unauthorized party in Sacramento County, California.

Three people were shot during the party but they are all said to be in stable condition. As of last week, police were still searching for a suspect.

The three injured were taken to a local hospital and were listed as being in stable condition

The San Francisco home sharing company will limit occupancy in its rental homes to 16 people and may pursue legal action against those who violate the ban. It comes after a party in Sacramento County led to the shooting of three people

Last month in New Jersey, a total of 35 listings were either suspended or removed across the state as coronavirus cases surge there. Many of the listings were in beach towns along the shore including Atlantic City, Brigantine, Stafford Township, and Ventnor City.

Law enforcement broke up a 700-person party at an Airbnb in Jackson Township, Ocean County, in July

The party took place at a mansion that had been rented out for $795-a-night on Airbnb on Saturday night.

Jackson Police say they first started receiving reports from concerned neighbors about the party at about 8.30pm.

When they arrived at the home, they found a large crowd at the property.

Officers contacted the owner of the home, 40-year-old Yaakov Weiss, who said he had rented his property out for the purposes of a party. He has since been banned from using the service.

One attendee at the Jackson Township party was there from 11pm and said people only started to leave at 3am because cars were being towed for parking violations. Police arrived but didn't break up the bash

After a deadly shooting at a California Airbnb rental last Halloween, the company took multiple steps to crack down on parties. Five people were killed in the shooting, which happened during an unauthorized party.

Last November, Airbnb started manually reviewing U.S. and Canadian reservations to weed out suspicious rentals, like a guest who booked a one-night stay close to their home. It expanded that program to Australia last week.

In July, Airbnb banned U.S. and Canadian guests under age 25 with fewer than three positive reviews from booking entire homes close to where they live. It expanded that policy to the United Kingdom, Spain and France last week.

Twelve-year-old Airbnb has been trying to shed its couch-surfing image and appeal to more types of travelers ahead of its initial public offering. Last year it announced an effort to verify all of its properties, for example.

Airbnb filed preliminary paperwork for a stock offering with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday. The initial public offering could take place later this year.

The company also said it wants to make sure it's complying with public health mandates. Los Angeles County has a ban on gatherings of people from different households, for example.
The National Reporting Platform was launched at a ceremony in Hanoi on August 19.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the event

The ceremony was held at the Governments Centre for Information and Direction at the Government Office via a teleconference connected to Vietnams 63 cities and provinces.

Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung said the platform will serve an important role in the process of building and developing e-Government and reflects the countrys determination in administrative reform.

On the same day, the Government Office announced the integration of three public services on the national public service portal, raising the total to 1,000.

In its more than eight months in operation, the portal has connected with 18 ministries and agencies, all 63 cities and provinces, eight banks, and e-wallet providers. It recorded 56.4 million visits and had over 220,000 accounts registered. Over 13 trillion VND (565 million USD) is being saved each year on public services, with more than 6.7 trillion VND contributed by the portal.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc witnessed the handling of the 998th, 999th, and 1,000th public services on the portal.

He also delivered directions to leaders from Binh Phuoc, Quang Ninh, and Thua Thien-Hue provinces and the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre.

The PM thanked the Japanese Embassy, the World Bank, Samsung Vietnam, and IT businesses and experts for setting up the platform.

As 2020 is a year of national digital transformation, he asked ministries, agencies, and localities to continue reform in the building of e-Government and to enhance information technology capacity.

Regarding the national public service portal, he directed the addition of exports-imports, land, construction, mineral resources, taxation, the handling of administrative violations, hospital fees, and tuition, towards the goal of having 30 percent of online public services at Level 4 this year.

Data needs to be correct, trustworthy, and transparent in order to build an integrated, transparent, and action-minded Government to serve the public and businesses, he said, adding that ministries and ministry-level and Government agencies must standardise and digitalise over 200 regimes for reporting to the Prime Minister, the Government, and the National Assembly on the platform.

The Government Office was assigned to work closely with ministries, agencies, and localities to choose and add socio-economic targets as well as daily directions from the PM and the Government on the platform./.VNA
The coronavirus crash has proved short lived for the US stock market, as its global tech giant members have driven a strong rebound to new record highs.

At the same time, the UK is still in the doldrums with the FTSE 100 knocking on the trap door of the 6,000 level again.

So why has the US market soared, do the big tech firms justify the run, is the Fed's cheap money a safe bet, and are investors paying significant attention to the damage that coronavirus has done to the American economy?

Richard Hunter explains to Simon Lambert what's happened to send the likes of Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Tesla soaring.

And the pair discuss why the UK has lagged behind and why our consumer dependent economy suffered much worse than others from lockdown.
Guest Column: Morse Allegations a 'fishy' Story

Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse speaks during an inaugural ceremony for City Council and School Committee members in the Holyoke City Hall auditorium on Jan. 6.

This is column appeared in the Daily Hampshire Gazette on Aug. 14 and is being republished with permission.

There are vast differences in the way Alex Morse and Richard Neal finance their campaigns in the race for the 1st Congressional District. Morse is a "Justice Democrat" who does not take corporate PAC or lobbyist money. According to Sludge, Neal was the top House recipient of corporate PAC money in 2019. Of the 100 senators, only 10 take in more money from business PACs than Neal, according to Open Secrets

This is an immensely important issue. Instead, we are dealing with vague allegations of sexual misconduct only three weeks before an election. According to a University of Massachusetts press release , "The allegations that Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse engaged in inappropriate behavior with UMass Amherst students are serious and deeply concerning." With such an ominous beginning this might be a point to turn to the "who, what, where, when, why and how's" we learned in eighth grade. We get none of that.

About the only thing the UMass press release tells you is that "faculty are prohibited from entering into a sexual relationship with any student or post-doc for whom the faculty member has any responsibility for supervision, evaluation, grading, advising, employment, or other instructional or supervisory activity."

By citing this rule, they strongly suggest Morse broke it, but they don't come out and say so. UMass spokesperson Ed Blaguszewski did not answer any of my questions this week, despite knowing I was writing a column. While he insisted on sticking to his vague press release, particularly disturbing was the non-response to the question of whether Morse had sex or tried to have sex with somebody he supervised. That was a poor choice and a tremendous disservice to voters.

Morse has defended himself from the allegations this week, saying this week he has never violated UMass policy, nor has he had a nonconsensual sexual encounter with anyone.

Whatever you think of the charges against Joe Biden, you know that Tara Reade alleged that Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993 with great detail. Reade was interviewed multiple times. We can debate the merits of anonymous complaints to school officials. However, these anonymous complaints should not make it into press releases and newspapers.

According to the Society of Professional Journalists , one should verify information before releasing it, using original sources whenever possible. That would mean interviewing the accuser directly. Instead, you have what in law would be regarded as multiple levels of hearsay. Instead of an interview of the putative "victim," (and they were not victims if they were not under his control or supervision) one newspaper quotes another newspaper (Daily Collegian), which in turn quoted a letter from the College Democrats of Massachusetts, who in turn interviewed anonymous sources. That's ridiculous.

The College Democrats of Massachusetts are even worse . They are a branch of the Democratic Party, which is prohibited from endorsing candidates within a Democratic primary  I know this because I am an elected member of the Lenox Democratic Town Committee. I have talked to staff at the state headquarters about this.

Instead of endorsing Neal, the College Democrats issued a press release attempting to portray Morse as a gay predator. This is an archaic, benighted stereotype. The national Democrat Party infamously tried to hamper Bernie Sanders instead of being neutral. Countless phone calls to the Mass Democrats have gone unreturned.

The Daily Collegian claims, without interviewing any of the alleged victims, that Morse contacted people on dating apps but did not bother to mention whether or not they were his students. Nor did it matter that they happened to be members of the College Democrats of Massachusetts  that's not a thing that would cause Morse to have power over them or be unethical.

Nor is contacting fellow Democrats on social media, which is very common. Having "sexual contact" (whatever that means  is it physical contact or just words?) with college students at UMass that were not his students or people he supervised, let alone college students generally, is not wrong behavior.

According to the letter from the College Democrats of Massachusetts, there were "Numerous incidents over the course of several years." Why then announce this just three weeks before an election?

This is a fishy story, with suspect timing and motives, devoid of much detail. There is no allegation that Morse had sexual relations with his students or people he supervised. Even if he did connect with students that were not under his supervision, this alone would not be unethical.

There is a hard-hitting piece by the Intercept titled, " College Democrat chats reveal year-old plan to engineer and leak Alex Morse accusations ." According to the Intercept expose, "Timothy Ennis, the chief strategist for the UMass Amherst College Democrats, admitted in the chats that he was a 'Neal Stan' and said he felt conflicted about involving the chapter of the College Democrats in a future attack on Morse. 'But I need a job,' concluded Ennis. 'Neal will give me an internship.'"

We should be talking about Neal being on the corporate payroll. Instead, we are talking about Morse's private dating life.

Rinaldo Del Gallo III is an attorney in Pittsfield and a member of the Lenox Democratic Town Committee. His columns have been published in newspapers across the country, including in iBerkshires.com.
Updated: Hundreds of students across Wrexham receive their GCSE results

This article is old - Published: Thursday, Aug 20th, 2020

Hundreds of students across Wrexham are waking up this morning to discover the results of their GCSEs.

Its a results day like no other for students, who had their exams cancelled at the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

It is hoped the chaos of last weeks A Level results will be avoided after Education Minister Kirsty Williams confirmed this week that A level, AS, GCSE, Skills Challenge Certificate and Welsh Baccalaureate students will be awarded their Centre Assessment Grades.

Commenting on todays results Cllr Phil Wynn, lead member for education at Wrexham Council, said: I am very proud of our young people today who will be receiving their GCSE results based on Centre Assessed Grades.

Its been a very difficult year for them all and they are to be commended for their resilience as we continue with the Covid-19 pandemic.

I would like to pass on my congratulations to them all but I also recognise that some may now have difficult decisions to make and they should all be re-assured that their schools and parents will be able to advise them on the best way forward as they enter further education, work or training.

Well done to everyone and best wishes for your future.

Ysgol Rhosnesni

Headteacher, Andy Brant, Rhosnesni High School, added: We are exceptionally proud of our Year 11 students.

Whilst they were unable to sit GCSE examinations during the summer, they have achieved so much over a five year period.

Unquestionably, this year group embodied our school values of respect, honesty and success. We know that the fabulous results they have received today are fair, accurate and well deserved.

I would like to thank Rhosnesni staff, parents and students for their hard work and support.

Rhosnesni Chair of Governors, Cllr Paul Jones, said, Today, Governors and I would like to congratulate our students.

They have done exceptionally well and their achievements should be celebrated.

A huge thank you and well done must also go to our excellent staff team and our Rhosnesni parents.

Ysgol Rhiwabon.

 Every student is leaving compulsory education with a minimum of 5 qualifications.

 Excellent results in the core and non-core subjects, which builds on the success of last year and recent school records.

 A significant increase in the number of the cohort achieving the upper grades A*  B across their subjects, with some outstanding individual performances.

 Excellent skills development, evidenced through the Skills Challenge Certificate.

Mrs Melanie Ferron-Evans, headteacher said: This is a year group which has worked very hard to secure success in challenging circumstances and we are so proud of them.

On behalf of the school and the Governing Body, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff, students and parents for their contribution to the incredible amount of hard work and dedication shown across a wide range of studies.

The grades calculated by our teachers provide certainty and opportunity for the future, based on dedicated and sound professional judgement.

As Ysgol Rhiwabon students move forward, supported by the school, the results will enable our young people to further their studies or to enter the world of work as confident and successful individuals. We wish them continued success and happiness in the future.

The Maelor School Penley

The Maelor School welcomed its year 11s back some five months since they last left due to the lockdown.

Headteacher Simon Ellis said: What a fantastic day, much has been said over the last few weeks and these young people have had to deal with much uncertainty and worry about their futures.

Im so pleased to see that their hard work and dedication has been rewarded with these fantastic results.

Many of our pupils plus a good number from other schools are joining our Sixth form next year so we are delighted to be continuing to work with them. For the others that are taking courses at college or exciting apprenticeship opportunities we wish them the very best of luck.

After such a disrupted few months its great to see the school full of enthusiastic young learners again.

Deputy Headteacher Lynn Lloyd commented: I am so proud of our pupils, this has been an extremely difficult time for them but they have shown great determination and commitment to their studies.

I wish them well and every success for their futures.

We were able to given them their leavers hoodies and photographs today and we will be arranging a leavers prom over the next few months, I look forward to seeing them then.

Ysgol y Grango

Students at Ysgol y Grango in Rhosllanerchrugog celebrated receiving their GCSE results today.

After an extraordinary final year which was cut short by the coronavirus lockdown, the students were rewarded for their hard work at the school over the past five years.

The school has given a special mention to Simu Umama and Helin Topal, who both achieved straight A*/A grades across all their subjects.

After picking up her results, Simu said: Im feeling ecstatic! I feel relieved and Im proud of myself. Im grateful for the results Ive got. Im now going to do my A levels in History, Biology, Government & Politics at Coleg Cambria.

Then hopefully Ill go to university. This last five months Ive been hopeful because I was happy with my predicted grades but then obviously I got quite nervous with what was happening with the algorithm, but it all turned out great in the end.

Helin said: Im feeling really proud of my results. I did better than I thought I would. Obviously we didnt get chance to sit the exams so I didnt really know what I would get.

Im glad I did get these results though. Im going to sixth form next to do A levels in Psychology, Criminology, Health & Social Care and Public Services.

Headteacher, Stephen Garthwaite, said: This has been a final year unlike any other for the students.

They have missed out on so many things at school this year  final examinations, saying a proper goodbye to their teachers, leavers day celebrations and the school prom  but it is great to see them pick up their results today, which are fully deserved.

They have been a real credit to the school and it is wonderful to see them rewarded for all their efforts over the years. Their results have been achieved through hard work, a great attitude to school life and a strong community spirit throughout their time with us.

All our students are now able to take up their places at college or sixth form and we wish them every success for the future.

Darland High School

Assistant Headteacher Stewart Roberts said: Our students have worked extremely hard over the past five years to attain the GCSE grades they have picked up today, and we have seen a number of incredible sets of results by individuals.

Just a few of these include (pictured below with Cllr Rob Walsh- Chair of Governors and Headteacher Joanne Lee) Jessica Owen 8A*, 2A; Sasha Aldridge 6A*, 4A, 1B; Rachel Mclean with 7A*, 2A, 2B; Anabelle Bailey 9A*, 2 A; Abi Povey 7A*, 3A, 1C; Bethan Jones 7A*, 3A, 1B; Joe Baines 10 A*, 1C and James Mann 8A*, 1A, 1B.

I am so pleased for them, they deserve these successes. Anabelle, Jessica and Bethan will now be moving on to the Maelor School in Penley to study A Levels and Joe, Sasha, James, Abi and Rachel will be studying A-Levels at Coleg Cambria.

Deputy Headteacher Simon Corner said: I am very proud of the work ethic this year group has shown since they joined us in Year 7 and the way in which they have handled the recent difficult situation. It is testimony to their maturity and the support provided by their families.

Headteacher Joanne Lee added: Today has been a very special occasion, a chance for students to smile, see their teachers and friends and celebrate their hard work.

Many are taking different routes with the majority going on to further studies in local A-Level schools and colleges, and a number starting local apprenticeships.

Whichever path they have chosen we wish them every success, and staff have been on hand today to continue to support them with applications to college or 6th form.

The last few months really have been a test of character for them all, with the uncertainty around exams and how grades were to be awarded.

I am proud of the way they have conducted themselves. Regardless of the awarding systems in place, our students have worked exceptionally hard for these results and they deserve them.

Whether they are going into education, training or employment we do hope they will pop back from time to time and let us know how they are getting on.

I am also proud of the support I have been given from a wonderful team of staff who have worked together so effectively in what has been a uniquely challenging, but enjoyable first year as a head.

Chair of Governors Cllr Rob Walsh said: I am so proud. After everything that has happened this year with the Covid lockdown, so much could have gone wrong. However, our staff and pupils battled on regardless and have achieved great results. Well done one and all.

Ysgol Clywedog

Mr Matt Vickery, headteacher said: Everyone at Ysgol Clywedog is very proud of all the hard work that the year 11s have put into their work and of their maturity, resilience and perseverance in the light of an unprecedented final year of education in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

We know that this year group was set to continue the improvement shown in last years results; it is so disappointing that they were not able to do just that by sitting their exams.

In putting together Centre Assessment Grades (CAGs), staff were well aware of how well we expected this year group to perform and this was reflected in the data submitted to the exam boards.

I am delighted with their achievements and wish them all the best in their future pathways: college, higher education, apprenticeships or work.

He added: We know that their experiences at the school over the years have helped prepare them for the challenges and successes that lie ahead of them.

I recognise the hard work of all our staff in preparing all the students and ensuring that this years very different assessment processes were met.

I would also like to thank our parents, communities and governors for their support in ensuring the achievements and success of all of our students.

Well-done, year 11, and all the best for your future successes.

Ysgol Bryn Alyn

Despite the numerous and difficult challenges presented by the Coronavirus crisis, students and staff at Ysgol Bryn Alyn are celebrating after receiving another excellent set of results in this years GCSE examinations.

This year was, of course, a very different year as the Coronavirus crisis meant that all students were unable to complete their courses and take their exams.

Commenting on the situation, Headteacher, Adele Slinn, said: After nearly two years of hard work and months of extensive studying, it was particularly upsetting for all of our Year 11 students to suddenly lose the final weeks of their teaching and learning and to end their time at Ysgol Bryn Alyn so suddenly.

This year group have missed so many rites of passage and our hearts really do go out for them.

However, we were extremely proud of the highly mature way in which they handled the situation and after weeks of nervous anticipation, today was a day of happiness, satisfaction and undoubted relief for many of our students.

We are so proud of each and every one of them and we wish them every success in their future.

Many pupils have been delighted with their excellent results and many smiling faces were to be seen. Students enjoying exceptional success at GCSE level include:

Megan Kocker (Head Girl) 13 A*, Melissa Fox 11 A-A*, Marnie Edwards 10 A-A*, Alliyah Purdie-Jones 9 A-A*, Andrew Robert (Head Boy) 9 A-A*, Chloe Ashton 6 A-A*, Sam Colley 6 A-A*, Joshua Lock 6 A-A*, Ben Phillips 6 A-A*, Joshua Phoenix 6 A-A*, Kimali Weeramunda 6 A-A*.

Head of Year 11 Mr William Beddoes was keen to praise the students for their achievements, stating: As Head of Year 11 we had high hopes for this year group and I am so pleased to be able to say that this excellent set of results contains some outstanding individual results including that of our very own Head Boy and Girl!

Despite not being achieved through exams, such a set of results could only have been gained as a result of those individuals putting in a great deal of hard work, having a strong positive mental attitude and regularly demonstrating real resilience, not least during the last few months.

The results are totally representative of the outcomes they deserved and therefore it was fantastic to see so many happy faces as our students opened their envelopes.

This has been another great year group and it has been fabulous to watch them grow and develop over the last five years. It has been a pleasure to work with them during their time with us.

So many have really contributed to the everyday life of the school and today is a real and tangible reward for all of their efforts to be the very best they can be.

Headteacher, Adele Slinn, added: On behalf of all of us at the School, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate every one of our students on their fantastic achievements.

I would also like to thank our teachers for their total commitment and professionalism and also, parents/carers, whose support and constant encouragement has meant so much.

As a result, so many of our students have today achieved what they fully deserve.

I really couldnt be more proud and to see them dream, reach and achieve.

Education Minister, Kirsty Williams said this morning: I want to send my very best wishes to everyone who receives their results today.

Due to the many changes weve had to make this year in exceptional circumstances, youve had to make many sacrifices.

It has been a year like no other, and today will feel a bit different.

These results are a reflection and reward for your hard work, prior attainment in exams, and school assessment, so you should be very proud of what you have achieved.

I hope you get the grades youd hoped for, and you can continue with your journey in the autumn, whether this is onto college, apprenticeship or staying on at school.

Although many of you will be pleased with your results and excited for your next step, if you didnt get what youd hoped, theres plenty of options & advice on Working Wales.

Best of luck, and best wishes for the future.

We will be updating this page with results from schools and comment from heads of education across Wrexham throughout the day.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on August 19, 2020

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

I. At the invitation of the Singaporean government, Yang Jiechi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, will pay a visit to Singapore from August 19 to 20.

At the invitation of Suh Hoon, Director of the Office of National Security of the Republic of Korea, Yang Jiechi will travel to Busan for consultations from August 21 to 22.

II. At the invitation of State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Foreign Minister Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi of the Republic of Indonesia will pay an official visit to China from August 19 to 21.

III. The Chinese government has decided to send a medical expert team to South Sudan and Guinea to help them fight COVID-19. The team of medical experts, organized by the National Health Commission and selected by the Anhui Provincial Health Commission, has set off on the early morning today.

CCTV: According to reports, on the afternoon of August 18, the first "Bay Area" train under the China-Europe freight train service left Shenzhen for Duisburg, Germany. Could you share more updates about the freight train service amid the COVID-19 pandemic?

Zhao Lijian: I have also taken note of the good news.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, global shipping by air and sea has been disrupted to varying degrees as operations are either suspended or running at reduced capacity. The weakened logistics has led to contraction of trade. Against such a backdrop, the China-Europe freight train service, as a land transportation artery like a modern railway version of camel caravans, has demonstrated its safety and efficiency, expanded services and added new routes, playing an important role in keeping logistics unimpeded and supply of materials stable in China, Europe and countries along the routes.

I'd like to share some figures with you. During the first six months this year, freight trips between China and Europe rose 36 percent year-on-year to 5,122, with the figure hitting a record high of 1,169 in June, and cargo shipment increased 41 percent to 461,000 TEUs. The positive momentum despite the trying times has given a strong boost to anti-epidemic cooperation between China, Europe and countries along the routes and effectively mitigated the pandemic's impact on China-Europe cooperation on industrial and supply chains.

As a project under China-Europe BRI cooperation, the freight train service's steady and orderly operation amid the ongoing pandemic sends out a message of China and relevant countries pursuing win-win cooperation and shows the BRI's defining feature of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. It has been a good exemplar for countries seeking to resume work and production and revive the economy. It will not only benefit countries along the routes, but also the global economic recovery and growth.

Yonhap News: You announced Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Yang Jiechi's visit to Busan. What will the two sides discuss during his visit?

Zhao Lijian: We will release information on this visit in due course. Please stay tuned.

Xinhua News Agency: Could you tell us the agenda of Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi's visit and China's expectations for this visit? What is China's view on the current China-Indonesia relationship?

Zhao Lijian: Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi is the first foreign minister China receives as virus control is being conducted on an ongoing basis, which shows that China and Indonesia both attach high importance to the bilateral relations. During the visit, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will meet with her to have in-depth discussions on bilateral relations, anti-epidemic cooperation and BRI cooperation. They will also exchange views on China-ASEAN relations and other international and regional issues of mutual interest.

As important neighbor to each other and major developing countries, China and Indonesia share broad common interests, which naturally makes the two cooperation partners. Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-Indonesia relationship has achieved rapid development. In particular, we achieved tangible outcomes in BRI cooperation and steady progress in such flagship projects as the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Corridor. Since COVID-19 broke out, high-level officials of the two countries have had multiple telephone calls. Our governments, militaries, localities and civil societies have lent mutual assistance to each other, demonstrating brotherly friendship.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and Indonesia, presenting new development opportunities for bilateral relations. China stands ready to work with Indonesia to implement the consensus between the two heads of state, take epidemic response and development as the two main lines, deepen mutual trust and cooperation, jointly uphold multilateralism and international justice, advance greater progress in China-Indonesia relations and bring more benefits to people in China, Indonesia and the region.

Bloomberg: US President Trump said that he called off last weekend's trade talks with China and that China's handling of the virus is unthinkable. What is the Foreign Ministry's comment?

Zhao Lijian: With regard to the epidemic response issue, we have detailed our effective measures with a clear timeline on multiple occasions and the facts cannot be made clearer. Since COVID-19 broke out, China has been acting in an open, transparent and responsible manner, earnestly fulfilling our duties and obligations under the International Health Regulations (2005), making all-out efforts to contain the spread of the virus through the most comprehensive, rigorous and thorough measures, and actively participating in international cooperation on epidemic control. The Chinese government always puts people and their lives front and center, and China's COVID-19 response can stand the test of time and history. China's enormous sacrifice and contribution to the global fight against COVID-19 is there for all to see.

Regarding the China-US trade talks, I would like to refer you to the competent authority.

The Paper: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on August 18 that the relationship between the U.S. and China "has never been as dysfunctional as it is today" and warned that escalating tensions between the two countries may divide the world into "two blocks", which is "a huge risk for the world." What is your comment on his remarks?

Zhao Lijian: China noted the remarks by Secretary-General Guterres. It is our consistent belief that China and the US both stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. Our cooperation can benefit the two countries and the whole world, while confrontation between us undermines the interests of the international community. A sound and steady China-US relationship bears on the current and future development of China, the US and the world at large, and meets the shared aspiration of people in China, the US and across the globe.

The reason why China-US relations have encountered serious difficulties is that the US government unilaterally stirred up troubles and through its words and deeds interfered in China's internal affairs, undermined China's interests and damaged China-US bilateral ties. Driven by selfish motives, a small number of US politicians have been instigating anti-China sentiments, antagonism and confrontation. Such retrogressive moves, unpopular as they are, have been and will continue to be strongly criticized and rejected by visionary people in China and the US, as well as peace-loving people all over the world.

We urge certain US politicians to take into account the well-being of people in China, the US and all other countries, heed the call of the international community, abandon the outdated Cold-War mindset, view China and China-US relations in an objective manner, and work with China to bring China-US relations back on the track of coordination, cooperation and stability and to jointly safeguard world peace, stability and development.

AFP: Ecuador's Defense Minister said yesterday that the Ecuadorian Navy had detected 149 Chinese fishing boats near the Galapagos Islands that have turned off their satellite identification devices. This is a violation of the rules. Do you have a comment on this?

Zhao Lijian: I haven't seen reports on what you mentioned.

China and Ecuador have been in friendly communication recently through bilateral channels. On August 6, the fishery authorities of the two countries held a special video teleconference, which led to positive consensus and good results. Meanwhile, to contribute our efforts in the protection of fishery resources in the region, China's fishery authority has decided to exercise a fishing moratorium in the high seas west of the Galapagos Islands Marine Reserve from September to November this year, which has been appreciated by Ecuador and other relevant countries. I would like to reiterate that China, as a responsible major country in fishing, attaches great importance to the protection of the marine environment and resources and implements the strictest monitoring and control measures on overseas fishing vessels. We will continue requiring enterprises engaged in offshore fishing to strictly abide by relevant laws and regulations.

Shenzhen TV: We noticed that the Sixth Conference of States Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty is being conducted through written procedure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it's the first time for China to participate as a State Party in the Conference of States Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty. Can you share more details on the conference?

Zhao Lijian: The Sixth Conference of States Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty (CSP6) takes place from August 17 to 21 through written procedure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. China, for the first time, participates as a State Party in the Conference of States Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty and has submitted a written statement to the conference.

In the written statement, the Chinese side raised three propositions. First, improve the universality and effectiveness of the ATT and carry out international cooperation and assistance. Second, enhance interaction and coordination among relevant mechanisms on conventional arms control under the framework of the UN, and support the UN in playing a central role in conventional arms control. Third, strengthen the sense of responsibility in arms trade, and call on all states not to sell arms to non-state actors and stop interfering in the internal affairs of sovereign states through arms sales.

China participated in the whole process of ATT negotiations and made constructive efforts in its conclusion. After the Treaty entered into force, China participated as an observer in all the previous five Conferences of the States Parties. On July 6 this year, we deposited the Instrument of Accession to the ATT with the UN Secretary-General, opening up a new chapter in China's relations with the ATT. As a contributor to world peace and defender of international order, China is ready to join hands with all parties, including the States Parties to the ATT, to consolidate consensus and make greater contributions to the effective implementation of the ATT, to the establishment of fair and regulated international order of arms trade and to safeguarding regional and international peace and stability.

Bloomberg: It is reported that the US State Department is asking US colleges and universities to divest from Chinese holdings in their endowments, warning the schools in a letter on Tuesday that they should get ahead of potentially more onerous measures on holding such shares. What is the foreign ministry's comment on this?

Zhao Lijian: China and the US are important investment and financing partners to each other. Both sides have gained huge economic benefits from financial cooperation and achieved win-win results. Artificial barriers are not in the interest of both sides' capital markets. We urge the US side to provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies investing and operating in the US.

Beijing Youth Daily: On August 18, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Federal Republic of Somalia condemned in a statement Taiwan's attempts to infringe on the sovereignty of Somali and violate its territorial integrity. It has been reported earlier that Taiwan's representative office in Somaliland has been officially inaugurated. What's China's comment?

Zhao Lijian: The DPP authorities' pursuit of its separatist agenda on the international stage has no chance of success and will be despised by the world. I stress once again: there is but one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. The one-China principle is a universally recognized norm of international relations and a consensus of the international community. Here is a word of advice for whom it may concern: don't make the mistake of seeking wiggle room where there is none. Those going against the trend to challenge the one-China principle will get burned and swallow the bitter fruit.

Beijing Daily: Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita announced his resignation following a military mutiny on August 18. I wonder if you have any comment on that?

Zhao Lijian: China is closely following the situation in Mali. We oppose the attempt to seek change of power through force and other unusual means, and we support the pertinent regional and international organizations, especially the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States, in working for a peaceful settlement of the crisis in Mali. We call on relevant parties in Mali to take into account the fundamental interests of the country and its people, peacefully resolve disputes through dialogue, restore normal order as soon as possible, and uphold national stability and solidarity.

Global Times: There have been mass demonstrations in Minsk and other places since the presidential election in Belarus was concluded. What is China's comment on this?

Zhao Lijian: China and Belarus, as all-weather partners, enjoy a comprehensive strategic partnership featuring mutual trust and win-win cooperation. China respects the Belarusian people's choice of development path based on the country's national conditions, as well as their efforts to uphold national independence, sovereignty, security and development. We noticed there have been some complicated factors in the country's domestic situation. As a good friend and partner, we don't wish to see chaos in Belarus. We oppose the attempts of foreign forces to trigger division and disturbances in Belarus. China hopes and believes Belarus can maintain political stability and social tranquility with its own efforts.

Bloomberg: We are hearing that there is a possible trip by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Europe. Could you confirm this?

Zhao Lijian: China and the EU are comprehensive strategic partners. The two sides have been supporting and helping each other amid the pandemic while keeping close communication and coordination. More information will be released in due course.

Chosun Ilbo: Regarding Politburo member Yang Jiechi's visit to the ROK, why is Busan chosen over the capital Seoul? Any specific considerations?

Zhao Lijian: Director Yang's visit to Busan is an institutional arrangement decided by both sides, during which he will hold consultations with Suh Hoon, Director of the Office of National Security of the ROK.

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Etawah : , Aug 20 (IANS) A bus carrying 45 passengers overturned on the Agra-Lucknow expressway in Uttar Pradesh in the early hours of Thursday, officials said.

Thirty people were injured in the accident. However, no casualty has been reported so far.

SSP Etawah, Akash Tomar, said that the bus was going from Delhi to Madhubani in Bihar.

"The bus apparently lost balance and overturned on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway," he said.

The injured passengers have been admitted to the PGI in Sefai.

While 14 have been discharged after being given first aid, 16 people are admitted in the PGI.
Lucknow, Aug 20 (UNI) Israel and Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday signed an agreement to establish the India-Israel Bundelkhand Water Project.



The project aims to demonstrate and implement the Israeli model for water management tailored to the water challenges of Bundelkhand region.



The project comprises three key-components of the value chain which includes water conservation, water efficient transportation and advanced water practices for agriculture.



The agreement was signed by the Ambassador of Israel in India, Dr Ron Malka and UP Agriculture Oroduction Commissioner in New Delhi.



On the occasion, Ambassador Dr Ron Malka said, "This is another example of the multifaceted partnership between Israel and India. Israel is keen to share its most advanced, innovative, and cutting-edge water technologies with the Government of Uttar Pradesh. Water security is the top priority in our strategic water partnership with India."



In recent decades, cutting-edge inovation developed in Israel to tackle the water shortage have helped position Israel as a world leader in all aspects of water management. Israel is proud to share its expertise in water to promote water and food security around the world and especially with its precious friend India.



During Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Israel in 2017, Israel and India signed two major water agreements to increase cooperation in water conservation and state water utility reform in India.



In 2019, the Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat conducted an historic visit to Israel in the framework of the WATEC conference in order to advance cooperation in the field of water between the two countries.

This agreement is a flagship project in the ongoing cooperation between the two countries and opens a new chapter allowing the countries to leverage our strategic cooperation in the field of water.

UNI MB GK 1752
Environmental monitoring is an essential exercise in many different industries where conditions must not fluctuate greatly. Data loggers are the instrument used to track conditions such as temperature and humidity. The aerospace industry relies on constant temperature levels, and the most reliable way to record this information is with a data logger. Before we explore the reasons why environmental monitoring matters in the aerospace industry, let's take a deeper look at what exactly a data logger is supposed to do.

Data Loggers - What They Do

A data logger is an electronic device that tracks and records environmental conditions, storing the information on a microprocessor like a memory. They are portable devices that can be placed in tight quarters as a standalone recording device. Data loggers are easy to set up - load freshly charged batteries, set the parameters you are recording, arm the alarm if there is one, and start the device. Data collected can be easily downloaded via USB or wirelessly to a computer, website, FTP location, or smartphone.

Why Data Loggers Matter In Aerospace

Here is a list of ways in which aerospace companies can make the best use out of data loggers.

1 - Have The Right Tool For The Job

A data logger is a data logger, right? That is far from the truth according to Dickson, as there are so many different types of data loggers available in the marketplace. That is because there are so many different environmental conditions that require monitoring specific to certain industries. For example, a temperature and humidity data logger would work best in the aerospace industry than one designed to monitor the growing conditions as would be required in the agriculture industry.

2 - Ensure It Is In Good Working Order

Although a data logger is an electronic device, which means it will have a greater amount of durability than some other environmental monitoring devices, they do need to be maintained. Depending on the specific aerospace application, having data loggers reviewed regularly to spot potential damage or operational issues early can prevent a costly repair and loss of data. One easy fix is to always load the data logger with fresh batteries. Some models do not function properly when their power source is running low and this can impact the quality of the data.

3 - Download Your Data Frequently

Data loggers use a microprocessor as a memory. If you do not program the device to stop recording data once the memory is full, it will keep recording. However, considering the design of the microprocessor, the memory follows a loop configuration. What this means is that if it is left to record data continuously, the older files on memory will be overwritten by newer files. In other words, your old data is replaced by new data. The best way to avoid this from happening is to download the data stored on the microprocessor often. At least once a week is considered a good interval, but that depends on the amount of sampling that the data logger is programmed to record daily.

4 - Keep Spares Around At All Times

As would be understandable in the aerospace industry, there is a great deal of importance placed behind ensuring that there are sufficient supplies of "spare parts" that can be accessed at any time reducing lost time. This same principle applies to data loggers. Sensors can wear down over time and reduce their sensitivity. That is why it is a good idea to have either additional data loggers in the inventory or at least replacement parts for the simple DIY-type repairs. The most logical spares to have on hand are batteries. If the data loggers you are using employ rechargeable batteries, ensure that fully charged extras are always available for quick replacement.

5 - Have An Emergency Plan In Place

For data loggers that are tracking and recording temperature and humidity levels, it is a good idea to program them to trigger an alarm system once those levels fall outside of the targeted zones. Depending on the type of data logger being used, push notifications can be programmed to be sent at the same threshold as the alarm notices. These are great warning devices but for them to be effective, it is vital to have a list of personnel responsible for responding to those alarms and push notifications. With this emergency plan in place, there should be no issues resulting from an alarm at any time.

6 - Don't Push The Data Logger Past Its Limits

That is a nice way of saying, "Read the instructions." The most valuable information you are going to learn regarding how to best utilize data loggers in the aerospace industry is to observe the suggestions and guidelines laid out in the instruction manual that accompanies the monitoring device. It sounds too basic, but often the failure of the device could have been prevented by following the instructions and not pushing the electronics past their working limitations. You may be a little surprised to discover what the basic data logger can do for you other than "watch" environmental conditions on an ongoing basis without the need for supervision.

In Conclusion

Environmental monitoring in the aerospace industry follows much the same guidelines as environmental monitoring in any other industry. There is a need for ongoing recording and tracking of temperature and humidity levels to maintain compliance. Data loggers are the most cost-effective and reliable instruments to conduct this exercise. They are portable, do not require constant checking and can store a great deal of information in onboard memory. Data loggers also are easy to set up, can be used in virtually any setting, and the data collected is as easy to retrieve when needed. If you are in the aerospace industry and environmental conditions are vital for your work, then a data logger is without a doubt your best ally in this situation.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Wildfires have been detected in Brazil's Amazon rainforest this month. At least 19,000 fires have been tracked across the Amazon in the first half of August.

Some government figures showed that the number of wildfires recorded in the Amazon rainforest increased by 81 percent compared to the same period in 2019. But Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro claimed that the Amazon rainforest fires are false.

Bolsonaro said the story of the Amazon rainforest fires is "a lie." He announced during the Presidential Summit of the Leticia Pact for the Preservation of the Amazon. He added that they must combat these with real numbers.

Brazil's National Institute for Space Research said that since Bolsonaro took office in January 2019, deforestation has increased by around 30 percent, mostly caused by illegal logging and fires set by loggers and developers.

A Latino USA report further noted that since Bolsonaro was president, he did not take steps to pass stricter measures to help wildfires from starting and spreading.

Police investigations on the Amazon rainforest fires were opened in 2019. But the culprits have yet to be caught.

The Amazon rainforest has already lost over 17 percent of its original area. In the next 15 to 30 years, it may collapse if measures are not taken soon.

Amazon Rainforest Fires

Environmental group Greenpeace also said that Bolsonaro's strategies are ineffective.

"Bolsonaro's administration has continued to systematically dismantle environmental protection and has undermined the work of environmental law enforcement agencies," Cristiane Mazzetti, an Amazon campaigner for Greenpeace Brazil, said in a report.

Bolsonaro previously declared a fire-ban for 120 days at the Amazon rainforest. He also sent troops to the area to fight deforestation. Mazzetti noted that sending troops to the Amazon is just a PR stunt and a waste of resources.

INPE, Brazil's government space research agency, reported that fire activity in the Amazon rainforest throughout July increased with 6,803 documented fires to last year's 5,318. However, Bolsonaro's administration still rejects concerns that fires in the area are out of control.

Vice President Hamilton Mourao insisted that the protected area of the forest is not burning. Mourao even lashed out at U.S. actor Leonardo DiCaprio for posting about the issue on social media.

"I would like to invite our most recent critic, actor Leonardo DiCaprio, to go with me here to Sao Gabriel da Cachoeira to do an eight-hour march through the jungle between Sao Gabriel airport and the Cucui road. There he will better understand how things work in this immense region," Mourao noted.

Amazon Rainforest

The Amazon rainforest had diverse creatures and indigenous people. It covers the area of northwestern Brazil up to Colombia, Peru, and other Latin American countries.

The Leticia Pact was made in September by the countries that share the Amazon region. These countries are Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil, Suriname, and Guyana.

The pact was made to tackle issues surrounding the rainforest, such as deforestation, forest restoration efforts, sustainable use of the area's natural resources, and measures to empower women and indigenous people. It also includes the creation of educational campaigns.

Check these out:

Amazon Defender Found Dead From Gunshot as Forest Faces Rapid Destruction

Coronavirus Has a Harsh Effect on the Amazon Rainforest

Amazon Rainforest Facts and Deforestation: Greenpeace Uses Secret GPS Trackers to Get Pictures of Illegal Logging in Brazil
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 20

Trend:

Comments of Assistant to Azerbaijan's President, Head of Foreign Affairs Policy Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev on the new National Security Strategy of Armenia have been featured by Bulgarian media, the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Bulgaria told Trend.

One of the leading Bulgarian media outlets, the Cross news agency, issued an article on August 19, 2020, which was based on the comments of Hikmat Hajiyev on the new security strategy of Armenia, said the embassy.

The article, posted on the Cross news agencys website in Bulgarian, presents Hikmat Hajiyev's reasoning about how Armenia occupied the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the seven adjacent regions of Azerbaijan.

It also highlights Hajiyev's statements that, despite four UN Security Council resolutions, Armenia still has not withdrawn its troops from the occupied Azerbaijani territories, as well as the information he provided about Armenia's illegal activities, including illegal settlement, in these territories.

Furthermore, the article also provides Hajiyev's comments on the April 2016 battles and Armenia's intention to justify the fact of occupation by the principle of self-determination.
Who should be at the front of the line if an effective COVID-19 vaccine emerges from testing? The answer depends on what we learn from the kind of field trials Russia is skipping.

Some vaccines might not be that good at preventing infection, but would prevent severe cases. Those should be given to those most likely to die from the disease: older people or those with conditions associated with death from COVID-19.

But if a vaccine actually prevents transmission, then priority should go to those who transmit the disease most often: younger adults. Getting protected with a vaccine is a way of protecting others, since you cant give anyone the disease if you never get it. And starting with younger people could be the fastest route to herd immunity  that phenomenon by which the virus is slowed by a lack of susceptible hosts.
New Delhi:

The Central Board of Secondary Education has declared to release the admit card for University Grants Commission's National Eligibility Test ( NET) on December 28, 2016.



CBSE issued a notification on Wednesday saying that UGC NET January, 2017 candidates can download their admit cards from December 28, 2016 on the website www.cbsenet.nic.in. The date of examination is same as told by the commission earlier, that is, January 22, 2017.



UGC's National Eligibility Test admit cards were earlier expected to release on December 21, 2016.



The exam determines the eligibity of canmdidates for the posts of assistant professor and Junior Research Fellowship.



Steps to download admit card:



1) Visit the CBSEs UGC-NET website



2) Click on the link for admit card download



3) Fill in the required details



4) Click on submit



5) Admit card will be displayed on the screen



6) Take a printout and save the admit card on your system.



Candidates should check the admit card properly for any discrepancy and also the venue of the examination.



And yes well you should have your admit card' hard caopy with you in the examination hall.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Nerissa Jayasingha owner of cafe Lankan Tucker carrying a takeaway order to give to customers who wait outside once they have ordered their food in Melbourne, Australia on July 9, 2020. (Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

Love Unites Mornington Peninsula Foodies and Restaurants Amid Lockdown

MELBOURNEDriven to see food businesses thrive amidst the economic downturn of COVID-19 restrictions, a southern Victoria resident has brought tens of thousands of local foodies together on a social media platform to help out food outlets in Mornington Peninsula.

Dromana local, and real estate agent, Isidora Love, founded Peninsula Food with Love Eat & Drink Local Support Facebook Group on March 21, after the Victoria government declared a state of emergency to combat the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus.

Isidora Love founder of Peninsula Food with Love Eat & Drink Local Support. Image provided Aug. 18, 2020.

Right into the first stage I thought, this is going to be long term, this is not going to go away quickly, Love said in an interview with The Epoch Times.

Love was worried about how the COVID-19 restrictions were going to impact businesses in the Peninsula that rely on tourists.

The interactive group brings together cafes, restaurants, and takeaways of various cultures, including Greek, and Japanese and Australian.

It allows locals to say what type of food or drink theyre looking for, and businesses are able to provide up-to-date information to customers. It comes at a time when changes to COVID-19 measures can have damaging effects on how companies operate.

Members are given access to a spreadsheet that details company, suburb, food type, takeaway, and delivery details.

With many Victorians unable to dine out because of stay-at-home rules, within a short time, Peninsula Food with Love grew to over 14,000 members.

Within three or four weeks, the group had ten thousand people, Love said.

It went nuts! said Love, who spent all day approving memberships from hundreds of people.

Love explained that she deliberately made a Facebook group as opposed to a page to promote more interaction among members needing to navigate through restricted movement and curfews.

Covering all the costs for the community venture, Love admits she sometimes works like crazy to ensure all businesses are compliant with council regulations and COVIDSafe guidelines.

An estimated 300 Morning Peninsula businesses are among the groups members list, servicing a population of 167,000 people.

(Illustration purposes only) Chef packs a takeaway meal in the kitchen of French restaurant France-Soir in Melbourne on May 8, 2020. (William West/AFP via Getty Images)

The group has also attracted the attention of Nepean MP Chris Brayne, who wrote on Facebook:

This time has been so difficult for many peninsula residents. For businesses, its been crippling. Dromana local Isidora Love thought the same and decided to do something about it.

Food Outlets Revived Through Facebook Group

For months, Love has been inundated with messages from businesses in the Victorian coastal region saying they would be out of business if it werent for the group she created.

Jackie, the owner of catering company Happy Graze, said since joining the group earlier this year she has never been so busy. Its made a massive difference thanks! My phone has not stopped!! She told Love by text message.

Capel Sound-based Italian restaurant, Unica Cucina e Caffe, is one of many businesses that have been limited to takeaway and delivery only due to social distancing orders. Owner Michelle Vivian Loielo said that the group had revived her business somewhat, bringing back a family-run business environment.

Last night, I was able to afford to put one of my staff members for a shift. May not sound like much but because of local supportlast night you brought a smile and a joy to our faces that we havent felt for weeks. My staff are my family. I have been heartbroken not having them at work. Honestly, thank you for setting up this page. It means so much to so many, Loielo wrote in a comment to the Facebook group.

There are plans underway to develop the Facebook community group into a phone app.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 11:33:17|Editor: huaxia

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ABUJA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said it has suspended Mali from the regional bloc following the seizure of power by military putschists and forced detention of senior officials, including the country's president and prime minister.

In a statement made available to Xinhua on Wednesday here, the ECOWAS Commission demanded the reinstatement of constitutional order in Mali.

The West African bloc said it utterly condemns the overthrowing of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita's democratically elected government by Malian military putschists, adding it will categorically deny any kind of legitimacy to the putschists.

"This seizure of power intervenes within a difficult socio-political context. Indeed, ECOWAS recalls that a mediation process has been on-going during the last two months, with a view to finding a solution to this crisis," the statement said.

In view of the current situation, the ECOWAS has decided to close all land and air borders, as well as to stop all economical, trade, and financial flows and transactions between the ECOWAS member-states and Mali.

The regional bloc also requested the immediate activation of the ECOWAS standby force while demanding the immediate implementation of sanctions against all putschists and their partners and collaborators.

Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, currently detained by soldiers in the military camp in Kati, a town close to Bamako, announced late Tuesday night his resignation and the dissolution of the National Assembly and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse's government.

Leaders of the military coup said Wednesday they would enact a political transition and stage elections within a "reasonable time."

For months, the opposition coalition has been organizing demonstrations to demand Keita's resignation, accusing him of worsening the security situation in the northern part of the country and Mali's economic recession. Enditem
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A man from New Jersey is facing murder charges in the fatal hit-and-run that killed a 32-year-old mom in Annadale in April.

Tashawn Beckford, 23, of Newark, stole a Lexus SUV on April 25 on Staten Island and used it to travel at a high rate of speed in excess of the posted speed limit crossing over the solid double yellow lines into the oncoming lane of traffic, the indictment alleges.

Beckford then ran a red light at Arden Avenue and Annadale Road, striking a 2012 Ford SUV, according to police and the indictment.

Christine Dahlstrom of Tottenville -- a mother of two -- a passenger in the vehicle, died following the crash.

A man who was in the driver seat of the Ford was seriously injured as well, according to the indictment.

Beckford was arraigned in state Supreme Court, St. George, Wednesday afternoon, was remanded without bail and is due back in court on Sept. 14.

He is facing multiple charges including murder, manslaughter, assault and leaving the scene of an accident.

By all accounts, this seems to be an especially horrific accident, said his defense lawyer, Mark J. Fonte. My office is just beginning the fact-gathering process. My investigators are diligently working to determine what happened.

Fonte offered his deepest condolences to the victims family.

Christine Dahlstrom, 32, was killed in a hit-and-run crash in Annadale in April. (Facebook photo)

Its some kind of justice served, said Dahlstroms ex-husband Ralph Bogucki, who is currently caring for and has custody of one of her two daughters.

Friends of Dahlstrom remembered her as a bubbly, kind person who was always looking to be friendly with everyone.

She loved her daughters very much, a longtime friend said. Were going to miss her.

Neighbors told the Advance/SILive.com at the time that they saw an unidentified man who appeared to be fleeing the scene following the crash. Police later released video of a man sought in connection to Dahlstroms death, appearing to hop over fences in a bid to escape.

Theresa Dahlstrom, Christines mother, said she had all the faith and all the hope with the New York City Police Department and the wonderful detectives that weve been dealing with  theyve been absolutely terrific supporting us and always being there for us.

Its a senseless, senseless death, she added. Its been hard, its been an absolute nightmare.

-- Joseph Ostapiuk contributed to this report.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 20:48:59|Editor: huaxia

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A new Earth observation satellite, Gaofen-7, is launched on a Long March-4B rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China's Shanxi Province, Nov. 3, 2019. (Photo by Sun Gongming/Xinhua)

BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The China National Space Administration announced on Thursday that the Gaofen-7 Earth observation satellite has been put into service, representing significant progress for the country's surveying and mapping capabilities.

Launched on Nov. 3, 2019, Gaofen-7 is China's first civil-use optical transmission 3D surveying and mapping satellite that reaches the sub-meter level.

Equipped with two line-scan cameras and a laser altimeter, the satellite can provide 1:10,000 scale satellite 3D mapping for users in China and countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Image obtained by the Gaofen-7 Earth observation satellite on Nov. 13, 2019 shows a view of the Beijing Capital International Airport. (China National Space Administration/Handout via Xinhua)

During in-orbit tests, satellite functions such as the monitoring of geographical conditions, agricultural surveys, and road constructions have been verified, said Zhang Kejian, head of the administration.

In May, using data from the Gaofen-7 and Ziyuan III satellites, scientists drew a 1:10,000 scale topographic map for surveyors to measure the height of Mount Qomolangma.

Image obtained by the Gaofen-7 Earth observation satellite on March 18, 2020 shows a view of Mount Qomolangma. (China National Space Administration/Handout via Xinhua)

Since the Gaofen project began in 2010, China has had an increasingly clearer view of the planet. According to the administration, data from the Gaofen series of satellites have been used in more than 20 industries across the country.

Images captured by the Gaofen-2 satellite were used to help monitor the construction work of two makeshift hospitals, Huoshenshan and Leishenshan, in Wuhan, after the COVID-19 outbreak.

Image obtained by the Gaofen-7 Earth observation satellite on June 6, 2020 shows a view of Huludao City in northeast China's Liaoning Province. (China National Space Administration/Handout via Xinhua)

Gaofen-3 has contributed to the monitoring of the flood situation along Poyang Lake, China's largest freshwater lake, in the eastern province of Jiangxi.

With Gaofen satellite data, researchers also conducted ecological environment investigations for poor areas in the northwestern province of Gansu.

"Gaofen-7 will further meet the needs of users in basic mapping, global geographic information, monitoring, and evaluation in urban and rural construction, etc.," said Zhang. 
OTTAWA  The mood was upbeat during a conference call that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held Tuesday night with Liberal caucus members just hours after he replaced Bill Morneau as finance minister and suspended Parliament ahead of a September reboot.

Surprisingly so, said one participant who lamented that Morneaus departure was a significant loss to the Liberals, especially at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic continues to threatens Canadas economic recovery.

As finance minister, Morneau led much of the pandemic emergency response, rolling out billions of dollars in aid to provinces, businesses and individuals.

Now Chrystia Freeland takes over as the key minister to deliver on Trudeaus hopes for an ambitious new agenda to relaunch the economy.

The fact that several sources said the caucus mood was good and the prime minister, in the words of another, had a bounce in his step, might say as much about expectations for Freeland as it does about a lack of regret over Morneaus exit.

One Liberal source said that Freeland, like Morneau, has not formed a lot of friendships in caucus; she doesnt socialize or mingle that much.

But many believe Freeland will be a much better communicator for the government than Morneau ever was. And with Trudeaus plan for the months ahead, that will a key asset.

Frankly theres going to be a fight, said a Liberal source, who spoke on a background-only basis. We have a minority Parliament and were going to have ideological differences about what to do in this pandemic, how do we restart the economy. And we need a strong communicator who can lead this fight.

Yet while many Liberals say they are still not certain what exactly led to Morneaus abrupt resignation on Monday, its clear his fall from political grace did not begin only in the past few weeks as the media spotlight on him grew hotter.

The Star reported on Aug. 8 that Trudeau was weighing a cabinet shuffle to go along with bold fall spending plans. After that, there were reports Trudeau was consulting former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor Mark Carney for advice on the economic relaunch, and that there had been policy disagreements between Trudeau and Morneau.

Sources say those news stories shook Morneau, who believed they were deliberate leaks by the Prime Ministers Office that were meant to undermine him.

Whether the stories were intended to smear Morneau or simply spun out of the PMOs control, the prime ministers public declaration of confidence in Morneau was tepid when it finally came, and read like a political obituary.

Morneaus fall also didnt begin with his admission in July of having taken family trips at the expense of WE Charity, or that one of his daughters was employed there. Trudeau was a frequently featured WE Day speaker, his wife hosts a podcast for the organization, and Trudeaus mother and brother accepted payments for speaking fees and expenses from WE Charity.

Nonetheless, Morneaus blind spot was perceived to be blinder.

Fellow Liberal MPs and the PMO did not know until Morneau testified before a House of Commons committee that he had travelled to WE Charity projects in Kenya and Ecuador in 2017. Morneau said he had covered $52,000 in expenses but unknowingly failed to pay for another $41,000 in accommodations. Morneau apologized and wrote a cheque to WE Charity that same day.

Anyone with political radar would have seen trouble, and avoided it: Morneaus unpaid family trips were taken just a year after the federal ethics watchdog found Trudeau in breach of ethics rules for taking his family on a complimentary trip to the Aga Khans private island.

Anyone with political radar would have probably recused themselves from the cabinet decision on WE Charity. Morneau apologized for failing to do so. So did Trudeau.

But Morneaus apology wasnt enough to rally support for some caucus members, WE tipped the scale, said one source, but I think the scale has been tipped for a while.

Many caucus and cabinet members said that while they liked and respected Morneau, his retail political skills never improved over five years in politics.

That view is disputed by others, who claim he said no often to his caucus colleagues but always in a way that was decent, respectful and never snarky.

A millionaire businessman who headed the pension and benefits company Morneau Shepell before entering politics, he failed to put his assets in a blind trust after he was elected. The ethics office gave Morneau a pass because those assets were not directly controlled by him, but it cost him politically.

Morneau did disclose to the ethics office he owned a villa in France. But he failed to mention it was held through a numbered company, which landed him a $500 fine for a technical breach of the ethics rules. That black mark on his record cost him politically as well.

Most said Morneaus stumbles were exacerbated by an inability to communicate well or quickly enough when damage control mattered, pointing to the uproar over his proposed small business tax changes. Under caucus and Opposition pressure, they were later dialed back, but once again there was a political price paid.

Morneau was most at ease in his role behind the scenes at the finance department. A colleague said he has a CEO mindset. He was known as an avid problem-solver who juggled many files simultaneously and with ease.

He could pick up the phone and call U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and was a key player in Canadas NAFTA renegotiation, the purchase of the Trans-Mountain pipeline, and in federal-provincial relations, as Freeland acknowledged.

And there was respect for him in cabinet, particularly among those few who shared his views on fiscal discipline.

Nevertheless, exactly why he left remains a mystery to critics and supporters.

Whats clear is that now that Trudeau and Morneau have agreed on an exit strategy  Morneau will run for the job of secretary general at the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, an international policy organization  its unlikely either will reveal what was the real tipping point that drove Morneau out of government.

Thats because each of them needs the others silence, or public words of support, to shore up confidence in the choice theyve made to split.

Its also clear Trudeau is prepared to make big changes if he feels they are necessary.

Its a stark reminder to everyone in cabinet, you serve at the pleasure of the PM, said one source.

Now theres the question of whether it will be enough to restore confidence for Canadians.

A drop in Liberals public approval numbers, which began when the WE Charity controversy heated up in early summer, had halted after Trudeau and his chief of staff Katie Telford testified before a House of Commons committee in late July, says pollster Nik Nanos.

The partys approval numbers had began to go up again after no new revelations emerged, but that changed after reports that raised doubts about Morneau and Trudeaus relationship, with Liberal numbers on a downward slide again, Nanos said.

In Nanoss view, the cabinet shuffle and the suspension of Parliament signal Trudeau is getting ready for an election before its too late.

On Tuesday, Trudeau flatly denied he wants an election. The Conservatives dont believe it, but Liberals appear to. Many in our caucus and cabinet team want an election sooner, not later, said a Liberal source, but the prime minister is not one of those people.

Instead, Trudeau and Freeland say they are focused only on a recovery plan that will address social inequities exposed by the pandemic and speed the transformation to a cleaner economy.

And if it comes down to pitching the Liberal recovery plan on the campaign trail, Liberals say theyre better off with Freeland as the salesperson than Morneau.
Even though much of Europe is struggling this year, Germany and Italy remain Vietnams largest coffee markets. Photo source: Freepik.com

Tran Van Thinh, owner of a coffee store in Berlin, expects that he could buy Vietnams speciality coffee products. The locals like Vietnamese coffee but we still buy products from German and Italian roasters as they are more affordable, Thinh said.

Thinh observed that Vietnamese brands have become more present in Europe in recent years. Vietnam is the second-largest coffee producer in the world after Brazil  however, most of what the nation exports to Europe is raw coffee, accounting for 95 per cent of all exports.

Despite the impact of the pandemic, the EU remains the largest export market for Vietnamese coffee, accounting for 60 per cent of total exports, of which 10-13 per cent are consumed in Germany alone, according to Nguyen Viet Vinh, general secretary of the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association (Vicofa).

In the first half of 2020, Germany and Italy remained Vietnams largest consumer markets, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Developments Department for Agricultural Products Processing and Market Development (DAPP). Last year, other EU nations also increased purchases of Vietnamese coffee, including a 53.7 per cent rise on-year from Poland to $23.5 million, and an on-year increase of 20.1 per cent from Belgium to $74.8 million.

EU market within reach

With the official implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), Vietnamese coffee exports to the EU are entitled to zero tariffs.

Vietnam boasts 38 geographical indicators (GI) used to identify product origins through the EVFTA, which includes Buon Ma Thuot coffee. This gives Vietnams coffee sector a competitive edge among roasters and consumers in Europe. Equally important, Vietnamese coffee products with GIs will not be hindered by barriers or compromised by other brands in the EU market. However, fresh standards must be met.

The EU market does not have any technical barriers to Vietnams coffee imports, said Le Thanh Hoa, deputy director of the DAPP. But to increase coffee exports to the EU, we need to meet commodity import requirements, food safety standards, and comply with plant inspections and processing monitoring. If done right, businesses can increase their coffee exports to the EU.

Europe has one of the highest average per-capita coffee consumption in the world at just above 5kg per person a year. Some Northern European countries like Finland, Ireland, and Norway even reach more than 8kg per person per year.

In 2019, the EU imported over 50 million bags from the wider world, and the bloc is expected to import an additional two million bags this year. This two million bags equal around 120,000 tonnes, about one month of Vietnams exports. It shows that the EU market is developing stably with vast potential for Vietnamese coffee.

Meanwhile, the current pandemic has also been creating several challenges to Vietnamese exporters in recent months. Phan Minh Thong, CEO of Phuc Sinh Corporation  which has been working with European partners for 20 years  said that business has been slowing down when most transactions were conducted online and export procedures became longer.

It used to be two days but now we have to wait for one week. It is also difficult to send samples for testing and packaging for approval when import markets like Germany and Italy are closing borders. More customers are paying slower, and we often have to wait for 3-4 weeks for payment, Thong said.

Blue Son La brand serves as a prime example for a success story of Vietnams first speciality coffee products to the EU. Thong was the trader behind Blue Son La, which is made from Arabica coffee beans. To further boost export of this brand, Phuc Sinh hopes that it will be certified for sustainable farming, guaranteeing the origin of this coffee.

Thong said that the EU market is brimming with opportunities for Vietnamese coffee, but it is essential to have financial capability, perseverance, and motivation to build brands like internationally successful coffee brands from elsewhere.

Most Vietnamese companies just do some online marketing without developing their brands. However, if we dont focus on the root of the problems, we will not create core value, Thong added.

After its initial commercial success, Phuc Sinh developed a deep-processing factory with investment capital of VND100 billion ($4.38 million).

Adjusting to new habits

Though the ongoing pandemic has lowered the global coffee output, affecting the workforce of the industry, the crisis can be a catalyst for Vietnam to increase market share in the EU and reduce competitive pressure from Brazil  especially as the country is among the countries with the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the world and focuses less on production and processing.

Economist Nguyen Quang Binh said that Vietnam has an affordable source of Robusta coffee, and noted that buyers will never give up a good coffee supplier, but they have changed buying and selling habits. Vietnam cannot continue to sell coffee in a street vendor fashion. It is critical to develop a real supply chain, thereby enhancing its added value in the region and using the benefits of the EVFTA in a sustainable way, Binh said. The Vicofa can learn from lessons from Brazil by helping coffee growers and commercial businesses, enabling them to take care of EU roasters and other markets in the world.

In Vietnam, the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, producing 90 per cent of Vietnams coffee output, is expanding coffee plantation areas but its export value is shrinking. In the 2018-2019 crop year, Dak Lak had around 200,000 hectares of coffee plantations with an output of nearly 480,000 tonnes. The provinces export value reached $343.3 million, with $314.5 million accounting for coffee beans and $28.8 million for instant coffee.

These figures were much lower than in the 2005-2006 crop year when the export value reached $382 million with only around 170,000ha, and an output of 292,000 tonnes.

Vietnam has developed 97 processing facilities, 160 roasting establishments, eight instant coffee units, and 11 blended coffee facilities across the country. However, many companies remain hesitant to invest in deep-processed coffee, which has become a major problem slowing down the spread of Vietnamese products in Europe, thereby missing out an opportunity as more attention is paid to these products by bars, coffee chains, and small roasters in Europe.

Vinh from the Vicofa said that specialty coffee is a niche segment which requires high quality and value. Increasing the proportion of processed coffee will enhance the added value for Vietnamese coffee as well as make it less vulnerable to the price fluctuations in international futures markets, which are the main exchanges for coffee trade, Vinh said.
<! Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Works and Housing >

Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola has revealed how he turned down 17 honorary degrees from Nigerian universities.

Fashola said the various institutions came to offer him honorary degrees when he was governor of Lagos State for eight years.

Fashola, who spoke when the Committee of Vice Chancellors/Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVC/AVCNU), paid him a courtesy visit, also stressed the importance of universities as a place where the characters of young people were finally shaped in readiness for leadership.

He lamented the proliferation and abuse of Honorary Degrees by universities in the country recalling that in his eight-year tenure as Governor of Lagos State and Visitor at LASU one of the things his administration did was to put on hold the award of any Honorary Degree for about two to three years.

We said, look we are going to be different and for two or three years we did not award any Honorary Degree because truly the idea of Honorary Degree is an important building block of society and once we throw those blocks away or make them unviable then the purpose for it is lost, the Minister said.

He recalled. In my eight years in office I had 17 offers and I didnt take one. I told them to wait until when I was out of office and if they still find me worthy they should then come. And when I was out of office only one came back.

The point I want to make is that we have to encourage our children to work hard. What have these honorees of the universities done to deserve the honour? What of those who have become undeserving, will you go back and tell them to return the degrees, that they dont deserve it anymore?

Noting that there was need to have an acceptable version of the History of Nigeria, Fashola charged the Committee to assemble the many professors of History in the universities and assign the task to them to produce such a version that would be a true History of Nigeria, acceptable by all Nigerians, including the Historians themselves.

Stressing the importance of universities as platforms for character molding, among other functions, the Minister, who described investment in universities as casting a stone of faith into the future, said it was an investment that always yielded very enormous profit for any nation.

It is a place where young boys and girls transit to becoming young men and women and that is where their characters are finally shaped in readiness to take over the leadership of the country, he said, adding that as overseers of the institutions, the Vice Chancellors have daunting tasks to accomplish.

Assuring the University dons of government support to ensure success, Fashola declared, Somebody like me, I am a product of an investment of those who set up the University of Benin. Also there are many Nigerians who, like me, are products of that act of faith that happened in the 1970s.

I sit here today, and there are Senators, Senate Presidents and so many other professionals who were also products of that investment. And what is true of the University of Benin is also true of all other universities across the country, he said.

The Minister also charged the Universities on the collation and use of data, saying that the world was now chasing data and there was, therefore, need for the universities to put in useful form the data they have accumulated over the years to assist governments and businesses in the country in national development.

The world is chasing data, collating data. This data is sitting in our universities. Almost every lecturer I know asks students to write one research paper or the other. The data is there, but can we put it in a useful form to inform our governments, to inform our businesses, to inform our society?

Recalling his years as Visitor to the Lagos State University (LASU), Fashola, who noted that they had meetings which they christened The Town and Gown, with the Town representing Government and the Gown representing Universities, said his administration gained a lot in terms of research outcomes and development.

It was a time when we had lectures, symposia, not just in LASU but in other universities, he said, adding that the University of Lagos Consult was one of the state government registered consultants which his administration used to do a lot of research and a lot of consultancy work.

The Minister, however, expressed regrets that not enough universities were investing in such consultancy today, pointing out that there are many areas in which Nigerian universities could do research and consultancy such as on general elections and other political issues arising from elections across the country.

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Sri Lankan President Gotabaya on Thursday vowed to abolish the 19th Amendment that curtailed the powers of the President and strengthened the role of Parliament.

"Our first task will be to remove the 19th amendment to the Constitution, he said while making the ceremonial address outlining his policies at the inaugural session of the new Parliament on Thursday.

This stands in contrast to the comments made by his ministers on Wednesday that 19A would only be subject to amendments while retaining its healthy provisions.

The 19A adopted in 2015 by the then reformist government was subject to much criticism by the clan as it prevented dual citizens from contesting elections. At the time, two of the family members including the current president were dual citizens of the US and

During the August 5 election, the People's Party (SLPP) sought two thirds parliamentary mandate or 150 seats in the 225-member assembly to effect constitutional changes, the foremost of them was the move to abolish the 19A.

The SLPP and allies won 150 seats and have a two-third majority to effect the constitutional change they desire.

Rajapaksa stressed that while introducing a new Constitution, it is essential to make changes to the current electoral system.

While Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected as the Sri Lankan President in November last year, his eldest brother Mahida Rajapaksa won the general election and assumed charge as Prime Minister on August 9.

Rajapaksa was delighted that the public had given him two thirds majority - "for the first time in the history in an election held under the proportional representation system.

The 19A was the main election plank of the previous government.

The 19A depoliticised the government administration by ensuring the independence of key pillars such as the judiciary, public service and elections.

The reformists in 2015 argued that the 19A was needed to correct the power imbalance created by the 18A which the government of Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2010 had introduced.

The 18A lifted the two term bar for a president to run for office.

The 19A brought in the reversal bringing back the two terms bar and reducing the presidential term from 6 to 5 years. It pruned the powers of the presidency and empowered parliament.

During his speech, President Rajapaksa also stressed that his governance will be based while giving foremost place to Buddhism - the religion of the 77 per cent of Sri Lankans.

"While ensuring priority for Buddhism it is now clear to the people that freedom of any citizen to practice the religion of his or her choice is better secured, he said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Delhi government on Thursday directed the excise department to issue necessary permission for the service of liquor in restaurants and clubs by license holders. On Wednesday, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), after a meeting with the state government, had approved the reopening of hotels in the national capital amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Delhi government on Thursday directed the excise department to issue necessary permission for the service of liquor in restaurants and clubs by license holders. The decision has been taken keeping the revenue implications in mind.

In an order, the Delhi government said, Under the unlock guidelines, the Delhi Government has allowed operation of restaurants subject to social distancing norms. The government has also allowed the opening of hotels. Bars shall remain closed under the provisions of unlocking guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Also Read: MHA to withdraw 100 companies of paramilitary forces from J-K

However, several state governments have permitted service of liquor by license holders under the Excise Rules at the table in the restaurants and clubs and in the hotel rooms. Considering the revenue implications, Excise Department to issue necessary permission for service of liquor in restaurants and clubs by licensees at the table and in the hotel rooms, the order signed by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia read.

Also Read: Facebook row: Nishikant Dubey moves breach of privilege notice against Shashi Tharoor, Rahul Gandhi

On Wednesday, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), after a meeting with the state government, had approved the reopening of hotels in the national capital amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (ANI)

Also Read: Big win for Sushants family, SC orders CBI probe, asks Maharashtra to provide evidence
Young students attend class at AISS flagship campus, the Premier American School Local families and communities are experiencing high levels of unemployment, poor health and hunger. We donate food and provide health services to support hundreds of local families struggling during the pandemic on a periodic basis.

The US-based American International School System is fighting to continue their mission to help the most vulnerable communities in Pakistan struggling during the pandemic. With the Covid-19 pandemic upending daily life, the amount of people in need grows every day.

The American International School System (AISS) is a private coeducational school, based on American educational methodologies, values and culture and is located in Lahore, Pakistan. Due to the continuation of Covid-19 cases, AISS is navigating financial hardship and uncertainty while closed and inoperable. The staff at AISS are working closely with Pakistani communities to support the needs of vulnerable populations as the global pandemic continues to spread, by shifting their day-to-day operations of the school, doubling down on work and discussing solutions to continue educating and helping children in Pakistan.

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused devastating rise in unemployment, leading to a high demand for food and other necessities. Expanding beyond its educational services, the school has been providing and distributing food to a growing number of residents who are going hungry. Under the leadership of its Vice President, Ali Naqvi, AISS has traveled around Lahore, donating food to local communities and nearby families for free. For citizens who can not afford medical treatment, the school is also providing health services, such as antibiotics and hydroxychloroquine.

The Covid-19 pandemic is impacting every community in Pakistan. Local families and communities are experiencing high levels of unemployment, poor health and hunger. We donate food and provide health services to support hundreds of local families struggling during the pandemic on a periodic basis. This experience is just one example of what our foundation is truly about, co-founder Dr. Munr Kazmir said.

Approximately 2000 students attend each AISS location and about 70 percent are offered scholarships or financial aid. As the international crisis increases poverty levels in Pakistan, AISS will be issuing a larger amount of financial support to aid financially burdened students. A Lahore native, Naqvi grew up a witness to the disadvantages and struggles a majority of the nation faced due to the absence of quality education and lack of opportunity. He has dedicated his personal mission to ensure every child in Pakistan has the opportunity to go to school and build their future.

AISS intends to connect and unite students of different faiths and financial backgrounds, and provides a world class education for children in Pakistan, giving them an opportunity to gain access to higher education institutions in the United States. The school promotes American and democratic ideals at the earliest stages of Pakistani youths educational life, a key role in defining Pakistans future in the region. AISS started operating in 2007 when they opened the Premier American School, and has since expanded through five satellite Premier Grammar School locations throughout the city of Lahore and Kamoke.

Dr. Munr Kazmir and his co-founder, John Allison, share this sentiment and together founded the AISS flagship campus in Lahore, the most modern state-of-the-art school in the history of Pakistan. Pakistani Born Munr Kazmir has led a lifetime of leadership as a CEO, entrepreneur, physician and philanthropist in the healthcare and education industries. He is a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, Dankook University honorary doctorate degree in political science, is Goodwill Ambassador to the Bektashian community and was formerly a part of the White House Fellowship program.

Dr. Kazmir has strong bipartisan relationships with a myriad of congressional leaders in the United States, as well as other major political figures internationally. He has received two humanitarian awards and widespread recognition for his commitment to supporting childrens causes and organizations throughout the world.

To learn more about the American International School System and Dr. Kazmirs work, visit https://americanschoolfoundation.org or https://kazmir.org.

ABOUT AISS

The American International School System Foundation is a U.S. non-profit teaching American values through primary education to children in Pakistan. By providing a world-class education to Pakistani children, The American International School System Foundation is helping them become more prosperous, secure, democratic and able to stand up against violence and extremism.
The campus of Harvard Business School and Harvard University, July 26, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. Brooks Kraft/Corbis via Getty Images

China's new natural security law is the latest challenge for universities as classes pick up again.

Universities like Princeton and Harvard are worried that under the new law students may be prosecuted in China for expressing dissenting political opinions even if they're not in the country, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The new national-security law stemmed from the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong and allows China to find and prosecute people for "sedition, subversion, terrorism, and colluding with foreign forces."

Professors are placing warnings on classes or implementing new forms of grading to help protect students.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Universities like Princeton and Harvard are grappling with another obstacle as classes go back in session: China's new natural security law that could prosecute individuals for dissenting political opinions even if they're not in China, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Some classes at universities will come with a label "This course may cover material considered politically sensitive by China," and students at Princeton would use code names to protect their identities when submitting work, The Journal reported.

The new national-security law stemmed from the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong but extends far beyond it. The law allows China to find and prosecute people for "sedition, subversion, terrorism and colluding with foreign forces," Business Insider previously reported.

In order to mitigate the risk this could have to students and faculty, both Chinese and American schools have adopted different measures. The Journal reported that Harvard Business School could excuse students worried about the risk of prosecution from discussing politically sensitive topics.

In the 2018-2019 school year, more than 370,000 Chinese students and around 7,000 students from Hong Kong were enrolled in US colleges, and many chose to take courses on Chinese politics, academics told The Journal.

Story continues

"We cannot self-censor," Rory Truex, an assistant professor who teaches Chinese politics at Princeton told The Journal. "If we, as a Chinese teaching community, out of fear stop teaching things like Tiananmen or Xinjiang or whatever sensitive topic the Chinese government doesn't want us talking about, if we cave, then we've lost."

Truex, like other several other professors, has introduced blind grading, where students hand in assignments with a code instead of their actual name so their views can't be linked back to them.

Professors are not just worried about Chinese citizens taking these classes and potentially being implicated, they're also worried about themselves, and others who might visit the country later on.

Earlier this month, Business Insider reported that Samuel Chu, who is a naturalized US citizen from Hong Kong was put on a list of fugitives by China for lobbying Congress to punish China limiting Hong Kong's autonomy.

"China has always been hostile to Western journalists and academics, and this amps it up," Truex said.

Avery Goldstein, a professor in the political science department at the University of Pennsylvania, said he's putting a warning on his course of the risks before students enroll because a security breach could put them at risk.

"We have to leave it up to the students whether they enroll because it is ultimately their lives that are going to be affected," he told The Journal. "I will make it clear that there is nothing I can do to protect them."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Scientists studying leaves from a 23-million-year-old forest have for the first time linked high levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide with increased plant growth, and the hot climate off the time. The finding adds to the understanding of how rising CO 2 heats the earth, and how the dynamics of plant life could shift within decades, when CO 2 levels may closely mirror those of the distant past.

Scientists retrieved the leaves from a unique onetime New Zealand lake bed that holds the remains of plants, algae, spiders, beetle, flies, fungi and other living things from a warm period known as the early Miocene. Scientists have long postulated that CO 2 was high then, and some plants could harvest it more efficiently for photosynthesis. This is the first study to show that those things actually happened in tandem. The findings were published this week in the journal Climate of the Past.

"The amazing thing is that these leaves are basically mummified, so we have their original chemical compositions, and can see all their fine features under a microscope," said lead author Tammo Reichgelt, an adjunct scientist at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and assistant professor of geosciences at the University of Connecticut. "Evidence has been building that CO 2 was high then, but there have been paradoxes."

The so-called "carbon fertilization effect" has vast implications. Lab and field experiments have shown that when CO 2 levels rise, many plants increase their rate of photosynthesis, because they can more efficiently remove carbon from the air, and conserve water while doing so. Indeed, a 2016 study based on NASA satellite data shows a "global greening" effect mainly due to rising levels of manmade CO 2 over recent decades; a quarter to a half of the planet's vegetated lands have seen increases in leaf volume on trees and plants since about 1980. The effect is expected to continue as CO 2 levels rise.

This might seem like good news, but the reality is more complex. Increased CO 2 absorption will not come close to compensating for what humans are pouring into the air. Not all plants can take advantage, and among those who do, the results can vary depending on temperature and availability of water or nutrients. And, there is evidence that when some major crops photosynthesize more rapidly, they absorb relatively less calcium, iron, zinc and other minerals vital for human nutrition. Because much of today's plant life evolved in a temperate, low-CO 2 world, some natural and agricultural ecosystems could be upended by higher CO 2 levels, along with the rising temperatures and shifts in precipitation they bring. "How it plays out is anyone's guess," said Reichgelt. "It's another layer of stress for plants. It might be great for some, and horrible for others."

The deposit is located in a small, long-extinct volcanic crater now located on a farm near the southern New Zealand city of Dunedin. The crater, about a kilometer across, once held an isolated lake where successive layers of sediments built up from the surrounding environment. The feature was recognized only within about the last 15 years; scientists dubbed it Foulden Maar. Recognizing it as a scientific gold mine, they have been studying it ever since. Some have also been fighting an actual mining company that wants to strip the deposit for livestock feed.

In the new study, the researchers took samples from a 2009 drill core that penetrated 100 meters to near the bottom of the now-dry lake bed. Larded in between whitish annual layers of silica-rich algae that bloomed each spring for 120,000 years are alternating blackish layers of organic matter that fell in during other seasons. These include countless leaves from a subtropical evergreen forest. They are preserved so perfectly that scientists can see microscopic veins and stomata, the pores by which leaves take in air and concurrently release water during photosynthesis. Unlike most fossils, the leaves also retain their original chemical compositions. It is the only such known deposit in the Southern Hemisphere, and far better preserved than the few similar ones known from the north.

The Miocene has long been a source of confusion for paleoclimate researchers. Average global temperatures are thought to have been 3 to 7 degrees C hotter than today, and ice largely disappeared at the poles. Yet many proxies, mainly derived from marine organisms, have suggested CO 2 levels were only about 300 parts per million-similar to those of preindustrial human times, and not enough to account for such warming. With evidence of high CO 2 elusive, scientists have speculated that previous proxy measurements must be off.

Based on the new study and a related previous one also at Foulden Maar, the researchers were able to get at this conundrum. They analyzed the carbon isotopes within leaves from a half-dozen tree species found at various levels in the deposit. This helped them zero in on the carbon content of the atmosphere at the time. They also analyzed the geometry of the leaves' stomata and other anatomical features, and compared these with modern leaves. By combining all the data into a model, they found that atmospheric CO 2 was not 300ppm, but about 450-a good match for the temperature data. Second, they showed that the trees were super-efficient at sucking in carbon through the stomata, without leaking much water through the same route-a factor that all plants must account for. This allowed them to grow in marginal areas that otherwise would have been too dry for forests. The researchers say this higher efficiency was very likely mirrored in forests across the northern temperate latitudes, with their far greater landmasses.

Human emissions have now pushed CO 2 levels to about 415 parts per million, and they will almost certainly reach 450 by about 2040-identical to those experienced by the Foulden Maar forest. Estimates of the resulting temperature increases over decades and centuries vary, but the new study suggests that most are in the ballpark.

"It all fits together, it all makes sense," said study coauthor William D'Andrea, a paleoclimate scientist at Lamont-Doherty. In addition to showing how plants might react directly to CO 2 , "this should give us more confidence about how temperatures will change with CO 2 levels," he said.

Study coauthor Daphne Lee, a paleontologist at New Zealand's University of Otago, led the charge to study Foulden Maar's rich ecosystem after it came to light. More recently, she became an unexpected defender of the maar, when a company with owners in Malaysia and the United Kingdom announced plans to strip-mine the deposit for use as a feed additive for for pigs, ducks and other intensively farmed animals. With many more discoveries probably to be made, scientists were horrified, and allied themselves with locals who feared noise and dust. The Dunedin city council is now looking into buying the land to protect it.

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The study was also coauthored by Ailin del Valdivia-McCarthy, a former intern at Lamont-Doherty; Bethany Fox of the University of Huddersfield; Jennifer Bannister of the University of Otago; John Conran of the University of Adelaide; and William Lee of the University of Auckland.

The paper, 'Elevated CO 2 increased leaf-level productivity and water use efficiency in the early Miocene,' can be obtained from the authors or media@egu.eu.

Scientist contacts:

Tammo Reichgelt tammo.reichgelt@uconn.edu

William D'Andrea dandrea@ldeo.columbia.edu

More information: Kevin Krajick, Senior editor, science news, The Earth Institute kkrajick@ei.columbia.edu 212-854-9729

Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory is Columbia University's home for Earth science research. Its scientists develop fundamental knowledge about the origin, evolution and future of the natural world, from the planet's deepest interior to the outer reaches of its atmosphere, on every continent and in every ocean, providing a rational basis for the difficult choices facing humanity. http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu | @LamontEarth

The Earth Institute, Columbia University mobilizes the sciences, education and public policy to achieve a sustainable earth. http://www.earth.columbia.edu.
FALLS CHURCH, Va. - A northern Virginia congressman is pursuing legislation to remove Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lees name from the official designation at the historic mansion where he lived before the Civil War.

The home, overlooking the nations capital and surrounded by Arlington National Cemetery, is a National Park Service site officially known as Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial.

Congress renamed the site in 1972 to add Lees name and designate it as a memorial to him.

But Democratic Rep. Don Beyer, whose district is home to Arlington House, said its time that Lees name be stripped.

Part of the reckoning with the history of racism and slavery in America and in our own community has been a reexamination of public symbols, Beyer said in a statement to The Associated Press.

Beyers plans for legislation comes as descendants of a family enslaved at Arlington House have been lobbying for a name change.

In addition, David Rubenstein, who donated $12 million to support restoration efforts there, said in June that he believes Lees name should be removed.

The site itself has been closed for renovations and is expected to reopen later this year.

Beyer, in his statement, cited the requests from descendants of the enslaved as part of his rationale for pursuing the change. He also cited the mansions history, noting that (t)he choice of Lees home for the site of a national military cemetery was intended to be a punitive measure against Lee, who himself said after the Civil War that he opposed erecting Confederate monuments.

The mansions history is fascinating and complex. It sits atop a bluff overlooking the Potomac River, with an unparalleled view of Washington. Surrounding the mansion is Arlington National Cemetery, which draws nearly 4 million visitors a year.

It was built by George Washingtons adoptive grandson, George Washington Parke Custis, who maintained the mansion as something of a shrine to Washington.

Custis daughter later married Robert E. Lee; they were wed at the home, and Lee managed the property for a number of years before the Civil War.

When the war began, Lees family fled the home and Union commanders seized the property. They soon chose to use the land as a burial site for Union soldiers, planting the seeds for Arlington National Cemetery while also rendering the site forever inhospitable to the Lee family as a home.

The debate over Lees name at Arlington House comes as Confederate monuments and markers are being reconsidered across the South. In neighbouring Fairfax County, the school board recently voted to rename Robert E. Lee High School for the late congressman John Lewis. In Richmond, the state is battling in court for authority to remove a century-old statue of Lee that long anchored the citys famed Monument Avenue. And in Congress, Beyer and others are seeking to remove statues of Lee and other Confederate figures from the U.S. Capitol.

Craig Syphax of Arlington is one of the descendants of Arlington House slaves who requested Beyer take action. The Syphax family traces its roots to both Mount Vernon and Arlington House. In 1821, Charles Syphax married Maria Carter in a ceremony at Arlington House. It is now generally acknowledged that the unusual honour granted to that slave wedding is because Maria Carter was the illegitimate daughter of Parke Custis and a slave named Arianna Carter. Parke Custis later granted freedom to Maria Syphax and her children, and set aside 17 acres on the property for her family to live. Generations of Syphaxes achieved prominence in a variety of fields.

Craig Syphax said Lees name should be removed not only because his contributions to history were negative, but because it overstates Lees importance to the history of the site.

Hes not the headliner for all the history thats occurred there, Syphax said. To the degree that he is a headliner, hes a headliner for all the wrong reasons.

Another Syphax descendant, Tracey Syphax of Trenton, New Jersey, said he knew nothing about his family history growing up.

He said learning his family history in his adult years helped give him a new outlook on life. To the degree Arlington House is able to tell its full story, rather than narrowly focusing on Lee, he thinks it can help all Americans have a new outlook on our shared history.

We all get to a better place if we start telling the true history of America, he said.
Members of Student Innovation Ireland and Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) advocates are encouraging second-level schools in Offaly to register and take part in the 2020/21 F1 in Schools education programme this autumn.

The F1 in Schools STEM Challenge raises awareness among schoolchildren all across the globe of STEM through Formula 1; it encourages students to think creatively, improve their skills, and gain confidence.

It is the only global multi-disciplinary challenge in which teams of students aged 9 to 19 deploy CAD/CAM software to collaborate, design, analyse, manufacture, test, and then race miniature compressed air powered cars made from the F1 model block.

Four Irish teams will compete in the F1 in Schools world finals in Melbourne next March.

Ruth Conway, who oversees sponsorship and logistics at F1 in Schools says the competition has been beneficial to various aspects of her life:

It was great for personal development. I gained interpersonal and communication skills, greater confidence, and organisational skills from participating in the competition in Transition Year. F1 in Schools was also the deciding factor for me in choosing to study business and engineering for the Leaving Certificate. The experience also made me realise that I want to pursue a career in Formula 1.

Aaron Hannon, Co-Founder of F1 in Schools, is calling on schools to enter this years challenge:

F1 in Schools gives second-level students the opportunity to learn how to be a leader, an engineer or a businessperson in a fast-paced, exciting and competitive way. Through participating in the challenge, Irish students have earned a once-in-a-lifetime trip to represent Ireland at the F1 in Schools World Finals, where they will meet like-minded students from all around the globe.

We are delighted to work with new schools and new teachers to help bring these opportunities to even more students. We urge all schools to contact us at info@f1inschools.ie or visit www.f1inschools.ie to find out how to enter the 2020/21 F1 in Schools season.

Registration for F1 in Schools Ireland 2020/21 will close on November 15, 2020, with Regional Finals taking place in February 2021. The 2021 Irish National Final will be held in April/May 2021.


Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 17:01:10|Editor: huaxia

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RAMALLAH, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- A 16-year-old Palestinian teen succumbed to his severe wounds on Thursday after Israeli soldiers shot him in a village west of Ramallah, officials said.

Emad Zahran, mayor of Abu Meshaal village, said that Mohammed Mattar, 16 years old, died of his wounds on Thursday morning after Israeli soldiers shot him in the village on Wednesday night.

Zahran told WAFA news agency that clashes erupted on Wednesday in the village between an Israeli army force that stormed the village and dozens of young men.

Israeli soldiers shot and wounded three young men by live ammunition, Zahran said, adding that medical crews took two of the injured to the hospital for medical treatment, and the soldiers arrested Mattar, who suffered critical wounds.

"The boy died of his wounds this morning, and the Israeli side is holding his body," said Zahran.

The Israeli army said earlier that an Israeli army force thwarted an attempt of a group of Palestinian young men to throw firebombs at an Israeli army force.

It noted that the Israeli army force opened fire at the group and wounded three of them without more details. Enditem
American Chemical Society Fall 2020 Virtual Meeting Press Conference Schedule

Watch live and recorded press conferences at http://www. acs. org/ fall2020pressconferences . Press conferences will be held Monday, Aug. 17 through Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020. Below is the schedule, which will be updated as needed.

ALL TOPICS ARE STRICTLY EMBARGOED FOR THE DAYS AND TIMES INDICATED.

Note to journalists: Please report that this research is being presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.

Monday, Aug. 17

9 a.m. Eastern Time (6 a.m. Pacific Time)

Negative side effects of opioids could be coming from users' own immune systems (video)

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, 5 a.m. Eastern Time

In addition to possibly developing opioid use disorder, those who take opioids long term, including patients who have been prescribed the drugs for pain relief, can develop chronic inflammation and heightened pain sensitivity. Scientists now report in a pilot study that some of those side effects might be influenced by the body's own immune system, which can make antibodies against the drugs. A brand-new video on the research is available at http://www. acs. org/ fall2020-opioids .

Cody J. Wenthur, Pharm.D., Ph.D. University of Wisconsin-Madison

Jillian Kyzer, Ph.D. University of Wisconsin-Madison

10 a.m. Eastern Time (7 a.m. Pacific Time)

Immunotherapy extends survival in mouse model of hard-to-treat breast cancer (video)

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Aug, 17, 2020, 5 a.m. Eastern Time

Immunotherapies for cancer -- treatments that prime the immune system to attack tumors -- are valuable weapons in the anti-cancer arsenal. But some cancers are more difficult to target with this strategy than others. Today, scientists report a new type of immunotherapy that dramatically extends the survival of mice that have triple negative breast tumors, a difficult-to-treat form of cancer. A brand-new video on the research is available at http://www. acs. org/ fall2020-breast-cancer .

Chad Mirkin, Ph.D. Northwestern University

12 p.m. Eastern Time (9 a.m. Pacific Time)

Micro- and nanoplastics detectable in human tissues

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, 5 a.m. Eastern Time

Plastic pollution of land, water and air is a global problem. Even when plastic bags or water bottles break down to the point at which they are no longer an eyesore, tiny fragments can still contaminate the environment. Animals and humans can ingest the particles, with uncertain health consequences. Now, scientists report that they are among the first to examine micro- and nanoplastics in human organs and tissues.

Rolf Halden, Ph.D., P.E. Arizona State University

Varun Kelkar Arizona State University

1 p.m. Eastern Time (10 a.m. Pacific Time)

Ocean microbes could interact with pollution to influence climate

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, 5 a.m. Eastern Time

Oceans cover almost three-quarters of the globe, yet little is known about how gases and aerosols made by ocean microbes affect weather and climate, or how human-produced pollution could influence this process. Now, scientists report they've used an "ocean-in-a-lab" to show that air pollution can change the makeup of gases and aerosols that sea spray releases into the atmosphere and, in turn, potentially alter weather patterns.

Kimberly Prather, Ph.D. University of California San Diego

Tuesday, Aug. 18

9 a.m. Eastern Time (6 a.m. Pacific Time)

Bio-based communication networks could control cells in the body to treat conditions

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, 5 a.m. Eastern Time

Like electronic devices, biological cells send and receive messages, but they communicate through very different mechanisms. Now, scientists report progress on tiny communication networks that overcome this language barrier, allowing electronics to eavesdrop on cells and alter their behavior -- and vice versa. These systems could enable applications including a wearable device that could diagnose and treat a bacterial infection or a capsule that could be swallowed to track blood sugar and make insulin when needed.

William E. Bentley, Ph.D. University of Maryland

Eric VanArsdale University of Maryland

10 a.m. Eastern Time (7 a.m. Pacific Time)

More healthful milk chocolate by adding peanut, coffee waste

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, 5 a.m. Eastern Time

Milk chocolate is a consumer favorite worldwide, prized for its sweet flavor and creamy texture. This confection can be found in all types of treats, but it isn't exactly health food. In contrast, dark chocolate has high levels of phenolic compounds, which can provide antioxidant health benefits, but it is also a harder, more bitter chocolate. Today, researchers report a new way to combine milk chocolate with waste peanut skins and other wastes to boost its antioxidant properties.

Lisa Dean, Ph.D. USDA Agricultural Research Service

12 p.m. Eastern Time (9 a.m. Pacific Time)

Pothole repair made eco-friendly using grit from wastewater treatment

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, 5 a.m. Eastern Time

Potholes are aggravating to drive over, and they can cause billions of dollars of damage every year to automobile wheels, tires and suspensions. Currently, road crews fill in these holes with hydrocarbon-containing asphalt, but that material can leach out, polluting the environment. Now, scientists report a brand-new way to repair roads that's also eco-friendly -- by using a remnant of wastewater treatment called grit that's usually disposed of in landfills.

Zhongzhe Liu, Ph.D. California State University-Bakersfield

1 p.m. Eastern Time (10 a.m. Pacific Time)

Stopping tooth decay before it starts -- without killing bacteria

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, 5 a.m. Eastern Time

Oral bacteria are ready to spring into action the moment a dental hygienist finishes scraping plaque off a patient's teeth. Eating sugar or other carbohydrates causes the bacteria to quickly rebuild this tough and sticky biofilm and to produce acids that corrode tooth enamel, leading to cavities. Scientists now report a treatment that could someday stop plaque and cavities from forming in the first place, using a new type of cerium nanoparticle formulation that would be applied to teeth at the dentist's office.

Russell Pesavento, D.D.S., Ph.D. University of Illinois at Chicago

Wednesday, Aug. 19

9 a.m. Eastern Time (6 a.m. Pacific Time)

Mixing silk with polymers could lead to better biomedical implants

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, 5 a.m. Eastern Time

Spun by spiders and silkworms, silk has mystified human engineers who have yet to figure out how to artificially recreate this tough, fine fiber. But by combining silk, which is safe for use in the human body, with synthetic compounds, one research team is getting closer to developing new implantable composite materials with the best properties of both. Potential applications, which are still years away, could include structures that hold bone in place after surgery or replacements for the cartilage cushions in the knee.

Juan Guan, Ph.D. Beihang University

10 a.m. Eastern Time (7 a.m. Pacific Time)

'Cyborg' technology could enable new diagnostics, merger of humans and AI

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, 5 a.m. Eastern Time

Although true "cyborgs" -- part human, part robotic beings -- are science fiction, researchers are taking steps toward integrating electronics with the body. Such devices could monitor for tumor development or stand in for damaged tissues. But connecting electronics directly to human tissues in the body is a huge challenge. Now, a team is reporting new coatings for components that could help them more easily fit into this environment.

David Martin, Ph.D. University of Delaware

1 p.m. Eastern Time (10 a.m. Pacific Time)

Targeting iron uptake to create a new class of antibiotics against UTIs

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, 5 a.m. Eastern Time

At 11 million cases annually, urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common outpatient infections in the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. At least half of all women will have a UTI during their lifetimes, and many of the infections -- which have increasingly become resistant to a wide array of antibiotics -- recur. Now, researchers report early progress toward developing a new class of antibiotics that would fight these infections by starving the causative bacteria of iron.

Scott Eagon, Ph.D. California Polytechnic State University

Thursday, Aug. 20

9 a.m. Eastern Time (6 a.m. Pacific Time)

Studying viral outbreaks in single cells could reveal new ways to defeat them (video)

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, 5 a.m. Eastern Time

Many viruses, including HIV and influenza A, mutate so quickly that identifying effective vaccines or treatments is like trying to hit a moving target. A better understanding of viral propagation and evolution in single cells could help. Today, scientists report a new technique that can not only identify and quantify viral RNA in living cells, but also detect minor changes in RNA sequences that might give viruses an edge or make some people "superspreaders." A brand-new video about the research is available at http://www. acs. org/ fall2020-outbreaks .

Laura Fabris, Ph.D. Rutgers University

10 a.m. Eastern Time (7 a.m. Pacific Time)

3D printing 'greener' buildings using local soil

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, 5 a.m. Eastern Time

The construction industry is currently facing two major challenges: the demand for sustainable infrastructure and the need to repair deteriorating buildings, bridges and roads. While concrete is the material of choice for many construction projects, it has a large carbon footprint, resulting in high waste and energy expenditure. Today, researchers report progress toward a sustainable building material made from local soil, using a 3D printer to create a load-bearing structure.

Sarbajit Banerjee, Ph.D. Texas A&M University

Aayushi Bajpayee Texas A&M University

12 p.m. Eastern Time (9 a.m. Pacific Time)

Safer, more comfortable soldier uniforms are in the works

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, 5 a.m. Eastern Time

Uniforms of U.S. Army soldiers must meet a long list of challenging requirements. They need to feel comfortable in all climates, be durable through multiple washings, resist fires and ward off insects, among other things. Existing fabrics don't check all of these boxes, so scientists have come up with a novel way of creating a flame-retardant, insect-repellent fabric that uses nontoxic substances.

Ramaswamy Nagarajan, Ph.D. University of Massachusetts

Sourabh Kulkarni University of Massachusetts

1 p.m. Eastern Time (10 a.m. Pacific Time)

How sour beer gets so... sour (video)

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, 5 a.m. Eastern Time

Sour beer, the tart and tangy outcome of a brewing process that's been used in Europe for centuries, has recently surged in popularity in the U.S. Today, scientists report progress on a study of how acids and other flavor components evolve while the beverage ages. Their aim is to help brewers understand and gain more control over sour beer's taste. A brand-new video about the ongoing research is available at http://www. acs. org/ fall2020-sour-beer .

Teresa L. Longin, Ph.D. University of Redlands

David P. Soulsby, Ph.D. University of Redlands

The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS' mission is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and its people. The Society is a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple research solutions, peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences, eBooks and weekly news periodical Chemical & Engineering News. ACS journals are among the most cited, most trusted and most read within the scientific literature; however, ACS itself does not conduct chemical research. As a specialist in scientific information solutions (including SciFinder and STN), its CAS division powers global research, discovery and innovation. ACS' main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

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Child allowances will be doubled, but in stages, and the lawmakers who vote for populist laws should donate more revenue to the budget to have more money to double the allowances, Finance Minister Florin Citu told Digi 24 private broadcaster on Wednesday.

"The allowances will be doubled, that's the promise I make, but in stages. Many of these social expenditures are made in stages. At the same time, I tell the lawmakers who are still voting for such laws in Romania in 2020 amid a global economic crisis to find another country in the European Union or in the world that is making such efforts during this period, to increase allowances, to increase pensions, to allocate extra bonuses (...) Maybe more lawmakers should donate from their earnings so that we may be able to have more money in the budget to double the allowances. Perhaps those who have voted should make the effort. Then it would be a credible move, but to pass a law without giving a source of funding is populism. It shows what the Social Democratic Party (PSD) socialists have done from the beginning. From the first moment they joined the Opposition, they have only passed as on a conveyor belt laws that would have blown up Romania's budget in 2020 in a crisis situation. Let alone the fact that they wanted to vote against the prolongation of the state of emergency, led by their interim chairman, the eternally interim chairman, which was a criminal gesture on their part," said Citu.On Wednesday, the Chamber of Deputies rejected, as a decision-making body, Ordinance 123/2020, amending and supplementing Article 3 in Law 61/1993, in order to gradually increase the amount of the child allowances.As many as 166 MPs voted for rejecting the ordinance, 63 against and 29 abstained.
UAEs national oil company, Adnoc remains focused on what it can control, its costs, and regardless of the situation, this focus on costs wont change, said Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Group CEO, Adnoc.

As a result, weve managed to remain resilient through this downturn, while also still delivering against our strategic priorities," Dr Al Jaber told leading energy economist and Pulitzer-Prize winning author Dr Daniel Yergin, Vice Chairman of IHS Markit, during a virtual Cera conversation.

Speaking during the series which has featured Ben van Beurden, CEO of Royal Dutch Shell, Amin Nasser, President and CEO of Saudi Aramco, and Michael Wirth, Chairman and CEO of Chevron, Dr Al Jaber explained how Adnoc deftly navigates this period of uncertainty and noted the company is realising the benefits of its transformation which it started four years ago at the direction of the UAE leadership, a WAM report said.

"In fact, these unprecedented times have highlighted just how forward-thinking our leaderships guidance was in driving a comprehensive transformation at Adnoc. We have concentrated on improving our performance, strengthening our agility, while continually reinforcing efficiency throughout our business.

The Adnoc CEO went on to explain how despite the impact of Covid-19 on global economies, the UAEs trusted business environment continues to attract world-class investment opportunities, following Adnocs $20.7 billion (AED76 billion) energy infrastructure deal announced in June.

Adnoc is leveraging this stable environment to create attractive investment opportunities and is open to new partnerships that make economic sense, Dr Al Jaber said.

A recent example of this is Adnocs new shipping joint venture, JV, with Chinas Wanhua Chemical Group that will transport LPG to growth markets.

"Our investment strategy remains the same. It is focused on unlocking value, making smarter use of our capital, and more proactively managing our assets. And we see some of the biggest opportunities right here at home, where we are making smart investments to expand our operations, especially in the downstream, to drive the UAEs industrial growth and increase in-country value. A prime example of this is our recently announced JV with one of the largest Abu Dhabi holding companies, ADQ.

"The opportunity here is huge  to capitalise on our existing world-class infrastructure, high-quality, competitive feedstock, and excellent geographic location to drive sustainable growth. And of course, we will continue to develop a robust pipeline of investment and partnership opportunities. In fact, I would like to extend an open invitation to existing and new partners to explore the potential for attractive growth opportunities across Adnocs value chain," Dr Al Jaber noted.

HSE

He highlighted how Adnoc has drawn on its strong Health, Safety, and Environment, HSE, culture to mitigate the risks presented by Covid-19 and ensure business continuity. He stressed Adnocs number one focus has been the health and safety of its employees and detailed how this approach closely aligns with the wise measures put in place by the UAE leadership to protect everyone living in the country.

"In fact, one of the reasons we have come through this period in relatively good shape is our well-established focus on what at Adnoc we call 100 percent HSE. This safety-first approach is very much in line with the UAEs overall response to Covid-19, which has prioritised the health and safety of everyone living here. Basically, we have deployed a test early and test often approach to managing the pandemic," Dr Al Jaber said.

NEW MINISTRY

Responding to a question on the role of the new Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology which he leads, Dr Al Jaber took the opportunity to share insights on the UAE leaderships vision for the ministry.

He explained that the ministry was established to help support the national agenda by empowering and enabling industrial development in order to drive economic growth, diversification, and value retention.

"It will focus on industries of strategic importance to our national economy and will promote in-country value with a focus on industrial development. At the core of our mandate is 4IR (the fourth industrial revolution) and specifically the synergies between industry and technology, including machine learning, the internet of things, automation and digitisation . Similar to Adnoc, the Ministry will extend an open invitation to all those who would like to partner with the UAE," Dr Al Jaber said.

He highlighted that Adnocs strategy as approved by Abu Dhabis Supreme Petroleum Council, SPC, enables the company to support the new ministrys mandate to strengthen the UAEs industrial base, leverage technology in the 4th Industrial Age, and promote in-country value.

"We have been enabling the industrial development of the UAE by going further downstream and prioritising in-country value creation across all our contracts and projects while adopting advanced technology and digitising our value chain," Dr Al Jaber added.

DIGITAL ECONOMY

During the session, Dr Al Jaber also commented on the importance of technology in enabling sustainable economic progress in the post-Covid era. He said the Covid experience has accelerated the UAEs transition to a digital economy.

"The UAE not only understands the critical impact of this transition but is in fact directing investment in that space. For example, we have created the worlds first AI, artificial intelligence, institute right here in Abu Dhabi  the Mohamed bin Zayed University for Artificial Intelligence which will enroll its first intake of students this January," Dr Al Jaber said.

There is significant potential for AI-inspired technology to help push the frontiers of progress across multiple sectors, particularly in the oil and gas industry, Dr Al Jaber added. "At Adnoc, we are embedding the latest technologies across our value chain to enhance our efficiency and maximise our performance."

Dr Al Jaber shared his perspective on oil markets and noted that the market has clearly tightened in the last two months, as economies continue to reopen in Asia, Europe, and the US, while Opecs leadership has also helped build confidence in the market. He said the industry will have to remain cautious and nimble as it adjusts to the multiple structural macro-economic changes taking place.

ENERGY TRANSITION

The wide-ranging session touched on several topics including the energy transition. Dr Al Jaber pointed to the fact that the UAE has been a longstanding supporter of a diversified energy mix and the country believes it makes economic sense to invest in all forms of energy.

"We were the regions first mover in promoting and investing in advanced energy. We are already home to two of the worlds largest solar projects  Noor Abu Dhabi and the Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai. And we just announced plans to create the worlds largest solar project in Abu Dhabi  a 2 gigawatts facility that will be almost double the capacity of our two previously largest projects," he noted.

As the UAE diversifies into clean energy, it is also investing in the responsible production of oil and gas which will still provide over half of the worlds energy, even in the most fast-paced scenarios, Dr Al Jaber said.

"This presents us with the key challenge of how to produce more energy with fewer emissions. This challenge plays to one of Adnocs strategic advantages, because we are not only one of the lowest-cost producers, but also among the lowest carbon producers in the oil and gas industry. This combination of low cost and low carbon gives us a distinct competitive edge," Dr Al Jaber concluded.

Dr Yergin is an award-winning American author, speaker, energy expert, and economic historian who has authored or co-authored several books on energy and world economics, including the Pulitzer Prizewinning book, The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, and Power. Dr Yergin's articles and op-eds on energy, history, and the economy have been published in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Financial Times. -- Tradearabia News Service
The release of the Russia report in the UK last month has raised more questions than it answered.

But the most troubling question it raises is about what role, if any, the Kremlin played in the drive to the Brexit vote.

This week in Washington, a bipartisan US Senate intelligence panel released a report that concluded Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered interference in the US 2016 election.

The British report released last month, the publication of which was delayed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson until after the December 2019 general election, didnt examine the same question about the Kremlin and Brexit.
A man who digitally raped his intellectually impaired six-year-old granddaughter has been sentenced to just three years in jail.

The 65-year-old - who cannot be identified for legal reasons - will be eligible for parole on December 3, when considering time already served ahead of sentencing.

He pleaded guilty to one count of rape related to the November 2018 attack and apologised after initially denying the act, Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

The court heard graphic details of the assault, in which the little girl asked him to stop.

The court heard graphic details of the assault, in which the little girl asked him to stop (stock image)

He had been drinking prior to the assault and told her to 'shut up' when she complained, the court heard.

The little girl used to refer to him as 'pop'.

The court heard the man tried to overdose and take his own life after details of the attack surfaced.

His defence said he was 'disgusted' in the behaviour and disappointed with himself.

The court also heard that he'd been excommunicated from most of his family since the offending.

While a report suggested he was a 'low risk' of re-offending, Judge Catherine Muir disagreed.

'This is reprehensible offending. It is predatory and it was a breach of trust committed by you on your young, intellectually impaired granddaughter,' she said.

'Your offending, unsurprisingly, has had a destructive effect on the complainant and on your family.'
Resiliency and community trust in permanencewhich accreditation strives to assureare standing strong through this testing moment.

Commitment to land conservation excellence continues to be paramount even in challenging times. Land trusts invested in accreditation to help fortify their resiliency and to ensure their promise of protecting lands forever. These protected lands help build healthy communities, across the country, in a time where nature is proving to be more important than ever.

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, a program promoting national quality standards for ensuring permanence in the conservation of American lands, announced that a total of 443 land trusts have now earned the national accreditation mark of distinction. Accredited land trusts span the country and are based in 46 states and one territory.

An additional 47 land trusts, the largest renewal class to date, have successfully navigated the rigorous renewal process and continue to be recognized with the seal of accreditation. Among these are 17 land trusts that achieved their first renewal and 30 land trust that achieved their second renewal.

In recognition of the challenges posed by COVID-19, the Commission is taking extra efforts to support land trusts through the accreditation process by spending time actively listening to land trusts to understand the actual impacts they face. This feedback is helping the Commission implement customizable solutions that respond to the needs of the land trust community.

Executive Director Melissa Kalvestrand said, Land trusts and the communities they serve have been faced with unprecedented challenges over the past few months. The Commissions core values have always been integrity, accountability and service. In these times those values are even more important than ever to ensure that land trusts feel supported and to maintain clear lines of communication. It is inspiring to listen and learn of conservation stories that continue in spite of or even as a result of COVID-19. Resiliency and community trust in permanencewhich accreditation strives to assureare standing strong through this testing moment.

The Commission is excited to expand the number of land trusts committed to excellence with the opportunity for land trusts to apply as first-time applicants in 2021. There are approximately 20 first-time application slots available and registration for the lottery for a slot is open until August 31 at 5 p.m. EST on the Commissions website. We are pleased to announce that during this decision round, Mountains Restoration Trust (California) achieved first-time accreditation.

The 47 land trusts achieving renewed accreditation now include Ashby Land Trust (Massachusetts), Athens Land Trust (Georgia), Bangor Land Trust (Maine), Black Canyon Regional Land Trust (Colorado), Blue Mountain Land Trust (Washington), Boothbay Region Land Trust (Maine), Cape Elizabeth Land Trust (Maine), Catawba Lands Conservancy (North Carolina), Central Savannah River Land Trust (Georgia), Coastal Mountains Land Trust (Maine), Colchester Land Trust (Connecticut), Colorado Cattlemens Agricultural Land Trust (Colorado), Colorado West Land Trust (Colorado), Feather River Land Trust (California), Forest Society of Maine (Maine), Freshwater Land Trust (Alabama), Georges River Land Trust (Maine), Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (Michigan), Great Peninsula Conservancy (Washington), Greensboro Land Trust (Vermont), Hawaiian Islands Land Trust (Hawaii), Jefferson Land Trust (Washington), Lake Champlain Land Trust (Vermont), Lake Forest Open Lands Association and its affiliate, Lake Forest Land Foundation (Illinois), Land Trust for Santa Barbara County (California), Land Trust for Tennessee (Tennessee), Land Trust of Bucks County (Pennsylvania), Legacy Land Conservancy (Michigan), Lyme Land Conservation Trust (Connecticut), Minnesota Land Trust (Minnesota), Monadnock Conservancy (New Hampshire), New Mexico Land Conservancy (New Mexico), Northern California Regional Land Trust (California), Northwest Arkansas Land Trust (Arkansas), Peninsula Open Space Trust (California), Rensselaer Land Trust (New York), Salem Land Trust (Connecticut), Saratoga P.L.A.N. (New York), Skagit Land Trust (Washington), St. Simons Land Trust (Georgia), Tall Pines Conservancy (Wisconsin), Thousand Islands Land Trust (New York), Utah Open Lands (Utah), Warren Land Trust (Connecticut), Westchester Land Trust (New York), Wilderness Land Trust (Washington), Willistown Conservation Trust (Pennsylvania).

About the Land Trust Accreditation Commission

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, based in Saratoga Springs, New York, inspires excellence, promotes public trust and ensures permanence in the conservation of open lands by recognizing land trust organizations that meet rigorous quality standards and that strive for continuous improvement. The Commission, established in 2006 as an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, is governed by a volunteer board of diverse land conservation and nonprofit management experts from around the country. More information about the Commission and the full list of accredited land trusts is available at http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org.

About the Land Trust Alliance

Founded in 1982, the Land Trust Alliance is a national land conservation organization that works to save the places people need and love by strengthening land conservation across America. The Alliance represents 1,000 member land trusts supported by more than 200,000 volunteers and 4.6 million members nationwide. The Alliance is based in Washington, D.C., and operates several regional offices. More information about the Alliance is available at http://www.landtrustalliance.org.

# # #
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Green Cures & Botanical Distribution, Inc. (OTC: GRCU) ("The Company" or "Green Cures") a manufacturer, wholesaler and distributor of hemp and CBD-infused nutritional, sports, body care and alcoholic spirits products, announces it has agreed to terms with Product Supply Labs on exclusive rights for the distribution and bottling of bulk hand sanitizer nationwide.

Product Supply Labs is a contract manufacturing company producing clean, innovative and effective skincare, nutritional and personal care products. Green Cures now has the capacity to fill up to 50,000 bottles per day in 1 ounce, 2 ounce, 4 ounce, 6 ounce, 8 ounce, 16 ounce and 1 gallon sizes. The agreement including turnkey bottling and labeling services for FDA-registered bulk hand sanitizer.

As Green Cures continues to build on its existing hand sanitizer brand it now will tap into the fast-growing private label hand sanitizer market. Green Cures Chief Executive Officer, Rich Thomas, stated, "In late June we toured the facilities of Product Supply Labs and were very impressed with James and his team."

James Martell, Founder and Owner of Product Supply Labs, is a serial entrepreneur leading multiple successful enterprises in the Hemp, CBD and Fulfillment arena. "We're excited to partner with Green Cures on bringing the highest quality hand sanitizer liquids and gels to the mass markets," said Martel. "Our teams will continue to work closely as we take advantage of a business landscape that is booming and showing no signs of slowing down."

According to Grand Review Research the global hand sanitizer market size is valued at $2.7 billion and expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 22.6% from 2020 to 2027. Upon terms of the partnership, Green Cures gained exclusive distribution rights for the full suite of Product Supply Labs bulk hand sanitizer services.

In August, Green Cures received and fulfilled its first commercial hand sanitizer order with a brand currently placing product on the shelves of Rite Aid and Wal-Mart. By teaming up with Product Supply Labs the company now has a clear path to grow both the Green Cures brand and Private Label business significantly over the coming quarters.

"With the added capacity we can now fulfill large scale hand sanitizer opportunities at the highest of levels," stated Thomas.



About Green Cures & Botanical Distribution, Inc. (OTC PINK: GRCU)

Green Cures & Botanical Distribution Inc., is a revenue-generating company that wholesales and retails hemp-infused nutritional, botanical, sports, and body care products. Green Cures & Botanical Distribution Inc., operates a diverse portfolio of products and services within the botanical and cannabis industry, as permitted by law. From concept to production and distribution, Green Cures & Botanical Distribution Inc., is continuously creating and introducing products that promote a healthy lifestyle. For more information visit: http://www.greencurescorp.com/.

Product Supply Labs

Product Supply Lab is a contract manufacturing business of clean, innovative, effective skincare, nutritional, and personal care products.

Exceptional customer service and flexibility are our strengths. We're always striving to provide our customers with the best possible products at the most reasonable price.

At Product Supply Lab, we believe that the continuous pursuit of creativity, innovation, and quality will provide our customers with the products they need to stay healthy and live well.



Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer:

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "ongoing," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would," or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time the statements are made and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainty and other factors that may cause our results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this press release. This press release should be considered in light of all filings of the Company that are contained in the Edgar Archives of the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.



Contact:

[email protected]

844-420-4728

SOURCE Green Cures & Botanical Distribution Inc.

Related Links

http://www.greencurescorp.com


U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Thursday blasted the Trump administration's decision to offer, and then back away from, a multimillion-dollar loan to Eastman Kodak as a "fiasco."

In a letter viewed by CNBC, the Massachusetts Democrat urged the federal oversight board tasked with monitoring how Covid-19 relief funding is spent to examine the decision-making behind what was expected to be a $765 million loan to the Rochester, N.Y.-based Kodak.

Warren first questioned the motives of the U.S. International Development Finance Corp., a new federal foreign investment agency that has been tasked by President Donald Trump to help find ways to rebuild the national stockpile of medical supplies.

"The fiasco surrounding the decision to offer, then revoke, the Kodak loan also raises larger questions about corruption, nepotism, and mismanagement in the Trump Administration's response to COVID-19," Warren wrote to Michael Horowitz, acting chair of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee.

"It is not at all clear why President Trump, in his Executive Order, chose to give the DFC ... this new loan authority  but the mismanagement of the Kodak loan raises new concerns that it may be fundamentally unsuited to the task."

The letter from Warren came just weeks after the Trump administration announced that it planned to award Kodak a $765 million loan through the DFC so that the company could produce ingredients used in drugs.

A spokesperson for Kodak reiterated that the company has yet to receive the loan and, therefore, that it could not be revoked. The White House did not respond to CNBC's request for comment.

But Kodak, which has struggled as digital cameras overtook its once-dominant film business, may not be the best company equipped to manufacture pharmaceuticals. It's for that reason, and in light of unprecedented lobbying by the company, that the decision to make the loan ought to be investigated, Warren argued.

"DFC provided this taxpayer-funded loan to produce an unproven drug to Kodak, a company that had no pharmaceutical manufacturing experience, through an opaque process and after an extensive and unprecedented lobbying effort by the company," Warren, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, wrote.

Kodak's representative noted that the loan was never intended to produce an unproven drug and that the company does have experience in chemicals and advanced materials.

But Warren continued: "Then, it got worse," referring to questionable stock purchases made in the days leading up to the loan's public announcement.

On July 27, a day before Kodak and Trump announced the loan, shares of the film pioneer soared nearly 25% with trading volumes far exceeding those in previous sessions. The stock had plateaued around $2 per share for months but spiked as high as $60 the day after the deal.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has since opened an investigation that is expected to examine stock options granted to executives on July 27, according to The Wall Street Journal.

"The net result has been a waste of time, money, and resources, no progress whatsoever in the effort to mitigate the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and a host of questions about how and why the Trump Administration is handing out taxpayer funds and who is benefitting from these expenditures," Warren wrote.

Condemnation of the dubious trading and executive purchases isn't confined to Democrats. White House trade advisor Peter Navarro blasted Kodak executives on Monday for their handling of the loan announcement.

"Based on what I'm seeing, what happened at Kodak was probably the dumbest decisions made by executives in corporate history," Navarro told CNBC earlier this week.

"You can't fix 'stupid,'" he added. "You can't even anticipate that degree of stupidity."

But Warren went a step further and implored the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee to investigate the circumstances of the "botched" Kodak loan.

She advised the committee, comprised of inspectors general, to probe the rationale for making Kodak the first recipient of a Defense Production Act loan, whether the company's lobbying inappropriately influenced Trump administration officials and whether White House representatives may have aided insider trading.

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PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Electric Power Tools Market by Product Type (Corded and Cordless), and End-User Industry (Construction, Automotive, Aerospace, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202027." According to the report, the global electric power tools industry garnered $23.60 billion in 2019, and is estimated to reach $39.14 billion by 2027, witnessing a CAGR of 8.5% from 2020 to 2027.

Drivers, restraints, and opportunities

Small size and ease in availability promoting its adoption in day-to-day lives, surge in implementation in the construction industry, and rise in prominence of cordless tools drive the growth of the global electric power tools market. However, high initial investment in high capacity batteries and brushless motors restrains the market growth. On the other hand, advancements in automation technologies create new opportunities in the coming years.

Covid-19 Scenario

Manufacturing activities have faced a major roadblock due to lockdown in many countries during the Covid-19 pandemic. Moreover, supply chain has been disrupted.

The demand from the construction sector has been declined significantly due to halt in construction activities in the commercial and residential sectors.

Associations in the electrical equipment sector such as National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) have released cleaning and disinfecting guidelines for tools to maintain safety.

Download Report Sample (317 Pages PDF with Insights) @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/6255

The cordless segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on product type, the cordless segment contributed to the highest market share in 2019, accounting for more than two-thirds of the global electric power tools market, and is expected to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Moreover, this segment is expected to witness the largest CAGR of 8.9% from 2020 to 2027. This is attributed to advancements in the battery technologies that helped in improving productivity of cordless tools. The report also offers a detailed analysis of the cord segment.

The construction segment to continue its dominance during the forecast period

Based on end-use industry, the construction segment held more than one-third of the global electric power tools market in 2019, and is estimated to continue its dominance during the forecast period. Furthermore, this segment would register at the highest CAGR of 9.4% from 2020 to 2027. This is due to convenience, ease in functioning, and improved efficiency of different tasks in the sector. The research also analyzes segments including aerospace, automotive, and others.

Get detailed COVID-19 impact analysis on the Electric Power Tools Market: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/6255?reqfor=covid

North America to maintain its highest contribution by 2027

Based on region, North America accounted for the highest share of more than one-third of the global electric power tools market in 2019, and is estimated to maintain its highest contribution by 2027. This is due to the widespread network of retailers and wholesalers that offer ease in availability. However, Asia-Pacific is estimated to maintain the highest CAGR of 10.0% from 2020 to 2027. This is attributed to surge in number of do-it-yourself (DIY) users.

Leading market players

Apex Tool Group

Atlas Copco AB

Hilti Corporation

Ingersoll Rand Inc.

Koki Holding , Co., Ltd.

, Co., Ltd. Makita Corporation

Robert Bosch GmbH

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.

& Decker, Inc. Snap-on Incorporated

Techtronic Industries Co., Ltd.

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Similar Reports We Have:

Power Tools Market- Global power tools market is projected to reach $48,677.0 million by 2027, registering a CAGR of 4.8% from 2020 to 2027.

Battery Power Tools Market- Global battery power tools market is projected to reach $44,062.0 million by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 8.5% from 2019 to 2026.

Hand Tools Market- Global hand tools market size was valued at $22,200.0 million in 2019, and is projected to reach $30,381.0 million by 2027, registering a CAGR of 4.1% from 2020 to 2027.

Hydraulic Tools Market- Global hydraulic tools market is projected to reach $2,347.0 million by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 5.9% from 2019 to 2026.

Brushless DC Motor Market- Global brushless DC motor market is expected to reach $71,942.6 million in 2026, growing at a CAGR of 9.3% from 2019 to 2026.

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Material Removal Tools Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192026

Hand and Power Tools Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027

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Jen-Hsun Huang, president and chief executive officer of Nvidia Corp., speaks during an event at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018.

Check out the companies making headlines after the bell:

Nvidia  Chipmaker Nvidia posted record sales in the last quarter as a spike in online gaming and working-from-home computing fostered demand for the company's semiconductors. The Santa Clara, California-based company said adjusted earnings per share for the quarter ending July 31 rose to $2.18 per share vs. $1.97 per share expected. Revenues jumped 50% year over year to $3.87 billion. Despite the financial figures, shares fell 1%.

Intel  Shares of Intel popped nearly 3.5% in after-hours trading after it said it's embarked on an accelerated share purchase program to buy back $10 billion of its common stock. The chipmaker had suspended stock repurchases in March, but now said it "believes that its common stock is at the time of this announcement trading well below intrinsic valuation."

CBL & Associates Properties  CBL & Associates, one of the largest mall owners in the U.S., fell more than 13% in after-hours trading amid reports that it plans to file for bankruptcy. The company said Wednesday that it has struck an agreement on a debt-for-equity swap with debt holders that would erase $900 million in debt and at least $600 million in other obligations.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber  Shares of Goodyear gained more than 1% in after-hours trading despite renewed attacks by President Donald Trump against the company during a White House press conference. The president tweeted earlier in the day to his followers: "Don't buy GOODYEAR TIRES." The White House uproar after a Goodyear employee posted a photo that showed a slide during a workplace training that "Black Lives Matter" and LBGT pride apparel were "acceptable" while "Blue Lives Matter" and "MAGA Attire" were "unacceptable."
Defence ministry plans expansion of NCC to 173 border and coastal districts

The defence ministry has approved a proposal for a major expansion of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) to meet the aspirations of youth in all the border and coastal districts.

As per the scheme announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address, a total of one lakh cadets from 173 border and coastal districts will be inducted in the NCC. One-third of the cadets would be girl cadets. More than 1,000 schools and colleges have been identified in border and coastal districts where NCC will be introduced.

As part of the expansion plan, a total of 83 NCC units will be upgraded (Army 53, Navy 20, Air Force 10), to impart NCC training to the cadets in the border and coastal areas.

The 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.

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.

The NCC expansion plan will be implemented in partnership with the states, a defence ministry release stated.
The administration of US President Donald Trump has formally notified the United Nations that it wants all UN sanctions on Iran restored, claiming significant Iranian violations of the 2015 nuclear deal, in a move that drew swift rejections from countries that remain part of the agreement.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered the notification to the president of the UN Security Council on Thursday, and later told reporters the US had the right to reimpose sanctions under UN resolution 2231 that laid out the rules of the deal between Iran and six world powers. The US withdrew from the accord in 2018.

We think this is really straightforward we think this is very simple, Pompeo said. These UN Security Council resolutions will come back into place 31 days from now, and the United States will vigorously enforce them.

He said he expected the other UN Security Council members to comply with their obligations.

Irans Ambassador to the UN Majid Takht Ravanchi said on Thursday the US letter was inadmissible.

The US has no legal authority. The US has no legal argument whatsoever, he said.

Ravanchi said the US had failed to utilise the dispute process under resolution 2231, adding that before notifying the Security Council it must have made good faith efforts to resolve the issue. The US move was doomed to failure, he said.

We are confident that nothing is going to happen in the next 30 days. So, the US attempt is is in futility, Ravanchi said.

UNSC members reject US step

A Russian deputy ambassador to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky, condemned the US move on Twitter.

Looks like there are 2 planets. A fictional dog-eat-dog one where US pretends it can do whatever it wants without cajoling anyone, breach and leave deals but still benefit from them, and another one where the rest of the world lives and where intl law and diplomacy reign, he wrote.

Separately, three European nations also rejected the move and stressed their continuing support for the nuclear accord, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

France, Germany and the United Kingdom note that the US ceased to be a participant to the JCPOA following their withdrawal from the deal on May 8, 2018, the group said in a statement. We cannot therefore support this action which is incompatible with our current efforts to support the JCPOA.

Pompeo lashed out at the Europeans, accusing them of privately agreeing with the US concerns but lacking the courage to say so publicly. Instead they chose to side with ayatollahs, he said. Their actions endanger the people of Iraq, of Yemen, of Lebanon, of Syria and indeed their own citizens as well.

Non-performance by Iran

In a letter to Indonesias ambassador to the UN, Dian Triansyah Djani, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the council, US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft said the US was notifying the body of significant non-performance by Iran related to the nuclear deal. As a result, Craft said the process leading to the reimposition of UN sanctions had been initiated.





The UNs nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, has reported some Iranian violations of the agreement, but Tehran says those are the result of the US violating the accord by withdrawing from it and then reimposing harsh unilateral sanctions.

Craft noted that the European participants in the deal had attempted to bring Iran back into compliance. But she said despite extensive efforts and exhaustive diplomacy on the part of those member states, Irans significant non-performance persists.

As a result, the United States is left with no choice but to notify the council that Iran is in significant non-performance of its JCPOA commitments, she wrote.

US withdrawal

Crafts letter was accompanied by a six-page explanation of why the US believes it retains the right to invoke the so-called snapback, a mechanism afforded to those who are part of the accord.

US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and President Trump have made no secret of their intention to trigger snapback, but other council members say the US does not have the right to do so [Mandel Ngan/ AFP]

The US maintains that its withdrawal from the nuclear deal does not remove its right as an original participant and a permanent Security Council member to demand the restoration of sanctions.





That argument, however, has already been rejected by the other members of the council, including US allies the United Kingdom and France, along with China and Russia.

We do not take it that they have the legal right or the reason to initiate this thing, Russian ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, said on Thursday before Pompeos notification. So, of course, we will challenge it.

China has said it agrees with the Russian position, and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told UN chief Antonio Guterres in a phone call on Thursday that the Security Council must resist the US demand.

This would have dangerous consequences for international law, it will bring nothing but the destruction of international mechanisms and it will discredit the Security Council, Zarif said.

Under the terms of the resolution, Thursdays notification starts a 30-day countdown after which pre-2015 UN sanctions on Iran that were eased will be reimposed unless a resolution specifically extending their suspension is passed. The US, however, would use its veto power to block any resolution extending the sanctions relief.

Could be ignored

Because of the legal debate over US standing, it is possible that the snapback demand will simply be ignored by the other members, which could call into question the Security Councils relevance and ability to enforce its own legally binding decisions.

Trump and Pompeo have made no secret of their intention to pursue snapback, particularly after the administrations embarrassing defeat last week at the Security Council on extending the arms embargo on Iran that expires in October. The US won just one other yes vote, with China and Russia opposed and the 11 other members abstaining.

As with the arms embargo, Russia and China bitterly oppose reimposing other UN sanctions on Iran. The UK and France, US allies, also want to preserve the nuclear deal in the event Trump loses his bid for a second term in Novembers presidential election. Democratic candidate Joe Biden has said he would try to revive the agreement.

The Europeans fear that the reimposition of sanctions may lead Iran to quit the deal entirely and plough ahead with efforts to develop atomic weapons. The Trump administration says it withdrew precisely because it eased sanctions, which opened major revenue streams for Iran while gradually easing restrictions on its nuclear activities that money could pay for.
In late July, Amazon revealed it would be suspending its pilot program that served to deliver packages to consumers from third-party vendors that do not ship through fulfillment centers. The program had been focused on companies with warehouses in cities including Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago.

The program, which Amazon launched in 2018, was developed to consider a very different set of needs than are present today, according to John Kearney, chief executive officer of Advanced Training Systems, the company that designs and manufactures virtual simulators for driver training. It is now a very different world; the pandemic and the accompanying surge in e-commerce retail have redirected attention from last-mile delivery to the more basic needs of the overall supply chain, said Kearney.

More from WWD

While online orders have soared during the pandemic, Amazon has needed to shift focus to logistics of its long-haul brokerage operation. According to Advanced Training Systems, the move underscores the need for more trained long-haul truck drivers.

The supply of goods that are sold to the ultimate user, particularly in retail trade, move for some part of the delivery process in long haul trucks, said Kearney. If 70 percent of all goods move by long-haul trucks, we can look at what would happen if we failed to move 10 percent of them. We do not have another method of moving large supplies of goods to their location in the process of getting to the ultimate user. Long-haul trucking is essential to everything we do for some part of what is sold in the United States.

Further, Kearney said, without long-haul trucking, even a small reduction in the capacity of trucking companies to deliver goods could cause the economy to slow to a deeper recession. At the same time, as e-commerce has grown there have also had to be adjustments to the overall process of delivering goods.

In a relatively short time we have gone from delivering most goods to the retailer who would maintain an inventory of goods for the buyer to delivery to the end user at home, said Kearney. E-commerce has made a significant change in the process. Now an order for a product is made at the web site of a seller of goods or a reseller and then the goods must be delivered to the end user at home. We skip the process of the store holding large amounts of inventory for sale to the customer and a delivery service such as FedEx or Amazon now delivers the product to the home of the user.

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Notably, the recent suspension of Amazon Shippings third-party pilot program could be beneficial to UPS and FedEx, which stand to take over at least some of the delivery for third-party vendors.

What have companies done to adapt to the newer process? said Kearney. The retailer may not be able to maintain a retail establishment at a profit, so the web site becomes the selling point. Now the long haul trucker delivers the goods to the ultimate delivery service who wants to deliver the goods almost immediately to the buyer. The new world of end user sales is not the retail store in most instances but the web site that is best at managing the marketing process and the ease of use of the web site.

Concurrently, the shipping process is subject to getting the goods to the delivery company. The trucker delivers to the final delivery service so the company must contract with that service to make sure products are delivered, said Kearney.

The trucking companies continue to haul directly to companies like Family Dollar and Dollar Tree warehouses and those companies that fit the retail sale at the store but now they need to contract to have the final mile delivery handled, said Kearney. This is be done by contracting with the trucking company that carries their inventory to the retail outlet but also to the final mile delivery service through Amazon, FedEx, USPS and UPS.

The new needs of the supply chain also mean a need for more trained long-haul truck drivers, and data from Advanced Training Systems shows the market responding, with some commercial drivers license schools reporting an increase of new students. But obstacles remain.

Hiring a new driver involves the risk that the new driver will not have, as a group, an accident rate and cost that is as high or higher than the existing accident rate of the existing driver pool, said Kearney. To solve that issue we need to see that the person has the proper training. The solution is the use of the more advanced methods and tools that are available to train. Additionally, the perception of what a professional driver is to a potential driver is not what the reality is. There is an upward path for the driver to grow in the management structure of the trucking company and many drivers start to grow by adding additional trucks until they become the owner of a trucking company.

According to Kearney, this is largely a marketing issue. Those who choose to have a career as a driver can have significant rewards when they choose to stay loyal to one company. There is a much better experience as a driver than much of the public understands it to be. This is a marketing issue that must be solved by the industry to publicize what the real future can represent for a driver.

The driver is an essential element for our economy to work, said Kearney. Without the driver we would come to a standstill with the movement of goods in this country.

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Bast has succeeded Bruce Broxterman, who retired after fifteen years as President/CEO, but will remain a member of the Board of Directors. Broxterman is excited for this new chapter and says: "Bast has the leadership skills, extensive experience and passion that perfectly positions him to lead Richards forward." The Board of Directors would like to thank Broxterman for his stellar and steadfast leadership over the years.

Richards Industrials is the parent company of seven distinct industrial product lines: regulators and control valves from Jordan Valve; sanitary regulators and control valves from Steriflow Valve; sanitary regulators and control valves for the food, beverage, health and beauty markets from Steriflow Food and Beverage; high pressure - extreme low flow regulators from LowFlow Valve; ball valves and automated products from Marwin Valve; instrument valves and manifolds from Hex Valve; steam traps and steam specialty equipment from Bestobell Steam Traps. Key markets include chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical and food processing industries. Other sectors include paper products, tire and rubber, machinery and electrical equipment, transportation equipment and energy industries. Richards Industrials' global network of representatives and distributors is their customers' most valuable resource. With over two hundred representatives throughout the world, there is a local rep who will provide hands-on assistance with your application.

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(513) 533-5600

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Suited up for the battle: Mike Huckabee praises newly created group for conservative Christian legislators

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Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has expressed his support for a new organization for Christian elected officials seeking to advance socially conservative values through public policy.

The National Association of Christian Lawmakers, which was founded by Arkansas state Sen. Jason Rapert, held its charter meeting Aug. 4-5 at Destin, Florida, with legislators representing 23 states in attendance.

As part of the inaugural event, Huckabee was in attendance and received the NACL's American Patriot Award for Christian honor and courage.

In an interview with The Christian Post on Monday, Huckabee, who's on the groups board of advisers, explained what he believed made the NACL unique compared to other conservative Christian groups.

The primary difference is that it is actually comprised of elected officials in a legislative capacity. So this isn't just a group of activists, they certainly probably see themselves in that role, but they've been elected, said Huckabee.

These are folks who have suited up for the battle, they've gone out into the arena, and have come off that field, blood on their jerseys and grass stains all over their face. So they better understand that this is not a philosophical engagement, its a tactical engagement."

Huckabee came on board when asked by Rapert, whom he greatly respects, and felt that what he was doing was significant.

[NACL is] a great opportunity to bring Christian legislators from around the country together for the purpose not only of camaraderie, fellowship, and encouragement, but also to develop policy ideas that would help their own constituencies better represent issues like religious liberty, sanctity of life, things that truly matter to believers, he explained.

As an adviser, Huckabee plans to be a sounding board for other members, and to encourage them and to maybe even help them think through certain issues, and even tactics."

"Some of us have been around a while; a lot of the legislators are new, maybe in their first or second term. And others of us have been through many legislative battles in our lives and might have some insights. And we'll be available to be helpful to them as we can and as they desire, he added.

Huckabee hopes that the new group will advance ideas like the sanctity of life and religious liberty, through thoughtful legislation that he described as court-proof.

Held at the Sandestin Hotel, the event had nearly 80 attendees in person, as well as several meeting online due to COVID-19 shutdown restrictions.

Former Congressman Bob McEwen of Ohio, who received the NACLs George Washington Lifetime Christian Leadership Award, gave the keynote speech on the first evening.

This is the nation that maintains hope and opportunity for the rest of the world, said McEwen, declaring that truth overcomes error.

Other speakers included Janet L. Folger, founder and president of Faith2Action, and Timothy Barton, president of Wallbuilders and son of Christian apologist David Barton.

There was also a prayer service held on the second day led by NACL advisers Pastor Happy Caldwell of Arkansas and Andrew Wommack of Wommack Ministries.

In an interview with CP on Monday, Rapert said he believed the meeting was a smashing success and was very encouraged by the proceedings, noting that their in-person attendees included elected officials from as far away states as Alaska and Arizona.

We had very good turnout under the circumstances, he said. We obviously were under COVID-19 restrictions, so we could not open it up and have as large a gathering as we had wanted.

Rapert compared the NACL to the National Conference of State Legislatures, a nonpartisan organization that encourages cooperation and dialogue among state lawmakers.

Much like the NCSL, but all from a biblical worldview, he explained. I am proud of what were doing. I am very proud that we have men and women from across the country that have come together intentionally to take a stand for God and country.

This is an important aspect of who we are as a nation that has been forgotten and we can see the evil that has been sweeping across our land and were saying enough is enough.

Rapert explained that there was no barrier for membership regarding party identification, noting that John Debeery, a Democratic representative in the Tennessee state Legislature, was the chair for that state chapter.

Nevertheless, members must agree to a pledge that includes supporting socially conservative positions, including the pro-life cause and the traditional definition of marriage.

The pledge also calls on members to defend religious liberty, uphold the United States Constitution, and to unite with other like-minded Christian leaders around the United States of America to oppose evil and uphold righteous governance.

According to Rapert, legislators who attended the meeting are already working on potential legislative proposals for next year based on the pledge they took.
Kesimpta delivers powerful efficacy with a favorable safety profile and can be self-administered at home, addressing significant unmet needs for people living with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS) 1



Approval based on two Phase III ASCLEPIOS studies demonstrating significant reductions in risk of relapses, confirmed disability progression, Gd+ T1 brain lesions and new/enlarging T2 lesions 1



Kesimpta may halt new disease activity in RMS patients as shown in a post hoc analysis, with 47.0% and 87.8% of patients treated with ofatumumab achieving no evidence of disease activity (NEDA-3) within the first (012 months) and second year (1224 months) of treatment, respectively2

The digital press release with multimedia content can be accessed here:









Basel, August 20, 2020  Novartis today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Kesimpta (ofatumumab, formerly OMB157) as an injection for subcutaneous use for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS), to include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease, in adults. Kesimpta is a targeted, precisely dosed and delivered B-cell therapy that has shown superior efficacy with a similar safety profile compared with teriflunomide and is a first-choice treatment option for RMS patients1. Kesimpta is the first B-cell therapy that can be self-administered once monthly at home via the Sensoready autoinjector pen3.

This approval is wonderful news for patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis. In the key clinical studies, this breakthrough treatment produced a profound reduction in new brain lesions, reducing relapses and slowing underlying disease progression1, said Professor Stephen L. Hauser, Director of the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences and co-chair of the steering committee for the ASCLEPIOS I and II studies. Through its favorable safety profile and well-tolerated monthly injection regimen, patients can self-administer the treatment at home, avoiding visits to the infusion center1.

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One of the goals when managing RMS is to preserve neurological function to slow down the worsening of disability4. Despite the availability of several disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for the treatment of RMS, the majority of individuals with RMS continue to experience disease activity5. Evidence suggests early initiation of high-efficacy treatment can improve long-term outcomes for patients with RMS6.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex disease, and response to disease modifying treatment will vary among individuals, said Bruce Bebo, PhD, Executive Vice President of Research at the National MS Society. This makes it important to have a range of treatments available with different mechanisms of action and routes of administration. We are pleased to have an additional option approved for the treatment of relapsing forms of MS.

Traditionally, B-cell treatments, which bind to and deplete B-cells associated with disease activity in MS, have predominantly been available in hospitals or infusion treatment centers, which can add costs to the healthcare system and present a lifestyle burden for some patients7,8. Kesimpta provides patients the flexibility of self-administering via once-monthly subcutaneous dosing requiring no premedication, eliminating the need to travel to an infusion center. The positive results from the APLIOS studyan open-label Phase II study to determine the bioequivalence of subcutaneous delivery of Kesimpta via a prefilled syringe and a Sensoready pen in patients with RMSand the ASCLEPIOS studies show Kesimpta to be a highly effective B-cell therapy that can be easily self-administered at home1,3.

At Novartis, we challenge treatment paradigms and strive to offer the best treatment choice for patients, said Marie-France Tschudin, President, Novartis Pharmaceuticals. When treating patients with RMS, Kesimpta is a meaningful treatment option that delivers both high efficacy and safety with the ability for patients to have more freedom in managing their disease. The development of Kesimpta is a great example of our commitment, knowledge and understanding of multiple sclerosis, which enabled us to identify a targeted treatment that can significantly improve patient outcomes and experience.

Ofatumumab was first approved by the FDA in 2009 for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) as an intravenous infusion with a high dose, administered by a healthcare provider. Ofatumumab was then investigated in an entirely new development program in RMS, as B-cells are known to play a critical role in the development of autoimmune diseases, such as MS7. The clinical development program for ofatumumab in RMS took 10 years and has involved more than 2,300 patients around the world as part of rigorous studies that were reflective of the broad patient population. Kesimpta was found to work through a distinct mode of action, and the treatment regimen (dosing)which was specifically designed for RMSplays a critical role in the outcome9. This is a different dosing regimen and route of administration than was previously approved for the CLL indication.

The approval of Kesimpta is based on results from the Phase III ASCLEPIOS I and II studies, in which Kesimpta demonstrated superiority versus teriflunomide in significantly reducing the annualized relapse rate (ARR, primary endpoint), 3-month confirmed disability progression (CDP), and the number of gadolinium-enhancing (Gd+) T1 and new or enlarging T2 lesions1. Results from these two studies were recently published in the August 6, 2020 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.

Kesimpta is expected to be available in the United States in early September.* Additional regulatory filings are currently underway across the world, and regulatory approval for Kesimpta in Europe is expected by Q2 2021.

*Time of availability may vary as healthcare providers integrate Kesimpta into their practices.

About ASCLEPIOS I and II studies

The ASCLEPIOS I and II studies are twin, identical design, flexible duration (up to 30 months), double-blind, randomized, multi-center Phase III studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of Kesimpta 20 mg monthly subcutaneous injections versus teriflunomide 14 mg oral tablets taken once daily in adults with RMS. The ASCLEPIOS I and II studies enrolled 1,882 patients with MS, between the ages of 18 and 55 years, with an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score between 0 and 5.51. The studies were conducted in over 350 sites in 37 countries10. Kesimpta demonstrated a significant reduction in ARR by 51% (0.11 vs 0.22) and 59% (0.10 vs 0.25) compared with teriflunomide (P<.001 in both studies) in ASCLEPIOS I and II, respectively (primary endpoint). Kesimpta also showed a relative risk reduction of 34.4% (P=.002) in 3-month CDP compared with teriflunomide in pre-specified meta-analysis, as defined in ASCLEPIOS1.

Kesimpta showed significant reduction of both Gd+ T1 lesions and new or enlarging T2 lesions. It significantly reduced the mean number of both Gd+ T1 lesions (98% and 94% relative reduction in ASCLEPIOS I and II, respectively, both P<.001) and new or enlarging T2 lesions (82% and 85% relative reduction in ASCLEPIOS I and II, respectively, both P<.001) vs teriflunomide1.

Kesimpta had a similar safety profile to teriflunomide, with the frequency of serious infections and malignancies also being similar across both treatment groups1. Upper respiratory tract infection, headache, injection-related reactions, and local injection site reactions were the most commonly observed adverse reactions with Kesimpta (incidence greater than 10%)1.

A separate post hoc analysis demonstrated Kesimpta may halt new disease activity

in RMS patients. It showed the odds of achieving no evidence of disease activity (NEDA-3; no relapses, no MRI lesions, and no disability worsening combined) with ofatumumab versus teriflunomide were >3-fold higher at Months 012 (47.0% vs 24.5% of patients; P<.001) and >8-fold higher at Months 1224 (87.8% vs 48.2% of patients; P<.001)2.

Overall Kesimpta, an antibody targeting CD20 positive B-cells, delivered superior efficacy and demonstrated a safety profile with infection rates similar to teriflunomide1.

About APLIOS study

The APLIOS study is a 12-week, open-label, Phase II bioequivalence study to determine the onset of B-cell depletion with Kesimpta subcutaneous monthly injections and the bioequivalence of subcutaneous administration of Kesimpta via a prefilled syringeas used in ASCLEPIOS I and IIand a Sensoready pen in patients with RMS. Patients were randomized according to injection device and site including the abdomen and the thigh. B-cell depletion was measured nine times over 12 weeks and Gd+ lesion counts were assessed at baseline and at Weeks 4, 8 and 12. Regardless of injection device or site, Kesimpta 20 mg subcutaneous monthly injections resulted in rapid, close to complete and sustained B-cell depletion; the proportion of patients with B-cell concentrations of <10 cells/L was >65% after the first injection by Day 7, 94% by Week 4, and sustained >95% at all following injections. Kesimpta treatment reduced the mean number of Gd+ lesions from baseline (1.5) to 0.8, 0.3 and 0.1 by Weeks 4, 8 and 12, respectively; the proportion of patients free from Gd+ lesions at the corresponding time points were 66.5%, 86.7% and 94.1%, respectively3.

About Kesimpta (ofatumumab, formerly OMB157)

Kesimpta is a targeted, precisely dosed and delivered B-cell therapy that provides the flexibility of self-administration for adults with RMS. It is an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (mAb) self-administered by a once-monthly injection, delivered subcutaneously1,3. Initial loading doses of Kesimpta are given at Weeks 0, 1 and 2, with the first injection performed under the guidance of a healthcare professional. As shown in preclinical studies, Kesimpta is thought to work by binding to a distinct epitope on the CD20 molecule inducing potent B-cell lysis and depletion9. The selective mechanism of action and subcutaneous administration of Kesimpta allows precise delivery to the lymph nodes, where B-cell depletion in MS is needed, and preclinical studies have shown that it may preserve the B-cells in the spleen11. Once-monthly dosing of Kesimpta also allows faster repletion of B-cells and offers more flexibility12. Ofatumumab was originally developed by Genmab and licensed to GlaxoSmithKline. Novartis obtained rights for ofatumumab from GlaxoSmithKline in all indications, including RMS, in December 201513.

About Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system characterized by myelin destruction and axonal damage in the brain, optic nerves and spinal cord14. MS, which affects approximately 2.3 million people worldwide15, can be characterized into four main types of MS: clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), relapsing remitting (RRMS), secondary progressive (SPMS) and primary progressive (PPMS)16. The various forms of MS can be distinguished based on whether a patient experiences relapses (clearly defined acute inflammatory attacks of worsening neurological function), and/or whether they experience progression of neurologic damage and disability from the onset of the disease14.

Novartis in Neuroscience

Novartis has a strong ongoing commitment to neuroscience and to bringing innovative treatments to patients suffering from neurological conditions where there is a high unmet need. We are committed to supporting patients and physicians in multiple disease areas, including MS, migraine, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and have a promising pipeline in MS, Alzheimer's disease, spinal muscular atrophy and specialty neurology.

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as potential, can, will, may, could, expected, committed, commitment, promising, pipeline, addressing, underway, to include, or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals, new indications or labeling for Kesimpta, or regarding the timing of availability of Kesimpta in the United States, or regarding regulatory approval of Kesimpta in Europe, or regarding potential future revenues from Kesimpta. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that Kesimpta will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labeling in Europe or in any other markets, or at any particular time. Neither can there be any guarantee that Kesimpta will be available in early September, or in any other time frame, in the United States. Nor can there be any guarantee that Kesimpta will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, our expectations regarding Kesimpta could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally, including European regulatory authorities not approving Kesimpta in the expected time frame, or at all; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures and requirements for increased pricing transparency; our ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; general political, economic and business conditions, including the effects of and efforts to mitigate pandemic diseases such as COVID-19; safety, quality, data integrity or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AGs current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Dr. Hausers statements reflect his professional opinion and not necessarily the views of The Regents of the University of California. Nothing in his statements shall be construed to imply any support or endorsement of Novartis, or any of its products, by The Regents of the University of California.

About Novartis

Novartis is reimagining medicine to improve and extend peoples lives. As a leading global medicines company, we use innovative science and digital technologies to create transformative treatments in areas of great medical need. In our quest to find new medicines, we consistently rank among the worlds top companies investing in research and development. Novartis products reach nearly 800 million people globally and we are finding innovative ways to expand access to our latest treatments. About 109,000 people of more than 140 nationalities work at Novartis around the world. Find out more at https://www.novartis.com.

Novartis is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @Novartis at https://twitter.com/novartisnews

For Novartis multimedia content, please visit https://www.novartis.com/news/media-library

For questions about the site or required registration, please contact media.relations@novartis.com

References

1. Kesimpta Prescribing Information. East Hanover, NJ: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp; August 2020.

2. Hauser S, Bar-Or A, Cohen J, et al. Ofatumumab versus teriflunomide in relapsing multiple sclerosis: analysis of no evidence of disease activity (NEDA-3) from ASCLEPIOS I and II trials. Eur J Neurol. 2020;27(S1).

3. Bar-Or A, Fox E, Goodyear A, et al. Onset of B-cell depletion with subcutaneous administration of ofatumumab in relapsing multiple sclerosis: results from the APLIOS bioequivalence study. Poster presentation at: ACTRIMS; February 2020; West Palm Beach, FL.

4. Winkelmann A, Loebermann M, Reisinger EC, Hartung HP, Zettl UK. Disease-modifying therapies and infectious risks in multiple sclerosis. Nat Rev Neurol. 2016;(4):217-33.

5. The Multiple Sclerosis Coalition. The use of disease-modifying therapies in multiple sclerosis: principles and current evidence. Accessed August 12, 2020. http://ms-coalition.org/the-use-of-disease-modifying-therapies-in-multiple-sclerosis-updated/

6. Cree BA, Mares J, Hartung HP. Current therapeutic landscape in multiple sclerosis: an evolving treatment paradigm. Curr Opin Neurol. 2019;32(3):365-377.

7. Lehmann-Horn K, Kronsbein HC, Weber MS. Targeting B cells in the treatment of multiple sclerosis: recent advances and remaining challenges. Ther Adv Neurol Disord. 2013;6(3):161-173.

8. Dieguez G, Engel T, Jacobson N. Site of service and cost dispersion of infused drugs. Accessed August 12, 2020. https://www.milliman.com/insight/2019/Site-of-Service-and-Cost-Dispersion-of-Infused-Drugs/

9. Smith P, Kakarieka A, Wallstroem E. Ofatumumab is a fully human anti-CD20 antibody achieving potent B-cell depletion through binding a distinct epitope. Poster presentation at: ECTRIMS; September 2016; London, UK.

10. Kappos L, Bar-Or A, Cohen J, et al. Ofatumumab versus teriflunomide in relapsing multiple sclerosis: baseline characteristics of two pivotal phase 3 trials (ASCLEPIOS I and ASCLEPIOS II). Poster presentation at: ECTRIMS; October 2018; Berlin, Germany.

11. Smith P, Huck C, Wegert V, et al. Low-dose, subcutaneous anti-CD20 therapy effectively depletes B-cells and ameliorates CNS autoimmunity. Poster presentation at: ECTRIMS; September 2016; London, UK.

12. Savelieva M, Kahn J, Bagger M, et al. Comparison of the B-cell recovery time following discontinuation of anti-CD20 therapies. ePoster presentation at: ECTRIMS; October 2017; Paris, FR.

13. Genmab Press Release: Genmab announces completion of agreement to transfer remaining ofatumumab rights. December 21, 2015. Accessed August 12, 2020. https://ir.genmab.com/static-files/9d491b72-bb0b-4e46-a792-dee6c29aaf7d

14. Guthrie E. Multiple sclerosis: a primer and update. Adv Studies Pharm. 2007;4(11):313-317.

15. Multiple Sclerosis International Federation. Atlas of MS 2013-Mapping Multiple Sclerosis Around the World. Accessed August 12, 2020. http://www.msif.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Atlas-of-MS.pdf

16. National MS Society. Types of MS. Accessed August 12, 2020. https://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS/Types-of-MS

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The United Kingdom and Ukraine are set to deepen bilateral cooperation in the field of security and defense.

This issue was discussed at a meeting between Chief of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Ivan Bakanov and UK Secretary of State for Defense Ben Wallace in Kyiv on Thursday, August 20, according to Ukrinform.

Bakanov thanked British partners for their unwavering support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

"We are grateful to the United Kingdom for the support it provides to Ukraine in countering the hybrid aggression that has been directed against our country for many years. Together, we will be able to more effectively counter subversive activities that harm the national interests of both Ukraine and the United Kingdom," Bakanov said.

Wallace, in turn, said that Ukraine is an important partner of the United Kingdom in matters related to the security situation in the Black Sea region.

The United Kingdom will continue to support Ukraine at this difficult time, Wallace said.

Both parties discussed practical steps for cooperation. The British partners also reaffirmed their readiness to continue to assist Ukraine in effectively counteracting current threats arising in the modern world.

Wallace started his official visit to Ukraine on August 18.

op
Nigel Wright (left) and CCTV image of him in Tesco planting the laced baby food. (SWNS)

A farmer has been found guilty of blackmailing Tesco for more than 1m in a plot involving baby food laced with fragments of metal.

Nigel Wright, 45, of Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, was accused of attempting to extort 1.4m in bitcoin from the supermarket giant by contaminating goods between May 2018 and February 2020.

He was alleged to have sent letters to the chain saying he would reveal the location of contaminated products if it transferred the cryptocurrency.

Scene where Nigel Wright planted the laced baby food at a Tesco in Lockerbie, Scotland. (SWNS)

Wright claimed to be in a cohort of dairy farmers angry at the low price they were paid for their milk, and signed off his letters Guy Brush and the Dairy Pirates, the Old Bailey heard.

Two mothers, who bought the jars separately in Rochdale and Lockerbie, were about to feed their infants baby food containing metal shards before spotting them, jurors were told.

Justice Warby asked for a psychiatric report to be prepared ahead of Wrights sentencing next month.

Nigel Wright at the Old Bailey during his trial. (SWNS)

(Wright) has or appears to be mentally disordered, the judge said, warning that Wright faces a lengthy custodial sentence, telling him that punishments for these types of offences range from between eight and 17 years in prison.

Wright was accused of putting the shards into the jars and leaving them in the store.

The incident led to Tesco issuing a recall of all the jars and removing the rest of the stock, though there was no evidence any more jars were affected.

Nigel Wright in the Tesco store in Lockerbie, Scotland, in the aisle containing baby food, where the discovery of a jar of contaminated Heinz sweet and sour chicken baby food in December 2019 prompted Tesco to issue a national product recall. (SWNS)

Wright was tracked down by police and officers found photos of the contaminated food on his laptop, jurors heard.

A letter drafted on the laptop said: Imagine a babys mouth cut open and blood pouring out, or the inside of their bellies cut and bleeding.

You pay, you save them.

Wright told the court that Travellers had threatened to kill him and his family unless he helped them blackmail Tesco.

Nigel Wright's workshop. The farmer from Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, hatched a plot to get rich by deliberately contaminating jars of Heinz baby food between May 2018 and February 2020. (SWNS)

Wright claimed Travellers had threatened him

He said his encounter with these Travellers began after he fired a warning shot with a shotgun at a group of men who came to his property looking for scrap metal.

Story continues

He said they came to his home days later and threatened him with a knife, saying he should either rob a bank, steal cows or poison supermarket goods to raise money.

But prosecutor Julian Christopher QC told him: The truth is you were not in fear at all.

Contaminated food was placed on Tesco shelves, the court heard, before the supermarket recalled them. (PA Images)

You were carrying on your life normally while hoping to make yourself rich by threatening Tesco in this way while endangering the life of others in the process.

Wright also faced a blackmail charge for allegedly demanding 150,000 in bitcoin from a driver in a road rage incident.

In all, he was found guilty on Thursday of three counts of blackmail and two counts of contaminating food, as well as a further blackmail charge for demanding 150,000 worth of bitcoin from a driver with whom he had had a road rage altercation.

He claimed he sent a threatening letter to the other motorist to get the incident out of his system before his wife posted it in error.
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Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Chairs Cabinet's Virtual Session

Saudi Press Agency

Wednesday 1441/12/29 - 2020/08/19

NEOM, Aug 18, 2020, SPA -- The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired here today the Cabinet's virtual session.

At the outset of the session, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques thanked the leaders of Arab, Islamic and brotherly countries who expressed their wishes for his health and citizens for their sincere and good feelings, for the success of his surgery and discharge from hospital, also cabinet members congratulated the King and on this occasion, and wished him constant good health.

The Cabinet praised the preventive health measures during this year's Hajj, and that the decision to reduce the number of pilgrims received Islamic and international praise and appreciation. Furthermore, the Kingdom's ability and standards to manage and regulate the performance of Hajj in all circumstances demonstrate its ability to operate Hajj under any circumstances.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, Minister of State and Acting Minister of Media Dr. Issam bin Saad bin Saeid stated that the cabinet reviewed a number of reports related to the Coronavirus pandemic and its developments at the preventive and therapeutic levels. The Cabinet also reviewed the latest statistics of cases recorded in the Kingdom as well as the health care provided to them in light of the stability of critical cases and infections in addition to the increase of the recovered cases, affirming the importance of continuing to monitor and follow-up all developments and expand the tests in various regions via the specialized laboratories in line with the highest quality in addition to the findings of the latest clinical trials, local and international research, and in cooperation with the World Health Organization, the results of vaccines and their effectiveness and safety.

The Cabinet praised the directives of the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques to stand by the brothers in Lebanon by offering aid and assistance after the Beirut port blast, by running an airlift by King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) to provide assistance to the suffering people of Lebanon to face the effects of this painful disaster.

The Cabinet reviewed a number of issues and developments of events on the regional and international arenas. The cabinet also referred to the contents of the final communique and the declaration of Partners for Sustainable Peace in Sudan, which was issued by the eighth meeting of the Friends of Sudan that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosted via video conference. The Cabinet also reviewed the importance of respecting the sovereignty of Sudan and the independence of its decision and addressing the causes of conflict in order to reach a comprehensive peace that strengthens its national unity and regional security, and the need for peace partners to take responsibility to achieve security, justice and sustainable peace, and the Kingdom's affirmation, as Chairman of the Friends of Sudan Group, on the importance of supporting Sudan at the present time in order to preserve the security and safety of the region and the international community.

Dr. Issam bin Saad bin Saeid indicated that the Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom's keenness to complete its efforts to achieve security, stability, peace-making and development in the Republic of Yemen, and that presenting the new mechanism to accelerate Riyadh Agreement between the Yemeni government and the Southern Transitional Council, and the implementation points it contains, is an embodiment of the Kingdom's adherence to this agreement signed in November 2019, as the most effective solutions to end disputes and conflicts inside Yemen, pushing the interests of the Yemeni people, uniting their ranks and preserving their Arab identity, creating the atmosphere for the Yemeni government to practice all its work from the city of Aden and activate its institutions, and support the United Nations efforts to reach a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis according to the three references.

The cabinet touched on the joint statement issued by the Energy Ministers of the Kingdom, the Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Iraq after they reviewed the recent developments in the global oil markets and the continued recovery in the global economy, and what they affirmed of their full commitment to the OPEC Plus agreement and the importance of all countries, participating in the agreement, achieving the targeted production levels in order to accelerate the re-balancing of the global oil market, to contribute to its recovery in the interest of producers, consumers, the energy industry and the global economy as a whole.

The Cabinet addressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's call to the international community, before the Conference on Disarmament (CD), to extend the arms embargo on Iran and the affirmation that lifting of the international embargo on Iran with all types of weapons, whether conventional or non-conventional, will lead to more destruction, and it will further fuel the conflicts in the region, which suffered from Iranian interference, and that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia supports every international measure that contributes to stopping Iran subversion in the region.

The Cabinet reviewed topics on its agenda, including some being co-studied by the Shura Council.

The Cabinet was also briefed on the outcomes reached by the Economic and Development Affairs Council, the Political and Security Affairs Council, the General Committee of the Cabinet and the Cabinet's Bureau of Experts.

The Cabinet reached the following conclusions:

First:

The Cabinet approved an agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Arabian Chevron Inc regarding extension amendment agreement between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Arabian Chevron Inc in the divided zone approved by Royal Decree No. (M / 59) dated 9/9/1429 AH.

Second:

The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding for cultural cooperation between the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities of the Republic of Iraq.

Third:

The Cabinet approved the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's accession to Strasbourg Agreement Concerning the International Patent Classification, dated March 24, 1971.

Forth:

The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Transport the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Civil Aviation Authority - or his deputy - to sign a draft agreement between the Government of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana on air transport services, and submit the final version to complete formal procedures.

Fifth:

The Cabinet authorized the General Supervisor of the National Center for Documents and Archives - or his deputy - to discuss and sign a draft agreement between the National Center for Documentation and Archives of Saudi Arabia and the Department of State Archives of the Republic of Greece on cooperation in the field of documentation and archiving, and submit the final version to complete formal procedures.

Sixth:

The Cabinet approved the Commercial Anti-Cover-up program, as stated in the resolution.

Seventh:

The Cabinet appointed Dr. Fahd bin Mohammad bin Ali Al-Turki and Professor David Wayne Kalisch members in the Board of Directors of the General Statistics Authority.

Eighth:

The Cabinet approved a number of promotions at 14th and 15th ranks.

The Cabinet was briefed on a number of issues on its agenda.

--SPA

01:34 LOCAL TIME 22:34 GMT

0029

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The Helicopter Company (THC), which is fully owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, today announced that it has signed a purchase agreement with Airbus Helicopters to purchase 10 H125 helicopters.

The deal comes as part of THCs commitment to further expand its fleet and introduce new services that fulfill market demand and support the development of the kingdoms wider aviation sector, said a statement.

Considered a multi-task aircraft, the Airbus H125 can carry up to six passengers and be easily reconfigured to suit varying requirements. THC will utilise the new additions to its fleet to roll out new services related to scenic tourism and aerial work such as filming, banner towing, and surveying.

Commenting on the purchase agreement, Capt Arnaud Martinez, CEO of THC, said: By signing this agreement, THC has taken a massive step in expanding its fleet and implementing its ambitious operational plan. We are proud to be contributing to the advancement of Saudi Arabias tourism and aviation industries through our innovative air transport services that guarantee passengers a one-of-a-kind experience to relish the beauty of the kingdom from above.

I would like to thank our partners at Airbus Helicopters who have ensured we have reached an agreement that matches our requirements, and we look forward to furthering our collaboration in the near future. I would also like to extend our thanks to PIF for their enduring support since our founding as we work together to advance Saudi Arabias aviation industry, Martinez concluded.

This order marks the beginning of a new partnership with The Helicopter Company and we welcome them as a new Airbus Helicopters customer, said Ben Bridge, Executive Vice President of Global Business at Airbus Helicopters.

The H125 is the perfect helicopter for developing commercial operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as it is a powerful and truly versatile aircraft, particularly suited to hot and high environments, he added.

PIF established THC as part of its strategy to activate new sectors in Saudi Arabia that support the realisation of Saudi Vision 2030 and generate long-term commercial returns. The kingdoms first local commercial helicopter operator, THC has been offering private flights since mid-2019 and is now expanding its services with the addition of the H125 to its fleet. This new agreement will contribute to driving the development of Saudi Arabias nascent and increasingly dynamic tourism and aviation industries and support the integration of each sectors respective value chains. - TradeArabia News Service
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 10:29:51|Editor: huaxia

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A rescue vessel tries to put out fire emerging from an oil tanker after it collided with a cargo ship near the Yangtze River estuary, Aug. 20, 2020. Three had been rescued and 14 others went missing after an oil tanker collided with a cargo ship about 1.5 nautical miles southeast of the Yangtze River estuary early Thursday, according to the maritime authorities in Shanghai. The accident occurred at 3: 39 a.m. Thursday, when an oil tanker carrying about 3,000 tonnes of gasoline collided with a cargo ship loaded with sand and gravel, causing a fire on the deck of the oil tanker and the latter to sink. (Donghai Rescue Bureau/Handout via Xinhua)

SHANGHAI, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Three had been rescued and 14 others went missing after an oil tanker collided with a cargo ship about 1.5 nautical miles southeast of the Yangtze River estuary early Thursday, according to the maritime authorities in Shanghai.

The accident occured at 3: 39 a.m. Thursday, when an oil tanker carrying about 3,000 tonnes of gasoline collided with a cargo ship loaded with sand and gravel, causing a fire on the deck of the oil tanker and the latter to sink.

Rescuers are searching for the missing.
Earlier this year, when asked what role she might play if Biden became president, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said, Oh God. In any other country, Joe Biden and I would not be in the same party. Shes probably right, but America is different. For one thing, its very big. In fact, it worried the countrys founders that in the past, democracy had flourished only in small city-states. They believed a large, diverse country like America could pose critical challenges to the democratic process. And they were thinking of just the 13 colonies, nestled east of the Allegheny Mountains! In a vast, continental nation of 330 million, with wide variations of geography, economic activity, history and culture, it should be obvious that not everyone sees things the same way.
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, 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 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 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 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 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 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.

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 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 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, 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 modeller at La Trobe University in Australia. The same level of behaviour 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, 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 per cent 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 one per cent of people tested at neighbourhood 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 counsellor 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.
Jarrett William Smith was sentenced Wednesday for distributing information through social media about building a bomb and making napalm

A 'satanist' ex-soldier with ties to white supremacist groups and who hoped to overthrow the US government has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in federal prison over a bomb plot.

Jarrett William Smith, a 24-year-old private first class stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, was sentenced Wednesday for distributing information through social media about building a bomb and making napalm.

Smith was arrested in September after discussing plans to use explosives with an undercover FBI agent.

During those conversations, Smith reportedly suggested that the agent target a news organization, said to be CNN, with a car bomb.

He is also alleged to have said that he would like to target Beto O'Rourke for 'fire, destruction and death'.

A federal judge rejected a request from Smith's attorney for a lenient sentence of 15 months in prison Wednesday, saying the former soldier wanted to start a 'race war' and had endangered 'countless members of the public' with his bomb plot.

US District Judge Daniel Crabtree said he was surprised that federal sentencing guidelines called for such a 'low' prison sentence for 'troubling and serious' criminal behavior, adding that Smith shared on social media 'multistep plans to create chaos.'

'His planned actions, if executed, would have endangered countless members of the public,' Crabtree said.

Federal law called for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, but sentencing guidelines said the presumed punishment for a first-time offender like Smith was two-and-a-half years to a little over three years in prison.

Crabtree also ordered three years of supervised probation for Smith after his release from prison.

Smith's attorney had argued that because he had red hair and a cleft lip and palate, Smith had endured a lifetime of victimization, isolation and trauma, which led him to become involved with online extremist groups.

Federal public defender Rich Federico said in a court filing that Smith endured a near-daily barrage of bullying as a child and had repeated, painful reconstructive surgeries.

The 'satanist' ex-soldier with ties to white supremacist groups and who hoped to overthrow the US government was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in federal prison over a bomb plot

In 2010, when he was a freshman in high school, Smith learned he had been on a classmate's 'hit list' as the intended target of a thwarted school shooting and bomb plot, his defense claimed.

'That has a huge impact on who you are,' Federico said Wednesday.

The Anti-Defamation League has said Smith was associated with the neo-Nazi Feuerkrieg Division, which advocates for a race war and promotes some of the most extreme views of the white supremacist movement.

Federico said Smith lacked the basic knowledge to actually build explosive devices and was often 'just regurgitating' what he'd seen online.

'He's not far removed from adolescence,' Federico told the judge.

'He is particularly vulnerable to extremists online.'

Prosecutors argued that Smith admitted to providing information about making explosives to an FBI undercover agent in September 2019 and that FBI bomb technicians determined that his recipes were viable.

An FBI affidavit said Smith suggested to the undercover agent targeting an unidentified major news organization with a car bomb, and CNN reported that it was the target. CNN's Atlanta headquarters is pictured

Smith also told the FBI agent he would like to target Beto O'Rourke (pictured) for 'fire, destruction and death'

Prosecutors said Smith planned to overthrow the government, with attacking a news organization as a first step.

An FBI affidavit said Smith suggested to the undercover agent targeting an unidentified major news organization with a car bomb, and CNN reported that it was the target, citing two sources familiar with the investigation.

The affidavit said the FBI undercover agent asked Smith if there was anyone in Texas to target for 'fire, destruction and death,' and that Smith mentioned 'Beto,' an apparent reference to former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke, who was running at the time for the Democratic presidential nomination.

The affidavit said Smith told another FBI agent before his arrest that his goal was to create 'chaos.'

Prosecutors said in September that Smith told the agent he distributed explosives information 'for the glory of his Satanist religion,' though they provided few other details, other than saying that Smith liked 'black metal' music designed to attract people to Satan.

An FBI affidavit in September alleged that Smith discussed a plan to kill 'antifa' activists and described how to build a bomb that could be triggered by calling a cellphone.

Smith joined the Army in June 2017. He served as an infantry soldier and was trained in combat and tactical operations at Fort Bliss, Texas

According to a statement put out by the Department of Justice, Smith also spoke to others on social media about wanting to travel to Ukraine to fight with a violent, far-right military group.

The affidavit identified the Ukrainian paramilitary group as Azov Battalion and said Smith was mentored by someone who had fought with a similar group there, Right Sector.

Federal investigators have said Smith had encrypted communications with a Missouri man who this year planned to bomb a Kansas City-area hospital because he was distressed by the governments response to the coronavirus pandemic.

That man killed himself in March during a firefight with FBI agents as they served an arrest warrant, according to the FBI.

Smith pleaded guilty back in February to two counts of distributing information related to explosives, destructive devices and weapons of mass destruction.

Smith joined the Army in June 2017. He served as an infantry soldier and was trained in combat and tactical operations at Fort Bliss, Texas.

He was transferred to Fort Riley, Kansas last July - where he was arrested last year.

He was discharged from the military after pleading guilty to the two charges.
The National Capital Region, including Delhi and neighbouring districts of Uttar Pradesh, was flooded on Wednesday after a spell of unrelenting and intense rainfall. The millennium city of Gururgram (Haryana) and the National Capital of Delhi were the worst-affected. Entire stretches of roads and underpasses were flooded; homes were inundated; and commuters were caught in traffic snarls that took hours to untangle. The appalling state of affairs showed, yet again, the result of poorly thought-out urban planning and design, weak urban storm water infrastructures, and lack of monsoon preparedness (desilting and unclogging of drains).

As episodes of short duration-but intense rainfall increase due to the climate crisis, urban flooding incidents will rise. A 2018 study by the Indian Institute of Technology (Gandhinagar) show that cities face an additional challenge: The urban heat island effect (when a city experiences much warmer temperatures than rural areas due to built up areas), which is modifying the rainfall pattern in these areas.

To tackle these challenges, city governments have to rethink the development paradigm. Instead of investing only in inflexible grey infrastructure (drains, pumps, and outfalls), they must invest heavily in flexible green infrastructure (lakes, floodplains or parks, forests), which absorb stormwater, reduce runoff volume and speed, thus, reducing flood risk.

Preliminary findings of an ongoing research by WRI-India indicate that 35% (428 sq.km) of new development within 20 km of the city centre (2000-15) in the nations 10 top cities  Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Surat  has been on low-lying and high recharge potential zones. Unsurprisingly, these cities have seen multiple flood events in the last five years.

Indias cities are its political, economic, and cultural nerve centres. They cannot afford to break down every monsoon; each flood episode leads to losses of lives and livelihood and erodes huge investments. To improve resilience, planners must prioritise water-sensitive urban design and planning, prepare drainage master plans, identify high-risk areas, and invest in green infrastructure. Otherwise, the future of Indias cities, as NCR showed on Wednesday, is dark and bleak.
Canada held another Express Entry round of invitations on August 20.

The latest Express Entry draw was the second one in two days and the 161st overall held by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Invitations were issued to a total of 3,300 Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. A Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 454 was enough to ensure an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

Todays CRS cut-off score was nine points higher than the previous CEC-specific draw on July 23, which had a CRS cut-off score of 445. The increase in points is due to more candidates being entered into the pool over the past month after Canada held an all-program draw on August 5.

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs

IRCC has held these program-specific draws since the coronavirus pandemic caused Canadas border to close in March. They have all taken place following Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)-specific draws, and the number of ITAs from the two draws combined add up to a round number.

Yesterday, IRCC held a program-specific draw with 600 PNP candidates receiving ITAs.

Express Entry is a system that the federal government uses to manage applications for Canadas three main economic-class programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

Some provinces also have provincial programs that are aligned with the Express Entry system.

In the Express Entry system, candidates are ranked based on their CRS score that considers multiple factors including their age, work experience, education and proficiency in French or English. In some cases, the date and time at which the Express Entry profile was created is also a ranking factor.

IRCC implemented a tie-break rule in todays draw. The tie-break rule is used to rank candidates who have the same CRS cut-off score based on the date and time their profile was created.

The tie-breaking rule for todays draw was implemented for July 27, 2020 at 11:10:05 UTC. This means that candidates with a CRS score of 454 were only invited if their profile was submitted before this date and time.

This draw brings the total number of invitations issued in 2020 to 65,750.

Despite coronavirus, this number still exceeds the number of invitations issued at the same time last year and the year before.

Candidates who wish to submit their Express Entry profile may still do so despite any coronavirus-related restrictions in place. IRCC continues to accept submissions to the Express Entry system and to process applications for permanent residence.

Who is invited?

Paul is 36, has a bachelors degree, and has been working in Canada as a database analyst for just over one year. Prior to coming to Canada, he worked for 6 years in his field. Paul has an advanced English language proficiency. Pauls CRS score of 456 would have been high enough to obtain an ITA in the August 20 Express Entry draw.

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs

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By Associated Press

NEW YORK: Former White House advisor Steve Bannon was arrested Thursday on charges that he and three others ripped off donors to an online fundraising scheme "We Build The Wall". The charges were contained in an indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court.

Federal prosecutors alleged that Bannon and three others "orchestrated a scheme to defraud hundreds of thousands of donors" in connection with an online crowdfunding campaign that raised more than USD 25 million to build a wall along the southern border of the United States.

A phone at the office of Bannon's lawyer went unanswered on Thursday morning. A spokeswoman for Bannon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

According to the indictment, Bannon promised that 100 per cent of the donated money would be used for the project, but the defendants collectively used hundreds of thousands of dollars in a manner inconsistent with the organization's public representations.

The indictment said they faked invoices and sham "vendor" arrangements, among other ways, to hide what was really happening. Before he was tapped to lead Trump's 2016 presidential campaign in its critical final months, Bannon led the conservative Breitbart News. After Trump was elected, he moved on to a top White House strategy post.

The blunt-spoken, combative Bannon was the voice of a nationalistic, outsider conservatism, and he pushed Trump to follow through on some of his most contentious campaign promises, including his travel ban for some foreigners and his decision to pull out of the Paris climate change agreement.

But Bannon also clashed with other top advisers, and his high profile sometimes irked Trump. He was pushed out in August 2017.
The Isabella County Clerks office will remain closed for at least the rest of the week due to a potential exposure to COVID-19.

No one in the office has tested positive for the disease, said Isabella County Clerk Minde Lux. An employees family member did, however, and she has closed the office so that she and her employees could get tests.

Depending on the outcome of those tests, the office could reopen Monday, Lux said by phone Wednesday.

Emails sent to the office will get read and answered, she said, but for the rest of the week the other services her office performs will be unavailable.

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Sacha Baron Cohen has been spotted filming as his controversial character Borat in Long Beach, California, this week.

The Ali G star, 48, has sparked speculation amongst fans that he could be filming a sequel to the problematic 2006 movie - Borat: Cultural Learnings Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan.

In a clip shared to TikTok by user alexandheir, it sees Sacha in Borat's iconic grey trouser suit complete with the character's thick moustache.

Just saw a live shooting of Borat driving some yellow hooptie truck in my hood!!! .... pic.twitter.com/NSDmrKgPPe  Switzon S. Wigfall, III (SSWIII) (@switzonthegreat) August 17, 2020

Sequel? Sacha Baron Cohen has been spotted filming as his controversial character Borat in Long Beach, California , this week

The actor was seen driving a worn-out yellow pickup truck which was pulled along by a filming crew in a van ahead of him.

During the short clip, Sacha was spotted attempting to change out of Borat's grey suit while driving the vehicle.

The TikTok user captioned the video with: 'Borat filming spotted in #longbeach [eye emojis]#losangeles #blockbuster.'

Fans have already speculated that Sacha could be filming a possible sequel to the problematic 2006 movie.

Again? The Ali G star, 48, has sparked speculation amongst fans that he could be filming a sequel to the problematic 2006 movie - Borat: Cultural Learnings Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan (pictured as Borat in 2018)

On the move: In a clip shared to TikTok by user alexandheir, it sees Sacha in Borat's iconic grey trouser suit complete with the character's thick moustache

While other social media users pointed out how problematic the original film is and how it would be 'cancelled' in 2020.

One person, who re-tweeted the clip, said:'People are gonna get Borat cancelled in this day and time.'

A different account put: 'Borat is gonna get cancelled so goddamn fast.'

While another person added: 'Forgot how funny Borat is this movie would totally get canceled in 2020 though.'

Spotted: The actor was seen driving a worn-out yellow pickup truck which was pulled along by a filming crew in a van ahead of him

Outfit change: During the short clip, Sacha was spotted attempting to change out of Borat's grey suit while driving the vehicle

In the 2006 film, that earned an Oscar nomination for best adapted screenplay,it follows the character Borat around the U.S. as he makes a 'documentary' about life there and attempts to marry Pamela Anderson.

At the time of release, Kazakhstan banned the film from being shown and the sales of DVD. They also threatened to sue the controversial actor.

Yet in 2012, Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov thanked Sacha for increasing tourism to the country following the spoof film.

Although fans are speculating that there could be a second movie, Sacha has previously reprised the character for guest appearances.

In 2018, during the midterm elections in the U.S., he reprised Borat in a social media post to encourage voting.

Cryptic: The TikTok user captioned the video with: 'Borat filming spotted in #longbeach [eye emojis]#losangeles #blockbuster.'

Plot: In the 2006 film, that earned an Oscar nomination for best adapted screenplay,it follows the character Borat around the U.S. as he makes a 'documentary' about life there and attempts to marry Pamela Anderson

He wrote: 'I voted, Great Success' while holding someone else's identification card with an 'I've voted' sticker affixed to his suit.

Sacha also filmed a spoof campaign video supporting Donald Trump in an election special broadcast of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'

The skit saw the bumbling Kazakh journalist vowing to tamper with the electorate's midterm elections, declaring 'it's up to Kazakhstan to swing the election for Premier Trump' and knocking over a 'polling place' sign.

Controversy! At the time of release, Kazakhstan banned the film from being shown and the sales of DVD. They also threatened to sue the controversial actor

In one scene, having been invited into the home of a Trump supporter, he asks: 'Who are the fake news who say that [Trump] is not a racist?'

The man replies: 'In my opinion the fake news people say he is a racist and I don't believe he is, I don't see any evidence of that.'

A confused Borat replies: 'But what is the problem being a racist? I am a racist, it is nice.' The man disagrees.

Cancelled? Fans have already speculated that Sacha could be filming a possible sequel to the problematic 2006 movie although some social media users pointed out how problematic it is

The actor was also seen in a disguise earlier this summer at a political event in Washington in June.

The rally's organiser Matt Marshall said he could tell it was Cohen through the 'obvious disguise' the performer was donning when he took to the stage to sing.

'Like a fake nose and chin,' he told NPR. 'And he starts playing and the first thought when you hear his voice is, "Dude, is this like a bad impression of Borat?"''

The appearance sparked speculation Cohen was filming the Showtime series Who Is America?, though Cohen said he was only going to do the one season of the variety show.

Return: In 2018, Sacha also filmed a spoof campaign video as Borat supporting Donald Trump in an election special broadcast of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'

'It's like The Ali G Show in England,' he said, speaking with The Hollywood Reporter in 2018. 'I did one season. And the idea is not to make it a Seinfeld or a Saturday Night Live.'

Cohen told the outlet last year that he 'was upset by' Donald Trump getting elected president, spurring him to create the political satire.

'That anger and disappointment and revulsion, I was expressing it by sort of sending friends emails, you know, sharing articles,' he said.

Money: Sacha's film Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan was a huge success when it was released in 2006, raking in $261 million worldwide

'And in the end, I felt I was so angry, I felt I actually have to channel that into some characters who could expose some of those people. I wanted to sit with those people who were his friends.'

Sacha's film Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan was a huge success when it was released in 2006, raking in $261 million worldwide. The film also made 'mankinis' famous after Borat wore one at the beach.

He also picked up a Golden Globe Best Actor in a Motion Picture award for his comedy performance.
Leaders from the cannabis industry gathered at the virtual Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference on Tuesday to share ideas on how social equity initiatives can bring restorative justice to communities affected by cannabis prohibition.

The panel was moderated by Last Prisoner Project board member Natalie Papillion. The group, which aims to repair the harm caused by the war on drugs, advocates for the release of people incarcerated on cannabis charges, and helping them rebuild their lives.

Revisiting Social Equity: Khadijah Tribble, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at Curaleaf (CSE: CURA), went over the concept of "social equity"  a term often tossed around, but rarely understood.

In her words, social equity is a framework for understanding how to use and interrupt systems that have been traditionally used to disenfranchise communities.

It's about removing the barriers to patient care, employment and investment opportunities in those community, she explained.

Social equity for cannabis is for everyone, including those who have a criminal background related to a marijuana conviction, arrest or incarceration. Even if you have a marijuana arrest, it could be potentially devastating for you economically, said Tribble. It stands to reason that the industry has a big responsibility in addressing what has happened during the last 50 years."

Diversity and Inclusion Inside and Out: Hillary Black, Chief Advocacy Officer at Canopy Growth (NYSE: CGC), highlighted the importance of collaboration among companies to achieve the greatest possible impact. In that sense, big cannabis companies are not necessarily competitors.

Black, who has been working in cannabis advocacy for more than 20 years, also says social justice initiatives should not be used as a marketing tool. They should always be about authentic social impact, she explained.

Story continues

When youre investing externally in social justice initiatives, its really important to have your own house in order, says Black.

This means that within a company, the upper management and c-suites should be revised to represent diversity and inclusion. Educational programs should also be included to increase literacy and understanding about unconscious biases for the entire staff from the bottom up.

Seed Initiatives for Damaged Communities: Chicago-based Cresco Labs (CSE: CL) advocates for policies in Illinois Adult-use Act, and pushes for rebuilding and re-investing in communities that had been most devastated by the war on drugs in Illinois.

The company is doing the same in other states where it operates, every time the possibility of law reform arises.

The goal is for us to create opportunities for people to participate in the wealth thats being created by the end of prohibition, said Barrington Rutherford, Senior Vice-President of Real Estate and Community Integration at Cresco.

Crescos role in being a part of the social equity movement in cannabis, is helping people figure out what is the right opportunity for them, he added.

Whats the most appropriate opportunity? Where can they be most successful? says Rutherford.

This includes investment and entrepreneurship opportunities, to better paying jobs in the workforce.

For small businesses, helping them own production, distribution and retail is a critical approach in helping rebuild communities.

Three Pillars: Black concluded the panel with what she believes are the three pillars of social equity: What are we doing to change the face of the industry? How are we investing profits to support those that have been locked up and locked out? And, what are we doing to undo past harms?

If you stick with those three pillars, you really cant go wrong, she said.

See more from Benzinga

 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
There appears to be renewed tension in the Nigerian presidency on Wednesday as one of the notable personalities in the Presidential Villa, Mamman Daura, was reported to have been flown to London, the United Kingdom (UK) in a private jet for urgent medical attention. Though the ailment for which Daura was reportedly taken to London with urgency was not disclosed; there was fear that he was showing symptoms related to Coronavirus infection from last Friday.

It was gathered that Daura, a former journalist, widely perceived as a member of the Cabal, around President Buhari, was said to have had a history of renal crisis and had regularly visited the West for medical attention.

Meanwhile, it is anticipated that stakeholders of goodwill in the Nigerian project can only pray for the wellbeing of Mamman Daura. The Presidency cannot afford to mourn again so soon after the recent death of a close relative, Isa Funtua; while the exit of late chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, was about getting out of memory.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 20:55:09|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Education on Thursday published a "white list" of national contests approved by the authority to be held among the country's primary and middle school students.

Holding unapproved nationwide contests among these students is not allowed, the ministry said in a statement, noting that these efforts are to regulate such activities to create a sound environment and ensure such events bring positive effects to the students' well-rounded development.

The statement said sponsors of the contests must adhere to a non-profit purpose and should not collect any fees from the candidates.

Approvals from local anti-epidemic authorities are also needed for holding such activities, the statement said.

The "white list" includes 35 contests in subjects of sciences, humanities and arts, such as the China Adolescent Robotics Competition and the Educational Drone Event of China, scheduled to be held during the 2020-2021 school year.

The ministry statement said the final list was issued after a review from experts, a publication for public comments and a final approval process. Enditem
I think right now, when all of us are fighting to keep our industry alive for a better future, this certainly isnt the time to stop and pat anybody on the back, said Lula Cafe chef/owner Jason Hammel, a nominee in the Best Chef: Great Lakes category. Given the threat of closures  all across the country, restaurants you never really thought would close are shutting down  its smart to postpone (the awards) and focus on asking Congress to help the industry. Im fine waiting.
"Being included on the Best for Vets list is an honor, and it's also a reflection of what we do every day in recruiting veterans and giving them preference in the hiring process," said Latasha Causey, U-Haul Director of Recruiting.

"Many of our first Team Members, neighborhood dealers and customers were veterans returning from war 75 years ago. They helped build this company into an industry leader. We appreciate our veterans, and their value in the workplace is not lost on us. We want them here at U-Haul."

U-Haul employs more than 30,000 Team Members across the U.S. and Canada. Veterans make up about 5.3% of that employment number, according to the Company's 2020 data.

Find careers at U-Haul by visiting uhauljobs.com.

According to The Military Times, its criteria for evaluating its Best for Vets companies is based on years of research, interviews with veterans, and input from veterans' advocates and human resources professionals. The 2020 rankings can be found at bestforvets2020.militarytimes.com.

"Best for Vets is editorially independent and focused on culture and policies that cater to military veterans," Andrew Tilghman, Military Times executive editor, noted in the publication's Aug. 18 press release. "It has become the most trusted resource for transitioning veterans and a coveted honor for employers across the country."

In addition to its favorable hiring practices, U-Haul offers veterans a number of benefits tailored to their needs. These include:

YouMatter, a program offering Team Members and their families comprehensive mental and emotional support, including veteran support services, at no cost.

Healthier You, a wellness program designed to address health, mindset, nutrition and fitness. This includes an EAP, nicotine cessation assistance, gym and personal trainer reimbursements, and other benefits.

Education Assistance Program, which helps veterans cover the cost of tuition as they continue their college education while working at U-Haul.

U-Haul University, accredited by the ACCET, which enables veterans to learn necessary skills and become experts in their fields, or attain other jobs within U-Haul, at no cost.

Spouse and family support through the prioritizing of hiring military members and their spouses through a partnership with the Military Spouses Employment program.

U-Haul focuses a substantial percentage of its community outreach on assisting nonprofits that honor veterans and promote veteran causes. This support extends to groups like the Pat Tillman Foundation with direct assistance to Tillman Scholars; Humble Design and its mission to furnish the new residences of veterans transitioning out of homeless shelters; and The Tribute Journey, spearheaded by a Gold Star Mother, which delivers custom greeting cards to veterans and active service members overseas. U-Haul is a proud participant in Veterans Day and Memorial Day parades with moving trucks imaged with U.S. Armed Forces SuperGraphics.

Joe Shoen, Chairman of U-Haul, recently funded renovations to Pearl Harbor's historic Ford Island Control Tower. The sponsorship provides for a new elevator, which will offer public access to the observation deck where America's first WWII aviation battlefield can be revered. The bios and photos of U-Haul Pacific Theater veterans will be displayed in the tower lobby.

As an essential service provider, U-Haul is open to meet the needs of its communities. For details on what U-Haul has done to enhance cleaning protocols, protect Team Members and customers, and encourage the use of programs that inherently promote social distancing and contactless business, please reference our multi-media press release: Moving Safely and Smartly during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

About U-HAUL

Since 1945, U-Haul has been the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers, with a network of 22,000 locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 offers secure access to U-Haul trucks every hour of every day through the customer dispatch option on their smartphones and our proprietary Live Verify technology. Our customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to approximately 176,000 trucks, 127,000 trailers and 41,000 towing devices. U-Haul offers nearly 774,000 rentable storage units and 66.7 million square feet of self-storage space at owned and managed facilities throughout North America. U-Haul is the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry, and is the largest retailer of propane in the U.S.

Contact:

Jeff Lockridge

Sebastien Reyes

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: 602-263-6981

Website: uhaul.com

SOURCE U-Haul

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John Dodd thought it was a hangover.

Waking up in his Tuscaloosa apartment June 5, the Alabama student from Winfield, Alabama felt like garbage the morning after drinking a few beers with three friends. It happens.

He went to the gym in his apartment complex thinking he could sweat it out.

What followed, however, was anything but paying the tax for a night of drinking. The gym offered no cure as a fever began. Within 48 hours, the sore throat started as his sense of smell and taste slipped away.

A few nights later, Dodd struggled so badly to breathe, he ran his shower on max heat so the steam would soothe his lungs.

Dodds a healthy 20-year old and a COVID-19 survivor.

And he has a message for his Alabama classmates as in-person classes resume Wednesday in Tuscaloosa.

Its very real, Dodd said, free of symptoms since the end of June. It could have been even worse for me and it was already bad enough. I would never want to go through that again and I couldnt imagine it being worse and for a lot of people out there, it is a lot worse.

The junior majoring in political science and public relations posted a video on Twitter so friends heard his story.

Speaking with AL.com, Dodd described in detail the descent into the depths of COVID-19 and how it led to that late night in the steamy shower, gasping for breath.

Some days I was so filled with anxiety, Dodd said, that I just couldnt bring myself to eat.

It all started with the misdiagnosed hangover.

Dodd couldnt say with certainty where he got the virus thats infected 5.5 million in the United States and 22.2 million worldwide. He thought he was being safe, following the protocols and avoiding big groups.

Yet there he was, checking boxes on the symptom list for the deadliest pandemic in a century. So, he drove over to DCH hospital to get a drive-through COVID-19 test. The Alabama Department of Public Health called a few days later with the bad news. The conversation lasted approximately 45 minutes as the isolation guidelines were listed and known contacts were discussed.

I was extremely terrified when I first got the news but then I reassured myself, Dodd said. Like, I try to take care of my body and Im a pretty healthy guy, so I dont think Im going to like die or anything like that but Ill be honest, I was pretty dang scared because I had never experienced any illness like that before.

It only got worse from there.

The symptoms, I sadly had pretty much every symptom that I could have had, Dodd said. I had a continuous fever for about 10 of the 14 days, around 101 degrees. I had a cough that would usually lead me to cough up this kind of mucus substance from my lungs. I had a shortness of breath, sore throat and a pretty rough headache that would come around every so often and constant fatigue and aching.

RELATED: Alabama students explain fears, excitement and if return to campus will really work

The sense of taste didnt return until after he exited the isolation of his apartment.

And to this day, my lungs are kinda weak, he said. They havent fully recovered yet.

A hike just last weekend left his lungs sore, Dodd said as he readied for Wednesdays first day of UA classes.

The most concerning moment came five days into his ordeal when he had to crank up the heat in his shower. He couldnt get his breath until inhaling the vapors from the steam.

It scared me enough to where I thought I was going to have to go to the hospital, he said, but thankfully I didnt.

That decision was based partially on that initial conversation with the ADPH representative. Dodd said he was told he didnt have to go to the hospital unless his lips or fingertips turned purple.

They didnt, so he stayed locked in his apartment.

Fatigue was a constant and boredom competed with occasional anxiety. He watched movies. Moonlight, the 2017 Academy Award best picture, stood out along with a few westerns.

I was terrified to even watch the news, he said, because it just scared me.

There were other, more constructive ways of passing the time. Dodd called it Learn-a-Day as an antidote for being stuck in my own head while spending 14 days cut off from any human contact. Hed pick a topic that interested him and research for a few hours. The Israel-Palestine conflict, for example, occupied one of those 14 days.

Dodds parents would make the hour drive south to drop off care packages on his back porch. They never had face to face contact. Mom texted him after they left to let him know it was out there.

They did a great job of not showing it in front of me, Dodd said. But they were very scared about it all. They werent mad at me. They were just very worried, very scared.

The worst fears, thankfully, werent realized.

Symptoms subsided toward the end of his time in quarantine and eventually the isolation ended. One of the three friends who shared beers with him before that non-hangover hangover also tested positive but was asymptomatic.

There was initial hesitancy to talk about battling the virus though word spread among friends. That led to filming a warning for peers and posting it to Twitter.

I made that video to put a message out so maybe people will realize someone they know caught it and its a healthy young person and it petrified them and beat them up pretty good, Dodd said. I tried to put a message out, but I dont think a lot of my friends listened because they still have the mindset that theyre indestructible right now.

Most of his inner circle listened. It had an impact on his friend, Matthew Travis.

It definitely did, the junior from Charlotte said, because that was around the time every state started to enforce the fact you had to wear a mask so that was a little bit of a wakeup call and showed it was serious because, I mean, personally up to that point, I didnt know anybody who had it so I didnt really know if it was as bad as people were saying but after that, I started to realize.

Not everyone was moved, though. Dodd still sees good friends going to bars, dismissing the need to wear a mask and sharing misinformation online.

Thats why the typically optimistic Dodd isnt liking the odds of a clean semester of in-person learning. A few productive weeks, maybe, but he expects a spike after four of five weeks and a return to online-only learning.

The whole things like a bad hangover -- a fever dream of a year -- and Dodd just hopes his classmates dont share his experience when the campus again swells with students.

My only message is to take it a lot more seriously, Dodd said, because its a lot bigger than we realize.

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.
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MONTREAL, Aug. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Goldstar Minerals Inc. (Goldstar or the Corporation) (TSX-V: GDM) announces that, pursuant to a lead order from Palisades Goldcorp Ltd., the Corporation has revised the terms of its non-brokered private placement offering previously announced on July 9, 2020 by amending the price per Unit from $0.02 to $0.015, by amending the exercise price of the Warrants from $0.03 to $0.02 per share and by amending the exercise period of the Warrants from 18 months to three (3) years. The private placement offering will therefore consist of up to 46,666,667 Units at $0.015 per Unit and up to 30,000,000 Flow-Through Shares at $0.02 per Flow-Through Share for aggregate gross proceeds of a maximum of $1.3 million. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share of the Corporation and one Warrant, each Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one additional common share of the Corporation at an exercise price of $0.02 per share for a period of three (3) years from the date of closing of the offering.

Goldstar has also amended the exercise price and the exercise period of the Finders Warrants issuable in respect of subscriptions for Units sourced by an eligible Finder as follows: in respect of subscriptions for Units, the Corporation will pay a cash fee of 8% of the amount subscribed and will issue to the Finder a Finders Warrant entitling the Finder to acquire, at a subscription price of $0.015 each, a number of Units equal to 8% of the number of Units subscribed, each Finders Warrant expiring three (3) years from the date of closing. In respect of subscriptions for Flow-Through Shares, the Corporation, at its option, will either pay a cash fee of 8% of the amount subscribed or issue to the Finder a number of Units equal to 8% of the number of Flow-Through Shares subscribed.

This private placement remains subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the Exchange).

Debt Settlement

The Corporation also announces that it has amended the terms pursuant to which it will settle a debt owed to an insider of the Corporation. Goldstar will issue 33,333,333 common shares of the Corporation at a price of $0.015 per share in settlement of the debt in the amount of $500,000 owed to him by the Corporation. The debt settlement is subject to the completion of the share consolidation announced in the press release dated July 9, 2020 and the approval of the Exchange.

For further information, please contact:

David Crevier

Chairman

Telephone: 514-284-3663

dcrevier@goldstarminerals.com

About Palisades Goldcorp Ltd.

Palisades Goldcorp is Canadas new resource focused merchant bank. Palisades management team has a demonstrated track record of making money and is backed by many of the industrys most notable financiers. With junior resource equities valued at generational lows, management believes the sector is on the cusp of a major bull market move. Palisades is positioning itself with significant stakes in undervalued companies and assets with the goal of generating superior returns.

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. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially because of factors discussed in the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statement or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws.
During their convention, Democrats have presented a unified front on racial justice, declaring that the status quo is not acceptable.

But beneath the surface lies broad disagreement over policing, with the reform-oriented proposals of Joseph R. Biden Jr. falling well short of progressive activists demands.

The gap was evident in a line Mr. Biden delivered during a discussion on the conventions opening night: Most cops are good, but the fact is, the bad ones need to be identified and prosecuted.

His words struck many activists as discordant at a moment when the police killing of George Floyd has spurred nationwide calls for rethinking law enforcement.
Tom Ellis has revealed his pain at not being able to see his two daughters for the past seven months after being stuck in Los Angeles amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The actor shares custody of daughters Florence, 12, and Marnie, eight with his ex wife Tamzin Outhwaite and also has Nora, 15, from his previous relationship with Estelle Morgan.

Tom, 41, was in the midst of filming the fifth series of Netflix's Lucifer when California issued a stay-at-home order, which made it difficult for him to travel to the U.K to see his girls.

Upset: Tom Ellis has revealed his pain at not seeing his two daughters over the past seven months after being stuck in Los Angeles amid the coronavirus pandemic

Tom told The Guardian: 'It's been excruciating. There is a part of you that isn't there when they're not around, I don't ever really want to be in that headspace ever again.

'Trying to remain positive while the world is falling apart and having your children away from you and not knowing you will see them was justYeah.'

The Miranda actor told the publication he is now planning a grand reunion with his children after seven long months apart.

Missing his girls: The actor shares custody of daughters Florence, 12, and Marnie, eight with his ex wife Tamzin Outhwaite, 49

Case of the ex: Tom had split from his ex-wife Tamzin in 2014. Their marriage is said to have ended after the actor admitted to cheating on her (pictured 2013)

However it is complicated, as Tom will have to go into quarantine both when he arrives in the U.K and when he flies back to America.

Last year, Tom married Meaghan Oppenheimer in a romantic woodland ceremony in Santa Ynez, after four years of dating.

Ellis' wife Meaghan is a screenwriter who wrote the 2015 film We Are Your Friends, an episode of Fear the Walking Dead and who created the Facebook Watch series Queen America.

Tom had split from his ex-wife Tamzin in 2014. Their marriage is said to have ended after the actor admitted to cheating on her with Lost actress Emilie de Ravin.

Love: Last year, Tom married Meaghan Oppenheimer in a romantic woodland ceremony in Santa Ynez, after four years of dating (pictured last year)

The former EastEnders actress said in a 2015 interview with Essentials Magazine that there was more to the split than just an act of infidelity.

She said at the time: 'I wouldn't not be with my husband over a one-night stand is all I'll say.'

Tamzin, 49, is now dating actor Tom Child, 28, and earlier this year defended their 21-year age gap.
As he discussed how the pallid sturgeon has responded to differing conditions along the Missouri River, the mind of soft-spoken fish ecologist Mark Pegg drifted to a Def Leppard lyric inspired by Neil Young.

"What is the old song? 'It's better to burn out than to fade away?' In this case, I'm not sure that's true," said Pegg, a professor with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's School of Natural Resources.

Pegg was referring not to the existential fate of the shovel-nosed, long-lived endangered species, but to the life cycles of individual specimens. He was talking about the impressive developmental flexibility, but also the troubling developmental deficits, that some specimens have shown in the face of human intervention on the Missouri -- the power of nurture, or lack thereof, revealed by an unprecedented new study.

The study found that pallid sturgeon stocked around the lower basin of Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri live an average of just 19.8 years -- nearly three times shorter than in the upper basin of Montana and North Dakota, where the average was an estimated 56.4 years.

Combined with the fact that females in the lower basin weighed an average of seven times less than in the upper basin, that altered trajectory also seemed to dramatically influence reproduction. The shorter-lived female specimens appeared to compensate by reaching sexual maturity at around age 10, compared with age 17 in their longer-lived counterparts. Despite the head start, though, their looming demise caught up with them: The lower-basin females spawned between three and 11 times, well below the range of 13-20 times among females in the upper basin. According to the estimates of the research team, the lower-basin females consequently laid about 10 times fewer eggs over their lifetimes.

The researchers, led by the University of Georgia's Martin Hamel, came to the striking conclusions by analyzing existing data gathered from both wild and hatchery-raised sturgeon -- more than 1,200 in total. In the mid-2000s, a cadre of agencies began regularly measuring and monitoring the age, size and fertility of wild specimens in an effort to learn more about threats to the endangered species. But an even earlier effort, begun in the mid-1990s, sought to supplement the species' declining numbers.

"So they grabbed whatever fish they could that were of reproductive size and age and started making little sturgeon," Pegg said.

The sturgeon they initially grabbed and set to spawning in hatcheries came from the upper basin in Montana. When it came time to release those offspring into the Missouri River, the agencies stocked them across both the upper basin, where their parents had lived, and the lower basin.

Years later, that decision would manifest as a boon for Hamel, Pegg and their colleagues, Kirk Steffensen of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and Jonathan Spurgeon of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Because of it, the researchers had access to an exceedingly rare dataset: substantial numbers of genetically similar specimens left to grow and mature in two environments separated by more than a thousand miles. Any major differences in their development, then, would almost certainly arise from differences in those environments -- an ichthyological analog of studying identical human twins raised in different households.

"Replicating that (approach) is horribly difficult, especially in Mother Nature's lab," Pegg said. "We just don't have the space, time or resources to really do that. So this was more of a moment of serendipity than any real planning on our part.

"We knew where the fish were coming from, and we could start to look at how they were actually responding to their new environment."

Pegg said the extreme developmental differences the team discovered between the upper- and lower-basin populations probably speak to at least two major differences in their environments: depth and currents. Though the upper basin has undergone some human-related change over the past few centuries, it more closely resembles the relatively shallow, slow-moving river it was before the arrival of white colonialists. Even where it is deeper and faster, he said, it still offers some slower-flowing refuges where larvae and finger-length juveniles can settle and grow without much stress. Those refuges also house food, from algae to minnows, that make life easier for larvae and adults alike.

The lower basin, by contrast, features more reservoirs and deeper channels that were carved into the river to promote currents and ease the conveyance of ships down the river. The success of those efforts, Pegg said, has probably forced the sturgeon to invest an inordinate amount of time and energy essentially swimming in place -- investments that likely slow growth among juveniles and keep females from putting on the weight that is strongly tied to fertility.

"They have to spend a lot of energy maintaining position, as opposed to up in Montana ... where they have the ability to get bigger because they're not spending a lot of energy keeping themselves in the water column.

"We're sort of shortchanging the fish down here in a lot of different ways."

The team's study follows in the wake of others that have demonstrated the ability of organisms, including fish, to adjust their development and behavior in response to their environments -- and on timelines far too short for genetic-based evolution to explain. Some research, for instance, has tracked the fates of largemouth bass that were transported from Florida to bodies of water farther north. But from what Pegg has seen, no prior studies have examined the phenomenon on such a wide scale, either geographically or numerically.

"To my knowledge, this is the one and only that's covering literally 2,500 miles of river or so," he said of the study, published in the journal Scientific Reports. "From a fish perspective, this is pretty unprecedented, as far as I know, in the literature.

"Most of the other (similar studies) were dealing with tanks of fish or, at best, a pond of fish with maybe a few hundred. But we're talking about -- at least in the lower part of the river, where we really saw that change -- literally thousands of individuals. So I think from the magnitude of sample size, our effect is pretty large, in terms of what we can say about the results."

And what they can say, according to Pegg, is that the findings make a dramatic and literal case for the downstream effects of environmental change. While those effects may not be solely responsible for the species' endangered status, they probably account for some of the difficulty in resuscitating its population, he said. But they might also point the way to more successful conservation efforts, and more careful planning, down the line.

"What it really highlights is that we do need to be careful about just willy-nilly stocking or reintroducing fish or birds or mammals into places they may or may not be well-adapted to," he said. "At least in this case, (the sturgeon) seem to be holding on and maybe have adjusted to their new environments a little better than some other places. But we aren't necessarily producing a viable population based on those original stockings (to the extent) that we'd hoped for. So taking care to properly think through and plan with the best science we have available to us is certainly one of the big take-home messages."

###
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Queensland billionaire Clive Palmer once famously listed "litigation" as a hobby in his Who's Who entry. While he has racked up his fair share of legal activity over the past month thanks to an epic stoush with the state of Western Australia, Premier Mark McGowan and his Labor government are working overtime to stop him having his day in court. Not only is Palmer challenging the constitutionality of WA's strict border restrictions after he was denied entry into the state, he has lobbed a $27.8 billion compensation claim over an iron-ore dispute dating back to 2012. The unedifying battle has become political and personal, with McGowan labelling the billionaire an "enemy of the state" and WA Attorney-General John Quigley using parliamentary privilege to call Palmer a liar and hypocrite. Palmer, in turn, has responded by calling for the Premier to be jailed. On August 20, he filed a defamation action against McGowan in the Federal Court. The WA government has also rushed through "emergency legislation" rubbing out Palmer's legal rights to claim compensation from the government. All of this has the state's political commentators furious, lawyers worried, and the public bemused over the possibility Palmer could double WA's already enormous debt with the biggest win in Australian legal history. So what are these legal actions? How did they come about? And why is a new WA law relating to Palmer so controversial?

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WA Premier Mark McGowan, left, and Attorney-General John Quigley in a press conference about their law relating to Clive Palmer. Credit:Nathan Hondros How did the trouble start? In April, WA closed the state's borders to stop the spread of COVID-19. The move enjoys popular support, especially since the state has virtually eliminated the virus with no community transmission detected for months. (The dwindling handful of cases have been returned international travellers in hotel quarantine.) But the hard border restrictions still allowed exemptions for some people to cross into WA, especially those on business. Enter Clive Palmer, who has significant business interests in the state. In May, he applied to enter WA on business grounds but was knocked back. Unhappy, and armed to the teeth with QCs, he lodged a constitutional challenge to the border restrictions with the High Court. Section 92 of Australia's constitution says "trade, commerce, and intercourse among the states ... shall be absolutely free". Not much wriggle room there, as WA Senator Mathias Cormann put it. Although the border restrictions were overwhelmingly supported by voters, as federal Attorney-General Christian Porter said, "what is constitutional and what is popular is not the same thing".

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It will be months before the High Court delivers a decision. How did a second legal battle begin? In the early evening of August 11, WA's Attorney-General got to his feet in Parliament and dropped a bombshell: Palmer had lodged an arbitration claim on the state government that could be worth $27.8 billion. Quigley said the figure was as much as the entire state budget for a year and almost as much as the government's state debt. In WA, mining companies sign "state agreements" with the government where they agree to pay royalties in exchange for the right to extract resources. State agreements are written into legislation, and have underpinned WA's reputation as a safe haven for international investment. Once a state agreement is inked, it is law and gives mining companies rights that can be worth billions. If there are disagreements, they are dealt with by arbitration rather than through the courts. In 2002, WA's then-Labor government granted Palmer's Mineralogy a state agreement, which is the source of much of his wealth. His companies own the rights to extract iron ore in the north of the state at the Sino Iron Ore mine, operated by Chinese conglomerate CITIC, who pay his companies $400 million a year in royalties.

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Under the Mineralogy state agreement, his companies also have rights to a proposed Balmoral South iron-ore mine 80 kilometres south-west of Karratha in WA's Pilbara region. But in 2012, then-premier Colin Barnett refused to assess a proposal from Palmer's companies under the state agreement. Palmer's company Mineralogy had the matter sent to an independent arbitrator, former High Court justice Michael McHugh, who ruled against the government in 2014, a decision that has sparked an unsuccessful government appeal and the arbitration that is now the subject of legal controversy. The parties were set for mediation by former WA Supreme Court chief justice Wayne Martin before heading back to arbitration later this year. It was while preparing for that legal process that Palmer's companies lodged their ambit claim in May, which totalled $27.8 billion as compensation for being unable to progress their iron ore project which requires government approval under the state agreement. The dispute has been in and out of legal forums for eight years, including five years in abeyance, before Palmer restarted proceedings. Quigley, a former lawyer, said the state had been unsuccessful in the past in relation to the claims and therefore a successful outcome in arbitration was not guaranteed. The nature of the arbitration also meant there would be limited avenues for appeal for the government and even if Palmer was partially successful, it could put the state's financial capacity to deal with the coronavirus pandemic in jeopardy. "The government is taking steps to protect the state from the rapacious nature of Mr Palmer [and his companies]," Quigley told Parliament.

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The arbitration proceedings continue. WA Governor Kim Beazley signing the anti-Clive Palmer legislation into law. Credit:Nine News Perth What did the WA government do next? McGowan has argued the government was forced to act. If Palmer's claim were to succeed, it would mean "mass closures of hospitals, of schools, of police stations, mass sackings of public servants, of child protection workers, of police officers". After Quigley outlined the financial risk to the state, he tabled legislation that he said would snuff out Palmer's claims. The law, which was rushed through Parliament in just two days, meant the billionaire and his companies would indemnify the state against any compensation claims he could bring under the state agreement and included a provision that "the rules known as the rules of natural justice (including any duty of procedural fairness) do not apply". The legislation also explicitly exempted government decisions about the dispute from being made public through Freedom of Information laws.

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Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/20/2020 -- Latest released the research study on Global Casualty Insurance for Oil and Gas Sector Market, offers a detailed overview of the factors influencing the global business scope. Casualty Insurance for Oil and Gas Sector Market research report shows the latest market insights, current situation analysis with upcoming trends and breakdown of the products and services. The report provides key statistics on the market status, size, share, growth factors of the Casualty Insurance for Oil and Gas Sector

The study covers emerging player's data, including: competitive landscape, sales, revenue and global market share of top manufacturers are Zurich Insurance Group Ltd. (Switzerland), American International Group, Inc. (United States), Chubb Limited (United States), Arch Capital Group Ltd (Bermuda), InSource Insurance Group, LLC (United States), Hartford Fire Insurance Company (United States), Starr International Company, Inc. (United States), James River Insurance Company (United States), Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (United States) and Everest Re Group, Ltd. (Bermuda)



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The increasing demand drives oil and gas companies to look for additional reserves in more technically challenging and remote areas, which further increases investment and risk. In today's increasingly litigious world, the oil and gas sector faces a greater risk of being held liable for accidents and events that cause injury to third parties. From upstream to downstream, there are several potential risks may involve for the third parties. Therefore, casualty insurance in the oil and gas sector plays a vital role in order to protect the businesses and employees. Casualty insurance is a broad category, which is mostly comprised of liability coverages. It is the liability half of property/casualty insurance. Casualty insurance covers settlements or damages an insured is obligated to pay because of an accident that injured a third party. Casualty insurance for oil and gas offers coverage such as workers' compensation, automobile liability, general liability, and excess and umbrella liability.



The Global Casualty Insurance for Oil and Gas Sector Market segments and Market Data Break Down are illuminated below:

by Application (Upstream, Midstream, Downstream), End Users (Exploration and Production Companies, Drilling Contractors, Oil Field Service Contractors, Oil Lease Operators, Pipeline Operators and Contractors, Plant Maintenance Contractors, Others), Coverage (Workers' Compensation, Automobile Liability, General Liability, Excess and Umbrella Liability)



Market Trend

- The Growing Use of Blockchain in Casualty Insurance Sector

- Increasing Usage of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Sensor Technology and the Cloud Technology



Market Drivers

- The Rising Risk in the Oil & Gas Sector Due to Search of New Source

- The Growing Numbers of Accidents in the Oil & Gas Sector

- The Rising Regulatory Pressure



Opportunities

- The Emerging Demand for Casualty Coverage among the Developing Countries Oil & Gas Sector



Analyst at AMA have conducted special survey and have connected with opinion leaders and Industry experts from various region to minutely understand impact on growth as well as local reforms to fight the situation. A special chapter in the study presents Impact Analysis of COVID-19 on Casualty Insurance for Oil and Gas Sector Market along with tables and graphs related to various country and segments showcasing impact on growth trends.



Region Included are: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Oceania, South America, Middle East & Africa



Country Level Break-Up: United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, South Africa, Nigeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Germany, United Kingdom (UK), the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Turkey, Russia, France, Poland, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, India, Australia and New Zealand etc.



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Strategic Points Covered in Table of Content of Global Casualty Insurance for Oil and Gas Sector Market:

Chapter 1: Introduction, market driving force product Objective of Study and Research Scope the Casualty Insurance for Oil and Gas Sector market

Chapter 2: Exclusive Summary  the basic information of the Casualty Insurance for Oil and Gas Sector Market.

Chapter 3: Displaying the Market Dynamics- Drivers, Trends and Challenges of the Casualty Insurance for Oil and Gas Sector

Chapter 4: Presenting the Casualty Insurance for Oil and Gas Sector Market Factor Analysis Porters Five Forces, Supply/Value Chain, PESTEL analysis, Market Entropy, Patent/Trademark Analysis.

Chapter 5: Displaying market size by Type, End User and Region 2014-2019

Chapter 6: Evaluating the leading manufacturers of the Casualty Insurance for Oil and Gas Sector market which consists of its Competitive Landscape, Peer Group Analysis, BCG Matrix & Company Profile

Chapter 7: To evaluate the market by segments, by countries and by manufacturers with revenue share and sales by key countries (2020-2025).

Chapter 8 & 9: Displaying the Appendix, Methodology and Data Source



Finally, Casualty Insurance for Oil and Gas Sector Market is a valuable source of guidance for individuals and companies in decision framework.



Data Sources & Methodology

The primary sources involves the industry experts from the Global Casualty Insurance for Oil and Gas Sector Market including the management organizations, processing organizations, analytics service providers of the industry's value chain. All primary sources were interviewed to gather and authenticate qualitative & quantitative information and determine the future prospects.



In the extensive primary research process undertaken for this study, the primary sources  Postal Surveys, telephone, Online & Face-to-Face Survey were considered to obtain and verify both qualitative and quantitative aspects of this research study. When it comes to secondary sources Company's Annual reports, press Releases, Websites, Investor Presentation, Conference Call transcripts, Webinar, Journals, Regulators, National Customs and Industry Associations were given primary weight-age.



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Definitively, this report will give you an unmistakable perspective on every single reality of the market without a need to allude to some other research report or an information source. Our report will give all of you the realities about the past, present, and eventual fate of the concerned Market.



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As Egypt flexes its muscle with threats to intervene in Libya's civil war, its President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has sought to join forces with some of the neighbouring country's powerful tribes.

Cairo hopes the alliances would boost its legitimacy if it were to wade into the battlefield against forces backed by regional rival Turkey, and give it a local partner aside from the volatile strongman Khalifa Haftar, analysts say.

Last month, Sisi hosted Libya's Supreme Tribal Council, its sheikhs and elders dressed in white turbans and robes, at a conference in a Cairo hotel organised by Egyptian intelligence agencies.

Supporters of Libyan military strongman Khalifa Haftar take part in a gathering in the eastern Libyan port city of Benghazi on July 5 to protest against Turkish intervention on the side of the GNA based in Tripoli. By Abdullah DOMA (AFP/File)

For many of Libya's tribal leaders, Egypt offers a "lifeline" of support, said Abdelsalam Bohraqa al-Jarrari, a tribal elder from Tarhuna, south of the capital Tripoli.

"We want a complete military intervention -- air and ground support," he told AFP after meeting with Sisi, claiming that preparation had already begun along the Libyan-Egyptian border.

"We want new and advanced weaponry," he said.

Libya's patchwork of tribes -- including the Warfalla, Tuareg, Berber and other ethnicities -- command powerful loyalty and have in the past fought against Ottoman and European colonisers.

Some of them support the UN-recognised and Turkish-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), based in Tripoli in the west, which made a series of battlefield gains against Haftar earlier this year.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi back oppositing sides in Libya's civil war. By KAYHAN OZER, Ludovic MARIN (AFP/File)

But many powerful tribes back Haftar, who is based in the eastern city of Benghazi and enjoys the support of Egypt as well as the UAE, Russia and other powers.

'Men who eat rocks'

Special forces of the self-proclaimed eastern Libyan National Army loyal to strongman Khalifa Haftar in the eastern city of Benghazi. By Abdullah DOMA (AFP/File)

Traditional tribal leaders are seen as having greater influence in the Haftar-controlled, rural east than the more densely populated and urban west of Libya.

Haftar had spent 14 months trying to seize Tripoli before his forces suffered a string of defeats in early summer -- among them tribal fighters proud of their battlefield prowess.

"We have men who can eat rocks and spit them out," said Arafallah Daynoum Hurra, of Libya's Al-Barasa tribe in the eastern Al-Bayda region.

But, he explained, "we're in an uneven battle and that's why we retreated".

The frontline is now halfway between the capital and Haftar's stronghold Benghazi, just west of the central Mediterranean coastal city of Sirte.

Sirte is the strategic gateway to Libya's main oil fields and export terminals, and to the key Al-Jufra airbase to the south.

It is also a symbolic site as the hometown of former dictator Moamer Kadhafi, whose 2011 overthrow and killing in a NATO-backed uprising threw the country into chaos.

Libyan experts search for human remains on June 23 in an area southeast of Tripoli seized by the unity government from forces loyal to eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar. By Mahmud TURKIA (AFP/File)

For now, fighting has stalled in what German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas this week called a "deceptive calm", with arms and mercenaries still flooding into the county.

Western powers, fearing that a GNA attack on Sirte would raise the prospect of direct clashes between regional heavyweights Turkey and Egypt, have called for renewed peace efforts.

'Diversify risk'

Sisi has vowed not to let GNA forces take Sirte -- although Cairo has since also stressed it is open to peace initiatives through dialogue.

Military engineers of the UN-recognised Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) detonate mines and explosive devices uncovered from areas south of the capital Tripoli on July 22. By Mahmud TURKIA (AFP/File)

The head of Libya's Supreme Tribal Council, Saleh al-Fandi, said the tribes stand firmly with Haftar and Egypt.

"The Egyptian army has been given the green light from us ... to strike immediately if the (GNA) militias lift a finger in Sirte," he told AFP in Cairo.

"Sisi told us when we met that Egypt will give us air and ground support if the Turks cross the red line of Sirte," said Fandi.

"As tribes we are giving legitimacy to Egyptian troops to protect... Libya's national security," which was in line with Egypt's interests, he said.

Jarrari, the tribal elder from Tarhuna, said he sees Egyptian support as the only way to end a grinding civil war centred on some of Africa's richest oil reserves.

Jalel Harchaoui, research fellow at The Hague-based Clingendael Institute, said Egypt hopes its support for Libyan tribal leaders will "kill two birds with one stone".

Libya's conflict pits the UN-backed GNA under Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj (L) against forces loyal to strongman Khalifa Haftar based in the country's east. By FETHI BELAID, HO (AFP/File)

It aims to counter and delegitimise Turkey's presence in Libya while finding local allies aside from Haftar, he said.

"Cairo wants to diversify its risk away from excessive dependence on the 77-year-old Haftar, whom the Egyptians find too whimsical and hard to manage," Harchaoui added.

"That is why the Egyptians now wish to put in place an array of Libyan figures ... more dependable, more malleable and more stable from an Egyptian perspective."
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Chinese EV startup NIO formally launched on August 20 the BaaS (Battery-as-a-Service) service, which allows customers to buy electric vehicles and subscribe the usage of battery packs separately.

(Photo source: NIO)

The service will render the cost of using an EV more affordable. If users decide to purchase a NIO's vehicle and subscribe to use the 70kWh battery pack under the BaaS model, they can enjoy the vehicle purchase price with a 70,000 yuan ($10,114) deduction off the original price and pay a monthly fee of 980 yuan ($142) for the battery pack. Meanwhile, the users will still enjoy the purchase tax exemption and government NEV subsidies.

(Photo source: NIO)

William Li, Founder and Chairman of NIO, said at NIO's 2020 Q2 earnings call that the process of its first vehicle under the BaaS (Battery as a Service) model has been validated including insurance purchase, loan application, and license plate registration.

The BaaS model has long been planned with our unique battery swap technologies. The successful launch of the BaaS model will enable NIO users to benefit from the lower initial purchase prices of our products, flexible battery upgrade options and assurance of battery performance, said William Bin Li.

As of today, the startup has deployed 143 battery swapping stations across 64 cities in China and completed over 800,000 battery swaps for users, according to Li.



(Photo source: CATL)



A NIO-led new battery asset management company was established two days ago. Dubbed Wuhan Weineng Battery Asset Co.,Ltd, the newborn company involves a registered capital of 800 million yuan ($115,583,520) and is located at Wuhan East Lake High-tech Development Zone, according to Chinese corporate data search platform Tianyancha. Shen Fei, Vice President of Power Management at NIO, serves as its legal representative.

Tianyancha's records show that Wuhan Weineng has four investors, including NIO (Anhui) Holding Ltd. (the legal entity of NIO China) and the Chinese power battery giant CATL. The latter announced on the same day that it acquires 25% of equity interest in Wuhan Weineng at a consideration of 200 million yuan ($28,895,880).

Wuhan Weineng works on the battery asset management based on the separation of vehicles and batteries. According to Tianyancha, it features a line of businesses including the rental, maintenance, wholesale and retail of power batteries, the recycle of decommissioned batteries, electric power engineering, the operation and management of the industries and products related to new energy and electric power, the planning, R&D and design of EV charging and battery swapping infrastructures as well as the technical development of cloud-based platforms and big data.
Jodie Turner-Smith has said she is starting to feel 'at home' in her body again since giving birth to her daughter Janie in April.

The actress, 33, took to her Instagram Stories and shared a clip of herself in a dark green crop top and matching leggings.

Showcasing her gym-honed physique, the Queen & Slim star explained she is paying close attention to her feelings, rather than the number on the scale.

Motherhood: Jodie Turner-Smith, 33, has said she is starting to feel 'at home' in her body again since giving birth to her daughter Janie in April

Alongside the clip, she wrote: 'This week was the first time I started to feel like I was at home in body again.

'I still have a ways to go, but that feeling, NOT what the scale says, is what's guiding me. Grateful for my body today.'

Jodie, who is married to fellow actor Joshua Jackon told how she decided on a home birth 'because of concerns about negative birth outcomes for black women in America'.

Jodie and Joshua became parents for the first time in April when they announced the arrival of their baby daughter Janie - during the height of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Health: Showcasing her gym-honed physique, the Queen & Slim star explained she is paying close attention to her feelings, rather than the number on the scale

She told British Vogue: 'Sometimes I wonder how I will explain to my daughter what it meant to be born in the year 2020. The historic events, the social unrest, and me - a new mother just trying to do her best.

'I think I will tell her that it was as if the world had paused for her to be born. And that, hopefully it never quite returned to the way it was before.'

The British-born actress admitted she was 'naive' in early pregnancy, when she thought she would go back to work just a month after giving birth.

'I laugh when I think back on my early pregnancy naivety, when 'plans' were still a thing,' Jodie said. 'I thought it would be feasible to move house, have a child and go back to work a month later.

Support: The actress shared her story of giving birth in a global pandemic, while saying how 'lucky and privileged' she is to have Joshua Jackson, 42, as a partner

'I felt the pressure that we often place on new mothers: to get back to 'normal', to have what is considered a perfect post-pregnancy body - one that bears no trace of the fact that a tiny human was once held inside it and, only weeks before, passed through it.'

Jodie and Joshua have been dating since late 2018 and confirmed they had got married in December 2019.

The actress praised her husband for his support throughout her pregnancy, and said she feels 'lucky and privileged' to have him as a partner after they both 'watched their own mothers struggle to raise children'.

She explained: 'It made me realise how lucky and privileged I am to have a partner willing to follow me around the world, supporting me while I did my job.

First-time parents: Jodie told how she and Joshua (pictured at the BAFTAs in February) were 'concerned about negative birth outcomes for black women in America' and had a home birth

'Both of us had watched our own mothers struggle to raise children without such support.

'Both of us were determined to create something for ourselves. He kept saying to me, "There's no part of this that I'm going to miss".'

The British-born star also revealed she and Canadian Joshua were planning on raising their baby outside of the U.S because of 'fraught racial dynamics' and rising 'white supremacy'.

Jodie explained that she did not want her child to grow up doing 'active shooter drills' in school.

Read the full feature in the September issue of British Vogue available via digital download and on newsstands now.
SHANGHAI, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc. ("Four Seasons Education" or the "Company") (NYSE: FEDU), a leading Shanghai-based educational company dedicated to providing comprehensive after-school education services with a focus on high-quality math education, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter fiscal year 2021, ended May 31, 2020.

First Quarter Fiscal Year 2021 Financial and Operational Highlights

Revenue decreased by 31.5% to RMB58.7 million ( US$8.2 million ) from RMB85.6 million in the same period of last year.

( ) from in the same period of last year. Gross profit decreased by 43.1% to RMB22.4 million ( US$3.1 million ) from RMB39.4 million in the same period of last year.

( ) from in the same period of last year. Operating loss was RMB12.5 million ( US$1.8 million ), compared with RMB2.1 million in the same period of last year.

( ), compared with in the same period of last year. Adjusted operating loss (1) (non-GAAP) was RMB4.8 million ( US$0.7 million ), compared with adjusted operating income of RMB7.8 million in the same period of last year.

(non-GAAP) was ( ), compared with adjusted operating income of in the same period of last year. Net loss was RMB11.5 million ( US$1.6 million ), compared with net income of RMB4.2 million in the same period of last year.

( ), compared with net income of in the same period of last year. Adjusted net loss (2) (non-GAAP) was RMB0.6 million ( US$0.1 million ), compared with adjusted net income of RMB11.2 million in the same period of last year.

(non-GAAP) was ( ), compared with adjusted net income of in the same period of last year. Basic and diluted net loss per American Depositary Share ("ADS") attributable to ordinary shareholders were both RMB0.23 (US$0.03) , compared with net income of both RMB0.08 , for the same period of last year. Each two ADSs represent one ordinary share.

, compared with net income of both , for the same period of last year. Each two ADSs represent one ordinary share. Adjusted basic and diluted net income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders (3) (non-GAAP) were both RMB0.01 (US$0.00) , compared with both RMB0.22 , for the same period of last year.

(non-GAAP) were both , compared with both , for the same period of last year. Number of learning centers was 50 as of May 31, 2020 , compared with 52 as of May 31, 2019 .

, compared with 52 as of . Total student enrollment(4) was 44,634, compared with 69,100 during the same period of last year. The decrease was primarily due to the impact of the outbreak of COVID-19.

(1) Adjusted operating income/loss is defined as operating income/loss excluding share-based compensation expenses. (2) Adjusted net income/loss is defined as net income/loss excluding share-based compensation expenses and fair value change of investments. (3) Adjusted basic/diluted net income/loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders is defined as basic/diluted net income/loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders excluding share-based compensation expenses per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders and fair value change of investments per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders. For more information on these adjusted financial measures, please see the section captioned under "About Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and the tables captioned "Reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP Results" set forth at the end of this release. (4) Total student enrollment is defined as the cumulative number of courses enrolled in and paid for by the Company's students during the respective period, including multiple courses enrolled in and paid for by the same student.

"In the first quarter of fiscal 2021, amid the ongoing outbreak of the COVID-19, we have been diligently operating our online classes while preparing ourselves for the market recovery," said Ms. Yi (Joanne) Zuo, the Director and Chief Executive Officer of Four Seasons Education. "During this quarter, most of our courses were delivered online as offline classes only started to resume in late May. In addition to academic subject tutoring courses, we have also converted some of our interest-based courses online to provide more options for our students. With the growth of our online operation, we made a strategic investment in Fuxi Network, an online education and training service provider, to further strengthen our online capability in building a comprehensive online-merging-offline ("OMO") model.

"While the spread of the pandemic has generally been under control in China, currently, over 90% of our existing learning centers have resumed offline classes after obtaining approvals from government authorities who have reviewed and evaluated the compliance status of our facilities. We have implemented strict sanitary and disinfection measures to protect students' health and safety when studying at our learning centers. Furthermore, we are privileged to have been selected again as an organizer of Trusted Summer Childcare to provide a superior environment and fulfilling summer experience for kids. Our organization of this program is a testament to our best-in-class education, well-equipped facilities, and high-standard operation of learning centers.

"During the quarter, we continued to optimize our learning center network, while taking into consideration the impact of COVID-19, so as to more cost-efficiently allocate our offline resources and utilize our budget. In light of the evolving pandemic situation and the prevailing trend of online-offline integration, we will continue to offer online courses with enhanced learning experiences in addition to our offline classes. This approach provides more options for our students and allows us greater flexibility enabling smooth class delivery in any situation. It is encouraging that enrollments for both our online and offline courses demonstrated sequential growth in the first quarter of fiscal 2021, which drove deferred revenue up by 44.1% compared with the level as of February 29, 2020. This is a positive indication of the gradual recovery of demand for our education services. We are confident that with an efficient OMO model, we are able to better serve a wider student population that are attracted by our high-quality education and superior class experience," Ms. Zuo concluded.

First Quarter Fiscal Year 2021 Financial Results

Revenue decreased by 31.5% to RMB58.7 million (US$8.2 million) for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021 from RMB85.6 million in the same period of last year, primarily due to the impact of the outbreak of COVID-19.

Cost of revenue decreased by 21.6% to RMB36.3 million (US$5.1 million) for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021 from RMB46.3 million in the same period of last year.

Gross profit decreased by 43.1% to RMB22.4 million (US$3.1 million) for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021 from RMB39.4 million in the same period of last year.

General and administrative expenses decreased by 16.6% to RMB28.0 million (US$3.9 million) for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021 from RMB33.5 million in the same period of last year.

Sales and marketing expenses decreased by 11.5% to RMB7.0 million (US$1.0 million) for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021 from RMB7.9 million in the same period of last year, primarily attributable to the decrease of advertising due to the impact of COVID-19.

Operating loss was RMB12.5 million (US$1.8 million) for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, compared with RMB2.1 million in the same period of last year. Adjusted operating loss(1) (non-GAAP), which is calculated as operating loss excluding share-based compensation expenses, was RMB4.8 million (US$0.7 million) for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, compared with adjusted operating income of RMB7.8 million in the same period of last year.

Other expense, net was RMB2.8 million (US$0.4 million) for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, compared with other income of RMB2.4 million in the same period of last year, primarily due to investment fair value change.

Income tax benefit was RMB0.4 million (US$0.1 million) for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, compared with income tax expense of RMB4.5 million in the same period of last year.

Net loss was RMB11.5 million (US$1.6 million) during the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, compared with net income of RMB4.2 million in the same period of last year. Adjusted net loss(2) (non-GAAP), which is calculated as net loss excluding share-based compensation expenses and fair value change of the Company's investments, was RMB0.6 million (US$0.1 million), compared with adjusted net income of RMB11.2 million in the same period of last year.

Basic and diluted net loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021 were both RMB0.23 (US$0.03), compared with net income of both RMB0.08, for the same period of last year. Adjusted basic and diluted net income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders(3) (non-GAAP), which is calculated as basic/diluted net income/loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders excluding share-based compensation expenses per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders and fair value change of investments measured at fair value per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders, were both RMB0.01 (US$0.00) for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, compared with both RMB0.22, for the same period of last year.

Cash and cash equivalents. As of May 31, 2020, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of RMB430.3 million (US$60.3 million), compared with RMB404.7 million as of February 29, 2020.

Business Outlook

For the second quarter of fiscal year 2021, the Company expects to generate revenue in the range of RMB79.9 million to RMB86.3 million.

The above guidance reflects the Company's current and preliminary view, which is subject to change, particularly in consideration of uncertainties related to the COVID-19 outbreak, among others.

Conference Call

The Company's management will host an earnings conference call at 8:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time on August 20, 2020 (8:00 PM Beijing/Hong Kong time on August 20, 2020)

Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows:

United States (toll free): 1-888-346-8982 International: 1-412-902-4272 Hong Kong, China (toll free): 800-905-945 Hong Kong, China: 852-3018-4992 Mainland China (toll free): 400-120-1203

Participants should dial-in at least 5 minutes before the scheduled start time and ask to be connected to the call for "Four Seasons Education."

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.sijiedu.com.

A replay of the conference call will be accessible approximately one hour after the conclusion of the live call until August 27, 2020, by dialing the following telephone numbers:

United States (toll free): 1-877-344-7529 International: 1-412-317-0088 Replay Access Code: 10147342

About Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc.

Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc. is a leading Shanghai-based educational company dedicated to providing comprehensive after-school education services with a focus on high-quality math education. The Company's vision is to unlock students' intellectual potential through high quality and effective education that can profoundly benefit students' academic, career and life prospects. The Company provides educational programs that are primarily focused on elementary-level math and have expanded in recent years to also include other subjects, including physics, chemistry, and languages, and other grade levels, including kindergarten-level and middle school-level programs. The Company's proprietary educational content is designed to cultivate students' interests and enhance their cognitive and logic abilities. The Company develops its educational content through a systematic development process and updates it regularly based on student performance and feedback. Such process allows the Company to effectively drive better learning outcomes and serve students of different ages, aptitude levels and learning objectives. The Company's faculty is led by a group of experienced senior educators, including recognized scholars, award-winning teachers. Over the years, the quality of the Company's education services has been demonstrated by its student outstanding academic performance.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In evaluating the Company's business, the Company considers and uses certain non-GAAP measures, including primarily adjusted operating income/loss, adjusted net income/loss and adjusted basic and diluted net income/loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders, as supplemental measures to review and assess the Company's operating performance. Adjusted operating income/loss is defined as operating income/loss excluding share-based compensation expenses. Adjusted net income/loss is defined as net income/loss excluding share-based compensation expenses and fair value change of the Company's investments. Adjusted basic/ diluted net income/loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders is defined as basic/diluted net income/loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders excluding share-based compensation expenses per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders and fair value change of investments measured at fair value per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders. 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.

The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance and liquidity by excluding share-based expenses, fair value change of investments measured at fair value and impairment loss on intangible assets and goodwill (where applicable) that may not be indicative of the Company's operating performance from a cash perspective. The Company 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 the Company's historical performance and liquidity. The Company also believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in the Company's financial and operational decision making. A limitation of using non-GAAP measures is that these non-GAAP measures exclude share-based compensation charges and fair value change of investments measured at fair value (where applicable) that have been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a significant recurring expense in the Company's business. The Company 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.

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 a rate of RMB7.1348 to US$1.00, the rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board on May 29, 2020.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements, including the statements relating to the Company's future financial and operating results, are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by terminology such as "will," "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, management's quotations and the Business Outlook section contain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about the Company and the industry. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those relating to its ability to attract new students and retain existing students, its ability to deliver a satisfactory learning experience and improving their academic performance, PRC regulations and policies relating to the education industry in China, general economic conditions in China, and the Company's ability to meet the standards necessary to maintain listing of its ADSs on the NYSE or other stock exchange, including its ability to cure any non-compliance with the NYSE's continued listing criteria. All information provided in this press release is as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that its expectations will turn out to be correct, and investors are cautioned that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results. Further information regarding risks and uncertainties faced by the Company is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual reports on Form 20-F.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc.

Olivia Li

Tel: +86 (21) 6317-6678

E-mail: [email protected]

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Xi Zhang

Tel: +86 (10) 6508-0677

E-mail: [email protected]

In the United States:

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Brandi Piacente

Tel: +1-212-481-2050

E-mail: [email protected]

FOUR SEASONS EDUCATION (CAYMAN) INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share data and per share data)



As of





February 29,



May 31,



May 31,





2020



2020



2020





RMB



RMB



USD

Current assets























Cash and cash equivalents



404,652





430,336





60,315

Accounts receivable and contract assets



1,261





348





49

Amounts due from related parties



-





191





27

Other receivables, deposits and other assets



18,484





17,695





2,480

Short-term investments



10,000





10,000





1,402

Long-term investment under fair value - current



181,821





-





-

Total current assets



616,218





458,570





64,273



























Non-current assets























Restricted cash



37,703





10,536





1,477

Property and equipment, net



19,749





17,582





2,464

Operating lease right-of-use assets



190,074





189,043





26,496

Intangible assets, net



8,765





8,286





1,161

Goodwill



35,163





36,967





5,181

Deferred tax assets



13,445





15,779





2,212

Equity method investments



1,295





42,952





6,020

Long-term investments under fair value



104,414





280,857





39,364

Rental depositsnon-current



10,790





11,790





1,652

Total non-current assets



421,398





613,792





86,027

TOTAL ASSETS



1,037,616





1,072,362





150,300



























Current liabilities























Amounts due to related parties



1,323





1,090





153

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities



75,118





77,937





10,924

Operating lease liabilities  current



51,842





54,819





7,683

Income tax payable



12,789





7,749





1,086

Deferred revenue



71,946





103,648





14,527

Total current liabilities



213,018





245,243





34,373



FOUR SEASONS EDUCATION (CAYMAN) INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share data and per share data)



As of





February 29,



May 31,



May 31,





2020



2020



2020





RMB



RMB



USD

Non-current liabilities























Deferred tax liabilities



2,136





2,020





283

Operating lease liabilities  non-current



147,510





144,458





20,247

Total non-current liabilities



149,646





146,478





20,530

TOTAL LIABILITIES



362,664





391,721





54,903



























EQUITY























Total equity



674,952





680,641





95,397

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY



1,037,616





1,072,362





150,300



FOUR SEASONS EDUCATION (CAYMAN) INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except share data and per share data)



Three Months Ended May 31,





2019



2020



2020





RMB



RMB



USD

Revenue



85,644





58,678





8,224

Cost of revenue



(46,291)





(36,271)





(5,084)

Gross profit



39,353





22,407





3,140



























General and administrative expenses



(33,519)





(27,954)





(3,918)

Sales and marketing expenses



(7,887)





(6,983)





(979)

Operating loss



(2,053)





(12,530)





(1,757)



























Subsidy income



7,372





3,507





492

Interest income, net



1,078





986





138

Other income (expenses), net



2,367





(2,757)





(386)

Income (loss) before income taxes and loss from equity method investments



8,764





(10,794)





(1,513)



























Income tax (expense) benefit



(4,515)





387





54

Loss from equity method investments



(81)





(1,134)





(159)



























Net income (loss)



4,168





(11,541)





(1,618)

Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest



399





(854)





(120)

Net income (loss) attributable to Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc.



3,769





(10,687)





(1,498)



























Net income (loss) per ordinary share:























Basic



0.16





(0.46)





(0.06)

Diluted



0.15





(0.46)





(0.06)



























Weighted average shares used in calculating net income (loss) per ordinary share:























Basic



24,061,293





23,131,195





23,131,195

Diluted



24,831,899





23,131,195





23,131,195



FOUR SEASONS EDUCATION (CAYMAN) INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(in thousands, except share data and per share data)



Three Months Ended May 31,





2019



2020



2020





RMB



RMB



USD

Net income (loss)



4,168





(11,541)





(1,618)

Other comprehensive income, net of tax of nil























Foreign currency translation adjustments



16,075





8,725





1,223

Comprehensive income (loss)



20,243





(2,816)





(395)

Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to

non-controlling interest



399





(854)





(120)

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc.



19,844





(1,962)





(275)



FOUR SEASONS EDUCATION (CAYMAN) INC.

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP AND NON-GAAP RESULTS

(in thousands, except share data and per share data)



Three Months Ended May 31,



2019

2020

2020



RMB

RMB

USD Operating loss

(2,053)

(12,530)

(1,757) Add: share-based compensation expenses

9,815

7,689

1,078 Adjusted operating income (loss) (non-GAAP)

7,762

(4,841)

(679)













Net income (loss)

4,168

(11,541)

(1,618) Add: share-based compensation expenses (net of tax effect of nil)

9,815

7,689

1,078 Add: fair value change of investments, excluding foreign currency translation adjustment (net of tax effect of nil)

(2,780)

3,234

453 Adjusted net income (loss) (non-GAAP)

11,203

(619)

(87)













Basic net income (loss) per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders

0.08

(0.23)

(0.03) Add: share-based compensation expenses per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders

0.20

0.17

0.02 Add: fair value change of investments per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders

(0.06)

0.07

0.01 Adjusted basic net income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders (non-GAAP)

0.22

0.01

0.00 Diluted net income (loss) per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders

0.08

(0.23)

(0.03) Add: share-based compensation expenses per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders

0.20

0.17

0.02 Add: fair value change of investments per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders

(0.06)

0.07

0.01 Adjusted diluted net income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders (non-GAAP)

0.22

0.01

0.00 Weighted average ADSs used in calculating earnings per ADS











Basic

48,122,586

46,262,390

46,262,390 Diluted

49,663,797

46,262,390

46,262,390

SOURCE Four Seasons Education Inc.

Related Links

http://www.sijiedu.com


Ivan (voiced by Sam Rockwell) and Bryan Cranston in the movie "The One and Only Ivan." (Disney)

For years, Disney has been at the forefront of computer-generated talking animals movie technology. Sometimes it's a hit (The Jungle Book) and sometimes it's a real miss (The Lion King). But The One and Only Ivan finds a sweet spot, beautifully establishing characters with plausible emotion that propels this primarily character-driven piece.

The One and Only Ivan is based on the book by Katherine Applegate, about Ivan, a real gorilla born in 1962, that was captured by poachers in Africa as a baby and brought to live with humans in the United States. At 3 and fully grown, the family placed him in a Washington state mall attraction, where he remained for 27 years, until the public called for his release to a zoo. The film, written by the prolific screenwriter (and excellent Survivor contestant) Mike White, directed by Thea Sharrock, gives Ivan, and his furry friends, a voice.

Sam Rockwell provides the voice of Ivan, who seems resigned to his life at the mall, with his owner/master/circus ringleader Mack (Bryan Cranston), his buddy, a stray mutt named Bob (Danny DeVito), and his wise old elephant pal Stella (Angelina Jolie). Ivan is satisfied to be the main attraction, roaring for the delight of audiences, though his spirit is more sensitive, intuitive and artistic. Gifted some old crayons by Julia (Ariana Greenblatt), the plucky young daughter of Mack's employee George (Ramon Rodriguez), Ivan scribbles impressionistic portraits of bugs and objects. But there's an undeniable melancholy in Ivan's demeanor, and in Rockwell's performance.

Stella (left, voiced by Angelina Jolie) and Ruby (voiced by Brooklynn Prince) in the movie "The One and Only Ivan." (Disney+)

That pathos is piqued when Mack, strapped for cash and looking to make the mall circus the hottest ticket in town, brings in some fresh talent: an adorable baby elephant, Ruby (Brooklynn Prince). Ruby is fascinated by stories of the wild, and Stella makes Ivan promise he'll take Ruby out of this dusty old mall basement and into the natural environment where she belongs.

Story continues

Thus, the adaptation gives the animals agency. They aren't sitting around waiting for a letter-writing campaign, but staging their own dramatic escapes, passing off crayon messages to Julia and, ultimately expressing their heart's desire any way they can. The story itself isn't all that different than the standard Disney film fare, but it's the underlying true tale that offers stakes and emotion, as well as the vocal performances from Rockwell, Prince, DeVito and Jolie.

What stands out about The One and Only Ivan is just how amazingly rendered the computer-generated animal performances are. It's not just the photorealistic visuals, but the animators have landed on a performance style that blends both animal and human expression. Every animal moves and speaks with motions expected of their species, but there's recognizable human emotion conveyed visually as well as vocally. It certainly helps that an expressive primate carries the majority of the emotional weight, as well as a cute, doe-eyed baby elephant (there are a few moments right out of Dumbo that will pull the heartstrings).

Sharrock's directing is unshowy, focused on the characters and performance moments that make this film a simple, yet effectively moving story about dreaming of a life beyond the walls, something we can all appreciate at this particular moment.

Katie Walsh is a Tribune News Service film critic.
Kena Hudson's 7-year-old son Clarence has asthma that's sometimes landed him in the hospital. Typically, when wildfire season starts in Northern California, he'll stay indoors but continue to see friends and attend school. This year, a record spell of wildfires is blanketing much of the state in smoke. Facing a dual threat of reduced air quality coupled with a coronavirus pandemic, Clarence will have to stay indoors around-the-clock. "We're in a pandemic and a heat wave, and we don't have air conditioning," said Hudson, who's based in Oakland, where temperatures are usually mild. "We can't open up the window, we're trapped, we're hot and no one can come over to play." Californians across the state are now facing a crisis across multiple fronts. As the coronavirus pandemic drags on, lightning strikes and hot weather have fueled dozens of wildfires. Millions face losing power, and thousands have already been evacuated. The health effects could also be dire, according to medical experts. Some fear that people with chronic respiratory conditions will avoid seeking care if their symptoms worsen because they fear exposure to the coronavirus. Andrew Kornblatt, who lives in the East Bay, has asthma and is recovering from a surgery. He's doing his best to avoid refreshing websites with maps showing the spreading fire, but his anxiety is off the charts. "I keep thinking about where we would go if things go south," he said. Dr. Sachin Gupta, a pulmonologist based in San Francisco, said he expects that it could be a lot more challenging for Bay Area companies to bring people back into work, particularly those with asthma or other respiratory conditions. "If you think about indoor office spaces, patients with chronic lung conditions were likely already nervous with the pandemic," he said. "But with the air pollution and struggles to ventilate spaces, would they want to go in now?"

There's also the concern that the air quality, which ranked the worst in the world in Northern California on Wednesday, could make coronavirus symptoms worse. Research from the spring found that patients in areas with high levels of air pollution were more likely to die from the infection than those in less polluted areas. California has reported more than 640,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases with more than 11,000 deaths. "With the wildfires, we're going to see increases in PM 2.5," said Dr. Neeta Thakur, a pulmonology and critical physician at UC San Francisco, referring to fine particular matter. "There's some studies that have suggested an association between increases in particulate matter and severity of Covid-19 infections," she said. "Although how those are related is less well understood." Rachael King, a tech worker based in San Francisco, lives alone but takes walks in the city to feel like she's part of a community. King has been battling asthma since she was a child. Since the wildfires started, she's largely remained indoors to ensure that her asthma won't get worse. In previous years with the wildfires, she could still socialize by seeing friends at restaurants with filtered air or at home. Now, she feels completely isolated. "Right now I'm doing okay," she said. "But I'm concerned that if this lasts, it will take a toll. It feels like it's just one thing on top of another."

Another blow to small businesses

The fires and heat also present another burden for California's already struggling businesses. For restaurants, which only recently set up spaces for outdoor dining, it's a disaster. When San Francisco chef Dominque Crenn was driving on Tuesday night in the Bay Area, she saw smoke on the horizon. The following morning she spotted the ashes on the tables of Atelier Crenn, her fine-dining restaurant and realized she could not serve guests outside. Indoor dining has been banned in the city since March because of the coronavirus. Instead of cancelling reservations, Crenn cooked meals for all her diners and her team personally dropped them off to their homes. "We are getting exhausted," Crenn said by phone. "It's suffocating physically and mentally, and we don't have control."

An employee for Atelier Crenn restaurant hands a takeout order to a customer through a window in San Francisco, California on April, 1, 2020, during the novel coronavirus outbreak. JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images
The Oyo State police command has announced a reward of N500,000 for anyone with useful information that will lead to the re-arrest of a suspect, Sunday Shodipe, who fled from its custody.

Mr Shodipe was arrested in connection with several killings in Akinyele local government area of the state.

Mr Shodipe was paraded along with two others in connection with the killings in July this year.

Mr Shodipe then escaped from police custody at Mokola Police station in Ibadan, after he had been charged to court.

He escaped from police custody on August 11 but the police, after public pressure, announced his escape on August 16.

Bounty

The state commissioner of police, Joe Enwonwu, through the command spokesperson, Olugbenga Fadeyi, on Thursday announced a N500,000 bounty on the suspect.

The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Joe Nwachukwu Enwonwu, psc wishes to state that handsome reward of Five hundred thousand naira only (#500,000) awaits whoever gives useful information for the arrest of the suspected serial killer at Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State, one Sunday Shodipe m 19yrs who was arrested and paraded at the Oyo State Police Command Headquarters on 17th July, 2020, but later escaped from lawful custody on 11th August, 2020.

Consequently, the general public is hereby implored to arrest and immediately hand him over to the nearest Police Station for necessary action. The Command can be contacted on GSM Numbers: 08035632410 and 07066003536.
Grounded Virgin planes are seen parked on a tarmac at Brisbane Airport in Brisbane, Australia, on April 21, 2020. (Jono Searle/Getty Images)

Japanese Traveler Sparks Queensland COVID-19 Health Alert

A returning Japanese tourist, who travelled to Brisbane via Sydney has tested positive for COVID-19, Japanese health authorities told Queensland Health.

Queensland Health issued a public health alert on Aug. 19, and contact tracing is underway for Virgin Australia flight VA962 which arrived in Sydney on Aug. 17.

Contact tracing is also underway for customers who dined at the Jam Pantry cafe in Greenslopes, Brisbane on Aug. 16 between 9:45 am-11 am.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said the appropriate actions were taken at all relevant locations.

The woman arrived in Australia in mid-July and was in hotel quarantine in Sydney for two weeks prior to coming to Brisbane. While in quarantine, she returned two negative test results, Young said in a health alert.

Because the woman quarantined in Sydney for two weeks and travelled straight to Brisbane from hotel quarantine, she could go about her normal life in Brisbane.

However, on her arrival to Japan on 18 August, she was asymptomatic but returned a positive COVID-19 result.

While we are still determining where the virus may have been acquired, we are working with Japanese authorities to gather necessary information, Young said.

Health authorities have been in touch with six close contacts in Brisbane identified by the woman; they have now been tested and are in quarantine.

Queensland Health is working with NSW Health to contact people from Virgin flight VA962.

The alert comes after a man who recently returned from Papua New Guinea became Queenslands latest case of COVID-19, prompting the state to increase monitoring of its northern border.

The man in his 40s had been in hotel quarantine and tested positive on the seventh day of his 14-day isolation period.

Meanwhile, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk again warned Queenslands border restrictions will continue for now, given the outbreaks in Victoria, NSW, and New Zealand, despite federal government pressure.

The issue will be discussed further when the national cabinet of federal, state, and territory leaders meets on Aug. 21.

We need to keep our measures in place, Palaszczuk said.

Queensland has only six active cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus. There have been 1,092 total confirmed cases in the state since the beginning of the pandemic, six have died; over 700 thousand tests have been conducted.
A new leaker shared a series of tweets with information about pretty much everything thats going to be announced at the Apple event thats allegedly scheduled for the second week of October.

We know that the four iPhone 12 models that Apple had planned for this year have been delayed and will not hit stores in September as planned. Apple also confirmed this and added that the new iPhone 12 will be delayed by several weeks and tipster Jon Prosser tweeted that Apples cheapest iPhone models may be launched by the third week of October, a week after the mid-October launch event.

New, adjusted Apple dates!



Apple Watch & iPad

- Via press release

- Week 37 w/c Sep 7



iPhone 12 event

- Week 42 w/c Oct 12



iPhone 12 devices

- Preorders week 42 w/c Oct 12

- Shipping week 43 w/c Oct 19



iPhone 12 Pro devices

- Preorder and shipping in Nov (no exact date yet)  Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) August 12, 2020

Prosser also added that that the iPhone 12 Pros would arrive a few weeks after that in November.

Now, a different source has tweeted a whole series if new details about the upcoming iPhone 12 launch.

This person, who goes by the handle @LeaksApplePro, claims that Apple has started recording the iPhone event indicating that the keynote is going to be streamed online like the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2020 was, without an audience. The leaker also had some new details to share about the upcoming iPhone 12 handsets and some of his information match older leaks.

On Twitter, @LeaksApplePro mentioned on Sunday that the iPhone 12 launch event was going to be recorded at Apple Park on Monday and that he would be inside when that happens. He then followed this tweet up with a bunch of details about what he saw supposedly saw and heard.

According to @LeaksApplePro, a fitter Phil Schiller will be taking part in the keynote where Apple is going to unveil more than one ARM-powered Mac, new iPads, the new iPhone 12 models, the Apple Watch Series 6 and the famous one more thing.

Phil Schiller WILL take part in the keynote. (He is fitter).  Leaks (@LeaksApplePro) August 17, 2020

We do have, one more thing. Do you remember when we first presented our wireless charger...  Leaks (@LeaksApplePro) August 17, 2020

That one more thing, according to @LeaksApplePro, is the Apple AirPower. Apple AirPower is the universal charger the company introduced a few years ago and subsequently abandoned. Other leaks have suggested that Apple did not kill off the project and it is actually a part of a bigger picture - port-less iPhones.

Going by these leaks, the new models of the iPhone 12 will not have a smaller notch as previously reported and bezel sizes wont change either. However, the handsets will have a different design.

When I say curved edges.

Means its not exactly like the iPhone 4/5 or like the 11/11 pro.

Its a mix of them.

This isnt a leak, its what I think based on those Mous cases.  Leaks (@LeaksApplePro) August 18, 2020

The new smartphones, according to @LeaksApplePro, will have curved edges which are a mix between the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 11 and there is going to be a new colour this time - a blue. The camera design on the new iPhone 12 series will follow a new schematic.

The new smartphones will not come with 120Hz or 90Hz screens and they wont have access to wireless charging either, according to these tweets. They are supposed to come with the new A14 chip, more RAM and better cameras. This matches older rumours and is expected, obviously. If Apple wants faster RAM, it might mean an upgrade to 6GB.

The leaked information adds that there is going to be a bit more battery this time, but thats all the information shared.

@LeaksApplePro also added that Apple has supposedly found out that someone has been leaking details from the keynote recording and of course, there is no telling if any of this is true. Apple could also re-record the keynote, however, the device details are possibly not going to change.

So I will keep providing you guys with everything I know.

But literally Timothy just said everybody out bc I was unveiling everything.  Leaks (@LeaksApplePro) August 18, 2020

The leaker claimed he was accurate and revealed the release of the iOS 14 beta 5 to prove he has access to insider information.

Yeah so after reading some comments I decided to check everything with a very very very nice source in terms of Apple dates.

Let me correct me info.



Event: 13th/14th October.

Announcement: 1st October.



Sorry. Was misinformed.  Leaks (@LeaksApplePro) August 18, 2020

@LeaksApplePro added in a separate tweet that the keynote is going to take place on October 13 or 14 and the announcement was going to be made for this on October 1. He also added that the final version of iOS 14 might be released on October 24.

iOS 14 might get released in October 24th  Leaks (@LeaksApplePro) August 19, 2020

He also threw in some details about the AirPods Studio headphones, adding that he has the commercial video, which he could not share because he fears getting caught.

And imagine sharing it an receive jail penalty bc of articles 290, 291 and 292 which talk about revelation of secrets.

Definitely not sharing it right now.

Gonna contact a lawyer in the evening to see how can we do this.

Stay tuned.  Leaks (@LeaksApplePro) August 19, 2020

This just shows how to get information about IP address, why would the audio file have one in it in the first place?  FreeAppSW (@FreeAppSW) August 19, 2020

He also added some details about the Apple Card and the new markets it is going to be launched in.

Spain

Germany

France

England

Ireland

Scotland

Italy

Canada

India

Australia  Leaks (@LeaksApplePro) August 19, 2020

At this point though, we suggest you take in all of this new information with every precaution possible.
James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

A 57-year-old Odessa man died Wednesday morning after a two-vehicle crash on Farm-to-Market Road 1787 in Midland County, according to a press release from the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Andrew Ramirez was driving a Chevrolet Silverado eastbound, and a 41-year-old Crane man was driving a Mack truck westbound. The truck, which was towing a semi-trailer, entered the eastbound lane and hit the pickup, according to the release.
The 1917 Bolshevik Revolution sparked a civil war that lasted more than five years and cost the lives of millions of Russians. The conflict was fought largely between the Red Army, which supported Vladimir Lenins communist revolution, and a collection of militias known as the White Army, fighting either to restore the Russian monarchy or at least prevent a communist takeover of the country.

The photos in this gallery, which include some of the only images in existence of actual fighting during the war, are from russiainphoto.ru, a website that aims to create a unified photo chronicle of Russia from museums and private collections.

Andrei Shkuro, a senior commander of White Army forces, fled Russia soon after this photo was taken. After years in exile, he took up arms as an ally of Nazi Germany in the hopes of ridding Russia of communism. In 1945, he was captured by British forces and handed over to the Soviets. He was executed in 1947.

New Red Army soldiers would have sworn: for the cause of socialism and the brotherhood of peoples, not to spare either my strength or life itself.

Western allies attempted to assist the White forces during the civil war. The interventions were initially launched in the hope of bringing Russia back into World War I on the side of the allies.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 19:26:46|Editor: huaxia

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by Burak Akinci

ANKARA, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Turkey and Greece are unlikely to reach a compromise to appease tensions that have flared up between the NATO allies over hydrocarbon explorations in Eastern Mediterranean as both nations are not ready for concessions, analysts said.

Turkey has sent a research ship accompanied by warships prospecting between Cyprus and the Greek island of Crete, while Greece deployed its own naval vessels to the area.

Greece and Turkey have long disagreed on overlapping claims on hydrocarbon resources in the region, with both sides holding conflicting views of how far their continental shelves extend in waters.

They have accused each other of being responsible for the stand-off, and no immediate settlement is in sight while Germany, the European Union's rotating president, has stepped in as a mediator to prevent things from escalating further towards an unwanted confrontation.

The disputed area is close to Turkey but Greece insists it belongs to Greece under international law and maritime regulations.

Turkey says the rules are unfair since Greece only has the rights of the waters because of a few tiny islands that expand its legal reach.

Experts said that a war is unlikely, but so is a compromise on the thorny issue of disputed waters.

"If we look at the history of Greek-Turkish disputes, we see that although there is an intent for dialogue between Ankara and Athens, there is never a will towards a resolution, and it will be probably the same for this latest conflict," Serkan Demirtas, a foreign policy analyst, told Xinhua.

He pointed out that nationalist rhetoric and patriotic feelings always have the upper hand in unresolved disputes between the two neighbors, preventing them from moving towards a concession, however small it may be.

"Pressure from public opinion is fierce in both countries which prevent governments from leaning in favor of concessions or a compromise which would be seen as a sign of weakness," Demirtas remarked.

The expert, nevertheless, ruled out a military confrontation, a scenario he said neither of the two would want.

Greece and Turkey have been at odds for decades over a wide variety of issues, including sea boundaries, and have come to the brink of war over disputed inhabited islands in the Aegean Sea in 1996.

The move to begin exploratory drilling comes amid anger on the Turkish side over a deal signed between Greece and Egypt on economic zones for drilling rights and maritime boundaries, which Turkey claims is intended to keep it out of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Last year, Turkey signed a similar deal with the UN-backed Libyan government in Tripoli, sparking outrage in Greece, Cyprus and Egypt, who all said it infringed on their economic rights in eastern parts of the Mediterranean where important gas reserves have been found in recent years.

The EU is backing its member Greece in this dispute along with Turkey's regional rivals, Israel and Egypt.

France for its part has taken direct action in the stand-off, criticizing Ankara's stance and sending reinforcement to Eastern Mediterranean in support of Greece.

Tensions between France and Turkey were already high over their support for opposing sides in Libya's conflict.

Hasim Turker, an expert on military affairs and academic coordinator at the Ankara-based Bosphorus Center for Asian Studies, pointed out that this latest conflict highlights the political isolation of Turkey in the Mediterranean basin.

"Turkey should immediately seek ways to end its regional isolation and enter a meaningful dialogue with Israel and Egypt, for the sake of its national interests because this loneliness is detrimental to Turkish foreign policy," he said.

The former navy commander also argued that the resolution of the latest conflict stemming from a complex maritime jurisdiction issues needs dialogue and compromise, but neither of the two states seems prepared for it, at least not in a foreseeable future.

"We observe a nationalist discourse in both governments and this may prove very dangerous in such disputes, sparking further escalation," said Turker.

And he was proven right as a Greek and a Turkish warships were involved in a mild collision on Aug. 12 during their standoff, sparking serious concerns.

"A direct military confrontation is not to be expected but accidents such as this are dangerous. Things can easily go out of hand," he added. Enditem
The Woodlands Township has not welcomed visitors into the township offices on Technology Forest Boulevard since March when the COVID-19 pandemic started, but officials have been working to install various safety measures for when facilities reopen.

A consent agenda item for the Thursday Board of Directors meeting details plans to buy stand-alone COVID-19 screening kiosks called the WellO StationX temperature screening kiosk. The township hopes to purchase eight of the devices for entrances to the township offices at a cost of $84,000. Each kiosk takes the temperature of a peron in a non-touch process and cost $10,500 per device.

Township Communications Director Nick Wolda said the new kiosks are part of a larger effort to ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff and visitors for when the township offices do reopen. Staff have also been installing plexi-glass partitions in areas of the township board meeting room that will see directors and other administrators walled off from each other as is common in grocery stores and other businesses.

However, Wolda noted the final plans have not been officially approved and require an OK from the township board before final implementation.

(Township) Staff is finalizing safety plans regarding the re-opening of township building at 2801 Technology Forest Boulevard to bring to the board, he said in a brief statement.

Board Vice Chairman Bruce Rieser said the proposed protective measures are intended to reopen township facilities sooner than later. Rieser said he has not been to the township offices in recent weeks, so has not seen the specific changes but said he imagined it would be similar to what is seen widely now as businesses and other venues institute safety measures.

It is basically a situation where we desperately want to get back to work and get Town Hall open and serve the residents, Rieser said. Ive seen a (preliminary) plan that has seats (in Town Hall) spaced out all over the place, but nothing has been finalized. We are preparing for the fact, as weve seen with schools, well be back (to our offices) soon.

After the COVID-19 restrictions were put into place by Gov. Greg Abbott, the township reduced its onsite staffing as much as possible and under the required percentage of occupancy guidelines. Before those staff could go into the township offices, they had to do a pre-screening process at the Bear Branch Recreation Center, Rieser noted, before being cleared to go to the offices on Technology Forest Boulevard.

At some point, the screening kiosks are probably a necessary if we are going to start seeing the public and staff is coming back to work, Rieser added.

According to a flier for the product, the WelloStationX is a described as a, a hands-free, self-service, high-volume body temperature screening unit. The kiosks, the flier states, are FDA-approved and allow for staff and visitors to be identified as possibly contagious or posing a risk; to notify staff of a possibly infected person entering the offices and to help reduce the risk of infection of others.

When the station detects a person with an elevated temperature, an on-screen notification appears. Then, the individuals time and date stamped photograph are emailed confidentially to your staff, helping your employees stay germ-free while preventing the potentially contagious person from spreading the infection to others, company officials stated in the flied. For people with temperatures below the threshold, (the kiosk) prints out an Im wello sticker they can wear during their visit or workday.

The item is slated for the consent agenda, which means the township board will not discuss the issue and will vote en masse on all the various items listed under the consent agenda. The board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday and will be hosted online via Zoom video conference technology.

jeff.forward@chron.com
LONDON/LISBON (Reuters) - Britain removed Portugal from its COVID-19 quarantine list on Thursday, but said rising infections elsewhere meant travellers arriving from Croatia, Austria and Trinidad and Tobago would have to quarantine themselves for two weeks.

Transport minister Grant Shapps announced the changes on Twitter - the latest in a series of adjustments on quarantine policy as Britain tries to prevent importing new infections from hotspots overseas.

"Data ... shows we can now add Portugal to those countries INCLUDED in Travel Corridors," he said.

Shapps said Britain's whole travel policy was constantly under review and could change quickly, warning that people should only travel if they were content to quarantine themselves should the rules change during their holiday.

Emphasising that point, he also announced Croatia, Austria and Trinidad & Tobago were being added to the quarantine list, and incoming passengers would need to self-isolate for 14-days after they arrive, starting from 0300 GMT on Saturday.

Portugal, a popular tourist destination for Britons, has previously expressed frustration that Britain had refused to drop its quarantine requirements, something which has hit the tourism-dependent economy hard.

Britain's own tourism and airline industry has also been badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic, with other favourite holiday destinations France and Spain already subject to quarantine requirements in the peak of the holiday season.

Portugal's foreign ministry reacted to the decision on Twitter, saying: "It is good news indeed."

"This decision is proof of the good outcome of intense bilateral work. It allowed for an understanding that the situation in the country has always been under control."

New cases in Portugal have been gradually falling since the beginning of July, but remain in the several hundreds per day, with 291 new cases and 2 deaths reported on Thursday.

(Reporting by William James in London and Victoria Waldersee in Lisbon; editing by Stephen Addison)
Turkey is gearing up to start production of a new high-altitude, long-endurance drone, hoping to extend its military reach in the region and compensate, even if fractionally, for the loss of the F-35 new-generation jets after a row with Washington.

Baykar Makina  a company owned by the family of Selcuk Bayraktar, the young son-in-law of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan  announced Aug. 14 that the second prototype of the high-altitude, long-endurance variant of the Akinci drone, whose name means raider in Turkish, had successfully completed test flights and was ready for production.

A service ceiling of 40,000 feet and 24 hours of endurance will make the new drone immune to close-range air defense systems and provide it with an operational radius of 600 kilometers (373 miles). It will have a maximum takeoff weight of 4.5 tons and a payload capacity of 1,350 kilograms  900 kilograms external and 450 kilograms internal  and be powered by two Ukrainian Ivchenko-Progress AI-450C turboprop engines, each generating 550 horsepower. Turkey has so far imported 12 such engines from Ukraine, its main partner in the field of drone technology.

Some may ask whats the big deal about a drone that, at the end of the day, is rather cumbersome, with a speed of no more than 400 kilometers (some 250 miles) per hour. But Ankara has high expectations for what the drone could deliver.

Ankara sees the Akinci as its main aerial vehicle for intelligence-surveillance-target acquisition (ISTAR) and command-control-communication (C3) tasks in the next decade. The drone will be equipped with indigenously developed systems, including a multi-role active electronically scanned array radar, a SAR/GMTI radar, a wide-area surveillance system, electronic warfare, an electronic and signal intelligence suite, and beyond-line-of-sight satellite communications systems, the sum of which makes the Akinci the best-ever ISTAR+C3 asset the Turkish military has had.

Furthermore, the drone can be armed with a wide range of air-to-ground munitions including MAM-L, MAM-C, CIRIT, Mk81 and Mk82 general-purpose bombs and smart munitions. Roketsans SOM-A cruise missile, which has a range of 250 kilometers (155 miles), is also planned for integration into the Akinci. The combination of a relatively slow drone, powered by a turboprop engine, with standoff cruise missiles (SOM) might come across as illogical, but it is likely to become a game changer for Ankara in the next decade, in which it expects mostly low-intensity conflicts with violent non-state actors such as the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the Islamic State in its neighborhood rather than full-fledged conventional warfare. Namely, the new drone will allow the Turkish military to use high destructive power and precision guiding against targets up to 800 kilometers (nearly 500 miles) away, something that it has been able to do only with F-4E 2020 Terminator and F-16 jets thus far.

In operations in Iraq and Syria, for instance, Turkish drones have targeted light structures and unarmored ground vehicles at a depth of no more than 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the border, using 22-kilogram MAM-L smart micro munitions with a range of 8 kilometers (5 miles). The Akinci-SOM combination will allow strikes of higher destruction power on critical targets within a distance of up to 800 kilometers.

Some Turkish analysts claim the Akinci could be equipped with domestically developed air-to-air missiles, but given the drones relative slowness and limited maneuver capacity, this seems to be overblown anticipation. Yet some observers even argue developers should work on an advanced variant of the drone, capable of deploying on the TCG Anadolu, a domestically developed, multipurpose amphibious assault ship, which the army is scheduled to receive in 2021.

Ankara plans to have six Akincis operational by early 2021, with Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Qatar and Ukraine said to be interested in purchasing the drone.

The Akinci is coming just in time for the Turkish air force, whose F-16 and F-4 fleets are aging. Worse, its operational capacity has badly weakened after Washington withheld a batch of F-35 stealth jets from Turkey over its purchase of Russian air defense systems last year. Moreover, Turkeys indigenous TFX warplane project has been fraught with financial and technical hitches. And even if the project advances as planned, the army is unlikely to receive the jet by the early 2030s. Hence, the next decade is critical for the air force. The Akinci will strengthen Ankaras hand, providing a new option for long-range, air-to-ground missions in low-intensity conflict environments and thus alleviating the burden of the F-16s.

Given its focus on maximum air endurance at the expense of speed, the drone will be a fresh option also for less-costly and longer air patrol tasks, especially over the Aegean and the eastern Mediterranean, again reducing the workload of the F-16s.

The Akincis arrival will certainly lead the Turkish air force to update its air-to-air and air-to-land warfare doctrines. A new concept under discussion in Ankara envisions F-16 jets, loaded with air-to-air munition, providing cover to Akinci drones as they fly to target areas to strike targets on the ground. In other words, such air raids would mean combat tasks shared evenly by warplanes and drones.

Also, the Akinci will allow Turkey to use satellite communication to set up a regional drone network with a range of at least 800 kilometers and an altitude beyond the reach of low- and medium-altitude air defense systems.

Imagine, for instance, a Turkish drone base in Qatar or Somalia. An Akinci taking off from such a base can fly as far as 600 kilometers (373 miles) to fire a SOM missile. And with the missiles own range more than 250 kilometers (155 miles), Turkey would become capable of unmanned strikes on targets at a distance of up to 850 kilometers (528 miles).

The Akincis main downside is the reliance on Ukraine for its turboprop engine, which requires frequent maintenance and spare part supply. Turkey faces similar engine problems in other key projects for indigenous military equipment, including the TFX jet, the Altay main battle tank and the T129 attack helicopter. The reliance on foreign-made engines is increasingly emerging as the most crucial soft spot of the entire Turkish defense industry. Ankara is counting on know-how from Ukrainian and British companies and funds from Qatar to develop fully indigenous turboprop, diesel and jet engines, but Turkish companies have a long way to go to achieve that objective.

Nevertheless, the Akinci project promises to make Turkey a global drone power, with Ankara looking to use the new drone mainly to strike the PKK in Iraq and Syria but also for power projection and perhaps precision strikes in Libya, the eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean.

While the Akincis game-changing prospects are evident in military terms, its impact on diplomacy could go either way. Will it contribute to a speedier resolution of Ankaras foreign policy crises or further complicate and prolong them? The answer, so it seems, will emerge before too long.
School buses will start running next week with no guarantee of social distancing, despite the advice of the Covid-19 public health advisory body Nphet.

The Department of Education has committed to phasing in social distancing for second-level pupils on board buses, as required, but it wont happen on all services at the start of the year

Where possible it will start the term off with buses for second-level pupils at 50pc passenger capacity, in line with the practice on public transport.

Read More

The Department said discussions were already underway with Bus Eireann in respect of these plans.

The aim is that any services that can operate from the start of the school year at 50pc capacity will do so and over the coming period all other post-primary transport services will be re-organised and additional services will be provided as required to allow for physical distancing.

An Nphet memo to Government on Monday recommended social distancing for second level pupils, similar to what happens on public transport, where seating capacity has been reduced by about 50pc as a result.

For primary pupils, Nphet said distancing shouldnt be maintained where possible.

Transport Minister Eamon Ryan admitted yesterday that they did not have the buses to increase the capacity.

In a statement today, the Department of Education said it welcomed the most recent advice from Nphet.

In relation to primary schools, it added that the Government has decided that the arrangements made for primary school transport scheme will proceed as planned when schools re-open.

In relation to post-primary schools, it said services would return with the rolling implementation of measures to provide physical distancing as required.

In a second statement this evening, it provided more detail and said, where possible, any services, that could start the new year at 50pc capacity would do so.

The Department said the Minister for Education would continue to work with the Minister for Health and other Government ministers to identify and consider the additional resources required to support the rollout of these measures.

Measures already agreed to promote safe travel on schools buses include pre-assigned seating to ensure that children sat beside siblings or class mates, additional cleaning and the wearing of face coverings for children over the age of 13 years, other than in exceptional cases.

Bus Eireann, which operates the School Transport Scheme on behalf of the Department of Education, said "planning and organisation for the resumption of services is ongoing. "

Figures show that last year, 120,000 children used the service of which 68,000 were post-primary students.

The company said in a statement: "There will be a rolling implementation of measures to provide physical distancing on the post-primary services as required."

"Bus Eireann has been working closely with the Department of Education to ensure the safe operation of the school transport service when schools reopen. Measures agreed include pre-assigned seating  a bus buddy - to ensure that children are seated beside siblings or class mates, additional hygiene and cleaning measures on board school buses and the wearing of face coverings for children over 13 years of age, with limited exceptions for medical reasons or special educational needs.

"Following consideration of the most recent recommendations and advice from Nphet, the Government has decided that the arrangements made for primary school transport scheme will proceed as planned and these services will operate fully and as normal with additional measures and hygiene requirements in place.

"The Department of Education and Bus Eireann will continue to communicate with parents/guardians, contractors and drivers on the operation of services for the upcoming school year."

The Department of Education stated said it had been engaging intensively with Bus Eireann to ensure the safe operation of the school transport service when schools reopen.

It said it would be issuing further communications to parents and children in the coming days.
Donna Perry is a Sun Chronicle columnist and media commentator. Reach her at donnaperryhome@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter @donnaperryma1.
Amid a new outbreak, New Zealands opposition is once again trying to leverage misinformation for political gain.

After more than 100 days without recording a case of community transmission, New Zealand is once again methodically stamping out COVID-19.

The nations largest city, Auckland, is back in alert level three. Roads out of the city are closed. The remainder of the country watches on from the more permissive alert level two, nervously waiting as a more complete picture of viral spread emerges.

So far, contact tracing seems to be working, with about 96 percent of close contacts followed up. A total of 154,000 tests have been processed over the past week, an enormous surge after public complacency around testing set in.

The outbreak was detected on August 11, when four members of a family from South Auckland tested positive for COVID-19. By Thursday, the cluster had grown to 78 confirmed cases, highlighting the speed at which the virus spreads.

The source of that outbreak  which has seen 133 people linked to the cluster moved into quarantine  has so far eluded authorities. Another case, a maintenance worker at a hotel used for managed isolation, is believed to have contracted the virus from a contaminated surface in the hotels lift.

Reports that testing of border and isolation staff in Auckland had not ramped up to levels expected by Cabinet has once again cast a spotlight on what critics call egregious mismanagement of the border and isolation facilities.

Regardless, the government, led by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, moved quickly to contain the outbreak, announcing that Auckland would move into alert level 3 within hours of being informed of the new cases; left to spread unrestrained, COVID-19 infections grow exponentially.

Together we have got rid of COVID before. We have been world-leading in our COVID response, said Ardern last week, while announcing the cabinets decision to extend lockdown measures by 12 days. We can do all of that again.

Yet, months-long efforts to discredit lockdown measures have almost certainly contributed to a partial fraying of public patience with the approach.

Prominent commentators and special interests are at it again, claiming it is time to abandon the countrys elimination strategy, instead managing the spread of COVID-19 into communities  just lock away the elderly and the infirm, the commentariat suggests.

Of course, those demanding such an approach belong to a particular class of people, one that can insulate itself from the viral rampage as it overwhelms a fragile health sector and devastates vulnerable communities.

In the same vein, conspiracy theories and misinformation have proliferated. Fringe groups claim that COVID-19 is a 5G-linked bioweapon and promise to oppose lockdown measures with demonstrations.

To date, protests have drawn only a scattering of people, in contrast to the online noise such groups generate. That may change.

More alarming are the manoeuvrings of the centre-right, main opposition National Party, which recently attempted to leverage conspiracy and misinformation for political gain.

An interesting series of facts

The government and health officials have long warned that COVID-19 would return to the country; New Zealanders did not have to look far to see why. In the Australian state of Victoria, rule-breaking by workers from private security firms overseeing quarantines at two Melbourne hotels led to multiple outbreaks.

With a massive drop-off in testing  on July 19, merely eight tests in the community were processed  New Zealands health authorities were looking to boost surveillance testing to around 4,000 per day.

On August 11, the director-general of health, Ashley Bloomfield, received a much-publicised COVID-19 test, an attempt to offset any complacency or stigma surrounding the procedure. In the meantime, Ardern visited a mask-making factory, abandoning the governments reticence towards encouraging the use of masks.

Later that day, testing discovered that COVID-19 had returned to the country.

The National Party called a press conference the following day, headed by party leader Judith Collins and her deputy, Gerry Brownlee.

Citing the Bloomfield test and Arderns visit to the mask factory, Brownlee stood smirking. Its interesting, he said. An interesting series of facts.

The implication seemed to be that the government knew for some time that there was a COVID-19 outbreak and withheld this from the public.

In an environment of heightened fear and misinformation, Brownlee was dog-whistling to the emergent conspirational fringe  those who vow civil disobedience  while more generally attempting to undermine faith in the public health response.

The party quickly walked back the claims.

Brownlee told the broadcaster Newstalk ZB on August 14 that he had ended up in a bad spot and didnt intend to create any fear.

The way it has been presented has been unfortunate.

That explanation is, of course, nonsense: on Tuesday, Brownlee reiterated his claims, again engaging in scaremongering and conspiracy-baiting in the hope of drawing a tiny number of fringe voters to his party.

There is something deeply unappealing about a grasping politician who puts the personal pursuit of power above public wellbeing.

The election

On Monday, Ardern announced her decision to postpone the general election  and accompanying End of Life Choice and cannabis referendums  by a month, until October 17.

This, hopefully, gives health authorities time to get on top of the latest outbreak, provides all parties ample breathing room to campaign and reassures the public that the election can be held safely.

The governments health-first priorities and Arderns compassionate leadership style have generated massive public support since the countrys first confirmed COVID-19 case on February 28.

Arderns Labour Party has consistently polled above 50 percent throughout the pandemic.

Whether voters will punish the government for a number of mistakes and mishaps during the pandemic remains to be seen. Its failures to deliver flagship policies  the ill-fated KiwiBuild real estate project, for example  over the past three years will have little impact.

By contrast, the National Partys relentless negativity has turned voters away, with the latest Roy Morgan poll putting them on 26.5 percent support. Collins, the partys third leader in three months, has  like her predecessors  totally misread the public mood.

Had the party provided constructive criticism of the governments COVID-19 response, it would likely be in a much healthier electoral position.

Instead, it mostly went down the path of scattershot criticism and dirty politics: leaking private details of COVID-19 patients to the media and inventing a homeless man at a managed isolation facility.

Nothing about Collinss character suggests that she will be able to, or is interested in, correcting the partys course.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
The James Beard Foundation, whose awards are considered to be among the restaurant worlds highest honors and regularly go to Bay Area restaurants, announced Thursday that it will discontinue the rest of its awards announcements in 2020 due to the impact the coronavirus pandemic is having on the industry, among other reasons.

The foundation canceled its annual awards ceremony, scheduled for Sept. 25. In February, the foundation announced the semifinalists for numerous industry awards, including best new chef, outstanding bar program, outstanding chef and best new restaurant. In May, the foundation announced the winners of its Food Media Awards.

As an alternative to the ceremony, it will host a live event on Twitter on the same day to celebrate the winners of previously announced categories, as well as nominees. The foundation said it will also redirect efforts to make the event focus on challenges the industry currently faces, such as finding ways to make it stronger and more equitable, according to a news release.

The uncertainty of this time for our industry is already a hard reality and considering anyone to have won or lost within the current tumultuous hospitality ecosystem does not in fact feel like the right thing to do, James Beard Foundation CEO Clare Reichenbach said in the statement. In short, an honor which we know is held in high regard, at the moment, feels minor when compared to the dire situation we are in. As we strive to provide an awards program with the highest ethical standards, one that is fair, equitable, and reflective of the industry which we serve, we know that the right move is to step back and take stock of the nominees and honorees achievements.

The restaurant industry has long been plagued by inequalities when it comes to access and power for women and minorities. Since the beginning of the pandemic, and more recently amid nationwide Black Lives Matter protests, the dialogue around the industrys issues has grown more prominent.

Only days before the foundation announced its decision, Bay Area chef David Kinch of Manresa, a finalist for the foundations top honor of outstanding chef, took to Instagram to say he was dropping out of consideration for the award. Citing the industrys shortcomings, Kinch said his decision was spurred by rampant gender and racial inequality in the business, and described the past few months as a reset button for the restaurant world.

The foundations decision contrasts with that of its restaurant award competitor, the Michelin Guide, which will release its California guide based entirely on pre-pandemic dining. A Michelin spokesperson told The Chronicle this week that inspectors for the annual guide will not return to California before its release, the timing of which has yet to be announced.

Along with canceling announcements of winners, the James Beard Foundation will also cancel its traditional awards presentations in 2021 in favor of an alternative event that will be held in Chicago and broadcast nationwide in May. The awards would have been based on the efforts of restaurant industry leaders in 2020, which have been hampered by the pandemic, and according to the foundation, trying to determine awards within that work would be unfair and misguided.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Instead, the 2021 ceremony will be a celebration of the independent restaurant community who have shown leadership during this crisis and honoring those who have made a significant impact on the industry and in their communities, the news release reads.

This year, the foundation turned in-person ceremonies that were scheduled for April and May into virtual events due to health and safety concerns associated with the spread of the coronavirus. In the food world, the ceremony is likened to the Oscars.

Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JustMrPhillips
Ranked as No.1 Creative Director and No.1 Copywriter in South Africa for 2019, and as the runner-up for Woman of the Year 2020, Steph van Niekerk is one of the country's top talents. Over the last 19 years, she's honed her skills as a copywriter at some of South Africa's best agencies. She's won nearly every local and international award, including several Gold Cannes Lions, SA's first (and still only) Gold One Show Pencil for TV and Cinema and the first Grand Prix at the Loerie Awards for a branded content series. Having had experience in both traditional and digital agencies, she believes in integrated platform-agnostic storytelling. She is known for work that is always moving, entertaining and insightful.

Steph van Niekerk, creative director at Grey/WPP Liquid.

Please tell us more about yourself and what it is you do.

After everything youve achieved in your career, do you feel that youve done enough to represent women in the industry?

Do you think the advertising industry is still too male-dominated or is there significant change in transformation happening?

A particular challenge is that our women are so good, they get poached by the internationals and emigrate. Some of our finest exports have been women. We need to do more to pull more women up to fill the voids.

Do you think the future of advertising will benefit from more female leadership?

What are your personal tips on getting to the top in the advertising industry, specifically as a woman?

We do have to get better at selling ourselves, though. Im always struck by how confident our male counterparts are in their abilities and ideas. I think this is something that is learnt at a very young age. You can ask a guy how his exam went, and hell reply that he "ACED it!" Girls, on the other hand, will tend to be more doubtfuleven if they had, in fact, aced it. I see this disparity of confidence play out every single day, and it does put us at a slight disadvantage. Because if we dont sell ourselves, no one will.

What is your hope for the next or future generations of women in advertising/advertising industry?

I think sometimes we mistake aggression for empowerment. This is a fallacy. My hope is that the younger generation will believe in themselves more, be confident in their abilities and take up their rightful place in the industry. I hope to see a generation of female leaders who are as kind as they are strong.

What is your key message to fellow women in advertising this Womens Month?

Here Van Niekerk tells us why she still thinks its the work that matters and why its the work that will take you to where you want to be.Hello! Im Steph, creative director at Grey/WPP Liquid where Im currently looking after the Savanna and Scottish Leader accounts. This is my twentieth year in the industry (scream-face-emoji). It seems like just yesterday when I started out as a nervous little copywriter at Ogilvy Cape Town. Since then, Ive been lucky enough to work with some of the greatest minds in advertising at the countrys top agencies.I think I can honestly say that I am where I am today because of other women; women who saw my potential and talents and took the time to nurture them. Despite having all the awards in the world, it took me a really long time to believe that I was ready for a management role. I guess my focus has always been on the work itself. I still think the work is what matters. The work will take you to where you want to be.I am where I am today because of other women; women who saw my potential and talents and took the time to nurture them/Last year, we won two Grands Prix and seven golds at the Loeries in one night. I hope that I can inspire young female creatives by showing them that we can absolutely hold our own on the awards stage. So, when I work with young females, the focus is very much on honing their creative skills, as that is where all their confidence, self-belief and empowerment will come from. Fact.You know, for a significant part of my career Ive worked at places with very strong female leadershipwomen like Fran Luckin, Mariana OKelly and Bridget Johnson, so I just always assumed that it was the same everywhere else. It was only when I was a freelancer for a couple of years that I realised advertising was still very much male-dominated.This is particularly true on the global level, where women generally only make up a fraction of global creative councils. I think South Africa is actually ahead of our global peers, but we still have a long way to go.Absolutely. The world needs people who can lead with empathy and strength. Women have a natural ability to empathise with employees on a human level and in our current reality, this is more important than ever.Focus on the work. At the end of the day, no one can argue with or deny a job well done.We can achieve so much more if we work with one another rather than against each other. I feel like sometimes the patriarchy keeps us down by pitting us against each other. We cannot allow this to happen. All the successful women I know are surrounded by other successful women. We should celebrate each womans victories as if it were our own. Because in a way, they are.
KALAMAZOO, MI  Brandi Crawford-Johnson suffers from asthma and says she and others sometimes experience eye irritation when rotten-smelling industrial odors are thick around her home on N. Church Street in Kalamazoos Northside neighborhood.

This is a serious problem that everyone has ignored for too long, said Crawford-Johnson, who worries about chronic exposure to an industrial gas that a new study attributes to wastewater from a nearby paper mill  which is seeking a large tax break on a major expansion.

This odor is making people sick, Crawford-Johnson said. It is constantly in the air.

Industrial odor concerns are coming to the fore this summer in Kalamazoo, where residents and businesses on the northeast side have long dealt with odors that have often been attributed to the city wastewater treatment plant on Harrison Street next to the river.

The odors, generally described as having a rotten smell, are believed to be hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a mostly unregulated gas thats coming from industrial effluent at Graphic Packaging International, which manufactures commercial cartons and recycled paperboard at 1500 N. Pitcher Street.

The odors have resulted in eight violation notices in the past decade from air quality regulators at the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), which has forced Graphic Packaging to study the problem and deliver a report on potential fixes this year.

Meanwhile, Graphic Packaging is in the final stages of approval for a major tax break on a $600 million expansion of its mill, which the company says will position Kalamazoo as the largest recycled paperboard manufacturing location in North America. The request follows a similar tax break approved last year on its plans expand on a nearby Brownfield site.

Graphics new tax abatement request, worth about $1.6 million, sparked nearly an hours worth of discussion among Kalamazoo city commissioners this week following a virtual public hearing in which Crawford-Johnson and several residents objected to the proposal.

Commissioners eventually tabled their approval until next month, asking for a city odor task force presentation on efforts to investigate and fix the problem in the meantime.

Commissioner Jack Urban compared the situation to odorous issues of past decades with Upjohn pharmaceuticals and said the impact on the predominately Black Northside neighborhood could be characterized as an example of environmental racism.

This is not an isolated incident, said commissioner Erin Knott, who said she can sometimes smell the odors on a foggy day at her home. We have a large chunk of our community where, particularly in the summer months, its offensive to be outside.

Its a debilitating smell.

Knott alleged that shes been told to be quiet before about the issue, because its a sensitive subject because of our relationship with Graphic Packaging.

According to a June report prepared for the city by the Jones & Henry engineering firm, an open-air wastewater pre-treatment clarifier on Graphics property along the river just north of Paterson Street is releasing hydrogen sulfide gas with peaks well above the odor threshold.

The clarifier is part of an underground piping system connecting Graphic Packaging to the next-door Kalamazoo water reclamation facility, which treats industrial wastewater before discharging to the Kalamazoo River. The Jones & Henry report identifies an old junction chamber as a problem spot in which turbulent mixing generates gases. The chamber flows into a 54-inch pipe that, because its oversized, helps send gas up through manhole covers.

The report recommends $490,000 in upgrades, but also warns that even with the solutions recommended by J&H, odors will continue to be released from the open clarifier.

A 2020 Jones & Henry engineering report illustration showing wastewater piping and an open-air clarifier at Graphic Packaging near the Paterson Street bridge in Kalamazoo. The report identifies this as a source of rotten hydrogen sulfide odors in the area.

James Baker, Kalamazoo public services director, said hes not going to finger-point, but right now, it would appear there is some improvement needed from Graphics.

Weve been working together, Baker said. We want to continue to work together. There is a lot of complexity to this.

The city put $15 million into odor improvements at the wastewater plant a couple years ago, including new sludge dewatering and transportation equipment and carbon scrubbers to treat exhaust gases. Last year, the city debuted a new Envirosuite odor tracking system that includes sensors positioned around the treatment plant and Graphic Packaging.

Two off-property sensors are located east of the river. One is at Gull Road & Riverview Drive about a quarter mile southeast of the Graphic clarifier. The other is at Ascension Borgess hospital, about a half mile northeast and uphill. There are no sensors located west of Graphics property to catch odors heading toward the Northside neighborhood.

According to the citys raw sensor data, both sensors have recorded hydrogen sulfide hits within the odor threshold range on an almost daily basis since tracking began in September.

The data shows regular hydrogen sulfide readings at or above the minimum risk level (MRL) of 0.02 parts-per-million (ppm) for intermediate exposure by inhalation (15 to 364 days) set by the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the toxicology arm of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The non-enforceable MRL risk screening levels are used by the ATSDR to assess whether exposure poses a health hazard.

The highest reading east of the river occurred at 10:42 a.m. on July 13, when the Borgess hospital sensor recorded hydrogen sulfide at 0.332-ppm.

Hydrogen sulfide exposure can harm a persons nervous, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems, depending on dosage levels. Lower exposure is less severe, according to the agency.

We were told it was a mystery odor of unknown origin, said Beth Yerrick, co-owner of the Dog Dive, a canine aqua-therapy and daycare business on Riverview Drive directly across the river from the wastewater plant.

On high odor days, its really unpleasant to be outside, she said. Its not exactly what you want as a welcoming business.

Down the road at the Six Ducks Barber Shop, owner Corey Stevenson said the methane-type gas smell comes and goes. People remark on it all the time. Most assume the stench comes from the wastewater treatment plant, he said.

You can go down there any day and smell Graphic Packaging odors, said Monica Brothers, an environmental quality analyst in EGLEs air quality division.

This is at the top of my radar at the moment, she said.

Last summer, state air quality regulators began escalating enforcement efforts with Graphic Packaging after years of violations. The Kalamazoo mill has racked-up 12 violation notices from EGLE since 2010. Of those, eight are odor code violations and two are for fallout dusting. In July, company consultants began an eight-week odor investigation study. That report is due later this fall.

Brothers said EGLE has received 100 complaints about odors specifically directed against Graphic Packaging since 2010. In that same period, there have been five complaints against the wastewater plant and zero violation notices.

In response to EGLE odor violation notices, local mill managers have quibbled with regulators assertion that odors are Graphic Packagings fault. In response to a 2019 violation, mill manager Richard Townley wrote that company staff have been unable to identify any operational evidence connecting odors to Graphic Packaging. In response to a 2018 violation, Townley said the company was using chemical products like Redoxx 60 to reduce hydrogen sulfide odors. He disagreed that odors were intense enough to warrant a violation and pointed the finger at Kalamazoos wastewater plant.

Michigans air pollution control rules require someone from EGLE to witness the odor and determine whether it creates unreasonable interference with the comfortable enjoyment of life and property.

Mary Ann Dolehanty, EGLEs air quality director, said the department is planning to hold a public hearing next month on Graphic Packagings request to modify a permit to expand its operations and add new paper machines and new boilers.

Dolehanty said Graphic Packaging is in compliance with conditions in its air permit. The last facility inspection was in 2018. The odor problem is more fugitive, she said. Complaint calls to air quality staff at 269-567-3500 are most effective when the odor is occurring, said Brothers.

During this weeks city commission meeting, Graphic Packaging vice president Andy Johnson said the company is still in the data collection phase and that there are other sources that are generating odors.

Johnson said Graphic used computer modeling to investigate three odor complaints from May and June, and we determined the source could not be from the mill or the city waste treatment facility. Later in the discussion, city public services director Baker said analysis showed that some odors trace back to the Kalamazoo River itself.

Im not saying the river is the cause, Baker said. Im saying were discovering more than two sources of odors.

In response to questions about odor complaints, regulatory violations and the tax abatement request from MLive, Graphic Packaging communications manager Sue Appleyard wrote that the company is working with city and state officials on an investigation into the odors.

We take these complaints very seriously, and are working closely with the City of Kalamazoo as part of its task force to understand the source of the odors, Appleyard wrote. At this time, weve found no indication that the objectionable odors are coming from our mill. However, as an organization firmly invested in the community, we will continue to do our part to listen to and address concerns, and take whatever steps are appropriate based on the results of the investigations.

In addition to another Michigan mill in Battle Creek, Graphic Packaging has paper mills in Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, South Carolina, Ohio and Quebec. Appleyard wrote we have no other odor issues at any other U.S. mills.

The Kalamazoo industrial facilities tax break would, if approved, benefit the community with new jobs and other economic benefits to Michigan totaling $2 billion during a three-year construction period, she wrote.

The odors did not factor into a previous tax incentives package that Graphic Packaging received last year, according to county Brownfield authority staff. Dolehanty said EGLE air quality staff werent consulted on the application.

County commissioner Michael Seals, whose district includes Borgess hospital and part of the Gull Road & Riverview Drive intersection, said he voted to approve the incentives because of the local economic benefit. Seals expressed firm belief the odors belong to the wastewater plant, not the company.

Its not coming from Graphic Packaging. I dont know where people have said the smell is coming from Graphic Packaging. Its not coming from them, Seals said, telling a reporter, I dont know how you tied those two together.

Seals was unaware of the states odor violations and did not call MLive back after being emailed links to them. Commissioner Stephanie Moore, whose county district includes Kalamazoos Northside neighborhood, also did not return a call seeking comment.

The city commission will resume discussion on Graphics tax abatement request on Sept. 21. According to city clerk Scott Borling, a decision must be made by Oct. 31 in order to guarantee state tax commission processing in time for the break to be effective next year.

Before the unanimous decision to table the issue, Mayor David Anderson reminded commissioners of the huge investment Graphic Packaging is making in Kalamazoo.

I dont want that to be lost in the discussion, Anderson said.

Related Stories:

Marathon fined over rotten odors, emissions at Detroit refinery

Major tax break approved for Graphic Packaging

Anti-odor efforts part of wastewater plant upgrade

Mystery odor is back in Kalamazoo

Locals dont know source of stink, but want it gone
Her first close-up view of political power came in the early 1990s. She had returned to college as an older student and, while there, got a job as a political page for State Sen. Jim Stevens (D). Pryce understood the appointment was not an act of pure altruism: Stevens realized he could not court Horry Countys Black vote while touting an all-white staff. Still, as a page, she began to learn the mechanics of politics, a lesson that would serve her in years to come.
Sierra Leoneans request freeze of Octea's assets in diamond mine lawsuit

21 august 2020 News

A group of Sierra Leoneans has requested the countrys High Court to freeze the assets of Octea, a subsidiary of Beny Steinmetz's BSG Resources (BSGR) in their ongoing diamond mine lawsuit, according to news reports.

At least 73 plaintiffs launched a lawsuit against Octea subsidiary Koidu in March last year seeking damages for alleged environmental degradation around a diamond mine.

They all live within 500 metres of the mine and alleged that they had suffered respiratory infections and headaches from living near the mine. They are seeking $288-million in damages.

Reuters reports that it had seen an affidavit to the high court of Sierra Leone in which the lawyer for the plaintiffs said there was a "clear and present risk" the defendants could expatriate funds in order to avoid having to pay out if the court rules against them.

The affidavit said that without a freezing order, plaintiffs might have to seek execution of a possible judgment in their favour in as many as seven separate jurisdictions.

The majority of the 12 defendants are not domiciled in Sierra Leone, and BSGR is in administration proceedings.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
Massachusetts health officials said Wednesday that most students over age 6 months must get a flu vaccine this year as the state prepares to handle Covid-19 and seasonal influenza this fall.

The requirement applies to all students attending state child care, preschool, kindergarten, grade school, colleges or universities. The state expects students to receive the vaccination by Dec. 31, unless the student provides a medical or religious exemption.

Home-schooled students and students at affected colleges and universities who live off campus for the semester are also exempt, the state said. However, it said, college students who attend any activities on campus "even once," must be vaccinated by Dec. 31.

Massachusetts said the immunization is required for students to enter school in January.

"The new vaccine requirement is an important step to reduce flu-related illness and the overall impact of respiratory illness during the COVID-19 pandemic," the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said in a statement Wednesday.

The mandate comes as the country prepares for the confluence of the standard influenza season and the Covid-19 pandemic. Fewer than half of American adults, and about 60% of kids, typically get the flu shot each year, CDC data shows. Every year, the flu sickens 9 million to 45 million Americans, causes at least 140,000 hospitalizations and leads to 12,000 to 61,000 deaths, according to the CDC.

Public health officials, including White House coronavirus advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci and director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Robert Redfield, have previously urged Americans to get vaccinated against the flu this season.

"Every year, thousands of people of all ages are affected by influenza, leading to many hospitalizations and deaths," said Dr. Larry Madoff, medical director for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences. "It is more important now than ever to get a flu vaccine because flu symptoms are very similar to those of Covid-19 and preventing the flu will save lives and preserve health-care resources."

To meet the anticipated spike in demand for a flu vaccine this year, the four makers of flu vaccines have said they plan to ship almost 200 million doses to the U.S., up about 19% from last season.

A bad flu season this year would further strain hospitals, many of which are already stretched thin as they care for Covid-19 patients. Some epidemiologists, including Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, warn that the country could see a rise in coronavirus cases this winter as schools try to hold in-person classes and the weather forces people indoors, where the virus spreads more easily.

State officials, including New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, have warned it could be a complicated autumn and winter with both viruses circulating at the same time.

"You're in the flu season. Everybody is sneezing, everybody is coughing and everybody has a runny nose. Who has the flu and who is possibly Covid positive? It becomes a much more difficult calculus," Cuomo said during a news briefing on Monday.

 CNBC's Meg Tirrell and Harriet Taylor contributed to this report.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 20, ARMENPRESS. The health authorities of Artsakh said August 20 that 7 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed over the last 24 hours in the country.

The cumulative total number of confirmed infections stands at 268, with 248 recoveries. There havent been any coronavirus-related deaths in Artsakh so far. However, 1 person infected with the virus had died earlier, but authorities said the persons death was caused by other pre-existing conditions.

The number of active cases stands at 18.

Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan; Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday doubled down on reopening schools next month - a day after teachers threatened to strike over his COVID-19 testing plan.

De Blasio and schools chancellor Richard Carranza released a 'Back to School pledge' outlining the features of their reopening plan.

The city's teachers union, the United Federation of Teachers, had said on Wednesday that his reopening protocol was insufficient to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

New York City schools, which make up the largest school district in the U.S., are slated to open September 10 for a blend of in-person and remote learning.

A group of 31 city council members wrote to de Blasio and the Department of Education Wednesday to say there are still 'far too many unanswered questions' regarding reopening.

They wrote: 'With less than a month until school is scheduled to start, there are still far too many unanswered questions around health and safety, programming, operations, and pedagogy.

'With so much ambiguity around the Citys ability to re-open schools safely, a majority of the New York City Council is calling for the Mayor to pause and delay the re-opening of schools, which allows the DOE time to better plan, from both a safety and an academic perspective.'

De Blasio, right, and schools chancellor Richard Carranza, left, released a 'Back to School pledge' outlining the features of their reopening plan on Thursday

HOW WILL BILL'S PLAN ACTUALLY WORK? New York City schools are slated to open September 10 for a blend of in-person and remote learning. De Blasio has pledged 'students will be learning five days a week, no matter what' but it is unclear exactly how that will work or how many days each child will in school for. Students 'will remain in pods for as much of the day as possible' and, along with staff 'will wear face coverings throughout the school day'. The reopening plan stipulates that all schools will have a 30-day supply of personal protective equipment at all times and schools will close if the percentage of positive COVID-19 tests in the city is 3 per cent or more on a seven-day average. The mayor's school reopening plan 'encourages' teachers to get tested for COVID-19 monthly and promises that the city's testing sites will expedite results for city school staff. If at least two COVID-19 cases are confirmed in different classrooms at a school, the mayor's plan calls for the school to be closed for 14 days. If one or two linked cases are recorded in the same classroom, then only that classroom must close for 14 days. Advertisement

The reopening plan stipulates that all schools will have a 30-day supply of personal protective equipment at all times and schools will close if the percentage of positive COVID-19 tests in the city is 3 per cent or more on a seven-day average.

'We are going to make sure these schools are safe and ready. And if we don't think they're safe and ready, they won't reopen,' de Blasio said on Thursday.

'We work for the parents and the kids of New York City and we owe it to them to get it right, and we will. So, everyone is working together to make sure the PPEs are in place, the signage, the cleaning, the disinfecting, you name it. That work going on literally every single day.

'Some of it is more advanced and technological. Some of it's really old school. Opening up windows. Some school classrooms have windows that were sealed shut. We're opening them up because, what the doctors tell us is fresh air is actually one of the very best ways to fight the coronavirus.'

Carranza added: 'I know how overwhelming this may feel, but I want to reiterate something that the mayor has said and I, also, have said: that if it's not safe, we won't reopen.'

Compared to de Blasio's threshold of a 3 per cent COVID-19 infection rate for schools to shut down again, the city's positive test rate on Thursday was 0.88 per cent.

New York City teachers on Wednesday threatened to strike or bring legal action unless the city government addresses specific safety demands like a more rigorous COVID-19 testing plan and protocols for isolating students who show symptoms of the virus.

The union has called on the mayor to address ventilation issues in school buildings and implement stricter procedures on bussing students, in addition to demands for increased testing students and staff.

'The minute we feel that the mayor is trying to force people in to a situation that is unsafe... we go to court, we take a job action,' said Michael Mulgrew, president of the union representing the city's 133,000 teachers, adding that a 'job action' could include a strike.

The union did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the mayor's pledge on Thursday.

Bill de Blasio, mayor of New York, demonstrates a non-contact thermal thermometer with Richard Carranza, chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, during a news conference at New Bridges Elementary School, ahead of schools reopening

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, pictured, on Thursday doubled down on reopening schools next month - a day after teachers threatened to strike over his COVID-19 testing plan

'Now it's time to say, public servants, rise to the occasion and answer the call,' de Blasio said of the teachers.

The mayor's school reopening plan 'encourages' teachers to get tested for COVID-19 monthly and promises that the city's testing sites will expedite results for city school staff.

If at least two COVID-19 cases are confirmed in different classrooms at a school, the mayor's plan calls for the school to be closed for 14 days. If one or two linked cases are recorded in the same classroom, then only that classroom must close for 14 days.

'Schools will communicate to all families and students at school once a case is laboratory confirmed,' the NYC Department of Education website states.

'The minute we feel that the mayor is trying to force people in to a situation that is unsafe ... we go to court, we take a job action,' UFT President Michael Mulgrew said during a briefing, adding that a 'job action' could include a strike

On Tuesday, the University of Notre Dame and Michigan State University rolled back their plans for in-person classes, with Notre Dame pushing back classes by two weeks after reporting 80 cases on Monday and Michigan switching to all-remote for the semester.

Earlier this month, Chicago's school district delayed a plan to allow students the option of attending class in pods of 15 pupils twice a week after the teachers union threatened to strike.

Instead, all of the district's 350,000 students will take classes remotely until at least November 6.

Many US schools and universities got off to a faltering start in welcoming students back to campus and the classroom this week.

In several cases, spikes of positive COVID-19 tests administered to returning students and staff forced schools to delay or scupper plans for classroom instruction and limit students to remote learning programs.
MBABANE - The country yesterday received 20 Cuban doctors who came through the Ngwenya Border Gate.

The doctors were received by the Ministry of Health Principal Secretary, Dr Simon Zwane, and State Chief of Protocol Henry Zeeman. They came by bus from O.R Tambo International Airport, South Africa. The bus dropped them off at the border before they were taken to the Royal Villas, where they would be quarantined.

Confirmed

This was confirmed by Dr Vusi Magagula, who said about 10 of the Cuban doctors had come specifically for COVID-19 while the other half was to deal with non-communicable diseases (NCDs). He said the COVID-19 doctors would spend three months in the country while the others were joining another group that was already in the country. The NCD team will be dealing with diseases like diabetes, he said. Their living expenses will be catered for by government. They will also receive a stipend. Even though Dr Magagula did not give the figure, he said this publication once wrote about it.

The doctors are in the country because of a partnership which the two countries; Eswatini and Cuba have, spanning about 14 years now. Their engagement was a result of a bilateral agreement between the two countries. It was established that since the start of the programme, the doctors from Cuba were rotated every three years. Our sister publication, the Times SUNDAY recently reported that government paid the specialists a stipend of about E15 000 each.

The new arrivals of doctors had a meet and greet with the Minister of Health, Lizzie Nkosi, at the Royal Villas before proceeding to their isolation rooms. At least 15 countries have received Cuban doctors from Havana, including Italy and South Africa among others. Statistics in Cuba suggest that there are 3 408 cases of COVID-19. Among those cases, there were 88 deaths as of yesterday and 2 794 recoveries. Active cases were 526.
/ Josh LaBella

FAIRFIELD  A Waterbury man has been charged for allegedly stealing thousand of dollars from a Fairfield bank in 2019, according to police.

Fairfield police said Juan Castillo, 43, was arrested in July on a warrant for a felony charge of third-degree larceny in connection with a transaction at the Webster Bank, 1919 Black Rock Turnpike.
SES's next-generation MEO communications system to scale and deliver proven low-latency, high-performance connectivity services as of 2021

SES announced today that it has selected SpaceX as a launch partner to deliver the four newly-ordered O3b mPOWER spacecraft of its next-generation Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) communications system. Just like the initial seven O3b mPOWER satellites procured, these additional four satellites will be launched into space on board Falcon 9 rockets from Cape Canaveral. A total of four Falcon 9 rockets will be used to support the deployment of all O3b mPOWER satellites.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200819005803/en/

SES Picks SpaceX to Launch Four Additional O3b mPOWER Satellites (Photo: Business Wire)

SES's O3b mPOWER fully-funded communications system comprises 11 high-throughput and low-latency satellites as well as an automated and intelligence-powered ground infrastructure. Built by Boeing, each satellite will generate thousands of dynamic beams and can deliver connectivity services ranging from 50Mbps to multiple gigabits per second to telecommunications, maritime, aeronautical, and energy, as well as governments and institutions across the world. SES has previously announced Orange and Carnival Cruises its first O3b mPOWER customers. O3b mPOWER is SES's next-generation MEO system. It is built on the proven track record of SES's current O3b constellation of 20 MEO satellites. Today, the O3b system is delivering high-performance communications services to customers operating in nearly 50 countries.

SES and SpaceX disrupted the industry back in 2013 when SES became the first to launch a commercial geostationary (GEO) satellite with SpaceX, and later as the first ever payload on a flight-proven SpaceX rocket. Their next O3b mPOWER launch in 2021 will be another one for the record books as the revolutionary terabit-scale capabilities of SES's O3b mPOWER communications system disrupt the industry again.

"SES's selection of SpaceX to support launch of the full O3b mPOWER constellation is a testament to our deep partnership built over the past decade," said SpaceX Vice President of Commercial Sales Tom Ochinero. "We look forward to working with SES to make history again through the successful deployment of this new system."

"O3b mPOWER is the cornerstone of our multi-orbit, cloud-enabled, high-performance network that will serve our enterprise, mobility and government customers into the next decade, and we are merely a year away from its first launch," said Steve Collar, CEO of SES. "We have a strong and long-standing partnership with SpaceX and we are excited to add the launches of additional O3b mPOWER satellites that will drive higher throughput, greater efficiency and substantially more bandwidth to our industry-leading network."

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About SES

SES has a bold vision to deliver amazing experiences everywhere on earth by distributing the highest quality video content and providing seamless connectivity around the world. As the leader in global content connectivity solutions, SES operates the world's only multi-orbit constellation of satellites with the unique combination of global coverage and high performance, including the commercially-proven, low-latency Medium Earth Orbit O3b system. By leveraging a vast and intelligent, cloud-enabled network, SES is able to deliver high-quality connectivity solutions anywhere on land, at sea or in the air, and is a trusted partner to the world's leading telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners. SES's video network carries over 8,300 channels and has an unparalleled reach of 367 million households, delivering managed media services for both linear and non-linear content. The company is listed on Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges (Ticker: SESG). Further information is available at: www.ses.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200819005803/en/

Contacts:

Suzanne Ong

External Communications

Tel. +352 710 725 500

suzanne.ong@ses.com
When the National Statistics Institute pumps out its figures for tourist accommodation occupancy, it distinguishes between hotels and what is defined as the extra-hotel sector. This comprises the likes of tourist apartments, which are nothing to do with holiday rentals, bear some similarity to the aparthotels and are given key ratings rather than stars. The extra offer also comprises rural tourism, hostels and camping.

When holidaymaking restarted in June, 352,643 holidaymakers in Spain opted for camping. This figure was vastly greater than the number for tourist apartments and rural establishments combined (226,644) and was second only to holidaymakers who had opted for regular hotels. Camping, it was said, offered contact with nature and social distancing - total safety at an affordable price.

Three years ago, the Balearic government partially reformed the 2012 tourism law. The main reason for this reform was to include the updated holiday rentals regulation. An additional reason was to establish (or rather reaffirm) the principles for capping the total of tourist accommodation places. This limit, now presented as a mechanism conceived by a left-wing government, had in principle been established by the two general tourism laws passed in the Balearics - 1999 and 2012, and both by a right-wing Partido Popular government.

At the time of the reform in 2017, it was felt that this offered the opportunity to allow the opening of more campsites. The opportunity was not taken. In Minorca, there had been particular interest. The then tourism councillor at the Council of Minorca and now the Councils president, Susana Mora, said that there were three projects hoping to be given the green light by legislative reform. She was left to concede that the government, politically akin to her administration at the Council, made the situation unfavourable to camping promoters.

Mora explained that the Council was not itself closing the door to more camping. From a tourism point of view, camping was interesting because there was demand and because camping attracts other types of tourist. However, there were two obstacles. One was the Councils own territorial plan, for which consideration had to be given to what was to be the firm establishment of tourist accommodation places. The other was that the reformed law, like the main law in 2012, did not specify islands responsibilities for regulating camping. In other words, there was not legislative scope for islands to permit more than there already was. The 2017 tourism reform was a legislative dead end.

It was being pointed out three years ago that there were 1,039 accommodation places at Minorcas two camping facilities, the larger of which (Son Bou) had 939 places and was (still is of course) a typical mixture of wooden chalets, furnished tents and spaces to pitch tents.

One mentions Minorca (and could also mention Ibiza) because there is no comparable facility in Majorca. When the National Statistics Institute is drawing up its extra-hotel figures, it can count tourist apartments, rural tourism and hostels in Majorca, but for camping there is a blank space.

It is an oddity of tourism history (not just in Majorca) that a claim is made for the first all-inclusive facility anywhere having been in Alcudia in 1950. This was the original Club Mediterranee with its army surplus tents on what became known as the French beach. Club Med was basically a campsite. It was a template that was to not stand the test of time.

You have to go back to 1986 to appreciate why there is no official holiday camping in Majorca and only some on the other islands. A Balearic government decree of February 1986 established the regulations. These covered aspects that would have been expected, e.g. electricity and water supplies and waste management, but perhaps crucially there was a period of just three years during which there could be authorisation for camping of what was defined as a luxury and first-class character. The decree didnt make camping untenable, but it certainly didnt make it a particularly attractive business proposition, especially when there were other business possibilities - there was to be a burst of further hotel building.

Since 1986, there has been no end of further regulation - territorial plans being just part of this regulation. Town halls have their planning and their permissions or refusals. Land classification is a minefield of goalposts potentially being moved from urban developable to rustic totally not developable. Its hardly worth anyones while contemplating a camping project, and yet away from the Balearics, camping is a genuine element of the accommodation and holiday mix. The June figures highlighted this, and one only has to consider the proliferation of good quality camping in Catalonia and Alicante to recognise its value.

I am not alone in believing that Majorca should have a camping offer, and the virus has merely reinforced the potential benefit. But it wont happen; Im sure it wont happen. Camping can coexist with hotels in Catalonia, but not here.
International visitors to Australia may be required to have a vaccination against COVID-19 under government plans. Canberra says it has secured the rights to the Oxford University vaccine in the United Kingdom, which is thought to be one of the front runners in the global race to find an effective treatment.

The Oxford University study is among a crowded international field of teams racing to develop a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine. Usually scientific work of this complexity would take years, but research is being fast-tracked at unprecedented speed.

Australia has signed a deal with British drug maker AstraZeneca to produce and distribute the Oxford vaccine if it works.

All Australians would be offered doses, but a medical panel would determine a priority list of recipients, including health workers and the elderly.

We have signed a letter of intent with AstraZeneca, which will enable Australia to access should it be successful the vaccine for COVID-19 here in Australia, manufactured here in Australia, distributed free for 25 million Australians in the event that those trials prove successful, said Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Morrison backtracked after earlier suggesting vaccinations against the coronavirus could become mandatory for Australian citizens. However, government officials have said the vaccine could be compulsory for anyone travelling to Australia if that was the advice from medical experts. Australias borders are currently closed to foreign nationals.

Paul Kelly, the nations chief medical officer, believes uptake of any vaccine in Australia would be high.

The first will be a voluntary call for people, and I am sure there will be long queues, socially distanced, of course, for this vaccine, and will be incredibly welcomed by many, he said. It will be the absolute ticket to get back to some sort of normal society and the things that we all love and enjoy.

The aim is for 95% of the population to be inoculated, although experts doubt that figure could be achieved because of concerns in Australia about any new coronavirus drug and the speed at which it has been developed.

Australia was also looking to sign deals with other vaccine developers. Human trials on a potential treatment have started at the University of Queensland. Experts there believe a vaccine will be available for emergency use by the middle of 2021.

Officials in Canberra have said they were in discussions with Australias neighbors, including Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Fiji, about supplying a vaccine.

Australia has recorded about 450 coronavirus deaths, most from an outbreak in the state of Victoria.
Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords made an emotional appeal for new gun legislation and for support for nominee Joe Biden during the third night of the Democratic National Convention.

Ive known the darkest of days, said Giffords, the former Democratic congresswoman from Arizona, who survived an assassination attempt in 2011. Days of pain and uncertain recovery. But confronted by despair, Ive summoned hope. Confronted by paralysis and aphasia, I responded with grit and determination. I put one foot in front of the other. I found one word and then I found another. My recovery is a daily fight, but fighting makes me strong.

Words once came easily, but today I struggle to speak. But I have not lost my voice, continued Giffords, who completed the speech in a single take. America needs all of us to speak out, even when you have to fight to find the words. We are at a crossroads. We can let the shooting continue, or we can act. We can protect our families, our future. We can vote.

We can be on the right side of history, Giffords concluded. We must elect Joe Biden. He was there for me. Hell be there for you too. Join us in this fight. Vote, vote, vote.

Gabby Giffords speaks during the virtual Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19, 2020. (via Reuters TV)

Giffords was shot in the head in 2011 during a constituent meeting in Tucson, Ariz., and suffered brain damage that caused paralysis and limited her ability to speak. The video showed Giffords recovering in her hospital bed after the shooting, participating in rehab, rehearsing her speech and playing America (My Country Tis of Thee) on a French horn.

She resigned her seat to focus on her recovery and has been a leading advocate for gun safety measures. Giffordss political action committee has pledged to spend at least $7.5 million electing Democrats this cycle.

Her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, is the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Arizona. He will face incumbent Republican Sen. Martha McSally, who was appointed to the seat in December 2018 after having lost that years Senate race to Democrat Kyrsten Sinema. Recent polling has shown him in the lead.

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Hyderabad, Aug 20 : The number of Covid-19 cases in Telangana reached 97,424 on Thursday as 1,724 more people tested positive while 10 more deaths have taken the toll to 729.

Health officials said the case fatality rate in the state stood at 0.74 per cent as compared to the national average of 1.91 per cent. Of the fatalities, 53.87 per cent had comorbidities.

Of the new cases, 395 were reported from hotspot Greater Hyderabad. The number in the state capital declined compared to Wednesday but the infection in the districts saw an upward trend.

The districts surrounding the state capital reported a little over 300 cases. Medchal Malkajgiri district reported 105 new cases while Rangareddy saw 169 new cases. Sangareddy, another district which share borders with Greater Hyderabad, reported 45 new cases.

According to a media release by the office of the Director of Public Health and Family Welfare, new cases were reported from all 33 districts. Three districts reported new cases in the single digit.

Outside Greater Hyderabad and its surrounding districts, Karimnagar was the worst affected district with 101 new cases, followed by 91 in Warangal Urban, 67 in Nalgonda and 61 each in Nizamabad and Siddipet.

During the last 24 hours ending 8 p.m. Wednesday, 1,195 people had recovered from Covid, taking the number of recoveries to 75,186. The state's recovery rate now stands at 77.17 per cent as compared to the national average of 73.64 per cent.

The number of active cases in the state stands at 21,509, including 15,076 who were in home/institutional isolation.

The number of tests in the state crossed eight lakh with 23,841 tests during the last 24 hours. The health authorities have conducted 8,21,311 tests till now. The samples tested per million population is 22,122 against a daily testing target of 5,600 as per the World Health Organisation (WHO) benchmark of 140 per million per day. The results of 968 samples are awaited.

As many as 16 government and 23 private laboratories were conducting RT-PCR/CBNAAT/TRUENAT types of tests while there were 1,076 rapid-antigen tests centres. However, the authorities have not provided a break-up of the tests.

Age-wise COVID positive details show 65.9 per cent of those who tested positive were in the age group of 21 to 50 years. Being 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 maintain social distancing.

Among Covid positive cases, 24.4 per cent were above 51 years. Nearly 10 per cent were below 20 years.

Officials said 65.10 per cent of those who tested positive were male while the remaining 34.90 per cent were female.

According to the media release, of 20,396 beds in government-run hospitals, 17,949 beds were vacant.

The authorities added 23 more private hospitals to the list of private facilities treating Covid patients. As many as 155 private hospitals treating COVID have 8,641 beds and of them 4,655 beds were vacant.

According to the media release, the state has more than 800 containment zones with the highest 129 in Ranga Reddy district, followed by 101 in Mahabubnagar, 81 in Gadwal and 80 in Rajanna Sircilla. Greater Hyderabad has 64 containment zones.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Indore was adjudged India's cleanest city for the fourth straight year in the central government's cleanliness survey announced on Thursday. The second and third positions went to Surat in Gujarat and Maharashtra's Navi Mumbai respectively.

The Swachh Survekshan awards 2020 were announced by Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri at a ceremony.

The first city in MP to report five cases in the third week of March, Indores situation worsened and it currently has 10,370 infections, including 346 deaths.

Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) officials, MPs, MLAs and local residents participated in a cleanliness campaign in the city on August 14. The densely populated area, a flourishing hub of trade and commerce, is among the cities worst affected by the coronavirus in India.

RELATED NEWS Temple Towns Turning into Icons of Cleanliness is Changing Landscape of Old, Sacred India

Municipal commissioner Pratibha Pal launched the Safai Mahotsav, a campaign aimed at public participation in the cleanliness of the city as thousands of sanitation workers employed by the municipality were on leave due to festival of Goga Navmi. The task was undertaken with public support so that cleanliness remains the same as on other days on August 14, she said.

The participation by the locals in this campaign was a celebration and many took pride in themselves. The spirit of cleanliness is ingrained in the blood of 'Indories'," Pal said, adding that the spirit of the people of Indore in keeping their environment clean is the reason why it has ranked as the cleanest city in India for the fourth time in a row.

'Safai mitras' (sanitation workers) in Indore were honoured on Wednesday after the feat.

Underlining the commitment to cleanliness, Indore BJP MP Shankar Lalwani said amid the coronavirus outbreak, the municipal staff played a crucial dual role of keeping the city clean and ensuring supplies of vegetables and grocery in locked down households due to prohibitive measures.

Imagine our 'safai mitras' visited households daily to collect garbage, even those homes where positive patients were detected and the entire area was sealed by the administration, he said.

Among other initiatives, the administration banned single-use plastic completely and 'bartan' banks were established to rent out utensils to prevent use of disposable items in functions and gatherings. Waste reduction measures were promoted and locals were encouraged to use cloth bags in place of plastic one. In another notable initiative, the city has treated 15 lakh tonnes of waste rotting at Devguradia-based trenching ground and it was turned into a city forest with 60,000 trees.

With use of efficient technology, Indore Municipal Corporation became the leading civic body generating Rs 40 crore in revenue through waste management techniques. Home-generated wet garbage was turned into fertiliser and 10 residential colonies were turned into zero waste areas by the corporation.

IAS officer Manish Singh, who was the municipal commissioner when the city was adjudged the cleanest for the first time in 2016, handled the administration as collector during the coronavirus outbreak and appears to have utilised his expertise to keep the cleanliness goals intact.

Greeting the public, officers and public representatives of the city, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the administration would aim not only for a "chowka" (four) but for a sixer. Cleanliness is now the nature of Indore. The city has become a role model for the world in cleanliness, he said in a congratulatory tweet, adding that the city has earned a name for itself across the globe.

As many as 20 MP cities earned a place in the top 50 list of cleanest cities in India. MP has also become the third cleanest state in the country, according to the survey.

State capital Bhopal ended up as the seventh cleanest city in the list and the cleanest capital in India.
The next National Democratic Congress (NDC) government will restore quality education in the country, Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang, Vice Presidential candidate has said.



A statement signed by Mawuena Trebah, Spokesperson for the running mate and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Thursday said the current state of the education system, under the present government, threatened the future of the country.



We will prioritize improving the quality of education, especially at the secondary level, across the country, she said.



The statement said she gave the assurance while responding to concerns by traditional leaders about the poor state of education infrastructure, during a courtesy call on Naa Alhassan Andani, Paramount Chief of the Tampion Traditional Area of Dagbon in the Northern Region, as part of her campaign tour.



She said the integrity of a nations education system was based on its quality, which should not be compromised for any reason.



"The next NDC government under President John Mahama will continue with its monumental infrastructural projects that will ensure increased access to quality education while introducing more interventions for the benefit of teachers.



Any country that is interested in the future, will pay attention to the quality development of her children.



Many things would be put right. NDC will instill discipline in our schools again, she said.



She assured the chiefs of the area of more education sector projects under the NDC and urged them to help the NDC to regain the power to continue its good works in the region, most of which were abandoned.



The statement said the NDC Running Mate also paid courtesy calls on the chiefs of Zoggu, Nyong, Tong, Karaga, and Gushegu where the traditional leaders expressed their desire for the NDC to return to power to assist their towns to develop.

Source: GNA









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In her first book, In the Time of Foxes, Lennan crafts each story as a complete world, with characters across a broad range of backgrounds, displaying a gamut of moods and idiosyncrasies.

More often  and this is something lawyer and writer Jo Lennan emphatically avoids  they emit the sense that the same idea is being communicated repeatedly, albeit across different narratives.

In single-author collections, stories can suffer from being too similar in tone, character, setting, structure, or, perhaps most disconcertingly, voice.

Nonetheless, a compilation is often required to have a unifying theme, and here it is foxes causing havoc, making literal and metaphorical appearances.

The title story features Nina in London communicating with her brother in Sydney about whether their mother is safe living alone in the family home. Concurrently, Nina is arguing with her landlord about the skulk of foxes tearing up her lawn, digging potholes her son might fall into.

Lennan shows what it takes for Nina, with the pull of responsibility from generations younger and older, to make the small and big decisions symbolised by the two evictions.

Holly, acting in Chekhovs Platonov alongside her nemesis, Genevieve, comes to see Genevieve differently when new information disproves Hollys assumptions in The Understudy, set in Chiswick. Throughout the book, details of characters lives are revealed by degrees, and the many sides of a single identity are gently drawn out.

In Fox Face, 18-year-old June, in Osaka, has run away from the cult shes been brought up in. Lennan balances the uncertainty felt by a character who has to make a life for herself without any of the structures teenagers depend on, and the story avoids simplicity and certainty.
Do you depend on the Canada Revenue Agencys (CRA) $2,000 Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) to make ends meet? This article will tell you what lies ahead after the CRA ends the CERB in September. The government cant just end a radical benefit like the CERB. Hence, it is bringing a CERB alternative many Canadians are familiar with.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that the Employment Insurance (EI) will become the CERB alternative. The government will make some changes to the EI to ensure no Canadian is left behind.

Your next question would be, do you qualify for the EI? And if you do, how much cash will you get from the CERB alternative?

The CERB alternative aims to put Canadians back to work

Before I dive into the details, let me tell you that the EI wont be the same as the CERB. The CERB is like a Universal Basic Income that gives a fixed amount to every Canadian that meets the eligibility criteria. The benefit does not phase out. The end-objective of the CERB is to provide emergency money to Canadians out of work due to the pandemic. Now, the CRAs objective is to get Canadians back to work.

Many political parties criticized the CERB stating that the generous $2,000 monthly payment was discouraging Canadians to return to work. They lose their complete $2,000 benefit if they earn over $1,000, which puts them at a disadvantage. Hence, the Conservatives proposed a Back-to-Work Bonus, under which the CERB amount will gradually phase out as the working income increases.

If not the Back-to-Work Bonus, the federal government is walking on similar lines with the CERB Alternative.

Do you qualify for the EI?

As the name suggests, EI protects you when you lose your employment for no fault of yours. You pay a premium to get an EI cover. Generally, its your employer who takes an EI and deducts an amount from your salary. Even the employer contributes 1.4 times your contribution.

However, you only become eligible for the EI benefit after completing at least 420 working hours in insured employment. You can get EI between 14 and 45 weeks, depending on the number of hours you have worked and the unemployment rate in your area.

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If an EI premium was not deducted for your salary, you are not eligible to get an EI.

You are also not eligible for EI if you earn more than $54,200 per annum from your insured employment.

How much cash will you get from the CERB alternative?

The CRA calculates your EI amount as 55% of your average weekly earnings up to a maximum of $573 a week. So the highest that you can get in EI is around $2,300 a month, provided you earn $1,042 a week. However, the Workers Action Centre noted that the way EI is calculated, most Canadians will get a benefit amount between $600 and $1,100.

Justin Trudeau stated that there will be some changes, but what would these changes be is not yet clear. The CRA might either reduce working hours eligibility or increase the benefit percentage or implement both the options to bring EI closer to the CERB.

Make the most of your CERB

Rather than depending on the CRA benefits that have many criteria, you can create your emergency fund with the CERB you receive. If you even save $100 a week from your CERB payment, you can invest $2,400 in a high-growth stock that can double your money in a few years.

One such stock is Kinaxis (TSX:KXS), a provider of supply chain planning solutions. The globalization of trade and the fluctuating demand trends has made supply chain planning a crucial element of the business. Kinaxis is using machine learning to enhance demand forecasts and help large enterprises optimize their supply chain.

Kinaxis is still in the growth stage, increasing its revenue and adjusted EBITDA at a CAGR of 16% and 14%, respectively, from 2015 to 2019. The stock has grown 90% year to date and 60% last year. If you invested $2,400 in it in January 2019, you would now have $7,300. The stock is still growing and can double your money in two years.

The post CRA: How Much Cash Can You Get From the CERB Alternative? appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

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Fool contributor Puja Tayal has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends KINAXIS INC.

The Motley Fools purpose is to help the world invest, better. Click here now for your free subscription to Take Stock, The Motley Fool Canadas free investing newsletter. Packed with stock ideas and investing advice, it is essential reading for anyone looking to build and grow their wealth in the years ahead. Motley Fool Canada 2020
CalFire late Wednesday evening ordered evacuations for Angwin, Deer Park and St. Helena Hospital in the wake of the growing LNU Lightning Complex fires.

The Complex includes six fires, some of which have now combined, according to CalFire reports. The Hennessey Fire through the course of Wednesday grew to more than 100,000 acres, up from 46,000 Wednesday morning. More than 25,000 structures in Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties are threatened, according to Cal Fire updates.

Those flames, which on Wednesday appeared to have spread westward, prompted the evacuation orders, CalFire Spokesperson Will Powers confirmed. That most recent set of evacuation orders was put in place due to the proximity of the fire, Powers said, though he could not provide exact details on how close the fire had spread to those communities.

Although the evacuation orders came right up to the limits of Calistoga, officials said late Wednesday that they had been assured that there was no immediate threat to the city.

All of the fires in the complex (burning as of Wednesday night, more than 124,000 acres across Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Yolo and Lake counties) are at 0% containment, Powers said, the product of resources stretched thin on both the air and the ground. That as California struggles with 23 significant fire complexes statewide, Powers said.

A spokesperson for Napa County said that county emergency service staff were working with St. Helena Hospital, a 151-bed facility east of the Silverado Trail.

Kimberly Meredith, a spokesperson for Adventist Health St. Helena, said that the hospital was in the process of calmly evacuating its patients and staff out of an abundance of caution.

All of our patients are safe and well cared for, Meredith said, adding that the hospital was actively reaching out to the families of patients to let them know where patients would be transferred. Not all patients are out yet, but we are now in the process.

The hospital said it would keep the emergency department open for the moment to serve local patients.

More than 4,400 homes  approximately 13,254 people  in Napa County are under mandatory evacuation as of Wednesday night, a county spokesperson said. An additional 1,240 households  3,720 people  are under evacuation warning.

Fires in the LNU Lightning Complex burned through Tuesday night, CalFires Powers said: high temperatures and low humidity coupled with northeastern Napa Countys rugged terrain meant firefighters were actively engaged in a fire fight throughout the night. Crews were hoping relative humidity would rise overnight Wednesday.

Thursdays weather was forecasted to be in fire fighters favor, Powers said. Five-hundred and eighty-seven personnel were on the ground fighting the fire as of Wednesday.

Asked if additional evacuations could be ordered later Wednesday and into Thursday, Powers said he could not provide information but advised that residents in areas under evacuation warnings begin preparing to leave their homes. Residents living in areas under evacuation orders, especially, Powers said, should leave the area for their own safety.

You can reach Sarah Klearman at (707) 256-2213 or sklearman@napanews.com.

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My blood samples will do very little in the manner of evidence since the police already have samples of blood of the deceased person and can match them against the blood on my clothes or my car seat. Whether my blood is found on my clothes or in my car is neither here nor there in establishing the State case.
Stricken baby retailer Mothercare has confirmed it will start selling its products in Boots stores up and down the country from autumn this year.

Mothercare clothes will be on sale online and in a 'large' number of Boots' shops, while bigger Boots stores will also stock items like Mothercare-branded pushchairs and car seats.

Mothercare, which now trades online and in overseas stores, collapsed into the hands of administrators last year, with all 79 UK shops shut and 2,500 jobs lost.

Moving on: All of Mothercare's 79 UK stores were shut as it went into administration last year

The deal with Boots was first announced back in December last year, but was repeatedly delayed by the pandemic. It will run in the UK and Ireland for an initial period of 10 years.

Mothercare said today: 'Boots is at the heart of one of the largest healthcare businesses in the world and Mothercare will dovetail well as the specialist brand for parents and young children in both Boots stores and online.'

Mothercare's deal with Boots come at a tough time for the pharmacy and healthcare retailer.

Boots is to cut 4,000 jobs, equating to 7 per cent of its workforce, as it closes 48 opticians outlets and sheds roles at its head office and stores.

The company, which has 2,465 stores, said it was accelerating a restructuring plan after sales at its main Boots outlets slumped over 70 per cent and sales at Boots Opticians fell by 48 per cent at the height of lockdown.

On announcing the job cuts, Sebastian James, the managing director of Boots UK, said: 'The proposals announced are decisive actions to accelerate our transformation plan, allow Boots to continue its vital role as part of the UK health system, and ensure profitable long-term growth.

Job cuts: Boots has announced plans to cut 4,000 jobs across its operations

'In doing this, we are building a stronger and more modern Boots for our customers, patients and colleagues.

'We recognise that today's proposals will be very difficult for the remarkable people who make up the heart of our business, and we will do everything in our power to provide the fullest support during this time.'

With swathes of the retail sector struggling to stay afloat, it remains to be seen how fruitful Mothercare's deal with Boots proves to be in the long run.

But, in a bid to revive its fortunes, Mothercare also said it had now overhauled its business model and concluded extensive talks with its franchisees.

Bosses said the the new franchise arrangements would ensure a 'more sustainable and less capital-intensive business model.'

It will see the group's franchise partners pay for products directly to manufacturers.

Mothercare still operates 800 stores spanning 40 territories, which are all run by franchise partners.

The baby and child retailer said it had signed a new 20-year deal with its biggest franchise partner, the Alshaya Group, which operates Mothercare stores in Russia and 10 Middle Eastern countries.

It said that the restructuring of its UK business had substantially reduced its debts, but estimated that it still had outstanding obligations of around 10million.

The group was dealt a blow earlier this year when temporary boss Glyn Hughes said he did not want the job on a permanent basis.

Hughes quit in June, leaving Mothercare to be led by the chief operating officer and chief financial officer, under chairman Clive Whiley.

Shares in Mothercare have fared well today and are currently up 4.54 per cent or 0.26p to 6.02p, but a year ago the share price was closer to 15p.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 20) Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has disclosed that the government's ban on Filipino nurses leaving for overseas jobs will be reviewed by authorities.

Although he did not cite details in an interview with CNN Philippines, Bello said he was confident there will be a positive development on the call for the ban's lifting, which nurses' groups have aired in recent months.

Bello confirmed he will raise the nurses fresh appeal during the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Forces meeting slated on Thursday.

(On Wednesday) I received a letter from one of the nurses, appealing na kung maaari ay ireconsider (deployment ban). I had that calendared for (Thursday's) meeting of the IATF. I am confident na pagbibigyan sila ng IATF, Bello said in an interview on CNN Philippines' The Source.

Ill try my best na by this afternoon, meron na tayong positive development, he added.

[Translation: (On Wednesday), I received a letter from one of the nurses, appealing the deployment ban can be reconsidered. I had that calendared for todays meeting of the IATF. I am confident that the IATF will be amenable to the call. Ill try my best that by this afternoon, well have a positive development.]

Should the IATF decide to ease restrictions on their deployment, Bello said that only the nurses who were able to secure complete documents and contracts as of March 8 can leave the country.

The IATF on Monday released resolution no. 64, which states that the overseas deployment of medical and allied health workers was temporarily suspended amid the continuing state of public health emergency.

The directive is pursuant to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration Governing Board Resolution No. 09 Series of 2020, which freezes the deployment of certain healthcare workers including nurses until the national state of emergency is lifted and until COVID-19-related travel restrictions are lifted at the destination countries.

Around 600 nurses have already appealed to the government for the ban's lifting citing that a number of these frontliners have already paid sums of money and resources for their travel and employment documents to be processed.

Bello, for his part, said the Task Force was only worried that the country would run out of manpower particularly nurses with work experience.

Total lifting of deployment ban

While the easing of the ban is a welcome development for some, another nurses group maintained that the government should consider totally lifting restrictions on the deployment of healthcare workers, saying that Filipinos have the right to seek opportunities abroad.

Ang atin pong panawagan ay total lifting ng ban. Kasi wala pong karapatan ang ating pamahalaan na pilitin ang ating mga healthcare workers, katulad ng mga nurses, na manatili sa bansa kung mayroon naman silang pagkakataon para sa isang oportunidad sa labas ng bansa na maiahon sa kahirapan ang kani-kanilang mga pamilya, Filipino Nurses United President Maristella Abenojar said.

[Translation: Our call is for the total lifting of the ban. Our government has no right to force our healthcare workers, including our nurses, to stay in the country if they have the chance to grab an opportunity abroad so they can help their own families.]

Abenojar likewise refuted claims that the Philippines would have a shortage of nurses should the deployment push through, claiming that there are over 200,000 nurses in the country who are either unemployed or underemployed. The estimated value was calculated using data on licensure examination takers and the current employment of nurses, she noted.

However, Bello stressed that government agencies would still need to reconcile data on the official employment numbers, with different figures coming in.

Nurses plight

On the same television talk show, April Glory, one of the nurses affected by the deployment ban, personally appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to hear the workers plea, especially with the future of her family on the line.

Glory who had worked in Saudi Arabia for five years before coming home recalled how some of her fellow nurses have even resorted to borrowing money and selling properties just to finalize their work documents.

On our part, for ordinary people like us, 'yung maliit na halaga na gagastusin para dito sa employment namin, para sa processing, malaking bagay na yun, Glory said, as she lamented the unfair treatment of healthcare workers in the country.

Parang awa niyo na, bigyan niyo ng chance 'yung mga gustong umalis na makapagsimula ng bagong buhay. Gusto ko sa Pilipinas, but I have to choose. Priority ko yung anak ko. Kung kailangan ng anak ko na magsakripisyo ako sa ibang bansa, gagawin ko yun. Sana pakinggan kami ni President Duterte at ng IATF, she stressed.

[Translation: On our part, for ordinary people like us, the little amount we spent for our employment processing is already a big deal. Im begging for them to give those nurses who want to leave a chance to start over. I want to stay here in the Philippines, but I have to choose. My child is my priority. If my child needs me to sacrifice in another country, then so be it. I hope President Duterte and the IATF listens.]

Bello, in response, acknowledged the workers situation amid the crisis, but once again appealed for further understanding.

I do hope you understand na ang talagang interes natin dito ay ang ating mga kababayan (this is for the benefit of our countrymen), the Labor chief said.
Ben Affleck is to reprise his role as Batman in a DC movie set within parallel universes.

Affleck, who was previously thought to have walked away from the part, will star alongside previous Batman Michael Keaton in The Flash, with Ezra Miller expected to reprise his role from Justice League.

Directed by Its Andy Muschietti, the film will be an adaptation of Flashpoint, a 2011 crossover comic in which The Flash, aka Barry Allen, crashes into multiple dimensions, with many occupied by different Batmans.

[Afflecks Batman] is a very substantial part of the emotional impact of the movie, Muschietti told Vanity Fair. The interaction and relationship between Barry and Afflecks Wayne will bring an emotional level that we havent seen before.

Its Barrys movie, its Barrys story, but their characters are more related than we think. They both lost their mothers to murder, and thats one of the emotional vessels of the movie. Thats where the Affleck Batman kicks in. Im glad to be collaborating with someone who has been on both sides of the camera, too. He understands.

Afflecks return to the Batman role is a surprise, as it was widely believed he had left the franchise all together.

The Oscar winner told The New York Times earlier this year that he had bowed out of a Batman solo project due to the pressure placed on his health. He was initially signed to write, direct and star in his own Batman movie.

I showed somebody the Batman script, Affleck said. They said, I think the script is good. I also think youll drink yourself to death if you go through what you just went through again.

Ben Affleck in Justice League, and Michael Keaton in Batman Returns (Warner Bros)

A fan-demanded directors cut of Justice League, which will feature new footage written and directed by Zack Snyder, will debut soon on the US streaming platform HBO Max.

A solo Batman movie directed by Matt Reeves, and starring Robert Pattinson as the Caped Crusader, will resume filming in London in September. Production was postponed earlier this year amid the coronavirus pandemic.
BOSTON - Breaking their silence for the first time since their arrest, Full House star Lori Loughlin and fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli apologized Friday for using their wealth and privilege to bribe their daughters way into the University of Southern California as crew recruits.

Accepting plea deals struck in May after the pair admitted paying $500,000, a judge sentenced Loughlin to serve two months behind bars while Giannulli was sentenced to five months.

Fighting back tears, Loughlin told the judge her actions helped exacerbate existing inequalities in society and pledged to do everything in her power to use her experience as a catalyst to do good. Her lawyer said she had begun volunteering with special needs students at an elementary school.

I made an awful decision. I went along with a plan to give my daughters an unfair advantage in the college admissions process and in doing so I ignored my intuition and allowed myself to be swayed from my moral compass, Loughlin said during the hearing held via videoconference because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In an earlier hearing, Giannulli told the judge earlier Friday that he deeply regrets the harm to his daughters, wife and others.

I take full responsibility for my conduct. I am ready to accept the consequences and move forward, with the lessons Ive learned from this experience, Giannulli, 57, said in a stoic statement.

A judge sentenced Loughlin to serve two months behind bars while Giannulli was sentenced to five months.

The couples sentencing comes three months after they reversed course and admitted to participating in the college admissions cheating scheme that has laid bare the lengths to which some wealthy parents will go to get their kids into elite universities.

They are among nearly 30 prominent parents to plead guilty in what federal prosecutors dubbed Operation Varsity Blues, in which authorities uncovered hefty bribes to get undeserving kids into college with rigged test scores or fake athletic credentials. Desperate Housewives actress Felicity Huffman served nearly two weeks behind bars last year after admitting to paying $15,000 to have someone correct her daughters entrance exam answers.

Both Loughlin and Giannulli were ordered to surrender Nov. 19. U.S. District Judge Nathaniel Gorton said the prison terms stipulated by the plea deals are sufficient but not greater than necessary punishment under the circumstances.

Gorton expressed outrage at the couples greed, telling Loughlin she had a charmed and fairytale life.

Yet you stand before me a convicted felon and for what? For the inexplicable desire to grasp even more, to have whatever prestige and instant gratification that comes from being able to show off the admission of your daughter to a preferred university, Gorton said.

Under the plea deals  unusual because the proposed terms were binding once accepted, instead of granting Gorton sentencing discretion  Giannulli will also pay a $250,000 fine and perform 250 hours of community service. Loughlin will pay a $150,000 fine and perform 100 hours of community service.

They had insisted for more than a year that they believed their payments were legitimate donations.

The couple funneled money through a sham charity operated by Rick Singer to get their two daughters into USC as crew recruits, even though neither was a rower, authorities said. Singer, who has also pleaded guilty, was expected to testify against them had they gone to trial.

The couple accused prosecutors of hiding crucial evidence that could prove the couples innocence. Their about-face came shortly after the judge rejected their bid to dismiss the case over allegations of federal agents misconduct.

The case shattered the clean image of Loughlin, 56, who gained fame for her role as the wholesome Aunt Becky in the sitcom Full House and later became queen of the Hallmark channel with her holiday movies and the series When Calls the Heart.

Lori lost the acting career she spent 40 years building, her attorney BJ Trach said, describing the devastating impact on Loughlins family life and career.

Defence attorneys said they were devoted parents motivated by love for their children, and alluded to bullying their daughters faced after the charges were made public. Trach said the family was forced to hire security for their daughters.

Unlike every other parent sentenced so far in the case, they did not submit letters expressing regret or notes of support from family and friends to the judge by the deadline, although Gorton said he received two letters in support of Loughlin the day of the sentencing.

Others sentenced to prison in the case urged the judge to allow them to serve their terms in home confinement because of the coronavirus pandemic, but Gorton, known for handing out tough sentences, has denied such requests.

Prosecutors said Giannulli deserves a tougher sentence because he was the more active participant in the scheme, though Loughlin was nonetheless fully complicit.

Investigators recorded phone calls and emails showing the couple worked with Singer to secure admission with fake athletic profiles depicting their children as star rowers.

Prosecutors said the couple allowed the girls to become complicit in crime, instructing them to pose on rowing machines for photos  Singer told them he needed a picture of their older daughter looking like a real athlete  and warning their younger daughter not to say too much to her high school counsellor.

Giannulli angrily confronted the counsellor for questioning their crew credentials, the counsellor wrote in notes detailed in court documents.

Singer forwarded them a letter saying their younger daughter was let in because of her potential to make a significant contribution to the intercollegiate athletic program, prosecutors wrote.

According to court filings, Loughlin responded: This is wonderful news! (high-five emoji).
Over 7 in 10 Irish consumers (74%) say Covid-19 restrictions in physical stores, such as social distancing, queues, and capacity limits, have negatively impacted their decision to shop in them, according to a new research report published today by IE Domain Registry.

The survey sample comprised 1,000 consumers and 500 retail and customer-facing professional services SMEs. While current restrictions are changing consumer behaviour, the report shows that if Covid-19 were controlled and social distancing no longer required, as many as 48% of consumers would continue to do the bulk of their shopping in physical stores. Fifty two percent would engage in some form of online shopping, only 11% would do most of their shopping online, while the remaining 41% would do a combination of both, shopping in-store for necessities but online for other products. The survey indicates that a blended shopping approach is preferred by consumers.

Consumers who said they would mostly shop online believe it to be safer (59%) and more timesaving (56%). Among the group that would prefer to shop mostly in-store, 62% say that physical shops are more convenient, while 55% say they simply want to go outside and be social, indicating the growing psychological toll of Covid-19 restrictions.

According to the Tipping Point report, 95% of Irish consumers shop online at least some of the time, and 75% say they have either spent more online during the Covid-19 crisis or the same as before it. Lockdown seems to have done little to quell consumer demand online.

Historically, the bulk of Irelands e-commerce spend has gone abroad to foreign companies. However, since the Covid-19 crisis Irish consumers estimate that they have done most of their online shopping with Irish SMEs (53%) versus international retailers (47%). Those figures, according to the Tipping Point report, were the opposite before the crisis (52% international vs 48% Irish).

Among consumers who have done most of their online shopping with Irish SMEs since the Covid-19 crisis, 67% say they have done so out of a sense of solidarity and a need to support Irish businesses. 48% said Irish SMEs are more reliable than international retailers; 41% said they are more trustworthy.

However, among those who have tended to shop online with international retailers during the Covid-19 crisis, cheaper products (71%) and a better range of products (69%) have been major factors influencing their decision. Over a third said international retailers have better online services and storefronts than their Irish counterparts.

Despite the majority of Irish consumers turning to Irish SMEs for online shopping, 79% of small businesses said that they had not invested any money whatsoever in their online services since the Covid-19 crisis. Indeed, only 25% of all SMEs sell online in any capacity.

This suggests that the current swing to online Irish SMEs from international retailers is based mostly on consumer goodwill and national solidarity, and that once Covid-19 is controlled and the economy returns to normal, consumers will no longer feel it is necessary to support businesses at home when a better online experience is available elsewhere.

When SMEs were asked why they hadnt invested in online services since the Covid-19 crisis, 46% said that online simply isnt a priority for them. Twelve percent had been forced to divert money to wages and bills, while 14% had managed to do most of their business in-store.

It is clear, however, that SMEs that do invest in online services reap rewards. Almost half (46%) of those that have invested since the Covid-19 crisis say they are busier than or as busy as before it. Among those SMEs with an online store, 88% said they had noticed a change in their volume of sales since the Covid-19 crisis. Seventy percent say this has been a positive change.

Commenting on the research, Chief Executive of IE Domain Registry, David Curtin said, "We need to ensure this new swing to Irish online retail is not short-lived. As we take a backwards step in our fight against Covid-19 and people are encouraged to work from home, reduce contact with others, and refrain from using public transport, having an online presence will be critical to retailers, who are now likely to see a further dip in physical footfall as the new restrictions remain in place until at least 13 September."

He added, "Those SMEs that embrace omni-channel, facilitating both an online and in-store experience, while promoting their trustworthiness and reliability will be able to better compete with international online retailers. Properly equipped with the digital technology and skills required to meet consumer demand, Ireland's small businesses have a crucial role to play in reigniting this country's post-Covid-19 economy."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
India takes up with Canada reports of threats to Indians, asks Canadian authorities to ensure safety

Grateful to US for its support: MEA on receiving COVID-19 consignment

India asks Pakistan to allow Kulbhushan Jadhav be represented by an Indian lawyer

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Aug 20: India on Thursday asked Pakistan to address core issues, including involving the provision of relevant documents & providing unimpeded consular access to former naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav.

Speaking at a weekly briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said,''We are in touch with Pakistan through diplomatic channels. We believe for a free & fair trial in keeping with the letter & spirit of ICJ [International Court of Justice] judgment in Kulbhushan Jadhav case, we have asked that Jadhav be represented by an Indian lawyer.''

Pak consistently failed to address core issues: India on Kulbhushan Jadhav case

''However, it is important that Pakistan needs to address the core issues; these issues involve the provision of relevant documents & providing unimpeded consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav,''Srivastava said.

Covid-19 curfew in Punjab again | Surge in Covid cases in Punjab | Oneindia News

India had said last month that Pakistan has blocked all its efforts to seek legal remedies for Jadhav, who was arrested by Pakistani security agencies in Balochistan in March 2016 and charged with involvement in spying. It has also accused Pakistan of violating the ICJ's judgement.

New Delhi has rejected all allegations levelled against Jadhav and said he was kidnapped by Pakistani operatives from the Iranian port of Chabahar, where he was running a business.
After more than 10 days of blockades and protests by Bolivian workers and peasants, the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS, the party of ousted president Evo Morales), reached a pact with the coup regime of Jeanine Anez.

Last Thursday, Anez signed a law requiring that elections take place by October 18. The MAS and the organizations officially heading the protests, the Bolivian Workers Federation (COB) and social movements within the Unity Pact, then called for the demobilization of the blockades, over the opposition of the workers and peasants who had taken to the streets.

The demonstrations broke out on July 28, in rejection of the announcement by the Supreme Electoral Court (TSE) of a third postponement of the general elections, then scheduled for September. In a massive rally in El Alto, a district with militant working class traditions in the region of La Paz, demonstrators voted for erecting blockades if the TSE did not reverse its ruling.

Cooperative miners join Cochabamba-Oruro road blockade. Poster reads: "Anez, Murillo, we want your head". [Credit: Twitter]

The Anez government ignored the warning, and the blockades of the countrys main roads began the following week, on August 3. Provocatively, on the same day, the TSE signed a bill setting the elections for October 18.

The governments cynical and violent response to the protests, denying political responsibility while promoting an escalation of repression, sparked even greater unrest among the population.

The second week of blockades witnessed an escalation of the social and political crisis. The state militarized the main Bolivian cities, arrested demonstrators and gave criminal cover to the violent attacks by fascist gangs against the protesters. At the same time, new social sectors were entering the struggle, and the demand for the immediate downfall of the regime gained increasing popularity.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, August 11 and 12, it was reported that thousands of miners joined the blockades of roads connecting Oruro to Cochabamba, demanding the downfall of Anez. At other points, workers, peasants and youth prepared to resist the armed attacks against the protests.

Also on August 12, a struggle broke out by the workers of the Municipal Garbage Collection Company (EMSA) of the city of Cochabamba, where more than 50 blockades remained erected. They opposed the nomination of a new management and threats to privatize the company.

The sanitation workers attempted to occupy City Hall and were repressed by the police. According to El Debra, a confrontation broke out in which flaming brooms were flying on one side while the cops responded with tear gas.

The continuation of these demonstrations threatened not only the de facto government, but the bourgeois order in Bolivia itself. Acting to demobilize the masses in the streets, the MAS proved once again to be a direct representative of the interests of the ruling class.

At the same time, Morales and Luis Arce, the presidential candidate for the MAS, publicly attacked the popular demand for the fall of Anez as a policy that would benefit the right wing.

The elections law drafted in the Legislative Assembly by the MAS, Unidad Democrata and Partido Democrata Cristiano, and signed the next day by Anez, was seen by Bolivian workers and peasants as a dirty deal. This was clearly expressed in the desperate response of the unions and social organizations, which tried to conceal their complicity in betraying the mass protests.

The COB and Unity Pact, which had announced on the previous day that if the elections were brought forward by one week, to October 11, we will immediately demobilize ourselves, feigned surprise at the agreement signed by the MAS behind our backs.

In the words of the executive secretary of the COB, Juan Carlos Huarachi: The COB and the Unity Pact have never betrayed and will never betray their people. Today we have suffered a betrayal and that is what the people and those who are mobilized must understand. ... You cannot confuse this social struggle with a political electoral struggle.

They didnt have the courage to confront the ranks and declare an immediate suspension of the blockades. However, that night, the COB headquarters in La Paz suffered a terrorist bomb attack. Six suspects were arrested by police, allegedly carrying explosive materials. There was no one at the scene and the damage was apparently minor.

On Friday, August 14, using the justification of avoiding attacks by the extreme right against the demonstrators, Huarachi declared a temporary truce, calling for the demobilization of the protests. He also sought to dispute with Anez credit for the pacification of the country, stating that, as during the coup of November 2019, the COB leadership were the true peacemakers.

With this statement, the COB leadership was asking for recognition by the ruling class of its role in containing the mass movement and blocking an independent political response by the working class.

The COB recognized the legitimacy of the coup against Morales, providing a civilian cover for the militarys actions, and sabotaged a general strike of the working class, which wanted to resist the rise of the new regime, thus opening the path to power for the most right-wing forces of the Bolivian bourgeoisie supported by US imperialism.

A similar role was played by the MAS itself. Faced with the demands of the military, Morales meekly withdrew from the presidency and sought to open discussions with the coup regime mediated by the Catholic Church, the European Union and the UN. The masses, resisting in the streets, were asked by the MAS to abandon their positions in the name of pacifying the country and seeking new elections, as they were being massacred by the troops commanded by the coup leaders.

The most recent betrayal of the MAS and COB has further discredited them in the working class, leading to a massive demonstration in their absence in El Alto last Friday, which was accompanied by other peasant movements and unions that sought to maintain a certain legitimacy with the ranks.

The thousands of demonstrators present at the rally announced their willingness to continue the struggle to overthrow Anez. Until this Tuesday, isolated blockades were seen in Cochabamba, challenging successive orders from different authorities within the movement.

In contrast to what Huarachi said, leaving the streets will not protect the workers from the attacks of the extreme right-wing forces, but will make them even more vulnerable to them.

A bill presented in the last few days by the head of the MAS legislative caucus, Betty Yaniquez, to protect blockade leaders from being criminally charged, was ridiculed by the bourgeois parties as a whole, including representatives of the MAS itself. The ruling class is not preparing amnesty, but an escalation of repression.

Twenty-three people arrested during the protests are being held in pre-trial detention, being investigated for sedition, armed uprising and terrorism. According to vice minister of the Interior, Javier Issa, the public prosecutor will summon many more people and the ranks of prisoners will swell.

The government intends to charge these people, as well as the leadership of the COB, and MAS itself, including Morales and Arce, for the deaths of about 40 COVID-19 patients, allegedly produced by the shortage of oxygen in hospitals caused by the blockades.

At the same time, Issa declared that the time of tranquility inaugurated by the lifting of the blockades will serve to implement an economic reactivation and overcome the damage that these measures caused. This reactivation includes plans to relax labor laws and implement mass layoffs, while threatening to deepen the COVID-19 crisis.

According to official figures, there are already more than 100,000 infections and 4,000 deaths. Given Bolivias mass poverty, the backward state of its health care system and one of the lowest rates of testing in Latin America, the real toll is undoubtedly far higher.

The explosion of new social conflicts in Bolivia in the next period is inevitable. The success of the Bolivian working class depends on their mobilization as an independent political force, openly hostile to the unions and organizations that seek to subordinate them to the bourgeoisie and impose a nationalist agenda upon their movement. They will find powerful support among their fellow workers in Latin America and all over the world, who are entering into direct struggle against capitalism.
The operators of St Basils Home for the Aged have been served with a Supreme Court writ that is expected to lead to a major class action, following a devastating COVID-19 outbreak connected to more than 30 deaths.

More than a quarter of St Basils 120 residents have died since the coronavirus outbreak started in early July.

Effie Fotiadis' father, Dimitrios, (a resident at St Basil's) died of a coronavirus infection. Credit:Chris Hopkins

Effie Fotiadis is the first plaintiff to launch civil action against St Basil's, which is owned by the Greek Orthodox Church. Her 79-year-old father, Dimitrios, died on July 25 in the Northern Hospital, after becoming infected with coronavirus at the home.

A statement of claim filed on Thursday accuses St Basil's of breaching its duty of care to residents on more than 26 occasions, which contributed to the rapid transmission of the virus.
Holding firm: A protest against the Belarusian presidential election results at the Foreign Ministry in Minsk. PHOTO: VASILY FEDOSENKO

European Union leaders have signalled their support to the people protesting for democratic rights in Belarus, underlining that they reject the election results that kept the country's leader of 26 years in power.

Additionally, the EU is preparing a list of Belarusians who face sanctions over vote fraud and a brutal crackdown on protesters.

The message of support came as the leading opposition candidate urged Europeans to support "the awakening of Belarus", and as authorities in the country began again detaining protesters, who again took to the streets of Minsk to demand that President Alexander Lukashenko resign.

"The European Union stands in solidarity with the people of Belarus, and we don't accept impunity," European Council President Charles Michel told reporters. "We don't recognise the results presented by the Belarus authorities."

Mr Michel said the EU will impose sanctions on "a substantial number" of people linked to election fraud and violence.

Belarus security forces detained almost 7,000 people and injured hundreds with rubber bullets, stun grenades and clubs in the first four days of demonstrations. At least two protesters were killed.

Workers at state-controlled companies have joined strikes this week, as the unprecedented mass protests further erode the authority of the man once dubbed "Europe's last dictator."

The results of the August 9 polls handed Mr Lukashenko his sixth term with 80pc of the vote, while the opposition candidate with the most support received 10pc.

"The elections were neither fair nor free and therefore one cannot recognise the result," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in Berlin.

She condemned the "brutal violence" against peaceful protesters and called on the regime to release all prisoners without conditions.

In a joint statement, the presidents of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia - countries known as the Visegrad Four - called on Belarus authorities to "open the way for a political solution", and to "abide by fundamental human rights and freedoms while refraining from use of violence against demonstrators".

In a video statement ahead of the virtual EU summit, Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanouskaya called on Europe to support "the awakening of Belarus".

"I call on you not to recognise these fraudulent elections. Mr Lukashenko has lost all the legitimacy in the eyes of our nation and the world," said Ms Tikhanouskaya.

On the eve of the meeting, Mr Michel had a half-hour telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin to share the EU's concern about election irregularities and the scale of the security crackdown, and to impress upon the Russian leader the right of the Belarus people to determine their own future.

They discussed ways to encourage talks between Mr Lukashenko and the opposition.

The relatively small EU nation of Lithuania is playing a major role as the protests unfold by giving refuge to Ms Tikhanouskaya. Estonia and Latvia, are also involved in diplomatic efforts, as is Poland.

Some are worried that hitting Mr Lukashenko and his associates too hard might drive Belarus into the arms of Russia.

Others fear Russian intervention. Experts tend to play down those worries. Belarus is not Georgia or Ukraine, where Mr Putin fanned the flames of conflict by backing pro-Russian separatists.

Ekaterina Pierson-Lyzhina, a Brussels-based researcher into Belarusian EU foreign policy, said that recent surveys suggest around 60pc of people want the country to remain independent and reject any kind of union.

"There are no European flags, no Russian flags. This revolution is about domestic dissatisfaction of the majority of Belarusians with their president," she said.
Lipids are very essential components in composing living systems and are important for cell signaling and nutrient transport. Meanwhile, lipids have been widely used as carriers in many anticancer drugs development because of their capability in increasing solubilization and improving pharmacokinetics of drugs. Based on this, lipid-oligonucleotides (LONs), the new molecular materials have been designed and have shown outstanding properties in different molecular designs for applications from bioanalysis and biosensing to biomedical technologies.

Due to the information-transfer and self-assembly abilities of the two segments, LONs have presented advantages in designing membrane-anchored biosensors and synthetic membrane channels. For example, LONs have been used in the researches of cell membrane anchored sensors for monitoring extracellular molecules and measuring biophysical events on the live cell surface, because of the similarity between the lipid part of LONs and lipid bilayers in cell membrane. Moreover, LONs have great potential in making contributions to developing new therapies and controllable nanoreactors by designing different structures with tunable compositions of two moieties.

Recently, Professor Weihong Tan lead a group of researchers, including Dr. Xiaowei Li, et al. from University of Florida and Dr. Kejun Feng from Huizhou University reported a systematic review discussing this powerful molecular engineering material, LON, and its wide applications from biosensors to biomedicine.

They first summarized the current general synthesis strategies of preparing LONs (pre- and post-synthetic approaches), describing their basic structures and some related characterization analysis of properties, suggesting that LONs have unique recognition ability and excellent stability, which are the prerequisites for biomedical and analytical applications. The special amphiphilic structures of LONs also provide themselves enhancing drug encapsulation and targeted recognition abilities, benefiting the downstream applications.

Then, the researchers discussed the recent advances in applying LONs in various areas. LONs could be modified to build cell membrane anchored biosensors, targeted cancer therapeutics or imaging probes, as well as programmable nanoreactors, indicating that LONs are super versatile materials and could favor different purposes. At the same time, the current challenges and future directions of improving LONs were also mentioned in the review, which may help guide the better developments of LONs-based materials for more biological applications.

###

See the article: Lipid-oligonucleotide conjugates for bioapplications

Natl Sci Rev, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwaa161
Dax Shepard was injured in a motorcycle accident at a California racetrack Monday, breaking four ribs and his clavicle.

'I was passing six guys on Sonoma Raceway on a motorcycle and I was braking very, very hard - hard enough that the back wheel was off the ground for a good 100 yards,' Shepard, 45, said Tuesday on his podcast, Armchair Expert.

The Milford, Michigan-born actor said he 'was totally at blame' in the incident and felt guilt for 'actively doing something dangerous' that led to the injuries.

The latest: Dax Shepard, 45, was injured in a motorcycle accident at a California racetrack Monday, breaking four ribs and his clavicle

'I thought I would be able to slide in between, but someone turned in and I was already under full brake and I couldn't go anywhere,' he said. 'I clipped their bumper and I went over the handlebars and I landed pretty hard.'

The Parenthood actor, who has two children with wife Kristen Bell, 40 - Lincoln, seven, and Delta, five - said he was 'thoroughly yelled at' by workers at the track for his reckless conduct.

'They really let me have it and I was too injured to object, so I just took it on the chin,' he said, adding that he attempted to keep riding until his injures were 'too painful' to endure and headed for medical attention.

He said on the Tuesday podcast: 'I've been at the hospital for seven hours today: The final tally was four broken ribs, the clavicle's broken in three places, and I need surgery.'

Ouch! The actor broke four ribs and parts of his clavicle and will need to undergo surgery

Revelation: Dax opened up about his pain on his podcast, Armchair Expert

On the podcast, Dax - who injured his finger earlier this year off-roading - said he 'might be willing to quit [motorcycle riding] for the remainder of 2020.'

Shepard subsequently took to Instagram with a selfie showing off his injuries and updating followers on his physical health.

The Top Gear America host said: 'Thank you Armcherries for all the well wishes and concern. I'm in one piece and spirits are high :) Sorry for causing concern.'

Bell was seen in the background of the pic, writing in the comments to Whitney Cummings that she was 'just politely shaking my head at his nonsense.'
The trend for 'ghost races' on Formula 1's amended 2020 calendar looks set to gradually ease.

Race organisers at Sochi are actively trying to sell around 30,000 tickets for September's Russian GP, and now Portimao has announced that it wants some fans to attend the Portuguese event the following month.

"When we realised that China would be cancelled, we saw an opportunity and contacted Liberty Media," Paulo Pinheiro, boss of the Algarve venue, told Speed Week.

"We wanted to show that we are available because the situation with covid-19 in Portugal is different from the rest of Europe."

He said he is confident that health conditions will remain stable in Portugal so that a limited number of spectators can attend.

"No spectators are allowed at sporting events in Portugal until September 30," said Pinheiro.

"We applied for an exception for the superbike event and had 250 fans, so we have simulated it to see how everything works - how people get to their seats, go to the bathroom, all those types of things. The paddock was strictly cordoned off," he explained.

However, he acknowledged that the Portuguese government could ultimately change its mind and ban the return of spectators after September 30.

"Then we would go ahead without spectators," said Pinheiro.

"That was taken into account in the contract, which is fair and decent. We cannot allow ourselves to take any chances in that regard."

(GMM)
India's coronavirus tally breached the 28 lakh cases mark with 69,652 COVID-19 cases reported in the country in the last 24 hours, informed the Union ministry of health and family welfare.

IMAGE: A medic collects swab sample of a woman for the Covid-19 test at a free coronavirus testing centre, in Bengaluru. Photograph: Shailendra Bhojak/PTI Photo

With the latest spike, the total cases stand at 28,36,926 which is inclusive of 6,86,395 active cases while 977 deaths due to COVID-19 were reported in the last 24 hours in India taking the number of deaths to 53,866, it added. The number of cured/discharged/migrated patients in the country stands at 20,96,665.

As per the ministry, Maharashtra -- the worst affected state from the infection -- has a total of 1,56,920 active cases, 4,37,870 patients have been cured/discharged/migrated while the state's death toll stands at 20,687.

Tamil Nadu has a total of 53,860 active cases, 2,89,787 patients have been cured/discharged/migrated and 6,007 deaths.

IMAGE: A healthcare worker gives tea to a COVID-19 patient at Common Wealth Village, in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

Andhra Pradesh's active case tally stands at 85,130 while the number of cured/discharged/migrated patients in the state stands at 2,18,311 and 2,820 fatalities.

Karnataka has 79,798 active cases; 1,56,949 cured/discharged/migrated patients and 4,201 deaths due to COVID-19.

IMAGE: Indian Army personnel of Gajraj Corps who had recently recovered from COVID-19 volunteer to donate their Blood Plasma in Tezpur. Photograph: ANI Photo

Delhi has a total of 11,068 active cases, 1,39,447 cured/discharged/migrated patients and 4,226 fatalities.

Meanwhile, the total number of samples tested up to August 19 is 3,26,61,252 including 9,18,470 samples tested on Wednesday, said the Indian Council of Medical Research on Thursday.
Uranium mining is set be allowed in New South Wales - creating a wave of new jobs - after the government struck a deal with One Nation to lift a ban on the industry.

A bill to be voted on in the upper house of parliament next week calls for the repeal of legislation banning nuclear facilities and uranium mining in the state.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Deputy Premier John Barilaro are understood to have thrown their support behind bill by directly working out a deal with One Nation.

Uranium mining could be allowed in NSW under new laws (pictured; the uranium mineral torbernite)

Australia has been estimated to hold the most amount of Uranium in the world at about 30 per cent (pictured; the Ranger uranium mine, owned by Energy Resources Australia (ERA), in the heart of the world heritage listed Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory)

The deal has left some Coalition members in the Liberals and many of Mr Barilaro's Nationals colleagues fuming.

In an effort to appease their party a deal had been struck which would allow uranium mining but keep the existing ban on nuclear facilities, according to 7 News.

Nuclear energy generation is currently banned by the federal government so this part of the deal would only signal intent not to push for any of the power plants.

If the federal government were to lift the ban then the deal would also allow New South Wales to follow suit, according to The Daily Telegraph.

The ban on the industry has been in place since the late 1980s and would likely see significant backlash from nuclear energy opponents in repealed.

Australia has been estimated to hold 30 per cent of the world's uranium reserves - the largest of any single country.

As such, the industry could generate a significant amount of jobs and revenue for the state according to The Minerals Council of Australia chief executive, Tania Constable.

'Australia is endowed with the world's largest uranium resource but is only the third largest producer,' she said.

Ms Constable said if the bans are repealed, it would help strengthen Australia's position as a global uranium producer.

South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory are currently the only states and territories that allow the mining of uranium.

The arguments against mining of the radioactive metal include the environmental aspects, the dangers of nuclear power, and indigenous land issues.

The draft legislation has also attracted criticism form conservationists.

The Australian Conservation Foundation has argued the country doesn't need to explore 'dangerous' nuclear options.

'The state ban on uranium mining has served NSW well and should remain,' Australian Capital Territory nuclear campaigner Dave Sweeney said in a statement.

'Uranium mining in New South Wales would risk the health of the environment and regional communities for scant promise of return.'

Cabinet will need to give their final approval of Ms Berejiklian's and Mr Barilaro's deal with One Nation on Monday.
Three former Mexican presidents and over a dozen ex-ministers and legislators were accused of bribery, according to a document attributed to a key witness, in another chapter of a growing corruption scandal that is shaking the country's political elite.

Former presidents Enrique Pena Nieto, Felipe Calderon and Carlos Salinas de Gortari are among 17 Mexican politicians and a journalist named by Emilio Lozoya, the disgraced ex-head of state oil giant Petroleos Mexicanos, in his purported testimony to Mexican prosecutors, according to a leaked copy of his deposition seen by several media organizations.

While the Attorney General's office wouldn't confirm the authenticity of the document, stamped Aug. 11, it opened an investigation into how it was leaked to reporters on Wednesday, including by probing those who had access to the testimony. At least five of the 17 people mentioned in the document have turned to Twitter to reject the accusations.

Lozoya, who ran Pemex from late 2012 to early 2016 and was part of Pena Nieto's inner circle, is cooperating with prosecutors after being extradited from Spain last month to face corruption charges. The case has become the widest-reaching graft probe in recent Mexican history and could build support for President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's party, which is running on an anti-corruption platform, ahead of legislative and state elections next year.

Lopez Obrador said on Thursday that the document appears to be genuine, without providing details.

"Why do I say it's authentic? Because many involved have reacted to what it says," Lopez Obrador said during his daily press conference, adding that he doesn't think prosecutors leaked the document and so it shouldn't impact the case's due process.

The document cites Lozoya as saying Pena Nieto and his then finance minister Luis Videgaray ordered him to funnel bribes from Brazilian builder Odebrecht into the 2012 presidential campaign. Then, once in power, they told him to pay off lawmakers to help pass the country's landmark energy reform in 2013 and 2014 and benefit favored companies.

Pena Nieto representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Videgaray declined to comment when the accusations were first made public.

Lozoya's lawyer, Miguel Ontiveros, said in a statement posted on Twitter that the defense isn't taking responsibility for the document and that the case should be kept in the courts to protect due process.

No former Mexican president in modern history has faced corruption charges or been sent to jail. Mexico has lagged behind other Latin American countries in mounting successful cases, previously failing to prosecute bribery allegations that surfaced out of a Brazilian probe of Odebrecht and landed top officials around the region, including presidents, in jail.

Lozoya's purported testimony also alleged that his predecessor, Felipe Calderon, had benefited Odebrecht while Carlos Salinas, who ruled Mexico from 1988-1994, had allegedly helped companies win contracts.

Calderon accused Lopez Obrador of using Lozoya as an instrument of "vengeance and political persecution."

"He's not interested in justice but in a lynching, in my case making ridiculous accusations," Calderon said of the president in his Twitter account on Wednesday night.

The document did not include proofs of Lozoya's claims and lawyers have warned the publicity around the case, including comments by Lopez Obrador during his daily press conference, could be undermining the right to a fair trial. Lopez Obrador has been demanding that an alleged video and other evidence in the case be made public.

Jose Antonio Meade, who was named in the document and served as foreign minister at the time of the allegations and later ran for the presidency under the banner of Pena Nieto's party, said in a post in Twitter that Lozoya's condition as a protected witness should "serve to know the truth, not to accuse without proof those who denounced crimes and helped bring this case to justice."

"I dedicated my life to build a better country with absolute honor and legality," Meade said.
TORONTO, Aug. 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Migrants, refugees, undocumented people, workers and students are taking to the streets on August 23rd to call for full and permanent immigration status for all. Parliament may be prorogued but migrants are still in crisis. Actions in ten cities and five provinces are calling for the expansion of the newly announced pathway to permanent residency for some refugees in healthcare to include everyone in the country without permanent resident status. COVID-19 has worsened existing inequalities and with fears of a second wave on the horizon, swift action is needed to ensure migrants are not put in further jeopardy. The cross-country day of action is coordinated by the Migrant Rights Network, Canadas migrant justice coalition. The Migrant Rights Network is calling on all political parties to ensure a plan for regularization is announced in the upcoming speech from the throne.



August 23, 2020 Actions & Media Contacts

NATIONAL CONTACT: Karen Cocq, Migrant Rights Network - 647-970-8464 [EN/FR]

TORONTO: 2:15pm. Immigration and Refugee Board and CBSA Offices (74 Victoria Street). Contact: Sarom Rho, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change - 647-858-2854

MONTREAL: Contact: Solidarity Across Borders - 514 222 0205 Montreal-Nord: 2pm, Henri Bourassa metro (in front of the IGA) Parc Ex: 2pm, Parc metro Cote-des-neiges: 2pm, Plamondon metro (Van Horne exit) Downtown: 2pm, Berri UQAM (Emilie Gamelin exit)

NIAGARA: 1pm, Niagara Detention Centre (1355 Uppers Lane). Contact: Kit Andres, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change - 905-324-2840.

VANCOUVER: 3pm, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (877 Expo Blvd). Contact: Nayeli Jimenez - 778-874-4977.

REGINA: 1pm, MP Michael Kram Office (Quance St 2723 E). Contact: Gurjinder Singh Lehal - pres@ursu.ca or 431-997-9949

SHERBROOKE: 2pm, Bureau dElisabeth Briere, deputee federale de Sherbrooke (1650 Rue King Ouest). Contact: Ensemble avec les personnes migrantes contre le racisme - collectifensemble.sherbrooke@gmail.com

WINDSOR: 3pm, Immigration and Refugee and CBSA Offices (1250 Walker Rd).

OTTAWA: 2pm, Immigration and Refugee Board (344 Slater Street). Contact: Erin Leigh, Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women (OCTEVAW) - 613-858-5136

HALIFAX: Multiple locations. Contact: No one is illegal - Halifax/K'jipuktuk - noii.hfx@gmail.com

OKANAGAN: Multiple locations. Contact: RAMA - RamaOkanagan@gmail.com

More actions are being updated, see www.MigrantRights.ca/August23 for the latest.

BACKGROUND

At least 1 in 23 people in Canada (over 1.6 million) are non permanent residents.

Migrants are on various study, work or humanitarian permits, or without documentation at all.

Many migrants are excluded from universal healthcare, access to emergency income supports, and decent work. Many are separated from their families.

Hundreds of thousands of migrant workers, refugees, students and undocumented people have lost their lives and livelihoods in COVID-19.

Migrants are unable to fully protect themselves during COVID-19 because of lack of emergency support, and because speaking out about unsafe work and housing conditions can result in deportation, homelessness, or not being able to return.

The federal government announced a pathway to permanent residency for some asylum claimants working in the healthcare sector during the COVID-19 pandemic on August 14th. However, COVID-19 does not differentiate between people, neither should the government response.

Nearly 12,000 people have signed a petition calling for permanent immigration status for all: https://migrantrights.ca/covid19/ ,

, Migrant Rights Networks proposal for Status for All is here: https://migrantrights.ca/statusforall/
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has signed into law sweeping protections for businesses, schools and nursing homes against coronavirus lawsuits.

Lee on Monday touted the legislation as historic and argued the law would protect businesses from frivolous lawsuits.

The GOP-dominated Statehouse failed to advance the proposal earlier this year when negotiations among lawmakers broke down in the hectic waning hours of legislative work.

Lee later convened a special legislative session to not only address COVID-19 liability, but also telemedicine and penalties against protesters who violate certain laws.

Under Lees leadership, Tennessee was one of the first states to begin reopening in late April after the Republican reluctantly issued a safer-at-home order that forced businesses to close.

Lee has since maintained he will not shut down the economy and has resisted calls for a statewide mask mandate.

Tennessee lawmakers main dividing line over the liability bill was whether to make its protections retroactive to early March, which the Senate supported and the House opposed.

The bill that ultimately passed is now retroactive to Aug. 3. Some lawmakers expressed concern that bill may be illegal because Tennessees Constitution states no retrospective law, or law impairing the obligations of contracts, shall be made.

I readily admit this is a question that the courts will have to answer, Republican Sen. Mike Bell said last week. He added he felt confident a court would side with the Legislature because the proposal would be in the publics interest.

Existing lawsuits surrounding poor COVID-19 safeguards will be grandfathered into state code as long as the complaints had been filed before early August.

Kimberlee Kruesi and Jonathan Mattise contributed to this report.

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

Topics COVID-19 Legislation Tennessee
The head of an eastern suburbs private school has described the ban on school graduations with parents as draconian, saying schools should be allowed to design COVID-safe events that would give students something to look forward to in an otherwise bleak year.

Amid growing concerns over the mental health of HSC students, whose rites of passage have been cancelled, a leading adolescent psychologist backed the suggestion from St Catherine's principal Julie Townsend, saying authorities should be proposing alternatives rather than a ban.

Jamie Christopoulos will take over as Trinity Grammar captain from older brother Spiro in term four. The brothers are "gutted" they might miss out on celebrating their big achievement with family. Credit:Janie Barett

Among the students devastated by cancelled ceremonies is Spiro Christopoulos, who was due to hand the Trinity Grammar School captain's badge over to his brother Jamie - the first time since the 1930s that the role has stayed within the family.

"Our grandfather came to Australia with nothing," said Spiro. "For him to not experience the moment his two grandkids achieve this is extremely disappointing."
(Natural News) On the evening of Tuesday, August 18, Antifa and Black Lives Matter rioters in Portland once again targeted city property. This time, they turned their attention to the Multnomah County Building, which they attempted to burn down. The riot at the county building marks the 82nd night of consecutive violence in the city.

The Multnomah County Building, located in southeast Portland, is home to several offices of the county commission. Earlier in the day, several posts circulated on social media calling for people to gather at Colonel Summers Park, several blocks to the east.

The post said that people will be gathering and marching for the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as for the cause of abolishing law enforcement and dismantling the prison system. Different online fliers also encouraged dedicated rioters to go to nearby Laurelhurst Park earlier in the evening for shield wall and frontline practice.

At 9:45 p.m., the group left the park and began marching west towards the Multnomah County Building. Almost as soon as they arrived, they started lighting fires in dumpsters and throwing projectiles such as rocks at the buildings windows. Several individuals were also throwing flaming objects at the building, such as newspapers.

By 10 p.m., several of the buildings windows had been totally shattered. One individual was caught on video throwing flaming debris through one of the broken windows, starting a fire in one of the offices. (Related: Kill a cop, save a life: Portland rioters chant and cheer for the MURDER of police officers.)

Around 20 minutes later, large fires could be seen in one of the offices inside the building. Curtains, as well as stacks of documents inside the room, were on fire. Arsonists were also continuously throwing flaming newspapers through the window in an attempt to help spread the fire. According to a press release from the Portland Police Bureau (PPB), several rioters sprayed lighter fluid inside the building before the flaming debris was thrown inside.

Office on fire now. Crowd chanted, "What did you see? Didn't see shi*!" pic.twitter.com/WCehCrWPgw  Hannah Ray Lambert (@TheHannahRay) August 19, 2020

The police also stated that the fire in the county building was large enough to trigger the fire alarms and the sprinkler system. By 10:30 p.m., the PPB declared the gathering a riot and ordered everybody to leave the area immediately.

The Antifa and Black Lives Matter rioters are becoming more and more difficult to deal with, as their tactics become even more sophisticated and deadly. Learn about one instance when a BLM rioter tried to murder an innocent man by listening to this episode of the Health Ranger Report, a podcast by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, as he talks about the incident, which occurred in Austin, Texas, and resulted in the death of the BLM assailant.

Mob refused to disperse, one officer injured, two rioters arrested

The crowd refused to leave, so the PPB officers responding to the incident were forced to pepper spray individuals who were adamant in preventing law enforcement from putting out the fires. Fortunately, this resistance didnt last long, and the fire inside the building was extinguished within minutes after the PPB intervened. Portland Fire and Rescue teams were dispatched to deal with the dumpster fires in the area.

After the fire was dealt with, the PPB focused its resources on dispersing the rest of the crowd. Officers said they were hit with projectiles during this operation.

By 11 p.m., the police had fully dispersed the mob. But 30 minutes later, the crowd regrouped and tried to make their way back to the Multnomah County Building.

Police loudspeakers reminded the crowd that the demonstration had already been declared a riot, and that people needed to leave the area. This announcement once again fell on deaf ears, and the rioters were forcefully dispersed. using crowd control munitions.

The PPB reported that no tear gas was used, and one officer was injured during the second round of dispersal when a rioter hit him with a rock.

By 12:25 a.m. on Wednesday, the diminishing crowd had been pushed back to Colonel Summers Park, where they initially gathered. Small groups of people stayed here for a while before dispersing of their own accord.

New DA intervenes, drops charges on arrested rioters

Two individuals were arrested during that evenings rioting.

Peter Curtis, 40, was arrested and charged with reckless endangering and first-degree criminal mischief. Jesse Hawk, 23, was charged with rioting, two charges of unlawful use of a weapon, interfering with a peace officer, two charges of assaulting a public safety officer, two charges of harassment, second-degree disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and attempted escape.

Unfortunately, the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office intervened and submitted no complaint orders due to missing information needed by our office to make a charging decision. This means that the charges against the two rioters have been dropped and will only be reinstated once the DA has reviewed the case and the PPB is able to provide the office with additional information.

The new DA for Multnomah County is making it more difficult for law enforcement to do their duty and protect life and property. Learn about how the events in Portland have escalated since his ascension to the office by reading the latest articles at Rioting.news.

Sources include:

FoxNews.com

KOIN.com

KGW.com

KPTV.com
Unaudited Results for the three months ended 30 June 2020

Corporate and Operational Update

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2020 / Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas Ltd. (AIM: ECO, TSX-V: EOG), the oil and gas exploration company with license interests in Guyana and Namibia, is pleased to announce its results for the three months ended 30 June 2020, alongside a corporate and operational update.

Results Highlights:

Financials

As at 30 June 2020, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of US$ 17.9 million with zero debt and remains fully funded for its share (15% WI net) of further appraisal and exploration drilling at Orinduik Block offshore Guyana (the " Orinduik Block ") of up to three wells at US$120M (gross).

") of up to three wells at US$120M (gross). As at 30 June 2020, Eco had total assets of US$19.2 million, total liabilities of US$ 372,138 and total equity of US$18.8 million.

58% cost reduction this quarter in response to COVID-19 strict cost cutting measures taken as of April 2020.

The Company has changed its presentation currency from Canadian Dollars to US Dollars to better reflect the business activities and future operations which will be predominantly in US Dollars, and to improve investors' ability to compare the Company's results to its industry peers.

Operations - Guyana

The Orinduik JV partners (the " Partners ") are further defining the Orinduik geological modeling, previous discoveries, prospects maturation and drilling targets selection. The Partners are also reviewing and incorporating the latest Kanuku Block Carapa-1 light oil discovery up dip and behind Orinduik and additional regional exploration information into the models. The intention is to provide further definition to the Cretaceous interpretation and target selection for drilling.

") are further defining the Orinduik geological modeling, previous discoveries, prospects maturation and drilling targets selection. The Partners are also reviewing and incorporating the latest Kanuku Block Carapa-1 light oil discovery up dip and behind Orinduik and additional regional exploration information into the models. The intention is to provide further definition to the Cretaceous interpretation and target selection for drilling. On 30 June 2020, the Company and its Partners on the license approved a budget in the amount of approximately US$5 million through to 31 December, 2020 for 3D reprocessing based on new regional results and target selection. The Company's share of this budget is US$750,000.

Outlook:

Guyana

Alongside its JV Partners, multiple drilling prospects on the license are currently being reviewed. High-graded candidates will be considered for the next drilling programme.

Eco remains fully funded for a further drilling programme on the Orinduik Block and, subject to JV Partner approval, anticipates drilling at least two exploration wells into light oil cretaceous targets in 2021. Further updates on this matter will be made as appropriate.

The Orinduik JV partners are Eco Atlantic (15% working interest ("WI")), Tullow Guyana B.V. ("Tullow") (Operator, 60% WI) and Total E&P Guyana B.V. ("Total") (25% WI).

Namibia

Eco continues to benefit from a strategically significant acreage position in-country and is progressing its various work programmes offshore Namibia. The company is witnessing an increased interest from multiple IOCs in Namibia.

The Company continues to monitor upcoming drilling activity in the region, which could potentially see up to five exploration wells drilled on behalf of ExxonMobil, Total, Maurel & Prom, Shell and ReconAfrica in the next 12 months, expected to start Q4 2020.

Corporate

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lower oil price environment, Eco took decisive action to quickly reduce costs throughout the business.

The Company has decreased its total non-exploration expenses, including general and administration expense and compensation costs incurred during the three months ended June 30, 2020 (Q1 2021), when compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020 (Q4 2020), by 58%.

The action generated material significant savings and has ensured the business remains well capitalised, with no debt on the balance sheet, for its 2021 drilling and exploration plans.

Gil Holzman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Eco Atlantic, commented:

"The Company has made significant strides towards advancing its asset portfolio in 2020. Due to the actions taken, Eco remains well capitalised and fully funded for a further drilling campaign in Guyana and additional activity elsewhere.

"In Guyana, we have made excellent progress with high grading and further defining multiple highly prospective drilling prospects. Alongside our JV Partners, we firmly believe in the upside potential of the Block and we look forward to recommencing drilling activity in 2021. We look forward to updating the market on our plans in the coming months.

"In Namibia, we continue to see increasing interest in the country's offshore oil potential, especially with another set of exploration wells planned by other operators over the coming 12 months. We have an important strategic acreage position offshore Namibia and expect any successful drilling activity in the region to benefit us.

"Despite the challenging macro backdrop, Eco has a resilient business model and has taken decisive action to preserve the Company's liquidity. We continue to benefit from strategically important acreage positions in two exploration hotspots and from a strong partnership and cooperation with our biggest shareholder Africa Oil Corp., and I look forward to updating the market on developments over the coming months."

The Company's unaudited financial results for three months ended 30 June 2020, together with Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three months to 30 June 2020, are available to download on the Company's website at www.ecooilandgas.com and on Sedar at www.sedar.com.

The following are the Company's Balance Sheet, Income Statements, Cash Flow Statement and selected notes from the annual Financial Statements. All amounts are in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated.

Balance Sheet

June 30, 2020 March 31, 2020 April 1, 2019 Unaudited Audited Audited Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents 17,918,133 18,667,016 18,750,453 Short-term investments 54,900 52,737 56,098 Government receivable 15,260 19,276 24,821 Amounts owing by license partners, net 60,966 45,596 - Accounts receivable and prepaid expenses 48,160 46,262 60,678 18,097,419 18,830,887 18,892,050 Petroleum and natural gas licenses 1,117,171 1,117,171 1,117,171 Total Assets 19,214,590 19,948,058 20,009,221 Liabilities Current liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 372,138 350,242 317,548 Amounts owing to license partners, net - - 845,524 Total Liabilities 372,138 350,242 1,163,072 Equity Share capital 59,099,725 59,099,725 37,509,183 Restricted share units reserve 267,669 267,669 83,597 Warrants 53,026 53,026 39,570 Stock options 2,555,467 2,542,824 2,387,837 Foreign currency translation reserve (1,081,000) (1,117,859 ) - Accumulated deficit (42,052,435) (41,247,569 ) (21,174,038 ) Total Equity 18,842,452 19,597,816 18,846,149 Total Liabilities and Equity 19,214,590 19,948,058 20,009,221

Income Statement

Three months ended June 30, 2020 2019 Unaudited Revenue Interest income 28,409 126,931 28,409 126,931 Operating expenses: Compensation costs 172,304 161,692 Professional fees 32,615 18,083 Operating costs 519,677 6,173,380 General and administrative costs 87,003 394,083 Share-based compensation 12,643 43,999 Foreign exchange (gain) loss 9,033 (36,888 ) Total expenses 833,275 6,754,349 Net loss and comprehensive loss (804,866) (6,627,418 ) Basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to equity holders of the parent (0.00) (0.04 ) Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per share 184,697,723 180,184,880

Cash Flow Statement

Three months ended June 30, 2020 2019 Unaudited Cash flow from operating activities Net loss from operations (804,866) (6,627,418 ) Items not affecting cash: Share-based compensation 12,643 43,999 Changes in non???cash working capital: Government receivable 4,728 8,526 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 33,469 (215,378 ) Accounts receivable and prepaid expenses - 22,866 Advance from and amounts owing to license partners (13,280) 3,294,645 (767,306) (3,472,760 ) Cash flow from financing activities Net proceeds from private placement - 16,198,976 Proceeds from the exercise of stock options - 54,104 Proceeds from the exercise of warrants - 120,388 - 16,373,468 Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (767,306) 12,900,708 Foreign exchange differences 18,422 581,492 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year 18,667,016 18,750,453 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period 17,918,133 32,232,653

Notes to the Financial Statements

Basis of Preparation

The condensed consolidated interim financial statements of the Company have been prepared on a historical cost basis with the exception of certain financial instruments that are measured at fair value. Historical cost is generally based on the fair value of the consideration given in exchange for assets.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Critical accounting estimates

Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognized prospectively from the period in which the estimates are revised. The following are the key estimate and assumption uncertainties considered by management.

Change in functional currency assessment

The functional currency of the Company and its subsidiaries represent the currency of the primary economic environment in which each entity operates. Through to March 31, 2020, all entities were considered to have a functional currency of Canadian Dollars. On March 31, 2020, the Company determined the United States Dollar ("USD") to be the functional currency for Eco Guyana based on the increased expenditures incurred in USD which is expected to continue in the foreseeable future. On April 1, 2020, the Company determined the USD to be the functional currency for Eco (Atlantic) Oil and Gas Ltd, based on the increase in USD denominated spending as of April 1, 2020. On April 1, 2020, the Company also determined the USD to be the functional currency of Eco Guyana Oil & Gas (Barbados) Ltd, since this entity is 100% owned by Eco Atlantic, and is the 100% owner of Eco Guyana, both of which have functional currencies denominated in USD. The change in estimate has been applied on a prospective basis effective April 1, 2020.

Effective April 1, 2020, the Company also changed its presentation currency from Canadian Dollars to USD. The change in presentation currency is to better reflect the Company's business activities and to improve investors' ability to compare the Company's results to its peers. This change has been applied retroactively as if the Company's new presentation currency has always been the Company's presentation currency.

**ENDS**

For more information, please visit www.ecooilandgas.com or contact the following:

Eco Atlantic Oil and Gas c/o Celicourt +44 (0) 20 8434 2754 Gil Holzman, CEO Colin Kinley, COO Alice Carroll, Head of Marketing and IR +44(0)781 729 5070 | +1 (416) 318 8272 Strand Hanson Limited (Financial & Nominated Adviser) +44 (0) 20 7409 3494 James Harris James Bellman Berenberg (Broker) +44 (0) 20 3207 7800 Matthew Armitt Detlir Elezi Celicourt (PR) +44 (0) 20 8434 2754 Mark Antelme Jimmy Lea Hannam & Partners (Research Advisor) Neil Passmore +44 (0) 20 7905 8500

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014.

Notes to editors:

About Eco Atlantic:

Eco Atlantic is a TSX-V and AIM quoted Oil & Gas exploration and production Company with interests in Guyana and Namibia, where significant oil discoveries have been made.

The Group aims to deliver material value for its stakeholders through oil exploration, appraisal and development activities in stable emerging markets, in partnership with major oil companies, including Tullow, Total and Azinam.

In Guyana, Eco Guyana holds a 15% Working Interest alongside Total (25%) and Tullow Oil (60%) in the 1,800 km2 Orinduik Block in the shallow water of the prospective Suriname-Guyana basin. The Orinduik Block is adjacent and updip to ExxonMobil and Hess Corporation's Stabroek Block, on which sixteen discoveries have been announced and over 9 Billion BOE of oil equivalent recoverable resources are estimated. First oil production commenced in December 2019 from the deep-water Liza Field, less than three years from FID.

Jethro-1 was the first major oil discovery on Orinduik Block. The Jethro-1 encountered 180.5 feet (55 meters) of net high-quality oil pay in excellent Lower Tertiary sandstone reservoirs which further proves recoverable oil resources. Joe-1 is the second discovery on the Orinduik Block and comprises high quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoir with a high porosity of Upper Tertiary age. The Joe-1 well encountered 52 feet (16 meters) of continuous thick sandstone which further proves the presence of recoverable oil resources.

In Namibia, the Company holds interests in four offshore petroleum licenses totalling approximately 25,000km2 with over 2.3bboe of prospective P50 resources in the Walvis Basin. These four licenses, Cooper, Guy, Sharon and Tamar are being developed alongside partners Azinam and NAMCOR. Eco has been granted a drilling permit on its Cooper Block (Operator).

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

SOURCE: Eco (Atlantic) Oil and Gas Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602560/Eco-Atlantic-Oil-and-Gas-Ltd-Announces-Results-for-the-three-months-ended-30-June-2020
CHICHIJIMA, Japan - Six hundred miles from Tokyo, on a Pacific island that takes 24 hours to reach by ship, live the remnants of a unique culture descended from American, European and Polynesian settlers who sought a new life almost 200 years ago.

On the quiet streets of Chichijima walk Japanese people with foreign-looking faces, and names like Savory, Washington and Gonzalez. A few still speak a disappearing island dialect that mixes Japanese, English and the occasional Hawaiian word.

It has been buffeted by winds of colonialism, nationalism and warfare, but survives as a melting pot of ethnicities, cultures and languages - a legacy that carries added resonance today in a world facing reckonings over identity and race.

For Japan, a largely mono-ethnic nation, this unique community offers a different definition of what it means to be Japanese. It is also an unusual but potentially inspiring vision of a multiethnic Japan as the country grapples with the need to bring in more foreigners to supplement its labor force and aging society.

"We're a small island, but we have a lot of history, and we have to preserve that history," said 60-year-old Rocky Savory, a fifth-generation resident, inside the supermarket he now runs on Chichijima.

In June 1830, 23 men and women made a perilous, 3,300-mile journey from Honolulu on a British schooner named the Washington to settle a lonely archipelago known in the West as the Bonin Islands, a mistranscription of a Japanese word meaning "uninhabited."

The settlers were lured by accounts of lush lands and turtles so plentiful they paved the shore. The aim was to establish a supply stop for Western whaling ships in what is now called the Ogasawara archipelago.

Today, their descendants make up around 200 of Chichijima's 2,000 residents, while others are scattered from Guam to Hawaii and the mainland United States.

The volcanic islands had first been mapped by Japanese sailors - although not by the mythical samurai Ogasawara after whom they are now named. They were claimed in 1827 by British naval officer Frederick Beechey, who nailed a copper plaque to a tree.

Britons had also led that first group of settlers, but the man who emerged as the community's eventual leader was an American: Nathaniel Savory, a former whaler from Bradford, Mass., whose career had been cut short after he lost a finger. It is his name that now echoes through the ages, and his legacy that the community still celebrates.

It was Nathaniel Savory who greeted U.S. Commodore Matthew C. Perry when he visited the islands in 1853, on his way to open Japan to the outside world. Indeed, Perry was so convinced of the islands' potential as a way station between Japan and the United States that he bought a prime plot of land from Savory for $50.

But Western interest in the islands also ignited Japan's, which sent its own settlers in 1862 and again in 1875, annexing the territory the following year. The original settlers were forced to become naturalized Japanese citizens - although they were never fully accepted by the Japanese state.

To this day, they are referred to in Japanese as "Obeikei," or Westerners, and their central role in the island's history is given only a cursory mention in the Ogasawara Visitors Center.

The Japanese, Western and Polynesian settlers lived together peacefully and even intermarried until World War II.

Iwo Jima, also a member of the Ogasawara chain, became a fiercely contested prize in the Pacific war. But Chichijima was also massively fortified and extensively bombed, and its civilian population was evacuated to the Japanese mainland.

The descendants of the Western settlers mostly ended up working in munitions factories near Tokyo but, with their foreign looks, suffered widespread discrimination, abuse and even violence in wartime Japan.

Back on Chichijima, the fate of any American airmen who were shot down was even worse, with eight beaten, tortured and executed, and five partially cannibalized on the orders of a Japanese officer, according to records of the United States Navy War Crimes Trials.

George H.W. Bush narrowly escaped the same fate. Just 20 years old, he was shot down during a bombing raid on Chichijima in September 1944, but was picked up by an American submarine, even as Japanese patrol boats pursued his escape raft. Both of his fellow crew members died, and Bush visited the island to retrace his mission and honor their memory in 2002.

Japan's surrender in 1945 brought the Ogasawara islands under the control of the U.S. Navy, which was eyeing a permanent U.S. base on a strategically important location in the escalating Cold War. The Pentagon reluctantly allowed 129 "Western" descendants back to the islands, but denied ethnic Japanese islanders the right to return.

Symbolizing the widening divide, three Western islanders testified in war crimes trials against Japanese army officers, and many wanted the Americans to stay.

"The Navy took care of us really well," remembers John Washington, 71, who was born just after the war and educated in English on Chichijima before being sent to high school in Guam.

The Navy Generation, as the Western islanders who grew up in that period are known, reminisce about barbecues on July 4, free medical care and freedom to do as they pleased.

Eventually, though, the United States gave in to repeated Japanese demands to return the islands to its rule. On June 26, 1968, the Stars and Stripes was taken down and replaced with the Japanese flag.

That same day, the island's school came under the control of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and classes switched overnight from being entirely in English to entirely in Japanese.

Rocky Savory was 8 years old at the time, and young enough to adapt. But the transition was tough for older children and young adults. His older sister became a U.S. citizen, eventually going on to work in the Pentagon and settle in Maryland. His cousin John Washington, then 19, served in the U.S. Army for 28 years, including two tours in Vietnam, and now lives in Spanaway, Wash.

For the islanders, identity and language has shifted from generation to generation, as Japan and the United States have each claimed the community for their own geostrategic convenience. The eldest and youngest generations are often more comfortable in Japanese, while the Navy Generation often prefers English.

Not surprisingly, perhaps, the islands have developed their own Ogasawara dialect, said Daniel Long, a linguistics professor at Tokyo Metropolitan University.

"Are you Japanese or American?" the curious visitor might ask Savory's descendants today. The responses, in different languages, depend on who is answering - and who is asking, said David Chapman of the University of Queensland in Australia, who has written an authoritative history of the islands.

"It's a good question, hard to answer," laughed Rocky Savory. "Let's say the good answer is islander. I'm an islander."

Washington, who for years flew an American flag above his guesthouse in Chichijima and still visits the islands every year, says he's a U.S. citizen, "but deep in my heart, I still consider myself a Bonin Islander."

Yet for the younger members of the community, the answer changes again.

"I feel like I am Japanese," said 32-year-old Nasa Savory, a distant cousin of Rocky, who grew up on the islands before attending high school and university in Tokyo, where he earned a PhD and met his wife, a mainlander. "I don't feel like I'm an American, but I am an islander."

In his childhood, Nasa says, children from all communities mingled "with no difference between anyone," and Long says there has always been surprisingly little ethnic tension on the islands.

"Japan is trying to navigate its way to becoming a multiethnic, multilingual society," Long said. "Britain and the United States have struggled with that, but here they found a way to do it, 150 years ago."

Yet there is one small but significant obstacle that Nasa Savory can't overcome to be completely Japanese in the eyes of his mainland countrymen, who often tend to equate nationality with racial purity. His family name in Japanese is pronounced "Sebore" and spelled in the katakana script reserved for foreign words.

Every time he books a hotel room or a table at a restaurant, the person on the other end of the line does a double take: How is he Japanese with a foreign name? Renting an apartment is even harder, in a country where many landlords openly exclude foreigners.

"When I try to rent a home, they tell me to show my passport and explain why I have such a different, American name," he said. "I don't feel happy about that. I'm Japanese and I have lived here for 20 years, but they treat me like a non-Japanese."
New Delhi: Several Google services like Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs and Google Meet were restored after suffering one of the longest worldwide outages on Thursday.

The tech giant has apologised for the inconvenience, adding that system reliability is a top priority at Google.

As per the timeline of the Google Apps status page, the following activity was seen

At 2:08 PM, the page said, "We are continuing to investigate this issue. We will provide an update by 8/20/20, 3:08 PM detailing when we expect to resolve the problem."

Gmail sending issues, Meet recording issues, Creating files issues in Drive, CSV user upload issues in Admin Console, Posting message issues in Google Chat, Sites adding new pages issues, Keep issues, Voice mail issues.

At 3:10 PM, it wrote, "Gmail service has already been restored for some users, and we expect a resolution for all users in the near future. Please note this time frame is an estimate and may change."

At 4:40 PM, the page said, "The problem with Gmail should be resolved. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and continued support. System reliability is a top priority at Google. We are making continuous improvements to make our systems better."

Check out the screengrab of G Suite status dashboard

At around mid-morning (India timing) Gmail suffered massive outage worldwide with some users complaining that they cant send any attachments or documents while a few others reported that they have not been able to log in at all.

Popular outage tracking portal Down Detector reported that user reports indicate Google is having problems since 1:16 AM EDT. Down Detector reported there was an outage with Google servers.Google responded to users, saying they were working on a fix to resolve the issue. Down Detector said nearly 62 per cent of the users reported problems with Gmail, being unable to send or receive emails.

Gmail in its status page confirmed the disruption. It wrote, "We're investigating reports of an issue with Gmail. We will provide more information shortly".

Meanwhile, microblogging site Twitter has been flooded with queries as the users are unable to work on Gmail.

GMAIL IS DOWN. I can't decide if this is wonderfully liberating or wildly stressful  Rebekah Scanlan (@rebekahscanlan) August 20, 2020

Users across the globe unable to access #Gmail since morning and Downdetector confirms the situation. Hopefully, it'll be back soon #gmaildown pic.twitter.com/DjlwLh6YFx  S Aadeetya (@aadee_ram) August 20, 2020

Is #gmail down for anyone? Unable to send an email. Keep getting a network error. (But network is fine!)  Bilal Jaffery (@BilalJaffery) August 20, 2020

Gmail is down apparently, you're not alone.  Erwan Heussaff (@erwanheussaff) August 20, 2020

User reports indicate Gmail is having problems since 12:36 AM EDT. https://t.co/EsWw2oLYjH RT if you're also having problems #Gmaildown  Downdetector (@downdetector) August 20, 2020

This is the second time in two months that Gmail has suffered such massive outage. In July this year, Google users had a harrowing time in India as Gmail services went down for hours.

Users in India and in some other countries went to social media platforms complaining they were unable to access Gmail and other Google services.
An initial investigation found that the driver of a car went from the center lane to the right lane when Howard suddenly walked from the right side of the road into the travel portion of the highway, police said in a statement.
President Donald Trump Sunday announced the emergency-use authorization of convalescent blood plasma as a treatment for COVID-19, a move that will enable all hospitals to deploy the popular but not well proven therapy.

At a news conference a day ahead of the Republican National Convention, Trump called the Food and Drug Administration authorization a breakthrough thats about life and death, not politics. The authorization was issued a few days after he complained the FDA was guilty of politically motivated delays.

This is a powerful therapy that transfuses very, very strong antibodies from the blood of recovered patients to help treat patients battling a current infection, said Trump, who added later in the news conference that the political logjam was broken in the past week. Todays action will dramatically expand access to this treatment.

The authorization comes less than a week after UTHealth and Baylor College of Medicine began enrolling participants in more rigorous studies investigating the therapy, studies many scientists thought were needed to facilitate greater use of the treatment. Because of the lack of such data, the FDA last week put the plan to issue the emergency-use authorization on hold.

The treatment is based on the premise that transfusing plasma from patients whove recovered from a virus transfers its healing powers, contained in antibodies made by the immune system to attack the infection. First used during the 1918 Spanish Influenza, it has become one of the go-to treatments for the disease caused by the coronavirus.

Some experts immediately criticized the emergency authorization, arguing the evidence for the therapy remains inconclusive without results from a test randomly assigning participants into one group that receives blood plasma and another that gets a placebo or some standard of care. Some who said they think it will provide a benefit said it is far from the breakthrough Trump touted would be announced earlier in the weekend.

Im very disappointed in the FDA and with the political intervention, said Dr. Paul Klotman, president of Baylor. We need the right randomized study to determine efficacy. Every time we do something that isnt proven there is the potential to waste time, money and lives.

Klotman, who called the authorization premature, noted that it was made despite advice to the contrary by the directors of the National Institutes of Health and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. It was reportedly those two  Francis Collins and Anthony Fauci, respectively  whod convinced the FDA to put a hold on an emergency use authorization, arguing the existing data is not strong enough.

But Dr. James Musser, a Methodist professor of pathology and genomic medicine who has led the Houston hospitals research with the therapy, said Sunday the FDA made the best decision it could with the available data. Methodist and Mount Sinai in New York were the nations first U.S. hospitals to provide the therapy, both transfusing patients with plasma on the same night in March.

There have been a variety of trials, all pointing in the same direction  that blood plasma with high levels of antibodies and given early in the disease benefit patients, said Musser. Its important to get randomized trials done, but theyre not perfect.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Blood plasma therapy for COVID-19 patients coming to more Houston hospitals

Ed Jones, the head of the Houston Methodist Research Institute last week expressed disappointment that the expanded access was delayed. He said Methodist was eager to deploy the therapy at its suburban hospitals, which arent able to make available to patient therapies in clinical trials, like hospitals in the Texas Medical Center.

Trials involving plasma therapy include one by Methodist published in the Journal of Pathology earlier this month. It found that 136 patients who received plasma were more likely to be alive four weeks later than 251 patients who did not receive it. The latter group did not receive a placebo; researchers instead compared patients who got plasma with similar patients based on medical records.

Dr. Stephen Hahn, the director of the FDA, touted at the news conference that studies of the therapy have found a 35 percent survival benefit, which he called pretty significant.

Much of the work was through a large trial led by the Mayo Clinic. About 35,000 COVID-19 patients got plasma in that trial, which also did not involve a placebo. Like the Methodist trial, patients who got plasma in it were compared with similar patients not enrolled in the trial.

But despite the emergency authorization, there will be limits to access to the therapy, simply because plasma is derived from blood donations and cant be ramped up into millions of doses like a synthetic drug. Though Trump said donations have doubled since the administration launched a campaign urging recovered patients to donate, blood bank officials around the nation have lamented their supply is limited.

Peter Hotez, a Baylor infectious disease specialist, called the authorization a modest benefit, noting the limited availability of plasma and the need to give it in adequate amounts and early in the course of disease. But he acknowledged the emergency authorization should reduce the amount of paperwork and time required to get access to the therapy.

On HoustonChronicle.com: FDA fast tracking makes Houston Methodist one of first hospitals to treat COVID-19 with recovered patients blood

In the authorization letter, FDA officials stressed the therapy is still under investigation.

Convalescent plasma should not be considered a new standard of care for the treatment of patients with COVID-19, said the letter. Additional data will be forthcoming from other analyses and ongoing, well-controlled clinical trials in the coming months.

The FDA, which has issued many emergency-use authorizations during the pandemic, can always rescind such orders. It did that with hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malaria drug Trump and others advocated for COVID-19 that was ultimately found to be ineffective in trials.

New York University and Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine are leading the new randomized, placebo-controlled study, considered the gold standard of drug testing. UTHealth joined that study last week.

This is exactly the study we need to be doing to determine once and for all if this therapy works, said Dr. Luis Ostrosky, study co-investigator and infectious disease specialist at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth. Physicians have been using the therapy to try to save patients during the pandemic, knowing its safe but not knowing if it really works. Now, were going to find that out.

Ostrosky, also an infectious disease doctor at Memorial Hermann, said he expects UTHealth will finish enrollment of patients by the end of the year. It expects to supply about 400 of the trials 1,300 patients.

In addition, UTHealth and Baylor are both participating in other randomized trials about Covid. Those will test whether the therapy works in outpatient settings to prevent the onset of the disease in uninfected people exposed to a COVID-positive patient; and to prevent the progression of the disease in people experiencing mild to moderate symptoms but not yet resulting in hospitalization.

Both institutions have just begun enrolling patients in both those trials, which are led by Johns Hopkins University researchers.

Sundays announcement followed significant pressure by Trump to speed up the FDA process for approving vaccine and therapies for COVID-19, including a Tweet Saturday that said the deep state, or whoever, at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics. Obviously, they are hoping to delay the answer until after Nov. 3.

At Sundays news conference, Trump said the effort removing unnecessary barriers and and delays had put the United States years ahead of its usual schedule and Hahn said 17,000 FDA staffers have worked day and night to make it happen.

Chronicle wire services contributed to this report.

todd.ackerman@chron.com
The Bombay high court (HC) on Thursday granted bail to Kapil Wadhawan and Dheeraj Wadhawan of Dewan Housing Finance Limited (DHFL) in connection with the Yes Bank fraud, saying the enforcement directorate (ED) filed a charge sheet against them a day after the stipulated period of 60 days for doing so.

The Wadhawan brothers will not be able to come out of the prison immediately as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is investigating them in the same case. ED is separately probing other pending cases against them.

ED initiated proceedings against the Wadhawans on the basis of a case registered by CBI on March 7 against Yes Bank promoter Rana Kapoor, and his family members. They have been booked for conspiracy, cheating and also under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

Yes Bank is alleged to have invested 3,700 crore in short term non-convertible debenture of DHFL between April and June 2018. Kapoor allegedly received 600 crore as kickbacks from DHFL in terms of loan advanced to two firms, DOIT Urban Ventures (India) Private Limited and Morgan Credits Private Limited. While Kapoors three daughters hold 100 stakes in DOIT, Morgan Credits is controlled by his wife.

The Wadhawan brothers moved HC after a special court rejected their default bail plea on July 14. The special court rejected their claim that they were entitled to default bail, as ED did not file a charge sheet within 60 days  as prescribed by section 167(2) of the Code Of Criminal Procedure, 1973  by July 13.

The agency filed the charge sheet on July 13, which the special court accepted to be within the period prescribed, after excluding the date of their first remand.

However, HC judge Justice Bharati Dangre held that the exclusion was legally impermissible and granted bail to the Wadhawan brothers in lieu of 1 lakh bond each, and on the condition that they will surrender their passports to the investigators. The court observed that an accused cannot be kept in custody even for a day after they have the right to default bail.

Justice Dangre said there is a period prescribed for filing of the charge sheet. The right to default bail is for the accused if an investigating agency fails to file the charge sheet within the period prescribed by Section 167(2).

Additional solicitor general Anil Singh urged the court to stay the bail order at least for two weeks. He said what the high court has ruled was a pure question of law and since different courts have taken different views of the point of default bail, ED would like to test the view held by the high court before the Supreme Court.

Justice Dangre refused to accept the request. The judge said the settled legal position is that the right of default bail is indefeasible and once it accrues, the accused cannot be kept in custody thereafter even for a day.

The Apex court has recently held that no court can extend this period and therefore after the custody period of 60 days was over, the Wadhawan brothers are required to be set free immediately, the judge said.
As the Covid-19 pandemic began raging in India, the resultant lockdown forced the entire country inside their homes for a good four months.

All Summer vacation plans and well chalked out in advance trips went up in thin air, as people even stopped stepping out of the thresholds of their homes, what to say of travelling to exotic locations.

One such family is that of Reyansh Chenna and his mother Hanupriya, who are locked up in their hometown Bhimavaram in Andhra Pradesh for the past few months owing to the pandemic which has confined every individual within the confines of four walls of their homes.

Reyanss mother is reminiscing about how frequently, in fact in other words, every month, they travel a lot as their businesses are spread across several countries.

Her son Reyansh and the entire family were in Sri Lanka for a holiday, just days before the lockdown was announced. They had gone there as Reyansh loves beaches.

The family, now stuck at its hometown, wistfully remembered how they even had a beach party in Sri Lanka as Reyansh used to force them to visit the beaches almost everyday.

Hanupriya said that they are waiting for things to return to normal so that they can resume their travelling routine.

Reyansh, she says is a complete water baby as he loves swimming pools, beaches, Jacuzzis and water parks and just like his parents, he too loves travelling.

However all those plans would have to wait for their fulfilment, till the time things return back to normal.

Owing to the pandemic, international air travel in India is currently on hold and only those Indians who were working abroad, are being brought back and they too have to follow the strict regimen of observing 15 days of isolation, before they can even go to their homes and meet their loved ones.

Children like Reyansh are getting restless sitting in their homes and not getting to play outside, something which is extremely essential for young children and remaining indoors for several months, has even started affecting their mental health.

Parents themselves are not stepping out of homes, unless it is extremely necessary, so the question of sending children outside to play, as for now seems out of the question.
Iranian National and U.A.E. Business Organization Charged with Criminal Conspiracy to Violate Iranian Sanctions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, August 19, 2020



Amin Mahdavi, 53, an Iranian national living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Parthia Cargo LLC, a freight forwarding company located in the UAE, were charged in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia with participating in a criminal conspiracy to violate U.S. export laws and sanctions against Iran.

"Iran evades the U.S. embargo resulting from their malicious activities with the collaboration of those who pose as innocent buyers, but who are ready to send the products on to their forbidden destination," said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. "These charges against Parthia Cargo LLC and its managing director should put on notice all freight forwarders and others who facilitate illicit transshipments to Iran that their conduct will not be tolerated."

"We will not abide individuals or business organizations that seek to harm our national security by providing coveted U.S. goods to Iran, and we will pursue these wrongdoers no matter where they are located in the world," said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael R. Sherwin for the District of Columbia.

"Amin Mahdavi defiantly conspired and violated U.S. sanctions to benefit his company and Iran," said James A. Dawson, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office. "Today's charges are another example of the dedicated and unrelenting efforts of the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office to pursue those who violate our nation's sanctions and put our national security at risk. The FBI is charged with protecting our nation's security and intellectual property from being used to benefit our foreign adversaries."

"The actions today are a result of the ongoing coordination and collaborative counter proliferation efforts by the Office of Export Enforcement and the FBI," said P. Lee Smith, of BIS. "The Boston Field Office of the Office of Export Enforcement will continue to vigorously pursue violators with all law enforcement partners to interdict illicit trade that threatens U.S. national security and undermines U.S. foreign policy."

Mahdavi and Parthia Cargo LLC were charged in a criminal complaint with conspiring to defraud the United States and to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSRs).

The affidavit in support of the criminal complaint alleges that Mahdavi was the Managing Director of Parthia Cargo LLC, a business organization that facilitated the illegal shipment to Iran of goods manufactured in the United States. Mahdavi acknowledged to U.S. government officials in 2017 that he understood a U.S. government license was necessary to lawfully ship U.S. commercial aircraft parts to Iran. But Mahdavi nonetheless agreed to help ship a U.S.-origin commercial aircraft part to an Iranian air transport company, utilizing the freight forwarding services of Parthia Cargo LLC and without obtaining a license. Mahdavi and Parthia Cargo LLC conspired with individuals and business organizations located outside the United States as part of the criminal scheme, which included falsely stating to a U.S.-based aircraft parts supplier that the goods would not be shipped to Iran unless authorized by the U.S. government.

A concurrent action was filed by the Department of the Treasury, sanctioning Mahdavi and Parthia Cargo LLC, as well as a related UAE business organization, Delta Parts Supply FZC.

If convicted, Mahdavi would face up to five years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000, and Parthia Cargo LLC would face a fine of up to $500,000. The criminal charge in the complaint is an allegation, and Mahdavi and Parthia Cargo LLC are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI's Washington Field Office and the BIS's Boston Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Friedman and National Security Division Trial Attorney Jennifer Kennedy Gellie are representing the United States.

Attachment(s): Download parthia_affidavit.pdf

Topic(s):

Counterintelligence and Export Control

National Security

Component(s):

National Security Division (NSD)

USAO - District of Columbia

Press Release Number: 20-793

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F-22 Raptor maintainers had a problem. Stuffy coveralls were making their work on the aircraft's low-observable coatings distractingly hot and humid during the summer months.

So researchers from Headquarters Air Combat Command's science and technology department stepped in to develop new cooling suits to help keep airmen comfortable when working on flight lines.

"Our science and technology team at Headquarters ACC heard about the challenging operating conditions that our low-observable maintenance airmen have to work under," Dr. John Matyjas, HQ ACC chief scientist, said in a statement. "It's hot, strenuous, and requires particular focus on the task at hand."

Read next: Travis Air Force Base Evacuating as Wildfire Rages

The researchers worked with F-22 maintainers at Joint Base Langley-Eustis' 1st Fighter Wing to test the cooling suits under the often extreme weather conditions in Virginia, according to a base news release.

Matyjas toured the 1st Fighter Wing, then offered advice.

"We listened and began looking for innovative portable cooling solutions to meet the demand," he said. "During our search, RINI Technologies graciously agreed to let our maintainers have a two-month 'user experience' with their cooling system."

The new suits, which have been patented, consist of a custom-designed and unique set of sub-components including compressors, condenser, evaporator and water pump in one small package; the backpack-like package connects to a vest that "acts like a car's radiator," according to the release.

"Our airmen are excited about wearing them in harsh conditions while wearing Tyvek coveralls," 1st Lt. William Gibbs, F-22 fighter training unit assistant officer in charge, said in the release. "It's not a glamorous job, so we're excited about something that makes it a little bit easier." He pointed out that the Tyvek coveralls do not breathe in the hot and humid Virginia summer.

"After wearing them for just 5-10 minutes, you take them off and you're sweating," Gibbs explained in the release. "It's very similar to the chemical gear in MOPP 4. Think about how miserable you are during those phase two exercises. Our guys do it every single day.

"If this is something that we can roll out on a large scale for the workforce and make their working environment a little bit more tolerable, which will translate into them being more in tune with what they're doing work-wise -- without having to struggle with being hot, tired and sweaty, I think [the airmen] will produce even better quality of maintenance," he said.

According to the release, the airmen's response has been positive and the research team has received innovative feedback to improve the next design.

-- Bing Xiao can be reached at bingxiao2020@u.northwestern.edu.

Related: Some Don't Like It Hot: Shorts on the Way for Maintainers at Nellis Air Force Base
KYODO NEWS - Aug 20, 2020 - 19:23 | All, Japan

The last of the Kounotori unmanned cargo vessels ended its final mission Thursday as it burned up re-entering the Earth's atmosphere after transporting supplies to the International Space Station, the country's space agency said.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kounotori 9 left the ISS on Wednesday carrying waste materials from the station, following the delivery of food and water for astronauts, as well as equipment for experiments in May.

The Kounotori (which means "stork" in Japanese) cylindrical cargo transporters had successfully transported daily commodities, experimental units, samples, and replacement equipment such as batteries to the ISS dating back to 2009.

The nine transporters measured 9.8 meters in length with a payload capacity of 6 tons.

From fiscal 2021, Kounotori's successor, the HTV-X, is scheduled to transport vital supplies to the ISS, orbiting 400 kilometers above Earth. The HTV-X will be launched aboard the new H3 rocket, according to JAXA.

Related coverage:

Japan startup's launch of compact rocket fails due to engine problem

NASA eyes Aug. for SpaceX ship liftoff with Japanese astronaut aboard

Japan launches Kounotori cargo transporter on final mission to ISS

In May, an H2B rocket carrying the Kounotori 9 lifted off from the remote Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan. The launch was the last for both the Japanese cylindrical cargo transporter and the H2B rocket.

JAXA said the Kounotori spacecraft had unique advantages over some of its rival ISS cargo transfer vehicles as it was capable of delivering materials used both onboard and outboard the ISS.
And for all the theorys disparate parts, what links them is the same kind of extreme anti-establishment bent that Mr. Trump rode to election in 2016, said Joseph Uscinski, a political science professor at the University of Miami who studies fringe beliefs.

Trump and his surrogates havent created this, but they have certainly tried to activate it and use it to their advantage, he added. Thats why you have a lot of QAnon people popping up and mimicking Trump and his views, and running for office.

More unusual is how QAnon adherents often portray Mr. Trump as a god-emperor figure who has been sending them coded messages of support. The QAnon slogan, We Are the Storm, grew out of a remark by Mr. Trump, who quipped during a 2017 photo op with generals, You guys know what this represents? Maybe its the calm before the storm.

The Texas Republicans adopted the slogan in late July after electing a new chairman, Allen West, a former congressman from Florida whose rapid political ascent during the rise of the Tea Party in 2010 was matched only by his fast fall out of Congress two years later. Though Mr. West had not previously indicated any support for QAnon, during his time in Congress he often framed issues as being part of a struggle to save the country, a theme that courses through the conspiracy theory.

Now, eight years later, under his leadership the state party appears intent on bringing the QAnon caucus into the fold in Texas. The new slogan was quickly picked up by local chapters of the state party, as well as some prominent Texas Republicans. Whether they believed it and knew where it came from, or simply saw a play for votes in an election year in which Democrats are expected to make gains in Texas, is an open question, though some disaffected Republicans in Texas said QAnon-inspired beliefs were spreading dangerously inside the party.

There are several people in the partys infrastructure whom I would not put it past to actually believe this nonsense, said Elizabeth Bingham, a former vice chair of the Dallas County Republican Party. They seem giddy with the idea that they can tell as many people as possible that the Democrats arent just opposed to the privatization of social security or soft on Syria  that theyre in favor of child sacrifices. That the Democrats are evil.

The true believers, she said, were being urged on by opportunists who feared primary challenges and losing elected office. I think thats worse, she added.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump gave a major boost to the baseless QAnon conspiracy theory, saying Wednesday that he appreciated the support of its followers, calling them "people that love our country."

Pressed at a White House briefing about the online movement, which the FBI has identified as a potential domestic terrorist threat, he claimed not to know anything about it other than the affection its adherents have for him. But when a reporter outlined the erroneous claims underlying the theory - "that you are secretly saving the world from this Satanic cult of pedophiles and cannibals" - Trump seemed to embrace that role for himself.

"I don't know much about the movement; I understand they like me very much, which I appreciate," Trump said during a White House press briefing. "I heard these are people that love our country."

"QAnon believes you are secretly saving the world from this cult of pedophiles and cannibals. Are you behind that?" a reporter pressed.

"I haven't heard that. Is that supposed to be a bad thing or a good thing?" Trump responded. "If I can help save the world from problems, I am willing to do it. I'm willing to put myself out there. And we are actually, we're saving the world."

QAnon took root on Internet message boards in the fall of 2017 with posts from a self-proclaimed government insider identified as "Q." The pseudonymous figure posted cryptic clues about Trump's impending conquest over the "deep state," spawning an elaborate far-right worldview that came to absorb many other debunked ideas.

Though its followers have been heralding Trump for years, there is deepening concern that the elaborate and oft-mutating philosophy is seeping into the mainstream as candidates who espouse its ideas are now competing in, and winning, congressional races.

Online communities devoted to QAnon, despite recent enforcement actions by Facebook and Twitter, lit up in response to the president's comments, with users writing in all caps that the remarks "validated" their movement.

Others were aghast at the president's praise of QAnon.

Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor who ran against Trump in 2016, tweeted: "Why in the world would the President not kick Q'anon supporters' butts? Nut jobs, rascists, haters have no place in either Party."

Rival Joe Biden's presidential campaign quickly criticized Trump for seeking "to legitimize a conspiracy theory that the FBI has identified as a domestic terrorism threat. Our country needs leadership that will bring us together more than ever to form a more perfect union. We have to win this battle for the soul of our nation."

Trump's propensity to back anyone who backs him was also on display Wednesday when he, and national Republicans, embraced the candidacy of Laura Loomer, a self-described Islamaphobe who won the GOP nomination in a Florida primary for a House seat.

Loomer has been banned from Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms for hate speech, anti-Muslim comments and disseminating misinformation. She falsely claimed on Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, that Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., wanted "another 9/11" terrorist attack and called Islam a "cancer."

"Great going Laura. You have a great chance against a Pelosi puppet!" Trump, whose Mar-a-Lago estate is in the district, tweeted Tuesday night with a reference to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

The apparent endorsement of aspects of the QAnon worldview by Trump and his associates has alarmed scholars of extremism and digital communications, some of whom characterize the theory's adherents as a cult. Experts have also observed a striking overlap between key tenets of the conspiracy movement and the central themes of the president's reelection campaign. Among these are the valorization of Trump as a quasi-messianic figure battling the so-called deep state, the vilification of both Democrats and Republicans who cross him and the depiction of his rivals as criminal and illegitimate.

"Incredibly dangerous, but sadly not surprising," said Ethan Porter, a George Washington University professor and the author of "False Alarm: The Truth About Political Mistruths in the Trump Era." "In one fell swoop, the president conflated the hallucinated enemies of QAnon with his very real domestic political opposition. Most Americans don't believe in QAnon - they're wise enough to separate facts from obvious fictions. Either the president is not as wise, or he is willing to cast a blood libel on his political opponents, regardless of consequences."

He added that Trump's comments were "the most frightening thing he's done since Lafayette Square," a reference to his administration's use of tear gas on peaceful protesters outside the White House to clear the area for the president to have a photo op.

Until now, Trump, as well as top White House aides and members of his campaign, have repeatedly elevated the movement's iconography and rallying cries - in a more tacit embrace of the conspiracy theory.

Kayleigh McEnany, when she was a spokeswoman for his reelection campaign, interviewed a QAnon supporter and promised to convey his comments to the president. The Trump campaign's director of press communications went on a QAnon program last fall and urged listeners to "sign up and attend a Trump Victory Leadership Initiative training."

QAnon symbols have appeared in official campaign advertisements targeting battleground states. And the White House's director of social media and deputy chief of staff for communications, Dan Scavino, has endorsed praise from QAnon accounts and posted their memes.

More recently, Trump celebrated the primary win of QAnon believer Marjorie Taylor Greene, in a conservative district that almost assures her a seat in Congress. Even as some Republican congressional leaders distanced themselves from the Georgia candidate, Trump called her a "a future Republican Star" and "a real WINNER!"

Former GOP congressman Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania said in an interview that it was Trump's embrace of Greene that pushed him to make his support for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden public on Wednesday.

"I just thought, 'this is just beyond the pale,' " Dent said. "It's crazy stuff that empowers people on the fringe."

In Florida, Loomer, 27, went from the fringe of the right wing to a place on the ballot in the general election by beating five Republicans in the Palm Beach and Broward counties election Tuesday. She is considered a long shot in the race against four-term Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel in the strongly Democratic district.

"A political rock star" was the term Ronna McDaniel, chair of the Republican National Committee, used in a call to Loomer just before her acceptance speech, according to the Palm Beach Post.

The RNC did not respond to multiple emails seeking request for comment from McDaniel regarding her conversation with Loomer or what she thinks of Loomer's statements that Muslims should not be allowed in office.

Loomer has never run for office before and has lived in Florida less than three years, but her support network of some of the most outrageous voices on the right helped lift her candidacy, as did the support of Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.

Calling herself the most "Trumpian" of the candidates, she won the crowded primary with about 42% of the vote. Christian Acosta, a former nuclear engineer who is now a college professor, came in second with 25% of the vote.

Loomer outraised the field by a wide margin, bringing in $1.1 million. She also outspent her opponents, disbursing $924,059. One of her supporters is Steven Alembik, who is also a Trump supporter. Alembik once tweeted about former president Barack Obama, using an expletive, racist term and called him a Muslim.

Frankel has more cash on hand for the general election - $1.2 million to Loomer's $237,563 - but said she takes Loomer's candidacy seriously.

"When people have a lot of money, they can sell any kind of message. We will put up a robust campaign," Frankel said.

She said Loomer's association with people such as Alex Jones, the Infowars conspiracy theorist who calls the Parkland and Sandy Hook school massacres hoaxes, will repulse voters in her district, as will her attacks against Muslims such as Omar.

"She's an extremist who surrounds herself with extremists, and the voters in my district will reject that," Frankel said. "Her bigotry is disgusting and anti-American."

Loomer celebrated her victory at the West Palm Beach Hilton, surrounded by supporters. Among them: Gaetz; Roger Stone, who was recently pardoned by Trump after being convicted of lying to Congress; Milo Yiannopoulos, a former Breitbart News writer and right-wing personality; and Gavin McInnes, founder of the Proud Boys, which the Southern Poverty Law Center says promotes white nationalist and anti-Muslim views.

Stone called Loomer "the Joan of Arc of the conservative movement." McInnes, whose group calls itself a Western-chauvinist organization, called Loomer a fighter. Yiannopoulos, who was banned from Twitter in 2016 for making racist comments, emceed Loomer's victory party.

A campaign spokesman for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., didn't respond to a request for comment about whether he supports Loomer.

The National Republican Congressional Committee is not expected to weigh in on the Florida race in the strongly Democratic district. Asked whether NRCC Chairman Tom Emmer and the committee backed Loomer, an NRCC spokesman refused to answer and instead attacked a Democrat running against a GOP incumbent on a separate, unrelated allegation.

While most Republicans have remained silent or welcomed conspiracy theorists into their ranks, some more moderate members have spoken out. A pair of Republicans on the Sunday talk shows this week called on their leadership to do something. "It's time for leaders to come out an denounce it," Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., said on CNN, referring to QAnon. Rep. Denver Riggleman, R-Va., tweeted "the GOP is better than this."

- - -

Rozsa reported from West Palm Beach, Fla.
New Delhi:

After the series of reports of fake accounts being unearth at various branches of Axis bank across the India, now more fake accounts have been found during the forensic audit of Axis Bank.

23 fake accounts with cash deposits of Rs 45 crore have been discovered in Noida Sector 18 bank Branch. Interestingly, Axis Bank itself shared this data with Income Tax department. Now, the I-T is probing the final beneficiaries of these fake accounts.

Axis Bank has been in news post demonetisation for Income Tax raids at its various branches and for cases of money laundering and operational fake accounts.

Recently, The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a money laundering case in the alleged forging of a customers identity to conduct huge illegal transactions in an Axis Bank branch in Noida for conversion of black funds into white post demonetisation.

Also Read: ED files money laundering case against fake account holders in Axis Bank's Noida branch

Income Tax raids Axis Bank's Connaught Place, Noida branch

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
I always have felt the more you see, the more you understand, Kaplanova said. Along with business travel, she is a firm believer in family travel and travel for pleasure. Travel is so important. You experience the good and sometimes the bad she said, adding that travel was a form of education for not only herself but her family as well.

A number of years ago, she received her insurance license and ultimately became an owner as part of Allstate Insurance in Upper Township. Over the past two decades Kaplanova has built her knowledge and experience in serving the insurance needs and financial needs of the region.

This year Kaplanova decided it was time to open a new insurance agency. Kaplanova now owns a Goosehead Insurance Co. serving all of southern New Jersey and a portion of eastern Pennsylvania. The guiding principles of knowledge, integrity and respect are the foundations of the work Kaplanova has built, her career and business. Those pillars are what she attributes her success to.
She has been assaulted, arrested and detained in the course of her career, and now Beatrice Mtetwa, one of Zimbabwe's most famous human rights lawyers, faces the threat of being struck off the professional register.

Remember that iconic photograph of a lawyer, dressed in green prison garb, climbing into the back of a police truck and turning to wave undaunted to supporters in Harare in 2013? That was Mtetwa.

The system is afraid of her. She is steadfast, determined & resolute. Don't omit her when names of heroes of this generation are called, Zimbabwean activist Victor Chimhutu said in a tweet earlier this week.

For more than two decades Mtetwa has taken on high-profile cases in the defence of human rights and press freedom in the southern African country.

Mtetwa was born in Swaziland (now Eswatini) and moved to Zimbabwe to practice law in 1983. Her name has frequently appeared in international news copy, due to the cases and clients she's taken on.

These include human rights activist Jestina Mukoko, director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project, who was abducted, held incommunicado and tortured by security agents in 2008, when the late Robert Mugabe was still president.

Glare of cameras

Mtetwa helped to successfully defend Mukoko when she was finally brought to court on terrorism charges, which were also levelled against a number of opposition activists. at the time.

Long before Hopewell Chinono, who she has been defending in court this month, she had a history of defending journalists, including Andrew Meldrum, who worked for Britain's Guardian newspaper. Mtetwa got Meldrum acquitted of publishing a falsehood in 2003. The state went on to deport him.

Having contacts in the press has sometimes come in useful for Mtetwa.

She told the Committee to Protect Journalists in a 2005 interview that getting as many reporters as possible to accompany her on potentially dangerous assignments helped.

In the glare of cameras I find that people don't want to do what they would want to do," she said. "So in a lot of ways I think I've been lucky, and I haven't received as much harassment as one would have expected, or as much as other human rights defenders have had."

It hasn't always worked. Mtetwa, who has won numerous awards, including the 2014 International Women of Courage Award and the 2005 International Press Freedom Award, was assaulted in police custody in 2003 and beaten by riot police armed with truncheons during a protest march in 2007.

'Another level of madness'

She was also arrested while defending a client in 2013 ahead of presidential polls and held in police custody for more than a week.

This week she was accused of undermining the justice system.

Magistrate Ngoni Nduna on Tuesday barred her from representing detained journalist and anti-corruption activist Hopewell Chin'ono, and urged state prosecutors to get her practising certificate cancelled.

In a tweet following the ruling, the EU delegation in Harare said: We urge the authorities to respect the right of accused persons to bail & representation by a lawyer of their choice.

Evan Mawarire, the founder of the #ThisFlag movement, who was defended by Mtetwa after he was charged with treason over last year's anti-government protests, said the court's decision to bar Mtetwa from Chin'ono's case was "another level of madness."

He tweeted: "Beatrice the one woman super power gave them hell and they lost their marbles."
Technical Analysis Points to US Dollar Upside Potential

Article Highlights:

The US Dollar Presidential Price Cycle indicates rising US Dollar

The US Dollar is not the best asset, but rather the best of all currencies

Price Relationships Suggest The US Dollar Is Currently Undervalued

How The Presidential Price Cycle May Create Opportunities in Precious Metals and the US Stock Market

Its been a while since we published an article about the US Dollar and this is the perfect time to discuss that is likely to happen over the next 6 to 18+ months. The US Presidential Election is just around the corner and traders/investors are certain to interpret the uncertainty of the US Presidential Election cycle, and the pending policy and liability related changes, as a warning that equities and the US Dollar may be in for a wild ride over the next 6+ months.

UNDERSTANDING GLOBAL CURRENCY SHININESS

Typically, the US Dollar declines over the 6 to 12+ months prior to a major US Presidential election cycle. Whenever there is a major contest for a new US President or an active and aggressive campaign between two individuals, there is a lot on the line. A US Presidential Election is not just about electing a President  it is about setting US, Foreign, Social, Economic, and Taxation polities well into the future. How businesses and voters interpret the benefits vs. risks usually decides the outcome fairly openly. Yet, global traders vote by deciding how much they believe in the policies and leadership in the new US President and/or how they interpret the risks related to new policies, laws, and regulations.

The US is a major driver of global economic growth throughout the world. The US leads the four other large mature economies by 8.5% to over 20% when compared by global GDP. China is the closest economy to the US, yet it still falls nearly 8.5% behind the US economy annually. Even if we were to combine China, Japan, Germany, and India into one economic block, it would beat the US economy by only 5.5% annually.

This is why, at least for now, unless some other global economy rises to the level to dramatically threaten the US economy, the US Dollar will likely continue to sustain value and dominance throughout the world. It also aligns with my Shiniest Pile Of Poop theory. Yea, I know that is a horrible name for a currency valuation theory  but it helps us understand how currencies (and other commodities) are processed in the minds of consumers and traders.

A simple example is that of having to dig through the garbage trying to find something to eat (again, a horrible example). Yet, within this example, any human would automatically start ranking the quality of the garbage attempting to determine which items were the best quality  even though they are all trash. This process comes naturally for anyone in this position  you simply must select the best items in the pile of trash as potential food items.

How does this relate to currencies? Even though certain currencies may become more attractive from time to time, as traders find value in them and perceive stronger future prices, the reality is that major global currencies will always be considered shinier than others. Keep this in mind as we explain our thinking related to the US Dollar going forward.

REPEATING US DOLLAR CYCLES

As we can see from the chart below, the US Dollar reacts to US Presidential Election cycles by typically weakening 6 to 12+ months prior to the election date. Each of the last three US Presidential Elections was predicated by a declining US Dollar value and a rise in the US stock market. In 2012, there was virtually no active challenger to Obamas second term  the expected US Dollar price rotation was rather muted. In 2016, the US experiences once of the most heated and aggressive Presidential campaigns between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump  the expected US Dollar price rotation was much larger. Currently, as the Presidential Election cycle heats up, we expect a similar range to the 2016~2018 US Dollar price range.

The initial downside selloff in the US Dollar appears to be nearly complete. The second phase of the US Dollar Election cycle should prompt a moderate upside price move in the US Dollar while the US Stock market stalls ahead of the 2020 US Presidential Elections. Our researchers equate this to the uncertainty and potential liabilities of a change in the Office of the US President and the implications related to new policies, taxation, regulation, and other future changes. Traders move into safety within the US Stock market while higher-risk sectors weaken. Essentially, everyone attempts to place their bets as to the outcome of the US Presidential Election cycle.

Isnt it time you learned how I and my research team can help you find and execute better trades? Our incredible technical analysis tools have just shown you what to expect 6+ months into the future. Do you want to learn how to profit from these huge moves? Sign up for my Active ETF Swing Trade Signals today! If you have a buy-and-hold account and are looking for long-term technical signals for when to buy and sell equities, bonds, or cash, be sure to subscribe to my Passive Long-Term ETF Investing Signals.

Chris Vermeulen

www.TheTechnicalTraders.com

Chris Vermeulen has been involved in the markets since 1997 and is the founder of Technical Traders Ltd. He is an internationally recognized technical analyst, trader, and is the author of the book: 7 Steps to Win With Logic



Through years of research, trading and helping individual traders around the world. He learned that many traders have great trading ideas, but they lack one thing, they struggle to execute trades in a systematic way for consistent results. Chris helps educate traders with a three-hour video course that can change your trading results for the better.



His mission is to help his clients boost their trading performance while reducing market exposure and portfolio volatility.



He is a regular speaker on HoweStreet.com, and the FinancialSurvivorNetwork radio shows. Chris was also featured on the cover of AmalgaTrader Magazine, and contributes articles to several leading financial hubs like MarketOracle.co.uk

Disclaimer: Nothing in this report should be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell any securities mentioned. Technical Traders Ltd., its owners and the author of this report are not registered broker-dealers or financial advisors. Before investing in any securities, you should consult with your financial advisor and a registered broker-dealer. Never make an investment based solely on what you read in an online or printed report, including this report, especially if the investment involves a small, thinly-traded company that isnt well known. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report has been paid by Cardiff Energy Corp. In addition, the author owns shares of Cardiff Energy Corp. and would also benefit from volume and price appreciation of its stock. The information provided here within should not be construed as a financial analysis but rather as an advertisement. The authors views and opinions regarding the companies featured in reports are his own views and are based on information that he has researched independently and has received, which the author assumes to be reliable. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content of this report, nor its fitness for any particular purpose. Lastly, the author does not guarantee that any of the companies mentioned in the reports will perform as expected, and any comparisons made to other companies may not be valid or come into effect.

Chris Vermeulen Archive

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




More than half of pay deals in 2020 were lower than a year ago, according to new data. Graphic: Getty

Companies in Britains private sector are giving staff the lowest pay rises in a decade amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

Pay deals in the three months to July offered a median annual pay rise of 0.5%, down from 2.2% from the last three reports, according to human resources data provider XpertHR. Four in 10 reviews of pay have led to freezes.

The drop in the value of pay awards comes as no surprise, as the number of pay freezes made by organisations begins to creep up. We also expect many of the pay reviews currently on hold to ultimately result in a pay freeze for staff, making 2020 the worst year for pay awards since 2009, said XpertHR pay and benefits editor Sheila Attwood.

The spread of coronavirus has had an unprecedented impact on the UK economy, industries and jobs. So far, around 750,000 jobs have been axed in the UK since the start of the pandemic.

UK chancellor Rishi Sunak recently hinted that public sector pay awards next year will not be so generous: In the interest of fairness we must exercise restraint in future public sector pay awards, ensuring that across this year and the spending review period, public sector pay levels retain parity with the private sector.

The Bank of England expects the overall UK unemployment rate to nearly double to 7.5% by the end of the year.

READ MORE: Forecasts for UK economy get worse and worse

Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) data showed this week that employers are increasingly looking to hire temporary workers, instead of full-time, amid a rise in job losses across the country.

Analysis by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) showed that a decline in average real pay levels for high earners since the last recession hit in 2007 has affected London the most.

Xperts HR data showed on Thursday that median pay award fell two percentage points lower than the median of 2.5% recorded in the same period a year ago  the lowest figure for more than a decade.

Meanwhile pay freezes dominated the data and more than half of pay deals (56%) were lower than the same group of employees received a year ago.
President Akufo-Addo has announced that the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) will on Saturday launch the partys 2020 campaign manifesto in Cape Coast in the Central Region.



According to the President, the manifesto will highlight all the major exciting initiatives his government will be championing in the second term should he get the mandate of the good people of Ghana in the December 7, 2020, polls.



Speaking on Skyy Power 93.5FM in the Western Region, President Akufo-Addo said it does not come to him as a surprise that his opponent the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is struggling to decide on the message and the campaign manifesto for the 2020 general election.



He alluded to the fact that it is the usual of the main opposition NDC to take a long time to make a decision as it took them a long time to decide who will be their Running Mate for the 2020 general election.



He, however, wondered why it has taken almost four years for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to decide on a message and a manifesto for the upcoming general elections whereas the busy ruling party has been able to settle on its ticket and chosen the coming Saturday to launch its manifesto.



Up to now; four years in opposition, no message, no manifesto. NPP, people who are in government, we are very busy but we have been able to settle on our ticket and we have been able to on Saturday have our manifesto for the country, he scolded the leadership of the NDC.



Assessing the seriousness for power in the 2020 general election between the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), President Akufo-Addo said the NDC needs a lot of help to make progress in its quest for power.



I think it tells you about the seriousness of the two parties; who is ready to act and who is going to need a lot of help before it will be able to make progress, he slammed.

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
President Donald Trump wants to deny China some of the proceeds from the sale of ByteDance's U.S. operations of its video-sharing app TikTok, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on Wednesday, but it would be unusual for any company that acquires TikTok to provide funds to the U.S. Treasury.

"Well he's said that," Kudlow told CNBC when asked about Trump's demand that part of the proceeds from the TikTok sale he has ordered go to the U.S. Treasury.

"I acknowledge that it's unusual. The president has his own mind on some of these things," Kudlow said.

Also read: Oracle holds preliminary talks with ByteDance; enters race to buy TikTok

"I don't know whether that will end up being the case when the Treasury gets its bids in from potential bidders. But the president has said that. I think he probably would like to deny China some of the proceeds of the TikTok sale," Kudlow added.

Trump ordered ByteDance last week to divest TikTok's U.S. operations within 90 days, the latest effort to ramp up pressure on the Chinese company over concerns about the safety of the personal data it handles.

Also read: Trump may exert pressure on other Chinese firms like Alibaba after TikTok ban

Trump has said he would support an effort by Microsoft Corp to buy TikTok's American operations if the U.S. government gets a "substantial portion" of the proceeds, but has also said there are other interested potential buyers.

Oracle Corp has joined some of the investors of TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance in pursuing a bid for the app's operations in North America, Australia and New Zealand, according to people familiar with the matter.

Also read: Trump orders ByteDance to divest TikTok's US operations within 3 months
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 20, 2020(Frankfurt: RR0) ("Rockridge" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it plans to mobilize and commence an exploration drilling program at its Raney Gold Project located southwest of Timmins, Ontario, Canada (the "Raney Gold Project" or "Property") in early September 2020. A permit for the program has been received providing for exploration activities including diamond drilling to be conducted over a three-year period.



The results of the recently completed summer field program at the Raney Gold Project assisted in delineating and prioritizing drill targets over the extensive structural corridor that hosts the high-grade gold mineralization. A minimum 3,000 metre diamond drilling program is planned to test the strike and down plunge extent of the high-grade intercepts identified during the previous drill program.

Raney Gold Project Location Map:

http://www.rockridgeresourcesltd.com/_resources/maps/location_map_may2020a.jpg

Highlights:

The Raney Gold Project is a large prospective gold property covering ~2,800 hectares located ~110 km southwest of the prolific gold district of Timmins, Ontario

Recent mineral staking to the west places the Raney Gold Project adjacent to Newmont Goldcorp's Borden Gold Mine project

A fully funded and permitted minimum 3,000 metre diamond drilling program (approximately 10 holes) is set to commence in early September 2020

A phase-one drilling program completed earlier in the year (2,070 metres in nine diamond drill holes) to assess the potential of the mineralized gold system returned a highlight intercept of 28.0 g/t gold over 6.0 metres (see news release dated April 29, 2020); primary drill targets in the current program will test the down-plunge extension of this and other high-grade intercepts

The results of the drone magnetometer survey completed during the summer field program were particularly useful in identifying the surface projection of the Raney mineralization, which suggests strong continuity of the structural corridor to the east and west, and identifies other potential targets on the Property

Gold mineralization is associated with broad intervals of higher concentrations of narrow quartz veins hosted in an extensive structural corridor that may extend over several hundred metres, with no drilling completed over a large extent of this corridor; the mineralized structure is open along strike and at depth

Property has excellent access and infrastructure and is accessible by paved and forestry roads

Magnetometer Survey Plan Map Showing Exploration Potential Along Extensive Structural Corridor:

http://www.rockridgeresourcesltd.com/_resources/images/Raney-Gold-Project-Summer-2020-Drill-Targets.jpg

Diamond Drilling Program:

The gold mineralization at the Raney Gold Project is associated with local concentrations of narrow quartz veins that occur within a structural corridor. The structural corridor that hosts the mineralization is up to 125 metres wide and extends well beyond the small area tested by drilling.

The results from the recently completed summer field program, which consisted of a drone magnetometer survey, detailed prospecting, mapping, and a geochem survey assisted in delineating and prioritizing target areas for drill testing. The drone magnetometer survey results were particularly useful in outlining the trace of the structural corridor which coincides with a low magnetic response, and the field mapping program led to a better understanding of the plunge direction of the high-grade gold mineralization.

A diamond drilling program of a minimum of 3,000 metres in approximately 10 diamond drill holes will be conducted to test priority targets along the prospective corridor and down-plunge of known high-grade zones. A primary drill target will be the down-plunge extension of the previously reported high-grade zone which returned 28.0 g/t Au over 6.0 m (uncut) from 125.0 m to 131.0 m in hole RN 20-06.

Cross Section of High-Grade Gold Mineralization in Hole RN 20-06:

http://www.rockridgeresourcesltd.com/_resources/projects/raney-project-drilling-section-20200730.jpg

Raney Gold Project Location:

The Raney Gold Project is located within the highly prospective west extension of the Abitibi Greenstone belt, proximal to several regional deposits. Newmont's operating Borden Gold Mine (reserves of 4.17 MT @ 6.38 g/t Au for ~860k oz. Au reported in 2015) is located 35 km west of Raney. IAMGOLD and JV partner Sumitomo Metals Mining recently decided to proceed with construction of their Cote gold project located 75 km southeast of Raney. The Cote project, estimated to contain gold reserves of ~7 million ounces (~236MT @ 0.96 g/t Au), is noted as a "world-class" deposit by IAMGOLD. GFG Resources is a close neighbour that has acquired a large land package in the area including its Pen and Dore Gold Projects.

Raney Gold Project Geology and History:

A total of 2,070 metres in nine diamond drill holes were completed during the recent winter diamond drilling program. The drill program focused on the main zone over a strike extent of approximately 225 metres that produced the best historic intercept of 6.5 g/t gold over 8.0 metres back in 2010. Silicification and minor carbonate alteration were recognized, however gold mineralization appears to be closely related to intervals of high quartz vein density. The quartz veins are hosted in a steeply dipping alteration zone dominated by intermediate volcanic rocks consisting of lapilli tuffs and bedded argillites, with lamprophyre dikes. The quartz veins crosscut and run parallel to a weak fabric, and range in thickness from 0.5 cm to 20 cm in width.

A zone of increased vein density has been noted where the historic visible gold intercepts occur. The recently drilled high-grade intercept of 28.0 g/t over 6.0 metres (uncut) from the 2020 winter program was the fourth drill hole on the Property to intercept visible gold, and all these occurrences were in the main zone near the 100-metre level. The broad structural corridor that hosts the mineralization is up to 125 metres wide and extends well beyond the area tested by drilling. No drilling has been conducted along this corridor except for the ~225-metre-long main zone.

Historical drilling at the Raney Gold Project focused on identifying near-surface gold mineralization. Previous exploration on the Property from 1972 to 1991 consisted of prospecting, mapping, sampling, trenching, winkie drilling, ground geophysics, stripping, and some limited diamond drilling. This was followed by exploration work during the 2009 to 2010 period. The best intercept returned from historical drilling was 6.5 g/t gold over 8.0 metres. The property is underlain by mafic volcanics to the north, and felsic to intermediate volcaniclastics to the south. The felsic volcaniclastics are host to the gold zones. Quartz feldspar porphyry dykes and sills and minor mafic intrusives occur throughout the Property. The porphyries are generally massive but may be sheared and hydrothermally altered and veined in places.

A 100 metre-wide intensely sheared and altered quartz-feldspar porphyry body is located just to the south of the main Raney gold showing. Gold mineralization exposed on the surface and intersected in drill holes on the property is typical of the lode gold class of gold deposit which is the dominant gold deposit type in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt. Gold mineralization on the property is associated with the intensely sheared and altered zones within the felsic tuffs, and higher grades tend to occur where quartz veining is present.

The Property is in the Archean Swayze Greenstone Belt, considered to be the southeast extension of the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, which hosts the world-class Timmins and Kirkland Lake gold districts. Numerous gold occurrences occur throughout the district and several world-class mines have been developed. These deposits are responsible for a significant portion of the world's cumulative gold production and are often characterized by gold enriched quartz vein systems associated with supracrustal belts in low to medium grade metamorphic terranes. Gold mineralization at the Property is typical of the mesothermal lode gold deposit model. Rockridge holds an option to earn a 100% interest in the Raney Gold Project.

Qualified Person:

Todd Keast, P.Geo., a "qualified person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and the Raney Gold Project Manager for Rockridge Resources Ltd., has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release.

About Rockridge Resources Ltd.

Rockridge Resources is a publicly traded mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource properties in Canada and other mining-friendly jurisdictions. The Company's Raney Gold Project is a high-grade gold exploration project located in the same greenstone belt that hosts the world-class Timmins and Kirkland Lake lode gold mining camps. The Company's Knife Lake Project is in Saskatchewan, which is ranked as the #3 mining jurisdiction in the world by the Fraser Institute. The project hosts the Knife Lake deposit, which is a VMS, near-surface copper-cobalt-gold-silver-zinc deposit open along strike and at depth. Rockridge's goal is to maximize shareholder value through new mineral discoveries, committed long-term partnerships, and the advancement of exploration projects in geopolitically favourable jurisdictions.

Additional information about Rockridge Resources and its project portfolio can be found on the Company's website at www.rockridgeresourcesltd.com . Rockridge currently has 51.1 million shares issued and outstanding.

Rockridge Resources Ltd.

"Grant Ewing"



Grant Ewing

CEO

For further information contact myself or:

Jordan Trimble, President or

Spencer Coulter, Corporate Communications



Rockridge Resources Ltd.

Telephone: 604-687-3376

Toll Free: 800-567-8181

Facsimile: 604-687-3119

Email: info@rockridgeresourcesltd.com

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

Forward Looking Information

Statements included in this announcement, including statements concerning our plans, intentions and expectations, which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements may be identified by words including "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "expects" and similar expressions. The Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements, including without limitation those relating to the Company's future operations and business prospects, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.
Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. High 46F. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain late. Snow may mix in late. Low 33F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Police botched Boss report

THAILAND: The police panel probing the alleged mishandling of the 2012 hit-and-run case wrapped up its investigation yesterday (Aug 19). Twenty police were found to be negligent in the probe, said assistant national police chief Pol Lt Gen Jaruwat Waisaya, in his capacity as deputy chairman of the panel.



By Bangkok Post

Thursday 20 August 2020, 09:51AM

Vorayuth Yoovidhya is in police custody after the hit-and-run crash in September 2012. Photo: Bangkok Post file

They produced a flawed report which led to public prosecutors deciding not to indict Red Bull scion Vorayuth Boss Yoovidhya on a reckless driving causing death charge stemming from the case. The panel plans to forward its findings to national police chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda to consider ordering a disciplinary probe against the police, some of whom are now retired, said Pol Lt Gen Jaruwat.

Of the 20 implicated, 11 were members of the polices first team of investigators handling the case and the rest were members of a second police team formed to take over the probe from the first. Two of the policemen named were a police lieutenant general and a police major general, he said. They were found to have failed to ensure the investigation into the case was strictly implemented and failed to produce a complete report, he said.

In addition to a possible disciplinary probe, they may face some criminal charges and a further investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), he said.

Some of the 11 police and former police in the first investigation have already faced legal action by the NACC, he said. This investigation into alleged mishandling of the case was final, he said.

To date, three panels have been formed to look into the dropping of the reckless driving causing death charge, after the decision sparked a public outcry. One was set up by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and headed by former National Anti-Corruption commissioner Vicha Mahakhun and the others two were launched by the Office of the Attorney-General and the Royal Thai Police Office to look into their roles in the case.

The Vorayuth saga dominated public attention with the NACC spurred into action after lawyer Ronnarong Kaewphet led law students from across the country to lodge a petition with the anti-graft agency asking it to look into whether prosecutors who let Mr Vorayuth off the hook exercised their power honestly and in line with the law.
The Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe has tasked the regions campaign team to work hard in a decorous manner to help retain power for the party in the December 7 general election.



According to him, the campaign team members should focus and project visionary policies undertaken by the government to enable Ghanaians better appreciate what the President Akufo-Addo administration has done within the period to ensure victory come December.



Mr Baffoe was speaking at the Bono regional NPP inauguration ceremony for its 2020 campaign committee in Sunyani.



The inauguration which was attended by NPP party faithful from the national and regional levels saw the 2nd National Vice Chairman of the party, Mr Frederick Fredua Antoh swore in a 31-member campaign team for Bono.



Later in an interview, the chairman of the committee, Kwame Baffoe, disclosed that the team was poised for victory in the December 7 general election, adding that, their priority would retain all the 11 parliamentary seats and win Banda, the only orphaned constituency in the region.



The Bono Regional Minister, Evelyn Ama Kumi-Richardson, who is part of the team, condemned the violence that marred the voter registration in Banda and Nkrankwanta.



She called on Ghanaians, especially the youth to desist from activities that could lead to violence during and after the elections.

The Bono Regional NPP campaign team has been mandated to ensure the party wins both the presidential and parliamentary contest in the elections.



A Deputy General Secretary of the NPP, Nana Obiri Boahen urged the campaign team to avoid being complacent, explaining it would be disastrous to the party.



He also urged the members to be wary of the opposition National Democratic Congress since they are committed in going all out to sure victory in December general election.



He therefore urged NPP supporters not to relent in their campaign for victory.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









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Los Angeles, Aug 20 : A pilot was injured after a FedEx plane made an emergency landing at the Los Angeles International Airport, authorities said.

FedEx Flight 1026, a Boeing 767-300, had landed safely after declaring an emergency, Xinhua news agency quoted the airport as saying in a tweet on Wednesday, adding that the aircraft was not carrying passengers.

Officials initially said that "there were two souls on board and no injuries were reported".

They said later that one male pilot was transported to hospital by the Los Angeles Fire Department "with a non-life threatening leg injury that was sustained during evacuation".

A mechanical issue was reported on the commercial airplane before landing which was flying from Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey to Los Angeles.

The malfunction was found at the left main landing gear, which the crew was unable to extend, reported local news outlet City News Service.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will launch an investigation into the incident.
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), which builds sustainable ecosystems for cloud native software, today announced that Zalando, Europe's leading online platform for fashion and lifestyle, has won the CNCF End User Award in recognition of its notable contributions to the cloud native ecosystem.

Zalando SE started its cloud native journey in 2015 in its transition from on-premise data centers to the public cloud. Zalando leveraged numerous CNCF projects, including Kubernetes, Prometheus, CNI, and etcd to deliver a superior experience for over 1,300 Zalando developers and serves over 34 million active customers across 17 countries.

"Since joining CNCF in early 2017, Zalando has been an active member of the Foundation's End User community, in particular chairing the Developer Experience SIG," said Cheryl Hung, Director of Ecosystem at Cloud Native Computing Foundation. "Active across the community, Zalando has provided upstream contributions to Kubernetes, created and maintained a number of open source projects to expand the Kubernetes ecosystem and provided significant insights into the company's successes and failures. We are pleased to present them with this award and excited to watch the company's continued contributions to the community."

With its in-house built cloud-native application runtime, Zalando now operates over 150 Kubernetes clusters with more than 2,400 nodes, 50 percent of which are in production with daily peaks of 20,000 requests per second for single clusters. Those clusters are home to almost 2,000 production applications. By leveraging the CNCF ecosystem and numerous incubating and graduated projects, Zalando is able to deliver a stable platform for its growing customer base.

Zalando released a number of open source projects: Skipper, Zalando's Kubernetes Ingress proxy and HTTP router; Postgres Operator, the battle-tested operator to run PostgreSQL on Kubernetes; kube-metrics-adapter to use custom metrics for autoscaling, the Ingress controller for AWS; and more.

"We are honored to be recognized by CNCF with the top end user award," said Henning Jacobs, Senior Principal Engineer at Zalando. "Zalando's need to massively scale led us on a cloud native journey that has ultimately made our developers happier and enabled us to grow with customer demand. The Kubernetes and cloud native community has been such a valuable resource for us that we are dedicated to actively continuing giving back in any way we can."

Zalando is one of more than 140 organizations in the CNCF End User Community , which meets regularly to share adoption best practices and feedback on project roadmaps and future projects for CNCF technical leaders to consider.

Additional Resources

About Cloud Native Computing Foundation

Cloud native computing empowers organizations to build and run scalable applications with an open source software stack in public, private, and hybrid clouds. The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) hosts critical components of the global technology infrastructure, including Kubernetes, Prometheus, and Envoy. CNCF brings together the industry's top developers, end users, and vendors, and runs the largest open source developer conferences in the world. Supported by more than 500 members, including the world's largest cloud computing and software companies, as well as over 200 innovative startups, CNCF is part of the nonprofit Linux Foundation. For more information, please visit www.cncf.io.

About Zalando SE

Zalando is Europe's leading online platform for fashion and lifestyle. Founded in Berlin in 2008, we bring head-to-toe fashion to more than 32 million active customers in 17 markets, offering clothing, footwear, accessories and beauty. The assortment of international brands ranges from world famous names to local labels. Our platform is a one-stop fashion destination for inspiration, innovation and interaction. As Europe's most fashionable tech company, we work hard to find digital solutions for every aspect of the fashion journey: for our customers, partners and every valuable player in the Zalando story. Our goal is to become the starting point for fashion.

The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see our trademark usage page. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

Media Contact

Jessie Adams-Shore

The Linux Foundation

[email protected]

SOURCE Cloud Native Computing Foundation
Unable to arrange a face-to-face meeting with Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Suleiman of Saudi Arabia, the high-powered delegation led by Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Bajwa and ISI chief has returned empty-handed to Islamabad. In addition to the humiliation caused by failing to gain an audience with the Crown Prince, the Saudi government also cancelled its decision to honour General Bajwa, a promise that was made by the Islamic Kingdom just a few months earlier.

The trip of the Pakistani generals to Saudi Arabia comes after Saudi Arabia cancelled a USD 3.2 billion oil credit facility to Pakistan. In 2018, when Imran Khan won the general elections, Saudi Arabia gave Pakistan a loan of USD 3 billion to help the latter with its balanced of payments crisis and issued the above-mentioned oil credit facility to Pakistan.

Saudi Arabias decision to cancel the oil credit facility to its Muslim brother country came after Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mahmoud Qureshi issued a statement literally threatening the Saudi led Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to convene an emergency special session on Kashmir or else he would call a meeting of like-minded Muslim brother countries. This tantamount to splitting the Saudi led alliance.

The statement enraged the Saudis and in retaliation, they cancelled the USD 3.2 billion oil credit facility and made a demand that Pakistan pays back USD 1 billion dollars that it already owes them. Pakistan had to beg China to lend her the money in order to pay Saudi Arabia. Since the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution that gave the so-called special status to the former state of Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan has suffered an anti-India diplomatic knockout. Pakistan has isolated herself and the country has only itself to blame.

Defence analyst Major (R) Gaurav Arya says that in todays global economic environment only a pluralistic approach would work. And rightly so. UAE and Israel establishing diplomatic and trade relations brokered by Donald Trumps administration is testimony to the reality of pluralism in a cutthroat competitive global market. Regrouping of nation-states into new economic zones and partnerships requires new thinking and bold leadership.

Unfortunately, Pakistan is still entrapped in the obsolete political narrative of the Ottoman period and has failed to produce or even adapt to new patterns of thought and give birth to bold leadership. Pakistan and its politics is rooted in envy, dishonesty and deception and has cost her the trust of the global community.

Today, Pakistan is known for its hate of Hindus, being envious of a fast-developing India, for its corrupt and dishonest handling of foreign aid and its trickery and deception in dodging the global community in the fight to eliminate Taliban and other variants of Islamic Jihadist organisations such as Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Hizbul Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammad or the recently covert terrorist outfit The Resistance Front which Major (R) Gaurav Arya calls secularisation of terrorism.

Also Read: India records more than 2 million Covid-19 recoveries, case count crosses 28 lakh mark

The news regarding the establishment of diplomatic relations between UAE and Israel coincided with another important development. 10,000 Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) stationed in the Kashmir Valley have been directed by the Home Ministry to return to their bases in mainland India. This sends a strong message to the global community regarding the law and order improvement in the ill-fated region of the Kashmir Valley.

Since the abrogation of Article 370, peace has been re-established in the Valley at a more-than-expected fast pace. No bloodbath has taken place as previously predicted (read threatened) by Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Scores of sleeping terrorist cells have been busted in Srinagar and many jihadi infiltrators, as well as home-grown individual terrorists, have been eliminated in deadly encounters in which our jawans have also laid down their lives. And even more interestingly, (but mostly unreported in Indian media), people of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) have been holding protests against Pakistan almost every single day.

Daily protests are now the new norm in PoK. The political and social content of these protests ranges from demonstrations against long durations of load shedding in Palandri for instance, to demands for justice raised in Nakyal for Ejaz Abbasi, a senior PoK journalist who was beaten up at the Press Information Department (PID) in Islamabad a couple of weeks ago, to torch-bearing rallies in Muzafarabad against the diversion of Neelum-Jhelum River for Azad Patan and Kohala Hydropower Projects, both of which are part of the illegal CPEC agreement between Pakistan (read military) and China (read Communist Party-controlled corporations).

The CPEC is illegal because PoK is Indian territory occupied by Pakistan and the later cannot enter into any defence or economic agreement that include GB or PoK until and unless the territorial dispute between Pakistan and India is resolved and Pakistan withdraws its army from GB and PoK.

Similarly, in Pakistani-occupied GB, people are protesting against cuts in wheat subsidies, illegal land grab of green pastures in Nilter, land grab for a bus stand in Gilgit as well as for the illegal extension of Gilgit airport, lack of medical facilities in Hunza, Load shedding in Skardu, and so on and so forth.

Also Read: MHA to withdraw 100 companies of paramilitary forces from J-K

The USD 14 billion Diamer-Bhasha Dam Hydroelectric project is another issue that has generated anxiety among the subjugated population of GB. The displaced people of the villages in and around the historic city of Chillas are awaiting the deceitful promise made by the Pakistan and Chinese companies to resettle them and pay compensation for loss of their ancestral home.

For every 25 people in GB, there is one Pakistani army personnel deployed. Only last month, Imran Khan approved of an additional 100 army platoons to be sent to Diamer district to protect the construction site of the dam.

Pakistans high handedness and arrogance is manifest in the fact that she does not even bother to consult the real stakeholders of CPEC or so-called developmental project that are being initiated in the occupied territory of GB or PoK. Therefore, in the coming weeks and months, the conflict between PoK/GB and the Pakistani establishment seems inevitable. This became evident when on August 5 this year Imran Khan went to address the puppet legislative assembly in PoK.

During his speech, a rebellious PoK Prime Minister Farooq Haider demanded that Imran Khan and Pakistan grant PoK self-determination! He said, The world will not listen to you (Pakistan), however, if we (PoK) were free and had autonomy then they themselves would take their case to the global community! This came as a shock to the Pakistani establishment.

Likewise, the outgoing chief minister of GB Hafiz Hafeez Ur Rehman has been complaining about Pakistans high handedness in dealing with pressing issues related to GB. Hence, Pakistan has lost the goodwill and the trust of its Muslim brothers living under occupation in GB and PoK and they now seem desperate to find a solution to end their misery.

On the other hand, Pakistan is faced with an insurgency in Balochistan that is now turning into a civil war between the oppressed Baloch people and the barbaric Pakistani army. Similar, with the resurfacing of the independence movement in Sindh reignited by peasant-based Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army; a previously non-violent nationalist, the anti-feudal, anti-Pakistan sentiment is now gradually turning into an armed insurgency.

Also Read: India records more than 2 million Covid-19 recoveries, case count crosses 28 lakh mark

While this movement has managed to catch the imagination of the youth, more importantly, it has been able to attract the Sindhi urban lower-middle and working-class since urban-based Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) announced that it would join the struggle to free Sindh from Pakistani occupation.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) is becoming a focal for crusade against the atrocities of Pakistan military in the tribal areas. In Punjab, a witch-hunt against those who oppose domination of civil society by military and Islamic clergy is currently underway. Sackings of Professors Pervez Hoodbhoy and Ammar Ali Jaan of Quid-e-Azam University in Islamabad and FC College in Lahore respectively are fresh examples of state-sponsored repression in Punjab.

The new Tahafuz e Bunyaad e Islam (Protection of Fundamentals of Islam) bill passed by the Punjab assembly last month is seen as part of establishments attempts to impose censorship on print and spoken word. 100 books were banned immediately after the bill became an Act. More than 1,000 books are being scrutinised by the state to check if they meet the Wahhabi narrative of Islam. Hence cultural and intellectual genocide has begum in Punjab. Student and workers protesting and striking for better pay and health and safety facilities are now holding joint protest rallies in Lahore.

The recent visit to Saudi Arabia by Pakistan Army chief General Bajwa and DG ISI that ended up in humiliation will add to the feeling of alienation and haplessness among the common people in Punjab and PoK in particular and Pakistan in general. The failure of Imran Khan to provide 50 lakh houses and 10 million jobs, a GDP showing negative growth of minus 0.38 per cent and the persecution of political opponents are all perfect ingredients of a recipe for rebellion.

However, it is the recent visit of the Pakistan Army chief and DG ISI along with other top brass military officials and Pakistans perpetual failure in harnessing diplomatic support that could prove to be the last bale carrying the straw that will sink the ship.

The aftermath of the downward diplomatic spiral and the impending rebellion of Pakistani society can be summed up in Major (R) Gaurav Aryas own words an implosion of the synthetically manufactured country called Pakistan is neigh.

Disclaimer: The author of this Opinion article is Dr Amjad Ayub Mirza, who is a human rights activist from Mirpur in PoK. He currently lives in exile in the UK. (ANI)

Also Read: Vande Bharat Mission: Over 10 lakh stranded Indians repatriated, says Ministry of Civil Aviation
Former President Barack Obama addressed Democrats on Aug. 19 during the third night of the Democratic National Convention. The coronavirus pandemic upended both parties traditional conventions. Instead of in-person events, the program each night features a number of speakers and musical performances virtually across the country.

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Mr John Dramani Mahama, Presidential Candidate, National Democratic Congress (NDC), has proposed a debate on infrastructure between him and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.



Mr Mahama said he was willing to present himself for a debate on any day, anytime and anywhere to settle the matter once and for all.



A statement issued by Mr James Agyenim-Boateng, Spokesperson, NDC Campaign Team, to the Ghana News Agency, said Mr Mahama made the suggestion while addressing the chiefs and elders of Dzolokpuita in the Ho West Constituency during his four-day tour of the Volta Region on Wednesday, Mr Mahama said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2016 did not appreciate the value of his governments investments in critical infrastructure.



In 2016 when I was talking about the value of infrastructure, my friends on the other side said, we dont eat infrastructure, we dont eat roads, that was what they said and today I can see a scramble to grab even KVIPs (Kumasi Improved Ventilated Pits) and any infrastructure and tout it as an achievement, he said.





Mr Mahama said, it was however, easy to settle the issue of infrastructure records especially as the NDC had a superior record of investing in infrastructure throughout the country, adding he was ready to debate President Akufo-Addo at any forum.



The President said this election is going to be an election of track records, comparing his track record to my track record and we can settle it easily. Lets have a debate between the two presidents about our records, he said.

Source: GNA









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Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. sought to distance itself Wednesday from a viral image about a purported "zero tolerance" policy that bans MAGA attire and which drew President Donald Trump's ire.

The giant tiremaker responded to a report by a local Kansas TV station featuring an image that the news outlet said it received from a Goodyear employee and which was allegedly displayed during a diversity training at a company plant.

The image in the story by CBS affiliate WIBW in Topeka, Kansas, which was widely shared on social media, listed two columns, one headlined "acceptable" and the other "unacceptable."

Under "acceptable" was, "Black Lives Matter (BLM), Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride (LGBT)." Listed as "unacceptable" was "Blue Lives Matter, All Lives Matter, MAGA Attire, Political Affiliated Slogans or Material."

The multinational company said in a statement Wednesday that "the visual in question was not created or distributed by Goodyear corporate, nor was it part of a diversity training."

"To be clear on our longstanding corporate policy, Goodyear has zero tolerance for any forms of harassment or discrimination," the statement said. "To enable a work environment free of those, we ask that associates refrain from workplace expressions in support of political campaigning for any candidate or political party, as well as similar forms of advocacy that fall outside the scope of racial justice and equity issues."

The company also said it appreciates the diverse viewpoints of its more than 60,000 associates, "which are at the heart of many of the policies we establish."

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Locations Ahead Of Earnings Figures (David Paul Morris / Bloomberg via Getty Images file)

"Fostering an inclusive, respectful workplace is important to establish teamwork and build culture, which is another reason we ask associated not to engage in political campaigning of any kind in the workplace  for any candidate, party or political organization," the statement said.

And the statement emphasized that "Goodyear has always wholeheartedly supported both equality and law enforcement and will continue to do so. These are not mutually exclusive."

Story continues

"We have heard from some of you who that believe Goodyear is anti-police after reacting to the visual," the company said. "Nothing could be further from the truth, and we have the upmost appreciation for the vital work police do on behalf of our shared communities. This can't be said strongly enough."

The statement came after Trump rebuked Goodyear in a tweet Wednesday morning.

"Dont buy GOODYEAR TIRES - They announced a BAN ON MAGA HATS. Get better tires for far less! (This is what the Radical Left Democrats do. Two can play the same game, and we have to start playing it now!)" the president tweeted.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany was asked at a media briefing Wednesday about the president's urging a boycott of Goodyear that could potentially jeopardize jobs when most companies ban political speech.

"Goodyear needs to come out and clarify their policy," McEnany responded. "What was clearly targeted was a certain ideology."

McEnany did not respond when asked whether Trump had contacted Goodyear before sending his tweet.

"The reason he called for the boycott was over MAGA," she said. "MAGA is pretty much unanimous with Blue Lives Matter these days if youve seen the endorsements."

Daniel Horrigan, the mayor of Akron, Ohio, where Goodyear is headquartered, expressed his support for the company.

"Goodyear has believed in this community for generations, investing in the power, tenacity and honest people of the heartland, which is more than we can say for this president. #WeStandWithGoodyear," Horrigan tweeted.
Yesterday, the European Council of European Union (EU) heads of state held an extraordinary emergency meeting by video conference to discuss the political crisis in Belarus. After disputed presidential elections on August 9 and a violent police crackdown on protests against President Aleksandr Lukashenko, strikes have erupted across the country. The emergence of a movement in the working class in the former Soviet republic has stunned not only the Lukashenko regime and the EU-backed Belarusian opposition, but the EU itself.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen later delivered brief remarks at a press conference on the European Council meeting. Stating that the EU is impressed by the courage of the people of Belarus and rejecting the election results, she said the council had decided to send three clear messages.

Belarus protests (Image credit: Twitter/ilkinmamedoff)

She announced 53 million in funding to stand by the people of Belarus, who want freedom and democracy, including 50 million in medical aid for the COVID-19 pandemic. She also vowed financial sanctions on those responsible for violence, repression and the falsification of the results of the election and initiatives for a peaceful democratic transition of power. She said the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) could help oversee this transition: We support the opening of dialogue between authorities and the opposition.

Von der Leyen also was at pains to signal that, for now at least, the EU is seeking cooperation with Moscow in Belarus. She said, the demonstrations in Belarus are not against any neighboring country or entity.  Only an inclusive dialogue will find solutions.

A class gulf separates the EU from workers mobilized against the Lukashenko regime, its brutal riot police and its murderous herd immunity policy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Facing an unexpected threat from below, the EU heads of state are holding back, for now at least, from a direct attempt at regime change along the lines of the 2014 NATO-backed putsch in Ukraine. There, a fascist-led assault on a Russian-backed regime in Kiev led to regime change, the installation of a far-right regime and Ukraines descent into civil war.

Instead, the EU aims to give the Belarusian regime a new public face by integrating into it opposition parties who backed rival presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.

Anger at Lukashenkos regime and the police repression of protests has brought out workers at Belarusian auto and tractor factories, potash mines, chemical plants, Minsk public transit and hospitals on strike. Yesterday, the Belarusian Health Ministry confirmed the death of Gennady Shutov, a 43-year-old protester shot in the head with live ammunition by police during a protest against the elections. Two other victims of the Belarusian police have been identified: Alexander Vikhor, aged 25, and Alexander Taraikovsky, 34.

The upsurge of the working class is only beginning, however, and the EU aims to exploit the fact that what has predominated within it have been vague democratic slogans, provided by Tikhanovskayas camp, calling to oust Lukashenko. Under cover of these slogans, the EU aims to use the Tikhanovskaya opposition to trap the movement in the dead end of support for rival factions of the Lukashenko regime. It can easily agree to removing Lukashenko and installing top officials more favorable to EU, as opposed to Russian, foreign policy interests.

The EU cannot tolerate, however, workers opposition to police repression, poverty wages and the botched handling of the pandemic. It carried out the same bankrupt policies and fears working class opposition in Europe. Since 2018, this has erupted into mass protests like Frances yellow vest movement, Portuguese nurses strikes organized on social media and last years national teachers strike in nearby Poland. The EU is determined to divide the working class and prevent opposition among workers in Belarus from joining hands with the international upsurge of the class struggle.

The EU, which dedicated the bulk of its aid package to medical aid for the pandemic, is well aware of the social roots of workers anger. However, the piddling sum it allocated to fighting the pandemic50 million, when it is handing over 2 trillion in bank and corporate bailouts to the financial aristocracyshows that it has no real intention of helping fight the virus or improving conditions in Belarus. Its aim is to preserve the police-state apparatus while strengthening its own political and strategic influence in Belarus.

The critical question facing workers in Belarus is the need for a political struggle against both the Lukashenko regime and the EU-backed opposition.

Lukashenko is a corrupt strongman who emerged from the Stalinist bureaucracys restoration of capitalism in the Soviet Union in 1991 and the economic disintegration provoked by the bureaucracys plunder of state assets. He rules over a brutal, kleptocratic capitalist regime similar to a number of post-Stalinist regimes in former Soviet republics, including President Vladimir Putins regime in Russia.

The opposition parties only represent different factions of the same corrupt political establishment, however, and depend on their close links to the EU powers. Tikhanovskaya fled to Lithuania shortly after the elections and is working there under the protection of the EU and of the NATO military alliance. Yesterday, shortly before the European Council summit began, she called on the EU to not recognize the August 9 election result but instead back what she called the awakening of Belarus.

The opposition also unveiled a coordination council consisting largely of artists, intellectuals and right-wing parties, which it claims should take over power from Lukashenko. Its presidium includes Maria Kolesnikova, the coordinator of banker Viktor Babarikos 2020 election campaign; Olga Kovalkova, the co-chair of the Belarusian Christian Democracy; former Belarusian Culture Minister Pavel Latushko; and Nobel literature prizewinner Svetlana Alexievich.

Lukashenko denounced the formation of the committee as a power grab and, at a meeting yesterday of Belarus Security Council, announced the mobilization of troops on the countrys western border. He reportedly told the council that the protests were not spontaneous, and that the situation would escalate further. Afterwards, he placed a phone call to Putin.

The Belarusian Defense Ministry invited attaches from Germany, Britain, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine to warn them about planned responses to threats against Belarus national security.

Apparently acting to defuse growing military tensions, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper called Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to discuss confidence-building measures and transparency in order to prevent incidents in the course of the parties military activities.

Even amid explosive anger at his repression of the election protests, Lukashenko is planning a crackdown on strikers. Reports emerged last night that an OMON police special forces unit raided the Minsk Tractor Factory (MTZ) and arrested strikers in front of the plant. While strikes are continuing at the Schlobin steel plant and the Grodno Azot chemical plant, workers have reportedly largely returned to work at the Belaruskali potash plant.

Workers at multiple plants are reporting that employers are threatening to fire anyone who does not return to work. Our foremen have also been called in. They have been told to calm people down, otherwise action will be taken, Andrei, a worker at the Belaruskali plant, told German news magazine Der Spiegel.

The struggle between the working class and the Belarusian regime is only beginning, and the official EU-backed opposition no less than Lukashenko faces it as a determined enemy. The only way to obtain the necessary resources to fight the pandemic and halt mounting police and military violence is for the working class to mount a direct struggle for power, as part of an international struggle for socialism. This means taking up a political struggle against the entire capitalist regime that emerged from the Stalinist dissolution of the Soviet Union, and a turn to the Trotskyist movements Marxist internationalist opposition to Stalinism.
A family outing to the Michigan shores of Lake Superior turned tragic when a 12-year-old boy died after attempting to rescue his 8-year-old sister from a rip current. The incident took place on Aug. 11, 2020, when the family from the Charter Township of Commerce, Michigan, were spending the day at Big Traverse Beach.

According to the National Weather Service, rip currents had been reported in the area where the family was swimming, leading to the collapse of a sandbar they had been on. The young girl was swept out and three people including her brother swam out to assist her.

The Houghton Countys Sheriffs Office received the call about a drowning at 2:33 p.m., according to local paper the Iron Mountain Daily News. After the girl got carried away by the fast-moving, dangerous water, her brother and three others all went into harms way to bring her out.

Several people on the beach assisted with inflatable tubes and were able to get all four people back to shore, the National Weather Service announced. While they were all brought back to shore with help of other beachgoers, the 12-year-old boy died from trauma.

First responders quickly arrived on the scene, and the heroic boy was first taken by ambulance to the emergency room at the Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital in Calumet Township, about 15 miles away.

Given the serious condition he was in, the boy was airlifted to the University of Michigans Childrens Hospital in Ann Arbor. Sadly, he passed away during the process of being transported.

To respect the privacy of the grieving family, the Houghton Countys Sheriffs Office has not released the names of the deceased brother and his sister.

Many cities around the Great Lakes area are reporting higher incidences of drowning this summer, as high temperatures and weeks of spring lockdown make an escape to the nearest river, lake, or ocean even more desirable.

We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc
By Natalia A. Ramos Miranda

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - The release of 10% of Chilean citizens pension funds early to help withstand the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic has sparked an unexpected flurry of legal petitions for child support from the countrys army of indebted baby daddies.

Half a million petitions have been lodged for child support payments to be made by the four out of five absent parents - largely fathers  who are in default, according to the Ministry of Justice and prosecution service figures.

Pedro Maldonado, head of one of Santiagos four family courts, said the avalanche of cases highlighted a problem in need of a solution.

"People think that child support is not an imperative like a bank loan," he told reporters. "The large number of debtors are men because it remains the case that it falls on women to take care of their children."

The issue of absent fathers is far from new in Chile, where they even have a nickname: "Papitos Corazon," or "Daddies of the Heart."

Figures from Chiles National Institute of Statistics show 42% of households are headed by a woman, above the regional 35% average estimated by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Despite Chile being advanced regionally terms in making child support obligatory, latency has become the norm.

"It is one of the greatest moral dramas there is in this country," Carmen Dominguez, director of the Family Centre at Santiagos Catholic University, told Reuters.

"Thousands of children have grown up with fathers who just could not care less. It is a completely naturalized reality."

TIP OF THE ICEBERG

Under Chilean law, child support is at the bottom of the debt hierarchy and attracts no automatic interest or adjustments, meaning people are more likely to stop paying it than another debt like a mortgage, said Dominguez.

The issue burst into the public domain this month after irate single mothers saw an opportunity with the release of $9.654 billion so far to 7.2 million people from the countrys private pension funds after a law proposing it swept through Congress and onto the statute books on July 24.

Story continues

Since then, the prosecution service, which is responsible for mediating child support agreements between separated couples, has received 500,000 petitions relating to 300,000 old and new cases of child support debts in the hope they can be settled using the pension payouts, which average $1,350.

Dominguez said those who came forward to seek payments were "the tip of the iceberg," with many mothers simply accepting they had to shoulder the childcare burden alone.

Among those seeking the pension payout of her former partner is Daneri Plaza, 40, who has been trying to obtain overdue alimony from her daughter`s father since 2005.

Over the years, the judiciary has attempted to help her claw back an estimated $11,250 of support owed using measures that included an attempt to arrest the father. But he was never home during the attempts and has not held a steady job for his earnings to be tapped.

Plazas daughter is now 20 and studying. Given the uncertain future of Chiles students amid persistent lockdowns and weak job market, she could still use the money, her mother said.

"My daughter has the right to receive contributions from her father," Plaza told Reuters.

GUARANTOR STATE

Chiles Congress, invigorated by the widespread positive reception of the pensions bill, has passed more legislation in record time in recent weeks, including one last Wednesday to allow the pensions funds of parents who owe child support to be redirected to their children instead.

A move is also afoot to add defaulting fathers to the National Debt Registry.

However, with Chile`s unemployment rate at 11 percent and the economy projected by the Central Bank to contract between 5.5% and 7.5% in 2020, there are warnings that latent child support will only get worse if the government does not implement extensive reform.

Patricia Nunez, early child development officer for Unicef in Chile, said the move to seize released pensions was a good first step.

She added: "The problem is that this ends up being treated as an individual situation, between private parties, but we must open the discussion on the role of the state as guarantor."

(This story corrects to change Spanish word from Papitas de Corazon to Papitos Corazon in fifth paragraph)

(Reporting by Natalia Ramos; Writing by Aislinn Laing; Editing by Dan Grebler)
The Bauchi State Commissioner for Commerce and Industries, Mohammed Sadiq, has resigned his appointment.

This was contained in a statement he posted on his Facebook page.

The commissioner in his statement acknowledged former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, whom he said made his appointment possible. His statement was also circulated by Mr Dogaras media aide, Turaki Hassan.

I thank H.E the Executive Governor  Sen. Bala A. Mohammed (Kauran Bauchi) for the wonderful opportunity accorded to me. In the same vein, I must appreciate my boss H.E, the Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara for his usual support and the role he played in influencing same.

I sincerely thank all my colleagues in the EXCO and the Ministry, whom we have worked with as a formidable team. I have enjoyed the understanding of my family at such a trying time.

I beseech God to forgive all my wrongs and the general public/colleagues to pardon me, he said.

Mr Dogara had, a month ago, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and returned to his former party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

His defection followed a conflict between him and the state governor, Bala Mohammed.

He alleged there was a breakdown of governance in the state under the governor whom he said he helped install in 2019.

Mr Dogara had in 2018 left the APC for the PDP after a similar conflict with another former governor, Mohammed Abubakar.
Though the pandemic continues to disrupt just about everything in the publishing industry, the relationship between independent booksellers, authors, and readers has never been stronger. And bestselling author Ruta Sepetys is among those who have found a way to circumvent the pandemics challenges to help retailers and connect with fans.

In July, in partnership with her publisher, Penguin Young Readers, Sepetys announced her plans to join in a series of virtual book club gatherings across the country to discuss her critically acclaimed 2019 historical novel The Fountains of Silence, set during the post-Spanish Civil War era in Spain. When businesses were forced to close, I became really concerned for independent bookstores and I tried to think of a way to help them, Sepetys said. Im considered a crossover author and a large part of my readership was built by independent booksellers. I want to help the people who have helped me.

To give the stores a boost, Sepetys and Penguin decided to offer a special package for book clubs and discussion groups. They can buy the book or a gift card through an indie and they receive an exclusive discussion guide with videos and behind-the-scenes photos, and recipes, but they also attend a discussion about the book with me, Sepetys said. And I have to say, I never imagined how wonderful this would be!

Feedback from hosts and attendees of several of the virtual events echoes that enthusiasm. One reader on Facebook shared this note with Sepetys following the July 16 gathering hosted by Schuler Books in Grand Rapids, Mich. It was so inspirational!.... Your discussion of your books, research, and writing was so heartfelt. It made me want to start over and read all of your books again with this new perspective. Your sincere encouragement for aspiring authors was invaluable. I was a fan before, I am a fan now forever

And Alysha Welliver, event coordinator at Best of Books in Edmond, Okla., reported that Sepetyss August 6 stop there was a hit. A few of the stores smaller book clubs merged into one for the night, creating a group of 15 readers ranging in age from 13 to 80. It was amazing, Welliver said. Everyone was so excited. She made sure that everyone who was on was able to ask her a question if they wanted to, despite the time. And her answers were so kind and heartfelt.

Sepetys is quick to point out that the success of these events is not because of me. First, these groups have been multigenerational. Weve had groups of parents and children, teachers and students. I met with a group of Covid nurses who needed an outlet. They needed a release and so we did this. We even had a young bookseller and her grandmother. Connecting with such a spectrum of readers has yielded some pleasant surprises. In some of the discussions, weve had book club members whose families stood on opposite sides of the history, Sepetys said. I listen to them speak, share their experience, their context, and their family story. And Im sitting there thinking, Oh my goodness, history divided us but here we are, and through reading were united in story and study and remembrance. 

She noted that such experiences reflect the power of books and book clubs. Consistently, Sepetys said, The conversations have been rich and compelling. And as an author you think you know what your book is about because youve spent years researching and writing it. But then this perspective and context from readers from 11 to 94 has been wonderful and instructive. She believes its also been hopeful. Historical fiction provides some very encouraging reminders that during adversity we can find strength through struggle and meaning in hardship, she said.

Sepetyss virtual book club venture was initially planned as a 10-visit tour. However, she said, some of my foreign publishers have come on board, asking, If we provide the interpreter, will you do this in Spain? Or the Czech Republic? Now its grown into something helping independent booksellers overseas as well.

And in a bit of fortunate timing, the paperback edition of The Fountains of Silence comes out September 29, presumably bringing the title some additional attention. Because there have been requests, weve decided to continue this discussion tour through the release of the paperback in the fall, Sepetys said.

Sepetys has also tried something new to support students during the pandemic when shes not able to make traditional school visits.

She has partnered with Wave Learning Festival, an educational platform on which college students teach free seminars for high school and middle school students on a wide variety of topics. Sepetys is offering three seminars through Wave, including History in Hiding: The Elusive Power of Historical Fiction. I have hundreds of kids signed up, she said. This is a way I can try to serve as many students as possibleand its free.

When shes not connecting with readers on Zoom these days, Sepetys is moving ahead with her next project. Im hard at work on another historical novel, she revealed. This one is set in Romania during the Ceausescu regime and tells the story of young people who were recruited as informers to spy on their families and teachers. Im well into writing that.
You couldnt say it was sprung on him which is why the Health Ministers comparison of Covid-19 to the inherently risky business of a child jumping on a trampoline was all the more ludicrous.

Coronavirus may be getting on to kill a million people worldwide, but trampolining is one of the inherently risky things in life, an earnest Stephen Donnelly conveyed to Virgin Media News in an interview with Zara King.

It must be why we have never seen Bear Grylls trampolining

Meanwhile, Mr Donnelly also offered this gem: Most of our homes are not controlled environments. Pentagon-speak for the mild muddle of our domestic dwellings.

Mr Donnelly also claimed that parents also worry about their children going to school without Covid, which is hardly the case, seeing as its buried beneath the mountain of relief at seeing them out of our hands for several hours.





His overall point about it being necessary to reopen the schools, come what may, was lost in these unprompted vignettes, which naturally had denizens of Leinster House snickering into their lattes yesterday.

It was probably the fact that he has three primary school-age children, as he mentioned on TV, that caused Mr Donnelly to mention trampolines, when parents of similarly aged little darlings will know he was actually dog-whistling the far darker threat of bouncy castles, which simply scream broken arm in suburban South Dublin.

And, in fairness to the minister, it could actually be worse than that  a missile-child in the back could force you to hurl your G&T, complete with ice-cubes, onto the frontage of that nice neurologist from next door.

Leaving aside Mr Donnellys telling us that we have now seat-belts and Rules of the Road when taking out our horseless carriages, there have actually been worse political interviews over the years.

Weve had many atrocious examples of Minsplaining  the technical term for suddenly elevated politicians patting us on the head while pattering out simplicities to help put their points across.

The one that obliterated the political career of Joe Jacob like an Alamogordo test site came when he extolled the two iodine tablets that were being sent to households across Ireland in the event of nuclear attack.

Many people swear they can still see the bullets of sweat that began to break out on his brow on being pressed as to when exactly, after the shrieking whirlwind of destruction and mushroom cloud, the tablets should be taken and whether they could be swallowed easily as we stood in rags, given that the kitchen would have vanished along with the water mains.

But the mind plays tricks, because the interview was on the radio. Joe was also forced to acknowledge that the iodine would degrade after six months and, despite this admission in 2001, his interview immolation explains why no replacements have ever been sent out in the years since.

The most cringeworthy interview of recent years was Fine Gael TD Maria Bailey attempting to defend herself on air with Sean ORourke, when the Irish Independent revealed she was suing a Dublin hotel after sitting on its unsupervised swing with a drink in hand. She was deselected and her career hit the buffers.

John Bruton was once recorded suggesting the peace process could go copulate with itself, but this was because he was simply dog-tired. But tiredness was not an excuse that could have been offered by one P. Flynn of Mayo, Irelands European Commissioner, who nauseated the nation on the Late Late Show in 1999. Canny Gay Byrne naturally gave him plenty of rope and the oily Fianna Fail politician bemoaned the upkeep of three homes, adding: You should try it sometime.

That interview also incensed someone who found himself described by Flynn with pseudo-sincerity as not well. Tom Gilmartin subsequently made sure the Flood/Mahon tribunal was set up. And it proceeded to dismantle several prominent political careers in delicious detail.

Compared to Padraig Flynns interview, which wreaked the most havoc in Irish political history, Stephen Donnellys hop off trampolining is only in the hapenny place. Hell bounce back.
Wildfires continue to burn across the state Thursday, the day after Gov. Kate Brown declared a state of emergency amid an imminent threat of wildland blazes.

The largest of the fires covers over 20,000 acres in eastern Oregon, burning in priority sage-grouse habitat. The most prominent, a nearly 1,000-acre acre blaze near the Columbia River Gorge community of Mosier, has mostly been contained.

Several other blazes have prompted evacuations, closures and firefighter responses.

The governors declaration Wednesday enables several state agencies to collaborate and share resources to fight fires throughout the state. The Oregon National Guard will also respond as needed.

Much of Oregon has extreme fire danger, according to Browns office. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has also issued an air quality advisory for the Jefferson County, Warm Springs and Lakeview areas because of smoke from nearby blazes.

With several #wildfires ongoing across central OR, expect #smoke to affect much of northern/central/eastern OR over the next few days. Here's a model depiction showing the heavier smoke will remain over central OR. #orwx #wawx pic.twitter.com/CbwH71YEBE  NWS Pendleton (@NWSPendleton) August 20, 2020

Oregons largest blaze, the human-caused Indian Creek fire, covers an estimated 20,300 acres along U.S. 20 at Jonesboro. The fire, which started Sunday, is 20% contained and is burning important habitat for the sage grouse, whose numbers have been in decline in recent years.

Also burning thousands of acres is the Crane fire, which started Sunday and now covers 2,270 acres near Lakeview and Oregons border with California. Its 5% contained.

The Mosier Creek fire in the Columbia River Gorge, which destroyed eight homes and 28 other structures, is mostly contained.

But a new fire cropped up nearby Wednesday, prompting evacuations and burning almost 100 acres of grass, scrub oak and brush before firefighters stopped its spread. Authorities said residents could return home Thursday but encouraged them to stay alert in case weather or fire conditions change. Some residents are now under a Level 1 (get ready) evacuation notice. The blaze is 50% contained.

Firefighters, meanwhile, continue to battle several other fires throughout the state.

The lightning-caused Green Ridge fire is burning in mixed conifers and sagebrush about 12 miles northwest of Sisters. The blaze covers about 1,900 acres and has prompted Level 1 and 2 (get set) evacuation notices

The Laurel Fire covers approximately 1,000 acres five miles south of Spray, a small community on Oregon 19 in Wheeler County.

The Beachie Creek fire covers an estimated 10 acres in the popular Opal Creek Wilderness. The blaze, which is burning in rugged and steep terrain, has prompted the closure of the Jawbone Flats, Three Pools and Opal Creek areas, two campgrounds and more than a dozen trails.

The White River fire in the Mt. Hood National Forest is estimated to cover 450 acres southeast of Oregons tallest peak. Recreation on the mountain is not affected.

-- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
President Akufo-Addo has appealed to the people of Elmina and in the Central Region to vote for him and retain him in power based on his many achievements in his first term in office.

Addressing a gathering on Thursday at Elmina when he cut the sod for the Elmina Landing Beach Site and Elmina Fishing Port Rehabilitation and Expansion Projects, the President said maintaining him in power will enable him to continue with his development agenda to improve the living conditions of Ghanaians.

He noted that hes been truthful to Ghanaians as hes fulfilled all his promises made ahead of the 2016 election.

I promised Ghanaians during the 2016 electioneering campaign and I have fulfilled all my promises. The few remaining things are also being worked on currently. You are witnesses to my good work that is why Im appealing to you to once again vote for me come December 7 election. I urge you to vote for me massively than you did in 2016.

On his part, the Omanhene of the Edina Traditional Area Nana Kojo Kondua VI expressed disappointment over the neglect of the Chiefs of Elmina in the Financial running of the Elmina Castle.

He also requested President Akufo Addo to help them build a new palace as they currently rent an apartment that serves as their palace.

President Akufo Addo in response promised to help build a modern palace.

---kasapafmonline
Kamala Harris accepts her partys historic nomination as vice-presidential candidate on the DNCs third night.

Democrats nominated former Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday night. Wednesday saw Democratic luminaries like former State Secretary and presidential nominee Hillary Clinton speak, along with Bidens running mate, Senator Kamala Harris, the first Black, Asian American vice-presidential candidate.

The convention has seen an unexpectedly high number of Republicans endorse Biden with an outsized share of screentime for members of the opposing party. The endorsements have caused some to question whether the Democrats rising progressive wing, headed by Senator Bernie Sanders, is being sidelined.

Former President Barack Obama, the partys lionised figurehead spoke about his former vice president. Obama touched on Bidens decency, a common theme of the convention, along with his policy proposals.

These were the updates:

Wednesday, August 19

02:51 GMT  Kamala Harris named vice-presidential candidate in historic moment

Kamala Harris made her first remarks as the first Black, Asian American vice-presidential candidate in US history by highlighting the importance of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote.

The women who fought for that right inspired us to pick up the torch and fight on, Harris said. Among the inspiring women in her life, Harris spoke of her mother and the values of compassion for all people she instilled.

Harris said she is committed to the values she (my mother) taught me, to the word that teaches me to walk by faith, and not by sight, and to a vision passed on through generations of Americans  one that Joe Biden shares. A vision of our nation as a beloved community  where all are welcome, no matter what we look like, where we come from, or who we love.

Democratic vice-presidential candidate Senator Kamala Harris listens as presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at their first campaign event together [File: Carlos Barria/Reuters]

Though the majority of her acceptance speech was positive, she did challenge Trump, calling out conspiracy theories and racism present in the US that are often linked with his presidency.

Today, that country feels distant. Donald Trumps failure of leadership has cost lives and livelihoods.

As the country grieves the loss of life and opportunity, Harris said there is hope the US can move forward with Biden at the helm.

Lets fight with hope, Harris said, for the America we know is possible. For the America we love.

02:40 GMT  Obama says democracy is at stake, slams reality show Trump

Former President Barack Obama delivered a skilful speech from Pennsylvania which lambasted Trump and his allies for endangering US democracy, while promising Biden and Harris will turn their vision of a fairer country  into a reality.

Obama has largely been silent on the policies of his successor, Trump, since he left office in January 2017. The former president eschewed that longstanding political norm on Wednesday night to endorse Biden.

Barack Obama spoke in graphic terms about the US civil rights movement that paved the way for him to become the first Black president [Democratic National Convention/Pool via Reuters]

Obama told voters  even those that were not sure for whom they would cast a ballot  that Biden and Harris will make sure the economy would not continue to favour the wealthy, but would work for normal people.

Regarding Trump, who he called a reality TV leader, Obama said he had no respect for US democracy.

They are counting on your cynicism. They know they cant win you over with their policies, so theyre trying to make it as hard as possible for you to vote  This administration will show they will tear our democracy down, if thats what it takes.

02:10 GMT  Elizabeth Warren says Biden has really good economic plans

Massachusetts Senator and former presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren spoke in a prepared statement on Wednesday, saying Biden will create new union jobs and protect current ones.

Warren, a progressive, also highlighted Bidens plans to ensure early childcare for families across the US.

Joe and Kamala will make high-quality childcare affordable for every family, Warren said.

Then-Democratic presidential candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren speaks during a primary election night rally in March [Patrick Semansky/AP Photo]

The US is facing a childcare crisis as families deal with a lack of school options as the coronavirus pandemic continues, preventing educational institutions from opening.

While the Biden-Harris ticket has further plans for economic justice, Warren said, their proposed expansion of childcare is an indicator of their approach.

Joes plan to build back better includes making the wealthy pay their fair share, holding corporations accountable, repairing racial inequities and fighting corruption in Washington, Warren said

01:50 GMT  Clinton warns things will get worse if Trump reelected

Former State Secretary Clinton warned the US that another four years of Trump would be dire for the US, saying voters need to support Biden and Harris to bring our nation back from the brink of disaster.

Clinton, who challenged Trump in 2016, winning the popular vote but losing in the Electoral College, said Democrats need numbers overwhelming, so Trump cant  steal his way to victory, in an apparent reference to Russian interference in the 2016 elections.

Democratic US presidential candidate Joe Biden smiles as Hillary Clinton endorses him for president in a video screengrab made during an online town hall on women run from Bidens home in Wilmington, Delaware. [Biden For President/Handout/Reuters]

She also referenced the continued cracking of the glass ceiling that women in office are still trying to overcome by attaining the office of the presidency.

Clinton said she knows the challenges Harris will face as the campaign continues, notably attacks from Trump.

I know something about the slings and arrow shell face  [she] can handle them all.

01:25 GMT  Billie Eilish debuts new song, says Trump is destroying US

Pop superstar Billie Eilish appeared with words and a song at the DNC, saying viewers did not need her to tell them things are a mess under Trump.

Donald Trump is destroying our country and everything we care about. We need leaders who will solve problems like climate change and COVID, not deny them, leaders who will fight against systemic racism and inequality, Eilish said.

Singer Billie Eilish performs during the virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention as participants from across the country are hosted over video links from the originally planned site of the convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin [2020 Democratic National Convention/Pool via Reuters]

It starts with voting against Donald Trump and for Joe Biden. Silence is not an option and we cannot sit this one out. We all have to vote like our lives and the world depend on it, because they do.

01:05 GMT  DNC kicks off with voter rights, gun law reform

Democrats started their third night with a short presentation by vice-presidential nominee Kamala Harris speaking on the importance of voting and offering assistance to voters in meeting deadlines and finding polling locations.

Then, a prepared segment on gun violence, featuring survivors of mass shootings of all ages voicing their support for Bidens efforts to reform gun laws.

I worked really hard to get my speech ready for tonightI hope you'll be watching! Tune in for day 3 of the #DemConvention at 9pm ET. https://t.co/dfmHH4XLZs pic.twitter.com/oUSbk4vYTO  Gabrielle Giffords (@GabbyGiffords) August 19, 2020

Former US Representative Gabi Giffords, who was shot at near point-blank range at a political event in January 2011, featured prominently in the segment.

Giffords, who has become an advocate for gun law reform, showed footage of her lengthy recovery, calling on voters to support Biden.

We can act. We can protect our families and future  we must elect Joe Biden.

00:34 GMT  Trump criticises Obama as so ineffective, so terrible ahead of DNC speech

Trump said at a press briefing on Wednesday that Obamas expected remarks at tonights DNC are baseless, citing a slow economic recovery after the 2008 crash among other poor policies from his predecessor.

When I listen to that and then I see the horror that hes left us, the stupidity of the transactions that hes made  look what were doing, we have our great border wall, we have security, Trump said at the White house.

President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House before the DNCs third night [Tom Brenner/Reuters]

Trump went to call Obama so ineffective, so terrible.

Obama has largely stayed silent on Trumps tenure, respecting a longstanding norm that living presidents not criticise each other. He is expected to say that Trump hasnt grown into the job because he cant, among other remarks.

00:05 GMT  DNC viewership trails 2016 numbers

US television ratings for the second night of the DNC fell short of the same night in 2016, according to Nielsen data, even as Democrats formally nominated Biden.

The event, which was held virtually for the first time because of the COVID-19 pandemic, was watched by roughly 19.2 million people on 10 US broadcast and cable television networks, said Nielsen.

That represented a 22 percent decline from the conventions second night in 2016, when Clinton was running for president.

Former Vice President and Democratic nominee Joe Biden kisses his wife Jill Biden on the forehead at Brandywine High School, where she taught English from 1991 to 1993, after her speech extolling the nominees humanity [Democratic National Convention/Pool via Reuters]

Nielsens numbers did not include online viewing options popular with younger audiences.

Tuesdays television audience dropped by 500,000 from opening night on Monday, which featured appearances from former first lady Michelle Obama and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

Mondays viewership of 19.7 million was down 24 percent from 2016.

23:38 GMT  Clinton to stress the need to vote

Former State Secretary Clinton, who challenged Trump in 2016, is expected to call on voters to turn out for Biden during her speech at the DNC.

For four years, people have said to me, I didnt realise how dangerous he was. I wish I could go back and do it over. Or worst, I should have voted. Well, this cant be another woulda coulda shoulda election. If you vote by mail, request your ballot now, and send it back as soon as you can, she will say, according to prepared remarks released before the event.

Hillary Clinton, accompanied by former President Bill Clinton, right, pauses while speaking to staff and supporters at the New Yorker Hotel in New York, Wednesday, November 9, 2016, where she conceded her defeat to Republican Donald Trump after the hard-fought presidential election [Andrew Harnik/AP Photo]

Clinton was heavily favoured to win in 2016 and did win the popular vote, but Trumps victory in several swing states, often by razor-thin margins, clenched his victory in the Electoral Colege.

If you vote in person, do it early. Bring a friend and wear a mask. Become a poll worker. Most of all, no matter what, vote. Vote like our lives and livelihoods are on the line, because they are.

22:23 GMT  Obama to deliver harsh criticism of Trump

Former President Barack Obama looks poised to deliver his sharpest critique of President Donald Trump on Wednesday, after three years of largely upholding the political norm that presidents not criticise their successors.

Hes shown no interest in putting in the work; no interest in finding common ground; no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends; no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves, Obama will say, according to prepared remarks released ahead of the event.

Former President Barack Obama hugs then-Vice President Joe Biden after presenting him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington in 2017 [Yuri Gripas/Reuters]

Obamas comments echo those of his wife, Michelle, who delivered a speech sharply critical of Trumps demeanour and handling of the coronavirus pandemic on Monday night, saying, hes in over his head.

Trump has long criticised the Obama administration as corrupt and incompetent.

Obama will also speak about his relationship with Biden.

Twelve years ago, when I began my search for a vice president, I didnt know Id end up finding a brother, he was expected to say. Joe and I came from different places and different generations. But what I quickly came to admire about him is his resilience, born of too much struggle; his empathy, born of too much grief.

21:36 GMT  Harris expected to use prosecutorial skills on Trump

Vice-presidential nominee Kamala Harris, a former prosecutor from California who made history as the first Black woman and Asian American on a major US presidential ticket, is expected to aggressively press the case against Trumps re-election on November 3 during her speech at the convention.

Harris will likely aim to speak directly to millions of women, young Americans and voters of colour, constituencies the party needs if Biden is to defeat Republican Trump.

At our core, @JoeBiden and I share the same values: it all starts with family.https://t.co/4ReInUXHSJ  Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 19, 2020

She gained prominence in the Senate for her exacting interrogations of Trump nominees, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Attorney General Bill Barr.

Harris is sure to continue with criticisms over Trumps handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing economic downturn.

She provided a preview of her role as Bidens VP candidate last week, when she argued that the case against Trump, 74, and Vice President Mike Pence, 61, was open and shut.

21:15 GMT  What to expect on the DNCs third night

Democrats are going to make US history with Kamala Harris as the vice-presidential nominee, backed by party heavy-hitters like former State Secretary Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama.

Clinton, who challenged Trump in 2016 as the USs first female presidential candidate, is likely to speak on the importance of women voting as 2020 marks the 100-year anniversary of the success of the womens suffrage movement.

Obama is likely to use his significant oratory skills to motivate voters to turn out for Biden, for the sake of his former vice president  and his own legacy.

Read more here.

21:02 GMT  DNCs second night watched by 18.2 million people

A total of 18.2 million people watched the second night of the virtual Democratic National Convention, according to early Nielsen Media Research.

The American flag on top of a state name sign near the stage where Democratic vice-presidential candidate Senator Kamala Harris will speak on the third day of the Democratic National Convention in Delaware [Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo]

Tuesday evening featured a keynote address delivered by 17 rising stars of the Democratic Party, a coast-to-coast roll call of delegates, appearances by former US President Bill Clinton and former Secretaries of State Colin Powell and John Kerry, and a headline speech from Joe Bidens wife, Jill.

Democrats formally nominated Joe Biden for president, more than three decades after his first unsuccessful run for the White House.

The viewership total dropped by about 500,000 from the first night, Nielsen said.

20:32 GMT  Trump lashes out at Goodyear

US President Donald Trump used his Twitter account to cancel Goodyear Tires over an image reportedly from one of their factories which banned Make America Great Again hats and Thin Blue Line apparel, which is used to show support for police, according to the president.

Dont buy GOODYEAR TIRES  They announced a BAN ON MAGA HATS. Get better tires for far less! (This is what the Radical Left Democrats do. Two can play the same game, and we have to start playing it now!).  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2020

Dont buy GOODYEAR TIRES  They announced a BAN ON MAGA HATS. Get better tires for far less! (This is what the Radical Left Democrats do. Two can play the same game, and we have to start playing it now!), Trump tweeted, in an apparent reference to cancel culture, which liberal activists call on others to stop supporting a person or brand whose conduct they find problematic.

Goodyear released a statement following the publication of the visual in question was not created or distributed by Goodyear corporate.

Yesterday, Goodyear became the focus of a conversation that created some misconceptions about our policies and our company. Goodyear has always wholeheartedly supported both equality and law enforcement and will continue to do so. pic.twitter.com/oO6jUg2rTR  Goodyear (@goodyear) August 19, 2020

The company did ask associated to refrain from workplace expressions in support of political campaigning for any candidate or political party, as well as similar forms of advocacy that fall outside the scope of racial justice and equity issues.
Page Content

The Fire Department/Office of Disaster Management (ODM) Fire Chief/National Disaster Coordiantor Clive Richardson is calling on the community to closely monitor the progress of an area of low pressure located approximately 1000 miles east of the Lesser Antilles.





According to the Meteorological Department of Sint Maarten (MDS), the low-pressure system could form into a tropical depression within the next couple of days.





The remaining storm names for the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season are: Laura, Marco, Nana, Omar, Paulette, Rene, Sally, Teddy, Vicky, and Wilfred.





Weather forecasters state that the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season continues to set records with the earliest C, E, F, G, H, I, J, and K storms and has been described as extraordinary.





The earliest record L (12th named storm) formation was August 29th and that was Luis in 1995. Luis devastated Sint Maarten 25-years ago.





The record earliest M (13th storm formation) is September 2nd.





For those who would like to learn more about hurricane hazards and how to prepare for a storm/hurricane strike, you can visit the Government website: www.sintmaartengov.org/hurricane where you will be able to download your Hurricane Season Readiness Guide and Hurricane Tracking Chart.





In addition, you can also download the Disasterprep Sint Maarten app for Android and Apple phones by going to the Google and Apple stores.





ODM reminds residents and business owners to have plans in place for quick action when the need arises  storm ready!





Listen to the Government Radio station  107.9FM - for official information and news before, during and after a hurricane.





For official weather-related information, check out the website of the Meteorological Department of St. Maarten (MDS): www.meteosxm.com





Remember, it only takes one hurricane to make it a bad season. Are You Ready? Be prepared this hurricane season!




Cranswick Country Foods in Cullybackey is set to close temporarily from Saturday evening to allow all staff members to be tested for Covid-19, the company has confirmed.

Mr Swann told a press conference at Stormont that at least 35 cases have been identified.

He added: All the workers and recent visitors to the factory should be required to self-isolate.

In a statement Cranswick Country Foods said: There has been a recent increase in the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Ballymena and the wider region and this has been acknowledged as a community issue.

As a result of this, we can confirm that a number of colleagues at our Ballymena site have tested positive for Covid-19.

Working with the Public Health Authority (PHA), we have taken the decision to send all of our colleagues for testing.

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If the test results are positive, the individual will be required to self-isolate for 10 days; if the test results are negative, the individual will be required to self-isolate for 14 days.

Therefore, the site will need to temporarily suspend production.

Meanwhile a nightclub in Belfast has announced it will not open after a staff member tested positive for Covid-19.

In a social media post, Thompsons said all other staff members have been tested and are awaiting their results.

Sadly we cannot open until we are certain that everyone employed at Thompsons is in the clear, they said.

In the interim the entire venue is undergoing a deep clean, fumigation and decontamination in preparation for re-opening this weekend.

New restrictions

It comes as another 51 people in the region have tested positive for coronavirus, according to the Northern Ireland Department of Health. Some 298 people have tested positive for the virus in the last seven days, bringing the total in the North to 6,556.

No further deaths with Covid-19 have been reported.

Mr Swann also told the conference that the "R" number in Northern Ireland is now 1.3, and announced a series of new restrictions.

The number of people allowed to meet indoors at households is to be reduced to six from no more than two households.

The limit on numbers at outdoor gatherings will fall from 30 to 15.

Mr Swann said there would be focused PSNI enforcement in hotspot areas.

Mr Swann added: Unless we take action now I fear it would soon have been too late to arrest further extensive spread of the virus.

Chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride backed the Stormont Executives decisions.

I believe they send a signal to the community as a whole.

They reflect all our concerns at the growing numbers of Covid-19 cases.

Dr McBride said the reopening of schools was a priority and real harm was being caused to young peoples health.

He said there was a significant increase in the number of cases among younger people, adding that partly explained why a similar increase in hospitalisations had not yet been seen.

The medic said some of the evidence about peoples behaviour was anecdotal.

We are seeing increased social mixing, close contact occurring in domestic settings.

What we now need to do is act on that evidence and act on it in a proportionate way.
A famous saying goes like, a picture is worth a thousand words, and there is absolutely nothing that can prove this wrong. No amount of words can describe a thing as beautifully as a picture can. To celebrate this beauty and art, August 19 is celebrated as the World Photography Day.

India is a talent hub of several expert and amateur photographers, who put up their lives on risk at times to capture breathtaking clicks. On this World Photography Day, lets have a look at a few of these artists, who create a canvas with their camera.

1. Rohit Adlakha: If life is a drawing book, Adlakha has been filling it with vibrant colors through his lens. Not just a photo artist, Adlakha is also a photography instructor.

2. The Wanderstruck 5: If you feel sad about missing out visiting beautiful places around the world during the coronavirus pandemic, you can visit this profile by a group of scientists. There is no single picture in their collection which will leave you disappointed.

3. Nitesh Khandelwal: A scientist by profession, Khandelwals love and passion for photography has made the camera his best friend. You can find some of nature's best photography on his Instagram page.

4. Mahmudabad: If visiting the lanes of history is what you look forward to, the Instagram page Mahmudabad is the perfect destination to satisfy your wanderlust.

5. Nupur Singh: If you are looking forward to some aesthetic photography just to relax your eyes at all the surrounding beauty, following Nupur Singhs page will be the right suggestion for you.

6. Kira Issar: If your love of photographic pleasure demands minimalistic presence with maximum impact, Kira Issars page is the go-to place for you. She captures the beauty of the world in a unique way.

7. Revati Kulkarni: Some images indeed capture beautiful emotions and moments within them, without a need of the perfect caption to describe what the artist wants to convey. Revatis click guarantees you the same satisfaction.

8. Vaibhav Mehta: Beauty lies in simplicity and nothing conveys it better than Mehtas click. A filmmaker by profession, Mehtas eye for photography is a perfection in itself.

9. Lokesh Dang: If you want to capture and understand the raw beauty behind the everyday life, you should definitely pay a visit to Dangs page.

10. Siddhartha Joshi: His profile might describe him as a traveler, storyteller and designer, but what defines him the best is his art to hold and click perfect pictures. Visit Joshis work on the Instagram page.

World Photography Day originated in 1837 when Frenchman Louis Daguerre and Joseph Nicephore Niepce invented the daguerreotype, a photographic process. On January 9, 1839 the French Academy of Sciences announced its operation and on August 19, 1839 the French government announced the invention as a gift to the world.
A cosplayer dressed as 'Spider-Woman' attends the MCM Comic Con at ExCeL exhibition centre in London. October 26, 2018 (Wiktor Szymanowicz / Barcroft Media via Getty Images)

Olivia Wilde has confirmed the news that she has closed a deal with Sony Pictures to direct and develop a Spider-Man spin-off film revolving around a female character.

The Tron: Legacy star, who made her feature-directing debut in 2019 with the acclaimed teen comedy Booksmart, is developing a film believed to be centred on the character of Spider-Woman, according to Deadline.

Wilde responded to the news on Twitter sharing a spider emoji, and Sonys official Twitter feed replied with an applause emoji.

The film will see Wilde reunite with Katie Silberman, who co-wrote her directorial debut Booksmart, which starred Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein.

Olivia Wilde (L) and Katie Silberman attend the 2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominees Brunch January 04, 2020. (Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)

She wrote on Instagram: Reunited and it feels so good, especially because we never left each others side in the first place @katierosesilberman.

Olivia Wilde shares Spider-Woman news on Instagram. (Olivia Wilde/Instagram)

There are a number of female characters who have taken on the Spider-Woman alter ego over the years, including Jessica Drew, Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane Watson.

Read more: Sony still mulling Sable & Black

Wilde also responded to Frozen actor Josh Gad, who wrote on Twitter: The fact that @oliviawilde is directing an @MarvelStudios film is enough to get though one more day.

Its the least I could do in exchange for the gift of Olaf   olivia wilde (@oliviawilde) August 20, 2020

She replied: Its the least I could do in exchange for the gift of Olaf.

Wildes former House co-star Hugh Laurie congratulated her on the job, writing: This is most excellent, O. May the road rise up to meet you!

Story continues

Gwen Stacy as Ghost Spider in Marvel Rising. (Marvel Animation)

Wilde is slated to shoot psychological thriller Dont Worry Darling for New Line, and a Christmas movie for Universal before her film which will be set in the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters (SPUMC), which includes Spider-Man, Venom and Morbius.

Morbius is set for release in May 2021 after being delayed by coronavirus, and will be followed by Venom: Let There Be Carnage in June 2021. Other films in development for the SPUMC include a Madame Web film directed by SJ Clarkson, a Roberto Orci-led project, Jackpot and The Sinister Six.
India has brought back more than 1.1 million nationals stranded around the world due to the Covid-19 pandemic through Vande Bharat Mission, the countrys largest repatriation programme.

Vande Bharat Mission is currently in its fifth phase, during which around 500 international flights and 130 domestic feeder flights have been operated. The flights have brought back stranded Indians from 22 countries to 23 airports across the country.

As of August 19, a total of 1.12 million stranded Indians have been repatriated by different modes under Vande Bharat Mission, external affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava told a weekly news briefing on Thursday.

Around 375 more international flights are scheduled to be operated by the end of August, he said.

Based on an assessment of demand from Indias missions and posts abroad, flights have been added for repatriating Indian nationals from Kuwait, the Maldives, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Australia, the UK and Canada.

In addition, the number of flights from other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries has been further augmented, Srivastava said.

Indias bilateral air bubble arrangements with the US, the UK, Canada, France, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and the Maldives are functioning well, and negotiations are ongoing on air travel arrangements with 18 more countries, he said.

Also Read: Kerala-Centre showdown looms over leasing Thiruvananthapuram airport to Adani

These countries are Australia, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Nigeria, Bahrain, Israel, Kenya, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

This will benefit stranded Indians and nationals of these countries, Srivastava said.

Also Read: India nudges Beijing to walk the talk on Ladakh disengagement, China doesnt budge

India has operated the largest number of repatriation flights to countries in West Asia, including the GCC states, as the region is home to some 8 million expatriates. The largest number of stranded Indians returned from the United Arab Emirates.

Tens of thousands of Indians also returned from Nepal and other neighbouring countries through land border check posts.
Aravind Raj By

Express News Service

KARUR: The Karur district in-charges of political archrivals  AIADMK and DMK  have tested positive for Covid. Transport Minister MR Vijayabaskar, who is the ruling partys Karur district secretary, and DMKs district in-charge, V Senthil Balaji, got infected on the same day.

Samples were collected from Vijayabaskar, who returned to Karur, his hometown, after taking part in a series of events in Chennai. They were sent for testing on Monday night, as part of the routine protocol. The results arrived on Tuesday, showing that he had contracted the infection.

His wife and daughter have also tested positive. All three of them were admitted in a private hospital in Chennai on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, Aravakurichi MLA Senthil Balaji also tested positive on Tuesday. He had travelled to several places a few days ago, as part of the Independence Day celebrations. He has been admitted to a private hospital in Tiruchy.

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami is scheduled to visit Karur on Friday, to review the Covid containment works being undertaken in the district, and to inaugurate a few projects. Now, with the local minister being admitted in Chennai, theres uncertainty over his visit, say sources.

That apart, samples have also been taken from the district collector and other officials, as they were in the proximity of the minister. Though the results of the officials are yet to be announced formally, sources say they have all tested negative. Anyhow, its likely that the Chief Minsiters visit might get postponed by a couple of weeks, they added.
Australian Consumer Watchdog Green-Lights Metcashs Bid for Total Tools

Australias consumer watchdog has given the go-ahead for grocery conglomerate Metcash to buy the countrys largest hardware franchise network Total Tools, as competition in the hardware market heats up.

Metcash owns the IGA supermarket chain in Australia, while its home improvement division, the Independent Hardware Group owns specialist hardware brands Mitre 10, Home Timber & Hardware, Thrifty-Link Hardware, True Value Hardware, and Hardings.

Metcash made a bid in July to buy 70 percent of Total Tools Holdings, looking to increase its share of the hardware market. The move comes just months after Bunnings acquired major South Australian tool retailer, Adelaide Tools.

Bunnings Warehouse is seen in Maribyrnong on August 04, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) investigated the acquisition to see whether it could dampen competition in the sector.

The ACCC found on Aug. 20, that Metcashs combined brands were still likely to face strong competition from Bunnings on a national level and from specialist retailers in local markets.

We saw that generally Mitre 10 focuses on the Do-It-Yourself customer and those looking for convenience, while Total Tools mainly attracts trade customers because of their extensive range of trade quality products and specialised staff, ACCC Chair Rod Sims said.

We have seen a lot of activity in the tool industry this year. Bunnings is the clear market leader, and with Independent Hardware Group increasing its footprint, any further consolidation of the tool market at a national, state, or local level will be scrutinised closely, Sims added.

Tools on display in Paris on June 19, 2018. (Eric Piermont/AFP via Getty Images)

The ACCC also examined Metcashs wholesale businesses and whether it could use this to its advantage against rivals. The ACCC concluded that this was not the case.

Total Tools is the franchisor to the largest tool retail network in Australia with 81 stores nationwide. It has been operating for over 30 years and targets professional tradespeople.

Dr Rob Nicholls, associate professor at the University of New South Wales, told The Epoch Times that there was no real opposition to the acquisition.

Further, he said the ACCC may not have considered the adverse effect on franchisees likely to flow from the merger.

The fact that Total Tools is a franchise means that there may be some rationalisation  Nicholls said.

He pointed to potential intra-brand competition between Total Tools network of stores, and the stores already within the Independent Hardware Group. Some Total Tools stores could be closed to prevent cannibalisation between the brands.

This is likely to happen as Total Tools franchise agreements (which are typically five-year terms) expire, Nicholls added.

Despite the shifts in the hardware market, the latest move was unlikely to yield lower prices for customers.

Metcash bought a revenue stream. It is unlikely to do anything that will diminish that revenue, he continued.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 20:15:25|Editor: huaxia

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MOSCOW, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Russia will not stop cooperating with Iran in defiance of U.S. threats of sanctions, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Thursday.

"We are guided exclusively by our own interests, our obligations and international law," Ryabkov was quoted by RIA Novosti news agency as saying.

On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo threatened to punish those countries that oppose its effort to re-impose sanctions on Iran.

Russia condemns U.S. intentions to restore United Nations (UN) sanctions against Iran, Ryabkov said.

It is regrettable that as a result of Washington's irresponsible actions, the UN Security Council is plunging into a very serious crisis, which distracts the Security Council from working on a wide range of issues within its mandate and creates certain political and psychological tensions, he said.

Despite Washington's latest moves on Iran, Russia will continue to cooperate with the United States because without dialogue the situation could become even worse, Ryabkov said. Enditem
This obituary is part of a series about people who have died in the coronavirus pandemic. Read about others here.

Beth Salamensky often kept to herself. Though she was a regular member of the congregation at Beth Chayim Chadashim in Los Angeles  the first L.G.B.T.Q. synagogue in the country  she usually sat in the back during services.

And she was also alone when she died of the coronavirus, at 43, on April 17 at St. Anthonys Hospital in Chicago. Her family learned of her death only months later. She hadnt mentioned to them that she was sick, and she didnt have a wallet or a phone at the hospital, or contact information for the staff.

At the end of June, her cousin, Shelley Salamensky, who had been trying to reach Beth, got a Google search alert that led her to the website of Chicago Jewish Funerals. The organization, which provides burial sites and arranges funerals for indigent Jews in Chicago, had recovered Beths body from storage and planned a service for July 2.
She told the Echo Moskvy radio station that he must have consumed poison in tea he drank at an airport cafe before boarding the plane early Thursday. During the flight, Navalny started sweating and asked her to talk to him so that he could focus on the sound of a voice. He then went to the bathroom and lost consciousness, and has been in a coma in grave condition ever since.
A bishop has called on the Government to take a lead in dealing with the global issues that drive migrants to risk their lives on unsafe journeys.

Bishop of Dover, the Rt Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, said politicians are often playing to the gallery and issued a plea for compassion.

She was speaking a day after a young Sudanese migrant was found dead on a beach in France.

French prosecutors have opened an investigation into the tragedy, which French citizenship minister Marlene Schiappa said on Twitter involved a 16-year-old.

According to some media reports, prosecutors have since said documents found on his body suggested he was 28 and named Abdulfatah Hamdallah.

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought into Dover (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Dan OMahoney, the Home Offices newly-appointed clandestine Channel threat commander, returned to France on Thursday to continue discussions with officials in Paris and Calais in a bid to tackle the migrant crossings crisis.

Meanwhile, the Government has called on councils to take responsibility as it urgently tries to find care for lone migrant children who have crossed the Channel to the UK.

At least 164 migrants  including children  reached Britain on Wednesday in 11 boats, the Home Office said.

Border Force dealt with another boat on Thursday carrying eight men who said they were from Nigeria, Guinea, Gambia and Sierra Leone, the department added.

Ms Hudson-Wilkin, the Church of Englands first black female bishop, told BBC Breakfast: We need to try and understand what is happening, why people are fleeing from their countries, why are people taking such unsafe routes in order to get to the UK or to get to Europe.

We need to not just, every time theres a boat, throw our arms up and think panic, panic, lets do something about it, lets build walls, lets put the Border Force out.

This is an upsetting and tragic loss of a young life. This horrendous incident serves as a brutal reminder of the abhorrent criminal gangs and people smugglers who exploit vulnerable people. Working together we are determined to stop them. https://t.co/ARZovx8RUf  Priti Patel (@pritipatel) August 19, 2020

We need more long-term planning and thinking.

Story continues

We know the kind of hostility that those who are seeking a safe haven face, and actually politicians are often responding or playing to the gallery, so we as a community, we as British people, we must be very, very clear to all our politicians that we dont want the kind of knee-jerk reaction or language to pacify a particular group of people, we must be compassionate.

What I want our Government to do is to take a lead with other governments around the world and to begin to look long-term as to what are some of the things that we can do to stop the flow.

Mr OMahoney said the death of the Sudanese migrant served as a tragic reminder of the vital importance of the work the UK and France are engaged in to make this route completely unviable.

He said there had been positive discussions with officials about enhancing operations with increased surveillance, aerial support, further intelligence sharing and patrols in northern France.

The Home Office also announced on Thursday that a man has been jailed for smuggling himself and nine other people  including two children  across the Channel aboard an inflatable boat.

Altaib Mobarak, 43, admitted a charge of facilitating illegal entry into the UK and was jailed for two years on Tuesday.

He was at the helm when the boat was intercepted by a Border Force cutter on July 7.

All 10 people on board the vessel  Sudanese and Yemeni nationals  were transferred to the cutter and brought to Dover where they were passed to immigration officials.
Kushner Makes Peace Overture to Iran as Trump Seeks Negotiations if Re-elected

By Michael Lipin August 19, 2020

Jared Kushner, the senior adviser to President Donald Trump, is calling on Iran to make peace with Washington as Trump predicts there will be a quick return to U.S.-Iran negotiations if he is re-elected in November.

In a Tuesday interview for VOA program Plugged In with Greta Van Susteren, Kushner appealed to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to engage with Washington.

"For President Rouhani, I would say it's time for the region to move forward. Let's stop being stuck in conflicts of the past. It's time for people to get together and to make peace," he said.

Decades-long U.S.-Iran tensions have intensified since Trump took office in 2017. The U.S. has toughened unilateral sanctions on Tehran since 2018 in an effort to stop Iranian activities deemed destabilizing. It has used military action in some cases, most notably killing top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in a January airstrike on Baghdad.

'Maximum pressure'

Trump has said a key goal of his "maximum pressure" campaign is to persuade Iran to end its perceived malign behaviors by negotiating a broad, new bilateral agreement. Such a deal would replace the 2015 multilateral deal in which Iran agreed to limit its nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief from the U.S. and other world powers. Trump withdrew from that deal in 2018, criticizing it as not tough enough on Tehran, whom the West long has accused of seeking to build nuclear weapons. Iran has said its nuclear activities are peaceful.

Iran has vowed to resist U.S. sanctions, maintain its support for anti-U.S. regional militias and respond militarily to any attack, as it did by firing missiles at U.S. forces in Iraq days after the Soleimani killing. Dozens of U.S. troops suffered traumatic brain injuries from the Iranian strikes.

Tehran also has increasingly expanded its nuclear activities in the past year in violation of the 2015 deal, to try to pressure other world powers to compensate it for the U.S. sanctions. The Iranian economy has been in recession since 2018 because of the sanctions and government mismanagement.

Kushner said making peace with Iran would fix Tehran's economy and provide hope to the next generation.

"Peace is a noble thing. It's a good thing and it's a very important thing, if we want to have a world where everyone can have economic opportunity in order to live a better life than their parents," he said.

'Real deal'

"President Trump is willing to talk. He's willing to meet," Kushner told VOA, in reference to Iran's Islamist rulers. "But ... he's going to be tough."

"If there is a real deal where nuclear weapons are off the table, and we can make sure that it leads to a more prosperous Middle East, then I believe President Trump would sit and have discussions about it," he added.

Trump himself has acknowledged that he does not expect Iran to accept his negotiation offers until after the November 3 election, in which the Republican is competing for a second term against the Democratic Party nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden.

Iran is "waiting to see the election," Trump said at an August 11 news briefing. "Their greatest dream in the world is that Joe Biden wins because they will own this country."

Biden has said he would rejoin the 2015 nuclear deal if Iran first returned to "strict compliance" with it. He also has pledged to work with U.S. allies to "strengthen and extend" the 2015 deal, but has not specified how.

Iran has not publicly expressed a preference between Trump and Biden. But in an August 7 statement, U.S. National Counterintelligence and Security Center Director William Evanina said the U.S. intelligence community believed Tehran was trying to undermine Trump because of "a perception that [his] reelection would result in a continuation of U.S. pressure on Iran in an effort to foment regime change."

The Trump administration has insisted that it does not seek to overthrow Iran's ruling clerics, but rather to pressure them to behave like a "normal" nation.

In his August 11 briefing, Trump predicted that if he won reelection, Iran would agree to a new deal "within one month."

Speaking in a Tuesday webinar hosted by U.S. advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran, U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook said the Trump administration's strategy has given the U.S. "enormous leverage" to get what it wants from Iran in a potential second term.

'Great difficulty'

Barbara Slavin, an Iran analyst at the Atlantic Council, told VOA Persian she had "great difficulty" believing the sincerity of Kushner's appeal for peace with Iran. She cited Trump's plan to ask the U.N. Security Council to reimpose or "snap back" all Iran sanctions that it lifted as part of Resolution 2231 endorsing the 2015 nuclear deal.

U.S. officials have said a snapback of all sanctions is necessary to prolong a U.N. arms embargo on Iran, which expires on October 18 under the terms of Resolution 2231. A U.S.-sponsored resolution that would have extended only the arms embargo failed to get enough support in the Security Council last week. Iran has warned that it could quit the 2015 nuclear deal completely if the arms embargo was extended or if all U.N. sanctions were reimposed.

"If the Trump administration was really interested in negotiations, it would start by acknowledging that it has no legal standing to snap back U.N. sanctions," Slavin said. "Then it could offer to return to the [2015 nuclear deal] if Iran also returns to full compliance."

The Trump administration has said it retains a legal ability to snap back U.N. sanctions under the terms of Security Council Resolution 2231.

Iran analyst Behnam Ben Taleblu of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies said he thought U.S. officials' expressed desire for a new deal with Iran was genuine.

"The tormented story of U.S.-Iran relations is proof that leaders and ideas matter," Taleblu said in a message to VOA Persian. "The Trump administration's demand for 12 changes in Iranian behavior [as part of a new deal] is perhaps the most succinct distillation of the divide between Iran and the international community when it comes to foreign and security policy."

Naysan Rafati, an Iran researcher for the International Crisis Group, told VOA Persian that regardless of who wins the U.S. presidential election in November, the prospects for a U.S.-Iran reconciliation remain unclear.

"The question is whether Washington and Tehran are willing to shift policies from their current diplomatic impasse to the point where the most one side is willing to offer meets the minimum the other can seriously entertain," he said

This article originated in VOA's Persian service.

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Doctors said most of the chemicals that caught fire yesterday would cause severe irritation on close contact, but only minor injuries were reported. Last night, western-suburbs residents were furious that nothing had been done to move dangerous chemicals from Coode Island. They called on the Government to remove the chemical arsenal. ........................................................................................................................................... First published in The Age on December 11, 1991 Report on Coode finds 400 breaches

Government agencies failed to properly police the Coode Island chemical storage depot and companies using it ignored regulations, an investigation has found. The report, by a taskforce appointed by the Government, said Coode Island fell far short of international standards. It said nearly 400 breaches of Government regulations by companies were discovered soon after the August fires at Coode Island. The report said that only luck had prevented much more serious health problems, because fast and accurate information had not been given to the public about the risk in the August emergency, and what to do. "Had the plume been highly toxic and rapidly descended over an urban area, the existing health information procedures would have been demonstrably inadequate." The report called for immediate steps to ensure public health was protected in case of another explosion. The shattered hulk of one of the storage tanks is moved for investigation by a police team. Credit:Ray Kennedy

It said there had been inadequate management for some years at Coode Island and none of the facilities were in complete compliance with dangerous goods regulations. The taskforce was set up by the Government after the August explosion. Its report did not consider whether the storage should be moved; that will be examined in a second report due by April. The State Government adopted all the report's recommendations, including the removal of 8000 tonnes of chemicals by the end of next year and bringing tanks up to international safety standards. (The 8000 tonnes to be moved account for 15 per cent of the total.) The Premier, Mrs Kirner, indicated there were no guarantees that another explosion would not occur. Asked if the action would stop another accident, she said: "I guess your hypothetical question can only be given a hypothetical answer. I'm not God. I'm Premier." Mrs Kirner said her personal preference was to see the storage moved, but the question had to be decided by the taskforce. The report said that two operators, Terminals Pty Ltd plant B and Powell Duffryn Pty Ltd, were in need of "significantly more attention" to tackle safety problems and both would have difficulty complying with fire requirements.

The Coode Island fires broke out in a series of explosions on 21 August at the Terminals Pty Ltd chemical storage depot. The managing director of Terminals Pty Ltd, Mr Eric Olufson, said his company accepted in principle the panel's recommendations. He said the findings of an international firm that carried out a safety audit at Coode Island were in line with the company's independent audits of its operations. The company had already started implementing the recommendations. The chairman of the taskforce, Mr John Landy, said that ideally Coode Island would not be so close to the city or houses. Of the 87 tanks on Coode Island, only four were fitted with high-level alarms to prevent spillages, and 21 had a nitrogen blanketing system designed to stop a build-up of explosive chemicals. This system now had to be fitted and companies would have to lodge safety plans by the end of February. The Labor Minister, Mr Pope, said the Government would enforce regulations more strictly. "I think it's quite obvious that we have to be more vigilant, especially with the issue of Coode Island. We have the most stringent laws in Australia. It's a matter now of ensuring they're enforced to the same degree." A spokesman for the western suburbs-based Hazardous Materials Action Group, Mr Paul Adams, said the panel's recommended reductions did not go far enough. "We would have liked to have seen more than 15 per cent overall reduction and the proposed 50 per cent reduction in class A toxic chemicals. The potential for danger is still there.

"A second aspect is that we believe the report was negligent in not dealing with the problems of self-regulation. The panel found 400 breaches of various regulations at Coode Island. That, I think, is horrific." THE FINDINGS : The Coode Island chemical storage falls short of international standards. Coode Island terminal companies were ignoring many government regulations, with nearly 400 breaches discovered after the explosion in August. Inadequate management had persisted for years. Government agencies failed to police the facility properly and had not been doing their job properly for a long period.
The former Navy SEAL who shot dead Osama bin Laden has lashed out at Delta Air Lines on social media after claiming the airline banned him over a maskless selfie he took on board a flight this week.

'Thank God it wasn't Delta flying us in when we killed bin Laden... we weren't wearing masks,' Robert O'Neill mocked the airline in a tweet Thursday night.

O'Neill's post sparked further backlash and led to a war of words with comedian Steve Hofstetter with the army veteran first telling him he is 'a fan' and then minutes later calling him a 'c**t'.

This marked the latest in a series of irate tweets from the former Navy SEAL which started when he posted a provocative tweet on Wednesday saying he wouldn't wear a mask because he's not a 'p***y' alongside a maskless selfie on board a Delta plane.

Delta Air Lines hit back by banning O'Neill from all future flights - a move many social media users have congratulated the airline for.

Former Navy SEAL Robert O'Neill, who faced backlash for this selfie that showed him without a mask on a Delta flight on Wednesday afternoon, says he has been banned from the airline. He is a vocal opponent on face coverings

He captioned the selfie saying he is not a 'p***y' and so wouldn't wear a mask

But O'Neill continued to lash out at the airline, saying 'thank god' the airline wasn't flying the SEALs on their mission to kill bin Laden because they didn't have masks.

Hofstetter replied to O'Neill's tweet pointing out that Delta does not provide military planes and that the pandemic wasn't ravaging America back in 2011 during the mission.

'Delta is a commercial airline, Bin Laden wasn't killed during a pandemic, and other people on Seal Team 6 have said you didn't kill him,' tweeted the comedian.

'Do you have no one in your life who can say 'Hey, Robert, maybe don't tweet this one?''

O'Neill responded in friendly terms initially telling Hofstetter he is a 'huge fan'.

'Dammit, Steve!! I was such a huge fan... I'm being serious. You're really good...' he wrote.

'I'm serious... I love Steve's comedy. He doesn't have a hair on his skinny ass to say this in person... but he is funny.

O'Neill continued to lash out at the airline Thursday night, saying 'thank god' the airline wasn't flying the SEALs on their mission to kill bin Laden because they didn't have masks

O'Neill's post sparked further backlash and led to a war of words with comedian Steve Hofstetter with the army veteran first telling him he is 'a fan' and then minutes later calling him a 'c**t'

'Dude... I'm a fan!'

Hofstetter responded with some 'legal advice' for the veteran suggesting it was not the selfie but his refusal to wear a mask that led the airline to ban him.

'Hey Robert, just some legal advice. If someone robs a store and then posts a picture of themselves robbing the store, they don't get arrested for posting the picture,' he tweeted.

'They get arrested for what is IN the picture. Hope this helps!'

This seemed to rile O'Neill who quickly changed his tone from praising the comedian to calling him a 'c**t'.

Alright @SteveHofstetter, you c**t. Tell me where,' the veteran replied.

O'Neill, 44, has been a vocal critic of face mask mandates implemented by several states.

He posted the maskless selfie on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon on what appeared to be a crowded flight, according to the New York Daily News.

It showed O'Neill smiling on board a flight with a flight attendant in the background wearing a mask.

Another man in a mask and Marines cap is seen in the row across from him.

The image sparked a backlash and the veteran tweeted Thursday that he had been banned from the airline over the tweet.

'I just got banned by Delta for posting a picture,' O'Neill posted Thursday. 'Wow.'

A spokesperson for Delta Air Lines confirmed to DailyMail.com that O'Neill has indeed been banned from all future flights.

'Part of every customer's commitment prior to traveling on Delta is the requirement to acknowledge our updated travel policies, which includes wearing a mask,' the company told DailyMail.com.

'Failure to comply with our mask-wearing mandate can result in losing the ability to fly Delta in the future.'

'I just got banned by Delta for posting a picture,' Robert O'Neill posted on Twitter on Thursday. 'Wow.'

Delta and other major US carriers require passengers to wear face coverings due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-800 commercial aircraft as seen on final approach landing at New York JFK John F Kennedy International airport in NY, USA on February 13, 2020

His ban ignited widespread reaction on social media, with O'Neill's critics praising the airline. O'Neill, however, says everyone is overreacting.

He tweeted: 'I had my mask in my lap. Everyone has gone crazy.'

But others on Twitter said the company did the right thing.

'I'd like to thank Delta for doing the right thing and protecting it's passengers during a deadly pandemic, even if the person in question is well known,' tweeted one Twitter user.

Another Twitter user wrote: 'A play in three acts: Brags about not wearing a mask on a flight. Blames his wife for deleting his post. Gets banned from Delta. Life comes at ya fast.'

One Twitter user wrote: 'Thank you Delta for enforcing your safety policy and banning selfish, thoughtless, and entitled people like [O'Neill]. I look forward to flying with you in the future.'

VoteVets, an organization made up of anti-Trump military veterans, tweeted: 'Life comes at you fast.'

Others on social media, however, came to O'Neill's defense. They cited his military service while slamming the airline for turning away a war hero.

In response to the backlash on social media, O'Neill has insisted that he was kidding

On Thursday, he claimed that he 'had my mask in my lap' and said: 'Everyone has gone crazy'

VoteVets, an organization made up of anti-Trump military veterans, tweeted: 'Life comes at you fast.'

One Twitter user wrote: 'Thank you Delta for enforcing your safety policy and banning selfish, thoughtless, and entitled people like [O'Neill]. I look forward to flying with you in the future.'

'I'd like to thank Delta for doing the right thing and protecting it's passengers during a deadly pandemic, even if the person in question is well known,' tweeted one Twitter user.

Another Twitter user wrote: 'A play in three acts: Brags about not wearing a mask on a flight. Blames his wife for deleting his post. Gets banned from Delta. Life comes at ya fast.'

Others on social media, however, came to O'Neill's defense. They cited his military service while slamming the airline for turning away a war hero

Another Twitter user wrote: 'Unreal. Probably not the best way to treat one of America's greatest heroes!'

'This is absolutely unnecessary and a disgrace,' tweeted another Twitter user.

'We stand with our brother in arms! It is not a good idea to ban veterans!

'Do you have any idea how many there are of us? We tend to have each other's backs.

'If you read through his feed, he has a sense of humor!'

Another Twitter user wrote: 'Unreal. Probably not the best way to treat one of America's greatest heroes!'

Delta said on Wednesday it was aware of the now-deleted image, according to The Intercept.

O'Neill has remained defiant, however, telling his critics to 'come get some'.

He also claims he didn't delete the original picture despite the outrage as he doubled-down on his hatred of masks.

O'Neill, pictured, shot dead Osama bin Laden in the 2011 raid

'I didn't delete my tweet. My wife did,' he wrote.

He then claimed that he was joking.

'Keep in mind, Twitter: No joking allowed!!' he sarcastically commented on Wednesday.

But the backlash was in full force even before the tweet was taken down.

The selfie was screenshot and shared by a deputy editor at the New York Times, Dan Saltzstein.

'I deleted a previous version of this tweet because I broke my own rule about name-calling,' he said of the selfie.

'So let me try again: I honor O'Neill for his sacrifices to his country and his heroism. It's sad that he can't extend the same for the safety of his fellow passengers.'

His previous tweet had read: 'I don't know this man but: counterpoint, you might just be because you're not willing to sacrifice and be a little uncomfortable for your fellow humans (including that marine behind you)!'

Many were outraged at O'Neill's picture with actress Ayssa Milano responding directly to tell him he could have killed people.

'You do realize you may be a-symptomatic and give the virus to other people that could potentially kill them,' she wrote to him in a tweet.

'I think that makes you a sociopath. Besides, p*****s are actually so strong that we can deliver human beings out of them. Please, I'm begging you, wear a damn mask.'

Others rushed to his defense, however, stating that O'Neill put his life on the line for the U.S. and couldn't be called selfish for not wearing a mask.

O'Neill claimed he did not make the decision to delete the selfie himself

Actress Alyssa Milano criticized O'Neill for the maskless selfie

Some users defended O'Neill's actions and said he is not 'selfish'

Spectator Washington Editor Amber Athey called the criticism 'beyond parody'

'That's right. Life on the line and three shots into OBL for all of us...but doesn't wear a mask (that doesn't really work anyway) and he's all of the sudden selfish,' wrote Benjamin Prol.

'NYT editor tells the Navy SEAL who killed Bin Laden that he's not willing to sacrifice,' said Spectator Washington Editor Amber Athey of Saltzstein's comments. 'Beyond parody.'

'I think he should've just worn the mask, but also maybe Google who you're tweeting at before you make an ass out of yourself and undermine your own argument?!'

O'Neill himself was ready for the backlash and continued to tweet throughout Wednesday evening, calling out those who tried to condemn him and claiming that masks weren't needed to protect lives.

'I shook thousands of hands and gave thousands of hugs this week. I flew on some planes. I'll be alive next week,' he wrote, while others such as Milano argued that people he shook hands with may not be.

'I do wear a mask, @Alyssa_Milano,' he responded. 'This attempt at a joke did NOT go over well ... '

'I'm not afraid of the mob. Come get some,' he added in another tweet.

'I am not the bad guy. I Killed the bad guy.'

The former Navy SEAL rushed to his own defense against Milano

He posted a string of tweets Wednesday evening defending himself from critics

This is not O'Neill's first anti-mask Twitter rant. Just last month he called on people to 'wise up' and said they could not be forced to have their temperature taken or quarantine.

'They can't make you wear masks. They can't make you take your temperature. They can't make you quarantine. Wise up,' he wrote on July 31.

O'Neill's actions Wednesday, however, were in direct contradiction of new rules imposed by most US airlines that requires passengers to wear a face covering at all times, as social distancing can not be maintained on board.

Deltas, which it appears he was traveling with, has said it is cracking down on customers who try to get away with it.

The airline said on Wednesday that it was aware of the incident and that he may face a lifetime ban.

O'Neill is a vocal critic of masks. He claimed you could not be forced to wear them in this tweet from July 31. Deltas has since said he could face a ban from the airline over the incident

O'Neill was forced from SEAL Team Six shortly after the Bin Lade raid in 2011 after it was discovered he was openly bragging about being the man to shoot the terrorist leader

'We're aware of this customer's tweet and are reviewing this event,' a spokesperson for Delta told The Intercept.

'All customers who don't comply with our mask-wearing requirement risk losing their ability to fly Delta in the future. Medical research tells us that wearing a mask is one of the most effective ways to reduce the COVID-19 infection rate.'

O'Neill served in the Navy since 1995.

He was the person who shot bin Laden three times in the head during a top-secret May 2011 raid on his hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

The Intercept states he was forced from the team shortly after the raid after it was discovered that he was openly bragging about being the man to shoot bin Laden as he frequented Virginia Beach bars.

O'Neill also took part in the 2009 rescue of the captain of a merchant ship taken hostage by Somali pirates.

The mission was later the subject of a Tom Hanks movie named 'Captain Phillips'.

His Twitter bio reads: 'Kentucky Colonel. I shot a famous guy. Thrice.'
Iran has unveiled two new missiles, state media reported Thursday, the same day Secretary of State Mike Pompeo traveled to the United Nations to start the process of restoring international sanctions on Iran.

The missiles, which were revealed on state television on Irans National Defense Industry Day, included one named after the countrys slain commander, Qasem Soleimani. Soleimani, who was the head of Irans elite Quds Force, was killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad International Airport last January in an event that further escalated tensions between Washington and Tehran.

A surface-to-surface ballistic missile dubbed the Martyr Hajj Qasem Soleimani has an 870-mile range, state news reported. A naval cruise missile named for Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the Iraqi militia leader also killed in the strike, has a reported 620-mile range.

State-run IRNA news reported that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Amir Hatami participated via video conference in the unveiling, which also included the display of a fourth-generation light turbo-fan engine for the militarys advanced drones.

Cruise missiles are of particular importance to us  the country is on the path of production and self-sufficiency in this field, Rouhani said.

The display of military prowess came as the United States prepares to invoke the so-called snapback provision of the Iran nuclear deal, which would return the United Nations sanctions lifted on Iran in January 2016.

The process to reimpose sanctions on Iran begins, Pompeo said in a tweet Thursday afternoon, adding that he notified the Security Council of something we all know too well  Iran's failure to meet its commitments under the terrible nuclear deal.
Indore once again topped the list of India's cleanest cities, according to the results of Swachh Survekshan 2020 announced by the government on Thursday. The city has retained its top position for three successive years - 2017, 2018, and 2019. Mysuru had won the first edition of the survey in 2016.

Surat, Gujarat came a close second, while Navi Mumbai bagged the third spot. Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri awarded a total of 129 top-performing cities and states in the virtual programme called 'Swachh Mahotsav'.

Also Read: Swacch Survekshan 2021: Govt launches annual cleanliness survey; states to be ranked

"Heartiest congratulations! Indore is India's cleanest city 4th year in a row. The city & it's people have shown exemplary dedication towards cleanliness. Congratulations to MP CM @ChouhanShivraj people, political leadership & Municipal Corporation for this superlative performance," Puri also tweeted.

Heartiest congratulations!

Indore is Indias cleanest city 4th year in a row. The city & its people have shown exemplary dedication towards cleanliness. Congratulations to MP CM @ChouhanShivraj people, political leadership & Municipal Corporation for this superlative performance. pic.twitter.com/cg3DH6PnHM Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) August 20, 2020

The virtual event was organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was supposed to announce the results, could not attend the programme. This is the fifth edition of the survey which was introduced by PM Modi in January 2016.

Meanwhile, Puri also launched a Swachh Survekshan 2020 results dashboard on the occasion. The dashboard will capture detailed rankings and results of the survey and can be accessed by cities and states 24/7 from anywhere in the world to get the details of their performance in the Swachh Survekshan 2020 and for previous years as well.

Also Read: Indore does it again! Earns the cleanest city tag for 4th consecutive time

According to a press release issued by the government on Tuesday, this year's results were delayed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey was concluded in 28 days.

Swachh Survekshan is the world's largest cleanliness survey. This year's survey covered 4,242 cities across the country. The government collected feedback from 1.9 crore citizens.
Gopika IS By

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Anchuthengu, one of the large clusters in the district with a population of 22,000, is at a critical point where stiff local resistance has drastically brought down the number of daily tests. The total number of test centres have come down from six to one, and alarmingly the number of people who turn up for tests have decreased from hundreds to barely 20. Fewer tests would signify fewer positive results, say health officials.

The region that reported 100 positive cases on a single day now reports in single digits.

On Wednesday, only 25 tests were done of which three tested positive. On Monday, 46 tests were done of which nine tested positive. Therefore, the numbers cannot be considered an indicator of Covid-19 situation in Anchuthengu given the fact that even a quarter of the population has not been tested so far, sources said.

From political misinformation campaigns in the wake of upcoming local body elections to lack of facilities in the Covid First-Line Treatment Centres (CFLTCs), the reasons for local resistance are aplenty.

Apart from these, the district administrations standing instruction to do tests only after taking the count of slots in CFLTCs in and around Anchuthengu is also a reason.

The Anchuthengu conundrum is compounded due to the lack of manpower in the health sector. Therefore, no new CFLTC is opened here, said a frontline health worker. The fall in number of tests and the protests are interconnected. The public resistance is generated from the villagers mistrust of Covid tests and their reluctance to be quarantined.

The latest protest was to allow the women to go out for selling fish. The district administration, to disperse the protesters, had assured them that a decision will be taken by Monday. Talks of testing the fisherwomen who want to go out to earn their bread are on. However, this is against ICMR guidelines as we can only find out if persons are infected till they get tested. This could turn out be a major health hazard here as the panchayat has many people with comorbidities, said Dr Ramakrishna Babu, taluk nodal officer.

Fresh cases in Kadakkavoor

In a setback to the plans to gradually unlock curbs in Anchuthengu, the neighbouring region of Kadakkavoor reported 11 cases from 70 tests. Dr Ramakrishna Babu, health official in charge of Anchuthengu cluster, said the spike in Kadakkavoor was unexpected. The cases are mostly transmitted from Anchuthengu. People in Anchuthengu have to come to Kadakkavoor to meet their essential requirements. We are planning to do more tests in Kadakkavoor. If this situation persists, relaxing the restrictions could prove very dangerous. More tests would be done in Anchuthengu as well, he said.

Date No of tests +ve cases

Aug 19 25 3

Aug 18 25 4

Aug 17 46 9

Aug 8 476 125
President Donald Trump welcomed Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton the 'field of battle' on Wednesday night, shortly before the two prepared to open fire on his presidency during their speeches at the Democratic National Convention.

The president tweeted a video that accuses Obama and Clinton of spying on him and setting up his administration to fail.

'Welcome, Barack and Crooked Hillary. See you on the field of battle!,' he wrote.

The video, which runs about 100 seconds, news reports on the 'unmasking' - or naming - of officials who requested information about Michael Flynn, Trump's pick for National Security Adviser who eventually resigned that position and charges there was 'political spying' on Trump's 2016 campaign.

President Donald Trump welcomed Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton the 'field of battle' on Wednesday night, shortly before the two prepared to open fire on his presidency during their speeches at the Democratic National Convention

In excerpts of their speeches to the Democratic convention, neither Barack Obama nor Hillary Clinton hold back in criticizing Donald Trump's lack of qualifications to be president

President Trump tweeted a video that argued Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama spied on his campaign, Trump has used an FBI counterintelligence probe into his 2016 campaign to argue there is a 'deep state' working against him

One of the officials who requested the unmasked name of Michael Flynn in the final days of the Obama administration was Joe Biden, the then vice president

The video Trump tweeted promotes his argument there is a 'deep state' working against his presidency - a theory he has promoted but offered no proof of

One of the officials who requested the unmasked names in the final days of the Obama administration was Joe Biden, the then vice president. Unmasking is a common process and is used by administration officials in both parties to help them determine the credibility of information in reports they are reading.

In the video Trump tweeted, the footage and images are heavily edited together with various voice overs - some of which don't identify who makes the charge of political spying by the Obama administration. Dramatic music and sound effects are weaved into the narrative.

'The Obama administration is bitter and wanted to do whatever they could to undermine the incoming Trump administration,' charges one voice. 'An outgoing president and vice president and a Washington Post columnist and the FBI setting up an incoming administration. Wow. Thats a real conspiracy. And no one wants to talk about it,' says another.

The FBI launched a counterintelligence investigation into Trump's 2016 campaign to see if Russian agents were trying to influence the election. Special counsel Robert Mueller found no evidence of collusion between Russia and Trump campaign officials. But Trump has used the probe to claim there is a 'deep state' working against his presidency.

And his attack on his predecessor in the Oval Office and his 2016 campaign rival comes after the the Democratic Party released excerpts of the speeches Obama and Clinton will give on Wednesday night, where neither Democrat holds back in criticizing Trump's ability to be president.

Obama will unleash on the man who followed him into the Oval Office, charging him with 'no interest' in putting in the work to be president and using the presidency as a 'reality show' to gain attention.

Clinton, who won the popular vote but lost the electoral college in the 2016 election, won't mince words in her remarks either.

'I wish Donald Trump had been a better president. But, sadly, he is who he is. America needs a president who shows the same compassion, determination, and leadership in the White House that we see in our communities,' she'll say.

She'll urge people to vote, telling them they don't want another 'woulda coulda shoulda election.'

'For four years, people have said to me, I didnt realize how dangerous he was. I wish I could go back and do it over. Or worst, I should have voted. Well, this cant be another woulda coulda shoulda election,' she will say in a live speech from her home in Chappaqua, New York.

In his remarks, given at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, Obama will deliver his harsh assessment of Trump while calling Joe Biden the man to lead the country 'out of dark times.'

He'll vouch for his 'friend' and 'brother,' former Vice President Joe Biden, while casting President Trump as a man who has never taken his job seriously or done it well.

'Hes shown no interest in putting in the work, no interest in finding common ground, no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends,' Obama will say in remarks to the virtual Democratic National Convention. 'No interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves.'

Clinton and Obama are following a formula set by other speakers during the first two nights of the Democrats' virtual convention - attacking Trump's ability to handle the presidency while touting Biden's credentials.

President Trump told reporters at the White House he was standing there because of Obama and, if the former president had done a better job, he wouldnt have run.

President Obama did not do a good job. And the reason I'm here is because of President Obama and Joe Biden, because if they did a good job, I wouldn't be here, he said at his Wednesday press conference when asked about Obama's remarks.

Probably if they did a good job I wouldn't have even run. I would have been very happy. I enjoyed my previous life very much, but they did such a bad job that I stand before you as president, he added.

President Barack Obama will address the Democratic National Convention Wednesday night from Philadelphia where he will make a personal plea to Americans to vote for his former vice president, Joe Biden, and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris

'For four years, people have said to me, "I didn't realize how dangerous he was." "I wish I could go back and do it over," Hillary Clinton will say in her speech to the Democratic convention

Former President Barack Obama will speak from the Museum of the American Revolution Wednesday night as part of the virtual Democratic National Convention

Satellite trucks and security started to be set up Tuesday outside the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Associated Press confirmed Wednesday that the museum was the site of Obama's speech

Obama, in his speech, will recall the time he spent with both men who will be on the ballot this November.

'I have sat in the Oval Office with both of the men who are running for president,' Obama will say.

He will admit that he never believed Trump would continue Obama-era policies.

'I did hope, for the sake of our country, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously; that he might come to feel the weight of the office and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care,' Obama plans to say.

'But he never did,' the remarks continue.

Like his wife said on Monday night, Obama will argue that Trump is incapable of handling the presidency.

'Donald Trump hasnt grown into the job because he cant,' Obama plans to say.

'And the consequences of that failure are severe. 170,000 Americans dead. Millions of jobs gone. Our worst impulses unleashed, our proud reputation around the world badly diminished, and our democratic institutions threatened like never before,' he goes on.

Obama will cast Biden as a good man and a strong leader.

'Twelve years ago, when I began my search for a vice president, I didnt know Id end up finding a brother,' Obama will say. 'Joe and I came from different places and different generations. But what I quickly came to admire about him is his resilience, born of too much struggle; his empathy, born of too much grief.'

The former president will talk about how Biden treats every person he meets 'with respect and dignity.'

The point has been made throughout the week at the virtual DNC featuring Biden, in one video, and his decade-long friendships with Amtrak employees.

'Over eight years, Joe was the last one in the room whenever I faced a big decision. He made me a better president. Hes got the character and the experience to make us a better country,' Obama will say.

Biden officially earned his party's nomination during a virtual roll call vote Tuesday night.

The city and venue are significant in a number of ways.

The museum is just blocks away from Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed, as well as the Liberty Bell.

Philadelphia was where Obama gave one of his most important speeches: when he talked about race when he ran for president in 2008.

President Obama gave one of his most consequential speeches of his Democratic primary fight against Hillary Clinton in 2008 in Philadelphia, where he spoke about race in America

President Obama will say in his speech he sat with both men in the Oval Office - he met with President-elect Trump on November 10, 2016

Then-President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden in the Oval Office in January 2015

Hillary Clinton is seen waving to supporters on the last night of her 2016 campaign in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

President Obama (left) appeared with 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton (right) on the last night of the 2016 campaign at an outdoor rally in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, just blocks away from where he'll address the 2020 DNC

Joe Biden (left) and Jill Biden (right), a Philadelphia native, greet throngs of supporters in Philadelphia in May 2019 as the former vice president kicked off his presidential campaign

Philadelphia was also the site of the Democrats' convention four years ago.

And Obama appeared alongside Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton and his wife Michelle, on the eve of election night in 2016, at a packed, outdoor rally on the campus of Independence Hall.

The move suggested the Clinton campaign knew Pennsylvania would be important.

It was the state that put President Donald Trump over the line.

Four years later, Biden - a native of Scranton, Pennsylvania - based his campaign in Philadelphia, which is just one Amtrak stop away from his adopted hometown of Wilmington, Delaware.

His kick-off speech was delivered in Philadelphia's downtown.

And Biden's wife, Jill, is from the city.

After Obama speaks Wednesday night, Sen. Kamala Harris will accept the vice presidential nomination live from Wilmington, to be followed by Biden at the same venue on Thursday night.
The industry must now work at innovative measures to revive and restore their operations, and find best workable solutions to market and sell their products and reach out to potential customers. Speaking with Saigon Investment, Mr. NGUYEN TIEN DAT, Director of AZA Travel Company, shared these thought and many other solutions.

JOURNALIST: - Sir, how do you assess the current state of the tourism industry and its ability to recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic?

Mr. NGUYEN TIEN DAT: - The recent and sudden outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has been a huge blow to the tourism industry in Vietnam and across the globe. Currently, all tourism businesses are facing many difficulties. The bigger enterprises are being able to stay open and survive but are still unable to operate, while the smaller businesses with little capital are almost on the verge of bankruptcy or have shut down completely in the second quarter of 2020.

Revenue in the tourism business mainly comes from three main sources, namely, domestic tourism, outbound tourism that takes Vietnamese tourists abroad, and travel activities to welcome foreign visitors to Vietnam. However, since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, all these three activities have been frozen, and travel businesses now have no source of revenue. More than a month ago, the Government announced that the pandemic had been contained and had allowed the reopening of domestic tourism, but only a short while later the pandemic returned in the form of a second wave. This once again shut down all tourism activities and it is not clear when we will open again.

In fact, domestic tourism brings in very little and an insignificant amount of income compared to foreign tourism, but it was being seen as a temporary solution for businesses to continue to operate in moderation to maintain themselves. For example, in our company, revenue from tourism activities is still near nil as we owe the bank and continue to pay an interest amount every month. Other than this we have to also cover expenses paid to airline companies for international travel activities, which is a huge sum of money, and now in the current scenario it may be impossible to recover.

Recovery for all the tourism companies depends heavily on how the disease can be controlled and contained. Even if an effective vaccine is introduced in the world that can be used to contain and control the disease in mass communities, it will still take one or more years for tourism businesses to begin to start working normally again. Therefore, the coming months and years pose a fierce challenge for the tourism industry. For sure, many businesses will either shut down completely or declare bankruptcy. For the tourism industry, the post pandemic scenario also does not look very good, as it will be a very slow recovery.

- Sir, have Government support policies for businesses in general, including tourism businesses, been effective?

- I think the Government policies to support businesses in the current pandemic phase are necessary, but how effective they are still has to be seen. Regarding preferential loan support packages for businesses, many tourism businesses are still unable to access these and see their benefits. Our company, for instance, cannot borrow any money from this capital. Tax exemption or tax reduction schemes too have not had much effect. Since the Covid-19 outbreak up until now, tourism has been sporadic and any business without corporate income tax cannot be considered a preference.

The Covid-19 pandemic is still very complicated and unpredictable, and it is not clear when it will be controlled, so it is best that the tourism industry accepts this situation and learns to live with this situation, and find the most effective ways to innovate and maintain operations to continue to generate revenue.

In addition, access to other credit packages from banks is also very difficult. Due to difficulties that the tourism businesses are facing, banks are hesitant to lend money for fear of rising bad debts. Therefore, I think that the support policies of the Government need to be more specifically aimed at the tourism businesses. For example, it is possible to build a business support fund from the state budget which enterprises can borrow directly from to reinvest in their business.

- Sir, after the resurgence of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in some localities, domestic tourism was suspended once again. Some argue that this activity should be maintained with enhanced disease safety control measures in place. What is your opinion on this?

- I think that domestic tourism should still be maintained, because this is the best way for tourism businesses to continue to operate and save themselves. The Covid-19 pandemic exploded again recently due to the poor control measures at our borders. In addition, if mandatory social distancing measures are to be enforced, they must do so in segregated zones and not across all other localities, because this is not necessary. Moreover, because the Covid-19 pandemic is still very complicated and unpredictable, and it is not clear when it will be controlled, so it is best that the tourism industry accepts this situation and learns to live with this situation, and find the most effective ways to innovate and maintain operations to continue to generate revenue.

Currently, the tourism industry is constantly fluttering between various options to operate. Previously, tourism was often operating as a large organized group and concentrated on tourist destinations. It can now organize by households for short-term resort tourism such as homestays or farmstays. This would meet the needs of both customers and businesses, and revenue can still continue to come in despite the pandemic. In addition, many businesses are now cutting costs and manpower, and when later these enterprises want to recover their operations they will find it difficult due to lack of trained and experienced manpower.

- Thank you very much.

Luu Thuy (Interviewer)
Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, center, who founded the newspaper Apple Daily, was arrested Aug. 10, 2020, on suspicion of collusion with foreign powers. (Associated Press )

Last week I was sanctioned by the Chinese government, whatever that means, along with six members of Congress and the leaders of four other U.S.-based human rights organizations.

Its unclear what the sanctions will actually do, but the Chinese government said they were a tit-for-tat response to Washingtons recent imposition of sanctions on Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam and 10 other officials in Hong Kong and mainland China for their role in the continuing crackdown on Hong Kongs freedoms and rule of law.

The sanctions against me and the other Americans are a plain effort by Beijing to claim that the people of Hong Kong are being manipulated by foreigners. They are also an effort to divert attention from Beijings intensifying repression.

The sanctions were announced just hours after Hong Kong police arrested the pro-democracy publisher Jimmy Lai and raided the headquarters of his independent and popular Apple Daily. On the same day, nine others were arrested, including Lais two sons and pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow. All were accused of posing threats to national security, although the only conceivable threat was to the Chinese Communist Partys plans to take away Hong Kong residents rights.

More insidiously, the sanctions represent Beijings latest efforts to rewrite the reality of the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests. One can never be certain of what Chinese President Xi Jinping thinks, but by all indications he sees the protests as a profound threat because they show what people really believe when given the freedom to say so.

The Chinese Communist Party likes to present itself as governing with the consent of the people. It claims the Chinese on the mainland welcome its rule despite the brutal repression, the silencing of dissent and the absence of real elections.

Hong Kong gives the lie to that pretense. It shows that when given the opportunity to express themselves, the people want freedom, the rule of law, human rights and democracy, like people everywhere. They have expressed that desire by periodically taking to the streets in enormous numbers. And they showed it in November when pro-democracy candidates won local elections overwhelmingly. That electoral showing seems to be why Lams government has disqualified pro-democracy candidates for Hong Kongs Legislative Council and, in any event, postponed those elections for a year.

Story continues

What better way to try to neutralize the power of Hong Kongs example than by pretending that the citys pro-democracy movement is the result of nefarious foreign influences? That is apparently why Lai was accused of collusion with foreign forces, as if this leading Hong Kong businessman who has devoted his life to the pro-democracy cause would need foreign guidance. Chow faced similar accusations even though she has spent a third of her life seeking democracy for Hong Kong, starting when she was 15.

That is also why Beijing imposed sanctions on me and the others for supposedly having behaved badly toward Hong Kong. I received a taste of this scapegoating when Beijing barred me from entering the semiautonomous Chinese territory in January to release Human Rights Watchs annual World Report, in which my introductory essay spotlighted Beijings assault on human rights. The Chinese government contended then that Human Rights Watch was responsible for political unrest in Hong Kong, as if we have the capacity to mobilize 2 million Hong Kong people to take to the streets.

Aside from condescendingly painting the people of Hong Kong as having no agency on their own, the thought is laughable to anyone who has met Hong Kongs brave pro-democracy activists or seen the vast pro-democracy protests on the city's streets. But Beijings intended audience isnt informed observers. Its the rest of the people across China.

Beijing has apparently calculated that one of the best ways to prevent Hong Kongs democracy movement from spreading to the mainland and jeopardizing the Communist Partys rule is to make it seem foreign. Given the mainlands highly censored media environment, Beijing seems to hope that any snippets of news that people in China might nonetheless receive about Hong Kong  or any ideas about rights  can be countered by the foreign-influence explanation.

Xi Jinping likes to present himself as a strongman with boundless strength and confidence. But a dictatorship built on such lies is brittle. So, in a sense, I welcome Beijings sanctions, not only because I am proud to stand behind Hong Kongs pro-democracy activists, but also because the sanctions demonstrate how powerful their message is.

Kenneth Roth is executive director of Human Rights Watch. @KenRoth
Former Garsen MP Danson Mungatana and his co-accused Collins Paul Waweru were Wednesday charged with conspiracy to defraud a businesswoman of Sh1 million.

Appearing before Chief Magistrate Abdul Lorot at the Kibera Law Courts, the pair denied charges of forgery of documents and obtaining money by false pretence.

The suspects, through their lawyer, had on Tuesday asked the court to drop the charges because they had initiated an out of court settlement with the complainant, Ann Wairimu.

The case can be terminated at any point and the court should be open to alternative dispute resolution, Ngugi, who represents Mungatana, argued.

The lawyer noted that the out-of-court settlement was at its formative stages and the complainant was equally willing to drop the case immediately the money she was defrauded is refunded.

However, the prosecution protested a settlement saying the offence committed was criminal in nature.

The Ministry of Defence is involved as a complainant. Inasmuch as they want to reconcile with the complainants, most of the charges are by the State. This is a matter of public interest, Prosecutor Nancy Kerubo argued.

The court rejected the application to settle the case out of court saying it lacked merit.

They had an agreement but the decision by the prosecution to charge them was arrived at because it met the public interest threshold, Lorot said.

The accused were released on Sh200,000 cash bail each and the pre-trial date set for September 10.
Governments around the world have responded to COVID-19 with more or less harsh (but, of course, never complete) shutdowns of economic and social activity. The costs of these shutdowns have been enormous, obvious and undeniable, while the alleged benefits have been hypothetical and speculative. As experience with the virus accumulates, there is, I think, a growing consensus that the shutdowns have been worthless, or close to worthless.

Dr. Gilbert Berdine, an associate professor of medicine at Texas Tech Universitys Health Sciences Center, assembles some revealing information in the form of this chart, which compares daily COVID deaths per million of population in Sweden, New York, Illinois and Texas. First, a note of caution. I dont know, and I am not sure whether anyone knows, whether different countries (or even states) count COVID deaths in the same way. If American states follow CDC guidance, a COVID death does not mean that COVID was the cause of death. It means that a person 1) died, and 2) had COVID. Thus, gunshot victims have been counted as COVID deaths. Do European countries follow this extremely misleading practice, and do states follow it uniformly? I dont know. With that caveat, here is the chart. Click to enlarge:

Dr. Berdine, writing for the Mises Institute, explains:

Sweden (blue dots) has served as a control group to compare policies intended to decrease deaths from covid-19. Sweden has been unfairly criticized for its policy despite having an outcome more favorable than places with authoritarian lockdown policies. Sweden did not close its schools. Other than stopping gatherings of more than fifty people, the Swedish government left decisions of closing businesses, using masks, and social distancing to the Swedish people.

Hardly anyone has been wearing masks in the Scandinavian countries, according to news reports.

Mortality attributed to covid-19 hit a peak value of 11.38 deaths per day per million population on April 8, 2020.  For all practical purposes, the covid-19 epidemic is over in Sweden. Almost certainly herd immunity has been achieved in Sweden irrespective of any antibody test results.  Whether covid-19 will reappear this next fall or winter remains to be seen.

Sweden has been abused internationally, much as South Dakota has been abused in the U.S., but the outcome in Sweden has been good, and in South Dakota, excellent. How about the American states shown in the chart?

New York (brown dots) has been a catastrophe. On March 20, 2020, a full lockdown was implemented. Nonessential businesses were ordered to close. Workers in nonessential businesses were ordered to work only from home. Pharmacies, grocery stores, liquor stores, and wine stores were deemed to be essential and allowed to remain open. Restaurants and bars could only deliver to homes. In addition to the lockdown, nursing homes were ordered on March 25, 2020, to accept patients positive for the covid-19 virus in transfer from hospitals.  By April 7, 2020, within three weeks of the nursing home order, a daily mortality of over fifty deaths per day per million population had been reached. This daily mortality rate was almost five times the peak rate observed in Sweden, where no lockdown was implemented.

***

The New York data clearly show that interactions among young and healthy people have a much different risk than interactions between the young and elderly and interactions among the elderly. By facilitating the transmission of the virus from hospitals to nursing homes, the rate of spread within the elderly population was maximized, and any possible benefit from lockdown of the young and healthy population was rendered moot.  The decline of deaths from the peak levels in New York, with its harsh lockdown, has followed roughly the same time course as what has been observed in Sweden without any lockdown. It is unclear whether the lockdown interfered with herd immunity or not. This will not be known until after the economy and schools are completely reopened for at least a month.

Next, Illinois: A flattened curve led to more deaths.

Illinois also implemented a harsh lockdown on March 20, 2020. There was no nursing home order as in New York. The daily mortality rate increased more slowly than it did in New York and Sweden, reaching a peak of over fifteen deaths per day per million population on May 17, 2020. The daily mortality has declined more slowly than it did in New York and Sweden, and it remains significantly higher than the rates in those places. The most likely explanation for the Illinois data is that the lockdown did indeed slow the rate of transmission among the young and healthy but also allowed a longer time for transmission from young people to elderly people. The lockdown appears to have made more deaths from covid-19 in Illinois than would have occurred without it. Almost certainly herd immunity has not been achieved and will not be achieved until the schools and economy are reopened.

Finally, Texas:

Texas (gold dots) had very few deaths following a less harsh lockdown than was implemented in New York and Illinois. Nonessential businesses were closed on March 31.  Texas appeared to be a success story, with a much lower mortality, and the state began a phased reopening of the economy on May 1, 2020. By late June, however, cases of covid-19 were increasing and the daily mortality rate was creeping up. The general reopening was paused, and some relaxations of measures were rescinded on June 26, 2020. The Texas daily mortality rate hit a peak of over ten deaths per day per million population on July 31, 2020. The Texas mortality peak is almost bad as the peak rate seen in Sweden, but Texas still has a largely closed economy. Texans are debating whether schools should be reopened or not. Sweden does not have to worry about its schools, because it never closed its schools. Texas will eventually have to reopen its schools and economy. It would appear that covid-19 deaths were deferred rather than prevented by the lockdown. Although the overall covid-19 mortality is lower in Texas (293 deaths per million population) than in Sweden (570), the current daily mortality in Texas is much higher than in Sweden, so covid-19 mortality in Texas may catch up to Sweden over the next 3060 days. Furthermore, the situation in Texas will likely get worse when the schools and economy are reopened, as they eventually must be.

What is the conclusion?

The data suggest that lockdowns have not prevented any deaths from covid-19. At best, lockdowns have deferred death for a short time, but they cannot possibly be continued for the long term. It seems likely that one will not have to even compare economic deprivation with loss of life, as the final death toll following authoritarian lockdowns will most likely exceed the deaths from letting people choose how to manage their own risk. After taking the unprecedented economic depression into account, history will likely judge these lockdowns to be the greatest policy error of this generation.

That is what I think, too.

Via PJ Media.
Some of the work to repair pipes in Flint remains unfinished. Last week, Mayor Sheldon Neeley announced that the multiyear project to replace lead service lines was in its final phase, with fewer than 2,500 Flint homes awaiting line replacement. The project, financed in an $87 million settlement with the state of Michigan, was originally promised to be completed by January 2020. It was paused again this spring because of the coronavirus pandemic and restarted in June.
LOBAMBA  The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) learnt with outrage yesterday that it cost the taxpayer E102 000 to repaint a car, just because it was not in the colour which a former minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs preferred.

The vehicle, a BMW X5 registered GSD 000 JU, had been allocated to Edgar Hillary after he had assumed office. This was revealed by the General Transport Manager (GTM) at the Central Transport Administration (CTA) Washington Khumalo. The issue of the repainting of the brand new vehicle had been brought to the fore by the Auditor General, Timothy Matsebula, in his Audit Compliance Report, which was being debated by the PAC yesterday. The ministry responsible was that of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, which was represented by its controlling officer or Principal Secretary, Lorraine Hlophe.

Charged

In explaining why government was charged such a high price, Khumalo informed the PAC that initially, two BMW X5s were purchased by the ministry, one which was for the Attorney General, Sifiso Khumalo, and the other to be used by the former minister. The GTM said the original colours of the vehicles were metallic silver grey. The GTM alleged that the ex-minister said he was not comfortable with the colour of the vehicle, particularly since it was not black like the other vehicles which had been allocated to the other Cabinet ministers and therefore, asked if he too could be furnished with a metallic black one.

I informed the minister that upon inquiring, we were informed that the vehicle could take a year before it was delivered, alleged the GTM. He said, however, the minister was adamant that he wanted the vehicle in a similar colour to that of his colleagues, which was why the decision was taken to have it repainted. He said the attorney general though was comfortable with the metallic silver grey vehicle, which was why his was not repainted. The above information irked the PAC in particular its Chairperson, Matsanjeni North MP Phila Buthelezi, who asked if it was provided for in Finance Circular No.2 of 2013 that the vehicles should be one particular colour, in particular black.
Key Companies Covered in eGRC Market Research Report Are Bwise, Dell Technologies, Inc., EMC CORPORATION, IBM Corporation, MetricStream, Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Oracle Corporation, SAP SE, Thomson Reuters, Wolters Kluwer N.V.

Pune, Aug. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global eGRC market is projected to reach USD 57.57 Billion by 2026, thereby exhibiting a CAGR of 13.2% during the forecast period. However, the report states that the global market was valued at USD 21.72 Billion in 2018. The report further provides an in-depth examination of the ongoing and latest trends with a focus on the business environment worldwide.

Nowadays, several organizations around the world are adopting automated and digital solutions at a rapid rate. It is further increasing the risk of data theft in those organizations. To battle the challenges of third-party exposure, cybersecurity threats, reputation risk, and regulatory change, the adoption of eGRC will aid in the global enterprise governance, risk & compliance (eGRC) market growth during the forecast period.





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According to a published report by Fortune Business Insights, titled, eGRC Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Component (Software, Services), By Deployment (On-Premises, Cloud), By Organization Size (SMEs, Large Enterprises), By End-User (BFSI, Healthcare, Government, Energy & Utilities, Manufacturing, Retail & Consumer Goods, Telecom & IT and Others) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026,

The emergence of COVID-19 has brought the world to a standstill. We understand that this health crisis has brought an unprecedented impact on businesses across industries. However, this too shall pass. Rising support from governments and several companies can help in the fight against this highly contagious disease. There are some industries that are struggling and some are thriving. Overall, almost every sector is anticipated to be impacted by the pandemic.

Story continues

We are taking continuous efforts to help your business sustain and grow during COVID-19 pandemics. Based on our experience and expertise, we will offer you an impact analysis of coronavirus outbreak across industries to help you prepare for the future.





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Rising Government Investment and Initiatives to Develop eGRC to Favor Growth in Asia Pacific

The global enterprise governance, risk & compliance (eGRC) market is geographically divided into Latin America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, Europe, and North America. Out of these regions, North America and Europe are in the dominant positions in the global eGRC market. The growth is attributed to the increasing cybersecurity threats in North America due to a rise in the dependency on digital tools. Moreover, in Europe, numerous enterprises are relying more on cloud-based business models which is likely to increase the market growth in the coming years. Also, rising implementation of latest technologies, such as cloud-based solutions, big data, connected devices for workplace integration, BYOD, social networking platforms, and other similar systems tend to bring about security threats. Even then, enterprises deploy them due to their performance-optimizing features and expensive nature.

Ability to Analyze and Reduce Organizational Risks to Boost Growth of Software Segment

In terms of component, the global enterprise governance, risk & compliance (eGRC) market is grouped into software and services. Amongst these, the software sub-segment is anticipated to generate a high global enterprise governance, risk & compliance (eGRC) market revenue during the forthcoming years. It will occur due to the urgent requirement for streamlined and automated GRC programs across the world. A rise in the need for analyzing regulatory policies, obligations, and requirements will also impact growth positively. Additionally, eGRC software has the capability of receiving actionable insights and analyzing them to decrease the risks with the help of business intelligence tools, machine learning technology, and analytics tools.





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Fortune Business Insights predicts that Asia Pacific will exhibit significantly high CAGR in the coming years due to the ongoing developments in emerging nations, namely, China, Japan, and India. The governments of these nations are investing huge amount in the research and development activities of big data and artificial intelligence. Moreover, the adoption of cloud-based solutions has rapidly increased in this region.

IBM and Thomson Reuters Focus on Strategic Partnership for Developing a Combination of AI and Data

IBM, a multinational information technology company, based in the U.S., announced its partnership with Thomson Reuters, a Canadian multinational media conglomerate, headquartered in Canada in May 2019. The strategic collaboration would aid the banks in addressing the increasing regulatory requirements through a robust combination of real-time regulatory insights and artificial intelligence (AI). The developed solution is called RegTech and it would be delivered from IBM cloud.

Key Companies Profiled in eGRC Market Are:

Bwise

Dell Technologies, Inc.

EMC CORPORATION

IBM Corporation

MetricStream, Inc.

Microsoft Corporation

Oracle Corporation

SAP SE

Thomson Reuters

Wolters Kluwer N.V.





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Detailed Table of Content

Introduction Definition, By Segment Research Approach Sources

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities Emerging Trends

Key Insights Macro and Micro Economic Indicators Consolidated SWOT Analysis of Key Players

Global eGRC Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2015-2026 Key Findings / Summary Market Analysis, Insights, and Forecast  By Component Software Services Market Analysis, Insights, and Forecast  By Deployment Model Cloud-based On premise Market Analysis, Insights, and Forecast  By Organization Size Large Enterprise Small & Medium Business Enterprise Market Analysis, Insights, and Forecast  By Vertical BFSI Healthcare Government Energy & Utilities Manufacturing Retail & Consumer Goods Telecom & IT Others (Transportation & Logistics, Construction, etc.) Market Analysis, Insights, and Forecast  By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa Latin America



TOC Continued.





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In the early hours of the day, the Ahafo Regional NPP launched its campaign team to face the December general elections. The New Patriotic Party Regional Executives in Ahafo, Constituency Executives and other proponents of the party were part of the launching.

The unflagging National Youth Organizer for the New Patriotic Party, Lawyer Henry Nana Boakye popularly known in the political ambience as Nana B stated emphatically that, their major opponent for the 2020 Elections, NDC has no good policy for the youth of this Country. He charged the youth to reminisce the kind of anxiety they went through during former President Mahama's regime.

Under NDC regime, Graduates unemployment skyrocketed under the eight years of NDC but the timely intervention of President Akufo-Addo led government the youth of Ghana have seen, feel, touch, and witnessed a massive improvement in their lives under NPP.

The implementation of Nations Builders Corps (NABCO) has really reduced the burden of the youth who were in a total pool of palpitation under NDC era.

The massive recruitment of the youth at the Local Government sector, recruitment of nurses and midwives who were neglected by former president Mahama is highly appreciated.

Nana B called on all the Youth in the Ahafo Region and Ghana in General to campaign vigorously to make the agenda four more for Nana a reality.

He advised them that,NDC has no single policy which favours the youth but their only strategy is to come to power and cancel the restoration of the Teacher Training Allowances, Nursing Training Allowances, Free Senior High School, NABCO etc.

He motivated the youth to take the NPP 2020 campaign as their personal property and spread the good news of NPP to every tom, dick, and harry.

Lawyer Henry Nana Boakye used the opportunity as a voluminous conduit and advised the youth to desist from all forms of Political vituperation and vendetta.

He assured the media that, NPP shall campaign on issues, not insults because President Akufo-Addo has a lot of achievements to campaign about.

He assured the Ahafo Regional Minister, Hon. Evans Opoku Bobie (MP) and the entire campaign team of his readiness to support Ahafo to win all the six Parliamentary seats for NPP.
An Australian woman has revealed how she created a rustic side table by combining two budget buys from Kmart and IKEA.

Marina, from Adelaide, was after a 'slim side table' as she only had a limited amount of space in her living room, but devised the perfect creative solution.

Using the $19.99 Gladom tray table from IKEA and the $18 embossed wooden serving board from Kmart, she made the perfect side table.

'I just have the board resting on the top so that I can still use it as a tray, but you could also secure it with a screw from underneath,' she said and posted a photo to a popular Facebook group.

An Australian woman has revealed how she created a rustic side table by combining two unlikely items together from Kmart and IKEA

Marina, from Adelaide, South Australia, was after a 'slim side table' as she only had a limited amount of space in her living room, but devised the perfect creative solution

Marina said the easy $38 DIY was 'surprisingly sturdy' even though she didn't attach the serving board to the tray table.

The side table matched her living room decor perfectly and suited the other timber furniture and floorboards.

The Kmart serving tray is only available in one size and material, while the IKEA tray table is available in four colours including black, blue green and white.

Using the $19.99 Gladom tray table from IKEA (left) and the $18 embossed wooden serving board from Kmart (right), she made the perfect side table

The side table matched her living room decor perfectly and suited the other timber furniture and floorboards

Other social media users part of the online group were amazed at Marina's clever idea and praised her online.

'What a great idea!! Looks very cool!' one person said.

'I have been wanting something just like this,' another added.

Last month another Australian sparked a new practical decor trend after creating an 'instant coffee table' using a cheap Kmart product (pictured)

Chloe, from Queensland, posted images to the Kmart Home Decor and Hacks Facebook group where she revealed she used a $10 wooden serving board with iron legs on the armrest of her couch

Last month another Australian sparked a new practical decor trend after creating an 'instant coffee table' using a cheap Kmart product.

She used a $10 wooden serving board with iron legs on the armrest of her couch (pictured)

Chloe, from Queensland, posted images to the Kmart Home Decor and Hacks Facebook group where she revealed she used a $10 wooden serving board with iron legs on the armrest of her couch.

Others swiftly caught on to the 'clever' idea and bought the product to use for themselves.

'Although I have a coffee table, I wanted something I could sit my coffee on without having to get up all the time, especially on these cold mornings,' she said.

'$10 serving board from Kmart, re-drill the base to fit the arm of your couch and presto! A sturdy and stylish coffee holder.'

The serving board works well as a miniature coffee table due to the iron legs that keep it in place.
The ex-wife of a Russian billionaire awarded a 340m super yacht by a British divorce court has seen her plans to seize the vessel finally scuppered in the latest court ruling.

A judge in Dubai has ruled that Farkhad Akhmedov is the rightful owner of the yacht Luna after a bitter multi million pound legal battle with his former wife Tatiana Akhmedova.

The latest ruling is a major set back for the divorcee as it means the yacht can remain berthed in Dubai and not be at risk of ever being seized.

Any further orders issued by the High Court in London will be rebuffed in Dubai where the legal process has been exhausted.

A judge in Dubai has ruled that Farkhad Akhmedov is the rightful owner of the 340m super yacht Luna

The latest ruling in Dubai comes amid a bitter multi-million pound legal battle with Mr Akhmedov's former wife Tatiana Akhmedova (pictured)

The legal wrangle will now switch back to the High Court in London where Ms Akhmedova was awarded 453m by a divorce court in 2016.

Last week the 47-year-old's chances of getting her hands on any the money faded after it was revealed the yacht and other assets belonging to her ex were now in a series of trust set up in Liechtenstein.

Oil and gas tycoon Akhmedov moved his fortune to the secretive tax haven after the High Court in London awarded his ex-wife half of his estimated 1bn fortune.

Representatives of the trustees told the High Court last week that it is against the law of their country to transfer the assets to Mrs Akhmedova and they are not bound by any treaty with the UK to carry out court orders.

Ms Akhmedova as so far only pocketed about 5m in the long running legal dispute which has seen her freeze the assets of her son Temur, 26, after making him part of her legal action.

She is being backed by a financial litigation firm Burford Capital in her attempt to get the 453m - the biggest divorce settlement ever made by the UK court.

Her ex-husband refused to accept the ruling as he said they had previously divorced in 2004 while living in Moscow and his lawyers claimed the ruling was not valid as they were not married in the UK.

The Russian billionaire Farkhad Akhmedov moved his fortune to a secretive tax haven after the High Court in London awarded his ex-wife half of his fortune

His refusal to hand over half of his fortune sparked a legal battle across the globe and has so far cost tens of millions.

Ms Akhmedova, who lives in a 25m Surrey mansion, won a court order for the spectacular yacht to be seized when it docked in Dubai in 2018.

She had planned to sell the 115m long floating palace which has a crew of 50, nine decks and the largest swimming pool on any super-yacht while her ex-husband said he would rather sink the vessel that hand it over to her.

Lawyers for the couple have tussled over its ownership for more than a year with Dubai's Court of Cassation this week publishing a seven-page ruling in favour of Mr Akhmedov.

Despite the setback on Luna, lawyers for Mrs Akhmedova are likely to continue their legal battle as a judge has insisted that her husband should pay the money she is owed.

Mrs Justice Gwyneth Knowles ruled in the Family Division of the High Court that the yacht and a 100m art collection should be transferred top Ms Akhmedova from the Liechtenstein trusts

Trustees had asked Mrs Justice Knowles to release them from their 'obligations to execute transfers'.

They said orders telling them to transfer the yacht and art collection would 'require' them to act in 'violation of the law of Liechtenstein'.

Mrs Justice Knowles has refused their application.

Temur (pictured) is the son of warring Russians Tatiana Akhmedov and her former husband Farkhad

A spokesman for Mr Akhmedov said: 'Luna rightly remains in the ownership of a family trust which exists for the benefit of all Mr Akhmedov's dependents, not merely for that of one ex-wife for whom he has always provided generously and well in excess of the ruling of the Russian court.

'Mr Akhmedov continues to believe that Burford Capital has no proper place in matrimonial proceedings in Dubai or in England  or anywhere else in the world.'

Carlo Fedrigoli, a lawyer acting for Farkhad Akhmedov, said: 'Tatiana and her backers have now  at very great expense - come to the end of the road in their attempts to enforce the matrimonial judgment in the UAE and remove Luna from her rightful ownership.

Their multiple and misguided attempts to bypass UAE public policy, family and Sharia law and enforce this matrimonial and maintenance judgement in Dubai have now been rejected for good.'

A spokesman for Ms Akhmedova was contacted for comment.
Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani has blamed current Mayor Bill de Blasio for rising violent crime, claiming 'pro-criminal, anti-police policies' are sending the city out of control.

'The last time this city was like this, the last time the city had riots and crime at this level we had a Democratic mayor,' Giuliani told Fox News on Thursday morning, apparently referring to David Dinkins, the Democratic mayor from 1990 to 1993.

Violent crime in New York skyrocketed in the 1970s and 80s, and began to taper off during Dinkins' term, but saw its steepest declines under Giuliani, who served as mayor from 1994 to 2001.

Giuliani, who as mayor was a proponent of controversial policing tactics such as crackdowns on minor quality-of-life offenses and stop-and-frisk, now says that losing ground on crime in the city could have long-lasting effects.

Rudy Giuliani has blamed New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio for rising violent crime in the city, claiming 'pro-criminal, anti-police policies' are sending the city out of control

De Blasio has said that violent crime is 'painful' and 'horrible' and said that the NYPD is 'engaging the community more deeply' to try to stem the tide

'All during the period of time, we had 30 years of massive crime,' he said of the height of New York's crime wave. 'So, if this sets in, it's not going to end.'

'We need a change in leadership,' he added.

'These things are happening in these cities because the Democrats have pro-criminal, anti-police policies,' Giuliani said.

'The reason it's happening is not Donald Trump. Donald Trump didn't release 8,000 people from prison. De Blasio did,' Giuliani said.

'Everybody knows this guy is corrupt as h*** and nobody does anything about it,' Giuliani said of de Blasio. 'He's also disliked by everyone. Not even Democrats like him. And to blame it on the president is so totally ridiculous. I think people laugh at him.'

A spokesperson for de Blasio did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com on Wednesday.

Police investigate a shooting at the Ravenswood Houses housing complex in Astoria on Tuesday. Four men were injured by the unknown gunman, who fled in a blue Jeep

Giuliani, President Trump's personal attorney, also blamed New York's Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, for the rising crime, citing a recent bail reform law that eliminated cash bail for many categories of crime.

'I mean, there are children living next to sexual predators as a result of these two idiots,' he said, an apparent references to sex offenders found listed as living in hotels used to house homeless individuals during the coronavirus crisis.

Since late May, violent crime has spike in the city, raising fears among long-time residents that the 'bad old days' could return.

Last month, shooting incidents across the city were up 177 percent compared to last year, according to NYPD data. Murders were up 59 percent for the month, burglaries rose 31 percent, and auto thefts increased 53 percent.

For the month, shootings were at levels not seen in the city since the mid-90s.

In one three-hour period of bloodshed across the city on Tuesday, seven people were shot, including one fatally, in three separate shootings in Queens, Manhattan and Brooklyn, police said.

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

In one three-hour period of bloodshed across the city on Tuesday, seven people were shot, including one fatally, and a woman was found stabbed to death

Meanwhile in Washington Heights, a 20-year-old woman was found stabbed to death around 4.30pm that day.

Police unions have blamed bail reform, police budget cuts, and anti-cop sentiment for the rise in violent crime. Last week, the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, the city's largest police union, took the unprecedented step of endorsing Trump's re-election campaign.

Cuomo has blamed police themselves for the rising crime, saying 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.

De Blasio said on Monday that violent crime is 'painful' and 'horrible' and said that the NYPD is 'engaging the community more deeply' to try to stem the tide.

Earlier this year, de Blasio moved to cut $1 billion from the NYPD's $6 billion annual budget.
Several large, urban school boards in Ontario still plan to offer secondary students just 25 to 30 per cent of in-person, in-class time this fall  far less than the 50 per cent Education Minister Stephen Lecce said he expects.

The Peel District School Board says it will go ahead with its plan that has teens in school for about 33 per cent of the time, and learning online the rest.

The York Region District School Board, in Lecces riding, and the Durham District School Board also have models of about 25 to 30 per cent of in-class time.

However, the Toronto, Halton and Ottawa boards recently scrambled at the last minute to revamp their secondary schedules and move closer to 40 per cent, believing they needed to boost in-person learning.

The Toronto public boards plan now has 38 per cent of in-person time for teens, trustees were told at a meeting on Tuesday where they first saw the new timetable.

Tony Pontes, who heads the Council of Ontario Directors of Education, said large boards had to factor in a number of conditions, including limiting teens direct and indirect contacts to 100, shrinking class sizes to 15 to allow for physical distancing  which would require probably doubling the teaching staff, and that educators cover three of four courses in a semestered system  combined with a lack of extra space.

You put all of those restrictions together and its virtually impossible to get students into school classrooms half the time, he said. The government has done a terrific job of managing COVID  but the number one priority of kids returning to school has to be safety, and we think everyone has to be realistic that we cannot replicate a regular school (year).

He said boards have worked hard to provide a rich learning environment during the ongoing pandemic.

Kids are getting terrific face-to face, and virtual face-to-face (opportunities) and are able to connect socially with friends, which is important. Boards are doing everything possible to make sure all the processes are in place so kids feel safe, teachers feel safe, and parents feel confident that everyone is safe.

But York Region parent Shameela Shakeel said her boards plan is not good enough. Its not a good idea for kids to be at school in the morning (every other day) and have back-to-back-to-back online (classes) in the afternoon, said the mother of four, who is part of an active Facebook group where members are upset over the issue.

Thats a lot of online learning, and kids are already struggling, she added. I dont understand any of this. Again, (Lecce) is saying 50 per cent but at the same time, he has approved it.

In a statement, Lecce spokesperson Caitlin Clark said the government made clear we wanted to maximize in-class learning for kids. At the direction of the minister, the ministry has spoken to all boards whose secondary timetables do not meet 50 per cent of in-school opportunities for all students, including in-class and synchronous instruction in a study hall model. This was a stated expectation of the ministry for multiple weeks.

She said we have consistently pushed boards to increase in-class learning, and they have considerably improved as a result. However, school boards would have been able to deliver timetables with considerably more in-school opportunities if only unions had provided flexibility to school boards during a global pandemic and economic recession. It is unfortunate that unions have made no adaptations to date.

When unveiling its back to school plans, the province divided the 72 boards into two groups, saying those in 24 designated regions had to offer a combination of in-school and online learning, with class sizes of 15. Non-designated boards were to open as usual.

The designated boards are opting for one or two courses at a time for teens, with varying timetables that amount to about 300 minutes of learning each day.

We have been in contact with the Ministry of Education and have not heard that our secondary plans need to be revised, said Peel board spokesperson Carla Pereira.

Over four days, the Durham public board has scheduled teens for 300 minutes in person, and 900 minutes online. Of the 1,200 minutes, 900 are synchronous  or involve live contact with a teacher either in person or via live video conferencing.

On days teens are in class in the Hamilton board, they have 150 minutes in person, and three afternoon periods of 50 minutes of online learning, with 40 minutes dedicated to teacher-directed instruction and 10 minutes of independent study.

On the alternate days they arent required to be at school, they have independent learning in the morning, and the same afternoon schedule.
A man jailed over a knife attack on a father and son in a farming dispute nearly 20 years ago has failed in a bid to have his convictions quashed.

Shaun McCaughey, 46, was attempting to challenge a verdict that he wounded Brian and Barry McSorley in Co Fermanagh back in April 2001.

The Court of Appeal heard at one stage he disputed forensic results on a knife and claimed the case involved pigs blood which was never tested.

But senior judges rejected his application after ruling that all grounds advanced were "manifestly devoid of merit".

Lord Justice McCloskey said: "Speculation, unsubstantiated assertion and demonstrable inaccuracies are its hallmarks."

In 2003 McCaughey was sentenced to two years in custody following a jury trial at Belfast Crown Court.

According to a report at the time the offences occurred at the height of the foot and mouth crisis.

The trial heard the McSorleys had been moving cows to a field beside McCaughey's farm on the Bolies Road near Fivemiletown when they were attacked.

McCaughey continued to dispute the prosecution case and commenced steps towards an appeal in 2009.

He went on to claim his convictions were unsafe and, in 2014, submitted a document which also contended that the father and son's clothes had no punctures in them.

Lord Justice McCloskey described other, undisclosed allegations as "purely fanciful, speculative and manifestly irrelevant".

He confirmed, however, that the alleged offending related to "contentious issues about the use of adjoining agricultural lands in circumstances of previous conflict involving the same people".

Dismissing McCaughey's application, the judge said the case had been dogged by inordinate delays of up to 11 years.

He also concluded: "It is inconceivable that this appeal would succeed in the event of time being extended."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 14:22:02|Editor: huaxia

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Members of Sri Lanka's new parliament attend their inaugural session in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Aug. 20, 2020. Sri Lanka's new parliament convened for its inaugural session on Thursday following a Parliamentary Election which saw the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) winning a landslide victory by securing 145 seats in the 225 member parliament. (Photo by Ajith Perera/Xinhua)

COLOMBO, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's new parliament convened for its inaugural session on Thursday following a Parliamentary Election which saw the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) winning a landslide victory by securing 145 seats in the 225 member parliament.

Legislators gathered in parliament on Thursday morning after which SLPP MP Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena was unanimously elected as the new speaker of parliament after his name was proposed by Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and seconded by opposition MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara.

Soon after he was appointed, Abeywardena was congratulated by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and all other legislators.

SLPP MP Johnston Fernando was appointed as the chief government whip while Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena was appointed as Leader of the House.

Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is expected to visit the inaugural session of parliament on Thursday afternoon to address the new House.

Sri Lanka peacefully held its Parliamentary Election on Aug. 5 amidst strict health guidelines due to a COVID-19 pandemic which has infected over 2,800 people in the island country.

The election led to the ruling SLPP winning 145 seats. The opposition United People's Front led by former Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa, as the runner-up, obtained 54 seats.
On the occasion of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's 76th birth anniversary, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday paid tribute to his father at Veer Bhumi here.

New Delhi [India], August 20 (ANI): On the occasion of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhis 76th birth anniversary, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday paid tribute to his father at Veer Bhumi here.



He offered rose petals and prayers at his fathers memorial. In a tweet earlier today, Rahul said, Rajiv Gandhi was a man with a tremendous vision, far ahead of his times. But above all else, he was a compassionate and loving human being.



He further said that he was incredibly lucky and proud to have the former Prime Minister as his father. I am incredibly lucky and proud to have him as my father. We miss him today and every day, read the tweet. To mark the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier today paid tributes to the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 76th birth anniversary.



Also read: Galwan clash: India, China to hold WMCC meeting today

Also read: Facebook row: Nishikant Dubey moves breach of privilege notice against Shashi Tharoor, Rahul Gandhi

On his birth anniversary, tributes to former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi Ji, read PM Modis tweet.



Rajiv Gandhi took over the charge of the Congress in 1984 following the assassination of his mother and then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He became Indias youngest Prime Minister at the age of 40.



Born on August 20 in 1944, he was assassinated by a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide bomber during an election rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu on May 21, 1991. (ANI)

Also read: India records more than 2 million Covid-19 recoveries, case count crosses 27 lakh mark
Ray has a passion for this city and knows the stories that shape it, Dominick Stasi, WGN-TV news director, said in a news release Thursday. He is an accomplished and talented journalist and will be a great addition to our team.
BENGALURU, India, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today launched Infosys Cobalt - a set of services, solutions, and platforms that acts as a force multiplier for cloud-powered enterprise transformation. Infosys Cobalt helps businesses redesign the enterprise, from the core, and also build new cloud-first capabilities to create seamless experiences in public, private and hybrid cloud, across PaaS, SaaS, and IaaS landscapes. With Infosys Cobalt's community leverage, enterprises can rapidly launch solutions and create business models to meet changing market needs while complying with the most stringent global, regional and industry regulatory and security standards.

Expand innovation with the cloud community and its 14,000 cloud assets

Enterprises can leverage the full potential of the cloud ecosystem and Infosys Cobalt's thriving community of business and technology innovators to drive increased business value. Working grassroots up and extending seamlessly to partner with clients, the cloud community provides access to a catalog of over 14,000 assets to help businesses leverage the potential of the cloud ecosystem. An example is the Infosys payer B2B platform creating a disruptive marketplace for employers and providers to come together to manage the health of employees. The Infosys Cobalt cloud community, over time, will expand to include start-ups, partners, academia, gig workers and citizen cloud developers.

Speed-to-market with over 200 industry cloud solution blueprints and Infosys Cobalt Labs

With Infosys Cobalt, enterprises can have ready access to a growing portfolio of over 200 cloud-first solution blueprints. Infosys Enterprise Service Management Cafe, for example, is an AI-powered solution built over the ServiceNow cloud platform, that delivers ready-to-launch applications. With Infosys Cobalt Labs, at Infosys global digital centers, businesses can also co-create new solutions and accelerate speed to market. More broadly, Infosys Cobalt Labs works with the Infosys partner ecosystem to pre-configure partnerships to prototype industry solutions as well.

Secure the globally dispersed enterprise

With Infosys Cobalt, regulatory and security compliance, along with technical and financial governance comes baked into every solution delivered. Enterprises count on Infosys Cobalt to securely access cloud capabilities and innovations from various partners with the assurance of the Infosys single-point accountability for secure outcomes.

Salil Parekh, CEO, Infosys said, "Our clients are building cloud capabilities to gain business advantage in increasingly competitive markets. The future of enterprise cloud strategy will be shaped by three key factors  speed-to-market, innovation at scale, and security of the ecosystem  this is the foundational construct of Infosys Cobalt. With Infosys Cobalt, we will set up a proven and optimal foundation for cloud-led transformation that will accelerate the next phase of growth and market leadership for businesses."

Infosys continues to invest in a growing set of services, platforms and solutions. The company's acquisitions of Fluido and Simplus  both leading Salesforce partners and recognized leaders in cloud consulting and implementation  expand its enterprise cloud capabilities. Infosys Cobalt also taps into a rich ecosystem of startups and over 30 leading providers of public and private cloud infrastructure, SaaS, PaaS, applications and enterprise security.

Ravi Kumar, President, Infosys said, "Our clients operate in hybrid and multi-cloud environments. They want to modernize and innovate at scale. They are looking to leverage this heterogeneous landscape, make the most of SaaS and PaaS capabilities, and power on-demand business solutions. They need a strong pool of talent with specialist skillsets to solve these challenges. Infosys Cobalt, together with its rich ecosystem of partners and vibrant cloud community, is securely amplifying enterprise cloud ecosystems, enabling businesses to find faster, more innovative ways to respond to changing markets and drive business resilience."

For more details on Infosys Cobalt, visit us at infy.com/infosyscobalt. For a deep dive by experts on the evolution of cloud and Infosys Cobalt, watch these videos on InfyTV: https://www.infosys.com/newsroom/infytv/enterprise-evolution-guide/infosys-cobalt.html

"We are on a continuous journey to improve responsiveness to our customers. Migrating to a best-in-class cloud data warehouse built using Snowflake and Azure has transformed the way we unlock data capabilities to accelerate customer relevance. Infosys is partnering with us to deliver the cloud data and analytics blueprint by seamlessly bringing together their partner ecosystem, providing technical expertise and solution assets to execute on our strategy. This is unleashing significant value for us through actionable insights delivered securely," said Eric Nelson, Kraft Heinz, CIO North America.

Priya Almelkar, Head of Digital Leadership at GLOBALFOUNDRIES said, "As a part of GLOBALFOUNDRIES' digital transformation, we've partnered with Infosys to help us establish a hybrid cloud foundation that will enable application and data migration to the cloud. We look forward to working with Infosys to differentiate our business solutions and deliver value to our clients worldwide."

"The current times have emphasized, like never before, the need for digital acceleration using technologies like cloud," said Lance Y. Gokongwei, President and CEO, JG Summit Holdings, Inc. "As one of the largest and most diversified Filipino conglomerates, our vision is to be the leading digital business in Philippines. We are leveraging Infosys Cobalt to set up a secure and scalable hybrid cloud environment and transform our business using SAP S/4HANA. We are also building a modern digital workplace for our workforce to be able to collaborate meaningfully and deliver their productive best. This will accelerate our responsiveness to evolving business needs and offer better services to our end customers."

"Cloud provides a platform for businesses to move at speed," said Peter Bendor-Samuel, Founder & CEO, Everest Group. "We are seeing rapid adoption of hybrid and multi-cloud environments. However, this transformation journey can be demanding as enterprises are flooded with a bewildering set of new options and associated complexities. In many cases this new operating model is proving difficult to master and is slow to yield the competitive advantages it promises. Infosys Cobalt is an effective antidote to these complexities and challenges and allows clients to focus on capturing the business results at speed that the move to cloud promised."

"The cloud is the backbone of today's enterprise technology," said Todd Lavieri, Vice Chairman of ISG and President, ISG Americas and Asia Pacific. "Among our clients, we are seeing accelerating cloud adoption, using a hybrid, multi-cloud approach across public and private clouds, to design, launch, and scale new business models. Solutions, such as Infosys Cobalt, help organizations rapidly develop the business solutions they need today while also leveraging a vibrant cloud community to continue to innovate for the future. Such capabilities are a critical part of growing business resilience through digital transformation."

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
This conversation has been happening for six months, protest organizer Kabir Joshi told CBC News. People who are just holding on by the skin of their teeth continue existing in this city. ...This pandemic was going to push them out.

Recent developments in the rental segment might offer a glimmer of hope for beleaguered tenants, however.

Across the City of Toronto, condo rental listings grew by 45% annually during the second quarter, according to an analysis by Zoocasa.

At the neighbourhood level, rental listings grew in 26 of 35 neighbourhoods, while the rate of condos leased increased in just three neighbourhoods, two of which noted a glut of supply due to occupancy beginning in new buildings in each area, Zoocasa said.

The average condo rental price fell by 6% to reach $2,357, with around 33% of neighbourhoods seeing price declines.
BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - Following the release of the European Central Bank's accounts of the monetary policy meeting of the governing council held on July 15 and 16 at 7.30 am ET Thursday, the euro changed little against its major rivals. The euro was trading at 125.41 against the yen, 1.1836 against the greenback, 0.9016 against the pound and 1.0786 against the franc around 7:33 am ET. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Chitosan market players outside China are likely to consider production expansions during the pandemic, to meet the growing demand for chitosan source diversification from end user industries.

DUBAI, UAE / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2020 / The chitosan market is expected to rise 2.4x between 2020 and 2030 with a very promising 9.5% CAGR. The coronavirus outbreak is likely to marginally impact the chitosan industry, as production activities in multiple countries have been limited by lockdown regulations. However, potential biomedical application of chitosan polymers as viral inhibitors will generate key growth opportunities during the crisis.

"Chitosan is known as good source of digestive fiber and is finding use increasingly in nutraceutical supplements intended for weight loss. The material is also playing critical roles in water treatment applications owing to its superior absorption capabilities, boosting demand through the forecast period," says the FMI study.

Request a report sample to gain comprehensive market insights at https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-11443

Chitosan Market - Leading Takeaways

Food processing and packaging applications are gaining ground owing to chitosan's anti-microbial characteristics.

Crabs as a source of chitosan are gaining popularity owing to higher yield and biodiversity initiatives.

Asia Pacific is a key market for chitosan production and consumptions, owing to demand in food processing and biomedical research in Japan and South Korea.

Chitosan Market - Growth Factors

Strong demand for chitosan in developing countries for water treatment and agriculture applications support growth.

Niche applications for biomedical and cosmetic product development generate lucrative growth opportunities.

Chitosan Market - Constraints

Poor moisture stability of chitosan limits applications in biomedical and cosmetics development.

High costs of chitosan production on terms of quality will hinder adoption and application.

Expected Impact on Market by Coronavirus Outbreak

Lockdown restrictions imposed by governments around the world has reduced the production of chitosan. Disruptions in supply chains of raw materials limit short term growth prospects. On the other hand, agriculture and waste water treatment applications will sustain demand during this period. Also, research into the use of chitosan polymers as a viral inhibitor in boosts demand for the material in biomedical applications for the covid-19 virus.

Explore data on the chitosan market with 67 figures, 12 tables and the ToC. You will also find market segmentation on https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-11443

Competition Landscape

Some of the key players participating in the chitosan market are Kytosan LLC, Qingdao Yunzhou Biochemistry Co., Koyo World Co. Ltd., Panvo Organics Pvt. Ltd., Nano3 Bio, Advanced Bioplymers AS, Primex EHF, Meron Biopolymers, Golden-Shell Pharmaceutical Co., and Biophrame Technologies.

Leading players in the chitosan market have been increasingly investing in research to widen the scope of applications, particularly in the field of biomedicine to generate lucrative revenue sources.

For instance, Regenerative Technologies Inc. has initiated clinical studies on the use of chitosan biopolymers for rotator cuff tear repair applications. On a similar note, Kitozyme has unveiled a chitosan gel for osteoarthritis treatment. Monsanto is funding CRISPR gene editing research with chitosan for fruit and vegetable production.

We Offer tailor-made Solutions to fit Your Requirements, Request Customization@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-11443

More on the Report

FMI's provides in-depth insights on the chitosan market. The market is segmented in terms of application (water treatment, pharmaceutical & biochemical, food & beverage, cosmetics, and others), across five regions (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa).

Explore Wide-ranging Coverage of FMI's Chemicals and Materials Landscape

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Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh speaks at the opening ceremony of the symposium (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi  Vietnam has always been an active and responsible member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) over the past 25 years since it joined the regional bloc, as well as made significant contributions to its development, especially in crucial moments, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh stressed on August 19.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a virtual international symposium in Hanoi, he further said Vietnam has contributed to the creation of ASEAN milestones such as realising the goals of establishing a bloc with all the 10 Southeast Asian countries as members and the ASEAN Community, building ASEAN Charter, and promoting the central role and international position of ASEAN.

Over the past 25 years, Vietnam has witnessed important changes of the association from humble beginning to the most successful regional cooperation organisation for peace, stability and prosperity in the region, as well as an important partner of global powers, he added.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan said Vietnam's entry in ASEAN has eventually brought win-win benefits. For ASEAN, it was the first step to bring together all the 10 Southeast Asian nations, paving the way to eliminate suspicions and confrontation, and turn to peace and cooperation. For Vietnam, this was the first step to integrate into the world, he added.

Participants at the event (Photo: VNA)

Participants held that over the past 25 years, Vietnam has played a key role in ASEAN with many milestones, notably the realisation of a bloc involving 10 Southeast Asian countries, the creation of the cooperation and dialogue culture in the region, and the expansion of participation of external partners in building trust and preventing conflicts via ASEAN-led mechanisms.

Vietnam has also joined building, reinforcing and developing codes of conducts and regulations on behaviours of counries when engaging in regional cooperation, they stress, adding that there is still a large room for ASEAN to develop in the context of diverse challenges such as geostrategic fluctuations, competition between powers, development gaps among member countries, territorial disputes, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Delegates suggested ASEAN promoting cohesion to have appropriate approach and flexible behaviour to address these challenges as well as maintain its central role in the region and build a peaceful, stable and prosperous Southeast Asia.

The development orientations of ASEAN also attracted the attention of participants at the fuction. Many emphasised that ASEAN should focus on such issues as recovering socio-economic life in face of the COVID-19 pandemic, and adapting to changes in production, trade and investment.

Founded in 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Process equipment manufacturer on Thursday said it has acquired a 54 per cent stake in its parent firm Pfaudler Group for a consideration of around USD 27.4 million.

GMM, which supplies process equipment to pharmaceutical and chemical industries, has signed definitive agreements to acquire a majority stake in Pfaudler Group from the private equity firm Deutsche Beteiligungs AG Fund VI (DBAG) for the stake.

"As per the agreements, GMM, directly and through its subsidiary Mavag AG, and the Patel family will acquire 54 per cent and 26 per cent equity stake, respectively, in the Pfaudler Group," the company said in a statement.

The private equity firm will continue to retain remaining 20 per cent stake.

"The consideration for the 54 per cent stake acquired by GMM, which is expected to be around USD 27.4 million (nearly Rs 205 crore), will be funded by the company through a mix of internal accruals and debt," it said.

Pursuant to the acquisition, GMM shall become the ultimate holding company with the entire business of Pfaudler being consolidated into the company.

Subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions and regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to close in November this year, the company said.

"Over the past five years, we have shown an unparalleled track record of growth at GMM and it is now time to take our company to the next level through this acquisition," GMM Managing Director Tarak Patel said.

Patel also said this transaction is unique from the stand point that it combines the strengths of three very different partners promoter family, professional management and private equity which we believe will help extract synergies and create value for all stakeholders.

"GMM will become the world leader in corrosion-resistance technologies, systems and services with 12 manufacturing facilities across eight countries and four continents and employing around 1,500 people," the company said.

Pfaudler CEO Thomas Kehl said, "Over the past few years, Pfaudler has spent significant capex (capital expenditure) in modernising its manufacturing facilities across the globe."



He said this transaction will bring synergies across multiple levels, the combined business will now be in a position to leverage GMM's highly successful lean-production model and low cost to improve both revenue and profitability.

In addition, Pfaudler's order book remains strong on the back of robust demand driven by the chemical and pharmaceutical industries.

"Together with the GMM management and DBAG, who we have worked closely with over the past five years, we expect to complete a seamless integration and hit the ground running," Kehl added.

Alvarez & Marsal and Trilegal acted as the exclusive financial and legal advisors respectively to GMMPfaudler.

(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 economic fallout from Australia's bitter diplomatic row with China may prove even more damaging to the economy than the COVID-19 pandemic, experts warn.

Data by RaboBank shows that one third of all Australian food and agriculture exports are scooped up by China.

But as the Morrison Government continues to push back against Beijing in the face of rising political tensions, there are now fears Australia has become far too reliant on the authoritarian regime's buying power.

At the same time, a looming food shortage crisis in China may force Communist Party officials back to the negotiating table.

'Discord could have a far greater impact on Australian security and prosperity than COVID-19,' public policy expert John Edwards told The Australian following China's threat this week to block up to $6billion of Australian wine imports this week.

'Even without the worsening of Australia-China relations, the larger trade and technology altercation between America and China threatens the global openness of trade and investment upon which Australia's prosperity depends.'

Diplomatic relations between Australia and China have deteriorated significantly during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Pictured: Xi Jinping (left) and Scott Morrison (right)

Beef exports to China are worth $2.8billion representing 25 per cent of all Australian overseas sales

Customers buy meat at a market in Shenyang, in China's northeastern Liaoning province on August 10, 2020

Edwards said Australia meshed with Chinas economy 'a long time ago' and is now locked into its choice.

'It chose its region, including its largest member, China, as the economic community to which it inescapably belongs.

'It also long ago chose the United States as a defence ally to support Australia's territorial independence and freedom of action.'

The balancing act between appeasing China for economic prosperity and securing it's defensive interests by supporting the US has become increasingly difficult in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

The graph shows that China scoops up one third of all Australian food and agriculture exports

Seafood exports to China are worth $770million representing 58 per cent of all Australian overseas sales

Wool exports to China are worth $1.9billion representing 77 per cent of all Australian overseas sales

That's because 32 percent - or $12.6billion - of Australia's $40billion in food and agricultural exports are gobbled up by China.

But Australia's cosy long-standing economic relationship with China has recently been put at risk after Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for an independent international injury into the origins of the coronavirus.

Communist Party officials were outraged by the request and quickly moved to punish Canberra with economic sanctions.

Chinese Ambassador Cheng Jingye in April threatened that China consumers may boycott Australian red meat and wine over the issue.

This week it appears the totalitarian nation followed through on their intimidation tactics by launching an inquiry into allegations that Australia was dumping wine in China, the practice of selling wine below the cost of production.

The move follows huge tariffs on Australian barley and the banning of four of Australia's largest red meat producers in May.

Wine exports to China are worth $1.1billion representing 42 per cent of all Australian overseas sales

Customers buy vegetables at a market in Shenyang, in China's northeastern Liaoning province on August 10, 2020

Prime Minister Scott Morrison denied the allegations and said there was no evidence to support them.

Value of Australian agriculture exports to China: Beef: $2.8billion or 25 per cent Wool: $1.9billion or 77 per cent Lamb: $1.2billion or 30 per cent Fruit and nuts: $1billion or 40 per cent Seafood: $770million or 58 per cent Dairy: $661million or 26 percent Cotton: $611million or 64 per cent Wheat: $568million or 15 percent Barley: $550million or 54 per cent Hides and skins: $420million or 85 per cent Oilseeds: $374million or 16 per cent Live animals: $356million or 16 per cent Sugar: $46million or 3 per cent Vegetables: $39million or 3 per cent Total: $12.6billion or 32 percent Source: RaboBank Advertisement

Although Beijing is taking a tough stance against Canberra, a recent policy announcement by Xi Jinping revealed that China may actually need Australian food imports more than it's letting on.

The 'Clean Your Plate' campaign is urging Chinese citizens to not waste food.

One of the main initiatives of the program is to mandate that groups of restaurant-goers must order one less dish than the number of diners.

So if there are five people out having a meal together, they can only order four dishes.

Although Chinese state media claims the utterly bizarre communist policy is about reducing food waste and not about an impending food shortage facing the country, international experts disagree.

Before the COVID-19 outbreak began in Wuhan, another pandemic was already having a disastrous effect on China.

African swine flu wreaked havoc on Chinese pork stocks and reduced the number of pigs in the country by about 40 percent.

To make matters worse, the Yangtze River has been overwhelmed by flooding which has severely impacted China rice fields.

'After the outbreak of COVID-19, China's exports have declined significantly, and this has reduced foreign reserves mainly in the form of the United States dollar,' He-ling Shi, an associate professor in economics at Monash University, told the ABC.

'Because of the shortage of foreign reserves, the Chinese Government now finds it quite difficult to purchase a sufficient amount of food to feed domestic customers.

'The price (for pork), as far as I know, has increased by about 70 per cent in the last three months. That implies there is quite a severe shortage of pork in the Chinese market.'

China's Yangtze River has been overwhelmed by flooding in recent weeks. Pictured: An aerial view of houses submerged by flood water on August 17, 2020, in Pengshan County, Sichuan Province

The floods have severely impacted China's rice fields and their now concerns about the authoritarian nation's food security
A student walks through the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on August 18, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The school halted in-person classes and reverted back to online courses after a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases over the past week.

When the coronavirus pandemic hit the United States in March, schools were relatively quick to send students home. On March 9th, The University of Washington was the first to move to remote learning, creating a domino effect of schools across the country and causing headaches for some students. Schools such as Harvard gave students only a handful of days to evacuate campus. But while the coronavirus has continued to surge in communities across the country, many schools and politicians have steadily insisted students should return for the new academic year. Now, as the fall semester begins, some schools that have returned students to campus are experiencing troubling spikes in cases of coronavirus. The University of North Carolina, University of Notre Dame and Michigan State University are among the schools that have been forced to permanently or temporarily return to remote learning. Here's what these cases can teach us about what steps can be taken to stem the spread of the virus on college campuses:

Students walk past Wilson Library on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Jonathan Drake | Reuters

Consistent messaging is key

On August 17, UNC announced that the school's Chapel Hill campus would be canceling in-person undergraduate classes and shifting them entirely to remote learning  just one week after 5,800 students moved into the dorms and thousands more moved back to Chapel Hill to take in-person classes. At the time of the decision, school representatives said the rate of students positive for Covid-19 had jumped from 2.8% to 13.6% over the week students were on campus. "As of this morning, we have tested 954 students and have 177 in isolation and 349 in quarantine, both on and off campus," UNC-Chapel Hill's chancellor, Kevin Guskiewicz, and provost, Robert Blouin, said in a statement. At the time, the school indicated it had just four remaining quarantine rooms. According to the university's online coronavirus dashboard, these figures have improved slightly in the short time since the announcement. Just three days later, the student positivity rate is down to 10.6% and the number of available quarantine rooms is up to 26. According to student newspaper The Daily Tar Heel, at least four clusters of infections were traced back to residence halls and a fraternity. The school has enacted community standards in which students are expected to wear masks, socially distance and avoid large groups, but these clusters indicate that such guidelines are not sufficient in stemming the spread. "We do have the expectations that students will maintain their compliance with our community standards whether they're on campus or off campus, particularly in the town of Chapel Hill," said Blouin. "But that is something that has been very difficult for us to enforce unless there is an actual citation, or a complaint, that is made with respect to that student." Doctor and professor Howard P. Forman, who directs Yale's Health Care Management program, admits that it can be difficult for schools to enforce these kinds of community rules, especially when students may be getting mixed messages. "If you grew up in a family that believes that [coronavirus] is a hoax, these community rules may seem like an excessive use of force by your institution and you're going to violate them and you're going to go to those parties. If I'm 19 years old and I want to go out and socialize and somebody says to me, 'it's all a hoax.' Well, I'm going to think it's a hoax and I'm going to go out," he says. "This is the consequence of us having inconsistent messaging at the federal, state, local levels." Coordinated, crystal-clear messaging from schools, state and federal officials could help reduce these flare-ups caused by students breaking rules against large groups, he argues. Dr. Russell Buhr, assistant professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA says there are several additional lessons schools should learn. "First, unsanctioned socialization is going to happen no matter what. You can reduce it by enforcing with severe penalties, but even then it will happen," he says. "Second, we can't let perfect be the enemy of better. Harm reduction is a very well-established technique in public health promotion that could go a long way here. Third, without the appropriate testing and contact tracing, and without wide-scale adoption and availability of things like face coverings and masks, this will be a lot worse."

University of Notre Dame ReDunnLev | Getty Images

Sharing data is vital

On August 18, Notre Dame announced that the school would temporarily shift to remote learning in order to curb a coronavirus outbreak on campus.



According to the university's dashboard of coronavirus statistics, the school has confirmed 222 cases of the virus since August 3 from 1,287 tests  a positivity rate of roughly 17.3%. Forman stresses that these kinds of dashboards that provide the public with up-to-date information are "incredibly important." "First of all, they can help other schools understand what to look out for and to learn from those experiences," he says. "But they also give people a much greater understanding of what the status is at their school and when you have to shut things down completely." Buhr, similarly, stressed the importance of the public data that some schools are providing. "The only way other schools, universities, and even workplaces will know what they should be doing is to have data. From a public health standpoint, we think of every reopening as a kind of experiment, and obtaining feedback on which infection prevention methods are working and which are not really is key to broader reopening," he explains. "We can learn from each other and get closer to some sense of normalcy again faster by doing so." Indeed, colleges do seem to be paying close attention to how other schools are faring. Less than an hour after the University of Notre Dame announcement, Michigan State University said it was pivoting to an online-only fall for undergrads before they arrive on campus, telling students who planned to live in dorms to stay home. In a letter to students, Michigan State president Dr. Samuel Stanley wrote that "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."

A Harvard University graduate wears a mask on campus. Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Money matters
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STAMFORD  The bankrupt Fairway Market has shut down its grocery and beverage stores in the citys South End.

By Thursday morning, shelves had been emptied and exterior signs had been removed from what was the South Ends only supermarket. The establishments at 689-699 Canal St. ended up closing Tuesday, after selling out inventory, according to workers who were helping with the move-out.

A message left Thursday for Fairway was not immediately returned.

It has been difficult for shoppers to keep up with the stores plans: Since filing for bankruptcy in January, Fairway had informed the state Department of Labor several times about the imminent shutdown of its Stamford stores, only to keep them open.

The final date of operation kept changing through the end of the closing process. A city official on Wednesday reported that the stores would not close before Aug. 31, citing Fairways continued need to sell inventory. Stamford Economic Development Director Thomas Madden gave that timeline in an email Wednesday.

On Thursday, Madden said the email contained a typo that gave the wrong impression. It should have said the closing would take place before Aug. 31, he said.

It is unclear who will succeed Fairway, which opened in a then-new building in 2010. The space would appear to be well-suited to another grocer, although other uses might be under consideration.

We are actively engaging with prospective tenants to find a new occupant that will bring similar value to the community and would benefit from our location, Ted Ferrarone, co-president of Building and Land Technology, the propertys landlord, said in a statement Thursday. BLT is also the developer of the mixed-use Harbor Point project, which encompasses the site.

Department of Labor records accompanying the companys most-recent notice, on Aug. 14, indicated that a closing would result in 109 layoffs.

Fairways Stamford employees are represented by the Westport-based United Food & Commercial Workers Union, Local 371, according to Labor Department records.

A message left Thursday for Local 371 was not immediately returned.

Some Harbor Point residents spoke Thursday of their sadness about the stores shuttering.

No one ever like to see people out of work, Theresa Terry Rogers, a Harbor Point resident and owner of Harbor Point Wines & Spirits, said Thursday. God bless the employees of Fairway and their families to all find jobs and future happiness.

pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; twitter: @paulschott
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 09:30:10|Editor: huaxia

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ACCRA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Ghana registered 101 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Sunday, bringing the caseload to 43,094, according to the latest government update.

A total of 167 more patients were discharged from hospital, taking the total number of recoveries to 40,963, the service said.

The West African country recorded eight more deaths from COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 256, while the active cases in the country rose to 1,875.

Ghana has eased some quarantine restrictions, but maintained the closure of its entry points for inbound traffic until Sept. 1. Enditem
A year after close to 80,000 paramilitary personnel were mobilised for Jammu and Kashmir, the government in its biggest withdrawal exercise so far has ordered that 100 companies of paramilitary forces be withdrawn from the state. It is to intimate that the deployment of CAPFs in Jammu and Kashmir has further been reviewed by this ministry. It has been decided to withdraw 100 cos of CAPF with immediate effect from J&K and revert back to their respective locations," an order issued by the Union home ministry said.

Of these companies, 40 are from CRPF and 20 each from SSB, BSF and CISF. Officials said the SSB, CISF and BSF companies that are being withdrawn are deployed in both Kashmir and Jammu regions. "The units that are being withdrawn are deployed both in Jammu and Srinagar. It was felt that the counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist grid is intact in the UT and these additional units that were sent in last year can be de-inducted giving them the much required rest, recuperation and training," a senior CAPF officer told News18.

However, CRPF officials said that all 40 companies being withdrawn from the Central Reserve Police Force are from the Valley. "Compared to the kind of mobilisation that was done in July-August 2019, only 10% troops will now remain in the Valley, a CRPF officer told News18.

Officials said though the final decision of withdrawing troops was that of the MHA, local inputs pointing out reduced number of stone pelting and other law and order incidents were factored in.

As per an MHA report prepared on the eve of the first anniversary of abrogation of special status of Jammu and Kashmir, the overall security situation in the Valley has improved. In the last one year, close to 150 terrorists have been eliminated, including big names like Riyaz Naikoo. The number of local youth joining terror groups also came down by 40% as per MHA data.

The MHA said 188 terror-related incidences were recorded in Kashmir Valley from January 1 till July 15, while in 2020, the number has reduced to 120. The data says 126 terrorists were killed in Kashmir during the same period in 2019 while 136 terrorists were eliminated during the same time period in 2020. In 2019, 51 grenade attacks took place in Kashmir from January 1 till July 15, while in 2020 the number was just 21.

The home ministry had last withdrawn about 82 CAPF companies from Jammu and Kashmir in December. So after the new MHA order, 182 companies of security forces stand withdrawn now from the Kashmir Valley.
A 30-year-old Chinese man has been left in shock after discovering that his liver was full of parasite eggs.

Doctors claimed that the eggs came from blood flukes, which had lived in his body for more than 10 years.

They suspected the parasitic flatworms, which inhabit the human blood vessels, had entered the patient while he was swimming in a contaminated river in his late teens.

Medical scan results show the Chinese man's liver covered by dark patches, which suggested the existence of the worm eggs. Doctors explained his case to Guangdong Television Station

A doctor told the reporter that the patient had likely contracted the worms when he was living in Honghu in central China's Hubei. The area was an epidemic zone for schistosomiasis

The man, known by his surname He, came to the shocking discovery during medical checkups at The Third People's Hospital in Shenzhen, southern China's Guangdong Province.

His doctors explained his case to Guangdong Television Station on Tuesday.

According to the report, Mr He grew up in Honghu in the province of Hubei, and the area was an epidemic zone for a disease called schistosomiasis.

Schistosomiasis is an infection caused by blood flukes which live in freshwater in tropical regions of Africa, South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Asia.

A person can become infected when his or her skin comes in contact with polluted water sources.

The man's condition was discovered by The Third People's Hospital in Shenzhen (pictured)

Blood flukes can live and reproduce inside infected humans for decades. The above file photo shows liver schistosomiasis, which is caused by the tropical flatworms, under a microscope

Mr He told the station that he often swam in local rivers when he was young.

What is schistosomiasis? Schistosomiasis is an infection caused by a burrowing parasitic worm that lives in freshwater in tropical regions of Africa, South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Asia. It affects around 600 million people worldwide and kills 300,000 a year. Although the infection usually does not cause symptoms at first, it can gradually damage organs such as the bladder, kidneys and liver. Within a few weeks of infection, people may suffer fever, rashes, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. In the long term, schistosomiasis can cause organs to become permanently damaged, leading to seizures if the brain is affected, coughing up blood if the lungs are damaged and anaemia if the digestive system was targeted. Advertisement

It is reported that Mr He's parents and one of his cousins all have the disease.

The man himself suffers from chronic Hepatitis B, a viral infection that attacks a person's liver. But he had never been diagnosed with schistosomiasis before the latest examination.

Medical scan results shared by the hospital showed Mr He's liver covered by dark patches, which suggested the existence of the worm eggs.

Medics said Mr He would need immediate medical attention because his chronic Hepatitis B could make his condition worse.

It is understood that the man is under hospital treatment after being diagnosed with schistosomiasis on August 14.

Blood flukes can live and reproduce inside infected humans for decades, according to a study from the United States.

Dr Phillip Newmark and his team at the University of Illinois discovered the flukes had stem cells which allowed them to keep regenerating their body parts.

'We started with the big question: How does a parasite survive in a host for decades?' said Dr Newmark, a professor of cell and developmental biology.

'That implies that it has ways of repairing and maintaining its tissues.

'This study gives us insight into the really interesting biology of these parasites, and it may also open up new doors for making their life cycle a lot shorter.'
Hundreds of students from the Mattahunt Elementary School play at a park in Boston, Mass., on June 12, 2017. (Paul Marotta/Getty Images for Nickelodeon)

Massachusetts Mandates Flu Vaccine for Students, Few Exemptions

WASHINGTONMassachusetts public health officials are now requiring all children to get a flu vaccine if theyre attending child care, preschool, kindergarten, K-12, and colleges and universities.

The rule, announced Aug. 19, applies to children aged 6 months and older.

The new vaccine requirement is an important step to reduce flu-related illness and the overall impact of respiratory illness during the COVID-19 pandemic, the public health department stated.

The flu vaccine can reduce the risk of serious illness by 40 percent to 60 percent during seasons when the vaccine is well-matched to most of the circulating viruses, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says.

During years when the flu vaccine is not well-matched to circulating influenza viruses, it is possible that little or no benefit from flu vaccination may be observed, the agency states on its website.

Homeschooled students are exempt from the new rule, as are higher education students who are completely off-campus and engaged in remote learning only. Elementary and secondary students in online-only classes arent exempt.

Some exemptions for medical or religious reasons are provided. In the case of a medical exemption, a doctor must document why an individual cant medically receive the vaccine. Religious exemptions come from the parent/guardian and must state in writing that a vaccine conflicts with a sincerely held religious belief, the health department guidelines state.

The average rate of medical and religious exemptions for vaccines among kindergartners in Massachusetts currently sits at 1.3 percent, according to public health data. The rate of students that dont meet school requirements is about 2.8 percent for the state, but varies from county to county.

Areas with higher exemption rates may be more susceptible to disease outbreaks because these students are not fully protected, the public health department warns on its website.

Students are expected to have had the flu injection by Dec. 31, in addition to the existing vaccine requirements to attend school in the state. The new requirement is annual.

Depending on the childs age and flu vaccination history, a second dose of flu vaccine in the same season may be recommended, the public health department states.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders wave to students from a classroom door at The New England Center for Children in Southborough, Mass., on July 13, 2020. (Nancy Lane/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Dr. Larry Madoff, medical director for the state Department of Public Healths Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, said in a statement, It is more important now than ever to get a flu vaccine because flu symptoms are very similar to those of COVID-19 and preventing the flu will save lives and preserve healthcare resources.

Meanwhile, the CDC said it receives about 30,000 vaccine injury reports each year. The reporting system is voluntary and studies estimate it captures a small percentage of all adverse effects in most cases.

The majority of reports are for mild side effects, but the CDC says 10 percent to 15 percent of the adverse reactions include permanent disability, hospitalization, life-threatening illness, or death.

Massachusetts also is adding a requirement for students to get the meningococcal vaccine in the 20202021 school year.

Mandatory Vaccines

All states already have some sort of mandatory vaccination schedule for children to attend school, as well as varying degrees of exemption accessibility. California, New York, Missouri, West Virginia, and Maine only provide exemptions on medical grounds.

Many states also have the authority to mandate a vaccine on their populations during a public health emergency or outbreak of a communicable disease. Generally, that power is held by the governor or state health officer.

In 2019, in New York, during a measles outbreak, government officials overrode the religious exemption provision and applied forced vaccinations in specific ZIP codes on all children over 6 months of age and adults who didnt have a medical exemption or vaccine record on file.

The measles outbreak was in the thousands of cases, [but] it was certainly not throughout the whole stateno child died, a handful were hospitalized, Mary Holland told The Epoch Times in a previous interview. There was not a single debate in the legislatureit was simply repealed without a single hearing.

Holland is the general counsel for Childrens Health Defense, an organization founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that has fought against the elimination of exemptions for mandatory vaccinations for children, especially those who are medically fragile.

The Supreme Court decision used as precedent in most mandatory vaccination cases today is the 1905 Jacobson v. Massachusetts case. In that case, the Supreme Court upheld a smallpox vaccination mandate in Massachusetts and allowed a $5 fine to be levied on the defendant, who refused to take the vaccine.

At the same time, the court cautioned that such mandates could devolve into the abuse of police powers, but upheld the decision because vaccination decisions were made through state legislatures, which allowed citizens a democratic process.

However, since 1905, layers of federal agencies have removed citizens from the process and many states simply adopt the recommendations of the CDC or National Institutes of Health without holding hearings, she said.

Pedestrians at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., on Aug. 30, 2018. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images)

Holland said she will continue to fight mandatory vaccination orders in court, including a potential one for COVID-19.

It has never been lawful to engage in forced vaccination, or to engage in de facto social exclusion and internal exile of people who arent vaccinated, depriving them of the ability to go to school, or to go to workplaces, or to get on a bus, or to get on an airplane. To me, that is a gross violation of the U.S. Constitution, she said.

I think if people get full information, and its voluntary, and it honors the bedrock requirement of ethical medicine of prior free and informed consent, I have no objection.  I have zero objection to thatthat is an individuals right to make that choice.
Tom Perez and the DNC have got some nerve to sit Stacey Abams at the head of the kids table, burying one of the most impressive, accomplished and recognizable Black women in America at the end of a so-called keynote video that used local leaders to highlight the partys supposed diversity without giving those leaders any real time to actually present themselves, and that aired at 9 PM on Tuesday  an hour before the networks start airing the convention.

Sure, the party wants to highlight the ones to watch in the years ahead. Many of the local leaders many Americans saw  met would be too strong a word for the 5 to 15 second cuts from pol to pol, like a nerdier version of the celebrity Imagine video  for the first time tonight will hopefully go on to truly lead the Democratic party and push it forward on progressive issues that should be the foundation of our democratic and Democratic future.

But leaving Abrams two minutes at the end of this montage wasnt a way to showcase a star in the party but a way to put her back in her placeto make plain that shes not part of the partys leadership now. Even as the 77-year-old Joe Biden offers himself as a bridge to a more diverse future, the sidelining of Abrams shows the partys need for a real reckoning, not just on policy but also on how they prioritize Black female candidates, especially those in the south. From the Georgia governors race to the South Carolina senate primary all the way through the presidential primary, Democratic leadership is still clearly uncomfortable putting their full support behind non-white and non-male candidates.

What Happened to Stacey Abrams Will Happen to Joe Biden

No disrespect to her Democratic colleagues  mostly city council members and state legislators  but Stacey Abrams is by far the most accomplished of the individuals with whom she shared screen time in a format that seemed to be more about showing pictures of the supposed diversity thats coming soon to the national stage rather than actually giving any of the people in those pictures the time to truly introduce themselves. Good luck saying anything more than who you are and maybe a couple of platitudes in less than two minutes.

Story continues

Its notable that one of the other politicians in the video is a former Abrams intern. Rep. Sam Park of Georgia. He is indeed a rising star, but the visual of the two of them on the same virtual stage at this point in their careers is not just inaccurate but insulting  or at least it should be if we are being honest about the history of sexism and anti-Black racism in this country and even within the Democratic party.

Are Democrats really saying that the woman who founded Fair Fight and Fair Count has the same political future as first and second term city council members? That the woman who has raised millions upon millions of dollars for candidates across the country should be mentioned in the same breath as someone who has been in office for a shorter period of time than most people spend in college? That the woman who built a voting-rights infrastructure across 20 states and almost single handedly contextualized the severity of the Census crisis should be sat at the kids table?

Again, no disrespect to the newcomers, but the placement of Abrams  not very long after she was considered for, and made the case for herself, as Bidens running mate  feels like a direct message to ambitious and accomplished Black women everywhere who state what they want: Play by our rules and wait your turn. Do not create your own paths for success, organization, coalition building, fundraising, or much of anything else.

For far too long the Democratic Party has half-heartedly asked Black candidates what they can do for them. But just as James Baldwin warned, we need a party that will ask, What can we do with you? Abrams did not wait for the DNC to assist her in her nationwide pursuit of democracy and equity, and now she is being punished for her success. One need only to rewatch her State of the Union rebuttal last year to know she has mastered the art of the awkward speech into the void.

Yes, the Democratic Party deserves a victory lap about the selection of Kamala Harris as the vice presidential nominee. Similarly, the party took victory laps after the election and reelection of Barack Obama, and lets look at where that got usa pendulum swing to perhaps the most anti-Black president of the last century.

The DNC has never dealt with the structural inequities that exist within the organization and the party, which leaves us with a montage of a few rising stars and one whose light they are trying to dim.

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Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua has faulted ODM leader Raila Odinga for sitting on the fence by being in the opposition but acting as if he is part of the government.

Speaking in an interview with NTV, Karua challenged the former prime minister to pick a side.

ODM is having their cake and eating it former Prime Minister articulates government policy better than Uhuru. Be in government or opposition. Dont have your leg in each, she said.

Adding: The minority party has let down Kenyans because they dont know whether they are in government or the opposition It is okay to have a handshake, but decide whether you are in opposition

Karua also spoke about the govts failure to fully implement sections of the Constitution, saying its because there has been a disconnect between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto.

There was a disconnect from 2013 and it is therefore no surprise that the Jubilee government has been unable to implement the Constitution, she said.

Karua also claimed that the referendum push is not genuine.

These are calls to merely add to the number in the Executive. Thats not what Kenyans are missing top heavy, she said, adding: Let us implement the Constitution extensively first Its like buying a new outfit and before even trying it, you say, I want changes

The former Justice Minister also faulted the State for failing to implement Chapter 12 of the Constitution on Public Finance.

People are still looting and they are not being held to accountWe have devolved corruption to the counties we also need to think, how do we elect leaders, is it based on credentials or handouts and euphoria? she posed.

Karua further accused the government of anarchy for failing to obey various court orders.

The Miguna case is particularly embarassing. How a government can tell its own born citizen that he is not a citizen.Whether you like him or not, he is Kenyan people in government should never use their power to fight its own people

Martha stated that at the age of 62, she is still politically young, but will not be forced to declare which position she will be vying for.
A small business owner fears he will be forced to sack his workers after repeatedly being knocked back for JobKeeper.

Melbourne tradie Peter Coll was told he is ineligible for the government subsidy because he is making more money during the pandemic than he did last year, when he took time off to care for his dying daughter.

He has managed to scrape together enough to pay his employee's wages for the past fortnight, but it could be their last payment.

Tradesman Peter Coll (pictured, right) shut down his roofing business in Melbourne last year to grieve the death of his daughter, Claudia, 18 (pictured left) who lost her battle with cystic fibrosis

Coll's grief was so intense he was forced to temporarily close his Melbourne roofing business in 2019

'If I can't find a way to make JobKeeper work or get access to JobKeeper, then my business is basically going to have to shut completely,' Mr Coll told A Current Affair.

'I'm going to have to sack all of my guys, which is the last thing in the world I want to do.

'At the moment we're in a week to week prospect. I can't give them guarantees that I gave them two weeks ago.'

One of his workers, Jonah, said he would struggle to support his young family if he loses his pay packet.

Mr Coll fears he will have to sack all five of his employees (pictured) at his Melbourne roofing business without getting access to JobKeeper payments

One of those employees is Jonah (pictured) who would struggle to support his young family if he loses his pay packet

'The uncertainty is what gets you because I have a kid and shes only six months,' he said.

'So not knowing if I'm going to have work in the next week is a bit annoying because i need to try and feed her and I have a missus as well and I need to try and look after them as well.'

Mr Coll had been applying for financial aid for weeks, after restrictions were imposed on businesses under Melbourne's stage four restrictions.

But despite coronavirus his total revenue for 2020 has been higher than the previous year.

The grieving father made the tough call to suspend operations shortly before his daughter Claudia, 18, lost her battle with cystic fibrosis in May 2019.

Tradesman Peter Coll (pictured) fears he will be forced to shut down his roofing business in Melbourne after being told he doesn't qualify for JobKeeper

Peter Coll and Claudia Coll take a selfie together before she died from cystic fibrosis in May 2019

Mr Coll pleaded with the government to show him compassion.

'Something really dramatic happened to me that's affected my employees that's not their fault. And I don't think it's very fair,' Mr Coll said.

'I don't want to make any profit through this period. I don't care about profit. It's just about making wages and supporting the guys who work for me.'

Richard Mitry Partner at Mitry Lawyers said the bureaucratic red tape doesn't consider businesses individual circumstances.

'It looks like Peter has fallen through the cracks sadly. He's being penalised by now not being able to receive JobKeeper,' Mr Mitry said.

'The rules are very fixed and they really are very black and white. In fact there is absolutely no discretion for the Tax Commissioner to consider an individual business.'

Peter Coll lost his daughter Claudia in May 2019 after she was struck down by the bacterial infection Burkholderia cepacia

But after repeated pleas it appears the federal government may be making an exemption for the small business owner.

A statement from Treasurer Josh Frydenberg to A Current Affair indicated Mr Coll could access funds through an alternative pathway.

'I am advised the ATO has written to Mr Coll to advise him that he is eligible for JobKeeper under the alternative turnover test. The ATO has been in regular contact with Mr Coll regarding his situation.'

The 18-year-old had undergone a lung transplant to try and help stop the onset of immunodeficiency and pneumonia
Angola, IN (46703)

Today

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 12F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 12F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-21 06:37:09|Editor: huaxia

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BAMAKO, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP), a transitional governing body set up by mutinous Malian soldiers, informed Thursday night that the land and air borders of Mali are to reopen on Friday.

In a short press release signed by its vice-president Colonel Malick Diaw, the CNSP announced the reopening of Mali's land and air borders from zero o'clock this Friday.

The new governing body of Mali said that all security measures have been taken in order to "assure the good circulation of people and their goods."

A few hours after the forced resignation of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on Tuesday, the CNSP made its first public statement. Colonel-Major Ismael Wague, as spokesman for the CNSP, announced a series of measures, including the immediate closure of the country's land and air borders until further notice, and a curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Strongly condemning the overthrowing of Keita's democratically elected government, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) decided Tuesday evening to close all land and air borders, as well as to stop all economical, trade and financial flows and transactions between the ECOWAS member states and Mali, until the effective reinstatement of the constitutional order in Mali. Enditem
TORRINGTON  The Northwest Connecticut Arts Council recently raised $6,250 for the NWCT Artist Relief Fund, which will be donated to artists in financial need, according to a statement.

The funds were divided into 27 micro-grants and distributed to artists and arts professionals within the region of northwest Connecticut.

The relief fund is supported by the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation, the COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund, the Neighbor to Neighbor Fund of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, the Torrington Savings Foundation, and fundraising assistance from the Torrington Collective, according to the statement.

Data collected from the application process shows the diverse set of challenges and needs that arts industry workers are facing due to the pandemic, officials said in the statement. The Arts Council received 51 applications from artists in 13 towns around the region. They represent arts educators, performing artists, musicians, commercial artists, fine artists, and artisans who rely on craft fairs to sell their work. The most alarming findings were that 73 percent of applicants were not receiving unemployment and 31 percent of applicants were housing insecure.

The NWCT Artist Relief Fund full report can be found at artsnwct.org/advocacy

According to the statement, The mission of the Northwest Connecticut Arts Council is to engage the public in building a strong and connected arts and culture community that is integral to the economic development and the collective well-being of the region. The Arts Council board and staff believe that access to arts and culture is a universal human right, meeting both a social and psychological need. The Council supports a vibrant, vital, and necessary component of the local community through promotion and advocacy. The Northwest Connecticut Arts Council is supported in part by the DECD/Connecticut Office of the Arts, Housatonic Heritage, the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation and the Connecticut Community Foundation.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 07:40:39|Editor: huaxia

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OTTAWA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said Wednesday that Canada condemns the coup d'etat in Mali.

"Canada strongly condemns the coup d'etat in Mali, which forced the resignation of democratically elected president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita," Champagne said in a statement.

He called on "the Malian security forces and those responsible for these acts to promptly follow Mali's constitutional order and respect the human rights of all Malians."

"Canada will work closely with the Economic Community of West African States, African Union, and United Nations to help ensure a return to a state of constitutional order and the implementation of the provisions of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali (Algiers Accord) so that Malians can have the peace they deserve," the minister added.

The Malian president, currently detained by mutinous soldiers in the military camp in Kati, a town close to Bamako, announced late Tuesday night his resignation and the dissolution of the National Assembly and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse's government.

The Economic Community of West African States, the African Union, the European Union and the United Nations, along with France, condemned on Tuesday afternoon the arrest of Keita by the mutinous Malian soldiers and demanded restoration of the constitutional order, affirming that they would not accept an unconstitutional power switch.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called for an immediate restoration of constitutional order and rule of law in Mali after the president was arrested. Enditem
Prestigious annual award underlines the International Osteoporosis Foundation's (IOF) mission to increase understanding and awareness of osteoporosis and to promote medical innovation in the field

The 2020 IOF Medal of Achievement was presented today to Dr Basel Masri at the World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis & Musculoskeletal Diseases (WCO-IOF-ESCEO 2020), being held online from August 20-22, 2020.

The IOF Medal of Achievement honours individuals who have significantly advanced the field of osteoporosis through their original and outstanding scientific contributions, and whose work has helped to increase understanding and awareness of osteoporosis. Candidates are nominated by members of IOF's Committee of Scientific Advisors (CSA) and the winner selected by the Chair of the CSA with the approval of the IOF Executive Committee.

In awarding the IOF Medal of Achievement, IOF President Professor Cyrus Cooper stated:

"I am honoured to present this Award to Dr Basel Masri, a respected colleague and dedicated, active member of the International Osteoporosis Foundation since 1998. Dr Masri has made major contributions to the understanding and management of osteoporosis and rheumatic disease in Jordan and throughout the Middle East region. His exemplary dedication to the field is reflected in his role as the founding president of the Jordanian Osteoporosis Society and co-founder of the Pan-Arab Osteoporosis Society. Importantly, he has played a pivotal role in developing the hip fracture registry and FRAX tool for Jordan, among many other achievements."

Dr Masri is currently Director of the Jordan Osteoporosis Center at Jordan Hospital in Amman. After training as a doctor at the University of Oran-Algeria, he completed post-graduate medical studies in France and worked in different French university and regional hospitals. He was Founding President of the Jordanian Osteoporosis Society (JOPS) in 1997 and Co-founder of the Pan-Arab Osteoporosis Society in 1998. He headed the First Jordanian Osteoporosis Record (2005) FiJoNOR and is co-author of the Jordanian Hip Fracture registry (FiJoHip) and Jordanian FRAX. His main areas of research are osteoporosis, clinical bone densitometry, and inflammatory joint diseases. Dr Masri is founding member of the Middle East Rheumatoid Arthritis Consortium (MERAC), which has recommendations for the management of rheumatoid arthritis in the Eastern Mediterranean region and other related papers. He is the Current President of the Jordanian Society of Rheumatology (JSR) and of the Arab League of Associations for Rheumatology (ArLAR). He is member of the Board of the IOF, and is the International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD) chair of the European, Middle Eastern and Africa panel. Dr Masri is member of the Administrative Council of the French Society of Rheumatology (SFR), and was President of the ArLAR Jordan 2020 Congress.

###

About the World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis & Musculoskeletal Diseases (WCO-IOF-ESCEO):

Held jointly by IOF and ESCEO, the WCO-IOF-ESCEO annual congress is the world's largest forum for the presentation of clinical research and new advances in the prevention and management of musculoskeletal disorders, including sarcopenia and frailty. WCO-IOF-ESCEO 2020 is held as a virtual Congress ( http://virtual.wco-iof-esceo.org/). The 2021 WCO-IOF-ESCO is planned in London, UK from April 8-11, 2021. For complete information visit http://www.wco-iof-esceo.org #OsteoCongress

About IOF:

The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) is the world's largest nongovernmental organization dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and related musculoskeletal diseases. IOF members, including committees of scientific researchers as well as 260 patient, medical and research societies, work together to make fracture prevention and healthy mobility a worldwide heath care priority. https://www.osteoporosis.foundation @iofbonehealth
Palantir, the secretive data analysis company, is moving its headquarters to Denver from Palo Alto, according to media reports and the company's own website.

Why it matters: Palantir, which is expected to go public later this year, is among the tech companies considering leaving the Bay Area.

CEO Alex Karp first said a move was in the offing in an interview for Axios on HBO, blaming the "increasing intolerance and monoculture" of Silicon Valley.
As the United States prepares to initiate snapback sanctions against Iran, a mechanism within the nuclear deal that Washington withdrew from, Iranian officials have been dismissing the attempts.

Irans Ambassador to the United Nations Majid Takht-Ravanchi tweeted today, The US shouldnt try its luck. Itll only be humiliated again. Ravanchis reference to the United States being "humiliated again speaks to last week when the Donald Trump administration attempted to extend the arms embargo on Iran through the United Nations Security Council and failed with a vote of 2-11.

The snapback sanctions are part of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which the United States formally withdrew from in 2018 and then reapplied sanctions against Iran. In response, Iran restarted parts of its nuclear program in phases. The snapback sanctions part of the JCPOA allows any of the countries from the five permanent members of the UNSC who signed the deal to initiate sanctions on Iran if they claim Iran was in violation of the nuclear deal.

Given that the United States is no longer a part of the JCPOA, it will attempt to use UNSC Resolution 2231, which endorsed the JCPOA, to bring back sanctions. China and Russia have opposed US attempts to extend the arms embargo and bring back UN sanctions. Russia has previously floated the idea of a conference to resolve the issues. There have also been rumors that European countries are seeking to mediate a resolution to this impending crisis.

On the United States' inability to extend the arms embargo on Iran, which expired as part of the JCPOA, Takht-Ravanchi said, It shows that they are isolated and even their close partners did not cooperate with them.

President Hassan Rouhani also spoke today about US efforts to bring back sanctions on Iran using the mechanisms of the deal. Theyre not in it to be able to use it, Rouhani said. Within [Resolution] 2231, it says everywhere the members of the JCPOA or one member of the JCPOA, where in reality the US stated clearly that they exited the JCPOA and attacked the JCPOA and said it was the worst deal ever.

The United States reapplied sanctions on Iran after it exited that have had a devastating economic impact on the country, particularly limiting the sale of its oil. The Trump administration hopes that a maximum pressure policy will force the country to renegotiate another nuclear deal. Iran has, however, been insistent that they will not renegotiate another deal. We know that in this particular situation, the enemy will not reach its goals, but the people are experiencing problems and it has caused them pain, Rouhani said. We have to stand against the enemy because this era will end.

Rouhani added, If anyone thinks that this tyrant government in the White House or these oppressive sanctions are forever, they are mistaken on both counts. According to Rouhani, the Trump administration has realized they have made a mistake but they chose a path in which they realized that turning back is very difficult.
Former counterterrorism chief Russ Travers has warned of right-wing domestic terrorist attacks if Donald Trump loses the election.

Speaking to Yahoo Travers, the former head of the National Counterterrorism Center, said: 'It certainly wouldnt surprise me, particularly if the administration loses.'

Travers was fired by Donald Trump in March. The president has repeatedly blasted mail-in voting, raising the prospect of redoing the election in the case it is 'rigged' as recently as Tuesday.

He added: 'The political rhetoric is such that you could very easily see some backlash.'

Former counterterrorism chief Russ Travers, pictured, has warned of right-wing domestic terrorist attacks if Donald Trump loses the election

Travers was fired by Donald Trump, pictured, in March. The president has repeatedly blasted mail-in voting, raising the prospect of redoing the election in the case it is 'rigged'

The Department of Homeland Security analysis said Monday: '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.

'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.'

Travers took over as acting director of the NCTC in August 2019 and has spent decades in counterterrorism and national security.

In March of this year it was announced The Trump administration would be replacing the acting chief of the National Counterterrorism Center. Travers told colleagues that he had been fired.

Trump inveighed against mail-in voting at a White House event on women's suffrage Tuesday  where he said the practice would be such a 'disaster' it might force a redo of the November election.

'Itll end up being a rigged election or they will never come out with an outcome. Theyll have to do it again and nobody wants that and I dont want that,' Trump said.

'You cant take millions of ballots send them haphazardly all over the country or all over a state and expect to come out properly,' he said. He expressed the view that absentee voting 'is great,' then added: 'But universal [mail voting] is going to be a disaster the likes of which our country has never seen.'

Far-right groups, including some militia, hold a rally in the village of Stone Mountain, Georgia

In an interview published Tuesday Travers said 'the left-wing effort that has conducted violent activities...is not even in the same ballpark as the extreme right wing'

'There probably is more domestic terrorism out there than we realize', Travers added, noting it took a 'few days' before the shooting Walmart store in El Paso, Texas by Patrick Crusius, pictured, 'before that one gravitated from crime to domestic terrorism'

In an interview published Tuesday Travers said 'the left-wing effort that has conducted violent activities...is not even in the same ballpark as the extreme right wing'.

'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.

'There probably is more domestic terrorism out there than we realize', Travers added, noting it took a 'few days' before the shooting Walmart store in El Paso, Texas by Patrick Crusius 'before that one gravitated from crime to domestic terrorism'.

The NCTC analyzes emerging terror threats to the United States, maintains a database of known and suspected terrorists and produces warnings and alerts on developing issues.

Members of the Antifa group at the counter protests to pro-Trump Freedom Rally at Terry Schrunk plaza in downtown Portland on June 4

In November last year Travers said the United States is viewed around the world as an exporter of white supremacist ideology.

Travers said that this ideology is part of a global movement which is characterized by racially motivated violent extremism (RMVE) which is being helped by the ease with which information is disseminated on social media and internet message boards.

Travers said then that in order to combat the threat of white supremacist terrorism, governments need to gain control of the narrative by appropriately dealing with violent white supremacist activity while not being perceived as painting with too broad a brush and impinging on legitimate right-wing political activity and free speech.
By Joanna Plucinska

WARSAW (Reuters) - Belarusian activist Veronika Tsepkalo plans to meet opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in Lithuania to discuss their next steps towards ousting President Alexander Lukashenko, but she indicated she would not return to her country soon.

Tsepkalo also said it could take "some time" for the movement against Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus for 26 years and has faced mass protests since an election widely viewed as rigged, to succeed in its aims.

Tsepkalo fled Belarus for neighbouring Poland after the Aug. 9 election upon receiving threats from the government that she would be arrested.

She was reunited with her husband, Valery Tsepkalo, a former ambassador to Washington, who was barred from running in the election and fled to Russia with their two sons before the vote.

Tsikhanouskaya, a 37-year-old former English teacher, took the place of her own activist husband on the ballot after he was jailed. She has fled to neighbouring Lithuania.

Speaking to Reuters in Warsaw on Wednesday, Tsepkalo said: "The only legitimate president is Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Our main target, our main aim is just to make Lukashenko go."

Tsepkalo said she was looking forward to talks with Tsikhanouskaya in the coming days.

"I would like to sit down with Sviatlana and discuss the next steps. Discuss what we are going to do in the near future because we understand the movement which we started, it will be continued for some time."

But she indicated she would not herself return to Belarus soon as she feared being arrested.

"I wish I could go back to Belarus as soon as possible but at the same time I understand the chances of me getting to the jail are very, very high," she said.

"If I'm back (in jail) it means my husband will not be able to speak up to the international community anymore."

On Wednesday, the European Union held an emergency summit on the crisis, rejecting Lukashenko's re-election and announcing financial sanctions against officials the EU blames for election fraud and a crackdown on protests.

Story continues

Tsepkalo will spend a few days in Warsaw with her family and meeting Polish officials and civil society leaders in an effort to bolster support for the Belarusian protesters before moving on to Lithuania.

On Wednesday, she and her husband met Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz and will on Thursday meet Senate Speaker Tomasz Grodzki.

After the meeting with Czaputowicz, Valery Tsepkalo said he had discussed setting up a Polish-U.S. fund with officials to support Belarusian civil society financially and legally, in particular those who had been wounded in the protests or had lost their jobs.

"It's very important for the ordinary people to understand that they would not be left by themselves (with) their problems," he told Reuters.

(Reporting by Joanna Plucinska, additional reporting by Alan Charlish; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijan State Academy of Arts has displayed art lovers of national artists.

The virtual exhibition "The World Will Be Saved" aims to support the fight against coronavirus and raise awareness about protective measures from the virus.

As COVID-19 spreads across the world, Azerbaijan has taken a number of measures to protect public health.

All citizens are required to observe the self-isolation measures and strictly follow the special quarantine regime.

The exposition features around 90 paintings by more than 60 talented artists. Works of national artists aroused great interest among viewers.

The event is co-organized by Azerbaijan State Academy of Arts, the State College of Arts and the Azerbaijan State Economic University. The art project is headed by professor at the College of Arts, architect and designer Farah Amirova.

--

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
The Child Rights International (CRI), a child-centred organisation, has commended governments decision to give one hot meal per day to all final year Junior High School (JHS).



President Nana Akufo-Addo announced this during his 15th address to the nation on measures taken against the spread of Covid-19.



CRI described the move as a laudable idea and a good social intervention programme.



This was contained in a statement issued and signed by its Executive Director, Mr Bright Appiah.



However, the organisation has asked the government to use the new initiative as a trial or pilot programme to access the feasibility of expanding the programme across board beginning from primary to the senior high school level.



The statement said there should not be a discontinuation of this programme, adding that there must be consistency in implementing social intervention programme that would cut across board from primary, JHS, and SHS.



CRI said, the country continued to have policy gaps regarding enrolment and quality education at the primary level and SHS.



The statement said governments efforts at the JHS were limited in terms of social intervention programme so this new initiative should be used as a springboard in measuring the extent to which students across board can enjoy.



Touching on some of the disparities that existed in the education sector with regards to social intervention programme, CRI said students in the JHS had not benefited much as compared to those in primary and SHS.



At the primary level, students are enjoying capitation grants as well as school feeding programme. At the SHS level and under the Free SHS education, day students enjoy one hot meal while the boarding students get three meals per day. So it is only the JHS where the social intervention programme is limited, the statement explained.



On private schools, CRI stated it would be needful for the government to extend the social intervention programme to private schools that are running curriculum in line with the government programmes, especially, in deprived areas where the government cannot reach.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









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Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

New Delhi: Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Thursday said he had tested positive for coronavirus.

The minister said in a tweet that he underwent a coronavirus test after experiencing symptoms of the infection.

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Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

On the advice of doctors he is getting admitted to a hospital, the minister said.

"I underwent a coronavirus test after developing symptoms and the report has come positive. I am getting hospitalised on the advice of doctors. I request all who have come in my contact in the past days to isolate themselves and get tested," Shekhawat tweeted in Hindi.

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The minister held two important meetings on Tuesday. One was on the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL). Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh attended the meeting virtually while his Haryana counterpart ML Khattar was physically present at the meeting with Shekhawat.
Costco has many wonderful ways to save, and they often come unexpectedly. Their use isnt limited to buying groceries in bulk to save a buck. It doesnt even stop at great deals on gas (when your local Costco has a gas station). Even more, value is added with Costcos water bottle delivery service. It seems like a weird thing for Costco to be involved with, but we cant argue with saving money!

How it Works

Costco partners with several different water suppliers nationwide to ensure maximum geographical coverage. This means that Costco will actually broker a deal with a company like Sparkletts and Niagra, depending on where you live. They will pair you with their local partner, and make sure that you save extra money on whatever you get delivered. Just like with the traditional water delivery memberships, you can add on a water dispenser that you like (fees may vary). Both 3-and-5-gallon options are available, and they start at $6.49 per bottle. Keep in mind that you do have to have a Costco membership to take advantage of these savings.

Get a $10 Costco Shop Card

How to Sign Up

First, you just have to go to their bottle delivery website. Then, you will enter your ZIP code to get sent to the site for your local partner company. Once you are there, you will see all of the package options available in your area. Options will include bottle sizes, type of water (spring or regular purified), and even which dispenser model you want (if you need one). After you select from the options, you will just have to finalize by filling out all of the e-paperwork required to set up your plan!

How it Saves You Money and Time

The first one is easy: it is cheaper. Costco pairs with your local partner take their price and then guarantees you a discount. This makes sure that you are getting the best deal possible. Youll be paying a little less per bottle, and it will add up over time. The more water you use, the more you save! So, if you have a big family, this is a terrific way to cut costs and maximize your income.

The second one isnt hard either. If you dont have to go to the store and buy water, you are saving time. You wont have to go and refill your bottles, buy new ones, or deal with any maintenance hassle. Costco makes sure you are set up with a partner company that will take care of you. So, you not only save time and money but also stress! More time, more money, and less stress seem like a great deal to me.

Give the gift of savings! Learn more

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The biggest review of the nation's spy laws in 40 years won't be released until almost a year after it was handed to government, as Australia's intelligence agencies look to combat a rise in cyber crime, espionage and foreign interference.

The federal opposition is calling on the Morrison government to release former ASIO boss Dennis Richardson's review immediately, with parliament set to debate a number of significant national security reforms before the end of the year.

Former secretary of Defence Dennis Richardson has completed the biggest review into Australia's national security laws in 40 years. Credit:Andrew Meares

These include an overhaul of ASIOs compulsory questioning powers and new cyber security laws to protect the nations critical infrastructure.

Mr Richardson handed in his report to the government prior to Christmas last year, and the government has been sitting on an unclassified version of the document since early June. Attorney-General Christian Porter flagged it would be released in coming months.
A Positive Decline

Washtenaw's Covid cases are on the wane

by Trilby MacDonald

Published in August, 2020

Washtenaw County continues its downward trend in the number of Covid-19 cases, in contrast to the rapid climb across much of the state. The health department's Susan Ringler-Cerniglia believes Southeast Michigan's ordeal early in the pandemic may be a factor: "We are more likely to know someone who has gotten the virus and we are more cautious as a result." Apart from a sharp spike in the number of cases after the 4th of July weekend, Ringler-Cerniglia is encouraged by the county's declining numbers. But the politicization of the issue has made it more challenging for the County Health Department to keep the public informed.



The County Health Department puts a large amount of data on its website about the spread of the virus, including the number of cases, mortality rate, demographics, and cases by zip code. "One of the problems is we have so much data and not enough data," says Ringler-Cirniglia. "We have so many ways to track and look at the data but It's not like we can compare it to another season." The overwhelming majority of county residents are supportive of the Health Department's efforts to educate the public about the virus, but Ringler-Cirniglia is dismayed by the degree to which the issue has been politicized. "The constant questioning of the guidance leaves people confused," she says.



Watching public health research unfold in real time is confusing under any circumstances, with guidance changing as new data comes to light. But she hopes the public will give public health agencies the benefit of the doubt. "There's been tremendous work to provide good and reliable information but It's hard for us to be clear about what we know when that information is complex because things about the virus are evolving. Public health is not a black and white field. There's a lot of gray and that gray is being questioned as if we have ulterior motives."



[Originally published in August, 2020.]








U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., August 19, 2020. Tom Brenner | Reuters

The arrest of Steve Bannon, President Donald Trump's onetime campaign chief and former White House strategist, makes him the latest ex-associate of Trump's to face charges. But he's far from the first. Numerous other people connected to Trump, either through his 2016 campaign, his presidency or his business, have been charged with crimes. Many of those charges came out of former special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election interference in 2016. Here are some of them:

Steve Bannon

Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon attends a ceremony at the White House April 10, 2017 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images

Bannon, 66, was arrested Thursday morning and charged with defrauding hundreds of thousands of donors through a campaign to crowdfund the construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. The former executive chairman of right-wing news site Breitbart, Bannon was tapped in August 2016 to become chief executive of the Trump campaign. After Trump won the presidential election, Bannon became Trump's chief White House strategist. He left that role in August 2017.

Bannon and three others  including Brian Kolfage, who spearheaded the "We Build the Wall" fundraising effort  were each indicted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The counts carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison each, according to a press release from the office. "As alleged, not only did they lie to donors, they schemed to hide their misappropriation of funds by creating sham invoices and accounts to launder donations and cover up their crimes, showing no regard for the law or the truth," said Philip Bartlett, inspector in charge of the New York field office, in the press release. Later Thursday, Bannon pleaded not guilty at a court hearing.



The White House distanced Trump from the alleged crowdfunding scheme. "As everyone knows, President Trump had no involvement in this project and felt it was only being done in order to showboat, and perhaps raise funds," White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement. She cited Trump's critical tweet from July about the project. TWEET Trump campaign surrogates, including the president's son, Donald Trump Jr., and his girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle, previously applauded the effort to privately fund the wall. A spokeswoman said Thursday that Trump Jr.'s "previous praise of the group was based on what he was led to believe about their supposed intention to help build the wall on our southern border and if he and others were deceived, the group deserves to be held accountable for their actions."

Roger Stone

Roger Stone, longtime political ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, flashes a victory gesture as he departs following a status conference in the criminal case against him brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller at U.S. District Court in Washington, U.S., February 1, 2019. Jim Bourg | Reuters

Stone, 67, Trump's longtime friend and an official on the then-candidate's 2016 campaign, was arrested in January 2019 in a predawn raid at his Florida home. He was hit with a seven-count indictment as part of Mueller's probe into Russian meddling, possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, and potential obstruction of the probe by Trump. Stone was charged with lying to Congress about his communications related to document disclosure group Wikileaks, which released reams of Democratic officials' emails late in the 2016 election. Stone was also charged with obstruction and witness tampering for threatening an associate, comedian Randy Credico, in an effort to get him to corroborate his lies to Congress. Stone was convicted at trial in November. Last month, Trump, who has railed against Mueller's probe and Stone's prosecution, commuted Stone's sentence just days before he was set to begin his 40-month prison term.

Michael Flynn

Former national security adviser Michael Flynn exits a vehicle as he arrives for his sentencing hearing at U.S. District Court in Washington, U.S., December 18, 2018. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters

Paul Manafort

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort exits the courtroom after his arraignment in New York Supreme Court in New York, June 27, 2019. Eduardo Munoz | Reuters

Rick Gates

Rick Gates, former campaign aide to U.S. President Donald Trump, departs federal court after being sentenced to 45 days in jail and three years probation, in Washington, DC, December 17, 2019. Al Drago | Reuters

Gates, 48, who worked on Trump's campaign and his inaugural committee, was sentenced in late 2019 to 45 days in jail for conspiracy and making a false statement. A former close associate of Manafort, Gates had agreed to cooperate with Mueller's team.

Michael Cohen

Michael Cohen, the former personal attorney of U.S. President Donald Trump, sits at the witness table waiting to testify before a House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., February 27, 2019. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters

George Papadopoulos

Former Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos arrives at a closed-door hearing before the House Judiciary and Oversight Committee October 25, 2018 at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Alex Wong | Getty Images
State legislators from western Pennsylvania are blasting the Wolf administrations decision to strike a deal with the operator of the Carlisle Events car shows over how the shows can be run during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rep. Marci Mustello, a Butler County Republican, complained in a tweet that the administration is not playing fair in enforcing its coronavirus restrictions.

The focus of Mustellos ire is something that happened two months ago as Carlisle Events and the state Department of Health waged a court battle over the private firms decision to stage its Spring Carlisle show at the Carlisle Fairgrounds.

State officials claimed the event was drawing too many people and so violating Wolfs COVID-19 curbs. The dispute ended with a confidential agreement allowing Carlisle Events to admit up to 20,000 patrons  50 percent of the capacity of the fairgrounds  daily.

The 50 percent capacity limit is being used to control crowd sizes for many events and venues statewide.

Terms of the confidential agreement between Carlisle Events and the state were circulated to news media this week.

Mustellos criticism had a regional angle.

Why did the Wolf administration force the Big Butler Fair to be canceled, while at the same time allowing the Carlisle Car Show to be held and permit about 20,000 people through the turnstiles a day for four days? she wrote on Twitter. I am outraged by the administrations action! The 11th District is getting ripped off!

Mustello, Rep. Chris Sainato, D-Lawrence County, and Rep. Aaron Bernstein, R-Beaver, Butler and Lawrence counties, told wpxi.com they will call for an investigation of the deal.
Michael Bransfield photographed in his office at the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston in West Virginia in 2005. Read more

The Rev. Michael Bransfield  the Philadelphia-raised priest and former West Virginia bishop who resigned in 2018 amid a scandal over his lavish spending and sexual misconduct allegations  issued a tepid apology Thursday, his first to Roman Catholic faithful in his former diocese and one made under orders from the Vatican.

Despite saying he was profoundly sorry if anything he said or did made priests of seminarians uncomfortable during his 13-year tenure at the helm of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, Bransfield continued to defend himself and took no responsibility for the millions he spent on pricey personal accommodations in one of the countrys poorest states.

I am writing to apologize for any scandal or wonderment caused by words or actions attributed to me during my tenure, he wrote in a letter dated Saturday and posted to the diocesan website by his successor Thursday.

Read former Bishop Michael Bransfields letter to the West Virginia diocese:

Bransfields missive came nearly two years after Pope Francis banned him from celebrating Mass or living in West Virginia, and authorized an internal church investigation into his conduct.

His successor, Bishop Mark Brennan, said in a separate letter posted to the diocesan website Thursday that the apology was a requirement of a restitution plan recently approved by the Vatican and with which Bransfield was ordered to comply.

 READ MORE: Theyre all out to destroy me, Philly native Bishop Michael Bransfield says of abuse lawsuit

That plan also called for the former bishops stipend to be cut to $2,250 per month  about $3,950 less than the average benefit package given to retired prelates in the United States  and required him to pay back the diocese $440,000 in misspent money.

That stipulation is the first time a retired U.S. bishop has been ordered to make reparations to his former diocese. But the punishment devised by the Congregation for Bishops in Rome was far less than the $800,000 restitution payment and stipend of $736 a month that Brennan had recommended nearly a year ago.

Read Bishop Mark Brennans letter to the West Virginia diocese:

Bransfield, in his letter Thursday, said he had already paid the sum required. But he added: I have now done so, even though I believe that such reimbursements to me were proper.

Questions surrounding his behavior in West Virginia and during his time as a priest in the Philadelphia Archdiocese intensified during a new wave of scrutiny over the role Catholic bishops had played in covering-up decades of sexual abuse involving clergy and the hierarchy, following a 2018 Pennsylvania grand jury report.

 READ MORE: Americas Catholic bishops vowed to remove abusive priests in 2002. In the years that followed, they failed to police themselves.

Sexual misconduct allegations dating back from before his elevation to the hierarchy had dogged Bransfield  from a devout family that has produced several well-connected Philadelphia priests  who spent years as a priest in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia before being named in 2004 to lead the diocese of 117,000 Catholics in the Appalachian foothills . Bransfield built a reputation as one of the U.S. c hierarchys chief fund-raisers. (He had previously served as president of the Bala Cynwyd-based Papal Foundation, one of the largest Catholic fund-raising organizations in the nation.)

In 2007, a former student at Lansdale Catholic High School accused Bransfield of molesting him in the late 1970s and early 80s while he served as a teacher at the school, a charge the prelate forcefully denied.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia referred the complaint to Montgomery County prosecutors. But in a break with practice, church officials under former Philadelphia Archbishop Justin Rigali conducted their own internal investigation instead of referring the matter to its civilian review board, designed to conduct independent examinations of abuse claims.

Then, in 2018, new allegations began to emerge from seminarians and priests in West Virginia who described Bransfields inappropriately touching and kissing them at his residence in Wheeling or on out-of-town trips. In a lawsuit, one former priest described his former boss as a sexual predator prone to binge-drinking of orange liqueur and venting his lust on subordinates.

A Vatican-ordered investigation found the allegations of Bransfields West Virginia accusers to be credible in a report made public by the Washington Post last year.

The probe also determined that Bransfield had improperly spent hundreds of thousands of dollars of diocesan money on private jets, large quantities of alcohol, lavish furnishings for his Wheeling home, and cash gifts to influential clergy across the United States and in Rome.

Bransfield, who had been living in Roxborough after his ouster from West Virginia, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing, saying of his accusers in an interview with The Inquirer last year: Theyre all out to destroy me.

As recently as earlier this month, Brennan told the West Virginia news website MetroNews that he hadnt heard from Bransfield in ages.

Whatever he is doing, he is doing  in a dark hole, the bishop said. We do not know exactly what he is up to. We have not been in communication.
Jeremy Corbyn has made an extraordinary public attack on fellow Labour MPs, accusing them of 'a great deal of hostility' to him when he was parry leader.

Mr Corbyn, who was replaced by Keir Starmer in April after leading the opposition to humiliation at the 2019 general election, made the remark in an interview with a left-wing politics podcast.

In it he also admitted that he had 'few political friends' in Westminster, counting perhaps 15 out of the 650 MPs.

Mr Corbyn has numerous run-ins with his MPs during his leadership, including over the party's policies on Brexit and allegations of anti-Semitism against his supporters.

Speaking to Tribune Magazine's A World to Win podcast hosted by hard Left economist and commentator Grace Blakeley, he praised party members, who were more supportive of his agenda.

Discussing his debut in the Commons as opposition leader after replacing Ed Miliband in 2015, he said: 'I looked around and there weren't too many people that I'd call close political friends.

'In fact there were about 15 of them out of the 650 MPs there. It was difficult, there's no denying that.

'There are people in the Labour Party that don't want change, that didn't want that change. I was faced by a great deal of hostility from the very beginning.'

Mr Corbyn, who was replaced by Keir Starmer in April after leading the opposition to humiliation at the 2019 general election, made the remark in an interview with a left-wing politics podcast

Mr Corbyn was also asked what he would ask for if he as allowed to make a request of new leader Sir Keir Starmer. He replied: 'Make sure our party is always proud to be a socialist party'

Labour has narrowed the Tory lead to just two points this week as support for the Boris Johnson and the Conservatives dropped after the Government's exams fiasco

Mr Corbyn was also asked what he would ask for if he as allowed to make a request of new leader Sir Keir Starmer. He replied: 'Make sure our party is always proud to be a socialist party.'

It came as a new poll showed Labour has narrowed the Tory lead to just two points this week as support for the Boris Johnson and the Conservatives dropped after the Government's exams fiasco.

YouGov found that public support for the Tories had dropped four points to 40 per cent while Labour was up three to 38 per cent from last week's survey.

Sir Keir Starmer is now the preferred choice for prime minister, with the Labour leader's rating rising three points to 35 per cent.

Mr Johnson's personal rating slipped a point to 31 per cent after the PM refused to sack Gavin Williamson over his handling of the A-level grades row.

The new poll, which shows the lowest Tory leader since Mr Johnson took control of the party, was conducted for The Times on Tuesday and Wednesday.

On April 4, four months after thrashing Jeremy Corbyn at the 2019 general election and a week after lockdown began, the Tories had a 24-point lead over Labour.

The Conservative Party's popularity plunged in May with a nine-point drop in one week, but stabilised. Three YouGov polls conducted last month showed Tory leaders of up to 10 points.

Last week's seven-point drop is likely to set alarm bells ringing off in the Tory camp, as it gives Labour the best chance of taking the lead for the first time since Mr Johnson became PM.
Representative image (Source: Reuters)

Google informed on the evening of August 20 that Gmail services have been partially restored.

The server of Googles email service Gmail suffered an outage for more than three hours earlier in the day, with users across India, Europe, and the United States, among other countries, complaining of issues. The Gmail issues that users faced were categorised by Google as service interruption.

What were the issues being faced by Gmail users?

Most users had complained about not being able to upload an attachment, while some were even facing difficulties while logging in and sending emails.

What is the present status of the Google server glitch?

Google wrote on its G Suite Status Dashboard that: Gmail service has already been restored for some users, and we expect a resolution for all users in the near future. Please note this time frame is an estimate and may change.





Gmail down: Users report glitch in sending emails, attaching files; Google Drive also affected

However, Google services, especially Gmail, which are usually quite reliable, may still be down for some users. Apart from the Gail issues, Google informed that it has also partially restored Google Drive, Google Docs, and Google Meets  all of which suffered an outage around 11 am on August 20. The number of grievances being posted on Twitter has also gone down since then. Notably, this outage has been dubbed as one of the longest stretches for which Google server has been down, affecting Gmail services. The last time users had complained about Gmail not working was in July, although it was short-lived. The June 2019 Google outage, however, was similar to the August 20 issues and was down for several hours.






A former San Antonio man filed a lawsuit earlier this month alleging that a glass Coca-Cola bottle exploded while he was shopping in an H-E-B store.

Juan J. Palomo, who was 66 at the time, was left with a "serious injury to his right hand and permanent vision loss to his right eye," according to a suit he filed against H-E-B and Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages.

Palomo sought more than $1 million in damages from the two companies.

On ExpressNews.com: Ex-San Antonio man sues for more than $1M after Coke bottle 'exploded' in H-E-B

The lawsuit followed a 2019 suit that alleged a H-E-B cashier struck a man with an English cucumber after he asked if she had scanned the item twice while he was in the checkout lane.

In recent years, H-E-B has also been involved in court disputes over frozen drugs and wage rights for fruit cutters.

Continue scrolling to see several lawsuits involving the San Antonio-based grocer.
The public prosecutor's office issued a statement on Wednesday following the news that Amazon France have pulled blow-up sex dolls representing children from their site.

Amazon removed the items from their French e-commerce site and blocked the vendor, following an intervention by the French government. However, the Luxembourg prosecutor's statement said if such objects were for sale on Amazon, it was to be expected that they would be sold elsewhere online. The online shopping giant ships to Luxembourg, among many other destinations.

In the statement, the prosecutor's office confirmed its zero-tolerance stance on child pornography. The act of purchasing, owning or viewing such products is punishable by law, risking fines of 50,000 or a 3 year prison sentence. Any infractions would be investigated and prosecuted.

The very idea of presenting young children as sexual objects intended to satisfy the pleasures of adults is deeply shocking and goes against the grain of the various campaigns launched by the authorities and the various associations to raise public awareness about sexual abuse, said the prosecutor's office.
FLINT, MI  Children 6 years old and younger during the Flint water crisis are the biggest potential beneficiaries of a historic $600-million settlement with the state of Michigan.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel announced some details of the deal, which would set up a claims process for Flint residents harmed by lead or bacteria in their water, on Thursday, Aug. 20.

Several things need to happen before this agreement can be finalized and because of those steps, many of the details must remain confidential for the time being, Nessel said in a video statement released by her office Thursday morning.

Nearly 80 percent of the settlement, which state officials said is likely the largest in Michigan history, would be paid to children who were younger than 18 when they were first exposed to Flint River water, which contained elevated levels of lead and bacteria in 2014 and 2015.

Although Flint children will be eligible to recover part of the settlement without proof of personal injury, adults will be eligible to recover compensation only with proof of personal injury. A formula would provide larger individual payments to those who can show personal injuries, blood or bone lead levels, or who lived in homes with lead service lines.

How Michigan will pay for the settlement  more than the state has paid in court judgments and settlements in the last 10 fiscal years combined  wasnt immediately announced.

What happened in Flint should have never happened, and financial compensation with this settlement is just one of the many ways we can continue to show our support for the city of Flint and its families, Whitmer said in a statement issued Thursday.

Attorneys for the state and Flint residents have been in mediation for more than 18 months in an effort to settle more than 100 lawsuits filed against city and state officials and agencies as well as private companies that advised the city as it struggled to keep lead and bacteria in its water under control during the water crisis.

Approximately 28,000 claims of damage or injuries from individuals are already pending in civil lawsuits filed in state and federal courts.

The lawsuits will continue, but state agencies and employees, including former Gov. Rick Snyder, will no longer be defendants if a federal court judge, a state Court of Appeals judge and Genesee Circuit Court Judge Joseph Farah accept the settlement -- something that could happen after the settlement is finalized in the next 45 days.

Attorney Corey Stern, co-liaison for residents, called the settlement the first chapter toward closure for the residents of Flint

Most importantly, the settlement recognizes the effects the crisis had, and will continue to have on the children of Flint. Despite some who would have preferred a different model, the kids won, Stern said.

Injuries of children will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, with the most damaged receiving the most compensation, the attorney said.

The full settlement was not released by the state, but a document highlighting the deal shows Flints youngest children at the time of the water crisis stand to gain the most from it.

After accounting for attorney fees and administrative expenses, the agreement specifies that about 80 percent of the settlement fund will be spent on the claims of children who were minors when first exposed to the Flint River water, with a large majority of that amount -- 64.5 percent -- for those who were ages 6 and under when they were first exposed to Flint River water.

Ten percent of the settlement would be awarded to children ages 7-11, and 5 percent would be allocated for those 12-17 years old.

Two percent of the settlement would be earmarked for special education services in Genesee County, the Department of Attorney General said, and 18 percent of the funds are to be spent on claims of adults and for lead exposure and property damage.

Approximately 1 percent of the settlement would pay claims for business losses.

While ingestion of lead causes long-term health harm in adults, its effect on young children is especially profound, including potential damage to the brain and nervous system, according to the World Health Organization.

In Flint during the water crisis, the percentage of children with elevated blood lead levels nearly doubled citywide, and nearly tripled among children in high risk areas of lead exposure, according to research by Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha.

For adults, the settlement establishes a filing process for those who want to submit damage claims to a court-approved claims administrator. Those who meet certain conditions, including having owned or lived in a home that received water treated by the Flint water treatment plant in 2014 and 2015, would qualify.

Owners and renters of residential property in the city who received Flint water between April 25, 2014, and July 31, 2016, will be eligible to recover property-related compensation, the agreement says.

Because the amount to be paid to each person with a claim will in part depend on how many settlement claims are verified, the precise amount to be paid for each claim will not be known until the claims process is completed, the terms of the deal say.

Attorneys involved in the case said Flint residents who want to apply for a portion of the settlement will have to wait for acceptance of it by the courts and the appointment of the claims administrator. Residents who have an attorney, who have filed a lawsuit and those who have yet to file any claim can request payment from the settlement.

In a statement released by her office, Nessel said if the settlement is approved, the state will have contributed more than $1 billion in aid related to the water crisis, including $97 million for lead and galvanized steel service line replacements.

Those home service lines were damaged by improperly treated, corrosive water drawn from the Flint River for 17 months in 2014 and 2015, researchers have said. The water caused lead to leach from service lines and home plumbing into residents tap water.

State-appointed emergency financial managers made a series of decisions that led to the switch in the citys water source, and state agencies responsible for oversight spent more than a year denying residents claims that their water was unsafe to drink.

Providing relief for the people of Flint and resolving these long-standing legal disputes has been a top priority for me since taking office, Nessels statement says. Flint residents have endured more than most, and to draw out the legal back-and-forth even longer would have achieved nothing but continued hardship.

This settlement focuses on the children and the future of Flint, and the state will do all it can to make this a step forward in the healing process for one of Michigans most resilient cities. Ultimately, by reaching this agreement, I hope we can begin the process of closing one of the most difficult chapters in our states history.

The agreement with the state was reached through mediation with two court-appointed mediators -- retired U.S. Sen. Carl Levin and retired Wayne County Circuit Judge Pamela R. Harwood -- and Nessel urged other defendants in other cases, including Veolia North America and Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, to join in settling remaining complaints for damages against them.

Separate litigation against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will also continue, according to a statement released by two attorneys who are interim co-lead class counsel for residents.

Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley thanked Whitmer for the settlement in a statement issued Thursday.

We appreciate her leadership with this issue that she inherited and we appreciate that she was able to come to an amicable settlement with attorneys representing the residents of the city of Flint, the statement says. We look forward to seeing the actual terms of this settlement, and hope that it will provide a path to resolve this litigation.

$600 million settlement likely coming in Flint water cases, councilman says

$600M Flint water crisis settlement is more than the state has paid out for the last decades worth of lawsuits combined

Flint water crisis lawsuits for kids 6-12 go to front of the line in federal court

As Flint was slowly poisoned, Snyders inner circle failed to act
New Delhi: The CBI team constituted to investigate Sushant Singh Rajput's death case, will arrive in Mumbai on Thursday afternoon. The officials have chalked out a plan for investigation, which begins today. The Supreme Court in its order on Wednesday handed over Sushant's death case to the CBI for further investigation. Sushant was found dead at his Mumbai apartment on June 14. The Mumbai Police was so far investigating the case.

The CBI officers will first visit the agency headquarters in the city and after that, they will meet the Mumbai Police cops who investigated the actor's death case. The CBI team will gather all the information from the police, including the case diary and electronic evidence. The post-mortem report will be collected from the hospital.

Meanwhile, the CBI team is also likely to visit Sushant's home for investigation and recreate the death scene. The officers can also meet those who were present in the house when Sushant died.

A list of those people whom the team wants to question will also be created. Also, the statements of the 56 people questioned so far by the Mumbai Police will be analysed.

Meanwhile, in another development, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal on Wednesday said that the visiting CBI team will need to take permission for exemption from home quarantine if it wants to stay in Mumbai to probe Sushant Singh Rajput's death case.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 00:45:18|Editor: huaxia

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This file photo shows that President of Mali Ibrahim Boubacar Keita (front) attends the opening ceremony of the 27th ordinary session of the AU Heads of States, in Kigali, Rwanda, on July 17, 2016. (Xinhua/Pan Siwei)

The African Union (AU) Commission on Wednesday suspended Mali from the pan-African bloc following the forced detention of senior officials, including the country's president and prime minister.

ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) Commission on Wednesday suspended Mali from the pan-African bloc following the forced detention of senior officials, including the country's president and prime minister.

The decision to suspend Mali from AU membership was made by the Peace and Security Council of the AU Commission during its latest meeting that dwelt upon the situation in the western Africa country.

"The Peace and Security Council suspended Mali from the AU until restoration of constitutional order and demands release of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, the prime minister and other government officials forcibly detained by the army," the Council announced in a Twitter post on late Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Chairperson of the AU Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat had "strongly condemned" the forced detention of the President of Mali Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, the prime minister and other members of the Malian government and called for their immediate release.

"The Chairperson strongly rejects any attempt at the unconstitutional change of government in Mali and calls on the mutineers to cease all recourse to violence, and calls for the respect of the country's institutions," an AU statement issued on late Tuesday read.

The AU chairperson further called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the United Nations and "the entire international community to combine our collective efforts to oppose any use of force as a means to end the political crisis in Mali."

Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, currently detained by soldiers in the military camp in Kati, a town close to Bamako, announced late Tuesday night his resignation and the dissolution of the National Assembly and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse's government.

"I have decided to quit my functions, all my functions from this moment ... I declare the dissolution of the National Assembly and the government," Keita said in a brief declaration broadcast by national broadcaster ORTM.

"I wish no blood to be shed to keep me in power," he said, adding that he didn't "hold any hatred" towards anyone.

Leaders of the military coup said Wednesday they would enact a political transition and stage elections within a "reasonable time."

In addition to the AU Commission, the regional bloc ECOWAS, the European Union and the United Nations, along with France, also on Tuesday afternoon condemned the arrest of Keita by the mutinous Malian soldiers and demanded restoration of the constitutional order, affirming that they would not accept an unconstitutional power switch.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also on Tuesday called for an immediate restoration of constitutional order and rule of law in Mali after the country's president was arrested.

For months, the opposition coalition has been organizing demonstrations to demand Keita's resignation, accusing him of being responsible for the worsening security situation in the northern part of the country and Mali's economic recession.
A new concept from a New York star chef is set to knock the socks off Houston diners.

With impressive credentials that include working at two Michelin-starred restaurants including Cyrus Restaurant in Healdsburg, CA, chef Aaron Bludorn has the skills to do it.

Aaron Bludorn, who appeared as a contestant of the Netflix show "The Final Table" in 2018, left his role as executive chef at Cafe Boulud last year and headed south with his wife, Victoria Bludorn.

Victoria is a Houston native and her father Chris Pappas co-owns Pappas Restaurants.

"During my trips to Houston with Victoria, I fell in love with the food," said Aaron. "It is such a vibrant culinary scene. I could see myself being part of it."

The couple will open their first local venture on Aug. 21 - the highly-anticipated Bludorn at 807 Taft.
As one of Washington states 34 public community and technical colleges, LWTech prepares students todays workforce. With so much uncertainty in the world right now, one thing that is certain is that our graduates are prepared to grow their skills or change careers.

For the fourth time, Lake Washington Institute of Technologys (LWTech) TRIO program has received a renewed Student Support Services grant from the U.S. Department of Education for $536,733 for an additional five years. LWTechs TRIO program provides tutoring, financial literacy and academic advising to more than 300 students who are low-income, first-generation (neither parent nor guardian has a bachelors degree and neither does the student), or are students with disabilities.

Additionally, LWTech will be starting six new academic programs this fall. Two Applied Bachelors degrees in Applied Management  Entrepreneurship, and Funeral Service Education; two Associates degrees in User-Centered Design and Baking Arts; and two Certificate of Completions in Funeral Attendant and Business Management.

LWTech now offers 10 Applied Bachelors degrees, the most of any technical college in the state of Washington. To celebrate the addition of the two newest Applied Bachelors degrees, LWTech is waiving the application fee ($50 savings) for those who apply to those two programs for fall quarter.

New program development and grants arent new to the college. For more than 70 years, LWTech has provided innovative programs and support services so students are prepared to succeed in the workforce. With more than 6,000 students who attend LWTech each year, 81% of LWTech students are employed within three quarters of graduation, and 97% of students say they would recommend LWTech to their friends and family.

As one of the states 34 public community and technical colleges, LWTech prepares students todays workforce. With so much uncertainty in the world right now, one thing that is certain is that our graduates are prepared to grow their skills or change careers, whether in STEM fields like Engineering, Nursing, or Biology, or the trades like welding, auto repair and machining technology. Our innovative approach to providing online and face-to-face instruction ensures our students are fully prepared for their career, commented Dr. Amy Morrison, president of LWTech.

Registration is open for fall quarter!

About Lake Washington Institute of Technology:

As the only public institute of technology in Washington State, Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) provides students with the latest cutting edge skills relevant to todays workplace. LWTech offers 10 applied bachelors degrees, more than 40 associate degrees and 80 professional certificates, in 42 areas of study, including STEM-focused programs in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
ALBANY  In 2016, Francisco Rosario was paroled after serving less than two years in state prison for stabbing a woman in a Clinton Avenue home.

On Wednesday, Rosario was arraigned on an indictment for a pre-dawn stabbing this spring at 396 Clinton Avenue  and this time it was fatal.

Rosario, 26, also known as Rubio, pleaded not guilty to a two-count indictment charging him with the stabbing murder of 27-year-old Joseph Galindez on April 19.

Rosario, of Schenectady, was arraigned via Skype before Albany County Judge William Carter on counts of second-degree murder, which carries 25 years to life upon conviction, and second-degree criminal contempt, a misdemeanor. The indictment said Rosario violated an order of protection issued in September 2014 by Supreme Court Justice Peter Lynch.

Assistant District Attorney Davis Szalda handed up the indictment to the judge. A translator spoke for Rosario via Skype.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

On April 19, police discovered the victim on Clinton Avenue, near Henry Johnson Boulevard, with a stab wound to his torso.



In July 2014, an Albany County jury convicted Rosario of second-degree assault for knifing a woman he knew in the back. He repeatedly kicked her and broke her arm in an act of domestic violence that resulted in her needing a permanent titanium plate and eight screws in her elbow, prosecutors said.

Rosario, who faced up to seven years in prison then, received a three-year sentence from Lynch.

On Wednesday, Carter ordered Rosario held without bail in the Albany County jail. Rosarios lawyer, Matthew Hug, said he would file an application for bail.
VILNIUS, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda warned Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Wednesday not to take any steps that could lead to "bitter sorrow" after he ordered his police to put down protests in the capital Minsk.

Speaking after an EU talks on a contested election in Belarus, Nauseda called Lukashenko's order "controversial, to say the least".

"The only way towards reconciliation is to solve the conflict peacefully. Nothing must be done towards the society, that could lead to bitter sorrow", he added talking to reporters in Vilnius.

Leaders at the summit agreed that new elections in Belarus are needed, he said. (Reporting By Andrius Sytas; Editing by Toby Chopra)
International

Palestinians protest against UAE-Israeli peace deal

Israeli soldiers scuffle with Palestinian protesters during a protest against the to expand Israeli settlements near the West Bank city of Tulkarm, Thursday. (AP)

Gaza, Aug 20 (IANS) | Publish Date: 8/20/2020 8:30:42 AM IST

Hundreds of Palestinians protested in Gaza against the US-brokered peace deal between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel to normalise ties.

The demonstration on Wednesday took place in front of the headquarters of the UN Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees, reports Xinhua news agency.

The demonstrators marched toward the Ansar square, waving Palestinian flags and carrying banners.

Different factions, including President Mahmoud Abbas Fatah party, Islamic Hamas movement, Islamic Jihad movement and the leftist groups, joined the mass rally.

Ahmed Helles, a member of Fatahs Central Committee, said that the Palestinians stance is unified, adding that we will confront all attempts aiming to end our just issue.

The UAE-Israeli normalization deal is denying all Palestinian rights, Palestinian land, as well as the issue of Jerusalem, Helles said, stressing that the Palestinians have several chances to act against the deal.

Meanwhile, Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas leader in Gaza, told Xinhua news agency that our people have proven that they can challenge all attempts that aim to end our issue.

He stressed that all Palestinian factions must unite to create a national strategy to confront the Israeli occupation, as well as the accord.

According to the August 13 peace 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 deal marks the first diplomatic relations between Israel and a Gulf country.

The UAE is the third Arab country, after Egypt and Jordan, to establish official ties with Israel.
Sullivan County Sheriff's OfficeBy IVAN PEREIRA, ABC News



(SULLIVAN COUNTY, Tenn.) -- Megan Boswell has been charged with murder in the death of her 15-month-old daughter, Evelyn, who was reported missing in February and found dead more than two weeks later.



After a five-month investigation into Evelyn's death, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Sullivan County Sheriffs Office on Wednesday alleged Boswell, 19, killed her child and disposed of her body. A grand jury returned several indictments against the teen mom, including two counts of murder, a count of child abuse and 16 other charges, TBI said.



Boswell has been in jail since February, for allegedly lying to investigators during the investigation into Evelyn's disappearance, and Sullivan County Sheriff Jeff Cassidy said she also spread misinformation to the public.



"As a result of false information given by the defendant along with misinformation circulated in the community, there has been a lot of confusion in the case," he said during a news conference. "I want to be clear when I say that after an extensive and thorough investigation, other individuals were eliminated as suspects and Megan Boswell became the sole suspect in this case."



Evelyn was last seen with her mother in December, but she was only reported missing by a family member on Feb. 18, the TBI said. An Amber Alert was issued on Feb. 19 and investigators searched extensively for the child.



Over 16 days, authorities received and followed up on more than 1,000 tips, TBI said. During the investigation, Evelyns grandmother, Angela Boswell, and another man, William McCloud, were arrested and charged with possession of stolen property when they were found on Feb. 20 with a car connected to the Amber Alert.



Megan Boswell was arrested five days later for allegedly lying to investigators.



On March 6, officials searched the Blountville, Tennessee, property owned by Megan Boswell and found Evelyn's remains.



"She didnt deserve this, no child does," Cassidy said.



Megan Boswell is due back in court on Aug. 28 and her bond has been set at $1 million, the TBI said. Her attorney, Brad Sproles, told ABC News he couldn't comment on the charges, because as of Wednesday evening he had not spoken to his client.



"Our jail is dealing with COVID issues and pretty much locked down and I havent been able to talk to her," Sproles told ABC News. "We're trying to get something set up soon."



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Massachusetts health officials announced another 12 new coronavirus deaths on Thursday, bringing the statewide death count to 8,657 since the pandemic began.

Officials also confirmed another 262 cases of COVID-19, for a total now of at least 115,310 cases across the state. Thats based on 21,831 new molecular tests reported on Thursday, according to the Department of Public Health.

There are currently 379 people hospitalized with the virus, including 62 in intensive care.

Massachusetts has now conducted just over 2 million COVID-19 tests as of Thursday, officials said.

There are at least 5,506,929 COVID-19 cases in the U.S., and 172,416 total deaths, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics released on the same day.

Massachusetts is now one of 21 states where new COVID-19 cases have declined over the last two weeks, according to the New York Times. The rate of infection across the state has hovered around 1.4% over the last week or so, state data shows.

The latest numbers come the day after health officials announced that all children ages 6 months or older, who are attending Massachusetts child care, pre-school, kindergarten, K-12, and colleges and universities, must get a flu vaccine. Students are expected to be vaccinated by Dec. 31 for the 2020-2021 flu season unless either a medical or religious exemption is provided, officials said.

The new requirement is meant to reduce the number of people hospitalized with the flu health care while health care workers focus on coronavirus patients.

I hope people understand that this is an important part of how we continue to fight the virus here in Massachusetts, the Gov. Charlie Baker said on Thursday.

Earlier this week, Baker 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.

Three more communities have been designated at high risk for coronavirus transmission on Wednesday based on new daily cases, including South Hadley, Brockton and Winthrop.

Analyzing average daily cases from Aug. 2 to Aug. 15, officials said that as of Wednesday, 10 communities are at high risk, including South Hadley, Brockton, Winthrop, Saugus, Salem, Revere, Lynn, Lawrence, Everett and Chelsea.

Related Content:
The Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon, Mrs Mary Chinery-Hesse has called on indigenes of the five regions of the North to work together to develop a comprehensive Northern Development Plan to ensure sustainability and continuation of development projects even when there is a change in government.



She noted that Northerners must buy into and own the plan such that whichever government is in power, duty bearers would be compelled to stick to the plan.



Addressing the opening of the 2020 Northern Ghana Development Summit at Bolgatanga on Thursday, August 20, via the Zoom platform, Mrs Chinery-Hesse was of the view that it was high time Northerners moved from talk shops into action".



A section of the participants



She observed that if the indigenes of the North are able to accept that responsibility of making duty bearers stick to the plan or agreement, a lot will change in the near future and there will be a paradigm shift so that instead of people travelling from the North to the south for greener pastures it will now be the other way round.



Mrs Chinery-Hesse who is the first female Chancellor of the University of Ghana spoke on the topic Narrowing the North-South inequalities: what needs to be done?



I sense frustration but we have come a long way; we cannot talk about reparation now, let us find a way to move forward she further observed.



Way forward



The Chancellor mentioned the sheanut industry, data on rich resources in the North, value addition to raw materials, generation of hydro power, water harvesting to give the North advantage in farming as some of the things that can act as the magic bullet" in accelerating the development of Northern Ghana.



She indicated that traditional rulers also had a crucial role to play by creating a congenial atmosphere for private investors to come in.



There must also be a codification Chieftaincy succession plan to help minimize conflicts which has been the bane of the development of the North, she noted.



She also spoke about the need for trade to be boosted between Ghana and the Sahelian regions with the North playing a key role due to its strategic location to the Sahelian regions.



A section of the participants



Mrs Chinery-Hesse stated that with an estimated 350 million people living in the Sahelian region, Ghana cannot afford but to tap into those opportunities to enrich the country through international trade.



She advised the youth in the North to avoid being used to foment unrest during elections because elections usually serve as conduits for conflicts.



The Chancellor pointed out that a conducive environment must be created for women and girls in the North to stay and help develop their respective families and communities rather than travelling down south in search of greener pastures.



Mrs Chinery-Hesse expressed her conviction that with the North producing high calibre of personalities including ministers of state, members of parliament and former Presidents it was possible to mobilize people to get a fair share of development projects.



Political Parties



A Council of State Member, Bo-Na Prof Yakubu Nantogmah spoke on the theme for the Summit Transforming the economy of Northern Ghana within the context of the 2020 general elections and the COVID-19 pandemic.



He called on Northerners to help bring to halt the situation whereby projects are abandoned when there is a change in government.



Bo-Na Nantogmah said Northerners can do that if they prevail on political parties to agree to a common Plan of continuation of projects in a systematic manner whether it is one political party that is in power or not.



He said the challenges of the North started from the colonial era and the educational system handed down to the country does not provide the Ghanaian and indeed the Northerner the opportunity of critically analysing issues.



The old system of education made us to memorize tasks and never allowed us into the area of critical analysis, the Council of State Member further observed.



He equally admitted that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has also exacerbated the existing challenges of the North.



Other speakers at the function included the Upper East Regional Minister, Ms Tangoba Abayage and the Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Development Authority (NDA), Dr Alhassan Sulemana Anamzoya.



Event



The Summit discussed among other issues narrowing the North-South inequalities and what needed to be done, transforming the economy of Northern Ghana within the context of the 2020 general elections and the COVID-19 pandemic. Other issues discussed were developing a vibrant, resilient and profitable agricultural sector in Northern Ghana and what needed to change as well as securing the dignity and human rights of women in communities in Northern Ghana, what attitudes and actions were required.



It attracted the academia, Ministers of State, traditional rulers, Queen mothers, Development experts, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives from the five regions of the North



The Summit was organized by STAR Ghana Foundation, the NDA, TAMA Foundation Universal, and the Northern Development Forum among other partners.

Source: Graphiconline.com









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On Aug. 18, a UN-backed tribunal in the Netherlands convicted Hezbollah member Salim Ayyash in absentia over his involvement in the 2005 killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and 21 others in a suicide car bombing. Three other defendants, also tried in absentia, were acquitted in the assassination due to lack of sufficient evidence.

The Hariri investigation didnt involve Israel. Still, a few hours after the announcement of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon's verdict, Israels Foreign Ministry issued a statement, saying, "The Hezbollah terrorist organization is implicated in this murder and obstructed justice. Hezbollah has seized the future of the Lebanese people in the service of foreign interests. The international community must act against this terrorist organization to help Lebanon free itself from the threat.

The Israeli reaction is undoubtedly linked to the ongoing campaign against Hezbollah, and more specifically to recent tensions on the Israel-Lebanon-Syria border. By the end of the month, the UN Security Council is expected to vote on extending the mandate for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Israel and the United States are seeking major changes in how UNIFIL operates.
By Express News Service

BHOPAL: A day after the union cabinet decided to set up a National Recruitment Agency (NRA) for conducting a common preliminary examination for various recruitments in the central government, Madhya Pradesh became the first state to announce that government jobs will be provided to candidates in the state on the basis of the marks secured in recruitment exam conducted by the proposed NRA.

"We've taken a revolutionary decision for the welfare of our youngsters. Youngsters won't need to appear in any separate examination conducted by the state for getting government jobs in MP, but it will be on the basis of the marks secured at recruitment exam conducted by the NRA," tweeted Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday.

#NRA                          ,  



              -        Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) August 20, 2020

"MP is the first state in the country to take the unprecedented decision of rendering government jobs based on marks secured in examination conducted by the NRA. This will ease the lives of youths in the state. Other states can also follow MP's move to render relief to their daughters and sons," Chouhan tweeted further.

The development comes two days after Chouhan had announced that only domicile candidates of the state (who've passed Class X and XII from the state) will be entitled to get state government jobs. A law would soon be framed for reserving all state government jobs to children of Madhya Pradesh, Chouhan had announced on Tuesday.

However, the CM's announcement on Tuesday, was termed 'misleading' by the opposition Congress. State Congress spokesperson Abhay Dubey said, "What CM announced on Tuesday is contrary to actual reality. In March 2018, the High Court, while hearing a Writ Petition had ordered that the state government cannot violate Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution of India by discriminating or denying job to anyone on the grounds of caste, religion, sex or domicile, which meant that resident of any other state cannot be denied government job in MP."

"Subsequently, based on the opinion of the Legal Department, the state government had also withdrawn the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed in the matter before the Supreme Court. It's possibly due to that only then BJP government led by Shivraj Singh Chouhan government didn't release any advertisement for filling up vacancy through the MP Public Service Commission (MPPSC) for 18 months. It's shameful that the MP CM just for furthering the narrow political interests is misleading people of the state with false announcements," he added.

On Wednesday, the union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to set up a National Recruitment Agency (NRA) which would conduct a common preliminary examination for various recruitments in the central government.
Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs is being accused of undermining public confidence in the integrity of elections by a top aide to Attorney General Mark Brnovich.

In an often sharply worded letter, Joe Kanefield said Wednesday theres no basis for Hobbs claims that President Trump and his administration are conspiring to undermine the timely delivery of ballots in Arizona. He called the complaint that Hobbs made purely speculative, saying she provided no evidence.

Making accusations of criminal misconduct by the president and other federal officials based on mere conjecture undermines the integrity of our elections, Kanefield said. And what makes it worse, he said, is that these are coming from a trusted source for election information, referring to the fact that Hobbs is the states chief election official.

In a letter to Brnovich earlier this week, Hobbs pointed out that Louis DeJoy, the postmaster general, who took over the agency in June, implemented a series of changes, including eliminating employee overtime and removing some mail-sorting machines. DeJoy said these steps were necessary to make the agency financially sustainable, with its financial struggles exacerbated by the pandemic.
EQ's proprietary data platform and AI tools helped Taco Time increase store traffic and capture 300% growth in customer visits from competitors

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2020 / EQ Inc. (TSXV:EQ) ("EQ Works" or "EQ"), a leader in geospatial location data and intelligence, and Taco Time, providers of great tasting, quality food at an affordable price, announced the successful results of their work to better map the consumer journey and drive increased consumer traffic to Taco Time locations. Powered by EQ's LOCUS data-insight platform ("LOCUS"), Taco Time developed a deeper understanding of its target consumers, enabling it to better predict behaviour and influence preference for Taco Time versus QSR competitors. Specifically, the initiative resulted in a 300% increase in visits to Taco Time locations from competitors' customers.

Projects incorporating advanced AI show powerful insights into consumer behavior profiles by revealing characteristics that lead to outcomes where behavior can be predicted. This type of analysis is becoming essential for Canada's leading organizations and, utilizing LOCUS' AI tools, Taco Time was able to use this data to develop personalized offers to drive and improve business results.

Key Success Drivers:

Utilizing the AI tools of LOCUS to provide actionable insights and recommendations that drive business results

Understanding and measuring Taco Time's customer visitation patterns and that of its competitors

Developing a comprehensive analysis of Taco Time's target customers, with detailed visitation data from LOCUS (i.e. busiest days of the week, busiest times of the day, customer home locations, competitor locations, etc.), based on their movement through the physical world

Deploying data-driven marketing tactics to best engage with the most desirable customer

?"With EQ Works, we were able to better understand our customers, and apply these insights for more effective targeting," said Hayley Ballinger, Director of Marketing, Taco Time. "We were able to understand where consumers started their journey, and if they were loyal to competitors, so that we could plan, design and execute the best way to connect with them. Moving forward, I couldn't imagine creating any sort of marketing plan without this kind of data."

"While the ways in which QSR brands connect with and service their customers are rapidly evolving, the one constant is the consumer," said Geoffrey Rotstein, President & CEO of EQ Works. "Deeply understanding consumer patterns, and having the tools to predict how they will change, is critical for marketers to move with confidence."

As the physical consumer economy steadily re-opens, data-driven decision-making is more important than ever as established patterns of consumers' daily routines have been up-ended by COVID-19. At the same time, new patterns in service delivery and consumer preference are evolving. EQ Works offers companies the ability to go back in time to understand real-world consumer patterns prior to the pandemic, during lock-down, and now in the re-opening phase, to understand, predict, and influence consumer behaviour.

ABOUT EQ WORKS

EQ Works (www.eqworks.com) enables businesses to understand, predict, and influence customer behaviour. Using unique data sets, advanced analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence, EQ Works creates actionable intelligence for businesses to attract, retain, and grow the customers that matter most. The Company's proprietary SaaS platform mines insights from movement and geospatial data, enabling businesses to close the loop between digital and real-world consumer actions.

ABOUT TACO TIME

Taco Time Canada is committed to providing great tasting, quality food at an affordable price. Our fresh quality ingredients made fresh in-store have kept our loyal customers craving Taco Time for over 40 years.

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on management's current expectations and are subject to known and unknown uncertainties and risks, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by such forward-looking statements. EQ Inc. is under no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein should material facts change due to new information, future events or otherwise.

EQ Inc.

1235 Bay Street, Suite 401| Toronto, Ontario |M5R 3K4

press@eqworks.com

www.eqworks.com

SOURCE: EQ Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602487/EQ-Works-and-Taco-Time-Partner-to-Boost-Store-Traffic-and-Increase-Market-Share-from-Competition
KENT COUNTY, MI -- Coronavirus cases in Kent County have been trending lower since late July and now are averaging slightly more than 30 cases per day.

In late July, new daily cases appeared to be on a troubling upward course, with the county reporting 134 new cases on day.

The latest data, for the week ending Aug. 19, shows a seven-day average case load of 33 cases per day.

Kent County Health Director Adam London said the countys rate of positive cases, as compared to the total COVID-19 tests administered, is also on a downward trend. The rate is now at 1.7 percent, with about 2,100 tests administered each day in Kent County.

Statewide, the rate of positive cases was about 3.3 percent last week.

State health leaders say a rate below 3 percent is a good indicator that coronavirus spread is being controlled.

Kent County now has recorded 7,182 coronavirus cases since the pandemic began in March and 154 deaths.

Related: Michigan reports 616 new coronavirus cases, 9 new deaths

Data shows that 5,934 people have recovered from coronavirus. A recovery is defined as someone still alive 30 days beyond the onset of symptoms.

Of Kent Countys total cases, more younger people have contracted the virus than older. The age group with the most cases is the 20-29 bracket with 1,776 cases.

Thats followed by 30-39 bracket with 1,280 cases, then the 40-49 bracket with 1,124 cases. For children so far in Kent County, 244 cases are in the 0-9 age bracket and 734 in the 10-19 bracket.

London warned that, as children begin to head back to school and the weather turns colder, its likely people will be at higher risk of contracting COVID-19.

We need to continue being careful. We need to continue being smart to make it difficult for this virus to spread, he said in a weekly video intended as an update on the countys coronvirus control efforts.

London said an encouraging statistic is the countys death rate from the virus. So far in August, the county has had only three deaths.

The pace of our deaths has slowed down dramatically here in August. Thats the best news of all, he said.

He said doctors have learned more about COVID-19 during the pandemic, helping save lives. He also said Grand Rapids hospitals have not been overrun with coronavrus patients.

The latest hospital data shows that Spectrum Health, across its West Michigan system, has 28 hospital inpatients with COVID-19 and eight suspected of having the virus. Thats significantly down from the peak of hositalizations in early May, when more than 100 people were inpatients.

At Mercy Health St. Marys Hospital, there are four inpatients with COVID-19, also significantly down from nearly 30 inpatients in early May.

Metro Health has one person in the hospital with a suspected case of COVID-19. It had six in early May.

More from MLive

Crowd restrictions being enforced by party patrols, hotline during University of Michigan fall semester

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On Wednesday (August 19, 2020), the Supreme Court allowed a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe in actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death case. The verdict was hailed by Sushant's family, fans and celebrities who had been pressing for a CBI inquiry in the matter since a long time.

Post the hearing, Rhea Chakraborty's lawyer Satish Maneshinde said that his client will be cooperate with CBI, and added that the actress maintains that the truth will remain the same irrespective of the investigating agency.

Sushant Singh Rajput's family lawyer Vikas Singh reacted to Rhea's lawyer's statement while speaking with Zoom TV. He accused the Jalebi actress of showing a 'double face', and claimed that her lawyer never made any mention of the CBI in the entire hearing. The senior advocate said that Rhea's lawyer argued that the case should be investigated by the Mumbai Police.

"Rhea Chakraborty has shown her double face at every given point in this case. Her lawyer not even once mentioned in the entire hearing that he would want this case transferred to CBI. He argued till the end that we want Mumbai Police only to investigate the case but now that she's lost, she's doing face-saving. She just keeps proving that all the allegations against her are true," Vikas Singh was quoted as saying by Zoom TV.

Meanwhile, the CBI has revealed that their team will visit Mumbai in due course for further investigation in Sushant's death case. The apex court in its verdict, has asked Mumbai Police to cooperate with CBI and hand over all the evidence it has gathered so far. Further, any other FIR related to Sushant's death case will also be probed by the CBI.

Actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in his Bandra flat on June 14, 2020, and the Mumbai police had confirmed his death by suicide. On July 25, Sushant's father KK Singh registered an FIR against Rhea Chakraborty and her family members in Patna, under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code including 'abetment to suicide.' Later, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a money laundering case against Rhea and her family in connection with Sushant's death case.

Worried about your mental well-being or of someone you know? Help is just a call away. Reach out to the nearest mental health specialist at COOJ Mental Health Foundation (COOJ)- 0832-2252525, Parivarthan- +91 7676 602 602, Connecting Trust- +91 992 200 1122/+91-992 200 4305 or Sahai- 080-25497777/ SAHAIHELPLINE@GMAIL.COM

ALSO READ: Rhea Chakraborty On Supreme Court Ordering CBI Probe In Sushant's Death: Truth Will Remain The Same

ALSO READ: CBI For Sushant: Late Actor's Family Thanks Fans, Friends And Well-Wishers Who Stood By Them


AMHERST  The teachers union here has objected to the Amherst-Pelham Regional School Districts hybrid reopening plan, recommending instead that no in-person learning be considered until February at the earliest.

The Amherst-Pelham Education Association, which is affiliated with the Massachusetts Teachers Association and National Education Association, says the risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic remain too high and that banning in-person instruction until next year at the earliest is prudent from a public health perspective.

It is in the mutual interest of the parties  as well as the community  to abide by the recommendations of public health officials to prevent the trauma of students, educators, or their families becoming sick, disabled, or deceased, the union said in a statement. We also recognize our mutual responsibility to the community to take any steps that are within our power to stop the spread of COVID-19.

The union was been protesting on the streets Wednesday with other area teachers unions and posting photos of their demonstrations on Facebook.

The Amherst-Pelham Regional School school board rejected and rebutted an all-remote opening on Tuesday, when they released a public statement that said the districts reopening plan enables parents to choose remote learning for their students for any reason.

The board said myriad safety measure to prevent transmission of the COVID-19 virus would be in place for those attending school.

Superintendent Michael Morris has repeatedly said that remote learning is not a good substitute for in-person learning, especially for the younger children.

The Amherst-Pelham school districts plan does not say when grades 7 through 12 might resume classes five days per week.

Grades 7-12 would have one day a week of classroom instruction at Amherst-Pelham Regional High School beginning in November, the plan says.

Remote learning begins mid-September for grades 2 and higher. Children in grades 2 and 3 are scheduled to attend classroom for in-person instruction starting in October, grades 4, 5 and 6, in November, with the remote learning occurring until then.

About 90% of parents responded to a survey with more than two-thirds  323 of the 474 responses  saying they want their children in school, and do not want them learning remotely.

Neighboring Northampton and Easthampton, as well as Springfield and Holyoke, will begin their year with all remote classes. Palmer and Ludlow opted to go with a hybrid opening in place.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 22:21:49|Editor: huaxia

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Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) and Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Chingiz Aidarbekov attend a signing ceremony of the Cooperation Program from 2020 to 2021 between Chinese Foreign Ministry and Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on May 21, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Yong)

China is willing to import more Kyrgyzstan's agricultural products which meet the needs of the Chinese market and promptly resume cargo ports between the countries, so as to maintain the development of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries, said Chinese FM Wang Yi.

BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Kyrgyz counterpart Chingiz Aidarbekov have vowed to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation between the two nations in order to yield more pragmatic cooperation outcomes.

In a phone conversation between the two foreign ministers on Wednesday, Wang said that China sympathizes with Kyrgyzstan's suffering from the COVID-19 outbreak, adding that as a friendly neighbor and comprehensive strategic partner, China will continue to provide assistance to Kyrgyzstan until the latter ultimately defeats the pandemic.

As the research and development and use of COVID-19 vaccines have drawn more and more attention worldwide, Wang said that China supports the global cooperative initiative put forward by the World Health Organization -- fair allocation of COVID-19 vaccines -- and is willing to share with Kyrgyzstan vaccine research results and discuss cooperation.

Representatives from China and Kyrgyzstan attend a handover ceremony of a third batch of medical supplies to Kyrgyzstan, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Aug. 19, 2020. (Photo by Roman/Xinhua)

Noting the pandemic has caused adverse effects on bilateral cooperation, he said that both countries should adopt flexible measures to promote pragmatic cooperation in various fields under the premise of good epidemic prevention.

China is willing to import more Kyrgyzstan's agricultural products which meet the needs of the Chinese market and promptly resume cargo ports between the countries, so as to maintain the development of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries, the foreign minister added.

Recalling that China and five Central Asian countries launched a foreign ministers' meeting mechanism not long ago, Wang said that China is willing to work together with the five Central Asian countries, including Kyrgyzstan, to deepen political mutual trust and enhance win-win cooperation through the mechanism, in order to inject fresh vitality into the development of relations between China and Central Asian nations.

Aidarbekov, on behalf of Kyrgyzstan, expressed sympathies for floods in south China. Kyrgyzstan highly appreciates the significant outcomes achieved by China in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Aidarbekov said, thanking China for its selfless help for Kyrgyzstan.

Kyrgyzstan regards China as an eternal good neighbor, friend and partner, and will unwaveringly develop China-Kyrgyzstan comprehensive strategic partnership, as well as good neighborliness and friendship with China, Aidarbekov said, adding that Kyrgyzstan is willing to deepen bilateral cooperation with China in various fields to benefit the people in both countries.

Kyrgyzstan fully supports the foreign ministers' meeting mechanism between China and five Central Asian countries, and is looking forward to further promoting regional cooperation through this new dialogue platform, so as to create more pragmatic cooperation results, he said. 
Three persons were killed while many sustained injuries as two rival cult groups clashed in the Luebe community, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

An eyewitness, who simply identified himself as Barinor, said members of the Iceland and Greenlanders cult groups fought in broad daylight for supremacy.

He said that the three persons were shot to death in an exchange of gunfire between the rival cult groups in the area.

The spokesman of the Police Command in Rivers, Nnamdi Omoni, a superintendent of police, confirmed the development, adding that normalcy had since been restored in the area.

He said three persons died in the clash, contrary to media reports that 10 persons were killed.

READ ALSO:

Among the deceased persons that lost their lives are two cultists and a chief who is said to be supporting one of the cult groups.

Reports from the Divisional Police Officer in the area revealed that the cultists stormed Luebe community and went for their perceived opponents, he said.

Mr Omoni said security has been beefed up in the community to forestall possible reprisal attacks from the rival cult groups.

(NAN)
US Senator Patrick Leahy, in a letter dated August 18, 2020, has requested the Department of Homeland Security to delay the furlough of 13,400 employees in the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) planned for August 30.

According to him, these furloughs, which would bring the immigration system to a standstill, are unwarranted at the back of the surplus work the agency has.

In short, this reflects the recent immigration trouble in the US. According to immigration experts, it is an attempt to further delay visa processing as the country is set to vote on November 3, 2020.

If it is implemented, Indians are likely to be one of the worst-hit, given that they are the largest in both immigrant (green card) and non-immigrant (H-1B and L-1) categories.

Why worry about the US agencys budget, furloughs?

The USCIS administers the immigration system. The agency is the one that carries out visa extension renewals or the issuance of fresh visas.

For instance, if you want to apply for, extend or renew an H-1B visa, you have to apply to the USCIS. For green card and naturalisation processes too, USCIS is in charge.

Now, the agency says they are furloughing 13,000 of the 20,000 employees at the at the back of budget deficits. The decision has been taken after the request for a $1.2-billion bailout package with the government failed. The employees will be furloughed from August 30.

Joel Yanovich, Immigration Attorney, Murthy Law Firm in the US, said: If these furloughs happen, it seems likely that nearly all forms of immigration handled by the USCIS would come to a virtual standstill.

How much should this worry Indians?

Quite a bit, considering that they are, by far, the largest beneficiaries of employment-related visas such as H-1B, L-1 and dependent visas.

In FY19, Indians accounted for about 70 percent of the close to 2 lakh H-1B visas issued by the US government, including fresh visas, renewals and extensions. In the same year, close to 25 percent of the 77,000 L-1 visas issued/renewed were for Indians.

About 85 percent of the H-4 (spouse/family of H-1B visa holder) visas issued were for Indians, out of the total 1.26 lakh visas issued in the same year. These are based on the data released by the US Department of Labour.

In addition, according to a 2018 data by CATO.org, there are about 5 lakh Indians in the green card queue in the US.

Netra Chavan, who runs one of the largest Facebook groups for H-1B and H-4 visa holders, said COVID-19 had already delayed the processing of H-4 and L-2 Employment Authorisation Document (EAD), which enables H-1B and L-1 spouses, respectively, to work in the US.

It has been pending for more than 200 days, and some for 265 days. These furloughs will only delay the processing, she added.

These delays have resulted in job losses for many. For instance, of the 800 people Chavan surveyed in her group, close to 271 people have already lost jobs and close to 300 people could lose job anytime now.

Yanovich, the immigration attorney, pointed out: If the USCIS now processes cases like a slow-moving train, after furloughs, it would be like a train that has just derailed and crashed into the side of a mountain.

Impact on Indians

Multiple techies Moneycontrol spoke narrated how the move has affected them and their families.

Teena, working in an AI research and development team, said she has been in stress mode for a while now.

This is not just about this issue or that in the US. I will never be able to settle peacefully since I wont know if my visa would be rejected or not, she said.

Vinod and his wife Vinaya, who came back to India and were rejoiced at the relaxations announced around H-1B recently, are not sure about going back to the US. Vinod would be going back to the same company he was working with before COVID-19, and, hence, he qualifies. Vinaya is a dependent.

Teena, Vinod and Vinaya are assumed names.

We can apply for the visa in India and we will probably get it. But the uncertainty of what next is making us stop, she said.

Chavan pointed out that it has hit students as well, since their H-4 renewals are still pending. So they cannot even apply for college admissions. For some, the application has been pending since February or in some cases since November, she added.

Is this warranted?

According to immigration experts, as Senator Leahy pointed out, probably not.

The USCIS claim that it doesnt have enough funding might not be entirely right. I am troubled by the fact that USCIS is still proceeding with furloughs for this fiscal year despite the fact that the agency is consistently projecting to end the fiscal year with a sizeable carry-over balance. The resulting carry-over balance exists even after you factor in paying the staff through the fiscal year, Leahy said in his letter.

A Forbes article explained that, from October 2019 till March 2020, the USCIS got more customer volumes compared to last year before COVID-19. It also added that things returned to normal by June 2020 and operations started.

The budget deficit, the article said, could be in the range of $250 million, much lesser than the $1.2 billion USCIS wanted as a bailout package.

That is why, for some, this furlough is a delaying tactic right before elections. I think that Trump (and Stephen Miller, advisor to the President) would be thrilled if the USCIS essentially stopped processing all cases. The election is very likely playing into all of this, commented an immigration attorney around these recent developments.
MEMPHIS, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cognate BioServices, Inc. announced today the appointments of Timothy Moore and Steven Kasok as independent non-executive members of its Board of Directors.

"We are excited to welcome Tim Moore and Steve Kasok to our Board of Directors. They bring decades of leadership in key commercial areas of cell and gene therapy. We are thrilled to be able to work with them as we aggressively scale the business to meet the needs of our clients. Tim and Steve's counsel and expertise will bring additional highly relevant experience to our Board and help strengthen Cognate's core competencies in the commercial scale-up of its global operations, ultimately to better serve our clients and the patients they serve," said J. Kelly Ganjei, Cognate CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Mr. Steven Kasok brings considerable experience to the Cognate Board. He has served as Chief Financial Officer and co-founder of two very successful companies in the CDMO space. Most recently, Steve co-founded Brammer Bio and served as a board member and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to Brammer, Steve co-founded Gallus BioPharmaceuticals and was Chief Financial Officer. Both Brammer and Gallus were acquired and are now part of Thermo Fisher Scientific. In his roles as Chief Financial Officer, Steve had direct responsibility for finance, human resources, information technology, and the legal functions. Before Brammer and Gallus, Steve served as Vice President and Treasurer of Millipore Corporation (acquired by Merck KGaA); Chief Financial Officer of Cabot Supermetals, Treasurer and Business Development Officer at Haemonetics Corp., and held a variety of roles within Converse Inc. and GE. Steve earned a B.S. in finance from Clarkson University and a M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Mr. Tim Moore is currently President and Chief Operating Officer of Pact Pharma. Tim has over three decades of leadership experience in biopharmaceutical manufacturing and operations. Prior to joining PACT, he served as Executive Vice President, Technical Operations at Kite, a Gilead Company, since March of 2016. During this time Mr. Moore was responsible for overseeing the process development, manufacturing, quality and supply chain for the launch of Yescarta, one of the first CAR T therapies to be developed, manufactured and commercialized, as well as advancement of the Kite pipeline. In addition, Mr. Moore globally expanded the biopharmaceutical operations to serve and support the US, EU, as well as key partners in Asia. Prior to Kite, Mr. Moore served as the Senior Vice President, Head of Global Technical Operations  Biologics of Genentech, Inc. and as a member of the Genentech Executive Committee since 2010. In this role, Mr. Moore oversaw global leadership for more than 7,500 professionals across 10 internal sites and over 37 contract manufacturing organizations, as well as global manufacturing and end-to-end quality supply performance of more than 20 biological product families. Prior to that, Mr. Moore was Genentech's Senior Vice President, Global Supply Chain and Global Engineering from 2007 to 2010. Previously, Mr. Moore served as Vice President, Operations at ZLB Behring (formerly Aventis Behring). He is currently a member of ISPE, PDA and has been a part of the Executive Committee of BioPhorum and serves as a Board member for Cerus. Mr. Moore received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Tulsa University and a M.S. in Engineering Management from Northwestern University.

About Cognate BioServices, Inc.

Cognate is the leading CDMO for the development and manufacturing of autologous and allogeneic cell and gene therapy products. We are a dynamic, results-driven, organization focused on providing the broadest range of commercialization services to regenerative medicine, cellular immunotherapy and advance cell therapy companies. Cognate provides a unique combination of custom services to companies across all points of clinical and commercial development specializing in mid to late stage clinical trials and supporting our clients through product scale-up into commercial manufacturing. Cognate applies the knowledge and expertise of its business, scientific and technical teams to successfully develop autologous and allogeneic products across multiple cell-based technology platforms from start to finish.

Cognate is supported by leading shareholder EW Healthcare Partners, as well as Medivate Partners, Blackrock, and a Middle East Sovereign Wealth Fund who continue supporting the business and its expansion activities.

www.cognatebioservices.com

About Cobra Biologics

Cobra Biologics, a Cognate BioServices company, is a leading international gene therapy CDMO with GMP approved facilities in both the UK and Sweden, each with an extensive track record in serving our global client base. Cobra offers a broad range of integrated and stand-alone services for both the clinical and commercial gene therapy market. As a trusted provider and a key partner in the drug development and commercialization process, Cobra takes pride in manufacturing excellence and comprehensive range of services to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. For more information please visit: www.cobrabio.com

For more information, please contact James Wilkerson at [email protected]

SOURCE Cognate BioServices

Related Links

http://www.cognatebioservices.com


A yearling bear has been making its round in the Village of Monroe in Orange County. The bear climbed two trees and ran along Mill Pond. Environmental Conservation Police Officers tranquilized the cub and returned it to nearby state land.

That incident and others took place between July 27 through Aug. 15. All specifics below were supplied by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

Bear in Downtown Monroe  Orange County

On Aug. 14, ECOs Duchene and Newell responded to Mill Pond in the village of Monroe, Orange County, for reports of a bear in a tree in a busy part of town. When the Officers arrived, they found what appeared to be a yearling bear about 50 feet up a tree. The Monroe Police Department, already on site, assisted with public safety. After a short time, the bear descended the tree and began to run along Mill Pond before climbing another tree along a busy road. DEC wildlife staff members Matt Merchant, Deena Brabant-Oatman, and Jonathan Russell responded, tranquilized the juvenile bear, and removed it from the tree. With help from Monroe Police Chief Guzman and Sergeant Tenaglia, DEC Officers and staff were able to weigh, measure, and tag the juvenile bear before it was transported to nearby State lands and released unharmed.

Illegal Turkey Take  Westchester County

On July 27, a Westchester County man appeared in the Town of Mamaroneck Court to answer charges from the illegal taking of a turkey from a roadway. Back on May 7, ECO Schneider responded to a call for assistance from Mamaroneck Police for reports of a turkey shot from the roadway at approximately 7 p.m. ECO Schneider photographed the scene and spoke to a witness who described a van in the area at the time of the shooting and provided a license plate number. The following day, ECO Schneider turned the case over to ECO Tompkins who is assigned to Westchester County. ECO Tompkins interviewed nearby residents who may have witnessed the incident and reviewed video from a homeowner with surveillance cameras pointed at the road where the turkey was believed to have been shot. The videos showed the turkey dead on the side of the road with the van in question stopped as a passenger exited the vehicle and picked it up. ECO Tompkins tracked down the owner of the van, identified as Mark Luceno of Mamaroneck, and spoke to him about the incident. When presented with the evidence, Luceno gave a full written confession describing how he shot the turkey from the side of the road with his compound bow while his wife drove. He was issued six tickets for illegally taking protected wildlife, taking a turkey during closed hours, use of a motor vehicle to take small game, discharging a bow from across a public highway, discharging a bow within 150 feet of a dwelling, and failure to tag a turkey as required by law. Luceno agreed to civil penalties in court and paid a $500 penalty.

Tangled Osprey  Suffolk County

On Aug. 12, a concerned personal watercraft rider contacted ECO Perkins reporting an osprey hanging from its nest with its foot wrapped in fishing line. The nest was in the State Boat Channel near the Cedar Beach Marina in the town of Babylon. With help from Town of Babylon Bay Constables, ECO Perkins boarded a boat to reach the nest and used a pair of shears to cut the fishing line tangled around the ospreys foot. Once free, the osprey flew away without showing signs of injury.

Tomhannock Clean-up Day - Rensselaer County

On Aug. 15, ECOs Canzeri and Crain teamed up with the Rensselaer County Conservation Alliance to help clean up an area around the Tomhannock Reservoir. The reservoir provides drinking water to approximately 135,000 residents in three counties and is open for fishing year-round. The reservoir is notable for its walleye and carp, including a state record carp exceeding 50 pounds, but also contains healthy populations of black bass, yellow perch, bullhead, chain pickerel, and panfish. DEC maintains a fishing access site at the reservoir and has an agreement with the city of Troy to patrol and enforce laws related to hunting, fishing, pollution, and water quality. ECOs respond to complaints and proactively patrol the 5.5-mile-long waterbody all year. Approximately 47 volunteers participated in the cleanup, including New York State Assemblyman Jake Ashby. ECOs Canzeri and Crain provided health and safety compliance checks on top of assisting with the cleanup efforts. The event went well with beautiful weather and more than 50 full contractor garbage bags were collected.

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Exile Group Urges US To Route Proceeds From Iran's Confiscated Fuel To Workers On Strike In Iran

Radio Farda August 19, 2020

Iranian Revival, a pro-monarchy political action group also known as Farashgard, is urging United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to donate the proceeds from the sale of confiscated Iranian gasoline tankers to support the families of striking workers in Iran.

On August 12, the U.S. seized over one million barrels of Iranian gasoline from four tankers traveling from Iran to Venezuela. Pompeo has expressed the government's intention, if the gasoline proceeds are forfeited in U.S. courts, to award the proceeds from the sale of the confiscated cargo to families of Americans killed in terrorist operations in which Iran has been involved.

"We would like to offer an alternative that would advance America's interest in punishing the world's top sponsor of terror while also lending practical support to the Iranian people's movement for democracy," Frashgard said in a letter to Secretary Pompeo, suggesting the allocation of the proceeds to an Iran "strike fund."

The opposition group, which was formed in exile in September 2018 and is close to the exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi, is supportive of Iranian regime change, advocating for a secular democracy either through a republic or a constitutional monarchy determined by the people of Iran.

Helping the families of Iranian workers on strike "would aid the people's movement to overcome the regime that has brutalized them and terrorized the Middle East region and the world for over four decades," Farashgard wrote to Pompeo.

The group also offered its assistance to the U.S. Department of State to implement their proposal, adding that such an action would be in keeping with "America's proud legacy of supporting the Solidarity movement in Poland, an effort instrumental to toppling Communism."

Farashgard expressed support for the U.S. administration's maximum-pressure strategy, calling it "highly effective in exposing, discrediting, and degrading" the regime.

According to reports published on social networks and unofficial trade unions, workers at Iran's oil and gas refineries and some electric power plants, as well as railway workers and employees of the massive Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industries, are currently on strike in protest to their impoverished conditions and are demanding overdue wages.

The Iranian Labor Law does not recognize the right to strike for workers, and the regime suppresses labor unions and activists who demand citizens' freedom to strike.

Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/exile-group-urges-us -to-route-proceeds-from-iran-s-confiscated-fuel-to- workers-on-strike-in-iran-/30792131.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 Flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Former President John Dramani Mahama has challenged President Akufo-Addo to a debate on the records of their respective governments in the area of infrastructure.



Mr Mahama's challenge comes days after Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia said the Akufo-Addo government has constructed more infrastructure projects (17,000) in less than four years than the NDC had managed in eight years.



Addressing residents of the Ketu-South District as part of a four-day tour of the Volta Region yesterday, Mr Mahama said a debate would bring a conclusion to the matter.



Listen to the audio below;





Mr Mahama said: "In 2016, when I was talking about the value of infrastructure, friends on the other side said we don't eat infrastructure, we don't eat roads. That was what they said.



"Today, I can see a scramble to grab even KVIPs and any infrastructure and tout it as an achievement. But it is easy to settle the issue of infrastructure. After all, the President says this election is going to be an election of track records, comparing his track record to my track record.



"We can settle it easily, lets have a debate between two of us, the two Presidents. Let Nana Akufo-Addo come and sit down, let me sit down and let's debate our records. I am willing to present myself for a debate, any day, anytime, anywhere and we will settle the matter once and for all".



Background



During his presentation of the Akufo-Addo government's infrastructure record last Tuesday, Dr Bawumia revealed what he said were staggering disparities in the value of similar projects undertaken by the erstwhile John Mahama government and current projects by the Akufo-Addo government.



According to Dr Bawumia, the cost of projects undertaken by the Mahama government, on a comparative value for money analysis, appear to be quite outrageous.



For instance, the Vice President said while the NPP government is constructing four major interchanges; Tema, Pokuase, Tamale and Obetsebi Lamptey interchanges at a cost of $289m, the Mahama administration built the Kwame Nkrumah interchange alone at a cost of $260m.



For the Pokuase interchange, which he said is 75% complete, Dr Bawumia explained that the loan agreement for the project was signed in November 2016 for a three-tier interchange, but the Akufo-Addo government renegotiated for a four-tier interchange without any increase in cost.

Source: Graphiconline.com









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The viral fan Twitter account for actress Ana de Armas has been reactivated, after having disappeared from the social media platform earlier this week.

And in a statement tweeted out on Wednesday, the account's owner explained the reasons behind their impromptu deactivation and how they plan to move forward with their content.

'This account has always been one of absolute support for Ana de Armas. This account would not exist in the first place if I was not a fan of hers. Let me emphasize that: I am a fan of Ana de Armas,' began the owner, whose account goes by @ArmasUpdates.

Statement: In a statement tweeted out on Wednesday, the @ArmasUpdates' owner explained the reasons behind their impromptu deactivation and how they plan to move forward with their content

The statement then went on to address the viral fame that the account originally achieved by tweeting out and commentating on 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 went as far as to block it on Twitter.

The statement continued: 'The past few months have been a whirlwind ever since I applied a tone of constructive criticism to posts of candid photographs. This tone was so that I can take control of a narrative, even though it is not mine to begin with, and make people know that, as an Ana de Armas fan, I am aware that she should not have allowed herself to to be portrayed by the paparazzi in an unfavorable light during our current moment in time.'

The account owner was referencing the current coronavirus pandemic and de Armas' frequent - and sometimes mask-free - public outings.

For her: 'This account has always been one of absolute support for Ana de Armas. This account would not exist in the first place if I was not a fan of hers. Let me emphasize that: I am a fan of Ana de Armas,' began the owner, whose account goes by @ArmasUpdates; Ana pictured in 2019

'Furthermore, this tone was also used to highlight the inaction with her platform for social causes that need attention. There has never been malicious or harmful intent with my account; I was just trying to get my frustration out there that my idol could improve and be a better public figure.'

@ArmasUpdates then revealed that they deactivated the Twitter page 'voluntarily' in order to 'take a short break' for their mental health.

'For the sake of my mental health, I voluntarily deactivated this account to take a short break. It got to the point where there was hate coming from all sides,' they explained.

'For the first time, I felt that my account was a bubble for hate  even directed towards me, personally, as the owner of the account. Nonetheless, I want to take responsibility for the indirect nature of my posts allowing a breeding ground of bullying, misogyny, and hate speech in relation to Ana in the comments sections for her public behavior, especially involving the relationship she is in currently.'

Viral fame: The statement then went on to address the viral fame that the account originally achieved by tweeting out and commentating on paparazzi photos of the 32-year-old Knives Out star, who is often pictured with her boyfriend Ben Affleck , 48; Ana pictured in 2019

They claimed to 'condemn' all of the malicious dialogue occurring the threads of their tweets and that they only aim to attract genuine fans of the star to the account.

'Moving forward, I will be careful with what I post on the account, since I understand that not everyone shares my sense of humor and this account is clearly tied to how Ana de Armas is perceived by others.

'The mission of this fan account is not to tear her down, but to celebrate & respect Golden Globe nominee and movie star Ana de Arms. From now on, I will make sure to uphold that,' the statement concluded.

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.

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

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.

The admin, who called himself a 'dedicated cinephile,' originally wanted to spice up photos of Ana's daily routines with his humorous captions.

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

'There's 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 doesn't care that paps are outside her house and she's going to serve a look no matter what, even if that means just going to pick up her dog's 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.

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.
A 30-minute dose of radiotherapy administered inside the body is as effective for early breast cancer as conventional therapy lasting up to six weeks, a landmark study has revealed.

The treatment - known as targeted intraoperative radiotherapy (TARGIT-IORT) - did not affect patients chances of survival or risk of cancer returning compared to another common treatment.

It works through a small ball-shaped 'intrabeam' device which is placed into the affected breast after surgery.

Available on the NHS since 2018, many doctors have been holding back from prescribing it as they awaited further research.

A 30-minute treatment is just as effective for early breast cancer as conventional therapy lasting up to six weeks, a landmark study has revealed. Pictured: Stock of a mammogram

The research was led by the inventors of TARGIT-IORT - Jayant S Vaidya, Jeffrey S Tobias and Michael Baum, from University College London.

They made the find after monitoring 2,298 women aged 45 and over who were eligible for breast conversion surgery in the UK, Australia, US and seven other countries.

Half were treated with the traditional external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) - where patients are required to make repeated visits to the hospital so that a laser can be fired at their breast.

And half were treated with a single dose of targeted intraoperative radiotherapy (TARGIT-IORT).

WHAT IS TARGIT-IORT? Targeted intraoperative radiotherapy (TARGIT-IORT) works through a small ball-shaped 'intrabeam' device which is placed into the affected breast after surgery. The small applicator is positioned precisely within the breast cavity, at the site of tumour, using carefully placed sutures, according to the developers from University College London writing on the website TARGIT. It allows the doctors to deliver a focused dose of radiotherapy into the space where the breast cancer had been. So one benefit of the treatment is that it avoids radiation to the skin and other healthy tissues such as the heart and lungs. The TARGIT technique and the Intrabeam device was developed by clinical academics at University College London in 1998 in collaboration with the manufacturers. The single dose treatment is given over about 25 minutes, the applicator then is removed and skin closed. Advertisement

Conventional radiotherapy involves repeat doses to the whole breast over several days after surgery.

TARGIT-IORT is the combination of targeted radiotherapy restricted to the area around the tumour given immediately after surgery.

It was given as a single dose immediately after surgery as part of the same operation and under the same anaesthetic, while EBRT was given as a standard daily dose for three to six weeks after surgery.

The women, who were all in the early stages of breast cancer, were then monitored for five years to see if they faced different outcomes.

The results, published in the British Medical Journal, revealed that the methods had outcomes with no 'clinically significant' differences, despite the variation in treatment times.

TARGIT-IORT was linked with fewer side effects and no difference in survival or likelihood of the cancer returning.

After five years of monitoring, the local recurrence risk was 2.11 per cent for TARGIT-IORT compared with 0.95 per cent for EBRT.

But the difference of 1.16 per cent was not considered clinically significant, the authors said, which means it could have just been by chance.

The team also found that in the five years after surgery, there were 13 additional local recurrences for TARGIT-IORT compared with EBRT.

Some 24 out of 1,140 women who had TARGIT-IORT had a recurrence in the five years compared with 11 out of 1,158.

But the researchers said there were 14 fewer deaths with TARGIT-IORT compared with EBRT - 42 compared with 56.

There were 14 fewer deaths with TARGIT-IORT compared with EBRT - 42 compared with 56

Researchers said that over a longer follow-up period - averaging 8.6 years - there were no major differences in the recurrence-free survival, mastectomy-free survival, overall survival and breast cancer deaths between the treatment groups.

Patients also suffered fewer side effects, but the results were not detailed in the paper. It may have been as a result of having one singular treatment rather than a course.

Researchers said the single dose of targeted radiotherapy during surgery could replace the need for extra hospital visits as part of a regular course.

Jayant Vaidya, lead author of the study, told The Times that this is 'good news' as there is 'less pain, a better cosmetic outcome and better quality of life'.

'With (the method), women can have their surgery and radiation treatment for breast cancer at the same time.'

Researchers said that for a large proportion of early breast cancer patients, the treatment is an effective alternative to EBRT.

They added that single-dose TARGIT-IORT during lumpectomy 'should be accessible to healthcare providers and discussed with patients when surgery for breast cancer is being planned'.

The treatment is currently only available at a small number of NHS clinics.

They study was a randomised design, had a large sample size, a long duration and adherence to follow-up, which the team said made their findings 'reliable and robust'.

But they added there were limitations affecting the results, such as the possible over-diagnosis of non-invasive local recurrence, and not collecting all the background risk factors for deaths from non-breast cancer causes.

Breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer in women and the second most common cancer overall.

There were over two million new cases in 2018, according to the World Cancer Research Fund.

In 2016, around 54,500 women and around 360 men were diagnosed in the UK, according to Cancer Research UK.

One in seven women in the UK develop breast cancer during their lifetime, and most (around 98 per cent) will survive their cancer for five years or more after diagnosis.
- Edo First Lady, Betsy Obaseki, has joined the PDP campaign train in the state

- Obaseki has been sensitising women in the state on the need to support her husband's re-election bid

- The Edo First Lady recently met with wives of Dukes (Enigies) in furtherance of her campaign

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Edo First Lady, Betsy Obaseki, has met with wives of Dukes (Enigies) in the state to sensitise them to the need to re-elect Governor Godwin Obaseki, in the September 19 governorship election.

Obaseki asked the Enigies' wives to judge as mothers whether it is in the best interest of the people to mortgage the future of the state and the children, to satisfy a few people and whether the state has not fared better in the past three and a half years under Governor Obaseki.

Betsy Obaseki poses for a photo with the wives of Benin Dukes after meeting them. Photo Credit: @EdoStateGovt / Twitter

Source: Facebook

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She further said that people get the government they deserve and that now is the time for the people of Edo state to stand for good governance.

The Enigies' wives assured the First Lady of their unflinching support for Governor Godwin Obasekis second term bid.

They cited his developmental strides in the educational sector, road construction, human capital development, empowerment and job creation among others.

The coordinator of the Enigie Wives Association, Stella Aigbe, said she is campaigning for good governance based on what they have seen on the ground.

She noted: I am campaigning for good governance which we currently have under Governor Godwin Obaseki. I am happy with this government.

Governor Obaseki's supporters have also been singing his praises on social media.

Sodiq Tade wrote: "Don't let anybody deceive you that Obaseki didn't perform. Obaseki is for the Edo peoples interest and not some funny godfathers such as Oshiomole and Tinubu. Edo isn't Lagos!"

Kelvin Odnaz wrote: "I like the way most young Nigerians are taking a stance against godfatherism. Lagosians can continue being subservient to their own godfather. We stand against Oshiomhole's godfather campaign. If Obaseki finishes his term and wants to be a godfather, we will also speak against it."

Meanwhile, the traditional ruler of Ewatto Kingdom, in Esan South East local government area of Edo state, His Royal Highness, Sylvanus Ikhumhen, has reassured Governor Obaseki of the unalloyed support of the Esan people in the forthcoming election in the state.

The Onojie of Ewatto described the governor as the Messiah that Edo people have been waiting for.

According to him, Governor Obasekis re-election will ensure continuity of his sterling performance and consolidation of good governance in the state.

Legit.ng had earlier reported that Governor Obaseki, on Friday, August 14, urged his supporters in Edo state to go out en-masse and cast their votes for the PDP in the election.

The governor admonished his supporters to not only vote, but keep an eagle-eye on the process and the results as they unfold.

Recall that Governor Obaseki recently has approved all outstanding promotions in the state's public service.

The Edo state government has approved all outstanding promotions in the state public service. Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are by this announcement directed to commence the process of the promotion exercise of eligible officers without delay.

All accounting officers are to, with immediate effect ensure strict compliance with this directive, a government statement announced.

Read more on the Edo election here.

Primate Ayodele: Oshiomhole should stop fighting God's project | Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng
SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- USAA announced today its commitment of an additional $30 million to benefit 24 organizations assisting military families during these challenging economic times. The donation is part of USAA's long standing mission to support military and veterans' families, and in recognition of the specific impact the COVID-19 health crisis has had on the military community.

The $30 million commitment marks the largest one-time philanthropic contribution in USAA's nearly 100-year history and awards $20 million to U.S. military aid societies and organizations, including:

Army Emergency Relief

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society

Air Force Aid Society

Coast Guard Mutual Assistance

Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States , We Care for America Foundation

, We Care for America Foundation American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces

This funding will help military aid societies provide zero-interest loans and emergency grants to eligible service members and their families to assist with financial emergencies, virtual schooling costs and college educational expenses. This contribution gives military aid organizations a lasting benefit. As interest-free loans are repaid, the funds can help new recipients well into the future.

Another $10 million has been committed to nonprofit organizations that enhance veteran and spouse employment prospects, assist with childcare costs for junior enlisted military families, support virtual delivery of education and offer emotional support for children.

"This gift honors the resolve and sacrifice of our military community as well as the challenges they face by making sure they and their families have the support they need," USAA President and CEO Wayne Peacock said. "Caring for military families is our passion, whether it's through serving our members or supporting military-related causes. We hope this contribution provides vital, long-lasting support to the military community at a time when they are essential to our nation's recovery efforts."

Since the pandemic's onset, military families have seen the emergence of new challenges unique to the community, including interrupted moves and associated expenses, extended deployments and domestic support, among others. According to research from the COVID-19 Military Support Initiative, 25 percent of active military families were separated from their servicemember due to deployment or pandemic-supporting activations during the first three months of the pandemic. Thirty percent of military spouses are expected to experience unemployment, nearly three times the level of their civilian peers.

Besides this historic donation, USAA has taken a number of actions to offer financial relief, including the return of more than $1 billion in dividends to policyholders and offering payment assistance programs for eligible members on credit cards, consumer loans, mortgages and home equity loans and lines of credit. Additionally, USAA and The USAA Foundation, Inc. previously contributed nearly $11 million to COVID-19 crisis relief causes. For more information about USAA's COVID-19 relief efforts, visit usaa.com/coronavirus.

To learn more about the unique challenges facing today's military families, visit bluestarfam.org.

USAA

Founded in 1922 by a group of military officers, USAA is among the leading providers of insurance, banking and investment and retirement solutions to nearly 13 million members of the U.S. military, veterans who have honorably served and their families. Headquartered in San Antonio, Tex., USAA has offices in seven U.S. cities and three overseas locations and employs more than 35,000 people worldwide. Each year, the company contributes to national and local nonprofits in support of military families and communities where employees live and work. For more information about USAA, follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@USAA), or visit usaa.com.

Contact: USAA

[email protected]

SOURCE USAA

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A US Postal worker delivers Amazon boxes outside of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on October 11, 2018 in New York City. Spencer Platt | Getty Images

In early July, business owner Zach Williams found himself in search of 200 packages, which were lost in Detroit's U.S. Postal Service distribution hub. Normally, it would take a day for the shipment to get checked into the facility, but this time, it took three weeks, said Williams, whose Maryland-based business, Flashback Limited, sells video game accessories. Growing frustrated, he got in touch with a Post Office supervisor, who told him the packages were accidentally left behind on a semi truck in the Detroit facility. Shortly after, the items were shipped out. Williams attributes the mishap to ongoing delays created by the pandemic, which have hampered the USPS and other carriers. "Every once in a while something gets missed, but that's the first time that happened to me to that degree," he added. The incident is an example of what could become a recurring headache for small and big online businesses if problems with the U.S. Postal Service persist. The Postal Service faces a tough road ahead. Its financial woes were exacerbated by the pandemic, and critical funding is tied up in the latest coronavirus relief package, which President Donald Trump has rejected as part of his fight against mail-in voting. The USPS also faces operational challenges after recently installed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy limited overtime and prohibited workers from making late delivery trips. On Tuesday, Reuters reported that DeJoy would pause the roll out of those initiatives until after the November presidential election. The changes instituted by DeJoy, in addition to the coronavirus pandemic, have coincided with reports of widespread mail delays like those experienced by Williams. Still, the Postal Service is largely operating without delays for many Americans nationwide. In June, USPS delivered 93.7% of first-class mail packages on time, according to ShipMatrix, a software provider that analyzes shipping data. That's in line with or better than UPS or FedEx, which reported on-time delivery rates of 94% and 91.5%, respectively, during the same period. However, it's still down from May, when the USPS delivered 94.9% of packages on time.

Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards

"Even at 93.7%, that 6.3% can be hundreds of thousands of packages," said Satish Jindel, founder of ShipMatrix. "It's not a great number, but they're moving tens of millions of packages per day, and you're not going to hear about the good cases."

A 'key enabler' of e-commerce

The USPS is relied upon not only by small businesses who sell goods via their own websites, but also sprawling online marketplaces operated by Amazon, EBay, Etsy, as well as major retailers like Walmart and Target. Growth in package shipping from online retailers like Amazon has consistently been a bright spot in the Post Office's financial results, amid declines in shipments of letters and magazines. Amazon has built up a vast logistics and fulfillment operation across the country, but it still relies on the Postal Service to handle some last-mile deliveries when it's not using its own contractors. An Amazon spokesperson declined to comment on what percentage of its packages are delivered by USPS, but some analysts estimate the Postal Service delivers 40% of Amazon's orders. UPS, DHL and FedEx also rely on the Postal Service to handle a portion of their last-mile deliveries via the same Parcel Select service used by Amazon. The service allows carriers and companies like Amazon to handle the long distance portion of the delivery process, then drop packages off at local Post Offices, where employees handle last-mile deliveries within a certain radius. "In cases where it's not actually profitable for Amazon, UPS, FedEx or DHL to make the delivery, they actually rely on USPS," said Mario Paganini, head of marketing at Shippo, which provides software to connect businesses with shipping services. "It's much more cost effective to bring a large volume of halfway or all the way across the country and then have the USPS do the last-mile delivery." For small business owners, the USPS is often the most affordable and reliable shipping option available. Roughly 89% of the small- and medium-sized businesses that use Shippo select the USPS as their primary carrier, Paganini said. Shippo doesn't disclose how many SMBs use its services, but they make up the majority of the services' 50,000-plus active customers. "[The USPS] is a pretty key enabler of small business," Paganini said. "This is something that a lot of people overlook and take for granted." John Von Colln, founder of on-demand poster printing company Shortrunposters.com, said the Postal Service typically charges about $5 per order for first-class mail, while UPS's shipping rates can cost more than double that price. Von Colln said it's important that his company offer affordable shipping costs for cheap, lightweight items like posters to keep customers happy. "People don't want to pay more for shipping than the product itself," Von Colln added.

Push to raise prices
Two young Adelaide women who flew into Perth without an exemption allegedly escaped hotel quarantine to party with a local rapper.

Isata Jalloh, 19, and Banchi Techana, 22, will face Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday morning, accused of leaving the Novotel Hotel Perth around 1.30am on Tuesday and catching a taxi to the Coolbellup flat of an amateur musician called Siri Kidd.

"I don't know, it's so crazy, I didn't even know this was all happening, this is surprising me too," he told Nine News Perth.

"I've met them once before, that was it, I didn't even know they were coming because they told us they wouldn't be able, or be allowed, to come so we thought they wouldn't be coming you know ... and then they just rocked up."
This is an opinion column.

Alabama Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh said his bill would send a message to Washington.

Instead, it almost sent Alabamians tax refunds to what federal prosecutors now say was a scam.

And the Republican state Senate leader has again dragged his caucus into another embarrassment.

The bill Marsh sponsored and shepherded through the state Senate would have allowed taxpayers to forward their state refunds to We Build the Wall Inc., a non-profit that promised to use every penny to build fencing along the Mexican border.

I think its a way for Alabamians to say to the president and to the nation that we think strong border security is important, Marsh said. We want to promote that. We want Washington to build that wall.

On Thursday, federal prosecutors arrested four people tied to the nonprofit, including former Trump political adviser Steve Bannon and We Build the Wall CEO Brian Kolfage. According to the indictment, the defendants promised We Build the Wall donors that 100 percent of their donations would go to building a border wall and that none of the money would pay the defendants.

Instead, Kolfage took at least $350,000 from the scheme, along with payments to Bannon and the other codefendants, prosecutors said.

At the time Marsh proposed his bill, there were reasons to be skeptical of the nonprofits plan. GoFundMe had canceled a crowdsourcing campaign Kolfage set up. The nonprofit had failed to make good on self-imposed deadlines for building its wall on private land. And former employees had accused Kolfage of fabricating news stories and pushing conspiracy theories on his website, Freedom Daily, to make money.

Despite all the warning signs, Marsh said he contributed his own money to We Build the Wall and he sponsored the bill in the Legislature.

The state Senate, where Marsh has considerable sway over whose legislation gets passed, approved the We Build the Wall bill on a party-line, 23-to-6, vote.

The Alabama House, thankfully, never took the bill up for consideration.

Legislative leadership has a lot of discretion over the flow of legislation, but unofficially Marshs comes with another duty  keeping other lawmakers out of trouble, navigating away from embarrassing screw-ups, and protecting the caucus from ideologues and hotheads who draw national attention for all the wrong reasons.

But in recent years, Marsh has been the one getting his caucus into trouble.

Earlier this year, Marsh tried to wrestle control of $1.8 billion of CARES Act funds away from Gov. Kay Ivey, but the governor won that battle after she revealed what Marsh wanted to use it for  a pork-laden wish list including $200 million to build a new Alabama State House.

Even after the new State House plan became an object of national ridicule, Marsh continued to defend it.

Marsh has never taken the coronavirus seriously. Throughout the pandemic, Marsh has undermined Iveys efforts to control the spread of the disease and called her safer-at-home order an overreaction. When new coronavirus cases began to rise again in early July, Marsh said that was a good thing. He even said he wanted more people to catch the disease.

Im not as concerned so much as the number of cases, Marsh said. In fact, quite honestly, I want to see more people because we start reaching an immunity if more people have it and get through it.

Marshs political mistakes arent limited to the coronavirus and We Build the Wall. In 2019, he supported a bill that would have gutted Alabama ethics laws. Had the bill passed, it would have made lobbyists gifts to lawmakers legal again, and it would have changed bribes under $5,000 from felonies to misdemeanors.

And Marshs signature legislation, the Alabama Accountability Act, which redirected public education dollars to private schools is faltering, leaving students in private schools in danger of losing scholarships.

Marsh said he wanted his We Build the Wall bill to send a message to Congress, but hes been sending the same message again and again, not to elites in Washington but to his caucus colleagues in Montgomery.

The question is how many more times does he have to send that message before they understand hes not keeping them out of trouble but leading them into it.

When will they get the picture hes not up to the job?

Kyle Whitmire is the state political columnist for the Alabama Media Group.

You can follow his work on his Facebook page, The War on Dumb. And on Twitter. And on Instagram.

More columns by Kyle Whitmire

Once-in-a-generation crisis sorts the Greatest from the Not Good Enough

Welcome to the United States of Alabama

Can Alabamas coronavirus numbers be trusted? Maybe. Sort of. Not exactly.

What the Alabama PSC doesnt want you to see shows all you need to know

Good luck, America! Alabamas given up.

Tuberville was paid $5 million to quit. Now he says $600 is too much for you.

Meet Alabamas latest Lost Cause: Will Dismukes

This ship is going to sink

Do your job, Kay Ivey

Alabama Senate leaders coronavirus plan: Get sick, try not to die

There is no plan

Trump ignored facts so he could blame the Black guy

Kay Ivey is not your Mee-Maw: What the governor needs to tell Alabama about COVID-19
The Asokwa Municipal Fire Command of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has begun investigations into a fire outbreak that destroyed about 15 makeshift structures at Kaase-Fari in the Ashanti Region.

The unfortunate incident occurred on the night of Wednesday, August 19.

No casualties were however recorded due to the timely intervention of firefighters.

Fire swept through a number of wooden structures in the area that housed squatters who also sell fuel.

But, officers of the fire Command were able to bring the situation under control a few minutes after they arrived at the scene.

Speaking to Citi News, the Acting Municipal Fire Commander for Asokwa, Bernard Nyemi-Tei noted that the actual cause of the inferno is yet to be established.

He, however, believed the fuel being sold in the area may have caused the fire to spread more quickly.

We had a distress call and we rushed to the scene and when we got there, we realised that the structures were made up of basically wood. They were also housing fuel-petrol, diesel- so that made the fire to spread more. Fortunately, there was no casualty because the fire was brought under control within 10 to 20 minutes. For now, we dont have a clear picture of how the fire started, but once the activity is volatile fuel, we are suspecting that an ignition source came into contact with the fuel. But we are yet to confirm, he said.

This is the fifth major fire incident occurring in parts of the country in less than two weeks.

Parts of the Electoral Commission's (EC) Accra Regional office at Sapeiman near Amasaman caught fire last week. A room that contains electoral materials was affected.

More devastating, however, was the blaze that swept through a slum in Shiashie where over 100 kiosks which serve as shelter for some squatters were burnt to ashes.

In the Western Region, about five stores on Kingston Avenue at the Takoradi Market Circle were up in flames over the weekend.

On Monday, a fire outbreak at Town Council Line, a suburb at Laterbiokoshie in Accra, also destroyed homes of squatters and tonnes of wood fuel.

---citinewsroom
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The de Blasio administration pledged to support Black-owned businesses across New York City Wednesday in an effort to close the racial wealth gap in the city.

The city unveiled the BE NYC initiative Wednesday, which aims to increase the number of Black-owned businesses in New York City, focusing on growing businesses in high-growth industries.

The leading partners in the BE NYC initiative include Ernst & Young, which will provide free one-on-one consulting to businesses to work on their business plans; Goldman Sachs, which will provide access to affordable financing; and Mastercard, which will help business owners to set up virtual storefronts.

Black entrepreneurs built New York City, said Mayor Bill de Blasio. This historic public-private partnership will ensure we can come together to support them, and give them the recognition they have deserved for so long.

BE NYC will help Black-owned businesses connect with business experts, provide them with access to capital and business education, help them with any digital issues they might be facing and will allow business owners to access the BE NYC accelerator, which will include meeting space and technical assistance focusing on launching and growing local Black-owned businesses.

Black-owned businesses are certainly struggling, and helping them grow is part of the broader struggle for racial justice, said J. Phillip Thompson, deputy mayor for strategic policy Initiatives and co-chair of the Racial Inclusion and Equity Taskforce. The commitments made today will provide significant opportunity for these small business owners to grow in new economies and lay the foundation for a more equitable future.

FOLLOW SYDNEY KASHIWAGI ON TWITTER.
(Photo : Pixabay) (Photo : Unsplash) (Photo : Pixabay)

Final approval is given to the 2021 and 2022 schedule of releasing 750 million genetically modified mosquitoes in Florida referred to as a 'Jurassic Park Experiment' aiming to help the prevention of certain diseases carried by the insect.

CNN reported that Monroe County Mosquito Control District had approved the final permission that is needed for the plan to continue. The mosquitoes are set to be released in the Florida Keys, a group of tropical islands in the outskirts of the United State's coast.

Center for Food Safety's press release stated that this is the first approved release of the genetically modified insects in the country. Florida Keys Mosquito Control District (FKMCD) supervised this and approved the request.

The public, however, opposes this initiative, together with some of the scientific community's dispute, saying that this project is a threat to human health and the present environmental risks. The release of the GMO Mosquitoes is a two-year field trial.

"With all the urgent crises facing our nation and the State of Florida - the Covid-19 pandemic, racial injustice, climate change - the administration has used tax dollars and government resources for a Jurassic Park experiment." said Jaydee Hanson, Policy Director for the International Center for Technology Assessment and Center for Food Safety.

"Now the Monroe County Mosquito Control District has given the final permission needed. What could possibly go wrong? We don't know, because EPA unlawfully refused to seriously analyze environmental risks, now without further review of the risks, the experiment can proceed." she added.

This experiment and initiative is a replacement of harmful insecticides that are used to kill disease-carrying mosquitoes.

ALSO READ: NASA Detects a Growing Dent in Magnetic Field; Satellites May Go Haywire

Citizen and Scientific Community's Outcry

Some of the citizens in the State of Florida oppose this initiative of the local government due to the risks it brings to the area.

Barry Wray, Executive Director of the Florida Keys Environmental Coalition, stated that "The Mosquito Control Board has an obligation to our community, not a vendor that's products are risky and untrustworthy. FKMCD wants to proceed with an experiment that may be damaging to public and environmental health and our local economy."

Wray and Hanson's statements are mostly concerned about what the mosquitoes will bring once it is deployed. "True" solutions are needed to benefit the community and ecosystem are what the public and relevant officials ask.

Possible Risks and Advantages

The meeting that was set on Tuesday discussed the advantages of the mosquitoes' deployment in the community. It is said to act as an alternative to insecticides or aerosols that are harmful to the health and well-being of living creatures inhabiting the area.

However, with all the advantages the mosquitoes are set to bring, Oxitec failed to address the risk entailed.



Scientists even noted that this release might trigger a possible mutated hybrid mosquito that will result from the offspring of both GMO and Aedes aegypti.

Genetically Modified Organism- Mosquito

The GMO mosquito is called OX5034, an altered form of a mosquito designed to produce female offsprings that will die in the larval stage.

Only the female mosquitoes of the Aedes aegypti hunts for blood and contracts the disease. The male, on the other hand, feeds only on nectar found in the environment and does not carry the virus or disease commonly detected on mosquitoes.

ALSO READ: The Mystery of the 'Lost Colony' Has Been Answered; What Really Happened to Them?

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Written by Isaiah Alonzo



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Panasonic has verified its technology against the novel coronavirus

Panasonic Corporation has announced that, in collaboration with Mayo Yasugi, Associate Professor, Department of Veterinary Science, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, it has verified the inhibitory effect of the hydroxyl radicals contained in water (nano-sized electrostatic atomised water particle) on the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).

Hydroxyl radicals contained in water are particulate ions containing hydroxyl radicals that are generated by applying a high voltage to moisture in the air. They are characterised by being strongly oxidative and highly reactive. Panasonic has been conducting research on this technology over the past 20 years since 1997, and has verified its effectiveness in a variety of areas, including inhibiting pathogenic microorganism (bacteria, fungi, and viruses) and allergens, breaking down PM 2.5 components that have adverse effects on the human body.

In 2012, Panasonic conducted a virus clearance test with a third-party organisation and confirmed the effectiveness of each of the four categories in terms of biological characteristics. Based on this result, Panasonic announced that "hydroxyl radicals contained in water" technology could be expected to have a inhibitory effect on new viruses.

The novel coronavirus of the current global pandemic is one such new type of virus, and testing with Osaka Prefecture University has now confirmed that the hydroxyl radicals contained in water does have an inhibitory effect on this virus. This testing was carried out in a closed laboratory environment and was not designed to assess its efficacy in uncontrolled living spaces.

Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development of diverse electronics technologies and solutions for customers in the consumer electronics, housing, automotive, and B2B businesses. The company, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2018, has expanded globally and now operates 528 subsidiaries and 72 associated companies worldwide.

Panasonic Vietnam (PV) is the first 100 per cent foreign invested company to assume the role of the country headquarters in Vietnam. As of July 2013, Panasonic Vietnam Group comprises of eight companies including Panasonic Vietnam and its sales division of Panasonic Sales Vietnam (PSV), Panasonic Research & Development Center Vietnam (PRDCV), and five manufacturing companies.

The group currently employs a total workforce of about 8,000 people. In Vietnam, Panasonic is one of the enterprises placing great emphasis on social activities surrounding education and environment.
Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Albuquerque Death Cafes are being held online for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic.

Lola, the ABQ Death Cafe mascot, wears The one who dies with the most toys still dies. t-shirt.

The next online ABQ Death Cafe will take place on Zoom on Sunday, September 13 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time. To get the link to participate, send a note to Gail [at] AGoodGoodbye.com and let her know youd like to join in the conversation.

About Death Cafes

The objective of the Death Cafe is To increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives. Its all about an interesting, unstructured conversation  open and free-flowing with no specific agenda.

Jon Underwood, founder of the Death Cafe movement

The Death Cafe concept was started in the United Kingdom by Jon Underwood. He was influenced by the ideas of Swiss sociologist Bernard Crettaz, who started holding Cafe Mortel events in France and Switzerland. At these events, people come together in a relaxed, confidential and safe setting to discuss death, drink tea (or your favorite beverage) and eat delicious cake or cookies.

Sadly, Jon Underwood died suddenly three years ago at the age of 44 from a brain hemorrhage. It was caused by undiagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia, a cancer of the white blood cells.

Jons mother Sue Barsky Reid and Jons sister Jools Barsky have continued his Death Cafe work, as Jon requested. To date, the Death Cafe movement has grown to more than 11,305 events in 73 countries worldwide (as of August, 2020). For information on how to hold a Death Cafe in your community, review the information at www.DeathCafe.com.

Albuquerque was the site of the second Death Cafe held in the United States. Gail Rubin hosted this pioneering event in September of 2012. Lizzy Miles held the first Death Cafe outside the U.K. in Columbus, Ohio in August of 2012.

Upcoming ABQ Death Cafes

Here is the schedule of upcoming Sunday afternoon Albuquerque Death Cafes, to be held online for the foreseeable future. There will also be daily virtual Death Cafes held as part of the Before I Die New Mexico Virtual Festival, October 30 to November 2, 2020.

October 11, 2020

November 22, 2020

December 20, 2020

Visit www.BeforeIDieNM.com to learn more about the Festival!

Join The Meetup Group

To keep in the loop on upcoming Death Cafes, join the Albuquerque Death Cafe Meetup group. Youll receive notice of upcoming events. Click here to go to the Meetup page.

Your ABQ Death Cafe Host

Gail Rubin, CT, The Doyenne of Death

Albuquerque Death Cafes are hosted by Gail Rubin, Certified Thanatologist, and a pioneering death educator. Rubin is a public speaker, a published author of three books, host of a TV interview series and podcast, a blogger, a funeral industry trade journalist, a Certified Funeral Celebrant, and an innovator in the funeral business.

She created a conversation-starting game called The Newly-Dead Game, introduced the Death Cafe movement in the United States, and held the first Before I Die Festival west of the Mississippi in 2017. Albuquerque Business First named her one of their 2019 Women of Influence.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 18:32:30|Editor: huaxia

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WINDHOEK, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Namibia has recorded 7,853 Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) cases from September 2017 to July 2020, with the majority of cases still from informal settlements in Windhoek and Swakopmund, according to the Health Ministry statistics availed to Xinhua on Thursday.

The Health Ministry said 65 deaths have been recorded so far of which 26 are maternal deaths.

"Generally there is a downward trend in the number of HEV cases, but there is still a need to improve the water and sanitation across the country," the ministry said.

According to the ministry, to contain the outbreak, there is a necessity to embark upon a pro-active, consistent, and sustained implementation of HEV response activities.

"Even though efforts are diverted mainly to COVID-19 pandemic response, there is a beneficial spillover from the sanitation and hygiene practices of COVID-19 interventions to the hepatitis outbreak control," the ministry added.

Furthermore, the ministry said due to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, HEV response seems to have been scaled-down as the Health Ministry and partner organizations have repurposed their staff to focus entirely on the containment of COVID-19 and the National Health Emergency Management Committee meeting does not discuss HEV outbreak anymore.

Namibia declared an HEV outbreak on Dec. 14, 2017, in the Khomas region's Windhoek and the outbreak continued in the region and spread to other regions around April 2018, eventually involving a total of 10 regions. Enditem
For close to four years now, hes shown no interest in putting in the work; no interest in finding common ground; no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends; no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves, Obama said. Donald Trump hasnt grown into the job because he cant.
PACEMAKER BELFAST 20/08/2020 Police carry out a raid on the Saoradh offices on Belfast's Antrim Road.

A series of security alerts across Belfast have now ended, police have said.

It's after four suspicious objects on Ormeau Road and Lavinia Square in south Belfast, and Lepper Street and Victoria Parade in north Belfast were discovered.

Army technical officers declared the objects a hoax.

Chief Inspector Gavin Kirkpatrick said: "In total, 15 homes were evacuated during the alerts, which caused significant disruption to the residents in the area. We thank those directly impacted for their cooperation during this security operation.

"Enquiries are continuing and we would appeal to anyone with any information to contact police on 101 quoting reference 692 20/08/20.

"You can also submit a report online using our non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ . Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/."

The security alerts came after the PSNI arrested nine people across Northern Ireland as part of a major operation against the New IRA.

Police were on Wednesday given three additional days to question them.

On Thursday detectives from the PSNI's Terrorism Investigation Unit searched four locations in Belfast, Dungannon, Newry and Derry in connection with the investigation into the activities of the New IRA.
Late actor Irrfan Khans son, Babil, has written in a social media post that Sanjay Dutt was one of the first people to offer support when Irrfan was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour. Babil appealed to the media to not speculate about Sanjay, who was recently diagnosed with lung cancer.

Sharing a picture of his father and Sanjay, Babil wrote on Instagram, Heres a secret; Sanju Bhai was one of the first people to offer help in all and every way when my father was diagnosed, after Baba passed, Sanju bhai was again one of the very first few people that held a pillar for support. Please; I beg you, let him fight this without anxiety of media, you must remember were talking bout Sanju baba here, he is a tiger, a fighter, the past doesnt define you but it sure does evolve you and I know this will be over with Sanju Baba smashing hits again.

Babil appealed to the media to avoid speculating about Sanjays condition. He wrote, Writers must wonder how do I start, but I am not a writer so here it is; I humbly request journalists and human curiosity to ease on the speculation, the details. I know thats your job but I also know that a sense of humanity persists in our soul, so give Sanju bhai and his family the existential space they need.

Also read: Sanjay Dutts wife Maanayata shares update after his cancer diagnosis: Sanju will complete preliminary treatment in Mumbai

On Wednesday, Sanjays wife, Maanyata, provided an update about his treatment. She said in a statement, 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. 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.

Irrfan died earlier this year, after a two-year illness. Sanjay hasnt yet revealed the nature of his diagnosis, but announced that hed be taking a break from work to focus on his treatment.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

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Gotta love those British-CanadianSanta Barbarian royals and their refreshing defiance of tradition. When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex aka Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are not breaking royal norms by choosing a different baby stroller (gasp!) theyre turning their nose up at such time-worn conventions as Ye Olde Live-In Nanny. The new royal biography Finding Freedom,by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, reveals the reason the Sussexes decided against full-time in-home care for their son, Archie.

Harry and Meghan had agreed they didnt want their home filled with staff. Harry had seen that situation at Williams home (the Cambridges had a live-in housekeeper and a full-time, live-in nanny), and didnt want the same for his own family, Scobie and Durand write.

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Of course, hiring a nanny is a quite common practice, especially for celebs who can afford it. But having a nanny  and a housekeeper  live with you full-time in your home? I mean, we get why Meghan and Harry bristled at the idea, even if Kate and Will had already normalized it for this generation of royals.

He and Meghan liked the idea that when they went to bed at night, it was just the three of them in the house, Scobie and Durand add in the book. Cozy and private.

Sounds lovely, honestly. Although, this decision didnt mean the Sussexes were averse to hiring a night nurse for those very trying early newborn days. And yet, even the night nurse didnt last.

Meghan and Harry were forced to let the nurse go in the middle of her second night of work for being unprofessional and irresponsible, Scobie and Durand wrote. Um, yikes?

The new parents hired a second night nurse, who did a good job, but due to the incident with the first nurse, neither of them felt comfortable getting a full sleep at night without going to regularly check on Archie, the book continues. After a few weeks, they decided to take the nights themselves and completely deprived themselves of a night nurse.

Story continues

While the word deprived certainly seems a stretch, it makes sense that Meghan and Harry were keen to fast-forward through the newborn nurse era and head straight to that cozy and private, alone-in-the-house family time. And we have a sense that these freewheeling royals are only getting started with their trendsetting and tradition-breaking.

These celebrities have gotten real about their nanny experiences.

Launch Gallery: Celebrity Parents Who Got Real About Their Nannies & Baby Nurses

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A knife-wielding man sexually assaulted a 20-year-old stranger outside her home earlier this month in Perth Amboy, authorities said Wednesday.

Ricardo Powell was arrested Tuesday and charged with offenses including aggravated sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, criminal restraint and weapons offenses, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and city Police Chief Roman McKeon.

Powell, 33, attacked the woman around 12:40 a.m. Aug. 9 in the city, according to authorities.

The suspect was unknown to the victim, the officials said in a joint statement announcing the arrest.

Powell, a Perth Amboy resident, was jailed at the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center ahead of a hearing in Superior Court.

Authorities did not disclose more information about the investigation, which the prosecutor and police chief said was continuing.

Anyone with information was asked to call Perth Amboy police Detective Manny Lopez at 732-324-3800 or prosecutors office Detective Amanda Espinosa at 732-745-8083.

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Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com.
Captain Amit Singh, an international aviation safety expert and a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS) in London, wrote to civil aviation minister Hardip Singh Puri on Tuesday, demanding a court of inquiry into the August 8 Air India Express plane accident at the Karipur international airport, Kozhikode. He alleged that evidence from the crash spot appeared to be tampered with and therefore needed an open investigation.

Singh, a former chief of safety at AirAsia, said that his plea follows videos captured by the local media after the accident, showing three unidentified persons near the cockpit of the aircraft after the crash. Singh attached screen grabs of the video in his mail to the minister.

When asked about the letter, an Air India Express spokesperson said, We cannot comment as the accident is under investigation.

The plane overshot the runway while attempting to land at the table top airport; there were four cabin crew members and two pilots aboard, besides the passengers. While the two pilots lost their lives, all four cabin crew were rescued. A total of 18 people died in the crash.

Also read: Air India plane overshoots Karipurs table top runway, drops into gorge; 20 dead

Singh pointed out that no personnel except those extricating bodies were authorised to do anything else, and also alleged that this (the alleged act of the three unidentified men) is tampering with evidence.

An email sent to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) did not yield any response.

Singhs letter read, As seen in the photograph, a person (A) dressed in military fatigues positioned outside the aircraft cockpit is seen pointing out to something inside the cockpit. There is apparently another person (B) inside the cockpit who hands over a what appears to be a document, to person A. Person A is then seen handing over the presumed document, which is apparently stained to a third person(C).

Referring to the screen grabs, Singh alleged that the destruction of evidence was evident from the video of the person inside the cockpit ostensibly rummaging through the documents and cavities, apparently searching for something in particular.

The current team of experts from AAIB and its experts are fully competent to investigate the accident, said a spokesperson from the ministry of civil aviation.

Singh stated that the AAIB procedures manual 2012, under point 4, details the procedure for securing evidence on site. It states that the Officer incharge of the aerodromes closest to the site of the accident should assist in coordination with local police authorities and will take immediately all reasonable measures to protect the evidence until the arrival of the officer of AAIB or any other authorized person. It also states that the assistance of civil authorities, particularly that of local police is also necessary to ensure that vital evidence is not lost [sic], wrote Singh.

He also said the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) states few tasks that should be accomplished without delay; these include securing the occurrence site, aircraft, wreckage, and other equipment involved to ensure their preservation, including protection against further damage and the deterioration or disappearance of essential evidence due to theft, displacement or improper handling of the wreckage.

In the absence of a judicial and an open inquiry, I do not see any reason as to how an investigation would be fair and reasonable. Therefore I request you to immediately constitute a Court of Inquiry under the Rule 12 of Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules 2017, concluded the letter.

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There are a lot of roles in K-dramaland, and probably one of the challenging parts is portraying a genius while exuding charisma as well.

Great wisdom comes with great responsibility, and often, these roles make or break the actors who portray the braniac character. Though it does not always bring a happy life for these actors, they are genius and have the ability to do things on their own.

In most cases, they inspire viewers to work hard, reach for their dreams, and, you know, think intellectually. The sad part is that not all of them get to live a better life in the end.

Check out these actors who portrayed geniuses in their respective dramas.

Han Jin Woo From "God's Quiz"

Lead star Ryu Deok Hwan, in character as a medical examiner, deals with rare diseases. He works and helps in solving criminal cases that involve offenders carrying rare conditions. His character and credibility in his work often gives new insights to viewers about rare illness.

Kim Yoon Hee From "Sungkyunkwan Scandal"

Park Min Young's character in this drama has great intellect; hence, she opted to disguise as her brother to earn money. With her cleverness, she enters a reputable school with future politicians as she proves her worth.

Park Shi On From "Good Doctor"

Joo Won plays a high functional autistic who desires to be a pediatric surgeon. Being good at what he does despite his disability brought a lot of judgement. He works hard to prove his abilities to his colleagues who see him like a child.

Choi Taek From "Reply 1988"

Park Bo Gum is a brainiac Go player who competes internationally and tops news headlines for his achievements. Despite his fame, he stays humble and lives a simple life with his father and friends.

Park Hoon From "Doctor Stranger"

Lee Jong Suk is a genius thoracic surgeon in this medical drama. He works in a hospital where power and intelligence gets the number one spot among doctors. Dr. Park works hard and proves his great skills against other surgeons while resents his life experience of escaping North Korea.

Yoon Tae Yi From "Alice"

Kim Hee Sun is a genius scientist who immerses her whole life in studying time travel. In her quest to find more about its existence, she meets a detective who had past encounters with time travellers. They work together to prevent time travellers from causing destruction to the present life.
Have you always fancied yourself as a master mixologist? Or would you like to learn the secret to making a great cocktail?

Jameson Distillery Bow St. in Smithfield, Dublin, is now offering visitors a chance to take a friend along for free when they buy one of their amazing whiskey experiences. This two-for-one offer will last until the end of September, so theres no better time to visit.

The offer includes a flagship distillery tour that takes in the history of this iconic (240-year-old) distillery, a premium whiskey-tasting session in John Jamesons secret office, and a whiskey blending masterclass where you can blend your own unique bottle of whiskey to take home. Theres also the opportunity to visit Dublins only live Maturation Warehouse, where you get to draw and taste whiskey straight from a cask.

Also on the menu is a whiskey cocktail making class, where you learn how to create some classic cocktails. To find out more, we spoke to Jameson craft ambassador, Kieran Keane.

Whats involved in the whiskey cocktail making class?

Its a 60-minute masterclass where we provide you with everything you need  all the ingredients, bar tools and knowledge, explains Kieran. Well bring you to a private bar, nestled away in the heart of the distillery.

The class is held in the specially designed Shakers Room, which incorporates a teppanyaki-style layout, but with whiskey cocktails.

Since the distillery reopened, the comfort, safety and enjoyment of their guests and team has been their number one priority. Theyve reduced their class sizes, now hosting eight people per session in order to ensure safe social distancing.

When you first enter, we do the full introductions. I really want to get to know everybody. I want to make sure that everybody knows everybody else, so that that we can have a bit of craic in the room. Then Ill guide you through making a punch, which is one of the oldest forms of cocktails, so we get to show off those little skills.

Whilst making the Jameson Punch, Kieran demonstrates some of the mixologist skills and tools youll also get to try your hand at using.

After we complete the punch, we move on to two classic cocktails, explains Kieran. One shaken, one stirred - so youre flexing your full cocktail muscles. First up is a Jameson Whiskey Sour, followed by a Jameson Old Fashioned.

I talk you through all the recipes in detail, sharing some cocktail knowledge and history along the way too. I also cover off why Im using each whiskey and what whiskey goes with what, explaining the subtle differences between different whiskey types.

Its a fun experience and great way to learn the basics of cocktail making. Youll master a couple of classic recipes to recreate at home. You also receive a handy recipe book showcasing the cocktails available at Bow St. Your parties will never be the same again!

Reconnecting with family and friends

Recent months have certainly changed how we socialise and stay connected. Many of us are looking for new, fun and safe ways to gather and catch up - especially with family, friends or colleagues we havent seen in a while.

Our cocktail class is a perfect start to an evening out together. People pop in during the afternoon or early evening, before heading off for a nice relaxed meal in Smithfield, Stoneybatter or town.

With overseas holidays currently on hold for most of us, there is a renewed appetite amongst locals to explore destinations and experiences on our very own doorstep. People living in or visiting Dublin are starting to discover what famous local attractions, like Jameson Distillery Bow St., have to offer.

For two years running, Jameson Distillery Bow St. has been awarded Worlds Leading Distillery Tour at the World Travel Awards. The promotional offer means there has never been a better time to give one of its much-loved experiences a try.

Jameson is currently offering two-for-one on all experiences at Bow St. and Jameson Distillery Midleton in Co Cork using the promocode STAYCATION when booking on the Jameson website.

The cocktail masterclass ordinarily costs 50 per person  all through August and September, two people can enjoy the experience at this rate. Enjoy Jameson sensibly. Visit drinkaware.ie.





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An H-6J bomber is presumed to have illegally landed on the Woody Island, part of Vietnam's Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands, in early August. Photo courtesy of Twitter/RupprechtDeino.

Vietnam has strongly protested parties bringing weapons to its Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands, calling it a violation of its sovereignty.

"Parties bringing weapons as well as fighter jets to Vietnam's Hoang Sa Islands not only violates Vietnam's sovereignty but also complicates the situation on the East Sea," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said at a press meet Thursday.

The East Sea is internationally known as the South China Sea.

Hang was responding to an inquiry regarding Vietnam's reaction to China sending bombers to the Paracel Islands earlier this month.

A picture of an H-6J bomber being checked by technicians on a runway of the Woody Island, part of Vietnam's Paracel Islands, surfaced on China's social media platform Weibo on August 13.

Previously, a blog named Chinese Military Aviation said the H-6J, which was not weaponized, landed on the Woody Island in early August. Several military observers said the geographical features in the photo matched with features on the Woody Island as well.

The Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos are inseparable parts of Vietnamese territory, Hang reiterated. Vietnam has full legal basis and historical evidence to assert its sovereignty over both archipelagos in accordance with international law, she added.

"We call for parties to responsibly contribute to the maintenance of peace, stability and security in the East Sea," Hang said.

China seized the Paracel Islands from what was then South Vietnam by force in 1974, and has been illegally occupying it since.
A uthorities in Florida are set to release more than 750 million genetically modified mosquitoes in a bid to cull insects carrying deadly diseases.

The pilot project - approved for 2021 and 2022 by the Monroe County Mosquito Control District after earlier winning state and federal backing - will see the mosquitos released into the Florida Keys and comes despite objection from many local residents and a coalition of environmental advocacy groups.

Signed off on by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) in May, the project is designed to test if a genetically modified mosquito is a viable alternative to spraying insecticides to control the Aedes aegypti, a species of mosquito that carries several deadly diseases, such as Zika, dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.

According to Oxitec, a US-owned, British-based company that developed the genetically modified mosquito, the organism has also been approved to be released into Harris County, Texas, beginning in 2021.

"This is an exciting development because it represents the ground-breaking work of hundreds of passionate people over more than a decade in multiple countries, all of whom want to protect communities from dengue, Zika, yellow fever, and other vector-borne diseases," Oxitec CEO Grey Frandsen said in May in the wake of the EPA green-lighting the project.

Named OX5034, Oxitec's genetically modified mosquito has been deliberately altered to produce female offspring that die off in the larval stage, well before hatching and growing large enough to bite and spread disease.

Only female mosquitos bite for blood, which they require to mature their eggs. Males, by comparison, feed only on nectar, and are therefore not a carrier for diseases.

The EPA permit reportedly requires Oxitec to notify state officials 72 hours before releasing the mosquitoes and conduct ongoing tests for at least 10 weeks to ensure none of the female mosquitoes reach adulthood.

But the plan has attracted vociferous opposition from some quarters, with critics accusing authorities of wasting public funds.

"With all the urgent crises facing our nation and the State of Florida  the Covid-19 pandemic, racial injustice, climate change  the administration has used tax dollars and government resources for a Jurassic Park experiment," said Jaydee Hanson, policy director for the International Center for Technology Assessment and Center for Food Safety, in a statement released on Wednesday by a coalition of environmental advocacy groups.

"Now the Monroe County Mosquito Control District has given the final permission needed.

"What could possibly go wrong? We don't know, because EPA unlawfully refused to seriously analyse environmental risks, now without further review of the risks, the experiment can proceed."

Other opposition has seen more than 230,000 people sign a Change.org petition against the plan, which critics argue could harm threatened and endangered species of birds, insects and mammals that feed on mosquitoes.

"The release of genetically engineered mosquitoes will needlessly put Floridians, the environment and endangered species at risk in the midst of a pandemic," said Dana Perls, food and technology program manager at Friends of the Earth, in the statement released on Wednesday.
A suspect has been charged in the shooting death of a man found dead in a vehicle on Interstate 65 last week.

Birmingham police late Wednesday night said 33-year-old Antonio Quintez Davis is charged with capital murder in the Aug. 10 slaying of Condorius Sanchez Williams.

On that Monday morning, Birminghams 911 Center received a report of a wreck on Interstate 65 northbound at the 16th Street exit about 12:50 a.m., said Sgt. Rod Mauldin. When officers and Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service arrived at the location, they found a vehicle off the roadway.

Williams was unresponsive and suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on the scene at 1:50 a.m. Mauldin said at the time of the slaying it appeared Williams may have been specifically targeted but did not elaborate. He said Williams was shot and killed as he was driving northbound on I-65.

Police have not said what led them to identify Davis, who lives in Bessemer, as a suspect. He is charged with capital murder because Williams was killed in a drive-by shooting, jail records show.

Davis was previously arrested for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, court records state. The 2018 charging documents against him said he was convicted of robbery. Records do not reflect the outcome of the gun possession case.

Davis was booked into the Jefferson County Jail just before 9 p.m. Wednesday. He is being held without bond.
100 Years Ago  1920: Erwin R. Bergdoll, formerly of Delaware County and Philadelphias draft dodger and army deserter, was sentenced yesterday to four years at hard labor in Fort Leavenworth. The sentence carries with it forfeiture of all pay and allowances due or which may become due, and a dishonorable discharge at the end of his term. The sentence is one year less than that given Grover, his young brother, who was tried on a similar charge last winter, but later escaped and is still at large.

75 Years Ago  1945: Plans for the construction of 48 new semi-detached six-room homes in Irvington Hills, with work on eight of the houses to start immediately, were revealed today by the Home City Construction Company through Thomas F. Nolan, secretary-treasurer of the company. Federal Housing Administration, approval on eight of the 48 homes for Irvington Hills already has been passed the company will take out city building permits next week, Nolan said. The houses will be built on lots with 45-foot frontage, and 125-deep and will front Irvington Place, on the east side of Providence road.

50 Years Ago  1970: Members of Delaware Countys legendary Republican Board of Supervisors (War Board), recent participants in a near political bloodbath over the naming of a War Board chairman and a county commissioner, are in no hurry to fill three War Board vacancies caused by deaths. Influential county GOP leaders, including sever War Board members, say privately there is no doubt whatever that last Aug. 7 the board came closer to crumbling as a potent political force than at any time since it was founded some 50 years ago by the late John J. McClure of Chester.

25 Years Ago  1995: Brookhavens 50th Anniversary Committee will hold a chicken barbecue and an exciting living-history reenactment of the Civil War presented by the Pennsylvania 69th Regiment of Civil War at Scott Park. The day will be filled with the sights and smells of a military encampment in the 1860s, from soldiers drilling to civilians in period outfits playing games and cooking.

10 Years Ago  2010: Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele on Wednesday asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate exactly what happened last year when the White House supposedly offered U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, some incentive to stay out of the U.S. Senate race. Sestak told Voice of Reason host Larry Kane last February that he had been offered a high-raking job in the administration to stop out of the Democratic primary but did not elaborate.

 COLIN AINSWORTH
There are 367 separate fires now burning in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said on Wednesday, and many are believed to have been sparked by dry lightning strikes that have been hitting Northern and Central California since Sunday.

California officials said that over the last 72 hours, there have been about 10,849 lightning strikes in the state, the Los Angeles Times reports. One of the biggest blazes is the Hennessey fire in Napa County, which started on Monday. It has since spread to two other counties, Solano and Yolo, destroying 50 buildings, damaging 50 structures, and forcing thousands to evacuate.

It's been a "very active" fire season, Newsom said, and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection shared that so far this year, more than 300,000 acres have burned in the state, compared to 270,000 acres in all of 2019. Firefighters are battling the blazes amid a brutal heat wave that has been gripping the state since last week, causing record highs in Death Valley, Santa Ana, Burbank, and Woodland Hills.

More stories from theweek.com

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Similar events were held in other cities, namely Novosibirsk, Perm, Saint Petersburg, Murmansk.

A rally was held outside the FSB building in Moscow in support of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was hospitalized in Omsk on August 20 presumably after poisoning.

This was reported by the Telegram channel Avtozak LIVE.

Several dozen people came out to the FSB building on Thursday evening, there were media representatives among them

Police detained those who raised posters or shouted slogans in support of the opposition leader. At least six such cases were reported.

Similar events were held in other cities, namely Novosibirsk, Perm, Saint Petersburg, Murmansk, according to a Russian-based news agency.

Read alsoCCTV video shows who gives coma-causing tea to Navalny (Video)

In particular, in Murmansk they detained Violetta Grudina, coordinator of Navalny's local headquarters, as she had come out with a poster which said that the opposition leader had been poisoned.

Poisoning of Navalny: Known facts
U.S. President Donald Trump arrives for a news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., August 19, 2020. Tom Brenner | Reuters

President Donald Trump's effort to fight a prosecutor's subpoena for his tax records was rejected Thursday by a federal judge, handing another loss to the president in a high-profile case that already made its way to the Supreme Court. U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero said the president failed to show that the subpoena would pose an unfair burden, siding in favor of Manhattan D.A. Cyrus Vance Jr., who has said his office is pursuing an investigation of potential violations of state law. Trump is likely to appeal the decision to a higher court. The president's attorney, Jay Sekulow, said Trump will appeal the decision. It is unlikely that any records obtained via subpoena by Vance's office will become public before the presidential election this fall, if at all. The subpoena, directed to the president's longtime accounting firm Mazars USA, seeks the president's personal and business records, including tax returns, dating to 2011.

The ruling by the New York federal judge comes a month after the Supreme Court rejected the president's earlier claims of absolute immunity from state criminal subpoenas. While the top court rejected the immunity argument, it said the president was entitled to object to the subpoena on alternative grounds. Following the Supreme Court ruling, the president argued that the subpoena was overly broad and politically motivated. But Marrero said those objections were essentially the same as the earlier immunity arguments. Marrero wrote that he could not "mechanically credit" the president's new arguments, likening them to "absolute immunity through a back door." Marrero dismissed the case with prejudice, effectively preventing the president from bringing new arguments to the court for why the subpoena should not be enforced. Vance has been relatively opaque about the subject of his investigation. His office is known to be investigating hush money payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels made on the president's behalf by his former lawyer Michael Cohen in the run-up to the 2016 election. Daniels has said she had sex with Trump, but he has denied the affair.
Belarusian authorities have opened a criminal investigation against the opposition over alleged attempt to seize power. The chief prosecutor of the ruling party, Alexander Konyuk filed an indictment stating that the creation and activity of the Coordination Council by the Opposition are aimed at the seizure of state power while also harming national security.

This comes after Opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who fleed to neighbouring country of Lithuania after the results of the recent general national election came out, announced the creation of a Coordination Council in a bid to ensure the transfer of power. She even called out on foreign governments to help them in organising negotiations with the Belarusian authorities.

Meanwhile, the embattled Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko ordered the law enforcement officers to shut the demonstrations that are taking place across the nation over the results of the August election. Belarus chief prosecutor said in a video statement that the creation of bodies, such as offered by the opposition leader, is not allowed in law and called it unconstitutional.

Konyuk said, "Several citizens, realising that such activities are illegal, have said they are quitting the council and disagree with its aims."

Read - Belarus: Chief Prosecutor Accuses Opposition Of Attempting To Seize Power Amid Protests

Read - Strike At Belarus' State TV Erodes Government Control

Unrest in Belarus

Lukashenko on August 10 had secured the sixth 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 percent of the total votes polled.

Opposition leaders, including the main challenger Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya denounced the outcome and called it a rigged election before she fleed the nation with her family to take exile in Lithuania. Since then, the nation has witnessed mass demonstrations with people calling for democracy and rerun of presidential votes.

Lukashenko had previously said that these protests would increase the number of COVID-19 cases and will deepen the damage caused by the virus.

Belarusian President said, "People must be told that they have the only chance to save their enterprise that feeds them, only saving their factory, they will feed their families. They can take to the streets, there are thousands of them walking, and they can join and take to the streets, but there is no money".

(WIth AP Inputs)

Read - Belarus' Leader Digs In Amid Continuing Protests

Read - Belarus' President Steps Up Efforts To Reassert His Control After 10 Days Of Protests
Real estate messaging app extends to student rental market

TORONTO, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Real estate networking site, RuListing, is poised to be a key tool to source off-campus rentals this upcoming school year, as students can message with landlords from the comfort of their own home. Gaining traction in the highly competitive real estate market, RuListing has 40,000 active buyers and renters posting profiles and messaging with property owners across neighborhoods, globally, and now usage extends to the student rental market.

With classes online this fall semester, students are questioning whether they should return to campus. Yet as schools transition back to campus, students who have not signed a lease for 2021, will scramble to secure accommodation starting in November.

"It is important to look at the pending off-campus housing challenges when students return to campus. Students, particularly those living abroad, will need to secure a lease remotely amidst a November rush," says Susan Joynt, Founder and CEO, RuListing.

The student housing market has become increasingly tight over the years. Finding off-campus accommodation is an arduous student task. And for landlords, finding good tenants is an even greater challenge. Students sift through "rooms for rent", meet with landlords and tour properties in-person to find the right property that meets their needs, before it's leased.

"RuListing is a free site for students to post where and what they're looking for, which enables landlords to contact them. It makes sense that students would use RuListing as they can't be physically present on-campus" says Susan.

Securing off-campus housing in the traditional way will be a challenge for international students, who will be studying online while abroad and not returning until the travel ban is lifted . With 642,000 international students in 2019, it is important for students to determine their living accommodations remotely before returning on-campus.

Several universities are lobbying to open the border for international students , as off-campus rentals will be in short supply upon return to campus. To support COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, RuListing takes much of the student and landlord face-to-face rental screening process, online.

RuListing is a real estate networking application, headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. RuListing's mission is to provide a real estate messaging platform for buyers, renters and sellers, serving real estate providers and advertisers supporting the transaction.

For more information on RuListing and Investment visit www.rulisting.com. Email: [email protected]



SOURCE RuListing

Related Links

rogers.com


SHANGHAI, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CARsgen Therapeutics Co., Ltd., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced that the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has cleared its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for the first-in-class drug candidate CT041, autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells for the treatment of claudin18.2-positive solid tumors.

CT041, a humanized CAR-claudin18.2 T-cell therapy developed by CARsgen Therapeutics for patients with claudin18.2-positive adenocarcinoma of the stomach, gastroesophageal junction, or pancreas, previously received IND clearance from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 2020. CT041 is the first claudin18.2-targeted CAR T-cell therapy IND cleared for clinical trials in China.

"Annual incidence of gastric cancer in China has already exceeded 600,000 cases. Pancreatic cancer is also one of the malignancies with highest unmet medical needs. Despite the development of novel therapies, gastric and pancreatic adenocarcinomas remain incurable, and new treatment options are urgently needed," said Professor Lin Shen, principal investigator from Beijing Cancer Hospital, Peking University in China. "Claudin18.2 is abundant in a variety of human malignancies including gastric, pancreatic, esophageal cancer, and biliary tract tumor, which indicates that claudin18.2 is a highly attractive target for cancer immunotherapies. We will continue to advance the clinical trial and facilitate its translation into robust clinical benefits."

"The IND clearance by the NMPA is an important regulatory milestone in the clinical development and commercialization of CT041 anti-claudin18.2 CAR T cells," said Dr. Zonghai Li, founder, CEO and CSO of CARsgen. "According to the World Health Organization, about 1,030,000 new cases of gastric adenocarcinoma and over 450,000 new cases of pancreatic adenocarcinoma are expected each year[1] . Gastric and pancreatic cancer are among the malignancies with the highest unmet medical needs. Our goal is to develop novel, safe and effective immunotherapies. This is our long-standing commitment to cancer patients worldwide."

[1] Bray F, Ferlay J, Soerjomataram I, Siegel RL, Torre LA, Jemal A. Global cancer statistics 2018: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2018;68(6):394-424.

About CARsgen Therapeutics

CARsgen Therapeutics is a clinical-stage immune-oncology company committed to the development of First-in-Class and Best-in-Class CAR-T and antibody therapeutics.

Founded in 2014, CARsgen is based in Shanghai, with operations in both China and the United States. CARsgen has established a broad pipeline of CAR-T product candidates covering several solid and blood tumors in areas of significant unmet medical need. The company has launched several First-in-Class CAR-T clinical trials for the treatment of relapsed/refractory tumors, including CAR-Claudin18.2-T for gastric and pancreatic cancer, CAR-GPC3-T for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and squamous lung cancer and CAR-EGFR/EGFRvIII-T for glioblastoma. CARsgen also has ongoing clinical programs with a fully human CAR-BCMA-T for multiple myeloma and a humanized CAR-CD19-T for leukemia.

CARsgen's proprietary antibody platform enables the development of therapeutic antibodies. Its leading humanized monoclonal antibody targeting Claudin18.2 has obtained IND approval from the NMPA.

For more information, please visit: www.carsgen.com

SOURCE CARsgen Therapeutics Co. Ltd.

Related Links

www.carsgen.com


At least 27 per cent students do not have access to smartphones or laptops to attend online classes, while 28 per cent students and parents believe intermittent or lack of electricity is one of the major concerns hindering teaching-learning, according to a survey by the NCERT. The survey with over 34,000 partcipants, including students, parents, teachers and school principals from Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodyaya Vidyalas and CBSE affiliated schools, has pointed out that lack of knowledge of using devices for effective educational purposes and teachers not being well-versed with online teaching methodologies, caused hindrance in the learning process.

"Approximately 27 per cent of the students mentioned the non-availability of smartphones and laptops. The maximum number of stakeholders have opted for mobile phones as a medium for teaching-learning during the COVID-19 period," the survey by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) said.

"About 36 per cent of the students used the textbooks and other books available with them. Laptops were the second most favoured option amongst teachers and principals. Television and radio were the least utilized devices for the teaching-learning in the pandemic situation. The absence of enriched interaction between the teacher and the students was one of the reasons as identified by the stakeholders," it added.

Also read: Cabinet approves new National Recruitment Agency; to allow common test for all govt jobs

The survey noted that almost all of the responsive states use physical (non-digital) mechanisms to track the progress of learners with majority of them either practising home visit by teachers or systematic parental guidance via phone calls.

"About half of the students stated that they did not have the school textbooks. Although the e-text books are available on NCERT website and DIKSHA, the probable reasons behind this feedback are that students are used to studying from the hardcopy of the textbooks, there is lack of awareness regarding the availability of the e-textbook and paucity of devices with students and teachers," it said.

The majority of the stakeholders pointed out that mathematics as a subject was difficult to learn via online medium. "Since, mathematics contains a number of concepts which require interaction, continuous support, monitoring from the teacher and these aspects were lacking in the online mode of teaching.

Also read: National Education Policy to play crucial role in making India self-reliant, says PM Modi

"Next to Mathematics, Science was identified as the subject of concern since it contains several concepts and practical experiments which could only be done in the laboratory under the supervision of the teacher. A few stakeholders also found Social Science as a difficult subject to grasp through online classes," the survey said.

It said that around 17 pc of students identified languages as being a difficult subject to learn through online medium. "Many students and parents felt the need for Physical Education classes through online mode, as physical fitness is the need of the hour to combat this pandemic. Arts education can help to reduce stress and boredom. Around 10 per cent of the stakeholders mentioned art education as a subject of concern," the survey said.

Universities and schools across the country have been closed since March 16, when the Centre announced a countrywide classroom shutdown as part of measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. A nationwide lockdown was imposed on March 25. While several restrictions have been eased, schools and colleges continue to be closed. The prolonged closure of educational institutions has mandated a shift from classroom teaching to online learning.

Also read: Rebooting Economy XVIII: Does quality education really matter to India?

Based on the NCERT survey findings, the Ministry of Education has formulated Students' Learning Enhancement Guidelines.

"The guidelines will help children, who do not have digital resources to get learning opportunities at their homes, with their teachers or volunteers. Apart from this, it will also help in our efforts to overcome the learning deficiencies of all those students who are learning at home through various alternative ways using radio, television or smartphone," Union Minister of Education, Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' said.

The minister informed that the guidelines and models are suggested for three types of situations. "Firstly, in which students do not have any digital resources. Secondly, in which students have limited digital resources available. Lastly, in which students have digital resources available for online education," he said.

Also read: Rebooting Economy XII: Is private sector inherently more efficient than public sector?
OLD FORGE, Pa. (AP)  Determined to keep Pennsylvania in his column, President Donald Trump took the fight to Joe Biden's old backyard Thursday and insisted his Democratic rival would be the state's worst nightmare if elected president.

In a particularly in-your-face bit of campaign trolling, Trump staged a small rally just outside the former vice presidents birthplace in Scranton mere hours before Biden was to formally accept the Democratic presidential nomination.

The campaign framed Trump's speech as a review of a half-century of Joe Biden failing America, and the location pointed to the importance of Pennsylvania as a battleground state.

Joe Biden is no friend of Pennsylvania  he is your worst nightmare," Trump declared.

Trump sought to diminish Bidens ties to Scranton. The former vice president often spotlights his early years in the northeast Pennsylvania city as evidence of his middle-class upbringing.

Biden was born in Scranton but his family moved to Delaware when he 10. His father, Joe Sr., was once a sales manager at a car dealership in Scranton, but quit when he thought the owner was trying to humiliate employees during a Christmas party. The family eventually moved to Delaware, where Joe Sr. found work.

Hell remind us that he was born in Scranton, but you know he left like 70 years ago, right? Trump said.

Bidens speech came hours later from his Delaware hometown and, as the culmination of the four-day convention, will surely dominate headlines and cable news chyrons. But Trump has offered a robust slate of competing activity, holding multiple in-person events this week meant to draw a contrast with the largely virtual campaign Biden has conducted during the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump visited two other battlegrounds  Wisconsin and Arizona  as well as Minnesota, one of the few blue states from 2016 that Trumps team feels like he may have a chance to flip this fall. But his campaign has been warily watching his standing falter in the trio of Rust Belt states that carried him to the presidency in 2016. Trump is planning more convention counterprogramming Thursday evening with an appearance on Sean Hannitys Fox News Channel show just before Biden is to deliver his acceptance speech.

The so-called Blue Wall of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, meant to provide Electoral College insurance for Hillary Clinton, instead all broke for Trump by slim margins in 2016. He captured Pennsylvania by a mere 44,000 votes four years ago and has since clashed with the states Democratic governor over efforts to reopen its economy.

Story continues

Many in the Trump campaign have all but written off Michigan, a state battered by the virus, and whose governor has repeatedly fought with the president. But advisers believe Pennsylvania, like Wisconsin, remains in play and could be captured again if the economy continues to rebound.

Trump returned to northeastern Pennsylvania, where he did unexpectedly well in 2016, winning Luzerne County and nearly winning in Lackawanna County, both of which have a solid registration advantage for Democrats. They bear the hallmarks of Trump country: They are whiter, with lower median incomes and fewer people with college degrees, than the rest of Pennsylvania.

The number of GOP registrations in Pennsylvania has outpaced Democrats this cycle and many political observers believe the state, which has many white, older voters, could become stronger for Republicans. But Trump has stubbornly trailed Biden, whose team aims to return Pennsylvania to the blue column, where it had been from 1992 until 2016.

To that end, Trump is seeking to portray Biden as out of touch with more moderate and conservative parts of the state, making the argument that Biden is a puppet of the radical left.

Trump said he's best suited to return the country back to its pre-pandemic status, when unemployment stood at the lowest rates since the early 1960s and the economy was experiencing moderate growth. He said a Biden win in November would usher in economic pain for Americans and more chaos in U.S. cities that have endured sometimes violent protests in recent months over police brutality and racial injustice.

If you want a vision of your life under a Joe Biden presidency, imagine the smoldering ruins of Minneapolis, the violent anarchy of Portland and the bloodstained sidewalks of Chicago coming to every city and town in America, Trump said.

Trump also took aim Pennsylvania's Democratic governor, Tom Wolf, accusing him of slowing the reopening of the state's economy to hurt the president's reelection chances. Trump charged the Democratic governors of Michigan and North Carolina  two other battleground states  are employing similar tactics.

Shut down Wolf, Trump complained. You cant do this. Hes gonna destroy your soul.

The outdoor rally drew a few hundred supporters. Many, but not all, wore masks and seats were lined up closer than 6 feet apart, the space recommended by public health experts to reduce the chance of transmission of the coronavirus.

The former vice president is particularly suited in the Democratic field to carry Pennsylvania, with his deep ties to Scranton and messages catering to white working-class voters and Black voters in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Scranton is in Lackawanna County, which went for Clinton in 2016, and Biden's team hopes to increase turnout there.

The Biden campaign dismissed Trump's visit as a lame campaign gambit.

This sideshow is a pathetic attempt to distract from the fact that Trumps presidency stands for nothing but crises, lies and division, said Biden spokesman Andrew Bates.

___

Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani in Chicago, Will Weissert in Washington, Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Ellen Knickmeyer in Oklahoma City contributed to this report.
The head of Kenmare Resources says he expects prices for heavy mineral concentrates to fall in the second half of this year as demand declines.

Kenmare operates the Moma Titanium Minerals Mine on the north east coast of Mozambique, which produces titanium minerals, used in the production of paints, paper and plastics, and zircon that is used in ceramics.

Michael Carvill, MD of Kenmare, said several of the group's customers are currently operating at reduced rates.

"So we do think in the second half of the year we will see some reduction in demand and therefore price," he told the Irish Independent.

Kenmare made a profit of $12.7m (10.6m) in the six months to June 30. The profit was down by over 40pc year-on-year on the back of lower production levels.

Mr Carvill expects production to be around 35pc higher next year, which he said, will have a leverage effect on profit in the opposite direction as costs per tonne of minerals decline.

Currently the market for Kenmare's produce is relatively evenly split between the Americans, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

Going forward, Mr Carvill expects China to account for around 40pc of the group's sales, as it is where "most growth in the pigment industry is occurring."

Revenue for the six months to June 30 was $116.8m (98m), down just 5pc on the first half of 2019 as the company benefitted from better pricing.

Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation, and amortisation was down 13pc to $37.2m (31m).

The company has declared an interim dividend of $2.31 cent per share. Shares in Kenmare were up just over 5pc in Dublin yesterday.
Source: Internet

The grant, which is financed by the Government of Japan, will be used to upgrade laboratory diagnostic and testing capacity. The funds will also help finance the purchase of urgently needed medical equipment and supplies to improve treatment capacity including in critical care units.

ADB is fully committed to helping Armenia through this difficult period. This assistance will help to meet the needs for appropriate medical services and supplies where required, and is in line with the governments national response plan, said ADB Country Director for Armenia Paolo Spantigati. We will continue to work closely with the government and other development partners to combat the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic.

The Government of Armenia declared a state of emergency on March 16 and implemented a range of measures to restrict the spread of the disease, including quarantine measures./.


LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2020 / LifeQuest World Corp ( OTCQB:LQWC ), today announced that it will be presenting at the LD 500 Virtual Conference on Wednesday, September 2nd at 1:00 PM PDT / 4:00 PM EDT. Max Khan, president & chief executive officer of LifeQuest , will be presenting to a live audience.

LifeQuest's mission is to become a global leader in low-cost, low-maintenance, eco-friendly, decentralized wastewater treatment. Biopipe, a wholly owned subsidiary, has developed a patented 100% sludge-free, chemical-free, odor-free, silent, easy to assemble and install, scalable, low cost, ecological and virtually maintenance-free onsite sewage wastewater treatment system. With its small footprint and scalability, Biopipe can be installed wherever wastewater is generated, regardless of size and capacity.

Recently announced company milestones include the following:

Signed a definitive agreement with Hydros Agritech, Inc., a consulting and wastewater engineering firm located in California, to create a joint venture that will market Biopipe in North America, Caribbean and U.S. territories.

Signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Water Development Commission of the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy of the Republic of Ethiopia. Pursuant to the MoU, Biopipe will supply a 15m3(3,962 gallon/day) plant (STP), which will be installed at one of the Commission's buildings and is expected to serve as a reference site for all decentralized sewage wastewater projects.

Shipped its first plant to California with a capacity of 10m3/day (2,640 gallons/day). The plant is being installed at a campground in Southern California.

Shipped two plants to Bangladesh. A 75m 3/day plant is for one of Bangladesh's largest industrial groups and a 275m 3/day plant is for a government project.

For additional information about LifeQuest, please visit the company's website at www.lifequestcorp.com

The LD 500 will take place on September 1st through the 4th.

Register here: https://ld-micro-conference.events.issuerdirect.com/

"We have been waiting for this moment all year long. Due to COVID, it has been nearly impossible for physical conferences to even take place. I want to show the world that you can still learn, have a great time, and see some of the most unique companies in the capital markets today. All without having to step foot outside. For the first time, LD Micro is accessible to everyone, and we are honored to welcome you to one of the most trusted platforms in the space," stated Chris Lahiji, Founder of LD.

View LifeQuest's profile here: http://www.ldmicro.com/profile/LQWC

Profiles powered by LD Micro - News Compliments of Accesswire

About LifeQuest & Biopipe

LifeQuest offers both effluent treatment (ETP) and sewage treatment (STP) solutions. Biopipe, a wholly owned subsidiary, has developed a patented 100% sludge-free, chemical-free, odor-free, silent, easy to assemble and install, scalable, low cost, ecological and virtually maintenance-free onsite sewage wastewater treatment system. It treats both grey and black water. The treated water exceeds EU and all local standards for discharge and can be reused for irrigation, flushing and cleaning.

About LD Micro

Back in 2006, LD Micro began with the sole purpose of being an independent resource to the microcap world. What started as a newsletter highlighting unique companies, has transformed into the pre-eminent event platform in the space. The upcoming "500" in September is the Company's most ambitious project yet, and the first event that is accessible to everyone.

For those interested in attending, please contact David Scher at david@ldmicro.com or visit www.ldmicro.com for more information.

For more information contact:

LifeQuest Investor Relations

TraDigital Marketing Group, Inc.

MJ Clyburn

+1-917-327-684

clyburn@tradigitalir.com

Kevin McGrath

+1-646-418-7002

kevin@tradigitalir.com

This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the Company's current beliefs, expectations or intentions regarding future events. Any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements. Words such as "will," "will be," "anticipate," "predict," "expect" "continue," "future," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, many of which are generally outside the control of the Company and are difficult to predict. Examples of such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: future revenues, expenditures, capital, the adequacy of the Company's current cash and working capital to fund present and planned operations, and the growth through joint ventures. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, can be found in our current Disclosure Statements at www.otcmarkets.com. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause views and expectations to change. The Company assumes no obligation, and specifically disclaims any intention or obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE: LifeQuest World Corp. via LD Micro

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602243/LifeQuest-to-Present-at-The-LD-500-Virtual-Conference
Anthony Fauci, the United States top infectious diseases official, said Wednesday the government wouldnt make any future Covid-19 vaccine obligatory for the general public -- though local jurisdictions could make it mandatory for some groups, like children.

You dont want to mandate and try and force anyone to take a vaccine. Weve never done that, said Fauci, a member of the White House coronavirus task force, during a video talk organized by George Washington University.

You can mandate for certain groups of people like health workers, but for the general population you cant he added, citing the example of the National Institutes of Health, where health workers cant treat patients without a flu shot.

Australias Prime Minister Scott Morrison hours earlier announced that coronavirus vaccines, once approved, would be mandatory for everyone in his country, barring medical exemptions.

But the United States decentralized system of government, and anti-vaccine sentiments that have been building for decades, had in any case made a program of mandatory immunization unlikely.

It would be unenforceable and not appropriate, said Fauci.

This however doesnt prevent states from making a vaccine mandatory for children to attend school, as is already the case for certain diseases such as measles, though some are exempt for medical or religious reasons.

At any rate, the administration of President Donald Trump has pre-ordered hundreds of millions of vaccine doses from six companies, and these will be distributed for free.
Stormont officials are looking at taking control of a decision on controversial plans for a 40,000 sq ft Asda supermarket in Newtownabbey, it has emerged.

The Department for Infrastructure intervened this week in plans for a store on the site of the former Nortel plant.

It has been opposed by trade group Retail NI over concerns that it will draw business away from town centres.

Writing in today's Belfast Telegraph, former DUP MLA Nelson McCausland says planners should not exacerbate the pressure facing shops and town centres "by approving more out-of-town developments".

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council confirmed that its members voted to defer consideration of the application.

A spokesman said councillors had received a notice under Article 17 of The Planning Order 2015 that they should not grant planning permission for the development until further advised by the department.

The notification brings the application a step closer to being "called in" - where plans are deemed to be regionally significant and should therefore be decided by Stormont officials rather than councillors.

This week's development gives DfI time to decide what to do. Asda said: "Whilst we are disappointed that the application has been deferred we will continue to work with all concerned to successfully progress our plans for a new store in Newtownabbey."

Glyn Roberts, chief executive of Retail NI, said it was strongly opposed to the plan.

Speaking at the weekend, he said: "Retail NI is of the view that this out-of-town superstore application is in clear breach of the current Town Centre First retail planning policy and we are concerned it may be granted for short-term reasons to bring Asda to Newtownabbey.

"Planning policy must be the only criteria."

He claimed out-of-town stores displaced existing town centre roles. "Newtownabbey has a distinctive retail environment with a significant number of local neighbourhood retailers who are the lifeblood of the community," he added.

"These facilities will be jeopardised, and job losses will occur if permission is granted."

But Asda has said the store will bring new jobs and better-value shopping.

"Our long-running engagement with the local community has been extremely positive and we hope to bring this major investment to the area, creating new jobs and bringing Asda value to consumers in the local area," it said.
Dubai:

A 64-year-old Indian woman who was attending a conference in Dubai died after suffering a heart attack in Dubai, according to a media report.

Vasantha Reddi collapsed in a shopping mall after experiencing chest pain, and later died on her way to the hospital in an ambulance.

Vasantha was on a visit to Dubai with her 68-year-old husband Sathyanarayana Reddi. They were among the several hundred delegates visiting the country to attend a Rotary Club conference, Khaleej Times reported.

Also Read: (Delhi: Teenager girl shot dead by friend in Najafgarh area)

The couple from Chennai was married for 39 years and this was their first foreign trip together.

"We came to Dubai for the first time and my wife was quite happy. We were in Dubai Mall visiting various shops and taking pictures. All of a sudden, she felt uneasy and fainted.

She wanted to rest as she was experiencing severe pain and we had to call an ambulance. While going to the hospital she died in the ambulance," Sathyanarayana was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

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As in the past, the government continues to consider the judge candidate of the Constitutional Court and will provide information as soon as it makes a decision. This is what Minister of Justice Rustam Badasyan said during a Facebook press conference broadcast by RFE/RL.

Facebook users had asked Rustam Badasyan who had nominated Vahram Avetisyan to the position of judge of the Constitutional Court, and in response, the minister said the government nominates candidates.

Its clear that all nominations are considered in wide format and all decisions are made collectively. I presented Vahram Avetisyan as a candidate for judge of the Constitutional Court for consideration. The government made its decision after implementing the procedure for consideration, the justice minister explained.

Asked if the reason for Vahram Avetisyans decision to refuse to participate in the election for judge of the Constitutional Court was the fact that the deputies of the My Step faction of the National Assembly suspected his impartiality, Badasyan said he believed there were other reasons and added that every deputy expressed his or her opinion based on different standards.

A few days after his meeting with deputies of the My Step faction of the National Assembly, Vahram Avetisyan declared that he doesnt want to be a judge candidate of the Constitutional Court since it became clear that the approaches and notions of some deputies regarding the role of the Constitutional Court, the state of being apolitical and independent as a judge of the Constitutional Court werent in line with his approaches and, in some cases, unacceptable.
Follow Day 4 for the Democratic National Convention with our live blog. Be sure to refresh the page for the latest version.

Joe Biden accepted the Democratic Party's nomination for president Thursday night, culminating political career that spanned 36 years in the Senate, eight years as vice president and two previous attempts at the nation's highest office.

"Its with great honor and humility that I accept this nomination for president of the United States," Biden said from the Chase Center in Wilmington, Del. "Its time for us, for we the people to come together."

Biden said the election is important because it comes at a time of four crises dealing with the worst pandemic in 100 years, the worst economic decline since the Great Depression, protests for racial justice and the accelerating threat of climate change.

"Are we ready? I believe we are. We must be," Biden said. "We know in our bones, this one is more consequential."

Biden, who previously ran for president in 1988 and 2008, also embodied the ability to get back on his feet after the deaths of his first wife and infant daughter in a car crash, and the death of his adult son from a brain tumor.

Facing a lack of enthusiasm, Biden won widespread support for his choice of Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., as his running mate. Harris, a former prosecutor and state attorney general, is the first Black woman and the first Asian person on a major party's national ticket.

 Bart Jansen

'Members of the same club': Boy describes Biden helping with his stutter

Brayden Harrington addresses the virtual convention.

Brayden Harrington stood there holding a piece a paper and started talking.

The a 13-year-old boy from Concord, N.H., described how Joe Biden helped him with his stutter.

He told me that we were members of the same club, Brayden said in describing meeting Biden at a campaign event in February. Westutter.

Biden was teased throughout his childhood about his stutter. He was called Joe Impedimenta, Dash and Stutterhead by classmates.

Story continues

Biden told Brayden that he used to read aloud a book of Yeats poems to practice speaking. And he showed Brayden how he marks up speeches to make them easier to say out loud.

Brayden held up a paper showing hed done the same thing to prepare for his national convention remarks.

Im just a regular kid, he said. And in a short amount of time, Joe Biden made me more confident about something thats bothered me my whole life.

 Maureen Groppe

Michael Bloomberg: Trump has failed the American people catastrophically

While other speakers during the convention went after Trumps character, billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg took aim at Trumps pandemic-ravaged economy.

I want to ask small business owners and their employees one question, and its a question for everyone: Would you rehire, or work for, someone who ran your business into the ground? said the former New York City mayor, who ended his presidential campaign earlier this year after failing to gain traction despite spending a record amount of his personal fortune to win.

And who always does whats best for him or hereven when it hurts the company? And whose reckless decisions put you in danger? And who spends more time tweeting than working?!, he continued. If the answer is no, why the hell would we ever rehire Donald Trump for another four years?

Bloomberg, a former Republican-turned-independent-turned Democrat, has for years poured millions into two pet causes that have been highlighted during the convention: gun control and climate change.

Bloombergs appearance on the convention stage was not wholly embraced. Feminist author Amy Siskind criticized Blomberg last week for not doing more to use his vast financial resources to help elect Biden.

He stiffed our party and all the monthly workers he promised to keep on through November, she tweeted. Why is Bloomberg speaking?

 Ledyard King

'Honor to run against you'

For a brief moment, the Democratic candidates who battled for the nomination were back on a stage  albeit a virtual one.

After months of sometimes bitter primary election debates, seven former candidates for the Democratic nomination took part in a segment at the Democratic convention Thursday in which they discussed why they are now supporting Joe Biden. The video was a demonstration of the partys effort to use this convention to bring together the various factions of the party.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., recalled Biden calling her late at night to congratulate her on a Senate floor speech she thought even her own mother wasnt watching.

Hes watching and he cares, Klobuchar said.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., recalled Bidens remarks honoring the victims of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., used a word that has become a mantra of the convention to described Biden: Empathetic.

At this particular moment in American history, my God, that is something that this country absolutely needs, Sanders said.

 John Fritze

Buttigieg praises Bidens early support for gay marriage

Former rival Pete Buttigieg, the first openly-gay candidate to win a presidential nominating contest, credited his former rival with stepping out ahead of even this party when he said that marriage equality should be the law of the land.

As he had repeated often during the campaign, Buttigieg said the wedding ring on his finger shows how the country can change.

Just over ten years ago, I joined a military where firing me because of who I am wasnt just possible it was policy, said Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., and an Afghanistan war veteran. Now in 2020, it is unlawful in America to fire anyone because of who they are or who they love.

The Supreme Court ruled in June a landmark civil rights law barring sex discrimination in the workplace applies to gay, lesbian and transgender workers.

If so much can change between 2010 and 2020, imagine what 2030 could look like, he said, as he talked about a coalition of progressives, moderates, independents and the future former Republicans he often referred to on the campaign trail.

 Maureen Groppe

Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth blasts Trump, says our troops deserve better

Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran, stood in front of the U.S. capitol as she talked about the sacrifice required in serving in the military.

"Joe Biden understands the sacrifices, because he's made them himself," Duckworth said, pointing to Bidens son Beaus service in the military. "Joe knows the fear of military families live because he's felt that dread of never knowing if you're deployed loved one is safe. He understands their bravery because he has had to muster that same strength, every hour of every day."

Duckworth is among the partys rising stars and delivered a prime-time speech for the second time that Biden has been nominated to the Democratic ticket. She spoke the night Biden accepted his nomination for the vice president at the 2008 Democratic National Convention and introduced his son, Beau, who died in 2015 after a battle with brain cancer.

The Illinois senator, who was born in Thailand to a father who served in the U.S. military and a Thai-Chinese mother, emerged as one of Bidens top contenders for the No. 2 spot on the Democratic ticket earlier this year.

Duckworth, a first-term senator who now holds the seat once held by former President Barack Obama, has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump in recent years

Donald Trump doesn't deserve to call himself commander in chief for another four minutes, little longer another four years, she said. Our troops deserve better.

She slammed Trump for failing to protect U.S. troops as commander-in-chief and insisted the U.S. military would be protected under a Biden administration.

As president, Joe Biden would never let tyrants manipulate him like a puppet, she said. He would never pervert our military to stroke his own ego. He would never turn his back on our troops or threaten them against Americans peacefully exercising their constitutional rights.

The Purple Heart recipient spent 23 years in the Reserve Forces and retired in 2014 as a lieutenant colonel before she entered politics. Duckworth lost both of her legs after her Black Hawk helicopter was shot down during her time with the Illinois Army National Guard in Iraq in 2004. After she was appointed as assistant secretary of Veterans Affairs under the Obama administration, Duckworth defeated Illinois Republican congressman Joe Walsh in 2012 before she was elected to the Senate in 2016. She also made history as the first U.S. senator to give birth in office and the first to bring her child onto the Senate floor.

 Courtney Subramanian

Tribute to Beau Biden

When Joe Biden was nominated to be Barack Obamas running mate, he was introduced at the 2008 Democratic National Convention by his oldest child, Beau.

At the 2012 convention, Beau Biden officially nominated his father for re-election in remarks that moved his dad to tears.

Emotions ran high again Thursday as the campaign played a video tribute to Beau, who died of cancer at age 46 in 2015. His death was a major reason Joe Biden passed on running for president in 2016

Some voices are never silenced. Some voices never cease to change lives, the narrator said. Some people never stop inspiring, even after theyre gone.

Beau Biden had campaigned with his father since he was three years old.

Every day, he still inspires the next president of the United States, the narrator said.

The tribute also included portions of Barack Obama's eulogy of Beau.

In a 2012 interview, Joe Biden said his son was more like Obama than he is in terms of demeanor and political style.

"They're cool, they're cerebral, they're straight, they keep their passion in check," Biden told New York Magazine. "They're the modern politician."

 Maureen Groppe

Trump on DNC: 'A lot of hate'

Fox News host Sean Hannity brought on a special -- if regular -- guest Thursday to analyze the final night of the Democratic convention: Donald Trump.

The president wasn't impressed.

"A lot of hate," Trump told Hannity during a telephone interview less than an hour before challenger Joe Biden was set to accept the Democratic presidential nomination.

Trump used the friendly forum of Hannity's program to bash Biden over taxes, energy development, law and order, and gun ownership rights. Trump again questioned Biden's mental acuity, claiming he would be captive to liberal advisers like running mate Kamala Harris.

"Something's going on," Trump said. "It's very strange."

It was Trump's second attempt to preempt Biden's acceptance speech. Earlier in the day, Trump traveled to a city near Scranton, Pa.  Biden's birthplace  to give a speech blasting the former vice president's entire political career.

Trump claimed he has watched "some" of the Democratic convention, and was planning to watch Biden's speech later in the evening.

 David Jackson

Sen. Cory Booker: We will rise

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker focused his remarks on the dignity of working Americans.

Im here because a union job lifted my family out of poverty, into the middle class, Booker declared.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris know the dignity of all working Americans, they feel the urgency and the demand of our dream. But working people are under attack. The wealth gap rose, our middle-class shrinks and poverty persists.

The former mayor of Newark, New Jersey, was among Bidens challengers during the Democratic primary before his bid fizzled in January. The longtime senator lined up behind Biden in March, announcing on Twitter that the former vice president would restore honor to the Oval Office and tackle our most pressing challenges. Booker, once considered a rising star in the Democratic party, was invited to speak at the DNC in 2012 and 2016.

Booker slammed President Donald Trump for saying the economy is doing good, pointing out that 40 million Americans are at risk of losing their homes.

He has failed us. But still, I believe in the dream of our ancestors, he said, adding that a Biden administration would raise the minimum wage to pull Americans out of poverty.

The New Jersey senator more recently clashed with Trump after the president suggested Booker would oversee a suburban invasion under the Biden administration. As a presidential candidate las year, Booker made affordable and anti-discrimination housing one of his key policies. Booker responded by tweeting your racism is showing.

Booker added that if his granddad were alive, Joe and Kamala, he would be so proud of you.

Let's now work together and stand together and America, together, we will rise, he said.

 Courtney Subramanian

Julia Louis-Dreyfus stirs debate as host

Comedy and politics are sometimes a difficult mix.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the Emmy-award winning star of Veep", opened a spirited debate on social media Thursday during the final night of the Democratic National Convention with a series of jokes that stung and at times seemed inconsistent with the emotion party organizers were hoping to convey.

Moving moment on Biden's faith blown, tweeted Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute. Shtick will play fine with the most partisan Dems. But purpose of the show is to establish narrative for the ticket. Right now JLD is reinforcing Dems' condescending elite image.

Cringe, was a word that came up frequently on social media.

Louis-Dreyfus, at one point, joked that Joe Biden "goes to church so regularly that he doesn't even need tear gas and a bunch of federalized troops to get him get there," a reference to President Donald Trumps photo-op at a church near the White House in June that had been cleared of peaceful protesters.

The convention also featured a segment from Sarah Cooper, a comedian known for lip syncs of Trump.

Others admonished the Twitter critics to lighten up.

Anyone complaining about Julia Louis-Dreyfus jokes is wrong, tweeted journalist Ben Adler. Mockery and humor are great weapons in politics, especially against Trump.

 John Fritze and Maureen Groppe

State elections officials: Despite Trump's allegations, voting by mail is safe

The top elections officials from two states spoke at the convention to counter Trumps repeated  and baseless - assertion that mail-in voting is rife with fraud.

California Secretary of State Alex Padilla and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said ballots handled by the U.S. Post Service are secure whether its through a universal system or via absentee ballot.

Despite what he says, Donald Trump cant cancel (the election), Padilla said. But he and his Republicans are making it too hard for so many to cast their ballots. And now hes attacking vote by mail.

"Lets be clear. There is absolutely zero difference between voting by mail and voting absentee, Benson said in a pre-recorded video. Millions of Americans vote absentee and have for decades. Donald Trump, his family, his staff: they all vote by mail. In fact, in states like Colorado, Utah and Oregon have been voting by mail for years. Republicans and Democrats agree: it is safe.

Benson spoke on the same day that Michigan voters can officially begin requesting ballots for the Nov. 3 election. Those ballots will be mailed to voters starting Sept. 24. Already, 2.4 million Michigan voters have already put in a request for ballots.

Benson, Padilla and other state election officials across the nation are encouraging voters to cast their ballots by mail because of concerns that in-person voting would increase the spread of coronavirus.

Trump has attacked widespread mail-in absentee voting as corrupt, even though there is little evidence of fraudulent votes being cast and he has voted absentee himself.

 Ledyard King and Todd Spangler

Presidential historian Jon Meacham: A vote for Biden saves our country and our souls

Presidential historian Jon Meacham opened his remarks by declaring that the country is under assault from an incumbent more interested in himself than he is and the rest of us.

We must decide whether we will continue to be prisoners of the darkest of American forces, or will we free ourselves to write a brighter better nobler story, said Meacham, who authored the 2018 bestseller The Soul of America, a phrase Biden has echoed throughout his campaign.

"That's the issue of this election - a choice that goes straight to the nature of the soul of America. Humankind has long viewed the soul as the vital center, the core, the essence of existence. The soul is what makes us, us."

The Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and former journalist, who eulogized George H.W. Bush, Barbara Bush and civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis, D-Georgia, delivered his remarks from his home in Nashville. Seated before presidential campaign posters of years past and a portrait of Lewis, the subject of his latest book His Truth Is Marching On, Meacham said Biden would be a president with empathy, grace, a big heart and an open mind.

Our story has soared when we build bridges, not walls. When we've lent a hand. Not when we pointed fingers. When we've hoped, not feared, he added.

With our voices and our votes, let us now write the next chapter of the American story. One of hope of love of justice. If we do so, we might just save our country and our souls.

 Courtney Subramanian

Democrats honor John Lewis while urging Americans to stay in good trouble

In a tribute to the late Rep. John Lewis, Civil Rights Movement veteran and original Freedom Rider, Democrats urged Americans to continue pushing for the civil rights issues he championed.

Rev. Raphael Warnock said in the video that during a time when Black Americans are rising up against police brutality and racism, people must honor him by continuing to fight the good fights that he fought, by staying in good trouble.

Lewis, who died in July after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, represented his Georgia district for over 30 years.

The video also featured Rep. Elijah Cummings, who died in October, 2019. Cummings said that a lesson Lewis taught him is If youre sacrificing for a cause, something bigger than you and you really believe in it, then you will have people following you.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms spoke ahead of the tribute video about the importance of the right to vote, which Lewis fought for on behalf of Black Americans, helping lead to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

We must pass on the gift John Lewis left on to us. We must register and we must vote, Bottoms said.

"Voting and participating in the democratic process are key," Lewis wrote in a posthumous op-ed published by the New York Times. "The vote is the most powerful nonviolent change agent you have in a democratic society. You must use it because it is not guaranteed. You can lose it."

Jeanine Santucci

Bottoms: Change comes through voting

At a time of unrest over racial injustice, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms told viewers they shouldnt get discouraged, thinking they cant make a difference they way civil rights icons did.

Every person in the movement mattered, including those who made the sandwiches, swept the church floors and stuffed the envelopes, said Bottoms, one of the women whom Biden considered as a running mate.

We have gathered in our streets to demand change, and now, we must pass on the gift John Lewis sacrificed to give us, she said before the convention featured a tribute to Lewis, who died last month. We must register and we must vote.

Bottoms had been an early backer of Biden, a move that generated some criticism for passing over the two African American senators seeking the nomination, Californias Kamala Harris and New Jerseys Cory Booker.

Bottoms came to national attention earlier this year when she clashed with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp over how to handle the coronavirus, as well as when her city erupted in protests over police brutality.

Bidens interest in Bottoms further enhanced her profile.

By the way, you've been incredible, Biden told her during a virtual round-table discussion his campaign hosted in June. I've watched you like millions and millions of Americans have on television of late. Your passion, your composure, your balance has been really incredible.

 Maureen Groppe

Veep Julia Louis-Dreyfus digs at the real vice president

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the actress who starred in the political comedy series Veep, took a jab at the current vice president as she began her duties hosting the final night of the convention.

Louis-Dreyfus said she cant wait to see Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris debate Mike Pence  except she pretended she didnt know how to pronounce his name. It appeared to be a jab at those who mispronounce the name of Harris, as Trump sometimes does.

Meeka Pints? Or is it Paints? she asked former presidential candidate Andrew Yang.

It's pronounced `Pahnce, I believe, Yang responded. Or some kind of weird foreign name.

Yeah, not very American sounding, Louis-Dreyfus said, before using a phrase liked by President Donald Trump. That's what people are saying, strongly.

Yang had introduced Louis-Dreyfus saying they had 11 Emmys between them.

Hows that for math? he quipped.

 Maureen Groppe

Yang: US needs a president to lead the nation out of a deep dark hole

The former presidential candidate who made math the cornerstone of his campaign said the nation needs a president who can help dig the country out of its deep dark hole.

Our future is now, and it is daunting, said Andrew Yang, the New York entrepreneur, kicking off the fourth night of the convention. But I ask you tonight to join me to help Joe and Kamala fight for the promise of America, turn the page for our country, and lead us forward to a future we will actually be proud to leave to our children.

We are in a deep, dark hole, and we need leaders who will help dig us out, said Yang, whose signature policy included giving all adults a monthly stipend.

Yang, who never held public office before making his White House run, frequently wore hats with "MATH" emblazoned across them, an acronym for "Make America Think Harder.

Yangs campaign highlighted the challenges workers face as the economy is being transformed by technology and automation. His push for a universal basic income he dubbed a freedom dividend (he proposed $1,000 a month for every American) gained a measure of popularity as a result of the economic fallout from the COID-19 pandemic.

 Ledyard King

Newsom talks climate change at DNC as fires rage

California Gov. Gavin Newsom says wildfires raging in his state should give pause to anyone who denies climate change.

Newsom spoke at the virtual Democratic National Convention on Thursday from a forest near Californias Central Coast after visiting a nearby Red Cross evacuation center.

More than two dozen major wildfires were blazing across California, blanketing cities and towns in smoke and putting tens of thousands of people under evacuation orders.

Newsom recorded the video after choosing to scrap the prerecorded video he originally recorded.

I confess this is not where I expected to be speaking here tonight, he said in a video recorded on a cellphone.

He added, If you are in denial about climate change, come to California.

Newsom criticized President Donald Trump for working to roll back vehicle emission standards meant to curb climate change and for threatening to withhold funding from California.

- Associated Press

Buttigieg to appear after tribute to Beau

Former Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigiegs appearance on the final night of the convention will come right after a tribute to Joe Bidens late son, Beau.

That may be intentional.

When Buttigieg dropped out of the presidential race in March and endorsed his former rival, Biden paid him his highest compliment.

"I don't think I've ever done this before, but he reminds me of my son Beau," Biden said of Buttigieg. "That may not mean much to most people, but to me, it's the highest compliment I can give any man or woman."

Biden said that Buttigieg, like Beau, has a backbone like a ramrod.

Beau Biden died of cancer at age 46 in 2015.

 Maureen Groppe

Who is speaking today?

Besides Biden, other Democratic convention speakers will including federal, state and local officials discussing the theme of "America's Promise."

Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, who holds Biden's seat in the chamber, nominated him Tuesday.

Voting rights will be discussed during the night. California Secretary of State Alex Padilla and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson will each speak.

We have cried out for justice, we have gathered in our streets to demand change, and now, we must pass on the gift John Lewis sacrificed to give us, we must register and we must vote," Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said in prepared remarks.

The pandemic is another subject on the agenda. Dr. Vivek Murthy, a former surgeon general, is scheduled to speak.

A video tribute will honor military families. Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, an Army veteran who lost her legs in a helicopter crash, will speak. She was among the candidates Biden considered for running mate.

Former Biden rivals in the primaries  Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind.  will each be speaking. Buttigieg, who served in Afghanistan with the Navy Reserve, will speak after a video tribute to the nominee's late son, Beau Biden, whose Army National Guard unit deployed to Iraq.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is the first woman elected to the chamber from Wisconsin, a key presidential battleground, is set to speak. She and Buttigieg are each gay.

Biden's former rivals for the nomination will speak about how they united behind him. Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg will be the last politician to speak before Biden.

Biden's children and grandchildren will talk about his commitment to his family as an introduction to his speech accepting the nomination.

Nun and social justice advocate to give invocation

In a nod to Joe Bidens faith, the invocation on the final night of the convention will be given by Sister Simone Campbell, a Roman Catholic nun.

One in five voters in 2016 were Catholic, according to the Pew Research Center. More than half (52%) voted for Donald Trump and 44% voted for Hillary Clinton. That was a closer split than the 17 percentage point gap in support for Trump among Protestants, a group that includes white evangelicals who voted overwhelmingly for Trump.

In a June Pew Research Center survey, 52% of all Catholics supported Bidens candidacy but Trump was still carrying white Catholics.

In October, a Catholic priest in South Carolina said he had denied Holy Communion to Biden because of the candidates views on abortion.

Biden has dropped his longstanding support for the Hyde Amendment, which blocks federal funding for abortion in most cases.

Campbell, a social justice advocate, spoke at the 2012 Democratic National Convention in a denunciation of Republican spending priorities.

After Campbells prayer Thursday, Delaware Sen. Chris Coons will deliver a "deep and personal" testament to his home state colleagues faith.

The Joe I know is someone who believes in the power of prayer and who turns to God for strength in moments of hardship and joy, Coons wrote in an opinion piece published by Fox News Thursday. Faith is a core part of who we are  and since our founding, its been a core part of America, too.

 Maureen Groppe

How Biden will be introduced

The Biden campaign and Democratic National Convention released part of the introductory video that will play Thursday night before Biden speaks.

Watch the 1:10 clip below.

 Delaware News Journal

Delaware officials will watch Biden's speech from their cars

A DNC watch party of sorts is planned in the parking lot of Frawley Stadium, Erik Raser-Schramm, chairman of the Delaware Democratic Party, confirmed.

Elected officials ranging from the general assembly to Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki and New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer are among the invites. So, too, are Delaware's delegates.

Gov. John Carney and Sen. Tom Carper announced Biden as the official Democratic nominee Tuesday night when they pledged all 32 delegate votes to the former vice president.

Attendees will watch on a large screen in the parking lots and will remain in their cars during Biden's speech.

Raser-Schramm said Biden and wife, Jill, may come out after and give a wave. Fireworks are also expected.

"It really is a Delaware-specific thing," Raser-Schramm said.

 Jeff Neiburg and Jeanne Kuang, Delaware News Journal

Wisconsin Republicans feel Biden misfired in VP pick

Andrew Hitt, the chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, indicated that Joe Biden might have missed out on making a better pick for vice president.

U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris is Bidens running mate.

But Hitt made the case that U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin might have made more sense.

Passing on Tammy Baldwin is just another example of Joe Biden not taking Wisconsin seriously and taking Wisconsin for granted and ignoring Wisconsin, Hitt said during a conference call. He picks a liberal senator (Harris) and he picks that liberal senator from California, a state youre going to win. If youre going to pick a liberal senator why not pick a liberal senator from a state that you need to win?

It just continues to confuse me why they are vehemently ignoring Wisconsin and not learning from the lesson of Hillary Clinton, he said.

Hitt and U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany criticized Democrats and Biden for bypassing Wisconsin for much of the convention. Democrats were forced to make dramatic changes and create a virtual convention because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Hitt will be one four Wisconsin representatives going to next weeks Republican National Convention in Charlotte, N.C.

Also going to Charlotte are Republican National Committee members Tom Schreibel and Mary Buestrin and Charlotte Rassmussen, who is on the RNC credentialing committee.

Hitt said the Wisconsin delegation leaves Friday for meetings Saturday, Sunday and Monday, which will conclude with the official nomination of President Donald Trump.

Were still going there, he said. Theres still an economic impact.

 Bill Glauber, Milwaukee Sentinel

Emhoff debuts as second-gentleman nominee

Doug Emhoff, the spouse of Sen. Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for vice president, told a virtual meeting Thursday of the LGBTQ Caucus that he didnt expect to be on the campaign trail, but that he was proud to support his wife.

Im so proud of her, Emhoff said in his first campaign remarks supporting the ticket. "Being out here on the presidential campaign trail talking about Joe and Kamala is not something I've ever really expected to be doing.

Earl Fowlkes, chair of the Democratic National Committee's LGBTQ Caucus and CEO of the Center for Black Equity, said he was excited to have Emhoff speak.

"I have the pleasure to introduce someone who's going to be a major force in our country," Fowlkes said. "And actually, I'm tingling.

Emhoff said he was assigned to describe his and Harris biographies. Emhoff, 55, was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and raised in New Jersey before moving to Los Angeles in high school. After attending college and law school, he became a father to Cole and Ella, who helped introduce Harris for her acceptance speech Wednesday. Emhoff said he met Harris on an "old-school blind date," a story she details at length in her memoir. Saturday is their sixth anniversary.

"I got a congratulatory voicemail from none other than Joe Biden! Emhoff said after the couple became engaged. He is such a great guy and believe it or not, I still have that message saved on my home."

Emhoff said he could talk about what Harris planned to accomplish in office, but that she could do that herself.

"Now, it should come as no surprise to you that in addition to being a great mom, I am confident that my wife Kamala Harris will make a great vice president, Emhoff said.

 Bart Jansen

Hunter Biden to speak at Democratic convention

Hunter Biden, the son of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and a focal point for GOP scorn, will speak during the final night of the partys national convention on Thursday.

President Donald Trump and other Republicans have heaped criticism on Hunter Biden for business dealings he had in Ukraine and China, arrangements they said he received because his father was vice president. The Trump campaign launched a two-minute digital ad Thursday focused on Hunter Biden.

The Biden family and campaign have denied the arrangements were inappropriate.

Hunter Biden and sister Ashley Biden will speak in the lead up to Joe Bidens formal acceptance of the nomination. The convention will also feature a video on Beau Biden, the former Attorney General of Delaware who died of brain cancer in 2015.

 John Fritze

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joe Biden accepts Democratic nomination during DNC to battle Trump
SHEBERGHAN, Afghanistan -- The maternity ward at the government hospital in Sheberghan, the capital of northern Jawzjan Province, is always packed. Women from across Jawzjan and neighboring provinces brave the summer heat and travel long hours to secure an appointment with the province's most famed and respected midwife, Saira.

For nearly half a century, Saira, 70, has helped the regions women and saved many lives. She is now a local legend.

Aziza, 35, traveled over two hours from her home district of Char Bagh in the neighboring province of Sar-e-Pol to meet with Saira. Like many other women, she had heard nothing but positive things regarding the well-established midwife.

We come to visit Saira often because of her extensive experience. She is an expert in her field of work, she told Radio Free Afghanistan. If patients are sick, she knows about the major side effects and dangers that could potentially arise. She takes excellent preventive measures. Her experience is commendable, which is why we choose to come here when needed.

Another woman who speaks highly of Saira is Zarmina, a businesswoman from the outskirts of Sheberghan. Like Saira, Aziza, and many Afghans, she goes by one name only.

Zarmina tells Radio Free Afghanistan that she is always impressed with Sairas work in the maternity ward. It's been many years that I have been sending patients to go and visit Saira, and they always come back to me very pleased and satisfied, she said.

Midwife Saira has been named Shiberghans number one leading midwife of the past decade. She says she is honored for the recognition and hopes to continue to make a difference.

My sister and I were two of the first midwives who went to the capital city of Kabul to get training in the 1970s, she told Radio Free Afghanistan. It has now been 49 years since my graduation, and I have gained a lot of experience practicing, she added. It has been a great pleasure to serve my people in Sheberghan, she said of her hometown that has witnessed a tumultuous four decades during the various cycles of war in the country.

Saira has seen a sea change in peoples attitude toward healthcare and gynecological services. When I first began, many people in the villages would not welcome a midwife, she recalled. But now most women in the province consult midwives for pre- and postnatal healthcare.

She does the utmost she can when assisting her patients around the clock. Oftentimes, she delivers babies free of cost, gives free examinations for mothers, and offers free medicine. She says most of the women who visit her are poor, so it's the least she can do.

I have delivered many babies for free, especially for women who are poor. This is why many poor patients choose to visit me often, Saira said.

Midwives and nurses in Afghanistan take on large responsibilities. In a country where health services are limited and the segregation between men and women deprives women from seeing male doctors, midwives act as unsung heroes. They provide women and newborns with the basic healthcare they desperately need.

Many mothers in Afghanistan suffer from a lack of basic care such as proper nutrition and survival is often their biggest challenge. On top of that, rampant instability and widespread violence make survival for mothers and their newborns another obstacle to overcome.

In May, a maternity ward in Kabul's Dasht-e-Barchi hospital was subject to a brutal attack when a gunman fired inside the hospital, killing countless mothers and newborns. The incident received international outrage and horrified the nation.

The United Nations even blamed the Taliban and Afghan security forces for "deliberately" attacking healthcare workers and facilities, leaving Afghan mothers and patients to face increased dangers amid a conflict that has reached unfathomable levels of violence.

But despite the myriad problems, Afghanistan has seen steady growth in the number of midwives available.

Abdul Sabur Nariman, a spokesman for the Public Health Ministry in Kabul, told Radio Free Afghanistan that today more than 7,000 trained midwives are serving Afghanistans estimated 32 million people. They have played a large role in decreasing maternal deaths and infant mortality rates. In 2001, the infant mortality rate in Afghanistan was 89 per 1,000 live births, which was one of the highest in the world. Today, it stands at 48 per 1,000 live births.

Officials in Sheberghan say they are witnessing more encouraging signs. According to them, maternal and infant mortality rates in Jawzjan Province specifically have decreased since last year.

Midwife Najiba Rahmani, head of Jawzjans maternity and health department, tells Radio Free Afghanistan that daily, we have more than 15 deliveries, and yearly we have around 5,000 deliveries where 159 of those receive extra assistance because of abnormal or unforeseen circumstances during the delivery.

Jawzjan has a population estimated at about 550,000, according to officials from its health department, served by hundreds of midwives.

Last year, more than 5,000 babies were delivered at Jawzjans main hospital. Still, nearly 67 percent of mothers opt to deliver their babies at home despite the risks that come with it.

Nilly Kohzad wrote this story based on Radio Free Afghanistan correspondent Alem Rahmanyars reporting from Sheberghan, Afghanistan.
Groups claim robust science ignored due to close ties between regulator and industry

Wireless technology has become an essential part of our world. But what if this modern necessity is also harming our health?

Thats the claim in a suit filed against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The case was submitted in February, but two nonprofitsChildrens Health Defense (CHD) and Environmental Health Trust (EHT)jointly filed their opening brief on July 29 in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. The case challenges the FCC to reconsider its wireless health and safety guidelines that have been in place since 1996.

When the rules were first written, cellular phones were simple, brick-sized units, and relatively rare. Today, theyve morphed into slim, multipurpose devices, kept in our pockets, that are virtually indispensable to nearly everyone. But as wireless use has increased, so has our exposure to the non-ionizing radiation used to carry the data over the airwavesknown as radiofrequency (RF) or microwave radiation. The case alleges that the FCC ignores clear evidence of harm to people and the environment from this ubiquitous technology.

For more than 25 years, regulators have assured the public that FCC safety standards are still effective enough to meet a modern world bathed in a wireless field. They are also confident that even 5Ganother, higher-frequency layer of RF radiation with hundreds of thousands of new broadcasting cells installed in close proximity to where people live and workposes no threat to our well-being.

The brief, however, points to evidence of harm at so-called safe levels. Some petitioners attached to the case claim that normal, everyday exposure to wireless has made them so sick that they are forced to retreat from the modern world just to survive.

Heat Hypothesis

In a July 30 press conference for the case, CHD Chairman Robert F. Kennedy explained that the federal standard designating safe levels of microwave radiation exposurethe Telecommunications Act of 1996states that safety is merely an issue of temperature. Basically, as long as exposure is not enough to create heat, as in a microwave oven, the body suffers no harm. But the case against the FCC urges the agency to take a closer look at the evidence to the contrary.

We know now, from thousands and thousands of peer-reviewed published studies, that microwave radiation injures the human body and human cells at a tiny fraction of what it takes to raise the temperature of your body, Kennedy said. It shows a grim inventory of injuries connected to Wi-Fi, including oxidative stress, sperm and testicular damage, cell damage, DNA damage, and neuropsychiatric damage. The neuropsychiatric damage can be so powerful that it can be read almost immediately on EEGs in children, and those effects do not disappear after you withdraw the radiation.

But regulators say these studies fall short. After years of collecting public commentary regarding concerns of harm from wireless technology, the FCC declared that there was nothing substantive enough to change their guidelines. In an over-100-page report from Dec. 19, 2019, the Commission stated that their old standard was sufficient to ensure public safety.

After reviewing the extensive record submitted in response to that inquiry, we find no appropriate basis for and thus decline to propose amendments to our existing limits at this time, the FCC report states. We take our duty to protect the public from any potential harm due to RF exposure seriously.

But Dr. David O. Carpenter, director of the U.S. Institute for Health and the Environment and a petitioner in the CHD case, says the heat hypothesis that regulators rely on to determine safety doesnt come from doctors.

They derived their information from the Institute for Electronic and Electrical Engineers, (IEEE), and agencies dominated by electrical engineers and physicists, not the kind of people you want to go to if you have a heart attack, Carpenter said. And yet, these are the people that the FCC take their information from in setting standards that are supposed to be protective of human health.

Carpenter has been warning about the damage wireless poses to public health for several years. Hes co-editor of the Bio-Initiative Reporta document compiled by 29 independent scientists and health experts from around the world detailing evidence of harm from wireless radiation.

The Bio-Initiative Report was first published in 2012, but stronger studies have come out since thennotably, a $30 million study by the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP). With support from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the NTP study was designed to be the final word on whether or not wireless causes health problems. The study exposed rodents to a lifetime of cellphone radiation showing that wireless exposure clearly causes cancer, DNA damage, and disrupts the endocrine system.

Another large and important study from Italys Ramazzini Institute reported similar conclusions. It looked at animal exposure at much lower RF intensitieswell below FCCs safety limitsand still showed clear evidence of cancer.

Such evidence has driven scientists around the world to push the World Health Organization (WHO) to reconsider their evaluation of the health risks related to wireless. In 2013, the WHOs International Agency for Research on Cancer found that children are more susceptible to RF radiation exposure than adults and that positive associations have been observed between exposure to radiofrequency radiation from wireless phones and brain tumors, glioma, and acoustic neuroma.

The agency concluded that radiofrequency radiation was a possible human carcinogen. However, one of the reasons WHO didnt give wireless exposure a stronger warning is lack of animal evidencean omission the NTP and Ramazzini studies aim to fill.

The evidence for cancer from radiofrequency radiation is overwhelming and absolutely definitive, and yet ignored by the FCC, Carpenter said.

But youre not likely to hear these details of this unsettled science in the mainstream media. Kennedy said one of the most frustrating issues in getting the public to understand the harms related to RF radiation is the powerful influence the wireless industry has in silencing the story. In a world where media companies are often intimately tied to big telecom companies that have a stake in the 5G rollout, such stories are bad for business. Facebook, in particular, admits to censoring criticism of 5G.

Their metric is not that its a misrepresentation or that its not true. Their metric is that it departs from the official FCC government pronouncements of 5G, and that is the ultimate insult to our democracy, Kennedy said. We know all these things about it, and the only reason theyre escaping regulation is through corruption and agency capture, and ultimately through censorship.

Regulators, meanwhile, say doing otherwise would be promoting unsubstantiated claims and would amount to kicking the country when its down.

In an article in The Washington Post titled 5G Conspiracy Theories Threaten U.S. Recovery, FCC general counsel Thomas M. Johnson Jr. writes that conjectures about 5Gs effect on human health are long on panic and short on science, but activists try to capitalize on fear and misinformation.

Paradoxically, such fears are likely to exacerbate suffering during the COVID-19 crisis, because the dislocation caused by the coronavirus pandemic requires strong Internet connectivity to facilitate telework, remote learning, as well as staying in touch with friends and family. Investment in 5G is thus central to the United States recovery, and its important for Americans to know that wireless networks are safe, Johnson writes.

Source of an Illness

The legal argument for this case is a debate about what the science says regarding the potential for harm. But for people who already claim to be hurt by wireless technology, the issue is far more personal.

Weve all gradually been subjected to greater exposures of wireless radiation over the past 25 years, and most of us seem fine. But theres a long list of symptoms associated with RF radiation exposurefrom headaches and tingling hands, to nausea and memory loss. Some cases are mild, but others can be debilitating.

This illness is known as Electromagnetic Sensitivity (ES) or microwave sickness, and its hardly a new discovery. Years before cellphones were invented, NASA recognized evidence of microwave sickness in 1980. The condition is also covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Carpenter says a significant percentage of the population already suffers from microwave illness. However, a major problem is that most people wont think to look to their devices as the source of their sickness. In fact, even most doctors are unfamiliar with the harms linked to this technology and the symptoms it can cause.

It is undoubtedly affecting many people who never thought about the fact that their headaches, the ringing in their ears, their fatigue, their general sense of ill health may be coming from the fact that their Wi-Fi was too strong, that they are on their cell phone too often, that theyre too close to a 5G generator out in the street or a cell tower, Carpenter said. But this is very well documented and an increasing number of people are exposed.

The suit cites more than 100 reports of sickness from FCC-authorized RF/EMF levels. Some include documentary support, including medical diagnoses.

The only known cure for ES is prolonged distance from sources of RF radiation. But as wireless technology spreads, this invisible influence becomes almost impossible to escape. ES suffers told stories of devastating personal and financial harm and disruption to their lives as a result of this exposure, and an inability to live or participate in modern society.

One doctor familiar with the signs of ES is Dr. Tori Jelter, another petitioner in the case, and a pediatrician who sees evidence of the disease in her clinic on a regular basis. She describes the transformation of one 10-year-old child with autism who was completely nonverbal. The childs parents brought him to Jelter because he started to exhibit very aggressive behavior. They thought he might need medication, but Jelter wondered if his environment was to blame.

Because I had reviewed the literature saying that wireless radiation can profoundly affect behavior, I suggested that they decrease his exposure, and see if that was a contributing factor before starting medication. I recommended they turn off the Wi-Fi router for 12 hours at night, and unplug all cordless phones and see if that made a difference, Jelter said.

This boy who had never said a word before in his life, within three days, he said a full sentence, and after that gradually improved. The aggressive behavior dissipated.

Another example Jelter gave was of an 8-year-old boy who had a pervasive developmental disorder. As she considered his symptoms, Jelter requested that his parents modify the wireless radiation in the home. Soon after, teachers at his school called the parents in for a meeting. They wanted to know what kind of medication was responsible for such a dramatic improvement.

In fact, he had improved two grade levels in two months. The parents explained that there was no medication, they just turned off the Wi-Fi router and unplugged the cordless phones, Jelter said. Its a travesty to children that wireless radiation isnt regulated more. Ive written letters to the FCC but nothing happened. It seems like nothing really changes unless you settle things in the court of law, and its long overdue.

Finding a doctor like Jelter allows ES sufferers to identify the root cause of their illness, and do something about it. But not everyone is so lucky. Nineteen-year-old Isobel Gallo said she got sick from wireless exposure when she was 16. She developed nausea, heart pain, shortness of breath, brain fog, and burning ears. But no one could figure out what was causing it.

Neither me, my parents, nor the school was aware that microwave radiation could make people sick, Gallo said. Like many other children, I was told I was mentally ill. I was told that I had developed some kind of cyber phobia. I was told I was making up my symptoms in order to gain attention. And because of our ignorance, I was injured much more seriously than I would have known things from the beginning. I was forced to withdraw from high school and am currently housebound.

Gallo submitted an affidavit as part of the case (1 of 15 affidavits submitted to the court). She claims that FCC regulation has destroyed her future because her condition makes it impossible to go to college and difficult to find work, maintain friendships, or even walk around her neighborhood.

It is outrageous that the FCC has allowed its obsolete standards to injure so many children. Their job is to protect the public. I should have been protected. And instead, the FCC has completely ignored my existence, Gallo said. The FCC needs to listen to the scientists and protect its people.

Officials at the FCC didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment about the case.
While Covid-19 is showing no signs of subsiding, Indian businesses are figuring out how to spring back in action. As that happens, they are looking at different strategies to create a safe environment for employees to get back to work. "One thing is certain; we are entering a new world of work and it is crucial to be well-prepared for this new reality. The emphasis must be on creating a safe environment where employees can be productive and make an impact," says Paul Dupuis, MD & CEO, Randstad India.

He adds businesses will have to ensure they create offices as clean zones. At the same time, firms will also have to offer alternative ways of working, including remote work, which is also about the future of work. Third important piece is about protecting jobs and providing job security to the workforce. Sandeep Gulati, MD, Manpower Group India says, "This is our opportunity to restart the economy to create a future of work that works for everyone...more digital, more virtual, more connected and more wellbeing-orientated than we could ever have imagined."

To ensure a well-being oriented organisation, he says: "We need to start base lining the organisation from the human perspective. There is usually conversation around IQ (intelligence quotient) and EQ (emotional quotient) but now we need to bring in HQ, the human quotient."

He shares there is a need to go back to fundamentals. Businesses now will have to figure out how many people can come to work, how many can travel for an event. If a firm has 400 people, the chances are it is working from 400 different locations, instead of a single office, and each employee will have their own preference of a working environment.

Also read: 88% employees in India favour work from home, claims study

Organisations will have to learn to work like an orchestra where each musician works individually and yet together they create the perfect symphony, says Gulati.

As organisations work from a several locations, leaders will require a mindset shift where they will have to give up control and empower the employee to deliver. "The new business plans have to be nimble, adaptable and outcome-based. They can no longer be activity-based," he says.

Marco Valsecchi, Country Manager & MD, Adecco Group says that while more and more brands are announcing work from home for long term, office spaces will continue to play an important role. "We are social animals and need to interact with each other. Also, values like empathy and trust are very difficult to build through digital medium."

While work from home will continue, the relationship between office and employee might change. There will be more space allocated per square foot to employees and more people will work in shifts. Also, firms are looking at re-doing office spaces, keeping in mind its impact on employee's wellbeing. They are opting for colour palettes that have an impact on mindset and installing screen savers, artefacts, wallpapers to ensure they create a positive impact on the employees.

Richa Singh, Co-founder of mental health plarform YourDOST says that COVID has lead to a considerable rise in stress level and anxiety amongst professionals.

A recent report by YourDost shows that over 55% of Indians have experienced a rise in their stress levels during the lockdown. Additionally, feelings of anxiety, anger and loneliness have also increased with a net increase of 41%, 38% and 29%, respectively.

The key concerns employees raise are: the feeling of anxiety due to the uncertainty caused by the pandemic and yet the firm's expectation to work as productively as earlier. Another is the difficulty in maintaining personal and professional boundaries while working from home.

Singh says the coping mechanisms of meeting a friend or speaking to a colleague over a coffee are no longer available. Organisations now have to figure out ways to facilitate such mechanisms for the employees in the new circumstances. Singh suggests firms can look at building the resilience of the employees at individual level and at team level, they can have wellness champions who ensure wellbeing of their colleagues.

The speakers were part of the launch of a 'how-to' report 'Help India Get Back to Work Safely' guide, which has best practices and recommendations for organisations to support a safer return to workplaces.

Also read: How Productive is Work From Home?
A leading voice in demonstrations against the ousted Malian government, Mahmoud Dicko, on Wednesday said he would withdraw from politics despite the promise of a return to democracy in due time by leaders of a military coup.

President Ibrahim Keita had on Tuesday resigned after mutineering soldiers held him at gunpoint, a build-up to the months-long civil protest calling for his resignation due to his perceived corrupt and inept rule.

Mr Dicko, a Muslim leader who pulled a strong followership among the protesters during anti-Keita demonstrations, said he had decided to withdraw from politics with no further details. This was hours after meeting with the putschist who call themselves The Commitee For The Salute of The Contry and have promised to oversee elections for a transitional government within a reasonable time.

The move suggests the opposition movement like many Malians who took to the street to celebrate the presidents ouster, is satisfied with the coup leaders promise of return to democracy.

According to Reuters, a spokesman for the mutineers, Ismael Wague, earlier said they were not seeking power but only stability.

We are keen on the stability of the country, which will allow us to organise general elections  within a reasonable time limit, Mr Wague said, while addressing civil society groups and the M5-RFP opposition coalition on state television.

In response, the opposition coalition said in a statement it had taken note of NCSPs commitment and would work with the group to achieve this, the Reuters report cited.

Earlier, the mutineers had denied there were any casualties from Tuesdays violence.

But human rights group, Amnesty International dismissed the claims. In a statement issued on Wednesday, it said it had documented the death of four people, while 15 more were wounded by bullets.

Meanwhile, while the mood in the country remained calm except for the insurgency-ravaged north, the economic fallout from the coup became apparent as share prices in gold mining hit a steep-fall after sanctions by both the African Union and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) against Mali.

On Wednesday, the finance ministry of Ivory Coast  French-speaking West Africas largest economy  ordered the suspension of all financial relations with Mali, in line with an ECOWAS decision in response to Tuesdays mutiny, according to the Reuters report.

Mood in Mali

Meanwhile, for Cheick Doumbia, a Malian political analyst, the euphoria from the coup is still in the air, yet uncertainty beclouds many peoples minds.

Many are happy that the power was overthrown but most are worried about next steps, Mr Doumbia told PREMIUM TIMES.
Canberra has insisted wine sales to China have been fairly priced, and officials have said they would cooperate fully with the investigation.

Australian wine growers are the latest to be caught up in escalating geo-political tensions. Exporters are accused of cutting their prices and taking market share from local companies in China. An anti-dumping inquiry has been requested by the Chinese Alcoholic Drinks Association. It will examine whether Australian firms are being supported by government subsidies.

Australia owes much of its recent prosperity to China, its biggest trading partner. Last year, two-way commerce was worth $170 billion, but cracks are appearing in this valuable relationship.

China has launched an anti-dumping investigation into Australian wine imports, as trade tensions between Beijing and Canberra continue to fester.

Trade minister Simon Birmingham says Australian wine makers have done nothing wrong. "We find these suggestions deeply troubling and quite perplexing. Australian wine is by no means subsidized, it is by no means sold at or below anything other than market rates in the world market. Indeed, Australian wine during the first half of this year proved itself to be the second highest priced wine sold in the Chinese market," Birmingham said.

The investigation comes against a backdrop of increasing friction between Beijing and Canberra after the Australian government called for an international investigation into the origins of COVID-19, which first emerged in Wuhan, China late last year.

China recently imposed tariffs on Australian barley, suspended some beef imports and told Chinese students and tourists it was not safe to travel to Australia because of allegations of racism. China is also suspected of orchestrating cyber-attacks on Australian institutions, allegations that Beijing strongly denied.

But Matt Canavan, a federal government lawmaker in Canberra, accuses China of economic coercion. "It is a pattern of behavior we are seeing from China and I do not think they can be a trustworthy business partner anymore the way they are acting, and I think every Australian business must be very careful about how much they get exposed to a jurisdiction whose behavior is increasingly threatening and bullying," Canavan said.

China has insisted its anti-dumping investigation into Australian wine would be undertaken in a "fair and just way, according to the law." A foreign ministry spokesman denied suggestions it was politically motivated.

As bilateral tensions grow, analysts fear that Australia's lucrative iron ore and coal exports could be next to suffer.
World Bank President David Malpass said the global pandemic makes it urgent to reduce the debt of the poorest nations

The coronavirus pandemic may have driven as many as 100 million people back into extreme poverty, World Bank President David Malpass warned Thursday.

The Washington-based development lender previously estimated that 60 million people would fall into extreme poverty due to COVID-19, but the new estimate puts the deterioration at 70 to 100 million, and he said "that number could go higher" if the pandemic worsens or drags on.

The situation makes it "imperative" that creditors reduce the amount of debt held by poor countries at risk, going beyond the commitment to suspend debt payments, Malpass said in an interview with AFP.

Even so, more countries will be obliged to restructure their debt.

"The debt vulnerabilities are high, and the imperative of getting light at the end of the tunnel so that new investors can come in is substantial," Malpass said.

Advanced economies in the Group of 20 already have committed to suspending debt payments from the poorest nations through the end of the year, and there is growing support for extending that moratorium into next year amid a pandemic that's killed nearly 800,000 people and sickened more than 25 million worldwide.

But Malpass said that will not be enough, since the economic downturn means those countries, which already are struggling to provide a safety net for their citizens, will not be in a better position to deal with the payments.

- Recession or depression? -

The amount of debt reduction needed will depend on the situation in each country, he said, but the policy "makes a lot of sense."

"So I think the awareness of this will be gradually, more and more apparent" especially "for the countries with the highest vulnerability to the debt situation."

The World Bank has committed to deploying $160 billion in funding to 100 countries through June 2021 in an effort to addresses the immediate emergency, and about $21 billion had been released through the end of June.

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But even so, extreme poverty, defined as earning less than $1.90 a day, continues to rise.

Malpass said the deterioration is due to a combination of the destruction of jobs during the pandemic as well as supply issues that make access to food more difficult.

"All of this contributes to pushing people back into extreme poverty the longer the economic crisis persists."

Newly-installed World Bank Chief Economist Carmen Reinhart has called the economic crisis a "pandemic depression," but Malpass was less concerned with terminology.

"We can start calling it a depression. Our focus is on how do we help countries be resilient in working out on the other side."

- More debt transparency -

Malpass said he has been "frustrated" by the slow progress among private creditors in providing comparable debt suspension terms for poor countries.

While the Institute for International Finance has set up a framework to waive debt service payments, as of mid-July member banks had not received any applications.

Having a clear view of the size of each country's debt and the collateral involved also are key to being able to help the debtor nations, Malpass said.

China is a major creditor in many of these countries, and the government has been "participating in the transparency process," but he said more needs to be done to understand the terms of loans in nations like Angola, where there are liens on the country's oil output.

Governments in advanced economies so far have been "generous" in their support of developing nations, even while they take on heavy spending programs in their own countries, Malpass said.

"But the bigger problem is that their economies are weak," Malpass said of the wealthy nations.

"The most important thing the advanced economies do for the developing countries is supply markets... start growing, and start reopening markets."

hs/cs
National Party leader Judith Collins is unveiling the party's policy on border security.

The National Party wants to establish a Border Protection Agency to oversee and manage COVID-19 and any other public health threats at the border.

The announcement comes a day after the government bolstered Defence Force numbers at isolation and quarantine facilities.

It's also set up a new team of health advisers, after the Health Ministry failed to deliver a robust testing strategy at the pace required.

National wants international travellers to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test before entering the country.

It also wants those who work at the border and treat or test COVID patients to carry compulsory contact tracing technology.

This would include the rapid deployment of bluetooth applications and things like a COVID card.

The agency would report to a single minister whose focus will be keeping New Zealand free from the risks of COVID-19 and other pandemic threats.

It would also oversee the response from other agencies such as the Ministry of Health and district health boards, and be responsible for managing co-payment for the costs of managed isolation.

Anyone in contact with people in managed isolation would be required to have a weekly COVID test and all agency workers would be required to carry contact tracing technology.

Collins says the government's dropped the ball on testing, tracing and managing people in isolation.

To prevent the virus coming through the border National wants international travellers to undergo pre-boarding thermal imaging and completion of a health declaration card.

It would also require another test of travellers within three days of arrival as well as a test on day 12.

Targets would also be introduced for testing, with a plan to make waiting times for a COVID test no longer than 60 minutes.

Aged care workers would be required to undergo regular testing and more opportunities would be created for wider testing within retirement homes.

Collins says the current response of putting various agencies in charge of different facets, "has led to a disorderly and confused response, putting the health and livelihoods of five million New Zealanders at risk".

"More than 1.6 million Aucklanders are locked down right now because the government dropped the ball on testing, tracing and managing people in isolation. It's not good enough."

National's COVID-19 Border Response spokesperson Gerry Brownlee says a Crown Agency dedicated to defencing New Zealand from the virus would be established within National's first 100 days in government.

"This agency will be resourced to act as a centre of expertise. It will have the personnel, technology and capability to provide a world-class defence against COVID-19.

"National will immediately invest and seek to rapidly deploy bluetooth technologies to enhance contract tracing, making these mandatory for border facility workers and District Health Board staff who treat or test patients,'' says Brownlee.

"Continuous improvement of our systems is required so that lockdowns become more targeted and effective, with minimal impact on our communities and the economy."

Health spokesperson Dr Shane Reti says National will follow international models and require people coming into the country to not only quarantine but also test themselves for COVID-19 three days before departure, and provide the results of that test to airline staff before boarding their plane.

-RNZ/Jo Moir.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake has ordered an investigation into the department's execution of a search warrant at the home of an innocent family.

He also decommissioned three officers on Wednesday while the investigation is ongoing and adjusted the approval requirements for search warrants.

Officers at 6:05 a.m. Tuesday used a battering ram to knock in the door at the Edgehill home of a mother and her two children. MNPD has released body camera footage of the incident.

The subject of the search warrant was a 16-year-old who did not live at the home and hadn't for at least four months.

"We have to be better than that, and I absolutely assure you, we will be moving forward," Drake said in a statement released by the department.

Drake called the actions of the officers "unacceptable" and said "shortcuts were taken" when determining if the juvenile suspect lived at the home. No surveillance was done, he said.

He said it wasn't reasonable of the officers to give the family such little time to answer the door, especially since police were only in search of evidence related to property crimes and no violent suspects.

Thats not what our police department stands for," Drake said. "This is on the Metro Nashville Police Department. We can do better, and we will be better. ... This will never happen again."

Drake said the department was in contact with the family and would assist them in whatever they needed going forward.

Gallup poll: Americans' confidence in police falls to historic low

Investigation, department changes

The investigation will be conducted by the Office of Professional Accountability.

Two supervisors and one officer at the West Precinct were decommissioned, which means their policing powers were suspended. They were Lieutenant Harrison Dooley, Sergeant Jeff Brown and Officer Michael Richardson.

Drake ordered that going forward, applications for search warrants must be approved by deputy chiefs of police rather than an employee's supervisor. The department also plans to review its search warrant processes and provide updated training.

Story continues

Drake shared that he was in contact with the Community Oversight Board over the incident and invited them to investigate.

"This mother and her children should not have been subjected to this type of behavior," he said. "We deeply regret this incident. From the bottom of my heart ... this is not what we stand for."

Police reform: We looked at protester demands from across the nation and compared them with recent police reforms.

Drake says body cameras are useful

Drake, who is interim police chief after former Chief Steve Anderson stepped down, said that the body camera footage showing the incident was helpful for the forthcoming investigation.

The chief spoke of the importance of the body camera footage in this incident. He said his department was able to immediately review it and watch what unfolded.

"It's very important," he said. "I view it as crucial."

Drake said body cameras were important to show both when the department was in the right or wrong, such as this incident.

"The body camera footage is pertinent to this investigation, and it's going to be pertinent moving forward."

A 'huge moment' for police reform: This could reshape Black communities for generations

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville police knock in innocent family's door with battering ram
WASHINGTON  A federal appeals court on Friday refused to immediately block a judge's decision requiring the disclosure of President Donald Trump's tax returns to a Manhattan prosecutor.

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero rejected the president's latest efforts to block a grand jury subpoena for his tax returns  a major loss for Trump, who has dismissed the investigation as a political "witch hunt" and has fought all the way to the Supreme Court to keep his financial records private.

Trump's attorney, William Consovoy, asked for an immediate stay on the ruling pending an appeal, saying disclosure of the president's financial records poses "irreparable harm," even though grand juries are bound by secrecy. The appeals court denied the request andscheduled a September hearing on the matter.

Marrero's ruling comes a little over a month after the Supreme Court ruled Trump cannot keep tax returns and financial records away from Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, who was investigating hush money payments made during the 2016 presidential race. But the high court said Trump can still raise other objections to the lower court.

The president's attorneys had argued that the grand jury subpoena to Mazars USA, Trump's accounting firm, is overly broad and was issued in bad faith. His attorneys focused on the "uniqueness" of Trump's job, arguing he is "constitutionally different" from other branches of government and deserves special treatment.

Related: Mnuchin says he'll protect Trump privacy on taxes

Marrero rejected the arguments, which he said are similar to claims of absolute immunity he and the Supreme Court had already rejected.

High court rejects absolute immunity: Supreme Court says President Trump cannot keep tax, financial records from prosecutors

"Certainly ... the President holds a unique position in the country's constitutional system, and hence merits utmost respect to check unjustified encroachment on presidential powers and duties, and so prevent impairing the President's ability to discharge executive branch functions," Marrero wrote in his 103-page opinion.

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But that does not mean the president should receive more special privilege in the judicial process than any other person, Marrero wrote, citing previous court rulings finding that a president must comply with subpoenas to produce unofficial records. The judge also said Trump's broad claims of absolute immunity could have adverse legal consequences.

"At its core, it amounts to absolute immunity through a back door, an entry point through which not only a President but also potentially other persons and entities, public and private, could effectively gain cover from judicial process," Marrero wrote.

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Trump suggested that the case will end up back in the Supreme Court.

"This is just a continuation of the most hideous witch hunt in the history of our country," the president said, asserting that the Supreme Court called the subpoena a "fishing expedition," which it did not.

Chief Justice John Roberts said just the opposite, writing that while state prosecutors have political motivations, grand juries can't engage in "arbitrary fishing expeditions" or initiate investigations "out of malice or an intent to harass."

Vance's office declined to comment.

Earlier this month, Vance suggested that his office's investigation goes beyond the hush money payments made to two women who claimed to have had affairs with Trump and that prosecutors are looking broadly at the Trump Organization.

Manhattan prosecutors asserted in court records that the grand jury subpoena was issued at a time when the Trump Organization was at the center of "allegations of possible criminal activity ... dating back over a decade."

Prosecutors also said that arguments by Trump's lawyers blocking the subpoena were based on a "false premise" that the investigation is limited to the hush money payments. The prosecutors cited public reporting on "possibly extensive and protracted criminal conduct at the Trump Organization."

Contributing: Richard Wolf, Kevin Johnson and David Jackson, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump attorneys say subpoena on tax returns poses 'irreparable harm'
Butte-Silver Bow and the Port of Montana Wednesday received a $2.9 million grant to construct a new rail line to support growth in the Montana Connections Business Development Park.

The Economic Development Administration grant, announced by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, is to be matched with more than $8 million in local funds.

Kristen Rosa, Butte-Silver Bow's economic development director and administrator of the tax-increment finance district at the park, said the grant announcement is "very encouraging."

She said the rail line will serve two existing businesses, Montana Craft Malt and Ergon Asphalt, and there's "room for four more."

"We've been working on this for quite awhile," Rosa said. "We have applied for this grant for four years at least. But we have finally gotten ourselves organized enough to win one."

Rosa said she anticipates that the project will go out for bid over the winter, with construction to start in the spring. She said that it's not expected to take too long to complete.

"We hope one construction season will do it," she said.

The increased rail capacity to be implemented with this EDA investment will enable existing and new tenants at the City-County of Butte-Silver Industrial Park to receive raw materials and reach global markets, said Dana Gartzke, who is performing the delegated duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development.

EDA is pleased to support BSB's "strategy to build a new rail to accommodate new business development and economic growth throughout the region, he said.

Investing in Montanas infrastructure is critical as we look to bring back our economy in the face of this deadly pandemic, said U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana. These funds will utilize local dollars to help enhance business, create jobs, and get folks back on their feet in southwest Montana.

This new rail line in Butte will help improve Montanas transportation infrastructure needs and support jobs in the local community, said U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, adding that he's grateful to have worked with the Administration to secure this much-needed boost for the folks of Butte-Silver Bow.

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Headwaters Resource Conservation & Development Area, Inc., which EDA funds to help bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment, and create jobs.

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Darren Abate for H-E-B, FRE / Darren Abate for H-E-B

Whether headed back to the classroom or leading students online, the year ahead for teachers is certain to be full of challenges. In appreciation for their hard work, H-E-B aims to show their love for educators with a free back-to-school discount coupon worth 15 percent off select school supplies and office items. Teachers have until midnight on Aug. 27 to register online at heb.com/teachers for their free coupon worth up to $50 in discounts at any H-E-B location. Once registration is complete, coupons will be sent via email and can be redeemed through Sept. 1.

As we approach this school year, we are committed to providing some financial relief by offering these savings to our devoted educators, Winell Herron, H-E-B Group Vice President of Public Affairs, Diversity and Environmental Affairs said in a statement. H-E-B is a proud supporter of education throughout the year, and during this time of uncertainty, its even more important to invest in our teachers who dedicate their lives in service to our children, inspiring them to become the next generation of leaders in Texas.
Mummified pup unearthed in Russia had feasted on a woolly rhinoceros as its last meal before falling to its death in a landslide 14,000 years ago Daily Mail (Kevin W)

Times Arrow Flies through 500 Years of Classical Music, Physicists Say Scientific American (David L)

Quantum reality is either weirdly different or it collapses ars technica (David L)

US Wildfire Activity Web Map ArcGIS (tegnost)

California Reveals That the Transition to Renewable Energy Isnt So Simple Slate (Kevin W)

Even a Few Hours of Paid Work a Week Can Greatly Improve Mental Health Brink

Honey better treatment for coughs and colds than antibiotics, study claims Guardian (resilc). Also reported here yesterday. Antibiotics arent effective, so this is a low bar. But still!

Why Civilizations Collapse The Side View (Chuck L)

#COVID-19

The Black Death Was The Worst Pandemic In Human History, So How Did It Finally End? All That Is Interesting (Micael T)

Chainsaws, Conspiracies, and Cops: Inside an Anti-Mask Dance Party Vice. Resilc: Funny, last summer we stayed at an airBnB in Montreal. The guy was a socialist. He said much of Canada is loaded with Trump cultist types.

With the Most Deaths In 150 Years, Sweden Reveals New COVID-19 Test-and-Trace Strategy Guardian

Estimated cost of recent epidemics/pandemics: SARS (2003)  $40 billion

H5N1 (2006)  $40 billion

H1N1 (2009)  $45 billion

Ebola (2014)  $55 billion

COVID-19 (2020)  $8.8 TRILLION Investing in public health preparedness is FAR cheaper than the economic impact of a pandemic.  Dr. Tom Frieden (@DrTomFrieden) August 19, 2020

China?

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny poisoned BBC

Mauritius

Syraqistan

Big Brother is Watching You Watch

Trump Transition

Michigan to Pay $600 Million in Flint Water Crisis Settlement Wall Street Journal. They got off easy. 80% to go to kids then under 18. Pool is 7,500 to 20,000. That means settlement per person = $24,000 to $64,000.

2020

California Burning

A Maine farmer went to pick up 800 baby chicks from the U.S. Postal Service. They were all dead. The USPS has been delivering chicks since 1918, but nowhttps://t.co/ffauxcwiSQ  Steven Dennis (@StevenTDennis) August 19, 2020

Brazen Thief Drove Car Into Home Depot The Smoking Gun. Trussville, Al. About a half hour drive from here.

The farmer-influencer and the economics of streaming Tyler Cowen. Wellie, as a farmer, not much risk of being deplatformed.

Germany Begins Universal Basic Income Trial With People Getting $1,400 a Month For 3 Years Business Insider

UK Will Take a Crack At Regulating Future Self-Driving Car Systems CNET

Uber CEO On the Flight In California: We Cant Go Out and Hire 50,000 People Overnight The Verge. An admission that Uber did not prepare for losing the lawsuit.

Legislation to support CalPERS direct lending is withdrawn Bizjournals. We mentioned this in passing. Happened last week after the Meng blow up. Note CalPERS tried to pretend it pulled the bill, but the article makes clear it was the bills author, Assemblyman Jim Cooper. CalPERS new fallback is to sniff that it didnt need the bill to proceed with its direct lending scheme.

Class Warfare

Antidote du jour. How I feel. Tracie H:

My husband and I recently bought a little desert getaway house three hours away from where we actually live. Each weekend weve been driving there, loving the isolation and stark beauty of the desert. On the way back, we spotted this fellow on the side of a lonesome road (with a 65 mph speed limit), aimed toward what looked like was going to be an attempt to cross it. We turned around and went back to him. He seemed pleased to pose for a few pictures before I picked him up and moved him quite some distance back into the desert scrubs, admonishing him all the while about the dangers of the road.

And a bonus from Micael T: Sport is apparently not unique for humans.

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here
Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday said the Maharashtra government will fully cooperate with the Central Bureau of Investigation for probe in the case of actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death.

Pawar said he was sure that the Maha Vikas Aghadi government will respect the Supreme Court's order upholding transfer of Patna Police's FIR in the case to the CBI.

Rajput, 34, was found hanging at his apartment in suburban Bandra on June 14.

The NCP is a constituent of the Maha Vikas Aghadi and party leader Anil Deshmukh holds the Home portfolio.

Pawar also said he was hopeful that the investigation in the actor's death will not be carried on the way it happened in rationalist Narendra Dabholkars murder case, which has remained unresolved.

Dabholkar, a well-known anti-superstition activist, was shot dead on August 20, 2013, in Pune.

"I am sure the Maharashtra govt will respect the judgment of the Supreme Court to handover Sushant Singh Rajputs case to the CBI and fully cooperate in the investigation process," Pawar tweeted.

"I hope the investigation will not be carried on, as was done with Dr Narendra Dabholkars murder case also under investigation by the #CBI which commenced in 2014 and remains unresolved, the former Union minister said.

After Rajput was found dead in June, the Mumbai Police started a probe and recorded statements of 56 people, including the late actor's sisters, actor Rhea Chakraborty and some other film personalities.

Rajput's father K K Singh had lodged a separate complaint with Patna Police in connection with the actor's death and the Bihar government later recommended a CBI probe into the case.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the transfer of the FIR, lodged in Patna against Rhea Chakraborty and others for allegedly abetting Rajput's suicide, to the CBI.

The apex court said the Bihar government is competent to transfer the case to the CBI for investigation.
(Newser)  When Postmaster General Louis DeJoy testifies before Congress Friday and Monday, he'll surely get lots of questions about how new policies might affect mail-in voting. But he might also get questions about a new and grisly problem with mail-order chicks. The Portland Press Herald reports that thousands of chicks mailed to Maine farmers have been arriving dead in recent weeks. For example, poultry farmer Pauline Henderson discovered last week that all 800 live chicks she received from a Pennsylvania hatchery were dead. "We've never had a problem like this before," she tells the newspaper. "Usually they arrive every three weeks like clockwork, and out of 100 birds you may have one or two that die in shipping." Exactly how the birds died is unclear, but Henderson isn't alone with this problem.

story continues below

Rep. Chellie Pingree, a Democrat, says she has relayed similar complaints from dozens of farmers to DeJoy and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. "It's one more of the consequences of this disorganization, this sort of chaos they've created at the post office and nobody thought through when they were thinking of slowing down the mail," she says. One wrinkle in her criticism: Henderson says her chicks weren't delayed, though she suspects they were somehow mishandled. If the idea of mail-order chicks sounds bizarre, National Geographic explained how it works years ago. Thanks to a "quirk in chick biology," they can survive "quite a few days" after hatching without food. Hatcheries have long taken advantage of this to safely mail the chicks to farmers. (Read more US Postal Service stories.)
Several Alabama universities have created public dashboards tracking coronavirus cases on campus as students return and after outbreaks forced closures at the University of North Carolina and University of Notre Dame.

At Auburn University, 41 people tested positive for coronavirus between Aug. 8 and Aug. 14, including 32 students. Samford University in Homewood posts daily updates to its COVID-19 Dashboard. Since Aug. 15, four students and one employee have tested positive. Jacksonville State University is also posting its COVID statistics and has had 28 cases investigated by its task force. Troy University also posts information about positive tests.

Auburn University decided to release campus-level data as a resource for students, faculty and employees.

County-level positive case data gives us an idea of the prevalence of the disease locally, but it doesnt tell us what is happening within our campus community specifically, said Susan McCallister, director of campus safety and compliance. With the return of our students and employees to campus, we feel that it is important for them to recognize that COVID-19 is present and to have information about the incidence of the disease in our campus community. This information can help them make informed decisions for their own health and reinforce the need to follow prevention measures.

Samford University officials made the numbers available to increase awareness of the virus, said spokeswoman Sarah Cain.

The health of the university community is our highest priority, Cain said. As students and employees return to campus for the fall semester, we hope the online dashboard will keep our campus community feeling informed and committed to working to mitigate the risks of COVID-19.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham does not yet have a public COVID-19 dashboard, said spokesman Tyler Greer. The University of Alabama system plans to start random testing in late August and post the results on a dashboard in September. That dashboard will include information for all three campuses in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham and Huntsville.

Classes began Monday at Auburn University and will start next week at Samford. In-person classes began Wednesday for students at the University of Alabama and will begin next week at UAB.

Colleges and universities have been in the spotlight as classes resume across the county. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill switched to virtual classes this week after several outbreaks erupted in dorms. The change occurred about a week after students returned to campus.

The University of Notre Dame temporarily suspended in-person classes eight days into the semester after 146 students and one faculty member tested positive for the virus. Michigan State University also ordered students to stay home for the fall semester.

Many colleges in Alabama require students to get tested for COVID-19 within 14 days of returning to campus. Last week, university officials released preliminary data showing low positivity rates among the first batch of student tests. Less than 1 percent of the first 30,000 students tested positive for coronavirus.

Al.com reporter Michael Casagrande contributed to this story
ZAMBOANGA CITY  Eight villages in the southern Philippine province of Sulu are now free from the influence of the pro-ISIS group Abu Sayyaf...
WESTCHESTER, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2020 / Westchester County elder law attorney Anthony J. Enea, member of Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP in White Plains and Somers, N.Y., has been selected by his peers for inclusion in the 27th edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the practice areas of Elder Law and Trusts and Estates.

"It's an honor to berecognized by Best Lawyers, particularly for work that I find so personally rewarding," said Mr. Enea, who has spent four decades protecting the rights of seniors, the disabled and their families. "My colleagues and I understand the unique challenges that so many are facing right now. We are here to help our clients through this difficult time by ensuring their assets are protected and their health care wishes are followed."

A strong leader in Westchester's legal community, Mr. Enea is president of the Westchester County Bar Foundation and chair of the New York State Bar Association's 50+ Lawyers Section. He is also a past president of the Westchester County Bar Association and past chair of the New York State Bar Association's Elder Law and Special Needs Section. Named Westchester County's Leading Elder Care Attorney at the Above the Bar Awards, Mr. Enea's practice areas include Wills, Trusts & Estates, Elder Law; Medicaid asset protection planning; Medicaid applications (home care and nursing home); special needs planning and guardianships (Article 81 and 17-A).

Regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence in the United States, Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which more than 50,000 leading attorneys cast over five and a half million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers "the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice."

This marks the tenth consecutive year Mr. Enea has been included in the Best Lawyers list. Mr. Enea was recognized as a Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year" in White Plains five times and has been named as one of Westchester County's "Super Lawyers" annually since 2007.

An "AV" Rated Preeminent Attorney (Martindale-Hubbell, since 2002), Mr. Enea is a member of the Council of Advanced Practitioners of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and is a past president of the organization's New York Chapter. He is Certified as an elder law attorney as accredited by the American Bar Association. He is a fellow of the New York Bar Foundation and serves as a board member of theWestchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services.

The Best Lawyers of America is copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC. For more information, visit www.bestlawyers.com.

Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP is located at 245 Main Street in White Plains, N.Y. with additional offices in Somers, N.Y. While the firm is open for a select number of in-person meetings following New York State's Phase 2 reopening guidelines, they continue to encourage telephone and video-conference meetings whenever possible. For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 914-948-1500 or visit www.esslawfirm.com.

About Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP

Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP is an AV preeminent rated elder law firm with offices in White Plains and Somers, N.Y. The practice concentrates on Elder Law; Medicaid Planning; Nursing Home and Home Care Applications; Wills, Trusts and Estates; Guardianships; Estate Litigation; Supplemental Needs Trusts; and Special Needs Planning. Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP serves Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, the Bronx, Manhattan, Long Island and Queens and is committed to providing the highest quality legal services to seniors, the disabled and their families. Visit the firm online at www.esslawfirm.com.

Elder Law Attorney Anthony J. Enea, member at Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP

Press Contact:

Kelly Lee

Co-Communications

914-666-0066

klee@cocommunications.com

SOURCE: Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/601799/Westchester-County-Elder-Law-Attorney-Anthony-J-Enea-Named-Best-Lawyer
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex has been more involved in political endeavors as of late, a stark contrast from her time as a working member of the royal family. She recently participated in a virtual voter registration event with Michelle Obama, and its fair to assume she has more politically themed initiatives on her agenda.

Not long ago, Meghan was unable to participate in events such as these due to her connection to the royal family. However, since formally stepping down from her position alongside her husband, Prince Harry, earlier this year, shes gotten back to her roots of social activism.

The royal family has traditionally avoided involvement in political affairs

Meghan Markle | Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

RELATED: VP Hopeful Kamala Harris is 1 of Meghan Markles Biggest Fans

Although Meghan was often vocal about issues such as womens rights, Donald Trumps presidency, and racism prior to entering her position in the royal family, she scaled back on her outspoken ways once she married Prince Harry. However, this wasnt because she suddenly stopped caring about these issues but instead because royals have customarily chosen not to speak out on politics.

The royal family typically tries to stay out of politics due to its complex relationship with the United Kingdom. Earlier in history, when the monarchy had unchecked power, it could take whichever side it wanted on issues large and small. However, since the majority of political power now lies in the hands of an elected parliament, the royal family plays a more symbolic role of unity and keeps its position by staying in the good graces of the citizens.

To do this, the royals must not say or do things that would cause a divide among the United Kingdoms diverse constituencies. This means not taking sides in controversial political issues is key to upholding their positions in society.

All of that being said, its pretty clear why Meghan hasnt been speaking out as much on many political issues.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are adjusting to a new way of life

In the months leading up to their wedding and for a time after, Prince Harry and Meghan faced significant scrutiny from the media. The constant media attention began to weigh on Meghan, and the couple eventually decided it was time for a change.

In January, the couple announced they would be stepping back from their working roles in the royal family. They moved to Canada shortly afterward, and on April 1, they officially resigned from the royal family and stopped using their HRH titles.

Although there was a lot of speculation behind why Prince Harry and Meghan left the royal family, sources claimed they wanted a break from the media, more privacy to raise their son, and more control over their lifestyles. Harry and Meghan relocated to Southern California and bought a home in Santa Barbara.

Meghan Markle has been more vocal about social issues lately

Meghan Markle | Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

Since formally stepping down from her role in the royal family, Meghan has been vocal on a number of social issues that have been in the news in recent months.

She made headlines earlier this year when she spoke out about the murder of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement. Addressing her former high school, she optimistically told the students they have an opportunity to be a part of the rebuilding, according to the Independent.

More recently, Meghan has been active with womens rights and the electoral process. She made an appearance on Michelle Obamas virtual voter registration event on Aug. 20. The livestreamed couch party commemorated the centennial of the 19th amendment and aimed to increase voter participation.

Although Meghan had taken a step back from political activism during her time as a working royal family member, it appears shes committed to using her platform for more political endeavors in the future.
Alessandra Ambrosio flashed her chiseled midriff as she stepped out in sunny Los Angeles this Wednesday.

The 39-year-old former Victoria's Secret Angel went bra-less beneath the $79 AMO crop rib tank top, which matched her harem trousers.

Sweeping her dark hair back into an updo, she clasped on a gleaming necklace and teetered on a pair of white stilettos.

Off she goes: Alessandra Ambrosio flashed her chiseled midriff as she stepped out in sunny Los Angeles this Wednesday

She unleashed her animal instinct in a zebra-print mask as she emerged from lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The sizzling sensation was spotted enjoying a green bubble tea while she strutted her stuff off the curb and onto the street.

Alessandra, who hails from the Brazilian town of Erechim, has gone into lockdown with her beau Nicolo Oddi and her children.

Legs for days: The 39-year-old former Victoria's Secret Angel went bra-less beneath the $79 AMO crop rib tank top, which matched her harem trousers

She shares her two children, 11-year-old Anja and eight-year-old Noah, with her ex-fiance Jamie Mazur who co-founded RE/DONE.

In 2018, Alessandra broke her decade-long engagement to Jamie, and she has since taken up with Nicolo, who founded the fashion brand Alanui with his sister Carlotta.

Anja, Noah and Nicolo were all with Alessandra when she rang in her 39th birthday at home in self-isolation this April.

A place in the sun: Alessandra has been a sizzling sensation lately while posting Instagram updates from her life in lockdown

Alessandra rose to international fame as a Victoria's Secret Angel, announcing that she was giving up the title at the end of 2017.

She has collaborated with Aline and a pal called Gisele Coria to launch a new swimwear line called Gal Floripa, which debuted last March.

The brand takes its title from a nickname for Florianopolis, the Brazilian city where Alessandra gave birth to both of her children.
Huawei has unveiled its new premium and lightweight laptop, the MateBook X. The 13-inch device weighs less than 1 kg and houses a 3:2 3K display, along with a large keyboard and a new pressure-sensitive trackpad. The fanless machine starts at CNY 7,999 (~US$1,155) and is only available with Comet Lake-U series processors.

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 latest edition in the MateBook X family is here, after much teasing from Huawei. As expected, the device features a 13-inch IPS panel that resolves at 3,000 x 2,000 pixels in a 3:2 aspect ratio. The display also has a touchscreen layer that supports 10-point multi-touch. The 278 PPI screen also has a screen-to-body ratio of 90% and supposedly a contrast ratio of 1,500:1.

Underpinning this premium display is a 42 Wh battery, which powers either the Core i5-10210U or the Core i7-10510U. All models come with 512 GB of storage and DDR3 RAM. The entry-level model, which retails in China for CNY 7,999 (~US$1,155), is the only SKU that has 8 GB of RAM. By contrast, the CNY 8,999 (~US$1,300) and CNY 9,999 (~US$1,445) Core i5 and Core i7 models have 16 GB of RAM to play with.

All models are fanless and feature Huawei's new pressure-sensitive trackpad. The trackpad extends to the edge of the chassis and has an integrated NFC reader for multi-screen collaboration. The chassis houses four speakers, too.
Powerhouse women dominated the third night of the Democratic National Convention, with Kamala Harris bluntly addressing racism in America, and Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi and Elizabeth Warren each taking turns to eviscerate President Donald Trump.

Former President Barack Obama also took on a prime speaking role, accusing Trump of cravenly treating the presidency like a reality show.

Here are the key moments from the evening.

Kamala Harris confronts racism in America

As Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic Party's vice presidential nomination  becoming the first Black woman and first Asian American to join a major party presidential ticket  she argued that "structural racism" had compounded the coronavirus's consequences for communities of color across America.

"This virus has no eyes, and yet it knows exactly how we see each other  and how we treat each other," the California senator said in her keynote speech.

"And let's be clear  there is no vaccine for racism. We've gotta do the work."

The highly anticipated remarks from Biden's running mate also focused heavily on the former prosecutor's biography, reintroducing the daughter of immigrants to a national audience and casting her as a crusader for justice with a deep law enforcement background.



Hillary Clinton warns about Trump trying to 'sneak or steal his way' to reelection

Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton repeatedly invoked her 2016 election loss as she urged Americans to vote  warning that only an overwhelming turnout at the polls could thwart President Donald Trumps attempts to sneak or steal his way to a second term in office.

For four years, people have said to me, I didnt realize how dangerous he was. I wish I could go back and do it over. Or worst, I should have voted. Well, this cant be another woulda, coulda, shoulda election, Clinton said.

Dont forget, she added, Joe and Kamala can win by 3 million votes and still lose. Take it from me. So we need numbers overwhelming, so Trump cant sneak or steal his way to victory.

Story continues



Pelosi accuses Trump and McConnell of 'standing in the way'

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi presented the possibility of a future with gun control, affordable healthcare and clean energy, but made it clear theres one obstacle: Who is standing in the way? Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump, she said.

Pelosi pointed to the administrations heavily criticized response to the pandemic, and the 170,000-plus deaths that have devastated the country.

She said the negligence created the worst health and economic catastrophe in our history. And her attacks didnt end there: she criticized Trumps track record of attacking womens rights, including his threat to affordable childcare, access to abortions and equal pay. To the women affected by his policies, she urged them to vote for the Biden-Harris ticket.

"As speaker of the House, I have seen firsthand Donald Trump's disrespect for facts, for working families and for women in particular, she said. Disrespect written into its policies toward our health and our rightsnot just his conduct."

In contrast to Trump, Pelosi highlighted Biden as a man whose heart is full of love for America, and showed her strong support for Harris as a witness to the women of this nation that our voices will be heard.



Elizabeth Warren: 'It didn't have to be this way'

From a classroom in Massachusetts that reflected her past as a teacher, Sen. Elizabeth Warren accused Trump of utterly failing to combat the coronavirus, worsening societal inequalities in the process.

Donald Trump's ignorance and incompetence have always been a danger to our country, she said. Covid-19 was Trump's biggest test. He failed miserably."

Childcare was hard to find before the pandemic, the former Democratic candidate said, but now its nearly impossible. And thats not the only struggle parents are facing due to the pandemic, according to Warren. She pointed to the faltering economy and record number of Covid-19 deaths, both of which are crises that impact Black and Brown communities disproportionately, as proof of the presidents incompetency. Warren spoke to the millions of Americans who are at risk of eviction and live paycheck-to-paycheck due to the pandemic as she made a plea to Americans to vote.

"This crisis is bad, and it didn't have to be this way, she said. This crisis is on Donald Trump and the Republicans who enabled him. On November 3rd, we will hold them all accountable.



Gabby Giffords: 'We are at a crossroads'

The Democratic National Conventions third night of programming opened with a series of slick videos spotlighting the countrys gun violence epidemic and featured remarks from Americans whose lives have been touched by mass shootings.

We are at a crossroads, said former Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords, a prominent gun control advocate who was shot in the head by a would-be assassin in 2011.

We can let the shooting continue, or we can act. We can protect our families. Our future. We can vote. We can be on the right side of history, she said. We must elect Joe Biden. He was there for me. Hell be there for you, too.

Democrats have failed to push comprehensive gun reform legislation through Congress in recent years despite several mass shootings at schools and other public places, and the issue is an important component of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Bidens agenda.

Biden helped author the Federal Assault Weapons Ban in the 1994 crime bill when he was serving as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He has called for bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and said he would institute a national buyback program for assault weapons as president.



Obama says Trump has never taken the presidency seriously

Former President Barack Obama blasted his successor as unserious and self-centered, accusing Trump of using the office only to benefit himself and his friends.

Trump, he said, views the presidency as no more than a reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves, and his failure to lead has resulted in the deaths of thousands of Americans during the coronavirus pandemic.

I never expected that my successor would embrace my vision or continue my policies, Obama said. I did hope, for the sake of our country, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously. But he never did.

Donald Trump hasnt grown into the job because he cant, he continued. And the consequences of that failure are severe: 170,000 Americans dead. Millions of jobs gone. Our worst impulses unleashed, our proud reputation around the world badly diminished, and our democratic institutions threatened like never before.



New Mexico governor warns of 'environmental annihilation'

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham highlighted her states approach to climate change, which includes a sweeping 2019 executive order that reduces greenhouse gas emissions in New Mexico by at least 45 percent by 2030. Shes also encouraged state agencies to promote policies that push clean energy and reduce pollution.

"We know time is running out to save our planet, she said. We have the chance this November to end two existential crises: The Trump presidency and the environmental annihilation he represents.

Meanwhile, Trumps Environmental Protection Agency has rolled back nearly 100 environmental rules since 2017, many established during the Obama administration. Most recently, it cut back on methane emission regulations for the oil and gas industry on Thursday, and environmental groups have already vowed they will sue to stop the measure.



Daughter of Marine's deported wife tells Trump you tore our world apart

In a touching video, the daughter of a U.S. Marine's wife who was deported to Mexico by the Trump administration put a sympathetic face to the presidents immigration policy.

In a letter to Trump, 11-year-old Estela Juarez recounted how her mother came to the United States illegally as a teenager more than two decades earlier, and married her father who served in South America, Africa and Iraq with the Marines.

My dad thought you would protect military families so he voted for you in 2016, Mr. President. He says he won't vote for you again after what you did to our family, Juarez said, as news clips about her mothers deportation played. Instead of protecting us, you tore our world apart.

The clip spliced in Trumps past comments about immigrants, including a vow to start moving them out on Day One, and references to MS-13 gang members as animals. It included footage of migrant children separated from their parents at the border, as Juarez asserts that some of the kids separated from their parents by the Trump administrations zero tolerance policy are now orphans because of you.

Mr. President, my mom is the wife of a proud American Marine and a mother of two American children. We are American families. We need a president who will bring people together not tear them apart. Sincerely, Estela, she concluded.


A search panel headed by the cabinet secretary is scheduled to interview shortlisted candidates on Friday for the post of RBI deputy governor, sources said. The panel had a preliminary meeting on August 7 with regard to the selection of successor for senior-most Deputy Governor N S Vishwanathan, who demitted office three months ahead of his extended tenure on March 31 on health grounds after serving the monetary authority for 39 years.

The Financial Sector Regulatory Appointment Search Committee (FSRASC) has a list of eight names who would be interviewed via video conference on August 21, the sources said.

The selected name from the interview will be sent to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister for final approval, they added.

Besides the cabinet secretary, other members of FSRASC include the RBI governor, financial services secretary and two independent members.

This vacancy of the RBI deputy governor has been reserved for the central bank's internal candidate, who would look after the key supervisory and regulatory functions at the Mint Road.

According to the RBI Act, 1934, the central bank should have four deputy governors -- two from within the ranks, one commercial banker and another an economist to head the monetary policy department.

Currently, the RBI has three deputy governors -- B P Kanungo, M K Jain and Michael Debabrata Patra.

Earlier this year, the government extended Kanungo's tenure by a year with effect from April 3, 2020.

Kanungo, whose term was to end on April 2, had taken charge as a deputy governor in April 2017.

The deputy governor appointments are made for an initial period of three years and the person is eligible for reappointment. The deputy governor gets a fixed salary of Rs 2.25 lakh per month plus allowances.

Also Read: Kerala opposes Trivandrum airport transfer to Adani group, 'will not cooperate'

Also Read: Airtel Rs 401 Disney+ Hotstar plan revamped to offer 30GB data
EASTON, Md., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The pandemic can't stop the Chesapeake Film Festival from giving their valued film enthusiasts another fabulous cinema experience in 2020. At NO COST to attendees, they'll receive a four-day All Festival pass to watch any or all of 45 films. It's the festival's gift to film lovers in the community, and beyond. Because the festival is virtual, attendees can watch the films anywhere in the world. All the festival asks is that attendees consider a contribution to offset expenses.

Wake Up Les Animaux Domestique

The festival is bringing attendees an explosion of cinematic flavors, including dramas, comedies, environmental concerns, emerging artists, Maryland-made films, fascinating documentaries and pulsating animations. Registration for the festival opens September 1 on chesapeakefilmfestival.com. Trailers of many of the films will also be available on September 1.

Some of the exciting new independent films featured:

California Typewriter might center on a small, beleaguered typewriter repair shop in Berkeley, California, but this  documentary is about so much more than broken keys and busted type wheels. It's really about how we create art. Featuring Tom Hanks, John Meyer and Sam Shepard.

Unarmed Man  Narrative FeatureCivil unrest erupts after a police officer shoots and kills an unarmed black man during a routine traffic stop.

A Piece of CakeNarrative ShortWhen a desperate father discovers his daughter's favorite cake decoration is illegal, he descends into a confectionary black market.

Wake Up--In a short film directed by Olivia Wilde, Margaret Qualley stars as a woman awakened to a world she doesn't recognize, one where people are more engaged with screens and devices than with each other.

Emanuel Documentary FeatureNational headlines blazed the story: Churchgoers Gunned Down During Prayer Service in Charleston, South Carolina. After a 21-year-old white supremacist opened fire in Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, nine African Americans lay dead.

An Island Out of TimeEnvironmental Short about a remarkable family, the Marshalls, whose lives personify Chesapeake Bay's waterman, seafood-harvesting culture and history.

Lost Cat AnimationA girl travels through a surreal environment to catch her escaped cat.

Les Animaux DomestiquesAnimationFrance -- Mr. and Ms. Archibald adopt by turns a dog, a cat, a fly, a toad and a moth. But they do not know anything about animals.

Contact: Nancy Tabor at 443-955-9144 or [email protected]

SOURCE Chesapeake Film Festival
DUBAI Iran unveiled a surface-to-surface ballistic missile that Defence Minister Amir Hatami said had a range of 1,400 kilometres and a new cruise missile on Thursday, ignoring U.S. demands that Tehran halt its missile programme.

The surface-to-surface missile, called martyr Qassem Soleimani, has a range of 1,400 km and the cruise missile, called martyr Abu Mahdi, has a range of over 1,000 km," Hatami said in a televised speech.

Pictures of the missiles were shown on state TV.

Soleimani, head of Irans elite Quds Force, and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were killed in January in a U.S. strike on their convoy in Baghdad airport.

The announcement comes as the United States is pushing to extend a U.N.-imposed arms embargo against Iran, which is due to expire in October under Tehrans 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

Tensions have been high between Tehran and Washington since 2018, when President Donald Trump pulled out the United States from the deal and reimposed crippling sanctions on Iran.

Missiles and particularly cruise missiles are very important for us  the fact that we have increased the range from 300 to 1,000 in less than two years is a great achievement," Said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

Our military might and missile programmes are defensive."

(Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Toby Chopra and Alex Richardson)

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
After the minor protests over the depiction of defence forces in the Janhvi Kapoor-starrer Gunjan Saxena, others making films about the armed forces are ensuring that they get relevant No Objection Certificates (NOCs) before beginning the shoots.

Before Gunjan Saxena, produced by Karan Johar, was released the armed forces had written to the CBFC asking them to get an NOC from defence authorities before certifying a film.

John Abraham, who has starred in films like the Force series, Parmanu and Batla House, is in the midst of making Satyamev Jayate 2 and Mumbai Saga. He has applied for an NOC for his script for Gorkha, a film on the Gorkha Regiment.

It is a patriotic film about the regiment. The script has been cleared. They are awaiting an official clearance from the forces now, say sources about the film co-produced by John and Nikkhil Advani and directed by the latter. The application was made way before the Gunjan Saxena controversy erupted, the sources added.

It can be recalled that Aiyaary, directed by Neeraj Pandey, which is about corruption in the army, was screened for the defence forces before certification, and changes were made based on suggestions before it hit the screens.

Other films like the Akshay Kumar-starrer Airlift, a show on Ekta Kapoors Alt Balaji platform, and Emraan Hashmis proposed film Captain Nawab, have run into similar turbulence.
As the magical creatures of Middle Earth prepare to resume venturing through Auckland, New Zealand, for Amazons Lord of the Rings prequel series, the mythical world of Pandora has been bursting into life for James Camerons Avatar sequels in Wellington, just one hours flight south. Meanwhile, on the South Island, stars like Viggo Mortensen are planning to embark on The Greatest Beer Run Ever in Dunedin, while a game-changing production studio has been proposed for Christchurch.

As filming hubs like Los Angeles and London continue to face restrictions and increased health and safety costs amid the coronavirus pandemic, New Zealand called action on international productions in June.

More from Variety

I think the pause was beneficial to all of us because we were grateful to finish our film healthy and safely, says actor Kirsten Dunst about returning to work on Jane Campions The Power of the Dog. We pushed ourselves more because no one knows when well be able to work again.

Everyone was very gung-ho, adds the films production designer Grant Major of his first day back on set. We all loved the film, actors and director, so were pumped to get going and do the best job we could.

That can-do attitude is what will likely tide the industry over despite Tuesdays late-night announcement that the country will enter a three-day lockdown, which went into effect at midday Wednesday local time. The measures came after Prime Minster Jacinda Ardern confirmed four members of an Auckland family tested positive for COVID-19, acquiring the virus from an unknown source. The cases ended the nations 102-day streak of having no new community infections (cases have been limited to the strictly-quarantined border).

Story continues

While New Zealand dropped to level one  the lowest of a four-level alert system  on June 8, the Auckland region is now on level three restrictions until Friday, meaning residents are asked to work from home, only interact with people in their household bubble, and practice social distancing and mask-wearing in public. Filming can continue if strict health and safety protocols are followed.

Several international productions were in pre-production in Auckland at the time of the announcement, including LOTR, Robert Downey Jr.s Sweet Tooth, anime adaptation Cowboy Bebop and The Greatest Beer Run Ever, directed by Peter Farrelly. The New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) tells Variety that the Auckland projects are now continuing with pre-production, but working from home.

The remainder of the country  including Wellington, where the Avatar sequels are filming  has been placed in level two, which encourages mask-wearing and social distancing and allows social gatherings of up to 100 people. Large-scale productions such as Avatar can continue under level two screen production rules, such as physical distancing among crew and following recommendations for scenes involving intimacy or fighting.

Avatar has played a significant role in the booming period of screen production New Zealand has experienced in recent months, thanks to being one of the few largely coronavirus-free locations with strong filming infrastructure, highly skilled crews, incentive schemes and award-winning VFX and post-production houses. What may have once seemed a deterring 12-hour flight across the Pacific, presented itself in June as an opportunity to get on a plane and wake up in Middle Earth, ready to make movie magic. Cameron has even expressed his wish to make all my future films in New Zealand, in a letter to the government.

And while the virus community comeback impacts the level of precautions that must be followed on sets, Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford is confident the sector can continue to thrive.

We have guidelines in place to allow filming to continue, provided productions meet health and safety requirements, he says. Going hard and early with our response provides the best chance we have to continue taking advantage of the huge boom our screen sector is experiencing.

Indeed, while the prospect of needing to enter level four again looms in the minds of many locals, New Zealanders have proven their ability to come together and tackle the virus at any given alert level, and when it comes to screen production, the country remains in a better position than many other filming hubs.

Border exemptions keep business moving

Of course, getting there requires the golden ticket of a government-approved border exemption, followed by two weeks of quarantine. That was the most challenging part, Dunst says. Having a 2-year-old in a hotel room for two weeks!

The exemptions are part of the economic recovery efforts which have helped the industry bounce back and keep locals in jobs. Prior to Marchs shutdown, around 2,000 New Zealanders were employed on foreign productions and 47 local projects were active. The pandemic was going to have a devastating effect on our screen sector. People were very worried, says NZFC CEO Annabelle Sheehan. It became a matter of thinking through the elements that needed to come back into place for production to resume.

The first step was commissioning the Aotearoa Screen Guild to work on post-pandemic protocols to ensure health and safety on set, says Sheehan. Then, the priority was working with the government on border permits for foreigners involved in large-scale productions pumping substantial jobs and money into the economy.

The guild created filming guidelines for the four alert levels, and although the country dropped to level one in June, Sheehan says most sets have since been exercising extra caution and operating at level two recommendations, which indicates that projects outside of Auckland are not being significantly impacted by the change of alert level.

On The Power of the Dog, Dunst says her temperature was taken daily and masks were worn, but she felt very comfortable. Major adds that crew tracked studio entry and exit on an app and signed weekly health declarations, while cleaners circulated all day.

Projects only involving locals have also been exercising extra caution, with Jordan Mauger, assistant director on a New Zealand series, noting that sanitation stations and distancing are the new normal.

However, some shoots require close interaction, which is where workers have been able to proceed with a level of comfort thats scarce elsewhere. Power Rangers: Dino Fury, for instance, is currently in pre-production and scheduled to commence shooting in Auckland in October, with sanitization stations, workers signing in and out of set and a bubble system restricting interaction between different departments.

Ultimately, though, scenes will film normally providing alert levels allow them to do so. Power Rangers involves combat, stunts and person-on-person fighting, showrunner and executive producer Simon Bennett told Variety prior to this weeks lockdown. If everyone had to distance, it wouldnt be Power Rangers. If we were to move to a higher level, wed have to be very careful about how we worked, but one of the advantages is that most people fighting are wearing masks  the superhero kind! And the masks, costumes and props are heavily disinfected between use.

Containing the latest outbreak and keeping foreign production rolling as much as possible remains important to the sector, given that the seven productions are injecting 3,000 jobs and NZ$400 million (US$262 million) into the country. Twyford says border exemptions for Avatar alone enabled 400 locals to resume working in June. Meanwhile, for the 20 Japan-based stunt performers and six U.S. actors permitted entry for Power Rangers, the shows employing 700 local crew and 2,650 performers.

Sheehan notes resuming production has been equally important to the global industry. Production companies around the world partner with us to make films here. Were conscious of that eco-system and the worldwide screen sector New Zealand is a part of. Were also conscious countries are suffering. We want the world back to right, but want to ensure opportunities continue for content creation in the meantime.

While New Zealand has beamed as a filming hotspot since Peter Jacksons Lord of the Rings movies, and spawned substantial film tourism, interest has been surging in recent months. Since heading home from L.A., The Frozen Ground director Scott Walker has been asked to direct three American movies that are hoping to relocate to New Zealand from other locations. One hopes to use Otago to portray California.

Expanding for the future

Sheehan confirms there has been a significant increase in foreign queries and applications, and work is subsequently underway to ramp up infrastructure. Twyford already announced more than NZ$230 million ($151 million) of screen sector recovery funds and has plans to further aid the booming industry.

The sectors aware of gaps in our infrastructure offering, particularly with two large-scale productions based here [Avatar and LOTR,] says Twyford, who hopes to develop local skillsets to support increasing production. Now is the time for New Zealanders pondering career changes to consider film and television, he says.

The need for a national infrastructure plan is an initiative in the sectors Screen Strategy 2030, which is being finalized. Having said that, our industrys able to accommodate different types of projects and they dont all need large soundstages, says Twyford, noting that, in addition to its location shoots, New Zealand digital/VFX houses are consistently attracting projects.

Boosting such capabilities, Weta Digital has partnered with Avalon Studios and Streamliner to launch a LED-stage virtual production service.

Other projects include a studio facility proposed by Mauger for Christchurch, which could attract millions to the Canterbury region, where Disneys Mulan was partly filmed. It would be the first purpose-built studio in the South Island and start a whole industry down south, says Mauger, who has applied for government funding. The new COVID-19 outbreak exposes the need to spread the industry to wider regions throughout New Zealand, rather than cluster it in Auckland and Wellington.

The Eastern Screen Alliance, meanwhile, wants to transform popular wine region, Hawkes Bay, into a filming destination, and is working with a domestic company on a proposed studio.

While such plans could further open up the country to Hollywood projects, domestic storytelling remains a priority. Its why NZ$50 million ($33 million) of the governments recovery package will benefit new local films and series. Telling New Zealand stories to New Zealand and the world is a key driver, Sheehan says. And our creatives work across international and national projects  the two are closely-integrated.

Its an exciting time because were an operating film industry, which can do all the big stuff, adds Mauger, one of the Kiwis jumping between local and foreign productions. Theres always been a feeling of, What if we go back into lockdown? But with the ScreenSafe protocols, we have great ways of maintaining production under various levels.

Were a small isolated country that can swiftly handle moving to various levels, which puts our film industry in a good place globally. Weve done it once and we can do it again.

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Landlords in Manhattan are pleading with companies to bring workers back into their offices, saying that restaurants and shops in commercial districts are in danger of going under while people work from home.

Meanwhile moving companies in New York say they are so busy they are turning customers away.

Property owners and managers have been quietly pressing top employers including Goldman Sachs, Blackstone and BlackRock to return their workers to downtown offices, casting it as a civic obligation, Bloomberg reported on Thursday.

'I've been really pushing the CEOs to bring people back into the office,' Jeff Blau, the developer behind the Hudson Yards project, told the outlet. 'I've been using a little bit of guilt trip and a little bit of coaxing.'

So far, though, reaction from employers has been tepid, even though current state coronavirus guidelines allow for offices to resume operations at up to 50 percent of maximum capacity.

A man walks past the 'Vessel' at the Hudson Yards pedestrian plaza on August 14. Landlords in Manhattan are pleading with companies to bring workers back into their offices

Downtown Manhattan is seen on July 31. Businesses that depend on foot traffic in office districts are in danger of going under, and property managers warn of a vicious spiral

Property managers fear that if the businesses that support office workers in normal times begin to fold, it could create a vicious cycle, in which returning to offices becomes even less desirable and more businesses fold.

In addition to the financial industry, many major law firms and tech companies in New York still have most of their employees working remotely.

After months when New York City was the world epicenter of the pandemic, and hundreds died ever day, the virus has been wrestled largely under control there.

However, many in the city, including office workers, fear a second wave when temperatures drop in the fall, and remain wary of commutes on public transit.

It has led to a historic mass exodus from the city, though whether the departures are largely temporary or permanent remains to be seen.

Detailed numbers are hard to come by, but by some estimates 420,000 people left the city between March 1 and May 1 -- and moving companies say that the pace of departures has only sped up since then.

Commercial building with vacant real estate in the Flatiron neighborhood July 29, 2020

Movers are seen on August 13 in New York City. Moving companies are increasingly trying to keep up with higher demand as an uptick of people are choosing to move from New York City

According to FlatRate Moving, the number of moves it has done has increased more than 46 percent between March 15 and August 15, compared with the same period last year, the New York Times reported.

The number of those moving outside of New York City is up 50 percent, the company said.

'It felt like move-out day on a college campus,' Bobby DelGreco, who recently left Manhattan after nine years and is now living in Los Angeles, told the Times. 'All the doors were propped open, and there were moving trucks and furniture everywhere.'

Matt Jahn, who owns the Brooklyn-based Metropolis Moving, told the newspaper that he has been inundated with more moving requests than he can handle, and has had to turn customers away.

For fleeing New Yorkers, the common complaints include soaring crime and pandemic restrictions. Last month, the number of vacant apartments for rent in New York City reached highest level on record.

In July, there were more than 67,300 unoccupied rental units available across the city, the most apartments available in any month since StreetEasy started tracking rental inventory in 2010.

The surge in vacancies has driven rental prices down some 10 percent across the city, as desperate landlords try to entice new tenants with discounts and sweeteners such as one free month, according to the New York Times.

In July, there were more than 67,300 unoccupied rental units available across the city, this StreetEasy data shows

Still, rents in New York remain among the highest in the nation, with the median rental price at $3,167 in July, a 10 percent drop from July 2019.

Increasingly, New Yorkers are divided on whether leaving the city is a prudent move in a time of crisis, or a betrayal of their beloved city.

Some argue that the city has faced crisis before, such as the attacks of September 11, 2001, but has always bounced back stronger than ever.

Fred Wilson, the co-founder of Union Square Ventures, argued in a blog post on Wednesday that the crisis would make the city a better place to live.

'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 wrote.

A StreetEasy map shows the areas with highest vacancy

'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.

'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.

In one bright spot, Amazon announced plans to add 2,000 new employees and build a flagship office in New York, bucking the trend of companies and residents fleeing urban centers.

The company said on Tuesday that it will open a new office in Manhattan's Lord & Taylor Fifth Avenue building. The office is expected to be complete in 2023, and the company told DailyMail.com that the new employees could take several years to hire.

Others are convinced that the city's best days are behind it. They include James Altucher, who co-owns a comedy club in the city and also describes himself as an angel investor and author.

He and his family fled to Miami after the June riots and looting made them fear for their lives and their children's safety, when people tried to break into his apartment building.

'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.

'NYC has never been locked down for five months. Not in any pandemic, war, financial crisis, never.

'In the middle of the polio epidemic, when little kids (including my mother) were becoming paralyzed or dying (my mother ended up with a bad leg), NYC didn't go through this,' he wrote.

'There's a before and after. BEFORE: No remote work. AFTER: Everyone can work remotely. The difference: bandwidth got faster. And that's basically it. People have left New York City and have moved completely into virtual worlds.

'The Time-Life Building doesn't need to fill up again. Wall Street can now stretch across every street instead of just being one building in Manhattan.'
100 years ago

Couple finds new jobs

A young couple came to the office of Capt. Alfred W. Callahan at the State Bureau of Employment for Ex-Serviceman applying for work. The husband was a recently and honorably discharged army sergeant who had been gassed and shrapneled in World War I, and had spent the past few months recuperating in the Adirondacks. The woman was his French war bride.

As Callahan was interviewing the couple, he received a phone call from a prominent Albany family looking to hire a man to do handy work at their summer home and a maid to do housework. A series of more calls and interviewing resulted in the pair leaving the office with new jobs together.

 Times Union, Aug. 20, 1920

50 years ago

Seeking meat labeling standard

Fanciful names such as London Broil and Crescent Roast in the retail market served "only to confuse people," testified Joseph Livreri, an assistant attorney general, during a public hearing in Albany called by the State Department of Agriculture. Ralph Reuter, spokesman for the New York Consumer Council, termed such labeling "deceitful to the consumer" and called for the use of "primal cut designation" in all cases.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

The department proposed all meat, such as chuck, loin and flank for beef, be labeled as such and a meat chart be displayed to show the primal cuts of the common meat animals. Food industry representatives said the proposed standards were unnecessarily strict but felt they could live with them.

 Times Union, Aug. 20, 1970

Looking Back is compiled by C.J. Lais Jr. and Azra Haqqie.
Paul Johnson says, in his biography of Washington, that in 1789, the only monarch with powers as wide as the president's was the czar. All the other ones were hemmed in by regulations. Johnson doesn't go too far into detail about it, but why take his word when we can see it right in front of us?

In the last eight years, we found that the president can put grown men into little girls' locker rooms; that he can pay enemy states hundreds of billions in ransom cash; that he can flood our states with millions of Africans and Middle Easterners; that he can make or unmake the border at whim; that he can grant citizenship to illegal aliens; that he can pardon scores of drug-dealers; that he can veto almost every bill; that he can station troops in any town; that he can put off the payment of payroll taxes; that he can effectively bribe the unemployed with hundreds of dollars a week; that (according to Democrats) he should lock the country down and not allow anyone "non-essential" to run a business; that he can bomb people in countries we're not at war with; and that he can spy on the next presidential candidate and walk away unscathed.

Many of these things are done in "an emergency." But who decides what constitutes an emergency? He does. Not like the Romans, whose Senate decided, in extreme cases, that only a dictator could save them. They would get themselves in a pickle and pick somebody to do anything, for a very short time, so they could continue existing. But the president doesn't have anyone to tell him we're in an existential crisis. He is the existential crisis. If he decides that anyone in the whole nation, from transgender kids to illegal aliens to black criminals, is in danger, suddenly, your daughter is in danger.

Johnson says Washington's goodness was to blame for this. He was so moderate and well behaved that people imagined him in the pilot's seat and didn't imagine a Barack Obama, or a Donald Trump, or a Kamala Harris. They believed too highly in the goodness of man  but you have to, in some measure. There's no government in the world that can run well when the Supreme Court is full of activists and not judges; when Congress is full of enemies and sellouts; when the public is ignorant, immoral, and increasingly distracted. You can save a people from the government, but you can't save a government from the people.

How we're supposed to keep a presidency in check is anybody's guess, but it has to be done, and soon  and this means a constitutional amendment. We praise the Founding Fathers for their wisdom but forget that this wisdom was stitched together, on the fly, during centuries of emergencies. It was just as much tradition as it was an invention. King John wanted to throw people in jail for personal reasons. That's why we have habeas corpus. King Charles I wanted to dictate with a standing army. That's why Congress holds the power of taxation. King James II tried to change the state religion. That's one reason we have a First Amendment. None of these rights was defensible unless the public was ready to kill officials. This is why we have the Second Amendment.

Every right we ever had was invented because somebody else got brutalized. Every inch of progress we gained was because somebody went six feet under. I believe that our Founding Fathers were great men and ought to be revered. But we have our own emergencies, and the Constitution wasn't engraved on stone tablets by the finger of God. Ben Franklin said, as the Constitution was being signed, that I do not entirely approve of this Constitution at present. Would we call this Constitution perfect, when the people who made it said it wasn't? Would we grant kingship to Caesar when we know full well he was followed by Nero and Caligula?

The Founding Fathers were right about one thing here, and that's that inability, in the executive power, is also dangerous. Who can tell the president exactly how to act when life is throwing new crises at us willy-nilly? He has to be able to assess things and move, relatively unhampered, or the whole country will be over before Congress ever drafts a bill. Executive power requires good judgment and on-the-fly thinking. There is no precedent for a perfect president. History offers examples, situations, and anecdotes but not re-runs. There are always guidelines, but no guarantees. He does his best, and if he's smart, he prays to God.

But too much freedom for the president means slavery for the rest of us. What we have to remember is that the presidential power is like any other quality we love. Every principle is broken, sooner or later, not just by immorality, but by the other principles. So yes, we believe in property  but do we believe in just one man owning it? Yes, we're against divorce  but do we believe in wife-beating? Yes, we believe in freedom of speech  but do we believe in fraud? Yes, we believe in charity  but do we give to strangers instead of our children? Like justice and mercy, or liberty and equality, the goodness of each thing lies more in the balance and the timing than in total possession. Each side treads on the other artfully so we don't end up losing both. A radical appears to believe more strongly in principles, not because he has more, but because he has fewer. His belief in one is in direct proportion to how little he believes in the others.

This philosophy should be applied to the presidency. We need both leeway and restriction, and if we plan right, we can have them. For instance, create an executive council, elected by the Senate, comprising of three Democrats and three Republicans. No executive order can be given without a "yes" vote from four of them. We can hold a yearly vote against these counselors; and if 60% of the public hates one, we can impeach him. To protect them from party machinations, these counselors will swear off all contact with any member of Congress  or even each other, except at meetings for executive orders. If anyone contacts them on behalf of any member of Congress, that person will be fined $1,000,000 or spend three years in prison.

This is the best I've got, but I'm not a Founding Father, and would love to hear more helpful suggestions.

Jeremy Egerer is the author of the troublesome essays on Letters to Hannah, and he welcomes followers on Twitter and Facebook.
The government plans to sell part of its stake in Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corp (IRCTC) in the current fiscal, and has invited bids from merchant bankers for managing the sale process. "The GoI intends to disinvest a part of the paid up equity capital of IRCTC out of its shareholding through 'Offer for Sale (OFS) method of shares by promoters through the stock exchanges' as per Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) Rules and Regulations," said the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) while inviting Request for Proposal ...

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TORRINGTON  Alyssa Staton has always wanted a store of her own, where she could sell repurposed clothing, shoes, housewares and jewelry. She started her business at home, using Facebook to provide her 850-plus followers with a variety of gently used and nearly new merchandise, with success.

Her new store, The Goody Bag Variety and Consignment, opens Saturday from 12-6 p.m. at 466 Main St., across from Dairy Queen. She and her husband, Al, and their three daughters  Savannah, 10, Chesney, 9, and Ella, 3  all are active members of the business, helping sort inventory and set up displays. Its a family project of which they all are very proud. Staton, a Waterbury native, has lived in Torrington for about 15 years.

My daughter Savannah has been by my side every minute, getting ready for the opening, Staton said Thursday from behind the counter of the Goody Bag. Shes been very involved. ... This is a family affair. Were all doing it together.

For his part, Al Staton created a comfortable dressing room area and a restroom in the back, where shoppers can try on their outfits before buying. I think if youre going to shop and spend money, no matter where you are, you should have a nice dressing room, Alyssa Staton said. Al did a great job on this, he deserves a shout-out. It came out really nice.

While the store is chock-full of merchandise, with an array of clothing for men, women and children as well as a selection of shoes, home goods, small appliances, back-to-school supplies and jewelry, its clean and neat. A fragrant candle flickered on the checkout counter. Staton said she was drawn to the space by its push-out display windows in front.

I love my display windows,  she said with a smile. They make the store look so much better.

I also chose this space because its got great foot traffic, and lots of parking. We have metered spaces in front, and a big parking lot in the back, Staton said.

Staton currently has 19 consigners selling their wares in the store, and more are lining up to get in. She carries a line of colorful tunic tops and dresses by LulaRoe, a Torrington-based company; Chalk Couture, a collection of home accessories made by a local artist; and several lines of jewelry made by local people, including her daughter Savannah.

Consignment is an easy way to make money, Staton said, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic definitely made her business grow. I had a lot of stuff of my own at home, and I was selling on Facebook Live already, she said. In January, I said to my husband, Lets do it, lets open a store. Then COVID-19 hit. I was laid off from my job as a medical appointment scheduler at a local practice. Als a stay-at-home dad. So we decided to look for a place.

I love consigment shops, and I hate waste, she said. I like things to be reused so people can have them, and they can save money at the same time. We do buyouts, where we pay one price for merchandise, and that worked because people needed money. Were about half consignment and half buyouts right now.

A person interested in consigning makes an appointment with Staton, who goes through what they want to sell. Everything must be clean and saleable, she said. The store takes 60 percent of a sale, leaving 40 percent for the customer. After 90 days, the customer can take their items back or donate them, and Staton brings the items to Friendly Hands Food Bank or FISH, where they can be given to people in need.

Most people dont want their things back, so were happy to help Friendly Hands or FISH, Staton said. We like being part of the local community.

Her rules are strict about taking quality items, she said. If I wont let my family wear it or use, it, I dont want it in here, Staton said. I always say, its got to be in gift-giving condition.

Statons website is under construction, but her Facebook page is a good way to reach her. For information, call 860-921-6504, or email thegoodybagconsignment@gmail.com.
Gordon became inspired during a visit to GreenHill to discuss a site-specific installation in the gallery. She was moved by the street mural and suggested a response, said Barbara Richter, GreenHill director.

"We enthusiastically embraced the idea as another form of public engagement," Richter said.

Gordons previous installations on exterior windows include notable projects such as Cinnabar at the North Carolina Museum of Art and Unless, based on a phrase by the Dr. Seuss character The Lorax at Duke Universitys Rubenstein Art Center.

Her GreenHill installation is the first of a group of works by Gordon that GreenHill will present to explore art engagement at a time of social distancing.

Rarely have we experienced a time where art exhibitions and programming require such a high degree of re-imagining," Richter said in the news release.

"Through 'Shift Happens'  'One Love,' GreenHill is moving an immersive physical exhibition into a public space and inviting viewers to contemplate its message of hope and reconciliation," Richter said.

Additional Shift Happens installations are expected in the fall and after GreenHill's Winter Show in 2021.
Direct Stimulus payments are what President Donald Trump wants, and it could arrive within one week of a deal being agreed, officials say.

Steve Mnuchin, Treasury Secretary, stated on Tuesday that the president was pushing for the COVID-19 stimulus checks. Mnuchin said that the president wants the White House to do more. Trump wants them to provide money for jobs, kids, a second round of the Paycheck Protection Program, which directs payments a particular part of it.

According to The Sun, Trump's economic advisory, Mnuchin previously revealed that the cash injection could be sent out within a week after the legislation passed. However, GOP senators emerged yesterday that might exclude the $1,200 stimulus payments from the "skinny" HEALS package.

The quick timeline contrasts with the first round of stimulus checks in March, which was sent out a whopping 19-days after the CARES Act was passed. However, the House of Representatives and Senate on recess came back to debate about the US Postal Service Bill, which the forthcoming deal about the stimulus checks remains uncertain.

According to CNET, the congressional leader and the White House previously agreed on up to $1,2000 in the next relief package. The negotiators from Republican and Democratic parties could start discussing the issue and decide by late August. Still, the negotiations could delay until September after the new congressional session begins officially. Until after September 7, the House and the Senate are adjourned.

Also, the IRS would use the same calculations and tools for sending the stimulus payments out this time like the IRS Get My Payment tool that tracks the payment and allows direct deposit.

As per The Sun, the next stimulus payment could reach first those people who've already registered for direct deposit in the 2019 tax filing or before. Those people are counted to 80 million who received their CARES Act money in the first week the payments were sent out.

The Social Security beneficiaries received the payout due to their direct deposit information filed with federal agencies. At the same time, the paper checks get mailed out later a week to people who didn't sign up for a direct deposit. In mid-May, the first prepaid Economic Impact Payment debit cards were distributed to about four million people.

The CARES Act and the GOP-backed HEALS Act allocated $500 for the dependents, and the HEROES Act of the Democrats suggests $1,200 for a maximum of three dependents. But the change would force the IRS to adjust the accounting system and will slow down the process.

By June, 120 million Americans received the stimulus money through direct deposit, 35 million beneficiaries through check in the mail, and 4 million recipients through a prepaid debit card, as per the U.S. Treasury.

People who don't make enough money file federal income tax returns in 2018 or 2019, weren't able to get a payment unless they submitted a form to the IRS, according to the report of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

According to The Sun, low-income families with children and those of color are disproportionately affected by the action. By the time the IRS is done with the first payments, around 200 million checks will be sent out, with most of the stimulus being sent in June.

The Census Bureau reported that the United States is home to over 330 million, and the IRS will send payments through the end of 2020.

Check these out:

Stimulus Payments Could Be $50,000 for Eligible Families If Bill Backed by Harris, Sanders Passes

US Unemployment Benefit: Uncertain, Might Decrease From $400 Down to $300

Stimulus Deadline for Eligible Social Security Beneficiaries With Kids Extended
Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, will travel to Singapore and the Republic of Korea (ROK) this week, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Yang, also director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, will visit Singapore from Wednesday to Thursday, at the invitation of Singapore government, spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a daily press briefing.

Yang will also have consultations with ROK officials in the city of Pusan from Friday to Saturday, at the invitation of Suh Hoon, top national security adviser of the ROK, Zhao said.
Every name on the BrandBucket marketplace is exclusively listed with BrandBucket. That means that all of our sellers are very responsive, making for quick domain transfers.

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In most cases, if a domain is moved between accounts at a single registrar, the transfer is quick and usually completes within 48 hours. If a domain changes registrars (in other words, you would like to move it away from where it is currently registered), the transfer is slower. The total transfer time can then be anywhere from 48 hours to 7 days.

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As America marked the centennial of the 19th Amendment, August 19th instalment of the Democratic National Convention embraced the milestone for women's suffrage, with nods to the movement's complicated history  only white women won the vote at first  and tributes to women who had "broken the marble ceiling", in the words of the first female speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi.

Senator Kamala Harris, accepting the vice presidential nomination and becoming the first Black woman and the first Indian American woman named to a major party's ticket, began by making note of the anniversary, lauding both the women who had fought and won, and those who fought but were themselves overlooked.

"So many of the Black women who helped secure that victory were still prohibited from voting long after its ratification," Harris said. "But they were undeterred. Without fanfare or recognition, they organised and testified and rallied and marched and fought not just for their vote but for a seat at the table. These women and the generations that followed worked to make democracy and opportunity real in the lives of all of us who followed."

The speakers who appeared before Harris on Wednesday sounded similar notes.

"100 years ago yesterday (August 19), the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified," former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said. "It took seven decades of marching and picketing and going to jail to push us closer to a more perfect union."

Clinton  like Pelosi, who spoke after her  wore white, a symbol for American suffragists.

"As America marks the centennial of women finally winning the right to vote, we do so with 105 women in the House of Representatives," Pelosi said, proudly noting that 90 of them were Democrats.

Still, at this week's kick-off meeting of the Democratic Women's Caucus, one of those women, Rep. Katie Porter of California, joked that there were still more women found in a Nordstrom shoe department than in Congress.

"Why shouldn't we be at the table?" Pelosi said at that meeting. "Why shouldn't we be at the head of the table?"

Before Clinton spoke from her home in Westchester County, the convention featured a video montage of women voting, protesting and testifying before Congress over the years.

It included black-and-white images from 1920 and images from 2017, after President Donald Trump had taken office and women marched in protest wearing vividly pink, knitted caps.

In clips stitched into the montage, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg spoke before members of the Senate; Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington reclaimed her speaking time from Attorney General William Barr at a hearing; Clinton herself, eight years before she became the first woman nominated for president by a major party, spoke of failing to shatter "that highest, hardest glass ceiling" but putting "about 18 million cracks in it."

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the first woman elected to the Senate from Massachusetts, warned that "you don't get what you don't fight for." And Stacey Abrams, the former Democratic candidate for governor of Georgia, put it simply: "This is our time," she declared.

Other speakers, from former President Barack Obama to actress Kerry Washington, invoked past and ongoing fights for equality.

"When our Constitution was written, women couldn't vote, Black people were considered three-fifths of a human being," Washington said.

Obama urged faith in the system while acknowledging its failings.

"It wasn't a perfect document," he said of the Constitution. "It allowed for the inhumanity of slavery. And failed to guarantee women and even men who didn't own property the right to participate in the political process."

Some speakers, though, offered an appeal that transcended race and gender.

Some happened to be women, like Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona, but her message was for all citizens, men and women.

"Vote, vote, vote," Giffords urged.

c.2020 The New York Times Company
A Delhi Police head constable shot dead a 28-year-old gym owner in Rohinis Budh Vihar on Thursday morning.

Senior police officers said prima facie the murder appears to be the fallout of personal enmity. The policeman has been arrested and the process to dismiss him from duty is under way, they said.

The police identified the dead man as Deepak Gehlawat, 28, a resident of Dwarka Mod.

According to the police, the incident took place around 6am when Gehlawat and the head constable, Surender Kumar, met in his Brezza car. It has come to light that both were drinking when an altercation started between them. The two men got into a scuffle during which Kumar shot Gehlawat twice with his service pistol. Gehlawat was hit in his forearm and on the left of his upper chest. When Gehlawat was shot, he was standing outside his car. He died instantly, said a police officer who did not wish to be named.

Deputy commissioner of police (Rohini) Pramod Kumar Mishra said as soon as the incident was reported, the head constable was arrested.He is being dismissed from job and is under arrest. We are interrogating him to find out the reason behind the murder. During preliminary enquiry, he has not mentioned any strong reason to have killed Gehlawat. We are interrogating him to establish the sequence of incidents, Mishra said.

A forensics and crime team was rushed to the spot and the weapon used by Kumar was seized.

Police said Surender Kumar was posted with Shahbad Dairy police station. His family members and colleagues are being questioned to know if the two men had any dispute.

Police are checking CCTV footage from the crime scene and phone call records between Gehlawat and the head constable, investigators said.
Gambler First Nation has broken its silence about the Brandon urban reserve development that has been on hold since July, after hiring a Regina, Sask., firm to handle its communications.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 20/8/2020 (517 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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Gambler First Nation has broken its silence about the Brandon urban reserve development that has been on hold since July, after hiring a Regina, Sask., firm to handle its communications.

Derek Robinson of Mash Media acted as liaison to answer questions posed by The Brandon Sun.

The First Nation confirmed that it had ceased construction at its Brandon lands while Indigenous Services Canada reviewed its February land designation referendum, which had a final vote of 72-70 in favour. Gambler member Darlene Labelle Gerula requested the review. The goal of a land designation is to lease urban reserve lands to third parties for commercial purposes.

"While we were confident in a successful review, we delayed construction until the federal government upheld the referendum result," the First Nation stated.

Also according to the First Nation, the Minister of Indigenous Services Canada has signed off on the land designation.

Development of the land is separated into two parts. Stage 1 will see a Co-op gas bar with a convenience store and two retail spaces in one large building, according to the email. Gambler estimates it will complete the gas bar by the end of 2020.

Stage 2 of development remains under negotiation and Gambler will announce details as they become available.

The Sun asked questions related to the leasing of land and the involvement of other First Nations, which was one of Gerulas concerns.

Specifically, her concern was that the lands would be leased for nominal fees and for a great length of time  up to 99 years, according to referendum documents  to other First Nations or individuals, which would reap the economic rewards of businesses they open there. Gerula feared Gambler members would not have those same opportunities or benefit economically.

The Sun also asked if Gambler members would have opportunities to have their own businesses on the urban reserve and if Chief David LeDoux had plans to mend fences with the members who had been outspoken about the land designation referendum process.

The First Nation replied generally.

"With limited government funding available, Gambler recognized the need to develop own-source revenue to better support its members," the First Nation stated.

"The businesses on the Brandon urban reserve are 100 per cent owned by Gambler First Nation and profits will be used to support all Gambler members. For that reason, the Brandon urban reserve is a for-profit business and decisions will be made through that lens."

Further, the First Nation stated any interested party could lease land or space on the urban reserve upon review of business plans and/or financials by Gambler First Nation to ensure viability.

"Gambler wants to provide exceptional services for Brandon and area residents with long-term businesses onsite of the urban reserve," according to the email.

"We are working hard to better communicate these messages and quickly correct misunderstandings with Gambler members as the Brandon project is a generational opportunity to secure a stronger, more self-sufficient future for all Gambler members."

 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.
State health officials said Thursday that less than 25 COVID-19 cases tie back to the Sturgis rally, two of which theyve put out public notices for, and another 22 cases were out-of-state rally-goers who were tested for coronavirus at Monument Health.

Dan Daly, spokesman for Monument Health, told the Journal Thursday morning that the hospital system has seen 22 positive COVID-19 tests come back for out-of-state residents who may have attended the Sturgis rally.

State epidemiologist Joshua Clayton said Thursday that there are less than 25 coronavirus cases relating back to the rally, including two cases for an employee at the Bumpin Buffalo Bar and Grill in Hill City and a bar-goer at One-Eyed Jacks Saloon in Sturgis.

The whole reason we needed to do a public notice for those cases is that the individual was not able to identify all the persons they may have been around that may have been considered close contacts, Clayton said, noting the patron of One-Eyed Jacks was in the bar for more than five hours.

Clayton said the rest of the less than 25 figure he provided are several cases reported to us from outside the state of South Dakota.

DOH wont report COVID-19 cases for each school district

There are less than 40 total cases among K-12 school children, teachers and staff in 19 different districts that have at least one case across the state, Clayton said.

But the DOH wont release specific school or district names as part of their biweekly media updates. Clayton said the schools will issue their own notifications to students and parents when cases are identified in schools.

Thats information thats pertinent to those who are impacted by COVID-19 in that community, Clayton added. Were focusing on reporting the data at a more aggregate level, at the statewide level so theres some understanding on total number of cases and total number of school districts.

Clayton said the DOH will issue public notices about cases in schools when we have issues with larger exposure events.

Kim Malsam-Rysdon said the DOH will continue to investigate every positive case in a school or university and notify close contacts of their exposure risk.

College students who get tested in their home county or home state  not the county theyre going to school in  will be reported as a case in the county of the school theyre going to, Clayton said, noting the DOH will receive notices about those cases, which counts as morbidity for South Dakota.

The DOH will provide an update to its website starting Monday with more information about cases in schools and universities, Clayton said Thursday without mentioning any specifics.

As students are going back to (schools), we want to make sure that individuals go back safely, Clayton said. Just because they may have started the school year last year in a different manner, (they should still take) proper precautions such as social distancing and wearing a mask, he said.

Two new fatalities, 125 new cases

The DOH reported two new coronavirus fatalities Thursday. The two men who died were from Davison and Minnehaha counties; one man was in his 60s and the other was in his 80s.

The state also reported 125 new COVID-19 cases Thursday including 13 in Pennington County, seven in both Meade and Custer counties, and one new case each in Butte and Lawrence counties.

Thursdays report brought the state to a total of 157 coronavirus fatalities, 10,691 total cases, 9,265 recoveries and 1,269 active cases.

Health officials reported 1,686 test results Thursday for a positive test rate of 7.4%. The state has performed 169,767 tests on 132,108 people throughout the pandemic.

Five people were newly hospitalized for coronavirus across the state Thursday, marking 53 current hospitalizations and 940 throughout the span of the pandemic.

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AP

Mocking the designated Democratic presidential nominee in his hometown, Donald Trump told a rally crowd that Joe Biden "abandoned Scranton" then "sold out" America during a half century in Washington.

"Joe Biden is no friend of Pennsylvania," the president said on a sun-drenched stage in the key swing state, where he trails the former vice president in nearly every poll by a statistically significant margin.

The president attacked Mr Biden during a campaign rally that was also a move to troll the soon-to-be Democratic nominee hours before the former VP will close the Democratic National Convention with a speech during which he will, after decades of trying to secure it, accept the party's presidential nomination.

He predicted Mr Biden will in his big speech "remind us he was born in Scranton."

"Biden left like 70 years ago. He left a long time ago; he as 8, 9, 10. He left 68 years ago," Mr Trump said. "He abandoned Scranton. His parents had something to do with that."

The president then mocked his general election foe as he tries to again win the state and its 20 Electoral College votes in a sates he won by under 1 percentage point in 2016.

"I was born in Scranton, I lived in Scranton," he said in a mocking voice. "Then he left for another state. This Scranton stuff, that's why I thought I'd come here and explain it."

The crowd laughed and applauded.

After former President Bill Clinton on Tuesday night described him as a television-obsessed and ineffective leader, the president admitted to spending time this week watching the Democratic National Convention.

I watched President Obama last night," he said. "He spied on my campaign and he got caught. ... We're dealing with crazy people on the other side.

More follows
LEXINGTON, Ky., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Tempur Sealy International, Inc. (NYSE: TPX, "Company" or "Tempur Sealy") announced plans today to open its 30th North American manufacturing facility. This newest facility is expected to open on the West Coast in the first quarter of 2021 and result in three new manufacturing facilities opening within a six-month period.

Tempur Sealy Chairman and CEO Scott Thompson commented, "The strong demand for bedding, and our products specifically, has continued into the third quarter and we are optimistic about the fundamental trajectory of the business for the foreseeable future. We are facing capacity constraints on U.S. Sealy and Sherwood products that are limiting our ability to meet our customer demand. Sealy is the number one mattress manufacturer in the U.S. based on volume1 and is experiencing double digit growth, so this opportunity to open a new facility in the western region of the U.S. is well-timed.

"I should also point out that Tempur-Pedic is currently growing faster than Sealy in the U.S. Our U.S. Tempur-Pedic products are not capacity constrained, as our Tempur-Pedic manufacturing facilities can produce at levels consistent with current market demand," said Thompson.

Thompson continued, "Our team is always evaluating opportunities to improve customer service and optimize our operations. We are committed to deliver high-quality products across our broad distribution network, and believe that this facility, in conjunction with our previously announced expansions in Dallas, TX and the northeast, will support the elevated demand. Our previously disclosed 2020 capital expenditures contemplated the new facilities, which will be funded from operating cash flow."

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that may be characterized as "forward-looking," within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Such statements might include information concerning one or more of the Company's plans, objectives, goals, strategies, and other information that is not historical information. When used in this release, the words "expected," "optimistic," and variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based upon current expectations and beliefs and various assumptions. There can be no assurance that the Company will realize these expectations or that these beliefs will prove correct.

Numerous factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, could cause actual results to differ materially from any that may be expressed herein as forward-looking statements. These risk factors include the impact of the macroeconomic environment in both the U.S. and internationally on the Company's business segments and expectations regarding growth of the mattress industry; risks associated with the duration, scope and severity of COVID-19 and its effects on the Company's business and operations, including the disruption or delay of production and delivery of materials and products in the Company's supply chain; the impact of travel bans, work-from-home policies, or shelter-in-place orders; a temporary or prolonged shutdown of manufacturing facilities or retail stores and decreased retail traffic; uncertainties arising from global events, natural disasters or pandemics; the effects of strategic investments on the Company's operations, including efforts to expand its global market share; the efficiency and effectiveness of the Company's advertising campaigns and other marketing programs; consumer acceptance of the Company's products; general economic, financial and industry conditions, particularly conditions relating to liquidity, financial performance and related credit issues present in the retail sector; financial distress among the Company's business partners, customers and competitors, and financial solvency and related problems experienced by other market participants, any of which may be amplified by the effects of COVID-19.

Other potential risk factors include the risk factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Part I, ITEM 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and in Part II, ITEM 1A of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2020. There may be other factors that may cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made.

About the Company

Tempur Sealy International, Inc. (NYSE: TPX) is the world's largest bedding manufacturer. Tempur Sealy International, Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets mattresses, foundations, pillows and other products. The Company's products are sold worldwide through third party retailers, its own stores, and online. The Company's brand portfolio includes many highly recognized brands in the industry, including Tempur, Tempur-Pedic, Sealy featuring Posturepedic Technology, and Stearns & Foster. World headquarters for Tempur Sealy International is in Lexington, KY. For more information, visit http://www.tempursealy.com or call 800-805-3635.

Investor Relations Contact

Aubrey Moore

Investor Relations

Tempur Sealy International, Inc.

800-805-3635

[email protected]

1 See Furniture Today's Top 20 U.S. Bedding Producers methodology that includes SEALY and STEARNS & FOSTER products in Sealy ranking.

SOURCE Tempur Sealy International, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.tempursealy.com


Workplace surveillance is quite a hot topic among employers and its importance is growing while we seek a new normal. Surveillance puts the employees under the vigilant eyes of the employers, managers, heads, or bosses, and according to a report issued by ABC News, about 78% of major US companies monitored their employees use of e-mail, telephone, and even the internet.

There has been a constant and gradual shift in the modern employment landscape. Earlier, it was mostly supported by permanent employees who would commute to a central work location. Now, with the change in the paradigm, more and more people are starting to count alternatives like freelancing, outsourcing, telecommunications, etc. Consequently, their work conditions also vary significantly. For example, the work hours have become more flexible, and the work often goes unsupervised due to a lack of space and proximity.

Using a surveillance system in the workplace has been in practice ever since the advent of collaborative work. It is believed to boost the productivity of the employees, which is true to a large extent. It renders help to the employers in gauging the work performance as well as assessing the overall workers productivity. As a result, managers are able to reward the workers with better performance and higher productivity and at the same time, plan a line of remedial actions for non-performing and non-productive ones.

Moreover, the surveillance system also ensures that the administration and management are in the know of affairs. A potential threat that many industries face is internal theft. From inventory shrinkage to theft of intellectual properties, the industries are left to deal with the damages. Installation of surveillance systems helps in putting a stop to such asset thefts. With the advancement in technology, many new breeds of monitoring technologies are coming up that enable the surveillance of computer activities of workers. Some of them are keystroke logging, screenshot capturing, movement and mouse click tracking, etc.

Amidst the Covid-19 outbreak, many companies and industries are bracing themselves for a better and heightened surveillance in the workplace. The primary reason is to track the symptoms of the virus among the employees and ensure their safety, health, and hygiene conditions. Monitoring will also help in establishing social distancing which is the need of the hour. As people are getting back to normality, contact tracing is seen as the only way to minimize the spread of the virus. Many companies are also resorting to the use of thermal cameras for the purpose of monitoring employees. It reads the temperature and if a fever is detected, the employee is quickly sent home.

There is no doubt that work-related performance data is required for the successful management of a business or firm. And the monitoring is designed in a way as to provide support in overcoming the challenges in the collection of data and information to maintain transparency. But it also, at the same time, raises privacy concerns for the employees. Not everyone likes to be under surveillance all the time. Moreover, employees are more prone to dissatisfaction at work when their privacy is violated.

While collecting data about employees carries risk, it can be reduced through the use of electronic monitoring. The surveillance should be used for a well-defined and explained purpose, and not be indiscriminate. Moreover, stating the reasons for monitoring and transparent communication with the employees will likely boost the performance.

The use of surveillance in the workplace serves myriad benefits to both the business as well as the employees. It provides the required assistance in compliance with the HVNL and workplace laws. It holds an especially relevant position during this hour where the world is combating with the pandemic to ensure the safety and health of the workers. However, it is imperative, at the same time, for the employers to be well-conversant about the need, introduction, and use of the surveillance.

Authored by:- Mr. Abhishek Kumar, Regional Director, Onvu Tech

(The views expressed in this article are by  Mr. Abhishek Kumar, Regional Director, Onvu Tech. Technuter.com doesnt own any responsibility for it.)
Most Missouri students will be starting school in coming days. However, current school reopening plans will likely need to be revisited because Missouri is a current national coronavirus hot spot.

We have collected and analyzed all available Missouri school district reopening plans to categorize first-day instructional options. The plans highlighted the difficult decision districts are weighing when creating preliminary and contingent reopening plans to address the combination of the continued public health crisis, pandemic learning loss and students well-being.

Almost 80% of students are slated to have one of the following four instructional options as school starts:

 In-person: back in brick-and-mortar buildings for a full week of classes, with new health and safety measures;

 Online: virtual courses from their district teachers or a state provider, like the Missouri Course Access Program;

 In-person or online: families choose between the two options;

 In-person, virtual opt-out: in-person instruction is the primary method of the district, though medically vulnerable students or students who feel unsafe coming back to school can take their courses virtually, often after an application process.

Districts indicated their desire for in-person instruction in nearly every plan we read, while acknowledging coronavirus infection rates. Many used risk assessment guidance from the Harvard Global Health Initiative, which categorizes current infection levels and provides a way to compare across geographies, from rural to urban. We used these assessments in a similar way as districts: to indicate when it may not be safe to return to school buildings. Based on our analysis of reopening plans, 75% of Missouri students live in counties with the highest coronavirus risk levels, and only 1% are in a county on track to contain the spread of the virus. Across Missouri, most students find themselves in locales where stay-at-home orders are highly recommended, if not outright needed.

In response to high infection levels, about 20% of Missouri students will be exclusively online when school starts. Those students are in city and suburban districts that serve the highest percentages of low-income students and students of color than any other plan. Coronavirus infections, severity and deaths have already disproportionately affected low-income and communities of color, particularly Black communities. We also know that online education does not produce the same benefits as in-person instruction and places additional burden on parents. This means that students most vulnerable in our education system before the pandemic are the ones most impacted by the states ability to control the virus.

Local control is necessary for Missouri districts to thrive and address issues specific to their community contexts. However, the pandemic is not a local issue. As state officials continue weighing a coronavirus response and school openings, we call on them to: 1) Prioritize school reopening, for immediate student needs and long-term economic health and success. This includes more testing and restrictions if cases continue to rise. It may also include statewide guidelines for reopening schools and businesses based on current community coronavirus infection trends. 2) Encourage the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to monitor, analyze, and approve district responses and reopening plans to identify common themes and gaps. The education department should offer specific guidance and resources on learning loss and recovery, as current guidance is general and solely focused on preventing or responding to coronavirus cases in schools.

Without decisive action, individual schools and districts will continue to navigate myriad uncertainties without the benefit of coordinated and systemic plans. This places the entire burden of reopening, catching up on spring learning loss, addressing inequities, and attending to public and individual student and teacher health on school districts or district families. When schools reopen, what trade-offs will families be forced to make?

These decisions are hard. Schools are responsible for much more than simply the education of a child; they are crucial systems of support for many families across Missouri, particularly in low-income areas. Whats certain: School closures have magnified existing inequities in food and internet access, not just education.

In a push to reopen the economy and get back to normal, students education and health may be collateral damage if state intervention does not occur soon. Without it, local school districts and families will continue to shoulder the burden of supporting their communities while also trying to contain the pandemic. Schools also cannot be opened equitably, or the way everyone wants them to  in-person  if the virus spread isnt contained. Solely localized decision-making is not working; the state and federal governments need coherent and consistent policies to reverse course and do whats best for Missouri students and families.

Kristi Donaldson, Ph.D., is a research associate and data fellow, and Andrew Diemer is a graduate student at the Policy Research in Missouri Education Center at St. Louis University.
Best Lawyers  has recognized Attorney Mellino more than once, as he was honored with his first listing in 2009. In the 2021 Edition, The Best Lawyers in America honored Attorney Mellino for his demonstrated prowess in Medical Malpractice Law  Plaintiffs.

Besides his recognition by Best Lawyers  , Attorney Mellino has had other great career successes and has worked on multiple landmark cases, authored a detailed medical malpractice guide, Was It A Mistake, and founded a social justice scholarship program to connect eight-grade students with service organizations.

Due to his successful representation of his clients, Attorney Mellino is a proud member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. This group is exclusive to lawyers who have won millions of dollars for their clients, thus less than 1% of the United States' lawyers are members.

Attorney Mellino's accolades also include:

Recognition by Super Lawyers since 2009

Receipt of a Martindale-Hubbell's prestigious Preeminent AV rating since 1999

Membership to the National Trial Lawyers Association Top 100

The Mellino Law Firm

The Mellino Law Firm is committed to providing clients with effective and personalized legal representation in medical malpractice litigation. The firm accepts a select few cases at a time to maximize results and focus on each client's needs. As a result, their medical malpractice attorneys have won many millions of dollars in verdicts to compensate clients for their wrongful injuries.

With 30 years of experience, the firm's attorneys are qualified to represent clients in medical malpractice, birth injuries, personal injury, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death cases. As evidence of their experience, The Mellino Law Firm was ranked a Tier 2 firm in "Best Law Firms" by U.S. News  Best Lawyers for medical malpractice law on the side of the plaintiff.

About Best Lawyers  Awards

Published on an annual basis, The Best Lawyers in America comprises the top legal professionals in the nation. After nomination, an attorney's peers confidentially review their legal abilities and community influence. The same selection process is applied to recurring listees.

To read more about Attorney Mellino and his many accomplishments, visit The Mellino Law Firm at christophermellino.com. Or learn more about Best Lawyers  awards online at bestlawyers.com.

SOURCE The Mellino Law Firm

Related Links

https://www.christophermellino.com


The end of American history begins in America



America's aggressions around the globe have now come full circle and boomeranged into its domestic affairs.



By Hamid Dabashiby

Therefore, good Brutus, be prepared to hear.

And since you know you cannot see yourself

So well as by reflection, I, your glass,

Will modestly discover to yourself

That of yourself which you yet know not of.

Cassius, in Shakespeare's Julius Cesare (Act 1 Scene 2)

August 19, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Has the American experiment failed and ended? Are we on the cusp of a post-American world? In the late 1980s, Francis Fukuyama, a bureaucratic functionary at the US Department of State, had declared, with much pomp and ceremony, that "history" had ended and America was the triumphant trophy of liberal democracy. Had he inadvertently played a satirical spoof to the end of American history itself?

A mere quarter of a century later, with Donald Trump leading the United States in one calamity after another, people have begun speculating the very end of America.

While North American and Western European observers are deeply concerned about the end of the American empire, the rest of the world oscillates between a sigh of relief at the prospect and a sense of wonder and amusement as to what exactly this "ending" means. Will it be with a big bang or just a pathetic whimper? And while we are at it, when, prithee do tell, did this "leadership of the free world" begin, for it now to end, except with brute military might and a constellation of military bases around the globe to exercise it?

In a thoughtful recent essay , End of Empire, the eminent American historian Andrew Bacevich has put forward his argument as to why he believes "the sun has set on the American empire".

As a cogent critic of American imperialism, Bacevich's surgically precise and honest conclusion is now corroborated by the massive uprising against structural poverty and endemic racism setting the streets of major urban areas on fire from coast to coast.

"The era of US dominion has now passed," Bacevich observes, "So Americans can no longer afford to indulge in the fiction of their indispensability, cherished in elite circles [...] Subordinating the wellbeing of the American people to ostensible imperatives of global leadership - thereby allowing racism, inequality and other problems to fester at home - has become intolerable."

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What Bacevich outlines in this crucial essay is a constellation of facts - of racism and poverty at home and pathetic and dysfunctional attempts at world domination - that much of the world and in fact, most Americans themselves have known, but which today, during the presidency of Donald Trump and this criminally negligent handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, has been thrown into stark relief.

Was this America ever a leader or just a bully? Did it ever have the moral authority to shepherd a terrorised Earth?

Between Fukuyama's pompous and absurd prognostication and Bacevich's bold and brilliant insights, we may now wonder when did America begin and where is it wending.

What happened to the American Century?

America as an experiment is failing. Perhaps it was destined to fail from its very beginning. An idea that began with the genocide of Native Americans, thrived on the sustained course of African slavery, extended its genocidal and racist foregrounding to generations of immigrants who came to its shores to toil and suffer so that the white supremacist settler colonists prosper and enrich generations after generations, had to pay for its continued sins at some point.

That America is failing is not a new idea or a recent discovery. It is just that over the last three years, in the course of Trump's presidency, this fact has become glaringly clear for the whole world to see. This particular president has exposed not merely his own personal vulgarity and criminal charlatanism, but also, far more importantly, the self-destructive forces that have shaped and defined this country long before he assumed office. The viral racism to which Trump caters, and to which millions of Americans respond favorably, and which is the undoing of America, arrived in America from Europe like all other diseases the settler-colonialists brought with them.

Every country and every clime has its own peculiar political disease. Egypt has given birth to el-Sisi, Russia to Putin, China to Xi, India to Modi, Brazil to Bolsonaro, Myanmar to Aung San Suu Kyi, Iran to Khamenei, Syria to Assad, ad nauseam. But the point here is the mighty and powerful US and its particular brand of imperial corruption and hubris marking its final dissolution into nullity.

The open discussions about the end of the American experiment, of course, predate Trump. David S Mason's The End of the American Century (2009) is a typical example of such analysis in which we read about the various interrelated phases of social, economic and global unravelling of the US that had begun with World War II. In his essay, The End of the American Century (2019) George Packer considers the span of the American diplomat Richard Holbrooke's life (1941-2010) as the period of the height of American empire, after which things began to fall apart.

Meanwhile, the delusional imperialists at the political core of the US were busy thinking otherwise. The Project for the New American Century (PNAC) was a neoconservative scheme based in Washington, DC in the late 1990s triumphantly declaring the victory of US-led neoconservative and neoliberal projects, promoting, as they put it, "American global leadership". Led by William Kristol and Robert Kagan, all those PNAC characters today look positively ridiculous in their delusions.

Most of them staunch Zionists, they had translated the pathological colonial interests of Israel into US foreign policy and called it "a new American century!". Before they were all exposed for their pitiful banality, they had convinced George W Bush and Dick Cheney of their prophetic missions. They destroyed an entire country, Iraq, with criminal intent, propagating their delusional myth of "American leadership".

Today, there are sober Americans like Martin Kaplan who in his 2017 essay Trump and the End of the American Century mourns the decline of US leadership, denounces Trump, and then concludes: "We all must respond to the unexpected and depressing challenge of the United States forsaking its historical democratic and human rights leadership, both internationally and within the United States." But what leadership, the rest of the world may wonder, when, how?

The ruling caste of the US - from its slave owner founding fathers to its current president - have been the unqualified source of misery inside and outside of the country. The ending of the calamitous delusion of that history is not something to be mourned.

The world after the American empire

A mere 20 years ago the cleanshaven neoconservative gangsters thought they were about to rule the world. Three years into the Trump presidency, amid disastrous public health failures that have exposed millions of Americans to a deadly pandemic, the very economic and human foundation of their republic is going to pieces. Massive social protest aims at an irrevocable dismantling of American racism. Streets of Oregon, Seattle, Oakland, Chicago and New York look like scenes from a military coup in Guatemala or Chile. Meanwhile, like a tinpot dictator American racism made us believe could only emerge in Asia, Africa or Latin America, the US president is dismantling the US postal system to be able to cheat and get himself re-elected.

America's aggressions, brutal militarism, and disregard for people's democratic will around the globe have now come full circle and boomeranged into its domestic affairs. With Trump and his Republican followers "kneecapping" the post office, as former President Obama put it, to suppress votes and guarantee the president's re-election, the US is now en route to an election as ridiculous as the ones we have witnessed in Syria, Egypt or even Iran in the past.

The post-American world will paradoxically liberate America from its own dangerous delusions and bring American people back to the bosom of humanity at large. America will only be liberated when it comes to terms with its irredeemable racist history and dismantles all its racist institutions. And the coast to coast uprising we are witnessing today is aiming to do just that: to retrieve the repressed republican aspirations of the best of Americans and use them to dismantle the imperial arrogance of the worst.

Professor Dabashi has written twenty-five books, edited four, and contributed chapters to many more.

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Source

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 11:12:30|Editor: huaxia

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An employee works at a heavy-duty truck assembly line of Shaanxi Automobile Holding Group Co., Ltd. in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, April 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen)

"History has proved time and again that external pressure will only lead to greater unity of the Chinese people, stronger cohesion of the Chinese society and better resilience of the Chinese economy," Cui said.



WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Fueling a confrontation between the U.S. and China will not slow down China's development as external pressure will only lead to a stronger, more resilient China, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai has said.

"Maybe some believe that driving up confrontation could slow down and contain China's development, and even bring about a regime change. This is nothing but wishful thinking," said Cui in a keynote speech at a webinar on issues related to China-U.S. relations at the invitation of John R. Allen, president of the Brookings Institution on Aug. 13.

"History has proved time and again that external pressure will only lead to greater unity of the Chinese people, stronger cohesion of the Chinese society and better resilience of the Chinese economy," he said.

Photo taken on July 16, 2020 shows a container dock in Tangshan City, north China's Hebei Province. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao)

"If the negative trend of China-U.S. relations is allowed to continue, China might have to face more difficulties and challenges. But the initiators of the so-called 'New Cold War' must weigh the costs they have to pay and the consequences for the world. For whom the bell tolls, there will be a day of reckoning," Cui said.

"At present, the fundamental question for the China-U.S. relationship is: as China has deeply integrated itself into the current international system, is the United States ready to accommodate China and live with a country with a different history, culture and system?" he said.

"It's fair to say that, with the normalization of bilateral relations and the establishment of diplomatic ties, China and the United States already made their choice, i.e. we need to live in peace, strive for co-evolution, properly manage our differences, expand cooperation, and build a comprehensive, stable and constructive relationship. I hope people will not try to negate all this and let the relationship go down a very dangerous path," he said.

The ambassador noted that those people who like the term "Cold War" so much "should not forget the prices the world paid for it in a span of some four decades, not to mention the bitter costs the United States and other countries paid in the two hot wars, i.e. the Korean War and the Vietnam War, which were fought during the Cold War."

"We should not allow the history to repeat itself," he said. 
A new study appearing in The American Journal of Medicine, published by Elsevier, calculates the lifetime risk of death from firearms and drug overdoses in the United States. The lifetime risk of death from firearms is about one percent, meaning that approximately one out of every 100 children will die from firearms if current death rates continue. The lifetime risk of death from drug overdoses is 1.5 percent, meaning that one out of every 70 children will die from an overdose.

The lifetime risks vary depending on who you are and where you live. The lifetime risk of firearm death is highest among black boys: one out of every 40 will die from a gunshot. The lifetime risk of overdose death is highest in West Virginia where one out of every 30 children will die from overdoses.

News media and politicians frequently discuss the high toll of deaths from firearms and drug overdoses. They usually mention the numbers of deaths, citing figures like 40,000 firearm deaths last year or death rates such as 20 overdose deaths per 100,000 population. However, for most people, it's hard to grasp the real meaning of both the large absolute numbers and the small annual rates.

Ashwini Sehgal, MD, a physician at MetroHealth Medical Center and a Professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA, used official death certificate data to calculate the likelihood that an American child will die from a gunshot or a drug overdose over the course of a lifetime. He commented, "While absolute numbers of deaths and annual death rates describe mortality over a short period of time, lifetime risk tells us more about long-term consequences."

Dr. Sehgal said that he was thinking about the study findings when he recently toured a new elementary school in his community in Ohio. "I had a hard time concentrating on the gleaming whiteboards, the new computers, or the cheerfully decorated walls. I realized that one child on every floor of the school would likely die from firearms and another one from a drug overdose in the years ahead. If I were across the border in West Virginia, then one child per classroom will have their life ended by an overdose."

The study stated that presenting information on lifetime risks may be a practical way to educate the public and policy makers about the impact of firearm and overdose deaths. Dr. Sehgal recommends that lifetime risk should be included in news stories and government reports and contrasted with lifetime risk of other causes of death and with figures from other countries. For example, the lifetime risk of dying from an overdose is similar to the lifetime risk of dying from colon cancer. Moreover, firearm deaths in our country are six times more common than in Canada and 50 times more common than in the United Kingdom, two countries that are culturally similar to the US. Examining changes over time is also enlightening; American drug overdose deaths have quadrupled over the last two decades.

There are a number of things that policy makers can do to reduce our exposure to and the consequences of firearms and potentially lethal drugs. Examples include background checks and waiting periods for gun purchases and improving access to substance use treatment and needle exchange programs.

Health providers can also advocate for measures likely to reduce deaths. They can ask patients about the presence of firearms in the home, review safe storage practices, and screen for depression or a previous history of violence. They can also limit or avoid prescribing drugs with overdose potential and carefully monitor patients on such drugs.

Dr. Sehgal concluded that lifetime risk calculations are based on the assumption that future death rates will match current ones.

But it doesn't have to be that way. The big differences in firearm and overdose deaths by race, gender, state, and country, and the sizeable changes over time indicate that high levels of firearm and overdose deaths are not inevitable. Let's take sensible steps now to help our children avoid the preventable tragedies of firearm and overdose deaths." Ashwini Sehgal, MD, Physician at MetroHealth Medical Center and Professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University
A group of residents of the resort town of Jermuk joined scores of environmental activists in Yerevan on Thursday to stage a protest in front of the central government offices in the Armenian capital against the construction of a gold mine at Amulsar that they claim will jeopardize the countrys eco-system.

In 2016, the Armenian government issued a British-American mining company, Lydian International, a license to develop a mine in Armenias central Vayots Dzor province. But the site has been blockaded by environmental activists and local residents since May 2018 when a new government was formed in Armenia following the Velvet Revolution.

Activists claim that the project will affect Armenias waters, including Lake Sevan, the largest body of fresh water in the country. They demand that a new environmental impact study be conducted and that Lydians license be revoked. In March 2019, Lydian notified the Armenian government of a potential international arbitration.

Armenian Environmental Front activist Levon Galstian said that residents of Jermuk have been left out of the decision-making mechanisms and want to have their violated rights restored. Here the matter concerns rights and not some laws, especially those written under the previous corrupt government, he said during todays protest.

Protests over Amulsar rekindled earlier this month when Lydian security workers dismantled wagon houses of activists blockading the roads leading to the site and placed their own instead.

As a result of a standoff that lasted for several days and was accompanied by clashes between protesters and police officers environmentalists managed to get the authorities to remove Lydian wagons from the area.

Lydian says its license for mining at Amulsar remains valid and calls the blockade of its site illegal. The company says that it has suffered serious financial losses as a result of the blockade, accusing the Armenian government of failing to curtail the illegal activities.

It became known earlier this month that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development had ended its investment in the project. A Lydian representative stressed, however, that this circumstance will not affect the activities of the company or the quality of its work.
KITCHENER  Eight people have been arrested and four stolen vehicles were recovered this week as part of a weeklong investigation by Waterloo Regional Police.

Police executed a search warrant on Guelph Street in Kitchener Wednesday and arrested four men and four women on a range of charges, including break and enter, theft and possession of stolen property.

A 30-year-old man and 35-year-old woman have been charged with break, enter and commit theft, along with possession of stolen property over $5,000.

A 30-year-old woman and 51-year-old man have been charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000.

A 28-year-old man has been charged with possession of stolen government identification, possession of stolen property under $5,000, and possession of stolen credit cards.

A 35-year-old woman and 29-year-old man have been charged with of possession of stolen property over $5,000.

A 29-year-old woman was arrested on unrelated outstanding warrants.

Police also seized several suspected stolen motor vehicle keys, along with business keys during the search. The investigation is ongoing.
IQALUIT, NU, Aug. 20, 2020 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada's number-one priority remains keeping Canadians safe and supporting families and businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the fight against climate change must continue, particularly for Northerners, who are at the frontlines of these changes, with Canada's North warming at three times the global rate. That's why Canada continues to work in partnership with the North to lower emissions, create conditions for clean jobs, and make life more affordable for Canadians, from coast to coast to coast.

Today, the Minister of Northern Affairs, the Honourable Daniel Vandal, on behalf of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, and the Premier of Nunavut and Minister of Environment, the Honourable Joe Savikataaq, announced an investment to support the South Baffin Energy Management Project. The project will help improve energy efficiency and introduce renewable energy in 45 buildings owned by the Government of Nunavut in the six communities that make up the South Baffin region.

The Government of Nunavut's Department of Community and Government Services is supporting the community's initiatives, with retrofits such as implementation of solar panels; upgrading lighting to LEDs; applying mechanical and control-system upgrades; taking building-envelope measures, such as air sealing; and installing water-saving fixtures. Additional measures will include retrofitting the territorially owned federal building in Iqaluit, outfitting nine community buildings with solar photovoltaic systems, and equipping one building with a solar hot-water system.

Inuit are climate leaders, and their traditional knowledge and specialized skills are fundamental to climate action. This project applies the Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti policy, which will help create business for local construction trades and provide jobs and skill development for local Inuit.

The South Baffin Energy Management Project will receive approximately $18.3 million through the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund. The Government of Nunavut's Department of Community and Government Services is also contributing $8.6 million. Over the lifetime of this project, the Government of Nunavut will see a cumulative reduction of about 24,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. That amount is equivalent to removing approximately 7,000 passenger cars off the road for one year.

The Government of Canada will continue to work with the Government of Nunavut to bring forward climate change measures that have a positive impact on northern communities and help Canada exceed our 2030 target and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Quotes

"Even during this unprecedented time, we cannot stop the fight against climate change. Northern Canadians are among those witnessing climate change first-hand. By working together on practical and affordable solutions like the one in South Baffin, we are reducing carbon pollution, driving clean innovation, creating good jobs, and supporting healthier communities."



 The Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs

"Canada's North is disproportionately impacted by global warming. The Government of Nunavut is working hard to combat any negative effects by enhancing the use of reusable-energy resources and implementing new energy-efficient equipment and technologies to reduce our climate change footprint. The South Baffin Energy Management Project is a great example of the innovative approaches our government is taking to reduce carbon emissions while also creating new employment opportunities for Nunavummiut. We are happy to partner with the federal government to foster healthier communities in the territory."



 The Honourable Joe Savikataaq, Premier of Nunavut and Minister of Environment

Quick facts

The South Baffin Energy Management Project will benefit the local community and economy by creating over 300 job opportunities. The Project is expected to reduce the Government of Nunavut's annual utility costs and improve local air quality by reducing diesel combustion.

annual utility costs and improve local air quality by reducing diesel combustion. Under the Government of Canada's Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund, Nunavut is eligible to receive $31 million for programs like the one in South Baffin, which reduce carbon pollution and strengthen the economy.

Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund, is eligible to receive for programs like the one in South Baffin, which reduce carbon pollution and strengthen the economy. The Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund is an important part of Canada's climate action plan, and it's helping put Canada on a path to meet and exceed the Paris Agreement target for 2030.

Associated links

Environment and Climate Change Canada's Twitter page

Environment and Climate Change Canada's Facebook page

SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada

For further information: Moira Kelly, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, 819-271-6218, [email protected]; Media Relations, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll-free), [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.ec.gc.ca


SANTIAGO, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Chilean miner SQM achieved record second-quarter sales even as low prices ravaged profits, the world's No. 2 producer of the metal used in electric car batteries said on Wednesday.

SQM said it sold more than 12,600 tonnes of lithium in April through June, up 45% from the first three months of the year.

Its Chile operations continued to churn out the white metal even as the coronavirus pandemic hits its peak in the South American nation, the company said.

"We have met or exceeded all internal production goals which included record production levels of lithium carbonate, said CEO Ricardo Ramos in a statement.

"We still believe that our sales volumes for the year will exceed the sales volumes reported during 2019, thus increasing our market share," Ramos added.

Production was in line with an annual rate of 70,000 tonnes, the company said, allowing it to build higher levels of inventory ahead of an expected demand boom. But it nonetheless saw net income plunge to $50.8 million, a 27.6% drop versus the same period in 2019, dragged down by sagging prices.

Supply swamped demand earlier this year, undercutting prices and hammering the earnings of top lithium producers. SQM said prices were down 45% in the first six months of 2020 versus the previous year.

"We believe that prices will be lower during the second half of the year compared to the prices observed in the first half of the year, although sales volumes should be higher," Ramos said.

Total revenue for the company, also a specialty fertilizer producer, fell 7.2% to $458.5 million in the quarter. Revenue from lithium fell 38%.

The company said its lithium capacity expansion projects in Chile remained on track and would be completed by the end of 2021. (Reporting by Dave Sherwood and Fabian Cambero Editing by David Holmes)
A 43-year-old man has been charged with offences including harassment and threats to kill after alleged malicious comments were made on social media against Northern Ireland Health Minister Robin Swann.

The man will appear at Newtownards Magistrates' Court on Thursday September 17.

The charges follows the arrest of the man in the Newtownards area on Thursday afternoon in relation to malicious comments made on social media the previous day.

Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken condemned the alleged threats.

"The torrent of abuse and lies which Robin has had to put with from some anonymous trolls and others who should know better has been abhorrent."

He called on social media platforms to take responsibility for the threats by banning anonymous trolling online.

"If the social media giants aren't prepared to act voluntarily, then Government needs to intervene," he said.

"He took on a job which no-one else wanted and he has committed long days and nights making difficult decisions, working with his colleagues in the Department of Health and the NHS, to protect the public during a global pandemic, the likes of which we haven't faced in 100 years," he added.

"He has been verbally attacked, threats of physical violence made against him and his family, and attempts made to undermine his good character.

I commend the PSNI who have acted swiftly to make an arrest," he said.
A map of the Can Tho  Ca Mau Expressway in the Mekong Delta region. Photo by VnExpress/Cuu Long.

Vietnam plans to build a 130-kilometer expressway linking the southern localities Can Tho City and Ca Mau Province in the 2021-2025 period.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc recently tasked the Ministry of Transport to study the feasibility of constructing the four-lane Can Tho  Ca Mau Expressway to improve connectivity in the Mekong Delta region.

The first section, between Can Tho City and Bac Lieu Province, will be built using public funds, while the second, from Bac Lieu to the most southern province of Ca Mau, will be built under the public-private-partnership (PPP) model.

A consultancy had earlier estimated that the project would cost VND47 trillion ($2 billion) in total. The new expressway will connect with another one on the anvil - the My Thuan  Can Tho Expressway  allowing speeds of up to 100 km an hour.

The Can Tho-Ca Mau Expressway is among several planned or being constructed in the Mekong Delta region. The 51-kilometer Lo Te  Rach Soi Expresssway connecting Can Tho City with Kien Giang Province is set to open to traffic in September, while the Trung Luong  My Thuan Expressway in Tien Giang Province will open at the end of this year.

Work is set to begin on at least five other expressways in this and upcoming years.
Transfer to CBI cannot be a routine affair: Supreme Court

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Aug 20: Transfer of investigation to the CBI cannot be a routine exercise and should be done only in exceptional circumstances, the Supreme Court said on Wednesday.

A bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy said one factor which is considered relevant for induction of the central agency like the CBI in an investigation is to retain public confidence in the impartial working of the State agencies.

The court referred to its recent decision in a case related to journalist Arnab Goswami and said it not for the accused to choose the investigating agency.

Sushant death probe: CBI team will have to apply to BMC for quarantine exemption

The apex court made these observations while upholding the Bihar government's recommendation to transfer the FIR lodged in Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death case in Patna to the CBI.

Contempt Case: SC rejects Prashant Bhushan's plea to defer sentencing | Oneindia News

Rajput, 34, was found hanging from the ceiling of his apartment in suburban Bandra in Mumbai on June 14 and since then Mumbai Police had been probing the case but was yet to file an FIR in the case.

The top court's verdict came on a plea filed by actress Rhea Chakraborty who had sought transfer of an FIR, lodged against her and six others at Patna by Rajput's father accusing them of abetting the actor's suicide, to Mumbai.

The court noted that while Rajput's father and the Bihar government have alleged that Mumbai Police is attempting to shield the real culprits under political pressure, the Maharashtra government has strongly refuted it saying Patna Police has no jurisdiction to investigate the crime as the incident has taken place in Mumbai.

It said political interference has been alleged against both the states and that has the potential of discrediting the investigation.

The legal process must therefore be focused upon revelation of the correct facts through credible and legally acceptable investigation.

It must be determined whether the unnatural death was the result of some criminal acts. In order to lend credibility to the investigation and its conclusion, it would be desirable in my view, to specify the authority, which should conduct the investigation in this matter, the court said.

It said that while the CBI cannot conduct any investigation without the consent of the concerned state as mandated under section 6, the powers of the Constitutional Courts are not fettered by the statutory restriction of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act.

When truth meets sunshine.Satyameva Jayate: SC order in Sushant Singh Rajput case

It said the FIR at Patna against Chakraborty was subsequently transferred to the CBI with consent of the Bihar government during pendency of her Transfer Petition.

However, in future, if commission of cognizable offence under section 175(2) CrPC is determined, the possibility of parallel investigation by the Mumbai Police cannot be ruled out, the court said.

The apex court said that Section 6 of the DSPE Act, 1946 read with Section 5 prescribe the requirement of consent from the State government, before entrustment of investigation to the CBI.

As the CBI has already registered a case and commenced investigation at the instance of the Bihar government, uncertainty and confusion must be avoided in the event of Mumbai Police also deciding to simultaneously investigate the cognizable offence, based on their finding in the inquiry proceeding, the top court said.

SC orders CBI probe into death of Sushant Singh Rajput

The court said it would therefore be appropriate to decide at this stage itself as to who should conduct the investigation on all the attending circumstances relating to the Rajput's death.

This issue becomes relevant only if another FIR is registered on the same issue, at Mumbai. A decision by this Court on the point would confer legitimacy to the investigation, it said.
Achieving 100 per cent conformity from all participating countries is vital for the ongoing rebalancing efforts and delivering long-term oil market stability.

This was the consensus at the 21st Meeting of the Opec and Non-Opec's Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) that took place via videoconference on August 19, 2020, under the Chairmanship of Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Salman, Saudi Arabias Minister of Energy, and Co-Chair Alexander Novak, Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation, a WAM report said.

The meeting instructed the Joint Technical Committee (JTC) and the Opec Secretariat to closely monitor and report to the JMMC on the implementation of the required compensation by the underperforming participating countries as stipulated in their plans.

The committee observed that there are some signs of gradually improving market conditions, including the inventory build in July 2020 being reversed and the lessening of the gap between global oil demand and supply. Nevertheless, the pace of recovery appeared to be slower than anticipated with growing risks of a prolonged wave of Covid-19.

It underscored the fragility of the market and significant uncertainties, particularly associated with oil demand, and called for vigilance by all participating countries.

The committee reviewed the monthly report prepared by JTC and developments in the global oil market since its last meeting on July 15, 2020. The Committee also considered market prospects for the second half of 2020 and for 2021.

On the sidelines, Prince Mohammed had a conversation with Mustafa Al Kadhimi, the Prime Minister of Iraq, on the global oil developments.

During the conversation, they discussed efforts being undertaken to stabilise and rebalance global oil markets, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

In this regard, they stressed the importance of compliance, by all participants, to the Opec+ agreement and the concurred upon compensation mechanism. They also discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and opportunities for their further development.

Meanwhile, the Opec+ committee emphasised the ongoing positive contributions of the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) in supporting a rebalancing of the global oil market. It recalled the historic decisions taken by all Participating Countries in the DoC at the 10th (Extraordinary) Opec and non-Opec Ministerial Meeting on April 12, 2020 to adjust downwards overall crude oil production, and the unanimous decisions taken at the 179th Meeting of the Opec Conference and the 11th Opec and non-Opec Ministerial Meeting on June 6, 2020.

The outcomes of the June Meetings extended the first phase of the production adjustments until July 31, 2020; provided a compensation mechanism for participating countries that could not achieve full conformity; and endorsed monthly meetings of both the JMMC and the JTC to strengthen monitoring and keep abreast of very dynamic market fundamentals.

The committee reviewed the crude oil production data for the month of July 2020 and welcomed the significant performance in overall conformity for participating Opec and non-Opec countries of the DoC, which was recorded at 97 per cent in July 2020, including Mexico as per the secondary sources.

The Members of the JMMC reaffirmed their commitment in the DoC to achieve full and timely conformity. In addition, the underperforming Members of the Committee reaffirmed their commitment to compensate for the shortfalls in May, June, and July 2020 by the end of September 2020.

It also requested other underperforming participating countries to submit their plans for implementation of the required compensation for the overproduced volumes to the Opec Secretariat by the end of next week August 28, 2020.

The next meetings of the JTC and the JMMC are scheduled for September 16 and 17, 2020, respectively. -- Tradearabia News Service
SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Eisenberg, Cutt, Kendell & Olson attorneys were named in The Best Lawyers in America for their extensive and devoted work in personal injury and product liability litigation on the side of the plaintiff. This year's listees comprise Attorneys Jacquelynn D. Carmichael, David A. Cutt, Jeffrey D. Eisenberg, Jordan P. Kendell, and Eric S. Olson, all partners at Eisenberg, Cutt, Kendell & Olson.

Best Lawyers  Recognitions, Past and Present

The Best Lawyers in America lists the top practicing lawyers in the nation. Every year, Best Lawyers publishes a new edition in which each listee is reviewed by their peers to judge whether an attorney's legal career is impactful and backed by experience and education in such a way that warrants a coveted spot in the publication.

The Eisenberg, Cutt, Kendell & Olson attorneys named in The Best Lawyers in America 2021 Edition were:

Jacquelynn D. Carmichael

David A. Cutt

Jeffrey D. Eisenberg

Jordan P. Kendell

Eric S. Olson

This year, all these attorneys were awarded for their work in Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs.

Attorneys Carmichael and Cutt have been honored by Best Lawyers  since 2015. Similarly, Attorney Eisenberg first appeared in 2011, while Attorney Kendell's first mention was in 2019. Attorney Olson is a first-time Best Lawyers  listee this year.

Previous Accolades

Attorneys Carmichael, Cutt, Eisenberg, Kendell, and Olson have been awarded by other prestigious organizations besides Best Lawyers  . Collectively, they have received the following distinctions throughout their careers:

Featured in Super Lawyers  lists

lists Selected for the Super Lawyers  Rising Stars list

Rising Stars list Named in America's Most Honored Professionals Top 5% and Top 1% lists

Awarded as one of Salt Lake Magazine' " Utah's Outstanding Young Lawyers"

About Eisenberg, Cutt, Kendell & Olson

Eisenberg, Cutt, Kendell & Olson prides itself on its prioritization of each client's needs. The firm works on only a few cases at a time to ensure each client receives the utmost care.

As a result of the firm's collective efforts, their verdicts and settlements have amounted to more than $400 million combined. The firm's most notable cases include the following:

$16.4 million truck accident verdict

truck accident verdict $14.5 million medical malpractice verdict

medical malpractice verdict $4.25 million workplace accident settlement

workplace accident settlement $3 million legal malpractice settlement

Eisenberg, Cutt, Kendell & Olson was also named in "Best Law Firms" by U.S. News  Best Lawyers as a Tier 1 personal injury firm. It was ranked a Tier 2 commercial litigation firm and Tier 3 insurance firm, as well.

For more information about Eisenberg, Cutt, Kendell & Olson and its decorated attorneys, visit the firm online at eckolaw.com. For information about Best Lawyers  , visit bestlawyers.com.

SOURCE Eisenberg, Cutt, Kendell & Olson

Related Links

https://www.eckolaw.com


Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 20)  The government is again easing the deployment ban on medical workers, allowing those who have secured employment documents on or before March 8 to leave the country.

The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases, policy-making body in the governments COVID-19 response, made the decision Thursday afternoon, its spokesperson said, revising a resolution it released early this week.

Kapapasok lang na balita, nadesisyunan po ng IATF ngayong hapon na yung mga health professionals na meron na pong mga papeles, ibig sabihin, yung OEC (Overseas Employment Certificate) na issued ng POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration) at yung employment contract na verified as of March 8, 2020 ay pwede pong lumabas ng bansa, IATF spokesperson Harry Roque said in a short video announcement.

[Translation: This just in, the IATF decided that health professionals with documents, meaning the OEC from POEA and verified employment contracts as of March, can now leave the country.]

Pwede rin pong lumabas ng bansa ang mga balik-mangaggawa or yung mga nagbabakasyon lang sa PIlipinas at matagal na pong nagtatrabaho sa abroad, Roque added, without disclosing more details.

[Translation: Filipinos who are just visiting the country but have long been working abroad can also leave.]

The government in April already exempted from the deployment ban all medical workers who have completed their documents by March 8, ahead of the imposition of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.

However, an August 17 resolution from the IATF stated the temporary suspension of the deployment of all medical and allied health workers, without mentioning any exemptions.

Some nurses groups have called on the government to totally lift the deployment ban, saying Filipinos have the right to seek opportunities abroad. The IATF, however, cites the continuing state of public health emergency, with more than 178,000 people having contracted the viral coronavirus disease.
Report Scope: The topics analyzed within the report include a detailed analysis of the global markets within automotive industry. The scope of this report extends to sizing of the automotive components market and an analysis of global market trends with market data for materials, components, and technology types at global level in 2018, which is being considered as the base year, 2019 as the estimate year and forecast for 2024 with projection of CAGR from 2019 to 2024.

New York, Aug. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Automotive Components: A BCC Research Outlook" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05796148/?utm_source=GNW





The report focuses on assessment of automotive materials, components suppliers and an analysis of companies/ manufacturers and the related system providers. Market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, opportunities and challenges are also discussed in the report.



While this report contains a significant amount of technical information due to the inherent nature of the subject and thus provides information valuable to engineers and scientists, it is primarily aimed at business professionals in field of automotive. These may include manufacturers and their suppliers, financiers and investors, researchers with backgrounds in engineering and sciences, marketing and sales professionals, renewable energy advocates, and others.



This report may also prove valuable to professional analysts, investors, public policy advisors and others who are seeking a better understanding and definition of how automotive components and materials fit into the broader global automotive market.



Report Includes:

- A brief general outlook and holistic overview of the global market for automotive components

- Analyses of the global market trends with data from 2018, estimates for 2019, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2024

- Assessment of key trends related to technology, industry, and regional factors that shape and influence the overall analytics industry

- Outlining details of manufacturers and developers of automotive components driven mainly by miniaturization and increased functionality with greater performance, and how they are increasingly used in industries such as automotive, medical electronics, aerospace, and defense

- Information on government regulations, environmental concerns, current trends and technological updates that can shape future marketplace in this ever-expanding market

- Patent analysis covering all major categories

- Company profiles of major global players within the industry, including 3M, AkzoNobel NV, Ametek Inc., BASF Corp., and Clariant AG



Summary

The automotive component industry is characterized by a high level of diversity, creativity and flexibility. It includes technological solutions ranging from commercially viable and mass-produced automotive products to experimental technologies that are in the early stages of being transferred from academic and private research institutions and consortiums to viable profit-seeking enterprises.



The automotive industry is shifting towards electric powertrain due to the increasing government regulations over fuel emission vehicles and increasing interest from customers towards BEVs and HEVs.



The usage of advanced technologies such as sensors, battery management systems, advanced driver assistance systems, head-up displays, and automotive coatings would impact the automotive industry positively.For instance, the global automotive sensor industry is characterized by the increasing amount of electronic content in vehicles, especially for power train and safety sensors.



The sensor industry is expected to experience robust growth due to mandatory emission regulations and automotive electronics, as well as the development of potential applications toward enhanced comfort, safety, air conditioning, humidity and climate controls.



The automotive components included in this report are electric motors for electric vehicles, and hybrid electric vehicle components.Components for hybrid electric vehicles will experience continuous market growth with three factors driving worldwide market development.



First, European (ACEA), Korean (KAMA), and Japanese (JAMA) automotive manufacturers are working towards emission reduction.This is a result of voluntary commitments as well as current a nd future emissions laws (especially regarding CO2 emission).



Secondly, further environmental protection issues, such as those regarding particle emissions, will play an increasingly important role. Finally, the added value that hybrid vehicles can offer through improved driving dynamics without increased energy consumption is a decisive factor.



Another trend observed in the industry.Over the past few years, buyers growing concern about automotive safety has resulted in increased demand for advanced safety features, particularly for midpriced vehicles.



The overall dynamics of the global automotive industry is changing at a rapid pace.Automobile manufacturers believe that the overall demand for mid-priced vehicles is expected to increase by REDACTED to REDACTED by 2024.



These vehicles have been designed and manufactured following buyers preferences, in addition to being equipped with basic components. Companies such as Continental AG and Autoliv are entering into partnerships with OEMs to develop and manufacture lowcost

assistance systems. This in turn helps manufacturers reduce the price of ADAS and attain economies of scale. As this takes place, implementation of ADAS in low-cost cars will increase in the coming years. A consistent increase in demand for compact and mid-size automobiles equipped with advanced safetyfeatures is also expected to propel the growth of this market. The Global Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) market was valued at REDACTED billion in 2018 and is expected to reach a value of nearly REDACTED billion by 2024, growing at a CAGR of REDACTED during the forecast period of 2019 to 2024. The accelerating need for road safety systems along with demand for fuel-efficient vehicles willhelp to boost the global demand for ADAS significantly.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05796148/?utm_source=GNW



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HURON COUNTY  The Democratic National Convention started this week and Huron County has a representative to take part as one of the states delegates.

Elizabeth Weisenbach, a Bad Axe lawyer, serves as the secretary for Michigans 10th District and an alternate member of the Michigan Democratic Party State Central Committee. While the convention is taking place virtually in Milwaukee, she is staying in the Upper Thumb.

The duty of a delegate who attends the convention is to cast their vote for the partys presidential nominee, which she did back on Aug. 3 from her law office in Bad Axe, voting for Joe Biden.

The delegate selecting process included applying for the role, of which the 10th District was only allowed one female delegate, and a video interview. She was one of nearly 200 people who applied for the districts female delegate spot, which came down to her and a woman from Macomb County.

I am used to being in the background, telling candidates what to do and peppering them with tons of little pieces of advice  its very different being the person in front of the camera, Weisenbach said.

An attorney for 21 years, Wisenbach has run her own private practice since 2008 and has done work all over the Upper Thumb.

Michigans 10th District is made up of the same counties that make up the states 10th Congressional District. Those include Huron, Sanilac, St. Clair, and Lapeer counties and parts of Macomb and Tuscola counties.

Last year, I received a hefty coffee table book from my uncle about the 1968 political conventions, Weisenbach said. It is full of photos and anecdotes about the almost forgotten historical clashes at both Republican and Democratic conventions. The Democratic Convention this year struck me as similar regarding the jockeying, passionate positions, and how every vote counts. Obviously, the violence in Chicago was scary and not to be repeated this year.

Weisenbach did attend the 2008 convention in Denver as a guest, where Barack Obama accepted the Democratic Partys nomination for president. This is the first convention she is attending as a delegate.

Wisenbachs convention schedule includes a briefing with other Michigan Democratic Party members in the morning, attending meetings of specialty caucuses in the afternoon, and watching the big state events with the main speakers starting at 7 p.m.

Weisenbach said that Democrats in the area are concerned about jobs, the environment, providing new opportunities for people, and treating people fairly. If she were able to attend the convention in Milwaukee, she would have brought back materials on how to organize better and share the values of the 10th District to delegates from across the country.

I talk to Republicans and our state representatives respectfully, and they get back to me in a civil, fair way, Wisenbach said.

She feels the need to return to where parties can work together is why there is more support for Biden than other candidates. He is a moderate who has worked well with Republicans in the past, and people want to create that situation again.

Weisenbach said she has been a Biden supporter since seeing him speak at a Michigan Democratic Party fundraiser in 2013, setting up a recurring monthly donation to his campaign when he announced his presidential candidacy last spring. She supports his notion that America is an idea and it is time to return respected leadership back to the world stage and leadership at home that is unifying, not divisive.

The refrain that I cannot get off my mind is that this is a battle for the soul of this nation, Weisenbach said. I have always been a strong Democrat and friends with Republicans, and President Clinton constantly talked about the days when the parties got along better. There is no reason for this division  we all want what is best for our community, we can find common ground and it should not be so hard nor make people so angry.

The Democratic convention lasts until Aug. 20, with Biden accepting the partys nomination for president.

Since Bernie Sanders never took himself off the ballot in this race, he is still able to receive votes from delegates at the convention.
CORVALLIS, Ore. - A new Oregon State University study suggests that firefighters are more likely to be exposed to potentially harmful chemicals while on duty compared to off duty.

The on-duty firefighters in the Kansas City, Missouri, area experienced higher exposures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, which are a family of chemicals that are known to have the potential to cause cancer. They were also exposed to 18 PAHs that have not been previously reported as firefighting exposures in earlier research.

The study, funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is published in the journal Environment International.

The results are important because previous studies have shown that firefighters have an increased risk of developing cancer and other damaging health effects, said study lead Kim Anderson, an environmental chemist and Extension specialist in OSU's College of Agricultural Sciences.

PAHs are a large group of chemical compounds that contain carbon and other elements. They form naturally after almost any type of combustion, both natural and human-created. In addition to burning wood, plants and tobacco, PAHs are also in fossil fuels.

"We don't have enough data to profile the source of the PAHs, but we know PAHs appear from combustion, and obviously combustion is their work," Anderson said. "They are also putting on a heavy load of protective gear that has PAHs, and they use cleaning products that have PAHs."

The firefighters in the study wore personal passive samplers in the shape of a military-style dog tag made of silicone on an elastic necklace. The tags are made of the same material as OSU's patented silicone wristbands that Anderson's lab has been using for several years to study chemical exposure in humans and cats.

This study demonstrates that the dog tags, which absorb chemicals from the air and skin, appear to be a reliable sampling technology necessary for assessing chemical exposures in firefighters, Anderson said.

"I'm quite confident those exposures existed but if you don't have something to help you find them you don't know for sure," Anderson said. "Certainly, we found that it's a lot more than what people had thought."

For their study, the researchers sampled individual firefighters' exposures at two departments - the Raytown Fire Protection District and Southern Platte Fire Protection District. They defined the Raytown department as a "high call volume" department, with a historic average of 12 fire calls per month, and the Southern Platte department as "low call volume," with less than two calls per month historically.

After completing a survey on demographics, occupational history, and suspected current exposures, the recruited firefighters wore a dog tag during the next 30 on- and off-shift days. During fire calls, tags were worn over clothing but underneath their gear. The firefighters were instructed to wear the dog tags continuously during all regular activities, including eating, showering and sleeping. Sampling occurred from November 2018 to April 2019.

When they analyzed the dog tags that were returned to Anderson's lab at Oregon State, 45 unique PAHs, of which 18 have not been previously reported as firefighting exposures, were detected. PAH exposures increased as the number of fires a participant responded to increased. PAH concentrations were not only higher when on-duty compared to off-duty, but also higher from the high call volume department compared to the low call volume department.

Each of the participating firefighters has been provided a report on their basic health information and chemical exposure, Anderson said. The participants also received a fact sheet about firefighters and cancer risk. The fact sheet includes some simple steps firefighters can take to reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals, such as always wearing their personal protective equipment, taking a shower after each fire and before ending their shift, and cleaning their gear after every fire.

###

Anderson directs the Food Safety and Environmental Stewardship Program in OSU's College of Agricultural Sciences. She co-founded MyExposome Inc., a start-up company that is marketing the silicone wristbands.

Co-authors on the study were Carolyn Poutasse, Peter Hoffman, Christopher Haddock and Lane Tidwell - all members of Anderson's lab - and Walker S. Carlos Poston and Sara Jahnke, both of the Center for Fire, Rescue and EMS Health Research in Leewood, Kansas.
A doctor admitted to intensive care with COVID-19 has relived the terrifying moment his own colleagues placed him on a ventilator as he fought for his life.

Yianni Efstathiadis, 34, said 'panic and fear' set in when he had to relinquish control as an emergency doctor to be treated as a patient.

The North Hospital Epping physician, of Melbourne, was taken to hospital when he started to feel dizzy, 'very, very lethargic' and could not get off the couch.

His oxygen levels soon became so low Dr Efstathiadis 'started getting worried' and he was rushed to ICU.

Yianni Efstathiadis (pictured), 34, said 'panic and fear' set in when he had to relinquish control as an emergency doctor to be treated as a patient

The North Hospital Epping physician (pictured, right), of Melbourne, was transferred into ICU after being taken to hospital when he started to feel dizzy, 'very, very lethargic' and could not get off the couch. Pictured: Dr Efstathiadis and his wife, Dr Britt Green, speaking to ABC 7.30

'Even though I've seen that sort of stuff being done before, and I've actually put in tubes before as well, being on the patient's side it was just, for me, it was panic and fear,' Dr Efstathiadis told ABC 7.30.

'I know all those stats about a certain decent percentage of people that end up in ICU with COVID don't leave. So as I was going towards ICU to get intubated, that was probably the most scary thing'.

Things started going south for Dr Efstathiadis on July 19 while he was on a fortnight-long break from work.

Dr Efstathiadis was tested for COVID-19 when he started to experience a fever, muscle aches and lethargy - but it returned a negative result.

A second test a few days later confirmed his worst fear.

He and his wife, Britt Green, immediately went into isolation.

Ms Green is also a doctor at Northern Hospital Epping and was able to stay COVID-free by isolating at her mother's house.

Dr Efstathiadis and his wife, Britt Green, (pictured) immediately went into isolation when his second test returned positive

Northern Hospital Epping ICU director Dr Anthony Cross told 7.30 having a colleague in ICU with COVID-19 'brings it all home, becomes very personal, because this could be any of us'.

'He was going into what we call respiratory failure. He was requiring very high levels of oxygen,' Dr Cross told the program.

'His condition continued to deteriorate to that point that we had to intubate him, that is we had to put a breathing tube down his throat, and we had to put him on a mechanical ventilator... His lungs were not working.'

Dr Efstathiadis was given the drug heparin, which is being trialled to limit lung damage in COVID-19 patients.

Dr Efstathiadis was given the drug heparin, which is being trialed to limit lung damage in COVID-19 patients. Dr Efstathiadis (pictured left with his wife, Dr Green) was going into respiratory failure and 'his lungs were not working'

'There is nowhere else you can go after intensive care. Once machines are taking over your breathing for you and taking over your circulation and doing other things, there is nothing else,' Dr Cross said.

Dr Efstathiadis said he felt 'very lucky' to survive COVID-19.

Across Victoria, 4864 people are infected with the infectious disease - 2291 less than the 7155 active COVID-19 cases reported on Wednesday.

Daily Mail Australia reached out to Dr Efstathiadis and Dr Green for comment.
Indonesian domestic helper Susan always avoided rolling around at night because she worried that even a slight twitch could wake up other residents sleeping shoulder to shoulder by her side in a jam-packed room.

Susan (not her real name) was staying in one of the estimated hundreds of boarding houses in Hong Kong two weeks ago, when the first in a string of Covid-19 infections hit multiple helpers accommodation in the city.

Unlike migrant worker dormitories in Singapore, which offer long-term lodging and were the site of a massive outbreak of Covid-19 infections earlier this year, Hong Kongs budget boarding houses, mostly run by agencies, provide helpers with a cheap place to say  usually less than HK$100 per night  while they wait for visa renewals in between jobs. When hired, helpers in Hong Kong are legally required to live with their employer.

Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China.

Domestic helpers having their day off in Central. Photo: Felix Wong

However, the guest houses cramped living environments, the need to share common amenities and their high turnover rate appear to have made them especially susceptible to coronavirus transmission.

As of Wednesday, the number of cases involving foreign domestic helpers from boarding houses had ticked up to 18. Though they represent just more than a tenth of the 173 recorded cases linked to helpers, and a minuscule fraction of the citys cases overall, the boarding houses transient nature  with new guests constantly moving in as others depart to live with their new employers, and some even moving between different facilities  has led to frantic efforts by health authorities to conduct contact tracing of those linked to affected sites.

Two weeks after the first case tied to the dorms, the government is offering mass testing as a countermeasure, but agency operators and advocates for helpers rights have argued that testing fails to tackle the root of the problem  namely the packed spaces helpers are forced to share for up to weeks at a time.

Story continues

Most of the infected domestic helpers had spent their days in crowded premises shared with about six others before their diagnosis, according to health authorities.

It was fortunate the virus did not hit where Susan had stayed  she spent three weeks with at least 14 others crammed into a tiny flat in Sai Wan Ho where they could barely move.

It was so crowded, said the helper, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retribution from her agent.

There was an air conditioner, but it was only turned on from time to time because it was expensive to do so. And even so, it felt very hot because it was very crowded, said the helper, who has since left to live with her new employer.

The 30-year-old Surabaya native, who has been working in Hong Kong for two years, declined to give the exact location of her boarding house, but provided pictures showing more than a dozen helpers sharing food on the floor of a windowless living room measuring some 100 sq ft or less.

Domestic helpers have lunch at a boarding house. Photo: Handout

The living room, Susan said, also doubled as the bedroom of 11 of the helpers, who bunked together on thin mattresses. Four others stayed together in an even smaller room equipped with two bunk beds.

All of us shared the one bathroom where we showered and answered natures call, so sometimes we would have to wait, she said, noting that the bathroom was nonetheless hygienic.

Susan and the others seldom went out because they were scared of catching the virus, she added. And when they did go out, I washed my hands immediately [upon returning], took a shower and got changed, she recalled.

The citys health department has long been aware of the vulnerability of helpers, but had previously focused its efforts on screening workers returning to Hong Kong at the airport.

But on August 5, health authorities began a shift in strategy after the first helper linked to temporary accommodation tested positive. In the fortnight prior to her diagnosis, she had stayed in three different premises and come into contact with at least 45 other helpers.

We are worried theres a possible outbreak in these hostel settings, because Singapore had a similar experience. These hostel settings are usually crowded, with shared facilities where it is easy to transmit Covid-19, Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the communicable disease branch of the Centre for Health Protection and the face of the citys anti-epidemic battle, cautioned in a daily press briefing in early August.

Susans experience was not so different from that of 12 others at a boarding house run by Overseas Employment Agency in Lan Kwai Fong in Central. They shared the same room with foam mattresses on the floor, as well as one bathroom and one dining area, according to a Filipino worker currently waiting for a visa extension after being terminated in late July.

The situation has improved compared to a few weeks ago. Now the centre distributes face masks and has conducted Covid-19 testing for the people living here. The results came back negative, the worker said in an interview.

As the number of cases linked to boarding houses continued to rise, the Labour Department began distributing testing kits, but in a statement to the Post, the department itself acknowledged that it did not keep any information about these facilities.

The government has distributed masks via [employment agencies] to [foreign domestic helpers] staying in boarding facilities, it said.

Industry insiders explained that the facilities mostly remain officially unrecorded because having a boarding facility is not a requirement when employment agencies apply for licences with the Hong Kong authorities. They are, however, necessary for an agency to secure accreditation with the consulates of the Philippines and Indonesia, which together account for almost all of the citys 390,000-strong helper workforce.

Police officers in Central remind domestic helpers of tightened anti-pandemic rules limiting public gatherings to two people earlier this month. Photo: Dickson Lee

Cheung Kit-man, chairman of the Hong Kong Employment Agencies Association, said only a quarter of the 1,200 agencies in the city kept a boarding house accredited with the consulates. The rest relied on the accredited agencies to provide accommodation, he said. But when places run out, helpers are forced to turn to cheap unlicensed guest houses.

You can imagine how bad the conditions at those unlicensed houses can be, said Cheung.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Tuesday that 6,000 helpers were currently waiting for the Immigration Department to approve their visas, but despite the fact that many Covid-19 test bottles have been distributed through agencies, only about 900 have been collected.

Agencies said the low figure exposed the difficulties of tracking the whereabouts of the helpers waiting for visas, particularly those staying at unlicensed guest houses.

Many foreign domestic helpers have not been able to return to their home countries due to the lockdowns there. Photo: Dickson Lee

Meanwhile, demand for accommodation has only risen during the pandemic.

An agent in Tai Po, who specialises in referring Indonesian helpers, told the Post that lockdown in the helpers home country had contributed to heightened demand simply because they were unable to go home. One of his helpers had extended her stay three times in the past three months, he said.

Cheung said he attributed the overcrowding to the Immigration Departments delay in granting helpers visa applications due to the pandemic.

Two weeks ago, agencies complained that it was taking up to two months for the Immigration Department to process helpers visa applications  double the time it took before the pandemic.

Two weeks on, the agencies say the department has still not sped up the process.

Cheung said it was crucial for the department to expedite domestic workers visas so they could leave their boarding houses for their employers homes as quickly as possible.

An Immigration Department spokesman said while it had made special work arrangements for staff in view of the pandemic, it maintained a team which could provide steady services for domestic helpers.

The spokesman said because of Covid-19, the department had granted 3,000 applications for helpers to extend existing contracts, 4,300 applications for postponing their return to home, and a further 10,000 extensions for workers to stay on and find new employers, renewable every month.

Its a difficult issue. But its a pandemic

Mission for Migrant Workers Cynthia Abdon-Tellez

Meanwhile, application numbers for helpers visas have also jumped between April and July compared with the previous three months. Extension requests surged from 660 monthly on average to 3,200, while the number of applicants seeking to renew existing contracts shot up by nearly 30 per cent to 14,000 a month.

The spokesman said applications could be granted within two weeks, if all necessary documents had been provided.

Cynthia Abdon-Tellez, general manager of the advocacy group Mission for Migrant Workers, said the living conditions at migrant boarding houses were very unhealthy and could put helpers at risk.

And despite the fact that some of the helpers had been provided with masks, and the government was offering testing, the central issue of minimising the number [of workers staying there] has not been addressed, she said.

Abdon-Tellez urged the government to open up emergency centres and womens shelters to help cope with the situation.

Its a difficult issue, she said, acknowledging the challenge in repurposing those facilities. But its a pandemic.

This article Masks, Covid-19 tests cant fix crammed living woes at Hong Kong domestic worker dorms first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020.
Although a majority of Americans say they remain unfamiliar with the particulars of the movement  research shows that people who use social media platforms like Twitter and Reddit are more likely to be familiar with QAnon  those who study the behavior of fringe groups have warned of the power to produce extremism among followers.

QAnon is a larger and many-tentacled version of the Pizzagate conspiracy theory, which falsely claimed that Hillary Clinton was operating a child sex-trafficking ring out of the basement of a Washington, D.C., pizza restaurant. In December 2016, a man who said he was on the hunt for proof of child abuse was arrested after firing a rifle inside the restaurant.

QAnon supporters often flood social media pages with memes and YouTube videos that target well-known figures  like Mrs. Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, and the actor Tom Hanks  with unfounded claims about their links to child abuse. Lately, activists have used anti-child-trafficking hashtags as a recruitment tool.

Its not just a conspiracy theory, this is a domestic extremist movement, said Travis View, a host of QAnon Anonymous, a podcast that seeks to explain the movement. Mr. View said that Twitter and Facebook pages exploded with comments from gleeful followers after Mr. Trumps comments.

Mr. View pointed out that the president answered the question by supporting the central premise of the QAnon theory  that he is battling a cabal of left-wing pedophiles  rather than addressing the lack of evidence behind the movement.

They are very practiced at trying to interpret any comment from Trump as validation, Mr. View said of the movements followers. And Trump very coyly indicated he would help if he could.

In recent weeks, platforms including Twitter and Facebook have rushed to dismantle a mushrooming number of QAnon-related accounts and fan pages, a move that people who study the movement say is too little and too late. On Wednesday, after a record amount of QAnon-related growth on the site, Facebook said it removed 790 QAnon groups and was restricting another 1,950 groups, 440 pages and more than 10,000 Instagram accounts.
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According to a new market report published by Persistence Market Research "Global Market Study on Home Infusion Therapy Devices - Needleless Connectors to Witness Highest Growth by 2020", the global home infusion therapy devices market was valued at US $ 15,905.1 Mn in 2014 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9% from 2014 to 2020 , to reach US $ 26,747.8 Mn by 2020 .

Home infusion therapy facilitates intravenous at-home administration of medicines into the patients body through needle and catheter. The therapy is prescribed by physicians and administered by trained healthcare professionals. It is used when oral medication is not effective for the treatment of diseases such as cancer and gastrointestinal diseases.

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Some of the major players in the home infusion therapy devices market:

Hospira, Inc.

B. Braun Melsungen AG.

Caesarea Medical Electronics.

Fresenius Kabi AG.

Smiths Medical.

CareFusion Corporation.

ICU Medical, Inc.

JMS Co. Ltd.

Baxter.

Terumo Corporation.

Get To Know Methodology of Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/2893

It is also used in the treatment of diabetes, cystic fibrosis, dehydration, and acute infections. Home infusion therapy reduces time spent by patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics. The therapy is used to administer drugs, antibiotics, nutrients, and other fluids into the veins on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, depending on the patients condition. Home infusion therapy is an effective and safe alternative against conventional hospitalization for the treatment of diseases.

This is due to convenience and friendly environment at the patients home, which helps in faster recovery from diseases. Home infusion therapy includes total parenteral nutrition, infusion antibiotic therapy, hydration therapy, IV steroid therapy, chemotherapy, enteral therapy, and pain management. Some major infusion devices used for administration of medicines are infusion pump, intravenous equipment, and needleless connectors. Infusion pumps are categorized as ambulatory infusion pump, large volume infusion pump, and syringe infusion pump.

Globally, the home infusion therapy devices market is witnessing significant growth due to the expanding home care market for infusion therapy and increasing application of infusion devices for relieving pain. Moreover, rising aging population, increasing number of chronic diseases, and technological advancements in infusion devices are also supporting the growth of home infusion therapy devices market.

However, increasing risk to patient safety and occurrence of mistakes while using infusion devices as well as issues related to reimbursement policies for home infusion therapy inhibit the growth of the market. The global home infusion therapy devices market is anticipated to grow from US$ 15,905.1 Mn in 2014 to US$ 26,747.8 Mn by 2020 at a CAGR of 9% during the forecast period.

In North America, the home infusion therapy devices market is growing due to increasing number of patients with chronic diseases such as cancer, AIDS, and diabetes. In addition, growing aging population is also supporting the growth of home infusion therapy devices market in the region.

The home infusion therapy devices market in Europe is growing due to increasing aging population and rising popularity of non-hospital procedures in the region. Furthermore, increasing number of chronic diseases which requires home infusion therapy, such as cancer, diabetes, and AIDS, is also boosting growth of the Europe home infusion therapy devices market.

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According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) - a branch of the National Institutes of Health - around 3.4 million new cases of cancer and 1.7 million deaths from cancer were reported in Europe in 2012. Moreover, according to the Oxford Journals, approximately 7 37,747 men and 5 76,489 women died from cancer in Europe in 2013. Furthermore, according to the European Diabetes Leadership Forum 2012, Copenhagen, about 35 million adults in Europe were suffering from diabetes in 2011, which is anticipated to rise to 43 million by 2030.

Asia represents the fastest-growing market for home infusion therapy devices. This is primarily due to growing aging population and cost effectiveness of home infusion therapy. In addition, rising popularity of non-hospital procedures and increasing prevalence of chronic diseases in the region is further driving the market. According to the National Home Infusion Association, home infusion therapy is more cost-efficient compared to hospitalization treatment.

For instance, home infusion therapy cost nearly US$ 200 a day compared to less than US$ 2,000 a day in a hospital. According to the Wisut Jaijagcome/East-West Center, the number of people aged 65 years and above in Asia was 207 million in 2000 and the number is expected to reach 857 million by 2050.
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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday joined a ceremony, or bhumi pujan, via video conferencing to mark the beginning of the construction of the partys offices in 22 of Chhattisgarhs 28 districts. Other Congress leaders like PL Punia, Chandan Yadav and chief minister Bhupesh Baghel were also present at the bhumi pujan that coincided with late former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhis birth anniversary.

The partys offices will be renovated or expanded in the remaining six districts with donations from party workers and leaders, Congress functionaries said. All of them will be known as Rajiv Bhawans. We are hoping that on August 20 next year, the birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhiji, the buildings will be inaugurated. The approximate cost of one structure is around 1.5 crore which will be collected from party workers of concerned districts, said a party leader on condition of anonymity.

State Congress treasurer Ramgopal Agarwal said the state government has allotted land for some of these party offices as per the law. He added some party leaders have donated land in some districts. The money for the constructions will be collected from the party workers across the state.

Another Congress leader said the design of the offices will be the same in all districts and the costs could vary.

Congress spokesman Shailesh Nitin Trivedi said party workers were collecting the money for the constructions at the booth and district level. In around a dozen of districts, we have land donated by the leaders or purchased with party funds.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has questioned the process of land allotment for the offices and demanded an inquiry. How come the Congress managed to get government land in a dozen places in such a short time? Have they misused the government officials ? At what rate the land has been allotted? The Congress should answer these questions and an inquiry should be done, said BJP leader Sacchinand Upasane.

He said in the last 15 years, the BJP managed to build party offices in 20 places. At some places, we are still fighting legal battles... how come these allotments are done so easily?

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In a little noted move, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) flexed its imperial muscle  criminalizing criticism of it anywhere on the planet  by issuing an arrest warrant for U.S. citizen Samuel Chu, a pro-democracy advocate for Hong Kong.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 20/8/2020 (517 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

In a little noted move, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) flexed its imperial muscle  criminalizing criticism of it anywhere on the planet  by issuing an arrest warrant for U.S. citizen Samuel Chu, a pro-democracy advocate for Hong Kong.

In fact, by publishing this op-ed, this media outlet and I are breaking CCP laws and subject to trial by a CCP-controlled court and life imprisonment under concentration camp conditions. Be warned, just by reading this you too are breaking CCP law, as you are showing sympathy for criticism of the CCP.

Dont think this is rhetorical overstatement. The CCP may not come for us in the near future, but it has been busy abducting foreign citizens in other countries, threatening and assaulting protesters, and attacking free speech outside of China.

While Canadians know of many bad acts by the CCP, including taking hostage two Canadians (Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor) on spurious charges after the arrest of Meng Wanzhou in Canada, the extent to which Supreme Leader Xi Jingping has ramped up his assault on freedom internationally is less understood. And theres no sign things will get better after they get worse  just that they will get worse.

The newest assaults rise from the security law the CCP forced on Hong Kong just over a month ago. It effectively outlaws any criticism of the party anywhere on the planet. Article 38 states: "This Law shall apply to offences  committed against the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region from outside the Region by a person who is not a permanent resident of the Region."

In other words, the security law doesnt just impose CCP law on Hong Kong; it imposes it on the world.

The law criminalizes advocating Hong Kong independence, subversion (effectively any criticism of the CCP), terrorism (any opposition to the CCP), and working with foreign groups such as the Fraser Institute, which had deep ties in Hong Kong. I have keynoted several events in Hong Kong promoting freedom. They are now illegal and everyone involved would be arrested and thrown in prison.

The language in the law is so broad that "it means just what [the CCP] chooses it to mean," to quote Humpty Dumpty. In other words, anyone can be arrested anywhere for anything the CCP chooses.

It was imposed on Hong Kong on June 30. The CCP could hardly wait to use its new toy, making for an eventful month of freedom suppression.

The first day it was in force, Hong Kong police arrested 300 protesters . The government banned a dozen pro-democracy candidates from an election scheduled for Sept. 9, then cancelled the election and arrested four young people, ages 16 to 21, for pro-democracy social media accounts. Officials have been pulling books from schools and libraries and started a purge of teachers and professors.

And now the police have asserted global power and have issued arrest warrants for six pro-democracy advocates outside Hong Kong, including U.S. citizen Chu. Other countries issue warrants for crimes committed by foreigners, but this is the first time a government has officially made criticism of its rulers an international crime. The CCP has pursued enemies outside China for years. In 2015, it abducted five Hong Kong booksellers  one, a Swedish citizen, Gui Minhai, in Thailand, at least two in mainland China, and another one, a British citizen, disappeared from Hong Kong.

China temporarily released Gui in 2017 and then re-arrested him while he was being accompanied by two Swedish diplomats. When Sweden protested, it was subject to CCP bullying, threats, insults and economic attacks, all too familiar to Canadians. "Sweden probably has the worst relationship with China of any EU country," said Bjorn Jerden , of the Swedish Institute of International Affairs.

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Chinese embassy and consulate officials have orchestrated attacks on anti-CCP dissidents across the globe, including recent incidents in Britain , Australia and Canada .

CCP diplomats are the least diplomatic in the world, attacking host countries with outrageous charges, frequently labelling any criticism of the regime as racist, which is rich, given that regime mouthpieces often stoop to racist attacks. Just ask the U.S. ambassador to South Korea, a Japanese-American who was attacked by Chinese media during his time as a naval commander in the Pacific because of his " blood, background, political inclination and values ." All of this was accelerated last year from the top. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi ordered diplomats to assume "a fighting spirit."

Not to mention the horrors the CCP is visiting on Uyghur Muslims, the military confrontations it orchestrates globally, and the use of loans as cudgel against governments. This has created an anti-CCP backlash across Asia, Africa, Europe, India and the Americas.

But it doesnt matter. The CCP takes the world as its oyster. Its actions and rhetoric are becoming more bellicose. Expect worse.

Fred McMahon is an analyst at the Fraser Institute.

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Foreign Minister Prince Faisal says without a two-state solution acceptable to Palestinians, no agreements with Israel.

Saudi Arabia says it will not follow the United Arab Emirates in establishing diplomatic ties with Israel until it has signed an internationally-recognised peace accord with the Palestinians.

The UAE last week became the first Gulf state to normalise relations with Israel, in a US-brokered accord that raised the prospect of similar deals with other Arab states  including Saudi Arabia.

But after days of conspicuous silence and in the face of US pressure to announce a similar deal, Saudi Arabias Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan ruled out the possibility until the Palestinian issue is resolved.

Peace must be achieved with the Palestinians on the basis of international agreements as a pre-condition for any normalisation of relations, Prince Faisal told reporters during a visit to Berlin on Wednesday.





Once that is achieved all things are possible, he added, in a comment that was consistent with Saudi Arabias previous stance on the issue.

US President Donald Trump said he expected Saudi Arabia to join the agreement announced last week by Israel and the UAE to normalise diplomatic ties and forge a broad new relationship.

I do, Trump replied on Wednesday when asked at a White House news conference if he expected Saudi Arabia to join.

Under the accord, which Trump helped broker, Israel agreed to suspend its planned annexation of areas of the occupied West Bank. The agreement also firms up opposition to regional power Iran, which the UAE, Israel and the US view as the main threat in the Middle East.

Detrimental

Prince Faisal said the kingdom remained committed to peace with Israel on the basis of a 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas [John Macdougall/AFP]

He reiterated criticism of Israels unilateral policies of annexation and building settlements in the occupied West Bank as illegitimate and detrimental to a two-state solution. But he also voiced cautious optimism over last weeks deal.

Any efforts that result in holding back the threat of annexation could be viewed as positive, he said.

Saudi Arabia, which does not recognise Israel, drew up the 2002 initiative by which Arab nations offered to normalise ties with Israel in return for a statehood deal with the Palestinians and full Israeli withdrawal from territory captured in 1967.





F-35 fighters jets sale

Earlier in the news conference, Trump called the UAE-Israel accord a good agreement and said: Countries that you wouldnt even believe that want to come into that deal. He did not name any other countries besides Saudi Arabia.

Trump also said the UAE was interested in buying F-35 fighter jets made by Lockheed Martin Corp, which Israel has used in combat.

They have the money and they would like to order quite a few F-35s, Trump said, adding the prospective sale was under review.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, citing a need to maintain Israeli military superiority in the region, said on Tuesday his country would oppose any US F-35 sales to the UAE.

A sale, which could reduce Israels military advantage in the Middle East, would come after Israel and the UAE said last week they would normalise diplomatic ties.

Any F-35 sale could take years to negotiate and deliver, giving a new US presidential administration ample time to halt the deal. Any sale would also need congressional approval.

An industry source told the Reuters news agency the prospective fighter jet sale was arranged with the help of Trumps senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

The US guarantees that Israel receives more advanced American weapons than Arab states, giving it what is labelled a Qualitative Military Edge over its neighbours.

Far-fetched





Kushner has insisted it would be in Riyadhs interest to also formally establish ties with Israel.

Further putting the kingdom in the spotlight, Netanyahu on Monday said Israel was working on opening a corridor over Saudi Arabia for flights to the UAE.

Saudi Arabia, the Arab worlds biggest economy and home to Islams holiest sites, 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 kingdoms image as the leader of the Islamic world.

The notion that Saudi Arabia will be next to normalise relations with Israel was far-fetched, said Aziz Alghashian, a lecturer at Essex University specialising in the kingdoms policy towards Israel.

The biggest constraint for Saudi-Israeli normalisation is not the fear of a domestic and regional backlash. Rather, Saudi Arabia deems it necessary to not normalise relations outside the framework of the Arab Peace Initiative that called for resolving the Palestinian issue, if it still wants to be seen as the leader of the Muslim and Arab world, said Alghashian.
US senator Bill Cassidy arrives for the weekly Senate Republican policy luncheon in the Hart Senate Office Building on June 30, 2020 in Washington, DC: (2020 Getty Images)

Republican senator Bill Cassidy has tested positive for Covid-19, after he was exposed to someone infected with the virus.

On Thursday, Mr Cassidys office announced that he had become just the second senator to have contracted coronavirus, after Republican Rand Paul tested positive for Covid-19 in April, according to CNBC.

The senator confirmed that he will now quarantine for 14 days and notify anyone he has been in contact with recently, but the 62-year-old did not reveal the severity of his symptoms.

In a statement, Mr Cassidy, who represents Louisiana, said: I am strictly following the direction of our medical experts and strongly encourage others to do the same.

Although only two senators have tested positive for Covid-19, at least nine representatives in Congress have contracted the virus, including Democrat Joe Cunningham and Republican Mike Kelly, according to CNN.

In July, face masks were mandated on the House floor by speaker Nancy Pelosi, after Texas representative Louie Gohmert tested positive for Covid-19.

Mr Gohmert, who publicly opposed masks and refused to wear face coverings while walking through Congress, said that he would only wear one if he tested positive for coronavirus, according to Newsweek.

After his diagnosis, he claimed that he had worn his mask more in the two weeks leading up to contracting Covid-19, than in the months previous, and said: I cant help but wonder if by keeping a mask on and keeping it in place if I might have put some of the virus onto the mask and breathed it in. I dont know.

The Senate has not implemented a mask mandate, but senators including Mr Cassidy are regularly seen wearing face coverings in the chamber and around the Capitol Building, according to CNN.

Senators and House representatives are currently on their summer recess, after they left Washington, DC, last month without an agreement on future coronavirus relief, as Democratic leaders and the White House could not agree on a package.

Story continues

Mr Cassidy has been a strong advocate for coronavirus aid and has called for at least $500bn (448.8bn) more to be given to state and local governments in the fifth round of stimulus relief, while the Trump administration has only offered $150bn (134.6bn).

The Democrats have asked for at least $900bn (681bn), and speaking during an interview with CNBC last week, Mr Cassidy said that his Republican colleagues need to increase their offer, and added: We need to get something passed.

According to Johns Hopkins University some 5.5m people have now tested positive for coronavirus in the US and the death toll has reached 173,882.

Read more

Poll: Majority of Americans embarrassed by US coronavirus response
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Visionary leader and entrepreneur Curtis L. Jenkins has signed a book deal with Morgan-James Publishing to publish his book, "The Art and Science of Vision to Reality: The Realization Framework Experience".

Jenkins, who has more than two decades of experience as a project management director, will share his expert advice that he has shared with hundreds of entrepreneurs as part of his consulting firm, Curtis L. Jenkins & Associates.

"I'm thrilled to get a chance to work with Morgan-James to write this book that is needed now more than ever," Jenkins said. "So many entrepreneurs  and wannabe entrepreneurs  are struggling to take their vision, their dreams and transform them into real-life businesses. Trust me, everything in this book is learned from personal experience. So, I personally know how this process is."

The book is based on the vast experience Jenkins has gained from his own try and try repeated efforts, which he now understands as part of the pathway to success. As Jenkins likes to say that every experience is another step, another opportunity to learn and grow. It is the foundation on which his methodology  the Realization Framework Experience was developed. Jenkins trademarked the term The Art and Science of Vision to Reality after years of talking to entrepreneurs who seemed too stuck in the vision phase.

Jenkins' book is designed to help entrepreneurs find their one of a kind pathway to success through five simple steps: 1) Visualize the Future (Aspirational Goals); 2) Evaluate the People (Self, Employees, Customers, Board of Directors, and more); 3) Assess Cash Flow (Balance Sheets, Income Statements, Cash Flow, and more); 4) Clear the Fog (Develop a Clear Plan for the Future), and 5) Realize the Future (The Happy Ending).

Jenkins' inspiration for The Realization Framework Experience sprang from Desmond Tutu's famous wise words, "there is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time." Tutu's words refer to the fact that while often life seems challenging or disheartening, anything can be accomplished by taking one step at a time toward the goal.

Jenkins is a graduate of Temple University's Fox School of Business and Management where he earned his bachelor's degree in Business Administration. He later went on to earn his master's in management of Technology from The Wharton School in 2001.

He has served in a number of project management offices at a variety of organizations where he mastered his proficiency in best practices technology and business enhancements toward cost optimization and revenue growth.

Morgan James Publishing publishes trade-quality titles designed to educate, encourage, inspire, or entertain readers with current, consistent, relevant topics that are available everywhere books are sold.

SOURCE Jenkins & Associates, Inc

Related Links

www.cljassoc.com


The military communityespecially those linked to the Indian Air Forceis seething with anger and extremely disappointed with the film, Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, that purportedly projects the IAF as a service where a toxic culture of masculinity thrives and whose officers are remorselessly sexist, several people Hindustan Times spoke to said.

The Netflix film, based on the life on a former woman helicopter pilot and her role during the 1999 Kargil war, instantly set off a firestorm of controversy after its release last week, with the IAF strongly objecting to the negative portrayal of its work culture and many in military circles accusing the film makers of peddling lies and a false narrative.

In its letter to Dharma Productions, Netflix and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) earlier this month, the air force said certain scenes and dialogues in the movie and its trailer, which were forwarded to it for viewing, were found to portray the IAF in an undue negative light.

The film has smeared the reputation of an honourable service with its cooked up instances of gender bias. There may have been some teething troubles in the initial years after women were allowed to join the IAF but what has been shown in the movie is absolutely fictitious and revolting, said a serving officer familiar with the developments in the service in the late 1990s, asking not to be named.

Also Read: Sreevidya Rajan, who served with Gunjan Saxena, reveals why she didnt raise objections before biopics release

In its letter, the IAF wrote that some situations in the film are misleading and portray an inappropriate work culture against women to glorify the screen character of the former flight lieutenant.

Several male officers have been projected as misogynists to suit the films false narrative and sensationalise the plot, another serving officer said on the condition of anonymity.

Do the film makers realise how those officers would be feeling about their horrible portrayal? I happen to know some of those fine officers, including the flight commander, who were posted at the Udhampur air base during that time. Forcing a woman officer to arm-wrestle with a male counterpart to prove that she is physically inferior or asking her to change into flight overalls on the tarmac, this is nothing but fiction, he said.

Also Read: Fact or fiction? How much creative liberty is okay while making a biopic?

Many in the military circles believe the film is hardly about women empowerment and the sole agenda appears to propagate gender stereotypes.

As a woman officer, I know all about the IAF and its work culture. You will find some oddballs in every walk of life and women do have uncomfortable experiences but that doesnt mean you paint the entire organisation with the same broad brush. The fictitious film has done that, said a retired woman officer, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Many feel the Netflix movie has lowered the militarys standing in the eyes of the entire country. A civilian who watches that movie will never allow his daughter to join the armed forces. I have been flooded with WhatsApp messages from my civilian friends who have been asking if that kind of gender bias prevails in the armed forces, said the wife of a serving officer, asking not to be named.

In the wake of the heated debate around the film, some highly regarded veterans believe that its time to stop singling out women officers for celebration only because of their gender.

Thank you Sir, for raising a pertinent question. While Im proud of women officers taking on all types of roles, my view is to stop singling them out for celebration only bcoz of gender. Lady officers are as good & equal to anyone, & we all are equally proud of their achievements, former Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee Lieutenant General Satish Dua (retd) wrote on Twitter on Thursday.

He was responding to a tweet by Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia (retd), a former director general of military operations, who asked, Ever wonder who was the first person to fly a combat sortie in the Kargil War, or the first soldier to make the supreme sacrifice.
Late actor Irrfan Khans son, Babil Khan recently took to his Instagram account to appeal to the media to stop speculations about Sanjay Dutts health. He in fact also shared a secret about the Kalank actor that many of his fans wouldnt know about.

Did you know Sanjay Dutt was the first person to help Irrfan Khan? He wrote on a social media post that Dutt was one of the first people to offer support when Irrfan was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour. Babil appealed to the media to not speculate about Sanjay, who was recently diagnosed with lung cancer.

Babil also shared an old picture of his father Irrfan and Sanjay and wrote on Instagram, Heres a secret; Sanju Bhai was one of the first people to offer help in all and every way when my father was diagnosed, after Baba passed, Sanju bhai was again one of the very first few people that held a pillar for support.

Please; I beg you, let him fight this without anxiety of media, you must remember were talking bout Sanju baba here, he is a tiger, a fighter, the past doesnt define you but it sure does evolve you and I know this will be over with Sanju Baba smashing hits again, he added.

Babil appealed to the media to avoid unnecessary speculation about Sanjays condition. He wrote, Writers must wonder how do I start, but I am not a writer so here it is; I humbly request journalists and human curiosity to ease on the speculation, the details. I know thats your job but I also know that a sense of humanity persists in our soul, so give Sanju bhai and his family the existential space they need.

On Wednesday, Sanjays wife, Maanyata, provided an update about his treatment. She said in a statement, 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. 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.

Irrfan Khan died earlier this year, after a two-year battle with neuroendocrine tumour. Sanjay hasnt yet revealed the nature of his diagnosis, but announced that hed be taking a break from work to focus on his treatment.

Sanjay will be seen next in Sadak 2, which is scheduled for a direct-to-digital release on Disney Plus Hotstar on August 28. Later, he will feature in Bhuj: The Pride of India, which is also slated for an OTT release on Disney Plus Hotstar.
'The BJP is not an enemy of Muslims, but friends.'

IMAGE: Shehzad Ali being welcomed into the BJP by its Delhi unit President Adesh Gupta.

Shahzad Ali, a sales and marketing manager in a mobile phone company, was among the group of Muslims from Delhi's Shaheen Bagh area who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on August 16, 2020.

Hailing from Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, Ali has been living around the Shaheen Bagh area for the last 15 years and his office too is located in the same neighbourhood.

He was vociferous against the BJP over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and took part in the Shaheen Bagh protests, but eight months later, he has had a change of heart and joined the BJP.

Shahzad Ali spoke to Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com about his reasons for joining the BJP.

I sat at the Shaheen Bagh protests regularly to oppose the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. I have no political connections and no one in my family was ever involved in politics.

I was a regular guy protesting at Shaheen Bagh and while sitting there for hours I realised that the only way to end this protest was through dialogue with the government.

And as I spent more time over there, I realised that whenever there was a chance for dialogue with the BJP government, AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) cadres or Congress cadres or their leaders used to spread false rumours about the BJP, ensuring that the dialogue did not take place between the BJP and Shaheen Bagh protestors.

Even today they don't want to build a bridge between the Muslim community and the BJP because if they do that, they will lose Muslim votes.

In the Muslim community there is a rumour that has been spread for very long that the Bharatiya Janata Party is an enemy of Muslims. And this is more like a propaganda from all the parties who are opposed to the BJP.

I now feel that till the time you don't join the BJP or be with them like friends, you will never understand what they think about Muslims.

And since I have now joined the BJP, I have realised that whatever propaganda about the BJP -- that they are bad, etc -- is only propaganda.

This has been spread by other political parties, but after joining the BJP I have realised the BJP is not an enemy of Muslims.

When the Shaheen Bagh protests ended after COVID-19 broke out, I had time to look deeper into the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and in my research, I found out that not a single Indian Muslim has been stripped of citizenship.

Another thing I found out was that when you approach BJP leaders to know about the CAA, they openly welcome you for discussions. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said many times that he will clear any myths or doubts of the Muslim community on the CAA if they went to meet him.

Many argued that the CAA is a first step towards the National Register of Citizens, but the fact is that the NRC is nowhere in the picture and it is not coming.

The dharna at Shaheen Bagh Delhi was about the CAA, the NRC was not a part of that protest, and I want to ask everyone who says the BJP will strip Muslims of their Indian citizenship, show me one example where the BJP has stripped the citizenship of Indian Muslims after CAA. The answer is, none.

No one can prove this allegation with facts and figures.

I was told about Article 14 which speaks of equality before law, and my answer to them is that the BJP government has never stripped any Muslim of his/her citizenship.

People oppose government policies till the time they feel it is unjust and wrong, but once they are convinced that it is not wrong, they stop opposing it. And I did that after I understood the CAA.

When I was protesting, I felt we could sit down with the government and solve the CAA problem and now when I was explained this policy by them, I am wondering why we were sitting on a dharna at Shaheen Bagh!

The CAA is about giving citizenship and not taking away citizenship.

And since I was there, let me tell you that Shaheen Bagh protestors wanted it to end, but the Congress and AAP never wanted it to end because they wanted the Muslim votes.

The AAP had put up huge posters in Muslim localities of Delhi that if you want to defeat the BJP and RSS, then vote for AAP.

Now when I look back, I understand that they propagated this theory that Muslims must defeat the BJP. But now I wonder, why should we Muslims defeat the BJP? What wrong have they done to us? Nothing.

The BJP is not an enemy of Muslims, but friends.

And today we are 70 people who have joined the BJP and more will join in future.

AAP is saying that we were always a stooge of the BJP, but it is a fact that AAP leaders started Shaheen Bagh protests to get political mileage during the Delhi elections. They won the elections and then they went on a silent mode on this issue.

AAP misled Muslims on CAA.

During the Delhi riots, BJP leader Kapil Mishra made some wrong statements against the Muslim community and I say that he must not to do it and I condemned it.

But what was Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, doing when the riots were occurring? The answer is, nothing.

As the chief minister of Delhi he should have come out on the streets and met the protestors of Shaheen Bagh and dispersed them, but he refused to do so.

Now when I have joined the BJP, rumours are being spread by the AAP and Congress that I was never a part of the Shaheen Bagh protests.

The Shaheen Bagh protests were spontaneous. There were no leaders at the protest spot and it was a random protest in which I too was present.

Worse, now people are calling me a traitor in my area and in the place where I stay I am being threatened that I will be thrown out of my house because I have joined the BJP.

Yesterday, some people came to my place and threatened me via someone that my life will be in danger if I continued to work for the BJP.

They said the BJP will not work in Muslim areas.

The problem is that the gap between the BJP and Indian Muslims is huge and you cannot fill this gap overnight.

Muslims must build bridges with them and only then will this mistrust disappear.

I have never voted for the BJP in the past, and have voted only for the Congress. Since my childhood I was told that the BJP is an enemy but when I joined them it was nothing like that.

Luckily, BJP leader Nighat Abbas came as a bridge between us and the BJP. She made us understand what the CAA was and how it will not harm Muslims.
By Kang Seung-woo



North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has delegated some of his authority to his younger sister Kim Yo-jong and his close aides, according to the South Korean spy agency, Thursday.





Kim Yo-jong, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister / Yonhap

However, the move is believed to have nothing to do with the leader's health, it added.



"Kim Yo-jong, the first vice department director of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party, is currently administering overall state affairs on behalf of her brother," National Intelligence Service (NIS) officials were quoted as saying in a closed-door briefing to the National Assembly by Rep. Kim Byung-kee of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and Rep. Ha Tae-keung of the main opposition United Future Party.



"But Kim Jong-un is not in poor health and he has not picked an heir to succeed him."



The lawmakers added the power-sharing arrangement is aimed at relieving Kim of some of the stress coming from leading the totalitarian state for nine years, and averting accountability in the event of policy failure. Kim took over the regime in 2011 after the sudden death of his father, Kim Jong-il, who ruled the North from 1997 to 2011.



"Kim Jong-un still holds absolute power, but some of it has been handed over little by little," Ha said.



"For example, Kim Yo-jong takes charge of affairs with South Korea and the United States, but she has to report on these to Kim Jong-un."



According to the NIS, Kim Yo-jong has assumed the majority of the authority delegated by her brother, but she is not the only one who shares power with him.



"Pak Pong-ju, vice chairman of the State Affairs Commission, and the new Premier Kim Tok-hun have been put in charge of controlling the economic sector," Ha said. "Choe Pu-il is responsible for domestic policing and security, and Ri Pyong-chol, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, is handling military affairs at the ruling Workers' Party Central Committee."





North Korean leader Kim Jong-un / Yonhap
Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Vice Presidential Candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has given the assurance that they would provide teachers and Nurses enhanced remuneration when the party returns to power.





She also assured teacher and nursing trainees of innovative financial interventions, including; increased training allowances and educational loan facilities to facilitate their successful training.



Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, a former Minister of Education, gave the assurance during separate interactions with trainee teachers and representatives of teacher unions at the Gbewaa College of Education and trainee nurses at the Bolgatanga Nursing Training College and other professional bodies at Bolgatanga on her last day of her tour of the Upper East region.



The Vice-Presidential candidate indicated that the yet-to-be launched NDC manifesto has a comprehensive action plan to proactively address the needs of trainee teachers and nurses.



Our manifesto is of a different nature this time, she said, adding that there are innovative policies that would enable the NDC government to build on its enviable achievements and do more for the teaching and nursing professions.



In addition, she said the new policy programmes in the manifesto, designed to enable Ghanaians to achieve their aspirations, has incorporated the views of the various teaching and nursing professional groups, as a measure to ensure an all-inclusive governance.

We need to work together by listening to each other. We need to be non-discriminatory; we need to plan together.



Today, when your leaders ask me what we will do when we come to power, I also ask them, what do you want us to do for you?



We want to arrive together, so we must do things together, Prof Opoku-Agyemang said in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency on Accra.



Responding to questions from the participants on various concerns including; professional upgrading, recruitment and maternity leave, Prof Opoku-Agyemang explained that as part of the policy measures to be pursued by the next NDC government, the teacher upgrading structure would be streamlined and enhanced to ensure fairness, adding that Distance education students who are currently exempted from government teacher recruitment, would be offered equal recruitment opportunities.



Regarding maternity leave, the former Education Minister, said maternity leave for teachers, nurses and other professionals would be extended from the present three months to four months.



Giving four months of maternity leave to women is in order, the running mate stressed.





Source: GNA









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The Tennessee District of the U.S. Small Business Administration has recognized Chattanooga-based BrightBridge Capital as its Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 top dollar and loan volume provider for the Community Advantage and 504 loan programs. The awards, which were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, were announced during the LendersConnect Conference held virtually this month.As a Certified Development Company, BrightBridge partners with commercial lenders to offer SBAs 504 loan throughout Tennessee and in select counties in adjacent states. Recent projects include a new manufacturing facility in West Tennessee and a grocery store in Middle Tennessee.BrightBridge provides SBAs Community Advantage loans to small businesses, including startups, which cannot obtain conventional financing.We can make such loans up to $250,000 and usually do not require as much collateral as other small business loans, said Mike Ohlman, president and CEO of the non-profit economic development agency.BrightBridge provides SBA lending to small businesses throughout Tennessee, and offers programs in North Alabama, North Georgia and Western North Carolina.
MP SPEAKS | No need for govt to be stingy, Covid-19 economic aid is vital

MP SPEAKS | Over 41 percent of Malaysian manufacturers said their businesses would only be sustainable for less than a year, as a result of revenue loss following the Covid-19 lockdown, according to a survey by the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers-Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (FMM-MIER).

What is interesting is those in the FMM July survey say they can last for 12 months, due to the government stimulus packages, wage subsidies and bank moratoriums.

Clearly, an additional RM45 billion is needed to the existing RM45 billion fund injection (total RM90 billion) to save not only Malaysian jobs, small and medium enterprises but also manufacturers.

Manufacturing is a key component of the Malaysian economy, contributing 21 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) and over 80 percent of total exports in 2019.

With the International Monetary Fund predicting a global economic contraction of 4.9 percent this year, the additional RM45 billion fund injection, moratorium of bank loans, energy discounts and wage subsidies are crucial for local businesses to survive and prevent unemployment from exceeding one million persons.

There is no reason for the federal government to be so stingy about injecting an additional RM45 billion when there is sufficient liquidity in the domestic debt market of RM1.6 trillion to sustain such borrowings.

The total RM90 billion fund injection from the additional RM45 billion is not significant, compared to Singapores S$108 billion (RM328.9 billion) stimulus package.

The opposition wishes to reiterate our willingness to set aside political differences and fully support any financial measure that can lessen the burden of the people by doubling the RM45 billion fund injection.

Failure to do so may lead to job losses, business closures in a year and cause untold hardship to the people. By then, even if the government injects an additional RM45 billion fund injection will be too little, too late.

LIM GUAN ENG is Bagan MP, former finance minister, and former Penang chief minister.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
Rapid pregnancy-style tests for Covid-19 could be approved within weeks, according to a leading scientist.

Sir John Bell, an Oxford University scientist and key Government adviser, said the cheap devices were currently being assessed by scientists at Public Health England.

He claimed they could be sold on Amazon or Boots for as little as 5 if they are proven to be over 90 per cent accurate.

Professor Bell said the devices, that are 'no larger than a teacup', plug into a socket in the wall and process swabs within an hour.

One from the US which is currently under review is able to process a sample in the time it would take for a person to have a shower or eat their breakfast, he claimed.

The UK is currently relying on PCR swab tests which take at least 24 hours to turnaround after being sent to a laboratory.

Home test kits are already part of the Government's testing scheme but they still need to be sent to the laboratory. Less than seven per cent come back in the 24-hour target time.

There are at least four rapid tests being trialled in hospitals and care homes. But they are clunky and not designed to be taken at home.

Sir John, a regius professor of medicine at the University of Oxford, believes mass screening will become possible with rapid home kit tests.

Professor Sir John Bell, a testing tsar against the Covid-19 crisis in the UK, said a rapid antigen test that can be conducted in the home could one day be sold on Amazon or Boots for as little as 5

It comes after Health Secretary Matt Hancock yesterday vowed to bring in population-wide mass coronavirus testing  but failed to offer a time frame and referred to the project as a 'moonshot'

It comes after Health Secretary Matt Hancock yesterday vowed to bring in population-wide mass coronavirus testing  but failed to offer a time frame and referred to the project as a 'moonshot'.

Sir John said health chiefs at Porton Down - government run laboratories in Salisbury, Wiltshire, are currently assessing rapid antigen tests.

Antigen tests are those that can tell a person if they have current coronavirus infection, even if there are no symptoms.

The other commonly referred to test is an antibody test, which can help suss if someone has had the infection in the past.

Speaking at a virtual Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) briefing, Sir John said: 'The real step forward will be is you get pregnancy style lateral flow tests for antigen that work with a reasonable sensitivity and specificity.

UK FACES A 'REALLY BUMPY' WINTER AHEAD Professor Sir John Bell, regius professor of medicine at the University of Oxford, warned of a second wave of coronavirus and a difficult winter ahead. He predicts a 'really bumpy' winter on the way, especially with the additional risk of flu. Speaking on a Royal Society of Medicine webinar, Professor Bell said: 'My bet is that we will get a second wave, and the vaccines won't get here in time to stop the second wave. 'And I'm not sure the new home testing is going to get there in time either, but it perhaps will take the edge off it. 'But then I suspect by Christmas or early in the new year, there may be more than one option for vaccines. 'My suspicion is the vaccines will work a bit, they won't sterilise people, but they'll take the edge off the disease, and they'll definitely be worth using in a population. 'But they won't... they're not going to solve this problem. And by the way, the rest of the world is still going to have Covid going through the winter.' He added: 'But just to be crystal clear, it's going to be a bumpy winter. There's nothing I can see that's going to make this an easy winter.' Professor Bell pointed out that people are 'still sceptical' about vaccines, adding: 'There's a real issue of trust I think at the moment. 'And we've got to maintain that trust if we're going to make any vaccine programme successful.' He said easy-to-access tests which are non-invasive will be a 'real differentiator' in our ability to manage the disease. 'I think every school is going to want some capacity to do that, as will universities, as will boarding schools and independent schools,' he said. Advertisement

'We have just started this week validating those at Porton Down. We've looked at a couple already and a couple more are going through today.'

Sir John said he wasn't able to give any definitive results of experiments so far, but some are 'terrible' because they have such low accuracy in detecting Covid-19.

A test needs both high specificity and sensitivity in order to detect true cases of Covid-19 without producing false negatives or positives.

Sir John said: 'As you won't be surprised, some of these are terrible tests so you'd never use them.

'But some look pretty interesting. And at 5 pounds a pop, with high sensitivity, say 90 per cent, and high specificity, which may be in high 90s, they could really work.

'That's basically what we are thinking of at the moment. The validation is still ongoing so I don't want to pre-empt the decision. But we've seen enough now that we believe this may well be possible as a routine form of regular testing.'

Asked by Professor Roger Kirby, the president of the RSM, if the public could buy such tests on Amazon, Sir John said: 'Yes, for sure.'

He said: 'I think the idea would be to have a crate of them in your bathroom and use one when you needed it. Just order them from Amazon or Boots.'

The testing chief did not reveal which tests have been selected for inspection by officials, but mentioned a 'lovely test from the US' being brought in.

The device is a no larger than a teacup and plugs into a wall socket in order to read the sample of a swab taken from the nose or mouth.

Inside is technology called isothermal amplification, which helps to detect traces of the coronavirus' genetics.

Sir John said: 'You plug it into the wall, it'll do the amplification... go and have a shower.... 35 minutes later you know the answer.

'You could do it while you have your cornflakes.

'The machines cost $25. And the test should be well below $10 a test. So you can see a world in which we are all just testing all the time.'

Around 100,000 people are being tested for coronavirus each day using PCR tests  considered the gold standard.

They are distributed by centralised bodies and logistically difficult because they require lab technicians to read.

Academics have warned testing needs to be scaled-up massively to cope with the coughs and colds that will arise this winter.

Mass-testing allows ministers to see exactly where outbreaks are and stops infected people unknowingly spreading it.

Sir John said pregnancy style home testing kits could help 'take the edge' off a potential second wave of Covid-19 this winter, if they arrived in time.

He said: 'My bet is that we will get a second wave, and the vaccines won't get here in time to stop the second wave.

'And I'm not sure the new home testing is going to get there in time either, but it perhaps will take the edge off it.'

Rapid coronavirus tests could also mean travellers do not need to quarantine for the full two weeks, if they come back negative for several consecutive days.

It comes Matt Hancock pledged to set up wide mass coronavirus testing which scientists have repeatedly said is urgently needed in order to keep on top of the coronavirus.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4 today, Mr Hancock said mass-testing was a 'really, really important drive that we have across government' and ministers were working as 'fast as we can'.

When asked about when it would be available, he refused to answer and replied: 'I am not going to put a firm deadline on it.'

He added: 'I have said very clearly that we are ramping it up over the remainder of this year.

'The answer is we are going as fast as we can, working with dozens of companies, both home grown and international to get the very best testing capacity.

'This moon shot to have testing ubiquitous and available to reopen all sorts of things, to reduce the burden of the quarantine arrangements which nobody wants to have in place, to allow us to reopen parts of the economy, that is an incredibly important project within Government right now.'

Mr Hancock said there are 'new technologies coming on track which we are eyeing and testing now'. But was vague about the details.

At the start of August, it was revealed two new game-changing rapid tests will start being deployed in the NHS and care homes before being made available more widely over the next few months One of the new test kits, made by London-based DNANudge, will be launched next month. It scours DNA in nose swabs but saves time as the results do not need to be sent to a laboratory and can be analysed in a NudgeBox (pictured)

The small LamPORE test could be deployed in airports, offices, schools, pubs and restaurants  bringing testing to the bulk of the population

Two other point-of-care tests currently being used within the NHS

He said: 'Some of them [the tests] you only have to use saliva rather than having a swab all the way down the back of your throat, which means that anybody can administer it or self administer it much easier.

'Some of them they don't need a lab on the test which means you don't have to send it off and get it back  with the best ones you get the results in 10 minutes.'

In June, The Telegraph reported that the Government was in talks with a British firm called Chronomics about rolling out a saliva test.

One expert involved with the project said the firm was aiming to produce test results within one hour of the samples arriving at labs.

Professor John Newton, the Government's testing tsar at PHE, has previously said saliva tests are 'really interesting' in the diagnosis of Covid-19.

'We are actively looking at those and we are engaging with the companies and if they prove to be better then we will use those,' he said.

At the start of August, it was revealed two new game-changing rapid tests will start being deployed in the NHS and care homes before being made available more widely over the next few months.

Its hoped the new tests - which give results in 90 minutes  will be used to routinely screen members of the public who show no symptoms.

One of the methods, the Lampore test, involves taking a sample of saliva, unlike existing methods which require invasive and difficult nose and throat swabs.

Professor Andrew Beggs, a genetics expert at the University of Birmingham, who has been trialling the Lampore test, described it as 'transformational'.

It is small enough to be deployed in airports, offices, schools, pubs and restaurants  bringing testing to the bulk of the population.

Ministers are understood to have made an order for 450,000 of the tests made by Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd. Millions more are due to be rolled out later in the year if they prove to be effective.

The other test, made by London-based DNANudge, will be launched next month. It analyses DNA in nose swabs but saves time as the results do not need to be sent to a laboratory.

Ministers have purchased 5,000 of the DNANudge machines, which can process up to 15 tests a day, to provide 5.8 million tests in the coming months, the Department for Health said.

Health officials have yet to reveal the cost of the deal with Lampore, but DNANudge's website claims the Government placed a 161 million order for its kits.

It adds another rapid test to the UK's catalogue, with two other 'point-of-care tests' - those that can give rapid results but have to be conducted by a healthcare professional - are currently being used within the NHS.

The Samba II device, created by a University of Cambridge spin-off company called Diagnostics for the Real World, is being used at Addenbrooke's, a teaching hospital in Cambridge.

The Covid-19 LAMP assay test, developed by UK-based manufacturer Optigene, has been trialled in a pilot study in Hampshire since May.

It can turn around results within 20 minutes, while the Samba II device takes as little as 90 minutes.
By Azernews





By Akbar Mammadov

Azerbaijan is Chinas largest trade partner in the South Caucasus region and the two countries have been developing ties in the political sphere in recent years.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has said that there is a high-level political dialogue between Azerbaijan and China based on mutual understanding and trust.

Bayramov made the remark at the meeting with Chinas Ambassador Guo Min in the Foreign Ministry on August 19.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on further expansion of cooperation in bilateral and multilateral formats, as well as within international organizations.

Bayramov expressed satisfaction with the development of relations between Azerbaijan and China in the political, economic, trade, humanitarian and healthcare spheres.

Furthermore, the sides emphasized that the visits at the level of heads of state gave impetus to the development of relations between the two countries. The principled position of the sides on respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the states was also underlined.

Informing the Chinese envoy about the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Bayramov touched upon the pre-planned provocation by the Armenian armed forces in the direction of the Tovuz district of the Azerbaijan-Armenia border on July 12. The minister said that this provocation served the military-political goals of Armenia and aimed to hinder substantive talks on the settlement of the conflict.

The ambassador stressed China's firm position on respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

Additionally, Guo Min said that China highly appreciates Azerbaijan's activities during its chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement, especially a number of global initiatives put forward by the President of Azerbaijan over COVID-19.

The sides also stressed the importance of international cooperation and solidarity amid the fight over pandemic.

Emphasizing the technical support provided by China, Bayramov noted that it is a clear example of commitment to the traditions of friendship between the peoples of Azerbaijan and China, and expressed gratitude for the support and solidarity shown in these difficult times.

It should be noted that on February 12, Azerbaijan sent medical supplies to Xian and Mianyang cities of China as part of friendship and cooperation relations between Azerbaijans Sumgait city and Chinese cities. On April 3-23, and May 21, Azerbaijan received the sets of medical supplies sent by the Chinese government in accordance with the assistance act signed between the two countries on April 2.

Along with the help of the Chinese government, within the framework of assistance to Azerbaijan, the relevant medical supplies were sent by Sichuan province, Xi'an, Minyan and Chudzhou cities, Jiangjin district of Chongqing city, funds of Alibaba and Jack Ma, Huawei and other various structures.

On August 4, via the special flight organized by the Azerbaijani Airlines, a group of ten Chinese doctros visited Azerbaijan to help the countrys fight against COVID-19. Humanitarian assistance consisting of medical equipment was also delivered through this flight to Azerbaijan.

The two countires have also been developing trade relations.

On 11 August, Azerbaijan presented its products under "Made in Azerbaijan" brand at the 4th China High-End Wine and Spirits Expo 2020, which has become the first alcoholic beverage exhibition in China held in 2020 with the participation of the world's leading wine producers such as France, Spain, New Zealand and Chile attracted more about 35,000 visitors.




No parent wants to watch their child struggle. But for those parents with children who have sustained a brain injury, struggles are an expected, and heart-breaking part of their everyday reality.

The anguish, stress and guilt that comes with seeing your child unable to reach expected milestones, unable to walk, talk, or play, is something no parent wants to go through.

But for 28 families in the Western Bay who experience this daily battle, a local charity is helping provide the practical, financial, social, and emotional support needed to create a brighter future for their children with the right interventions and therapies.

Brain Injured Children Trust help families to access services that can make a real difference in their childs development and recovery.

From home and vehicle modifications, and private carer support, to therapy programs and specialist medical treatment, the charity provides funding that would otherwise be difficult to raise as an individual so that children can make the journey from injury to independence.

One of the key services Brain Injured Children Trust helps families access is an intensive home-based therapy called Neuro-Development Therapy Program.

NDTP effectively works to rewire the brain so brain injured children can learn to do the basic milestones that neurotypical children routinely learn.

This is achieved by assisting children with repetitive movements such as standing, walking, and hanging  helping balance and train the muscles and brain how to correctly move limbs.

Brain Injured Children Trust Administrator Karen Williams says while the lockdown left many families isolated due to the vulnerability of their childs health, it also generated some positive outcomes.

With no distractions and no rushing around, families were able to concentrate on the therapy programs which can be up to three to four hours a day  this ultimately makes the real difference for brain injured kids progress.

An online NDTP therapy session.

We also established online NDTP, which has been a great success. With no Neuro Developmental therapists in New Zealand, and no overseas travel, our members were left with without therapy. We reached out to our overseas specialists and asked for help and were astounded with the response.

Together, we have devised a programme enabling them to connect with families using video clips and online communication platforms. This system of connecting the families had not been tried before but proved to be extremely effective to support and motivate families, update their programs and monitor individual childrens progress.

With this online delivery leading to substantial cost savings, the Trust will continue to facilitate it long after the COVID-19 crisis is over.

Karen says fatigue will be the biggest obstacle for many of their members if faced with lockdown again.

Alongside NDTP therapy, we are still supporting families to access local supports, equipment and are crisis managing families as they hit difficulties. Many of them are experiencing exhaustion and isolation  particularly for those parenting alone. But we are wrapping around them with as much practical support as we can, and will continue to do so no matter what happens going forward.

Brain Injured Children Trust usually receives its income through a fundraising service which canvasses business for donations.

This funding has been put on hold for the last three months, with expectations that income will reduce by 20 per cent going forward.

The charity applied for funding through the COVID-19 Recovery Fund to cover wages for increased hours for their team and to help with overhead costs such as rent, phone bills, and insurance.

Karen says the $10,000 received has provided some breathing room for the Trust to operate.

The funding has been a lifeline for the Trust as literally overnight all our funding from our major sponsor came to a halt. The first few weeks of lockdown, we were scrambling with funding applications but had decline after decline, as our services were deemed non-essential. With the Gaming Trusts closed for applications, we were hit again with no means of accessing operational costs and wages.

We are grateful to our local funders TECT, Acorn Foundation, BayTrust and Tauranga City Council for working together to provide this funding.

"The recovery funding has given us six months of certainty to formulate a plan. It is allowing us to release some of our other limited funding to be redirected towards treatments and therapy for children that rely desperately on our assistance.

BayTrust Chief Executive Alastair Rhodes says the funding will ensure Brain Injured Children Trusts families are supported in the coming months.

The lockdown and the uncertainty going forward has been stressful for so many of us. But for those families with a brain injured child, juggling all of lifes commitments with the dedicated care needed  it is hard to imagine the immense weight that would put on these parents.

We are so pleased the Recovery Funding is allowing Brain Injured Children Trust to continue operating and supporting these families, especially with the online therapy  it will allow their children to continue their incredible progress towards their own recovery.
Indiana schools are returning to school, but things are much different than years past. While thoughts of returning to school typically include back to school shopping and what teachers the student has, this year has brought additional thoughts of how to keep students safe as we continue to face COVID-19. Many families worry about how they can best prepare for returning to school and stay healthy. Dr. Cameual Wright, the Medical Director at CareSource, a nonprofit health plan, has a few important tips to share with parents on ways to keep their children safe from COVID-19 when going back to school.

Educate children about masks.

Many schools are requiring students wear masks throughout the school day or during times of close interaction. Parents should be sure to communicate with school officials to understand updated guidelines and current policies. In addition, parents should teach their children how to wear their masks properly. Although it may be difficult to ensure that younger children wear their masks as directed, parents should have an age-appropriate conversation about COVID-19 and why masks are important and why they should follow this and other school rules to prevent infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children over the age of two wear masks. Parents can visit the CDC mask guidance page for the most updated recommendations for wearing masks.

Encourage proper hygiene.

It is important to teach children proper hygiene at a young age. Parents should prioritize teaching their children about proper handwashing, especially due to the pandemic we are facing. While it is always good practice for children to wash their hands frequently, parents should emphasize the importance of washing their hands as often as possible to avoid transmission of COVID-19. Families should also communicate the importance of covering their mouth with their arm when coughing and sneezing, not touching their face if at all possible, using hand sanitizer when hand washing stations are unavailable and not touching or sharing personal items with other students.

Keep mental health in mind.

Aside from keeping children safe from an illness like COVID-19, parents should also be checking in on their childs mental health. The CDC noted children and teens are likely to respond stronger to the stress of the pandemic compared to other age groups. If a parent has a child that is scared about returning to school due to COVID-19 or has other fears surrounding the pandemic, parents should have an age-appropriate conversation with their child about COVID-19 including what it is, what it means for them and how to protect themselves. Parents should always be honest about the topic and reassure them that everyone, including doctors, scientists, principals and teachers, have their best interest at hand.

The situation can be stressful for children, and parents need to be sure that their children are finding a way to enjoy themselves during these times. They should ensure their children are taking time to do things they enjoy and that they are showing their child extra attention and love.

Stay on track with well-child visits and vaccinations.

It is essential that children stay on schedule with their yearly well-child visit. Even though it is a pandemic, it is vital that children continue these visits to preserve their overall health. While in-person opportunities for well-child visits may be limited, CareSource, among many other providers, offers telehealth as a safe option to complete the visit. CareSource has worked alongside health care providers to ensure there are no barriers to access to telehealth.

As Indiana sees a serious decline in vaccinations in Indiana, it is crucial that parents keep their children up to date on vaccinations. In May alone, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) reported 137,000 fewer doses which equates to a 46.61% decrease. The CDC recommends that children stay on schedule with their vaccines during the pandemic and even shared strategies to get back onto a vaccination schedule on their website. CareSource has partnered with the Indiana Immunization Coalition on their Vaccinate Indiana efforts to encourage and educate on the importance of continuing to get vaccinated even during the pandemic. If a parent has questions about in-person vaccination opportunities, they should consult their care provider.

Take necessary precautions.

The upcoming school year will encourage families to take even more health precautions than what is taken normally. It is good practice to keep your child home from school if they are sick, but it is even more important now. Families should consider the health of the entire household and even consider keeping a child home from school if a family member is sick.

When talking about health precautions, families also need to consider where the child will feel safest. Many schools are offering the option for students to learn from home, in the classroom or a hybrid of the two. Caregivers should communicate with their child about what they feel most comfortable with and make a decision that supports the childs overall wellbeing. Parents should work to remove the stigmas and pressures that come with perfect attendance awards and communicate that health is the most important thing. If parents have questions about their options, they should contact their school and discuss how to ensure students are receiving the best education, wherever they decide to learn from.

If a child comes home and is feeling sick or feels that they have been exposed to someone who is sick, caregivers should call their doctor for further consultation. Parents can call into CareSource, our 24-hour Nurse Helpline, to ask questions and get advice on the next steps to take. Information and guidance on COVID-19 and related topics can also be found at coronavirus.in.gov.

Dr. Cameual Wright is CareSource medical director, Indiana market.
Trident at American InterContinental University (Trident) will host its next CORE webinar, Virtual Leadership from Theoretical & Applied Perspectives, on Thursday, August 20 at 4 p.m. Pacific.

Dr. Indira Guzman, Doctoral Studies Director in Tridents Glenn R. Jones College of Business, and Dr. George Belsom, Faculty Member and Trident Ph.D. graduate, will lead this presentation.

This webinar will examine virtual leadership from a practical approach and from the perspective of a dissertation. Key applied topics to be discussed include an overview of virtual leadership, why its important in the current business world, and how it impacts employee performance.

Dr. Belsom will also review the process from his Ph.D. dissertation, The Impact of a Virtual Leaders Communication Style on Virtual Team Performance, his findings, and their implications for both theory and practice.

The content in this presentation should appeal to students currently enrolled in Tridents Ph.D. in Business Administration and Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programs. Students from other doctoral programs, those interested in a doctoral program, and those interested in the subject matter are welcome to attend.

Launched in May 2015, the CORE webinar series is designed to provide faculty, students, and alumni an opportunity to share their research and skills with the Trident community.

Coordinating this effort are Tridents Doctoral Studies Directors, Dr. Ryan Dwight, College of Health and Human Services, Dr. Indira Guzman, Glenn R. Jones College of Business, Dr. Wenling Li, College of Education, and Dr. Heidi Smith, Dean, College of Education. Each college takes turns hosting webinars throughout the year, covering subject matter relevant to Tridents six doctoral programs.

Over the course of more than 40 webinars, the CORE series has served as a forum for development for doctoral students and alumni, covering the Ph.D. dissertation process, writing for doctoral research, publishing in academic journals, and more. Past presenters include Trident faculty members and doctoral alumni.

Virtual Leadership from Theoretical & Applied Perspectives will be presented on Thursday, August 20 at 4 p.m. Pacific. Register here.

About Trident at American InterContinental University

Founded in 1998, Trident at American InterContinental University (Trident at AIU) is part of an online postsecondary university serving adult learners. Trident at AIU uses the EdActive learning approach, which employs case-based learning in an online setting to teach real-world relevant critical thinking skills designed to enhance the lives and education of students. Trident offers quality associate, bachelors, masters, and doctoral degree programs and certificates, led by a qualified faculty team, over 80% of whom have doctoral degrees. Trident at AIU is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org) and has more than 22,000 alumni with a military affiliation. Trident has received acknowledgements from Washington Monthly, Military Times, and Military Advanced Education & Transition for their dedication to student success. Visit http://www.trident.edu or call at (855) 290-0290 to learn more about Trident at AIU's wide range of educational options.
Epoxy Polyurea-Polyaspartic Garage Floor Coatings If you don't have the time to do it right, when will you have the time to do it over?

Polyurea-polyaspartic 1-day coating systems can be a recipe for disaster. Concrete coating expert Robert Hanson of corporate GarageFloorCoating.com cautions consumers and coating companies about quick-cure, 1-day polyurea-polyaspartic garage floor coating systems.

The More Things Change

In an article written way back in 2007 in Residential Concrete Magazine (Jeanne Fields, December 15, 2007), titled Garage Floor Coatings Pickup Speed, Fields reported that epoxy garage floor contractors were discovering that polyurea-polyaspartic quick-cure systems could increase profits because of their quick installation time. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

1-Day Systems: A Recipe for Disaster

Flash forward 13 years and many less experienced floor coating contractors still hype these systems. But Robert Hanson, founder of GarageFloorCoating.com, warns that polyurea-polyaspartic 1-day coating systems are a recipe for disaster.

Our concern is that the public is being misled about the capability and performance of these products and systems, says Hanson. The allure to the customer is the promise of a coated garage in one day. So many companies are jumping on this 1-day-system bandwagon.

The Truth about 1-Day Systems

The reality? 1-day garage floor systems simply dont meet commercial specifications. Application of a polyurea-polyaspartic direct to concrete isnt recommended...unless the average measured moisture level in the concrete is less than 1.0%. Why? The ability of a polyurea-polyaspartic to bond strongly to concrete is hindered by moisture. Anything above 1.0% is a problem. And the flooring system is only as strong as the first (primer) coat. How many concrete slabs will have moisture readings below 1.0%? Not many!

In addition, this simple 2-coat system uses far less material. In fact, it creates a floor that is about half the thickness of a commercial-grade installation. The result is that 1-day polyurea-polyaspartic flooring systems are less durable and susceptible to peeling.

Hanson reminds us that When a product fails, the cost and time to remove it and re-apply it proves very costly. As well, its a major inconvenience to the customer. We learned the hard way years ago when we had to re-coat close to one hundred floors due to failures with these 1-day systems. Its a recipe for disaster.

An Alternative to the 1-Day System

Hanson recommends using a 100% solids epoxy as the primer coat (or a moisture-mitigating epoxy if moisture levels are higher than 4.0%). In any space with vehicular traffic (garages, driveways), the primer coat is topped with a polyurea-polyaspartic. Then, one or more clear coats will produce the most durable flooring system. With this correct approach, the installation time is at least 2 days in duration...certainly not one!

How does Hanson know this? His company, GarageFloorCoating.com has been installing residential and commercial floor coating applications for over 23 years. They use water-based moisture mitigating or 100% solids epoxies as the primer coat. Only in the rarest of occasions will a polyurea-polyaspartic go direct-to-concrete.

Advantages of Polyurea-Polyaspartics

But once the primer coat is applied, polyurea-polyaspartics make for great color and top coats. In fact, these products are in a category all their own. Polyaspartics provide excellent wear, extreme UV and chemical resistance (oils, gasoline, acids). And they prevent plasticizer migration from hot car tires. Best of all, the quick-cure characteristic of a polyurea-polyaspartic allows for faster installations in hot or cold temperatures.

Where Can Polyurea-Polyaspartics Be Used?

Polyurea-polyaspartics are excellent for use in garages, driveways and anywhere vehicles are parked. Theyre also excellent choices for most industrial settings and businesses (like an auto repair shop) that just cant shut down for days. Weve successfully used this product in large commercial spaces too, including aircraft hangars and automobile dealerships.

The Final Say

Theres an old saying that goes If you dont have the time to do it right, then when will you have the time to do it over? This certainly applies to mass-marketed 1-day polyurea-polyaspartic flooring systems. So many coating companies are telling their customers that these 1-day systems are a magic bullet.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 20

By Eldar Janahsvili - Trend:

Chairman of the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee (SCC), Colonel-General of the country's customs service, Deputy Chairman of the World Customs Organization (WCO) for the European region Safar Mehdiyev took part in a meeting of the WCO's Customs Co-operation Council, which was held in the format of a video conference, Trend reports with reference to SCC.

The meeting was attended by WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya, Acting Chairman of the Customs Co-operation Council Ahmad Al Khalifa and deputy chairmen of the council for five WCO regions.

Mehdiyev first proposed to hold meetings at the regional level and discuss the results achieved within the council, stressing the importance of changing the procedural rules related to the WCO activities.

During the meeting, Mehdiyev touched upon security issues, noting that WCO makes a special statement on the subject.

He also emphasized the importance of preparing instructions for ports and customs structures operating there in connection with transportation and storage of goods.

WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya spoke about the current situation, as well as about innovations in the organization's activities.

He touched upon issues related to amendments to the budgetary and harmonized system, which were discussed at the councils meeting on June 2, 2020, and stressed the importance of regulating the organization's activities on the basis of the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) concerning the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Mikuriya further noted that WCO is currently successfully working in an online format.

Speaking about the explosion in Lebanons Beirut city, Mikuriya stressed the importance of paying special attention to security issues and improving existing standards in this sphere.

WCO Secretary General emphasized that the activities of the organization must be adjusted to the conditions of the coronavirus pandemic.

In turn, Acting Chairman of the Customs Co-operation Council Ahmad Al Khalifa noted that all the vice-chairmen succeeded in their duties during the current period and expressed gratitude for the fruitful work.

Ahmad Al Khalifa also spoke about financial issues and improving the governance structure of the organization.

Issues related to the councils meeting to be held in December 2020 and the upcoming elections to the relevant structures were also discussed.

During the videoconference, WCO Deputy Chairman for the European Region Safar Mehdiyev spoke about the significance of the current meeting.

He further noted that he support holding of elections to the Supreme Body of the Customs Co-operation Council in December this year.

Following the discussions, it was decided that the structure's activities are to be continued in the online format, while in the future, they will be carried according to the real conditions.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @eldarjanashvili
The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of diversification and resilience of supply chains as well as the relevance of the concept of strategic autonomy, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday.

The pandemic also underscored the need for broader rebalancing and a more equitable world view, which for India means the urgent need to strengthen national capacities through the Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative, he told a roundtable of the ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks (AINTT).

The Covid-19 crisis has shown up the lack of multilateralism at a time when it was most in demand, Jaishankar said in his address to the virtual event. If we saw little leadership, it was not just due to the admittedly anachronistic nature of key international organisations. Equally, it reflected the intensely competitive nature of current international politics, he said.

Going beyond organisations and structures, this was even more evident in the individual behaviour of many states. He added, Therefore, the big issue that confronts the thinking world is not simply the state of the economy, the damage to societies or the challenges to governance. It is actually a debate on the future directions of global affairs and what kind of world order  or disorder  we are going to live in.

As a consequence of all this, the commodity that is perhaps most valued in international relations today is that of trust, and national security is being redefined to include economic security while concerns have also arisen about technology security, he said.

In an apparent reference to China, he said the actions of nations during times of crisis determine how the world really perceives them, and they did bring up many of the risks inherent in the current global economy. He added, Consequently, concerns about supply chains are sought to be mitigated at the very least through greater emphasis on their diversification and resilience.

The concept of strategic autonomy, which was once fashionable in a unipolar world, has assumed relevance again in terms of global supply chains, Jaishankar noted.

The Covid-19 crisis has led to an unprecedented challenge and a great deal of uncertainty and the true extent of its destruction remains unclear. We cannot pretend that this is just another happening, only bigger. On the contrary, the impact of the Coronavirus has been beyond our collective imagination, he said.

Current estimates put the cumulative loss in the range of $5.8-8.8 trillion or approximately 6.5-9.7% of the global GDP. The contraction of the world economy being predicted will surely be the largest since the Great Depression, he added.

The relationship between India and Asean was founded on the shared interest in globalisation and the pandemic has brought out the indivisible aspect of human existence that underpins globalisation, Jaishankar said.

Whether it is climate change, terrorism or indeed pandemics, these are not challenges where those affected have a choice. The limitations of purely national responses or sometimes living in denial have become evident, he said.

Jaishankar said Asean and India can together help shape Asia and the world, and need to debate issues such as the Indo-Pacific. As global relationships alter, we too need to take stock...As we come out of this pandemic, let us be clear on one fact. The world will never be the same again. That means new thinking, fresh ideas, more imagination and greater openness, he added.

AINTT was established to provide policy inputs to governments on future cooperation between India and Asean.
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is working to assist those affected by the blast that tore through Lebanons capital Beirut earlier this month, including Lebanese, refugees and other victims of the disaster, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said during a visit to the city.

The explosion on 4 August claimed more than 180 lives, left over 6,500 people with injuries and caused widespread damage to around 200,000 households. The destruction came on top of a financial crisis that had already crippled the countrys economy, and which was further exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

We as humanitarian organizations and the whole aid community must stand alongside the people of Beirut in their hour of need, Grandi said during his first field mission since the start of the COVID-19 crisis. I have pledged UNHCRs full support to those whose lives were upended in the explosion, whether Lebanese, refugees or migrants.

"The scenes were horrific."

Grandi walked along ruined streets close to the epicenter of the blast and saw the terrible damage done to whole neighbourhoods, before meeting with Lebanese and Syrian refugee families whose lives have been affected. Included in the death toll so far are 14 confirmed refugee victims, with a further 61 still unaccounted for.

Among those Grandi met was Makhoul Al-Hamad, a refugee from Manbij in northern Syria, whose six-year-old daughter Sama lost the sight in her left eye in the blast.

This was the most terrifying thing, seeing her bleeding from her eye, Makhoul said. The scenes were horrific. All the hospitals were damaged, the doctors that helped us needed treatment themselves.

Grandi visits the badly damaged neighbourhoods in central Beirut close to the epicenter of the explosion.  UNHCR/Sam Tarling

Grandi meets Sama Al-Hamad, 6, a Syrian refugee whose eye was badly injured in the blast.  UNHCR/Sam Tarling

Sama wears a patch over her left eye after it was injured in the explosion.  UNHCR/Sam Tarling

Syrian refugee Makhoul Al Hamad (centre), 43, describes his experience when the family's apartment had its windows blown out during the blast.  UNHCR/Sam Tarling

Sama wore a large white patch over her left eye and showed signs of the lingering trauma of that day, visibly jumping at the sudden sound of a drill being used by their neighbours to fix a door.

Sama is my soul, life, hope and future, Makhoul added. I couldnt stand the thought of losing her.

It was shocking to see first-hand the scale of the destruction, but it is the human cost of this disaster that is truly heartbreaking, Grandi said. The families I met today have suffered terrible physical and psychological injuries, but despite everything they remain determined to rebuild their homes and their lives.

See also: UN High Commissioner for Refugees visits Lebanon, as UNHCR ramps up support to Lebanese and refugees alike

As part of its emergency response to meet the vast needs of people affected by the blast, UNHCR is mobilizing US$35 million to assist the most vulnerable households in the capital. This package includes US$32.6 million in support for 100,000 people whose homes were heavily damaged in the explosion, and a further US$2.44 million on protection services such as trauma counselling and legal aid.

Beirut and its people will bear the scars of this tragedy for years to come, Grandi said. Now is the time to offer them the support they need to try to heal. Our teams are working on the ground, helping those worst-affected to repair their homes and recover from the trauma.

You can contribute to UNHCR's relief efforts in Beirut here
If the progressive Left within the Democrats, that have relentlessly attacked India in the past, seeks to intervene in Indias sovereign and internal decisions it may become difficult for Biden to conduct good-faith diplomacy with India, and consequently put a spanner in his very expansive notion of challenging China by deepening partnership with a crucial strategic partner

The tamasha of United States Presidential polls is upon us. Difficult to find a more globally consequential event that is also such an entertaining and fascinating spectacle. Just as the outcome will have bearing on the great power game and change power equations, it will impact India and hold policy consequence for New Delhi.

It is a fools errand to predict elections that are free and fair, but it does seem as if Donald Trump will remain a one-term President. At this stage, the prospects of a Joe Biden administration look bright.

The Democrats are still suffering from the 2016 nightmare where many Bernie Sanders voters were thought to have defected to Trump since they were angry with the Hillary Clinton nomination so this time the Democrats are taking no chances.

At the ongoing Democratic National Convention, Sanders  the partys Left-wing icon  implored his backers to go out and vote for Biden while former president Barack Obama cast it in more catastrophic terms, warning Americans that this (Trump) administration has shown it will tear our democracy down if thats what it takes to win. So, we have to get busy building it up  by pouring all our effort into these 76 days, and by voting like never before  for Joe and Kamala.

Since all polls are indicating that the Democrats will return to power, much as India must get ready to deal with whatever the outcome of US domestic politics, it is worth discussing the opportunities and difficulties that may arise in case Biden-Harris ticket wins in November. Before we do that, the Trump effect must be laid out.

The 45th US president has been a disruptor. He rewrote rules of engagement, challenged axiomatic policy assumptions, tore down established notions and structures, and set fire to iron-clad processes  at times appearing to side with adversaries at the cost of his allies. And yet the visceral churn, strangely, produced a much-stronger Indo-US partnership that broke new grounds and intensified cooperation.

This isnt to say that with Trump at helm, the US-India relationship didnt have its share of challenges. Trumps Twitter diplomacy, fixation on trade deficit, extemporaneous policymaking, imposition of tariffs, termination of preferential trade status for India, suspending of immigration and freeze on H1B visas required engagement. On the strategic side, tightening of the sanctions noose on Iran and Russia ties pose economic challenges and has a bearing on Indias defence deals with Moscow.

However, these difficulties were largely mitigated by intensification of security, defence and strategic cooperation between the two sides underwritten by an urgent strategic alignment on China.

For the US, China is an economic, geopolitical and an increasing security challenge that threatens Americas post-Cold War primacy, undermines the institutions that it had put in place, questions Washingtons political system and ideological dominance. The Trump administration has framed this conflict in stark existential terms.

For India, China is a regional hegemon that constricts Indias rise, undermines its economic growth and balances New Delhi by propping up regional actors such as Pakistan. As Stimson Center fellow Yun Sun writes in War on the Rocks, China believes in power politics and its own natural superiority. Beijings vision for Asia is strictly hierarchical  with China at the top  and does not consider India an equal.

Amid the dovetailing of interests, two simultaneous churns taking place in India have further catalysed the cooperation. India is slowly moving past its Cold War skepticism of the US and realizing that internal balancing vis-a-vis China is proving to be difficult due to the difference in trajectory of economic growth. There has been a deliberative move towards external balancing and a speeding up of strategic ties with the US (signing of the foundational agreements, military exercises, greater interoperability)  a turn thats also evident in New Delhis renewed interest in the Quad.

As Heritage Foundation fellow Jeff Smith observes in War on the Rocks, The Quads return is a response to Chinas increasingly assertive foreign policy and its authoritarian turn under Xi. The group stands on firmer ground today because India has become a much more committed and enthusiastic partner, and because the basis for cooperation among the four countries is more compelling now than it was a decade ago.

The second, and more urgent churn has happened post Ladakh standoff, especially Galwan, and now Indias foreign policy is being driven by public opinion, denying policymakers the space and leisure to wait out the crisis. By killing Indian soldiers, a highly emotive issue among public, Beijing has created the urgency and political space for a greater alignment with US and decoupling with China at the risk of some self-harm.

Conversely, as Dhruv Jaishankar, director of the US Initiative at ORF, writes, the Trump administrations Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy, driven largely by a more competitive relationship with China, (has also) benefited India in various ways, including in bilateral defence cooperation and higher degrees of strategic coordination.

In this backdrop, the election of Biden may bring its own set of variables. On the positive side, India may straightaway expect greater policy stability and conventional diplomacy. On trade, if the Obama-Biden days were any indication, the Democratic presidential nominee is unlikely to obsess over trade deficit figures and threaten retribution over Harley Davidson tariff. While reaching out to Indians during Independence Day, Biden promised to expand two-way trade that opens markets and grows the middle class in both our countries and working with India on big global challenges like climate change and global health security.

Indias biggest gain is likely to be in the field of immigration and company visa where Biden has promised to bring immigration reform and revoke the suspension on H1-B visas that are useful for Indian IT professionals.

Calling Trumps policies as cruel and inhumane, Biden has promised that on day one, Im going to send the legislative immigration reform bill to Congress to provide a roadmap to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants who contribute so much to this country, including 1.7 million from the AAPI community as well as clear the backlog of green card applicants.

On Iran, India may expect some relief. To the extent that Biden has projected himself as a restorationist with many of his policy prescriptions harking back to the Obama era, the US is likely to rejoin the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) but make it contingent on Iran abandoning its nuclear program. This translates into engagement, and it may open up some space for India to complete its projects.

These are significant areas for India, more so, as Jaishankar has argued in the analysis mentioned above, because a return of Trump administration may see a hardening of US positions on all these issues. However, Bidens bigger impact on bilateral and strategic ties will largely depend on two factors  his China policy, and the extent to which Biden allows the partys progressive left-wing to make value-based interventions in foreign policy.

One of the reasons why Indo-US partnership became stronger in the Trump era is that Trump poured cold water over liberal internationalism, moving the US away from its traditional interventionist foreign policy posture and basing it on transactionalism. While this realist approach has its merits and demerits, this non-interference from Trump administration on affairs that New Delhi considers as sovereign and internal (Article 370 and CAA) allowed the space for building of trust. Worth noting that Trump administration had come under many attacks from the Democratic left-wing that had repeatedly accused India of going after its Muslim population.

President Trump is engaging in arms deals with Modi while his administration is ethnically cleansing the countrys religious minorities. We must not enable this rise in sectarian violence. https://t.co/WwUyf9cNCN  Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@RepAOC) March 2, 2020

But first, China.

Trump administrations all-out attack on China has made many American allies and partners uncomfortable but India doesnt feature in that list. On the contrary, India has benefitted from Trumps all hands-on-deck approach against China  partly the result of Trump team deciding on an anti-China campaign as the election plank.

Chinas authoritarianism, territorial aggression, revanchism, exploitative and manipulative economic behavior, amoral approach to human rights and liberty, oppression of Muslim minorities, undermining liberal institutions, debt-trapping smaller nations through a multi-billion dollar expansionist project arent new issues, but Trumps progressive souring of relation and a post-pandemic tough stance towards China is borne out of a realization that a large number of Americans blame China for the spread of COVID-19.

While Trump has therefore gone about creating fait accompli and casting US-China ties in an existential framework (egged on by China hawks within his administration and also triggered by Chinas actions in Hong Kong), the timing has coincided with Chinas renewed territorial aggression towards India.

Trumps maximum pressure campaign has been beneficial for India to the extent that wary of opening too many fronts at once, Chinas approach on the Ladakh standoff  post the deadly Galwan clash  has been (at least rhetorically) conciliatory even though it has refused to restore status quo ante so far.

This is a chronological timeline of the administration's actions towards China in 2020. You can visually see the number of items speeding up as the year progresses. The policy process, hill actions, COVID, HK/Xinjiang, and election politics are major contributors. pic.twitter.com/gORwktJQUO  Eric Sayers (@DEricSayers) August 19, 2020

Biden has promised to be tough on China  partly to answer Trumps charge that he is softer on China and partly out of a realization that the structural realities of US-China ties have changed irrevocably and there is a bipartisan consensus on tougher stance towards Beijing.

Accordingly, his views on China have undergone a tectonic shift, from being one of the pro-engagers with Beijing to calling Xi Jinping a thug during the primaries and making it clear that the US should not tolerate Chinas human rights violations and should be moving 60 percent of its sea power to the Western Pacific to rebuild alliances and protect other folks.

The Democratic presidential nominee, however, faces two problems. First, the centrality of China as a theme in US presidential polls and Trump administrations scorched-earth policy leave Biden with little manouvering space.

Second, Biden, with his Democratic background and extensive foreign policy experience is touting a restorative foreign policy the tenets of which make his China policy incoherent and pulling in different directions.

As professor Van Jackson writes in Foreign Policy, competing political demands are pulling Biden in opposing directions on China and they will continue to do so, because liberal internationalism is of two minds about China. The US must get tough on China but not resign itself to an existential rivalry. It must improve Taiwans defenses without increasing the risks of war. It must sanction China but ease tariffs. It must not inhibit free trade but pursue aspects of decoupling all the same. If this seems like a series of contradictions, thats the point.

Biden has so far gone about charting a careful middle path, renouncing another Cold War with China, stressing on alliances to counter Beijing, denouncing broad tariffs in favour of targeted ones while promising to increase US naval presence in Indo-Pacific to send a message to China that US wont back down and leading a united front of the free world against Chinas high-tech authoritarianism by shaping the rules, norms, and institutions that will govern the global use of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, according to his policy briefing at Council on Foreign Relations last year.

At the same time, Biden, who had facilitated Chinas entry into the WTO in 2001 as a Senator, has promised to cooperate with China on some issues  differentiating his policy from that of Trumps who has adopted a more overarching approach.

In his article in Foreign Affairs this year, Biden writes: The US does need to get tough with China. If China has its way, it will keep robbing the US and American companies of their technology and intellectual property. The most effective way to meet that challenge is to build a united front of US allies and partners to confront Chinas abusive behaviors and human rights violations, even as we seek to cooperate with Beijing on issues where our interests converge, such as climate change, nonproliferation, and global health security.

Bidens competitive-cooperative policy towards China differs from Trumps prism of China as an existential threat, and Beijing  that has of late sought to downplay differences and engage with the US  may be hedging its bets that a Biden administration will create some space for engagement and even dial down the escalatory spiral. If and when that happens, it may create some dissonance in Indo-US strategic cooperation. The intensification of defence and intelligence cooperation has been underwritten by a shared threat emanating from China, and if New Delhi perceives that Biden Oval Office is bent on revising the notion that China is a vital threat to the US, then it may lead to trust issues in the partnership.

Notably, Biden had just one mention of India in the entire essay where he called for deepening partnerships from India to Indonesia to advance shared values in a region that will determine the United States future.

Biden did lay out a more exhaustive approach in a policy paper where he touted his role in strengthening US-India partnership and in pushing through the landmark civil nuclear agreement, and he has promised to deliver on his long-standing belief that India and the United States are natural partners, and announced that a Biden Administration will place a high priority on continuing to strengthen the US-India relationship.

At the very least, India will have to prepare for some uncertainties in the relationship though given his long career in foreign policy and as vice-president to Obama for eight years, India is familiar with Biden and his prospective team. The second threat to bilateral ties may come from the familiar circle, and this is where Biden  an old world middle-of-the-road centrist Democrat  will have to do a balancing act. He has picked as his running mate Kamala Harris in a hat tip to the progressive section of the party whose backing his crucial for Biden to make it through.

Harris may not be among the far-left, social justice Democrats but she has been a vocal critic of India on Kashmir, and in October last year raised the need for US intervention on Kashmir if the situation so demands. In her words: We have to remind the Kashmiris that they are not alone in the world. We are keeping a track on the situation. There is a need to intervene if the situation demands.

Harris has also come in support of her fellow Indian American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal when her late inclusion in a panel led to Indias external affairs minister S Jaishankar refusing to attend a meeting of House Foreign Affairs Committee. The minister later told reporters that Jayapals resolution wasnt a fair understanding of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir or a fair characterisation of what the government of India is doing.

Its 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. https://t.co/PpbDoB0zKB  Kamala Harris (@SenKamalaHarris) December 20, 2019

It isnt just the inclusion of Harris. In the larger scheme of things, and faced by the structural realities of realpolitik, politicians do modify their approach while in office. As professor Harsh Pant has written in ORF, 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.

There is, however, a deeper reason at work. Bidens outreach towards Muslim Americans is laid out on an extensive policy paper where India has come in for lengthy criticism due to its abrogation of Article 370 and promulgation of Citizenship Amendment Act. Apart from the fact that Indias decisions have been clubbed with Chinas oppression of Uighur Muslim minority and Myanmars treatment of Rohingya Muslims  a comparison that wont flatter New Delhi  Biden has sermonized that Indias measures  that are sovereign and passed via the Parliament by a democratically elected government  are inconsistent with the countrys long tradition of secularism and with sustaining a multi-ethnic and multi-religious democracy.

It is possible that this was necessary compromise done by the Biden campaign to accommodate the concerns of the progressive Left-wing in a Faustian bargain for support. Such a possibility has been hinted at by a key Indian American figure in the Biden campaign.

Silicon Valley entrepreneur Ajay Jain Bhutoria, who has worked with the Obama-Biden administration in the past and has been elected as a delegate for Biden for the DNC, was quoted as saying by news agency PTI that there are groups within various elected officials groups in US pushing language and agendas highlighting misinformation and damaging facts on how India handled its own internal matter on Kashmir, Ladakh or immigration reforms related to NRC. Bhutoria, incidentally, is also on the National Finance Committee for Biden. https://www.theweek.in/news/world/2020/06/26/hindu-americans-upset-with-bidens-views-on-kashmir-caa-nrc.html

The issue is to what extent Biden will allow this faction to influence foreign policy and enforce value-based interventions. Theres an argument, made by Kashish Parpiani of ORF, that though Biden will lead the charge of a moderate platform, his foreign policy agenda may witness the most substantial shifts given his little room for manoeuvre on ceding concessions on domestic issues like abolishing private insurance in the progressives call for Medicare for All.

Notably, the Biden campaign is aware of the backlash in the Hindu-American community and a subtle shift of mood in the voter base, specifically among the older generation of Indian Americans who rue Bidens lack of similar outreach towards Hindu Americans and consider Trump as a greater friend of India due to his non-interventionist foreign policy.

In response, Biden has come out with an extensive outreach towards Indian-American voters but even in that engagement, freedom of expression and religion have been described as one of the core principles. In the paper where India has come in for substantive criticism, Biden campaign has made an announcement that fighting corruption, countering authoritarianism, and advancing human rights globally will form his core foreign policy agenda.

As a seasoned Democrat and a diplomat, Biden would know that the time for such grand strategy is over. Ideological evangelism is not a viable geopolitical strategy when US as a global power is less dominant and has less freedom of action. Grand visions of remaking the world in its own image is a strategic arrogance that reeks of post-Cold War era adventurism.

If the progressive Left within the Democrats  that have relentlessly attacked India in the past  seeks to intervene in Indias sovereign and internal decisions, or at the very least delivers repeated pedagogic sermons on issues that they see through a monochromatic prism, then it may become difficult for Biden to conduct good-faith diplomacy with India, and consequently put a spanner in his very expansive notion of challenging China by deepening partnership with a crucial strategic partner.
What The U.A.E.-Israel Deal Means For Iran

Golnaz Esfandiari August 19, 2020

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 Zayed's 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 Tehran's 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 Tehran's 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.

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 Iran's vicinity. The reports follow an unexplained explosion at Iran's 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 republic's top trading partners, according to Tehran's Chamber of Commerce.

"Tehran's 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 Tehran's "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 Tehran's 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 Iran's charge d'affaires in Abu Dhabi in response to Rohani's 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.

Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/what- the-u-a-e--israel-deal-means -for-iran/30792418.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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ROYAL OAK, MI  A city commissioner from Royal Oak has died according to a post from her social media page.

Kim Gibbs, 48, Gibbs was a city commissioner since 2017.

According to a Facebook post on her page, Gibbs mother found her unconscious and called for paramedics. Gibbs was transported to Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak where she never regained consciousness, FOX-2 Detroit reports.

On Saturday, August 1st, Kim was in an automobile accident. The accident was severe enough to total Kims vehicle. Kim initially reported merely being shaken up by the accident. However, by the following Tuesday, Kim no longer was responding to text messages from loved ones, the post reads.

Gibbs was censured by fellow commissioners after she attended a rally in Lansing during the early stages of Michigans stay home order. She also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor shoplifting after she was caught at a Meijer trying to leave without paying for items at a self-checkout station.

It is with heavy hearts and sadness that we report that Commissioner Kim Gibbs passed away today. We ask for your... Posted by Royal Oak City Commissioner Kim Gibbs on Thursday, August 20, 2020

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Royal Oak city commissioner ticketed for shoplifting
Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae, third from left, poses with the ministry officials during the launch ceremony for the international dispute settlement division at the Government Complex Gwacheon in Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. / Courtesy of Ministry of Justice



By Park Jae-hyuk



The government said Thursday it has created an international dispute settlement division under the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) this month to better handle legal disputes with international investors, including the eight-year-long litigation with Lone Star Fund.



Comprised of 14 lawyers, the new organization will work on dealing with international disputes more effectively and seek to prevent possible lawsuits being filed against the government.



"The division will direct law firms representing the government," MOJ legal affairs bureau head Kang Sung-kook said. "Depending on the importance and difficulty of the cases, the division may handle some cases itself without hiring private law firms, to reduce costs and improve its expertise."



The government made the announcement after the Lone Star case entered a new phase in June with the appointment of a new arbitrator, William Ian Corneil Binnie from Canada, who was appointed to replace the deceased V. V. Veeder.



This has allowed the arbitration procedure that has been halted since March to be resumed.



The Texas-based private equity firm (PEF) filed a request with the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in 2012, claiming the Korean government should compensate it for the "belated" approval of the sale of its Korea Exchange Bank stake to Hana Financial Group and return the taxes it paid during the delay.



Lone Star general counsel Michael Thomson also told local news outlets recently that his company had sought a settlement with the government that would keep the dispute out of the ICSID. He also reportedly said his company has continued to propose out-of-court settlements over the past eight years.



The government, however, claims the U.S. PEF had not asked for negotiations.



In response to criticism of it concealing information about the Lone Star case, the government said it would disclose information to the public in accordance with the law, when the litigation was over.



According to the government, there are five ongoing ICSID claims against Korea. They are litigations filed by Lone Star, Elliott Management, Mason Capital, Schindler Group and a Chinese individual.



Data compiled by the National Assembly Budget Office showed the government spent 8.2 billion won ($6.9 million) last year to cope with the ICSID claims. The government drew up a 16 billion won budget this year to pay for its response to the claims.


FILE PHOTO: Colombia's President Ivan Duque speaks during a news conference at the Tecnologico de Moneterrey in Mexico City

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombian President Ivan Duque said on Thursday that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's administration is looking to buy Iranian missiles and is handing over weapons made in Russia and Belarus to Colombian armed groups.

Colombia does not recognize Maduro as Venezuela's leader and Duque refers to him as a dictator. The Colombian government is among more than 50 countries which consider opposition leader Juan Guaido to be Venezuela's president.

Venezuela's Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza called the claim "fiction" on Twitter.

"In Colombia the massacres, unleashed violence, uncontrollable drug trafficking do not stop," he wrote. "@IvanDuque returns to infamies and anti-Venezuelan fiction to distract public opinion."

Though Venezuela has previously purchased weaponry from countries such as China and Russia, Maduro's government is mired in a long-running fiscal crisis, struggling to provide basics like fuel despite its huge oil reserves.

"There is information from international intelligence organisms that work with us which shows there is interest from the dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro in acquiring some medium and long-range missiles through Iran," Duque said during a virtual event.

"The information is that (the missiles) still haven't arrived but there has been contact especially under instructions from (Venezuela Defense Minister Vladimir) Padrino," Duque said.

Duque reiterated his frequent accusation that Maduro protects and supports former members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia rebel group who reject a 2016 peace deal and the still-active National Liberation Army guerrillas.

The neighboring countries' 2,219 kilometer (1,380-mile) and border is home to numerous armed groups principally involved in drug trafficking and illegal gold mining.

Colombia is the top destination for Venezuelans who have fled their country in recent years. More than 1.7 million Venezuelans reside in Colombia.

(Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta in Bogota; Additional reporting by Vivian Sequera in Caracas; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb and Sarah Kinosian; Editing by Alistair Bell and Daniel Wallis)
The first thing that hits you is the crippling fatigue, like someone has literally drained the energy out of your arms and legs.

As a working mum of three extremely busy boys, I did what I always do and tried to push through it.

But as I attempted to juggle working from home with the sudden horror of home-schooling, I quickly realised all was not well.

A day later, my symptoms worsened and a painfully chesty cough paired with a sore throat almost levelled me. Like every other person with access to the internet last March, I had spent days Googling the symptoms of Covid, convinced I was infected.

Read More

But I was also back a week from a well-documented early exit from Cheltenham which led to me going head-to-head on the airwaves with the racecourse manager over why it should never have gone ahead.

I rang my GP who referred me for a test, but was told there was a lengthy wait of around a week. Two days later, I was bedridden with cold chills and my cough had graduated to a breathless wheeze as I panted to catch my breath.

My husband had taken our three out of the house to give me a break, so I was home alone and seriously worried.

I was also wracked with anxiety. What if it was Covid and I had exposed my three young children to it?

I had self-isolated as soon as I left Dublin Airport so that was at least one consolation.

I waited it out and slept all day. The next day, I felt a little better. The sore throat remained and my energy levels were on the floor. I also lost my appetite and sense of taste so over the course of the illness, I shed half a stone.

A week after contacting my GP, I got a text from the HSE to say the criteria had changed and my referral was cancelled - along with 40,000 other people with suspected Covid. This was to prioritise those in "at risk" groups, which was appropriate.

But then my husband developed symptoms; a sore throat, a cough and exhaustion. He was in bed for four days as the pair of us scrambled to look after three little boys in isolation while the home-schooling went out the window.

Read More

It took nearly three weeks before we both felt better but a nagging curiosity persisted. Given my test was cancelled, how would I ever know if I'd had Covid or not?

Well, very simply, actually. I made an appointment with Tropical Medical Bureau (TMB) for its newly-launched antibodies test. I had a blood test done in the clinic and two days later, I got the result - it was positive.

It's also worth noting as we head back to school that at no point during my illness did any of my children exhibit any symptoms - but they had undoubtedly been exposed to it as well.

But what does it actually mean to have the antibodies? Am I immune from re-infection and for how long?

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar recently spoke of his hopes that Ireland would achieve herd immunity - but does such a thing even exist?

I spoke to the TMB's founder and medical director Dr Graham Fry to find out more. About 15pc of clients have tested positive for the antibodies, but less than 5pc of the general population are thought to have them.

He said much of the problem lies in the fact it's such a new disease so what we know about it is constantly changing as more research emerges.

At this point, we don't know how much protection we get from Covid antibodies circulating in our system.

Dr Fry said the likelihood is that it will keep it under control and I would be very unlucky to get Covid again.

"You won't get the disease again for a period of time. But we can't be sure how long that time is - three months, six months, 12 months, 18 months or a lifetime, we just don't know. That is one of the main topics going on at the moment - how long do they protect you?" he said.

The amount of antibodies in our system also varies from person to person and their existence is not reliant on the severity of the infection but how well your system reacts to it to generate them in the first place.

In fact, the unsung hero of Covid is our T-cells, which are the memory cells of our immune system and create the antibodies in the first place - and can do it repeatedly. Currently, there is no commercial test for T-cells.

"While the antibodies may no longer be present, if someone's had the disease, they may still have the T-cells present. If they're exposed to Covid in future, that's what stimulates the immune system against a second or third exposure," he said.

And what about hopes for herd immunity? It's "aspirational" as at least 70pc of the population would need to get the virus. That means a lot of people would have to get very ill, most likely those in the "at risk" groups and the elderly.

"To generate herd immunity, you'd have to accept a lot more mortality and that's not an easy thing to accept," he said.
This is an opinion column.

We dont trust you.

We know you mean well, now. We just dont trust you.

Your healthcare system. Your doctors.

Your clinical trials, especially.

Your vaccines.

Can you blame us?

Can you blame us after Tuskegee?

After the government-led program that for four decades allowed poor Black men in Alabama to suffer and die from syphilis when they thought they were being treated in a clinical study? It didnt end until 1972 and may not have been shut down then had a researcher not leaked the travesty to a reporter. Many men went blind, many lost their minds. Twenty-eight men died from the disease, 100 others died from complications and more than 40 spouses were found to have the disease, passing it on 19 of their children.

Can you blame us after Henrietta Lacks?

In 1951, cells from the malignant tumor found inside her cervix by a doctor at Baltimores John Hopkins Hospital, one of the few hospitals that would treat poor Black people back then, were harvested without her knowledge or concept. A researcher found them to be extraordinary, reproducing every 24 hours rather than dying like most cells. Theyre called HeLa cells and have since been used to develop advancements like the polio vaccine, cloning, chemotherapy, and in vitro fertilization. To study the impact on cancer cells of toxins, drugs, and virusesall without touching a human. She died that same year without knowing the impact she would make. Her family didnt learn of her gift to the world until a quarter-century laterand never received a nickel in compensation.

Can you blame us when the healthcare system in this nation has failed us time and time and time again? Failed us miserably, contributing disparities that threatening us at every stage of life.

In Alabama Black babies die before their first year at twice the rate (11.3 per 1,000 live births) of white babies (5.1).

This is really scary. Researchers at George Mason University analyzed 1.8 million hospital births in Florida between 1992 and 2015 and found Black babies were three times more likely to die in the hospital when their birth is handled by a white doctor. Three times, folks.

Can you blame us?

By now you likely know Black people are dying from COVID-19 at twice the rate of whites. Recently, as the months-long rise in infections in the state appears to be taking a slight breather, deaths among Blacks arent waning. Not according to one so-called last-responder.

Arllian Kate Bushelon of Bushelon Funeral Home, Inc. in Birmingham, told me she is currently serving five families whose loved ones died of coronavirus. It used to be one to three a week, she said. [Black-owned funeral homes] arent seeing the slowdown.

Can you blame us if were skeptical of Operation Warp Speed, the government-led effort to bull-rush the delivery of 300 million doses of a vaccine by January?

Even knowing that not participating in critical Phase 3 clinical trials may produce a COVID-19 vaccine might be less effective for black and brown people.

People like me.

I grew up with asthma, so Im intimately familiar with Albuterol, the most common inhalant prescribed. Yet due to genetic differences that may have gone undiscovered because of a dearth of African Americans and Puerto Ricans in clinical trials, its been found to be less effective among those children, which may be partly why they are up to five times more likely to die than whites from asthma.

Del Smith, Ph.D. is co-founder and CEO of Acclinate Genetics, a Huntsville, AL-based company working to ensure genetic research and clinical studies are inclusive of people of ethnic descent, people whove been left out, people whove long said, no thanks, we dont trust you.

Drugs are being developed that have less efficacy based on ethnicity, Smith says. With Albuterol, you have kids taking medicine and its not working. There are two issuesmistrust and a history of exploiting African Americans for gain.

Thats what keeps us from wanting to take part.

Smith says participation by Blacks and Latinos in clinical trials is typically an egregiously low 2%. We need to get it to 14-to-16 percent, he says.

Black and Latino participation in clinical trials for a coronavirus vaccine isnt hitting that mark. About 350,000 people have registered for clinical trials with the COVID-19 Prevention Network; just 10 percent are Black or Latino, the group reports.

Blacks and Latinos in the U.S. are three times as likely as whites to be infected by the virus.

If were not in the trials, will the vaccine work for us?

I have grave concerns, Smith says, about the ability [of pharmaceutical companies] to meet the challenge and have representative samples in their trials.

Overcoming historic, and valid, distrust requires a change in messaging, Smith says.

Typically, someone on the street with a clipboard or a dispassionate recorded voice on the telephone may ask, Do want to take part in a clinical trial?.

Uh, hell no.

The better approach is to say, We have an interest in you and the people you love knowing more about a health-related issue that may impact you or your loved ones in the future, he says. If you educate and engage, people are more likely to think about it and more likely to say yes.

Del Smith, founder/CEO of Acclinate Genetics

Smith doesnt believe its too late for clinical trials seeking a vaccine for COVID-19 to boost inclusion, though hes worried the Food and Drug Administration saying only it would like to see more inclusive trials it toothless without adding the agency will not approve a vaccine if ethnic representation in its trials did not come close to representing those most impacted by the disease.

We are encouraged, Smith says, though the window will be closing fast.

The Center for Disease Control is said to be pondering if the groups should be in line for the vaccine behind front-line healthcare workers, those with underlying health conditions (which will likely disproportionately include Blacks and Latinos) and older adults.

The way things are going we are going now, [Blacks and Latinos] may be asked to take a vaccine sooner rather than later with no way of knowing if its safe and effective for everyone, Smith says.

And you still wonder why we dont trust you.

Even when our very lives may depend on it.

A voice for whats right and wrong in Birmingham, Alabama (and beyond), Roys column appears in The Birmingham News and AL.com, as well as in the Huntsville Times, the Mobile Register. Reach him at rjohnson@al.com and follow him at twitter.com/roysj
While some people escape into big adventure movies and romantic comedies, others prefer the cathartic release of make-believe terror. Horror has thrived on our screens since the silent era, and has adapted to the times and audiences  and modes of distribution, from spooky stories told by candlelight to graphic gore piped to a tablet.

Here is a survey of the horror offerings from the main streaming services. (Note that except for streaming originals, titles are on a rolling basis and can appear or disappear overnight.)

Amazon Prime Video
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- What is the Pentagon's way forward for the National Guard?

Four members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other speakers will provide some answers at the National Guard Association of the United States' 142nd General Conference, which will be livestreamed from the nation's capital Aug. 28-29.

The event is the association's annual business meeting. It is typically limited to NGAUS members and guests. This year it is virtual and open to anyone with an interest in the Guard, said retired Brig. Gen. J. Roy Robinson, the association president.

"We're honored to gather so many senior Pentagon generals, especially in a year that has seen historic mobilizations of Guard soldiers and airmen," he said. "Some are brand new to their posts. We will be discovering the way forward from America's newest defense leaders."

The speakers include (times are Eastern and subject to change):

Gen. James C. McConville , the Army chief of staff  Aug. 28 at 4 p.m. ;

, the Army chief of staff  at ; Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson , the new chief of the National Guard Bureau  Aug. 29 at 1 p.m. ;

, the new chief of the National Guard Bureau  at ; Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. , the Air Force chief of staff  Aug. 29 at 2 p.m. ;

the Air Force chief of staff  at ; Gen. John W. "Jay" Raymond , the Space Force's first chief of space operations  Aug. 29 at 2:30 p.m. ;

, the Space Force's first chief of space operations  at ; Lt. Gen. Jon A. Jensen , the new director of the Army National Guard  Aug. 29 at 3:40 p.m. ; and

, the new director of the Army National Guard  at ; and Lt. Gen. Michael A. Loh , the new director of the Air National Guard Aug. 29 at 4:10 p.m.

More than 120,000 Guard soldiers and airmen were mobilized and on duty in early June, including a record 95,000 for domestic missions. The rest were overseas in Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, Kuwait, Kosovo, the Sinai Peninsula and other hotspots.

But despite its use in front-line missions, the force often struggles with second-rate equipment and only limited access to medical coverage.

The conference will be broadcast from the National Guard Memorial, the association headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The association will set up a studio in the building. An audio-visual company will produce and transmit a broadcast-quality telecast to an online event platform, which is now open to registered attendees.

In addition to the conference telecast, the platform will enable attendees to interact and visit a virtual trade show. More than 80 companies have already registered to exhibit. Many have already set up their booths.

Conference events get underway the morning of Aug. 28 with work on the resolutions. Two delegates from each of the 54 states and territories will develop a package to serve as the basis for next year's legislative action plan.

The first of four short sessions will follow later in the day. Among the highlights Aug. 29 will be the Roll Call of States. Many states and territories have already submitted 30-second videos.

Conference registration is $18.78 and is available at www.ngaus.org/events/142nd-general-conference. The fee helps cover the cost of the event. Registrants will be provided with a link to the online platform, which is already open.

About NGAUS: The association includes nearly 45,000 current or former Guard officers. It was created in 1878 to provide unified National Guard representation in Washington. In their first productive meeting after Reconstruction, militia officers from the North and South formed the association with the goal of obtaining better equipment and training by educating Congress on Guard requirements. Today, 142 years later, NGAUS has the same mission.

SOURCE National Guard Association of the U.S.

Related Links

www.ngaus.org


China honored "the most beautiful doctors" on the country's third Doctors' Day, which fell on Wednesday.

This came as part of China's efforts to honor medical and health workers for their contributions in the fight against COVID-19.

A total of 10 individuals and a team, excelling at both medical skills and work ethics, received the title from the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the National Health Commission.
Sixth Lawsuit Filed in Deaths at West Virginia VA Hospital

CHARLESTON, W.Va.A sixth lawsuit has been filed involving the sudden deaths of patients at a West Virginia veterans hospital where a former nursing assistant admitted to intentionally killing seven people with fatal doses of insulin.

A federal lawsuit was filed Wednesday in the July 2018 death of Russell R. Posey Sr. at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg.

Charleston attorney Tony ODell filed the lawsuit on behalf of Poseys son and daughter, who are co-executors of his estate. The elder Posey, 92, served as a chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, is the latest to allege a widespread system of failures at the hospital. Similar lawsuits have been filed in the deaths of five other veterans at the hospital in January, March, April, and June of 2018.

The lawsuit said the onset of Poseys severe, unexplained hypoglycemia was similar to the pattern of events that occurred with other patients.

Reta Mays, a former nursing assistant at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg, W.Va. is shown in this photo released by the West Virginia Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority on July 14, 2020. (West Virginia Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority via AP)

Fired hospital nursing assistant Reta Mays pleaded guilty last month to intentionally killing seven patients with wrongful insulin injections. Mays, 46, faces up to life in prison for each of seven counts of second-degree murder. No sentencing date has been set.

Mays admitted at a plea hearing to purposely killing the veterans, injecting them with unprescribed insulin while she worked overnight shifts at the hospital in northern West Virginia between 2017 and 2018. Her motive is still unclear. U.S. Attorney Bill Powell said authorities did not receive a satisfactory response to questions about the reasoning behind her actions.

It is not clear whether Mays admitted a connection to Poseys death. But in addition to her second-degree murder pleas, she also pleaded guilty to one count of assault with intent to commit murder involving the death of veteran R.R.P.Poseys initials.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred B. Westfall Jr. has said in court filings in response to some of the lawsuits that Mays acted outside the scope of her employment, the federal government should not liable for her criminal conduct and that the suits should be dismissed.

The VA is the governments second-largest department, responsible for 9 million military veterans. The agencys former director was fired in 2018 in the wake of a bruising ethics scandal and a mounting rebellion within the agency. Robert Wilkie took over as Veterans Affairs secretary in July 2018.

By John Raby
Weeks after being annihilated by a series of explosions, the Port of Beirut has become temporarily operational, a United Nations spokesperson said. The seaport located in the heart of Lebanese capital was flattened by an explosion on August 4. According to government data, at least 177 people have died and over four thousand were injured in the explosion.

In the aftermath of the explosion, the UN announced that it would be releasing an aid package worth $9 million for Lebanon. Speaking to international media reporters, UN spokesperson Stephaney Dujjaric said that almost 9,000 containers of the UN aid were offloaded on the Beirut port. He added that, between August 11 and 18, more than 1,000 tones of goods including iron and wheat were also offloaded on the explosion hit port.

Dujarric further asserted that the United Nations along with its partners was continuing to provide emergency humanitarian assistance and conduct assessments in the area. In addition to material assistance, UN has promised that it's agency WHO will help cover 1,000 trauma interventions and 1,000 surgical interventions for people suffering from burns and wounds caused by glass and other debris resulting from the blast.

Read: United Nations Says It Will Boost Emergency Aid To Lebanon

Read: United Nations Releasing $9 Million To Help Beirut Hospitals

Lebanon under lockdown

Meanwhile, Lebanon, which is witnessing a spike in coronavirus cases, has announced a nationwide lockdown. From August 21, markets, shopping centres, gyms, and other public places will be closed and an overnight curfew will be imposed. According to Lebanese officials, 456 new cases of coronavirus and two deaths were reported on August 17 and 421 cases on August 18.

Caretaker Health Minister Hamad Hassan, while speaking to a local radio station said the situation is intolerable and he also warned about hospitals are rapidly running out of beds for new patients. According to media reports, the reason behind a collapsed healthcare system is the explosion, which damaged six major hospitals and 20 clinics in the capital city. Other medical facilities and hospitals still functioning are treating thousands of wounded patients for trauma and burns.

Read: Lebanon To Impose Lockdown As Coronavirus Cases Surge After Beirut Explosion

Read: United Nations Says It Will Boost Emergency Aid To Lebanon

Image credits: AP
A Brooklyn mother traveling with her six children was kicked off a JetBlue flight in Florida on Wednesday afternoon because her two-year-old daughter would not wear a mask.

Chaya Bruck told New York Daily News she was ordered off the flight despite her desperate attempts to explain to flight attendants that she would try to get her daughter Dina to wear the mask but she had believed the little girl was exempt.

Other travelers rushed to her defense but when the toddler still wouldn't co-operate, all passengers were then asked to leave the flight.

Bruck remained stranded in Florida Wednesday afternoon after the 'traumatizing' experience as her husband threatens to sue the airline.

A desperate and teary Bruck is seen trying to put a mask on her two-year-old in the video

A JetBlue staff member tells Bruck that she and her family must leave the flight because her daughter is two or older and so it is airline policy she wears a mask on the aircraft

Bruck was traveling back to New York City via a Newark-bound flight from Orlando when she was approached by flight attendants and told her family must leave the plane because her youngest daughter was maskless.

All her other five older children were wearing masks but she argued Dina was too young to wear one.

'It was horrible, the whole experience was traumatizing,' Bruck said. 'I was trying very hard...(The other children) were wearing their masks with their noses covered.

'It says (on JetBlue's website) that a child who cannot wear a mask does not have to wear a mask. I tried to tell them this, but they didn't care...They wanted me off the plane.

'I wasn't making any trouble,' she added. 'Why did we have to experience such a thing?...I am a woman flying alone with six children...They didn't care.'

She claims that the incident stemmed from the first flight she took with her children to Orlando ten days ago.

She said that one of the attendants on that flight argued with her then about Dina wearing a face covering and that he was also on Wednesday's flight.

'The minute he saw me today, he recognized me,' Bruck said. 'I heard him tell the other stewardesses about me.

'They came over to me and told me my daughter was 3 years old,' she added. 'I told them she's 2...I know how old my child is, she's going to be 3 in September.'

The run-in with airline staff was filmed by several other angry passengers who were appalled that the young girl was being forced to wear a mask and that they then had to leave the plane.

One video filmed by a person sitting in the same row as Bruck shows her pleading through tears with staff to allow her to stay on the plane with her children and saying that she will try to keep the mask on her daughter

'I can try ... you do realize she's 2,' she asked the air stewardess.

'I do and also its not something that we can excuse,' the woman responds.

'So what should I do? Should I hold her hands?' she asks as she tries to get the mask on her crying daughter while staff tell her that it's too late and she must leave the plane.

Passengers filmed the incident and rushed to Bruck's defense

Other angered passengers filmed the flight crew as they were forced to get off the flight

'I paid for this flight, these are my seats and I have six kids, I'm not gonna go anywhere,' Bruck hits back.

Further shouting erupts as the little girl screams and a man sitting across the row begins to argue. Passengers sitting around them shout out in defense of Bruck and her family and says the little girl is too young to be forced to wear a mask.

'Leave her alone!' they are heard saying.

'(The other passengers) were sticking up for me....All of my kids were crying. I was shaking...It was inhumane,' Brruck said of the incident.

'They were really nasty,' passenger Charzette Poinsett told Daily News.

'(Bruck) said, "I'm going to get her to put the mask on" and that wasn't enough for them.'

'I understand that, there is zero tolerance,' the attendant is heard telling the other passengers in one of the videos. 'We have to wear face covers. It's already too late.'

The staff members adds that the airline policy says children two or over must wear masks meaning toddler Dina was old enough to have to comply.

Bruck continued her argument with JetBlue staff in the terminal. She claimed the policy said that if children were too young, they didn't have to wear a mask. The staff member disagreed

JetBlue mask policy on its website as of Wednesday evening after the incident

A press release on face masks issued by JetBlue on August 10

JetBlue's previous April statement said that small children were exempt from the policy

She then walks off and further video for another passenger shows how all onboard were then asked to leave the plane by the captain.

One inside the terminal, the staff member and Bruck are heard discussion he incident further while shouting breaks out among the other passengers angered at being forced to get off the plane.

Bruck is heard arguing that the JetBlue website said that if a child is too young to wear a masks, then they don't have to.

'It does't say that,' the airline employee claims.

'Yes, it does!' Bruck claps back and begins to walk off with her children in tow.

According to the JetBlue website, 'all travelers 2 years and older must wear a face covering over their nose and mouth throughout their journey'.

The airline began to implement a stricter face mask policy on its flights from earlier in August.

According to a press release issued on August 10, 'JetBlue has implemented a face covering policy that requires all crewmembers and customers 2 years and older maintain a proper face covering (without vents or exhalation valves) during their entire travel journey'.

'Effective August 10, face covering exemptions for any reason will also no longer be provided,' it adds.

The policy overruled one from April 27 that stated small children were exempt.

Bruck's husband told The Yeshiva World that he now plans to retain a lawyer and will be filing a federal lawsuit against JetBlue.
Six U.S. strategic bombers flew a maneuver in skies near the Korean Peninsula in a show of force presumably aimed at North Korea and China.

The maneuver follows the start of a joint South Korea-U.S. military exercise on Tuesday and comes just ahead of top Chinese official Yang Jiechi's visit to South Korea on Friday.

According to the U.S. Pacific Air Forces on Wednesday, four B-1B Lancers and two B-2 Spirit Stealth bombers took off from the U.S. mainland and Guam and flew over the Korea Strait and Japan on Monday to conduct "Bomber Task Force" missions.


Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  The numbers make it clear.

New Mexicans are driving down the number of coronavirus infections and limiting the spread of the disease  enough to bring the state into compliance, for the first time, with its reopening criteria.

But whats less clear, two of the states top health officials say, is the best way to reopen more of the economy and education system without igniting another surge in new infections.

In an online briefing Thursday, Human Services Secretary David Scrase said he doesnt expect any major changes to the states public health order or other restrictions over the next week. The order is set to expire Aug. 28, though it may be extended or revised at any time.

We believe we have room to do a little bit more reopening, Scrase said, and I want to emphasize a little.  We need to move slowly.

A key question, he said, is how long New Mexico should maintain compliance with all of its reopening criteria  standards the state now meets on testing capacity, disease spread and other factors  before relaxing some restrictions. The state cleared the final requirement this week.

There honestly isnt an answer for how long to wait, said Chad Smelser, acting state epidemiologist. Were learning from this pandemic as we go. Its clear that the longer you go meeting all of the gating criteria the better off youll be.

He and Scrase said New Mexico hopes to settle on a reopening strategy that avoids the sharp growth in cases that followed decisions to relax state restrictions earlier this summer. Wearing masks, they said, is likely to be a standard practice until a vaccine or treatment is available.

Reopening strategies

The health order set to expire next week prohibits indoor dining at restaurants, limits the capacity of other businesses, and bans gatherings of more than five people. The state also requires a 14-day self-quarantine for most travelers entering New Mexico from outside the state or country.

Furthermore, the state has directed public schools to avoid in-person classes for almost all students through Labor Day, at the least.

Scrase suggested he is most focused on the potential to allow some in-person learning at schools, citing evidence that classroom time  rather than online activity  is particularly important for the academic growth of some students.

And he acknowledged other members of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams administration are examining reopening strategies for other parts of public life.

Lujan Grisham and state officials have discussed the possibility of allowing in-person classes at elementary schools for two days a week following Labor Day, though no decision has been made. Some districts  including Albuquerque and Santa Fe public schools  have already decided to stick with distance learning well beyond that date.

The state is also facing litigation and pressure from business owners to allow indoor dining at restaurants and breweries  a restriction that was reimposed in mid-July. The state Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in the case Wednesday.

Carol Wight, CEO of the New Mexico Restaurant Association, said New Mexico is one of just three states that completely ban dining inside.

Restaurants are extremely disappointed that the state has met the gating criteria yet restaurants remain closed, she said in a written statement Thursday. We are hopeful that the gating criteria wont change and the governor and Dr. Scrase will reopen restaurants on August 28th.

Concern about southern NM

The number of new cases detected by testing has fluctuated in recent days.

Health officials reported 208 new cases Thursday, pushing the states seven-day rolling average up slightly to 138 cases. Its still less than half the case average from earlier this month.

The steady decline is really good news, Smelser said. We, of course, want to keep that progress going.

The state also reported five more deaths, pushing the statewide death toll to 734 residents.

Three of the five victims were from Bernalillo County, and all had an underlying medical condition of some kind, a risk factor for the disease.

Bernalillo County, the states most populous county, led the state with 59 new cases, followed by Lea County in the southeastern part of the state, with 27 cases.

Smelser said southeastern New Mexico is our most problematic region now because cases there have reached a plateau rather than fallen, as in the rest of the state. The areas proximity to Texas and travel across state lines are a concern, he said.

In Thursdays briefing, Scrase and Smelser repeatedly urged New Mexicans to continue to wear masks and avoid large social gatherings. They said they were grateful for residents work to limit the spread of the disease.

Scrase encouraged people to think of the future reopening phases as a dimmer switch that turns the lights on slowly, rather than an on/off switch.
Photo: The Canadian Press Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre holds up redacted documents during a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020. The documents were tabled by the Government at the House of Commons Finance Committee. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Opposition parties are taking issue with the black ink applied to many of the thousands of pages of newly released documents about the WE Charity controversy, suggesting the redactions are part of a continuing coverup by the federal Liberals.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ordered the 5,000-plus pages released to MPs on the House of Commons finance committee Tuesday as he announced the prorogation of Parliament until Sept. 23.

The documents contain numerous exchanges between federal civil servants, ministerial staff and WE Charity officials about the plan to have the Toronto-based organization run a multimillion-dollar program encouraging students to volunteer during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Canada Student Service Grant program gradually took shape over a period of weeks, initially including the possibility of a scholarship or bursary, and eventually fixed sums linked to the number of hours spent volunteering.

By proroguing Parliament, Trudeau put a temporary end to the four committees that have spent the summer probing the decision to enlist WE Charity, which has close connections to the families of the prime minister and Bill Morneau, who resigned as finance minister this week.

Trudeau announced the launch of the program on June 25. But there was immediate controversy over his perceived conflict of interest and WE Charity pulled out of the agreement, which was to have paid the organization $43.5 million, on July 3.

The newly released documents seem to back up the Trudeau government's assertion it was federal public servants who recommended the student service grant program be administered by WE Charity.

They also suggest bureaucrats may have been encouraged to pursue that course by their political masters.

Yet many of the pages have been blacked out, either in part or in their entirety.

In a letter to the clerk of the finance committee that was released with the documents, the clerk of the Privy Council said the redactions were made in accordance with the committee's own decision to protect cabinet secrets and personal information.

"The committee's motion stipulates that cabinet confidence and national security information are to be excluded from the package," Ian Shugart wrote to committee clerk David Gagnon on Aug. 7.

"A principled approach was adopted to this information to ensure a non-selective application of the protection afforded by cabinet confidentiality. As a result, considerable information on the Canada Student Service Grant that would otherwise constitute cabinet confidences is being released."

Shugart went on to say that information on the pages was withheld if deemed not relevant to the grant program.

Still, the redactions emerged as a focal point for opposition anger and frustration on Wednesday, with Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre waving several partially and completely blacked-out pages during a news conference on Parliament Hill.

Among the documents that Poilievre focused on was an email that WE co-founder Craig Kielburger sent to Morneau on April 26 with two attached documents, the contents of which are withheld.

"We'd love to learn about the attached documents in it, but unfortunately, in what is to become a trend throughout this package, all the relevant information in the two documents are completely blacked out," Poilievre said.

Poilievre held up several other redacted documents before tossing them aside.

"This page blacked out," he said. "This page blacked out. This page, blacked out. Why don't we ask what's in those pages at a parliamentary committee? Well, I'll tell you why: Justin Trudeau shut down those parliamentary committees."

The New Democrats also complained about the documents Wednesday, with NDP finance critic Peter Julian writing a letter to finance committee chair and Liberal MP Wayne Easter arguing it wasn't up to the government to make redactions.

Rather, he said the committee's motion had called for the government to provide unredacted documents for the parliamentary law clerk to vet, with the understanding members would then be able to challenge redactions they thought were excessive.

"Nearly a quarter of the documents provided to committee members were redacted in whole or in part," Julian wrote. "It is over 1,000 pages that we as parliamentarians do not have full access to shed light on this scandal."

MPs on the finance committee actually received late Tuesday a second version of the same documents, which had been undergoing vetting by the parliamentary law clerk since they were submitted to the committee Aug. 9.

That version redacted all the names and email addresses of bureaucrats so that it is impossible to tell who wrote what or who was talking to whom, which rendered them far less informative than the set Trudeau ordered released.

Easter said he does not fault the law clerk for being cautious, but the end result rendered the documents essentially useless.

"Our intent as a committee in terms of the motion was (to find out) who's talking to who and what time did they talk to who and what did they say. So without the names they're not going to be very effective for you, if at all," Easter said.

If not for Trudeau ordering release of the documents as originally submitted to the committee, Easter said, there would have been far less information available.

"I think what the prime minister's documents show is the prime minister's trying to be transparent."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 00:50:12|Editor: huaxia

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Fire and smoke are seen at a plastic plant in Grand Prairie, about 21 kilometers west of Dallas, Texas, the United States, Aug. 19, 2020. A massive fire that broke out overnight at a plastics plant near U.S. Texas city of Dallas is likely to burn for days, officials said on Wednesday morning. Local fire department officials said the fire started around midnight at a plastic plant, when a power line fell onto a storage area containing plastic sheeting. (Photo by Dan Tian/Xinhua)



HOUSTON, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- A massive fire that broke out overnight at a plastics plant near U.S. Texas city of Dallas is likely to burn for days, officials said on Wednesday morning.

Local fire department officials said the fire started around midnight at a plastic plant in Grand Prairie, about 21 kilometers west of Dallas, when a power line fell onto a storage area containing plastic sheeting.

Grand Prairie Fire Department Assistant Chief Bill Murphy said one of the rail cars caught fire and then the fire spread, adding that no injuries have been reported.

The Dallas Morning News quoted Murphy as saying that the fire has been somewhat contained, but it's still likely to burn for at least two days.

"The flames aren't as big," the local newspaper quoted Murphy as saying. "Our biggest problem is this is a lot of plastic. It burns very hot. You've got to have a lot of foam to put on it ... There's just not enough foam to put on this large of a fire."

Fire officials are now concerned that additional power lines will fall as the fire continues to burn, Murphy said. Enditem
T he Manchester Arena bomber plotter who orchestrated the devastating atrocity which left 22 dead and hundreds more injured has been handed 24 life sentences today.

Hashem Abedi hatched an plan with his older brother Salman to detonate a homemade bomb at the concert hall, targeting children and causing death and destruction as crowds left an Ariana Grande concert.

Salman Abedi was the one who carried out the suicide bomb attack, on May 22, 2017, but his brother was proved to be instrumental in the terror plot.

At the Old Bailey today, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker sentenced Abedi to life in prison with a minimum term of 55 years behind bars.

The stark reality is these were atrocious crimes, large in their scale, deadly in their intent, and appalling in their consequences, he said.

Hashem Abedi / PA

Families of some of the victims gasped in the courtroom as the judge announced the minimum term, the largest ever handed down in British criminal history apart from whole life terms.

The judge said he would have wanted to condemn Abedi to the rest of his life in prison with a life means life sentence, but whole life terms had been ruled out by MPs for offenders under 21 at the time of their crimes.

He said Abedi had been equally responsible with his brother for the bombing, helping to make explosives and picking out the eventual target.

Emergency services at Manchester Arena following the attack / PA Wire/PA Images

The choice of the Ariana Grande concert as the target for this incident is one which the defendant and his brother would have readily appreciated heightened the risk of death and serious injury to those particularly vulnerable because of their young age.

Their intention to specifically target that age group, an aim which tragically succeeded. Almost half of those killed were either children or teenagers.

Abedi was absent from the dock today as the sentence was passed, having shunned court proceedings for much of his trial and sacked his legal team.

Bomber: Salman Abedi

The judge said he had seen no evidence of the terrorist being immature due to his age, calling him an obviously intelligent young man. Abedi was in the cells at court this morning but refused to be brought into the dock.

Yesterday families of victims of the terror attack delivered emotional tributes to their lost loved ones, revealing the heartache and anger they have been left to deal with.

Lisa Rutherford, whose 17-year-old daughter Chloe died in the bombing, said her heart snapped when she heard the news and tearfully told the court: We are destroyed.

Caroline Curry held up a photo of her son Liam, 19, who was killed in the blast and directed her words to the absent Abedi.

You took from me something more precious than gold, a beautiful boy, inside and out, she said. I want you to look at Liam and remember the beautiful boy that was snatched away. Your actions have caused this heartbreak.

The bomb went off at 10.31pm in the arenas foyer, just as crowds were leaving the concert venue, and Figen Murray who lost her son Martyn Hett, 29, said she now cannot sleep before 11pm each night.

I cant reconcile as a mother that I was fast asleep as my son lay dead on the floor, she said. Im still a bit ashamed of that and I will always live with that shame.

A national minute's silence held in remembrance of all those who lost their lives in the Manchester attack / Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Claire Booth, whose sister Kelly Brewster died in the bombing, broke down in tears as she described being separated from her sibling when the bomb went off.

I simply felt helpless that I couldnt be with her and she was alone on the cold floor. This haunts me even now, she said.

Survivors of the blast told the court they have been left with feelings of guilt, with some haunted by the thought that they might have done things differently to thwart the attack or save their loved ones.

Today, the judge told them: "I hope in time they may be able to accept the only individual who should have any such feelings is the defendant, whose actions together with his brother were entirely responsible for those deaths."

Others survivors said they have suffered panic attacks since the bombing while in public, casting suspicion on Muslims and people wearing backpacks.

Harriet Taylor, whose mother Jane Tweddle, 51, died in the blast, said in a statement: We simply will not let evil win. Evil is invisible, it has no face, no heart, no race.

Hashem Abedi, brother of the Manchester Arena bomber / Reuters

But what we have that evil never will have is love.

Samantha Leczkowski, mother of Leeds 14-year-old Sorrell Leczkowski, said her daughters bedroom had been kept untouched since she died.

I cannot bring myself to alter Sorrells room, she said. Losing one of my children has killed me, I may as well be dead.

The Abedi brothers, who were born in Manchester and have family in Libya, were inspired by ISIS as they hatched the terror plot, acquiring chemicals and shrapnel for a homemade bomb using an email address titled "We come to slaughter".

They both travelled to Libya ahead of the attack, leaving behind their bomb-making materials in Manchester. When Salman returned alone to the UK, he went on a reconnaissance visit to the Manchester Arena and then made final preparations for the attack.

Chilling CCTV footage on the night of the bombing showed Salman, carrying a rucksack on his back, entering the foyer of the arena and waiting for crowds to start leaving before setting off the device.

His brother, now 23 but 20 at the time, was still in Libya but spoke to Salman over the phone for four minutes as he was travelling to the arena that night.

Hashem Abedi denied all knowledge of the plot, claiming he would have reported his brother if he had known, but detectives pinned him to key parts of the plot including the purchase of chemicals and buying a car used to store the explosive device.

When the time came to explain his actions in his trial Abedi refused to give evidence and stopped coming to court at all, choosing instead to stay in his cell at HMP Belmarsh.

The 22 people who were killed were: off-duty police officer Elaine McIver, 43, Saffie Roussos, eight, Sorrell Leczkowski, 14, Eilidh MacLeod, 14, Nell Jones, 14, Olivia Campbell-Hardy, 15, Megan Hurley, 15, Georgina Callander, 18, Chloe Rutherford, 17, Liam Curry, 19, Courtney Boyle, 19, Philip Tron, 32, John Atkinson, 28, Martyn Hett, 29, Kelly Brewster, 32, Angelika Klis, 39, Marcin Klis, 42, Michelle Kiss, 45, Alison Howe, 44, Lisa Lees, 43, Wendy Fawell, 50, and Jane Tweddle, 51.

Before delivering his sentencing remarks, the judge told the assembled relatives and survivors: I would like to pay tribute to the tremendous dignity and courage all those who have attending throughout the trial and sentencing hearing have shown during this very difficult time.

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Abedi was found guilty at trial of 22 counts of murder, one charge of attempted murder, and a count of plotting to cause an explosion likely to endanger life. He was given life sentences on all counts, and has already served almost three years of his sentence while awaiting extradition and trial.
The top court on August 14 held Bhushan guilty of criminal contempt for his derogatory tweets against the judiciary

The Supreme Court Thursday granted two days to activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan, who has been held guilty of contempt, to reconsider his 'defiant statement' refusing to apologise for his contemptuous tweets against the judiciary.

Bhushan told a bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra that he would consult his lawyers and think over the apex court's suggestion.

Attorney General K K Venugopal urged the bench, also comprising Justices B R Gavai and Krishna Murari, not to award any punishment to Bhushan in the contempt case saying he has already been convicted.

The bench said it cannot consider the request of Venugopal unless Bhushan reconsiders his earlier stand of not apologising for his tweets. The tone, tenor and content of Bhushan's statement makes it worse; is it defence or aggravation, the court told Venugopal.

The top court said it can be very lenient if there is realisation of mistake, and posted the matter for further hearing on August 24.

Bhushan's plea dismissed

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court rejected Bhushan's submission that the arguments on quantum of sentence in the contempt proceedings in which he has been held guilty be heard by another top court bench.

A bench gave assurance to Bhushan that no punishment will be acted upon till his review against the order convicting him in the case will be decided.

The bench told senior advocate Dushyant Dave, representing Bhushan, that he is asking them to commit an "act of impropriety" by saying that argument on sentencing be heard by another bench.

The top court on August 14 held Bhushan guilty of criminal contempt for his derogatory tweets against the judiciary, saying they cannot be said to be a fair criticism of the functioning of the judiciary made in the public interest.

Bar Association comes out in Bhushan's support

In a significant development, the Bar Association of India (BAI) has come out in support of the activist-lawyer, convicted for cntempt of court, saying that at a time the citizenry is facing huge challenges, the stature of the Supreme Court would stand enhanced by allowing criticism rather than taking umbrage at his remarks.

The Executive Committee of the BAI said it was deeply dismayed and concerned by the manner of exercise of suo motu contempt jurisdiction by the Supreme Court of India against a member of the legal profession in the case relating to Bhushan.

The BAI, in a statement said, it was of the view that the exercise of contempt jurisdiction by the court in this manner has potential for more self-harm than the avowed purpose of safeguarding the prestige of the institution.

Trenchant criticism, commentary, satire and humour help build institutions in a free society. Judgments that curb the exercise of freedom of speech and expression by a member of the Bar by resort to suo motu powers is conspicuously old fashioned.

The reputation of the Supreme Court of India cannot be dislodged by a couple of 'tweets'. At a time that the citizenry is facing huge challenges, the stature of the Supreme Court would stand enhanced by allowing criticism rather than taking umbrage at such remarks, it said.
OTTAWAThe federal governments decision to outsource a $544-million student grant program to WE Charity ignited a political firestorm for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau  but it wasnt like his cabinet colleagues hadnt raised any red flags.

Newly released documents show that cabinet ministers questioned the plan to pay the Toronto-based charity to deliver public funds to students in return for volunteer work.

Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos, for example, raised concerns about WE Charitys ability to administer the program in Quebec.

Quebec has a strong existing network of community organizations, working together and knowing each other pretty well, I would say, Duclos said in written questions to the public service about the WE Charity deal.

Looking at (WE Charitys website), I also see not a single word or page in French, he wrote. There are also few signs to believe that WE Charity has a strong anchor in the province.

The documents suggest that public servants reassured Duclos that WE Charity had a significant presence in Quebec, including offices in Montreal, and provided French-language programming for Quebec students.

To be able to provide bilingual training material is one thing, to be able to lead through a strong and tightly-knit network of community organizations is something different, the minister noted.

I fear that both the perception and the impact of working with WE Charity could be sub-optimal in Quebec.

After weeks of controversy over the handling of the student grant program, thousands of pages of internal government communications and policy documents were released to a parliamentary committee Tuesday. They arrived the same day that Trudeau shut down Parliament to begin planning for a post-pandemic recovery. Those plans will be presented in a throne speech on Sept. 23, which will trigger a confidence vote that could topple the Liberal minority government.

The documents show internal deliberation over the program as WE Charity pitched the government for money to stage initiatives for youth during the pandemic. After weeks of discussion and planning with the Toronto-based organization, the documents detail how Youth Minister Bardish Chagger presented the plan to outsource the program to WE Charity at a COVID-19 cabinet committee meeting on May 5.

A document summarizing that meeting says unnamed ministers expressed support for the proposal but that they also highlighted implementation challenges related to WE Charity. These included concerns over its ability to deliver a national program in a short time frame; whether WE Charity could guarantee the integrity of the program administration and provide timely grant payments to student participants; and whether it was worth paying WE Charity millions of dollars to run the program.

The document does not say if any of the ministers raised concerns about any perceived conflict of interest over ties between WE Charity and the families of Trudeau and then-finance minister Bill Morneau.

The documents show that, after the May 5 meeting, the program was pulled from the broader cabinet agenda for May 8. (Trudeau has said that happened when he asked for more due diligence.) Public servants then prepared briefings that included an explanation of why the civil service didnt have the capacity to deliver the program and why WE Charity was best positioned to do so.

Public servants also prepared a risks and mitigation strategies document outlining how WE Charity planned to respond to concerns about the capacity of non-profits to manage a surge of government-paid volunteers, how it would detect fraudulent applications, and how it would ensure youth in remote and rural communities could participate.

The program was ultimately approved by cabinet on May 22, and the government signed an agreement with a foundation created by WE Charity on June 23 that included payments of up to $43.5 million for the organization to disperse up to $500 million to student volunteers. Another $354 million was set aside in case there was demand for more.

In the weeks that followed, Trudeau and Morneau apologized for taking part in the cabinet decision to award the program to WE Charity after it was revealed that Trudeaus wife, brother and mother had received tens of thousands of dollars in speaking fees or payments for expenses from the organization, and that Morneaus daughter worked for WE Charity.

Morneau also acknowledged last month that he had accepted trips valued at $41,000 from WE Charity in 2017, and said he had repaid the money. He resigned as finance minister on Monday.

The documents released this week also detail what appeared to be internal confusion about the program as it was under consideration in late April and early May.

A document prepared for Morneaus signature on April 21 included an option to approve $12 million for a second WE Charity initiative to support young entrepreneurs. WE Charity was pitching that program to various government ministers weeks before the documents show public servants first discussing it as a possible third party to deliver the student grant program.

Morneaus former spokesperson Pierre-Olivier Herbert said by email Wednesday that Morneau never approved funding for the youth entrepreneurship program. Herbert pointed to a letter from the finance department indicating Morneau never signed the April 21 document.

But disclosed memos from the Privy Council Office (PCO) indicate officials there were under the impression that Morneau wanted to fund this second WE Charity program. A memo to Trudeau dated April 26 says the Minister of Finance has decided to fund the entrepreneurship initiative with $12 million. The memo says the PCO  the branch of the civil service that supports Trudeaus office  disagrees with the decision over concerns that those most in need would not participate.

Weeks later, on May 15, the documents show Trudeau signed off on the broad funding package for COVID-19 student programs  with the exception of $12 million for WE Charitys entrepreneurship program.

Speaking on background, a government official said it was likely that the fast pace of pandemic decision-making created confusion and that Trudeau explicitly rejected the program to make it clear the government would not fund the second WE Charity program  even though the finance minister never proposed that it do so.
Time to expand probes into global firms' unjust practices



Tesla Korea has finally promised to correct unfair clauses in its contracts. The Korea Fair Trade Commission said Tuesday that it had got the local branch of Tesla Motors to revise five terms and conditions in its vehicle sales contracts. One such term was that Tesla Korea would return only 100,000 won ($84) of commission fees in compensation if a vehicle was damaged during delivery.



The clause had become the target of consumer complaints about freeing the U.S. carmaker from all responsibilities in the case of accidental damage. Also coming under fire was the clause that left buyers to bear the burden of all damage occurring after a vehicle's delivery period while relieving the seller from responsibility when customers refuse delivery. These prompted angry buyers to file complaints with the KFTC, and the antitrust agency won a pledge from Tesla to correct the controversial clauses.



Global companies operating in Korea have often been accused of adhering to contract terms and conditions that are out of step with the domestic situation. The Tesla case is the proverbial "tip of the iceberg." Companies familiar to local consumers, such as Google and Apple, have also raised anger by demanding excessively high fees for using networks and apps or passing the burden to content providers. When problems arise, they either play dumb or avoid giving plausible answers under the pretext of "headquarters' policy." Korean businesses complain, with reason, that these practices are tantamount to reverse discrimination.



It was good in this regard that the KFTC has set a new milestone by clinging tenaciously to the Tesla case. The government should continue to make similar efforts. Global businesses have so far been able to operate here despite unfair trade practices because of their near monopolized supply of goods and services. That indicates these foreign firms feel tempted to abuse their power more frequently. They could even try to normalize such practices. The government should investigate global firms' unfair practices across the board. Nothing could be more unjust than determining the fairness of a company's business practices based on its headquarters location, size and status.


Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C. is pleased to announce that four of the firms attorneys have been included in the 2021 Edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch. Attorney Elizabeth Olszewski, who passed away in February of 2020, was among the attorneys who received the prestigious honor, and will be remembered for her passionate advocacy on behalf of her clients.

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch recognizes associates and other lawyers who are earlier in their careers for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.

Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard PC would like to congratulate all of their lawyers recognized in the 2021 Edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch:



Brian L. Salvi

-Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs

-Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs



Aaron D. Boeder

-Medical Malpractice Law  Plaintiffs

-Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs

-Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs



Rob L. Kohen

-Medical Malpractice Law  Plaintiffs

-Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs



Elizabeth R. Olszewski (1987-2020)

-Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs

Lawyers recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers on the basis of professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing.

"Best Lawyers was founded in 1981 with the purpose of recognizing extraordinary lawyers in private practice through an exhaustive peer-review process. Nearly 40 years later, we are proud to expand our scope, while maintaining the same methodology, to recognize a different demographic of talented and deserving lawyers in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch," says Phil Greer, CEO of Best Lawyers.

For more information, please contact Marcie Mangan at mmangan@salvilaw.com or (312) 372-1227.
Iran disbands large group of arms traffickers in Alborz province near Tehran

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 19 August 2020 2:39 PM

The Iranian Intelligence Ministry says its forces have disbanded a large group of arms traffickers in north-central Alborz province that borders Tehran.

The ministry said on Wednesday that its forces had identified and arrested members of the ring, who were active in several provinces, including Alborz, Tehran, Kermanshah, Lorestan, Isfahan, Sistan & Baluchestan, West Azarbaijan as well as Kerman.

More than 20 key members of the gang were arrested in coordination with the judicial authorities, and a significant number of weapons, ammunition, and vehicles with fake military insignia were seized in the operation, the ministry said.

According to confessions and documents obtained from the group, the members smuggled arms and munitions, narcotics, alcoholic beverages, currency, gold, coins and antiques through forging correspondence and documents and abusing titles of individuals in the Ministry of Intelligence, government institutions, the Judiciary and military bodies.

There are concerns over growing arms trafficking in Iran, with most of weapons imported from the country's western borders.

Thousands of arms have been illegally smuggled into the country since 2017.

Back in July, the Intelligence Ministry said that its forces had dismantled an arms smuggling ring in Markazi province in central Iran and confiscated a large number of weapons from them.

A large group of arms traffickers were also arrested in the northern province of Golestan in July 2019.

Some 200 illegal weapons were also confiscated in the operation, which was carried out after weeks of monitoring as well as security and intelligence activities.

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Harare, Zimbabwe (PANA) - The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor, John Mangudya, has threatened to blacklist firms which do not liquidate their foreign currency on the forex auction and those who purchase the currency from the platform to sell their products at a premium
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Linkedin Dyaning Pangestika and Sausan Atika (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 20, 2020 07:29 518 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066f38f3a 1 City COVID-19,Jakarta-administration,face-mask,patung-jenderal-sudirman Free

The Jakarta administration has postponed a plan to put a face mask on the landmark statue of Gen. Sudirman on Jl. Jendral Sudirman in Central Jakarta.

Previously, the administration had said that it planned to install the face mask on the statue. However, there was no further information as to when the activity would take place.

Jakarta Fire and Rescue Agency (Gulkarmat) spokesperson Saepuloh said the rescheduled date for the installation would be announced later. The agency was set to assist the administration in doing the job.

Read also: Jakarta sees rising COVID-19 hospitalizations

We will announce the alternative date later, he told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

Previously, the fire agencys head, Satriadi Gunawan, had confirmed the plan, despite failing to explain the purpose of attaching a face mask to the statue. He was also unable to confirm whether Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan would take part in the mask installation.

It is still a tentative plan, Satriadi said, adding that the agency would conduct the installation using its fire and rescue equipment.
Melbourne breakfast radio hosts Jason 'Jase' Hawkins and Polly 'PJ' Harding were left horrified this week after their interview with an Ariana Grande impersonator descended into chaos.

The pair struggled to get reasonable responses from lookalike - who they believed was actually the Thank U, Next hitmaker - as they asked her about her new perfume and the future of her live performances during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After pressing on with the rapidly deteriorating interview, it was finally revealed that they were actually talking to an imposter, and the whole segment had been a stitch-up orchestrated by Sydney's Kyle and Jackie O Show.

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Hook, line and sinker! Melbourne breakfast radio hosts Jason 'Jase' Hawkins (left) and Polly 'PJ' Harding (right) were left horrified this week after their interview with an Ariana Grande impersonator descended into chaos

On Thursday, KIIS 106.5 duo Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson told listeners about their scheme to fool Jase and PJ, their counterparts on Melbourne's KIIS 101.1.

Kyle, 49, explained to the Ariana impersonator: 'All you need to do is answer their questions, but just be a little disinterested. We'll then start feeding you some lines!'

The segment then crossed over to Jase and PJ, who at first appeared unsure if they were actually speaking to the real Ariana.

However, they proceeded to ask her about her new perfume, which prompted her to say dryly: 'Yeah... it's so exciting.'

Not what it seems: The pair struggled to get reasonable responses from lookalike (pictured) - who they believed was actually the Thank U, Next hitmaker - as they asked her about her new perfume and the future of her live performances during the COVID-19 pandemic

Just kidding! After pressing on with the rapidly deteriorating interview, it was finally revealed that they were actually talking to an imposter, and the whole segment had been a stitch-up orchestrated by The Kyle & Jackie O Show. Pictured: Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson

The lookalike was then told by Kyle to ask Jase whether he's married or not. Caught off-guard, he confirmed that he was married.

'I had a guy who I thought would be into you. I thought you were gay - never mind!' the impersonator said.

Jase then asked: 'Is it the hoodie? What came across that I was gay?' The Ariana lookalike said: 'It's like a vibe... like an energy, you know?'

PJ desperately tried to get the interview back on track, asking: 'With lockdown, it must be very weird with touring and doing live performances and stuff?'

Prank: At one stage, the lookalike asked Jase whether he was married because she 'knew a guy who would be interested in him'

'Can the guy ask the question?' As PJ desperately tried to get the interview back on track, the Ariana impersonator pretended that she couldn't understand her New Zealand accent

Kyle threw another spanner in the works by telling the impersonator to say she didn't understand PJ's thick New Zealand accent.

When PJ repeated herself, Ariana 2.0 said: 'Sorry, the accent's a lot. Can the guy [Jase] ask the question, please?'

As the interview went off the rails, Kyle interrupted to tell Jase and PJ they were being pranked, and the guest was not in fact Ariana Grande.

Can you tell the difference? As the interview went off the rails, Kyle interrupted to tell Jase and PJ they were being pranked, and the guest (pictured) was not in fact Ariana Grande
Elizabeth Warren dropped a subtle message of support for Black Lives Matter into her appearance at the DNC last night by spelling the name of the movement with children's toy blocks in the classroom where she was speaking.

Three of the colored blocks spelled out the letters BLM as Warren appeared from the Early Childhood Education Center in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts senator did not mention the movement by name in her speech but spoke about how coronavirus and the resulting economic crisis were 'falling hardest on black and brown families'.

Another set of letters spelled out DBFH - the Warren slogan Dream Big, Fight Hard - while a US Mail jacket was hanging on a peg in reference to Democratic demands to protect the postal service.

Hidden message: The letters 'BLM' were spelled out by children's toy blocks as Elizabeth Warren spoke to Democrats on day three of the national convention last night

Easter egg: Warren showed her support for Black Lives Matter by having the letters set up behind her during her virtual convention speech

Warren's team pointed out the 'Easter eggs' on Twitter for anyone who had missed them during her appearance at the DNC.

'BLM blocks for Black Lives Matter,' they explained.

Other subtle messages included three blocks spelling JOE in tribute to the newly-crowned nominee, who will accept the nomination tonight.

There was also a pair of Converse shoes - in reference to the Boston-based firm - and a picture of a Dr Seuss character, after the author born in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Warren, 71, was once considered a front-runner for the Democratic nomination but faded in the polls as Bernie Sanders became Biden's main challenger on the left.

She quit the race in early March and announced her support for Biden the following month.

'I'm here at the Early Childhood Education Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, which has been closed for months,' Warren said in her message last night.

'Childcare was already hard to find before the pandemic. And now, parents are stuck- no idea when schools can safely reopen and even fewer childcare options.

'The devastation is enormous. And the way I see it: big problems demand big solutions.'

'Dream big, fight hard': The letters DBFH spelled out another Warren slogan in the classroom where she spoke to endorse Joe Biden and Kamala Harris

Message: A US Mail jacket was hanging on a peg in reference to Democratic demands to protect the postal service

Warren continued: 'I love a good plan, and Joe Biden has some really good plans - plans to bring back union jobs in manufacturing and create new union jobs in clean energy.

'Plans to increase Social Security benefits, cancel billions in student loan debt, and make our bankruptcy laws work for families instead of the creditors who cheat them.'

Touching on racial issues, she said: 'Donald Trump's ignorance and incompetence have always been a danger to our country.

'Covid-19 was Trump's biggest test. He failed miserably. Today, America has the most Covid deaths in the world and an economic collapse - and both crises are falling hardest on Black and Brown families.'

In the wake of the George Floyd protests, Warren previously called for bases named after Confederate generals to be renamed.

Warren said in June that it was time to condemn the generals to 'footnotes in our history books' at a moment of 'deep reflection' on racism.

In a speech on the Senate floor, Warren highlighted the sinister past of Confederate generals such as John Brown Gordon, a suspected KKK leader; Henry Benning, a fierce secessionist who feared a 'land in possession of the blacks', and Braxton Bragg, a slaveowner with a poor reputation even on the Confederate side.

Warren also attacked Trump for his opposition to renaming the bases, saying the president had 'chosen a well-worn path of hatred and division'.

Former rivals: Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden sparred in Democratic primary debates (seen here on stage in Ohio in October 2019) before Warren eventually dropped out

Trump rejected calls to rename the bases on June 10, saying they were 'hallowed grounds' and 'magnificent and fabled military installations' where soldiers have been trained for great American victories.

'Our history as the Greatest Nation in the World will not be tampered with. Respect our Military!' he said.

Reports said Defense Secretary Mark Esper had been open to renaming the bases until Trump vetoed the idea.

Warren spoke on day three of the convention last night, whose main event was a speech by former president Barack Obama.

In an astonishing attack on his successor, Obama told Democrats: 'Donald Trump hasnt grown into the job because he cant.

'And the consequences of that failure are severe. 170,000 Americans dead. Millions of jobs gone while those at the top take in more than ever.

'Our worst impulses unleashed, our proud reputation around the world badly diminished, and our democratic institutions threatened like never before.'

Biden will address the convention tonight after he was formally crowned as Trump's challenger on Tuesday.

The 77-year-old has held a clear lead in opinion polls in recent months amid widespread discontent with Trump's handling of the pandemic.
Tunisia looks to change cement packaging and reduce costs

20 August 2020

Salah Ben Youssef, Tunisias Minister of Industry and Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises, has stated that by replacing 30 per cent of Kraft paper bags used in cement packaging with polypropylene bags, the equivalent of TND20m (US$7.37m) in foreign currency would be saved.

"This will help Tunisia reposition itself on the Libyan market by bringing down the cost of cement bags and increasing the competitiveness of Tunisian products against the Turkish competitors," said Mr Youssef.

The minister noted the importance of increasing exports to Libya, since Tunisia has reportedly lost the Algerian market.

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The Health Ministry has cautioned that the Coronavirus curve in Kenya is not flattening despite a decrease in the number of cases reported in the last few days.

Health Chief Administrative Secretary Rashid Aman explained that the tests being done are varying because of limitations of test kits and do not give a clear picture of the curve.

It is too early to be able to make any determination that the curve is dropping. There are many factors that determine flattening of the curve, he said.

Indicators on the curve are those people who will be hospitalised and those who will die because of COVID-19, Dr. Aman added.

The CAS said Kenyas positivity rate is still high and Kenyans should not relent on observing Covid-19 guidelines thinking that the worst is over.

CAS Dr Mercy Mwangangi on Wednesday echoed that Kenyas coronavirus curve continues to rise. She said testing will normalize from next week when the ministry acquires reagents.

We are well aware that our curve has not yet flattenedwe are experiencing disruptions with regards to the acquisition of reagents but this is something we are managing, she said.

Kenyas coronavirus caseload rose to 31,015 Wednesday after 379 more people tested positive from a sample size of 3,867.

244 people were discharged bringing the total number of recoveries in the country to 17,612. 19 patients succumbed raising the death toll to 506.

More and more cases are among young people, there is a laxity among young people in protecting themselves. A 28-year-old is among those who passed on. We are all duty bound to take care of each other but the duty is yours as a Kenyan, Dr Mwangangi said.

The CAS also said community transmission has been established making it difficult to trace contacts of those who contract the disease.

We are urging the young people to stop the reckless behavior so that we dont spread the disease, Dr Aman pleaded.
A primary school principal has said he and his colleagues are "frightened" as they battle to bring pupils back to classrooms next week in the face of "insufficient guidance and support" from Stormont ministers.

Dr Graham Gault said school leaders still have "serious questions" about the appropriateness of the updated guidance on how they should plan for the new school day, issued last week by Education Minister Peter Weir.

He said concerns are growing in light of changes in the reproductive rate of Covid-19 in recent weeks and the potential for new restrictions, due to be discussed by the Executive today.

"We've been trying to stay positive about how excited we are in terms getting students back in the classroom for the first time since March next week and give our support to the Stormont ministers to get this right," Dr Gault told the Belfast Telegraph.

"But sadly the truth is the guidance is appalling and its sparsity has left an unacceptable additional workload on the shoulders of principals.

"It's totally insufficient, contradictory, confusing and nothing more than a series of open-ended recommendations with a 'do what you can and let's hope for the best'-type attitude .

"There is a genuine fear in the profession that this guidance may not be achievable in some schools and it's a level of angst that I've never seen before.

"Even the most experienced and robust principals say they are on their knees," he added.

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Dr Gault, who is also the vice-president of the National Association of Head Teachers (NI), is preparing for the return of 300 pupils and 27 staff at his own school, Maghaberry Primary.

The new school term begins next Monday for P7, Year 12 and Year 14 pupils and for vulnerable children across all year groups.

All other pupils will return to school the following week.

The return to school will be on a full-time basis of five days a week for all pupils, including those who attend special schools.

Revised from previous proposals set out in June, Mr Weir's new guidance has used advice from Northern Ireland's chief medical and scientific officers and the UK government's advisory body Sage.

"There are deliberate ambiguities in the guidance which have been left for principals to deal with such as how does a teacher with a full-time classroom commitment provide learning for a child who is unable to attend school," Dr Gault added.

"The guidance says this learning should be provided with a blended approach but this can't happen if that teacher is in the classroom from 9-3 every day.

"We all understand that this has been a very difficult call for Minister Weir to make but with the guidance as it stands, parents are expecting principals to have all the answers.

"We have had a lot of support from our parents as they understand the plight that schools like ours find themselves in but there is anxiety too especially among those with vulnerable family members that this restart is carried out safely.

"An additional few weeks to help schools digest this guidance and go back to ministers and health chiefs to seek clarity on various matters would have made a difference," he said.

Dr Gault will raise his concerns directly with officials when he appears before the Education Committee tomorrow.

He has expressed concern over the availability of substitute teachers if staff are required to self-isolate should they develop Covid-19 symptoms.

"This is a huge issue that will potentially close schools, particularly in terms of the cost implications and the fact is that we're already going into this year with schools in financial crisis.

"Some schools have said that their bill for substitute teachers could be 8,000 a month or in some cases 100,000 for the year - funds that they don't have."

Dr Gault has called on Stormont ministers to offer reassurance and show leadership.

"What is their plan to support me as a principal in delivering this restart because in my view there isn't one. Unlike our colleagues in the Republic, we haven't had an Executive that has really got behind our profession to support us in terms of the restart so every principal is just going to have to do their best.

"I don't have a helpline or someone I can phone with questions so I'm just going to be left with this guidance and to be honest I'm frightened."

Mr Weir told his Stormont scrutiny committee earlier this week that bringing children back to school full time is a priority across the Executive table. He has said that the guidance "will continue to reflect public health advice" and that he will keep all medical and scientific developments "under review".

"I understand the need for schools to reopen for the economy and wider society to function but we also need to see more being done to ensure the safety of staff and pupils.

"Being content with this guidance isn't good enough when we are talking about thousands of people in very small rooms and teachers feeling scared," Dr Gault said.
Governments have a duty to put the wellbeing of their citizens first. At the same time, they also have a responsibility to protect livelihoods and businesses, a senior official from the WOrld Tourism Organization (UNWTO) said.

"This goes hand-in-hand with a responsibility to preserve the spirit of international solidarity that has characterised our response to this shared crisis, a response that has included international institutions, the civil society at large and individual citizens," Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General, UNWTO said in a statement.

"Again and again, the pandemic puts us to the test and proves that we are stronger if we act together and not in isolation," he said.

Unilateral actions can cause confusion and produce unnecessary consequences. More importantly, they can undermine public trust and confidence  precious commodities we have worked so hard to build up over these difficult few months, he noted.

"To be clear, finding the right balance between public health concerns and supporting a sector upon which millions of people depend will not be easy. This is uncharted territory for us all. However, it can be done, as many places are now demonstrating," Pololikashvili said.

On an official visit to the Canary Islands, UNWTO witnessed first-hand how the restart of tourism can be managed responsibly. "During this weeks visit to the Balearic Islands we are also seeing how the enforcement of strict health and hygiene protocols are the right partners for the reopening of tourist destinations."

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak, UNWTO has been calling for governments to work together and with the private sector to get tourism moving again. "Now as the summer season is opening in many European countries, where tourism accounts for 27 million jobs and supports many businesses both big and small, we reiterate our call," he said.

Destinations, the tourism sector and its millions of employees have been preparing over the past months to welcome visitors. Public authorities have also made significant advances in prevention, detection and tracing. The challenges we were confronted with early this year persist, but we have learned important lessons and now more prepared. This is especially true for tourism, probably one of the safest environments right now due to its strong focus on people and their wellbeing, he highlighted.

"It is not too late to ensure that the economic and social benefits tourism has a long history of delivering return before the end of the high season. For this, however, we need even greater cooperation and for both individual and joint actions to be considered and proportionate," he said. - TradeArabia News Service
How the race to develop treatments and a vaccine will create a historic windfall for the industry  and everyone else will pay the price.

By Matt Taibbi and cross-posted from Rolling Stone.

On June 29th, 2020, while America remained transfixed by anti-police protests, the chairman and CEO of the pharmaceutical company Gilead issued a much-anticipated announcement. In a breezy open letter, Daniel ODay explained how much his company planned on charging for a course of remdesivir, one of many possible treatments for Covid-19. In the weeks since we learned of remdesivirs potential against Covid-19, one topic has attracted more speculation than any other: what price we might set for the medicine, ODay wrote, before plunging into a masterpiece of corporate doublespeak.

The CEO noted a study by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a division of the National Institutes of Health, showing that Covid-19 patients taking remdesivir recovered after 11 days, compared with 15 days for placebo takers. In the U.S., he wrote, earlier hospital discharge would result in hospital savings of approximately $12,000 per patient.

The hilarious implication seemed to be that by shortening hospital stays by four days on average, remdesivir was worth $48,000 a dose. That ODay might come to such a conclusion was not outlandish. Gilead became infamous a few years ago for charging $84,000 per course of treatment for Sovaldi, a groundbreaking hepatitis-C drug. The companys policies for pricing have more than once prompted congressional hearings, as in the case of Truvada, a drug to combat HIV transmission that was developed in part with the aid of government grants and that earned Gilead more than $30 billion in revenue. Would they try something similar at a time of unprecedented medical terror with one of the few available Covid-19 treatments?

No, as it turned out. Although we can see the value that remdesivir provides  i.e., we could have charged $48,000 per dose  Day wrote, we have decided to price remdesivir well below this value. He went on to say that to ensure broad and equitable access at a time of urgent global need, Gilead had generously decided to place the price for remdesivir at a measly $3,120 per patient.

Investors were bummed. Gilead even undercut the prediction of the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER), a watchdog that calculated a fair price for remdesivir at $4,500 per course of treatment. When Gilead announced a price below that level, it caused a tremor on Wall Street, as its share price fell. The company had already offended the Gods of Capitalism by donating hundreds of thousands of existing doses of remdesivir to the government. What self-respecting American corporation voluntarily undermines its own market?

Not Gilead, as it turns out, and really, not any pharmaceutical company. What Americans need to understand about the race to find vaccines and treatments for Covid-19 is that in the U.S., even when companies appear to downshift from maximum greed levels  and its not at all clear theyve done this with coronavirus treatments  the production of pharmaceutical drugs is still a nearly riskless, subsidy-laden scam

Continue reading the article
Energy Secretary Launches Review, Asks For Investigation After White Privilege Training Draws Criticism

Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Dan Brouillette ordered a review of all training at DOE facilities after a GOP Senator questioned one of its laboratories spending money on white privilege trainings for its executives. The secretary didnt know about the trainings and has now asked the DOE Inspector General to investigate, the department said.

The review was requested on Aug. 13 by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) to ensure that taxpayers are no longer required to fund such divisive and ineffective trainings.

Sandia National Laboratories, which oversees the safety of American nuclear weapons stockpile, paid for the series of trainings last year at a Santa Fe, New Mexico, resort, where its male executives were sent to learn about white privilege and the supposed harmfulness of white male culture.

The Department of Energy (DOE) leadership did not have knowledge of or authorize the use of taxpayer dollars for the reported social workshops at the Sandia National Laboratories, or elsewhere, DOE spokeswoman Shaylyn Hynes told The Epoch Times via email.

The Secretary has directed the NNSA [National Nuclear Security Administration], as well as DOE leadership, to initiate an expedited enterprise-wide review of trainings that take place at all 17 labs, plants, and sites to ensure equal treatment for all employees and contractors.

Brouillette has also asked DOEs Inspector General to initiate its own independent investigation, she said.

Leaked materials from the sessions were published earlier this month by Christopher Rufo, head of the Center on Wealth and Poverty at the Discovery Institute, a conservative-leaning think tank.

Employees must expose the roots of white male culture, which consists of rugged individualism, a can-do attitude, hard work, and striving towards successwhich sound good, but are in fact devastating to women and POCs [people of color], he said, citing the materials in an Aug. 12 tweet.

Taxpayers funded this? At a resort? Hawley responded on Twitter on the day of sending his letter.

Sandia is run by Honeywell, but is wholly government-funded. It has received more than $3.7 billion in federal dollars this year, Hawley said.

Officials at Sandia previously redirected a request by The Epoch Times for comment to the DOE.

In a tweet, Rufo called the DOE response a major victory in his war against critical race theory in the federal government.

In recent months, he has focused on gathering and publishing examples of critical race theory influence in government and affiliated entities. The theory is part of a broader ideology that reduces human history to a struggle between oppressors and the oppressed, where the former is comprised of heterosexual white males and the latter, to varying degrees, by all others.

The ideologys theoretical underpinnings are Marxist, and its proponents advocate for dismantling the basis of Western civilizationthe traditional family, traditional ethics, religion, and the current justice systemand replacing them with a socialist system, according to James Lindsay, co-author of Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything about Race, Gender, and Identityand Why This Harms Everybody.

Rufo previously obtained materials from Oregon local governments that showed plans to abolish Seattle police, the city jail, and youth detention are rooted in the intersectional ideology.

In recent tweets, Rufo said hes obtained further information showing the spread of critical race theory at Sandia.

Multiple lab employees told me Sandia executives send them a constant barrage of critical race theory-inspired content, trainings, and documentsand demand that white males in particular confront their microaggressions, unconscious bias, and white privilege, he said.

His sources allege that white men are regularly denied promotions based on their race and gender, he said. In one instance, a senior engineer alleges that his colleague scored the highest in an official review, but was denied the job because of diversity mandates.

Its time to expose this taxpayer-funded pseudoscience and rally the White House and legislators to stop these deeply divisive training sessions, Rufo said in a tweet. My goal is simple: we must pass legislation to abolish critical race theory in the federal government. Lets push as far as we can.

Sandia didnt respond to further requests for comment.
New Delhi, Aug 20 : The Supreme Court on Thursday gave lawyer Prashant Bhushan, convicted of contempt of court, time till August 24 to to submit an unconditional apology and asked him to reconsider his defiant statement declining to apologise for his derogatory tweets against the judiciary.

A bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra, B.R. Gavai and Krishna Murari said: "Appeal filed against the Registrar's order is dismissed. Arguments have been heard in the main matter, on sentencing. Order reserved. We have given time to the contemnor (Bhushan) to submit unconditional apology, if he so desires. Let it be filed by August 24. In case, apology is submitted, the case to be posted for consideration on the same, on August 25." This came even as Attorney General K.K. Venugopal urged the apex court that convicting Bhushan in a contempt case was alright, but "do not punish him".

At this, the bench told him that the tone, tenor, and content of Bhushan's statement makes it worse. "Is it defence or aggravation, you, as AG, consider it," it said.

Venugopal clarified that he was not speaking on behalf of the government but had responded to the notice issued to the constitutional office of the Attorney General of India.

"I make the request to your lordships not to punish him." The top court said a person should realise his mistake from the core of this heart.

In a statement, Bhushan insisted that his tweets were an expression of his beliefs and it was grossly misunderstood. Bhushan has been held guilty of contempt and can be sent to jail for six months.

The bench replied that it would never punish anyone for contempt. "Please don't make any statement till you consider what he has said in his reply," the bench told the AG.

Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, representing Bhushan, said the criticism of retired judges does not amount to contempt, and there are judgments to this effect.

As the AG contended that he has a list of five judges who talked about lack of democracy in the Supreme Court, and "I also have a list of nine judges who talked about judicial corruption", Justice Mishra said: "We aren't hearing a review. Our conviction order is already here." Justice Gavai observed that "we have said it earlier as well there has to be a mutual respect between the bar and the bench".

Justice Mishra said that whatever has been done is done, and the court wants the person concerned to have a sense of remorse. "You may do hundreds of good things but that doesn't give you a licence to do 10 crimes," he said.

He also noted that if a person wants to purge the contempt, one should also know where to draw a line. He added that criminal contempt has far serious consequences, and the court can be very lenient when a person recognises his mistake and expresses regret.

Bhushan, in a statement before the top court, said: "My tweets were nothing but a small attempt to discharge what I considered to be my highest duty at this juncture in the history of our republic. I did not tweet in a fit of 'absent mindedness'. It would be insincere and contemptuous on my part to offer an apology for the tweets that expressed what was and continues to be my bonafide belief. Therefore, I can only humbly paraphrase what the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi had said in his trial: 'I do not ask for mercy. I do not appeal to magnanimity. I am here, therefore, to cheerfully submit to any penalty that can lawfully be inflicted upon me for what the court has determined to be an offence, and what appears to me to be the highest duty of a citizen'."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 23:43:03|Editor: huaxia

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BANGKOK, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Thai Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said on Wednesday that through contact tracing, they have not found any COVID-19 infection among those who had been in close contact with a Malaysian man who tested positive.

The 46-year-old Malaysian visited Thailand and returned to Kuala Lumpur on Aug. 5, only to find out he tested positive for COVID-19.

"We found the Thai girlfriend of the Malaysian visitor in Thailand's northern province of Chiang Mai," said Chiang Mai governor Charoenrit Sanguansat. "We asked her to take a test and the results were negative. She is currently at a hospital, while her friends who came in close contact with her have been instructed to self-quarantine."

Thailand has recorded 86 days without local transmission, but the latest case has sparked fear of a second wave of infections.

The CCSA said the Malaysian man was a frequent visitor to Thailand, which his latest entry logged on March 6.

The CCSA said the man might have caught the virus after returning to Malaysia.

"The man left Thailand on Aug. 5, but the Malaysian authorities diagnosed him with COVID-19 on Aug. 15," said the CCSA.

The Ministry of Public Health's Disease Control Department said officials will coordinate with the Malaysian counterparts for more information regarding the patient's test results and other relevant information.

Cumulative infections in Thailand have been 3,382 to date, with 3,199 recoveries and 58 deaths.

Meanwhile, 125 patients are still being treated in hospital. Enditem
Events and entertainment workers protest unemployment on Aug. 19 in Las Vegas. BRIDGET BENNETT/AFP via Getty Images)

Larry Kudlow, director of the U.S. National Economic Council, speaks during a press briefing at the White House on July 2. Michael Reynolds/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Up to 8 weeks?

Firstly, unemployed workers must wait for their state to apply and be approved for the $300-a-week federal subsidy, which comes on top of existing state benefits. Nineteen states had applied as of Thursday morning, according to Keith Turi, assistant administrator of recovery at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is overseeing the aid program. Eleven of them have gotten federal approval to offer three weeks of aid, totaling more than $2.4 billion, John Pallasch, assistant secretary for employment and training at the U.S. Labor Department, said Thursday.

On Monday, Arizona became the lone state to start paying the $300 benefit to eligible workers, according to Brett Bezio, a spokesman for the state's Department of Economic Security. Officials in other approved states  Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Utah  suggested unemployed workers could be waiting much longer. Utah, for example, expects to start paying the benefit within four weeks, according to Bethany Hyatt, a spokeswoman for the Utah Department of Workforce Services. Colorado expects to start paying in mid-September.

There are a lot of moving parts here. And it'll take us a few weeks to get it up and running. Bill McCamley cabinet secretary for New Mexico's Department of Workforce Solutions

Indiana, which has applied for the assistance, plans to start disbursing funds in the next three to four weeks, according to the state's unemployment website. In Alaska, the timeline is longer still  about six to eight weeks from application approval, Cathy Munoz, deputy commissioner of the state's Department of Labor and Workforce Development, said in an e-mail on Wednesday. The state submitted its application Wednesday, Munoz said.

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"This stuff generally doesn't happen at the flip of a light switch," said Bill McCamley, Cabinet secretary for New Mexico's Department of Workforce Solutions. "There are a lot of moving parts here," McCamley said. "And it'll take us a few weeks to get it up and running." Congress may, of course, reach a deal on financial relief in coming weeks. Provisions around a weekly unemployment boost would supersede Trump's executive measure. Unemployed workers will receive the $300-a-week payments back to the week ended Aug. 1.

'All over the map'

The $300 weekly federal boost isn't technically unemployment insurance  it's a new federal program with rules and requirements that state officials must decode. States are essentially building "a whole new system from scratch," which must operate in parallel with their existing unemployment framework, McCamley said. The lost wages program has some rules that don't jibe with states' current framework, he added. For instance, unemployed workers getting less than $100 a week in state benefits don't qualify for the aid. State systems must be programmed to account for that.

States are also used to interfacing with the U.S. Labor Department relative to unemployment benefits. Here, unemployment agencies are working with a new federal partner, FEMA, since the program funding is sourced from a federal disaster relief fund, McCamley said. "It will be all over the map," Pallasch said of state timelines to pay the benefit. Speed will depend on complexity of states' unemployment systems and the breadth of their IT staff, he said. As a result, some states may take one or two weeks, while others take four, five or six, he said. The federal government has offered IT assistance to help states implement the benefit more quickly, Pallasch said. Meanwhile, it's been about three weeks since unemployed workers stopped receiving a $600-a-week unemployment subsidy enacted by a federal relief law in March.
Lome, Togo (PANA) - Togo and Congo on Wednesday signed bilateral agreements in Lome to boost cooperation and relations between the two countries, PANA learned from official sources on Thursday in the Togolese capital
Kelly OConnor lives a life surrounded by art. The head of collections and communications at the Linda Pace Foundation, she spends much of her time at the contemporary art center Ruby City  at least she did before to the pandemic.

Shes also an accomplished artist herself, often working with collage created from sparkly images of retro swimming pools and pop culture icons like Willy Wonka and Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. Her work is shown in galleries here and in Houston, shes currently exhibiting at the McNay Art Museum and one of her works is in the Ford Foundations permanent collection in New York City.

Even her home, a two-story Victorian Vernacular built in 1910 in Dignowity Hill is something of a work of art, filled with a thoughtful selection of mid-century modern pieces both vintage and reproductions reflective of her taste.

OConnor has been working from the four-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath home since mid-March and the house has made the pandemic, stay-at-home transition easier than it might have been otherwise.

I use it as my home office. I have a studio to create my art, and I continue raising my kids here, she said, referring to the 4-year-old and the almost 6-year-old she co-parents with her ex-husband. Its been such a benefit to be here during the pandemic.

On ExpressNews.com: Historic Monticello Park home has housed journalists, ministers and a future Nobel Prize winner

OConnor has lived in the home since 2013, back when Dignowity Hill was just being discovered by those looking for solid yet affordable housing near downtown.

We paid in the low two hundreds back then, and our friends thought we were nuts, she said. It was recently appraised for close to $400,000, so I guess we werent.

The home was featured in an Express-News story in 2014 when she and her husband Sam Giesey were still married. Back then, the home was furnished more traditionally, although it was already filled with plenty of artwork made by the couple and their friends as well as a taxidermied trophy head and a portrait of a great dane.

Since the divorce, OConnor has brightened things up, with pieces such as a pink-painted bookshelf, a blue tiled kitchen floor and multicolored chairs around a massive, green-trimmed, wood-topped kitchen table.

The living room, for example, is dominated by a pair of glass-fronted Ikea cabinets containing a rainbow display of more than 100 Avon and other bottles filled with different shades of colored water. The collection is part of a 2017 exhibit mounted by the Old Jail Art Center in Albany, Texas.

Perfume bottles are usually beautifully ornate, she explained. But theyre all about the facade. Theres nothing essential to them.

Elsewhere, she has a display of what she calls Golden Nests, painted paper wasp nest with some of the hexagonal cells filled with colored polymer eggs she crafts. The intricate sculptures are popular among collectors. Then there are the two panels used to create her Multifaceted Woman installation commissioned by the McNay Art Museum and currently up in the AT&T Lobby there. She is just the second San Antonio-based artist awarded a lobby commission, and OConnor said the fanciful panels are a comment on societys preoccupation with artificial happiness.

In the last few months, OConnor also has done additional renovations, decorating the home to fit her personal aesthetic which leans heavily toward mid-century modern.

The ground floor living areas are a cheery mix of vintage pieces and reproductions, starting with an authentic Eero Saarinen Carrara marble-topped tulip table.

On ExpressNews.com: The post-pandemic home will have more walls, porches and flex rooms, plus dedicated office areas.

Linda (Pace) always had a lot of Saarinen pieces, and its something Id always wanted, OConnor said. We figure it was once used in an office because my daughter was under it and found some old chewing gum stuck to the underside.

Above the table hangs a West Elm chandelier that would have been right at home in Don and Megan Drapers New York City apartment, while in the the front entry way, a vintage Sputnik-style chandelier greets visitors overhead. With its central orb and crystal arms sticking out if it, the fixture also resembles the image of the coronavirus weve all become so familiar with.

Over in the living room, a vintage Arco lamp with a travertine marble base arches over a reproduction of another Saarinen piece, the Womb chair. OConnor said this mix of new and old comes about organically, based on whats available and what it costs.

If I need a piece of furniture that I cant find as vintage, I have no hesitation about getting a reproduction, she said. And I also have to make it work in my budget.

The mix continues into the kitchen. The rest of the house surrounds the kitchen with darkly stained long-leaf pine flooring, so the kitchen floor stands an oasis of encaustic tile in three rippling shades of cool, swimming pool blue.

So much of my artwork includes vintage images of swimming pools, I wanted to give that look to the kitchen floor, she said. The tiles were custom made in Mexico and I just love the colors.

She also added white subway tiles to the kitchen walls for what she called a clean, retro feel and brushed brass pulls to the cabinets, just because she likes the look.

On ExpressNews.com: Tricked-out Kerrville-area barn converted to a Texas ranch-style home, a barndominium

The kitchen table, measuring 7 feet by 3  feet, shows its years of service with the many scratches and tiny divots in the wood. Theres even a burn mark from the days when smoking in the office was still allowed.

I started working for Linda in 2006 and was given the table when they were clearing out the basement, she said.

But perhaps the centerpiece of the kitchen is the large, white stove OConnor said probably dates from the 1940s or 50s.

It was owned by my gallerist David Shelton, she said. I got it when he moved from King William to Houston. Fortunately, he did all the restoration work on it.

As with the rest of the house, not everything in the kitchen is vintage, although it often looks it. A pair of pharmacy cabinets that would be right at home in the 1960s medical office of TVs Marcus Welby, for example, were bought at Ikea. OConnor uses them to store her bar supplies, including liquor and retro-looking glassware.

I love to have people over to entertain, and making pretty cocktails is part of my aesthetic, she said, adding that some of her favorite drinks are Aviation Gin Fizz (gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, egg white and a splash of Topo Chico), a Fade to Cab (bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup and a splash of cabernet) and a mezcal margarita.

Just the thing after a long day of working from home.

Richard A. Marini is a features writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Richard, become a subscriber. rmarini@express-news.net | Twitter: @RichardMarini
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). By way of learning-by-doing, we'll look at ROE to gain a better understanding of J D Wetherspoon plc (LON:JDW).

ROE or return on equity is a useful tool to assess how effectively a company can generate returns on the investment it received from its shareholders. In short, ROE shows the profit each dollar generates with respect to its shareholder investments.

Check out our latest analysis for J D Wetherspoon

How Do You Calculate Return On Equity?

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 J D Wetherspoon is:

19% = UK61m  UK315m (Based on the trailing twelve months to January 2020).

The 'return' is the yearly profit. Another way to think of that is that for every 1 worth of equity, the company was able to earn 0.19 in profit.

Does J D Wetherspoon 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. Importantly, this is far from a perfect measure, because companies differ significantly within the same industry classification. As you can see in the graphic below, J D Wetherspoon has a higher ROE than the average (8.9%) in the Hospitality industry.

roe

That's what we like to see. However, bear in mind that a high ROE doesnt necessarily indicate efficient profit generation. Especially when a firm uses high levels of debt to finance its debt which may boost its ROE but the high leverage puts the company at risk. You can see the 3 risks we have identified for J D Wetherspoon by visiting our risks dashboard for free on our platform here.

The Importance Of Debt To Return On Equity

Companies usually need to invest money to grow their profits. That cash can come from retained earnings, issuing new shares (equity), or debt. In the case of the first and second options, the ROE will reflect this use of cash, for growth. In the latter case, the use of debt will improve the returns, but will not change the equity. That will make the ROE look better than if no debt was used.

Story continues

J D Wetherspoon's Debt And Its 19% ROE

J D Wetherspoon clearly uses a high amount of debt to boost returns, as it has a debt to equity ratio of 2.86. There's no doubt its ROE is decent, but the very high debt the company carries is not too exciting to see. Investors should think carefully about how a company might perform if it was unable to borrow so easily, because credit markets do change over time.

Summary

Return on equity is a useful indicator of the ability of a business to generate profits and return them to shareholders. 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.

But when a business is high quality, the market often bids it up to a price that reflects this. It is important to consider other factors, such as future profit growth -- and how much investment is required going forward. So I think it may be worth checking this free report on 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.
Representative image

The Centre on August 19 ordered "immediate" withdrawal of about 10,000 paramilitary personnel from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

This is the biggest de-induction of these forces after additional troops were rushed to the UT post the abrogation of the Article 370 of the Constitution that gave the erstwhile state a unique status.

They said the decision was taken after the Ministry of Home Affairs reviewed the deployment of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in the union territory (UT).

The Home Ministry had last withdrawn 10 CAPF companies from the UT in May, while 72 such units were taken out in December last year.

A senior official told PTI that a total of 100 CAPF companies have been ordered to be withdrawn "immediately" on August 19 and they have been asked to revert to their base locations in the country.

As per the directions, a total of 40 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and 20 each of the Central Industrial Security Force, the Border Security Force and the Sashastra Seema Bal, will be taken out from Jammu and Kashmir by this week.

The CRPF has been asked to make arrangements for air lifting of these units to Delhi and other locations, they said.

A CAPF company has an operational strength of about 100 personnel.

"The units that are being withdrawn are deployed both in Jammu and Srinagar. It was felt that the counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist grid is intact in the UT and these additional units that were sent in last year can be de-inducted giving them the much required rest, recuperation and training," a senior CAPF officer said.

Also, he said, with the winters soon setting in, it would have been an onerous task to keep these units in make-shift and temporary dwelling units especially in the Kashmir valley region.

With the latest de-induction, the lead counter-terrorist force CRPF will have a strength of about 60 battalions (about 1,000 personnel in each battalion) in the Kashmir valley apart from very few units of the other CAPFs.
By Ayya Lmahamad

Azerbaijan is taking measures to develop alternative energy in the country.

Six wind metering stations have been installed in the countrys Khizi town and Absheron region where 240 MW electric station will be built, the Ministry of Energy reported on August 20.

The installation of the wind metering stations are part of the agreement signed between the ministry and Saudi Arabias ACWA Power company.

Wind measurements will be carried out through these 100-meter stations during 9-12 months, and the results will determine the optimal location of the turbines.

Moreover, it is planned to build 17 wind turbines with total capacity of 102 MW in the Pirakashkul village of Absheron region, and 23 wind turbines with total capacity of 138 MW in the Sitalchai village of Khizi region. Overall, 40 wind turbines to be build in these two villages.

It should be noted that topographic and engineering- geological surveys have been completed in the areas allocated for the wind power plant. Studies on environmental and social impact assessment are ongoing.

Furthermore, a 200 MW solar power plant will be constructed in Garadahg and Absheron regions. In addition, currently preparation for studies and research to assess environmental and social impacts in the project areas is underway.

It should be noted that according to the presidential order On Accelerating Reforms in the Energy Sector signed in 2019, partnerships were established with nine international energy companies and intensive discussions were held in order to expand the use of renewable energy sources. The Saudi Arabias ACWA Power and the United Arab Emirates Masdar companies were selected from seven companies that submitted their proposals after a three stage selection process.

Thus, on January 9, 2020, the Ministry of Energy , ACWA Power and Masdar signed executive agreements on implementation of pilot projects in the field of renewable energy.

Currently, 91.9 percent of electricity in Azerbaijan is produced from traditional sources of energy (natural gas), while 8.1 percent of electricity is produced from renewable sources.

According to estimates of the Energy Ministry, the potential of Azerbaijans renewable energy sources generating capacities is 26,000 MW. The Energy Ministry has set a task to increase the share of renewable energy sources in electricity production by 30 percent in 2030.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
The Block host Scott Cam has revealed he was rushed to hospital in an ambulance three weeks ago.

The 57-year-old tradesman told Fitzy & Wippa on Thursday that he was taken to St Vincent's Hospital Sydney after suffering 'terrible pain' in his neck and arm.

Scott revealed that his neck 'gave way' and that he suffered a 'disc blow-out' and 'squashed nerves' as a result, and had to go into surgery to fix the issue.

'I was in terrible pain': The Block host Scott Cam told Nova FM's Fitzy & Wippa on Thursday that he was recently rushed to hospital by ambulance and had to undergo emergency surgery

'It was a wear and tear issue that I had. I haven't really told anybody about this,' the TV presenter began.

'My neck just gave way a bit from 40 years of toil and it's a bit of a message out there for young blokes that are working hard. I know how hard apprentices and young tradesmen work. You've got to really look after yourself throughout your younger years,' he added.

Scott went on to reveal the extent of his injury, and described the pain as '12 out of 10'.

'My neck gave way': Scott went on to reveal the extent of his injury, and described the pain as '12 out of 10'

'Because you get to my age and all of a sudden my neck was getting squashed and my vertebrae, the disc blow-out, and it squashed all the nerves and that came down my arms. It was terrible pain - terrible, terrible!'

He added: 'I've got a fairly high pain threshold, I've got about 100 stitches in my body. I know a bit of pain, this was like a 12 [out of 10].'

Scott said he felt pain down his right arm and told his wife, Ann, to call an ambulance because he thought he was going to 'pass out' and his 'arm was on fire'.

Words of warning: He encouraged young tradesmen to look after themselves on the job

'I said to my wife, "You're going to have to call an ambulance because I'm going to pass out here." It's like my arm was on fire. I couldn't get rid of it,' he said.

'Anyway they pumped me full of morphine, which didn't do a lot, and all of a sudden I'm in Vinnies, on the operating table and they did a three or four hour operation on my neck.'

Scott said he was in hospital for five days, and thanked his doctor for looking after him.

Ordeal: Scott said he was in hospital for five days, and thanked his doctor for looking after him. He's now on the road to recovery, but can't lift anything more than 1kg for six weeks

He's now on the road to recovery, but can't lift anything more than 1kg for six weeks.

'Luckily a schooner is just under a kilo! Case of beers out, you should see the wife carrying all the gear!' he joked.

Scotty is the longtime host of the hit Channel Nine show The Block. The new series is set to premiere on Sunday.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-21 00:12:45|Editor: huaxia

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DAR ES SALAAM, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- A Tanzanian court on Thursday sentenced 13 people after they were convicted of poaching in the country.

The Serengeti District Magistrate Court in Mara region sentenced nine of the convicts to 20 years in prison each and the other four were given one-year sentence each.

State Attorneys David Meikasi and Jacob Matatala for the prosecution told the court that the suspects were arrested on different occasions between 2018 and 2019 while poaching in the Serengeti National Park and Ikorongo Forest Reserve.

"The accused persons were also found in possession of illegal firearms," said the prosecutors. Enditem
Travel planning for the new school term has been thrown into chaos after the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) told the Government that second-level students must maintain strict social distancing while on school buses.

For primary pupils, the advice is that social distancing should be maintained 'where possible'.

Nphet says distancing for post-primary pupils must be in line with what applies on public transport - where seat capacity is reduced to about 50pc.

Recent Department of Education advice to parents was that school-bus services would operate as normal with no social distancing, although second-level students would have to wear face coverings.

Read More

Following the receipt of the Nphet advice on Monday, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said on Tuesday that the Departments of Health and Education would be working to make school transport arrangements safer.

With pupils starting to return to school next week, it is now a race against time to radically overhaul transport arrangements that were based on no social distancing.

It could mean staggering pupil journeys, which will add to the logistical challenges already facing schools

Transport Minister Eamon Ryan told RTE's Sarah McInerney yesterday that it effectively required a "doubling of the public transport fleet where we don't have a clear mechanism to deliver it".

Mr Ryan said that when he previously asked his officials about the possibility of laying on additional buses "the short answer to that was no".

He added that, in light of the Nphet advice, he had contacted his Department "and we are going to have to go back and see what we can do".

Mr Ryan acknowledged that, with the return to school looming, arrangements were going to have to be made in the coming week.

A spokesperson for Bus Eireann, which oversees the service that caters for 120,000 pupils, said: "Planning and organisation for the return of the School Transport Scheme is continuing with the Department of Education."

Around 68,000 post-primary pupils avail of school transport - overwhelmingly on buses.

Before this week's Nphet advice, the Department of Education said that the exception to the social-distancing rule was being made for school buses because pupils were being pre-assigned seats next to a sibling or child from their class group.

It explained that the plan to run services as normal took account of the fact that school transport was different from public transport, in that each transport service carries the same children on a daily basis to their school.

"Because of this, the number of people using the service and their identities are known. This would facilitate contact tracing if it were required," the letter stated. The Department said its letter was based on existing public health advice and that it could be updated.

Along with the new social-distancing requirements, including face coverings for children aged 13 or over, other rules involve using the hand sanitiser on boarding the bus, observing respiratory etiquette while waiting for and while on the bus, and disembarking from the bus one by one, in an orderly fashion.
President Donald Trump will take his attacks on Joe Biden to his Democratic rival's backyard on the day Biden formally accepts his party's nomination to be president.

He began his counter-programming punch Thursday morning in a fury of tweets, knocking out retweet after retweet of criticism against Biden, his running mate Kamala Harris and former President Barack Obama, who presented a blistering indictment against Trump's presidency in his convention speech Wednesday night.

'President Obama is making it a habit of campaigning in Philly for losing Presidential candidates,' read one of the retweets. Obama and Hillary Clinton held the last rally of her 2016 presidential campaign in Philadelphia, just before she lost the election to Trump.

President Donald Trump will take his attacks on Joe Biden to Biden's backyard on Thursday with a campaign stop just outside Biden's childhood hometown of Scranton

President Trump will also give an interview to Fox News' Sean Hannity an hour before Joe Biden accepts the Democratic nomination for president

President Trump launched his attacks on Biden Thursday with a flurry of retweets

And he repeated his false claim that Biden wants to defund the police, with a retweet from his campaign war room featuring a clip from Fox News' Tucker Carlson and the words: 'Democrats want a world without police, without prisons, and without virtually any sort of law enforcement. These are todays Democrats. This is Joe Bidens America.'

Trump also retweeted himself from the night before questioning attack lines Harris used against Biden during the Democratic presidential primary. And he touted his campaign's counter punches to Biden's big night, including an online show Thursday evening featuring Kimberly Guilfoyle interviewing her boyfriend and Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. about the 2020 campaign.

But the president will try to hit Biden where it will hurt the most - his own backyard - ahead of Biden's coronation as Democratic presidential nominee, an event that will surely dominate most of headlines and news cycle.

Trump will be in Old Forge, 20 minutes down the road from Biden's child hood home town of Scranton, to attack his Democratic rival.

Joe Biden is hiding and taking voters for granted but the Trump campaign wont make the same mistake, Samantha Zager, deputy national press secretary for Trumps campaign, told DailyMail.com in a statement. Bidens socialist agenda would kill jobs and hurt families in the Keystone State, which is exactly why he wont confront voters in his hometown. President Trump has a record of success to point to in Pennsylvania, and voters in the state will reelect him this November as a result.

He'll also give an interview to Fox News' Sean Hannity an hour before Biden addresses the Democratic National Convention, to formally accept the presidential nomination.

Traditionally, the nominee of the other party stays quiet during their rival's convention week.

Trump threw that rule out the window this week with his trips to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Arizona to criticize Biden.

Trump will speak Thursday afternoon at Mariotti Building Products, a kitchen remodeler in Old Forge, which is a former coal mining and textile factor town famous for its distinct style of pizza. The Old Forge pizza - which comes in red or white - has a crust thats lighter than a typical thick crust, and crispy on the bottom with a chewy center.

While Trump will be attacking his rival, he'll also need to shore up his credentials among the state's voters.

Biden leads Trump in Pennsylvania by 6.4 points according to the RealClearPolitics polling average in that state.

Pennsylvania helped put Trump in the White House in 2016 when he became the first Republican to carry it in more than 20 years.

But he won it by less than 1 per cent and Biden will campaign hard there to return it to the Democrats' corner.

Joe Biden stops in front of his childhood home on July 9 in Scranton, Pennsylvania

President Obama gave a cool, calm, structured argument that outlined why he believed President Trump was not qualified to serve in the Oval Office

Biden established his campaign headquarters in Philadelphia - just 30 minutes away from his home in Wilmington, Del. - and former President Barack Obama gave his address to the Democratic National Convention there Wednesday night.

Biden will accept the party's nomination on Thursday evening, in a speech from Wilmington - capping his 40 plus years in politics with his campaign for the nation's top job.

His speech is expected to reflect the theme of steadiness and leadership he has pushed throughout his campaign.

It will be the climax of the virtual convention, coming after speakers ahead of him established his credentials to be president as they attack Trump's ability to do the job.

Obama made the case against Trump for his former running mate in a prosecutorial manner Wednesday night, laying out a sober, case-by-case point of why Trump shouldn't be president.

'This administration has shown it will tear our democracy down if that's what it takes to win,' he charged in his nearly 20 minute speech, a condemnation of a president by a previous one without historical precedent.

Trump fired back at Obama in an all-caps outburst on Twitter, claiming that 'HE SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN!' and deriding Democratic nominee Joe Biden as 'SLOW JOE'.

Obama told Americans Wednesday night that the only way to restore the country was to elect Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris in November.

'We have to get busy building it up  by pouring all our effort into these 76 days, and by voting like never before  for Joe and Kamala, and candidates up and down the ticket, so that we leave no doubt about what this country we love stands for  today and for all our days to come,' said Obama, his hair gray and demeanor serious.

He put aside post-presidential precedent to deliver an indictment of the man who succeeded him in the Oval Office, calling him lazy, dangerous, and corrupt, accusing him of abusing the military as props, of gassing peaceful protesters and of being willing to do anything for a second term.

And he tried to address Trump voters directly saying he understood why they felt government didn't work - but decried conspiracy theories, incompetence and the deaths of 170,000, saying: 'He hasn't grown into the job because he can't' and turning the presidency into 'a reality show for the attention he craves.'
People were killed during the months in 2014 when the town was under the control of "former" Russian military intelligence operative Igor Girkin aka Strelkov and his militants.

Ukraine's National Police this week said the bodies had been exhumed from a grave at a Sloviansk cemetery as part of a criminal investigation into the deaths of civilians during an armed conflict.

Most information about the latest developments thus remains secret in the interests of the probe, according to the Ministry of Interior.

Identification of remains through DNA testing "will ease the suffering of people whose loved ones have gone missing, and who have been living in obscurity for the past six years," the ministry said in a statement.

"This is not the first exhumation that helped establish the fate of the missing ones and ensure an effective investigation into the circumstances of their deaths. Thus, the police identified the militants who shot dead four civilians in Sloviansk," the statement said.

Although the uncovered grave was on the territory of the cemetery, it was clearly "not intended to be found," the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group wrote.

The Russian occupation lasted from April 12 to July 8, 2014, the rights watchdog recalls.

Read alsoTortures in Donbas: Ukraine prosecutors identify about 600 victimsRussian television had already tried to pass the murders off as Ukrainian soldiers' work, claiming  falsely  that they had been killed for helping the militants. In fact, they may have been killed to steal their cars  which would not be the first time that militants, treated as heroes by Russia, killed purely for gain, the report adds.

Extrajuducial executions in Donbas

The militants did not bother to hide the bodies of all their victims. Volodymyr Rybak, a 42-year-old Horlivka City Council deputy, was seized on 17 April 2014, after he tried to remove the flag of the self-proclaimed "Donetsk people's republic" , which the Russian and pro-Russian militants had hung over the Council building, and put the Ukrainian flag back in its place. His horrifically mutilated body was found in a stream near Sloviansk, together with that of 19-year-old Yuri Popravka. The young lad had, together with Yuri Dyakovsky, who was 25, and three other young Maidan activists, set off for Sloviansk to try to gather information about the militants. They were seized almost immediately, with Dyakovskys body found a bit later.

The first evidence of extrajudicial executions and other war crimes was reported by western journalists who arrived in Sloviansk soon after the militants fled. Girkin, who is on trial (in absentia) in the Hague for his believed role in the downing of Malaysian airliner MH17, enjoys boasting of his "feats" in Donbas, and in 2016 admitted to extrajudicial executions during an interview. Although the latter was later removed, it has been widely reported, and was undoubtedly saved for submissions from Ukraine to the International Criminal Court. More recently, Girkin also admitted to using civilians in Donbas as human shields in combat.

In July 2020, RFE/RL published an article entitled "The Executioners of Sloviansk" where they identified some of what they called "Russia-backed militants  including one with ties to a longtime Putin aide in the Kremlin  who ordered the extrajudicial executions of Ukrainians by firing squad and set a dark tone for the war in the Donbas."

The authors were able to identify nine militants who took part in these "military tribunals, and discovered that one of them, Viktor Anosov, "is tied through a Moscow-based organization for Russia-backed fighters to Vladislav Surkov, one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest aides at the time of the executions and the architect of the Kremlin's Ukraine policy."

The authors ascertained that at least some of the nine men had received Russian citizenship and will doubtless be protected from prosecution, just as Russia is shielding the men on trial over MH17, the men who tortured and murdered 16-year-old schoolboy Stepan Chubenko and others.
YPSILANTI TWP  Protesters gathered outside Washtenaw Countys 14-B District Court Wednesday, picketing the first of what they expect will be a tidal wave of eviction cases in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

About 70 people gathered at the courthouse for the protest, which was organized by the Washtenaw General Defense Counsel and Ann Arbor Tenants Union. The groups gathered outside in protest as the court prepared to hear 49 eviction cases on Wednesdays docket.

The protesters hung banners with phrases like Evictions are State Violence and Evict Landlords: Tenant Power, Tenant Union, Tenant Rights. After congregating at the main entrance, the group took turns marching back and forth in front of each doorway, chanting No pay, no rent, no evictions in a pandemic, as scheduled eviction hearings began at 1 p.m.

Organizer Max Benson of the WGDC said the groups goal is to bring back the moratorium until conditions are safe.

I really hope that Washtenaw County will set a precedent and say We refuse to move forward with evictions because were (in) a pandemic and unemployment rates are still ridiculously high, Benson said. Peoples lives are at stake... are the conditions out in our society going to be good enough for people to survive?

Julia Goode of the Ann Arbor Tenants Union called on local governments, the court system and those involved in the eviction process to speak out and take responsibility for the threat to public health created by evictions.

I think theres been a good deal of everyone in government wanting to pass the buck, Goode said. At every step of the process someone could step forward and say, This is wrong for the individual, and its wrong for the community.

Both groups argued that the court systems reliance on the teleconferencing software Zoom disproportionately harms those without internet access or a compatible phone or computer.

If youre not wealthy enough - you lose, Goode said. If your phone cuts out during court proceedings - you lose.

Organizers encouraged protesters to allow tenants into the courthouse while making entry for landlords as difficult as possible, leading the group to question those trying to enter the building, some of whom were escorted in by Washtenaw County Sheriffs deputies. As one man, who didnt identify himself, approached the doorway, he was confronted by several protesters who accused him of being a landlord and turned him away with shouts of, Parasite!

A series of executive orders signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer that placed a four-month moratorium on evictions expired on July 16. A similar moratorium put in place by Detroits 36th District Court ended Saturday, August 16, prompting protests outside the courthouse in downtown Detroit on Monday.

When the statewide moratorium ended in July, the backlog of eviction cases was estimated at about 80,000.

The executive order that ended the statewide moratorium also established an eviction diversion program for COVID-19-related debtors. Under that program, renters can apply for a lump sum payment from the state in order to pay back housing debts arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Michigan landlords and lenders are strongly encouraged to take advantage of COVID-19 housing debt remedies, rather than pursuing eviction or foreclosure, the order says.

In July, the Ann Arbor City Council unanimously passed a resolution requesting that Whitmer reinstate the statewide eviction moratorium. Council member Zachary Ackerman, D-3rd Ward, said the new eviction diversion program doesnt provide enough protections for tenants in a state that was already facing an eviction epidemic before the COVID-19 pandemic began.

In the state of Michigan, 17,000 evictions were already happening every single month, Ackerman said. These are the people who absolutely cant afford, you know, intensive paperwork and legal representation right now, he said, arguing an eviction moratorium provides more protection.

Benson agreed that the current programs are helpful, but remain difficult to access for those who need them.

Theres always going to be people who slip through the cracks, Benson said. A lot of these are very bureaucratic process, where some people will apply and they wont be given an ounce of thought as far as getting these resources.

More from The Ann Arbor News:

Ann Arbor keeping short leash on parking deal with University of Michigan

Michigan State University switches fall semester to remote learning, tells students to stay home

2 hotels approved for former Michigan Inn site in Ann Arbor
Sikhs, Muslims and other communities for generations have been made to feel suspect for the way they worshipped, former US President Barack Obama has said, as he urged Americans to vote to oust Donald Trump. "The American public should not let him and his administration take away your power. Don't let them take away your democracy," said Obama. "What we do echoes through the generations.

Whatever our backgrounds, we're all the children of Americans who fought the good fight. Great grandparents working in firetraps and sweatshops without rights or ...
YMCA of the Blue Water Area President and CEO Denise Brooks recently announced her decision to retire after more than 11 years with the YMCA.

Brooks resignation is effective Dec. 31. The YMCA board will partner with the YMCA of the USA to conduct a nationwide search for a new CEO and president, beginning immediately, with an expected conclusion by the end of this year.

Denise is recognized as an outstanding, dedicated and community-focused executive leader. She successfully guided the Y through some of its most difficult times, and her leadership efforts helped transform the lives of those who need our Y the most, said YMCA Board Chairman and Chief Volunteer Officer Geof Kusch.

Under Brooks leadership, the YMCA of the Blue Water Area grew to serve more than one out of every eight people in St. Clair and Sanilac counties, implemented chronic disease management programs, expanded the YMCAs drowning prevention efforts, completed an over $850,000 PACE project focused on energy savings improvements to the facility, restored financial viability in the wake of the 2008-2010 recession and created partnerships with area schools and other organizations.

I am proud and thankful to have served this YMCA since 2009 and this community most of my life, Brooks said in a news release. Ive been honored to build relationships with so many talented and committed volunteers, staff, donors and community partners who have guided and encouraged me and all of our Y leaders. Here in Port Huron, theyve strengthened the very foundation of this community by bringing incredible programs and services to so many.

Because Denise has built a strong staff team, we are confident that the YMCA will be prepared for this transition, Kusch added in the release. Our board is prepared to step up in whatever role is needed to assure continuity of service for all those who depend on the YMCA programs and services.

 Samantha DeRosia, MediaNews Group
France has become the first country to open its borders to Indian students, researchers and teachers who have been invited by a French academic establishment or laboratory, and to holders of the Talent passport.

Seven French visa processing centres in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kochi became operational from August 17 to receive select visa applications, while complying with Indian travel regulations and the safety of consular teams.

Universities in France have readied themselves to receive international students, either wholly or partly on campus, said a statement from the French embassy.

Addressing thousands of Indian students who have chosen to study in France, ambassador Emmanuel Lenain said: France is returning to normalcy and I am delighted that international students will be among the first to benefit from it. The French embassy is fully mobilised to ensure that students can pursue their studies in France in the smoothest conditions possible, despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The move reaffirms Frances priority to academic mobility, he said.

The facility is limited to Indian students travelling to France in autumn for studies for more than three months on long-term visas, and short-term studies or internships, with accommodation in France. It is also available to professors or researchers employed or invited by a French academic institution or research laboratory who are travelling at the end of their studies or for teaching, and to those having a valid long-term visa or a Talent passport.

These persons must possess an International Travel Certificate to Mainland France (Attestation de deplacement international derogatoire), available on the website of the French interior ministry. This certificate has to be presented to the travel company before departure and to border control authorities on arrival in France.

The certificate must be accompanied by an undertaking that the person does not have any symptoms of Covid-19 and has not been in contact with an infected person 14 days prior to departure.

The visa applications will be processed in small batches every week to ensure adequate safety measures at the processing centres. Social distancing and other recommended protective measures are being adhered to, and mobile biometric data collection and courier services are available to limited in-person contacts at the centres.

All travellers displaying any symptoms of Covid-19 on their entry in French territory will be prescribed quarantine or self-isolation.

In order to prepare students, pre-departure sessions called Bienvenue en France are scheduled online during August 22-31. These sessions will acquaint students with administrative procedures, ways of finding accommodation, tips from alumni, and practical advice on student life in France.

Around 118 Indian students are preparing to travel to France at the end of September as English language assistants for a stint in French schools. The programme offers an opportunity for French-speaking Indian students to live and work in France and gain professional exposure.

The number of Indian students opting for higher studies in France has risen from 3,000 in 2014 to around 10,000 in 2019.
Kamala Harris made history Wednesday when she accepted the Democratic nomination for vice president, while joining Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to condemn President Donald Trump's profound "failure" as a leader.

Harris, the first black woman on a major party's White House ticket, accused Trump of turning "our tragedies into political weapons." And she urged Americans to vote for Joe Biden, "a president who will bring all of us together."

"Donald Trump's failure of leadership has cost lives and livelihoods," the former California prosecutor charged in her acceptance speech.

"We're at an inflection point."

Biden, who faces Trump on November 3, is due to give his own acceptance speech on Thursday, closing a Democratic convention held wholly online and on television due to coronavirus safety precautions.

Shortly before Harris spoke, America's first black president, Barack Obama, delivered his own condemnation of Trump -- and appeal for Biden's election.

Obama said that on handing over the White House to Trump in 2017, he thought the Republican "might show some interest in taking the job seriously; that he might come to feel the weight of the office and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care."

"But he never did," Obama said.

As a result, Trump has left America's "worst impulses unleashed, our proud reputation around the world badly diminished, and our democratic institutions threatened like never before," Obama said.

Trump responded by telling reporters that Obama had been "a terrible president."

- Leave nothing to chance -

Former first lady and secretary of state Hillary Clinton, who narrowly lost the 2016 presidential election to Trump, pleaded with voters to take nothing for granted in another tight contest.

"This can't be another woulda-coulda-shoulda election," she said.

Others on the night's program included Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, who unsuccessfully challenged Biden for the nomination, and Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House of Representatives.

Former Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who has become a gun control advocate after being shot and severely wounded in a 2011 assassination attempt, also spoke, along with Emma Gonzalez, a survivor of the Parkland school shooting.

Young activists addressed the dangers of climate change and Hispanic immigrants made highly emotional critiques of Trump's policies that they said had torn apart their families.

Much focus was on Obama, who remains a giant force in the Democratic establishment.

Although he took a back seat during the Democratic primaries, he is now campaigning hard for Biden.

"Tonight, I am asking you to believe in Joe and Kamala's ability to lead this country out of dark times and build it back better," he said in his speech.

- Trump's 'storm center' -

Obama spoke two days after his wife, Michelle Obama, opened the convention with a scathing takedown of Trump as "the wrong president for our country."

"He cannot meet this moment," she said.

Tuesday's lineup featured two other former presidents -- 95-year-old Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, 74, who called the Trump White House "a storm center."

Biden, 77, the former Delaware senator who served as Obama's vice president for eight years, was officially nominated on Tuesday.

Harris, the California senator whom Biden picked to be his vice president, will speak live from Wilmington, Delaware, Biden's hometown and campaign headquarters.

The nomination is the latest in a lifetime of firsts for the 55-year-old daughter of a Jamaican father and Indian mother who were immigrants to the United States.

Harris was the first black attorney general of California, the first woman to hold the post, and the first woman of South Asian heritage to be elected to the US Senate.

The Republican Party is to hold its virtual convention next week and nominate Trump to serve four more years.

Trump has chosen the White House South Lawn as the location for his acceptance speech -- a controversial decision given that presidents are legally required to separate their campaigning from taxpayer-funded governing.
The United States has initiated the process of restoring United Nations sanctions on Iran, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Thursday, despite concerns among Security Council members that it lacks the authority to do so.

The process to reimpose sanctions on Iran begins, Pompeo said in a tweet Thursday, adding that he notified the council of something we all know too wellIran's failure to meet its commitments under the terrible nuclear deal.

As expected, Pompeo traveled to the United Nations in New York City to file a formal complaint accusing Iran of breaching its obligations under the same nuclear deal the United States withdrew from in 2018.

Per Security Council Resolution 2231, the other member countries now have 30 days to pass a resolution extending sanctions relief. The United States would veto any such attempt. If no resolution is adopted, the sanctions automatically snap back.

Pompeos announcement Thursday follows the Donald Trump administrations failed bid to indefinitely extend the 13-year arms embargo on Iran, which is set to expire in October. The Dominican Republic was the lone member of the 15-member body to join the United States in supporting the resolution last Friday. Russia and China voted against it, and the rest of the council abstained.

During remarks to the press on Thursday, Pompeo said that allies Germany, France and the United Kingdom  collectively known as the E3  provided the United States no alternatives when they chose to side with ayatollahs."

America wont join in this failure of leadership, Pompeo said. Todays actions put additional pressure on Iran to behave like a normal country and come back [to] the bargaining table."

The European signatories to the deal share Pompeos concerns about Irans nuclear ambitions, but they fear restoring sanctions could blow up the nuclear agreement by leaving Tehran with few incentives to comply. In a statement Thursday, the European Commission questioned whether the Trump administration has the legal authority to reinstate sanctions, given that it walked away from the Obama-era nuclear accord more than two years ago.

We, therefore, consider that the US is not in a position to resort to mechanisms reserved for JCPOA participants, the statement said, referring to the nuclear deals official name, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

The US plan also received pushback from Iran, whose foreign minister dismissed the snapback attempt as illegitimate and felonious, and Russia, whose ambassador to the UN called it nonexistent.
A body of a man was recovered by emergency crews after he was trapped in a pipe connected to a water slide in Arizona. On August 17, emergency crews arrived at Eldorado Aquatic Park in Scottsdale, Arizona, and that is where they discovered the body of the 32-year-old man.

Stuck in a support pipe

Fire officials said that they were working to free a person trapped in a massive pipe that is supporting the slides at the pool. The crew later told that it turned into a body recovery operation since the person trapped stopped responding, according to ABC15.

It is not clear precisely what the man was doing in the area and how he got stuck in the pipe. Fire officials were seen draining the back pool area on August 17 and said that the man was 4 feet down the pipe. The crews were also seen dismantling the pipes to get the man out.

Also Read: Greece Secretly Sent Away 1,000 Migrants, Abandoning Them at Sea

Eldorado Aquatic Park has a lap pool, water slides, and a play gym. It is also not known whether the person is a worker or a visitor at the park. A Scottsdale police officer was making rounds in the area when he said he heard muffled calls for help.

The police officer found the voice coming from a pipe that supports one of the water slides. The officers were able to talk to the victim, a 32-year-old man said to be transient, but they lost contact with him around 2 am on August 17.

Police officers stated that the person went over a tall fence, and he was up on the slide when he somehow got into the pipe structure and was stuck for hours. The Maricopa County Medical Examiner will investigate how the victim died.

The Aquatic Center is now closed and is investigating the incident. The crews were able to get the body out, and the victim was identified as Ryan Kelly.

Death in a water park

In 2016, 10-year-old Caleb Schwab was killed in the world's tallest slide after he was decapitated. The Guinness World Records gave the 168-foot-high Verruckt, which is German for insane, the title in 2014.

The giant water slide is part of the Schlitterbahn water park. The victim was decapitated in August 2016 when the raft that he was riding in went airborne and struck metal support for netting on the slide. The two others in the raft with him were severely injured.

In October 2016, the company announced the deconstruction of the giant slide, and it took three weeks to remove the slide. The slide was permanently closed and removed from the tower of the water park.

Immediately after the death of the victim, Henry and Sons Construction, the contractor owned by Jeffrey Henry, Tyler Miles, and the park itself, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, while the designers and the contractor were charged with second-degree murder.

In 2019, a judge in Kansas dismissed the indictments. Wyandotte County District Court Judge Robert Burns dismissed the cases against three executives and two companies linked to the water park, according to CNN.

Related Article: Meatworker Beheads Friend During Fishing Trip, Possibly Due to Wife's Infidelity

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Huawei recently confirmed that its upcoming Mate 40 will be the last smartphone to use the high-end Kirin processors. The Chinese company will lose access to TSMC for producing its Kirin chipsets starting September 14. According to the latest report from Digitimes, Huaweis chip subsidiary HiSilicon is also losing engineers in Taiwan.

Huawei can no longer make the Kirin chipsets without the help from third-party foundries like TSMC and Samsung. As a result, the engineers from its HiSilcon division in Taiwan are leaving the company. Unfortunately, this is also happening when the company is looking setup its own chip fabs.

Engineers leaving Huawei HiSilicon while the company is building its own fab

As per the source, Huawei is reportedly constructing a 45nm fab in its home country China. We should also consider the 45nm chipsets as outdated and will be of no use for its smartphones. The upcoming Mate 40 series might come powered by the Kirin chipset built using TSMCs 5nm process.

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While the company said to have stocked enough chipsets to sustain for one more year, it might have to partner with its competition for its future flagships. Qualcomm is reportedly in talks with the US government to get permission for supplying its Snapdragon chipsets to Huawei.

Mate 40 could be the last flagship to use Kirin chipset

Huawei currently uses the Snapdragon chipsets in a few of its entry-level smartphones. If the US-China trade conflict continues to escalate into 2021, the Shenzhen-based company might find it very difficult to survive in the smartphone market. While the company successfully built software alternatives, its not the same case with hardware products.

Like Apple, Huawei also designs its chipsets and uses third-party foundries to produce them. Taiwans TSMC has been the sole manufacturer for its flagship chipset for many years. In May this year, the US Commerce Department made amendments to the export rule to block TSMC from producing Kirin chipsets.

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While TSMC was allowed to fulfill the earlier orders until mid-September, it was blocked from taking new orders from Huawei. During the 2020 Summit of the China Information Technology Association, the CEO of Huaweis consumer business, Richard Yu, announced the production of Kirin chips might come to an end on September 14.

Huawei is expected to launch the flagship Mate 40 and Mate 40 Pro smartphones along with the rumored Mate X2 foldable smartphone in September. The company might announce the future of its chipset business during the upcoming launch event.




Expansion of the pipeline from orthopedics into inflammatory conditions, including COVID-19, leveraging Bone Therapeutics platform of differentiated MSCs





Gosselies, Belgium, 20 August 2020, 7am CEST  BONE THERAPEUTICS SA (Euronext Brussels and Paris: BOTHE), the cell therapy company established in addressing high unmet medical needs in orthopedics and bone diseases, today announces it has received EUR 0.6 million in grants from the Walloon Region (Belgium) for research and initial preparatory steps towards clinical development of BT-20, its new allogeneic and off-the-shelf cell therapy product. Bone Therapeutics is now leveraging its expertise in Mesenchymal Stromal Cell (MSC) biology to expand its portfolio from orthopedics and bone diseases to inflammatory conditions.

MSCs and MSC derived cells have documented immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties and several cell therapy approaches with MSC derived products are currently in development, or recently approved, for the treatment of multiple inflammatory conditions. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), an acute inflammatory lung condition with a high mortality rate or prolonged hospitalization, is frequent in severe cases of COVID-19. Despite several approaches in development, there are currently limited treatments for ARDS and current medical interventions are mostly limited to general care. Bone Therapeutics, in recognizing this high unmet medical need, initiated the development of BT-20 as the Bone Therapeutics new allogeneic anti-inflammatory cell therapy product. BT-20 is produced using an adaptation of Bone Therapeutics validated bone marrow derived MSC manufacturing platform and showed immunomodulating effects in in-vitro non-clinical studies.

The funding now received will help to continue further the pre-clinical development and the preparation of the submission of the Clinical Trial Application (CTA) for a phase I clinical trial of BT-20, for which Bone Therapeutics had already received initial Scientific Advice from the Belgian Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP) in April 2020. The intended phase I clinical study would evaluate the therapeutic potential of BT-20 to improve COVID-19 ARDS patients lung health and function and to reduce mortality. The study would be a controlled, randomized, double-blind of BT-20 versus placebo in addition to standard supportive treatments, in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 related ARDS. Bone Therapeutics will consider the potential re-emergence of COVID-19 associated ARDS cases and the corresponding unmet medical need to decide the timing for the CTA submission for approval from the FAMHP, and subsequent conduct of the study, subject to securing the necessary financing.

Story continues

Bone Therapeutics has built considerable expertise in MSCs and cell therapies for orthopedics and bone diseases. We are now at the stage where we can expand this expertise to a broader differentiated MSC based cell and gene therapy treatment portfolio, including inflammatory conditions, said Miguel Forte, MD, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Bone Therapeutics. With the current global pandemic, there is an urgent need for therapies to tackle not just the immediate infection, but the critical and fatal inflammatory syndrome that COVID-19 causes. This represents our first anti-inflammatory target for our MSC platform with an opportunity to diversify into a broader range of additional inflammatory conditions in the future.

The non-dilutive funding was awarded by the Directorate of Research Projects of the Public Service of Wallonia for Economy, Employment and Research (SPW-EER) under the form of non-refundable grants within the framework of the "COVID 19" measure. The measure was launched by the Walloon Government and by Minister Willy Borsus, Vice-President of Wallonia and Minister of Economy, Research and Innovation, Digital Technology, Agriculture and Regional Planning. It has as aim to facilitate the implementation of research projects to combat the coronavirus and the COVID19 pandemic. The costs associated with the BT-20 program are not expected to change the current cash flow guidance as the funding now received will cover research and initial clinical preparation costs, with the next steps of the program, namely the conduct of the clinical study, being dependent on further funding.





About Bone Therapeutics

Bone Therapeutics is a leading biotech company focused on the development of innovative products to address high unmet needs in orthopedics and other diseases. The Company has a, diversified portfolio of cell and biologic therapies at different stages ranging from pre-clinical programs in immunomodulation to mid-to-late stage clinical development for orthopedic conditions, targeting markets with large unmet medical needs and limited innovation.

Bone Therapeutics is developing an off-the-shelf next-generation improved viscosupplement, JTA-004, which is currently in phase III development for the treatment of pain in knee osteoarthritis. Consisting of a unique combination of plasma proteins, hyaluronic acid - a natural component of knee synovial fluid, and a fast-acting analgesic, JTA-004 intends to provide added lubrication and protection to the cartilage of the arthritic joint and to alleviate osteoarthritic pain and inflammation. Positive phase IIb efficacy results in patients with knee osteoarthritis showed a statistically significant improvement in pain relief compared to a leading viscosupplement.

Bone Therapeutics core technology is based on its cutting-edge allogeneic cell therapy platform with differentiated bone marrow sourced Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) which can be stored at the point of use in the hospital. Currently in pre-clinical development, BT-20, the most recent product candidate from this technology, targets inflammatory conditions, while the leading investigational medicinal product, ALLOB, represents a unique, proprietary approach to bone regeneration, which turns undifferentiated stromal cells from healthy donors into bone-forming cells. These cells are produced via the Bone Therapeutics scalable manufacturing process. Following the CTA approval by regulatory authorities in Europe, the Company is ready to start the phase IIb clinical trial with ALLOB in patients with difficult tibial fractures, using its optimized production process. ALLOB continues to be evaluated for other orthopedic indications including spinal fusion, osteotomy, maxillofacial and dental.

Bone Therapeutics cell therapy products are manufactured to the highest GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) standards and are protected by a broad IP (Intellectual Property) portfolio covering ten patent families as well as knowhow. The Company is based in the BioPark in Gosselies, Belgium. Further information is available at www.bonetherapeutics.com.





For further information, please contact:

Bone Therapeutics SA

Miguel Forte, MD, PhD, Chief Executive Officer

Jean-Luc Vandebroek, Chief Financial Officer

Tel: +32 (0) 71 12 10 00

investorrelations@bonetherapeutics.com

International Media Enquiries:

Image Box Communications

Neil Hunter / Michelle Boxall

Tel: +44 (0)20 8943 4685

neil@ibcomms.agency / michelle@ibcomms.agency

For French Media and Investor Enquiries:

NewCap Investor Relations & Financial Communications

Pierre Laurent, Louis-Victor Delouvrier and Arthur Rouille

Tel: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94

bone@newcap.eu

Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release are forward-looking, which reflect the Company or, as appropriate, the Company directors current expectations and projections about future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, changes in demand, competition and technology, can cause actual events, performance or results to differ significantly from any anticipated development. Forward looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. As a result, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Neither the Company nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its subsidiary undertakings or any such persons officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.




Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman was suspended after using an anti-gay slur during the broadcast of Cincinnati's game against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.

According to Jeff Passan, an MLB insider for ESPN, Brennaman was caught on a hot mic saying, "one of the (expletive) capitals of the world" while broadcasting before the top of the seventh inning in the first game of a doubleheader.

Passan tweeted a video of Brennaman using the homophobic slur.

Brennaman continued to announce for the second game of the doubleheader against Kansas City Wednesday evening.

Later in the game, Brennaman issued an apology to the public saying he is deeply sorry and prides himself on being a man of faith. Brennaman also said he doesn't know if he will still have a job.

"I don't know if I will be putting on this headset again," he said.

Brennaman issued another apology to anyone who was offended.

"I'm very, very sorry and beg for your forgiveness," he said.

Brennaman then left the game in the top of the 5th inning and was replaced by Jim Day on the broadcast.

Late Wednesday night, the Cincinnati Reds released an official statement regarding the incident, saying Brennaman has been suspended from doing Reds broadcasts:

"The Cincinnati Reds organizations is devastated by the horrific, homophobic remark made this evening by broadcaster Thom Brennaman. He was pulled off the air, and effective immediately was suspended from doing Reds broadcasts. We will be addressing our broadcasting team in the coming days. In no way does this incident represent our players, coaches, organization, or our fans. We share our sincerest apologies to the LGBTQ+ community in Cincinnati, Kansas City, all across this country, and beyond. The Reds embrace a zero-tolerance policy for bias or discrimination of any kind, and we are truly sorry to anyone who has been offended."

The son of Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman, Thom has called major league games for 33 years and has been with Fox Sports for the past 27, covering primarily baseball and football.



Cincinnati city council member Chris Seelbach disapproved of Brennaman's actions on Twitter saying: "The Brennaman family are Cincinnati sports icons with a powerful voice in our community, which makes it even more disgusting and totally unprofessional to hear such language used. The Reds have been proud supporters of their LGBTQ+ fans, and this language cannot be tolerated. Period. Cincinnati is leading the way for LGBTQ+ equality. We are on the right side of history and its incredibly disappointing to hear Mr. Brennaman use such language of hate when our country is begging for unity."
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As thousands of New York City restaurants struggle to survive during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the NYC Hospitality Alliance is demanding the city and state immediately reopen indoor dining in the Big Apple.

With back due rent payments piling up, thousands of restaurant employees out of work, and revenue at an all time low, city eatery proprietors said on Wednesday that if indoor dining isnt restored soon, they may have to take legal action against the city and state.

When asked if a lawsuit was being planned, Robert Bookman, general counsel to the NYC Hospitality Alliance -- a trade organization representing more than 25,000 restaurants and bars of New York City -- said all options are on the table.

According to an NYC Hospitality Alliance survey of nearly 500 restaurants and bar owners and operators across the city, 83% couldnt pay full commercial rent in July. Local restaurants and bars employ 200,000 fewer people than they did in March, and nearly 60% of hospitality industry workers are jobless, according to the NYC Hospitality Alliance.

More than six weeks after indoor dining in New York City was indefinitely put on pause, reopening plans for schools, museums, gyms and bowling alleys have since been announced, said restaurant and bar owners at a NYC Hospitality Alliance press conference on Wednesday.

Despite the fact that the city exceeds and sustains the metrics that have allowed restaurants throughout the rest of the state to reopen, government leaders have still yet to provide any guidance on when small business owners, workers and customers can expect indoor dining to return, said Andrew Rigie, executive director of the NYC Hospitality Alliance.

Our industrys survival over the next several months depends on government immediately developing and implementing a plan that allows restaurants in New York City to safely reopen indoors like our counterparts everywhere else in the state, he added.

Rigies call to action was reinforced by restaurant owners from across the five boroughs, including Massimo Felici, owner of Vinum in Stapleton.

So many of our restaurants are struggling to survive, said Felici. Running a business -- especially one that relies on the revenue of one week to pay for the wages, food and drinks of the next, or even the prior  without knowing when and how our businesses will be able to fully reopen is extremely challenging.

New York City restaurants and bars had originally anticipated that indoor dining could resume at 50% capacity under Phase 3 of reopening on July 6. That was not the case; however restaurants elsewhere in the state have been serving customers indoors since June 17. During this time, New Yorks coronavirus infection rate has dropped to one of the lowest in the nation, cited the NYC Hospitality Alliance.

On Wednesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said that less than 1% of New York City residents tested for COVID-19 were positive for the virus.

The indicated earlier this week he didnt foresee indoor dining reopening until there is a coronavirus vaccine.

Right now, Im going to look at the glass half full. Outdoor dining has helped almost 10,000 restaurants to bring in a whole lot more revenue; takeout and delivery has been a part of what restaurants could do from the very beginning of this crisis, that will continue no matter what, said de Blasio.

The most important thing is to get to a point where we have a vaccine, and then we can really come back, but were going to be very very careful, he added.

Dr. Jay Varma, de Blasio senior adviser added: We, all of us who are New Yorkers love the dining and restaurant scene here in New York City. But we also value our safety. And when you look at the data really from across the world, there is no doubt, one very common setting in which infections occur -- and not just individual infections, but what we call super-spreading events where one person can transmit to five, 10, 15, or 20 people -- and those are settings where there was indoor dining and drinking. "

Gov. Andrew Cuomo addressed the NYC Hospitality Alliance demands at his Wednesday morning press conference.

I understand the inconvenience that many businesses are dealing with going through this, and I understand that many businesses are under economic hardship and they feel that if they cant get back to full operating that theyre going to have issues. With restaurants, were very aware of it. We made the provision for the outdoor dining precisely for that reason. Now theyre right, the weather is going to start to get cold, and what do we do if its cold and people dont want to eat outside? I get it. Again, thats in the fall, right? And today in this environment two weeks is what a year used to be, right? Everything changes every two weeks, said Cuomo.

The restaurants in New York City -- New York City is in a different situation than Westchester County and its in a different situation than Nassau County -- and anyone who has been following this situation at all realizes that. And frankly, to liken the two situations is just absurd. Theyre different demographically, theyre different by population, theyre different by density, theyre different by crowding factor. Westchester never had the problem that New York City had. Nassau never had the problem that New York City had, he added.

NEED FOR FINANCIAL RELIEF

In addition to calling on government officials to develop and implement an immediate plan for indoor dining in New York City, industry leaders renewed the urgency for financial relief for restaurants across all five boroughs, including: extending the moratorium on evictions; extending the suspension of personal liability guarantees in leases; pausing commercial rent taxes; providing rent relief; extending small businesses cash grants.

If the restaurant industry sues the city and state to reopen, it wont be the first industry to take legal action during the coronavirus pandemic. More then 1,500 fitness facility owners across the state had joined a class action lawsuit that was filed in Jefferson County, N.Y., against Cuomo, New York state and the state attorney general before it was announced that gyms could reopen.

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Donald Trump has taken another swipe at New Zealand for its 'big outbreak' of COVID-19, while praising his own country for doing an 'incredible job' in the battle against the deadly virus.

The US President, whose country has recorded the highest number of cases across the globe, made the comments during a press conference at the White House on Wednesday.

'New Zealand, by the way, had a big outbreak, and other countries that were held up to try and make us look not as good as we should look, and we've done an incredible job,' he said.

'They're having a lot of outbreaks, but they'll be able to put them out, and we'll be able put them out.'

New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern on Tuesday said Trump's claim was 'patently wrong'

His comments came as New Zealand recorded six new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, taking the number of active cases to 96.

The US recorded 40,000 new cases on Wednesday.

The country holds the record for the most cases with 5.5million COVID-19 cases and 170,000 deaths.

Trump made a similar sentiment during a campaign rally in Mankato, Minnesota earlier this week.

'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.

Two women wear face masks as they walk in Wellington, New Zealand, on Saturday (pictured)

A police vehicle is seen outside Rydges Rotorua Hotel which is being used to isolate returned travellers (pictured on August 12)

A man wearing a face mask is seen in downtown Auckland, New Zealand on Wednesday (pictured)

'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 Jacinda Ardern on Tuesday said Trump's claim was 'patently wrong'.

'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.

People wearing face masks walk on a street in downtown Auckland, New Zealand (pictured on Wednesday night)

Donald Trump has taken another swipe at New Zealand for its 'big outbreak' of COVID-19, while praising his own country for doing an 'incredible job' in the battle against the deadly virus

'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.'

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.

The country's lockdown has now been extended until August 26.
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Fifty students in the Inland Empire will receive medical school scholarships this academic year thanks to the Healthcare Scholarship Fund (HSF) from Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP).

In an effort to address the physician shortage in the Inland Empire, IEHP has awarded $8 million in funding to three local universities and programs, including Loma Linda University School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, and the California University for Science & Medicine (CUSM).

In an effort to address the physician shortage in the Inland Empire, IEHP has awarded $8 million in funding to three local universities and programs, including Loma Linda University School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, and the California University for Science & Medicine. (Photo provided by California University for Science & Medicine)

This funding will allow each institution to independently manage scholarship applications and distribute funds directly to students. While the application process varies between institutions, IEHP requires a commitment from scholarship recipients to practice and serve in the Inland Empire for 5 years after graduation.

"We hope these scholarships will not only encourage and incentivize local students to reach their dreams of becoming doctors, but to stay and practice medicine in the Inland Empire as well," said Jarrod McNaughton, IEHP Chief Executive Officer. "We'd like to be the bridge between dreams and action for students who dedicate their hearts to the field of medicine and do all we can as a health plan to provide students with a supportive network of healthcare professionals."

According to the California Health Care Foundation, the Inland Empire has one of the lowest ratios of Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) and specialty physicians per 100,000 people in California. "Removing the barrier of debt for these students allows for increased dedication to the field and a way for us to work together to address the physician shortage in our two counties," said McNaughton.

"I am grateful to IEHP for engaging with us to continue to expand access to care and healthcare provider options for our region," said Dr. Tamara Thomas, Loma Linda University School of Medicine Dean. "By removing financial barriers, the Inland Empire Community Service Awards will make it possible for more of our students to follow their dream to serve the medical needs of our underserved communities."

About IEHP

IEHP, Inland Empire Health Plan, is one of the top 10 largest Medicaid health plans and the largest not-for-profit Medicare-Medicaid plan in the country. With a network of more than 6,400 Providers and more than 2,000 employees, IEHP serves more than 1.2 million residents in Riverside and San Bernardino counties who are enrolled in Medicaid or Cal MediConnect Plan (Medicare-Medicaid Plan). Through a dynamic partnership with Providers and Community, award-winning service and innovative products, IEHP is fully committed to advocating for our Members and providing them with quality, accessible and wellness-based health care services. For more information, visit iehp.org.

SOURCE Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP)

Related Links

http://www.iehp.org


Norway Expels Russian Diplomat Following Spy Arrest, Moscow Calls It 'Unjustified'

By RFE/RL August 19, 2020

Norway has expelled a Russian diplomat linked to the case of a Norwegian national recently arrested on espionage charges.

The Nordic country's Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador to inform him that the diplomat had been asked to leave because he "performed actions that are not compatible with his role and status as a diplomat," national broadcaster NRK reported on August 19.

Norway's PST intelligence agency arrested an Indian-born Norwegian national on August 15 while he was meeting a Russian intelligence officer at a pizza restaurant in the capital, Oslo.

Norwegian authorities did not name the suspect, but broadcaster NRK identified him as 50-year-old Harsharn Singh Tathgar. He was remanded in custody for four weeks on August 17.

During interrogation, the suspect reportedly admitted to handing over information to and receiving money from the Russian diplomat.

Norway has not named the diplomat in question but stated that he worked in the trade section of the Russian Embassy.

Tathgar worked as a project manager in the oil and gas department of DNV GL, the world's largest classification society that advises the maritime, oil and gas, and renewable energy industries.

Broadcaster NRK reported that Tathgar specialized in 3D printing, which has applications in the energy, defense, and emergency preparedness sectors.

In a statement, DNV GL said the employee "did not have security clearance and has therefore not worked on projects for the defense industry, the Norwegian Armed Forces or other governmental agencies where security clearance is a prerequisite."

The Russian Embassy said in a statement on Facebook that it had lodged a complaint with the Norwegian Foreign Ministry for "the violation of diplomatic status."

The embassy said the PST intelligence service "unjustifiably" detained and searched its deputy trade representative without providing him with consular services.

It also said DNV GL has worked with Russian firms and agencies for many years in oil and gas production, shipbuilding, and infrastructure projects.

"Such cooperation has never raised questions from the Norwegian side," the embassy said.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/30792241.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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Hume was being honest. It is hard to find a Liberal or Nationals MP in the federal party room who likes the super increase. The 12 per cent target is a Labor policy from 2010, when Chris Bowen convinced Kevin Rudd and Wayne Swan to add it to the first mining tax package. It was legislated with the revised mining tax after Julia Gillard became leader. Tony Abbott decided not to risk opposing the plan outright and chose instead to go to the 2013 election with a plan to delay the increase. So today's law is the result of Labor ambition and Coalition caution. Labor wanted to reach 12 per cent by 2020 but the Coalition put this back to 2025. Illustration: Simon Letch Credit: The outcome now turns on the retirement income review by Mike Callaghan, a former Treasury official who has given the government a report of more than 600 pages about pensions, super and the financial pressures on older Australians. Few have seen the report. The Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, has not put a date on its public release. Even so, the report is said to put hard numbers on the cost of the levy.

This means the Callaghan review may give the government a message it cannot ignore. Grattan Institute economist Brendan Coates believes the recession adds to the case for halting the super increase. He and his colleagues examined thousands of enterprise bargaining agreements for a report in February. Assistant Minister for Superannuation Senator Jane Hume this week said there was a clear trade-off between wage growth and superannuation rises. Credit:Wayne Taylor "When super went up, wages growth was lower than it would otherwise have been," Coates says. The Reserve Bank and others are making similar points. The levy requires employers to make contributions of about $100 billion every year on behalf of their staff, although this includes salary-sacrificing.

Only a fraction of this is at stake in the current debate. The increase in the levy from 9.5 per cent to 10 per cent is estimated to require about $3 billion in the first year from the change. So the impact is far smaller than the other policy measures to be considered in the budget. It is hard to frame this as a big, new stimulus alongside $164 billion in direct fiscal intervention. Other measures may deserve higher priority. The Coalition is yet to settle the debate over whether to bring forward personal income tax cuts worth $143 billion over a decade. Even so, Coates believes the recession increases the case for stopping the levy at 9.5 per cent. "COVID is just one more reason to stop the increase, because it would mean raising national savings in the middle of a recession, which is just going in the completely wrong direction," he says.

Loading While the $3 billion at stake in the first year is relatively small, Coates says it increases quickly in subsequent years. By 2023, he says, the extra contributions would be worth $10 billion a year, larger than the second phase of the personal income tax cut. All of this is anathema to Labor, the Greens, the union movement and the funds that have helped build super into a $3 trillion national asset. The ACTU responded to Hume's comments by accusing the government of condemning millions of workers to poverty. Morrison and Frydenberg have to weigh up the same political risk Abbott considered seven years ago. The signs from the crossbench are that there is a good chance of amending the law, but the Coalition would be in for a long fight that would run all the way to the next election. The Callaghan review is yet to be widely distributed within the government and covers much more ground than the super guarantee. There are no decisions yet on any reform plan in the budget.
Mumbai, Aug 20 : Actor-comedian Vir Das feels comedy can be utilised to usher positive change, and is set to support charity for Covid frontline workers.

"Comedians, artistes or even art for that matter has the larger responsibility of stretching beyond the set role of entertaining people," said Vir Das.

His comedy special "Inside Out" will premiere on his website on August 21, and the comic artiste has zeroed in on NGOs through which he will contribute proceeds from the gig.

"I strongly feel and know comedy can be utilised for positive change too, and that's what we intend to do with 'Inside Out'," he pointed out.

"In a somewhat unkind world, where we have seen so many people getting displaced it is upon us, the privileged lot, to support those who are struggling to make ends meet. So while I do want to make people laugh primarily, I wish that the proceeds of this special go to people who are working on the frontline so we can take an hour out of our lives and laugh," he said.

"Inside Out" has been created from his 30 virtual shows between March and June this year.
A health worker checks temperature of a member of Chinese medical team at Juba International Airport in Juba, South Sudan, on Aug. 19, 2020. A team of Chinese medical experts arrived in South Sudan on Wednesday to strengthen the east African nation's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Gale Julius/Xinhua)

JUBA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- A team of Chinese medical experts arrived in South Sudan on Wednesday to strengthen the east African nation's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The eight-member team from China's Anhui Province consists of experts in the fields including laboratory technology, infection, insensitive care, public health, and nursing.

During their nine-day mission, the Chinese medics will share knowledge and experience with senior South Sudanese government officials, local health experts, medical institutions and also train South Sudanese medical staff on COVID-19 response.

"We hope together with our African friends, we will put efforts and enhance the war against COVID-19," Team leader Liang Chaozhao said upon arrival in Juba.

The Chinese government also donated medical supplies for COVID-19 response in South Sudan.

Elizabeth Achuei Yol, South Sudan's health minister, said the Chinese medical aid came at the right time when the country's fragile health system is grappling to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

"On behalf of my country to the Chinese people and government, thank you so much because you have been supportive to the people of South Sudan and we appreciate whatever we get from you," Achuei said.

The medical experts were accompanied by the eighth batch of the Chinese medical team to South Sudan. The 15-member team will provide free medical service in the conflict-torn country for one year.

Hua Ning, Chinese ambassador to South Sudan, said the arrival of the medical experts demonstrated China's continued support to South Sudan's health sector.

"This is a concrete action to implement the results of relevant conferences and promote the China-Africa community of shared health. We will never forget the strong solidarity and support South Sudan has extended to China during this most difficult time of our battle against the pandemic," Hua said.

The Chinese envoy said the medical experts will boost South Sudan's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

South Sudan's total confirmed COVID-19 cases stood at 2,494. It had reported 47 deaths and 1,290 recoveries as of Tuesday.
20.08.2020 LISTEN

The Alliance for Zongo Progress (AZOD) has petitioned the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu to call Abdul Razak Usuman to order over alleged corrupt practices with respect to the Zongo Development Fund.

Abdul Razak Usuman, a worker with the internal Audit Agency is being accused of the corrupt sale of government documents, stealing of official laptops, and sabotage of the progress of Zongo.

AZOD says they have reason to believe that the internal auditor who has access to some document of the Zongo Development Fund documents sold them to Corruption Watch for reason known only to him.

Among the many other things Abdul Razak Usuman is being accused of, the Alliance for Zongo Progress wants the Chief Imam to call him to order and assign any punishment he deserves.

Sir, with our unshakeable belief in your exemplary reign in astutely known. Your reign has brought to us impressive success we are proud of. Suffice to say is that, you encourage every Muslim in every place to exude the essence of honesty, truth, faithfulness, obedience. These values are alien to a corrupt Abdul Razak Usuman. He has gross disregard for what is right.

Sir, in the light of this development, we wish to bring to your notice who Abdul Razak Usuman is, and to indulge on you to call him and his family to apologize to all Zongos for his reckless disregard for Zongos and any other punishment, your eminence, would deem appropriate, a petition signed Alhaji Dr Misbau A. Yusuf who is Chairman of the Alliance for Zongo Progress has said.

Read the full petition below:
The 2021 Hyundai Kona sees the return of many standard features, like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, forward collision warning, lane-keep assist, and a 7-inch touchscreen.

The popular Hyundai Kona compact crossover has received its new model year update. The new 2021 models are starting to roll out to dealerships across the US. Apple Valley Hyundai is one of the dealers to receive a shipment, with a few 2021 Hyundai Kona models currently in stock. Interested parties can view their 2021 Hyundai Kona selection by going to corresponding inventory section on the Apple Valley Hyundai website. Other new model year vehicles like the 2021 Hyundai Elantra and 2021 Hyundai Tucson are expected to arrive in the upcoming months.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona sees the return of many standard features, like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, forward collision warning, lane-keep assist, and a 7-inch touchscreen. One of the biggest additions for the 2021 Kona is the new Night trim, which will bring the Kona lineup to six trims once it is on the market. The 2021 Hyundai Kona Night will feature gloss black interior and exterior accents, black cloth upholstery, a black headliner, and semi-gloss black 18-inch RAY alloy wheels. The Night trim will also sport a 175-horsepower 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the same engine found on the top-tier Limited and Ultimate trims for both the 2020 and 2021 Hyundai Kona.

To learn more about the 2021 Hyundai Kona or the upcoming Night trim, interested parties are encouraged to visit the Apple Valley Hyundai webpage at https://www.applevalleyhyundai.com/ or to call the dealership at 855-463-5530. The Apple Valley Hyundai dealership is located at 2934 Valley Avenue, Winchester.
Sal Carfagno III, a 21-year-old Loyola University Chicago student from New Jersey, in his temporary lodging at The Guesthouse Hotel in Chicago on Aug. 19, 2020. He returned to Chicago recently even though Loyola moved almost all of its classes online and shut down dorms. He's living in a hotel before moving into his off-campus apartment. He returned because he can't get out of his lease and has to pay for the space anyway. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
While the rest of us struggle to look halfway decent on Zoom calls, Mariah Carey glowed during her at-home appearance on Good Morning America, Wednesday.

She looked so good one might think the 50-year-old pop legend was on a soundstage being lit by professional lighting.

What's the diva's secret? A $370 selfie light designed to frame your face and make you look your best virtually.

Good lighting: While the rest of us struggle to look halfway decent on Zoom calls, Mariah Carey glowed during her at-home appearance on Good Morning America, Wednesday

Mariah's high-quality at-home light is by Glamcor.

The craftsmanship and consideration that went into building Glamcor's Multi Media X had only one goal: to put its users in their best lighting imaginable when using their smart phone or tablet.

Consisting of two LED light panels attached to gooseneck arms, devices receive equal lighting, erasing the possibility of an annoying shadow.

The lights on Glamcor's Multi Media X are controlled by a remote, which can adjust brightness and color temperature without the need to move.

But you don't need to be performing on GMA to make use of this light. Multi Media X can connect to a smart phones Bluetooth, thereby allowing for hands-free photos, selfies, shoots and recordings.

At-home perfection: Leave it to Mimi to have the most effective selfie light designed to frame your face and make you look your best virtually. The $370 light is by Glamcor

Right over left: Like many famous people, The Vision of Love hitmaker favors one side of her face over the other

Glamcor Multimedia X Content Creation Kit, now $370; glamcor.com

For her appearance Mimi wore a long yellow and black floral dress featuring a V neckline that highlighted just enough cleavage for morning television.

Barely-there makeup enhanced the star's natural beauty, while her curls were perfectly sculpted reminiscent of '90s Mariah.

She sat on a sofa chair at a slight angle.

Like many famous people, the Vision of Love hitmaker favors one side of her face over the other, which she opened up about on an episode of her old reality show Mariah's World.

She explained that when she was 19 and doing her first photo shoot, a woman on set told her, 'This is your good side, only let people photograph you from your good side, ever.'

Attention: On GMA she surprised the 'Lambs' (her fans) with the announcement of a new album, 'The Rarities' (October 2) and revealed an upcoming memoir, 'The Meaning of Mariah Carey,' out Sept. 29

On GMA MC surprised the 'Lambs' (her fans) with the announcement of a new album, 'The Rarities' (October 2) and revealed an upcoming memoir, 'The Meaning of Mariah Carey,' out Sept. 29.

'I found stuff in my vault that i either started to work on and never released or that I wanted to finish mixing,' she told Michael Strahan.

'It's a monumental occasion for my career.' She describes the memoir as a 'labor of love.'

'There are a lot of very personal stories about my childhood, those were difficult but very cathartic as well.

'The cool thing about this project is that there are songs that iI talk about writing or recording even as a little kid that I found in the vault.

'It's exciting cause they (both projects )are merged together in a very organic way.'
WATCH: Michelle Obamas full speech at the Democratic National Convention | 2020 DNC Night 1

Former first lady Michelle Obama addressed Democrats on Aug. 17 during the first night of the Democratic National Convention. The coronavirus pandemic upended both parties traditional conventions. Instead of in-person events, the program each night features a number of speakers and musical performances virtually across the country.

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New Delhi:

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday imposed monetary penalty on five banks for violation of its instructions on reporting requirements of Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999.

Penalties have been imposed on these five banks:

-Bank of America

-Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi

-Deutsche Bank

-The Royal Bank of Scotland and

-Standard Chartered Bank

Deutsche Bank has been fined Rs 20,000 while Rs 10,000 each has been imposed on Bank of America, Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi, The Royal Bank of Scotland, Standard Chartered Bank for FEMA violation.

The Reserve Bank had issued a show cause notice to the banks following which banks submitted written replies and also made oral submissions.

RBI later in a press release statement, said that penalties have been imposed after considering facts of cases and banks replies in matter.

FEMA is an act of Indian Parliament related to the law governing foreign exchange with an aim to facilitate external trade and payments.

ALSO READ: (RBI takes big U-turn, modifies cash deposit rules again and exempts KYC accounts from Rs 5000-cap in old Rs 500, Rs 1,000 banknotes)

FEMA also promotes orderly development and maintenance of foreign exchange market in India.
Woman jailed for breaking quarantine rules

A woman has been jailed for failing to quarantine on the Island.

Fraser Nolan admitted taking a bus to visit a locksmith in Douglas on Tuesday after arriving from Belfast.

The 60-year-old was given permission to visit the Island to take care of her late mother's estate.

Douglas Courthouse heard after arriving on the island by ferry on Sunday, Nolan agreed to isolate at a vacant family home in Castletown.

She was jailed for four weeks.
In Sept 2020, Westpac has agreed to pay $1.3 billion, the largest fine in Australian corporate history, to settle a case brought against it for breaching international money transfer laws. (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Australians are Hoarding Cash and Making Cashless Transactions Reports Financial Institutions

Australians are hoarding cash but using cashless transactions more than ever thanks to the effects of the CCP virus, two new reports have found.

The reports from electronic payment company Square shows that cash gave way to cards in daily transactions over the first half of the year while Australias central banking institution the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)revealed that the demand for banknotes had increased by 11 billion since February.

More Businesses Turn to Cashless

Squares report (pdf) showed that over one in three Australian businesses an estimated 36 percentwere effectively cashless during the lock-down peak in April, compared to seven percent pre-pandemic in January. Square defined cashless as accepting 95% or more transactions through debit or credit cards.

Data analysis also showed that cash payments declined by more than half between January and April, down from 35 percent to 15 percent of all transactions. But the payments levelled out in June to 18 percent.

Square also noted some variances between states and industries.

The ACT saw the most substantial cash payments plummeting, from 42 percent of transactions in January to 14 percent in April. By June, 35.6 percent of businesses in the territory has turned cashless, over three times that of January at 9.8 percent.

In Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, cash payments also declined by more than half during the period from January to April, with the ratio of cashless businesses more than doubling to above 20 percent by June.

By contrast, the Northern Territory remained the most committed to paying by cash, with cashless businesses ratio edging up only by 0.9 percent during the period from January to June, from 14.5 percent to 15.4 percent.

Professor Steve Worthington from Swinburne University Business School attributed the decline in cash payments to both safety concerns and the drop in the number of available ATMs. Adding that he believed the pandemic is only accelerating the digital shift that has been gaining momentum over the recent years.

For consumers, fears over social distancing and a preference to minimise contact with physical currency are likely to be top of mind, he told Squares blog.

Whats more, with banks closing branches, reducing operating hours and fewer ATMs available, theres less cash in circulation. Combining that with the fact that many businesses favour digital payments for speed and security, theres less incentive now for any of us to carry cash.

Latest figures from the self-regulatory payments body, the Australian Payments Network shows that the number of ATMs fell from 27,870 to 25,720a drop of 2150during the June quarter.

Higher Demand for Cash

Despite the increase in cashless transactions, The Reserve Bank has seen a rise in demand for banknotes in recent months, mainly by individuals with substantial deposit balances.

In his August 14 speech to House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics, RBA governor Philip Lowe noted keeping extra cash was some Australians responses to the pandemic.

While COVID-19 has accelerated the shift to electronic payments, there has, paradoxically, also been record demand for banknotes, he said.

Some people seem to be wanting to keep some extra money at home. The result has been that the stock of banknotes on issue has increased from $83 billion in February to $94 billion today.

The elevated demand reflects concerns over financial stability amid the pandemic-induced economic recession.

RBA has revealed in its Financial Stability Review report [pdf ] in April that over-the-counter withdrawals of cash from banks increased sharply over the second half of March as some customers with considerable balances sought to hold precautionary funds.

This included a small number of customers making very large withdrawals (more than $100,000, and in some cases into the millions of dollars), the report said.

RBA is confident that the Australian financial system will navigate the crisis because of the high capital levels and strong liquidity position of banks, as well as their high profitability and excellent asset performance.
It has been two months since Pankaj Kumar (28), a native of Badirabad village in Arwal district, came back along with his family after losing his job at a cloth factory in Surat.

Now, Kumar is barely able to meet his ends, thanks to a small agricultural holding in his village and a roof to live under.

But for Sanjay Das, of Basan Bigha in Arwal district and father of five children, things are getting difficult with each passing day. Das worked in a vegetable mandi in Mumbai. But ever since he returned to his native village, things have gone awry for him.

These are just two examples.

A joint study, titled Qualitative Assessment of Impact of Covid-19 on Migrant Workers and Their Families in Bihar, conducted by Unicef and DMI (Development Management Institute), Patna, reveals that reverse migration of more than 21 lakh migrant workers due to job losses and uncertainty has caused unprecedented hardships and devastating consequences for migrant labourers and their families, according to Dr Urvashi Kaushik, social policy specialist, Unicef in Bihar.

Though the sample size for the study was less than 2,000, the findings are an eye-opener. Nearly 51% of the migrants surveyed reported complete loss of income, while 30% reported major reduction of income. Only 7% of the migrants surveyed said there was no impact on their income.

About half the households have lost their whole income. Over two-thirds of the households reported complete loss of income due to lockdown and said their finances were just sufficient for less than a month of survival.

Job loss was relatively higher among the SC/STs. About one-fifth of them reported that their primary source of income was from government schemes. However, they said they received ration from the public distribution system (PDS), although only 42% reported sufficiency of ration. More than half of the migrant households received financial assistance from the government and the average amount received was Rs 1,320.

Lack of work has compelled them to rethink about their return. A large chunk has already returned to different work places, while about 70% said they would go to destination areas in an average time of 4.4 months while nearly 6% of the migrants want to return quickly.

Nearly 21 lakh people returned to Bihar during the lockdown and the state government, till June-end, had conducted skill mapping of 14 lakh migrants. Of this, 8.40 lakh were engaged in different spheres, like construction of road, bridges, dams, painter, centering mechanic, unskilled workers in construction, mason helpers, etc.

Based on their skills, migrants were broadly categorized into 10 groups -- handicrafts, mechanics, healthcare, general services, electronics and electrical, construction, computer and IT, banking and financial services, agriculture and others.

Construction and related activities seems to be the major source of livelihood for all those who returned from different states, while the second largest chunk of people who came back belonged to other services like cooks, drivers, daily wagers, domestic helps, drivers and tailors.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Vijay Swaroop Vijay is chief of bureau, Patna. He has spent 21 years in journalism and covers political beats and public affairs. ...view detail
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Future Market Insights latest report on global power tools market, offers historical market analysis for the period 2015-2019 & market forecast for the period 2020-2030. It includes a comprehensive assessment of relevant and related market dynamics. After conducting a complete analysis on the historical as well as current growth prospective of the power tools market, the growth predictions for the market are obtained with maximum accuracy.

Market Taxonomy

Product Type

Drilling and Fastening tools Drills, Fasteners & Drivers Wrenches

Hammers

Cutting Tools Jigsaws Reciprocating saws Circular saws Band saws Sheers and Nibblers

Material Removal Tools Sanders & Polishers Grinders

Routers

Other Power Tools

For more insights into the market, request a Sample of this Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-760

Operation Type

Corded Power Tools

Cordless Power Tools

End Use

Industrial Enterprises

Commercial Carpenters, Joiners and Masonry Service Providers

DIY/ Individual

Sales Channel

Online Sales

B2C Platform

B2B Platform

Offline Sales

Bulk Suppliers

Retail Suppliers

Region

North America

Latin America

Europe

East Asia

South Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa (MEA)

The global power tools market is segmented into four segments in detail to cover every aspect of the market and present complete market intelligence to the reader.

Report Chapters

Chapter 01  Executive Summary

The report begins with the executive summary of the power tools market, which includes a summary of the key findings and statistics. It also includes the market value (~US$ million) estimates of prime segments of the power tools market.

Chapter 02  Market Overview

Readers can find detailed taxonomy and definitions for the power tools market in this chapter, which will help them understand basic information about the power tools market. This section also highlights the inclusions and exclusions, which help readers understand the scope of the power tools market.

Chapter 03  Market Dynamics

This chapter explains the key macroeconomic factors that are expected to influence the growth of the power tools market over the forecast period. This section highlights the opportunity analysis and key market dynamics of the power tools market such as drivers, restraints, trends, and opportunities.

Chapter 04  Global Power Tools Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Forecast 2020-2030, by Product Type

Based on product type, the power tools market is segmented into drilling and fastening tools, cutting tools, material removal tools, routers, and other power tools. In this chapter, readers can find information about the key trends and developments in the power tools market and market attractiveness analysis based on product type.

Chapter 05  Global Power Tools Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Forecast 2020-2030, by Operation Type

Based on operation type, the power tools market is segmented into corded power tools and cordless power tools. In this chapter, readers can find information about the key trends and developments in the power tools market and market attractiveness analysis based on the said segment.

Chapter 06  Global Power Tools Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Forecast 2020-2030, by End Use

This chapter provides details about the power tools market on the basis of end use  industrial enterprises, commercial carpenters, joiners and masonry service providers, and DIY/ individual.

Chapter 06  Global Power Tools Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Forecast 2020-2030, by Sales Channel

This chapter provides details about the power tools market on the basis of sales channel which is bifurcated into online and offline sales.

Chapter 07  Global Power Tools Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Forecast 2020-2030, by Region

This chapter explains how the power tools market will grow across several geographic regions such as North America, Latin America, Europe, East Asia, South Asia Pacific, Japan, and the Middle East & Africa (MEA).

Chapter 08  North America Power Tools Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Forecast 2020-2030

This chapter includes detailed analysis of the growth of the power tools market in North America, along with a country-wise assessment that includes the U.S. and Canada. Readers can also find regional trends, regulations, and market growth based on end use and countries in North America.

Chapter 09  Latin America Power Tools Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Forecast 2020-2030

This chapter provides the growth scenario of the power tools market in Latin American countries such as Mexico, Brazil, and the Rest of Latin America. Along with this, an assessment of the market across target segments has been provided.

Chapter 10  Europe Power Tools Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Forecast 2020-2030

This chapter provides the growth scenario of the power tools market in the Europe region with detailed country level analysis of Germany, the U.K., Spain, France, Italy, Russia, and the Rest of Europe.

Chapter 11  East Asia Power Tools Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Forecast 2020-2030

This chapter provides the growth scenario of the power tools market in South Asian countries such as China, Japan, and South Korea. Along with this, an assessment of the market across target segments has been provided.

Chapter 12  South Asia Pacific Excluding Oceania Power Tools Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Forecast 2020-2030

This chapter provides the growth scenario of the power tools market in South Asia Pacific countries such as India, China, ASEAN, Oceania and Rest of South Asia Pacific. Along with this, an assessment of the market across target segments has been provided.

Chapter 13  MEA Power Tools Market Analysis 2015-2019 & Forecast 2020-2030

This chapter provides the growth scenario of the power tools market in countries in Middle East & Africa such as GCC countries, Northern Africa, Turkey, South Africa and the Rest of MEA. Along with this, an assessment of the market across target segments has been provided.

Request for covid19 Impact Analysis @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/covid19/rep-gb-760

Chapter 14 Assumptions and Acronyms

This chapter includes a list of acronyms and assumptions that provide a base to the information and statistics included in the power tools market report.

Chapter 15  Research Methodology

This chapter helps readers understand the research methodology followed to obtain several conclusions as well as important qualitative and quantitative information about the power tools market.

Chapter 16  Competitive Landscape

This chapter includes company overview, revenue shares, strategic overview, and recent company developments. Some of the key market players featured in the report are Atlas Copco, Ingersoll-Rand plc, Robert Bosch Power Tools GmbH, MILWAUKEE TOOL, Allgemeine Elektricitats-Gesellschaft AG, Apex Tool Group, LLC, FEIN Power Tools, Inc., Ferm International B.V, Festool GmbH, Hilti Corporation, Koki Holdings Co., Ltd., Makita Corporation, Michael Weinig AG, Snap-on Incorporated, Stanley Black & Decker, Inc., Triton Tools, and WEN Products among others.
Blue Valley's indecision has some parents, teachers scrambling to plan for school year OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - The metro's largest school district announced plans for a safe return to school on Wednesday. Olathe Public Schools will allow elementary school students who opted for in-person learning to attend in a hybrid model, which blends both in-person and online classes on alternating days.

The "Golden Ghetto" has either cured covid or continues to shelter in place depending on the neighborhood . . . Check this worthwhile roundup that features parents struggling to keep up amid a dearth of leadership.Read more:
Kids who live in Death Valley, California, enjoy the playground in the Cow Creek residential area. Courtesy of Crystal Taylor

With average daytime temperatures of nearly 120 degrees in August, Death Valley is one of the hottest regions in the world.

More than 300 people call the area home, most of them employees of the National Park Service and local hotels.

Two residents told Business Insider what it's like to live in such extreme temperatures.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Death Valley reached a scorching 130 degrees on Sunday afternoon  likely the highest temperature ever recorded on Earth.

That's 54 degrees Celsius, or roughly the internal temperature of a steak.

But to Death Valley residents living near the Furnace Creek station  the area where that record-breaking temperature was recorded  Sunday felt like another hot August day. According to Brandi Stewart, a year-round resident and the public information officer for Death Valley National Park, most days in July and August feel like you're walking into an oven.

"It's pretty oppressive," Stewart said. "You go outside and you just immediately feel it, you feel it on your skin. It's dry; you don't feel yourself sweat because it evaporates so quickly."

Video: Scenarios that would change life on Earth and humanity

Death Valley's 300 to 400 year-round residents experience highs of 110 to 125 degrees Fahrenheit throughout August. At night, temperatures dip into the low 90s. Yet despite the scorching heat, residents manage to work, socialize, and even exercise outside.

Stewart and Patrick Taylor, chief of interpretation and education for Death Valley National Park, told Business Insider what it's like to live in one of the hottest places on Earth.

It takes time to get used to the heat

Taylor's first summer in Death Valley was "pretty hard," he said.

When a body isn't adjusted to extreme heat, high temperatures can overwhelm it quickly, causing profuse sweating and exhaustion before worse outcomes like heat stroke. Most human bodies adapt after a few weeks, though, primarily by sweating more, reducing core temperatures, and altering blood vessels to increase blood flow to the skin.

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Taylor estimates that it took him  and most others  about a year to adjust fully to Furnace Creek's highs. He has now spent a total of seven years there.

"I don't know if anyone actually enjoys it when it's 125, but it's not as intimidating," he said.

Plus, Stewart said, Death Valley's heat is dry, which means sweat evaporates quickly and cools the body more efficiently.

She knew she'd gotten accustomed to the heat, she said, after she started bundling up on 80-degree days.

"I've been on the phone with people today and yesterday, and they'll say, 'It's 80 degrees outside and I'm wearing shorts and a T shirt,'" she said. But in that climate, Stewart added, "I'm probably wearing pants and a long sleeved shirt."

Children host a bake sale at the Cow Creek complex. Courtesy of Crystal Taylor

In the winter in Death Valley, highs hover in the 60s, while temperatures drop to the high 30s at night.

The Death Valley community stays close

Cow Creek, Timbisha Shoshone Village, and Stovepipe Wells, Death Valley's three main year-round communities, are remote: The nearest town is an hour's drive. Some local kids take the hour-long bus ride to school, though Taylor and his wife homeschool their five daughters.

The Cow Creek complex has about 80 housing units, most of which are within walking distance of one another, Taylor said. There's a shared gym, playground, and county library. Most of the homes have two types of air conditioning: Ordinary A/C units and "swamp" or evaporative coolers, which take in dry, hot air and filter it through wet pads to cool it down.

But not all residents use both systems  or any cooling system at all.

"Some employees never ever use air conditioning," Taylor said. "If it gets to 95 in the house, it gets to 95."

He said they forgo air conditioning mostly to save money on utilities.

Most residents' family members don't like visiting in the summer, Taylor added, so year-rounders spend a lot of time together.

This branch of the National Park Service "tends to attract really motivated employees that wanna work hard and don't run off when things are challenging," he said.

The approximately 150 National Park Service employees in the area have set up community groups  "there's a book club, a crafting club, people who like to go out running," Taylor said.

Yes, Death Valley residents go running. Outside. Even in July.

"We'd never, ever tell a visitor to go running in Death Valley in the summer," Taylor said. "But if you run every day and your body is used to running at 119 degrees, then 120 isn't much of a difference."

Residents take extra precautions when going outside

Brandi Stewart, a resident of Death Valley National Park, bakes cookies on her car's windshield. Brandi Stewart

In the summer, Death Valley's heat makes even simple activities dangerous.

Taylor and his family never leave the house without a backup satellite phone, just in case they lose cell reception.

Stewart doesn't drive to the grocery store without her boyfriend and a huge jug of water; she also inspects her car constantly to avoid the possibility that it breaks down, stranding her in a remote area.

"The biggest fear I have is getting a flat tire and having my vehicle malfunction," she said.

Taylor and Stewart both said they tell visitors to the park that they must take similar precautions.

"A concern we have right now [is] that the attention we have to our heat records will bring more people out," Stewart said.

Climate change is making life in Death Valley even tougher

The coronavirus pandemic has made it harder for the small group of Death Valley residents to gather, but they're staying in touch via technology like everyone else.

"We're all going through the same thing together; we're all experiencing these high temperatures. It fosters this sense of community, that you're going through this hard thing all together," Stewart said.

They're also facing another enormous threat: climate change.

In Death Valley, six of the 10 hottest months on record have occurred in the last 20 years. In July 2018, the area set a world record for hottest month ever recorded, with average temperatures of 108.1 degrees Fahrenheit  breaking its previous record of 107.4 degrees the year before.

Taylor said the temperature changes have made it harder to connect with fellow residents.

"When we look at our trends over the last decade or so, [Sunday] aside, it doesn't seem like generally the daytime highs are noticeably higher than they've been historically. The big trend is the overnight lows," he said.

Ten years ago, Death Valley's average low temperature in August was 86 degrees, according to NOAA. Last year, it was 90. In the same time frame, average low temperatures in September have increased from 74 to 80.

"We used to go out and play at night, and now we can't go out and socialize as much as we used to," Taylor said. "Maybe before, we'd have a barbecue; now it's too hot to do that four months out of the year instead of one month."

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MBABANE  MTN BUSHFIRE festival beneficiaries Young Heroes are distributing emergency food and hygiene kits to vulnerable families.

This hasb been made possible through all the donations that were received during the #KeepTheFireBurning Digital Festival held in May this year. The live stream raised a total of E101 364.25, which was shared equally between the two organisations so they could continue to support the most vulnerable families in Eswatini during the Covid-19 pandemic. The House on Fire Communications Officer, Phiwokuhle Dhlamini, shared that they are inspired by the festivals #BRINGYOURFIRE call to action for positive change, where the firstever MTN BUSHFIRE digital festival was held to raise funds for the festivals beneficiaries, Young Heroes and boMake Rural Projects, as part of the festivals COVID-19 response.

Hygiene

Since receiving the funds, Young Heroes has been distributing essential food and hygiene supplies to 46 Lobamba Lomdzala Inkhundla families which look after 59 orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC). The Inkhundla consists of Kufinyeni, Lobamba Lomdzala, Luyengweni, and Ngwenyameni Imiphakatsi, she said. Dhlamini said through the #KeepTheFireBurning donations, the OVC families would receive essential food and hygiene supplies for three months of August to October 2020 to enable them from fight against COVID-19. The vital supplies include mealie-meal, beans, cooking oil, sugar, tinned fish, soup, face masks, and green bar soap.

She also highlighted that MTN BUSHFIRE attended the emergency homecare kit distribution at Lobamba Lomdzala umphakatsi, where Young Heroes Executive Director Khulekani Magongo noted the continuing support that MTN BUSHFIRE provided through monthly grants of E200 to families that take care of orphans. Magongo stated that the families would continue to receive their monthly grant, as it is envisaged that the food relief would allow them to take care of other basic needs of the children.




At the start of 2020, Covid-19 was still an unknown illness to most of the world but now there have been more than 110 million confirmed cases of coronavirus worldwide and a global death toll that exceeds two million.

Much is still not known about the long-term impacts of the virus - in February 2020, the government believed it was similar to known respiratory illnesses, like the flu, which is why they adopted a well-tested flu pandemic model. Now it is clear that coronavirus operates differently.

Another aspect of the virus which is becoming more well-documented is its duration.

In December, data released by the Office for National Statistics showed that one in 10 people infected with coronavirus experience symptoms that last for three months or longer.

Back in August, Downing Street was forced to deny claims that Boris Johnson could quit as prime minister within six months because of ongoing health problems due to coronavirus. The father-in-law of Dominic Cummings was reported to have told a holidaymaker that Mr Johnson was still struggling after he became ill in April.

The long-term impacts of coronavirus are increasingly noted by experts and survivors. A study released on 20 August found nearly three quarters of coronavirus patients admitted to hospital suffer ongoing symptoms three months later - many were unable to carry out daily tasks such as washing, dressing or going back to work, the study found.

On 7 September, a study reported up to 60,000 people in the UK have been suffering from long-Covid for more than three months.

The NHS has announced it will spend 10m to help fund a network of 69 long-Covid rehabilitation clinics.

So what is long-Covid and why does it happen to some patients and not others?

What is long-Covid?

The term long-Covid (also known as long-haul or long-tail) is not an official medical term. It is used by people suffering symptoms of the virus for longer than the official WHO-endorsed two week period, which is meant to be long enough for the virus to come and go.

Sufferers report a huge spectrum of problems beyond the three NHS-approved symptoms (persistent cough, fever and loss of taste or smell). These include fatigue, breathlessness, muscle aches, joint pain, 'brain fog,' memory loss, lack of concentration, and depression. It is not thought that people are infectious for the long period, but just suffer long-term effects.

Jennifer Forbes 41, from Cornwall got ill with Covid-19 in mid-March. She toldThe Independent, despite having no underlying conditions, she did not expect to get back to her former fitness for six months. There is some slight change over the last few weeks, but it feels very slow, and still backwards and forwards, she says. I kept saying I was better, only to slip back again.

Although the term is still colloquial rather than universally medically-approved  several celebrities including actors Alyssa Milano and Emma Samms have shared experience of issues like hair loss  there is increasing scientific evidence to support the idea of a long illness.

In August last year, a study published by Southmead hospital in Bristol found that a total of 81 patients out of 110 discharged from the hospital were still experiencing Covid-19 symptoms, including breathlessness, excessive fatigue and muscle aches, after 12 weeks.

Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Show all 12 1 /12 Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Marc Lyons ICU Consultant, East Cheshire NHS Trust PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Emma Kelly Critical Care Nurse, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Laura Arrowsmith COVID-19 Ward Cleaner, Leighton Hospital, Crewe PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Stuart Brookfield Paramedic, South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Claudia Anghel Midwife, University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Sarah Jensen Chief Information Officer, Barts Health NHS Trust PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Anne Roberts District Nurse, Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Ali Abdi Porter, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Jack Hannay Manikum 111 call handler, West Midlands Ambulance Service PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Ade Williams Superintendent Pharmacist, Bedminster Pharmacy in Bristol PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Farzana Hussain GP, Project Surgery, Newham PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Roopak Khara General Adult Psychiatrist, West London NHS Trust PA

Separate data from the Covid Symptom Study app, being run by Kings College, suggests a significant number of people report symptoms for a month. The app, which has been downloaded more than 3,000,000 times, found that one in every 20 people experience long-term symptoms.

Another study, developed by health app ZOE and endorsed by NHS Wales and NHS Scotland, found one in 10 are ill for more than three weeks and some may suffer for months.

The same pattern has been seen elsewhere in the world. Writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a team of researchers from Italy reported that nearly nine in 10 patients (87 per cent) discharged from a hospital in Rome were still experiencing at least one symptom 60 days after onset.

They found that 13 per cent of the 143 people were completely free of any symptoms, while 32 per cent had one or two symptoms, and 55 per cent had three or more.

And it's not just sufferers reporting it; a third of doctors have treated patients with long term covid-19 symptoms, including chronic fatigue and anosmia, a survey conducted by the British Medical Association (BMA) found.

The emergence of these official figures has led to these long-term sufferers coming together and forming support networks, such as the Facebook group 1 in 20 (a name inspired by the findings of the Kings survey).

Why is Covid lasting longer for some people?

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The Royal College of General Practitioners said it expects GPs to see an influx of patients with "lingering" illnesses but there is less certainty as to why some people suffer for longer.

A report from Kings suggested that those with longer-term symptoms could be related to the severity: Evidence is mounting that some people who have had relatively mild symptoms at home may also have a prolonged illness.

Although we know that lasting fatigue can sometimes follow other viral infections, detailed mechanistic insight is, for the most part, lacking. An ongoing viral infection in lung, brain, fat or other tissue may be one mechanism. A prolonged and inappropriate immune response after the infection has been cleared might be another."

And a previous study into post-illness chronic fatigue has shown that some patients may just be biologically predisposed to such a response. "When a chemical called interferon-alpha was given to people as a treatment for hepatitis C, it generated a flu-like illness in many patients and post-viral fatigue in a few.

"Researchers have studied this artificial infection response as a model of chronic fatigue. They found that baseline levels of two molecules in the body that promote inflammation  interleukin-6 and interleukin-10  predicted peoples subsequent development of chronic fatigue," says the report.

What help is available for people with long Covid?

It has now been announced that patients in hospital with coronavirus should be offered a follow-up as early as four weeks after developing the illness to check for symptoms of long-Covid.

Guidance drawn up by health officials across the UK states that the long-term effects of the virus can be significant.

The guidelines were developed collaboratively by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).

NHS England said it is spending 10m to help fund a network of 69 long-Covid rehabilitation clinics, with another 12 sites planned for January.

Patients must be referred by their GP.

Sir Simon Stevens, NHS chief executive, said: The NHS is taking practical action to help patients suffering ongoing health issues as a result of coronavirus.

"Bringing expert clinicians together in these clinics will deliver an integrated approach to support patients access vital rehabilitation, as well as helping develop a greater understanding of long-Covid and its debilitating symptoms.

Prior to this, the NHS launched a Covid-19 rehab service for people who have been suffering with the long-term effects of the virus.

Your Covid Recovery Service initially launched online but it will become a face-to-face portal at a later date when it is safe to do so. People without online access will be provided with printed materials, depending on demand.

The government has also provided 8.4m in funding for the Phosp-Covid study, a UK-wide consortium led by researchers at the University of Leicester, that will investigate the long-term health outcomes of the disease. Around 10,000 patients are expected to take part.

An all parliamentary group (APPG) of MPs has also been hearing from Covid survivors about long-term symptoms in a bid to better respond to the growing crisis. Labour MP Andrew Gwynne, a member of the APPG, revealed that he had been unable to shake his own coronavirus symptoms for 18 weeks.

Claire Hastie, the founder of the Long Covid Support Group, warned that GPs were regularly misdiagnosing ongoing problems as anxiety or ME, telling politicians: "The science needs to catch up with us.
Malis president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has announced his resignation on state television, hours after mutinous soldiers fired shots into the air outside his home and detained him and the prime minister.

The dramatic development comes after several months of regular demonstrations calling for Mr Keita to step down from power three years before his final term was due to end.

Speaking on national broadcaster ORTM just before midnight, a distressed Mr Keita said his resignation was effective immediately and a banner across the bottom of the television screen referred to him as the outgoing president.

He said: I wish no blood to be shed to keep me in power. I have decided to step down from office.

Expand Close Malian troops and citizens gather outside the private residence of Malis President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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He also announced 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.

Mr Keita, who was democratically elected in 2013 and re-elected 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.

The political upheaval unfolded months after disputed legislative elections, but Mr Keitas support also had tumbled amid criticism of his governments handling of an Islamic insurgency that has engulfed the country once praised as a model of democracy in the region.

The military has suffered setbacks over the past year from Islamic State and al-Qaida-linked groups.

Expand Close Malian soldiers took up arms and began detaining senior military officers in an apparent mutiny (Mohamed Salaha/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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A wave of particularly deadly attacks in the north in 2019 prompted the government to close its most vulnerable outposts as part of a reorganisation aimed at stemming the losses.

Tuesdays developments have been condemned by the African Union, the United States, and the regional bloc known as ECOWAS that had been trying to mediate Malis political crisis.

Former coloniser France and the United Nations, which has maintained a peacekeeping mission in Mali since 2013, also had expressed alarm ahead of Mr Keitas speech.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sought the immediate restoration of constitutional order and rule of law, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Tuesdays political turmoil threatened to further jeopardise security in Mali, where a 2012 coup allowed the Islamic insurgency to take hold amid a power vacuum.

But news of Mr 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 three years before the end of his final term.
The UK has added to its list of quarantine countries (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Travellers to the UK from Croatia, Austria and Trinidad and Tobago will have to quarantine for 14 days on their return to the country, it has been announced.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced the measures would come into effect from 4am on Saturday.

Meanwhile, passengers arriving in the UK from Portugal will no longer have to self-isolate after it was added to the travel corridor list.

In Scotland, travellers from Switzerland will also be required to quarantine for a fortnight, the countrys Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf announced.

On Thursday afternoon, Mr Shapps tweeted: Data shows we need to remove Croatia, Austria and Trinidad & Tobago from our list of #coronavirus Travel Corridors to keep infection rates DOWN.

If you arrive in the UK after 0400 Saturday from these destinations, you will need to self-isolate for 14 days.

Data also shows we can now add Portugal to those countries INCLUDED in Travel Corridors.

As with all air bridge countries, please be aware that things can change quickly.

Data shows we need to remove Croatia, Austria and Trinidad & Tobago from our list of #coronavirus Travel Corridors to keep infection rates DOWN. If you arrive in the UK after 0400 Saturday from these destinations, you will need to self-isolate for 14 days.  Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) August 20, 2020

Only travel if you are content to unexpectedly 14-day quarantine if required (I speak from experience!)

Regarding Scotlands decision to include Switzerland in its requirements for travellers to quarantine, a Scottish Government spokesman explained that a different position on the virus would mean a different assessment of risk across the four UK nations.

We are taking hard decisions to safeguard public health and suppress transmission of the virus, he said.

There is evidence in Switzerland of a sharp increase in the number of cases, which are now at a similar level to Austrias, and a number of other countries have taken action to place controls on travellers from Switzerland.

On the basis of that evidence, Scottish ministers took the decision to remove them from the exemptions list as a precautionary measure.

While we will try to align on a four-nation basis as far as possible, the different position in relation to the virus means that there will be a different assessment of risk across the nations.

The weekly incidence (cases) per 100,000 for Croatia has increased from 10.4 on August 12 to 27.4 on August 19  a 164% increase.

Over the same period, Trinidad and Tobago saw a 232% increase increase in weekly incidence per 100,000, while Austria had a 93% increase between August 13 and August 20 (from 10.5 per 100,000, to 20.3).

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has updated its travel advice to advise against all but essential travel to Croatia, Trinidad and Tobago and Austria, while Portugal has been exempted from the FCOs global advisory against non-essential travel.

The Government has pledged to take decisive action if necessary to contain coronavirus, including removing countries from the travel corridors list rapidly.

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Scotland was the only nation of the UK to add Switzerland to its quarantine list.

Mr Yousaf said: We cannot emphasise enough that if people choose to travel abroad, they must be aware that quarantine requirements may change while they are away.

In Wales, a written statement by Welsh Government health and social services minister Vaughan Gething said: I have today met with ministers from across the four national governments in the UK to discuss the potential change to the international travel regulations.

As a result of that meeting, it was decided to add Portugal and remove Austria, Croatia and Trinidad and Tobago from the list of exempt countries and territories.

I will tomorrow lay the necessary regulations which will come into force at 4am on Saturday August 22.

Meanwhile, a 33 year-old with no known underlying conditions is among the latest deaths of people who had tested positive for coronavirus, NHS England announced on Thursday.
Florida Primary Ballots Are Tabulated At Miami-Dade Election Headquarters

Poll workers at the Miami-Dade County Elections Department deposit peoples' mail in ballots into an official ballot drop box on primary election day on August 18. Credit - Joe RaedleGetty Images

The big steel drop boxes, where people will be able to physically deposit their ballots, rather than mailing them in, are not even installed in Champaign County, Illinois yet, and county clerk Aaron Ammons says hes already received a wave of feedback: people love them.

[Drop boxes] are absolutely safe, says Amber McReynolds, CEO of the National Vote at Home Institute, and theyve been utilized in various states over a long period of time.

Enthusiasm for ballot drop boxes has not, of course, materialized from thin air. In recent weeks, the nation has been gripped by a growing panic over whether the United States Postal Service will be able to handle what many election experts predict will be a surge in mailed ballots for the November election, as voters attempt to avoid crowded polling places during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Champaign County is one of many places across the country installing or expanding their use of drop boxes.

But the move toward drop boxes is not without controversy. Even as many places have expanded their use, others have pushed back or limited them. Tennessees Secretary of State recently told a U.S. Senate committee that he feared drop boxes were a security concern. In Pennsylvania, the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee sued the secretary of state and county Boards of Election over drop box use in the primary. And in Ohio, where the state required that a drop box be placed in each of its 88 counties for the primary, Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose  who says they were absolutely secure during the primary  has argued that he does not have the legal authority to expand drop boxes for the general election beyond the one per county. Democrats from the state have accused him of voter suppression.

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Anything you do in Ohio elections can tend to result in litigation, and so weve got to be cautious about this, LaRose tells TIME, noting that hes pushing to get postage paid return envelopes for ballots so that voters can easily return mail ballots. For me, without any legal authority to go out and tell the boards of elections that they can install one over by city hall and over by the courthouse, and another one over by the library, would certainly be, I believe, outside the grounds of what Im legally permitted to do.

President Donald Trump further complicated the debate on Aug. 17, tweeting without evidence that ballot drop boxes were vulnerable to tampering. Some states use drop boxes for the collection of Universal Mail-In Ballots. So who is going to collect the Ballots, and what might be done to them prior to tabulation? A Rigged Election? he wrote.

But election officials across the country insist theres nothing to be concerned about. Weve looked at this. Ive looked at the other states whove  had drop boxes for years, Ammons says. This is just more gaslighting, if you will, in trying to create some sort of controversy around it to make people feel that they are unsafe. The drop boxes Ammons ordered are quarter inch steel, weigh between 250 and 750 pounds, and will be cemented to the ground in the same way that ATMs are, he said.

In Washington state, for example, which conducts all elections by mail, voters use drop boxes regularly. Voter fraud in the U.S. is rare, and states have security measures in place to ensure the person filling out the ballot is indeed who they say they are.

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission recommends that election officials install one drop box for every 15,000 to 20,000 registered voters, noting that jurisdictions should consider adding more where communities have not used vote-by-mail often. The agency also notes jurisdictions should take into account local data, such as whether it is an urban or rural setting, to develop guidelines on how many are appropriate. In terms of specific placement, the guidelines include taking into consideration lighting, security, and accessibility.

Champaign Countys drop boxes will be installed as a result of state legislation that Illinois passed in response to coronavirus, giving counties the option of having them. Ammons has held several information sessions with county election judge, teams of whom will be responsible for collecting the ballots twice a day, every day, until the final votes are cast on Nov. 3. Each collection team will include a Republican and a Democrat; the teams will seal the bag in the presence of one another before returning the bag to where ballots will be sorted. Ammons says the election judges have been supportive of expanding drop boxes in the county.

Meanwhile, election officials remain concerned over delays in mail delivery. The Washington Post first reported that the USPS sent letters to 46 states and the District of Columbia at the end of July warning that it could not guarantee ballots would be delivered on time to meet state deadlines.

Problems with mailed ballots were already an issue during some state primaries, including in New York, where the election system was overwhelmed by the number of absentee ballots. In July, Trumps new postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, began implementing a series of so-called reform measures, including restricting staff overtime and transportation costs, which led to backlogs in mail delivery across the country.

But even as the Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced on Aug. 18 that hed suspend many of his proposed reforms until after the November election, many state election officials have continued embracing ballot drop boxes, in part because they reduce the number of people who need to physically walk into a polling place, lessening the public health risk.

With so much uncertainty in the air, election officials are advising voters to be proactive: ensure that your address and registration are up to date, then mail or otherwise deposit the ballot as soon as you can; vote early if you cant vote by mail; and if your jurisdiction allows it, use the tracking system to trace your ballot for additional assurance that it arrived at its destination.

Theres no reason to wait, says Jocelyn Bucaro, Director of Elections in Denver. Buy yourself as much time as possible and be proactive as a voter in this election and make sure that youre ready to vote now.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has given approval for the deployment of CISF personnel at the Statue of Unity at Kevadia in Gujarat.

The deployment will be done from August 25 with the strength of 272 personnel in the first phase.

Approval of the competent authority is conveyed for induction of CISF at Statue of Unity, Kevadia, Gujarat w.e.f 25.08.2020 with strength of 272 personnel in first phase, the letter which has been sent to DG CISF Rajesh Ranjan, regarding the same by Home Ministry says.

The CISF is guarding almost all airports of India and the Delhi Metro apart from sensitive government buildings in the national capital.

It is expected that visitors will be allowed from September 2. The state government had stopped the entry of visitors in view of the COVID-19 pandemic a few months ago.
American Airlines plans to start its maiden passenger flight service to Bengaluru from Seattle from the winter of 2021 and has appointed Air Logistics Group as its Cargo General Sales Agent for the Indian market ahead of the launch, a release said on Wednesday.

In Winter 2021, American will launch its first passenger service from Seattle to Bengaluru, which will connect the two major global business and technology hubs for the first time, said the release.

"India is an important market for American's cargo operations as we prepare to launch our new Seattle to Bengaluru service in 2021, we are delighted to be strengthening our position in India through this exclusive partnership with Air Logistics Group," said Tim Isik, Director Cargo Sales  Europe, Middle East and Africa.

American Airlines Cargo has served the Indian market with a general sales agent (GSA) for more than two decades, said the release.

India is a very important part of our worldwide network, with a high demand for both inbound and outbound cargo traffic such as pharmaceuticals, auto parts and fabrics, said Shanna Abbott, American Airlines Cargo's GSA contracts manager.

Having Air Logistics Group represent us throughout India will enhance service for our customers who ship from key cities. A local presence is a sure-fire way for us to ensure that each customer's needs are being met," Abbott added.

In recent months, American has been increasing its cargo schedule to move vital cargo supplies to reach communities in need. This September, its cargo-only schedule will total more than 1,000 flights serving 32 cities across the globe, it said.

We are excited to represent American Airlines' Cargo in India, said Sakshi Gupta, Country Manager, Air Logistics Group. India is a fast-growing and strategic market for American and Air Logistics is looking forward to promoting and strengthening the exports and imports trade between the two nations through our skills and expertise, Gupta stated.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam arrives for a press conference at the government headquarters in Hong Kong. (AFP)

Hong Kong: Hong Kong on Thursday accused America of using the city as a pawn in ties with China as it slammed a US decision to withdraw from three accords on extradition and taxation.

The United States formally notified the Asian financial hub on Wednesday that it had withdrawn from bilateral deals covering the surrender of fugitives, transfer of prisoners and tax exemptions on income from shipping.

Washington's move came in response to the imposition by China of a national security law in Hong Kong that critics say is an attack on freedoms in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.

"These steps underscore our deep concern regarding Beijing's decision to impose the national security law, which has crushed the freedoms of the people of Hong Kong," the US Department of State said.

But a Hong Kong government spokesperson on Thursday said abandoning the deals created further "troubles in the China-US relationship, using Hong Kong as a pawn", and "should be condemned by the international community".

He said the decision reflects a "disrespect for bilateralism and multilateralism" under the administration of US President Donald Trump.

Beijing also criticised the "wrong actions of the US", saying China has decided Hong Kong would suspend its agreement with the US on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a regular press briefing: "Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs... China urges the US to immediately correct its wrong decision."

The US announcement followed an earlier decision by Trump to revoke the preferential trade status afforded Hong Kong under American law, as Beijing clamps down on the territory after huge and often violent pro-democracy protests last year.

Hong Kong authorities said the three agreements terminated on Wednesday were negotiated "in good faith to benefit the peoples and businesses of both sides".

The spokesperson added that ending the tax exemptions would increase the operating costs of shipping companies.

"It will hamper the development of the shipping sector between Hong Kong and the US, and is in nobody's interest," he said.

Earlier this month Washington imposed sanctions on Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam along with 10 other senior officials in the city, and criminalised any US financial transactions with the group.

It also required goods imported from Hong Kong to be marked as "made in China" rather than "made in Hong Kong" as previously.
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The first-known images of a submarine entering an infamous Chinese 'Bond lair' of underwater caverns have been published online.

In the pictures, which first appeared on Radio Free Asia's social media channels, were analyzed by The War Zone.

They were taken at Yulin Naval Base on Hainan Island - a highly-important strategic base, with capacity for 20 submarines.

Photos of the area have been seen before, but these images appear to be the first of a submarine entering the cave network beneath the mountain that houses the base, the publication said.

The submarine is believed to be a Shang class/Type 093 nuclear attack submarine, and was seen entering the cave

At the bottom of the photo it is possible to see the outline of the submarine going in to the cave at the Yulin Naval Base

Yulin Naval Base, Hainan, #China is home to a large underground facility with covered tram from magazine to loading areas pic.twitter.com/cIv9MPC0cy  Sentinel (@StratSentinel) February 18, 2017

Rogoway said the submarine in the photos was thought to be a Shang class/Type 093 nuclear attack submarine.

He also noted that all of the other submarine berths were empty - a highly-unusual detail.

Speculation was that the submarines could be out on patrol, or else also within the mountain complex.

The photos come at a time of heightened tension in the region.

In July, the USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan came together along with their attendant strike groups, carrier-launched F-18 fighters and a B-52 bomber for military exercises.

The US Navy hasn't brought carriers together for such shows of force in the region since 2014 when the USS George Washington and USS Carl Vinson sailed there side by side.

Beijing threatened to blow them up.

Two US Navy aircraft carriers conduct exercises in the South China Sea for the first time in six years

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) and Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) steam in formation as part of the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Carrier Strike Group (CSG)

China's foreign ministry said the U.S. had deliberately sent its ships to the South China Sea to flex its muscles and accused it of trying to drive a wedge between countries in the region.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said the exercises were performed 'totally out of ulterior motives' and undermined stability in the area.

'Against such a backdrop, the US deliberately dispatched massive forces to conduct large-scale military exercises in the relevant waters of the South China Sea to flex its military muscle,' Zhao said.

President Donald Trump has strongly criticized China's handling of the coronavirus pandemic and repeatedly suggested the nation lied about the extent of its crisis.

Furthermore, 'eye-opening' Pentagon war games earlier this year revealed growing fears the U.S. is vulnerable to threats from China, and that any attack would lead to the US 'suffering capital losses'.

The U.S. would lose a war with China fought in the Pacific, is unable to defend Taiwan from an invasion and fears the Guam military base is at risk now, defense sources have warned.

One Pentagon simulation was based on the year 2030, when China would have new attack submarines, aircraft carriers and destroyers. It resulted in the U.S. being overwhelmed by the nation's force.

The threat is more immediate than 2030, however, experts say - with every U.S. base in the Indo-Pacific Command region considered to be at risk of attack now because China has ramped up its supply of medium-range ballistic missiles.

The U.S. island territory Guam, home to three U.S. military bases, is a particular concern, the games revealed.

Taiwan has increasingly found itself caught in the middle of the political games between the two superpowers.

Bonnie Glaser, director of the China power project at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington and a consultant for the US government on east Asia, told The New York Times that Taiwan is the 'most volatile issue' between the two nations and fears tensions could erupt in a nuclear war.

The Yulin Naval Base is home to one of several known cave networks for submarines

Little is known about the interior of the complex.

In 2008 the Federation of American Scientists speculated that the cave facility probably includes a canal at least the length of one submarine, as well as halls for handling or possibly storing equipment, and rooms for personnel.

Directly on the other side of the mountain are several land-entrances that might connect to the central facility as well, the FAS wrote in a blog post - stressing that nothing was known for sure.

The tunnels beneath Yulin, which were built at least 12 years ago, are not China's only submarine cave base.

The submarine seen in the images is believed to be a 093 nuclear sub, like these

A Great Wall 236 submarine of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, in April 2019

A second major underwater tunnel complex is in Jianggezhuang Naval Base, near Qingdao, according to Forbes.

In addition, the submarine base on Xiachuan Dao has a small tunnel just inside the harbor wall.

And a shipyard where large warships and submarines are repaired, near the submarine base at Xiangshan, also has a tunnel.

China is not alone in their use of submarine tunnels.

Sweden, Taiwan, North Korea and Iran are all believed to use similar facilities.
Beth Nolans shipping costs have doubled over the past six weeks. Her company has spent so much to make up for the U.S. Postal Services delays that she said she had to recently lay off an employee, while another worker turned the wall of her kitchen into a giant calendar filled with notes about mail routes and the status of packages.

Nolans small company operates outside Grand Rapids, Michigan, and helps train nurses who take care of dementia patients. Forced to pivot her business online, her company now ships their materials to nursing homes across the country to help health care workers fulfill state requirements and continue their education.

But the accompanying materials, necessary for these nurses to remain in compliance, have to be sent through the mail and are often arriving five to seven days later than expected  or longer. Nolan said these delays came as her business was nearly 75 percent back to where it was prior to the pandemic.

Most of us have taken cuts to salary, weve laid off 10 people, but wed made it almost work for two months and were seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, she said, and then the delays started happening.

Nolan is one of many businesses across the country hit hard by the Postal Services shipping delays, which received widespread attention because of claims that the Trump administration had orchestrated the slowdown to impede vote-by-mail efforts.

Beth Nolan works from home outside of Grand Rapids, Mich. Her company helps train nurses who come into direct contact with patients suffering from dementia. (Courtesy Beth Nolan)

The National Small Business Association polled its members this week to see how many had experienced such delays. Sixty percent responded that they had encountered serious hiccups in a service that had previously been relatively reliable through the coronavirus pandemic.

Industry experts have pointed at Postmaster General Louis DeJoy for introducing a number of new policies  bans of overtime and postal carriers taking additional routes  that they say likely helped cause the delays. A close ally of the president, DeJoy suspended those policies, which he said aimed to cut costs, on Tuesday after facing widespread pressure.

Story continues

Whatever the motivation behind the delivery delays, small businesses across the United States are seeing them affect their bottom line, particularly after many were forced to go online because of the pandemic. The mail delays are an additional hit during an already dire economic crisis, and the fallout is widespread.

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Nolan said the the Trump administration needs to do something to address these delays because its an additional blow to Americans across the country, including the health care workers she serves. She said she is preparing a shipment for a nursing home in Indiana that lost 60 of its residents to the coronavirus and that she may drive hours to ensure they receive it, rather than entrust the package to the Postal Service.

Its like another paper cut for them, she said of the nurses she works with. This didnt have to happen. COVID was no ones fault, but the response and these delays definitely are.

Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., began an investigation of the Postal Service holdup Aug. 6, asking for those affected to share their complaints. The senators office said it received more than 7,300 responses from all 50 states: 690, or about 9.5 percent, were from small businesses facing challenges because of the delays.

Its clear that the policies directed by Postmaster General DeJoy have hurt people who use the Postal Service as a lifeline for everyday needs, including Michigan small businesses that are facing customer complaints and are losing profits due to delivery issues and delays, Peters said Wednesday, promising to press the postmaster general when he testifies before the Senate on Friday.

Small businesses hardest hit

Cassidy Lavenders health and wellness business is certainly seeing the effects described by Peters. Shes manufactured natural beauty products and sold them through her business the Lavender Thorne in Texarkana, Texas, for the past year, but since March she has done most of her business online as stores that carried her products closed their doors to shoppers.

She said that she noticed that her packages would not appear in tracking for a week or more after she handed them over to the Postal Service, and then they would often get stuck in the agencys nearby hub in Shreveport, Louisiana. A couple weeks ago, she drove the nearly 75 miles to Shreveport with 20 packages in hopes that she could shuttle them through after customers complained of delayed or melted products.

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Lavender estimates that it has cost her business approximately $10,000 so far to make up for the Postal Services shipping missteps, and it has forced her to pivot to private shipping companies completely. While those companies are more expensive, Lavender said that she cant afford the delays and cost it requires to appease unhappy customers who receive their packages late.

Not only are we losing money for shipping when its not received on the correct timeline, but were also overcompensating for the Postal Services mistake, Lavender, who hopes to return to the service once the delays are sorted out, said. We just want happy customers, and Im the kind of person who is going to  if its not there on time, if it comes melted or its damaged in any way  Im taking a new product and overnighting it to them.

The stakes are high for these businesses, as many are reliant on the Postal Service to reach employees and vendors, as well as their customers who are helping them stay afloat during an unprecedented economic crisis.

The Postal Service is the most common method of shipping for businesses, with 65 percent of the National Small Business Associations members using it over private shippers. That number climbs to 70 percent for businesses with five or fewer employees, the advocacy group said.

Unfortunately, USPS delays disproportionately impact the smallest of businesses who typically utilize the USPS more than their larger counterparts, Molly Day, vice president of public affairs for the association, said. The USPS  while certainly far from perfect  has a leveling effect on commerce, ensuring that even the smallest, home-based businesses can serve and have access to their customers.

A weird Catch-22

For retail businesses facing the loss of customers in brick-and-mortar stores, Postal Service deliveries have become their economic lifeblood. The delays that small businesses are seeing can create major issues, from cash flow to negative reviews over late deliveries, which they have very little control over.

David Swider owns The End of All Music, a record store in Oxford, Mississippi. When coronavirus cases grew, he shut his store to any walk-in customers and put all his effort into moving his entire inventory online. It paid off, allowing his business to stay afloat, but hes worried.

He said the deliveries he sent out went off largely without a hitch from March to late June, but he began to notice major delays six to eight weeks ago. Packages he hands off to the postal carrier may not have a shipping number attached to them showing theyve arrived at the local post office for more than a week, and its grown increasingly concerning.

David Swider carries boxed up records ready to be picked up by the U.S. Postal Service at his store The End of All Music in Oxford, Miss. (Courtesy David Swider)

A turntable he sent to a customer in Jackson, the state capital a few hours south, took five weeks to arrive. Meanwhile, a $3,000 shipment of CDs that he returned to a vendor disappeared in a Kentucky distribution center for a month. He said that when he called about it, an exhausted postal worker told him that the Postal Service was backed up with deliveries but couldnt give him any details on the thousands of dollars of merchandise.

He was like, I feel very confident that your package is not lost, but it's probably at the bottom of a massive pile of things, Swider said. And that was all he could tell me.

Swider said record stores like his cant afford to have customers pay more for shipping or see their margins grow tighter. They certainly cant afford their customers to grow impatient and turn to services like Amazon that have cut deals for faster shipping.

It's kind of a weird Catch-22, he said, because it's like, if I raise my shipping prices, I'm gonna lose customers. But if it also takes five weeks for them to get a record that they bought, I might lose them that way, too. So what's the better way: cheap or reliable? The bummer is that the post office for a long time was both of those things.

Beyond the bottom dollar

But even small businesses of greater size that had a strong online shopping presence prior to the pandemic cannot compete with major retailers without the help of the Postal Service.

Powells Books, an independent bookstore, has had an online store since 1994. It had to close its store in Portland, Oregon, to shoppers because of the pandemic and has remained viable because it was able to grow its already substantial shipping business.

Oregon Governor Hits Pause On Reopenings As Coronavirus Cases Rise (Rebecca Smeyne / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

But with online retailers like Amazon already able to undercut them on book prices, CEO Emily Powell, the granddaughter of the bookstores founder, said Powells will struggle to retain customers if it has to raise shipping prices on them or force them to deal with nebulous shipping delays.

The Postal Service delays arent just a question of margins, Powell said, but the ability of American communities to survive the pandemic and the shifting economy.

The USPS is absolutely a lifeline, not just to us, but to every small business across America, she said. This idea that theyll be undermined in some way now means this country has really chosen already to step away from a local, small business and support something else entirely. And thats quite disturbing for me personally, for my community but also for our economy in general.
DALLAS, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The recently published LSV Bible from Covenant Press has charted a fundamentally different course than the 20th and 21st century Critical Text translations. The new Literal Standard Version is based on the Textus Receptus, in line with the earlier Geneva Bible and King James. It's a major revision of the literal translation by Robert Young, known popularly as Young's Literal Translation, with a relationship to Young's that is similar to that between the English Standard Version and the Revised Standard Version or the NKJV and MEV to the King James.

A picture of the hardcover format of the LSV; various other formats are available

Readers will experience a translation that is even further along the formal equivalence spectrum than Young'sin fact, the most literal English translation ever madeyet is much easier to read, given that the LSV translation is written in modern English. For students of the Bible searching for a faithful translation like the King James that is literal, a la Young's or the NASB, but is written in the common tongue, they may have finally found what they've been looking for.

The LSV combines the strengths of many of the most excellent translations, including the literal nature of Young's, the usage of the Name of God as found in translations such as the HCSB and World English Bible, and the capitalization of nouns and pronouns that clearly refer to God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit, as is the case in the NKJV. The LSV also follows the same path laid out by Young's in translating verbs in the most accurate way possible, recognizing the aspectual or perfect/imperfect nature of biblical Hebrew, as defended by scholars like Wilhelm Gesenius, Heinrich Ewald, and Samuel Lee.

While not necessarily as smooth as dynamic equivalence translations used in daily devotionals that incorporate paraphrase, readers of the LSV will get the closest glimpse possible into the meaning of the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek text of the Bible, without resorting to an interlinear resource or the original languages themselves. The text is elegant and powerful, allowing the reader to experience Scripture in a much deeper and more accurate way. In addition, by utilizing justified text-blocks similar to the original autographs, as well as caesura marks in poetry, the LSV is the easiest English translation to publish, share, and distribute ever madethe first Bible translation formatted especially for the digital era.

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The hardcover LSV

A picture of the hardcover format of the LSV; various other formats are available

Related Links

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Available LSV Bible formats

SOURCE Covenant Press
AUSTIN - As schools begin to reopen and Gov. Greg Abbott faces pressure to relax shutdown measures, it is impossible to determine where Texas stands on a COVID-19 metric that has guided the governors decisions on when to tighten or loosen restrictions on businesses and public activity.

Over the past week and a half, the state began reporting coronavirus data from a backlog of 500,000 viral tests that officials say accumulated because of coding errors by Quest Diagnostics, Walgreens and CHRISTUS Health  all private entities that process the tests.

The result has been an ongoing miscalculation of the positivity rate, the rate at which people test positive for the virus.

Last week, it reached as high as 24.5 percent, and suddenly dipped back down again to about 11 percent this week as more backlogged tests were included in the data. Abbott has said a sustained positivity rate below 10 percent would allow for further reopenings in the state.

The influx of backlogged tests, dating as far back as March, has also exposed a convoluted reporting system that requires state officials to receive lab results, send them back to counties and wait for them to return to the State Department of Health Services before counting them.

The result is a mess of information reported recently to the public in data dumps that include test results from months earlier, skewing statewide coronavirus statistics and positivity rates.

The timing of it is horrible because its right at the beginning of opening the schools, when you want your data to be as accurate as possible, and its not, said Darrell Hale, a Republican commissioner in Collin County.

The county on Wednesday pasted a disclaimer to its COVID reporting site declaring no confidence in the states numbers, which Hale said have ballooned in recent days even as lab-confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations have declined.

COVID-19 DEATHS UNDER-REPORTED: COVIDs true toll in Texas is higher than reported, data shows

Denton County on Wednesday said it would also no longer report a daily positivity rate, as its health department recently received more than 800 previously unreported positive tests from the health services department that are more than a week old.

The effect of the backlog is different in each of the 254 Texas counties, which rely on the states numbers in different capacities. Some larger counties directly receive test results from outside labs and manage their own positive cases, allowing them to calculate a county-wide positivity rate.

Statewide, the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 has been falling slowly since mid-July, an encouraging, albeit delayed sign of the current status of the pandemic. The positivity rate in large counties including Harris and Bexar has remained above 10 percent, according to their local dashboards.

A week ago, the governor said health officials were investigating the statistics as the number of positive cases climbed but the number of people tested fell. Its unclear whether the investigation has been completed, but Abbott said Wednesday that the issue had mostly been resolved, and he is more confident than I was before about the numbers.

Abbott faulted private labs for the glitches, as well as technological issues in the states own reporting system, which did not have the capacity to process more than 48,000 tests per day until Aug. 1. The state did not disclose the issue as it built up throughout July, when as many as 67,000 tests were conducted each day.

TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

There may be, still, another day or two while that info is leveled out, but by the time this week ends, we should have pretty accurate data, Abbott said during an interview with Dallas KXAS.

As of Wednesday, the seven-day coronavirus positivity rate stood at 10.8 percent - a slight dip from the day before, according to the most recent data from the state.

An Abbott spokesman did not respond to a request for comment on whether the governor trusts the current positivity rate, and whether he still plans to use the metric as a threshold for reopening bars.

Positively vexing

DSHS spokeswoman Lara Anton said the state has been working on the backlogs for the entire month of August. The first backlog, caused by the states inability to process more than 48,000 tests daily, was cleared in the days after a system upgrade on Aug. 1. The state had 346,000 tests in that backlog.

Then came the backlog attributed to coding errors as tests were reported from private labs. Anton said the issues were identified over the past several weeks  354,000 backlogged tests from Quest Diagnostics, 95,000 from CHRISTUS Health and 59,000 from Walgreens.

Once the state was able to begin processing the 500,000 backlogged tests from private firms, it filtered the results down to the counties to check for duplicate cases, address mistakes and other errors, Anton said. But each local health department reports the results differently  some separating old and new cases, some grouping them together, she said.

That discrepancy could cause the states most recent testing numbers to include infections from weeks or months ago, painting an inaccurate portrait of the current state of the pandemic.

Anton said there is no way to know the true positivity rate or how much of the backlog has been cleared, since the counties also do not report back how many old tests they have worked through. The state has since hired outside consultants from Deloitte and Persivia to help parse through the data and decide whether to overhaul the current numbers reported by the state, she said.

Weve got a team of data consultants helping us right now, Anton said. Theyre helping us figure out how we can streamline it, identify errors that could cause a backlog sooner.

The majority of the backlogged cases, she said, including all of those from Quest, were from June and July  likely indicating that the states resurgence of coronavirus cases earlier this summer was worse than previously indicated.

But even those numbers are a point of contention. Quest Diagnostics said in a statement that it identified and resolved the coding issue by mid-May, and did not respond to a request for clarification when asked why the state reported that most of their backlogged tests came from June and July.

Walgreens said it was notified of the coding error on Monday - two days after Anton said the state began processing the tests - and immediately assessed the problem, which has now been fixed. CHRISTUS said DSHS recently asked us to resubmit records in an amended format.

Anton - and the commercial labs - stressed that the reporting errors did not impact patients, who were notified directly of their testing results.

The states outdated and decentralized reporting structure has impacted the positivity rate since day one, said Diana Cervantes, the director of the epidemiology program at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth and former epidemiologist for DSHS and Tarrant County. The number of new COVID-19 infections comes from local health departments, while the number of tests conducted comes from the state, and can be from a different time period  so the numerator and the denominator are not from the same place, which has always been an issue, she said.

The backlogs only further agitate an already-troubled system.

You don't know what this kind of backlog means for the positivity rate, she said. To call it a positivity rate is really a bit of a push.

But parents depend on those metrics to send their kids back to school, and business owners use them as a marker to reopen their doors. Anton said that, because Texas is so large, the statewide positivity rate may not be relevant in local reopening decisions.

They would need to work with their local officials and talk about whats happening in their communities, she said.

In smaller counties, which rely on the state to oversee case management, the backlog could mean that contact tracing wasnt performed when positive tests were identified.

During a daily briefing in San Antonio Wednesday, Dr. Golareh Agha, the chief of informatics in the citys health department, said the backlog is a challenge but wouldnt say whether she had lost confidence in the states data.

We process our own numbers after verifying what the state gives to our jurisdiction, Agha said. We trust our numbers.

Marina Starleaf Riker contributed reporting from San Antonio.

cayla.harris@express-news.net
By Online Desk

India on Thursday reported a spike of 69,652 cases, 977 deaths in the last 24 hours as the COVID-19 tally crossed the 28-lakh mark.

According to the Health Ministry's latest update, the COVID-19 tally in the country has risen to 28,36,926 including 6,86,395 active cases, 20,96,665 cured/discharged/migrated & 53,866 deaths.

The Supreme Court, which faced 'unprecedented' challenge of COVID-19 pandemic crippling its physical hearings, set up 1,021 benches in last 100 days to deal with over 15,000 matters argued or represented by 50,475 advocates through video conferencing mode, an official statement said.
JACKSON COUNTY, Mississippi -- Earlier this week, the Associated Press noted that Mississippis seven-day average for new cases of COVID-19 had fallen to less than 700, thanks largely to only 381 new cases reported Sunday and 276 on Monday.

That good news may have been short-lived, however, as updates from the Mississippi Department of Health this week show the states new cases climbing back to an average of more than 1,000 per day over the past three days.

Thursdays update from the MDH reported 894 new cases, one day after 1,348 new cases were reported. The state total now stands at 75,449. There were also 95 new deaths reported statewide over the past three days, bringing that statewide number to 2,189.

The news has been little better in Jackson County, which had five new COVID-19 deaths reported since Tuesday, along with 168 new cases. The county now totals 2,650 cases and 52 deaths.

Harrison County had 123 new cases over the three-day period, along with three new deaths, and now totals 2,927 cases and 41 deaths. Hancock County had 10 new cases and one death, now totaling 442 cases and 17 deaths.

Overall, the Mississippi coast now totals 6,019 cases and 110 deaths, with 10 of those deaths reported in the past six deaths.

Other data in Thursdays MDH update shows that the 18-29 age group continues to account for the greatest share of statewide cases -- 16,249, or 21.5 percent of all cases and 4,657 more than any other individual age group.

Those under the age of 50 have accounted for 62.6 percent of all cases, but those age 60 and older continue to suffer the greatest number of deaths -- 83.6 percent statewide.

There has been some good news: total hospitalizations across the state have dropped dramatically -- from 31.2 percent of all cases on Aug. 11 to 13.7 percent as of Tuesday.

The MDH also reported 56,577 Mississippians are now presumed recovered from COVID-19. Factoring the total number of deaths, the number of known active cases stands at 16,683.

A total of 541,254 people have now been tested statewide, or 18.2 percent of Mississippis total population, with a positive rate of 13.9 percent, up from a rate of 13.4 percent a week ago.
General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu has scolded policy think tank, IMANI Africa, for comments made regarding the just ended voters' registration exercise.



According to reports, IMANI Africa has described the just ended exercise as a wasteful one.



$150 million of our very scarce resources have been wasted to remove the names of dead people, who cannot be impersonated because of the biometric system, instead of the $1.5 million which would have more than doubled the capacity of the Births and Deaths Registry to improve records and automate notifications to the EC, the think tank indicated in its IMANI Alert titled The EC is back to square one but the country should move forward.



But John Boadu who thinks the exercise was the most successful felt the comments were unfortunate but not surprising.



He told Nana Yaw Kesseh on Peace FM's 'The Platform' programme: "I would have been surprised if they didnt make those claims . . . "



According to him, "they expressed the same view as that of the NDC prior to the beginning of the exercise; they were not in favour of a new voters register."



"If they like they shouldnt take part in the elections . . . sometimes they sit in an airconditioned office and say what they like . . . if they know what happens at various border constituencies they wouldnt make such comments," he added.



Listen to him in the video below





Think tank, IMANI Africa, has described the just ended voters registration exercise by the Electoral Commission, ruling it out as a wasteful activity.Writing in its periodic IMANI Alert titled The EC is back to square one but the country should move forward, the renowned think tank said a dangerous precedent has been set with the exercise as any future EC can use any reason to embark on a new mass re-registration exercise.The courts having vacated their responsibility to insist on administrative rationality would not be able to help either, the think tank noted.$150 million of our very scarce resources have been wasted to remove the names of dead people, who cannot be impersonated because of the biometric system, instead of the $1.5 million which would have more than doubled the capacity of the Births and Deaths Registry to improve records and automate notifications to the EC, IMANI Africa added.Writing on the way forward, the policy think tank called for an audit into assets procured by the EC but were declared obsolete hence the need for the procurement of new ones.According to IMANI Africa, it is surprising that equipment procured by the previous EC administration was declared obsolete for which reason $60 million was expended on new ones between 2016 and 2019.The rest of the country should not feel secure about the electoral process until the following has been done: A detailed independent asset audit of the Electoral Commission to account for the 60 million dollars of equipment procured between 2016 and 2019 that it claims have suddenly gone obsolete, the policy think tank said.IMANI Africa is also calling for a national dialogue about strategies to fix the identification and register cleaning issues that remain unresolved due to continued neglect despite the expenditure of millions of dollars.Read the full statement by IMANI Africa below.IMANI Alert: The EC is back to square one but the country should move forward1. In this statement, IMANI will go over the claims and the evidence step by step to kill this pernicious idea of malicious bloating once and for all and to establish firmly and clearly that absolutely NOTHING has been achieved by the wasteful decision to compile a new register. A dangerous precedent has been set and any future EC can use any reason to embark on a new mass re-registration exercise. The courts having vacated their responsibility to insist on administrative rationality would not be able to help either.2. $150 million of our very scarce resources have been wasted to remove the names of dead people, who cannot be impersonated because of the biometric system, instead of the $1.5 million which would have more than doubled the capacity of the Births and Deaths Registry to improve records and automate notifications to the EC.3. What about minors? Nothing implemented in this mass registration exercise can be said to be more effective in removing minors than in previous registration exercises.4. About 40% of registrants used guarantors and virtually all of the remaining registrants used Ghana Cards. But recall that over 80% of Ghana Card registrants used guarantors too. In short, 90% or more of registrants are ultimately on this new Roll because of guarantors. A system whereby people merely state that in their belief a person is above 18 years old and is a Ghanaian cannot be an improvement in anyway.5. What is worse, current court decisions have merely served to wound the only institution whose true mandate is to report on birthdates and deaths, the two datapoints crucial to removing minors and dead people from the Roll.6. The ruling partys only basis for supporting the mass re-registration was because of the NPPs long-held belief that through that process they could eliminate large numbers of ineligibles, especially foreigners, maliciously smuggled onto the register to distort electoral outcomes. Senior members of the party expressed an expectation to see about 14 million total registered voters by the end of the exercise, whilst the EC first set a target of 13 million, which it then revised to 15 million. One leading strategist cited the case of Ketu Souths 140,000 registered voters, for example. Our view is that these fears were cynically exploited by the Electoral Commission to pursue a procurement-focused objective which had little to do with cleaning up the register. All the data does indeed point to such fears about malicious bloating being unfounded.7. Ketu Souths registered voter numbers have actually increased at a pace slower than the overall national average. In 2000, the constituency had about 98,000 registered voters on its roll. Today it has a little over 140,000. This is a mere 40% increase compared to the nearly 70% increase over the same period nationally. Or, to compare like to like, take Fomena, Ashaiman and Bekwai, which have all seen a 60% increase over the same period. In fact, the entire Volta region (now plus Oti) has seen a less than 40% increase in their registered voter numbers compared to the 50% number seen in Ashanti or the even more spectacular 60% recorded in Central Region over the two-decade period.8. We will urge the ruling party in particular to take a careful look at the outcomes of the registration and change its posture to data analysis presented by independent Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). It should discover that regions where it performed well in the 2016 elections such as Ahafo, Western North and Eastern have all seen noticeable declines. Western North for instance seems to have experienced the steepest fall. Meanwhile, the most competitive regions such as Bono and Bono East, Greater Accra, and the regions in the northern and upper political zones of the country have seen perceptible increases. Strongholds of the two major parties, Volta and Ashanti appear to have maintained roughly the same numbers. All of these facts are consistent with an analysis that discounts the conspiracy theories of malicious bloating and affirm the typicality and ordinariness of the current situation.9. Way ForwardA. So where does this leave the country? First and foremost, the country should reject the triumphalism of the EC, and deny it the approbation it is so desperately seeking. Throwing $150 million at a non-existent problem and ending up at the same place you started from is no achievement.B. The rest of the country should not feel secure about the electoral process until the following has been done: A detailed independent asset audit of the Electoral Commission to account for the 60 million dollars of equipment procured between 2016 and 2019 that it claims have suddenly gone obsolete.C. Deep and complete reconciliation with the Opposition Parties and CSOs whose calls for accountability it has shunned so far. Failure to patch up and open up to scrutiny by all stakeholders will only deepen the rancour, including the ethnocentric tensions that marred the integrity of the electoral process in many places.E. A serious national dialogue about strategies to fix the identification and register cleaning issues that remain wholly unresolved due to continued neglect despite the expenditure of tens of millions of dollars of this countrys hard earned resources over the last decade on the electoral system.F. Tackle the Procurement Raj that has taken hold of the EC and is hell bent on milking the country at all cost through scheme after scheme.G. For the sake of our democracy, we hope this country shall take these matters seriously.

Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com









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A team of researchers from the United States and the Republic of Djibouti has rediscovered the elusive Somali sengi (Elephantulus revoilii) over 50 years after it was last recorded. While this species, also known as the Somali elephant-shrew, is historically documented as endemic to Somalia, the new records are from the neighboring Republic of Djibouti and thus expand the species known range in the Horn of Africa.

The twenty living species of elephant-shrews, more properly called sengis, are African mammals that comprise the order Macroscelidea and are closely related to aardvarks, golden-moles and tenrecs.

These creatures are predominantly insect-eaters and all are small bodied with various species ranging from mouse to squirrel sizes.

They are remarkably adapted runners, with some species able to bound at nearly 30 km/h and with leg proportions closer to gazelles than other small mammals.

All sengis studied so far are socially monogamous with pairs that mate for life and that share relatively well-defined home ranges.

Among the least-known species is the Somali sengi, which is primarily known from about 39 museum specimens, with no new occurrence records since 1968.

In 2017, the Global Wildlife Conservation identified it as a Top 25 Most Wanted animal in their Search for Lost Species initiative.

Two years later, Dr. Steven Heritage from the Division of Fossil Primates in the Duke Lemur Center at Duke University and his colleagues set out to see if the Somali sengi was still around, and maybe hanging out somewhere else in eastern Africa other than Somalia.

The researchers set up 1,259 traps at 12 localities in four administrative regions (Arta, Dikhil, Tadjourah, and Ali Sabieh) of the Republic of Djibouti, to the northwest and adjacent to northern Somalia.

They recovered 263 spiny mice, 17 gerbils, one gundi, and 8 Somali sengis.

It was amazing. When we opened the first trap and saw the little tuft of hair on the tip of its tail, we just looked at one another and couldnt believe it, Dr. Heritage said.

A number of small mammal surveys since the 1970s did not find the Somali sengi in Djibouti  it was serendipitous that it happened so quickly for us.

For us living in Djibouti, and by extension the Horn of Africa, we never considered the sengis to be lost, but this new research does bring the Somali sengi back into the scientific community, which we value, said Houssein Rayaleh, a researcher with Association Djibouti Nature.

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.

Our occurrence locality data very near the adjoined borders of Djibouti, Somalia, and Ethiopia strongly suggests that the Somali sengi is a current inhabitant of all three countries, the scientists said.

The finding should move the sengis from Data Deficient to Least Concern, on the lists.

After some careful DNA and anatomical analyses of the captured animals, the team not only confirmed that the species was alive and well, but also found that it had been mis-classified by scientists, probably because of the sparse data.

This taxonomic issue is resolved by recognizing a new genus replacement and recombinant binomial that redesignates the Somali sengi as Galegeeska revoilii, the authors said.

An analysis of ancestral biogeography suggests that the Somali sengi has inhabited the Horn of Africa for more than 5.4 million years  and the recognition of the species phylogenetic ancestry appends the already remarkable biogeographic story of the tribe Macroscelidini.

The teams paper was published in the journal PeerJ.

_____

S. Heritage et al. 2020. New records of a lost species and a geographic range expansion for sengis in the Horn of Africa. PeerJ 8: e9652; doi: 10.7717/peerj.9652
Christians battling land-grabbers in Beirut after explosion leaves 300K families displaced

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The blast in Beirut earlier this month has not only killed some 200 people and displaced about 300,000 families but also threatens to change the demography of Christian districts as land-grabbers are seeking to take advantage of the grim situation.

There are people trying to profit from this catastrophe and buy land and homes from the Christians, the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need quoted a local partner, Monsignor Toufic Bou-Hadir, as saying.

People want to stay. A number of the old people, and younger ones, too, are staying in their homes, even ones that are damaged, added Bou-Hadir, director of the Maronite Patriarchal Commission for Youth.

With all respect to people who hold other religious beliefs, we cannot sell Christian homes to others. We do not want to change the demography. The land does not only have material value. It is our dignity. It is where we have our roots.

The blast occurred on Aug. 4 when hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate become a deadly, powerful force at the port area. The cause of the blast was either negligence or external action, with a missile or a bomb, Lebanese President Michel Aoun said.

Roland Alford, managing director of Alford Technologies, told Reuters that it is one of the largest nonnuclear explosions of all time. It affected about half of the city.

According to Britannica, Beirut is divided between Christians and Muslims, with the eastern part of the city being "almost solidly Christian" and the west being "predominantly Muslim." A number of neighborhoods in the Christian half were destroyed.

Church leaders had recently lobbied politicians to pass a law preventing Christians from selling their homes. Speaking at Beiruts damaged Maronite Cathedral for a night vigil, Archbishop Paul Abdel Sater also urged Christians not to lose faith in their future in the city.

While Christian youth are helping by volunteering to rebuild affected areas, Arabic Christian broadcaster SAT-7 is focusing on offering hope, according to CBN News.

We started to broadcast prayers and for people, for their safety for those who lost loved ones and for the responsible people in the government  the government positions, so God may open their eyes so we can save people from this misery, George Makeen, director of SAT-7 Arabic Channels, was quoted as saying.

Juliana Sfeir, SAT-7S academy brand manager in Beirut whos been reporting from the ground, explained that the Lebanese had never experienced anything like this explosion even in 15 years of civil war.

They have lost hope in the future, Sfeir wrote in a Facebook post. Please pray for protection from another civil war. Please pray for protection from emigration as well. A lot of our young people will want to leave now. Please pray for us here at SAT-7 to be the church that heals.

Rami Shamma, field operations director for World Vision-Lebanon, told The Christian Post earlier that he felt the blast about 30 kilometers from Beirut. He said it reminded people of the war.

Part of the port that was destroyed was the same part destroyed in the Lebanese civil war, Shamma said. Everything we see took us back 15 years to what took place ... We dont have bullets in the buildings, but everything is shattered and on the ground. The images were terrifying.

Hospitals, already stressed by COVID-19 patients, have been overrun after the blast, according to Shamma. Injured people who go to the hospitals that are already weak experience long wait times. Four hospitals were also heavily damaged from the blast, causing capacity issues.

World Vision is assisting Lebanese people affected by the blast in various ways. Shamma said that basic needs such as food, water and shelter are the focus in Lebanon, but emotional healthcare is also being provided, which is crucial for Lebanese children.
RICHMOND, Va. - Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe has filed paperwork to run for his old job next year but says hes still hasnt made a decision yet.

McAuliffe filed paperwork with the Virginia State Board of Elections on Wednesday listing himself as a Democratic candidate for governor. But his spokesman, Brennan Bilberry, said McAuliffe wont made an official decision to run until after the November election.

Governor McAuliffe is making no decisions on 2021 until after we defeat Donald Trump and his hateful ideology, Bilberry said.

The filing is the clearest indication yet that McAuliffe is planning to run.

Bilberry said the new filing was done for accounting and legal reasons McAuliffe has been toying with a possible run for months while raising money through his old political action committee.

McAuliffe, once best known as a top Democratic money man and close friend of Bill and Hillary Clintons, reinvented his image during a largely successful four-year term as governor that saw him tirelessly market the state, make major transportation deals and restore voting rights for thousands of convicted felons.

He briefly flirted with a presidential run last year but decided against it.

Many longtime lawmakers have urged McAuliffe to run again for governor, but its unclear how broad his support is among Democratic primary voters. McAuliffe proudly governed as a centrist and some of his business-friendly policies and actions as governor may alienate the partys progressive wing.

Other announced Democratic candidates for governor include state Sen. Jennifer McClellan and Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy, either of whom would be the nations first African American woman to lead a state.

Carroll Foy blasted McAuliffe as out of touch and and too cozy with corporate interests after his filing was made public.

The politics of the past are not change we need, and the politicians of the past wont save us, she said in a statement.

Virginia bars governors from seeking consecutive terms. McAuliffes successor, Gov. Ralph Northam, is set to leave office at the start of 2022.
When the world watched Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex wed, it seemed like the perfect fairy tale. A handsome prince fell in love with a beautiful American actor. Somehow the story made royalty seem more attainable and relatable. Unfortunately, like fairy tales often do, the royal couples love story had a huge twist.

After intense media scrutiny, and internal strife, the couple decided to step back from their royal obligations. On top of this historic decision, the couple didnt take their media attacks sitting down. Harry and Meghan Markle have pursued multiple lawsuits. Yet, they still clearly want the medias attention.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry | Simon Dawson/Getty Images

Fairytale wedding

Meghan Markle's wedding gown and Prince Harry's uniform will go on public display https://t.co/RI1VnArbmv  TIME (@TIME) August 29, 2018

Markle and Prince Harry met in a rather traditional way when a mutual friend set them up on a blind date in Toronto. Markle was in town working on the drama, Suits, and the prince was hosting the Invictus Games. Unlike most blind dates, theirs was a success. The romance was a whirlwind with the couple marrying two years later in a lavish royal wedding. Everything seemed picture-perfect but behind the scenes, the media was taking a toll on the young couple.

Media attacks and lawsuits

70+ female lawmakers in the UK signed a letter to show solidarity with Meghan Markle over "distasteful" media coverage, saying many stories about her have "outdated, colonial undertones." pic.twitter.com/XfCGJZLvqR  AJ+ (@ajplus) October 30, 2019

RELATED: Meghan Markle Was Planning a Career Change Before She Met Prince Harry, Book Reveals

From the time the public became aware of Prince Harry and Markles relationship, scrutiny was relentless. Just months after dating, an official Royal statement was released regarding the racist and sexist attacks Markle was enduring. Prince Harry also expressed concern for her and her familys safety as paparazzi and fans overwhelmed every aspect of their lives, even attempting home invasions. Lawsuits ensued. Unfortunately, these actions did not stop the problems.

Their wedding day was a field day for negative press. Tabloids published stories claiming the queen disapproved of the wedding dress. Stories circulated comparing Markle to her sister-in-law, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. Markles family problems were exploited. It seemed like there was no end in sight for the torment of the young Duchess. Harry took the matter especially seriously, perhaps due to watching the way the media tortured his mother, Princess Diana. After the royal couple had a child, they made a shocking decision. Prince Harry and Markle announced they were taking a step back from the royal family and moving to the United States. This move is commonly known as Megxit.

Media attention on their terms

Meghan Markle opens up about why she's voting in our August 2020 digital issue: "I know what it's like to have a voice, and also what it's like to feel voiceless."https://t.co/Z9v5dGR9l8 pic.twitter.com/LWg0IARkaF  Marie Claire (@marieclaire) August 11, 2020

Prince Harry and Markle moved to California, with their son, to live a more private life. They were clear that they would still honor Queen Elizabeth II and continue a life dedicated to serving others through philanthropic endeavors. Markle had charitable passions long before she met Harry. She has been heavily involved in charities since she was in college at Northwestern. Harry, himself, was raised to serve the people, so it is only natural that the couple continues along the charitable path. In 2020, the couple announced their new charity, Archewell. Although it is not entirely clear what the charity will do, there was some insight gained from trademark paperwork. The charity could cover support groups, seminars, movies, and more.

It is clear from their new endeavor that the Sussexes do not want to be entirely out of the spotlight. They know that they are newsworthy, but they want the attention to be on their work while respecting their personal privacy, according to The New York Times. They want to use their voice to help the lives of others.

Using media attention, the couple hopes to make the world a better place by putting the spotlight on their charity work as well as issues that are near and dear to them. Specifically, the couple is using the spotlight to bring awareness to currents issues like Black Lives Matter and the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Moving forward, the Sussexes will have the power to use their prestige for causes of their choosing while giving their son a much more private upbringing than Prince Harry experienced.
Patient tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 after quarantine period

A man in HCM City has tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 following a 14-day-quarantine period after returning from Equatorial Guinea.







Field hospital in Cu Chi.





The man, born in 1993, lives on Thoai Ngoc Hau Street, Tan Phu District. He was already tested positive in Equatorial Guinea on June 30. On July 29, he returned to Vietnam and was quarantined for 14 days. During this time, he was tested three times and the results all came back negative.



On August 14, he returned home. The day later, he went to Hoa Thanh Ward Medical Station to fill the medical declaration form and was asked to self-isolate. He continued to be tested during this time in accordance with the regulations by the Department of Health.



The results for August 16 and 17 were negative but the result for August 18 came back positive. The patient has been transferred to the field hospital in Cu Chi for treatment. He hasn't shown any symptoms yet.



The authorities in Tan Phu District are tracing people who came into close contact for further testing and disinfection.
While cities across the country are rallying for defunded police departments, Houston leadership decided to go in a different direction-- Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo has sent a message to laid off officers, telling them to come to Houston.

Acevedo told Fox 26 that the new program would make it easier for qualified out-of-state police officers to transfer and serve in Houston. This program could involve a 10-week academy course, instead of 6 months.

Acevedo's announcement comes after the city of Austin decided to slash almost a third of its police budget. According to Fox 26, Austin City Council unanimously voted to cut roughly $150 million from Austins Police Department.

Acevedo said in a statement to Fox 26, "I will just say to police officers in Austin, and the good police officers across the country, come to Houston."

In a press conference, Mayor Sylvester Turner answered questions centered around the future of HPD's budget.

People want policing that is sound, accountable, and respectful, said Mayor Turner. They want public safety. In this city we have about 5,300 police officers, and weve always said that we need at least 600 more.

If you take a deeper look at city budgets across the country, the money funding police departments could be better spent on education, or other community organizations and projects.

When you really think about the concept of "defunding the police," it's an outcry. Police departments across the country have wrongfully killed or used excessive force when it's unnecessary in most situations.

Do we really need more police? Or do we need other governmental employees like social workers who can better handle particular situations?

We've reached a point where reforming or creating policies is no longer enough. You can't reform a system that was already broken. The current system is supposed to protect the community, but instead ends up terrorizing Black and brown people.

According to KPRC, Mayor Turner announced at George Floyd's funeral, that chokeholds and strangleholds would be banned by the Houston Police Department. As of December 2013, Houston police officers have body cameras, but it's loosely enforced for officers to actually turn them on making it easier for officers to do as they please when answering the call for emergencies. In December 2017, HPD updated its policy to reemphasize that body cameras must be turned on when dispatched to priority one or two calls.

Police departments should be defunded, and that money would be better served for other organizations like social workers who could better help deescalate situations, especially those that are non-violent, and those involving the mentally impaired.
Rebecca Judd is furious that her local council in Melbourne's south-east is considering a ban on barbecues, after just three complaints were made.

The footy WAG, 37, said on the 3pm Pick-Up on Tuesday that she was shocked to learn it only takes a few objections to challenge a local law in Victoria.

Hitting back at the proposed ban, she argued that having a 'barbie in your backyard' is an important part of Australia's laid-back culture.

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'It's just ridiculous!' Rebecca Judd (pictured) is furious that her local council in Melbourne's south-east is considering a ban on barbecues, after just three complaints were made

'Get this, my local council here in Victoria is considering banning barbecues!' the mother of four began.

She said that the proposed ban would include any device using 'wood as fuel', such as fire pits and wood-fired ovens.

Rebecca expressed her disapproval that the council was considering a ban on the grounds of just three complaints.

'Un-Australian!' The footy WAG said on the 3pm Pick-Up on Tuesday that she was shocked to learn it only takes a few objections to challenge a local law in Victoria

Taking a stand! Hitting back at the proposed ban, she argued that having a 'barbie in your backyard' is an important part of Australia's laid-back culture

However, she said she would be taking action.

'I'm going to go on the website and do their survey [on the potential ban]. I'm going to object!' she declared.

When asked by her co-host Katie 'Monty' Dimond if she was really going to push back at the proposal, Rebecca said: 'Well, it's just ridiculous. It's un-Australian!'

Civil disobedience: When asked by her co-host Katie 'Monty' Dimond if she was really going to push back at the proposal, Rebecca said: 'Well, it's just ridiculous. It's un-Australian!'

Rebecca and her husband, retired AFL star Chris Judd, are currently in lockdown in their $7.3million mansion in Brighton, Melbourne.

The glamour couple share four children, son Oscar, nine, daughter Billie, six, and three-year-old twin boys Tom and Darcy.

On Tuesday, Rebecca revealed she was struggling to look after her kids during the pandemic.

She shared a video to Instagram of the mess her twins had made in her front room, as one of her children ran past wielding a Nerf gun.

The weather presenter had previously admitted she was having difficulty home-schooling her children, and joked that she was considered day drinking to cope.
While BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has sought Tharoor's removal as head of the IT Parliamentary panel, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore accused the Congress MP of violating House procedures

New Delhi: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Thursday demanded removal of Shashi Tharoor as the parliamentary committee on Information Technology chief while his party colleague Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore accused the Congress leader of "undermining" the panel's work, marking a sharp escalation in the ruling party's attack on the opposition party MP over the Facebook row.

Dubey and Rathore wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla against Tharoor's conduct as the chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Commmittee on IT, with the Jharkhand MP claiming that the Congress leader was "running the affairs of the committee in a thoroughly unprofessional manner and to serve his political agenda of spreading rumours and defaming my party (BJP)".

Dubey has been leading his party's charge on Tharoor after the Congress leader spoke of summoning Facebook India executives following a Wall Street Journal report that claimed that the social media giant refused to apply hate speech rules to certain ruling party politicians.

Both leaders also sniped at each other on social media and then filed notices of breach of privilege against each other with the Speaker's office on Wednesday.

Citing the Lok Sabha rules, Dubey in a fresh letter requested the Speaker to appoint any other member as the chairman of the committee in Tharoor's place.

"It is now an impossibility to regulate the affairs of the committee on Information Technology in accordance with the Rules of Procedures and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha...," he said, seeking Tharoor's removal.

Taking a dig at Tharoor, who is known for his polished English and debating skills, Dubey alleged that "speaking in 'Spenserian' English with a foreign accent does not give freedom to an individual to not only disregard our glorious parliamentary institutions/organs to meet his own political ambitions but also to abuse our constitution."

"..it would be highly improper for Dr Shashi Tharoor to continue and regulate the proceedings of the committee. I, therefore, appeal to your good self to persuade Dr. Tharoor to proceed on leave and thereafter,... choose another member of the Committee to act as Chairperson," Dubey said in his letter.

Accusing Tharoor of issuing statements as to who would be summoned and what would be the agenda of the meeting without discussing the matter first with the committee's members Rathore said this was "absolutely uncalled for" and is "violative" of the procedures of Lok Sabha.

"The proclivity of the IT committee chairman to speak to the media first undermines the functioning of the committee members and the committee itself," Rathore said in his letter to the LS Speaker.

Like Dubey, the former Union minister is also a member of the committee which Tharoor heads.

Rathore said the IT committee members have no issue on "summoning whosoever the committee feels needs to be summoned for the protection of the rights of citizens of our country" but added that the matter should be discussed in the panel first.

Following the US media report of Facebook allegedly not applying its hate speech rules to some BJP leaders, Tharoor had expressed his view about summoning the company's officials before the committee due to the "serious nature" of allegations.

Meanwhile, according to the Lok Sabha secretariate, the parliamentary panel will meet on 2 September to "hear the views of the representatives of Facebook on the subject of 'safeguarding citizens' rights and prevention of misuse of social/online news media platforms including special emphasis on women security in the digital space".

Besides Facebook, the committee has also asked representatives of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to remain present on 2 September.
Postal workers wear masks and gloves during the coronavirus pandemic as they physically distance from each other at the United States Postal Service processing and distribution center on Thursday, April 30, 2020 in Oakland, California. Ben Margot/AP

Thousands of chicks transported through USPS to farms in Maine arrived dead, the Press Herald reported.

The chicks were mishandled due to cost-cutting measures undertaken by the USPS and the organization's postmaster general Louis DeJoy, the report alleged.

Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine is sending a letter addressing the issue to DeJoy and US Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sonny Perdue.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

At least 4,800 of chicks going to farms in Maine arrived dead due to mishandling by the US Postal Service, the Press Herald reported.

Pauline Henderson, owner of Pine Tree Poultry told the outlet that all 800 of the chicks from a Pennsylvania hatchery that she picked up from her local Post Office were dead.

Video: The rise and fall of USPS

"We've never had a problem like this before," Henderson, who has regularly received shipments of chicks told the Press Herald. "Usually they arrive every three weeks like clockwork. And out of 100 birds, you may have one or two that die in shipping."

The outlet reported that the chicks were mishandled due to cost-cutting measures undertaken by the USPS and the organization's postmaster general Louis DeJoy.

DeJoy implemented measures like cutting back mail sorting machines and ending overtime but on Tuesday announced that he will be suspending those measures until after the election.

The postmaster-general was asked and agreed to testify in front of Congress on the status and trajectory of the postal service. The measures were criticized for their potential to disenfranchise voters in the upcoming November election.

After receiving many complaints about the issue, Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine told the local outlet that she's sending a letter to Dejoy and US Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sonny Perdue to address the dead chicks and losses to Maine farms.

"It's one more of the consequences of this disorganization, this sort of chaos they've created at the post office and nobody thought through when they were thinking of slowing down the mail," Pingree said.

Story continues

Henderson told the outlet that she previously got an order where 150 of another batch of 800 chicks arrived dead. She explained that the shipment prompted her to sends workers to drive down to Pennsylvania to pick up the chicks, which was a financial burden and risky especially with COVID-19. Then she decided to try the post office again, before ending up with 800 dead chicks shipped to her.

While the hatchery told Henderson it would refund her for each dead chick, that still doesn't compensate her for lost time, the local outlet reported.

"This is our livelihood, this isn't a hobby farm," Henderson said. "We are trying to save our livelihood."

The farm employs four full-time workers, two part-time workers, and has a crew that comes to help process the birds every few weeks. The farm is one of the largest producers of poultry meat in Maine, she said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Department store chain Lord & Taylor is closing two dozen stores for good as it continues to search for a buyer to restructure under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and keep its business alive.

Deals will be up to 40% off, the company said Thursday morning, as it released a complete list of those shops set to liquidate.

Considered the nation's first department store chain when it opened its inaugural shop in New York in 1826, Lord & Taylor filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this month. It joined a growing list of retailers that have been pushed to the brink during the coronavirus pandemic. The filing came roughly a year after Lord & Taylor was acquired from Canadian Hudson's Bay Co. by fashion rental subscription service Le Tote.

More than 6,000 permanent store closures have been announced by retailers so far in 2020, according to Coresight Research. A number of the retailers that have filed for bankruptcy this year, including J.C. Penney, Brooks Brothers, Stein Mart and Pier 1 Imports, account for hundreds of those.

Mall owners face an especially heavy burden when a department store closes permanently. Those spaces, which can span multiple levels and more than 100,000 square feet, are increasingly hard to replace with new uses. U.S. mall owners Simon Property Group and Macerich have recently hinted at potentially adding more grocery stores to their centers, a trend that is much less common in America compared with other countries.

Lord & Taylor's liquidation sales are being spearheaded by Hilco Merchant Resources and Gordon Brothers.
Cole also told investigators that Witherspoon and another staff member drove around to peoples houses and had those people fill out the sign-in sheet. Those people never came to the companys offices to get services, Cole told investigators.

Under cross examination, Purgason said that he investigated the company, and the prosecution declined to comment when asked by the judge why no criminal charges were ever filed in connection to the fraud allegations against Chris Rehablative Services.

Witherspoon, when given the chance to speak before being sentenced, said, Im not a criminal.

And he said that the money from the company that went into his account was mostly reimbursement from him paying his staff.

While he said he took full responsibility for the criminal charges he was convicted of, he also said that his company had gone through audits with no finding of wrongdoing. Purgason said that, among the financial receipts he got when he went to the companys offices, he never saw any medical records. But Purgason said under cross examination that there were other boxes in the office that might have contained medical records, and Witherspoon said he kept immaculate medical records.
Publicis Media has hired Mimi Deb to lead its dedicated bespoke unit platformGSK. In this role, Mimi will manage end-to-end responsibilities under media investment management for GSK India, and work towards using media as a driver of brand and business growth. platformGSK brings together diverse talent with expertise across areas such as media, healthcare, consumer strategy and business transformation from across the Publicis Groupe for the FMCG giant GSK.

Also read: Publicis Media appoints Omnicoms Anil Pandit as Programmatic Head

Mimi is a media veteran who comes with a wide spectrum of experience of over seventeen years across the media agency business and almost six-years of marketing & sales experience in the Middle East.

She has led and managed prominent FMCG, CPG & Digital-first brands like Dabur, Perfetti, Mother Dairy, RSPL, Amway, McCain Foods, OLX, GoDaddy and Shopclues, to name a few. Her last stint was with Wavemaker, earlier to which she has also worked with Universal McCann, OMS & Hakuhudo Percept in key roles.

Ajit Gurnani, CCO, Zenith India says, platformGSK is a market-leading, end-to-end platform for FMCG major GSK and given her experience and skills Mimi is the ideal person to lead the mandate by focusing on value creation, innovation, media excellence and product differentiation. I am confident that she will drive significant and measurable media, brand & business outcomes for platformGSK and GSK CH.

Mimi Deb said that shes excited to be taking on the new role, and looks forward to building and executing marketing transformation for GSK. I am delighted at the opportunity and look forward to harnessing the power of innovative media strategies for the continued growth of GSK CH. I am committed to accelerating platformGSKs capabilities, driving business results and keeping our offering competitive, impactful and well-ahead of the curve.
On her big night as the  drum roll, please "historic" first black South Asian female vice presidential nominee, Kamala Harris managed to...bore us to death.

Instead of delivering electricity at the Democratic National Convention last night, she pulled out her flat nasal monotone and droned on and on about her supposedly apple-pie upbringing in Berkeley during the '60s, her single mom, her life work as a prosecutor, the importance of voting for Joe Biden, and lots of rah-rah stuff about "doing it together."

In reality, she actually does have a pretty colorful past, but she managed to masticate it down to mush, and it got inauthentic, fast. This is why so many voters call her phony. That's because too much already is known of her past. What she put out there was boilerplate  nothing of interest or substance to anyone. Even her cheerleaders noticed. Some talking-head pundits imagined that maybe she was boring because it's always a tough act to follow Barack Obama, which she did, and he certainly was on fire, even if it was pants-on-fire.

But nope, she managed to make it boring on her own. I missed the Obama speech but caught Kamala's, and it was still boring as heck.

The transcript is here.

The boringness, it seems, was a bid to feed pabulum to the public as some kind of chalky antidote to what's rolled out about her in the previous months.

Start with her boring beginning years, the Berkeley stuff:

At the University of California Berkeley, she met my father, Donald Harris  who had come from Jamaica to study economics. They fell in love in that most American way  while marching together for justice in the civil rights movement of the 1960s. In the streets of Oakland and Berkeley, I got a stroller's-eye view of people getting into what the great John Lewis called "good trouble."

Ummm, she must not think we remember Berkeley very well. Back in the '60s, radical red diaper babies and hippies took over, starting with something called the "filthy speech movement," led by red diaper babies.

Here's Eric Hoffer's 1969 congressional testimony about the centrality of Berkeley in the wretched destructikon of the '60s.

Sprinkling his testimony with words that he said not even the San Francisco waterfront would condone, the irrespressible [sic] Hoffer traced the current wave of student unrest to the 1964 disturbances at the University of California's Berkeley campus. There, he said militants "ran circles" around University President Clark Kerr who was suffering from "innocence and trustfulness." Maintaining that, in the San Francisco Bay area at least, "there has been no conspiracy," Hoffer declared that college administrators should learn that student "grievances do not mean much ... Even if the war and the civil rights problem got settled overnight, you are still going to have trouble," he said. "But what strikes me . . -," Hoffer added, turning to last year's riots at Columbia University," is that there is a lack of ability to get angry. Take (former Columbia president) Grayson Kirk." Hoffer said students broke into Kirk's office, urinated on his carpet and still Kirk didn't get angry. "It would have been a wonderful thing," he yelled, pounding the table before him,"if Grayson Kirk got mad and got a gun and killed a few." Hoffer, whose testimony confused, startled and amused the Senators, declared that radical tactics are destroying American universities. "San Francisco State used to be beautiful," he said, "but now it is dead."

Hoffer wrote this about Berkeley in 1974:

I was right in the midst of the mess when the Free Speech Movement exploded in 1964 [in the University of California]. The spark which set off the explosion was the discovery by the students that the power structure of the university was manned by toothless lions. President Clark Kerr, one of the finest products of our culture, knew how to build a great university but did not know how to defend it. He had not an inkling of the vulnerability of institutions  that they are more vulnerable than individuals  and did not know the first thing about the nature of authority. I cannot resist the feeling that things might have turned out differently had President Kerr had a taste for theorizing. He might have known that authority is an instrument for the repression of individual willfulness and that social authority had its origin in the need to tame juveniles as they came out from underneath parental authority. Instead, President Kerr dealt with the rampaging juveniles as if they were his equals, and a punk like Mario Savio, the leader of the Free Speech Movement, ran circles around the great Clark Kerr. Much of the teaching at the University was done by teaching assistants not much older than the students. Monkeys with academic degrees opened all the cages and let the tigers out into the streets.

But ol' Kam would have us think participation in that Berkeley hellhole was as American as apple pie, and just a spot of "good trouble." Umm....

Then there was her childhood, which she has previously described as wonderful busing (she kept away from it this time since Joe Biden was on the top half of her ticket), as if that didn't have controversy, and the fact that her mother took her to Canada to be raised after her marriage broke up. Nothing about the Canadian childhood, that's for sure, just mom's hard work raising Kams and her sister. File under hiding stuff.

She then spoke of "becoming a lawyer" not mentioning that she flunked the California bar at least once. Why exactly, as the daughter of a Stanford professor, and a Berkeley lector and Canadian academic, was she unable to get into a competitive school? Maybe it was because she was Madamoiselle Party Girl? Sure seems like it. And not like she wouldn't attract votes for it if she were honest. Nope, all we hear is that she became a lawyer, and did it "for the people," which is truly gag-inducing.

Nope, she did it for herself and her well-researched history by a reporter from Politico, spending her '80s in San Francisco on the make, going to parties of San Francisco's billionaires and white-shoe card tells us a lot more. Her partytown adventures on the make culminated in her mistress arrangement with Willie Brown, the most powerful politician in California at the time, and a dandy with a taste for the finer things in life. Nope, not a mention. Yet it was her critical gravy train stop on the way to the top. As I wrote here, citing the Politico piece by Michael Kruse:

It's also coming out that Brown wasn't the only one she sucked up to in her bid for power; she also hobnobbed hugely with San Francisco's richest elites, the Pacific Heights crowd, the richest people in town during her rise in the 1990s, according to this excellent investigative piece from Michael Kruse at Politico. She wasn't out doing pork chops then; she was doing filet mignon, very likely done by famous chefs such as Alice Walker and Jeremiah Tower, and she was focused on pleasing those people. Those actually are her real people.

She was on the make as much as anyone and it wasn't her brains she was selling.

And the "for the people" prosecutions? Tell us about how she laughed at throwing all the petty marijuana smokers in jail and then taking a few tokes herself, laughing.

Then she talks about "choosing" her family which is a bit of an understatement, too. She claimed to be "Momala" to her husband's children from a previous marriage, but did she get into her BFF relationship with her husband's ex in her speech? It's all so very ... Hollywood, something that's drawn very little attention, but weird stuff to normals, and completely ordinary to the Hollywood crowd, which they all are.

After that, she attempted to sell the rah rah stuff, and she was boring as heck. Sound like she's going to contribute a lot to the Biden ticket? She has a truly wild and crazy story and all she wants to tell us is she's white-bread bland.

Already we know that Black voters aren't buying it.

Don't bet the farm anyone else will, either.

Image credit: YouTube screen shot, edited with FotoSketcher.
There is a deep sense of regret, and a deep sense of emptiness in this city at the moment, says Jonathan Mills, the Australian composer, festival director and current director of the biennial Edinburgh International Culture Summit.

Right now Edinburgh should be teeming with culture of every imaginable kind: the art festival, the international festival, the book festival, the Fringe. Fireworks should be popping over the Royal Mile as the massed bagpipes of the Military Tattoo assault the tourist throng.

The sky above Edinburgh Castle is lit up by My Light Shines On, an outdoor light installation for the 2020 Edinburgh International Festival. Credit:AP

Instead, silence: in the real world, at least. Each event has an online counterpart (the book festival even arranged virtual book signings). The Culture Summit, which every two years gathers artists, strategists, and ministers of culture from around the world to the Scottish Parliament, is no exception.

Although we cant convene, we can still bring ideas together, Mills says, from his workroom which features a large, detailed map of the world.
airSlate, providing signNow, e-signature offering, is thrilled to be a part of Samsungs inaugural USA marketplace launch. Our collaboration with Samsung will bring significant efficiency, security, mobility, user satisfaction, and cost savings to millions.

airSlates e-signature solution, signNow, is dedicated to simplifying the signing and management of documents online and strengthens its collaboration with Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a recognized leader in mobile technologies and enterprise solutions.

SMBs have been without a dedicated resource to help them meet the technology challenges of operating in todays modern market environment. Samsung AppStack is expanding its portfolio with signNow to offer customers the ability to quickly and easily automate their signature workflows and digitize their document processes.

For many small businesses, access to technological knowledge and resources has been a major obstacle to adapt to the digital-first economy, said Taher Behbehani, Head of the Mobile B2B Division, SVP and General Manager, Samsung Electronics America. AppStack is a platform where SMBs can go to get curated app recommendations from a partner they can trust. Were thrilled airSlate is joining AppStack to support SMBs through their digital transformation journey.

With signNow, customers are able to:



Simplify complex workflows  including a document signing order for multiple signers

Provide a consistent signing experience  quickly fill out and e-sign documents

Maintain company branding  customize signing links and personalize emails

Work uninterrupted  work from any device, anytime, anywhere, even while offline

Track progress in real-time with court-admissible Audit Trails and instant notifications

airSlate, providing our signNow, e-signature offering, is thrilled to be a part of Samsung's inaugural USA marketplace launch. With e-signature being the #2 work-from-home solution globally (TrustRadius), coupled with our collaboration with Samsung, we will bring significant efficiency, security, mobility, user satisfaction, and cost savings to millions, said Scott Owen, airSlate VP of Global Business Development & Channels.

About airSlate:

airSlate is a global SaaS technology company that serves tens of millions of users worldwide. airSlate cloud solutions span PDF editing, workflow automation, e-signature workflows, and robotic and document process automation. pdfFiller, signNow, USLegal, and airSlate make up the companys portfolio of award-winning products.

signNow is an enterprise-grade e-signature solution designed to simplify the signing and managing of documents online. More than 6 million people use signNow to speed up document workflows and reduce paperwork. The average satisfaction score among enterprise users is 9.56 out of 10, which makes signNow the #1 e-signature solution for both large and small businesses. The signNow mobile signature app is available on both iOS and Android.
Worcester officials on Thursday have announced 69 more cases of coronavirus since last week, bringing the citys total to 5,716 confirmed positive cases.

The 69 new cases are as of Wednesday, the city said, noting that the Massachusetts Virtual Epidemiologic Network, a data system known as MAVEN, is not operating Thursday.

On Aug. 13, the city announced 70 cases, on Aug. 5 there were 97 new cases reported and on July 30, the city announced 88 cases. Thursdays stats show a second week in a row where weekly cases decreased.

Worcester has been announcing new cases on a weekly basis after holding daily press briefings for weeks at the beginning of the pandemic.

At Saint Vincent Hospital and the UMass Memorial Health Care system combined, there are 14 coronavirus patients, five of whom are in the intensive care unit, as of Wednesday, the city said.

To date, the health care centers have seen 361 patient deaths related to coronavirus, which is four more since last week.

A total of 396 employees of the systems have tested positive for the virus as of Wednesday, an increase of four from last week, according to the city.

The city said its Division of Public Health is investigating a recent off-campus party held by Holy Cross students renting an apartment on College Street. One student has tested positive for the virus. That student and those in close contact are now in isolation, the city said. Health officials are working to contact other people who attended the party.

Additionally, the health division is working with public, private and Catholic schools, as well as higher education institutions, regarding school reopening plans and protocols for if a student tests positive for coronavirus, the city said.

Free coronavirus testing through the states Stop the Spread campaign is being administered by AIDS Project Worcester at Worcester Technical High School on Friday from 2 to 7 p.m. Appointments are required and can be made by calling 508-847-0623.

Officials are reminding residents to wear face masks and to social distance. Compliance checks to ensure businesses are following protocols continue, the city said.

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BountyJobs & OutMatch "As companies continue to execute their human capital strategy, that strategy is shifting from traditional selection processes to more technology-focused solutions. Digital hiring solutions speed up the selection process and drive better outcomes for companies, candidates, and employees alike."

BountyJobs, Inc., leading provider of third-party recruiting platform for collaboration between employers and search firms with over $2 billion in placement fees to recruiters and the worlds largest recruiter marketplace, today announced a strategic partnership with talent analytics platform, OutMatch.

This strategic relationship with OutMatch is the latest in the fast-growing BountyJobs partner network, seeing 500% growth in 2018 and resulting in the largest partner network of any recruitment marketplace. This network connects innovative technology providers focused on improving the way companies recruit, attract and retain talent. This mix of partners has been hand-selected to help support the key constituents of the 2-sided BountyJobs Marketplace; employers and recruiting agencies. The BountyJobs solution can be integrated within any ATS and values the relationships and expertise that partner agencies bring to the table.

Digital hiring with OutMatch brings clarity to talent decisions by gathering the right objective data, using assessments, as well as the rich storytelling capabilities from digital interviewing. OutMatch turns this data into easily understandable insight that gives employers the clarity to understand which candidates would be the best-fit as well as giving every candidate the unbiased consideration he or she deserves.

Leveraging behavioral data with predictive models to help ensure the right talent and culture fit is an exciting aspect to the OutMatch platform, said Jason Putnam, Chief Revenue Officer at BountyJobs. This ties well with the focus that BountyJobs places on the people side of talent acquisition along with the smart use of technology when connecting employers with the ideal third-party recruiters to support their open roles, creating a beneficial partnership between BountyJobs and OutMatch.

"We are excited about our partnership with BountyJobs as we both share a passion for digital hiring," said Robin Stenzel, Chief Solutions Officer of OutMatch. "The future of work has changed dramatically. As companies continue to execute their human capital strategy, that strategy is shifting from traditional selection processes to more technology-focused solutions. Digital hiring solutions speed up the selection process and drive better outcomes for companies, candidates, and employees alike."

About OutMatch

The OutMatch Talent Intelligence Platform brings clarity to talent decisions by gathering the right data and putting the insights companies need at their fingertips. We help the worlds biggest brands to select and develop great people, maximizing the employee life cycle. Nearly 100 million candidates and employees have used OutMatch technology, with over 10 million flowing through per year. This volume of data gives OutMatch unique insight into the workforce and prepares OutMatch clients for the future of work. OutMatch was recently named to the 2020 Inc 5000 list as well as Inc magazines annual list of the Best Workplaces for 2020. Learn more at https://outmatch.com/.

About BountyJobs

Sometimes sourcing talent for business-critical positions requires a little help. Our web-based platform features a marketplace of over 10,000 highly-qualified agencies and a performance-based matching algorithm that helps hiring teams of all sizes find and engage the recruiters for each of their roles. All this inside our simple yet effective platform designed to keep you in control of the entire recruitment process. Help makes hiring happier. Learn more at http://www.bountyjobs.com.
We need the support of the United States, he said. The war against ISIS is over, but sleeper cells for ISIS and other terrorist groups are still there.

The prime minister sidestepped the question of how long and precisely how many U.S. troops should stay in Iraq, saying conditions on the ground would dictate that. But he underscored that the role of American forces in the country was already shifting.

We definitely dont need combat troops in Iraq, Mr. al-Kadhimi said. But we do need training.

The prime minister, who assumed his post in May after widespread antigovernment protests and amid the coronavirus pandemic and persistent joblessness, is largely viewed as a transitional leader to steer his country through a period of major economic and social upheaval.

His appointment also came during a political backlash that surged after a U.S. drone strike killed Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, a top Iranian officer, at Baghdad International Airport in January. That resulted in a vote by Iraqs Parliament demanding that all U.S. troops leave the country.

On a call with reporters held before the visit, senior administration officials stressed that there were no hard and fast timelines, and there are no hard and fast numbers on when any reduction of troops would happen. But U.S. commanders have already pulled back hundreds of troops from several Iraqi bases, consolidating them at half a dozen locations in the country.

The Pentagon has also advised Mr. Trump that a small contingent  about 2,500 troops or so  should remain to advise and assist the Iraqi government in its fight against pockets of Islamic State fighters and to act as a bulwark against Iranian influence in Iraq, where skirmishes between the United States and Iran have played out on the countrys soil.

Other members of the 29-country American-led military coalition in Iraq have already cut their numbers in half, to about 1,200 troops, largely because of the pandemic, which has suspended most training.
Painting one blade of a wind turbine makes it easier for birds to avoid a deadly encounter.

A study found that painting one of the four white blades on a wind turbine black reduces the amount of dead birds by 72 per cent.

Scientists from the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research conducted a trial on the remote island of Smola comparing how many birds were killed by four painted turbine compared to their untouched neighbors.

Scroll down for video

A study found that painting one of the four white blades on a wind turbine black reduces the amount of dead birds by 72 per cent

Scientists regularly scoured the bottom of the turbines with specially trained sniffer dogs to identify any bird carcasses.

This was done for seven and a half years before the blades were painted and three and a half years after treatment.

For the eight turbines included in the research - four painted and four left bare - a total of 1,275 searches were conducted between 2006 and 2016.

A total of 82 carcasses were found and statistical analysis revealed the birds which benefit the most from the pained blades are raptors and large soaring birds.

This includes eagles and vultures, who have been high-profile casualties of wind turbines. No white-tailed eagle carcasses were recorded after painting the blades.

Scientists conducted a trial on the remote island of Smola comparing how many birds were killed by four painted turbine compared to their untouched neighbors. Six white-tailed eagles, which have an impressive 8-ft wingspan, had been killed by the turbines before they were painted, but none were recorded after the treatment

HOW DO WIND TURBINES WORK? Wind turbines operate on a simple principle  the wind turns propeller-like blades around a rotor. The rotor is connected to the main shaft, which spins a generator to create electricity. They work in the opposite way to a fan, instead of using electricity to make wind, like a fan, wind turbines use wind to make electricity. There are two main types of wind turbine, with offshore ones typically being larger and generating more energy. These provide bulk power to the National Grid. Advertisement

Kestrels, snipe and golden plovers also benefited from the experiment.

Six white-tailed eagles, which have an impressive 8-ft wingspan, had been killed by the turbines before they were painted, but none were recorded after the treatment.

Estimates from a 2014 study by the London School of Economics predicts there could be up to 106,000 bird deaths a year as a result of UK wind turbines.

It also found that while the number of dead birds dropped at painted turbines, it did not trigger a spike in the amount of casualties at neighboring sites.

Researchers suggest the reason painting a single blade works is due to a phenomenon called 'motion smear'.

This means that, although birds often have exceptional eyesight, the rotating blades appear invisible.

Birds have extremely high-resolution eyesight in their peripheral field of vision, and the front-facing eyesight is not as good.

The study said: 'Within an assumed open airspace, birds may therefore not always perceive obstructions ahead thereby enhancing the risk of collision.'

The findings are published in Ecology and Evolution.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin discussed specific tasks of boosting trade and economic collaboration and cooperation deepening in the energy segment with Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko in a telephone conversation, press service of the Russian Cabinet said.



"Mikhail Mishustin and Roman Golovchenko discussed specific tasks related to buildup of Russian-Belarusian trade and economic collaboration and cooperation deepening in energy, industry, and other areas," TASS cited the press service as saying.



"Prime Ministers agreed with importance of further deepening practical interaction within the Union State framework," the press service adds.
India's Hindalco Industries Ltd on Thursday signed an agreement with UltraTech Cement Ltd to supply 1.2 million tonnes of bauxite residue every year to be used as a raw material for cement, as part of its push for alternative methods of disposing of the toxic waste.

Hindalco, India's top aluminium and copper producer, said it would supply 2.5 million tonnes of bauxite residue, also known as red mud, to 40 cement companies this year, to help cement makers to replace their existing raw materials such as laterite, a mineral.

Of the 2.5 million tonnes, 1.2 million tonnes would go to UltraTech's 14 cement plants spread across seven states.

"We are trying to match the price of laterite," Satish Pai, managing director of Hindalco Industries Ltd, told Reuters. When aluminium producers process bauxite they get red mud, considered particularly dangerous for marine life, as a by-product.

Since two dam disasters in Brazil and Papua New Guinea's Basamuk Bay, where red mud from a nickel plant spilled into the sea last year, disposal of red mud has come under greater scrutiny.

Hindalco, which generates 4.5 million tonnes of red mud every year, also plans to use the by-product for road construction and in brick kilns and embankments, Pai said.

Also read: UltraTech Cement divests entire equity in Chinese cement maker for $120 million

Also read: COVID-19 crisis: Rise in fiscal deficit expected to affect construction sector in 2020, says IndRa
But that might become even more difficult for the review board, which is preparing to possibly lay off staff because of budget cuts brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. The Independent Budget Office recently said the review board, which has a $20 million budget and 200-person staff, was too small to oversee the police department, which has a $6 billion budget and 36,000 officers.

The records released Thursday include all allegations of excessive force, abuse of authority, discourtesy and offensive language investigated by the review board though mid-July, as well as the boards findings and any discipline that the police commissioner imposed. They do not include complaints under investigation by the review board or those investigated by the Police Department itself.

The complaints were shrouded in secrecy until June, when, as protests against police brutality spread across the country, the State Legislature in New York repealed a 44-year-old law that had been used to prevent their release to the public.

After a legal challenge from labor unions representing police officers, firefighters and corrections officers whose records were shielded by the law, a federal appeals court on Thursday ruled that the data could be released while the case continued in a lower court.

The unions vowed to continue fighting against what Hank Sheinkopf, a spokesman for the union coalition, said was the improper dumping of thousands of documents containing unproven, career-damaging, unsubstantiated allegations that put our members and their families at risk.

The publication of the records, policing experts said, chips away at a legal wall of confidentiality built up by police unions, which for decades have used their political clout to block efforts to publicly release complaints about officers and the punishment they receive.

Samuel Walker, a professor at the University of Nebraska Omaha who is a leading expert on police accountability, said the data would allow academic researchers and policymakers to identify patterns and problems.
Two months after restaurants were allowed to reopen, restaurant owners are demanding that they be allowed to serve liquor in the national capital. The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) has written to the Delhi governments excise department in this regard.

Restaurants in the city were allowed to operate from June 8, though with restrictions, to ensure social distancing and other precautionary measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

While business is gradually picking up, owners say the sale of liquor in restaurants will help them make up for their losses as they are operating on about 50% occupancy to ensure social distancing.

In its letter dated August 16 to the excise commissioner, NRAI wrote that retail sale of liquor was one of the first few activities to start in all states and requested the government to de-link liquor service in restaurants from the generic term bars.

While the Union ministry of home affairs allowed restaurants to operate in June, the sale of liquor in bars was prohibited.

People are anyway buying liquor from retail stores. It makes no difference whether guests consume alcoholic beverages or coffee along with food at a restaurant. People come to restaurants to have a good time and permission to serve liquor will help us cut losses, said Manpreet Singh, the owner of Zen restaurant in Connaught Place and the treasurer of NRAI.

Singh said business will increase if the liquor service is allowed. According to restaurant owners, currently business is just 10-20% during weekdays and 45-55% during weekends of what it was during pre-Covid times .

With liquor service in restaurants, other sales will also pick-up. We will be able to employ more people, said Singh.

The Union ministry of home affairs has prohibited bars from reopening in its Unlock guidelines. NRAI members say that dine-in restaurants are being unfairly clubbed with bars.

A Delhi government spokesperson did not respond to HTs requests for comment.

When contacted, a senior official with the excise department said the Delhi government is following the MHAs guidelines regarding the pandemic. The official, requesting anonymity, said that there is no concept of a stand-alone bar in the capital.

A liquor licence is given to a restaurant that has all necessary approvals from various government authorities. There is no concept of stand-alone bars in Delhi. For now, there is no plan to allow restaurants to serve liquor as we are strictly adhering to MHA guidelines that prohibit serving liquor in bars, said the official.

The association has cited Punjab and Rajasthan governments decisions to push their case. Punjab allowed restaurants to serve liquor in June, while Rajasthan allowed it recently. The Union home ministry guidelines have prohibited bars. Dine-in liquor service in restaurants should be removed from the prohibited list, said Prakul Kumar, secretary general, NRAI.

Demanding that dine-in restaurants be de-linked from bars, NRAI suggested some additional guidelines such as keeping the bar counter closed, can be kept while granting permission.

The restaurant industry is has been hit the worst and is fighting for survival. If liquor service is allowed, it will help restaurants recover quickly, said Kumar.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 20)  Despite being under modified general community quarantine, Borongan City in Eastern Samar province will be placed under a hard lockdown for 72 hours as contact tracing and surveillance of COVID-19 cases are conducted throughout the city.

Mayor Jose Ivan Agda issued the executive order on Thursday for the implementation of the lockdown, which will start at 12 a.m. on Aug. 21 until 12:01 a.m. of Aug. 24.

This is to allow time for the City Contact Tracing Team and the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit to identify and isolate contacts of Patient ES-33 (EV-1797) who came to the city on Aug. 13, 2020 and visited 578 between 1 p.m.-2 p.m.," Agda reported. "Moreover, one identified contact of ES-33 is currently symptomatic while under isolation.

Under the rules, all Borongan City residents are not allowed to go in and out of the towns borders except for medical emergencies, indispensable governmental work, and essential work.

Persons entering the city are required to alight from their vehicles and submit themselves to a triage established at the border checkpoints.

They must also present a medical certificate and a travel authority to allow entry into the city, while those leaving Borongan should stop at border checkpoints and present a valid ID without alighting from their vehicles. The checkpoint personnel are mandated to record the information of all persons in the vehicle and the time of their departure from the city.

Non-residents of Borongan City who are employed in the town must secure a medical certificate from their municipality of origin and a pass from the Mayors Office. Holders of mayors pass are no longer required to submit themselves to the triage.

The Borongan LGU also requires business establishments and healthcare facilities to maintain a log book for all their guests or patients, in case such information is needed for contact tracing purposes.

All tourist sites are also closed during the 72-hour lockdown period to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the city.

Individual violators will be fined 3,000 on first offense, 4,000 on second offense, and 5,000 on third and succeeding offenses with imprisonment of not more than 30 days or upon the discretion of the court.

Business owners who will violate the lockdown rules are subject to a 5,000 fine with warning on first offense and 5,000 fine with revocation of business permit on second offense.

As of the latest data released by the Eastern Samar Provincial Health Office, Borongan City has only seven confirmed COVID-19 cases.

But the city has 139 persons under monitoring for COVID-19 -- 109 of them are locally stranded individuals, 20 are overseas Filipino workers, eight have close contact to infected patients, and two have travelled to local areas with confirmed coronavirus cases.
A photo showing the Chinese ambassador to the Pacific island nation of Kiribati walking on the backs of people as part of a welcome ceremony has sparked controversy.

A top US diplomat derided the act as unacceptable behaviour after a social media image showed a man being received by a human equivalent to the red carpet.

Beijing today denounced the criticism as slander. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said its ambassador Tang Songgen was taking part in a traditional welcome ceremony.

The grainy photograph that appeared on social media showed a man in a white shirt and grey trousers stepping on the backs of about 30 people lined up on the ground. The man in question is reported to be Tang Songgen, the Chinese ambassador to the Pacific island nation of Kiribati

Zhao Lijian, China's foreign spokesperson, said that Mr Tang participated in the ritual 'at the cordial request of the local government and people, and out of respect for the culture and traditions of Kiribati'.

Some people have tried to slander China over this incident, but their attempts to damage China's relationship with island nations will not succeed, Mr Zhao told a daily briefing in Beijing.

The grainy photograph that appeared on social media showed a man in a white shirt and grey trousers stepping on the backs of about 30 people lined up on the ground.

Michael Field, a journalist who uploaded the photo onto Facebook on Sunday, claimed the person was stepping over children.

Mr Tang (pictured) was appointed as the ambassador to Kiribati six months after the small country cut its diplomatic ties with Taiwan and formed foreign relations with Beijing

Mr Tang said he had made a trip to Kiribati's outer islands this month, after taking up his post when China resumed diplomatic relations late last year.

In a post on Facebook, he called the trips 'educational visits for the Embassy team to learn Kiribati culture and tradition'.

'The Embassy team was warmly welcomed and received in those islands by the old men, the island councils as well as the local people,' he wrote.

Kiribati has a small landmass yet controls large swathes of ocean through its string of coral islands. It is also home to a Chinese space-tracking station mothballed since 2003, though its current status is unclear.

Mr Tang was appointed in March this year - six months after Kiribati cut its diplomatic ties with Taiwan and formed foreign relations with China.

The photograph stirred controversy in the Pacific where China has been trying to expand its influence to the consternation of the United States and its old ally, Australia.

Kiribati's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Kiribati has a small landmass yet controls large swathes of ocean through its string of islands

The US defence attache in neighbouring Fiji took the opportunity to questioned Mr Tang's behaviour.

'I simply cannot imagine any scenario in which walking on the backs of children is acceptable behaviour by an ambassador of any country (or any adult for that matter!),' the diplomat, Commander Constantine Panayiotou, said on Twitter.

'Yet here we are thanks to China's ambassador to Kiribati.'

Another Twitter user Drew Pavlou, who describes himself as a 'human rights and democracy activist', called China 'an imperialist state intent on colonizing the world' while commenting on the image on the platform.

I simply cannot imagine any scenario in which walking on the backs of children is acceptable behavior by an ambassador of any country (or any adult for that matter!) Yet here we are thanks to #Chinas ambassador to Kiribati. https://t.co/HcJqfbaKzg  Constantine Panayiotou (@CP_Suva) August 16, 2020

Picture from Kiribati showing new Chinese Ambassador Tang Songgen welcomed off plane. Children lie face down on ground as the ambassador walks across them.



China is an imperialist state intent on colonizing the world. pic.twitter.com/rEJIjhwIdd  Drew Pavlou (@DrewPavlou) August 18, 2020

In Taiwan, which lost Kiribati as a diplomatic ally to China last September, the foreign ministry said they were as shocked as everyone else at the picture.

'This is not the Kiribati we know, and we didn't know Kiribati had this kind of welcoming ceremony. Taiwan would not treat our allies and their people like this,' said spokeswoman Joanne Ou.

China's nationalistic Global Times said the 'misrepresentation' of the picture was aimed at damaging China's image.

'Portraying the welcome ceremony as being symbolic of "subjugation" reflects some Western politicians' grievances and concerns over the growing friendship between China and Kiribati, especially after Kiribati resumed diplomatic relations with China on September 28, 2019,' the newspaper said in a commentary, citing observers.

Katerina Teaiwa, associate professor at Australian National University, said the picture reflected a traditional welcoming ceremony.

'Everyone should be less hysterical about this & more respectful towards the diversity of Pacific ways, islanders should have cultural self-determination,' Teaiwa said on Twitter.
Seven popular car models from brands including Land Rover, Nissan and BMW should be recalled over claims of a range of problems such as faulty batteries and unreliable computer software, according to Which?.

The consumer rights organisation polled 47,013 car owners and found "prolific faults which it claimed indicate "a weakness in the manufacturing process that should be addressed immediately".

It found that some car makers had failed to fix long-standing problems.

Tesla's Model S, Nissan's Qashqai and the BMW 5 Series Touring, all had the same issues that drivers reported in a survey last year.

More than one in five owners of Qashqais less than three years old said they had to replace the battery in the last 12 months.

Two other Nissan models also had high breakdown rates with 28 per cent of Pulsar owners reporting battery issues and 20 per cent of Juke owners experiencing problems with the fuel component system.

The Japanese carmaker said it had contacted 35,000 Qashqai owners to inform them about potential propblems and offer a free vehicle upgrade.

Respondents to the poll reported fault's with Tesla's 50,000-plus Model S electric car. Some 18 per cent of drivers of Model S built between 2013 and 2017 had issues with pop-out door handles, Which? found.

Harry Rose, editor of Which? Magazine, said: "It is completely unacceptable that these trusted car brands continue to take customer cash without fixing these widespread faults, many of which are already well-known thanks to our comprehensive survey of UK motorists.

"Currently, car owners will have to foot the bill for faults once their car goes out of warranty, but it is not right for anyone to have to pay for production mistakes that these manufacturers are aware of."

Meanwhile, 21 per cent of Range Rover Velar and 17% of Range Rover Sport owners reported problems with the on-board computer software in vehicles up to three years old, Which? said.

Of the 280 car models Which? had reliability data for, the BMW 5 Series Touring car, produced between 2010 to 2017, had the second-highest fault rate linked to one single problem.

Its survey found that 26 per cent of the model's owners reported issues with their car's suspension in vehicles aged three to eight years old.

Which? has now called on manufacturers to issue a recall on the affected models.

Responding to the survey, Tesla told Which? it reviewed every vehicle before it leaves the factory and that its warranties cover any repairs or replacements necessary for door handles for up to four years.

Land Rover said it took product quality "seriously" and that it was introducing software to all of its new vehicles, allowing for remote updates.

The company said it "understands" only 0.12 per cent of Range Rover Velar and 0.22 per cent of Range Rover Sport customers were surveyed, which it did not believe was "representative of the vast majority of satisfied customers".

BMW said it has carried out analysis of all warranty claims from launch to the present day which "confirmed nothing usual" about suspension claims across the 33,000 vehicles sold.

The company said: "We encourage any dissatisfied Which? reader, whether they participated in this survey or not, to contact BMW UK on 0370 505 0160, making reference to Which?, so that we can investigate their concerns."

Additional reporting by PA news agency
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MOUNT FOREST TWP, MI  Police are investigating the discovery of a mysterious body in northern, rural Bay County.

At 1:28 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 17, sheriffs deputies responded to Neuman Road in Mount Forest Township after receiving a call of a body found behind an abandoned building in an open area, said Sheriff Troy R. Cunningham.

The propertys owner had called police upon discovering the body, Cunningham said.

The body appears to be that of an adult female who had been burned, Cunningham said. The woman was believed to be 5 feet to 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighed between 110 and 150 pounds, he said.

Deputies called in the Michigan State Police Crime Lab to assist at the scene.

The identity and cause of death remain unknown pending autopsy and forensics results. Due to that, additional details are scarce.

We treat any suspicious death as a homicide until the investigation proves otherwise, Cunningham said. Were working with agencies throughout the state searching databases for missing persons.

The body appeared to have been where it was found for less than a week, he added.

Cunningham urged anyone with information regarding the matter to call the Bay County Sheriffs Office at 989-895-4050.

Read more:

Man in stable condition after being shot 4 times in Saginaw

Teen boy killed in motorcycle crash in Huron County
FAIRFIELD  Family and friends of Jake Panus gathered Saturday in Southport to remember the 16-year-old Fairfield boy killed recently in a car crash.

After a closed service, the larger community gathered on the lawn outside of the Pequot Library for a socially distanced memorial.
live bse live

nse live Volume Todays L/H More 

Tata Steel continues to be in talks with the UK government on possible financial aid for the company's operations in the country, Chairman N Chandrasekaran said on August 20.

Responding to concerns raised by the company shareholders over a virtual AGM, Chandrasekaran said, "talks are not over." He, however, underlined that the UK operations are not profitable and that it "continues to be a drag."

The clarification comes days after reports emerged from the UK that the government there has refused to support its operations there. The two sides were in talks for possible financial assistance.

"The government concluded the Indian multinational was sufficiently financed and didnt qualify for taxpayer support," the Financial Times reported.

The talks are critical for the future of the company's operations in the country. Its other major facility in Europe, located in the Netherlands has also faced problems in the form of protest from employees.

Apart from clarifying that the situation was not as described by reports, Chandrasekaran also played down the auditor's note, in the recently announced Q1 results, doubting if the UK operations can continue as a going concern.

The Tata Steel Chairman signalled that the auditor's note was more a regulatory requirement, and said, "Tata Sons and Tata Steel continue to do what is right."

Tata Steel on August 13, had reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 4,648.13 crore for the June quarter of FY21. It had reported a loss of 1,615.35 crore in the March quarter and a profit of Rs 714.03 crore in the June quarter of FY20.

Talking about the European operations, Executive Director and CFO Koushik Chatterjee, said: "Tata Steel Europe's performance was affected by lower deliveries and a sharp decline in European spreads to an unsustainably low level. As a result, our consolidated adjusted EBITDA dropped to Rs 1,038 crore."

At the AGM, Chandrasekaran said that the company is striving to find a solution in this fiscal year. "It could be matter of months before we have a decision. If it's not a successful outcome, we will be thinking about alternate options. We are looking for a solution that is lasting," he said.

Change in geographical mix

Earlier, while addressing the shareholders, Chandrasekaran pointed out the change in the company's geographical mix.

"While earlier one-third of the business was in India, and was profitable, two-thirds was international and was not profitable. We have changed the mix. Now, two-thirds of the business is in India," he said.

Over the years, the company has invested Rs 75,000 crore in the last four years to increase its India business. The investment included the Rs 35,000 crore it has spent on the new facility in Kalinganagar, in Odisha. The rest of the money has been used to acquire Bhushan Steel and Usha Martin.

Responding to shareholders concerns over the company debt, which stood at Rs, 1,04,779 as on March 2020, the Chairman said that the aim is to reduce this to Rs 75,000 crore, "as fast as possible."
August 20 : Veteran actor Irrfan Khans elder son Babil Khan has revealed that actor Sanjay Dutt was the first one of the people to offer support when late Piku actor was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour. Babil also appealed to the media to not speculate about Dutt, who was reportedly diagnosed with lung cancer.

Taking to his Instagram on Thursday, Babil shared a black and white picture of his father and Sanjay Dutt and he wrote a long note about Sanjay Dutts equation with his father and family, it reads, Heres a secret; Sanju Bhai was one of the first people to offer help in all and every way when my father was diagnosed, after Baba passed, Sanju bhai was again one of the very first few people that held a pillar for support. Please; I beg you, let him fight this without anxiety of media, you must remember were talking bout Sanju baba here, he is a tiger, a fighter, the past doesnt define you but it sure does evolve you and I know this will be over with Sanju Baba smashing hits again.

Babil also appealed to the media to avoid speculating about Sanjays condition. He wrote, Writers must wonder how do I start, but I am not a writer so here it is; I humbly request journalists and human curiosity to ease on the speculation, the details. I know thats your job but I also know that a sense of humanity persists in our soul, so give Sanju bhai and his family the existential space they need.

Sanjay Dutt and Irrfan Khan shared screen space together in Mani Shankars 2010 released film Knock Out which also featured Kangana Ranaut.

On Wednesday, Sanjay Dutts wife, Maanayata, gave an update about his treatment. She said in a statement, 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. 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.

Irrfan Khan died earlier this year, after a two-year illness. Sanjay Dutt hasnt yet revealed the nature of his diagnosis, but announced that he would be taking a break from work to focus on his treatment.
Representative image

The NITI Aayog has fast-tracked the creation of the poverty index, which will rank states on the basis of steps taken to curb poverty.

The ranking, in line with the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), is intended to push states to take measures to tackle poverty, according to a report by The Economic Times.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the story.

The NITI Aayog recently held a meeting with representatives from stakeholder ministries as well as from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the report said.

Targets, reform action and progress by states were discussed at the meeting, a government official told the paper. The targets that were mentioned included income, heath, education and standard of living.

"The plan is to get the index and first ranking out by this year's end," the official was quoted as saying.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) had in April said around 40 crore workers in India's informal sector are at risk of falling further into poverty due to the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.
MONTREAL, Aug. 20, 2020 /CNW/ - The governments of Canada and Quebec are taking decisive action to support community needs by investing in green infrastructure projects in all regions of Quebec. Providing communities with modern and reliable water infrastructure is a shared priority for both governments.

Today, the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and Andree Laforest, Quebec's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, announced joint funding contributions of over $637.8 million for 280 drinking water, storm water and wastewater projects in municipalities throughout Quebec. These projects include the rehabilitation of existing water pipes, pumping stations and water treatment facilities as well as the construction of new facilities.

The Government of Canada is investing $318.9 million in these projects through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan. The Government of Quebec is providing over $318.9 million through the Fonds pour l'infrastructure municipale d'eau (FIMEAU) funding program.

Federal-provincial investment of $86 million for the Montreal region

During today's announcement, Ministers McKenna and Laforest, along with Francis Scarpaleggia, Member of Parliament for Lac-Saint-Louis and Benoit Dorais, Borough Mayor for Sud-Ouest and President of the executive committee of the City of Montreal, announced that the Montreal region will benefit from 11 water and wastewater modernization projects in Montreal and one in Senneville.

These projects involve replacing over 70 kilometers of water pipes as well as associated road restoration and roadway landscaping. The federal and provincial governments are each investing $43 million.

More announcements will follow to provide additional information on water infrastructure projects approved in the various regions across Quebec.

Quotes

"Building healthy communities starts with investing in essential services. Working with our provincial and municipal partners, we are ensuring Quebecers have access to safe and reliable drinking water and wastewater systems. Modern and efficient water infrastructure is essential to support healthy and resilient communities throughout Quebec. Canada's infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country, and builds stronger communities."

The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"In LaSalle-Emard-Verdun, we have the opportunity to enjoy the Lachine Canal and the St. Lawrence River. Water plays an important role not only for the citizens but also for the economic vitality of our riding. I am proud to welcome my colleague, Minister McKenna, to the Atwater drinking water plant complex, and that our government is investing in Montreal's economic recovery as well as a greener and more prosperous Canada."

The Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Member of Parliament for LaSalle-Emard-Verdun

"Our government is restarting the economy in Quebec regions and municipalities which has been severely challenged in recent months. Today's announcement is in line with this goal and will contribute to the development of prosperous living environments. We will continue to work closely with our valued municipal partners to modernize our infrastructure and offer quality services to Quebecers."

Andree Laforest, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing

"Government investments are essential to communities of all sizes. Thanks to this important investment, the Montreal and Senneville projects will not only modernize aging infrastructure, but will also help reduce significant water loss from underground networks. This is a win-win situation for both the economy and the environment!"

Chantal Rouleau, Minister for Transport and Minister responsible for the Metropolis and the Montreal Region

Quick facts

Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities

infrastructure plan, the Government of is investing more than over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and rural and northern communities As part of the Investing in Canada Plan, the Government of Canada has invested $6.2 billion in 778 infrastructure projects in Quebec.

Plan, the Government of has invested in 778 infrastructure projects in Quebec. $1 billion of this funding is supporting green infrastructure in Quebec, including water, wastewater and storm water system upgrades.

of this funding is supporting green infrastructure in Quebec, including water, wastewater and storm water system upgrades. To support Canadians and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, a new stream has been added to the over $33-billion Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to help fund pandemic-resilient infrastructure. Existing program streams have also been adapted to include more eligible project categories.

Investing in Infrastructure Program to help fund pandemic-resilient infrastructure. Existing program streams have also been adapted to include more eligible project categories. The COVID-19 Resilience Stream will help other orders of governments whose finances have been significantly impacted by the pandemic by increasing the federal cost share for public infrastructure projects.

The Canada Healthy Communities Initiative will provide up to $31 million in existing federal funding to support communities as they develop innovative ways to adapt spaces and services to respond to immediate and ongoing needs arising from COVID-19 over the next two years.

The Fonds pour l'infrastructure municipale d'eau (FIMEAU) aims to carry out the construction, rehabilitation, expansion and addition to municipal water and wastewater infrastructure. It consists of a total investment of $1.5 billion . This work will allow the continuity of municipal services and the upgrade of water and wastewater systems to regulatory standards. Two more project submission periods are planned for 2022 and 2024.

aims to carry out the construction, rehabilitation, expansion and addition to municipal water and wastewater infrastructure. It consists of a total investment of . This work will allow the continuity of municipal services and the upgrade of water and wastewater systems to regulatory standards. Two more project submission periods are planned for 2022 and 2024. The Plan quebecois des infrastructures 2020-2030 provides for investments of nearly $7.5 billion for municipal infrastructure, under the Municipal Affairs and Housing department (MAMH).

Associated links

Investing in COVID-19 Community Resilience:

https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/covid-19-resilience-eng.html

Canada Healthy Communities Initiative:

https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/chci-iccs/index-eng.html

Investing in Canada Plan Project Map:

http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/gmap-gcarte/index-eng.html

Federal infrastructure investments in Quebec:

http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/investments-2002-investissements/qc-eng.html

Fonds pour l'infrastructure municipale d'eau (FIMEAU) (FRENCH ONLY) :

https://www.mamh.gouv.qc.ca/infrastructures/fonds-pour-linfrastructure-municipale-deau-fimeau/

Plan quebecois des infrastructures 2020-2030 (FRENCH ONLY) :

https://www.tresor.gouv.qc.ca/fileadmin/PDF/budget_depenses/20-21/7-Plan_quebecois_des_infrastructures.pdf

Strategie quebecoise d'economie d'eau potable 2019-2025 (FRENCH ONLY):

https://www.mamh.gouv.qc.ca/infrastructures/strategie/a-propos-de-la-strategie/

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

Web: Infrastructure Canada

SOURCE Infrastructure Canada

For further information: Chantalle Aubertin, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, 613-941-0660, [email protected]; Benedicte Trottier Lavoie, Press Secretary, Cabinet de la ministre des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation, et ministre responsable de la region du Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, 514 686-7100; Sarah Bigras, Press Secretary and Communications contact, Office of the Minister of Transport and Minister Responsible for the Metropolis and the Montreal Region, 418 446-5911; Media Relations, Infrastructure Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected]; Equipe des relations de presse, Direction des communications du ministere des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation, 418 691-2015, poste 3746

Related Links

www.infrastructure.gc.ca


Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 23:54:02|Editor: huaxia

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Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, attends the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament via video link in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

BEIJING, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Li Zhanshu on Wednesday called on joint efforts of legislative bodies to firmly safeguard multilateralism, and promote global anti-epidemic cooperation and economic recovery.

Li, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, made the remarks in Beijing via video link at the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, under the overall theme of parliamentary leadership for more effective multilateralism that delivers peace and sustainable development for the people and planet.

Noting the conference is held at a crucial juncture in the global fight against the COVID-19 epidemic, Li said in his speech that it shows the firm determination and confidence of legislative institutions of various countries to join hands in fighting the epidemic and overcome difficulties together.

Li pointed out that in the face of the epidemic, China has always put people's lives and health first. With the most comprehensive, rigorous, and thorough prevention and control measures, China has achieved major strategic progress against the virus.

Guided by the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, China has informed the World Health Organization and relevant countries of the epidemic situation timely in an open, transparent, and responsible manner, and unreservedly shared its experience in prevention and treatment, Li said, adding China has provided anti-epidemic assistance to more than 150 countries and international organizations, and pledged to provide 2 billion U.S. dollars of international assistance within two years.

Li stressed that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. Over the past 75 years, the UN has played an important role in safeguarding world peace and development.

"The sudden virus outbreak once again shows that the interests of all countries are linked and the destiny of mankind is shared," Li said, calling on legislative bodies of all countries to firmly safeguard multilateralism, and promote international anti-epidemic cooperation and recovery of the world economy.

Li made three proposals. Firstly, he called for mounting a joint fight against COVID-19. Viruses know no borders or races, and the international community can only win the battle against it with concrete efforts.

"We should oppose stigmatization and politicization of the epidemic and prevent the spread of 'political viruses'," Li said, calling for strengthening information sharing and experience exchanges, and providing more assistance to developing countries.

Secondly, he proposed working hand in hand to safeguard multilateralism.

"China is willing to work with the international community to safeguard the international system with the UN at its core and an international law-based order, advocate the principle of achieving shared growth through discussion, and collaboration in global governance, " Li said, also expressing China's commitment to contribute to the reform of the global governance system in the right direction and safeguard international equity and justice.

The third is to promote economic recovery actively. He said that at the same time, "we should focus on the 'post-epidemic era', safeguard the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization as the core, promote the recovery of the world economy, and achieve balanced and sustainable growth."

Li said that the NPC attaches great importance to the status and role of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and will continue to participate in the activities of the IPU and help its development, as well as continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with regional parliamentary organizations and national legislatures.

The World Conference of Speakers of Parliament is organized by the IPU and held once every five years. More than 130 parliamentary leaders from over 110 countries and regions attended this year's conference. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron addressed the opening ceremony. Enditem
Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi, Army Chief Trade Blame Over Stalled Peace Process

2020-08-19 -- Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi and its powerful military chief traded blame Wednesday for four years of fruitless efforts to end the country's long-running civil wars, airing contrasting views within the government as it opened peace talks with 10 ethnic armies in the capital in Naypyidaw.

The fourth round of Union Peace Conference peace talks since Aung San Suu Kyi took power in 2016 pledging to end conflicts with dozens of ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) that began right after the then Burma's independence from Britain in 1948, comes 11 weeks before general elections in November.

Hopes dimmed last week when an alliance of the largest and most powerful ethnic armies, several of which are involved in active conflicts, announced it would skip the Aug. 19-21 talks, staying outside the peace process as they have since rejecting the previous government's nationwide cease-fire accord (NCA).

Aung San Suu Kyi opened the session Wednesday calling for an end to pursuing the political goal of peace solely through the use of armed force.

"We aim to end the concept and the root causes of it, in which only the ones with military might, armed forces, or armed power will succeed, gain respect, and be given a role or taken seriously by others," she told a gathering of 230 government officials, lawmakers, government and ethnic army soldiers, and NGO activists.

"We can say we fulfilled the duties for peace only if we achieve this goal. Enduring peace can be achieved only by eliminating the roots and motivators that have led to this corrupt political custom," said Aung San Suu Kyi, who serves as chairwoman of the government's National Reconciliation and Peace Center, as well as state counselor and foreign minister.

In his opening remarks, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the commander-in-chief of the defense forces, rejected the notion that the military  which ruled the country from 1962 to 2015 and controls the ministries of defense, border affairs, and home affairs  was solely responsible for armed conflict.

He did not directly address Aung San Suu Kyi's oblique remarks, directing his criticism at the ethnic armies.

"EAOs are opposing the Union and successive governments," he said. "If one studies the history objectively, it can be seen that the Tatmadaw [Myanmar military] is protecting the Union and successive governments."

"I would like to say that it is dishonest to drive the current peace process based on ideologies and concepts of the 1950s," he added in a reference to conflicts that erupted in first decade after independence, some of which involved communist-led insurgencies.

Min Aung Hlaing is the most senior Myanmar general facing possible referral to the International Criminal Court for prosecution on genocide-related charges over a scorched-earth military campaign in 2017 that forced more than 740,000 ethnic Rohingya Muslims to flee into Bangladesh. He is also under U.S. and British sanctions.

A last resort

Nai Han Thar, vice chairman of the New Mon State Party from southeastern Myanmar, rejected Min Aung Hlaing's characterization of the ethnic armed groups as Cold War relics.

"He was asserting that the civil war and ongoing armed conflicts are caused by us, the ethnic groups," he told RFA's Myanmar Service. "The truth is we have been demanding our rights through democratic means, but they didn't resolve the problems and tried to persecute us by force."

Ethnic armies turned to insurgencies as a last resort in their demands for ethnic minority equality, Nai Han Thar added.

Sai Nyunt Lwin, vice chairman of Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) and leader of the United Nationalities Alliance, also said that the lack of equality and rights for ethnic minorities are what has kept the wars going in northern Shan state and other conflict zones in the multiethnic nation of 54 million people.

"Had we had these rights, the conflicts would not have been prolonged for the past 70 years," he said.

"Those who started the armed revolution in their 20s are still fighting for the cause in their 90s," he said. "The new recruits are taking over and continuing these fights only because equal rights have not been achieved."

Aung San Suu Kyi acknowledged that a lack of trust among the parties meant that they could not agree the very basic terms such as state-level constitutions to be included in a treaty to be signed during the summit.

But she urged all stakeholders at the meeting, also known as the 21st-Century Panglong Conference, to work towards creating a democratic federal union.

The first Panglong talks were convened in 1947 by her father, independence leader Aung San, but the deal on a union struck with major ethnic groups, who were part of the British colony but wary of joining Burma, unraveled within a year, spawning wars over autonomy, territory, and resources that rage on today.

Earlier this month, the Myanmar government excluded the Arakan Army (AA) from the peace conference, because the rebel force has been at war in Rakhine state since December 2018.

In March, the government declared the AA an illegal association and terrorist group.

In response to the AA's exclusion, the seven members of the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee, led by the United Wa State Army (UWSA), said they would skip the summit.

Three previous rounds of the Union Peace Conference were held in August 2016, May 2017, and July 2018.

Reported by Thiha Tun and Thet Su Aung for RFA's Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.

Copyright  1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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At issue is changing the states currently mandated flat-rate income tax to a graduated-rate tax structure that increases along with income, similar to the federal income tax. A law adopted if voters ratify the proposed constitutional amendment would increase taxes on those making more than $250,000, supporters say, meaning 97% of taxpayers would pay no more or less than they do now.
Two Face Up to 20 Years for Allegedly Torching Police Car During Riot

Two Rhode Island men were charged for setting a Providence police car on fire during rioting on June 2, authorities said.

Nicholas Scaglione, 30, and Luis Joel Sierra, 34, face up to 20 years in federal prison if theyre convicted of arson charges.

The arson took place in downtown Providence.

Sierra set the police cruiser on fire by leaning inside the cruiser and igniting a fire with fluid and a lighter while Scaglione squirted a flammable liquid into the vehicle, causing the fire to intensify, according to court documents.

The actions endangered the safety of dozens of nearby protesters, as the cruiser burst into flames, U.S. Attorney Aaron Weisman said in a statement.

The police car was destroyed by the flames.

Sierra told another person that he was responsible for setting the car on fire, according to several videos allegedly recorded on Snapchat and taken from Sierras phone.

Clothing seized during a search of the suspects house turned up clothing that appeared to match the items worn by Sierra overnight June 1.

Scaglione, meanwhile, sent a text to another person that included a photograph showing him on top of a police vehicle during the riot. Scaglione told the person that his father would be proud because the police gave his father a hard time and the police harass Scaglione as well, according to a criminal complaint.

That police cruiser that went up in flames last night can be replaced I was pissed. Ive been pissed. That was pent up years of rage and frustration with the way Ive seen and been treated by police, Scaglione wrote in text messages, authorities said.

Protesters rally on the steps of the State House during a Black Lives Matter rally in Providence, R.I., on June 5, 2020. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)

That cop car can be replaced. Peoples lives cannot Then I go out fighting and standing up for [expletive] I believe in. Cuz I know for a fact if it was you or anyone else I was close to Id burn the whole police force down and not even blink, he wrote.

Scaglione also texted his ex-wife, with whom he shares a child, and told her he was taking a week off of work because he would be going to jail for a while.

William Dimitri, a lawyer representing Scaglione, declined to comment. An attorney for Sierra didnt respond to an inquiry.

We will always support peaceful demonstrations but simply will not tolerate criminal behavior and including individuals intent on committing assaults and causing willful destruction of physical structures and property, Providence Police Chief Col. Hugh Clements Jr. said in a statement.

Those who believe they can come into the city and cause destruction must know that we will continue to take this very seriously and through investigation hold you accountable.
(Newser)  Germany has welcomed military aircraft from Israel to its airspace for their first joint combat exercises in German territory, a milestone that both air forces praised Thursday as a sign of the cooperation between the two countries. "It was very emotional for us when, one after the other, the first Israeli jets arrived here in German airspace," a spokesman for the German Luftwaffe said. "Nowadays, we have a very intense partnership with the Israelis," spokesman Thorsten Weber said. "We work closely together, we do exercises together, German soldiers are being trained in Israel." Israeli Air Force pilot Lt. Colonel O., who didn't give his full name in line with regulations, said that during the exercises, he remembered the difficult past of Germans and Jews while also looking to the future, the AP reports.

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During the Third Reich, Nazi Germany murdered 6 million European Jews and others in the Holocaust. Relations between Israel and Germany were difficult in the first decades after the end of the war but have been improving. "I think all of us are feeling it right in the heart how deep the past is," O. said. "But we're looking into the future and are happy for the opportunity of flying together." Nowadays, Germany is one of Israel's staunchest supporters. Still, most interactions between the two nations carry a deeper symbolic significance because of the horrors of the Holocaust, which ended 75 years ago when Germany surrendered in World War II. The Israeli pilots arrived at the base in western Germany on Monday for two weeks of exercises; the second week is with the Hungarian air force.

(Read more Israeli Air Force stories.)
A California appeals court extended the length of time Uber and Lyft will have to comply with an order requiring them to reclassify rideshare drivers as employees. As a result, Uber and Lyft said they would continue operating in California during the stay after threatening to suspend service.

The temporary reprieve gives Uber and Lyft until 5 p.m. PT on Tuesday to file written statements agreeing to expedited procedures stated in the order.

Uber and Lyft's stocks were both up about 6% after the order. Both names had fallen into the negative after Lyft announced earlier Thursday that it would suspend its service in California at midnight PT but reversed its decision after the appeals court granted additional time. An Uber spokesperson said the company would continue to operate in California during the stay.

"We are glad that the Court of Appeals recognized the important questions raised in this case, and that access to these critical services won't be cut off while we continue to advocate for drivers' ability to work with the freedom they want," an Uber spokesperson said in a statement. Uber had not announced a decision to suspend service prior to the order.

Top executives at Uber and Lyft both said last week that they'd likely have to suspend service in the state to comply with the court order. The lower court granted a 10 day stay on the preliminary injunction but rejected to extend it. That stay was set to expire at the end of the day Thursday.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra had requested the injunction as part of a May lawsuit that alleged Uber and Lyft violated the state's new labor law known as Assembly Bill 5 (AB5), which aimed to grant benefits to gig economy workers. Becerra and city attorneys from San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego claimed that by violating the law, Uber and Lyft were skirting expenses like payroll taxes and unemployment insurance for their workers.

The stay will extend until Uber and Lyft's appeals are resolved on the condition that they agree to a new timeline and procedure. If they do not, the stay will expire on Tuesday at 5 p.m. PT. One of those conditions is that the CEOs of Uber and Lyft both submit sworn statements on or before Sept. 4 confirming they've developed plans to comply with the preliminary injunction within 30 days of a ruling if the appeals court affirms the preliminary injunction and if Proposition 22, the ballot measure that would exempt the firms from AB5, fails to pass.

"We're confident in the facts of our case and look forward to continuing our fight to defend the rights of workers," a spokesperson for Becerra said in a statement.

While Uber and Lyft opposed AB5 prior to its passage, they later claimed they were not subject to the law as technology platforms, rather than employers. Uber, for example, made changes to its platform in California that allowed drivers to view more information about upcoming rides and have more control over their selections. That change could help Uber make the argument it does not control what workers do on the job, which is a key part of the three-pronged test that determines if hiring firms are employers.

But the lower court rejected arguments from the companies that drivers' work is outside the normal course of their business, another requirement of the so-called ABC test.

An Uber executive told Eater last week that the company planned to continue operating its food delivery service in California in the event that it paused its ride-hailing business. While the injunction targets ride-hailing drivers, food delivery services have already attracted scrutiny under AB5. In June, San Francisco's district attorney sued the app-based delivery service DoorDash for misclassifying workers.

At least two start-ups, Alto and Arcade City, have said they were accelerating plans to enter California amid the legal battle. Other services, including traditional taxis, that already exist in the state also viewed a potential pause of Uber and Lyft's service as an opportunity to claw back market share.

A similar free-for-all occurred in 2016 when Uber and Lyft temporarily left Austin, Texas, over a new background check law that they argued would unnecessarily delay driver sign-ups. Several new rideshare businesses took hold, though Uber and Lyft ultimately gained back passengers upon their return once the state reversed the law.

This time, however, ride volume is already muted by the pandemic, which has prevented many people from travelling.

Uber and Lyft are both backing a ballot measure, Proposition 22, that would exempt their ride-hailing and food delivery businesses from AB5 while providing for additional benefits for drivers. Voters will have the opportunity to decide on that question on Election Day.

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WATCH: California attorney general on court order requiring Uber, Lyft to classify drivers as employees
Israeli police dispersed dozens of protesters outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's official residence on Thursday ahead of a rally attended by hundreds of his supporters.

The protests come amid bitter infighting within the unity government formed in May. Netanyahu and his rival-turned-coalition partner Benny Gantz face an Aug. 25 deadline to agree on a budget to avert early elections _ the fourth in less than two years.

Some of the protesters, including a former head of the Shin Bet internal security service, chained themselves to roadblocks before police unbound them and dragged them away.

``Clearing part of the encampment is a violent act against the protesters,'' Carmi Gillon, the former Shin Bet chief, was quoted as saying by the Haaretz newspaper. ``The right to protest is a right I will not allow to be taken away from me.''

He raised his arms as he was led away, showing what appeared to be bruising and scrapes.

Netanyahu's supporters later held their rally amid a heavy police presence, with no immediate reports of arrests or violence.

Protesters have staged a series of demonstrations this summer calling on Netanyahu to resign over corruption charges and criticizing the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout.

Police have clashed with protesters on a number of occasions and used water cannons to clear them off of main streets and squares, though in recent weeks the gatherings have been calmer.

Netanyahu has vowed to remain in office despite being charged last year with bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three long-running corruption investigations. He has rejected the allegations as a ``witch hunt'' and lashed out at the judiciary, law enforcement and media.

He has also faced anger over the coronavirus outbreak, which has worsened since authorities abruptly lifted a nationwide lockdown in May.

Israel has reported more than 99,200 cases, including at least 795 deaths, since the pandemic began. The economy, meanwhile, has struggled, with unemployment remaining over 20% despite the reopening of most businesses.

If the government does not pass a budget by Tuesday, then elections would automatically be called. Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party and Gantz's centrist Blue and White battled to a stalemate in the previous three elections, leading to more than a year of gridlock and uncertainty.

Recent polls show the Likud with a sizable lead, and dissolving the government would save Netanyahu from handing over the premiership to Gantz in November 2021, as required by the coalition agreement. Netanyahu appears determined to remain in office through the duration of his trial, which is expected to last several years.

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Press Release

20 August 2020

London, UK - Croatia, Ecuador and Ghana are the latest in a long line of major destinations to use the world's first ever global safety and hygiene stamp, launched recently by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

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The extensive endorsements have come from many major holiday destinations around the world, with other holiday hot spots such as Turkey, Portugal, Kenya, and Mauritius, joining among many others.

Ecuador received its WTTC Safe Travels Stamp, following a major government announcement which will see international travellers arriving with a negative test taken within the previous 10 days, exempt from its 14-day isolation. This move will help reopen its Travel & Tourism sector and provide a significant boost to the country's economy.

WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, created the Safe Travels Stamp in May this year, to allow travellers to identify destinations and businesses around the world which have adopted the global standardised health and hygiene protocols.

The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) welcomed the WTTC Safe Travels Stamp, which place the safety and hygiene of travellers as top priority.

Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said: "Our Safe Travels Stamp continues to go from strength to strength and we are delighted to see even more popular countries and destinations from all corners of the world adopt our global health and hygiene protocols."

"The stamp also recognises the introduction of new measures by governments around the world which positively impact the Travel & Tourism sector, and to that end, we applaud the government of Ecuador for implementing new measures at Quito airport."

"The continued success of the WTTC Safe Travels Stamp demonstrates its importance not only to countries, destinations and businesses around the world, but crucially travellers, and the millions of people around the world who work in and depend on, a thriving Travel & Tourism sector."

"The stamp is critical to re-establish consumer confidence in our sector and ensure travellers can rest assured that enhanced standards of hygiene are in place and they can once again experience 'Safe Travels'."

Ms. Nikolina Brnjac, Croatia Minister of Tourism and Sports, said: "Croatia is very proud to work with WTTC during these difficult times. As a popular European and Adriatic destination, we are doing our best to face all difficulties and to secure stability and safety for the local population and for all the travellers who have decided to visit us this year, despite the current circumstances."

"To make the new normal possible, we have gone to great lengths to prepare the necessary safety-protocols and measures."

"We sincerely believe that aligning with the WTTC global protocols will be the next important step in securing and stabilising not only the current season but will also represent another important next step for the sustainable and smart future development of this very important economic sector."

Rosi Prado de Holguin, Ecuador Minister of Tourism said: "The WTTC Safe Travels Stamp shows that Ecuador has made responsible and technical decisions to encourage travel, guaranteeing everyone's health and well-being."

"I invite everyone to visit us and enjoy our Four Worlds, Andes, Amazon, Coast and the Galapagos Islands. Rest assured that in these and all other spots, we are looking after your well-being and minimising risks of transmission."

Hon. Barbara Oteng-Gyasi, Ghana Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture said: "We are delighted with this milestone of a Safe Travels Stamp for Ghana. Since 21 March 21, 2020 when our borders were closed, we have worked on creating a safe environment for our Tourism and Travel practitioners. The protocols we have put in place are borne out of a shared responsibility to create a hygienic and safe destination.

"With the gradual easing of restrictions, we believe these measures will boost confidence in our tourism and hospitality sector. We congratulate the WTTC for instituting these Safe Travels protocols which is a welcome addition to the tourism industry."

Since the launch of the WTTC Safe Travels Stamp, destination countries and cities, around the world have now adopted WTTC's new protocols, including holiday heavyweights such as Tunisia, Indonesia, Egypt, and Dubai.

As part of its Safe Travels protocols, these worldwide measures provide consistency and guidance to travel providers and travellers about the new approach to health, hygiene, deep cleansing and physical distancing, in the 'new normal' of COVID-19 world.

The protocols were devised following the experience of WTTC members dealing with COVID19 and based on guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

According to WTTC's 2020 Economic Impact Report, during 2019, Travel & Tourism was responsible for one in 10 jobs (330 million total), making a 10.3% contribution to global GDP and generating one in four of all new jobs.
GE, a global leader in power technology, has signed two agreements valued at over $1.2 billion with the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity to execute power sector projects that will secure reliable power supply across the country.



Accordingly, GE Gas Power will undertake contracts valued at $500 million for the upgrade and maintenance of key power plants in the country, which are mission-critical to sustain power supply of over 6,000 MW and scale up operational efficiency.



Further, GEs Grid Solutions, in a landmark agreement, will reinforce Iraqs transmission network and interconnection with the electricity grid of Jordan, having secured a contract valued at $727 million.



In addition to delivering the scope of services, GE will also work with multiple export credit agencies to facilitate the discussion of financing over $1 billion for the projects.



The agreements were signed by Majid Al-Emara, Iraqs Minister of Electricity and Michael Eshoo, Vice President & CFO, GE Gas Power in the presence of Mustafa Al Khadimi, Prime Minister of Iraq and senior officials.



Al-Emara said: Our primary focus is to deliver uninterrupted electricity, especially during summer months, to meet the needs of our people and industry. To achieve this, we have already rolled out a clear action plan. Bringing world-class technology, especially to upgrade our power plants, and to ensure their seamless operation is a critical part of this strategy.



The new agreements with GE are an ideal fit for our requirements, and builds on the strong partnership we have with the company to deliver more power for the nation.



Scott Strazik, CEO for GE Gas Power, said: GE has a long history in Iraq, and we continue to deliver on our promise to the nation and its people. In recent years, we have further accelerated our project execution to scale up and rebuild the countrys electricity infrastructure. As demand for power increases in tune with a growing population and to support industries and developmental projects, identifying gaps and addressing them is our focal area.



We are thankful to the Iraqi government for their confidence in our capabilities to deliver power where and when needed. The new agreements will contribute to a more reliable and stronger power infrastructure, which is the top priority of the government.



Heiner Markhoff, Vice President and CEO of Grid Solutions at GE Renewable Energy, said: This agreement is about more than electricity generation. It is about putting in place the necessary grid infrastructure and a sustainable approach to progress that will allow Iraq to truly drive forward positive change throughout the nation. We are incredibly proud to be able to continue to support the growth of a reliable and sustainable electricity infrastructure in Iraq. This partnership will be able to bring power to millions of people and enable economic development in the country.



Upgrades, maintenance and service



The service agreement is a mission-critical Maintenance & Upgrade Program between the Ministry of Electricity and GE Gas Power to execute the maintenance program across multiple sites in Iraq.



GE will deploy its latest technology at the sites to be identified by the Ministry such as parts, repairs and services for power plants in Basra, Mosul, Baghdad and Karbala among others, which will maintain the supply of over 6,000 MW of power. This builds on 1.575 GW of new capacity that GE added since December 2019, and the sustained delivery of 4.325 GW to meet peak summer demand.



The reinforcement of Iraqs transmission network



The agreement signed by GEs Grid Solutions with the Ministry of Electricity will reinforce Iraqs transmission network and interconnection with the electricity grid of Jordan, which will contribute significantly to decongesting the grid and securing reliable power supply. GE will execute the design, supply, installation testing and commissioning of high voltage substations and specific overhead transmission lines. This is a key initiative that will reinforce the smooth operations and delivery of uninterrupted power of the national grid across Iraq, including the liberated areas, which were adversely impacted during the strife supporting their reconstruction.



With more than 300 employees, including FieldCore, a GE company, in Iraq currently, nearly 95 percent of them Iraqi professionals, GEs teams are deployed in the toughest locations, bringing power where it is needed most.  TradeArabia News Service
Perth hospitality guru Andy Freeman and his Sneaker & Jeans team are not ones to die wondering, as evidenced by their existing venues such as Mexican party lair Caballitos and Japanese underground bar Goody Two's.

So expect big things from the company's first crack at a brewery  Pirate Life Perth  a pub like no other set to open in the CBD this summer.

A concept drawing of Pirate Life Perth on Murray Street, which will feature a rooftop bar and beer garden.

This is the South Australian brewery's first foray in WA after Michael Cameron, Jack Cameron and Jared Proudfoot established the brand here but moved to Adelaide to open the brewery in 2014.

Construction of the multi-level brewery at the former Sony building on Murray Street began this week. Once complete, up to 1000 patrons will have plenty of room to eat and drink in the 752sqm space, with three bars, two kitchens (one casual and a 50-person restaurant), a beer garden, private dining room and adjoining retail space selling beer and merchandise, while also housing the new Sneakers & Jeans office.
Sen. Chris Coons, who will introduce former Vice President Joe Biden at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday, says his remarks will focus on Bidens religious faith.

Joe Biden is someone who Ive seen in moments both public and private turn to God in prayer for comfort, for strength, for guidance, the Delaware Democrat told the Yahoo News Skullduggery podcast. In moments when hes had a remarkable victory, when hes at his highest point, and at moments that are among the lowest points any person or parent can have, Ive seen him, both personally and in how he connects with others, rely on his faith.

Biden is a devout Catholic, and would likely be the most overtly religious Democratic president since Jimmy Carter. Coons, a Presbyterian who attends Catholic church, said he has always been struck by Bidens faith and how central it is to his identity.

Hes lived through grief himself and its faith thats allowed him to get back up after life has knocked him down, Coons said.

Sen. Chris Coons. (Erin Schaff/AFP via Getty Images)

Coons, a longtime friend of Bidens, also has a relationship with President Trump, who spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast in 2017 when Coons was co-chairing the event. After introducing Trump to speak at the breakfast, Coons placed his hand on the presidents shoulder and prayed for him. That same week, Trump asked Coons to join him for his first ceremony as president recognizing the service of a fallen American soldier.

I was literally standing beside President Trump at the ramp of a C-17 as the flag-draped coffin of a fallen American Navy SEAL who had been killed in Yemen came down that ramp. And you never forget those moments, the impact that it has on a family, Coons said. I thought it was important to show what is one of the most basic teachings of my faith, which is that you should pray always and for everyone, pray for those in power and responsibility, and pray even for your enemies.

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Twenty-one credit union-supported candidates won primaries Tuesday in Alaska, Florida and Wyoming.

Former Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis won the Republican Senate primary in Wyoming, where she will face off against Democrat Merav Ben-David, a professor and activist for the seat left open by retiring Sen. Mike Enzi (R).

Lummis defeated nine other opponents in the primary. She previously served four terms in the House from 2007-2017.

Tuesdays victories bring the total number of credit union-backed candidate wins this cycle to 338, a more than 96% victory rate.
Labour advocates welcomed changes to the Employment Insurance program announced Thursday, including new benefits for gig workers and caregivers and a higher minimum payout.

Hassan Yussuff, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, said the new parallel benefits for non-traditional workers show the government has taken into account the different types of workers affected by the pandemic, and he hopes these temporary changes signal a more permanent overhaul of the EI system further down the line.

The Liberal government announced Thursday new details about temporary changes to the existing EI program to help more Canadians qualify for benefits. These changes include lowering the number of work hours needed to qualify to 120, using one-time hour credits, adding a minimum benefit rate of $400 per week, and offering at least 26 weeks of regular benefits.

Yussuff said the new minimum benefit raises what some people would have otherwise received by more than a hundred dollars.

Its such a significant recognition of the challenges that people are facing, he said.

The government also announced the Canada Emergency Response Benefit will be extended for four weeks in preparation for the transition, and said around three million workers will be shifted to EI Sept. 27 from CERB, while another two million who wouldnt be eligible for EI will have new benefits available to them.

The government also announced three additional benefit plans for workers.

The first is the $400-per-week Canada Recovery Benefit, aimed at self-employed and other laid-off workers who are not eligible for EI. The second is a $500-per-week Caregiving Benefit for those who cant work because theyre taking care of family. The third is a $500-per-week Sickness Benefit, for those who cant work because they are sick or have to isolate due to COVID-19.

Each of these benefits will exist for one year.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland encouraged employers Thursday to bring back their employees, and said the new benefits are intended to help people get back to work.

We have had some success at flattening the curve of the pandemic. But were not out of the woods yet, she said.

We are contending with the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.

Sheila Block, a senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, said having these benefits in place for a year will give Canadians much-needed certainty in the face of the pandemic.

She said the changes, albeit temporary, make EI much more accessible and include non-standard workers.

These changes need to be made permanent, she said.

Yussuff said having a benefit specifically for COVID-19 sick leave will hopefully incentivize people to stay home, instead of coming to work, when they have symptoms of COVID-19. He added that these new parallel benefits for gig and contract workers and caregivers will be of particular benefit to racialized people and women, who have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

I think todays measures are going to help those workers in a tremendous way.

To help Canadians qualify for the benefits, EI claimants will receive a one-time credit of work hours: 300 hours for those claiming job loss benefits and 480 hours for those claiming other benefits such as sickness or parental leave. The credit will be retroactive to March 15, 2020, for claimants looking to transfer early from CERB to EI for non-job-loss benefits.

The government announced other changes: a freeze of the EI premium rate for two years, and a minimum unemployment rate of 13.1 per cent in order to lower the hours needed to qualify for EI. This means the minimum hours required to qualify will be 420 hours before the new hours credit. (Previously, workers needed between 420 and 700 hours.) It also announced an EI benefit for self-employed fish harvesters.

Yussuff said, while there may be some things that need ironing out in the coming months, overall he feels Thursdays announcement hit the right notes.

But he said it remains to be seen whether the EI program is capable of handling the sheer number of claimants.

Yussuff said he hopes the four-week CERB extension will function as lengthy notice for people to start planning their transition, taking some of the pressure off the EI system come Sept. 27.

Block said the new changes may need some fine-tuning, and there are still a few gaps; she had hoped to see both more workers able to attest to losing employment, instead of relying on records of employment, and an accommodation for a right to quit. But its a step in the right direction, she said.

I think that years and years of underinvestment in public services have become eminently clear, said Block, from the accessibility of EI to its ability to handle a flood of applications during a crisis.

With files from The Canadian Press

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Former Donald Trump campaign strategist Steve Bannon was arrested aboard a superyacht owned by a Chinese national and charged Thursday with defrauding hundreds of thousands of people as part of a group pledging to use private donations to build a section of border wall.

He and three others were charged in an indictment unsealed Thursday in Manhattan federal court.

At his hearing Thursday afternoon, Bannon,66, had his hands cuffed in front of him while a large, white mask covered most of his face. He was still wearing his distinctive two shirts.

He rocked back and forward as he sat on a chair in a holding cell at Manhattan federal court, from where he appeared via video as his lawyers were on the telephone.

The magistrate judge approved Bannon's release on $5 million bail, secured by $1.75 million in assets.

The circumstances of his arrest  Bannon was on board the 150-foot yacht the Lady May owned by Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui in Long Island Sound, off the Connecticut coast, NBC News first reported  provided an odd twist that had a onetime top advisor to the president facing charges of helping swindle contributors by funneling charity donations to one of his partners and funding a 'lavish' lifestyle.

DailyMail.com obtained the last photographs of Bannon, hours before federal agents seized him in a dramatic arrest, checking his phone on the $35 million yacht just off Westbrook, CT.

The source who shot the photos said: 'We saw the yacht come in on Tuesday night and the next day we saw a C-130 military plane circle over it, today [Thursday] there were more Coastguard military planes all around it.'

Bannon was arrested at 7.15am off the coast of Westbrook, CT.

Chinese authorities have accused Wengui of fraud. He has been pictured with Bannon aboard the megayacht, and this summer they were behind an effort to declare a new 'Federal State of New China' that flew flags towed by planes around New York Harbor.

Bannon helped make confronting China a centerpiece of Donald Trump's 2016 campaign, a posture the president has continued into his tenure in office. Another key tenet of that election was building a wall on the southern border that Trump said Mexico  not the U.S. government  would pay for.

The We Build The Wall scheme raised $25 million to fund its own barriers in Texas and New Mexico, some of which have been built. The group's online appeal for funds included a picture of President Trump and a stamp that said 'Trump Approved.' His son Don Jr. visited one section in Sunland Park, New Mexico, in July 2019.

But prosecutors say it was a scam: donors' cash was also funneled to its founder Brian Kolfage and to Bannon.

Bannon, who helped steer Trump's campaign then joined him in the White House in 2017 as chief strategist only to be forced out, is accused of getting $1 million in the alleged scheme, spending hundreds of thousands of that on 'expenses.

House before his arrest: Steve Bannon, wearing his distinctive two shirts, was on deck checking his phone hours before federal agents, with a C-130 plane overhead, arrested him

Luxury: The Cayman Islands-registered Lady May where Steve Bannon was seized

HOW ALLEGED FRAUD WORKED In 2018, Kolfage set up the GoFundMe account in support of President Trump and to prove the nation's appetite for a border wall between the US and Mexico. It was inundated with donations from Republicans and had collected more than $20million by December that year. GoFundMe became suspicious of where the money was going and warned Kolfage to donate it to a legitimate charity or refund everyone who'd given to it. That is when, prosecutors say, Bannon, Timothy Shea and Andrew Badolato got involved. They used shell companies and We Build The Wall Inc, a not-for-profit formed by Bannon to launder the money back to Kolfage and keep some for themselves, it's claimed. The fund would pay the shell companies, then they would deposit the money back into accounts held by Kolfage or his wife, marking the transactions down as for 'media', 'consulting' or 'social media', it is alleged. Despite claiming on the GoFundMe that he'd 'never take a penny' from the donations, the indictment alleges that Kolfage took a $20,000-a-month salary from it in addition to a one-off, $100,000 payment. In total, he took $350,000, it's claimed. Bannon allegedly took $1million from it - some of which he used to pay Kolfage, but some he allegedly kept and spent on hotels, travel and credit card debt. Advertisement

The group's founder, Kolfage, is also accused of fraudulently pocketing funds. He claimed he did not get a cent from the scheme but instead got $100,000 up front and $20,000 a month salary, prosecutors allege, living a lavish lifestyle at Miramar Beach in the Florida panhandle.

Kolfage, an Iraq war veteran who had both legs amputated and lost his right arm in a rocket attack, was arrested at his home in Florida.

At the White House Trump denied knowing anything about the scheme and tried to distance himself from his former campaign manager.

'I feel very badly. I haven't been dealing with him for a very long period of time,' he said in the Oval Office, adding: 'I haven't been dealing with him at all. It's a very sad thing by Mr. Bannon.'

'He was involved in our campaign and for a small part of our administration.' In fact Bannon was the campaign CEO for its last 88 days after the ousting of Paul Manafort - who is now a convicted felon himself - and then was Trump's 'Chief Strategist,' with a West Wing office close to the Oval Office.

He also tried to distance himself from the scheme despite its ties to his inner circle, saying: 'I don't like that project. I thought it was being done for showboating reasons. It was something I very much thought was inappropriate to be doing.'

The stunning indictment of a top former Trump advisor comes on Day Four of the Democratic convention, when Joe Biden is set to speak.

'No one needed a federal indictment to know that Steve Bannon is a fraud,' said Biden deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield on a conference call with reporters.

Trump, she said, 'has consistently used his office to enrich himself, his family and his cronies, so is it really any surprise that yet another one of the grifters he surrounded himself with and placed in the highest levels of government was just indicted? Sadly, it is not.'

Together on the yacht: This is Steven Bannon on the Lady May with its owner Guo Wengui, a fugitive Chinese billionaire who has declared his own new government of China. The 150ft vessel was off Connecticut when he was taken into custody

Live from the yacht - before the feds arrived: Steve Bannon took part in his 'war room' podcast from the Lady May on Wednesday. He was in federal custody and on his way to court the following morning

Seized: This is the Lady May off the Connecticut coast Thursday after the arrest of Steve Bannon.

'Sad.' Donald Trump, who met Iraqi prime minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi at the White House, tried to distance himself both from Bannon - saying he had not dealt with him for a long time - and the wall scheme, despite its ties to his family and inner circle

Where it is: The Lady May is position just off Westbrook, CT, where it was boarded by federal agents who removed Steve Bannon

How it was marketed: This was the GoFundMe originally set up to 'privately fund' a border wall

Husband and wife scam: Prosecutors say Brian Kolfage funneled cash to himself to pay for boat payments, cosmetic surgery and tax and credit card debt, with his wife Ashley, 34, getting cash which was concealed too. She is not indicted

Trump world star: Donald Trump Jr. visited a section of the wall built by Brian Kolfage's scheme in New Mexico in July 2019

Who is mystery Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui? Federal authorities arrested former Trump White House chief strategist Steve Bannon aboard the 150-foot mega-yacht owned by Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui. Guo is wanted by Chinese authorities, who have accused him of fraud, bribery, and blackmail. But Guo says he fled mainland China after accusing state officials of corruption. He is a friend of Bannon's, and Guo has posted an image of the two men sitting closely, apparently aboard the yacht, which features sleek white upholstery and large windows for panoramic nautical views. The two men made an audacious pitch for a Chinese government-in-exile over July Fourth weekend. Guo arranged for propeller planes to carry banners around New York Harbor proclaiming: 'Congratulations to Federal State of New China!'  a state that does not otherwise exist. In a livestream, Guo said with Bannon alongside him and the Statue of Liberty in the background: 'From today the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will no longer be the lawful government of China,' He continued: 'I'm here to tell everybody that loves peace, law, humanitarian  we're going to end the Communist Party once and for all. We got hundreds of countries of support,' the New York Post reported. According to a 2018 New York Times Magazine profile, Guo fled China in 2014 anticipating corruption charges from state authorities. The move came amid a crackdown on both dissidents and corruption orchestrated by the state Communist Party apparatus. He has broadcast statements criticizing officials in China's corruption crackdown, making his comments in interviews with western outlets as well as his own videos. 'Everyone in China is a slave. With the exception of the nobility,' he said in one video. He maintains a 9,000 square foot residence overlooking Central Park in Manhattan. Advertisement

The investigation did not involve the FBI - but did involve the U.S. Postal Inspectors. It was led by prosecutors from the public corruption unit of the United States Attorney's office in Southern News York - the same unit which charged Jeffrey Esptein and arrested Ghislaine Maxwell.

The high-profile arrest raised immediate questions of whether main Justice Department officials were aware of the investigation into a one-time top advisor to the president.

Attorney General Bill Barr told the Associated Press he first learned of the probe several months ago but has not gotten regular briefings on the case.

Prosecutors say the group promised donors it was a volunteer effort that would direct all funds toward a crash effort to construct wall without government red tape. In reality, say federal prosecutors in New York, the group's founders siphoned off funds for themselves.

'As alleged, the defendants defrauded hundreds of thousands of donors, capitalizing on their interest in funding a border wall to raise millions of dollars, under the false pretense that all of that money would be spent on construction,' according to the indictment unsealed in the Southern District of New York Thursday morning.

'While repeatedly assuring donors that Brian Kolfage, the founder and public face of We Build the Wall, would not be paid a cent, the defendants secretly schemed to pass hundreds of thousands of dollars to Kolfage, which he used to fund his lavish lifestyle,' according to the indictment.

'In particular, to induce donors to donate to the campaign, Kolfage repeatedly and falsely assured the public that he would 'not take a penny in salary or compensation' and that '100% of the funds raised . . . will be used in the execution of our mission and purpose' because, as Bannon publicly stated, 'we're a volunteer organization.'

The indictment states that Kolfage, 37, who lives in Miramar Beach, Florida, with his wife Ashley, 34, 'covertly took for his personal use more than $350,000 in funds that donors had given to We Build the Wall' through a non-profit he controlled.

It states that Bannon, 66, who became wealthy through film investments, consulting, and formerly running the conservative Breitbart website, 'received over $1 million from We Build the Wall, at least some of which Bannon used to cover hundreds of thousands of dollars in Bannon's personal expenses.'

Postal Inspector-in-Charge Philip R. Bartlett: 'As alleged, not only did they lie to donors, they schemed to hide their misappropriation of funds by creating sham invoices and accounts to launder donations and cover up their crimes, showing no regard for the law or the truth.'

The indictment says the alleged fraudsters used a non-profit and a shell company controlled by Kolfage.

They used fake invoices, sham vendors as part of the effort, keeping the system 'confidential' and 'need to know,' according to the indictment, which quotes from a Kolfage email.

Lavish lifestyle: Brian Kolfage boasted about his private jet travel before - now prosecutors say he continued it

Boats too: Florida-based Brian Kolfage boasted about his lifestyle on Instagram - now prosecutors say innocent donors paid for his way of living including payments on his $600,000 boat

TRUMP-WORLD FIGURES IN THE WALL SCHEME Steve Bannon: Trump campaign CEO and chief strategist and now high-profile advocate for president is charged with fraud Erik Prince: Billionaire mercenary who is the brother of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is a director. Prince is close to Bannon Kris Kobach: Former Kansas secretary of state who led probe into claims of electoral fraud which was closed before it found any is We Build The Wall's attorney Donald Trump Jr.: Visited section of the wall in New Mexico in July 2019 and features prominently on its website. Led a fundraiser for it. Now claims he too was misled Kimberly Guilfoyle: Don Jr.'s girlfriend was with him at both events he attended Eric Trump: Posed with Brian Kolfage and his wife at Mar-a-Lago Advertisement

Also indicted are Andrew Badolato of Florida and Timothy Shea of Colorado.

According to financial disclosures when he joined the White House staff, Bannon was worth between $10 million and $48 million in 2017, with most of the value in his consulting firm, Bannon Strategic Advisors.

Trump fired Bannon in Agust 2017 after the adviser publicly disagreed with the administration's North Korea policy. Trump later said Bannon had 'lost his mind.'

But more recently Bannon has been an influential Trump world voice, appearing frequently on television and running a podcast where Trump aides are guests. There have been persistent reports of regular contact between the two men, but no known in person meetings.

Board members of We Build the Wall include Erik Prince, a the billionaire mercenary who is and brother of U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach - another Trump-world figure who led the failed inquiry into alleged voter fraud - and former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling.

Kolfage, a Purple Heart triple amputee veteran behind the effort, pushed back at critics after he was accused in public of using funds to fund a lavish lifestyle  which included flying in private jets and buying a $600,000 boat.

He says he bought the vessel a year before the $20 million GoFundMe campaign for the wall. Kolfage was wounded during the Iraq war in 2004.

Pushing back against online critics, We Build The Wall Inc. posted a video on Facebook that showed a factory producing steel bollards.

They wrote: 'Just when we thought that the fake news media couldn't get more ridiculously desperate, they're now proving how low they'll go by claiming that 'We Build The Wall' founder, Brian Kolfage, bought a yacht with the GoFundMe money

Just weeks ago, Trump tweeted out his dissatisfaction with the project after the group built a section of wall just 35 feet from the Rio Grande river on the U.S.-Mexico border, leading to concerns about erosion and flooding.

'I disagreed with doing this very small (tiny) section of wall, in a tricky area, by a private group which raised money by ads,' Trump tweeted. 'It was only done to make me look bad, and [perhaps] it now doesn't.'

In Trump world: Brian Kolfage and his wife Ashley were guests at Mar-a-Lago in February last year where they posed with Eric Trump. Kolfage frequently tagged Donald Trump and his son Don Jr. on Instagram

The group also financed wall in Sunland Park, New Mexico, near El Paso, Texas. The group sells tickets for private tours of this section of wall for $20

'We Build the Wall' has tackled two projects, the three-mile stretch along the Rio Grande in Texas

The group 'We Build the Wall' raised money for construction of this portion of the wall, promoting updates on its social media pages

The explosive indictment comes weeks after Trump fired the U.S. attorney for SDNY in June. It was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss, who has stepped into the role after Trump failed in an effort to install his own preferred replacement.

It charges Bannon used the funds he took to secretly repay Kolfage and cover hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal expenses.

The group's original documents posted publicly stated that '100 per cent' of funds would go to the government for wall construction. After Bannon joined the effort, it shifted to building private wall sections.

The group ultimately had to go back to donors to get approval for the new arrangement, and promised them that Kolfage 'will take no salary.'

Despite 'numerous public statements' that Kolfage wouldn't get paid, the men leading the group reached a 'secret agreement' where Kolfage got $100,000 'up front' and '20 [per] month.'

They 'schemed' to pass the payments 'indirectly' through third parties due to the prior pledge.

An email from Bannon stated that there would be 'no deals I don't approve' from a non-profit he set up that was used to make the payments, which then went forward at $20,000 per month.

To conceal the payments, Kolfage directed Badolato that payments 'should be made to Kolfage's spouse,' according to the indictment. The non-profit issued a 1099 form that nonprofits file with the IRS stating that it had paid Kolfage's spouse for 'media.' That was a reference to Kolfage's wife Ashley, 34.

The man who made Donald Trump president: How Steve Bannon led stunning 2016 victory and started shock-and-awe populist attack on the deep state - but lost his White House role in knife-fight with Javanka and now faces losing his freedom

Steve Bannon, who was arrested on a boat in the Long Island Sound Thursday, helped conceive Donald Trump's populist campaign message  only to fall out of favor and get indicted for allegedly pocketing thousands from fervent believers in a border wall.

His fall now is criminal - but he had already crashed out of the White House after falling foul of Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, with the internecine feud ending in his abrupt departure in August 2017 which left him on the outer fringes of Trump-world

Bannon, now 66, was a shadowy and influential figure in Trump's 2016 campaign, where the president systematically went after his primary opponents, clashed with Republican Party elites, inveighed against China and global trade, and framed a populist appeal to 'forgotten' Americans.

He had informally advised Trump before jumping on board from the conservative Breitbart website, which was backed by billionaire Rebekah Mercer.

After his stunning election win over Hillary Clinton, Trump brought Bannon to the White House as his chief strategist, where sketched out early Trump agenda items on a white board.

Team of deadly rivals: Steve Bannon feuded behind the scenes with Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, nicknaming them Javanka - but lost the power struggle and was forced out

Trump had called Bannon a 'good person' when he left the White House. Bob Woodward's Trump White House book: 'Fear: Trump in the White House,' contains an account of an angry clash between Bannon and Ivanka after an alleged end-run around Priebus

Always disheveled, and often wearing two shirts at once, the recovering alcoholic, three-time married devout Catholic, and Navy veteran-turned Wall Street banker, brought intellectual heft and street-fighting instincts to first Breitbart, then the Trump campaign.

He installed himself at the center of it, as CEO, but that set up a clash which would prove fatal: the other power center was Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, who Bannon sneeringly named Javanka.

They co-operated for the 88 final days of the campaign with Bannon in charge, but the seeds of a toxic fall-out were sown because it was clear that in Trump-world, there were aides, and there was family.

After his stunning election win over Hillary Clinton, Trump brought Bannon to the White House as his chief strategist, where sketched out early Trump agenda items on a white board.

He fought internecine battles and sometimes forged unexpected partnerships with Trump's first chief of staff, Reince Preibus, during chaotic early days of the Trump administration.

But after it was revealed he had been cooperating with Michael Wolff in his scathing Trump takedown, 'Fire and Fury,' the president fired him.

Not only had Bannon consented to on-record interviews, he took aim at Trump family members, including Donald Trump Jr.

He called the infamous 2016 Trump Tower meeting about dirt on Hillary Clinton that was attended by Trump Jr., Paul Manafort, and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner 'treasonous' and 'unpatriotic.' He predicted of authorities: 'They're going to crack Don Jr. like an egg'  something which did not happen.

Wolff reported in 2018 that Bannon told investigators: 'Even if you thought that this was not treasonous, or unpatriotic, or bad sh**, and I happen to think it's all of that, you should have called the FBI immediately.'

Trump in characteristic fashion distanced himself with Bannon after throwing him overboard.

'Steve Bannon has nothing to do with me or my presidency' Trump said at the time. 'When he was fired, he not only lost his job, he lost his mind.'

Bannon has eclectic interests and took an unusual path to power outside of the normal channels. He served seven years in the Navy, serving aboard a destroyer. He attended Harvard business school and landed a job at Goldman Sachs.

He sometimes appears disheveled in appearances, and cultivated a rough image, appearing unshaven and sporting wrinkled jackets.

In one of his best early bets, he helped talk a firm during a purchase into taking a percentage of 'Seinfeld' earnings, earning his own percentage on reruns.

He co-founded Breitbart News, calling it 'the platform for the alt-righ,' and helped use it to blast political enemies like the Clintons while building up conservatives.

He also delved into Hollywood filmmaking and made a documentary about Ronald Reagan.

On the campaign, he had the unusual title of Chief Executive Officer, which reflected his role as a strategizer who sought to develop a candidacy based on historical currents he perceived.

After he was out at the White House, Bannon was subpoenaed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigators who were probing Trump campaign contacts with Russians.

He reportedly met with them for 20 hours, speaking on multiple occasions, and his assessments are reflected in the Mueller report.

Trump minimized his contact with Bannon in comments at the White House Thursday, downplaying his time as an advisor with an office close to the Oval Office  just as he had when he fired him.

'I haven't been dealing with him for a very long period of time,' Trump told reporters, when asked about the indictments  just the latest to bring one of his key associates into a legal quagmire.

He is quoted in Wolff's book calling first daughter Ivanka Trump 'dumb as a brick.'

He took a public shot at Ivanka during his ill-fated effort to back Judge Roy Moore in the Alabama Senate race, even after Moore was accused of preying on teenage girls as an older man.

'There's a special place in hell for Republicans who should know better,' Bannon said after having left the White House and crusading for outsider candidates.

Ivana had said earlier: 'There's a special place in hell for people who prey on children' in a shot at Moore, who ultimately lost the race.

Trump had called Bannon a 'good person' when he left the White House.

Bob Woodward's Trump White House book: 'Fear: Trump in the White House,' contains an account of an angry clash between Bannon and Ivanka after an alleged end-run around Priebus.

'You're a goddamn staffer!' Bannon screamed at her, writes Woodward. 'You walk around this place and act like you're in charge, and you're not. You're on staff!'

She retorted: 'I'm not a staffer! I'll never be a staffer. I'm the first daughter.'

He also clashed with Kushner, and on CBS '60 Minutes'in 2017 called for Jared and Ivanka's views to be 'counterbalanced' by 'economic nationalists' in the administration like Peter Navarro and Stephen Miller.

He blasted the power couple in a Vanity Fair interview in late 2017. 'The railhead of all bad decisions is the same railhead: Javanka,' he said.

He sneered at Kushner: 'He doesn't know anything about the hobbits or the deplorables,' referencing terms adopted by Trump's fervent base of support.

The luxury lifestyle of Iraq vet and his TikTok star wife who 'bought boats, an SUV, jewelry and plastic surgery with $350,000 that was stolen from We Build The Wall donations'

The Iraq veteran charged along with Steve Bannon and two others with stealing money from the We Build The Wall GoFundMe account spent $350,000 on boats, an SUV, plastic surgery, jewelry, home renovations and credit card debt, prosecutors claim.

Prosecutors allege that Brian Kolfage, a triple amputee and celebrated war veteran, was the main beneficiary of the scheme.

In 2018, Kolfage set up the GoFundMe account in support of President Trump and to prove the nation's appetite for a border wall between the US and Mexico.

It was inundated with donations from Republicans and had collected more than $20million by December that year. GoFundMe became suspicious of where the money was going and warned Kolfage to donate it to a legitimate charity or refund everyone who'd given to it.

That is when, prosecutors say, Bannon, Timothy Shea and Andrew Badolato got involved. They used shell companies and a not-for-profit formed by Bannon to launder the money back to Kolfage and keep some for themselves, it's claimed.

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Brian Kolfage, 38 ,and his wife Ashley, 33, were the main beneficiaries of the scheme, according to prosecutors. The pair live in Miramar Beach on Florida's panhandle. They are pictured on their boat

Kolfage launched the private wall effort in December 2018. He took it off GoFundMe recently because, he claimed, the company was not allowing him to fundraise for victims of assaults by BLM protesters

The fund would pay the shell companies, then they would deposit the money back into accounts held by Kolfage or his wife, marking the transactions down as for 'media', 'consulting' or 'social media', it is alleged.

Despite claiming on the GoFundMe that he'd 'never take a penny' from the donations, the indictment alleges that Kolfage took a $20,000-a-month salary from it in addition to a one-off, $100,000 payment. In total, he took $350,000, it's claimed.

Bannon allegedly took $1million from it - some of which he used to pay Kolfage, but some he allegedly kept and spent on hotels, travel and credit card debt.

While Bannon is the most recognizable name in the indictment, Kolfage, 38, and his wife Ashley, 33, spent the money most enthusiastically.

The pair live with their two children in a $290,000 home in Miramar, on the Florida panhandle.

Ashley is active on Instagram and TikTok, where she shows off their weekends on boats and driving the golf cart prosecutors claim was paid for with the stolen donation money.

Kolfage with former President George Bush. He lost an arm and both his legs in 2004 in Iraq

Ashley describes herself as a model and influencer. She has more than 300,000 TikTok followers and often posts from the couple's home in Miramar Beach, Florida

One of the things prosecutors claim the pair spent the stolen money on was this golf cart that Ashley is seen washing in a TikTok video

Ashley posing next to the couple's white Range Rover. An SUVis listed in the indictment as one of the things the couple allegedly bought with stolen money

They are flown around the country privately by charities, and spend the majority of the time on the beach.

It is a luxurious lifestyle that they only reached after a devastating 2004 attack in that claimed both his legs and his arm.

Kolfage was stationed at the Balad Air Base in Iraq when on September 11, 2004, his limbs were shattered by a 107-mm mortar shell.

He was flown to Germany, then back to Washington, where he underwent extensive surgeries.

Once he'd been fitted with prosthetics, he moved to Arizona which is where he reconnected with Ashley -then a waitress at Chilli's - having met her years earlier.

The pair married in 2011 and welcomed two children years later.

He lived quietly as a war hero until Trump entered the political world. Then, he became an activist.

In December 2018, he launched the GoFundMe, saying at the time he'd grown sick of 'too many illegals . . . taking advantage of the United States taxpayers' and the 'political games from both parties'.

The pair often take their boat to Trump flotillas. Above, an image Brian shared recently on social media

It took off on an unprecedented scale, collecting $20million.

It propelled Kolfage into the sphere of media and politics. He frequently tweets in support of the president and against the liberal left, trashes COVID-19 as the 'biggest scam the world has ever seen' and fires back at anyone who questions the progress of his wall.

The wall that his fund was paying for is not the same one the government is building and the president has distanced himself from Kolfage's efforts.

It hasn't stopped him from pushing ahead with it, even as people questioned where the money was going last May, when there had been seemingly little progress.

Kolfage came under fire for buying a $600,000 boat that he insisted he purchased before he ever launched the fundraising account.

It's unclear if it's the same boat prosecutors referred to in their indictment, that he was making payments on.

When they aren't enjoying that boat, the pair are visiting the wall with their children, often flying privately.

They are also flown around by Carrington, a charity that builds homes for veterans.

On TikTok, Ashley posts frequently from their home in a bikini, for her more than 300,000 followers.

In recent videos, she is seen dancing on a table for her husband while he sits quietly. He rarely appears in the videos.

She did not immediately return DailyMail.com's inquiries on Thursday morning.
OLD FORGE, Pa.  In the working-class county where Joseph R. Biden Jr. spent his childhood, a river of yard signs were at war on Moosic Road: Trump vs. Biden.

I love what hes doing, Mary Vender, a hair stylist, said of the president. She came to the door from her kitchen where she was baking cannoli for a picnic on Thursday in honor of President Trump, who was scheduled to speak down the street at a building supply company. I think hes really for the country, for our people, she said. Hes getting our jobs back.

A neighbor, Sherri Hudson, complained that lawn signs for Mr. Biden, whom she supports, were being snatched out of yards. Everybody is so angry, said Ms. Hudson. I think its because of the president. He divides the country with his hostile remarks.

To many strategists, Pennsylvania is the most crucial battleground of 2020, and Northeast Pennsylvania, with its density of white working-class voters, is especially pivotal. It is set up for a turf war between the native son who calls himself middle-class Joe and the incumbent president who appeals to the grievances of white voters over immigration, protests against police and other culture-war issues.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 16:36:52|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- China and Afghanistan should unswervingly combat terrorism and safeguard security of the two countries and the region, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a telephone conversation with his counterpart of Afghanistan, Mohammed Haneef Atmar, on Wednesday.

At present, Wang said, the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan has entered a critical period, which bears on the future and destiny of Afghanistan. As Afghanistan's most trustworthy neighbor, China is more eager than any other country to see peace, stability, reconstruction and development in Afghanistan, he said.

Intra-Afghan negotiation is a key step to achieve peace and reconciliation, and all parties in Afghanistan should bear in mind the long-term interests of the country, meet each other halfway and properly handle differences at this important historical moment, Wang said, adding that this process should be based on the premise of maintaining peace and stability in Afghanistan, instead of allowing the recurrence of civil strife or even civil war, or allowing terrorist forces to take the opportunity to re-emerge and jeopardize regional security.

To push forward the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan, Wang noted, the country should stick to the Afghan-led approach and let the Afghan people decide on their own the future of the country.

Afghanistan should keep peace as a priority and adhere to the general direction of political settlement during the process, Wang said, adding that the country should also uphold broad inclusiveness, ensure stability and unity in Afghanistan in the future, and pursue the foreign policy of peace and friendship.

Noting that the terrorist force of East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) is the common enemy of China and Afghanistan, Wang said both sides should unswervingly combat terrorism and safeguard security of the two countries and the region. China will continue to play an active role in mediating the realization of intra-Afghan dialogue, he added.

China and Afghanistan enjoy a tradition of friendship, and as this year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, China is ready to pass on such friendship and promote bilateral cooperation, especially in the current priority of anti-pandemic cooperation, Wang said.

Noting that the two countries have established a joint prevention and control mechanism and reached multiple consensuses on fighting the disease, Wang said China will keep supporting Afghanistan in its battle against the virus.

He added that China is willing to enhance cooperation with Afghanistan within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and make the best of sub-regional cooperative mechanisms such as the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan trilateral cooperation and the China + Central Asia foreign ministers' meeting as well as give full play to Afghanistan's unique geographical advantages, so as to enhance interconnectivity, boost Afghanistan's socio-economic development and improve the well-being of its people.

For his part, Atmar thanked China for its unswerving support for the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan, and said he totally agrees with Wang's opinions and suggestions.

The future of Afghanistan rests with the Afghan people, Atmar said, adding foreign forces should respect the country's sovereignty and not interfere in its internal affairs.

Calling the terrorist force of ETIM the common enemy of both sides, he said Afghanistan is willing to deepen counter-terrorism cooperation with China and crack down on terrorism.

Afghanistan hopes to enhance cooperation with China on economy, trade and investment, and promote interconnectivity with China, Pakistan and Central Asian countries in such areas as energy, railway and electricity within the framework of the BRI, he added. Enditem
STUDENTS face uncertainty after the Government U-turn on this years A-level results.

With the summer exams being cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, teachers were asked to submit centre assessment grades, based on mock exams and coursework, which were used to help calculate results.

Nearly 40 per cent of these estimates were downgraded by exam regulator Ofqual using an algorithm based on information from previous years in order to standardise results.

However, this was heavily criticised by students, headteachers and universities who said it did not accurately reflect pupil progress, so the Government said teachers predicated grades could now be used instead.

This will also be the case for GCSE results, which were due to be released yesterday (Thursday)

Now schools and colleges are having to reassess the impact of the U-turn while students try to work out what it will mean for their university

applications. Despite the confusion, some schools reported record-breaking successes, with students achieving top grades and getting into their first-choice universities.

Many schools and colleges issued results by email, while others invited students to collect their results in person at a pre-arranged time.

For some, this was the first time they had seen their friends and teachers for months and they were asked to follow a socially distanced queuing system.

At The Henley College, the overall pass rate was 98.6 per cent, an increase of 1.3 per cent from last year.

The A* to B grade pass rate was 51.4 per cent, a rise of 12.3 per cent.

The proportion of A* to C grades went from 67.8 per cent on results day to 76.5 per cent with centre assessment grades. The percentage of A* to C grades last year was 70 per cent.

Prior to the U-turn, 33 per cent of the colleges centre assessment grades had been moderated down by at least one grade.

There was a 100 per cent pass rate in 25 subjects, up from 21 last year, with 76.5 per cent of photography students and 66.7 per cent of further mathematics students achieving A* to B grades.

Vocational subjects were also strong, with a 100 per cent pass rate and 44 per cent of students gaining a distinction or higher.

Ninety per cent of students have received a university offer, including two from Oxford, while others have gone into clearing or to start apprenticeships with companies such as technology firm Cisco.

With no exams, the college provided centre assessment grades to indicate how pupils had progressed.

After being rated good by the education watchdog Ofsted in October, it was expecting to see improvements in outcomes on previous years.

Principal Satwant Deol was scathing of the results system, saying students deserved a better outcome after what they had been through this year.

She said: It should be a celebration and yet many hardworking students have been left distressed and uncertain by their grades. We are here at the college to support incredible young people who have shown us the way during this pandemic, have been creative, resilient and strong.

When it became clear that the governments model was incapable of generating accurate grades, honouring students centre assessed grades was the best way to end the uncertainty and anxiety experienced by many students since Thursday morning.

The whole situation has been stressful and frustrating for students, parents and staff. They deserved these results as they worked for them under exceptional circumstances and I am pleased the Government finally listened to the voices of the countrys young people.

Abbie Simpson, from Peppard Common, originally received C grades in psychology and English literature and language as well as a B in art.

The 18-year-old had an unconditional offer to study fashion communications at Nottingham Trent University but she was still disappointed with her results.

She said: I was not particularly happy. I was predicted to get As in art and psychology and a B for English. I have never had a C in my life and my predicted grades were much higher.

I think theyve just bumped me down for some reason but there is no evidence to back it up. Maybe they just look at last years results. I got a B in my mocks and I was really happy.

Luckily, I did have an unconditional offer because I wouldnt have got in with those grades. It is just a shame because it makes me feel like Im not as smart as I know I am.

Oscar Hewlett, from Goring, received A*s in computer science, mathematics and further mathematics and will now study computer science at the University of Bristol from next month.

He was originally given an A in further maths but this was upgraded using his centre assessment grade.

Oscar said: I am very pleased with my results and with getting a confirmed place at my first choice university. Thankfully, I felt reasonably confident that I would attain the grades needed for my offer after the hard work Id put in over the past two years.

Personally, I dont feel as though my studies have been hugely impacted by the pandemic, although this is understandably not the case for everyone.

However, after achieving three A*s in my mocks and being on target to repeat this in the summer, I cant help but feel that  had the exams gone ahead  I could have attained a higher grade than what was calculated.

Despite this, I do feel very grateful that Ive been able to continue on my planned route into higher education and I wish all the best to those who have been so severely affected by the new grading process.

Saoirse Coveney, also from Goring, achieved an A* in geography, an A grade in biology and a B in chemistry.

She will be going to Imperial College in London to study geology.

Saoirse, a former pupil of Langtree School in Woodcote, said: I am really pleased with my results as I feel they reflect the hard work I have put into each of my subjects over the past two years and have enabled me to meet the offer conditions for my first choice university.

Im extremely lucky to have been taught by some great teachers who are enthusiastic and passionate about their subjects and are always willing to go above and beyond to help me out, even more so during lockdown.

The college is excellent at offering support to students, which is something they continue to do despite the pandemic.

The student services team and staff have all been fantastic at helping me with any issues I have had.

During my time at Henley, the college has been subject to government cuts in funding for further education. This meant that, as an A-level student, I received a reduced amount of lesson time in my second year in comparison to my first year, amounting to a loss of 40 minutes per subject each week.

Despite this, I have still received a fantastic education due to the dedication and hard work from my teachers and all the staff, who have gone above and beyond to support us in the face of these challenges.

At the Piggott School in Wargrave, the overall pass rate was 99.7 per cent. The proportion of A* to C grades was 88 per cent compared with 87 per cent last year.

A record 33 per cent of students achieved A* and A grades, up from 31 per cent last.

The vocational level 3 pass rate was 100 per cent, with distinction star to merit being 97 per cent. For technical subject entry, every student passed the course with at least a merit.

Headteacher Derren Gray said: Staff and students have all worked exceptionally hard and this is reflected in the grades awarded.

This once again shows our outstanding sixth form as a centre of excellence for academic, applied general and technical learning.

I wish all our students the very best for their future and thank all the teaching and support staff for their continued dedication and professionalism.

A spokesman for the school said the initial grades would stand until further clarification was received.

At Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre in Emmer Green, the proportion of A* to C grades was 80 per cent, up from the 79 per cent last year.

Sixty per cent of grades were A* to B and 31 per cent were A* or A.

Headteacher Rachel Cave said: Highdown sixth form students worked incredibly hard this year and leave us to go to college, apprenticeships, employment and university with fantastic outcomes.

This year, students have had unprecedented additional anxieties. Their outcomes are outstanding and reflect the hard work and that of their teachers.

Highdown teachers know their students and made accurate assessments of how they would achieve.

Where these have not been granted by the awarding bodies, we will be supporting students with appeals to ensure they receive the grades they deserve.
Social media influencer Jess Brennan has spoken out about the controversial scenes captured last weekend at the Berlin D2 restaurant in Dublins Dame Lane for the first time.

The social media star, who has over 77,000 followers on her Instagram page, said that the controversial brunch was a largely rule-adherent small gathering and hit out at the government for using it as a scapegoat.

The Baked Brunch event, which took place in Berlin D2 bar and restaurant, caused a controversy after deplorable videos sparked outrage among industry members and Government officials.

Footage circulating on social media showed a barman standing on the bar and pouring alcohol into the mouths of dancing punters.

Ms Brennan worked as a promoter for the event and was advertising it on her social media before it began and during the event itself.

She captured several videos of the event and posted them online, before deleting them over the weekend.

The Irish Times reports today that the bar will not face prosecution.

The star hit out at media outlets and the government in her statement on Instagram.

The media of course did what they do best, take one unreliable statement from an attendee (who by the way was there for the entire brunch) and less than a couple of minutes video footage as people were preparing to leave of what was admittedly a very irresponsible move of a member of barstaff [sic], she wrote today.

She said that the footage has been scapegoated by the government and hit out at Higher Education Minister Simon Harris, who called the scenes shameful.

Handily enough this 15 seconds of someone having a sip of booze has proved as a VERY convenient scapegoat for the government to hide their own s****y mistakes behind, she added.

Simon Harris if you want to tweet about Covid in Ireland and what is truly shameful please discuss the unquarantined hoards of people on packed planes flying into the country from highly contaminated places, she wrote, as well as adding that the Minister should look at direct provision, working conditions in meat factories.

She adds that tightening restrictions denies the nation of rights and freedom rather than a proven effective test and trace system.

Speaking on Morning Ireland on RTE Radio One, operator of the bar Jay Bourke said he was "embarrassed" after seeing the footage but added that he is annoyed by calls for the venue to lose their alcohol licence.

"In fact, when you look at the CCTV footage of the whole premises in fact was pretty well controlled. That footage does not reflect what went on that day at all.

"It looks terrible, but it aint that terrible."
SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Board Certified Orthodontist Dr. Robert (Tito) Norris https://stoneoakorthodontics.com utilized his years of experience in treating orthodontic patients at his two locations in San Antonio in Stone Oak and Dominion , coupled with his unusual background in mechanical engineering, to create the innovative Norris 20/26 Bracket System.

Getting braces has never been more efficient and comfortable than with The Norris 20/26 Bracket System from DynaFlex . Many cases are completed in less time and with fewer treatment visits.

San Antonio Orthodontist Dr. Robert "Tito" Norris is the creator of The Norris 20/26 Bracket System Stone Oak Orthodontics offers braces and Invisalign for children, teens, and adults in San Antonio and Dominion TX

"In collaborating with DynaFlex," says Dr. Norris, "we were focused on the premise of a reduced slot dimension, but we also incorporated numerous best-in class features for the brackets as a complete molar-to-molar system."

Dr. Norris was able to improve upon clinical shortcomings and physical attributes of existing orthodontic appliances in the marketplace. The design elements of The Norris System are the most beneficial to today's practicing orthodontist looking to provide quality orthodontic treatment with traditional braces.

The free-sliding Norris System offers unrivaled performance and precision. It doesn't need to be changed or swapped out as treatment progresses which is easier on patients and saves a tremendous amount of clinical chair time throughout the entire process, start to finish. The Norris System delivers personalized orthodontic care that is unmatched in the orthodontic industry today.

About Stone Oak Orthodontics

Stone Oak Orthodontics has two convenient locations in San Antonio and Dominion TX. Dr. Robert (Tito) Norris isn't just using the latest orthodontic technology - he's creating it. Along with orthodontist Dr. Ray Caesar, Dr. Tito and the team at Stone Oak Orthodontics deliver personalized treatment with both clear and metal braces, as well as being a Diamond Level 2020 VIP Invisalign Provider, completing thousands of Invisalign cases.

Looking for an orthodontist near you in San Antonio, TX, offering the highest level of quality orthodontic care in a fun and friendly environment for children, teens, and adult orthodontics? Contact one of our two offices listed below:

18720 Stone Oak Parkway #207

San Antonio, TX 78258

(210) 402-3322

Our San Antonio location serves the local surrounding areas of Boerne Bulverde, Helotes and Leon Springs

Stone Oak Orthodontics: Dominion

25043 IH-10 West, Suite 200

San Antonio, TX 78257

(210) 660-2000

Contact:

Dr. Tito Norris

Stone Oak Orthodontics

(210) 402-3322

[email protected]

https://stoneoakorthodontics.com/

SOURCE Dr. Robert "Tito" Norris - Stone Oak Orthodontics
A sexual assault survivor who has fought for six years to heal her emotional wounds has revealed how face masks bring horrific memories of her ordeal flooding back.

Kelsie Stewart was just 19 years old when she was violently attacked in a pub toilet cubicle in Coffs Harbour on the New South Wales north coast in August 2014.

'When I was assaulted my mouth was covered quite tightly and I kept begging for air and he wouldn't let me get it ... I felt like I was suffocating,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

The incident has forever changed Ms Stewart's life; she is 'always on alert', afraid of being alone at night and is unable to be open with men or engage in relationships.

But when the coronavirus crisis took hold and she was asked to put on a face mask, she was shocked to be transported back to her brutal encounter.

Kelsie Stewart (pictured), 25, was just 19 years old when she was violently assaulted in a Coffs Harbour pub toilet cubical in August 2014

'I think the sensation of something being over my mouth is somewhat of a trigger for me - that's when the thoughts and trauma resurfaces,' she said.

'The sensation is what really sets me off.'

Ms Stewart had a 'full-blown' panic attack outside her local COVID clinic in May when she was handed her very first mask to wear while waiting in line to be tested.

She has since worked tirelessly to overcome her fears one step at a time.

The 25-year-old has undergone exposure therapy, working toward a goal of being able to walk in and out of a supermarket while wearing a mask.

Ms Stewart (pictured) has panic attacks when she wears - or even sees - face masks. She tries to wear one for 30 seconds a day, gradually increasing the time she has it on

Her exercises include attempting to wear a face mask of her choice for 30 seconds each day and gradually increasing the time she has it on.

While it is a simple task for many, it is a major achievement for Ms Stewart, who hit a milestone of two minutes on Thursday.

'I took a few deep breaths before I moved it closer to my mouth and was just chanting in my mind: "I can breath, I can take this mask off anytime, it won't be on forever and I'm in control",' she said.

'I closed my eyes and had a timer on my phone, and just kept breathing through the whole thing.'

Ms Stewart shared her achievement with The Kindness Pandemic on Facebook.

Ms Stewart had a 'full-blown' panic attack outside her local COVID clinic in May. She is pictured at a beach in happier times

'Once confronted with the fear of wearing a mask, I knew I had to beat my trauma and be a part of helping keep the community safe,' she said.

'Today I was able to put the mask on for two minutes. I know thats not long but it will just get better and better. I am committed and determined to beat this. A month ago I couldnt even look at someone in a mask.'

Ms Stewart was inundated with support online.

'You're a brave and courageous lady. Keep taking those small steps. You will get there,' one said.

'It's taken a lot of small steps but you're an example of what can be done with courage like you have Kelsie. Congratulations on doing so well in these times and sharing your experience with us all,' another wrote under her post.

She shared her achievement with The Kindness Pandemic on Facebook (pictured) and was inundated with support. Her picture was shared with a poem Ms Stewart wrote for healing

Ms Stewart noted some Australians were quick to judge people who didn't wear a mask outside, particularly in Melbourne where they are mandatory under stage four lockdown.

'Be kind because you never know what someone's been through,' Ms Stewart said.

'If someone's not wearing a mask, don't automatically assume they're just doing it because they don't want to. They could actually have a genuine reason they find difficult vocalising.'

Ms Stewart's experience is shared by many sexual assault survivors, the Women's Safety NSW said.

The sensation of having her mouth covered is a trigger for Ms Stewart (pictured), and a stark reminder of the brutal encounter she had years ago

Chief executive Hayley Foster said in July self-isolation and wearing face masks sparked a resurgence of trauma.

She said many women had experienced anxiety but were too afraid to speak up.

'There is a stigma around it and women are often worried about being labelled as having a mental illness when they're having a normal trauma response,' she told the ABC.

'A lot of women have been feeling very judged and under pressure  it can be extremely distressing.'

Clinical psychologist Gordana Hol said masks could be particularly problematic for sexual assault survivors.

'Face masks are certainly a big issue because a number of people have been sexually assaulted while perpetrators were masked, or some clients were taken to be physically mistreated or killed,' she said.
Inspite of challenges posed by the Coronavirus crisis, the Indian Railways has said it has achieved a significant milestone of pulling freight traffic ahead of last year's level and raking in higher revenues.

On 19 August, the freight loading was 3.11 million tonnes which is higher than last year for the same date (2.97 million tonnes) while the Indian Railways earned Rs. 306.1 Cr. from freight loading which is Rs. 5.28 Cr. higher than last year for the same date (300.82 Cr.).

In the Month of August 2020 till the 19th, the total freight loading is 57.47 million tonnes which is higher than last year for the same period (53.65 million tonnes). Revenue earned in the same period is Rs. 5461.21 Cr. from freight loading which is Rs. 25.9 Cr. higher than last year (5435.31 Cr).

READ | Prayagraj Division Of North Central Railways Creates 'track Cycle' Worth Rs 3000

READ | Indian Railways Mulls Health Insurance Cover For Employees

Ramping up freight transport capacity

The state-run transporter listed some of the major novel freight initiatives it has taken including setting up of business development units at all three levels  Division, Zones, Railways Board. The speed of freight trains has been doubled from 23 kmph to 46 kmph.

In another achievement, the Railways recently opened up export traffic to Bangladesh for parcels, containers, and automobiles that are likely to raise the level of bilateral trade between the two neighbours. A 'Kisan Rail' has also been introduced and two trips on 7 and 14 August with multiple stoppages, carrying multiple commodities, and involving many parties were run from Devlali (Nashik) to Danapur (Patna).

The Railways is aiming to make huge strides in increasing the speed and volume of goods carried and the Ministry has drawn up plans to promote Railways freight service, making traders, businesses and suppliers aware of the benefits associated with transportation through the national transporter.

Railways Enhancing Exports Between  & 



After the prompt delivery of 1st consignment, Railways is transporting another set of 118 trucks from Haldi Road Station in Uttarakhand to Benapole in Bangladesh. pic.twitter.com/wqgfdCACA4  Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) August 20, 2020

Railway Transforms Freight Transportation: Through efficient, economical, safe & environment-friendly transport, businesses can ensure hassle-free delivery of goods via Indian Railways. pic.twitter.com/TBvP3TtUZN  Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) August 19, 2020

(Image credit: Piyush Goal/Twitter)

READ | Private Train-runners Given Conditions To Pick Halts; Historic 2023 Railway Pilot Detailed

READ | First Set Of Private Trains To Be Introduced By 2023, All 151 Such Services By 2027: Rlys Timeline
German Chancellor Angela Merkel hosted Greta Thunberg and other leading Fridays for Future activists in Berlin on Thursday for talks on the EUs climate goals, with the campaigners expected to condemn political inaction.

Merkel said Swedish 17-year-old Thunberg and her co-campaigners Luisa Neubauer from Germany and Belgiums Anuna De Wever and Adelaide Charlier had requested the meeting and she was pleased to welcome them to the chancellery.

The activists warned ahead of the talks that they were dismayed at the lack of progress in fighting climate change despite lofty promises by European governments.

When it comes to action we are still in a state of denial. The climate and ecological crisis has never once been treated as a crisis, they wrote in a letter published in Germanys Der Spiegel and Britains The Guardian on Wednesday.

We will tell Merkel that she must face up to the climate emergency -- especially as Germany now holds the presidency of the European Council. Europe has a responsibility to act.

The meeting comes exactly two years after Thunberg, then 15, started skipping school to strike outside the Swedish parliament to dramatise the need for action against global warming.

The strike movement has since spread across the world and Merkel has repeatedly expressed her admiration for the masses of young people demonstrating on Fridays for more climate protection.

But the activists say nothing concrete has changed.

Effectively, we have lost another two crucial years to political inaction, they wrote, calling on countries to urgently halt all fossil fuel investments.

Despite its green reputation abroad, Germany is struggling to meet its own climate targets as the country remains heavily reliant on coal because of its decision to phase out nuclear energy after the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

Europes top economy was widely expected to miss its goal of reducing climate-heating greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent this year compared with 1990 levels.

But a government report on Wednesday said the coronavirus could unexpectedly help it meet the target after all, after the pandemic wrecked economic activity and lowered demand for polluting coal.

Germany has promised to abandon coal-generated power by 2038, a date considered far too late by climate activists.

The European Union as a whole aims to achieve carbon neutrality -- or net zero greenhouse emissions -- by 2050.
Robin Williams' suicide may come off as a surprise when it happened, but in hindsight, many people already knew something was not right with the actor. The most recent to weigh in is the "Night at the Museum" director Shawn Levy.

Following the announcement of his documentary "Robin's Wish," recent reports revealed that Robin was fighting a disease he did not even know he had. He was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia only when an autopsy was already carried out on his body.

However, even though no one expected him to take his own life, some people he worked with saw that he was changing drastically. Some of them were included in the documentary to reveal what they observed.

According to the "The Night at the Museum" director, Levy, just one month into the shoot of this movie, it was already clear to him that Robin was dealing with something.

The prolific actor was struggling to remember lines, a problem he was not known to have in the past given his fantastic track record of films. Another sign that something was wrong is that Robin could not combine the right words with his performance.

Even though no one was clear about his health condition, Levy and other staff saw that his confidence in his craft had vanished overnight.

Levy shared that the actor would even call at random hours when most people were already asleep to ask about his acting performance and seek reassurance.

"When Robin would call me at 10 at night, at 2 in the morning, at 4 in the morning, saying, 'Is it usable? Is any of this usable? Do I suck? What's going on?,' I would reassure him. I said, 'You are still you. I know it. The world knows it. You just need to remember that," the director shared.

Levy said his trust in the actor's abilities never waned. However, he knew that Robin was starting to lose himself.

For what it's worth, Levy's account only corroborated earlier reports.

His friend Billy Crystal said that when they had a dinner to catch up, Williams had become uncharacteristically quiet. When they were about to leave, he even burst into tears and said he was a bit crispy.

Robin Williams' makeup artist has her own story to share. Cheri Minns said that he witnessed how the actor had a panic attack in the middle of a shooting day. She tried to boost his confidence and pacify his sudden fears, but he would say he already has forgotten how to be funny. This happened not only once.

Lewy Body Dementia is a rare form of dementia. Although not widely known and studied, which is probably why Robin Williams was not immediately diagnosed with it, it can lead to severe cognitive decline.

Williams' wife shared on the documentary's teaser that the actor knew he was losing his mind. Even though he tried to fight and live on, it eventually became too much to bear.

"Robin's Wish," the documentary, seeks to show the actor's last days and share what Lewy Body Dementia can do to a person.

READ MORE: Robin Williams' Death: 5 Terrifying Facts About Robin's Last Days
Bannon and three others arrested for conspiracy to commit wire fraud in online fundraising campaign for border wall.

Former White House adviser Steve Bannon, an architect of Donald Trumps 2016 election victory, was arrested on a yacht and pleaded not guilty on Thursday after being charged with defrauding donors in a scheme to help build the presidents signature wall along the US-Mexico border.

The charges were contained in an indictment (PDF) unsealed in Manhattan federal court, which alleges Bannon and three others orchestrated a scheme to defraud hundreds of thousands of donors.

The indictment claims the scheme was related to an online crowdfunding campaign that claims to have raised more than $25m to build a wall along the southern border of the United States.

Bannon wore a protective white mask amid the coronavirus pandemic and two open-collared shirts at a federal court in Manhattan, where his lawyer entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf.

He was freed on $5m bond and was barred by a federal magistrate judge from traveling internationally.

As a top adviser to US President Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign who later served as White House chief strategist, Bannon helped articulate the right-wing populism and fierce opposition to immigration that have helped define Trumps three and a half years in office.

Bannon left the White House in August 2017.

Brian Kolfage, Andrew Badolato and Timothy Shea were arrested alongside Bannon, according to a statement from the US Attorneys office in the Southern District of New York.

Bannon had publicly called the We Build The Wall campaign a volunteer organisation.

Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon was an architect of Donald Trumps election campaign and was a close adviser until he left the administration in 2017 [File: Mary F. Calvert/Reuters]

Kolfage repeatedly and falsely assured the public that he would not take a penny in salary or compensation and that 100% of the funds raised  will be used in the execution of our mission and purpose, according to the indictment.

The four men allegedly received hundreds of thousands of dollars which they each used in a manner inconsistent with the organisations public representations, the indictment alleges.

Bannon received more than $1m from the scheme through a non-profit organisation he controls, and used it to cover hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal expenses, the indictment alleges. Kolfage covertly took for his personal use more than $350,000 in funds.

The four accused are each charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, each of which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

President Trump speaking to reporters at the White House on Thursday distanced himself from his former adviser.

I feel very badly. I havent been dealing with him for a very long period of time, Trump said. I dont like that project, I think it was a project being done for showboating reasons.

Trump said thought it was inappropriate to finance the border wall with private funds.

The indictment alleges that the men routed donor funds through a non-profit organisation and a shell company among other avenues to shield the payment from We Build the Wall

The three are innocent until proven guilty, the US Attorneys Office statement said, reiterating a founding principle of the US criminal justice system.

The We Build The Wall website claims 500,000 people have donated and $25m has been raised.

Donald Trump Jr called the organisation private enterprise at its finest, faster, better, cheaper and saying what you guys are doing is pretty amazing, in a testimonial on the groups website.

Trumps signature effort to build a wall along the US-Mexico border  a key 2016 campaign promise  has struggled amid court challenges, logistical hurdles and opposition from Democrats in Congress.

Trump repeatedly promised that Mexico would pay for the wall in 2016 campaign speeches.

The charges against Bannon are being handled by the same federal office that prosecuted Trumps former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, and is investigating his current lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani. The offices top prosecutor, Geoffrey Berman, was abruptly removed by Attorney General William Barr earlier this year.

The charges were announced on the same day that Trump faced another legal setback, with a judge dismissing his lawsuit trying to shield his personal and corporate tax records from release.
This cuttlefish is flamboyant on special occasions only!

WOODS HOLE, Mass. - The flashy Flamboyant Cuttlefish is among the most famous of the cephalopods (octopus, squid, and cuttlefish) - but it is widely misunderstood by its legions of fans.

A new paper from the Roger Hanlon laboratory at the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, sets the record straight.

"This animal is well known in the Internet community, has been on TV many times, and is popular in public aquariums," Hanlon says. "In almost all cases, [its skin] is showing this brilliantly colorful flamboyant display."

But Hanlon's field studies in Indonesia, reported here, tell a different and richer story. "It turns out in nature, flamboyant cuttlefish are camouflaged nearly all of the time. They are nearly impossible to find," he says. In the blink of an eye, they can switch from some of "best camouflage known in the cephalopods" to their dazzling flamboyant display. But they only use this display on certain occasions: For elaborate male courtship rituals; or when males are fighting over a female; or to flash briefly at a threatening object when it approaches too close, presumably to scare it away.

"The flamboyant display is common when a diver approaches close enough to photograph, which is why the public may think this species always looks so colorful," Hanlon says. "But it is rare to see this species in flamboyant display in the wild."

A Flamboyant Courtship

The courtship displays by male flamboyant cuttlefish (Metasepia pfefferi) are among the most elaborate of all cephalopods! This study reveals new observations about the sex life of the flamboyant cuttlefish -- from courtship to mating to egg laying - gleaned from hours of video taken during many SCUBA dives in Indonesia with teams of volunteers.

Males, which tend to be significantly smaller than females, approach and court a camouflaged female with flamboyant displays and elaborate rituals, which include "waves" (rapidly waving three pairs of arms while displaying "passing cloud") and "kisses" (male darts forward and briefly, gently touches his arms to hers).

Females generally ignore males while they are courting; they stay camouflaged and motionless or just keep on foraging and hunting. Male courtship goes on non-stop for prolonged periods (6 to 52 minutes observed in this study).

In three observations, two males competed simultaneously for a female. Males can display flamboyant courtship signaling on one side of the body while flashing white (signaling aggression) on the other side toward the rival male.

In one case, male competition ended abruptly when one of the males, while facing the female and waving and kissing, backed into a camouflaged scorpionfish and was eaten! "Sex can have a real cost," Hanlon notes.

Females were choosy and often rejected courting males. Female receptivity was obvious when she widely spread her first three pairs of arms (while standing on the fourth pair of arms). The male would then swim within the arm crown and quickly deposit spermatophores in the buccal region where the seminal receptacle is located. Average duration of mating was only 2.89 seconds.

After fertilization, the successful male guarded the female for a while but not, curiously, up to egg laying, as is common with other cuttlefish. When another male was present, mate guarding was aggressive.

The female lays her eggs while camouflaged and staying still. She then pushes her eggs under a coconut shell and affixes them to the inside of the shell. When the hatchlings exit the egg case and jet away, they are fully formed and capable of camouflage and signaling.

Flamboyance for Secondary Defense

The primary mode of defense for both male and female Metasepia pfefferi is camouflage, and they remain camouflaged almost all the time. If a predator or threatening object (such as a diver) comes too close, though, the cuttlefish will flash the flamboyant display - switching from camouflaged to flamboyant in 700 milliseconds!

Elaborate Dynamic Signaling Rivaling That of Any Vertebrate

The vibrant colors (white, yellow, red and brown) of the flamboyant display are combined with apparent "waves" of dark brown color that produce a dazzling and dizzying kaleidoscope of motion, color, and patterning. The fast neural control of many thousands of chromatophore organs in the skin enable this unique signaling capability - all turned on or off in less than a second, and changed depending on the behavioral context of the courtship, or in the case of defense, the fish predators that discover them.

"Birds are renowned for highly evolved visual displays that depend partly on dramatic postural changes (with wings of different color and pattern, in particular), yet this invertebrate cuttlefish species has evolved equally dramatic and complex displays mainly with its skin coloration," Hanlon says.

###

Hanlon is a senior scientist in the MBL's Eugene Bell Center for Regenerative Biology and Tissue Engineering.

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

This story has been published on: 2020-08-20. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
...are you reading now?

City Of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert. Im a latecomer to the Elizabeth Gilbert fan club. Years ago, I stopped reading Eat, Pray, Love after the delicious Italian section because I didnt really get all the soul-searching. A decade or so on, after a few dubious relationships of my own, I now understand what she was talking about, the questions and struggles that we face as we grow older.

During lockdown, I listened to various podcast interviews with her to try to absorb some of that wisdom and also picked up this, Gilberts most recent novel.

It stars a 19-year-old called Vivian who moves to Manhattan in the summer of 1940 to live with her unconventional Aunt Peg in her thoroughly disreputable theatre.

Its a charming, funny story about working out who you want to be in life, with showgirls and sequins thrown in for good measure.

Author and journalist Sophia Money-Coutts, who reveals she is currently reading City Of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert

...would you take to a desert island?

Bill Brysons Notes From A Big Country. Not to be confused with his book about travelling around Britain (Notes From A Small Island), this is a collection of columns which Bryson wrote for The Mail on Sunday in the late Nineties, having returned to America with his family after living in the UK for two decades.

With trademark mockery, he tackles the indignity of car hire, the freezing winters in New Hampshire, over-friendly burger waiters, the pantomime of getting the Christmas tree decorations down from the loft and the challenges of the American tax system. I keep it on my bedside table for low or sleepless moments and dipping in always makes me smile.

Sophia tells how Richmal Cromptons Just William stories first got her reading

...first gave you the reading bug?

You know how certain books hold almost mythic status within families, the quotes from them often trotted out as if in-jokes?

Richmal Cromptons Just William stories remain the all-time favourite in my family. I grew up reading ancient, maroon hardbacks which had belonged to my grandpa, tittering to myself at Williams mishaps with his terrier, Jumble, at his scheming with the Outlaws and at his disdain for Violet Elizabeth Bott.

As stories go, they also offer budding writers excellent lessons in plotting. Look up the story of how William gets revenge on his arch-enemy, Hubert Lane, at his Christmas party to see what Im talking about. Bliss.

...left you cold?

Middlemarch by George Eliot. I know, Im sorry, Im a philistine. I can feel my mother rolling her eyes, and my old English teacher sighing, but Ive tried and failed three times to get to grips with this classic.

I get as far as Dorothea marrying that cold fish Mr Casaubon and then I lose interest. In a recent attempt at self-improvement, I downloaded a BBC audio adaptation of the book which my friend Clare swore Id love and yet that, too, had to be switched off after two episodes.

Too many characters! Too many confusing doctors and uncles and dodgy nephews. Does this mark me out as exceptionally dim? I fear it may.

The Wish List by Sophia Money-Coutts is available now, published by HQ at 12.99.
U.S. Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) accepts the Democratic vice presidential nomination during an acceptance speech delivered for the largely virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention from the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., August 19, 2020. Kevin Lemarque | Reuters

WASHINGTON  A former president and the Democratic nominee for vice president were at center stage Wednesday during the third night of the Democratic National Convention. Former President Barack Obama tore into President Donald Trump in a night otherwise dominated by female Democratic leaders. Capping it off was Sen. Kamala Harris, the first Black woman and Asian American on a major presidential ticket, formally accepting the nomination to become vice president. The event was emceed by actress Kerry Washington. Here are some highlights:

Gabby Giffords gives a powerful address

Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona, who was shot in the head in 2011, spoke about her painful recovery during a segment on gun violence in the United States. Her address, which lasted a minute and 26 seconds, was the longest she has given since the shooting, according to her husband, the U.S. Senate candidate and former astronaut Mark Kelly. At the beginning of her video address, Giffords plays "America: My Country, 'Tis of Thee" on a French horn, an instrument she was well-versed in as a child but had to relearn after the shooting. "My recovery is a daily fight, but fighting makes me stronger. Words once came easily; today I struggle with speech. But I have not lost my voice. America needs all of us to speak out, even when you have to fight to find the words," Giffords said.

"We are at a crossroads. We can let the shooting continue or we can act. We can protect our families, our future. We can vote. We can be on the right side of history. We must elect Joe Biden. He was there for me; he'll be there for you, too."

Hillary Clinton calls for overwhelming voter turnout

Former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton urged Americans to "vote and convince everyone you know to vote" for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

"We need numbers so overwhelming Trump can't sneak or steal his way to victory," Clinton said from her home in Chappaqua, New York. "Vote like our lives and livelihoods are on the line, because they are," she said. "I wish Donald Trump had been a better president. Because America needs a better president than this," Clinton added.

Pelosi rails against McConnell and Trump

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi used her time to take aim at Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for obstructing legislation that her chamber has passed. "We have sent the Senate bills for lower health-care costs, for bigger paychecks, for cleaner government, protecting John Lewis' voting rights and enacting George Floyd Justice in Policing Act," she said. "We've sent the Senate bills to protect our dreamers, LGBTQ equality, to prevent gun violence, and to preserve our planet for future generations, and even more. All of this is possible for America. Who is standing in the way? Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump." She also blamed the Senate majority leader and the president for blocking more coronavirus relief. The House in May passed a $3 trillion bill, while Senate Republicans have proposed a $1 trillion law. Talks between the two sides have broken down as millions face economic peril as the illness continues to spread. "Our nation faces the worst health and economic catastrophe in our history. More than 5 million Americans are infected by the coronavirus. Over 170,000 have died," Pelosi said. "The science based action in the Heroes Act we enacted three months ago is essential to safeguard lives, livelihood and the life of our democracy. And who is standing in the way? Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump."

Warren blasts Trump's handling of the pandemic

Sen. Elizabeth Warren speaking during the 2020 Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19th, 2020. DNC

Sen. Elizabeth Warren slammed the Trump administration's handling of the coronavirus pandemic and urged voters to turn out for Joe Biden and his plan to "build back better." "I love a good plan, and Joe Biden has some really good plans  plans to bring back union jobs in manufacturing and create new union jobs in clean energy. Plans to increase Social Security benefits, cancel billions in student loan debt, and make our bankruptcy laws work for families instead of the creditors who cheat them," Warren said. Warren called Trump's "ignorance and incompetence" a danger to the United States. "Covid-19 was Trump's biggest test. He failed miserably. Today, America has the most Covid deaths in the world and an economic collapse  and both crises are falling hardest on Black and Brown families," she said. "Millions out of work. Millions more trapped in cycles of poverty. Millions on the brink of losing their homes. Millions of restaurants and stores hanging by a thread. This crisis is bad  and didn't have to be this way. This crisis is on Donald Trump and the Republicans who enable him. On November 3, we hold them all accountable," she added.

Obama slams Trump

Former President Barack Obama speaking during the 2020 Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19th, 2020. DNC

Obama unloaded on his successor, painting him as incompetent, selfish and full of himself. "He's shown no interest in putting in the work; no interest in finding common ground; no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends; no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves," Obama said. The former president, who spoke live from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, also made the case for why voters should pick Biden this fall  even though "most of you have already made up your mind." Harris and Biden, Obama said, "understand that in this democracy, the commander-in-chief doesn't use the men and women of our military, who are willing to risk everything to protect our nation, as political props to deploy against peaceful protesters on our own soil." Obama added: "This administration has shown it will tear our democracy down if that's what it takes to win." Trump tweeted during Obama's address, accusing him of taking a long time to endorse Biden.

Harris accepts historic VP nomination

U.S. Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) accepts the Democratic vice presidential nomination during an acceptance speech delivered for the largely virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention from the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., August 19, 2020. Kevin Lemarque | Reuters

Harris, the first Black woman and Asian American on a major presidential ticket, formally accepted the nomination to become vice president. Harris, who spoke from the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware, began her acceptance speech describing her parents and her upbringing. "She came here from India at age 19 to pursue her dream of curing cancer," Harris said of her mother. "At the University of California, Berkeley, she met my father, Donald Harris  who had come from Jamaica to study economics. They fell in love in that most American way  while marching together for justice in the civil rights movement of the 1960s," she added. "My mother taught me that service to others gives life purpose and meaning. And oh, how I wish she were here tonight but I know she's looking down on me from above. I keep thinking about that 25-year-old Indian woman  all of 5 feet tall  who gave birth to me at Kaiser Hospital in Oakland, California. On that day, she probably could have never imagined that I would be standing before you now speaking these words: I accept your nomination for vice president of the United States of America," Harris said.
CROWN POINT  A judge ordered a Chicago woman to serve one year in jail, followed by a year in a work-release program and another year on probation for killing a man while driving drunk in 2017 in Hammond.

Victoria Dotson, 34, was speeding through the intersection of Calumet Avenue and Gostlin Street on Sept. 1, 2017, when she struck a blind pedestrian as he walked slowly in the northbound lanes.

The pedestrian, James "Jimmy" Gavina, 58, of Hammond, was one of four brothers in his family, said David Gavina, James' youngest brother.

James Gavina and his siblings were known in their community as "The Brothers" and lost their father, Joseph, when he was just 42 years old, David Gavina said.

James Gavina stepped up to help his mother support and care for the younger children after their father died.

"Jimmy was not only a brother, but a father figure and a best friend and someone I could always ask advice," David Gavina said.

The family has been haunted by thoughts about what James Gavina's last moments were like, because his legs were severed when Dotson struck him.
Another class-action lawsuit has been filed against Apple for the "flexgate" flaw that plagued some 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pros. The lawsuit alleges that Apple knew about the flaw when they sold the MacBook Pros and that Apple violated fraud prevention and consumer protection laws.

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There are several documented issues with MacBook Pros made between 2016 and 2018. While most of these range from design flaws in the Butterfly keyboards to poor thermal management, one of the most well-known is the stage light issue that affects the displays of some 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pros. Apple may face yet another class-action lawsuit over this defect.

A class-action suit filed with the Northern District Court in California yesterday accuses Apple of knowingly selling devices with a flaw in the display cable. The flaw appears in some MacBook Pros manufactured between 2016 and 2017. In affected devices, the displays flexible ribbon cable, which connects the screen to the motherboard, stretches beyond tolerance, resulting in dark patches along the bottom of the screen, known as a stage light effect.

The affair came to be known as flexgate, based on the breakage of the displays flex cable. Apple later fixed the issue with the 2018 MacBook Pro by extending the length of the flex cable by 2 mm.

Multiple lawsuits have been filed against Apple over flexgate. Earlier suits sought repayment for repair costs and warranty extensions.

The most recent class-action suit, which was filed on August 19, claims that Apple violated the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act and other consumer protection laws by selling the MacBook Pros and knew about the flex cable flaw. The lawsuit also alleges that Apple attempted to cover up the issue by deleting user comments complaining about the flaw posted to their website and other forums.

The plaintiffs in this case (those who filed the lawsuit against Apple) are seeking payment for damages incurred by purchasing, owning, and seeking to repair an affected device as well as other monetary restitution. The plaintiffs are also seeking a court order for Apple to make a declaration that they knowingly sold defective devices and to pay the plaintiffs legal fees.

You can read the class-action lawsuit filing here.
The New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) has filed charges and initiated administrative proceedings against Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and its subsidiaries, as well as Allergan PLC and its subsidiary Allergan Finance LLC, in connection with the opioid crisis.

These charges are the third set to be filed in DFSs ongoing investigation into the entities that created and perpetuated the opioid crisis.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.s subsidiaries include Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., Cephalon Inc., Watson Laboratories Inc., Actavis Pharma Inc., Actavis LLC and Actavis Elizabeth LLC.

Teva has been a manufacturer of opioids in the U.S., manufacturing approximately 20% of the opioid products that flooded New York from 2006 to 2014. It manufactured both its own branded opioids as well as generic opioids through its Actavis subsidiaries. Allergan also manufactured opioid products from 2006 to 2014.

New York will continue to aggressively investigate the bad actors that caused the opioid crisis  an American tragedy that has taken too many lives and caused irrevocable harm to communities in our state and across the country, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a DFS press release. Everyone who has been affected by opioids deserves justice, and we will make every effort to deliver it to them by pursuing the companies that defraud the public and holding them accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

The DFS Statement of Charges alleges that, like other opioid manufacturers, Teva and Allergan each knowingly furthered false narratives to legitimize dangerously powerful opioid products as appropriate for a broad spectrum of pain. In particular, the companies messaging greatly downplayed the drugs long-known addictive nature and risks, according to the charges.

The charges contend that this effort by the opioid industry caused an increased acceptance of opioids as medically legitimate, necessary and appropriate painkillers by both patients and medical professionals. As a result, demand for opioids soared to unprecedented levels as did the crisis of addiction and abuse that resulted from overprescribing, the charges state.

DFS allegations include the following:

Contrary to Federal Drug Administration (FDA) prescribing guidelines, Teva through its subsidiary Cephalon intentionally marketed its branded fentanyl drugs for off-label use  meaning any use not specified in an application and approved by FDA  and misrepresented their risks while doing so. Fentanyl is a powerful opioid that is 100 times more potent than morphine. The FDA approved Cephalons first fentanyl drug, Actiq, only for the treatment of cancer pain. Through the off-label marketing strategy, however, Actiq sales skyrocketed from $16 million in 2000 to an excess of $590 million by 2006, at which time only 8% of patients were taking the drug for cancer pain. After Actiq was retired, Cephalon continued off-label promotional practices with its new fentanyl lozenge, Fentora.

Teva through its Cephalon subsidiary also crafted template letters of medical necessity for doctors to send to insurers to justify off-label use and get the prescriptions reimbursed. These letters were used by sales representatives to further entice healthcare providers into prescribing these opioids to patients for increasingly broader use.

Allergan also misrepresented its drugs in marketing materials. In 2010, the FDA sent the company a warning letter concerning brochures the company had released for its drug Kadian. The FDA warned Allergan about the brochures omission and minimization of risk information, its failure to state the drugs full indication, as well as unsubstantiated claims of efficacy and superiority over other opioid drugs.

Both Teva and Allergan used various third party front groups and doctors called key opinion leaders to disseminate unbranded and misleading messaging regarding the safety and efficacy of opioids in general. These communications included medical education courses as well as pamphlets, websites and books that targeted both patients and prescribers. Among other things, these materials downplayed the risks of addiction of opioids, labelled legitimate concerns by prescribers over those risks as opiophobia, and dismissed patients clear signs of addiction as pseudoaddiction.

According to DFSs Statement of Charges, Teva and Allergan violated two New York Insurance Laws. Section 403 of the New York Insurance Law prohibits fraudulent insurance acts and carries with it penalties of up to $5,000, plus the amount of the fraudulent claim for each violation. DFS alleges that each fraudulent prescription constitutes a separate violation.

Section 408 of the Financial Services Law prohibits intentional fraud or intentional misrepresentation of a material fact with respect to a financial product or service, which includes health insurance, and carries with it penalties of up to $5,000 per violation. DFS also alleges in this case that each fraudulent prescription constitutes a separate violation.

The hearing will be held at the office of the New York State Department of Financial Services beginning on October 26, 2020.

Source: New York State Department of Financial Services

Topics Fraud Abuse Molestation New York Manufacturing Drugs
PORTLAND, ME -- For years Pauline Henderson has received shipments of baby chicks that were delivered to her through the U.S. Postal Service. The deliveries were always on time and there were minimal problems for Henderson who owns Pine Tree Poultry in New Sharon, Maine.

Usually they arrive every three weeks like clockwork, Henderson said, according to the Associated Press. And out of 100 birds you may have one or two that die in shipping.

So thats why it was quite the surprise last week when Henderson received a shipment in which all 800 chicks delivered were dead on arrival. Henderson is one of many farmers in the U.S. who say the ongoing issues with the USPS are leading to delayed deliveries and in turn the deaths of the chicks before they even arrive at their destination.

U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, says her office has received dozens of calls from farmers who are experiencing similar issues with their shipments. And its an issue Pingree says is the result of an intentional slow down of mail service.

Its one more of the consequences of this disorganization, this sort of chaos theyve created at the post office and nobody thought through when they were thinking of slowing down the mail, Pingree said.

This is a system thats always worked before and its worked very well until these changes started being made.

Henderson says she is aware of thousands of birds that were processed through the USPS processing center in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, that arrived dead at farms in Maine and New Hampshire. The USPS is the only shipping service that delivers chicks and small animals, according to its website.

Rural Americans, including agricultural producers, disproportionately rely on USPS for their livelihoods, and it is essential that they receive reliable service, Pingree said.

At least 4,800 dead chicks were sent to farmers in Maine in recent weeks.

Issues with mail service being slowed down began after Postmaster General Louis DeJoy was appointed to the position in May. When he took over in June, the AP reports he made several cuts and operational changes that have disrupted traditional mail service. In Michigan, lawmakers say there have been hundreds of reported cases of mail arriving late in recent weeks.

Earlier this week, DeJoy announced he would hold off some changes that were continuing to slow down mail service across the U.S.

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DENVER and SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Contentful today announced it will expand its North American presence with a new office hub in Denver, Colorado. The SaaS company currently has hubs in San Francisco and Berlin, and approximately 400 employees. It plans to hire 50-100 people in Denver over the next year, with further expansion in the future.



Contentful, a pioneer and global leader in headless content management systems (CMS), is now leading the industry with its next-generation content platform, which enables builders  developers, designers and content creators  to create and deliver digital experiences for any channel or device. Contentfuls Denver expansion is part of a strategic growth plan fueled by an $80 million Series E investment, led by Sapphire Ventures in June.

Brands are increasingly investing in digital channels and experiences, and Covid-19 has accelerated that trend. Contentful helps brands build digital experiences for their customers faster than they could with a traditional CMS, said Laurence Trifon, Contenfuls SVP of Customer Experience. He is based in Denver and will be the executive sponsor of the office. Were accelerating our own expansion to support this demand for digital-first capabilities.

Denver boasts one of the best tech ecosystems in the US, with more than 4,000 tech companies, according to BuiltIn. In a 2020 survey of Bay Area CEOs, Denver was the No. 1 next top tech hub, outpacing Austin and Salt Lake City. Globally, Denver ranked 21st out of 150 in the Global Startup Ecosystem Ranking last year, due to the quality talent it attracts.

Colorados thriving tech scene and community of top talent made it the perfect location to support our customers with the best technology solutions and support services, said Trifon. Im excited to lead this new office and invite Denvers talented tech community to join Contentful in redefining how digital products and experiences are built.

The Denver hub will hire go-to-market talent across sales, partnerships, customer success, professional services and marketing, as well as roles on the Finance, Legal and People teams. Contentful is rated 4.2 on Glassdoor and cultivates a positive workplace culture that empowers people to do their best work. It places a special emphasis on inclusion and diversity in hiring, with progressive hiring practices that include not requiring college degrees for certain roles, and considering applicants regardless of their length of unemployment. Contentfuls workforce currently includes people of more than 70 nationalities.

Contentful values the strength that comes from a diverse community of people working together, especially as we serve a global mix of customers, said Vanessa MacIlwaine, SVP of People at Contentful. Our diversity-focused hiring practices have been shown to attract a more diverse workforce, and a higher-performing one. We are excited to enter the Denver talent market and community.

Contentful will hire remotely until it is safe to return to in-person work. Contentful is also hiring at its other offices, including at its product and engineering hub in Berlin and its first US hub in San Francisco. Contentful is also hiring distributed employees across Western Europe and the United States as part of a long-term global growth strategy. See all currently open roles at contentful.com/careers.

About Contentful

Contentful, the global leader in omnichannel content platforms, powers digital experiences for 28% of the Fortune 500 and thousands of leading global brands. It enables enterprises to deliver omnichannel digital experiences with greater speed and scale than with a traditional CMS. Contentful unifies content in a single hub, structures it for use in any digital channel, and integrates seamlessly with hundreds of other tools through open APIs. Companies such as Telus, Atlassian, Alpro, Clover, Intercom, Chanel and many others rely on Contentfuls content platform. For more information, visit https://www.contentful.com/.

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I think Im supposed to question whether the Democratic Party can really stretch far enough in opposite directions to accommodate a democratic socialist like Bernie Sanders and an estranged Republican like John Kasich, transcendently strange bedfellows who spoke and served as ideological poles on the opening night of whatever were calling this shrunken, not-in-Milwaukee, pandemic-warped political jubilee.

But this isnt a time for business as usual. Im not referring to the coronavirus, to the history-making selection of a Black woman as the Democrats vice presidential nominee or to any one dynamic of the days before us. Im referring to the stakes of the days ahead.

Never in my 55 years has the Democrats success mattered more for the welfare, the sanity  the future  of these United States than now, because never has the other fork in the road been a Republican president as profoundly amoral, fundamentally corrupt and flatly incompetent as the one seeking four more years.

Donald Trump has made clear that hes willing to steal this election from Joe Biden if thats the only way to win. He has in fact commenced that heist. Hes ready to smash all faith in our institutions and all pride in our democratic system and fashion a throne amid the wreckage. And he has a shockingly large number of accomplices  including, to date, most of the Republicans in Congress  who are cheering him on or biting their tongues to the point of hemorrhage.

In the context of that, what I saw Monday night wasnt something to be parsed or graded. It was something to rush toward and relish: a buffet for the starving. It was salvation. I have zero interest in decreeing whether the mashed potatoes were suitably fluffy or the asparagus overcooked. Instead I want to note that nowhere in Trumps inner circle is there anyone with the gravitas and grace of Michelle Obama.

I want to savor her every word Monday night, when she so beautifully distilled whats wrong with Trump  He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us, she said  and so hauntingly defined what it feels like to live in Trumps America.

Kids in this country are seeing what happens when we stop requiring empathy of one another, she said. Theyre looking around wondering if weve been lying to them this whole time about who we really are and what we truly value.

Whats going on this country is just not right, she added. This is not who we want to be. It was an excellent speech, gorgeously delivered, and thats in large part because she recognized and maximized the fact that many Americans see her as someone less partisan and more practical than the conventional convention orator.

You know I hate politics, she said, making no apologies. But you also know that I care about this nation. You know how much I care about all of our children. From that perspective came this plea: We have got to vote for Joe Biden like our lives depend on it.

That was the message of many of the speakers. Their words varied; their urgency didnt. Usually when politicians adopt such epic, dire tones, I want to reach for some bleach to wash the purple from their prose. On Monday night I just nodded.

There was much talk beforehand about the Democrats ardent desire and assiduous efforts to project unity. To my eyes and ears they took things to a higher level than that, not because they have such a talent for diplomacy or such a gift for television choreography but because they obviously and genuinely and passionately share the conviction that if Biden fails, America falls  at least the America that were all still trying to hold on to, the America that we sing about in songs and speak of when we put our hands over our hearts and turn toward the flag.

During this presidents term, the unthinkable has become normal, Sanders said during his remarks. The future of our democracy is at stake. The future of our economy is as stake. The future of our planet is as stake.

He specifically and pointedly instructed his frustrated supporters to get with the program and vote for Biden. We must come together, he said. My friends, the price of failure is just too great to imagine.

This convention isnt without its ideological tussles, bruised egos and other drama. But anyone whos focused on that has lost the big picture. Anyone whos focused on that cant recognize how many of the compliments bestowed on Biden on Monday night could never be given to Trump.

Im talking about simple compliments, like when Kasich praised Biden as a man of faith, a unifier. Or when Rep. James Clyburn deemed him as good a man as he is a leader.

Biden doesnt have everything I wish for in a president, but he has goodness, and for a country that needs to reclaim its decency, re-establish its dignity and right its course, thats not a bad place to start.

@FrankBruni
DANBURY  Fire officials were sworn into new positions on Thursday morning.

Lt. Shea Hanson was promoted to fire captain, while firefighter Mike Jewell and Lt. Ray Guard were named deputy fire marshals.

Hanson joined Danbury Fire Department in July 2006 after serving as a volunteer firefighter and 911 dispatcher. He became a lieutenant in March 2014, according to a letter from the mayor to City Council.

Guard became a Danbury firefighter in October 2005 and has earned various certifications, another letter from the mayor states.

Jewell has been with the department since January 1996 and served as fire dispatcher from 2013 to 2015. He also received the Sunshine Rotary Clubs Firefighter of the Year Award in 2013. He earned the No. 1 rank on the deputy fire marshal eligibility list, the mayor said in an April letter.

City Council approved Hanson and Guards appointments this week, while Jewells was granted in April.

A video of the swearing-in ceremony is on the departments Facebook page.
A small group protested Monday near a Keystone XL pipeline work camp thats set to open next month just outside the small town of Philip.

The man camp will bring drugs, sexual violence and other crimes to Philip, the nearby Cheyenne River Reservation and Rapid City, said Candi Brings Plenty.

Every time theres an extraction from Mother Earth, Indigenous women are most impacted, said the Indigenous justice organizer for the ACLU.

We have seen the impact in North Dakota, especially with the Bakken Shale oil area, Brings Plenty said. Now theyre going to impact our communities.

Brings Plenty served as the legal observer during the protest, which was organized by young people with the Cheyenne River Grassroots Collective.

The group stood outside the work camp holding banners reading Caution: Illegal Construction and Man Camp Brings Violent Crimes.

A third banner said Kristi Noem, we are not a riot and We defeated it once, well defeat it again  a reference to the current riot boosting law that was created after a federal judge said parts of the old law were unconstitutional.

The workforce camp in Haakon County is set to open in early September, said Sara Rabern, spokeswoman for TC Energy, the company hoping to build the pipeline.

We are near completion of our workforce camp construction and have limited workers onsite to finish a few remaining tasks, she said.

The camp is expected to house no more than 400 people during the remainder of 2020, Rabern said. Theyll be working on various activities related to pipeline construction, including facilities work.

Photos by Brings Plenty show rows of mobile homes, likely the buildings that were stored in Rapid City back in August 2019. Brings Plenty said the site has no signage that would let people know it's a work camp for the pipeline and that several Philip residents who stopped by the protest didnt know what was being built.

The workers will be a significant population boost to Philip, which has an estimated 840 residents, according to a 2018 Census survey.

TC Energy  which is headquartered in Calgary, Canada  plans to build three other workforce camps in Meade, Harding and Tripp counties, Rabern said. The 2021 construction schedule will determine when theyll be built and occupied.

Rabern said the camps are being built so the workers can live closer to their job sites,thereby minimizing fatigue during the commute and maximizing their time available to relax before they return to work.

Safety concerns

Were trying to bring awareness and visibility and community education to whats going on, Brings Plenty said of why they held the protest.

She said Philip residents stopped to ask about the protest and the group told them about the work camp and their safety concerns.

Bring Plenty said the work camp is just 1/2 mile from Philip, 30 minutes from the reservation border and less than 1.5 hours from Rapid City.

She's worried the well-paid workers will spend their money in those communities on drugs and at bars, where they will target women.

Brings Plenty said shes concerned about sexual violence including sex trafficking, which she said isnt just when someone forces another into sex slavery. She said its also when men pay others to bring women or girls to parties so they can try to have sex with them. Bring Plenty said a friend's niece was a target in that kind of scenario.

Brings Plenty pointed to a study funded by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics to back up her fears about the Keystone XL Pipeline.

The study found that serious violence in the Bakken region of North Dakota and Montana increased by 38% during the oil boom while it decreased by 4% in the non-Bakken areas. Men were more likely to be victims than women but women saw a 33% increase in intimate-partner violence.

Rabern said the workers living at the camps will be highly-skilled men and women and all employees, contractors and vendors working on construction or field sites must pass a criminal background check.

She said each camp will have a guard building and 24/7 security that will only let in personnel and approved visitors. Visitors must receive prior approval and wear a badge while at the camp. Theres also a strict code of conduct that includes a ban on firearms and drugs.

Brings Plenty said some cars honked in support of their protest while others yelled derogatory messages. She said a man on a tractor pointed a rifle at them while another man in a vehicle pointed a gun at the group and said he would shoot down their drone if they flew it over the property.

We are unarmed peaceful protesters, she said.

Brings Plenty said police officers, sheriff's deputies and state troopers later showed up and were very respectful.

The Collective is holding another event next Monday in Bridger that will protest the pipeline and remember people who went missing or were murdered in relation to the extraction industry.

Legal status

If approved, the $8 billion Keystone XL Pipeline would run 1,200-miles from the Alberta tar sands in Canada to Nebraska, entering South Dakota at a spot 32 miles northwest of Buffalo. It would run southeast through Harding, Butte, Perkins, Pennington, Haakon, Jones, Lyman, Meade and Tripp counties. It would exit the state about 20 miles southeast of Colome.

The oil would be then be transferred to another TC Energy pipeline before being shipped to the Gulf of Mexico.

Many Native American citizens and nations, environmentalists and some landowners are opposed to the pipeline due to the safety concerns raised by Brings Plenty. Theyre also worried about climate change and possible oil spills that would impact land and drinking water. A new worry is that workers living in close quarters could contract the coronavirus and then spread it to nearby communities.

Many tribal members are upset the pipeline is being built through Rosebud Sioux mineral rights trust land in Tripp County and throughout areas promised to the Oceti Sakowin in now-broken treaties.

In April, a federal judge canceled a water-crossing permit that TC Energy needs to complete its pipeline. While the company cant build the pipeline itself, it can still work on related infrastructure.

"Pre-construction is still construction," Brings Plenty said.

 Contact Arielle Zionts at arielle.zionts@rapidcityjournal.com.

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The International Organization for Migration (IOM), and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, are deeply saddened by the tragic death of at least 45 migrants and refugees on 17 August, in the largest recorded shipwreck off the Libyan coast this year.

Some 37 survivors  mainly from Senegal, Mali, Chad and Ghana  were rescued by local fishermen and later detained upon disembarkation. They reported to IOM staff that 45 others including five children lost their lives when the vessels engine exploded off the coast of Zwara.

The two organizations are calling for a review of States approach to the situation after this latest tragic incident in the Mediterranean. There is an urgent need to strengthen the current search and rescue capacity to respond to distress calls.

There remains a continued absence of any dedicated, EU-led search and rescue programme. We fear that without an urgent increase in search and rescue capacity, is a risk of another disaster similar to incidents that saw large loss of life on the Central Mediterranean prior to the launch of Mare Nostrum.

NGO vessels have played a crucial role in saving lives at sea amid a sharp reduction in European state-led efforts. The humanitarian imperative of saving lives should not be impeded and legal and logistical restrictions on their work must quickly be lifted.

UNHCR and IOM are deeply concerned by recent delays in rescue and disembarkation. We urge states to swiftly respond to these incidents and systematically provide a predictable port of safety to people rescued at sea. Delays recorded in recent months, and failure to assist, are unacceptable and put lives at avoidable risk. Where commercial vessels are the nearest boat capable of carrying out a rescue, they should be promptly provided with a safe port for disembarking the rescued passengers. They should not be instructed to return people to Libya, where they are at risk of the ongoing conflict, severe human rights violations, and arbitrary detention post-disembarkation.

Responsibility for carrying out rescues is increasingly being taken by the Libyan State vessels, which has led to more than 7,000 people being returned to Libya so far in 2020. Any assistance and responsibilities assigned to Libyan search and rescue entities should be made conditional on no one being arbitrarily detained, ill-treated or subjected to human rights violations post-disembarkation. Without such guarantees, support should be reconsidered, and search and rescue responsibilities redefined.

At least 302 migrants and refugees perished on this route so far this year. According to IOMs Missing Migrants Project and UNHCR, the current estimated number of fatalities is likely much higher.

IOM and UNHCR recognize the continued challenges presented by sea arrivals and welcome the efforts of Mediterranean coastal States to continue receiving rescued refugees and migrants. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, two thirds of European countries have found ways to manage their borders effectively while allowing access to their territories for people seeking asylum. Medical screenings at borders, health certification or temporary quarantine upon arrival are some of the measures put in place by a number of European and other countries. The pandemic should not be used as an excuse to deny people access to all forms of international protection.

Over 17,000 people have arrived in Italy and Malta this year by boat from Libya and Tunisia, a threefold increase compared to 2019. However, the number has drastically decreased compared to years prior to 2019 and is manageable with political will and EU solidarity with European coastal States. We reiterate the urgent need to move beyond ad hoc arrangements to a swifter, more predictable disembarkation mechanism.

The instability and lack of security in Libya enables smugglers, traffickers, and criminals in general to act with impunity as they prey on vulnerable migrants and refugees.

UNHCR and IOM call on Libyan authorities to take firm steps against smugglers and traffickers. This should include disrupting and ending smuggling rings led by criminal groups to prevent further exploitation and abuse. The international community should assist these efforts and provide more support to the authorities in their fight against human trafficking networks.

For more information on this topic, please contact:

UNHCR

IOM
The school city has recommended all of its McKinley staff be tested for coronavirus.

The building will be closed until Aug. 24, according to Green's letter.

The two teachers who reported positive cases have been directed to continue working from home following the advice of their health care providers, Wright said.

All teachers reporting to work in their school buildings are being advised to stay within their own classrooms. Wright said she encourages staff to wear masks and maintain social distancing when moving throughout the buildings for break or lunch.

The superintendent said all staff meetings are taking place via Zoom.

Beginning Monday, the district will require temperature checks and the use of hand sanitizer among all employees entering East Chicago's seven schools, Wright said.

The school city will also designate a COVID coordinator to oversee safety efforts and communication across the district.

Wright said the two cases are the first she has learned of in the school city.
Catholic Central opens school as scheduled with partner AmeriStaff Nursing Services AmeriStaff is committed to put to work its years of wellness experience and make returning back to school a safe proposition for both students and faculty at Detroit Catholic Central, states Greg Jamian, AmeriCare Medicals President and CEO.

While many school districts have just submitted their plan to reopen, Detroit Catholic Central (CC) has been ahead of the curve in preparation and planning. As a result, students reported to their first day of school on Monday, August 17. The Catholic Central COVID Committee (C4) established numerous sub-committees to focus their efforts on specific challenges, and the entire group worked diligently all summer to reopen the school on time. One of the tools the group utilized is the Return to School Roadmap published by Governor Gretchen Whitmers COVID-19 Task Force on Education Return to School Advisory Council.

Part of the plan to return to in-person instruction was the hiring of a school nurse, so in late July, CC contacted AmeriStaff Nursing Services for assistance in establishing their safety protocol. After careful vetting, CC chose to partner with AmeriStaff Nursing Services.

AmeriStaff impressed us with their professionalism and expertise, stated Mitch Hancock, Dean of Students and Health and Safety Committee Chair at Catholic Central. When businesses started to reopen in early June, they had the initiative to implement a screening service for several companies in the community. Right out of the gate they provided insight and knowledge that our committee found very helpful. The presence of their nurses on site will be invaluable for us in communicating with our families and ensuring the safest possible environment for our students and staff.

Ameristaff Nursing Services is an established home care company that updated their business model to include assisting organizations with nursing and screening services during the first wave of the pandemic.

AmeriStaff is committed to put to work its years of wellness experience and make returning back to school a safe proposition for both students and faculty at Detroit Catholic Central, states Greg Jamian, AmeriCare Medicals President and CEO. Following strict CDC guidelines, our mitigation strategies, in collaboration with the schools administration, will help assist with re-entry back to classroom learning for CC students.

Detroit Catholic Central High School is an all-boys college preparatory school founded in 1928 by the Basilian Fathers. Catholic Central is rooted in the motto Teach me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge and sends an average of 99% of its graduates to college. CC is located on more than 120 acres in Novi, MI, and draws students from the entire Metro Detroit region. Catholic Central prides itself on its spiritual environment, its excellent academics, and its students passion for extracurricular activities. The symbol of Detroit Catholic Central is the Shamrock, and its colors are Royal Blue and White in honor of Mary, Alma Mater. More information can be found at http://www.catholiccentral.net.

Since 1980, AmeriCare Medical, Inc. has provided integrated health care services to hospitals, assisted care facilities and private homes throughout Michigan. AmeriCare Medical, Inc. is the parent company of AmeriStaff Nursing Services, Sun Medical Equipment and Rx iV Pharmacy, making it a one stop shop for patients and all of their home healthcare needs. For more information visit: http://www.americaremedical.com

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Another Harvard Business School MBA has gone from famous to infamous.

Stephen K. Bannon, President Trumps former chief strategist and a Class of 1985 MBA grad, allegedly defrauded donors to a massive crowdfunding campaign that claimed to be raising money for the construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Federal prosecutors in New York today (Aug. 20) said Bannon and Air Force veteran Brian Kolfage deceived donors by claiming they would not take any compensation as part of the We Build The Wall campaign. Instead, prosecutors alleged, Bannon stuffed his pockets with more than $1 million through a nonprofit entity he controlled, funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars to Kolfage while keeping a substantial portion for himself.

Bannon joins a parade of Harvard MBAs who have found themselves in legal jeopardy over the years. Over the past 15 years, five other MBAs from Harvard have served time behind bars for their crimes. The lineup includes the famous from Rajat Gupta, the former managing director of McKinsey and Class of 1973 MBA, who served 19 months in prison for insider trading in 2015, to Jeffrey Skilling, the former Enron CEO and a member of HBS Class of 1979, who was found guilty in 2006 of multiple counts of fraud and insider trading. After serving slightly more than a dozen years in jail and paying $40 million in restitution, he was released earlier this year.

FIVE OTHER HARVARD MBAS HAVE DONE JAIL TIME IN THE PAST 14 YEARS

And then there are the lesser-known MBAs from HBS who found themselves trapped in insider trading scandals with Gupta. Nine years ago, Samir Barai, a hedge fund manager who graduated from Harvard in 1999, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud, one count of securities fraud, one count of wire fraud, and one count of obstruction of justice. He was actually the second Harvard MBA to plead guilty in the biggest insider trading case since the 1980s when junk bond king Michael Milken was indicted on charges of insider trading in 1989 and ultimately pleaded guilty to six felony charges of securities fraud and spent 22 months in jail. Adam Smith, a former 1999 classmate and ex-Morgan Stanley banker and a former employee of hedge fund Galleon Group, had also pleaded guilty in the same year, 2011.

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But thats not all. Gregory Rorke, a Class of 1980 MBA from HBS, was sentenced to two years in prison and three years of supervised release for defrauding investors of more than $3 million. Prosecutors said he overstated his own net worth and the tax liabilities of his company in seeking money from investors. No less surprising, Rorke had been an adjunct professor at Columbia Business School from 1997 to 2012.

Of course, Bannon has only been charged and not yet convicted of fraud. Yet, even before this latest shocking development, his classmates were just as surprised when Bannon later emerged as a right-wing extremist, founder of Breitbart and key advisor to Trump during both the 2016 campaign and in the White House. Four years ago, in fact, just after Trumps election, more than 650 women who are graduates or students of Harvard Business School signed a letter condemning Bannon, then the newly named chief strategist for President-elect Trump. The women called him out as one of the chief architects of the alt-right movement that preaches white nationalism, racism, misogyny and hatred.

HE WAS QUITE GUTSY

Steve Bannon graduated from Harvard Business School with honors in 1983

When he arrived at Harvard Business School in 1983 he was a 29-year-old married Navy Officer who came off as smart, gregarious and preppy, often seen around campus in a favorite yellow sweater.

He made an early impression in class. On his very first day, he took a seat in the sky deck in the back of the class when a professor singled him out in a cold call asking that he present the days case study on Fieldcrest blankets under discussion.

This, Bannon said confidently, is a sleepy industry.

He was quite gutsy and pretty much blew the class away with an incredible performance, classmate Cornelia Tilney told The Boston Globe. I remember thinking after watching him, I am definitely flunking this class if this is where the bar is set!

AT AN HBS REUNION, HE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO SIGNING UP FOLKS FOR THE TEA PARTY

Bannon would leverage his MBA into an investment banking job at Goldman Sachs, ultimately spending more than 20 years in the finance industry. But when he showed up for the 25th reunion of his class in 2010, Bannon had apparently become obsessed with politics.

In preparation for the 25th reunion of Bannons HBS class in 2010, the attendees submitted updates about what was going on in their lives. In his update for the class, Bannon wrote that his new focus was as a filmmaker. He said that his most recent film about the financial implosion on Wall Street was called Generation Zero and was endorsed by none other than Sarah Palin. His description of the movie made clear his new political bent: He called the movie a frontal assault on the progressive movement trying to destroy our country. I currently have another half dozen or so films on various right-wing topics getting ready for production and am having a hell of a lot of funLooking forward to catching up with everyone at the reunion and signing folks up for the populist rebellion we call the Tea Party movement.

Bannon has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, each of which comes with a maximum 20-year prison sentence. He has pled not guilty to the charges.

DONT MISS: HOW MUCH HAS CHANGED AT HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL SINCE BANNON WENT THERE IN 1983?

The post Add This Harvard MBA To The Wall Of Shame appeared first on Poets&Quants.
Prominent black NC Bishop Patrick Wooden says Kamala Harris aint good for black folk

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Firebrand North Carolina Bishop Patrick Wooden Sr., of the conservative Upper Room Church of God in Christ in Raleigh, slammed newly minted Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris as aint good for black folk in a politically charged sermon Sunday.

In his impassioned sermon during which he took aim at the Democratic Party and its presidential ticket, Wooden pointed to Harris controversial record on criminal justice as well as her support for the LGBT agenda.

You know Kamala, oh shes running for the vice presidency. I call her Miss lock up a brother for when she was the AG in California. A negro knew; a black man knew that he was dead in the water  if you appear before her because she took pride in locking up black folk, and all of a sudden shes trying to be sister girl, Wooden said.

Last week, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden announced Harris as his running mate, making her the first black and South Asian American woman to run on a political party's presidential ticket.

Wooden argued, however, that the black community should not see her as any kind of savior.

Check out her record. She locked us up left and right, yes she did.  She boasted she was one of the first to perform same-sex marriage, he said before showing a clip of Harris performing a wedding for two lesbians.

Now that  is who is supposed to deliver us? Are you crazy? I like what Maya Angelou says. She says when people show you who they are, believe them. Thats Kamala. And let me tell you, anybody whos trying to turn America into Sodom and Gomorrah is not good for this nation. Shes not good for the state and she aint good for black folk. ... We need real people, he said.

Rush Limbaugh is not the only one calling out Kamala



Black Pastor exposes Kamala after she locked up THOUSANDS of black men for weed & extended their sentences so they could be used for cheap labor.

Plse Share this video is being censored by YouTube & Facebook pic.twitter.com/FyDcU5th5B  Melissa Tate (@TheRightMelissa) August 17, 2020

Wooden also slammed Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force as a backslidden Catholic and self-professed humanist who is being used as a political tool by the left.

Humanists do not believe in prayer, humanists do not believe that God intervenes, humanists do not believe that we need help from the Lord at all. That may be one of the reasons he could easily recommend that churches be closed, but he fumbled and waffled when they suggested perhaps the protests should be curtailed because they spread the virus, he asserted.

He told congregants that while he believes that the coronavirus pandemic is real, he thinks it is being exploited in order to keep people depressed and vulnerable so they can be easily manipulated in accepting the Marxist agenda of liberals.

It appears their goal is to keep us in fear until after the election.  The truth is, after the election, the coverage will change. Now the virus may not change, but the coverage on the virus will change, he said.

These people have an agenda. And their agenda, one of the things is to get rid of the Church; to have abortion on demand; to the promotion of all things LBGTQ, he said. They want to bring in socialism and Marxism  forms of government that teach that God is not the deliverer and that our rights do not come from God, but that government is God. And that we must serve the state. It is Antichrist. Thats whats behind keeping all this stuff going.

He also said that Black Lives Matter was being funded by billionaire investor George Soros and suggested that liberals dont really care about the flourishing of the black community.

Hes been giving Black Lives Matter millions of dollars. Any black businesses seen all that money? he asked doubtfully.

Any of the black communities seen all that money, any black kid trying to go to college?  If you read what they say therefore, they dont mention the black male one time. They are not for the black male, and you cant have a black community without the black male. ... This is the spirit of the Antichrist and I will not allow the devil to break my mind, he declared.

He also criticized Biden for eulogizing now deceased former Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., who was once active in the KKK. He then noted that President Donald Trump signed the First Step Act into law to improve criminal justice outcomes, as well as to reduce the size of the federal prison population while creating mechanisms to maintain public safety.

Trump passed legislation and I did an op-ed on it to help black folk get out of jail. ... She (Harris) put us in jail, Wooden said.
BEAUMONT, Texas, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Two Provost Umphrey attorneys have been named Lawyer of the Year for their respective practice groups as part of the Best Lawyers in America 2021 honors.

Equity Partner James E. Payne earned this distinction for his work in product liability litigation on behalf of plaintiffs, with additional honors for plaintiffs' personal injury litigation. Attorney Keith Hyde earned Lawyer of the Year for his work in mass torts and class actions on behalf of plaintiffs with additional recognition for his work in personal injury and product liability litigation.

For a sixth consecutive year, all of Provost Umphrey's equity partners earned placement to the Best Lawyers in America listing. Bryan O. Blevins, Jr., Edward Fisher, Joe J. Fisher II, and D'Juana Parks received honors for their work with plaintiffs in personal injury and product liability litigation as well as plaintiffs' mass tort and class actions litigation.

Additional Provost Umphrey attorneys honored by Best Lawyers in 2021 for their plaintiffs' litigation work include:

Darren Brown : Consumer Law, Mass Torts, Class Actions, Personal Injury and Product Liability

: Consumer Law, Mass Torts, Class Actions, Personal Injury and Product Liability Guy G. Fisher : Mass Torts, Class Actions, Personal Injury and Product Liability

: Mass Torts, Class Actions, Personal Injury and Product Liability W. Michael Hamilton : Labor and Employment

: Labor and Employment Christopher T. Kirchmer : Mass Torts, Class Actions, Personal Injury and Product Liability

: Mass Torts, Class Actions, Personal Injury and Product Liability Matthew C. Matheny : Mass Torts, Class Actions and Personal Injury

: Mass Torts, Class Actions and Personal Injury Colin D. Moore : Mass Torts, Class Actions, Personal Injury and Product Liability

: Mass Torts, Class Actions, Personal Injury and Product Liability Jacqueline Ryall : Personal Injury

: Personal Injury David P. Wilson : Admiralty and Maritime Law and Personal Injury

Provost Umphrey associate Fabiana Baum has been named as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for her work in personal injury litigation on behalf of plaintiffs. This award is given to up and coming attorneys that demonstrate promising careers.

The Best Lawyers in America is recognized as one of the leading guides to the U.S. legal profession. Surveys from tens of thousands of attorneys nationwide are used to compile the rankings of the nation's top lawyers in various practice areas.

For over 50 years, our firm's mission has remained to seek justice for those who have suffered a personal injury or death due to the wrongful conduct of others. Our attorneys fight for our clients nationwide with offices in Beaumont, Texas and Nashville, Tennessee. We continue to be one of the most successful trial law firms in the nation by remaining "Hard-Working Lawyers for Hard-Working People." To learn more, visit https://www.provostumphrey.com.

Contact:

Sophia Reza

800-559-4534

[email protected]

SOURCE Provost Umphrey Law Firm

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L.A. Joins Lawsuit to Block Census Bureau from Changing Response Deadline

City Attorney Mike Feuer announced that Los Angeles has joined other cities and national organizations in filing a lawsuit to block the shortening of the U.S. Census response deadline, now set for the end of September.

In April, when the COVID-19 pandemic was fairly new and stay-at-home orders had been issued in certain regions across the nation, the Census Bureau announced it would extend the deadline for people to respond to Oct. 31. But on Aug. 3, the bureau shortened the deadline to Sept. 30.

Every L.A. resident has so much that is riding on having an accurate census count, Feuer said, adding he sent a letter to the bureau the day the change was announced asking for an explanation, but received no response.

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Feuer said shortening the response deadline amid the COVID-19 pandemic is unconstitutional and could put Los Angeles at risk of losing seats in Congress and millions of dollars in funding.

The League of Women Voters of the United States, National Urban League, Black Alliance for Immigration, cities of Salinas and San Jose, and Harris County, Texas, Court Commissioners Rodney Ellis and Adrian Garcia joined Los Angeles in filing the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California.

The governments forcing the census timeline back to Sept. 30 fails to consider the indisputable impact COVID-19 had on this important process and is another attempt to obstruct full enumeration of Americas people, said Deborah Turner, president of the board of directors of the League of Women Voters of the United States.

States and municipalities rely on an accurate census count to ensure adequate funding of basic necessities for all Americans: critical infrastructure, schools, hospitals, social services, she said.

Thus far, 53.8% of Los Angeles County residents have completed the census online or by mail, Feuer said  far below the last census count in 2010 when 68% of residents responded and below this years state average of 65%.

The rush plan is unconstitutional. The rush plan violates federal law. The rush plan is a recipe for a severe undercount with repercussions that will last for years, Feuer said.

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Feuer said the census now relies heavily on the internet, but more than 20% of Los Angeles County residents dont have access to broadband connections, and non-English-speaking households are harder to count, with nearly a quarter of county residents not having English language proficiency.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors raised concerns earlier this month about the 2020 census, voting to oppose the federal governments efforts to exclude immigrants living in the country illegally from the count and shutting down data collection one month earlier than expected.

The board authorized its lawyers to challenge a memo issued by President Donald Trump last month seeking to exclude people in the country illegally from the count used to allocate seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Schools in Toronto are where some students fill not only their brains, but their stomachs.

Over 211,000 Toronto students participate in daily nutrition programs, according to Toronto Public Health, which are volunteer-run and aimed at making sure all students are fed well enough to concentrate in school.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organizations which work collaboratively to deliver Torontos school nutrition program switched gears and started the Food for Kids program to provide $50 grocery store food cards for families in need. The amount was meant to cover the cost of a healthy breakfast for 30 days.

But now that schools are reopening, plans on how to restart the programs are still being nailed down.

Ontarios plan for school reopening briefly mentions that nutrition programs will be delivered in a way that any student who wishes to participate can do so. It says a Grab and Go format is preferred and mentions disinfection protocols.

The TDSB is still finalizing plans through a subcommittee. In elementary, we are considering prepackaged food to limit the amount of time volunteers spend in the school. In secondary we will provide a Grab n Go program, Shari Schwartz-Maltz, a spokesperson for the TDSB said in a statement to the Star.

Details as to exactly what they are going to look like are still being worked out, and we are working closely with school boards in this regard. Were committed to helping nourish children, said Cristina Caruso from Toronto Foundation for Student Success, a charity which administers nutrition programs with the TDSB.

Since students have the option to return to school or take classes remotely, access to these sorts of nutrition programs may still be limited as a result.

Sarah Vance, a secondary school TDSB teacher said that even prior to the pandemic, nutrition programs at Toronto schools can vary from place to place. Not every school has them and for those that do, some may have a robust meal plan, while others offer small snacks.

We were already in a situation in which school nutrition programs were not able to adequately address student food insecurity, Vance said.

Vance and Gita Madan were two teachers who along with Toronto Education Workers in Solidarity and FoodShare started Food for Thought during the pandemic. In the time of need, Food for Thought delivered boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables to students and their families.

For students whose families were already food insecure, job loss during the pandemic put them in even more precarious situations, Madan said.

We knew that our students were really in trouble, particularly students coming from racialized backgrounds who are disproportionately impacted by poverty, Vance continued.

In Canada one in six children under the age of 18 is affected by household food insecurity, according to PROOFs 2020 report. Black and Indigenous households experience the highest rate of food insecurity relative to their population. Families with children and households that rely on social assistance are also disproportionately impacted, the study found.

Madan said the need is so great, Food for Thought eventually had to close its online request form every week. Since the initiative started, it has raised $145,000 and made deliveries to over 7,000 families. Over 130 people have volunteered, including students themselves.

Even though schools are reopening, accessing student nutrition programs may not be simple.

Vance is concerned that financial issues are likely to influence whether students return to school or opt for remote learning. Having worked in nine different schools, she has seen instances where schools cant provide TTC tokens for students, and kids miss school as a result of not being able to afford the fare.

Vance said the last round of Food for Thought deliveries will be next week. Afterwards, the team will pause and reassess based on how school reopening plays out.

Vance and Madan agree that while school nutrition programs and the Food for Thought initiative are a piece of tackling student food insecurity, it cant be the only way.

They advocate for structural change, such as increasing and broadening access to CERB, Ontario Works and ODSP, rent control and a stop to evictions.

There are so many families that are on the brink of survival at all times, Madan said. And it really shouldnt be up to these student nutrition programs to fill the gaps just for basic survival.
S tudent travel firm STA Travel has filed for insolvency and become the latest coronavirus High Street victim.

Parent company, STA Travel Holding AG which is based in Switzerland, said that that an external administrator would be taking control of the company.

STA did not elaborate what the immediate future for the company would be, although some operations around the world are understood to be continuing.

The company has 52 shops in the UK.

STA blamed the coronavirus pandemic, stating that it had "brought the travel industry to a standstill".

The company said: "Over recent months, the company took decisive measures to secure the business beyond coronavirus. However, sales have not picked up as anticipated, due to consumer uncertainties, further restrictions and renewed lock-down measures, which are expected to largely continue into 2021.

"As a consequence, STA Travel Holding AG, is filing for insolvency. In the next few days, an external administrator will take over and determine next steps

"While the parent company STA Travel Holding AG in Switzerland is affected, local day-to-day operations by STA Travel may continue around the world. STA Travel Holding AG very much regrets to not have been able to secure the future of the business under these unprecedented circumstances."
Making sure theres hand sanitizer throughout the office is one thing, but are workplaces also prepared to support their staff psychologically when they return?

Its a question thats receiving more attention as some workplaces look to gradually migrate workers back to the office this fall  and its one that the Canadian Mental Health Associations Ontario division hopes to address with a new mental health tool kit for employees and employers.

The CMHAs Ontario division is among the workplaces looking to begin welcoming colleagues back in September, and once it had addressed some of the physical aspects of returning to the office, CEO Camille Quenneville said the next question was: What is it really like for people coming back to work?

My colleagues here, to their great credit, said we could do a real public service if we help everybody on this front, because people are only thinking about the nuts and bolts about how to go back to work, and not what it will take psychologically for people to go back, she said.

Launched Thursday, the tool kit, which can be found on the associations website, acknowledges that while the COVID-19 pandemic has been a chronic source of stress and anxiety for many, anticipating a return to the office can be another.

It offers tips on how to address mental health concerns for employees  both those who may be returning to the office and those continuing to work remotely  as well as tips for employers.

The 20-page document  informed and reviewed by mental health and addictions clinicians  makes clear that it is not meant as a replacement for a mental health professional, but rather to provide helpful information to people in a variety of sectors. For example, tips for employees who may be returning to the office include how to start a conversation with a manager about mental health.

Sometimes, even the most astute manager will not notice when something is wrong. Start the conversation by asking for a meeting in private. Do not feel like you need to disclose everything but let them know you may need some additional support as plans for returning to the workplace get outlined, the tool kit advises.

Other tips include giving your employer as much context as possible (if safe to do so) to come up with the right workplace accommodation and to participate in regular checks-ins about your accommodation plan with your manager.

First things first, talk to your employer. Your employer cant fix things they dont know about, said Quenneville. Theres no need to suffer in silence.

Employers are encouraged to build trust by sharing as much information as possible with their employees about return-to-work plans and to facilitate employees participation in decision-making, such as by creating workplace committees.

When sharing plans, provide as much detail as you can, the tool kit suggests. Staff will feel safer if you can provide specific information based on the latest research evidence. Including hyperlinks to the actual research will be beneficial.

Quenneville said now more than ever its crucial that employers are creating what she described as psychologically safe workplaces. For many, working remotely has presented its own set of mental health challenges, even more so for individuals balancing other obligations such as child care.

It is easy for staff or management to work longer hours when at home, the tool kit says. Set clear expectations and encourage staff to take time off if they are eligible. Make an explicit effort to show that off-hours work or overtime isnt expected if it is not needed.

Finally, the tool kit also provides information for business owners, managers and executives to assist with their mental well-being. Tips include forming a support network of peers, and also remembering to be kind to oneself.

Give yourself the permission to feel a bit lost, worried or stressed. Acknowledge that many are feeling this way, and that it is OK to take a moment to just breathe, it says.

CMHA Ontarios latest initiative comes as Ontarians continue to grapple with mental health concerns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a May poll commissioned by CMHA Ontario, 70 per cent of Ontarians said they believed the province was headed for a serious mental health crisis.

Quenneville said she hopes both employers and employees discover from the tool kit that they are not alone if theyre experiencing mental health issues.

She said she hopes employers will really turn their minds to not only making the work environment physically safe in the face of COVID-19, but also psychologically safe.

Hand sanitizer at the door isnt enough. Thats not going to cut it, she said. They need to be having conversations about what its going to take to bring people back and make them feel that they can be productive and safe in the workplace.
T Muruganandham By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The war of words between the BJP and the AIADMK over the state government's denial of permission for the installation of Vinayaka idols this year has reached its crescendo on Thursday with

functionaries of both parties making sharp remarks thus leaving a question mark on the ties between the two parties.

Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar handed out a warning to BJP national secretary H Raja saying "Dont rub us (AIADMK) on the wrong side." The top leaders of both parties yet to react to the development.

When Express asked about his reaction to the developments and whether the ties between the two parties would suffer due to this, State BJP president L Murugan pleaded ignorance about what is going on Twitter.

Like many times in the past, H Raja is in the centre stage of this fresh bout of the row between the BJP and AIADMK since it all started with his tweet on Wednesday evening hailing the Karnataka government as an "aanmaiyulla arasu" (potent government) for allowing installation of Vinayaka idols taking a dig at the AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu. "AIADMK is a potent party and AIADMK govt is a potent govt; don't rub us on the wrong side," Jayakumar added.

He also recalled that people knew very well about the potency of Raja who posted a message in social media and retracted from it saying it was posted by his admin. Later, he made a remark against the high

court and later apologised before the court for that remark.

Responding to another tweet by Tamil Nadu BJP's social media convenor CTR Nirmal Kumar, describing the AIADMK as a party which hid behind the saree of a woman for 30 years, Jayakumar said: "Everyone knows who were all waiting at the residence of that woman leader (J Jayalalithaa) years ago."

ALSO READ: Tamil Nadu govt will follow High Court order on Vinayaka Chaturthi festivities, asserts CM

On Wednesday night, AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Satyan took on Raja saying: "Potency is winning the Scouts election," he said indicating the BJP leader's embarrassing defeat in the election for the post of president in Bharat Scouts and Guides in 2017 where he secured only 52 of 286 votes.

Referring to some past political events, pat came a response from Nirmal Kumar who tweeted: "The Aanmai (potency) which was protected by surrendering before Delhi out of fear for Bengaluru."

On Thursday too, the war of words continued on Twitter. AIADMK IT wing secretary Singai G Ramachandran said, "Those who have a genuine concern for the welfare of the people will not work to gather crowds at this moment when the Corona pandemic is prevailing."

He also dared H Raja to prove his 'potency' by getting votes above NOTA in the election. The AIADMK IT wing too joined the debate daring the BJP to go it solo in the elections and show their potency by ensuring at least the deposit amount.

For the past couple of months, there have been strains in the relationship between the AIADMK and BJP on religious issues starting from the Karuppar Koottam issue where Kanda Sashti Kavacham was

insulted.

However, BJP State president L Murugan said that the ties between AIADMK and BJP were strong. Two days ago, Murugan called on Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and personally requested him to allow the installation of Vinayaka idols. However, there was no positive response from the government.

However, when asked whether the war of words would affect the ties between the BJP and AIADMK, State BJP general secretary Professor R Srinivasan told Express: "We need not blow out of proportions the emotional words of some functionaries due to Vinayak Chathurthi issue. AIADMK and BJP have different ideologies but are in an alliance. So it is quite normal to have differences on certain issues. I am optimistic about the continuance of this alliance and I wish it should continue."
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi will meet US President Donald Trump for the first time in Washington on Thursday, with the presence of American troops in the country at the top of his agenda.

The meeting comes as attacks on American targets by pro-Iranian fighters have been on the rise, and with Tehran and Washington competing for influence in Iraq, the gulf between pro-Iranian factions and Baghdad's US-friendly premier is growing.

Kadhemi, who took office in May, faces challenges from factions of the Hashed al-Shaabi, a coalition of Iraqi Shia paramilitary groups with close ties to Iran.

The Hashed al-Shaabi is officially integrated into the Iraqi state, and its political representatives have called for the expulsion of the 5,000 US troops deployed in the country as part of anti-jihadist efforts.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday that "armed groups not under the full control of the prime minister have impeded our progress," calling for them to "be replaced by local police as soon as possible."

Pompeo -- who was speaking at a press conference with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein -- appeared to be referring to Shia paramilitary groups, though he did not identify them by name.

Asked about the plan for cutting the 5,000 US troops now in Iraq, Pompeo said he had no numbers and urged people "not to focus on that."

On the troop issue, a senior administration official said: "There are no hard fast timelines, and there are no hard fast numbers but that certainly would be part of the discussion, as we evaluate what Iraq security requirements are, and what the United States believes it can do."

The official described "armed groups" as "a persistent problem that challenges Iraqi security, has threatened US forces' interests in the region, and certainly it's a challenge to Iraq sovereignty."

"We think that Iraq's internal security needs are best met by forces that are, first and foremost, under the sovereign control the government of Iraq," the official said.

Pro-Iranian factions were hit hard by Washington's assassination in January of one of their top chiefs, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, in a strike that also killed top Iranian commander General Qasem Soleimani.

Attacks On The Rise

The Hashed al-Shaabi denies any connection to a recent spate of anti-US attacks, but videos and claims on social media hint at its involvement, through groups operating under other names.

Kadhemi has angered armed groups by seizing border posts where they ran lucrative smuggling networks and imposed taxes on traders.

Attacks have risen in recent weeks, with the Iraqi army reporting another rocket attack on Tuesday evening targeting Baghdad airport, where US troops are based. The projectile did not cause damage or casualties, the army said.

From October to the end of July, Iraqi armed factions carried out 39 rocket attacks against American interests in the country.

But after the White House earlier this month confirmed that Trump would meet Kadhemi, the pace intensified.

Between August 4 and 18, 14 bomb and rocket attacks targeted Iraqi logistics convoys for the US military, bases housing US soldiers and the US embassy.

While the impact has been limited, the attacks have served as a show of strength.

After an attack on a convoy in Iraq's south, a man was arrested in possession of bombs and a Hashed al-Shaabi military ID card that allowed him to cross checkpoints without a search, an intelligence source told AFP.

At the end of June, 14 fighters from the Hezbollah Brigades, a Hashed al-Shaabi faction, were arrested for attacks on Americans.

Three days later, 13 were released on the decision of a Hashed military judge.

Kadhemi over the weekend hosted Iranian commander Esmail Qaani, Soleimani's replacement, telling him that "no country" could interfere in Iraqi-US relations, a source close to the discussions told AFP.

The relationship between Baghdad and Tehran, meanwhile, must be "state-to-state and not via militias," the source quoted him as saying, adding that groups that "draw their strength from Iran" had bombed Iraqi targets and embezzled money.

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Riot Takes Place in Portland Hours After Police Chief Offers Solution to Violence

Unrest in Portland continued on Aug. 19 as a mob marched to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building and broke windows after assaulting police officers.

Crowds in the hundreds have been gathering on a nightly basis in Oregons largest city since May 28. On most nights, members commit acts of violence.

Recent events have been organized by PNW Youth Liberation Front, an Antifa-linked group.

People gathered in Elizabeth Caruthers Park in south Portland and marched half a mile to the ICE building.

These people began shining lights and lasers at federal officers located inside of the building. Group members began kicking and banging on the doors and windows of the ICE building, the Portland Police Bureau stated in an incident summary.

Video contains scenes from Aug. 18 and Aug. 19.

Because of the criminal acts, police, assisted by federal officers, issued warnings before dispersing the crowd with tear gas and munitions. While being forced to move away from the building, some rioters hurled projectiles such as softball-sized rocks and glass bottles at the police. Someone threw a hammer.

The dispersal was only temporarily successful. The mob made its way back to the ICE building and smashed windows, triggering another attempt to control the crowd.

Two people, Joshua Buckley, 30, and Mark Putman, 25, were both arrested for interfering with an officer and disorderly conduct.

Under a new policy from Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt, both will likely see their charges dropped.

Rioters the previous evening targeted a county building, setting it on fire, and over the weekend brutally assaulted multiple people, leaving one man unconscious.

Police Chief Chuck Lovell said hours earlier on Aug. 19 that he had a solution to the continued violence.

We continue to get asked how this will end and how the violence will stop, he said in a statement.

A member of the media stands amid tear gas used by police officers to clear rioters near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement centre in Portland, Ore., Aug. 19, 2020, in this still image from a video obtained from social media. (Twitter/DAVE_BLAZER /Instagram/AARON2543/via Reuters

The solution is in a critical mass of community and partners coming together to denounce this criminal activity and call it out as it does not represent what we know our community at large wants or values. The solution includes broad support for the police to do their job in exhausting and challenging circumstances, he wrote.

The solution also includes elected officials and people in positions of power coming together in support of the real change, but against those who continue to feel empowered to act in a way that devalues our City with every brick thrown, every fire lit, and every crime committed.

The stakes are high and the world is watching. We are on the national stage right now. I would much rather be known for being leaders in change rather than nightly violence, he wrote.

A policing expert told The Epoch Times in July that city officials needed to get the violence in Portland under control or step down, particularly Mayor and Police Commissioner Ted Wheeler.

The longer its tolerated, the more out of control it becomes, the harder it is to contain it, said Maria Haberfeld, professor of police science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Correction: This story was updated with clarification on the district attorneys new policy.
Hong Kong will suspend an agreement on mutual legal assistance with the United States, China`s foreign ministry said on Thursday, in a tit-for-tat response to Washington ending some agreements with Hong Kong.

The US State Department notified Hong Kong on Wednesday that Washington had suspended or terminated three bilateral agreements with the semi-autonomous city following China`s imposition of a sweeping national security law.

"China urges the US to immediately correct its mistakes," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a news briefing on Thursday as he announced the suspension of the agreement on legal assistance.

The agreement, signed in 1997 before Britain returned Hong Kong to China, specified that the United States and Hong Kong governments would help each other in criminal matters such as transferring people in custody or searching and confiscating proceeds of crime.

The US State Department said earlier the three agreements the United States ended covered "the surrender of fugitive offenders, the transfer of sentenced persons, and reciprocal tax exemptions on income derived from the international operation of ships".

The US decision followed President Donald Trump`s order last month to end Hong Kongs special status under US law to punish China for what he called oppressive actions against the former British colony.

Trump signed an executive order that he said would end the preferential economic treatment for the city following the imposition of the draconian new security law.

The national security law punishes anything China considers secession, subversion, terrorism or collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison and has drawn criticism from Western countries that worry the law will end the freedoms promised when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule.

Beijing and the Hong Kong government have defended the law as necessary to restore order and preserve prosperity after months of at times violent anti-government protests last year.

Hong Kong has become another contentious issue between China and the United States, whose relations were already strained by differences over trade, China`s claims in the South China Sea and its treatment of its Muslim Uighur minority.
A job seeker waits to use a phone at a career center in Richmond, Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that the state is applying to the federal government to provide a $300 weekly supplemental unemployment benefit to Californians. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

California is asking the federal government for a $300 weekly supplemental unemployment benefit for jobless Californians, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday. The move comes after the Trump administration said states would not have to put up billions of new matching dollars, which the governor said last week made the plan unworkable.

With an initial $600 weekly supplement having expired last month  part of the coronavirus relief package approved by Congress in the spring  Newsom said his administration is in talks with federal officials regarding an application to provide a $300 weekly supplement after seven other states had their requests approved.

We are still waiting for a little bit more clarity and guidance, but we are doing everything in terms of our application process to meet their needs, and our hope and expectation is to be among the first cohort of states to draw down that federal money, Newsom said during a press conference.

Facing continuing unemployment related to the COVID-19 pandemic, President Trump signed an executive order on Aug. 8 to provide $400 a week to unemployed Americans as long as states pick up a quarter of the cost  $100. But Newsom said last week that it would cost California $700 million per week to cover the state's $100 match, a cost he said the state cannot afford.

Since then, federal officials have said states could apply for the $300 supplement and count $100 in existing benefits paid to jobless people toward the state's contribution, rather than providing an additional $100. So far, applications to the Federal Emergency Management Agency have been approved for states including Iowa, Arizona, New Mexico, Louisiana, Utah, Colorado and Missouri, according to U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia.

The Department is working closely with our partners at FEMA to ensure States have the resources they need to continue supporting Americans temporarily out of work, Scalia said in a statement this week. Im encouraged that these States moved quickly to implement benefits, and we are working with more States to help them provide continued benefits to Americans in need.

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California has had to reinstate orders to close many businesses as COVID-19 cases spiked in the last month.

As a result, the state Employment Development Department has processed 10.2 million claims for unemployment benefits since the pandemic began in March  half of the regular claims filed in the last two weeks are applications to reopen claims from people who had previously stopped certifying that they were unemployed.

Newsom has said he hopes Congress will overcome a stalemate and restore the full $600 weekly supplemental benefit. But in the meantime, the governor said the state is open to whatever help it can get from Washington.

We have been leaning into that. I am not walking away, Newsom said Wednesday. We, from day one, asserted an interest, and we have processed that interest in formal conversations and applications with our federal partners.

States have until Sept. 10 to apply to FEMA for the supplemental benefits. Unemployed people are eligible if they have received at least $100 per week in unemployment benefits from the state. Newsom said Wednesday he could not yet provide a date for when the first payment might arrive on debit cards issued by EDD.

We are going back and forth on those details with federal officials, Newsom said. As soon as we have clarity from the feds, we will be making public exactly when those dollars will be forthcoming.

The governor said last week that reprogramming the states outdated computer systems to handle the new federal funding would create time delays. EDD Director Sharon Hilliard told state lawmakers recently that the agency could require up to 20 weeks to allow the states computer system to make payments.

EDD officials did not provide new estimates when asked Wednesday by The Times.

The new federal program is meant to provide supplemental help retroactive to Aug. 1, and ending Dec. 27, or when the program is terminated.

The average state unemployment benefit received by Californians is $305 per week, so even adding $300 means many jobless residents will still have "far too little" to make ends meet, said George A. Warner, an attorney with the group Legal Aid At Work in San Francisco.

The Newsom administration continues to face criticism from some jobless Californians and lawmakers over a backlog of more than 1 million claims that have not yet been approved.

On Wednesday, Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco), a leading critic of the EDD, welcomed the news that the state will seek a $300 weekly supplement.

"Doing whatever we can to get Californians benefits during this emergency is crucial," Chiu said. "Unfortunately, we know any changes to the program will create challenges for an already-overwhelmed EDD."

Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) said he also worries that some people have questioned the legality of the presidents executive order, so he still hopes Congress will act.

If nothing gets passed at the federal level, Gov. Newsom should consider calling us back under a special session so we can take matters into our own hands, Ting said.
MOSCOW  Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was in a coma and on a ventilator Thursday in an intensive care unit in Siberia after falling ill from suspected poisoning that his allies believe is linked to his political activity.

The 44-year-old critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin felt unwell on a flight back to Moscow from Tomsk, a city in Siberia, and was taken to a hospital after the plane made an emergency landing in Omsk, Navalny's spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, said on Twitter.

She told the Echo Moskvy radio station that he must have consumed poison in tea he drank at an airport cafe before boarding the plane early Thursday. During the flight, Navalny started sweating and asked her to talk to him so that he could focus on the sound of a voice. He then went to the bathroom and lost consciousness, and has been in a coma in grave condition ever since.

Other opposition figures were quick to suggest Kremlin involvement.

We are sure that the only people that have the capability to target Navalny or myself are Russian security services with definite clearance from Russias political leadership, Pyotr Verzilov, a member of the protest group Pussy Riot who ended up in intensive care after suspected poisoning in 2018, told The Associated Press. We believe that Putin definitely is a person who gives that go-ahead in this situation.

Doctors at Omsk Ambulance Hospital No. 1, where the politician was being treated, remained tight-lipped about his diagnosis saying only that they were considering a variety of theories, including poisoning. Local health officials said they found no indication that Navalny had suffered from a heart attack, stroke or the coronavirus.

Authorities initially refused to let Navalnys wife, Yulia, see her husband and have rejected requests for documentation that would allow him to be transferred to a European hospital for treatment, Yarmysh said.

Verzilov, who was flown to Berlin for treatment in 2018, said hospitals in Omsk or Moscow would not be able to treat Navalny properly and expressed concern about possible pressure from security services that doctors could be under in Russia.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was necessary to wait for test results showing what caused Navalny's condition, adding the authorities would consider a request to allow Navalny to leave Russia, which has not fully opened its borders after a coronavirus lockdown, for treatment.

State news agency Tass reported that police were not considering deliberate poisoning, a statement the politician's allies dismissed.

Reports about the alleged poisoning made waves in the West. French President Emmanuel Macron said France was ready to offer Navalny and his family all necessary assistance ... in terms of health care, asylum, protection and insisted on the need to clarify what happened.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking at a joint news conference with Macron, echoed his sentiment. Obviously Germany will let him have all the medical help that is needed also in German hospitals, Merkel said.

What is also very important is that it will be clarified very urgently how it could come to the situation.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and the United Nations also expressed concern over what happened to Navalny, and Amnesty International demanded a full and thorough investigation.

The widow of Alexander Litvinenko, the Russian agent who was killed in London by radioactive poisoning in 2006, voiced concern that Navalnys enemies within Russia may have decided that its time to use a new tactic.

Maybe they decided to do a new tactic not to stop him just with an arrest but to stop him with poison. It looks like a new tactic against Navalny, Marina Litvinenko told The Associated Press from Sicily, Italy.

Like many other opposition politicians in Russia, Navalny has been frequently detained by law enforcement and harassed by pro-Kremlin groups. In 2017, he was attacked by several men who threw antiseptic in his face, damaging an eye.

Last year, Navalny was rushed to a hospital from prison, where he was serving a sentence following an administrative arrest, with what his team said was suspected poisoning. Doctors said then that he had a severe allergic attack and discharged him back to prison the following day.

Navalny's Foundation for Fighting Corruption has been exposing graft among government officials, including some at the highest level. Last month, he had to shut the foundation after a financially devastating lawsuit from Yevgeny Prigozhin, a businessman with close ties to the Kremlin.

Belarus' authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko accused Navalny last week of organizing unprecedented mass protests against his re-election that have rocked Russia's ex-Soviet neighbor since Aug. 9. He did not, however, provide any evidence and that claim was one of many blaming foreign forces for the unrest.

The most prominent member of Russia's opposition, Navalny campaigned to challenge Putin in the 2018 presidential election, but was barred from running.

He set up a network of campaign offices across Russia and has since been promoting opposition candidates in regional elections, challenging members of Russia's ruling party, United Russia. One of his associates in Khabarovsk, a city in Russia's Far East that has been engulfed in mass protests against the arrest of the region's governor, was detained last week after calling for a strike at a rally.

In the interview with Echo Moskvy, Yarmysh said she believed the suspected poisoning was connected to this year's regional election campaign.

Vyacheslav Gimadi, a lawyer with Navalnys foundation, said the team has requested that Russias Investigative Committee open a criminal probe. There is no doubt that Navalny was poisoned because of his political stance and activity, Gimadi said in a tweet.

Commentators say Navalny has become increasingly dangerous for the Kremlin as Putins approval has plummeted this year to a record low of around 60% amid the coronavirus pandemic and growing public frustration with the declining economy.

Navalny's ability to mobilize voters against pro-Kremlin candidates poses a particular challenge ahead of the 2021 parliamentary elections, said Abbas Gallyamov, a former Kremlin speechwriter-turned-political analyst.

The Duma elections are particularly important for the Kremlin, as the new Duma will be operating in 2024, when Putins current presidential term expires and he may announce running for re-election, Gallyamov told the AP.

Imagine if now the parliament in Belarus announced not recognizing election results, Gallyamov said. This would be the end of the regime.

Thats why controlling the next State Duma is crucially important for the Kremlin. Navalny really makes it harder for the Kremlin to establish that control, Gallyamov added.

At the same time Navalny, who rose to prominence by exposing corruption all over Russia, could have other enemies, Gallyamov said, and may have been targeted by people featured in one of his investigations, if he was indeed deliberately poisoned.

Navalny is not the first opposition figure to come down with a mysterious poisoning.

In 2018 Verzilov spent a month in a hospital, recovering from a suspected poisoning by an unknown substance. He told the AP that Navalny's initial symptoms  loss of coordination, pain, fainting  were very similar to his.

Opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza was hospitalized with poisoning symptoms twice  in 2015 and 2017. Prominent journalist Anna Politkovskaya was also reportedly poisoned in 2004  two years before being murdered.

On Thursday evening, activists in several Russian cities held protests in support of Navalny. In St. Petersburg, a crowd of about 100 people gathered in the city center, and several supporters were detained.

It was actually in the interests of the authorities to safeguard him, but for some reason a number of those who criticize the authorities get poisoned, Yegor Batozhok, 34, a municipal deputy in St. Petersburg, told the AP.

--The Associated Press

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As wildfires plague the US this summer, Google Maps has added a new feature to help users stay safe and informed during a blaze.

A new wildfire boundary map presents the outline of the conflagration in near-real-time, and the feature also directs users to current news and helpful information from local authorities.

The information is also available on Google Search, when a user looks up a term like 'California wildfires' or searches for details on a specific fire.

On Google Maps, they'll receive an SOS alert if they're approaching an active blaze and get updated information about road closings.

Google has added a 'wildfire boundary' map that shows the outline of a blaze and directs users to articles about the fire and updates from authorities. The fire's boundary appears in red and is updated in near-real time, using satellite imaging

Google debuted SOS alerts in 2017, providing emergency information during a crisis depending on how close a user was to the affected area.

The new wildfire boundary feature was piloted in California last year and is now available across the US, with a worldwide release set sometime in the future.

Yossi Matias, VP Engineering & Crisis Response, said his team started exploring ways to provide up-to-date information about fires a decade ago, when a wildfire broke out on Israel's Carmel Mountain, not far from their offices in Haifa.

He was able to take photos of the billowing smoke from his office window, but admits details about its size, intensity and the risk they faced were sparse.

The information is also available on Google Search, when a user looks up a term like 'California wildfires' or searches for details on a specific fire. On Google Maps, they'll receive an SOS alert if they're approaching an active blaze and get updated information about road closings

'We experienced a potentially life-impacting information gap,' Matias wrote in a blog post Thursday.

'In moments like a growing wildfire, knowing exactly where a blaze is underway and how to avoid it is critical.'

'Using satellite data to create a wildfire boundary map, people will now see the approximate size and location right on their phone or desktop.'

The borders are presented in near-real time, using satellite data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's GOES satellites and Google Earth Engine's data analysis capabilities.

Drivers will receive an SOS alert on Google Maps if they're approaching an active blaze, along with information about road closings. The program was piloted in California last year and is now available across the US, with plans to introduce it abroad in the future

'From there, we create a digital polygonthe red boundary shown on the map in Search and Google Mapsthat represents the approximate wildfire impact area,' Matias said. 'If multiple large fires are active in the same region, people may see several polygons.'

And the information is refreshed approximately every hour, to provide the most relevant data to users.

In addition to benefiting locals, Matias said, it could be a boon to first responders and emergency management teams.

Wildfires have continued to plague the US this summer, with at least 77 large complexes of blazes burning across 15 states. The new wildfire map could be a boon to first responders and emergency personnel, Google said

This year the National Interagency Fire Center has predicted above normal fire risks for several areas across the U.S.

This week alone at least 77 large complexes of wildfires were burning in 15 states, almost a third of them in California.

Google also announced updates this week to its user interface which will greatly increase the detail on its terrain and street maps.

Color-coding on terrain will enable users to distinguish various features, like beaches and deserts rendered in tan and snow-capped mountains in white. Vegetation will appear in green, with dense forests appearing in dark green and patchy shrubs in a lighter shade.

The update will also provide more detailed street information, including exact locations of sidewalks, crosswalks, and pedestrian islands.

That's crucial information for people using strollers, bikes or wheelchairs, the company said, or anyone utilizing solo transportation during the pandemic.

The improved maps are being introduced in London, New York, and San Francisco in upcoming months, with plans to expand to more cities.
(Natural News) The Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis in Australia has caused the closure of thousands of ATMs and hundreds of bank branches in the country.

At least 2,150 terminals have been removed in the recent June quarter alone. This has brought the number of ATM terminals across the country to just 25,720  their lowest level in 12 years  according to the Australian Payments Network.

According to Tony Richards, head of payments policy at the Reserve Bank of Australia, most of the ATM closures were in metropolitan areas, in locations such as shopping centers.

In addition, Australias Big Four banks  ANZ, Commonwealth, NAB and Westpac  have also shut down a combined 175 branches over the past 12 months. Of these, ANZ has the highest with 68 branches closed, followed by Commonwealth with 44. Meanwhile, Westpac and NAB have shut down 36 and 27 branches, respectively.

The widespread closures have divided public opinion and, more importantly, left 2.5 million elderly Australians who dont do online banking with no way to access their money.

Closures speeding up the move to a cashless society

Even as the closures inconvenience some of Australias most vulnerable, banking officials are saying that they expect the trend of moving away from cash to continue in the long-term.

Overall the bank expects the long-term downward trend in the use of cash to continue, Richards said.

Meanwhile, the Australian Banking Associations chief executive officer, Anna Bligh, said that the nations banks had already been investing to move into the cashless economy.

Australias banks have invested heavily to keep up with the [customers] banking preferences with technology and data now playing a key role in how banks do their business, she said.

But not everyone is happy with the move by the banks.

Ian Heschke, chief advocate for National Seniors Australia, stated that many of the nations elderly feel more comfortable using cash amid fears of being scammed online.

Many of them are older Australians and taking away services from them is going to be extremely difficult for them, he lamented.

Australians split on the move to cashless

A number of Australians have decried the closures and expressed their anger online.

This is stupid If I wasnt living with my son and family I would not be able to have the Internet, posted one woman on Facebook. So how the hell do low income and pensioners get their money. Oh right we will be forced to walk into a bank and will be charged. Profit before people as usual.

Some have even accused the closures as part of a conspiracy, with the government and banks using the pandemic as an excuse to push towards a fully cashless society.

Banks forced dont believe that, it more they wanted to shut them down so we move cashless, added another. Cash is still legal tender. Not to [mention] all the people young and old that would suffer from a cashless society. The banks and the government are pushing this. And they use COVID as a way to push this forward even more suggests business to accept contactless payment only. The government needs a wake up call.

Others disagreed with this take.

I work in retail and I call BS on this. I dont see the cashless society. I see people working to budgets using cash, the elderly and not so elderly using cash, posted another woman online.

COVID-19 pushing more towards e-commerce

Regardless of the reason, data shows that the coronavirus pandemic has pushed more Australians away from cash and towards e-commerce. New research from PayPal Australia shows that 23 percent fo Australian businesses and 21 percent of consumers are now completely cashless. (Related: Here it comes  Globalists call for cashless society in response to coronavirus, warning physical money is dirty.)

In addition, PayPals research also showed that around 2.5 million Australian adults started shopping online for the first time during the pandemic. Finally, 57 percent of those surveyed stated that they expect cash to be phased out of personal spending by 2030.

The impact of COVID-19 on e-commerce in Australia is difficult to overstate. Millions of transactions that would normally have taken place in stores shifted to digital and more than two million Australians started shopping online for the first time, stated PayPals Australian senior director Peter Cowan.

However, the data also shows that younger generations are leading the move to cashless. Older Australians, on the other hand, are more reluctant, with 46 percent saying that theyll always use cash.

With this in mind, the question now then is what will happen to these older Australians if the expected move to a fully cashless society eventually happens.

Learn more about how the coronavirus is changing the way people spend at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

News.com.au
Police declared a gathering near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in the southern part of the U.S. city of Portland as an unlawful assembly", as demonstrators marched towards the building late on Wednesday.

All persons near SW Bancroft St and SW Bond Ave must disperse", Portland Police said in a tweet, adding that failure to comply with the order may lead to arrests and the use of tear gas, crowd control agents and impact weapons.

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
Inside Thursday TV: In what appears to be a three-hour season finale, History's Alone (8/7c) follows its final three survivalists through more frigid struggles on their way to Day 100 and a $1 million prize The Democratic National Convention concludes (check local listings for times) with an address from presidential nominee Joe Biden, scheduled to be preceded during the night by several of his prominent rivals for the nomination during the primaries: New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg and entrepreneur Andrew Yang The Netflix documentary John Was Trying to Contact Aliens profiles John Shepherd, who spent 30 years trying to make contact with extraterrestrials by sending music into space In the conclusion of a two-part episode of truTV's wacky Tacoma FD (10/9c) set at the Firefighter's Ball, Terry (Kevin Heffernan) and Eddie (Steve Lemme) have it out with each other while trapped in an elevator.
Jose Andres loads meals to be delivered to staff at St. George's Hospital in Beirut. (World Central Kitchen)

[Editors note: This is an expanded, updated version of a story that first appeared in our weekly Tasting Notes newsletter.]

A year ago in Beirut I was sitting snug among friends and strangers at the communal table at Tawlet, a sun-filled restaurant in Beiruts dense Mar Mikhael neighborhood. We ate tomato and eggplant salad and kibbeh nayeh, the olive oil-doused lamb tartare thats a national dish of Lebanon. The restaurant had no set menu: The food came from a network of farmers, and the chefs were often women who cooked the specialties from their villages in the mountains outside Beirut.

Images on social media from the last two weeks show the new reality at Tawlet: The dining area has become an efficient workroom. Cooks and volunteers, their faces obscured by masks, stand bent over the long central table, filling takeout containers to feed people across the city in the wake of the Aug. 4 blasts at the Port of Beirut. The explosion killed nearly 200 people, injured more than 6,000 and displaced 300,000 residents from their homes.

Hot meals  including molokhia, a comforting stew of jute leaves simmered with chicken  often go to the elderly and the displaced. Hummus and grilled vegetables sandwiches find their way to firefighters, hospital workers and other first responders who need quick, handheld sustenance.

Kamal Mouzawak at the previous Hamra location of Tawlet in Beirut (Courtesy of Souk El Tayeb)

Tawlet, owned by prominent Beiruti restaurateur Kamal Mouzawak, is one of nine businesses in the city that has partnered with World Central Kitchen, the nonprofit founded by chef and humanitarian Jose Andres. The organizations efforts are a story of hope among the horror.

Much of the world learned about World Central Kitchen when it gained recognition during its on-the-ground efforts to feed Puerto Ricans following the destruction caused by Hurricane Maria in 2017. (Andres founded the nonprofit 10 years ago with his wife, Patricia.) In 2020, responding to the COVID-19 crisis, World Central Kitchen provides more than 300,000 meals daily to people in need across the U.S.

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The aid extends to Southern California: Andres and his crew teamed in March with a pilot program called Feed the Frontline to provide meals to Los Angeles hospital workers. In Long Beach, a World Central Kitchen initiative known as Restaurants for the People provides funds for Lolas Mexican Cuisine, the Ordinarie and Breakfast Bar to prepare meals that feed 3,000 to 6,000 seniors weekly while also creating jobs for restaurant workers.

A woman serves herself kibbeh nayeh at Tawlet, in the Hamra neighborhood of Beirut, in August 2019; the location has since closed. (Bill Addison / Los Angeles Times)

World Central Kitchens response to the Beirut catastrophe was swift. Engineering analysts have called the Aug. 4 detonation, which ignited 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in the port area, one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history. Damages total an estimated $10 billion to $15 billion. Sam Bloch, the organizations director of field operations, left for Lebanon the day after the blasts.

The logistics were daunting. Mouzawaks partner suffered a head injury and windows blew out in their home. Tawlat (the word means "table" in Arabic) sustained fewer blows than many other businesses in Mar Mikhael, a district known for its restaurants and its late-night bar scene. Still, the neighborhood was a nightmarish landscape of debris, rubble, smashed cars and shattered glass. It took me two days to even start thinking again, Mouzawak said, and then World Central Kitchen contacted me on WhatsApp. Their combined teams began preparing food for the community three days after the explosions.

In nine kitchens across Beirut, were producing close to 11,000 meals every day, said Nate Mook, chief executive of World Central Kitchen, who joined Andres in the city last week. Meals are going to more than 50 locations across the region, including churches to nonprofits such as the Lebanese Food Bank, Lebanese Red Cross and Food Blessed, which focuses on hunger relief.

Food insecurity in Lebanon looks dire. Lebanon imports 85% of its food, according to a statement from the United Nations World Food Programme, and the explosion wiped out reserves of grains stored near the port.

Its not like I can walk into Walmart or Whole Foods to buy ingredients, Mouzawak said.

This is the first time World Central Kitchen has activated in the Middle East, and its a new environment for us, Mook said. There are a lot of complexities involved that were happening before this catastrophe  a combination of economic disaster, COVID-19 and political unrest.

In Lebanon, political power is shared among sectarian groups that represent various religious affiliations, and citizens began demonstrating last October against long-standing government corruption and political dysfunction. The explosion at the port  with unanswered questions over why tons of ammonium nitrate, a chemical used for fertilizer and explosives for mining, was stored in the city center  is for many Lebanese citizens a horrific embodiment of the governments ineptitude.

Im furious. Im outraged. And Im still in shock. I literally dont know how Im living, said Aline Kamakian. She owns Mayrig, an Armenian-Lebanese restaurant, opened in 2003, that has become an institution in Beirut. Located in the Gemmayze district, it sits across the highway from the decimated port area. The blast tore through the restaurant, and 25 members of the staff were wounded.

Sam Bloch, director of field operations for World Central Kitchen, and chef Aline Kamakian survey damage in Beirut's Gemmayze district. (World Central Kitchen)

Kamakians emotions didnt kick in until the next day when a Catholic organization that had mobilized volunteers to clean debris offered her staff some food.

Im a restaurateur in my restaurant and we dont have anything to eat? she said. It was the first time I had tears in my eyes.

By weeks end, World Central Kitchen had contacted Kamakian. The organization is now paying her cooks to put out 2,600 meals a day. Theyre making pastas, salads and sandwiches paired with peaches, plums or apples from orchards in the nearby mountains  whatever affordable provisions the restaurants suppliers can bring.

Im really happy to have something to do, Kamakian said. Its a kind of therapy, and youre diminishing the stress of whats happening in the country. We cleaned the streets without the help of the government. Jose and his team said to us, Weve never seen a place where the people show each other so much love.

World Central Kitchen plans to be in Beirut for at least several more weeks, according to Mook.

Mouzawak is beginning to plan long-term ways to care for the community. He recalled a recent conversation with a friend who was packing to leave and said, This is a dead region. The words galvanized Mouzawak.

If its a dead region, then someone needs to make it alive. Who will do it? he asked, adding: Listening to him felt like answering a question for myself. The Lebanese are so tired of being called resilient. I feel like, this is it. This is the last time I have the energy to make things better.

Hes securing a space that was laid waste near the center of the disaster area; it was once a Saab showroom and garage. Were taking over the space and creating another Tawlet with a grocery and a farmers market, and were going to have a community kitchen, Mouzawak said.

The right thing is to not close for business. You dont need light in a light place; you need light in the darkness.

Its hard to see beyond the murky times, whether youre in Lebanon or Los Angeles. But Mouzawaks words are a wise prompt that we need to keep finding ways to take care of each other right now.
Postal slowdowns and warnings of delayed mail-in ballots are causing election officials to rethink vote-by-mail strategies, with some states seeking to bypass the post office with ballot drop boxes, drive-through drop-offs or expanded in-person voting options, despite the coronavirus pandemic.

The 2020 election was supposed to be the largest-ever experiment in voting by mail, but the Trump administrations late cost-cutting push at the Postal Service has shaken the confidence of voters and Democratic officials alike. The images of sorting machines being removed from postal facilities, mailboxes uprooted or bolted shut on city streets, and packages piling up at mail facilities have sparked anger and deep worry.

Even if, as the Postal Service says, it has plenty of capacity to process mail-in ballots, the fear is that the psychological damage is already done. So as Democrats in Washington fight to restore Postal Service funding, election officials around the country are looking for a Plan B.

The office has been flooded with calls for the past few days, said Katie Hobbs, the Arizona secretary of state and a Democrat. The concern I have is that, like any campaign of misinformation, it attempts to undermine voters confidence in our process.

Planning in the states proceeded on Monday, as House Democrats prepared for a Saturday vote on legislation that would reverse cost-cutting measures at the Postal Service and pump $25bn (18.9bn) in emergency funding into the ailing agency. Democrats were also pressuring the Postal Service board to reverse those policies.

Postmaster general Louis DeJoy, along with Robert Duncan, the chairman of the agencys board of governors, agreed to testify before the House Oversight and Reform Committee next week, as questions arose about a potential conflict of interest from a logistical company Mr DeJoy holds a stake in that could be shaping the decisions of the Postal Services Trump-appointed leadership.

It was still unclear whether Senate Republicans would follow the Democrats lead and do anything that the president opposes. But endangered Republicans running for re-election were clearly feeling the heat, not from Democrats in Washington but from angry constituents awaiting delivery of medicines, supplies and other packages that they have come to rely on the post office to deliver.

The newest front in the battle over voting in 2020 is the drop box, where ballots mailed out to voters can be returned without fear of Postal Service backlogs or coronavirus infection. Once voters deposit their ballots in such boxes, they are collected by election officials and brought to polling places for tabulation.

Election officials in Connecticut, Virginia, Pennsylvania and elsewhere are seeking to expand drop-off locations for absentee and mail-in ballots, but they have met vehement opposition from Donald Trump and his campaign.

After spending weeks floating unsupported allegations that voting by mail would rig the election, the president on Monday turned to drop boxes: Some states use drop boxes for the collection of Universal Mail-In Ballots. So who is going to collect the Ballots, and what might be done to them prior to tabulation? he asked on Twitter. A Rigged Election? So bad for our Country.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, Mr Trump said he wanted to make sure that the election is not stolen, and so does everybody else.

Drop-box expansion has so far fallen along party lines. In New Jersey, which has a Democratic governor and state legislature, state officials announced on Friday that at least 105 more drop boxes would be added across the state for the general election. In Ohio, the Republican secretary of state has said he is unable to allow for more than one drop-off location per county.

But even in Louisiana, where the Republican secretary of state sought on Monday to limit vote-by-mail options, he proposed curbside drop-off options for absentee ballots.

Beyond the drop boxes, the upheaval over the postal system is forcing many campaigns and state parties to begin their get-out-the-vote operations months earlier than expected. Susan Swecker, the chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Virginia, said the state partys two-week get-out-the-vote program was now a 2 and-a-half month get-out-the-vote programme

She said the party was now encouraging municipalities to open more in-person satellite locations for the states 45-day early voting window, and to have far more drop boxes, which would require an urgent push.

I dont think there are enough drop boxes, Ms Swecker said. Thats kind of a new thing for us around here.

The Trump campaign has moved to counter. In Pennsylvania, where mail ballot drop boxes were widely used for the first time in the June primary, the Trump campaign is suing to block them in November. The suit, filed in June, claims that drop boxes exponentially enhanced the threat of fraud and dont allow for poll watchers to monitor them.

Pennsylvanians became eligible this year to request no-excuse absentee ballots under a law passed by the Republican-led legislature and signed by the Democratic governor. Such ballots can be requested regardless of whether a voter is out of town, sick or otherwise unable to go to a polling place. The pandemic drove an enormous surge in mail voting; when election officials were overwhelmed, about 20 county election boards introduced the drop boxes to ease the burden.

But the Trump campaign and Republican supporters in the state have echoed the presidents baseless attacks on mail ballots. Use of the drop boxes, the lawsuit claims, provides fraudsters an easy opportunity to engage in ballot harvesting, manipulate or destroy ballots, manufacture duplicitous votes, and sow chaos.

Last week, a federal judge ordered the Trump campaign to produce any evidence it has of voting fraud occurring through the use of drop boxes.

There have been complaints of a slower Postal Service across the US, as well as the removal of some postboxes (Getty)

Undeterred, the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee announced on Monday night that they would intervene in two other lawsuits, brought by the Ohio Democratic Party and the League of Women Voters, against Ohios Republican secretary of state to loosen rules on absentee ballot applications.

In Ohio, Frank LaRose, the Republican secretary of state, said he did not have the legal authority to unilaterally expand drop-box locations. He has since decreed that there can be no more than one drop-off location per county.

In an interview, he said that he supported drop boxes as an alternative to the mail service, but that he did not have the authority under current state law to instal them.

I would love for the General Assembly to authorise the addition of more drop boxes, he said. But for me to just unilaterally say: Go ahead, boards of elections, instal as many of these as you want would be irresponsible, because what Im doing now is setting up dozens of my boards of elections for all kinds of litigation and creating the potential for more voter confusion, which is the last thing we need right now.

Instead, he said, the state will begin a public relation campaign to get voters to mail in their ballots early. Ohio has also urged the Postal Service to move some of its processing into the state from a Detroit processing plant to cut down on delays. And it has designed its ballot envelopes with a bold-coloured stripe to make sure they are visible during the sorting process.

David Pepper, the chairman of the Ohio Democrats, however, said Mr LaRose had spent the last month doing everything he could to stop drop boxes, delaying it for almost a month, and then unilaterally only saying one per county without a legal opinion.

Mr Pepper said the state Democratic Party would encourage voters, particularly if they are looking to return their ballots close to November, to use the lone drop-off site in their county.

We will make it painfully clear where that drop box is to every voter, Mr Pepper said. I want to have a 30-day parade of cars going to that one location.

Some Democrats said on Monday they remained confident that the Postal Service could successfully process a large vote-by-mail election.

The USPS is set up to deal with surges all the time, said Luke Warford, the director of voter expansion at the Texas Democratic Party, which is sticking to its vote-by-mail push. Theres surges before elections. Theres particular surges before Christmas.

Mr Warford said the state party had just mailed 818,000 absentee ballot applications to eligible seniors in Texas (another state that does not offer no-excuse absentee ballots). But the ballot chase programme  calling, texting and following up with those older voters to return their ballot  will begin earlier than normal this year.

In Arizona, where nearly 90 per cent of the ballots in this years primary came through the mail or drop-off locations, the secretary of states office has revised its guidance for ballot deadlines, encouraging voters to mail ballots no later than 27 October to ensure they arrive on time. Ms Hobbs, the secretary of state, is also looking at other methods of returning ballots.

We are also working with counties to increase the number of secure drop-boxes across our state, and reminding voters that they can always skip ahead at any voting location to drop off a ballot-by-mail, and some counties are providing drive-through ballot drop-off at voting locations, Ms Hobbs said.

Other states that are almost entirely vote by mail have had to drastically increase their voter education program. In Washington state, the secretary of states office will be using social media and radio ads for the month leading up to the election to help inform concerned voters.

Some voters have been upset, and were just trying to counter the messaging theyre hearing with the facts, said Kim Wyman, the Republican secretary of state. That was actually part of our plan when we started ramping up for 2020. We figured it would be foreign interference that would be ramping up disinformation; shows you what we knew.

New York Times
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 20:30:39|Editor: huaxia

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An Iranian flag is pictured at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Jan. 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

Russia condemns U.S. intentions to restore United Nations (UN) sanctions against Iran, Ryabkov said.



MOSCOW, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Russia will not stop cooperating with Iran in defiance of U.S. threats of sanctions, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Thursday.

"We are guided exclusively by our own interests, our obligations and international law," Ryabkov was quoted by RIA Novosti news agency as saying.

On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo threatened to punish those countries that oppose its effort to re-impose sanctions on Iran.

Russia condemns U.S. intentions to restore United Nations (UN) sanctions against Iran, Ryabkov said.

It is regrettable that as a result of Washington's irresponsible actions, the UN Security Council is plunging into a very serious crisis, which distracts the Security Council from working on a wide range of issues within its mandate and creates certain political and psychological tensions, he said.

Despite Washington's latest moves on Iran, Russia will continue to cooperate with the United States because without dialogue the situation could become even worse, Ryabkov said. 
On a Wednesday evening, my wife, Renee, and I were as happy as could be. That changed within a couple of minutes. For the first time in my life, I found myself frozen with abject fear.

Now, Ive had plenty of opportunities to freeze up over the years.

A few years ago, Peruvian soldiers pointed AK-47s at my head and chest. Their nations new president had just taken office that morning and immediately blamed the countrys problems over the past 400 years on Americans. At the airport and on the streets I kept my cool and slowly walked away from each pair of soldiers.

A few months ago, five Portland, Oregon, police cars trapped my car. Five officers jumped out and all pointed assault rifles at my head or chest for two full minutes. I frozeto stay alive another day.

On that Wednesday evening, however, for the first time in my life, I was frozen with incredibly intense fear. A wave of thoughts swept over me. What if the test reveals I actually do have cancer? I nearly died this past November. Im still in the throes of recovery from that medical disaster. In many ways I still feel so weak. How will I take on cancer?

Then came the most frightening thoughts of all.

I cant do it. Im not strong enough to battle cancer.

Thankfully, freeze is only one of four options when faced with gripping fear. In my case, fight or flight didnt come into play. Then again, it took a day and a half until I changed to the fourth option, focus.

You can face your fears like this, too. This isnt bravado. Instead, its faith-based courage and focus. Here are six ways to change I cant to I can with surprising speed.

Photo Credit: GettyImages/Dilok Klaisataporn

1. Train yourself to ring an internal bell.

Anytime you think or say, I cant, allow your own figurative bell or alarm to alert you. It doesnt mean youve done something wrong. Just the opposite. Youve identified something you can change quickly.

2. Mull over why you feel I cant.

Is it something truly impossible? Or is I cant due to fear, past pain, and lack of courage? The latter almost always is driven by the first two. After all, no one wants to sign up for more pain and suffering. Thats true even though God often uses trials and tribulations to transform us more and more like His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

3. Remember God wants to make you a stronger, more Christ-like believer.

What are you facing now? Could God use it for good and for His glory in your life? Yes! Listen to Paul:

Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because Gods love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.  Romans 5:3-5

Listen to Peter:

Since [Jesus] Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.  1 Peter 4:1-2

Listen to James:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  James 1:2-4

4. Thank God that He will give you everything you need.

Listen to Hebrews 4:16:

Let us then approach Gods throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

As my good friend Scott says, God gives us the grace and strength exactly when we need it. All we need to do is ask.

Photo Credit: GettyImages/undefined

5. Say, I can count on the Lord to respond when I call on Him.

The Bible affirms this in Deuteronomy 4:7, 2 Samuel 22:7, Job 12:4, Psalm 4:3, Psalm 31:17, Psalm 34:17, Psalm 55:16, Psalm 86:7, Psalm 91:15, and Psalm 102:2.

The Bible also affirms this in Psalm 116:4, Psalm 130:1, Isaiah 58:9, Isaiah 59:1, Isaiah 65:24, Lamentations 3:55, Habakkuk 1:2, Zechariah 13:9, Acts 4:12, and Romans 10:14.

Believe it!

6. Trust the Lord to empower you now.

Like Paul, you too can say: I can do all this through him [Jesus Christ] who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13). If you think you have it rough, read what Paul had been going through when he wrote that section of Scripture. Not fun. Yet, its excitingbecause Jesus was working in and through him.

If you ever catch yourself caught up in an I cant, realize youre in good company. Moses (Exodus 3-4), Gideon (Judges 6-7), Hannah (1 Samuel 1), Elijah (1 Kings 19), Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1), Esther (Esther 4), Job (Job 3-31), John Mark (Acts 13:5-13) and so many others have wrestled as well with how to change I cant to I can.

But besides Paul, Peter, James, and the writer of Hebrews, who else readily said I can, thanks to focusing on the Lord at work in and through them?

Noah, Genesis 6

Joseph, Genesis 39-41

Rahab, Joshua 2

Caleb, Joshua 14:6-15 and Joshua 15:13-19

Deborah, Judges 4

Ruth, Ruth 1

Jonathan, 1 Samuel 14

Ezra, Ezra 7-8

Daniel, Daniel 1

Barnabas, Acts 11:22-30 and Acts 13-14

Priscilla & Aquila, Acts 18:1-3 and Acts 18:24-28

(and many others!)

Remembering our favorite Sunday school Bible stories is a great way to renew our faith, so we too can say, I can!

Thats exactly what I have been doing in recent weeks both before and after my doctor called to confirm that I have invasive carcinoma (grade 2).

I can do this. It wont be easy. In fact, it will be very hard. In Jesus Christ, though, I am strong enough to battle this cancer.

What are you facing? Dont wait. Change I cant to I can today.

Photo Credit: GettyImages/vchal

David Sanfords book and Bible projects have been published by Zondervan, Tyndale, Thomas Nelson, Doubleday, Barbour, and Amazon. His newest book is Life Map Devotional for Men published concurrently with his wife Renees new book, Life Map Devotional for Women.
Firefighter killed as hundreds of lightning-sparked blazes across northern California force people from their homes.

A firefighting pilot was killed in a helicopter crash as crews worked in blistering heat on Wednesday to tackle fires started by lightning strikes across northern California in the United States, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.

Nearly 11,000 lightning strikes were documented during a 72-hour stretch this week in the heaviest spate of thunderstorms to hit California in over a decade, igniting 367 individual fires. Almost two dozen of them have grown into major conflagrations, authorities said.

Ash and smoke filled the air in the city of San Francisco, which was surrounded by wildfires burning to the north, east and south. Will Powers, spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire), said thousands of residents were under mandatory evacuation orders in an area north of San Francisco, collectively dubbed the LNU Lightning Complex.

The fire had consumed nearly 20,234 hectares (50,000 acres) on Wednesday night, and jumped across the main Interstate 80 highway earlier in the day, briefly blocking traffic in both directions.

In Vacaville, a city of about 100,000 people between San Francisco and Sacramento, police and firefighters went door-to-door before dawn in a frantic scramble to warn residents to evacuate as flames bore down on the area.

At least 50 structures were destroyed, including some homes, while 50 were damaged.

Wearing a singed nightgown, Diane Bustos said her husband abandoned their car as it caught fire and then blew up on the west side of Vacaville early on Wednesday. She lost both her shoes while she and her family ran for their lives.

I made it, God saved me, Bustos told local television station KPIX.

Firefighters extinguish spot fires as the LNU Lightning Complex fire burns through the area in Fairfield, California [Justin Sullivan/ Getty via AFP]

A firefighting aircraft drops retardant ahead of the LNU Lightning Complex Fire on August 18, 2020 in Napa, California [Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/AFP]

Karen Hansen evacuated her Vacaville home late on Tuesday as the flames rushed towards their small farm, packing up her smaller animals but unable to bring along two beloved horses.

The whole sky was red-orange and it was coming over the hill there and it was massive. Ive never seen anything like it and it only took a few minutes to get here, she told The Associated Press news agency.

They returned on Wednesday to find the house and barn destroyed, but Hansen was thrilled to see that her horses had survived. Im not upset about the house. Im just happy that my horses and animals are alive and my daughter, she said.

There were social media accounts of people trapped in the blaze, but CalFires Powers said authorities had no reports of missing people.

In central California, a pilot died when a helicopter on an early morning water-dropping mission in Fresno County, about 160 miles (258 km) south of San Francisco, crashed.

The Fresno County Sheriffs search-and-rescue team was summoned shortly after 11am to recover the pilots body, but it had not reached the crash site because it was in the fire zone, said department spokesman Tony Botti.

Theyre trying to methodically and safely get them in and hopefully not get exposed to the fire, he said.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said we are experiencing fires the like of which we havent seen in many, many years, adding he had requested 375 fire engines from out of state to assist in battling the blazes.

He declared a statewide fire emergency on Tuesday.

CA has experienced 10,849 lightning strikes in the last 72 hours and WORLD RECORD heat temperatures. Were currently battling 367 known fires. Grateful for our firefighters, first responders, and everyone on the frontlines protecting Californians during this time.  Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) August 19, 2020

Fanned by red-flag high winds, the fires are racing through vegetation parched by a record-breaking heatwave that began last Friday. Meteorologists have said the extreme heat and lightning storms were both linked to the same atmospheric weather pattern  an enormous high-pressure area hovering over the USs southwest.

The largest group of fires, called the SCU Lightning Complex, had scorched at least 34,400 hectares (85,000) acres some 32km (20 miles) east of Palo Alto, while a third cluster, the CZU August Lightning Complex, grew to more than 4,046 hectares (10,000 acres) and forced evacuations around 21km (13 miles) south of Palo Alto.

The last time California experienced dry lightning storms of such devastating proportions was in 2008, according to CalFire.
Ramaj Poller tried to run Monday morning from the Chester police officer who responded to a call complaining that the 18-year-old and his friends were smoking marijuana outside a home in the Delaware County city, according to investigators.

But when the officer lost his footing, authorities say, Poller jumped into a nearby Jeep and tried to run him down, stopping only when the officer fired his gun at the vehicle speeding toward him.

Within 48 hours, police had Poller in custody, and his arrest for attempted murder led to a major break in an unrelated case, a brutal Christmas Eve murder in Upper Darby, according to District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer.

This case represents one of the worst things we could see in Delaware County or anywhere, Stollsteimer said Thursday in announcing the charges against Poller. He tried to kill a police officer to escape a murder charge.

Poller was arraigned Thursday morning, charged with first-, second- and third-degree murder in the death of Samir Geiger, who police say was killed by a group of men looking to rob him of an illegal gun he was carrying.

There was no indication that Poller had hired an attorney. He was denied bail due to the nature of the charges he faces.

His is the third arrest made in the case. Jazmar Thomas, 19, was arrested days after the shooting, and Jamir Hughes, 20, was taken into custody in July, according to court records. Like Poller, they face murder and related charges in the case.

Geiger, 20, was found dead outside a home on Margate Road in Upper Darby on Christmas Eve, according to the affidavit of probable cause for Pollers arrest. A witness told detectives Geiger was at her home that night and had received a call minutes earlier to meet someone outside.

Hours later, on Christmas, detectives found an Infiniti sedan that matched the description of the vehicle seen fleeing the shooting on fire in Darby Borough, the affidavit said. From the car, which had been reported stolen from a liquor store in Wilmington, detectives recovered fingerprints belonging to Thomas and Poller.

Investigators obtained search warrants for cell phones belonging to Thomas and Hughes, who they discovered had been communicating about stealing cars in Delaware County and Philadelphia, according to the affidavit.

In an interview with county detectives, Hughes admitted that he, Thomas, and Poller had plotted to lure Geiger to a meeting in Upper Darby under the pretext that they would go rob places together, the affidavit said. However, the groups intention was to steal a Glock pistol that Geiger had, because the gun Hughes was carrying didnt work.

After meeting up with Geiger, Poller shot him several times before taking his gun and phone and fleeing in the Infiniti, according to the affidavit. After leaving the scene, the car broke down, the affidavit said, and the three robbers pushed it into a nearby parking space and set it on fire with lighter fluid.
By PTI

SRINAGAR: Four senior National Conference leaders on Thursday attended a meeting convened by party president Farooq Abdullah at his residence, days after the Jammu and Kashmir administration denied in the High Court the party's claim that many of its leaders were in illegal confinement at their homes.

NC general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar and former ministers Mohammad Shafi Uri, Abdul Rahim Rather and Nasir Sogami arrived for the meeting at Abdullah's Gupkar Road residence.

Lok Sabha member from North Kashmir Mohammad Akbar Lone was also seen going inside the residence of Abdullah, who is a Lok Sabha member from Srinagar.

The National Conference had on Wednesday decided to convene Thursday's meeting of its senior leaders after the local administration had informed the Jammu and Kashmir High Court that none of the 16 leaders, that the party claimed were in illegal confinement, were detained and that they were free to move around.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the National Conference said it had taken note of the government's stand in the High Court on the petition filed by Abdullah and his son Omar to secure the liberty of its various leaders who have been under "illegal house detention".

"On a perusal of the reply the party has noticed that the government has unequivocally submitted before the High Court that no leader is under detention and that they are free to move subject to necessary security arrangements," the statement said.

"Now relying fully on the stand of the government before the HC that the members are free to move and expecting no hogwash on part of the government, the party president Farooq Abdullah has invited senior party members including Ali Mohammad Sagar, Abdul Rahim Rather, Mohammad Shafi Uri and Nasir Aslam Wani for a meeting at his residence on 20.8.2020 at 5 pm," it had said.

The party had also said it was mindful of the present pandemic and the meeting with various leaders who have been under detention will be done in batches of four members per meeting.

"Needless to add that all standard operating procedures shall be strictly followed by all concerned," the party statement had said.

The Abdullah father-son duo had filed a bunch of habeas corpus petitions on July 13 seeking the party leaders' release.

A habeas corpus is a writ requiring a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or into court, especially to secure the person's release unless lawful grounds are shown for their detention.

Filing the replies before the High Court earlier this month, senior additional advocate general Bashir Ahmad Dar said the contention of the pleas was "not only surprising but shocking as well" as there were neither any legal proceedings underway nor was it being contemplated.

The similarly worded replies, vetted by Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range), however, said in the wake of Constitutional amendments carried out in the Article 370, "it was apprehended that inimical elements may disturb the peace" and the leaders "may provoke them to cause aggravation in the disturbance".

However, no order of detention either under preventive detention law or substantive law was issued against the party leaders, it said, adding, the leaders were free to move with certain precautions "as deemed fit" for their security.

The replies said the petitioners being categorised persons has been advised not to visit any vulnerable areas without informing the concerned authorities" and reasoned that it was to ensure proper security.

The Abdullahs had filed 16 petitions on July 13 for as many NC leaders contending that they were being held in "brazen violation" of Constitutional guarantees of the right to liberty.

The writ petitions filed under Article 226 of the Constitution listed NC general secretary Ali Mohammed Sagar, provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani, senior leader Aga Syed Mehmood, party's chief spokesperson Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, among the leaders being detained at their residences illegally and wrongfully without serving them grounds of detention.

The leaders have been forcibly restricted by police personnel stationed outside their residences for the past 11 months, the pleas claimed.

Other leaders for whose release the petitions have been filed were Abdul Rahim Rather, Mohammad Khalil Bandh, Irfan Shah and Sahmeema Firdous, Mohammad Shafi Uri, Chaudhary Mohammad Ramzaan, Mubarak Gul, Dr Bashir Veeri, Abdul Majeed Larmi, Basharat Bukhari, Saifudin Bhat Shutru and Mohammad Shafi.

Both Abdullahs, who were first taken into preventive custody and then detained under the stringent public safety act for several months since the intervening night of August 4 and 5, hours before Jammu and Kashmir's special status was revoked by the centre, pleaded that the detainees be set at liberty.

The party leadership moved the High Court after the petitions of the detained leaders to the Home Secretary of Union Territory on June 30 seeking removal of restrictions on their movement and set them at "absolute liberty" remained unanswered.
File image: Former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi

The Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) of former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi exited the opposition Grand Alliance on August 20, dealing a blow to the opposition's bid to defeat the NDA led by Nitish Kumar's JD(U) in the state assembly elections due in October-November.

The HAM's core committee authorised the Dalit leader to take a call on whether to merge with another party or coalition, or go to the hustings alone, a top party leader said.

"HAM will no longer be a constituent of the grand alliance. The party has decided to leave the Mahagathbandhan," party spokesman Danish Rizwan told reporters.

The decision to walk out of the five-party opposition coalition in Bihar was taken at the HAM's core committee meeting at Manjhi's residence here, Rizwan said.

Assambly elections are due in the state in October- November and the Election Commission has indicated it would go ahead with the electoral exercise notwithstanding concerns expressed by oposition parties that it could lead to further spread of the coronavirus disease.

Though the party did not declare which coalition it will align with after walking out of the RJD-led Grand Alliance, close watchers of the evolving political scene in Bihar said Manjhi could veer towards the JD(U)-led NDA once again.

Though no JD(U) frontline leader admitted as much on the record, many in the party feel Manjhi could compensate for the loss of Shyam Rajak, the ruling party's Dalit face, who crossed over to the RJD, a few days ago. Rajak was a minister in the cabinets of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and Kumar.

"The party has authorised its president to decide the future course of action," Rizwan said, adding whatever decision he takes will be acceptable to all.

With the exit of HAM, the opposition Grand Alliance now comprises the RJD, Congress, former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) and ex-Bollywood set designer Mukesh Sahni's Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP).

Holding the RJD responsible for the failure to form a coordination committee to iron out the differences within the alliance for better functioning, Rizwan said, "Leaders who do not listen to the constituent partners, will they listen to the people after coming to power?"

The barb was apparently directed at Lalu Prasad's RJD, which has already declared his son Tejashwi Prasad Yadav as its chief ministerial candidate.

"Our leader Jitan Ram Manjhi has categorically stated that there is no point in continuing with the alliance which does not follow democratic norms and listen to its partners," Rizwan said.

Even Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had said during a virtual meeting of his party in the state recently that a coordination committee will be formed within a week, but nothing happened, he added.

He said both Kushwaha and Sahni had backed the idea of a coordination committee but the RJD leadership paid no heed.

Manjhi, a former Bihar chief minister, was appointed by Nitish Kumar as his successor after the JD(U)'s dismal performance in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, when it managed to win just two of the state's 40 seats. Nitish Kumar owned moral responsibility for the defeat and relinquished the top job, but a year later wanted Manjhi to vacate the post for him.

Manjhi formed HAM, quit the NDA in February 2018, and joined the Grand Alliance.

The party contested three Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 general elections as part of the Grand Alliance but drew a blank. PTI AR SNS SK.
Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 09:49:15|Editor: huaxia

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SEOUL, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in's approval rating rose this week, marking the first rebound in three weeks, a weekly poll showed Thursday.

According to the Realmeter survey, support for Moon gained 1.8 percentage points over the week to 45.1 percent this week.

The negative assessment on Moon's conduct of state affairs slipped 0.3 percentage points to 52.3 percent.

Support for Moon's ruling Democratic Party went up 4.1 percentage points over the week to 38.9 percent this week.

The main conservative opposition United Future Party garnered 37.1 percent of approval score this week, up 0.8 percentage points from the previous week.

It was followed by the minor center-left Open Democratic Party with 4.0 percent, the center-right People's Party with 3.6 percent and the minor progressive Justice Party with 3.3 percent each.

The results were based on a survey of 1,506 voters conducted from Monday to Wednesday. It had plus and minus 2.5 percentage points in margin of error with a 95 percent confidence level. Enditem
FLINT, MI -- The massive partial settlement by the state in water crisis lawsuits is a step in the right direction, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, the Flint pediatrician whose research helped end the citys use of corrosive river water in 2015, said in a statement.

The $600 million settlement deal would set up a claims process for Flint residents harmed by lead or bacteria in city water

Nearly 80 percent of the settlement, which state officials said is likely the largest in Michigan history, would be paid to children who were younger than 18 when they were first exposed to Flint River water, which contained elevated levels of lead and bacteria in 2014 and 2015.

Attorneys for the state and Flint residents have been in mediation for more than 18 months in an effort to settle more than 100 lawsuits filed against city and state officials and agencies as well as private companies that advised the city as it struggled to keep lead and bacteria in its water under control during the water crisis.

Youngest Flint water crisis victims to get 80 percent of historic $600 million settlement

As a pediatrician privileged to care for Flint children, I have increasingly come to understand that restorative justice is critical to health and recovery, Mona said in reaction to news of the settlement Thursday, Aug. 20. This settlement is one step toward ensuring the people of Flint, especially the children, thrive after the Flint Water Crisis.

Although Flint children will be eligible to recover part of the settlement without proof of personal injury, adults will be eligible to recover compensation only with proof of personal injury. A formula would provide larger individual payments to those who can show personal injuries, blood or bone lead levels, or who lived in homes with lead service lines.

USA Today makes Dr. Mona one of its 100 Women of the Century

In her statement, Hanna-Attisha thanked Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel, the legislature, the court and all the advocates and activists who made this preliminary and partial settlement possible, especially the plaintiffs legal team.

She said she was grateful to learn that the settlement was driven by community voices and respects the science of child development.

This isnt the end of the story, her statement reads. Healing wounds and restoring trust will take decades and long-term resources. I am hopeful this settlement serves as a reminder of Flints lessons; where the perfect storm of environmental injustice, indifferent bureaucracy, lost democracy and austerity, compounded by decades of racism and deindustrialization left a city powerless and forgotten.

Never again should this country have to deal with the generational repercussions of a community poisoned by policies, she said.

As we are all now amidst another preventable public health crisis, with so many parallels to Flint, money and resources only go so far, she said. Protecting a community requires leadership and vision, creativity and passion. It demands a respect for science, equity, and the proactive protection of our greatest resource, our children.

Hanna-Attisha could not be immediately reached for additional comment.
INFO: Smart Nation Singapore

SINGAPORE  The Smart Nation and Digital Government Group launched the LifeSG mobile app on Wednesday (19 August), which will provide Singaporeans with a one-stop, personalised access to more than 40 government services.

Some of the services offered in the app include: checking CPF statement and balances, applying for passport, applying and renewing road tax and season parking, searching for SkillsFuture courses, and making blood-donation appointments.

It was launched by Minister-in-Charge of the Smart Nation Initiative, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, at a Smart Nation webinar titled Putting People First in Tech Design.

Improved navigation, topical guides

The LifeSG app is upgraded and rebranded to replace the Moments of Life mobile app, which had provided 12 government services predominantly for young parents and the elderly.

It will include a new user interface with improved navigation and topical guides. Information and services are grouped according to topics of interest, such as family and parenting, work and employment, healthcare, and housing and property.

Singaporeans can use the apps dashboard to discover recommended content, access guides that simplify processes such as job and preschool searches, as well as discover government benefits through features such as the Family Support Calculator.

More app enhancements to come

The app will continue to be enhanced in the future. Upcoming plans will include an improved dashboard to provide citizens with an overview of key personal information such as their CPF, housing, and education details.

The app also plans to include upcoming medical and school appointments, and reminders that prompt users to complete important applications such as birth registration, baby bonus and primary school registration.

Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore

More Singapore stories:

New Sungei Buloh Nature Park Network to encompass over 400ha of wetland habitats

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Photo by DNCC via Getty Images

Since Ghislaine Maxwells arrest on charges of helping Jeffrey Epstein abuse underage girls, rumors have swirled about her ties to famous figures including Democratic power couple Bill and Hillary Clinton.

On Tuesday, the Daily Mail published photos of former President Clinton receiving a neck massage from Chauntae Davies, one of Jeffrey Epsteins victims, during a stopover on his infamous 2002 trip to Africa with the deceased sex-trafficker.

According to Davies, Maxwell was present for the voyage and encouraged Davies to give Clinton the massage. Would you mind giving it a crack? Clinton allegedly asked Davies, who claimed he was a complete gentleman during the trip.

Epstein Accuser Says Bill Clinton Partied on Pedophile Island

The unseemly images were revealed just before Clinton addressed the virtual Democratic National Convention. Davies was 22 at the time, and Clinton has denied any misconduct or knowing of Epsteins abuse of young women.

Now the celebrity tabloid OK! Magazine is reporting that ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gifted Maxwells nephew, Alexander Djerassi, a position within her department when he was just out of college and gave him special treatment.

The Daily Beast could not confirm details of Djerassis appointment with the State Department nor if the role was in fact "gifted" by Clinton.

The reports come as Maxwell, 58, awaits trial in a Brooklyn federal lockup for allegedly grooming and trafficking girls for Epstein.

The report also appears to reference Djerassis LinkedIn profile, which lists his role as chief of staff for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs from May 2011 to June 2012. Djerassi served as special assistant to the office from May 2009 to May 2011, his online profile says.

Jeffrey Epstein Visited Clinton White House Multiple Times in Early 90s

Djerassis name also popped up in a collection of Clintons emails hacked via WikiLeaks. In a November 2011 message, Assistant Secretary Jeffrey Feltman referred to his special assistant, Alex Djerassi. Feltman mentioned Djerassi again in a January 2012 email, according to WikiLeaks.

Story continues

Djerassi was also a nonresident associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. A biography on the endowments website states Djerassis research focused on Tunisia and U.S. foreign policy toward the Middle East and North Africa. The bio adds, From 2009 to 2012, Djerassi was chief of staff and special assistant in the U.S. Department of States Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, covering U.S. relations with Arab states, Israel, and Iran. He worked on matters relating to democratization and civil society in the Arab world, the Arab uprisings, and Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Djerassi has served as a U.S. representative to the Friends of Libya conferences, Friends of the Syrian People conferences, U.S.-GCC Strategic Coordination Forum, and several UN General Assemblies, the profile concludes.

The role at the State Department wasnt the nephews only Clinton-related gig.

From September 2007 to June 2008, Djerassi was a policy associate for Hillary Clintons presidential campaign. He listed his job duties as such: Researched and drafted memos, briefings, and policy papers for candidate, senior staff, and news media on wide range of domestic and foreign policy issues. Prepared for more than 20 debates. (In late 2007, Epstein was under investigation for trafficking girls in Palm Beach and working on a secret plea deal with federal prosecutors. Maxwell is believed to be one accomplice who was protected under the controversial agreement.)

The Yale and Princeton alumthe son of Maxwells sister Isabelapparently returned for Clintons 2016 presidential run.

Djerassi lists a job as national security policy planner for the Clinton-Kaine Presidential Transition Team in 2016.

Maxwells and Epsteins connections to the Clintons have faced greater scrutiny after Epstein was arrested in July 2019 for his years-long child sex trafficking scheme.

As The Daily Beast reported, Epstein visited the Clinton White House multiple times in the '90s, and Maxwell attended Chelsea Clintons wedding in 2010.

Meanwhile, several Clinton staffers were listed in Epsteins Little Black Book, including Cheryl Mills, Mark Middleton, and Doug Band.

Virginia Giuffre, a survivor of Epsteins abuse, has previously claimed Bill Clinton visited Epsteins private isle in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Giuffre said Maxwell and someone named Emmy (presumably Maxwells former assistant Emmy Tayler) were present for Clintons trip, along with a pair of young girls from New York. They all allegedly stayed in villas outside the main residence.

The accusations were revealed in a tranche of court records unsealed last month in Giuffres now-settled defamation suit against Maxwell.

In a conversation with a lawyer, Giuffre said Epstein told her that he had the former president in his pocket.

You know, I remember asking Jeffrey whats Bill Clinton doing here [on the island], Giuffre told the attorney, according to a transcript of their conversation. She said Epstein laughed off her question and replied, Well, he owes me a favor.

He never told me what favors they were, Giuffre continued. I never knew. I didnt know if he was serious. It was just a joke.

Editors note: An earlier version of this story included quotes from OK! Magazine about Djerassis work at the State Department. They have been removed from the piece since The Daily Beast could not confirm those details.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Australians are facing almost insurmountable travel barriers, both internally and those needing to leave the country or return home from overseas ("Business pushes for border to reopen", August 20). This puts a whole new complexion on "the tyranny of distance" and "our island nation's borders are keeping us safe". As inveterate travellers these are adjustments we all need to make, but for some people the restrictions mean huge financial pain and mental anguish. Surely our government can find ways to help its citizens who are caught in difficult circumstances. Margaret Johnston, Paddington The business lobbyists might be jumping the gun a bit, but some thought needs to be given to how the economies of countries such as ours might be shaped if the problem is not solved quickly. A long-term balancing act between health and business measures looks on the cards. Should economic decline follow, however, there'll be need for very difficult decisions on how any ensuing fall in living standards is to be distributed within and between the household and business sectors. Let's hope a vaccine is found quickly and that the government doesn't just hand the reins to the usual suspects. Peter Cox, Gerringong Yet another mixed message ("Talk of mandating COVID-19 vaccine 'unhelpful', expert warns", August 20). Is this yet another thing that we're prepared to make voluntary? If we set rules around what we cannot do in a lockdown, why not about having the vaccine? David Rush, Lawson

It is irresponsible of the government to proclaim a "free vaccine for every Australian" when the Oxford University vaccine, currently only under trial, is by no means a certainty. A number of vaccines have already been developed, tested and failed in various countries and it's a fair bet that the Oxford vaccine will be another dud. The government is giving us false hope with this totally premature announcement. Paul Carson, Westmead Should I transfer to a swinging seat in anticipation of distribution of the vaccine, or am I assured I'll also see the vaccine in a safe Coalition seat? Garry Donnelly, Repton The selfish disregard of the NRL would seem boundless ("NRL wants NSW government to let 50,000 fans into grand final", August 20). At a time when we're allowed only a handful of mourners at a funeral and when thousands forced into unemployment queues, the heartlessness and greed of the NRL is highlighted by the audacity of their request to be allowed to accommodate a crowd of 50,000 for the grand final in order to reap a financial windfall. Breathtaking in its selfishness. Rod Luffman, Nambucca Heads

Fitzgibbon bats for the bully Illustration: Matt Golding Credit: Joel Fitzgibbon, the self-appointed Labor policymaker on all things requiring excellent foot-in-mouth technique, has produced a towering performance almost matching his titanic head-in-the-dirt praise for anything generating climate-destroying carbon dioxide emissions ("Labor blames PM for China wine dispute", August 20). While his criticism of the PM's China provocations claimed the government was too bellicose, subsequent blatant bullying from China has seen the Chinese firmly wearing the black hat in international commentaries. Alan Carruthers, Artarmon Labor frontbencher Fitzgibbon thinks that the PM's language and attitude towards China has been outrageous. Joel, can you help me out here, and identify precisely what he has said and done in this regard and why it is so "outrageous"? Trevor Stephenson, East Ballina

Public inconvenience For a public service that is "stifled" it seems to be doing pretty well, with timely and objective advice on a range of issues such as COVID, the environment, the economy, bushfires, aged care and so on ("Pity the public service manager", August 20). The trouble is that the advice is often not acted on or is kept "confidential" until the eleventh hour because it is said to be commercially or politically "sensitive" ie. plain inconvenient. For whom is the government governing? Greg McCarry, Epping Profit from pain Unemployment sky-rockets, communities struggle, the planet continues to burn and the debt burden for the younger generation balloons, yet the stock market attains life highs ("Wall St's short, sharp shock bear market suddenly ends", August 20). If ever we needed confirmation that greed and self-interest of the few will ultimately destroy what is critical for a long and healthy life for all, this must surely be it. Simon Wright, Orange

Hands off super Reports that unions are agreeing, in renegotiated enterprise agreements, to offset the super guarantee for an increase in wages is pure madness ("Trade-offs reflect union doubts over super rises", August 20). Firstly, such action gives employers and the government ammunition to wind back legislated super guarantee increases by arguing that if the unions think it is alright then it must be alright for workers. Secondly, workers must be worse off as salary is taxed at the marginal rate while super contributions are taxed at the much lower 15 per cent on entry into the super fund. Keep your hands off our super. Michael Blissenden, Dural Kill live exports Is the Australian live export trade facing its last days ("Outrage at cruel cattle slaughter", August 19)? Footage provided by Animal Australia shows the cruelty occurring in Indonesian abattoirs is exactly the same cruelty that happened in 2011. All the systems the Department of Agriculture put in place to protect the cattle from such cruelty is clearly not working. The obstacles presented by a global pandemic, global warming and a recession are just too great to ensure good animal welfare standards for Australian livestock slaughtered in foreign countries. How can the Department, the regulator for the live export trade, be expected to monitor the fate of Australian livestock shipped around the world during these unusual times? Surely the time has come for Australia to phase out the live export trade and set up its own first-class frozen meat trade onshore. Jo Hobson, Petersham

Mail order Public anger in the US, and the Postmaster being held to account, have resulted in postal cuts being halted ("No postal cuts amid vote outcry", August 20). Public anger and demands for accountability have been rewarded. It gives hope to those fed up with government inaction on matters that are seriously affecting society. John Cotterill, Kingsford It'll be a Goodyear when we see the back of Trump ("Trump urges Goodyear boycott over it's policy on MAGA wear", smh.com.au, August 20) Phil Bradshaw, Naremburn Pay it forward I agree with correspondent Sophie Inwald (Letters, August 20). For too long young people have been over represented in the unemployment figures, while home ownership is a pipe dream for them. But instead of improving, the future now looks even worse for them.

My parents went through two world wars and the Great Depression. Frugality was a way of life, not a word. You learned that young and it has become a pattern in your life. War Babies and Baby Boomers who had that upbringing, worked hard and made the most of living in prosperous times became wealthy and lived a good life. But now it's time to give something back to future generations. Any government with a modicum of courage would abolish negative gearing and imputation credit and reintroduce death duties. Robert Dillon, Bathurst Tech tyranny If ever I doubted the influence of technology over our lives and our futures that doubt has been dispelled by the statistic that "just five companies  Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook and Google's parent company  account for nearly 23 per cent of the S&P 500's entire value" ("Apple becomes the first US company to be valued at $US2 trillion", smh.com.au, August 20). That is extraordinary. Apple has just surpassed $US2trillion in market capitalisation. Without wanting to seem a luddite, I question the ethical and social value of this domination by technology companies. Too often I see examples of how social media overtakes so many people. Two examples: when walking the dog at 5am at least half of the other walkers are preoccupied with their mobile devices. Walking at that beautiful time of the day should be to clear the mind and listen to the enchanting sounds of the birds as they awaken. When dining out at least half of the occupants of other tables are preoccupied with their devices, rather than enjoying the company of others.

These examples may seem trite but reflect a sad change in personal interaction, values and communication. Could well explain why I do not have an iPhone. Erik Kulakauskas, Port Macquarie Blast from the past Like many Pamelas and other kids, we well remember the days of ink wells, apples, books and school plays; these were mindbending times that defined the soundtrack of our lives ("Original Mindbender had convoluted career", August 20). Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook A good buzz Can I claim the first blowfly of summer? Or is it the last of winter? Don't want to presume. Janice Windsor, Greenwich

Breeding contempt The puppy scammers mistake was doctoring paperwork. He should have vetted it (Dog act: charges laid over alleged national puppy scam, August 20). Mustafa Erem, Terrigal Colloquially speaking, the person has been charged because he sold a pup (or two). Pasquale Vartuli, Wahroonga Dental as anything If the roles of the players involved had been reversed, a better headline would have been Shark bites man on football field (Letters, August 20). John Atkins, Hamilton South

Green policy Illustration: Matt Golding Credit: The best way to ''beat the squeeze'' involves forward planning but ensures no finger-bruised avos (Letters, August 20). Set up a production line starting with the greenest avocado found in the shop  which nobody squeezes  and allow them to ripen on the kitchen bench. My avocados are now blemish free. Nick Walker, Erskineville Snag at heart
Presidential Payback

Obama returned to torment Trump in ways that only a member of the Oval Office club can | Richard Wolffe Like bankruptcy, political influence moves gradually, then suddenly. On the penultimate night of this unconventional Democratic convention, the pace of that transition visibly accelerated. For most of the last four years, America's political conversation has been dominated by the foghorn squeezed night and day by a hair-dried troll.

Hillary Clinton Remembered

Hillary Clinton Notes Popular Vote Win in Urging 'Overwhelming' Biden Support: 'Take It from Me' "This can't be another woulda-coulda-shoulda election," the former secretary of state and Donald Trump rival said at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday Appearing Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention, Hillary Clinton stressed that, in her view, the lessons of the last four years had been too painful to keep learning.

Not So Secret Message Revealed

Elizabeth Warren promotes Black Lives Matter with subtle Easter egg during DNC speech The Springfield classroom where she stood contained hidden messages. Former presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., gave a subtle nod to the Black Lives Matter movement during her Democratic National Convention speech Wednesday night -- and there were several other hidden messages.

Historic Corona Line

Kamala Harris Says We've Got to Work For Equal Justice Because "There Is No Vaccine For Racism" On the third night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Sen. Kamala Harris delivered a deeply poignant speech centered on her family values, particularly the pride and strength her late mother instilled in her, as well as the desperate need for America to end structural racism.

Prez Tweets Back

Trump attacks Obama and Harris speeches in real time, all-caps tweets Donald Trump did not hide that he was closely following the third night of the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, firing off tweets in real time as former President Barack Obama and Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris delivered withering criticisms of his presidency.

World According To Rush

Rush Limbaugh blasts 'pathetic' DNC over low ratings, 'awkward' and 'ill-conceived' production Rush Limbaugh slammed what he called the "pathetic nature" of the Democratic National Convention Wednesday, riffing on party presidential nominee Joe Biden as well as the mainstream media's continued attempts to gin up enthusiasm for the candidate rather than against President Trump.

NextGen Sounds Off

Billie Eilish Delivers Powerful Anti-Trump Speech, Sings 'My Future' at Democratic National Convention (Watch) At 18, first-time voter Billie Eilish is the youngest music artist to appear at the Democratic National Convention, and she made the most of the platform, delivering a strong speech against President Donald Trump, advocating Joe Biden and imploring Americans to vote.

We want to readtake on the festivities and offer some of the most important links for reference . . .Developing . . .
A lex Jones suffered a hilarious slip-of-the-tongue on The One Show as she accidentally referred to actor Shaun Williamson by his EastEnders characters name.

Williamson, 54, was being interviewed by Alex and her co-host Gethin Jones via videolink during Wednesdays show.

Hilariously, the trio discussed Extras, which saw Williamson constantly referred to as Barry, shortly before Alexs blunder.

Explaining why he wanted to work with Extras writers Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, he told the hosts the pair were the two hottest writers on the planet at that time.

BBC One

Williamson added: When they said, 'Do you want to be in Extras, but you'll be known as Barry, you'll be shining shoes, you'll be a comically unemployable version of yourself'... 'Yes, okay then!'"

As Alex attempted to end the chat, she then referred to the star by his famous characters name before correcting herself and immediately trying to smooth things over.

Thankfully, the actor saw the funny side and the crew had a sneaky giggle as Alex insisted: It was bound to happen!"

Williamson played the lovable but slightly hopeless Barry Evans for 10 years. He was killed off in 2004 when his scheming new wife Janine Butcher pushed him off a cliff.

EastEnders - Best Villains 1 /10 EastEnders - Best Villains Janine Butcher What hasn't Janine done? Walford's Queen of Evil has spread rumours about Jamie Mitchell's bedroom antics, blackmailed Ian Beale, pushed her blubbering husband Barry off of a cliff, and stabbed herself in an attempt to frame Stacey Slater for attempted murder. Dirty Den Watts Den is Walford's original baddie. He was so keen to retain the title that he even came 'back from the dead' to continue his villainous ways. He served up divorce papers to his first wife Angie on Christmas Day but failed to escape from his second wife Chrissie who thumped him on the head with a doorstop. Stella Crawford Poor Ben Mitchell was subjected to months of abuse from Stella Crawford. The lawyer bullied the boy and even manipulated him into convincing his father Phil Mitchell to get down on one knee and pop the question. As with all EastEnders villains, Stella never did get her happy ever after and met her grizzly end after being confronted by Phil on their wedding day before throwing herself off of a building. Archie Mitchell No one seemed to escape Archies dastardly actions. He stole the Queen Vic from his fiance Peggy Mitchell, devised schemes to control his family, blackmailed Ian Beale and raped Stacey Slater. After narrowly escaping being buried alive by Phil Mitchell, he was whacked over the head with the famous Queen Vic bust. Trevor Morgan Unfortunately for Little Mo there was no end to Trevors wicked ways. He pushed her face into the Christmas dinner and forced her to eat the remains off of the carpet, isolated her from her family, burned her hand with an iron, raped her as punishment for attending her sister Lynne Hobbs's wedding, and tried to frame her for attempted murder. Steve Owen Steve killed Saskia by thumping her with an ashtray before burying her in Epping Forest and proceeding to frame Matthew. Despite his villainous traits he did manage to fit in one good deed. He passed baby Louise (who he planned to take to America with Lisa) to her father Phil Mitchell seconds before his car exploded. Nasty Nick Cotton Nasty Nick's devilish ways are endless. He beat up and killed Reg Cox who was found dead in the show's first episode. He claimed to be a born again Christian but then attempted to kill his "Ma" Dot - twice, murdered Eddie Royle, tried to con Dot by fooling her into thinking he had AIDS and was responsible for the death of DCI Emma Summerhayes after tampering with the brakes in Roxy's car. Andy Hunter He was a member of organised crime gang, The Firm, so there was to be no curbing his gangster ways. He conned his way into bed with Kat Slater and split her up from Alfie. But after two years of torturing Walford residents, he was killed by archenemy Johnny Allen who threw him off of a motorway bridge.

The One Show has continued to air throughout the pandemic with segments featuring health advice being added to the programme.

The presenters have been social distancing with a skeleton crew working on the show in its London studio.
A 43-year old government doctor on coronavirus duty ended his life in Mysore district in Karnataka with some of his colleagues alleging he was under work pressure.

The taluk medical officer, SR Nagendra, took the extreme step at his residence in the Alanahalli area of Mysore.

The state government said an inquiry has been ordered into the death of the doctor and advised those battling the virus not to succumb to any pressure. According to police, Taluk Health Officer Dr SR Nagendra was found hanging at his quarters in Alanahalli where he had been staying alone.

Nagendra's family was residing in another area in Mysore district and he chose to stay alone out of fear of contracting the virus and spreading it, they said. Some of his colleagues alleged there was intense work pressure on him as he had been on COVID-19 duty.

Following his death, the district health office saw protests by government doctors demanding action against zilla panchayat CEO Prashant Kumar Mishra who allegedly had put pressure on him to meet targets of conducting coronavirus antigen tests.

Doctors in the health department have also decided to go on a strike until action is initiated on the same, adding that their would attend to emergency cases only. Doctors from Mandya, Kodagu and Chamrajnagar districts will also join the strike.

"About 60 per cent posts are vacant. How do we work like this? We have been working for six months away from home. You have given targets for antigen testing. By putting pressure on such a good doctor, you have killed him," said Dr Raveendra, former president of a doctors' association.

Mourning his death, state Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar in a series of tweets also advised the frontline workers not to succumb to any pressure and share their problems with their superiors. The Minister said being a doctor himself, he understood the pressure under which the medical professionals work.

Later, when he visited the spot, Nagendra's colleagues intensified their stir and sought immediate action against the accused. Sudhakar said a decision on the matter would be taken at a meeting to be held on Friday.

"There will be a transparent investigation into the matter. This is not an intentional incident. In this situation, everybody has workload. We will discuss about reducing work pressure," said Sudhakar.

The government has announced Rs 50 lakh as compensation for the late doctor's family and a job for one of them. Regional commissioner, Mysore has been asked to investigate the incident and submit a report in seven days.

A visibly emotional deputy commissioner of Mysore Abiram Shankar said it is a loss for the district and the department. "Dr Nagendra was a good worker. It was very unexpected and shocking," he said.

Nagendra had been working as the Nanjangud taluk health officer for the last one year. He had been the health officer at Kudlapur village in the taluk for the last six years.

State Health Minister B Sriramulu also extended his condolences and said he is getting every detail of the incident. "I have ordered an inquiry into the case. Anyone found guilty will not be spared. There is no need for people to panic, Sriramulu tweeted.

(With inputs from PTI)
Infosys on Thursday launched Infosys Cobalt -- a set of services, solutions, and platforms -- for cloud-based businesses. Infosys said Cobalt will help businesses redesign their enterprises from the core. It'll also help build new cloud-first capabilities to create seamless experiences in "public, private and hybrid cloud, across PaaS, SaaS, and IaaS landscapes".

With Infosys Cobalt, enterprises can leverage the full potential of the cloud ecosystem and its thriving community of business and technology innovators to drive increased business value, the company statement said. "...(Infosys') the cloud community provides access to a catalog of over 14,000 assets to help businesses leverage the potential of the cloud ecosystem," it added.

Salil Parekh, CEO, Infosys said, "Our clients are building cloud capabilities to gain business advantage in increasingly competitive markets. The future of enterprise cloud strategy will be shaped by three key factors - speed-to-market, innovation at scale, and security of the ecosystem - this is the foundational construct of Infosys Cobalt."

He said Infosys Cobalt will set up a proven and optimal foundation for cloud-led transformation that will accelerate the next phase of growth and market leadership for businesses. Infosys Cobalt will also cater into startups and over 30 leading providers of public and private cloud infrastructure, SaaS, PaaS, applications and enterprise security, the company said.

Ravi Kumar, President, Infosys said, "Our clients operate in hybrid and multi-cloud environments. They want to modernize and innovate at scale. They are looking to leverage this heterogeneous landscape, make the most of SaaS and PaaS capabilities, and power on-demand business solutions."

Also read: Infosys slaps fine on independent director Bobby Parikh for inadvertent trade

Also read: How global financial giants can help BFSI recovery of Indian IT firms
The three-day monsoon session of the Uttar Pradesh assembly gets underway today under the shadow of Covid-19 at a time when the opposition has sought a debate on the pandemic and the law and order situation in the state.

The session will be held amid unprecedented security and special seating arrangements - a first for the UP assembly.

The deadly virus has already claimed the lives of two ministers Kamal Rani Varun and Chetan Chauhan in the state. The states tally of Covid-19 infection cases stood at 1,67,510 as of Wednesday and the death toll was 2,638.

A Covid-19 test has been made mandatory for members of both the Houses.

With Covid protocol in place, the mask on the face of the MLAs will serve as an entry ticket to the House even after they have cleared Covid-19 test, arrangements for which had been made near their residences and at the Vidhan Bhawan premises.

Principal secretary, legislative assembly, Pradeep Dubey said, the security staff can check the identity card of the MLA before allowing entry in case of a doubt.

After paying homage to Kamal Rani Varun and Chetan Chauhan, former Madhya Pradesh governor Lalji Tandon and two sitting members Virendra Singh Sirohi and Paras Nath Yadav, the state assembly will be adjourned for the day on Thursday.

When the assembly sits again on Friday, the opposition is set to raise the demand for a debate on Covid-19.

An indication in this regard came soon after leaders of major political parties attended an all-party meeting convened by speaker Hriday Narayan Dikshit on Wednesday to seek their cooperation for smooth conduct of the business of the House.

Yes, we will raise the demand for a debate on the Covid-19 and the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh, said leader of opposition Ram Govind Chaudhary on the phone.

Chaudhary is under home quarantine and will stay away from the House on medical advice. Samajwadi Party leader Narendra Verma attended the all-party meeting on his behalf. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath, minister for parliamentary affairs Suresh Khanna, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Lalji Verma, Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhana Mishra Mona, Apna Dal (Sone Lal) leader Neel Ratan Patel and Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) leader Om Praksh Rajbhar attended the meeting.

Asked about their stance, BSPs Lalji Verma and Congresss Aradhana Mishra Mona said their parties too would demand a debate on Covid-19 and law and order situation. Other issues likely to be raised include the problems of farmers and the flood fury, they said.

CM Adityanath said the monsoon session has been convened during the pandemic to meet the constitutional responsibility of holding sittings of the House within six months.

He also said the session would provide an occasion for a debate on Covid-19. A debate on Covid-19 in the House would send a new message to the world, he added.

The state government also proposes to get bills passed to replace 17 ordinances promulgated after the last session.

The government is likely to present the first supplementary demand for grants for 2020-2021 during the session.

Earlier, Dikshit said the UP legislature was the first in the country to hold its session during the pandemic. He said legislatures in other states, like Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, had held their meetings for a motion of confidence.
NORMAL  Mayor Chris Koos is warning bars and restaurants to abide by state rules about face coverings and occupancy limits, saying failure to do so could lead to loss of their liquor license.

Koos told The Pantagraph on Thursday that he had received about a dozen complaints from residents about liquor establishments and a lack of social distancing. He declined to identify which businesses had inspired the most complaints.

In a letter to local liquor license holders dated Aug. 11, he reminded them of state rules for businesses:

Face coverings must be used when customers are not eating or drinking.

Gatherings of more than 50 people  or more than 50% of the building occupancy if that limit is less than 50 people  are prohibited.

"As a liquor licensee in the Town of Normal, you have the legal duty to follow the law," Koos wrote to the businesses. "In addition to the penalties under the Public Health Departments emergency rule, a failure to abide by health regulations and other laws may result in the revocation or nonrenewal of your liquor license."

Koos told the businesses that he understood they have struggled with challenges during the pandemic and appreciated their willingness to do their part.

"I am thanking you in advance for your cooperation and your dedication in keeping Normal safe and prosperous," he said.

Read the letter:

Leaders at both Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University this week have expressed concerns about large gatherings off campus and a lack of social distancing and mask usage. Both institutions have had multiple students test positive this week. Classes started Monday.

McLean County reached a record high for cases in a single day on Wednesday. Of 51 new cases, 40 were people in their 20s and younger. On Thursday, the county reported 42 new cases, of which 29 were people in their 20s and younger. One of those cases was a child younger than 1.

Can you help? The latest Crime Stoppers of McLean County cases

Contact Sierra Henry at 309-820-3234. Follow her on Twitter: @pg_sierrahenry.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called a rare congress of the ruling Workers' Party for January to address policy "shortcomings" and lay out a new five-year plan for the nation's moribund economy

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called a rare congress of the ruling Workers' Party for January to address policy "shortcomings" and lay out a new five-year plan for the isolated nation's moribund economy.

Kim made the announcement at a full meeting of the party's central committee on Wednesday, where he "assessed achievements and shortcomings" since the last congress in 2016, the official KCNA news agency reported Thursday.

In unusually frank terms for Pyongyang, the meeting concluded "the goals for improving the national economy have been seriously delayed", and living standards had not been "remarkably" improved.

Kim said there had been "unexpected and inevitable challenges in various aspects and the situation in the region surrounding the Korean peninsula".

The UN Security Council, US, EU and others have imposed sanctions on the North over its banned nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, which have made rapid progress under Kim's leadership.

The acknowledgement of falling short was "intended to justify the regime's expected failure to achieve the economic goals it set out earlier", Hong Min, an analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, told AFP.

The timing of the meeting in January, close to the inauguration of the winner of November's US presidential election, was intended as a signal, he added.

Nuclear talks between Pyongyang and Washington have been stalled since the collapse of a Hanoi summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump last year.

The meeting ended without a deal after the two sides disagreed on what the North would be willing to give up in exchange for sanctions relief.

North Korea is "telling the US whoever wins the coming election, the new president should accelerate efforts to reach a deal", Hong said.

- White jackets -

There was a 36-year interval between the sixth and seventh congresses of the Workers' Party, a gap which included the entire rule of Kim's father Kim Jong Il.

Story continues

Kim called for "regularly convening the congresses of the Party", KCNA reported, a sign that Pyongyang is likely to hold the meetings according to a more fixed timetable in future.

The party's mouthpiece newspaper Rodong Sinmun carried several pictures of Kim addressing the meeting, where all attendees wore white.

But Seoul's spy agency later told lawmakers that he had delegated some authority to his sister Kim Yo Jong and others to relieve his "governance stress".

The moves -- with Yo Jong handling relations with the South and the US, and others dealing with the economy and military -- also aimed to "avoid responsibility" in case of policy failures, South Korean lawmaker Ha Tae-keung cited the National Intelligence Service as telling legislators.

"For example, Kim Yo Jong would get a report on the strategy toward the South and the US, and then it will be submitted to Kim Jong Un," said Ha, from the main opposition United Future Party.

The intelligence agency has a mixed record with its past pronouncements on developments in the North.

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Blanchardstown Shopping Centre owner Blackstone is prepared to agree a consensual surrender of control of the asset if lenders including AIB don't cut it a debt deal, sources have confirmed to the Irish Independent.

Insiders say there has not been an event of default (EOD) but both sides are locked in negotiations over the future of the 950m asset amid a sharp fall in rental income, including as a result of the liquidation of Debenhams, a former anchor tenant.

The specialised news service Debtwire reported the sides were in talks on Tuesday. US insurer AIG and investment bank Morgan Stanley, alongside AIB, are owed 580m of so-called senior debt that effectively has a mortgage on the shopping centre. Goldman Sachs is owed 150m of less well secured mezzanine debt.

Sources say a standoff could last until a debt servicing payment falls due and is missed, which would trigger a hard default.

Blackstone's willingness to walk away from the shopping centre reflects its fear there may be no equity value left in the asset but also an awareness that conservative lenders like AIG and AIB will be loath to force a situation that leaves them owning a huge retail asset in the midst of a retail crisis.

Swapping debt for equity would force the lenders to write down their investments, and in this case, do so early in the downturn.

In AIB's case, taking control would also risk making the State-owned bank a lightning rod for criticism if, for example, enforcement action was taken against retailers for unpaid rents as a result of Covid.

But if lenders may be slow to take control, they'll typically want to see equity injections in such cases in return for any concessions to the borrower.

On the other hand, Blackstone has become the world's biggest property investor in significant part by being able to access hugely advantageous debt terms from lenders that reflect its track record of zero defaults by borrowers it sponsors.

Market sources say a bad outcome at Blanchardstown could have a knock-on effect on such future financing activity, even though Blackstone itself is at a legal remove from the borrower in relation to Blanchardstown's debt.

Sources say the result is a standoff with "all options are on the table", including the possibility of a consensual surrender.

In April this year, Blackstone said it had $150m of cash available in the current crisis to buy to assets from distressed owners.

Blackstone and AIB declined to comment.

Ironically, Blackstone is best known in Ireland for leading the charge of lenders who took control of Eircom in the last financial crisis under a hugely successful loan-to-own strategy for the US investor, executed through an examinership. It also bought property assets here at knock-down prices during the crisis. Buying Blanchardstown Centre was not one of those distressed deals.

Blackstone paid Stephen Vernon's Green Property 950m for the centre in 2016. That sale marked the start of Vernon's exit from commercial retail, including subsequently selling Green Reit's retail assets in 2018.

He re-invested in high-tech logistics parks in a move that anticipated the shift from bricks-and-mortar retail to online, which has been accelerated by the pandemic.

As recently as the start of this year, the owners were investing in Blanchardstown. In January, the shopping centre began a 16.5m investment to update its existing facilities, in addition to an already announced 32m expansion plan.

The shopping centre is one of the biggest in the State, with 112,000 sq m of retail space, 180 stores and anchor tenants including Marks & Spencer and Penneys, as well as restaurants and a cinema.
The NAACP is suing Postmaster General Louis DeJoy in Washington federal court. The lawsuit demands the United States Postal Service restore prompt and reliable mail delivery, and ensure that mail-in ballots are given priority status in the 2020 election.

Read the complaint here.

BREAKING: @NAACP_LDF & @Public_Citizen filed a lawsuit on behalf of @NAACP against the #USPS , arguing that the implementation of recent changes violates federal law & causes widespread disruptions that disenfranchise voters for the #2020election . https://t.co/xczllwA0zi

Here is the NAACP Legal Defense Fund announcement:

Today, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) and Public Citizen filed a lawsuit on behalf of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) against the United States Postal Service (USPS). Our suit, which was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, argues that recent changes by USPS were implemented in violation of federal law and have led to widespread disruptions in mail delivery that risk delaying the delivery of mail-in ballots  thereby causing voter disenfranchisement  for the November 2020 election. The NAACP, the nation's largest and oldest civil rights grassroots organization, and its members rely on the timely delivery of the mail for a variety of important functions, including mail-in voting.

"As we approach the November election amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical to ensure that every eligible voter has access to reliable mail service. The USPS' decision to suddenly reduce services this summer has resulted in unacceptable mail delays that stand to profoundly affect the delivery of mail-in ballots and ballot applications," said Sam Spital, LDF's Director of Litigation.

"Our lawsuit on behalf of the NAACP asks that these changes are immediately suspended, as they were implemented in violation of federal law. It is critical that the USPS resume the prioritization of important letter mail, including ballots, to preserve the integrity of the upcoming election  and to ensure that all Americans are confident that their ballots and other important mail will be delivered promptly and reliably."

"Politicizing the postal service is a threat to all Americans  to our right to vote, our receipt of important checks and medicines, and our ability to pay our bills on time. Although the Postmaster General rescinded some of his changes this week, half measures won't do when it comes to timely delivery of important mail and ensuring people's right to vote," said Allison Zieve, Director of Public Citizen Litigation Group.

"As the country faces an uphill battle against COVID-19 and systemic racism, we're witnessing a significant onslaught against our postal system at a time when prompt mail delivery matters more than ever, especially for voters of color. This willful and blatant attempt to obstruct the mail system amid a pandemic and on the precipice a pivotal election is a threat to the people of this nation to exercise their right to be heard in a fair and free election. The NAACP is committed to fighting for its members and the people of this nation to ensure we all have unfettered access to the ballot box, whether through in-person or mail-in voting," said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP.

Reliable mail service is a basic public good and an essential part of American democracy. And, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, mail-in voting is more important than ever, as it allows for voters to maintain social distancing while casting secure ballots. Indeed, historic levels of mail-in voting are expected for the November 2020 election, for which over three-quarters of Americans will be eligible to request a ballot by mail.

Read the complaint here.
Vietnam has always been an active and responsible member of ASEAN over the past 25 years since it joined the regional bloc, as well as made significant contributions to its development, especially in crucial moments.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh speaks at the opening ceremony of the symposium (Photo: VNA)

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Speaking at the opening ceremony of a virtual international symposium in Hanoi yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said that Vietnam has contributed to the creation of ASEAN milestones such as realising the goals of establishing a bloc with all the 10 Southeast Asian countries as members and the ASEAN Community, building ASEAN Charter, and promoting the central role and international position of ASEAN.

Over the past 25 years, Vietnam has witnessed important changes of the association from humble beginning to the most successful regional cooperation organisation for peace, stability and prosperity in the region, as well as an important partner of global powers, he added.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan said Vietnam's entry in ASEAN has eventually brought win-win benefits. For ASEAN, it was the first step to bring together all the 10 Southeast Asian nations, paving the way to eliminate suspicions and confrontation, and turn to peace and cooperation. For Vietnam, this was the first step to integrate into the world, he added.

Participants at the event (Photo: VNA)

Participants held that over the past 25 years, Vietnam has played a key role in ASEAN with many milestones, notably the realisation of a bloc involving 10 Southeast Asian countries, the creation of the cooperation and dialogue culture in the region, and the expansion of participation of external partners in building trust and preventing conflicts via ASEAN-led mechanisms.

Vietnam has also joined building, reinforcing and developing codes of conducts and regulations on behaviours of counries when engaging in regional cooperation, they stress, adding that there is still a large room for ASEAN to develop in the context of diverse challenges such as geostrategic fluctuations, competition between powers, development gaps among member countries, territorial disputes, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Delegates suggested ASEAN promoting cohesion to have appropriate approach and flexible behaviour to address these challenges as well as maintain its central role in the region and build a peaceful, stable and prosperous Southeast Asia.

The development orientations of ASEAN also attracted the attention of participants at the fuction. Many emphasised that ASEAN should focus on such issues as recovering socio-economic life in face of the COVID-19 pandemic, and adapting to changes in production, trade and investment.

Founded in 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam./.VNA
Viscountess Emma Weymouth has recalled the 'sharp personal sadness' she endured after losing her father-in-law Lord Bath to coronavirus in April.

The socialite, 34, who is married to Ceawlin, Viscount Weymouth, son of Alexander Thynn, 7th Marquess of Bath, described it as a moment 'unlike any other' she experienced during the difficult lockdown period.

Lord Bath passed away aged 87 on April 6, three weeks after he was admitted to the Royal United Hospital in Bath where it was confirmed he had Covid-19.

Emma also discussed the 'panic' she felt in March when the onset of the virus meant Longleat, the Elizabethan manor house and safari park she runs with her husband, was forced to close its gates to visitors.

Viscountess Emma Weymouth, pictured with her husband Ceawlin Thynn, Viscount Weymouth, in 2019, has recalled the 'sharp personal sadness' she endured after losing her father-in-law Lord Bath to coronavirus in April

Writing in British Vogue, Emma said the 'humbling responsibility of being at the helm' of the estate and navigating it through the pandemic has kept her going during the difficult time.

Speaking about their family bereavement, Emma, who shares sons John, five, and Henry, three, with her businessman husband, explained: 'It was a moment unlike any other I have experienced in the past six months  one of sharp personal sadness.

'We tried to show solidarity in ways that we could. We lit the house in blue, and clapped for our carers on Thursday nights, even though we have no neighbours within earshot.

'But each time we did it, it was incredibly and increasingly moving because of the way the NHS had taken care of my husband's late father.'

Lord Bath was known for his flamboyant dress sense and affairs with as many as 70 women, which he referred to as his 'wifelets'.

Lord Bath, pictured with wife Anna Thynn, Marchioness of Bath, passed away aged 87 on April 6, three weeks after he was admitted to the Royal United Hospital in Bath where it was confirmed he had Covid-19

Lord Bath was known for his flamboyant dress sense and affairs with as many as 70 women, which he referred to as his 'wifelets'

He and his wife Anna Thynn, Marchioness of Bath, who lives in France but still visits Longleat where she stays in a flat upstairs, boycotted Emma and Ceawlin's wedding in 2013 because his son removed several of his lurid self-painted murals from the walls of Longleat House.

In 2015, Ceawlin claimed his mother said to him: 'Are you sure about what you're doing to 400 years of bloodline?' in reference to the colour of Emma's skin.

Anna has denied making the comment and has said she has 'absolutely nothing against her daughter-in-law' but has never met her grandchildren - something Emma has previously acknowledged is an ongoing sadness for her and her husband.

Last month Ceawlin spoke of his 'shock' over his father's death, admitting they were expecting him to come home after he appeared to be recovering from the virus.

Anna has never met her grandchildren - something Emma has previously acknowledged is an ongoing sadness for her and her husband

Emma shared a heartfelt on her Instagram account after losing her father-in-law, in which the socialite, 34, thanked the NHS for their help

The pair were patching up their relationship when Alexander began to suffer with symptoms, and Ceawlin was speaking to his doctors on a daily basis, having not been given the option to speak directly to his father.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, he admitted: 'It would be disingenuous of me not to say we had a complicated relationship so there were conflicting and confusing emotions made all the stranger by the environment we were in.'

Ceawlin went on: 'Because he was on the Covid ward there were no visitors allowed. The day before we got the call [saying he'd died] we were told he was perking up so I think we did expect he would return from hospital. I'm still processing not having had the opportunity to be there [when he died].

Last month Ceawlin, pictured with Emma at Longleat, spoke of his 'shock' over his father's death, admitting they were expecting him to come home after he appeared to be recovering from the virus

'I think there are things one would have said. But that opportunity wasn't there.' He confessed he has shed tears since his father's death.

Longleat began a phased reopening with a cap on numbers in June, after what had been the longest period of closure since the safari park opened in 1966. It closed briefly in 2001 because of foot and mouth.

It employs more than 600 staff and, as for many businesses that were forced to shut down, it's been something of a nightmare.

Writing in her Vogue article about having to close the park to visitors earlier this year, Emma recalled: 'The staggering numbers  a million to zero, I remember thinking  were quite simply overwhelming.

Longleat began a phased reopening with a cap on numbers in June, after what had been the longest period of closure since the safari park opened in 1966. Pictured: Emma earlier this month

'But crucially, and rather heroically, the animal keepers, feeders and conservationists who make Longleat what it is were deemed essential and able to come to work.'

Emma said the park is there for the people who have come to 'yearn for nature' in a new way since lockdown.

She added that she refuses to feel a sense of loss about 2020, concluding: 'One day, I have no doubt, the momentum of life that we all so badly crave will be back.'
Howey Ou is a 17-year-old Chinese citizen, who joined the world youth movement 'Fridays for Future', walking in the footsteps of another young activist, Greta Thunberg. But she faces not only being expelled from school but threats to her family's safety and harassment on the web.

Howey is adamant that if she doesn't stand up and do something for the planet, she'll live to regret it.

She first drew attention to herself last year, when she began a solo protest in front of the town hall in the Chinese city of Guilin, holding up homemade banners, alerting passers-by to the dangers of climate change.

While Thunberg, who created the Fridays for Future youth climate movement went on to address the United Nations in 2019, Howey faces a darker challenge.

Over the summer, Howey was actively handing out information leaflets and planting trees to build awareness.

Her solitary acts have seen her expelled from school, which in turn may jeopardize her opportunity to sit for the final exams.

Police called her parents and told them to warn their daughter of the consequences of speaking out against China's stance on the environment.

"In 20 or 30 years, if I look back and realize that China hasn't taken a stand, I won't be able to accept it," she told RFI. She said her actions are not meant to be unpatriotic.

"My national pride is to accept my part of responsibility," she explained.

Her family went to great lengths to persuade her to give up her cause, for her personal safety, namely because those who challenge the communist party line often find themselves in jail, or worse.

Too much at stake

Her parents confiscated her electronic devices, shut her up in her room and argued with her for hours. But to no avail.

"How will she get a job without her leaving certificate ?" asks her worried father.

Howey responds by saying that everyone's future is at stake if people don't come together to save the environment.

"We will all feel guilty for the next generation if we don't do something," she said.

"The climate emergency is the worst threat that humanity has ever faced. We're in a boat that is sinking but people continue to eat and drink happily as if nothing was happening," she told AFP.

Inspired by Gandhi's non-violent protest

Since joining world youth movement, she's taken on board some of Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent protest techniques and learned to face obstacles, just like activists everywhere in the world.

She has been mocked on social media as an "attention seeking lounge-room," activist, and criticised for giving an interview to the German press, all of which she says she is ignoring.

"It's time to set aside our differences. We need unprecedented solidarity between nations ... this battle needs to be inclusive," she told RFI.

"I will feel ashamed if China doesn't stand out and say something in this period."
Canadian foreign affairs minister Francois-Philippe Champagne (pictured March 2020) urged the Mali coup leaders to respect the country's "constitutional order" and the "human rights of all Malians"

Canada on Wednesday "strongly" condemned a coup in Mali that deposed the conflict-hit west African country's president, and called for respect for Mali's "constitutional order."

"Canada strongly condemns the coup d'etat in Mali, which forced the resignation of democratically elected president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita," foreign affairs minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said in a statement.

Keita was overthrown Tuesday by rebel military officers and detained alongside members of his government including Prime Minister Boubou Cisse.

Hours later, Keita -- beset by angry protests over economic stagnation, corruption and a brutal Islamist insurgency -- announced his resignation on television.

He said he had been given no choice but to quit, and sought to avoid bloodshed.

The coup was widely condemned by the international community.

"We call on the Malian security forces and those responsible for these acts to promptly follow Mali's constitutional order and respect the human rights of all Malians," Champagne said in the statement.

He added that Canada would work with regional players and the UN to ensure the implementation of the Algiers Accord, a peace deal signed in 2015 between Bamako and armed groups from northern Mali.

Canada's military peacekeeping mission -- a contingent of around 250 soldiers and eight helicopters deployed in Mali since July 2018 as part of the UN's MINUSMA mission -- ended in August last year.

ast/cjc/to/ft
Out with the old, in with the new, as writes Lance Cpl. Julian Elliott-Drouin, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. The U.S. Marine Corps presents a single source solution to its multi-role radar system and ground weapons locating radar requirements with the AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar produced by Northrop Grumman. The G/ATOR will provide enhanced expeditionary capabilities and will replace legacy radar system, the AN/TPS-59, after Sept. 30, 2020.

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An AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar starts up at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Feb. 26, 2020. The AN/TPS-80 will replace the AN/TPS-63 andreduces set up time from eight hours to 30 minutes for the system. Marine Air Control Squadron 2 recieved the first G/ATOR issued to the Fleet Marine Force following testing to improve the squadron's readiness and expeditionary capabilities (Picture source: U.S. Marine Corps/Lance Cpl. Ethan Pumphret)

The AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR will fill the void that the 59 will leave and enable Marine Air Control Squadrons across the Marine Corps to accomplish their mission of command and control, said Gunnery Sgt. Jeffery Tracy, a radar chief with Marine Air Control Squadron (MACS) 1.

The AN/TPS-59 radar system was fielded in 1985 and upgraded to (V)3 in 1998, by adding the TBM (Tactical Ballistic Missile) capability. The AN/TPS-59(V)3 was used during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, providing both the MAGTF commander and the joint commander with a complete air picture to include fixed and rotary wing aircraft as well as theater ballistic missiles, said Tracy. The AN/TPS-59 has been used in various joint training operations throughout the pacific to include Australia, Thailand, South Korea, Tinian, Guam and the Philippines. With the Marine Corps upgrading its radar systems, the final decision was made in late 2019 to retire the AN/TPS-59 for the AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR.

The AN/TPS-80 G/ATORs primary function is air surveillance. It will allow Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) commanders enhanced capabilities to detect and track adversary aircraft, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, rockets, mortars, artillery, and air traffic control functions.

The AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR will provide us with a much more expeditionary asset, bringing setup and teardown to less than 30 minutes, said Tracy. The setup requires a crew of four Marines to accomplish while the AN/TPS-59 would require a crew of approximately 10 and range from four to eight hours for full setup and operation.

Marines with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing will have a highly mobile, multipurpose tool that will help commanders track threats in the air and on the ground and will enhance the Marine Corps effectiveness and lethality on the battlefield. 3rd MAW continues to Fix, Fly and Fight as the Marine Corps largest aircraft wing, and remains combat-ready, deployable on short notice, and lethal when called into action.

The Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) is a single materiel solution for the mobile Multi-Role Radar System and Ground Weapons Locating Radar (GWLR) requirements. It is a three-dimensional, short/medium range multi-role radar designed to detect unmanned aerial systems, cruise missiles, air breathing targets, rockets, artillery, and mortars. G/ATOR satisfies the warfighter's expeditionary needs across the Marine Air-Ground Task Force spectrum replacing five legacy radar systems with a single solution. The five Marine Corps legacy radar systems being replaced by this multi-function capability include: the AN/TPS-63 (air defense), AN/TPS-73 (air-traffic control), AN/MPQ-62 (short range air defense), AN/TPQ-46 (counter-fire target acquisition) and UPS-3 (target tracking).[Additionally, it will augment the AN/TPS-59 long-range radar.

The Program Executive Office (PEO), Land Systems Marine Corps is executing the G/ATOR program as an evolutionary acquisition program consisting of four capabilities, referred to as blocks.

 Block 1 will complete the primary material system acquisition and can support the short-range air defense and air surveillance mission, as well as provide an Air Defense/Surveillance Radar (AD/SR) capability to the MAGTF Commander.

 Block 2 will include software to perform the missions of ground counter-battery/fire control (Ground Locating Weapons Radar).

 Block 3 capabilities are not currently defined or resourced, and have been deferred indefinitely.

 Block 4 will provide air traffic control capabilities (Expeditionary Airport Surveillance Radar).

G/ATOR provides real-time radar measurement data to the Tactical Air Operations Module, Common Aviation Command and Control System (CAC2S), Composite Tracking Network, and Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System.

The G/ATOR baseline system configuration consists of three subsystems:

*Communications Equipment Group (CEG). The CEG provides the ability to communicate with and control the radar and is mounted on a High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle.

* Radar Equipment Group (REG). The REG consists of the phased-array radar mounted on an integrated trailer. The trailer is towed by the Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR).

* Power Equipment Group (PEG). The PEG includes a 60-kilowatt generator and associated power cables mounted on a pallet. The generator pallet is carried by the MTVR.

AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (Picture source: Northtop Grumman)
-- Rain-triggered floods have affected tens of millions in dozens of provincial-level regions in China, and destroyed vast stretches of farmland and agricultural facilities.

-- In the face of the floods, Chinese authorities have been mobilizing resources, using upgraded technology, and providing material support to ensure grain security and make up for losses in production.

-- China's summer grain output has reached a historic high in 2020. The increasing plantation area of autumn grain and the well growing crops have laid a solid foundation for another bumper harvest.

BEIJING, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Since mid-July, Huang Xiaoping has been busy working in his 110-hectare paddy field, harvesting early rice and sowing for the next season.

Huang also runs a rental business involving farm machinery in a village near the Dongting Lake, China's second-largest freshwater lake in the central Hunan Province, helping local farmers during the "double rush" season.

"We need to fight the current flood and strengthen the embankments," Huang said.

According to China's Ministry of Emergency Management, rain-triggered floods had affected some 54.8 million people in 27 provincial-level regions as of late July, causing direct economic losses of 144.43 billion yuan (about 20.8 billion U.S. dollars).

Restrictions on food exports and panic hoarding in some countries and regions, as well as rampant desert locust, have adversely affected food production.

"The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020" report released by five agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, projected that COVID-19 could push up to 132 million people into starvation globally this year.

Villagers transplant rice seedlings in Gaitian Village in Lixian County, central China's Hunan Province, July 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)

Though downpours and floods destroyed vast stretches of farmland and agricultural facilities, flood control situation in the hard-hit provinces of Jiangxi and Anhui is improving as the water level in major waterways continues to recede.

The flood control and drought relief headquarters of the two provinces have successively downgraded their emergency response level since early August.

In the face of the floods, the Chinese provinces have been mobilizing resources, using upgraded technology, and providing material support to ensure grain security and make up for losses in production.

For farmers like Huang, time is the essence. In the low-lying township of Liaonan near the Poyang Lake in Jiangxi, Wu Baolin was busy sowing seeds of late rice with two workers. He saw some two hectares of his crops damaged in the floods.

"The harvest is finally guaranteed even if it might be delayed," Wu said, adding that there is no time to lose when it comes to growing crops.

In Anhui, replantation of single-cropping rice has been carried out on every piece of farmland where the floodwater has receded. As of early August, more than 100,000 hectares of crops had been resowed, accounting for 38 percent of Anhui's total area of farmland needing replantation, according to the provincial department of agriculture and rural affairs.

Aerial photo taken on July 20, 2020 shows villagers transplanting rice seedlings in Gaitian Village in Lixian County, central China's Hunan Province. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)

China's total grain output consists of three parts -- early rice, summer grain and autumn production. Summer grain is the first season of the annual grain production, which accounts for more than a fifth of the annual output.

Various measures have been adopted by authorities to ensure stable grain output amid efforts to control the COVID-19 epidemic, such as fully implementing support policies like the minimum purchase price for rice and wheat and improving the quality of spring plowing.

As the world's top food producer and consumer, China saw its grain output reach a record high of 664 million tonnes last year, the 16th bumper year in a row.

The country's summer grain output reached a historic high of 142.81 million tonnes this year, up 0.9 percent from last year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Autumn grain crops, which include corn, middle- and late-season rice and soybean, account for the bulk of China's grain production. The total plantation area of autumn grain has increased steadily this year and the crops are growing fine, thus laying a solid foundation for another bumper harvest.

In order to strengthen the prevention and control of plant diseases and pest, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has called for ramped up efforts against the invasion of fall armyworms, rice planthoppers and rice leaf rollers, the three migratory species of pest that threaten autumn grain production.

A man uses a drone to spread pesticide on late rice in a rice field in Mixiang Village of Yiyang City, central China's Hunan Province, July 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)

Pan Wenbo, a crop management official with the ministry, said despite severe floods in parts of the country, crop farming remains stable overall.

Efforts have been made in grain reserves and circulation, grain purchasing, local grain reserves, and improving the capacity for emergency supply.

The Ministry of Emergency Management and the Ministry of Finance have earmarked 935 million yuan in disaster relief funds to aid local disaster relief work in provinces including Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan and Anhui.

Agricultural authorities have built up a 50,000-tonne seed reserve to cope with disasters and crop failures, with more than 7,000 tonnes of seeds already handled to support crop farming for 320,000 hectares of farmland.

According to the department of agriculture and rural affairs in Hunan, the overall flood situation in the province is relatively stable compared with previous years, and the safety of grain production remains within a controllable range.

Rice crops are loaded onto trucks heading for grain reserves in Nanchang County, east China's Jiangxi Province, Aug. 18, 2020. (Xinhua/Peng Zhaozhi)

Wu Liquan, professor at Anhui Agricultural University, said the flooding is unlikely to cause a sharp decrease in grain production since the reinforced dikes and embankments along the Yangtze River have made farmlands safer. Besides, improved irrigation and drainage facilities coupled with advanced agricultural technologies, have further improved safety.

In Hubei, more than 4,000 sci-tech workers from agricultural research institutions have been providing online and offline technical guidance to local farmers, donating more than 700 tonnes of farming supplies and distributing some 300,000 copies of various technical materials.

"We will continue to listen to the needs of farmers and enterprises, help them solve problems and better serve the recovery of agricultural production," said You Aiqing, a rice breeding expert and deputy head of the Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara has appointed a former military administrator of Kebbi State, Saliu Bello, and an intelligence and counter-terrorism expert, Aliyu Muyideen, as Special Adviser and Senior Special Assistant respectively on Security Matters.

A statement on Thursday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, said the governor also appointed Adekunle Dunmade, a professor of Otolaryngology and Director of the University of Ilorin Stem Cell Research Centre, as his Special Adviser on Health Matters.

Mr Ajakaye quoted the governor as saying that the assemblage of a crack security team was to ensure a safe environment for more investments in the state.

Brig.-Gen. Bello, who hails from Erin Ile in Oyun Local Government area, was military administrator of Kebbi State between 1993 and 1996.

He was a colonel general staff for the Nigerian Contingent in Liberia, and former chief instructor at Military School in Zaria between 1988 and 1992, among others.

He attended the Nigerian Military School, Zaria, Mons Officer Cadet School Aldershot, England and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1971. He retired in 1999, the governor said.

He added that Mr Muyideen, who retired as principal staff officer operations (DSS), had a masters degree in Peace and Strategic Studies from the University of Ilorin, where he had earlier bagged a Bachelor of Arts in History.

The governor said Mr Muyideen hails from Ilorin and had trainings in advance investigation, intelligence analysis, counter-terrorism, advance vetting, explosive ordinance, and detective basics, among others.

According to him, Mr Dunmade, who hails from Ifelodun, replaces Wale Sulaiman, who is leaving the cabinet to pursue his long-time career in global health and non-health sectors.

While this is strictly a personal passion of Prof. Suleiman, our doors remain open to him and other great minds like him in our commitments to rebuild a Kwara we would all be proud of.

Indeed, the government will continue to consult Suleiman on relevant aspects of our policy direction as an administration.

The state government acknowledges the many positive contributions of Suleiman and the great strides he achieved together with others in the development of our health sector, including the campaign against the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr AbdulRazaq said.

He said Mr Dunmade, an expert in the Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) medicine, had over 48 publications in local and international journals in his field of study. (NAN)
ANN ARBOR, MI  Returning students and residents living near the University of Michigan campus can expect to see party patrols roaming the streets this fall.

The Ann Arbor Police Department announced Thursday, Aug. 20, that it is partnering with the University of Michigan in a plan to help keep returning students safe from COVID-19 by enforcing the ban on large gatherings with small canvassing teams.

Ann Arbor police allocate resources every year for what they call party patrol, Chief Michael Cox said. While he said he hopes they wont see large parties this year, the department is focusing its resources on COVID-19 concerns.

COVID-19, large gatherings and harmful alcohol behavior are all concerns this year, according to an AAPD statement. Significant planning efforts have been undertaken this year by our Michigan and the city of Ann Arbor agencies to identify ways to help our community manage this unprecedented situation.

University of Michigans coronavirus dashboard goes live, shows 13 positive tests in last 2 weeks

A hotline, being run by the university, also has been created to help reduce the need for police being called as a first response to suspect violations, police said.

An order issued by the Washtenaw County Health Department on Wednesday, Aug. 19, restricts outdoor gatherings in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti to 25 people. Indoor gatherings remain limited at 10 or fewer people not of the same household.

Outdoor gatherings in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti restricted to 25 people, health officials say

To enforce gathering bans, teams of officers will travel across campus, as well near campus neighborhoods, to serve as a visible reminder to students and other community members of the need to follow public health guidance.

The teams consist of two to three people, including university staff, faculty, volunteers or community engagement officers from the Ann Arbor Police Department or the University of Michigan Division of Public Safety and Security.

The teams will patrol from noon to midnight seven days a week at the start of UMs fall semester, eventually reducing the patrols to Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until the end of the fall term. Student move-in begins Aug. 24 for the semester that starts Aug. 31.

Much like how police responded to COVID restrictions as they developed since the start of the pandemic in March, police aim to focus on education and not arrests unless absolutely necessary.

At a recent Ann Arbor City Council meeting, Council member Ali Ramlawi said he thought there wasnt much detail on how students might be disciplined if they violate the policies.

Ann Arbor City Council members question University of Michigans effort to prevent spread of coronavirus

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.

UM Dean of Students Laura Jones said if a person or student group has to be reminded of violations multiple times, they can be held accountable by university processes.

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

Police hope incoming students will follow the example set by students at the start of the pandemic in March when all St. Patricks Day festivities were canceled after Gov. Gretchen Whitmers order limiting the size of gatherings.

The Ann Arbor Police department made no arrests and found no code violations during the March 17 holiday, with police afterward thanking residents for abiding the mandate.

To report non-emergency public health issues in the off-campus housing areas, call 734-647-3000.

More from The Ann Arbor News:

University of Michigan professors have no confidence in administrations plan to contain coronavirus

Eastern Michigan University moving forward with on-campus classes, president says

2 shot during apparent argument in Ypsilanti, police say

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From Smash Mouth to The Chainsmokers, some musicians are choosing to play shows to packed crowds despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

But Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker doesn't think it's a good idea, calling the choice 'disrespectful.'

Barker spoke with TooFab on Wednesday, adding 'People are dying, you know,' as the United States soars past 5.5m cases and 173k deaths.

Stop the spread: Travis Barker spoke with TooFab on Wednesday, calling musicians holding full concerts during the pandemic 'disrespectful' as the United States soars past 5.5m cases and 173k deaths (pictured in 2019)

'I think it's kind of a weird time to play shows,' he said. 'I'd rather wait longer, man.'

The 44-year-old said he prefers heading back into studio sessions than adding: 'I'd rather like tap in the studio. Make great music.'

'I just think it's a little disrespectful to go out and be playing shows or have groups of people and have everyone sick you know?' Barker added.

His comments come after Smash Mouth performed in South Dakota last week to a crowd at the Sturgis motorcycle rally, where few people were seen in masks or to be social distancing.

Make music not cases: 'I think it's kind of a weird time to play shows,' he said. 'I'd rather wait longer, man.' The 44-year-old said he prefers heading back into studio sessions than adding: 'I'd rather like tap in the studio. Make great music' (pictured on stage with Blink 182 in 2020)

Test case: His comments come after Smash Mouth performed in South Dakota last week to a crowd at the Sturgis motorcycle rally, where few people were seen in masks or to be social distancing.

Controversial: Steve Harwell (second from left) was reported to have said 'We're all here together tonight. F*** that COVID s***,' according to NBC News (pictured in 2003)

Steve Harwell was reported to have said 'We're all here together tonight. F*** that COVID s***,' according to NBC News.

Barker added: "I think it's a time to just make great music and lock in and you know, twelve months from now go crazy.'

'Even right now we're  everyone  has masks on,' Barker said. 'I think it's your responsibility to be safe for your family and other people. I don't know, lead by example?'

Though he ultimately left decisions up to the people making them: 'But to each their own, everyone does their own thing you know?'

Good job: Barker did comment the Sam Fender concert in Newcastle, England earlier this month. Fender's gig was noted as the 'world's first socially-distanced gig,' with platforms and chairs separated by multiple feet and one group per section to limit spread

Be safe: 'It's a little weird. It can't really go off, but at least you're being safe, and respectful," Barker added. 'People are dying, you know' (pictured with Matt Skiba, Mark Hoppus in 2020)

Barker did comment the Sam Fender concert in Newcastle, England earlier this month.

Fender's gig was noted as the 'world's first socially-distanced gig,' with platforms and chairs separated by multiple feet and one group per section to limit spread.

'That's probably the best example of what it should be if you're gonna do it right now,' he said.

'It's a little weird. It can't really go off, but at least you're being safe, and respectful," Barker added. 'People are dying, you know?'
A mother of two from Texas was found dead with all of her teeth missing. Authorities believed that she was tortured before she was killed.

Victim's teeth were removed

The victim, 23-year-old Lizbeth Flores, was reported missing after she traveled from Texas to the Mexican border city of Matamoros to visit her boyfriend. She left her home on August 9 and was never heard from again.

Flores' mother, Maria Rubio, filed a missing person's report on August 10 after she lost contact with her daughter, as reported by MailOnline.

On August 11, Flores' body was found. According to authorities, she died from head injuries that she suffered after she was beaten with a rock that was also found at the scene.

Also Read: Greece Secretly Sent Away 1,000 Migrants, Abandoning Them at Sea

Law enforcement investigators also said that part of Flores' scalp had been removed and that all her teeth were taken out by force. Maria Rubio said on August 14 during an interview with Telemundo that "losing a child is like having your heart ripped out."

Rubio expressed her grief and said that she is sad about what the suspect did to her daughter and how they left her. It pains her to think about the torture that her daughter endured. Rubio is seeking help from the United States and Mexico officials to repatriate her daughter's remains to Texas.

There have been no arrests made as of August 17 by police in Matamoros. The FBI is involved in the investigation because Flores is a US citizen, according to KRGV-TV.

Similar incident

In 2018, a mother from Michigan was sentenced for the torture and murder of her 4-year-old child. The mother, 35-year-old Candice Diaz, and her 28-year-old boyfriend, Brad Fields, are both facing charges of murder, child abuse, and torture in the death of 4-year-old Gabby Barrett. They are facing 30 to 60 years in prison.

The victim was found inside their mobile home in Sumpter Township, she was burned and beaten on New Year's Day of 2018. According to the police, Diaz told them that in December 2017, the child was running her own bath and she made it too hot, causing her to burn her skin.

The couple did not seek medical attention and Gabby wanted to take a bath again the next day. Diaz then told the police that she found the child submerged up to her nose in the water. She said she pulled the child from the bath and she vomited, while they attempted to provide CPR.

Police said that the couple called 911, who attempted to resuscitate the child but she did not survive. The Michigan State Police found a massive amount of melted skin in the bathtub drain, as reported by Fox5.

A detective stated that the child had been burned so badly that her large toe fell off of her body. According to a medical examination, the child had been physically abused before her death.

The two fled Michigan but were eventually caught days later in Lake Park, Georgia near the state line of Florida. The officials said that the couple would turn on their cell phone to use it, and it allowed investigators to trace their location.

Related Article: 11-year-old Girl Shot Dead Four Years After She Appeared in Anti-Gun Campaign Video

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By Associated Press

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump is asking the Supreme Court to allow him to block critics from his personal Twitter account.

The administration said in a high-court filing on Thursday that Trump's @realdonaldtrump account with more than 85 million followers is his personal property and blocking people from it is akin to elected officials who refuse to allow their opponents' yard signs on their front lawns.

"President Trump's ability to use the features of his personal Twitter account, including the blocking function, are independent of his presidential office," acting Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall wrote in urging the justices to review the case.

The federal appeals court in New York ruled last year that Trump uses the account to make daily pronouncements and observations that are overwhelmingly official in nature. It held that Trump violated the First Amendment whenever he blocked a critic to silence a viewpoint.

A decision about whether even to hear the case is not likely before the November election. The case grew out of a challenge brought by the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, which sued on behalf of seven individuals blocked by Trump after criticising his policies.

Jameel Jaffer, the Knight Institute's executive director, said the justices should decline to take up Trump's appeal. "This case stands for a principle that is fundamental to our democracy and basically synonymous with the First Amendment: government officials can't exclude people from public forums simply because they disagree with their political views," Jaffer said in a statement.

The administration argued in its appeal that the Supreme Court, not lower courts, "should decide where to draw the line between the President's personal decisions and official conduct". The pace of the case was slowed by the coronavirus pandemic as well as Trump's decision to ask the full 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals to review the ruling by a three-judge panel.

The court refused to do so by a 7-2 vote in March. Two Trump appointees, Judges Michael H Park and Richard J Sullivan, were the only members of the court to side with the president.

The Supreme Court extended its deadline to file an appeal from 90 days to 150 days when it shut the building to the public and abandoned in-person meetings in favor of telephone conferences because of the virus outbreak.
EPA

Donald Trump announced on Wednesday night that he has ordered administration officials to ask the United Nations to "snap back" all sanctions on Iran, and again hawkishly pledged that the country "will never have a nuclear weapon."

The president opened a coronavirus briefing with the announcement, trying to implement an Obama administration policy that was part of an Iranian nuclear deal from which he withdrew the United States.

Specifically, he said his team will ask the United Nations to order "virtually all of the previously suspended United Nations sanctions on Iran. It's a snapback, not uncommon."

"My administration will not allow this Iran nuclear situation. They will never have a nuclear weapon," the president told reporters. "Mark it down. Mark it down."

The commander in chief appeared to be attempting to green-light terms of the very Iran nuclear deal from which he removed the United States.

"When the United States entered into the Iran deal, the United States always had a right to restore" the sanctions, he said even though Washington is no longer a party to that pact.

Tommy Vietor, an Obama administration National Security Council official, immediately raised questions on Twitter.

"Trump pulled out of the Iran deal when it was working and Iran was in compliance," he wrote. "Now he wants to pretend that the US is still party to the deal and restore sanctions when we haven't held up our end of the bargain. This will isolate us diplomatically & likely lead Iran to enrich."

The president at one point called the Obama-era pact a "horrendously stupid" deal even as he was endorsing one of the major parts that was designed to keep Tehran in compliance with its non-nuclear provisions.

He also promised sanctions and his administration's other policies will lead to "peace in the Middle East" a week after he announced a peace deal between Israel and the UAE.

Story continues

Read more

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 19:50:34|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The China National Space Administration announced on Thursday that the Gaofen-7 Earth observation satellite has been put into service, representing significant progress for the country's surveying and mapping capabilities.

Launched on Nov. 3, 2019, Gaofen-7 is China's first civil-use optical transmission 3D surveying and mapping satellite that reaches the sub-meter level.

Equipped with two line-scan cameras and a laser altimeter, the satellite can provide 1:10,000 scale satellite 3D mapping for users in China and countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

During in-orbit tests, satellite functions such as the monitoring of geographical conditions, agricultural surveys, and road constructions have been verified, said Zhang Kejian, head of the administration.

In May, using data from the Gaofen-7 and Ziyuan III satellites, scientists drew a 1:10,000 scale topographic map for surveyors to measure the height of Mount Qomolangma.

Since the Gaofen project began in 2010, China has had an increasingly clearer view of the planet. According to the administration, data from the Gaofen series of satellites have been used in more than 20 industries across the country.

Images captured by the Gaofen-2 satellite were used to help monitor the construction work of two makeshift hospitals, Huoshenshan and Leishenshan, in Wuhan, after the COVID-19 outbreak.

Gaofen-3 has contributed to the monitoring of the flood situation along Poyang Lake, China's largest freshwater lake, in the eastern province of Jiangxi.

With Gaofen satellite data, researchers also conducted ecological environment investigations for poor areas in the northwestern province of Gansu.

"Gaofen-7 will further meet the needs of users in basic mapping, global geographic information, monitoring, and evaluation in urban and rural construction, etc.," said Zhang. Enditem
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh asks Naval Commanders to deliberate on key focus areas;

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Appreciates Navy's role in protecting maritime interests of the Nation;

Addresses Naval Commanders' Conference 2020

Posted On: 19 AUG 2020 5:35PM by PIB Delhi

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh addressed Naval Commanders on the inaugural day of the Naval Commanders' Conference on 19 August 2020. He complimented the men and women of Indian Navy for their role in protecting the maritime interests of the nation and expressed confidence in the Indian Navy's preparedness to meet any challenge through a proactive response in deploying its ships and aircraft.

Speaking on the unprecedented challenge posed by Covid-19 pandemic he congratulated the Indian Navy, on the conduct of the biggest ever repatriation operation "Operation Samudra Setu", which has contributed extensively to the national interest. Despite the difficult sea conditions and the challenges of dealing with an unseen enemy in the form of the Corona virus, the Navy was instrumental in bringing home almost 4000 people from neighbouring countries in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Also, under 'Mission Sagar', medical aid was provided to the countries of South West Indian Ocean Region (Maldives, Mauritius, Comoros, Seychelles and Madagascar). He also lauded the efforts of all Naval Commands in setting up of the quarantine facilities to aid the civil administration in managing Covid-19.

Shri Rajnath Singh said inspired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's vision of SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region), the Indian Navy has effectively carried out Mission Based Deployment to protect maritime interests by deploying naval ships and aircraft at major and sensitive locations. Since the commencement of Mission Based Deployment in June 2017, these deployments have facilitated enhanced Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), provided swift Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) to the Indian Ocean Region littorals and security to the international maritime community.

Speaking on the dynamic changes taking place in the armed forces, Raksha Mantri highlighted the creation of the post of CDS and Department of Military Affairs/MoD (DMA) as major milestones in bringing more synergy amongst the three services, especially in training, procurement and staffing and bringing jointness in operations.

Raksha Mantri said accepting the challenges arising out of the Covid 19 situation in the current financial year Indian Navy has continued to progress the operational, administrative and modernization efforts. Notwithstanding these fiscal challenges, the government has invoked the Emergency Powers to meet the emergent requirements of the services, he added.

Speaking on Indian Navy's proven commitment towards 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' in consonance with the 'Make in India' initiative of the Government, Raksha Mantri appreciated that the Navy has been at the forefront of the indigenisation process. He also stated that it is important that we keep pace with the successes which have been achieved so far. The recently inaugurated NIIO (Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organization) is one such step.

Wishing success to the Conference, Raskha Mantri expressed confidence that the key focus areas and strategies would be deliberated threadbare.

On arrival, Raksha Mantri was received by Admiral Karambir Singh, Chief of the Naval Staff and was briefed on the innovations carried out by Indian Navy in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. These included various equipment developed/designed by the Navy, being effectively utilised by various agencies.

*****

ABB/ VM/Nampi/KA/DK/Savvy/ADA / MS

(Release ID: 1646978)

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Avalon represents an extremely effective and comprehensive approach for managing the complex and growing laboratory market.

Avalon is pleased to announce we have launched Avalons Genetic and Routine Testing Management solutions for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC). Avalon is the leader in laboratory science and their programs support providers in performing appropriate diagnostic testing in the laboratory setting. Avalon and Blue KC are focused on provider education to ensure access to high-quality, cost-effective laboratory services to Blue KCs members.

We are pleased to bring our proven Laboratory Benefit Management platform to the Missouri market through this partnership, said Dr. Bill Kerr, Chief Executive Officer at Avalon. Blue KCs focus on improving member access to appropriate genetic and routine testing will improve outcomes and while delivering savings to its members is perfectly aligned with Avalons mission.

Dr. Greg Sweat, Chief Medical Officer at Blue KC, said Avalon represents an extremely effective and comprehensive approach for managing the complex and growing laboratory market. The ability to provide members with access to appropriate testing while addressing the cost challenge was a critical factor in our selection of Avalon as our laboratory services management partner moving forward.

Under the agreement, Blue KC members will gain access to an expanded laboratory coverage. Additionally, members and providers will benefit enhanced laboratory education, improved clinical care and cost savings from Avalons administration of evidence-based laboratory policies.

About Avalon Healthcare Solutions

Avalon is a healthcare information technology and specialty benefit management company focused on laboratory testing. Avalon provides a comprehensive program to facilitate management of all outpatient laboratory services across all providers, including independent, physician office, and hospital-based laboratories. Using an independent Clinical Advisory Board, Avalon has developed a suite of science-based laboratory policies addressing all testing categories. The majority of these policies, reflecting high-volume, low-cost services, are administered through proprietary, automated technology, typically saving health plans 7 to 12 percent on outpatient laboratory spend. For more information about Avalon, please visit http://www.avalonhcs.com.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, the largest not-for-profit health insurer in Missouri and the only not-for-profit commercial health insurer in Kansas City, has been part of the Kansas City community since 1938. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City provides health coverage services to more than one million residents in the greater Kansas City area, including Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas and 30 counties in Northwest Missouri. Our mission: to provide affordable access to healthcare and to improve the health of our members. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information on the company, visit its website at BlueKC.com.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), a physician from Baton Rouge, shared on Thursday that he tested positive for COVID-19 and has "mild symptoms."

The 62-year-old is the second senator to announce they tested positive for the virus; in March, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) revealed he had tested positive but was asymptomatic. Cassidy is quarantining at his home in Louisiana, and said in a statement he is "strictly following the direction of our medical experts and strongly encourage others to do the same."

Cassidy is regularly spotted wearing a mask both at public events and while on Capitol Hill, and said he was tested after being notified on Wednesday that he had been exposed to someone infected with the virus. Earlier in the day, Cassidy, who is up for re-election in November, visited a veterans hospital in Shreveport, where he posed for photos with officials.

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Nokia 3.4 is going to be one of the new Nokia phones that will launch next month. Here is what you need to know about the upcoming budget phone, codenamed Dr Strange.

HMD Global is set to return with multiple phones, ranging from a premium Nokia 9.3 PureView to a mid-range Nokia 7.3. One of the most anticipated HMD Global phones is Nokia 3.4. Most likely a budget smartphone, Nokia 3.4 has made an early appearance on Geekbench benchmarking website.

Codenamed Dr Strange, Nokia 3.4 is seen running on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 460 processor coupled with 3GB of RAM, reports 91Mobiles. The phone runs on Android 10 out-of-the-box. Its most likely to be based on Googles Android One platform and will receive future Android OS updates for at least two years. Android One also ensures it is one of the first phones to receive Googles latest security updates. Nokia 3.4 is said to launch at IFA 2020 conference in Berlin next month.

As said earlier, Nokia 3.4 will be one of the new Nokia phones that will be launched next month. According to reports, Nokia 9 PureView, the most premium in the new lot, will have a new design. It is also going to come with a 108-megapixel camera. The smartphone will reportedly feature a high-res display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The new Nokia flagship phone is also said to be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 865 processor.

Go big on entertainment with Nokia 5.3 and stream your heart out!#Nokia5dot3 pic.twitter.com/BWcRmaBYEh  Nokia Mobile India (@NokiamobileIN) August 19, 2020

Other phones in the pipeline are Nokia 7.3, Nokia 6.3 and Nokia 2.4.

The most immediate phone thats coming from HMD Global is Nokia 5.3. Expected to launch later this month, Nokia 5.3 comes with a 6.55-inch display with HD+ display and 20:9 aspect ratio. The phone features four cameras featuring a 13-megapixel primary sensor, 2-megapixel depth sensor, 5-megapixel ultra-wide-angle sensor, and a 2-megapixel macro sensor.

Nokia 5.3 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 processor. The global version of the phone is available in 3GB, 4GB, and 6GB RAM options. It comes with 64GB built-in storage and supports expandable storage up to 512GB via a microSD card. The phone runs on a 4,000mAh battery.
The junta that deposed Mali's president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, in a coup this week will install a transitional president who may be "either a civilian or a soldier", the junta's spokesman told FRANCE 24 on Thursday.

The Malian juntas spokesman, Colonel-Major Ismael Wague, told FRANCE 24 that the soldiers who seized power on Tuesday are in contact with civil society, opposition parties, the majority, everyone, to try to put a transition in place.

A council headed by a transitional president will be either a civilian or a soldier, Wague said, vowing that the transition would be "as short as possible".

At an emergency summit of the ECOWAS regional bloc earlier on Thursday, West African leaders said they would dispatch envoys to the country to help secure "the immediate return of constitutional order" and called for president Keita to be restored to office. The bloc suspended Mali in response to the coup.

"We have decided to immediately send a high-level delegation in order to ensure the immediate return of constitutional order," Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou said at the end of the video summit Thursday.

Issoufou said that ECOWAS would "convey to the leaders of the military junta that the times of taking power by force are over in this region".

The coup is Mali's second in eight years.

A putsch in 2012 was followed by an insurrection in the north of the country that gave rise to a jihadist insurgency. The overthrow unleashed years of chaos in Mali when the ensuing power vacuum allowed Islamist extremists to seize control of northern towns.

After a request from Mali, a French-led military operation dubbed Operation Serval launched in January 2013 and ousted the jihadists. But they eventually regrouped and have expanded their reach during Keita's presidency. Islamist extremist groups now also threaten neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso.

Counter-terrorism and democracy 'inseparable'

Story continues

Keita resigned in a brief address broadcast on state TV on Wednesday, hours after troops seized him along with Prime Minister Boubou Cisse and other top officials, plunging a country already facing a jihadist insurgency and mass protests deeper into crisis.

"Mali is in a critical situation, with serious risks that a collapse of the state and institutions leads to reversals in the fight against terrorism and organised crime, with every consequence for all our community," Issoufou warned after the summit on Thursday.

Keita's overthrow followed months of popular protests in which ECOWAS had tried to play a mediating role.

The bloc proposed setting up a unity government, including opposition representatives, but also stood firmly by the 75-year-old Keita. The offer was bluntly rejected by the opposition.

France, the EU, the US, the African Union and the UN Security Council have all condemned the putsch and demanded the release of detained leaders.

French President Emmanuel Macron criticised the coup on Wednesday, arguing that the fight against terrorist groups and the defence of democracy and the rule of law are inseparable.

"To leave is to provoke instability and to weaken our fight. It is not acceptable," the French president wrote on Twitter, calling for power to be "returned to civilians". Macron also demanded a return to "constitutional order" and for the Malian president and the prime minister to be freed.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and REUTERS)
Miley Cyrus has revealed that her break-up song Slide Away was written long before she actually split with ex-husband Liam Hemsworth.

The track had been rumored to be about the couple, as it was released in August last year, just after it was announced that they were set to divorce after less than a year of marriage, and after ten years of first meeting on The Last Song.

But in a new interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music, Miley, 27, explains how she first put pen to paper for the track a whole year before - hinting that it was the shape of things to come for the doomed couple.

Cryptic: Miley Cyrus reveals she wrote break up song Slide Away BEFORE she split with Liam Hemsworth saying, 'I just keep speaking these things into existence'

'I wrote Slide Away before my breakup. I wrote Slide Away in February of the year before. And I just keep speaking these things into existence,' she explained. 'So, you know what? That's why I've also, I've decided to use my language to love myself, and to really create what I want to be my reality.'

She continued: 'Because otherwise, I keep doing the opposite. I burnt my house down with my words. I was talking yesterday about where you apply your attention determines how you feel.'

'And I think that's what I mean by definitely joking about me burning my house down with my words. But I do believe in where we put our attention determines our faith.'

Tempting fate: Miley released the song in August last year, following her split with Liam after less than a year of marriage, and after ten years of first meeting on The Last Song

Miley's Malibu home was destroyed in the 2018 wildfires that swept through California, with other celebrities including Robin Thicke and Gerard Butler losing their homes as a result.

Meanwhile, the lyrics to the break-up song Slide Away contained lines such as 'Once upon a time, it was paradise / Once upon a time, I was paralyzed' and 'I want my house in the hills / Don't want the whiskey and pills.'

Miley moved on with Australian pop star Cody Simpson, but recently split with him too, and released her new single Midnight Sky shortly after.

Moving on! Miley will be performing her latest break-up song Midnight Sky at the 2020 VMA Awards this month

Liam and Miley called it quits in June last year after 'drifting apart', but they did not publicly confirm their split until two months later.

She issued a statement via her publicist to People magazine at the time.

'Liam and Miley have agreed to separate at this time. Ever-evolving, changing as partners and individuals, they have decided this is what's best while they both focus on themselves and careers,' the statement read.

'They still remain dedicated parents to all of their animals they share while lovingly taking this time apart. Please respect their process and privacy.'

According to Page Six, Liam was blindsided by the separation announcement, which was released while he was visiting his family in Australia.
One of the major drawbacks of a face mask is that it hides the wearers smile.

Baltimore-based ClearMask LLC has solved that problem by developing a transparent mask that reveals a persons facial expressions and visual cues while still blocking droplets and particles. This week the company announced that it has received initial approval from the Food and Drug Administration for the medical-grade version of its surgical mask.

The FDAs 501(k) clearance allows the company to manufacture the masks.

After three years of research, development, and testing, we are thrilled to bring a human-centered mask to everyone who needs it, especially those 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, Allysa Dittmar, president of ClearMask, stated in a news release.

Besides health care organizations, the privately held company envisions schools, stores and hotels making use of the masks.

The medical version of the ClearMask offers ASTM Level 3 fluid protection for heavy levels of aerosols, spray and/or fluids that health care workers are likely to encounter. All ClearMasks are designed to be fog-proof.

The mask was devised by graduate students and alumni of Johns Hopkins University after the companys deaf co-founder experienced the frustration of being unable to communicate with doctors and nurses after her surgery.

The company sells its non-medical mask in a box of 24 masks at a reduced price. It says it has been bought by state emergency management agencies and other essential emergency workers.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

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Mike Moffitt is an SFGATE Reporter. Email: moffitt@sfgate.com. Twitter: @Mike_at_SFGate
OLD FORGE, Pa. - Determined to keep Pennsylvania in his column, President Donald Trump took the fight to Joe Bidens old backyard Thursday and insisted his Democratic rival would be the states worst nightmare if elected president.

In a particularly in-your-face bit of campaign trolling, Trump staged a small rally just outside the former vice-presidents birthplace in Scranton mere hours before Biden was to formally accept the Democratic presidential nomination.

The campaign framed Trumps speech as a review of a half-century of Joe Biden failing America, and the location pointed to the importance of Pennsylvania as a battleground state.

Joe Biden is no friend of Pennsylvania  he is your worst nightmare, Trump declared.

Trump sought to diminish Bidens ties to Scranton. The former vice-president often spotlights his early years in the northeast Pennsylvania city as evidence of his middle-class upbringing.

Biden was born in Scranton but his family moved to Delaware when he 10. His father, Joe Sr., was once a sales manager at a car dealership in Scranton, but quit when he thought the owner was trying to humiliate employees during a Christmas party. The family eventually moved to Delaware, where Joe Sr. found work.

Hell remind us that he was born in Scranton, but you know he left like 70 years ago, right? Trump said.

Bidens speech came hours later from his Delaware hometown and, as the culmination of the four-day convention, will surely dominate headlines and cable news chyrons. But Trump has offered a robust slate of competing activity, holding multiple in-person events this week meant to draw a contrast with the largely virtual campaign Biden has conducted during the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump visited two other battlegrounds  Wisconsin and Arizona  as well as Minnesota, one of the few blue states from 2016 that Trumps team feels like he may have a chance to flip this fall. But his campaign has been warily watching his standing falter in the trio of Rust Belt states that carried him to the presidency in 2016. Trump is planning more convention counterprogramming Thursday evening with an appearance on Sean Hannitys Fox News Channel show just before Biden is to deliver his acceptance speech.

The so-called Blue Wall of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, meant to provide Electoral College insurance for Hillary Clinton, instead all broke for Trump by slim margins in 2016. He captured Pennsylvania by a mere 44,000 votes four years ago and has since clashed with the states Democratic governor over efforts to reopen its economy.

Many in the Trump campaign have all but written off Michigan, a state battered by the virus, and whose governor has repeatedly fought with the president. But advisers believe Pennsylvania, like Wisconsin, remains in play and could be captured again if the economy continues to rebound.

Trump returned to northeastern Pennsylvania, where he did unexpectedly well in 2016, winning Luzerne County and nearly winning in Lackawanna County, both of which have a solid registration advantage for Democrats. They bear the hallmarks of Trump country: They are whiter, with lower median incomes and fewer people with college degrees, than the rest of Pennsylvania.

The number of GOP registrations in Pennsylvania has outpaced Democrats this cycle and many political observers believe the state, which has many white, older voters, could become stronger for Republicans. But Trump has stubbornly trailed Biden, whose team aims to return Pennsylvania to the blue column, where it had been from 1992 until 2016.

To that end, Trump is seeking to portray Biden as out of touch with more moderate and conservative parts of the state, making the argument that Biden is a puppet of the radical left.

Trump said hes best suited to return the country back to its pre-pandemic status, when unemployment stood at the lowest rates since the early 1960s and the economy was experiencing moderate growth. He said a Biden win in November would usher in economic pain for Americans and more chaos in U.S. cities that have endured sometimes violent protests in recent months over police brutality and racial injustice.

If you want a vision of your life under a Joe Biden presidency, imagine the smouldering ruins of Minneapolis, the violent anarchy of Portland and the bloodstained sidewalks of Chicago coming to every city and town in America, Trump said.

Trump also took aim Pennsylvanias Democratic governor, Tom Wolf, accusing him of slowing the reopening of the states economy to hurt the presidents reelection chances. Trump charged the Democratic governors of Michigan and North Carolina  two other battleground states  are employing similar tactics.

Shut down Wolf, Trump complained. You cant do this. Hes gonna destroy your soul.

The outdoor rally drew a few hundred supporters. Many, but not all, wore masks and seats were lined up closer than 6 feet apart, the space recommended by public health experts to reduce the chance of transmission of the coronavirus.

The former vice-president is particularly suited in the Democratic field to carry Pennsylvania, with his deep ties to Scranton and messages catering to white working-class voters and Black voters in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Scranton is in Lackawanna County, which went for Clinton in 2016, and Bidens team hopes to increase turnout there.

The Biden campaign dismissed Trumps visit as a lame campaign gambit.

This sideshow is a pathetic attempt to distract from the fact that Trumps presidency stands for nothing but crises, lies and division, said Biden spokesman Andrew Bates.

___

Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani in Chicago, Will Weissert in Washington, Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Ellen Knickmeyer in Oklahoma City contributed to this report.
Ryan Reynolds attends the premiere of Netflix's "6 Underground" at The Shed at Hudson Yards on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

Ryan Reynolds jokingly apologised for telling people to go f*** themselves after he sold Aviation Gin for $610m (466m) earlier this week.

The Deadpool star quipped in an out-of-office email, reported by Daily Mail, that he was not as George Clooney as I thought after learning about the concept of an earn out.

Read more: Star reveals Reynolds Cut of Green Lantern

Clooney famously sold his tequila brand Casamigos in 2018 in a $1bn (764m) deal so lucrative it catapulted him to the top of the list of highest-paid actors in Hollywood.

An earn out refers to a particular pricing structure for acquisitions in which part of the money is conditional on the companys continuing performance.

Ryan Reynolds attends the press conference for the world premiere of Netflix's '6 Underground' on December 02, 2019. (Photo by Han Myung-Gu/WireImage)

Reynolds and fellow investors in Aviations parent company Davos Brand LLC will still receive $335m (256m) as part of the initial sale, though, so they wont have to go looking for coins down the back of the sofa.

Read more: Reynolds offended by Buckingham Palace gin

The 43-year-olds tongue-in-cheek email reads: Thanks for your email. I am currently out of the office but will still be very hard at work selling Aviation Gin. For quite a long time, it seems.

In related news, I just learned what an 'earn out' is... And I'd like to take this opportunity to apologise to everyone I told to go f*** themselves in the last 24 hours.

My lawyers just explained how long it takes to achieve an 'earn out'... so... turns out I'm not as George Clooney as I thought.

George Clooney laughs during the Nordic Business Forum business seminar in Helsinki, Finland on October 10, 2019. (Photo by Heikki Saukkomaa/Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images)

Reynolds concluded his email with a list of those he felt he owed an apology, including his wife Blake Lively, Dwayne Johnson, Betty White, TGI Fridays and The Head of Alfredo Garcia.

Read more: Reynolds launches initiative to boost diversity

Even before his big money gin deal, Reynolds was himself rising up the list of Hollywoods highest-paid stars.

He was beaten to this years top spot by Johnson, with whom he stars in upcoming Netflix movie Red Notice.

Reynolds said in May that Red Notice was half-finished when the production had to shut down as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
A recruitment consultant has shared the shocking discrimination he received from a job seeker after offering an interview opportunity.

Kamran Chaudhry, who lives in Edinburgh, shared a snap on Twitter of an exchange with a prospective employee who had rejected his offer of an interview because of his name.

He explained that he was stunned by the response of the candidate and when he searched for the job seeker's social media profiles, he discovered that the individual had a history of posting racist content on Facebook.

Outraged responses to Kamran's tweet urged him to publicly name and shame the job seeker, while also offering them their support.

Recruitment consultant Kamran Chaudhry, who lives in Edinburgh, received an email from a job seeker rejecting his offer for an interview because of his name (pictured)

Kamran (pictured) admitted he was baffled by the prospective interviewees responses to his offer of an interview

Kamran shared the exchange on Twitter to shed light on the racism that he and others encounter on a 'daily basis'

Shocked by the encounter, Kamran shared a screenshot of the email sent by the job seeker with the caption: 'Can't actually believe I've emailed someone to give them an interview for a job and this is the response I got. Baffled.

'Proof that this s*** still exists on a daily basis for some of us.'

The post racked up almost 6,000 re-tweets and hundreds of comments from unimpressed Twitter users.

In an updated, Kamran penned: 'People asking me to name and shame - I can't because of GDPR. Can also confirm I've found his Facebook and it's full of racism and anti-BLM posts. Madness to me. Thanks for all the kind words and love, I'm all good.'

The recruitment consultant said he found the job seeker's Facebook profile and was stunned to see a number of racist and anti-Black Lives Matter posts

Many responses to the post urged Kamran to name and shame the job seeker and reiterated the importance of employers checking social media in their selection process.

One person said: 'Call the job centre and let them know. I'm not a grass BUT this kind of daft racism needs consequences and your hands are tired because of GDPR and your career.'

'You could reply and 'if that is the way you feel, we do not want you to work for us either...' many employers checking social media for this type of issue as part of the selection process. So important nowadays. You will find an amazing, much more suitable candidate,' another penned.

A third added: 'So sorry, this is just vile. Just one example of the everyday racism that people have to ensue. Things that happen quietly and fly under the radar. I feel sorry for the company that take her on... wherever you go, there you are. Hope you are ok'

Kamran's post racked up almost 6,000 re-tweets as many Twitter users urged him to publicly shame the candidate

Others told Kamran that he has been lucky to have avoided having an interview with the job seeker.

'All I can say is he has saved you the effort of having to interview a person who is obviously pretty vile & would never have fit in with any inclusive team!

'If he came through an agency, I hope you have fed this back to that agency as I'm sure that would not be in breech of GDPR,' wrote one.

Another said: 'Nasty stuff. But just imagine having someone like that in the workplace. In my very long working experience, these vile people are gradually become a dwindling minority.'
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-21 06:22:32|Editor: huaxia

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BRUSSELS, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- As the efforts of the European Union (EU) to secure supply of vaccines against the COVID-19 continue, the European Commission on Thursday announced it has concluded exploratory talks with CureVac to purchase a potential vaccine.

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said on Thursday that "Each round of talks that we conclude with the pharmaceutical industry brings us closer to beating this virus."

It is anticipated that the Commission will have a contractual framework in place for the initial purchase of 225 million doses on behalf of all EU member states, to be supplied once a vaccine has proven to be safe and effective against COVID-19, according to a media release from the Commission.

It added that CureVac pioneers in vaccines based on messenger RNA, transported into cells by lipid nanoparticles. The basic principle is the use of this molecule as a data carrier for information, and the human body would then produce its own active substances to combat various diseases.

The company received earlier EU funding. In early July, the European Investment Bank and CureVac signed a 75-million-euro loan agreement for the development and large-scale production of vaccines, including CureVac's vaccine candidate against COVID-19.

CureVac is the fourth partner the Commission has announced to have been talking with. So far the Commission has signed an actual advance purchase agreement with AstraZeneca, and published "positive steps" with Sanofi-GSK and Johnson & Johnson.

Commenting on the Commission's vaccine plans, Paivi Sillanaukee, a director general at the Finnish Ministry for Social Affairs and Health, said it is a new situation that the EU is negotiating on behalf of all the 27 members.

"The countries agreed on this with a view to securing the best possible negotiating position," she said on Finland's national radio Yle on Thursday. (1 euro = 1.19 U.S. dollars) Enditem
<! Obasanjo and Adesina >

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed what former President Olusegun Obasanjo would have done to those always pestering Buhari for presidential address.

He said Obasanjo would have insulted and embarrassed them serious on live programme on television.

Adesina was reacting to the criticisms he received from a large section of Nigerians over his outing during a programme on 95.1 Nigeria Info FM Abuja.

You know what? If it was former President Olusegun Obasanjo that had come under the you must talk to us barrage like that, and on live television, he would have first cleared his throat noisily, adjusted himself in his seat, and then bellowed:

And who are you, that I must talk to you? I say who the hell are you? Who is your father? Who is your fathers father, that you are commanding me to talk to you? Were you born when we fought a Civil War to keep this country together?

Where was your father when I received the instrument of surrender from the Biafra Forces? Dont come here and tell me nonsense. Talk to us, my foot! he said,

Adesina said Buhari would not upbraid anyone like that, but would rather keep his peace.

According to him, some people had now taken liberty for license, till they began to sound like broken records, saying he had no apologies for such people.

The fact that you have voted a man into office is not carte blanche for you to lead the man around by the nose. A leader worth his salt would not even submit himself to such cavalier treatment. Definitely not President Buhari. I made that point clear on the programme.

Another caller came. Why are you talking to us like used toilet paper? You are too arrogant.

Oh, really? Well, if you see yourself like used toilet paper, then, I cant help you. If you dont say you are, nobody would say thou art, goes a popular saying. If you see yourself like grasshoppers beside the giants in Canaan, just like 10 of the 12 sons of Israel sent to spy the Promised Land, then you cant be helped. You will end up like grasshoppers. Like used tissue paper.

Then came another angry man. Things are not going well in this country. We are even tired of this government.

We? Does a single man use that collective pronoun for himself? The man could only talk for himself, but why was he talking for other people, without a power of attorney? I calmly told him: another election is due in 2023. Who says you cant be President? You should simply run for office, he said.
A paramedic walks toward the entrance of a long-term care home experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak in Ottawa on April 26, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang)

COVID-19 Lawsuits Mount Against Care Homes, Governments

Combined damages sought by a growing panoply of COVID-19 lawsuits against long-term care homes in Ontario have eclipsed $800 million, after Carlingview Manor in Ottawa was named last week in a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of residents and their families following the death of some 61 residents there during the pandemic.

Negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contractthose are all encompassed in the claim. In terms of other issues, theyre really home-specific. Were hearing different things about different homes, said lawyer Stephen Birman.

Birman is representing the $25 million claim against Carlingviews owner Revera Inc., one of four cases that his firm, Thomson Rogers, has launched against Ontario long-term care homes.

One of the things weve heard from families is the refusal to separate COVID and non-COVID-positive patients, for whatever reason, Birman says. Family members observed repeat use of PPE [personal protective equipment] or potential use of contaminated PPE, and then we hear repeatedly with respect to all the homes, both directly and anecdotally, is just the massive staffing shortage during the pandemic period.

Another COVID-19 lawsuit claims that government pandemic edicts including forced business closures, compulsory face masks, and potentially mandatory vaccines are a breach of individual rights and freedoms protected by the Charter.

The lawsuit was filed in July by Toronto lawyer Rocco Galati for Vaccine Choice Canada, Ontario Civil Liberties Association researcher Denis Rancourt, and six anonymous plaintiffs. Among other demands, the suit seeks a declaration that the COVID measures taken by both [Prime Minister Justin] Trudeau and [Ontario Premier Doug] Ford, and their respective governments, at the blind and unquestioned dictates of the World Health Organization bureaucrats, constitute a constitutional violation of the abdication of the duty to govern.

Defendants include Trudeau, Ford, Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam, Toronto Mayor John Tory, and a number of other federal and Ontario public officials.

Rancourt has written extensively and critically about the governments response to the pandemic as an individual and for his association. On April 11, he wrote an article called Masks Dont Work, which was shared widely on social networking site ResearchGate before it was removed.

It would be a paradox if masks and respirators worked, given what we know about viral respiratory diseases: The main transmission path is long-residence-time aerosol particles (< 2.5 m), which are too fine to be blocked, and the minimum-infective-dose is smaller than one aerosol particle, he claims in the article.

Rancourt says accounts cited in the Carlingview case of housing infected and non-infected residents together go against decades of scientific research and applied medicine.

That he has teamed up with vaccine opponents doesnt faze Rancourt. I see it as a question of civil rights and freedom to be able to refuse a medical interventionits an absolute civil right of the person to not be invaded medically by the state in any way, he said.

He also supports the statement of claim itself, which connects the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and its interest in a COVID-19 vaccine, World Health Organization pronouncements, and domestic public health edicts, which Tam noted as recently as Aug. 4 could remain in place in lieu of a viable vaccine.

The statement of claim  put markers down to be able to explore those questions and bring evidence that touches upon those claims, he said of the strategy.

Were going to bring a lot of evidence that this was not an extraordinary epidemic worldwide. And were also going to bring evidence that how it was handled was a fiasco, and deadly one.

Aggregated data contained in a recent Canadian Institute for Health Information report notes that 81 percent of all reported COVID-19 deaths in the country as of May 25, 2020, occurred in long-term care homes.

Birman said Thomson Rogers is representing families suing three other Ontario homes individually related to COVID-19 deathsAltamont, Weston Terrace, and Woodbridge Vistaall owned by Sienna Senior Living Inc. This is on top of separate lawsuits, including one launched by Rochon Genova on behalf of the residents of nearly 100 Ontario care homes, seeking $600 million in damages from the City of Toronto, the Ontario government, and Sienna. There is another lawsuit issued by Diamond and Diamond Lawyers against both Sienna and Revera for $100 million.

Altamont was one of five care homes named in a disturbing Canadian Forces report released May 26. It stated that military personnel assisting at the homes witnessed filthy conditions, including bug and rodent infestations as well as residents calling for help, some left unattended in soiled clothing for hours.

Of all the long-term care homes noted in this story, only Revera and Sienna responded to a request for comment.

We are aware of the proposed class-actions. We intend to respond in due course through the appropriate court processes, said Sienna spokesperson Swaraj Mann.

Revera said in a statement: We are proud of our staff who have worked tirelessly on the frontlines of a global pandemic. We offer our most sincere condolences to the families and friends of the people who were lost to the pandemic.
'Our clients need business. For business you need workers and so we decided to help.'

IMAGE: Migrants rush to get inside a bus during the lockdown in Howrah, West Bengal, July 23, 2020. Photograph: Bibash Lodh/ANI Photo

Although the nation-wide lockdown imposed in late March to curb the spread of coronavirus has been eased in many parts of the country to allow the resumption of economic activity, migrant workers, whose en masse return home shocked India's conscience, are nowhere close to returning to their workplaces.

The fear of the virus is one; there is also the worry if they will have a job if they do return.

Offering a solution is Lowe Lintas, the creative agency of MullenLowe group, once of the largest agencies in India, which has created a tech platform called Kaam Wapasi, a tech platform to help migrant workers get back to work and at the same time assist employers with access to a pool of readily available workers.

"Kaam Wapasi will be accessible to workers across the spectrum and as it grows, we hope that more companies join us in this endeavour," Virat Tandon, below, CEO, MullenLowe Lintas group, tells A Ganesh Nadar/Rediff.com.

You are a brand-building and advertising company, why the sudden interest in migrant labour's employment?

The pandemic has caused problems for everybody in the world. Migrant workers walking back home shocked us all. We decided to help and spoke to our clients.

After the lockdown opens, migrant workers will not come back to factories, construction sites, among others till they think that it is safe. They will not come back till they are assured that they have a job.

So we decided to launch an online platform that connects the migrant workers to jobs. We are part of the ecosystem. Our clients need business. For business you need workers and so we decided to help.

How does Kaam Wapasi work?

In our online portal there are two aspects. The migrant workers have to fill in their names, mobile numbers, skill, experience, current location and where they want to work.

On the employers side they have to fill in the skills required, city and how many people they require.

We have a 'matching engine' that matches the two data. We send the details to the employers. They will contact the workers.

According to Census 2011 there are 12 crore to 14 crore (120 million to 140 million) migrant workers and half of them don't have smart phones. The other half have normal phones, and we have an IVR number for them.

Our matching engine will also find them jobs closer to their individual locations.

How scalable is your project?

It is a light platform, 40,000 people can log in at the same time. It can be upgraded.

So can we call you the Linkedln for migrant labour?

Earlier, we never thought about migrant labour. We are getting them jobs. There is much more we can do. Right now it is an employer's market, we are trying to give the migrant workers more bargaining power.

The name doesn't matter.

Apart from helping demand meet supply, will Kaam Wapasi be involved with workers' employment in any way?

Not right now! It would get too complicated to get involved just now. It will make the platform too heavy. That might happen in the future, to find them alternate jobs.

Projects are not long time, after one job finishes they can apply again.

The success of the project depends on its popularity. The segment you are targeting, you cannot get through to them via TVCs etc. So will a migrant worker, say, in Darbhanga, know about Kaam Wapasi?

Employers will put up jobs. We are fortunate to find partners in various parts of the country. The other partner is Bharti Airtel who will identify the migrants.

Radio city, the FM channel, is also giving us air time.

Tell us about your brand collaborations, how did they come about? What do they bring to the table for a project of this nature?

The idea was big, we could not pull it off by ourselves. We approached big companies, like-minded corporates came together. Razorpod is not charging us, they are working with us.

Everybody wants to contribute. Axis Bank is going to popularise it through their branches and MSME customers.

The lockdown is still active in many parts of the country. Plus, states have their own restrictions on outside labour. How will you overcome these bottlenecks?

Employers and employees will have to do that.

On our platform we are going to put up guidelines on how to be safe on the journey and at the workplace.

www.kaamwapasi.com or give a missed call on 1800-202-44-88.
Foreign Policy, July 17, 2020

By EMRAN FEROZ

When Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, his main political opponent, signed a power-sharing deal in May, it ended eight months of bitter post-election dispute. It also came with a disturbing price tag, one hashed out among rounds of backroom deals, tense negotiations, and desperate U.S. attempts to keep the government from imploding. Abdul Rashid Dostum, Ghanis vice president until last year and one of the countrys most notorious warlords, demanded a promotion to the rank of marshal, only awarded twice before in Afghan history. Ghani, whod long vowed to clean out the warlords, complied.

Dostum, whose militias are believed to have carried out one of the most notorious war crimes in modern Afghan history during the early days of the U.S.-led invasion, embodies much of whats gone wrong in contemporary Afghanistanand especially the failed promise that the U.S. invasion would help create a cleaner, more transparent, more democratic state. Dostum still stands accused of torturing and ordering the rape of a political rival while in office as recently as 2016. After swift Western condemnation, Dostum fled to Turkey, where he enjoys a good relationship with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It wasnt his first flight to Turkey: In 2008, too, hed sheltered in Ankara amid similar accusations that his men had abducted, beaten, and sexually assaulted a political opponent.

But instead of being prosecuted, Dostum is being promoted: His ascent to marshal became effective this week. While many critics, both Afghans and non-Afghans, observed the ceremony with indignation, Afghan media shrugged, while the warlords supporters celebrated the promotion.

I send congratulations to all of Afghanistan, said Mawlavi Baharuddin Jowzjani, a cleric and high-ranking official of Dostums party, in an interview with Tolo News about the warlords promotion. On social media, Dostums son Batur Dostum bristled at criticism and said, such accusations will not harm the Marshal.

According to an official of Ghanis government, the President issued Dostums promotion, but it was not his [Ghanis] decision. It was part of an agreement which was proposed by Abdullah, he told Foreign Policy.

Bestowing on Dostum the title of marshalafter President Ghani vowed to have him prosecutedillustrates yet again the complete failure of the Afghan government to deliver justice, said Patricia Gossman, an associate Asia director at Human Rights Watch. Dostum is only part of the sordid picture of impunity in Afghanistan, as no powerful political figures have been held accountable for crimes including torture, rape and murder. These cases make clear why the International Criminal Court should carry out its investigation in Afghanistan.

Dostums career, and this weeks crowning promotion, illustrate the role that warlords have played in shapingand distortingthe fabric of modern Afghanistan. Dostum, an ethnic Uzbek, made his career in the 1980s, during the presidency of Mohammad Najibullah, Afghanistans last communist leader. Najibullah, locked in a bitter fight against mujahideen, outsourced security in large parts of the country to armed militiassuch as Dostumswith negligible government oversight.

Warlords have existed throughout Afghanistans history, but they reached a peak in the 1990s as different factions, including Dostums, fought each other for control of territory and resources. Warlords and their abuses even helped create the Taliban: After one local warlord and his militiamen captured and repeatedly raped two young girls, a mullah gathered some of his students to attack the warlords fort. The then-unknown man was Mullah Mohammad Omar, who soon became the supreme leader of the newly formed group of militant students, or Taliban.

Dostums kaleidoscopic loyalties were soon on full display. In the early 1990s, Dostum and his militia were an effective, bloody force targeting rural communities with ties to the mujahideen. Then, in 1992, Dostum turned on his former boss Najibullah, preventing the recently ousted president from leaving the country. As Afghanistan became mired in a bloody civil war that later gave rise to the Taliban, Dostum allied abruptly with each of the factions in turn. His militia, the Junbish-e-Milli, became notorious for looting, raping, torturing, and killing. He ruled his own personal fiefdom in the countrys north until the Taliban dismantled it in 1998.

Three years later, he seized his chance to returnand to rebuild his power. After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001carried out by al Qaeda, which was under Taliban protection at the timeDostum, like many other returning warlords, embraced the U.S. campaign in Afghanistan. It was in the early days of the subsequent U.S.-led war that Dostum and his men allegedly carried out the massacre of Dasht-e-Leili, in which hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of Taliban prisoners were reportedly tortured and executed while in transit to Sheberghan prison, Dostums stronghold in northern Afghanistan. Sealed containers held 200 to 300 prisoners each. Reports from survivors of the transports described bound men, locked in the containers for several days without food or drink, resorting to licking the sweat off each others bodies and even biting into other prisoners bodies in their desperation to obtain fluids from any source. Few survived. The veteran Pakistani journalist Ahmed Rashid described the massacre as the most outrageous and brutal human rights violation of the entire war.

The next year, Dostum received not censure, but his first big promotion to general, a gift from the pro-American government in Kabul led by then-President Hamid Karzai. That helped usher in a new era of warlordism in a country still recovering from the civil war, and it helped undermine trust and belief in the government, which ultimately helped pave the way for the recent resurgence of the Taliban, who are gaining in numbers and audacity just months after signing a peace deal with the departing Americans.

Apart from accusations of torture and rape against political opponents, Dostums militia continued to attack civilians in northern Afghanistan. In several cases, Pashtun villagers were murdered and injured under the pretext of anti-Taliban operations by Dostums men. According to witnesses, several villages were terrorized by the militiamen who faced total impunity thanks to Dostums position as vice president.

Then, in mid-May, Ghani made clear that one of the prices of securing political peace was to throw another bone to a man who littered Afghanistan with so many. While large parts of the country are controlled or contested by a resurgent Taliban, high-ranking politicians gathered in Jowzjan, Dostums home province in northern Afghanistan, to pin on Dostums new gold-braid shoulder boards. Oddly, the only man missing from the ceremony was Ghani himselfperhaps because Dostums latest act of political rehabilitation was a direct repudiation of the very visions of governance that the professor-turned-president laid out in his 2008 book, Fixing Failed States.

The political elite of Afghanistan had a rare opportunity to found a functioning state, he and his co-author wrote. Most of them, however, chose to put private before public interest and carried on with their faction agendas and seizure of private gain.

Of course, many observers argue that Dostums promotion, while jarring, simply reveals a much broader pattern of war crimes and impunity in Afghanistan, where warlords like Dostum are celebrated and their histories whitewashed by the countrys political elite.

There is not the slightest doubt that Dostum has committed war crimes and had former or current political allies brutally assaulted, said Thomas Ruttig, a co-director of the Afghanistan Analysts Network. But among the warlords active in the 1990s, he has often been singled out as particularly bad. From my point of view, he was just an easier target as he had been associated with the former Communist government.

Other warlords have been beyond any public criticism in Afghanistan, while some of them have more real power than Dostums often ceremonial titles, Ruttig said.

But for many jaundiced observers, men like Dostum would not have seen such an upswing in their fortunes without years of U.S. intervention in the country.

How can anyone have faith in a government that overlooks war crimes, or worse, elevates its war criminals to the highest positions of public office? said Erik Edstrom, a former U.S. soldier and author of the recently published book Un-American: A Soldiers Reckoning of Our Longest War.

Edstrom, who deployed in 2009 as an infantry lieutenant in Afghanistan, has become an outspoken critic of the legacy of American intervention, and he links the promotion of the likes of Dostum directly to Washingtons involvement in the country.

A government that coddles war criminals and turns a blind eye towards atrocities is a government that promotes hypocrisy, cynicism, and distrust, he told Foreign Policy. The hypocrisy around war crimes is a feeling that unites Americans and Afghans, alike.
Steve Bannon, who was arrested on a boat in the Long Island Sound on Thursday, helped conceive Donald Trump's populist campaign message  only to fall out of favor and get indicted for allegedly pocketing thousands of dollars from fervent believers of a border wall.

Bannon was a shadowy and influential figure in Trump's 2016 campaign, where the president systematically went after his primary opponents, clashed with Republican Party elites, inveighed against China and global trade and framed a populist appeal to 'forgotten' Americans.

He had informally advised Trump before jumping on board from the conservative Breitbart website, which was backed by billionaire Rebekah Mercer.

After his stunning election win over Hillary Clinton, Trump brought Bannon to the White House as his chief strategist, where he sketched out early Trump agenda items on a white board.

He fought internecine battles and sometimes forged unexpected partnerships with Trump's first chief of staff, Reince Preibus, during chaotic early days of the Trump administration.

Steve Bannon, who was arrested on a boat in the Long Island Sound on Thursday, helped conceive Donald Trump's populist campaign message  only to fall out of favor and get indicted for allegedly pocketing thousands of dollars from fervent believers of a border wall

After his stunning election win over Hillary Clinton , Trump brought Bannon to the White House as his chief strategist, where he sketched out early Trump agenda items on a white board (pictured)

He is quoted in Wolff's book calling first daughter Ivanka 'dumb as a brick' He blasted Ivanka and Jared Kushner in a Vanity Fair interview in late 2017. 'The railhead of all bad decisions is the same railhead: Javanka,' he said. Pictured: Kushner, Ivanka and Bannon in 2017





How it was marketed: This was the GoFundMe originally set up to 'privately fund' a border wall

But after it was revealed he had been cooperating with Michael Wolff in his scathing Trump takedown, 'Fire and Fury,' the president fired him.

Not only had Bannon consented to on-record interviews, he took aim at Trump family members, including Donald Trump Jr.

He called the infamous 2016 Trump Tower meeting about dirt on Hillary Clinton that was attended by Trump Jr., Paul Manafort, and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner 'treasonous' and 'unpatriotic.'

He predicted to authorities: 'They're going to crack Don Jr. like an egg'  something which did not happen.

Wolff reported in 2018 that Bannon told investigators: 'Even if you thought that this was not treasonous, or unpatriotic, or bad sh**, and I happen to think it's all of that, you should have called the FBI immediately.'

He is also quoted in Wolff's book calling first daughter Ivanka Trump 'dumb as a brick.'

He took a public shot at Ivanka during his ill-fated effort to back Judge Roy Moore in the Alabama Senate race, even after Moore was accused of preying on teenage girls as an older man.

'There's a special place in hell for Republicans who should know better,' Bannon said after having left the White House and crusading for outsider candidates.

He is also quoted in Wolff's book calling first daughter Ivanka Trump 'dumb as a brick.' He also clashed with Kushner, and on CBS '60 Minutes'in 2017 called for Jared and Ivanka's views to be 'counterbalanced' by 'economic nationalists' in the administration like Peter Navarro and Stephen Miller

After it was revealed he had been cooperating with Michael Wolff in his scathing Trump takedown, 'Fire and Fury,' the president fired him. Not only had Bannon consented to on-record interviews, he took aim at Trump family members, including Donald Trump Jr

Ivanka had said earlier: 'There's a special place in hell for people who prey on children' in a shot at Moore, who ultimately lost the race.

Bob Woodward's Trump White House book: 'Fear: Trump in the White House,' contains an account of an angry clash between Bannon and Ivanka after an alleged end-run around Priebus.

'You're a goddamn staffer!' Bannon screamed at her, writes Woodward. 'You walk around this place and act like you're in charge, and you're not. You're on staff!'

She retorted: 'I'm not a staffer! I'll never be a staffer. I'm the first daughter.'

He also clashed with Kushner, and on CBS '60 Minutes'in 2017 called for Jared and Ivanka's views to be 'counterbalanced' by 'economic nationalists' in the administration like Peter Navarro and Stephen Miller.

He blasted the power couple in a Vanity Fair interview in late 2017. 'The railhead of all bad decisions is the same railhead: Javanka,' he said.

He sneered at Kushner: 'He doesn't know anything about the hobbits or the deplorables,' referencing terms adopted by Trump's fervent base of support.

Trump in characteristic fashion distanced himself with Bannon after throwing him overboard, although he said he was 'a good person'.

'Steve Bannon has nothing to do with me or my presidency' Trump said at the time. 'When he was fired, he not only lost his job, he lost his mind.'

Bannon has eclectic interests and took an unusual path to power outside of the normal channels. He served seven years in the Navy, serving aboard a destroyer. He attended Harvard business school (pictured) and landed a job at Goldman Sachs

In handcuffs: Steve Bannon was arrested and was due to be taken to federal court in Manhattan to face a judge on fraud charges

Bannon has eclectic interests and took an unusual path to power outside of the normal channels.

He served seven years in the Navy, serving aboard a destroyer. He attended Harvard business school and landed a job at Goldman Sachs.

He sometimes appears disheveled in appearances, and cultivated a rough image, appearing unshaven and sporting wrinkled jackets.

In one of his best early bets, he helped talk a firm during a purchase into taking a percentage of 'Seinfeld' earnings, earning his own percentage on the show's reruns.

He co-founded Breitbart News, calling it 'the platform for the alt-right,' and helped use it to blast political enemies like the Clintons while building up conservatives.

He also delved into Hollywood filmmaking and made a documentary about Ronald Reagan.

Trump had called Bannon a 'good person' when he left the White House. Bob Woodward's Trump White House book: 'Fear: Trump in the White House,' contains an account of an angry clash between Bannon and Ivanka after an alleged end-run around Priebus

On the campaign, he had the unusual title of Chief Executive Officer, which reflected his role as a strategist who sought to develop a candidacy based on historical currents he perceived.

After he was out at the White House, Bannon was subpoenaed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigators who were probing Trump campaign contacts with Russians.

He reportedly met with them for 20 hours, speaking on multiple occasions, and his assessments are reflected in the Mueller report.

On Thursday, Trump minimized his contact with Bannon in comments at the White House, downplaying his time as an advisor with an office close to the Oval Office  just as he had when he fired him.

'I haven't been dealing with him for a very long period of time,' Trump told reporters, when asked about the indictments  just the latest to bring one of his key associates into a legal quagmire.


This article, Airbnb confidentially files to go public, originally appeared on CNET.com.

Airbnb, the home rental company, on Wednesday said it filed paperwork to go public, a milestone for a Silicon Valley pioneer that has faced a rocky year as the coronavirus pandemic took its toll on the travel industry.

The company said in a blog post that the amount and price range of its shares "have not yet been determined." Airbnb took advantage of a Securities and Exchange Commission rule that lets companies keep their paperwork confidential until closer to the public offering. The company declined to comment beyond its initial announcement.

Airbnb's filing was long-anticipated, though the company's plans for an IPO became uncertain as the pandemic took hold. Airbnb, which was privately valued at $31 billion at one point, was particularly battered as the world's economies shut down, prompting people to cancel trips and hunker down in their homes.

In May, the company said it was laying off 1,900 of its employees -- a quarter of the company -- one of the largest mass layoffs for a Silicon Valley company since the pandemic began. At the time, CEO Brian Chesky told employees that revenue this year would be less than half of what the company earned in 2019, which was reportedly $4.8 billion.

But the company's business appears to be on the mend as people begin to travel again, seeking private countryside rentals where they can avoid big groups of people. Last month, Airbnb said hosts in rural areas across the US earned over $200 million in June of this year, up more than 25% from the same period in 2019.

Founded in 2008 by Chesky, Nathan Blecharczyk and Joe Gebbia, the company quickly became a darling of the Silicon Valley startup scene. Airbnb first began to gain traction with consumers during the Democratic National Convention that year in Denver, where people flocked to see the historic nomination of then-candidate Barack Obama but couldn't find hotel rooms. The company eventually joined the elite club of startups known as unicorns, valued at $1 billion or more.

Airbnb played a key role in popularizing the so-called sharing economy, in which people would list their homes, cars or services for use, via tech platforms. Uber and Lyft, other marquee players born out of that model, went public last year.

Like many of its peers in the sharing economy, Airbnb drew scrutiny for battling with regulators and courting safety controversies. Last year the company said it would verify all its listings and make other safety improvements, following a shooting during a Halloween party at a California rental, which left five people dead.

CNET's Dara Kerr contributed to this report.
These unfortunate people took things too literally and completely missed a joke - with hilarious results.

Social media users from around the world have shared examples of someone who simply just didn't understand what was funny, with the best posts compiled in a Bored Panda gallery.

One person pointed out Netflix did not exist in 1919 after late night TV host Conan O'Brien wondered about the streaming service selection back during the Spanish Flu.

In another post, a person felt it necessary to point out that the picture of a shirtless man walking on the moon was Photoshopped.

One Conan O'Brien followers did not get the host's joke when he tweeted asked what Netflix was like all the way back in 1919

This person just did not get why their friend kept sending a picture of an actual case after saying 'in that case'

One person believed to be from the US shared this hilarious screenshot where an oblivious person pointed out that sharks did not have toes

This person completely missed the obvious joke after this person shared a picture of Ellen DeGeneres passing it as one of Eminem

One person believed to be from Brazil shared an hilarious reaction to this obviously photoshooped picture of a shirtless man on the moon

Someone joked this Norwegian flag was actually a confederate flag and it completely went over this person's head

One person called 'b*******' on this picture after someone joked giant spiders existed, pointed out it was only a matter of perspective

One person tried to demonstrate how clever they were by commenting on this post. Unfortunately, it backfired

A Reddit user thought people really thought people confused Mt Everest with a nuclear bomb attack

After one person shared this cartoon, another pointed out there could not be such a thing as a 'third half'

In Canada, several people did not get the joke and believed the person was really trying to remember the name of the cat in Garfield

In the US, someone shared this tongue-in-cheek joke showing that the person who had cut the sign had not followed the instruction written on the sign. One commentator felt compelled to make it very clear

One person in Poland did not get that a person did not actually meant it when they said their 'bus started flying'

One person tried to prove how smart they were and missed the joke by pointing out the obvious
Where we are worried, and we are worried in Lebanon as well, is the economic impact, because as we know the lockdowns have created a lot of new poverty among the most vulnerable in society he said.
Way back in the early 1980s, a new nuclear weapon was in the news, the neutron bomb. The threat was masses of Soviet armored divisions that could invade Western Europe coming in via the Fulda Gap. Developed by the United States, the neutron bomb was not meant to vaporize the machinery of war, but only to kill the troops manning those tanks. It was very much -- a people weapon.Then there is COVID-19, the virus that has upended our society and our lives. While not a weapon, the impact is the same. It is not directly impacting bridges or our electrical grid, it too is targeting people. It hasn't been called one, but it sure feels like a "weapon of mass destruction (WMD)."Any explosion or bomb that killed over 170,000 people would be the largest single death toll ever. Even the atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, killed fewer people.All of the above puts things in perspective when looking at the numbers. What we are living through is truly cataclysmic -- to people.
There may yet be a baby boom as a result of lockdown and couples quarantining together, but in cinematic terms, sex and the pandemic are not happy bedfellows.

Film production has started again, but under new guidelines, directors are being urged to promote safe The on-set working practices and that includes scenes involving actors jumping into bed together  or not.

Even before any of us had heard of Covid-19, some movie directors were feeling compromised by the #MeToo movement.

A pass in a bar, a hand on a knee, a sizzle of sexual chemistry . . . heightened sensibilities already meant that such things could no longer be depicted willy-nilly, if youll pardon the term. In this era of social distancing, though, showing sex on screen has become trickier still. The professional association Directors UK this week updated its guidelines for directing nudity and simulated sex, suggesting ways of presenting romantic liaisons other than with the kind of graphic sexual activity recently seen in the steamy TV drama Normal People.

Actors Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange embrace in a scene for the movie The Postman Always Rings Twice, which was released in 1981

Let characters be shown fixing their own clothes after the event, they say. Or how about the closing of a bedroom door as a way of leaving the action to a viewers imagination? In some respects, all this represents a dramatic leap back in time to the notorious Hays Code, which subjected 1930s Hollywood to strict rules about screen sex.

Will Hays, who led the censorship committee, was a Presbyterian elder from Indiana and a former U.S. Postmaster-General, so its perhaps as well that he didnt live to see the 1981 version of The Postman Always Rings Twice, an erotically charged remake of the 1946 film with Lana Turner.

That one was sexy enough, but by the time Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange got down to business 35 years later on a kitchen table, very little was left to the imagination.

Perhaps, though, the new pandemic-influenced guidelines actually represent a leap forward, not backward, in that they force actors and directors to think more creatively about sex. In our anything-goes culture, the depiction of sex on screen has been becoming less and less erotic, by getting more and more explicit. Even the Nicholson/Lange coupling looks tame by modern standards.

The directors of the 1940s might have preferred not to work within the constraints of the Hays Code, but it did lead to some of the sexiest images in the history of cinema, such as Humphrey Bogart lighting a cigarette for a similarly smouldering Lauren Bacall in The Big Sleep (1946).

That scene was utterly sensual and sexual, no less  in fact, rather more  than any number of heaving and thrusting scenes we are confronted with in modern-day films.

So, in that respect alone, three cheers for the effects of Covid on the movie industry.

Directors are being encouraged to look at films such as It Happened One Night, the classic 1934 romcom starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert, to learn how sex was depicted in a more innocent yet more censorious age  with ingenuity and panache.

Here are my top picks of films they might consider revisiting, containing what, in my view, are nine of the most erotic sex scenes ever devised  and one of the least...

Michelle Pfeiffer and Daniel Day-Lewis acting

THE AGE OF INNOCENCE (1993)

Its no accident that many of cinemas most sensual moments happen in period films, when buttoned-up social morality and actual buttons seem designed to discourage intimacy.

This could hardly apply more to high-society New York in the 1870s, which makes it all the sexier as Daniel Day-Lewiss lawyer Newland Archer, though engaged to May Welland (Winona Ryder), falls for her hot cousin Countess Olenska (Michelle Pfeiffer). Her orgasmic tremors when he finally nuzzles her neck make the earth move for the audience, too.

In this scene Lauren Bacall turns Humphrey Bogart's legs to jelly

TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT (1994)

For at least ten years Ive been telling my children that smoking isnt clever, cool or sexy . . . but I would never cite 19-year-old Lauren Bacalls entrance in Howard Hawks To Have And Have Not as supporting evidence.

It isnt what most of us know as a sex scene, and yet, as she stands in the open doorway asking Anybody gotta match?, then lights up with as much sultry elegance as anyone has ever done anything on screen, she turns even Humphrey Bogarts legs to jelly.

So really it was a sex scene, and by the time Bogey lit a cigarette for her two years later in The Big Sleep, he had left his third wife and made her his fourth.

This is one of the most romantic films ever

CASABLANCA (1942)

Michael Curtizs wonderful picture is already prominent on the list of films Directors UK is urging its members to look at, and with good reason.

It is unquestionably one of the most romantic movies ever made, as Rick (Humphrey Bogart) and Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) grapple with their powerful feelings for one another, complicated by war, the German occupation of Casablanca and her marriage to another man.

But their fully-clothed kiss, its passion somehow intensified in black and white, adds an irresistible hint of real sex, whatever you believe is meant by Curtizs cut to a revolving lighthouse!

DON'T LOOK NOW (1973)

Some of the sexiest scenes in the movies are erotic because of what they suggest, some because of how startlingly real they seem.

When the grieving characters played so unforgettably by Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland in Nicolas Roegs magnificent psychological thriller Dont Look Now have sex, its very much the latter (though Roeg denied the rumours that his leads werent actually faking it). Brilliantly, he made the post-coital scenes of them getting dressed just as erotic as the sex itself by intertwining them, creating an extraordinary, electrifying sense of intimacy.

The scenes of the pair getting dressed were just as erotic as the actual act in this film

It is said to 'ooze sex' despite restrictions on what could be shown on screen

DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)

The genius of Billy Wilders brilliant film noir is the way it oozes sex  even at the time of the Hays Code.

The sequence where Fred MacMurray watches Barbara Stanwycks long-legged femme fatale slowly descending the stairs is not a conventional sex scene, yet vibrates with sensuality and lust, paving the way for his fall from grace as she uses her womanly wiles to persuade him to murder her husband.

One of the most erotically charged scenes

THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE (1981)

This sex scene seemed so convincing that rumours persisted for years that Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange were doing it for real on the kitchen table,

Especially once it emerged that director Bob Rafelson filmed it on a closed set  just him, his cinematographer, and the two stars.

Its still one of the most erotically charged of all movie moments.

BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KIDS (1969)

At first we are encouraged to think Robert Redfords Sundance Kid is forcing lover Etta (Katharine Ross) to undress at gunpoint. Thats what makes it a great sex scene, because theres a real frisson of tension. It doesnt matter that we dont see them go much further.

A pen-and-ink character gets the audience thinking about sex in this racy scene

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

You dont know how hard it is being a woman, looking the way ah do.

You dont know how hard it is being a man, looking at a woman looking the way you do.

The exchange between Bob Hoskins private eye Eddie and toon temptress Jessica Rabbit (Kathleen Turner) is nothing if not a sex scene. Hes thinking about it, shes thinking about it and so are we . . . even though shes pen and ink.

CASINO ROYALE (2006)

There has to be a Bond scene in any sexiest-of-all-time list, and tempted as I am to include an encounter between Sean Connery and Honor Blackmans Pussy Galore from Goldfinger, theres nothing more erotic than Daniel Craigs 007 and Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) in the shower in Casino Royale. Its not like most of Bonds conquests. Its sad, sexy, tender and, as he sucks her fingers, actually rather beautiful.

On every list of romantic television moments, there has to be a mention of James Bond

P.S. A REAL STINKER: 50 SHADES OF GREY (2015)

The unique selling point of this movie, as with the original bestselling novel by E L James, is that Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) is into kinky sadistic sex and Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) likes it. But when he sets about spanking her, he does so with all the energy of a man wielding a fly-swatter to gently terminate a bluebottle that has errantly settled on her bottom.
India on Thursday warned Pakistan to end cross-border terrorism, adding that 'our overtures shouldn't be taken as a sign for weakness'. India also urged the international community to isolate Pakistan "to increase the cost of engaging in terror activities".

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is leading an Indian Parliamentary Delegation to the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament (5WCSP), being organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Geneva, and the Parliament of Austria on 19 and 20 August 2020 with the support of the United Nations (UN).

Responding to Pakistan National Assembly Speaker's observation at the 5WCSP during the special event on Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism: The perspective of victims, Birla also asserted that Jammu and Kashmir "has been and will remain an integral part of India".

A statement read, "India exercises its Right of Reply to statement by Pakistan, a country whose PM glorified dreaded terrorist "Osama Bin Laden" a "martyr" from its Parliament. UN Analytical Support Sanctions Monitoring Team mentions Pakistan as the leading exporter of terror with more than 6000 nationals currently engaged in terrorism."

It added, "Jammu and Kashmir has been and will remain an integral part of India. We call upon Pakistan to end cross-border terrorism. Our overtures should not be taken as a sign for weakness."

"The international community should isolate Pakistan to increase the cost of engaging in terror activities. Pakistan's PM had admitted to nearly 40,000 militants on its soil. Pakistan's aggressions against J&K in 1965, 1971, 1999 (Kargil), attack on Mumbai and Parliament, Uri, Pulwama etc. show Pakistan's State-sponsored policy of terrorism as evident in the inaction against likes of Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar and Ehsanullah Ehsan," added the statement.
Fifty-three-year-old Edson Brandao is a lifestyle writer and influencer from the Netherlands who has garnered thousands of followers courtesy of his age-defying looks.

"Young After 40"

Brandao published his book "YOUNG AFTER 40: The Definitive Guide to Stay Younger and Healthier" in April. He told the British publication The Daily Mail that he had not undertaken cosmetic surgeries.

The personal trainer from Brazil consistently gets mistaken to be aged in his 20s or 30s.

In contrast to photographs displaying him when he was in his thirties and forties, his looks at age 53 appeared to be far younger.

Brandao showed a side-by-side comparison earlier this month of the physical changes caused by adopting a healthier lifestyle in the last decade:

Lifestyle Habits

Brandao wrote on Instagram, "Ten years later -- a big difference thanks to the change in lifestyle and for incorporating healthy habits." Such habits include physical exercises, a positive mentality,

and healthy food. He stated that each person could achieve remarkable results merely through a change of habit, reported News Brig.

The 53-year-old writer lives in Groningen, the Netherlands, and has affirmed that a clean-living lifestyle maintains his age-defying looks, reported News Opener.

Also Read: Want to Live Longer? Use These Anti-Aging Spices

No Plastic Surgery At All

Being a confident man, according to Brandao, he has more renewed energy than ever before in his life courtesy of his positive perspective, healthy nutrition, exercising every day, and his skincare routine.

He stated that he never had plastic surgery in his life. Instead, he opted for the natural way through biologic food, drinking plenty of water, and fruit and vegetables. He also regularly uses anti-aging creams for his skin and to sustain a youthful appearance, reported Fox News.

He also does not dismiss the probability of his youthful appearance has a correlation with good genes.

Self-Discipline

The influencer describes his body as a temple. Therefore, he eats his meals in moderation. "I avoid eating sugar, industrialized food, snacks, and fried products. I never drink soft drinks because that is unhealthy. Last but not least, I have never smoked or used drugs in my life," report Oddity Central.

Twenty-five is the regular guess strangers surmise when they pinpoint his age.

Mineral water is vital and he claims to drink two liters of water daily. This is alongside cardio and weight lifting to keep him in the best shape.

Fruit smoothies, cereal with almond milk, and vegan pancakes are his regular breakfast meals.

Secret Weapon

A positive mentality is Brandao's secret weapon to radiate youth. He hopes that by divulging his secrets, he will be able to motivate other people to make essential lifestyle changes in order to have age-defying looks.

Related Article: Want to Live Longer? Scientists Closer to Delaying the Aging Process

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
DOWNERS GROVE, III., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dover (NYSE: DOV) announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Solaris Laser S.A. ("Solaris"), which is now part of the Markem-Imaje business unit, a trusted global manufacturer of product identification and traceability solutions within Dover's Imaging & Identification segment.

Based in Europe, Solaris supplies advanced fiber, ultraviolet and CO 2 laser systems used for product marking and coding in industrial and packaging applications across a broad range of end markets. Solaris has served the marking and coding industry for over 25 years.

The acquisition of Solaris enhances Markem-Imaje's laser technology product line and further strengthens its position as a leading provider of identification and traceability equipment and solutions. This product line expansion will enable Markem-Imaje to better address growing customer demand for laser coding technologies, which offer reliability and productivity advantages that are important in certain applications.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. This transaction meets Dover's strategic and financial criteria for acquisitions and reflects Dover's commitment to deploying capital in close-to-core markets that offer potential for sustainable, profitable growth, where Dover can create value for shareholders.

About Dover:

Dover is a diversified global manufacturer and solutions provider with annual revenue of approximately $7 billion. We deliver innovative equipment and components, consumable supplies, aftermarket parts, software and digital solutions, and support services through five operating segments: Engineered Products, Fueling Solutions, Imaging & Identification, Pumps & Process Solutions and Refrigeration & Food Equipment. Dover combines global scale, operational agility, world-class engineering capability and customer intimacy to lead the markets we serve. Recognized for our entrepreneurial approach for over 60 years, our team of over 23,000 employees takes an ownership mindset, collaborating with customers to redefine what's possible. Headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois, Dover trades on the New York Stock Exchange under "DOV." Additional information is available at dovercorporation.com.

About Markem-Imaje:

Markem-Imaje, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dover, is a trusted manufacturer of product identification and traceability solutions, offering a full line of reliable and innovative inkjet, thermal transfer, laser, and print and apply label systems. Markem-Imaje provides global reach to over 50,000 customers with 30 subsidiaries, 6 technology centers, several equipment repair centers and manufacturing plants with the most comprehensive marking and coding portfolio available in the marketplace. Visit markem-imaje.com for further information.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. All statements in this document other than statements of historical fact are statements that are, or could be deemed, "forward-looking" statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous important risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company's control. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, the impacts of COVID-19, or other future pandemics, on the global economy and on our customers, suppliers, employees, business and cash flows, other general economic conditions and conditions in the particular markets in which we operate, changes in customer demand and capital spending, competitive factors and pricing pressures, our ability to develop and launch new products in a cost-effective manner, and our ability to realize synergies from newly acquired businesses. For details on the risks and uncertainties that could cause our results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that may be contained herein, we refer you to the documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. These documents are available from the SEC, and on our website, www.dovercorporation.com. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investor Contact: Media Contact: Andrey Galiuk Adrian Sakowicz Vice President  Corporate Development Vice President  Communications and Investor Relations (630) 743-5039 (630) 743-5131 [email protected] [email protected]



SOURCE Dover

Related Links

http://www.dovercorporation.com


Police have launched a murder investigation after a 'vulnerable' father-of-three who was 'tormented and bullied for weeks' was beaten to death on his doorstep.

Glenn Smith, 47, was allegedly assaulted by a gang of youths who then fled and left him to die outside his home in the early hours of this morning.

Shocked neighbours today told how they heard 'screaming and two loud bangs' in Armley near Leeds, West Yorkshire at around 3.30am.

Police and paramedics responded to reports of a man being attacked around half an hour later, but Mr Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers have cordoned off the street as they investigate the suspected murder.

His daughter Robyn-Jade Rhodes, 25, today alleged her father had been 'attacked by a group of men on his doorstep.'

Detectives have launched a murder investigation following the death of Glenn Smith, who was allegedly assaulted by a group of youths in the early hours of this morning

'I just want to say that I love him and will miss him more than anything,' she said. 'I'll do him proud.'

The grandfather, who lived alone, was described as 'vulnerable' by a neighbour.

The 26-year-old explained how Mr Smith had also recently been harassed by a group of 15 to 20 boys as young as eight, who threw bricks at him and smashed his window.

There is no suggestion this group was involved in his death.

'Around half three in the morning I heard screaming on the street and then two bangs,' the neighbour said.

She also claimed that for the last two or three weeks 'there has been a gang of young boys who have been tormenting that man.'

'Two weeks ago they smashed through his window, and last week they tried to throw a brick at him,' she said.

'I've called the police three times, the last one a week ago where they beat up a woman who was with him.'

Police were called to reports of a man being assaulted in Armley near Leeds, West Yorkshire, at 4am

'Everyone could see he was being harassed and tormented. I feel horrible for the man. He didn't deserve any of this.'

Speaking about the earlier bullying, she said: 'There were about 15 to 20 lads, one looked like he was about eight years old and the oldest must have been about 15.

'He was a vulnerable man and they targeted and bullied him because they could.

Referring to last night's incident, she said: 'Police have allowed this to happen - he didn't deserve to die.'

'After everything he'd been going through they should have protected him better.'

Another neighbour said she no longer 'felt safe' living on the street with her two young children.

The 32-year-old, who wished not to be named, said: 'I don't want to be here anymore - my kids keep waking up and seeing police and I don't know what to say to them.

'I don't feel safe here - it's been going on for too long.

Shocked neighbours today told how they heard 'screaming and two loud bangs' in Armley near Leeds, West Yorkshire at around 3.30am

She said that groups 'have been bullying this man for weeks and nothing's been done and now he's dead.'

'My two kids are quite young and I couldn't imagine them doing anything like this - it's shocking,' she added.

A murder probe has been launched by detectives, while a preliminary enquiry has suggested that the man was assaulted by a group of youths who fled the scene.

A large scene is currently in place around Whingate Avenue to undergo forensic examination and specialist searches.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Tony Nicholson said: 'We are treating this man's death as murder and are carrying out extensive enquiries to establish the full circumstances and identify those responsible.

'Our enquiries are at a very early stage and we are very keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident or saw the group of youths involved in the area or who has any information that could assist the investigation.

'Officers will be remaining at the scene throughout the day and we are liaising with our colleagues on the local neighbourhood policing team who are working to reassure the community who will be understandably concerned as a result of this incident.'

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team via 101 quoting crime reference 13200418973 or online via www.westyorkshire.police.uk/101livechat

Information can also be given anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The internet is the meanest place sometimes. People, behind their screens, say nasty stuff because they dont agree with your opinions. Sonakshi Sinha teamed up with Mansi Dhanak and Vinav Bhanawat from Mission Josh for the Campaign 'Full Stop To Cyber-Bullying'

She was herself at the receiving end and had to quit Twitter. She was mercilessly trolled and every time, she kept taking it but now its time for her and us to say Ab Bas.

I got in touch with Sonakshi Sinha about the campaign she has started against cyber bullying. Here are the excerpts from the interview:

First of all, I am very happy that you are speaking up against cyber bullying. What was the reason that you started this initiative in the first place?

I have been someone who has been at the receiving end of online harassment and bullying ever since I got on to social media and honestly, it has reached a point where I am like enough is enough. I even quit Twitter because I didnt want that sort of negativity in my life but of course, getting away from every social platform would mean cutting off from people who love me. Why should I have to quit social media if I am not doing anything wrong? For me, the reason is that I want to help people who are facing it and I want them to raise their voice against all of this. I want them to take action against these harassers and if you show one abuser in its right place, you will land up helping 100 others. The Internet is a huge part of our life and it needs to be a better place.

Sona, you have always been vocal when it comes to faceless trolls and cyber bullying. I would want to know through you, how actors handle this negativity because normal people forget to acknowledge that you too are normal individuals before being celebs?

I think everyone has a different way of dealing with it. I know some people who do get affected by it and online harassment can cause mental trauma, anxiety and it really affects your life in a way you cant even imagine. We have had people in the show who have even attempted suicide and we know of certain cases where people have taken their own lives. We have children using the Internet nowadays and it can affect them too. For me, its very easy to step away from the negativity which is why I left Twitter. For me, the number of followers didnt matter as it was more to do with the peace of my mind but why was I subjected to all of it in the first place? I don't want people to be victims anymore.

Cyber bullying is not restricted to any gender. Whats your take on that?

Cyber bullying is actually not restricted to any gender. There are men and women who indulge in bullying and are also on the receiving end. Its more to do with the etiquette that people lack in the online world.

Do you think people have started to lack compassion and empathy for others and if yes, whats your take on that?

Yes, I do agree with this on you as people do lack compassion online and I feel that social media is a place where people can put out their opinions. If your opinions dont match with others, they think they can say nasty things behind the face of anonymity because they think they can not be traced. The world, in general, needs compassion and people who could spread love but its sad to see how on social media, people are hell-bent on spreading negativity.

All these faceless trolls have the power to write and attack. Do you think the government should take some serious action against this too?

Well, the government has now started to take it seriously because its increasing at a very fast pace. There have been certain laws that are put and there are people who are assigned to take up the cases of online harassment. If you know it, you can save yourself and others. In our show, we are trying to create awareness.

If you check the surveys, its because of cyberbullying that many youngsters have fallen prey to depression? What do you have to say about that?

You know we have had people on our show who have attempted suicide and have undergone depression. It affects people in many ways. It probably starts with saying something nasty to someone and then it changes to stalking. Its too twisted and it takes a toll on mental health. In my case, I realized how peaceful my life has become after I quit Twitter. I am not waking up to negativity and it did affect my day. I am glad I am not reading anything negative.

Before you go, I want advice from you to youngsters who still are battling to fight against cyber bullying.

My only advice is that you dont have to sit quietly and you dont have to take it anymore. By putting someone whos abusing you behind the bars, you will help yourself and others. Its very important to complain about it.

Do you agree with her thoughts?
When the Chron team received an email about the "baby bib bandit" who robbed an armored car in Houston, we had a very important question: Who comes up with these names? We were so curious to know, we reached out to the Federal Bureau of Investigation directly to find out.

"The nicknaming is a process that's a team effort," an FBI spokesperson said. "We take a look at the picture of the subject and the details of the robbery, and we just try to come up with something catchy that we think the public will remember."

The names  which can take anywhere from five minutes to an hour to come up with  are uniquely selected based on the characteristics such as physical features, clothing and disguises, and modus operandi.

For the baby bib bandit, the spokesperson said they took one look at the long, bib-like white object tied around his neck and knew exactly what to call him. "That one wasn't very hard to come up with," she said.

Before the baby bib bandit, there was the baby BLUE bandit, dressed in all blue track suit. The motormask mugger from this summer wore an M-1 motorcycle mask, which is "not something everyone has access to." The justice league dropout, who the FBI was looking for just last week, was dressed in all grey and wore a cap with the Superman logo on it.

'DON'T ROB BANKS KIDS': The FBI's creative nicknames for Houston's wanted bank robbers

When asked where the line is drawn for certain names, the spokesperson said it's usually based on the consensus of what the team thinks, but there isn't really anything that's off limits.

"We never want to do anything that's going to be terribly offensive, so we are mindful of that when we're naming them. But at the same time, it's not based on something we think the bad guys are going to like," she said.

The nicknames are proven be effective, because at the end of last year, the "rainy day robber" (who ended up being involved in robberies that the FBI hadn't even connected him to) turned himself in partly because he didn't like the nickname that was given to him in the press.

"Coming up with the names is probably one of the most fun parts of our work on the media team," the spokesperson said. "It's an opportunity to stretch our brains and get creative. If it helps someone remember a detail or motivates anyone to call and report one of these bank robberies or robbers, then it certainly makes our work that much more fulfilling."

It's a process that goes back pretty far, so there are no numerical statistics to back the success rate when compared to a time when nicknames weren't given, but according to the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, "through our investigators' tried and true experience, we know a catchy name leads to more tips."

If you have any information regarding any open bank robbery cases, you're asked to contact the Crime Stoppers tip line at 713-222-TIPS(8477). You can receive a reward of up to $5,000 if your information leads to an arrest.
Students angered by the grading of their IGCSEs may find some respite in the exam boards re-evaluation of the results

Schools in Egypt, students and parents, were up in arms last week over the Cambridge grading of their International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) exams. Ayman Ahmed, 18, a grade 12 student, had always dreamed of becoming a doctor. But last week his dream was derailed by a statistical grading model. Ahmeds admission into Cairo Universitys Faculty of Medicine depended on his grades in subjects taken as part of the IGCSE. I am a star student, and I only had three remaining subjects to complete before I could enrol, he said. Though he was expecting A stars in all three subjects, he ended up with two Bs and an A.

With these grades I could not even join the Faculty of Medicine at a private university. The Cambridge algorithm grading system had ruined my future, said Ahmed.

Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) is a provider of international qualifications and operates in more than 160 countries.

This years problems started when CAIE announced on 23 March that students all over the world would not be sitting their June 2020 due to Covid-19. Instead, CAIE asked schools to submit a range of data according to which it would assess students.

CAIE asked schools for information on the basis of which it said it would make evidence-based grading decisions for candidates in each subject. Schools were asked to provide a predicted grade for each candidate in each syllabus entered, a ranking of its candidates within each grade for each syllabus; school heads were asked to confirm the predicted grades and rank orders, and once the information was received CAIE conducted a standardisation process, combining the data from the school with other data, to determine final grades.

IGCSE student Yara Hossam was shocked to see her lower-than-expected grades. We were first told that there would be no exams. Later we were told to sit for an online exam and that the grades given by our teachers would be sent to Cambridge for standardisation and inspection. And then I received these depressing grades, said Hossam.

Following the uproar caused by its algorithm model Cambridge announced on 17 August that it was revising the grades it had issued for the June 2020 series and that none would be lower than the predicted grades submitted by the school. If the grade Cambridge issued last week was higher than the predicted grade, the higher grade will stand.

According to Cambridge, it was important that its students could compete on an equal footing with students with similar national or international qualifications, and that their hard work and achievements compare equitably.

Hoda Suleiman, the headmistress of an international school, said CAIEs decision is backtrack on its standardisation model would save the future of many students, especially those in grade 12 who are supposed to join universities in the next few weeks.

Shehab Mohamed, a grade 11 student, was relieved by the announcement, and now hopes his math grade will be upgraded from B to A.

I want to join the Faculty of Engineering next year. If my result is upgraded there will be no need to re-sit maths, said Mohamed.

The Cambridge ordeal had resonated across the globe. The UK announced on Monday that pupils will be awarded their teacher-assessed predicted grades. Roger Taylor, the chairman of the UKs Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation, told Sky News the algorithm-based approach simply has not been an acceptable experience for young people. Meanwhile, the UK Education Minister Gavin Williamson said he was sorry for the distress this has caused young people.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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New guidance from the President Donald Trump's administration that declares teachers to be critical infrastructure workers could give the green light to exempting teachers from quarantine requirements after being exposed to COVID-19 and instead send them back into the classroom.

Keeping teachers without symptoms in the classroom, as a handful of school districts in Tennessee and Georgia have already said they may do, raises the risk that they will spread the respiratory illness to students and fellow employees. Multiple teachers can be required by public health agencies to quarantine for 14 days during an outbreak, which can stretch a district's ability to keep providing in-person instruction.

South Carolina health officials also describe teachers as critical infrastructure workers, although it's unclear if any district there is asking teachers to return before 14 days.

Among the first districts to name teachers as critical infrastructure workers was eastern Tennessees Greene County, where the school board gave the designation to teachers July 13.

It essentially means if we are exposed and we know we might potentially be positive, we still have to come to school and we might at that point be carriers and spreaders, said Hillary Buckner, who teaches Spanish at Chuckey-Doak High School in Afton.

Buckner, secretary of the county-level affiliate of the National Education Association, said its unethical for teachers to risk infecting students. Only prekindergarten and kindergarten students are currently attending class face-to-face in 7,500-student Greene County, going two days a week for two-and-a-half hours a day. Teachers are instructing others online from their classrooms, Buckner said, but she said the local school board could soon mandate a broader in-person return.

Data kept by The Associated Press shows the coronavirus is spreading faster per-capita in Georgia than any other state, while Tennessee has the seventh-fastest spread. A few schools that reopened for in-person instruction in both states have already closed after cases were reported. Gordon Central High School in the northwest Georgia town of Calhoun switched to online instruction Wednesday citing a high number of teachers in quarantine.

Story continues

Image: Provo, Utah School Prepares For School Year Amid CoVID-19 Pandemic (George Frey / Getty Images)

At least five other school districts in Tennessee have given the designation to their teachers, seeking to exempt them from quarantine orders. Gov. Bill Lee on Tuesday blessed the move, with his administration saying it would accept the designation, citing the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency.

That agency on Tuesday issued its fourth version of who counts as a critical infrastructure worker, for the first time saying teachers should be on the list alongside nurses, police officers and meat packers. Such workers can be permitted to keep working following COVID-19 exposure provided they remain asymptomatic and additional precautions are implemented to protect them and the community, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states.

Related: 'I feel like a sacrificial lamb': Coronavirus confessions from teachers across the U.S.

The decision is the district's, the Republican Lee said in a Tuesday news conference. If they make that decision, we have given them guidance that they must follow if they choose that critical infrastructure designation.

In Georgia, suburban Atlanta 's Forsyth County has also designated teachers as critical infrastructure workers. Spokesperson Jennifer Caracciolo said that means they could be told to return to classrooms, but said the 50,000-student district will decide on a case-by-case basis.

A spokesperson for Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said his administration is evaluating whether it wants to incorporate the federal guidance into Georgia's legal framework, which could spur more districts to act.

We have had some superintendents reach out to ask where the administration is on this topic, said Candice Broce, a spokesperson for the Republican Kemp. We're in the soliciting-input mode.

A lawyer for Kemp wrote an email Wednesday telling Georgia's Floyd County district that teachers remain subject to quarantine orders until Kemp or health officials decide whether to incorporate the federal guidance. Floyd County said Thursday it would reverse its designation of teachers as critical infrastructure workers.

Critics in Georgia say the designation would ignore new health guidance issued to schools that says exposed teachers must quarantine for 14 days, even if they get a negative test.

Craig Harper, director of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, a non-union association, said it would be reckless and starkly contradicts the newest Georgia Department of Public Health guidance intended to protect student and educator health and curb spread of the virus.

Teacher unions and national school administrator groups couldn't cite examples in other states Wednesday.

NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garcia said in a statement that the designation has no legal merit and is more of a rhetorical gambit to give President Trump and those governors who are disregarding the advice and guidance from public health experts an excuse to force educators into unsafe schools.

American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten expressed similar sentiments, saying the Trump administration will always try to change the rules to threaten, bully and coerce.

If the president really saw us as essential, hed act like it," Weingarten said in a statement. Teachers are and always have been essential workers  but not essential enough, it seems, for the Trump administration to commit the resources necessary to keep them safe in the classroom.
The James Beard Foundation announced that they will be canceling their 2020 awards ceremony, which was slated to be held in September.

The foundation made the announcement to cancel in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. According to the foundations website, "The choice comes as restaurants continue to suffer the grave negative effects of COVID-19, and as substantial and sustained upheaval in the community has created an environment in which the Foundation believes the assignment of Awards will do little to further the industry in its current uphill battle."

In a press release, James Beard Foundation CEO Clare Reichenbach, also shared a few words on the decision to cancel.

The uncertainty of this time for our industry is already a hard reality and considering anyone to have won or lost within the current tumultuous hospitality ecosystem does not in fact feel like the right thing to do. In short, an honor which we know is held in high regard, at the moment, feels minor when compared to the dire situation we are in.

Instead, the ceremony will be broadcasted live on Twitter, highlighting previous honorees in categories such as Americas Classics, Lifetime Achievement, Humanitarian of the Year, Design Icon, and Leadership Awards. The organization will also highlight the winner of the American Classics award, Veras Backyard Bar-B-Que, in Brownsville, Texas.

The night won't highlight any of our Houston winners though, Anvil Bar & Refuge for Outstanding Bar Program and Anita Jaisinghani of Pondicheri and Trong Nguyen of Crawfish & Noodles for Best Chef: Texas.

The site goes on to mention, "the broadcast will shine a spotlight on the previously announced nominees and be a night of storytelling surrounding the historic challenges this community faces, and how we can work together to rebuild a stronger and more equitable restaurant industry."

In addition, the organization also made the decision to forgo the 2021 season as well, as it would be unfair to judge restaurants and bars off of their 2020 efforts.

For 2021, the organization plans to conduct an audit of its awards program with outside social justice organizations that will be making suggestions on how to remove racial and gender prejudices from the annual honors it bestows to restaurants, chefs and food media, according to Houston Food Finder.

While some of our Houston favorites won't be officially recognized, they remain number one in our Houston hearts.
Greetings Friends of the 144th!

In the past Capitol Report I discussed initiative petitions and how a small number of people could get an issue placed on the ballot, and how small percentage of voters could change our constitution.

Amendment two that we voted on in primary only passed in 9 out of 114 counties in the state. District 144 opposed the amendment with approximately 64% of the voters saying, NO. As you might imagine, nine of the larger counties in the State supported the measure.

In our district, voters opposed the measure by 52% in Iron County, 64% in Wayne County, 64% in Reynolds County, and 74% in Washington County. The Legislature will now have to find a way to fund this expansion, and it will undoubtedly cause cuts in other areas, especially with our current economic downturn.

Missouri House to take deliberative approach

Lawmakers continue to work toward a legislative solution that will help stem the rising tide of violent crime in Missouri, but this week the members of the Missouri House decided to hit the reset button on the special session called by the governor. Members of the General Assembly will now spend the next few weeks carefully considering the individual components of a plan put forth by the governor to make Missouri communities safer.

The special session called by Gov. Parson officially began on Monday, July 27. Last week the Missouri Senate approved an omnibus bill (SB 1) that contained all six provisions the governor asked the legislature to pass. While the original plan was for the House to take up and pass the bill this week, the governor expanded his call as a House committee was considering his original proposal. The committee finished its hearing without passing the bill, and House leadership then met to discuss the best way to advance the governors expanded plan.

Rather than try to add the new provision to the bill passed by the Senate, House leadership decided Missouri citizens would be better served by ceasing work on SB 1 and starting the process over with individual bills for each provision requested by the governor.

Speaker of the House Elijah Haahr, Speaker Pro Tem John Wiemann, and Majority Floor Leader Rob Vescovo issued a statement saying, In an effort to protect the integrity of the lawmaking process, and to ensure these important issues are thoroughly vetted, we intend to simplify the process with single-subject bills so we can focus on the merits of each bill individually to produce legislation that makes our streets and neighborhoods safer.

Given the fact the governor expanded the call as one of our committees was considering the bill he originally proposed, we think its important to take a step back and give additional thought and attention to each part of the plan. This will provide a more deliberative process that will allow us to craft the kind of policy that will better protect Missourians from the scourge of violent crime.

The individually-filed bills in the House will contain provisions requested by the governor that will:

 Eliminate the residency requirement for St. Louis law enforcement so long as the officer lives within an hour of the city. It would also prohibit requiring any public safety employee for the city of St. Louis to be a resident of the city.

 Require the court to determine if a juvenile should be certified for trial as an adult for the offense of unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action.

 Allow certain statements to be admissible in court that would otherwise not be allowed under current statute.

 Create the Pretrial Witness Protection Fund.

 Modify the offense of endangering the welfare of a child for a person who encourages a child to engage in any weapons offense.

 Increase the penalty for a person who knowingly sells or delivers any firearm to a child less than 18 years of age without the consent of the childs parent or guardian.

 Address the backlog of murder cases in St. Louis by authorizing the attorney general to prosecute the offense of murder in the first or second degree, as well as any other offense that was part of the same course of conduct, in the City of St. Louis.

The bills being considered by the House will receive committee hearings the week of Monday, August 17. The bills are then tentatively scheduled to be debated on the House floor on August 24 and 25. Bills that receive House approval will then move to the Senate for consideration.

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, concerns, or suggestions you might have. As your Representative, I am here to assist you however I can. I can be reached by email at Chris.Dinkins@house.mo.gov or by phone at 573-751-2112. Please do not contact me via social media. These messages are easy to overlook and may not be responded to in a timely manner.

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Kelly Osbourne has defiantly revealed that she underwent secret gastric sleeve surgery two years ago, which helped her achieve her recent 85lb weight loss.

'I had surgery,' Kelly, 35, states in a new interview. 'I don't give a f**** what anyone has to say. I did it, I'm proud of it, they can suck s****. I did the gastric sleeve.'

She added: 'All it does is change the shape of your stomach. I got that almost 2 years ago. I will never ever ever lie about it ever. It is the best thing I have ever done.'

New look: Kelly Osbourne has revealed that she underwent gastric sleeve surgery two years ago in a new interview

Wow: The reality star has been showing off her 85lb weight loss recently - seen left in LA on Thursday and right last week

Kelly made the remarks during an interview on Hollywood Raw with Dax Holt and Adam Glyn and also spoke about having injections to change the shape of her face, and make her jaw look 'skinnier', after suffering with TMJ (temporomandibular joint dysfunction).

'One thing I did that changed my face,' she added. 'I had really bad TMJ. One of the things they did to stop it was they gave me injections in my jaw. It kinda made my jaw look skinnier.'

'That's when people started to notice that I had really lost weight because it changed the shape of everything. I found out Its called buckle fat. It changed everything on my face! How the f*** did I not know about this sooner?'

Earlier this month, Kelly had boasted about her weight loss on her social media, telling fans that she had 'worked hard' on getting her new shape.

'Yes...I'm bragging because I worked hard and it feels good!' she wrote alongside a photo of a 'small' size clothing tag.

In her 2017 memoir, Kelly wrote about her struggles with weight gain, as well her substance abuse issues, and described herself as having had 'a little dumpling body' which put her off going to the gym and exercising around thinner people.

Before she decided to get surgery, Kelly said that she had to fix her mind and get sober before she made any big decisions.

She explained on the podcast: 'The number one thing I had to do was get happy. I had to fix my head before I could fix my body. You can never go into this if youre not in a good mindset.'

'I stopped drinking, which is the best thing I've ever done. I really wanted to fix the things that were broken in me. I'm not perfect. I still make a lot of mistakes. I have bumps in the road, I fall down, I get back up again.'

Kelly also admitted that since showing off her weight loss, she has received more attention from men than ever, even being asked out seven times in one day.

'I woke up one day and I was all over the newspapers and sites. I had literally hundreds of text messages. I got asked out 7 times in one day. I said no thanks to every single one of them,' she said.

Difference: Kelly - pictured in 2018 (left) and 2019 (right) - has been on a weight loss journey after revealing she had gastric sleeve surgery two years ago

Transformation: Kelly showed off her slim physique in January of this year in Las Vegas

However, Kelly maintains that she hasn't had any plastic surgery work done on her face.

'I've never f***** with my face. I'm too scared. My t*ts are saggy, and I want to get them fixed, but I'm scared of the surgery. All my friends I've helped recover from it. It looks so painful and they can't move their arms I'm like nah, I'm good,' she says.

Kelly then describes a moment in 2017 when she had hit rock bottom with her drinking, and decided that she needed a lifestyle change, calling her brother Jack Osbourne to say she wanted to become a 'skinny winner.'

'I was a functioning alcoholic,' Kelly admits. 'Full blown functioning alcoholic. I kept my job; I kept my friends. What it was for me, what I reached a spiritual low where I was just so morbidly unhappy and lost and directionless and just broken in every way.'

Issues: In her 2017 memoir, Kelly wrote about her struggles with weight gain and described herself as having had 'a little dumpling body' (pictured above in 2003)

'I took a really hard hit when Joan [Rivers] died. It's still hard for me to even talk about it. She was my family; she was my mentor. When that ended and Fashion Police stopped, I was like, what am I? It was my identity, I felt destroyed.'

She continued: 'I hated myself in every way. I remember I picked up the phone August 8, 2017, and called my brother and I said "Im done, I need some help, can you come to get me? I don't want to be a fat drunk loser anymore; I want to be a skinny winner." I was ready to work on myself and I did it.'

Kelly's mother Sharon Osbourne is known for having had extensive plastic surgery, showing off the results of her fourth face lift last December.

Sharon, 67, underwent gastric bypass surgery in 1999 after years of fluctuating with her weight, losing around 125lbs in weight. She decided to get the band removed in 2006.


LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Hg, the Manager of HgCapital Trust plc (HGT.L) that invests in software and tech-enabled services businesses, announced Thursday the sale of Citation Group to investment firm KKR.



On completion of the deal, HGT will realise estimated cash proceeds of approximately 25.8 million pounds. This would represent an uplift of 3.6 million pounds or 1 pence per share over the carrying value of 22.2 million pounds in the Net Asset Value of the company as of March 31. Based on the reported NAV, following completion of the transaction, the pro-forma NAV of the Trust is expected to be 970.5 million pounds or 237.6 pence per share.



Citation Group is a provider of subscription-based HR and Employment law, Health & Safety, and ISO services to Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises or SMEs. Citation provides tech-enabled compliance and quality related subscription services to over 40,000 SMEs across the UK.



KKR's investment in Citation is being made through its European private equity fund, European Fund V, and through its Global Impact Fund.



Tim Franks, Partner and Head of UK, and Joerg Metzner, Director and Co-Head of EMEA Business and Consumer Services at KKR, said, 'We are excited to invest in Citation as the company provides essential, tech-enabled services to a large universe of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, a vital component of the UK economy.'



In the deal, Jefferies International Limited, Deloitte, OC&C, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP and Addelshaw Goddard LLP advised Citation and Hg.



HgCapital Trust will release its interim results to June 30 on September 14.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's opposition to Thiruvananthapuram airport's privatisation has exposed his double standards as 'private airports' already exist in Kannur and Calicut districts of the state, Union minister V Muraleedharan said on Thursday.

Vijayan has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi opposing the Union Cabinet's approval on Wednesday to lease out the Thiruvananthapuram airport to Adani Enterprises through public private partnership (PPP) for a period of 50 years.

On Twitter, Muraleedharan also criticised the Congress' opposition to the airport's privatisation. "Kerala Congress' competitive opposition to development in Kerala is shocking. They support UPA's PPP based development of Delhi & Mumbai airports, but oppose the same now? Aren't you part of Congress?" asked the minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs.

Mullappally Ramachandran, President of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, said the move to privatise the Thiruvananthapuram airport was "deplorable". The airports in Delhi and Mumbai were privatised using the PPP model during the first term of the United Progressive Alliance in 2006.

The Centre-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) owns and manages more than 100 airports, including the one in Kerala's capital city. Muraleedharan said on Twitter, "Pinarayi Vijayan's opposition to privatization of Thiruvananthapuram airport exposed the double standards of Kerala CM."

"He is ok to have private airports at Calicut and Kannur with a mere 32.5 per cent and 30.16 per cent stakes for the state, but oppose the Centre's move with a better share for GoI (Government of India)," the Union minister added. In his letter, the Kerala chief minister has asked Modi to reconsider the decision as it would be "difficult" for the state to cooperate.

Kerala's repeated requests to entrust the airport management with the special purpose vehicle (SPV) in which the state government is the major stakeholder was also ignored, Vijayan stated.

"In view of the unilateral decision taken by the government of India without giving credence to the cogent arguments put forward by the state government, it will be difficult for us to offer cooperation to the implementation of the decision, which is against the wishes of the people of the state," Vijayan said in the letter.

On Twitter, Muraleedharan said, "Why deprive people of Thiruvananthapuram their right to better services at the airport?" Development of the airport on the PPP model will be a game-changer, he said.

"It will bring efficiency in service delivery, expertise, enterprise and professionalism,which will lead to the overall development of the city," he stated. Adani Enterprises had won the rights to run six airports, including these three - the other three being Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Mangalore - through the PPP model after a competitive bidding process in February 2019.

In July 2019, the Union Cabinet had approved the proposal for leasing out Ahmedabad, Mangalore and Lucknow airports to Adani Enterprises.
Former White House adviser Steve Bannon to Donald Trump was arrested on Thursday on charges that he and three others illicitly took money from donors in an online fundraising scheme We Build The Wall.

The charges were contained in an indictment (PDF) unsealed in Manhattan federal court.

Federal prosecutors alleged that Bannon and three others orchestrated a scheme to defraud hundreds of thousands of donors in connection with an online crowdfunding campaign that claims to have raised more than $25m to build a wall along the southern border of the United States.

As a top adviser to US President Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign who later served as White House chief strategist, Bannon helped articulate the right-wing populism and fierce opposition to immigration that have helped define Trumps three and a half years in office. Bannon left the White House in August 2017.

Bannon was arrested on Thursday morning along with Brian Kolfage, Andrew Badolato and Timothy Shea, according to a statement from the US Attorneys office in the Southern District of New York.

Bannon had publicly called the We Build The Wall campaign a volunteer organisation.

Kolfage repeatedly and falsely assured the public that he would not take a penny in salary or compensation and that 100% of the funds raised  will be used in the execution of our mission and purpose, according to the indictment.

The four men allegedly received hundreds of thousands of dollars which they each used in a manner inconsistent with the organisations public representations, the indictment alleges.

Bannon received more than $1m from the scheme through a non-profit organisation he controls, and used it to cover hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal expenses, the indictment alleges. Kolfage covertly took for his personal use more than $350,000 in funds.

The four accused are each charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, each of which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

President Trump speaking to reporters at the White House on Thursday distanced himself from his former adviser.

I feel very badly. I havent been dealing with him for a very long period of time, Trump said. I dont like that project, I think it was a project being done for showboating reasons.

Trump said thought it was inappropriate to finance the border wall with private funds.

The indictment alleges that the men routed donor funds through a non-profit organisation and a shell company among other avenues to shield the payment from We Build the Wall

The three are innocent until proven guilty, the US Attorneys Office statement said, reiterating a founding principle of the US criminal justice system.

The We Build The Wall website claims 500,000 people have donated and $25m has been raised.

Donald Trump Jr called the organisation private enterprise at its finest, faster, better, cheaper and saying what you guys are doing is pretty amazing, in a testimonial on the groups website.

Trumps signature effort to build a wall along the US-Mexico border  a key 2016 campaign promise  has struggled amid court challenges, logistical hurdles and opposition from Democrats in Congress.

Trump repeatedly promised that Mexico would pay for the wall in 2016 campaign speeches.

The charges against Bannon are being handled by the same federal office that prosecuted Trumps former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, and is investigating his current lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani. The offices top prosecutor, Geoffrey Berman, was abruptly removed by Attorney General William Barr earlier this year.

The charges were announced on the same day that Trump faced another legal setback, with a judge dismissing his lawsuit trying to shield his personal and corporate tax records from release.

---Aljazeera
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 20, 2020) - GoldSpot Discoveries Corp. (TSXV: SPOT) (the "Company" or "GoldSpot") has been engaged by Tembo Gold Corp. (TSXV: TEM) ("Tembo") to apply machine learning and its proprietary expertise to identify new exploration targets on Tembo's flagship project in the Sukumaland Greenstone Belt, located in Tanzania. In its analysis, GoldSpot will work with Tembo's technical team to analyze all available geological and remote sensing data to explore the potential for gold mineralization local to the properties.

Denis Laviolette, Executive Chairman and President of GoldSpot, said:

"An AI-company is only as strong as its people, and GoldSpot has built an arsenal of the brightest minds to have ever bridged the gap between geoscience and data science. Due to our technological expertise and success cases, we have been inundated with engagement requests and have the luxury of picking the best explorers with the highest potential to work with. We are excited to bring our big data solution to Tanzania and the Sukumaland Greenstone Belt."

David Scott, President and CEO of Tembo Gold, commented: "We are very pleased to have engaged the services of GoldSpot Discoveries to assist in our planned exploration activity on the prospective Tembo project. Having reviewed the work done to date, the strong multidisciplinary GoldSpot team endorsed the project and will for the next 18-24 months be reviewing, reinterpreting and processing our data in close cooperation with our team, with a view to generating new targets, prioritising these and those on which we have already conducted drilling. We are eagerly anticipating the commencement of this work."

GoldSpot will help delineate drill-ready targets for orogenic gold mineralization, as well as identify prospective areas regionally. GoldSpot's subject matter experts will homogenize, integrate, process and interpret exploration datasets such as mapped or logged lithology, geophysics, surface and downhole geochemistry, and structural data. These interpreted and derived products will be used as input layers to GoldSpot's proprietary AI (machine learning) techniques, which will then be validated by our team of expert geoscientists, in collaboration with Tembo's technical team.

Story continues

About GoldSpot Discoveries Corp.

GoldSpot Discoveries Corp. (TSXV: SPOT) is a technology and investment company that leverages machine learning to reduce capital risk while working to increase efficiency and success rates in resource exploration and investment. GoldSpot Discoveries combines proprietary technology with traditional domain expertise, offering a front-to-back service solution to its partners, and in some cases, capital to kickstart exploration programs. GoldSpot's solutions target big data problems, making full use of historically unutilized data to better comprehend resource property potential.

About Tembo Gold Corp.

Tembo Gold Crop (TSXV: TEM) is a Canadian publicly-listed mineral exploration company with a 100% interest in the Tembo Gold Project which is located adjacent to African Barrick's 14Moz Bulyanhulu Gold Mine in the prolific Lake Victoria Greenstone belt in Tanzania. Tembo's focus is the discovery and development of world-class gold projects in Africa. The Company has assembled a highly experienced team with a proven history of developing, financing, and operating mining projects in Africa.

The Company's exploration strategy is to discover mineral resources as well as continue to look for additional opportunities that can bring value to the Company and shareholders.

For further information please contact:

Denis Laviolette

Executive Chairman and President

GoldSpot Discoveries Corp.

Tel: 647-992-9837

Email: denis@goldspot.ca

Cautionary Statement on Forward -Looking Information

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange ("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.

No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical facts may be forward-looking statements or information. Generally, forward-looking information and statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "proposed", "budgets", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements and information with respect to the Company's objectives, goals or future plans, positioning in the market, exploration results and exploration plans, the ability to identify all available geological and sending data and enhance exploration opportunities for gold mineralization in connection with the Tembo project. Such forward-looking statements and information reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company, including, among other things, assumptions and expectations with respect to capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates, the Company's ability to retain key personnel, the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results and the successful operation of the Company's technologies, delays or failure to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in general economic conditions, equity markets, inflation, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in the development of projects and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, the impact of competitions, trends in the industry and changes in laws, rules and regulations. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, adverse economic, regulatory and/or legislative developments, delays with respect to the Company's plans and those risks and uncertainties set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information disclosed herein.. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Such information may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/62116
Advisers to the Normandy leaders are scheduled to meet late in August.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he expects that the leaders of the Normandy Four (Ukraine, Germany, France, and the Russian Federation) will gather for a summit after a meeting of their advisers.

Zelensky told journalists during a working trip to Kherson region on August 20 that the advisers were scheduled to meet late in August, according to an UNIAN correspondent.

"They've confirmed the Normandy-format advisers' meeting, which means that after the advisers we will wait for further developments and Normandy leaders' summit," Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian president pointed to the progress of the peace talks on Donbas.

"Today, the negotiation process is not standing still. So, am I satisfied? I am. Do I want more? Yes," he said, according to the presidential press service.

Normandy summit 2020 in brief
The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to interfere with the decision of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to conduct compartment exams for students of Class X and Class XII. The Court allowed the petitioner students to file a fresh petition challenging the August 6 decision of the Board rejecting their representation to cancel the examinations.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar was hearing an application filed by several students aggrieved by the CBSE decision of August 6 dismissing their representation to consider scrapping of the exams. The students led by Anika Samvedi had filed the petition in July with the demand to scrap compartment exams. On July 31, the apex court passed an order allowing the students to move a representation to CBSE in this regard.

On August 6, CBSE issued a notification in response to their representation and stuck by its decision to hold exams. Although, the dates for the examination were not specified, the CBSE said that if the request of the petitioner students was accepted it would harm the interests of other Class X and XII students.

The students moved a fresh application in the apex court seeking cancellation of exams after their representation was rejected by CBSE. But the bench, also comprising of Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and Sanjiv Khanna was of the firm view that the August 6 representation has to be separately challenged.

The bench said, A substantive petition needs to be filed to assail the August 6 CBSE notification. The CBSE has already given its reasons. You file that notification. We will give you the liberty. In other words, the Court has asked the students to file a fresh petition challenging the August 6 CBSE notification.

While this is not the end of the road for the students, the wait has certainly prolonged. The students in their petition claimed, in view of the rising cases of COVID-19 pandemic it shall be impossible for the CBSE to take the compartment examinations soon. In all, close to 1.50 lakh students from Class X and over 87000 students in Class XII are expected to appear for the compartment exams. These examinations are held to enable students who failed in any subjects to reappear and clear the subjects.

In addition to the petition pending in the Court, an association of 809 students has written a letter to the Supreme Court asking the judges to take suo moto notice of the CBSE decision to hold compartment exams amid rising COVID-19 cases and consider scrapping the same. The Court is yet to consider this letter.

In a related development, on Tuesday, the Supreme Court has sought response from the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) to provide an opportunity to failed Class IX and XI students of CISCE to appear for re-test. The order was passed on a petition filed by a Class 11 ISCE student, represented by advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava.

The same bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar directed the ICSE to file its response within a week and posted the matter for hearing after two weeks.

Srivastava argued that the CISCE should provide an opportunity of re-assessment to promote the failed students of Class 9 and 11. He cited a May 13 notification issued by the CBSE which gave re-assessment option to similarly placed students in order to promote them to Class X and XII.

The plea put forth the argument that students of CBSE and CISCE deserve to be treated equally and questioned different standards of assessment by the two Boards. It was a violation of Article 14 right of the students, Srivastava argued. The petition even prayed to the Court to allow the petitioner (Class XI student) to be directly promoted in the event there is delay on part of CISCE to adopt CBSEs May 13 notification.

As per the CBSE decision, a school-based test will be held to promote the failed students in Class 9th and 11th standards as a one-time measure considering the request of parents and students and the extraordinary situation due to COVID-19.
Trump Denies Collusion After Senate Report Finds Evidence Of Russia's 2016 Election Interference

By RFE/RL August 19, 2020

U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee's final report on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election showed he had not colluded with Russia or Ukraine.

"I don't know anything about it. I didn't read it," Trump told reporters on August 18 in Yuma, Arizona, where he was holding a campaign event. "It's all a hoax."

Trump, who has repeatedly called the Russia investigations a "hoax," added, "All I know is that I have nothing to do with [Russia or Ukraine] and that came out loud and clear in the report."

Trump's 2020 campaign responded to the report by saying it was evidence that there was no collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign. The "Russia Collusion Hoax is the greatest political scandal in the history of this country," it added in a statement.

The report details an aggressive effort by Russia to interfere in the 2016 election on Trump's behalf. It says the Trump campaign chairman had regular contact with a Russian intelligence officer and says other Trump associates were eager to exploit the Kremlin's aid.

The fifth and final report by the Republican-led committee also found that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the hack into the Democratic Party and the leak of information to damage Hillary Clinton and her presidential campaign against 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."

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 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 stated.

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 committee's report said.

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.

The panel does not reach a 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," 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.

The Senate investigation also examined issues of interest to Trump that were not explored by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who concluded in a report issued in 2019 that Russia interfered in the election. 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 Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort's connections to Russia and Russia-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 Kilimnik was a Russian intelligence officer and that Deripaska coordinated with the Russian government to conduct influence operations abroad.

"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.

Manafort was sentenced in March 2019 to more than seven years in prison after being convicted on bank- and tax-fraud charges and charges stemming from his work for Ukrainian politicians. The convictions did not deal directly with questions of possible Russian interference in the election.

With reporting by AP and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-denies-collusion- after-senate-report-finds-evidence-of-russia-s -2016-election-interference/30791301.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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Former US president Barack Obama has warned that American democracy could falter if Donald Trump is re-elected in the autumn.

Mr Obamas stunning rebuke of his successor was echoed by Kamala Harris at the Democratic Convention as she embraced her historic role as the first black woman on a US national political ticket alongside presidential hopeful Joe Biden.

The former president  who broke barriers himself as Americas first black president  pleaded with voters to embrace your own responsibility as citizens  to make sure that the basic tenets of our democracy endure.

Mr Obama warned: Because thats what is at stake right now. Our democracy.

Speaking from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, the former president said: Donald Trump hasnt grown into the job, because he cant.

Describing Mr Biden as his brother, he continued: I have sat in the Oval Office with both of the men who are running for president.

I never expected that my successor would embrace my vision or continue my policies. I did hope, for the sake of our country, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously.

Mr Obamas confidants say that the former presidents support for Mr Biden is unequivocal, but he worries about enthusiasm among younger voters, particularly younger voters of colour.

Democrats concede that one of the reasons Mr Trump won the presidency in 2016 was because those voters did not show up in the same large numbers as when Mr Obama was on the ballot.

Throughout their convention, the Democrats have summoned a collective urgency about the dangers of Mr Trump as president.

In 2016, they dismissed and sometimes trivialised him. Now they are casting him as an existential threat to the country. The tone shift signals that the campaign between Mr Trump and Mr Biden, already expected to be among the most negative of the past half century, will be filled with rancour and recrimination.

However, on the third night of the Democrats four-day convention, party leaders also sought to put forward a cohesive vision of their values and policy priorities, highlighting efforts to combat climate change and tighten gun laws.

They drew a sharp contrast with Mr Trump, portraying him as cruel in his treatment of immigrants, disinterested in the nations climate crisis and out of his depth on virtually all of Americas most pressing challenges.

Democrats also demonstrated a hope that Mr Biden, a 77-year-old white man, can revive the coalition that helped put Barack Obama into office, with minorities, younger voters and college-educated women countering the effect of Mr Trumps hold on many white and rural voters.

The evening marked a celebration of the partys leading women, including remarks from Hillary Clinton, the first woman to become a major ticket presidential nominee, US house speaker Nancy Pelosi and Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren, who challenged Mr Biden during the primary and is now supporting his campaign.

Ms Harris, a 55-year-old California senator and the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, addressed race and equality in a personal way Mr Biden cannot when he formally accepts his partys presidential nomination on Thursday.

There is no vaccine for racism. We have got to do the work, Ms Harris said.

Weve got to do the work to fulfil the promise of equal justice under law. None of us are free until all of us are free.

With just 76 days to go before the election, Mr Biden must energise the disparate factions that make up the modern Democratic Party  a coalition that spans generation, race and ideology. This autumn, voters must deal with concerns over the Covid-19 pandemic that has created health risks for those who want to vote in person, as well as and postal slowdowns for mail-in ballots, which Democrats blame on Mr Trump.

Democrats hope that Ms Harris and Mr Obama in particular can help bridge the divide between those reassured by Mr Bidens establishment credentials and those craving bolder change.

The pandemic forced Mr Bidens team to abandon the traditional convention format in favour of an all-virtual affair that has eliminated much of the pomp and circumstance that typically defines political conventions.

It was completely silent, for example, as Ms Harris took the stage to make history at the Chase Centre in Wilmington, North Carolina.

She was flanked by American flags but no family, and her audience consisted of a few dozen reporters and photographers.

After two nights that featured several Republicans, the proceedings on Wednesday emphasised core Democratic values on areas like climate change and gun violence that particularly resonate with younger voters.

On guns, Mr Biden wants to repeal a law shielding firearm manufacturers from liability lawsuits, impose universal background checks for purchases and ban the manufacture and sale of assault weapons and high capacity magazines.

On climate, Mr Biden has proposed a two trillion dollar (1.51 trillion) plan to invest in clean energy and end carbon emissions from US power plants by 2035, even though his proposals do not go as far as activists preferred Green New Deal.

Expand Close Joe Biden and his wife Jill (AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Joe Biden and his wife Jill (AP)

On Wednesday night, former Arizona representative Gabby Giffords reflected on her own journey of pain and recovery from a severe brain injury nearly a decade after being shot while meeting with constituents. She urged America to support Mr Biden.

I struggle to speak, but I have not lost my voice, Ms Giffords said. Vote, vote, vote.

Attention will soon turn to Mr Trump. The president abandoned plans to host his convention in North Carolina and Florida, and is expected to break tradition and accept his nomination from the White House lawn.

In the meantime, he is seeking to take attention from Mr Biden. Mr Trump will appear at his Democratic rivals birthplace of Scranton, Pennsylvania on Thursday. He is also participating in a prime-time interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity.

Expand Close Hillary Clinton urged people to vote in this autumns presidential election (AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Hillary Clinton urged people to vote in this autumns presidential election (AP)

Hillary Clinton, who lost the 2016 election to Mr Trump, implored Democrats to turn out in larger numbers in November to block the presidents re-election.

The former US secretary of state said: For four years, people have said to me: I didnt realise how dangerous he was. I wish I could go back and do it over. Or worst: I should have voted.

Well, this cant be another woulda coulda shoulda election.

Vote like our lives and livelihoods are on the line  because they are.
Sakinaka police on Wednesday arrested two men for allegedly threatening a Marathi film actor at a supermarket in Sakinaka, Andheri (East). Both men were not wearing face masks or maintaining social distance. When the actor and her friend questioned them about the same, they started threatening them.

According to Sakinaka police officers, the incident took place at around 1pm when Manasi Naik and her friend had gone shopping at Walkmart Supermarket in Andheri. The arrested accused, identified as Mehraj Nisar Azmi, 28, and Surya Ramesh Dubey, 20, both vegetable vendors, were present at the same store.

Naik and her friend were standing in a queue and were maintaining social distance by standing at the pre-marked area for each customer. But Azmi, unlike others was not keeping social distance and was not even wearing a mask. He was standing very close to Naik and her friend, said an officer from Sakinaka police station.

When Naik asked Azmi to stand properly at the pre-marked area and also to wear a face mask, he started arguing with her, and then also called his friend Dubey. They then threatened Naik and her friend saying we will see how you both leave from here, said Kishor Sawant, senior inspector at Sakinaka police station.

Naik then contacted the police control room and sought help. Our team reached the spot and arrested both the accused, Sawant said.

Following Naiks complaint, police registered a first information report (FIR) under section 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (2) (punishment for criminal intimidation), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 34 (common intention) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act and Epidemic Act.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Local personal injury law firm Strong-Garner-Bauer P.C. announces the recognition of multiple partner attorneys in this year's The Best Lawyers in America publication for the Springfield region. This referral list, which was first published in 1983, has earned a reputation as a trustworthy "who's who" of lawyers across the nation. Attorneys and firms are categorized by practice area and region to provide a detailed view of each area's standouts.

Four attorneys from Strong-Garner-Bauer P.C. were included in the Missouri edition of The Best Lawyers in America for 2020. They are:

Steve Garner (a plaintiff's lawyer who takes insurance law, medical malpractice, personal injury, and product liability cases)

(a plaintiff's lawyer who takes insurance law, medical malpractice, personal injury, and product liability cases) Jeff Bauer (a plaintiff's lawyer who takes insurance law and litigation as well as personal injury and product liability cases)

(a plaintiff's lawyer who takes insurance law and litigation as well as personal injury and product liability cases) Neil Chanter (a plaintiff's lawyer who takes medical malpractice, personal injury, and product liability cases)

(a plaintiff's lawyer who takes medical malpractice, personal injury, and product liability cases) Chandler Greg (a plaintiff's lawyer who takes personal injury, product liability, and professional malpractice cases)

Additionally, 3 of these attorneys received the highest feedback score in one of their practice areas and were thus named "Lawyer of the Year:"

Jeff Bauer has been named Springfield, MO's product liability litigation Lawyer of the Year

has been named product liability litigation Lawyer of the Year Neil Chanter has been named Springfield, MO's personal injury litigation Lawyer of the Year

has been named personal injury litigation Lawyer of the Year Steve Garner has been named Springfield, MO's insurance law Lawyer of the Year

Attorneys are only eligible to participate in the Best Lawyers awards process after 10 years in practice. For up-and-coming attorneys who have between 5 and 9 years in public practice, the editorial team compiles a "Ones to Watch" list to showcase those who have already caught their peers' attention. Strong-Garner-Bauer P.C. is proud to have 2 attorneys included in this list as well:

Jacob Lewis (a plaintiff's lawyer who takes medical malpractice cases)

(a plaintiff's lawyer who takes medical malpractice cases) Nick Smart (a plaintiff's lawyer who takes medical malpractice, personal injury litigation, and product liability litigation cases)

Receiving such recognition from the Best Lawyers editorial team is an honor. This is not the first time Strong-Garner-Bauer P.C.'s attorneys have been recognized by this publication, nor is it likely to be the last. For a firm that touts a legacy of quality, recognitions like those by the Best Lawyers editorial team affirm its claim. The team would like to thank the Springfield community for trusting Strong-Garner-Bauer P.C. to help with difficult personal injury cases for over 40 years.

Strong-Garner-Bauer P.C. is a personal injury firm local to Springfield, MO. Serving their local community since 1976, the skilled team at Strong-Garner-Bauer P.C. has achieved notable wins for clients, including a $6.7 billion settlement against big tobacco and multiple 8-figure results. Attorneys Thomas Strong and Steven Garner are members of the elite Inner Circle of Advocatesan invite-only group of 100 leading plaintiff's attorneys across the U.S. If you have been hurt in an accident, the Strong-Garner-Bauer P.C. team wants to help with a free consultation and honest legal advice. They can be found online at www.stronglaw.com or by phone at (417) 855-2022.

SOURCE Strong-Garner-Bauer P.C.

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MINSK -- Belarusian prosecutors on August 20 opened a criminal investigation into the founders of an opposition council set up to negotiate the transition of power amid huge protests challenging the "rigged" results of a presidential election earlier this month that gave President Alyaksandr Lukashenka a fresh six-year term.



The council formed by opposition leaders who claim the result of the poll was falsified has been insisting new presidential elections must be held as protests in Minsk entered a 12th day despite a new push by the authoritarian to clear the streets.

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.

Still, the 65-year-old leader, who has been in power since 1994, has reiterated he wont resign or call a new vote while under pressure from protesters, and on August 19 escalated tensions by instructing authorities to bring criminal charges against opposition leaders and calling on his security services to get tougher on demonstrators, in an indication that a renewed crackdown on the peaceful demonstrators was in the works.

Maryya Kalesnikava, one of opposition presidential candidate Svyatlana Tsikhanouskayas top aides, said on August 20 that despite "flagrant falsifications" in the August 9 ballot that gave Lukashenka a landslide victory, the incumbent has "the right to participate" in a fresh election, though "we do not believe Lukashenka will do that."



A 37-year-old political novice, Tsikhanouskaya ran after other potential candidates, including her husband, were jailed or exiled prior to the election during an opposition crackdown.



"The term of the incumbent Belarusian president expires only on November 5. After that, we intend to hold an election in strict compliance with international standards and to invite international observers. However, the CEC [Central Election Commission] composition must be completely renewed, and the head of the CEC must be replaced," Kalesnikava said.



Lukashenka has faced the biggest domestic challenge to his 26-year rule since the election, which the European Union has said it does not recognize because of irregularities that ended up giving the strongman just over 80 percent of the vote.

Official results gave Tsikhanouskaya about 10 percent of the vote, but she claims to have actually received between 60 and 70 percent.



Thousands have since taken to the streets and walked off the job at state-controlled factories, even heckling the man sometimes referred to as "Europe's last dictator."



Tsikhanouskaya fled to neighboring Lithuania last week, from where she has called for the protests to continue peacefully.



The Coordination Council says numerous election-law violations were recorded in the vote, and more than 7,000 people have been detained and arrested for political reasons.



The council consists of top associaties of Tsikhanouskaya, as well as rights activists and representatives of striking workers and includes the nations most famous author, Svetlana Alexievich, who won the 2015 Nobel Prize in literature.



It met for the first time on August 18, saying it represents the people and seeks to negotiate a peaceful transition of power.



Volha Kovalkova, an aide to Tsikhanouskaya, says she expects her to soon return to Minsk from Lithuania to act as a guarantor in a negotiated transition of power.



Protests continued on August 20 in Minsk and other Belarusian cities for the 12th straight day.



On August 19, hundreds of protesters defied the security forces and assembled in front of the Interior Ministry, which runs the police. A large number of officers were stationed there with vans, but they took no action.



Demonstrators chanted "Resign!" and "Let them out!" in reference to those still detained, while passing cars honked their horns in the rain.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on August 20 that the United States remains deeply concerned by "serious flaws" in Belarus's election, adding that Washington was in support of international efforts to independently look into the country's electoral irregularities and human rights abuses surrounding the vote.



We remain deeply concerned by serious flaws in the August 9 presidential election in Belarus and strongly condemn the violence carried out against peaceful protesters and journalists, the arrest of opposition candidates and peaceful protesters, the blockage of Belarus internet service, and the abuse of detainees, Pompeo said in a statement released on August 20.



We urge the Belarusian government to actively engage Belarusian society, including through the newly established National Coordination Council, in a way that reflects what the Belarusian people are demanding, for the sake of Belarus future, and for a successful Belarus, he added.

The European Union has said it does not recognize the result of the Belarus election and will soon impose sanctions on Lukashenka's government.



On August 20, EU Council President Charles Michel tweeted that he held another phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country is Lukashenka's closest ally, and told him that the only solution to the Belarus crisis is "political inclusive dialogue & a peaceful and democratic process."



"Yesterday, EU expressed solidarity with the people of Belarus in their desire to determine their own future. Today I reiterated this to President Putin. There is only one way forward: through political inclusive dialogue & a peaceful and democratic process," Michel tweeted.



The Kremlin, however, insisted that direct talks between foreign entities and the Belarusian opposition would amount to "interference in Belarusian internal affairs."



"We believe that dialogue should be primarily conducted inside Belarus. Because if foreign countries, among them Russia, establish dialogue with the opposition, that would be an act of interference in internal affairs," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on August 20.



Peskov also said that Putin and Lukashenka have held four phone calls "of late."

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, dpa, and AP
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 10:21:19|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- China remains committed to building a comprehensive, stable and constructive relationship and has "no intention or interest" to get involved in U.S. domestic politics, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai has said.

"China remains committed to working with the United States to overcome the difficulties and build a future-oriented relationship based on coordination, cooperation and stability," said Cui in a keynote speech at a webinar on issues related to China-U.S. relations at the invitation of President John R. Allen of the Brookings Institution on Aug. 13.

"Lately there have been official statements from Beijing with this clear message," said Cui, referring a recent article on the China-U.S. relationship from a historical perspective by Yang Jiechi, Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs.

State Counselor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other senior officials also reiterated China's commitment to the healthy development of China-U.S. relations in their speeches and interviews, he added.

"We look forward to positive responses from the U.S. side," the ambassador said.

"Maybe some people believe that China is just waiting for the result of the U.S. presidential election in November. Let me make it very clear here, we are not waiting for anything, and we are never willing to waste time in waiting," he said. "Besides, American domestic dynamics is well beyond what we can predict or influence. We have no intention or interest to get involved."

"During his visit to China almost 50 years ago, President Richard Nixon cited Chairman Mao's poem, 'We should seize the day, seize the hour.' Today we still need to seize the day, seize the hour," Cui said.

"We are ready to work with the current administration to search for solutions to existing problems anytime anywhere, even today or tomorrow. I just hope that they will free themselves from the panic and paranoid, which is costing them common sense in such a shocking way," he said.

"People from all walks of life in China and the United States should stay guarded against vicious attempts to push the bilateral relationship to confrontation and conflict," he said. "We should firmly resist any resurgence of McCarthyism, and expand two-way exchanges and cooperation, so as to get the China-US relationship back to the right track as soon as possible." Enditem
James Argent looked carefree as he went for a refreshing dip in Marbella, Spain on Wednesday.

The former TOWIE star, 32, appeared relaxed as he went shirtless and donned a pair of navy swimming trunks to go for a swim after returning from his juicing retreat in Portugal.

Arg, who recently endured an extremely acrimonious split from on-off love Gemma Collins, was taking his mind off the recent drama by soaking up the sun.

Sunkissed break: James Argent looked carefree as he went for a refreshing dip in Marbella, Spain on Wednesday

He later donned a gold swimming hat and goggles as he went diving in the sea.

The reality star flew to Spain after his bitter break-up with Gemma, 39, and announced on Instagram that he was on a juicing retreat in Portugal this week.

Sharing a photo of a healthy green smoothie, he wrote: '10 days of healing. I feel so much better physically and mentally.'

Chill day: The former TOWIE star, 32, appeared relaxed as he went shirtless and donned a pair of navy swimming trunks to go for a swim on a break from his juicing retreat

Holiday: Arg, who recently endured an extremely acrimonious split from on-off love Gemma Collins, was taking his mind off the recent drama by soaking up the sun

Swimming: He later donned a gold swimming hat and goggles as he went diving in the se

Beach break: The reality star flew to Spain after his bitter break-up with Gemma, 39, and announced on Instagram that he was on a juicing retreat this week

Refreshing: Arg cooled off in the sea after an afternoon of soaking up the sun

The appearance comes after Argent and recent ex Gemma ended their relationship in July after she revealed a string of abusive messages, purportedly sent to her by the TV personality prior to their split.

It's understood James had made derogatory remarks abut her weight after she suggested that he had bought another woman dinner.

The series of texts began with Gemma saying: 'What man pays for another woman!!!', while Arg responded by saying: 'Insensitive.'

Clearly riled, the blonde said: 'And the woman that saved your life has to pay for herself!!!' Her next message was masked, but her now-ex responded: 'You are supposed to be treating me you hippo.'

Reality star: James slicked back his locks as he joined his friends for a swim

Funky: The star donned white and red goggles and cracked a smile as he swam

Shower: Arg washed off the sand as he took a beach shower in Marbs

Taking it in: The star looked around at the gorgeous scenery as he returned to shore

Relaxed; Arg slicked his locks off his face after an afternoon of swimming

Moments later, Gemma uploaded another series of messages, where he sent her a plane emoji in reply to a picture of flight details.

'I'll take a mate, I'm not booking it. You said you would be a gentleman!', she penned, before he shockingly said: 'YOU FAT F**K. IVE JUST LOST ANOTHER 2000' (sic). He didn't refer to what he had lost 2000 of.

The self-proclaimed diva decided to take some time off social media, citing that she was 'devastated' and 'heartbroken' by the exchange.

Swim time: The star showed off his impressive swimming skills in the surf

Go for it: The star whipped off his swimming hat as he prepared to head back in

Leisure: James looked delighted to be spending time in his beloved Marbs

Drenched: James emerged from the water after enjoying a refreshing swim

Fun in the sun: James donned a swimming hat as he prepared for a swim

Scenic: The water looked inviting as James cooled off in the Mediterranean

However after returning to the UK from her own Tenerife getaway, Gemma apologised to her former beau for releasing the messages.

In a screenshot obtained by MailOnline, the Diva On Lockdown star contacted her fellow reality star in the early hours of the morning.

She wrote: 'I am sorry about putting the messages up, I was just so hurt you suggested an open relationship, it didn't look like a joke when you typed it.

Kicking back: The star looked focused as he showed off his swimming skills

Focus: James relaxed in the cool waters as he enjoyed his beach day

Go for it: The star swam impressively as he whiled away the afternoon

Drenched: James fully immersed himself in the water during the day

Swimming prowess: The star looked professional as he swam energetically

Sunsoaked: The star relaxed in the water after the swimming session

Juicing retreat: Sharing a photo of a healthy green smoothie from his retreat in Portugal, he wrote: '10 days of healing. I feel so much better physically and mentally.'

'I was so upset but I shouldn't have put the messages up, that was anger on my part which was wrong. I am so sorry about that x.' (sic)

It's been a tough year for Argent, with him recently admitting that he is a cocaine addict and that he had overdosed twice last year before hitting rock bottom over Christmas and calling his friend and former co-star Mark Wright for help.

He checked himself into a 10-week bootcamp at The River rehab facility in Thailand earlier this year where he kicked his habit and lost five stone in the process.

Sunshine: While Arg went to Marbs, his ex Gemma Collins flew to Mykonos to heal her broken heart after their bitter split in July (pictured earlier this week)
Hedge funds reversed course in June from the pandemic-driven redemption trend of prior months, posting $15.1 billion in inflows. It was a significant turnaround from $8.0 billion in outflows in May, $38.1 billion in April and $85.6 billion in redemptions in March.

Julys inflows represented 0.5% of industry assets, according to the Barclay Fund Flow Indicator published by BarclayHedge, a division of Backstop Solutions.

The hedge fund industry turned in another profitable trading month as well, earning a $34.7 billion trading profit and bringing total industry assets to more than $3.11 trillion as the month ended.

Data from 7,000 funds (excluding CTAs) in the BarclayHedge database showed Balanced (Stocks & Bonds) funds leading the way in bringing in new assets in June with $13.8 billion in inflows.

As the spring months progressed, there was a growing sense of investor optimism that the worst of the pandemics economic damage was behind us, said Sol Waksman, president of BarclayHedge. As unemployed figures declined and stock markets recovered, investors began coming back to hedge funds.

Over the 12-month period through June, hedge funds experienced $169.5 billion in redemptions. Coupled with Junes inflows, a $34.7 billion trading profit during the month brought industry assets to more than $3.11 trillion as June ended, up from $3.04 trillion at the end of May but down from $3.15 trillion a year earlier.

Hedge funds posting 12-month inflows through June were led by Event Driven funds which brought in $21.0 billion over the period, 12.8% of assets. Sector Specific funds added $15.1 billion, 8.7% of assets, Convertible Arbitrage funds took in $3.2 billion, 15.7% of assets, and Emerging Markets  Latin America funds added $1.0 billion, 8.1% of assets.

Sectors with the largest 12-month redemptions included Fixed Income funds with $46.7 billion in outflows, 7.0% of assets, Equity Long/Short funds with $41.3 billion in redemptions, 20.1% of assets, and Equity Long Bias funds which shed $19.6 billion, 5.9% of assets.

The managed futures industry reversed course from Mays $1.3 billion in inflows with $440.2 million in redemptions in June. A $1.4 billion trading loss brought industry assets to $283.1 billion as the month ended, down from $284.1 billion at the end of May.

For the 12 months through June, the managed futures industry experienced $23.6 billion in redemptions, 7.3% of industry assets. A $10.4 billion trading loss over the period contributed to the industrys $283.1 billion total asset figure at the end of June, down from $324.8 billion a year earlier.

About Backstop Solutions

Backstops mission is to help the institutional investment industry use time to its fullest potential. We develop technology to simplify and streamline otherwise time-consuming tasks and processes, enabling our clients to quickly and easily access, share and manage the knowledge thats critical to their day-to-day business success. Backstop provides its industry-leading cloud-based productivity suite to investment consultants, pensions, funds of funds, family offices, endowments, foundations, private equity, hedge funds and real estate investment firms.

BarclayHedge, a division of Backstop, currently maintains data on more than 7,000 hedge funds, funds of funds and CTAs. Institutional investors, brokerage firms and private banks worldwide utilize BarclayHedge indices as performance benchmarks for the hedge fund and managed futures industries.


The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) has recommended lifting lockdown rules for Laois and Offaly but said restrictions should remain in place for Kildare.

After meeting to examine the impact of the restriction on the three counties, the team of public health experts decided the spread of the virus had been contained enough in Laois and Offaly to ease restrictions.

However, after examining data on Covid-19 for Kildare they recommended people living in the county remain under local lockdown.

Read More

The Cabinet will decide tomorrow whether to implement the recommendations from Nphet.

If accepted, people in Laois and Offaly will be able to travel outside their county boundaries again but not into Kildare where lockdown measures will remain enforced.

Former Justice Minister and Laois TD Charlie Flanagan welcomed the news.

I wish to confirm having directly spoken to the Health Minister Mr Stephen Donnelly on a number of occasions this week and wish to thank him for his engagement, Mr Flanagan he told Laois Today.

I have also spoken with An Tanaiste Leo Varadkar and the office of Dr Colm Henry regarding the situation in Laois/Offaly.

While welcoming the proposal to widen activities across the constituency, I would like to remind the self-employed about a number of business supports available to businesses in Kildare, Laois and Offaly, which have been adversely impacted by renewed Covid 19 restrictions," he added.

Antibody study

Meanwhile, the proportion of the Irish population infected with Covid-19 is three times higher than that detected through other surveillance methods, the HSE said.

It comes as a total of 136 new cases of Covid-19 and one new death have been reported in Ireland today.

Almost 60,000 people aged under 70 contracted the disease up to mid-July, representative sampling of antibody levels in Dublin and Sligo suggested.

The estimated prevalence rate is 1.7pc.

Medical chiefs have expressed concern socialising before and after sporting events could be contributing to coronavirus spread.

Principal investigator Dr Derval Igoe said: It is not surprising that a relatively low national seroprevalence of 1.7pc was observed here.

Other countries in Europe, such as Spain and Italy, where there has been a much more intense epidemic, have reported national seroprevalence estimates of 5pc and 2.5pc respectively.

This means that the vast majority of people living in Ireland had not been infected with Sars-CoV-2 virus by the time of the study.

Of those who were found to have antibodies, 73pc had symptoms that are included in the Irish Covid-19 case definition; that is, one or more of the following: fever, cough, shortness of breath, loss of sense of taste or loss of sense of smell.

One third of all those who were found to have antibodies reported loss of sense of smell and/or taste, the study showed.

The HSE added: Using the prevalence data from this study, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre estimates that that 59,500 people in Ireland in the age group 12 to 69 years had been infected with Sars-CoV-2 up to mid-July; three times more than that detected via surveillance of notified cases.

'Limit your social networks'

Of the new cases notified today, 54 were men and 81 were women.

A total of 51 of the cases were in Dublin, 24 in Kildare, 12 in Kilkenny, 11 in Tipperary, 7 in Cork, 6 in Limerick, 6 in Wexford, 5 in Meath and the remaining cases spread across nine other counties.

Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ronan Glynn said tonight: "The core message from the National Public Health Emergency team this week is to limit your social networks.

"Stick to a limit of six people from no more than three households indoors and 15 people outdoors.

"Risk assess your environment and do not stay if it doesn't feel safe."

Meanwhile, Prof Philip Nolan of Maynooth University who is heading the team tracking the disease, said schools are safe places and the focus "needs to be on the community and households" locally.

He said: "Unlike influenza, schools are not a big driver of Covid-19 transmission, so the truth is, where we see children being infected is in households.

"We need to prevent adult to adult transmission of the virus. If you do that, you prevent it getting into households, you prevent kids being infected, so the attention is in the wrong place.

"Schools are a safe place and they are very well run by principals to ensure that infection does not occur. It's the households we need to concentrate on."

Acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn would not be drawn on what would happen to the reopening of schools if one or more of the three counties of Kildare, Laois or Offaly do not emerge from semi-lockdown this weekend.

Speaking generally he said: "I cannot say for sure that a school will or won't be closed given a particular set of circumstances. If there are cases in a school, they will be dealt with on case by case basis by public health teams."

The HSE is also examining alternative ways of testing children for Covid-19 in school but this has yet to be finalised.

Read More

With additional reporting from PA
Nursing homes in New Jersey have not consistently reported cases of suspected neglect and mistreatment and state inspectors too frequently have missed the signs that residents may have been intentionally harmed, according to a report released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

The audit is based on hospital claims from 2016 paid out by Medicaid, the federally and state-funded health coverage program that includes many nursing home residents. The goal was to find out how consistently nursing homes follow federal and state laws requiring they report incidents that lead to injury, and how thoroughly the state Department of Health investigates them.

Based on 4,402 claims, federal investigators found:

311 Medicaid hospital claims represented incidents of potential abuse or neglect;

220 claims were the result of potential abuse or neglect that nursing facilities did not investigate and report to the state Health Department;

Conclusions could not be drawn with 616 claims because nursing homes did not provide sufficient documentation.

These deficiencies occurred because nursing facility staff did not follow requirements for investigating and reporting potential incidents of abuse or neglect. In addition, New Jersey did not have adequate survey procedures for ensuring that nursing facilities documented all such incidents, according to the audit.

The medical conditions that most often led nursing home residents to be hospitalized were pneumonia caused by inhaled food or vomit; stage 4 bedsores to the muscle or bone; head or facial injuries; falling; and severe sepsis or septic shock.

Falls and bed sores also known as pressure ulcers  are often signs of neglect in nursing homes. Residents often need employees to turn them in bed, or help walking to the bathroom or a common area in the facility.

In one case , a resident suffered a hip injury after being thrown from her bed inside her room by another nursing facility resident. In another incident, a woman was found bleeding from her head, confused and unable to explain how she ended up on the hallway floor, the audit said. Neither incident was reported to the state, according to the audit.

A nursing home did not provide enough records to explain the circumstances of another nursing home resident needing hospital care after a fall. The associated nursing facility provided no records for the beneficiary despite multiple requests for documentation, the audit said.

The Inspector General recommended state inspectors pay closer attention to nursing home and hospital records for evidence of abuse or neglect. State regulators also must stress the necessity of reporting incidents of potential mistreatment, the audit said.

In a letter attached to the report, state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli did not dispute the findings and listed ways the state has improved its investigative practices since 2016.

Since 2016, the health department allowed nursing homes to submit suspected reports of abuse and neglect electronically. State health employees provided on-site presentations on how nursing home operators must detect and report suspected incidents from 2017 through 2019, Persichillis letter said.

Routine inspections include medical record reviews, and if inspectors find incidents of unreported abuse or neglect, they are expected to write up the nursing home and require a plan of correction, Persichilli said.

One in four nursing homes in New Jersey had staffing shortages, according to reports issued last year by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

They revealed 25 percent were rated below average or much below average in the number of nursing personnel available to take care of residents  a ranking that takes into account that some nursing homes have sicker residents and may therefore need more staff than other nursing homes whose residents arent as sick.

Local journalism needs your support. Subscribe at nj.com/supporter.



Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio.
- A young boy might get his wish fulfilled after his heartfelt plea to get adopted caught the attention of thousands of people

- Jordan was sharing his adoption journey with viewers when he made the requests

- But it was his earnest admission that his greatest wish was for a family that struck a chord with more than 5,000 people who interacted with the clip

A nine-year-old boy has received over 5,000 adoption requests from people around the United States after issuing an emotional plea begging for a mum and dad.

The boy only identified as Jordan was three-years old when he was taken into the care of the States Department of Human Services in Oklahoma.

READ ALSO: Alexei Navalny: Russian opposition leader hospitalised after suspected poisoning

Jordan received over 5000 adoption requests following his plea. Photo: News Australia.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Disabled school director moves into his office, hawks sweets to make ends meet

According to News Australia, after spending six years in foster care, the young boy yearned for a permanent place to call home.

He made the request during a local news segment saying if he was granted three wishes, he would only ask for a family.

Or just a mom. Or just a dad  I really do not care. The reason it is important is that so I could have some people to talk to anytime I need to. I hope one of you will pick me," he said.

READ ALSO: Dubai mega-mansion to be sold for KSh 3.9b with free Rolls Royce, Ferrari

Just 12 hours after making the heartbreaking plea, more than 5,000 people inquired about adopting him.

Jordan also said during the interview that he was sad he does not get to see his little brother Braison anymore - he was adopted in 2019 and he too hopes for a family

The boy added that if he could go anywhere in the world, he would choose to go to an adoption party for a home.

READ ALSO: Mali coup: Colonel Assimi Goita declares himself new military leader after Keita's ouster

Jordans wish may soon become a reality after his permanency planner revealed that it had since received thousands of submissions to adopt him.

Im in the process of reading through those profiles to select a family to try to move forward with, state worker Christopher Marlowe said.

The nine-year-old is among more than 400,000 children currently in foster care across the US and Marlowe said Jordan had been through a whole lot of trauma as compared to other children.

READ ALSO: UN honours 2 Kenyans among 19 others for their outstanding humanitarian work

Since Jordans desperate plea went viral, the state worker said it has had to recruit other staff to help go through the staggering amount of applications.

But he expects Jordan to be part of a loving family within six months as the minor is unaware of his viral fame as the department wants to be careful not to get his hopes up after being let down previously.

The state is also hoping to find a family based in Oklahoma to keep Jordan and his brother Braison closer to one another.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Disabled school director moves into his office, hawks sweets to make ends meet

His brothers adoptive family has been agreeable to that and even if things go well, they said they would be willing to take them out so they could spend some time together, he said.

Many have also taken to social media after hearing about Jordans touching plea with some saying they would welcome him to their home in a heartbeat.

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
CNBC's Jim Cramer said Thursday that there is more pain in the U.S. economy than what is reflected in the stock market's robust recovery from coronavirus-era lows.

"I'm thinking, wait a second, don't get too optimistic. I think it's our nature to be optimistic," Cramer said on "Squawk on the Street." "We like the fact that the market is going higher because our viewers own stocks. But right now we seem gassed."

Cramer's comments follow initial jobless claims for last week checking in at 1.106 million, higher than economists had expected. It marked an increase from the prior week's total of 971,000, which was the first time in 21 weeks that initial claims were under 1 million.

"Are these numbers worrisome? Well yes, if you don't get a stimulus package  and yes, if you don't get a vaccine," Cramer said on "Squawk Box." "I think be prepared for more of these numbers."

The stock market has experienced a sharp rebound from its pandemic-induced sell-off, with the S&P 500 on Wednesday notching another intraday high. And some corporate giants, such as Target, have reported strong quarterly earnings.

But neither paint an accurate picture of what is happening in the economy, particularly with small businesses, said Cramer, owner of a Brooklyn, New York, restaurant.

"I think this is the two economies. The 'V-shaped' recovery in stocks is not the 'V-shaped' recovery in the economy," the "Mad Money" host said. "You may be joyous about Target, and terrific numbers that we got from Lowe's. But this is the real world; real world not so hot."

Cramer suggested there has not been a large enough reckoning with how persistent the coronavirus remains  and the economic consequences associated with the health crisis. "We are right now beginning to realize that the pandemic has recessionary impact that we hadn't thought about."

He's implored Washington lawmakers and White House officials, who remain gridlocked on another round of relief legislation, to provide adequate support.

"That's why I've said over and over again to both sides, 'Look you've got to make this so it's open-ended,'" he said. "You've got to make it so we have something that gets us to the vaccine. No one wants to relate directly why we have this problem. It's not because of a slowdown. It's because of Covid-19."

"I absolutely understand the budget deficit and you can talk about the budget deficit forever," Cramer added. "I'm talking the republic, the society, because there's so many people, 15 million in the restaurant business alone, these people cannot have jobs but they're not going to go become carpenters."
The National Economic Council (NEC) says 16 states have so far received N100 million grant each from the World Bank to ease the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown.

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State virtually briefed State House correspondents after the virtual NEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday.

The virtual NEC was anchored from the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The World Bank recently made a proposal of $1.5 billion to states as part economic stimulus to cushion the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Sule said the council received the Progressive Report of its Adhoc Committee interfacing with the Presidential Taskforce (PTF) on COVID-19 to ease the lockdown of the economy.

He listed the states as Ekiti, Gombe, Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Oyo, Abia, Enugu, Zamfara, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kwara, Cross River, Imo and Delta.

The governor said the report stated the summary Review Status of States Incident Action Plan (IAPs) as at August 5.

All states had submitted IAPs; 35 states cleared by the World Bank; 22 signed Grant Agreement (GA) and 13 yet to return signed GA.

22 states that signed the GA are Ekiti, Gombe, Zamfara, Sokoto, Niger, Taraba, Oyo, Abia, Enugu, Plateau, Delta, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kwara, Cross-River, Imo, Yobe, Ondo, Osun, Nasarawa and Benue.

Of the 22 states, 16 states had received N100 million grants  Ekiti, GOmbe, Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Oyo, Abia, Enugu, Zamfara, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kwara, Cross-River, Imo and Delta.

Five states next on the list of payment are  Plateau, Yobe, Ondo, Benue and Osun; one state is yet to communicate account details- Nasarawa.

The governor said that the key highlights of the current four weeks guidelines of the extended second phase were also presented.

On security, Mr Sule said NEC also received an update by its Adhoc Committee on Security and Policing.

He said that NEC, in its meeting on June 20, deliberated extensively on the persistent security situation in the country, especially the activities of Boko Haram insurgents in the North East, which had remained a delicate challenge.

Based on this, the council set up an Ad-Hoc Committee on security and policing headed by the Governor of Ekiti State.

Activities of the Ad-Hoc Committeethe committee met on Thursday August 4 to review the escalating security challenges in the country

It had a virtual meeting where briefings and presentations were received from the NSA, IGP, Chief of Defence Staff and the Department of State Services (DSS).

The meeting held to review the escalating challenges in the country observed that insecurity cannot be fully eradicated without addressing the high poverty rate and unemployment level in the country;

The Office of the NSA has not been adequately funded in the last five years to enable it carry out its mandate effectively.

State governments have been overwhelmed by insecurity expenditures and there is therefore the need by the Federal Government to inject more funds to augment expenses by the states, amongst others, he said.

He said the meeting made several observations and came up with recommendations that would help government tackle the issue of insecurity in the country.

Mr Sule said the committees work was still ongoing as it would be meeting further with stakeholders.

(NAN)

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Mysuru : , Aug 20 (IANS) Mysuru, the cultural capital of Karnataka, was adjudged the cleanest medium city in the 3-10 lakh population category in the fifth edition of the Annual Cleanliness Survey 2020 by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, an official said on Thursday.

"Mysuru has been adjudged top city under the 3-10 lakh population category though it missed being among the top five cleanest cities across the country," an official of the city civic corporation told IANS.

Mysuru, the city of palaces, was declared the cleanest city in the first edition of the survey in 2016 and ranked among the top 10 clean cities in the subsequent surveys.

Union Housing and Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri declared the survey rankings in New Delhi earlier in the day and the virtual event (Swachh Mahotsav) was telecast live in the Amba Vilas Palace in the city.

Indore in Madhya Pradesh, Surat in Gujarat and Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra bagged the top three rankings in the over 1-lakh population category.

In the overall national level of above 40-lakh population the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahangara Palike (BBMP) bagged the best sustainable mega city award.

"In the south zone, under the 50,000-1 lakh population category, Hunsur in Mysuru district was adjudged the best city in the Citizen Feedback," said the official.

Ramanagara, about 40km from Bengaluru, bagged the best city award in innovation and best practices in south zone.

The annual survey assesses the performance of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India programme) Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched on October 2, 2014 to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

In the virtual ceremony, 9 workers of the Mysuru civic body, including Manula and Nanjundanaswamy interacted with the Union Minister.

The results of the survey were delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic since March.

Mysuru Lok Sabha member Pratap Simha of the ruling BJP, district deputy commissioner Abhiram Shankar, city mayor Tasneem, Mysuru city BJP legislator Ramdas and Mysuru civic corporation commissioner Gurudatta Hegde were present on the occasion.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield testifies during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Kevin Dietsch | Reuters

Deaths attributed to the coronavirus will likely begin to drop over the next week, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Robert Redfield said Thursday. Daily new cases of the coronavirus have been on a sustained decline since the end of July, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Deaths, which lag behind new cases as people fall ill, become hospitalized and die, have remained stubbornly high, at roughly 1,000 new Covid-19 deaths per day, on average, according to a CNBC analysis of Hopkins data. Redfield added that he'd like to bring the number of daily new deaths below 250, a figure the country came close to reporting on one day in early July. "You and I are going to see the cases continue to drop. And then hopefully this week and next week, you're going to start seeing the death rate really start to drop again." Redfield said in an interview with Dr. Howard Bauchner of the Journal of the American Medical Association. "I think we're going to start to see a decline in mortality across the country now next week as we continue to get control of these cases."

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Redfield added that the U.S. is beginning "to turn the tide on what I call the southern outbreak in the nation." He said Arizona, Texas and other states that were hit particularly hard by the virus over the summer have implemented appropriate public health guidelines, encouraging face coverings and closing indoor bars and restaurants. He added, however, that daily new cases still remain high and he'd like to bring that number down below 10,000 new cases per day. He said he'd like to get to the point where the percent of all tests coming back positive across the country everyday is below 3%. Over 6% of all tests are currently coming back positive, based on a seven-day average, Assistant Secretary for Health Adm. Brett Giroir told reporters earlier this week. Even as some state make strides in bringing the virus under control, Redfield said others are still reporting worrying figures, particularly in "Middle America," such as Nebraska and Oklahoma. "We're starting to see some of the cases now in the red zone areas are falling, but if you look at those states that are in what we call the yellow zone, between 5% and 10%, they're not falling, so middle America right now is getting stuck," he said. "This is why it's so important for middle America to recognize the mitigation steps that we talked about, about masks, about social distancing, hand washing, closing bars, being smart about crowds."

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In what is being considered the largest live stranding of whales in Ireland's history, six have died and another one is likely to perish too.

Seven northern bottlenose whales were spotted stranded on a beach in Rossnowlagh, County Donegal, on the north west coast of Ireland. In a bid to help the stranded animals, conservationists rushed to the beach.

IWDG

But the groups could not do a lot for the six whales which grow to around 32ft in length and can weigh up to 16,530 lb (7,500 kg). The six died on the beach. A seventh whale managed to swim away. However, experts believe that the chances of its survival are low.

However, Sibeal Regan, from the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG), told Sky News that she was 'cautiously optimistic'.

Investigations to find out the cause of stranding are underway but according to Regan it is caused by 'acoustic trauma' often, usually from human activity. It's very sad, but it is some consolation to know that they are no longer suffering, Sky News quoted her as saying.

Talking about the chances of the one remaining whale she said, It's very bleak. Because northern bottlenose whales are deep-diving, the fact that they are in shallow coastal waters means that its chances of survival without the rest of its family are very low.

Also Read: Man Rides Endangered Whale Shark In The Red Sea By Holding On To Its Dorsal Fin

IWDG

This incident comes after IWDG warned of a spike in animal strandings in the last year. In Ireland, there were 245 reported strandings involving 263 animals in the last year.

Injuries of many suggested that they had been entangled in fishing nets.

The group also said the deaths coincide with the arrival of giant fishing vessels, known as supertrawlers, which target fish close to the surface but far out to sea in Irish waters in Autumn.

Acoustic Trauma

According to scientists, certain types of sounds can cause some sea creatures to panic dive, and it puts others on alert. They spend more time on the lookout for predators, rather than carrying out their usual activities.

Also Read: 10 Whales Found Dead On Beach In Indonesia. Locals Rescue The 11th & Push Back Into The Sea

IWDG

Studies also show that dolphins change their tune, lower their frequency and reduce the variety in their song, in response to loud background noise.

Some whales stop singing at all, causing major communication issues for their pods.

Also read: 75 Ft Dead Blue Whale Washes Up On Beach In Indonesia, Leaves Experts Flummoxed
Eric Gay /Associated Press

Las Lomas Elementary School was notified Wednesday afternoon that an employee who had last been on campus Friday had tested positive for the coronavirus.

Students are not yet on campuses in the North East Independent School District but teachers are working from their classrooms. Cafeteria and maintenance workers and custodians also are present, said Aubrey Chancellor, school district spokeswoman. .
That same year, the great Black abolitionist Frederick Douglass  himself born into slavery in Talbot County, Maryland  echoed Lincolns sentiments, declaring that the Federal government was never, in its essence, anything but an anti-slavery government. If in its origin slavery had any relation to the government, it was only as the scaffolding to the magnificent structure, to be removed as soon as the building was completed. There is in the Constitution no East, no West, no North, no South, no black, no white, no slave, no slaveholder; but all are citizens who are of American birth. In fact, Douglass boldly proclaimed that there is no Negro problem. The problem is whether the American people have loyalty enough, honor enough, patriotism enough, to live up to their own Constitution.
ThoughtWire, a Toronto, Canada-based developer of a Digital Twin Technology platform, closed a combined $11.5m funding with a follow-on potential of a further $9.7m.

Backers included Yaletown Partners, BDC Capital, Canadian Business Growth Fund, Greensoil PropTech Ventures and EDC.

The company intends to use the funds to further development efforts and international growth initiatives.

Led by Michael Monteith, CEO, ThoughtWire aims to create Smarter Built Environments by using Digital Twin Technology, which is now being applied across diverse industries to deliver intelligent automation and provide real-time guidance to machines and staff to predict and resolve issues, ensure safety, improve productivity, and achieve energy greater efficiency.

FinSMEs

20/08/2020
Photo: Contributed

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has asked Governor General Julie Payette to prorogue Parliament.



What does this mean?



Prorogation is a parliamentary procedure where the current session of Parliament is ended.



This is done by a proclamation of the Governor General, at the request of the Prime Minister.



What happens next?



The PM announced that the second session of the 43rd Parliament starts Sept. 23.



There will be a throne speech, as is the custom of a new session of Parliament, and ultimately a confidence vote following that throne speech.

In a minority Parliament, that could potentially result in an election.



Why request prorogation?



Although there can be a variety of reasons, the most common is for the government to outline a new or different direction.



Certainly, that is what Prime Minister Trudeau has indicated in this case.



While it makes sense that the government would want to outline a new direction in a throne speech, there is one other serious consideration that cannot be ignored.



With the exception of a one day sitting of the COVID Committee Aug. 26, the House of Commons was already adjourned until Sept. 2.



So why prorogue the House of Commons when it is already adjourned?



The answer is the fact that several parliamentary committees were sitting and hearing evidence on the details that resulted in WE Charity foundation receiving a sole-sourced contract in excess of $500 million.



Having read much of the evidence from these meetings, a clear pattern was emerging where details from witnesses would directly contradict what the Prime Minister had previously and publicly stated on the record.



As one example, the PM stated that when he first heard of the proposed WE Charitys contribution agreement on May 8, he pushed back and instructed the public service to do more due diligence before cabinet actually approved the agreement on May 28.



However, at the Finance Committee, the Assistant Deputy Minister developing the program stated that: "We entered into a negotiation of a contribution agreement with WE Charity in mid-May.



Clearly, there was no evidence of any push back as the PM stated, but rather there was a rush to get the sole-sourced contract completed.



Now that the Prime Minister has prorogued Parliament, no committee can sit during a prorogation."



This means that the Prime Minister has shut down the committees studying and uncovering evidence on the WE contribution agreement that was contrary to what the PM had said publicly.



It should also be pointed out that in 2015, the Prime Minister made a promise that his Liberal government would never use prorogation to escape scrutiny.



My question this week:

Do you agree with the Prime Minister proroguing Parliament and shutting down these committees?

I can be reached at [email protected] or call toll free 1-800-665-8711.
Ho Chi Minh City officials have barricaded a residential area after a recovered COVID-19 patient who lives there retested positive.

The Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control has identified six people who had direct and indirect contact with the patient in question.

The patient, 27-year-old T.D.C., lives on Thoai Ngoc Hau Street, Hoa Thanh Ward, Tan Phu District, the center said.

The Hoa Thanh Peoples Committee has thus locked down 17 households in the neighborhood, isolating and sampling 52 people for COVID-19 testing.

The Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control said on Thursday that it had detected a recovered patient retesting positive for the virus.

C. had tested positive for the pathogen in Equatorial Guinea, a Central African country.

The man arrived in Hanoi on July 29 on board a flight that carried 217 Vietnamese returnees from the African country. They were all quarantined upon landing.

He was isolated for treatment at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in the capital city.

The patient was allowed to go home on August 14 after having tested negative for the virus three times. He was then required to continue self-isolating at home as per regulations.

Police and militia officers guard a neighborhood in Hoa Thanh Ward, Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City after a recovered COVID-19 patient who lives there retested positive. Photo: Ngoc Khai / Tuoi Tre

He kept testing negative on August 16 and 17 before retesting positive on August 18.

The patient has been taken to a field hospital in outlying Cu Chi District for treatment in normal health, with no signs of a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing.

Vietnam's Ministry of Health requires that recovered coronavirus patients be quarantined at home or other facilities and have their health monitored for 14 days since hospital discharge.

Such patients who retest positive are not infectious, Nguyen Van Kinh, former director of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi, said in May.

Vietnam has confirmed 994 coronavirus cases, with 533 recoveries and 25 virus-related deaths as of Thursday afternoon.

One patient died on August 12 after having tested negative for the virus four times.

Most of the fatalities suffered critical comorbid conditions, including renal failure, cancer, and hypertension.

Vietnam has sealed the border to foreigners since March to prevent COVID-19 spread but the country grants exemption to foreign experts and skilled workers who are to be quarantined upon arrival.

The Vietnamese government has arranged for many flights to take home citizens stranded in other countries over virus-related travel restrictions.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
China has seen rapid growth in its telecommuting industry this year due to requirements put in place to curb the COVID-19 epidemic and robust development in the countrys digital economy.

Workers remotely control the production process at a production base of Transfar Group in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. (Photo courtesy of Transfar Group)

According to statistics, the value of the telecommuting market is expected to reach 44.8 billion yuan this year, about 7.5 times its size in 2017.

During the epidemic, people marvelled at the power of digital technologies, said Chen Hang, CEO of DingTalk, the telecommuting tool developed by e-commerce giant Alibaba, adding that the remote working mode was widely adopted at least three years ahead of schedule.

The platform has drawn 300 million individual users and more than 15 million corporate clients. Most notably, over 10 million companies joined it after the epidemic began. It also deployed more than 100,000 new cloud servers in Alibaba Cloud, the cloud computing arm of Alibaba, to support online classes for 130 million students.

Like Alibaba, other Chinese internet giants including ByteDance and Tencent have also offered multi-functional and reliable telecommuting tools.

Working from home saves me two hours in commuting each day, so I hope that this will become a regular option, said Ma Chen, an employee of a state-owned enterprise in Beijing, adding that the company allowed employees to work remotely for several months after the Lunar New Year holiday.

Experts said that there will be broad prospects for telecommuting in the post-epidemic era. According to Chen, telecommuting can help micro and small firms and startups significantly reduce operations costs, adding that the integration of online and offline channels could become a new trend in the future.

While the Chinese government encourages the sectors development, new technologies including 5G, artificial intelligence and blockchain will make telecommuting more efficient.

5G will play a vital role in the sector in the foreseeable future. Technologies such as augmented reality or virtual reality could be used for telecommuting and video conferences, according to Liu Xiangdong, deputy head of the economic research department of the China Center for International Economic Exchange.

This requires a wireless communication network with high stability and high-speed connectivity, and 5G can meet that requirement, Liu added.
If the media were to ask President Trump, "Are you a natural born citizen?," he would probably respond with, "My father, an American citizen, Fred Trump, was born in New York City, and my mother, Mary Anne, was born in Scotland and became a naturalized American citizen in March 1942. I was born in Queens in 1946. Yes, I am a natural born citizen."

When Kamala Harris was asked the same question, her response was anfractuous and curious: "Look, I'm very clear-eyed about the fact that they are going to engage, as you said, in what they have done throughout this administration, which is just, let's just be very candid and straightforward, they're going to engage in lies, they're going to engage in deception, they're going to engage in an attempt to distract from the real issues that are impacting the American people."

In other words, "No."

If you are constitutionally eligible, what is the harm in laying out a response? "Mom and dad were both American citizens."

But Senator Harris would rather engage in actions to circumvent the U.S. Constitution over articulating her ineligibility.

If you listened to the media, you would think there is no definition anywhere of "natural born citizen." The media assert that the clause "natural born citizen" isn't defined anywhere in the U.S. Constitution. But the media hide the fact that "natural born citizen" was specifically defined in the Naturalization Act of 1790.

Here is the law and the wording. Congress's first act concerning citizenship, the Naturalization Act of 1790, provided that "the children of citizens of the United States, that may be born beyond the sea or out of the limits of the United States, shall be considered as natural born citizens" (Act of March 26, 1790. 1 Stat. pages 103, 104 [emphasis added]).

Let's be clear because this is important: the Naturalization Act of 1790 unambiguously defined that children of citizens of the United States shall be considered natural born citizens irrespective of where they are born. Children of citizens of the United States may be born beyond the sea, out of the limits of the United States. It doesn't matter. Being a natural born citizen has nothing to do with where you are born but strictly to whom you are born  as long as it's to American citizens. This is the media's and the Democrat Party's great lie going on twelve years now. There are many ways to become a U.S. citizen, but if you are to seek the office of the president (or the vice president), you must be a child born of American parents.

And it was so blindingly obvious and repetitive that children of citizens of the United States shall be considered natural born citizens irrespective of where they are born that Congress removed the wording during the replacement Naturalization Act of 1795. What else can it be? For over 200 years, no one had any questions about what was meant by natural born citizen until despicable and reprehensible lawyers claimed that the Constitution was wrong or discriminatory in order to disqualify Republican presidential candidates who were born abroad to American parents, such as Barry Goldwater, Lowell Weicker, George Romney, and Christian D. Herter.

And now, when the political foot is well on the other side of the aisle, now any challenge is considered a "distraction."

What we see is that when there is an obvious case of ineligibility and the media's chosen candidate is a Democrat, such as Barack Obama (father was a British subject, a Kenyan national, on a student visa and was never a naturalized citizen) or Kamala Harris (mother and father both born abroad; one naturalized citizen at the time of birth), the media freak out, attack, and smear Republicans. Instead of acknowledging they are not natural born citizens or seeking to resolve the issue in a court of law, they choose to circumvent the U.S. Constitution.

That is what all this media-driven red herring birtherism nonsense has been about  not place of birth on birth certificates, but, two lines down, the nationality of parents who are not American citizens whose children wish to run for the office of the president (or vice president).

How did we get to this place? In 2020? This is unadulterated media malfeasance. They act like three year-olds caught stealing candy. They could have been adults and reported the law and the facts but chose not to.

Up until the 2008 election, every previous presidential candidate knew the constitutional requirements, but only Barack Obama chose to circumvent the Constitution. Emboldened by Obama's successful run at the White House, Senator Harris is making a go. Good luck, Kamala. It will not work this time.

The Founders were sensitive to foreign influence in the new government. The natural born citizen requirement for presidents has always been about erecting a barrier against foreign powers scheming a way into our government.

This is a topic that will not ever go away. The left rejects the Constitution and will keep throwing ineligible candidates for high office for as long as it takes to have a president who can shred the Constitution.

The Federalist Papers made it clear. The below is from No. 68, The Mode of Electing the President, from the New York Packet, Friday, March 14, 1788. (My emphasis.)

Alexander Hamilton expressed his concerns:

Nothing was more to be desired than that every practicable obstacle should be opposed to cabal, intrigue, and corruption. These most deadly adversaries of republican government might naturally have been expected to make their approaches from more than one quarter, but chiefly from the desire in foreign powers to gain an improper ascendant in our councils. How could they better gratify this, than by raising a creature of their own to the chief magistracy of the Union?

A reasonable, intelligent person who isn't committed to deceiving the American people should have little problem recognizing the spirit and intent of the definition of "natural born citizen." Liberal lawyers writing in law reviews and their friends in the media have always attacked the Constitution as faulty, and they cite the law and references that support their twisted view of a fairly straightforward topic.

The U.S. Constitution, the Naturalization Act of 1790, and the Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 cite multiple instances of "natural born citizen" and make clear the Framers' connotation and intent: that children of citizens of the United States shall be considered natural born citizens irrespective of where they are born.

It is a lie of the left that the natural born citizen clause is ambiguous.

Even if they do any research, the left will fail to cite the letter predating the appearance of the phrase in the Committee of Eleven report, when John Jay wrote to George Washington (The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787, page 61):

Permit me to hint, whether it would not be wise ... to provide a strong check to the admission of Foreigners into the administration of our national Government, and to declare expressly that the command in chief of the american (sic) army shall not be given to, nor devolve on, any but a natural born citizen.

The Jay letter is consistent with Hamilton in Federalist 68; some have assumed the Jay letter to be the source of the phrase in Article II of the U.S. Constitution. The only firm conclusions that may be drawn from Hamilton and Jay is that it was in the interest of the new government to keep foreigners away from the presidency and that the president and commander in chief should be a natural born citizen.

I do not see any ambiguity; the president must not be born of a parent of a foreign power and need not be native born, but must be born of American citizens. To be a natural born citizen, it doesn't matter where you are born as long as your parents are American citizens.

Mark writes thrillers and an occasional children's book and is a longtime contributor to American Thinker.

Image: Mobilus In Mobili via Wikimedia Commons.
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The previous party congress was held for the first time in 36 years, but North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed his intention to convene it regularly from now on at a plenary meeting Wednesday of the Central Committee of the Workers Party of Korea, the official Korean Central News Agency said.

BEIJINGNorth Koreas ruling party will convene its congress next January for the first time since May 2016 to set forth a new five-year plan for national economic development, state-run media reported Thursday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (center) attends a plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers Party of Korea in Pyongyang on Wednesday. / KCNA / Kyodo

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (center) attends a plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers Party of Korea in Pyongyang on Wednesday. / KCNA / Kyodo

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A federal appellate court dealt a blow against litigation funding companies by ruling that the U.S. Justice Department can dismiss any False Claims Act lawsuits that it deems meritless without first proving that dismissal is justified.

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a decision by a federal judge in Illinois who found that the government had not shown a rational basis to dismiss a case titled United States of America ex rel. Cimznhca LLC v. UCB Inc.

The panel rejected Southern Illinois District Court Judge Staci M. Yandles finding that the Justice Department had shown a personal animus toward the litigation funding company that filed the action.

This is not government irrationality, the panel said in its opinion. It oppresses no one and shocks no ones conscience.

The Cimznhca case is one of 11 filed against 38 health care providers in eight judicial districts by affiliates of the National Healthcare Analysis Group, according to an article by Crowell & Moring, an international law firm headquartered in Washington D.C. All of the suits make nearly identical allegations about violations of the federal anti-kickback statute.

NHCA was founded by a New Jersey attorney who analyzed Medicare claims data to find indications of fraud in billing patterns, the article said. He teamed up with Wall Street investors to create a holding company called Venari Partners, which in turn created separate companies that funded False Claims Act lawsuits against potential violators.

The False Claims Act, passed in 1863 to fight against corrupt vendors during the Civil War, is a favorite for litigation funding companies. It allows awards of treble damages to parties who prove their claims that the government was defrauded. Such actions are called qui tam lawsuits.

Chamber Brief

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in an amicus brief, said $59 billion has been awards under the False Claims Act since 1986, but less than $2.5 billion of that came from cases in which the government did not intervene.

False Claims Act litigation is time-consuming, lengthy, and extremely costly, the Chamber said. Litigation under the Act touches nearly every sector of the American economy.

Despite the fact that the overwhelming majority of nonintervened cases are meritless, defendants nonetheless face tremendous pressure to settle because the costs of defense are so high and the potential downside so great.

Under the act, private parties who file lawsuits on behalf of the government are called relators. The law allows the Justice Department to take over prosecution of relators lawsuits, if it chooses, and share in any award of damages.

The statute also allows such lawsuits to proceed without any involvement by the government. But more importantly in this case, the law gives the Justice Department authority to file motions to dismiss claims that it finds lack merit.

The statute requires a district court to hold a hearing before granting such motions to dismiss, but gives no guidance on what standards should be used when deciding whether to grant dismissal motions. The district courts have disagreed on how much deference should be given to federal prosecutors.

The lack of guidance didnt matter much because under previous administrations, the Justice Department rarely dismissed relators qui tam lawsuits. That changed in 2018 when Michael Granston, director of the departments commercial fraud unit, issued a memorandum instructing U.S. attorneys to seek dismissal of any claims that lacked merit. The memo noted that 600 new matters had been filed annually and said the government needs to conserve its resources.

The Cimznhca lawsuit alleges that UCB and RXC schemed to provide free nursing services and reimbursement for support services to medical providers who prescribed a UCB drug called Cimzia to treat patients with Crohns disease. The government sought to dismiss the suit because government policy actually condones some of the practices that the litigation funding company labeled as kickbacks.

Judge Yandle cited a 1998 ruling by the California-based 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Sequoia Orange v. Baird-Neece Packing Corp. in denying the governments motion to dismiss. The 9th Circuit ruled that the hearing required by the False Claims Act must serve a purpose, so judges should not dismiss lawsuits unless the government shows a rational basis.

But the 7th Circuit panel noted that in 2003, the District of Columbia Circuit Court held inSwift v. United States that the government isnt required to go through any hoops before dismissing a relators lawsuit. The law states only that a hearing must be heard.

The 7th Circuit said Swift comes closer to the right interpretation of the False Claims Act. The court said if the government can dismiss any lawsuits that it wishes as long as it follows due process rules. The panel said the government presented very good arguments for dismissing the Cimznhca lawsuit.

The government proposed to terminate this suit in part because, across nine cited agency guidances, advisory opinions, and final rulemakings, it has consistently held that the conduct complained of is probably lawful, the panel majority said. Not only lawful, but beneficial to patients and the public.

A dissenting judge agreed with the dismissal, but for narrower reasons.

Topics Lawsuits Claims USA
Former Winnipeg mayor and current Green Party leadership candidate Glen Murray is calling on Ottawa to implement his plan to raise Canadians out of poverty by restructuring existing tax policies and increasing taxes to large banks and the wealthy.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/8/2020 (518 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Former Winnipeg mayor and current Green Party leadership candidate Glen Murray is calling on Ottawa to implement his plan to raise Canadians out of poverty by restructuring existing tax policies and increasing taxes to large banks and the wealthy.

Murray, who has also been a member of provincial parliament in Ontario, announced the Glen Murray Program to End Poverty Now on Wednesday. The program's budget comes balanced, Murray said.

"The federal government can take this. This isn't about politics, this is about Canadians," Murray said. "Nothing would make me happier (than) if Chrystia Freeland picks this up, phones me next week and says, 'Read it, great. It's in the budget.'"

A comprehensive 56-page document outlines the program. It breaks down five benefit streams and how they could affect people across the country.

The first, the Canada Essential Workers Benefit, would give low-income workers up to $4,800 a year tax-free. Under the Canada Family Benefit, families would get monthly payments  $500 per month for kids four years old and younger, $250 for kids aged five through nine, and $100 for kids 10 to 12.

A Canada Learning Benefit would give a maximum of $9,240 to full-time post-secondary students from lower income households; part-time students could receive up to $6,840. Seniors could get thousands of dollars, based on their pension and relationship status, through the Canada Seniors Benefit. Folks with disabilities would be eligible for money through the Canada Care Benefit.

The estimated cost of all these benefits is just under $96 billion. Murray and his team have outlined how to counterbalance the costs; Ottawa could cover 93 per cent by changing existing tax provisions, Murray said. The program document says Ottawa would make just over $96.1 billion by changing existing tax policies and adding new taxes. The federal government would have over $147.5 million to spare, according to the document.

"By making all of these tax credits and incentives refundable, people would get a payout at the end of the year," he said.

Most of the money would come from refocusing personal credits and deductions. The federal government has $175.8 billion in forgone tax revenue already built into the current personal income tax system, and theres billions of dollars saved in other tax systems, the program document says.

Murray asserts Ottawa could pay for the benefits by changing rules for businesses and higher income folks. Making foreign companies pay GST and HST taxes to Canadas federal and provincial governments when they get sales from online advertising is one proposed change. Capping tax-free savings accounts at $65,000 is another.

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Murray wants to increase taxes too. He's proposed that people pay a five per cent surtax if their income is above $250,000. Under the Glen Murray Program, large banks would have a tax rate of 21 per cent, and there would be a luxury goods tax. There would be a 38 per cent rate on incomes above $750,000 and a tax on estates that cost more than $5 million.

"This is a time where we have to share a bit, and we have to ask people to share," Murray said.

He said it's good for the economy when lower-income folks have more money  they start spending more.

"I don't see anyone out there saying the current social safety net is acceptable," he said. "If anyone can figure out a better way to do this, great. I put this out there to start a positive conversation, because CERB is not sustainable for three or four years... I don't want Canada to have a Thelma and Louise moment where we go over the cliff together."

Murray's document is on his website.

gabrielle.piche@freepress.mb.ca
Hours after the Supreme Court announced its judgment to hand over the Sushant Singh Rajput death case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Shiv Sena said the entire episode was a conspiracy to defame party leader and Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray. The Sena, which was being cornered by the Opposition through the case, said neither the party nor the Thackeray clan was afraid of the CBI probe.

While state home minister Anil Deshmukh stuck to a brief statement to the media on the case being taken over from the Mumbai police, Sena legislator and transport minister Anil Parab, who is known to be close to Sena chief and chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, took on the Opposition. The Opposition intended to malign Aaditya Thackeray. They are aching as they thought nobody except them can form the government. As they could not point fingers at the government, they came up with the conspiracy. They have no sympathy for Sushant Singh [Rajput]. The entire thing is just political, and the truth in the case will soon emerge.

Earlier in the day, Senas Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said: It is not a loss for the Thackeray-led MVA government. When there is a legal battle, such things happen.

On being asked if the Sena minister will cooperate with the investigating agency in the case, Parab said it is too premature. The Shiv Sena has gone through several challenges and has brought the party to power today. The Sena is not afraid of them, and the Thackeray family is absolutely not afraid. We are followers of Balasaheb [Thackeray]. So being afraid of this made-up issue is out of question.

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GIS  20 August 2020: The United Nations (UN) intends to set up a Recovery Fund to support the Government of Mauritius and the local communities following the oil spill which resulted from the grounding of the bulk carrier MV Wakashio at Pointe d'Esny. As such, assistance will be extended in particular to the fishermen whose livelihoods have been affected by this oil spillage.

In a statement, this decision was communicated, yesterday, by t he Regional Director of the International Organisation for Migration for Southern Africa and Acting Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Goals for Eastern and Southern Africa, Mr Charles Kwenin. The latter had, in fact, paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, at the New Treasury Building, in Port-Louis, to confer on this issue.

Mr Kwenin is on a mission along with a team of experts to discuss on how to deal with the Disaster Risk Reduction and Building of Local Capacity in accordance with the International Standards to help the Mauritian Government deal in a timely manner with any similar situation in the future.

The Regional Director shared that the meeting with the Prime Minister was productive. It also demonstrated the commitment of the authorities vis-a-vis the Partnership Framework set up by the UN to provide a roadmap for further collaboration, he stated.

Discussions also focused on the graduation of Mauritius to a high-income country, said

Mr Kwenin. Hence, the need for Mauritius to secure the support of partner countries so as to keep up its remarkable efforts, he added.

In addition, the Regional Director lauded the Government for having successfully curbed the spread of the Covid-19 across the Mauritian territory. He likewise expressed solidarity to the authorities and to the population with regards to the ensuing oil spill caused by the bulk carrier MV Wakashio when it ran aground at Pointe d'Esny.
Democratic vice presidential nominee U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) speaks on the third night of the Democratic National Convention from the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

The first night of the Democratic convention featured John Kasich, the Republican former governor of Ohio, seeking to reassure members of his party that if they voted for Joe Biden, he would not "turn sharp left and leave them behind."

On the second night, former GOP Secretary of State Colin Powell, former Republican Defense Secretary and Sen. Chuck Hagel and other stalwarts of the traditional foreign policy establishment saluted Biden as a leader who would, in Powell's words, "stand with our friends and stand up to our adversaries."

On Wednesday, while the night's speakers stuck to a more consistently Democratic script, prominent liberal Jesuit priest Father James Martin pledged that in his benediction on the convention's following and final night, he would mention the "unborn"  a word rarely heard at recent Democratic conclaves.

"These are not normal times," as Kasich said.

But more surprising than some of the words from the convention's virtual podium has been the reaction from the Democratic left  not quite a collective shrug, but something far short of rebellion.

Republican spokespeople see the relative quiet on the left as evidence of a devious charade. President Trump, having oscillated for weeks among a contradictory mix of attack lines against Biden, has recently settled on the accusation that the former vice president is a "puppet" being manipulated by "radical Democrats" like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the progressive member of Congress from the Bronx whose speaking time at the convention was limited Tuesday to about 90 seconds.

But among some Democrats, the prevalence of current and former Republicans at this week's convention has given rise to a revival of an old political phrase.

Jeff Weaver, a top advisor to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, illustrated the revived coinage. "What Vice President Biden has been able to demonstrate is the breadth of his electoral coalition, the formation of a popular front" against Trump, he said.

Story continues

The label "popular front" first gained currency in France and Spain in the 1930s as parties on the left formed alliances to confront the rise of fascism. Its sudden popularity among Democrats speaks to the concern many in the party have about how "authoritarianism has taken root in our country," under Trump, as Sanders said in his speech Monday night.

The popular front idea also helps explain the tolerance on the left for the extensive courtship of the other side of the aisle.

Not everyone is fully on board, of course: The specter of another four years of Trump has not caused Democrats to entirely abandon their party's devotion to disagreement.

The Republican leadership, for all of its scapegoating, racism and xenophobia, knows how to play to its base to get out the vote," said Marcy Winograd, a Sanders delegate and co-founder of the Los Angeles chapter of Progressive Democrats of America.

"I would urge the DNC to remember its base and not deflate delegates with speeches from Republicans who led us into war on Iraq or signed legislation to restrict reproductive rights," Winograd said.

David Sirota, a former aide to Sanders known for intense attacks on moderates in the party, wrote an essay Wednesday saying that he still intended to vote for Biden but denouncing the convention's "incessant demand to be happy about fraudulence."

So far, however, the vocal objectors remain in the minority.

In polling, "well north of 90% of Sanders supporters are backing Biden" at this point, said Bob Shrum, the veteran Democratic strategist who directs USC's Center for the Political Future.

Biden and his campaign aides have had remarkable success in unifying Democrats, said Democratic analyst Ruy Teixeira. In sharp contrast to four years ago, when Democrats remained deeply divided between supporters of Sanders and backers of Hillary Clinton, Biden spent the late spring and summer successfully mending relations, following the principle of "not making anybody your enemy unless they need to be," Teixeira said.

Weaver, who was deeply involved in the intraparty negotiations both this time and four years ago, said that the way Biden's camp "reached out and worked" to forge agreements with Sanders on much of the party platform leaves him with "no concerns."

The efforts to attract support from people like Kasich are part of building "an electoral coalition; it's not the governing coalition," he said.

"We certainly have seen no backsliding on the substance" of the issues that the Biden and Sanders camps agreed to, he added.

Those negotiations led to agreements on some positions that might fit Kasich's definition of a "turn sharp left," including an increase in the minimum wage to $15 per hour, support for paid family leave and a plan to combat climate change by ending the burning of oil, coal and other fossil fuels for electricity by 2035. Biden also supports a proposal ardently sought by progressives to revive and expand parts of the Voting Rights Act that were struck down by the Supreme Court in 2013.

On other issues, the party remains more divided: Most notably, Biden during the primaries rejected Sanders' signature call for abolishing private health insurance and moving to a single-payer, "Medicare for all" plan. Biden's alternative, however, a public option plan that would allow people to enroll in government health insurance if they want it, would go far beyond what the Obama administration proposed during the legislative battles over healthcare in 2009 and 2010.

Biden also opposes calls to defund police departments, an idea pressed by many Black Lives Matter activists.

"If he gets elected, there's still a real potential problem" of sharp clashes between Biden and the left on those and other topics, Teixeira said.

There's also the issue of whether bipartisanship as Biden envisions it  or at least often talks about it  would work as a governing strategy.

Although the list of Republicans endorsing Biden has grown long, it hasn't grown in currency: Nearly all have in common that they no longer hold public office. The Republicans who do hold office increasingly share  or at least mouth  Trump's views.

For now, however, those problems lie in the future. The Democrats' moderate establishment and progressive insurgents both seem willing to set them aside in the interest of not just mobilizing the party's base, but of winning over voters who four years ago sided with Trump or with third-party candidates.

"We want white, working-class voters; we want older voters," Teixeira said.

And even Democrats who dislike seeing Republicans share their stage seem willing to put up with it.

Henry Huerta, another Sanders delegate from California, called the presence at a Democratic convention of Republicans like Meg Whitman, the GOP's candidate for California governor in 2010, a difficult pill to swallow.

"The only issue that they agree with us on," he said, "is disliking Donald Trump.

Times staff writers Melissa Gomez and Seema Mehta in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
A satellite image shows Hurricane Hanna in the Gulf of Mexico and approaching the coast of Texas: via REUTERS

Former US Department of Homeland Security Chief Miles Taylor claimed Donald Trump was unfocused during security briefings, likening him to a distracted elementary school student.

During an interview on CNN, Mr Taylor recounted a story about an interaction with Mr Trump during which he claimed the president became fascinated by the way hurricanes spin rather than staying focused on the potential damage and loss of life the storm could cause if the White House did not act.

The former DHS chief said the interaction occurred during a 2018 briefing.

"We had Hurricane Florence bearing down on the United States, it was coming towards the Carolinas on the coast," he said. "We were briefing the president on the damage we expected and also our concerns about significant loss of life if he didn't tell Americans to evacuate."

Mr Taylor said initially he thought the president was intently studying the storm, and described him studying a foam board where pictures of the hurricane and its projected path were hanging.

"Then he turned to me and said 'I've got a question' ... 'do the hurricanes always spin this direction?'" Mr Taylor said. "He meant counter clockwise, that's called the Coriolis effect."

He claimed the president then followed up asking if that was why water in Australian toilets flow opposite of those in the US.

"This is what the president was focused on. Americans were on the path of a deadly hurricane, he needed to get out there and tell them to evacuate, and he was just marvelled at the way that hurricanes spin, in a way that a third grader might learning about earth science," Mr Taylor said. "This is the president that we're talking about to keep us safe."

Mr Taylor - now employed by Google - was formerly a major ally of Mr Trump. He helped form the policies that led to Mr Trump's migrant child separation policy at the border. Mr Taylor attempted to distance himself from the policy in a Washington Post op-ed he wrote earlier this week. He recently took a leave of absence from Google so he can campaign for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden prior to the 2020 US election.

Story continues

In recent days, Mr Taylor has made the cable news circuit telling damning tales of his time working in the Trump White House.

Mr Taylor has appeared in an anti-Trump campaign ad.

"What we saw - week in and week out, after two and a half years in that administration - was terrifying," Mr Taylor said in the ad. "The president wanted to exploit the Department of Homeland Security for his own political purposes and to fuel is own agenda."

Mr Taylor also claimed that Mr Trump withheld funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency meant to relieve Californians struggling in the fallout of the wildfires because the state didn't support his political agenda.

On Tuesday, the former DHS chief claimed that - should Mr Trump win a second term - he will "align with dictators around the world."

"There are people serving very close to the President that have told me verbatim we should expect, quote, 'shock and awe' if the President wins a second term. You will see a flurry of executive orders. You will see the President pull out of foreign alliances. You will see the President align with dictators around the world," he said.

He said US security would be substantially worse and relationships with allies frayed even further during Mr Trump's second term.

"And if right now we're less safe because we have fewer friends and stronger enemies than before you can expect to see that on steroids in another four years of the Trump administration," he said.

Mr Trump attacked Mr Taylor on Twitter, calling him a "disgruntled employee" and a "stiff."

"Many thousands of people work for our government. With that said, a former DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEE named Mile 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!" he wrote.

Mr Taylor said he isn't a Democrat, but that he is endorsing Mr Biden.

"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 that he won't make the same mistakes as this president," Mr Taylor said.

Read more

Former senior Trump official endorses Joe Biden
Obama Highlights Bidens Track Record, Character in Convention Speech

Former president Barack Obama underscored the track record and personal qualities of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Aug. 19 in a speech at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.

The Democratic party nominated Biden one day prior to face Republican President Donald Trump in the presidential election on Nov. 3. Biden served as Obamas vice president from 2008 to 2012.

Twelve years ago, when I began my search for a vice president, I didnt know Id end up finding a brother. Joe and I came from different places and different generations. But what I quickly came to admire about him is his resilience, born of too much struggle; his empathy, born of too much grief, Obama said, referring to the tragic deaths of Bidens wife and daughter.

Obama endorsed Biden in April and helped raise money for his campaign. Prior to the endorsement, Biden often referenced Obama on the campaign trail.

Many of Bidens supporters have said they are more excited about removing Trump than voting for Biden, according to a July ABC News/Washington Post pollan enthusiasm gap the convections program appears to have been designed to address.

Obama pointed to anecdotes from Bidens personal life to argue that the former vice president could relate to everyday Americans. The former president said Bidens experience in the White House prepared him for future crises.

When Joe listens to a parent whos trying to hold it all together right now, he does it as the single dad who took the train back to Wilmington each and every night so he could tuck his kids into bed, Obama said.

For eight years, Joe was the last one in the room whenever I faced a big decision. He made me a better presidentand hes got the character and the experience to make us a better country, Obama added.

While elevating Biden, Obama took repeat shots at Trump, who has dismantled some of the Democratic presidents key policies at home and abroad.

For close to four years now, hes shown no interest in putting in the work; no interest in finding common ground; no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends; no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves, Obama said.

The Trump campaign, responding to the third night of the convention, said that radical leftists have taken over the Democrat party and now they want to take over this country, pledging to remake America in the image of socialism.

Democrats are still hiding Joe Biden, but they can no longer hide their radical socialist agenda, Hogan Gidley, Trump 2020 national press secretary, said in a statement.

This cannot happen. Their agenda includes raising taxes by $4 trillion, forcing a government takeover of your healthcare, cutting police funding, and granting amnesty to 11 million illegal aliens, while also giving them taxpayer-funded healthcare and work permits so they can compete against Americans for jobs.

As the convention was being broadcast across the country, Biden led Trump by more than 7 points in an average of polls maintained by RealClearPolitics.
'Indian secularism doesn't deserve a tombstone. It needs a new shrine,' argues Shekhar Gupta.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi along with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat and others at the bhoomi puja in Ayodhya, August 5, 2020. Photograph: Press Information Bureau

Did Indian secularism die on August 5 in Ayodhya? It follows then, that a new Indian Republic would have been invented then, a Hindu Rashtra.

If you accept those two arguments, a third becomes inevitable.

Any Indian with a belief in our secular Constitution can then say, this isn't the country I was born in. And, I am going away.

To America, where else, but only once Donald Trump goes this winter and immigration eases up.

To be upfront, we dismiss all of these assumptions as bunk.

First of all, the rumours of the death of secularism are just that, rumours and vastly exaggerated too.

Sorry Mark Twain, to drag you into the messiest side of our politics.

Second, the death of secularism has been announced several times before, on a rough count about as often as our commando comic TV channels declare Dawood Ibrahim dead.

Sorry for that odd comparison. But a rumour is a rumour is a rumour. Of course, it is fun if you are a masochist and relish self-flagellation.

IMAGE: Young women paint Jai Shri Ram on their hands and faces in Amritsar. Photograph: PTI Photo

A very vast majority, in fact almost all of the more than 1.38 billion of us here, have no green cards or benevolent uncles or foundations waiting to take us to America.

Or in Europe or that new destination with sex appeal for some, Turkey.

We have to live in an India governed by whoever the people choose based on the same Constitution we hold so dear.

In the past 35 years, secularism has been pronounced dead by the Right after Rajiv Gandhi's action on the Shah Bano case (1986), the pro-active ban on Satanic Verses (1988), the unlocking of the gates of Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi, shilanyas and the launch of the national election campaign from Ayodhya with the promise of Ram Rajya (1989).

Then in 1992 with the destruction of the mosque, followed by widespread communal riots.

What else could you expect from a prime minister who 'wore khaki chaddi (RSS shorts, then the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh uniform) under his dhoti?'

Arjun Singh drafted Sonia Gandhi to come in with Sanjivani Booti, but that had a short-lived effect in Kaliyuga.

Indian secularism was again pronounced dead in 1996, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee put together India's first BJP-led NDA government even if it lasted just 13 days.

It was three more than what the Congress party's affable spokesman then, V N Gadgil, had predicted it to be, a 'ten-day wonder'.

IMAGE: December 6, 1992: Kar sevaks during the Babri Masjid demolition.

The next time Indian secularism died was in the Gujarat killings of 2002, and then died again and again as Narendra Modi kept winning there.

It was then that we could foresee May 19, 2014, and now August 5, 2020, being scripted.

I wrote two pieces, in the wake of the 2002 and 2007 Gujarat elections, anticipating the inevitable and unstoppable rise of Narendra Modi as a dominant national leader. The second even said Mr Modi's short-sleeved kurtas will become a political fashion statement.

Am I a Modi fan, or to use that expression fashionable these days, a 'bhakt'? Not even Mr Modi would accuse me of that.

But I am a journalist with eyes and ears open.

Indian secularism was pronounced dead in 2014 and 2019 again.

But on August 5, 2020, it was still alive to be killed yet again.

But hang on, you might say, this time I have seen its corpse. You will be right.

Something did indeed die this August 5 in Ayodhya.

It is just that it wasn't our Constitutional secularism, but a version of it confected after December 1992.

That the Babri demolition and the riots that followed angered a lot of middle-of-the-road Hindus also is a fact proven by election results that followed.

This was especially so in the Hindi heartland, particularly Uttar Pradesh.

After Kalyan Singh's BJP government was dismissed, Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party and Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party took turns in power.

Both built their new politics around the redefined 'secular' vote. In Bihar, Lalu Yadav had already perfected the formula. The secular vote now came to be seen as Muslim vote.

It was around this new notion that old enemies came together in unlikely coalitions to keep the BJP out of power.

The two United Front coalitions on daily wages, under H D Deve Gowda and I K Gujral were both an arrogant negation of the popular will.

The only time this new post-1992, 'anybody but the BJP' secular formulation won a genuine mandate was in 2009.

The reason we call the post-1992 secularism a new formulation is because of how strongly Left politics and intelligentsia got involved in it.

They rewrote the Ayodhya binary as: Did Ram even exist or not? This ran contrary to the Congress party's cautious approach where minorities were patronised, but Hinduism never mocked.

If the new BJP was dyed deeper saffron, the Congress-led alliance's secularism was now much redder.

It led to a series of blunders: The abolition of POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act), as a pre-condition to the formation of UPA-1 because the 'Muslims' felt victimised.

Never mind that the same government, not soft on terror, simultaneously amended UAPA.

Is it much softer? Ask Dr Kafeel Khan.

IMAGE: Hindu devotees light earthen lamps at the Sri Krishna Janamsthan temple in Mathura, August 5, 2020, to celebrate the bhoomi puja of Ayodhya's Ram Temple. Photograph: PTI Photo

The Sachar Committee, which raised a question like the count of Muslims in the Indian Army, and serial announcements of Muslim job reservations (which did nothing for Muslims), followed.

The UPA government gave the nation's highest peacetime gallantry award to a police officer killed in the Batla House encounter, and its top leadership then began raising doubts on it, to 'assuage' Muslim sentiment.

There were other missteps like Manmohan Singh's statement on why he thought the minorities should have the first right on the nation's resources.

Pre-Sonia, you would have never heard a Congress prime minister say such a thing.

The SP, BSP and RJD were winning power simply by hyphenating the Muslim vote with one or two other large castes, and then providing lousy governance.

At some point the voter, especially the Hindu voter, had enough of it.

It is that secularism which finally died on August 5, 2020.

Its beneficiaries had seen it coming. Or you wouldn't have seen Rahul Gandhi's new Dattatreya Brahmin avatar in janeu and the big temple visits. Too much, too late.

Mr Modi would argue that all he has done is redefine Indian secularism according to the will of the people.

He speaks with the strength of a repeat mandate. You can blame the people.

IMAGE: Members of the Muslim community perform aarti of Lord Ram in Varanasi. Photograph: PTI Photo

Irrespective of what the Constitution says, in a genuine republic, if enough people do not like something, they will reject it.

Kamal Atataurk declared Hagia Sophia to be neither a church (which it was for a millennium until 1553), nor a mosque which it had been since.

He made it a museum. He was no democrat, but a benevolent dictator, albeit secular. He wanted religion out of politics.

Last month, Erdogan reversed it.

Unlike Ataturk, he is democratically elected.

Is his decision popular in Turkey or not? Does this, then, reflect the true will of the people?

What was secular wasn't democratic, what is democratic isn't secular.

Politics is a funny game.

You can't elect a new people. Nor are the people of India such a lost cause.

Enough Hindus still vote against Modi, in spite of his massive appeal. What they need is a better proposition.

I take you back to the summer of 1996, the Lok Sabha debate on the vote of confidence that the 13-day Vajpayee government lost.

Ram Vilas Paswan, 'secular' then, made a brilliant speech.

Babur brought only 40 Muslims, he said.

They became crores because you (upper castes) did not let us in to your temples, but the mosques were open so we went there instead, he said.

Indian secularism is enshrined in the basic structure of our Constitution, further strengthened by the Supreme Court judgment on Ayodhya that shrewdly located the 1993 law protecting all other shrines in India, within it.

This is worth preserving.

What Indian secularism doesn't deserve is a tombstone. It needs a new shrine, in the manner that Paswan put it.

By Special Arrangement with The Print

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
A leading member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has threatened to sue Member of Parliament for Bia East, Richard Acheampong for defamation over the approved Agyapa Royalties Limited agreement.

Mr. Acheampong is reported to have accused Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko of being a beneficial owner of Agyapa Royalties, the tasked to help monetize the countrys gold royalties on behalf of government.

Gabby Asare Otchere Darko in a Facebook post denied the allegation describing it as illogical.

He disclosed that he has instructed his lawyers to sue the National Democratic Congress Bia East MP for defamation.

I am serving notice that I have instructed my lawyers to sue the MP for Bia East, Richard Acheampong for defamation.

Yes, I am a shareholder in Asaase Radio, a completely separate business with absolutely no link to that state-owned company. But should my ownership of a radio station with the name Asaase mean that I am a shareholder in Asaase Royalties, as well? Stretching that illogic should also make me a shareholder in AsaaseGPS, Asaase Farms, Asaase Construction, and the over 20 companies bearing the name Asaase!

He also used the opportunity to school the MP on the composition of the company.

Agyapa Royalties is 100% owned by a body set up by an Act of Parliament, where the MP earns his income. That body is the Minerals Income Investment Fund set up in 2018, (Act 978), which is 100% state-owned. Agyapa Royalties shall remain 100% owned by the Ghana Government on behalf of the people of Ghana until it does its planned initial public offering on the London Stock Market or wherever, for investors to buy shares in it. Even then the Ghana Government intends to hold on to 51% [shares], Gabby stated in the Facebook post.

---citinewsroom
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 20)  The Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest to China over the Chinese Coast Guard's illegal confiscation of fish aggregating devices of Filipino fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc in May.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed the countrys diplomatic protest in a statement released on Thursday evening.

The Philippines also resolutely objected to Chinas continuing illicit issuances of radio challenges Philippine aircraft conducting legitimate regular maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea, the DFA added in its statement.

The DFA did not elaborate the incident involving Filipino fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal, in May this year.

The Bajo de Masinloc has been the center of the maritime dispute between Manila and Beijing in the West Philippine Sea that started in April 2012, when the Philippine Navy apprehended eight mainland Chinese fishing vessels who are illegally fishing in the countrys territorial waters.

Since the incident, the Chinese Coast Guard remained a steady presence in Bajo de Masinloc despite the shoal being located in the Philippines exclusive economic zone.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruled in 2016 in favor of the Philippines, saying there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights over most of the West Philippine Sea using their nine-dash line claim. The ruling covered Bajo de Masinloc as part of the Philippine territorial waters.

China has repeatedly refused to recognize the PCA ruling and continued to reclaim islands in the disputed areas for military and research purposes.

Despite President Rodrigo Dutertes soft stance on China in the countrys claim in the West Philippine Sea, some incidents occurred in the disputed waters.

The most famous of which was when a Chinese boat hit F/B Gem-Ver in Recto Bank in June 2019, forcing the 22 Filipino fishermen to float in the open sea for hours before they were rescued by a Vietnamese vessel.

In March, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. admitted there are more than 130 Chinese fishing vessels lingering around Pag-Asa Island in Palawan.

In the fourth anniversary of the historic PCA ruling last July, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin Jr. called on China to adhere to the ruling, saying the arbitration award is non-negotiable.
Apple Inc.s showdown with Fortnite maker Epic Games Inc. over app store fees has landed with a judge who gave the iPhone maker a big victory seven years ago in a case raising similar antitrust issues.

U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, took over the Epic case Wednesday from another judge. Back in 2013, she dismissed a lawsuit claiming Apples apps monopoly cost consumers hundreds of millions of dollars in overcharges. Plaintiffs requested a new judge after the U.S. Supreme Court revived the case in 2019, saying Rogers was too hostile to their legal position, but an appeals court denied their request.

Epic last week escalated a dispute over Apples longstanding insistence that games available on its app store must bill subscription fees and in-app-purchases through Apple, which charges a 30% fee. Epic began offering customers a way to directly buy items for Fortnite and circumvent the fees. Hours later, Apple pulled the app. Google followed suit later in the day, removing Fortnite from its Play app store. Epic then sued both companies.

In the 2013 case, consumers also attacked Apples 30% app store fee, arguing they would pay less if it werent for the fixed" cost. Rogers reasoned that the cost is passed on to consumers by developers, rather than charged directly by Apple. Consumers dont have a right to sue for antitrust violations over such passed-on charges, she ruled.

One legal expert said he doesnt think Rogers will stop Epic from getting its day in court," because the facts in the game-makers case are frankly more compelling" than the consumer case against Apple.

I think Epic has done a really brilliant job of laying the groundwork for proof of consumer harm," said John Newman, a former Justice Department antitrust attorney who is now a professor at the University of Miami School of Law. Its going to be hard for a judge to look at the discount offer, hear all the evidence, and still conclude that Apple preventing such offers somehow benefits consumers."

Its not uncommon in federal courts for cases addressing related issues to be assigned to the same judge.

In 2014, Rogers ruled that iPod users failed to prove that Apple violated federal antitrust laws after a jury rejected their claims that software updates for the device were meant to block competitors.

But the judge hasnt always come down on Apples side. In June, she denied Apples bid to dismiss a proposed shareholder class action alleging the company made overly optimistic statements about demand for iPhones.

Apple and Epic didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

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SPRINGFIELD  Statues of two slave-owning men with historical ties to Illinois will be moved from the Statehouse grounds in Springfield to a secure storage site, a panel of four officials voted Wednesday morning.

The decision comes almost six weeks after House Speaker Michael Madigan asked the Office of the Architect to move expeditiously in evicting representations of Stephen A. Douglas and Pierre Menard from the Capitol.

Madigans request was the long-time Chicago Democrats first public statement in the wake of civil unrest sparked by the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man killed on May 25 by a white Minneapolis police officer.

Douglas was a slave owner who served as Illinois secretary of state and in the U.S. Senate. He proposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which repealed the Missouri Compromise and replaced it with a system for states to decide whether to be pro- or anti-slavery.

Menard, also a slave owner, was the first lieutenant governor of Illinois, and he supported political actions devised to ensure slavery was legal in the state.

Memorializing people and a time that allowed slavery and fostered bigotry and oppression has no place in the Illinois House, where the work of all Illinoisans is conducted, Madigan wrote in the July 9 statement. We can only move forward in creating a more just world when these symbols of hate are removed from our everyday lives.

Andrea Aggertt, capitol architect, said her office already contacted firms to remove the two statues. The work order, which also includes removing the figures bases and foundations, can be completed in two to three months.

She added that the granite bases could be repurposed.

Board members of the Office of the Architect of the Capitol on Wednesday also began the process to move a bronze, 300-pound likeness of Martin Luther King Jr. to an appropriate location at the Capitol.

The statue is currently at the intersection of Second Street and Capitol Avenue  colloquially referred to as Freedom Corner  in front of the Illinois State Library.

Scott Kaiser, assistant secretary of the Senate and a member of the board, said at some point in the future, the group should consider commissioning a new portrayal of King, leader of the civil rights movement in the 1950s.

No offense to whoever did it, but I just think thats a poor rendering of Dr. King and I think we can do better, he said.

The likeness is located across the street from the Statehouse because of an administrative rule dictating only historical figures related to Illinois are permitted to be installed on the Capitol grounds.

The panel approved a motion to revise those guidelines.

John Hollman, clerk of the House and co-chair of the board, proposed each of the items acted upon on Wednesday. He did not suggest specific language for the rule change, only the end goal ensuring that Kings statue is moved.

Brad Bolin, assistant clerk of the House, pointed out the board will need to reconvene to formalize and approve the alteration. It would then go to the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules, or JCAR, for final action before it could take effect.

There was a discussion about why the focus of Hollmans proposals pertained to the controversial statues located outside the Statehouse and not on ones inside. Another statue of Douglas, for example, is located on the Capitols second level in the rotunda.

The outdoor statue is certainly prominent, but as people come into the building, school groups do tours, in some ways the indoor statue is even more prominent than the outdoor one, Kaiser said. I just see inconsistency there a little bitIt just seems to me that were making a decision now on Douglas  theres two of them. Why not take them both out?

Bolin also inquired why there was no system in place to receive public comment about the artwork removal. Lawmakers could utilize committees already instituted to generate public discussion, he suggested.

Hollman also proposed contracting a firm to update members on historical structures so we kind of know what we have on our hands currently on the complex and maybe how we want to treat those going forward.

Our discussion today focused on the statues outside the Capitol Building, Aggertt said in an email. There will be future discussion on those located on the interior of the building.

In early July, Madigan ordered the covering of a large portrait of Douglas displayed in the House chamber. He said in a statement that when representatives reconvene in November, he would propose a resolution replacing it with one of former President Barack Obama, a more fitting representation of the modern-day Democratic Party.

Aggertts office does not have authority to dictate what artwork is displayed in the Illinois Supreme Court building across the street from the Statehouse, she said.

There, in a room used by attorneys to prepare for oral arguments, is a portrait of Douglas. He was a justice.

In a statement issued in response to questions by reporters from the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin earlier this month, the court said some of the justices portrayed in 109 paintings in that room held racist views.

Removing the portraits will not change that fact, the justices said in the statement. This Court recently released a statement on racial justice and declared that racism exists, whether it be actualized as individual racism, institutional racism or structural racism, and it undermines our democracy, the fair and equitable administration of justice, and severely diminishes individual constitutional protections and safeguards of full citizenship with the attendant rights and benefits sacred to all.
MINSK -- Kanstantsin Shyshmakou, the head of the local military history museum in the medieval southwestern Belarusian city of Vaukavysk, was one of two members of his local election commission to refuse to sign off on the results of Belarus's contentious August 9 vote.

It didn't make much difference: Shyshmakou called his wife and said that others had signed for the recalcitrant ones.

Afterward, Shyshmakou went on a short vacation -- one that coincided with growing national demonstrations triggered after long-serving strongman President Alyaksandr Lukashenka was handed a landslide victory.

But on August 15, Shyshmakou was back at the museum for what would be his last day at work. At 5 p.m., he called his wife, telling her, "I cannot work here anymore; I am going home."

He never made it. His phone was unreachable, and his family reported him missing.

It was the last time anyone would see him alive.

Shyshmakou had joined scores of Belarusian citizens who activists say have disappeared since the beginning of the protests and the brutal police crackdown against them.

According to human rights organizations, the fates of many remain unknown more than a week after the election, feeding fears that the authorities are deliberately covering up severe injuries, or worse, carried out by the security forces.

Online search services have been organized to help families locate their missing loved ones. One of them, launched by the popular media outlet Tut.by with the title Have You Seen This Person?, enables people to post images and information about the missing and the circumstances of their disappearance so readers can contribute tips or join in the search. The site estimates that about 80 people are currently missing.

People can also turn to the Angel Search and Rescue Squad, a nonprofit set up in 2012 that describes itself as the first volunteer movement in Belarus. Its Facebook page features a hotline for readers to call with information about missing individuals.

One post directs readers to Tut.by's list of registered detainees. Some entries highlight people found alive, while others tell of those reportedly found dead.

Abducted, Held In Secret

Minsk resident Katsyaryna Savitskaya spoke with RFE/RL's Belarus Service about her experiences trying to determine the whereabouts of her husband, Yury Savitski, a tire-shop manager and supporter of jailed would-be opposition presidential challenger Viktar Babaryka.

On election night, Savitski participated in demonstrations against alleged vote fraud. The next night, on August 10, his wife says he was abducted by six people in civilian clothing, pushed into a minibus, and driven away.

Savitskaya and the couple's 4-year-old child were left at home with no idea what had happened to him for the next four days.

With no mention of her husband's name on any of the official lists of those detained -- she says she was told by authorities in Minsk there "are too many prisoners; we don't have time to register them" -- she took things into her own hands.

Armed with a photograph of her husband and a tip that he was being held at the Zhodzina prison outside the capital, she set out looking for someone who might have seen him.

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.

On the morning of August 13, she joined the crowd of people outside the prison awaiting the release of prisoners, showing those who left the facility the photograph and asking if they had seen Yury. As night fell, she got a hit. A man took a close look at the photo and confirmed that Savitskaya's husband was indeed inside awaiting criminal charges for "organizing mass riots."

"That's how I learned that my husband was a suspect in a criminal case...[and was] facing a prison term of five to 15 years, she told RFE/RL. "From random people, can you imagine? The initial interrogation was conducted without the right to a lawyer or to contact relatives. How many more days it would have taken me to wait idly for official information, we can only guess."

"Yes, he was a member of the initiative group that was collecting signatures for Viktar Babaryka," Savitskaya said. "Yes, he discussed the election campaign with friends and made reposts on social networks. Yes, he attended a rally against election rigging on August 9. But that doesn't make him a criminal!"

Savitskaya says that she finds herself asking questions she cannot answer: "Why is holding an alternative civic position judged even more severely than murder? Why are people abducted from the streets, offices, apartments without [police] showing their IDs or explaining the reasons for the detentions? Why are people kept more than 72 hours without relatives being notified? How is this possible in a country that calls itself 'democratic?"

Ministry: Information 'Not Fully Accurate'

The Interior Ministry, for its part, has cast doubt on the claims that scores of people have disappeared.

Ministry spokeswoman Volha Chamadanova wrote on Telegram that such information often turns out to be inaccurate, according to the BelTA state news agency on August 18.

"The criminal police of the Interior Ministry have checked the information regarding more than 70 participants of the unsanctioned rallies (held in the country from August 9 to 13) that has been published on the website Tut.by and in various social networks," she wrote. "This information is not fully accurate: many of these citizens have been found at home, while the information about them is not removed in a timely fashion from these Internet resources."

She did not give any specific information about the people who had purportedly been found at home.

Chamadanova claimed that the information relating to only one woman listed as missing by Tut.by at that time was accurate.

She suggested on behalf of the Interior Ministry that citizens verify information and be wary of material posted online. "If you still cannot locate your family members, please apply to the Interior Ministry authorities first, rather than Internet resources," Chamadanova wrote.

In the case of missing museum director Kanstantsin Shyshmakou, however, it was the Internet that was finally able to provide an answer for his family, friends, and colleagues who staged rallies demanding to know what happened to him.

On August 18 post, the Angel group posted on Facebook that the 29-year-old museum director had been found dead by members of its team without providing details of the circumstances.

Written by Michael Scollon based on reporting by Ihar Karney of RFE/RL's Belarus Service. RFE/RL's Belarus Service also contributed to this report
In the course of the 2018 elections, a large group of former military-intelligence operatives entered capitalist politics as candidates seeking the Democratic Party nomination in 50 congressional seatsnearly half the seats where the Democrats were targeting Republican incumbents or open seats created by Republican retirements.

Some 30 of these candidates won primary contests and became the Democratic candidates in the November 2018 election, and 11 of them won the general election, more than one-quarter of the 40 previously Republican-held seats captured by the Democrats as they took control of the House of Representatives.

In 2020, the intervention of the CIA Democrats continues on what is arguably an equally significant scale: besides the reelection campaigns of the 11 representatives who won seats in the House in 2018, half a dozen of those who lost 2018 races are running again in 2020. Some of these are running for House seats again, while others have been promoted by the Democratic Party leadership and are running for the US Senate. And an entire new crop of military-intelligence operatives is being brought forward, some running for Republican seats targeted by the Democratic leadership as possible takeovers, others in seats not currently considered competitive.

Left to Right: Cal Cunningham, Amy McGrath, MJ Hegar. (Image Source: Candidates Campaign Website)

The bottom line: at least 34 Democratic candidates for the House of Representatives have a primarily military-intelligence background, up from 30 in 2018, as well as three of the partys 35 candidates for the US Senate, compared to zero in 2018. For each branch of Congress, this represents about 10 percent of the total.

As we explained in 2018, the extraordinary influx of candidates coming directly from the national-security apparatus into the Democratic Party is a two-sided process: the Democratic Party establishment welcomes such candidates as a demonstration of the partys unshakeable devotion to the interests of American imperialism; and military-intelligence operatives are choosing the Democratic Party over the Republican Party in large numbers because they are attracted by the Democrats non-stop campaign against the Trump administration as too soft on Russia and too willing to pull out of the Middle East war zone.

CIA Democrats for US Senate

Three Democrats seeking US Senate seats in November have a primarily military-intelligence background, including two who ran unsuccessfully for House seats in 2018. In each case, the CIA Democrat won a contested primary, with the support of Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), defeating a more liberal candidate.

Cal Cunningham was the choice of the Democratic Party establishment to be the partys candidate for US Senate from North Carolina, challenging first-term incumbent Thad Tillis. He defeated Erica Smith, an African-American state senator who ran on a more liberal platform, supporting Medicare for All and the Green New Deal.

While Cunningham served one term in the North Carolina state senate, beginning in 2001, his principal role has been as an attorney, both in private practice and in the military. He enrolled in the Army Reserve after the 9/11 attacks, joining the Judge Advocate General (JAG) corps, and was sent to both Iraq and Afghanistan to handle criminal cases involving members of the US military and military contractors in the two war zones.

According to his campaign biography, Cal has served with various units from Fort Bragg, including XVIII Airborne Corps and First Special Forces Command (Airborne). In recent years, Cal has trained special operations forces at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. Cal continues to serve in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel with an Army Reserve unit that trains one weekend a month.

Cunningham is relying heavily on his association with the military in a state which hosts the fourth largest number of military personnel, including such bases as Fort Bragg (Army) and Camp Lejeune (Marines). His campaign web site declares, At Fort Bragg and abroad, the paratroopers, Reservists and special operators Cal served with in the Army taught Cal a deeper form of patriotism and honor.

Also running for US Senate seats are two female former pilots, Amy McGrath and Mary Jennings Hegar, who are challenging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in Kentucky, and former Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn in Texas, respectively. McGrath defeated Charles Booker, an African American state legislator backed by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, to win the Democratic nomination in Kentucky. Hegar defeated state senator Royce West of Dallas, also African American, to win the Democratic nomination in Texas.

McGrath was perhaps the most heavily publicized of the military-intelligence candidates in 2018, when she narrowly lost a race against Republican Congressman Andy Barr in Kentuckys 6th Congressional District, centered on Lexington. She has been able to raise phenomenal amounts of money, partly because of her high-profile military careershe retired as a lieutenant colonel as a Marine Corps fighter pilotand partly because her opponent, McConnell, is so widely hated.

Despite her war chest of more than $40 million, however, McGrath is a decided underdog against McConnell, who himself has a huge campaign fundraising machine and is finishing his sixth six-year term in the Senate.

MJ Hegar was an Air Force helicopter pilot who spent three tours of duty in Afghanistan on search and rescue operations, in the course of which she was shot down once by Taliban fire, wounded, and received a Purple Heart. She came to prominence through a lawsuit against the Pentagon policy of barring women from combat. She narrowly lost a 2018 race against Republican Congressman John Carter in a district outside Austin, Texas, in the course of which her five-minute campaign video, promoting her military record in a noxious combination of militarism and feminism, became a viral sensation and raised millions in donations over the internet.

Hegar received the nod from the DSCC after former congressman and failed presidential candidate Beto ORourke declined to challenge Cornyn. She survived a primary and runoff, but is considered a longshot candidate against Cornyn, a three-term incumbent.

Eleven campaigns for reelection

All 11 CIA Democrats first elected in 2018 are running for reelection. Five are considered prohibitive favorites to win: Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey, Chrissy Houlahan and Connor Lamb in Pennsylvania, Elissa Slotkin in Michigan, and Jason Crow in Colorado. The remaining six are in competitive races: Jared Golden in Maine, Max Rose in New York, Tom Malinowski and Andy Kim in New Jersey, Abigail Spanberger and Elaine Luria in Virginia.

That distinction made, however, competitive is a relative term. All six are favorites to win reelection, particularly because President Trump is projected to lose heavily in each of their statesMaine, New York, New Jersey and Virginia. Only in Maine, where the state awards its electoral vote by congressional district as well as statewide, is Trump mounting a significant campaign, seeking to take the electoral vote of Goldens 2nd Congressional District, as he did in 2016.

From a fundraising standpoint, the most reliable indicator of successand ruling class supportin American legislative contests, the 11 CIA Democrats must be considered overwhelming favorites to retain their seats. They have raised a combined total of $42 million. Their 11 Republican opponents have raised a combined total of $10 million. Only Republican Thomas Kean, opposing Malinowski in New Jerseys 7th Congressional District, has a campaign war chest comparable to the incumbents, but still only half as large.

Let us recall briefly who these 11 representatives are and their military-intelligence background:

Jason Crow, Colorados 6th Congressional District: Paratroop commander in Iraq war, then Army Ranger special forces in Afghanistan for two tours.

Jared Golden, Maines 2nd Congressional District: The only rank-and-file soldier in the group, spent four years as a Marine infantryman, deploying to Afghanistan in 2004 and to Iraq in 2005-2006.

Chrissy Houlahan, Pennsylvanias 6th Congressional District: A 10-year veteran of the Air Force, leaving it as a captain.

Andy Kim, New Jerseys 3rd Congressional District: Civilian war planner and adviser to US military commanders in Afghanistan, Iraq director for National Security Council under President Obama.

Connor Lamb, Pennsylvanias 17th Congressional District: Marine Corps captain and Judge Advocate General (prosecutor) until 2013, now major in the Marine Corps Reserves.

Elaine Luria, Virginias 2nd Congressional District: Navy commander, deployed six times to Middle East and Western Pacific, commanded assault craft supporting a Marine Corps deployment.

Tom Malinowski, New Jerseys 7th Congressional District: Assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor in the Obama administration.

Max Rose, New Yorks 11th Congressional District: Army combat officer in Afghanistan 2012-2013, still in the active reserves.

Mikie Sherrill, New Jerseys 11th Congressional District: Navy helicopter pilot, with 10 years active service in Europe and the Middle East.

Elissa Slotkin, Michigans 8th Congressional District: CIA agent with three tours in Iraq, National Security Council for both Bush and Obama, assistant to Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte, then principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs.

Abigail Spanberger, Virginias 7th Congressional District: CIA operations officer stationed in Europe for nearly a decade.

In each case, the candidates moved seamlessly from positions as military commanders, intelligence operatives or foreign policy officials to running for Congress as candidates of the Democratic Party. Only Golden ran for a lower office, winning a seat in the Maine state legislature, before seeking a seat in Congress.

In their first two years in Congress, the CIA Democrats carried out two significant common actions. The five womenHoulahan, Luria, Sherrill, Slotkin and Spanbergerformed a joint fundraising committee to promote female candidates who shared their military-intelligence background. And six of themCrow and the five womenco-signed an op-ed in the Washington Post in September 2019 calling for an impeachment probe into President Trumps dealing with Ukraine. This was a crucial turning point in the effort that culminated in Trumps impeachment three months later.

Likely reinforcements for the CIA Democrats

Four of the military-intelligence candidates who lost congressional races in 2018 are running again in 2020, and are likely to win seats in Congress.

Dan Feehan, Minnesota 1st Congressional District: A military officer who served two tours in Iraq between 2005 and 2009, where he headed an Army Ranger sniper team, Feehan then joined the Obama administration, first as a White House aide, then as an acting assistant secretary of defense. He narrowly lost a race in 2018 for the southern Minnesota seat previously held by Democrat Tim Walz, now governor of Minnesota. Republican Jim Hagedorn, who won by only 1,312 votes in 2018, announced in February that he was being treated for stage-four kidney cancer, but he remains a candidate for reelection. Feehan has substantially outraised Hagedorn, by $2.2 million to $1.6 million, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission through July 15.

Gina Ortiz Jones, Texas 23rd Congressional District: An Air Force intelligence officer in Iraq, Ortiz Jones followed up a 12-year military career with continued work as a US government adviser in Latin America, South Sudan and Libya, then reviewed foreign investments from a national security standpoint for the Office of the US Trade Representative. In 2018 she lost a tight contest, by a margin of 340 votes out of more than 200,000 cast, against Republican incumbent Will Hurd, himself a former CIA agent, in the congressional district that comprises most of the Texas-Mexico border region, from El Paso to Laredo. Hurd has now retired, leaving Ortiz Jones the likely favorite to succeed him. This will be another spy vs. spy contest, against whichever Republican hopeful prevails in a lengthy primary recount. Tony Gonzales is a 20-year Navy veteran and intelligence officer specializing in cryptology; Raul Reyes is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel specializing in cyberwarfare operations. Ortiz Jones has raised a massive $4.1 million for her campaign, more than double the sums raised by Gonzales and Reyes combined, and leads them by 10-1 in terms of cash on hand.

Sara Jacobs, California 53rd Congressional District: An Obama State Department official turned Hillary Clinton campaign aide, Jacobs was engaged in counterterrorism work in Nigeria and elsewhere in Africa, according to her campaign website, and advised Clinton on foreign policy. She lost a Democratic primary in 2018 in the adjoining 49th Congressional District, where millionaire attorney Mike Levin went on to win the seat for the Democrats. After longtime incumbent Representative Susan Davis announced her retirement in the heavily Democratic 53rd District, Jacobs switched districts in an attempt to capture the vacant seat. She finished first in the all-party primary in June, and will face another Democrat, city council president Georgette Gomez, in the November election. While Gomez is a local elected official who is running on the basis of her Hispanic identity, Jacobs has far more financial resources, as the granddaughter of Qualcomm founder and CEO Irwin Jacobs.

Sri Preston Kulkarni, Texas 22nd Congressional District: After running an unexpectedly competitive race in 2018 against Republican Representative Pete Olson, Kulkarni is now considered the favorite following Olsons decision to retire rather than seek reelection. Kulkarni is a career State Department official who boasts of his role in defense of American imperialism. His campaign website declares: From Jerusalem to Iraq to Russia, Sri served in some of the toughest places in the world, representing the interests of the United States... Of South Asian descent on his fathers side, Kulkarni is running in a district in the southwest suburbs of Houstononce held by right-wing Republican Tom DeLaywhich has undergone rapid demographic change due to an influx of Asian immigrants.

There is a fifth military-intelligence candidate who is considered a likely winner in 2020, Jackie Gordon, a retired career military police commander, who is seeking the seat left vacant by the retirement of Republican Peter King in the 2nd Congressional District of New York, on Long Island. Gordon spent 29 years in the military, including multiple tours of duty in combat zones: as a battle captain in Baghdad during the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, and as Commander of the 310th Military Police Battalion in Afghanistan in 2012 according to her campaign website, as well as an operations officer at Guantanamo Bay, the US base which is the site of a notorious prison and torture center. Gordon, who is African American, was elected to the Babylon Town Council while still on active duty and retired from the Army Reserve in 2014 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

To be continued
Union home minister Amit Shahs condition is stable, according to people aware of the matter at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), where he was admitted to this week for post-Covid-19 care after complaining of fatigue and body ache.

A team of multidisciplinary specialists led by AIIMS director, Dr Randeep Guleria, is monitoring Shahs health.

Shah, 55, was admitted to AIIMS on Monday night, three days after being discharged from Medanta Hospital in Gurugram after testing negative for the coronavirus disease. He had been admitted to Medanta on August 2 after becoming the first Union minister to test positive for the viral disease.

Sh Amit Shah, Honourable Home Minister, has been complaining of fatigue and body ache for last three or four 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 the hospital, AIIMS said in a statement on Tuesday.

Shah has been admitted to the VIP ward at the Cardiothoracic and Neurosciences Centre (CNC) of the hospital.

Today my Covid-19 test report has come negative. I thank god. And, I also express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who supported me and my family by wishing me good health. I will be in home isolation for few days on advice of doctors, Shah had tweeted upon his discharge from Medanta.

He had also announced his health status on Twitter after testing positive for the virus, and urged those who came in contact with him in recent days to isolate themselves and get tested.

After showing initial symptoms, I underwent a test for coronavirus and the report came out positive. My health is fine but I am being admitted to the hospital on the advice of doctors, Shah had posted on the microblogging site.
Kamala Harris quotes 2 Corinthians as she accepts VP nomination at DNC

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U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., accepted the Democratic Partys vice-presidential nomination Wednesday night as she pulled from the New Testament in her speech on the third night of the Democratic National Convention.

Harris stepped onto a stage at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware and became the first black woman and Asian-American to run on a major United States political party presidential ticket.

To introduce herself to the country, the early parts of her speech were focused on her background before she went on to criticize the current administration and voice concern about the direction of the country.

She briefly invoked Scripture when mentioning the values instilled in her by her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris.

Quoting from 2 Corinthians 5:7, Harris professed her commitment to the Word that teaches me to walk by faith, and not by sight.

The 55-year-old explained that her mother taught her that service to others gives life purpose and meaning.

And oh, how I wish she were here tonight but I know she's looking down on me from above, the senator and former California attorney general, explained. I keep thinking about that 25-year-old Indian woman  all of five feet tall  who gave birth to me at Kaiser Hospital in Oakland, California.

Harris declared that her mother probably would never have imagined that her daughter would one day accept the Democrat Partys nomination for vice president of the United States.

I do so, committed to the values she taught me. To the Word that teaches me to walk by faith, and not by sight, she stressed. And to a vision passed on through generations of Americans  one that Joe Biden shares.

The nominee said that the vision is a desire to see our nation as a Beloved Community  where all are welcome, no matter what we look like, where we come from, or who we love. The idea of the beloved community is one that was made popular by Martin Luther King, Jr.

A country where we may not agree on every detail, but we are united by the fundamental belief that every human being is of infinite worth, deserving of compassion, dignity and respect, Harris said.

This was not the first time that Harris has spoken about how the Bible influences her politics.

Last year, as she was campaigning for the Democratic Partys presidential nomination, Harris discussed the influence the parable of the Good Samaritan has had on her policy views.

I often think of the parable of the Good Samaritan because what the teachings are there from the book of Luke, it is about how do we define neighbor, she said at a June 2019 gathering of left-leaning clergy and activists in Washington D.C.

Everyone knows [we need to] live and treat our neighbor as we would want to be treated, Harris added. But what I like about the parable of the Good Samaritan is that its about defining who is neighbor and understanding that neighbor is not about the person who shares your zip code.

Harris quick Bible reference in her convention speech, as brief as it was, came as speakers reportedly omitted the phrase Under God from the Pledge of Allegiance during at least two public meetings held earlier this week during the convention.

The Democratic vice-presidential nominee began her acceptance speech by noting that this week marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote.

Harris mentioned her background and upbringing, specifically highlighting the fact that she was the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India.

She explained the influence that her late mother had on her career path. She said it was her mothers belief that public service is a noble cause and the fight for justice is a shared responsibility that inspired her to become a lawyer.

Harris went on to become a district attorney and California attorney general.

And at every step of the way, Ive been guided by the words I spoke from the first time I stood in a courtroom: Kamala Harris, For the People, she added.

As Harris has received some criticism over her record as a prosecuting attorney, she defended her legal career by saying that she has fought for children and survivors of sexual assault.

I've fought against transnational gangs. I took on the biggest banks, and helped take down one of the biggest for-profit colleges, she stated. I know a predator when I see one.

While Harris did not mention him by name, Harris has faced criticism for her prosecution of David Daleiden, a pro-life citizen journalist who works for the nonprofit organization Center for Medical Progress.

Daleiden and his associate Sandra Merritt released a series of undercover videos documenting meetings with Planned Parenthood officials. The videos purportedly show Planned Parenthood officials casually admitting that they can sell the body parts of aborted babies for profit.

Rather than prosecute Planned Parenthood, Harris, the then-California attorney general, prosecuted Daleiden.

Daleiden and the Center for Medical Progress have faced years of legal troubles. In May, Daleiden filed a lawsuit against Harris and others this year, citing a brazen, unprecedented, and ongoing conspiracy to selectively use Californias video recording laws as a political weapon to silence disfavored speech.

Harris also used her convention platform to take multiple shots at the current occupant of the White House, President Donald Trump.

Donald Trumps failure of leadership has cost lives and livelihoods, Harris argued.

Harris specifically took issue with the presidents handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

As she spoke about coronavirus, she explained that the virus was not an equal opportunity offender.

Black, Latino, and Indigenous people are suffering and dying disproportionately, she said. This is not a coincidence. It is the effect of structural racism.

Harris spent the latter half of her speech discussing her relationship with the man at the top of the Democratic ticket this fall, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.

She looked back on her relationship with Bidens late son Beau, who served as the attorney general of Delaware while she held the same position in California.

After running through Bidens record as a senator from Delaware and vice president under President Barack Obama, Harris explained her vision for a Biden presidency.

Joe will be a president who turns our challenges into purpose, she said.

Harris vowed that Biden will bring us together to build an economy that doesnt leave anyone behind and help the U.S. squarely face and dismantle racial injustice.

Joe and I believe that we can build that Beloved Community, one that is strong and decent, just and kind, she stressed.
People should reduce meetings and social contacts as much as possible, the Taoiseach said, as he rejected claims the official message has become garbled.

Children must be able to return to school as safely as possible, Micheal Martin added.

The Government has faced criticism as it tightens restrictions during a renewed surge in coronavirus infections.

We want to save lives, we want to protect livelihoods Micheal Martin

Mr Martin said: The overall message from NPHET public health advice is they want to reduce meetings as much as they possibly can.

They want people to reduce the number of social contacts that they have because the numbers have gone up.

We want to save lives, we want to protect livelihoods.

He visited Nagle Secondary Community College, in Mahon in Cork on Thursday.

Great to see the work undertaken by Nagle Community College to get the school ready for reopening next week. Work like this is happening in schools right across the country and I want to thank teachers, SNAs, and all staff for their efforts over the past few months. pic.twitter.com/Nre1GwTaNn  Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) August 20, 2020

Reopening schools this month is a priority of the coalition.

Mr Martin said: We want children to return to school as safely as possible.

It is in the best interests of the children.

Expand Close Mr Martin said reopening schools is a priority (Julien Behal) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Mr Martin said reopening schools is a priority (Julien Behal)

The Taoiseach rejected claims of confusion over Covid-19 messaging.

The GAA is among organisations which have been sharply critical.

Mr Martin said measures announced this week are aimed at ensuring a balance is struck between keeping people at work and keeping community transmission as low as possible.

The numbers have gone up substantially in the last two weeks compared to a month earlier.

Thats it. The numbers have gone up. We have to respond.

We have already shown what we can achieve by working together for the greater good. As we learn to live with this disease, we must continue to strike a balance between enjoying our lives and behaving in a way that protects one another. #HoldFirm 12/12  Dr Ronan Glynn (@ronan_glynn) August 19, 2020

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has 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.

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.
The number of coronavirus cases identified by the national testing programme has risen by 27 per cent - despite a drop in the number of tests being carried out.

NHS Test and Trace figures show 6,616 new cases in England between August 6 and August 12 - an increase of more than a quarter previous week's figure.

This comes despite a two per cent drop in the number of patients being tested.

Official figures also show that the number of potential coronavirus patients reached by NHS Test and Trace has fallen to its lowest level ever.

Tracers managed to track down just 71.3 per cent of close contacts of infected people in the week ending August 12, the lowest since the service launched.

This dropped from 74.2 per cent during the previous seven-day spell and was down on the 91.1 per cent reached in the first week of Test and Trace (week ending June 3).

The Government claims the three per cent decrease is 'mainly due to delay in processing' which saw 681 people not having their cases transferred to the system until after the week ended.

The NHS Test and Trace programme is getting worse, rather than better, at finding potentially infected people

The number of potential coronavirus patients reached by NHS Test and Trace has fallen to its lowest level ever. Tracers managed to track down just 71.3 per cent of close contacts of infected people in the week ending August 12, the lowest since the service launched

And wait times for coronavirus test results have also increased. Just 60.5 per cent of in person tests were returned within 24 hours compared to 70.3 per cent the previous week

But the contact tracing system is also getting worse at tracking down patients who test positive for the virus, with levels falling for the third week in a row.

Some 81 per cent of patients were traced in the week ending July 22, before free-falling to 79.2 per cent on July 29, 78.3 per cent on August 5 and 77.6 per cent this week.

Scientists have repeatedly warned that 80 per cent of all infected people and their close contacts needs to be reached and isolated within 24 hours to keep a lid on the epidemic.

Meanwhile, the number of Covid-19 infections being referred to the programme has shot up by a quarter in a week, amid fears a second wave is brewing.

Experts say testing is being targeted at hotspot areas, where peolpe are more likely to test positive, which is skewing up the figures.

But the finding is in line with a slow rise in infections across the whole of the country since July.

Neither hospital admissions or deaths  two other ways health bosses track the disease  ever spiked in line with cases, giving experts confidence that infections were only ever on the up because more testing was being carried out in badly-hit areas such as the North West.

And wait times for coronavirus test results have also increased. Just 60.5 per cent of in person tests were returned within 24 hours compared to 70.3 per cent the previous week.

Some 14.5 per cent of home tests were returned within 48 hours compared to 33.2 per cent the previous week.

Nick Ville, director of policy at the NHS Confederation, which represents organisations across the healthcare sector, said: 'These figures show we are still a long way from having a fully effective test and trace system with progress stalling.

'The proportion of people not reached has increased since mid-July, and we are seeing drops in the proportion of people successfully contacted.

'We have entered a cycle of disappointment where NHS Test and Trace is failing to meet performance measures set by the Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE)  we're still slightly short of the target for eight in 10 people to be reached and asked to provide their contact details.

'The NHS has been set stretching targets to restart the majority of its patient services that had to be paused during the height of the pandemic and ahead of what is expected to be a very challenging winter.

'We cannot allow the spread of the virus across communities to get out of control and disrupt this commitment due to an ineffective contact tracing system.

'The Secretary of State has made the risky move of reorganising a key national oversight body during the middle of the pandemic and these figures lay bare the important work that the new National Institute for Health Protection will need to carry out at pace to improve the effectiveness of our test and trace system.'

Justin Madders MP, Labour's Shadow Health Minister, added: 'This incompetent government is failing to improve test and trace.

'In a whole range of measures, from the time it takes to return tests, to the percentage of people who are contacted who have been in close contact with a person who tested positive, things are going backwards.

'For a quarter of all tests to take longer than 72 hours to get results back is a worryingly poor performance.

'In the week that NHS Providers said track and trace was failing, it seems nobody in the Government has yet picked up responsibility to turn things round.

'It beggars belief that the head of test and trace has now been given more responsibility by the Government.'

It comes after cold callers were blamed for failures in the service because people do not want to answer 'unrecognisable' 0300 numbers.

And it was revealed ministers will finally unveil the long-awaited and long-delayed coronavirus phone app as early as this month  but the scaled-back software will not be used for contact tracing as originally planned.

Today's report show 16,897 people were identified as close contacts during the week ending August 12.

But the proportion of close contacts who are successfully being reached and told to self isolate has dropped from 90.7 per cent in week one.

Ministers claimed the drop last week was 'primarily due to the reduction in contacts relating to local outbreaks', which are known as 'complex cases'.

They are managed by local health chiefs who have 'a higher success rate than those dealt with by contact tracers,' the report said.

Boris Johnson last week repeated his claim the NHS Test and Trace system was 'world beating'  even though ministers have accepted the struggling operation must improve (pictured at a gym in his Uxbridge constituency)

COLD CALLERS BLAMED FOR FAILURES IN TEST AND TRACE Cold callers are being blamed for failures in the NHS Test and Trace service because people do not want to answer 'unrecognisable' 0300 numbers. Call centre staff trying to reach people who have come into contact with positive coronavirus cases say many people ignore their calls because the 0300 prefix is often used by cold callers. The Local Government Association is now calling for staff to go out 'on the ground' in local areas to speak to people who are not being reached. The LGA said last week: 'For some hard to reach people, answering the phone can bring problems being chased for a debt or faced with language difficulties. 'We would encourage anyone called by the 0300 013 5000 number to answer and do their bit to help defeat this virus. 'But it is also crucial that missed calls can be followed up on the ground by public health experts experienced in contact tracing.' Advertisement

The figures come after Local government minister Simon Clarke conceded there is 'more to do' on bolstering the contact tracing scheme.

His comments came after a major study warned a resurgence of the disease could be twice as bad as that in the Spring, unless the system improves.

Scientists from University College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said the only way of bringing back schools and avoiding another crisis around Christmas was to ramp up dramatically the operation.

Mr Johnson last week repeated his claim that the NHS Test and Trace system was 'world beating'  despite the figures showing it is getting worse.

He said: 'If you look at what we are doing, actually I think it certainly is  it certainly does fit that description of 'world beating'.

'I think I'm right in saying that we are now testing more - per head of population  than virtually any other country in Europe, certainly, in America they are testing a huge number of people.'

He said the test and trace system was 'absolutely crucial' for the Government's coronavirus strategy.

'If you look at what we are doing with some of the local social distancing measures that we are bringing back in, that's entirely driven by our ability to detect cases through local test and trace, working with our local authorities and taking the right local measures.

'That is how we hope that we will be able to keep the lid on the disease.'

Justin Madders, Shadow Health Minister, said: 'It's deeply concerning the numbers are heading in the wrong direction again this week, with so many of the close contacts of people who have tested positive, and over 40 per cent of people in the same households, not being reached.

'We now need a plan of action from Ministers that sets out what they are doing to address these huge holes in the contact tracing system.

'If this means supporting local areas to establish their own local contact tracing systems and ending the failed contract with Serco  as Labour has been calling for, for some time  then Ministers must get on and implement this without delay.

'We urgently need to get test and trace back on track.'

Data also showed local health teams have been more successful than call centre workers because they are able to try alternative ways of contacting people, for example knocking on doors.

Reports have suggested that some contact tracers working for the NHS Test and Trace programme in England are making just a handful of calls a month.

Six million are behind on bills Six million people across the UK have fallen behind on household bills due to coronavirus, a study has found. One in nine is behind on bills, with around a fifth having to go without essentials including food, Citizens Advice research shows. The study found that carers, those who were shielding during the pandemic and key workers are twice as likely to have fallen behind on bill payments, as are black people, 18-to-34-year-olds and the disabled. It also found people who sought help with debt since March will need two-and-a-half years on average to pay back their priority debts. Citizens Advice has warned that with protections against eviction for renters due to end this weekend, many of those who are struggling may face harsh enforcement. The charity is calling on the Government to give those in debt a one-off or time-limited financial support. Dame Gillian Guy, of Citizens Advice, said: 'Financial support for those who've fallen into debt must be prioritised to free them from the damaging consequences of long-term debt and help strengthen the economic recovery.' Advertisement

Some councils have taken matters into their own hands and launched local contact-tracing operations to supplement the national system.

Calderdale Council, which covers Halifax and surrounding areas, is the second authority to make the move after Blackburn and Darwen said it was setting up a locally focused system to utilise community knowledge.

But senior officials insist that the Test and Trace programme is not at odds with local systems, and is working in partnership with local authorities and their local health protection teams.

The Department of Health figures released today  which only cover England  also revealed turnaround times have also dipped since the record high at the start of July.

The PM had pledged that, by the end of June, the results of 100 per cent of all in-person tests would be back within 24 hours.

Experts say getting test results quickly and carrying out contact tracing immediately is vital to stopping the spread of coronavirus because there is only a short window to alert people that they are at risk of infecting others without yet knowing they're ill.

There have been concerns that both testing and tracing is not robust enough in the UK to prevent a second wave occurring this winter.

This week scientists said that without appropriate levels of testing and contact tracing, the reopening of schools in September together with gradual relaxing of the lockdown measures are 'likely to induce a second wave that would peak in December 2020'.

The study by researchers from UCL and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), published in The Lancet Child And Adolescent Health, warned that in a worst-case scenario a second wave could be 2.3 times higher than the first.

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 the researchers.
New Delhi, Aug 20 : The beleaguered Hindu and Sikh minorities of Afghanistan have found support in not just India, but also in the US.

A resolution, introduced in the House of Representatives by Congresswoman Jackie Speier and co-sponsored by seven others, seeks to resettle persecuted religious communities in Afghanistan to the US.

Introduced last week, the resolution said: "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 added: "These acts follow a greater pattern of targeted violence against Sikhs, Hindus, and other minorities in Afghanistan in recent years." Members from these two communities will be resettled under the US Refugee Admissions Program.

According to Tolo News, the Afghan news agency, nearly 99 per cent of the two minority communities have migrated from Afghanistan in the last three decades.

Hindus, once ancient rulers of Afghanistan, have depleted to negligible numbers while the Sikhs, who have a 500-year-old history, number just 600, too are likely to go extinct as the last handful leave the war-torn country. Together, the two communities number just 700, from a hefty 700,000 in the 1970s. Upheavals and conflicts in Afghanistan coupled with discrimination and terror attacks have led to a steady decline over the decades.

For the Sikhs who had been holding on to their citizenship in the Afghan cities of Kabul and Jalalabad, two attacks -- a suicide attack on July 1, 2018, in Jalalabad which killed 19 Sikhs and Hindus, and this year's attack on March 25 at Gurdwara Guru Har Rai Sahib, Kabul, that killed 25 -- were the last straw. They have decided to leave their homeland.

In June, a bipartisan group of 20 US senators had urged the Trump administration to grant emergency refugee protection to Sikh and Hindu communities from Afghanistan.

"Sikh and Hindu communities in Afghanistan face an existential threat from ISIS-K because of their religion. To protect religious freedom, we urgently ask that you take these essential steps to defend these threatened religious minorities," they said in the letter.

The attack on Gurdwara Guru Har Rai Sahib not just led to the exodus but also put a spotlight on the condition of the two communities.

As the Indian government expedited visas for the beleaguered community in July, Congressman Jim Costa applauded India's stand in a tweet: "This marks an important step toward protecting Afghanistan's Sikh and Hindu communities from imminent destruction at the hands of terrorists." The Indian government had on July 23 said that besides providing visas to Afghan Hindus and Sikhs to travel to India, the government is also looking at their request for Indian citizenship.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Anurag Shrivastava said that Central government was receiving requests from these communities that "they want to move to India and settle down here." Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, "we are facilitating the requests." Ironically, the Citizenship Amendment Act-2019 (CAA), which was vehemently opposed by certain sections of people and led to wanton rioting in Delhi will enable these minority communities to gain Indian citizenship.

The main aim of the CAA was to fast track citizenship for migrants from Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities belonging to three neighboring countries of Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

As Afghanistan falls into a bigger chaos, the last remaining Hindu and Sikh minorities will find shelter in India, USA and Europe - all liberal and democratic nations.

Their religious institutions, the temples and gurdwaras, which have come down to barely a dozen in number will no longer have the priests to perform the celebrations, cultural and religious festivals which so deeply symbolise these two religions.

As the last remaining Hindus and Sikhs leave their Afghan homeland, once a land that nurtured Hindus and Buddhists too, only a miniscule minority across the world knows it is witness to a few thousand-year-old ancient history being erased completely, and a new one being written afresh.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 23:49:23|Editor: huaxia

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GABORONE, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Botswana is paying particular attention to the safety of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) amid the COVID-19 pandemic to guarantee their survival, an official said Thursday.

Peggy Serame, the country's investment, trade and industry minister, said the southern African country will follow every step taken by China to deal with the global pandemic and its eventual impact on the economy.

"We are paying close attention to SMEs amid the ongoing pandemic in order to keep our economic growth stable like what China did. And it worked for them, so we are confident it will work for us also," said Serame when addressing business executives in Gaborone, Botswana's capital city.

Serame said a combination of the development of targeted supportive policies for firms affected by the epidemic and cushioning them will go a long way in ensuring that the southern African country's economy would not suffer a severe impact from the pandemic.

She said the idea of keeping an eye on the wellbeing of SMEs the Chinese way was conceived after realizing that Botswana managed to contain the spread of the disease caused by the highly contagious coronavirus through using the tips from China.

As of Wednesday, Botswana had 1,308 confirmed cases, of which one is in severe condition and three deaths. Enditem
When Justin Trudeau prorogued Parliament this week, he broke a promise.

Never mind motivation and justification  that is all debatable. Never mind that Trudeaus predecessor didnt hesitate to use prorogation as a political tool on two occasions, one of them to stop opposition parties from forming a coalition against the Harper government.

Those actions are what led Trudeau to promise in 2015 that he would not use proroguing as a political tool. Fair enough. But now its clear  once again  that hes not doing politics differently than Harper, and, in fact, is behaving in much the same way.

But in practical terms, the end of this parliamentary session doesnt add up to much. The total sitting time lost is one day. The criticism that committee work on the WE scandal will be buried is partisan rhetoric. When Parliament returns, the committee work can begin again.

What is more important is that Trudeau is using the one-month break to hit reset, not only on his political fortunes but on his governments blueprint and vision for Canada.

He promises a bold new agenda when Parliament returns, and promises to unveil it in a throne speech. Thats appropriate because it will automatically be a confidence matter, and so will trigger an election unless that agenda is supported by the majority of Parliament. The Bloc Quebecois has already signalled its desire to topple the government. The Conservatives are being coy, but theres little doubt they will oppose any agenda Trudeau puts forward. That means if the government doesnt get the support of the NDP, Canada will go to the polls.

That, too, is appropriate. Assuming that this vision is big and bold and addresses long-standing issues of equity and social support, an election will give Canadians a chance to endorse it or reject it.

What about the vision, the plan? What should it include? Anonymous sources tell Reuters news service Trudeau wants sweeping changes to Canadas social safety net, and wants economic measures that will support Canadas ambitious climate agenda. Both things make sense.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed long-standing gaps and inequities. While everyone suffered, women suffered more than most. Trudeaus social safety net overhaul can address that in part by finally implementing a child-care strategy that gives more women the opportunity to take part in the workforce if they choose to.

The employment insurance system is obsolete, even with tweaks to make it more accessible to more people. It must be replaced by supports that recognize modern economic realities for working people, including gig and contract work, a lack of benefits and precarious work as well as outright job loss.

The pandemic also exposed failures in long-term care across the country. While health care is provincial jurisdiction, the Canada Health Act is federal and the government should revise it to reflect long-term care as part of our universal health-care system.

None of this will be cheap and that is where Chrystia Freeland comes in. The new finance minister will need to use all her innovation and collaboration skills to come up with ways to fund needed programs while still growing the economy. New revenue sources will almost certainly be needed. Canadians want and need to see a path back to budget balance, even if not in the near future.

Freelands accomplishments suggest she is up to the task, but this is a massive undertaking, and Canada cannot afford missteps. The timing is right for a new economic and social blueprint. Lets see what the Trudeau government comes up with.
Members of Student Innovation Ireland and Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) advocates are encouraging second-level schools in Longford to register and take part in the 2020/21 F1 in Schools education programme this autumn.

The F1 in Schools STEM Challenge raises awareness among schoolchildren all across the globe of STEM through Formula 1; it encourages students to think creatively, improve their skills, and gain confidence.

Also read: A mammoth storm in Longford, trees falling and deer running past windows #StormEllen

It is the only global multi-disciplinary challenge in which teams of students aged 9 to 19 deploy CAD/CAM software to collaborate, design, analyse, manufacture, test, and then race miniature compressed air powered cars made from the F1 model block.

Four Irish teams will compete in the F1 in Schools world finals in Melbourne next March.

Ruth Conway, who oversees sponsorship and logistics at F1 in Schools says the competition has been beneficial to various aspects of her life:

It was great for personal development. I gained interpersonal and communication skills, greater confidence, and organisational skills from participating in the competition in Transition Year. F1 in Schools was also the deciding factor for me in choosing to study business and engineering for the Leaving Certificate. The experience also made me realise that I want to pursue a career in Formula 1.

Aaron Hannon, Co-Founder of F1 in Schools, is calling on schools to enter this years challenge:

F1 in Schools gives second-level students the opportunity to learn how to be a leader, an engineer or a businessperson in a fast-paced, exciting and competitive way. Through participating in the challenge, Irish students have earned a once-in-a-lifetime trip to represent Ireland at the F1 in Schools World Finals, where they will meet like-minded students from all around the globe.

We are delighted to work with new schools and new teachers to help bring these opportunities to even more students. We urge all schools to contact us at info@f1inschools.ie or visit www.f1inschools.ie to find out how to enter the 2020/21 F1 in Schools season.

Registration for F1 in Schools Ireland 2020/21 will close on November 15, 2020, with Regional Finals taking place in February 2021. The 2021 Irish National Final will be held in April/May 2021.

Also read: Mullinalaghta St Columbas GFC fundraiser generates 7,863 for LARCC Cancer Support Sanctuary


By Ayya Lmahamad

The volume of natural gas reserves in Azerbaijan amounted to 16.2 billion cubic meters in January- June 2020, the State Statistics Committee reported on August 20.

According to the report, 85 percent of reserves comes from production, and 15 percent from the balance.

At the beginning of July, natural gas consumption amounted to 39.6 percent, while 41.1 percent was export. In addition, 3.2 percent was lost and 16.1 percent remained in reserve.

Moreover, 65.6 percent of natural gas consumed in the country was spent on production needs, while 34.3 percent was sold to the population.

Furthermore, during the period January-June 2020, 6.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas was exported from the country, which is an increase by 16 percent, compared to the same period last year.

Additionally, compared to the same period of the last year, the populations consumption of natural gas was by 2.2 billion or 13.3 percent more.

Out of the consumed gas, 37 percent accounts for Baku, 3 percent Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, 16.5 percent Aran, 12.2 percent Ganja-Gazakh, 10.6 percent Absheron, 6.2 percent Lankaran, 5.2 percent Sheki-Zagatala, 4.7 percent Guba-Khachmaz, 2.6 percent Mountain Shirvan and 2 percent Upper Karabakh economic regions.

Earlier, it was reported that the volume of Azerbaijans natural gas production increased by 10 percent year-on-year in the first seven months of 2020, amounting to 22.3 billion cubic meters.

In the reporting period, the countrys gas exports also increased by 16.7 percent amounting to 7.7 billion cubic meters.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
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Education experts have described the number of As in today's GCSE and revised A-level results as 'staggering' after a record number of A grades were awarded based on teachers' estimated grades.

A record high proportion of GCSE entries in England were today awarded the equivalent of A* or As - with 25.9 per cent getting a Grade 7 or above compared with 20.8 per cent last year- after a Government U-turn meant results could be based on teachers' estimated grades instead of a government algorithm.

The results were released at the same time as revised A-level results which showed more than 10 per cent of A-level entries have been upgraded following a U-turn on the way results are awarded, with 38.1 per cent of students gaining an A or A* this year, compared to 25.2 per cent in the original algorithm grades.

It was also announced today that all A-Level students with the correct grades will get into their first choice of university, and caps on student numbers for medical degrees have been scrapped amid unprecedented demand caused by the increase in grades.

Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at Buckingham University, described the percentages of top A-level grades as 'staggering '.

He said: 'The percentages of top grades are staggering, and no help at all to university admissions tutors having to take difficult decisions.'

'The rank order of the subjects by grade tends to be very similar year by year, and this year the teachers have been extraordinarily generous. We do need exams to be able to tell who really deserves the grades.'

Former head of Teach First Sam Freedman said: 'It is true that unmoderated (even moderated) teacher assessment isn't a great way to assess high stakes exams but not because teachers are unprofessional or dishonest; just because you can't maintain consistency across thousands of different institutions.'

Speaking about specific cases of graded inflation, he told the TES: 'While this is certainly less problematic than young people missing out on places it's not great that some students will have grades higher than they could possibly have achieved and are thus eligible for courses they won't be suited for.'

But others said that teachers had to be given high grades for schools to remain competitive.

Education adviser and former Kent headteacher Peter Read also told MailOnline: 'In order to be fair to other candidates, grades have to be set high. Otherwise they would perform badly in those subjects and apart from other consequences entry numbers would fall sharply.

The surge comes after Education Secretary Gavin Williamson scrapped the controversial algorithm system for both A-levels and GCSEs following a mass outcry from students and parents - and conceded teachers' predicted grades must be used to mark pupils who could not sit their exams because of the pandemic.

Hundreds of thousands of youngsters received their GCSE results at 8am this morning following major changes - but Btec pupils will not get their final results following a last-minute review of grades.

More than one in four (25.9 per cent) GCSE entries in England scored one of the three top grades of 7 to 9 this year, up from just over a fifth (20.7 per cent) last summer, figures from exams regulator Ofqual show.

Ministers have admitted they were warned six weeks ago that the exam algorithm was badly flawed;

Ministers and universities said all A-Level students with the correct grades will get into their first choice;

The Government also said it will scrap the cap on student numbers for medical degrees including dentistry;

500,000 BTEC students must wait another week to get their grades after the exam board axed results;

Frustrated students and parents were left waiting for GCSE results after their email failed to arrive at 8am;

Schools minister Nick Gibb apologised to students for the 'pain and the anxiety' they felt before U-turn;

The appeals process for students unhappy with their results is still unclear following the Government U-turn.

Revised A-level results showed more than 10 per cent of A-level entries have been upgraded following a U-turn on the way results are awarded, with 38.1 per cent of students gaining an A or A* this year, compared to 27.6 per cent in 2019

A group of five students from Lewes Old Grammar School smile after receiving their GCSE results this morning. The independent day school in the East Sussex town had a number of pupils achieving seven to nine top 9 grades this year

This graph shows the proportion of students in England achieving an A/7 or above - and a C/4 or above - has shot up this year

The subject with the highest proportion of pupils gaining a 7 to 9 grade was classics at 74.6 per cent, followed by modern languages other than French, German and Spanish, and triple science (biology, chemistry and physics) at 53 per cent

Other modern languages have the highest rate of A/A& grades at 73.8 per cent, followed by further maths at 71.1 per cent, German at 58.3 per cent and Spanish at 54.5 per cent

Citizenship studies has seen the biggest proportional rise in pupil numbers compared to last year, followed by Spanish

Performing/expressive arts, engineering and economics saw the biggest increase in A grades in this year's GCSE results

Boris breaks cover... on Twitter: PM sends students message of support online as he hides on Scottish holiday as poll shows just one third of voters approve of his decision to take a break during coronavirus crisis Boris Johnson took a pasting on social media after he finally broke his silence over the English exams chaos - with two short tweets. The Prime Minister has not been seen since heading to Scotland for a week's holiday on Monday in the middle of chaos over A-Level grades. He has so far resisted widespread calls for him to cut short his break to take control of the public confidence crisis from beleaguered Education Secretary Gavin Williamson. He issued a short message to GCSE students receiving results today - based on predicted grades after a 'standardisation' algorithm was abandoned amid claims it was biased against high achieving pupils from poorer backgrounds. He wrote: 'Congratulations to everyone receiving their GCSE results today. I know the last few months have been tough and this isn't how you imagined you would be finishing Year 11, but you can be proud of how you helped to keep the virus under control. 'You have literally saved lives through staying at home and keeping distance from others. Thank you for protecting yourselves, your families and your communities this year. And once again  congratulations and well done!' There was no apology or mention of the chaos that has accompanied this year's exam results and the message was greeted with disdain by social media users. An exclusive poll for MailOnline today revealed that just one third of voters back Mr Johnson's decision to take a break during the coronavirus crisis with four in ten now viewing the Government as 'incompetent'. Advertisement

More than 10% of A level results are upgraded and 38% of students get an A - as ministers scrap caps on number accepted into on medical degrees All A-Level students will get a place at their first choice university if they have the grades, and the caps on medical degrees will now be scrapped, ministers have announced today. Thousands of students have this week been scrambling to get places at their first choice university after after Education Secretary Gavin Williamson scrapped the controversial algorithm system for A-level results after outcry Today the revised A level results were released and showed that the proportion of exam entries receiving an A grade or higher has increased to a record high for England, with 38.1 per cent awarded the top grades - up from 27.6 per cent last year. Universities had been struggling with the sheer volume of demand as 55,000 pupils who accepted a place at another university or got a new course at clearing tried to get into their top choice. Today, the government has confirmed that students who did receive sufficient grades will be able to take up their place. If the school is full then students can be offered an alternative course or deferment to 2021. Meanwhile, the overall pass rate for grades A* to E has also risen to an all-time high at 99.7 per cent for England, up from the 98.2 per cent who achieved the same in last Thursday's results, figures provided by the exams regulator Ofqual show. It comes after the Government announced students would be able to receive grades based on assessments by schools or colleges, rather than an algorithm, after thousands of results were downgraded on August 13. Prior to the Government's U-turn, exam boards had downgraded nearly two-in-five (39.1 per cent) grades in England, according to data from Qfqual - equating to about 280,000 entries being adjusted down after moderation. A total of 35.6 per cent of grades were adjusted down by one grade, 3.3 per cent were brought down by two grades and 0.2 per cent came down by three grades. Teachers were told to submit the grades they thought each student would have received if they had sat the papers, alongside a rank order of students, after exams were cancelled amid the Covid-19 pandemic. However, exam boards moderated the grades to ensure this year's results were not significantly higher than previously and the value of students' grades were not undermined. Meanwhile, approximately 15,000 students who were rejected by their first-choice university will now meet the offer conditions set for them to study after the grading U-turn. Ucas (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) said universities had 'exercised flexibility' after it analysed the results from the four largest awarding bodies for 160,000 students who received upgraded A-level marks in England. They showed that around 100,000 of those students had already secured a place at their first-choice university on results day last Thursday. Of the remaining 60,000 students, around one in four, approximately 15,000, will now meet the A-level offer conditions of their original first choice university, Ucas said. The Government has agreed to lift the cap on medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and teaching courses following the U-turn on A-level grades. The Department for Education (DfE) has also announced additional funding to increase capacity in medical, nursing, STEM and other high-cost subjects. Advertisement

The proportion receiving the top grades - at least a 7 or an A grade - is a record high based on available data following the decision to award grades based on teachers' assessments, rather than an algorithm. It also raises the prospect of a record number of students going on to do A-levels at colleges and sixth forms.

The subject with the highest proportion of pupils gaining a 7 to 9 grade was classics at 74.6 per cent, followed by modern languages other than French, German and Spanish, and triple science (biology, chemistry and physics) at 53 per cent.

Meanwhile there was a 100 per cent pass rate in chemistry, economics, physics and physical education, with every entry recorded as getting at least a grade 1, which is the equivalent of an old G - and above a U.

More than three in four (76 per cent) GCSE entries were awarded at least a 4 or a C grade in England this summer, which is up 8.9 percentage points on last year when 67.1 per cent achieved the grades.

It comes after GCSE and A-level students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were told they would now be awarded the higher of either their teachers' grade or the moderated grade following an outcry. In other developments today:

Last week, A-level results caused outcry when an algorithm saw nearly two in five (39.1 per cent) of the A-grades submitted by schools and colleges in England - around 280,000 entries in total - adjusted down after moderation.

Schools across Britain celebrate 'nine 9s' among high-achieving pupils Schools across Britain today praised their pupils who achieved 'nine 9s' - that is nine GCSEs of at least grade 9. Lucy Coleman, head girl at The Deanery Church of England High School in Wigan, was praised by staff for her 'incredible' achievement by gaining the total. Mahmud, a student at Haggerston School in East London, also got nine 9s as well as two 8s and will take A-levels in maths, physics and computer science with hopes to study at Oxbridge in the future. St Columba's College in St Albans, Hertfordshire, said its student Angus led the way with 11 grade 9s, while fellow pupil Akshil celebrated with his family after achieving ten 9s and one 8. Advertisement

Exam boards had moderated the grades - using an algorithm from Ofqual - to ensure this year's results were not significantly higher than previously and the value of students' grades was not undermined.

This resulted in tens of thousands of pupils getting lower-than-expected grades and a huge outcry over a perceived unfairness in this year's results. The Government then U-turned and gave all students predicted grades in both GCSEs and A-levels.

Today's record GCSE results come after traditional A*-G grades were scrapped and replaced in England with a 9-1 system with 9 the highest result. A 4 is broadly equivalent to a C grade, and a 7 broadly equivalent to an A.

Students receiving GCSE results this summer will get numerical grades for all their subjects as all courses have now moved over to the new grading system.

Btec grades were not included in the original U-turn, but at 4.30pm yesterday - with just hours to go until results were released at 8am today - Pearson said it would regrade Btecs to 'address concerns about unfairness'.

The exam board told schools and colleges not to publish level 1 and 2 results in the vocational qualifications on Thursday to give them more time to recalculate the grades.

Schools minister Nick Gibb has apologised to students for the 'pain and the anxiety' they felt before this week's grading U-turn.

He told BBC Breakfast: 'To those hundreds of thousands of young people receiving their GCSE grades and the A level students receiving recalculated grades, I will say this to them, congratulations on what you have achieved.

'But also how sorry I am for the pain, the anxiety and the uncertainty that they will have suffered as a consequence of the grading issues we encountered last week. And to reassure them that we are doing everything we can to put these matters right.'

One headmaster likened the handling of the current results crisis to that of the post-Second World War education system.

Gavin Horgan, of Millfield School in Somerset, said: 'It is wonderful that in GCSEs today, and at A-level, students will now gain the best grades possible in the circumstances.

'They absolutely deserve that, and they never deserved the shameful approach that was taken to get to this point by the Government and exam boards.

'However, bigger hurdles are ahead. The results received by students and the hiatus in education for many across the country, means that we will have legacy issues which will, in all likelihood, last a generation.

'The pressure on the university system, the threat to post-92 universities, which are a vital element of our further education tapestry, and the knock-on implications of grade inflation for Year 11 students going into A-level studies this year and for those same students next year when they look to apply to university, cannot simply be written off in the same way that results have been this year. Sadly, we are just at the very start of the problem.'

One student called Hannah, who attends a grammar school on the Wirral, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I'm definitely less stressed now they've said we're getting the predicted grades from what the teachers said or the algorithm grade if it's higher which is a much fairer system but there's still a lot of stress because it's quite a big day.

'I want to study biology, psychology and history I do think it might be an issue that everyone is essentially going to get their grade inflated but part of me thinks that in this one year, why don't we all just have better grades?

'We didn't exactly expect this whole situation to happen and it is extremely unique circumstances so I don't really think it's a massive issue that everyone has a grade inflated because at the start of this year we all thought we were taking exams.

'Obviously we were told all the exams were cancelled so there's not really a need to do much (learning). But if we needed to resit for whatever reason then I don't think it will be possible because we literally haven't learned any GCSE content for six months.'

She later added that she got four 8s, four 7s, one 5 and one six, saying: 'That's what I need to go to college.'

Hannah is now going to study biology, psychology and history at college, but said she felt Education Secretary Gavin Williamson had 'not been very reassuring throughout this whole thing' and this would 'definitely affect how I'm going to vote in the next election'.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: 'Congratulations to everyone receiving their GCSE results today.

'I know the last few months have been tough and this isn't how you imagined you would be finishing Year 11, but you can be proud of how you helped to keep the virus under control.

'You have literally saved lives through staying at home and keeping distance from others.

'Thank you for protecting yourselves, your families and your communities this year. And once again - congratulations and well done!'

Mr Gibb said he is hopeful that students will get their Btec results next week. Asked when they will receive their grades, Mr Gibb told the BBC: 'Well as soon as possible, but I hope next week.

'Pearson are working to correct and to review those grades and to reissue them.

'And we're working closely with Ucas and the independent regulator and exam boards to make sure that no young person will be disadvantaged as a consequence of that delay.'

He added: 'Having spoken to Pearson and all the exam boards yesterday, I believe that they will be delivered next week.'

It is still unclear what the appeals process will be for GCSE and A-level students who are unhappy with their results following the U-turn.

But England's exams regulator previously said individual pupils would not be allowed to challenge teacher-assessed grades.

Fiona Kane, principal of St Ronan's College at Lurgan in in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, described the last week-and-a-half as a 'complete roller-coaster' for teachers, parents and pupils.

She told the BBC: 'I welcome very much the ministers' announcement that the GCSE results were going to revert to centre-assessed grades, there is certainly a much better air of calm this morning in school.

'Nobody knows these young people better than their subject teachers who have worked closely with them and know all about their progress, their ability and their potential.'

Ms Kane said her school's performance had improved, as had been expected before the pandemic struck.

'That's not to say that all of our grades are A*-C, whilst many of them are, we have been engaged in a very rigorous internal scrutinising process which went through several cycles before I, as head of centre, signed off on all of these centre-assessed grades,' she said.

'They (the grades) compare very favourably with last year's results, as a new college over the last four years we have been on a very intensive improvement journey so all of our data indicated that we were expecting our grades to go up in any case, before lockdown, and we were working extremely hard towards that.

'Our grades have gone up on last year but that is what we expected in any case.'

Meanwhile the Government has lifted the cap on the number of places on medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and teaching courses following the U-turn on A-level grades.

Universities will receive extra funding to help increase capacity on a number of courses after institutions warned they had limited space for students who saw their results increase.

The move comes after vice-chancellors and doctors called for the cap on student numbers in medical schools to be removed amid the grading chaos.

The U-turn on Monday - which meant A-level results would be based on teachers' estimated grades - came too late for many students who had already made choices about universities based on the grades they were initially awarded.

Leading universities have warned students who have higher grades may still be asked to defer their place if there is no longer space on their preferred course.

The University of Durham is offering a bursary and 'guaranteed college accommodation' to students who volunteer to defer a year due to capacity issues caused by the U-turn.

Additional teaching grant funding will now be provided to increase capacity in medical, nursing and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (Stem) subjects.

The Government's Higher Education Taskforce - made up of university sector leaders - agreed on Wednesday to honour all offers across courses to students who meet their conditions this coming year wherever possible, or if maximum capacity is reached to offer an alternative course or a deferred place.

It comes after Ucas revealed around 15,000 students who were rejected by their first-choice university will now meet the offer conditions after the grading U-turn.

Figures from Ofqual show the proportion of A-level entries in England which received top grades increased to a record high following the changes to the system this week.

Universities minister Michelle Donelan said: 'This has been an incredibly difficult time for students and I want to reassure them that every effort is being made to make sure all those who planned to can move on to higher education.

Girl, 16, gets 63,000 bursary to attend top private school in Devon Kira Maiberg, 16, is going to Mount Kelly, an independent school in Devon, on a bursary Kira Maiberg, 16, a pupil at Cumberland School in Plaistow, East London, missed out on a scholarship to a prestigious fee-paying school when she was turned down by Highgate School. News of her school trying to fundraise her fees reached the headteacher of Mount Kelly, an independent school in Devon, which offered her a 63,000 bursary to attend. Kira said: 'I would have worried either way, that is just the person that I am, but my offer was unconditional so I did not have the anxiety of my friends. 'I was anxious I was not doing enough work to prepare me for A-levels but luckily both Cumberland and my new school Mount Kelly offered a remote online programme. 'It really helped keep me busy and occupied during the lockdown and help me prepare for my A-levels.' Advertisement

'I am delighted that the Government and the higher education sector have agreed that all students who achieved the required grades will be offered a place at their first choice university.

'I want universities to do all they can to take them on this year or offer alternative courses or deferred places where required.'

Dr Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of the Russell Group of universities, called the decision a 'very positive step', adding it will help institutions increase capacity and help more students attend higher education.

He said: 'Russell Group universities are working with Government and will do everything they can to accommodate as many students as possible on their preferred courses this year, and will continue to do so wherever this is practically possible.

'Where this isn't possible, our universities will look to offer deferred places or explore places on alternative courses where the student meets the entry requirements.'

Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of Universities UK, said: 'The policy U-turn on A-levels has created significant challenges for universities caused by late movement of students between institutions.

'The welcome additional medicine and dentistry places and confirmation of the additional teaching grant for high-costs subjects will help to support capacity.

'Government now needs to urgently confirm funding both to ensure the financial stability of institutions suffering from a loss of students and to offer further support to maintain and build capacity where needed.'

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), is expecting staff to have 'challenging' conversations with GCSE students unhappy with results.

He said one sixth form college was threatened with a solicitor and had to deal with 'abusive' parents' after 'all hell broke loose' over the colleges' estimated grades for A-levels last week.

Mr Barton also said the Government remains without a contingency plan in the event of further disruption next year.

Students at Bristnall Hall Academy in Oldbury in the West Midlands react today as they receive their GCSE results

Students react as they check their GCSE results today at Crossley Heath Grammar School in Halifax, West Yorkshire

Secondary school students wait in line for their GCSE results at Kingsdale Foundation School in South London today

A student reacts as she checks her GCSE results at Crossley Heath Grammar School in Halifax, West Yorkshire, this morning

Principle Tim Dainty looks at the GCSE results of Brenda Cinotti at Ark Evelyn Grace Academy in London today

Sixteen-year-old Thomas Milner from Lewes Old Grammar School gets a kiss from his mother Debbie this morning

GCSE RESULTS FOR 2020 COMPARED TO 2019 SUBJECT 2020 number of candidates 2020 grade 7 to 9 (%) 2020 grade 4 to 9 (%) 2020 grade 1 to 9 (%) 2019: number of candidates 2019: grade 7 to 9 (%) 2019: grade 4 to 9 (%) 2019: grade 1 to 9 (%) Art and Design 190400 29.6 86.4 99.9 182204 22.7 75.1 99.6 Biology 165251 52.8 94.6 99.9 165318 42.3 89.6 99.3 Business Studies 91386 27.9 80 99.7 89067 17.9 65.5 98.7 Chemistry 158643 53.2 95.7 100 159082 43.9 90 99.4 Citizenship Studies 21902 22.6 75.3 99.2 19701 16.9 66 97.7 C l assical subjects 15727 74.6 97.1 99.9 15491 63.9 90.7 99.1 Computing 75730 33.5 80.1 99.3 77407 21.6 62.6 96.7 Design & Technology 88872 27.6 79 99.7 89903 19.4 63.2 98.4 Drama 57808 36.7 87.2 99.9 57704 23.4 74.2 99.4 Economics 6501 46.8 92.6 100 6106 31.8 81.6 99.3 Engineering 2818 26.4 76.8 99.6 2917 11.3 50.6 97.5 English 733551 18.7 71.2 99.6 707059 13.9 61.8 98.7 English Literature 558591 24.3 79.7 99.4 546677 20.2 73.4 98.3 Food Preparation and Nutrition 47131 24.6 78.6 99.9 44925 17.7 64.4 99.4 French 124043 29.9 82.1 99.9 122803 23.7 69.7 98.5 Geography 255344 30.1 75.5 99.5 251121 24.5 65.2 98.3 German 40688 34.1 86.8 99.9 41222 24.2 75.8 98.7 History 273778 29.4 74.5 99.1 261537 24.6 63.6 97 Mathematics 734301 19 66.6 99.3 720098 15.9 59.6 97.7 Media / Film / TV Studies 34657 24.4 80.5 99.8 36437 17 66.7 98.5 Music 34665 46 89.2 99.9 34725 31.8 75.6 99.1 Other Modern Languages 22276 68.6 94.9 99.5 30997 66 90.3 97.6 Other Sciences 2560 59.2 92.5 99.8 2543 42.2 81.3 98.7 Performing / Expressive Arts 8996 38.5 87.6 99.9 9273 23.4 71.7 99.3 Physical Education 73685 33.4 85.6 100 79388 21.1 71.8 99.8 Physics 157410 53 96.1 100 157819 43.8 90.8 99.4 Religious Studies 225719 34.9 80.5 99.5 227913 30.5 72.3 98.5 Science: Double Award (2) 814708 10.5 64.5 99.6 778626 7.5 55.4 97.9 Social Science subjects 38093 27.2 78.3 99.6 37743 18.1 62.9 98.2 Spanish 103992 32.5 81.8 99.8 96811 27.1 70.3 98.2 Statistics 23765 28 83.3 99.7 23044 19.7 72.5 98 ALL SUBJECTS 5182991 25.9 76 99.6 5075675 20.7 67.1 98.3

He said in a statement today: 'This year more students will receive higher grades because of the decision to revert to centre-assessed grades.

Bangladeshi immigrant from East London gets into a top private school on a 43,000 scholarship Swatiya Montaha is heading to Kings College, Wimbledon A 15-year-old Bangladeshi immigrant from East London has got into a top private school on a 43,000 scholarship to study A-levels in maths, further maths and economics. Swatiya Montaha, from Canning Town, will walk in the footsteps of household names such as Hollywood star Ben Barnes when she joins Kings College, Wimbledon next month. The student at Cumberland School in Plaistow has been learning the violin during lockdown. She said: 'My offer was unconditional but I still wanted get good grades so it was stressful. Lockdown has been a bit demoralising. I have tried to put my time to good use by learning the violin. I know students at private school all have lots of extra skills so I wanted to have something to talk about with them. 'It is going to be daunting going to Kings but this going to open up so many opportunities for me. I am really excited about it.' Advertisement

'But this is by accident rather than by design. In the longer term, we have to think again about our statistics-fixated system. We have to do better.

'Another lesson for the longer term, is that we must surely reduce our reliance on a massive national bout of terminal exams each summer.

'There was nothing to fall back on in this crisis, unprecedented though it was, and the Government still doesn't have a contingency plan in the event of disruption next year.'

Mr Barton said he was 'hugely impressed' by the 'painstaking care' that leaders and teachers had taken over centre-assessed grades.

He added: 'The profession rose to the challenge admirably. It was events beyond our control that sunk the standardisation model. Schools and colleges have once again been left to clear up the mess.'

Speaking yesterday ahead of GCSE results day, Mr Barton said: 'That will be repeated tomorrow I guess. I think people are expecting difficult conversations.

'It will be around a misunderstanding of 'This is an individual teacher. 'She didn't like me. She has therefore marked me down.''

Overall, this year more students are expected to receive higher GCSE grades than in previous years, Mr Barton said.

He added: 'This is because schools may, understandably, have given some students the benefit of the doubt when they are on the borderline between two grades and they had the capability to achieve the higher grade.'

Colleges are urgently calling for more funding from the Government to cope with a likely surge of pupils who will be able to meet entry requirements for sixth form colleges amid the U-turn.

Some colleges are already at maximum capacity and there is a limit to the number of pupils they can admit amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) said.

James Kewin, deputy chief executive of the SFCA, told PA: 'In many respects, the immediate challenges faced by sixth form colleges mirror those faced by universities, increased demand for places combined with pressure on space because of Covid restrictions.'

Last year, one in five entries (20.7 per cent) in England picked up at least a 7 or an A grade, and around two thirds (67.1 per cent) of entries in England were awarded at least grade 4, or C.

GCSE results for England, Wales and Northern Ireland Here is a summary of the overall GCSE results in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The figures have been published separately by the regulators Ofqual, Qualifications Wales and the Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment. All the figures are provisional. The change on 2019 is included in brackets: - ENGLAND Proportion of entries awarded: 9: 6.3% (up from 4.5% in 2019)

8 or above: 14.4% (up from 11.2%)

7 or above (equivalent to A or above): 25.9% (up from 20.6%)

6 or above: 40.8% (up from 34.0%)

5 or above: 58.2% (up from 50.6%)

4 or above (equivalent to C or above): 76.0% (up from 67.0%)

3 or above: 90.1% (up from 84.3%)

2 or above: 96.9% (up from 93.8%)

1 or above: (equivalent to G or above) 99.6% (up from 98.3%) - WALES Proportion of entries awarded: A or above/7 or above: 25.9% (up from 18.4% in 2019)

C or above/4 or above: 74.5% (up from 62.8%)

G or above/1 or above: 99.6% (up from 97.2%) - NORTHERN IRELAND Proportion of entries awarded: A*: 12.4% (up from 8.3% in 2019)

A or above: 37.1% (up from 31.6%)

B or above: 60.5% (up from 51.5%)

C or above: 74.2% (up from 67.7%)

C* or above: 89.4% (up from 81.9%)

D or above: 95.3% (up from 91.1%)

E or above: 98.1% (Up from 95.3%)

F or above: 99.2% (up from 97.5%)

G or above: 99.7% (up from 98.7%) Advertisement

An analysis from the FFT Education Datalab research unit has suggested that disadvantaged pupils could benefit this year as the attainment gap could narrow amid the U-turn.

Lower-attaining schools appear to have submitted the most generous grades in their teacher assessment, the researchers said.

It added: 'It's possible that we'll see less of a discrepancy between the improvement in results recorded by independent schools, and by state schools.'

Meanwhile the Church of England's Lead Bishop for Education, Bishop of Durham Paul Butler, called for a renewed focus on schools reopening in September.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted his 'congratulations' to everyone receiving their GCSE results this morning

Students discuss their GCSE results at Ark Evelyn Grace Academy in London this morning

Parents and a student react after checking the GCSE results at Ark Academy in London this morning

A student reacts as she checks her GCSE results at Crossley Heath Grammar School in Halifax, West Yorkshire, this morning

Secondary school students with their GCSE results at Kingsdale Foundation school in South London this morning

Ellie Barnes gets her GCSE results with her parents at The Bewdley School in Worcestershire this morning

Students Simranjit Kaur (left) and Nayab Nasir (right) at Bristnall Hall Academy in Oldbury, West Midlands, this morning

Twins Lucia (left) and Hannah Davies (right) get their GCSE results at The Grammar School at Leeds this morning

A student reacts after reading her GCSE results at Ark Academy in London this morning

A student checks her GCSE results this morning at Crossley Heath Grammar School in Halifax, West Yorkshire

Secondary school students with their GCSE results at Kingsdale Foundation School in South London this morning

He said today: 'The challenging situation around GCSE, A-level and vocational qualification results has risked diverting school leaders' time and attention away from the re-opening of schools for all students in September - a step which we fully welcome.

'Placing education at the centre of the Government's autumn recovery plans will ensure that schools, colleges, universities, their students and their families get all the practical support they need, for the sake of the wellbeing and progress of all children and young people.

'This will involve particular practical systematic action to support those from disadvantaged backgrounds, ensuring that addressing the needs of the most vulnerable is the central aim of us all.'

Traditional A*-G grades have been scrapped and replaced with a 9-1 system amid reforms, with 9 the highest result.

A 4 is broadly equivalent to a C grade, and a 7 broadly equivalent to an A.

Students receiving GCSE results this summer will get numerical grades for all their subjects as all courses have now moved over to the new grading system.

Mr Gibb said he was warned about concerns that the algorithm used to determine grades could impact poorer pupils.

He was asked about reports in The Times which suggested Sir Jon Coles, a former director-general at the Department for Education, wrote to Mr Williamson early last month to express concerns about the algorithm used by Ofqual.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Gibb said: 'He (Sir John) spoke to me about it and he was concerned about the model and he was concerned that it would disadvantage particularly children from poorer backgrounds.

'And so I called a meeting therefore with the independent regulator, with Ofqual, to discuss in detail those very concerns.'

Mr Gibb revealed it 'certainly was foreseen' that private school pupils could benefit from the use of the algorithm.

Twins Esha (left) and Risha Gupta (right) celebrate their GCSE results at The Grammar School at Leeds this morning

Chloe Orrin hugs friend Connor Bott after getting her GCSE results at Ffynone House School in Swansea this morning

Secondary school students with their GCSE results at Kingsdale Foundation school in South London this morning

Kayla Nemeth smiles as she checks her GCSE results at Ffynone House school in Swansea, South Wales, this morning

Students at Bristnall Hall Academy in Oldbury in the West Midlands this morning as they receive their GCSE results

Frankie Brereton from Lewes Old Grammar School with his mother Jules after receiving his GCSE results this morning

Bethan Thomas smiles as she checks her GCSE results at Ffynone House School in Swansea, South Wales, this morning

Phoebe Hatch from Lewes Old Grammar School gets a kiss from her mum Dinah after receiving her GCSE results this morning

Harriet Clark from Lewes Old Grammar School with her parents Jo and Brenton after receiving her GCSE results today

Orland and Clara Winters get their GCSE results at The Grammar School in Leeds, West Yorkshire, this morning

Ellie Brown from Lewes Old Grammar School celebrates this morning after receiving her GCSE results

Ulrika Jonsson has congratulated her daughter on her GCSE results despite a 'messed-up year' caused by the coronavirus lockdown. Jonsson's daughter Martha is among hundreds of thousands of students who received their GCSE results today

Coronation Street actress Sally Dynevor shared a picture of her daughter Harriet holding a number of congratulatory balloons with the message: 'Congratulations to everyone getting GCSE results today!'

The education minister said: 'That certainly was foreseen because we knew that small cohorts had to rely more on the teacher-assessed grade than on the standardisation process, but that applied to the state sector as much as to the independent sector.'

From the East End to Eton: Pupil, 16, from Canning Town council house heads to Boris Johnson's old school Waez Amin, of Plaistow, East London, has got into Eton A 16-year-old boy will swap a council house in Canning Town for the hallowed halls of Eton College after achieving a mixture of grades 7 to 9 in his GCSEs. Waez Amin will have his fees paid by the Boris Johnson's old school in Berkshire after winning a scholarship place thanks to scheme at Cumberland School in Plaistow, East London. He said he he hopes Eton will help catapult him towards his dream career in scientific medical research, inspired by family illnesses. He said: 'I was feeling OK because the offer from Eton was unconditional but I knew my friends were worried. If it was not unconditional, I probably have been worried. I am a bit introvert so I have enjoyed the lockdown but am still looking forward to getting to Eton. 'I want to do medicine and what has happened over the last few months particular in my borough of Newham and my community has made me even more determined to achieve that dream.' Advertisement

Mr Gibb also defended the model used to assess grades as 'fair' but said it was implemented incorrectly.

He said: 'What was always at the forefront of my mind was that no young person from a disadvantaged background would see their grades standardised to a greater extent than other young people.

'There was about a 2 per cent difference, that's broadly what we saw in the national results last week, in contrast to what we saw in Scotland, where there was a big gap between disadvantaged pupils.

'And that's because in this country we had more data about the prior attainment of young people that was built into the model.

'So the model itself was fair, it was very popular, it was widely consulted upon.

'The problem arose in the way in which the three phases of the application of that model - the historic data of the school, the prior attainment of the cohort of pupils at the school, and then the national standard correction - it's that element of the application of the model that I think there is a concern.'

Mr Gibb said: 'The model was a good model, and we continued to refine it. The application of the model is a regulatory approach and it's the development of that that emerged on the Thursday when the algorithm was published.

'And at that stage it became clear that there were some results that were being published on Thursday and Friday that were just not right and they were not what the model had intended.

'It was not intended that a young person who had worked diligently for two years on their A-levels and was expecting an A and two Bs or three As, and turned up at school to collect their grades and they were three Ds.'

Sixth forms are calling for extra funding from the Government, with some heads planning to recruit more teachers or ask staff to teach beyond their subject expertise to allow them to honour all offers made.

Others may increase class sizes or run catch-up lessons for pupils whose marks do not match their actual abilities.

Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at Buckingham University, said the new system rewards pupils and schools where teachers 'have over-estimated'.

Secondary school students look over their GCSE results at Kingsdale Foundation school in South London this morning

A student reacts as she checks her GCSE results today at Crossley Heath Grammar School in Halifax in West Yorkshire

Secondary school students look over their GCSE results at Kingsdale Foundation school in South London this morning

Students react as they check their GCSE results at Ark Academy in London this morning

A student checks his GCSE results at Crossley Heath Grammar School in Halifax, West Yorkshire, this morning

A student reacts as a teacher checks GCSE results at Crossley Heath Grammar School in Halifax, West Yorkshire, today

A parent looks over GCSE results with her children at Kingsdale Foundation school in South London this morning

He added: 'It is hard on those who have done their very best to predict accurately.

Gavin Williamson was personally told in JULY that the exam grade system was flawed but carried on anyway Gavin Williamson and fellow ministers were warned six weeks ago that the exam algorithm used to calculate grades was badly flawed, it was revealed today. School Standards Minister Nick Gibb confirmed that he had met with former Department for Education director-general Sir Jon Coles to discuss his fears that the 'standardisation' system was inaccurate and would unfairly penalise poorer state pupils. But despite the system being scrapped amid widespread evidence that its downgrades were heavier on students in larger classes at state schools, Mr Gibb insisted today 'it had a very small impact overall.' Sir Jon is also reported to have written to Mr Williamson, the Education Secretary, in July to warn that the Ofqual algorithm, would only be 75 per cent accurate at best when applied to GCSE and A-Level grading. In his letter Sir Jon also said that using predicted grades for some small groups of students while using the algorithm for large groups would cause unfairness. Mr Williamson is facing increasing calls to quit as BTEC results were the latest to be pulled last night, just hours before they were due to be released this morning. Advertisement

'Young people will be getting the impression that they're good at something when they're actually not, so they may find they get on to do A-levels in tough subjects like physics or French or maths and then may not be able to cope with them.'

In July, exams watchdog Ofqual revealed early analysis of predicted GCSE grades submitted by teachers.

It found 31.6 per cent of papers sat by 16-year-olds in England would be awarded a 7 or higher (an old A or A*) if these centre assessment grades were used.

This compared to 24.7 per cent for this age group last year  a 28 per cent rise.

Under this teacher assessment system, 7.7 per cent of papers would get a top grade of 9. And 82.4 per cent would get at least a 4, equivalent to a C, Ofqual said.

At the time, the watchdog said the 'vast majority of centres' had 'submitted optimistic centre assessment grades'.

John Abbott, chief executive of the Richard Huish College in Somerset, said it is likely to have 'more kids probably on the wrong course in September'.

This is because they may have been given higher grades than they would have gained in exams or fallen behind during lockdown.

Gill Burbridge, principal of Leyton Sixth Form College in east London, said honouring the offers it had made to almost 2,000 pupils would be a challenge.

She added: 'It is going to maybe require staff to be more flexible in terms of being able to teach across more than one area.'

James Kewin, deputy chief executive of the Sixth Form Colleges Association, said 'We have been pressing the Government to introduce a capital expansion fund for sixth form providers over the past couple of years, and action is now needed as a matter of urgency.'

The Department for Education said: 'Our focus remains on working with Ofqual to ensure students receive their final GCSE, AS level and A-level results this week.'

Mr Williamson said those receiving their GCSE results today should feel 'incredibly proud' of what they have achieved 'in the face of immense challenge and uncertainty'.

Secondary school students wait in line for their GCSE results at Kingsdale Foundation school in South London this morning

Chloe Orrin hugs a friend after opening her GCSE results at Ffynone House School in Swansea, South Wales, today

Students at Bristnall Hall Academy in Oldbury in West Midlands react as they receive their GCSE results this morning

A mother of a student reacts as she checks his GCSE results at Crossley Heath Grammar School in Halifax this morning

Carys Nelson reacts after opening her GCSE results at Ffynone House school in Swansea, South Wales, this morning

A student reacts after she received her GCSE results at Crossley Heath Grammar School in Halifax this morning

A student checks his GCSE results this morning at Crossley Heath Grammar School in Halifax, West Yorkshire

He said: 'This is an exciting day and young people now can look forward to taking their next steps, whether that is returning to schools and colleges in September to do A-levels or our brand new T-levels, or taking one of the many other routes available like starting an apprenticeship.

Now 450,000 BTEC students must wait a WEEK for grades after exam board axed results Almost 500,000 BTEC students will have to wait another week to get their grades after the exam board axed results hours before they were due to be released today. Pearson, the provider of BTECs, yesterday told schools and colleges not to publish results in the vocational qualifications to give them time to re-grade them in line with A-levels and GCSEs - which are now being graded via teacher assessments. This means that students face another week waiting for their BTEC grades - including 250,000 who received 'downgrades' marks last week for their A-level equivalent exams. The 11th hour move last night came despite Pearson being warned a week ago about a 'systemic issue' with grading, it was claimed today. This morning, David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'We'd been talking to Pearson ever since the results came out last Thursday and we knew there were lots and lots of problems, lots of students not getting the results they really should have got, lots of colleges saying to us that actually this just doesn't look right, and we were saying to Pearson 'is this just isolated cases or is it a more systemic issue'? 'I think what they've realised is that both the level three results last week, but perhaps more importantly for the results that were due today, that this was a system issue and they really needed to do a thorough review.' BBC Radio 4 was told by Bexleyheath Academy in South East London, said that some results papers give both grades on the same piece of paper - so the principal is giving out BTEC grades today because there are on the same piece of paper as the GCSEs. Schools minister Nick Gibb today told Sky News that BTEC results were being reviewed and they will be 'they'll be reissuing them hopefully next week'. Advertisement

'I also want to pay a special tribute to teachers and school leaders this year who have shown dedication, resilience and ingenuity to support their students to get to this moment.'

Labour's shadow education secretary Kate Green has called for her opposite number to publish all his correspondence about the use of a controversial grading algorithm.

In a statement, she said: 'Gavin Williamson was warned again and again about the problems with the grading algorithm, and each time, he did nothing.

'This endless pattern of incompetence is no way to run a country. His failure to listen to warnings and to act on them risked thousands of young people being robbed of their futures.

'It is time for full transparency. The Department for Education must now publish all correspondence to and from the Secretary of State in which concerns about this algorithm were discussed, as a matter of urgency.

'Young people deserve to know how they came to be let down so badly.'

Meanwhile Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross refused to give his backing to Mr Williamson and said he should 'reflect on what happened'.

Mr Ross, who had called for Scottish Education Secretary John Swinney to lose his job after the exams U-turn there, suggested the English minister should have taken action quicker once the problems in Scotland became apparent.

'I think Gavin Williamson and the Government and the Department for Education will be reflecting on why did they not see the problem that the SNP had to deal with as a result of their actions in Scotland,' he told BBC Radio Scotland.

Asked whether Mr Williamson should quit, Mr Ross said: 'That is a decision for Gavin Williamson.

'It's a decision for the Prime Minister, if he continues to have the trust of the Prime Minister.

'I'm not here to say in your report that I think Gavin Williamson has done a great job and he should continue.

'I think he has to reflect on what happened to so many pupils in England, students who were concerned for four days, because we had the exact same up here in Scotland for a week.'

Meanwhile hundreds of thousands of BTEC pupils expecting to receive their results today have been left disappointed  after a last-minute decision to regrade them.

An exam board responsible for the vocational qualification wants more time to get the marking right following the overall grading fisaco.

Two students pleased with their results at Ysgol Stanwell School in Penarth, Wales, this morning as they enrol for sixth form

Secondary school students wait in line for their GCSE results at Kingsdale Foundation school in South London this morning

A student checks her GCSE results at Ark Academy in London this morning

Sixteen-year-old Thomas Milner from Lewes Old Grammar School jumps in the air today after receiving his GCSE results

A secondary school student receives her GCSE results at Kingsdale Foundation school in South London this morning

Students at Bristnall Hall Academy in Oldbury in the West Midlands react as they receive their GCSE results this morning

Parents and a student react after checking the GCSE results at Ark Academy in London this morning

A student holds her hand over her mouth after reading her GCSE results at Ark Academy in London this morning

But there was fury that colleges were only told of the move at 4.30pm yesterday  leaving them scrabbling to catch up.

Queen's granddaughter Lady Louise Windsor will receive her results today The Queen's granddaughter Lady Louise Windsor is among the thousands of students receiving their GCSEs results. Lady Louise, the 16-year-old daughter of the Earl and Countess of Wessex, attends school in Ascot, Berkshire. The teenager was preparing to take her exams before schools closed in March during lockdown. Lady Louise Windsor in Stamford, Lincolnshire, last September Like other pupils across the country, her results will be based on her teachers' estimates, if higher than the controversial moderated grades, following the Government's U-turn amid the debacle over this year's exams. Buckingham Palace said Lady Louise's results were a private matter. In an interview with The Sunday Times in June, Sophie revealed her hopes her daughter would go to university because she is 'quite clever'. Lady Louise, who will be staying on to take her A-levels, had been studying conscientiously for her GCSEs before they were cancelled. The countess revealed: 'She's working hard and will do A-levels. I hope she goes to university. I wouldn't force her, but if she wants to. She's quite clever.' Advertisement

Leora Cruddas, chief executive of the Confederation of School Trusts, said last night: 'It's simply unacceptable that some of the most disadvantaged students will not receive their grades tomorrow and that nothing has been done to correct this over the past few days.'

The decision follows the announcement earlier this week that GCSE and A-level pupils would be able to receive grades based on their teachers' estimates, rather than a computer algorithm.

Pupils taking the vocational BTEC qualification were not included in that announcement.

Now exam body Pearson wants to 'apply the same principles' used in A-levels and GCSEs after becoming worried pupils taking those exams were getting an unfair advantage over BTEC pupils.

It will be regrading BTECs awarded last week  as well those that were due to be released today.

This will involve stripping out the parts of its grades that had been calculated by the algorithm using historical performance data  and using teachers' predictions instead. Colleges have been told not to hand out results for the vocational qualification in the meantime.

The parent of one Btec student said the decision to withhold final grades has left his son feeling like a 'second-class student'.

Caleb Taylor, 19, is waiting for the results of his level three Btec in computing and business.

His father, Richard, said he has been unable to enrol at his college in Gwent for next year without knowing his final grades.

He said: 'I think it's a disgrace. He feels like he is a second-class student, and Btecs are seen as less important than A-levels because they have been sorted out last.

'Technical qualifications shouldn't be seen as less than. My son is really anxious because he doesn't know what he will be doing next year.

'He plans to go to university but it is a good thing he didn't want to go this year because he would have missed out on his space.

'There has just been no communication, we just don't know what is going on.'

After Monday's A-level grading U-turn, education unions and Labour had demanded to know why BTEC students had missed out.

Pearson said it had 'generally' accepted teachers' predictions for coursework. But it had calculated exam grades using historical performance data with a 'view of maintaining overall outcomes over time'.

The review will 'remove these calculated grades'. The regrading will apply to BTEC level 3 nationals, BTEC level 1/2 tech awards, level 2 technicals and level 1/2 firsts.

About 450,000 pupils are affected, 250,000 of whom will have already received grades last week.

Pupils enrol for Sixth Form with school staff after receiving their GCSE results at Ysgol Stanwell School in Penarth today

Joshua Fessahaye looks over his GCSE results with his mother at Ark Evelyn Grace Academy in London today

Chloe Orrin smiles as she checks her GCSE results at Ffynone House School in Swansea, South Wales, this morning

Diego Da Silva looks at his GCSE results with his father at Ark Evelyn Grace Academy in London this morning

(From left) Brenda Cinotti, Joshua Fessahaye and Adriana Fernandes Martins at Ark Evelyn Grace Academy in London today

High-achieving students Harris, Gwen and Barney pose for a photo at Crossley Heath Grammar School in Halifax today

Kirsty Williams, Minister for Education in Wales, visits Ysgol Stanwell School and chats with staff and pupils in Penarth today

In a letter to colleges, Pearson said it had 'become concerned about unfairness in relation to what are now significantly higher outcomes for GCSE and A-levels'.

Durham offers students cash rewards if they agree to defer a year Durham last night became the first university to offer students cash rewards if they agree to defer a year. The university made the announcement after it emerged 15,000 students are now eligible to switch back to their first-choice institution. Durham's offer will rile some struggling universities, which were last night said to be facing 'financially crippling' losses if students hold out for first choices. It is feared that increased numbers of students waiting a year to get into their first choice university, rather than downgrading to a less prestigious alternative this year, could cause a financial black hole for less popular institutions. Durham said it had 'capacity issues, both in regard to teaching and accommodation' and it warned 'it is possible some offer holders will have to defer entry to 2021 in order to enrol'. It told prospective undergraduates: 'Students who opt to defer to 2021 will be guaranteed college accommodation in 2021 and will be provided with a bursary by Durham to help with their transition to university life.' Last night, Ucas said pupils who were originally rejected by their first-choice university could now claim a place with their updated grades. The Russell Group of elite universities are likely to bear the brunt of these extra student numbers, putting pressure on staff to admit as many pupils as possible. Advertisement

It added: 'We appreciate this will cause additional uncertainty for students and we are sorry'.

Ofqual said: 'Everyone is working as quickly as possible to confirm results as soon as possible, recognising the impact that delays are having on schools, colleges and students.'

Meanwhile Government sources have indicated that Boris Johnson will not sack the Education Secretary, or demote him in a major reshuffle.

But senior backbenchers have told the whips' office in private that Mr Williamson should be sacked following the exams fiasco.

It came as Mr Johnson's lead fell to its lowest level since he became Prime Minister.

A YouGov poll for The Times found that support for the Conservatives has dropped four points to 40 per cent, while Labour has gained three points to 38 per cent in a week.

Tory MPs have warned that a failure to get all pupils back to school next month would represent 'the final straw' for Mr Williamson.

One senior Tory said: 'Gavin's position is completely untenable and we need strong leadership in September, which he is singularly incapable of.'

Mr Williamson was also forced to bow to pressure and back Ofqual for the first time after being accused of playing a blame game.

He admitted that it was the regulator's decision to abandon the grades determined by an algorithm and move to teacher assessments.

The Department for Education said: 'The decision [Ofqual] took to move from moderated grades to centre-assessed grades was one that we agreed with. Our focus remains on working with Ofqual to ensure students receive their final GCSE, AS-level and A-level results this week so that they can move on to the next stage of their lives.'

The admission will raise further questions over whether Mr Williamson was unaware of the scale of the problem or how the controversial algorithm would even work until the weekend.

Tory MPs have made representations to the whips' office that Mr Williamson should leave his post now.

Tobias Ellwood, the defence committee chairman, said the Government should 'reconfigure' its top team and harness the 'full talent' available.

Georgia Mayer celebrates getting her GCSE results with her mother Tracy today in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire

A student reacts after reading her GCSE results at Ark Academy in London this morning

Students react as they check their GCSE results at Ark Academy in London this morning

Pupils enter the registration area to enrol for Sixth Form with school staff at Ysgol Stanwell School in Penarth, Wales, today

A student checks her GCSE results this morning at Crossley Heath Grammar School in Halifax, West Yorkshire

Students react as they check their GCSE results at Ark Academy in London this morning

A student reacts as she checks her GCSE results at Crossley Heath Grammar School in Halifax this morning

Students at Bristnall Hall Academy in Oldbury in the West Midlands react this morning as they receive their GCSE results

Pupils enrol for sixth form with school staff after receiving their GCSE results at Ysgol Stanwell School in Penarth today

And a former minister said: 'There's genuine anger now about how somebody like Gavin got [the job] in the first place.

Daisy May Cooper offers words of comfort to teenagers getting results Daisy May Cooper is among the stars offering words of comfort to teenagers receiving their GCSE results. The This Country star, who has won two Baftas for the BBC sitcom, recalled how her nerves while waiting for her own results ruined a family holiday. In a video on Instagram, she said: 'This is a quick message for all of you getting your GCSE results today. It's a really weird time, no-one knows what's what, what's up, what's down, what's left, what's right. 'All I wanted to say is the summer of 2002 I was on a camping holiday with my parents, having a holiday romance with a boy from Wootton Bassett, and I could not concentrate on my holiday romance because I was so beside myself with my GCSE results. I hadn't had them, I couldn't enjoy the holiday, I felt sick. 'I bigged up all my revision, which I hadn't done, to my parents and said, 'Yeah, I'm going to get really good marks', and I knew I wasn't and I felt sick to my stomach. I just thought, 'I don't know how I'm going to get through this', and I tell you what - it doesn't matter, it really doesn't matter. 'I got a lot of Us and in the scale of things, the bigger picture of things, nobody really cares about bad GCSE results. Look at Alan Sugar, I don't actually know what his GCSE results were, but I just want to tell you don't worry and be happy.' Gordon Ramsay offered a free treat to young people getting results, writing on Twitter: 'Today's the day #ResultsDay !! Head to Street Pizza if you're collecting your GCSE results today for pizza on us !' Casualty actor Jason Durr celebrated his daughter's results, writing: 'Huge congrats to my gorgeous Blossom. Smashed her GCSEs! Awesome grades (that match the government's algorithm!) no idea where this brilliant kid gets her brains from, 'cos it's not me!' Advertisement

'There are questions of judgment about why Theresa May and then Boris Johnson promoted him. Somebody with more competence in the same job could've avoided all this.'

The National Education Union's co-general secretary said the Government now 'must put an end' to the 'incompetence' around the issuing of the Btec results.

Hundreds of thousands of Btec students are still waiting for their final grades after the exam board told schools and colleges not to release the results to pupils on Thursday.

Dr Mary Bousted said: 'Teachers know their students better than any model or algorithm and it will be a relief to many that the grades they receive are now a fairer reflection of their achievements.

'To add to the GCSE and A-level fiasco, the decision by (examiner) Pearson not to issue Btec results at the eleventh hour compounds the upsetting and chaotic experience for students.

'Government must put an end to this incompetence and work quickly to ensure every young person gets the grades they deserve to move on to the next stages of their lives.'

In Northern Ireland, teacher-assessed GCSE results have seen an improvement across all grades.

Some 29,000 students in Northern Ireland received results this morning from the locally-based examinations body CCEA. Some 37.1 per cent of students achieved grade A* to A, up by 5.7 percentage points on last year.

The proportion of students receiving A* to C grades also increased, by 7.6 percentage points to 89.4 per cent. And the numbers receiving A* - G grades increased by 0.9 percentage points to 99.7 per cent.

Stormont education minister Peter Weir issued a statement congratulating GCSE students. 'These outcomes reflect the assessments made by the people who know you best, your teachers,' he said.

'I appreciate the past few months have been particularly challenging but our young people have demonstrated a determination not to let this pandemic put their lives on hold. Today, they have been awarded qualifications which reflect their hard work and will enable them to move forward confidently with their future plans.

'Teachers and school leaders had a very difficult job to do and I want to express my appreciation for their hard work and commitment to their students in challenging circumstances.'

In Wales, exam regulator Qualifications Wales has published the provisional results for this summer's GCSEs. It said the revised results for GCSE and the Key Stage 4 Skills Challenge Certificate are 'substantially higher than results in recent years'.

Delighted students have taken to social media to express their joy at passing their GCSEs without taking any exams

Qualifications Wales estimated that 25.9 per cent of students received cumulative A* or A grade GCSE - compared to 18.4 per cent in 2019. Some 74.5 per cent of students received cumulative A* to C grade GCSE - compared to 62.8 per cent in 2019.

The provisional cumulative A* to A-grade results of the Key Stage 4 Skills Challenge Certificate have risen from 14 per cent last year to 20.1 per cent this year.

One teaching union demanded yesterday that GCSE and A-level examinations next summer should be overhauled with some topics made 'optional'.

The National Education Union called for 'reduced content' on test papers to help teachers deal with the impact of further virus outbreaks.

And it demanded less reliance on end-of-year papers  because they make pupils 'anxious'.

Its joint general secretaries, Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, made the demands in a letter to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson.

They called for a 'thorough, independent review into assessment methods used to award GCSE and A-level qualifications in England'.

Their letter adds: 'The current over-reliance on end of course exams increase student anxiety and fails to give a fair reflection of what students can achieve.

'All options should be considered to ensure that young people are rewarded for their achievements, supported to fulfil their potential and not held back due to their background.'
Dock and Bay QuickCool Towel, dockandbay.com

This small, silky polyester neck towel is infused with powdered jade stone designed to help keep you cool. Soak the towel in cold water, wring it out, and snap the fabric like a whip to boost evaporation from the towels layers and activate the cooling process. Its temperature should drop to around 59f (15c) and stay cool for up to six hours.

Jade has low thermal conductivity so absorbs heat more slowly. This effect, combined with the towels double layers and dimpled surface, makes the fabric feel cool against the skin.

Any good? Wearing a wet towel around your neck is not comfortable, but on the hottest day of the year it was easy to overlook any initial discomfort as this really does feel blissfully chilly against the skin.

Unfortunately the cooling sensation only lasts for around five or ten minutes. You need to give the towel a shake to cool it again. (You can repeat this routine over and over, as long as the towel remains damp).

Its a bit of a faff, but on a blisteringly hot day it offers welcome relief.3/5
The Bucharest Court of Appeal (CAB) is considering today an appeal filed by Liviu Dragnea against the enforcement of the sentence he was handed in the case of fictitious employment at DGASPC Teleorman, as the former national leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) requesting to be released from prison on the grounds that he is illegally detained.

Initially, on June 9, the Bucharest Tribunal rejected Dragnea's appeal, but he challenged the decision with the Bucharest Court of Appeal.In his court filings, Dragnea mentions an appeal called "habeas corpus" an act of a constitutional nature promulgated in 1679 by the English Parliament that guarantees the person's freedom.Lawyers to the former PSD leader claim that he is illegally detained in a penitentiary, because the three-judge panel of the Supreme Court that convicted him was not specialised in judging acts of corruption. The lawyers point to a decision of the Constitutional Court of October 2019.On May 27, 2019, the Supreme Court handed Liviu Dragnea a final and binding sentence of 3 years and 6 months in prison for instigating to abuse of office in the case of fictitious employment at DGASPC Teleorman.Dragnea made several previous attempts to get out of the penitentiary, by introducing extraordinary remedies in the courts, but his requests were rejected.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders explains the rapid response testing plans for schools on Thursday.

State DPH Setting Up Rapid Response Testing Deployment for Schools



Gov. Charlie Baker has been encouraging school systems to in low-transmission areas to start at least some in-person education. BOSTON  The state is launching a rapid response testing program for all K-12 schools in Massachusetts as part of a package of resources to encourage schools to bring students back into the classrooms.

Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday said the testing program for the novel coronavirus would be made available to the schools based on criteria spelled out by the Department of Public Health in coordination with local boards of health.

"This program will be designed to quickly deliver testing resources for students and school personnel, if there are multiple cases in a cohort that require a larger scale testing than a community may have access to currently," he said.

On Tuesday, the governor pointed out that more than 70 percent of the state's 371 public school districts were planning in person or some form of hybrid learning plan. At the same time, more than 300 of the state's cities and towns were reporting average daily COVID-19 case rates of less than four per 100,000 people, or less than five total over the past two weeks. These rates are published as categories on a new interactive map.

"Given the low transmission rates and the vast majority of our communities, we're glad that nearly three-quarters of our school districts are using the categories as they plan to either offer a full return of an in-person learning or hybrid approach to their kids," he said on Thursday.

The Berkshires falls in the lowest transmission rate category on the map, with only Pittsfield in the second-lowest category, but the school districts have varied in how to approach the coming school year.

The county's two largest communities  and only cities  are going remote to start. Both the North Adams and Pittsfield public schools will begin the year on Sept. 15 with remote learning in all grades with the expectation that they will transition into a hybrid model sometime in the fall.

 Hoosac Valley Regional School District in Adams and Cheshire will also begin remote on Sept. 15.

 McCann Technical School in North Adams will resume Sept. 16 with a hybrid model to accommodate shops.

 Mount Greylock Regional School District will open Sept. 16 with in-person learning at Lanesborough and Williamstown elementaries four days a week (Wednesdays remote) and Grades 7-12 two days in class and three remote, with the transition to four days on Oct. 1.

 Berkshire Hills Regional will begin Sept. 14 with all grades remotely.

 Central Berkshire Regional will begin remotely Sept. 15 and reassess on Oct. 1.

 Southern Berkshire Regional submitted plans for three options but is scheduled to vote on Thursday as to how it will start the year.

 Most smaller schools are beginning with in-person learning, including Gabriel Abbott in Florida, Emma Miller in Savoy, Rowe Elementary (all on Sept. 8) and Hancock Elementary (Sept. 9); Clarksburg School will begin Sept. 14 with K-5 in class and 6-8 remote, with an assessment in three weeks. Richmond Consolidated with start remotely on Sept. 14.

All of the school districts have plans in place to switch between remote, full and hybrid models during the school year.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders said the state's testing capacity has risen since May and that more than two-thirds of tests have a turnaround of less than six days.

"As the governor mentioned to build on this progress to expand access to testing, we're adding the rapid response testing programs for schools as additional support," she said. "School officials should always consult with your local public health authorities to determine if requesting a state-sponsored rapid mobile testing unit to test to ensure staff is warranted."

The mobile response team would be deployed when specific criteria is met, including if two or more staff or students in a classroom, three individuals in a cohort or grade, three or more of staff at the same school, or more than 3 percent of a school develops COVID-19 within 14 days.

The testing response would be focused on K-12 schools since colleges and universities have their own health services and have made their own plans. The request for testing would come from the local boards of health and the school districts, with parental permission for testing.

"We see it as an abundance of caution of being able to do, just like we do now, we have stopped the spread in 20 communities, where anyone who wants who is asymptomatic can be tested," Sudders said. "The [U.S. Centers for Disease Control] does not recommend testing for students and staff. So we see this as a response to school concern that they might have a development in the school, and then a cohort in the classroom, among teachers or a couple of kids on the bus. So we see this as a way to deploy just like we did in nursing homes."

The state can't come out for "everybody who has a runny nose" so there will be parameters and guidance will be coming out for schools and boards of health. Sudders also said the state is increasing lab capacity through an open procurement process that includes several proposals from Western Massachusetts.

"I respect and understand the importance of making sure that this be done safely," said the governor, in response to about Amherst, where teachers have been protesting reopening plans. "But I would also ask people to respect the science, which at this point is developing a fairly decent body of evidence, with respect to what works and what does it when it comes to teaching in person."

Some special education schools have been operating for months in person, he said.

The DPH also issued regulations on Wednesday requiring public school students to have a flu vaccination before beginning classes in January 2021 to reduce pressure on the health care system and prevent the spread of influenza, which has many of the same symptoms of COVID-19. Massachusetts averages around 40,000 cases of flu with 55,000 emergency room visits and 8,000 hospitalizations a year.

"COVID-19 will be a part of our lives until there is a vaccine, or medical breakthrough as the governor stated, so we must continue to take all necessary steps to protect teachers, students, and staff," said Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito on Thursday. "It's imperative that we get students back into the classrooms and this vaccine requirement will provide an additional necessary layer of protection for all students returning this year.

"Many flu symptoms are very similar to those of COVID-19. Given the vigilance everyone is and will be practicing for COVID-19 symptoms, every case of the flu we can prevent helps avoid unnecessary disruptions and learning environments."

The vaccination will be required of children ages 6 months and older who will be attending any in-class instruction or day care or, in the case of college students, using any campus facilities even if taking classes a remotely. Children being home-schooled or who have religious exemptions or medical issues will not have to be vaccinated.

"Governor Baker, Secretary [of Health and Human Services Marylou] Sudders and I know that we have asked a lot of everyone these months," the lieutenant governor said. "But everyone's work is indeed paying off. Everyone must do their part, but it's critical that we continue to follow the data set our standards and the best possible science and help everyone follow the public health guidance to combat COVID-19."

Sudders also said that the DPH portal for testing data will be migrating from a server to Amazon cloud computing services on Friday. This long-planned upgrade will strengthen the system, she said, will affect the results for testing numbers over the weekend and there will be no dashboard on Sunday. All lab results will be on the Monday dashboard. The weekly public health dashboard's deadline will also be shifted to 6 p.m. on Wednesday to accommodate the amount of data being compiled.
As soon as she could get out of bed, she began wearing a mask at home. Her father is older than 60, and her mother has asthma, and she was concerned. Fortunately, neither of them got sick.

Two Rivers Public Health Department asked Michael-Rush to provide names of people with whom she had recent contact. None of her friends have had COVID-19, and several people on her contact list who had felt sick tested negative for it.

They asked if I knew anyone else who had it, and then who else I was around from day to day, mostly at work or at home, she said.

She interacted with a co-worker who had had the disease about three weeks before she did, but all Menards employees are required to wear masks. I think I got it from the gym because I cant wear a mask there, she said.

A few weeks after she recovered, she drove with her parents to a relatives graduation party in Pennsylvania. Most people were complying with the rules. Everyone did social distancing and everyone wore masks. They were very good at following protocol. Family members took it seriously, she said.
An employee at work at the Gamaleya Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Healthcare Ministry that produces a COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine is to be produced at the institute and other Russian pharmaceutical plants. It will be available to general public on January 1, 2021.

Russia claimed its coronavirus vaccine, the first to be registered worldwide, will soon be tested on 40,000 people in order to test its reliability.

The vaccine, called "Sputnik V," has been hailed by Russian authorities as safe and effective after it received domestic regulatory approval earlier this month. Full-scale production is due to start in September.

Health experts and public officials, however, have expressed concern over the proposed vaccine, citing the speed of its approval and the lack of available data. The results of two months of small-scale human trials in Russia have not yet been made available to the public.

"The so-called conditioned registration certificate means that we are obliged to conduct an additional expanded clinical trial," Denis Logunov, deputy director for scientific work of Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, said in an online briefing on Thursday, according to a translation.

"And currently we have agreed on a huge protocol for 40,000 participants. The purpose of this protocol is not that much to study the immunogenicity and safety of the vaccine, that goes without saying  But, additionally, we will have to assess the epidemic efficacy of this vaccine," Logunov said.

Russia's vaccine is being developed at the Gamaleya Research Institute in Moscow.

To date, more than 22.4 million people have contracted the Covid-19 infection, with 788,356 related deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
We actually appreciate President Trump going out there because the American people will get to see a tale of two presidents tonight, Sanders said. You will see Donald Trump doing what he always does, talking about himself. ... You will see Vice President Biden tonight talking about the American people, talking about his vision for the future, being hopeful and upbeat.
New federal report: Most NGOs agreed to comply with Trump policy banning funding for overseas abortions

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A new report compiled by several federal agencies has concluded that the implementation of pro-life policies by the Trump administration has not had a negative impact on the distribution of healthcare aid to nongovernmental organizations operating in foreign countries.

The State Department, in collaboration with the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services, and the United States Agency for International Development, released the Review of the Implementation of the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance Policy Tuesday.

The Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance (PLGHA) Policy aims to ensure that U.S. taxpayer funding does not support foreign non-governmental organizations that perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning, a press release announcing the reports publication explained.

This review reaffirms that the United States can continue to meet its critical global health goals, while protecting life abroad through its global health assistance programs.

Less than a week after taking office in 2017, President Donald Trump reinstated the Mexico City Policy, which required foreign NGOs that receive funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development to promise not to perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning or provide financial support to any other organization that conducts such activities.

Trump expanded the Mexico City Policy to create the PLGHA, which extends the ban on the performance and promotion of abortions to NGOs receiving grants and cooperation agreements from the Departments of Defense, Human Services, and State.

The vast majority of the U.S. governments implementing partners accepted the PLGHA standard provision when presented with it, the review found.

The review looked at all of the awards given to NGOs by the aforementioned agencies between May 15, 2017 and September 30, 2018. A total of 1,340 health awards were given to prime partners, which have a direct funding agreement with a U.S. Department or Agency. Of those 1,340 prime awardees, only eight declined to accept the terms of the PLGHA.

When that happens, the Department or Agency redirects funds to other organizations that do agree to abide by the terms of PLGHA. The transitions to alternative health providers have been, for the most part, smooth, the report read. Only in limited instances has the agency struggled to identify new partners or sub-awardees with comparable skill networks, or capacity for outreach.

According to the report, "USAID found that, in a few cases, a declination resulted in some impact on the delivery of health care, including for HIV/AIDS, voluntary family planning/reproductive health, tuberculosis, and nutrition programming."

But "most affected awards and sub-awards did not experience a disruption of health care or significant delays."

The report goes into detail about all of the specific NGOs that refused to abide by PLGHA and therefore forfeited the right to federal funding. Two such organizations were the International Planned Parenthood Federation and Marie Stopes International.

Planned Parenthood Global took to Twitter multiple times on Tuesday to react to the release of the report. The pro-abortion group repeatedly slammed PLGHA, which it described as the Global Gag Rule. According to State Dept report, the #globalgagrule has disrupted health care access in countries around the world, one tweet declared.

BREAKING: According to State Dept report, the #globalgagrule has disrupted health care access in countries around the world.  Planned Parenthood Global (@ppglobe) August 18, 2020

Monica Kerrigan, executive director of Planned Parenthood Global, condemned the global gag rule in a statement released Tuesday. Study after study has demonstrated that this policy has inflicted a crushing blow to health care access for people around the world, especially those who already face systemic barriers to care, including women and girls, young people, and LGBTQ+ people, she said.

No matter how much the State Department attempts to minimize the policys true impact, its latest report demonstrates what we already knew: the global gag rule is disrupting health care access for communities around the world, which is especially critical now as we face the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List, applauded the Trump administration for "refusing to let U.S. tax dollars fund the abortion industry overseas."

Todays report on the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance shows that the U.S. can still provide foreign aid without sacrificing the dignity of unborn human life, she said Tuesday.

"It is no surprise that International Planned Parenthood Federation and Marie Stopes International refuse to comply with the policy, as they are extremists who are committed to promoting abortion on-demand throughout the globe, forfeiting their eligibility for funding."
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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Former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon has been arrested, becoming the second leader from the presidents 2016 election campaign to face criminal charges.

However, Mr Bannon is only one in a line of associates to the president to run afoul of the law since Mr Trump took office.

Following the controversy, Republican anti-trump Political Action Committee (PAC) The Lincoln Project released a scathing tweet pointing out just how many associates of Mr Trump have been convicted or arrested, many in connection with the Mueller investigation and election interference, which quickly went viral online.

But who are the men affiliated with the president? And what did they do to land themselves in dispute with the US justice system?

Rick Gates

Gates, a former Trump campaign deputy chairman and inaugural official pleaded guilty in February 2018 on charges of conspiracy and lying to federal prosecutors.and was sentenced to 45 days in jail.

His term was set to be served intermittently during three years of probation after winning leniency for his extraordinary cooperation with federal prosecutors against other Trump associates.

Paul Manafort

Manafort, a former Trump campaign manager, was sentenced to seven and a half years in jail in 2018 on charges of tax failing to report foreign bank accounts, witness tampering, and engaging in unregistered lobbying for foreign interests.

Manafort was due to be released from prison in November 2024, but was released to serve the remainder of his seven and a half year sentence at home due to fears over the coronavirus pandemic in May.

George Papadopoulos

Papadopoulos, who was an adviser to Mr Trumps presidential campaign in the first major political role of his career, pleaded guilty to lying about FBI agents about conversations with Russia-linked intermediaries during the 2016 presidential campaign.

He was sentenced to two weeks in prison and 200 hours of community service to be completed within a year alongside a fine of $9,500 (7,400).

Story continues

Papadopoulos sought to delay his two-week sentence, but US District Court Judge Randy Moss said he had failed to justify a delay and was ordered to go to jail in November 2018.

Michael Flynn

The former National Security Adviser and highest-ranking official implicated during the Mueller inquiry is arguably the most recognisable faces surrounding the investigation.

Flynn has been accused of, and previously pleaded guilty to, lying to the FBI about his communications with former Russian Ambassador to the US.

The retired Army three-star generals legal counsel has for months been involved in a complicated legal battle. Attorney General William Barr ordered a review of the case in January before dropping the charges, saying the criminal case lacked any legitimate investigative basis.

In June, a US Appeals Court for the District of Columbia ruled that Flynn was free to go and the Department of Justice could drop its case against him Last month, however, a federal appeals court said it will review a judges attempt to examine the decision to drop its criminal case.

Rick Gates: Convicted.

Paul Manafort: Convicted.

George Papadopoulos: Convicted.

Mike Flynn: Convicted.

Michael Cohen: Convicted.

Roger Stone: Convicted.

Steve Bannon: Arrested.

Donald Trump: Impeached.  The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) August 20, 2020

Michael Cohen

Mr Trumps former personal attorney was sentenced to three years in prison in 2018 after admitting to arranging payments to women who claimed to have had affairs with Mr Trump.

He was released from jail in May this year to serve the rest of his sentence at home amidst fears over coronavirus but was briefly sent back to jail after it was revealed that he was working on a book about the president.

The attorney has since frequently repeated claims that Mr Trump cheated in the 2016 presidential election and colluded with Russia.

Roger Stone

Stone, a longtime ally and former adviser of the president, was convicted last November on seven counts alleging that he lied to lawmakers about communicating with Wikileaks, tampered with witnesses and obstructed a House intelligence committee investigation into the presidents 2016 campaign.

Mr Trump granted clemency to the political consultant in July, just days before he was set to report to a federal prison in Georgia for an over three-year prison sentence.

On Tuesday, Stone announced he was dropping a challenge of his criminal conviction.

Steve Bannon

Former Donald Trump adviser Mr Bannon was arrested and indicted on Thursday, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering while raising money for a campaign to build the US-Mexico border wall.

Mr Bannon and two others were indicted for allegedly funnelling hundreds of thousands of dollars from the We Build the Wall online fundraising campaign, which raised $25m from hundreds of thousands of donors.

Donald Trump

Mr Trump was impeached in 2019 by the House of Representatives on charges of obstruction of congress and abuse of power surrounding his dealings with Ukraine.

The Republican-led Senate later acquitted the president, as was widely predicted, but the process was a humiliating public challenge against the president, becoming only the third president in American history to be impeached by Congress.

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Supreme Court temporarily blocks release of full Mueller report

Lindsey Graham vows Mueller will testify after op-ed on Stone clemency

Supreme Court denies Congress access to testimony from Russia probe

Live: Judge dismisses Trumps attempt to block criminal investigation

Steve Bannon charged with wire fraud and money laundering
Nearly three hours after advising students and faculty to shelter in place due to a bomb threat, Brandeis University said Thursday afternoon its Waltham campus has been cleared by police and is safe.

At 10:55 a.m., Brandeis issued a BENS Alert via social media and the school website saying the school had received a bomb threat. It advised all students, faculty and staff to shelter in place and avoid campus.

Campus police arrived shortly after, the school said. It wasnt until 1:39 p.m that the school announced its campus had been cleared and was safe to continue campus activities.

BENS ALERT UPDATE: All clear. It is safe to end the shelter-in-place and resume activities. Thank you for your patience.  Brandeis University (@BrandeisU) August 20, 2020

The fall semester at Brandeis is scheduled to begin next week on Aug. 26. The university will welcome more than 1,800 students back on campus.

The threat occurred while about 140 students were moving into residence halls, Brandeis said. About 660 students already having moved back to campus.
Indianapolis will distribute more federal COVID-19 relief funds to help local college students continue their education and support adult learners.

The new appropriation includes $327,500 for Indy Achieves completion grants, which IUPUI and Ivy Tech students impacted by COVID-19 can use to cover debt, unpaid bursar bills and other debts preventing them from continuing their postsecondary education.

The appropriation also includes $1.1 million for Rapid Reskilling Grants distributed by EmployIndy to seven adult education providers: Washington Township, Wayne Township, Warren Township, Goodwill Excel Centers, Marian University, Indy Reads and the YMCA.

Adult learners in those programs can get their high school diploma, high school equivalency or retrain for a new career.

Indy Achieves is part of EmployIndy, which targets specific zip codes in Marion County for workforce development initiatives.

Mayor Joe Hogsett and city-county council President Vop Osili touted education as a way to improve equity in Indianapolis during a press conference Aug. 20 at Ivy Tech.

Postsecondary education will be just as big a part of gainful employment post-pandemic as it was pre-pandemic, Hogsett said.

The average in-state tuition for Indiana colleges and universities was about $17,600 for the 2018-19 school year, according to CollegeCalc, which was about $3,000 more than the countrys average.

About 30% of Marion County residents 25 and older have at least a bachelors degree, and 85% have a high school diploma, according to census data.

Those numbers get worse when only considering neighborhoods with a significant percentage of African American residents, though. In the 46218 zip code, for example, where 72% of residents are Black, only 8% of those 25 and older have at least a bachelors degree, and 77% have a high school diploma, according to census data.

No one knows how long Indianapolis will be impacted by COVID-19 and the economic fallout, Osili said.

But we do know at least one of the steps we can take to position Indianapolis for a rebound, he added, to give our residents access to educational opportunity. So when the cloud of COVID has cleared, we have workers and graduates prepared to take full advantage.

About 65% of jobs today require some form of postsecondary education, Hogsett said, which is what the Rapid Reskilling Grants are supposed to prepare adult learners for.

Our success as a city depends not only on attracting the businesses of the future, but it depends on our collective commitment to educating the workforce of the future, he said.

About 53% of people in Marion County who have filed for unemployment since March 15 have a high school diploma or less, EmployIndy Chief Operating Officer Marie Mackintosh said.

The city previously allocated $1.5 million to Rapid Reskilling Grants in June, and EmployIndy has been able to enroll an additional 1,367 workers in Marion County who have been impacted by COVID-19 into secondary education programs, Mackintosh said.

It isnt yet clear how many students could benefit from Indy Achieves completion grants because students are still enrolling for the fall semester. Boyd Bradshaw, an associate vice chancellor at IUPUI, said there are currently 84 IUPUI students who have received a grant, which averages about $2,500 per student.

Indianapolis received $168 million in federal funding from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act in June. The city has been slowly allocating that money because it isnt clear if Congress will agree on another relief package.

The city-county council approved $76 million in CARES Act funding June 8. The most recent approval on Aug. 10 was for $16 million.

Contact staff writer Tyler Fenwick at 317-762-7853. Follow him on Twitter @Ty_Fenwick.
Suze Orman is warning people not to turn a blind eye to their health issues like she did as she recovers from a risky surgery to remove a benign tumor on her spine.

The 69-year-old financial expert admitted that she spent the better part of a year ignoring alarming symptoms, including loss of muscle control, because she was busy.

'Ill never make that mistake again,' she told People of the surgery to remove the tumor, which could have caused paralysis if it continued to go untreated. 'That was a journey from hell and back.'

Words of advice: Suze Orman, 69, is warning people not to ignore their health issues after undergoing a risky 10-hour surgery to remove a benign tumor from her spine

Thumbs up: The financial expert admitted she had put off seeing a doctor the better part of a year. She had surgery two days after her diagnosis at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston

Orman first noticed something was off with her body when she was taping a PBS Special in Miami in late October. She had to walk up five steps to get to the stage, but couldn't get her right leg to lift her up.

The financial guru used the rail to pull herself up and shrugged off the incident after standing for about four to five hours straight while doing the show.

She later noticed that her right knee would sometimes buckle while on walks with her wife, Kathy 'KT' Travis, but she was distracted by her work.

Orman published her book The Ultimate Retirement Guide in February and was also focused on her new Women & Money app and podcast.

She knew how the coronavirus pandemic would affect the economy, and she feared not for her health, but for the people who were at risk of losing everything.

The author was quarantined in her home when her right arm started getting weaker. She had trouble holding her fork and difficult writing. Not only had she lost weight, but her wife noticed that her right leg was atrophying.

'She said, "Suze you lost all the muscle in your back of your leg,"' Orman recalled. 'Something was wrong. Something was obviously wrong.'

Scary symptoms: Orman suffered from loss of muscle control, and her wife of 10 years, Kathie 'KT' Travis noticed that her right leg was atrophying. They're pictured in 2016

The financier had X-rays done in early July, thinking she made need a hip or knee replacement, but they were fine. A few weeks later, she got an upper-body MRI and knew it was something serious when her doctor walked into the room.

The scans revealed that Orman's spinal cord was wrapped around a 3.2-centimeter schwannoma, a benign, slow-growing tumor that affects about one in a million people.

These tumors are rarely cancerous, according to the Mayo Clinic, but they can lead to nerve damage and loss of muscle control.

Orman's doctors think she made have had the rare tumor for 15 years or more without it ever being detected, and she is lucky it didn't lead to paralysis.

'One big jar and I would have been a quadriplegic,' she said. 'If I had twisted the wrong way, or I had been in a little car accident, or a little hit on the boat the wrong way, the spinal cord would have severed.'

Orman and Travis called Dr. Michael Groff, vice chairman of neurosurgery and the director of spinal neurosurgery at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.

He begged her to let him remove the tumor, insisting that it wasn't a surgery that just anyone could do.

Nightmare: An MRI showed that her spinal cord was wrapped over a rare benign tumor that could have caused paralysis if it went untreated

Post-op: Two days after her surgery, Orman and Travis shared an update on her Facebook page

'Her surgery was more difficult than the typical case,' he told People. 'The spinal cord was draped over the back of the tumor, so we only had access to a very small part of the tumor.

'We cant move the spinal cord out of the way, so we have to work around it,' he explained of the procedure.

A few days later, the entire tumor was removed during an extensive 10-hour surgery that was performed by Dr. Groff at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Travis said that while Orman was recovering in the hospital, she gave financial advice and lessons to the nurses and staff.

Two days after her surgery, Orman and Travis gave her fans a health update on her Facebook page.

'Everything that was unknown, has now become the known! After 12 hours of a very difficult and delicate surgery on Thursday, Suze came through with flying colors, even to the doctor's amazement,' the statement read.

'She is resting comfortably and now tackling her physical therapy homework!'

Orman, who had announced on her podcast that she was undergoing the surgery, has been recovering at her home in Florida.

The latest: Earlier this month, Orman spoke to her team member Sarah via FaceTime and gave her another update to share with fans

Earlier this month, her friend and team member Sarah posted another Facebook update for her fans.

'Suze and I just got off a FaceTime, and I can tell you, one week from her surgery she is getting better and stronger every day,' she wrote. 'I cannot express how much Suze and KT appreciate all of you sharing your love and prayers with them.'

Orman also couldn't resist having Sarah relay some financial advice to her fans as well as some words of wisdom.

'The best thing you can do in your entire life is to ground yourself in the healing energy of love for yourself, and your family and friends,' she said. 'This world needs positive energy more than we have ever needed it before.

'No one can count on anyone saving them, except for themselves. Don't be afraid, don't be angry, don't be ashamed. I am begging you all to be kind to each other, even with those that are not being kind and respectful to you.'

Orman, who is a New York Times bestselling author, became a household name after appearing as a guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show and Larry King Live.

Her recent health scare has changed her outlook on life, and she has learned an important lesson about listening to her body.

'Im making a lot of changes in my life and my money. Im going to put it toward the women doctors that want to help women,' she told People. 'I have a whole different perspective on things.'




A BOND between Zanu PF and the Church formed during the countrys protracted liberation struggle cannot be broken by some men of God hiding behind the pulpit to push a nefarious political agenda, President Mnangagwa has said.





Addressing members of the Politburo yesterday, President Mnangagwa, who is the revolutionary partys First Secretary, said even in post-independent Zimbabwe, Zanu PF has continued to work hand in hand with the Church.





In the post-independence period, we continue to work well with the Church to advance the national development agenda, as a united people. However, it is most unfortunate when men of the cloth begin to use the pulpit to advance a nefarious agenda for detractors of our country, said President Mnangagwa.





This comes as the Roman Catholic Church last week torched a storm after releasing a letter under the title The march is not ended, which contained unproven and untested claims of a crisis in Zimbabwe.





The sensationalised pastoral letter dovetailed with the countrys detractors attempt to manufacture a non-existent crisis in Zimbabwe which was supposed to culminate in subversive demonstrations on July 31, a march that was thwarted by the countrys security forces.





After Zimbabweans rejected the opposition subversive attempts that were disguised as anti-corruption protests, the countrys detractors roped in some churches, civil society and opposition forces in the region to harp about the non-existent crisis.





However, President Mnangagwa, who commended Zimbabweans for rejecting the evil regime change machinations, said men of cloth dabbling in politics should make a choice between being politicians or shepherding the nation as the clergy.





They must come out and form political parties. As Zanu PF, we are ready for the 2023 elections. We are a peoples party that believes in unity, love, peace and in championing development. We fought for the empowerment of our people, he said.





The President said Zanu PF, as a party that fought tooth and nail to deliver Zimbabwe from colonial bondage, achieve democracy and constitutionalism, would always ensure that those tenets are entrenched in the country.





Following their crashing failure, our detractors are evidently in disarray and desperate, and grasping at straws to destroy confidence in our democratically elected Government. They are equally on an overdrive to discredit our people-centred programmes, he said.





In the aftermath of its crushing defeat in the 2018 harmonised elections, the MDC Alliance vowed to sabotage the Zanu PF led administration by throwing spanners into most of the Government programmes, through rolling out violent demonstrations and besmirching the Second Republic on social media platforms.





Despite the concerted efforts of the countrys detractors, both internal and external, the ruling party is working towards fulfilling its manifesto.





Zanu PF, Church bond is unbreakable through a raft of people-oriented programmes, the President said.





We are delivering on the promises we made to the people. We set out under the Second Republic to establish and sustain a just and equitable society firmly based on our historical, cultural, social and economic experiences as well as our aspirations for better quality of life for all our people.

As highlighted in our manifesto, our agriculture programme such as the broadening of the access to land by more Zimbabweans through the rationalisation of farm sizes and the elimination of multiple farm ownership, is on course he said.





Later this month, the President will launch the Agriculture Recovery Plan, which seeks to meet the promises made towards promoting productivity, enhance support systems and infrastructure, and develop markets for the agriculture products to earn the country much needed foreign currency.





The Government, he said had concluded the Global Compensation Deed Agreement with the white former commercial farmers in line with the countrys constitutional provisions.





The President also recommended the speedy implementation of Cadre Development Programmes in the party so as to come up with an informed party member.





I call upon the Commissariat Department from the cell to the national level to move with speed and implement Cadre Development Programmes leveraging ICTs. An informed and alert cadre can more effectively advance the national agenda and help to accelerate the implementation of our development projects.





In a press briefing following the 343 ordinary session, the revolutionary party acting Secretary for Information and Publicity, Cde Patrick Chinamasa said the Politburo endorsed the Presidents response to the letter issued by a few bishops and therefore not reflective of the general feeling among Catholics.





The Politburo endorsed the Presidents response to a few bishops whose letter has been discredited as (it was) disrespectful, malicious and pandering to the narrative of the splitting MDCs. The Politburo laughed them off and advised them that if they are tired of reading bibles and preaching Godly principles of peace, love and unity, then they are well within their rights to join politics openly rather than seek to do so nicodemously, hiding behind the cross of Christ. We know that Catholic members felt misrepresented by this selfish elite cleric band, said Cde Chinamasa.





Indigenous churches have dismissed the letter by the Catholic Bishops as ungodly, biased and disrespectful and the Politburo also asked why the bishops have been silent each time the civil society groups and the MDC Alliance embark on violent protests, burning shops and police vehicles, looting and harassing citizens.









Does the Bible they read teach them to preach violence or glorify it? We have never seen anywhere in the world where opposition groups have a right to express themselves violently. They have remained mum on the impact of sanctions on this economy and only themselves know why they have chosen that route, said Cde Chinamasa.





Cde Chinamasa said the Politburo noted the coordinated and systematic social media attacks of the nation by faceless social media robots and ghost accounts meant to spread falsehoods against the situation in our country. The Politburo assured people to never lose sleep over those falsehoods and attacks, knowing fully well that the party and Government are very vigilant and focused on fulfilling the 2018 Manifesto despite the harsh conditions. There is no crisis in Zimbabwe. Covid-19 is all over.





The Politburo resolved to intensify the fight against sanctions and welcomed the stance taken by SADC, at its recently concluded summit, to continue calling for the removal of the illegal economic sanctions affecting, not only Zimbabwe, but the region as a whole.




Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 00:54:17|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Aug. 10, 2020 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

BEIJING, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- China urges relevant U.S. politicians to take into account the well-being of the people in China, the U.S. and all other countries, heed calls from the international community, and work with China to bring China-U.S. relations back on the track of coordination, cooperation and stability, according to a Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Wednesday.

Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on recent remarks by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the relationship between the U.S. and China.

"It is our consistent belief that China and the United States stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation," Zhao said. "Cooperation between China and the United States can benefit both countries and the whole world, and confrontation between the two countries is not in line with the interests of the international community."

He said the sound and steady development of China-U.S. relations has a bearing upon the current and future development of both countries and the world. It meets the shared aspirations of people in China, the United States and across the globe.

The reason why China-U.S. relations have encountered serious difficulties is that the U.S. government unilaterally stirred up troubles and through its words and deeds interfered in China's internal affairs, undermined China's interests and damaged China-U.S. bilateral ties, Zhao said.

"Driven by selfish motives, a small number of U.S. politicians have been instigating anti-China sentiments, antagonism and confrontation. Such retrogressive moves, unpopular as they are, have been and will continue to be strongly criticized and rejected by visionary people in China and the U.S., as well as peace-loving people all over the world," Zhao said.

"We urge certain U.S. politicians to take into account the well-being of the people in China, the U.S. and all other countries, heed calls from the international community, discard the obsolete Cold War mentality, view China and China-U.S. relations objectively, and work with China to bring bilateral ties back on the track of coordination, cooperation and stability, and to jointly safeguard world peace, stability and development," Zhao added. 
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 14:58:40|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- A new "partisan gap" in U.S. postal voting is "an artefact of" the COVID-19 pandemic and President Donald Trump's assault on the post office, The Economist said in an article published Tuesday.

A poll released on Aug. 16 found that nearly half of Americans who support Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden plan to vote by mail rather than in person on election day, compared with just one in ten backers of Trump, read the article, titled "How Donald Trump polarised postal voting."

In 2018, polls showed that "40 percent of Democrats and 26 percent of Republicans supported postal voting, a difference of just 15 percentage points. By May, this gap had widened nearly four-fold," it added.

By May, after weeks of Trump calling mail-in ballots prone to voting fraud, support for postal voting among Republicans who paid the virus little mind had fallen, it said, adding that "the pattern was not present for Democrats or independents."

"The partisan split has the potential to harm both parties," it warned. Enditem
The thoroughly exhaustive Desert One follows a standard formula. Its produced by The History Channel, so theres no surprise that the talking heads interviews and sweeping score feel decidedly of that TV military hagiography genre. The second act becomes bogged down in the details of planning and execution of the rescue mission, and the mission itself, which is predominantly rendered with animated sequences. But Kopple carefully threads the needle on connecting the political choices behind the mission, one that Carter long kept as a Plan B, choosing instead to pursue a path of diplomacy to free the hostages. That choice, and the tragedy of the mission, cost him his second term, losing to a pro-war Ronald Reagan.
Yankees second baseman DJ LeMahieu still has no idea how he sprained his left thumb swinging and missing at a pitch during last Saturday nights game at Yankee Stadium.

I dont know what I did, LeMahieu said before the Yankees-Tampa Bay Rays game on Wednesday. It was a weird, freak thing.

Four days later, LeMahieu felt a lot better, but still was pretty sore.

Three doctors have told LeMahieu that his issue is a 2-to-3 week thing, so he figures that hell be back in the Yankees lineup around then.

Im hoping to push that, but probably around that timeline, said LeMahieu, who leads the American League in hitting with a .411 average.

The Yankees could be getting injured right fielder Aaron Judge back sooner.

Out since Aug. 12 with a right calf strain, hes eligible to be activated on Saturday, and thats a possibility, manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday.

The Yanks are optimistic because Judge was on the field running pain-free prior to Tuesday nights game, and he was scheduled to do the same on Wednesday as well as take early BP and do some throwing.

Hes doing well and kind of on that (Saturday) trajectory, but thats something well continue to evaluate day by day as we get closer to Saturday, Boone said.

Like Judge, LeMahieu hates missing games, and he was really bummed about going on the IL while other regulars are injured. Besides Judge, designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton suffered a left hamstring strain on Aug. 9 that is expected to have him on the IL for 3-to-4 weeks.

Its frustrating because Judgey and big G are out, LeMahieu said. Kind of bad timing. I pride myself on being out there every day and when you cant, it sucks. Its a bad feeling not to be able to be out there.

LeMahieu had the same injury to the same thumb in 2018 when he was playing for the Colorado Rockies, and that time he missed 15 games. He wasnt limited when returning two years ago, and he figures he wont be this time, either.

I expect the same thing with this, he said. Last time I did it, there was a little fracture in there and this time theres not, so Im hoping to get back a little quicker.

Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com.
One of the four Minneapolis police officers charged in George Floyd's death admitted he did not inspect or collect the alleged counterfeit bill he was accused of using before arresting him, newly-released audio reveals.

Thomas Lane's interviews with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) following Floyd's killing on May 25, were publicly released this week.

Lane is one of the three officers charged with aiding and abetting murder for holding down Floyd's legs during his fatal arrest.

Floyd lost consciousness and died after a fourth officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes while he complained that he couldn't breathe. Chauvin has been charged with murder.

Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, had been detained by cops after he was suspected of trying to pay with a fake $20 bill at a local deli.

During a 97-minute interview with investigators, Lane gave a detailed account of the events leading up to Floyd's arrest and subsequent death, six days after he was fired.

Scroll down for audio

Former Minneapolis Police officer Thomas Lane's interviews with investigators were publicly released on Tuesday. Lane is one of three officers charged with aiding and abetting murder for holding down Floyd's legs

Lane and officer J Alexander Keung (pictured in scene footage) were the first to respond to the scene after receiving a call of a customer trying to pay with a counterfeit bill at a deli on May 25

Lane told investigators Floyd 'freaked out' when he pointed his gun at him because he allegedly told cops he had been shot before

He revealed Floyd had panicked when cops drew their guns and pointed them at him because he told them he had been shot before.

Lane, a rookie cop, also said he did not inspect the fake money Floyd was accused of using and claimed it was Chauvin's idea to keep the man pinned to the ground.

Lane, who was one of the two responding officers first on the scene, walked investigators through the moment he arrived at Cup Foods deli after police received a call about a forgery in progress.

Upon arriving, Lane said the store employee walked over with the alleged fake bill and pointed at Floyd and said: 'That's the guy over there. Go get him before he drives away.'

Investigators then asked Lane if he looked at the bill, to which he replied: 'No.'

'Did you ever collect it later or anything like that?' the investigator asked.

'I think it was. I'm not sure,' Lane replied.

'But, you didn't do that and you haven't seen it?' the interviewer asked, to which Lane again replied, 'No.'

Lane explained they had been 'more concerned with at least detaining that person on the suspicion of passing counterfeit bill and then figuring out the validity of the bill.'

Lane admitted he didn't inspect or collect the 'fake' money at the scene. His attorney later submitted photos of inside Floyd's car which showed what he called 'crumpled' fake $20 bills and two $1 bills.' It is unclear who collected the money at the scene and whether the ones found in Floyd's car were the same bills he tried to pass at the store

During the police confrontation, Floyd was handcuffed and ordered to sit on the ground. Lane admitted cops could have interviewed him outside instead of putting him in the squad car but claimed Floyd was acting 'erratically'

He also admitted the deli employee never explained to him why he believed the money wasn't real.

In a court filing last month, Lane's attorney submitted photos of inside Floyd's car which include images of what he calls to 'crumpled' fake $20 bills and two $1 bills.'

It is unclear who collected the money at the scene and whether the ones found in Floyd's car were the same bills he tried to pass at the store.

After he located Floyd in his car outside, Lane said he grew suspicious after it appeared he was trying to hide something underneath the driver's seat.

Fearing the suspect was armed, he drew his gun and ordered Floyd to show him his hands and place them on the steering wheel. Two other passengers, including one female, were also in the vehicle at the time.

Floyd then allegedly tried to step out of the car, but was instructed to stay inside.

'At that point, I was basically saying, "I'm going to get you out of the car, put your hands on top of your head."

'l think he was saying, "I got shot like this before" or something, and, "I'm not the guy,"' Lane told investigators.

Lane said a Cup Foods (pictured) employee walked over with the alleged fake bill and pointed at Floyd and said: 'That's the guy over there. Go get him before he drives away.'

'The female said something about he'd been shot like that before, that's why he was freaking out, because we pulled the gun on him.

'And I said, well, if he has his hand down there, if I'm telling you to see your hand, let me see your hands. You don't keep your hand hidden for any reason,' Lane said.

Lane and officer J Alexander Kueng eventually handcuffed Floyd, before instructing him to sit on the ground, as is seen in the video footage of the arrest.

The cops later took him into the squad car, where Floyd became non-compliant and refused to get into the vehicle.

When asked why officers couldn't conduct their interview with Floyd while he was handcuffed on the ground and compliant, Lane replied: 'It could, but he was just, kind of acting erratically.'

Lane said he had suspected Floyd had been under the influence of drugs and feared he would do something to harm officers or himself if he experienced 'excited delirium'.

He claimed he suggested rolling Floyd onto his side after Officer Chauvin struggled to keep him on his stomach on the ground.

'Once [Floyd] kind of stopped fighting us, I think I had said again: "I think we should roll him onto his side," and I believe Chauvin said, "We have him, there's an ambulance coming and we got him. We're just going to hold him here",' Lane said.

'And that made sense to me just because I've had experiences with people who are OD'ing or they'll be out one minute and they'll come back and really be aggressive with you.'

Lane did not speak about Chauvin keeping his knee pressed onto Floyd's neck, but said he began to think 'something was going on' after Floyd looked like he had passed out.

He told investigators he couldn't feel a pulse on Floyd after paramedics arrived at the scene.

The recorded interviews were released as Lane's attorney's filed a motion to have the case against him dismissed.

In a memorandum filed in court on Monday, attorney Earl Gray claimed that Floyd swallowed a 'lethal dose' of fentanyl as he was resisting 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.

'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.

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.
U.S. Poised For Diplomatic Wrangle At UN Over 'Snapback' Of Iran Sanctions

By RFE/RL August 19, 2020

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on August 19 that the United States will "soon" seek a return of all international UN sanctions on Iran, in a move that could spell the end of 2015 Iran nuclear accord and plunge the UN Security Council into crisis.

The exact timing of the U.S. diplomatic salvo was unclear, but Pompeo was expected to travel to UN headquarters in New York on August 20 to notify the UN Security Council of the decision to invoke the Iran nuclear deal's "snapback" mechanism.

The controversial U.S. attempt to reimpose all pre-nuclear deal sanctions follows on the heels of a failure at the UN Security Council on August 14 to extend an international arms embargo on Iran.

The United States has vowed not to let the arms embargo on Iran expire in October as stipulated in the Iran nuclear pact, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action (JCPOA).

The diplomatic blow revealed how isolated Washington is at the UN over the issue -- the resolution failed with only the Dominican Republic joining the United States and Russia and China voting against, while 11 members including European allies abstained.

That same resistance at the UN Security Council is expected to intensify as the United States acts on threats to trigger a return of all UN sanctions on Iran under a provision, known as a snapback, in UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which enshrined the JCPOA.

Russia and China, as well as European signatories to the nuclear pact, have questioned the U.S. right to trigger the snapback mechanism because U.S. President Donald Trump quit the nuclear deal in 2018 and reimposed unilateral sanctions even though Tehran was complying with its commitments.

The United States claims it remains a "participant" in the accord because it was listed as such in UN Security Council Resolution 2231.

Washington claims it can therefore bring back international sanctions on Tehran, since Iran breached some of its nuclear commitments after the United States exited the deal.

Iran has said it will come fully back into compliance with the JCPOA if the United States abides by its commitments and lifts unilateral sanctions.

Diplomats and analysts say a U.S. attempt to snap back sanctions on Iran would lead to a messy diplomatic battle that could undermine the UN Security Council and potentially collapse what is left of the nuclear deal.

Bureaucratic, Procedural Moves?

Analysts say UN Security Council members will likely use bureaucratic and procedural moves to stall or block the U.S. bid to bring back sanctions once it notifies the body of Iran's non-compliance.

Another option is for the UN Security Council members to respond to the U.S. claim that sanctions have been reimposed "with a collective shrug, making plain that they dispute the move's legitimacy and that they will neither recognize new sanctions nor give them any effect," the International Crisis Group wrote in a briefing.

Iran has threatened to completely exit the JCPOA and hinted it will pull out of another key nonproliferation treaty if the arms embargo is extended or there is a snapback of sanctions.

Critics of the U.S. bid to extend the arms embargo say it was a cynical effort in order to try to snap back sanctions on Tehran, with the goal of killing the deal or making it difficult for any future U.S. administration to resuscitate it.

Britain, France, and Germany -- all signatories to the JCPOA who have sought to keep it alive -- have expressed worries about the arms embargo ending but oppose U.S. action at the UN because they feared it would end the nuclear deal and damage the UN Security Council.

Experts say U.S. allies in Europe and Iran appear to be trying to wait out the Trump administration, calculating that former Vice President Joe Biden will win the November presidential election and deescalate tensions with Iran.

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/30792406.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 application process is underway to fill a vacant Albuquerque-area seat in the New Mexico Legislature.

The Bernalillo County Commission is looking for candidates interested in replacing Rep. Patricio Ruiloba in District 12 until his current term ends Dec. 31.

Ruiloba, a Democrat who had represented the South Valley-area district since 2015, announced he is resigning to run for Bernalillo County Sheriff.

Ruilobas bid for another term in the legislature hit a major snag earlier this year when a judge ruled he had not followed proper procedure when collecting his required signatures and barred him from the June primary election ballot. He announced earlier this month he was resigning the seat.

Nominations from interested individuals in Bernalillo County will be accepted until Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020 at 5 p.m. Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to the Bernalillo County Managers Office, Attention: Julie Morgas Baca, County Manager, Suite 10111, 1 Civic Plaza, NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87102 or via email to: manager@bernco.gov.

To qualify, applicants must be at least 21 years old and live in District 12.

The Bernalillo County Commission will address the District 12 replacement at the administrative meeting on Sept. 8.

Two candidates are vying for the District 12 seat in the Nov. 3 general election: Brittney Barreras, an independent who describes herself as progressive, and former Bernalillo County Commissioner Art De La Cruz, a Democrat whos running as a write-in candidate.
Marriott International is being sued in the High Court for a massive data hack that affected 339m people.

Martin Bryant, 41, a technology journalist from Manchester, is claiming compensation on behalf of up to 7m guests of Starwood Hotels from England and Wales.

Fraudsters harvested data including guests' credit card details, dates of birth and passport numbers.

Fraudsters harvested data from Marriott International including guests' credit card details, dates of birth and passport numbers

If the class action-style claim is successful the court will order compensation to be paid to every victim, including guests of the St Regis, Sheraton, Le Meridien and Four Points hotels.

The hack began in 2014 but Marriott International, which bought Starwood in 2016, only told customers in 2018.

Last year the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) fined it 99million saying it should have done more to make sure systems were secure.

Bryant 'hopes this case will raise awareness of the value of our personal data'. He said: 'You're powerless.

It might end up being used for identity theft or fraud, and there's nothing you can do about it. The fact is there should be recompense.'

Marriott declined to comment. Earlier this year Marriott said another 5m customer accounts had been compromised, via a franchise hotel.

Data breaches occur at many companies  on Saturday hackers stole information from the passengers of cruise giant Carnival.

In May Easyjet said details of about 9m customers had been compromised. And last month the ICO announced a record 183million fine for British Airways after the details of about 500,000 customers were harvested.
FILE PHOTO: The logo of U.S. motorcycle company Harley-Davidson is seen on one of their models at a shop in Paris

By Rajesh Kumar Singh

CHICAGO (Reuters) - An activist investor who shook up Harley-Davidson Inc <HOG.N> earlier this year said he is impressed with the changes initiated by new Chief Executive Jochen Zeitz to turn around the 117-year-old motorcycle company.

Impala Asset Management, the $2.4 billion hedge fund, pushed for the ouster of Zeitz's predecessor Matt Levatich in January. Months later, it tried to install two directors on Harley's board, asking for operational fixes to recover its market share in the United States, Europe and Japan.

"For the first time in five to six years, the company is on the right track again," Bob Bishop, founder and chief investment officer at Impala, told Reuters.

Zeitz, who took the reins in February, is rebooting Harley's business by shifting the focus back to big bikes, traditional markets like the United States and Europe, and older and wealthier customers.

The new strategy echoes some of the changes Impala has been pushing for. Bishop said Harley should not pursue sales growth at any cost. Instead, it needs to market itself like Ferrari and become an "aspirational" brand, he added.

Bishop does not buy the argument that Harley's sales in the United States - its biggest market - are suffering because of an aging customer base. He dubbed that an "excuse" to cover the company's shrinking market share, citing evidence from Europe and Japan where industry sales of motorcycles have been growing despite older demographics.

"When you build up the brand, you will sell more bikes," Bishop said. "Get rid of this idea that the demographics is killing them."

Impala bought 1.2 million Harley shares in the quarter through June, increasing its stake to 2.52% from 1.73% in the first quarter of the year.

It also expects an agreement with Harley next month on a new independent board member, Bishop said, as part of an agreement reached in March to settle a board fight.

Under Zeitz, Harley has tightened supplies and cut production, driving up prices for pre-owned bikes, which used to be a drag on new motorcycle sales. It plans to reduce product portfolio and exit lower volume markets, though the company has not specified which ones.

Story continues

Bishop says models selling below 300 units a year and markets like India and Latin America that have been a "cash drain" could face the axe.

Harley declined to comment.

Robin Farley, an analyst at UBS, reckons the new strategy could shore up Harley's earnings by saving costs, but would not fix its demand problem. Hopes of higher profit, however, have driven up the company's shares about 50% since late April when Zeitz first shared his strategy.

Impala expects the restructuring to lift Harley's earnings to $4 a share next year from $3.36 last year and $5 a share in 2022 even if retail sales remain at 2019 levels.

Analysts surveyed by Refinitiv, on average, expect adjusted earnings of $2.48 per share in 2021 and $2.98 in 2022.

"This is a fundamentally strong company that just lost its way," Bishop said.

(Reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh; Editing by Caroline Stauffer and Chris Reese)
MT. PLEASANT, S.C., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Motley Rice LLC, one of the nation's largest plaintiffs' litigation firms, announced that a proposed settlement agreement has been reached with Bayer to resolve thousands of women's claims regarding the permanent birth control device, Essure.

In 2017, Motley Rice lawyer Fidelma Fitzpatrick was appointed Lead Counsel of the Plaintiffs' Executive Committee for the coordinated Essure litigation in California against Bayer, the Judicial Council Coordination Proceedings (JCCP). Since that time, Fitzpatrick, along with Motley Rice medical device lawyers and co-counsel, have been at the forefront of the Essure litigation on behalf of plaintiffs, including the negotiations with Bayer to resolve clients' Essure claims.

"Bayer's proposed settlement to resolve Essure claims would provide expedited relief to thousands of women," said Motley Rice lawyer for the plaintiffs Fidelma L. Fitzpatrick. "While we would have been ready for trial if needed against Bayer, to be able to get the assistance Essure's victims need while avoiding putting their very personal lives on trial is reassuring for many. Women have suffered for years not only physically, but also emotionally and financially from the often enormous Essure-related medical bills they face. We look forward to working through the details of the settlement terms as quickly as possible to finalize the agreement."

The proposed settlement comes after Bayer received years of complaints about Essure and nearly two years after it announced it would stop selling Essure in the United States.

That announcement followed the FDA imposing conditions on Essure's use, including requiring patients to confirm in writing that they had received information detailing Essure's risks before it could be implanted. In 2016, the FDA required Bayer to add to Essure's label a black box warning, its strongest, which indicates a product may cause death or serious injury.

A type of hysteroscopic sterilization procedure, Essure is a form of tubal sterilization that does not require an incision. Reports of complications following the Essure procedure include:

Additional surgeries, including hysterectomy to remove the device and repair internal organs

Autoimmune response to the device, including fatigue, rashes, hair loss and weight gain

Chronic pelvic pain

Fetal Death

Life-threatening ectopic pregnancy

Migration of the device or a device component (in some cases, the device may even 'disappear' in the body, becoming undetectable even through standard scanning)

Expulsion of the device

Perforation or tear of pelvic organs, including uterus or colon

Severe migraines and allergic reactions to the device or device components

About Motley Rice

Motley Rice LLC is one of the nation's largest plaintiffs' litigation firms. With a tradition of representing those whose rights have been violated, Motley Rice attorneys gained recognition for their pioneering asbestos lawsuits, their work with the State Attorneys General in the landmark litigation against Big Tobacco, and their representation of 9/11 families in the ongoing lawsuit against terrorist financiers. The firm continues to handle complex litigation in numerous areas, including securities fraud; antitrust; consumer protection; mesothelioma; environmental contamination; prescription and over-the-counter drugs; other medical devices; human rights; aviation disasters; and wrongful death. Motley Rice is headquartered in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., and has additional offices in Connecticut; Louisiana; Washington, D.C.; New Jersey; New York; Pennsylvania; Missouri; Rhode Island; and West Virginia. For more information, contact Motley Rice attorney Fidelma L. Fitzpatrick (DC, MA, NY, RI) at 1.800.768.4026 or visit www.motleyrice.com. Motley Rice LLC, a South Carolina Limited Liability Company, is engaged in the New Jersey practice of law through Motley Rice New Jersey LLC. Esther Berezofsky is the attorney responsible for New Jersey practice. Connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.

SOURCE Motley Rice LLC

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LIMERICK TD Kieran ODonnell has demanded the reversal of the closure of the citys tourism centre in OConnell Street.

Earlier this week, the Limerick Leader revealed the decision by Failte Ireland to close the centre due to a decreased level of footfall due to the pandemic.

However, the Fine Gael TD has now written to two top Failte Ireland executives, as well as Ministers Eamon Ryan and Catherine Martin asking them to look again.

In a letter to Paul Kelly, the chief executive of the tourism body, he wrote: It is completely unacceptable for Failte Ireland to close its Tourist Office on 20 OConnell Street, Limerick City until March of next year. This has caused serious disquiet in our city and I am requesting that this decision is immediately reversed and this official tourist office reopened now.

Mr ODonnell pointed out Limerick is the capital of the Mid-West, and pointed out that as it stands, Failte Ireland does not have any tourist offices open in this region.

How do you explain the situation whereby there is no tourist office opened anywhere in the Mid-West whilst we see two in Kerry, with Dingle and Killarney, two in Cork, with the city and Kinsale, Kilkenny and Athlone. I am asking for an explanation from Failte Ireland around the decision making process to close the Limerick tourist office. How does this reconcile with the regional development remit of Failte Ireland, he asked.

I await your immediate reversal of this decision, Mr ODonnell concluded.

For more Limerick news click here
New Delhi: In a veiled attack at China, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday pointed out that it is the actions of nations during the COVID-19 crisis that will determine how the world perceives them.

Jaishankar's remarks came during his address at the sixth roundtable of ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks, he said, "Whatever we may profess, the actions of nations during times of crisis determines how the world really perceives them."

China has been behaving aggressively with its neighbours including India with whom it has had violent clashes at the Line of Actual Control in June 2020.

Highlighting the issues with current global supply chains, the minister claimed that through these "actions" countries brought up many of the risks inherent in the current global economy. "The concerns about supply chains are sought to be mitigated at the very least through greater emphasis on their diversification and resilience," he said.

India, along with its partners Australia, Japan and US has been calling for diversification of supply chains which are currently china dominated.

Calling COVID-19 crisis "unprecedented", Jaishankar said, "None of us has seen a crisis of this proportion before, or indeed uncertainty of this level."

Explaining the economic impact he said, "Contraction of the world economy will surely be the largest since the Great Depression."

He has put the estimated cumulative loss in the range of $5.8-8.8 trillion or approximately 6.5-9.7% of the global GDP due to the COVID pandemic.
Over the last two days, some 300 soldiers with the Oregon National Guard have returned home from their overseas deployments.

About 100 Oregonians with the 1st Battalion 186 Infantry Regiment returned to Medford on Tuesday, greeted by friends and family. They had spent nine months in Djibouti in East Africa, and then two weeks in quarantine at Fort Bliss in Texas before flying home.

On Wednesday, approximately 200 members of the 2nd Battalion 218th Field Artillery arrived in Portland after completing their tour in Qatar. U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, along with Forest Grove Mayor Peter B. Truax, the town where these soldiers are based, were also there to greet the troops.

Both battalions are part of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

Approximately 1,300 Oregon National Guard members are currently mobilized for overseas missions, the Oregon Military Department says, but about 700 of them are currently at Fort Bliss completing demobilization and quarantine. More soldiers are expected to arrive back in Oregon next week.

The final group from the 41st, about 400 soldiers who currently are in Kosovo, are scheduled to arrive home in Oregon before Christmas.

According to the Oregon National Guard, these tours are part of the second largest mobilization of Oregon troops since World War II. The last mobilization of Oregonians this size was in 2009 through 2010.
PATNA:

The Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), led by former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, announced on Thursday its decision to leave a five-party opposition coalition that includes the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

The party, also known as the HAM(S), did not announce as to whether it would contest the upcoming Bihar assembly elections  due in October-November  alone or become part of some other alliance.

HAM is no longer a part of the grand alliance. The partys executive committee has authorised Manjhiji to take a call on the future, party spokesperson Danish Rizwan said. Politics is full of probabilities and possibilities, he added.

Manjhi, a former leader of Bihars ruling Janata Dal (United), quit the party in 2015 after he was forced to step down as the chief minister to make way for the return of Nitish Kumar to the post. He later formed the HAM(S) and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

With Kumar returning to the NDA in July 2017, Manjhi quit the alliance and became part of the opposition grouping. HAM(S) unsuccessfully contested three Lok Sabha seats in 2019 general elections.

HAM(S) leaders indicated that Manjhi could return to the NDA. The party has laid no pre-conditions on seats, said a senior party leader who did not want to be named.

BJP spokesperson Nikhil Anand said the grand alliance mistreated Manjhi. They didnt pay adequate respect and even ignored his phone calls. He was feeling down and out  which ended in him quitting the grand alliance, he said.

Manjhi has a big following in the Maha Dalit and Dalit communities, which form 16% of Bihars population of 104.1 million as per the 2011 census.

The HAM(S) issued an ultimatum to its alliance partners  the RJD, Congress, Upendra Kushwahas Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) and Bollywood set designer Mukesh Sahnis Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP)  for the formation of a coordination committee by June 25 to begin seat-sharing talks, according to Rizwan. Though there were some efforts by the Congress to broker peace, the panel was not formed, he added.

Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee president Madan Mohan Jha said: It is an unfortunate development. He was getting his due respect but it seems he did not learn from his earlier experience about the treatment meted to him...(by the NDA).

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In his Aug. 19 column, Reject the cancel culture. Reelect Trump, U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan bases his support of President Donald Trump on free speech. Lets examine his arguments:

* Democrats only allow one side to talk. Anyone watching the Democratic National Convention knows that is not true.

* Democrats will rid the country of Judeo-Christian values. Joe Biden, a lifelong Catholic, has relied on his faith to carry him through family tragedies. Trump has rarely seen the inside of a Church, is credibly accused of being a serial adulterer and refers to white supremacists chanting Jews will not replace us! as very fine people.

* Democrats dont support the Constitution. Courts have repeatedly found Trump in violation of the Constitution and U.S. laws, most recently in a Supreme Court ruling on his refusal to comply with a subpoena for his tax returns.

*Democrats will take away your guns. Fraud and abuse, not the Second Amendment, are behind the indictment of the National Rifle Association.

* Democrats will defund the police. Neither Biden nor the Democratic platform support defunding the police. (Reform, yes.)

Credit Jordan for one thing: He doesnt even try to make an affirmative case for Donald Trump.

Jessica Schreiber,

Cleveland
Racism is a public health crisis that requires coordinated, community-based efforts and more resources to end systemic disparities, the San Antonio City Council agreed Thursday

This is a great first step, said Celeste Brown, a community organizer, as the council considered a resolution declaring the crisis. Now that the city has named racism as a public health crisis, there must be tangible action that addresses said crisis.

Now is the time to put your money where your mouth is and to fund public health at an equitable level to where we can actually address the thing that keeps our community down, she said.

Numerous studies have linked racism to increased stress, changes in brain structures and high blood pressure, and it can lead to chronic mental and physical conditions such as heart disease, depression, cancer and suicide, experts say.

Council members were adamant that the problem must be addressed sooner rather than later.

Systematic racism is killing our people, and we need to do something about it, said District 4 Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia.

District 2 Councilwoman Jada Andrews-Sullivan, the City Councils sole Black member, spearheaded the resolution after watching the social unrest unfolding in San Antonio as it did across the nation when African American George Floyd died at the hands of white officers in Minneapolis.

We are addressing the monster that has divided our nation for far too long, Andrews-Sullivan said.

She told colleagues her own children are asking if it is safe to go outside or drive a car because of the color of their skin.

No longer will we stand divided, she said. United we will conquer what has already plagued this country for far too long.

But District 10 Councilman Clayton Perry said some of the statements in the resolution came across as divisive and he asked for edits that didnt make it into the final document.

Perry had previously submitted drafts to his colleagues trying to focus the document as a whole on the science of the matter, rather than the historical statements, according to one of Perrys spokespeople, Landry Stafford.

I believe some words will undoubtedly lead to unnecessary divisions in our community, Perry said at Thursdays meeting.

The resolution passed without opposition; Perry said he supported the premise of the resolution so he didnt vote against it, but he did abstain.

And though Andrews-Sullivan understands Perrys reasons for his abstention, she thinks his drafts did not speak to the hows and whys behind the scientific evidence.

For me, if were going to tell the story, we have to tell the whole story and not half the story, Andrews-Sullivan said.

By declaring racism a public health crisis, the resolution reads, the City Council commits to advocating for racial justice as a core element of all policies, programs, and procedures.

The council has agreed to increase advocacy for further racial equity by supporting community-based initiatives, supporting historically marginalized groups and mitigate housing and job displacement.

City staff will also provide bi-annual presentations updating the community about policies and programs implemented by the city to improve racial equity.

Funding is another matter.

When council members were presented with the proposed 2021 budget earlier this month, Metro Health was allocated $44.8 million in funding, $2 million more than this year.

Meanwhile, the San Antonio Police Department is slated to get $487.2 million, $8 million more than this year, primarily because of contract-required salary increases.

Several city residents who spoke at Thursdays meeting were concerned that only a resolution was passed and that no specific funding or programs were authorized, including moving money from the police department to other departments to fund health initiatives.

Resolutions alone do not solve problems, District 7 Councilwoman Ana Sandoval acknowledged, adding, however, They begin the conversation about how to solve these problems.

Andrews-Sullivan hopes to allocate funds to marginalized small businesses so they can expand and increase job positions. She also plans to proposed redistributing resources for health and other social initiatives, especially for youth.

Black and Hispanic San Antonians face disparate economic and educational outcomes, which were highlighted in San Antonios Racial Equality Indicator Report last year.

The report showed, among other gaps, that Black and Hispanic members of the community have a higher chance of not having health insurance and often delay healthcare due to cost, further exacerbating health problems.

liz.hardaway@hearst.com
by Austin Bay August 19, 2020

This past week, the U.S. State Department and U.S. Department of Commerce launched new diplomatic, economic and legal initiatives designed to counter communist China's global malware and malgear offensive.

Right -- a malgear offensive.

Everyone with a smartphone understands malware, the cybersecurity portmanteau for "malicious software." Invading malware code can sabotage, spy upon, seize control of or even destroy a digital information device.

Malgear is my portmanteau for malicious digital equipment, malicious gear (hardware) that has the built-in ability to surveil, sabotage and destroy when its manufacturer gives the command.

Which takes us back to the State and Commerce Departments' recent initiatives that expand the Clean Network program announced in April. Clean Network is a comprehensive attempt to protect the privacy and information of American citizens and corporations "from aggressive intrusions by malign actors."

One component of Clean Network is Clean Store, an initiative designed to "remove untrusted applications from U.S. mobile app stores."

TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance, is a video-sharing application many teenagers use. Spies can use the app as a perfectly camouflaged data collector to build data files on future adults and identify people the Chinese Communist Party might one day influence. For example, racy teenage imagery could leave an embarrassed 30-year-old working at the CIA open to blackmail.

Outrageous? The Commerce Department didn't think so when it told ByteDance TikTok will be banned in six weeks if it isn't sold to an American corporation. Divest it and Americans will remove the vulnerabilities. Don't divest and the product's banned. Commerce is waging economic and investment warfare.

Huawei's 5G "next generation" wireless communication systems are designed to connect cellphones, the internet, the internet of things -- essentially, all things digital. Huawei has tried to position itself as the world's biggest supplier of telecommunications equipment, with the goal of dominating global and regional communications infrastructure and international digital systems.

Huawei's equipment works well enough, but the Justice Department contends Huawei telecommunications systems and its business operations mask a sinister purpose: They aid and, in fact, participate in Beijing's global espionage efforts.

Huawei employees have admitted that the company's hardware can intercept communications both in mainland China and globally. The U.S. government has confirmed Huawei databases hold information on foreign personnel, phone records and personal property that has nothing to do with Huawei's business.

In February 2020, the DOJ called Huawei a security risk and then indicted the company for "racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to steal trade secrets" -- industrial espionage.

On Aug. 17, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo described Huawei as "an arm of the CCP's surveillance state" and announced ever harsher economic and diplomatic measures to "protect U.S. national security, our citizens' privacy and the integrity of our 5G infrastructure from Beijing's malign influence."

Pompeo praised the Commerce Department's new initiatives to "prevent Huawei from circumventing U.S. law through alternative chip production and provision of off-the-shelf chips produced with tools acquired from the United States." The U.S. wants Huawei customers to "shift to other sources of equipment, software, and technology" and end their reliance on Huawei.

Huawei malgear does more than spy. An intercontinental ballistic missile can launch a communications satellite -- a civilian function -- or carry an armed warhead to a target -- a military mission.

During the Cold War, "dual-use" indicated a weapon system could deliver conventional or nuclear weapons. Think of Huawei's equipment as dual-use malgear. Huawei systems are a Trojan horse Beijing can use to launch an intercontinental digital attack. Remember, a 5G system can connect the "internet of things," handy things like an automatic garage door or a remote temperature control. But it can also connect things like the "supervisory control and data acquisition" (SCADA) systems controlling a nuclear power plant or a dam's floodgates.

What if a saboteur were to open the floodgates and deluge an American city? If the saboteur were a Chinese intelligence operative, would this be an act of kinetic war?

Better to deploy a "clean network" and deny Beijing the option.
Tulsas biggest theaters are opening back up this weekend, just in time for some new studio movies arriving after some cinemas were closed for five months.

Unhinged

He can happen to anyone. This road-rage thriller with Russell Crowe tormenting motorists is a gritty, grimy nightmare of a chiller, and thats a good thing if your heart can stand it.

Words on Bathroom Walls

Based on Julia Waltons young-adult novel, a teen boy with mental health issues tries an experimental drug in hopes of being better able to find his way through high school and through life. Starring Charlie Plummer of Looking for Alaska.

Cut Throat City

This heist movie set during the desperation of Hurricane Katrina features a very cool cast and is directed by RZA, the Wu-Tang Clan rapper turned filmmaker with his third film.

Inception 10th anniversary re-release
Bay of Plenty

Our client has projects underway in Tauranga and looking for scaffolders.You might be new to the industry or have a few years...



View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nz
The actress Bella Thorne is leaving her bright-pink home behind.

Shes listed the outrageously decorated home in Sherman Oaks, CA, for $2.55 million, the Los Angeles Times reported. The space features brightly colored murals on the walls, rainbow-hued stairs, and a rose room, covered with, yes, handcrafted roses.

If youre a fan of the actress, this might be the ultimate conversation piece.

The former Disney star, who is just 22, purchased the property in 2016 for $2.01 million. She lived there for a couple of years, but has since primarily used the place for photo shoots and events, according to a recent profile of the home in the Los Angeles Times.

"I wanted it to feel like every time you step into another room, you are entering a complete other world," she told the Times.

She also declared herself "obsessed" with roses, which explains the floral wall.

There's no doubt this property is an Instagram dream. A photo posted on social media shows the actress draped in a swinging magenta pendant chair.

Starting with the hot-pink exterior, the home definitely stands out. If the next owner isnt as keen on the color choices, though, that can easily be fixed with a new paint job.

The Los Angeles-based company Just Right Painting, Inc., which services the area, took a look at the listing photos for us. Based on an eyeball of the home's specs, it reported that the cost for a power wash, prime, and application of two final coats of fresh paint to the exterior would run about $12,500.

But that's just the exterior. If you want to cover over the interior color customizations with more neutral shades, figure on another few thousand bucks.

Perhaps a buyer won't want to paintand the marketing for the home has leaned into the look. The listing description notes that inside the gated abode, potential buyers will find a unique and re-interpreted contemporary traditional. A mild understatement!

The 4,500-square-foot, five-bedroom, 5.5-bathroom house has been redone to the hilt to fit Thorne's precise tastes.

Bella Thorne's hot-pink house realtor.com

What an entrance! Wall mural, rainbow stairs, and bright colors everywhere. realtor.com

Rose room with swing chair and pink walls realtor.com

Living room with fireplace realtor.com

Kitchen with marble counters and multicolored cabinets realtor.com

Family room with pocket doors that open to the outside realtor.com

Master bedroom realtor.com

Bathroom covered in ivy and flowers realtor.com

Cavernous closet realtor.com

From the foyer, you can't miss the wild murals that span the two-story entry, rainbow-painted stairs, and brightly colored doors, which have a certain Skittles vibe.

A blue-green dining room features a fireplace, and the family room opens out, with pocket doors, to a covered barbecue, pool, and hot tub in a small but private backyard.

The kitchen features a marble-top island, built-in espresso machine, stainless-steel appliances, a pot filler, and multicolored cabinets.

The home also includes a butlers pantry, wine cellar, and an office.

The main bedroom features sliding glass doors, high ceilings, more murals, and a fireplace. The marble bathroom is covered with flowers and ivyanother project waiting for the new owner.

Meanwhile, the cavernous closet includes a floral print ceiling, accented with fluffy red surfaces, and needs to be seen in person. It's massive, to say the least, the listing states.

The property also includes a two-car garage, smart home systems, and surround sound.

Thorne rose to prominence as a teenage star in the Disney show Shake It Up" in 2010. She has kept busy on a variety of television, music, and film projects ever since.

Brandon Melgar with Segovia Real Estate Group holds the listing.

The post Bella Thorne's Home Will Cost You $2.55MPlus a Pretty Penny for a New Paint Job appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
Scorch damage on the front door of the attacked house

Five people have escaped injury in an arson attack in the Crawfordsburn area of Maghera that police said could have had disastrous consequences.

Accelerant was poured on the front door of a property in the incident, which happened at around 3am yesterday.

A car was also set alight, with the fire causing minor damage to the vehicle.

Police said all five occupants of the house escaped the attack unharmed.

Detective Inspector Anthony Kelly added: "It is understood that a man described as being 6ft tall and wearing light-coloured bottoms and a grey hoodie was seen in the area at the time.

"Officers believe that he may be able to assist us with our enquiries."

Sinn Fein councillor Brian McGuigan said that while he was thankful no one had been injured in the attack, he was shocked that someone would attempt to set fire to a house in a popular residential area in the middle of the night.

"At this stage no one knows why a family would be attacked in this way," he added.

"It's a worry that an incident like this should target a family's home and their property.

"There would have been residents asleep in their beds in the neighbourhood.

"It could have ended up in a very tragic situation.

"It's absolute madness to see a home attacked in this way.

"I call on anyone who knows anything about what has happened to come forward with information.

"I know the local residents, in what is a long-established and older estate in the town, will have been shocked at the news this morning and will be struggling to understand why a family has been targeted in this way."

Police said they were attempting to establish a motive.

Separately, detectives in Enniskillen are also appealing for information following an arson attack in the Drumbeg area on Sunday night.

It was reported to police at around 11.20pm that there was a fire at a house in the area.

It is believed an accelerant was poured through the door, which was left damaged after the attack, and set alight.

Firefighters attended the scene and extinguished the blaze.
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought a status report from the police on a plea in a northeast Delhi riots case, in which it was alleged that a complainant was roughed up at a police station on August 8 when she had gone to collect the copy on an FIR.

The complainant had filed the FIR on August 6 seeking action against several people who put saffron flags across Subhash Mohalla and threatened members of Muslim community living there to leave or sell their houses on August 5 at 1 am.

Justice Yogesh Khanna also asked the deputy commissioner of police (DCP), northeast, to ascertain the threat perception to complainant Shanno for the second time and provide additional security, if required, after she said that three police personnel in plain clothes assaulted her and her daughter at the Bhajanpura police station.

Also read: Opposition fanned north-east Delhi riots, says AAP; BJP hits back

Shanno had in May filed a complaint against several people, including BJP leader Jagdish Pradhan, Mohan Singh Bisht and a few police officers, for allegedly helping orchestrate the north-east Delhi riots. However, according to her, the police had been thwarting her efforts to try and get an FIR registered . She had contended that she and her family were getting regular threats to withdraw their complaints.

Earlier on July 17, Justice Vibhu Bakhru had directed the DCP to ascertain the threat perception to Shanno and her family and provide them security, if warranted, after she had moved the court seeking protection. In her previous plea, Shanno had alleged that while her husband was stopped at ISBT and his phone snatched. She had also stated that her son and grandson were hit by a car when they were on a motorcycle in which the child was seriously injured.

On Wednesday, appearing for the petitioners, advocate Mehmood Pracha told the court that Shanno and other women of the locality had lodged a complaint on August 6 against the nuisance created by the mob . On August 8, she along with the other complainants was called to the police station to collect the copy of the FIR.

However, when she went there, the SHO referred to her first complaint (filed in May) and asked her to withdraw the names of the BJP leaders and police officials and instead give the complaint against anonymous persons, the plea said. The plea said that when Shanno refused to take her complaint back, the SHO got angry and left the police station.

Later, one police officer  named Manoj Chaudhary  took them to the lobby in front of the SHOs office, where the three petitioners -- Shanno, her daughter Ilmana and one Shaheen were assaulted, Pracha said. The counsel added that the police officials snatched Ilmanas phone and also deleted the video she had shot while they were allegedly manhandling her mother.

Additional Standing counsel Rajesh Mahajan, appearing for the city police, told the court that after the HCs order of July 17, protection has been given to the woman and beat constables visit her thrice in a day. He said that CCTVs have also been installed in front of her house. He said that he would file a status report in this regard.

Deputy commissioner of police (north-east) Ved Prakash Surya said, We are yet to receive a copy of the directions issued by the Delhi High Court. As and when we get it, we will abide by the directions.

A police official who did not wished to be named said that they had investigated the womans complaint. However, they did not find anything to substantiate the allegations.

BJP leader Jagdish Pradhan, Mohan Singh Bisht had not commented on the issue despite repeated attempts by HT to reach out to them.
Auburn, IN (46706)

Today

Snow showers this evening. Becoming partly cloudy later. Low 14F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 40%..

Tonight

Snow showers this evening. Becoming partly cloudy later. Low 14F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 40%.
Kizzmekia Corbett was at her apartment in suburban Maryland, taking a break from work when I reached her by phone. She's the immunologist at the US National Institutes of Health leading a team of scientists in the groundbreaking work to find a vaccine for the coronavirus.

She's 34, a native of rural Hurdle Mills, North Carolina. People.com called her a "superstar scientist".

Senator Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, praised Corbett on Twitter, saying she was "leading the charge all the time to develop a vaccine for coronavirus. The world owes you and your team a debt of gratitude".

And if that vaccine comes online as infectious-disease expert Anthony Fauci predicted on PBS NewsHour last week - "by the end of the year, the beginning of the next year, in a safe way" - there will be lots more praise for Corbett and her team.

Aside from her technical skills, Corbett also has a talent for bridging cultural divides, finding her comfort zone in the most demanding work and social settings, and reconciling tensions that may arise as a woman of faith operating at the highest echelons of scientific achievement.

In 2014, she entered the NIHVaccine Research Centre to do post-doctoral work, operating in a world dominated by mostly white male scientists. She ended up leading a team of some of the best virus hunters in the world.

Of course, it took some progressive-minded scientists to bring Corbett into the fold and give her the opportunity to shine. Barney Graham, deputy director of the research centre, was chief among them.

"He's the kind of guy who is as invested in the success of others as he is his own," Corbett said of Graham.

Still, she had to be ready - not just with the technical skills but internal fortitude. At a Stem webinar put on by the American Association for the Advancement of Science in May, Corbett gave students a bit of advice.

"People are going to try and tell you who you should be," she said. "You have to remember who you are at all times."

But how could they resist changing, I asked, if they are working in a structure that demands conformity in the name of "teamwork"?

"Honestly, I think it's more difficult not being yourself," she told me, "and quite frankly I don't have the energy to try to be anybody else right now."

Her apartment is doubling as a research office during the pandemic. Some members of the team she leads continue to work at the research centre's labs, wearing heavily protective gear.

Corbett hasn't been able to see her family in North Carolina for several months. An aunt recently died. Ever the scientist, she said: "I'm working out the details on how to brief my family on proper social distancing at a Southern funeral, where people are all into each other's faces, and always wanting to hug my grandmother - which will definitely not be happening this time."

Friends often call her "Kizzy" but she prefers Kizzmekia.

"My mother took the 'Kizz' from Kizzy in Roots," Corbett said, referring to the 1977 television mini-series based on the Alex Haley novel. "Then she added 'mekia' as an expression of her own creativity."

The character in the Roots saga is aptly summed up on the History.com website: "Kizzy maintains her family pride and warrior spirit. She is trained to be a warrior by her father, remembering every story about Africa her father ever told her."

Corbett's father was an entrepreneur, her mother a school administrator. She has six siblings.

"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 didn't want us to go, because, say, our test scores, we could make the case for why we should still be allowed to go out. We learnt how to speak up and speak frankly about our feelings."

She'd been studying coronaviruses for more than six years before the pandemic took hold.

I noticed that in some of Corbett's tweets, she included a meme of a green virus next to a blue heart. Did she have fond feelings for the thing she was trying to find a way to kill?

"I wouldn't say I want to kill it," Corbett said. "But I will say I'm passionate about studying it and want to prevent it from replicating and infecting. We call it neutralising."

Kizzmekia, creative warrior with a scientific mind.

Corbett had taken a break earlier that Sunday morning to watch a televised church service. A pastor in Dallas lyricised a gospel of social justice to a rap beat while wearing a protective mask.

Then she returned to the microscopic world of Covid-19, where only the scientific method could get her through the mountains of data that she had to analyse.

It sounded disorienting, even conflicting - the two worlds of faith and reason.

To Corbett, it all made perfect sense.

"Science tells us how the world works, but it can't tell us why," she paused. "That's a rap lyric, but it's true. To know the whys, you have to look above.

"My religion tells me why I should want to help people, make the world a better place. Science shows me how to study the coronavirus and do the work that one day, hopefully, will prevent people from dying of Covid-19."

 Washington Post
Hyderabad: Heavy rains claimed three lives in Mahbubnagar district on Wednesday. Elsewhere in the state, sevreral more people were washed away, drowned and some are still missing.

A woman and her two daughters were killed when the roof of their house collapsed in the wee hours of Wednesday due to incessant rains in Pagidyal village of Gandeed mandal, Mahbubnagar.

According to Mahabubnagar district police, the victims were identified as Sharanamma (37) and her daughters Bhavani (13) and Vaishali (9) all of whom died instantly when a portion of roof collapsed while they were asleep. Her husband, Mallesh, and son who were sleeping outside were saved.

Two persons were drowned in a lake at Ibrahimpur village of Chegunta mandal in Medak district on Tuesday night.

According to Chegunta police the victims were identified as Gudenboina Muthyalu, a resident of Ibrahimpur, and his relative, Arun, a native of Hyderabad.

The police said that both went fishing on Tuesday late evening and slipped into the lake accidentally. The bodies were fished out on Wednesday morning. The Chegunta police have registered a case.

In Jangaon district, a 23-year-old youth got washed away in Aaakeru Vagu flood water in Nashkal village of Chilpur mandal on Wednesday. The victim was identified as Aroori Vamsi, a resident of Nashkal village. The police, revenue, and national disaster Rresponse force (NDRF) team reached the spot and launched a rescue operation. After three hours, the body was retrieved. According to the police, Vamsi came along with his friends to fish in the overflowing Aaakeru Vagu in the village.

Meanwhile Gadwal district authorities have found two bodies of women near Jurala dam here on Wednesday morning. These two women were believed to be the victims of a country boat capsize that occurred in Makhtal mandal of Narayanpet district on Monday. The victims were

identified as Sumalatha and Parvathamma.

Three women and a nine-year-old girl, were swept away in the Krishna river after a boat capsized. They were all residents of Kurvapuram village in Raichur district of Karnataka and were returning to their village after buying essential commodities in Makhtal town of Narayanpet district. Search is on to locate two of the womens bodies as only one woman and the girls bodies were found.
by Nirmala Carvalho

The home, founded in 1995, caters to poor destitute beggar women. Many residents were quarantined at the home; others were taken to hospital. Thanks to Providence, the superior did not get sick, although she took care of everyone. Priests, religious and lay volunteers helped the sick during the quarantine. India has reported so far 2,836,925 cases with 53,866 deaths.

Pune (AsiaNews)  In India, COVID-19 has spread fast. So far, 2,836,925 cases have been reported with 53,866 deaths. However, All the [destitute] women at the Mother Teresa Home in Pune are now coronavirus-free. Thank God!" said an upbeat Bishop Thomas Dabre of Poona (Pune), speaking to AsiaNews.

The Mother Teresa Home is located on Tadiwala Road. Out of 70 residents, all poor and destitute women, 45 had tested positive for the virus. As of today, they are all negative.

The first coronavirus case at the home was discovered on 1 August. Following this, all 70 residents were tested, 45 of whom resulted positive. Most were quarantined in the same building; others were admitted to hospital.

For the bishop, It is indeed a special blessing of the Almighty that the superior of the Home escaped the wrath of the coronavirus and remained until now coronavirus negative, safe and sound. It is indeed an act of Divine Providence which made it possible for her to take care of the Home in such a difficult situation.

Another "act of Providence" was the voluntary work of so many people  priests, nuns, believers  who took care of the sick and their needs during the quarantine.

There are always many people in the world ready to be generous and support these good works, said Bishop Dabre.

The Missionaries of Charity have three facilities in the Diocese of Poona, taking care of the poor, the destitute, orphans, and the disabled.

"Their presence and mission in the diocese are a great blessing from God, explained the prelate. They provide spiritual support and are a powerful inspiration to reach out to the needy and marginalised.
CLEMSON, South Carolina - Three teams of researchers at Clemson University have joined forces to unravel some of the mysteries surrounding perovskite nanocrystals, which are semiconductors with numerous applications, including LEDs, lasers, solar cells and photodetectors.

A research article titled "The correlation between phase transition and photoluminescence properties of CsPbX3 (X=Cl, Br, I) perovskite nanocrystals" recently appeared in Nanoscale Advances, an open-access journal published by the Royal Society of Chemistry. The article's lead author is Jun Yi, who was a student working with Apparao Rao, the Robert Adger Bowen Professor of Physics at Clemson University.

"We are always on the hunt for students to work on projects," said Rao, a professor in the College of Science's department of physics and astronomy and director of the Clemson Nanomaterials Institute. "Jun started this project about a year ago, and our teams worked together and ended up with a nice piece of work. In fact, the journal featured our work on its back cover."

Rao said that Yi was able to be liaise between Rao's team and a team led by Jianbo Gao, assistant professor of physics and astronomy; and a third team, led by Hugo Sanabria, an associate professor of physics and astronomy.

Rao and Gao explained that their joint interests in the tiny nanocrystals are focused on the material's optical properties and applications.

"Jianbo's team and my team have a joint interest in advancing nanocrystals to produce better solar cells, LEDs - things like that," Rao said. "Basically, the three teams had the necessary instrumentation to complete the study." The study has relevance to applications that have already found their way into our lives, according to Gao.

"This technology is widely used. For example, you can find it at Costco or Walmart as it is present in the quantum dots that Samsung uses in its QLED TV," Gao said.

The authors noted in the paper that perovskite nanocrystal are "attracting much attention because of their unique tunable optical properties."

With these particular nanocrystals, the teams' research dealt with a phase transition, one of the most fundamental physical phenomena in solid-state physics, which can influence the electrical, optical, magnetic, mechanical and chemical properties of materials. Using nanocrystals made up, in part, of either chlorine, bromine or iodine, the researchers discovered that, when exposed to heat, the chlorine-based nanocrystals behaved differently than the iodide- or bromine-based nanocrystals.

"That got us thinking about what the reason could be," Rao said.

The paper concluded that the teams' research provides "a deeper insight into the effect of phase-transition on the low temperature photo-physics of perovskite materials."

"We laid out the groundwork and connected the dots," Gao said.

Ironically, the paper wasn't finished until Yi had returned to his home in China.

"We were stumped for some time," Gao said.

"Without this student, we couldn't have achieved this research project. He elevated the level of the paper," Rao added.

###
The government has canceled the full reopening of schools for the fall semester amid a resurgence of coronavirus infections.

So far schools in the capital region had been told to decide on reopening at their own discretion to ensure some degree of social distancing, while those in other areas were about to resume daily classes once students returned from their summer break.

But a video conference Wednesday with 17 regional education superintendents and Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae agreed to keep numbers in attendance below two-thirds per day until Sept. 11.

This applies to all areas, not just Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi Province and Busan, where social distancing rules have been tightened recently. Students will therefore attend classes only two or three days a week.


SACRAMENTO  Aniyah Story, a junior at Oakland High School, says shes always felt like an outsider reading textbooks about American history in class.

She rarely sees positive depictions of people who look like her, a person of Black and Filipina descent. Whats more, Story says, the unsavory facts of history are repeatedly glossed over to emphasize a Eurocentric viewpoint and minimize the enslavement of people of color.

We are tired of spending every year learning about one group of Americans and not the rest of us, she said. I dont know what country my people come from. A part of my identity is missing.

Story is part of a coalition of students and educators urging California legislators to ensure that students learn the history of people of color in America by mandating that ethnic studies be taught in public schools.

They are rallying support for AB331 by Assemblyman Jose Medina, D-Riverside, which would add a one-semester ethnic studies course to the states high school graduation requirement, starting with the 2024-25 academic year.

Brittany Hosea-Small/Special to The Chronicle

The bill was shelved last year due to a backlash over a draft of Californias Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum, the manual on which the course would be based. Critics said the draft had a left-wing bias and anti-Semitic content.

But the bill is on the verge of passage this session, aided by a revised curriculum draft and a national reckoning over racism in America. It faces its first committee vote of the year Thursday.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a related bill Monday that requires every undergraduate in the California State University system to take an ethnic studies course, also starting in the 2024-25 year.

Supporters say the killing of George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis police custody as an officer knelt on his neck, and subsequent protests over racial inequality showed that students in high school and college need a deeper understanding of race.

This is our time, said Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, a co-author of AB331. We cant wait another year, as weve been asked to do so many times in the past.

Controversy surrounding the bill dwindled after the California Department of Education released a new draft model curriculum July 31.

The new draft removes some content that critics said was left-wing jargon. Gone, for example, is hxrstory  a term, pronounced herstory, that aims to redefine history to emphasize the perspectives of women.

Another edit: Several references to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including some that encouraged support for boycotts of Israel, have been removed.

Last summer, hundreds of Jewish people and 16 members of the Legislative Jewish Caucus criticized the first draft because they said it evoked anti-Semitic stereotypes, in particular a reference to Israel controlling the media.

Certainly (state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond) has kept his word to us about taking anti-Semitic material out of the curriculum, said state Sen. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica, chair of the Legislative Jewish Caucus.

That makes me more comfortable about this whole discussion, he said.

Still, the effort faces pushback from critics who argue that the curriculum is too politically charged or that it leaves out the history of some marginalized ethnic and religious groups, such as Armenians and Muslims.

The revised curriculum also encourages teachers to add lessons that emphasize the history of ethnic groups that are prominent in their community. But it keeps the focus on four groups that ethnic studies courses traditionally emphasize: African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Our recommendations are to stay true to the fidelity of the ethnic studies movement, which has been fighting for this type of curriculum for decades, and which remains urgently relevant today, Thurmond said in a statement.

The ethnic studies movement began in the late 1960s, when students at San Francisco State University and UC Berkeley led Third World Liberation Front strikes. They demanded courses about people of color in America and their historic oppression and exploitation.

Courses on race have spread to many high school and college campuses in the years since, but educators say the effort has failed to reach all of Californias 6.2 million public school students.

Angie Fa, chair of the Asian American Studies Department at City College of San Francisco, was among the first to earn a doctorate in ethnic studies in the 1980s. She helped write a draft of the states new model curriculum, and said critics need to understand the goal is to teach students about Americas history of racial inequality, not all forms of diversity or multiculturalism.

Its so difficult for people to have that conversation (about race), that if its not required, people will talk about other things, she said.

Fa, the daughter of Chinese immigrants, said that when she was a young woman in the 1970s, a few high school teachers taught her that history, putting her on a path that changed her life. She said the state needs to deliver that empowerment to all students of color.

A race analysis is critical, so that they can feel like they can succeed in this country, Fa said.

Theyve got to understand why there are barriers, she said, and they have to understand that those barriers have nothing to do with them and their families.

Dustin Gardiner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dustingardiner
While Lori is on national stages talking about how we need to reform police by creating fewer day-to-day interactions between police and citizens, her own city is not allowed to move through the neighborhood or feel the same kind of safety she is claiming to advocate for nationally, Dean wrote. As a neighbor, I find protests and actions near her home significantly less disruptive than her response to the protestors, which only aim to keep her from having to listen to the voices of her constituents.
Strictly's Neil Jones stepped out for the first time with his new girlfriend Luisa Eusse on Wednesday, just hours after going public with their relationship on Instagram.

The professional dancer, 38, beamed with happiness as he held Luisa's hand while walking his dog Crumble, whom he shares with his estranged wife Katya Jones, in London.

While Neil opted for a camouflage jumper, Luisa turned heads as she flashed her abs in a plunging grey crop top which featured cross-over detailing on the bust.

Loved-up: Strictly's Neil Jones stepped out for the first time with his new girlfriend Luisa Eusse on Wednesday, just hours after going public with their relationship on Instagram

Luisa also displayed her numerous tattoos on her chest, arm and stomach in the revealing top.

She teamed the look with acid wash jeans and biker boots. The professional dancer amped up the glamour with a full face of make-up.

Luisa wore her hair in voluminous curls and finished off her ensemble with a black velvet choker.

All eyes on her: Luisa cut a glamorous figure with a full face of make-up for the dog walk

Commanding attention: While Neil opted for a camouflage jumper, Luisa turned heads as she flashed her abs in a plunging grey crop top which featured cross over detailing on the bust

Neil was simply brimming with happiness as he stepped out grinning from ear-to-ear.

The couple looked in the throes of love as they held hands, played around and chatted to one another on the dog walk.

The outing came hours after Neil went public their relationship on Instagram by sharing a romantic snap of them together for the first time.

Smitten: The professional dancer, 38, beamed with happiness as he held Luisa's hand while walking his dog Crumble, whom he shares with his estranged wife Katya Jones

Inkings: Luisa also displayed her numerous tattoos on her chest, arm and stomach in the revealing top

Romance: The outing came hours after Neil went public their relationship on Instagram by sharing a romantic snap of them together for the first time

Neil shared a photo of the couple resting against a window sill, with the dancer lovingly kissing his other half's forehead.

Earlier this week, the dancer made the revelation that he was in a new relationship during an Instagram Q&A session when a fan asked him if he was still single.

When the follower quizzed him on whether he was single following their separation, Neil simply answered saying 'nope'.

Dressed to the nines: She teamed the look with acid wash jeans and biker boots. The professional dancer amped up the glamour with a full face of make-up

Sparks flying: Luisa is a dancer and a model from Medellin, Colombia who reportedly met Neil when he was travelling around South America eight months ago

Revelation: Earlier this week, the dancer made the revelation that he was in a new relationship during an Instagram Q&A session when a fan asked him if he was still single

Absolutely besotted: A source said: 'Neil is smitten with Luisa and theyre a very sweet couple'

Neil also mentioned that he was feeling the 'best he had in years', when another fan asked him how he was doing on Saturday.

Luisa is a dancer and a model from Medellin, Colombia who reportedly met Neil when he was travelling around South America eight months ago.

A source told The Sun: 'Neil is smitten with Luisa and theyre a very sweet couple. After they were introduced they stayed in touch but its been hard with the lockdown restrictions.

Rocking his world: Neil also mentioned that he was feeling the 'best he had in years', when another fan asked him how he was doing on Saturday

Long distance: 'After they were introduced they stayed in touch but its been hard with the lockdown restrictions' a source said

Moved in: 'Since they lifted Luisa flew to London last month and has been staying at Neils flat' the insider added

'Since they lifted Luisa flew to London last month and has been staying at Neils flat.

'Theyre taking it slowly but both are serious about this relationship and its clear Neil is head-over-heels.'

In August last year, Neil and his estranged wife Katya, 31, announced they had split after six years of marriage, just 10 months after the Seann Walsh cheating scandal.

Relationship: Luisa is a dancer and a model from Medellin, Colombia who reportedly met Neil when he was travelling around South America eight months ago

Honeymoon period: The couple looked in the throes of love as they held hands, played around and chatted to one another on the dog walk

Evening stroll: The couple negotiated a boulder on their walk

British weather: Luisa looked a little windswept during their outing

The couple penned in a joint statement at the time: 'Hi everyone, as our fans and loyal supporters you are really important to us and so we wanted to let you know some news. After 11 years we have made the mutual decision to separate.'

Although Neil may have embarked on a new romance, he recently admitted that he was in 'no rush' to begin divorce proceedings with Katya.

Neil's marriage hit the headlines in October 2018 when Katya, 31, was caught kissing comedian Seann, 34, but insists the betrayal had 'nothing to do' with the demise of their relationship.

Strutting her stuff: Luisa was certainly very glamorous, despite only heading out to walk Crumble

Grinning like a Cheshire cat: Neil couldn't have looked happier

Heartbroken: The star was devastated when his six-year marriage to Katya broke down last year

Moved on: But Luisa appears to have mended his broken heart

Sultry: Luisa recently shared a steamy photo of herself in the bath where she appeared to have been gifted with a large bouquet of red roses

Still married: Although Neil may have embarked on a new romance, he recently admitted that he was in 'no rush' to begin divorce proceedings with his wife Katya (pictured in May 2019)

Seann and Katya faced a huge backlash after pictures surfaced of the pair locking lips on their booze-fuelled night out nearly two years ago.

At the time, the comedian was dating Rebecca Humphries and she was still happily married to now-estranged husband Neil.

Neil previously said: 'For me it's something that happened in the past. We spoke about everything back then,' before confirming that he and his ex are still friends.
Millions more will die before the COVID-19 pandemic is over, said Bill Gates. But, these deaths will not be a result of the disease itself, but due to the excessive burden on healthcare systems and economies worldwide, he added.

The Microsoft co-founder predicts that a "reasonably" effective vaccine will be in mass production by the end of 2021 and the majority of the world population would be immunised thereby halting the spread of coronavirus pandemic.

Elaborating on his statement, Gates said that more than 90 percent of the deaths would be unrelated to coronavirus.

"Lockdowns will restrict people's access to medicine for other diseases. Subsequently, deaths from malaria and HIV will increase," he said.

The Bill Gates foundation contributed more than $350 million to the pandemic response, but that will not suffice, more is needed, Gates said in an interview to The Economist.

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

"Billions must be spent to produce COVID-19 vaccine to stop the economic damage, which is costing trillions," he said.

Track this LIVE blog for all the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic

According to him, unreliable data makes it difficult to assess the precise extent of the damage in many poor countries.

"By August 17, Africa has recorded more than 25,000 COVID-19 deaths and in India, nearly 52,000 have died from the disease. However, the actual number in both places is much higher," Gates added.

Explaining about research conducted on the novel coronavirus infection, Gates said that the study suggests the other coronaviruses in circulation have granted a measure of protection against COVID-19.

"Novel coronavirus is not as contagious as some other diseases. Around 30-60 percent of the worlds population needs to be vaccinated to contain the pandemic," he said, adding "Fortunately this isn't measles, we don't need over 90 percent of people to take the vaccine."
Former first lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton addresses the Democratic National Convention. (DNCC)

Political conventions are always a mix of nostalgia and anticipation, and that brew was on full display on the third night of the virtual Democratic convention.

For Democrats focused on the future, there was Kamala Harris, accepting the vice presidential nomination as the first Black woman and Asian American on a major party's ticket. Those pining for the past got the return of President Obama.

And for those still smarting about the 2016 loss, Hillary Clinton warned not to let 2020 become another "woulda, coulda, shoulda election" in which too many Democratic voters stay home.

Here's what you need to know about the night's programming.

Harris makes history

Harris is a rare figure in American politics  a biracial woman who has climbed to its heights. Yet in the biggest speech of her career, she emphasized that she follows in the path of groundbreaking women before her.

She began with a tribute to the women, particularly Black women, who came before her. She named civil rights icon Fannie Lou Hamer, who famously demanded a "seat at the table" at the 1964 Democratic convention, and Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to run for president.

Into that lineage she elevated the most important woman in her life  her late mother, an Indian immigrant who largely raised her two daughters on her own. "She probably could have never imagined that I would be standing before you now speaking these words: I accept your nomination for vice president of the United States of America," Harris said.

Then she briefly paused, as if to soak in the moment.

Obama takes on Trump

The former president said at the outset of his remarks that he would speak "plainly" about the stakes in this election. He followed with his most direct condemnation ever of President Trump's failures and shortcomings, defying a tradition that former presidents refrain from bad-mouthing their successors.

Obama largely honored that convention after he left office, but his convention speech  set symbolically in Philadelphia, where the Constitution was debated and signed  marked an escalation. He went so far as to describe Trump as a dire threat to the nation.

Story continues

Even when he turned his focus to Joe Biden, Obama defined his former vice president by implicitly contrasting Biden with Trump. When Obama spoke again of Trump, it was to accuse him of cynically trying to depress Americans' votes to win.

"Do not let them take away your power. Do not let them take away your democracy," he said.

Women take the lead

It was Harris' night, but Wednesday was ladies' night more broadly as Democrats overtly appealed to the constituency that powered their victories in 2018 and is crucial in 2020.

Convention Week dovetailed with the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage. The spotlight on Democratic women in politics was alternately celebratory and cautionary, warning that women's gains could be lost if Trump won reelection.

In a nod to the suffragists, Clinton wore white, as she did when she accepted the 2016 nomination, and welcomed Harris to the rarified circle with her of women on a major party's presidential ticket. "I know something about the slings and arrows she'll face and believe me, this former D.A. and attorney general can handle them all," Clinton said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, also in white, hailed the diverse Democratic caucus she leads. She assailed not just Trump, but also Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell  reminding viewers that Democrats are hoping to recapture the Senate along with the White House.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren refashioned her "I have a plan for that" message from her presidential campaign to promote Biden's plan on child care  a top concern for working women and families, particularly in the age of coronavirus. "This crisis is on Donald Trump and the Republicans who enabled him. On Nov. 3 we will hold them all accountable, she said.

No longer gun-shy

Not so long ago, Democrats were terrified to talk about guns. Having lost control of Congress in 1994 after President Clinton signed into law Democrats' bill banning assault weapons, the party for years was skittish about proposing any new restrictions on firearms.

No longer. The party's embrace of the politics of guns  which began in earnest after the 2012 massacre of first-graders in Newtown, Conn.  was clear when gun safety was the first among several policy issues Democrats chose to feature in their prime-time broadcast.

But 2020 is not 1994. The numerous mass shootings since then have galvanized many Americans to support controls, and the chief opponent, the National Rifle Assn., has been mired in infighting and legal woes. Democrats highlighted the young activists who have mobilized after school shootings, as well as the most prominent political figure affected by gun violence: former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona.

"Today, I struggle to speak," said Giffords, who was shot in the head in 2011 while meeting voters. "But I have not lost my voice."

Courting the youths on climate change

In a video segment on climate change, the prevalence of young people attesting to Biden's environmental bona fides was no coincidence. Climate change has emerged as a galvanizing issue for the nation's youngest voters, as they worry about their future in a warming world.

Youth advocates are a driving force behind the sweeping proposal known as the Green New Deal, to remake the nation's economy and lifestyle to reduce carbon emissions. Although Biden has rolled out a climate plan, he has stopped short of embracing the Green New Deal, which Trump and conservatives have attacked as radical. That phrase went unmentioned.

Still, the virtual convention featured young environmentalists who called the Biden plan "transformative." Teen pop icon Billie Eilish urged young voters not to sit out the election: "We all have to vote like our lives and the world depend on it, because they do."
For those fearing that all the prior state-enforced social distancing and lockdown protocol which hit a peak in early summer  from arresting surfers on empty beaches, to telling people they can't even jog, to police detaining moms for merely letting their children play on taxpayer bought public playgrounds  would only too easily and hastily transition to a forced vaccination regimen the moment one is rushed out despite safety or the various potential long-term side effect 'unknowns'... well,it's happening:

Australians are likely to face mandatory coronavirus vaccinations if Prime Minister Scott Morrison gets his wish. The nation is a step closer to gaining access to a vaccine, with the Federal Government securing an international deal to produce a vaccine frontrunner locally if trials succeed. If that happens, Mr Morrison expects Australians will have to undergo mandatory vaccination.

And no doubt other developed nations will eventually follow suit, given as we've detailed we're already to the point of colleges, schools, and office spaces in many instances requiring as a condition of return to campus or work space a COVID-19 test, or in some cases individuals are subject to weekly tests. Based on the trend, these current testing requirements will seamlessly switch to vaccination requirements, as will apparently likely happen in Australia.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, file image via Bioreports

"I would expect it to be as mandatory as you could possibly make it," PM Morrison told Melbourne radio station 3AW, as reported by the national Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Wednesday.

"There are always exemptions for any vaccine on medical grounds, but that should be the only basis," he added, clearly already attempting to bat down instances of vaccine objectors and other individual liberty or religious-based arguments.

"We are talking about a pandemic that has destroyed the global economy and taken the lives of hundreds of thousands all around the world, and over 430 Australians here," the Australian leader added.

He further confirmed the Australian government had reached deal with Swedish-British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to purchase a promising coronavirus vaccine currently under development with Oxford University.

Morrison described that the Federal Government plans manufacture it as soon as it clears clinical trails, and the drug will be free for all Australians.

A win for Big Pharma, it looks like Australia will be forcing their citizens to vaccinate despite the fact that no long term tests have ever been done with this new bastardized vaccine.



You *really* shouldnt have allowed the government take your guns.https://t.co/M4Se6FZqXe  Mindy Robinson  (@iheartmindy) August 19, 2020

But as activists who might have legitimate concerns over the federal government mandating that a substance without an established and lengthy track record of medical use be injected in each individual's body as a precondition to participating in society (such as school or entering public buildings) would point out, it will indeed come with a "cost" in terms of freedom of conscience and an individual's right to manage risk and trade-offs for themselves.

As Australia's ABC put it, the government will rely on its "no jab, no play" precedent in terms of 'up to date vaccination' - already in effect and a requirement for children to attend everything from child care to school to a household's ability to get a Family Tax Benefit across most provinces.

Morrison emphasized that anti-vaccination activists will not have a leg to stand on:

During a round of morning media, Mr Morrison repeatedly said he expected pushback from anti-vaccination campaigners. But he repeatedly said he was the minister who introduced a "no jab, no play" rule, and his stance on vaccinations was clear and would not change.

The Australian Prime Minister at the Astra Zeneca laboratories in Sydney on Wednesday. Image source: AAP

In terms of a timeline, Morrison said he didn't expect a vaccine to be available to the public until sometime next year at the earliest.

An essentially "forced" vaccine program would likely also roll out in the UK, Europe, and Canada, and by then debate would surely be raging in the United States (though the "debate" might be entirely precluded by then) given it remains the world's leader in COVID-19 confirmed infections.

But when Australia and Europe rolls out with mandatory programs, it's only a matter of time before the global hotspot - the US - follows suit, and backed by federal or state laws to boot.

Get ready to "show your papers". It's coming.
Houston has spent or committed more than half of the $405 million in COVID-19 relief money it received from the federal government earlier this year  money it has to use by years end.

It has often been unclear, even to city council members and the controllers office, exactly how much of the money remains in the citys coffers or when the remainder will be spent. Mayor Sylvester Turners administration is planning to begin giving more regular updates about the spending.

City council approved nearly $15 million in emergency expenditures Wednesday, which include money to hire more temporary medical workers ($7.8 million) and assist Houston artists ($2 million), among other items.

The package brings Houstons running bill for its federal cash assistance to at least $256 million, although the city has not confirmed or publicly updated that tally recently.

Marvin Odum, the citys recovery czar who is overseeing the funds, declined to provide a new count or comment for this article, citing a need to update council members first. Turner, asked directly by a council member Wednesday, did not provide a figure but said he would have Odum update the council and public shortly.

Most of the funds used so far have been devoted to direct public health needs associated with the pandemic. They include setting up and operating testing centers, funding contact tracers and offering relief to struggling residents and businesses. The money was given to the city under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. It must be spent on items directly related to the pandemic by the end of the year.

In addition to the $15 million approved Wednesday, the council has authorized:

-$81 million in a separate emergency package on July 14; most of that money, about $65 million, went toward testing sites and hiring temporary workers.

-$40 million in additional spending authority to use through regional purchasing associations; it is not clear how much of that money has been spent

-$45 million to establish rent relief and small business grant programs

-At least $56 million was used in the citys budget to pay for redirected city employees, freeing up space in the cash-strapped general fund

-$10 million for the Houston Zoo to address the public health emergency

-$8 million toward a contract extension with Tetra Tech, which is helping with administrative efforts such as submitting reimbursement requests to the Federal Emergency Management Agency

-Nearly $1 million in smaller deployments, including for census outreach, solid waste trucks and hazardous materials clean-up at testing sites

Of that money, the largest contracts have gone to agencies providing temporary workers, including for contact tracing and other medical purposes. The city has spent more than $54 million toward that end, using A-1 Personnel of Houston Inc. ($18.3 million) Executeam, L.P. ($9.6 million); and Lane Staffing, Inc. ($9.2 million), among others.

Smaller amounts have gone toward hiring contractors to help the citys heavy trash collection ($3.6 million), and to develop public messaging campaigns ($1.4 million).

That would leave roughly $149 million, though that money is already earmarked for future projects. Odum shared the citys blueprint for using all $405 million with city council members in July.

Houstons plan called for directing the largest chunk of money, $235 million, toward direct public health needs. The redirected city employees (up to $63 million) and relief efforts (initially $30 million) also claimed significant portions of the plan.

Still, that blueprint can change, and it has not always matched exactly with the orders brought before council. For example, the citys second round of $15 million in rental relief, launched this week, was not included on that list of approved projects. There is also $34 million set aside in the plan for contingency needs.

In his last public update on July 9, Odum said the city focused on public health, vulnerable communities and resiliency when deciding how to allocate the money.

Hard choices on where to spend the funds had to be made. As always, theres a lot more need and opportunity than there is money, Odum said then. This is a big program, 218 different projects moving very fast. He said there would be continual re-evaluation and reallocation of funds.

Some council members have complained about the scarce input and information they have had as the money rolls out.

Earlier this month, Councilmember Edward Pollard delayed a vote on the $15 million in emergency orders approved Wednesday after he said he was unable to get details about the costs from city staff. During Wednesdays meeting, Councilmember Amy Peck asked Turner for an update on how much money was spent.

Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin, chair of the budget committee, said the administration plans to begin giving monthly updates on CARES Act spending.

In July, Odum approached council members during a committee meeting about an ordinance that would have given the chief purchasing officer, Jerry Adams, blanket approval for spending the rest of the money. That request was pulled from the agenda after several council members balked at the request, which they said would cede the little scrutiny they have over the money.

Now, the expenditures generally surface in batches of emergency orders. That means the costs do not go through the longer vetting process of normal city contracts, which can require public bids and give priority to companies that are based in Houston.

The administration says the expedited timeline is necessary to ensure the money is spent by the end of the year and to respond adequately to the pandemic. Adams has told council members they are relying on known vendors for equipment when able. The city is not making payments before it receives the goods or services, Adams said.

At-Large Councilmember Sallie Alcorn said she has been trying to reconcile the emergency orders with the blueprint provided in July, and they have not always aligned. Still, she said she is confident the money is being used prudently.

Peck, who represents District A, said she wishes council had more input on how the money was spent.

I think a lot more money could have gone to first responders, since they are in the middle of dealing with coronavirus every single day, Peck said.

The Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association on Monday renewed its call for the city to hire an outside company to clean and sanitize fire stations every day. The fire department has been beset by staffing shortages amid the pandemic and has lost two firefighters to the virus.

Marty Lancton, the unions president, called hiring a cleaning company a no-brainer, so that overworked firefighters are not tasked with doing the cleaning themselves.

Fire Chief Samuel Pena batted back against Lanctons claims, saying the city has not spared any expense in cleaning. He said the department has spent $360,000 in emergency orders on disinfectant supplies, $207,000 on a disinfecting task force and have $623,796 in funds for this fiscal year.

Each fire station has a sprayer and equipment for firefighters to disinfect the building at the beginning of each shift, Pena said. The departments hazardous materials team is also leading a decontamination effort that reaches every station every five to six days.

The chief said that strategy is more flexible and sustainable than hiring an outside company.

We havent skimped on equipment, or training, or overtime, or anything like that to ensure the disinfecting, Pena said.
Miles Taylor who served as chief of staff to former Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, said in an interview on Wednesday that United States President Donald Trump wanted to exchange Puerto Rico for Greenland.

"[Trump] told us, not only did he want to purchase Greenland, he actually said he wanted to see if we could sell Puerto Rico - could we swap Puerto Rico for Greenland," Taylor said.

Trump thought about selling the US Governed island in exchange for the Danish-owned island of Greenland due to the perceived subpar financial and physical state of the US territory, according to Taylor.

READ | Trump, Pence Campaign Events Signal Lax Approach To COVID-19

READ | Trump Urges Colleges To Keep In-person Learning

Trump cancelled Denmark visit amid spat over Greenland

Trump had expressed interest in buying Greenland from Denmark, but dropped the idea and cancelled his visit to the country after its Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen rejected the idea of exchange.

Elaine Duke, the former acting secretary of homeland security told The New York Times in July that devastating hurricane in 2017 had caused significant damage to Puerto Rico which made Trump discuss the idea in a closed-door meeting about selling the island. However, that subject was never touched upon after the meeting.

Peurto is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the northeast Caribbean Sea. As it is not a state, Puerto Rico does not have a vote in the U.S. Congress. The residents of Puerto Rico do not vote in the US Presidential election and don't even pay federal income tax.

Although a referendum will be non-binding and will need approval from Congress, the island will hold a referendum in November on whether it should become a US state. It will ask one question: Should Puerto Rico be immediately admitted as a US state? So far, Congress has never acted on the island's previous referendums, the last of which was organized in 2017.

(With ANI inputs)

READ | Trump, Pence Campaign Events Signal Lax Approach To COVID-19

READ | Centre Orders Immediate Withdrawal Of 10,000 CAPF Troops From Jammu & Kashmir
Hugo Boss will only require that many staff work in the office from Tuesday to Thursday even after the coronavirus pandemic, offering the option of remote working on Mondays and Fridays, the German fashion house said on Wednesday.

Hugo Boss said it had taken the decision after an internal survey showed that most people felt less stressed working from home during the pandemic and had more time for their families, while managers were also very happy with the work done remotely.

The future belongs to tailored combinations of office-based and off-site work, said Jochen Eckhold, human resources director. Our hybrid working model caters to employees growing desire for alternative scheduling and location options.

The firm said three days in the office allows meetings and events to be scheduled more effectively, while boosting the groups appeal as an employer and protecting the environment by reducing commuting.

The new schedule will initially be available from October to about 3,200 employees in Germany whose jobs do not require physical presence in the office, but Hugo Boss expects similar models to be adopted in its subsidiaries around the world.

Hugo Boss, known for its smart mens suits, said earlier this month it expects demand for suits and formal wear to return as lockdowns ease even as it adjusts to the rising popularity of casual styles after sales tumbled 59% in the second quarter.

(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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Apple iPhone (Representative Image)

The US International Trade Commission (USITC) has launched a probe to look into whether certain Apple Inc mobile electronic devices and laptop computers infringed patents held by Japanese consumer electronic company Maxell. The company has alleged violation of section 377 of the Tariff Act of 1930 by the American tech giant.

"The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Maxell, Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, on July 17, 2020. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States and sale of certain mobile electronic devices and laptop computers that infringe patents asserted by the complainant. The complainant requests that the USITC issue a limited exclusion order and a cease and desist order, the trade regulator said in a statement.

Asking the commission to prohibit the importation and sale of the devices into the US, Maxell has requested USITC to issue a limited exclusion order and a cease and desist order against Apple.

Section 377 investigations by the USITC pertain to cases of unfair imports, usually involving claims regarding intellectual property rights, including allegations of patent infringement and trademark infringement by imported goods. Other forms of unfair competition and antitrust claims involving imported products can also be asserted under the law.

This case comes only about a week after Apple Inc was reportedly ordered by a Texas jury to pay $506 million to telecom companies after it was found that it willfully infringed on as many as five patents. The tech company had, however, said it would appeal the decision by the court.

On August 19, Apple became the first US company to hit the two trillion-dollar market valuation, just two years after becoming the first to top trillion dollar mark.
The COVID-19 pandemic has moved most individuals to a work from home situation, substantially increasing the pressure on telecom industries across the globe. In the United States, the nationwide lockdown has led to high demand for high-speed internet in every household. While major players in the US telecom industry are investing in networks, operations, and other industry trends, the industry is facing a range of entirely different challenges currently. US telecom industry players need to focus on being efficient, customer-centric and restructure their operations, architecture, and networks. Infiniti's market intelligence solutions help US telecom companies achieve these changes while reducing customer attrition rates, uncovering weak links in their supply chains, and identifying potential future risks. To leverage our market intelligence solutions, and successfully overcome this pandemic, request a free proposal

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200820005468/en/

Market Intelligence Solutions for a US Telecom Industry Client (Graphic: Business Wire)

"As the United States calls for complete lockdown and imposes restrictions on movement, network usage is skyrocketing. This has put enormous pressure on companies in the US telecom industry to continue delivering critical services to customers," says a US telecom industry expert at Infiniti Research.

Business Challenge:

The client, a telecom service provider in the United States, was facing the impact of social distancing and a nationwide lockdown. The sudden increase in demand for networking infrastructure and connectivity caused network resilience and reliability issues for the US telecom industry client. Additionally, multiple service requests at the same time led to the US telecom industry client facing difficulties with upgrading their services for higher bandwidth requirements. Further, the US telecom industry client's customer attrition rate was high since competitors were offering internet speed-booster packages and higher-performing fiber-optic broadband services. The client, therefore, chose to partner with Infiniti to leverage our expertise in providing market intelligence solutions. In the ten weeks of this engagement, the client sought to undertake steps to ensure continuous delivery, fulfill customers' priorities, and to reassess their supply chain to uncover weak links.

Our Approach:

Infiniti's research experts developed a three-phased approach to assist the US telecom industry client. The approach included the following:

Conducting strategic engagement and scenario analysis to help the client in reviewing insurance coverage, systems capabilities, and cyber readiness

Providing hands-on guidance during portfolio strategy and valuation, as well as reassessing the supply chain, and increasing transparency in communications with stakeholders

Evaluating financial reporting requirements, communicating impacts to stakeholders, improving tech-enabled functionality, and revaluating cost structures

Gain a comprehensive understanding of our market intelligence solutions in the US telecom industry by reading the complete article here.

Business Outcome:

By leveraging Infiniti's market intelligence solutions, the US telecom industry client was able to help customers in upgrading their services to cope with higher bandwidth requirements. The engagement also enabled the client to identify third-party service providers to deploy feedback management tools, thereby gaining a better understanding of customer needs. The client was also able to understand critical risks, including single points of failure. Additionally, the US telecom industry client was able to increase network resiliency and reliability for customers, improve tech-enabled functionality, and realize savings of over $3.3 million.

To further understand strategic initiatives required to overcome the challenges of the US telecom industry, speak to our industry research experts.

About Infiniti Research

Established in 2003, Infiniti Research is a leading market intelligence company providing smart solutions to address your business challenges. Infiniti Research studies markets in more than 100 countries to help analyze competitive activity, see beyond market disruptions, and develop intelligent business strategies. To know more, visit: https://www.infinitiresearch.com/about-us

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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, consoles the family members of those who died fighting floods while visiting a floodwater diversion zone in Feidong County, Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, Aug. 19, 2020. Xi inspected Hefei on Wednesday afternoon. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

HEFEI, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Wednesday visited families of those who died fighting floods in east China's Anhui Province.

Xi consoled the family members of three deceased persons when he visited a floodwater diversion zone in the county of Feidong.

Xi told them that their lost loved ones are heroes and deserve respect from everyone.

"Every time a calamity occurs, heroes charge forward. This embodies the great spirit of the Chinese nation," Xi said, asking the family members to take good care of themselves.
Davinder Singh, the dismissed Jammu and Kashmir Police deputy superintendent of police (DSP), not only played a key role in providing safe passage to the terrorists and leaking information about the deployment of Indian security forces, but also hid Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terrorists in the J&K polices guest house a day before his arrest, according to the charge sheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) last month.

The charge sheet, exclusively reviewed by HT, states that apart from the Hizbul Mujahideen, Singh, 59, was in touch with the Pakistani establishment through Shafkat Jatoi alias Hussain , an officer of Pakistan high commission in New Delhi through secure messaging platforms.

Revealing Singhs closeness to the Pakistani official, NIAs charge sheet says that Singh saved the mobile number of Shafkat Jatoi as Bhai Pak .

Shafkat was using Singh to gain some access to other arms of the government and tasked him (Singh) to find a contact in the ministry of external affairs (MEA), NIA adds.

Singh was arrested on January 11 this year when he was ferrying HM Commander Syed Naveed Mushtaq alias Naveed Babu, an advocate, Irfan Shafi Mir, and another terrorist, Rafi Ahmad Rather, from Shopian to Jammu -- in his car.

He had done this before, NIA adds, commenting that people like Singh have played a crucial role in making HM one of the regions most active terror groups.

The charge sheet, filed on July 6 in a special court in Jammu, claims that Singh transported Naveed Babu with another HM militant in February 2019 from Shopian to Jammu and later back to Shopian in April same year.

His ( Singhs) level of commitment in the execution of conspiracy is established by way of the fact that he harboured the HM militants  Babu and Rather on January 10 (a day before they were arrested this year) in a guest house meant for stay of J&K police personnel -- by making forged entries in the records of the guest house, the charge sheet says. The location of guest house is not mentioned in the charge sheet but Singh, Mir, Babu and Rather left Shopian for Jammu on January 11.

It adds that Naveed Babu once asked Mir to confirm from Singh as which social media and messaging platforms they should use to avoid surveillance by Indian agencies.

Mir, who enjoyed clout with the HM leadership and Paks spy agency ISI, was using the official position of Singh for collection of information about the deployment of security forces, and engaged in getting arms and ammunition for further supplying to the active militants in the valley, the NIA charge sheet says.

The evidence on record reveals that Singh was in constant touch with Irfan Mir for providing all kind of support including supply of arms and ammunition for which he was receiving funds at different point of time, it adds. For supplying arms, Singh used to receive money from Mir and another HM operative Syed Irfan Ahmad.

It was Mir who had introduced Singh to Naveed Babu and Pakistan high commission officials.

The NIA has stated that Mir became part of conspiracy to help Naveed Babu further the agenda of HM sometime in June-July 2018 in the valley.

During his four trips to Pakistan since 2016, Mir met HM chief Syed Salahuddin, the terror groups operation head Khurshid Alam and several ISI officers according to the charge sheet.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused the Narendra Modi government of decimating the unorganised economy, comprising farmers, labourers and small businesses, in the last six years of its rule, and said that the country will not be able to generate jobs in the coming period as a result of that.

Addressing via video conferencing the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the party's offices to be built in 22 districts headquarters of Chhattisgarh, he said that although the unorganised economy generates 90 per cent of the country's employment, the Modi government destroyed it through various moves like demonetisation and implementation of "wrong GST".

Gandhi stressed the need to restore the balance between the organised and unorganised economies for the welfare of the country.

The event was organised on the occasion of the birth anniversary of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

"India has two kinds of economies. One is an organised economy, wherein there are big companies, while the other one is unorganised economy, in which there are farmers, labourers, small shop owners and millions of poor people," he said.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been attacking the unorganised economy for the last six years. He did this because this sector has money and Modi ji wanted to transfer it to big businessmen," Gandhi alleged.

"Wherever there is a Congress government (in the states), we work to balance the unorganised and organised economies. The unorganised economy acts as a shock absorber in adverse situations.

"If the country's unorganised economy is secured and strong, it can absorb any kind of shock and cope with difficult situations. Our mother and sister keep money at their home, because it works as a shock absorber," he added.

"Farmers, labourers, small and medium business have been decimated as a result of demonetisation and extremely complex GST decisions by the Centre," the Congress leader alleged.

"The first attack on the unorganised economy was the decision of demonetisation by PM Modi. He made people deposit their hard-earned money in the banks and then with that money he waived loans of 10-15 businessmen friends and crony capitalists. Then he imposed the wrong GST that led to collapse of small and medium businesses and farmers," he said.

Slamming the Centre over the handling of the coronavirus situation, Gandhi said, "Modi ji suddenly implemented lockdown without any prior notice. Why did he suddenly do this? There was a thinking behind it which was to target our unorganised sector."

"Ninety per cent of employment is generated by the unorganised economy in the country. Modi ji destroyed this system...One by one companies will fall and small and medium businesses will collapse, which has already been started.

"This country will not be able to provide employment to youth in the coming days. It will be for the first time in Indian history that our country won't be able to give jobs to its youth because the small and medium business sector will be destroyed," he said.

Gandhi called for the need to restore the balance between organised and unorganised economies, which had been "distorted" by the Modi government.

Accusing the BJP and the RSS of making people fight with each other and spreading hatred, he asked the leaders and workers of his party to work for uniting the people.

Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, AICC in-charge for Chhattisgarh P L Punia, state Congress chief Mohan Markam and state cabinet ministers and other senior party leaders also attended the function virtually.

Also Read: Kerala opposes Trivandrum airport transfer to Adani group, 'will not cooperate'

Also Read: Airtel Rs 401 Disney+ Hotstar plan revamped to offer 30GB data
August 20 : With the Supreme Court handing over the investigation into Sushant Singh Rajput case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), rejecting Rhea Chakrabortys petition completely, the agency has swung into action. The three-member CBI SIT (Special Investigation Team) will reportedly reach Mumbai today.

According to a report by Times Now, the SIT will most likely visit the late actors residence at Bandra today, where he was found dead on June 14. CBI SIT will also collect the case diary and all related documents including the post-mortem report from Mumbai police.

SIT has also sort permission from BMC for exemption of quarantine. BMC Commissioner had earlier said that if the CBI team comes to Mumbai for seven days they will be automatically exempted from quarantine, as per MCGM's existing quarantine guidelines. But if they come for more than seven days they have to apply for exemption.

ED to question director Rumi Jaffery at today

Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) continues its probe into the late actors death case. Today ED is likely to question director Rumi Jaffery regarding his project with Sushant and Rhea. The filmmaker had earlier stated that he was planning a film with Sushant and Rhea. ED is likely to question the filmmaker if any advance payment was made to the actors, the mode of payment, and whether a contract was signed by Sushant and Rhea.

K K Singhs new statement

On Wednesday evening, Sushant Singh Rajputs father K K Singh released a new statement stating that he is the legal heir of Sushant, and no one else can represent the actor. ...and in that capacity, any arrangement that Sushant had during his lifetime for the engagement of any lawyer, Chartered Accountant and other professional came to an end upon the death of Sushant and thereafter no lawyer, Chartered Accountant or other person is entitled to represent the estate of Sushant without my express consent, the statement read.

Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery
Taiwan said on Wednesday hacking groups linked to the Chinese government had attacked at least 10 government agencies and some 6,000 email accounts of government officials in an infiltration to steal important data.

Democratic Taiwan has been urging its people to be alert for what officials call omnipresent infiltration from China, involving from Beijing-backed media campaigns to cyberattacks, against the island that China considers its territory.

Chinese hacking groups have been infiltrating government agencies and their information service providers for a long time, said the deputy director of the Taiwan Investigation Bureaus Cyber Security Investigation Office, Liu Chia-zung.

They were aiming to acquire important government documents and data, Liu told reporters. Some government data might have been leaked. This has posed a great threat.

The attacks, which started as early as 2018, targeted at least 10 government agencies and the email accounts of some 6,000 officials, Lius office said, adding it had not been able to identify what data has been stolen as the hackers had concealed their tracks.

Among those who were attacked and infiltrated by two Chinese hacking groups were at least four Taiwan tech companies that had been providing information services to the government, the office said.

Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to a request for comment. The Chinese government routinely denies involvement in hacking and says it punishes those who do it.

Liu said Taiwan believed the two hacking groups involved, Blacktech and Taidoor, were backed by the Chinese Communist Party. They targeted loopholes in the systems provided by the Taiwan governments information service providers, he said.

Government agencies should increase scrutiny of their providers, Liu said.

He said his office was investigating service supply chains to see if any Taiwan companies or individuals have worked with the Chinese hackers.

News of the hacking comes during a period of heightened tension between the island and China.

China has stepped up its military activity near Taiwan and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under its control.
Aerial file photo released by Xinhua News Agency shows the extent of flooding in Guzhen Town of Lu'an City in China. Summer floods in China have left more than 200 people dead or missing and caused $25 billion in direct damages, an emergency management official said. The floods struck major river systems across the central and southern parts of the country. (Tang Yang/Xinhua via AP, File)
Speaking from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, former President Barack Obama tore into President Trump for failing, after four years, to "feel the weight of the office and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care."

Why it matters: It was an extraordinary moment in American history  an ex-president saying the sitting president would tear down our democracy to hold power.

It's hard to overstate the power of the speech  how remarkable it is for a former president to deliver a warning like that about a sitting president.

Between the lines: It was as if Obama, who reinforced the stakes by speaking from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, let loose frustrations he's been holding back for four years.

It's not the first time Obama has voiced his concerns about Trump, but he's always kept some level of restraint.

You could hear hints of the constitutional law professor he used to be, as well as a former president who seems genuinely appalled by his successor.

What he said: "I have sat in the Oval Office with both of the men who are running for president. I never expected that my successor would embrace my vision or continue my policies. I did hope, for the sake of our country, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously; that he might come to feel the weight of the office and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care."

"But he never did. For close to four years now, hes shown no interest in putting in the work; no interest in finding common ground; no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends; no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves."

"Donald Trump hasnt grown into the job because he cant. And the consequences of that failure are severe. 170,000 Americans dead. Millions of jobs gone while those at the top take in more than ever. Our worst impulses unleashed, our proud reputation around the world badly diminished, and our democratic institutions threatened like never before."

Obama went on to draw a sharp contrast between the Trump administration and the Biden/Harris ticket, arguing: "More than anything, what I know about Joe and Kamala is that they actually care about every American. And they care deeply about this democracy."

"They believe that in a democracy, the right to vote is sacred, and we should be making it easier for people to cast their ballot, not harder."

"They believe that no one  including the president  is above the law, and that no public official  including the president  should use their office to enrich themselves or their supporters."

"They understand that in this democracy, the Commander-in-Chief doesnt use the men and women of our military, who are willing to risk everything to protect our nation, as political props to deploy against peaceful protesters on our own soil."

"They understand that political opponents arent un-American just because they disagree with you; that a free press isnt the enemy but the way we hold officials accountable; that our ability to work together to solve big problems like a pandemic depends on a fidelity to facts and science and logic and not just making stuff up."

The bottom line: "None of this should be controversial," Obama said. "These shouldnt be Republican principles or Democratic principles. Theyre American principles. But at this moment, this president and those who enable him, have shown they dont believe in these things."

The other side: As Obama lambasted Trump for his failures to take the office of the presidency seriously, the president responded on Twitter: "WHY DID HE REFUSE TO ENDORSE SLOW JOE UNTIL IT WAS ALL OVER, AND EVEN THEN WAS VERY LATE? WHY DID HE TRY TO GET HIM NOT TO RUN?"


(Newser)  Boeing announced an order Wednesday from Polish airline Enter Air for up to four 737-8 airplanes, with the airline's general director asserting he's "convinced it will be the best aircraft in the world for many years to come." For those curious what this new jet is all about, it's not new, and it's got another name you might be more familiar with: the beleaguered 737 Max, which was involved in two deadly crashes in 2018 and 2019 and has had a slew of issues since. The Guardian notes that up until now, the 737-8 name has been used only inside the company itself.

story continues below

USA Todaywhich notes the decision to use the 737-8 label publicly may be a PR move to clean up the image of the aircraftpoints out the name "737 Max" was also used several times in the same Boeing statement, and that no official name change has been announced. But the quiet sort-of rebranding did catch the eye of industry watchers. "The aircraft family is still the Max, but Boeing calls the model the 737-8 for the first time in a deal an announcement," tweeted Jon Ostrower of the Air Current aviation site. CNN Business notes this is the first order for 737 Max jets since November, when Boeing booked 30 orders for the aircraft at the Dubai Airshow, 10 of which went to Turkey's SunExpress fleet. (Read more Boeing stories.)
W hy is this movie less famous than Rebel Without A Cause? Made six years later than the Nicholas Ray classic, Elia Kazans teen drama makes even better use of Natalie Wood  her rollercoaster chemistry with Warren Beatty (making his screen debut) is so palpable you dont know whether to swoon or be sick.

Critics routinely dismiss Splendor in the Grass as overheated, failing to recognise the method in the mood swings and the boldness at the core of this frenzy.

Its crucial that Wood and Beatty, both famously gorgeous, possess such different types of beauty. Hes solid and symmetrical. She resembles a sugar glider (a possum with the worlds most beseeching eyes). Woods wonky fragility is her superpower. Incredible as a child star (watch her as a haughty cynic in Miracle on 34th Street; shes a hoot), she found new ways, as she grew up, to convey insecurity and emotional need.

So shes Deanie Loomis, an average schoolgirl, going steady with wealthy, sporty, Bud (Beatty). Its the late 1920s and in the Kansas town where Deanie lives sex before marriage is a no-no for nice girls. Deanies mother (Audrey Christie) is a big fan of nice. Which means Deanies caught in a trap. Though she worships every bit of Buds body, shes aware that if she acts on that desire shell be viewed by her family as beyond the pale.

Films still to come in 2020, from Tenet to Top Gun: Maverick 1 /24 Films still to come in 2020, from Tenet to Top Gun: Maverick Tenet - August 26 Christopher Nolans latest mind-bending blockbuster sees John David Washingtons special agent attempt to prevent a conflict "worse than World War III" through the manipulation of time. It's expected to be the first big release UK film fans get to enjoy in reopened cinemas  in America, that honour belongs to Selena Gomez vehicle The Broken Hearts Gallery. Bill and Ted Face the Music - August 21 Party on, dudes! Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter return to their classic roles for the first time in 29 years. The pair head off on another journey through time, searching for inspiration after being tasked with writing a song that will reunite the world and "save reality as we know it". The film will follow them as they attempt to steal the song from their future selves, encountering very different, muscle-bound versions of themselves in prison. Most excellent? We'll see. Patti Perret/Most Excellent Productions, LLC Mulan - delayed indefinitely Disney's much-anticipated live-action reboot has been delayed until late August. The update on the 1998 animation stars the likes of Yifei Liu, Donnie Yen, Li Gong and Jet Li, with the official synopsis reading: "To save her ailing father from serving in the Imperial Army, a fearless young woman disguises herself as a man to battle northern invaders in China." A Quiet Place Part II - September 4 Make a sound and you die  its the wonderfully simple premise that made the first film the horror hit of 2018, and now Emily Blunt is back for more. The John Krasinski-directed film picks up shortly after the events of the original, with Blunts matriarch leading her family in the wake of an alien apocalypse. Will we finally get some answers to the film's infamous plot holes? The King's Man - September 18 New spy prequel The King's Man explores the origins of the espionage agency at the heart of the recent Kingsman films. The movie appears to be set around the outbreak of World War One and will feature some of the 20th centurys most notorious figures, including Rasputin and Kaiser Wilhelm II. Being a prequel, there's no sign of Colin Firth or Taron Egerton, but the cast still has its fair share of heavy hitters, with Charles Dance, Gemma Arterton and Ralph Fiennes all putting in a turn. Candyman - September 25 The excellent Jordan Peele produces this fresh take on the cult 1992 horror, which revisits the infamous urban legend that states that the demonic figure with a hook for a hand will appear in the mirror if you say his name five times. The first trailer is especially eerie, and offers a first listen for the the films soundtrack, which puts a dark twist on the Destinys Child song Say My Name  not dissimilar to the way Peele twisted the Luniz track I Got 5 On It so effectively in previous film Us. The Many Saints of Newark  September 25 James Gandolfinis son Michael plays a young Tony Soprano in the upcoming Sopranos prequel, telling the story of the mob bosss rise to prominence in New Jerseys criminal underbelly. The film, which plays out against the backdrop of the Newark race riots of the Sixties, is helmed by Sopranos creator David Chase, which should be a relief to the show's legions of fans worried that its legacy will be tarnished. Getty Images Wonder Woman 1984 - October 2 The film that put the DC universe back on track, Wonder Woman, is back for a sequel. Gal Gadot will step into the role once again, taking on archenemy Cheetah (Kristen Wiig) against the backdrop of the Cold War. Good news for fans of Chris Pine, too; filmmakers have found a way to bring back Steve Trevor, despite his apparent death in the first film. Death on the Nile - October 9 Kenneth Branagh is donning his moustache and preposterous French accent for a second time, returning to the role of Agatha Christie's detective Poirot. The follow-up to 2017's middling Murder on the Orient Express is another classic Christie tale, with Gal Gadot, Letitia Wright, Armie Hammer, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders and Russel Brand among the cast. The French Dispatch - October 16 Wes Andersons love letter to journalism is one of the movies that would have been recognised at the postponed Cannes Film Festival, and it looks to be one of the most visually arresting Anderson features to date. Its possible the strongest cast the director has had to play with, too, with the likes of Benicio del Toro, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Lea Seydoux, Frances McDormand, Timothee Chalamet and Bill Murray playing the staff of a European publication. Black Widow - November 6 Scarlett Johansson has had to wait a little longer to star in her first standalone Marvel film, which takes place following the events of 2016 film Captain America: Civil War and sees her unite with her estranged superhero family and face a formidable villain in the seemingly unstoppable Taskmaster. Johansson stars alongside the likes of Florence Pugh, Rachel Weisz and David Harbour. Godzilla v Kong - November 20 We cant be the only ones looking forward to seeing two 100-foot monsters knock 10 bells out of each other later this year. Sure, 2019s Godzilla: King of the Monsters was as silly as they come, but this follow-up is going to be bigger, badder and all the better for it. Soul - November 20 This inventive new Pixar animation film follows jaded teacher, musician and New Yorker Joe Gardner, who dreams of playing at the Blue Note jazz club. After falling down a manhole, he becomes a spirit and enters a surreal new world. There, he connects with another lost soul and reevaluates the things important to him in life. No Time To Die - November 25 One of the first movies to be postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak, the 25th Bond movie is the end of an era. The movie, co-written by Fleabags Phoebe Waller-Bridge, marks Daniel Craigs final outing as James Bond after 14 years and five movies in the role. There are rumours that Bond has a daughter in this one, too, so we may well see a different side of the man. Dune - December 18 David Lynchs take on Frank Herberts epic sci-fi novel Dune proved a notorious mess in 1984, and now visionary filmmaker Denis Villeneuve is attempting to put the record straight. The Arrival and Blade Runner 2049 director will tell the story of a planet containing the most valuable material in the universe, called the spice, with performances from Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin and more. Coming 2 America - December 18 Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall and Wesley Snipes are all on board for this blockbuster comedy sequel. The original tells the story of Prince Akeem (Murphy), who arrives in New York from a fictional African nation in an effort to find a woman interested in more than his wealth and status. The follow-up picks up 30 years later, as Akeem hopes to reunite with his long-lost son. West Side Story - December 18 Master filmmaker Steven Spielberg is rebooting the classic musical, with Baby Drivers Ansel Elgort in the lead role. The remake of the classic tale, itself based on Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet, tells the story of a couple from warring street gangs, with stunning music from Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. Top Gun: Maverick - December 23 Tom Cruise is back in the pilots seat as the legendary Pete Maverick Mitchell, more than three decades after starring in the 1986 original. Fans can expect all the adrenalin and aerial acrobatics of the original, with Val Kilmer, Miles Teller, John Hamm, Glenn Powell, Jennifer Connelly and Jay Ellis all joining Cruise in the case. The first two trailers promise breathtaking aerial aerobatics.

Its surely no coincidence that most of the greatest lines delivered by actresses, in 1950s and 60s, were thought up by gay men. Closeted screenwriter, William Inge, knew what it was like to have to suppress your urges.

The oppressiveness of the Loomis household is palpable. Kazan and cinematographer, Boris Kaufman, (who shot On the Waterfront), fill the frame with clumpy furniture. Huge, cumbersome, lampshades keep blocking our view of Deanie, making clear how little room there is for her in her so-called home. We also get close-ups of her suppers. As gelatinous gravy is poured over a towering pile of meat, we know exactly why Deanie wants to gag.

Bud has his own problems (his dad is a snob, with Neanderthal views on women). After much trauma, he and Deanie get free of their families, but if you think you can guess how this ends, youre probably wrong.

Splendor in the Grass is not a film for romantics. Its ABOUT romantics. The final scenes are astonishingly clear-eyed and make me cry every time.
An unnamed Russian major general has been killed in Deir ez-Zor, when his his convoy hit an improvised explosive device writes Rudaw.

A Russian major general was killed in Syrias eastern province of Deir ez-Zor on Tuesday after their convoy hit an improvised explosive device, Russias Defense Ministry has said.

The explosion took place as a Russian convoy returned from a humanitarian mission, according to a ministry statement published by state-owned TASS news agency. Two Russian servicemen were also injured in the incident.

The unnamed general, also a senior military advisor, died from his wounds after being evacuated, the ministry added.

Russian troops are present throughout the country in support of President Bashar al-Assad, although the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces dominate Deir ez-Zor, where they regularly carry out operations against the Islamic State.

In July, three Russian and several Turkish soldiers were wounded in Idleb province when a joint military patrol was hit by an improvised explosive device.

Another Russian advisor, Lieutenant General Valery Asapov, was killed in the province three years ago.

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 first object discovered in London's largest ever Bronze Age hoard was spotted by a newly qualified archaeologist on his first job out of university.

The Havering Hoard is a treasure trove of 453 artefacts dating back nearly 3,000 years including axe heads, spearheads, daggers, knives and copper ingots.

Harry Platts was 21 when he started working at the dig site in Havering - straight out of university - and after a week he spotted something green at the edge of a trench.

This turned out to be the first piece of metal that eventually formed the Havering hoard and if he hadn't been so eagle-eyed the rest may have remained buried forever.

The object, an axe head, along with other ancient finds including fragments of swords, was entirely hidden between two trenches, in an area not due to be excavated.

Harry Platts was 21 when he started working at the dig site in Havering - straight out of university - and after a week he spotted something green at the edge of a trench

A bracelet discovered in the Havering Hoard are unveiled ahead of the upcoming major exhibition, Havering Hoard: A Bronze Age Mystery, at the Museum of London Docklands

Axe heads discovered in the Havering Hoard are pictured. The treasure trove was filled with various weapons

Mr Platts, told the Times that making the discovery while just 21 was 'completely lucky for me' as they were only digging 50 per cent of the ditch.

'But because all the axes were close together they were almost all in one of the plots of earth that would not have been dug,' he said.

'The axe stuck out by an inch into my slot and it was quite far down, so if my sides hadn't been dead straight we might have missed it.'

Also found were rare a pair of terret rings which are thought to have been used to prevent the reins from tangling on horse-drawn carts.

All the items were found by archaeologists in September 2018 and date back to between 800BC and 900BC.

Platts was on a six-week temporary contract with Archaeological Solutions - who were examining the site before a development project could start.

'The items we found were in small groups so, that evening, we excavated the first group thinking this was it,' Platts said.

'My supervisor and I were digging and drawing, we had other people making photogrammetry models. Other people were GPS recording and cataloguing the finds. By the time I finally got back, it was"Let's crack open the beers."'

The Havering Hoard will be the centrepiece of a display at the Museum of London Docklands which is set to open on September 11.

Experts believe the location may have been a weapon shop or blacksmiths due to how carefully the items were grouped together.

They also haven't ruled out the collection being an offering to the gods - a common practice in Bronze Age societies.

Among the objects found were a pair of terret rings (pictured) - the first Bronze Age examples of their kind ever found in the UK. They are believed to have been used to prevent the reins from tangling on horse-drawn carts

Pictured: Curator Kate Sumnall with a rare terret ring discovered in the Havering Hoard. This find provides insight into how people and goods may have travelled cross-country

The treasure trove of 453 artefacts dating back nearly 3,000 years includes axe heads, spearheads, fragments of swords, daggers, knives and copper ingots. Items were found by archaeologists in September 2018 and date back to between 800BC and 900BC

It is well-known that Bronze Age societies made sacrifices to appease their gods and offerings were made by either burying the sacrifice or placing it in water.

Almost all the objects found as part of this hoard appear to be partially broken or damaged.

Historic England chief executive Duncan Wilson said: 'This extraordinary discovery adds immensely to our understanding of Bronze Age life.'

The museum acquired the objects after they were declared treasure by the coroner.

As part of the new major exhibition, Havering Hoard: A Bronze Age Mystery, visitors will have the chance to study the objects uncovered by Platts and the team.

With all 453 artefacts on display alongside objects from the museum's collection, the exhibition will explore why the hoard came to be at its location near the Thames.

Kate Sumnall, Curator of Archaeology at the Museum of London, said the hoard will be displayed in its entirety for the first time.

'This is a hugely significant archaeological find that adds valuable new information into a fascinating moment of London's past,' Sumnall said.

The so-called Havering Hoard will be the centrepiece of a display at the the Museum of London Docklands set to open on September 11. The hoard will travel to the Havering Museum for display after going on show at the Museum Of London Docklands

Experts believe the location may have been a weapon shop or blacksmiths due to how carefully the items were grouped together. They also haven't ruled out the collection being an offering to the gods, a common practice in Bronze Age societies
It is likely to be a stormy affair with divergent views on market borrowing. Centre will likely press states to borrow to make up for the shortfall, but states want either the Centre or the GST Council to do so.

Expanding the scope of the compensation cess under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime will be part of the deliberations at the much-anticipated single-algenda GST Council meeting on August 27 to thrash out an alternative compensation mechanism for states in light of inadequate cess collections.

It will hold another meeting on September 19 to discuss other issues such as the e-way bill on gold and overarching tech changes in GST returns.

Increasing the cess period by another two to five years, widening the coverage of the compensation cess to include more goods and services, raising cess on existing items, and borrowing from the market to meet the shortfall will be discussed.

The meeting is expected to be a stormy affair with divergent views likely to be aired.

This is because the Centre will likely press states to borrow to make up for the shortfall, but states want either the Centre or the GST Council to do so.

Attorney General KK Venugopal recommended to the Centre to allow states to borrow on the strength of future receipts from the compensation fund.

Most states are opposed to this, arguing that it will be financially inefficient.

States will pitch for a two to five-year extension of the GST compensation period beyond the promised five years up to 2022.

Also on the agenda is a proposal to bring goods and services that earlier attracted 28 per cent tax under the compensation kitty.

Bihar Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi told Business Standard that the idea of states borrowing was not feasible, arguing that eventually they will have to provide a guarantee for the borrowed amount, which would mean an increase in the fiscal deficit by 1-1.5 percentage points.

It seems unlikely there will be a surplus in the compensation cess fund in the next five years.

"It is not feasible for the states to borrow as it will mean that the compensation cess will have to be extended by another 5-10 years to repay the loan, said Modi.

He added that even if revenue collections in 2020-21 are projected at 65 per cent of the revenues collected in 2019-20, there would be a gap of Rs 2.67 trillion for states.
New figures released by the CSO show the number of Irish people returning home is at its highest level since 2007.

The figures show 28,900 Irish nationals returned to live in Ireland from abroad in the year to April 2020.

While 85,400 persons immigrated to Ireland, Irish nationals returning to Ireland are the highest section of people to migrate here since the height of the economic boom in 2007.

The new figures also show the population increased to an estimated 4.98 million in April 2020.

This shows an increase by 55,900 (+1.1%) in the year to April 2020 compared to an increase of 64,500 (+1.3%) in the year to April 2019.

CSO statistician James Hegarty explained that the increase in returning Irish is in large part due to the pandemic.

Last year 26,900 Irish nationals returned from abroad. This year to April it was 28,900.

We know between March and April there was a substantial enough repatriation due to the Be on Call for Ireland HSE drive for healthcare workers.

That would certainly be a part of increasing the number.

But you dont have huge variation either. The biggest previous number was in 2007, which was 30,700.

Then around the recession years, it dropped to 23,000.

For the last few years it has been hovering around the 27/28000 figure so it is marginally higher than other years, but a good bit higher than last year, he said.

Mr Hegarty explained that the new figures show 700 less people emigrated from Ireland this year compared to last.

Its double-sided issue, last year 2,100 more people left than returned- 26,900 returned and 29,000 left.

And 28,300 left this year. There is a variety of reasons for it. The Covid pandemic certainly had an impact on the returning Irish.

Also in terms of those leaving, there are not that many countries of choice to go to either.

The US, for example, is closed off now and Brexit looming in the UK is also a factor, he said.

The latest figures also show In April 2020, 644,400 non-Irish nationals were estimated to be resident in Ireland, accounting for 12.9% of the total population

The population of Dublin in April 2020 was estimated to be almost 1.42 million persons, 28.5% of the total population

In terms of the age profile 720,100 persons were estimated to be aged 65 years and over, reflecting an increase of 90,200 persons (+14.3%), in this age group since April 2016.

'The combined effect of positive net migration and natural increase resulted in population growth of 55,900 (+1.1%) in the year to April 2020, compared to an increase of 64,500 (+1.3%) in the year to April 2019. This annual increase brings the population estimate to 4.98 million in April 2020," added Hegarty.

The number of immigrants to the State in the year to April 2020 is estimated to be 85,400, while the number of emigrants from the State over the same period is estimated at 56,500.

These flows resulted in net inward migration for Ireland in the year to April 2020 of 28,900, a reduction of 4,800 (-14.2%) on the previous year.

The number of births was 58,300 while the number of deaths was 31,200, resulting in a natural increase of 27,100 in the year to April 2020.

This is the lowest level of natural increase recorded since the 2001 population estimates.

Irish nationals accounted for 28,900 (33.8%) of the 85,400 immigrants to Ireland, this is the highest number of returning Irish nationals since 2007.

Of the 56,500 emigrants from Ireland 28,300 (50.1%) were estimated to be Irish nationals. Consequently, net inward migration of Irish nationals in the year to April 2020 was just over 500.

This represents an increase of 2,600 on the year to April 2019 when net outward migration of Irish nationals was estimated to be -2,100.
Airbnbs announcement on Thursday that the company will impose an indefinite global ban on all parties and events at properties booked through the online platform was met with skepticism by Toronto residents who have been fighting for years for tighter controls.

I think what they are doing here is just performative, said Thorben Wieditz, a researcher for Fairbnb, a coalition of residents, tenants, labour groups and businesses, including hotels and hotel associations.

Wieditz said the company, which is planning an IPO in 2020, is trying to impress investors by appearing to address the problem of partying at Airbnb rentals.

Airbnb spokesperson Alexandra Dagg dismissed the criticism, saying that Airbnb has been working with local governments around the world, including in Canada, on a safe return to travel following the COVID-19 lockdown.

The company said it knows that when public health regulations concerning bars, clubs and pubs were in flux  they were closed for all but take-out for weeks  some guests chose to bring bar and club behaviour into homes rented through the Airbnb platform.

We think such conduct is incredibly irresponsible  we do not want that type of business, and anyone engaged in or allowing that behaviour does not belong on our platform, the company said in a release.

Airbnb has also moved to cap the number of people at any rental at 16  primarily in large homes, where social distancing is possible.

Thats a small convention, Id say, said Wieditz.

Toronto Public Health continues to recommend people keep their social circles to no more than 10.

The problem of partying at Airbnb rentals has cropped up repeatedly in Toronto, including in January, when three men died after gunfire erupted inside a downtown condo building in a unit that had been rented through the online service.

Unless they add enforcement  put meat to their words  nothing is going to happen, said Winston Ma, who lives at 300 Front St., and has had to put up with strangers partying at Airbnb units in his building for about the past five years.

Ma said the problem persisted during the pandemic, even though Ontario temporarily banned Airbnb and other short-term rentals in April.

Weve had parties every single weekend since the beginning of the pandemic, said Ma.

Wieditz and Ma say the issue isnt people renting out their own homes from time to time, its companies that own numerous properties they do not occupy, renting them out continuously.

A new city of Toronto bylaw makes it illegal for people to rent out homes they dont themselves live in, but was challenged by a group of property owners.

Although the property owners ultimately lost, the legal challenge, together with the COVID crisis, has delayed implementation of the bylaw.

Many city services have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as resources have been redirected to emergency response and recovery, according to the citys municipal licensing and standards department.

The number of complaints regarding short-term rentals has grown steadily since 2014, when there were 213 unique complaints, according to the city. In 2019, there were 1,024. There were only 252 complaints in the first seven months of 2020.

The city is hopeful that Airbnbs ban on parties will result in fewer complaints.

The ban will remain in place until further notice, according to the company.

Airbnb said that while the vast majority of its guests behave within the rules and with respect for neighbours, it began imposing much stricter limits last year, banning listings that create a persistent nuisance.

It also launched a 24/7 neighbourhood support hotline in the U.S. and Canada. It instituted a manual review of so-called high-risk bookings  people booking properties for one night close to where they live, for example  and placed restrictions on allowing guests under the age of 25 without a history of positive reviews.

Guests will be informed about Airbnbs party rules and informed that they may be legally pursued by Airbnb if they violate our policy. This work is currently being operationalized and will be rolled out in the near future, according to Airbnbs press release.

Wieditz said Fairbnb research has shown that Airbnb cant be profitable enough to be attractive to investors if it doesnt let multi-unit operators use their platform.

Airbnb says it operates successfully around the world under different regulations, including in Vancouver, which adopted regulations similar to the new Toronto bylaw in 2018.

The San Francisco-based company filed preliminary paperwork this week to launch its IPO on Wall Street. The number of shares, price, and timing have not been determined.

While the pandemic initially hurt demand for the 7 million properties listed by Airbnb and 2020 revenues will likely be less than half of what the company booked last year, demand has rebounded, the company said this week.

With files from The Associated Press

Francine Kopun is a Toronto-based reporter covering city hall and municipal politics for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @KopunF
In high school, our physical education teacher would tell us use it or lose it. Of course, he meant use your muscles or lose your muscles. Ill admit, I was pretty motivated by this approach to scare us into pushing ourselves harder at sport, especially since whatever muscle I did have, I was not prepared to lose it for not running an extra ten metres.

The common theme in the book of Kings reveals that God was eager to commission leaders of the tribes of Israel to fulfil his plan to guide them back to God. He was so passionate that he would offer wisdom at the drop of a hat to help them better lead his people, and yet, one after another, the Kings of Israel would fall short of the task for which they were abundantly resourced.

Not only would they fall short, but they would openly defy Gods will in favour of the tangible objects of Canaanite worship or the spoils of a war gone too far. The power and position given to them, was for the purpose of redeeming the people of Israel, not guiding them further away. Nevertheless, God was quick to correct these injustices by utilising his own use it or lose it technique, often cursing the family line and removing them (sometimes brutally) from their position to make way for another.

The kings of Israel had a very simple role in Gods plan; rid Israel of idolatry, worship only the God of Israel, and remain faithful to the covenant, as stated at the beginning of the telling of each king in the book. What is clear is that God is not limited by resources such as people or time; he doesnt become less powerful every time a king of Israel is disobedient, or because the people of Israel decide to worship a steel cow.

Accountability prophets

The second important element to this book is the installation of Gods accountability system for the Kings, which was kinda like having a personal trainer at the gym except they just tell you how fat youll get if you dont do the exercises. God had raised up two prophets, Elijah and Elisha, to encourage some of the Kings to keep Gods commands and, if needed, warn the consequences of disobedience. With accountability as serious as this, its hard to see where the Kings could possibly go wrong.

Elijah came to confront Ahab (king of Israel) in chapter 17 after Ahab had built temples to the false gods in Samaria and announced to him there would not be rain for years unless God deemed it so. Its said in chapter 16, Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him.

Nevertheless, God gave opportunity to king Ahab numerous times to redeem his people and honour the covenant, but no matter how intense Elijahs message came across, Ahab had sold himself to the gods of the earth, continuing his evil until he was eventually killed in battle.

Slight disobedience is okay, right?

Luckily towards the end of Kings, we see that there are actually a few good ones who were wise and attempted to redeem their kingdoms such as Hezekiah and Josiaheasy to say, God was pleased with them. Amaziah, King of Judah wouldve also been considered one of the good ones if it werent for the fact that he didnt remove worship in the high places which was a sign of disobedience to God regardless of the fact he had done most things right.

Even the most powerful, wealthy, chosen, blessed and wise kings were responsible for their own downfall because they didnt remain steadfast on the task they were positioned for. These kings of Israel were servants of God but were lost in their own pride and saw themselves as being above God.

Small steps, big change

Each time kingship was passed on, the kings actions were immediately compared to the previous ruler by only one criteria: did he do more or less evil in the eyes of God than his predecessor?

The kings who practiced ungodly evil werent considered evildoers among the people explicitly, because their actions were being measured by the standard of men, not the expectation of God. At one point of Solomons reign, he had drifted so far away from replicating his father, Davids revered leadership, and closer to echoing the likes of pharaoh and Ahab, which evidently made him the last king of a unified Israel.

The precedent of leadership in Israel was set by Solomons actions and sparked hundreds of years of domino effect monarchy, where each new king would fall short of the previous until their people were eventually defeated and exiled. If each of these kings had used God as a reference point and continually kept their kingdom in check, they wouldnt have drifted off-course with small and gradual steps towards evil. Instead, they would have been echoing the nature of God.
Several Goodyear tires, now scorned by some Americans. Jared C. Tilton/NASCAR via Getty Images

President Donald Trump encouraged his supporters to boycott Goodyear Tire after a leaked employee training slide said to be from the company deemed apparel supporting Trump "unacceptable."

In response, some Trump supporters have praised Cooper Tire, another Ohio-based manufacturer.

Neither company responded to a Business Insider inquiry.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

President Donald Trump told his supporters to boycott Goodyear Tire on Wednesday.

His message, which he posted on his Twitter account, was in response to a leaked training slide said to be from Goodyear that told workers to not wear political apparel, including MAGA attire.

The slide, published by Topeka, Kansas news station 13-WIBW, said attire that expressed support for Black Lives Matter or LGBT rights are okay. In the "unacceptable" column included apparel declaring Blue Lives Matter or All Lives Matter or political slogans, particularly "MAGA Attire."

"Don't buy GOODYEAR TIRES - They announced a BAN ON MAGA HATS," he said on Twitter. "Get better tires for far less! (This is what the Radical Left Democrats do. Two can play the same game, and we have to start playing it now!)."

In response, some Trump supporters have taken to Twitter to praise Cooper Tire. Both tire manufacturers are based in Ohio, though Cooper is relatively puny ($2.8 billion in sales last year) compared to Goodyear ($14.7 billion).

Won't buy there crap then I buy cooper tires for my trucks pic.twitter.com/JHYi7hjxg4  Kevin marsh (@Kevinma63649671) August 19, 2020

Dats right...Cooper Tires in Ohio is a GREAT alternative to #BoycottGoodyear. Then there are a host of others made in the USA, but the Companies are are overseas, because WE LET THEM BUY our Companies!  Im a Linda too (@ImaLindatoo) August 19, 2020

It amazes me to see liberals, who know absolutely nothing about the people of Ohio, proclaim that Trump just "lost" Ohio because they think the people have more loyalty to Goodyear than they do to their local law enforcement and their country  #BoycottGoodyear



Buy Cooper Tires  #CallAli (@CallAli16) August 19, 2020

Story continues

#BoycottGoodyear and buy Cooper Tires which is an Ohio based company since 1914. #maga #FreeSpeech  Parler: @Kckshrugged /Free Carpe (@kckshrugged) August 19, 2020

I bought new Wrangler Ultra Terrain tires for my Tacoma 60 days ago. I just called up the tire store and ordered Cooper AT3 and I will PAY to have them swapped out. How's that for commitment?#BoycottGoodyear #boycottgoodyeartires  Robert - Resist Hate Vote Trump (@AzOtterman) August 19, 2020

Neither company responded to a Business Insider inquiry around the Goodyear boycott and shift to Cooper. However, Goodyear issued a statement on August 19 saying its corporate office did not create or distribute the slide. It was also not part of a diversity training class, Goodyear said.

"To be clear on our longstanding corporate policy, Goodyear has zero tolerance for any forms of harassment or discrimination," the statement read. "To enable a work environment free of those, we ask that associates refrain from workplace expressions in support of political campaigning for any candidate or political party, as well as similar forms of advocacy that fall outside the scope of racial justice and equity issues."

Shares of Goodyear fell by 4% today, though half of that decline has since been recovered. Cooper's stock price enjoyed a bump of 1%.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Actor Sonu Sood who has emerged as the modern-day messiah of sorts for the common people took to Twitter to share how the pressure to help has exponentially increased. He took to social media to also apologise for not being able to reach out to everyone. "It is humanly impossible," he said.

In a tweet, Sonu Sood said, "1,137 mails, 19,000 FB messages, 4,812 Insta messages, 6,741 Twitter messages. Today's HELP messages. On an average these are the number of requests I get for HELP. It is humanly impossible to reach out to everyone. I still try my best. Apologies if I missed your message."

1137. mails.

19000. fb messages

4812. Insta messages

6741. twitter messages.



Todays HELP messages.

On an average these are the number of requests I get for HELP. It is humanly impossible to reach out to everyone. I still try my best.

Apologies if I missed your message  sonu sood (@SonuSood) August 20, 2020

Sonu Sood is also very active on Twitter and is usually seen replying to messages for help. He is also frequently seen -- as is now very well-known -- agreeing to help people.

Sood's ascent to this avatar was first noticed when he arranged buses for migrants amid the lockdown. Most recently, the actor sent migrant workers back to their villages in Maharashtra and Konkan to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi. Reportedly, 300 workers have already left and more are scheduled to leave soon. He arranged for buses, trains and flights for workers.

The actor is not only helping people across the country but also assisting in the evacuation of medical students in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia and the Philippines.

Sonu Sood also has an initiative, Pravasi Rojgar, through which his team has employed over a lakh. Additional 10,000 are lined up.

He has reportedly been approached by filmmakers for films on his philanthropy. The actor is writing a book on his missions. "I want to thank God for making me a catalyst in helping the migrants. While my heart beats in Mumbai, after this movement I feel a part of me lives in the villages of UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam and Uttarakhand and various other states where I have now found new friends and made deep connections. I have decided to put these experiences, stories that are embedded in my soul forever, in a book," he said in a statement.

Also read: Migrant crisis: Sonu Sood sends 180 workers to Assam's Silchar from Mumbai

Also read: Bollywood actor Sonu Sood funds another chartered flight to ferry 173 migrants to Dehradun
One of two men who died when their small boat capsized on Moreton Bay on Wednesday has been named and described as a "massive-hearted gentleman" who was "the life of the party".

Darryl Francis, 75, from Tinana, near Maryborough, was plucked from the water near Green Island and flown to the Princess Alexandra Hospital, but died shortly after.

Boat capsize victim Darryl Francis, 75, (left) pictured with his brother Athol (right) at the Dunga Derby charity event. Credit:Dunga Derby by Rally for a Cause - Facebook

He was one of two fishermen killed. The other victim was a 70-year-old from Alexandra Hills, east of Brisbane, who could not be revived after he was also pulled from the water, police said.

The official Facebook page for the Dunga Derby, which is part of the Rally for a Cause initiative raising funds for charitable causes on the Fraser Coast and Sunshine Coast, paid tribute to Mr Francis on Thursday after his team raised more than $13,500 during last year's race.
About 240 million years ago a 15ft long dolphin-like sea lizard gorged on a 12ft reptile and its bones have have been found in the remains of the giant beast's stomach.

The exact cause of death is unknown, according to a team from the University of California, Davis, but analysis reveals the predator died shortly after its enormous meal.

This prehistoric ichthyosaur had jaws powerful enough to rip the smaller marine lizard to pieces before eating it and researchers say 'it started in the middle'.

This is the largest fossil ever found inside another creature, according to the team behind the discovery, who said it took several years before they accepted the find.

The species, Guizhouichthyosaurus, a type of marine lizard was unearthed at a quarry in southwestern China in 2010 with the smaller thalattosaur lizard in its stomach.

This image shows the ichthyosaur specimen with its stomach contents visible as a block that extrudes from its body

Ichthyosaurs were a group of marine reptiles that appeared in the oceans after the Permian mass extinction, about 250 million years ago.

They had fish-like bodies similar to modern tuna, but breathed air like dolphins and whales and like modern great white sharks - it's believed they were apex predators.

Co-author Professor Ryosuke Motani, said despite this theory there had been no direct evidence that the species actually was an apex predator - until they studied the remains.

'We always guessed from tooth shape and jaw design that these predators must have fed on large prey - but now we have direct evidence that they did,' Motani said.

The stomach of this 240-million year old fossil ichthyosaur contains the mid-section of another marine reptile that in life would have been only slight smaller

'Our ichthyosaur's stomach contents weren't etched by stomach acid, so it must have died quite soon after ingesting this food item.'

The researchers spent years visiting the dig site where the remains were found - looking at the same specimens - until they believed what they were seeing.

On examination, they identified the smaller bones as belonging to another marine reptile, Xinpusaurus xingyiensis, which belonged to a group called thalattosaurs.

Xinpusaurus was more lizard-like in appearance than an ichthyosaur, with four paddling limbs - found still attached to its body inside the larger beasts stomach.

This showed the predator's last meal was the thalattosaur's middle section - from its front to back legs. It had been snapped in three. Its head has not been found.

Their small, peg-like teeth had previously been thought to be adapted for grasping small, soft prey such as the squid-like animals abundant in the oceans at the time.

Carnivores that consume large animals are often assumed to have huge teeth adapted for slicing them up - but this discovery suggests that isn't always the case.

It's the first direct evidence of ancient megapredation - one large animal eating another

Prof Motani said Guizhouichthyosaurus used its inch-long teeth to grip its prey - perhaps breaking the spine with the force of its bite before ripping it apart.

Modern apex predators such as orca and crocodiles use a similar strategy.

Stomach contents are rarely found in marine fossils - leaving researchers to rely on tooth and jaw shapes to estimate what prehistoric species feasted on.

Prof Motani said: 'Now we can seriously consider they were eating big animals - even when they had grasping teeth - suggesting the cutting edge was not crucial.

'It's pretty clear that this animal could process this large food item using blunt teeth.'

The team no know the ichthyosaur killed rather than scavenge and could eat animals larger than a human - and almost as big as itself.

This image shows the ichthyosaur's teeth, with the broken white line indicating the approximate gum line of the upper jaw

This image shows the quarry dig site where ichthyosaur and thalattosaur were uncovered, now part of the Xingyi Geopark Museum in China

'We now have a really solid articulated fossil in the stomach of a marine reptile for the first time,' explained Professor Motani.

The team is still excavating the site where the pair of fossils were found - which has now been turned into a museum - they've been digging there for a decade.

'At this point, it's beyond our initial expectations, and we'll just have to see what we'll discover next.'

The findings have been published in the Cell journal iScience.
State education leaders are looking for partners with experience that can scale to meet their needs as they wrestle with the challenges of the global pandemic. Increasingly, these leaders have turned to Canvas to provide the needed digital foundation for learning that can quickly adapt to support classes whether they are in-person, online, or require a hybrid model. Consistent use of an LMS ensures a smoother transition for teachers and students as they return to school, and ensures parents can stay informed and involved in their children's education.

"We have seen that Canvas creates a more equitable and consistent learning experience for students in the classroom and online whether it's used to support a 2nd grade spelling assignment, an 8th grade algebra class, a 12th grade AP English class, or their bachelor's degree honor's thesis," said Melissa Loble, chief customer experience officer at Instructure.

School districts across all 50 states use Canvas to meet the needs of their students and educators. Thirteen of these states offer Canvas as a statewide solution. State education leaders in Alaska, Iowa, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah, and Wyoming have implemented statewide agreements that allow every district in the state the opportunity to use Canvas. Wyoming and New Hampshire have made Canvas available for students from kindergarten through college.

"We want to provide the right level of leadership and equity across the state, and it is especially important that this project supports educators in the field who interact with students on a daily basis," said Tamara Van Wyhe, Division Director at Alaska Department of Education & Early Development. "The Canvas team understands that implementations don't look the same for every state, and worked with us to strike the right balance ensuring our districts and educators got what they needed to support an excellent education for every student, every day."

Other states such as Vermont and Virginia have adopted Canvas statewide for use across their virtual school programs to ensure consistency in the online experience. More than 1.5 million students across Texas use Canvas to support their learning journey through local district contracts; and the Texas Education Agency has partnered with Instructure to offer Canvas in support of statewide Reading Academies for educators.

"The Department's investment in Canvas and Digital Engineers, our online experts, is a statewide strategy to support students, educators, and families as they engage in various forms of distance education," said Jhone Ebert, State Superintendent of Public Instruction in Nevada. "This investment goes beyond the pandemic as it positions Nevada into the future. We now have a strategic and cohesive link with the Nevada System of Higher Learning."

Canvas supports state education leaders by providing a platform based on open standards that encourage districts to integrate Canvas with other leading educational technologies. The open interoperability between platforms helps maximize instructional time so teachers are free to work with students individually, address their social or emotional needs, and differentiate or personalize instruction. Canvas also supports and enhances instructional strategies by helping measure student progress, instructional strategies, and curriculum effectiveness. It also offers a place for educators to address their own growth and professional development.

About Instructure:

Instructure helps people grow from the first day of school to the last day of work. More than 30 million people use the Canvas Learning Management Platform for schools and the Bridge Employee Development Platform for businesses. Learn more at www.instructure.com .

CONTACT:

Cory Edwards

Vice President, Corporate Communications

Instructure

(801) 869-5258

[email protected]

SOURCE Canvas; Instructure
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The NYPD touted via social media the arrest of a New Jersey driver in the hit-and-run crash in Annadale that resulted in the death of a 32-year-old Staten Island mother.

Detectives in the 123rd Precinct, where the crash occurred, are among those officers praised for the apprehension of suspect Tashawn Beckford, 23, of West End Avenue in Newark, in connection with the death of Christine Dahlstrom of Tottenville.

We are very pleased to announce the arrest of Tashawn Beckford in regards to the tragic vehicular homicide of Christine Dahlstrom, said a post on the 123rd Precinct Twitter feed. Without the hard work of the 123 Detective Squad & the S.I. Homicide Squad this arrest would not have been possible.

Beckford faces murder charges in the fatal hit-and-run where he stole a Lexus SUV on April 25 on the Island and used it to travel at a high rate of speed in excess of the posted speed limit crossing over the solid double yellow lines into the oncoming lane of traffic, the indictment alleges.

Beckford then ran a red light at Arden Avenue and Annadale Road, striking two vehicles, according to police and the indictment.

Dahlstrom, a mother of two children and a passenger in one of those vehicles, died following the crash.

A man who was in the second car was seriously injured as well, according to the indictment.

Beckford was arraigned in state Supreme Court, St. George, Wednesday afternoon, was remanded without bail and is due back in court on Sept. 14.

He is facing multiple charges including murder, manslaughter, assault and leaving the scene of an accident.
TDT | Manama

Health Minister Faeqa bint Saeed Al Saleh received American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) in the GCC elected president Dr Nisreen Al Sayed, who is also a diabetes, endocrinology and lipopathy consultant. The minister praised her significant contributions in scientific and medical research that have raised the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment services on an international level.

The meeting reviewed medical issues related to studying, diagnosing and treating diseases, especially lipid imbalance, high cholesterol, genetic factor role, and the importance of early diagnosis for such diseases.

The minister was briefed on AACE activities in the GCC and discussed the possibility of developing a national strategy for lipid deficiency diseases in Bahrain, as Dr Al Sayed was chosen to represent the Kingdom in European Genetic Cholesterol and Atherosclerosis Society, being the only Bahraini and the first Gulf Arab to obtain the American Board in the field of lipid imbalance.

Dr Al Sayed expressed appreciation for the ministrys support and cooperation. She praised the Kingdoms initiatives such as announcing a day to celebrate Bahraini doctors and dedicating HRH the Premier Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifas award for Bahraini Doctors.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky declares the need to reform villages.

"I would like to set a task for the government to prepare us a principled, state approach to villages, to small towns. Reform of the village. I think that on the example of this Sadove [the village of Sadove in Kherson region, which Zelensky visited during his working trip on Thursday] ... and the name would be very symbolic  Sadove reform," Zelensky told reporters in Kherson region on Thursday.

According to the president, jobs should be created in every village, and residents should have access to schools, medical care, and online services. At the same time, he noted with regret that there is no need to talk about online services in the villages - the Internet is not always present there.

Zelensky told about his visit to the village school in Sadove, where 128 children study, and about the fears of the village residents that as a result of the educational reform this educational institution will not exist.

"I told them that this will never happen: we will not allow it," the head of state said.

He promised to raise this issue at a meeting with acting Minister of Education Serhiy Shkarlet.
Hong Kong Erases Banned Political Groups From School Teaching Materials

2020-08-19 -- Educational publishers in Hong Kong have begun erasing references to banned political groups and inserting positive references to the ruling Chinese Communist Party, as authorities there begin rolling out "patriotic education" in the city's schools.

Textbook publishers said they were deleting references to the now-dissolved pro-democracy political groups Demosisto and Hong Kong Indigenous, while a reference to the separation of powers typical of democratic societies had been erased from Liberal Studies teaching materials.

The postponement of Legislative Council (LegCo) elections for one year, and the imposition of several decrees on Hong Kong by Beijing, show that Beijing is already moving towards an executive-led government in Hong Kong.

The ruling Chinese Communist Party has already outlawed any talk of the separation of powers in mainland China.

Liberal Studies, a compulsory subject required for college entrance in Hong Kong, has been blamed by Beijing and the Hong Kong authorities for fueling a string of mass protests by young people in recent years, including movements against Beijing's "patriotic education" program and for fully democratic elections in the city.

Former Liberal Studies teacher Yeung Chi-chun, who was blinded in his right eye when riot police moved against protesters outside government headquarters on June 12, 2019, said the authorities are ignoring the root causes of protests in recent years.

"Civil disobedience has always been discussed as part of Liberal Studies, but now they seem to be avoiding it, because they are afraid that something bad will happen if they talk about it, so they don't talk about it," Yeung told RFA.

"I don't think they understand the root of the problem, why young people have participated in demonstrations for so many years: it's because the government has really done a poor job," he said.

Turning point for education

The move comes after chief executive Carrie Lam said that the imposition by Beijing of a draconian national security law for Hong Kong was a "turning point" for education in the city.

The education department sent out a memo to schools in July, shortly after the law banning subversion, sedition, separatism, and terrorism took effect, warning them to strengthen the "national identity" and work within the ethos of the national security law.

Hong Kong security secretary John Lee has also warned of a crackdown in the city's schools, referring to some teachers as "bad apples" who had engaged in "unprofessional conduct" by influencing their students in a way likely to encourage their opposition to the authorities.

Some 26 teachers have been sanctioned for "misconduct" since the anti-extradition movement escalated in June 2019, broadening into mass demands for official accountability and full democracy, as well as a cry of protest over ever-diminishing freedoms.

Hong Kong police have said that 3,725 of the 9,216 people arrested during the protests were students, around 45 percent of whom were still in secondary education.

Article 10 of the new law requires the Hong Kong government to "promote national security education in schools and universities."

Catholic Diocese urges compliance

The Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong has asked its schools to nurture their students' sense of national identity, the Apple Daily newspaper reported.

"Starting from the new academic year in September, Catholic schools should guide their teachers and staff members to help students better understand the national security law and national anthem law," it quoted the diocese as saying in a letter to schools.

It urged schools to implement policies to prevent the "politicization of campuses," adding that schools should respond positively to suggestions made by the Education Bureau, and should write to parents on issues of particular concern, the report said.

China has already set up a "national security education center" for young people from Hong Kong and Macau across the border in Shenzhen, state media said in a recent report.

The center "aims to help Hong Kong and Macau young people enhance their constitutional and national awareness through education," the Global Times reported.

"Fifteen minutes from Hong Kong by high-speed train, Shenzhen is a window to learning more about the Chinese mainland for many Hong Kong youths, who visit the city to see the great development and achievements made by the motherland," the paper, which has close ties to official Communist Party paper the People's Daily, said.

Around 100 teachers, staff arrested

Around 100 staff members from primary schools and kindergartens have been arrested since protests began last year, it said, citing education secretary Kevin Yeung.

The Paris-based press freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said on Wednesday that the government is "using the new law to curtail peaceful speech and protests and arrest critics," citing the arrest earlier this month of media mogul Jimmy Lai and a raid on his Apple Daily newspaper.

"The events of the past week clearly show the law's potential for abuse in establishing a climate of fear and self-censorship and the threat it poses to rule of law and fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong," RSF said in a statement co-signed by other non-government groups including Freedom House and Human Rights Watch (HRW).

"The national security law provides for criminal penalties of up to life imprisonment for the broadly-defined crimes of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign powers," the group said.

Reported by Lau Siu-fung for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.

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A British art dealer and his financier partner have been found shot dead at their home in Malta.

Ivor Maciejowski, a Briton of Polish descent, was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds on the top floor of his home in the resort town of Sliema on Tuesday night.

Christian Pandolfino, his Maltese partner, was found dead on the lower floor of the property around 10.30pm after police were called to reports of gunfire.

Financier Christian Pandolfino (left) and his art-dealer partner Ivor Maciejowski (right) have been found shot to death in their apartment in Malta

Maciejowski, a Briton of Polish heritage, was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds on the upper floor of the home, while Pandolfino was found dead downstairs

Officers are now hunting three gunmen who were seen entering the house, before fleeing the area in a white car.

No description of the suspects has been issued, and officers have not yet disclosed a motive for the crime.

Maciejowski was a contemporary art dealer while Pandolfino was a collector, and the pair were known to keep a large amount of fine art in their home.

Officers say there are signs of a struggle inside the property, but have not revealed whether any valuables were taken.

Maciejowski is seen posing alongside artworks by Andy Warhol in an image uploaded to his Instagram last year

CCTV from the area shows that Pandolfino left the home around 7pm to have dinner with friends, and returned home around 10pm. Maciejowski stayed at home, the Times of Malta reported.

Footage then showed three men entering the property at 10.19pm, before leaving again at 10.23, around the time gunshots were reported to police.

Officers say the men were driven away from the scene by a fourth person, who waited in a white car nearby.

Maciejowski and Pandolfino had been dating for at least four years, friends said, after meeting in London where they both lived for a time.

Mr Maciejowski had previously owned a UK-based online gallery, which records show was dissolved in 2019.

Meanwhile Mr Pandolfino had recently become a shareholder of Sliema-based Art Decor Properties and Interiors.

Before that he had worked in London's financial sector, and is also thought to be a trained doctor.

The news shocked Malta's LGBTQ community, and in a Facebook post Malta Pride suggested the crime had been a 'botched hold up'.

It said: 'Tragic is an understatement.

'Although details of the case are still emerging, it seems that this was a botched hold up and not necessarily related to being a homophobic hate crime.

Police have not yet revealed a motive for the attack, but the couple were known to keep a large collection of fine art in their apartment (building, pictured)

'It would be sensible to wait and see at this point without making any rash conclusions.'

Meanwhile, Mr Pandolfino's nephew, Luca Pandolfino, said on Facebook that his family had lost 'two gentle giants'.

He said: 'We all are still trying to make sense of things during these tragic times.

'Yesterday the world lost two gentle giants who were the two nicest people you could ever meet, keep your loved ones close because you never know when they could be taken away from you.

'Rest in peace uncle Chris and Ivor.'

The investigation is ongoing.
Facing a $2.9 million shortfall due to thousands of utilities customers not paying their bills, Laredo City Council on Monday voted to send out disconnect notice warnings  pink paper and all  that will encourage these customers to utilize the citys utilities assistance program.

Right when the pandemic began in March, City Council voted to not disconnect anyones essential services such as water and wastewater. In May, city administration implemented a utilities assistance program that customers could apply to if they had lost their job due to COVID-19.

The city allocated $4.5 million from various savings accounts to pay for this program, which will give those who qualify $125 a month to pay toward a delinquent balance on their utilities bill.

Assistant City Manager Riazul Mia said customers have only utilized $241,000 from this program; meanwhile 3,400 customers have stopped paying their bill entirely.

Customers learned that they wouldnt have their water shut off either way, so theres no incentive to pay right now, City Manager Robert Eads said.

The thing is, 3,400 customers is a lot of customers, Councilman Merc Martinez said. So word is out already. Dont pay it, theyre not going to disconnect you anyway. Its spreading in all our neighborhoods.

Councilman Marte Martinez said often people dont pick up their phone or open letters. But a disconnect notice is more likely to get their attention, he said.

Mia noted that they would like to start disconnecting again on Oct. 1, so sending out these preemptive notices will give customers six weeks to sign up for the assistance program.

Councilwoman Nelly Vielma worried that it will be hard for some customers to prove that they lost their job due to the pandemic. To qualify for the assistance program, they need to show documents from the Texas Workforce Commission.

We do have a lot of people who do not have papers or perhaps did not get an unemployment notice because of the type of job they might do, and so they might be disqualified automatically, she said.

However, council did not move to change the requirements to qualify.

Councilman Marte Martinez said this is a difficult issue because theyre dealing with both a humanitarian crisis and budget shortfalls that could affect infrastructure funding.

The last thing they want to do is again tell utilities customers that theyll have to raise rates, he said.

Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has received a petition requesting the anti-graft agency to probe the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, and Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei.

The anti-graft agency has invited a group, Foundation for True Freedom and Good Governance, to adopt the petition today (Thursday).

Agency officials said, adoption of the petition is a standard practice to enable the commission to verify the signatories before, commencement of investigation of the allegations against the two public officers bordering on alleged diversion of public funds.

The Senate Ad Hoc Committee headed by Sen. Olubunmi Adetumbi, which investigated the NDDC activities, said it uncovered mismanagement of N81.5 billion.

The invitation of the group, being coordinated by an activist, Mr. Deji Adeyanju, was contained in a letter, 3000/EFCC/ABJ/HQ/EG/T.6/Vol4/044, which was signed by the Head, Economic Governance Section, Adebayo Adeniyi.

The letter reads: We write to acknowledge the receipt of your petition dated August 3, 2020 in respect of the above subject and to inform you that investigation into the case has commenced.

In view of the above, you are kindly requested to attend an interview with the undersigned through the O/C team six on Thursday, August 20, 2020 at the EFCC headquarters third floor.

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My neighbors were already struggling to put food on the table, juggling two, three jobs and living paycheck to paycheck. Since the pandemic, the gaps in access and conditions have grown drastically, Garcia said. It is no coincidence that Latino and Black communities have the largest share of coronavirus cases and deaths in Illinois and nationally. This pandemic has completely lifted the veil of racism to show us where you live, what racial group you belong to largely determines the opportunities you have.
Tunisias new premier Hichem Al-Mechichi will announce his coalition government on Thursday, Al-Arabiya reported Haikal Al-Mekki, an MP with the Peoples Movement, as saying.

Limited information is available on the formation of Al-Mechichis coalition, but, according to the same report, the bloc will include a number of ministers who served in the cabinet of Elyes Al-Fakhfakh, Al-Mechichis predecessor.

These include defence minister Emad Al-Hazki, finance minister Nezar Yaesh, tourism minister Mohamed Aly Al-Tomi, and justice minister Thoraya Al-Gerebi.

After her recent meeting with Al-Mechichi on 12 August, head of the Free Destourian Party Abeer Moussa said the new prime minister wants an independent government that will see the merger of a number of ministries.

It is yet unclear whether Al-Mechichi will succeed in earning the approval of the 217-seat parliament for his government.

But his insistence on an independent, technocratic government is clearly opposed by the Islamist Ennahda Party, the most represented political force in parliament with 54 seats, Qalb Tounes (27 seats), the Democratic Current (22 seats), Al-Karama Bloc (19 seats) and the Peoples Movement (15 seats), Al-Arabiya reported.

Others, meanwhile, do not seemingly oppose Al-Mechichis vision for an independent government, including the Free Destourian Party (17 seats), the National Reform Bloc (16 seats), the National Bloc (11 seats), Tahya Tounes (16 seats) and the Future Bloc (nine seats).

Since President Kais Saied chose Al-Mechichi to form the new government on 25 July, Ennahda and its political allies have been voicing their opposition.

Even ahead of Saied' announcement, Rached Al-Ghannouchi, parliamentary speaker and Ennahda's leader, had argued that the "country needs an economist, not a legalist" in order to serve as a "successful manager." Al-Ghannouchi said Tunisia should have a premier with actual experience, not only knowledge about theories.

Seifeddine Makhlouf, secretary-general of the conservative Karama Coalition, which has close connections with Ennahda, strongly criticised Al-Mechichi's appointment as premier.

According to local Tunisian news sources, Makhlouf believes Saied disregarded the suggestions of Tunisia's political parties on the new government.

He added that Saied has "turned into a real burden on democratic transition in Tunisia," ignoring the country's constitution, MPs and political parties.

Al-Mechichi, a member of the National Commission of Investigation on Corruption established in 2011, has only one month to form a new ruling coalition. If he fails to do so, Saied will have to dissolve parliament and call for new parliamentary elections.

Tunisia's premiership is being handed to the 46-year-old Al-Mechichi during a critical time.

The country is economically suffering due to the coronavirus. The World Bank said in April that the Tunisian economy is expected to contract by four percent and poverty will likely go above three percent in 2020 on the basis of the $3.2 PPP per day line and around 0.3 percent using the international poverty line.

Official numbers, moreover, show that tourism revenues decreased by almost 50 percent  compared to those of 2019  between 1 January and 10 July. Tunisia counts on tourism for eight to 14 percent of its GDP. Some 500,000 Tunisians out of the countrys 12 million population work in this sector.

This will certainly come at the top of Al-Mechichi's agenda.

In the meantime, he will have to deal with the massive divisions between Ennahda and opposition forces.

Last week, Al-Fakhfakh decided to remove all the Ennahda ministers from his coalition government, meaning that the North African countrys most represented party in parliament will not be in the cabinet unless a new one is formed.

Al-Fakhfakh resigned after Ennahda had reportedly managed to secure the required 109 votes to remove him from his post. This escalation by Ennahda took place after Al-Fakhfakh had said he would conduct a cabinet reshuffle.

Ennahda demanded consultations over selecting a new head of government and the inclusion of new political forces in the coalition government, such as the Qalb Tounes Party, which Al-Fakhfakh refused.

Nonetheless, amid these developments, opposition parties were not standing idly by. Parliamentary procedures for withdrawing confidence from Al-Ghannouchi began in July.

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Technologies have driven major changes in our behaviour. We are getting more connected and sophisticated, expecting faster responses, demanding personalised services, and sometimes even some sort of customisation out of imaginations.

Such rapid changes in the market, particularly on the user experience front, have continuously pushed enterprises to take more proactive measures to step up their adoptions to technologies. With technologies getting more converged, competitions are no longer coming just from their traditional piers but also from a host of next-generation competitors, who are keen on working their strategies around the advanced techs.

Apparently, despite the external drive for the changes, digital transformation is more about internal advancement for efficiency of both operations and business, process automation and ultimately lowering costs. The tools for the transformation can be in a form of infrastructure overhaul, but sometimes suitable solutions are playing critical roles for a smooth process.

Digital transformation drives data-based insights, encourages collaborations, delivers a better customer experience, accelerates innovation of business models and improves organisational agility, stated Dr Dayang Hanani Abang Ibrahim, Deputy Director, Digital, Centre of Technical Excellence (CENTEXS).

SAP as forerunner to bring services on cloud

As one of the key technological pillars, cloud service is a robust support for enterprises going digital. Worlds leading enterprise solutions company SAP is a forerunner to embracing digital transformation, by not only driving the changes within the organisation, but also bringing its renowned applications on cloud, making a symbolic move in the digital era.

Innovate and transform amidst the COVID-19 downturn, and emerge stronger as an Intelligent Enterprise, Khor Chern Chuen, Chief Operating Officer of SAP South East Asia, referring to what SAP is doing.

In short, Huawei Solutions for SAP HANA leverage the SAP HANA platform and Huaweis innovative hardware and software acceleration technologies to provide real-time data and learn about enterprise operation conditions at anytime, anywhere, and from any device based on a real-time analysis of production, machine generated and event flow data.

Conglomerates see cloud as a strategic core

While solutions providers like SAP are exploring different ways to drive digital transformation, many industries take the direct path by working with ICT companies such as Huawei.

Among these successful adopters is Malaysian conglomerate Sunway Group. HUAWEI CLOUD provides container service and service stage function, improves cloud resource utilization and efficiency and enable On-cloud automated application orchestration and resource management.

Sunways Chief Information Officer Kevin Khoo explained: Cloud is a core part of our strategy at Sunway, and we expect that Huawei will help us advance this strategy to the next level.

With the support of Huawei Clouds solutions, the group saw a 30-percent improvement in resource utilisation. Services provisioning can be done within minutes, compared to several days it needed before the company embraced digital transformation.

Similarly in Myanmar, conglomerate CDSG considers cloud as a better way to run business.

Cloud is the next-generation supercomputer that will provide the impetus for CDSG to transform and rapidly grow on a much greater scale, said Siva Prakash, the companys Chief Strategy Officer.

The APAC region is a leader in global digital transformation

While digital transformation is a global phenomenon, Asia is obviously embracing it faster. New technologies are driving digital transformation in the Asia Pacific region, commented Daniel Zhou, President of Cloud & AI BG of Huawei Asia Pacific Region. Cloud and AI technologies are helping enterprises rethink their businesses, re-evaluate their value chains, and change the way they communicate with their customers.

To ensure smooth transition for customers and partners, HUAWEI CLOUD is committed to providing the best services by full support from local teams from various regions across the globe. It is also building a robust ecosystem with partners for shared success. The ecosystem now consists of more than 10,000 consulting partners and 2,000 technology partners, with over three million developers and businesses benefitted.

Cloud Comrade is among the partners in the ecosystem, which points to the importance for enterprises to focus their limited resources on flexible platforms given the current economic situation and global uncertainty.

Together, HUAWEI CLOUD and Cloud Comrade offer predictable IT outcomes in an otherwise unpredictable business environment, noted Andy Waroma, Co-founder of the cloud services provider in the APAC region.

Innovations would not just stop here, as HUAWEI CLOUD  it is now providing over 190 solutions tailored to different industries works closely with all technology partners for explore potential implementations of more creative ideas, as well as business opportunities amid the ever-changing technological landscape.

Enterprises can also expect to receive a wide range of support from HUAWEI CLOUD for them to advance digital transformation, and stay relevant and competitive along the never-ending journey of innovations.

For more information about Huawei Cloud, please visit www.huaweicloud.com.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Wednesday afternoon inspected Hefei, the capital city of east China's Anhui Province.

Xi went to a section of a dam in Feidong County, where he checked the water situation of the Chaohu Lake and expressed his regards to those fighting the floods at the front line, including military personnel from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the People's Armed Police Force.

Xi also went to Anhui Innovation Center to learn about the technological innovation and emerging industries of Anhui, and visited a memorial hall marking the PLA's campaign to cross the Yangtze River during the Chinese People's War of Liberation, paying his tribute to revolutionary martyrs.
On Wednesday, Detroit educators voted by a margin of 91-9 percent to authorize the Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT) to call a safety strike to block plans by the district to start in-person teaching when schools reopen on September 8. The overwhelming vote is another expression of popular opposition to the unsafe opening of schools, which includes sickouts by Phoenix area teachers and an explosion of social media groups that have organized protests across the country.

Detroit teachers rally in June

The DFT only called the strike vote out of concern that there would be a revolt by educators, parents and students against the plans Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to open the largest school district in the state, which was an earlier epicenter of the deadly COVID-19 virus. Workers throughout the city know that herding 55,000 students and more than 4,000 school employees into dilapidated and poorly ventilated school buildings will lead to a resurgence of virus.

In a district email earlier this month Nikolai Vitti, former superintendent of Duval County Public Schools in Jacksonville, Florida, revealed that some 80 percent of parents are opposed to in-person learning. On August 13, there was a three-month high of infections, with 1,138 new cases. As of Wednesday afternoon, there have been at least 103,527 cases and 6,607 deaths in Michigan.

Under these conditions, the DFT hopes that the strike vote will allow the union to get ahead of the demands by teachers for a nation-wide strike in order to contain and strangle it. In the meantime, DFT officials are working out plans with district officials to create conditions to fully reopen the schools.

In a statement released to union members before the vote, the DFT made it clear that the action it was proposing was not a strike in the traditional sense. Instead, it stated we are ready, willing and able to continue work remotely. The action, the statement said, was to convince the school board to start the year remotely and develop a new reopening plan with the union. It adds that the school board should wait to transition back to in-person instruction until it is safe, as demonstrated by various indicators. The final decision on when schools are safe will be left entirely up to Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who violated her own safety protocols to reopen businesses, including the auto industry.

At their biennial convention held online last month, officials from the DFTs parent union, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), paid lip service to the safe reopening of the schools, while making clear their determined opposition to a nation-wide strike to stop the reckless opening of the schools. Instead, the resolution stated, AFT locals will use every action and tool available to us from serving on state and local reopening committees to filing grievances, lawsuits and other actions against unsafe and unsound plans or the faulty implementation of plans. The union would only support local and/or state affiliate safety strikes on a case-by-case basis as a last resort, the resolution stated.

During the online strike vote Wednesday afternoon, AFT President Randi Weingarten reiterated the point that a safety strike would be a last resort. Finally, the DFT has made it clear that the strike vote was not binding, declaring instead that the DFT Executive Board will decide and communicate with members.

Earlier this month, the Chicago Teachers Union carried out a similar maneuver, threatening to call a strike vote before it worked out a deal with Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot to start the school year with remote learning. In New York City, the United Federation of Teachers, which colluded with Mayor Bill de Blasio to conceal the spread of the virus and keep schools open in March, is now making noises about a "safety strike" to press for remote learning. In every case, such deals with Democrats in Los Angeles, Houston, Philadelphia and other cities are aimed at dissipating popular opposition and giving the authorities and the union executives time to create conditions to get teachers back into the classrooms.

The restarting of in-person teaching is particularly critical for the auto industry which dominates Detroit and the state of Michigan. The auto industry has had high absenteeism due to the spread of COVID-19 and parents who want to stay at home to care for their children.

At a virtual School Board Meeting on Tuesday teachers and parents denounced plans to end students back into schools. Donna Stern, a lifelong Detroit resident and graduate of local schools, said, I believe it is ridiculous to be peddling lies about how you can make it safe in Detroit schools during a pandemic. During the best of times in my daughters school there was no soap and toilet paper and we have no reason to believe that will change now. She denounced the photo op by Superintendent Vitti who wore a surgical mask during a news interview, saying mask wearing and social distancing were fine when the cameras were rolling. But it is impossible to do that on a normal school day. You are condemning people to die if you open the schools, she said.

Regina Weiss, a Detroit teacher pointed out that buildings do not have proper ventilation. She said there should be no return to school until there were No new cases for fourteen days, or until we improve the infrastructure of the buildings with the necessary ventilation. Instead of in-person instruction, she said, time and energy should be used to make virtual learning the best possible experience for everyone.

Another teacher, Brenda Ryan, that no one should go into the school buildings. Every adult who enter the buildings, All have lives that matter. She yielded her remaining time to play a powerful audio clip by Dr. Hildreth who pointed to the new study from the University of Florida that found that airborne particles of COVID-19 remain in the air for hours and travel far longer distances than the six-foot social distancing protocol. What makes us think you can open a school where the ventilation is poor and HVAC systems are outdated?, Ryan asked.

Other parents pointed to the lead in school water systems and the lack of maintenance, adding that they did not trust the school board to protect their children. Speaking bluntly, another speaker asked, What is the protocol for when a student or staff member dies from COVID-19? How will DPSCD respond to the inevitable death of a student or staff member? The school board moderator replied with callousness, saying, Unfortunately, the District deals with deaths within our school community on annual basis. We will follow established protocols for handling such a situation.

Teachers also want to defend paraprofessionals, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Counselors and Social Workers who are expected to work face-to-face with children in the buildings. Vitti has insisted that Paraeducators cannot have a full day online at home. These poorly paid workers, making as little as $10 per hour, have been completely abandoned by the DFT and are expected to work in buildings with students in Learning Centers to get them online and to monitor their virtual instruction as though the students were at home.

Fearing that the union could lose control of the situation, both AFT Michigan President David Hecker and AFT President Randi Weingarten attended the online strike vote. The last time Weingarten was in Detroit was to push through the bankruptcy restructuring of the schools in 2015-2016. This followed the wave of wildcat sickouts by Detroit teachers that were the precursor to the 2018-19 strike wave, which began in West Virginia and involved more than 700,000 teachers. During that time, Weingarten traveled the country to prevent the wildcat strikes from coalescing into a national strike against the bipartisan assault on public education.

A leading member of the Democratic National Committee, Weingarten is peddling the lie that a Biden presidency will defend the interests of teachers and lead to rational solution to the public health disaster. In fact, Biden oversaw the attack on teachers under the Obama administration following the 2008 financial crash and is preparing even deeper attacks on public education in order to pay for the enormous growth of debt from the multi-trillion-dollar bailout of Wall Street contained in the bipartisan CARES Act.

The opposition of educators, parents and students to the unsafe reopening of schools and the new wave of budget cuts must be united. This is why teachers, parents and students from across the US have formed the Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee to unite independently of the unions and mobilize the broadest support throughout the entire working class.

In a statement issued last week, the safety committee called for a general strike to demand the immediate closure of all public, private and charter schools, full funding for public education, internet access and online instruction, and full income protection to all parents and caregivers who stay home. To pay for this, the committee calls for the redirection of the trillions of dollars handed over to the super-rich.

All educators, school workers, parents and students who support this initiative should join our Facebook page and contact us today to establish local rank-and-file committees in your school and neighborhood. Send us any pertinent information, including significant developments in your district or state, and we will share this widely with a global audience. We will be hosting a national call-in meeting at 3:00 p.m. EDT (12:00 p.m. PDT) on Saturday, August 22, to discuss developments and the way forward. We urge you to make plans today to attend this vital meeting.
Minneapolis Police Officer Thomas Lane points his gun at George Floyd in a body camera video.

The public quickly reached its verdict: Minneapolis police killed George Floyd.

Video seen around the world shows him on the pavement, his neck pinned beneath the knee of Officer Derek Chauvin, pleading for his life  "I can't breathe"  until his body goes limp.

Two autopsies concluded the death was a homicide.

Chauvin was charged with murder and three other officers  Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng, who both helped hold down Floyd, and Tou Thao, who kept onlookers at bay  were charged as accomplices.

In an interview with The Times, a lawyer for Lane laid out for the first time what he said would be a central argument for the defense.

None of these guys  even Chauvin  actually killed him," said the attorney, Earl Gray. "He killed himself."

Free to speak publicly since a judge lifted a gag order on all parties in the case late last month, Gray said he plans to argue that Floyd died from an overdose of the powerful opioid fentanyl and an underlying heart condition.

"We are going to show that my client and the other cops were doing their jobs," he said.

The veteran criminal defense attorney said he will base his case on toxicology and autopsy reports as well as recently released police body camera footage that offers a fuller picture than the cellphone videos taken by people on the street.

The body camera videos show that well before Floyd was pinned to the ground, he told the officers at least six times: "I can't breathe."

Legal experts said that defense strategy is not as far-fetched as it may seem, especially given that juries have been reluctant to convict police in on-duty killings.

This is not a slam dunk for the prosecution and not an easy case, especially for the higher-degree homicide charges, said Philip Stinson, a Bowling Green State University criminologist and former cop who studies police misconduct. If this case goes to trial and an officer testifies on his own behalf, it is possible there is reasonable doubt there for jurors.

Story continues

No case in modern times has reverberated through society like that of Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man whose death on May 25 confirmed for many a longstanding national pattern of police racism and abuse.

Protests quickly spread, becoming the largest in U.S. history and extending to more than 60 countries in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

All four officers were fired and are free on bail. Attorneys for Chauvin, Kueng and Thao declined to comment, as did prosecutors in the case.

Last month, Gray filed a motion seeking dismissal of the case against Lane. The filing included transcripts of the video from his body camera and from the one worn by Kueng, opening the door to making the recordings public.

The footage, which was released last week and covers 37 continuous minutes, starts when the officers arrive at a convenience store in response to a call that a customer had presented a counterfeit $20 bill.

Lane rapped his flashlight on the window of a Mercedes-Benz SUV parked near the store.

"Let me see your hands," he said to Floyd, who sat in the driver's seat.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Floyd said.

Lane, on his fourth day as a police officer, demanded to see both hands. "Put your ... hands up right now!" he said to Floyd, who asked, "What we do, Mr. Officer?"

When Floyd did not immediately comply with instructions, Lane pointed a gun at him.

"Please don't shoot me, man," Floyd said.

"I'm not shooting you, man," Lane said, holstering his gun once Floyd raised his hands.

Christine Gardiner, a criminal justice professor at Cal State Fullerton, said the adversarial approach, common in policing, set the tone for escalation.

If they would have approached him respectfully, I think things would have turned out very differently, she said.

The officers handcuffed Floyd and walked him toward the curb, the video shows. He staggered, weaved and cried out.

Asked whether he was "on something," Floyd said he'd been "hooping," or taking drugs.

The officers directed him to a police car and ordered him to get inside. He resisted, repeatedly saying he was claustrophobic and couldn't breathe.

They tried to shove him into the backseat. Lane offered to stay with him, roll down the windows and turn on the air conditioning. Finally the officers decided to lay him down on the street.

The video shows that Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for 9 minutes and 30 seconds  44 seconds longer than prosecutors initially alleged.

In his July 7 motion, Gray included Minneapolis police training material on how to deal with an uncooperative suspect in handcuffs. A restraint position illustrated in a photograph closely resembles the method the officers used.

The instruction material also includes a warning: "Sudden cardiac arrest typically occurs immediately following a violent struggle."

On June 5, the Minneapolis City Council voted to ban chokeholds and neck restraints by police.

Stephen Houze, a Portland, Ore., attorney who has represented officers accused of brutality, said that the degree to which the defendants followed their training would be important at trial.

Still, he added: "No explanation offered now to avoid criminal responsibility can diminish the potency of the video."

The defense does not have to prove that Chauvin didn't kill Floyd. It only has to create reasonable doubt by persuading jurors that there are other plausible explanations.

George Parry, a former federal and state prosecutor who once headed a police brutality and misconduct unit of the Philadelphia district attorneys office, suggested that would not be difficult.

Writing this month in the conservative magazine the American Spectator, Parry focused on Floyd's erratic behavior, his early complaints of breathing problems and the findings that he suffered from coronary artery disease and had a potentially fatal concentration of fentanyl in his blood.

So, who killed George Floyd?" Parry wrote. "He did."

But Carl Hart, a Columbia University neuroscientist, said that human response to psychoactive drugs is far too complex to draw conclusions solely based on fentanyl concentrations, which fluctuate rapidly and can increase after death as the drug breaks down in the body.

"If the officer didn't put his knee on George Floyd's neck, he would most likely be alive today," Hart said.

That opinion is consistent with the autopsy conducted by the county medical examiners office, which found that the death was caused by "cardiopulmonary arrest while being restrained by law enforcement officer(s)."

A second postmortem examination, led by Dr. Michael Baden, an expert hired by the Floyd family, concluded that he was killed by asphyxiation.

In an interview, Baden said that regardless of anything Floyd said about breathing trouble, or drugs or underlying health problems, he died because of the way he was restrained, period.

Asked whether he believed the officers meant to kill Floyd, Baden said: I dont think they intended to kill him, no.

Proving intent is a key part of the case prosecutors must make.

Chauvin was originally charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter, which requires prosecutors to prove that a defendant did something risky and caused a death without meaning to do so.

But after public protests that Chauvin deserved greater punishment, Minnesota authorities added a charge of second-degree murder, alleging that he caused Floyd's death while intentionally inflicting bodily harm.

The prosecution doesn't need to prove that Chauvin intended to kill Floyd, only that he committed a felony assault and in the process caused the death.

Suzanne Luban, a Stanford Law lecturer, said that at minimum the evidence suggests that Chauvin behaved recklessly. He repeatedly rejected suggestions by Lane  who was concerned that a condition called excited delirium could be setting in  to move Floyd.

"Just leave him," Chauvin said.

Gray noted that the officers showed concern for Floyd early in the encounter, calling an ambulance because his mouth was bleeding from a scrape sustained when they tried getting him in the squad car  and that they upped the urgency of the call.

"If these cops had the intent to kill this guy or seriously injure him, why the hell did they call the ambulance?" he asked.

A conviction on charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder or second-degree manslaughter would require proof that they intentionally helped commit a crime.

Convictions of police in on-duty killings are rare.

Gray served on the legal team that won an acquittal for the officer who shot Philando Castile, a Black school cafeteria supervisor killed during a daytime traffic stop near Minneapolis in 2016.

Castile's girlfriend had captured the aftermath of the shooting in a video that went viral and sparked nationwide outrage.

The trial of the four officers in the Floyd case is scheduled for March, but delays are common and plea bargains possible.

Ronald Tyler, a professor at Stanford Law School and director of its Criminal Defense Clinic, said that the case may come down to showing the jury that two sets of facts can both be valid.

"Someone can be under the influence of a drug and can then suffer a homicide at the hands of police," he said. "That's what appears to be the case here."
Uruguay sees exports rise in the 2Q20

20 August 2020

Cement sales in Uruguay reached 166,074t in the second quarter of 2020, a 3.9 per cent drop YoY, according to data from the Chamber of Industries. Of the total, 97 per cent were domestic sales and three per cent were exports, mostly to Paraguay.



Domestic sales were down 4.1 per cent YoY, but exports climbed 3.9 per cent.

Published under
By ANI

CHANDIGARH: With weddings now becoming a simpler affair, courtesy the COVID-19 pandemic wherein not more than 50 persons are allowed to attend wedding functions, it has almost pushed band organisers out of business.

With the Ministry of Home Affairs in its guidelines stating that not more than 50 persons are allowed to attend wedding ceremonies, people do not invite band members leading to a loss of livelihood.

It is this lack of demand that has pushed many band players to change their line of professions.

Vijay, one of the band owners said loss incurred has been massive due to the COVID-19-induced lockdown as he has been forced to borrow money from family members to run the household.

"The damage has been immense. We last played on March 10 and since then, we have been free. We are taking loans from family members to run the household. I am unable to pay the rent of the shop as well," Vijay told ANI.

"No one is coming for future bookings this time as well. And if that is the case, one would not have any idea, how bad the situation may get. We would only request the government to extend the number of allowed people in weddings could be extended or if they can provide a loan to us during this crisis," he added.

Another owner, Madan Lal Chinyana, also echoed a similar concern stating that nothing could be done at the present moment due to pandemic. "Our situation has deteriorated immensely. Whatever gold I had, I sold it off but still, I am incurring losses. We are asking for aid from the government--we are not asking for an escape route," he said.
An alleged NSW pimp has been arrested and charged with a string of offences, including drugging and raping a woman.

Police uncovered the Thai man's extensive alleged criminal activity after a 26-year-old reported him to police.

The alleged victim met the man in December 2019 at a unit, where police say she was given a drugged alcoholic drink and fell unconscious.

An alleged NSW pimp has been arrested and charged with a string of offences, including drugging and raping a woman (file picture)

Police say the 40-year-old man then sexually assaulted her.

After a lengthy investigation, police uncovered evidence that he had also made money off another's prostitution, filmed women without their consent, and advertised for and recruited prostitutes.

On Thursday the man was charged with 14 offences and refused bail.

The charges include having sexual intercourse without consent, using an intoxicating substance to commit indictable offence, and knowingly living on the earnings of other's prostitution.
Cairo hopes alliances boost its legitimacy if it were to engage in battle against forces backed by Turkey.

As Egypt flexes its muscles with threats to intervene in Libyas civil war, its President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has sought to join forces with some of the neighbouring countrys powerful tribes.

Cairo hopes the alliances would boost its legitimacy if it were to wade into the battlefield against forces backed by regional rival Turkey, and give it a local partner aside from the volatile renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar, analysts say.

Last month, el-Sisi hosted Libyas Supreme Tribal Council, its sheikhs, and elders dressed in white turbans and robes, at a conference in a Cairo hotel organised by Egyptian intelligence agencies.

For many of Libyas tribal leaders, Egypt offers a lifeline of support, said Abdelsalam Bohraqa al-Jarrari, a tribal elder from Tarhuna, south of the capital Tripoli.

We want a complete military intervention  air and ground support, he said after meeting with el-Sisi, claiming preparations had already begun along the Libya-Egypt border.

We want new and advanced weaponry, he said.

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Libyas patchwork of tribes  including the Warfalla, Tuareg, Berber and other ethnicities  command powerful loyalty and have in the past fought against Ottoman and European colonisers.

Some of them support the UN-recognised and Turkish-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), based in Tripoli in the west, which made a series of battlefield gains against Haftar earlier this year.

But many powerful tribes back Haftar, who is based in the eastern city of Benghazi and enjoys the support of Egypt as well as the United Arab Emirates, Russia and other powers.

M en who can eat rocks

Traditional tribal leaders are seen as having greater influence in the Haftar-controlled, rural east than the more densely populated and urban west of Libya.

Haftar spent 14 months trying to seize Tripoli before his forces suffered a string of defeats in early summer  among them tribal fighters proud of their battlefield prowess.

We have men who can eat rocks and spit them out, said Arafallah Daynoum Hurra, of Libyas Al-Barasa tribe in the eastern Al-Bayda region.

But, he explained, were in an uneven battle and thats why we retreated.

The front line is now halfway between the capital and Haftars stronghold Benghazi, just west of the central Mediterranean coastal city of Sirte.

Haftars forces spent 14 months trying to seize Tripoli before his forces suffered a string of defeats in early summer [Reuters]

Sirte is the strategic gateway to Libyas main oil fields and export terminals, and to the key Al-Jufra airbase to the south.

It is also a symbolic site as the hometown of former leader Muammar Gaddafi, whose 2011 overthrow and killing in a NATO-backed uprising threw the country into chaos.

For now, fighting has stalled in what German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas this week called a deceptive calm with arms and mercenaries still flooding into the county.

Western powers, fearing a GNA attack on Sirte would raise the prospect of direct clashes between regional heavyweights Turkey and Egypt, have called for renewed peace efforts.

Diversify risk

El-Sisi has promised not to let GNA forces take Sirte  although Cairo has since also stressed it is open to peace initiatives through dialogue.

The head of Libyas Supreme Tribal Council, Saleh al-Fandi, said the tribes stand firmly with Haftar and Egypt.

The Egyptian army has been given the greenlight from us  to strike immediately if the [GNA] militias lift a finger in Sirte, he said while in Cairo.

[El-]Sisi told us when we met that Egypt will give us air and ground support if the Turks cross the red line of Sirte, said Fandi.

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As tribes we are giving legitimacy to Egyptian troops to protect  Libyas national security, which was in line with Egypts interests, he said.

Al-Jarrari, the tribal elder from Tarhuna, said he sees Egyptian support as the only way to end a grinding civil war centred on some of Africas richest oil reserves.

Hard to manage

Jalel Harchaoui, research fellow at The Hague-based Clingendael Institute, said Egypt hopes its support for Libyan tribal leaders will kill two birds with one stone.

It aims to counter and delegitimise Turkeys presence in Libya while finding local allies aside from Haftar, he said.

Cairo wants to diversify its risk away from excessive dependence on the 77-year-old Haftar, whom the Egyptians find too whimsical and hard to manage, Harchaoui added.

That is why the Egyptians now wish to put in place an array of Libyan figures  more dependable, more malleable and more stable from an Egyptian perspective.
To Be or Not to Be, That is the Question

Halito! The Great elation many felt was indescribable when the United States Supreme Court issued great clarity to all Tribes regarding the validity of their jurisdiction that had been usurped by the state unlawfully for so many years.

The McGirt decision and order is not a gift, the ruling simply provides complete and undeniable clarity to ALL about the proper lawful territorial jurisdiction for Tribes. The clear ruling and order now dictates that Congress in its Trust Responsibility to Tribes allocate the necessary and proper resources with funding for the Tribes to rebuild the systems of justice and infrastructure in Indian Territory as reservations.

Congress is not allowed nor any of the representatives to turn their back on the Tribes and fail the Tribes once again. Because of the intellectual honesty of the majority opinion upholding tribal sovereignty, McGirt also provides a clear roadmap forward for both the Tribes and State in support of the transition from the forced and un-natural colonial jurisdiction to appropriate tribal jurisdiction in the boundaries of Indian Territory.

The clarion call of the case is a UNITY DECISION for all tribes and all peoples in the United States to support and for all of Oklahomans to prosper following the ruling. Both Tribes and the State can create a beneficial public safety through honoring the Courts order.

J. Eric Reed. Courtesy photo

For the last century, the Five Tribes have labored under a forced and unlawful, colonially imposed system of justice that our tribes and our citizens neither needed nor wanted imposed upon them. During this century of state dominion over tribes, disparity, bias, and marginalization resulted in tribes being unable to redress the lack of justice and racial marginalization imposed upon them until now.

Please consider the life of Apushimataha (Pushmataha): a fearless warrior and charismatic leader who befriended, made alliances with, and benefitted Andrew Jackson and the U.S. government only to be betrayed by Jackson and others in treaty negotiations and simple requests to uphold the promises to Tribes. He simply asked Jackson and the U.S. government to keep their word that the Choctaw would have the lands as long as the grasses grow and the rivers flow as promised by the U.S. government.

Pushmataha, who did not seek fortune or notoriety, was a humble Mingo/Chief to the Choctaw Tribe and peoples. While in Washington D.C., he fell ill and died serving our peoples to protect our lands and sovereignty. The Five Tribes were nevertheless removed to Indian Territory known in the Choctaw words Oklahoma or Red Earth. As citizens and leaders together we must serve our nation the same way today to preserve, protect, and build our jurisdictional sovereignty and justice institutions for a better future. The McGirt decision has finally ordered that Congress be held to their word and promises and restored enforcement of Tribal jurisdictional sovereignty to the Five Tribes.

The Danger of Tribes Failing to Fight to Transition to Sovereignty!

It is great to see that the Tribal leaders have backed away from the initial State plan and should now use pause, reflection and wise decision making to avoid fear and to be strong to support a transition of our Tribes forward on a pathway to flourish as a sovereign. The horror of failing to be strong by letting fear control their decisions and watching them fold and surrender everything that is the life blood of our spirit and soul is unbearable to think about but is an all too dangerous reality of losing everything regarding our future sovereignty that many indigenous have fought and died to preserve against all odds.

We as Native peoples do not want to take the bait and snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory. When I contacted my great teacher and mentor, Sam Deloria, from the American Indian Law Center who represents the epitome of fighting for and supporting Tribal sovereignty and has trained the legal minds of many Native American law students since 1968, he simply asked me do they really want it or not? which resonated to me a great concern in the initial tribal response to look to the State rather than ourselves and our scholars for answers. Said in other words the Five Tribe leaders are forced into deciding ALL of the Tribes futures with the question of To be or Not to be Soverns?, that is the ultimate question.

If Tribes fail to fight under the grunt and sweat of this weary life just as our ancestors to keep sovereignty and nurture it into a future for our peoples or in a legal sense commit suicide and surrender that sovereignty forever for in that sleep of death, what dreams May come . . . their currents turn awry And loose the name of action [and die].

Please consider that our ancestors mere survival was an act of great resistance and proclamation of sovereignty in the face of genocide and neither they nor we now consider the protection of our sovereignty a hobby! But instead, our fight is a passion and traditional way of life. If Tribes fail now they will place themselves in nothing more than that of a corporate entity with only the illusion of sovereignty and a response to any future litigation on sovereignty treat potentially from the Courts as nothing more that garnering the consideration of that of a corporate entity under the law.

Secret Meetings, Dark Money and Smoke Filled Rooms of Mysterious Stakeholders?

The state regime and its many minions want to see a proposed statement or agreement-in-principle that would return our Tribes to the shackles and yoke of state jurisdiction even before the ink dries on the McGirt order clarifying jurisdictional sovereignty that is vested in our Tribes. Both the State and the Congressional officials are creating commissions to advise them that are comprised with a mysteriously identified group of stakeholders which may include anti-native interests and other industry interests that do not want to take responsibility for malfeasances, torts and other legal matters in Indian Territory.

What and who exactly are comprised of the State commission are unknown but clearly follow the same rhetoric of fear. Federal Senators and Representatives Groups and their political leanings may be a violation of the Trust Responsibility these officials are required by law to follow on behalf of the Tribes. In terms of tribal participation in those meetings tribes should seek transparency rather than secrecy and avoid involving anyone associated with lobbyists dark money in political matters and advocate the benefits the McGirt ruling has for all to benefit rather than fear.

After such a long battle over many years to achieve self-determination, in the simplest terms, agreeing to the State of Oklahomas plan of a Faustian bargain would set an absolutely horrible and dangerous precedent in Indian Country against any Tribes fighting for and achieving freedom and self-determination in a court of law or politically. Those who are against Native peoples will argue and point to the fact we acquiesced the required duty of self-governance regarding Tribal sovereignty over jurisdiction to the state to exercise and that our future plights for asserting tribal sovereignty are merely an illusion of sovereignty warranting nothing more under the law than that of a corporate entity.

Now is time for great pause and reflection so that we protect all Five Tribes tribal sovereignty and set a powerful precedent to protect tribal sovereignty in all of Indian Country. The decision effects at the highest about merely 9% of the States entire Court docket matters and there is no tidal wave of problems as several detractors have alleged will collapse the State and Federal Court systems.

In a major show of unity, Indian Country organizations are coming together to warn of efforts to "abrogate" tribal sovereignty following a historic win at the nation's highest court. #HonorTheTreaties https://t.co/OmGmbvq9bm  indianz.com (@indianz) August 14, 2020

It is important to understand that state jurisdiction over native peoples has been wrought with injustice and inequality in Oklahoma and other States in the United States for many years. Indeed, that disparity in fair justice is the reason for challenging state jurisdiction in McGirt and the other cases in the first place.

For example, Pass through money allocated to the States from the Federal Government for COVID 19 health care seemingly never makes it to the Tribes in endless stories of disaster on our reservations across the United States regarding the virus which simply harkens a historic reality of plagues and promises never fulfilled and such abject indifference and planned intent is some cases killed our peoples on the Trail of Tears.

Three important cases to keep in mind in relation to McGirt while we move forward on our tribal jurisdictional sovereignty are:

Dollar General Corp. v. Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, 579 U.S. ___ (2016), was a United States Supreme Court case in which the Court was asked to determine if an American Indian tribal court had the jurisdiction to hear a civil case involving a non-Indian who operated a Dollar General store on tribal land under a consensual relationship with the tribe. The Court was equally divided, 44, and thereby affirmed the decision of the lower court, in this case the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, that the court had jurisdiction. This will be an area of litigation because of easements on Indian Lands. Brackeen v. Bernhardt, (Pending), argued on en banc rehearing where the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals regarding a decision on whether Congress Plenary Power is unconstitutional and the Indian Child Welfare Act passed as a part of that Trust Responsibility and Plenary Power of Congress relationship and trust responsibility to Tribes that can affect every federal statute created for Tribes under the Plenary Power Doctrine. Their intent is to have the Plenary Power doctrine struck down and Tribes ultimately have no status under the law. Brackeen v. Bernhardt, (Pending), argued on en banc rehearing where the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals regarding a decision on whether Congress Plenary Power is unconstitutional and the Indian Child Welfare Act passed as a part of that Trust Responsibility and Plenary Power of Congress relationship and trust responsibility to Tribes that can affect every federal statute created for Tribes under the Plenary Power Doctrine. Their intent is to have the Plenary Power doctrine struck down and Tribes ultimately have no status under the law. Zurich American Insurance Co. vs. McPaul, No. CV-19-08227-PCT-SPL, United States District Court of Arizona (Order 8/7/2020). Order ruling that a Tribal Court does not have jurisdiction over an insurance company in a tribal civil matter as the insured of a Defendant company which consented to jurisdiction that spilled 15,000.00 gallons of Gasoline and contaminated an area of tribal town on the Navajo Reservation. Fossil fuel and other industries identified by the State as important stakeholders do not want any responsibility for any malfeasance, tort or contract breach on Indian land even after jurisdictional consent has been given and this case seeks to prevent the insurance carriers who indemnify the Tribes for corporate misbehavior on Tribal lands to provide insurance coverage when the company is found liable for misbehavior in a tribal Court of law. Zurich American Insurance Co. vs. McPaul, No. CV-19-08227-PCT-SPL, United States District Court of Arizona (Order 8/7/2020). Order ruling that a Tribal Court does not have jurisdiction over an insurance company in a tribal civil matter as the insured of a Defendant company which consented to jurisdiction that spilled 15,000.00 gallons of Gasoline and contaminated an area of tribal town on the Navajo Reservation. Fossil fuel and other industries identified by the State as important stakeholders do not want any responsibility for any malfeasance, tort or contract breach on Indian land even after jurisdictional consent has been given and this case seeks to prevent the insurance carriers who indemnify the Tribes for corporate misbehavior on Tribal lands to provide insurance coverage when the company is found liable for misbehavior in a tribal Court of law.

StrongHearts Native Helpline recognizes the importance of the #McGirt decision for victims and survivors of violence. Tribal nations are one step closer to holding all perpetrators accountable on tribal lands. @strongheartsdv #dv #HonorTheTreaties https://t.co/gjzKJw6ujf  indianz.com (@indianz) August 12, 2020

These cases are important as they represent a trend of anti-tribal and anti-native sovereignty and the trust responsibility regarding our nations and the laws that protect our nations which serve as an example of why we must fight to preserve them and that these issues are going to be the battle ground of our future. It is disconcerting to see Senator Jim Inhofe and others take an anti-Native stance given their oaths of office to serve as fiduciaries to the Tribes as part of the Congressional Trust responsibility and instead breach that fiduciary duty and promote, support and even attempt to legislate contrary to that fiduciary duty and Trust Responsibility that they are required to uphold.

Rather than surrender, we should collectively gather together and fight any diminishment or disestablishment proposal that anti-native racists, lobbyists and dark money want to attempt to impose under some type of a Public Law 280 scheme to again subject Tribes to state dominion. Under Congresss trust responsibility, and under the oath that individuals elected to Congress have sworn to act as fiduciaries to Indian tribes, tribes become beneficiaries in a government-to-government relationship.

Only limited legislation is needed to properly transition jurisdictional responsibility from state courts to tribal and federal jurisdiction. The only thing this legislation needs to do is provide proper and appropriate allocation of resources and funding for the tribes to capacity-build their justice systems. Consequently, the Five Tribes would be more prepared to take over jurisdiction in the Indian Territory. This legislation would look much like Public Law 638, which acts for the benefit and self-determination of Indian tribes and their governmental institutions. Such a plan would be more successful and beneficial for both the state and Indian tribes.

Tribal Transitional Ideas under Fiduciary Allocations to Tribes from by Congress

In order to completely restore the sovereign tribal jurisdiction of the Five Tribes, the tribes must think like a nation vested with self-governance, not simply as managers in a corporation. It is encouraging seeing the Tribes establish committees, advisory groups and commissions to advise them. In the formation of such bodies to assist the Tribes, its important to create complete transparency with the tribal citizenry and leadership.

In establishing a advisory body, the Tribes should include proper input from its citizenry then identify how, who, why and what each persons qualifications are in the area of transitioning a justice system from one government to a tribal justice system. There are a few attorneys who have done such a transition back in the early and mid-1990s regarding transitioning BIA justice systems over to tribal justice systems that have great knowledge and improve the learning and growing curve for the Tribes in their respective transitions.

There are several models for prototypes that I have seen or worked with over the years and it is important for all to understand that Tribal State jurisdictional arrangements can take years to fine tune but in the end the Tribe having jurisdiction over its internal tribal matters has always been a more efficient and more equitable outcome that improves justice in both systems. The following three phases are ideas that should be considered in restoring complete tribal jurisdiction of the Five Tribes over Indian Territory in Oklahoma.

The First Phase

In order to get a baseline of where tribal jurisdiction stands, the following information is needed:

Establish tribal steering committees or advisory groups and a Five Tribes advisory Group to liaison with the Federal Government on coordinating prosecutions with lawyers and others who have transitioned a justice system from one government to a tribal government. Obtain Data from the state courts on the number of Native American offenders tried in both misdemeanor and felony cases (currently estimated at 9%). The current monetary budgets of law enforcement agencies and courts of all counties within the territorial boundaries of the Five Tribes subject to the McGirt decision An assessment of current tribal resources on the counties indicated above Federal statistics, studies, data and information used for current Federal Funding to the State. Establish a steering committee of the Five Tribes to work jointly in creating a capacity-building plan for the justice systems of the Five Tribes and must analyze the information as set out above. Determine all immediately available funding options for the tribal justice systems to begin assuming jurisdictional responsibility. Establish temporary agreements and contracts for transition of state jurisdiction to tribal jurisdiction. Such agreements would include state courts serving as temporary tribal courts over Native offender criminal cases and transfer of civil cases that would exclusively be under tribal jurisdiction, such as an Indian Child Welfare case. In the event that state courts or the State of Oklahoma refuses to enter into such an agreement, contracting visiting judges, hiring certain staff, and vetting volunteers who could potentially serve on rotating circuit court within the Choctaw nation (or similar temporary courts with the other Five Tribes) could be used until federal resources are obtained. Draft legislation for the Five Tribes Justice System Resources Allocation Act of 2020 by October 2020. Further review and update Tribal Constitution and law and order codes to be consistent with current federal law and restoration of tribal sovereignty.

A little over one hundred years ago, Muscogee (Creek) Nation leaders asked Congress to #HonorTheTreaties. Their pleas were finally heard with a historic Supreme Court decision that some are now trying to undermine. #OneMvskoke #StandWithMvskoke #Oklahoma https://t.co/iaxoP5QlCe  indianz.com (@indianz) August 3, 2020

The Second Phase

Once the above has been done, the following actions should be commenced:

Find and acquire appropriate facilities for tribal courts and law enforcement to use as support locations and offices in the tribal territories. Hire and/or enlist volunteers to be vetted and trained as tribal court staff, law enforcement, and other support staff for the tribal justice system Contract with various training programs and entities to train law enforcement, court management, and other support staff Implement and begin operation of tribal circuit courts Continue any and all legislative efforts for federal allocation of resources and funding Consider all other funding sources and a possible tribal bond package Infuse funding into operating transitional court systems Establish a steering committee to observe operations and plan for assumption of full jurisdictional responsibility Create a liaison to work with U.S. Attorneys Office on Federal Major Crimes Act prosecutions and encourage special U.S. Attorney relationship with liaison between the tribe and the federal government Commission meetings and review of information and reports on law enforcement and justice system operations

"We have been vindicated": The U.S. Supreme Court's historic #HonorTheTreaties ruling is having immediate impacts in Indian Country, with the Oneida Nation the first to benefit from the changing legal landscape. @OneidaNationWI https://t.co/nKtwPjKpxL  indianz.com (@indianz) August 4, 2020

The Third Phase

As a final phase in the transition to expanded tribal jurisdiction and sovereignty, the following should be done:

Evaluate a timeline for full tribal assumption of jurisdiction in tribal court Continue both resourcing, funding, and training of law enforcement and court staff Maintain cross-deputation agreements with state law enforcement agencies and retain resources to supplement state agencies in cross-deputation role of tribal justice system Institute alternative peacemaking Courts and specialty programs for substance abuse in diversion rather than prosecution models on limited offenses. This is not an exhaustive list, but merely a list of suggestions and guide for consideration and discussion by tribal leaders and citizens of all Tribal Nations.

As example of a tribal jurisdictional capacity building plan: as a young Native American attorney at the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, I participated in leading the transition of the Tribe from Bureau of Indian Affairs Control to Tribal Courts and Tribal Police Control via the prosecutors office and without the same amount of resources available to the Five Tribes. The Tribal justice system was able to create a substance abuse treatment facility inside of the correctional facility and jail and was a first in Indian Country and perhaps the nation. The Cheyenne River Sioux Nation created a model and an example of a sovereign tribal justice system on a reservation.

There are two other thoughts on this issue of survival as sovereign tribal nations that come to mind. First, all the involved in pathway forward since the ruling should consider before making a decision: what does a person profit if they gain the world but lose their soul? And the other is that they should consider that tribal traditional communal concepts on life and liberty function in a traditional and honored society is that the needs and future of the many out weight the profit seeking and wants of the few.

Yakoke Thanks for your time, attention and consideration.

J. Eric Reed is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation. He practices law in Texas , specializing in Native American Law, Criminal Defense Law, International Indigenous and Human Rights Law and Military Court Martials.. This opinion is his own.

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The National Executive Committee of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has dissolved the national leadership of the transport union, citing gross violation of the provisions of the union's constitution.

In arriving at the decision at an emergency meeting in Accra yesterday, the NEC accused the National Chairman of the GPRTU, Mr Kwame Kumah, of devising strategies to entrench himself in office beyond the four-year tenure; misappropriation of the union's funds, and "disregard for the directives of NEC".



When the Daily Graphic contacted Mr Kumah for a response, he denied the allegations and described the NEC meeting as illegal and that he would ignore any decisions they claim to have taken.



The Deputy Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), the mother union of the GPRTU, Mr Joshua Ansah, attended the meeting.



The issues



Land For sale

The National Advisor of the GPRTU, Mr Ben Kusi, who read out the grounds for the dissolution of the national leaders, said the officers had subverted the constitution of the union by their inability to provide audited accounts for their tenure of office as required by Article 40(a) of the GPRTU constitution.



Additionally, he said, the national officers had failed to organise the union for the quadrennial delegates conference meant to elect new leaders, and had, thus, stayed in office longer than their tenure required in violation of Articles 42 and 13(o).



The NEC also accused Mr Kumah of lodging money belonging to the union in his personal account in disregard of Article 14(a) of the GPRTU constitution.



By the dissolution of the national leadership, it means the officers cannot hold themselves as executive members of the union.



Kinapharma Safeway

Interim committee



As a stop-gap measure, the NEC named a three-member Interim Management Committee (IMC) to steer the affairs of the union and oversee the national congress scheduled for August 24, 2020, at which new national leaders would be elected.



The IMC is chaired by Mr Ben Kusi, with the Greater Accra Regional GPRTU Chairman, Mr Emmanuel Nii Ankrah, and the Upper East Regional Chairman, Mr Godfred Abulbire, as member and secretary respectively.



Expiry of tenure



Giving details of the specific issues, Mr Kusi explained that although the constitution of the GPRTU provided in Article 6(a) that elections shall be held every four years, Mr Kumah failed to respect that provision.



"The current executives were elected on September 15, 2015, and the calendar ended on September 15, 2019; and by that clause, the tenure of the seven elected national officers ended that same date.



"The national chairman, with the intention to stay longer in office, wrote to the Secretary-General of the TUC seeking extended stay to organise the conference instead of seeking that authority from the NEC as stated in Article 5(a)," he said.



Mr Kusi added that the TUC organised a meeting on September 13, 2019, and a new date of October 28 to 31, 2019 was agreed for the conference.



No conference



He added that the national chairman failed to activate processes for the conference to take place, including failure to circulate letters to the regional branches to prepare for the elections.



The IMC chairman also said Mr Kumah was threatening court action to stop the conference for the second time, a development he described as a drawback to the fortunes of the association.



Financial improprieties



He said the administration led by Mr Kumah had been in office for five years without presenting audited reports of the financial records of the union to NEC.



He said although the NEC on many occasions directed the national officers to open an account for the union, they failed to act.



That decision by NEC, he said, was because it had realised that Mr Kumah had been lodging all union money into his personal account.



Reaction



Mr Kumah said those who called the meeting had no locus to do so.



In our constitution, it is only the National Secretariat that is mandated to organise NEC meetings so if any other person claims to have called such a meeting to dissolve the national officers, I do not recognise it," he said.



When asked what his response to the other allegations levelled against him was, he said he would respond to them at the appropriate time.





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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Actor Swara Bhasker has defended the Mumbai Police, even as she hoped for a fair investigation, with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) taking over the probe into the death of Sushant Singh Rajput.

Responding to the development, Swara told Pinkvilla in an interview, I dont think it is fair to suggest that the Mumbai Police were not doing a good job or were not being professional. I think that there is a problem right there that we did not trust the Mumbai Police, we should have. We have no reason to doubt their conduct. I hope the CBI will now be allowed to do their job in a fair and impartial manner.

She added, There is nothing new to add, I have said this before that the courts, the judicial system must be allowed to do their job, the police should have been allowed to do their job.

Also Watch | 5 reasons why SC chose CBI probe for Sushant Singh Rajput death case

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court ordered a CBI probe into Sushants death. The apex court said that a fair, competent and impartial investigation is the need of the hour.

Earlier, she had said about the debate around Sushants death, Why is it so difficult for people to accept that he may have been depressed? I read an article where someone said that he didnt look depressed, what theory is that? How can someone look it? She added, Just because someone is famous, doesnt mean things cant be wrong. We as a society need to give more importance to mental health.

Also read: Jasmin Bhasin denies she is dating Aly Goni, says he doesnt meet that criteria she looks for in a partner

According to the Mumbai Police, Sushant was being treated for bipolar disorder in the months leading up to his suicide. His family and several prominent members of the film industry and the media have expressed hesitation in believing this. Sushants father has accused the actors girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty of abetment to suicide and having siphoned off his funds. She has denied the allegations.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

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Linkedin News desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 20, 2020 11:12 517 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066f432b4 1 Sports Honda-simulator-championship,Honda-prospect-motor,yusak-billy,modificator Free

PT Honda Prospect Motor has announced its best virtual designer competition winner, who creatively modified the Honda Brios design. The trophy went to M. Haekal Shafi of Tangerang, Banten.

Haekals design was deemed the boldest from 789 whole designs submitted from all over the country during the two-month competition, from May 11 until July 31. As the champion, Haekal will be awarded Rp 15 million. Second place was awarded to Deden Desmahikmawan, who will get Rp 10 million. M. Riyo Rizal Widhanto, who claimed third place, will get Rp 7 million for his design.

Aside from the three winners, best decal was won by Pranoyo Aditya, who will be awarded Rp 5 million. M. Azra won the social media favorite category, earning him a Rp 3 million prize.

Honda Prospect Motor business innovation and sales and marketing director Yusak Billy praised all the winners, saying that the competition, which is in its third year, has attracted many virtual designers.

Aside from the rising number of participants, we have also witnessed improved design quality from all participants, Yusak said in a press statement Wednesday.

National Modificator and Aftermarket Association founder Andre Mulyadi acknowledged that Haekals design had managed to inject a more youthful energy into the Honda Brio.
The lack of a way to specifically, uniquely and securely differentiate patient identities is a significant contributor to healthcare risks in the US.

PacificEast Research, a leading provider of patient, provider and payer data services into the US healthcare sector, today announced that it has joined the Patient ID Coalition (http://www.patientidnow.org). The Patient ID Coalition was founded by six leading healthcare organizations to promote and encourage discussion and regulatory changes necessary to address effective and accurate patient identification. The primary goal of the coalition is to remove section 510 from the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill in order to allow HHS to work with the private sector to develop a nationwide patient identification strategy including the adoption of a Unique Patient Identifier, or UPI, to improve patient care and safety.

Scott Rice, PacificEasts Chief Operating Officer announced its membership in the coalition today, stating the lack of a way to specifically, uniquely and securely differentiate patient identities is a significant contributor to healthcare risks in the US. Mr. Rice went on to state that companies like PacificEast that try to help healthcare providers mitigate that risk are very aware of how challenging it is to prevent PHI and EHR identity crossover. We are thankful for and supportive of the efforts of the Patient ID Coalition to remove arbitrary and outdated regulations that may have been conceived as an attempt to promote patient privacy, but in practice and somewhat ironically, put patient privacy along with their health and safety at even greater risk. We are looking forward to contributing to these efforts alongside other health information industry experts like those at Lexis Nexis and Experian to develop new solutions and enable UPIs to be a key component in future healthcare information standards.

About PacificEast Research

PacificEast Research provides data intelligence services for healthcare, financial service companies and non-profit organizations. PacificEasts services allow these organizations to more intelligently engage with their customers and, in the healthcare sector, with physicians and other healthcare providers. Since 1990 PacificEast has supported its customers with a broad line of contact outreach, engagement, identity verification, fraud prevention and compliance services. PacificEast Research has operations in both the US and Canada with US operations headquartered in Portland, Oregon. For more information, contact PacificEast at 1-800-665-8400 or https://www.pacificeast.com/healthcare.

About Patient ID Coalition

Patient ID Coalition is a coalition of healthcare organizations representing a wide range of healthcare stakeholders committed to advancing through legislation and regulatory changes a nationwide strategy to address patient identification. Its members are the American College of Surgeons, the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME), Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, Inc. (HIMSS), Intermountain Healthcare and Premier Healthcare Alliance. For more information, go to http://patientidnow.org.
The Supreme Court today rejected a plea by advocate Prashant Bhushan to defer hearing on sentence to be awarded to him for criminal contempt of court. Bhushan had prayed that hearing on sentencing against him should be deferred till a review petition which Bhushan was proposing to file against the August 14 judgment of top court which held him guilty of contempt of court, is decided.

Heavens are not going to fall if your lordships defer sentencing till review is decided. There is no mandate under Supreme Court rules that the same bench should hear on sentencing, said Dushyant Dave who represented Bhushan in the case.

Justice Arun Mishra, who is heading the three-judge bench and is set to retire from Supreme Court on September 2, responded saying it will be judicial impropriety for another bench to hear on sentence.

We assure you that we will not do anything that will take away your right to review, said justice Mishra.

Justice BR Gavai said that Rajeev Dhavan, also appearing for Bhushan, had informed the court on August 17 that review was ready and will be filed. Why is it not being filed, asked the judge.

Dave said there is no mandate that it should be filed within 24 hours and the time limit to file review is 30 days.

If your lordships want me to file review in 24 hours, then the Supreme Court rules should be amended accordingly, he argued.

Dave also said that the court should not hold counsel responsible for statements made in other matters.

I beseech your lordships not to do that, said Dave.

Before the hearing, Bhushan quoted Mahatma Gandhi in his statement. I do not ask for mercy. I do not appeal for magnanimity. I am here to cheerfully submit to any punishment that court may impose, he said.

Justice Mishra conceded that contempt should be sparingly used.

We appreciate all your efforts in filing good public interest cases. We welcome all that. But there is a Lakshman Rekha for everything. You are part of the system. You forget it. Why do you cross it?

The bench also said that it will give 2-3 days to Bhushan to reconsider his defiant statement, refusing to apologise for his contemptuous tweets. The lawyer said he will consult his lawyers and think over the apex courts suggestion.

After rejecting Bhushans application for deferment, the court proceeded to commence its hearing on sentencing. Senior counsel Rajeev Dhavan is making arguments on behalf of Bhushan on the sentencing aspect.

The Supreme Court had, in its judgment on August 14, held Prashant Bhushan guilty of criminal contempt of court over his tweets.
Coolant may leak inside the EGR module, causing a fire

BMW of North America is recalling 50,404 of the following vehicles that come equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler:

The EGR cooler may leak internally, causing coolant to mix with diesel engine soot. This could result in smoldering particles and a melting intake manifold.

A melting intake manifold increases the risk of a fire.

Dealers will replace the EGR cooler and inspect the intake manifold, replacing it -- as necessary -- fre...
With some in-person classes starting Monday, University of Arizona officials say their testing, protective equipment and sanitation safeguards are in place to operate during the pandemic.

As of Wednesday afternoon, there were nine confirmed cases of COVID-19 among the 4,274 nasal-swab antigen tests administered since last Friday to students who are planning to live on campus. A negative test is required to move into the dorms.

With those initial results, Dr. Richard Carmona, the UAs reentry task force leader, said the campus may be in a better position than other universities that have reopened but had to shut down campuses due to virus outbreaks.

As youve seen around the country and a number of other universities, theyve tried it for a week of two and theyve had to shut down, Carmona said. They didnt have the good numbers to start with like we have. Maybe they didnt have the intensive programs that we have in place, but the point is were not taking anything for granted.

The campus has been divided in 10 zones staffed with dedicated Facilities Management personnel. There are 600 staff members within the department.
Frontiers in Clinical Drug Research - CNS and Neurological Disorders is a book series that brings updated reviews to readers interested in advances in the development of pharmaceutical agents for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) and other nerve disorders. The scope of the book series covers a range of topics including the medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, molecular biology and biochemistry of contemporary molecular targets involved in neurological and CNS disorders. Reviews presented in the series are mainly focused on clinical and therapeutic aspects of novel drugs intended for these targets. Frontiers in Clinical Drug Research - CNS and Neurological Disorders is a valuable resource for pharmaceutical scientists and postgraduate students seeking updated and critical information for developing clinical trials and devising research plans in the field of neurology.

The seventh volume of this series is edited by Dr. Zareen Amtul (University of Windsor, Canada) along with series editor, Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman. This latest volume features reviews that cover topics related to the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases (such as multiple sclerosis), tremors, epilepsy and stroke. The new volume highlights novel approaches to treating the mentioned conditions. The following list of chapters is featured in the volume:

- Fatty Acid Amides as a New Potential Therapeutic Agent in Multiple Sclerosis - Epileptic Seizures Detection Based on Non-Linear Characteristics Coupled with Machine Learning Techniques - Hampering Essential Tremor Neurodegeneration in Essential Tremor: Present and Future Directions - The Potential Therapeutic Role of the Melatoninergic System in Treatment of Epilepsy and Comorbid Depression - Modeling Neurodegenerative Diseases Using Transgenic Model of Drosophila - Genetic Basis in Stroke Treatment: Targets of Potent Inhibitors

###

About the Editors:

Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman, Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Cambridge University (1968), has 1080 international publications in several fields of organic chemistry including 751 research publications, 37 international patents, 69 chapters in books and 221 books published largely by major U.S. and European presses. He is the Editor-in-Chief of eight European Chemistry journals. He is Editor of the world's leading encyclopedic series of volumes on natural products 'Studies in Natural Product Chemistry' 54 volumes of which have been published under his Editorship by Elsevier during the last two decades.

Prof. Rahman won the UNESCO Science Prize (1999) and was elected as Fellow of the prestigious Royal Society (London) in July 2006. He has been conferred honorary doctorate degrees by many universities including (Sc.D.) by the Cambridge University (UK) (1987). He was elected Honorary Life Fellow of Kings College, Cambridge University, UK, conferred the TWAS (Italy) Prize and the Austrian government has honored him with its high civil award ("Grosse Goldene Ehrenzeischen am Bande") (2007). He is Foreign Fellow of Chinese and Korean Academy of Sciences, Foreign Fellow of the Chinese Chemical Society and former President of Pakistan Academy of Sciences.

Dr. Zareen Amtul is a graduate in biochemistry with a specialty in neuroscience. She worked as a Fulbright visiting scholar at the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, USA while completing her Ph.D. She worked as Alexander von Humboldt Fellow at Heidelberg University, Germany, as Ontario Mental Health Foundation, and the Canadian Institute of Health Research Fellows at Western University, Canada. Currently Dr. Amtul is working as a Senior Faculty Member at Windsor University, Canada. Dr. Amtul's main area of research has been chemical biology and medicinal bioinorganic chemistry. Dr. Amtul has also extensively researched the biochemical, molecular, and behavioral substrates of memory impairment in Alzheimer's disease, vascular cognitive impairment, stroke, depression, epilepsy, and frontotemporal dementia-related disorders. Lately, she has also started focusing on structural biology, bioinformatics, diagnostics, and drug development to propose novel diagnostics as well as designs of multifactorial neurovascular medicines using optogenetics, decoy, and Trojan horse technologies to treat epilepsy and AD, respectively. Besides teaching anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry, Dr. Amtul has also independently developed and delivered the curriculum of multiple new postgraduate courses in Neuroscience.

Keywords: central nervous system, medicinal chemistry, multiple sclerosis, essential tremors, neurology, epilepsy, stroke

For further information, please visit: https://bit.ly/3avTY49
Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, a staunch critic of President Vladimir Putin, was hospitalized in critical condition after a suspected poisoning on Thursday morning.

Navalny was on a flight to the Siberian city of Tomsk when he fell ill, and the plane made an emergency landing in Omsk where he was brought to intensive care. The hospital has so far refused to share medical details with Navalnys personal physician, although doctors did say the opposition figure was on artificial ventilation.

We assume that Alexei was poisoned with something mixed in his tea; it was the only thing he drank all morning, Navalny spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh wrote on Twitter. Now he is unconscious.

Anatoly Kalinichenko, deputy head doctor at the First Emergency Medical Hospital in Omsk, told journalists that he could not say whether Navalnys life was in danger.

Poisoning is being looked at as one of the possible reasons for the deterioration of his condition, Kalinichenko said.

Navalny has vocally criticized Putin for years, and is able to reach millions of followers through his YouTube channel. In July, Navalny led a series of protests against proposed constitutional amendments that would allow Putin to remain in power until 2036.

Putin has led Russia since he succeeded Boris Yeltsin to the presidency in 1999. Although Putin ally Dmitry Medvedev served as president from 2008 to 2012, Putin switched to the post of prime minister at the time and was widely seen as holding the reins of power.

In January 2020, Russias entire cabinet resigned to make way for constitutional reforms that could see Putin continue to rule the country after his term limit expires in 2024.


CAIRO  More Egyptian families of low-income and workingclass backgrounds have discovered video-sharing platforms such as YouTube and TikTok as a means of income. While adhering to stay-at-home guidance to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, amateur content creators have been producing short videos of their daily routines.

In this most populous Arab country, around 32.5% of the population lives in conditions of extreme poverty, according to the statistical institution CAMPAS. Many low-income households have found salvation in video blogs. By using basic and accessible tools  a mobile phone camera and a good internet connection  they have been able to tap into the advertising revenue of video-streaming platforms.

Their virtually zero-budget content has reached millions of views, outperforming much higher quality video content posted by famous musicians, artists, and TV- show presenters in Egypt.

Wafaa El Gawad's family has one of these countless YouTube channels. In less than a year, the clips broadcast on the vlog  many of them showing the family cooking traditional dishes and buying electronic devices and Eid outfits  have reached 35 million views and climbed YouTube trending list in Egypt.

I think I cook tasty food for my family, and I feel that a lot of people watching our videos are trying to learn from how we prepare different Egyptian dishes, blogger Wafaa told Al-Monitor.

The 43-year-old mother made enough cash from these videos to move from her modest flat to a new house in the newly constructed city Al Shorouk this month. "YouTube is, of course, profitable, but a high number of views must be reached every time to make money," she explained.

YouTube channels can generate $18 per 1,000 ad views and $3-$5 per 1,000 video views. TikTok users are paid in virtual coins from their followers that later can be converted into cash and they can withdraw up to $1,000 a day. This income makes vlogging a profitable business for many families in Egypt, where the minimum wage is 2,000 pounds (around $125) a month.

Wafaas son puts in a lot of time and effort finding creative ways to get more views. "He does the whole job; he films us while we talk spontaneously and then shares the video with the people," she said. She recalled how her son filmed her while she cried tears of joy after moving to their new home. "YouTube has become a record of our best memories," she said happily.

Another popular YouTube channel in Egypt is the Diary of Hamdi and Wafaa. The two are Egypts biggest stars on the platform and boast around 1.74 million subscribers and 329,781,483 views. Like Wafaas family, they shoot most of their daily activities and publish the videos on YouTube and Tik Tok. The videos have helped them to move from living with family to buying their own house in less than 24 months.

According to YouTube, Egypt is one of the largest markets for video-sharing in the Arab world. "The MENA region is a growing market,  with 77% watching YouTube every day in Egypt. Thats more than any other platform, even TV," a recent study by Google, YouTube's parent company, revealed.

Since last March, in the wake of the global COVID-19 outbreak, Egyptians' use of YouTube hit new levels, according to Statcounter. So was the case with the Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok, which attracted millions of Egyptians. A success that pushed competitors like the Singapore-based Likee to open an office in Egypt and hire a local team to break into this lucrative market.

With the increasing use of these platforms and so many clips going viral, criticism has surged around the way some female users dress in their videos. Amid the ensuing debate on social media and after receiving complaints from some users, the Egyptian authorities started to target and arrest women video bloggers. One of them, Haneen Hosam, was arrested last April along with eight others after publishing videos of herself singing and encouraging other women to take part in video streaming.

Haneen was sentenced to two years in prison for "inciting debauchery" and "violating family values." Her lawyer, Mahmoud Haidar, told Al-Monitor, "She appeared on her videos wearing a headscarf and clothing covering her entire body." He added, "She is an amateur video creator. She loves filming and streaming videos for TikTok was a hobby. She never thought it would land her in jail."

The crackdown on women posting visual content led around 150,000 social media users to sign a petition asking for their release. The document stated that the women were detained because of their low socioeconomic status, saying, "They are being punished and denied their right to own their bodies, to dress freely and to express themselves."

"The female creators are the ones who pay the highest price," said Haneen's lawyer.
Carrefour has apologised for not closing a store in Brazil after an employee died, instead his body was covered with boxes and umbrellas and shopping continued

A supermarket chain in Brazil apologized Wednesday for its handling of an employee's death at one of its stores, which covered the man's body with boxes and umbrellas and remained open for business.

The Brazilian subsidiary of French supermarket group Carrefour said it regretted how its store in the northeastern city of Recife reacted after a sales representative it identified as Moises Santos died of a heart attack.

The employee died Friday, but the incident went viral on social media Wednesday, along with images of the man's body lying in an aisle, cordoned off with cardboard boxes and covered up with large green parasols.

"A worker died in a Carrefour supermarket in Recife, which covered up his body to remain open. Welcome to Brazil in the year 2020," one Twitter user wrote.

"Carrefour apologizes for the inappropriate way it handled the sad and unexpected passing," the firm said in a statement.

"The company made a mistake in not immediately closing the store after the incident."

Carrefour said the man had received first aid and that emergency responders' instructions were not to move the body.

"We have since changed our protocol for rare situations such as this, including a requirement to close the store," it said.

The victim's wife said her husband's name was not Moises Santos, but Manoel Moises Cavalcante, and voiced anger at the situation.

"I was outraged. Apparently human beings are worth nothing. People only care about money," she told news website G1.

Carrefour faced another scandal in Brazil in 2018, when a security guard beat a dog to death inside a store in Sao Paulo, an incident that likewise caused outcry on social media.

pr/jhb/to
In the past four months, more than 4 million new accounts have been opened, taking the total to 44.3 million.

Brokerages are witnessing a boom of sorts when it comes to opening of new investor accounts.

In the past four months, more than 4 million new accounts have been opened, taking the total to 44.3 million.

Despite the economic slowdown, widespread job losses, and salary cuts, what's driving people to the stock markets?

Ease of account opening and zero charges

Gone are the days when opening a trading and dematerialised account used to take 70 signatures.

Now an investor can open an account sitting at home, thanks to eKYC with online brokerages.

A simple Google search leads to a slew of brokerages vying for your attention with freebies and offers, such as zero-broking fees and no account opening charges.

Some promise to allow you to begin trading in five minutes.

Market rally

New account openings have been underpinned by a sharp rally in the stock markets.

From March lows, the benchmark Sensex and the Nifty have rebounded more than 40 per cent.

Several stocks in the broader markets are doubling in a matter of weeks.

After the March sell-off, the market direction has largely been upwards, thanks to the aggressive stimulus measures taken by global central banks, especially the US Federal Reserve.

This means, a majority of people who entered the market after March, may have made handsome gains.

And this has prompted them to invest more and nudge others also to open trading accounts.

Improved mobile apps

Fast internet and smartphones have become ubiquitous.

Brokerages have been quick to tap this opportunity.

Mobile trading apps have become user-friendly and intuitive.

New-age apps have led to the gamification of stock-market trading.

It has become an in-thing for investors to post snapshots of the mark-to-market gains they make on their investments.

Many apps show real-time gains one makes.

This gives many the adrenaline rush to increase the wager, without necessarily giving much importance to stock fundamentals.

Experts say people across age groups who are equipped to use a smartphone are being drawn to trading.

Work from home

An often-cited reason for the traction in new account openings is the work from home phenomenon.

Staying at home has given people extra free time, which many are using to trade with an intention to make quick bucks.

This is also reflecting in the numbers.

In July, the share of non-institutional investors in trading volumes surged to 72 per cent - the highest in more than a decade.

Experts say this data point suggest small investors are actively trading.

Access to stock tips

This is the potentially most risky element but a driver nevertheless.

WhatsApp, Telegram, etc are flooded with groups that dole out investment tips.

Joining many of these groups is free and the young generation is seen seeking advice from this medium.

When you have an active trading account, all you need is actionable tips, which groups on Telegram provide.

"Also, as the market has been buzzing, most tips are generating returns. The bubble is intact, but is only getting larger, says a market expert.

Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters
I watched the opening night of the Democratic National Convention because it was news, not because I was particularly interested in the outcome. As I posted on my Facebook page late Monday night in an attempt at gallows humor, For me, watching the 2020 Democratic National Convention is like watching a video of your ex-fiancees annoying sisters gender reveal party. You have no vested interest in the result, but you hope the baby doesnt look like the schmuck you stuck with for 37 damn years. Sadly, you already know it will.

There was a lot of music (including an inspiring rendition of the National Anthem). There were celebrity sightings. There was John Kasich, the man I voted for in the 2016 Pennsylvania primary and for whom I abandoned the Democratic Party after 37 years, standing forlornly in a cornfield as if his Uber driver had randomly dropped him there because of a faulty GPS. There was Eva Longoria, taking a break from her duties as a LOreal spokeswoman. And of course, there was Michelle Obama Superstar, guiding us all with her light and wisdom from a safe social distance. It wasnt really inspiring, and it wasnt really moving, and it wasnt really exceptional, but at least it wasnt really offensive.

That is, until Kristin Urquiza opened her mouth. Urquiza is the daughter of Mark Anthony Urquiza, whose died on June 30. His death has been attributed to COVID-19. His daughter, however, attributes it to Donald Trump. After having been introduced with the fanfare accorded to heads of state, Urquiza came on to talk about how her father died:

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 OK to end social distancing rules before it was safe. 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.

And then, to make sure that we hadnt missed her point, she 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.

For a moment, after I saw Urquizas performance, I just sat there in silent shock. No one expected the Democratic National Convention to tiptoe around its animus toward the president. I certainly didnt expect the powers that be to navigate a middle ground where they focused on the attributes of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris while criticizing the policies and accomplishments of this administration. I knew that there would be some hard-hitting attacks on the more high profile controversies like kids in cages and the impeachment efforts and the so-called assault on reproductive rights. This is campaign season politics, and we follow the Sun Tzu Art of War playbook. I expect the GOP to go there as well.

But Urquizas use of her fathers death to advance a political agenda hit me in the solar plexus, as a daughter myself who lost a beloved father, much more prematurely than the age of 65, to a preventable death. Ted Flowers started smoking at the age of 12, and didnt stop until he turned 38, five years before his death from lung cancer. It never occurred to me to blame Big Tobacco for his death, even though weve learned in recent years that they engaged in a campaign of lies and cover-ups which hid the toxic, deadly nature of tobacco and the subversive campaigns to hook people like my father on a social habit.

To use his death, like that, would be anathema to everything Daddy believed in, including personal responsibility. It also would have cheapened his life, and his centrality in my own. It also never occurred to me to blame Ronald Reagan for his death, even though Reagan often appeared in advertisements in his earlier days shilling cigarettes. No one put the cigarettes in my fathers mouth. (And can I just say here that anyone who is still smoking today is a rank, fool, idiot?)

But Urquiza is, like so many of her generation and political formation, a master of social media P.R. These days, appearance matters much more than substance, and if we can convince people that what they see is the actual reality, perhaps it will prevent them from thinking for themselves and searching for the truth. If we can go after a despised president in the process, so much the better.

We dont know how Mark Anthony Urquiza contracted COVID, although it is possible, as his daughter suggests, that he was infected after that ill-advised visit to a karaoke bar. But Donald Trump did not tell him to go to that bar with friends. Donald Trump did not pay his bar tab, and did not tell everyone that the virus was a hoax. In my personal view, the president has been far too cavalier about the virus and has not listened to his more seasoned advisers. He has not, in my opinion, set the best example. Thats my own opinion, and it hasnt changed over the past five months. I do not look to him for medical guidance.

Which is exactly my point. Anyone who actually believes that people who became infected because of acts they took of their own volition were killed  figuratively  by the president are using those tragic deaths as bullets for their partisan artillery squads. I dont care if it hurts the presidents feelings, although many readers will see this as a defense of Trump. Its not. Im not here to praise his conduct during this pandemic which, as I stated earlier, is mediocre at best.

My anger is focused upon a daughter who would prostitute her own grief in the service of a partisan message, playing upon our emotions and trying to make it seem as if one political party supports death. I seem to recall how angry the Democrats were when Sarah Palin accused Barack Obamas health care mandates of being death panels. Funny how theyve changed their tune.

This isnt about who wins in November. This is about how base, how low we in this society have become when we can milk our loved ones deaths for political purchase. Apparently, the bottom is lower than even I thought possible.

Christine Flowers is an attorney and a Delaware County resident. Her column usually appears Sunday. Email her at cflowers1961@glmail.com.
BENGALURU: Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday (August 20, 2020) said that the state government will take appropriate action against the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) for its alleged role in the recent Bengaluru violence based on the evidence gathered so far.

Basavaraj Bommai further stated that the Karnataka government may recommend to Centre for imposing a ban on SDPI if required.

Cabinet appreciated the work of the Home Department and the Police Department and the timely action taken. They also appreciated the governments decision as far as the recovery of damages by rioters is concerned. As far as the ban on SDPI is concerned, the CM said he will discuss with Centre, the Karnataka Home Minister said.

Meanwhile, JC Madhuswamy, Karnataka's Law Minister, too made similar remarks. I can't say that we will ban them (SDPI), we will initiate action under the law. If required, we will recommend the case to the Government of India and seek their guidance to ban or see that some action is initiated, Madhuswamy said.

He added that the state government will estimate the loss and recover it from the rioters behind the Bengaluru violence.

Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah had on Wednesday alleged the BJP government in Karnataka was only interested in gaining mileage using the recent mob violence here and no relief measures had been taken up in the flood-hit areas.

He also sought a judicial inquiry into the violence that broke out over a social media post by the nephew of a Congress MLA, claiming it showed intelligence 'failure'.

In a series of tweets, Siddaramaiah, who is also the Congress Legislature Party leader, asked Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa to direct his ministers to visit the affected places to carry out relief works.

"The whole state is suffering due to floods & its mismanagement. But @BJP4Karnataka is only interested in gaining political mileage using Bengaluru violence," he charged. He also claimed 'failure' to provide relief and rehabilitation for last year's flood victims has added to the misery.

Taking a dig at Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Revenue Minister R Ashoka, he tweeted the Home Minister was surveying flood-affected areas while the latter continued to 'speculate' on Bengaluru violence, that left four people dead last week.

Later in a letter to CM BS Yediyurappa, he demanded a judicial inquiry into the violence at the Devara Jeevanahalli and Kadugondanahalli, claiming it was an outcome of the "failure" of the government and the Intelligence department.

The violence in DJ Halli and adjoining areas on August 11 night was unleashed by hundreds of people over an inflammatory social media post allegedly put out by P Naveen, a relative of Pulakeshinagar Congress MLA R Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy.

Three people had died in the incident and several others were injured and property worth several lakhs was vandalised.
An unrelenting wave of deadly shootings has hit Chicago this summer amid the pandemic

An unrelenting wave of deadly shootings has hit Chicago this summer amid the pandemic Credit - John J. KimChicago Tribune/AP

The trouble began, as too often it does in Chicago, with a gun.

On a humid afternoon, on Aug. 9, a woman called 911 to report that a man in a red hat and shirt was starting a fight at Moran Park in Englewood, a predominantly Black neighborhood on Chicagos South Side. There were children playing nearby, she warned, and he had a gun. At 2:38 p.m., four Chicago police officers in an unmarked Ford SUV rolled past the park, where they spotted a man matching the callers description. When they flipped on their lights, he ran. The chase led down an alley, where the suspect fired at least eight shots at two officers sprinting after him, according to prosecutors. The cops returned fire. The suspect fell to the ground, then stood back up and disappeared into an abandoned lot.

As the officers hunted for him, the radios clipped to their bulletproof vests crackled to life: a gunshot victim needed help at a house nearby. The police headed to a powder blue bungalow, where they saw a trail of blood leading from the foot of the front door, through the house and down to the basement. There, police say, they found the suspect, blood seeping from wounds in his cheek and abdomen. The man, later identified as 20-year-old Latrell Allen, was taken into custody and sent to a hospital for treatment.

It didnt take long for news of the shooting to circulate as yet another example of racial injustice at the hands of police. Tempers flared, particularly in the South Side and West Side communities, where a legacy of segregation, police discrimination, failed schools and misguided public-housing policy have thwarted advancement of Black families for generations. That night, for more than three hours, hundreds of looters smashed windows and carried away armfuls of jewelry, clothes and electronics from retail stores, first on the South Side, then farther north, into downtown shopping districts, including the citys Magnificent Mile.

Story continues

When the sun rose on Monday, Aug. 10, shattered glass carpeted sidewalks, trash billowed down major streets, and police stood guard in riot gear on corners. In an interview the next day with TIME, Mayor Lori Lightfoot laid the blame for the chaos not on protesters but on organized criminal operatives taking advantage of an emotional moment to strike. It was a planned attack, the mayor declared.

The cryptic allegation was lent credence by the person making it. Elected in 2019 as the first Black woman and openly gay person to serve as Chicagos mayor, Lightfoot has a history of independence and a balanced background in criminal justice, having served as a federal prosecutor and led two bodies that police the citys law enforcement. Where some saw mindless violence, she observed elements of preparation with U-Haul trucks and cargo vans and sophisticated equipment used to cut metal.

Riots may look alike, especially from a distance. But locals close to the ground, including mayors, are in position to tell the difference between damage done by a protest thats spun out of control  and by those simply using social unrest as cover for personal gain.

As he seeks re-election as a law-and-order candidate, Trump has seized upon violent crime in Democrat-led cities as a problem only he and the federal government can fix. On July 22, he expanded Operation Legend, the plan to surge hundreds of federal agents into U.S. cities experiencing what he called a shocking explosion of shootings, killings, murders and heinous crimes of violence. After decades of declining crime, cities across the U.S. are experiencing a spike in shootings and homicides this summer. No city has been hit worse than Chicago. In July alone, 565 people were shot  at least 63 of them juveniles.

But while Operation Legend, which has deployed agents from the FBI, DEA and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in nine cities, offers critical expertise to solve crimes, it is irrelevant to the deeper systemic issues that contribute to the violence, such as poverty, underfunded public schools and structural racism. These matters may be of secondary importance to a President running for re-election who is brazenly attempting to stoke fears of suburban voters by associating race with violence.

If tamping down violence were a policing problem, it wouldve been solved decades ago in Chicago, says Elce Redmond, 56, a community organizer from the South Sides Bronzeville neighborhood. We dont need more cops; we need better cops.

That leaves officials like Lightfoot where they were before Trump waded in: looking for real solutions. She recognizes the city is at an inflection point brought on by the pandemic, the ensuing economic paralysis, and the widening gulf of suspicion between the Black community and her police force. The question is, How do we find opportunity out of even these very dark days? Lightfoot asks. And what do we do to band together? Because  it sounds cliched, but it is so true  we wont survive this moment. We will not thrive. We will not move beyond, get stronger and better, if we dont unite.

Less than two years in office, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot faces a surge of gun violence Sebastian Hidalgo for TIME

Every time somebody is murdered in Chicago, Oji Egglestons Android phone vibrates with a text. As executive director with Chicago Survivors, a nonprofit that provides services to the families of homicide victims in the city, he gets a message generated by a Chicago police reporting system that alerts him to another grieving family. I receive the name, gender, age and location of every single homicide victim, he says. They come at all hours of the day, nearly every day.

Egglestons organization guides each family through the complicated processes that go with caring for a dead loved one: what to do at the medical examiners office, what to ask at the funeral parlor and how to pay for it all. But its the citys cycle of violence that drives the need for Chicago Survivors. When families are grieving and they dont receive the necessary resources in a timely manner, that grief can turn to anger and that anger can turn to retaliation, Eggleston says. So thats where we look to provide the violence interruption.

No challenge has proved more vexing to Lightfoot during her first full year in office than stopping this grim tide. The 443 homicides recorded in Chicago through July were a 53% increase over a year earlier. (New York City, with three times the population, had just 244 murders.) Its difficult to find a corner in Chicagos South and West sides not in some way affected by gang violence. Police say there are 117,000 gang members across the city, which counts 55 known gangs. Officers in Chicago routinely confiscate more illegal guns than those in New York City and Los Angeles combined. Now, during the pandemic, gun sales are hitting record highs across the country. FBI background checks, a proxy to track sales, have surged.

Chicago has no gun shops in the city and no background-check loopholes for private sales. And yet so far this year, Chicago police have seized more than 6,400 guns, a pace set to match the 10,000 confiscated last year. A 2017 study found that some 60% of guns used in crimes come from states like Wisconsin, Mississippi and Indiana. They have very different sensibilities about guns than we do here in Chicago, Lightfoot says. You can literally drive over the border into Indiana and get military-grade weapons in any quantity that your money will buy. And they bring them back to Chicago.

The fourth of July weekend in Chicago was particularly gruesome. There were 87 people shot across the city. Among the 17 people killed was Tyrone Long, 33. He was outside with friends when a man riding in a blue SUV opened fire. Shot several times in the chest, he died at a nearby hospital. It wasnt like he just died or got hit by a bus, says Linda Long, his mother. Someone took his life. And it really hurts my soul that my son is not here.

Tyrone, nicknamed Boomer by his father, was the second oldest of Lindas four boys. He was a cook, just like her, and the father of an 8-year-old daughter, Zhuri. He volunteered time at his aunts antiviolence organization, Sacred Ground Ministries, where he counseled young people about the risks of getting involved in gangs and drugs. His cousin Eric Williams, 25, was killed by gun violence in 2012. Detectives havent called for weeks about Tyrones murder. No one has ever got caught for my nephews death, and it aint looking good on finding Tyrones killer, Linda says. Nobody is listening. When are they going to listen? When are they going to hear us crying out for help? When?

To say the Chicago Police Department (CPD) has a trust problem in Black neighborhoods is a gross understatement. The departments long, troubled history with communities of color spans generations. For decades, long before George Floyds death, waves of demonstrations routinely choked city streets to denounce an institution seen as more akin to an occupying force than committed public servants.

A 2017 Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation found officers in the city had acted with a pattern and practice of excessive force, disproportionately targeting people of color in stops, searches, arrests and shootings, including the notorious 2014 killing of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. In 2019, the DOJ and the city agreed to police-reform agreements enforced by a judge, known as a consent decree, that would address civil rights abuses the probe brought to light.

One year after being elected, Lightfoot hired as superintendent the former Dallas police chief David Brown, renowned for his earnest efforts to bridge the gap between cops and communities of color. Im going to go back to what I believe has been the most promising aspect of policing in the last 20 years  community-oriented policing, Brown says. We are all safer when we work together, when we trust each other, when the relationship is strong. Even when we have mistakes made by police, we shouldnt let our missteps or past indiscretions prevent us from moving forward together.

That takes an investment of his officers time inside neighborhoods, going block by block, meeting people and building trust, Brown says. The city increased the number of cops on the streets, spent more than $7 million to expand local organizations antiviolence outreach and launched a new 300-officer unit to participate with community-relations programs, including food drives and church gatherings.

The head of Chicagos police union initially celebrated Trumps approach of sending additional federal officers. But community activists ask how a couple hundred agents from out of town can meaningfully augment a police force of 13,000, the nations second largest.

The false pretense here is that we can inject a number of people from three-letter agencies and thats going to fix all the problems, says Ed Yohnka, spokesman for the ACLU of Illinois. That kind of thinking has never really gotten anywhere and, in fact, has driven further wedges between the police and communities.

Lightfoot agrees, recalling the chaos federal agents provoked in Portland, Ore. As additional agents from the FBI, DEA and ATF began arriving in Chicago, Lightfoot detected more national politics than local impact. A lot of rhetoric and hype, she said, adding: The jurys out as to whether or not theyre actually going to be helpful.

Linda Longs 33-year-old son Tyrone was killed on July 4 in a drive-by shooting. It really hurts my soul, she says Sebastian Hidalgo for TIME

On July 27, ATF agents in Chicago popped the trunk of a midnight blue 2015 Dodge Charger and found seven handguns lying inside. According to court documents, the guns belonged to Benjamin Cortez-Gomez, 27, a convicted felon nicknamed Bennie Blanco. Agents had tracked Cortez-Gomez after he allegedly purchased the weapons in the Indianapolis area and brought them into Chicago for resale.

Now he had been arrested, and his guns sat on a gray countertop inside a modified tractortrailer parked outside a police facility on Chicagos West Side. The $1.3 million mobile crime lab and the personnel who came with it are part of Trumps Operation Legend. ATF technician Jill Jacobson selects a black Glock pistol, carefully loads it with 9-mm ammunition and inserts the guns muzzle into a red metal tank called a snail trap. She squeezes the trigger. A muffled pop. Then another.

Jacobson collects the two spent cartridges and walks them to a workstation on the other end of the air-conditioned trailer. A colleague briefly studies the cartridges under a microscope, then uploads their images into a national database. The firing pin and explosion inside each gun leave behind tiny markings, like fingerprints, which can be matched to previous crimes. There are no hits on these guns, which Kristen deTineo, ATFs special agent in charge in Chicago, takes as good news. They were taken off the street before a crime took place, she says. Thats our goal.

Its not unusual for federal agents to be working alongside local police in U.S. cities. DEA agents routinely play a role on drug-trafficking cases, and ATF agents in gun cases. Whats unusual is the politics: Trump and his Administration talk about Operation Legend as a way to repair Democratled cities. That leads mayors like Lightfoot to question whether the goal is to help local law enforcement or help Trump get re-elected.

Operation Legend takes its name from LeGend Taliferro, a 4-year-old boy shot and killed as he slept at his home in Kansas City, Mo., at the end of June. It has thus far expanded to Chicago; Albuquerque, N.M.; Cleveland; Detroit; Indianapolis; Milwaukee; Memphis; and St. Louis. The decision to add a city to the list is ultimately signed off on by Attorney General William Barr.

U.S. Attorney John Lausch of the Northern District of Illinois says bringing in agents to work closely with local police provides critical help on stopping and deterring crime from taking place. Prosecutors at the federal level are capable of pursuing charges that carry stiffer penalties than at the county level. For instance, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, one of the charges Cortez-Gomez faces for allegedly having seven guns in his trunk, is punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison. Additionally, convicts must serve at least 85% of their sentence, which can be in a prison located in a state on the other side of the country. In the federal system, we have very strong sentences for violent crimes, and that helps us get further information from these offenders. Criminals know that, Barr said at an Aug. 19 press conference, adding that Operation Legend had netted 1,485 arrests thus far. Our work is just getting started.

And yet even though Lauschs office has prosecuted more gun crimes each year for the past three years, gun violence continues to rise. Community activists, organizers and civil rights groups worry that the arrival of feds is not making things better. The agents are not subject to the same level of oversight as local police on matters like use of force and body cameras. Not long after the Operation Legend announcement, hundreds of protesters gathered for a rally near where ATF agents set up their trailer. For several days, protesters assembled outside, calling for a decrease in the $1.6 billion CPD budget and for the money to be invested instead in long-neglected communities.

Operation Legend sparked protests in Albuquerque. Mayors in several cities say they have serious reservations about its impact and intent. Quinton Lucas, mayor of Kansas City, where the program first rolled out, thought Trump purposefully muddled the use of federal forces in Portland and the deployment of agents under Operation Legend to project authority during instability. Its a culture war, Lucas says. Its about cities, and cities being out of control and Trumps going to have something that helps, whether it helps or not. And were pawns in this game.

ATF technician Jill Jacobson is a member of a team of specialists sent to Chicago as part of the Operation Legend task force Sebastian Hidalgo for TIME

Chicagos problems are stubborn, and speak to the tension at the heart of public safety, as officials across the country address questions of race and policing. Lightfoot came into office intent on providing more opportunities to neighborhoods of color, which activists say know best how to prevent violence. But the mayor has been frustrated by the criminal activity already taking place.

To see young people who are Black act in the way that they acted, like they had every right to take somebody elses property  and not just the big guys who have lots of insurance but the little shop owners in neighborhoods all across the city  they have so little respect for all the sacrifice that people who look like them put into forming a business, all their hurdles, all their challenges that small businesses have, Lightfoot says. Particularly small businesses of color, without any regard for not only hurting those business owners but hurting also employees, who also are generally employees of color. That offends me to the core.

And by its nature, the drama of crime overwhelms all else, including the straits that confine many of the citys poor. In June, the citys unemployment rate was 15.6%, significantly higher than the national rate but higher still outside wealthy North Side neighborhoods, where single-digit jobless rates skew the city-wide figure, analysts say. Severe poverty, insecurity and childhood hunger are geographically concentrated in the West and South sides.

Many Black families, who have given up hope or managed to pull themselves out of poverty, have moved away. In 2019, for the fourth year in a row, Chicago saw its population decline. Nearly 50,000 Black residents have left over the past five years.

There are parts of our city that havent financially recovered since the 2008 recession, says Liz Dozier, a former high school principal who runs Chicago Beyond, a nonprofit that seeks to alleviate economic pressures within low-income communities. The pandemic has just devastated communities even more. Chicago Beyond has invested more than $30 million in organizations that target at-risk youth and young adults. Since the onset of the pandemic, Chicago Beyond has been running weekly food drives across the city. But quarantines and lockdowns have restricted access to churches, schools and community centers.

Dozier argues that with its hardworking ethos and multiculturalism, Chicago still qualifies as a microcosm of America. Its problems may be deep-seated, she says, but they are the problems the country must confront if we are to move forward. And the starting point in any discussion is the question of security  for everyone.

Despite economic and racial disparities, the city is interconnected in ways that are not always apparent. On Jewelers Row along Wabash Avenue in Chicagos central business district, some small-business owners saw their entire livelihood wiped away in this months mass looting. Mohammad Ashiq, the 60-year-old owner of Watch Clinic, entered his watch-repair shop to discover that all his inventory, some $900,000 worth, had been stolen from his glass showcases. Hundreds of watches for sale and those he was fixing for customers were missing. None of it was insured. It is my entire life, he says as a nearby L train rumbles above his store. Forty-two years in this business. I am left with nothing but my health.

His fate had been decided less than 24 hours earlier, less than 10 miles away, when a Chicagoan spotted a man with a gun.

 With reporting by Tessa Berenson, Leslie Dickstein and Mariah Espada
This year, because so many more people are in need, SNAP will likely bring much more money back to our state to support our businesses, our jobs and our people. While emergency response programs receive the attention and public support, SNAP can more efficiently provide similar results to more people in need. This is why it is imperative that our members of Congress act soon to increase SNAP by 15%.

SNAP dollars support the entire food supply chain, they support jobs in our local stores, and when grocery store employees spend their wages it creates jobs in other sectors, all the while making sure struggling families have enough to eat. A study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that every $1 billion spent in SNAP creates as many as 17,000 jobs. This is a huge statistic, especially considering jobs are what we need right now.

Emergency charity services such as food banks and Tulsa Kitchens Unite are necessary to meet immediate and crisis needs; but SNAP more efficiently ensures families are supported on their path to economic recovery. For every meal provided by a food bank, SNAP provides nine.
She's been gearing up for the arrival of her first child, a baby boy, with her partner Sam Mucklow.

And Shelby Tribble and her boyfriend relished in their last moments as a family of two as they continued to soak up the sun in Mallorca, Spain, on Thursday.

The former TOWIE star, 27, looked every inch the yummy mother-to-be as she cosied up to her beau, 28, in a white bikini top, before switching into a ruffled yellow dress by Style Cheat.

Oh baby! Shelby Tribble and her boyfriend Sam Mucklow relished in their last moments as a family of two as they continued to soak up the sun in Mallorca, Spain, on Thursday

Cutting a radiant figure, the former beauty pageant queen displayed her growing baby bump in the ribbed bralet, which she teamed with a loose-fitting shirt and paperbag-waist bottoms.

Loved-up Shelby and Sam coordinated in the accessory department as they protected their eyes from the sun in chunky shades.

In another image, the former glamour model cradled her bump in an elegant frock, which she dressed up with a chain-strap white clutch by Zara.

After their fun in the sun, the TV stars will face 14 days of quarantine when they return to the UK after the government pulled its air bridge with Spain following a spike in COVID-19 cases.

Glowing: The former TOWIE star, 27, looked every inch the yummy mother-to-be as she cosied up to her beau, 28, in a white bikini top, before switching into a ruffled dress by Style Cheat

The handsome couple have had a turbulent relationship, which was well documented on TOWIE.

The duo began sleeping with each other on a 'friends with benefits' basis but things soon turned sour when Sam decided to pursue a romance with TOWIE newbie Demi Sims while on a group trip to Thailand last year.

During a heated row, the fiery star called the brunette a 's**g' but months later, the pair decided to give things another go.

Exciting times ahead: The beauty queen has been gearing up for the arrival of her first child, a baby boy, with her partner

However, they were met with opposition when Shelby's close friend Clelia Theodorou told her she had felt deserted because the influencer was spending all her time with the hunk.

The former BFF's had several bitter rows, with Clelia, 25, accusing her of not being there for her when she was at her lowest point after splitting from her boyfriend, who is Sam's pal.

Shelby and Sam decided to step back from TOWIE in order to focus on their romance later that year, and have been going strong ever since.
The FOQA is the process of obtaining and analysing all kinds of data from flights to improve safety & efficiency of future flight operations

All Indian airlines will undergo the special safety audit that has begun. In the first phase, rhe DGCA is auditing SpiceJet and Air India

New Delhi: The DGCA has started a special safety audit of all Indian airlines, around two weeks after the plane crash in Kerala's Kozhikode in which 18 people were killed, a senior official of the aviation regulator said on Thursday.

"It will be a complete FOQA (Flight Operations Quality Assurance) audit," he said.

The FOQA is the process of obtaining and analysing all kinds of data from flights to improve the safety and efficiency of future flight operations.

"All Indian airlines will undergo the special safety audit that has begun. In the first phase, we are auditing SpiceJet and Air India," the DGCA official said.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has already initiated the special safety audit of all airports in India that receive heavy rain during the monsoon season, another official said.

The announcement regarding the safety audit of such airports was done by the DGCA four days after the Kozhikode plane crash.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) manages more than 100 airports in the country, including the one in Kozhikode. However, major airports like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad are managed by private companies.

On August 7, a B737NG aircraft of Air India Express with 190 people on board overshot the runway and crashed at the Kozhikode airport amid heavy rain, killing 18 people, including the pilots. Air India Express is a wholly owned subsidiary of national carrier Air India.

The two leading pilot unions of Air India on August 13 had sought a meeting with Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to discuss matters related to working conditions and flight safety.

"Our pilots are constantly facing the challenges of COVID-19, monsoon weather, ill-designed flight duty time limitations (FDTL), several extensions and dispensations given by the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation)," stated the August 13 letter written to Puri by the Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) and Indian Pilots' Guild (IPG).

The two unions said they were writing on behalf of pilots of Air India and its subsidiaries Air India Express and Alliance Air.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AAIB) said on August 13 that it has formed a five-member panel headed by Captain S S Chahar, a former DGCA-designated examiner for pilots of B737NG aircraft, to inquire into the circumstances of Kozhikode plane crash.

In a statement, the board had said, "The investigator-in-charge will complete its inquiry and submit the report to AAIB, India, preferably within five months from the date of the issue of this order."
New Delhi, Aug 20 : Liquor will be served at the table in restaurants and in hotel rooms in Delhi even as bars will remain closed.

As per a Delhi government order issued on Thursday, "Considering the revenue implications, Excise Department to issue necessary permission for service of liquor in the restaurants and clubs by licencees at the table and in the hotel rooms." The order signed by Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that under the Unlock guidelines, the Delhi government has allowed operation of restaurants subject to social distancing norms. "In the Disaster Management Authority meeting held on August 19, the government has also allowed opening of hotels. Bars will remain closed under the Unlock guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs", the order said.

However, Delhi is now following the example of some states which have allowed liquor to be served. This is also necessitated by the burgeoning revenue loss that the states are facing as economic activity was disrupted during the lockdown and even after Unlock, is only just picking up.

"However, several state governments including Assam, Punjab, and Rajasthan have permitted service of liquor by licencee holders under the Excise Rules at the table in the restaurants and clubs and in the hotel rooms", the order said. This will come as a relief to restaurants and hotels which are finding it difficult to sustain business models.

It is estimated that 40 per cent restaurants that had shut down during the lockdown may never open again. The hospitality and tourism industry is the worst hit by the coronavirus pandemic in India and across the globe. It also helps the government to mop up revenue from increased sale of liquor sold and also boosts the footfall in restaurants and occupancy in hotels.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
It is no secret that people underlie social influences. For example, at the lunch counter of a new company, when we are unsure which dish would taste good, we monitor other peoples' choices to obtain some guidance for our own menu selection. This phenomenon, which is referred to as social influence, was demonstrated experimentally starting in the 1950s by social psychologist Solomon Asch.

In the new study, researchers from the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) in Germany placed groups of five volunteers in the same computer-based decision-making experiment, where each of them was presented with two abstract symbols. Their objective was to find out which symbol would lead to more monetary rewards in the long run. In each round of the experiment, every person first made a choice between the two symbols, and then they observed which symbols the other four people had selected; next, every person could decide to stick with their initial choice or switch to the alternative symbol. Finally, a monetary outcome, either a win or a loss, was delivered to every one according to their second decision. "This way, we enable real-time interactions among the volunteers, which greatly enhances ecological validity, " says study leader Lei Zhang, then at the UKE and now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Vienna.

In fact, which symbol was related to more reward was always changing. At the beginning of the experiment, one of the two symbols returned monetary rewards in 70% of the time, and after a few rounds, it provided rewards in only 30% of the time. These changes took place multiple times throughout the experiment. "This so-called reversal learning paradigm will create uncertainty for volunteers so that they will always need to learn and relearn to gain more outcomes. In particular, when the reversal just happened, some people in the group may pick it faster than the others, and if so, the others could combine this social information into their own decision-making processes, " explains Jan Glascher, who leads a research group on valuation and social decision-making at the UKE.

Expectedly, the volunteers switched more often when they were confronted with opposing choices from the others, but interestingly, the second choice (after considering social information) reflected the reward structure better than the first choice. How to explain this finding? The researchers used sophisticated models to quantify volunteers' behavior, and they unveiled separate computational strategies for direct learning and social learning. "At the beginning of each round, the volunteers were combining their own direct learning experience and social learning experience to guide their choice," Zhang says, "whereby direct learning follows a simple reinforcement learning algorithm, and social learning is instantiated by tracking the others' reward history."

Within each group, the researchers scanned one of the volunteers' brain using functional magnetic resonance imaging, which allowed them to measure when and where the brain carries out both direct learning and social learning, and to characterize whether the two types of learning actually are associated with different neural signatures. The brain scans showed that direct learning is represented in the area called the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, whereas social learning is represented in the area called the anterior cingulate cortex. These two areas also interact with an area in the middle of the brain called the striatum, "which computes both reward prediction error and social prediction error, quantifying trial-and-error learning to inform behavior" says Glascher. "These indicate an integrated brain network supporting social influence in human decision-making."

These findings suggest that two unique types of learning signals are computed in distinct but interacting regions in the human brain, and represent separate computational strategies for decision-making in social contexts. "Direct learning is efficient in stable situations," explains Glascher, "and when situations are changing and uncertain, social learning may play an important role together with direct learning to adapt to novel situations, such as deciding on the lunch menu at a new company."

"There has been a lot of research on direct learning but relatively little on social learning and how they interact, " Zhang says. What is next? "An important area for further research will be to disrupt part of the identified network using non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, and to determine how behaviors and computation strategies are altered in social decision-making, " Glascher says. "And in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there is no way individuals and governments learn from mistakes all by themselves, and instead, a global and collective human society is needed to address all these challenges."

###

Publication in Science Advances:

L. Zhang & J. Glascher. "A Brain Network Supporting Social Influences in Human Decision-making". Science Advances. 19 August 2020.

DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abb4159
WASHINGTON The Trump administration on Thursday announced new sanctions against six Syrian military, government and financial officials as part of ongoing efforts to prevent money from going to President Bashar Assads government.

We will continue pressure against the Assad regime to compel it to end its attacks against the Syrian people, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, adding that the sanctions were timed to coincide with the seventh anniversary Friday of the Assads governments chemical weapons attack in Ghouta that killed more than 1,400 Syrians.

The State Department sanctioned Yasser Ibrahim, who is suspected of obstructing a political solution to the Syrian conflict and using his networks across the Middle East and beyond to cut deals to enrich Assad.

The Treasury Department took action against the Syrian presidential office and Syrian Baath Party by targeting Luna al-Shibl, Assads presidential media adviser, and Mohamad Amar Saati, a senior Baath party official. The U.S. accuses the party official of facilitating the entry of university students into Assad-backed militias.

The military officials Fadi Saqr, Ghaith Dalah and Samer Ismail also were sanctioned.

In June, the Trump administration increased pressure on Assad, his wife, Asma, and his inner circle with new economic and travel penalties for human rights abuses and blocking a settlement of the countrys bloody nine-year conflict. Last month, the State Department imposed sanctions on Assads eldest son, Hafez.

The State Department also has designated 39 Syrian individuals, including the Assads, as well as members of their extended family, military leaders and business executives. Many were already subject to U.S. sanctions, but the penalties also targeted non-Syrians who do business with them.

Separately, the Treasury Department imposed penalties on 24 individuals, companies and government agencies that the U.S. accuses of supporting Assads corrupt reconstruction efforts.

The Treasury sanctions are the result of legislation known as the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, named after the pseudonym of a Syrian policeman who turned over photographs of thousands of victims of torture by the Assad government.

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
Addressing an international symposium on Vietnam - ASEAN: 25-year Journey and the Way Forward on August 19, Minh reaffirmed that ASEAN is an important pillar in Vietnams foreign policy and a framework for cooperation in security and development.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (Source: VNA)

As the future of member states, including Vietnam, is closely tied to ASEAN, all have responsibility for and an interest in consolidating a united and strong ASEAN Community that holds a deserving role and position in the region and the world.

Since its entry into ASEAN 25 years ago, Vietnam has served as an active, proactive, and responsible member that has wholeheartedly contributed to the blocs development, Minh said.

Becoming an ASEAN member was also a good first step in Vietnams regional and international integration and it treasures the support of other member states, he added.

Minh also affirmed that the mutual understanding and strategic trust that ASEAN has created over the decades will continue to serve as an important foundation for member states to boost win-win cooperation and dialogue to form a peaceful and favourable environment for sustainable development in the region.

The symposium, held online by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attracted the participation of ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi, former ASEAN Secretary-General Le Luong Minh, former Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, and Minister of the Prime Ministers Office of Laos Bounkert Sangsomsak, among others.

It focused discussions on the importance of ASEAN for Vietnam, the countrys participation in the blocs activities, valuable lessons for the way forward, opportunities and challenges facing ASEAN in the time to come, and ASEAN in Vietnams intensive and comprehensive international integration policy./.
Just because a business does not make any money, does not mean that the stock will go down. For example, although software-as-a-service business Salesforce.com lost money for years while it grew recurring revenue, if you held shares since 2005, you'd have done very well indeed. But while history lauds those rare successes, those that fail are often forgotten; who remembers Pets.com?

Given this risk, we thought we'd take a look at whether Network-1 Technologies (NYSEMKT:NTIP) shareholders should be worried about its cash burn. In this report, we will consider the company's annual negative free cash flow, henceforth referring to it as the 'cash burn'. We'll start by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves in order to calculate its cash runway.

Check out our latest analysis for Network-1 Technologies

When Might Network-1 Technologies Run Out Of Money?

A cash runway is defined as the length of time it would take a company to run out of money if it kept spending at its current rate of cash burn. Network-1 Technologies has such a small amount of debt that we'll set it aside, and focus on the US$45m in cash it held at June 2020. Looking at the last year, the company burnt through US$1.5m. So it had a very long cash runway of many years from June 2020. Even though this is but one measure of the company's cash burn, the thought of such a long cash runway warms our bellies in a comforting way. You can see how its cash balance has changed over time in the image below.

How Well Is Network-1 Technologies Growing?

On balance, we think it's mildly positive that Network-1 Technologies trimmed its cash burn by 15% over the last twelve months. But the revenue dip of 39% in the same period was a bit concerning. Taken together, we think these growth metrics are a little worrying. In reality, this article only makes a short study of the company's growth data. This graph of historic earnings and revenue shows how Network-1 Technologies is building its business over time.

Story continues

How Easily Can Network-1 Technologies Raise Cash?

Network-1 Technologies seems to be in a fairly good position, in terms of cash burn, but we still think it's worthwhile considering how easily it could raise more money if it wanted to. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. One of the main advantages held by publicly listed companies is that they can sell shares to investors to raise cash and fund growth. We can compare a company's cash burn to its market capitalisation to get a sense for how many new shares a company would have to issue to fund one year's operations.

Since it has a market capitalisation of US$53m, Network-1 Technologies' US$1.5m in cash burn equates to about 2.7% of its market value. So it could almost certainly just borrow a little to fund another year's growth, or else easily raise the cash by issuing a few shares.

So, Should We Worry About Network-1 Technologies' Cash Burn?

It may already be apparent to you that we're relatively comfortable with the way Network-1 Technologies is burning through its cash. In particular, we think its cash runway stands out as evidence that the company is well on top of its spending. While we must concede that its falling revenue is a bit worrying, the other factors mentioned in this article provide great comfort when it comes to the cash burn. Based on the factors mentioned in this article, we think its cash burn situation warrants some attention from shareholders, but we don't think they should be worried. Taking a deeper dive, we've spotted 4 warning signs for Network-1 Technologies you should be aware of, and 1 of them shouldn't be ignored.

If you would prefer to check out another company with better fundamentals, then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt or this list of stocks which are all forecast to grow.

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.
MONTCALM COUNTY, MI  An inmates worsening medical condition and calls for help were ignored for days before she was found dead in her cell at Montcalm County Jail, a lawsuit says.

Amber Bills, 34, of Big Rapids, died Dec. 30, 2018.

A lawsuit, filed by her husband, Jeremy Bills, said corrections officers and medical staff ignored her serious medical condition believing she was detoxing from methamphetamine.

Bills died of natural causes: an undiagnosed perforated ulcer with peritonitis, according to her death certificate.

The Michigan Sheriffs Association conducted a two-month investigation but found no wrongdoing or criminal acts.

Sheriff Michael Williams, who is named in the lawsuit with 15 sheriffs workers, two doctors and a registered nurse, said his office has not yet been served with the lawsuit. He declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Bills was booked into the jail on Dec. 22, 2018, eight days before her death. She had been arrested for driving while license is suspended and an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court. Bonds totaled $1,000.

On Dec. 26, 2018, while playing cards with other inmates, she suddenly doubled over in pain, Southfield attorney Kevin Riddle wrote in the lawsuit.

Someone pushed an emergency button in the jail, according to the lawsuit.

Her condition got worse the next day. Inmates reported that she was vomiting, pale and bent over in pain, holding her abdomen. A corrections officer saw her lying on the bathroom floor by the toilet, the lawsuit said.

Bills saw a nurse that afternoon. Police said she saw the jail nurse on multiple occasions.

It was apparent to each of the Corrections Officers, based on their perceptions and what they were told by Amber, inmates and other Corrections Officers that Amber Bills was in serious need of medical attention, Riddle said in the lawsuit.

Medical staff on Dec. 28, 2018, started Bills on a detox protocol, he said. At some point, she had told a nurse she was detoxing from methamphetamine use. The attorney said that she would not have been detoxing at the time because methamphetamine withdrawals usually peak within a day or two.

The next day, Bills, who continued to vomit and report stomach pain, pushed the emergency button. She would throw up anything she ate or drank. She repeatedly asked to go to the hospital, an inmate said, according to the lawsuit.

On the day she died, she refused medication and screamed for a doctor, the lawsuit said.

Inmates recalled her cries for help.

Amber cried Help me, Mommy help me and Im sick, the lawsuit said.

A corrections officer allegedly said thats how it feels to detox, the lawsuit said. Another told her to Suck it up, and said she was not going to go to the hospital, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit alleges wrongful death, violation of Bills civil rights, gross negligence and/or willful misconduct and medical malpractice.

Read more:

Woman who died in jail not treated well by staff, cellmate says

No wrongdoing in death of inmate, investigators say

Army veteran says Proud Boys broke his nose and hand in Kalamazoo
An independent member of Canada's unelected Senate is advocating for an experimental basic income program at the provincial level, citing the complications to the employment insurance program after the end of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 20/8/2020 (517 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Sen. Yuen Pau Woo, participates in a TV interview in the Senate foyer on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 19, 2018. Senator Yuen Pau Woo said on Thursday that the employment insurance program emerging from the end of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit could further complicate the system for Canadians. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

An independent member of Canada's unelected Senate is advocating for an experimental basic income program at the provincial level, citing the complications to the employment insurance program after the end of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

Senator Yuen Pau Woo, who is a British Columbia representative in Parliament's upper house, said Thursday that he thinks COVID-19 has opened the door to rethink Canada's social safety net and its employment insurance system.

He spoke at a University of Victoria webinar that took place just before the Trudeau government released details about how it plans to wind down CERB, which provides $500 a week to qualified recipients whose income was affected by the pandemic.

While the senator did not go into detail on the new EI scheme, he said that a basic income program could be a solution to income inequality stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn.

What appears clear to me is that EI will be somewhat less of an insurance scheme after these changes and will have to incorporate elements of a social security scheme, which will complicate our EI system even more. And I can tell you, it is already a very complicated system, Woo said.

How we fund it, is of course, a big question, Woo said.

He said the non-partisan Parliamentary Budget Office has provided an estimate of offsets that could be applied to reduce the gross cost of basic income.

"Depending on how politicians choose to apply those offsets, the net cost of basic income would be much less than the headline number.

Woo said the current economic slowdown was caused by a health crisis, not a financial crisis, as in the 2008 downturn.

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Since the financial sector is in relatively good shape, Woo said, the government should advocate for structural changes in how the financial system works, such as changes in how sovereign debt is handled across the world, and changing the incentives for companies to act on climate change initiatives.

For example, Woo said, the government can require private companies to disclose climate change-related risks to their business models. Woo also referenced the green new deal policies being proposed in other countries.

Paul Beaudry, a deputy governor of the Bank of Canada who also spoke on the panel, said the central bank has been working with the financial sector to forecast different potential scenarios surrounding climate change and the transition to a green economy.

The future is very uncertain right now, there are lots of different paths  Are they going to be resilient? Are they investing in the right places? Do they recognize the risks involved? Beaudry said.

We dont have a direct mandate to do environmental policy, thats not our role and we leave that to the elected officials. But we do have a responsibility to make sure the financial system is doing what needs to be done.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 20, 2020.
The Office of Public Health and Safety (OPHS) announced the most recent round of Community-Based Violence Reduction Partnership grants will go to Edna Martin Christian Center (EMCC), VOICES, RecycleForce and Community Action of Greater Indianapolis (CAGI).

Each organization will get $75,000 to support violence prevention programs and wraparound services.

Mayor Joe Hogsett announced the recipients  which came from a pool of nine applications  Aug. 18 at Frederick Douglass Park by saying the city needs to put as much emphasis on violence prevention as it does on punishment.

The announcement came just a few days after Hogsett announced federal law enforcement agents will be in Indianapolis to focus on violent crime through Operation Legend.

RecycleForce provides transitional employment and other services for those involved in the criminal justice system, with a focus on building job skills and helping with job placement.

EMCC provides prevention case management and other services for young adults between 18 and 24 years old who are referred from the Youthful Offender Unit of the Marion County Superior Court Adult Probation Department.

VOICES will use its grant to support Power and Promise, its peer mentor and youth leadership program that trains elementary and middle school students from communities that have similar levels of trauma.

CAGI is focused on poverty and will help people in need through existing programs, as well as new programs such as emotional regulation training and cognitive-based therapy.

Applicants had to partner with other organizations for their proposals.

Shonna Majors, the citys director of community violence reduction, said each of the four organizations chosen represents a different focus that, when put together, will make for more effective violence prevention, intervention and interruption.

All three of those components are critical to the work because we cant do prevention without intervention and without interruption, she said.

Contact staff writer Tyler Fenwick at 317-762-7853. Follow him on Twitter @Ty_Fenwick.

Representatives from RecycleForce accept a check for $75,000 from the Office of Public Health and Safety for crime prevention programs and wrap-around services. (Photo/Tyler Fenwick)
On August 20, a suspected case of bubonic plague was declared negative by the authorities in Khovd province of Mongolia. Nyamdorj Tsogbadrakh who is the director of the National Center for Zoonotic Diseases, reportedly said that the samples were taken from a 37-year-old resident of Tsetseg soum. He was taken to a local hospital on August 16 after consuming marmot meat.

One person dies every year

According to reports, at least one person dies in Mongolia every year due to bubonic plague. The reason for the spread of the disease is due to the fleas clinging to the hair of the marmots which are born in the region. On August 12, Mongolias Health Ministry confirmed another death due to Bubonic plague. According to the World Health Organization, the bubonic plague is a bacterial disease that can be spread by fleas living on wild rodents such as marmots. This disease can kill an adult in less than 24 hours if not treated in time. The authorities reportedly said that 17 out of 21 provinces in Mongolia are now at risk of the bubonic plague.

Read: China Seals Off Village In Inner Mongolia After Resident Dies Of Bubonic Plague

Reports suggest that as a result of the death of the man due to plague, the government of the region has started campaigns in order to discourage people from eating the rodent. The man died on the night of August 11. Reports suggest that there were around 70 people in close contact with the 42-year-old man who brought two dead marmots before he fell ill.

Read: Mongolia: Bubonic Plague Kills Another Person; People In Contact With Him To Be Tested

According to reports by health officials in China, two similar deaths have been reported from their side of the border this month. One death was from bubonic plague while the other was caused by the rare pharyngeal plague. The recent surge in cases have urged the Buryatia region, which is located in eastern Serbia, to test rodents for the bubonic plague and ask residents not to hunt or eat marmots. Recently, China has revealed that it has sealed off a village in Baotou city located in Inner Mongolia after a person there died of the deadly Bubonic plague.

Read: Bubonic Plague: What Did Doctors Wear To Protect Themselves In 1347?

Also Read: Bubonic Plague In China: Here's All You Need To Know About Infamous 'Black Death'

(Image Credits: AP)
Shares of most sugar companies were trading in the positive territory on Thursday even as the government raised sugarcane floor price by 3.6 per cent. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved raising the price that sugar mills should pay for sugarcane in the next season beginning October 1, to Rs 285 per 100 kg, up from Rs 275 a year earlier.

READ ABOUT IT HERE "The increase in sugarcane floor price is definitely negative for the sugar companies as they have to pay more to procure sugar from the farmers. However, the market was anticipating a much bigger hike than 3.6 per cent, ...
US-China relations took another blow on Wednesday after Washington suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong in protest at Beijings new national security law.

The treaty was one of three the Trump administration said it was halting or axing entirely, in response to Chinas decision to impose on Hong Kong sweeping new reforms that critics say signal an end to the territorys autonomy.

The measures mean the US will no longer cooperate with China on the surrender of fugitive offenders, the transfer of sentenced persons and reciprocal tax exemptions on income derived from the international operation of ships, State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said in a statement.

These steps underscore our deep concern regarding Beijings decision to impose the national security law, which has crushed the freedoms of the people of Hong Kong, Ms Ortagus added.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, widely regarded as president Trumps China hawk, said the Communist party had crushed the freedoms of Hong Kongers.

Recommended US tells Russia that China is rapidly expanding nuclear warhead stock

Because of the CCPs actions, we are terminating or suspending three of our bilateral agreements with the territory, he added in a message posted Twitter.

Tensions have been flaring between the two countries ever since China imposed its national security law on Hong Kong in June, against a backdrop of widespread pro-democracy protests in the former British colony.

The Hong Kong government said Wednesdays decision shows disrespect for bilateralism and multilateralism under the current administration and should be condemned by the international community.

The HKSAR government strongly objects to and deplores the US action, which is widely seen as a move to create troubles in the China-US relationship, using Hong Kong as a pawn, it said in a statement, referring to the city by its formal designation as a Special Administrative Region of China.

Trump signed an executive order last month that he said would end preferential economic treatment for the city.

Recommended White House antagonises China by sending cabinet secretary to Taiwan

The new national security law punishes anything China considers secession, subversion, terrorism or collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison and has drawn criticism from western countries that worry the law will end the freedoms promised when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

Beijing and the Hong Kong government have defended the law as necessary to restore order and preserve prosperity after months of at-times violent anti-government protests last year.

Relations between the two countries were already strained by differences over trade, Beijings claims in the South China Sea and its treatment of its Muslim Uighur minority.

US-China ties have deteriorated to their worst level in decades, analysts say.

Recommended China may want to rethink its crack down on Hong Kong press freedom

Washington this month imposed sanctions on Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam and other current and former Hong Kong and mainland officials whom Washington accuses of curtailing political freedom in the financial hub.

The US government has also required goods made in Hong Kong for export to the United States to be labelled as made in China after 25 September.

Beijing and Washington are also embroiled in a row over the social media app TikTok, which is owned by Chinese technology firm ByteDance.

US security chiefs say the firm has close links with the Chinese government and that the app is being used for overseas intelligence gathering.

Last week, Mr Trump ordered ByteDance to sell its US business within 90 days or face being shut down. The president has since given tech giant Oracle the green light to buy TikToks US operations.

The president said there was credible evidence that TikTok was being used by ByteDance to breach US security.

ByteDance has repeatedly denied that it has improperly shared users data.

Additional reporting by Reuters
" " Mountain ranges, like the Himalayas in Asia, are more than vast enough to foster allopatric speciation. Prakash Mathema/AFP/ Getty Images

Speciation events are believed to happen under a number of conditions. Scientists generally believe it takes place because members of the same species have become isolated from one another. There are four types of speciation that evolutionists have identified as being the likeliest explanations for speciation.

In the case of allopatric speciation, an actual geographic boundary physically separates the species. A river or a mountain range, for example, may cause a species to diverge.

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With parapatric speciation, a species is spread out across large areas with diverse environments. They adapt to these new areas and gradually become separate species. There's no defining geographical feature that separates these animals -- they may become separate species simply because of the distance that separates the groups.

Peripatric speciation occurs when a small group becomes isolated from the main body of the species. Since this cluster is just a small portion of the whole population of the species, all of the genetic differences which make the species robust may not be present. This presents what evolutionary biologists call a bottleneck. Some of the genes that flow within a species have been clipped off and separated from the gene pool.

In an evolutionary bottleneck, a small population is successful at producing subsequent generations. This has happened at various times in human history. Most Europeans, for example, are all descendents of only a few hundred ancestors, who lived in the midst of a bottleneck [source: The Polymath].

While a small group may be successful in repopulating, there are repercussions that may arise from a bottleneck. The genes present in this small population will become robust, since the genetic flow is much bulkier than it would be in a larger population, where genetic differences -- including abnormalities -- are spread out. This is called the founder effect. The genes of founding members of what eventually becomes a large population become much more frequent than they are in similar, larger populations. Several members of an Amish sect in Pennsylvania suffer microcephaly, a generally fatal disease where the brain does not attain its full size. These Amish are all descended from a single couple who arrived in Pennsylvania in the 18th century.

In the case of sympatric speciation, members of a species continue to live side by side, but still separate into different species. For example, some insects feed and reproduce on a single type of fruit. If some members of this species try another type of fruit, their offspring may be raised to visit that fruit as well. If this happens, the members of a species may diverge into two species based solely on the fruit they feed on and lay eggs in.

In each of these types of speciation, the species must undergo the process of reproductive isolation. For example, the damselfly evolved to form differing genitalia, and members became physically incapable of mating with one another. Reproductive isolation needn't be so drastic, however. Members of a single species can evolve to create different mating rituals, ones that won't attract members of the other species. They may also mate at different times of the day, month, season or year. Or they can evolve to mate in different places, for example on two different types of fruit, as in the example given above for sympatric speciation.

So when a population finds itself isolated in one way or another from the rest of a species, speciation occurs, right? Not necessarily. Find out more about the disagreement over speciation on the next page.
T ravellers arriving in the UK from Croatia, Austria and Trinidad and Tobago after 4am on Saturday will have to stay in quarantine for 14 days, the Transport Secretary has said.

Grant Shapps made the announcement in a bid to control the spread of coronavirus, with cases spiralling in those countries.

But passengers arriving in the UK from Portugal will no longer have to self-isolate after it was added to the travel corridor list, Mr Shapps said.

He tweeted: Data shows we need to remove Croatia, Austria and Trinidad & Tobago from our list of #coronavirus Travel Corridors to keep infection rates DOWN.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps / REUTERS

If you arrive in the UK after 0400 Saturday from these destinations, you will need to self-isolate for 14 days.

Data also shows we can now add Portugal to those countries INCLUDED in Travel Corridors.

As with all air bridge countries, please be aware that things can change quickly.

Holidaymakers in Croatia / Reuters

Only travel if you are content to unexpectedly 14-day quarantine if required (I speak from experience!)

The weekly incidence (cases) per 100,000 for Croatia has increased from 10.4 on August 12 to 27.4 on August 19  a 164 per cent increase.

Over the same period, Trinidad and Tobago saw a 232 per cent increase increase in weekly incidence per 100,000, while Austria had a 93 per cent increase between August 13 and August 20 (from 10.5 per 100,000, to 20.3).

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has updated its travel advice to advise against all but essential travel to Croatia, Trinidad and Tobago and Austria, while Portugal has been exempted from the FCOs global advisory against non-essential travel.

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Other destinations also excluded from the quarantine green list include France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Malta and Turks and Caicos.
To help the city fight the Covid-19 pandemic, Ganesh mandals in Mumbai have formed a task force of 400 volunteers who will undertake various awareness drives during the 10-day festival which starts from August 22.

The Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti, an umbrella body of 12,500 Ganesh mandals across Mumbai, said that the mandals will ensure online darshan, social distancing within pandals and will also conduct drives to promote yoga and pranayam among youngsters.

Naresh Dahibhavkar, president of the samanvay samiti said, The volunteers will ease the workload of the police and civic officials by ensuring that social distancing measures are followed in pandals. These volunteers, in the age group of 28-35, will also create awareness in their areas on the various precautions to be taken.

Also read: Sero survey shows 29% population in Delhi has Covid-19 antibodies now

The state government is wary of a spike in coronavirus cases if people crowd places during Ganeshotsav. Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has also asked authorities to be extra cautious during the festival. Thackeray held a meeting with district officials on Tuesday and directed them to ensure that overcrowding is avoided during the festival.

On Wednesday, Maharashtra recorded its highest single-day spike with 13,165 cases of Covid-19 taking the tally to 628,642.

The state also recorded 346 deaths after which the toll stands at 21,003 till date. Mumbai recorded 1,132 Covid-19 cases on Wednesday and 46 fatalities.

State officials expect the daily caseload to increase with an increase in the number of tests. As per state department data, 73,464 samples were tested on Wednesday for Covid-19. Earlier this week, state health minister Rajesh Tope said that a downward trend could be seen after mid-September.

Maharashtra is in the middle of a peak of Covid-19 cases. However, its difficult to predict how long it will last. The pandemic situation is under control in Malegaon, Mumbais Dharavi slums, and Aurangabad. In most places, the spread appears to have plateaued. Now, a downward trend is expected after the middle of September, Tope told media on Tuesday.
Upcoming political events in the Bay Area. Events take place online unless otherwise noted:

FRIDAY

March for the Dead, Fight for the Living: A protest and march across the Golden Gate Bridge honoring people who have died in the coronavirus pandemic and calling for systemic reform to further social and economic justice. Organized by Vigil for Democracy and Wall of Many Bay Area. 5:30 p.m. Meet at Crissy Field Warming Hut, 983 Marine Drive, San Francisco. More information is here.

Shirley Chisholm documentary: A screening and discussion of Rep. Shirley Chisholms 1972 campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, Chisholm 72: Unbought and Unbossed. Hosted by the Mechanics Institute. 6 p.m. More information is here.

SATURDAY

Save the post office: Protests planned at post offices around the Bay Area in response to the Trump administrations efforts to suppress mail voting. 11 a.m. List of protests is here.

Pandemic response: A look at how the nations economic response to the coronavirus pandemic has skewed toward maximizing profits. Speakers include St. Marys College economics Professor Jack Rasmus. Hosted by Speak Out Now. 4 p.m. More information is here.

MONDAY

Rep. Mark DeSaulnier: Concord Democrat holds a town hall meeting on U.S. Postal Service changes and voting in Contra Costa County. 3 p.m. Join meeting here.

TUESDAY

Reagans legacy: Rick Perlstein, author of Reaganland, on how Ronald Reagan won the presidency and why the conservative strategy for gaining power works to this day. Hosted by the Commonwealth Club. Noon. More information is here.

Rep. Ro Khanna: Fremont Democrat holds a town hall meeting. Submit questions in advance here; join meeting here.

Corruption in America: Sarah Chayes, former Paris reporter for NPR and author of On Corruption In America And What Is at Stake, in a conversation hosted by the Commonwealth Club. 3:30 p.m. More information is here.

WEDNESDAY

Race and equity: A discussion on systemic racism and ways to create a more just and equitable community. Panelists include William Armaline of the SJSU Human Rights Collaborative; LaToya Fernandez of YouthHype; Chava Bustamante of Latinos Unidos for a New America; and Zahra Billoo of the Council on American Islamic Relations. Hosted by San Jose Spotlight. 4 p.m. More information is here.

Womens suffrage centennial: Perspectives on how women can lead the country and further democratic values. Speakers include Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan, She the People founder Aimee Allison, League of Women Voters of San Francisco president Alison Goh, suffrage historian Jennifer Helton and journalists Marisa Lagos of KQED and Elaine Elinson. Hosted by the League of Women Voters. 5 p.m. More information is here.

Katie Hill: Former congresswoman and author of the new book She Will Rise: Becoming a Warrior in the Battle for True Equality, on her story. Hosted by the Commonwealth Club. 6 p.m. More information is here.

THURSDAY

S.F.s first suffrage march: The story of the first known San Francisco march for womens right to vote, and the women who led it. Presented by Evelyn Rose, director of the Glen Park Neighborhoods History Project. Hosted by the San Francisco Public Library. 6 p.m. More information is here.

AUG. 29

Silicon Valley Pride: Day One of a virtual Pride celebration, beginning at 9 a.m. More information and events are here.

AUG. 30

Silicon Valley Pride: Day Two of a virtual Pride celebration, beginning at 10 a.m. More information and events are here.

SEPT. 9

S.F. D7 candidates: Candidates for San Francisco supervisor in District Seven  Emily Murase, Joel Engardio, Myrna Melgar and Vilaska Nguyen  in a debate hosted by sf.citi. 5 p.m. More information is here.

SEPT. 12

Flipping Texas: A Zoom event in support of Democratic candidates for the Texas state House, Sharon Hirsch and Akilah Bacy. Sponsored by Sister District CA Peninsula. 6 p.m. More information is here.

To list an event, please email Chronicle politics editor Trapper Byrne at tbyrne@sfchronicle.com
Kim Jong Un has promoted his sister to second-in-command of North Korea, according to South Korea's spy agency.

Kim Yo Jong, 32, is now in charge of North Korean policy towards the US and South Korea, effectively making her his de-facto deputy, spy chiefs said.

Her brother still maintains 'absolute authority' over North Korea, but has delegated some responsibilities to help him deal with the 'stress' of ruling, it was claimed.

The report comes months after 36-year-old Kim disappeared from public view for 21 days, amid speculation he was seriously ill.

Kim Jong Un has promoted his younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, to become his de-facto second in command and help deal with the 'stress' of leadership, South Korea's spy agency claims

Ha Tae-kyung, a member of South Korea's Intelligence Committee, said spy chiefs revealed the transfer of powers during a briefing on Thursday.

'Kim Jong-un is still maintaining his absolute authority, but some of it has been handed over little by little,' he said, according to Chosun Ilbo.

While the move makes Kim Yo Jong her brother's effective deputy, it does not make her his official successor, the newspaper added.

Other subordinates were also handed additional responsibilities, South Korea said.

Kim is thought to have three children with his wife Ri Sol Ju, though none of them have been seen in public. They are thought to be aged ten, seven, and three.

Kim Yo Jong had already taken a more prominent role in North Korea's leadership structure following suspicions over her brother's health back in May.

Kim Yo Jong had already been taking a more prominent role in North Korea, after her brother disappeared from public view earlier this year amid speculation about his health

In June, she gave the order to blow up a joint liaison office with South Korea amid fury at propaganda leaflets being sent over the border.

She was also charged with organising a counter-leaflet campaign in revenge, and ordered loudspeakers playing propaganda messages to be erected along the border.

She also threatened South Korea with unspecified military action, until Kim Jong Un ordered the threat to be withdrawn.

At the time, observers said it was possible that North Korea was trying to boost the leadership profile of the younger Kim, in the event she has to step in for her brother if his health fails.

Others suggested that the pair were attempting to develop a 'good cop, bad cop' dynamic, potentially giving them an edge in negotiations with foreign powers - after the collapse of nuclear talks with Donald Trump.
(Natural News) There are now so many wildfires blazing across California that already stretched fire crews are no longer able to keep up with trying to fight them all.

Some two dozen wildfires, mostly in Northern California, are eating up tens of thousands of acres as increasingly more area residents are being forced to evacuate from their homes.

California is now under a state of emergency following several weeks of unprecedented heat, which triggered many of these wildfires and led to widespread power outages.

Throughout the state of California right now, we are stretched thin for crews, says Will Powers, a state fire spokesman, about the severity of these wildfires. Air resources have been stretched thin throughout the whole state.

In Solano County, a massive wildfire has already burned up a slew of homes and other structures, with more apparently in its path. In Vacaville, many are having to evacuate their homes due to this fires spread.

All throughout the North Bay, residents are being told they must flee for their own safety as the fiery inferno blazes unabated.

Another massive fire located to the southwest of San Francisco and Silicon Valley has led to the evacuation of at least four different state and county parks, including Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Ano Nuevo State Park, Butano State Park, and Pescadero Creek County Park.

The Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Office tweeted a map of the evacuated areas, which it indicated is expected to expand as the fire grows and spreads.

Please be prepared, the department warned at the end of the tweet.

Death Valley reaches 130 degrees, possibly a record

So far, the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Stanislaus, and San Joaquin are all affected by these fires with more on the way if they cannot be contained.

It would appear as though all of them are uncontained at this point, which means those who live in and around the areas where they are spreading need to take extreme caution to protect themselves and their families.

Over in Death Valley, which regularly reaches extreme temperature highs, the National Weather Service (NWS) reported that the mercury soared as high as 130 degrees Fahrenheit in front of the Furnace Creek Visitor Center  this potentially being a world record.

The good news is that temperatures do seem to be on the decline, which will at least help to alleviate the energy shortages and rolling blackouts that are affecting hundreds of thousands of California homes.

The Western Cooling degree days (CDD) would appear to have peaked this past week, and is now set for a 45-day slide. This means that the amount of energy it takes to cool a structure in the state of California will more than likely decline, alleviating the burden on the states energy resources.

As many as 3.3 million households in California suffered through one or more rolling blackouts over the past week, with hopefully some reprieve coming very soon.

Amazing how such a green state is always polluting the air with fires from their refusal to maintain their forests! noted one Zero Hedge commenter, making a poignant observation about how Californias failed forest management policies may be to blame for this ongoing catastrophe. Hope all that smoke doesnt block your solar panels!

California (and the biggest landholder, the Feds) dont leave the forest alone; they actively suppress small natural fires, and dont let anything else  such as loggers etc.  mitigate the steady fuel-growth until the inevitable fire happens thats too big to suppress, wrote another, offering a different take on the situation.

For more related news about the California wildfire situation, be sure to check out ClimateScienceNews.com.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

Twitter.com

NaturalNews.com
Privatisation of Thiruvananthapuram airport: Kerala govt calls for all-party meeting

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 20: The Kerala government on Thursday called an all-party-meeting to discuss and protest against the Centre's decision to hand over of the management and operation of the Thiruvananthapuram airport to the Adani group. The meeting called by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will be held at 4 pm today and will be through video conferencing, a statement from the CMO said.

On Wednesday, the Union Cabinet had approved the proposal for leasing out airports at Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram through public-private partnership (PPP).

Adani Enterprises had won the rights to run six airports -- Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, and Guwahati -- through the PPP model after a competitive bidding process in February 2019. Vijayan has already written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention and to reconsider the decision as it would be "difficult" for the state to cooperate.

Kerala CM writes to PM Modi, opposes decision to hand over Trivandrum airport to private bidder

The State's repeated requests to entrust the airport management with the special purpose vehicle (SPV) in which the state government is the major stakeholder was also ignored, Vijayan had stated.

"In view of the unilateral decision taken by the Government of India without giving credence to the cogent arguments put forward by the State government, it will be difficult for us to offer cooperation to the implementation of the decision, which is against the wishes of the people of the State," Vijayan said in the letter.

Contempt Case: SC rejects Prashant Bhushan's plea to defer sentencing | Oneindia News

Fake: Kerala BJP MPs mother did not have COVID-19, no protocols were broken

The ruling Left and the opposition Congress have also come out against the Centre over its decision to lease out three airports to the Adani group, accusing it of privatising all PSUs while the country was battling COVID-19.

"Thiruvananthapuram airport privatised to Adani rejecting the claim of Kerala govt, even after offer to match Adani's rate. PMO's promise to accept Kerala proposal broken. People of Kerala will not accept this act of brazen cronyism. #Airportprivatisation," State Finance Minister Dr Thomas Isaac tweeted on Thursday.

Opposition Congress Leader Ramesh Chennithala said "the dictatorial act" cannot be allowed and "must be resisted". "The Union Government's decision to award operations of Trivandrum Airport to Adani Group on a 50-year lease amidst the COVID crisis is a deplorable move.

The airport is the state's property, and must not be privatised," he tweeted. "The decision to go for PPP mode despite state govt's readiness to operate and manage the airport shows how the Central Govt is trying to use the COVID pandemic to hand over all PSUs to the private sector," Chennithala said in another tweet.

KPCC President Mullappally Ramachandran said the move to privatise the airport was "deplorable". "We need to protest in order to force the centre to withdraw this decision. None of us need to be in the payroll of these corporate giants," he said on Thursday.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, August 20, 2020, 14:43 [IST]
Opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh are gearing up to corner the BJP-led government on the law and order front during the ongoing monsoon session of the state Assembly.

Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu, who is a sitting MLA from Tamukhiraj assembly constituency in Kushinagar district, told PTI, The Congress will raise issues of the poor law and order situation in the state, women security, problems faced by the farmers and flood.

Samajwadi Party MLA from Mohanlalganj in Lucknow Ambrish Pushkar said, The UP government has failed on all fronts. Be it the law and order situation or the corona crisis. It also fears that BJP MLAs may corner it on a number of issues, as its own MLAs are angry with it. Just before the start of the brief monsoon session of Uttar Pradesh Legislature, the main opposition party Samajwadi Party staged a protest in the Vidhan Bhawan on Thursday against the poor law and order in the state and the governments handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Also read: Samajwadi Party stages protest against law & order, UP govts handling of Covid crisis

SP legislators protested in front of the statue of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh in the campus holding banners against the state government while Member of the Legislative Council Naresh Uttam alleged that there was jungle raj in the state .

Incidents like murder, loot, rape and kidnapping are taking place on a daily basis. It appears that criminals have no fear of law, he said.

A BSP legislator requesting anonymity said that the party will be moving adjournment notice in the backdrop of recent incidents in Azamagarh.

The killing of a village head of Basgaon in Azamgarh on August 14 triggered mob violence, which was further aggravated after a child was crushed to death by a vehicle, prompting rioters to set several vehicles and a police post in the area on fire.

The trouble began when 42-year-old Satyamev, the village head of Basgaon in Tarwan area of Azamgarh district, was shot dead by some miscreants during the day, prompting his supporters to take to the streets and unleash violence in the area.

Amid the rampaging mob, a child was crushed to death by a vehicle, further infuriating the people, who set many vehicles on fire.

Subsequently, NSA was slapped against four people in connection with the incident.

In Lakhimpur Kheri, a 13-year-old girl was allegedly raped and strangled to death following which two men were arrested.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday released the crime statistics, according to which in 2020 (from January 1 to July 31) 1,216 incidents of rape took place as compared to 1,692 for the corresponding period in 2019.

Similarly, 38 incidents of dacoity took place in 2020 as compared to 68 in 2019.

As far as murders are concerned, in 2020, as many as 2,032 incidents of murders took place as compared to 2,204 in 2019.

In 2019, 1,379 incidents of loot took place, while in 2020, 792 incidents of loot took place.

The state saw 23 incidents of kidnapping for ransom in 2019, while in 2020, it was 15.
Chattanooga State Community College moved into the state budget winners circle when the General Assembly approved funds for a new $21.7M Advanced Manufacturing building for the Tennessee College of Applied Technology at Chattanooga.



Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance Danny Gibbs said, TBR Facilities Development staff looks forward to working with TCAT Chattanooga to get this project started. The initial planning stage for the 40,000 square foot building and renovations to TCAT buildings 1 and 2 will take place during 2021, while the new Advanced Manufacturing building is expected to be complete in 2023, followed by the completion of renovations to TCAT 1 and 2 in 2024.



Chattanooga State President Dr. Rebecca Ashford noted that a lack of space has prevented the college from expanding existing or adding new TCAT programs. The new Advanced Manufacturing building for the Chattanooga State TCAT will enable us to educate and train more students for high paying, in-demand jobs and solid futures, stated Dr. Ashford. In addition to the students who will benefit from this building, employers in our area will benefit from having a skilled workforce.



Officials said, "Chattanooga State TCAT is a leading provider of hands-on, high-demand skills training programs. With more than 25 programs of study, many students are able to start their career in one year or less."

For more program information, visit chattanoogastate.edu/tcat.
New research looking at voters' perception of gender and aspiration suggests that voters do not penalise ambitious women candidates seeking political office, contrary to popular belief.

The study, published in the US journal Political Behavior, challenges the long-held assumption that negative views about ambition are standing in the way of female candidates in politics.

Following Hillary Clinton's unsuccessful bid for the White House in 2016 a notion that 'unbridled ambition' had cost her votes gained traction. Then-President Obama suggested that ambition might be a political liability for women, but not men.

To test this hypothesis the researchers from the universities of Bath and Harvard, developed a four-part framework to evaluate public perceptions towards different aspects of ambition among female candidates.

This looked at ambition as multidimensional: 'progressive' (i.e. aiming for higher office); 'personalistic' (i.e. personality traits, including being determined to succeed and a tough negotiator); 'agenda-based' (i.e. the scope of their proposed policies); 'parental' (i.e. juggling family responsibilities with public life).

The political scientists then tested voters' reactions to these 'ambitious' traits across a sample of nearly 4000 respondents both in the US and UK. In their experiments, people evaluated pairs of hypothetical candidates against information about both their ambition and gender.

Results from their experiments which ran from 2017 to 2020 found that overall female candidates with these traits were not punished - in fact, they were slightly favoured. Yet, there were some differences in acceptance for ambitious women across parties.

In the States, Democrats were more supportive of women with progressive ambition than Republicans (a gap of 7% points). This suggests that ambitious right-wing female candidates in the US might face bias, particularly in the context of non-partisan races (primaries and local elections) when voters are unable to rely on party labels to make decisions. In the UK, they found no differences in attitudes towards female candidates across party affiliation.

They found some evidence that women were more likely to support female candidates with both progressive and agenda-based ambition, compared to men. But they say these differences are not significant across all survey samples. While ambitious political agendas are favoured by voters, they found no significant differences in voters' willingness to support female versus male candidates with ambitious agendas. Parent status was not found to be associated with candidate ambition.

Researcher, Dr Ana Catalano Weeks from the Department of Politics, Languages & International Studies at the University of Bath explains: "For a long time a popular belief has persisted that ambitious women seeking political office get penalised by voters, but our results suggest no evidence to support this assumption. Ambition, including for women, is not a negative trait for voters - if anything it's attractive, especially for Democratic voters.

"Women remain underrepresented in parties and parliaments and one of the reasons might be not the voters, but elites within parties who often play a gatekeeping role. Women might also perceive that they will face additional discrimination if they are perceived as ambitious. This research should act as a rallying cry to women seeking political office not to downplay their aspirations."

Study co-author Dr Sparsha Saha of Harvard University's Department of Government adds: "Our research is part of a line of recent studies which suggest that voter discrimination is not the cause of women's underrepresentation in advanced democracies, and that norms about women with traditionally 'masculine' traits like ambition are changing."

The team now plan to look at perceptions towards ambition in the context of race and ethnicity. They acknowledge that attitudes towards ambitiousness in ethnic minority women may be different in important ways from evaluations of white women.

They also plan to extend their work to see if it holds across other advanced democracies including in Germany, Finland and New Zealand all with prominent female political leaders, and to further explore how history, context, and institutions matter.

###
Up to 100 diners have been quizzed by police after officers were called to reports of a 'wedding party' at an Indian restaurant - in an apparent breach of Covid-19 rules.

A 'large number of vehicles and guests' were reported to be at the Badshah Palace in Great Barr, Birmingham at around 9pm on Sunday.

Some of those guests were in 'wedding attire', West Midlands Police said.

Mohammed Rashid, who owns the Badshah Palace, insisted most of those who spoke to police told officers they were out for a meal, while a few guests who did not speak good English referred to it as a wedding.

He added the booking was made by one guest on behalf of other families, with a range of table sizes requested.

The force said it reminded the owners that it is illegal to host large gatherings, parties or wedding receptions under coronavirus rules, adding it is now in contact with local authorities over alleged breaches.

A 'large number of vehicles and guests' were reported to be at the Badshah Palace (pictured) in Great Barr, Birmingham at around 9pm on Sunday

It comes as Birmingham could be forced into lockdown today as ministers meet to discuss plans to tackle the city's spiralling Covid-19 outbreak.

Figures show the infection rate has more than doubled over the past fortnight, with around 25 new cases of coronavirus for every 100,000 people  up from just 11 in the first week of August.

Speaking of the incident on Sunday, Mr Rashid said: 'This is a restaurant, I am allowed to take bookings, and that is what happened. I am operating my restaurant legitimately.

'Our banqueting hall has been closed since March; our restaurant is allowed to open under the guidance, we abide by all the regulations.

'The banqueting industry is frustrated that we are not able to open but restaurants are, and we are abiding by the rules.

'I feel I am being singled out - plenty of restaurants are open, people are queueing to get in to venues, standing close together, and making lots of money, and nobody cares.

Official figures show the city of Birmingham's infection rate has more than doubled over the past fortnight, with around 25 new cases of coronavirus for every 100,000 people  up from just 11 in the first week of August

Birmingham (pictured, the city centre) could be forced into lockdown today as ministers meet to discuss plans to tackle the city's spiralling Covid-19 outbreak

'Two of the families who were there [on Sunday night] left without paying, they felt intimidated, and people were really upset with us.

'Some came from quite a distance away and blamed us for their night being disrupted.

'We have 150,000 overheads to meet, and this action will lose me business.'

Of the police arriving to investigate, Mr Rashid claimed: 'They are wielding their power. I have had three visits and it looks like I am being racially aggravated.

WHAT TOWNS ARE ON THE COVID-19 WATCH-LIST? Pendle Oldham Blackburn with Darwen Bradford Leicester Calderdale Burnley Preston Rochdale Manchester Tameside Salford Bolton Bury Kirklees Hyndburn Stockport Trafford Wigan Rossendale Luton Swindon Northampton Newark and Sherwood Oadby and Wigston Sandwell Wakefield Bedford Peterborough The infection rate is how many cases were diagnosed for every 100,000 people living in the district in the week ending August 11 - the most up-to-date figures from Public Health England. Advertisement

'This type of incident adds to concern about how the rules are being enforced, and where.

'Everything is above the law here. It is very frustrating. There is murder and violence going on out there and the police are here instead.'

West Midlands Police insisted there is 'no foundation to suggest' the force's actions at Badshah Palace 'were in any way racially motivated.'

A spokesman said: 'We were alerted at 9pm on Sunday to a large number of vehicles and guests at Badshah Palace in Walsall Road, Birmingham.

'There were concerns a large gathering was taking place in breach of Covid-19 restrictions.

'Officers attended and found up to 100 guests, some of whom were in wedding attire. They gathered evidence from attendees and recorded the layout of the room on body-worn cameras.

'Venue owners were reminded that under Covid-19 legislation it is illegal to host large gatherings, parties or wedding receptions.

'Our licensing unit is now liaising with the local authority over the alleged Covid-19 breaches.

'This was an isolated incident and, on the whole, hospitality establishments are acting responsibly and abiding by Covid-19 guidelines.'

The alleged wedding party came amid concerns that licensed and regulated venues across Birmingham are hosting larger gatherings than are permitted in defiance of new restrictions.

Police, licensing and environmental health officials have attended several venues over the past fortnight and have gathered evidence with a view to 'taking further action'.

Birmingham is at risk of being forced into a lockdown today, after Health Secretary Matt Hancock reportedly chaired a 'gold command meeting' this morning with council bosses and Public Health England.

Birmingham City Council's leader Ian Ward told the Local Government Chronicle that Mr Hancock would chair the meeting today.

He said: 'We are trying to avoid a local lockdown for obvious reasons  we dont want to hurt the local economy. But there are no easy answers.

'We are talking to government about a plan for dealing with the spike in cases. The difficulty is there is nothing we can easily point as being the cause.

'There is no business with a big outbreak  although there are a number of businesses with small outbreaks across the city. The maximum has been six cases in one location.'

Mr Ward revealed the council will ask the government to provide more walk-in and drive-in test centres across the city.

Birmingham is not currently on Public Health England's coronavirus watchlist, which last Friday released its list of 29 hot-spots.

But figures show the city's infection rate has more than doubled over the past fortnight, with around 25 new cases of coronavirus for every 100,000 people  up from just 11 in the first week of August.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Facebook Inc. (FB) Thursday said that it will restrict rightwing conspiracy movement QAnon. The social media giant has removed 790 QAnon groups from its site and restricted another 1,950 groups, 440 pages and more than 10,000 Instagram accounts related to the right-wing conspiracy theory. However, the company will continue allow people to post material that supports these groups as long as they do not violate policies against hate speech, abuse and other provocations. QAnon is a far-right conspiracy theory alleging a secret plot by a supposed 'deep state' against President Donald Trump and his supporters. They believe that the world is run by a group of Satan-worshiping pedophiles who are plotting against Trump while operating a global child sex-trafficking ring. QAnon followers believe that this group includes top Democrats including Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and George Soros, as well as a number of Hollywood celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Tom Hanks, Ellen DeGeneres. The theory began with an October 2017 post on the anonymous imageboard 4chan by 'Q', who was presumably an American individual. Q claimed to have access to classified information involving the Trump administration and its opponents in the United States. Recently, Qanon groups have attached themselves to false information about COVID-19, the Black Lives Matter protests and the 2020 election. In July, Twitter banned thousands of QAnon-affiliated accounts and changed its algorithms to reduce the theory's spread. A Facebook internal analysis reported in August found millions of followers across thousands of groups and pages. 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.
Bazaar Corporate Radar | Feb 22, 2021, 12:00 AM IST

Bazaar Corporate Radar

Bazaar Corporate Radar is your window into the minds of top CEOs, Boardrooms, global economists, fund managers and sector analysts. If it?s making news, you?ll find it on Bazaar Corporate Radar.
Lindbergs lawyers said that they plan to appeal the decision, maintaining that their clients alleged bribery did not seek an official act by the insurance commissioner  which is required for conviction in US Supreme Court decisions.

In 2014, Lindberg bought a number of small life insurers, and then lent at least $2 billion of their assets to other entities he controlled  a controversial strategy that NC regulators initially allowed. He then used the loans to acquire dozens of other small companies, while spending on the side to fuel his lavish lifestyle.

At the end of 2017, Lindbergs net worth jumped to $1.7 billion  a fivefold increase from four years prior, Wall Street Journal reported.

When North Carolina elected insurance commissioner Mike Causey in 2017, regulations changed to favor conventional bond investments. Lindberg, with three other conspirators, claimed that this shift was unfair, and he attempted to persuade Causey to remove the deputy insurance commissioner investigating Lindbergs business. The business executive offered the commissioner reelection campaign donations of as much as $2 million  to be funneled through the states Republican Party, according to evidence presented at the trial.

Read more: Insurance boss charged with attempting to bribe insurance commissioner

Unbeknownst to Lindberg and his conspirators, Causey was aiding federal officials by wearing hidden recording devices, which recorded his conversations with Lindberg.

Read more: Insurance commissioner accused of trying to solicit bribe from billionaire

After the trial ended in March, Lindberg filed a suit against Causey, alleging defamation and abuse of power. Causeys lawyers have moved to dismiss the suit, saying that their client acted legitimately in his official capacity.

Three of the insurers Lindberg took a loan out from have been in a form of receivership since June 2019, Wall Street Journal said. State officials are still trying to determine how much debt the companies are owed by the entrepreneurs private entities.
Following parental outcry about the safety of their children returning to school amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, Manitoba is mandating the use of face masks for older students when physical distancing isn't possible.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/8/2020 (518 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Following parental outcry about the safety of their children returning to school amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, Manitoba is mandating the use of face masks for older students when physical distancing isn't possible.

"Out of an abundance of caution, and having listened with great interest to the input of literally thousands and thousands of Manitobans, we will be requiring mandatory use of masks in schools in grades 4 to 12 where physical distancing of two metres is not possible," Premier Brian Pallister announced Wednesday.

The order includes students, teachers, school staff, and facility visitors.

Non-medical masks are among the supplies students in grades 4 to 12 will need this year. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

Pallister said the steps are being taken not just because so many parents demanded it, but because of "doctor's orders." Chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin is strongly recommending mask usage when physical distancing can't be maintained.

"What we heard from administrators, school leaders, parents and teachers is that it would be even more straight forward to simply say it's required," and be easier to oversee, Pallister said.

Cross-Canada checkup The decision to mandate face masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic brings Manitoba closer in line with other jurisdictions, including Ontario  which is requiring students in its grades 4 to 12 to wear non-medical masks indoors, including in hallways and during classes. click to read more The decision to mandate face masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic brings Manitoba closer in line with other jurisdictions, including Ontario  which is requiring students in its grades 4 to 12 to wear non-medical masks indoors, including in hallways and during classes. Ontario students in kindergarten to Grade 3 are encouraged to wear masks indoors, though not required. Teachers and staff, on the other hand, will be provided medical masks and eye protection by the provincial government. In Saskatchewan, schools are preparing for four scenarios based on the COVID-19 context, and students in grades 4 through 12 will wear a mask in high-traffic areas, such as in hallways and on buses in the Level 2 situation. Senior years students require masks in classrooms when physical distancing is not possible, or when in contact with people outside their cohort. Alberta has mandated mask use for staff and students in grades 4 to 12 when distancing is not possible, on school buses and shared areas such as hallways. Masks are not required while students are seated and distanced in the classroom. At schools in British Columbia, masks are required for staff, middle and secondary students in high-traffic and common areas such as hallways, or when outside of their cohort and distancing isnt possible. Quebec, meanwhile, has decided mask wearing is not compulsory for students and teachers if a two-metre distance can be maintained; staff must wear a mask and eye protection in those close-contact scenarios. Close

"We've done a number of town halls during the pandemic and I don't think there's been a bigger emotional issue than the return to school," Roussin said. "Parents are anxious about returning their kids to school. We heard a number of concerns and how best to reduce the risk. We heard that people are paying attention to the virus. They want what we want - the safety of our children and staff but they all know the importance of our children getting back to class," the public health chief said.

All students in Grade 4 and up, and bus drivers, will also be required to wear non-medical masks on school buses.

Parents and caregivers will choose whether younger students should wear a mask. More information on exceptions will be available soon regarding specific mask-free time and for those not recommended to wear a mask, Roussin said.

The province is developing resources to help children, along with their parents and caregivers, learn how to safely put on, wear and remove a mask, the public health chief said.

"We take these additional measures to ensure the health and safety of our most precious asset, which is, of course, our children," Pallister said.

However, making masks mandatory in schools isn't enough to ensure the safety of students, NDP Leader Wab Kinew said.

"The government finally came to their senses  everybody wanted a mask mandate when it came to schools," he said Wednesday. "I'm still very concerned about the lack of a cap on class sizes."

Adding more classroom space and teachers will take an investment from the province, Kinew said. "There's $188 million unspent in COVID dollars the government has at their disposal. At least some of that should be used to make back to school safer."

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.

The Manitoba Teachers' Society said while it is pleased the government listened "to the thousands of Manitobans, parents and teachers alike" who called for mandatory masks, it needs to go farther.

"Limiting class size remains a critical consideration in ensuring safe distancing," a statement by president James Bedford says on the MTS website.

Teachers also support a gradual return to school, and rapid COVID-19 testing for teachers. The MTS continues to press the government for a plan outlining steps to ensure the availability of qualified substitute teachers, it said.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca
KETCHIKAN, Alaska (AP)  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...
Desmond Guinness in home Leixlip Castle, Co Kildare, Ireland with his children Marina and Patrick

Desmond Guinness, a co- founder of the Irish Georgian Society and a descendent of the Guinness brewing dynasty, has died at the age of 88.

Mr Guinness, who bought Leixlip Castle and lived in it for decades where he hosted rock stars like Mick Jagger, Bob Geldolf and Phil Lynott, was a quiet, unassuming gentleman, according to local Leixlip councillor Joe Neville (FG).

Along with hosting rock concerts at the castle , featuring such acts at The Rolling Stones, The Boomtown Rats and Thin Lizzy, Mr Guinness was very much a local hero whose impact on the area went back generations, Mr Neville told Independent.ie.

He had a local impact going back decades, he said.

He founded the local Tidy Towns committee back in the 1960s and was very much interested in preserving heritage sites such as Castletown House in Celbridge, Co Kildare, which he bought when it was in a state of decay and restored it before it was bought by the OPW and is now a local landmark, he said.

While he would happily hang out with Mick Jagger he would also be a regular at local council meetings and always made sure he gave his custom to local businesses in Leixlip, Mr Neville said.

He always asked for a window seat at a local restaurant so he could happily sit back and watch the world go by, he added.

He was a very gentle, soft and friendly character, very unassuming, he said.

He was a gent.

The Irish Georgian Society, which announced the news of Mr Guinnesss passing on its website this evening, also spoke fondly of him and the legacy he left behind.

Describing him as a Conservation Hero the society said:

We are indebted to his legacy in founding the Irish Georgian Society in 1958, together with the late Mariga Guinness. He boldly championed the cause of Ireland's architectural heritage at a time when it faced great challenges through neglect and the threat of demolition from new development.

In spite of hostility in some quarters, through his ardent campaigning, educating and working to save numerous buildings we are surrounded by a rich legacy of historic buildings saved to be celebrated as an integral part of our culture and identity. He has inspired us all and, for the thousands of members and supporters of the Irish Georgian Society at home and abroad, Desmond has truly been a Conservation Hero.

Mr Guinness was a great-great-great-great grandson of Guinness brewery founder Arthur Guinness, who was born in Celbridge but introduced the world to his famous pint at the Salmon Leap pub in Leixlip.

As an heir to the Guinness brewing fortune, Mr Guinness used his wealth to help establish the Georgian Society in 1958 to save a number of Georgian houses at Kildare Place in Dublin from the wreckers ball. His late wife Mariga Guinness co-founded the society.

Catherine Martin, the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, also paid tribute to him on Twitter this evening.

Really sorry to hear news that Desmond Guinness has died, the wonderful public treasure of Castletown House is part of his legacy as is The Irish Georgian Society. My sympathies to his family and friends, she wrote.
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The Chinese government donated 30 respirators and 20,000 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kits to help Madagascar fight against COVID-19, the donation ceremony was held Wednesday at Ivato International Airport, in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar.

"China and Madagascar stick together through thick and thin, and fought side by side in the fight against COVID-19," the charge d'affaires ad interim of the Chinese Embassy in Madagascar, Chen Xiaolei said during the donation ceremony.

"We are pleased to respond to the request of the Malagasy leaders and people to provide fraternal support and took stern action as much as possible in this common war against the epidemic," Chen added.

For his part, Duval Solofomanana, the secretary general of Madagascar's Ministry of Health, said that real friends are known in hard times as the Chinese government continues to support the Madagascar's government to fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

"This donation from the Chinese government to the Malagasy government testifies the quality of the fraternal cooperation and the friendship between the Chinese people and the Malagasy people, between the Chinese government and the Malagasy government," said Duval.

Since the appearance of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Madagascar on March 20, 2020, this is the third donation made by the Chinese government to help Madagascar fight against the COVID-19.
Pakistan foreign minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi is leaving for Beijing for strategic level discussions with his Chinese counterparts on Thursday, days after Prime Minister Imran Khan underscored that Pakistans future is connected with that of its long-time ally China.

Qureshi will be accompanied by a team of diplomats including foreign secretary Sohail Mahmood, people familiar with the development said.

Qureshi is scheduled to meet Chinas foreign minister and state councillor Wang Yi. On the agenda, according to reports in China and Islamabad, are discussions linked to belt and road projects, bilateral ties and preparations for President Xi Jinpings visit to Pakistan expected later this year. Qureshi is also expected to seek support for Pakistans stand on Kashmir and discuss the India-China standoff in east Ladakh.

PM Imran Khan had underscored the importance of ties with China this week when he, in a television interview, insisted that reports about breakdown in relations with Saudi Arabia were baseless. On China, PM Khan said, Pakistan was strengthening ties with China. It should be clear that our future is connected with China China also needs Pakistan very much, he said.

China is our only friend which has remained politically steadfast with Pakistan during good and bad times, PM Khan had said.

Like when Saudi kingdom signalled its displeasure by demanding that Pakistan return $ 1 billion out of a $ 3 billion loan extended by Riyadh in 2018, Pakistan had turned to China.

Also Watch | Pakistan is the nerve centre of terrorism: Indias envoy to United Nations

Qureshis visit to Beijing comes at a time he has been under attack in Islamabad, both from within and without the Imran Khan government, for his broadside at Saudi Arabia for not convening the Organisation of Islamic Conference, or OIC meeting of foreign ministers on Kashmir.

Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa made a quick visit to Saudi Arabia this week in an effort to smooth relations between Islamabad and Riyadh.

Qureshi had threatened to approach other Muslim countries for a conference on Kashmir outside the OIC platform if Saudi Arabia did not play ball, a remark that did not go down well in Riyadh that last year prevailed upon Pakistan at the last minute to absent itself from a joint attempt by Turkey and Malaysia to create a new forum of Islamic countries. Foreign ministers of Malaysia, Turkey, Qatar, Iran, and Indonesia attended this meeting.

People familiar with the development in New Delhi said China has been pushing Pakistan to play a lead role in the OIC with support of Turkey and Malaysia.

Gen Bajwa, according to diplomats in New Delhi and Riyadh, is learnt to have conveyed Imran Khans regret at Qureshis comment and asked Saudi Arabia to agree to a meeting of the smaller group within the OIC, formally called the OIC contact group on Kashmir. From all available indications, Gen Bajwa didnt get far.

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Belarus opened a criminal investigation on Thursday into attempts by the opposition to "seize power", as strongman Alexander Lukashenko moved to assert his authority after days of protests over a disputed election.

The ex-Soviet country's authoritarian leader claimed a sixth term after an August 9 ballot that sparked historic protests and a punitive police crackdown that was condemned by European leaders.

Allies of main opposition challenger Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who says the vote was rigged and has demanded Lukashenko step down, this week formed a Coordination Council to oversee efforts for a peaceful transition of power.

The group, whose members include Nobel Prize-winning author and outspoken Lukashenko critic Svetlana Alexievich, called for a new election and talks with the authorities during its first meeting on Wednesday.

The European Union this week said it did not recognise Lukashenko's re-election and vowed to levy sanctions against what it said was a substantial number of people responsible for rigging the presidential vote and cracking down on

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday offered EU-led mediation for Belarus.

"A dialogue between the authorities, the opposition and civil society is essential," Macron said as he hosted German Chancellor Angela Merkel for talks at his Mediterranean presidential retreat in southern France.

- Pompeo offers support to protesters -

Merkel, for her part, said Lukashenko "has not sought to speak" to any EU leaders about the ongoing crisis.

Meanwhile US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo offered his support to the protesters in Belarus.

"The United States has been inspired by the display of peaceful expression of the Belarusian people seeking to determine their own future," Pompeo said in a statement.

Belarus Prosecutor General Alexander Konyuk said in a video statement that the Coordination Council's creation was unconstitutional and amounted to an attempt to topple Lukashenko's government.

Story continues

"The creation and activities of such a council are aimed at seizing power," Konyuk said.

He announced that investigators were opening a probe into "calls for actions aimed at undermining national security", a charge that carries a maximum penalty of five years behind bars.

Lukashenko, a former collective farm director, has been in power for 26 years and defied calls to step down even after more than 100,000 people flooded onto the streets of Minsk calling for his resignation.

Tikhanovskaya said she had asked Estonia's Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu to alert the UN security council of the investigation during a phone call.

The international community must offer "protection from potential threats and unlawful persecution," Tikhanovskaya wrote on Telegram.

- EU calls for talks -

The opposition said that a member of the Council, lawyer Maxim Znak, had been summoned by investigators for questioning on Friday morning.

The 65-year-old authoritarian leader has ordered his security services to clamp down on further unrest and instructed border authorities to shore up defences against arms and money entering the country from abroad.

Security services violently dispersed peaceful protesters in the days after the vote, arresting nearly 7,000 demonstrators, with detainees accusing police of abuse and torture.

European leaders have urged Minsk's powerful ally Russia to push Lukashenko to engage in talks with Belarus's fledgling opposition.

EU Council chief Charles Michel said Thursday he had reiterated that message in a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding that the only way to resolve the crisis was through talks.

"There is only one way forward: through political inclusive dialogue and a peaceful and democratic process," he wrote on Twitter.

The Kremlin has warned it could intervene if needed and Putin told Michel it was "counterproductive" to pressure the Belarusian leadership or interfere in Minsk's political processes.

Tikhanovskaya, a 37-year-old trained English teacher who contested the vote after her husband was jailed and barred from running, fled to neighbouring Lithuania after the election.

Her spokeswoman told AFP on Thursday that the EU's decision to reject the election results and impose sanctions was the "first step ... towards recognising Svetlana as the president-elect of Belarus."

- 'Keep up the heat' -

Yet she warned the process of removing Europe's longest-serving leader from office may take "months".

"It's hard to keep this heat up for a long time," Anna Krasulina said. "That is why it will take a bit longer. People need to sleep, to rest"

Protesters gathered for a 12th day of demonstrations outside the Janka Kupala Theatre in the centre of Minsk on Thursday morning to voice support for its director and former culture minister Pavel Latushko.

He was forced from his post for calling for new elections and has joined the Coordination Council.

Belarus's Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei conceded on Thursday that "change is needed" in the country wedged between Europe and Russia.

"No one is denying that, but not at the cost of civil confrontation or a revolution."

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An elderly man with a walking stick is being hunted by police after he allegedly spat on a bus driver in coronavirus-stricken Melbourne.

The service stopped at Brunswick Railway Station, in the city's north, to let the man off at about 11.15am on July 2.

Police allege the passenger, who is believed to be about 80 years old, exited the bus via the front after spitting at the bus driver.

An elderly man with a walking stick is being hunted by police after he allegedly spat on a bus driver in coronavirus-stricken Melbourne

Victoria Police have now released CCTV pictures in the hope they can identify the man.

The man, who is about 172 centimetres tall, was wearing a long blue coat, a brown hat and was carrying a brown walking stick and blue carry bag.

Anyone who recognises the passenger is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

The alleged spitting incident occurred at the beginning of Victoria's second wave of coronavirus infections - but before Melbourne was put back into lockdown.

On July 2, Victoria reported 77 new coronavirus cases, taking the state's total to 2,303.

As of Thursday there have been 17,683 infections across Victoria, including 4,864 active cases.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 22:08:37|Editor: huaxia

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HANOI, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will attend the third Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) leaders' meeting via video conference on Aug. 24, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Thursday.

Phuc will deliver a speech at the meeting, which will be co-chaired by China and Laos under the theme "Enhancing Partnership for Shared Prosperity," the ministry's spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said at a press briefing.

The meeting will focus on assessing cooperation progress and discussing directions for the next phase.

Initiated by China in 2014, LMC consists of six countries, namely China, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The Lancang River originates on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau in China. It is called the Mekong River as it flows through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam before emptying into the sea. Enditem
UPDATE (8/21): 693 new Pa. coronavirus cases; 9 concerning counties; awaiting fall sports decision

Pennsylvania coronavirus cases increased by 791 on Thursday with 15 more deaths reported.

That brings the statewide case count to 126,940 with a COVID-19 death toll of 7,538, according to the daily report from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

(Cant see the map? Click here.)

But the data show decreases across key measurements of the pandemics severity like hospitalizations and the testing positivity rate. The health department estimates that 80% of Pennsylvania coronavirus patients have recovered so far, the highest percentage since the stat was first reported in May.

And in the Lehigh Valley, the case rate in Northampton County has reached its lowest point since the region was shut down in late March.

Masks and social distancing are still required to maintain downward trends as students return to the classroom when school reopens in the coming weeks.

Your Pennsylvania coronavirus updates for Aug. 20, 2020.

(Cant see the chart? Click here.)

Coronavirus in Pa.

Of Thursdays 791 new cases, 109 were reported in Philadelphia (where indoor dining will resume Sept. 8) and 100 in Pittsburghs Allegheny County.

The statewide case rate, however, is in its fifth straight day of decline. As of Thursday, Pennsylvania averaged 688 new cases a day over the last seven days, down from 800 at this time last week and 902 at the start of August.

(Cant see the chart? Click here.)

The case rate peaked at 1,663 a day in April and reached a post-peak low of 395 in June.

Hospitalizations have also shown an overall decline this month. On average, 560 Pennsylvanians a day received treatment over the last week, compared to 612 a week ago.

Additionally, the rate of deaths has now fallen for three straight days, though Thursdays average of 18 deaths a day over the last week is still up from 13 at the start of the month.

And for the first time since July 1, Pennsylvanias seven-day positivity rate  the percentage of tests that come back positive  has fallen below the World Health Organizations recommended 5% threshold, at least when duplicate tests are accounted for.

(Cant see the chart? Click here.)

(There are different ways to determine the positivity rate. The state looks at total tests, including duplicates, which results in a lower rate. The calculation by lehighvalleylive.com follows the method used by Johns Hopkins University, going by individuals tested, and results in a higher rate, in this case 4.7%.)

MORE: COVID-19 tracker with interactive charts

Coronavirus in the Lehigh Valley

The Lehigh Valley had 24 new cases and one death in Thursdays state report, officially putting the regions totals at 9,139 cases and 638 deaths.

That breaks down to:

5,103 total cases and 342 deaths in Lehigh County , with 10 new cases and one death reported in the last day.

4,036 total cases and 296 deaths in Northampton County , with 14 new cases and no deaths reported in the last day.

(Cant see the chart? Click here.)

The Lehigh Valley counties are both in Pennsylvanias top five for total cases per 100,000 residents, but recent case rates are down.

Including Thursdays report, Northampton County is averaging eight new cases a day over the last seven days. Thats its lowest weekly rate since March 26, one day after the state-ordered shutdown went into effect in the Lehigh Valley. Lehigh County is averaging 10 new cases a day in the last week.

Here is how the Lehigh Valleys neighboring Pennsylvania counties are faring with the coronavirus, from the states data Thursday:

Berks County has 5,705 total cases and 376 deaths, with 22 new cases and no deaths reported in the last day.

Bucks County has 7,512 total cases and 584 deaths, with 31 new cases and no deaths reported in the last day.

Carbon County has 411 total cases and 28 deaths, with three new cases and no deaths reported in the last day.

Monroe County has 1,679 total cases and 125 deaths, with eight new cases and no deaths reported in the last day.

Montgomery County has 10,568 total cases and 860 deaths, with 45 new cases and no deaths reported in the last day.

Schuylkill County has 962 total cases and 51 deaths, with five new cases and no deaths reported in the last day.

(Cant see the table? Click here.)

CORRECTION: The Lehigh Valley had 9,139 total coronavirus cases as of Thursday. An incorrect number was originally listed.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 13:02:18|Editor: huaxia

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MINSK, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The international community has called for peace and restraint in Belarus, as President Alexander Lukashenko urged western powers to focus on their own problems.

Lukashenko said Wednesday that western leaders should focus on their own problems rather than the political situation in Belarus, state news agency BelTA reported.

"They are having a great deal of problems at home. Do not point at Belarus in order to draw attention away from the issues in France, the United States, Germany and so on," Lukashenko said at a meeting of his national security council via video link.

China believes that Belarus can maintain political stability and social tranquility through its own efforts, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Wednesday at a press briefing.

China has always respected the development path chosen by the Belarusian people and their efforts to safeguard national independence, sovereignty, security and development, Zhao said.

China is aware that the domestic situation in Belarus has become complicated, Zhao said, adding that "as good friends and partners, we do not hope that the situation in Belarus will escalate into chaos and oppose external forces triggering division and disturbances in Belarusian society."

Moscow is worried about attempts to use the internal difficulties that Belarus and its leadership are facing to impose limitations on its citizens that external actors would then pounce on, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with television channel Russia 1 on Wednesday.

"Nobody hides that it is all about geopolitics, about the struggle for the post-Soviet space," Lavrov said.

Lavrov said he hopes that Belarusians will be able to sort out their own affairs themselves and not be led by "those who need this country solely in order to master the geopolitical space in order to promote the well-known destructive logic: You are either with Russia or with Europe."

"I see no lack of readiness on the part of the authorities for dialogue. I hope that the same readiness will be shown by those who, for one reason or another, are not satisfied with the election results," Lavrov said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday called for restraint and calm in Belarus as the country is enveloped in mass demonstrations, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

Guterres calls on Belarusians to address post-election grievances through dialogue to preserve peace in the country, it said.

Belarus is engulfed in mass protests after incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won a sixth term during the Aug. 9 elections, with the opposition refusing to recognize the results.

The European Union will impose shortly sanctions on "a substantial number of individuals responsible for violence, repression, and election fraud," European Council President Charles Michel said Wednesday after convening the leaders of the 27 EU member states.

The EU chief said the pan-Europe body does not recognize the election results announced by the Belarusian authorities. Enditem
School principals in Longford are remaining focused on re-opening in just over a weeks time despite fears of a return to more draconian measures in the wake of a spike in Covid-19 cases.

Those concerns come after more than 260 new cases of coronavirus were reported over the weekend.

The figures, collated in the backdrop of a video of revellers appearing to ignore social distancing protocols at a Dublin bar over the weekend, led to heightened skepticism and murmurings of a return to more stringent health and safety measures.

The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) met on Monday after Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said the body would make any necessary recommendations to Government which are required to protect the vulnerable, continue with the resumption of healthcare services and ensure the safe reopening of our schools.

The remarks, in spite of their veiled warning, appear to have had little effect on the mindset of local principals who are pressing ahead with plans to re-open schools at the end of August.

At this stage, I dont really have the time to speculate and all I am concentrating on is what we are doing and at the minute we are preparing to re-open next week and until we are told otherwise that is what we will do, said Moyne CS Principal Des Cullen.

His opposite number in St Mels College, Declan Rowley was just as forthright in his take on the need for students to return in a safe and secure educational environment.

Mr Rowley said while a definitive decision on the return of schools was out of his hands, efforts to safeguard the health of students and staff remained paramount.

Thats definitely a possibility but its not up to us to make that call, he said.

At the end of the day we all want to go back to school and from talking to teachers, they all want to go back to school.

At the minute its full steam ahead and we are adhering to all the regulations. The biggest issue is to try and create social distancing in classrooms.

We feel we have made those changes to such an extent where students can come and do what they need to do, but what we dont want to do is get into a situation where we have to herd them around the place. They have to take responsibility.

The Killoe native said whatever about ongoing anxieties of a continued upward trend in Covid-19 cases, ensuring the safe return of students to a classroom based setting had many more strands to it than just an educational relevance.

Its not good (continued closure of schools) from a morale point of view and from a social context side of things, he said.

What it will (proposed re-opening) also do is give parents a chance to get back into a normal situation but we will continue what we are doing and wont put any doubt in anybodys head until we hear otherwise.
"It's a huge win for everyone," says Joel Rosenfeld, MD, Chief Academic Officer for St. Luke's and Senior Associate Dean at Lewis Katz School of Medicine (LKSOM) at Temple University. "We will be able to help future physicians pursue the career they want, while essentially paying for their medical school costs. In turn, we will be able to grow our physician base and keep these vibrant, young doctors right here, in the Lehigh Valley."

Family medicine and general internal medicine doctors  otherwise known as primary care physicians or PCPs  are in short supply. With 88.5 million Americans set to reach age 65 by 2050, compared to 40.2 million measured in 2010 , the need for primary care physicians and providers will only continue to grow.

Foreseeing this shortage and its impact, St. Luke's partnered with Temple University 12 years ago to develop the Temple/St. Luke's School of Medicine in Bethlehem, Pa. The school enrolls 40 students per class.

Current students already benefit from significantly reduced tuition thanks to generous donors and programs that St. Luke's offers. This new program will cover the balance.

"We are proud of our relationship with St. Luke's, which has grown throughout the years," says John Daly, MD, Interim Dean of LKSOM. "This substantial tuition program illustrates their dedication to their students and the community."

The tuition assistance program is open to ALL medical students, not just Temple/St. Luke's students. To be eligible for the tuition reimbursement, students must be accepted into and complete their primary care residency with St. Luke's and then commit to employment with St. Luke's as a PCP.

"The goal of attracting and hiring more primary care providers is essential to the way we provide care," says Dr. Rosenfeld.

A good, ongoing relationship with a primary care physician is shown to improve a patient's understanding of their health and any conditions they may have. This, in turn, can improve health outcomes, lower costs and improve patient satisfaction.

"The primary care role is so important in medicine and this program will help students looking to pursue this critical field."

About St. Luke's

Founded in 1872, St. Luke's University Health Network (SLUHN) is a fully integrated, regional, non-profit network of more than 16,000 employees providing services at 12 hospitals and 300 outpatient sites. With annual net revenue greater than $2 billion, the Network's service area includes 11 counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Dedicated to advancing medical education, St. Luke's is the preeminent teaching hospital in central-eastern Pennsylvania.

SOURCE St. Luke's University Health Network

Related Links

http://www.sluhn.org


Emotional, human-centered issue montages dominated the opening 30 minutes of the Democratic National Conventions third night. A segment on gun control concluded with an address from former Rep. Gabby Giffords, while a climate change segment included scientists who resigned from the administration. But the issue where it was apparent Democrats have come the furthest in four years was immigrationthe policy area that might be least hospitable to abstractions after four years of Donald Trump.

The immigration portion of the evening featured two families recounting how their lives had fallen to pieces as a result of the Trump administrations hard-line immigration policies. The first segment featured a prerecorded speech from 11-year-old Estela Juarez, whose father, Temo, is a Marine and National Guard veteran, and whose mother, Alejandra, came to the U.S. without documents in 1998. In 2018, the Florida family gained national attention after Immigration and Customs Enforcement confiscated Alejandras passport and pressured her to self-deport to Mexico. Estela described how her mother was able to live in the country during the Obama administration. My dad thought you would protect military families, so he voted for you in 2016, Mr. President, she said, addressing Trump. He says he wont vote for you again after what you did to our family. Instead of protecting us, you tore our world apart. The segment used clips of children in cages from the family separation crisis to illustrate the speech and also juxtaposed it with clips of Trump saying These arent people and I dont want them in our country and Theyre animals!

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The second segment featured Silvia Sanchez and her daughters, Jessica and Lucy. Silvia spoke about how she crossed the border without documents after doctors in her hometown said that they would not be able to care for Jessica, who has spina bifida, a birth defect that affects the spine. Took my baby in my arms and traveled for days to the border, said Silvia, in Spanish. When we got to the river, I raised her above the water and we crossed. While Lucy is a citizen and Jessica is a Dreamer, Silvia is still undocumented. The three explained how Trumps policies have brought back fears the family will be separated and that Jessica will unable to get health care because she does not have the right ID to get insurance through an exchange. We work hard. We make ends meet. We pay taxes, said Silvia.

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This was not the first time an undocumented immigrant has spoken at the DNC. The first undocumented person to address the convention spoke in 2012: Benita Veliz, who came to the U.S. when she was 8 years old. The 2016 DNC also featured undocumented immigrants, notably 28-year-old keynote speaker Astrid Silva, who arrived here at the age of 4. But as Dreamers, these speakers represented an ostensibly less controversial group than residents who came to the U.S. as adults. On Wednesday, Silvia presented a survival story to millions of viewers: I did what any mother would do, she said, to save her daughters life.

For more of Slates news coverage, subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts or listen below.
Former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach told the New York Times last year that President Trump gave his "blessing" to a Steve Bannon-guided campaign to privately fund a wall along the southern border.

Why it matters: The "We Build the Wall" project ultimately resulted in Bannon's arrest on fraud charges on Thursday, alongside three others, and Kobach's statement over a year ago highlights the president's closeness to many involved with it.

There is nothing to indicate that Trump knew anything about the alleged fraud carried out by Bannon and his associates.

The White House did not respond to requests for comment from the Times last year about the claims from Kobach, who served as the project's general counsel on its advisory board and has run failed campaigns in Kansas for both Senate and governor.

"President Trump has not been involved with Steve Bannon since the campaign and the early part of the administration, and he does not know the people involved with this project," White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement on Thursday.

The big picture: "We Built the Wall" counted a number of conservatives in Trump's orbit on its advisory board, including Bannon, Kobach, Blackwater founder Erik Prince and Sheriff David Clarke.
Bengaluru, Aug 20 : Bringing joy to the city amid spiking Covid infections, a 45-year-old elephant in Bengaluru Zoo has given birth to a female calf, an official said on Thursday. In nearly a month's time, the city zoo saw the birth of three animals, two elephant calves and a hippopotamus calf.

"Bengaluru Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBBP) or Bengaluru Zoo is happy to announce the elephant named Suvarna gave birth to a female calf on Monday," said BBBP Executive Director Vanashree Vipin Singh.

Suvarna as well as the newborn calf are doing well.

"With the addition of this calf, the present elephant population is 25 at the Bengaluru Bannerghatta Biological Park," she added.

The new calf's birth comes less than a month after another male calf was born nearly 20 days ago to a 12-year-old elephant.

Exactly a week before that, the zoo announced the good news of a hippopotamus giving birth to a calf.

Image Source: IANS Another elephant calf born in Bengaluru Zoo.

However, Bengaluru zoo is proving to be a major rehabilitation centre for animals in distress.

"BBBP has also been continuously supporting the Karnataka Forest department in rescue and rehabilitation of wild animals," Singh said.

On Monday, a one-and-a-half-year-old Indian gaur was found in a dull and immobile state in a farmland at Keralusandra village in Kodihalli Wildlife Range.

The Forest department being informed by the local farmers, Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) alerted BBBP's veterinary teams which rescued the animal.

"The gaur was examined at the spot and it was observed the animal had a fracture at its right forelimb in the carpal region due to which it was not able to bear the weight on the affected leg," Singh added.

Image Source: IANS Another elephant calf born in Bengaluru Zoo.

The gaur was tranquilised and shifted to Bannerghatta Zoo hospital for further treatment on the same day. At present, it is under observation.

Similarly on Tuesday, a male sub-adult sloth bear was found trapped in a snare on its neck region near Kadina Kuppe village in Ramanagara Range.

"Upon intimation by the DCF, Ramanagara, the BBBP veterinary team rushed to the spot. The animal was sedated and freed from the snare," she said.

The team of vets examined the bear and was found to be healthy, leading to the beast's release back into the forest near Ramanagara.

Bengaluru Bannerghatta Biological Park has four units -- a zoo, safari, butterfly park and a rescue centre sprawling more than 732 hectares of land and accommodates 2,282 animals.

Image Source: IANS Another elephant calf born in Bengaluru Zoo.

The zoo is nestled in the forests of Champakadhama Hills inside the Bannerghatta National Park.

BBBP is a unit of the Zoo Authority of Karnataka and one of the few places where wilderness is preserved in the vicinity of a city like Bengaluru.

-- Syndicated from IANS
Nebraska bans dismemberment abortions; procedure not welcomed in civilized society, says governor

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Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts has signed a bill into law that largely bans dismemberment abortions, declaring that the procedure should not exist in a humane, civilized society.

The states unicameral legislature voted 33-8 on Thursday to pass LB814, which bans dilation and evacuation abortions save in the event of a life-threatening medical emergency.

It shall be unlawful for any person to purposely perform or attempt to perform a dismemberment abortion and thereby kill an unborn child unless a dismemberment abortion is necessary due to a medical emergency, reads the bill.

No woman upon whom an abortion is performed or attempted to be performed shall be liable for performing or attempting to perform a dismemberment abortion. No nurse, secretary, receptionist, or other employee or agent who is not a physician, but who acts at the direction of a physician, shall be liable for performing or attempting to perform a dismemberment abortion.

Ricketts signed the bill into law on Saturday, saying in a statement that Nebraska is a pro-life state, and this week the Legislature took an important step to strengthen our culture of life.

[Senator Suzanne Geists] bill bans the horrific procedure of dismemberment abortion, which tears apart a living babys body limb by limb, stated the governor.

This brutal procedure has no place in a humane, civilized society. I commend Sen. Geist, and the bills supporters in the Unicameral, for outlawing this barbaric practice in Nebraska.

The Nebraska chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union denounced the bill in a series of posts to Twitter, promising to overturn the new law.

LB 814 disregards Nebraskans health and undermines their freedom to make personal decisions in consultation with their physicians, tweeted the ACLU of Nebraska.

It puts a narrow ideological agenda over patient health. It makes it a crime for doctors to use their best medical judgment.

Ricketts voiced support for a dismemberment abortion ban in a column published in March, labeling it a barbaric procedure that literally rips apart a preborn child.

Imagine watching a sleeping baby girl peacefully suck her thumb inside of her mothers womb. Then consider the horror of seeing that same baby girl flail her tiny arms and legs as an abortionist uses forceps to clutch at her body, wrote Ricketts.

Senators have the opportunity this session to act quickly and decisively to end this horrendous form of abortion.

Dismemberment abortion bans have previously been passed in Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia.

Although courts have typically blocked or struck down such legislation, a decision earlier this month by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit allowed for Arkansas ban to take effect on Aug. 28.
Israeli planes hit Gaza after rocket fire Israel has bombed the Gaza Strip almost every night since August 6 in retaliation for arson balloons or, more rarely, rocket fire

Israeli planes launched raids against Gaza late Thursday in response to rocket fire, as mediators sought to broker an end to the latest flare-up.

Rockets were fired at Israel but crashed inside the Palestinian enclave, according to witnesses and Gaza security sources.

Palestinian sources reported light damage but no casualties after the raid in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza.

The latest exchanges followed anti-tank fire by the Israeli army in the morning against Hamas, the Islamist group that controls the Gaza Strip.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the air strikes on Twitter.

"Our Air Force just struck a Hamas military compound used for rocket ammunition manufacturing in Gaza in response," the IDF wrote.

"We hold Hamas responsible for all terror activity emanating from Gaza," it added.

Israel has bombed Gaza almost every night since August 6 in retaliation for the balloons or, less frequently, rocket fire, from across the border.

It has also tightened its 13-year blockade of Gaza's two million inhabitants.

It has banned Gaza fishermen from going to sea and closed its goods crossing with the territory, prompting the closure of Gaza's sole power plant because of a lack of fuel.

"Explosive and arson balloons were launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel," a military statement said early Thursday.

"In response... tanks targeted military posts belonging to the Hamas terror organisation in the Gaza Strip."

Gaza security officials said the fire hit Hamas observation posts near Al-Maghazi and Al-Bureij refugee camps and the town of Khan Yunis, without causing casualties.

Since the exchanges erupted two weeks ago, Israeli reprisals had mainly involved warplanes, and Gaza security sources said the switch to tanks could be an attempt to de-escalate.

- List of demands -

The reprisals came after an Egyptian delegation shuttled between the two sides, trying to broker a return to an informal truce.

Story continues

One of just two Arab countries to have signed a peace treaty with Israel, Egypt has acted to calm repeated flare-ups in recent years to prevent any repetition of the three wars they have fought since 2008.

The latest ceasefire, which has already been renewed several times, is bolstered by millions of dollars in financial aid from Qatar to Gaza.

But complaints from Hamas that Israel has failed to live up to its side of the bargain have been accompanied by sporadic flare-ups on the border.

The truce provided for permits for Gazans to work in Israel and financing for Gaza development projects, both measures that would provide some economic relief in an impoverished territory where unemployment exceeds 50 percent.

Sources told AFP the twin issues were at the root of the latest flare-up.

A source close to Hamas said the Israeli government told the Egyptian delegation it expected a "return to calm" before considering implementation of truce provisions such as "the extension of the eastern Gaza industrial zone" and the construction of a new power line to the territory.

Hamas has asked for the number of work permits issued to Gazans to be doubled to 10,000 once anti-coronavirus restrictions are lifted, the source said.

The truce also stipulated a monthly aid payment from Qatar of $30 million until the end of next month but the source said Gaza's Gulf benefactor had "agreed to increase the financial subsidy by $10 million per month" and extend its timeframe.

The chairman of the Qatar committee for the reconstruction of Gaza, ambassador Mohammed Al-Emadi, spoke Wednesday of "intensive efforts to contain the escalation" between Israel and Hamas.

On Thursday morning, Qatar did not comment on its aid to Gaza.

az-gl/scw/dwo/gle/jah
Evening Standard

The Covid self-isolation period has been cut to five days, following an announcement by Health Secretary Sajid Javid. The announcement, on January 13, means people can leave isolation at the start of day six, subject to two negative lateral flow tests taken a day apart, with the first of these tests being no sooner than day five. It comes after changes which means Britons who are asymptomatic who return a positive lateral flow test will no longer need to get a confirmatory PCR test.
President Donald Trump is asking the Supreme Court to allow him to block critics from his personal Twitter account.

The administration said in a high-court filing Thursday that Trump's @realdonaldtrump account with more than 85 million followers is his personal property and blocking people from it is akin to elected officials who refuse to allow their opponents' yard signs on their front lawns.

President Trumps ability to use the features of his personal Twitter account, including the blocking function, are independent of his presidential office, acting Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall wrote in urging the justices to review the case.

The federal appeals court in New York ruled last year that Trump uses the account to make daily pronouncements and observations that are overwhelmingly official in nature. It held that Trump violated the First Amendment whenever he blocked a critic to silence a viewpoint.

A decision about whether even to hear the case is not likely before the November election.

The case grew out of a challenge brought by the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, which sued on behalf of seven individuals blocked by Trump after criticizing his policies.

Jameel Jaffer, the Knight Institutes executive director, said the justices should decline to take up Trumps appeal.

This case stands for a principle that is fundamental to our democracy and basically synonymous with the First Amendment: government officials cant exclude people from public forums simply because they disagree with their political views, Jaffer said in a statement.

The administration argued in its appeal that the Supreme Court, not lower courts, should decide where to draw the line between the Presidents personal decisions and official conduct.

The pace of the case was slowed by the coronavirus pandemic as well as Trump's decision to ask the full 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to review the ruling by a three-judge panel. The court refused to do so by a 7-2 vote in March. Two Trump appointees, Judges Michael H. Park and Richard J. Sullivan, were the only members of the court to side with the president.

The Supreme Court extended its deadline to file an appeal from 90 days to 150 days when it shut the building to the public and abandoned in-person meetings in favor of telephone conferences because of the virus outbreak.
Adam Katz shares how to design your life with the power of design thinking

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 19, 2020 / Adam Katz learned about the concept of design thinking while attending the School of Visual Arts MFA in Design. It was an eye-opening experience for him and allowed him to find his true calling in the world of design. Adam Katz, formerly with Google Creative Lab, now uses design thinking with many clients. He's able to find innovative solutions that better his client's lives.

Design Thinking Isn't Just for Designers

According to Adam Katz, designers can and should do everything. They aren't limited to choosing fonts or crafting the pixel-perfect layouts. Designers aren't just here to create new products or change the way we interact with old ones. They are here to change everything for the better with design thinking. Design thinking isn't just limited to designers. Adam Katz believes there's a designer in all of us, and design thinking can allow it to shine.

What is Design Thinking?

Adam Katz says the simplest definition for design thinking is, "taking a holistic approach to developing solutions to complex problems". Design thinking has five stages.

These five stages of design thinking are:

Empathize: understand the user's p.o.v.

Define: state the user's problem and needs

Ideate: generate ideas move past previous assumptions

Prototype: create testable solutions

Test: test your solutions and ideas

Designers often run several stages at one time or run them out of order. Designers rarely think or do things linearly, so it's no surprise they use the stages non-linearly. However, if you are new to design thinking, following these stages linearly can help you get accustomed to design thinking according to Adam Katz. He explains that we are all creatures of habit. Structure can help us create new habits and guide us when we are learning something new. So, design thinking allows you to think creatively while still providing a process for you to follow, making it easier to transition to this problem-solving style.

Besides the five steps of design thinking, there are also five elements that can provide a greater understanding of the process. Adam Katz advises the following when using design thinking:

Be human-centered: it's always about the user or viewer.

Be unique: it's about being creative, playful, and fun.

Be iterative: reexamine, redesign, and redefine often to add improvements.

Be collaborative: bring together diverse groups to solve problems uniquely.

Be action-driven: prototype, build, and create always to represent an idea.

Design Your Life With Design Thinking

It's easy to see how design thinking can apply to creating new products or solving problems in the workplace. Adam Katz says it can also transform your life. You can adjust the processes to help you solve any problem life throws at you. Design thinking gets you to think proactively and to take action, instead of endlessly analyzing trying to come up with the perfect solution. Adam Katz says it can help you find your way when you don't know where you want to go.

CONTACT:

Caroline Hunter

Web Presence, LLC

+1 7865519491

SOURCE: Adam Katz

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602526/Design-Thinking-Adam-Katz-Believes-Its-the-Best-Thing-Youve-Never-Heard-of
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 04:27:18|Editor: huaxia

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Combo photo shows Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (L) and U.S. President Donald Trump attending their respective events on different occasions. (Xinhua)

The United States, nowhere near bringing the virus under control, is scrambling to strike a balance between securing economic recovery and handling the pandemic.



NEW YORK, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Halfway through the 2020 Democratic National Convention (DNC), U.S. voters are keenly watching who will come out of this year's presidential election to lead the United States that is struggling to get the coronavirus under control, bring the economy back on track and heal the wounds of racial division.

The almost all-virtual DNC, which kicked off Monday and runs through Thursday, has seen Former Vice President Joe Biden officially become the Democratic Party's presidential nominee to take on sitting President Donald Trump.

COVID-19 leadership, health care and tax reform are issues of particular importance for LeeAnne Johnson, a 53-year-old political consultant who identifies as a Democrat.

She expects the next U.S. president "to allocate funds that will allow states and municipalities to do what needs to be done, to pass legislation that has funded mandates to stop COVID, to lead."

The coronavirus, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University, has infected 5.5 million Americans and claimed more than 172,000 lives as of Wednesday. The Trump administration's pandemic response has been deeply divisive across the country.

Photo taken on Aug. 10, 2020 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Janet Sattler, a college professor, views the government's response as incompetent. "I am surprised that he (Trump) hasn't even tried to solve the problem, given that doing so would be the easiest way to ensure a legitimate victory," said the 50-year-old Democrat.

Brian Lantz from the state of Texas, on the other hand, believes Trump and the White House Coronavirus Task Force "have worked very, very hard to ensure that healthcare resources have been made available across the nation as rapidly and effectively as possible."

"Now headway is being made. Now, great progress is being made on developing treatments and vaccines, and there is international cooperation in this work," said the Houston representative of a European think tank, a staunch Trump supporter.

U.S. voters pin high hopes on a vaccine to get out of the pandemic that has left millions of Americans jobless, many on the brink of food insecurity, and they expect the future president to ensure easy access to the vaccine.

"I expect them to get a vaccine to the people who want them and include the vaccine in regular immunizations for the American public," Patrick Gorski, a University of Illinois student who identifies as an independent, told Xinhua.

People tour the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the United States, Aug. 16, 2020. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

Gorski added that the federal government should have issued a national mask mandate, a move Trump has opposed. Biden, together with his running mate Senator Kamala Harris, has recently called for a three-month nationwide mask mandate to limit the spread of COVID-19.

"I support Joe Biden/Kamala Harris because I truly believe they will be able to take control and improve the handling of COVID-19, as well as advocate for the people in our country who need it the most and not just the wealthy 1 percent," said Jen W., a 44-year-old Democrat.

An NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released on Sunday showed that Biden leads Trump nationally by 9 points among registered voters.

Trump will accept the Republican presidential nomination at the White House during the Republican National Convention slated for Aug. 24-27.

"The most important issues of the election are controlling the pandemic and bringing back a better economy," said Chuck Hamil, a 61-year-old insurance investigator who describes himself as a moderate Democrat.

People line up to receive free food outside a school in New York, the United States, Aug. 18, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

The United States, nowhere near bringing the virus under control, is scrambling to strike a balance between securing economic recovery and handling the pandemic. The U.S. economy contracted at an annual rate of 32.9 percent in the second quarter, the sharpest contraction in decades, amid the mounting fallout of COVID-19 lockdowns.

The Trump administration has vigorously pushed for reopening the economy, as it is widely believed that upbeat economic numbers could help incumbent presidents like Trump win a second term.

"I think the main reason I support President Trump is his work with the economy," said Mike Simon from St. Charles, Illinois.

Economy, justice and government deficit spending are the top three concerns for the 69-year-old sales rep who identifies as an independent.

"You (future president) have to marshall all the resources possible to cope with this COVID while at the same time, you can't destroy the economy. It's a delicate balance between keeping people safe and keeping the economy going," he said.



People are seen on the Santa Monica Beach, Los Angeles County, California, the United States, Aug. 15, 2020. (Xinhua)

According to the NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, Biden holds double-digit advantages over Trump on such issues as the coronavirus, immigration, health care, and race relations.

The country's racial wounds have been laid bare during the pandemic, as African Americans and Latinos, among other minority groups, have been disproportionately hurt by the virus.

Racial tensions have run high especially since the killing of African American man George Floyd by a white police officer in May, which sparked nationwide protests calling for racial equality and justice.

Many U.S. voters have pointed to the worsening race relations as a major concern and hope they could take a turn for the better.

The race relations "are worse in the way people feel comfortable displaying hate toward black and brown people, but I think this has paved the way for better race relations in the future," said Steve Warmowski from Jacksonville, Illinois.

"People were shocked by the overt racism and I think it will make people more aware of improving race relations in the future," the 51-year-old independent added. 
QUINCY, Ill., Aug. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Titan International, Inc. (NYSE: TWI), manufacturer of Titan Tires, Titan Wheels and Goodyear Farm Tires, is responding after Wednesday's reports focused on Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company's alleged diversity training document that gained nationwide attention.

"Wednesday morning, we learned of the news being shared about Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company's reported diversity training and felt it was important to make clear that Titan is in no way connected to the training in question," said Titan CEO, Paul Reitz. "While Titan has licensing rights to design, produce and sell the Goodyear Farm Tires brand, we are an entirely separate publicly held entity under separate management and have no shared staff or facilities with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company."

The fight for American jobs

President Trump has repeatedly expressed support for U.S. manufacturers through his "Buy America" campaign. Titan has long-been a champion of American manufacturing and has invested heavily in legal action to protect American manufacturing jobs. In 2017, Titan won a favorable 5-0 ruling from the ITC fighting back against the unfair trade practices from India and Sri Lanka related to off-road tires. In this respect, President Trump and Titan are well-aligned in protecting the more than 2100 hard-working Americans employed by Titan in multiple manufacturing facilities across Illinois, Iowa, Ohio and Tennessee who proudly build Goodyear Farm Tires, along with Titan Wheels and Titan Tires.

Titan has also played a vital role as an essential service during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. When others shut down, Titan ensured safe operation to keep America's vital workforce working with the equipment they need to do their jobs.

"One of our primary concerns as a manufacturer is the safety of our employees. Titan is proud of the important role we play in our nation's critical infrastructure during the COVID-19 pandemic, as our plants have continued to operate safely in support of the farming and construction industries," said Reitz.

"Titan has a diverse workforce throughout all of our locations in the U.S. that build some of the world's best agriculture, construction, and forestry wheels and tires. While at work, we believe our employees should be focused on operating safely and manufacturing high-quality products, and therefore employees are allowed to wear what they would like as long as it meets safety standards and isn't offensive," said Reitz. "Our employees take tremendous pride in our products and we welcome any politician, customer, farmer, construction operator, or just curious folks that would like to see how we operate and meet the fine men and women that we employ."

The ripple effects

In addition to Titan's 2100 hard-working employees across the United States, Titan and Goodyear Farm Tires are sold at nearly 2,000 local tire dealers across the country. And a misguided movement to cancel Goodyear Farm Tires  manufactured and sold by a completely separate company from Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company  could adversely affect thousands of additional hard-working family-owned tire businesses across the country.

About Titan International, Inc.

Titan International, Inc. (NYSE: TWI) is a leading global manufacturer of off-highway wheels, tires, assemblies and undercarriage products. Headquartered in Quincy, Illinois, the company produces a broad range of products to meet the specifications of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and aftermarket customers in the agricultural, earthmoving/construction, and consumer markets. In the United States, the company produces two distinct tire brands  Goodyear Farm Tires and Titan Tires.

 2020 Titan International

All Rights Reserved.

Please send all reader and sales inquiries to: [email protected]

SOURCE Titan International, Inc.
Robert Lopez was overwhelmed when he first got the invitation to participate in the Democratic National Convention.

I was definitely nervous, the 35-year-old firefighter from the Rio Grande Valley said.

Lopez said hes just a middle-class guy who is involved with his union but doesnt see himself as either a Democrat or a Republican. But still, the Biden campaign invited the Mission, Texas resident to be one of the featured voices during national convention lineup to talk about the economy.

Of course I agreed, Lopez said. Its a once in a lifetime opportunity.

While many of the biggest names in Texas Democratic politics have been left out of the prime time speaking slots, national Democrats instead are turning to other Texans as part of their pitch to highlight orinary people to make their policy points on the biggest issues of the day.

EXCLUSIVE: How Texas became home away from home for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Lopez said when he thinks of conventions, he just thinks of politicians giving speeches. He said it's nice to see this year that regular Texans like him are getting a chance to speak up about what they think.

Lopez said while he was nervous at first, it quickly subsided once he was talking with Biden and the other participants about jobs and the economy.

It was like sitting around the table and talking to your friends, said Lopez, who is in a segment that is scheduled to air on Thursday night. That segment was expected to air on Wednesday but was bumped because the program was behind schedule.

During his time on camera, Lopez talked to Biden about how COVID-19 is taking a toll on families with children. He said in families with two people who work, the idea of trying to do online schooling for young children is creating strains for many of his fellow firefighters.

Theyre just trying to figure out how they are going to do it with their kids, Lopez told Biden during the segment. What arrangements are they going to have to make.

Lopez said while he thinks there are some good things President Donald Trump has done, hes convinced Biden would be a better president for the middle class and union workers. He said Biden has a long track record of defending firefighters and their unions.

Before Lopez, it was Michelle Beebe, a school nurse from El Paso, who was featured in an interview on Monday night about sending her kids back to school during the pandemic.

TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

Honestly, right now, all I can think about is keeping my kiddos safe, said Beebe, a mother of three who was wearing her nursing scrubs during the interview with Eva Longoria, the actress originally from Corpus Christi.

That same night, San Antonios Rebekah Ozuna was one of several teachers featured during a segment on children going back to school during the pandemic.

On Tuesday during the traditional roll call at the convention, U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, announced the states support for Biden, but she was flanked on both sides by non-politicians like Christian Juarez, a neonatal nurse, and Myndi Luevanos, a gun control advocate and mother of four.

Of course, Texas politicians have been part of the proceedings. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, and former U.S. Senate candidate Beto ORourke have all had small speaking roles. And on Monday, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo was part of a discussion focused on police reforms in which he specifically talked about the murder of former Houston resident George Floyd.

This is a watershed moment and we cant lose this moment, Acevedo said. We have got to have action at the national level. We have got to have congressional action. We cannot have 18,000 police departments and in 2020 have police departments still allowing the use of a knee on a mans neck.
A California appeals court judge has granted Uber and Lyft's emergency stay. This means the preliminary injunction that sought to force companies to reclassify their drivers as employees will not go into effect this Friday. The court is now reviewing Uber and Lyfts appeal to overturn the trial courts ruling. Oral arguments in the case are set for October 13.

"We are glad that the Court of Appeals recognized the important questions raised in this case, and that access to these critical services wont be cut off while we continue to advocate for drivers ability to work with the freedom they want," an Uber spokesperson told TechCrunch.

Companies have until early September to outline their plans about how they will make drivers employees if they lose the appeal and/or Prop 22 doesn't pass in California. Earlier today, Lyft penned a blog post saying it will shutdown tonight. Clearly, Lyft jumped the gun on this one.

"While we wont have to suspend operations tonight, we do need to continue fighting for independence plus benefits for drivers," a Lyft spokesperson told TechCrunch. "Thats the solution on the ballot in November, and its the solution drivers want because it preserves their ability to earn and to use the platform as they do now  whenever they want  while also getting historic new benefits. Without it, 80-90% of Californians who earn on app-based platforms will lose that opportunity."

This month, both Uber and Lyft argued in court that they should be able to continue classifying their drivers as independent contractors. A judge disagreed, and granted a preliminary injunction to force both companies to reclassify their drivers as employees beginning Friday. In response, both Uber and Lyft said they would be forced to temporarily pause operations in California. Yesterday, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said on a podcast that the company can't simply hire all 50,000 of its drivers overnight.

Story continues

"All of our model, everything that we have built is based on this platform that brings earners and brings people who want transportation or delivery together," he said on a Vox Media podcast yesterday. "You cant flip that stuff overnight. Itll take time, and we will figure out a way to be in California. We want to be in California. But if the court case comes in, then well have to shut down, and weve got the best engineers in the world figuring out how we can rebuild this thing. If we do have to go to employment model, whats going to happen is that we will then have to underwrite driver productivity. There will be far fewer drivers employed, so my guess is 70-80% of users who use Uber for flexibility, they drove 5 to 10 hours, etc., they will not be able to earn. The prices are going to go up. Theyre going to go up less in city centers. So I think SF prices will go up by 20%. Smaller cities prices will go way up."

What Uber is proposing with Prop 22 is essentially a third way of classifying gig workers, but co-founder of Gig Workers Collective Vanessa Bain says a third way "is bullshit," she said on the same Vox Media podcast yesterday.

"It's categorically less than what we're entitled to under current law," she said.

Below is a timeline of what's led to this moment.

January 1, 2020: Assembly Bill 5 becomes law. The bill, first introduced in December 2018, codified the ruling established in Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v Superior Court of Los Angeles. In that case, the court applied the ABC test and decided Dynamex wrongfully classified its workers as independent contractors. According to the ABC test, in order for a hiring entity to legally classify a worker as an independent contractor, it must prove (A) the worker is free from the control and direction of the hiring entity, (B) performs work outside the scope of the entitys business and (C) is regularly engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, or business of the same nature as the work performed.

May 2020: California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, along with city attorneys from Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, filed a lawsuit asserting Uber and Lyft gain an unfair and unlawful competitive advantage by misclassifying workers as independent contractors.

The suit argues Uber and Lyft are depriving workers the right to minimum wage, overtime, access to paid sick leave, disability insurance and unemployment insurance. The lawsuit, filed in the Superior Court of San Francisco, seeks $2,500 in penalties for each violation, possibly per driver, under the California Unfair Competition Law, and another $2,500 for violations against senior citizens or people with disabilities.

June 2020: Becerra and others file a motion for a preliminary injunction seeking to force Uber and Lyft to immediately classify their drivers as employees.

August 6, 2020: California Superior Court Judge Ethan P. Schulman hears arguments pertaining to the preliminary injunction. At the hearing, Uber and Lyft maintained that an injunction would require them to restructure their businesses in such a material way that it would prevent them from being able to employ many drivers on either a full-time or part-time basis. Uber and Lyfts argument, effectively, is that classifying drivers as employees would result in job loss.

The proposed injunction would cause irreparable injury to Lyft and Uber, and would actually cause massive harm to drivers and harm to riders, Rohit Singla, counsel for Lyft, said at the hearing.

For example, Lyft estimates it would cost hundreds of millions of dollars simply to process the I-9 forms, which verify employment eligibility. It doesnt cost anything to file that form, but it would require Uber and Lyft to further invest in their human resources and payroll processes.

August 9, 2020: Judge Schulman grants the preliminary injunction, which goes into effect on August 20, 2020.

The Court is under no illusion that implementation of its injunction will be costly, Judge Schulman wrote in the order. There can be no question that in order for Defendants to comply with A.B. 5, they will have to change the nature of their business practices in significant ways, such as by hiring human resources staff to hire and manage their driver workforces.

Meanwhile, Uber and Lyft made clear their respective plans to file emergency appeals.

August 12, 2020: Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi says Uber will have to temporarily shut down in California if the court doesnt overturn the preliminary injunction. Lyft says it, too, will be forced to temporarily cease operations in California.

August 13, 2020: Judge Schulman denies Uber and Lyfts appeal. Uber says it plans to file another appeal, while Lyft says it will seek a further stay from the states appellate court.

August 14, 2020: Lyft files a request for an immediate stay in California's appeals court.

August 17, 2020: Uber files an emergency stay request in California's appeals court.

August 19, 2020: San Diego and San Jose mayors call for the Court of Appeal to grant Uber and Lyft's motions and stay the injunction.

Looking ahead

November 2020: Californians will vote on Prop 22, a ballot measure majorly funded by Uber, Lyft and DoorDash. Prop 22 aims to keep gig workers classified as independent contractors. The measure, if passed, would make drivers and delivery workers for said companies exempt from a new state law that classifies them as W-2 employees.

The ballot measure looks to implement an earnings guarantee of at least 120% of minimum wage while on the job, 30 cents per mile for expenses, a healthcare stipend, occupational accident insurance for on-the-job injuries, protection against discrimination and sexual harassment and automobile accident and liability insurance.
The Union Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) would soon release a white paper on whether cloud seeding is a viable technology to trigger rainfall, M Rajeevan, secretary, MoES, said during a lecture organised by the Indian Meteorological Society on Wednesday.

The drought-prone states such as Karnataka and Maharashtra had tried cloud seeding with large investments in the past.

Delhi, too, had toyed with the concept in 2018 to deal with deadly November smog, but never got around to get it implemented.

Delhi-based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) has concluded its two-year experiment on cloud seeding and has drafted a report.

A team of IITM scientists conducted airborne experiments with two aircraft missions over Solapur in Maharashtra. There is not much evidence on whether cloud seeding works. The literature is not conclusive. So, based on our experiments, we will release a white paper on how useful or successful is cloud seeding, how it should be done, and the commercial viability of the intervention, said Rajeevan.

MoES is also setting up an atmospheric research test-bed programme, a highly focussed observational and analytical research effort, to study atmospheric processes, particularly clouds and convection; land-atmosphere interactions; aerosol and radiation for developing and testing weather and climate models. This will also help understand monsoon dynamics in the core monsoon zone, including parts of eastern and central India.

Apart from an overall improvement in forecast reliability which has made significant progress in the past three years, according to Rajeevan, IMDs monsoon mission coupled forecast model has ensured that the authorities are able to make a short-range prediction of rain and associated weather for five days now instead of three days, when the initiative was launched in 2012.

The first phase of the monsoon mission was completed in 2017.

IMD and other teams from the MoES are now working on the second phase of the monsoon mission, where the focus will be on extreme weather events and development of applications for various sectors such as renewable energy (solar and wind energy projects require accurate forecast); agriculture and hydrology.

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TCNS Clothing Co. Limited is India's leading women's branded apparel company in terms of total number of exclusive brand outlets as of May 2018 according to Technopak. The Company designs manufactures markets and retails a wide portfolio of women's branded apparel across multiple brands. The Company sells its products across India and through multiple distribution channels. As of March 31 2019 the...> More
Naseeruddin Shah is in news for his comments on the ongoing insider versus outsider debate that came into prominence after the death of young actor Sushant Singh Rajput on June 14. We caught up with Shah to talk about the present debate, a few comments made against him, and his upcoming film Mee Raqsam, which has been produced by Shabana Azmi.

Excerpts:

Your performance in Bandish Bandits is getting love from all quarters...

Really? Thank you so much (smiles).

In that show, you play an opinionated, self-righteous Ustad who has a lot of layers to uncover. While in Mee Raqsam, you play a rigid religious leader who warns a father against sending his daughter to Bharatnatyam classes because their religion apparently doesn't permit that. Do your own ideas and values ever interfere with the process of approaching such characters?

It's not necessary that my own beliefs should coincide with the beliefs of the character I'm playing. But it's necessary for my beliefs to coincide with what the film is saying. So, it is very easy to distance yourself and it is quite easy to put yourself into the shoes of a person like the community leader. I have seen people like that in my childhood in my village. I have met several teachers who have been like that. So, you grow up on your memories of these people. You bring as much conviction to the things that you are supposed to because you are supposed to not pass judgment on that character but play him. No one thinks of themselves as a negative person. It's very boring to play the good guy. I just don't relish playing the good guy, the helpful person, or Jesus Christ. I relish the negative side and I enjoy confronting that side of myself (laughs).

You have said that Mee Raqsam is one of the most important films that you have done. Would you like to elaborate on that?

It is always difficult for a child, even if s/he belongs to the most educated family, to not want to tread the family path. And in a small town like the one portrayed in Mee Raqsam, it becomes even more difficult for that child to assert himself or herself. I experienced that when I wanted to be an actor. Not that there were religious objections to it but there were social objections to it. My father didn't consider acting to be a respectable profession. He didn't think that acting was something to be taken seriously. He wanted me to become a doctor. And, I had some bitter quarrels with him on this.

I often thought that had I wanted to be a sculptor, painter, or a poet, my struggle would have been much worse. Secondly, I wouldn't have known where to go and who to ask for guidance. I frankly imagined this situation in my own family that if I had a sister who wanted to learn Bharatanatyam how my father would probably have reacted and how the people around him would have reacted. So, I can identify very closely with this. It's a problem that needs to be addressed. These biases and prejudices that the communities have against each other need to be addressed. That's why I consider Mee Raqsam such an important film because it tackles these issues head-on. And, it's a true picture of life in that kind of town. I have always felt that movies that represent the reality of their times are the really only significant movies.

Youve definitely been in the vanguard of people interested in serious films, films that made statements. Where do you think your taste came from, and how did it develop?

It wasn't my doing frankly. When I was a student at the film institute, I was concerned about whether or not I'd get any employment in Bombay, and if I did what kind of employment it would be. I knew that I was not qualified to be a Bollywood dancing star. So, I didn't concentrate on that aspect of myself which perhaps was a mistake. I think I should have done that because I had to do some of the heroic stuff later on in my career and I did very badly in it.

Coming back to your question, as it happened, by the time I passed out Shyam Benegal's Ankur had already been made and been successful and he was looking for an actor for his new film. And as luck would have it, he chose me. It was not my doing. I didn't have a choice at that time. I would have acted in any film that was offered to me, no matter how lousy it may have been. So, it was just my good fortune that Nishant fell into my lap and Shyam and I hit it off together and then I got very moved by the kind of efforts that people like he would make in small budgets and there were several of my contemporaries from FTII like Kundan (Shah), Ketan (Mehta) and several others who were attempting to make non-formula movies and they all gravitated toward me and that's how it happened. I hadn't planned it this way. I had wanted to be a popular actor but somewhere I knew that it wouldn't work. But I'm very happy the way everything turned out.

Do you feel like your relationship with the film industry has changed over time?

It hasn't changed with the world of popular filmmakers. I'm still an outsider. They take me for their films to be respectable. I don't delude myself that I'm a saleable star. I never was. It hasn't bothered me too much. In fact, it's been a relief because I don't have to lose my sleep over how much money my next film is going to make (laughs). I'd say that my relationship has matured over time. I'm more tolerant of many things that I wasn't so tolerant of when I was younger.

A couple of years back, you'd said that you were not very keen on working in films so you only opted to do tiny parts in the films being made by your friends. Did you learn anything from taking that break? How often does that happen to you as an actor?

It happens off and on. In fact, I have been doing tiny parts throughout my career. I have never had an aversion to playing a one-scene role or walk on a part for somebody who wanted me to. I absolutely have no problem with that. I have always felt the film itself is more important than my role. This is something I have learned along the way that my character is secondary to the totality of the film. That's something Shyam kept drilling into my head...

And, I think I have finally understood what it meant after a long time. That is how now I gauge an offer that comes to me-- whether I would want to do it or how much I'd be able to contribute to it even if it's a small part. Sometimes small parts are critical and good actors don't often accept small parts. They get insulted which is not fair because sometimes a small part may be a very difficult one and it may need a good actor. So, I don't feel resentful to people who offer these small parts to me. I did several of those and enjoyed them a lot. I hadn't planned that I'd do Bandish Bandits a few years later. It just happened.

So, you think that things have changed for the better in the film industry with OTT coming in...

OTT is a blessing for an actor. It just may be the future where film viewing no longer remains a communal experience. That is possible which means the nature of films that we make will have to change.

The film industry has never been so much in the news as it is now...

The film industry is used to making news about everything and the film industry likes making news about everything. So what's happening right now is that a completely nonsensical debate is raging over the unfortunate death of a young man who we should be lamenting. But everybody is cooking their 'papads' over his funeral pyre. It's not surprising. The film industry has always been like that and the press too that has fed off the film industry through sensationalism. This whole debate is completely meaningless in my opinion.

Kangana Ranaut has reacted to your "half-educated starlet" remark, saying that if you would have said her the same thing had she been Anil Kapoor or Prakash Padukone's daughter. Would you like to comment?

I don't need to react to what anybody is saying about me.
Yves here. We trust youll enjoy the second installment of Andrew Dittmers examination of distilled libertarian thinking.

This post first ran on November 30, 2011

By Andrew Dittmer, who recently finished his PhD in mathematics at Harvard and is currently continuing work on his thesis topic. He also taught mathematics at a local elementary school. Andrew enjoys explaining the recent history of the financial sector to a popular audience.

Simulposted at The Distributist Review

This is the second installment of a six-part interview. For the previous part, see here. Red indicates exact quotes from Hans-Hermann Hoppes 2001 book Democracy: The God That Failed.

ANDREW: Do other libertarians agree with your idea of a libertarian society?

CODE NAME CAIN: Well, we do have our differences. For example, the Cato Institute is severely compromised by numerous left-leaning libertarians such as David Boaz. The Cato tag-alongs and certain other prominent libertarians imagine that an extremely small government would be better than no government at all. They are, of course, wrong. They have not yet recognized that every government is destructive of what they want to preserve [235-236].

ANDREW: It sounds like you and Dr. Hoppe and Murray Rothbard are strongly critical of those other libertarians. But when I looked through the Cato web site, I found that while they sometimes express disagreements, they are surprisingly respectful of Rothbard and Hoppe. Why do you think this is?

CNC: Three reasons. First, pro-government libertarians have probably realized how difficult it is to refute Rothbard and Hoppe, and so prefer instead to learn from their ideas. Second, many agree with Tibor Machan, who says that libertarians should not let their small differences over this issue distrac[t] from the far more significant task of making the case for libertarianism in the face of innumerable bona fide statist challenges. But third, you have to reckon with the Human Shield Effect.

ANDREW: The what?

CNC: Libertarian Bryan Caplan says that hard-core libertarians comparative advantage is to play watchdog for moderate libertarians  and make them seem reasonable by comparison. You see, on many areas other libertarians secretly agree with us, but they are afraid to acknowledge it openly. Instead, they prefer to let us take the heat for our principled positions, and to wait for us to turn previously radical ideas into common sense.

ANDREW: So you can count on at least some support from other libertarians. But in order to make your revolution happen, you will have to convince other people as well. Are you going to try to get a majority of U.S. voters to support the future libertarian society?

CNC: It wont work  persuade a majority of the public to vote for the abolition of democracy and an end to all taxes and legislation? [] is this not sheer fantasy, given that the masses are always dull and indolent, and even more so given that democracy promotes moral and intellectual degeneration? How in the world can anyone expect that a majority of an increasingly degenerate people accustomed to the right to vote should ever voluntarily renounce [it]? [288].

ANDREW: If its not a good idea to try to persuade a majority of Americans to surrender the right to vote, what is the right approach?

CNC: It has to start with a small elite. As Etienne La Boetie said, these are the men who, possessed of clear minds and farsighted spirit, are not satisfied, like the brutish mass, to see only what is at their feet, but rather look about them. These people will start to secede from the United States.

ANDREW: Meaning?

CNC: It means one regard[s] the central government as illegitimate, and treat[s] it and its agents as an outlaw agency and foreign occupying forces [91].

ANDREW: You dont pay your taxes?

CNC: One tries to keep as much of ones property and surrender as little tax money as possible. One considers all federal law, legislation and regulation null and void and ignores it whenever possible [91]. One needs to be ready in case the government makes a move, and invest in such forms and at such locations which withdraw, remove, hide, or conceal ones wealth as far as possible from the eyes and arms of government [92].

ANDREW: Is this why you have a code name?

CNC: It took you a while, but you figured it out in the end.

ANDREW: How will a few people seceding lead to an anti-state revolution?

CNC: It wont.  it is essential to complement ones defensive measures with an offensive strategy: to invest in an ideological campaign of delegitimizing the idea and institution of democratic government among the public [92].

ANDREW: Did you say earlier that trying to convince the public would be difficult?

CNC: With the secession strategy, you dont need a majority. Thats good, because [t]he mass of people  always and everywhere consists of brutes, dullards, and fools, easily deluded and sunk into habitual submission [92]. Still, there can be no revolution without some form of mass participation.  the elite cannot reach its own goal of restoring private property rights and law and order unless it succeeds in communicating its ideas to the public, openly if possible and secretly if necessary [93].

ANDREW: Even if you do it secretly, convincing the masses that they are inferior sounds tricky.

CNC: Thats true, but you dont have to convince Joe the Plumber that he is a brute. You can convince him instead that he is a hardworking, productive individual, and that other people are brutes who are making it so Joe has no control over his life.

ANDREW: I see.

CNC: Still, youre right. Convincing the masses of the superiority of the natural elite is not the most important part of our communications strategy. The central task of those wanting to turn the tide is the delegitimation of the idea of democracy [103] It is not enough to focus on specific policies or personalities Every critic and criticism deserving of support must proceed to explain each and every particular government failing as an underlying flaw in the very idea of government itself (and of democratic government in particular). [94]

ANDREW: Now that I think of it, I have heard people saying things like that.

CNC: There is still a long way to go. There remain far too many people who make unnecessary compromises with the idea of democracy. In fact, there must never be even the slightest wavering in ones commitment to uncompromising ideological radicalism Not only would anything less be counterproductive, but more importantly, only radical  indeed, radically simple  ideas can possibly stir the emotions of the dull and indolent masses. And nothing is more effective in persuading the masses to cease cooperating with government than the constant and relentless exposure, desanctification, and ridicule of government and its representatives [94].

ANDREW: A lot of Americans think that democracy has helped the country to be prosperous.

CNC: What better evidence of the limited mental horizons of the so-called ordinary person? Hans-Hermann Hoppe has debunked this idea entirely, but too many people still think that the collapse of the Soviet Union had something to do with the absence of democracy! [A]s for the economic quality of democracy, it must be stressed relentlessly that it is not democracy but private property, production, and voluntary exchange that are the ultimate sources of human civilization and prosperity. [105]

ANDREW: So lets see if I understand. At this point, there will be a small elite dedicated to revolution. Meanwhile, many ordinary people will no longer believe that democracy is a good system. Will you try to do this everywhere, or just in a few key places?

CNC: It doesnt matter if people in any one city think that what were doing is wrong and dangerous. As long as the people who oppose us continue to wring their hands together and to talk only to people who already agree with them, they will not obstruct our efforts to find or create secessonist majorities at hundreds of locations all over the country [290].

ANDREW: Arent you a little worried about how the government might respond to all of these people choosing not to obey the law?

CNC: You mean, considering how the U.S. government has become entangled in hundreds of foreign conflicts and risen to the rank of the worlds dominant imperialist power[?] [How] nearly every president [since 1900] has also been responsible for the murder, killing, or starvation of countless innocent foreigners all over the world [244]? Of course Im worried. The U.S. president in particular is the worlds single most threatening and armed danger, capable of ruining everyone who opposes him and destroying the entire globe. [244]

ANDREW: But then, what will you do?

CNC: We will work to create a U.S. punctuated by a large and increasing number of territorially disconnected free cities  a multitude of Hong Kongs, Singapores, Monacos, and Liechtensteins strewn over the entire continent [291]. This approach offers two advantages. First, a piecemeal strategy will make secession seem less threatening. Second, the more the secession process continues, the more the governments strength will be eroded.

ANDREW: But there could still be conflicts between the new libertarian mini-states and the existing democracies.

CNC: If there is a conflict, it will be because a democracy has not respected the rights of the free mini-states. But you are forgetting that the mini-states will not be defenseless in such a conflict.

ANDREW: What will they do?

CNC: Since they will be no-tax free-trade haven[s], large numbers of investors and huge amounts of capital would begin to flow immediately. [132] It will therefore be possible to pay large multinational insurance companies to develop military forces capable of defending the free mini-states against government aggression. Keep in mind that, unlike the military forces of the democracy, these military units will be provided by private firms, and so will be much more efficient. If there were to be a conflict, these insurers would be prepared to target the aggressor (the state) for retaliation. That is, insurers would be ready to counterattack and kill, whether with long-range precision weapons or assassination commandos, state agents from the top of the government hierarchy [from the] president. on downward They would thereby encourage internal resistance against the aggressor government, promote its delegitimization, and possibly incite the liberation and transformation of the state territory into a free country. [264-265]

ANDREW: Will it stop there? Or will you eventually get rid of the small city-states as well?

CNC: At the correct moment, all remaining governments will be dissolved. Protection against violence will be provided exclusively by insurance firms. As I see it, public property should be distributed among taxpayers, with shares based on how much each individual or firm, up to now, has been forced to pay in taxes. Since public employees and welfare recipients are obviously recipients and not victim of taxes (theft), they will receive nothing.

ANDREW: Would you like to say anything else before I end this part of the interview?

CNC: Let me quote the conclusion of Democracy  The God That Failed. If and only if we succeed in this endeavor, if we then proceed to return all public property into appropriate private hands and adopt a new constitution which declares all taxation and legislation henceforth unlawful, and if we finally allow insurance agencies to do what they are destined to do, can we be truly proud again and will America be justified in claiming to provide an example to the rest of the world. [292]

In part 3 of this interview, Code Name Cain will show that he is unafraid to explain how a libertarian society will work in detail.

The Etienne La Boetie quote is from The Politics of Obedience: The Discourse of Voluntary

Servitude, New York, Free Life Editions, 1975, p. 65 (cited at Hoppe, p. 93).
President Donald Trump holds a news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington on Aug. 19, 2020. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

DNC Airs Debunked Claim Trump Called Asylum Seekers Animals

An edited video montage played during the Democratic National Convention Wednesday showed President Donald Trump referring to MS-13 gang members animals, but spliced it between videos of asylum seekers and children held in detention centers.

The DNCs video on the third night of the convention showed children held in immigration detention centers, and the voice of a young girl said children had been orphaned because of Trump.

These arent people, Trump said in one clip in the DNCs video. I dont want them in our country. Theyre animals, Trump said in several video clips said when added together.

The #DemocraticConvention tonight repeated the lie that President Trump called asylum seekers animals. Both times he was referring to members of the MS-13 gang. Here is the DNCs selectively edited video along with the full versions. pic.twitter.com/CB4viFYqxS  Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) August 20, 2020

Trump referred to MS-13 gang members as animals in a White House briefing in May 2018, PolitiFact reported. Multiple fact checkers debunked that Trump called asylum seekers animals.

The quotation used in the DNC video left out the context of a comment made by Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims to Trump about the challenges of reporting illegal immigrants who are members of MS-13, the Washington Examiner reported.

We have people coming into the country or trying to come in, were stopping a lot of them, but were taking people out of the country, Trump responded. You wouldnt believe how bad these people are. These arent people. These are animals, he said.

The edited video went viral on Twitter, nearly a year after the briefing, in April of 2019.
An American woman has revealed all her favourite things about visiting Britain, including Tesco shopping trips and Greggs sausage rolls.

Pastry chef Ally Burnett, 31, is from Huntsville, Alabama but is engaged to a British man from the Midlands, and shared on TikTok all her favourite things about her trips across the Atlantic.

The video, which also included her love for veggie Percy Pigs and the British Version of Cadbury chocolate, racked up over 30,000 likes and over 400 comments.

British users were delighted with her selection, with many insisting she had been 'accepted as one of our own', while another teased they'd 'chatted with the Queen' who had said she was 'welcome anytime'.

Pasty chef Ally Burnett, 31, pictured, is from Huntsville, Alabama but is engaged to British man, from the Midlands

She shared on TikTok all her favourite things about her trips across the atlantic, with the post racking up over 30,000 likes and over 400 comments

First up was British supermarket chain Tesco, with Ally revealing: 'Don't ask me why but i'm absolutely obsessed with Tesco.

'Every time we go back to England I have to stop here and just load up on snacks, a suitcase full of snacks. I feel like they give Publix a run for their money.'

Next she praised Nestle's Nescafe Azera coffee, admitting: 'I always thought instant coffee was trash, but it turns out just American instant coffee is trash'.

She went on to praise British baked goods with a picture of a Greggs pastie, saying: 'If we're at a service station and you can't find me, it's because i'm getting one of these bad boys.

First up was British supermarket chain Tesco, with Ally revealing she loads up on snacks during every visit to the UK

Among her other favourites were Greggs sausage rolls and pasties (right) and Nestle's Nescafe Azera coffee (left)

'I'll be perfectly honest I don't discriminate, it doesn't have to be a Greggs just give me a sausage roll or a pastie.'

She went on: 'I cant be the only one who feels brandy butter is the only thing that makes Christmas pudding and Christmas cake even remotely edible.

'Also I like to spread brandy butter on everything. I even put it on strawberry pavlova one year, im really a fan.'

Finally, Ally revealed her favourite snack to buy in Britain, Marks & Spencer's signature Percy Pigs sweets.

'Lets get right down to it, said Ally, 'British candy, M&S veggie Percys, Colin the Caterpillar, my suitcase is literally full of these.

'When I come home, people bring me them. Everyone knows im obsessed, and of course anything Cadburys because American Cadburys is trash.'

Finally, Ally admitted her favourite snack to buy in Britain, Marks & Spencer's signature Percy Pigs sweets and shared her love of brandy butter at Christmas

British users were quick to comment on the video, with several impressed at her selection and joking that they had 'officially accepted her' as an 'honourary member' of the UK

British users were quick to comment on the video, with several impressed at her selection and joking that they had 'officially accepted her' as an 'honourary member' of the UK.

'Greggs and Tesco, wrote one, 'We officially accept you. Welcome.'

'You are officially one of us, welcome', teased another.

A third wrote: 'Girl as a nation we make you an honourary British person for your love of all the best things about Britain.'

'Had a chat with the Queen, youre welcome anytime', commented a fourth.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama addresses the Democrat's virtual convention on Monday. (DNCC via Getty Images)

I first saw the memes on a cold December night in 2017, while drinking red wine and watching my Twitter timeline celebrate Doug Jones' victory in his Alabama race for a U.S. Senate seat. He had done the impossible  beat Republican Roy Moore, who was accused during the campaign of having sexually assaulted teenage girls  and become the first Democrat to hold the seat in 25 years.

The decisive factor in Jones' victory, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez said at the time, was Black women.

"Black women are the backbone of the Democratic Party, and we cant take that for granted," Perez tweeted.

The overdue acknowledgment triggered a bizarre outpouring of gratitude to Black women, in which they were endowed with mystical qualities.

"I said a prayer the other day," actor Mark Ruffalo tweeted that night, "and when God answered me back she was a Black Woman."

Im definitely ready for that. I said a prayer the other day and when God answered me back she was a Black Woman. https://t.co/8e0mdRoj5o  Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) December 13, 2017

Black women have for decades existed as the invisible spine of the Democratic Party, consistently delivering support to candidates who ignored them once in office. So in a sense, it's nice someone has finally recognized our enduring support.

But the long-awaited acknowledgment has been marred by a creepy form of gratitude that for me evokes the racist trope of a "mammy," that fictional happy Black woman who not only thrives off domestic work but genuinely enjoys caring for white people.

In this new take by Democrats, stalwart Black women are seen as thrilled to be the party's mules.

But it's not the role of Black women to scrub the floors of American politics.

As First Lady Michelle Obama was delivering her speech at the Democratic National Convention on Monday night, Jorge Guajardo, a former Mexican diplomat living in Washington, tweeted exultantly that "Black women will save the United States." I wasn't the only Black woman who found that patronizing. The flurry of responses caused him to walk back his assertion.

Story continues

"If I got a do-over," the 50-year-old tweeted, "it would read, 'The US does not deserve to be always saved by black women'."

This poorly worded tweet got more than 3,000 frustrated/tired retweets with comments from black women.



If I got a do-over, it would read, The US does not deserve to be always saved by black women. (Also, probably white men shouldnt make these comments). https://t.co/QTEui4TWS6  Jorge Guajardo (@jorge_guajardo) August 18, 2020

Tired of simply tweeting into the abyss, I decided to call him.

Guajardo told me he'd been trying to express something he'd heard from his wife, Paola Sada. She had pointed out to him an undeniable fact Black women can always be counted on to overwhelmingly and consistently back progressive candidates. But the way Guajardo expressed this fact resurfaced the trope that it's somehow our responsibility to save the country from the second term of a man we never supported.

When I spoke with Sada, she was quick to explain that, like other wives, she acts as her husband's filter. And Sada was not around when he fired off that poorly worded tweet. "I wouldve told him, 'Dont write that,'" she said.

Still, Sada said, she has appreciated how Black women have remained a consistent voice in calling out Trump's racist, coded language.

"I think that's why I came to believe that if anyone was going to 'save' American democracy from itself and its built-in racism, it was the leadership and moral clarity of Black women," Sada said.

Sada did note her home country, Mexico, has problems of its own. Like America, she said, Mexico is rife with racism, misogyny and inequity. But the United States has for at least half a century promoted itself as a success story in this great experiment called democracy. And she, like me, is disappointed it has not lived up to its hype.

This country truly sold us all a dusty bill of goods. And Sada recognizing this as an outside spectator reminded me I'm not imagining America's flop.

The thing that worries me about Black women being used as a political trope is it reduces us to just a symbol. Sen. Kamala Harris is very qualified to be the vice president. But, if elected, will people be able to move past her identity and critique her policies?

"I get nervous that after this election, people will let up on the issues they've been focused on since the killing of George Floyd because of the symbolism of [Harris] as vice president," said Candis Smith, a political science professor at Pennsylvania State University.

Smith said President Obama was given a pass by the left once he was in office, in part because he was the first Black president.

"I'm not sure how many people were clear on how many people were deported under the Obama administration or how drones were used in other countries," she said.

(For the record: Hundreds of thousands of immigrants were deported and Obama authorized at least 540 drone strikes.)

"I hope thats a lesson we learned," Smith said. "That we cant hold back critique in order to protect the first fill-in-the-blank."

I hope the left learned this lesson. Because one thing we know for certain is white supremacy has a way of enduring. Even if Joe Biden and Harris are elected, police brutality will still be a problem. So will racism in medicine, housing, wealth and just about every area of life.

So, to all of you on the left who aren't Black women: Don't just count on us. Real democracy requires everyone.
The United States on August 20 formally began the process of activating a mechanism aimed at reimposing UN sanctions on Iran citing Iranian violations of the 2015 nuclear deal, which Washington exited in 2018.



U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo submitted a letter to the president of the UN Security Council notifying him of Iran's "significant" noncompliance with the terms of the landmark accord.



The move marked the start of Washingtons bid to trigger the so-called "snapback" procedure, which is opposed by its European allies on the 15-member Council.

"The United States intends to restore virtually all of the previously suspended United Nations sanctions on Iran," President Donald Trump said late on August 19. "It's a snapback."

As set out by the resolution enshrining the 2015 nuclear agreement between Tehran and world powers, a so-called snapback would reimpose UN sanctions that were eased in exchange for curbs on Iran's nuclear program.

But the U.S. move faces opposition at the Security Council, where other members have questioned the United States' right to do it since Washington withdrew from the nuclear deal more than two years ago and reimposed unilateral sanctions.

The United States claims it remains a "participant" in the accord because it was listed as such in the UN resolution that enshrined it.

An announcement of Pompeo's trip to the UN headquarters had been anticipated since the failure of a U.S. resolution last week to extend an arms embargo.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement on August 19 that 30 days after the notification "a range of UN sanctions will be restored." This includes an extension of the arms embargo, she said.

Pompeo, in an interview with Fox News on August 19, expressed confidence about invoking the "snapback" mechanism, even as he appeared to lack support from Russia, China, and European signatories to the nuclear pact.



"We are going to get these UN sanctions put back in place and the world will be safer," Pompeo said.



He also said he would hold China and Russia accountable if they block the move. The United States "absolutely" will target Russia and China with sanctions if they refuse to reimpose the UN measures on Iran, he said, adding that the United States already has done that whenever it has seen any country violate current U.S. sanctions.

In a letter to the United Nations, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the U.S. has no right to trigger the reimposition of all U.N. sanctions on his country while calling on Security Council members to reject Washington's move.



"The U.S. push to reimpose U.N. sanctions on Iran will have dangerous consequences ... Iran has exercised restraint in good faith ... Now it is the international community's turn to counter the unlawful push by the United States," Javad Zarif said in the letter.



Iranian state TV said the letter was sent to the head of the U.N. Security Council by Iran's U.N. envoy Majid Takhteravanchi.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on August 20 said that U.S. moves to reinstate UN sanctions will "lead to nothing," while "creating a very serious and profound crisis in the UN Security Council," according to Interfax.

Pompeo also slammed European countries for not backing U.S. opposition to the nuclear deal.

European leaders "refuse to do the courageous thing," Pompeo said.

"We have the same objectives, they are just wedded to this crazy nuclear deal," he said, referring to the 2015 agreement with Iran and six world powers intended to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.



The U.S. resolution to extend the arms embargo, which is set to expire in October under the nuclear deal, failed last week, with only the Dominican Republic joining the United States, and Russia and China voting against, while 11 members, including European allies, abstained.



That same resistance at the UN Security Council is expected to intensify as the United States acts to restore sanctions.



Iran has threatened to completely exit the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as the nuclear deal is formally known, and hinted it will pull out of another key nonproliferation treaty if the arms embargo is extended or there is a "snapback" of sanctions.



But it also has said it will come fully back into compliance with the JCPOA if the United States abides by its commitments and lifts unilateral sanctions.



Diplomats and analysts say a restoration of sanctions on Iran would lead to a messy diplomatic battle that could undermine the UN Security Council and potentially collapse what is left of the nuclear deal. Pompeo, in his interview with Fox News, acknowledged that restoring sanctions could spell the end of the deal.

Bureaucratic, Procedural Moves?



Analysts say UN Security Council members will likely use bureaucratic and procedural moves to stall or block the U.S. bid to bring back sanctions.



Another option is for the UN Security Council members to respond to the U.S. claim that sanctions have been reimposed with a collective shrug, making plain that they dispute the moves legitimacy and that they will neither recognize new sanctions nor give them any effect, the International Crisis Group wrote in a briefing.



Critics of the U.S. bid to extend the arms embargo say it was a cynical effort to try to snap back sanctions on Tehran, with the goal of killing the deal or making it difficult for any future U.S. administration to resuscitate it.



Britain, France, and Germany -- all signatories to the JCPOA who have sought to keep it alive -- have expressed worries about the arms embargo ending, but oppose U.S. action at the UN because they fear it would end the nuclear deal and damage the UN Security Council.



Experts say U.S. allies in Europe and Iran appear to be trying to wait out the Trump administration, calculating that former Vice President Joe Biden will win the November presidential election and de-escalate tensions with Iran.

With reporting by Reuters, dpa, AFP, AP, Fox News, and Interfax
ANN ARBOR, MI - Detroit resident Justin Ward had a hunch he might strike gold during an afternoon trip to Briarwood Mall after his online search for a pair of shoes proved unsuccessful.

Making his first trip back to Briarwood in a couple of months, Ward, 18, found the white Nike Air Force 1 sneakers he wanted inside the malls Foot Locker store.
Turkey continued its public embrace of Venezuela this week. The United States opposes and sanctions the South American countrys government, but Washington has yet to comment on Turkeys endeavors there.

Turkeys Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu traveled to Caracas on Tuesday on the 70th anniversary of Turkey and the Bolivarian Republic establishing relations. The minister discussed cooperation and unspecified cultural agreements between the states and met with his counterpart, Jorge Arreaza, Cavusoglu said in a series of tweets. Turkey also delivered coronavirus aid to Venezuela during his visit.

The meeting is noteworthy because of the United States' relationship with both countries. The United States and Turkey are NATO allies, although relations have strained in recent years over Washingtons support for Kurdish groups in Syria against the Islamic State. The Syrian Democratic Forces the United States backs are also in a state of conflict with Turkey.

The United States has long opposed Venezuelas government, on the other hand. The animosity dates back to late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, whose socialist and anti-imperialist outlook did not match with the United States. The United States supports an opposition government in Venezuela and also imposes a variety of sanctions on it.

Last week, the United States seized Iranian fuel headed for Venezuela. Iran and Venezuela have developed close economic ties amid US sanctions on both states.

In this context, Turkey is working to improve relations with Venezuela. Turkey also sent a plane of medical aid to the country in July, its Ministry of National Defense announced at the time.

The US State Department has not commented on the Turkey-Venezuela relationship. In July, a State Department official told Al-Monitor that humanitarian assistance like Turkeys medical shipments do not violate US sanctions on Venezuela.

Cavusoglu visited Venezuela as part of a tour of the Americas. He also went to Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called his meeting with Cavusoglu pleasant in a tweet.
The top four public clouds (listed below) represent a significant portion of semiconductor chip consumption. Their purchase decisions affect the overall chip market and, therefore, are of great interest to investors, particularly hedge funds.

What data does Liftr Insights track?

Liftr Insights has been scanning public clouds since early 2019 and offering hybrid alternative data to hedge fund and supply chain customers since. Among the data collected is "share of shelf" analysis including configurations, components and pricing for:

Server processors: Intel Xeon, AMD EPYC and Amazon's Arm-based Graviton brands

Data center compute accelerators: GPUs, FPGAs, TPUs and AI chips from NVIDIA, Xilinx, Intel, AMD, Amazon and Google

What Changed?

Liftr Insights recently carved out its Liftr Cloud Processor and Accelerator Share data as a separate report to inform subscribers about cloud chip market share changes by the 10th of each month, earlier than its monthly report covering a wider variety of hybrid alternative data about cloud. This new schedule provides a week (or more) of lead time ahead of cloud-related quarterly earnings reports and over a month ahead of other market intelligence sources.

"Our subscribers rely on our cloud chip market share data, so much so that they asked us to deliver that data earlier than our monthly report schedule," said Paul Teich, Principal Cloud and Semiconductor Expert for Liftr Insights. "Our scalable DevOps-based process enables us to shorten our subscribers' time to action."

Why Does "Time to Action" Matter?

Investors need timely information to feed their investment decisions. Time to action is the total time it takes from gathering fresh data to the point of making stock trading decisions.

Liftr Insights' top priority is to shorten investors' time to action by providing hybrid alternative data in a timely fashion.

"Every day matters for hedge funds, especially before quarterly earnings reports," says Tab Schadt, CEO of Liftr Insights. "We wanted to arm our subscribers with the best quality data and insights when they need it. Now they receive key market intel faster."

About Liftr Insights

Liftr Insights, based in Austin, Texas, collects and distills data about internet-enabled infrastructure for hedge fund quants to feed into their investment models. Liftr Insights' data collection is compliant with SEC policies and currently gathers publicly available data about the top four public clouds: Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Alibaba Cloud (also known as "Aliyun"), and Google Cloud.

Liftr Insights provides a high-level map overlay of service growth and availability for the four tracked cloud service providers at https://bit.ly/LiftrCloudRegionsMap.

For more information, email [email protected].

Liftr and the Liftr logo are registered service marks of Liftr Insights. The following are trademarks and/or service marks of Liftr Insights: Liftr Insights, Liftr Cloud Components Tracker, and Liftr Cloud Regions Map.

SOURCE Liftr Insights

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Former President John Dramani Mahama,-flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has described the upcoming elections as a critical event that would help mould the nations destiny.



He said the December general elections would shape the future of the young generations and that was the reason he was seeking power back.



The NDC Flagbearer therefore asked all eligible voters to take part in the exercise.



Mr Mahama made these statements, when he paid a courtesy call on Togbe Afede XIV, the Agbogbomefia of Asogli State in Ho on Wednesday as part of his campaign tour of the region.



He said the economy under the current administration was at the lowest ever recorded in the Fourth Republic, noting that it was already struggling before the coronavirus came in.



The former President accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of political short sightedness and victimisation, and said, this government takes decisions aimed at penalising political opponents but end up affecting the growth and prosperity of the Ghanaian".



He accused the NPP of threatening national unity, and asked that the NDC, which believes in the policy of inclusion and equal opportunity for all, must be given back the leadership of the country.



Mr Mahama said NPP was a government of consumption whereas the NDC under his leadership had numerous infrastructure projects, which was evident in its spending.



This election is to rescue the future of our young people, and it is the reason I am running again. We have an appointment with destiny on December 7. Dont make a mistake. We know that God will not fail us."



Mr Mahama promised to mobilise resources and complete the hundreds of NDC government projects he claimed the NPP had abandoned, all within the first year of his next administration.



He touted his big push for infrastructure and apprenticeship packages for the youth as a comeback agenda.



Togbe Afede who is also the President of the National House of Chiefs, commended the flagbearer for providing hope for the youth.



He said the nation had all in place for improvement and called for development planning devoid of overly politicisation.



Togbe Afede said inclusiveness in planning and executing development projects was a development priority" and asked leaders not to be "consumed by their privileges.

He condemned tribalism and bemoaned its persistence in the political landscape and advised that the nation fell on truth and unity to excel in peace and prosperity.





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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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-21 00:19:31|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- A survey revealed Thursday that two-thirds of black and other ethnic minority people in Britain felt that the British police forces are biased against them.

Four out of five respondents of black and Bangladeshi heritage felt this way, compared with about half of those of Chinese and Indian backgrounds, the study said.

British police chiefs said they are working to address racial inequality exposed by the survey.

The charity Hope Not Hate surveyed about 1,000 adults in Britain last month in the aftermath of George Floyd's death on May 25 in the United States and the anti-racism protests in Britain.

Floyd's death has sparked protests across the United States and beyond over police brutality and racism.

Three quarters of black people, 71 percent of Bangladeshis and half of Indian respondents felt they are dealt with more severely in the courts, said the report.

The research suggested that the majority do not believe the issues are systemic, with most agreeing that any issues were down to a few individual officers.

Detective Inspector Andy George, interim president of the British National Black Police Association, said the results confirmed its concerns around trust and confidence in policing in Britain. Enditem
Two days into classes at University of Alabama System campuses in Tuscaloosa and Huntsville, the reentry testing numbers are coming into focus as other schools across the nation struggle with outbreaks.

To date, more than 75,000 students attending colleges in Alabama have been tested through the GuideSafe program. Those tests have yielded a 0.75 percent rate of positivity or approximately 563 students, GuideSafe officials announced Thursday afternoon. AL.com reported Aug. 12 that the first 30,000 tests included 0.83 percent positive results.

Reentry testing ends Aug. 26 with the UAB campus officially beginning classes Monday.

Those numbers include only the tests done at the 14 locations instate or the mail-in kits sent to those out of state. It doesnt include students who went to their personal doctor or other testing locations outside the GuideSafe umbrella.

And these numbers come in the backdrop of well-publicized outbreaks at other campuses like North Carolina and Notre Dame. Both suspended in-person learning after a week of classes after positive tests mounted.

North Carolina didnt require the reentry tests like the UA System campuses.

Notre Dame, conversely, tested nearly 12,000 students before returning. Only 0.28 percent (33 students) were positive, Notre Dame announced the day classes began Aug. 10. The school on Wednesday moved all undergraduate classes online for two weeks after a spike in positive tests.

RELATED: As students return to campus, some universities publish coronavirus numbers

The South Bend Tribune reported the positive cases totaled 304 on Thursday with 15.2 percent of the 494 tests given Wednesday coming back positive.

So, what would it take for UA campuses to make that call to move away from in-person learning?

It really is dependent on each institution to find what its comfortable managing, UAB infectious disease expert Dr. Michael Saag said Thursday. In the case of North Carolina is I think they saw a surge in cases where they could not quarantine -- they lost their capacity to quarantine.

The Chapel Hill campus was down to four quarantine rooms (of the original 73) on Monday, The Daily Tar Heel reported. The school announced the move to online learning that day.

As of Wednesday night, a UA spokesperson told AL.com it had a 90 percent vacancy rate in its 450 apartment-style dorm rooms it set aside for isolating students living in dorms and Greek houses.

The Faculty Senate at the University of Alabama passed a resolution Wednesday seeking more transparency and a request for thresholds leadership would use to make decisions like North Carolina or Notre Dame.

Stuart Bell, the president of UA, wrote a two-page letter in response to the resolution. In it, he stated no one metric alone would likely change operation of the campus. Instead, they would look to data points including infection rates, testing capabilities/results, the capacity of the Student Health Center, University Medical Center and local hospitals as well as capacity of isolation/quarantine spaces.

My sense is there will be two parts to the equation, Dr. Haag said. One is the ability to keep people who need quarantine quarantined. If you exceed that capacity, youll have to come up with alternate ways of managing including going to virtual classes. The other thing is how much theyre comfortable with watching the trend or the increase in cases.

I think that was the Notre Dame experience where they had capacity but also had tested most of their students before they came back on campus. And within a very short period of time, less than two weeks, they had a surge in cases, and they said OK, we want to put a firewall up and try and let this cool off.

After reentry testing ends, UA will begin sentinel testing of smaller pockets on campus. That program begins Aug. 28 and if theres an outbreak before that, the testing will be ramped up accordingly, Saag said.

The doctor said he likens this situation to a wildfire.

You have a clean area, but it might be dry and serve as tinder for a wildfire thats coming, Saag said. Were seeing that in northern California right now. All it takes is one ember to jump the highway and go to this other area for this new wildfire to begin. What were trying to do is minimize the number of embers.

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.
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The South Atlantic Anomaly (or SAA) has kept scientists hooked for quite some time now. Now as NASA researchers study the anomaly in detail, they have found that the region is in fact splitting.

The anomalys "valley" or the area that had the "minimum field strength", has split into two lobes, said NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in a recent post. This split is likely to generate "additional challenges" for the planning and execution of satellites. They also found that the SAA is expanding westward and slowly weakening in intensity.

Even though the SAA is slow-moving, it is going through some change in morphology, so it's also important that we keep observing it, said Terry Sabaka, a geophysicist at Goddard in Maryland.

The South Atlantic anomaly is a wide area ranging on Earth (from Southwest Africa to regions of South America) that acts like a dent in the magnetic field of the planet. The charged particles trapped in Earths magnetic field dip closer to the surface than normal and their radiation adversely affects the working of satellites passing by the region and computers.

According to the space agency, if a satellite is hit by a high-energy proton, it can short-circuit and cause an event called single event upset or SEU. This means that a satellite can suffer a momentary glitch or permanent damage. Hence, scientists shut down certain components or instruments while passing through the area.

As NASA explained in a video, the Solar Anomalous and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer or SAMPEX, ESAs Swarm Earth Explorer and NASA's Ionospheric Connection Explorer monitor the SAA's position and track its evolution.

Along with the mission, geomagnetic, geophysics and heliophysics research groups of the agency have also created theoretical models of the SAA, to look over the region and predict how it can affect the near earth environment in the future.
The Union Mutual Companies recently announced the promotion of Alexis Burrall to assistant vice president of marketing.

Having graduated from The University of Vermont in 2009, Burrall began her career in financial planning for a Boston, Mass.-based company. With prior experience in public relations, Burrall joined the company in 2012 as marketing coordinator.

Most recently, she served as the companies director of marketing, overseeing agency management, marketing and sales efforts throughout the New England and New York territories.

Burralls promotion was effective August 15, 2020. She lives in Waterbury, Vt., with her family and she is based in the insurance groups Montpelier, Vt., office.

Union Mutual of Vermont Companies, founded in 1874, is a property and casualty insurance group consisting of Union Mutual Fire Insurance and New England Guaranty Insurance Company Inc., both based in Montpelier, Vt.; and Community Mutual Insurance Company, based in Latham, N.Y. The three companies write a total of $185 million in direct premium annually through independent agents throughout New England and New York.

Source: Union Mutual of Vermont Companies
Delivery Hero replaces disgraced Wirecard in German DAX index Delivery Hero, a German rival to Deliveroo and Uber Eats, has become a member of the blue-chip DAX index

Berlin-based food delivery company Delivery Hero has become the newest member of Germany's blue-chip DAX index after scandal-hit payments firm Wirecard was kicked out.

The move, announced late on Wednesday, came about after exchange operator Deutsche Boerse tweaked its rules in order to quickly expel insolvent companies.

Delivery Hero is worth around 20 billion euros ($23.7 billion), about three times its value when it debuted on the German stock market in June 2017.

Delivery Hero is a somewhat surprising entry into the elite index because, despite trading in more than 40 countries, it has no sales in Germany -- unprecedented for a DAX company -- even though it was founded in Berlin in 2011.

"Entering the DAX is an acknowledgement that the capital market believes in our platform", said chief executive, Niklas Ostberg.

The company's first day of trading on the DAX 30 will be August 24.

Delivery Hero originally specialised as an online intermediary between customers and restaurants. It later set up its own delivery fleets, expanding its services to include groceries, pharmaceuticals and even flowers.

Questions remain over the viability of its business model as the company has never made an operating profit.

It has also attracted criticism as a face of the "gig economy" in that it classifies many of those that work for it, such as delivery drivers, as independent contractors and not employees.

- Competitive field -

It also must survive in a crowded field that includes Deliveroo and Uber Eats.

Delivery Hero has acquired a number of operations in other countries, most recently South Korean competitor Woowa in 2019 for $4 billion, and plans to launch in Japan under the Foodpanda brand in the third quarter.

It lost its German operations when it sold Foodora, Lieferheld and Pizza.de to Dutch rival Takeaway in 2018 for close to one billion euros.

The company has raised its full-year revenue expectations for this year to $2.6-2.8 billion.

Story continues

In the second quarter of 2020, at the height of the coronavirus lockdowns, Delivery Hero reported an order growth of 95 percent year-on-year and delivered 100 million orders in one month.

At the current pace, it will deliver one billion orders in 2020, it said.

As the risk of a second COVID-19 wave and further lockdowns increases, Delivery Hero could become even more attractive to investors and hungry customers.

"The shares will continue to benefit from the long-term trend for people to stay at home more" to eat their meals, said Christoph Stanger, head of Equity Markets Europe at Goldman Sachs.

German payments firm Wirecard suffered a spectacular fall from grace after it was forced to admit to a 1.9-billion-euro hole in its accounts.

Its share price has fallen 99 percent in the year to date and its former chief executive has been arrested on fraud charges.

edf/mfp/spm
Theres a lot to be disappointed in when it comes to the U.S. Senate and, by extension, Wyomings two senators.

After discussions regarding a second pandemic response bill fell through, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell adjourned the Senate until September. Any bill focused on pandemic relief for Americans will likely not be approved until then, unless something spurs the Senate to go back to Washington, D.C. This means additional unemployment funding to people who lost their job during the pandemic have stalled, which include quite a few people in Wyoming. Wyomings June unemplo...
By Azernews





By Akbar Mammadov

The Azerbaijan Defence Ministry has said that the practice of using foreign mercenaries is widely used in the Armenian armed forces due to the lack of conscripts and mobilization resources in that country.

In the statement posted in its official Facebook page on August 19, the ministry also spoke about the April battles of 2016 where Armenian forces were defeated.

The Armenian people should know that [Former President Serzh] Sargsyan and his military-political regime are the cause of the crushing defeat of the Armenian army in the April battles, the ministry said.

The ministrys statement comes after Sargsyans false allegations yesterday about the presence of military instructors from Turkey and Israel in the Azerbaijani Army during the April battles.

The ministry said that Sargsyans statement was aimed to restore his reputation amid the Armenian parliamentary commissions investigation of Armenias defeat in the April war.

It is not surprising that Sargsyan, who partially recovered from the impact of the blow he received four years after the April war, voiced such nonsense in order to justify himself, the ministry stated.

The ministry said that the Azerbaijani army is presently staffed with professional military personnel trained both in the country and in the worlds most prestigious military educational institutions, and has the state-of-the-art weapons and military equipment in its arsenal.

The Azerbaijani army is capable of preventing any Armenian provocation, the ministry concluded.

The ministry also reminded Armenias military provocation on the border with Azerbaijan last month, saying that the Azerbaijani army resolutely repelled the Armenian attack.The cross-border clashes on the border started with Armenia's shelling Azerbaijani positions in Azerbaijan's strategically-important Tovuz district on July 12. The Armenian attack killed 12 Azerbaijani servicemen, including an army general, as well as a 76-year-old civilian. Armenian forcers retreated after suffering losses in Azerbaijan's retaliation.

The April battles of 2016, also known as the four-day-war, were initiated by Armenian military provocation on the line of contact. During the battles, the Azerbaijani army displayed military superiority over the Armenian, repelling the Armenian attack and liberating parts of Aghdara, Fuzuli and Cabrayil regions from occupation.
In an effort to keep respiratory illness limited during the coronavirus pandemic, state health officials on Wednesday announced that nearly all students in Massachusetts are required to get a flu shot this year.

Students are expected to have received a flu vaccine by Dec. 31 for the 2020-2021 flu season unless either a medical or religious exemption is provided. Aside from medical and religious exemption, the only other students not required to get the shot are college and university students who exclusively attend classes online and never visit campus in person, the Department of Public Health said.

The flu shot is now among a selection of required immunizations to attend school. While some school districts, like Worcester and Springfield, are starting the new school year with remote education, about 70% of districts across the state have at least some form of in-person learning planned for the fall.

Elementary and secondary students in districts that are using a remote education model are not exempt from the flu shot requirement, DPH said.

While the flu shot is a new requirement during the pandemic, other vaccines have been required for years. There is a selection of students across the state who have exemptions for vaccinations, rates that vary by county.

Though the Department of Public Health outlines the required vaccines for school, local districts are responsible for ensuring compliance. Parents and guardians can show a medical exemption, written by a doctor and documenting a contraindication, or a religious exemption, written by the parent or guardian stating how the vaccine conflicts with the religious belief.

A map by county of Massachusetts students with an immunization exemption. Image courtesy of the Department of Public Health.

Most exemptions claimed in Massachusetts are religious exemptions, said DPH, noting that there are pockets of higher exemption rates in the western and southeast parts of the state, particularly the Cape and Islands.

In Franklin County, 6% of kindergarten students had an exemption, per DPH data as of February. Dukes and Nantucket counties had 7.5% and 2.9% of students with an exemption, respectively. The statewide average is 1.3%.

The state said that many students have an exemption to only one or two vaccines and otherwise have immunizations.

This map indicates Massachusetts kindergarten students by county who have an exemption and no vaccines. Image courtesy of the Department of Public Health.

The amount of kindergarten students with an exemption and no vaccines varies by state. According to DPH data as of February, that category included 3.5% of students in Franklin County and 4.4% in Dukes County, with a state average of 0.6%.

There are some kindergarten students across the state that do not meet school requirements, meaning they are not fully vaccinated for kindergarten entry and do not have an exemption.

This map indicates the percent of Massachusetts kindergarten students that are not meeting school immunization requirements without an exemption. Image courtesy of the Department of Public Health.

Suffolk, Franklin, Nantucket and Berkshire counties have the highest amount of kindergarten students in that category, with 9.9%, 7.2%, 6.8%, and 6.6% respectively. The state average is 2.8%, as of February, according to DPH.

Some school districts allow students on a catch-up schedule to attend classes if they dont meet immunization requirements, while other school districts allow students to attend classes while awaiting updated immunization documentation.

In addition to the new flu shot requirement, there are immunization requirements for the meningococcal vaccine for school entry this year.

Here are the states immunization requirements for the upcoming school year, all in addition to the new flu vaccine mandate.

Childcare/pre-school

Hib: one to four doses; the number of doses is determined by vaccine product and age the series begins.

DTaP: four doses.

Polio: three doses.

Hepatitis B: three doses; laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable.

MMR: one dose; must be given on or after the first birthday; laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable.

Varicella: one dose; must be given on or after the first birthday; a reliable history of chickenpox or laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable.

Grades kindergarten through six

DTaP: five doses; four doses are acceptable if the fourth dose is given on or after the fourth birthday. DT is only acceptable with a letter stating a medical contraindication to DTaP.

Polio: four doses; fourth dose must be given on or after the fourth birthday and 6 months after the previous dose, or a fifth dose is required. Three doses are acceptable if the third dose is given on or after the fourth birthday and 6 months after the previous dose.

Hepatitis B: three doses; laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable.

MMR: two doses; first dose must be given on or after the first birthday and second dose must be given 28 days after first dose; laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable.

Varicella: two doses; first dose must be given on or after the first birthday and second dose must be given 28 days after first dose; a reliable history of chickenpox or laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable.

Grades seven through twelve

Tdap: one dose; and history of DTaP primary series or age-appropriate catch-up vaccination. Tdap given at 7 years may be counted, but a dose at age 11-12 is recommended if Tdap was given earlier as part of a catch-up schedule. Td or Tdap should be given if it has been 10 years since last Tdap.

Polio: four doses; fourth dose must be given on or after the fourth birthday and 6 months after the previous dose, or a fifth dose is required. Three doses are acceptable if the third dose is given on or after the fourth birthday and 6 months after the previous dose.

Hepatitis B: three doses; laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable. Two doses of Heplisav-B given on or after 18 years of age are acceptable.

MMR: two doses; first dose must be given on or after the first birthday and second dose must be given 28 days after first dose; laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable.

Varicella: two doses; first dose must be given on or after the first birthday and second dose must be given 28 days after first dose; a reliable history of chickenpox or laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable.

New Meningococcal requirements

Grade 7: one dose; one dose MenACWY (formerly MCV4) required. Meningococcal B vaccine is not required and does not meet this requirement.

Grade 11: two doses; second dose MenACWY (formerly MCV4) must be given on or after the 16th birthday and  8 weeks after the previous dose. One dose is acceptable if it was given on or after the 16th birthday. Meningococcal B vaccine is not required and does not meet this requirement.

College and post-secondary institutions

Tdap: one dose; and history of a DTaP primary series or age-appropriate catch-up vaccination. Tdap given at 7 years may be counted, but a dose at age 11-12 is recommended if Tdap was given earlier as part of a catch-up schedule. Td or Tdap should be given if it has been 10 years since Tdap.

Hepatitis B: three doses; laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable; Two doses of Heplisav-B given on or after 18 years of age are acceptable

MMR: two doses; first dose must be given on or after the first birthday and second dose must be given 28 days after first dose; laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable. Birth in the U.S. before 1957 acceptable only for non-health science students

Varicella: two doses; first dose must be given on or after the first birthday and second dose must be given 28 days after first dose; a reliable history of chickenpox or laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable. Birth in the U.S. before 1980 acceptable only for non-health science students

Meningococcal: one dose; 1 dose MenACWY (formerly MCV4) required for all full-time students 21 years of age or younger. The dose of MenACWY vaccine must have been received on or after the students 16th birthday. Doses received at younger ages do not count towards this requirement. Students may decline MenACWY vaccine after they have read and signed the MDPH Meningococcal Information and Waiver Form provided by their institution. Meningococcal B vaccine is not required and does not meet this requirement

Related Content:
ROCK SPRINGS (Wyoming News Exchange)  Thera Leanne Siler, 41, of Green River has been convicted of a felony charge of abuse of a vulnerable adult for an incident involving her father.

A jury returned with a guilty verdict during a trial in Sweetwater County District Court on Monday and Tuesday. Siler was not convicted on a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery. She remains in custody at the Sweetwater Detention Center awaiting sentencing.

The Green River Police Department responded to a report of domestic violence on Sept. 14, 2019, at the home where Clyde Siler lived with his daughter...
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 13:18:08|Editor: huaxia

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A Palestinian visits an exhibition for grapes called "Lulu Vineyards" in Gaza City, on Aug. 19, 2020. The grape exhibition is a part of a project to support small-scale Palestinian producers. About 14 of grape varieties grown in Gaza were displayed in the exhibition. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
Former President John Dramani Mahama has described the upcoming elections as a critical event that would help shape the nation's destiny.

He said the December general elections would shape the future of the young generations and that was the reason he was seeking power back.

The NDC flagbearer therefore asked all eligible voters to take part in the exercise.

Mr Mahama made these statements, when he paid a courtesy call on Togbe Afede XIV, the Agbogbomefia of Asogli State in Ho on Wednesday, August 19, 2020, as part of his campaign tour of the region.

He said the economy under the current administration was at the lowest ever recorded in the Fourth Republic, noting that it was already struggling before the coronavirus came in.

The former President accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of political short-sightedness and victimisation, and said, this government takes decisions aimed at penalising political opponents but end up affecting the growth and prosperity of the Ghanaian.

He accused the NPP of threatening national unity, and asked that the NDC, which believes in the policy of inclusion and equal opportunity for all, must be given back the leadership of the country.

Mr Mahama said NPP was a government of consumption whereas the NDC under his leadership had numerous infrastructure projects, which was evident in its spending.

This election is to rescue the future of our young people, and it is the reason I am running again. We have an appointment with destiny on December 7. Don't make a mistake. We know that God will not fail us.

Mr Mahama promised to mobilise resources and complete the hundreds of NDC government projects he claimed the NPP had abandoned, all within the first year of his next administration.

He touted his big push for infrastructure and apprenticeship packages for the youth as a comeback agenda.

Togbe Afede who is also the President of the National House of Chiefs commended the flagbearer for providing hope for the youth.

He said the nation had all in place for improvement and called for development planning devoid of politicisation.

Togbe Afede said inclusiveness in planning and executing development projects was a development priority and asked leaders not to be consumed by their privileges.

He condemned tribalism and bemoaned its persistence in the political landscape and advised that the nation fell on truth and unity to excel in peace and prosperity.

---citinewsroom
As Barack Obama tore into US President Donald Trump at the Democratic National Convention, his successor hit back with a barrage of angry tweets, saying the former president spied on his campaign and got caught. Trump went live with his tweeting as Obama and Indian-origin Senator Kamala Harris delivered their speeches at the 2020 Democratic National Convention on Wednesday. "HE SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN, AND GOT CAUGHT!" Trump said in an all-cap tweet.

Trump was referring to the charges that his campaign was being spied on in 2016. As Obama asked Americans to vote for ...
A French prospector and former army soldier who claimed to have discovered one of Australia's biggest gold mines has died at the age 80.

Jean-Paul Turcaud died in La Rochelle in south-western France this week, 50 years after he claimed to have across the mineral deposit on the site that later became Telfer Mine in Western Australia's Pilbara region.

He unsuccessfully fought many years to be officially recognised for his disputed discovery, which mining giant Newmont claims to have found two years later in 1972.

Mr Turcaud served as a second lieutenant in the French Army before he immigrated to Australia in the late 1960s.

Jean-Paul Turcaud (pictured) claimed to have discovered one of Australia's biggest gold mines

He spent time exploring the remote Great Sandy Desert alone and in October 1970, came across a huge deposit in the Patterson Range region on the site that would become a multi-million mine producing gold and copper.

He returned to the Pilbara town of Marble Bar but was unable to return to to peg his claim.

Mr Turcaud launched a lengthy and hard fought legal battle with mining giant Newmont after it claimed the discovery was theirs and opened Telfer mine in 1977.

The long legal battle took a heavy emotional and financial strain on Mr Turcaud who eventually left Australia disheartened and in 1983, accepted a $25,000 settlement from Newmont.

Prospecting pioneer Jean-Paul Turcaud (pictured) died earlier this week, aged 80

Mr Turcaud also claimed to have discovered a second similar giant gold deposit in the Great Sandy Desert, which he dubbed as 'Telfer's Sister'.

But he never told a soul about its whereabouts and took the secret to his grave.

Author Bob Sheppard wrote 'The Golden Rule: Gold and intrigue in the desert. The true story of the Telfer gold mine' about Mr Turcaud's claim to fame.

He hailed his good friend as an interesting and proud man, and without doubt a pioneering prospector.

He claimed to have discovered the site which became Telfer Mine in WA's Pilbara region

He described Mr Turcaud's story as one of the saddest he has known.

'He told too many people about what he'd discovered,' Mr Sheppard told the ABC.

'He spoke to mining company Newmont [now Newcrest] and he told them what he'd discovered.

'They said 'Oh no, we're not interested'. But within a couple of years they'd pegged all the ground and claimed they'd found the deposit without any input from Jean-Paul Turcaud.'

Mr Turcaud spoke in detail about the second huge gold deposit he'd discovered during his travels in the Great Sandy Desert while being interviewed for Mr Sheppard's book.

But there was one thing he remained tight-lipped about.

'He said 'I'm never ever going to tell anybody where I found it',' Mr Sheppard recalled.
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- At first glance, its a tiny deal  a mere formality in unlocking a much bigger transaction to transform the strategy of the London Stock Exchange Group Plc. But theres a lot at stake in the U.K. bourses attempt to sell its holding in Italys MTS SpA bond-trading platform. The disposal has consequences not just for the LSEs rival exchanges, but also for Italy and for Europes capital markets.

MTS is a critical piece of European bond-market infrastructure with average daily volumes exceeding 100 billion euros ($119 billion). Its importance is reinforced by the fact that it's the key venue for trading Italian government debt.

LSE last month kicked off a sale process for its controlling stake in the business, hoping to garner European trust-busters approval for its $27 billion deal to buy data provider Refinitiv. The European Commission is concerned the combination could diminish competition in the electronic trading of European government bonds because Refinitiv controls Tradeweb Markets Inc. Being smaller, MTS is the easier sacrifice to get the deal done.

Refinitiv competes with Bloomberg LP, the parent of Bloomberg News.

Exchange assets are scarce and attract buyers easily. But the complicated political and competitive backdrop means that LSE cant just assume MTS will sell itself without snags.

First, LSEs move is preemptive and its not yet clear an MTS deal would be enough to remedy the Commission concerns. Even if it does, Italy needs to get on board too. That complicates matters because because state-controlled postal savings bank Cassa Depositi e Prestiti SpA is also an interested buyer, potentially in partnership with Paris exchange-operator Euronext NV and Italian lender Intesa Sanpaolo SpA.

And its very possible Rome could push for LSE to make a clean exit from Italy altogether. That would mean finding a buyer for Borsa Italiana SpA  the holding company not just for the MTS stake, but also the Milan stock exchange  potentially limiting the number of interested parties. Analysts at Bank of America Corp. reckon MTS could be worth around 600 million euros, and Borsa Italiana 3 billion pounds ($3.9 billion).

Story continues

For the LSE, this isnt about getting the best price for either asset. It just needs to get the Refinitiv deal done. LSEs market value is up 11 billion pounds, nearly 60%, since last July  largely on investors hopes for the transaction.

These dynamics look advantageous for Euronext. Borsa Italiana would be a good fit. But Euronext would struggle to afford the acquisition on its own, so partnering with Rome makes sense.

Deutsche Boerse AG has the financial muscle. But why would it want to do anything that helps LSE buy Refinitiv? The surprise tie-up abruptly killed the Frankfurt exchanges talks to buy some of Refinitivs foreign exchange assets. MTS is small relative to the German companys overall business and Borsa Italiana would bring more equities trading, straying from its stated priorities.

As with all exchanges, national politics matter. A U.S. or Asian bidder would be brave. A European deal for MTS or Borsa Italiana could burnish the credentials of Paris or Frankfurt to be a leading financial center after Brexit  but which one? If Italy strong-arms itself into the process, that would reinforce investor concerns about its tendency to intervene in free markets.

So MTS is a big deal after all, and a tricky one. Luckily for LSE, it has an alternative option  offering to sell Tradeweb instead. It probably wont want do go down that route. Nor will Europe want to lose the chance to repatriate ownership of this hugely symbolic financial platform. But reconciling the conflicting European interests here will not be easy.

(Corrects estimated value for Borsa Italiana in 7th paragraph.)

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Chris Hughes is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering deals. He previously worked for Reuters Breakingviews, as well as the Financial Times and the Independent newspaper.

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.
A historical appeal of Amnesty International highlighted by one of the human rights watchdog's Iran researchers has proven that Iranian authorities were aware of the execution of dissidents between July 10 and August 16 in 1988, which set the scene for the mass execution of thousands of political prisoners later that year.

Raha Bahreini, an Iran researcher with Amnesty International, tweeted an image on Wednesday of an appeal to the Iranian authorities from August 16, 1988 to stop the executions. "We found the Urgent Action [appeal] of August 16, [1988] in the Amnesty archives, she wrote. It was a shocking discovery that showed government and judicial authorities as well as Iran's ambassadors were aware of the executions at least since August 16 but the policy of [Prime Minister Mir-Hossein] Mousavi's Foreign Ministry was denial. Even today, with utmost dishonesty they claim that they did not know [about the executions].

Over 5000 people were executed in Iranian prisons in the summer of 1988 for their membership or affiliation with leftist groups including the Marxist-Leninist Iranian People's Fedai Guerrillas and Tudeh Party, the Maoist Peykar, the Islamic People's Mujahedin Organization (MEK) and several other dissident groups.

Iranian authorities have never been held accountable for the executions, with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who served as president in 1988 after the massacre, saying that those who were executed "deserved it.

According to the historical document found by Bahreini, at least 19 members of the outlawed People's Mujahedin Organization (MEK) and Tudeh Party were hanged in public in Bakhtaran and Ilam or were executed by the firing squad in Evin Prison between July 10 and the time of the appeal on August 16.

The appeal also points out that 10 additional people were executed on allegations of being "counter-revolutionaries" and spying for Iraq during the same period, and 55 political prisoners were on death row awaiting execution.

The Amnesty appeal called on Iranian authorities to provide details of the procedures by which death sentences were being passed and approved, urging commutation of all outstanding death sentences and an end to executions in Iran.

The appeal was addressed to Chief Justice Ayatollah Abdulkarim Musavi Ardebili and Justice Minister Hassan Habibi, and was copied to diplomatic representatives of Iran in other countries.

Bahreini's tweet appears to be a jab at Mir-Hossein Mousavi, who served as Prime Minister to Khamenei at the time, as well as his supporters. Mousavi, who came out of semi-retirement to run for president in 2009, claimed during his election campaign that he neither knew of nor had a role in the executions. Mousavi disputed the outcome of the election and the presidency of the Khamenei-favored candidate Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and has been under house arrest since 2011.

Most of the victims of the massacre were buried in unmarked and often mass graves in various places. In recent years, reports have emerged of the desecration and destruction of some of the mass graves in various cities.

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the executions in December 2010, Amnesty International said in a statement that the organization had sent 16 urgent action appeals to Iran to stop the killings in the summer of 1988, but never received a response.
Lincoln Pharmaceuticals Limited, one of India's leading healthcare companies has reported net profit of 14.99 crore for the Q1FY21 Ended June 2020 as against net profit of 12.16 crore in the corresponding period last year, growth of 23.2%. Net revenue for the quarter ended June 2020 reported at 103.01 crore, higher by 7.11% over previous fiscals same period net revenue of 96.17 crore. EBITDA for the quarter ended June 2020 was reported at 22.42crores as compared to 19.04 crores in the corresponding period last year. EPS was at 7.50 per share for Q1FY21 as compared to 6.08 in the corresponding period last year.

Company has received European Union (EU) GMP certification from Germany FDA for its manufacturing facility located at Khatraj in Gujarat. The certification will allow the company to market its products in all the 27 member countries of EU and also give access to European Economic Area (EEA) countries. Company looks to enter the EU markets during the current financial year with its dermatology, gastro and pain management products and gradually expand product portfolio.

Commenting on the results and performance, Mr. Mahendra Patel, Managing Director, Lincoln Pharmaceuticals Limited, said, We are pleased to announce that Lincoln Pharma has become a zero net-debt company by paying all its outstanding debt. Despite a challenging economic and business environment due to COVID 19, company has delivered a robust financial performance quarter over quarter maintaining healthy growth in revenue, profitability and expects to continue the growth momentum in the coming years. Exports sales (FOB) for the Q1 increased 40% to 82.08 crore and expected to get further boost post EU approval. Strategic growth initiatives, strong performance in the domestic and international markets, EU approval, new product approvals, better margin products along with operational efficiency are likely to contribute healthy growth and maximise value for all stakeholders in the near to medium term. "

Export business of the company has shown remarkable growth in the last few years. Exports have increased to 56% of total sales in FY20 from 11% of total sales in FY13. Company currently exports to 60 plus countries including East & West Africa, Central & Latin America and Southeast Asia and has got many product registrations in these countries and is also awarded with number of global tenders. With the EU certification, company will expand its business network to 90 plus countries.

Company has recently launched Chewable Vitamin C + Zinc Tablet for Indian market. The tablet is an evidence-based bio-active for natural immunity in combination of zinc that boosts antiviral activity and protection against COVID 19. Market size for Vitamin C and Zinc tablets is estimated at around 150 crore in India and growing at 15% per annum.

Lincoln Pharma has a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility unit at Khatraj in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, complying with stringent international quality and compliance norms and certified by EUGMP, WHO-GMP and ISO-9001: 2015. Company has developed 600 plus formulations in 15 therapeutic areas and has a strong product/brand portfolio in anti-infective, respiratory system, gynaecology, cardio & CNS, anti-bacterial, ant-diabetic, anti-malaria among others. Company has filled 25 plus patent applications and is awarded with seven patents. Company has a strong presence in domestic market with good strength of own field force and also exports to more than 60 countries.
NEW ORLEANS - A New Orleans thoroughfare named for the former president of the Confederacy will be renamed next year to honour a local civil rights icon and longtime president of a historically Black university, the City Council decided Thursday.

Jefferson Davis Parkway will become Norman C. Francis Parkway in January. Francis was the first Black graduate of the law school at Loyola University of New Orleans. The street being named for him runs by Xavier University of Louisiana, a historically Black university that was founded by Catholic nuns. Francis served as Xaviers president from 1968 until 2015.

The vote to rename the street was 7-0, with council members, meeting online, expressing their happiness that the honour was being bestowed on Francis, 89, while he is alive to see it.

Members also made clear they will be looking at other streets and memorials that honour Confederates.

We have a duty collectively, not just in silos, to look at other streets that we know are problematic, council member Joseph Giarrusso III said.

In a statement, the universitys current President Reynold Verret said Francis always knew that education is the pathway to social justice.

His unwavering commitment and courage in the face of adversity spanned 50 plus years at Xavier and taught us all many lessons on how we must serve and lead our community, he said.

Thursdays vote came more than three years after workers removed statues honouring Davis and Confederate Gens. Robert E. Lee and P.G.T. Beauregard from prominent places on the city landscape. That was the culmination of a nearly two-year legal battle waged by people arguing that the statues honoured Southern heritage.

Then-Mayor Mitch Landrieu drew blistering criticism from supporters of Confederate memorials and iconography when he led that effort, which gained steam after the murder of nine Black worshipers at a South Carolina church. The killer, Dylann Roof, was an avowed racist who brandished Confederate battle flags in photos.

Outrage over this years police custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis again recharged efforts to remove Confederate icons in New Orleans and nationwide. Months after protests in New Orleans and other cities, there was little resistance to changing the street name. There was one public comment read opposing the move during Thursdays meeting.
Donald Trump waves to a crowd during a 2017 visit to Puerto Rico, which the US president is accused of wanting to sell

President Donald Trump wanted to sell Puerto Rico or swap it for Greenland because he viewed the US territory as dirty and poor, a former senior administration official said Wednesday.

Miles Taylor, who was chief of staff at the Department of Homeland Security, said Trump expressed those views as the government undertook support operations after two massive hurricanes ravaged the Caribbean island in 2017.

Taylor told MSNBC that just before one 2018 trip by officials, Trump, who had regularly talked about acquiring Greenland from Denmark, seriously suggested he could trade away Puerto Rico.

"He told us, not only did he want to purchase Greenland, he actually said he wanted to see if we could sell Puerto Rico, could we swap Puerto Rico for Greenland, because in his words, Puerto Rico was dirty and the people were poor," Taylor said.

The former official said he did not take Trump's remarks as a joke.

"These are Americans. We don't talk about our fellow Americans that way," Taylor added.

"And the fact that the president of the United States wanted to take a US territory of Americans and swap it for a foreign country is beyond galling."

Trump has long expressed disdain for the island of some three million people, many of whom live on the US mainland -- especially in Florida and Trump's native New York -- due to the deeply depressed economy at home.

"The president expressed deep animus towards the Puerto Rican people behind the scenes," Taylor, who left DHS in 2019 and came out as a supporter of Democrat Joe Biden this week, told MSNBC.

"He is their president. He should be standing by them, not trying to sell them off to a foreign country."

In 2019 Trump canceled a visit to Denmark after Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen rejected his proposal to buy Greenland as "absurd," though at the time there was no mention of Puerto Rico as part of the suggested deal.

On Tuesday Trump dismissed Taylor on Twitter as a "former disgruntled employee" who is "said to be a 'real stiff.'"

pmh/ft
Trump: US to Restore All 'Snapback' Sanctions on Iran

Sputnik News

21:59 GMT 19.08.2020(updated 22:23 GMT 19.08.2020)

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said he intends to restore all economic sanctions against Iran, which were reimposed in 2018 when Trump accused Tehran of breaking the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal.

Trump told reporters at the White House he was sending US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to notify the United Nations Security Council that the US intends to restore virtually all suspended sanctions on Iran.

"It's a snapback," Trump said. "Not uncommon."

He called the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which lowered sanctions on Iran in exchange for it accepting strict limits on its nuclear power program that would preclude it from developing an offensive weapon, a product of the "Obama-Biden foreign policy failure." Trump claimed the money Iran got during the reprieve, including $1.7 billion in a Foreign Military Sales trust fund plus interest, helped Iran to fund terrorist groups across the Middle East, including al-Qaeda.

Last week, the UN Security Council failed to pass a draft resolution that would have extended arms-related restrictions on Iran imposed under UNSC Resolution 2231, which endorsed the 2015 nuclear deal.

According to Trump, the US has the ability to invoke the "snapback" dispute-solving mechanism in Resolution 2231, which will automatically re-impose the sanctions if the Security Council fails to take positive action to extend the reprieve.

Trump asserted on Wednesday that if he wins reelection in November, Iran will be rushing to make a new deal.

"If and when I win the election, within the first month, Iran will come to us and they are going to be asking for a deal so quickly cause they are doing very poorly," Trump said.

"Mark it down," Trump said. "Iran will never have a nuclear weapon."

Trump also asserted that "a good deal was the deal we made with UAE and Israel" and said other countries "want to come into that deal. He later told a reporter who asked for clarification that Emirati ally Saudi Arabia was one such country he envisioned joining the peace deal.

"I see a lot of countries coming in fairly quickly, and when you have them all in, ultimately Iran will come in, too," Trump said. "There'll be peace in the Middle East," he said, adding it wouldn't have happened under the JCPOA.

A Sputnik

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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ohio

Fraud: Oakview Drive

A resident reported Aug. 11 a potential fraud involving someone she was in contact with on the Internet. She said the man told her he was stationed overseas with the military and convinced her to deposit money into her bank account. He then wanted her to wire a portion of the money to accounts in different states.

She did not transfer any money, and is working with her bank and attorney to resolve the matter. Officers have contacted the Secret Service for investigative assistance.

Special attention: West Glengary Circle

A resident said Aug. 17 that she had received a letter in the mail asking that her Joe Biden political sign be removed. She said her daughter lives down the street and has a Donald Trump sign, but did not receive any letter. Special attention was requested to the area.

Theft: Davidson Drive

A resident reported Aug. 16 that a bike had been stolen from her garage and that she had last seen it two days earlier. The bike was described as a purple-and-silver mountain bike. No suspects were identified.

Menacing: Burwick Road

A resident reported Aug. 15 that he had received threatening social media messages from a friend. Officers spoke to the account holder of the sent messages. He said he did not send the messages and that someone else used his account to send them. No further police involvement was requested.

Drugs: Wilson Mills Road

A woman reported Aug. 15 that she had found a CBD cartridge in her 16-year-old sons bedroom. She said he is awaiting a hearing with juvenile court. Officers removed the cartridge upon request.

Family dispute: Franklin Boulevard

A woman reported Aug. 14 that her estranged husband had threatened her. She told officers she felt he was only speaking out of anger, and that he had left for the night and she did not expect him to return. Officers tried to call the man, but he did not return their calls.

Disturbance: Wilson Mills Road

An auxiliary officer at the city park reported Aug. 12 that a boy, 14, was swearing and refusing to leave the park. Responding officers spoke to the boy, and he subsequently left the park with other youths, who were leaving as the park was closing for the night.

Read more news from the Sun Messenger.
FLINT, MI - The state of Michigan on Thursday announced that children affected by the Flint water crisis will be the biggest beneficiaries of a massive $600 million settlement in the class action lawsuits.

The mothers of some of those children are reacting to the announcement with a mixture of hope and skepticism.

Ariana Hawk is a mother of five, including Sincere Smith, the boy who appeared on the cover of Time Magazine at age 2 in 2016 as national outrage grew over the crisis. Hawk and her family have been in court and at hearings for the lawsuit every step of the way for five to six years, up until the COVID-19 pandemic, she said.

Her initial reaction was relief, she said.

Im feeling a little bit at ease, Hawk said. Im a little excited, I guess. Just to be finally, six years later, getting some justice for the citizens of Flint.

Its been 5 years. Flint still doesnt trust the water

The more Hawk spoke about the settlement, the more excited and emotional she became. Hawk said she didnt expect this kind of victory during a pandemic. It was a pleasant surprise coming out of the chaos.

With the whole world being at a pause and a standstill, the last thing I was thinking about during the pandemic was this lawsuit, Hawk said. This is a step in the right direction for sure... So many kids were affected, so many people were affected. This is some sort of closure.

Hawk thanked the lawyers involved in the case, saying she appreciates them for standing by residents for years when it would have been much easier to leave them behind.

This is the greenest light for the gray area weve been in for so many years, Hawk said. Weve got hope now that things might finally be getting better... To finally be able to climb up out this bucket weve been in, its a good feeling.

The next steps shed like to see include reassuring Flint residents theyre getting somewhere, making sure they know their water is fine, and if its not, making sure it gets fixed.

I just dont want this to overshadow the fact that theres actually still folks who dont have clean water ... A lot of us are still using bottled water, Hawk said. Theres still so much more work to do.

Nowhere nearly enough

Other Flint mothers were less enthusiastic.

Tamika Smith said she and her 6-year-old daughter have endured a lot during the water crisis.

The money wont be nowhere nearly enough, Smith said of the $600 million settlement.

Smiths daughter was born in 2013, just before the monumental health crisis hit Flint.

Smith read about the settlement on Thursday morning. When asked about it, she took a long pause and gathered her thoughts.

Its sad, Smith said as she recounted what she and daughter have endured over the years. Its just really sad.

Smith said shes unsure if her daughter understands the gravity of what has happened or any other child of her age, she said.

It has impacted us a lot, just because at first we were worried about how we would take showers, baths and (have) clean water, Smith said. " I just cant believe it.

The mother said she hopes the money from the settlement will be a step in the right direction, but believes more work still needs to be done in the city.

They could have done better

Flint resident Qareena Clemons son was 3 or 4 years old when he began experiencing symptoms doctors didnt understand. This was going on right before the Flint water crisis broke. As a mother who couldnt get answers, Clemons said it was a scary experience.

For me as a mom, it was very scary to have to go through (this), she said.

It was particularly frustrating because her child -- who is now nine -- was too young to really explain his symptoms.

Clemons family was one of the many who filed lawsuits after their children was exposed to contaminated water in Flint. Clemons said although the money is helpful, what happened to Flint children  especially ones who are suffering from more severe symptoms than her son -- is irreversible.

Money does not change anything, but it helps because now there are so many children that are going to have to continue to see the doctor, and those bills get costly really fast. I know for a lot of parents, it can be very stressful, Clemons said. And those issues, those illnesses are going to be with them for the rest of their lives. So they could have done better with the amount that will be given to the children.

Clemons said her family and those around her are flustered in response to the news of the settlement.

Its almost like, Lets just do something to get the people off our backs  not really helping as much as I think it should or even would, she said. I think they were just at a point where they needed to do something.

She said at this time, her heart goes out to the families whose children are suffering from the effects of the Flint water crisis.

Its one thing for people to do things to adults, but when children are involved, thats a totally other matter because theyre innocent. They didnt ask for this, they werent even aware of what was going on, Clemons said. When our leadership makes choices and sacrifices, its devilish because you have lost children who didnt ask for any of this. And I truly, truly hope that now they are sincere and feel awful for what they done, because it was a nightmare when it all started. It was a nightmare.

LaQueela Hudson, a mother of four, is not involved in the lawsuit but said money cant ever make right what happened to children who will deal with the effects of lead water for the rest of their lives. Her son Jaylen, 7, has developmental issues she believes are related to the water.

Hudson believes to truly make things right, the people who caused the crisis should be held accountable

I dont think any amount of money is enough to compensate for the effects it has had on my children, especially my son, Hudson said. I believe the people who caused it or allowed it to happen should have to pay in some type of way. Thats justice. The money is not justice.

Read more:

Youngest Flint water crisis victims to get 80 percent of historic $600 million settlement

Details expected soon on who can make a claim for part of $600M Flint water settlement

$600M Flint water crisis settlement is more than the state has paid out for the last decades worth of lawsuits combined

$600 million settlement likely coming in Flint water cases, councilman says

12 critical moments in the history of the Flint water crisis
ST. LOUIS  A coalition of tenant advocates on Thursday called on the Missouri Supreme Court to institute a six-month eviction moratorium across the state as the COVID-19 crisis continues and Congress shows no signs of reaching a deal on another round of extra unemployment benefits.

In a letter to Chief Justice George Draper III, a coalition of groups also said they asked Missouri Gov. Mike Parson to make funding available to landlords who cancel rental arrears and stop pursuing evictions through the courts. The group estimated that over 200,000 evictions could be filed in Missouri over the next four months.

St. Louis sheriff sought freeze on evictions after he was lobbied by housing advocates Sheriff Vernon Betts is not serving eviction notices after consulting over the weekend with St. Louis Circuit Court Presiding Judge Rex Burlison.

Some people will move into motels, shelters, and cars, or double up in other housing units. Others will end up on the streets, the letter to Draper said. All of these circumstances pose great risks to individual and community health, especially as COVID-19 cases continue to spike across the state.

Those signing the letter include local legal advocacy nonprofit ArchCity Defenders, the Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing & Opportunity Council (or EHOC) and the Missouri NAACP. Six St. Louis aldermen signed on to the letter, as did St. Louis County Council Chairwoman Lisa Clancy.

A spokesperson for the Missouri Supreme Court did not respond to a request for comment.

ArchCity Defenders is already working to challenge remote eviction proceedings in the courts, according to the coalition.

Evictions resume in St. Louis as activists flock to City Hall in protest Sheriff's deputies began enforcing evictions again Tuesday after a moratorium was adopted in March as the coronavirus pandemic seized the country.

Currently, only St. Louis and St. Louis County circuit courts have halted evictions. The city briefly resumed evictions in July after a suspension that began with the shutdowns in March, but Presiding Judge Rex Burlison on Aug. 6 ordered a halt until Sept. 1.

In the county, Judge Michael Burton issued an order Tuesday halting evictions until the court reaches phase two of reopening, which is based on the prevalence of the coronavirus and testing rates. The court is currently at phase zero, meaning only the most essential hearings are held. St. Louis County also paused evictions back in March.

But other areas around Missouri have not paused eviction proceedings, tenant advocates said, including those in other large urban and suburban areas, such as St. Charles County and Jackson County, where most of Kansas City is located.

Eviction is already a fundamentally traumatic event, both a cause and a condition of poverty, and the pandemic only adds more anguish, said Tiana Caldwell, a leader with KC Tenants, one of the key organizers in the call for a statewide moratorium.

But Matthew Chase, a University City-based attorney who represents landlords in eviction proceedings, said the state supreme court doesnt have the right to simply cancel Missouri law.

An extended official eviction moratorium would have to be done by the Missouri Legislature, Chase said.

Rent is still due, Manchester apartment owner says If people do get their unemployment checks and stimulus checks and the shutdown doesnt last more than three or four weeks in St. Louis, theres no reason people cant pay the damn rent, lawyer says.

He said judges and sheriffs deputies, which enforce evictions in Missouri, are not even enforcing unlawful possession cases, where a landlord seeks to evict a tenant not for unpaid rent but for property damage or some other crime. That hurts not only his clients, many of which are smaller property owners, but other renters who live in the same building, he said.

Not all are, but many are abusing the moratorium because they can, Chase said. People are taking advantage of this, and it is disastrous for the real estate world.

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Carol McGiffin has discussed her two abortions in a candid new interview.

The television star, 60, said that she is 'not ashamed' but 'not proud' either and doesn't regret either of her decisions.

Carol recently revealed on Loose Women that she has had two terminations during a discussion about the dropping fertility rates for women under 30 in the UK.

Candid: Carol McGiffin has discussed her past two abortions in a new candid interview (pictured in 2019)

The presenter, who is now happily married to husband Mark Cassidy, 36, said that she expected to come off-air to a 'barrage of negativity and disapproval' but instead she didn't receive any.

Carol added that she knew from a 'very young age' that she didn't ever want children after watching her single mother struggle with four kids under six.

The star revealed that she had always been open about her first termination aged 28 but didn't tell anyone when she got pregnant at 38 after a one-night stand.

Carol admitted that she didn't even mention it in her 2010 autobiography, Oh, Carol!, as she was 'embarrassed' at the time.

No regrets: The television star, 60, said that she is 'not ashamed' but 'not proud' either and doesn't regret either of her decisions (pictured in 2005)

Discussion: Carol recently revealed on Loose Women that she has had two terminations during a discussion about the dropping fertility rates for women under 30 in the UK (pictured)

Writing for The Sun, she said: 'That doesn't mean I was ashamed of what I did, but an unexplained mishap ten years earlier could be excused, whereas having it happen a second time, well, there was no excuse.'

Carol added that she had been on the pill both times when she accidentally got pregnant and was worried people wouldn't believe her.

She added that she only stopped taking birth control in 2003 after her mother died and her libido 'vanished' for seven years.

Carol revealed that her first termination was with her boyfriend who supported her throughout the procedure.

Young age: Carol added that she knew from a 'very young age' that she didn't ever want children after watching her single mother struggle with four kids under six (pictured in 2005)

The presenter added that her second pregnancy, aged 38, was 'more complicated' as it was after a one-night stand while she was seeing someone else.

Carol didn't tell anyone, including the guy, she said: 'I mean, what would have been the point? His opinion simply didn't matter to me because I had no intention of allowing myself to be connected to him for the rest of my life by carrying on with the pregnancy and having his baby.'

She continued: 'That's why I kept schtum. But to say I'm not ashamed doesn't mean I'm proud of what I did either.'

Carol added that she is not 'totally heartless' and she feels for the women who are struggling to get pregnant.

Secret: The star revealed that she had always been open about her first termination aged 28 but didn't tell anyone when she got pregnant at 38 after a one-night stand (pictured in 1988)

Although the presenter insisted that she does not regret her decisions and has only thought about what could have happened once.

Carol revealed she would have had a 22 and 32-year-old, which 'seems ridiculous', although she quipped that she might have aged 'a little more gracefully'.

In July, the presenter revealed on Loose Women that she has had two terminations during a discussion about the dropping fertility rates for women under 30 in England and Wales.

Speaking out: Carol added that she had been on the pill both times when she accidentally got pregnant and was worried people wouldn't believe her (pictured in 2000)

During the chat, Carol said that she has been pregnant twice and decided to terminate both of her pregnancies.

The ITV star, who presented from home via video link, shared that one of her pregnancies happened when she was 38 after a one-night stand.

Carol, who is now happily married to husband Mark Cassidy, insisted that she is 'not ashamed' of her decision.

She told fellow panellists Kaye Adams, Jane Moore and Judi Love: 'I did get pregnant, twice, and I did have two terminations. I'm not ashamed of that.

Revelation: In July, the presenter revealed on Loose Women that she has had two terminations during a discussion about the dropping fertility rates for women under 30 in England and Wales

The panel: She told fellow panellists Kaye Adams, Judi Love and Jane Moore (L-R): 'I did get pregnant, twice, and I did have two terminations. I'm not ashamed of that.'

'Some people might disagree that wasn't a good idea. But I was 38 when I had the second one and I think, it was a very simple decision for me to make, it was very easy.'

Carol explained: 'It was a one-night stand, believe it or not, at 38. Yeah, I took a long time to grow up.

'I got pregnant and I think it was my body saying to me, "Look, you're running out of time. You better get on with this." I think that is what was happening.'

Speaking out: 'Some people might disagree that wasn't a good idea. But I was 38 when I had the second one and I think, it was a very simple decision for me to make, it was very easy.'

Her love: Carol, who is now happily married to husband Mark Cassidy, 36, explained: 'It was a one-night stand, believe it or not, at 38. Yeah, I took a long time to grow up.'

Carol went on to talk about the dropping fertility rates for women under 30 in England and Wales.

She said that people in their 20s worry about the future, planet and world, which is impacting their choice to have children.

Carol went on to lament the fact she is called a 'cougar' for being married to Mark and it is 'rude' that he is called a 'toy boy' for their 24-year age gap.

She quipped: 'Cougar sounds predatory, like I'm chasing down the street after young men. I've never done that!

'Toy boy, makes him sound like a play thing. Just stop it with these labels everyone has!'

She added: 'I got pregnant and I think it was my body saying to me, "Look, you're running out of time. You better get on with this." I think that is what was happening.'

Carol recently revealed details of her wedding, which took place in secret in Bangkok back in 2018.

She said: 'We did it entirely in secret a year ago. We did it on our own, just us two, no one at all, it had to be all or nothing.

'After we came back, we thought we won't tell everyone just yet. We liked it being a secret, a secret we carried on until we thought it's getting awkward now.

'We did tell all close friends and family over the year, we had a little celebration with it, close family and friends, we probably missed a few out.'

Mark was a tower of strength for Carol after she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in 2015.

Anger: Carol went on to lament the fact she is called a 'cougar' for being married to Mark and it is 'rude' that he is called a 'toy boy' for their 24-year age gap

Carol was previously married to radio and TV presenter Chris Evans. The couple exchanged vows in 1991 before separating three-years later, with their divorce finalised in 1998.

Official figures revealed last month that fertility rates for women under 30 in England and Wales have dropped to a record low,.

But data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that the number of over-40s giving birth has risen to a record-high.

Some 29,618 women over 40 had a child in 2019  at a rate of 16.5 births per 1,000 women, more than triple the figure of 5.3 in 2000.

Sweet: Carol recently revealed details of her wedding, which took place in secret in Bangkok back in 2018, Mark was a tower of strength for Carol after she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in 2015

Women are increasingly putting off starting a family in their twenties when they are more fertile, often delaying motherhood to focus on their careers.

Figures show overall the number of births are falling  but older women are the only age group that is bucking the trend.

The conception rate among women aged 40 and over has been climbing since 1977, according to the ONS.

And the average age of a woman giving birth in England and Wales in 2019 was 30.7  the oldest since records began 90 years ago.

But fewer than one in every 10 women under between the ages of 25 and 30 had a baby last year, a record-low figure.

Loose Women continues on weekdays at 12:30pm on ITV.
AGOURA HILLS, Calif., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) (the "Company"), a leading provider of high-quality single-family homes for rent, today released its 2019 Environmental, Social and Governance Report that demonstrates the company's commitment to ESG initiatives important to its stakeholders.

"At American Homes 4 Rent, our environmental responsibility, social responsibility and corporate governance principles guide us as we manage our business operations to provide high-quality homes and communities for our residents," said David Singelyn, American Homes 4 Rent's Chief Executive Officer. "We are pleased to unveil our new ESG Report that highlights milestones in how we govern with purpose and contribute to the well-being of the communities in which we live and operate."

The report enables stakeholders to learn how American Homes 4 Rent integrates various reporting frameworks, namely the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).

View the full 2019 ESG Report here.

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 owned 53,000 single-family properties in selected submarkets in 22 states.

Additional information about American Homes 4 Rent is available on our website at http://www.ah4r.com.

American Homes 4 Rent contacts:



Media Relations

Megan Grabos

Phone: (805) 413-5320

Email: [email protected]

Investor Relations

Anne McGuinness

Phone: (855) 794-2447

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE American Homes 4 Rent

Related Links

https://www.americanhomes4rent.com


I dont think there are many Democrats who are overconfident or who dont understand how hard it will be to win, but if you need a reminder of how much Democrats are going to have to overperform to actually out-and-out win this thing, she is the best possible spokesperson for that, Palmieri said.
In a landmark ruling that will act as precedent for similar trials in the future, the Italian Supreme Court ruled against the appeal of a 35-year-old man who still expected financial assistance from his parents.

The historic sentence marked the end of a five-year case in which an adult part-time music teacher who earned an annual income of 20,000 euros (about $24,000) claimed financial assistance from his parents. In an initial ruling, a Tuscany judge actually awarded him a monthly allowance of 300 euros ($360) from his parents, a decision that was later overturned by an appeal court, and last week by Italys Supreme Court. Judges ruled that the 35-year-olds parents financial support cannot be expected to continue indefinitely.

Photo: succo/Pixabay

Reducing his adolescent ambitions the adult child is bound to find a way to self-support himself judge Maria Cristina Giancola, who chaired the panel of judges, wrote. The (adult) child must in any case actively search for a job to ensure an independent livelihood.

Giancola pointed out that difficulties in finding a job that meets professional expectations cannot be used as an excuse to act as a financial burden for parents, adding that unless physical or mental impairment is involved, parents are not obligated to financially assist adult children.

The decision is expected to greatly affect a significant part of the Italian population, as the above-described phenomenon is so widespread in the European country that there is even a term to describe the so-called adult babies who continue to live with and rely on their parents long into their thirties  bamboccioni.

Photo: Candid_Shots/Pixabay

Italy is not the only country to experience these requests from adult children, but its definitively the worst, Gian Ettore Gassani, head of the Italian Association of Matrimonial Lawyers, told CNN. Italian young people must be more courageous, must find the will to take risks, but thats difficult if your mum keeps on bringing you a cup of coffee to bed every morning.

The welcomed sentence is expected to force young adults to finally walk on their own legs. Gassani claims that currently one of three divorce claims in Italy is related to the financial support of the couples adult children.
The most populated prison in Peru is working to prevent infections caused by the new coronavirus.

A prison where a protest demanding sanitary improvements amid the coronavirus pandemic left nine dead and 67 wounded in April, now has inmates who serve as healthcare workers to alert of possible cases of new coronavirus.

These health officers in each of the 24 pavilions of the Lurigancho Prison have digital thermometers and oximeters to check the temperature and oxygen saturation of their companions.

If someone is suspected of having any symptoms, prison doctors are notified.

With 33 dead and 2,500 infected due to the new coronavirus, the Lurigancho authorities learned that they must protect themselves along with the prisoners in the midst of the chaos that exists outside the prison.

Peru has more than 26,000 deaths and half a million confirmed cases of coronavirus.

At the beginning of the pandemic things were very chaotic.

The prison infirmary treated up to 300 patients a day with fever and then many with symptoms of respiratory distress.

In April the prisoners protested by displaying blankets with requests for help to receive better sanitary treatment.

Authorities said that while clashing with guards, nine prisoners were shot dead.

One pavilion is now used as a hospital ward.

Half of the inmates have undergone tests to detect if they have the virus.

Almost all of the 2,500 infected are asymptomatic.

According to official figures, 330 prisoners have died in the 68 prisons of Peru and another 6,600 were infected by the new coronavirus.

Peru has 97,500 inmates.

(Image Credit Pixabay)
China deals with 64,000 of corruption involving mafia-like groups: law enforcement agency

Global Times

Source: Global Times Published: 2020/8/19 19:01:00

China deals with 64,000 of corruption involving mafia-like groups: law enforcement agencyChina deals with 64,000 of corruption involving mafia-like groups: law enforcement agency

China has stepped up its efforts to protect people's security and maintain social stability by eliminating the country's mafia-like organizations and "protective umbrellas" that shelter criminal gangs, a news conference stated on Wednesday in Beijing.

As of the end of July, China has investigated and dealt with 77,668 criminals and 64,831 cases of corruption involving mafia-like groups and "protective umbrellas", Chinese law enforcement agencies said on Wednesday.

China has dismantled 453 mafia-like gangs, each of which had assets of over 100 million yuan ($14.5 million), since a nationwide campaign was established to crack down on such groups in early 2018, said China's national office against organized crime at a press conference on Wednesday.

The 453 dismantled gangs' total assets amounted to 300.8 billion yuan, according to the office. Regional governments have been entrusted to manage the 887 enterprises involved with the gangs and ensure jobs for their more than 36,000 employees, the office said.

Details of four cases committed by mafia-like gangs were revealed in regional monopoly industries in China's Shandong, Hunan, Guangdong, and Qinghai provinces.

The case in Zoucheng City of East China's Shandong Province, for example, involved a local mafia-like gang of more than 20 members, who coerced people to buy fireworks from only them. Under the protection of local officials, including Zoucheng's deputy mayor, Kang Jianguo, the gang abused, beat and robbed those who disobeyed their orders.

Set up by a man named Yang Yanjun in 2006, the group had a strangle-hold on the city's fireworks market for 13 years, until the case was investigated in 2018.

Yang and the other 28 defendants were sentenced to up to 20 years in prison by a Shandong court last month.

The Ministry of Public Security started an operation to hunt down the 1,712 fugitives involved in organized crime on April 9. Currently, 96.7 percent of the listed targets hiding on the Chinese mainland have been captured.

To receive grass-root reports nationwide, China's law enforcement agencies in 2019 upgraded their online gang crime informant platform, 12337.gov.cn, where citizens can report sources or fugitives related to criminal cases. Measures were also taken to prevent relevant information from being leaked online, Chen Yixin, head of the national office against organized crime, told the media in May 2019.

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NCP chief on



Thursday said the will fully cooperate with the (CBI) for probe in the case of actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death.

Pawar said he was sure that the Maha Vikas Aghadi government will respect the Supreme Court's order upholding transfer of Patna Police's FIR in the case to the CBI.

Rajput, 34, was found hanging at his apartment in suburban Bandra on June 14.

The NCP is a constituent of the Maha Vikas Aghadi and party leader Anil Deshmukh holds the Home portfolio.

Pawar also said he was hopeful that the investigation in the actor's death will not be carried on the way it happened in rationalist Narendra Dabholkars murder case, which has remained unresolved.

Dabholkar, a well-known anti-superstition activist, was shot dead on August 20, 2013, in Pune.

"I am sure the Maharashtra Govt will respect the judgement of the Supreme Court to handover Sushant Singh Rajputs case to the CBI and fully cooperate in the investigation process," Pawar tweeted.

"I hope the investigation will not be carried on, as was done with Dr Narendra Dabholkars murder case also under investigation by the #CBI which commenced in 2014 and remains unresolved, the former Union minister said.

After Rajput was found hanging in June, the Mumbai Police started a probe and recorded statements of 56 people, including the late actor's sisters, actress Rhea Chakraborty and some other film personalities.

Rajput's father K K Singh had lodged a separate complaint with Patna Police in connection with the actor's death and the Bihar government later recommended a CBI probe into the case.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the transfer of the FIR, lodged in Patna against Rhea Chakraborty and others for allegedly abetting Rajput's suicide, to the CBI.

The apex court said the Bihar government is competent to transfer the case to the CBI for investigation.

(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 administration of An Giang Province in Vietnams Mekong Delta has required relevant agencies to strengthen measures to prevent the Chikungunya outbreaks spreading in Cambodia from entering Vietnam.

An official letter was sent to departments, agencies, and the People's Committees of 11 districts, towns, and cities in the province on Wednesday to increase alertness and monitoring of the Chikungunya epidemic occurring in Cambodia, said An Giang vice-chairman Le Van Phuoc.

Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans through infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the letter mentioned, adding that its symptoms may include acute fever, severe joint pain, muscle pain, a headache, nausea, fatigue, and a rash.

Cambodia has seen the re-emergence of the Chikungunya virus in 15 cities and provinces with more than 2,000 infected cases so far.

Among these localities, four share a border with Vietnam. Two of them  Kandal and Takeo Provinces  border An Giang, putting the Mekong Delta province at high risk of transmission.

The provincial Department of Health is tasked with coordinating with departments and localities  especially those in the border area  to disseminate information on the danger of the disease and take proactive preventative measures against the Chikungunya outbreaks.

In tandem with preparing sufficient quantities of drugs, materials, facilities, and chemicals for epidemic prevention, the An Giang Peoples Committee also requested related departments to detect early infected cases to promptly handle local outbreaks should they arise.

Pham Thanh Tam, director of An Giangs Center for Disease Control, noted that Chikungunya has a mode of transmission similar to dengue fever, but there have been no cases recorded in Vietnam so far.

The disease is considered less dangerous than dengue fever, as the mortality rate is low.

Its main vector is mosquitoes while human-to-human transmission has yet to be documented, Tam added.

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The fact that education (informal education) begins at home has never been in dispute. The role of the home to a successful education is recognized everywhere. The acquisition or learning of language which is essential to acquiring education or knowledge is also not in doubt. Language is thus crucial in communicating thoughts and knowledge in any learning environment  at home and in the school environment.

Thus, for home environment to aid school children to attain a better foundation in their pursuit of education, there should be a proper communication system which ensures that children are able to learn verbally and non-verbally from their parents. What happens if a child has a disability in the use of verbal language (speech impairment or any related special need), which is mainly the channel of communication in most homes? The hands can do the tricks.

The Family Reading concept advocated by the Ghana Book Development Council (GBDC) is one of the surest ways of helping bridge the gap in the acquirement of education between children with disabilities and children without disabilities. Family reading basically creates an enabling environment at home for school children to read as well as cultivate the habit of a life-long reading culture, which underlies literacy and education.

The home (parents) augments the efforts by the school in ensuring that children realise their goals of acquiring a good education, which in turn open doors of opportunities for the future. When the family meets for the purposes of reading, a homey environment is created to contain the difficulties of some children with special needs.

The condition in which reading or learning takes place at home is not competitive in nature. Parents also exercise a great deal of patience in such circumstances. This is because the type of reading culture that is advocated is for pleasure or recreation, and mostly done with the support of parents/guardians who the children are very comfortable with.

The United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4.5.1) seeks to achieve its target of inclusion and equity in education by the year 2030. SDG 4.5.1 states, All people, irrespective of sex, age., as well as persons with disabilities, migrants, indigenous peoples, and children and youth, especially those in vulnerable situations or other status, should have access to inclusive, equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities (sdg4education2020.org).

Although the UN as a body seeks to achieve this target with respective governments of members states, it is noteworthy that this target cannot be realised without the support of the home (parents) where education begins. This is because parents have always been seen as partners in promoting education.

There are diverse groups of people with disabilities in the society. These groups of people, especially those of school going age, have disabilities or special needs which in one way or the other hamper their efforts in reading or learning. Their needs require societys special support. Are they able to read and learn in the same manner as their peers without disabilities? No! Do they need to read and learn with others without disabilities to help their cause of learning? Yes! Do those without disabilities need to read and learn with those without disabilities? Yes! The society needs to interact effectively with those with disabilities in order for them to overcome some of their hurdles in their quest to study. This is the only way to ensure social inclusion or integration.

The use of sign language has been one of the effective tools in interacting with persons with hearing loss. That is how society has managed to engage them effectively. Persons with visual impairment have also benefited immensely from the use of the braille to study. Both persons with hearing loss and persons with visual impairment use the hands to study and communicate due to their special needs. The family and the entire society have a greater responsibility to ensure that children who are deemed to be vulnerable, especially those with such special needs are given the best foundation in education. With parents and guardians learning the sign language, there is no way they would fail to bequeath to their children a lifelong culture of reading which will in turn help these children build a strong foundation in learning right from the beginning.

The benefit of reading is for everyone, and so is the responsibility for ensuring that nobody lags behind in realising the benefits of reading. Children learn through what they are taught and what they observe from others. The question is how those with hearing loss learn or read if the guardians or parents cannot help them to appreciate the written text. How do they learn by observation and cultivate a lifelong culture of reading if there is nobody to help them develop the habit of doing so? How do such people enjoy the benefit of reading together and share in the joy of the written text if the family or society cannot meet their needs? There is a way out. Society needs to meet the needs of people in such situations by learning their way of interacting with the environment.

In conclusion, everyone in the society will benefit from reading which underlies literacy if everyone, especially persons with disability and the vulnerable, is supported by the entire society to read and also cultivate a lifelong reading culture. This requires the family which is described as the basic unit of the society to create an enabling environment for all children, notwithstanding their status, to interact effectively with the environment. This includes an environment where children with and without disabilities can share in the joy of reading books. With the use of the sign language, all families will be able to create an environment where both children with and without disabilities will be able to interact positively through learning. In doing so, we can all create a society where no one lags behind, where no one goes to the bank, hospital, supermarket, offices, etc., and feels stranded because he or she cannot communicate or interact with anybody. Let us learn to read through the hand and build a foundation for a society that allows everyone to read, learn and interact unhindered.

Daniel Ofosu-Asamoah

Literacy Promotion Manager

Ghana Book Development Council
The prospect of the mega-dam is a new worry for Egyptian farmers with water scarcity already a major problem.

In the winter of 1964, Makhluf Abu Kassem was born in an agricultural community newly created at the far end of Egypts Fayoum Oasis. His parents were among the villages first settlers, moving there three years earlier from the Nile Valley to carve out a new life as farmers.

It was a bright and prosperous start. The region was fertile and for 40 years they made their living growing corn, cotton and wheat.

Now 55, Abu Kassem looks out at what is left of his shrivelling farm, surrounded by barren wasteland that was once his neighbours farmland  victims of dwindling irrigation in recent years.

There used to be enough water to make all this area green  Now, it is as you see, he said.

In the past, he and other villagers irrigated their farms through canals linked to the Nile River, Egypts lifeline since ancient times. It provides the country with a thin, richly fertile stretch of green land through the desert.

But years of mismanagement, corruption and increasing population led to the loss of at least 75 percent of farmland in the village and the surrounding areas, according to Abdel-Fattah el-Aweidi, head of the Gazaer Qouta Agriculture Association overseeing the area.

Now, Abu Kassem fears a dam Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile, the Niles main tributary, could add to the severe water shortages already hitting his village if no deal is struck to ensure a continued flow of water.

The dam means our death, he said.

Farmers sit under the shade of a tree surrounded by barren wasteland that was once fertile and green Qouta town, Fayoum, Egypt [AP]

Fight for resources

The exact effect of the dam on downstream countries Egypt and Sudan remains unknown. For Egyptian farmers, the daunting prospect adds a new worry on top of the other causes of mounting water scarcity.

Egypt is already spreading its water resources thin. Its booming population, now more than 100 million, has one of the lowest per capita shares of water in the world, at about 550 cubic metres per year, compared with a global average of 1,000.

Ethiopia says the electricity generated by its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is a crucial lifeline to bring its nearly 110 million citizens out of poverty.

Egypt, which relies on the Nile for more than 90 percent of its water supply, including drinking water, industrial use and irrigation, fears a devastating effect if the dam is operated without taking its needs into account.

It wants to guarantee a minimum annual release of 40 billion cubic metres of water from the Blue Nile while Ethiopia fills the dams giant reservoir, according to an irrigation official. That would be less than the 55 billion cubic metres Egypt usually gets from the Nile, mostly from the Blue Nile.

The shortage would be filled by water stored behind Egypts Aswan High Dam in Lake Nasser, which has a gross capacity of 169 billion cubic metres of water.

Egyptian farmer and shepherd Abu Mazen walks his sheep in Second Village, Qouta town, Fayoum, Egypt [AP]

If the dam is filled and operated without coordination between Egypt and Ethiopia, its effect will be destructive to the whole Egyptian society and the state will not be able to address its repercussions, said Egypts former Irrigation Minister Mohammed Nasr Allam.

It is estimated that a permanent drop of five billion cubic meters of Nile water to Egypt would cause the loss of one million acres (400,000 hectares) of farmland, or 12 percent of the countrys total, he said.

Sudan says the project could endanger its own dams, though it would also see benefits from the Ethiopian dam, including cheap electricity and reduced flooding.

Abu Kassems village, with the bland bureaucratic name of Second Village, was one of multiple agricultural communities created in Egypt in the 1960s by the socialist government of President Gamal Abdel Nasser. Built on reclaimed desert, it depends for irrigation on the Yusuf Canal, which flows from the Nile through Fayoum, fanning out in a series of channels.

The villagers enumerated the variety of crops they used to farm, ranging from cotton and vegetables to wheat and grains.

Now, most of the villages lands are barren. Almost all the Nile water that used to reach it is diverted into other agricultural projects or used for the growing population before it reaches Second Village, farmers say. Similar shortages of water have grown more common even in communities in the Nile Valley and the Delta, where farmers also face increasing salinity.

To irrigate, the village farmers now depend on wastewater from nearby towns, which is a mix of agricultural drainage and sewage.

On Abu Kassems 16-acre farm (6.5 hectares), only a single acre is now cultivated. His family tried growing corn, but the plants died. They, like most others in the area, switched to growing olive trees, which use less water. But even those suffer.

These trees havent seen water in over 40 days, Abu Kassem said, showing a shrivelled fruit.

With the water waning, many of the villages 12,000 people have left, including Abu Kassems three brothers and his four sons.

Ihsan Abdel-Azim, 53, the wife of one of Abu Kassems brothers, moved with her family to work as doormen in Cairo in 2001.

We had no choice at the time, the mother of five said, sitting among her grandchildren during a visit to the village earlier this month. Cultivating the farm became insufficient to feed my children. All roads led that way.

Farmer Makhluf Abu Kassem stands on a land that was once fertile, in Second Village, Qouta town, Fayoum, Egypt [AP]

Deadlocked talks

Years-long negotiations among Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia failed to reach a deal on the dam. The dispute reached a tipping point earlier this week when Ethiopia announced it completed the first stage of the filling of the dams 74 billion-cubic-meter reservoir.

That sparked fear and confusion in Sudan and Egypt. Both have repeatedly insisted Ethiopia must not start the fill without reaching a deal first.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the filling occurred naturally, without bothering or hurting anyone else, from torrential rains flooding the Blue Nile.

Sticking points in the talks have been how much water Ethiopia will release downstream during the filling if a multi-year drought occurs and how the three countries will resolve any future disputes. Egypt and Sudan have pushed for a binding agreement, while Ethiopia insists on non-binding guidelines.

In recent years, the Egyptian government accelerated its efforts to modernise the countrys irrigation systems, including lining canals and encouraging farmers to adopt drip and spray irrigation, which use less water.

The government also slashed cultivation of water-consuming crops, such as rice, and threatened to fine farmers who grow such crops in areas not specified for its cultivation.

President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi said in televised comments late in July his government allocated more than $62.5bn for investments to preserve water until 2037.

He reiterated warnings that the Nile is a matter of life for Egypt and acknowledged the anxiety gripping the country.

I am also concerned, he declared.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allowed Yes Bank NSE 1.90 %'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.

Also read: Yes Bank to raise ESOP pool to 225 million; fixes MD-CEO's remuneration at Rs 2.84 cr

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.

Also read: BREAKING: Kapil Wadhawan, Dheeraj Wadhawan granted bail in Yes Bank case

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.

Kerala opposes Trivandrum airport transfer to Adani group, 'will not cooperate'

Also read: Prashant Kumar to get Rs 2.85 crore as MD, CEO of Yes Bank
DUBLIN, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Intracranial Pressure Monitoring Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2020-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global intracranial pressure monitoring market grew at a CAGR of 6% during 2014-2019.

Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring is utilized in neurosurgery and neurology for measuring the pressure inside the skull. It can be performed using either invasive or non-invasive techniques. Amongst these, invasive techniques, such as ventriculostomy and micro transducers, involve drilling a hole in the skull using a burr hole or a twist drill technique for inserting the device. The device is connected to transducers for sending measurements and projecting cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) waveform. On the other hand, non-invasive techniques are generally utilized for avoiding complications of hemorrhages and infections associated with the former technique. They include transcranial Doppler, tympanic membrane displacement, optic nerve sheath diameter, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fundoscopy. Nowadays, health professionals prefer using ICP monitors, clinical examination, and brain imaging to provide better results.



Owing to the increasing cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the need for providing optimum care to patients under critical conditions is escalating around the world. This, in turn, is strengthening the ICP monitor market growth, as these devices are used for monitoring patients under intensive care. Apart from this, the rising number of individuals suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI), represents another growth-inducing factor impelling market growth.



Additionally, the increasing prevalence of autoimmune, cardiovascular and sleep disorders has catalyzed the demand for ICT monitors to provide early and effective treatment. Furthermore, governments of several countries are spending on improving the healthcare infrastructure and critical care centers, which is expected to boost the sales of these monitors. Additionally, manufacturers are also focusing on the introduction of an ICP monitoring device for home use. Such innovations are expected to create a positive outlook for the market growth in the coming years. Looking forward,, the publisher expects the global intracranial pressure monitoring market to continue its moderate growth during the next five years.



Competitive Landscape:



The report has also analysed the competitive landscape of the market with some of the key players being DePuy Synthes (Johnson & Johnson), HeadSense Medical Ltd., Integra Lifesciences Corporation, LINET Ltd., Medtronic plc, Natus Medical Incorporated, Raumedic AG (Rehau), Sophysa, Spiegelberg Gmbh (SHS), etc.



Key Questions Answered in This Report:

How has the global intracranial pressure monitoring market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?

What are the key regional markets?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global intracranial pressure monitoring market?

What is the breakup of the market based on the product type?

What is the breakup of the market based on the technology?

What is the breakup of the market based on the monitoring type?

What is the breakup of the market based on the application?

What is the breakup of the market based on the end-user?

What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry?

What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry?

What is the structure of the global intracranial pressure monitoring market and who are the key players?

What is the degree of competition in the industry?

Key Topics Covered:



1 Preface



2 Scope and Methodology

2.1 Objectives of the Study

2.2 Stakeholders

2.3 Data Sources

2.3.1 Primary Sources

2.3.2 Secondary Sources

2.4 Market Estimation

2.4.1 Bottom-Up Approach

2.4.2 Top-Down Approach

2.5 Forecasting Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Introduction

4.1 Overview

4.2 Key Industry Trends



5 Global Intracranial Pressure Monitoring Market

5.1 Market Overview

5.2 Market Performance

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Market Forecast



6 Market Breakup by Product Type

6.1 Monitors

6.1.1 Market Trends

6.1.2 Market Forecast

6.2 Probes

6.2.1 Market Trends

6.2.2 Market Forecast

6.3 Catheters and Kits

6.3.1 Market Trends

6.3.2 Market Forecast

6.4 Other Accessories

6.4.1 Market Trends

6.4.2 Market Forecast



7 Market Breakup by Connectivity

7.1 Invasive

7.1.1 Market Trends

7.1.2 Major Types

7.1.2.1 External Ventricular Drainage (EVD)

7.1.2.2 Microtransducer ICP Monitoring

7.1.3 Market Forecast

7.2 Non-invasive

7.2.1 Market Trends

7.2.2 Major Types

7.2.2.1 Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonography

7.2.2.2 Tympanic Membrane Displacement

7.2.2.3 Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter

7.2.2.4 MRI/CT

7.2.2.5 Others

7.2.3 Market Forecast



8 Market Breakup by Monitoring Type

8.1 Intraventricular

8.1.1 Market Trends

8.1.2 Market Forecast

8.2 Intraparenchymal

8.2.1 Market Trends

8.2.2 Market Forecast

8.3 Epidural

8.3.1 Market Trends

8.3.2 Market Forecast

8.4 Others

8.4.1 Market Trends

8.4.2 Market Forecast



9 Market Breakup by Application

9.1 Traumatic Brain Injury

9.1.1 Market Trends

9.1.2 Market Forecast

9.2 Intracerebral Hemorrhage

9.2.1 Market Trends

9.2.2 Market Forecast

9.3 Meningitis

9.3.1 Market Trends

9.3.2 Market Forecast

9.4 Others

9.4.1 Market Trends

9.4.2 Market Forecast



10 Market Breakup by End-User

10.1 Hospitals

10.1.1 Market Trends

10.1.2 Market Forecast

10.2 Home Care

10.2.1 Market Trends

10.2.2 Market Forecast

10.3 Trauma Centers

10.3.1 Market Trends

10.3.2 Market Forecast

10.4 Others

10.4.1 Market Trends

10.4.2 Market Forecast



11 Market Breakup by Region

11.1 North America

11.1.1 United States

11.1.1.1 Market Trends

11.1.1.2 Market Forecast

11.1.2 Canada

11.1.2.1 Market Trends

11.1.2.2 Market Forecast

11.2 Asia Pacific

11.2.1 China

11.2.1.1 Market Trends

11.2.1.2 Market Forecast

11.2.2 Japan

11.2.2.1 Market Trends

11.2.2.2 Market Forecast

11.2.3 India

11.2.3.1 Market Trends

11.2.3.2 Market Forecast

11.2.4 South Korea

11.2.4.1 Market Trends

11.2.4.2 Market Forecast

11.2.5 Australia

11.2.5.1 Market Trends

11.2.5.2 Market Forecast

11.2.6 Indonesia

11.2.6.1 Market Trends

11.2.6.2 Market Forecast

11.2.7 Others

11.2.7.1 Market Trends

11.2.7.2 Market Forecast

11.3 Europe

11.3.1 Germany

11.3.1.1 Market Trends

11.3.1.2 Market Forecast

11.3.2 France

11.3.2.1 Market Trends

11.3.2.2 Market Forecast

11.3.3 United Kingdom

11.3.3.1 Market Trends

11.3.3.2 Market Forecast

11.3.4 Italy

11.3.4.1 Market Trends

11.3.4.2 Market Forecast

11.3.5 Spain

11.3.5.1 Market Trends

11.3.5.2 Market Forecast

11.3.6 Russia

11.3.6.1 Market Trends

11.3.6.2 Market Forecast

11.3.7 Others

11.3.7.1 Market Trends

11.3.7.2 Market Forecast

11.4 Latin America

11.4.1 Brazil

11.4.1.1 Market Trends

11.4.1.2 Market Forecast

11.4.2 Mexico

11.4.2.1 Market Trends

11.4.2.2 Market Forecast

11.4.3 Others

11.4.3.1 Market Trends

11.4.3.2 Market Forecast

11.5 Middle East and Africa

11.5.1 Market Trends

11.5.2 Market Breakup by Country

11.5.3 Market Forecast



12 SWOT Analysis

12.1 Overview

12.2 Strengths

12.3 Weaknesses

12.4 Opportunities

12.5 Threats



13 Value Chain Analysis



14 Porters Five Forces Analysis

14.1 Overview

14.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers

14.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers

14.4 Degree of Competition

14.5 Threat of New Entrants

14.6 Threat of Substitutes



15 Price Analysis



16 Competitive Landscape

16.1 Market Structure

16.2 Key Players

16.3 Profiles of Key Players

16.3.1 DePuy Synthes (Johnson & Johnson)

16.3.1.1 Company Overview

16.3.1.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.2 HeadSense Medical Ltd.

16.3.2.1 Company Overview

16.3.2.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.3 Integra Lifesciences Corporation

16.3.3.1 Company Overview

16.3.3.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.3.3 Financials

16.3.3.4 SWOT Analysis

16.3.4 LINET Ltd.

16.3.4.1 Company Overview

16.3.4.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.5 Medtronic Plc

16.3.5.1 Company Overview

16.3.5.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.5.3 Financials

16.3.5.4 SWOT Analysis

16.3.6 Natus Medical Incorporated

16.3.6.1 Company Overview

16.3.6.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.7 Raumedic AG (Rehau)

16.3.7.1 Company Overview

16.3.7.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.8 Sophysa

16.3.8.1 Company Overview

16.3.8.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.9 Spiegelberg Gmbh (SHS)

16.3.9.1 Company Overview

16.3.9.2 Product Portfolio



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/et5gc1

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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Glenmark Pharmaceuticals plans to raise funds by selling a stake in its drug discovery subsidiary, Ichnos Sciences, in the second half of fiscal 2021 and has engaged an investment banker for the purpose, the drugmaker has said.

Glenmark, which in June became the first Indian company to launch Fabiflu, the generic version of anti-viral favipiravir for treating mild to moderate Covid-19 patients, is battling a huge debt burden. Covid-19 is the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus.

"I think, with the capital raise, it will unlock a lot of value and actually ascribe a value for Ichnos, and whatever investments we've made in that entity," Glenmark Chairman and Managing Director Glenn Saldanha told analysts during an earnings call on August 17.

The Indian drugmaker had in October 2019 hived off its innovative research and development division into a separate firm, Ichnos Sciences, to explore divestment or to licence out its pipeline to fund growth plans.

Raising funds is critical for Glenmark as it has accumulated debts due to its high spending on drug development and investment on capex. Its US business, which accounts for a third of its revenue, remains muted due to price erosion.

The companys debt was at 3,602 crore as on June 30, 2020, compared to Rs 3,758 crore as on March 31, 2020. In constant currency, net debt was down by Rs 180 crore as compared to March 31, 2020.

Ichnos is also exploring out-licensing deals for its molecules to help the company generate cash and continue to invest in research.

The New-York based company has four molecules in various stages of development. Two of them are possible cancer drugs, one is for autoimmune disease and the other for pain relief.

Pharma companies typically look for partners to give licences for drugs that are in various stages of development, hence the word molecule.

The licensing partner not just pays for the molecule but also for the so-called milestone achievements, which include three phases of clinical trials, and royalties on sales if the drug makes it to the market. Such deals are agreed only after the drug in making shows some promise.

In the near term, Glenmark will remain the majority shareholder in Ichnos to get exposure to its innovative platform and R&D pipeline, Saldanha said.

Ichnos is led by Alessandro Riva, a former executive of US drug firm Gilead Sciences. The US drug regulator in May cleared Gilead Sciences remdesivir for emergency used for Covid.

Debt reduction

Glenmark is counting on Fabiflu to do well though at least 10 other Indian drugmakers have since launched their version of favipiravir.

On August 19, Hyderabad-based Dr Reddys Laboratories came out with Avigan.

To take on the competition, Glenmark has also launched a 400-mg tablet to reduce the pill burden. As of now, a Covid-19 patient has to take 122 200-mg tablets for 14 days.

While the domestic formulation business has been firing for the company with antidiabetic drug remogliflozin and favipiravir ramp-up, the US business has been disappointed.

In Q1FY21, the US business grew at 1.61 percent year-on-year to Rs 742.6 crore for the quarter ended June 30.

The company is looking forward to the launch of anti-allergy nasal spray Ryaltris in the US market but the approval is expected in the second half of 2021.

The company said it has no plans to raise capital from Glenmark Life Sciences, its demerged API division.

"That's been on the back burner and will continue to stay in the back burner," Saldanha said, adding the focus would be on controlling costs.

"Glenmark expects FY21 margins to be around 19-20 percent vs 16-17 percent guided earlier (our estimates 17.4 percent). Debt reduction of Rs 1.8 billion QoQ, though marginal, was led by proceeds of Vwash sale to HUL," said Praful Bohra of Emkay Global in his latest report.

Any meaningful debt reduction and value unlocking in the innovative business (Ichnos) were key to stock rerating, the report said.
Huawei has managed to launch a new laptop, an updated version of the MateBook X with tenth generation Intel processors.

Despite being on the Entity List that prevents any American company from doing business with Huawei, the Chinese company has launched the new MateBook X with the latest 10th generation Intel processors. The laptop was originally unveiled back in February, but has finally made its way to the Chinese store shelves only now. The new MateBook X starts at a price of CNY 7,999 (roughly Rs 87,000) and goes all the way up to CNY 9,999 (roughly Rs 1.08L).

The base version of the Huawei MateBook X is powered by the Intel Core i5 processor paired with 8GB RAM and a 512GB NVMe drive. The middle variant has the same specs but increases the RAM to 16GB while the most expensive variant is powered by the Intel Core i7-10510U combined with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. Whats common across the three laptops is the 3:2 aspect ratio display, which is rather unique. The other stand-out feature of the new MateBook X happens to be the pressure sensitive touchpad. Such a trackpad is currently found on Apples laptops such as the MacBook Pro 16.

It is interesting that at a time when Huawei is suffering from the onslaught of the U.S. government, the company has still gone ahead and launched a laptop, probably the last for now. With Huawei and a host of its subsidiaries being put on the Entity List, any American company is forbidden from doing business with the Chinese tech giant. The U.S. has continued to pass laws tailor-made to prevent Huawei from circumventing this trade ban. The latest move was designed to prevent Huawei from getting any more Kirin chips, which are manufactured by TSMC, a Taiwanese company. Intel, on the other hand, is an American company and while it is possible that Huawei had already purchased the Intel chips before things escalated, the future of the MateBook series is definitely under a big question mark. Recently, Honor launched the MagicBook in India powered by AMD Ryzen 3000 series processor. It is possible that the company was not able to acquire AMDs Ryzen 4000 series processors due to the Entity List ban, forcing the company to stick to an older chip. In any case, Huawei has never sold its laptops in India and doesnt seem to have any plans to do so either.
It's hard to believe but the summer is almost over and a new school term is on the horizon.

And this year that seems even stranger than usual seeing as the majority of our children haven't been inside the school gates since March.

But as ever, it's only a couple of weeks away and we're not quite ready. If that's ringing bells and you'd slightly forgotten about your pre-September shopping, then we're here to help.

And while your child's school will no doubt be in touch about new safety procedures, you still need the basic essentials!

So here are the must-have picks for sending them back to school.

Girls

V by Very Girls 2 Pack Jersey Pinafore School Dresses (from 14)

There's something very sweet about school dresses and we love the cute pinafore style and soft jersey fabric of this one.

Easy to wear, even for the littlest of little ones (they can be put on straight over the head), they have added stretch for comfort and you'll be pleased to know they're tumble dryer safe so any last minute spillages can be dealt with!

Layer them over a short sleeve shirt while it's still warm, switching to long sleeves when the chillier weather arrives. And of course, they can be worn with bare legs, socks and shoes or with tights throughout winter.

Bottoms

L-R: V by Very Girls 2 Pack Classic Pleated School Skirts - Navy (12) and V by Very Girls 2 Pack Woven Skater School Skirts - Grey (from 16)

Many girls, especially when they're older, prefer to wear a skirt and shirt to school, rather than a dress, so these two packs are a great way to kit them out without spending a fortune.

We love the classic box pleats on the navy skirts or these grey woven skater style skirts are a real time-saver thanks to their water-repellent finish. They're also crease-resistant too and what could be better than that?

Both styles have adjustable waistbands so will grow with them over the next few months.

V by Very Girls 2 Pack Woven School Trouser (from 16)

If skirts aren't her thing, and let's face it when the temperature drops, we'd ALL rather be in trousers, then think about investing in some pants too.

Available in ages three to 16 years, these woven trousers are practical and with reinforced knees they'll cope with anything playtime throws at them.

They feature an adjustable waist and there are even grow-proof hems to keep up with their growth spurts! Genius!

Tops

L-R: V by Very Girls 3 Pack Long Sleeve School Blouses (from 10) and V by Very Girls 2 Pack School Cardigans (from 13)

Crisp white shirts are a school day must so take the expense out of it with this three pack of long sleeve blouses. From just 10, they're a bargain and can be layered under a pinafore dress or tucked into skirts and trousers.

They have a stay white finish keeps them looking fresh and you can stick them in the tumble dryer without worrying they'll shrink.

And don't forget the knitwear. Your child's school may have its own branded jumper or cardigan but if not you can get this cardigan in a rainbow of colours at Very. From blue to red and green to burgundy, most school colours should be covered.

Boys

As they'll find in later life, the mainstream options for boys' clothing are much more simple and straightforward than for girls.

So kitting them out for school is a little easier too.

Bottoms

L-R: V by Very Boys 2 Pack Classic Woven Regular School Trousers (from 14) and V by Very Boys 2 Pack Pull On School Trousers - Grey (from 10)

It might still be warm enough for shorts when September rolls around but we suggest getting a head start on the autumnal and winter weather by stocking up on proper trousers.

This two pack of woven trousers is great value and they'll make your mornings less stressful thanks to their crease, water and stain resistant fabric.

These grey trousers have all the same handy features but also have an elasticated waist so even younger ones will be able to pull them on with ease.

Tops

L-R: V by Very Boys 3 Pack Long Sleeve Slim Fit School Shirts (from 10) and V by Very Unisex 2 Pack V-Neck School Jumper - Navy (from 11)

Pick up a three pack of smart shirts for him too.

That way, in theory, he should always have at least one clean one ready to go...

And a toasty jumper is a worthwhile investment and at Very this V-neck style comes in green, grey, black, red, navy and royal blue. From just 11 for a two pack, it's an easy way to save money at an expensive time of year.

So that's the uniforms sorted. Now you just need stationery, lunch boxes, school bags, shoes and coats!

Read our guide to school accessories and it won't seem so daunting...
New Delhi, Aug 20 : The remarkable private collection of Sadruddin Aga Khan and his wife, will head to auction on October 1, 2020, global auction house Christie's announced. The couple are the son and daughter-in-law of Aga Khan III, president of the All-India Muslim League during India's pre-Independence era.

According to the auction house, visionaries, and ahead of their time, Prince Sadruddin and Princess Catherine Aga Khan have been the discreet patrons of many major philanthropic projects, aimed at preserving cultural and natural sites, from Egyptian temples to the Alps. "Over a period spanning decades, the Aga Khan's gathered an outstanding collection from a variety of cultures across the globe, reflecting their essence with this incredibly universal, yet very personal selection of fascinating objects and masterpieces," it said.

The highly recognised French interior designer Henri Samuel had been entrusted with the display of the collection in their Geneva home, Bellerive Castle.

"Each work of art demonstrates the collector's open-cultural approach, representing a rich cultural history, with century-old objects, alongside works from leading artists and commissioned pieces from artists the couple maintained close friendships with," it added.

Christie's said that the true passion for the arts that united this couple is illustrated in their curation of the collection, and the confrontations and juxtapositions the objects impose on the surrounding objects. The 17th and 18th century furniture interact with pieces by Diego Giacometti, Claude Lalanne or Philippe Hiquily, antique paintings are in dialogue with Picasso's oeuvre, while Orientalist pieces resonate with works by Isabelle de Borchgrave.

Several objects which adorned Bellerive Castle underline the importance of classical decorative arts in this collection, such as a pair of royal armchairs, dating from the period of late George III and a Gothic tapestry from the early 16th century. Among the highlights of the collection are works by Pablo Picasso from 1929.

(Siddhi Jain can be contacted at siddhi.j@ians.in)
Today, August 1, 2020, marks 60 years of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Ghana.

The day is also celebrated as the National Day of Switzerland.



CoronaLife Web Series

In view of the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to ensure social distancing protocols, virtual programmes have been planned in observing the day.



Speaking in an interview with the Ambassador of Switzerland to Ghana, Benin, and Togo, Mr. Philipp Stalder, at his residence in Accra, the Ambassador described Ghana as a priority country for Switzerlands economic development cooperation.



He said Switzerlands bilateral relationship with Ghana was traditionally very strong and diversified.





Mr. Stalder said since 1960, Ghana had benefited from more than 365 million Confoederatio Helvetica Franc (CHF or Swiss franc), in official development assistance from Switzerland.



For 2017 t0 2020, the pledged budget is CHF 75 million, an average of CHF 18 million disbursements, he announced, saying Switzerland had implemented more than 30 projects to contribute to inclusive economic development.



The ambassador said Switzerland sought to strengthen accountable institutions and effective public service delivery through decentralized budget support, domestic revenue mobilization, public financial management, debt management, electricity sector reforms, and clean energy, as well as urban mobility.



He said Switzerland also supports measures to improve competitiveness and diversification of the economy, business environment, value chain development (cocoa, cashew and palm oil), skills development, financial sector reforms, climate change, and resource efficiency.



55 Companies



Mr. Stalder announced that currently more than 55 companies operated in Ghana and employed an estimated 8,500 people, and said more than half of the companies were operating in the agri-business, manufacturing and logistics sector.



The ambassador stressed that Ghana was Switzerlands second most important trade partner in Africa.



He said total trade volume between Switzerland and Ghana last year amounted to CHF 2.5 billion.



Imports from Ghana amounted to CHF 2.4 billion, with Swiss exports amounting to CHF 37.4 million, while gold and cocoa are the most important imports.



Resident



Currently, he said 1,269 Ghanaians were resident in Switzerland, according to the November 2019 data, while 380 Swiss were also living permanently in Ghana.



Since 1963, he said Ghanaian students and researchers had received a Swiss Government Scholarship for foreign scholars and completed their academic studies in Switzerland.



He announced that Switzerland supports the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) at Teshie as part of regional capacity building for peacekeeping training with civilian and military expertise as well as the funding of courses and specific projects at USD250,000 per year.



State visit



The ambassador recalled a state visit by Ghanas President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to Switzerland where he was received by the President of the Swiss Confederation, Federal Councilor Simonetta Sommaruga and the entire Swiss government.



He said President Akufo Addo was the first head of state of a sub-Saharan African state since 1957 to be granted this honour.



COVID-19



He touched on Swiss support towards the fight against COVID-19 and mentioned the re-allocation of USD6.2 million of the decentralized budget support to scale up preventive care activities at the district level.



He said the pandemic has had a huge impact on all countries around the world and noted that in Switzerland, they had seen the start of programmes for going back to normal life. He also mentioned the lifting of the temporary lockdown in Ghana.

Source: Graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Electric bikes are seeing a major spike in sales that began even before the coronavirus pandemic but has sharply accelerated since March.

Why it matters: E-bike manufacturers are racing to keep up with the newfound demand as people, wary of crowded public transit and facing less congestion from commuting cars, adopt new ways of getting around.

Sales of e-bikes in the U.S. increased 190% in June compared to June 2019, according to new research from The NDP Group. (E-bikes add an electric motor to traditional bicycles, making it easier for riders to pedal up steep hills and extend their rides.)

Yes, but: Ridership of shared e-bikes (such as those owned by Lime and city bike-share companies) has gone down during the pandemic. Those sectors are "still recovering" from a lack of commuters and tourists, Matt Brezina, a tech investor and pedestrian and cyclist advocate in San Francisco, told Axios.

The big picture: Many U.S. cities, including New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., have been closing certain streets to traffic, lowering speed limits and adding protected bike lanes, all key factors in helping people feel more comfortable on bikes and less threatened by cars.

Some cities were far along in enhancing bicycle infrastructure prior to the pandemic, while others snapped into action when COVID-19 hit.

"A car-free space that would have taken 10 years and 100 community meetings to implement has instead been rolled out in weeks because of the COVID emergency," Brezina said.

Be smart: Smart urban design is necessary to get and keep people comfortable using bikes and e-bikes in dense areas, Jennifer Toole, president of urban planning and engineering firm Toole Design, told Axios.

Slowing automotive traffic and maintaining dedicated, separated bike lanes make the biggest difference, Toole said. That can be a tough transition for many cities where getting through the streets by car as fast as is feasible is the norm.

But change is coming. "The pandemic has opened us up to some options that were much more difficult before," said Toole. "People are willing to think outside the box about the way we use our streets."

E-bikes were growing more popular even before the pandemic, as prices sank and designs improved, Toole noted.

What they're saying: VanMoof, an e-bike company based in the Netherlands, nearly quadrupled its e-bike sales year over year in the second quarter of 2020. In the U.S. alone, VanMoof's e-bike sales nearly doubled in the first half of 2020 compared to the first half of 2019.

VanMoof CEO Taco Carlier told Axios his team is struggling to keep up with customer demand, especially as they work from home, but he's not surprised. "The breakthrough was going to happen for years," he said.

What's next: It's hard to predict how sustained newly adopted pandemic-era habits will be. But e-bike use has skyrocketed and may not go down even after people return to their regular routines, as they get used to pedaling around their cities, which in turn are changing to become more bike-friendly.
Abdulfatah Hamdallah, who has been revealed as 28, and not 16 as initially thought, slept rough in France for two months before his desperate bid to cross the Channel

This is the first picture of the migrant who tragically drowned in the Channel while trying to reach Britain.

Football-loving Abdulfatah Hamdallah, from Sudan, died after the 3ft dinghy he and a friend were in was punctured by the shovels they were using as oars.

His friend somehow survived, but Mr Hamdallah, who is 28, and not 16, as initially thought, could not swim and his body was later found washed up on a beach at Sangatte.

He is thought to originally be from the town of En-Nahud, around eight hours south of Sudanese capital Khartoum.

It has since been revealed Mr Hamdallah had been playing football with fellow migrants in a field only 48 hours before his fateful attempt to cross the English Channel - one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes.

Friends at a makeshift camp he stayed at in Calais have shared images of the former student with MailOnline in the hope of highlighting the human cost of the crossings crisis.

The friends said he dreamed, like them, of reaching England and obtaining acceptance in contrast to what they said was hostility in France.

Today, in a tribute, one friend said on Facebook: 'There is no God but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, whoever is on the van, and remains the face of your Lord, the glory and dignity, has passed away to the mercy of Allah, my dear friend in the state of France Abdel Fattah, praise be to Allah

'We ask God for mercy and forgiveness, Lord.'

Abdulfatah Hamdallah, from Sudan, died after the 3ft dinghy he and a friend were in was punctured by the shovels they were using as oars. Friends at a makeshift camp he stayed at in Calais have shared images of the former student with MailOnline in the hope of highlighting the human cost of the crossings crisis

Friends said he dreamed, like them, of reaching England and obtaining acceptance in contrast to what they said was hostility in France

Mr Hamdallah came to Calais around two months ago, according to fellow migrants. He had taken a boat from Libya with two friends, and the journey took about three days before he landed in France

Friends say Mr Hamdallah had dreamed, like them, of reaching England and obtaining acceptance in contrast to what they said was hostility in France.

A friend of Mr Hamdallah posted a touching tribute to him on Facebook earlier today

Mr Hamdallah is thought to originally be from the town of En-Nahud, around eight hours south of Sudanese capital Khartoum

Another friend told MailOnline: Inshallah his should rest in heaven.

Mr Hamdallah came to Calais around two months ago, according to fellow migrants. He had taken a boat from Libya with two friends, and the journey took about three days before he landed in France.

There had been widespread speculation  notably by government ministers on both sides of the English Channel  that the so far unidentified asylum seeker was a 16-year-old-boy, but this was not the case.

A Sudanese driving licence showing a date of birth of 1992 and including a photo was found on the deceased man.

His travelling companion was a teenager who survived, said Philippe Sabatier, the deputy prosecutor of Boulogne-sur-Mer, as a criminal enquiry is opened into the tragedy.

It follows figures revealing 164 migrants in 11 boats reached the UK after making the perilous Channel crossing yesterday, meaning nearly 5,000 have arrived so far this year.

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought into Dover, Kent, following a number of small boat incidents in the Channel earlier yesterday

A Border Force vessel brings in migrants found off the coast of Dover in Kent yesterday. Britain and France are continuing ongoing talks to try to resolve the migrant crisis in the Channel

A boat that landed in Sandgate, Folkestone and Hythe, Kent, yesterday morning, containing approximately nine people thought to be migrants who fled and were later found by officials

The surviving 16-year-old had initially indicated that his missing companion was the same age, following the tragedy, said Mr Sabatier.

The teenager is now in the care of French social services an an autopsy is being carried out on the body of his friend, he added.

Mr Sabatier also said the pair were living in the Calais Jungle migrant camp before trying to reach the UK.

He told The Independent: 'I dont know if he had applied for asylum with British authorities, but he appears to have done so with the French authorities.'

One Sudan refugee who knew him said: Abdul had been sleeping rough as the camps where he was living were regularly dismantled by the French.

Recently he was living in a camp near the old Jungle refugee site. We are praying for him. Inshallah his soul should rest in heaven. He did not deserve to die like this. We will pray for him today and always.

We have no future here. We have no lives. All we do is sit on the ground and sleep on it all day. Nobody cares for us.

I hope that England will give us papers one day and allow us there. The French dont want us and that is why Abdul went to England.

Philippe Sabatier, the deputy prosecutor in Boulogne, earlier said the surviving migrant admitted they had attempted the crossing on a 'small inflatable dinghy' which they had stolen from a beach hut.

He added that the pair fell into the water after one of them punctured the inflatable craft with one of the spades they were using as oars.

Mr Sabatier said: 'The surviving migrant who accompanied him said that they had attempted the Channel crossing on board a small inflatable dinghy which they had stolen from a beach hut,' said Mr Sabatier.

'They had also equipped themselves with spades as oars. One of them accidentally punctured the craft with a spade and the two men fell into the water. Only the one who could swim managed to survive.'

The Bishop of Dover has called on the Government to 'take a lead' in dealing with the global issues that drive migrants to risk their lives on unsafe journeys.

Rt Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin said politicians are often 'playing to the gallery', and she issued a plea for compassion.

Abdulfatah Hamdallah is thought to have died within a few minutes of entering the water, while a friend who was with him survived with minor injuries and hypothermia. Pictured, one migrant uses a shovel as an oar while making the crossing in July

Home Secretary Priti Patel described the death as 'upsetting and tragic' and called on France to work with the UK to stop 'abhorrent people smugglers'

Ms Hudson-Wilkin, the Church of England's first black female bishop, told BBC Breakfast today: 'We need to try and understand what is happening, why people are fleeing from their countries, why are people taking such unsafe routes in order to get to the UK or to get to Europe.

'We need to not just, every time there's a boat, throw our arms up and think 'panic, panic, let's do something about it, let's build walls, let's put the Border Force out'.

'We need more long-term planning and thinking.

'We know the kind of hostility that those who are seeking a safe haven face, and actually politicians are often responding or playing to the gallery, so we as a community, we as British people, we must be very, very clear to all our politicians that we don't want the kind of knee-jerk reaction or language to pacify a particular group of people, we must be compassionate.

Councils are urged to provide care for lone migrant children The Government has called on councils to 'take responsibility' as it urgently tries to find care for lone migrant children who have crossed the Channel to the UK. Officials have issued a plea to local authorities to take in unaccompanied migrant children as a surge in arrivals means Kent County Council (KCC) - which takes in those coming ashore on the south coast - has reached capacity and can no longer 'safely accommodate' any more. The children are in the meantime being left with Border Force officers in a processing centre in Dover while arrangements are made with social services. The Home Office, the Department for Education and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) are writing to all local authorities urging them to 'come forward, play their part and take responsibility' in tackling the problem. Since June, 48 councils have pledged to provide at least 200 places for children but more are needed, the Home Office said. A department spokesman described the situation as 'unprecedented' and said KCC is being provided with 'significant increases in funding' and support, but added: 'The burden being placed on them is unacceptable and cannot continue. 'We are grateful to the 48 local authorities who have pledged more than 200 places to support our National Transfer Scheme, but we need more to come forward and do their bit for vulnerable children. 'The Home Office, Department for Education and MHCLG are writing to all local authorities, urging them to come forward, play their part and take responsibility.' Advertisement

'What I want our Government to do is to take a lead with other governments around the world and to begin to look long-term as to what are some of the things that we can do to stop the flow.'

She earlier said: 'How much worse does this have to get,' said the Rt Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin. 'We cannot let his death pass by unremarked. This appalling tragedy should be a wake-up call to all of us. We cannot stand by any longer while bodies wash up on the shores.'

Pierre-Henri Dumont, the MP for Calais, stoked up cross-Channel tensions by claiming Britain's asylum policy was to blame.

He said: 'What we all feared happened that night. How many more dramas will it take for the British to regain an ounce of humanity? The inability to apply for asylum in Great Britain without being physically present is causing these tragedies.'

However, the Tory MP Tim Loughton, a former children's minister, claimed the 'lack of humanity' lay with the French for letting migrants attempt to cross the Channel.

'It is appalling that the French are allowing people to endanger their lives,' he told Channel 4 News. 'That is where the lack of humanity is I'm afraid.'

Home Secretary Priti Patel described the death as 'upsetting and tragic' and blasted the criminal gangs and people smugglers who exploit those trying to reach the UK.

Wednesday's crossings take the year's total to 4,986 - while a vessel carrying around 12 people has been picked up off the Kent coast today.

Among Wednesday's incidents was a boat carrying a group of refugees that got into difficulty in the Dover Strait - the world's busiest shipping lane - shortly before 4pm, sparking a search and rescue operation.

But it was called off after those who were on the boat were found safe on the shore.

The Home Office has not released any details about the migrants' genders, nationalities or ages.

'This horrendous incident serves as a brutal reminder of the abhorrent criminal gangs and people smugglers who exploit vulnerable people,' Ms Patel added.

But she faced criticism from a string of Labour politicians, including Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds, who accused her of 'lacking compassion and competence'.

The young Sudanese migrant who died set off from Sangatte shortly after midnight and was attempting to cross the busiest shipping lane in the world with a friend in a blow-up toy dinghy commonly found in supermarkets.

A night fisherman on the shoreline spotted the boat sinking and immediately called the emergency services. The victim is understood to be the first to die while trying to cross the Channel in a small boat this year.

His friend was being treated in a Calais hospital for shock and hypothermia. Citizenship minister Marlene Schiappa said the death highlighted the need to tackle the smugglers.

Philippe Sabatier, the deputy prosecutor in Boulogne, announced that a criminal inquiry had been opened. His office will examine whether a trafficking gang was linked to the tragic attempt to cross the Channel.

Mr Sabatier said the survivor was 'in a state of shock, and being treated in Calais hospital'. The remains of the boat were later found on the beach, along with a mobile phone, documents and a shovel.

The victim was discovered at Sangatte beach (pictured), near Calais, after his friend who also fell overboard was spotted by a fisherman before being rescued

Mr Hamdallah fell overboard while attempting to cross the Channel last night. Dozens of migrants reached the UK yesterday after setting out last night from France

Charles Devos, skipper of the Notre-Dame du Risban rescue boat, said: 'It would have been impossible to make the crossing. And with the ferries passing at 22 knots, the rolls that occur after it left would have overturned the boat.

'Without an engine, therefore, and builders' shovels for oars, reaching British waters to be rescued by the Border Force would have been a miracle.'

Clare Moseley, founder of migrant charity Care4Calais, said the young man 'did not deserve to die alone at sea'.

'We are absolutely devastated by the unnecessary death,' she said. 'We can only imagine the fear he felt and our hearts go out to his family. This death starkly demonstrates the total failure of our government to do anything to help those who are in such desperate straits.

'We need a way for people's asylum claims to be fairly heard without them having to risk their lives. We need this before someone else dies.'

Former Royal Marine Dan O'Mahoney, who is leading Britain's response to the illegal crossings, is expected to return to France to continue searching for a solution to the crisis.

Dozens more migrants are believed to have arrived in the UK on Wednesday but the Home Office has yet to provide any details.

Border Force and French authorities are active in the English Channel again today, with wind speeds expected to be lower than yesterday.

Paris has demanded 30million from the UK Government to bolster its Channel patrols, but Mrs Patel said any such funds are conditional on France taking back some of the migrants.

Almost 5,000 migrants have made the 21-mile crossing this year in small boats compared with just 1,850 during the whole of last year. Campaigners estimated this year's total could reach at least 8,000. Around 1,400 have reached Britain in August.

A Home Office spokesperson said claims Ms Patel's policies were responsible for the death were 'utterly baseless'.

'The UK has a long and proud history welcoming those in need and escaping persecution and resettles more refugees than any other country in Europe.

'There are safe routes to claiming asylum for those in need and since 2015, we have resettled more than 25,000 refugees, around half of whom were children.'

A spokesman for France's Maritime Prefecture that covers the English Channel and North Sea said the pair had been in a 'makeshift boat.'

The body of the teenager was found just after 7am on Wednesday morning after it was spotted by morning dog walkers. Pictured are migrants arriving in Dover

France and Britain are set to outline a plan of action which is expected to see France paying 30m to strengthen security in the English Channel

A statement said: 'According to his initial statements, the survivor said he was accompanied on a makeshift boat, that they capsized and that his companion was still in the water. He also specified that his companion could not swim.'

A search and rescue operation was launched but called off at 4.39am after Mr Hamdallah could not be found.

On Tuesday, Sudanese national Altaib Mobarak, 43, was jailed for two years for smuggling himself and nine others - including two children - into Britain by boat.

He was at the helm of a rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) which dodged a French coastguard vessel and made it to British waters on July 7.

Mobarak's boat was picked up by Border Force officers who took the group of Sudanese and Yemeni nationals into Dover.

In an interview, he admitted driving the RHIB. He was locked up at Canterbury Crown Court, Kent, after pleading guilty to facilitating illegal entry into the UK.

The Home Office's Clandestine Channel Threat Commander and former Royal Marine Dan O'Mahoney said: 'People should seek asylum in the first safe country they enter and those attempting to cross the Channel, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, in unsuitable boats and without appropriate maritime skills are putting at risk the lives of all those on board.

'It is of particular concern when, as was the case here, vulnerable children are involved.

'It is precisely because of this risk to life - a reality that we have seen confirmed in yesterday's tragic incident - that we are determined to put a stop to these dangerous crossings.'

It was also revealed this week that gangs offer gold, silver and bronze standard packages, with those opting for the cheaper crossing crammed in rickety crafts and even given shovels as paddles.

Earlier this month, the Home Office asked the Ministry of Defence for the Royal Navy to assist with stemming the flow of migrants.

There are no plans for ships to be used, but aircraft and surveillance will be deployed to help the under-strain Border Force.

Speaking after the news broke, Home Secretary Priti Patel described the death as 'upsetting and tragic'

Pierre-Henri Dumont, the MP for Calais, blasted the UK after news of the tragedy and blamed Britain for the teenager's horrifying death.

He said: 'What we all feared happened that night. How many more dramas will it take for the British to regain an ounce of humanity?

'The inability to apply for asylum in Great Britain without being physically present is causing these tragedies.

'The migrants present in Calais do not seek asylum in France. They refuse the support offered by the state in dedicated centres, preferring to risk their lives on rafts.'

A large search and rescue operation was launched but called off at 4.39am after Mr Hamdallah could not be found.

The increasingly bitter war of words between Britain and France as the migrant crisis worsens August 6: Priti Patel threatens to send the Royal Navy to the Channel after several days of migrant boats arriving in Dover from France. August 8: France demands 30 million from Britain to help stem the flow of migrants across the Channel. August 10: Priti Patel demands French co-operation in a massive new 'blockade' of the Channel. She also threatens to refuse to give France anymore money unless it takes action to stop crossings. August 12: Ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's criticise the Home Secretary's call for the Navy to stop migrants crossing the Channel, but a Home Office source immediately hit back, saying Miss Priti's department did not care about angering 'a brand of over-priced junk food'. The Mayor of Calais said Britain sending in the Navy to police the Channel would be 'a declaration of maritime war'. August 13: Migrants including children arrived in Dover for the tenth day in a row as Kent County Council warned it was 'days away' from being unable to look after any more asylum seeking youngsters. Priti Patel warns France the UK will not cough up millions of pounds for anti-migrant patrols unless it agrees to take back more refugees as she prepares sweeping changes to the 'broken' immigration system. August 15: Shocking figures reveal more than 1,000 migrants arrived in the UK in 10 days after crossing the Channel in small boats. Priti Patel sparks a diplomatic row by claiming migrants were crossing the Channel to escape 'racist' France, where they feared they would be tortured. August 16: Judges condemn France for its 'degrading and inhumane' treatment of refugees in a scathing landmark ruling. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) said the French authorities 'had failed in their duties' to support those who applied for asylum in the country. August 19: A Sudanese migrant, 16, washes up dead on a beach in France after a desperate attempt to get to the UK. France immediately blames Britain for the tragedy while Priti Patel calls for co-operation. Advertisement

It comes after Ms Patel demanded the French do more to make the route 'unviable', while Calais officials have blamed Britain for the crisis.

The body of the teenager was found after it was spotted by morning dog walkers, said a source working for the emergency services in Calais.

'Everybody has known for a long while that a fatality was imminent. This tragedy is terrible,' the source added.

The Calais emergency services source added: 'Police and paramedics attended the scene, and efforts were made on the beach in Sangatte to try and revive the victim.

'Papers were found on him which showed he was a Sudanese man, aged sixteen. He disappeared overnight on Tuesday while trying to get to England.

'The victim's body was taken away, and will be subject to an autopsy. Efforts will also be made to contact next of kin.'

The source said that a couple with a six-year-old child and an 18-month-old baby were among those who had been rescued in the Channel by the French emergency services on Sunday in a kayak.

Immigration minister Chris Philp said: 'This awful tragedy near Calais shows how dangerous this migration route is.

'We will redouble our work to agree and implement a new plan with France with the aim of completely stopping these boat crossings, which are facilitated by ruthless criminals and which risk lives'

Dover MP Natalie Elphicke said: 'I have been warning for months about the risk of further loss of life from dangerous journeys across the English Channel.

'This latest death in the Channel is both shocking and sad.

'It underlines that it is essential to bring an urgent end to these perilous small boat crossings.'

Bella Sankey, director of Detention Action, criticised Ms Patel.

She said: 'It is devastating to learn that a child has now died in the Channel while trying to seek safety in the UK. This is a horrifying but wholly expected death.

'We have repeatedly warned Priti Patel it was only a matter of time before her toxic policy to deny safe and legal routes to the UK would cost lives.

'This death lies firmly at her door. She should consider her position.'

British Red Cross CEO, Mike Adamson, said, 'The loss of this young life is an unnecessary tragedy, and we're devastated to hear this news. Saving lives should be the absolute priority in any response or policies on Channel crossings.

'It's unacceptable in any circumstances that people feel they have no choice but to make dangerous journeys in their search for protection.

'There are no easy answers but at the heart of the response must be the preservation of life.

'At a time when more than one percent of the world's population has been displaced, we need countries to work together to provide the best humanitarian outcome that prevent these tragedies.'

Kent Refugee Action Network earlier issued a statement saying: 'We are devastated to learn of the death of a 16 year old boy in Sangatte.

'This death was completely avoidable. Along with many other migrant and refugee organisations we have been calling for safe passage for some time now.

'Meanwhile the government's response has been both chaotic and callous, and utterly against the proud British tradition of offering refuge to those in need.

'The government needs to step up to its humanitarian responsibility immediately and ensure safe and legal passage so that we avoid any more unnecessary deaths.'

Retired Coastguard officer Andy Roberts, 71, warned there could be more tragedies like this.

Mr Hamdallah, who carried identity documents suggesting he was aged over 18, washed up on a French beach yesterday after his makeshift raft upturned just minutes after he set out for the UK from Calais at 1.09am. Pictured, men use shovels as oars off the coast of France

The Sudanese migrant was one of many who tried to cross the Channel yesterday (some pictured arriving at Dover)

He said: 'This is an absolute tragedy. This shows the danger in attempting these crossings, especially in these extremely unsuitable craft by people with no knowledge of the sea.

'If these crossings continue, then there will be greater tragedies in the near future. Soon there's going to be 10, 12, 15 people whose boat capsizes and they die.

'Even if they're wearing life jackets, they'd only have a survival time of around an hour out at sea unless they were spotted and rescued because of the fear, panic and cold would hit them.

'They may well be trying to get over before the weather deteriorates, which is forecast in the next week.'

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has responded to the death of Mr Hamdallah in the Channel, calling it a 'tragedy'.

He said: 'This is a humanitarian crisis that needs a compassionate response.

'Nick Thomas-Symonds wrote to the Home Secretary last week to demand an urgent change in approach from the Government.'

While the British government has continually accused the French of not doing enough to intercept small boats packed with migrants, the French believe the real problems are in the UK

Ms Patel previously insisted she is working to make the Calais to Dover migrant route 'completely unviable'

Labour shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds slammed the government over the death.

He said: 'The news of the death of a 16-year-old boy in the Channel is heartbreaking and our thoughts are with his loved ones.

'The Government's response to the situation in the Channel has been lacking in compassion and competence.

'Ministers urgently need to step up work with international partners to find a humanitarian solution to this crisis, which is costing lives.'

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said on Twitter of the 16-year-old's death: 'Utterly heartbreaking. By closing safe routes to seek asylum we are pushing desperate people into dangerous situations with devastating consequences.

'Our Govt must make protecting and saving lives a priority in their approach to English Channel crossings.'

Desperate migrants are even using empty lemonade bottles to cross the Channel A man was found with empty lemonade bottles strapped to his body in a highly-dangerous bid to swim to Britain as desperate migrants turn to increasingly risky methods to cross the Channel. He was found earlier this month just four miles off the French coast as the number of people making the perilous crossing has increased recently. In another shocking case, a group tried to get to the other side of the channel in a children's paddling pool while some have tried wooden boats or kayaks. Some used shovels as oars to row across. Meanwhile, inflatable boats being used as tenders by French yacht owners in Calais have been stolen, reported a local newspaper, La Voix du Nord. Dozens of tenders and approximately 40 outboard motors have been stolen since the start of this year, according to the French police. Advertisement

Yesterday's tragedy is believed to be first known migrant death this year despite more than 4,800 making the treacherous crossing.

Last August, two people died trying to reach Britain - one of them an Iranian woman who fell overboard and whose body was found in Dutch waters weeks later.

And a 48-year-old Iraqi man was found dead in Belgian waters after he tried to swim to the UK using plastic bottles as a makeshift life jacket.

France and Britain are set to outline a plan of action which is expected to see France paying 30m to strengthen security in the English Channel.

While the British government has continually accused the French of not doing enough to intercept small boats packed with migrants, the French believe the real problems are in the UK.

Philippe Mignonet, the deputy mayor of Calais, said last week: 'Yes, I fear a tragedy one day at sea, but the British blame us for their own hypocrisy.

'The migrants go to Great Britain because they can work in the black economy when they want, because there is no control, not on the street or in the workplace.'

Mr Mignonet's words were backed up by Bernard Barron, president of the SNSM sea rescue service in Calais.

Mr Barron said: 'The British criticise migrants for wanting to come but they do not criticise themselves, questioning the reasons that make their country so attractive.

'The SNSM now observes that the candidates for exile have mastered the sea and, with GPS support, wait until they are in British waters to send out an SOS call.'

Chris Philip, Britain's immigration minister, attended bilateral talks about the problem in Paris last week and agreed more money was needed.

'It's clear more needs to be done,' said Mr Philp. 'If we can make this [English Channel] route unviable, which we are determined to do, then migrants will have no reason at all to come to France in the first place.'

Ms Patel previously insisted she is working to make the Calais to Dover migrant route 'completely unviable'.

She earlier warned France the UK will not cough up millions of pounds for anti-migrant patrols unless it agrees to take back more refugees as she prepares sweeping changes to the 'broken' immigration system.

The Home Secretary told Tory MPs that she was preparing legal changes that would 'send the left into meltdown'.

Up to 50 migrants arrived in three boats before 8.30am yesterday morning. Pierre-Henri Dumont, the MP for Calais, on Wednesday blamed Britain for the teenager's death

In a Zoom call with hardline backbenchers she suggested that the system was being 'exploited by leftie Labour-supporting lawyers' who were doing everything they could to stop the Government removing people.

And she said that France's demand for 30million to fund Channel patrols and surveillance would be dependent on it taking in more of those seeking to get to the UK, the Times reported.

Recent reports have revealed how traffickers take advantage of vulnerable asylum seekers desperately fleeing their homelands by offering a paid-for arrangement at a camp in Calais.

The most expensive package, gold, costs 10,000 and means you get a larger boat with better conditions, less other people and lifejackets, as reported by The Sun.

One migrant who was hoping to make the journey in the next few days told the newspaper: 'The prices vary. It depends on the size of the boat and how many people are inside.

'People come around offering the crossings. We pay and keep in touch. They tell us when and where to go and pick us up.

'I'm looking forward to it. Britain is like heaven to me!'

The silver package costs between 3,000 and 5,000, and means you get a worse boat. And the lowest package, bronze, means you pay a prize of 1,000 or less and are often crammed onto a stolen boat.

So far this year, at least 4,822 migrants have reached Britain by boat.

On Sunday, a migrant in his 20s was attacked by a thug who saw him land on the beach at Kingsdown near Deal, Kent.

It emerged earlier in the week that any new, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children would be left with Border Force after Kent County Council announced it had reached capacity.

Charities say the situation is a 'scandal' and a 'political failure', calling on the Government to urgently find a way forward.

'I am still scared': Torture survivor who reached the UK on a rowing boat speaks out Speaking from an open space in the north of England, Jackson is a young man who has reached the UK after a harrowing journey from north Africa. Forced to leave his home after his mother and brother were killed and his own life was in danger, it took him years to reach Britain. He said: 'I am still scared, I don't feel safe because maybe any time I could go back to Sudan.' He is one of thousands of migrants who have crossed the English Channel by boat this year. A talented footballer and fan of Raheem Sterling, he is in limbo while his asylum application is considered. Jackson, whose name has been changed to protect his identity, spoke exclusively to the PA news agency about the hardships he has suffered and his hopes for life in the UK. Speaking through an interpreter, he described his time in the war-ravaged region of Darfur in Sudan. Jackson said: 'For me it's so hard. They killed my mum and my older brother and my cousin. I don't have any contact with my father for more than two years.' He said his father cannot walk after militia came to his home and shot him in both legs, and now lives in a refugee camp that is 'like a jail'. It is feared that hundreds of thousands of people have died as a result of the Darfur conflict, and nearly two million have been displaced. In fear for his own life, Jackson decided to leave Sudan, leaving a business he had started. He travelled into neighbouring Chad and on to Libya, where he was threatened and ordered to call family in Sudan to ask for money. 'I said, 'You can kill me because I do not have anything in Sudan. If you want to kill me just go ahead, kill me because I do not have money'.' Jackson said he was tortured with electricity by his captors as they tried to extort money from him. He was held in jail for three months and was forced to spend two weeks fixing cars for free in return for his freedom. Afterwards he worked as a builder in Libya to earn some money, but said he was threatened and stolen from. Eventually he was able to travel to the Libyan capital Tripoli and on to Italy by boat, where he lived in a refugee camp. 'You do not have anything. You can't see anybody.' It took him three days to walk across the mountains into France in baking heat. He then made for Calais, where he met Clare Moseley from charity Care4Calais, and immediately started volunteering to help others. He said: 'I tried to go to the UK but I didn't have a chance because everything was closed, it was locked, it's impossible to move to get to the UK. 'I was trying two years to do it by truck, trying to hide in a car, but I couldn't.' But Jackson said he was determined not to stay in France after experiencing racism. One day he and three others set out to reach the UK on a rowing boat. The gruelling journey took 10 hours with all four constantly having to paddle. 'To be honest, in the middle of the sea I was not scared because everyone has to sacrifice something in their life. 'I was confident in what I had to do because it was my dream. I was sure I could do it.' They eventually landed unaided in Dover, where police confiscated Jackson's phones. Now he awaits the outcome of his asylum claim, still scared that he might have to go back to Sudan. He said: 'I am sure I can prove I can have a good life. 'I just want a peaceful life like anybody, to do my job, do my hobby. Just a simple life.' Advertisement

Calais Jungle is home to hundreds who have already been told they CANNOT stay in EU - as 70% of migrants who sail into Europe from Libya do not qualify for asylum, reveals UN report

The Calais Jungle migrant camp is filled with hundreds who have already been told they cannot stay in the EU, it has been claimed.

Tony Smith, the former director general of the Border Force, has said that officials are seeing the 'same faces' among those attempting to make the crossing from Calais to the UK.

It comes as it was revealed that the majority of migrants using one of the most common sea routes into Europe are not in need of 'international protection', according to a UN report.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees found that more than 70 per cent of migrants crossing from Libya to Europe are unlikely to qualify for asylum when they arrive.

Vincent Cochetel, the UNHCR special envoy for the region, also admitted that a 'fair and equitable return mechanism' must be put in place.

The former director general of the Border Force, has said that officials are seeing the 'same faces' among those attempting to make the crossing from Calais to the UK

It comes as it was revealed that the majority of migrants using one of the most common sea routes into Europe are not in need of 'international protection'

If it is not, then 'the entire asylum system will be called into question'.

Of the 41,129 migrants who have come to Europe this year, 18.3 per cent are from Tunisia, while 10.3 per cent are from Algeria.

According to the UNHCR report, migrants who travelled from Libya to Italy and Malta made up 68 per cent of arrivals to Europe via the Central Mediterranean between January and May.

Around 8,600 people have departed from the North African country by sea, with Bangladeshis, Sudanese and Somalis the most common nationalities making the crossing.

The report reads: 'As of the end of May, an estimated 28% of the people who had crossed the sea from Libya are likely to be in need of international protection.'

The vast majority of those attempting to reach Britain from Calais have travelled over land through the EU, experts say.

The news comes amid an increase in migrant crossings in the UK, with a record number attempting to come over in small boats from Calais.

The news comes amid an increase in migrant crossings in the UK, with a record number attempting to come over in small boats from Calais

Hundreds of migrants have been landing on the Kent coast in recent weeks as warm weather and calm sea conditions encouraged them over from France. Pictured, UK border force officials with migrants on August 15

Former Border Force director general Tony Smith told the Telegraph: 'A lot of people who are in Calais have already been told that they cannot stay in the EU, some of them have been refused in a couple of different countries, but they don't want to go back.

'The French can't remove them so they are just their names and details and telling them to stop trying to break the law.'

Mr Smith now chairs an international border association including the UK border force.

He said that smugglers have the 'upper hand' and it will encourage more people to travel to northern France to 'try their luck' as the smugglers have found 'a gap in our defences'.

He also insisted migrants crossings were an international issue and called on assistance and action from the French.

He added: 'We must put the smugglers out of business. These are busy shipping lanes, the boats could get run over by a ferry without even knowing it, and babies drowning in the Channel is not what anyone wants to see.

'There is a real reason for stopping this no matter what your opinion on asylum is, this is a matter of life of death. These are human beings and these organised criminal gangs do not care if they survive or not.'
The wisdom of keeping the state borders closed Chris Uhlmanns observations (Comment, 19/8) are succinct. Border closures impinge on our freedom and it is fair to query why they remain closed. However, it is quite clear that border closure is the best way to manage the spread of COVID-19. Too many people have shown disregard for self-isolation and, in Victoria, disdain for donning a mask and obeying travel and curfew restrictions. Mandatory hotel quarantine has failed. Why would the rest of Australia want to experience what Victorians are living with? The states and territories are wise to keep their borders closed and the federal government right to limit the number of people coming into the country and leaving. This is good risk management.

Sue Bennett, Sunbury It is our right to choose where we want to travel Following Chris Uhlmanns comment on our governments totalitarian approach, I was pleased to see Ben Groundwaters comparison of travel freedom in Europe, with higher COVID-19 infections, compared with Australia. However, I take issue that we accept these measures and see the reasons for them.

As a retiree, I had planned several travel events this year. I have had cancelled two fully-paid, interstate trips and my cruise to New Zealand seems unlikely even though it is still scheduled. Numerous car trips to bushfire-ravaged areas did not get to the planning stage and I have not been to the beach house for months. But what are the alternatives? I rule out terrorism (no skill or equipment) or running the blockade (unlikely to succeed). All that is left is to raise a silent cheer to those fined for breaching regulations and write the occasional provocative letter.

David Maunders, Hurstbridge If we want to beat the virus, we must fight it together Arent we one country? In it together in the good times and the bad? When we march out at the Olympic Games behind our flag, arent we united as one? But this pandemic has illustrated some flaws in our national character. To hear the Queensland Premier say that Queensland hospitals are for Queenslanders is astonishing. Stop the politically motivated back-stabbing and self-serving sniping and get it together. Choose now, once respected leaders, and let us beat this virus.

Ronald Skidmore, Cranbourne THE FORUM In support of our state

I urge fellow Victorians to buy locally produced or manufactured goods and services in preference to supporting those states which have turned their backs on us in our hour of distress. This includes directing our tourist dollars to Victorian destinations once this pandemic is over. Beautiful one day, repellent the next.

Ramon Grant, Strathmore Pain of youngest students Rohan Wightman says There has been a lot of talk about the challenges to students in year 12 but there has been no mention of year 7s, whose entire school experience will be defined by the COVID-19 year (Letters, 20/8). The same applies to preps. They have only had about six weeks of face-to-face time in a classroom before lockdown, hardly enough to find out where to sit or what the rules are, before the introduction of remote schooling. Without the repeated classroom efforts of the teacher to instil the basics required for literacy and numeracy, many children will be at risk of falling behind and I am sure the Education Department will not advocate a repeat year for them. These children have not yet made friendship groups and play dates are not allowed. Mothers have tried their best but they are not qualified teachers. Like year 7s, it is heartbreaking.

Jennifer Toon, Williamstown Hope for the little ones

As a retired teacher of infant grades, I know how important that first year of school can be. It provides the platform for the rest of the childs education. I once had a school inspector tell me that the best teacher in the school should be teaching preps, for that very reason. My heart goes out to all the little preps for this COVID-19-interrupted year they have had. But knowing how resilient children can be, and how dedicated teachers can be, there is hope.

Elaine Coventry, Sandringham Only the most deserving All year 12 students will be eligible to apply for VCE special consideration. Can we be sure the new process does not become another means for some students to receive an advantage over others, given that so much money, prestige and branding is attached to year 12 results? Special consideration must be applied to the most deserving cases. The schools that were forced to close at an early stage due to COVID-19 outbreaks were concentrated largely in the northern and western suburbs, rather than the more affluent eastern suburbs. It is these schools that should be granted a higher level of special consideration, especially given all the additional access and equity disadvantages they have faced.

Grant McMurdo, Yarraville Protect the animals

Another article about animals being tortured overseas as a part of live animal exports (The Age, 19/8). We have specific laws around the slaughter of animals in Australia yet somehow it is OK to pack animals onto boats as though they were boxes rather than living creatures and have them tortured to death when they reach their destination. How is this allowed to happen? It is not OK for animals to be tortured so we can make money. Please change the laws.

Jillian Lockwood, Heidelberg Rethink an inheritance tax Ross Gittins (Comment, 19/8) points out the increasing wealth gap between generations which is being accentuated by the effects of the pandemic. The debts that the younger generation will face in future decades will weigh them down immeasurably. They will have lower real wages, pay more to study and struggle to buy a house. It is time politicians revisited the idea of an inheritance tax.\ Surely the elderly and Baby Boomers could recognise that a small sacrifice on their part  one which would not affect the quality of their remaining years  would go a long way towards reallocating some of societys wealth to those younger people who have sacrificed so much as a result of the lockdowns. It would help to alleviate much of the astronomical government debt and address the ever-increasing generational lines that will divide society in the future.

Jon Morley, Caulfield North MPs, try lateral thinking

I am 76 and an aged pensioner who also does some part-time work. Believe it or not, I also have a six-year-old child. No whinges, but there is not much income. My wife and I are managing on our savings and around $400 per week. Have any of our superstars in government (earning a bit more than $400 a week) had any thoughts about the cost of power, gas, motor registration and motor insurance during the pandemic? My utility bills have doubled in the last two months and while our cars are barely used, their fixed costs remain the same.

Jess Smith, Lower Plenty Learn to live with virus With less than a month to go until the end of the stage four restrictions, the Premier is yet to articulate our long-term plan to live with this virus. As New Zealand has demonstrated, elimination is impossible. While the rest of the world seems to be going about living with the virus, Australia and New Zealand seem to be intent on a Groundhog Day strategy whereby we return to lockdown whenever new cases present. This is not sustainable. We cannot go in and out of lockdown without irreversible damage to our mental and economic health. We need to find a way of living with the virus whereby the most vulnerable are protected and our healthcare system is standing by.

Will Bennett, Ballarat

Billion-dollar question Why did the federal government mandate hotel quarantine for international arrivals? There are air force bases for large jets in remote areas, with local accommodation such as empty military barracks. Even airport hotels are safer than mid-city hotels. Was it a deal to placate the very strong hotel industry? If so, it knowingly risked lives and misery to millions of people, let alone billions of taxpayers dollars. Will this question be covered at the Victorian inquiry?

Loraine Lamont, Beaumaris Whos telling the truth? Lieutenant-General John Frewen, head of the Defence COVID-19 Taskforce, told a Senate inquiry the same support for hotel quarantine offered to NSW and Queensland was available to Victoria (The Age, 19/8). Daniel Andrews and Emergency Management Victoria Commissioner Andrew Crisp disputed this. Surely there is an email or other written evidence to prove whose version is correct.

Patricia Norden, Middle Park Surely no doubt at all

State Opposition Leader Michael OBrien claimed that our Premier gave false evidence at the parliamentary hearing. A decorated officer has confirmed that the Australian Defence Force offered support to Victoria, including for security in hotel quarantine. So that makes it true.

Jane Wilson, Caulfield The suffering continues Premier Daniel Andrews has warned stage four restrictions will not be eased if coronavirus testing rates continue to decline, even if case numbers fall (The Age, 18/8). This brings to mind an old business quip: The beatings will continue until morale improves.

John Wilson, Brighton Passing the buck The Prime Ministers logic: We are responsible for aged care. It is run down and was unprepared for COVID-19. It is Daniel Andrews responsibility to fix it.

Tim Mahar, Fitzroy North

Very precarious shields Front-line health workers are crying out for proper mask fit testing to help reduce the significant risks they face from both known and unknown COVID-19 infected. The already distressingly high number of infections in our health system speaks for itself; people at all levels are very well aware of the risks and the precautions to take. However, in the community a large number of people are wearing face shields, which are useless in preventing either aerosol or droplet spread, instead of a mask. In high-risk environments, these shields are worn in conjunction with a face mask, not instead of one. The charitable explanation for wearing a shield is ignorance and an education campaign will fix the problem. The other is that the shield wearers are using them as a means of avoiding fines, to appear to be doing the right thing and to reduce the discomfort of a face mask at the potential cost of infecting others or themselves. Ban shields as a sole covering unless the wearer has a medically certified reason not to wear one. As a person who wore a mask for 40 years, I cannot think of one.Dr

Geoffrey Haughton, Sandringham The voice of authority

Ellie Zolfagharifards comments on female voices for smart speakers (Comment, 19/8) struck a chord with me. I changed the voice on our GPS from female to male as I figured my husband would be more likely to take instructions from a man.

Annette Bando, St Kilda East Holistic health care Sage advice from Professor Christopher Davey (Comment, 19/8). Government-funded, community mental health services, staffed by multi-disciplinary teams, can offer appropriate services for those who do not require or are not eligible for acute psychiatric care, but who do require holistic mental health care. This is also good for the staff in these teams who can work together and provide positive care, and reduce the reliance on often solo private providers. Let us hope the $32million allocated for mental health in Victoria is used wisely and Professor Daveys recommendations are heeded.

Lesley Osenieks, Birregurra But its my parcel This week a courier delivered a package but he took away the second parcel addressed to me. Australia Post refuses to redeliver it, claiming the impact of a coronavirus-induced rush. Instead, the recipient must travel and join the queuing crowd at a post office, thereby contravening recommended behaviour.

Roberto Keyhan, Eltham North

AND ANOTHER THING Credit:Illustration: Matt Golding Coronavirus First rule of a pandemic: Look after health professionals. Clinic and hospital managers, dont penny pinch when it comes to protection and care.

Susie Allanson, Glen Iris The pressures of year 12 plus a pandemic equals a distraught teen.

Ashleigh Magnezi, Caulfield

Masks are required to be removed before entering a bank. The trouble is finding a branch which is open.

John Acott, Sandringham Greg Foyster (How to stuff up a DIY mask in 26 steps, 18/8), you are hilarious. Thank you.

Eve Bergin, Seaford To address the problem of not enough people being tested, we need to encourage hypochondria.

Sandra Torpey, Hawthorn Anti-vaxxers, its probable that future international travel will require tourists to have had a COVID-19 vaccination.

Ian Powell, Glen Waverley World

Kamala has Donalds number. Go girl.

Margaret Skeen, Point Lonsdale Hold the front page. Trump pardons someone (US suffragist Susan B. Anthony) who wasnt one of his stooges.

Tim Durbridge, Brunswick If things go pear-shaped for Trump, he could always get a gig as a stand-up comic. Nah, maybe not.

Dawn Richards, Huntingdale If you spit over your neighbours fence, expect him to spit back.

Terry Malone, Warburton Furthermore
Authorities have released the name of a man shot to death Wednesday afternoon in east Birmingham.

Birmingham police identified the victim as Cadarius Killian. He was 24.

The shooting happened at 4:33 p.m. in the citys Gate City public housing community. Police received a 911 call reporting a person shot in the 7500 block of 66th Court Way South in Gate City. When they arrived on the scene, they Killian unresponsive in a grassy area near an apartment. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

Sgt. Rod Mauldin said the preliminary investigation shows a group of people were gathered in the area when some kind of altercation erupted. Neighbors reported hearing multiple gunshots.

Mauldin said the motive appears to stem from retaliation involving previous illegal activity. He did not elaborate.

Family members said they were told Killian was killed over $1 involving a dice game. Police have not confirmed that report.

No arrests have been made in the deadly shooting. We do know there were multiple people in the area,' Mauldin said, and investigators need those potential witnesses to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
US had formally notified withdrawal from bilateral deals with HK, covering surrender of fugitives, transfer of prisoners and tax exemptions

Hong Kong: Hong Kong on Thursday accused America of using the city as a pawn in ties with China as it slammed a US decision to withdraw from three accords on extradition and taxation.

The United States formally notified the Asian financial hub on Wednesday that it had withdrawn from bilateral deals covering the surrender of fugitives, transfer of prisoners and tax exemptions on income from shipping.

Washington's move came in response to the imposition by China of a national security law in Hong Kong that critics say is an attack on freedoms in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.

"These steps underscore our deep concern regarding Beijing's decision to impose the national security law, which has crushed the freedoms of the people of Hong Kong," the US Department of State said.

But a Hong Kong government spokesperson on Thursday said abandoning the deals created further "troubles in the China-US relationship, using Hong Kong as a pawn", and "should be condemned by the international community".

He said the decision reflects a "disrespect for bilateralism and multilateralism" under the administration of US President Donald Trump.

Beijing also criticised the "wrong actions of the US", saying China has decided Hong Kong would suspend its agreement with the US on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a regular press briefing: "Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs... China urges the US to immediately correct its wrong decision."

The US announcement followed an earlier decision by Trump to revoke the preferential trade status afforded Hong Kong under American law, as Beijing clamps down on the territory after huge and often violent pro-democracy protests last year.

Hong Kong authorities said the three agreements terminated on Wednesday were negotiated "in good faith to benefit the peoples and businesses of both sides".

The spokesperson added that ending the tax exemptions would increase the operating costs of shipping companies.

"It will hamper the development of the shipping sector between Hong Kong and the US, and is in nobody's interest," he said.

Earlier this month Washington imposed sanctions on Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam along with 10 other senior officials in the city, and criminalised any US financial transactions with the group.

It also required goods imported from Hong Kong to be marked as "made in China" rather than "made in Hong Kong" as previously.
Teaching staff in the pre-university units will receive 500,000 school tablets and IT equipment worth 100 million euro, necessary for the good conduct of classes, following the situation generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Funds Minister (MFE) announced Thursday.

Furthermore, schools will be fitted with medical protection equipment and disinfectants, worth 50 million euro, as well as mobile healthcare containers, where another 25 million euro will be invested."Financing, from non-refundable European funds, were provided for in the Emergency Ordinance regarding measures to allot foreign non-refundable funds necessary to conduct in prevention conditions the education activities pertaining to school year 2020-2021 in the context of infection risk for SARS-CoV-2, adopted yesterday in the government session. Of the 100 million euro destined to IT equipment, 87.5 million euro are from non-refundable European funds and 12.5 million is the contribution of the Romanian state. The other types of protection equipment and the health containers will be acquired through the Operational Program Large Infrastructure," the release mentions.According to the quoted source, the acquisition of mobile healthcare containers for school units that cannot ensure access to water and sewerage networks, with the condition of contracting in the conditions of the law the discharge services for the entire duration of use of the containers, is eligible in the limit of 5,000 euro.At the same time, settling up expenses for mobile healthcare containers follows the simplified cost regime, with the obligation of the beneficiary of the financing to submit justification documents regarding their acquisition cost.The beneficiaries of the financing measures will be the state pre-university education units, the local public authorities for state pre-university units, but also the partnerships between the two.
Attorney General Barr announced today that at least 217 people have been charged with a federal crime, and more than 1,000 have been arrested in major metropolitan cities, since the Department of Justice launched Operation Legend in July. The operation is named after 4-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed in his sleep on June 29 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Kansas City police announced the arrest of a suspect in Taliferros murder last week.

Operation Legend targets traditional serious crime. It is not directed at crime resulting from the civil unrest sparked by BLM and Antifa.

Pursuant to Operation Legend, the federal government has dispatched more than 1,000 additional agents from the FBI, ATF, Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Marshals Service to nine U.S. cities. There, the feds work with with state and local law enforcement personnel.

Most of the 217 defendants are charged with drug and gun-related crimes. However, federal investigators have also assisted state and local authorities in bringing homicide charges against more than 90 defendants, according to Barr.

In Chicago, 61 defendants have been charged with federal crimes. In Kansas City, the total is 43 defendants. In addition, 32 have been charged in Cleveland, 25 in St. Louis, 16 in Albuquerque, 11 in Milwaukee, and 7 in Memphis. I call that a good start.

Fox News report on the operation is here. ABC News is here.

Note this passage in the ABC News report by Alexander Mallin:

During the news conference, Barr addressed the recent uptick of violent crime across several parts of the country, at one point saying, without providing evidence, that he believed it might be a result of a combination between pent up aggression to state and local quarantine orders, the premature release of dangerous criminals by the courts during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Defund the Police movement.

(Emphasis added)

Im not sure why evidence should be expected when someone lists things that might be the cause of a recent increase in serious crime. What would count as evidence at this early stage of the surge? Completed questionnaires from criminals?

I wonder what ABC News Mallin thinks has caused the increase in crime, if not the things Barr mentioned as possibilities. Bad luck?
In line with General Secretary Xi Jinping's remarks in an instruction on ending food waste and promoting thrift, which was released on August 11, the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) launched an initiative calling on women and families to stop wasting food and promote thrifty habits.

The ACWF called on women and families to resist wasting food and become practitioners of cherishing and saving food. Women and families are also called on to keep frugal homemaking and be advocators of a low-carbon and healthy lifestyle, and pass on fine virtues and promote the trend of thrifty living in the new era.

The initiative noted that women's federations at all levels should push their group members, executive committees' members and women volunteers  especially those in the catering and tourism industries  to educate their communities on the issue of food waste and the benefits of cultivating thrifty habits.

The women's federations were also urged to help foster a social environment where waste is shameful and thriftiness is commended, and contribute to a decisive victory in the battle against poverty and the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

(Women of China)
Vacaville, California: A series of large fires continued to rage through Northern California on Thursday, threatening thousands of homes and blackening the skies near San Francisco as crews struggled to surround them in the face of steep terrain and blistering heat.

The fires, many caused by lightning and sometimes pushed by strong winds, burned hundreds of thousands of acres as they chewed through brushland, rural areas, canyon country and dense forest to the north, east and south of San Francisco. Fires also carved their way through the wine country and the Sierra Nevada.

In addition to about two dozen major blazes, small fires kept erupting, though most were quickly stopped.

In central California, a pilot on a water dropping mission in western Fresno County died on Wednesday morning when his helicopter crashed.
Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny is in a coma and on a ventilator in an intensive care unit in Siberia after falling ill from suspected poisoning that his allies believe is linked to his political activity.

The 44-year-old critic of Russia's President Vladimir Putin felt unwell on a flight back to Moscow from Tomsk, a city in Siberia, and was taken to a hospital after the plane made an emergency landing in Omsk, Navalny's spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, said on Twitter.

She told the Echo Moskvy radio station that he must have consumed something from tea he drank at an airport cafe before boarding the plane early Thursday. During the flight, Navalny started sweating and asked her to talk to him so that he could focus on the sound of a voice." He then went to the bathroom and lost consciousness, and has been in a coma in grave condition ever since.

Other opposition figures were quick to suggest Kremlin involvement.

We are sure that the only people that have the capability to target Navalny or myself are Russian security services with definite clearance from Russias political leadership, Pyotr Verzilov, a member of Russias protest group Pussy Riot who ended up in intensive care after suspected poisoning in 2018, told The Associated Press. We believe that Putin definitely is a person who gives that go-ahead in this situation.

Doctors at the Omsk ambulance hospital 1, where the politician is being treated, remain tight-lipped about his diagnosis and only said they were considering a variety of theories, including poisoning.

Navalny's wife Yulia arrived at the hospital in the afternoon, but medial workers would not let her see her husband because she did not have their marriage certificate and the patient did not consent, according to Yarmysh.

Navalnys doctor Yaroslav Ashikhmin told the independent Meduza outlet that he is trying to arrange his transfer to a clinic in Hanover or Strasbourg.

Verzilov, who was flown to Berlin for treatment in 2018, said hospitals in Omsk or Moscow would not be able to treat Navalny properly and expressed concern about possible pressure from security services that doctors could be under in Russia.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday said it was necessary to wait for the test results showing what caused Navalny's condition, adding the authorities would consider a request to allow Navalny to leave Russia, which has not fully opened its borders after a coronavirus lockdown, for treatment.

However, doctors at the Omsk hospital refused to give medical documents necessary for a transfer to Navalny's wife and allies, Dr. Anastasia Vasilyeva of the Alliance of Doctors union, who also flew to Omsk on Thursday, said in a tweet.

State news agency Tass reported that police were not considering deliberate poisoning, a statement the politician's allies dismissed as a propaganda ploy.

The widow of Alexander Litvinenko, the Russian agent who was killed in London by radioactive poisoning in 2006, voiced concerns that Navalnys enemies within Russia may have decided that its time to use a new tactic.

It was obvious he would not be stopped, Marina Litvinenko told The Associated Press from Sicily, Italy. Maybe they decided to do a new tactic not to stop him just with an arrest but to stop him with poison. It looks like a new tactic against Navalny.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a tweet that he was deeply concerned by the reports about the suspected poisoning of the politician.

Like many other opposition politicians in Russia, Navalny has been frequently detained by law enforcement and harassed by pro-Kremlin groups. In 2017, he was attacked by several men who threw antiseptic in his face, damaging one eye.

Last year, Navalny was rushed to a hospital from prison where he was serving a sentence following an administrative arrest, with what his team said was suspected poisoning. Doctors then said he had a severe allergic attack and discharged him back to prison the following day.

Navalny's Foundation for Fighting Corruption has been exposing graft among government officials, including some at the highest level. Last month, he had to shut the foundation after a financially devastating lawsuit from Yevgeny Prigozhin, a businessman with close ties to the Kremlin.

Belarus' authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko accused Navalny last week of organizing unprecedented mass protests against his re-election that have rocked Russia's ex-Soviet neighbor since Aug. 9. He did not, however, provide any evidence and that claim was one of many blaming foreign forces for the unrest.

The most prominent member of Russia's opposition, Navalny campaigned to challenge Putin in the 2018 presidential election, but was barred from running.

He set up a network of campaign offices across Russia and has since been promoting opposition candidates in regional elections, challenging members of Russia's ruling party, United Russia. One of his associates in Khabarovsk, a city in Russia's Far East that has been engulfed in mass protests against the arrest of the region's governor, was detained last week after calling for a strike at a rally.

In the interview with Echo Moskvy, Yarmysh said she believed the suspected poisoning was connected to this year's regional election campaign.

Vyacheslav Gimadi, a lawyer with Navalny's foundation, said the team is requesting Russia's Investigative Committee open a criminal probe. There is no doubt that Navalny was poisoned because of his political stance and activity, Gimadi said in a tweet on Thursday.

Commentators say Navalny has become increasingly dangerous for the Kremlin as Putins approval has plummeted this year to a record low of around 60% amid the coronavirus pandemic and growing public frustration with the declining economy.

Navalny's ability to mobilize voters against pro-Kremlin candidates poses a particular challenge ahead of the 2021 parliamentary elections, points out Abbas Gallyamov, former Kremlin speechwriter-turned-political analyst.

The Duma elections are particularly important for the Kremlin, as the new Duma will be operating in 2024, when Putins current presidential term expires and he may announce running for re-election, Gallyamov told the AP.

Imagine if now the parliament in Belarus announced not recognizing election results, Gallyamov said. This would be the end of the regime."

"Thats why controlling the next State Duma is crucially important for the Kremlin. Navalny really makes it harder for the Kremlin to establish that control, Gallyamov added.

At the same time Navalny, who rose to prominence by exposing corruption all over Russia, could have other enemies, Gallyamov said, and may have been targeted by people featured in one of his investigations, if he had indeed been deliberately poisoned.

Navalny is not the first opposition figure to come down with a mysterious poisoning.

In 2018 Verzilov spent a month in a hospital, recovering from a suspected poisoning by an unknown substance. He told the AP that Navalny's initial symptoms  loss of coordination, pain, fainting  were very similar to his.

Opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza was hospitalized with poisoning symptoms twice  in 2015 and 2017. Prominent journalist Anna Politkovskaya was also reportedly poisoned in 2004  two years before being murdered.
The events of the past week have made it clear that when we speak together, we can create opportunities and openings for...

The feminists in the (unfinished) battle for suffrage in Indian Country

Indigenously

It took the better part of a century to pass a law saying American women had the right to vote. It took even longer to deliver this right to Indigenous women  which really short-changed all Native Americans.

For the longest time, the word suffrage has been aligned with the historic passage of the 19th Amendment, a decree ratified a century ago, this week, outlawing discrimination of voters on the basis of their sex. But in reality, such shorthand, couched in twentieth-century white feminism, was exclusionary. The right to vote in Indian Country tells another side of this struggle in which Indigenous women were on the frontlines from the start.

While the 19th Amendment represents a cornerstone of gender equality in America, few know about the way the vote was won or the limitations it imposed on people of color. Public school curriculum often portrays this history of the suffrage movement through the important advocacy of notable white women, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony.

But there were so many more who helped make female suffrage possible; a few of them were Indigenous women: lawyers such as Marie Louise Bottineau Baldwin of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Tribe, Yankton-Sioux writer, Gertrude Simmons Bonnin also known as Zitkala-Sa , and Omaha lecturer Susette La Flesche Tibbles

A century after their fight for woman suffrage in the US, Ida B. Wells, Marie Louise Bottineau Baldwin, and Dr. Mabel Ping-Hua Lee are featured in GIFs by @USNatArchives @smithsonian @librarycongress



Find them and share them using #19SuffrageStories!#ArcivesGetsTheVote pic.twitter.com/PVLLSVFjCc  US National Archives (@USNatArchives) August 7, 2020

Leading up to the ratification of the 19th Amendment on Aug. 18, 1920, these Native women participated in suffrage parades, made compelling speeches, and wrote commentary that would likely have gone viral, today. But more intriguing, Indigenous women were the source of inspiration for the movements lead organizers, Stanton and Matilda Joslyn Gage.

The women, two New Yorkers who lived on the colonized homelands of the Iroquois Confederacy, wrote how they grew motivated to make lasting voting rights change after recognizing the roles women played in the tribes. Then as now, the Confederacys six nations of the Onondaga, Mohawk, Seneca, Cayuga, Oneida, and Tuscarora functioned as a government based on female authority in which Haudenosaunee women maintained authority over their subsistence economy.

They also had final authority over land transfers and decisions about engaging in war. And they practiced a structure of political power shared equally among all clan families and their members  a pure democracy  what also inspired the birth of the United States.

Gage and Stanton, colonial women, lived under realities that were the mirror opposite of the Haudenosaunee. Womens Vote Centennial , the official site commemorating the 19th Amendment anniversary, notes the white gender dynamics of the era:

Another source for Gage and Stantons inspiration came from remarks Native American women had made at the 1888 International Council of Women, the first meeting of womens rights advocates in the Western world. Historians noted that Native women from across Indian Country were the only suffragists in attendance who held legal right to their own possessions or property.

Yet, these societal structures were the target of aggressive colonization tactics of the era steeped in Christianized ideology and racist civilization policies. In this regard, suffrage for Indigenous women represented a greater purpose: their sovereignty. One ethnographer noted a Native attendees views at the time:

However, such advanced equality recognized and embraced by Indigenous women is, yet, one more example of the injustices befallen on Indian Country  a direct result of Americas lasting lust for land. The taking of tribal territory also took away gender equality for Native women.

Today, we see the grave outcome of such disruption in the countless number of cold cases involving lopsided rates of deaths and disappearances of Indigenous women, girls, and transgender people. These parallel realities of historic colonization and modern-day crime rates are not a coincidence when reflecting on the Native suffrage timeline.

Zitkala-Sa, having grown her hair back out after her stay at the missionary school, and her violin. Photo by Gertrude Kasebier, 1898. Smithsonian Institution.

While women like Zitkala-Sa were inspiring voices in the early fight for voting rights, their visibility in suffrage activism would not fully transcend to Native American women (and men) until four decades later  an uneven path prompted by the Snyder Act of 1924. Also known as the Indian Citizenship Act, the law corrected the Fifteenth Amendment, passed in 1870, which granted all U.S. citizens the right to vote, regardless of race.

But the citizenship mandate failed to include Indigenous Peoples whose very lands laid the foundation of this nation. While the Snyder Act, in theory, intended to afford full U.S. citizenship to Native Americans, it was a painful process that took far too long to carry out. Nowhere was this more obvious than in Maine.

In 1955, Penobscot Nation voting rights advocate, Lucy Nicolar Poolaw , became the first Native American to cast a ballot on a reservation in Maine. The state is believed to be the last in the union to comply with the Snyder Act. As reported by Penobscot canoe maker, Henry Mitchell , in the 1930s, Natives werent just told they couldnt vote; they were verbally shunned by their white neighbors.

It would take another twelve years before Poolaw and her fellow tribal members would be eligible to vote in statewide elections in Maine. Lawmakers objected to the idea as late as 1967. Today, these political imbalances make Maine (one of the whitest states in America) one of the most challenging places in the fight for Indigenous rights.

Next month, the Penobscot Nation will argue before the First Circuit Court of Appeals, a long-standing defense of their Indigenous homelands  litigation not unlike the recent landmark victory, McGirt v. Oklahoma, which maintained original treaty-territory for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

For the Penobscot, its their namesake river that is at risk of being lost, a land battle that boils down to who has rights to a sixty-mile portion flowing through the tribes reservation boundaries. The State contends that the [Penobscot] River itself is not part of the Penobscot Nations Reservation and has relied on a legal firm that has long-defended polluters of the Penobscot  the paper mill companies.

For the tribes part, this latest stand to protect the river is as old as the history of the colonization of Maine, itself. What choice do they have, but to fight?

With Maine as an example of the destructive impact that disparate voting rights can and do have for todays tribal nations, it reinforces the hard fact that the right to vote remains an uphill battle for Native Americans. The biggest hurdle is voter suppression.

While the Voting Rights Act of 1965 helped to secure and protect the Native vote, a 2013 Supreme Court decision removed one of its most powerful tools ensuring equal access to the ballot; the ruling upholds controversial voter ID laws . Among the states hardest hit  Alaska and Arizona, as well as North and South Dakota  are where significant Native American populations exist.

As noted by twentieth-century suffragettes, getting the vote wasnt the endpoint, but rather an opening to change circumstances experienced by such communities as Indian Country. And in this unfinished struggle, Indigenous women are once more leading the way to even the political playing field, including the first two Indigenous women elected to Congress , Deb Haaland and Sharice Davids, the highest-ranking Native woman to lead state office, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota, and so many more who are running for office in unprecedented numbers

One hundred years after the ratification of the 19th Amendment, the prolonged political and symbolic disenfranchisement of Indian Country has its place, again, in reflecting on the passage of laws that shift power for the betterment of all Americans, not just Native Americans.

In this way, the Native vote  precious, if not almost sacred  represents the most powerful tool we have in our democracy, though not yet fully realized.

Jenni Monet is a journalist and tribal citizen of the Pueblo of Laguna. She reports on Indigenous rights and injustice in the U.S. and the world. This article originally appeared independently at Indigenously

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2020 / Thoughtful Brands Inc. (CSE:TBI)(FWB:1WZ1:GR)(OTCQB:PEMTF) (the "Company" or "Thoughtful Brands") is pleased to announce the completion of its acquisition of Golden Path LLC ("Golden Path") and Wild Mariposa LLC ("Wild Mariposa"). Golden Path and Wild Mariposa are privately held fast-growth, direct-to-consumer eCommerce brands selling natural health products in the United States.

The acquisitions will expand Thoughtful Brands' portfolio in the nutraceutical and hemp-based CBD product space. The Company already has a roster of established and successful hemp-CBD brands including Nature's Exclusive in North America and Sativida in Spain and Mexico. Golden Path and Wild Mariposa products are all carefully crafted based on market demand and product quality. Every product is also third-party tested for purity and manufactured in the United States in GMP certified facilities.

Golden Path and Wild Mariposa are current clients of Unified Funding, LLC ("Unified") which performs a number of eCommerce operations for Thoughtful Brands. In June, the Company entered into a binding term sheet to acquire the Unified eCommerce platform, signifying another key strategic growth initiative. This allows Thoughtful Brands to continue to grow its health products business more rapidly on an international scale, tapping into entering new natural health markets and developing new products.

"Thanks to our relationship with Unified, our eCommerce and technology abilities are first rate. These brands not only complement our existing natural health product lines but position us for continued growth and advance our Company as a leader in the space," said Ryan Hoggan, CEO of Thoughtful Brands. "An increased focus on consumer brands and expanding our market footprint constitute our core strategies and growth trajectory at Thoughtful Brands. These two acquisitions come on the heels of several strategic acquisitions which are key to our larger goal to reach new customers internationally and increase eCommerce capabilities."

Among other recent accomplishments, Thoughtful Brands recently announced a European expansion through a joint venture with Franchise Cannabis Corp. Through this partnership, Thoughtful Brands will sell and market Franchise-manufactured CBD, hemp and cosmetic products in the European Union, Switzerland, Norway and the UK, utilizing its well-established eCommerce platform.

Acquisition Details

The Company has acquired Golden Path and Wild Mariposa pursuant to purchase agreements entered into with the respect members of Golden Path and Wild Mariposa, dated effective August 19, 2020. In consideration for acquisition of all of the outstanding membership interests in Golden Path and Wild Mariposa the Company has issued 11,544,400 common shares and 15,055,600 common shares (collectively, the "Consideration Shares"), respectively. The Consideration Shares were issued to the existing members of Golden Path and Wild Mariposa at a deemed price of Cdn$0.195 per share.

The Company is at arms-length from each of Golden Path, Wild Mariposa and their respective members. The transactions do not constitute a fundamental change for the Company, and have not resulted in a change of control of the Company, within the meaning of applicable securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange. The Company has paid an administrative fee of 266,000 common shares of the Company to a consultant who assisted with the transactions.

About Thoughtful Brands Inc.

Thoughtful Brands Inc. is an eCommerce technology company that researches, develops, markets, and distributes natural health products through various brands in North America and Europe. Through continuous strategic acquisitions, the Company has a strong footprint in the CBD market, as well as the burgeoning psychedelic medicine sector. Thoughtful Brands owns and operates a 110,000 square foot pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Radebeul, Germany, where its highly skilled team conducts clinical studies utilizing naturally occurring psilocybin and other compounds found in psychedelics for the treatment of opiate addiction, while planning for future opportunities to create proprietary psilocybin products.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

THOUGHTFUL BRANDS INC.

Ryan Hoggan

Chief Executive Officer

For further information, readers are encouraged to contact Joel Shacker, President at +604.423.4733 or by email at info@thoughtful-brands.com or www.motaventuresco.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release, which has been prepared by management.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statement

All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including with respect to its plans to acquire additional revenue-producing natural health product brands and operations in both Europe and North America with the goal of establishing an international distribution network utilizing its eCommerce technology platform. The Company provides forward-looking statements for the purpose of conveying information about current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited those identified and reported in the Company's public filings under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law.

SOURCE: Thoughtful Brands Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602533/Thoughtful-Brands-Closes-Acquisition-of-Two-Leading-Ecommerce-Companies-Golden-Path-Wild-Mariposa
In a massive development, fugitive rape-accused self-styled Godman Nithyananda announced the launch of Hindu Investment and Reserve Bank'. Releasing a video on Wednesday, Nithyananda said that he will launch the 'Reserve Bank' of Kailasa as the central bank of his self-proclaimed nation on Ganesh Chaturthi.

In the 2:44 minute video, Nithyananda can be heard saying: On Ganesh Chaturthi with the grace of Ganapati, we are going to be revealing all the absolute, complete details of the Reserve Bank of Kailaasa and the currencies. Its all ready. The whole economic policies, 300-page document, is ready with absolute designing, currency everything, the economic strategy how we are going to be doing, internal currency usage and external world currency exchange has all been done legally."

READ | Nithyananda Ashram land row: DPS loses CBSE affiliation

READ | Nithyananda's aides are a threat to society, says court after denying bail

Nithyananda and his nation Kailaasa

Founder of Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam, this self-styled Godman was accused of raping a US-based disciple over a five-year period and charges were framed by a Karnataka trial court in June 2018. In March 2010, an intimate video of him with a Tamil Nadu-based actress surfaced. Nithyananda had fled the country despite being in possession of an expired passport, possibly via Nepal, and by using a fake Venezuelan passport. Nithyananda faces multiple charges being tried in several courts in India and was out on bail. He has skipped 43 summons over the last one year.

The website of this purported nation explains, Kailaasa is an apolitical Nation whose vision is enlightened living on all humanity. Towards this goal, it is dedicated to the preservation, restoration and revival of an enlightened culture and civilization based on authentic Hinduism that was once practiced freely in over 56 nations across the continent from Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Burma, Sri Lanka, all the way to Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia and Indonesia, but is now facing extinction due to persecution over a millennium.

READ | Bihar CM Nitish Kumar hails SC verdict in Sushant's case; brushes off 'politics' claims

Two versions of the passport for Kailaasa have been finalised on, one a golden colour and the other red. The flag has a maroon background and is burgee shaped with two emblems-one of Nithyananda on a throne and another of a Nandi. Nithyananda has appointed a cabinet to his nation and a follower and close aide who goes by the name Ma as the Prime Minister.

The website says Kailaasa is a nation without borders created by dispossessed Hindus from around the world who lost the right to practice Hinduism authentically in their own countries. There are 10 departments in the government of Kailaasa including one responsible for the Office of His Divine Holiness Bhagwan Sri Nithyananda Paramashivam, the government's international relations, and the Office of Digital Engagement & Social Media. Other departments include home affairs, defense, commerce, and education.

READ | Rape-accused Nithyananda sets up 'Kailaasa' island nation; seeks sovereignty

(image from nithayananda.org)
Roshne Balasubramanian By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: In 2016, when BITS Pilani graduate and Indic scholar Dushyanth Sridhar was walking along the Radhakrishnan Salai stretch, a scooter halted beside him. A stranger got down and said, Thank you for the discoursescould you wish me? Its my birthday.

 I happily did and engaged in a quick conversation. He told me that he often listens to my Upanyasams. Just as he was about to leave, I stopped him and asked for his name. Basheer Ahmed, he said and walked away, recalls Dushyanth.

Basheer was, perhaps, one of the several thousand beneficiaries of Dushyanths Veda, Vedanta and Purana discourses, which weave ancient wisdom with modern nuances, making it relatable to current-day scenarios.

Dushyanth Sridhar

Access to antiquities

Since 2010, the 33-year-old has been on a journey to dispense Indic knowledge to people across the globe by making it accessible to all. In 2018, his venture into creating an app, Desika Daya  a conglomeration of everything including Harikathas, talks, events, lectures and Upanyasams for free  has been a successful step in this direction.

Now, amid the lockdown, the modern Upanyasakar, who has the experience of delivering over 3,000 Vedic discourses (in two languages) in 125 cities in 23 countries, has forayed into the world of online teaching. For one to be a true Bharatiya (a proud Indian), one must be aware and appreciative of our Vedic scriptures, ancient sciences, arts and culture, and our ancestors contributions to the various fields.

Ive always wanted to take this knowledge to people across the globe. But a two-hour lecture would only cover a speck of this. Its important to gain in-depth knowledge. Thanks to coronacharya, these thoughts germinated into an idea in the last four months. Since I was already giving lectures and making them available on my YouTube channel, I thought, why not start delivering courses? shares Dushyanth, whose YouTube channel has over 70,000 subscribers and 15 million views so far.

Virtual patashala

As part of the Desika Daya Trust, the author of the coffee-table book Vedanta Desika recently launched Abhinava e-Patashala, a virtual platform, which dispenses Indic knowledge via different paid courses. Bharatiya Sara Bodhani, a first-of-its-kind comprehensive course will premiere under this umbrella on August 22.

We have received 1,600 registrations from sishyas across Asia, North America, Europe, Australia and Africa; 27 countries including India, USA, Australia, Singapore, UK, UAE, Canada, Lesotho, Uganda and Azer Baijan, he says. Of the sishyas in India, 86 per cent are from Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Delhi- NCR, Pune and Tiruchy, he adds.

Tapping into technology

For Dushyanth, taking the rich repository of Indias ancient knowledge by tapping into existing technology is the way forward. The ideologies of poet Kalidasa and guru Vedanta Desikar  One must not oppose something simply because its new and accept something just because its old, is still relevant in todays world. Just because Vyasa and Valmiki didnt have a virtual class back then, doesnt mean using the plat form, now, to spread Indic knowledge is wrong.

We have to accept whats new. Noble thoughts can come from anywhere and everywhere, and if not for anything, our ancient civilisation has always been quintessentially modern, he asserts. Though the courses will focus on presenting Indic knowledge, which is often associated with Hinduism, Dushyanth assures that the subjects will not be region, religion or nationality- specific. Its for anyone and everyone. Religion and community arent by themselves wrong.

What makes them obnoxious are the impositions. What is important is to respect not just your religion and faith but its also pertinent to understand the tenets of other world religions and be respectful towards their beliefs. This is one of the significant rules one has to abide by during the period of the Abinava e-Patashalas course, he emphasises.

Collaborations

While the courses will be spearheaded by Dushyanth himself, he tells us that he is open to collaborations. For instance, topics such as Nyaya (justice) and the Mimamsa Sutra are the ancient roots of logical reasoning. These will be relevant to advocates and journalists of today. So, I am open to joining hands with subject-specific experts, scholars and freelancers. While what you teach is important, how you teach something is equally vital. The focus will be on collaborations that enable in creating, relevant, understandable and meaningful content, he says.

A tribute

In many pockets of the world, India is still viewed as the land of snake charmers, and the most hackneyed images depicting the countrys culture are that of the aghoris seated along the ghats of Varanasi. But theres more to our country and its heritage. For centuries, it has welcomed people from around the world with open arms and been a cradle where many beliefs thrive. Chinese Buddhist monk Xuanzang and Iranian scholar Al-Beruni came here with their unique faiths, learned what the country had to offer and left with their faiths intact. We need to revisit our history  there is no bigger Kohinoor than the Indic knowledge we possess. Dispensing that education is the best tribute one can give to their mother-land, he says.

COURSE DETAILS

The courses will be split into two levels. Each level will have 20 classes (50-60 minutes per class). The second level (for both batches) will commence in 2021.

The registration for the second batch is now open. The e-lessons for the second batch are scheduled to begin on October 25. For details, visit www.desikadaya.org/aep

Topics covered

The first level in Bharatiya Sara Bodhani will explore and focus on topics including ancient sciences (Ayurveda, astronomy and astrology, mathematics and biological sciences, metallurgy, weaves and management); ancient arts and culture, Vedic scriptures  Vedas and Vedanga, Nyaya and Mimamsa and Puranas. Topics including the influence of Hinduism in South-East Asia and appreciation of literature in regional Indian languages will be covered, he shares.
TRENTON  Its the economy, stupid.

Former city councilman Duncan Harrison Jr. is pushing to reduce Trentons high rate of unemployment and gun violence by promoting local job creation.

We hear the outcry, Harrison said Wednesday in an interview with The Trentonian. Well, theres a lot of shootings going on. People need help. People need jobs. As my grandfather always said, The best way to stop a bullet is with a job.

New Jerseys unemployment rate soared to 16.8% earlier this summer amid a COVID-19 public health emergency that forced many businesses to close for weeks or months. At the same time, the capital city has seen an uptick in violent crime, recording its 25th homicide of 2020 earlier this week.

Seeking to make a difference, Harrison and business partner Justin Tyler co-founded a hyper-local jobs board known as Mercer County Works.

The premise of Mercer County Works comes from wanting to help people get meaningful employment, Harrison said. Once people are able to go to work and provide for families, especially locally, it helps stimulate the local economy.

Harrison served on Trenton City Council from July 2014 through June 2018 as an at-large legislator. He continues to work as the associate executive director of The Father Center of NJ, formerly known as UIH Family Partners, a nonprofit social services organization, and he launched MercerCountyWorks.com about two months ago.

Mercer County Works is comparable to major job boards like Indeed or Monster, but, We provide more of a personal touch as well as we focus on the local economy and local jobs, Harrison said. Our job board has a feature built-in  once you register there is a messaging tool where you can message the hiring manager. With us, we look at every resume.

We have certified professional resume writers on staff, Harrison said, adding the co-founder Tyler is one of them.

Tyler is a marketing director for an American private school in Doha, Qatar, and founder of Resumes by J. Tyler, a career services firm, according to a news release announcing the launch of Mercer County Works.

Both hailing from Trenton, Harrison has known Tyler for about 20 years, according to the former councilman.

Weve known each other for a long time, and weve had the same passion, Harrison said. We want to help people get the careers they deserve. We want to create a website where we talk directly to employees and people go on the website on their cellphone and find a job right there in the palm of their hand.

Harrison said Mercer County Works is a win-win for jobseekers and job creators, especially local employers committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.

It is our strong belief that companies that are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion are more successful as well as companies that are re-entry friendly, Harrison said, adding employers should judge jobseekers not on their past but the skills and merits they have.

A former elected official who ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2018, Harrison knows many of the politicians in the Trenton area.

The former councilman will reach out to municipal officials and to the Mercer County One-Stop Career Center in the coming weeks, he said, asking them to partner with his newly created jobs board to help put people to work.

We are definitely looking for employers who are hiring for remote jobs as well as those who take the necessary precautions to make sure employees are safe, Harrison said. We look forward to working with our local legislators and municipalities to help as many people as we can to get gainful employment or launch their careers.

New Jerseys unemployment rate fell by 3 percentage points in July to 13.8% driven exclusively by job gains in the private sector, for local governments and other public entities slashed thousands of jobs statewide, according to data released Thursday.

With employers looking to hire, We want to make sure we really wrap career services around the individual, Harrison said, to make sure they have every tool they need to successfully get the job.
In one of his cruel dissections of his colleagues, David Lloyd George once compared the great Lord Kitchener in the Great War to one of those revolving lighthouses which radiates momentary gleams of revealing light far out into the surrounding gloom and then suddenly relapses into complete darkness. In the Middle East, we are a little like Kitchener. We gaze aghast at an enormous explosion in Beirut, wonder at the treacherous new peace between Israel and a tiny Gulf monarchy, but then permit the darkness to return.

Thus, just three days ago, far off in the hot desert gloom of eastern Syria, we missed another explosion, far smaller in size than any in neighbouring Lebanon but one which cast an all too revealing light on a nearly forgotten war. The blast was beside a road scarcely fifteen miles east of the Syrian city of Deir Ezzor, and it killed a Russian major-general. His convoy was returning from what the Russian defence ministry, in a grimly brief and unhelpful report, called a humanitarian operation.

The bomb was an improvised explosive device  an amateur roadside booby-trap of the kind which killed so many US soldiers in Iraq and has struck many Syrian army personnel over the past nine years. The general  a senior military adviser, according to the Russians  was unnamed but died of his severe wounds after receiving medical help. Two of his colleagues were also wounded but survived.
T he Sudanese migrant who drowned in the English Channel had been sleeping rough for two months in a French refugee camp, according to reports.

The migrant, who has been named as Abdulfatah Hamdallah, had been living with a companion in Calais before they made the crossing, according to a French official.

The companion, who survived when their tiny dinghy capsized in the Channel, gave Mr Hamdallah's age as 16.

Philippe Sabatier, Boulogne-sur-Mer's deputy public prosecutor, said that a travel document belonging to Mr Hamdallah said he was 28.

A Border Force officer with a child / PA

He added that investigators did not yet understand how Mr Hamdallah had made his way to France from Sudan.

Mr Sabatier told the Independent: "I dont know if he had applied for asylum with British authorities, but he appears to have done so with the French authorities."

Mr Hamdallah and his companion are said to have prepared for their Channel crossing attempt by stealing a small inflatable boat from a shop in the town of Sangatte, and took shovels from a nearby beach hut in place of oars.

One of the shovels punctured the boat, causing it to flip over, Mr Sabatier said, citing the survivor, who swam back to shore and alerted authorities.

Mr Hamdallah's body was found the next morning. UK Home Secretary Priti Patel blamed the incident on "criminal gangs" but Mr Sabatier said the two migrants appeared to be acting independently.

Migrants crossing the Channel / PA

Mr Hamdallah's death has caused an outpouring of anguish on both sides of the Channel.

Local French MP Pierre-Henri Dumont asked: How many more tragedies will it take for the British to regain an ounce of humanity?

The inability to apply for asylum in Britain without being physically present is causing these tragedies.

Nick Thomas-Symonds, Labour's Shadow Home Secretary, said the Government lacked "compassion" in its response to the migrant crossings.

Ministers urgently need to step up work with international partners to find a humanitarian solution to this crisis, which is costing lives," he added.

Migrants crossing the Channel / PA

Maurice Wren, head of the Refugee Council, said the tragedy "should be a wake up call" for the government.

"Talking tough is putting lives at risk. Its time for Britain and France to work together to ensure that no one else needlessly loses their life on these perilous journeys," he said.

"Safe and regular routes to the UK must be put in place immediately for people fleeing war and persecution.

Migrant charity worker Bridget Chapman, of the Kent Refugee Action Network, said: This death was completely avoidable. Along with many other migrant and refugee organisations, we have been calling for safe passage for some time now.

Meanwhile the Governments response has been both chaotic and callous, and utterly against the proud British tradition of offering refuge to those in need.

The Government needs to step up to its humanitarian responsibility immediately and ensure safe and legal passage so that we avoid any more unnecessary deaths.

Migrants crossing the Channel / PA

Ms Hudson-Wilkin, the Church of England's first black female bishop, said UK authorities needed to look at why people were making the treacherous crossing.

She told BBC Breakfast: 'We need to not just, every time there's a boat, throw our arms up and think 'panic, panic, let's do something about it, let's build walls, let's put the Border Force out. We need more long-term planning and thinking.

'We know the kind of hostility that those who are seeking a safe haven face, and actually politicians are often responding or playing to the gallery, so we as a community, we as British people, we must be very, very clear to all our politicians that we don't want the kind of knee-jerk reaction or language to pacify a particular group of people, we must be compassionate."

About 5,000 migrants are thought to have made the Channel crossing this year.
on Thursday said it has partnered with Australian cloud security company FirstWave Cloud Technology to expand its cyber security portfolio.

As part of the partnership, (TTSL) will leverage FirstWave's Cloud Content Security Platform (CCSP) to offer email security, web security, next-generation firewall, endpoint security and multi-factor authentication (MFA) Security Services.

This partnership will enable the SMB customers of to have access to a comprehensive smart perimeter security proposition that is robust, scalable and can be rapidly deployed at an affordable cost, the company said.

"The Covid-19 Pandemic has created a unique set of opportunities and threats in its wake. We are excited to partner with FirstWave to offer Customers a world-class Platform based Security Portfolio that will enable them to meet these cybersecurity threats, efficiently and cost-effectively," TTSL president for enterprise business Harjit Singh said in a statement.

Tata Teleservices provides security solutions for customers using public and private cloud business applications.

Tata group has sold consumer mobile business to Bharti Airtel but continues to operate the enterprise division of TTSL.

(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.)
Germany's main aviation industry group has proposed the creation of limited air-travel corridors between major US and European hubs, in a bid to crack open the nearly dormant market for transatlantic flight.

The pilot projects would link US airports in Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles and Newark with Frankfurt and Munich in Germany, along with other major European intercontinental hubs, executives at BDL, which represents Germany's airports and airlines, said yesterday.

The proposal, which would require passengers to produce a negative test for Covid-19 before flying, is an effort to revive a market that's the industry's biggest profit producer and help major European airline groups such as Deutsche Lufthansa and IAG to recover from the pandemic. London-New York was the world's top revenue-generating route, with more than $1bn (840m) in annual sales before governments imposed lengthy travel bans to contain the coronavirus.

Covid-19 testing exists at the German airports and could quickly be installed elsewhere, according to the BDL executives, Matthias von Randow and Peter Gerber.

Lufthansa, IAG and Air France-KLM all have commercial partnerships with one of the large US network airlines. However, the plan will need to involve the foreign, transport and health ministries in Germany alone, while a multitude of international authorities have to agree on which kind of test would be accepted.

Four major airlines in the US and Europe last month called on US Vice President Mike Pence and Ylva Johansson, the European commissioner for home affairs, to reach an international agreement on testing to allow broad transatlantic travel.

A reopening of transatlantic flight would give a huge boost to major network carriers, which on the US side include Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and United Airlines. The International Air Transport Association has warned that long-distance flying will take years to return to 2019 levels and has urged countries to unify travel rules to speed the comeback.

Europe's busiest airport hub, London Heathrow, is working on a testing mechanism and industry executives are lobbying the British government to replace quarantines with virus tests as a means of screening travellers from high-risk countries. A spokeswoman for Heathrow said it wasn't involved in the German proposal.
Bill Arnett, who traveled the world as an art dealer only to discover an untapped treasury of folk art in his native South, bringing acclaim to many African American vernacular artists, including the celebrated quilters of Gee's Bend, Ala., died Aug. 12 at his home in Atlanta. He was 81.

His son Matt Arnett confirmed the death, saying his father had a history of diabetes and heart ailments.

Early in his career, Arnett and his brother ran an Atlanta art gallery, and his journeys took him throughout Asia, Africa and the Middle East, in search of artifacts. His collection of Chinese jade was considered among the world's finest.

He was known for his discerning eye and for an occasionally abrasive manner that alienated some people in the art world. In the 1970s, he pronounced a wealthy collector's Chinese porcelains fake - a declaration confirmed by experts from the Smithsonian's Freer Gallery of Art. But the well-connected collector wasn't the person ostracized by Atlanta's art-world elite: It was the sharp-tongued Arnett.

His $1 million jade collection was promptly removed from display at Atlanta's High Museum of Art, Arnett said, and left in cardboard boxes in his front yard while he was out of town. He refused to set foot inside the High Museum for years.

"There was the work," former High Museum director Ned Rifkin told The Washington Post in 2017, "and then there was Bill, who was a piece of work."

Soon afterward, Arnett began to look for art in out-of-the-way places. Believing there had to be a visual parallel to blues and gospel music, he went in search of creations by self-taught African American artists.

In Birmingham, Ala., in the 1980s, he met Lonnie Holley, who assembled sculptures out of old furniture, branches, wires and bric-a-brac, often resulting in works that alluded to the struggles of Black people in the South.

"I'd been all over the world and seen all kinds of art in museums and cathedrals and temples, but I'd never seen anything so moving as Lonnie's place," Arnett told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 1993. "Nothing has been the same since. I had to go out and tell the world that there's this forgotten civilization doing this great work."

Before long, he was driving around the South, discovering others whose artwork had been ignored and overlooked, including Thornton Dial, Georgia Speller, J.B. Murray, Mose Tolliver and Joe Light. The art world called their work, whether in the form of paintings, sculpture or hard-to-classify assemblages, folk art or outsider art.

Arnett preferred the term "Black vernacular art," which he said was ignored by critics and galleries but was as deeply felt, as rigorously made and emotionally ambitious as the high-dollar works of Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Willem de Kooning, Gerhard Richter and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

"All of this effort is made to diminish these artists," Arnett told the Wall Street Journal in 2001, but they were making "some of the most intellectual and sophisticated art in the history of mankind."

Many of the artists encouraged by Arnett - most, but not all of them, African American - held low-paying jobs and had little free time for their art. Like a latter-day Medici, Arnett began to pay them a weekly stipend, typically $200, with the agreement that they would come to him first with their new works.

At one point, Arnett said he was spending $50,000 a month to support a network of artists and their families. He sold off other holdings as he built a collection of folk art so large that it had to be stored in a warehouse.

"I was buying enormous amounts of work I didn't want to get the pieces I did want," he told the Journal-Constitution. "I was trying to give the artists some financial security and confidence."

He arranged museum exhibitions for his artists throughout the country, including at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. But some people in the art world, and even members of the artists' families, began to accuse Arnett of exploitation, of running the artistic equivalent of a plantation society.

The most stinging blow to his reputation came in 1993, when "60 Minutes" aired a segment presented by Morley Safer, suggesting that Arnett was manipulative and cheating artists on his payroll.

One of the most successful artists whose careers were launched by Arnett was Dial, a onetime Alabama metalworker whose works sold for $25 when Arnett met him in 1987. Six years later, Dial's large-scale paintings and collages were going for more than $100,000 and he was living in a large house. "60 Minutes" pointed out that Arnett's name was on the deed. Arnett said he had helped arrange the purchase because Dial had little credit history and could not otherwise obtain a bank loan.

"They acted like I was supposed to be surprised," Dial told the Journal-Constitution soon after the "60 Minutes" segment ran. "But I knew about it. Bill don't own me." (Full ownership was later transferred to Dial, who remained on good terms with Arnett until his death in 2016.)

In 1997, Arnett and his son Matt first visited Gee's Bend, an African American community with a long tradition of quiltmaking. Arnett began to acquire the strikingly colorful quilts, sometimes offering more than $2,000 apiece.

Over a four-year period, he bought more than 500 quilts for $1.3 million. He arranged for about 70 of them to be displayed in 2002 at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, creating an art-world phenomenon. The female quiltmakers of Gee's Bend became minor celebrities as they appeared at museums in Houston, New York and other cities.

In the words of a reviewer for the Times of London, the quilts were "an astonishing revelation of the seemingly accidental genius of the world's most improbable colony of artists."

William Arenowitch was born May 10, 1939, in Columbus, Ga. His family ran a wholesale business selling items to dry-good stores in the South.

Arnett changed his last name in about 1960 and added a middle name, Sidney, after one of his grandfathers. He attended Georgia Tech and the University of Pennsylvania before graduating from the University of Georgia in 1963.

He then traveled throughout Europe for two years while doing market research for a food business, studying art and becoming a devotee of opera. He and a brother, Robert Arnett, later opened an Atlanta gallery specializing in pre-Columbian, Asian and African art.

In the 1970s, Arnett left the gallery business to become a lecturer on art and an occasional guest curator. When he began to focus on African American folk art, he heard one Atlanta grandee scoff, saying that it was "nothing but rusted tin and rotten wood."

Never one to forget a slight, Arnett later launched a publishing arm, which he called Tinwood Books. His financial partner in that endeavor was actress Jane Fonda, who had a substantial collection of quilts and vernacular art.

Arnett published two books on the Gee's Bend quilts and two lavish volumes under the title "Souls Grown Deep" - the same name as his foundation to promote the study of Black vernacular art.

With hundreds of illustrations, accompanied by essays from scholars and other observers, including the late congressman John Lewis, D-Ga., the two-volume work was described by museum director Peter Marzio as "groundbreaking scholarship . . . so profound it's subversive."

Arnett's wife of 46 years, the former Judy Mitchell, died in 2011. Survivors include four sons, Paul Arnett, Matt Arnett and Tom Arnett, all of Atlanta, and Harry Arnett of Carlsbad, Calif.; a brother; and eight grandchildren.

All four of Arnett's sons have worked with him in the family business of discovering and encouraging little-known artists. Arnett had financial setbacks and health problems in his later years. He and members of his family were sued for fraud in 2007 by the families of two quilters from Gee's Bend. The suits were dismissed.

In 2018, Arnett's longtime lawyer was disbarred for allegedly misappropriating hundreds of thousands of dollars of artwork and for illegally drawing money from Arnett's accounts.

For years, Arnett lived in an art-filled, three-level house in one of Atlanta's most desirable neighborhoods. He sold the house to settle debts - and to buy more art.

"It's fun to surround yourself with art," he said in 1993. "I imagine myself diving into it the way Donald Duck's rich uncle ran his hands through coins."
Warning: Pope Francis said a cure had to be found for the small but tremendous Covid-19. PHOTO: VATICAN MEDIA VIA REUTERS

Pope Francis has warned against any prospect that rich people would get priority for a coronavirus vaccine.

"The pandemic is a crisis. You don't come out of it the same - either better or worse,'' Francis said, adding improvised remarks to his planned speech for his weekly public audience.

"We must come out better" from the Covid-19 pandemic, the Pope said. After the pandemic, the world could not return to normality if normal means social injustice and degradation of the natural environment.

"How sad it would be if, for the Covid-19 vaccine, priority is given to the richest," he said.

"It would be sad if this vaccine were to become the property of this nation or another, rather than universal."

He added it would be scandalous if all the economic assistance, most of it using public funds, ended up reviving industries that don't help the poor or the environment.

"The pandemic has laid bare the difficult situation of the poor and the great inequality that reigns in the world,'' Francis said. "And the virus, while it doesn't make exceptions among persons, has found in its path devastating, great inequalities and discrimination," adding it had increased them.

Throughout the pandemic, many poor, who often have jobs that don't allow them to work from home, have found themselves less able to shelter from possible contagion during stay-at-home strategies enacted by many nations to reduce the contagion rate. Access to the best health care for the poor is often impossible in many parts of the world.

Francis said on one hand, "it's indispensable to find the cure for such a small but tremendous virus, that brings the entire world to its knees".

On the other, "we must treat a great virus, that of social injustice, of inequality of opportunity, of being marginalised and of lack of protection of the weakest".
Hillary Clinton on Wednesday attacked President Donald Trump, saying he was ill-equipped to be the president and asserted that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris can pull their nation back from the brink.

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday (local time) attacked President Donald Trump, saying he was ill-equipped to be the president and asserted that Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris can pull our nation back from the brink.

Delivering her remarks at the Democratic National Convention, Clinton, who was the 2016 presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, said people should vote for Biden in huge numbers so that Trump cannot sneak or steal his way to victory, CNN reported.

Do not forget: Joe and Kamala can win three million more votes and still lose. Take it from me. We need numbers so overwhelming Trump cannot sneak or steal his way to victory, she was quoted as saying.

Also read: Theres no vaccine for racism: Kamala Harris

Also read: Galwan clash: India, China to hold WMCC meeting today

For four years, people have said to me, I did not realise how dangerous he was. I wish I could go back and do it over. Or worst, I should have voted. Look, this cannot be another woulda coulda shoulda election, she said.

After Clinton conceded her defeat in the 2016 presidential election, she said that Democrats gave Trump the chance to prove he could grow in the presidency.

I wish Donald Trump had been a better president. Because America needs a better president than this, the former US Secretary of State said.

Clinton said that America needs a president who shows the same compassion, determination, and leadership in the White House that we see in our communities.

She asserted that Harris would face the same slings and arrows she did as a woman running, but that the latter can handle them all, CNN reported.

This is the team to pull our nation back from the brink, she remarked. Throughout this crisis, Americans have kept going  checking on neighbours, showing up to jobs at grocery stores and nursing homes. Because it still takes a village. We need leaders equal to this moment. We need Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, Clinton said.

She further said, This is the team to pull our nation back from the brink and build back better. But they cannot do it without all of us.

Also read: Karachi plane crash: Pak assembly panel calls for thorough investigation
The Ministry of Health this morning reported one more fresh case of COVID-19, taking the national infection tally to 984.

The Emergency Department of the E Hospital in Hanoi (Photo: VNA)

The patient, 87, lives in Thanh Ba district, Phu Tho province, and went to E Hospital in Hanoi for a health check-up on August 12.

He stayed at a relatives house in Co Nhue, Bac Tu Liem district, Hanoi, after that and was admitted to the Hepatobiliary Department of the E Hospital on August 13.

The patient was diagnosed with pneumonia after a CT scan and transferred to the Department for Tropical Diseases of the E Hospital.

He had his blood sample taken on August 18 and the result was positive for SARS-CoV-2.

The man is being treated at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Hanois Dong Anh district.

The E Hospital stopped receiving new patients from 8pm on August 19 and traced all staff who came into close contact with the man.

It was initially estimated that nearly 100 medical workers had close contact with the new patient.

All employees at the hospital will be tested for COVID-19 and each department sprayed with disinfectant.

The new patient lives with his son, daughter-in-law, two grandchildren and one great grandchild in Phu Tho province.

He had not left his house in Pho Tho for a month prior to travelling to Hanoi.

His familys relatives did not visit any COVID-19 hotspots and he has no underlying medical conditions.

There have been 654 community transmission cases, including 514 confirmed since July 25 which are linked to Da Nang, the countrys major COVID-19 outbreak spot.

One day earlier, a total of 15 COVID-19 patients were declared fully recovered from the disease, taking the overall number of recoveries to 535.

Among 459 cases in treatment, 98 have had negative test results for the first time or several times.

As of 18 hours of the day, Vietnams infection count stands at 994, of which 25 have died of various pre-existing comorbidities and COVID-19 complications.

Over 83,640 people are being put in quarantine, including more than 20,290 at quarantine facilities, 1,887 at hospitals and the rest at home.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has also ordered localities across the nation to improve their testing capacity, and be fully prepared for epidemic prevention work.

According to Acting Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long, outbreaks in Da Nang, Quang Nam and some other localities are being brought under stricter control, however, the epidemic is anticipated to drag out in the time ahead.

There are likely to be clusters of community infections in the coming time, Long warned, and demanded that all localities remain on high alert to detect new cases, and zone off in a timely manner. The sooner fresh infections are detected the more effective measures to contain the pandemic will be, he added.

Elsewhere, on the afternoon of August 19, Da Nang removed the lockdown on Hai Chau General Hospital after 14 days of isolation, making it possible for more than 300 people to return home after the quarantine period.
Savannah O'Malley calls her sister, Tennessy Fraumeni, an "amazing aunt." The women, who live in Tacoma, Washington, were pregnant at the same time in 2017, when O'Malley's twin sons, Lochlan and Lex, were born premature at 24 weeks gestation.

"When she would visit the NICU, she had a baby in her belly," O'Malley recalled. "It was pretty crazy for her to look at my twins knowing that the baby in her belly probably looked the same."

Visiting her tiny nephews in the NICU left a lasting impression on Fraumeni, who recently ordered a personalized face mask from an Etsy seller that makes a bold statement about why mask-wearing matters.

"This is why," the mask, which O'Malley shared on Instagram, reads.

Pictured under the words is a photo of Lochlan and Lex in the NICU, breathing with the help of ventilators.

O'Malley's twins spent 15 weeks in the NICU at Tacoma General Hospital, enduring multiple surgeries before coming home a week before their due date. In the three years Lochlan and Lex have been alive, their challenges have continued.

Savannah O'Malley with her sons, Lochlan and Lex, and her sister, Tennessy Fraumeni. (Savannah O'Malley)

"We have attended over a hundred doctor and specialist appointments," said O'Malley, who advocates for preemies through her blog, The Smallest Fight. "Today, my son Lex is right on track developmentally, but my son Lochlan has had bigger mountains to climb."

O'Malley says isolation is not new to her and husband, Kyle, who also have 5-year-old daughter Poppy. In addition to starting their lives on ventilators, the twins came home with oxygen to help them breathe. At 18 months old, the boys spent a month in the hospital battling RSV and influenza. Today, they still maintain a diagnosis of chronic lung disease.

Savannah and Kyle O'Malley with their children, Poppy, 5, and Lex and Lochlan, 3. (Savannah O'Malley)

"Although they look strong and healthy, a respiratory virus can put them in the hospital," O'Malley told TODAY Parents. "When COVID became a clear threat in early March, we pulled our 5-year-old daughter out of preschool and went back in to isolation just as we had done when the twins first came home from the NICU ... I know most children are not severely affected by COVID, but it is not a risk I am willing to take considering a cold has previously hospitalized my boys."

Story continues

O'Malley says she and her sister hope the personalized mask raises awareness about who mask-wearing is designed to protect.

Savannah O'Malley's sons were born premature, leading to chronic lung issues. The Washington mom hopes to raise awareness of the importance of mask-wearing to protect vulnerable individuals like NICU babies. (Savannah O'Malley)

"Wearing a mask is the greatest act of kindness. You are not wearing it for yourself, you wear it to slow the spread of this nasty disease and protect the vulnerable, including babies." said O'Malley. "Preemies have little to no immune system  we are their immune system. They have fought like hell just to be here and we owe it to them to slow and stop the spread of COVID-19."
A fire that started burning east of Hood River on Wednesday forced residents of the Rowena area to evacuate, according to the Wasco County Sheriffs Office.

The Sevenmile Hill Fire had burned at least 25 acres as of 6:30 p.m., according to the Oregon Department of Forestry. Local fire departments began fighting the fire, and units that had been working on the Mosier Creek Fire, which had started in the same area about a week ago, were called to assist.

The sheriffs office said in a Facebook post that residents of Sevenmile Hill Road were ordered to evacuate immediately. The order includes residents along Chenowith Road to the Brownscreek Road intersection, including Oak Hill Drive and McDonald Way.

Residents of Brownscreek Road to the 4500 block of Cherry Heights Road were told to be ready to evacuate if necessary.

Track wildfires around the U.S. with The Oregonian/OregonLives wildfire map.

Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
RICHMOND - Former governor Terry McAuliffe has filed paperwork with the Virginia elections office to create a campaign committee to run for governor in 2021, but the Democrat's spokesman said that it's a technicality and that there's no candidacy. Yet.

"Governor McAuliffe is making no decisions on 2021 until after we defeat Donald Trump and his hateful ideology. This represents a paperwork change suggested by our accountant and lawyer," spokesman Brennan Bilberry said via text message.

The state paperwork - filed Wednesday and first reported by the Virginia Public Access Project - converts McAuliffe's existing political action committee, Common Good Virginia, into a candidate committee called Virginians for Common Good.

The new committee's chairwoman is listed as state Sen. L. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, who was charged with two felonies earlier this week in connection with her alleged role in the toppling of a Confederate statue. Lucas, the first African American woman to serve as president pro tempore of the Senate, has slammed the charges as political persecution over her efforts to pass legislation to overhaul police oversight.

McAuliffe, who served as governor from 2014 to 2018, is a prodigious party fundraiser who has already banked almost $1.7 million in his political action committee this year. The filing change would make it easier for him to quickly switch to a gubernatorial campaign operation after the presidential election in November, associates close to McAuliffe said, but doesn't commit him to such a decision.

McAuliffe has been fanning speculation all year, although he has also been mentioned as a possible Cabinet secretary in a potential Joe Biden administration.

Virginia Democrats have begun lining up for next year's race to succeed Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam. The state Constitution prevents an incumbent governor from seeking a second consecutive four-year term, but does not stop a former governor from running again later.

McAuliffe left office highly popular among Democrats, but some in the party are committed to seeing a woman or minority candidate win the nomination next year.

State Sen. Jennifer L. McClellan of Richmond and Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy of Prince William have declared their intent to run. Carroll Foy has raised almost $800,000 and McClellan more than $400,000. Both are African American, and ifsuccessful would be only the second Black governor to win election in Virginia since Reconstruction. No woman has ever served as Virginia governor.

Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax and Attorney General Mark Herring have also signaled an intent to run, and Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney - a McAuliffe protege - has long harbored ambitions, but so far is running for re-election.

On the Republican side, only state Sen. Amanda Chase of Chesterfield has declared. Delegate and former House speaker Kirk Cox of Colonial Heights has said he is considering a run, as has Northern Virginia entrepreneur Pete Snyder, who unsuccessfully sought the 2013 GOP nomination for lieutenant governor, and former state senator Charles "Bill" Carrico of Grayson County in the state's far southwest.
20.08.2020 LISTEN

Chairperson of the Ghana Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance, Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai, has called for equal social interventions in the treatment of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) as it is done in the treatment of COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

She said the treatment for COVID-19 is done freely by the government, neglecting persons with NCDs like hypertension, diabetes, cancers among others who are at the high risks of contracting and dying from the coronavirus, a case she described as discriminatory.

Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai, who is also the Chairperson of Ghana Cancer Board, made the call during a breast cancer screening for the Womens Ministry of the Brofeyedu Church of Pentecost, in the Atwima Kwanwoma district of the Ashanti region on Wednesday, August 19.

The screening was the first community engagement by the Breast Care International (BCI) and Peace Love Hospitals (PLS) after the easing of COVID-19 restrictions by President Nana Akufo Addo, which was imposed on March 2020.

The women were sensitised on the causes, control and prevention of breast cancer, after which a free breast cancer screening was done.

If the cost of treatments for the coronavirus patients were born by the government, why cant the same done in the treatment of NCDs? If the tests, diagnostic procedures are covered freely, why should the government has to discriminate? she quizzes.

Dr Wiafe stated, it is as if no other disease exits apart from the coronavirus. We should change the attitude of discriminate, treat them and give social support to patients diagnosed and those battling with the NCD. The government should look at it and absorb all the costs involved to save more lives.

She continued, COVID-19 did not come to stop cancers, it did not come trade places with the NCDs so we cannot also stop creating awareness about the NCDs, especially the breast cancer which is killing the women. Because of the COVID era, most women were scared to go to hospital for the fear of been diagnosed with the virus and activities were halted which has lead to the reporting of advanced stages of breast cancer. So its time the government intervene in the form of funding to avert this serious situation."

COVID-19 pandemic

Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai cautioned that though the incidence and mortality in COVID-19 have reduced, the public should not lose guard but continue to observe the safety etiquettes to eliminate the virus.

Lets not take things for granted after seeing that active cases have drastically reduced. Let us continue to practice the social distancing, washing and sanitizing of the hands and wearing of the nose masks to halt the spread of the virus, she advised.
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy Progress, a subsidiary of Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), has successfully closed a $700 million debt offering with the help of seven diverse and minority-owned financial firms.

This transaction, which involved African American-, disabled-veteran-, Hispanic- and women-owned brokerage firms as co-underwriters to sell the notes, marks the fourth significant transaction since 2016 by a Duke Energy franchise that engaged diversity-owned financial institutions as it raises low-cost capital for investments in cleaner, smarter energy infrastructure. Duke Energy Ohio, Duke Energy Florida and Piedmont Natural Gas have also completed similar transactions.

"As we look at recent events across our nation, engaging banks led by minority-owned professionals has never been more important" said Steve Young, Duke Energy's chief financial officer. "This transaction is yet another example of our long-standing commitment to diversity, inclusion and equity. Ultimately, this deal benefits our customers through capital and betters our communities as we support for minority-owned businesses."

The joint bookrunners included Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Academy Securities, Inc., C.L. King & Associates, Inc., Great Pacific Securities, Loop Capital Markets LLC, Mischler Financial Group, Inc., Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc. and Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC.

"By doing business with minority-owned banks, Duke Energy is making a statement in the business community and positioning itself as a pacesetter by providing joint bookrunner opportunities for diverse firms," said Jim Reynolds, Chairman and CEO of Loop Capital Markets. "This isn't the first time Duke Energy has taken deliberate steps to find ways to incorporate such firms into their transactions, and we appreciate the partnership. As an African-American owned financial services firm, we are proud of our expertise, caliber of service and the opportunity to expand our engagement with companies, large and small, and work in deal leadership roles on their capital-raising needs."

Duke Energy Progress priced the bonds on Aug. 17 and closed the transaction on Aug. 20. Net proceeds will be used to repay outstanding borrowings under Duke Energy Progress's term loan facility expiring in Dec. 2020.

"Being a part of the change in our communities involves companies, like Duke Energy, looking beyond internal education and culture changes," said Young. "We must be intentional, going outside of our walls and expanding our working relationships to diverse suppliers, banks and more."

Duke Energy Progress

Duke Energy Progress, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns nuclear, coal, natural gas, renewables and hydroelectric generation. That diverse fuel mix provides about 12,700 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 1.6 million customers in a 32,000-square-mile service area of North Carolina and South Carolina.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S. It employs 30,000 people and has an electric generating capacity of 51,000 megawatts through its regulated utilities, and 3,000 megawatts through its nonregulated Duke Energy Renewables unit.

Duke Energy is transforming its customers' experience, modernizing the energy grid, generating cleaner energy and expanding natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy future for the people and communities it serves. The Electric Utilities and Infrastructure unit's regulated utilities serve approximately 7.7 million retail electric customers in six states  North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. The Gas Utilities and Infrastructure unit distributes natural gas to more than 1.6 million customers in five states  North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The Duke Energy Renewables unit operates wind and solar generation facilities across the U.S., as well as energy storage and microgrid projects.

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.

Contact: Catherine Butler

24-Hour: 800.559.3853

SOURCE Duke Energy

Related Links

www.duke-energy.com


The countrys migrant worker program is facing fresh scrutiny  this time from the auditor general of Canada, as the office delves into a series of massive COVID-19 outbreaks on Canadian farms that impacted more than a thousand workers and killed three.

Advocates from across the country will be consulted as part of the process next week, said Migrant Workers Alliance for Change executive director Syed Hussan. Interviews are expected to explore the adequacy of federally mandated quarantine measures, lax inspections and reprisals against migrant workers who report employers for abuse  as well as long-standing failures to address gaps in the temporary foreign worker program.

The solution is clear. The case has been made. The facts have been revealed to everyone in the country. We have seen for the last 53 years that a system of temporariness means that people do not have the rights to protect themselves, said Hussan in an interview with the Star.

Celine Bissonnette, a spokesperson for the auditor generals office, did not confirm who else has been asked to participate in the review or details of its scope. The report is expected to be published next year.

We are anticipating a number of audits that touch on the COVID-19 pandemic response, Bissonnette said.

The Star has reported on complaints of poor living and working conditions in the lead up to massive outbreaks on farms across the province, as well as reprisal fears for workers raising safety issues.

According to a new case filed at the Ontario Labour Relations Board, migrant worker Gabriel Flores Flores was terminated and threatened with deportation after he voiced concern about an outbreak that claimed the life of his bunkmate, Juan Lopez Chaparro, at Scotlynn Growers. The Norfolk County area farm has denied the allegations.

Currently, migrant workers come to Canada on temporary, closed work permits  meaning that their right to be in the country is tied to their annual contract with a single employer. Hussan said advocates intend to highlight their concerns with that model next week, as they have for years.

Without fundamentally having the right of (permanent residence) status, you cant assert any other right that you have, he said.

Anyone raising their voices will have to contend with at least the threat of reprisals in the form of homelessness, deportation and the inability to return in the future.

In July, the federal government announced $58.6 million in funding for migrant worker protections, and said it would work to develop mandatory requirements to improve employer-provided accommodations, focusing on ensuring better living conditions for workers.

As previously revealed by the Star, a 2018 study conducted for the federal government recommended the creation of a national housing standard for migrant workers, but the idea was scrapped following employer pushback.

Some $16 million of the funding announced in July is expected to go toward more inspections.

The federal government is also looking to improve its open work permit program, which provides an exit route for migrant workers who can document abuse at their workplace.

Critics have previously warned that the program should be an interim step only, because it fails to address the underlying dynamics that facilitate abuse in the first place: workers precarious immigration status.

The current system of temporary, employer-specific work permits leaves labour and human rights beyond the reach of migrant workers in Canada, says a 2017 submission to the federal government from a coalition of 20 advocacy groups.

Last week, the government announced it would create a regularization program for asylum seekers working in the health-care sector that would provide them with a pathway to citizenship. Advocates in 10 cities across Canada will rally Sunday calling for the program to extend to all workers with precarious immigration status, including migrant workers.

Every step forward where one family is more secure is worth celebrating. But millions are still living in uncertainty, said Hussan.

Status is not a gift. Rights are not a gift. Rights are needed for people to live and protect themselves and build a stronger society.
For me, the settlement means were going to be OK, Tiantha Williams said as she helped at a food and water distribution center at the Greater Holy Temple Church of God in Christ. But it is upsetting that its going to take so long because I just want it to be over. You just get to a certain point where you just hate talking about it.

Ms. Williams, 43, said that her 4-year-old son had experienced developmental delays with speech and toilet training, and that she feared that the water she drank while pregnant might have played a role. He was only 2.6 pounds at birth, she said, and struggled to survive.

The water lines in her home have been replaced, as have the lines in most homes in Flint, officials say. But Ms. Williams, like many people who live in Flint, continues to use bottled water for drinking and cooking. I just dont trust the water, she said.

The water began turning strange colors and smelling odd in 2014, after the city switched residents water supply from Lake Huron to the Flint River. The city, home to about 95,000 residents  40 percent of whom fall below the federal poverty line  had fallen into fiscal distress. While under oversight by a state-appointed emergency manager sent to solve the citys woes, Flint had switched its water supply to save money.
Liam Tunney talks to historian Nigel Henderson about how a Shantallow housing development became the unintended target of German bombers in 1941.

April 15, 1941. German bombers swarmed the skies. Belfast bore the brunt of a 200-strong Luftwaffe squadron, with 900 dead and 1,500 injured as a result.

Seventy miles up the road, Derry was hit only once. It was not the Germans planned target.

Thirteen lives were lost when a German bomb overshot its proposed target and hit Messines Park in Shantallow, home to a colony of ex-servicemen who had served in the Great War.

Messines Park was named after the 1917 Battle of Messines, in which the 16th (Irish) Division and 36th (Ulster) Division had fought side by side.

The colony was one of several built under the terms of the 1919 Irish Land (Provision for Sailors and Soldiers) Act to cater for ex-servicemen returning from the First World War.

Fifty-seven cottages were erected on a 10.32-acre patch of land in the Shantallow area, which had been purchased from Sir John McFarland of Aberfoyle on the Strand Road.

The land was bought for 3,206-04-03 - 185,640 in todays money - and featured a mixture of semi-detached cottages, blocks of four cottages and one detached cottage.

A memorial plaque erected by Derry City Council in 2006.

Nigel Henderson, a researcher with History Hub Ulster, has been documenting the locations of the 1,252 ex-servicemens cottages built in Northern Ireland.

The largest colony or collection of cottages in County Londonderry are the ones at Messines Park, he told the County Derry Post.

Ive been going through the records trying to get details of the styles of the houses, how many rooms they had, whether they had toilets and bathrooms and things like that.

Once a family was installed in them, they tended to stay there for life, but there were some issues with evictions due to non-payment of rent.

A lot of the guys coming back from the war werent able to keep up employment so they may not have been able to pay the rents.

The rents werent exorbitant for their time or the standard of the houses, but the ISSLT (Irish Sailors and Soldiers Land Trust), were strict at taking people to court for non-payment of rent.

You had guys who were evicted in the early 1930s and then another ex-serviceman might have moved in again. In Belfast, there were guys on the waiting list as far on as the 1960s.

Early plans show the layout of the ex-servicemen's three-bedroom cottages at Messines Park.

Initial rent for the houses, designed by Roland Ingolby Smith, chief architect for the NI Ministry of Finance from 1922 to 1942, was nine shillings per week, around 26 per week today.

On the night the Luftwaffe bombed the city, all 13 fatalities occurred in a row of houses facing onto the Buncrana Road.

Nigel Henderson said the attack on Messines Park was unlikely to have been in the Germans plan. Instead, it is thought the nearby docks were their intended target.

What I understand is that they were aiming for the docks. During the Second World War in Derry, there was a naval base there, he said.

It was a base for the Royal Navy going out on patrols in the North Atlantic, but they overshot and Shantallow was not that far from where the docks would have been.

Ten members from the Richmond and Murray families died in the attack, along with 60-year-old James Collins, his 21-year-old daughter Ellen and William Alexander McFarland.

The youngest victim was 10-month-old Sheila Murray.

Their loss was keenly felt within Messines Park, where a strong community spirit had grown since the houses were erected in June 1925.

A map showing the location of the cottages at Messines Park.

Residents established a local British Legion branch and an accompanying hall was built just outside the development in 1927.

A colony of ex-servicemen being settled in Derry has the potential to be controversial when looked at through a contemporary eye, but an atmosphere of co-operation prevailed in the aftermath of the First World War.

I dont think there was any sectarian sentiment against the houses, because for the guys who had moved in, religious affiliation was not a factor, explained Nigel.

What was taken into account was how big a family they had, whether they had employment, whether they were wounded or gassed in the war, or the standard of housing they had.

Some of those who died were Protestants and some were Roman Catholics and because it was on the edge of the city, they formed almost a small community of their own.

The attitude was that it didnt matter if you were a Catholic or a Protestant, a unionist or a nationalist, the guys served together. Both communities had been up for participating.

When those guys came home, the religious affiliation of their ex-servicemen neighbours would not have been a major factor or a cause for concern.

They had served together through a nightmare and living close to other ex-servicemen provided an opportunity for them to talk about their shared experiences.

This was something the veterans seldom did inside their homes or with their families.

While not their intended target, the German bombers would no doubt have felt a sense of schadenfreude at how things panned out.

Nigel Henderson is struck by the tragic irony of the ex-servicemens demise.

Its the only part of Derry that was hit in the German air raids, but it just happened to be men who had fought in the First World War who were the principal victims, he said.

That is the irony of it. They survived the Germans in the trenches of the First World War to then die during the Second World War from aerial bombing.

The victims

James and Ellen Collins

Father and daughter, James and Ellen Collins, lived at 55 Messines Park. Sixty-year old James was the oldest victim of the bombing and was originally from Eglinton.

He was stationed at Finner Camp in County Donegal when he met and married Elizabeth Doherty in 1916 at Glendermott Parish Church.

Their daughter Ellen was born in 1920 and was just 21 when she died. Both were buried in Glendermott Parish Church.

William McFarland

Born at Fountain Street in Derry City, William Alexander McFarland had been working as a fitter before he enlisted with the Royal Engineers in 1916.

He served with Fortress Company at Salonica for over three years and was living at Hawkin Street in the city before he was transferred to Class Z Army Reserve in 1919.

William married Elizabeth Reid in 1921 at St Augustines Church of Ireland and worked after the war in the Employment Exchange.

A member of the Messines Park branch of the British Legion, he was serving as a sergeant with the Local Defence Force when he died, aged 44, in the bombing raid.

The Murray Family

Six members of the Murray family, who lived at 59 Messines Park, lost their lives in the bombing. William (50), was born on Donegal Street and married Omagh woman Molly Gorman (39) in 1922 at St Columbs Catholic Church.

William had served with the Guards during World War One and was serving as a sergeant with the Local Defence Volunteers when he died.

Four of their children; Ita (13), Kathleen (11), Philomena (10) and Sheila (10 months) died during the attack.

Sheila was the youngest victim.

The Richmond Family

The 1941 German bomb claimed the lives of four members of the Richmond family. John Richmond was born in 1888 in the Waterside and had been right at the thick of the war.

Stationed in China with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, he landed on Y Beach, Cape Helles, at the start of the Gallipoli land campaign.

After being taken prisoner at Bertencourt, he was held in prisoner of war camps in Le Quesnoy Limburg and Dulman, before being discharged as no longer physically fit for war service in 1919.

John (53) and his wife Winifred (44), along with their children Owen (18) and Bridget (18 months) died during the Messines Park attack and were buried in Derry City Cemetery.
Smiths attorney said in asking U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree to impose the lighter sentence that because of a cleft lip and palate, Smith had endured a lifetime of victimization, isolation and trauma, which led him to become involved with online extremist groups. The Anti-Defamation League has said Smith was associated with the neo-Nazi Feuerkrieg Division, which it says advocates a race war and promotes some of the most extreme views of the white-supremacist movement.
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According to a new market report published by Persistence Market Research "Global Market Study on Osteoporosis Drugs : AsiaPacific to Witness Highest Growth by 2022", the global osteoporosis drugs market is estimated to be valued at US $ 11,226.1 Mn by the end of 2015 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.0% from 2014 to 2022, to account for US $ 14,786.7 Mn by 2022.

The global osteoporosis drugs market is witnessing significant growth due to rising geriatric population and changing lifestyles impinging bone health. Prevalence of osteoporosis is high among people aged 60 years and above. Moreover, increasing the prevalence of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, growing awareness about osteoporotic care, and increasing investment in drug discovery and development are also driving the growth of the market.

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Top companies profiled in this report are:

Eli Lilly and Company

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.

Merck & Co, Inc.

Novartis AG

Amgen, Inc.

Novo Nordisk A/S

Actavis plc

Pfizer, Inc.

GlaxoSmithKline plc

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd

Get To Know Methodology of Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/2983

However, there are various side effects and complications associated with osteoporosis drugs such as heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome, nausea, and ulcers in the stomach or esophagus. Furthermore, patent expiration of osteoporosis drugs also inhibits the growth of the market.The osteoporosis drugs market is anticipated to grow from an estimated US$11,226.1 Mn by the end of 2015 to account for US$14,786.7 Mn by 2022 at a CAGR of 4.0% during the forecast period.

In North America, the prevalence of osteoporosis is high primarily due to increasing geriatric population, growing obesity, and rising prevalence of lifestyle associated diseases in the region. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, in 2013, approximately 54 million people in the U.S. aged 50 years and above were affected by osteoporosis and low bone mass. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in the U.S., approximately 250,000 hip fractures are associated with osteoporosis.

In Europe, increasing aging population, changing lifestyles, and increasing consumer awareness about osteoporosis care are driving the growth of the osteoporosis drug market. According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, approximately 5.5 million men and 22 million women suffered from osteoporosis in 2010. Moreover, according to International Osteoporosis Foundation, approximately 27.5 million people in Europe suffered from osteoporosis in 2010 and the number is expected to reach 33.9 Mn by 2030.

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However, the growth of osteoporosis market in Asia Pacific is much due to rising geriatric population and changing lifestyles in the region. Osteoporotic patients have a higher risk of hip fractures, owing to a major cause of morbidity and mortality.

According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, by 2050, approximately 50% of the worlds osteoporosis hip fractures would occur in women in Asia. In addition, according to a study on Epidemiology in Osteoporosis in Japan by the National Centre for Biotechnology Information, in 2011, approximately 15 million people suffered from osteoporosis in Japan.
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The 2020 Smart China Expo, co-hosted by southwest China's Chongqing Municipality and Singapore, will be held online from Sept. 15 to 17, the organizers said Wednesday.



The expo, which has been held twice in Chongqing since 2018, serves as a platform to promote global exchanges of smart technologies and international cooperation of the smart industry.

More than 500 guests, including world-renowned scientists and industry insiders, have been invited to attend the expo, according to Chongqing's economic and information commission.

Over 300 domestic and foreign industry giants are expected to participate in online exhibitions, the commission said.

The three-day event will feature a livestreamed opening ceremony, 41 forums, 17 contests and more than 100 online and offline launch activities.

Using technologies of augmented reality, mixed reality and extended reality, this year's expo is expected to offer visitors an interactive, immersive and scenario-based experience.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity and will see Singapore become one of the hosts of the expo.

The opening ceremony will have a Singapore branch venue, which will realize a real-time connection with the main venue in Chongqing.

About 600 projects were signed during last year's expo.
Franklin Crump, left, a retired postal worker, checks his mail at the post office in Kendleton, Texas. Crump, an Army veteran, plans to vote by mail but worries the USPS will be overwhelmed. (Molly Hennessy-Fiske / Los Angeles Times)

To Black residents whose ancestors built this rural town amid cotton fields 50 miles southwest of Houston, 77451 is more than a ZIP Code.

Its very important for us to keep our identity. Thats our address, our ZIP Code, said Mayor Darryl Humphrey Sr., because of all the fighting and the work that my forefathers did.

Kendleton began when slaves were freed in Texas in 1865  more than two years after Emancipation. William Kendall sold them 100-acre plots of his plantation along the San Bernard River south of Houston. Many signed the land deeds with a mark because they were illiterate.

Those first settlers turned Kendleton into a freedmens colony with its own school, church, cemetery and a mercantile that contained a post office.

As the political fight over recent cuts to the U.S. Postal Service and changes to vote-by-mail plays out across the country ahead of the presidential election, it's highlighting the vital role of post offices in rural communities such as Kendleton, where Black people have long had to fight for the right to vote.

Humphrey, 57, a retired electrical lineman, counts the towns first mayor among his ancestors. Other Black farmers managed to buy land during Reconstruction but it was often taken  through inflated assessments, tax sales and theft by white farmers. But Humphrey's family kept their land, as did many others in Kendleton. Humphrey grew up attending Juneteenth celebrations at the picnic grounds that drew Black crowds from across surrounding Fort Bend County.

The Kendleton postmaster, like the mayor, school principal and other leaders, was Black. But they operated in a still-segregated South, where since 1889 Democrats called "Jaybirds" handpicked candidates before elections, ensuring they were white.

Local Black leaders braved death threats to file a successful class-action lawsuit, which reached the U.S. Supreme Court in 1953, overturning the whites-only primaries. They renamed a street in town after one of the plaintiffs, Willie Melton, and in 1993 the government erected a freestanding brick post office there with a plaque out front commemorating the landmark lawsuit.

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In the years that followed, the post office scaled back its hours and required residents to pay for one of about a thousand boxes even as Kendleton grew. When the government tried to close the post office in 2011, locals protested, lobbied state lawmakers and kept it open. More recently, Humphrey has been fighting to ensure that online orders  and associated sales tax revenue  go to Kendleton. Often mail, including his, is automatically routed to the neighboring town of Beasley. When Humphrey calls customer service, he ends up arguing, "How can I live in Beasley? Im the mayor of Kendleton!

About a thousand people live within the city limits, about 2,000 more in the surrounding area, the mayor said. During the pandemic, Kendleton post office window hours were reduced to two hours  10 a.m. to noon. Many residents who had started to vote by mail due to their age and the pandemic heard about Postal Service cutbacks ahead of the presidential election and grew concerned.

Humphrey doesnt trust the Trump administration not to use his post office as a pawn, even after the postmaster general promised this week to suspend any cuts until after the election.

They tell you something and do something else the next hour or so, Humphrey said.

Black leaders braved death threats to file a class action lawsuit for voting rights. A plaque at the Kendleton, Texas, post office honors their efforts. (Molly Hennessy-Fiske / Los Angeles Times)

On Wednesday, Charlene Contreras opened the Kendleton post office and unloaded mail wearing her usual blue uniform and a mask with the words, I cant stay home, Im a postal worker.

First to arrive was Trinesha McCullough, 37, a certified nurse assistant who said she usually voted in person at a polling place inside Kendleton Church of God. She said she was worried about older neighbors who could no longer drive, including her 70-year-old mother.

Youve got people who dont have that option of voting in person, she said before picking up a package containing a Christian self-help book.

Jessie Mae Jackson, 77, said she didn't trust herself to drive even a few miles to neighboring Beasley or Needville. She votes by mail and relies on the Kendleton post office.

I hope the good Lord it stays open, she said as she came to pick up her mail.

Jackson moved to Kendleton as a child, picking cotton with her mother. She never learned to read or write. She defines her political affiliation as righteous and feels strongly about voting to improve the country.

Its divided. God is not about dividing his people, she said.

Most of those visiting the post office Wednesday were Black, a few white or Latino, including a Republican who planned to vote in person for Trump.

Eugene Torres Jr., 58, a disabled farm and construction worker, said he would vote for Trump again because of the president's support for Israel. Torres sends money to Israeli widows and orphans and on Wednesday received a letter from a Bible translation nonprofit labeled, Christians condemned! He wasnt afraid the upcoming election would be affected by changes to the post office.

God will handle it, Torres said, and if anybody messes with the vote, His wrath will come down on us.

Arthur Hill drives to the post office daily to check his mail in his native Kendleton, Texas, a cotton farming town founded by freed slaves about 50 miles southwest of Houston. (Molly Hennessy-Fiske / Los Angeles Times)

Arthur Hill, 59, a disabled carpenter in a western snap shirt and KN95 mask, said he had watched Michelle Obama speak this week about how lives are at stake in this election and thought: Shes speaking the truth.

It gave me the cold chills, he said.

Hill grew up in Kendleton, where his family farmed cotton on land his ancestors bought for 50 cents an acre thats now like gold. He worries about local votes being stolen because its always been a problem of purloining things here. Instead of cuts, Hill said the government should provide the local post office with more resources ahead of the election.

They need help, he said.

On the other side of town, across the railroad tracks, retired postal worker Kathryn Ford was leading a tour of the local museum, including exhibits about the post office, the voting rights struggle and George Floyd (made by her granddaughter, whos dating Floyds brother).

We have survival skills, she said, Its in our DNA.

But Ford, 82, who votes by mail, said the postal service had been handicapped by cuts, including reduced hours and equipment.

Theyve removed so much, she said.

Franklin Crump, 64, a U.S. Army veteran, also worked for the Postal Service for years, at a Houston processing center, before retiring five years ago to Kendleton. He worries postal workers wont have the resources to simultaneously process mail-in ballots and daily mail.

Im thinking theyre going to have to stop this for the ballots, Crump said as he picked up his mail Wednesday, including a prescription from Veterans Affairs.

This is a priority, he said of the medication. I dont know how theyre going to handle that.

Crump was inclined to vote by mail due to the pandemic, to be safe, and said he was waiting for a ballot any day now.

But he plans to decide closer to the election whether he must go to the polls in person, risking his life like his forebearers to ensure his vote counts.
Airbnb books a stay at the stock exchange

The home rental company ended months of speculation by announcing that it had confidentially filed to go public. It was valued at $31 billion before the pandemic, but its prospects are now much murkier.

Airbnb is aiming for a traditional I.P.O., eschewing the direct listing model that Silicon Valley elders like Benchmarks Bill Gurley have advocated. (Its been pitched a merger with a SPAC, too.) The timing of the I.P.O. isnt clear, though Reuters said the company was aiming to go public by the end of this year.

Why go public now? It seems odd at first, given that Airbnbs business is so dependent on travel. Since the pandemic, Airbnb has slashed costs, raised emergency funding and laid off a quarter of its staff. But consider:

 The S&P is trading near record highs, driven in large part by technology companies.

 Airbnbs C.E.O., Brian Chesky, told employees last month its gross bookings have rebounded. (Business travel is an exception.) Expect that to be a big part of the I.P.O. pitch.

 Twelve years after Airbnbs founding, some early investors are eager to cash out  preferably soon, given the uncertainty of the November elections and the pandemic.

What happens next? Airbnb will have to reassure potential investors about its safety protections, community relations and accusations of discrimination. Would-be backers will also want to learn more about the companys embrace of stakeholder capitalism, which pledges to serve a larger community rather than just shareholders.

Facebook cracks down on QAnon

Facebook said it had removed nearly 800 QAnon groups from its site yesterday, and would restrict activity for another 1,950 groups, 440 pages and more than 10,000 Instagram accounts. The viral conspiracy theorys influence has recently crept into mainstream politics.

Facebooks announcement comes after intense pressure from major advertisers. Companies from Clorox to Coca-Cola have pushed for more control over the content their ads appear alongside. And as elections approach, disinformation spread on social media sites has been subject to increasing scrutiny. (The specific disinformation in this case? QAnon adherents rally behind false allegations that President Trump is battling a cabal of left-wing, Satan-worshiping pedophiles, among many other things.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 18:39:01|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Air France will resume passenger flight services on the Beijing-Paris air route starting from Aug. 20, according to the airline.

Air France will become the first European airline to resume passenger flights between Beijing and Europe, said the airline.

The once-weekly Paris-Tianjin/Beijing passenger flights will be carried by B777-300ER aircraft.

Outbound flights will depart from Paris's Charles de Gaulle Airport each Thursday and arrive at Tianjin Binhai International Airport following the related Chinese health regulations, said the airline.

Return flights will depart from Beijing Capital International Airport each Saturday.

Prior to the Beijing-Paris route, Air France resumed its passenger services to Shanghai starting from June 18. It currently operates two flights a week. Enditem
A P.E.I. small business owner is calling for changes to a COVID-19 relief program that helps pay for a portion of her rent.

Shawna Ryan, who owns Tangerine Hair and Spa in Charlottetown, says her landlord has to apply for the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program in order for her to get assistance, but so far that hasn't happened.

The program offers subsidies from the federal government to help reduce a business tenant's rent by up to 75 per cent. The federal government covers 50 per cent of the rent, with the landlord forgiving another 25 per cent.

Ryan wants to be able to apply to Ottawa for the program herself, rather than relying on her landlord to do so.

"We all want to get through this and we want to stay in business, but a few hard months for many businesses can mean the difference between your doors staying open or closing forever, unfortunately," Ryan said.

Rent deferred still needs to be paid

Due to COVID-19, Ryan's shop had to close in mid-March for two months.

Kirk Pennell/CBC

She had to lay off 13 employees, and because her shop was closed, she had no income.

Ryan applied for the provincial rent deferral program. That meant she didn't have to pay her $6,500 rent for the months of April, May and June.

But because it's a rent deferral program, she will now have to pay a higher rent  more than $6,700  for the next five years.

That's why she wanted to apply for CECRA. She said her landlord, APM Group, has not given her a reason why it won't apply for the program.

'We were under the impression you couldn't double dip'

Tim Banks, CEO of the APM Group, said he worked with many of his tenants, including Tangerine Hair and Spa, on the provincial rent deferral program.

But he said none of his other tenants asked his company to apply for the federal rent assistance program.

Rick Gibbs/CBC

"We were under the impression you couldn't double-dip, meaning you couldn't have one program and have the other as well. I don't necessarily know if that's true or not so we're checking into that," Banks told CBC News.

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Officials with the P.E.I. government told CBC News on Thursday that changes announced to the federal rent assistance program on June 30 mean businesses can apply for the federal program even if they have taken part in the provincial rent deferral program. But time is running out. The deadline to apply for the program is Aug. 31.

"Everybody has to work together here and we don't want to terminate a tenant, or kick a tenant out, or lose a tenant," said Banks. "That'd be just silly on our part, so if we had to give up 25 per cent, we'd certainly do that. However, I think they would have to come forward with a business plan to us to try to justify why we should be giving up part of our revenue while they are operating."

Banks said he's prepared to meet with Ryan to discuss her request. He added that APM Group lost tenants and projects because of the global pandemic and that will cost the company anywhere from $600,000 to $1 million in profits, including rental income.

"We never laid anybody off, we never kicked anybody out. We have no intentions of doing either."

'Program is poorly designed'

Louis-Philippe Gauthier with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business said Tangerine Hair and Spa is not alone in its inability to access federal rent assistance. He said many small business owners are in the same situation; they want to access the program but their landlords won't apply.

"In the update that ex-finance minister [Bill] Morneau brought to Canadians a few weeks ago, it was clearly evident that with only 12 per cent of the funds that were brought to the businesses used in the program  the monies weren't reaching the businesses," said Gauthier.

CBC

"The program is poorly designed and doesn't respond to the needs of all landlords or all tenants."

The federation is lobbying the federal government to allow tenants to be able to apply directly for the program.

In July, Charlottetown MP Sean Casey acknowledged flaws in the program, adding, "There is no question that because the program is voluntary and not all landlords have chosen to participate, that there has been a negative impact."

Ryan said her business is doing well now but she is worried about the future and what a second wave of COVID-19 may mean for her business. She said the federal rent assistance program would help ease those concerns.

"It would mean a great deal. It would mean that I could rest assured that if there is another closure, that I will still be able to pay my rent and stay in business and employ my staff, so it is a huge thing for me."

More from CBC P.E.I.
MIAMICuba will start testing its own COVID-19 vaccine candidate next week, according to the official Cuban registry of clinical trials.

The vaccine, Soberana 01, was produced by the state-run Finlay Institute of Vaccines and will be tested during a phase I and II trial involving 676 adults between 19 and 80 years old. The results will not be published until February 2021.

A phase I clinical trial evaluates a drugs side effects and toxicity. If the results are good, the process can continue to a phase II trial to determine if the medication works.

Its unclear if a late-stage, phase III trial, usually involving thousands of people to test a vaccines effectiveness and safety in a larger population, will follow. According to the data published on the register, the Cuban study will assess both safety and the resulting immune response.

The study will be a randomized controlled, double-blind trial, meaning doctors and participants will not know who will be injected with the vaccine candidate. Recipients will be selected randomly. Those in the control group will get another vaccine produced in Cuba against meningitis.

Details about the vaccine candidate to be tested are scarce, but its description indicates its an RBD candidate, a vaccine that uses a receptor-binding domain, a type of protein located on the virus spike to induce neutralizing antibodies. The technology has been previously used in SARS vaccines.

In May, Cuban leader Miguel Diaz-Canel said the country needed to produce a local vaccine to ensure the nations sovereignty.

Finding an efficient vaccine to fight COVID-19 is a top priority for our science and innovation system, Cubas top epidemiologist, Francisco Duran, said in a press conference on Tuesday.

Cubas biotechnology industry produces vaccines and medications used locally. A few, like a drug to prevent ulcers caused by diabetes, are also exported. At the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the government was aggressively promoting an interferon medication to combat COVID-19, but studies about its efficacy have produced mixed results.

Cuban bio labs also manufacture unproven homeopathic compounds that health authorities use as a preventive therapy to fight the coronavirus.

Last week, Cuban state media reported that Kiril Dmitriev, the head of the investment fund that financed Sputnik V, the first Russian-registered vaccine, said that Cuba could begin producing it in November. Vladimir Putins announcement of a Russian vaccine has sparked criticism as the country approved it without conducting more extensive tests to prove its efficacy and safety.

The news about the Cuban vaccine comes in the middle of an outbreak in Havana, which has forced the government to roll back the reopening and order a city lockdown. Regular flights are still suspended.

On Wednesday, health authorities reported 74 new coronavirus infections, all in Havana and nearby Artemisa and Pinar del Rio provinces. In total, the government has confirmed 3.408 coronavirus cases and 88 deaths.
The Islamabad High Court recently ordered the Pakistan government to give 'another chance' to India to appoint a counsel for Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a military court

New Delhi: India on Thursday pressed for having an Indian lawyer to represent Kulbhushan Jadhav in a Pakistani court when it takes up his review petition against his death sentence.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said India is in touch with Pakistan through diplomatic channels on the issue relating to Jadhav.

"For a free and fair trial in keeping with the letter and spirit of ICJ judgement, we have asked for Jadhav to be represented by an Indian lawyer. However, Pakistan has to first address the core issues- giving copies of relevant documents of the case and providing unimpeded consular access to Jadhav," he said.

Srivastava was responding to a question on the issue at an online media briefing.

India has been demanding "unimpeded" consular access to Jadhav as mandated by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Recently, the Islamabad High Court named three senior lawyers as amici curiae in the case of Jadhav and ordered the Pakistan government to give "another chance" to India to appoint a counsel for the death-row prisoner.

In 2017, India approached the ICJ against Pakistan for denial of consular access to Jadhav and challenging the death sentence.

The Hague-based ICJ ruled in July 2019 that Pakistan must undertake an "effective review and reconsideration" of the conviction and sentence of Jadhav and also to grant consular access to India without further delay.

Last month, India accused Pakistan of adopting a "farcical" approach in denying available legal remedies to Jadhav against his death sentence in contravention of the ICJ order.

The strong reaction had come after Pakistan did not provide documents relating to Jadhav's case to India so that it could file a review petition in the court against the death sentence.

India had also accused Pakistan of blocking all the avenues for an effective remedy available in the case.

Fifty-year-old retired Indian Navy officer Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism in April 2017.
London, Aug 20 : Superstar Akshay Kumar gave the first clap to commence shooting of his upcoming film, BellBottom, in the UK, with due precautionary measures in place amid the Covid pandemic.

"Lights, camera, mask on and action," Akshay is seeing announcing in a video he posted on his verified Instagram page. He holds the clapper board and puts on a mask even as he says the line.

"Following all the new norms and filming on for #BellBottom! It's a difficult time but work has to go on. Need your love and luck," he captioned the video clip.

The actor, along with his family, flew to the UK a few days ago for the shoot of film, directed by Ranjit M. Tewari. "BellBottom" also stars Vaani Kapoor, Huma Qureshi and Lara Dutta.

Earlier on Thursday, Lara posted how amazing it felt to be back on the set to shoot for the film.

"And it begins!!! I'm claiming one for the girls! As a 42 year old female actor, in this Covid period, it feels amazing to be the first to be back on set of a big Bollywood film," Lara wrote on Instagram, referring to the fact that "BellBottom" is one of the first films to start shooting in the time of Covid pandemic.

Along with the post, she shared a picture of the make-up room, where she sits wearing a mask.

The film set in the 1980s is said to be inspired by true events.
Nigerian Embassy In Canada

The Nigerian embassy in Canada has been shut down following an attack launched against its staff.

The comission in a statement shared on its official website, said it had devised a system in which citizens with emergency cases were attended to strictly by appointment that allowed a limited number of people into the chancery at a time, in compliance with the laid-down rules of physical distancing.

Recounting how a female staff member was allegedly held hostage and subjected to physical abuse, the commission accused citizens of showing up without an appointment, acting in an unruly manner and disturbing the peace at the chancery.

THE HIGH COMMISSION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA IN CANADA WISHES TO INFORM NIGERIAN COMMUNITIES IN CANADA AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE MISSION REMAINS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. THE SPECIAL INTERVENTION ARRANGEMENT WHEREBY EMERGENCY CASES WERE BEING HANDLED ON A DISCRETIONARY BASIS IS HEREBY SUSPENDED.

WE WOULD LIKE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING PERTINENT FACTS:

1. DIRECTIVES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN NIGERIA AND PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES ISSUED BY THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO INFORMED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, INDICATED A NEED TO CLOSE THE MISSION TO THE PUBLIC AND WORK FROM HOME WHICH IS HOW MANY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ARE PRESENTLY OPERATING.

2. THE MISSION REALIZED THAT A NUMBER OF OUR CITIZENS HAVE COMPELLING PASSPORT RENEWAL REQUESTS AND WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST SUCH INDIVIDUALS IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER.

3. WE DEVISED A SYSTEM IN WHICH CITIZENS WITH EMERGENCY CASES WERE BEING ATTENDED TO STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT ON DESIGNATED DAYS OF THE WEEK. THIS ENABLED US TO ADMIT A LIMITED NUMBER OF PEOPLE INTO THE CHANCERY AT A TIME AND OBSERVE THE LAID DOWN RULES OF PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL DISTANCING.

4. OUR CITIZENS FOR SOME REASON CHOSE TO ABUSE THIS SYSTEM, THEY WOULD SHOW UP AT THE CHANCERY WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT AND INSIST ON BEING ATTENDED TO EVEN ON DAYS WHEN WE WERE NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT ALL.

5. ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS PEOPLE SEEKING PASSPORT RENEWAL CAME TO THE CHANCERY WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT AND ACTED IN A MOST UNRULY MANNER, DISTURBING THE PEACE AND ACTING IN AN ABUSIVE MANNER, BANGING WINDOWS ETC.

6. MATTERS CAME TO A HEAD ON FRIDAY AUGUST 14, 2020 WHEN A GROUP SHOWED UP AT THE HIGH COMMISSION AND REFUSED TO ALLOW THE EMBASSY STAFF MEMBERS TO ATTEND TO THOSE WHO HAD APPOINTMENTS. THEY INSISTED THAT WE HAD TO ATTEND TO EVERYBODY WHO SHOWED UP. THEY WENT AS FAR AS HOLDING A FEMALE STAFF MEMBER WHO WENT TO ADDRESS THEM HOSTAGE FOR OVER TWENTY MINUTES AND SUBJECTED HER TO PHYSICAL ABUSE.

7. THIS KIND OF CONDUCT IS CONSIDERED UNNECESSARILY HOSTILE AND TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND NO EMBASSY WOULD TOLERATE CONDUCT THAT PUTS THE LIVES OF ITS STAFF MEMBERS AT RISK.

8. WE ARE CLOSING DOWN THE EMBASSY AND WE SHALL BE CONSIDERING WAYS TO MAKE OUR PREMISES MORE SECURE AND LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO UNRULY BEHAVIOUR AND VIOLENT MOB ACTION.

9. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT WITH THE CLOSURE OF THE AIR SPACE OUR ABILITY TO BRING MUCH NEEDED PASSPORT BOOKLETS INTO THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN IMPAIRED. THIS IS ANOTHER AREA WE INTEND TO FOCUS ON.

10. OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH IMMIGRATION REFUGEES AND CITIZENSHIP CANADA HAS REVEALED THE FOLLOWING CONCERNING INDIVIDUALS TRYING TO RENEW WORK AND STUDY PERMITS:

a. APPLICATIONS FOR RENEWALS SHOULD BE MADE ONLINE

b. AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME APPLICANTS WOULD BE ASKED TO SUBMIT APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION

c. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A VALID PASSPORT WHEN THIS HAPPENS YOU MAY ASK FOR A 90 DAY GRACE PERIOD WHICH WOULD BE GRANTED

d. NIGERIAN CITIZENS WHOSE STUDY OR WORK PERMITS HAVE EXPIRED SINCE MARCH 2020 AND WHO DO NOT HAVE A VALID PASSPORT HAVE A GRACE PERIOD THAT LASTS UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST 2020. BY THIS TIME WE EXPECT TO HAVE RESOLVED SOME OF THE CHALLENGING ISSUES THAT COVID-19 HAS CREATED.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT THE IRCC WEBSITE (LINK BELOW) FOR PERIODIC UPDATES:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for international students

PLEASE NOTE THAT ANYONE WHO SHOWS UP IN PERSON TO THE HIGH COMMISSION WOULD NOT BE ATTENDED TO, AS WE ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION AT THIS TIME.
Three American institutions established by the Constitution are under attack, and with them, the entire Constitution.

The Postal Service is charged with delivering mail and packages to every household and business. Rural communities are especially dependent on the USPS, because commercial delivery companies will not deliver to far-flung locations. Without USPS, Social Security checks, prescription drugs and mail-in ballots, as well as personal mail and publications , would be all but inaccessible for rural dwellers.

Montana has used mail ballots for years, while maintaining in-person early and election day voting. In a time of pandemic in an historically crucial election year, the postmaster general has been busily hamstringing the on-the-ground postal workers by stopping overtime, telling them to leave mail undelivered, and by removing more than 671 mail sorting machines. He has told 46 states that mail-in ballots may not be delivered. The president, who appointed this major donor to the postmaster position, has gloated that the slowdown will disrupt the November election. For his part, the postmaster general is heavily invested in the commercial delivery industry that competes with the Postal Service.

The president has repeatedly and falsely claimed that mail voting will be rife with fraud; there is no evidence for this, and he votes by mail himself. The president has refused to agree to abide by the results of the election, in violation of his oath to defend the Constitution. His administration's attacks on the Postal Service also violate his oath.

Finally, the Constitution requires that a census every 10 years count the whole number of persons in the country, with no distinctions made because of age, sex, citizenship, immigration status or anything else. This requires an extended and serious effort to actually reach every individual. In a year when the pandemic has slowed this effort, the Trump administration has announced it is shortening the census-taking period!

The president is not the only one who takes an oath to defend the Constitution and carry out the law. All his Cabinet officials, and members of Congress, share these responsibilities. For years, elected officials have sought to make it more difficult for marginalized and minority populations to vote, with purges, intimidation, restrictive rules unrelated to security needs, closing and moving polling places, and deliberate misinformation. The Commerce Department tried to intimidate census respondents with a citizenship question, and is now cutting the effort short. This will affect elections and vital funding for 10 years! Under-counted regions, whose peoples are disproportionately poor and people of color, will not receive the representation in Congress and legislatures they deserve. These states and regions will miss out on funding for health care, education, social and other services because the administration does not make the effort to count them. Montana will be one of the losers, including a possible second House seat. The attack on the Postal Service started years ago, and will continue beyond 2020, but is directed this year precisely to disrupt the election, as it did some primaries.

As a practical matter, there are no consequences for public officials who violate their oaths. The courts and Congress are unable/unwilling to act. Elections? Let's hope it is not the shambles the administration is trying to create.

Some voters vote only one issue, some only one party. Montanans are known for being willing to split tickets. Please, in weighing candidates, consider whether having officials who will defend constitutionally established institutions like elections, the Postal Service and the Census, might be crucial to our freedom. After all, if these can be eviscerated, so can other parts of the nation's highest law: freedom of speech, religion, assembly; gun rights; freedom from searches and arbitrary detention; right to counsel; limits on federal power, and more. If we do not defend our Constitution, soon it will not be there to protect us.

Mary Fitzpatrick is a retired mental health and addiction counselor. She has participated for more than 30 years in organizations promoting democracy and civic engagement. She has lived in Billings for 37 years.

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Jack Ma who had five years ago said he was inspired and excited by Make in India possibly understood the essence of the signature campaign better than some others and decided to stay away from India other than as an investor, says Nivedita Mookerji.

IMAGE: Jack Ma, co-founder and former executive chairman of Alibaba Group. Photograph: Shu Zhang/Reuters

In November 2014, Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma told a business gathering in New Delhi that he was inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and that his company had plans to work with Indian enterprises in the new set-up.

That speech by the richest Chinese entrepreneur had gone viral on social media, drawing thousands of comments from both sides of the border.

A few months later, Mr Modi addressed a Shanghai symposium while on a three-day China trip.

I have come to say to you, Make in India," the prime minister told the chief executive officers (CEOs) gathered there.

The response from the Chinese industry was overwhelming.

Mr Ma, who has now stepped down as the executive chairman of Alibaba, told Mr Modi, We are excited about India. We are excited about Make in India and Digital India."

Alibaba, the Chinese internet and e-commerce giant headquartered in Hangzhou with $72-billion in revenue, counted itself as a fan of Make in India much before the American majors, Amazon and Walmart, started to endorse Indias small and medium enterprises to energise sales on their online marketplace.

Also, when Mr Ma bonded with the Make in India theme while envisioning a bright future for his business in the country, TikTok was yet to make it big in the international arena.

Even so, Alibaba never brought its big play - e-commerce - to India despite years of deliberations with ministers and bureaucrats in this country. Why?

The Chinese video-sharing social networking service owned by ByteDance, now at the centre of a geo-political war cutting across the world, was founded in 2012 by Zhang Yiming, 13 years after Mr Ma and 17 others made Alibaba happen.

Having created the worlds most valuable start-up (ByteDance is valued at $75 billion), Mr Zhang, 37, is on the minds of world leaders and business heads alike from - US President Donald Trump to Mr Modi and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to Twitter chief Jack Dorsey.

The Indian market, with the highest number of TikTok users globally, is a big piece in the potential deal that the American corporations are busy stitching with ByteDance.

The US market share is a distant second, prompting the negotiators to ensure that India lifts the ban on TikTok before a deal can be concluded to protect the data of American users of the video service".

While theres no word yet from the Indian government on lifting the ban that was imposed on Chinese apps, including TikTok, Alibaba has been nearly absent from the anti-China narrative in India other than in the context of its low-key businesses UCBrowser and UCNews.

In India, Alibaba has been an investor rather than a strategic player like Amazon, Walmart, Facebook, Google or ByteDance.

Alibaba and its financial arm Ant Financial have pumped in billions of dollars into Indian start-ups, many of which went on to become unicorns.

Alibaba also had a business-to-business operation in India for some years that was shut down.

UCBrowser and UCNews were the other businesses which remained fringe players.

But, the Chinese conglomerate hesitated from launching its successful e-commerce marketplace in India after coming close to doing so a few years ago.

Consider the India traction in the case of other internet-led international businesses.

Facebook and WhatsApp have the largest user base in India at 290 million and 340 million, respectively.

TikTok, too, had the highest number at more than 100 million when it was banned in July, Twitter with 17 million has the third largest base in India after the US and Japan.

The regulatory hurdles notwithstanding, Amazon and Walmart too have been betting on the India market while operating their e-commerce marketplace in the country.

Amazon has already committed close to $6 billion investment in its India business and it witnessed record sales during the recent 48-hour Prime Day event.

Walmart acquired a majority stake in Bengaluru-based Flipkart in 2018 for $16 billion in the biggest deal in the e-commerce space so far.

Mr Ma too, of course, was aware of the potential of the India market, just as Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Jack Dorsey or even Zhang Yiming had been.

The man who had five years ago said he was inspired and excited by Make in India possibly understood the essence of the signature campaign better than some others and decided to stay away from India other than as an investor.

Around the same time that Mr Ma had raised the countrys foreign direct investment hopes by responding to the Make in India call, Mr Modi had reciprocated by joining the Chinese social media platform Weibo and had gained many thousand followers.

In July, Mr Modi deleted his account after India banned the app as part of its anti-China package.

Luckily, Alibaba did not have to think of exit plans as it had recognised the power of Make in India early on.
Updated at 8:59 p.m. ET on 2020-08-20

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said Thursday she had demanded during a working visit to China that Beijing ensure Indonesian sailors are safe on China-flagged fishing vessels, after more than a dozen died aboard such boats in less than a year.



At a virtual press conference from Sanya city in Hainan province, on day two of a three-day working visit to China, Retno also said she had stressed to her Chinese counterpart that respect for international law in the South China Sea was necessary for strong ties between Beijing and Southeast Asian nations.



"I conveyed again our concern about the cases that have befallen Indonesian crew members who work on Chinese fishing vessels," Retno said. "I emphasized that this issue is no longer an issue between the private sector, but that the government must be involved to ensure that these humanitarian violations do not occur in the future."



During talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Retno said she also asked him for legal assistance in presenting witnesses as part of a transparent investigation into human trafficking aboard a China-flagged fishing boat, the Long Xin 629.



And this request was responded to positively by the Chinese state councilor and foreign minister, Retno said, referring to Wang by his different titles.



In April, Indonesian officials reported the deaths of four Indonesians who had served as crew on the Long Xin 629. It was the first publicized case of Indonesian nationals who had died aboard Chinese boats under working conditions said to be harsh and strenuous, according to labor activists and officials.

Soon after, Retno announced that Jakarta and Beijing were launching a joint investigation into allegations of abuse against Indonesian sailors.



Since April, more reports have surfaced about deaths among Indonesian crew members aboard China-flagged ships, with some of their bodies abandoned at sea. In all, at least 16 Indonesians have died while working on Chinese boats, amid allegations of abuse. It was not immediately clear why Retno asked for assistance with human trafficking aboard only one vessel.

South China Sea

In her latest talks with the Chinese foreign minister, Retno said she expressed concern about escalating tensions in the contested South China Sea, while urging Beijing to abide by international laws.

China is one of ASEANs important partners, Retno said, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. [This] partnership will continue to be strong as long as the partnership is always carried out with respect to international law, including on the issue of the South China Sea.

China, Taiwan and four ASEAN states  the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei  have overlapping territorial claims in the strategic sea region, where Beijing has been expanding its military presence.

Indonesia is not among the countries with officials claims to the sea but in 2016 and late 2019, tensions rose between Jakarta and Beijing over the presence of Chinese fishing boats swarming in South China Sea waters near Indonesias Natuna Islands.

During talks with Wang Yi late last month, Retno urged China to abide by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). China claims it has historic rights to most of the sea, but in a landmark case in 2016, an international court of arbitration ruled against China and in favor of the Philippines in finding that Beijings claims demarcated by a so-called nine-dash line were not supported under UNCLOS.

As a signatory of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, a treaty set up by ASEAN that aims to establish a code of conduct in the sea region, China is obligated to try to resolve disputes related to the waterway, Indonesias foreign minister said.

Vietnamese protest

In recent weeks and months, tensions have risen in the South China Sea amid naval maneuvers and exercises conducted by China and the United States, with officials from the rival superpowers also engaging in heated rhetoric lately.

On Thursday, Vietnam signaled its displeasure with China over Beijings reported deployment of a group of H-6J bombers to the South China Sea in late July.

The warplanes were sent there to participate in anti-ship drills, according to Chinas Ministry of Defense and Chinese state media. At least one bomber landed on Woody Island, Chinas largest military base in the Paracel Islands, which are a chain of rocks and reefs disputed between China, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

The fact that relevant sides sent weapons and bombers ... not only violates Vietnams sovereignty but also jeopardizes the situation in the area, Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang told a press briefing.

We call for parties to responsibly contribute to the maintenance of peace, stability and security in the East Sea, she said, using the Vietnamese name for the South China Sea.

Chinas militarization of its bases in the sea region, however, is set to continue.

Satellite imagery showed three fighter jets at Woody Island on Aug. 13. What appear to be two Shaanxi Y-9 military transport aircraft landed on Woody Island on Aug. 17, along with a surveillance plane.

Another surveillance plane and military transport aircraft is visible at Fiery Cross Reef, one of Chinas biggest military bases in the Spratly chain of features in the South China Sea, on Aug. 16.

The Vietnamese service of Radio Free Asia contributed to this report.
The website ( https://CollegeCentral.com/lacccjobs ) makes it both FREE and easy for all employerslarge and small, public and privateto register just once and then post an unlimited number of jobs to Los Angeles's community college students and alumni! This is an extraordinarily useful resource for employers hiring in today's climate, even with temporarily closed or restricted campuses, and students taking classes from home.

Employers posting jobs today can simultaneously reach tens of thousands of job seekers from Antelope Valley College, East Los Angeles College, Glendale Community College, Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles Harbor College, Los Angeles Mission College, Los Angeles Southwest College, Los Angeles Trade Technical College, Los Angeles Valley College, Pierce College, Rio Hondo College, Santa Monica College, and West Los Angeles College.

"We're excited to bring a branded centralized gateway to link employers to prospective employees who have received their education and training from the community colleges of Los Angeles, the nation's most populous county. After an easy, one-time registration, employers can post unlimited opportunities to recruit direct from the county's community college educated talent pool," said Dr. Ryan Cornner, Vice Chancellor for Educational Programs and Institutional Effectiveness with the Los Angeles Community College District.

Cornner continued, "This is a single website for our county's employers to get the L.A. community college talent they need, right now. They can simultaneously post any number of jobs, for free, to any or all Consortium colleges. It's the right website tool at the right time when employers are struggling to reach and hire the local talent they need in the L.A. economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Employers win. Our students win by the Consortium bridging the gap with the College Central Network's free job site."

"Our community colleges provide great value for employers and contribute directly to Los Angeles county's economy. Our students are prepared and ready to move into our local workforce, now," Andra Hoffman, Career Director at Glendale Community College emphasized. "All possible obstacles have been removed, making it easy for Los Angeles county employers to register and post jobs for free. This is what organizations need to staff up. Employers want job-ready talent and that is exactly what the Consortium can provide, targeting our students and alumni who want to live and work in our county. It's a win/win for Los Angeles county."

According to Dr. Jill Zimmerman, Dean, Student Life, Antelope Valley College, "The broad range of talent that graduates from the Consortium's colleges bring to the workforce fills many high-demand jobs, including accounting, administration of justice, automotive technology, business, child development, computer information systems, culinary arts, hospitality, machining, marketing, music, nursing, theater arts, welding, and much more."

"This is a great way for employers to tap into a pool of diverse talent, and to help broaden their corporate and consumer culture in order to create access and equity," said Vicki Rothman, Faculty Leader of the Career Services Center at Santa Monica College. "This will help us connect with industry, whether it be for internships, mentorships, or guest speakers in order to expose our students to a whole world of careers they might not have ever considered."

Cynthia Patino, Career Development Specialist, Rio Hondo College said, "The Consortium is a direct pipeline to our county's emerging job seekers. Our students are highly skilled and have been well prepared to reach their career goals! Many of our graduates are working adults who have added new skills and are now ready to step into jobs located in Los Angeles county."

Joy Miller, CCN's Career Services Central National Sales Manager, explained, "The Consortium is launching during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when many employers have been creating new job opportunities. They are rehiring now as the country reopens. Employers need to target timely job postings in response, for our college students and alumni willing and able to jump in to meet their state's, county's, or cities' specific hiring conditions. Los Angeles community colleges are well positioned to help their local and state's economies rebound now and to quickly fill their hiring needs in an era of rapid economic and technological change."

Miller added, "Many employers traditionally have posted jobs only at the closest community colleges. But, with the Consortium, employers can easily extend their reach, at no cost, and post throughout the county, or target a specific combination of regional Los Angeles community colleges."

CCN's Career Services Central is the exclusive online career office management platform for career centers at all participating colleges in the Consortium. Joy Miller sums it up: "Community colleges can have a greater impact on the county's economy. We have greatly simplified the process and allow employers to easily recruit the county's home-grown entry- level talent. The Los Angeles County Community Colleges Jobs Consortium website does exactly that, particularly with the added current complications of closed campuses, remote learning, and a difficult hiring environment."

Statistics show that approximately 306,000 undergraduates attend Los Angeles county community colleges.*

* "Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System," National Center for Education Statistics, accessed August 12, 2020, https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/use-the-data.

About College Central Network

Founded in 1997, College Central Network (CCN) has over 23 years of experience connecting employers with qualified emerging talent candidates. More than one million employers have already registered to utilize the Network to post jobs and recruit students and alumni for entry-level jobs.

CollegeCentral.com is absolutely free for any student enrolled at a U.S. college; alumnus/a of a U.S. college; community resident taking classes at a U.S. college; or student attending one of our partner high schools. To learn more, visit: CollegeCentral.com.

About Career Services Central

Career Services Central (CSC) is CCN's intuitive and affordable career office management platform that works on any device and is trusted by hundreds of institutions and organizations across the U.S.

Thousands of career professionals use CSC daily to manage the entire career process for students, alumni, and community residents attending CSC-powered institutions, including appointments, career advice and job searching, resumes, career portfolios, experiential learning, on-campus recruiting, career events, and job fairs. To learn more, visit: CareerServicesCentral.com.

CONTACT:

Barbara Anderson

800-442-3614

[email protected]

SOURCE College Central Network
 Adam Payne

Germany is about to become the latest country to trial a universal basic income, starting a three-year study of how it affects the economy and recipients' well-being.

As part of the study, 120 people will receive 1,200, or about $1,430, each month for three years  an amount just above Germany's poverty line  and researchers will compare their experiences with another group of 1,380 people who will not receive the payments.

The study, conducted by the German Institute for Economic Research, has been funded by 140,000 private donations.

All participants will be asked to complete questionnaires about their lives, work, and emotional state to see whether a basic income has had a significant impact.

Universal basic income is the idea that a government should pay a lump sum of money to each of its citizens, usually once a month, regardless of their income or employment status, effectively replacing means-tested benefits.

Its proponents argue that it would reduce inequality and improve well-being by providing people more financial security. Its opponents say it would be too expensive and discourage people from going to work. The idea has gained traction in recent years amid financial crises and growing inequality in some Western countries.

Jurgen Schupp, who is leading the study, told the German newspaper Der Spiegel that it would improve the debate about universal basic income by producing new scientific evidence.

"The debate about the basic income has so far been like a philosophical salon in good moments and a war of faith in bad times," he told the newspaper.

"It is  on both sides  shaped by cliches: Opponents claim that with a basic income people would stop working in order to dull on the couch with fast food and streaming services. Proponents argue that people will continue to do fulfilling work, become more creative and charitable, and save democracy.

"Incidentally, these stereotypes also flow into economic simulations as assumptions about the supposed costs and benefits of a basic income.

"We can improve this if we replace these stereotypes with empirically proven knowledge and can therefore lead a more appropriate debate."

A pro-basic-income lobbying group called Mein Grundeinkommen is funding the experiment. The group has used donations from its supporters to fund monthly 1,000 payments for 668 people since 2014.

Finland experimented with a form of basic income for nearly two years: From January 2017 to December 2018, 2,000 unemployed Finns received 560 a month. But the researchers behind that trial concluded that while it led to people out of work feeling happier, it did not lead to increased employment, the BBC reported.

: businessinsider.com
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 20, 2020 08:25 518 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066f3a9c1 1 National stamps,75th-indonesian-independence-day,75th-Indonesia-merdeka,#Indonesia75,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,perangko,filateli,menkominfo Free

Indonesia has released four new series of special stamps that cover President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin, the 75th anniversary celebrations, the COVID-19 pandemic and musical artists.

The release of the stamps was initiated by the Communications and Information Ministry.

Vice President Maruf Amin said that postage stamps had always been a part of historical events in Indonesia.

A stamp is not just a payment method for postal delivery. It can also be a medium to capture special and historical moments, said Maruf during the virtual launch of the stamps on Wednesday as quoted by kompas.com.

Read also: Indonesia, China launch special stamps celebrating 70 years of ties

The series on COVID-19 is an expression of gratitude and appreciation for medical workers, who have been in the front line in the battle against the coronavirus, added the Vice President.

Meanwhile, Communications and Information Minister Johnny G. Plate said that the Indonesian musicians series was a nod to them for supporting and helping the nation to curb the coronavirus through their arts.

Among the musicians featured in the series are Titiek Puspa, Gesang Martohartono, Gombloh Chrisye and bands Koes Plus, Panbers, God Bless and Bimbo. (aly)
Representative image

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The Supreme Court (SC) on August 20 heard the matter pertaining to repayment of AGR dues by telecom companies.

Telecom companies, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and others had appealed to the SC to allow them to make staggered payments of their adjusted gross revenue dues. A bench led by Justice Arun Mishra heard the matter.

The matter has now been adjourned to August 21.

The apex court on August 19 said it will not go into apportionment of resolution plan funds between sets of creditors.

The SC 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, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said on July 20.

SC observations:

> Has Bharti Airtel paid AGR dues for spectrum bought from Aircel?

> We want details from DoT of spectrum allocated to RCom, Aircel since 1999. We want details of all instances of spectrum sharing.

> Is Aircel looking to sell spectrum under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC)?

> We are extremely worried that almost entire AGR dues will be wiped out in the IBC process. And after sale of spectrum, the new user will have extinguished any pending demand against the spectrum in question.

> Spectrum trading is different from sale of spectrum in IBC. Without paying for the horse, telecom companies taking a ride. Unless dues are paid, nobody can start using the spectrum. Can a liability like AGR be wound up in this fashion, under the guise of selling spectrum under IBC?

Senior advocate Ravi Kadam for Aircel Monitoring Committee to SC:

> From April 8, 2016 there have been eight instances of spectrum trading with Bharti. DoT had approved the sale, had raised demand for dues.

> No instance of spectrum sharing with any operator by Aircel. No one is using the spectrum currently, the company is under insolvency.

> The right to use spectrum is an asset. To keep the company as a going concern, right to use will be sold on approval of the resolution plan. Resolution applicant is UVARC.

> Resolution process has concluded, UVARC plan has been approved. DOT applied as operational dues, recognised by COC. The Committee of Creditors (COC) approved the plan, following the IBC. Only a fraction will be paid, Not even 1 percent of the AGR demand will be paid. DoT was a part of the CoC meetings.

> DoT is seeking payment of deferred spectrum dues, as current dues and therefore payable. Claims of DoT for deferred spectrum dues have not been upheld to be current dues.

> Right to use spectrum is an intangible good under IBC that can be sold. The license agreement recognises right to use as an asset. Have the right to transfer the right to use the spectrum.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal for Airtel to SC:

> Have paid all relevant dues with regard to spectrum trading, have paid Rs 18,004 crore of AGR dues.

Senior Advocate Ranjit Kumar for COC of Aircel to SC:

> Requirement to pay AGR is entirely contractual. Tripartite agreement recognises the spectrum as security before banks. Payment of dues to a company shall be decided under the law of land - IBC.

> Spectrum is raw material for telecom companies. By not allowing spectrum sale, SC will push all the insolvent cos into liquidation.

> Banks dues are the same as AGR dues for Aircel. If all proceeds are used to satisfy AGR dues, banks dealing with public money will also not get anything.

> Payment to banks after payment of AGR dues would be a violation of IBC. If the government allowed spectrum as security, it cannot back track now. Even Ministry of Corporate Affairs has sought for spectrum sale under IBC.

Here's a quick recap of the previous hearings:

> On August 19, Senior advocate Harish Salve said Reliance Communications said it will have to go into liquidation if spectrum sale is not permitted.

> On August 10, the court had asked the government to prepare a plan for recovery of dues from telecom companies under insolvency.

> When asked about payment due on spectrum bought from Reliance Communications (RCom), Jio said it has already paid the relevant Spectrum Usage Charges (SUC).

> Both Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel, which owe the maximum amounts, had on July 20 revised their demand from 20 years to 15 years for the staggered payments after SC's stringent stance on payment period.

> The SC has made it clear that it will not permit any self-assessment by the companies or re-calculation, and the DoT's assessment will be final.

Reliance Industries Ltd., which also owns Jio, is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd.
Ocean, New Jersey, Aug. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Buying auto protection plans can be extremely complex, especially if you do not know how to identify the right provider. The good news is the internet is replete with positive reviews about Palmer Administration services, one of the leading providers of auto protection plans across the country and the region. As a company whose mainstream business is to provide automotive protection plans, Palmer Administration Services Reviews have carefully designed auto coverage plans both basic as well as comprehensive. For the last two decades, the company has gained extensive experience, which is why it is accredited and rated highly by the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

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But what makes Palmer Administrative so popular among many people at least according to positive Palmer Administrative Services Reviews and higher BBB ratings? The provision of auto protection coverage is one of the most sophisticated enterprises you can ever engage in, but Palmer Administrative has achieved courtesy of its unparalleled commitment to excellence in the industry. When someone mentions Palmer, what comes to the mind of many people is trust, reliability, and promptness. Customers who've left positive reviews say the company provides maximum coverage with many benefits and cost-cutting features. Its plans are designed to help users access the right coverage while at the same time meeting the varying needs of drivers with different driving behavior. Besides, the company is certified, fully insured, and boasts of bringing home industry-best products.

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The death of a Manitoba man in his 60s marks the provinces 12th fatality related to COVID-19.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/8/2020 (518 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The death of a Manitoba man in his 60s marks the provinces 12th fatality related to COVID-19.

Chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said Wednesday the man was from the Grey health district in the Southern Health region, and was a previously announced case connected to a known cluster.

The man had been hospitalized and was in intensive care.

The province announced 15 new cases of the virus Wednesday, and a five-day test positivity rate of 1.6 per cent. The new cases were announced in the Prairie Mountain Health region (13), Southern Health (one) and Winnipeg (one).

Roussin said early investigations indicate those in Prairie Mountain are mostly related to contacts to known cases.

A confirmed COVID-19 case has also been identified at the J.R. Simplot Co. potato processing plant in Portage la Prairie.

On Wednesday, Steelworkers Local 9074 president Paul Lussier said the company informed workers Monday a colleague had been diagnosed with the disease. Local 9074 represents about 250 workers at the plant on the outskirts of the city.

"They assured me that any area this person had worked in and or had any contact within the plant, that they were doing a clean," Lussier said.

He said the company, in the past, has been diligent when it comes to safety procedures and staff are screened before work. Some staff at the plant, however, reside in Brandon, and some are shuttled in from Winnipeg, Lussier said.

Public health officials have noted community transmission is occurring in both Winnipeg and Brandon, where a large cluster of cases connected to the Maple Leaf Foods Inc. pork processing plant is being managed.

"I've been impressed on what they've (Simplot) done up to this point, but I am a little bit leery on where this could go, looking at what happened at Maple Leaf, as well as in Alberta," Lussier said, referencing outbreaks at other food processing facilities.

Josh Jordan, Simplot senior manager of public relations and communications, said all employees who may have had direct or prolonged contact with the affected staff member are required by the company to self-quarantine for 14 days. He said Manitoba public health officials have also been notified.

"No other employees have shown any symptoms," Jordan said. "We, of course, have talked, and have been since March, to our employees about the importance of self-monitoring, not coming to work if they are showing any symptoms, and those sorts of things."

Jordan said the staff member had been in contact with 12 other employees  both inside and outside the workplace  and all are currently in isolation and have been tested. The plant did not cease its normal operations, he said, though areas where the employee had visited were isolated and cleaned.

JEFF DE BOOY / FREE PRESS FILES Josh Jordan, Simplot senior manager of public relations and communications, said all employees who may have had direct or prolonged contact with the affected staff member are required by the company to self-quarantine for 14 days.

The company is also monitoring the outbreak situation in Brandon, Jordan said, and has restrictions related to travel and visitors in addition to strict screening and distancing protocols.

Aerospace and aviation company StandardAero, which has multiple locations in Winnipeg, said over the weekend it was notified one of its employees also tested positive for COVID-19.

Kyle Hultquist, a spokesman for the company, said Manitoba Public Health was informed and is handling contact tracing.

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.

"If any other employees were considered a close contact, Manitoba Public Health has been in contact with them and we are following all provincial health and safety guidelines," Hultquist said Wednesday. "Upon notification of the test, we also completed an extensive and thorough cleaning of impacted areas."

Six people were in hospital Wednesday with the novel coronavirus, including two in intensive care. There are 223 known active cases in Manitoba, and 528 individuals have recovered from COVID-19.

Public health is also advising of a potential exposure to COVID-19 on Aug. 13 and 14, from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Aug. 15, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Wigwam Restaurant (132 Wasagaming Dr.) in Riding Mountain National Park.

Risk of transmission is considered to be low. People should seek testing if they develop symptoms, officials said.

The province is again reminding people only those who have COVID-19 symptoms should go for testing, and employers should only send staff for a test if they have symptoms or if recommended by public health.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca
ISLAMABAD : The Islamabad International Airport, one of Pakistan 's most security-sensitive zones, does not have bomb detection and disposal squads, according to a media report on Thursday.

Intelligence officials brought the issue to the notice of the Regional Police Officer (RPO) Sohail Habib Tajik last month, Dawn newspaper reported.

As per the intelligence, the Islamabad airport, which is surrounded by wooded area, should have a constant presence of rescue teams as it is 28 km from Islamabad main city, the newspaper quoted sources as saying.

Rawalpindi (33) and Attock (82) are the other cities close to the airport but they are at a distance of 33 km and 82 km respectively.

Due to the distance, rescue teams and bomb disposal squads cannot reach the airport premises on time in case of emergencies, the newspaper said.

The intelligence also asked for stationing of detection dogs.

Following the intelligence, RPO Tajik had directed Rawalpindi City Police Officer and Attock District Police Officer (DPO) to submit a report on the matter.

Speaking to Dawn, Attock DPO Syed Khalid Hamdani said the security of the Islamabad airport has been put in place according to international standards by Rawalpindi and Islamabad police.

Meanwhile, a senior security official has described the archaic, unsafe standard operating procedure put in place when suspicious bags or items are seen abandoned at the Islamabad airport.

The security officials put a blanket on the item and then shift it to a 'bomb ditch' which, the official said, was a dangerous routine.

He said he had written several letters to the authorities concerned regarding deployment of bomb disposal and detection squads but his efforts were in vain.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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CHICAGO, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Cancer Society would like to welcome Ellen McElligott to the Distinguished Partners team. She will help lead the Society's North Central Region as Senior Director, Corporate Relations & Account Operations. Prior to joining, Ellen spent ten years managing corporate partnerships and philanthropic relationships as a nonprofit and corporate social responsibility professional. A veteran, she once served in the Navy, launching her professional dedication to public service.

"Joining the American Cancer Society is a calling," McElligott says. "I wanted to be part of this team that's attacking cancer from every angle."

For many staff, the calling is often personal. Ellen's connection to cancer began over a decade and a half ago.

"I lost my five year old cousin to Neuroblastoma in 2004. Not a single day goes by without thinking of him. I want to ensure that no other family ever has to go through what we did," she said. "Every minute, we're closer to a cure, and I'm incredibly excited to raise funds that are critical to our success. We've all been touched by cancer, and we're in this fight together."

Ellen joins ACS at a time when addressing health disparities in our communities is important now more than ever.

"Chicago has stepped up in the fight for equality, which is not new to ACS," she continues. "Initiatives, including our Research Scholar Grants and part of our Cancer Control and Prevention Research Program, focuses on health equity research, ensuring that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. I look forward to sharing this work with the business community, as we partner on their D&I efforts."

Peter Steele, Vice President, Regional Distinguished Partners, regards Ellen's experience as important to the Society's mission.

"Passion, energy, and inspired leadership describe Ellen most accurately," says Steele. "She's clearly demonstrated in her career that she understands what it takes to change a community and how to lead the charge for genuine impact. The American Cancer Society is thrilled to continue to level up its impact under her leadership."

The American Cancer Society's mission is to save lives, celebrate lives, and lead the fight for a world without cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org .

Contact: James Haenes, [email protected] , 312-960-2327

SOURCE American Cancer Society in Illinois

Related Links

https://www.cancer.org/about-us/local/illinois.html


This comes after Donald Trump's decision to revoke Hong Kong's preferential trade status as Beijing clamped down on the territory over pro-democracy protests last year

Washington: The Donald Trump administration on Wednesday suspended or terminated three bilateral agreements with Hong Kong covering extradition and tax exemptions, the latest in a series of US moves in response to China's imposition of strict national security laws over the former British territory.

"The Chinese Communist Party chose to crush the freedoms and autonomy of the people of Hong Kong," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted.

The State Department cited Beijing's violation of its pledge for Hong Kong to retain broad autonomy for 50 years after its 1997 reversion to Chinese rule.

President Donald Trump already had determined that Hong Kong was no longer eligible for the continued preferential treatment it enjoyed from the US. The three agreements cover the surrender of fugitives, transfer and convicted prisoners and reciprocal tax exemptions on income from international shipping.

"These steps underscore our deep concern regarding Beijings decision to impose the National Security Law, which has crushed the freedoms of the people of Hong Kong, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement.

She said Hong Kong authorities had been notified earlier Wednesday of the decisions that were the result the Chinese Communist Party's "drastic steps to erode the high degree of autonomy that Beijing itself promised" to Hong Kong.

It was not immediately clear which of the agreements had been suspended and which had been formally ended, although other Western nations that have taken similar actions have suspended their extradition treaties with Hong Kong.

The administration has already acted to end special trade and commercial privileges that Hong Kong had enjoyed and has imposed sanctions on Hong Kong and Chinese officials, including Hong Kong's pro-China leader Carrie Lam, involved in enforcing the new security law.

Beijing had promised Hong Kong 50 years of a "one-country, two-systems" arrangement granting the city its own customs territory and legal system after the 1997 handover. They were underpinned by Western-style civil liberties, such as the right to public dissent, that are rarely allowed on the Chinese mainland and are now strictly limited in Hong Kong.

"President Trump has made clear that the United States will, therefore, treat Hong Kong as 'one country, one system' and take action against individuals who have crushed the freedoms of the people of Hong Kong," Ortagus said in the statement.

Wednesday's actions are the latest in a string of actions the administration has taken targeting China as tensions between the two nations rise over trade, technology, Taiwan, Tibet, the South China Sea and the coronavirus pandemic. The impact of the tensions has been felt in the tit for tat closures of diplomatic missions as well as visa restrictions on students and journalists.

The latest US steps also come as Trump assigns full blame to Beijing for the coronavirus outbreak in the US, deflecting criticism of his own handling of the pandemic that threatens his reelection.
A 43-year-old undertrial arrested in the 191-kg drugs bust case by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) was found dead in the toilet of a quarantine facility of Taloja Jail in Kharghar on Wednesday night. The accused, who was shifted to the facility merely few hours ago before the incident, is suspected to have died by suicide. Another accused in the same case attempted to kill himself, but has survived.

DRI busted the international drug racket and seized 191 kg heroin worth 1,000 crore from Nhava Sheva port on August 9, in what is being touted as the largest seizure in recent years in Maharashtra. DRI arrested three people from Delhi in connection with the case and brought them to Mumbai on August 10. The three accused were produced before a court on Wednesday and were remanded in judicial custody from Thursday. The accused  Mohammed Nouman Suleiman, Suresh Bhatia and Mahendra Nigam  were shifted to Namdar Gopal Krishna Gokhale Vidyanagar School around 3.30pm for a mandatory quarantine period.

On Wednesday night, Suleiman went to use the toilet around 11pm and allegedly hanged himself using a towel, said police. He was found by the on-duty police officer who went to check as he did not return for a while.

The opaque glass of the door showed some movement but he was not responding to knocks. They broke the glass pane and found him there. A doctor was called for check-up, but Suleiman succumbed, said Nilesh Jagtap, sub-inspector, Kharghar police station.

Police sources also said that, during inquiry, they found Suleiman had attempted suicide while in DRI custody.

We found fresh unhealed cut on his wrist. He had sliced his wrist during DRI custody and was saved that time, said an officer. It is unclear on what date Suleiman first attempted suicide.

Meanwhile, the jail staff found that another accused in the case had consumed several pills to kill self. He was taken to the infirmary where he is recuperating, police sources said without revealing the identity of the accused.

Pradeep Tidar, senior inspector, said an accidental death report has been filed following the incident. No suicide notes were found either on Suleiman or on the second accused.

Sources in Taloja jail said the third accused has been depressed, but officials have not questioned him yet. He has been kept on suicide watch. Meanwhile, police have recorded statements of the on-duty constables at the facility.

Both Bhatia and Suleiman have past criminal antecedents. Bhatia was convicted in a 1,200-kg hashish smuggling case in 2008.

Suleiman was a close aide of Bhatia, who co-owns Delhi-based Sarvim Exports Ltd, which had allegedly ordered the seized narcotics to be smuggled in India from Afghanistan, as per DRI. Suleiman looked after the import operation and transportation routes.

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Putin rejects pressure on Belarusian leadership in phone call with Macron

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 11:07, August 19, 2020

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.

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Many of the Trump administration's most powerful officials voted in favor of separating migrant children from their parents in 2018, NBC News reports.

Family separation at the border hit its peak in the summer of 2018 after then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions launched the U.S.'s "zero tolerance policy" that prosecuted all immigrants crossing the border, including parents who were then separated from their children. Trump's senior adviser Stephen Miller is known as the architect of that plan, but reportedly had the support of other top officials, two officials tell NBC News.

A month after zero tolerance went into effect, families were still not being split up, and Miller was "furious about the delay," NBC News writes. So he led a meeting with Sessions, former Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and more officials, where he asked them to vote in favor of pushing the policy along. "If we don't enforce this, it is the end of our country as we know it," Miller reportedly said.

The zero tolerance policy ultimately resulted in the separation of nearly 3,000 children from their families, but Miller actually proposed a policy that would split every migrant family at the border, even those who arrived legally and sought asylum. That would've ripped 25,000 more children from their parents. Nielsen reportedly tried to present a moral case against family separation, but when it came down to a vote, "a sea of hands went up" in favor of Miller's expediency, NBC News continues.

Among those invited to the meeting were Vice President Mike Pence, then-Chief of Staff Mark Kelly, and then-White House Counsel Don McGahn. Read more at NBC News.

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Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake ordered a full investigation of the incident by the departments Office of Professional Accountability. He said the family should have been given more time to answer the door and officers did not exercise due diligence in confirming that the person they were looking for lived at the apartment.
GREELEY, Colo.  Two students at a high school in Colorado have tested positive for COVID-19, prompting a two-week shutdown of the school days after the start of the academic year.

The Weld Re-8 School District announced the first confirmed case on its Facebook page and sent an email to parents announcing the second case, The Greeley Tribune reported.

The two students were in separate groups on campus with more than 500 students combined, requiring a complete school shutdown, Fort Lupton High School officials said.

Contact tracing has occurred to identify other individuals who had contact with the positive COVID-19 students, school officials said in the email. We have been in close contact with the Weld County Health Department and are following all Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment recommendations.

The high school, located 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Denver, has moved to full remote learning and is scheduled to be closed through at least Sept. 7. All other district schools will remain open for in-person classes.

County health officials said there was one case of COVID-19 in Fort Lupton as of Aug. 18.

The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some  especially older adults and people with existing health problems  it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.
Romantic people have a genetic mutation that produces more of the 'cuddle hormone' oxytocin - which makes them more likely to fall in love, a study has found.

The genetic mutation boosts the mood and ability of more romantic people, urging them to form relationships, according to researchers from McGill University, Quebec.

For their research the team focused on a gene called CD38 which fuels oxytocin and found those with two copies were more affectionate.

Those that have this genetic mutation are also more likely to spend a greater amount of time eating, drinking, talking and watching TV than those without the gene.

It isn't just the people with the mutation that it affects - researchers found that from a study of 111 couples those with the mutation also found their partner more caring even if they did not have two copies of the gene.

Romantic people have a genetic mutation that produces more of the 'cuddle hormone' oxytocin - which makes them more likely to fall in love, study found. Stock image

They were also more likely to overlook mistakes, swallow pride and give in to requests - known as 'relationship adjustment', according to researchers.

It is the first time the gene has been associated with human romantic behaviour in daily life, according to lead author Professor Jennifer Bartz.

'Variations may play a key role in behaviours and perceptions that support bonding in humans,' Bartz explained.

Her team tracked 111 couples who had been together for an average of five or six years and got them to report their social behaviours and their perception of their partner's social behaviour for a period of 20 days.

Out of the 222 individuals taking part in the study - 118 also provided genetic information - that worked out as 65 women and 53 men.

The CD38 gene has two variants, or 'alleles' - A and C. Every person has two copies - one inherited from each parent.

Alleles are forms of the same gene with small differences in their sequence of DNA bases. So the gene can be present in three combinations - AA, CC and AC.

Volunteers who inherited a double dose of the 'genotype' CC reported higher 'communal behaviour' than carriers of AA or AC.

They were also more likely to see their partner acting the same way even if their partner didn't have the same genetic codes.

Those with the genetic variant also experienced fewer negative feelings such as worry, frustration or anger than their peers.

They also rated the quality of their relationship as better - and more supportive.

Professor Bartz said: 'Given the significance of close relationships for human survival, it is thought biological mechanisms evolved to support their initiation and maintenance.

'Individuals with the CC allele reported higher levels of communal behaviour across their daily interactions with their romantic partner.

'They also had higher levels of relationship adjustment.'

She added: 'These findings support the role of oxytocin in the interpersonal processes implicated in the maintenance of close relationships.'

For their research the team focused on a gene called CD38 which fuels the 'cuddle' or 'love' hormone and found those with two copies were more affectionate. Stock image

They add to increasing evidence genetic factors play a role in the formation of relationships, and dating websites have been launched to combine genetics and matchmaking.

Studies have shown identical twins, raised separately, rate the overall quality of their marriages similarly. This suggests an enduring genetic contribution to marital life.

Oxytocin, also known as the 'love hormone', plays a significant role in emotional attachment - flooding a new mother at the birth of a child and spiking during sex.

Professor Bartz said decades of research on mice rodents and the socially monogamous prairie vole indicates oxytocin boosts romantic bonding.

She added: 'We demonstrate, for the first time, that CD38, a gene linked to oxytocin secretion and social behaviour in rodents, is also involved in regulating human romantic relationships as they unfold in daily life.

'Specifically, we show it is associated with an individual's communal behaviour, such as the expression of affection in daily interactions with a romantic partner.'

The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports.

The team tracked 111 couples who had been together for an average of five or six years and got them to report their social behaviours and their perception of their partner's social behaviour for a period of 20 days. Stock image
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 20

Trend:

Armenia, the aggressor country, continues to threaten Azerbaijan, Trend reports citing the statement of the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.

"The criminal regime created in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan recently voiced a threat to strike at the ancient Azerbaijani city of Ganja. This is another manifestation of Armenia's aggression, hatred and Azerbaijanophobia," said the statement.

The fact that a city with such an ancient history as Ganja was chosen as the target reflects the dangerous policy of Armenia aimed against humanity, and shows that terrorism and vandalism in Armenia are raised to the level of state policy, the document noted.

"This is reflected in the recent document on the National Security Strategy of Armenia. It does not make sense to expect something different from the leadership of Armenia, which rejoices in the destruction of an ancient civilization that played an important role in the history of mankind," the community's statement stressed.

"Armenia, on the one hand, threatens with reprisals against the civilian population of Ganja, and on the other hand, is building underground shelters to 'protect the civilian population' living in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. This clearly shows that Armenia is not interested in a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and is looking for opportunities and a pretext for new acts of aggression against Azerbaijan," said the statement.

"We want the conflict to be resolved through negotiations. We support the peaceful coexistence of the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of Nagorno-Karabakh as part of the territorial integrity of our country," the statement said.

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.
Security guards working in Victoria's quarantine hotels misused personal protective equipment, while nurses went without, an inquiry into the program has heard.

Michael Tait, a nurse with 20 years experience, worked with the first arrivals into quarantine at the Crown Metropol and Crown Promenade.

He told Victoria's hotel quarantine inquiry on Thursday only 25 guests were tested for COVID in the first five days due to the lack of swab kits and personal protective equipment for nurses.

"We didn't have medium gloves until day four. We did not get N95 masks until day eight," Mr Tait said in his witness statement.

"We never got hoods, face shields or shoe coverings even though we were told we would."

Recently arrived overseas travellers get off their bus and wait to check in at the Crown Promenade Hotel in Melbourne. Source: AAP

Meanwhile, he said security guards "didn't understand the importance or even the use of PPE", and left used masks and gloves strewn on the ground.

"I saw security guards with their masks down underneath their chin, eating their lunch with gloves on," Mr Tait told the inquiry.

Mr Tait described the Department of Health and Human Services policies as "shambolic", while rules for guests changed "every day, if not every hour".

He said a woman who tested positive to COVID-19 was allowed to wait in a hotel lobby "filled with security guards" for hours without PPE.

"Some of them (the security guards) had their masks on, some of them didn't," Mr Tait said.

"As soon as I saw her I instantly grabbed some of the guards' masks and gloves and handed them to her and said, 'You have to put these on'."

Mr Tait described the Department of Health and Human Services policies as "shambolic", while rules for guests changed "every day, if not every hour". Source: AAP

Another nurse, identified only as Jen for legal reasons, worked mainly at the Park Royal hotel for four weeks and expressed similar concerns.

"I saw a lot of mostly security guards constantly wearing the same gloves throughout their shift, going and making themselves a coffee without their gloves on, using their phone, things like that," she said.

Jen said guests with serious mental and physical health issues were treated as if they were "a problem and being annoying".

Story continues

She said a man was told by a Department of Health and Human Services staff member that they "need to stop threatening suicide just so they can get a cigarette".

Another hotel guest, who suffered severe pain from endometriosis, was unable to access traditional Chinese medicine to help with the pain.

The nurses - who were contracted through Your Nursing Agency - said they were no longer given shifts in hotel quarantine after voicing their concerns.

"(Crown) Metropol is struggling. We are taking care of 700+ residents, lots of children ... we have a challenging task, taking care of 150 folks each," Mr Tait wrote in an email on his last day.

He said he was particularly concerned after a guest had suicidal thoughts the night before.

"If there is a suicidal ideation like there was one last night we will be swamped," he wrote.

The email recipient's name was redacted.

Also called to give evidence on Thursday were returned travellers, including the director of the Human Rights Law Centre Hugh de Krester.

A man gestures from his hotel room as he prepares to leave the Crown Promenade Hotel after spending two weeks in forced quarantine in Melbourne. Source: AAP

He stayed at the Rydges on Swanston with his family in late June, a month after an outbreak was reported at the facility.

"Given the reports, we expected that our room would be thoroughly clean and smelling of disinfectant. It was the opposite," Mr de Krester said in his statement.

Images were shown to the inquiry of his room, which had dust and dirt on walls, mould in the bathroom and bloodstains on doonas.

Used gloves, masks and toys were found underneath beds.

Mr de Krester said his family was only provided with 15 minutes of fresh air on days 12 and 13 of their stay.

Couple Kate Hyslop and Ricky Singh, meanwhile, were not offered a fresh air break once while quarantining at Crown Metropol in mid-April, nor were they tested for coronavirus.

Hearings continue before retired Judge Jennifer Coate on Friday.

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If you enjoy some hard feisty punches and bone-cracking fight sequences in Vidyut Jammwal-starrer Khuda Haafiz, then we have a few more recommendations to make.

Heres what you can watch next:

Mad Max: Fury Road

Premise: The 2015 action film follows a group of female prisoners lead by Charlize Theron as Imperator Furiosa. The film was fourth in the Mad Max series about a group that rebels against a tyrannical ruler as they search for their onetime homeland. The film also won six Oscars.

What works: While we often see men doing the heavy lifting in an action film, women taking the baton in this one is a fun watch.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

The Man from Nowhere

Premise: Directed by Lee Jeong-beom and starring Won Bin, this Korean film is about a former special agent, who is involved in a convoluted drug ring drama. He's on a mission to rescue a drug smuggler's daughter from being the victim of her parents' fight.

What works: Wrapped in melodrama, this one has impeccable fight sequences with some fierce blood and gore.

Where to watch: Netflix

John Wick Series

Premise: This action thriller series is based on the life of a fictional character John Wick. It is about a man who lived alone with his puppy, a final gift from his deceased wife. Some men break into his house, steal his car and the worst of all, they kill the dog. The final act unleashes the vengeful side to Wick and he embarks on a mission to kill everyone who's involved in it.

What works: A simple yet thrilling plot with some amazing action choreography is the prime strength of John Wick. And, of course Keanu Reeves.

Where to watch: Netflix

War

Premise: In the backdrop of a complex mentor-mentee drama, there's Kabir, an undercover agent, who goes rogue. To tack him down, his boss sends another capable agent, Khalid. Turns out Khalid is Kabir's former student.

What works: It's a treat to watch Hrithik Roshan and Tiger shroff engage in muscle-flexing combat with non-stop action sequences shot at spectacular locations.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Black Panther

Premise: It follows T'Challa, who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated and technologically advanced African nation. But that's not easy for him because first, to take his rightful place as king, he has to prove he is a capable leader.

What works: While almost all superhero films are action loaded and have some excellent CGI sequences, Blank Panther stands out having some defined and tense action scenes.

Where to watch: Disney+ Hotstar

Special mention: If you are a fan of out-and-out action films, you should watch Vidyut Jammwal's Commando series. It is available on ZEE5.
By Codi Kozacek

On Tuesday, residents of Flint, Michigan were invited to bring their children to a local elementary school for a Lead Testing and Family Fun Night. Combining a school carnival with medical tests to check childrens blood for abnormally high levels of lead, the event was an example of the bizarre circumstances that families are contending with in Flint, Michigans seventh largest city.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder is at the center of criticism over a public health crisis in Flint, where a state decision to switch the citys water source ended with lead-contaminated water. Here, he speaks to the Michigan Municipal League in 2011. Photo credit: Michigan Municipal League / Flickr

A series of public decisions, driven by misguided management practices and ideological principles that backfired, converged during the past 20 months to poison the citys drinking water and cause one of the most severe public health threats in the U.S. The extent of the risk to Flints residents is not clear.

Flints crisis is the third time during the administration of Republican Gov. Rick Snyder that decisions about water supply and water quality at the most senior levels of state government have put state residents in harms way. In 2014, again as a result of the governors decision to appoint an emergency manager in Detroit, drinking water services were cut off for thousands of city residents said to be in arrears on their water bills. But water services for many of the citys largest commercial water consumers, which owed the city water department millions of dollars in unpaid charges, were not halted.

The Snyder administration, according to business owners and residents in northern Michigan, has been slow to respond to the threat of a major Great Lakes oil spill from two 63-year-old pipelines that transport 540,000 barrels of oil a day across the Straits of Mackinac at the top of Lake Michigan. An environmental law group in Traverse City, For the Love of Water, has argued that other existing onshore pipelines are available to transport oil to Great Lakes refineries and that Gov. Snyder has the legal authority to shut down Line 5 and prevent what the group called an imminent risk.

Flints Water Unravels

Flints water troubles began in April 2014, when the city of 102,000 residents in southeastern Michigan began sourcing its water from the nearby Flint River instead of receiving Lake Huron water from its longtime water supplier, the Detroit city water department. The move, made by emergency managers appointed by the state to bring an economically ailing Flint back to fiscal health, was estimated to save the city $US 5 million while it awaited the construction of a new pipeline to Lake Huron.

The plan, which was strong on the value of cost-saving, but received scant evaluation for its technical feasibility, quickly unraveled. Over the next year and a half, a series of public announcements and troubling disclosures, many of them first reported by investigative journalist Curt Guyette, described Flints deteriorating water quality and growing public dismay.

The water crisis in Flint has resulted in a U.S. EPA audit of Michigans state drinking water program, a federal investigation and the resignation of the director of Michigans Department of Environmental Quality. Photo credit: George Thomas / Flickr

First, the city issued several boil water advisories in the summer of 2014. Then, in January 2015, Flint violated the U.S. Safe Drinking Water Act because its water contained high levels of total trihalomethanes or THM, byproducts of the water treatment process that, over time, can increase the risk of cancer and cause health problems of the liver, kidneys and central nervous system. Finally, two research studies in the fall of 2015 found that the new water source was corroding aging water pipes, leaching lead into the system and very likely causing a spike in lead levels in the blood of Flints children. Lead exposure can impair both mental and physical development in children, sometimes causing profound and permanent adverse health effects, according to the World Health Organization.

State Slow to Respond

Throughout the crisis, Gov. Snyder appeared indifferent while state officials defended the emergency managers actions and repeatedly rejected claims that there was anything wrong with Flints water. As evidence of serious contamination mounted, the Snyder administration insisted the citys water was safe to drink.

Gov. Snyder did not acknowledge the unsafe condition of the citys water problems until Sept. 30, 2015.

In terms of a mistake, we found there are probably things that werent as fully understood when that switch was made, Snyder told reporters, according to MLive. Again, were looking at making sure theyre within safe limits according to the federal government.

The governor apologized to the city in December.

I want the Flint community to know how very sorry I am that this has happened, Snyder said in a statement. And I want all Michigan citizens to know that we will learn from this experience, because Flint is not the only city that has an aging infrastructure.

In 2014, a bloom of toxic algae in Lake Erie shut down drinking water supplies for half a million people in Toledo, Ohio. Photo credit: Codi Kozacek / Circle of Blue

The same day, the governor accepted the resignation of Dan Wyant, the director of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Both Snyders apology and Wyants resignation came on the heels of a letter to the governor from the state-appointed Flint Water Advisory Task Force. The task force blatantly blamed Michigan Department of Environmental Quality for Flints water problems, MLive reported, writing to the governor, We believe the primary responsibility for what happened in Flint rests with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

Read page 1

In October, the state authorized Flint to switch back to the Detroit water system. The city also began adding phosphates to its water in December to help rebuild a protective coating inside pipes damaged by the corrosive Flint River. Meanwhile, state and city programs are providing residents with water filters, bottled water and lead testing to help ensure safe water.

Cost-Saving Move Backfires

Critics of the Snyder administrations management of Flints fiscal and public health turmoil note that the cost to the city and the state of the administrations cost-saving strategy is likely to be considerable. The state has allocated $US10 million to test the water, distribute water filters and help in other ways. The money comes on top of the $US6 million price tag to switch Flint back to the Detroit water system.

Personal and class action lawsuits brought by plaintiffs seeking compensation for health damages could be inordinately expensive. The reasons: blood tests revealed elevated concentrations of lead in the tissues of many residents. And a bevy of documents uncovered by Guyette, other reporters and researchers indicate that state officials knew of serious problems much sooner, but failed to act.

In their short-sighted effort to save a buck, the leaders who were supposed to be protecting Flints citizens instead left them exposed to dangerously high levels of lead contamination, Michael Steinberg, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, said in a November press release announcing an intent to sue state and city officials over the water crisis.

Echoes of Flint Around the World

Flints story of water dangers fostered by ideology, neglect and indifference is, in many ways, a central national and global challenge of the 21st century.

Sao Paulo, Brazils largest city, nearly ran dry last year due to a severe drought and aging infrastructure. Photo credit: Martha Slivak / Flickr

Governments are forgoing investments in critical infrastructure or failing to take changing markets and fast-changing environmental conditions into account. The result, in places like Flint or Sao Paulo, Johannesburg and Mumbai, is decrepit, inadequate water systems that leave residents with unsafe wateror no water at all. In the Midwest U.S. and in India, it is depleted aquifers that threaten food production. In Lake Erie and Lake Taihu, it is runaway nutrient pollution that fuels toxic algae blooms. On a global scale, the collective procrastination on climate action means countries must now make drastic cuts in their carbon emissions to avoid environmental collapse.

The fallout when water systems break down is swift and unrelenting. A severe, two-year drought in Brazil nearly spelled disaster for Sao Paulo last year. The city contemplated the daunting prospect of 20 million residents without water. Inadequate, leaky infrastructure compounded the problem.

Millions of people living in Wuxi, China could not use their tap water for days in 2007 due to a toxic algae bloom in Lake Taihu.

And then there is Flint, which had no water problem until the state governor, driven by ideological principles of reducing taxes and administrative costs, appointed an emergency manager who decided to save $US5 million, a relative pittance in big city budgets, without carefully evaluating the consequences. That misguided and unnecessary decision affecting a major public service put people in danger and resulted in economic costs that already are three times higher than what the emergency manager expected to save.

An Expensive Problem

In the case of Flint and other cities with aging infrastructure and no source of revenue from a U.S. Congress devoted to the same principles of tax reduction and disinvestment, the outlook is disturbing. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that utilities in the U.S. need to spend $US633 billion over the next two decades to supply water and to treat sewage. A 2012 report by the American Water Works Association said restoring and expanding water systems over the next 25 years could cost $US1 trillion.

Growing infrastructure repair bills and inadequate financial support from the federal government mean cities are raising water rates that inhibit the ability of some citizens to pay and could affect economic competitiveness.

This shouldnt have to be Americans fate. Once upon a time, this country dreamed of big and ambitious interventions to help its residents live safe, secure and comfortable lives, Guyette wrote in The Nation in July 2015. He added, Getting Congress to come up with the cash is a decidedly tough task in an era when lawmakers eschew any form of tax hike, focusing instead on attempts to rein in the federal budget by hacking away at established programs.

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NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Joe Cassar revealed the NSW Police security enforcement and licensing directorate has investigated two reports of hotel quarantine security subcontracting, which occurred on April 2 and May 13. So far, Mr Cassar said one of the companies had been fined $2200 while investigations into the earlier breach remain ongoing. "Both of the security guards had their services terminated as a result of those reports," he said. While Ms Berejiklian only found out about the subcontracting issue on Wednesday night, she said it had been handled appropriately.

Loading "I'm incredibly pleased the police did what they're there to do, and that is they saw something wasn't right, they dealt with it, they sacked one company and gave a fine to another one, and that shows the system is working," she said. Two of the state's new cases were in returned overseas travellers, and three were locally acquired cases in south-west Sydney. Of the locally acquired cases, one is the Liverpool Hospital outpatient who was publicised on Wednesday; one is a household contact of a person associated with the Bankstown funerals cluster; and one is a man in his 20s whose source of infection is unknown. His close contacts have been identified and directed to self-isolate.

"We are seeing these continual low levels of transmission, particularly in south-western Sydney, but also popping up in western Sydney from time to time," Dr Chant said, noting it was critical that testing rates remained high. Loading With people continuing to be affected by COVID-19 in the state, the NSW Rail, Tram and Bus Union has called off a bus strike that was planned for Monday and Tuesday next week. The union had threatened drivers would go on the 48-hour strike unless the government improved coronavirus safety measures and delayed the planned privatisation of three bus regions. But RTBU Bus Division Secretary David Babineau told the Industrial Relations Commission on Thursday afternoon that hundreds of members had decided against the action, and will instead likely hold a stop-work meeting for two hours on Monday.

"The people inconvenienced will be the people who have no choice, essential workers, people with disabilities, and we don't want to put them through any more hardship," Mr Babineau told the Herald. In Victoria, the hotel quarantine inquiry was told that a returned traveller died in a room but was not discovered for "a couple of days". Nurse Michael Tait told the inquiry that mental health nurses were only deployed to the Crown Metropol hotel after a guest at the Pan-Pacific Hotel died on April 11, about a fortnight into the program. Mr Tait said many guests struggled severely with the isolation, particularly the first travellers who arrived home in Australia without knowing they would be placed in mandatory quarantine. Victoria recorded 13 deaths and 240 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday. Eight of those deaths were linked to aged care homes.

Time to relax the borders: Barilaro Speaking in Albury on Thursday morning, NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said he believed there was "an argument" that restrictions on the Victorian border should be relaxed. "We made tough decisions and with that, unfortunately, it impacts on communities," he said. "Seven weeks on, some of the numbers across the border are getting better. The risk profile is reducing and, therefore, there is an argument for a reset today to move forward."
Pardot consulting company "Our partnership with Terminus combined with our deep partnership with Salesforce allows us to bring cutting edge Pardot account-based marketing solutions to our B2B customers around the globe for even greater value.

Leading Pardot consulting company Invado Solutions announced today that it has formalized a partnership with Terminus to provide even more robust and targeted Pardot based ABM solutions for its B2B clients.

Terminus, the No. 1 ranked Account-Based Marketing Platform, and Salesforce Pardot, B2B marketing automation from the worlds No. 1 CRM, recently introduced a powerful integration that allows marketers to fully integrate technology stacks that make full-funnel experiences easier to create, execute and measure.

As Pardot consulting experts specializing in demand generation solutions, we have a deep understanding of both the technology and the strategy needed to fully realize that technology, said Christopher Doran, CEO of Invado Solutions. Our partnership with Terminus combined with our deep partnership with Salesforce allows us to bring cutting edge Pardot account-based marketing solutions to our B2B customers around the globe for even greater value.

With thousands of technology solutions on the market today, marketers are increasingly overwhelmed by disconnected options and are struggling to execute full-funnel experiences. The TerminusPardot partnership allows organizations to fully integrate technology stacks, putting them in a position to quickly create coordinated experiences for target audiences.

In tandem with the recent announcement of our integration with Pardot, were thrilled to announce our partnership with Invado Solutions  one of the premier Pardot consulting agencies in North America, said Bryan Wade, Chief Product Officer at Terminus. Pardot customers will now have a go-to consultancy to drive maximum value out of Terminus and Pardot.

Uniting Terminus ABM platform with Invados Pardot technical and strategic expertise will enable marketing and sales teams to better engage with the right accounts, and to coordinate engagement across channels to deliver a connected experience. Integration offers numerous powerful capabilities, including:



Better segmentation for targeted advertising with bi-directional data sync.

Better sales and customer success intelligence with tools to prioritize outreach to the most engaged and best-fit target accounts.

Improved lead-to-account matching and data hygiene. No more orphaned leads or missing decision-makers.

Teaming up with Terminus is a reflection of our drive to help demand-driven marketing leaders get the most out of their technology investments and push their pipelines to new levels, said Doran.

For more information on how Invado Solutions helps clients maximize their technology investments, drop us a line.

About Invado Solutions:

Specializing in Salesforce Pardot marketing solutions, Invado Solutions is a team of martech experts that help marketing leaders tap the full potential of their Salesforce marketing technology investments. From start-ups to Fortune 500s, Invado helps companies fill their funnel as well as uncover and implement innovative ways to drive more demand with a combination of strategic initiatives and in-the-trenches implementation. For more information visit invadosolutions.com.

About Terminus Solutions:

Terminus is the leader of the account-based movement and the crucial link that connects B2B marketing and sales teams with their ideal customers. The Terminus Engagement Hub arms marketing teams with an account-centric platform that delivers all of the data, engagement channels, and attribution analytics that modern marketing teams need to target and engage their current and future customers. Hundreds of organizations worldwide, including Salesforce, GE, Verizon, 3M and CA Technologies, turn to Terminus to more effectively target, engage and grow their best-fit accounts. Terminus offers savvy marketers the technology and proven expertise to radically improve ABM strategies and campaigns, increasing ROI and producing exceptional results. For more information, visit Terminus.com.
The Nigerian Defence Headquarters on Thursday confirmed that three soldiers lost their lives during a fierce shootout with members of the ISWAP in Kukawa town of Borno State on Tuesday.

The military also said eight ISWAP members were shot dead while several others escaped with bullet injuries.

The attack, which took place on Tuesday evening, had sent the few residents, who were returning to the community after years of displacement, fleeing again.

One of the civilian survivors, Ali Gonimi, told journalists upon his arrival in Maiduguri on Wednesday that the attackers were in full military kits.

Initially, when we saw them coming from afar, we all thought they were soldiers of the Nigeria Army, until when they came right into the town, he said.

We were all scared upon seeing their black flags with a white Arabic inscription on it. They looked so much like soldiers because they were well dressed in camouflaged military uniforms. They told us not to panic that they were not out to harm us.

But who would believe that kind of assurance? We all took to our heels as they commenced shooting with soldiers. Most of us fled towards Baga, where we got vehicles that brought us down to Maiduguri. Some people had to go on foot to Monguno.

An official of the state government-owned vigilante and hunting group, Bunu Bukar, confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES in a phone interview that more than five soldiers have died.

Our personnel who were lucky to escape the attack had given us a report that not less than five soldiers have been killed in Kukawa town. They also went away with seven vehicles they snatched from the soldiers.

I dont know if the soldiers had killed any of the Boko Haram or ISWAP fighters.

Meanwhile, the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, John Enenche, said in a statement on Thursday that the attack was an attempt to scuttle the resettlement of the Kukawa community in Borno on Tuesday.

He said, three soldiers were killed in the attack while two others sustained various degrees of injuries.

Mr Enenche said the wounded soldiers were currently receiving treatment at a military facility.

The attack by the terrorists was, therefore, a deliberate attempt to reverse the milestone achievements recorded regarding IDPs in the areas of peacebuilding, reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement efforts by the government.

The situation in Kukawa is now calm with troops in full control.
(Alliance News) - Irish no-frills airline Ryanair Holdings PLC, which has slashed its flight capacity as a result of the pandemic, said Thursday its pilots in Spain had accepted a 20% pay cut to minimise job losses

Under the four-year agreement reached with Spanish pilots union SEPLA, pilots also accepted "flexible working patterns" which will allow the airline to improve its productivity, Ryanair said in a statement.

"This agreement gives Ryanair a framework to flex its operation during the Covid-19 crisis and a pathway to recovery when the business returns to normal in the years ahead".

At the same time, the company said it had failed to strike a deal with Spanish cabin crew unions USO and SITCPLA, which means "job losses are now more likely" among their members.

Ryanair announced Monday that it would cut is September and October timetable by 20% due to weaker-than-expected demand following renewed virus-linked travel restrictions in some European countries.

The company said the cuts would focus on countries such as Spain and France where a recent rise in coronavirus cases has led to increased travel restrictions.

Ryanair booked a net loss of EUR185 million euros in the three months to the end of June, the first quarter of its financial year.

In response to the coronavirus-induced downturn, Ryanair is seeking to axe 3,000 jobs and has not ruled out further cutbacks.

The pandemic has ravaged the global aviation sector, sparking heavy losses, job cuts, bankruptcies and state rescue plans.

Shares in Ryanair closed 3.2% lower in London on Thursday at EUR11.13 each.

source: AFP

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
WARSAW Poland has appointed Zbigniew Rau, the chair of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee, to the post of foreign minister, as Warsaw seeks to play a leading role in the EU response to a political crisis in neighbouring Belarus.

At a news conference on Thursday, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki also said that economist Adam Niedzielski, the head of the national health fund (NFZ), had been appointed health minister.

The appointments come at a crucial time for both ministries, as Poland grapples with rising daily coronavirus cases and seeks to push the EU to take an active diplomatic stance towards Belarus, a close Russian ally whose borders with Poland, Lithuania and Latvia are major NATO frontiers.

Today both men are certainly mentally, intellectually and spiritually immersing themselves in the issues they will be responsible for," Morawiecki said.

The appointments come two days after the departure of previous Health Minister Lukasz Szumowski, and hours after Jacek Czaputowicz resigned as foreign minister on Thursday morning.

Czaputowicz had signalled in July he may quit, as the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party announced it planned personnel changes in the government during a reshuffle in the autumn that could see the number of ministries reduced.

Thousands of people have demonstrated in Belarus against official election results that showed President Alexander Lukashenko re-elected in an Aug. 9 vote the opposition says was rigged. The EU has announced financial sanctions against Belarusian officials it blames for vote fraud.

Belarus has blamed the protests on foreign interference and said it is reinforcing its Western borders.

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
Acting chief medical officer, Dr Ronan Glynn, said he was open to meeting the GAA and sporting organisations to explain the reasons why events are behind closed doors until at least September 13.

It was the concern about the potential for congregation of crowds and trying to decrease increases in socialisation, he said, not the sport or activity itself.

At the evening briefing of the National Public Health Emergency Team, Dr Glynn would not comment on reports Laois and Offaly were set to emerge from lockdown, but that Kildare was not.

That was a matter for the Government to comment upon, he said, after considering the advice that NPHET had given.

There were 136 confirmed new cases, with one death. Of the new cases, 57 are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case. Some 11 cases were identified as community transmission.

The new cases included 51 in Dublin, 24 in Kildare, 12 in Kilkenny, and 11 in Tipperary.

Professor Philip Nolan, chair of NPHET's Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said the reproduction number is currently at or above 1.2  the number of people to which an infected person will pass the disease.

"There are two concerns now, the number of new cases per day remains high, and the pattern has changed from large outbreaks in specific settings to much smaller outbreaks widely distributed across the country," he said.

He said that schools are safe and that concern was understandable but misplaced about sending children back.

"Unlike influenza, schools are not a big driver of Sars-CoV-2 transmission, so the truth is, where we see children being infected is in households," he said.

"We need to prevent adult to adult transmission of the virus. If you do that, you prevent it getting into households, you prevent kids being infected, so the attention is in the wrong place.

"The truth is that we see children being infected in households. The real measures that need to be taken here are to prevent adult to adult transmission. The intention is in the wrong place.

"Schools are a safe place and very well run by principals to ensure that infection doesn't occur. It is the household we need to concentrate on," Prof Nolan said.

Dr Siobhan Ni Bhriain, consultant psychiatrist and Integrated Care Lead HSE, said the plan was still to issue guidance to schools before they go back next week.

It would be very difficult for parents of four children to have to wash uniforms every night, but a basic guide that the uniforms be clean should suffice, she said.

The HSE published a study that examined how many people have been infected in Ireland by analysing antibodies.

The study estimates that that 59,500 people in Ireland between 12 and 69 had been infected up to mid-July, or three times more than those detected through official notification.

Based on these results, HPSC estimates a national prevalence rate  or the percentage of people infected in Ireland  of 1.7%, the HSE said.
Police are to focus enforcement on Northern Irelands coronavirus hotspot areas, the health minister has said.

Areas like Mid and East Antrim have seen the number of cases rise.

That is partly down to a cluster of at least 35 infections at a meat processing plant in Cullybackey.

Robin Swann said areas that have been experiencing a rise in cases needed more attention from police (Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA)

Robin Swann said areas that have experienced a rise in cases needed more attention from police.

He added: I believe it is particularly important in those districts which have seen sharp spikes in Covid-19 prevalence.

Belfast has also recorded significant numbers of infections over recent times.

Chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride said there needed to be right-touch, not light-touch enforcement.

People want to do the right thing but sometimes we all need to be reminded about that.

PSNI assistant chief constable Alan Todd said the approach has always been engage, explain, encourage and then enforce (David Young/PA)

PSNI assistant chief constable Alan Todd said: Our approach has always been engage, explain, encourage and enforcement with any emphasis on enforcement being fully considered with all our partners.

With the changing picture in relation to Covid-19 we will continue to work closely with the Department of Health and other partner agencies to inform the most effective policing approach to keep people safe including enhanced resources in those areas identified as a priority.
Netflix has been accused of sexualising 11-year-old girls in its promotion for the French film Cuties.

The film, titled Mignonnes in France, follows a young girl from a traditional Senegalese Muslim household who joins a dance group. Written and directed by Maimouna Doucoure, it won the directing award in the dramatic world cinema category at the Sundance Film Festival this year.

In an interview about the film, Doucoure told Cineuropa she came up with the concept after seeing "a group of young girls aged around 11 years old going up on stage and dancing in a very sensual way while wearing very revealing clothes". She said she was "shocked" and wondered if they were "aware of the image of sexual availability that they were projecting".

In Netflixs promotional poster for the film, the children can be seen wearing shorts and crop tops and striking various dance poses, including kneeling on the floor and squatting.

The French poster, by contrast, shows the group wearing less revealing clothes and throwing shopping bags into the air.

Many Twitter users have pointed out how different the promos are, with one person writing: Its interesting to compare the French version of the Cuties poster to the American version... like the French version has more kids having fun! vibes, while the American version is just f***ing... gross. I feel like the #Netflix marketing team has a lot to answer for.

Another wrote: "I just found a trailer for the movie Cuties on Netflix and the blatant sexualisation of young girls is DISGUSTING. No one wants to see their child dressed and posed like this. WHY IS NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT THIS?"

Netflixs synopsis of the film has also drawn criticism. Before the backlash, the streaming giants summary said: Amy, 11, becomes fascinated with a twerking dance crew. Hoping to join them, she starts to explore her femininity, defying her familys traditions.

It has now been changed to the following: 11-year-old Amy starts to rebel against her conservative familys traditions when she becomes fascinated with a free-spirited dance crew.

Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up

In a statement to Metro.co.uk, Netflix said: This was not an accurate representation of the film so the image and description has been updated.

A Change.org petition has also been created, calling for the film to be removed because it promotes child pornography. At the time of writing, it has more than 20,000 signatures.

The film has received positive reviews from critics. Screen Dailys Fionnuala Halligan said Cuties is explicitly designed to shock mature audiences into a contemplation of todays destruction of innocence.

The Hollywood Reporter's David Rooney also notes the film has a "critical view of a culture that steers impressionable young girls toward the hypersexualisation of their bodies".

Writer-director Doucoure told Cineuropa: Today, the sexier and the more objectified a woman is, the more value she has in the eyes of social media. And when youre 11, you dont really understand all these mechanisms, but you tend to mimic, to do the same thing as others in order to get a similar result.

I think it is urgent that we talk about it, that a debate be had on the subject.

Cuties premieres on Netflix on 9 September.
Tacloban City (CNN Philippines, August 21)  Catbalogan City Mayor Dexter Uy confirmed on Thursday night he is positive for COVID-19.

In a video message posted on his official Facebook page, the local chief executive of Samar provinces capital said he is currently staying in the citys isolation facility.

The 26-year old mayor is the first local government unit official in Region 8 that is infected with COVID-19.

Uy is among the 53 fresh COVID-19 cases in the city. Also included are 36 health care workers at the Samar Provincial Hospital, 17 of which were in close contact of a previous confirmed case.

Uy narrated that he experienced COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, tiredness, colds, cough, and loss of taste and smell, which prompted him to undergo swabbing.

In his video message, Uy appealed to Catbalogan residents to follow the health protocols imposed by the government to avoid getting infected by the virus.

The mayor added that in his effort to lessen the effect of COVID-19 in the city by going out and reminding his residents, he did not expect to get infected with the virus.

"I don't want other Catbaloganon to experience what I experienced. Don't do the things that I did," Uy said.

"I am appealing all to please stay at home, always wear face masks, wear face shield, practice social distancing, wash your hands. Again, I am appealing for us to work together to stop the spread of this virus. Stay at home, that is your greatest contribution in this fight against Covid," he added.

A total of 97 fresh cases of COVID-19 were announced by the Department of Health in Eastern Visayas on Thursday. This brings a total of 1,918 cases in the region since the first recorded case in March.

The confirmatory tests were conducted at the Eastern Visayas Regional COVID-19 Testing Center, Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center-Magsaysay, and at the Divine Word Hospital Virology Laboratory.

Thursday's tally of 97 new cases is the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 infections for a single day in the region.

Samar had 67 cases, Leyte logged 25 while Northern Samar had five.

41 of the 97 new cases are health care workers, while 27 had close contact with confirmed COVID-19 patients. The rest are locally stranded individuals.

There are now 685 active COVID-19 cases in the region.

CNN Philippines Stringer Wil Mark Amazona contributed to this report.
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.

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.

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.

Here are the full remarks, as released by the Democratic National Convention:

Hello America. Im Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Or as Donald Trump calls me, that woman from Michigan.

Tonight, Im here at UAW Local 652 in Lansing, Michigan. Autoworkers in this union and across our state could have lost their jobs if not for Barack Obama and Joe Biden. In 2009, the Obama-Biden Administration inherited the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. The auto industryon the brink of collapse. A million jobs at stake. But President Obama and Vice President Biden didnt waste time blaming anybody else or shirking their responsibility.

They got to work. They brought together union members, companies, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, and they saved the auto industry. And wouldnt you know, just a few months ago, as our nation began battling COVID-19, autoworkers across Michigan sprang into action. They started making protective equipment for doctors and nurses on the front lines.

Let me break it down: President Obama and Vice President Biden saved these autoworkers livelihoods. Then these workers did their part to save American lives. Thats the story of this great country. Action begets action. Progress begets progress. And when we work togetherwe can accomplish anything. After all, democracy is a team sport.

Especially now. Its crucial that we rally together to fight this virus and build our economy back better. From the jump, we took this pandemic seriously in Michigan. We listened to medical experts. We planned. And with a lot of help from the auto workersand too little help from the White Housewe executed our plan. We saved thousands of lives.

Just imagine if we had a national strategy: So everyone who needs a test gets one for free. So everyone has access to a safe vaccine. So our kids and educators have the resources they need to safely get back to school.

With Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the White House, we will. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will lead by example. Science, not politics or ego, will drive their decisions. They know: the health of our people goes hand in hand with the strength of our economy. They know that action begets action.

Over the past few months, we learned whats essential: rising to the challenge, not denying it. Weve learned who is essential, too. Not just the wealthiest among us. Not a president who fights his fellow Americans rather than fight the virus thats killing us and our economy. Its the people who put their own health at risk to care for the rest of us. They are the MVPs. The nurses and the doctors. The utility workers, truck drivers, and grocery clerks. The child care workers, the parents, the teachers. The mail carriers  and the autoworkers.

So many of these essential workers have lost their lives to COVID. Nearly 1,000 health care workers. More than 160,000 people across America. Including a 5-year-old girl named Skylar, whose mom is a police officer and dad is a firefighter in Detroit.

Generation after generation, our nation has been defined by what we do. Or what we fail to do.

So: for Skylar, for her parents, and in the memory of all those weve lost. Let us act. Let us heal as one nation. Let us find strength to do the work.

READ MORE ON MLIVE:

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says Biden saved Michigans auto industry in Democratic National Convention speech

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

With DNC speech, Whitmer steps further into national spotlight

Gov. Whitmers Shark Week joke now a T-shirt, candle and mask
Law enforcers raid Ukrzaliznytsia offices in Kyiv, Vinnytsia

16:40, 20.08.20 1907

The SBU Security Service exposed a corruption scheme, resulting in almost US$439,239 in losses incurred to the state.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 21)  The countrys largest business group appealed to the government to allow the full resumption of economic activities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry specified there should be an efficient resumption of businesses and unhampered movement of workers to keep the countrys economy back to its feet again.

We understand the precarious situation of our medical workers and frontliners. But we also need to stress that the longer our economy stays in its current state where businesses cannot function 100 percent, nor even up to 75 percent, the more protracted the recession that will follow and the more people will be permanently out of jobs said PCCI President Benedicto Yujuico in a statement.

The countrys gross domestic product suffered a 16.5 percent contraction during the second quarter of the year, marred by lockdowns and movement restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19.

To further solidify their plea, the PCCI Board of Directors passed a resolution urging the government to include the private sector in consultations before coming up with policy recommendations on lockdowns and full resumption of economic activities.

The IATF will be able to use the on-the- ground experience of the business sector to come up with a holistic approach that will make it easier for businesses to resume operation and for workers to return to work, explained Yujuico.

Yujuico emphasized that owners of micro, small, medium, and large enterprises are worried about the national governments wariness to fully open the economy. They are also concerned about incoherent regulations of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Infectious Diseases and local government units.

The PCCI president added business owners are apprehensive on the stringent guidelines for businesses that are allowed to operate under a general community quarantine. These include public transportation regulations that curtail the workers mobility, mandatory use of face shields for workers, observance of two-meter physical distancing, and designation of an isolation room for every 200 employees.

(It) is simply not realistic in a production-line setting, stressed Yujuico.

PCCI also pointed out that the additional cost to comply to some minimum health standards bears down on the already meager incomes of the informal sector.

The Senate ratified on Thursday the 165.5-billion Bayanihan to Recover as One Bill which is the government's response to revive the ailing economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The House of Representatives promised to ratify the measure next week.

The Senate, however, has not acted on the 1.3-trillion economic stimulus package, Accelerated Recovery and Investments Stimulus for the Economy of the Philippines or ARISE Philippines Bill, even if the House had passed it on third reading last June.

READ: Solon appeals to senators to pass 1.3-trillion ARISE Bill to help economy bounce back
Will Kamala Harris be beneficial to India if she does in fact become the next Vice-President of the United States of America? We haven't a clue, so we thought we'd find out

"A proud day for us all," said Ramashray H*, as he watched Kamala Harris deliver her speech at the Democratic National Convention (DNC), and in doing so, accept the vice-presidential nomination from her party. "It was only a matter of time till America recognised her value," added the budding poet, whose father is an acquaintance of the tech blogger who once backed a Kickstarter initiative by the nephew of a man who could have delivered milk to a distant cousin of Harris'. But didn't, because he was unwell and chose a different career upon his recovery.

Like Ramashray, there are millions-... okay, tens (probably) of others dotted all over India who have been high-fiving each other and thumping each other vigorously across the back ever since news trickled in that former vice-president Joe Biden had invited Harris to join his ticket and take on President Donald Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence in the US election in November.

"You see, Kamala is like kamal," Dhananjay Sawant* told FP Special Forces, before smiling serenely and looking off into the distance.

Upon being prodded for more details, the pop culture blogger (A detail that would have been useful if it had been uncovered before interviewing him - Eds) elaborated, "You see, the lotus, as Wikipedia tells us, is the symbol of what is divine or immortal in humanity, and is also a symbol of divine perfection. Somewhat like the Netflix show, Dark, which is a different sort-..."

Better information could probably procured elsewhere, we decided and moved on. After all, the story of all the myriad ways in which a Harris vice-presidency would be beneficial for India would have to be told by voices that reflected greater awareness and, for want of a better word, relevance.

Wiping his horn-rimmed spectacles meticulously with a microfibre cloth, a software engineer-turned-publisher of children's books told us, "We have a lot in common". Encouraged by this chance to learn more about the US Senator from California's deeper commonalities with the country of her origin, we asked for details. "She is Kamala Harris and I am Harish Kamal*," he grinned and enthusiastically offered, "With the exception of one H, one A and one R, we have all the other letters of our names in common. And I feel this common touch will be good for India."

After strongly considering moving on to our next, Harish attempted to appeal to our superstitious side. "You know how 15 August saw India complete 73 years of Independence? Well, it was on that day that MS Dhoni (whose favoured jersey number is 7) and Suresh Raina (whose favoured jersey number is 3) retired," he explained, his eyes widening with every word and head nodding slowly and knowingly. "Just like that," the publisher of such books as The Cat Who Went on Amarnath Yatra continued, "Harris mentioned the word 'India' or 'Indian' three times in her speech on three occasions; she spoke on the third day of the Democratic convention; and she and I have three extra letters of the alphabet in our names."

Having switched off the DNC telecast as soon as Billie Eilish was done performing, we weren't entirely sure what Harris said in her speech. But three mentions of India sounded like a bit of a porky pie. For those of you who enjoy it when the text references the headline of a piece, you can have this one. And for everyone else, while it's not quite a pie  that is to say it is in no fathomable way a pie, we figured something's better than nothing. So here then is a video of Harris enjoying a lovely pork chop:

Finally got my pork chop! pic.twitter.com/3LUSKorixU  Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 11, 2019

Great stuff, but we're still looking for something more concrete about just how Harris will be beneficial for, and dare we say it, a 'master stroke' for India.

Enter Delroy Das*. A keen observer of India-US relations, Das offered to field any and all of our questions pertaining to just how Harris would ensure India benefited on the global stage and in bilateral relations with the US. "In her speech, she spent some time talking about her mother and said a very important thing: 'And she raised us to know and be proud of our Indian heritage'," Das pointed out, punctuating each word of the quoted sentence with a tap of his right index finger.

Edited excerpts of the extremely brief interview with Das follow:

So what does it all mean?

Well, it means that the greatness of Indian heritage will be out there for all the world to see and the global recognition of its splendour will soon follow.

In what ways has her Indian heritage informed her decision-making and choices in her career as a politician or laywer so far?

None of that is important. What's important is that Shyamala Gopalan's daughter is set to be the first Indian-origin person to be American vice-president.

Weren't we given to believe that the Trump administration was good for India?

Yes, but he's not Indian.

Neither is Biden or Harris for that matter.

But you are missing the point.

Which is?

India's stature has been raised much higher on the global stage and now she has the backing of 1.3 billion Indians.

None of whom can vote for her though. Right?

...

Mr Das?

...

***

Maybe we'll have better luck learning just how Kamala Harris as vice-president will be good for India at next week's Republican National Convention. After all, it's bound to make more sense than this lot above. Right?

* Marked names are a figment of the imagination, much like the quoted persons themselves
Eamonn Holmes was forced to apologise after Mark Hix swore on This Morning today.

The celebrated chef was discussing the impact of coronavirus on the restaurants industry as he revealed he took home just 140 in his first week of trade 'which just about covered his train fare' after he lost his restaurant empire and opened up a food truck.

The TV cook, who had five upmarket seafood restaurants in London, spoke to Eamonn and Ruth from his new food truck at Morcombelake by the side of the A35 in Dorset.

He sipped on a Black Cow Bloody Mary and revealed his sadness over having to shut his five restaurants and make 130 staff redundant due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Clearly upset, Mark said his initial reaction to his restaurants closing was 'oh s**t' forcing Eamonn to apologise for the offensive language.

'That was one of the hardest things really, standing in front of 130 staffs telling them they've all lost their jobs that they won't be furloughed and that they're going to be made redundant instead, that was harder than the restaurants I spent 12 years building up closing.

'I didn't know it would be the end when we were told [by the Prime Minster] restaurants would close.

'I had phone call from business partner, saying his senior board had made a decision to put the business into administration which I thought "oh 's**t'" to start with and then I thought this is going to give me a good opportunity to go out on my own and maybe buy some back from the administrators.

Eamonn quickly cut across Mark after he used the four-letter term.

Mark Hix (left) who had five upmarket seafood restaurants in London, spoke to Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford (right in London) on This Morning from his new food truck at Morcombelake by the side of the A35 in Dorset

'Just before we get shut down as well, there's some word that you can't use of day-time television' the veteran host said.

'I understand this is emotional issue, so we apoligise for that'.

Mark added that as local fisherman are suffering, so he decided to sell fish directly from local boats via his food truck to the public.

'I was sat at home ploughing through a nice bottle of wine and saw a truck on eBay, but was listed for 16,000, I got it for 8,500' he added.

The TV chef, who sipped on a Black Cow Bloody Mary, revealed his sadness over having to shut his five restaurants and make 130 staff redundant due to the coronavirus pandemic

'Doing the truck it was funny the first week, I got my old chef and and we walked away with 140 each in the first week.

Mark also added that a big reason restaurants are suffering is because landlords often up rent in busy areas, meaning chefs and owners can't turn a profit.

'A lot of landlords think they're going into business with tenants, our Soho restaurant the landlord put our rent up to half a million which meant we weren't even breaking even.

Mark added that as local fisherman are suffering, so he decided to sell fish directly from local boats via his food truck to the public via his truck (pictured)

'More and more landlords are going to end up with empty buildings, we basically work for the landlord now,' he added.

Mark previously revealed to the Evening Standard he upped sticks and moved from London to Dorset in April, bringing his partner and daughter with him, as he was no longer needed in London.

In comes after Ruth Langsford was forced to apologise to This Morning viewers on Monday's show when their in-studio guest swore live on air.

Gaffe: Ruth Langsford was forced to say sorry to This Morning viewers on Monday's live show, after their in-studio guest cursed on air

Katie Morley was taking calls from people who needed consumer advice, speaking to a lady called Lesley who was recounting an issue she'd been having getting a refund.

Katie's response was: 'Oh I'm so sorry darling, that's s**t!'

The consumer affairs expert was quick to put a hand to her mouth as she realised her error, with Ruth, 60, swiftly stepping in and apologising to viewers for the early-morning slip.

'I do apologise for that!' Ruth said, as Katie mumbled 'so sorry!'

Ruth's co-host and husband Eamonn Holmes, 60, looked extremely unimpressed at the error, after which Katie attempted to carry on with the segment.
A man suspected to be part of a car-stealing syndicate has been arrested in Kumasi, the Ashanti regional police command has said.

Alex Owusu, 37, was arrested by the Suntreso District police command on Tuesday, August 11, in a clampdown on such criminal activities in the regional capital, Kumasi.

According to the Public relations officer at the Ashanti Regional Police Command, ASP Godwin Ahianyo, investigations reveal that the suspect hires the services of a taxi from neighbouring towns under the pretext of visiting his sick mother in Kumasi.

In the course of the journey, the suspect would often convince victims to have the vehicle washed at a bay while escorting him to buy spare parts for his faulty excavator at Suame Magazine.

The police spokesperson said Owusu was arrested with the help of the police at Kasoa District Command in the Central Region, following intelligence.

The suspect upon interrogation also led the police to retrieve eight vehicles that are currently in the custody of the Suntreso District Command.

---kasapafmonline
A further five people have died after testing positive for coronavirus in UK hospitals, including a 33-year-old with no underlying health conditions.

The new deaths, which were all in England, take the UK's coronavirus death toll in hospitals to 34,124.

Another four deaths were reported in England with no positive Covid-19 test result.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all reported no new coronavirus deaths in hospitals.

A hospital worker with a patient / AP

A further 77 people have tested positive for the virus in Scotland - the highest number of new infections in almost three months, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Thursday.

Another 51 people in Northern Ireland have tested positive for coronavirus, according to the Department of Health. Some 298 people have tested positive for the virus in the last seven days, bringing the total in the region to 6,556.

Some 21 more people have tested positive for the virus in Wales, local health officials said.

The daily coronavirus figures given by regional health authorities differ from the numbers announced by the Government later in the day, as they only include deaths in hospitals.

Hospital staff with a patient / POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The news comes as thousands of British tourists holidaying in Croatia got ready to scramble home after the country became odds on to join Spain and France on the quarantine red list.

An estimated 20,000 Britons are thought to be holidaying in the Balkan country where the Covid-19 infection rate has spiralled in the past week.

Most are expected to attempt to return before an expected departure deadline for a 14-day quarantine requirement is imposed by the Government.

Crowds of people, mostly foreign tourists, enjoy the beach, sunbath and swim in the sea on August 13, 2020, in Crikvenica on the northern Adriatic coast / AFP via Getty Images

The Foreign Office is also likely to advise that only essential trips should be made to Croatia, invalidating travel insurance cover.

The cumulative number of coronavirus cases in Croatia stands at a seven-day total of 27.4 cases per 100,000, considerably higher than the Governments threshold of 20 cases per 100,000. Last week it was at 7.8 per 100,000.

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Data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, shows coronavirus cases in Croatia have more than doubled in the past 10 days. The latest statistics reported by the Croatian Institute of Public Health, shows the surge largely confined to the Zagreb and Split areas.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Cleveland man has pleaded not guilty to charges that accuse him of killing a man and a teenager during a shooting inside an abandoned house last Halloween.

Casino Harris, 21, was ordered held on $2 million bond at his Thursday arraignment in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. He's charged with aggravated murder, murder, attempted murder and felonious assault in the killings of 16-year-old Jason Mitchell and 20-year-old Stone Robinson. Harris is also accused of wounding a 16-year-old boy in the shooting.

A 17-year-old boy also faces charges in the county's juvenile court in connection with the shooting. His case is pending.

Harris had been wanted since Cleveland police took out an arrest warrant in November charging him with the killings of 16-year-old Jason Mitchell and 20-year-old Stone Robinson. Middleburg Heights police arrested Harris at 3 a.m. Aug. 5 on charges of having a weapon with a felony conviction, resisting arrest, obstructing justice and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to court records.

Cleveland.com, on Thursday, requested records related to Harriss arrest from Middleburg Heights police.

The shooting happened about 5 p.m. on Oct. 31, at an abandoned home on Durkee Avenue near East 140th Street in Cleveland's Corlett neighborhood, police said. Several people were gathered at the house when Harris and a 17-year-old boy walked into the home and began shooting, according to court records.

Both Mitchell and Robinson were shot multiple times, according to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner.

Harris has previous convictions in three separate incidents that occurred in 2017 and 2018. He pleaded guilty to punching a man in the face and stealing his cellphone on an RTA bus, punching a 16-year-old boy and stealing his bike outside a Shaker Heights elementary school and possessing a loaded revolver despite juvenile convictions of felonious assault and assaulting a police officer, according to court records.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Carolyn Friedland sentenced Harris in May 2018 to a year in prison in all three cases.

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Turkey doesnt recognize Greeces claim that its territorial waters start immediately south of the island of Kastellorizo, the most distant Greek outpost in the area. It argues that a countrys continental shelf should be measured from its mainland. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, coastal nations maintain an exclusive economic zone as far out as 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) from their coast where they are entitled to fishing, mining and drilling rights. Where two zones intersect, as they do in the case of Turkey and Cyprus, the countries are obligated to come to a settlement. But Turkey hasnt ratified the convention. It takes the position that island states such as Cyprus are only entitled to rights within their legal territorial waters, which go out just 12 nautical miles. Cyprus has petitioned the International Court of Justice to intervene, while Turkey has argued that the Greek Cypriot side should refrain from any exploration activity until after a settlement on the island.
Germany and France want to give more money and power to the World Health Organisation after the COVID-19 pandemic underscored long-standing financial and legal weaknesses at the U.N. agency, an internal document seen by Reuters shows.

The proposed reforms could already be discussed at the WHO in mid-September, three officials familiar with the talks told Reuters, in a fast timeline that would confirm the two European powers growing concerns about the organisation, which they also see as excessively subject to external influences.

In a joint paper circulated among diplomats involved in the reform talks, Berlin and Paris said the WHOs mandate, which includes preventing outbreaks across the world and helping governments tackle them, was not backed up by sufficient financial resources and legal powers.

Not only during the current pandemic, it has become clear that the WHO partly lacks the abilities to fulfil this mandate, the document seen by Reuters said.

A Western diplomat in Geneva, referring to member states contributions based on their GDP, said: The key point is the mismatch between WHO mandate and financing. Its very much pro-WHO, it should have more money and (they are) asking for an increase in assessed contributions.

France and Germany are seeking consensus from Washington to Beijing around the document, a source close to the talks said.

The move shows the two countries keen interest in an overhaul aimed at strengthening the WHO, despite talks on the matter with the United States collapsing earlier in August at G7 level over differing views about the reform.
Argentina steps up efforts to find a coronavirus vaccine, as the economy struggles under a months-long lockdown.

Argentina is battling a surge in coronavirus cases, with at least 312,000 infections now confirmed and more than 6,000 related deaths.

The government says intensive care admissions and hospital bed occupancy rates have become unsustainable.

Last week, Argentina announced a local laboratory will start manufacturing the highly-promising Astra Zeneca Oxford vaccine.

Assuming the vaccine is proven effective and clears safety trials, Argentina will then distribute it to countries throughout South America with the exception of Brazil, which is producing its own vaccine.

Al Jazeeras Teresa Bo reports from Buenos Aires.
Germany and Spain have both recorded their highest respective daily coronavirus infection rate since April, with other countries in the region also reporting a sharp rise in new cases.

Several European countries have imposed travel restrictions, social-distancing measures and mask-wearing procedures to prevent the spread of the virus.

However, the World Health Organization cited a relaxation of public health measures, in addition to people "dropping their guard," as possible explanations for the resurgence in the number of new Covid-19 infections across the region.

Germany recorded 1,707 new cases of the coronavirus in the last 24 hours, reflecting its highest daily toll since April. The country has now reported 228,261 cases of the virus, with 9,253 related deaths, according to data compiled from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases.

Spain has seen another 3,715 new cases of the virus confirmed in the past 24 hours, with an additional 127 deaths. As in Germany, Spain's daily infection rate has not been this high since late April.

Elsewhere, Italy reported 642 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, notching its highest jump in new infections since late May. The country has recorded a total of 255,278 cases, with 35,412 deaths.

Meanwhile, France's health ministry reported 3,776 new Covid-19 infections on Wednesday, with the daily tally going above 3,000 for the third time in the last five days. France has recorded a similar number of cases to Italy, with 30,434 deaths.
Mandar Patil Cyble's unique approach of detecting and de-hashing the threats at the upstream provides a competitive advantage and clear path to continued growth

Cyble, the US-based Cyber Threat Intelligence Service, is pleased to announce the appointment of Industry veteran Mandar Patil to script the next phase of growth for their Cyber Threat Intelligence Services across our International markets. Mandar will be responsible for a focused growth strategy, covering the evangelization of our Cyble Risk intelligence platform, global partner strategy and customer success.

"Mandar is a well-known figure in the industry with over 15 years of experience and has a proven record of building long term business relationships with both customers and industry partners. His strong market presence and relationships are assets that will complement and enhance Cyble's ability to meet the needs of our customers. We are thrilled with his appointment and wish him success with the Cyble's global team," says Beenu Arora, Cyble CEO and Member of Forbes Technology Council.

With the geopolitical tensions, trade wars and global pandemic, the cyber threat landscape has become more complicated than ever. Organizations are under the looming threat of being attacked by nefarious groups such as ransomware operators. Furthermore, the exposure of organizations in the context of the deepweb and darkweb is a growing concern for executives and boards across the world. Cyble offers an enterprise-grade solution, Cyble Vision, powered by machine learning as well as human analysis, to give organizations critical insights towards threats introduced by cybercrime groups, partners and suppliers. Cyble processes billions of records and events on a daily basis from open Internet and darkweb, and converts these data points into actionable insights through their proprietary risk models. Another Cyble product, AmiBreached.com, allows consumers to see whether or not their information has been exposed in the deepweb or darkweb.

"I'm delighted to be joining the Cyble family at such a pivotal stage. Cyble is not just another cyber intelligence company, but so much more. Their unique approach of detecting and de-hashing the threats at the upstream provides a competitive advantage and clear path to continued growth." says Mandar Patil.

About Cyble:

Cyble is an Atlanta, US-based, global premium cyber-security firm with tools and capabilities to provide near real-time cyber threat intelligence with operations in India, Singapore and Australia.

Cyble Inc.'s mission is to provide organizations with a real-time view of their supply chain cyber threats and risks. Their SaaS-based solution powered by machine learning and human analysis provides organizations' insights to cyber threats introduced by suppliers and enables them to respond to them faster and more efficiently. It has recently earned accolades from Forbes as being the top 20 cyber-security companies to watch in 2020.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-21 00:21:12|Editor: huaxia

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NEW YORK, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Stephen Bannon, U.S. President Donald Trump's former campaign adviser, and three others were charged on Thursday by federal prosecutors with defrauding donors of hundreds of thousands of dollars in a border wall fundraising campaign, according to the authorities.

Bannon and three other individuals - Brian Kolfage, Andrew Badolato, and Timothy Shea - were indicted for their roles in defrauding hundreds of thousands of donors in connection with an online crowdfunding campaign known as "We Build the Wall," which raised more than 25 million dollars, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's office in the Southern District of New York.

"As alleged, the defendants defrauded hundreds of thousands of donors, capitalizing on their interest in funding a border wall to raise millions of dollars, under the false pretense that all of that money would be spent on construction," acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Audrey Strauss said in a statement.

All of the defendants were arrested Thursday morning. Bannon is expected to be presented in federal court in New York later on Thursday.

Stephen Bannon was an architect of President Donald Trump's 2016 election victory and later served as chief White House strategist. Bannon left the White House in August 2017. Enditem
There appears to be a time lag in the opposition parties' understanding of their electoral support base in India. They are still holding on to about 30-year-old beliefs, assumptions and perceptions about a few communities as their vote bank.

They consider communities like Dalits and Muslims as their safe and comfortable electoral repositories. Most of these parties believe that these social communities are radically anti-Hindutva in nature. They assume that these communities are bound to support anti-Hindutva politics permanently due to their existential requirements. Because of such assumptions, some of them derive pleasure and comfort, and always count on these votes. Some of them dont realise that they need to work hard to garner the support of such communities.

No one can deny that these assumptions held true in the history of democratic politics in India before the 2014 parliamentary elections. But after 2014, political analysts observed clear changes in the political behaviour of these communities. We are already aware that in the parliamentary elections of 2019, a section of Dalit voters moved towards the Bharatiya Janata Party. A few political observers also noted that a section of Muslim women supported the BJP in those elections due to the abolition of the triple talaq system.

There is an agreement among many analysts that a large section of Shia Muslims in a state like Uttar Pradesh voted for the BJP in various elections. Recently, a few activist-turned-leaders involved in the 101-day- long protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh locality joined the BJP. Shaheen Bagh emerged as a symbol of the anti-CAA movement across the country and inspired many such protests in various parts of different cities.

Social activist Shahzad Ali and gynaecologist Dr Mahreen who participated in the protests mainly led by women, joined the BJP with the message that the negative image of the party propagated in the community is not true. It may be considered symbolic acceptance of the BJP among Muslims but it may be an indication of the ongoing churning post-2014 at the grassroots of the community.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its affiliate Muslim Rashtriya Manch are trying hard to draw and include Muslims in various symbolic acts to define them as erstwhile Hindus who accepted Islam due to oppression of Islamic rule in India during the medieval period.

Inviting representatives of the Muslim community to the Ram Mandir Bhoomi Pujan event on August 5 was also a symbolic act to indicate to that there is space for them which was vacant so far. These token gestures may not have any meaning for a few ideologues of opposition parties and Muslim leaders. But, put together, these symbolic acts may sway a section of Muslims, slowly and steadily.

The weakening of opposition politics in India and lack of viable alternatives on the one hand, and constant invitation from Hindutva on the other may slowly lead them towards the BJP. If they dont see a future for their protest in India, they may accept conditioned inclusion.

Secondly, political desires and aspirations are growing among Muslims that may lead them towards various political parties. The BJP is like one of many political forums for a lot of emerging Muslim leaders for doing their politics. So, one can observe that the political untouchability towards the BJP is gradually eroding among Muslims in various parts of India.

It is an important political trend which may become more visible in the coming days. These symbolic moves of young Muslim leaders and activists from the community may create a sense of insecurity among opposition political parties who consider them their vote bank, and may bring the community to a comparatively better position to negotiate with non-BJP parties for electoral and political space and representation.

So, Dalits and Muslims are not going to display homogeneously anti-BJP attitudes in the future politics in India. The opposition parties in India should not look at these communities as mere mathematical equations while aspiring for electoral victory; they are also going through various changes, fractures and ruptures. Lets accept this in our election analysis and opinion pieces. The opposition politics should come out from this political comfort zone and work hard to reframe its electoral base in these changing times. 
Indian and Chinese officials are holding another round of talks to try to resolve a months-long border standoff.

Indian and Chinese officials are holding talks to try to resolve a months-long standoff along their disputed frontier, where the two countries have deployed tens of thousands of soldiers.

More than a dozen rounds of talks so far have failed to break the border stalemate.

Experts say Indias stripping part of the disputed Kashmir region  which lies between India, Pakistan and China  of its autonomy a year ago exacerbated existing tensions with China and culminated in the deadliest clash between the Asian giants in more 45 years.

China saw this as a unilateral move that threatened its territorial sovereignty and condemned it at the United Nations.

The ongoing standoff in the Karakoram mountains is over disputed portions of a pristine landscape that boasts the worlds highest landing strip, a glacier that feeds one of the largest irrigation systems in the world, and a critical link to Chinas massive Belt and Road infrastructure project.

Some key background on the issue:

Where is Kashmir and who controls it?

The Himalayan territory of Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan. Its eastern edge, the cold, high-altitude desert region of Ladakh, borders China on one side and Pakistan on the other and is home to the worlds only three-way, nuclear-armed junction.

Experts and some Chinese commentators have said New Delhis unilateral changes in Kashmir spawned the border tensions between the Asian giants [File: Danish Ismail/Reuters]

Pakistan and India have rival claims to Kashmir that date to the British Rajs Partition in 1947, and have gone to war twice over them. Each country administers a portion of the region.

Many ethnic Kashmiri Muslims on the Indian side support an armed movement that demands the territory be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country.

In August 2019, New Delhi stripped Indian-administered Kashmir of its statehood, demoting it to a federal territory, and clamped down on dissent.

The regions decades-old semi-autonomy, which protected jobs and land from outsiders, was also scrapped.

New Delhi also carved out Ladakh as a separate federal territory.

How does China view Kashmir?

China and India went to war over their disputed border issues in a 1962 conflict that spilled into Ladakh and ended with an uneasy truce.

Since then, troops from opposing sides have guarded the undefined, mountainous 3,500km-long (2,200-mile) border area, occasionally brawling.

At least 20 Indian soldiers were killed on June 15 during a scuffle with Chinese soldiers in Galwan Valley [File: Reuters]

They agreed not to attack each other with firearms. But on June 15, soldiers from the two sides fought with clubs, stones and fists, leading to 20 Indian soldiers succumbing to their injuries in the freezing temperatures. It was the deadliest fighting between the sides in 45 years.

Experts and some Chinese commentators have said New Delhis unilateral changes in Kashmir spawned the border tensions between the Asian giants.

The change forced China into the Kashmir dispute, Wang Shida, a South Asia expert at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, a Beijing-based think-tank, wrote in a recent report.

The Chinese foreign ministry expressed its opinion clearly the day after the status change: India has continued to undermine Chinas territorial sovereignty by unilaterally changing its domestic law  Such practice is unacceptable and will not come into force.

China later joined Pakistan in condemning Indias move at the UN Security Council.

Perhaps more vitally for Beijing, parts of Kashmir fall within its Belt and Road initiative, a massive, cross-continental infrastructure development project aimed at expanding Chinas commercial connections globally.

Chinas expansive road network crosses through Aksai Chin, a region it has held since 1950 and claimed by India as part of Ladakh.

It connects the restive, Chinese-controlled provinces of Tibet and Xinjiang before snaking north of Indian-administered Kashmir and cutting down through the Pakistani-administered portion of the region towards Pakistans Gwadar port in the Arabian Sea.

China perceived the constitutional changes in Jammu and Kashmir as a threat to Chinese interests in the region, specifically infrastructure projects linking China with Pakistan through Kashmiri territories controlled by Pakistan, said Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia, Indias director-general for military operations from 2012 to 2014.

He said calls by Indias powerful home minister and other leaders of Prime Minister Narendra Modis Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party for the liberation of Aksai Chin further provoked Chinas aggressive behaviour.

The US factor

A growing strategic alliance between India and the United States has ruffled feathers in Beijing, which sees the relationship as an attempt to block its rise to power.

Indian soldiers walk at the foothills of a mountain range near Leh, the capital of Ladakh [File: Tauseef Mustafa/AFP]

Now, the India-China conflict threatens to exacerbate tensions between China and the US. The two have locked horns this year over a range of issues, from trade disputes and human rights to Hong Kongs status and the initial response to the coronavirus pandemic.

While New Delhi unilaterally changing Kashmirs constitutional status has been an immediate provocation for China, according to Pravin Sawhney, a defence analyst and China expert, its military posturing along the disputed border in Ladakh also reflects a compelling narrative that India is siding with the US.

Wang Lian, an India specialist at Peking University in Beijing, said China expects to see Modi leveraging the recent border clashes as a way to draw in more US support.

He may use the current complicated China-US relations in attempt to gain a better position that will maximise Indias interests, Lian said, adding that Modi might also try to use its domestic and international situation to find a better position in border negotiations with China.

How Kashmiris view the power struggle

Since the mid-June army clashes between China and India, residents of Ladakhs towns, dotted with Buddhist temples and cafes for mountaineering tourists, have watched uneasily as Indian troops brought in fighter jets, artillery and construction materials. The activity has marked one of the most significant military buildups in decades.

Weve never seen anything like this. Not even in 1999 when Indian and Pakistani soldiers fought for months in neighbouring Kargil Heights, said Tsering Angchuk, a wool trader.

Feelings are different in the Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley, where India-China tensions have energised anti-India sentiment.

In Kashmirs main city of Srinagar, demonstrators on June 21 jeered at Indian soldiers, shouting: China is coming!

We hope powerful Chinas involvement helps us to end Indias occupation of Kashmir, said dried fruit merchant Nazir Ahmed.
Coming back from the dead became literal when this grandmother from Russia turned out to be alive after she spent a night in a morgue. Miss Zinaida Konokova underwent surgery to remove an intestinal obstruction at the Gorshechensky Central District Hospital on August 14.

After being pronounced dead, she was taken to the morgue around 1.10 am but about seven hours later at 8 am, a female employee of the morgue was horrified and got the shock of her life when she saw Ms Kononova on the floor. The 81-year-old had fallen off the morgue table and was trying to escape.

Also read: This Man Was Buried Alive In Rajkot Over A Financial Dispute And Survived To Tell The Tale

MK (Zinaida Kononova)

An ambulance driver passing through the morgue heard the disturbance and when he approached the morgue employee, she said, "Grandma, lie down, granny, be quiet."

Initially, the driver thought the staff member wasn't making any sense but then he saw Ms Kononova grabbing the employee's hand and asking for help. She was covered in blankets and was rushed to intensive care.

Also read: Hours After They Cremated Him, Ahmedabad Hospital Tells Family Their Kin Is Alive, COVID-19 Negative

Gorshechensky Central District Hospital

Ms Kononova's niece, Tatiana Kulikova was contacted by the hospital and a senior doctor told her, "We have an unusual situation. She is alive!"

As much as Ms Kulikova was happy to see her aunt alive, she questioned the doctors about how this was possible. The doctors told her that Ms Konokova was registered as clinically dead for 15 minutes and she was "literally pulled back from the other world".

Ms Kulikova said, "She initially did not recognise me or recall that she had a surgery. But she talked about her old knee problem."

Also read: Woman Digs Herself Out Of Grave After 'Being Beaten And Buried Alive By Drunk Neighbours'

VK (Tatiana Kulikova )

After all this, a doctor and anaesthetist confirmed and confessed that they had sent Mr Kononova to the morgue one hour and 20 minutes after her passing, instead of two hours as per the rule.

Acting hospital head Alexander Vlasov said, "For 30 minutes the patient underwent resuscitation measures. As a result, the resuscitation doctor established biological death, ascertained it. The anaesthetist is very worried. She feels very bad and we are afraid for her."

He added, "Every person makes mistakes. What will happen next with the career of this anaesthetist is still a question."

Gorshechensky Central District Hospital

Reports add that Roman Kondratenko, chief doctor of Gorshechensky Central District Hospital, has been suspended and relatives of Ms Kononova are planning to sue the hospital.
A Kansas wife and mother who vanished nearly two weeks ago while en route to Alabama is believed to have died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Marilane Carter, a 36-year-old graduate of Samford Universitys Beeson Divinity School and the wife of an Overland Park pastor, was last seen about 8:15 p.m. Aug. 1, when she left home headed toward Birmingham to visit family and seek help for mental health issues, according to the Overland Park Police Department. Two weeks of searches by land, air and water ended Tuesday when Carters body was found in West Memphis, Arkansas in Crittenden County.

The vehicle, with what is believed to be Carters remains inside, was found about 11 a.m. inside a shipping container in a field off Interstate 55 in eastern Arkansas. Authorities said Carters vehicle appears to have driven into an empty storage container on private property. Carters purse and credit cards were found inside the vehicle.

Crittenden County Sheriff Mike Allen told AL.com Thursday that they are expecting the confirmed cause and manner of death to be finalized by the medical examiner later today, but said all indications are that no foul play was involved.

We had the FBI Forensics Recover Team, Arkansas State Police and sheriffs investigators and their collective thoughts was that it was more than likely carbon monoxide,' Allen said. She didnt have any blunt force trauma or any type of wounds that would cause her death. She more than likely pulled into this container, left her motor running and asphyxiated.

The vehicle was in park in the on position and it had run out of gas inside the storage container. How she got back into that location and found that container is just bizarre for sure,' the sheriff said, but all indications are she was behind the wheel, the car was running, the doors were actually locked. The way that car was in there, you for sure couldnt open and shut the doors. No one else could have done that.

Were just waiting on the results and praying for the family,' Allen said. They sure have been through it.

Carter was married to the Rev. Adam Carter, who is the lead pastor at Leawood Baptist Church in Kansas. Authorities said Carter on the Saturday she disappeared bought a Southwest Airlines ticket to fly to Birmingham to visit her sister, who was due to soon have a baby, and also to seek treatment for undisclosed mental health issues. Carter took a nap Saturday and when she awoke, she decided to drive to Birmingham instead.

Carter told her husband and then left home about 8:15 p.m. Authorities were able to determine through credit card charges and cell phone data that Carter traveled through Missouri where she stopped at a McDonalds. Then, on Sunday, Aug. 2, she checked in alone to the Quality Inn in West Plains, Missouri at 3:37 a.m. She checked out of the hotel at 6:08 a.m., driving off alone in her 2011 dark gray GMC Acadia with Kansas license plate 194 LFY.

Also Sunday, Carter made a stop at a Shell Station in West Memphis, Arkansas, where she fueled up and went inside with her cup to get some ice water. The last pinged GPS location of her cell phone was at 8:02 p.m. later that day near the Arkansas weigh station on Interstate 55 entering Memphis.

A website has been launched in Carters memory. Her parents and her siblings have posted tributes to her there since her remains were recovered.

This is what her mother, Marlene Mesler, wrote: Words cant express the beauty in Marilanes heart. As a child, she was spunky and loved adventure. I was grateful that she didnt enunciate her words well when she was little, because you never knew what might fly out of her mouth. One time when she left Sunday school class she hollered, Goodbye gunks!, by which she meant Goodbye, skunks! Thankfully, nobody understood. They all just waved and nodded. She also had a deep love of others that showed itself in special ways. As a little girl, she was worried that her grandfather might not be a Christian because he left the room whenever the topic of God came up. She devised a plan. She waited until he was comfortable in his chair, then she sat on his lap so he couldnt leave and told him all about Jesus.

Marilane was drawn to helping others who were experiencing life crises, so she got her Masters of Divinity and became a hospital chaplain. I remember how fulfilled she was as she ministered to those in need. She told me of cradling a newborn baby that was stillborn. She held the infant in her arms and marveled at his perfection. Marilane knew that the mother needed someone to acknowledge the babys beauty so that she wouldnt fear giving birth to another child.

Marilane, you are a hero, both in our family and far beyond. Theres a hole in my heart that nothing can fill. I sorely miss your daily calls, your gentle spirit, and your sweet laughter. Heaven has become closer to me now because it holds you. Never before has it been so real. Please know how deeply you are loved. I wish I could hold you tightly right now. I treasure the thought of our reunion one day when I can hug my girl with all my heart again!

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced. The rest of her familys tributes can be found here.
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San Francisco, 20 Aug 2020: The Report Home Water Filtration Unit Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (RO-based, UV-based), By Region (North America, Europe, APAC, CSA, MEA), And Segment Forecasts, 2019 - 2025

The global home water filtration unit market size is expected to reach USD 24.1 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., expanding at a CAGR of 15.9% over the forecast period. Growing consumer awareness about increased microbial and chemical contamination of surface water and its harmful effects on human health due to increased dependency on bottled water across the globe is likely to create a robust demand for the market over the anticipated years.

Augmenting awareness among consumers regarding the unfavorable effects of contaminated surface water has resulted in a significant shift in their preference for domestic water purification methods. Rising concerns over various waterborne diseases such as E.Coli, typhoid, and cholera have increased the product demand for domestic purpose. For instance, Kent launched Kent Grand Plus, coupled with TDS controllers, to ensure the purest drinking water for domestic purpose. Kent water purifier products are ideal for Indian conditions because they are equally easy to handle municipal water supply and natural groundwater.

Easy availability of packaged drinking water is a stiff challenge for the global market. In suburban areas, packaged drinking water has a high rate of penetration and acts as a powerful substitute for treated water. But there are many chemicals in plastic drinking bottles such as bisphenol-A (BPA) leading to heart problems, altered hormonal levels, and increased risk of cancer. Due to such adverse effects, Canada and Japan banned the use of BPA in 2008 and 2010 respectively.

RO-based product is expected to expand at the fastest CAGR of 16.2% over the forecast period. Using a semi-permeable membrane to remove impurities, reverse osmosis (RO) technology extends beyond typical filtration capabilities. Hence, demand for this product category is high in the market owing to the fact that this process not only kills microbes but also removes harmful metals such as lead and mercury. For instance, in 2019, German water filtration technologies company, BRITA began its operation in India by launching a new range of water purifiers, namely MyPure Max. This product range involves a combined RO+UV technology and is expected to be initially sold via direct sales.

The APAC market is expected to generate a revenue of USD 9.0 billion by the end of 2025. Demand for the purifiers is expected to increase in this region due to a significant rise in competitors, accompanied by large scale R&D investments made by such companies. Inflating demand for such purifiers in the APAC region is due to higher concentration of impurities present in untreated surface water. For instance, companies such as Eureka Forbes, Livpure, and AO Smith have launched a number of domestic category products over the past few years due to high demand for the purifiers in India and its subcontinent.

Rapid urbanization and increasing cases of waterborne diseases have made the consumers cautious about the health risks associated with impure drinking water, especially in developing countries such as Argentina, Paraguay, China, India, and Sri Lanka. Rising purchasing power parity of consumers in these countries has led to a positive boost in the demand over the past few years.

Some of the key players operating in the market are Best Water Technology Group; HaloSource Inc.; Brita Gmbh; Aquasana; Tata Chemicals; Eureka Forbes Limited; Panasonic; Kent RO System Ltd.; Amway Corporation; EvoQua; and GE Water & Process Technologies Inc.

Access Research Report of Home Water Filtration Unit Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/home-water-filtration-unit-market

Home Water Filtration Unit Market Report Highlights

APAC is projected to generate a revenue of USD 9.0 billion by 2025

The RO-based product segment is projected to exhibit the fastest CAGR of 16.2% over the coming years

Europe is expected to emerge as the second fastest growing region in the home water filtration unit market and expand at a CAGR of 16.4% over the forecast period. This trend is projected to continue over the anticipated years

The industry is highly competitive in nature with the major players including Brita Gmbh, Aquasana, Tata Chemicals, Eureka Forbes Limited, Panasonic, Kent RO System Ltd. Amway Corporation, and EvoQua.

Browse more reports of this category by Grand View Research at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry/electronic-and-electrical

Grand View Research has segmented the global home water filtration unit market on the basis of product and region:

Home water Filtration Unit Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2015 - 2025)

RO-based

UV-based

Others

Home Water Filtration Unit Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2015 - 2025)

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Central and South America

Middle East and Africa

Access Press Release of Home Water Filtration Unit Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-home-water-filtration-unit-market

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.

For More Information:www.grandviewresearch.com
Economists have been trying to predict whether there will be a V, U, or L-shape COVID-19 recovery in countries, and, increasingly, we hear that it may be a case of a K-shape recovery where cash-rich companies or businesses in certain industries  technology, pharmaceutical, and grocery  will thrive, alongside those hardest hit by the pandemic  hospitality and tourism, aviation, and retail  which will continue to struggle.

In a recent discussion with members of the Associations regional advisory panels for Australasia; Middle East, South Asia, and North Africa (MESANA); and South East Asia, such seems to be the case across the regions. These are some of the main themes:

Business impact still unfolding

Although COVID-19 was officially declared a pandemic in mid-March by the World Health Organization, its impact on businesses and industries is still unfolding. In other words, the worst is yet to come for some. One finance leader in the financial services sector in Australia said that impacts on the industry will only be clear in the next three to six months, as fund managers reassess the value of their holdings, warning that some funds may go under.

Another member in the construction industry said the company is already seeing a decline in sales conversion and had lost clients in some instances but expects to see real depression in the business in the first quarter of 2021.

Recovery is uneven

Businesses are recovering at different paces depending on their industry and whether the local COVID-19 infections are under control. In countries that had successfully contained the viruss spread, governments are encouraging workers to return to offices and be out and about, one member said, so that business activity can pick up again.

In countries where there are second waves of infection, schools are still closed and industries such as manufacturing, construction, and logistics are still being disrupted. One member who works for the largest telecommunication company in a Southeast Asian country said that while its services are essential for many households and businesses, its revenue has seen a negative impact because many of its clients are SMEs, and small businesses are struggling to survive.

In contrast, businesses such as online education and e-commerce are thriving. Hospitals that have pivoted to online channels by providing services virtually are also seeing opportunities for growth. Overall, however, businesses across the regions are still in survival mode, prioritising cash management and cost reduction.

Geopolitical tensions

Uncertainty resulting from trade tensions between China and the US is also a concern for finance leaders. The geopolitical tensions have dampened business confidence and disrupted supply chains. In a Southeast Asia country, however, Chinese investors continued investing into its manufacturing sector where the products are bound for the US and European markets. The country has, in one way, benefited from the trade tensions.

Barriers to digital transformation

While many companies across the region are accelerating digital transformation projects, small and medium enterprises are struggling to digitise processes and business models because of the capital expense required.

Another barrier to digitalisation is the mindset of senior management. A member in Singapore observed that a company with senior management that is technology-savvy is doing well even in the current pandemic environment, including announcing bonuses for employees, whilst companies in the same industry that fear adopting new technologies struggle to transform.

Returning to offices could also undo progress achieved on the digital transformation front. A member in South Asia whose company has reopened its office shared that employees reverted to the old ways of doing things once they were back in the office, losing the opportunity to continue the positive change that occurred during remote working months.

What companies are doing

Members share some approaches companies have taken over the past few months:

Banks that are seeing higher nonperforming loan rates are restructuring loans to give borrowers more feasible repayment timelines.

Universities have been impacted by lower enrollment, especially from international students, and are laying off staff, offering voluntary redundancies, and downsizing or centralising departments.

Companies are instituting temporary salary freezes to save cash reserve.

Businesses are introducing talent loaning programmes to reduce staff overhead while keeping talent in the company. An example is the collaboration between the airline Qantas, which had to furlough its employees, and supermarket chain Woolworths, which needed extra help during the earlier months of the pandemic.

Organisations are preserving cash by freezing discretionary costs and postponing noncritical projects.

Property companies are supporting tenants by postponing rental payments in land and commercial properties.

Trading companies are offering goods on cash instead of credit to maintain a healthy cash flow.

Whats next

Some companies are planning for 2021 and are forensically looking at how much cash is needed to stay afloat and if job cuts need to be revisited. Decisions on discretionary operating expenses and noncritical projects will also be revised.

A member emphasises the importance of stress-testing the business as financial impacts from COVID-19 will go on for a longer time. Another member added that businesses will have to learn to live with the risks resulting from the pandemic by weighing and making the best possible decisions.

Business continuity planning and scenario planning are also important in preparation for second, third, or even fourth waves of infections to ensure that the organisation can adjust to a remote working mode on a days notice, if need be. This is especially important for businesses providing essential services.

Finance leaders are also looking into reinventing business models and increasing digitalisation while prioritising cybersecurity, especially if remote working and cashless payments will become a mainstay in the coming months.

Resource

Reimagine Business Resilience in the COVID-19 World

 Andrew Harding, FCMA, CGMA, is chief executiveManagement Accounting, and Venkkat Ramanan, FCMA, CGMA, is regional vice-presidentAsia Pacific, both at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Alexis See Tho, an FM magazine associate editor, at Alexis.SeeTho@aicpa-cima.com.
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.
It was a miracle.

The Santa Rosa family home of Howard Booster survived the raging flame front that devoured nearly his entire neighborhood at about 4 a.m. on October 9, 2017, amid the Tubbs Fire, among the deadliest and most devastating infernos in California history.

Only two hours after the fire passed, a neighbor sent Booster a video showing his home of 35 years standing amid other houses that had been turned into piles of ash. Booster diligently kept the expansive grass field surrounding the house cut short for fire prevention and he assumed the strategy worked.

But when he returned later that day, he found nothing.

"The ground was entirely black," says Booster. "If you took charcoal and painted everything with it, that's what it looked like. It felt like you were on a movie set for a movie about World War II in France. It was France 1942."

Fire officials later told Booster that while flames didn't engulf his home from the outside, hot embers likely flew into the soffit vents, the holes in the wood under the roof allowing an attic to breath. The property burned from the inside.

Howard and his wife, Merritt, are now rebuilding in a way to avoid a repeat of the disaster. They're part of a small yet growing number of people building homes with a design and materials to resist fire. The Boosters' new home will have a metal roof and and it won't have an attic or soffit vents. Napa-based architect Brendan Kelly says it will be "impregnable" using pre-fabricated steel framing wrapped in noncombustible insulation from Canada-based homebuilding company BONE Structure.

"When a very hot, fast-moving wildfire moves through a zone, the point is the building is more secure so it doesn't allow embers to get into nooks and crannies where they can combust," says Kelly of Kelly + Morgan Architects. "Eliminating things like vents in a BONE Structure house is easy because of the way it goes together with steel and spray insulation."

The home's exterior will be paneled in a thick, engineered cedar product. "The material has been tested by Cal Fire," says Kelly. "It gives you time before a fire gets into the building. It gives you time for the fire to move past the building so you can seek safe refuge. It takes a large amount of sustained heat to combust it. It's less flammable because of its thickness."

Booster says building with materials that are sustainable, long-lasting and fire-resistant will cost about 30 percent more than it would have if he had chosen a typical wood-frame design.

ALSO: Before-and-after photos show North Bay recovering from the 2017 wildfire tragedy

Wildfire is an increasingly serious issue in California, with fires growing bigger and becoming more frequent and destructive. Fifteen of the 20 largest fires in the state's history have occurred since 2000 and tens of thousands of homes have been destroyed.

The numbers from these major conflagrations are staggering. Sweeping west from Calistoga into Santa Rosa, the Tubbs Fire alone destroyed more than 5,600 homes. A year later to the north in the town of Paradise, the Camp Fire torched nearly 19,000 buildings, most of them homes.

Many of the homes impacted by wildfire in California are built in what's called the "wildland-urban interface," meaning they butt up against open space overgrown with foliage that fuels fires.

As many as 5 million homes in the state are located within the interface, and nearly 200 communities housing 3 million people have been designated as "very high fire hazard severity zones," by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The state has guidelines for building within these more fire-susceptible areas, and they're becoming increasingly strict.

"You have to use materials that offer at least one-hour of fire resistance," says Santa Rosa architect Sara Harrison Woodfield. "No trellises that easily catch on fire. No vents that embers can get into the attic through."

But while homeowners in certain areas are now required to build more smartly, some are going above and beyond to use designs and materials that can resist flames for far more than one hour.

Woodfield says many clients are choosing what she calls "solid wall construction" instead of traditional wood framing for a higher-category of fire resistance.

"There are a lot of products where you can have a solid wall, where you can have concrete on the inside and foam insulation on the outside," says Woodfield, who has been working as an architect in the region for 30 years. "It's a form of foam and then they pour concrete inside. And then you can put stucco or siding on the outside. There's nothing to burn there. You're not going to burn through that wall. It's almost fireproof."

This is just one option. Another is a where you have foam panels within steel grids and as you put the panels together, you blow concrete on them. She says a construction company called Tridipanel uses these panels manufactured by RSG 3-D and they're fire resistant for at least up to four hours.

"I know for a fact one of these Tridipanel houses was in the Lake Country Fire [2015]," says Woodfield. "They didn't lose anything except maybe some windows."

This house may have survived, but any expert will tell you that no house is completely fireproof.

"It's really dangerous to talk about fireproof buildings," says Kelly. "The only fireproof building is maybe a concrete bunker. There's a weak point in every building. Glass melts. Steel melts."

Referring to the Camp Fire outside Chico, Calif., in 2018, Kelly adds, "I was in Paradise with the Office of Emergency Services doing home inspections and it was pretty clear that steel cars melted sitting outside when the fire storm came through."

While architects and homeowners are working together to build flame-resistant homes, experts agree one of the best ways to slow an inferno in its tracks is landscaping.

"Reducing the fuel load within 100 feet of your house can make a huge difference," says Kelly. "If there's nothing to burn around your house when the fire comes through, the flames aren't going to glom onto the house."

The Boosters' new home will have an irrigated meadow rather than dry parched grass. The 50 trees on the property that were lost in the Tubbs Fire are being replanted with a few native oaks that are known to be less flammable.

A lot of careful thought and planning is being put into the home to make sure it will last as Howard and Merritt hope the property is something they can pass onto their children. But would this new concept have survived the Tubbs Fire?

"Oh, there's no question," Howard says. "There are no soffit vents. There's no attic. If it had not been for those embers that blew through the vents in the attic, we would have been fine. We would have the house."

Editor's note: This story was updated on Aug. 31, 2020. An earlier version of this story was unclear as to who manufactures the fire-resistant panels for the Tridipanel homes referenced by Santa Rosa architect Sara Harrison Woodfield. That has since been clarified.

Amy Graff is a news producer for SFGATE. Email her at agraff@sfgate.com.
Northrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/18/2020 -- According to a research report "Location Analytics Market by Component (Solutions and Services), Location Type (Indoor Location and Outdoor Location), Application (Remote Monitoring, Risk Management), Vertical (Retail, Government and Defense), and Region - Global Forecast to 2025 " size is expected to grow from USD 13.8 billion in 2020 to USD 26.7 billion by 2025, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 14.1% during the forecast period. Major factors fueling the market growth are the growing need of predictive analytics for businesses and the increasing use of location-based applications.



Browse 297 market data Tables and 56 Figures spread through 313 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Location Analytics Market - Global Forecast to 2025"



Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=177193456



The geocoding and reverse geocoding segment to hold a larger market size during the forecast period



The location analytics market is segmented into geocoding and reverse geocoding, data integration and ETL, reporting and visualization, thematic mapping and spatial analysis, and others (DBMS and sociodemographic data) by solutions. The geocoding and reverse geocoding segment is expected to have a larger market size during the forecast period, owing to the need to perform risk assessments using exact location information for making accurate analysis during natural calamities, such as earthquakes and floods. However, the data integration and ETL segment is expected to grow at a higher CAGR during the forecast period. ETL helps in extracting geographic data from any source system, transforming it into a format based on users' needs and loading it in target systems.



By application, sales and marketing optimization segment to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period



The location analytics market by application has been segmented into risk management, emergency response management, customer experience management, remote monitoring, supply chain planning and optimization, sales and marketing optimization, location selection and optimization, and others (predictive asset management and inventory management). The need to boost sales by performing various marketing campaigns and advertisements based on locations is leading to the adoption of sales and marketing optimization application.



Speak To Expert Analyst: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalystNew.asp?id=177193456



North America to hold the largest market size during the forecast period



In North America, the US and Canada are the two major contributors to the overall location analytics market growth. In the US, the government and defense, and telecommunication and IT verticals are expected to majorly contribute to the market growth. The growth in North America is attributed to the rising technological advancements, increasing industry standards for location-based technologies, and growing financial support from the governments.



Major vendors in the global location analytics market are Google (US), Esri (US), Precisely (US), SAP (Germany), IBM (US), SAS Institute (US), Oracle (US), Microsoft (US), Cisco Systems (US), TomTom (Netherlands), Hexagon (Sweden), Zebra Technologies (US), GaliGeo (France), Purple (UK), Here technologies (US), Geomoby (Western Australia), Alteryx (US), CleverMaps (Czech Republic), IndoorAtlas (Finland), Lepton Software (India), Quuppa (Finland), CARTO (US), Tibco software (US), SparkGeo (Canada), PlaceIQ (US), Ascent Cloud (US), FourSquare (US), MapLarge (Georgia), Hardcastle GIS (US), GapMaps (Australia), Mapidea (Portugal), MOCA (Spain), Geoblink (Spain), Orbica (New Zealand), Quadrant (Singapore), Locale.ai (India), Placense (Israel), and Spatial.ai (US).



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U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Russia and China not to disregard the reimposition of all United Nations sanctions on Iran, which President Donald Trump has directed him to trigger at the U.N. Security Council in New York on Thursday.



Given questions over the U.S. move, diplomats said Russia, China and other countries are likely to simply ignore it and not reimpose the sanctions on Iran.



When asked if the United States would target Russia and China with sanctions if they refuse to reimpose the U.N. measures on Iran, Pompeo told Fox News: "Absolutely."



"We have already done that, where we have seen any country violate ... the current American sanctions, weve held every nation accountable for that. Well do the same thing with respect to the broader U.N. Security Council sanctions as well," Reuters cited him as saying.



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.



Pompeo will also meet with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-21 00:06:48|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi holds talks with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County, south China's Hainan Province, Aug. 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)

BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- China and Indonesia on Thursday formally launched a fast-lane arrangement to facilitate personnel exchanges for the purpose of ensuring epidemic prevention, maintaining the smooth flow of industrial and supply chains, and helping each other's economic recovery.

The arrangement was announced by Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi during their meeting for talks in Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County, Hainan.

Indonesian Minister for State-owned Enterprises Erick Thohir also attended the talks.

Noting that Retno is the first foreign minister to visit China in the post-epidemic era, Wang said the joint visit of the two ministers not only shows the importance of Chinese-Indonesian relations, but also marks the resumption of the foreign ministers' offline diplomacy. It sends a clear and positive signal that the two sides are committed to jointly defeating the epidemic and reinvigorating the economy, said Wang.

Noting that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Indonesia, Wang said China stands ready to work with Indonesia to promote greater achievements in bilateral relations. China supports enterprises engaging in all-round cooperation with Indonesia in vaccine research and application.

China is ready to work with ASEAN countries to ensure the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement (RCEP) within this year and an early conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, Wang added.

Retno gave Wang a letter from Indonesian President Joko Widodo to Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying that Indonesia fully agrees to maintain good exchanges between the two countries, is willing to ensure the signing of the RCEP by the end of the year, and is committed to working with China to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea. Enditem
Union government is seeing visions of Rs 77,900 crore of manufacturing investment

Chennai: The government expects bulk drug and medical device parks to attract aggregate investment of about Rs 77,900 crore and generate about 2,55,000 employment. However, industry finds this ambitious.

The government had earlier announced schemes for development of three bulk drug parks and four medical device parks. Apart from increasing central assistance for development of common infrastructure in these parks, the government will also extend a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) to manufacturers in these parks.

According to union minister for chemicals and fertilizers D V Sadananda Gowda, the incentive will be given at the rate of 5 per cent on incremental sales for five years from 2021-22 to 2025-26 with a total outlay of Rs 3420 crore. The Department of Pharmaceuticals released the evaluation criteria for selection of units for this scheme on July 27. Applications will have to be filed within 120 days.

The two-pronged strategy of incentivising production and creation of common infrastructure is expect to offset the higher cost of production and make domestic companies competitive with their peers in foreign countries, Sadananda Gowda said.

According to the minister, the cumulative investment in these parks has been estimated at Rs 77,900 crore and their job potential at 2,55,000. The medical device sector alone is expected to attract investment of about Rs 40,000 crore and generate 1,40,000 jobs.

However, industry is sceptical about the government estimates. This is an assumption by the government. They assume companies will leave China and come here. That might not happen immediately. Further, we haven't seen great interest among domestic companies to invest thousands of crores in these parks. The pharma sector is well-established. As far as medical technology is concerned, we will have to wait and see, said G SK Velu, chairman and managing director of Trivitron Healthcare.

According to S V Veeramani, former national president of the Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA), some state governments like Haryana, Gujarat and Telangana have evinced interest in setting up the parks. Pharma companies might be interested in establishing API manufacturing plants. But whether they will bring in Rs 38,000 crore of investment has to be seen, he said.
The quieter language reflected a warmer and far more personal Harris than the tough and fiery image she has often cultivated. She spoke of her mother and her husband, of love and of how family has been at the center of her life. It was an introduction to the vast number of Americans who knew little about her, and the softer tone will be a challenge to Trump, who has specialized in gendered attacks.
A federal judge has rejected impeached U.S. President Donald Trump's most recent effort to block the release of his tax records for a Manhattan prosecutor's criminal probe.

Next stop: Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

More from court reporters and others below.

BREAKING: A federal judge DISMISSES President Trump's second attempt to block Manhattan DA Vance's probe and UPHOLDS the prosecutor's subpoena. Background, @CourthouseNews https://t.co/7Rorawu7Fl pic.twitter.com/a72VIVpq3u  Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) August 20, 2020

The judge calls Team Trump's litigation posture "as unprecedented and far-reaching as it is perilous to the rule of law and other bedrock constitutional principles on which this country was founded and by which it continues to be governed." pic.twitter.com/IZBGM5fjTc  Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) August 20, 2020

Very bad news for Trump: Here's Judge Marrero's decision tossing out Trump's remaining attacks on the Vance subpoenas demanding Trump's financial data, including the tax returns. Those attacks are baseless. The court was right to reject them. https://t.co/9zbdA0FXGz  Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) August 20, 2020

NEWS: A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit from President Trump that sought to block Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance's subpoena for his financial records.@PeteWilliamsNBC notes: Expect Trump's legal team to appeal. The case will continue to be fought in the courts.  Geoff Bennett (@GeoffRBennett) August 20, 2020

charged w/federal crimes during his presidency, Trump's: campaign chair

deputy chair

foreign policy adviser

political adviser

personal lawyer

WH nat-sec adviser

WH senior adviser today a judge cleared way for NY prosecutors probing Trump organization to get his tax returns  John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) August 20, 2020
West African countries will send a delegation to Mali in an effort to reverse a military coup, presidents from the region said, as an opposition coalition there joined the junta in rejecting foreign interference.

Leaders of the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) convened over the crisis on Thursday, after it suspended Mali, shut off borders and halted financial flows in response to Tuesday's overthrow of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

The coup, which has rocked a country already in the grip of a growing insurgency by Islamist militants and civil unrest, has been met with almost universal condemnation abroad.

At the end of the meeting, Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou, the acting ECOWAS president, issued a statement saying the heads of state demanded that Keita be returned to power and would "immediately" dispatch a high-level delegation to Mali.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said the delegation would be led by his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, who had been mediating between Keita and his opponents prior to the coup, and Jean-Claude Brou, president of the ECOWAS commission.

Diplomatic sources had said earlier that the delegation would be led by four heads of state.

In Mali, the M5-RFP coalition of opposition groups that spearheaded protests against Keita before the coup and has since embraced the mutineers rejected ECOWAS's position.

"If they want to come, they can come but we are not going to move," Cheick Oumar Sissoko, a coalition leader, told reporters. "We are going to cross ECOWAS's red line."

Opposition leaders said they would hold a rally in Bamako on Friday to celebrate what they described as their "victory".

Bamako residents expressed widespread support for the coup. The capital was calm for the second straight day, as people appeared to heed earlier calls from junta spokesman Colonel Ismael Wague to return to work and go about their daily lives.

Banks re-opened after closing the past two days and clients said they had no problems withdrawing money.

"The ECOWAS sanctions are legitimate but reckless," said Brema Soumare, a 35-year-old architect, standing outside a bank. "This coup is a liberation... Organisations like ECOWAS should support the people and not heads of state."

Coup Leaders

Colonel Assimi Goita, a special forces commander, presented himself late on Wednesday as the junta's leader.

Marc-Andre Boisvert, an independent researcher on the Malian security forces, said the senior mutineers were all respected army colonels who had fought in the north, where affiliates of al Qaeda and Islamic State are active.

"It was a coup led by combat-experienced, not personality-driven officers," he said. "I expect they were selected to be the image of the coup as they are respected and close to the (ordinary) soldiers."

Nevertheless, the officers' actions have raised fears of a repeat of 2012, when the chaotic aftermath of a coup helped hasten the fall of northern Mali to al Qaeda-linked militants.

France intervened the following year to push them back, but the militants have since regrouped and extended their influence into central Mali and countries in West Africa's Sahel region.

Some apparent supporters of the al Qaeda-affiliated militants celebrated the coup on social media, saying it represented an opportunity for the group to exploit.

France's armed forces minister said on Thursday that its forces would continue their Mali-based military operations against Islamist fighters.

Heads of state in West Africa have reacted with alarm to the coup, fearful of the precedent it could set in the region.

In his statement, Niger's President Issoufou called for the ramping-up of ECOWAS's standby military force in response to the coup, but it was not clear whether any military action was being contemplated.

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Gabrielle Giffords, a former U.S. congresswoman who survived an assassination attempt, made a rare public address on the third night of the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday where she backed party nominee Joe Biden.

'We are at a crossroads,' Giffords said in pre-recorded remarks. 'We can let the shooting continue or we can act. We can protect our families, our future. We can vote. We can be on the right side of history.'

'We must elect Joe Biden. He was there for me, he'll be there for you too. Join us in this fight. Vote, vote, vote,' she urged.

Giffords represented Arizona from 2007-2012, and resigned after suffering severe brain trauma after she was shot in the head from just a few feet away.

The now avid gun control activist has struggled to speak since her brain injury and had to relearn to do everything, including walking.

'My recovery is a daily fight, but fighting makes me stronger,' Giffords said as she stood in front of an American flag for her brief remarks. 'Words once came easily; today I struggle with speech.'

'But I have not lost my voice,' Giffords assured. 'America needs all of us to speak out, even when you have to fight to find the words.

Former Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who survived an assassination attempt, endorsed Joe Biden in rare public remarks on the third night of the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday

'Today I struggle with speech. But I have not lost my voice,' she said in the short pre-recorded speech, claiming: 'We must elect Joe Biden. He was there for me, he'll be there for you too'

Gifford was shot in the head from a few feet away in a 2011 shooting at an event to meet with constituents in Arizona. A man ran up to the crowd and fired off a handgun, hitting 19 people and killing six

Gifford detailed in her remarks that she had to relearn how to walk and talk

Giffords' speech was the longest she has given since the shooting, her spokesman told CNN.

She did not bring up President Donald Trump in her speech.

Ahead of her remarks, Giffords is shown playing the french horn, which she played as a teenager and picked back up after surviving her assassination attempt.

Her husband, Mark Kelly, is running as a Democrat against Republican Martha McSally for her Senate seat in November.

Giffords was shot in the head in January 2011 outside a grocery store in Arizona during a public event where constituents could speak directly with their representatives.

A man ran up to the crowd and fired off a handgun, hitting 19 people and killing six.

Among the dead were a federal judge and a nine-year-old girl.

Democrats started off the third night of the four-night convention talking about guns, a hot button issue for many on the left who want to see stricter gun control in America, especially in the wake of several mass shootings in the last few years.

In a short video before her speech, Giffords is shown playing the French Horn, which she played as a teenager and picked back up during her recovery

Deandra Dycus, the mother of a black teenager who was shot in the head during a party, also had a speaking slot as Democrats began the third night focusing on gun violence

She detailed in her speech that her son was shot in the head at a party and now cannot walk, talk or eat for himself

The mother of a black teenager who was shot in the head during a party had a speaking slot.

Deandra Dycus detailed that her son was left paralyzed and can no longer speak, walk or eat for himself.

'In a split second, a stray bullet shattered my family's life,' she said. 'The child I birthed is not able to live his dreams. And that hurts.'

She also bashed President Trump and threw her endorsement to Biden, claiming he would 'care about our pain,' in reference to those who have suffered from gun violence.

'I'm a mom who volunteers to stop this. President Trump  he doesn't care. He didn't care about the victims after Parkland, Las Vegas or El Paso,' Dycus insisted.

'I was a president who cares about our pain and grief,' she continued. 'A president who will take on the gun lobby to ban assault weapons and close the loopholes to keep guns out of the hands of criminals. Joe Biden has taken on the NRA twice, and won. And he will do it again as president.'
Journalists who covered the presidency during the administration of former President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday commemorated five years of the presidential press corps accident that took the life of Ghanaian Times correspondent, Samuel Nuamah.



The journalists were at the Osu cemetery to lay flowers on the tomb of their departed colleague who died at the age of 37.



On August 20, 2015, the presidential press corps accompanied Mr Mahama to a EP Church Convention in Ho where he was invited as the Special Guest. On their return, the bus that conveyed them burst a rear tyre, somersaulted several times before landing in a muddy pool of water near Afienya in the Greater Accra region.



Nuamah died on the spot while other occupants of the bus sustained various degrees of injury.



At 10..30 am Thursday, at least 10 members of the former presidential press corps gathered in front of the cemetery and walked quietly to the grave, about 50 metres away.



It was a solemn moment at the graveside as the journalists sang some hymns with some struggling to hold back tears.

Prayers were said for God to continue to keep the soul of the late Nuamah and also protect those who survived the accident.

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BANGKOK Thai police said on Thursday they have arrested four anti-government activists over a July 18 protest that triggered a wave of student-led demonstrations demanding a new constitution and elections.

Three of the activists were arrested late on Wednesday and a rapper who performed at the protest was detained early on Thursday, as police step a crackdown on a countrywide movement behind the biggest rallies seen in Thailand since a 2014 military coup.

Demonstrators are seeking the resignation of the military-backed government, an end to the harassment of its critics and a new constitution and parliamentary elections, in a rejection of polls held last year that saw coup leader Prayuth Chan-ocha remain prime minister.

Among other offences, the four activists are charged with breaching internal security laws and for defying an emergency decree that banned public gatherings to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The authorities have already issued arrest warrants for 15 people in connection with the July 18 rally, police said.

The arrests that are taking place is based on the warrants," deputy police spokesman Krisana Pattanacharoen told reporters.

He said the arrests had been made at certain times so there would be no chaos".

A small group of supporters of the detainees gathered overnight at a Bangkok police station where the activists were held.

The Assembly for the Poor, a non-governmental organisation whose secretary-general is among those detained, issued a statement on Thursday demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all activists.

It threatened a lengthy protest in Bangkok if their demands were not met.

Their arrests come after police detained human rights lawyer Anon Nampa on Wednesday for a speech he made at another protest calling for the reform of the powerful monarchy. It was the second time he has been arrested this month.

(Editing by Martin Petty)

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
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 20)  Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta saw firsthand when he was still a trial judge the challenges of unclogging the heavy dockets of courts while ensuring fair and speedy disposition of cases.

This is why I have always been an advocate for simplifying our rules and streamlining our procedures, Peralta said during Thursday's media launch of the amendments to the Rules on Civil Procedure and Rules on Evidence.

Peralta explained the revisions simplify the flow of cases in court and prevent other factors that prolong the resolution of cases, which is important during this time of the pandemic.

Rules on Evidence

Amendments to the Rules on Evidence include changes in classifications of types and evaluation of evidence admissible in court.

Peralta said all evidence must now be offered orally.

He explained the offer of testimonial evidence must be made at the time the witness is called to testify, while the oral offer of documentary and object evidence must be made immediately after the conclusion of the testimony of the last witness of the party.

Peralta explained this replaces the traditional way of offering documentary evidence, which was previously done in writing.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra also noted the difficulty when it comes to the rule that requires presentation of the original document, which he said is probably the most used and abused ammunition in a lawyers arsenal of technical rules.

Guevarra said this has been the usual cause of delay in court proceedings that makes the search for truth more challenging.

Rules of Civil Procedure

Revisions to the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure include modification of requirements to institute an action and adjustments to the flow of court proceedings, such as doing away with preliminary conference before the branch clerk of court, and immediate conduct of pre-trial by the judge.

Peralta said service and filing of pleadings and court submissions can now be done through accredited courier, e-mail, facsimile and other electronic means.

Guevarra noted that as the number of civil complaints that get archived because of failure to serve summons increased, the need to examine the logic behind the rule could no longer be ignored.

The change in the rules that now facilitates acquisition of personal jurisdiction is therefore a correct step towards strengthening the faith of litigants in our civil proceedings, he said.

Moreover, Guevarra said the new rules that relax the courts acquisition of personal jurisdiction in civil cases, and re-assign the burden of proving inadmissibility to the party who assails the accuracy of a duplicate document, are novel, if not revolutionary, amendments.
A 27-year-old woman, Saratu Yau, was on Wednesday arraigned before a High Court sitting in Kano, for the alleged murder of her five-year-old son (name withheld).

The defendant, who resides at Sabon Birni Village in Gwarzo Local Government Area of the state, is facing a count charge of culpable homicide.

The Prosecutor, Lamido Sorondinki, told the court that the accused person committed the offence on June 12, 2018, at Sabon Birni, Gwarzo.

Mr Sorondinki alleged that on the same date, around 8:25 a.m., the defendant slaughtered her five-year-old son with a sharp knife.

The prosecution filed an application before the court in reference to Section 280 (1,2,3 and 4) of the Criminal Justice Law 2019, praying the court to send the defendant to a psychiatric hospital for medical evaluation.

According to the prosecution, the offence contravened Section 221 of the Penal Code.

The defendant, however, pleaded guilty to the charge.

The trial judge, Ibrahim Karaye, ordered the defendant to be referred to a psychiatric hospital for medical examinations.

Mr Karaye adjourned the case until October 8, for hearing.

(NAN)
U.S President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he would pardon a "very, very important" person on Tuesday.

Many guessed that the recipient of the said pardon would be leaker Edward Snowden or former National Service agency adviser Michael Flynn.

Trump declined to give further information. He hinted that the pardon's recipients would not be Flynn or Snowden, who is a former U.S National Security contractor.

This proved to be true when Trump announced in a speech at the White House on Tuesday that he would formally pardon Susan B. Anthony.

Anthony was a women's suffragist and was arrested after voting illegally in 1872. She died in 1906.

However, critics argued that Trump should revoke his posthumous pardon of Anthony.

The women's suffragists believed that she did not commit a crime by voting.

Trump said that the notion was brought up a week ago, and he was surprised that it was never done before.

He announced the pardon with the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, allowing women the right to vote.

Susan B. Anthony

Anthony was charged with voting illegally, as a woman, in the 1872 presidential election in her hometown of Rochester, New York.

She was tried by an all-male jury, which found her guilty and fined her $100. She refused to pay the said fine.

"It shall be my work this evening to prove to you that in this 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." Anthony said in a speech at the time.

Anthony's time was a conservative one with the belief that women are the moral centers of the family, and participating in politics was a harsh business for women.

Criticisms About the Pardon

President and CEO of the National Susan B. Anthony Museum and House in Rochester, Deborah Hughes, said that Anthony was familiar with the pardon process.

Hughes said that Anthony would not have wanted the issued pardon.

"Anthony was very clear. She felt she had a right to vote as a citizen. She felt that the trial was the greatest miscarriage of justice, as did her lawyers, and to pardon it is to validate the trial," Hughes said.

Historian Ann Gordon also expressed his dismay on the pardon through a tweet.

Gordon is a former Rutgers University professor and editor of "The Selected Papers of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony."

Elected officials call on Trump to revoke the pardon, as they claim that it overrides Anthony's wishes.

New York Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul said that Anthony was not guilty of anything.

Hochul said that she was deeply troubled to learn that Trump went ahead a granted a pardon. She added that Anthony was proud of her arrest to draw attention to the cause of women's rights.

Trump seems to acknowledge that Anthony may not have wanted a pardon.

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A day after releasing the results of the first sero-prevalence survey in Srinagar, Government Medical College has begun the second round in Pulwama district.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is conducting the second round of the national sero-survey to monitor the trend of SARS-CoV-2 infection transmission across the country. The first round was held in May and June this year. The prevalence of IgG antibody titers was found to be 0.73% among the general population.

GMC, Srinagar, head of community medicine and nodal officer for the ICMR sero survey for Pulwama Dr S Muhammad Salim Khan said in the second round, data be collected through an app and blood samples will be taken to assess immunoglobulin-Gamma (Ig-G) against SARS-CoV-2, which will determine the prevalence of infection in the recent past and the bodys immune response to the SARS CoV-2 infection.

Each selected site collects data and blood samples of 400 participants, including children over 10 years of age, Khan said.

ICMR is conducting the study through its regional centres. However, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare secretary and ICMR director general Dr Balram Bhargava has asked Government Medical College, Srinagar, to conduct the study in Pulwama district on its behalf .

A team from Government Medical College, Srinagar, comprising faculty, resident doctors and medical interns from the department of community medicine (SPM) have been deputed by Dr Samia Rashid, dean, GMC, Srinagar, for conducting the survey in ICMR-assigned ten clusters in Pulwama, said Khan, adding that the blood samples will be sent to the ICMR lab at Chennai.

In the first round, the sero-prevalence in district Pulwama was found to be 2%, which was higher than the national average of 0.73%, while a recent study by GMC Srinagar in Srinagar showed a 3.8% prevalence among the general population, which is almost twice the prevalence in Pulwama.
President Donald Trump came to Joe Bidens Lackawanna County birthplace on Thursday to attack his Democratic rival for president.

He pulled no punches in depicting Biden as someone who will take away gun rights, defund police, open the suburbs to low-income housing and shut down Pennsylvanias fracking and fossil fuel industries.

He called Biden a puppet of the radical left that has pledged to destroy the American way of life.

Imagine mayhem coming to your town and every single town in America, Trump told a crowd in northeastern Pennsylvania. Youre not gonna have law and order.

His in-your-face appearance came a few hours before Biden is scheduled to give his acceptance speech at the conclusion of the four-day Democratic National Convention on Thursday night.

Tonight Slow Joe will speak at the Democratic convention and Im sure hell just knockem dead, Trump said sarcastically.

Trump spoke at a building products company in Old Forge, Pa., just outside Scranton, where Biden was born and where he spent his first ten years before his family moved to Delaware.

He said Biden will give free health care to illegal aliens and even oppose religion.

President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Mariotti Building Products, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, in Old Forge, Pa. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)AP

If you want mobs and criminals, you have to vote Democrat, said Trump, who also told the audience a vote for him is the only thing standing between you and a radical left-wing mob.

He further said Biden will put low-income housing in the suburbs, although he noted that minorities also live in the suburbs, presumably to suggest minorities also will suffer as a result.

Trumps presence at that location in Pennsylvania on such a key night for Biden and Democrats is yet another example of the importance of Pennsylvania in deciding the 2020 race.

Trump won the state in 2016 only 44,000 votes, or less than 1% of votes cast by Pennsylvanians. His win was made possible in large part by nearly winning Lackawanna County and running away with adjoining Luzerne County. Both were known as working-class strongholds that supported Democrats, including President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012.

However, Biden, who represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate for more than 30 years, has always been popular in the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre region.

Trump said Biden abandoned Scranton. His family had something to do with it. But he left Scranton.

Polls in 2020 have consistently shown Biden leading Trump in Pennsylvania, with the lead narrowing recently.

Biden is expected to wage a campaign focused on Trumps performance in office, especially his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed more than 170,000 Americans. The response has been plagued by shortages of things like tests and protective equipment and, according to critics, a lack of clear direction by the Trump administration.

Democrats are further painting Trump as working to divide rather than unite the country.

Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti spoke about Biden during a conference call prior to Trumps talk, calling Biden a hometown kid.

In Donald Trump, we have a president who has failed to take meaningful action to address the worst public health and economic crisis in generations, who has been working to undermine the Affordable Care Act and vital earned benefits like Medicare and Social Security, and who has repeatedly sided with his donors and corporations over workers and their families, she said.

On Thursday, Trump said Biden plans to shut down the fossil fuel fields in Pennsylvania, including natural gas fracking.

But the Associated Press reported Biden calls Trumps claims about banning fracking entirely false, and doesnt believe its politically or legally possible to ban fracking. He says he wants to bar permits for new oil and gas drilling on public lands, which account for less than a tenth of production, the Associated Press wrote.

The only way theyre going to win is by a rigged election, Trump said Thursday afternoon in Old Forge.
By Associated Press

LONDON: The brother of the suicide bomber who set off an explosion at a 2017 Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, killing 22 people and injuring hundreds, has been sentenced to a minimum of 55 years.

Hashem Abedi had denied helping plan the attack at the end of the Manchester Arena concert on May 22, 2017, but was found guilty of murder, attempted murder, and conspiring to cause explosions.

His sentencing had been postponed due to travel restrictions put in place because of the coronavirus pandemic.

His elder brother Salman Abedi, who set off the bomb, died in the explosion.

Sentencing Hashem on Thursday, judge Jeremy Baker said the two brothers were "equally culpable for the deaths and injuries caused by the explosion."
The speakers voiced their complaints to Maggie Hickey, a former federal prosecutor tasked with overseeing court-ordered reforms to the troubled Chicago Police Department. The hearing  and a second one scheduled for Thursday  are part of the review she launched in early June as allegations began flying that police had abused protesters who flooded the streets following the death of George Floyd under the knee of a Minneapolis officer in late May.
Mauritius Authorities have arrested the captain of the Japanese ship that ran aground on a coral reef near the island nation. According to reports, the captain of the MV Wakashio, Sunil Kumar Nandeshwar was charged with endangering safe navigation. The captain is currently in custody and awaits a bail hearing next week.

Read: Head Of Mauritius Marine Conservation Society On Oil Spill

Investigations underway

According to reports, Police inspector Sivo Coothen on August 18 said, We are carrying out a full investigation and interviewing all the crew members.

The Japanese ship ran aground on July 25 and after subsequent pounding from waves developed a crack and started leaking oil on August 6. The MV Wakashio was carrying close to 4,000 tonnes of oil and ended up leaking more than 1,000 tonnes of oil into the surrounding waters of the Mahebourg Lagoon, one of the islands most pristine coastal areas.

Read: India Sends Chetak Helicopter To Mauritius To Help Contain Oil Spill

Fortunately, the remaining fuel from the ship was pumped out before it could leak into the water but environmentalists have said that the damage done could be irreversible.

The Mauritius government is currently under a lot of pressure to explain why swift action was not taken to remove the cargo off the ship before it started leaking. In response, Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth cited bad weather as the cause of the delayed response.

Environmentalists have raised objections to government plans to remove the bow of the ship so that it can be sunk in the ocean. They believe that its possible environmental impact must also be taken into account. 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. But that area is where whales give birth and nurse their young, said Sunil Dowarkasing, an environmental consultant and former member of parliament in Mauritius.

(WIth AP Inputs)

Read: Indian Coast Guard Sends 10-member Team To Mauritius To Assist With Oil Spill Operation

Read: Mauritius Oil Spill: Experts And Volunteers Struggle To Protect Rich Marine Wildlife

(With Inputs from AP)
Over 180 million permanent account numbers (PANs) could become defunct unless linked with Aadhaar numbers by the March 31 deadline, as the income-tax (I-T) department, which is equipped with artificial intelligence (AI), is all set to nab tax evaders conducting high-value transactions by using multiple PANs, two officials said, requesting anonymity.

The government may also expand the list of high-value transactions to track expenditure patterns of those unscrupulous people, who spend large sums on luxuries but underreport their income and evade tax, they said.

The I-T law provides for a statement of financial transaction (SFT), earlier known as an Annual Information Return (AIR), to track prescribed high-value transactions undertaken by taxpayers.

The department gets such expenditure details through banks, financial institutions, mutual funds, credit card companies, and other entities.

It is surprising that in a population of 130 crores only 1.5 crores contribute to the I-T kitty. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also pointed this out recently. Available data suggest that there is an urgent need to expand the tax base, one of the officials said.

PM Modi had unveiled Indias first charter of taxpayers rights and duties on August 13 and had appealed to the public to introspect that only 15 million people in a population of 1.3 billion pay I-T.

The official quoted above said there are 509.5 million (50.95 crore) PAN cardholders in the country as on June, but only 64.8 million (6.48 crore) of them file income-tax returns (ITR), and only 15 million actually pay I-T.

Around 4.98 crore (49.8 million) people file ITR. But they either show zero tax liability or claim the full amount of tax paid through ITR, he added.

A second official said some unscrupulous people use multiple PAN cards to hide their high-value transactions and manage to keep themselves out of the tax net.

As a result, only 32.71 crore (327.1 million) PANs are linked with Aadhaar. More than one-third PANs could be under the scanner unless linked with Aadhaar before the March 31 deadline, he said.

Naveen Wadhwa, deputy general manager at Taxmann, a tax consultancy, said:  If PAN is not yet linked with Aadhaar, there is a possibility to obtain multiple PANs. However, once a PAN is linked with an Aadhaar, it will not be possible to obtain multiple PANs.

PAN and Aadhaar linkage will help tax officials to keep a tab on such tax evaders, who do not show any taxable income, but splurge money on luxurious items such as buying a vehicle, investing in real estate, travelling overseas and buying jewellery, the officials said.

The government may expand the list of such high-value transactions that I-T department tracks.

According to the second official, the list may include payment of education fee above 1 lakh annually, consumption of electricity above 1 lakh per annum, domestic air travel in the business class, purchase of jewellery or white goods above 1 lakh, payment of property tax above 20,000 per annum, life insurance premium above 50,000 and health insurance premium above 20,000.

However, these details will be collected from the third party only and honest taxpayers would not be required to provide expenditure details in their ITRs, the official said.

The proposed move is to bring tax evaders into the tax net and not to harass honest taxpayers, as they are not required to file details of high-value transactions in their ITRs, he said.

Citing an example of a person paying 5 lakh per annum school fee, including donations, without paying any tax, he said, By claiming that his income is not taxable he is trying to dodge the I-T system. Similarly, a person, who has made purchases of luxury items or spent sizeable amount for hotel bills, is a potential taxpayer and should file h/her ITR.

No doubt, the third-party reporting of high-value transactions made by such non-filers would allow the department to nudge such persons to file their returns and pay their due tax, he added.

Kapil Rana, chartered accountant and founder of HostBooks Ltd, a cloud-based accounting platform, said, There is a possibility and proven cases, where multiple PAN numbers have been acquired fraudulently and used to evade tax.

PAN-Aadhaar linkage will eliminate the possibility of holding multiple PAN by an assessee. It will eliminate wilful tax evaders. Aadhaar is designed in such a way that duplicate cards cannot be issued. Besides, PAN-Aadhaar linkage will eliminate fake or multiple PANs held by the same person in various fraudulent ways.

Wadhwa said the proposed move of the government to expand the list of expenditure would not cause any incontinence to honest taxpayers. Through SFT the I-T department gets the information of high-value transactions and expenditures, which can be used to verify whether the income of the person is in sync with the quantum of such transactions and expenditure, he said.

However, the government zeroes in on only those cases that manifest a larger gap between the returned income and expenditures, he added.

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This week, the Department of the Interiors U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it was opening additional hunting and fishing opportunities in Washington state as well as across the country.

According to a press release provided by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, this brings the total expansion to over 4 million acres nationally since President Donald Trump took office.

On the heels of President Trump signing the most significant conservation and recreation funding in U.S. history, providing nearly $20 billion over the next 10 years to fix and conserve the American peoples public lands, the Trump administration has now made an additional 2.3 million acres accessible to new hunting and fishing opportunities, said U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt. We continue to take significant actions to further conservation initiatives and support sportsmen and women who are Americas true conservationists.

In Washington, two national wildlife refuges and five hatcheries are adding hunting and/or fishing opportunities. This includes expanding the youth waterfowl hunt to align with the state season and allowing adults to hunt when accompanying a hunting youth. The Washington sites include:

Willapa National Wildlife Refuge  Open deer and elk hunting on 517 new acres, and expand elk hunting on 2,071 acres in alignment with state regulations.

Abernathy Fish Technology Center  Open hatchery grounds to sport fishing for the first time in alignment with state regulations.

Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery  Open hatchery grounds for the first time to hunting including migratory birds, upland game birds, big game, and small game on 1,269 acres in alignment with state regulation.

Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery  Open hunting on the hatchery grounds for the first time including upland game birds, big game, and small game on 144 acres in alignment with state regulations.

Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery  Open the hatchery grounds for the first time to hunting including big game and turkey on 50 acres in alignment with state regulations.

Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge  Expand the youth waterfowl hunt to align with the state season and allow adults to hunt when accompanying a hunting youth.

Willard National Fish Hatchery  Open the hatchery grounds to sport fishing for the first time in alignment with state regulations.

We are excited when land is made available for hunting and fishing access in Washington, said Kelly Susewind, Director of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The expanded opportunities on these public lands will be welcomed by anglers and hunters across the state.

Hunting and fishing generate millions of dollars in revenue for states each year from the sale of licenses and tags. Additionally, excise taxes on firearms and ammunition, as well as sport fishing equipment and boating fuel, generate more revenue for states for wildlife management and public recreation; in 2020 alone Fish and Wildlife will distribute nearly $1 billion to states under the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program.

For more information, to view interactive maps of hunting and fishing opportunities, or see all environmental documents related to openings and closings at all 147 affected stations, fws.gov/refuges.

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They have been weathering not just the pandemic, but a scorching heatwave.

But Diane Kruger and her partner Norman Reedus ventured out in cooler hours for a late night dinner date.

The actress, 44, and her beau, 51, were spotted grabbing a bite to eat in Los Angeles on Wednesday evening.

Beating the heat! Diane Kruger and her partner Norman Reedus ventured out in cooler hours for a late night dinner date in Los Angeles on Wednesday

Diane beat the heat in a taupe, figure-accentuating body suit and black jean shorts.

She strode comfortably about in white sneakers, which injected a sporty flair to her overall laid-back look.

Diane, who has been urging fans to wear masks, took precautions against COVID-19 with a green face covering strapped around her head.

Meanwhile, Norman strode beside his lady love wearing an equally laid-back outfit consisting of jeans, sandals, and a dark grey T-shirt.

Walk this way: Kruger wore a figure-accentuating beige bodysuit and denim shorts

Real-life chemistry: The couple - who officially went public in March 2017 - first met back in December 2015 while portraying lovers on the set of their film Sky

The Walking Dead actor had a mask dangling upon a single ear, putting his famous face on display.

He appeared to be carrying an envelope in his right hand.

Diane welcomed her daughter in November 2018 and she and partner Norman are so fiercely protective of her that they have not publicly released her name.

The couple - who officially went public in March 2017 - first met back in December 2015 while portraying lovers on the set of their film Sky.

Eating her up! Kruger joked she liked 'getting nibbled' at from her beau Reedus

At the time, Diane was still in a decade-long relationship with Dawson's Creek alum Joshua Jackson.

Meanwhile, Norman and 1990s supermodel Helena Christensen - who split in 2003 - amicably co-parent their 20-year-old son Mingus Lucien.

Earlier this year, Kruger celebrated Mother's Day by posting a photo of her daughter dancing with colourful light reflections on a wall.

In the caption on Instagram, she gushed: 'You literally turned my life into a rainbow. I'm so happy I'm your mom .'

She added: 'Happy Mother's Day to all the fierce ladies today and every day  And thank you to my love @bigbaldhead for the extra  today and for giving me our little tornado .'
NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan on August 19 attended the virtual fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, with the theme of the leadership of parliaments in realising multilateralism more effectively.

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (Photo: VNA)

The conference is held by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the United Nations, and the Austrian Parliament.

Opening the conference, IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron said the function is being held in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this is also a chance for thoughts towards a common goal of more vigorous recovery and reconstruction for a better future.

At the opening session, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the emergency of the pandemic, pointed out concerns and, at the same time, proposed actions and solutions for the situation.

In her address at the seminar on Stepping up parliamentary action: The climate change urgency, NA Chairwoman Ngan agreed that climate change has become ever more urgent, particularly as the world is being severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The National Assembly of Vietnam has been working closely with the Government in responding to climate change via improving the legal framework on environmental protection and prioritising resources for implementation of the programmes on climate change response and sustainable development, she said.

Vietnam has always strictly adhered to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, the leader stressed, expressing her hope for enhancing cooperation with other countries, thereby contributing to collective endeavours in responding to climate change.

To advance parliamentary actions towards the urgency of climate change, she made several proposals, such as parliaments should continue taking vigorous actions via the legislative role and function in ratifying international instruments on climate change response, strengthen collaboration with the IPU, and consider implementing the recommendations in the IPUs Parliamentary Action Plan on Climate change in accordance with each countrys development level and needs.

Parliaments should promote policies on economic restructuring towards sustainable development, green economic growth and circular economy in order to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change. Besides, parliaments should maintain appropriate resource allocation, enhance oversight and take further measures in response to climate change.

Moreover, she said international organisations and developed countries should increase support for developing ones in responding to climate change, particularly amid the complex evolution of COVID-19./.VNA
A research group led by Professor MORI Yasuko (of the Division of Clinical Virology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine) has revealed that the HHV-6B glycoprotein complex gH/gL/gQ1/gQ2 is an effective vaccine candidate for human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B). There are still no methods to treat nor prevent HHV-6B infection, and this study represents the first attempt in the world at developing a vaccine.

This study was conducted through joint research between the following:

Professor MATOZAKI Takashi et al. of the Division of Molecular and Cellular Signaling, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine.

Professor ITO Tomoo et al. of the Department of Diagnostic Pathology at Kobe University Hospital.

Professor NISHIGORI Chikako of the Division of Dermatology, Department of Internal Related, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine.

Associate Professor AOISHI Taiki of the Vaccine Dynamics Project at BIKEN Innovative Vaccine Research Alliance Laboratories, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases of Osaka University.

Professor SUZUKI Ryo of the Laboratory of Drug and Gene Delivery Research, Teikyo University.

The Research Foundation for Microbial Diseases of Osaka University (BIKEN Foundation).

The results were published online in the American scientific journal 'PLOS Pathogens' on July 23.

Main Points

Human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B) is a pathogen that infects the vast majority of people when they are infants. It not only causes exanthem subitum (*1), with symptoms of a fever followed by a skin rash (roseola) but can also trigger severe complications with lasting after-effects such as febrile convulsions, encephalitis (brain inflammation) and encephalopathy.

Methods to effectively prevent or treat HHV-6B infection have yet to be established. The infection rate is extremely high and great risks are posed by HHV-6B. It is hoped that the realization of a vaccine would enable infants to be inoculated against HHV-6B, resulting in widespread prevention of this virus.

This research group previously discovered a HHV-6B glycoprotein complex that is an essential factor in HHV-6B infection. In this study, they utilized this complex as a vaccine antigen and analyzed its effectiveness.

The research group inoculated mice with the purified virus antigen combined with immunostimulants known as adjuvants (*2), demonstrating that this induced effective immunity against HHV-6B. Furthermore, the combination with the adjuvants was also shown to induce cellular immunity (*3).

These successful results are a big step towards the realization of a safe and effective vaccine for HHV-6B. It is hoped that this research can proceed to clinical trials.

Research Background

Human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B) is passed on to infants via the saliva of family members etc., causing exanthem subitum which has symptoms of a fever over 38C followed by a rash all over the body (roseola). The overwhelming majority of people are infected with HHV-6B. The infection period is between 6 months and 2 years of age; this coincides with the diminishment of antibodies received from the mother.

In most cases, infants recover without experiencing any serious symptoms, however severe complications can occur. For example, it has been reported that in Japan, around 150 infants a year suffer encephalitis or encephalopathy, resulting in lasting aftereffects in around half of this number. Therefore, it is essential to develop a vaccine to protect infants from HHV-6B infection, as there is currently no established treatment nor preventative measures against the virus.

Previously, Professor Mori's research group discovered the glycoprotein complex gH/gL/gQ1/gQ2, which is expressed on the HHV-6B virus's surface. They also revealed that the interaction between this complex and CD314 (OX40), which is expressed on stimulated T-cells, is the key to infection (Figure 1). An antibody that targets the gH/gL/gQ1/gQ2 complex would be able to prevent HHV-6B infection. Therefore, the group is also conducting research into generating antibodies that can be used on humans from mice antibodies.

From this accumulated knowledge and experience came the following idea: an efficient immune response against HHV-6B infection could be achieved if inoculation with the gH/gl/gQ1/gQ2 complex induced immunity against the complex.

Research Findings

The researchers developed a vaccine based on the HHV-6B gH/gL/gQ1/gQ2 complex. (A Patent Application for the vaccine has been filed by the BIKEN Foundation and Kobe University (Patent Application No. 2017-509816)). They generated the gH/gL/gQ1/gQ2 complex via genetic modification techniques. This complex was utilized as the vaccine antigen and mice were inoculated with this in combination with an adjuvant, and immunity induction was analyzed (Figure 2).

The HHV-6B gH/gL/gQ1/gQ2 complex is a complicated molecule constructed in a cell with four types of protein. A method was developed to grow this complex in a cultivated cell in which all the proteins are expressed at the same time. It was confirmed that the HHV-6B gH/gL/gQ1/gQ2 complexes generated using this method still retained their function of binding to their target receptor molecule, CD134 (OX40).

The complex was combined with the adjuvant aluminum hydroxide (abbreviated to Alum), which is widely used in current vaccines, and administered to mice in several doses. The immune response was analyzed; the results confirmed there were vaccine induced antibodies against the gH/gL/gQ1/gQ2 complex in the serum of the mice, and their serum had actually prevented HHV-6B from infecting the cells. Furthermore, it was shown that the glycoprotein complex itself had activated dendritic cells, inducing innate immunity (*4).

Furthermore, a vaccine with a combination of oligonucleotide D35 (which can induce cellular immunity) and its transporter, the DOTAP lipid, as adjuvants in addition to Alum was developed. This vaccine was demonstrated to induce an even stronger antibody response. Spleen cells were extracted from mice after the immunity experiments and the immune cell responses to the gH/gL/gQ1/gQ2 complex were investigated. The results showed a stronger response to the antigen in the group inoculated with the Alum/D35/DOTAP combination and confirmed that cellular immunity was induced. Additional analysis results revealed that CD4 T-cells were the main responders to the antigen.

The researchers also investigated whether or not the induction of serum antibodies via inoculation with the gH/gL/gQ1/gQ2 complex actually prevented HHV-6B infection in animals (Figure 3). This experiment utilized immune cell-humanized mice (*5) to develop an animal model of HHV-6B infection. As a negative control, humanized mice were administered with serum from mice that had been given a vaccine containing only the adjuvant. The humanized mice were then injected with HHV-6B. The virus proliferated internally and many virus antigens were detected in the spleens of the negative control group.

On the other hand, the virus did not proliferate in humanized mice that received prior administration of serum from mice who were inoculated with the vaccine containing the gH/gL/gQ1/gQ2 complex. Also, there were hardly any virus antigens in the spleens of these humanized mice. This demonstrates that the induced immunity from the vaccine is efficient against HHV-6B infection in mice.

Further Developments

Effective treatment and preventative methods for HHV-6B infection have yet to be established despite the latent risks that it poses to the health of all infants. The results of this research represent a huge step towards the efficient prevention of HHV-6B infection with a vaccine. It was demonstrated that this vaccine, which used the gH/gL/gQ1/gQ2 complex as an antigen, efficiently induced an immune system response. Also, the vaccine is promising from a safety aspect as it is a subunit vaccine (*6) that does not contain other virus-derived molecules, aside from the complex. Currently, many infants are given a combined inoculation against four diseases called the DPT-IPV vaccine (D: Diphtheria, P: pertussis, T: tetanus and IPV: inactivated polio virus) at 3 months of age. It is hoped that HHV-6B inoculation could be added to this vaccine to prevent infants from contracting it.

After infection, HHV-6B remains latent inside its host for their entire life. It can be reactivated by conditions such as drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome or a decline in immunity, and has been reported to trigger various illnesses. In particular, this as a problem when hematopoietic stem cell transplants are used to treat leukemia, leading to a high frequency of HHV-6B reactivation which can cause life-threatening encephalitis. The vaccine developed by this study, when combined with adjuvants, not only grants humoral immunity (*7) but can also induce cellular immunity. In other words, this vaccine can induce a strong immune response to HHV-6B. It is believed that it could also be used to suppress the HHV-6B infection in those undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplants.

Next, the researchers will build upon these results, collect data on the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine and then proceed to clinical trials. They aim to bring a pioneering HHV-6B vaccine developed in Japan to the world.

###

Glossary

1. Exanthem subitum (roseola infantum) :

A viral infection that occurs in infants around 6 months old, which is characterized by a fever followed by a rash that develops after the temperature returns to normal. It is predominantly caused by HHV-6B infection, and sometimes by human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7). The illness has a favorable prognosis for the majority, however, in rare cases severe complications such as febrile convulsions, encephalitis (brain inflammation) and encephalopathy can occur.

2. Adjuvant:

This is an immunostimulant that strengthens the body's immune system functions. In vaccines, adjuvant(s) are utilized alongside antigen(s) in order to strengthen the immune system's reaction to the antigen(s) and promote more effective immunity acquisition.

3. Cellular immunity:

An immune system response to a pathogen in which T-cells (that recognize specific foreign antigens) activate macrophages and cytotoxic T-cells to target and destroy the pathogen.

4. Innate immunity:

Immunity against a specific foreign pathogen etc. is activated via a widespread immune cell reaction to the specific pathogen.

5. Immune cell-humanized mouse model:

When human hematopoietic stem cells are inserted into a mouse with an immune cell deficit, the mouse retains the human immune cells. This is called a humanized mouse model. HHV-6B specifically infects human T-cells so it is not possible to infect a normal mouse with the virus. However, it has been confirmed that HHV-6B infection and proliferation can be induced inside the bodies of humanized mice- creating an animal model of HHV-6B.

6. Subunit vaccine:

A vaccine that only uses a part of the pathogen. An appropriate infection-related antigen that sticks out of the pathogen surface is selected in order to induce an effective immune response. It is thought that subunit vaccines can reduce the side effects of inoculation. However, subunit vaccines induce a weaker immune response compared to live vaccines (that utilize weakened pathogens) so effective use of the adjuvant is an issue.

7. Humoral immunity:

An immune system response in which the T cells (that recognize specific foreign antigens) stimulate B cell antibody production. These antibodies are distributed via the blood and lymph fluid where they bind to the target pathogen in order to neutralize or eliminate it.

Acknowledgements

This research was made possible with funding from the following:

Acceleration Transformative research for Medical Innovation (ACT-MS) from the Japan Agency for Medical Research (AMED) (Lead Researcher Mori Yasuko)

Health and Labour Sciences Research Grants (Japan) from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), for Research on Development of New Drugs and Research on Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Disease (Lead Researcher: Mori Yasuko).

A Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (recipient: Wang Bochao).

Journal Information

Title:

" Tetrameric glycoprotein complex is a promising vaccine candidate for human herpesvirus 6B "

DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008609

Authors:

Bochao Wang1, Kouichi Hara1, Akiko Kawabata1, Mitsuhiro Nishimura1, Aika Wakata1, Lidya Handayani Tjan1, Anna Lystia Poetranto1, Chisato Yamamoto1, Yasunari Haseda2, Taiki Aoshi2,3, Lisa Munakata4, Ryo Suzuki4, Masato Komatsu5, Ryuko Tsukamoto5, Tomoo Itoh5, Chikako Nishigori6, Yasuyuki Saito7, Takashi Matozaki7, Yasuko Mori1

1 Division of Clinical Virology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine.

2 Vaccine Dynamics Project at BIKEN Innovative Vaccine Research Alliance Laboratories, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases of Osaka University

3 BIKEN Center for Innovative Vaccine Research and Development, The Research Foundation for Microbial Diseases of Osaka University

4 Laboratory of Drug and Gene Delivery Research, Teikyo University

5 Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Kobe University Hospital

6 Division of Dermatology, Department of Internal Related, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine

7 Division of Molecular and Cellular Signaling, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine

Journal:

PLOS Pathogens
(Natural News) Officials in Melbourne, Australia, will turn to technology to enforce Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions. City authorities will now be using drones to catch people not wearing masks outdoors and scan for vehicles in violation of curfew by being more than 5 km (3.1 miles) from home.

High powered drones will be used to find people not wearing masks and cars too far from home, reported local television station 7News Melbourne news report. According to the report, the drones can be flown up to a distance of 7 km (4.3 miles) and can produce clear images that can show a vehicles license plate number from 500 meters (1,640 feet) away.

Melbournes drones are just the latest measure employed in what has become one of the most draconian coronavirus lockdowns in the developed world. They follow the declaration of a state of disaster in the state of Victoria in response to a new surge in COVID-19 cases.

Will the drones go away once the pandemic is over?

In light of the drones imminent deployment, privacy advocates have raised concerns that there is no sunset clause for the use of the drones and that authorities could continue to use them to spy on citizens even after the pandemic ends.

Often in these moments of crisis we will introduce new forms of technology, new forms of surveillance, and theyre very difficult to dismantle at the end of the crisis, said Lizzy OShea, a lawyer and chair of Digital Right Watch, during an interview with radio station 3AW.

Im not convinced that once police push to a higher watermark of surveillance that theyll be prepared to return to levels of pre-pandemic.

Even before the drones, Australian authorities have instituted a wide range of measures, all in the name of slowing the spread of the disease.

Australian police have been given the power to enter peoples homes without a warrant and perform quarantine spot checks.

Meanwhile, drivers now have to show their papers at highway checkpoints just to get to work.

On top of all this, authorities have also tapped Australian Defence Force troops to patrol parks and other outdoor areas.

All of these are to enforce rules that levy massive fines against people caught outside without wearing a mask or violating the 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. curfew.

The increased enforcement has already led to several incidents. This includes several instances of police physically tackling people for not following the mask rules. These include one incident where a male police officer placed a woman in a chokehold.

Minor infractions are also dealt with heavily. In one instance, police fined a couple for simply allowing their child to play further than 5 km from their home. In addition, they seized the computers of two men who were planning an anti-lockdown protest.

Victoria state sees surge of coronavirus cases

The draconian measures in Victoria, of which Melbourne is the capital of, come after the state was hit with a surge of coronavirus cases. The state saw an increase of 2,587 cases in the first week of August alone.

On Wednesday, August 19, health officials announced that the state had reported an additional 1,861 cases for the past week  a decrease from the week prior to that but still high compared to previous months.

When the state was under lockdown in May and June, its caseload had remained quite low. It was only in July that cases started rising. (Related: Boon or bane? Australias response to coronavirus means lower caseloads, but a year-long lockdown.)

Now, with infection rates reaching unprecedented numbers in the state, authorities are looking at tightening restrictions to get them back down again. People, however, are concerned that it comes with a cost.

People have a right to be able to go about their lives without constantly being watched by police, OShea said. The use of drones by police is something that youd expect, I think, somewhere like China and Russia.

Follow Pandemic.news for more updates on the fight against the coronavirus around the world.

Sources include:

Summit.news 1

3AW.com.au

Summit.news 2

Summit.news 3

Health.gov.au

TheGuardian.com
Donald Trump holds a news briefing at the White House on 19 August, 2020: EPA

Donald Trump gave new hope to QAnon conspiracy theorists who believe he is waging a secret war against a deep state of paedophile cannibals by saying that he would be willing to help them "save the world".



Asked at his daily press conference what he thinks about the QAnon movement, the president said he didnt know much about it other than they like him very much, which I appreciate.

At the crux of the theory is a belief that the president is secretly working to save the world from a satanic cult of paedophiles and cannibals. When asked if that was something he was behind, Mr Trump said he was willing to put himself out there to help.

Well I havent heard that, but is that supposed to be a bad thing or a good thing? You know, if I can help save the world from some problems, Im willing to do it, Im willing to put myself out there, Mr Trump said.

And we are actually, were saving the world from a radical left philosophy that will destroy this country, and when this country is gone the rest of the world would follow.

The pro-Trump supporters of the QAnon theory have continued to grow since he was elected president, and often attend his rallies wearing "Q" shirts.

The first time Mr Trump was asked about QAnon during a White House press conference last week, he refused to address the conspiracy directly. When asked about one of the theory's proponent's, Marjorie Taylor Greene, who won the Republican primary for Georgia's 14th Congressional district, Mr Trump congratulated her but moved on quickly to the next question.

When asked again on Wednesday, the president said that while he doesn't know much about the movement, he does know they are people that love the country and don't like seeing it the way it is.

"I have heard that it is gaining in popularity and from what I hear, these are people that when they watch the streets of Portland when they watch what happened in New York City in just the last six or seven months, but this was starting even four years ago when I came here," he said.

Story continues

"These are people that don't like seeing what's going on in places like Portland and places like Chicago, and New York and other cities and states."

Adherents to the conspiracy theory believe a mysterious but anonymous figure known as "Q" leaves cryptic but often prophetic messages on websites such as 4chan. Different theories contend that Q is a former intelligence officer, a group of people or perhaps even Mr Trump himself.

It has increasingly come into the mainstream during the course of Mr Trump's presidency, with several Republican candidates identifying themselves with it.

QAnon is linked to the notorious Pizzagate conspiracy, which claimed that Hillary Clinton and others were running a paedophile ring from the basement of a DC restaurant.

In 2016 a heavily armed North Carolina man drove to the restaurant to free the children he believed were trapped there and opened fire. However, the restaurant had no basement and there were no children. The gunman, Edgar Maddison Welch, was sentenced to four years in jail. He apologised for his actions and said he had made an "incredibly ill-advised decision".

Read more

Trump endorses QAnon supporter after Republican primary win

QAnon supporter could become Republican candidate in Georgia race

Barr sends QAnon followers into frenzy with pizza analogy

QAnon supporter defeats incumbent Republican in Colorado primary

Google removes apps pushing far-right QAnon conspiracy theory
Police were last night forced to close Manchester's Curry Mile for the second time this week as crowds defied the local lockdown to celebrate Afghan Independence Day.

Hundreds spilled onto one of the city's busiest streets where they waved flags, set of flares and even danced on car roofs.

The revellers have been scolded by both their councillor and MP who said: 'You should be ashamed - you have put your loved ones at risk.'

Wilmslow Road in Rusholme, known as Curry Mile for its array of South Asian cuisine restaurants, was shut only last week amid similar scenes for Pakistan Independence Day.

Greater Manchester Police shut a stretch of the road between Dickenson Road and Moss Lane East while they dispersed the party-goers.

After a spike in the infection rate, Greater Manchester was slapped back into a local lockdown, limiting outdoor gatherings to six people who must socially distance.

Hundreds spilled onto one of the city's busiest streets where they waved flags, set of flares and even danced on car roofs

Greater Manchester Police shut a stretch of the road between Dickenson Road and Moss Lane East while they dispersed the party-goers

Yesterday's brazen breach of restrictions were slammed by the Labour MP for Manchester Gorton, Afzal Khan, who underscored the risks.

He said: '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.'

He was backed up by Rusholme councillor Ahmed Ali who begged people to obey the rules.

Wilmslow Road in Rusholme, known as Curry Mile for its array of South Asian cuisine restaurants, was shut only last Friday amid similar scenes for Pakistan Independence Day (pictured)

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

He said: 'We don't mind people having celebrations but under the pandemic emergency regulations, we are not supposed to congregate in such ways or have parties and things like that.

'In Manchester, we are a diverse community and we have different languages, cultures and faiths.

'Ordinarily, there are about 60 or 70 celebrations of different cultures throughout the year.

'But we are not in 2018 or 2019, we are in 2020 and we are in an emergency pandemic. We cannot have people flouting the rules.

'The message to the community is to please not congregate like this and hold back on any celebrations. I plead with people to just hold back.

'The authorities want you to celebrate your culture but you must not flout the rules.

'GMP has done a great job in dispersing the crowds peacefully where many were displaying rowdy and anti-social behaviour potentially endangering other visitors in Rusholme.'

Afghan Independence Day is held annually on August 19 to mark Afghanistan regaining full independence from British influence with the signing of the Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919.
Universal paid sick days are a necessary, evidence-based protection to mitigate risks of a second COVID-19 wave and ensure safe school reopenings, a new report by a group of Canadian health professionals says.

Some 70 per cent of low-wage workers do not have access to paid sick days  placing Canada far behind many other countries and creating a public health hazard that disproportionately impacts women and racialized workers, according to the study released Wednesday by the Decent Work and Health Network.

The report also calls an existing federal program offering income support for COVID-19 related sick leaves inadequate because of its temporary nature and limited scope.

Like vaccines, paid sick days must be universal in order to protect the most vulnerable, says the report, which relies on a national survey of around 180 doctors as well as interviews with workers.

With Ontario schools on the brink of reopening  and the threat of a second wave of COVID  sick leave protections are more crucial than ever, said Toronto high school teacher Sarah Vance at a press conference Wednesday.

In many of the citys schools, parents who work multiple low-paid jobs with no sick leave are the norm, not the exception, she said.

In many cases, Ive taught teenagers in my classroom who also do precarious work themselves ... many of these students cannot afford to quit their job.

The bottom line is that without paid sick days for all workers, were guaranteed to have sick children in our public schools spreading COVID-19, added Vance, who is also a member of the grassroots advocacy group Ontario Education Workers United.

Im very, very afraid that this will be a public health disaster.

Overall, 58 per cent of Canadians do not have access to paid sick days, the report found; that figure is even more stark for workers earning less than $25,000 a year.

Paid sick leave is only legislated in two provinces: Quebec offers two days and Prince Edward Island provides one day after 5 years of service.

Federally regulated workers, like those in banking and rail services, are entitled to three paid sick days. In Ontario, previous legislation that entitled workers to two paid sick days a year was reversed under Premier Doug Ford.

Wednesdays study says some 181 countries have some form of paid sick leave, and that Canada ranks in the bottom quarter for sick leave protections.

In analyzing 22 developed countries, the study said Canada is one of only five where the vast majority of employers are not required to provide paid sick leave for short-term illnesses. Numerous countries, including Australia, Germany, Norway, and Switzerland, legislate seven paid sick days for workers.

Shockingly, in response to the worst global pandemic in a century, no Canadian jurisdiction has raised employment standards to expand access to paid sick days, the report notes.

Carolina Jimenez, a nurse and the co-ordinator of the Decent Work and Health Network, said low-wage workers are left exposed as a result.

Precarious work, including the lack of paid sick days, is putting workers lives at risk, she said.

While a new federal program to provide temporary income support to those who test positive for COVID-19 is a positive step, the study says it is too limited in scope to prevent future infectious disease outbreaks. The report calls for seven paid sick days in all Canadian provinces, and an additional 14 paid days during public health emergencies.

Existing research shows such policies are an evidence-based protection against the spread of disease, said Jimenez.

In the United States, cities that implemented paid sick days saw a 40 per cent reduction in influenza rates during flu outbreaks compared to cities without, according to analysis published by the Centre for Economic Policy Research. Paid sick days also lowered the risk of respiratory and gastrointestinal disease outbreaks in New York state nursing homes, a study for the American Journal of Epidemiology found.

Across the US, some 13 states and 23 cities or counties have now mandated paid sick days. In July, Colorado passed what the study calls some of the most comprehensive legislation yet that entitles workers to six paid sick days  and 10 during public health emergencies.

Research on self-isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic has suggested that when compensation is assured, compliance is almost 40 per cent higher, Wednesdays report notes.

The report says while concerns have been raised about the cost of paid sick days, existing research shows workers carefully use paid sick days as intended and, as a consequence, are able to return to work faster and healthier with lower rates of chronic illness.

Kyle Hoskin, a municipal sanitation worker from the Niagara region, said his experiences suggest paid sick leave makes economic sense. After he developed pneumonia in January that quickly spread through his workplace, some 35 of his colleagues were forced to miss work.

If I had paid sick days, I would have been the only person in my workplace that wasnt at work, he said. Because I didnt, my employer lost 35 workers.

Wednedays report says based on its survey of doctors and workers, sick days must be fully paid to be effective. They must also be permanent, and accessible to all  including migrant workers, who have been impacted by massive COVID-19 outbreaks on farms across Canada.

The study also calls doctors notes requirements an unnecessary barrier that clog up doctors offices and emergency rooms. Last year, a survey of 182 Canadian emergency physicians found that more than three quarters write at least one sick note a day. (Ontario scrapped its existing sick note requirement at the start of the pandemic).

For former cleaner Veronica Zaragoza, the argument for paid sick days is simple.

This is a human right, she said. Having guaranteed payment for sick days permanently give us an opportunity to save our lives as our workers, but also to save the lives of others around us.
Ghanaians who lived abroad for a very long time were hopeful that one day they would be allowed to take part in Ghana's presidential elections and to be part of the voting process while living abroad. This was not to be, until Mr. John Kufuor took over power in 2002.

He was hailed for the many projects and policies he began during his rule. However, his dream to allow Ghanaians abroad to take part in Ghanas elections was principal.

Amidst jubilation from Ghanaians abroad, President Kufuor signed into law the Representation of the People's Amendment Law (ROPAL) on the 27th of February, 2006. ROPAL then became a law that would allow Ghanaians abroad to vote in Ghana's elections.

Disappointingly, the dream of every Ghanaian abroad to be part of the voting process in Ghana was dashed. The NDC governments that came after Kufuor also left ROPAL to suspend in the air and on the heads of Ghanaians abroad, even though both the NDC government and the EC knew how Ghanaians abroad were eager to be allowed to register at the various embassies and vote in Ghana's elections. What then happened?

The Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Jane Mensa disclosed that she has not taken her thoughts away from ROPAL, but she wants to familiarize herself or learn more from the countries who have taken the lead to allow their citizens abroad to vote in national elections. This, she said, will enable her to formulate regulations for the implementation of ROPAL.

The Commission will send delegates to different countries and the lessons they would learn from the trip would form the basis for discussion among all stakeholders to arrive at common procedures for effective implementation of the ROPAL. To prove her seriousness, the EC entered into negotiation with the government and demanded GHc200,000 as a local support for foreign consultation. The government granted the amount. The EC chair took no action but dragged her feet until a concerned group took the matter to court. Is the EC merely playing a mind game with Ghanaians abroad?

In 2017, an Accra High court decision ordered the EC to begin the process of implementing ROPAL. Whether the Election management body will comply with the High Court ruling today is yet to be known.

Something interesting happened at a forum on the election 2020. The Director of Elections, Mr. Michael Boadu, revealed that all was set for the implementation of the law. We are left with about four months to the elections. Was he not deceiving Ghanaians by what he said? Was he not throwing dust in the eyes of Ghanaians abroad?

As if he was compelled by EC to lie to Ghanaians, he assured Ghanaians that all documents are complete and all processes and procedures are ready for a roll out of ROPAL. Ghanaians abroad must hold their peace.

It turned out to be deceitful. Ghana has only 63 embassies in the world. If these embassies abroad are those going to handle ROPAL and to ensure that no Ghanaian abroad is left out, what then happens to those Ghanaians who live in countries that have no Ghana embassies? This difficulty makes it impossible for ROPAL to be carried out.

One major concern is that since most of the diplomats are government employees and party appointees, any party in opposition may be suspicious about the veracity of the votes cast abroad. ROPAL is not likely to happen for Ghanaians abroad because any of the two major parties in Ghana when in opposition is not likely to trust the embassies abroad.

Now the EC has a good excuse why ROPAL cannot be implemented for 2020. It is likely that the EC will go to the High court to tell them that they cannot implement ROPAL as ordered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This deliberate excuse, if given by EC, will anger or disappoint the group of Ghanaians abroad who sacrificed their time and money and took the ROPAL impasse to the High court. Their plea was accepted by the court and EC was ordered to take action immediately.

Three years now and no arrangement has been made by EC to inform our embassies abroad to get ready for ROPAL, after having provided them with facilities to enable the embassies to register Ghanaians abroad. The EC has not acted or taken steps to furnish the embassies with information on the procedures to allow Ghanaians abroad to vote. If these steps are not taken, the EC has no excuse to use COVID-19 as a reason for inaction.

Not until the EC changes its mind or takes steps to remove all obstacles that are preventing ROPAL from being rolled out, it will be considered as complete deceit.

Columnist: Stephen Atta Owusu

Author: Dark Faces at Crossroad

Email: [email protected]
Two iconic filmmakers star on this weeks list. Stanley Kubrick is David Mikicss short but potent look at the career of the director of 2001, The Shining and other classics; and in Chasing the Light, Oliver Stone writes about his youth and his career up to the success of Platoon. A less famous but troubled and gripping life is examined in Vicki Laveau-Harvies memoir, The Erratics, about the authors return home to care for her aging parents, including a mother with an exceptionally well-developed propensity for lying.

Fiction on this weeks list includes the latest novel by Emma Donoghue, the author of Room; a debut about a murder case and a family inheritance; the story of an unidentifiable stranger who upends a small community; the journey of self-discovery of a Ghanaian seamstress; and tragedy in the lives of two North Carolina families. And nonfiction that covers very big topics  democracy versus oligarchy in America, five centuries of hurricanes and a German couple who helped lead the resistance against the Nazis.

John Williams

Daily Books Editor and Staff Writer

STANLEY KUBRICK: American Filmmaker, by David Mikics. (Yale, $26.) This is not a full-dress biography of the director, our critic Dwight Garner writes, but a brisk study of his films, with enough of the life tucked in to add context as well as brightness and bite. Mikics is an adept student of the uncanny art of the director of Dr. Strangelove, 2001, The Shining and other classic films. This cool, cerebral book about a cool, cerebral talent, Garner writes, unpeels the way that Kubricks movies, packed as they are with impieties, challenge, infuriate and entertain.

THE ERRATICS: A Memoir, by Vicki Laveau-Harvie. (Knopf, $25.95.) The first book by Laveau-Harvie, 77, captures the stark terrain of her childhood in Canada, to which she returned to care for her aging parents. Her mother was a teller of baroque lies. She would invent family members on a lark, and kill them off for sympathy from the neighbors. She manipulated with ease and evident pleasure  and no one quite so efficiently as Laveau-Harvies father, who remained besotted with her, chief acolyte to her delusions, our critic Parul Sehgal writes. Laveau-Harvie depicts her mother neither as a riddle to be solved nor as a woman to be understood, but as an implacable act of nature, who must only be survived.
Forget its reputation as the city of light. Paris is the city of surly serveurs. But for the time being you can throw all your lazy Gallic stereotypes on the bonfire  Paris is now so quiet even the waiters are friendly.

This comes as, with international travel drastically reduced, many Parisians coming to miss the bustling that they once loved to complain about.

Politico reports, The Ile-de-France tourist office says 16 million tourists are missing this year, leaving restaurant owners with half their income.

Florent Audot, who was a waiter at Le Parvis brasserie, a two-minute walk from Notre Dame, told the WSJ, We miss everyone.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Patrick Colpron (@patrickcolpron) on Jul 20, 2020 at 3:00pm PDT

How desperate is the City of Light for tourists these days? Even the waiters are friendly, the WSJ wrote, in an article entitled, Paris rolls out red carpet for those that can make it.

National Geographic reports many tourist attractions are open, with new rules: Museums are open but both the Louvre and Musee dOrsay, reliable tourist draws, are among those that have restricted their viewings.

Before the pandemic hit, tourism in France was at an all-time high, with a total of 89.4 million visitors in 2018 and a target of 100 million tourists for 2020 (a target that will no longer be reached).

Paris alone had over 40 million visitors in 2018, with 15 million visiting EuroDisney, 7 million visiting the Eiffel Tower and 8 million visiting the Louvre.

As Condor Ferries reports, in pre-COVID years, the travel and tourism industry would contribute around 200 billion euros towards the French economy and created 2.8 billion jobs.

Now though, even as France has opened its borders to select international countries (it was previously only open to European countries and the Schengen Zone) on July the 1st, relatively few are willing and able to take France up on its offer. Australians, for instance, are unable to travel anywhere for leisure, even though numerous countries (see: Greece and Bali) would love to welcome them back.

Likewise, though there are select countries the French can visit, it is more complicated (and risky) than in years gone by. This has led to a resurgence of Parisians enjoying Paris.

As the WSJ reports, The French are venturing into unknown territory: France.

Every summer French vacationers snub their homeland in favor of far-flung destinations, allowing France, the worlds top tourism destination, to become a playground for foreign tourists, the WSJ wrote.

Not this year.

However, even as the millions of French that have never climbed the Eiffel Tower; or traipsed round Le Louvre, stay at home, that doesnt mean they are having fun.

According to Politico, the coronavirus is making this August a source of anxiety rather than pleasure.

Those of us who stayed in Paris are stuck not just with a heatwave but with people flouting the rules imposed to curb the virus. The mask-less masses are baring their teeth and showing their noses at free parties (clandestine techno raves)  as well as in restaurants and shops, where masks are meant to be mandatory, (Politico).

It would be a mistake to see this defiance as mere carelessness or summer insouciance. It is a symptom of various ills, including distrust in politics and social and economic division. Both have been exacerbated by the virus.

Maybe theres hope for Frances surly attitude after all?

Read Next
President Nana Akufo-Addo has said independent parliamentary candidates cannot help him achieve his goals hence the need for Ghanaians especially NPP members at Tarkwa-Nsuaem to vote for the NPP parliamentary candidate.



Speaking at Tarkwa-Nsuaem as part of his tour to the Western Region, President Akufo-Addo called on residents in the area to reject any independent candidate and vote for the NPPs parliamentary candidate for the area, Hon. George Mireku Duker and give him (President Akufo-Addo) also the second chance to continue his good work for Ghana and the people of Tarkwa-Nsuaem.



The Member of Parliament(MP) for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, George Mireku Duker on his part thanked President Akufo-Addo for the numerous project being undertaking in the Municipality including the building of SHS at Nsuaem, one district one factory, rehabilitation of town roads within the municipality among others.

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 motion said that despite Solis best efforts, Burke never agreed on tape to provide any official action in exchange for private business. The filing repeatedly accused prosecutors of overreaching and conflating Burkes actions as a private attorney with his official duties as alderman, saying that while the government might not like it, there is no law against a politician merely soliciting business without promising official action.
Kennedy Agyapong has suddenly jumped to the defence of former President John Mahama in the latest brouhaha surrounding the former President's supposed relationship with actress Tracey Boakye, Mzbel and Evangelist Gloria Kani.

The Assin Central Member of Parliament (MP), while speaking on The Seat Show on Net2 TV on Monday evening, alleged that Mr. Mahama bought a house worth $450,000 at East Legon for Tracey Boakye and other properties because he was 'blackmailed' by the actress.

Pure Blackmail

But he added that the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) cannot continue to be 'blackmailed' because someone like A-Plus has also slept with Tracey and was able to get away without paying her a dime after an attempt to blackmail him by the actress failed.

According to him, the timing of Tracey's recent outburst with Mzbel is wrong and has ruined Mahama's political efforts.

Tracey Denial

But Tracey has vehemently denied ever blackmailing Mr. Mahama and screamed at the MP to leave her alone.

She has indicated that it is not Mr. Mahama she has been referring to as 'Papa No' in her 'married man brouhaha' involving Mzbel and Gloria Kani, although Kani has said the 'Papa No' Tracey referred to is the former President.

Tracey Boakye, look at where the man picked you from? He helped you build a house at Kumasi with a restaurant in itbought you a house at Lake Side Estates but you told him you don't like (it) and he later bought you the East Legon house which is worth $450,000. I wonder what she would have done if the house was worth a million dollar Is it how to pay him back, Kennedy Agyapong revealed on Net2 TV.

These are cheap cheap celebrities we have in Ghana. If you have these cheap ladies as your celebrities, then Ghana has a problem. They are cheap, always on social media. Is that the reward this man gets from you, he continued.

He further alleged that Tracey has sent some naked pictures of the former President to someone who himself isn't clean. He threatened to expose the journalist should the latter decide to broadcast the videos sent to him by

Tracey.

Mahama Wife

One person I am worried for is Mahama's wife (Lordina). She is a very good woman, and I admire her so much. What this girl has done is very disgusting and they go about calling themselves celebrities?

Tracey Boakye is so cheap; people sleep with her without giving her anything, Mr. Agyapong alleged, adding, Even my friend A-Plus slept with her and didn't give her anythingwhen she tried blackmailing him, A-Plus told her that his wife even knows that he has slept with her and her blackmail didn't work on him.

I condemn the so-called celebrities and the way they talk. The three ladies involved in this back and forth, it's only two of them who have been a disservice to President Mahama. Tracey Boakye should pray that NPP wins the 2020 elections else if NDC wins, she will regret it big time, the MP said.

Kennedy Agyapong indicated that what has been happening is good to score the ruling NPP good political points, but he won't play to the gallery because it is so disgusting.

Assuming that your child is Mahama's, what type of love do you think this little baby is going to receive from him? Immediately he sees the baby, there will be some kind of hatred for heryou've blown the chance of Mahama forever, he stressed.

A-Plus Case

After Kennedy Agyapong's statement, A-Plus shared a post on Facebook about a girlfriend he had wanted to pay in 'instalment'.

Tracey Fires

On her side, Tracey didn't allow Kennedy Agyapong to finish his show on Net2 TV when she also took to Facebook Live to respond to the controversial MP, warning him to leave her alone.

Hon. Kennedy Agyapong is on Net2 insulting me over an issue I have no idea about Please Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, I am not blackmailing anybody. What is this? Why is it that elderly men like you who can be my father are tempting me like this? Men who had sex with me and my slippers blablah you were talking about, Hon. Kennedy Agyapong in my interviews I always speak about my life story. I came from somewhere before somewhereI am not blackmailing anybody. You said when next I do something Lordina Mahama should slap me, please don't create problems for me. A-Plus slept with me, is A-Plus a cripple? Or am I a virgin? I am not a virgin. I have sex, I have boyfriends and I go out. Why do you go and sit on your TV and insult me? she 'fired' back.

I make good use of all my relationships; there is no way I will allow anyone to have sex with me for free. What has John Dramani Mahama done to me for me to blackmail him? Why don't you allow him to have his peace of mind for his campaign? Don't sit on your TV and say things you don't know because you are Kennedy Agyapong; you don't feed me. Leave me alone, she added.

I dont have anything to do with the former President, she stressed.

Meanwhile, Mahama's camp has been quiet on the Tracey Boakye brouhaha.

Daily Guide
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 22:16:10|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- More than 1.1 million Americans filed for jobless benefits last week after two weeks of declines, the Labor Department said on Thursday.

"In the week ending August 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 1,106,000," the Labor Department said in a news release. The figure brought new weekly claims back above the 1 million mark after they fell below that line in the previous week to Aug. 8.

Meanwhile, the number of people receiving unemployment aid dropped last week from 15.5 million to 14.8 million, the government said.

Since Congress has been unable to agree on a new stimulus deal so far, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to boost jobless benefits by 300 U.S. dollars per week by diverting disaster relief fund from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The United States has reported more than 5.5 million COVID-19 cases, far more than any other country. Enditem
A 3400-hectare safe haven for birdlife and a location to introduce endangered mammal species will be established on Flinders Island, off South Australia's Eyre Peninsula.

The federal government will provide $1.6million and South Australia $1million for the project which will also help develop the island as a nature-based tourism destination.

The state government will manage the project along with the local Woolford family, which has owned the island for more than 40 years.

A 3400-hectare safe haven for birdlife and a location to introduce endangered mammal species will be established on Flinders Island, off South Australia's Eyre Peninsula

Establishing the safe haven will involve the eradication of invasive rats, mice and cats, and the restoration of native habitat.

Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley said the role of predator-free havens was particularly important in nurturing native populations.

'As well as protecting local birdlife on the island we will look to introduce mammal species under threat of extinction to a pest-free environment that can help strengthen populations,' she said.

'About a dozen national priority species are being considered, among them were two species of threatened bandicoots and other threatened mammals.'

South Australian Environment Minister David Speirs, said the Woolford family would allow a conservation agreement to be placed over the majority of the island, in addition to the existing heritage listing that covered about 250 hectares.

The family uses the island for business and recreation and, in a limited way, for sheep grazing and is keen to turn the island into a nature-based tourism destination.

'Eradicating feral animals would create a safe haven for native wildlife helping the bird species that already use it and helping save at least two mainland species from extinction,' Mr Speirs said.

Jonas Woolford said his family was in a unique position to offer the use of an island for such a special project.

'We have always wanted to get rid of the cats and rodents, but the recent bushfires and the issue of climate change have highlighted the importance of the land and that we can play a part in rehabilitating the natural environment and creating a safe haven,' he said.

Mr Woolford said implementing biosecurity measures would be an important factor in delivering the project over the long term, and the involvement of volunteers and university students would also be welcome.

The island is in the Investigator Group about 30km west of Elliston.
A former employee of a troubled youth home is required to register as a sex offender for the rest of her life because of sexual contact she had with a 13-year-old boy.

Amanda Williams today also received a five-year reverse split sentence. That means Williams can avoid serving prison time if she successfully completes three years of probation. Madison County Circuit Judge Donna Pate told Williams that if she violates probation, she would face two years in prison.

Williams, 31, earlier this year pleaded guilty to a felony charge of second-degree sodomy, a crime for which she could have faced up to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors said she performed oral sex on the 13-year-old boy.

It happened in 2017 when Williams was a 28-year-old employee at Three Springs, a troubled youth home that was at that time located in Madison. Three Springs was a residential treatment center for 12- to 18-year-old boys with poor behavior and those who were convicted of crimes as juveniles. Williams was a youth care worker at Three Springs, a job her attorney compared to a camp counselor.

Three Springs, also known as Sequel TSI, is located at 1329 Brownsferry Road in Madison. (Photo: AL.com news partner WHNT News 19)

I take full responsibility for my actions, Williams told the judge at todays sentencing hearing. She promised never to return to the courts or news headlines if allowed to serve a probationary sentence, rather than prison time.

Judge Pate asked Williams, a woman without even a speeding ticket on her record, how she ended up committing a felony sex crime.

Williams testified that she repeatedly refused when residents at Three Springs asked her for sex. But in the case of the 13-year-old, she gave in once, just to make it stop, her attorney said. Williams said it was a terrible decision and a mistake.

Im truly sorry, Williams told the judge.

Williams mother and sister testified on her behalf at todays hearing. They described her as a quiet, caring and loving daughter, sister, grand-daughter, aunt and mother. They asked the judge to order the probation sentence so Williams can continue raising her 9-year-old son.

Madison County Assistant District Attorney Tim Douthit asked that Williams be sentenced to three years in prison, followed by probation.

The state of Alabama trusted her with this kid and she violated that trust, he said.

Defense attorney Robin Wolfe said that Williams lack of criminal history made her the ideal candidate for probation.

Shes not a predator, Wolfe said. Shes not a threat to the community or others.

Williams was first arrested more than three years ago on charges of having sexual contact with two students at Three Springs in Madison. As part of her guilty plea on one of the sodomy charges, the prosecutor dismissed the remaining charges.

In the time since Williams arrest, the Madison City Council revoked the business license of Sequel TSI, the private, for-profit company that operates facilities like the one that was known locally as Three Springs. The Madison location has closed, but the company continues to operate in other Alabama cities: Owens Cross Roads, Montgomery, Tuskegee and Courtland.

[Read more about Sequel: Watchdog says children being abused in psychiatric centers in Alabama]

Williams case was just one of several incidents that led Madison city leaders to revoke the companys license to operate in the rapidly-growing Huntsville suburb. In addition to Williams case, police said they also investigated multiple escapes from Three Springs and a construction workers slaying for which two young Three Springs residents were charged with capital murder.
BROOKLYN, N.Y., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, The Habitat NYC Community Fund (Community Fund), a subsidiary of Habitat for Humanity New York City (Habitat NYC), announced the successful preservation of 2178 Atlantic Avenue HDFC (the HDFC)  home to 16 Brooklyn families. The Community Fund, a federally certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), announced today the closure of a Fresh Start loan that provided the critical financing necessary to save the building from foreclosure and bankruptcy.

The exterior of 2178 Atlantic Avenue.

"Through our expanded work in housing preservation, we have been able to play an integral role in supporting this community's fight to save itself," said Chris Illum, Executive Director of the Habitat NYC Community Fund. "For the multiple generations who call 2178 home, the multifaceted support of technical assistance, debt financing, and pro-bono legal has helped provide a stable foundation for the future of 2178 Atlantic Ave HDFC."

In partnership with the residents, Brooklyn Law School, and Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP, which represented the HDFC on a pro bono basis in its bankruptcy case, the Community Fund provided $893,000 in financing for 2178 Atlantic Avenue, a 16-unit not-for-profit membership co-op in Brownsville, Brooklyn. The predatory actions by a land speculator and some previous failures at multiple government agencies put the building at grave risk of loss to the market, making the units unaffordable for the 16 multi-generational families who call the building home.

"Habitat for Humanity New York City's commitment to 2178 Atlantic Ave HDFC was simply life changing! After months of facing multiple obstacles and challenges, we were literally weeks away from losing our property," said Earline King, President of the 2178 Atlantic HDFC. "Habitat NYC stepped in and provided the financing which allowed us to keep our home. Three generations of families are forever grateful."

The HDFC incorporated in 1980 with the support of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as well as NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) as a Homesteader building. The City of New York granted the building a 20-year tax abatement at the completion of the renovation and co-op conversion.

The co-op was financially stable during the years of their tax abatement; they paid off the entirety of their rehabilitation loan with the City and approximately 90% of their HUD loan. However, after the abatement expired, HUD sold the remaining principle balance in their publicly financed note to a private debt holder. The building's taxes were incorrectly levied as market-rate and they struggled to keep up. The situation became untenable and the building was destabilized.

For ten years, the HDFC fought to secure tax relief and finally obtained a City Council resolution permitting the HDFC to obtain full and partial real property tax exemptions on the property, running for an aggregate term of 40 years and retroactive to 2005. However, by the time the building secured the tax relief, the private note holder had begun to increasing the negative escrow debt to well above the original note value. The City was unable to release the back taxes they owed the building, which could have satisfied the inflated claims, until the foreclosure action was resolved. The building, and the families who lived there, were caught in an impossible situation.

Council Member Alicka Amprey-Samuel said, "Today I congratulate the families of 2178 Atlantic Avenue and Habitat for Humanity for staying motivated and seeing this much deserved victory. This is a testament of staying the course, not giving up and staying mission driven. Real estate has become so profitable that many people have lost focus on housing as a basic right and see it as a commodity. Preserving and creating opportunities for affordable homeownership for our community members is a priority and I am proud to have partners that are working with and for families."

Despite securing the tax exemption and rebate for improperly collected back-taxes, the residents still needed to cover the required payoff amount to avoid foreclosure. Through a six-month Bridge Loan from the Community Fund, the co-operative is able to pay off the outstanding debts and access approximately $500,000 in tax refunds to pay down the new financing quickly. Habitat NYC's Housing Preservation Program provided technical assistance (TA) for the co-op so the HDFC could access the necessary financing of $893,000 and return the building to its resident owners.

The partners involved in this project propose to preserve the building in perpetuity with the Interboro Community Land Trust, New York City's first citywide CLT. Interboro intends to support the co-op in keeping it affordable for many generations of low to moderate income New Yorkers.

"The financing and support from the Community Fund and Habitat for Humanity New York City was the critical piece to the puzzle that allowed these residents to successfully win the long fight for their homes," said Debbie Bechtel, a Professor at Brooklyn Law School and director of its Corporate and Real Estate Clinic which has represented the building for seven years. "Without their support there is strong reason to believe the residents would have lost their building."

"I am overjoyed that the shareholders at 2178 HDFC have been able to save their building. I thank Habitat for their leadership in seeing this project through and securing the funding to get this HDFC out of the hands of a speculative developer. And I thank my colleagues and the young lawyers at Brooklyn Law School who provided assistance every step of the way," said State Senator Velmanette Montgomery. "It is important that we do not forget what happened here. A predatory entity was able to make a huge profit by buying their mortgage at a discount and running the debt up for years. We need to have a real discussion about how to prevent this kind of behavior in the future and support efforts to create and maintain all forms of affordable homeownership."

"I applaud the tenacity of the 2178 Atlantic residents. From the first meeting that I had with residents of 2178 Avenue HDFC, I knew that this situation was one that we collectively could resolve. The saving of 2178, should serve as a notice to real estate predators that we will fight for our community, and to residents to not give up hope and seek help as soon as possible. Housing should not be an option but a human right, as Former President Jimmy Carter has said. I want to thank Habitat for Humanity for stepping in and assisting with the saving of this 16-unit familial building. Their assistance has been imperative in this fight. I will continue to advocate and support any and all efforts through education, helping obtain financial resources, and speaking up as often as is needed so that our future generations can live and work in Brooklyn and call their houses homes. I also will continue to support any and all efforts to help stabilize our community and offer fair, affordable and adequate housing to the residents of Brownsville, Brooklyn. It is a right, not an option," Assembly Member Walker said.

"We are very pleased with the outcome of this matter and grateful for the opportunity to advocate on behalf of the HDFC in it chapter 11 case," said Douglas H. Mannal, a partner at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP. "The successful reorganization of the HDFC would not have been possible without the tenacity of the HDFC's tenants, community support for the HDFC, and the financing made available through the Community Fund," said Joseph A. Shifer, a special counsel at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP and the HDFC's lead trial attorney.

"The resilience of the residents at 2178 Atlantic Avenue to fight to preserve their housing in the face of predatory land practices is extraordinary," said Greg Maher, the Leviticus Fund's Executive Director. "We welcome the opportunity to partner with The Habitat NYC Community Fund to provide our type of highly flexible capital that will maintain their housing as affordable for generations to come."

"These tenacious homeowners have faced so many hurdles in their fight to hold onto their homes. I am so proud that Habitat for Humanity New York City was able to support them in winning this decades-long struggle," said Karen Haycox, CEO of Habitat for Humanity New York City and President of the Community Fund. "Across the five boroughs there are so many multi-family developments that lack access to the capital and technical assistance necessary to stabilize their buildings physically and fiscally. Through our Community Fund, Habitat NYC is leveraging our brand, bandwidth and our balance sheet in order to provide these buildings with the resources that they need, helping to improve communities and maintain stable, resilient and safe homes for hardworking, low-income families."

Habitat for Humanity New York City launched the Community Fund in 2018 to develop or preserve more than 1,500 units of affordable housing through $4.5 million in loans within the next five years. The Community Fund promotes community development and homeownership and expands the availability of affordable housing by providing financing and technical assistance and other educational and development services. The Community Fund achieves this largely by providing homeowners, co-operatives or similar entities with the capital necessary to escape arrears or make capital improvements. The Community Fund can also provide critical assistance to not-for-profit developers who build and preserve affordable housing in communities outside the five boroughs, opening up the opportunity for greater impact in the development and preservation of affordable housing across the State of New York.

CDFIs are certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. Certified CDFIs must have a primary mission of promoting community development in distressed communities; provide financial products and services; and maintain accountability to the communities they serve. The Habitat NYC Community Fund will provide low- to moderate-income (LMI) New York homeowners in income-restricted cooperative developments with financial lending and technical assistance designed to strengthen their ability to remain in their homes.

About The Habitat NYC Community Fund

The Habitat NYC Community Fund is the critical component of Habitat for Humanity New York City's Preservation Program, which provides access to affordable, small-scale financing. The Community Fund extends credit to communities that traditionally have limited access to capital, including resident-owned affordable housing developments or non-profit organizations that create and preserve affordable housing. The Community Fund is a market-based and sustainable approach to supporting, preserving and creating affordable housing, with a goal to support the development or preservation of more than 1,500 units of long-term LMI affordable housing within its first five years.

About Habitat for Humanity New York City

Habitat for Humanity New York City transforms lives and communities by building and preserving affordable homes with hardworking familiesand by uniting all New Yorkers around the cause of affordable housing and homeownership. With the help of thousands of volunteers each year, Habitat NYC builds and repairs homes for families across the five boroughs. Learn more at www.HabitatNYC.org and connect with us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @HabitatNYC.

Media Contact:

Matthew Dunbar

[email protected]

646-779-8878

SOURCE Habitat for Humanity New York City

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Vedanta Resources Ltd on August 20 said it has raised $1.4 billion (around Rs 10,500 crore) via bonds, which would be primarily used to fund the delisting of its Indian flagship firm. "Vedanta Resources Ltd (VRL) hereby announces the successful pricing of senior secured bonds. The issue size was $1.4 billion, comprising three-year amortising bonds, with an annual coupon rate of 13 percent," the company said.

Funds from the bond issuance will primarily be used to support the intended offer to buy out the equity shares of Vedanta Ltd (VDL) that are held by public shareholders, the statement said.

The bond issuance follows the commitments for $1.75 billion that VRL had received earlier for a three-month term loan facility, taking the total amount of debt to $3.15 billion across global debt markets.

Billionaire Anil Agarwal-controlled Vedanta Ltd has already received shareholders' nod for delisting the company.

The issuance size was increased to $1.4 billion from initial indication of $1 billion in order to provide VRL with additional flexibility to also redeem a portion of its $670 million outstanding 2021 bonds, it said.

"Upon completion of all payment obligations as required under the delisting regulations, any balance funds available shall be used to fund either (a) a potential tender offer of the 2021 bonds at par or (b) a repayment of the 2021 bonds at maturity," the statement said.

"This completes VRL's planned fund-raising programme in preparation for the proposed delisting of its subsidiary VDL, as we believe this is the maximum incremental leverage we can consider in our capital structure," it said.

The proceeds of the bonds will be deposited into an offshore escrow account pending a successful conclusion of the bidding process under the delisting regulations, resulting in delisting of VDL's shares and will be used to redeem the bonds in the event that the delisting is unsuccessful by a certain long-stop date, the company said.

The bank debt package will also be unwound in the event of an unsuccessful delisting, it added.

The proposed financing package will support a fair offer to shareholders while balancing the needs of VRL's debt providers and other stakeholders.

VRL will at the appropriate times take the necessary steps to proceed with the delisting offer as required under the delisting regulations, it said.

"The bonds are being offered and sold in a private offering to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A of the US Securities Act and non-US persons outside the United States under Regulation S under the US Securities Act," the statement said.

"Approval in-principle has been received from the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (the 'SGX-ST') for the listing of and quotation of the bonds on the SGX-ST," the statement said.

Admission for the listing and quotation of the bonds on the SGX-ST is not to be taken as an indication of the merits of the offering, Vedanta or the bonds, the company said.
Israels spy Chief Yossi Cohen paid a visit to the UAE, the first such a trip by an Israeli top official as both countries normalize ties.

The Mossad Chief was received in Abu Dhabi by Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAEs national security adviser, Emirati state-run news agency WAM reports.

Cohen according to Tahnoun had contributed to the success of the recent peace accord agreed between the UAE and Israel.

Both countries last week signed a peace deal brokered by the US. The deal is the first by a Gulf country and the third by an Arab country after Egypt and Jordan.

Israel, as part of the accord, will scrap the annexation plan of the West Bank, in Palestine.

Tahnoun also noted that the UAE is committed to the principles of peace and tolerance as well as promoting diplomacy that will contribute to the enhancement of stability in the region.

The UAE will spare no efforts in delivering that goal, he added.
ALBANY - Albany County residents who wanted to vote early in October will be able to do so at any of the early voting sites throughout the county after Vote Early NY said the Board of Elections plan violated state election law.

The state began using early voting last year. Albany County Board of Elections plan allowed to voters to cast ballots at the boards building on South Pearl Street in the city or at their assigned early voting location - rather than any one of the six designated early voting sites in the county.

Jarret Berg, founder of Vote Early NY, a non-partisan voters rights group, pointed out that the county had successfully run an early voting session last year so there was no reason for them not to be in compliance with state law.

The board changed its plans to comply with the state election law a week after receiving the letter.

Republican Commissioner Rachel Bledi said the board purposefully set it up that way for last fall's election because it was dealing with a new system. Additionally, the board had concerns about how the system worked to mark off affidavits so it limited voters to one district to make it easier in case problems arose and inspectors had to manually locate them.

"We did this because we had a new system that from my perspective, was untested," she said. "Those kinks were worked out to my satisfaction."

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Berg said that the board of elections has adopted electronic poll books. That method means that the countys voting system can reconcile immediately when a voter has voted, preventing them from trying to vote at another site.

Berg noted that given the on-going coronavirus pandemic and concerns about voting in-person on Election Day, many voters are considering mailing in their ballots or voting early. Early voting allows voters to avoid long waits on Election Day and can reduce stresses on voting site volunteers.

We think itll be a popular option for voters this fall, he said

Early voting for the November election begins on Oct. 24 and runs through Nov. 1. The six early voting sites throughout the county are at the County Board of Elections and Pine Grove Methodist Church in Albany, the Berne Volunteer Fire Department, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Boght Community Fire Department in Cohoes and the Guilderland Fire Department.
Iran has displayed what it described as two new ballistic and cruise missiles, in defiance to U.S. calls that Tehran halt its missile program.



The surface-to-surface ballistic missile has a range of 1,400 kilometers while the cruise missile has a range of more than 1,000 kilometers, Defense Minister Amir Hatami said in a televised speech on August 20.



President Hassan Rohani said on state television that Irans "military might and missile programs are defensive" and "do not present a danger to other countries."



Pictures of the two missiles -- named after Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis -- were shown on state TV.



Soleimani, a major general who led Iran's elite Quds Force, and Muhandis, an Iraqi militia commander, were killed in a U.S. strike in Baghdad airport in January, resulting in a dramatic escalation in tensions between the United States and Iran.



Iranian officials routinely unveil what they describe as technological achievements for the country's armed forces.



The countrys latest announcement comes as U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to formally notify the UN Security Council later in the day that the United States intends to begin the process of restoring UN sanctions on Iran.

The move comes after the Security Council rejected Washington's bid to extend an arms embargo on Iran that is due to expire in October under the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers.



The United States withdrew from the agreement in 2018 and reimposed crippling sanctions on Iran.



Washington says it wants Iran to agree to a new pact that would put stricter limits on its nuclear work and curb its missile program.



Iranian officials have rejected talks as long as U.S. sanctions remain in place.

With reporting by Reuters, dpa, and AP
President Donald J. Trump speaks at his campaign rally in Old Forge, Pa., on Aug. 20, 2020. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Trump Asks Supreme Court to Let Him Block Users on Twitter

President Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court to overturn a courts finding that his blocking of critics on the popular microblogging website Twitter violates the First Amendment.

The feed for the @RealDonaldTrump account, which has 85.4 million followers, is constantly filled with replies from users who taunt and insult the president, often using expletives, and Trump has locked horns with Twitter management plenty of times.

Trump has criticized Twitter for censoring his tweets, as well as for attaching disclaimers and fact-checking his tweets, and has asserted that social media outlets, including Twitter, should be more accountable to the public.

The petition for certiorari in the case cited as Trump v. Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University was filed Aug. 20. The other side must file a response by Sept. 21.

According to its website, the respondent Knight First Amendment Institute, which filed suit on behalf of seven Twitter users, was established in 2016 by Columbia University and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to safeguard free expression in the shifting landscape of the digital age.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit ruled unanimously last year that Trumps use of a Twitter account created an official channel of communication. Because the president established a public forum of sorts, he isnt allowed to restrict access to it based on a users political views, the panel reasoned.

Acting Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall said in the Supreme Court petition that the appeals court erred by not making a distinction between the presidents official communications on Twitter and the personal nature of his decision to prevent certain users from interacting with him.

President Trumps ability to use the features of his personal Twitter account  are independent of his presidential office, Wall wrote. Blocking third-party accounts  is a purely personal action that does not involve any right or privilege created by the State, a reference to previous precedent.

The presidents blocking of the individual respondents accounts from his personal Twitter account cannot amount to state action that would implicate the First Amendment, Wall wrote.

Although President Trump is currently a public official, the @realDonaldTrump account belongs to him in his personal capacity, not his official one. He created and began frequent use of that account in 2009, well before taking public office. In contrast to the @WhiteHouse and @POTUS accounts, over which he may exercise control only by virtue of his office, he will continue to have control over the @realDonaldTrump account after his term of office has completed.

The @WhiteHouse account has 24.4 million followers; @POTUS, a username containing an acronym for President of the United States, has 31.1 million followers.

Trumps blocking of users doesnt infringe on their free speech rights because they may still access his tweets when not logged into Twitter, and post screenshots of the messages, Wall argued.

Jameel Jaffer, the Knight Institutes executive director, urged the court to leave the appeals court ruling intact, saying in a statement that government officials cant exclude people from public forums simply because they disagree with their political views.
The release of a cache of emails from the Democratic National Committee by WikiLeaks last month has raised a great many questions  about the role of the D.N.C. in trying to influence the primary and about the alleged interference of Russian intelligence in an American election.

It also raised long-debated questions about WikiLeaks itself, about how an organization dedicated to radical transparency continues to bring secretive worlds to light. And the episode reveals some of the weaknesses of WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange, like their recklessness with personal data and their use of information to settle scores and drive personal agendas.

Ive had my own run-ins with Mr. Assange. During the making of my 2013 film, We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks, I spent an agonizing six hours with him, when he was living in an English country house while out on bail. I was struck by how insistently he steered the conversation away from matters of principle to personal slights against him, and his plans for payback. He demanded personal intel on others I had interviewed, and dismissed questions about the organization by saying, I am WikiLeaks repeatedly. (Later, Mr. Assange and his followers attacked both me and my film.)

Even given that history, I believe that WikiLeaks was fully justified in publishing the D.N.C. emails, which provided proof that members of the D.N.C., in a hotly contested primary, discussed how to undermine the campaign of Bernie Sanders. They are clearly in the public interest.
LEHI, Utah, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nuvi, the leading enterprise Social Customer Experience (CX) platform, announces the release of emotion analytics (EA) software, a new addition to their proprietary language engine.

Nuvi adds emotional analysis to social customer experience platform See how emotion analysis adds deeper insights to sentiment analysis for greater audience understanding

While consulting with various high-profile brands, Nuvi realized a need for the marriage of emotion and sentiment analysis as organizations seek for increasingly granular audience data that retains a high degree of relevance. To meet this need, millions of social and online mentions were manually annotated to engineer machine-learning models which yielded high levels of accurate emotional analysis.

"In the world of social media analytics, we often think of sentiment as a key data point for understanding content en masse," Jake Jenne, VP of Product at Nuvi, expounded on why Nuvi went to such great lengths to include emotion analytics in its software. "Emotion analysis is a finer-grained form of sentiment analysis that helps brands better connect with and understand their customers."

Nuvi's emotion analytics are founded on Rober Plutchik's wheel of emotion, simply termed the Plutchik Model. Plutchik's psychoevolutionary classification for general emotional responses considers eight emotions as primary due to their intrinsic involvement in triggering behavior. These emotions are anger, fear, sadness, disgust, surprise, anticipation, trust, and joy.

Following Plutchik's logic, Nuvi's emotion analytics expresses the emotional significance in written communication with the intent of analyzing each author's emotional probability toward an action the indicated emotion might cause. Emotions analysis combined with Nuvi's unique approach to data visualization further enhances the granularity at which brands can analyze customer behavior and trends.

Dan Emodi, a technology-marketing veteran, explained the power of emotion analysis:

"Understanding emotion applies to almost everything we do, from working out to understanding brands to providing service and call centers to interacting with our loved ones."

Already industry-leading in sentiment analysis, the new emotion analytic software enhances Nuvi's highly-accurate NLP engine with in-depth insights into an audience's emotional disposition.



About Nuvi

Nuvi is a customer experience management and social analytics software platform built on an industry-leading language engine. Nuvi helps you listen, plan, publish, engage, analyze, locate, review, and capture your way to better customer experiences.

For more information, see Nuvi in action .



Contact:

Brian Collier

801-830-5620

[email protected]

SOURCE Nuvi
Minnesota Couple Charged With Fatally Neglecting Emaciated 8-Year-Old Daughter

A Minnesota couple was charged with murder in connection to the death of their 8-year-old daughter, who was emaciated before her death.

Murder and manslaughter charges were filed against Brett Hallow, 30, and Sarah Hallow, 28, of Elk River, for their alleged role in the girls death, according to online court records.

A complaint from police stated that officials were sent to the home last week after being told that the girl, identified as Autumn Hallow, was partially submerged in a bathtub, as reported by Twincities.com.

Based on the condition of (Autumns) body, law enforcement believed (she) had been deceased for some time, according to the complaint. Officials said they saw Sarah Hallow giving the girl chest compressions when they arrived.

Another child detailed to officials that the girl was placed in a sleeping bag and was tied up with a belt. Authorities found that the child only weighed 45 pounds at the time of her death.

Officers also found other signs of child abuse in the home, according to People magazine, citing charging documents. An autopsy found that she died from being asphyxiated, saying she had head injuries as well.

Sarah Hallow, described as the girls stepmother in reports, denied the allegations, saying that the girl had been losing weight. However, officials said she didnt take the child to a doctor.

Autumns biological mother, Kelsey Kruse, told police she has not seen the girl since January. Kruse also said the Hallows denied her requests to see the child, citing fears over the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic, People reported, citing documents.
Opponents to the amendment say the economic devastation wrought by the pandemic makes it the wrong time to move ahead on a major tax change. The state budget shortfall raises the potential that graduated rates would be raised, or income brackets lowered, to collect more money through a graduated rate tax. According to Jason Heffley, executive director of Ideas Illinois, which opposes the change. Taxes are already too high in Illinois and now is the worst time to push a massive tax hike when small businesses and working families are hurting.
But its unclear whether Navalny will be released because of possible complications in paperwork to transfer out of the country. When Navalnys wife arrived to visit him, she was initially denied because she didnt have a marriage license with her to prove their relationship, Yarmysh said. She was later permitted to see him.
When Keisha Torres, 26, picked out a new outfit at a small, non-descript boutique last summer, she had no idea the change of clothes would change her life. Torres is a single mother who was living in poverty with her five-year-old autistic daughter.

Torres was at least three months behind on her rent, borrowing money from family and friends, and was on public assistance. There was barely enough cash to pay for food. A new dress was out of the question. Thats when she was introduced to Dress for Success.

I had nowhere to turn. Dress for Success made me feel good on the inside and outside. It brought my confidence up, she says.

Dress for Success offers women stylish, professional clothing, shoes, and accessories for free at its Eastfield Mall boutique. The organization also helps job seekers create resumes, write cover letters, look for work, and makes sure they are well-suited for interviews.

Being a single mom, I couldnt really work so I let myself go. Dress for Success made me feel I could ace any interview, says Torres.

Dress for Success serves the four counties of Western Massachusetts and is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The Springfield chapter is part of the national Dress for Success organization. The local group has served nearly 1,000 women in the last two years.

This is about the future of these women and their families. If were doing it well then were breaking the cycle of poverty, says Margaret Tantillo, executive director of Dress for Success in Western Massachusetts.

Tantillo says sixty percent of women Dress for Success serves locally are single mothers while eighty percent are on public assistance. The organization has more than 100 volunteers and mentors who help the women with everything from parenting and financial literacy to role-playing for interviews.

Women supporting women is powerful. It gives them the space to talk about things that are unique to women. When our clients meet with successful women, they know they can strive to be in that position, says Tantillo.

The Dress for Success boutique closed in March due to COVID-19 but reopened earlier this month under strict state guidelines. The organizations other programs have gone online. Job openings may still be scarce, but the number of women interested in dressing up their resumes and appearance is not.

Were making sure when the job opportunities arise, these women have the skills they need to enter the workforce, says Tantillo.

Meanwhile, Torres did ace her interview with Baystate Health and is now a finance and registration representative there.

I have infinite pride to say I work at Baystate and I dont have to ask anyone for anything. Nothing. Im relieved I dont have any back rent or unpaid bills, she says.

Dress for Success does not receive government funding, relying only on private and corporate donations. For more information on the organization, visit westernmass.dressforsuccess.org or call 413-732-8179.
With Ghanaian artistes bubbling new genres of music in recent times, rising music sensation Papa Sings has entered the fray with his new version of Afrolife music.



According to Pappi Sing his version of Afrolife music is a fusion of Highlife and Afro-pop music with synthesized musical instrument.



"My dream is to ignite interest in Ghanaian Afrolife music to attract global interest.



"My style of Afrolife contain metaphors about Ghanaian love setting both in the past and present drawing inspiration from the likes Gyedu Blay Ambolley, Papa Yankson, Pat Thomas, among others," he told Ghana News Agency.



Papa Sings has set sights on becoming one of Ghanas biggest music export having proving himself with his versatility and uniqueness.



Currently promoting his love anthem "Fama Omo" single featuring Kelvyboy, the budding act has been lauded for his lyrical vibe on the new song.



Pappi Sing promises more fun packed projects and this new single with Kelvynboy is just a snippet of the many entertaining packages he has for Ghana and the world.



Here is the music video of his new single: https://youtu.be/dD21oMLqlTc





Source: GNA









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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Starbucks announced two new vibrant green drinks to help customers make the most of the end of summer.

The Kiwi Starfruit Starbucks Refreshers Beverage and the Star Drink are both now available at Starbucks stores across the United States.

After a successful launch in Canada earlier this summer, the two drinks will be joining the permanent menu, according to a Starbucks news release.

The new Kiwi Starfruit Starbucks Refreshers Beverage is described as a tropical combination of starfruit-flavored juice and real kiwi pieces, hand-shaken with ice.

The drink joins the Starbucks Refreshers platform, alongside customer-favorites Strawberry Acai Starbucks Refreshers, Very Berry Hibiscus Starbucks Refreshers, and Mango Dragonfruit Starbucks Refreshers.

The Star Drink adds coconut milk to the Kiwi Starfruit Starbucks Refreshers Beverage for a creamy and refreshing sip thats under 200 calories in a Grande (16 fl. oz. beverage). It joins the other creamy customer favorites like the Pink Drink, Violet Drink and Dragon Drink.

Starbucks is also selling its summer-themed colorful cold cups and tumblers. Through Monday, Aug. 24, customers can enjoy 30% off their purchase of summer-inspired drinkware and merchandise.

In the spring, Starbucks launched three new iced beverages, including: the Iced Golden Ginger Drink; Iced Pineapple Matcha Drink; Nitro Cold Brew with Salted Honey Cold Foam.

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Estate agent Countrywide is under attack from one of its largest shareholders who has accused bosses of mismanaging the company and losing the trust of investors.

Catalist Partners, an investment firm co-founded by entrepreneur Robin Paterson, has written to executive chairman Peter Long calling for a shake-up of the top team and a break-up of the company.

Paterson said that Countrywide, which owns 61 estate agent brands including Hamptons International and Bairstow Eves, had fallen short of its competitors.

Catalist Partners, an investment firm co-founded by entrepreneur Robin Paterson, has written to Countrywide executive chairman Peter Long calling for a shake-up of the top team

He said: 'Fresh investor capital has evaporated and, with it, the trust of shareholders. Staff morale may justifiably be at an all-time low. The leadership needs to be urgently addressed, not least to be able to attract the best talent.'

Paterson said Countrywide, which also owns a surveying business, a commercial property consultancy and a mortgage and insurance brokerage unit, had to focus on estate agency.

It is the UK's largest estate agent, but Paterson wants the company to consolidate its brands under a few key names and to cut back its 731 branches.

Long, 68, stepped in as executive chairman when chief executive Alison Platt resigned in 2018 but since he took the helm, shares are down 95 per cent.

It is now worth 44million, considerably less than in 2007, when it was sold in a 1billion deal.

Catalist says that it is keen to speed up the search to find a new leader.

Paterson said: 'Personality is integral to this industry, and because of this we believe the right CEO must come from within the industry There are excellent candidates available.'

Countrywide said yesterday: 'We are in regular and constructive dialogue with our main shareholders and will be updating the market in due course when we publish our half-year results.'
Lyft and Uber have avoided a shutdown in California after an emergency court ruling which allows them to continue treating drivers as independent contractors.

Both companies had threatened to shut down at midnight over a ruling forcing them to reclassify their drivers as employees - but a state appeals court granted an emergency stay on Thursday.

The news was met with relief by ride-share users who say they rely on Lyft and Uber for work and doctor's appointments and are reluctant to use public transportation during the pandemic.

Now Uber and Lyft have until 5pm PST on August 25 to file written statements agreeing to expedited procedures to reclassify drivers as employees.

The two companies are also backing a ballot measure in November that would preserve the contractor status which Uber and Lyft say is favored by the vast majority of drivers.

People wait for their ride-shares to arrive at San Diego Airport on Thursday, hours before a court ruling which averted a shutdown for Lyft and Uber in California

Lyft and Uber will be allowed to continue treating drivers as independent contractors in California amid their appeal in court, it was announced Thursday afternoon

Hours after Lyft announced it would suspend rideshare operations in California starting at 11.59pm Thursday, a state appeals court granted an emergency stay for Uber and Lyft

Rideshare driver Jesus Jacobo Zepeda of Lancaster, California pictured participating in a rally demanding Uber and Lyft give drivers 'basic employee rights' in Los Angeles on Thursday

Rideshare driver Horacio Zelaya of Los Angeles takes part in a rally in Los Angeles on Thursday demanding Uber and Lyft deem drivers employees so they can be eligible for sick days and other benefits

Lyft shared an updated statement hours after announcing it would halt operations saying, 'Rideshare is ON.'

'The California court has granted our request for a further stay, so our rideshare operations can continue uninterrupted, for now. Thanks to the tens of thousands of drivers, riders, and public officials who urged California to keep rideshare available for so many people who depend on it,' the statement said.

One Los Angeles resident, Paola Herrera, was among those who welcomed the news last night.

'I relay so much on Lyft and Uber for my doctors appointments so I feel relieved. Thank God! Immunocompromised girl over here.,' she said.

A customer called Kaleb said: 'I rely on them to get around for my job and the idea of them shutting down genuinely scared me.'

Another California resident said she had had to sell her car last year and was unwilling to use public transportation during the current health crisis.

'I've used Lyft a lot and I hope something can be worked out,' she said.

Several workers had voiced fears that they or their relatives would lose their jobs if they could not rely on Uber and Lyft to get to work.

One resident said the shutdown would have led to 'skyrocketing prices for non public transport'.

'My boyfriend would have to quit his job because the bus takes hours to get to his job. Im losing my patience with this state and this country,' they said.

Others had voiced fears of what would happen at California airports including Los Angeles International, one of America's busiest airports.

'LAX is completely designed around Uber and Lyft picking up travelers and taking them home,' one investor warned.

San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer said the shutdown would have caused 'financial calamity for hundreds of thousands of Californians'.

Matt Haney, a Democratic member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, accused Uber and Lyft of 'blackmailing' California voters with the threat of a stoppage.

Both firms are funding the campaign in favor of California's Proposition 22 which would keep drivers classified as contractors but provide benefits such as health care.

Earlier on Thursday Lyft said it was forced to suspend operations, and its stock tumbled by as much as nine percent before recovering.

Uber and Lyfts stocks were both up about six percent following the appeal court's order.

'We are glad that the Court of Appeals recognized the important questions raised in this case, and that access to these critical services wont be cut off while we continue to advocate for drivers ability to work with the freedom they want,' Uber said in a statement after the stay.

Osman Khaliqi, a yellow cab driver, waits next in line for a fare at San Diego Airport - where he says he often waits up to three hours before getting a passenger

Lyft shared an initial statement announcing the suspension of rideshare operations saying, 'This is not something we wanted to do' on Thursday

Uber and Lyfts stocks were both up about six percent following the order

In their initial release Lyft said: 'We dont want to suspend operations. We are going to keep up the fight for a benefits model that works for all drivers and our riders,' Lyft said in a statement published on its blog.

'Weve spent hundreds of hours meeting with policymakers and labor leaders to craft an alternative proposal for drivers that includes a minimum earnings guarantee, mileage reimbursement, a health care subsidy, and occupational accident insurance, without the negative consequences,' the statement added.

Uber didn't announce any suspension of operations before the stay was granted.

As of October 1, Lyft had about 305,000 drivers in California who completed trips within the past year, but today's number is likely lower due to the pandemic, as per CNBC.

Uber said in a recent blog post it had about 209,000 active drivers in California per quarter.

Last week Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a MSNBC interview the companys ride-hailing services in California will halt 'at least temporarily' if the order was not changed.

Last week Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a MSNBC interview the companys ride-hailing services in California will halt 'at least temporarily' if the order was not changed

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi tells @SRuhle the ride-hailing app would have to shut down in the state of California until at least November if a judge's ruling that Uber must treat drivers as employees instead of independent contractors fails to be appealed by the company. pic.twitter.com/ntAMMxf4Cf  MSNBC (@MSNBC) August 12, 2020

California sued Lyft and Uber in May alleging the ride-share companies were violating the law that requires companies to treat workers as employees rather than independent contractors.

The issues of benefits was exacerbated with the COVID-19 pandemic as employees would be eligible for sick days and other benefits, but contractors are not.

Uber and Lyft, which are both based in San Francisco, argued their technology connects riders and drivers and they're not transportation companies, meaning drivers aren't part of their usual course of business which would deem them employees.

Last week San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ethan Schulman sided with California and gave the companies until Friday to reclassify their drivers as employees.

But the companies said they can't meet that deadline in time.

Critics say the companies had nearly a year to address the mandates in the states landmark law Assembly Bill 5 (AB5).

Air travelers arriving from New York in personal protective equipment (PPE) walk on their way to board a Lyft vehicle at Los Angeles International Airport on Thursday

Travelers arriving at Los Angeles International Airport look for ground transportation during a statewide day of action to demand that both ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft follow California law and grant drivers 'basic employee rights' on Thursday

AB5 establishes a three-prong test requiring employers to prove contract workers are independent, meaning the laborers must be free from an organizations control or performing work outside the companys core business, which Uber and Lyft failed.

Lyft said it has advocated for a path to offer benefits including a minimum earnings guarantee and a healthcare subsidy for drivers under the status as independent contractors.

Lyft claims that California is pushing an employment model 'that four out of five drivers dont support'.

That model, Lyft says, would reduce service to passengers in suburban and rural areas, result in 80 percent of drivers losing work, capped hourly earnings, and lower-income riders en route to essential jobs and medical appointments would be faced with unaffordable prices.

The ride sharing service says people can vote on a ballot measure in November called Prop 22 supporting their model.
Ten central trade unions on Thursday urged Prime Minister to withdraw draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) 2020 notification, saying it is contrary to India's commitment to international climate change treaty and against national interest.

In a letter shot off to the Prime Minister on Thursday, the unions said, "We submit our concerns, strongly urging you to withdraw this proposal in the interest of our people and environmental protection."



They stated in the letter, "We, the joint platform of central trade union organisations, would like to express our opposition to the proposed draft rules EIA 2020, which are in contravention to India's commitment to International Climate Change Treaty as well as to our own national interest in protecting our environmentally sensitive zones."



The EIA 2020 is a gross departure from EIA 2006 and appears to be for facilitating private commercial mining of coal and other minerals and the land-use management sought to be restructured and overhauled through various so-called reform measures being taken by the government in concerned fields, they explained in the letter.

"Your goodself is aware that the environmental degradation and ecological disturbances are causing natural calamities of various kinds including the health emergencies," it said.

The greed of corporates for limitless exploitation of nature and natural resources without necessary precautions and protection of nature is leading humanity to continuously face the backlash, the letter said. "It is neither good economics nor is it sustainable development."



India should remain committed to world sustainable development goals whereas the proposed draft rules are in contravention to them, they opined.

Moreover, they said the victims of this policy would be vulnerable sections of our society, especially the scheduled tribes.

The ten central trade unions are INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UTUC.

There are 12 central trade unions in the country including RSS affiliate Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS).

(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.)
A teacher at Yung Wing Elementary School moves desks and chairs in her classroom to socially distance desks for the 2020-21 school year in New York City, N.Y., on Aug. 17, 2020. (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

NYC Teachers Union Threatens to Strike Over School Reopening, Demands Mass Testing

New York Citys powerful teachers union threatened Wednesday to strike unless every student and teacher is tested for COVID-19 before returning to in-person learninga task that would make it impossible to reopen the citys public schools as planned.

The minute we feel the mayor is trying to force people into an unsafe school, we go, said Michael Mulgrew, president of United Federation of Teachers (UFT), which represents some 95,000 public school employees. Mulgrew issued an ultimatum at a press conference, laying out a series of demands each of New York Citys 1,700 public schools must meet in order to reopen this fall.

Besides things like personal protective equipment, social distancing, and strict entry and exit procedures, the UFTs biggest demand is that every single student, educator and staff member must go through a CCP virus antibody test and have a negative result 10 days before they return to their schools. Those tested positive for the virus will have to teach or learn remotely. The union estimates that 700,000 students are planning to attend in-person classes at least one to three days a week, while some 50,000 teachers are expected to resume teaching in school buildings.

Mulgrew acknowledged that a test at such an massive scale could delay Mayor Bill de Blasios planned Sept. 10 reopening by a month. If schools do reopen without delay, he claimed, It might be one of the biggest debacles in the history of the city.

If all the schools open on Sept. 10, and everything that we just laid out is not in place, the union is prepared to go to court or go on strike, if we need to, he said.

The citys public school system dismissed the UFTs warning, calling it fear mongering.

The UFT is fear mongering, Miranda Barbot, spokeswoman of New York City Public Schools, wrote on Twitter. When we see a full plan that is rooted in data and science, well review ituntil then, it seems like they just dont want to say the quiet part out loud: they dont want to open schools at all for students and families.

De Blasio, who has been closely working with the UFT over the past months but now faces mounting pressure from the union to delay the start of in-person learning, pointed out that public employees can be punished for striking under the state law.

Any union leader who talks about doing something illegal should really think twice about what hes saying, the Democratic mayor said Wednesday during a press conference. Weve been working in good faith with the unions for months. Were going to keep working with them regardless of what they say because we care more about kids and parents than these games.
Ciudad Juarez: Mexican officials and border town residents have criticised US President Donald Trump for threatening to levy a tax on cars crossing into the United States to fund his signature border wall.

The mayor of Ciudad Juarez, Armando Cabada, slammed Trump's proposed car tax as a political stunt aimed at garnering support ahead of the US election in November.

"It was an issue that gave him votes in the last election, and now he's using it again, in a desperate manner, to try to secure these same votes," said Cabada, whose city lies across from the Texas city of El Paso.

Trucks and cars wait to cross into the US in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. US President Donald Trump has floated the idea of taxing private vehicles to cross the border so Mexicans can fund his border wall. Credit:AP

About 73 million private vehicles crossed from Mexico into the US last year, according to data from the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics, an average of 200,000 cars every day.
Two-time Oscar-winning filmmaker Ben Affleck left his $19M Pacific Palisades home to visit his girlfriend Ana de Armas' Venice Beach neighborhood on Tuesday.

After months of dating and quarantining together, the father-of-three lent the Golden Globe nominee a hand with a number of her bags and belongings.

As he packed up his car with her massive black suitcase and accessories, the 32-year-old Knives Out star held onto her beloved white Maltese and an orange soda drink.

Helping hand: After months of dating and quarantining together, Ben Affleck lent the Golden Globe nominee a hand with a number of her bags and belongings

For his visit, the Cuban-born beauty donned a rainbow striped top, which she tucked into her denim bottoms to emphasis her trim waist.

She accessorized her look with a black tote bag and a broken heart pendant, which her beau has previously worn, as well.

While his friendship necklace was not showing, the 48-year-old actor proved he is a doting boyfriend by helping her move.

Doing all the work: As he packed up his car with a massive black suitcase and accessories, the 32-year-old Knives Out star held onto her beloved white Maltese and an orange soda drink

Lots of luggage: Ana de Armas did not pack lightly for her trip to Ben Affleck's home

Upon his arrival, the Ben could be seen sporting a black t-shirt with a lighting bolt down the center and a pair of light-wash jeans.

The Argo director kept his mouth and nose safely covered under a black face mask, while warding off California's rays under his signature aviator sunglasses.

In his left hand, Affleck could be seen toting an ice coffee from Dunkin Donuts.

Next step? While it is unclear if she's moving in or staying at his place for awhile, the Berkeley-born, Cambridge-raised star and de Armas, has already introduced to his children - Seraphina, 11; Violet, 14; and Samuel, 8

Happy: Ana is set to 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.

The Gone Girl star has a well-documented love of the coffee chain, which he famously revealed he enjoys 'everyday' in a 2019 interview with Collider.

While it is unclear if she's officially moving in to Affleck's place, the Berkeley-born, Cambridge-raised star and de Armas have only grown closer during the pandemic.

This includes introduced his children, Seraphina, 11; Violet, 14; and Samuel, 8, in May.

In love: Two-time Oscar-winning filmmaker Ben Affleck left his $19M Pacific Palisades home to visit his girlfriend Ana de Armas' Venice Beach neighborhood on Tuesday

Staying caffeinated: As he approached her driveway, the 48-year-old actor could be seen sporting a black t-shirt with a lighting bolt down the center and a pair of light-wash jeans

Cautious: The Argo director kept his mouth and nose safely covered under a black face mask, while warding of California's rays under his signature aviator sunglasses

By contrast, Ben was never pictured introducing his kids to his prior girlfriend - SNL producer Lindsay Shookus - during their on/off three-year romance, which ended last year.

Affleck legally ended his decade-long marriage to former Daredevil leading lady Jennifer Garner in October 2018.

Meanwhile, the actress has no children, but divorced her Spanish actor Marc Clotet in 2013 after three years of marriage.

Creature of habit: In his left hand, Affleck could be seen toting an ice coffee from Dunkin Donuts, where the star previously admits he goes 'everyday'

Ben and Ana fell in love while portraying a dysfunctional couple on the New Orleans set of erotic thriller Deep Water, which hits US theaters on November 13 and UK theaters on November 20.

The Last Thing He Wanted actor just signed on to write and direct an adaptation of Sam Wasson's new book about the making of Roman Polanski's 1974 noir Chinatown - The Big Goodbye - for Paramount, according to Deadline.

Back in May, Ben's friend Matt Damon was spotted visiting his home with a copy of the book, though it's not clear if he was returning a copy Ben gave him or suggesting the work to the Armageddon star.

Fate: Ben and Ana fell in love while portraying a dysfunctional couple on the New Orleans set of erotic thriller Deep Water, which hits US theaters on November 13

The two took their relationship public in March, when they were seen enjoying a vacation in Costa Rica and Ana's native Cuba.

Ana is set to 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 also 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.
BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - At 7.30 am ET Thursday, the European Central Bank is set to publish the account of the monetary policy meeting of the governing council held on July 15 and 16. Ahead of the release, the euro showed mixed trading against its major rivals. While the euro fell against the pound and the franc, it held steady against the greenback and the yen. The euro was worth 125.42 against the yen, 1.1840 against the greenback, 0.9017 against the pound and 1.0786 against the franc as of 7:25 am ET. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Turkey has discovered energy in the Black Sea, most likely natural gas, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said Wednesday, but gave no indication of the size and depth of the find, nor how difficult it will be to extract.



The two spoke after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised to deliver Turks "good news" on Friday that would usher in a new era for the nation. He has also vowed to pursue energy exploration in contested Mediterranean waters that has triggered rows with the European Union.



Energy Minister Fatih Donmez said last month that the drilling ship Fatih had started exploration in the so-called Tuna-1 zone, off the Turkish town of Eregli, Bloomberg reported.



Ankara resumed its search of the Mediterranean waters last week after German-mediated negotiations with Greece collapsed when Athens announced a maritime delimitation agreement with Egypt - in retaliation for a similar deal between Turkey and Libya. Erdogan said the European pressure wouldnt make him change direction.
You might just be seeing the BlackBerry logo stamped on a smartphone in a near you soon enough, thanks to a little-known mobile security company called Onward Mobility.

What is dead may never die - The famous adage from George R.R. Martins epic is quite apt for BlackBerry, a smartphone brand that keeps dying and being revived. After TCL announced they have parted ways with BlackBerry, it was assumed the brand will now finally retire from the hardware business, after being thwarted by the rise of Android and iOS. But it turns out theres still more left for the BlackBerry saga to unfold.

5G BlackBerry smartphone with QWERTY keyboard is in the works

You might just be seeing the BlackBerry logo stamped on a smartphone in a near you soon enough, thanks to a little-known mobile security company called Onward Mobility. And this time, BlackBerry will come back with 5G.

The licensee-manufacturer claims that the upcoming BlackBerry phone will be highly secure and will offer a suite of end-to-end security solutions. The brand will get the smartphone manufactured by Foxconn-subsidiary FIH Mobile, who will also be designing the smartphone. And if rumours are to be believed, there will be a hardware QWERTY keyboard, like the old BlackBerry smartphones.

Onward Mobility is a little known company in the smartphone hardware space, so we will have to wait and watch how this new saga in BlackBerrys timeline plays out. But whatever be it, its commendable for the Canadian company to continue staying relevant even after giving up on smartphone hardware a few years ago.
For next four years, over UAH 55 bln needed to restore cultural facilities  Tkachenko

Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine Oleksandr Tkachenko said that more than UAH 55 billion is needed for programs on the restoration and reconstruction of cultural facilities in the country over the next four years.

"More than UAH 55 billion is needed to implement programs for the next four years," Tkachenko said at a press conference in Kyiv on Thursday.

He said that we are talking not only about the restoration and reconstruction of these facilities, but also about the construction of new related structures, and the creation of Cultural Services Centers. In particular, the transformation of clubs and libraries into modern centers.

According to the minister, there are 130,000 immovable facilities in the sphere of the Culture Ministry, 80% of which require urgent restoration.

"Our idea of reconstruction and restoration is not just to preserve facilities, but to fill them with new meanings," Tkachenko said.
Most effort in origins of life research is focused on understanding the prebiotic formation of biological building blocks. However, it is possible early biological evolution relied on different chemical structures and processes, and these were replaced gradually over time by aeons of evolution. Recently, chemists Irena Mamajanov, Melina Caudan and Tony Jia at the Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) in Japan borrowed ideas from polymer science, drug delivery, and biomimicry to explore this possibility. Surprisingly, they found that even small highly branched polymers could serve as effective catalysts, and these may have helped life get started.

In modern biology, coded protein enzymes do most of the catalytic work in cells. These enzymes are made up of linear polymers of amino acids, which fold up and double-back on themselves to form fixed three-dimensional shapes. These preformed shapes allow them to interact very specifically with the chemicals whose reactions they catalyse. Catalysts help reactions occur much more quickly than they would otherwise, but don't get consumed in the reaction themselves, so a single catalyst molecule can help the same reaction happen many times. In these three-dimensional folded states, most of the structure of the catalyst doesn't directly interact with the chemicals it acts on, and just helps the enzyme structure keep its shape.

In the present work, ELSI researchers studied hyperbranched polymers - tree-like structures with a high degree and density of branching which are intrinsically globular without the need for informed folding - which is required for modern enzymes. Hyperbranched polymers, like enzymes, are capable of positioning catalysts and reagents, and modulating local chemistry in precise ways.

Most effort in origins of life research is focused on understanding the prebiotic formation of modern biological structures and building blocks. The logic is that these compounds exist now, and thus understanding how they could be made in the environment might help explain how they came to be. However, we only know of one example of life, and we know that life is constantly evolving, meaning that only the most successful variants of organisms survive. Thus it may be reasonable to assume modern organisms may not be very similar to the first organisms, and it is possible prebiotic chemistry and early biological evolution relied on different chemical structures and processes than modern biology to reproduce itself. As an analogy with technological evolution, early cathode-ray TV sets performed more or less the same function as modern high definition displays, but they are fundamentally different technologies. One technology led to the creation of the other in some ways, but it was not necessarily the logical and direct precursor of the other.

If this kind of 'scaffolding' model for biochemical evolution is true, the question becomes what sort of simpler structures, besides those used in contemporary biological systems, might have helped carry out the same sorts of catalytic functions modern life requires? Mamajanov and her team reasoned that hyperbranched polymers might be good candidates.

The team synthesised some of the hyperbranched polymers they studied from chemicals which could reasonably be expected to have been present on early Earth before life began. The team then showed that these polymers could bind small naturally occuring inorganic clusters of atoms known as zinc sulfide nanoparticles. Such nanoparticles are known to be unusually catalytic on their own.

As lead scientist Mamajanov comments, 'We tried two different types of hyperbranched polymer scaffolds in this study. To make them work, all we needed to do was to mix a zinc chloride solution and a solution of polymer, then add sodium sulfide, and "voila," we obtained a stable and effective nanoparticle-based catalyst.'

The team's next challenge was to demonstrate that these hyperbranched polymer-nanoparticle hybrids could actually do something interesting and catalytic. They found that these metal sulfide doped polymers that degrade small molecules were especially active in the presence of light, in some cases they catalysed the reaction by as much as a factor of 20. As Mamajanov says, 'So far we have only explored two possible scaffolds and only one dopant. Undoubtedly there are many, many more examples of this remaining to be discovered.'

The researchers further noted this chemistry may be relevant to an origins of life model known as the 'Zinc World'. According to this model, the first metabolism was driven by photochemical reactions catalysed by zinc sulfide minerals. They think that with some modifications, such hyperbranched scaffolds could be adjusted to study analogues of iron or molybdenum-containing protein enzymes, including important ones involved in modern biological nitrogen fixation. Mamajanov says, 'The other question this raises is, assuming life or pre-life used this kind of scaffolding process, why did life ultimately settle upon enzymes? Is there an advantage to using linear polymers over branched ones? How, when and why did this transition occur?'

###

Reference

Irena Mamajanov1*, Melina Caudan1, Tony Z. Jia1,2, Protoenzymes: The Case of Hyperbranched Polymer-Scaffolded ZnS Nanocrystals, Life, DOI: 10.3390/life10080150

1. Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology. 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan.

2. Blue Marble Institute for Science, 1001 4th Ave, Suite 3201, Seattle, WA 98154, USA.

*Corresponding authors email: irena.mamajanov@elsi.jp

More information

Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) stands at the forefront of research and higher education as the leading university for science and technology in Japan. Tokyo Tech researchers excel in fields ranging from materials science to biology, computer science, and physics. Founded in 1881, Tokyo Tech hosts over 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students per year, who develop into scientific leaders and some of the most sought-after engineers in industry. Embodying the Japanese philosophy of "monotsukuri," meaning "technical ingenuity and innovation," the Tokyo Tech community strives to contribute to society through high-impact research.

The Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) is one of Japan's ambitious World Premiere International research centers, whose aim is to achieve progress in broadly inter-disciplinary scientific areas by inspiring the world's greatest minds to come to Japan and collaborate on the most challenging scientific problems. ELSI's primary aim is to address the origin and co-evolution of the Earth and life.

The World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI) was launched in 2007 by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) to help build globally visible research centers in Japan. These institutes promote high research standards and outstanding research environments that attract frontline researchers from around the world. These centers are highly autonomous, allowing them to revolutionize conventional modes of research operation and administration in Japan.
PHOENIX  Arizonas attorney general on Wednesday dismissed a criminal complaint filed by the states top election official accusing President Donald Trump of breaking election law by interfering with the U.S. Postal Service.

Trump doesnt directly control the Postal Service, which is overseen by a board of governors appointed by the president and confirmed by the GOP-controlled Senate, Joe Kanefield, the top aide to Republican Attorney General Mark Brnovich, wrote.

Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs didnt present any evidence of actual election interference in Arizona, Kanefield wrote. He also accused Hobbs of spreading misinformation about the election.

In the midst of a pandemic and within months of a major election, it is critical that election officials not spread misinformation, politicize administrative processes, or criminalize congressional funding issues, Kanefield wrote in a letter to Hobbs.

Hobbs last week asked Brnovich to investigate whether Trumps criticism of the Postal Service, taken together with changes made by the new postmaster general, violated an Arizona law which makes it a crime to knowingly delay the delivery of a ballot.

Im disappointed to hear that Attorney General Brnovich is unwilling to even investigate, Hobbs wrote on Twitter.
As the SDLP celebrates its 50th anniversary, there was a time not so long ago when it seemed that we would be writing the party's political obituary.

Instead, after a resurgence at the last Westminster election which saw it return two MPs, including recapturing its flagship Foyle seat from Sinn Fein, it might argue that it was merely going through a mid-life crisis.

While there is no denying Sinn Fein's electoral dominance, the SDLP still has a core constituency that is proving resilient.

It is a party which can point proudly to its history since its formation in August 1970.

Its opposition to violence from whatever quarter it came was unwavering and it showed its belief in the power of peaceful democratic politics by taking part in the first power-sharing Executive in 1974, which was brought down by the loyalist strike that literally put out the lights all over Northern Ireland.

This stance was to have serious consequences for many of its members, ironically most directly from within the republican community.

The party's first leader and West Belfast MP Gerry Fitt was forced out of his home, which was burned to the ground, and fellow founding member Paddy Devlin had to flee his home also.

Other party stalwarts including Alban Maginness, Alistair McDonnell, Joe Hendron and deputy leader Seamus Mallon each lived under a constant barrage of threats and taunts from republicans and loyalists.

But the SDLP stuck to its metaphorical peace-seeking guns while others on both sides of the community retained their real arsenals.

Through its much-lauded and recently deceased leader John Hume the party took the quest for civil rights for all and a more cohesive society to Europe and America, and Hume was later credited with devising the peace process that eventually persuaded the men of violence to lay down their weapons.

His talks to bring Sinn Fein in from the cold sparked anger from unionists, and also from within his own party.

They could read the runes.

As Sinn Fein dragged its feet over decommissioning it won more and more concessions from the British Government and the peacemakers were sidelined, with inevitable electoral results.

But the SDLP can still claim it restored the primacy of politics over the gun and gave us all a chance of a better life.
The flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), former President John Dramani Mahama says he can see the Akufo-Addo-led New Patriotic Party (NPP) struggling in search of even KVIPs (toilets) to tout as infrastructure achievement.



President Mahama who is currently on a campaign tour of the Volta Region has thrown a challenge to President Akufo-Addo to debate him on their respective infrastructure achievements.



According to Mr Mahama, a debate on infrastructure will settle the issue over whose government has performed well on infrastructure once and for all.



Mr. Mahama's challenge comes days after Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia had claimed that the Akufo-Addo government has constructed more infrastructure projects (17,000) in less than four years than the NDC had managed in eight years.



Addressing residents of the Ketu-South District as part of a four-day tour of the Volta Region Wednesday, August 19, Mr Mahama said a debate would bring closure to the matter.



"In 2016, when I was talking about the value of infrastructure, friends on the other side said we don't eat infrastructure, we don't eat roads. That was what they said.



"Today, I can see a scramble to grab even KVIPs and any infrastructure and tout it as an achievement. But it is easy to settle the issue of infrastructure. After all, the President says this election is going to be an election of track records, comparing his track record to my track record.



"We can settle it easily, let's have a debate between (the) two of us, the two Presidents. Let Nana Akufo-Addo come and sit down, let me sit down and let's debate our records. I am willing to present myself for a debate, any day, any time, any where and we will settle the matter once and for all".



https://soundcloud.com/bra-zurich/mahama-challenges-prez-akufo-addo-to-infrastructure-debate.mp3



Background

During his presentation of the Akufo-Addo government's infrastructure record last Tuesday, Dr Bawumia revealed what he said were staggering disparities in the value of similar projects undertaken by the erstwhile John Mahama government and current projects by the Akufo-Addo government.



According to Dr Bawumia, the cost of projects undertaken by the Mahama government, on a comparative value for money analysis, appear to be quite outrageous.



For instance, the Vice President said while the NPP government is constructing four major interchanges; Tema, Pokuase, Tamale and Obetsebi Lamptey interchanges at a cost of $289m, the Mahama administration built the Kwame Nkrumah interchange alone at a cost of $260m.



For the Pokuase interchange, which he said is 75% complete, Dr Bawumia explained that the loan agreement for the project was signed in November 2016 for a three-tier interchange, but the Akufo-Addo government renegotiated for a four-tier interchange without any increase in cost.

Source: Graphiconline.com









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Featured Video
A father and stepmother from Minnesota have been charged with murder in relation to the death of the man's eight-year-old girl daughter, after she was allegedly tied up in a sleeping bag for wetting herself.

Autumn Hallow's body was found severely emaciated after police in Elk River, Minnesota responded to a call last Thursday at around 3.45 p.m. about a girl who was found unresponsive in a bathtub, police said.

According to the Sherburne County Sheriff's Office, upon arrival at a complex on the south side of Elk River, officers found Autumn's stepmother Sarah Hallow, 28, performing chest compressions on the girl, who officers said appeared 'extremely frail and thin.'

Attempts to revive the girl were unsuccessful, and Autumn was pronounced dead at the scene. She weighed just 45 pounds at the time of her death.

Investigators said she had likely been dead for some time before police received the call, based on the condition her body.

Eight-year-old Autumn Hallow was found dead last Thursday after police were called about a girl who was found unresponsive in a bathtub. Investigators have said she had likely been dead for some time before the call, and have charged her father and stepmother with murder

Sarah Hallow and father Brett Hallow, 30, were both arrested the following day, and charged with one count of second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter on Monday. The pair are being held without bond, according to Twin Cities Pioneer Press.

The criminal complaint states that responding officers noticed that Autumn was 'extremely frail and thin,' and despite Sarah Hallow allegedly claiming that she had found Autumn face down in the bathtub that day, officers also said that her skin was dry and her hair was only damp when they found her.

The complaint states that Sarah Hallow told officers that Autumn said she was going to take a shower, but when she went to check on the eight-year-old 40 minutes later, she found her face down in the water.

Brett Hallow reportedly told officers that he woke up to screams from Sarah, and that he found her with Autumn lying next to her on the floor.

However, Autumn also had cuts and marks on her forehead as well as multiple bruises, and her fingers were blue when officers found her, police said. An autopsy report found head trauma, and said she likely died from asphyxiation.

Police also said they also found blood in the bathroom, and 'pin-like' marks on her forehead.

Brett Hallow (right), 30, Autumn's father, has been arrested and charged with one count of second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. Sarah Hallow (left), 28, Autumn's stepmother, has been hit with the same charges

The Hallow's six-year-old son and Sarah Hallow's 10 year-old daughter were interviewed by investigators and child protection workers after the arrest of their parents.

The six-year-old said his parents had used a brown belt to tie up Autumn and put her in a red sleeping bag, which they would move to different rooms or the bathtub.

He said they would tie her up any time she misbehaved or urinated in her clothes.

The complaint also says that their son heard a large bang coming from the bathroom the same morning Autumn was found dead, when Sarah and Brett were in the bathroom with Autumn. It also states that the 10-year-old girl saw blood in the bath and saw that Autumn wasn't breathing.

The Hallow's six-year-old son and Sarah Hallow's 10 year-old daughter were interviewed by investigators, and both accused their parents of being abusive towards Autumn (pictured)

Both Brett and Sarah deny all of their children's accusations. Sarah denied shouting at Autumn, restraining her or putting her in the sleeping bag. Brett also denied the accusations laid out in the complaint.

Sarah also said she didn't know where Autumn's injuries had come from, and estimated that she child weighed around 45 lbs, but admitted that they did not bring her to a doctor according to the complaint.

Autumn's biological mother - Kelsey Kruse - said that the couple had not allowed her to see her daughter for several months out of concern of the coronavirus, and that she was well the last time she saw her.

Brett Hallow reportedly told officers that he woke up to screams from Sarah, and that he found her with Autumn lying next to her on the floor, but police say Autumn had cuts and marks on her forehead as well as multiple bruises, and her fingers were blue. Picured: Autumn with her biological mother Kelsey Kruse

In a Facebook post, Kruse addressed the Hallows, writing: 'I hate you both... You have given me and my family a permanent scar. You took something we will never get back... I hope your other children know what you did, and I hope they grow up knowing that their sister saved them.

In a separate post, she addressed her daughter, saying, 'Your father kept you from me for several months, and he then took your life. I hope you know how much I tried to get you... All of your siblings were lucky to have a sister like you.'

A GoFundMe page has since been set up by a friend of Kruse's to help raise funds towards Autumn's funeral, who wrote on the page: 'A parents worst nightmare has happened to my very good friend, Kelsey. She lost her eight-year-old baby girl, tragically.

'Brett Hallow and Sarah Hallow have been arrested for the murder of Autumn. With this information, there will be legal action taken on Kelseys end of things. We will be using any extra donations towards lawyer fees and anything else that will help Autumn get justice served.'

On Wednesday night, several hundred people gathered in Elk River to celebrate Autumn's life, and dozens of pickup trucks paraded through Lions Park to show support for Kruse.

Teresa McNamee, Executive Director of Rivers of Hope, a domestic and family abuse prevention non-profit, spoke to the crowd on behalf of Autumn's mother.

'On behalf of the family, we thank you for showing up for them, to remember Autumn during this very difficult time,' she said. 'Their grief is indescribable and for reasons unimaginable.'
The state of Tamaulipas reported 14 new cases of the novel coronavirus for Nuevo Laredo and one related death on Wednesday night.

Nuevo Laredo did not officially release its COVID-19 public update Tuesday night and has been distributing them in recent weeks at night near or after press time as opposed to the evenings when it had been releasing information.

Nuevo Laredos 14 positives continued a recent streak of nine straight days with 20 positives or fewer.

During that stretch, the city has been able to keep its active cases in check, dropping from 345 on the first day on Aug. 11 down to 277 on Wednesday.

The citys daily average of 15.4 cases over the past seven days is the lowest its been in more than two months when it sat at 15.3 on June 18.

Tamaulipas did not release any information Wednesday prior to press time on the most recent death. Tuesday, the state reported that one female from Nuevo Laredo had died at Hospital General Nuevo Laredo that same day. She was 30 years old.

So far this week, there have been a total of 22 deaths in Nuevo Laredo  half of which were reported on Monday alone. Weeks must be judged on a Saturday through Friday format to stay consistent with Laredo, to account for the latter which stopped updating totals on weekends previously during the pandemic.

Nuevo Laredo has 239 deaths, remaining 27 ahead of its Sister City. However, its only recorded 1,973 positives through the pandemic  7,984 behind Laredos total.

Nuevo Laredos total test positivity rate is still sky high at 42.9%. Its a few point behind the rest of Tamaulipas at 47.3%.

Throughout the pandemic, Nuevo Laredo has had 4,601 tests with 2,628 returning negative. An additional 377 are still under investigation.

zdavis@lmtonline.com
China on Thursday said despite progress made in disengaging troops there were issues remaining to be tackled to resolve the ongoing stalemate with India on the border at the line of actual control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

In a brief statement at the end of the latest round of Sino-India diplomatic talks, the Chinese foreign ministry said dialogue with India will continue through diplomatic and military channels.

The statement was issued in Beijing at the end of the latest round of the virtual meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs, which had met to review the situation in the border areas and the disengagement process of troops.

The two sides reviewed the recent situation in the China-India border area, positively evaluated the progress made in the disengagement of the front-line forces of the two countries, and frankly and in-depth, exchanged views on remaining issues on the ground, enhancing mutual understanding, the foreign ministry statement said.

The statement added that the two sides had agreed to earnestly implement the consensus of reached by the foreign ministers S Jaishankar and Wang Yi and the special representatives on border talks, which is NSA AK Doval for India and Wang for China.

The two sides continue to maintain dialogue and communication through military and diplomatic channels, promote further relaxation and cooling of the Sino-Indian border situation, properly handle remaining issues on the ground, and jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the border area, the statement said.

New Delhi at the last WMCC meeting had focussed on the need for China to completely withdraw its forces from key friction points in the Ladakh sector in keeping with commitments made at the meetings of the corps commanders and the July 5 phone conversation between Doval and Wang.

India and China have held several rounds of diplomatic and military talks to resolve the ongoing border friction, which has plunged bilateral ties to its worst in decades.

On August 11, the foreign ministry had said that maintaining peace along the disputed boundary and deepening strategic trust with India is one of Chinas diplomatic priorities.

Responding to a query about Chinas diplomatic priorities as the Covid-19 pandemic impacts the world and international diplomacy, foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian briefly outlined Beijings plans for way ahead in bilateral ties with the US, Russia, EU, Japan, and India.

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, Zhao said.
A Pacific Gas and Electric firefighter walks down a road as flames approach in Fairfield, California during the LNU Lightning Complex fire. Josh Edelson | AFP | Getty Images

Major wildfires continue to spread across Northern California on Thursday as thousands more residents are forced to evacuate their homes and resource-strapped firefighters battle the blazes. California has been hit by nearly 11,000 lightning strikes that have caused more than 367 known fires across the state in recent days, 26 of which are major. The state's wildfire season is becoming much more destructive as climate change drives hotter and drier temperatures. As of Thursday morning, the LNU Lightning Complex Fire, a group of fires that have affected Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Yolo and Solano counties, had burned more than 124,000 acres and was 0% contained. Travis Air Force Base in Solano County called for a mandatory evacuation of all "non-mission essential personnel." Four residents have been injured and at least two people have died. A helicopter pilot died after crashing while trying to drop water in Fresno County and a Pacific Gas & Electric worker died in Solano County.

California, strapped for emergency resources, has been battling a slew of crises this summer: rapidly spreading fires, rolling power blackouts, a stifling heatwave and a coronavirus pandemic that is made more dangerous as smoke impacts air quality. The sweltering heat wave, which has driven temperatures in the state above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the last week, has caused the state's power grid to implement rolling blackouts. Climate change has also expanded the fire season to nearly the entire year in California because dry conditions, heat and drought exacerbate wildfires.

A view of the site of the Hennessey Fire exploded Tuesday afternoon and nearly doubled in size in a matter of minutes, on August 19, 2020 in Vacaville, California. Neal Waters | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

Vehicles catch fire in front of a burning home along Peaceful Glen Road during the Hennessy fire in Solano County, California, on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020. Philip Pacheco | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Stretched for resources, California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency earlier this week in order to provide more aid to battle the fires. "We are experiencing fires the likes of which we haven't seen in many, many years," Newsom said on Wednesday. California has had 6,754 fires so far this year, compared with about 4,000 at this time last year, the governor said. The California National Guard is helping relief efforts and firefighter groups have requested 375 fire engines from out of state to help fight the blazes. The governors of Arizona and Texas have also sent resources to California to help with the fires.
A 26-year-woman was found dead Thursday in the Northwest Side duplex she was living in while her two children  ages 5 and 8  were inside, according to San Antonio police.

SAPD said one of the children text their grandmother concerned about their mother Thursday morning. When the grandmother arrived, she found her daughter dead on the floor near the door at the residence around 10 a.m. in the 8900 block of Maverick Draw, near Old Tezel Road.
Vijayawada:

A day after making critical remarks on demonetisation, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday said his comments were distorted and that he has been supporting the exercise.

He, however, said problems arising in the aftermath of demonetisation continue as we are going (about them) in a routine manner.

We have to take an innovative approach, he remarked. He heads the panel set up by the Centre to look into issues arising from demonetisation. His party- TDP- is part of the NDA government.

The 13-member committee would meet again on December 28 to work out solutions to the ongoing problem, he said. I spoke to (NITI Aayog CEO) Amitabh Kant this morning and asked him to convene the meeting, he said.

ALSO READ: (Solution to demonetisation woes still out of reach: Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu)

He said he had sought a ban on high denomination notes long ago and written a letter to the Prime Minister seeking abolition of 500 and 1,000 rupee notes after the recent Income Disclosure Scheme.

I have supported this (demonetisation) concept, he said, inaugurating a two-day conference of district Collectors here.

Addressing a workshop of Telugu Desam MPs, legislators and leaders here yesterday, he had said, Demonetisation was not our wish but it happened. More than 40 days after demonetisation, there are still a lot of problems but yet there appears to be no solution.

I am spending two hours daily to ease the problems caused by demonetisation. I am breaking my head daily but we are unable to find a solution to this problem, he had said. He claimed that his remarks were distorted by some.

I am disgusted with the way money is distributed during elections. Why should we spend money in elections? Thats why I wanted a ban on big notes, Chandrababu said.

In my life, I did not focus on anything as much as I focused on demonetisation. I troubled the bankers, RBI and the district Collectors by reviewing the situation for hours every day. But still things did not happen as fast as we wanted, he said.

There is attitude problem. We could not make use of the available infrastructure and we could not innovate, he said, referring to the problems being faced by people in the aftermath of note ban.

I am totally pained that we could not distribute welfare pensions on time this month. I was so angry. I gave a warning to the banks and then the RBI acted. From now on, we will distribute pensions physically and not through banks, the Chief Minister said.

He also spoke on other topics like growing number of divorces in the US, the problem of aged population in Japan and of ageing population in China and the advantage India has in terms of demographic dividend.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Smoke is making the air unhealthy to breathe in many places.

Even far from the fires, the air smells like smoke and ash flakes can be seen on cars and in backyards.

The air quality around the Bay Area improved slightly on Thursday but is still dangerously unhealthy in some areas, particularly around Vacaville, which is near Sacramento, and in Concord.

The air quality index, which measures air pollution, has surpassed 150 in some areas, meaning the air is unhealthy for people even if they have no health risks, and especially dangerous for people who are sensitive to unclean air. The index goes up to 500, but anything above 100 is considered unhealthy.

People should avoid going outside at all, especially to exercise, while the air quality is in the unhealthy range, said Dr. Afif El-Hasan, a lung health specialist in Orange County. He said the smoke could also make people more vulnerable to the coronavirus, if they were infected.

Anything that weakens the lungs, like really bad air, which causes the lungs to lose some of their ability to fight infection, is going to be an issue, Dr. El-Hasan said. In theory, breathing in a lot of bad air can make you more susceptible to a more serious Covid illness.

Dr. Seth Kaufman, the chief medical officer for NorthBay Healthcare, which has hospitals in Vacaville and nearby Fairfield, said the fire was practically in the hospitals backyard, and that patients had already come in complaining of breathing problems and injuries from the fire.

I think its the worst air quality we have seen in our years dealing with wildfire exposure, Dr. Kaufman said.
Federal officials investigating whether Australia's 2632 aged care facilities meet quality and safety standards claim they are unable to spot gaps that may put residents at risk because the regulator is toothless, under resourced and understaffed.

Complaints have skyrocketed during COVID - particularly about infection control - and response times have blown out to more than 190 days in many cases, according to the union representing staff at the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC).

The regulator did not look into the outbreak at Newmarch House earlier this year. Credit:Edwina Pickles

In a submission to the aged care royal commission in June, the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) said morale among union members and other staff at the regulator has been "incredibly low".

This claim was disputed by the regulator's commissioner, Janet Anderson, who said staff feedback during COVID-19 had been positive.
MIAMI, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As the nation continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, the "frontline" health care practitioners who are battling the virus and its ravenous impact on patients face a daunting daily fight. Jose Muniz, BSN, RN, EMT is a nurse at Memorial Hospital in Broward county, which has been hit hard by the virus as South Florida became the epicenter.

Muniz and colleagues know they are putting their lives on the line, but they heroically show up every day. But that doesn't mean they are not worried.

Jose Muniz, RN (left) gives a study volunteer an injection of a COVID-19 vaccine trial at a clinic in Miami

"I honestly haven't felt such a collective sense of fear among colleagues since serving in Iraq," Muniz said. The veteran enlisted in the U.S. Army after high school and served a tour overseas with the 82nd Airborne Division during the Gulf War. "We are those crazy guys that jump out of airplanes into harm's way," he added.

Muniz says he never thought his training as a soldier would serve him as a nurse, but fighting the pandemic as a frontline caregiver certainly requires the bravery and perseverance of a soldier on a battlefield. They might not be parachuting into the fight from airplanes, but they are jumping into harm's way.

"Doctors, nurses - and the broad range of support staff we have - are all concerned. We are all exhausted. But we show up every day trying to help every patient fight this virus and survive. It has definitely been a draining experience physically, emotionally, and psychologically," he added.

Muniz knows a thing or two about psychology. After serving in the military, he earned an undergraduate degree in psychology and started his health care career working as a counselor, specializing on helping people where were in recovery from addiction.

"I was drawn to that field because of the experience of my cousin, who suffered from the disease of addiction," he said.

While his work as a counselor was rewarding, Muniz wanted to continue expanding his professional horizon in health care, so he completed EMT training and then transitioned to nursing as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). While working full time, he then became a registered nurse (RN) and completed a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN).

"Nursing is a wonderfully rewarding career and right now the community needs us more than ever," he said.

When he is not covered from head to toe in personal protective equipment (PPE) and caring for patients at Memorial Hospital, Muniz also works at a Miami clinic for Research Centers of America, where he has been administering a trial COVID-19 vaccination as part of a crucial research study.

"Vaccines usually take years to develop so it is very exciting to be part of this study and phase three, the human trial phase," he said. "So far there have been no major adverse reactions, so it gives me hope."

In his third professional role, Muniz teaches patient care courses at the Florida Career College (FCC) campus in Miami.

"I have a real passion for teaching, and it is a very rewarding experience to help train the health care workers of the future," he said. "For me it's like paying it forward because I had some fantastic instructors along my own career journey."

"I love teaching at Florida Career College and the diversity among the students at FCC. I can relate to many of them because we have similar backgrounds. I didn't grow up in a family of means, and I share their desire to build a better future for themselves with a career that provides a sense of purpose," Muniz added.

"For students, instructors like Jose are an invaluable part of their experience at FCC. He is a wonderful teacher who truly cares about his students, ensuring they receive the knowledge and hands-on learning that they need in order to be prepared. He takes his time with each one explaining every detail of what it takes to be a successful patient care technician - he doesn't just teach it, he shows them," said Marcela Munera, Executive Director at FCC Miami.

Muniz says he always seeks to set an example for students, who often have questions about being a frontline worker during the pandemic.

"I reiterate to them the importance of following every protocol for their own protection, and remind them to be constantly washing their hands, but self-care is equally essential," he said. "Staying hydrated. Getting adequate sleep. Eating right. It seems so basic, but it's so important."

He also encourages them to never stop learning.

"I'm a firm believer that you can never stop learning, especially when you work in health care," Muniz said. "That's something that I try to instill in students. You always have to keep up with current information to stay ahead, especially during the pandemic, but beyond coronavirus there are new developments in patient care every day. Education has been key to my success."

About Florida Career College:

Florida Career College (FCC) is an accredited, employee-owned post-secondary career education system with campuses locations in Florida and Texas. FCC offers programs in high-demand fields such as health care, business and skilled trades. Each program is designed to provide every student with the skills, knowledge, and training they need to be successful in their future careers. FCC programs are tailored to meet the needs of students with small classes. Students can train for entry-level careers and start building their future in as few as 10 months. For more information visit www.floridacareercollege.edu.

Media Contact:

Joe Cockrell

(949) 812-7749

[email protected]

SOURCE Florida Career College
WASHINGTON, Aug. 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The U.S. Green Building Council ( USGBC ) and Informa Connect are proud to announce that Christiana Figueres , former executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ( UNFCCC ) will headline the 2020 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo . Figueres will deliver the keynote address during the opening session on Tuesday, November 10. This years virtual Greenbuild experience will take place November 10-12 with three virtual summits focused on green business, resilience and global health and wellness, taking place September 10, October 1 and October 22 as a lead up to the main event. Registration is now open.



Greenbuild is honored and excited that Ms. Figueres has accepted our invitation to speak at Greenbuild 2020, said Sherida Sessa, Greenbuild brand director. Ms. Figueres is a global leader and through her leadership brought forward one of the most valuable commitments to combating climate change the world has seen. Her dedication to humanity and actionable change is unwavering and we are excited to hear her outlook on the future.

Ms. Figueres is credited with forging a new brand of collaborative diplomacy. During her tenure as executive secretary of the UNFCCC from 2010  2016, Ms. Figueres brought together national and sub-national governments, corporations, activists, financial institutions and NGOs to jointly deliver the historic Paris Agreement on climate change in which 195 sovereign nations agreed on a collaborative path forward to limit future global warming to protect the most vulnerable. Since then, Ms. Figueres has continued to serve her one and only boss  the global atmosphere. Ms. Figueres will share the future of purpose driven work and initiatives led through Global Optimism, her latest co-founded venture focused on social and environmental change.

Ms. Figueres participation in Greenbuild 2020 reinforces the events continued commitment to bringing the leading innovators together to further the green building communitys mission to deliver a higher living standard for all.

Ms. Figueres brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience that demonstrates how bold thinking can drive change at local and global levels, said Kim Heavner , vice president of conference and events at USGBC. Her insights and commitment to innovative ideas and approaches will be a valuable contribution as we gather the green building industry together to share best practices and solutions for creating a world that prioritizes the health of all people. As we consider the current challenges the world is facing, we know that green building has never been more important and will be a critical part of building a healthy, sustainable, resilient and equitable future for all.

Greenbuild, the largest green building conference and expo in the world, is produced by Informa Connect and presented by USGBC. Greenbuild 2020 features an all-virtual format with expanded education and high-demand topics including social equity, materials, circular economy, health and wellness, resilience, green building, corporate social responsibility and more.

Previous Greenbuild keynote speakers have included former President Barack Obama, Ret. Gen. Colin Powell, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, famed architect Bjarke Ingles, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, human rights activist Amal Clooney, former Vice President and climate activist Al Gore, and many others.

Companies interested in virtual exhibition or sponsorship opportunities should contact Jeff Stasko, Sales Director at jeffrey.stasko@informa.com or +1.917.608.9294.

Individuals interested in receiving the latest updates as more 2020 details are announced should visit www.greenbuildexpo.com or contact the event team at info@greenbuildexpo.com .

About Greenbuild

Greenbuild International Conference and Expo is owned and operated by Informa Connect, a division of Informa, and presented by the U.S. Green Building Council. Greenbuild is the worlds largest event dedicated to green building. Each year, the conference brings together attendees and exhibitors from across the green building sector, spanning commercial and residential professionals, architects, building owners and operators, students, advocates, and educators.

About Informa Connect

Informa Connect, a division of Informa plc, is a specialist in content-driven events and digital communities that allow professionals to meet, connect, learn and share knowledge. We operate major branded events in Global Finance, Life Sciences, Construction & Real Estate, Restaurant & Hospitality, and in a number of other specialist markets and connect communities online year-round.

About the U.S. Green Building Council

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building program, robust educational offerings, an international network of local community leaders, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the Center for Green Schools, and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. For more information, visit usgbc.org and connect on Twitter , Instagram , Facebook , and LinkedIn .

Media Contact: Kathryn Frankson

kathryn.frankson@informa.com




By Trend

Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR could have opportunities to expand its presence in Romania, Niculae Havrilet, State Secretary of the Ministry for Economy, Energy and Business Environment of Romania, told Trend.

Havrilet noted that the Romanian company Romgaz expressed last year the interest in expanding its activity in foreign markets, exploring new opportunities and identifying efficient options for expansion through a potential collaboration with SOCAR.

"On the Azerbaijani side, there was an interest in exploring and exploiting Black Sea offshore fields in partnership with Romgaz, should the Romanian company decide to get involved in these offshore projects. The topic was further discussed between the two companies on the sidelines on the last SGC Advisory Council meeting in February 2020, in Baku," noted the state secretary.

Havrilet pointed out that the very good bilateral relationship between Romania and Azerbaijan was an essential factor in the process that led to the entry of SOCAR on the Romanian market.

"Although SOCAR's activity focuses mainly on the offshore perimeters of the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea is an important energy bridge between Caspian region and the European market. Romania holds a strategic interconnection position on the Black Sea coast and has the capacity to contribute to the transit of energy from the Caspian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea towards Central and Eastern Europe," said the state secretary.

Moreover, he added that the Black Sea has significant natural gas reserves and can be an area of interest in the context of Azerbaijan's substantial and constant efforts to develop new perimeters to feed into the Southern Gas Corridor.

"That would be also in the interest to diversify the supply sources for this project beyond those in the Caspian area. It is important to note in this context that the tender for new on-shore concessions have been announced and off-shore concessions will be announced soon by the Romanian Mineral Resources Agency/NAMR. These could provide opportunities for SOCAR to expand its presence in Romania," said Havrilet.

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20.08.2020 LISTEN

If people cant acknowledge the wisdom of indigenous cultures, Then thats their loss, Jay Griffiths.

The African society overtime has been characterised by high standard morals, customs, traditions and values which has transformed the fabric of African society over centuries.

These customs and traditions were S.I. Unit (Standard Unit Measure) for sustenance and African well being. African Morals were found in their myths, proverbs, and taboos and were carved and applied purposely to regulate human behaviour and community life.

The African community was basically a communal one and what happens to one affected the entire populace. This is exemplified by the popular saying by one of Africa's renowned writer J.S Mbiti, in his book titled African Religions and Philosophy published in 1969. In his work, he defined the African existence as "I am because we are and, since we are therefore, I am. This is the communalism aspect of African life and this phenomenon permeated the African value of character formation and training and was a shared communal responsibility.

The entire African society was responsible for the upbringing of the African child hence; the moral decadence on the child was a disgrace to the community.

The impartation of African values such as respect, hardwork, humility, courtesy, etc was a communal affair and was jealously guarded by everybody.

The African system of extended family depicted the "We feeling" among Africans. Simply put, in Africa "Everyone was for everyone".

Which round did Africa get the knockout?

The African continent experienced the knockout with the advent of European intrusion and the consequent introduction of Christianity coupled with European governance system. The shocks that came with this upsurge of an "alien philosophy" were too huge for the African to survive the massacre. School systems were tailored along European ideas, African values were rendered outmoded with the introduction of Christianity and everything African was branded devilish to the extent that African Christian converts were separated from the supposed pagan African Population.

The fact should be reiterated without any shred of equivocation that, the African system was not porous as it was portrayed. The existence of practical governance systems which were embedded in the chieftaincy institution was an epitome of high-level civilization. The Europeans capitalized on to this to govern the African People. With the introduction of the most popular Policy of "Indirect Rule", European officials used African Chiefs to govern the African people. This policy was so effective that it was popularised in many of the British West African colonies.

Fast forward to "Modern" times, westernism and Education have taken over the African space. There is little emphasis on African values. The church, school and the mosque which have taken the mandate of moulding character now has failed in strengthening morals with the passage of time. Parents now leave their children's formation to an uncontrolled electronic medium thus the television and mobile phone. Parents now seek for money at the expense of their kids training and the insatiable taste for money, materialism and survival have become the order of the day. Nobody straightens anybodys child. Children have been brainwashed with excessive human rights through formal education.

It is not surprising that, in Africa now success is measured by wealth in cars, mansions, accessories. People now use all crooked means to acquire wealth due to the self-imposed pressures of the time.

Wealth has destroyed the environment through illegal mining and the African who was more particular about his environment with several conventions to protect water bodies now has little respect for the revered earth goddess, Asaase Yaa among the Akan of Ghana.

Young girls and boys do not believe in the quality of life and that wealth should be acquired by any means necessary.

Another phenomenon of the day is the supposed Institution of Celebrity. Africa has virtually lost men and women of substance to the extent that people who have become "ridicule" to society now assume the position of Celebrities. They have gradually become the role models for the young generation. I sometimes wonder the demarcation for celebrity and the relevance of these so-called figures and their impact on society. What do we celebrate about them? Nudity, Uncouth language, colour bleaching, drugs, sex Evangelism, alcoholism? We are definitely not in normal times in Africa because African values itself is now under a serious Pandemic. Shortcuts to success are celebrated against hardwork.

If Truly The church and the mosque has taken over to mould character of this generation, then I will not mince words to say that these religious bodies have failed to produce responsible citizens for society. The African society has not been this chaotic.Children insult the elderly with impudence and they get support from people?. Where did we go wrong as a Continent??

The African had the chance to take their destinies into their own hands after independence by re-shaping school curriculum to suit the African Philosophy but this did not materialise. The African television program content is more European than African. Well, maybe it is because television was manufactured in Europe. Back in the days, there were Several African television series which were very rich in moral values and this impacted the generation. A classical example in Ghana is "By the fireside show". Ghanaians now have basically turned into Indians with the proliferation of their Soap operas. It is not surprising to see Ghanaian traditional marriages with Indian outfits.

As reiterated earlier, very soon the television will become the "parent" of the nation to train up our kids.

We need to get up and meet the fight square on. I believe in an Africa which has the quest to project its values. Until then, the African is dizzy on the ground with a western punch. Education is meant to move us forward but it looks like the African Education we have today is taking us back.

Dont be too surprised when you ask your daughter or son his future career after investing heavily in his or her education to tell you he will be a Slay Queen or King or a delegate of a political party.

God bless Africa.

God bless Ghana.
'If Trump is out, Modi is going to find himself in a hotspot, having to reset his relations with the new US President with whom he will have to co-exist for well-nigh his full term' says B S Raghavan, the distinguished civil servant.

IMAGE: United States President Donald J Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi in New Delhi. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Americans and Bengalis share one common trait: They are both, by temperament, against anyone in authority.

Americans are not like that because of the Bill of Rights; the Bill of Rights is there because of that trait.

Conformity goes against their grain.

On the contrary, they love mavericks.

You can't rule the Americans (and the Bengalis) by fiats or diktats; you can only rule them by winning them over by gentle and patient persuasion.

That explains their utter and even unruly disregard of the do's and don'ts pertaining to COVID-19.

While the whole world is terrorised by its prevalence, Americans, in their half-trousers, are going about making merry and turning America into a cauldron of catastrophes.

And Americans are instinctively against any incumbent President.

For every ill, the average American pins the blame on the President.

There's the story of an American guy who went to the races and bet on a horse.

It was the 22nd of the month and he bet 22 dollars on horse number 22 and, by Jove, found the ticket bore the number 2222.

There was not a scintilla of doubt in his mind that he had won the jackpot and would return home a millionaire.

To his ugly surprise, his horse came 22nd in the race and he lost his money. 'Damn that President!' he shouted.

President Donald Trump probably thought that he would neutralise this tendency by being the Ultimate American himself: Defying all codes of behaviour, all modes of governance, all norms of conduct, all rules and regulations, blurting out whatever comes uppermost to his mind without paying any regard to its consequences, tweeting his way to running an egotistic, free-wheeling, tit-for-tat, tumultuous presidency.

It speaks volumes for the resilience and vitality of America that it has withstood all the mighty shakings it has undergone under Trump and continued to maintain its vibrancy.

Of course, he still enjoys the support of a constituency of his own, and he nurses it by his maddening antics.

There were even some among 'normal' Americans who thought that political correctness, contrived adherence to niceties, artificial politeness -- in short, wholesale practice of unbridled hypocrisy -- had gone too far and it was high time that someone smashed that mould to smithereens.

They were elated that Trump was making such a thoroughly good job of it.

In fact, until some time ago, he was widely believed to be heading for a second term.

IMAGE: Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks about his economic recovery plan to revive the coronavirus-battered US economy during a campaign event in New Castle, Delaware, July 21, 2020. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Of late, he has palled and even these outlier types of Americans have had too much of him.

The one institution -- Fox News -- which represented these groups and unwaveringly stood for him seems to have turned against him, and he against it, to the extent of declaring to everyone's stunned surprise that he was no fan of it and that it also peddled fake news.

His own niece has written an unflattering book on him.

His poll ratings are going downward by the day.

Joe Biden's stock is rising.

As an aficionado of America and the Americans, my take is that Trump will be bundled out, come November.

His exit will be his greatest gift to his country.

So, the Trump era will soon be a thing of the past.

One great outcome of that era is that anyone who follows him, and whatever his policy, would look just great.

His successor can just sit tight with hands folded; he would come out on top.

Joe Biden is all set to shine by contrast whatever he does or doesn't do.

By the time he takes over, with all the furious effort going on in the field of medical research, COVID-19 too might find its nemesis in some antidote, ridding both America and the world of a scourge.

Or, who knows? As Trump has prophetically proclaimed in his interview to Fox News on July 19, 'It is going to disappear. I'll say it again, it's going to disappear, and I'll be right......Because I've been right probably more than anybody else.'

IMAGE: President Trump and Prime Minister Modi at the 'Howdy Modi' event in Houston, September 22, 2019. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Thus, as far as America is concerned, it will be business back to the usual and Joe Biden will be hailed as a redeemer and saviour.

It is only Narendra Damodardas Modi I am worried about.

He has staked all his hugs on Trump.

In the spectacular Howdy Modi show in Houston, Modi threw all caution to the winds and wished for and predicted a second term for Trump.

It is not that America and India are getting close because of congruence of policies.

It is almost solely because of Modi putting all his bets on Trump's triumphant return to power.

If, by some miracle, that were to happen, Modi will be on cloud nine.

But if, as it now looks, Trump is out, Modi is going to find himself in a hotspot, having to reset his relations with the new US President with whom he will have to co-exist for well-nigh his full term.

What countries and their leaders dealing with the US should never forget, but do, is that for Americans and for the American establishment, there is nothing like sentiment or attachment, such as, for instance what the Soviet Union showed towards India in Indira Gandhi's time or presently China is showing towards Pakistan, supporting it through thick and thin.

The deciding motivation for the US always is in the answer to the question: 'What's there in it for me?' One moment it will all be all effusive, and profuse in plaudits, and the next moment, if it suits its interest, the CIA will be unleashed to deploy all its dirty tricks to do you down.

Even Trump, for all his love-talk and hugs for Modi was blowing hot and cold on various issues of importance to India.

An additional problem for India is that the families of most in its academic, political and governing establishments feel bound to the US for educational opportunities, livelihoods and other counts, and so, are unable to snap their emotional links and take a dispassionate approach to India-US relations.

One can only hope that overcoming all these odds, Modi has set afoot discreet moves to establish contacts with Joe Biden and his team of close advisers and brief them on, and enlist their support to, India's interests and concerns.

B S Raghavan, a former member of the Indian Administrative Service, was also the Policy Adviser to UN(FAO), a US Congressional Fellow and Chancellor of Jharkhand ICFAI University.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
The conference table isnt delicate, so it functions well as a desk for our daughter sometimes, too, says Therese. We bought comfortable chairs from West Elm and then bought five more of the same chairs for the kitchen so we can bring them into the dining room when we have bigger groups. Some of our happiest memories are when Pats 93-year-old dad would sit at our dining table and tell stories from 40 or 50 years ago.
BEAVERTON, Ore., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Tektronix, Inc. today announced the new 8 Series sampling platform, a disaggregated modular instrument series boasting parallel acquisition, with up to 4 channels per mainframe and the highest measurement accuracy for PAM4 optical signals on multiple inputs simultaneously. The 8 Series consists of the TSO820 Sampling Oscilloscope Mainframe, optical sampling modules, and TSOVu, a new software platform that runs independent of the mainframe on host PC for both live and offline processing of acquired data. Tektronix also introduces the TCR801, an external optical clock recovery module which covers dual band ranges around both 26GBd and 53GBd. These instruments and software provide a platform solution for fast acquisition and analysis.

Tektronix Introduces the 8 Series Sampling Oscilloscope Platform with Support for 56GBd and 28GBd applications

"Our customers are facing new challenges with the increased demand for bandwidth and network capacity," says Matt Ochs, General Manager of the Performance Portfolio at Tektronix. "The 8 Series helps solve critical problems by delivering a scalable platform that reduces test times, while also providing fast, accurate and repeatable test results."

The 8 Series' mainframe is a configurable, compact instrument with the smallest modular form factor in the market, at 3U high. Built to maximize the utilization of the rack space, this instrument is ideal for optical manufacturing applications, where users can quickly add new analysis capabilities and reconfigure test systems to support upcoming standards and changes in workflow. Offline and remote modes of operation extend the analysis and visualization capability of the TSO820 beyond the oscilloscope to a user computing environment, facilitating seamless transition from design phase to debug, characterization and manufacturing test.

New TCR801 Optical Clock Recovery

The TCR801 Optical Clock Recovery instrument works with new and existing test equipment, including the TSO820 and DSA8300. This single mode, external instrument has a FC/PC optical connection for PAM4 and NRZ and utilizes external optical splitters.

New TSOVu Software

The TSOVu software platform enables an external computing environment with a comprehensive programmatic interface boosting automation. This software solution also offers a new measurement plug-in architecture, enabling quick iterations of existing measurements as well as future customer defined measurements.



Availability

The 8 Series is now available worldwide and comes with a one-year warranty. For more information, visit tek.com/

About Tektronix

Tektronix, Inc., headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, delivers innovative, precise and easy-to-operate test, measurement and monitoring solutions that solve problems, unlock insights and drive discovery globally. Tektronix has been at the forefront of the digital age for over 70 years. More information on our products and solutions is available at Tek.com .

Follow us on Twitter , Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn to stay connected. Learn more from our engineers on the Tektronix blog and read our latest announcements in our Newsroom .

Tektronix is a registered trademark of Tektronix, Inc. All other trade names referenced are the service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

SOURCE Tektronix, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.tek.com


Close on the heels of arresting around 15 people, including a 56-year-old Naib Tehsildar, who were booked under four separate FIRs for hurting religious sentiments, Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday arrested another man from Ramban district for posting highly objectionable remarks on religion on his Facebook.

The accused has been identified as Mohammad Zahid, son of Abdul Rashid of Champa Batote in Ramban district.

Man arrested for #hurting religious sentiments. Mohd Zahid S/O Abdul Rashid Rather R/O Champa Batote has been arrested for posting objectionable comments on #Facebook thereby hurting the #religious sentiments of a particular community. A case under FIR no 48/2020 U/S 295-A/153-A/IPC registered at Police Station Batote and investigation taken up, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu, Mukesh Singh posted on his Twitter handle.

Also read: Gurugram Rain - Omar Abdullah joins Twitter with sarcastic post over waterlogged roads

The accused had posted highly objectionable and derogatory remarks on his Facebook page and had ridiculed religious sentiments of a particular community. His post had invited outrage across Jammu and Kashmir and in other parts with netizens asking the police to take stern action against the accused.

Meanwhile, in the past four days, five FIRs have been registered against people from two specific communities for hurting religious sentiments.

Among those arrested included a 56-year-old Naib Tehsildar, four self-styled leaders of a Hindu outfit and cow vigilantes.

Three FIRs were registered in Arnas Police Station of Reasi district while the fourth FIR was registered in Pucca Danga police station of Jammu district. The fifth FIR was lodged in Batote police station on Wednesday.
HOUSTON, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Simon Bolivar Foundation, the non-profit, private foundation of CITGO Petroleum Corporation, is pleased to announce that it will be allocating $200,000 among five qualified charitable organizations that presented projects that best meet the criteria for the Foundation's open call for a small food grant program "Hoy Invita Simon".

The objective of the "Hoy Invita Simon" program is to provide funds to eligible charitable organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to organize food drives for individuals in need without discrimination, but with special attention to members of the Venezuelan diaspora and other vulnerable populations who are suffering because of the pandemic. Applicants were invited to present proposals that can range from a one-day event that provides a warm meal, to a multi-day or multi-week food drive that provides food supplies to families in need. Special attention was given to those applicants who, at the same time, engaged local businesses or organizations from the Venezuelan diaspora on a non-discriminatory basis.

The following grantees were selected after an independent evaluation by a Community Advisory Board and final approval by the Foundation:

Big Little JC is an organization dedicated to empowering and improving the quality of life of children and young people with disabilities through counseling, education, financial support, and advocacy. Its project will provide food baskets of non-perishable and fresh produce to 96 families with children with disabilities for three months in the Houston Area .

. Society de Saint Vincent de Paul, Guadalupe Conference, (SVC FOUNDATION CORP.) is a Catholic organization serving people in need. Its initiative will deliver food packages in Doral, Florida to benefit more than 2,000 individuals for 4 1/2 months and, as a longer-term investment, will also receive funds for a cold room that will allow it to purchase and store fresh produce to be delivered to families affected by the pandemic in this community.

to benefit more than 2,000 individuals for 4 1/2 months and, as a longer-term investment, will also receive funds for a cold room that will allow it to purchase and store fresh produce to be delivered to families affected by the pandemic in this community. Fullshear Outreach and Development Corporation is a faith-based nonprofit that provides medical, food, rent, and utility assistance to its local community, as well as help with job searches, furniture donation, and disaster relief. The grant funds will be allocated to an ongoing program that benefits vulnerable individuals in Katy, Texas, where there is a significant presence of the Venezuelan diaspora community. The organization will donate a combination of warm meals and food pantry items benefiting 15,000 individuals in need for more than five months.

Food Rescue US Inc. is a national nonprofit organization that is a leader in reducing both hunger and food waste in the U.S. by supplying healthy, fresh, surplus food to vulnerable populations. The grant will help support a community kitchen in Washington, D.C. that will provide more than 500 meals a week for 9 weeks.

that will provide more than 500 meals a week for 9 weeks. Aid for Aids INC. is a nonprofit organization committed to empowering at-risk communities. Its project will deliver nutritional support in the form of food packages to 4,000 vulnerable individuals in the New York Metro area for two months, with the help of local providers.

These grant agreements are subject to full due diligence and grant agreement execution.

About the Simon Bolivar Foundation

The Simon Bolivar Foundation is the 501(c)(3) non-profit, private foundation of CITGO Petroleum Corporation. The Foundation supports initiatives, leverages existing resources and invests in organizations to meet the immediate and long-term health needs of the most vulnerable individuals particularly in and from Venezuela with a special focus on the health and well-being of children and their mothers.

About CITGO

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, CITGO Petroleum Corporation is a recognized leader in the refining industry with a well-known brand. CITGO operates three refineries located in Corpus Christi, Texas; Lake Charles, La.; and Lemont, Ill., and wholly and/or jointly owns 42 terminals, six pipelines and three lubricants blending and packaging plants. With approximately 3,400 employees and a combined crude capacity of approximately 769,000 barrels-per-day (bpd), CITGO is ranked as the sixth-largest, and one of the most complex independent refiners in the United States. CITGO transports and markets transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products and supplies a network of approximately 4,600 locally owned and operated branded retail outlets, all located east of the Rocky Mountains. CITGO Petroleum Corporation is owned by CITGO Holding, Inc.

SOURCE CITGO Corporation

Related Links

www.citgo.com


Anthony Fauci, the United States' top infectious diseases official, said Wednesday the government wouldn't make any future COVID-19 vaccine obligatory for the general public -- though local jurisdictions could make it mandatory for some groups, like children.

"You don't want to mandate and try and force anyone to take a vaccine. We've never done that," said Fauci, a member of the White House coronavirus task force, during a video talk organized by George Washington University.

"You can mandate for certain groups of people like health workers, but for the general population you can't" he added, citing the example of the National Institutes of Health, where health workers can't treat patients without a flu shot.

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison hours earlier announced that coronavirus vaccines, once approved, would be mandatory for everyone in his country, barring medical exemptions.

But the United States' decentralized system of government, and anti-vaccine sentiments that have been building for decades, had in any case made a program of mandatory immunization unlikely.

"It would be unenforceable and not appropriate," said Fauci.

This however doesn't prevent states from making a vaccine mandatory for children to attend school, as is already the case for certain diseases such as measles, though some are exempt for medical or religious reasons.

At any rate, the administration of President Donald Trump has pre-ordered hundreds of millions of vaccine doses from six companies, and these will be distributed for free.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 04:56:11|Editor: huaxia

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RAMALLAH, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The recent normalization deal reached between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) sparks fear that more Arab countries may achieve similar deals with Israel, said a Palestinian political analyst.

Hani al-Masri, director of Masarat Center for Researches and Studies in Ramallah, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview that the agreement may help establish alliance between some Arab countries and Israel under the auspices of the United States.

Al-Masri said "the normalization of Arab countries and their possible alliance with Israel will eventually force the Palestinians to accept the current U.S.-Israeli solution."

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said on Wednesday in German that Saudi Arabia is not ready to normalize relations with Israel.

Al Saud's announcement is the first official Saudi announcement since Thursday's deal between the UAE and Israel.

Al-Masri affirmed that strengthening the Palestinian internal front, which suffers from the consequences of around 14 years of division, "would be a major way to thwart all conspiracies which aim to liquidate the Palestinian cause and cut off the road for the Arabs' normalization with Israel."

"Thwarting the plot of liquidating the Palestinian cause requires adopting a new comprehensive vision, a unified national strategy, a true partnership, and a willing leadership that is ready to pay the required prices," al-Masri said.

Al-Masri said that one motive for announcing the Emirati-Israeli agreement relates to the imminent U.S. presidential elections amid decline in U.S. President Donald Trump's popularity.

If Trump wins a second term, he will continue his efforts to implement his vision, said al-Masri.

The analyst said that the scenario of resuming the stalled peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians "is not easy, because Israel has moved from the stage of managing the conflict to the stage of dictating the solution." Enditem
The wildfires caused by lightning continued to burn across much of eastern Napa County on Thursday, but the pace of spread was less than the day before.

Altogether, some 17,000 county residents remained under mandated or advisory evacuations, but the number did not grow significantly during the day.

In a Thursday evening update, Cal Fire announced three civilian fatalities related to the Napa County fire. There was another fire-related death in Solano County.

Cal Fires assessment group came up with a rough estimate for losses in Napa County: 500 to 600 structures, including houses, barns, outbuildings and even boats.

We have our hands full. Im not going to sugarcoat how were sitting, especially with the resource sharing that were doing with other parts of California that have fires of their own, Cal Fire Deputy Chief Sean Kavanaugh told county supervisors Thursday afternoon.

With lighter winds Wednesday night, firefighters on Thursday shifted more attention to putting control lines in place, supervisors were told.

With the six-day heat wave ending Wednesday, conditions for fighting fires improved Thursday, although the vegetation in the canyons remains explosively dry, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire said Thursday that 215,000 acres had burned in the LNU Lightning Complex fires centered in Napa County, with spread into Solano, Yolo and Sonoma counties. This was a jump of 7,000 acres overnight. Some 480 homes and outbuildings have been destroyed and another 125 damaged.

The fires wrap around Lake Berryessa, prompting a host of road closures in the area, including Highway 128. The spread to Solano County caused the closure of Interstate 80 in Vacaville for several hours Wednesday when the fire jumped the freeway. Travis Air Force Base suspended routine operations on Thursday.

Cal Fire ordered purely precautionary evacuations Wednesday night of Angwin and Deer Park east of St. Helena, including Adventist Healths 151-bed hospital. No increased fire threat to those areas was reported Thursday morning.

With only two roads out of Angwin, home of Pacific Union College, Cal Fire wanted to take every precaution, officials said at a Thursday morning news conference at the Napa County Fairgrounds in Calistoga. At the same time, fire is a real threat, with flames roughly five miles away, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire has turned the fairgrounds into the base camp for five counties, with firefighters stationed there on a rotating basis. On Thursday, there were 102 engines and 1,059 personnel based there.

There were more than 4,400 homes  some 13,254 people  in Napa County under mandatory evacuations as of Wednesday night. An additional 1,240 households  3,720 people  are under evacuation warning, Cal Fire reported.

Napa County Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza surveyed the situation near Napa on Thursday. I was on Atlas Peak this morning. I could see how Cal Fire was being strategic and thoughtful to have fire go to areas where it didnt pose a threat to structures, he said.

Cal Fire reported four civilian injuries associated with the Napa fires, but no first responder injuries. A Pacific Gas & Electric worker reportedly died in the area of a Vacaville fire. He had been assigned to clear lines and poles to make the area safe for emergency responders.

Evacuation of Angwin

By mid-morning Thursday, a line of dozens of vehicles was parked along Deer Park Road full of people hoping to get back to their Angwin homes briefly to pick up personal belongings.

They let a group up at 9 oclock. Theyve given them until 11 oclock and theyre trying to round them up to get them off the mountain so they can let another group up, said Ron Haber of Angwin, surveying the lengthy line in front of his vehicle at around 10:30 a.m. If not, they said there may not be anybody else let up.

Haber and his wife, Sue-Marie, said the evacuation came suddenly around 6 p.m. with a Nixle alert, followed by evacuation orders broadcast by Sheriffs Office vehicles.

And we just left stuff in the house rushing to get out, he said.

Asked about how he and his wife are holding up, he shrugged and pointed to a column of smoke to the northeast.

Were just hoping they did this whole thing as a precaution and they get that Aetna Springs fire out that were seeing, he said.

Kristal Matthews never had a chance to take anything from her Deer Park home on Wednesday. She said she been trying to return home Wednesday night but the traffic from the evacuation was so thick that she was forced to turn around and spend the night with her boyfriends family.

Im fine, she said after spending more than 90 minutes in line. I want to use the bathroom, and I dont want to get out of line, so Im like, OK, what am I going to do?

She was worried, however, that the first group of evacuees might not come down as directed.

If they dont come out, we dont get to go in, she said, looking off at the distant roadblock at Deer Park and Silverado Trail.

In Napa County, a shelter opened at CrossWalk Community Church in Napa. Officials reported Thursday having accommodated 120 people, including some who were referred to hotels.

None of the ordered or threatened evacuations affect the Napa Valley cities, although some evacuations run up to Calistogas eastern edge.

Cal Fire reported having 587 personnel fighting the Napa-based fires. Additional resources are needed, but are unavailable due to the many fires elsewhere in California, officials said.

Although the big Hennessey Fire, now wrapped into the LNU Lightning Complex, began near the city of Napas main local water source, Lake Hennessey, no facilities have been damaged and the treatment plant continues to operate normally, said Phil Brun, the citys utilities director.

Damage to the reservoirs watershed will be assessed after the fires are out and mitigation measures, where feasible, will be taken to maintain water quality, Brun said.

Because of the fires, Pope Valley Union Elementary shut down distance learning and the distribution of Grab and Go Meals until the campus is safe to return to.

COVID-19 testing at Napa Valley Expo was cancelled for Thursday, although the fires do not threaten the city.

Editors Note: Because of the public safety implications of the wildfires, we are providing access to this article free of charge. To support local journalism, please visit

https://napavalleyregister.com/members/join/ and consider becoming a member.

Register Editor Sean Scully, Register reporter Barry Eberling and St. Helena Star reporter Jesse Duarte contributed to this story. You can reach City Editor Kevin Courtney at kcourtney@napanews.com or at 707-256-2217.

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Photo credit: Elaine Chung

From Esquire

Heres a depressing thought, at a time when we really dont need any more depressing thoughts: We could be barreling towards a big-box booze future. Dire predictions abound that only chain restaurants and monolithic brandsthe Applebees and Targetswill make it through this pandemic as independent restaurants flail. Similarly, its safe to say the dominant corporate distilleries like Jim Beam, Wild Turkey, and Jack Daniels, all of which produce high quality and affordable whiskey, will survive just fine.

Alongside the big guys, though, there are around two-thousand craft distilleries in the U.S. making any and every type of alcohol you can imaginebourbon, single malt, rye, rum, gin, vodka, even malort, for some reasonthat bring much-needed, small-batch diversity to liquor stores. I know I would rather drink in a world where I can go choose between a young peated bourbon distilled in Brooklyn, an amaro made in the Rocky Mountains using local botanicals, and some good old Kentucky whiskey. This just might not be an option a year from now.

Photo credit: Los Angeles Times - Getty Images

In early March, Catoctin Creek co-founder Scott Harris excitedly wrote on his Virginia distillerys website about the approach of St. Patricks Day, a new pug christened the "minister of cuteness," and bottling workshops for the public. A few weeks later, he would describe how "the whole rug has been pulled" out from under his feet. "The sales and tasting room staff that would have been furloughed were redirected to work sanitizer, so no impact for now to whiskey production," he wrote in an email to me in April. "It's crazy busy here, but we're holding it together." In the months since, hand sanitizer production ended, as the distillery found it impossible to obtain ingredients, but Harris managed to keep his staff employed filling orders. The tasting room reopened at half-capacity. Things were slowly starting to rebound.

But a new crisis-inspired report from the Distilled Spirits Council out this week provides some bleak statistics. Based on a June survey of almost 300 distilleries around the country, it revealed that craft distilleries are projected to lose $700 million in sales due to tasting room shutdowns and loss of onsite purchases, which represents 41 percent of their business. Nearly a third of craft distillery employees have been furloughed. Its unclear how sustainable any rebound might be.

Story continues

Distilleries are tourist attractions, and as the pandemic barrels through August, people arent traveling. While some tasting rooms have reopened in a limited, outdoor capacity, others remain shuttered. Those craft distilleries that stepped up to produce hand sanitizer instead of (or in addition to) spirits did so in a remarkable surge of altruism that bested profits for some, who donated to hospitals and fire departments. Theres even talk of distilleries being converted into vaccine production centers in the coming year. This might be a great idea for the continued survival of humankind, but it doesnt really seem like a tenable business plan. And while we are still drinking (a lot) at home, causing online alcohol sales from websites like Drizly and Flaviar to soar, for craft distilleries, the benefits of this booze boom are a mixed bag.

One problem is that many people are turning to what New York Distilling Company owner Allen Katz calls "comfort brands"those familiar booze heavyweights. "Its a challenge, but it doesnt make me cower," he said. In the midst of cranking out hand sanitizer to be donated, his distillery has been reaching drinkers through virtual tours, tastings, and online shops. "But ultimately," he said, "its up to the consumer to stay in their comfort zone or experiment with something new."

Besides name recognition, the "comfort" distilleries have resources behind them that dont compare to the craft world. When I reached out to Four Roses in April to ask about the pandemics effect on production, master distiller Brent Elliott said that he was confident the September release of the annual Limited Edition Small Batch bourbon would not be delayed; representatives for Buffalo Trace and Jim Beam likewise confirmed everything remained on track. Craft distillers dont feel quite as confident.

Brad Estabrooke, founder of Brooklyn's Breuckelen Distilling, says his limited resources will make the coming year very difficult, vaccine or no. And its not just a money issue; many small distilleries operate with a skeleton crew of devoted employees who may not want to or be allowed to go to work. "I don't think many small distilleries have the 'bench' to step in if the main folks get sick," Estabrooke said back in April. "I think part of the difficulty, probably for everyone, is trying to run the business and reduce risk at the same time."

In early August, Estabrooke told me that hed been working at the distillery by himself all summer, after his assistant was called up to the National Guard as the pandemic exploded in New York City. "I could certainly use some help, but it's also difficult to train a new person while social distancing," he said in an email. "I've been quite concerned with reducing the spread and staying healthy myself. I guess so far I've been thinking it is easier to just hunker down and do the work myself." Overall, Breuckelen's sales have been down about 15 percent compared to last year, which is better than expected. Now, Estabrooke fears that his latest release, Brownstone Malt Whiskey, will suffer because customers wont be able to come in to actually taste it onsite. "That's generally our best marketing for a new product," he said.



Selling craft spirits often involves a personal touch that bigger brands dont need. At this point, most of us arent concerned with the backstory behind Jack Daniels (though theres plenty of interesting history there). But if you are spending $60 on a two-year-old bottle of whiskey from an upstart distillery that has yet to make a name for itself, you are probably interested in hearing about the personalities, history, barrels, and mashbills behind it. People are thirsty for spirits that they can latch onto both for uniqueness and a sense of pride in a local business making good. The pandemic could sweep aside a new release, especially when tasting rooms are closed, adding another nail in the coffin for a craft producer.

Photo credit: Al Bello - Getty Images

Half a year into the pandemic, online sales remain the best (and sometimes only) way to get craft spirits into the hands of craft spirit drinkers, especially under threat of successive waves of the virus. Dan Leese, president and CEO of San Franciscos Hotaling & Co., said that in addition to selling through online channels, Hotaling is focused on adding online educational experienceslike tasting mats with descriptions of various spirits, distiller interviews, and cocktail demonstrationsaccompanied by links to "buy now."

Not every distillery has the funds or staff to urge consumers towards online sales, though. The phone at Nevadas Frey Ranch Distillery was ringing off the hook with interested customers, according to co-founders Colby and Ashley Frey, and initially they had to refer them to the liquor stores that remained open. In May, their whiskey became available for online purchase. The good news is that many states have made changes to allow distilleries to ship directly to consumers. Tom Mooney, co-founder and CEO of Westward Whiskey in Oregon, saw growth of more than 30 percent compared to last year when Westward began mailing whiskey bottles straight to drinkers, a whiplash change. "It has done nothing short of saving our business," he wrote in an email.

If any craft distilleries don't make it to the other side of this pandemic, it won't be without dedicating boundless energy to ensuring that we continue to have drinking alternatives to the big brands. After all, its what we want. "Our taste buds have matured and evolved," said Katz. "Theres a mix of big brands and craft brands that have all garnered attention at the consumer level. Just because weve lived through this pandemic, I dont believe our taste buds will change."

It might not be enough. In the latest punch to the gut, the federal government announced that it will maintain a 25 percent tariff on whiskey and other spirits imported from Europe, which has resulted in retaliatory tariffs on American whiskey. The Distilled Spirits Council says U.S. whiskey exports have fallen by 33 percent since the tariff was enacted. And according to Margie Lehrman, CEO of the American Craft Spirits Association, federal excise taxes on craft distilleries may increase by 400 percent if relief is not extended at the end of the year. "From the possibility of taxes rising, to tasting rooms shuttering, to the inability to even introduce spirits to consumers because of a market saturated with big brands on the shelves of retail stores," she said, "craft distillers face an uphill battle and a difficult future." As seems to be the running theme here, the outlook remains murky.

Estabrooke is trying to keep a hopeful attitude. "Distillers are a resilient, hardworking, and dedicated bunch," he said. "I'm generally amazed at how many continue to operate, because it takes a ton of hard work, and plenty of luck, to keep things going." If the tenacious energy behind our beloved craft spirits can persist, some distilleries may emerge from the pandemic stronger, or at least intact. We know the big booze players arent going anywhere, and there will be no shortage of Fireball, Titos, or Bulleit anytime soon. But if "comfort" booze is all well have left, and thats not very comforting at all.



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The resumption of Theophilus Soyombo as the interim vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos, has, once again, been met with stiff opposition by the universitys staff union, ASUU.

This is in spite of Mr Soyombos Wednesday meeting with the university staff, where he pleaded for support and acceptance.

Save the council which appointed him last week, after removing the incumbent vice-chancellor, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, for alleged misappropriation, Mr Soyombo does not have the backing of key parties in the school.

The alumni association, the staff schools unions and the national ASUU as the school Senate have faulted removal of Mr Ogundipe and the subsequent appointment of Mr Soyombo as acting vice-chancellor.

It appears, therefore, that Mr Soyombo hoped to use the meeting to rally support for his tenure as the head of the university.

I want to thank all our unions. I see it as a call to service to the university; its in this regard that I accepted the post, Punch reported him saying.

We all came here to work and it behoves us to make it better than we met it. We should not allow the ship of this university to drift.

My major focus will be on staff welfare. My belief in this regard is that human resources (staff) are the core assets of the university and any organisation. Otherwise, we cannot achieve anything, he said.

But UNILAGs ASUU would not have any of these.

The chairman of the union, Dele Ashiru, maintained that as far as the union was concerned, Mr Ogundipe remained the vice-chancellor of the institution.

The Senate of the university is the highest decision-making organ on academic affairs; the Senate has spoken and that remained unchanged. A VC will not assume office by addressing pressmen and some disgruntled members of staff. You take charge when you take off, Punch reported.

In reaction to his rejection, Mr Soyombo showed optimism, saying the disagreement would be resolved through dialogue.

ASUU is our union, I am a member of ASUU. We will continue to dialogue with ourselves. It is rare to have 100 per cent agreement in any organisation or group, there will always be different opinions.

Senates rejection

Meanwhile, last week, when the universitys Senate took its resolution to President Buhari, it told reporters that the purported removal (of Mr Ogundipe) was illegal because due process was not followed.

The spokesperson of the Senate, Chioma Agomo, said its resolution was that the status quo remains.

We are not saying the council cannot remove the vice-chancellor but we are saying due process was not followed, Mr Agomo said.

The professor of law said to remove the vice-chancellor, a joint committee of both council and Senate ought to be set up.

Universities miscellaneous act says a vice-chancellor can be removed by the council after a joint committee of council (3 members) and Senate (2 members) finds them guilty, after which the Visitor, the Nigerian president, is notified for approval.

If there is a vacancy and there is (a) need to appoint an acting vice-chancellor, the council has the right to do (so) on the recommendation of the Senate. This has not been done.

On that note, she said, the Senate affirms its confidence in the vice-chancellor and lost confidence in the council.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the council, Wale Babalakin, has maintained that due process was followed, adding that Mr Ogundipe has not denied the infraction allegations levelled against.

This is even as Mr Ogundipe denied wrongdoing, according to the councils report seen by this newspaper, with which he was indicted.

Leadership tussle

The management of the university has, since last week, been in a leadership quagmire with the schools council.

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On one hand, the council, led by the schools pro-chancellor, Mr Babalakin, said it had removed Oluwatoyin Ogundipe as vice-chancellor over alleged gross misconduct and forgery.

From his end as the head of the management, Mr Ogundipe said he remains the vice-chancellor because due process was not followed.

The council would later announce an acting vice-chancellor in Mr Soyombo, who has since called for peace.

Mr Ogundipe is also bracing to seek legal redress, the newspaper reported.
Iran has disclosed that it seized a ship from the United Arab Emirates earlier this week, after the vessel trespassed in its territorial waters. Two Iranian fishermen were reportedly also killed by UAE coast guards the same day, RT reports.

Iranian security forces took control of the UAE-registered ship on Monday, after it was detained due to illegal traffic, Irans foreign ministry announced on Thursday.

In a separate incident on the same day, the ministry said that UAE security forces had shot and killed two Iranian fishermen and seized their boat. Iran summoned the UAE ambassador over the altercation, according to reports. The Iranian fishing boat and its crew were later released.

The UAE has expressed regret for the incident and in a letter on Wednesday announced its readiness to pay compensation, Tehran said.
Bayer announced today that it has reached agreements with plaintiff law firms to resolve approximately 90% of the nearly 39,000 total filed and unfiled U.S. Essure claims involving women who allege device-related injuries. The settlements include all of the jurisdictions with significant volumes of Essure cases, including the state of California Joint Council Coordinated Proceedings (JCCP) and Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (EDPA). The company will pay approximately 1.6 billion U.S. dollars (1.35 billion euros) to resolve these claims, including an allowance for outstanding claims, and is in resolution discussions with counsel for the remaining plaintiffs.

Settling claimants will be required to dismiss their cases or not file. There is no admission of wrongdoing or liability by Bayer in the settlement agreements. The other terms of the settlement agreements are confidential. The settlement amount is covered by existing provisions.

With the settlements, Bayer resolves virtually all of the U.S. Essure litigation so that the company can focus on its commitment to women's health, where it has long been a leader, without the distractions and uncertainties associated with this litigation. Bayer sympathizes with all women who have experienced adverse health conditions, regardless of the cause, but the company continues to stand by the science supporting the safety and efficacy of Essure. Bayer recognizes that women want safe and effective reproductive health options that best meet their individual needs and is committed to continuing its investment, innovation, and leadership in this important area of health.

Women with Essure can continue to rely on the device for their reproductive health and should speak with their healthcare providers if they have any questions or concerns. Bayer will continue to provide support services for women with Essure and their healthcare providers. The company stands behind the safety and efficacy of Essure, which are demonstrated by an extensive body of research, undertaken by Bayer and independent medical researchers, involving more than 270,000 women over the past two decades.

These U.S. settlements have no impact on pending litigation in other countries, as Bayer's decision to resolve these cases is based significantly upon factors that are specific to the U.S. legal system.

In 2018, Bayer announced a voluntary discontinuation of sales and distribution of Essure in the United States, which followed a similar action in all other markets a year earlier. In both instances, the decision was based on a decline in sales of Essure in recent years and the conclusion that the Essure business was no longer sustainable. As a result of Bayer's voluntary business decision to discontinue the sales and distribution of Essure, the device is no longer available for placement.

About Bayer

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to benefit people by supporting efforts to overcome the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development, and the Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2019, the Group employed around 104,000 people and had sales of 43.5 billion euros. Capital expenditures amounted to 2.9 billion euros, R&D expenses to 5.3 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conformthem to future events or developments.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200820005665/en/

Contacts:

Carolyn Nagle, 201-419-0337

carolyn.nagle@bayer.com
Most people would do anything for an upgrade. But for Australians returning from essential trips abroad, they have little choice but to shell out for this luxury. In fact, many passengers are being forced to book business class tickets, or else risk being bumped from the flight and not getting home at all.

They are also being made to feel like criminals, one passenger has told DMARGE.

To give you a sneak peek into what all this looks like, DMARGE spoke exclusively with Jaynee Wehbe, global sales director at TRIANGL, who earlier this year was granted an exemption to travel to Ibiza and Italy on business.

Traveller reports that since the Australian governments international travel ban came into effect in March, more than 90,000 applications to leave Australia have been lodged, and only 22,640 of those have been approved.

Jaynee, who in July told us about the bizarre new reality of flying business class to Europe, is one of them.

Jaynee has since returned, along the way confirming the rumour many returning Australians are being forced to fly home in luxury.

Jaynees first flight home was supposed to go Nice-London-Doha-Sydney with Qatar on the 2nd of July. Jaynee tells us, however, A couple of weeks before departure they canceled the Nice- London flight with no notice (I just checked for myself).

Had to rebook my own Nice-London flight.

I got to London 5 days before my scheduled London-Sydney flight, Jaynee continues. Two nights before I get a call from Qatar saying I have been taken off the flight and they can move me to the 10th of July on business. Only business class were traveling, all economy were being bumped.

I declined this and instead booked with Emirates for the 6th of July. So I stayed in London for an additional 4 nights.

On the 6th I get to Heathrow airport, go to check in and then am told that Dubai have changed their rules and no one is allowed to board without a negative COVID test. It was the first I had heard of it. No email or anything  I booked before the rule existed and Emirates didnt alert me.

There are no on the spot COVID tests at the airport and the quickest test turnaround is 36-48 hours.

I call to see when the next available flight is and its not until the 16th of July on ANY airline.

This passenger culling trend (Jaynee told DMARGE there were only about 40 people on the flight she eventually made it home on) started after the Australian National Cabinet cut international arrivals from a maximum of 6,500 per week to 4,000 per week, a policy which came into effect on Monday the 13th of July, causing chaos among expats and returning travellers.

The new limit, designed to ease pressure on hotel quarantine, has been leading airlines to cancel passengers bookings.

Jaynee is far from alone. Australians like Jim Collins and his family, who told the ABC in July they had been trying to get home to Tasmania from the UK since March, have also been hit hard by this phenomenon.

Mr Collins told the ABC in July, Weve repeatedly tried to get flights  And every time weve been able to do that, the flights have been cancelled.

We were told that the flight had been cancelled But the flight actually went ahead.

Now it appears that its only if you can afford a first class ticket or a business class upgrade that youre being allowed in.

Last month, DMARGE reached out to Qatar Airways to seek comment on this.

Qatar Airways responded: Due to the limitations on passengers travelling to Australian destinations, Qatar Airways analyses each flight on a case by case basis to ensure we facilitate onward travel to the final destination for as many passengers as possible.

The passenger list is continually assessed and based on a range of criteria, including compassionate and medical requests, connecting flights, booking class, party size etc. We continue to work closely with our passengers to find alternative flights if they are unable to travel on their original intended flight.

Jaynees experience suggests this culling is still happening in August.

I think 90% of the flight on the way home was business. It was easier for me to use the economy toilets rather than business thats how empty economy was! Jaynee tells us.

I only saw a handful of people in economy, mainly business and first class only.

Jaynee also provided DMARGE with several more observations on what its like to fly from Europe to Australia right now.

You cant get through the UAE without a negative COVID test

Youve been warned

Travel hygiene kits are the new amenity kits

The new normal.

Many flights have barely anyone on them

There is a metric sh*t tonne of administration

This is the 8th form Ive filled out with the same information that no-one collects.

Disposable uniforms are Emirates answer to Qatar Airways Hazmat suits

Though the Hazmat suits are more to put customers minds at ease than anything, its interesting to see the different airlines approaches.

The welcome home announcement is not very welcoming

Substantial fines or a term of imprisonment await passengers not complying with quarantine requirements, according to a message broadcast on arrival. While understandable, its not exactly a warm Bienvenue

As Jaynee told DMARGE, [the] welcome home announcement was a little intense  the common sentiment amongst us was that we felt like criminals.

Passengers dont love being made to wait around for hours

And now we sit here and wait two hours with no communication as to whats happening next.

Sydney Airports safety protocols may be painstaking, but they are important

According to Jaynee, there are nurses checking if arriving passengers have COVID at Sydney airport. If you are found to have it, you go to a hotel hospital.

Hotel quarantine is a bit of a gamble

But at least once you get there youve got plenty of help (Jaynee also posted a video, thanking army officers for helping her lift her 40kg suitcase down the stairs).

Quarantine is a blessing and a curse

Even though I have no access to fresh air or sunshine for two weeks, I am so grateful for this whole experience, Jaynee wrote on Instagram.

This all comes in a context where international travel for leisure for Australians looks increasingly unlikely until at least mid-2021 (unless, as Alan Joyce said this morning, a travel bubble with New Zealand comes to fruition at the beginning of next year).

So, unless youre bouncing on essential business, it looks like youll have to scratch your travel itch vicariously for quite some time yet  and be ready for some administrative stress when booking your flight home.

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Williamson, WV (25661)

Today

Rain early with snow overnight. Low 29F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precip 100%. Snow accumulations less than one inch..

Tonight

Rain early with snow overnight. Low 29F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precip 100%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
Hashem Abedi was described as "dozy" but police said he could have been the senior organiser in the brothers' bomb plot. (GMP/PA)

The 'cowardly' brother of the Manchester Arena bomber was told he can expect to die in prison after he was handed 24 life sentences for his part in the terror atrocity, which killed 22 people.

Hashem Abedi, 23, who the Old Bailey heard was inspired by Isis, helped his older brother Salman with crafting a bomb used in the suicide attack at an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017.

He was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 55 years after being found guilty in March of 22 counts of murder, attempted murder and plotting to cause an explosion likely to endanger life.

It is thought to be the longest minimum term imposed on a terrorist in Britain.

Hashem refused to attend the first day of his sentencing hearing, and the court heard he had been brought to the Old Bailey but was not going to come to the courtroom.

He had stopped attending much of his trial, too, variously citing illness, flashbacks and a prison assault, all of which were discredited by healthcare professionals.

Salman Abedi in the Manchester Arena, on May 22, 2017, moments before he detonated his bomb. (GMP/PA)

Justice Jeremy Baker, sentencing on Thursday, said: If the defendant, like his brother, had been 21 or over at the time of the offence, the appropriate starting point would have been a whole life order.

Not only because of the combination of the significant degree of pre-meditation but also because the motivation for them was to advance the ideology of Islamism, a matter distinct to and abhorrent to the vast majority for those who follow the Islamic faith.

The defendant and his brother were equally culpable for the deaths and injuries caused by the explosion.

The stark reality is, these were atrocious crimes. Large in scale, deadly in intent, appalling in their consequences.

The despair and desolation of the bereaved families has been palpable.

He added: The defendant should clearly understand the minimum term he should serve is 55 years. He may never be released.

Hashems older brother Salman Abedi killed 22 men, women and children aged between eight and 51 and injured many others in the bombing.

Story continues

Salman Abedi at Victoria Station heading to the Manchester Arena. (PA/GMP)

Hashem had travelled to Libya before the attack but was extradited back to the UK for trial.

He was described during the trial as dozy and an unreliable employee who worked in menial roles. He took drugs such as cannabis and MDMA, which Salman disapproved of.

Prosecutor Duncan Penny QC said he was just as guilty of the bomb plot as his brother.

The court heard the brothers bought nuts and screws for shrapnel and ordered chemicals to make homemade explosives, using unwitting friends and relatives for help.

They switched phones and used different vehicles to avoid detection, and used one property away from their home in Fallowfield, Manchester, to have the components delivered to and another as a bomb-making factory.

They had used the details of a relative to order a litre of sulphuric acid and set up an email, bedab7jeana@gmail.com, to order chemicals. The email accounts name is based on the Arabic for to slaughter we have come.

The Nissan Micra parked up in the Rusholme area of Manchester was found to contain traces of homemade explosive TATP. (PA/GMP)

When their parents visited the UK in April 2017, the brothers used a Nissan Micra to store bomb-making items and emptied the two properties used to store parts and receive deliveries.

Police said there were concerns about their possible radicalisation and their parents insisted they join them in Libya, but Salman returned to the UK, buying more shrapnel and finishing his bomb at a flat in the centre of Manchester.

After the attack, police found Hashems fingerprints at key addresses and the Nissan.

He was arrested in the North African country and extradited in 2019.

Materials police said were found in a Nissan Micra after the Manchester Arena bombing. (GMP/PA)

Penny said Hashem was at times chauffeur, at times quartermaster, at times electrical technician in the plot.

Following his arrest, Hashem had tried to point the finger of responsibility at his dead brother but Penny said it was merely an attempt to evade responsibility for his own culpability, for the cruel and cowardly carnage that took place at the arena that night.

Away from the trial, Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Barraclough, who led the investigation, said it is possible Hashem was actually the senior partner in the bomb plot.

Ian Hopkins, chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, described the brothers as cowardly and calculating murderers who tried to divide society.

But they failed to do that because actually what that atrocity did do, as painful as it was for those that lost their loved ones and those injured, it brought everybody together, he said.

The scene close to the Manchester Arena after the terror attack. (PA Images)

And it showed, it showed the world that we stood together here in Manchester in our darkest hour.

And the fact that weve had this sentence and him brought to justice shows terrorists around the world, if you commit an atrocity in the UK we will do absolutely everything to make sure you stand trial here and are brought to justice.

He said Abedi was likely to die in jail and added the investigation is still live, and people police want to speak to are not available in this country for us to speak to that we would wish to interview if possible.

Boris Johnson said the jailing of Hashem for his role in the bombing is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of tolerance, community and kindness.

In a statement, the prime minister said: The Manchester Arena attack was a horrifying and cowardly act of violence which targeted children and families.

Tributes in St Ann's Square, Manchester, a week after the Arena terror attack. (PA)

Those who were taken from us will never be forgotten, nor will the spirit of the people of Manchester who came together to send a clear message to the entire world that terrorists will never prevail.

My thoughts remain with the survivors, and with the friends and families of victims, who have shown remarkable courage and dignity.

I would also like to express my thanks to the police and all those who have worked tirelessly to deliver justice for the families.

Todays sentencing is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of tolerance, community and kindness  values which are fundamental to our country, and which we saw in Manchester in the face of unimaginable tragedy.

Speaking after the sentencing, Figen Murray, whose son Martyn Hett was among those killed in the blast, said outside court: Todays sentence given to Hashem Abedi signifies the end of another chapter in our lives and reaffirmed to us that the British justice system is strong and fair and punishes those who break the law.

Family members of victims of the Manchester Arena bombing outside the Old Bailey after Hashem Abedi was handed a record-breaking 55-year minimum term. (PA)

Mark Rutherford, on behalf of the families of his daughter Chloe Rutherford, 17, and Liam Curry, 19, said outside the court: We would like to thank Mr Justice Barker for imposing the biggest sentence ever in these circumstances.

He thanked the court, the jury, the police and the Crown Prosecution Service, while members of both families clutched photographs of their loved ones.

The 22 people who were killed were: off-duty police officer Elaine McIver, 43, Saffie Roussos, eight, Sorrell Leczkowski, 14, Eilidh MacLeod, 14, Nell Jones, 14, Olivia Campbell-Hardy, 15, Megan Hurley, 15, Georgina Callander, 18, Chloe Rutherford, 17, Liam Curry, 19, Courtney Boyle, 19, Philip Tron, 32, John Atkinson, 28, Martyn Hett, 29, Kelly Brewster, 32, Angelika Klis, 39, Marcin Klis, 42, Michelle Kiss, 45, Alison Howe, 44, Lisa Lees, 43, Wendy Fawell, 50, and Jane Tweddle, 51.

A public inquiry into the bombing is scheduled to start next month.
A Farwell man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Detroit, accused of siphoning off money he was supposed to pay in payroll taxes to cover costs at other businesses, and not filing his own tax returns.

Dale Thrush was owner of 402 N. Mission St. LLC, a payroll tax service company located in Mt. Pleasant, and between 2014-16 and is accused of only paying a portion of payroll taxes he withheld from his employees paychecks to the IRS, according to a U.S. Department of Justice press release.

Thrush is accused of using nearly $400,000 from the companys payroll account, including the withheld taxes, to cover expenses at his other businesses, not identified in the press release, and to remodel a business owned by his wife.

He is also accused of not filing returns from 2013-16 reporting income from any of his businesses, the press release said.

Thrush was indicted on 10 counts of paying over payroll taxes and four counts of failing to file his own returns. If convicted, he faces a sentence of up to five years for the payroll tax charges and one year for each count of failing to file a personal tax return.

READ MORE:
Tension is slowly building up in Tarkwa-Nsuaem constituency in the Western Region ahead of the December 7, Presidential and Parliamentary elections.



The Regional Police Command has been petitioned to hunt for the miscreants who defaced campaign billboards of an independent Parliamentary Candidate for the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency.



Billboards of Miss Joy Joycelyn were targeted after alleged supporters of the incumbent New Patriotic Party lawmaker, George Mireku Duker, went on a rampage Tuesday.



But George Mireku Duker has strongly denied any association with the vandals who defaced the billboards of his opponent.



He showed Peacefmonline.com a pictorial evidence of his billboards also defaced by some unknown people purported to be supporters of Miss Joy Joycelyn.



He described the developing issue as unfortunate and called for calm in the constituency ahead of the December polls.



Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES



TORONTO, Aug. 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Red White and Bloom Brands Inc. (CSE: RWB and OTC:RWBYF) (RWB" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with PI Financial Corp. and Eight Capital to act as co-lead underwriters, on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters (collectively the "Underwriters"), pursuant to which the Underwriters will purchase, on a bought deal basis, an aggregate of 20,000,000 units of RWB (the "Units") at a price of $0.75 per Unit (the "Offering Price") for aggregate gross proceeds of $15,000,000 (the "Offering"). The net proceeds of the Offering will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes.

The Units will be offered by way of a short-form prospectus in all provinces of Canada except Quebec, and such other additional jurisdictions in Canada as agreed to by the Company and the Underwriter.

The Company has also granted the Underwriter an option to cover over-allotments (the Over-Allotment Option), which will allow the underwriters to offer up to an additional 15% of the Offering, on the same terms as the Units. The Over-Allotment Option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time up to 30 days following the closing date of the Offering, for any number of Units, Unit Shares, Warrants, or any combination thereof at a price equal to the Offering Price for a Unit and a price to be agreed upon for the Unit Shares and / or Warrants. If the Over-Allotment Option is exercised in full, the Company will receive an additional $2,250,000 in gross proceeds for total aggregate gross proceeds of $17,250,000.

Terms of the Offering

Each Unit shall consist of one common share of the Company (each, a Unit Share) and one transferable common share purchase warrant (each such warrant, a Warrant). Each Warrant shall be exercisable into one common share at an exercise price of $1.00 per common share for a period of 24 months from the Closing Date (the Warrant Shares or together with the Unit Shares, Shares). Following the Closing Date, if the daily volume weighted average trading price of the common shares of the Company on the Exchange (as defined below) for any 10 consecutive days equals or exceeds $1.50, the Company may, upon providing written notice to the holders of the Warrants, accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants to the date that is 30 days following the date of such written notice.

The Offering is expected to close on or about September 15, 2020, or such other date as agreed between the Company and the Underwriter, and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals including the approval of the CSE.

The Company has agreed to pay a cash commission of 6.0% of the gross proceeds of the Offering and will issue to the Underwriters compensation options (the Compensation Options) equal to 6.0% of the aggregate number of Units sold under the Offering (the Underwriting Fee). The Compensation Options will be exercisable into Units of the Company at a price per Compensation Options equal to the Offering Price for a period of 24 months from the closing of the Offering.

In light of the Offering, the Company no longer intends to rely on the blanket exemption order set out in BCI 51-517  Temporary Exemption from Certain Corporate Finance Requirements with Deadlines during the Period from June 2 to August 31, 2020 of the British Columbia Securities Commission (and similar exemptions provided by the securities commissions of other provincial and territorial regulators) with respect to the filing of the Companys interim financial statements and managements discussion and analysis for the period ended June 30, 2020. The Company anticipates it will file such financial information in the normal time frame.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Red White & Bloom Brands Inc.

The Company is positioning itself to be one of the top three multi-state cannabis operators active in the U.S. legal cannabis and hemp sector. RWB is predominately focusing its investments on the major US markets, including Michigan, Illinois, Massachusetts, California, and Florida with respect to cannabis, and the US and Internationally for hemp-based CBD products.

For more information about Red White & Bloom Brands Inc., please contact:

Tyler Troup, Managing Director

Circadian Group IR

IR@RedWhiteBloom.com

Visit us on the web: www.RedWhiteBloom.com

Follow us on social media

Twitter: @rwbbrands

Facebook: @redwhitebloombrands

Instagram: @redwhitebloombrands

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information that are based on the beliefs of management and reflect the Companys current expectations. When used in this press release, the words estimate, project, belief, anticipate, intend, expect, plan, predict, may or should and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release includes information relating to the Offering, the intended use of proceeds and the receipt of requisite approvals including but not limited to approval from the Canadian Securities Exchange. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company with respect to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following risks: risks associated with the implementation of RWBs business plan and matters relating thereto, risks associated with the cannabis industry, competition, regulatory change, the need for additional financing, reliance on key personnel, the potential for conflicts of interest among certain officers or directors, and the volatility of the Companys common share price and volume. Forward-looking statements are made based on managements beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements.

There are a number of important factors that could cause the Companys actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others, risks related to RWBs proposed business, such as failure of the business strategy and government regulation; risks related to RWBs operations, such as additional financing requirements and access to capital, reliance on key and qualified personnel, insurance, competition, intellectual property and reliable supply chains; risks related to RWB and its business generally. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on the Companys forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed a certain progression, which may not be realized. It has also assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. While the Company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time.

THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMPANY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PRESS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE THE COMPANY MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.
Transcontinental Times journalist Prashant Kanojia has been arrested at his Delhi residence on August 18 for his social media posts that allegedly disturbed communal harmony. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its Indian affiliate the Indian Journalists Union (IJU) are concerned by the arrest and urge the government to stop harassing journalists.

Uttar Pradesh Police arrested Kanojia at around 1.30 pm on Tuesday, without providing any reason. According to his wife, Agisha Arora, around five or six people, one of them in police uniform, arrested the journalist at their residence. However, a First Information Report (FIR) filed at the Hazratganj police station in Lucknow on August 17, accuses the journalist of disrupting communal harmony via his social media posts. The FIR alleges that Kanojia, edited a Facebook post of Shushil Tiwari, a member of the right-wing group called the Hindu Army, and shared it on his Facebook page with intent to defame Tiwari. The FIR also accuses Kanojia of posting the same morphed image in Twitter on August 16, 2020 with a message that could be interpreted as Tiwari ordering a ban on the entry of members of the certain lower caste members or tribes into the Ram temple.

Earlier, in the first week of April, a FIR was filed against Kanojia for making what was alleged to be objectionable remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on social media. Similarly in June 2019, Kanojia was picked up from his residence for a post he shared about a woman wanting to marry the chief minister.

The Transcontinental Times is an independent news outlet that prides itself on being committed to public interest and democratic values.

The IJU Secretary General Sabina Inderjit said: Uttar Pradesh governments intimidation, harassment and arrest of Kanojia is against the freedom of speech and expression. The government must stop misusing law to supress freedom of expression and the press.

The IFJ said: The IFJ has documented a number of cases in India in 2020 where authorities have attempted to silence independent media, particularly journalists who are critical of political leaders. We are deeply concerned by such unacceptable actions and urge the authorities to withdraw the case against Kanojia.
Andalusian regional president Juanma Moreno sent out a message of reassurance on Thursday, saying that southern Spain was still a long way from the coronavirus infection levels in other regions such as Aragon, Madrid and Catalonia. He did, however, appeal to the responsibility of the general public to slow the infection rate, hinting at the possibility of more serious measures than those brought in from Monday. He wouldnt hesitate, he said, however painful they might be.

Thursdays official Covid-19 cases figures for Andalucia showed 586 new positive PCR tests in the previous 24 hours, once again the greatest increase since April. This confirms the trend of the last week, with day-on-day figures being around the 500 mark.

Numbers for the province of Malaga and the Costa del Sol were slightly more optimistic on Thursday, when 143 new cases were reported in the previous 24 hours. This is 40 cases fewer than those reported on Wednesday, the first fall in a week since the daily figures first hit the 100 mark.

Hospitalisation numbers also seemed to have stabilised in Malaga province on Thursday when two more patients with Covid were admitted (there were six on Wednesday) taking the total in Malaga province to 59. A more worrying figure is the three patients who were moved to intensive care on Thursday, taking the number in ICUs from four to seven.

Its clear that the number of cases has multiplied especially in some provinces, such as Almeria, said Moreno. We knew this could happen with people moving around [on holiday] along with some irresponsible behaviour and attitudes.
Louisville Metro Council Using COVID to Protect Abortion

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Sovereign King Church

Aug. 20, 2020



LOUISVILLE, Ky., Aug. 20, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- Sovereign King Church and Reformation Church of Shelbyville call upon the Louisville Metro Council to cease its effort to protect abortion and silence free speech on public sidewalks. The Council, instead of exploiting the COVID-19 crisis in an abuse of power, ought to lead the city of Louisville in heartfelt repentance acknowledging the just judgment of God.



Louisville has experienced an unprecedented time of upheaval in the past few months. From initial concerns about COVID-19 to economic upheaval caused by its response, the city of Louisville had already been dealt a hard blow this year. The city was then rocked by a police shooting scandal.



Mass protests and riots did a number on the city. Large groups of gun-carrying protesters have marched through the streets past boarded up businesses and stood on the steps of government buildings, threatening to burn down the city if their demands were not met.



Violent crime has ballooned in the last few months. Car theft is up 300% from last year. This year to date, the homicide rate has already surpassed all of 2019's numbers and is looking to double it. Just last week a 3-year-old girl was killed, bringing the number of homicide victims into the 90s.



This number of victims is underreported because each year, the City of Louisville allows over 3000 innocent children to be put to do death on Market Street. Innocent children have their arms and legs ripped off and are discarded, and all the while, prominent politicians in Louisville make a show of their support for "justice."



The Holy Scripture says that God is opposed to murder. Romans 13:4 says that the civil government is to be a terror to evil. The civil government is to punish evildoers especially those who murder. In the Old Testament, God's people were told that if they did not deal with those who slaughtered children in their midst, God would spew them from the land. God judges those who will not protect the helpless when it is in their power to do so. Right now it is clear that God is judging the city of Louisville. Whether it's COVID, economic loss, or riots and other crime, God is dealing with the city. Bloodshed begets bloodshed.



Yet in the midst of this, rather than repenting and turning to God, the Metro Council of Louisville has decided to double down on the protection of abortion. In an abuse of power, the Metro Council is debating instituting a buffer zone in front of the abortion mill in order to take part of the public sidewalk (a place most sacred for free speech) and make it off-limits to certain speech. That is, they want to make it a place "safe" from speech that is opposed to the slaughter of children. To top off their wickedness, the city of Louisville is using COVID- 19 to pass an ordinance that they have not been able to pass before now.



Does the city really need to protect bloodshed while it is experiencing bloodshed? Is now the time that it needs to crack down on truly peaceful protestors? Does the Metro Council think it can shake its fist at God?



Our churches call upon the Council of Louisville to consider the judgments of God. Isaiah 1 says:

"So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow."

We call upon those in authority to reject the buffer zone and instead to work on legislation making Louisville a safety zone for the preborn. We call upon the council to issue a proclamation of repentance and to set aside a day of fasting and prayer that God's judgment may be turned from this city. The Scriptures are full of promises that for those who repent, God is a just and merciful God. Who knows, that if we repent, God may relent and pour out blessings upon the city of Louisville. But if the city of Louisville continues to double down on child murder, God's judgment may have only just begun.



Sovereign King Church and Reformation Church are reformed Presbyterian and Baptist churches in Southern Indiana and Shelbyville with members in the city of Louisville. SKC and RCS routinely have a presence at the EMW Women's Surgical Center (abortion clinic). Their members preach the gospel and offer women resources such as adoption and financial aid as they enter the clinic.



SOURCE Sovereign King Church



CONTACT: Joseph Spurgeon, 502-509-7819


At Mendy and Joe McNultys home in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, coronavirus testing supplies are in the kitchen. The parents gather there with their two sons to do home tests in a new study involving American families.

The McNultys are among about 2,000 families in 11 U.S. cities taking part in a DIY, or do-it yourself, study to learn more about the coronavirus. In all, the experiment involves around 6,000 people.

The families have no in-person contact with researchers. They get the necessary testing supplies in the mail.

This virus is so unknown. Any little bit we can do felt like we were doing something to help, Mendy said, explaining why the family chose to take part.

The study looks for answers to some of the most difficult questions about COVID-19. How many U.S. children and teens are infected? How many children who are infected show no symptoms? How likely are they to spread it to other children and adults?

Dr. Tina Hartert of Vanderbilt University is leading the government-financed study. She recently told the Associated Press that we just dont know yet the degree to which children can transmit the virus. Transmit is a verb that means to cause a virus or disease to be given to others.

Evidence from the U.S., China and Europe shows that children are less likely to become infected with the virus. They are also less likely to become seriously ill when they do get sick.

There is also data suggesting that young children do not transmit the virus very often. But the data does suggest that children age 10 and over may spread the virus just as easily as adults. The new study aims to find better evidence.

The families collect their own nasal swabs for COVID-19 tests. Less often, they also collect blood and stool samples. The samples are sent off by mail. Subjects receive text messages that ask about possible symptoms and that remind them to test.

The study could help give information about the safety of in-class education during the coronavirus crisis. However, results are not expected before the end of the year.

The exact number of COVID-19 cases in children remains unclear. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that at least 175,000 cases have been confirmed in those aged 17 and under. Those cases make up less than 10 percent of all confirmed cases in the U.S.

But health experts say the true number is likely much higher because many children do not get tested.

The family study is also investigating whether children with asthma or allergies might have some protection against COVID-19. Experts do not know why that might be the case, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The institute is paying for the research.

As a mom, former school teacher and scientist, Hartert wants to better understand the coronavirus. She says it is possible that none of the families will get infected. But that possibility is highly unlikely, given the number of COVID-19 cases across the country, she added.

Mendy McNulty says so far her family has remained healthy. She and her husband are both 39 and dont feel too worried about getting sick.

She is waiting to see what happens when her children return to school in mid-August. They will go to school two days a week - with face coverings and social distancing - and do online learning three days a week. I am prepared to bring everyone home if outbreaks occur, she said.

McNulty said the boys  7-year-old Andrew and 9-year-old Hudson  were happy to take part in the study. She helps them do the nose swabbing, and they both say it does not really hurt.

Dr. David Kimberlin says he and other health experts have been waiting for the kind of data the family study will provide. Generally speaking, the virus behaves differently in children than adults, said Kimberlin, a professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Why is that? We just need to know so much more.

I'm John Russell.

Lindsey Tanner reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor.

____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

symptom  n. a change in the body or mind which indicates that a disease is present

nasal  adj. always used before a noun : of or relating to the nose

swab  n. a small piece of soft material sometimes on the end of a small stick that is used for applying medicine, cleaning a wound, etc.

stool  n. medical : a piece of solid waste that is released from the body

sample  n. a small amount of something that gives you information about the thing it was taken from

asthma  n. medical: a physical condition that makes it difficult for someone to breathe

allergy  n. a medical condition that causes someone to become sick after eating, touching, or breathing something that is harmless to most people

outbreak  n. a sudden start or increase in the spread of a disease or fighting


The objective is to create clearer real-time understanding of an autonomous vehicles surroundings, especially when navigating through compromised weather, environments, or conditions.

Autonomous Solutions, Inc. (ASI) has been awarded a Phase Two grant from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicles Systems Center (formerly TARDEC). Based on the progress achieved during Phase One, ASI was chosen to continue development of a Deep Learning (DL) architecture that will support sensor fusion in environments with limited, or no, GPS. Specifically, ASI is making rapid advancements in triangulating data inputs from traditional cameras, LiDAR, and radar to feed machine learning that will provide clearer visibility, predictability, and safety in environments where GPS integrity is restricted or where GPS cannot be utilized at all.

"The objective is to create clearer real-time understanding of an autonomous vehicles surroundings, especially when navigating through compromised weather, environments, or conditions," said Jeff Ferrin, Chief Technology Officer at ASI. "As self-driving vehicles advance, especially for industrial use, the need to utilize machine learning, deep learning, and other artificial intelligence algorithms to improve performance in challenging environments only increases. Therefore, the success of this project is critically important  not only for the direct application within the U.S. military, but for applications across ASIs multiple lines of business."

In the case of a deep learning architecture that fuses information from LiDAR, radar and cameras, the innovation could not come soon enough for some industries  especially mining.

"As global mining operations re-evaluate orebody economics and redesign mines as a result of automation, mining operations will become increasingly complex and dependent on technology. By association, the need for advanced visibility and situational awareness increases exponentially," explains Chris Soccio, General Manager of the Ferrexpo Yeristovo operations. "In locations where GPS or communications networks are compromised or unreliable, the ability to leverage machine learning fed by three diverse input methods becomes not only immediately desirable, but essential to ensure system redundancy for safe and efficient mining."

ASI expects to complete the Phase Two assignment by September 2022.

About ASI

Autonomous Solutions, Inc. (ASI) is a world leader in industrial vehicle automation. ASI serves clients across the world in mining, agriculture, automotive, government, and manufacturing industries with remote control, teleoperation, and fully automated solutions from its headquarters and 100-acre proving ground in northern Utah.
Rajkot:

Police on Tuesday raided the residence of a jeweller in Bhuj town of Kutch district and seized Rs 83.76 lakh in new as well as old notes.

Based on a tip-off, officials of the Bhuj Local Crime Branch (LCB) raided jeweller Kishor Gadhechas house in Orient Colony and detained him and two others after seizing Rs 83.76 lakh cash found there, an LCB release said.

Gadhecha owns a jewellery shop in Bhuj, it added.

The other two detainees were identified as Jiva Rabari and Jitendra Gandhi. During questioning, Gadhecha told the police that while Rabari was his driver, Gandhi was his friend.

Also Read: Demonetisation aftermath | Bank deposits even up to Rs 2.5 lakh may be subjected to investigation

The seized cash comprised 1,780 notes of Rs 2,000, 3,282 notes of defunct Rs 1,000 notes, 3028 bills of scrapped Rs 500 and 200 notes of Rs 100, the release said.

Gadhecha told the LCB that the cash came from his jewellery business.

The LCB has handed over the probe to Bhuj B Division police, which will now find out the exact source of the cash, the release said.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New York: The mayor of Los Angeles has shut off power to the Hollywood home of a TikTok "influencer" after he repeatedly hosted large parties in violation of the city's coronavirus regulations.

Bryce Hall, who has nearly 13 million followers on the social media app, hosted his 21st birthday party with a large number of guests despite warnings from the Los Angeles police.

"This house has turned into a nightclub in the hills, hosting large gatherings in flagrant violation of our public health orders," Eric Garcetti, mayor of Los Angeles, said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The city has now disconnected utilities at this home to stop these parties that endanger our community," he said.
From a handful of temple trusts, the sarvajanik ganeshotsav in Pune has transformed into a mega carnival boasting of nearly 3,000 public mandals attempting to outdo each other with countless lamps, lights and colour.

In 1992, a grand spectacle had held the people of Pune in its thrall when for 55 days, a magnificent palace stood in a busy street  a facsimile of a Bikaneri fort. Bedecked in gold and silver finery, the Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati rested within, and this ostentatious celebration of its centenary became a testament to the attention the sarvajanik ganeshotsav commands each year.

Na bhuto na bhavishyati, the festival was celebrated as though there is no tomorrow, says Akshay Godse, a third-generation member of the Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Trust.

Pune: historically a crucial political and strategic stronghold in the Deccan. Here, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj resided at the Lal Mahal, the Shaniwar Wada was the epicentre of the Peshwai and in the colonial era, the city became an important office of the British Raj.

A deep-seated faith in the elephant-headed god had made Ganesh Chaturthi, that falls in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada, a festive affair in this city, but only in 1893 did Pune witness its first formal sarvajanik ganeshotsav.

Traditionally observed as a 10-day ritual in homes and temples, it was largely brought to the public space by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak who advocated in his newspaper, Kesari, the need for celebrations which would augment social unity among a people striving for independence.

Nilesh Vakil, a senior member of the Kasba Ganpati Mandal says, Tilak knew that the British realised that if they object to religious practices, they wouldnt be able to rule us. So celebrating the ganeshotsav in a public forum became a way to bring people together for the freedom movement, under the guise of a religious custom.

Tilaks vision was inspired from a practice prevalent in Baroda during those years and he flagged off what is now an over hundred-year-old tradition. From a handful of temple trusts, sarvajanik ganeshotsav has transformed into a mega carnival boasting of nearly 3,000 public mandals all outdoing each other with countless lamps, lights and colours.

But in their most rudimentary form, the public festivities were a coming together of three reputed families of the time: Dagdusheth Halwai, Bhau Rangari and Nanasaheb Khasgiwale together who set-up a ganesha idol open to the public, recounts Saurabh Dhadphale, a volunteer at the Tambdi Jogeshwari Ganpati Mandal.

A miravnuk (procession) marks the vighnahartas arrival and 10 days later it sets off to immerse the idol and close the festival. The visarjan miravnuk is a sight to behold as streets fill with thousands of devotees, roads are littered with the red, yellow, green and orange hues of the rangoli and seated atop a massive pandal, in all his glory is the lord himself, ornamented with flowers, gold and jewellery.

When the Nutan Marathi Vidyalaya, a local school, stopped granting permission for practising the dhol to its students, Dhadphale says, it led to the emergence of the first independent dhol pathak, Shivagarjana. A visarjan pandal is synonymous with the deafening beats of innumerable dhol-taashe, which attest to an incredible energy.

*

Circa 1983, Dhadphale explains, when public festivities were under way, the question arose, which mandal would be the first to immerse its idol? A council assembled to resolve this dilemma and thence were formed the paach manache ganpati or the five most revered Ganpati idols. Some others, including the famed Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai were colloquially called lighting che ganpati.

Today, the public celebrations of the five revered idols are rooted in traditional worship. Aartis are held twice daily and the fragrance of garlands and incense floats around the pandals. On the visarjan day the small, clay replicas of the idols are immersed first, followed by other local mandals.

Until a few decades ago, the Dagdusheth Halwai pandal marched at the rear-end, brightening the evening with its twinkling lights, and its immersion at midnight indicated the close of the festival. Over time, pandals proliferated, and the resulting environmental pollution, and in certain cases public intoxication, found the sarvajanik ganeshotsav embroiled in controversy.

Nonetheless, Dhadphale notes, the five primary mandals along with the Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati and the Akhil Mandai Mandal persisted in their struggle to mark a tradition which rested on worship and social responsibility.

Vakil opines that the ganeshotsav is pratikatmak, a festival symbolising social change. In keeping with that, The Kasba Ganpati operates every year with a theme using slogans like Clean Pune or E-Waste Management to draw peoples attention to critical issues.

Vakil describes this as tradition with innovation, the post-independence period heralding a shift from the fight for freedom to social welfare. Independence led to a change in the mandals primary role and meant taking on relevant initiatives that ranged from providing water ATMs to drought-hit villages to awarding scholarships to students coming from abusive, broken homes.

At its core, the festival continues to bring people together. Tickets to the Savai Gandharva music festival, notes Godse, are not affordable for all. But when a stalwart like Pt. Bhimsen Joshi sang on the Dagdusheth dais, his music was open to everyone who gathered in the chowk.

Unanimous in their struggle to assume social responsibility, the mandals stepped up, Vakil states. When the coronavirus crisis hit, Kasba Peth was a containment zone so the mandal distributed food  two rotis, subzi and a banana  to nearly 600 impoverished people over 45 to 50 days, and everything from peeling and cooking vegetables to making rotis was undertaken by volunteers alone.

Eight mandal trusts also collaborated in July to set-up a COVID-19 centre in the hostels of Fergusson College. An overwhelmed Vakil adds, To cater to patients in a college established by Tilak, in a room where once resided Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar  there could be no better way to honour a tradition we are trying to uphold.

The mandals have also devised ways to celebrate the ganeshotsav in simple, safe ways. For 2020, Godse details, The decoration, the lights, the mahal will all be ditched and a cloth mandav will be erected. Other celebrations, such as the womens festival on rishi panchami or childrens activities also stand cancelled.

Conforming to social distancing, the Kasba trust will disallow devotees from touching ganeshas palkhi, still others like the Guruji Talim Mandal, will institute online darshan events. And not more than five or 10 volunteers will be present in the pandal at a time.

In stark contrast, decorations usually begin 100 days ahead of the festival every year, as many as 300 volunteers work with each mandal. The Brahmanaspati Mandir, Ganesh Swadandalok and Mahadev's Kailash Parvat are only among some of the incredible pandals made by Dagdusheth through the years.

But right now the situation, laments Godse, is that all the dhol pathaks or the karagirs who make the dhols, sweet-makers, coconut and flower vendors, people who set up small carts for odds and ends, in what is a large mela for Pune city  right from the Shanivar Wada to Mandai  have all lost out on their income. Their lives have completely gone for a toss.

For volunteers like Vakil and Dhadphale, working in ganesh mandals is a way of life. Every year, adjusting their routines for two months they are engaged in a service which teaches them crucial lessons. Now, many mandals have stopped asking for subscriptions, but as a 10-year-old, Vakil recalls coming home from school, dropping his satchel and joining his friends to go from home to home for collecting the vargani.

Here, you actually talk to people, listen to their concerns and complaints, rather than chatting on social media, Vakil adds. We work round the clock in rotation, witnessing the faith of our aged volunteers who come only to chop some 200 kilos of onions on the last day for the bhel-batta snack.

We have received so much training here over the years, Dhadphale remarks, that no task is small. We are content in simply sweeping the mandap.

Among the five revered ganesha idols, the Kasba Ganpatis palkhi ranks at the top because it is the gram daivat or the presiding deity of Pune. For over 120 years, its pandal is put up in a gully in Kasba Peth in the old labyrinthine city. Tales abound regarding the temples establishment but the most well-known is that of Shivajis mother, Jijabai discovering a Ganesha idol, called the jayati gajanana: a Ganesha whose worship will bestow upon you immeasurable victory. Every kasba also worships the gram daivata or the goddess Jogeshwari and in Pune, the Tambdi Jogeshwari Mandir therefore commands the position of the second manacha ganpati.

The Guruji Talim Mandal was a singular symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity at a time of communal rioting, says its president Prithviraj Pardeshi, a united front formed by Khasgiwale and Sheikh Kasam Vallad hence commanding the position of the third venerated ganesha. The fourth is the famed Tulshibaug Ganpati Mandal, formed in 1901 by the largest bazaar trust in Pune, while Tilak reserved the fifth honour for Kesari, a ganesha housed at the Vinchurkar Wada in Sadashiv Peth when Tilak resided there. Run by the Kesari-Mahratta Trust, since 1905, it now rests permanently at the Kesari Wada in Narayan Peth.

The sarvajanik ganeshotsav is a vast public undertaking but its subtlety lies in its leadership, often assumed by members of one family. As the Bendre family presides over the Tambdi Jogeshwari, so are the Khatavkars the guardians of the Tulshibaug trust.

In 1952, DS Khatavkar, the father of Tulshibaug mandals president Vivek Khatavkar, created the first halta dekhava  mobile figurines which depicted Ram, Sita and Laxman crossing a river in a boat. This concept was popularised to such an extent that for years the ganesha was recognised as the Khatavkar ganpati.

So, in 1988 when Khatavkar, a graduate from JJ School of Art was tasked with creating a new ganesha idol for the mandal, it was a daunting affair. Khatavkar recalls Godses grandfather, the illustrious Tatyasaheb Godse who helmed the Dagdusheth Halwai trust, performing a pooja of a small ball of clay and saying to the then novice, Vivek, aaj tuzhya karyacha Shree Ganesh zhala. (Today marks the beginning of your task.) And Khatavkars first commission led to the massive 15-feet fibre-glass ganpati idol seated in Tulshibaug.

Khatavkar also assumes the role of the principle decorator for the Dagdusheth Halwai ganesha conceptualising and executing the heavily studded and brightly lit pandals for which the two trusts have become exceedingly popular.

Describing the trajectory of this temple, Godse says that when Dagdusheth and his wife Laxmibai lost their son in the plague epidemic that hit Pune, the couple resolved to create two idols, of ganpati and dattatreya as a spiritual release from their grief upon the advice of Chitrakoots Sadguru Madhavnath Maharaj. Made of clay, wood husk and plaster of Paris, this idol is now under the care of the Akara Maruti Mandal in Shukrawar Peth. Godse continues, The Dagdusheth Halwai subsequently passed into the hand of traders, and Tatyasheb took charge of an inventory that included 300 rupees, six mirrors, two idols, a kanthi and four copper bracelets which adorned the ganpatis arms.

In 1968, when the idol was damaged, Tatyasaheb commissioned a new statue, the ganpati which rests in the temple today. He performed the yantrasiddha ritual, Godse iterates, on the advice of their sculptors father, a revered purohit who said that such an idol would fulfil the desires of all the devotees coming here to pray. He adds, Appa shilpi assured Tatyasaheb that the more we preserve the sanctity of the idol, the more it will prosper. Needless to say, the Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati is now a world renowned religious shrine.

Today, 73 years into Indian independence the sarvajanik ganeshotsav has become symbolic of teachings passed on through three generations. And Khatavkars belief that the vighnaharta, the destroyer of evil, will ward off the coronavirus pandemic soon after the ganeshotsav, a reflection of the faith inherited by the people of this city.

All images via Facebook
Iranian Assyrian Couple Flees Country After Losing Appeal

Pastor Victor Bet-Tamraz with his wife Shamiram Issavi and son Ramiel Bet-Tamraz. International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on August 15, 2020, Iranian-Assyrian Pastor Victor Bet-Tamraz and his wife Shamiram Issavi fled the country. Just four days prior, Shamiram received an official summons to report to Evin Prison. This summons occurred after the couple lost their appeal before the courts. Pastor Victor was appealing a 10-year prison sentence, and Shamiram was appealing a five-year prison sentence. The appeal process took over two years because of multiple rescheduling delays.

Iran claims to protect religious freedom, citing constitutional protections that only apply for citizens who can prove they were Christians before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, such as Assyrians and Armenians. However, this case demonstrates the government's relentless pursuit of all Christians. It also highlights their policy of ignoring any legal obligations regarding religious freedom.

The Bet-Tamraz family expressed regret over leaving their home in Iran. However, Pastor Victor and Shamiram are both in their 60s. Given the notoriously harsh conditions of Evin Prison, made worse by COVID-19, a decision was made to flee from Iran for the sake of their health.

Judge Ahmed Zargar played an influential role in the outcome of their appeal. As an appellate judge, Zargar's courts frequently represent the last hope for Iranian Christians hoping to have their sentence overturned or reduced. Rather than intervening to protect religious freedom, Zargar upholds and validates human rights violations committed by the authorities.

In February 2019, ICC submitted a request to the United States Treasury to consider Zargar for Global Magnitsky sanctions.

Iran is recommended as a Country of Particular Concern by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. Iran also rates in ninth place on Open Doors' World Watch List, which details countries with the most severe religious freedom abuses towards Christians.

Claire Evans, ICC's Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, "Iran's government has made it clear that it has no respect for religious freedom, nor the dignity of human life. Leaving one's home is an incredibly painful process, and not one that is taken lightly. While we are glad that Pastor Victor and his wife Shamiram are safe, we are also saddened by the circumstances which compelled them to leave."

She continued, "We also must remember that the Iranian government is not the same as the Iranian people. The authorities want to dictate the conscience of every citizen, and that does not sit well with many Iranians. Every human rights violation committed by the government is a violation felt in some way across the entire country. We keep Iran in our prayers, as well as the Bet-Tamraz family, that they may find peace, safety, security, and freedom of conscience."
Lyft reversed a decision to suspend service in California Thursday after a California appeals court extended the length of time Uber and Lyft have until they need to comply with an order to reclassify drivers as employees.

Earlier Thursday, Lyft said in a blog post it would suspend service in the state as of midnight PT.

Both companies now have until 5 p.m. PT on August 25 to file written statements agreeing to expedited procedures required by the order. If they agree to the terms, the stay will remain in place until the appeal is resolved.

"While we won't have to suspend operations tonight, we do need to continue fighting for independence plus benefits for drivers," a Lyft spokesperson said in a statement following Thursday's court order. "That's the solution on the ballot in November, and it's the solution drivers want because it preserves their ability to earn and to use the platform as they do now  whenever they want  while also getting historic new benefits. Without it, 80-90% of Californians who earn on app-based platforms will lose that opportunity."

The court granted a preliminary injunction last week but stayed it until Friday while the companies appealed.

Top executives at Uber and Lyft warned last week they would likely have to suspend service to comply with the order, which meant restructuring their operations and rehiring workers.

Uber has not made a formal announcement yet about suspending service in California, but it is expected to do so.

Lyft's stock tumbled 8.5% at one point Thursday following the news but regained about half the losses. Uber shares were up slightly after falling 3.2%.
- Havi said Kenya's Parliament has become a weak link in the implementation of the 2010 constitution

- The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President said it has been emasculated by the executive and left with no power to oversight or hold any state officer to account

- He is among six petitioners who want Parliament dissolved for its failure to pass the two-thirds gender rule as required by the constitution

- Other petitioners are Fredrick Mbuagua, Margaret Toili, Bernard Aoko, Stephen Owoko and former Marakwet West MP David Sudi

Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi has exuded confidence President Uhuru Kenyatta will dissolve Parliament over its failure to meet constitutional obligations bestowed upon it.

Havi said Kenya's Parliament has become a weak link in the implementation of the 2010 constitution, particularly the two-thirds gender rule, hence the need for its dissolution.

READ ALSO: Retired bishop Silas Yego's properties to be auctioned over KSh 143M debt

LSK President Nelson Havi. Photo: Nelson Havi.

Source: Instagram

READ ALSO: Makachero wa EACC wavamia makazi ya Gavana Waiguru kuhusiana na ufisadi

Through his Twitter handle on Thursday, August 20, the LSK president said the second arm of government has been emasculated by the executive and was left with no power to oversight or hold any state officer to account.

"Parliament is emasculated. It is so weak that it cannot oversight or sencure the Executive. It will not impeach a CS or the President, however, gross the violation of the Constitution. The Executive is overbearing but the President is a good man; he will dissolve Parliament," said Havi.

READ ALSO: Premier League 2020/21: Liverpool host Leeds as Chelsea travel to Brighton

TUKO.co.ke understands that there are six petitions before Chief Justice David Maraga pushing for dissolution of Parliament.

The LSK president is among the petitioners who centred their argument on the legislature's failure to pass the two-thirds gender rule as required by the constitution.

Other petitioners are Fredrick Mbuagua, Margaret Toili, Bernard Aoko, Stephen Owoko and former Marakwet West MP David Sudi.

"Article 261(7) provides that if parliament fails to implement any court-ordered legislation to implement the constitution, the Chief Justice will advise the president to dissolve parliament and the president shall dissolve parliament," argued Havi during submission of his petition.

Kenya's National Assembly during past proceedings. Photo: Bunge TV.

Source: UGC

The gender rule has flopped on the floor of the National Assembly four times.

The last time the controversial bill was tabled in the National Assembly for debate was in February 2018 but it collapsed after the House lacked the quorum, just like in the previous proceedings.

As earlier reported by TUKO.co.ke, the court has made several rulings on the matter in a bid to compel lawmakers to pass the legislation.

In March 2017, the High Court found that the lawmakers had refused to implement the gender rule and gave them 60 days to comply with the constitutional requirement. The ultimatum, however, elapsed without any progress.

Chief Justice David Maraga. Six petitions seeking dissolution of parliament have been filed before his office. Photo: The Judiciary of Kenya.

Source: Facebook

A similar ruling had been delivered earlier in 2012 when the matter was determined by the Supreme Court after a protracted legal tussle.

The apex court then gave Parliament up to August 27, 2015, to pass the legislation, this did not happen.

Currently, 78% of MPs are male against the constitutional requirement of two-thirds or 67%.

Should the petitions be considered, then Speakers of the National Assembly and the Senate shall be required to file responses to the charges raised by the petitions within 14 days after which the CJ would advise the president on whether or not to dissolve the two Houses.

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.

Kenyans react to the revenue sharing formula row | Tuko TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
Growing up, I was a shy kid who did not fit in  a loner that loved music, film, and television. Star Wars, The Shining, The Exorcist, Akira and Hitchcocks Psycho changed my life and opened my creative mind.

I was raised by a single mother of three, born in Toronto and calling the multicultural community of Brampton my home. As I grew older, I realized the art that I so dearly cherished did not reflect the world I lived in. The characters on screen seldom looked like me or my peers. When Black people did appear in films, we were portrayed as slaves, substance abusers, or drug dealers. As a kid already struggling with my sense of identity, this began to take a toll on me.

I have worked in the music, film, and advertising industries with my long-time friend Director X for over 20 years, collaborating with artists like Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and Rihanna. While I am a proud Canadian who celebrates the diverse makeup of our country, I have witnessed first hand the challenges faced by Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC) within our creative industries.

When attending advertising award shows, X and I were usually the only Black people in the room. In June, Producer Lindsay Goeldner compiled a spreadsheet of prominent Toronto commercial production Directors. Of the 517 directors accounted for, only six were Black and less than 10 per cent were BIPOC.

In all aspects of our creative industries, from copywriting to cinematography BIPOC representation must be supported and systems and institutions must change. Talking about the problem is not enough. Proactive solutions are required if we wish to create an industry reflective of our population and modern times.

There are several organizations that have been working toward solutions for some time now: Pathway 2 Industry, POV 3rd Street, Reelworld, Film in Colour, Remix Project, HXOUSE and BIPOC TV & Film.

We must build on the progress of our peers and create equal educational opportunities and mentorship programs for budding BIPOC youth breaking into the industry. Paid internship programs are also extremely important, providing sustainable opportunities for those who cannot afford to work for free.

Positions of power, such as leadership and board positions, must allow for proper BIPOC representation. Both the industry and the government must collaborate to support these changes and tackle the issue of underrepresentation in advertising and other creative industries.

The latest announcement by the City of Toronto to provide funding to support Black leadership in the citys music industry is a step in the right direction, however, more must be done. The music industry is just one pillar of the intertwined creative industries that all need the same support and opportunity

We must begin to tell the stories of the under-represented and underappreciated, in front of the camera and behind it. It is only then that the creative industries will become equal and inclusive.
President Donald Trump speaks to supporters during a rally Thursday in Old Forge Pa. Read more

OLD FORGE, Pa.  President Donald Trump said Thursday that Joe Biden had abandoned Scranton during his career as a senator and vice president, appearing in Pennsylvania just hours before Biden was set to formally accept the Democratic presidential nomination.

Trump spoke at a business outside Bidens childhood hometown of Scranton, telling supporters that Biden spent the last half-century selling out our country.

Biden abandoned Pennsylvania, Trump said, acknowledging that his parents had something to do with that. Bidens family moved out of Scranton when he was 10.

He abandoned Scranton, Trump said, accusing Biden of supporting trade deals that cost American jobs. He was here for a short period of time and he didnt even know it.

Trumps appearance Thursday underscored the political stakes in Pennsylvania, which Trump won by less than 1 percentage point in 2016 and is again being hotly contested this year. Polls have showed Biden opening up a sizable lead against Trump in Pennsylvania and other battleground states this summer, with Trumps political standing eroded by his mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic.

But both parties expect the race to tighten. A possible sign of that emerged Thursday with the release of a Muhlenberg College poll that showed Biden ahead by only four points in the state. However, the margin of error in the survey, plus or minus 5.5 percentage points, means Bidens lead could still be substantial  or it could be negligible. And it was conducted before either of the party conventions, meaning more polls in the weeks ahead will be needed for a fuller picture of the state of the race. Earlier surveys in August showed a bigger Biden advantage.

Trump spoke for more than an hour outside a warehouse for Mariotti Building Products, a kitchen remodeler in Old Forge. He looked out toward a giant American flag hanging from two cranes, in front of a crowd of about 200 people. He veered from immigration and trade to North Korea, ISIS, the horrible plague from China, fracking, California wildfires, and low-income housing in the suburbs. Throngs of supporters lined up down the road.

At stake in this election  is the survival of our nation  its true, because were dealing with crazy people on the other side, Trump said.

Trumps swing through Northeastern Pennsylvania came a day after former President Barack Obama portrayed him as a threat to democracy and incapable of managing the country through the pandemic.

Donald Trump hasnt grown into the job because he cant, Obama said, addressing the convention from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia on Wednesday night.

And the consequences of that failure are severe, Obama said. One hundred seventy thousand Americans dead. Millions of jobs gone while those at the top take in more than ever.

In response to Obamas speech, Trump on Thursday repeated the false claim that Obama spied on his campaign. The FBI launched an investigation into potential links between the Trump campaign and Russia in 2016. The Justice Departments inspector general determined that the bureau had proper reasons to open the inquiry. The inspector general did criticize investigators handling of wiretap applications for a Trump campaign aide.

After eight long years, Joe Biden and Barack Obama left America weak, disrespected, and endangered, Trump said. We are respected again. We are a respected country.

Eager to stay in the spotlight during the Democratic National Convention, Trump made similar campaign stops this week in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Arizona.

Trump shocked Democrats with his strong performance in Northeastern Pennsylvania in 2016, and Republicans have gained in voter registrations in the region since then. He relived that experience Thursday, and predicted a repeat.

American labor will vote for Trump-Pence in 2020, theyre all saying that, he said. This used to be all Democrat until I came along.

Democrats hope Bidens childhood roots in Scranton and moderate profile will appeal to white working-class voters who helped send Trump to the White House.

 READ MORE: Everything you need to know about voting by mail, or in person, in Pennsylvania

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.), on a call with reporters ahead of Trumps visit, said Biden has the values and the spirit of Scranton in his heart.

Donald Trump doesnt know the first thing about Scranton, about Lackawanna County, or about Northeastern Pennsylvania, said Casey, also a Scranton native. He doesnt relate to us, he doesnt share our values.

Trump argued Thursday that a Biden presidency would eliminate manufacturing jobs and spawn a wave of violent crime.

If you want a vision of your life under a Biden presidency, think of the smoldering ruins of Minneapolis, the violent anarchy of Portland, the bloodstained sidewalks of Chicago, and imagine the mayhem coming to your town and every single town in America, Trump said.

Trump also lashed out at Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, saying Pennsylvanias coronavirus restrictions are too stringent.

Your governor has you in a shutdown. Whats going on?  Its more dangerous than the virus, Trump said, citing the mental health toll of quarantine. Hes got to open the state up.

Trump mostly discussed the pandemic in economic terms, pointing to the strength of the stock market despite the virus. He said he hoped the United States was in the closing moments of the pandemic. The country has added an average of more than 40,000 new cases per day in the past week, down from more than 60,000 in July but still alarmingly high to public health experts.

Trumps message resonated with supporters like Larry Roke, 64, a retired electrician from Mountain Top in neighboring Luzerne County, who said he switched his voter registration from Democratic to Republican when Trump ran four years ago.

I dont know much about Joe Biden, said Roke, a campaign volunteer who was checking peoples temperatures before they entered. You cant remember one thing that he did.

At this time he seems to be just a puppet, said Roke, who was wearing a face mask bearing Trumps Make America Great Again slogan.

And after a summer that has seen Trump, Biden, and Vice President Mike Pence make multiple appearances in Pennsylvania, Trump told supporters hed see them again soon.

Ill be back to Pennsylvania, he said, that I promise.

-Staff writer Julia Terruso contributed to this article.
A woman whose father was imprisoned for 10 years for sexually assaulting children including her has told how she felt guilty for speaking out and 'tearing their family apart'.

Becky Southworth, 26, from Manchester, was 13 when her dad was convicted. He was released two years ago, but she doesn't have a relationship with him.

As part of his sentence, her father completed a sex offenders' treatment programme - which was scrapped in 2017 after research claimed it led to re-offending.

Speaking in a new documentary which she presents, called Can Sex Offenders Change? airing tonight on BBC One, Becky said she doesn't know if he'll do it again, adding: 'It's terrifying.'

Becky Southworth, 26, from Manchester, was 13 when her dad was convicted for sexually assaulting children - including her. He was released two years ago, but she doesn't have a relationship with him

Becky opened up about her father's abuse to a friend while at his house after school. His mother then refused to let her go home, and the police became involved. Becky and her siblings went into care and her father was sent to prison.

'It tore us apart,' she told the Daily Telegraph. 'Sometimes I thought, "What have I done?" I felt guilty.'

Becky admits during the programme that one of the periods in her life when she felt the least safe was when she realised her father was being released from prison.

'It never will be an easy thing to talk about, because youre talking about your parent,' she says.

Speaking in a new documentary which she presents, called Can Sex Offenders Change? airing tonight on BBC One, Becky said she doesn't know if her father will do it again, adding: 'It's terrifying'

'These are the people that are supposed to protect you. A parent is supposed to be there for you and shelter you from the world.'

During lockdown, the Internet Watch Foundation has reported a 50 per cent increase in reports of child abuse images online. In the past year, nearly 450 sex crimes against babies under the age of one were committed in the UK.

For the documentary, Becky meets with several convicted child sex offenders to discuss their rehabilitation.

She speaks to Andrew*, who is on the Sex Offender Register for a decade after he was found with nearly 80,000 indecent images of children on his computer five years ago.

He tells her he tries to avoid 'difficult situations' like one he faced recently, when he accidentally walked past a kids' paddling pool party where some were naked.

For the documentary, Becky meets with several convicted child sex offenders to discuss their rehabilitation

Becky struggles to accept Andrew's explanation for his behaviour, which he puts down to being abused during his own childhood.

He says paedophilia is 'normal' to him because he 'lived every day with it' growing up. 'As such it was my normal life,' he tells her.

After a year in therapy, Andrew now believes he has recovered and is using dating websites in the hope of meeting a wife and starting a family.

Having been attracted to boys and girls while still battling his paedophilic urges, Andrew says he is now heterosexual and sees children as 'sweet' in a 'normal way' - but does still struggle when he sees one naked.

Becky struggles to accept Andrew's explanation for his behaviour, which he puts down to being abused during his own childhood

He explains: 'While it doesnt leave me sexually frustrated, it still generates much anxiety in me because I dont like to remember or see myself that way anymore.'

Following their 'stomach-turning' conversation, Becky says: 'This idea that the abused becomes the abuser, I just can't comprehend that.

'I can't comprehend knowing the pain that I felt, why would you then want someone else to feel that way? I just can't accept that as an excuse.

'What worries me about Andrew is he talked about his attraction to children as a sexuality. And for me, a sexuality isnt something you can change  even with therapy.'

Another offender Becky speaks to, called Chris*, says his crimes triggered by an addiction to pornography

Another offender Becky speaks to, called Chris*, says his crimes triggered by an addiction to pornography.

He was arrested for downloading and distributing hundreds of indecent images of children, some of which were Category A, but insists he never would have acted on his urges in real life.

What is the sex offender register (ViSOR)? The sex offender register, or ViSOR (violent and sex offender register) is a national database managed by the National Crime Agency. Offenders have to register their details - including name, date of birth, home address, bank details, national insurance number and passport details - with their local police force, who then add them to the national database. This applies to anyone who has been convicted, cautioned, or released from prison for a sexual offence against children or adults since 1997. Registrants must tell the police within three days if they change their name or address, and tell them if they are spending seven days or more away from home. The system allows officers and other government agencies to monitor high-risk offenders once they have been released into the community. There are currently more than 60,000 registered sex offenders. Criminals who were sentenced to more than 30 months in prison remain registered for life - those who spent less are on for 10 years. Advertisement

Chris' partner Vicky* has stood by him, but admits him losing his job and their closest friends has put a strain on their relationship.

She says he's still the man she fell in love with, but now children are 'not an option' and if they got married, there's 'a question of 'who would come - and even if people did come, they maybe dont want to be there'.

Becky also meets Kyle*, 22, who was arrested after being caught in possession of indecent images of children when he was 19.

He reveals he began looking at the pictures of children being sexually abused when he was 13, and put it down to feeling isolated and depressed.

'I was using imagery and harmful sexual thoughts to make myself feel good at the time,' he explains.

'It was a build up. The original stuff I was looking at wasn't effective any more. So I then moved onto the next step, to something slightly worse and worse until it reached that point because that was what was giving me the adrenaline rush.

'I knew it was wrong but when you're in that moment you don't think rationally.'

Becky admits she felt torn talking to Kyle because he was young enough to be a friend.

'Crimes against children are among the most horrific crimes that someone could commit and to then be sat speaking to someone having a conversation like you would almost with a friend your brain can't really put that together,' she says.

'I was torn. The human in me wants to make him feel better. But the other half doesn't want to be there speaking to this person. It was just a constant battle.'

She adds that Kyle's story proves sex offenders aren't always 'old men who lurk in parks' and can easily be someone you know and trust harbouring a sinister secret.

Can Sex Offenders Change? airs tonight (Thursday 20 August) on BBC One at 10:45pm.

*Names have been changed.
Los Angeles Philharmonic Partners with KCET For New PBS Television Series In Concert At The Hollywood Bowl

There are so many quotes about the power of music to heal. Debasish Mridha said that music can heal the wounds which medicine cannot touch, and award-winning guitarist Andre Feriante added this  music has the power to heal, transform and inspire and we have the power through deep listening to increase our intuition and self-awareness.

Its with that spirit that In Concert At The Hollywood Bowl, a new weekly music series produced in partnership with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association will be seen on KCET beginning Fri., August 21 at 8 p.m. PT on PBS SoCal and runs through the end of September (roughly the same time the summer concert season at the Bowl typically ends). The program will be broadcast to PBS Stations nationwide in early 2021.

When the world-wide pandemic hit, the Hollywood Bowl was officially canceled for the first time in its 98-year history in an effort to protect artists, audiences, and staff from the spread of COVID-19.

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Being creative problem solvers, this new television series will allow viewers to experience iconic moments from the LA Phil archives at the Hollywood Bowl, since attending in-person is currently not an option.

Six episodes featuring the best of live performances from the past 10 years at the Bowl will be hosted by LA Phils Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel. As an internationally renowned symphonic and operatic conductor, this native Venezuelan is clear that he is motivated by a profound belief in musics power to unite and inspire.

Each week, viewers will be transported to a front-row seat with unprecedented access to musical performances and appearances from a star-studded lineup that includes Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Natalia Lafourcade, Los Angeles Azules, La Santa Cecilia, Misty Copeland, Dianne Reeves, Christian McBride, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Kamasi Washington, Herbie Hancock Carlos Santana, Cindy Blackman Santana, Wayne Shorter, Kristin Chenoweth, Audra McDonald, Sutton Foster, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Vin Scully, Carlos Vives, Cafe Tacvba, Pink Martini, Thomas Wilkins, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Diego El Cigala, Katy Perry, John Williams and many more.

The Hollywood Bowl summer roster always features a broad variety of artists and genres, showcasing a roster of world-class artists ranging from classical and pop to jazz, rock, and world music. The new series features the return of legendary Hollywood Bowl favorites, as well as acclaimed artists making their Hollywood Bowl debuts while celebrating the music from a diverse array of cultures and communities around the world.

David C. Bohnett, chair and chief executive officer, Chad Smiths faith in Dudamel is well known having praised his vision and passion, offering this  Under Gustavos leadership, we are finding creative ways forward during an otherwise uncertain time.

The show must go on is a phrase in show business that means regardless of what happens, whatever show has been planned still has to be staged for the waiting patrons. This is the energy that drove the creative community of the Los Angeles Philharmonic to find a creative solution

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The silencing of our music has been deafening, Dudamel shared in a recent interview with Broadway World. I have been working non-stop since March, here in California, to find new, safe and impactful ways to address how we will adapt to the many challenges we are facing as both an institution and an art form. I believe that the LA Phil is uniquely equipped to address this ever-changing situation: We have always spoken about a culture of the new in Los Angeles, and we intend now to embrace that ideal with a renewed commitment and passionate energy.

Adding to the commitment to keep the music flowing chief creative officer of KCET Juan Devis made it clear that the LA Phil is an iconic institution and the opportunity to bring arts and culture to millions of viewers at home during a time when its needed most by our community is one of the reasons they backed A Phils Hollywood Bowl Summer Concert Series on KCET

Southern California is home to one of the most important cultural communities in the world, said Devis. And we have an undeniably important responsibility to share these iconic performances from past years with the community and with audiences nationwide.

President of the Hollywood Bowl and Chief Operating Officer of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association Gail Samuel said, KCET plays a vital role in the cultural life of Southern Californiathey have been telling our stories for more than 50 years. When the Hollywood Bowl went dark for the first time in its nearly century-long history as a result of the pandemic, we were devastated, as were the thousands of families who have made the Bowl a summertime tradition for generations. With KCETs partnership, we will be able to have a Hollywood Bowl season after allright in the living rooms of music fans here in Southern California and across the country.

Upcoming episodes of In Concert At The Hollywood Bowl will air as follows (subject to change):

Wed., Aug. 26 at 9 p.m.: Gustavo and Friends

Featuring Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil performing excerpts from Swan Lake with Misty Copeland, Pablo Ferrandez, Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil performing a selection from Dvoraks Cello Concerto, Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil performing Coplands Fanfare for the Common Man, as well as Gustavo Dudamel, the LA Phil, Amanda Majeski, JNai Bridges, Issachah Savage, Ryan Speedo Green and the Los Angeles Master Chorale (LAMC) performing the finale to Beethovens Symphony No. 9.

Wed., Sept. 2 at 9 p.m.: Jazz at the Hollywood Bowl

Featuring Dianne Reeves with Ivan Lins, Christian McBride, Chucho Valdes, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Kamasi Washington, and Mega Nova (Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana, and Wayne Shorter).

Wed., Sept. 9 at 9 p.m.: Musicals and the Movies

Featuring Kristin Chenoweth with Kevin Stites and the LA Phil, Audra McDonald with Bramwell Tovey and the LA Phil, Sutton Foster with Brian Stokes Mitchell, Gustavo Dudamel, and the LA Phil.

Wed., Sept. 16 at 9 p.m.: Musica Sin Fronteras (Music Without Borders)

Featuring Vin Scully, Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil, Carlos Vives, Cafe Tacvba, and Siudy Garrido Flamenco Dance Theater with the LA Phil and conducted by Paolo Bortolameolli in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Wed., Sept. 23 at 9 p.m.: Fireworks!

Featuring Katy Perry, Pink Martini, Thomas Wilkins, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Diego El Cigala, Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil performing a selection from Stravinskys Firebird Suite, plus John Williams and the LA Phil performing music from Star Wars.

The new series In Concert At The Hollywood Bowl will be included in a robust Wednesday night of programming for KCET designed to highlight the resilience of the arts community. Under the theme Create Wednesday, the schedule will also feature popular Arts and Culture programs that have previously aired on KCET and PBS that include KCETs Emmy award-winning original art series Artbound and student film showcase Fine Cut as well as Americas preeminent performing arts television series from PBS, Great Performances.

The lineup also includes the new local weekly series Southland Sessions which celebrates the creativity and spirit of Los Angeles arts and culture communities by featuring a diverse spectrum of content from a variety of prominent voices from around Southern California for up-close, virtual sessions.

For updates, follow @KCET @LAPhil and #InConcertAtTheHollywoodBowl on social media.

Select original programming from KCET is also available for streaming on Apple TV, YouTube, Amazon and Roku platforms. For more information please visit kcet.org/apps. KCET is a content channel of the Public Media Group of Southern California.
In a barbaric act, a pregnant Indian bison, also known as gaur, was killed for its meat in the Malappuram district of Kerala.

On the night of August 10, the local police received a tip about poaching of a wild animal following which they conducted a raid. The raid revealed that six men in the Puncha Forest region had killed a bison and around 25kg of meat was seized from their homes. Further investigation of the bones and carcass of the animal revealed that the animal had been pregnant at the time of the killing.

According to a report by Malayalam News18, the men also butchered the foetus that was growing inside the animal's womb.

The men reportedly shot the bison near Poopathiripara. Once they were done slaughtering the animal, they dumped the bones, carcass and other hunting equipment in the forest. More than 200kg of meat was also distributed after the slaughter.

Even though the accused tried to escape during the raid, they were caught and arrested. Six men were detained and were produced in court this week.

The Forest Department arrested Pullara Nanippa alias Abu, Parothodika Mohammad Bustan, Talakottupuram Mohammad Ansif, Chemmala Aashiq and Pilakkal Suhail and Suresh Babu from Puncha.

This comes just about two months since a pregnant elephant was brutally killed after consuming a pineapple laden with firecrackers in Silent Valley in Attappadi. The gruesome incident shook the whole country to its core and led to a worldwide outrage.

Animal cruelty seems to have been on the rise in the months during the lockdown. A journal published in the initial months of the pandemic showed that chances of animal abuse increasing during the lockdown were alarmingly high. In fact, the study showed that vets had been warned to expect an influx of cases involving tortured animals during this period.

In India, there have been reports of monkeys and other animals being tortured and abused or killed as well. In a case of extreme brutality, a monkey was hanged to death from a tree by three people in a bid to scare other simians in Khammam district of Telangana in June. In another video that went viral on social media, men from Uttar Pradesh were spotted torturing a monkey with sticks and paint.

(With inputs from News18 reporter Anumod CV)
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The City of Los Angeles cut the power at a Hollywood Hills mansion rented by the TikTok stars Bryce Hall, Noah Beck and Blake Gray on Wednesday in response to parties held at the residence amid the coronavirus crisis.

Mr. Hall hosted a party for his 21st birthday on Friday, Aug. 14; footage from the event posted to Instagram shows dozens of attendees crowded together in one room. After neighbors called in noise complaints, the event was shut down by the Los Angeles Police Department.

That party took place at a rental home in Encino, not the Hollywood Hills home where the power was turned off on Wednesday, though Mr. Hall has hosted parties there too. (Mr. Hall declined to comment for this article.)

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles mayors office confirmed that the city had cut the power at Mr. Halls residence. Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement that the city had been authorized to disconnect utilities, which include water and gas.
The New Zealand Aged Care Association has reiterated its 600 rest homes are still operating at COIVD-19 alert level 4, despite that being out of sync with Ministry of Health advice and the actions of some age-care facilities.

Ministry advice for rest homes outside Auckland is that they can allow visitors at alert level 2.

But Aged Care chief executive Simon Wallace says its members, which represent 90 per cent of aged-care facilities or 36,000 beds, were taking no chances.

"From the aged care perspective we went to level 4 on August 12 as a precautionary measure which is still in place.

"And until we are satisfied there is no community transmission beyond Auckland, and until we are satisfied all our rest homes have the appropriate supply of PPE they need, our recommendation is to continue to restrict visitors."

Wallace says end-of-life visits were still permitted under strict health precautions.

The MOH is aware of Aged Care's position, which he says had been unambiguous from the beginning.

Simon's comments follow an incident at a New Plymouth rest home which resulted in a complaint being made to the Taranaki District Health Board.

Family members of a patient admitted to an Ultimate Care Rhapsody facility this week were upset a wider family member had been allowed to visit him.

"In disbelief, I rang Rhapsody and asked them to confirm if this was true or not. They confirmed he did have a family member visit him and made excuses for this breach, saying the family member just wanted to check in on him," he says.

They say the family were under the impression the home was operating under level 4 restrictions.

"I believe these lockdown rules are for everybody's safety and we should be able to rely on rest home and ages care facilities to follow those rules.

"I really hope it's just this one-off incident and that other breaches haven't occurred in this or any other aged care facility. Our elderly are our most vulnerable."

Director of nursing for the Ultimate Care Group Carol Kaffes says Rhapsody, which was a member of the Age Care Association, was following Ministry of Health guidance for managing its residents.

"Yesterday, we admitted a new resident to Rhapsody who unfortunately did not have any personal items with him at the time. I can confirm a family member was allowed to bring into the facility his required items.

"The family member agreed to wear full PPE clothing as a precaution and was taken to the residents room to briefly hand over the necessary items, still wearing the full PPE clothing until exiting the facility very shortly afterwards."

Taranaki DHB's general manager planning and funding, Becky Jenkins, says it had engaged with a family worried about Rhapsody's actions and reassured them that it had not breached a 'lockdown' by allowing a visitor into the facility.

"We understand that COVID-19 is creating some worry for people, particularly in relation to loved ones in rest homes, however the advice from the Ministry of Health is that family visits are able to continue at level 2, although providers will take precautions and manage visiting in a controlled way to minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission to residents and staff."

Becky says the DHB was aware that some rest homes had put additional restrictions in place, for example, not allowing family visits.

"However this reflects individual rest home provider policies rather than national Ministry of Health guidance. This guidance is likely to change of course if Taranaki moves to level 3."

Meanwhile, Simon says he understood Age Care's policy had created difficulties for families with loved ones in care.

"But as an industry association representing the aged care sector in New Zealand we just don't want to take any chances given what we have seen in Melbourne and elsewhere overseas. That's why we are being extra cautious at the moment."

Aged Care will review its position on Friday.

Robin Martin/RNZ.
The Status of Women in Service Committee of the Zonta Club of Midland selected 10 area organizations to receive service grants in 2020: Midland County Drug Court, Habitat for Humanity, Self Love Beauty, American Legion Auxiliary Post 165 Midland Mi, The Legacy Center, Life Clinic Community Resource Center, Helping Hands Dental Clinic, Young Lives, Family and Children's Services and Community Mental Health.

Total service grants in the amount of $11,400 were awarded to these community organizations, which will contribute toward helping women and children with a variety of needs and to support programs throughout the Midland area.
Following Tropical Storm Higos, AccuWeather forecasters have pinpointed a new tropical system in the West Pacific Ocean.

On Saturday morning, local time, Tropical Storm Bavi formed just east of Taiwan, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Bavi is known as Igme in the Philippines.

Bavi is located over the warm waters of the Philippine Sea and will be in an area of light wind shear, or the change in direction and speed of wind in the atmosphere, through the weekend.

The above satellite image shows Tropical Storm Bavi spinning east of Taiwan on the evening of Friday, August 21. (Photo/RAMMB)

According to AccuWeather Lead International Meteorologist Jason Nicholls, the light wind shear and warm waters will provide an environment for the system to strengthen as it passes east of Taiwan and over the Ryukyu Islands this weekend.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP

Before this system strengthened into Tropical Storm Bavi Saturday morning, local time, it brought rounds of heavy rain to the Philippines to end the week.

Bavi is expected to continue on a northward trajectory between Taiwan and the southern Ryukyu Islands of Japan Saturday, bringing rounds of heavy rainfall through much of the weekend.

By Sunday, the heavy rain is forecast to expand over the remainder of the Ryukyu Islands.

A path close to Taiwan will allow rainfall totals to reach 50-100 mm (2-4 inches) along the eastern side of the island. Rainfall totals across the Ryukyu Islands are forecast to reach 100-200 mm (4-8 inches) with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 250 mm (10 inches), which can lead to flash flooding and mudslides.

"Damaging winds will be possible across the Ryukyu Islands depending on the intensity of the system as it passes by," said Nicholls. He added that rough seas are expected across the Philippine Sea throughout the weekend.

Rough seas will also be possible across parts of the East China Sea as the tropical system passes through the area.

Story continues

Late Sunday and through early next week, this tropical system is forecast stall and slow down ahead of reaching southwestern Japan or the Korean Peninsula.

"The track of the tropical system will be heavily influenced by a front moving through northeastern China into southeastern Russia. Should the front stay farther north, the tropical system could be pulled northward into the Korean Peninsula. If the front stalls over the Korean Peninsula, it is more likely to steer eastward into Japan," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Courtney Travis.

Tropical moisture streaming in from the south as well as the rain with the front will make for a wet first half of the week from eastern China through North Korea, South Korea and southwestern Japan.

As such, interests across southern Japan, as well as South Korea, should monitor the path of this system for potential impacts into the beginning of next week.

This is not the first tropical system to try to organize near the northern Philippines. Higos, which made landfall over southern China on Wednesday, local time, got its start as a tropical disturbance near Luzon.

Higos strengthened into a tropical storm in the middle of the South China Sea on Tuesday, and, at one point, packed winds of 95 km/h (60 mph) as it traveled northwestward.

As a tropical storm, Higos made landfall on Wednesday in the southern Guangdong province of China, just southwest of Hong Kong and Macau.

AccuWeather forecasters are also monitoring Genevieve near Baja California Sur in the East Pacific as well as a number of features in the Atlantic Ocean Basin.

Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
The security industry is lacking in technological innovation and adoption. Though smart solutions do exist in the market, high costs associated with the implementation of such solutions is the key factor slowing down its rate of adoption, said Security Risk, CEO, Ian Stewart.

An upcoming episode of Advancements with Ted Danson, scheduled to broadcast later this year, will focus on innovations in smart solutions for automating physical security operations. Check local listings for more information.

Focusing on current risks and obstacles associated with the security services sector, this episode of Advancements will educate about Security Risks SRM-Platform, which integrates processes, operational assets, and mitigate risk using a host of web and mobile applications, to keep businesses and people safe.

Viewers will learn how Security Risk is helping businesses centralize existing processes into one platform to eliminate all workflow silos and manage operational assets. Audiences will see how the platform replaces manual and repetitive activities with machine-speed accuracy and generates real-time incident performance reports to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs.

The rise of urbanization and smart city projects have increased demand for better and more efficient public and private safety system. With 95 percent of security operations around the world still using paper-based and other manual solutions, the security industry is lacking in technological innovation and adoption. Though smart solutions do exist in the market, high costs associated with the implementation of such solutions is the key factor slowing down its rate of adoption, said Security Risk, CEO, Ian Stewart.

Mr. Steward continued to say At Security Risk, we have set out to build a system that offers a full suite of functionalities that is affordable and operational in difficult environments to enable this industry to adopt quickly and effectively to keep people safe. Our tech team went to Timor Leste and Papua New Guinea, locations chosen for their inherent difficulties, to research security problems and define the exact parameters for our system. Our flexible software solutions are a sweet spot for medium to large security business yet addresses the needs of a small firm as well. In the current climate, more businesses are looking into automating as many functions, better allocation of manpower and leveraging technology to reduce the need for people to visit their sites. The ability to have real-time information remotely prove to be even more crucial than before.

The Security Risk application tracks guards, visitors, assets, response units, incidents, and investigations within a single dashboard for swift examination and faster response time, said Will Mensch, producer for DMG Productions and the Advancements series. We look forward to exploring this technology on the show.

About Security Risk:

Security Risk brings a new approach to smart security solutions by combining flexible rapid response services with local intelligence to keep people safe. Extensive studies and testing were conducted in Timor Leste and Papua New Guinea to ensure a trusted product that can operate in difficult environments. Its Security Risk Manager (SRM)-Platform is a multi-faceted solution that helps security companies and for companies with security in their operations transform their operations intelligently and bring more value to customers, personnel, and overall business operations. It is developed with reference to international standard, ISO18788:2015 Management System for Private Security Operations and works on the cloud in low-bandwidth environments, offline or in a closed network to ensure utmost functionality under any conditions. The company is headquartered in Singapore with regional offices in Adelaide, Australia and Edinburgh, UK.

For more information, visit: http://www.securityrisk.com. Follow Security Risk online at: https://www.facebook.com/SRM.Platform

https://www.linkedin.com/company/securityrisk/

https://twitter.com/_SecurityRisk

About Advancements and DMG Productions:

The Advancements series is an information-based educational show targeting recent advances across a number of industries and economies. Featuring state-of-the-art solutions and important issues facing todays consumers and business professionals, Advancements focuses on cutting-edge developments, and brings this information to the public with the vision to enlighten about how technology and innovation continue to transform our world.

Backed by experts in various fields, DMG Productions is dedicated to education and advancement, and to consistently producing commercial-free, educational programming on which both viewers and networks depend.

For more info, please visit: http://www.Advancementstv.com or call Will Mensch at 866-496-4065.
India and Bangladesh are looking at setting up a panel of senior officials to review the progress of development projects executed by New Delhi, the Indian foreign ministry said Thursday.

The two countries are also to hold the next meeting of the Joint Consultative Commission at the level of the Foreign Ministers soon which will review the bilateral relationship including the development projects, Indian foreign ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said.

These were two outcomes of a visit to Dhaka by Indian foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on 18-19 August, his first visit abroad after March after the covid-19 pandemic struck. The visit was seen as sudden and unannounced and in the wake of China trying to increase its footprint all around Indias periphery.

This visit of Foreign Secretary was useful in discussing specific initiatives in several key areas of mutual interest. It also reflects the priority that India accords to Bangladesh as part of its Neighbourhood First policy. The top leadership of the two countries has remained in regular touch which has helped sustain the momentum in our excellent bilateral ties," Srivastava said.

Shringlas discussions with Bangladeshi leaders including prime minister Sheikh Hasina included plans to celebrate the birth centenary of Bangladeshs founder and Sheikh Hasinas father -- Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

There were also talks on commemoration of 50 years of the liberation of Bangladesh and the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Bangladesh in 2021, he said.

Besides this, exchanges on how to handle the covid-19 pandemic were also part of the agenda.

India has provided covid-19 related assistance to Bangladesh and has also been organizing capacity building courses for Bangladesh medical personnel," Srivastava said.

Both sides agreed to continue their discussions in the area of vaccines and therapeutics," he said.

Indias developmental assistance in Bangladesh as also the projects in the area of connectivity and power were discussed," Srivastava said adding that many of the projects were expected to be completed next year. Bangladesh is the largest recipient of development assistance from India amounting to $ 8 billion.

It was proposed that the next meeting of the Joint Consultative Commission at the level of the Foreign Ministers should be convened shortly to review the entire gamut of bilateral relationship including the projects. It was also proposed that a high level monitoring mechanism be set up to regularly review the progress of the ongoing projects," Srivastava said.

Indias proposal to launch a travel air bubble between the two countries opening limited flights for official, business and medical travel was appreciated by Bangladesh, he added.

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Two men have been arrested over a sickening crime spree that left an 84-year-old pensioner fighting for life.

Emilio Lombardi was beaten to a pulp by two young men outside his home in Cannington home, in Perth's southern suburbs on August 16.

The offenders also bashed his neighbour at a nearby intersection where they tried to spray paint into his eyes.

'WA Police Force prioritised resources to investigate this incident, and there has been an overwhelming response from the community in respect to sharing the appeal for information and posting messages of support online for the victim,' WA Police said in a statement.

'A 28-year-old man was arrested in Kelmscott, and a search warrant was executed at his residence in Seville Grove.

'A 24-year-old man was arrested in Yanchep, and a search warrant was executed at his residence in Armadale.'

Police are pictured arresting one of the men they suspect was involved in the sickening assault of a helpless pensioner

Acting Detective Sergeant Alexandra Hill said a weapon was used in the 'cowardly, disgusting and appalling act'

The neighbour described the attack as 'terrifying'.

'They came out of nowhere. I was kicked and punched,' he told Nine News.

'One of them tried to spray paint into my eye.'

CCTV footage from a nearby property shows two shadowy figures walking through a backyard on Sunday evening.

A police forensic team conducted testing at a property about two kilometres away in an attempt to find DNA evidence which could help find those involved.

Two men aged 24 and 28 were arrested on Thursday in relation to the 'terrifying' crime spree

CCTV footage from a nearby property shows two shadowing figures walking through a backyard on Sunday evening

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 between 6pm and 8pm.

The vicious assault garnered so much attention Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan flagged the issue in parliament.

'Attacking an 84-year-old man is a shocking and appalling thing for anyone to do, and the police are looking to deal with that matter as quickly as they possibly can,' Mr McGowan said.

Disturbing pictures taken after the attack show the elderly man with a broken nose, black eye, numerous deep cuts and blood spattered all over his shirt, pants and hands.

A police forensic team carried out tests at a property about two kilometres away in an attempt to find DNA evidence which could help solve the case

Emilio Lombardi, 84, was assaulted outside his home in Cannington in Perth on August 16, 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.'

Mr Lombardi's neighbour (pictured) described him as 'just a hell of a nice guy'

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 ahead of surgery in intensive care.

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.

The two men who have been arrested are yet to be charged but remain in police custody.
New research from The University of Texas at Austin has used dry Martian lake beds to determine how much precipitation was present on the planet billions of years ago. CREDIT Gaia Stucky de Quay

A new study from The University of Texas at Austin is helping scientists piece together the ancient climate of Mars by revealing how much rainfall and snowmelt filled its lake beds and river valleys 3.5 billion to 4 billion years ago.

The study, published in Geology, represents the first time that researchers have quantified the precipitation that must have been present across the planet, and it comes out as the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover is making its way to the red planet to land in one of the lake beds crucial to this new research.

The ancient climate of Mars is something of an enigma to scientists. To geologists, the existence of riverbeds and paleolakes -- eons-old lake basins -- paints a picture of a planet with significant rainfall or snowmelt. But scientists who specialize in computer climate models of the planet have been unable to reproduce an ancient climate with large amounts of liquid water present for long enough to account for the observed geology.

"This is extremely important because 3.5 to 4 billion years ago Mars was covered with water. It had lots of rain or snowmelt to fill those channels and lakes," said lead author Gaia Stucky de Quay, a postdoctoral fellow at UT's Jackson School of Geosciences. "Now it's completely dry. We're trying to understand how much water was there and where did it all go."

Although scientists have found large amounts of frozen water on Mars, no significant amount of liquid water currently exists.

In the study, researchers found that precipitation must have been between 13 and 520 feet (4 to 159 meters) in a single episode to fill the lakes and, in some cases, provide enough water to overflow and breach the lake basins. Although the range is large, it can be used to help understand which climate models are accurate, Stucky de Quay said.

"It's a huge cognitive dissonance," she said. "Climate models have trouble accounting for that amount of liquid water at that time. It's like, liquid water is not possible, but it happened. This is the knowledge gap that our work is trying to fill in."

The scientists looked at 96 open-basin and closed-basin lakes and their watersheds, all thought to have formed between 3.5 billion and 4 billion years ago. Open lakes are those that have ruptured by overflowing water; closed ones, on the other hand, are intact. Using satellite images and topography, they measured lake and watershed areas, and lake volumes, and accounted for potential evaporation to figure out how much water was needed to fill the lakes.

By looking at ancient closed and open lakes, and the river valleys that fed them, the team was able to determine a minimum and maximum precipitation. The closed lakes offer a glimpse at the maximum amount of water that could have fallen in a single event without breaching the side of the lake basin. The open lakes show the minimum amount of water required to overtop the lake basin, causing the water to rupture a side and rush out.

In 13 cases, researchers discovered coupled basins -- containing one closed and one open basin that were fed by the same river valleys -- which offered key evidence of both maximum and minimum precipitation in one single event.

Another great unknown is how long the rainfall or snowmelt episode must have lasted: days, years or thousands of years. That's the next step of the research, Stucky de Quay said.

As this research is published, NASA recently launched Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover to visit Jezero crater, which contains one of the open lake beds used in the study. Co-author Tim Goudge, an assistant professor in the UT Jackson School Department of Geological Sciences, was the lead scientific advocate for the landing site. He said the data collected by the crater could be significant for determining how much water was on Mars and whether there are signs of past life.

"Gaia's study takes previously identified closed and open lake basins, but applies a clever new approach to constrain how much precipitation these lakes experienced," Goudge said. "Not only do these results help us to refine our understanding of the ancient Mars climate, but they also will be a great resource for putting results from the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover into a more global context."

###

This study was supported by a grant through NASA's Mars Data Analysis Program.

Astrobiology

Please follow Astrobiology on Twitter.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - For five months, no rum has flowed for visitors at Jaime Windon's distillery in Maryland, drying up a crucial part of her revenue stream. Windon's tasting room remains shuttered by the coronavirus, another victim of the pandemic's devastating impact on the world economy.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 20/8/2020 (517 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In this Feb. 28, 2020 photo released by Jaime Windon, bottles of alcohol, including Lyon rum, are displayed. Windon Distilling, a Maryland-based producer of Lyon Rum, is among the many craft distillers taking an economic hit from the COVID-19 pandemic. A report released Thursday, Aug. 20 estimates that craft distillers will see an estimated 41% of their sales  worth more than $700 million  evaporate because of the pandemic. (Jaime Windon via AP)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - For five months, no rum has flowed for visitors at Jaime Windon's distillery in Maryland, drying up a crucial part of her revenue stream. Windon's tasting room remains shuttered by the coronavirus, another victim of the pandemic's devastating impact on the world economy.

Like other craft distillers, Windon Distilling relied heavily on sales from people who ventured in to learn a bit about making spirits, sample the products and take home a bottle or two. But small, independent producers  who have carved out a sizable niche in the country's spirits sector  have been hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak, according to a new study.

The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States found that nationally, craft distillers will see an estimated 41% of their sales  worth more than $700 million  evaporate because of the pandemic.

The distillers furloughed nearly one-third of their employees, its study estimated.

Windon, whose flagship brand is Lyon Rum, had no revenue coming in at the end of March at the distillery she founded seven years ago on Maryland's Eastern Shore. She furloughed most of her staff but has since brought back most of her full-time workers, though shes only staffed at 50% with the tasting room still closed. She could reopen the tasting room  which had averaged about 500 visitors per week  but has chosen not to in part because of space restrictions.

If people would have told me at the beginning of this year that I would have to close my tasting room for five months, I would have told you we would go out of business, Jaime Windon said in an interview.

She's stayed afloat thanks to her wholesale business, having developed a strong core business in Maryland and a broader distribution network that reaches eight other states.

Were able to produce," Windon said. But we dont meet the hundreds of people a week in our distillery like we used to. Thats the hardest hit and its the biggest change for us.

Craft distilling has grown in the shadows of corporate giants producing well-known brands like Jim Beam and Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey. In the world's bourbon capital, Kentucky craft distillers have their own bourbon trail in a state that has cultivated whiskey tourism.

Nationally, craft distilling grew into almost a $1.8 billion business in 2019, directly employing around 15,000 people and indirectly supporting thousands of jobs in related businesses, according to the study. At retail, those sales are worth nearly $3.2 billion, it said. About 60% of craft distillers sell fewer than 2,500 cases per year and 70% employ 10 or fewer employees.

But because of their size, craft distillers arent as well capitalized as the large producers, making them more vulnerable to economic downturns.

The study by the Distilled Spirits Council was based on data from a June 2020 survey by the American Distilling Institute, a trade association for craft distillers. The survey included feedback from nearly 300 distilleries across the country.

It found that COVID-19 restrictions drained sales from on-site tasting rooms at distilleries.

About 40% of craft distillers participating in the survey reported their on-site sales were down 25% or more, the study found. More than 15% said their tasting rooms were shut down,

Combining lost tasting room sales with lost wholesale business means craft distillers are projected to lose $700 million in annualized sales  a loss of 41% of the total craft business, the study said. In 2019, an estimated $919 million of craft distiller revenues came from on-site sales.

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More than 40% of craft distillers reported that their wholesale business was down 25% or more, while 11% said they had lost all their wholesale business, the study said. Most of the lost wholesale business was due to bar closures during the pandemic, it said.

The distilling industry has been seeking seeking additional economic relief from Congress, including pushing a bill that would make current federal excise tax rates permanent. Without the measure, the industry says craft distillers face a massive tax increase next year.

Windon, the CEO at Windon Distilling, said she's confident that craft distillers will weather the storm but worries that it could take time to recoup the losses. She wonders how quickly some people will return to tasting rooms, and whether craft producers can maintain their market shares.

What's it going to look like on the other side? Will those hard-earned spaces on liquor store shelves, will that be lost? Because it's harder to sell a craft, unique product," she said.

___

Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.
(Newser)  A former Department of Homeland Security official says he heard President Trump propose trading Puerto Rico for Greenlandand he doesn't believe the president was joking. In an interview with MSNBC's Hallie Jackson Wednesday, Miles Taylor, former DHS chief of staff, was asked for the "most disturbing idea" he had heard from the president. "He actually said he wanted to see if we could sell Puerto Ricocould we swap Puerto Rico for Greenland because, in his words, Puerto Rico was 'dirty' and 'the people were poor,'" he said. Taylor claimed Trump made the remarks ahead of a 2018 hurricane relief trip to the US territory, weeks after Denmark rebuffed Trump's attempt to buy Greenland. Trump canceled a state visit to Denmark in response.

story continues below

Taylor told Jackson that he "did not take" the remark "as a joke." He said that behind the scenes, Trump "expressed deep animus" for Puerto Rico's 3.7 million people, who are US citizens. White House spokesman Judd Deere told Business Insider in a statement that Taylor, who left the administration last year and recently endorsed Joe Biden, 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." (Read more President Trump stories.)
Washingtons potential sanctions against Russia and China if obstacles are created for restoring U.S. restrictions against Iran should be considered as illegal because the U.S. has withdrawn from the Iranian nuclear deal and stripped itself of competence to put forward any demands on this issue, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Thursday.



"The United States earlier declared its withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and has no due competence for demanding sanctions," the spokesperson told a regular briefing.



According to the diplomat, this Chinese stance "gained broad recognition among members of the international community." "We are against one-sided measures <> and demand the U.S. respect the rights of other states," TASS cited Zhao Lijian as saying.



U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is heading to the UN headquarters in New York on Thursday to inform the Security Council about Washingtons decision to launch the process of reinstating anti-Iranian sanctions, which will come into force in 30 days. This move comes after a US draft resolution on extending the arms embargo against Iran did not secure enough votes at the Security Council on August 14: most countries abstained from the vote, while Russia and China voted against.



According to Pompeo, the U.S. was ready to sanction Russia and China if they opposed its effort to "snapback" sanctions on Tehran.
Amanda Kloots recently moved into the Los Angeles home she purchased with her late husband Nick Cordero, who passed away from COVID-19 complications in July.

And the 38-year-old dancer had her closest girlfriends by her side as she and her one-year-old son Elvis spent their 'first weekend alone' at the newly renovated Laurel Canyon abode.

'My best girlfriends, Rockette sisters, came to be by my side this past weekend. They dropped everything to help me adjust in my home for the first weekend alone,' wrote Kloots, who shared a photo of the get together to Instagram on Wednesday.

Support: Amanda Kloots, 38, had her closest girlfriends by her side as she and her one-year-old son Elvis spent their 'first weekend alone' at the newly renovated Laurel Canyon abode

The sweet snapshot showed Amanda and her 'Rockette sisters' carrying a homemade sign that had the name of Cordero's hit single Live Your Life written on it in red, blue, and yellow lettering.

With Amanda and Elvis in the middle, the group posed for the shot, while donning matching white tees that had various positive affirmations printed on them.

They also each wore white heart-shaped sunglasses and face masks.

'I am so lucky to have these ladies in my life. We support each other, cheer each other on, cry, laugh and talk for hours! HOORAY FOR FRIENDS!' concluded Amanda in her post's caption.

New chapter: Amanda Kloots recently moved into the Los Angeles home she purchased with her late husband Nick Cordero, who passed away from COVID-19 complications in July; Amanda and Elvis pictured on Instagram on Friday

Amanda and Elvis officially moved into their new home last Wednesday, with the dancer marking the new chapter in their lives by sharing a photo from the day her and Nick 'got [the] keys' to the home.

The heartbreaking snapshot showed Nick sitting on the floor with Elvis in his lap as a smiley Amanda cozied up next to him.

'This is us, the day we got our keys to our first home before we started renovations. I remember taking this picture, documenting the before so we could show the progress each month,' she began.

'Nick bought us this house. He found the listing, insisted on going to the open house and did all the work to get the mortgage.

First home: Amanda and Elvis officially moved into their new home last Wednesday, with the dancer marking the new chapter in their lives by sharing a photo from the day her and Nick 'got [the] keys' to the home

'He knew we needed a home and Im so grateful, especially now, for his foresight,' explained Kloots, who formerly lived on the East Coast with Cordero before making the big move to Los Angeles.

Amanda 'thought [she would] be terrified' about moving into the home after Nick's tragic passing, but, instead, she said that being in the home has 'oddly been comforting.'

'Isnt that funny how the things you get yourself so worried about emotionally sometimes arent that bad in the end? I think this is because I know this was Nicks dream and today Elvis and I are bringing that dream to life. And in the words of my favorite Broadway director, Susan Stroman, Do it full out with great conviction! she concluded.

Amanda and Nick, who wed in 2017, had just embarked on remodeling their house when Nick became sick. He was hospitalized in LA at the end of March suffering from pneumonia.

A piece of him: Amanda 'thought [she would] be terrified' about moving into the home after Nick's tragic passing, but, instead, she said that being in the home has 'oddly been comforting'

Long battle: On July 5, the Rock of Ages and Waitress star succumbed to complications caused by COVID-19 at the age of 41 after 95 days in intensive care

Subsequent tests ultimately confirmed he had the coronavirus but complications kept him in the ICU at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

In the weeks that followed, he had to have his right leg amputated, suffered extensive lung damage and lost 65 pounds as the virus took its toll, leaving him unable to movie or speak.

On July 5, the Rock of Ages and Waitress star succumbed at the age of 41 after 95 days in intensive care.

While Nick was in the hospital, Amanda and their son Elvis were living in Cordero's friend Zach Braff's guest house.
Only two years after a candidate for The Woodlands Township Board of Directors was kicked off the ballot for not filling out a candidate application correctly, the same issue resurfaced Wednesday and one of the 13 candidates for the four seats was booted from the ballot.

A second candidate announced he was dropping out of the race only five days after filing his candidate papers.

Related: Board candidate in The Woodlands Township is removed from ballot

Amanda Beth Beasley, who had filed her candidate papers on Monday for the Position 2 seat on the board, was notified by township officials via email that she had been removed from the ballot after not filling out her occupation on her candidate paperwork. The occupation entry is required under state election laws.

Another candidate, Position 1 hopeful Adrian Heath, has quit his bid to replace incumbent Gordy Bunch. Heath said in an email he was quitting the race. Township officials said any candidate who wishes to drop out of contention has until 5 p.m. Friday to file a written, signed and notarized letter stating their intent to withdraw. It is not known if Heath has taken those steps.

Related: Paroled Woodlands resident a hero to some in Montgomery County

Heath is well known to many in The Woodlands after his controversial felony conviction for illegal voting in the May 2010 Road Utility District No. 1 election when he and others claimed to reside in a hotel and voted in the election. He had told the Villager in a profile interview on Tuesday that he was interested in incorporation, flooding, mobility and other issues.

Incomplete applications

Beasley, who works for a company called Triton Consulting, said she received the news of her removal on Wednesday.

I received an email that sand my candidacy had been rejected. My occupation was missing, Beasley said of a letter she received that was signed by township official Karen Dempsey and dated Aug. 18. I did take a look at (my application), and it was incomplete. I have withdrawn my candidacy.

Beasley was one of five candidates that had filed papers to seek election to the Position 2 seat currently held by appointee Jason J. Nelson. One of the other challengers for Nelsons seat is the man who was himself kicked off the ballot in 2018, Luis Louis Granados.

In the 2018 election, Granados had filed candidate papers to challenge Position 3 incumbent John Anthony Brown. However, in 2018, Granados did not list the mandatory entries on the form of time of residency in both Texas and The Woodlands. He was removed from the ballot after the filing period had ended and was unable to correct his errors.

Brown ran unchallenged, winning his second term on the board with 100 percent of the vote. Granados appealed his removed to the State of Texas, however that appeal was rejected. The controversy irritated former director John McMullan, who at the time lobbied strongly for changes to the process employed by the township in accepting candidate applications. Among the informal changes implemented were having two staff members review applications and notifying candidates of rejected forms sooner.

Related: Woodlands tweaks township election policies to avoid repeat of 2018

In 2019, another controversy arose after then candidate Bob Milner listed inaccurate information about his length of continuous residency in Texas and The Woodlands. However, because Milner still met the minimum requirements of residency, his factual errors were deemed not sufficient to remove him from the ballot.

Related: Woodlands board candidate lists inaccurate information on application; still eligible for Nov. 5 election

Milner went on to win the Position 7 seat in 2019, defeating three other candidates.

Several anomalies

According to both Township Communications Director Nick Wolda as well as township Attorney Robin Cross, multiple candidates for the 2020 Board of Directors election who filed applications had made entries that required extra scrutiny to determine if the applications were acceptable.

In an email to the Villager on Wednesday, Wolda said that as township staff received applications, several anomalies were identified on applications submitted for a place on the ballot. Staff followed the process that was reviewed by the Board in 2019 and in accordance with State Law.

The review of each application took place within five days of receipt and anomalies were reviewed with legal counsel and, if needed, the Secretary of States Office. The extent of the townships responsibility and authority in reviewing applications for a place on the ballot is to determine whether, on its face, the application complies with the requirements as to form, content, and procedure, Wolda said in his email. As discussed with the board in 2019, staff does not remove names from the list during the filing period. After the drawing for ballot order, the list of application filings will be removed and the final list of candidates will be listed in their ballot order on the township website.

Township officials did not identify any of the other candidates aside from Beasley that had their applications scrutinized. Those other candidates were able to fix their applications, Wolda added.

Filers who had anomalies that impacted their candidacy or the listing of their name on the ballot were notified by certified mail, and were also sent the letter by email as a courtesy to the email address listed on their filing forms, he added. All except one issue was resolved prior to the close of filing.

With the removal of Beasley and the withdraw from the race by Heath, there are only 11 candidates remaining vying for four seats. Three candidates are in the running for Position 1 seat; four candidates for the Position 2 seat and two candidates are seeking the Position 3 and 4 seats.

The election is Nov. 3, with early voting beginning on Oct. 13 and continuing in three periods through Oct. 30 with varying hours and days when in-person early ballots can be cast.

jeff.forward@chron.com
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Bhushan, after the Supreme Court rejected his plea that the arguments on quantum of sentence be heard by another top court bench, said his tweets were 'nothing but a small attempt to discharge' what he considered to be his 'highest duty at this juncture in the history of our republic.'

Activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan told the Supreme Court on Thursday that he did not tweet in absence mindedness [sic] and it would be insincere and contemptuous on his part to offer an apology for the tweets that expressed what was and continues to be his bona fide belief.

Bhushan, after the Supreme Court rejected his plea that the arguments on quantum of sentence be heard by another top court bench, said his tweets were "nothing but a small attempt to discharge" what he considered to be his "highest duty at this juncture in the history of our republic."

The top court on 14 August had held Bhushan guilty of criminal contempt for his derogatory tweets against the judiciary saying they cannot be said to be a fair criticism of the functioning of the judiciary made in the public interest.

The following is the full text of Bhushan's statement in the apex court.

***

I have gone through the judgment of this Honble Court. I am pained that I have been held guilty of committing contempt of the Court whose majesty I have tried to uphold  not as a courtier or cheerleader but as a humble guard  for over three decades, at some personal and professional cost.

I am pained, not because I may be punished, but because I have been grossly misunderstood. I am shocked that the court holds me guilty of malicious, scurrilous, calculated attack on the institution of administration of justice. I am dismayed that the Court has arrived at this conclusion without providing any evidence of my motives to launch such an attack.

I must confess that I am disappointed that the court did not find it necessary to serve me with a copy of the complaint on the

basis of which the suo motu notice was issued, nor found it necessary to respond to the specific averments made by me in my reply affidavit or the many submissions of my counsel.

I find it hard to believe that the Court finds my tweet has the effect of destabilizing the very foundation of this important pillar of Indian democracy. I can only reiterate that these two tweets represented my bonafide beliefs, the expression of which must be permissible in any democracy. Indeed, public scrutiny is desirable for healthy functioning of judiciary itself.

I believe that open criticism of any institution is necessary in a democracy, to safeguard the constitutional order. We are living through that moment in our history when higher principles must trump routine obligations, when saving the constitutional order must come before personal and professional niceties, when considerations of the present must not come in the way of discharging our responsibility towards the future. Failing to speak up would have been a dereliction of duty, especially for an officer of the court like myself.

My tweets were nothing but a small attempt to discharge what I considered to be my highest duty at this juncture in the history of our republic. I did not tweet in a fit of absence mindedness. It would be insincere and contemptuous on my part to offer an apology for the tweets that expressed what was and continues to be my bonafide belief.

Therefore, I can only humbly paraphrase what the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi had said in his trial: I do not ask for mercy. I do not appeal to magnanimity. I am here, therefore, to cheerfully submit to any penalty that can lawfully be inflicted upon me for what the Court has determined to be an offence, and what appears to me to be the highest duty of a citizen.

The text has been reproduced and has not been edited by Firstpost for style or content.
Former President Barack Obama took aim at his successor's work in the White House during a passionate speech at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.

Speaking live from Philadelphia, Obama harshly criticized President Donald Trump for his policies and rhetoric during his time in office and warned voters that his administration would "tear our democracy down if that's what it takes for them to win." Obama noted that he hoped that Trump would show some interest in taking the job seriously, but he did not.

"For close to four years now, he has shown no interest in putting in the work. No interest in finding common ground No interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends. No interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves," Obama said.

Obama's scathing criticism of Trump breaks with the longstanding tradition of former presidents not publicly speaking out against their successors.

PHOTO: Former President Barack Obama speaks by video feed on the third night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Aug. 19. 2020. (Democratic National Convention)

The 44th president pointed out the "consequences" of Trump's failures: 170,000 Americans dead from COVID-19, millions of jobs lost and "our worst impulses unleashed."

Obama touted former Vice President Joe Biden's record, particularly with the 2009 H1N1 flu and 2014 Ebola outbreaks, and the economy. He also emphasized Biden's empathy, particularly with military members.

He also praised Sen. Kamala Harris's long career and said she, too, would help steer the country in the right direction.

"Joe and Kamala will restore our standing in the world," he said.

PHOTO: Former President Barack Obama speaks by video feed on the third night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Aug. 19. 2020. (Democratic National Convention)

Obama continued to take digs at the current administration and its attacks on voting rights and the free press. He urged voters to head to the polls.

"This president and those in power, those who benefit from keeping things the way they are, they are counting on your cynicism," Obama said. "They know they can't win you over with their policies, so they're hoping to make it as hard as possible for you to vote and to convince you that your vote does not matter. That is how they win."

Story continues

Trump fired back at Obama on Twitter repeating claims, in all caps, that Obama spied on him and was caught. Biden quote tweeted Trump, repeated Obama's words, "Donald Trump hasn't grown into the job, because he can't."

Donald Trump hasnt grown into the job because he cant. https://t.co/TB3o7KE6GI  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 20, 2020

Read Obama's full speech below:

Good evening, everybody. As youve seen by now, this isn't a normal convention. It's not a normal time. So tonight, I want to talk as plainly as I can about the stakes in this election. Because what we do these next 76 days will echo through generations to come. I'm in Philadelphia where our constitution was drafted and signed.It wasn't a perfect document. It allowed for the inhumanity of slavery and failed to guarantee women and even men who didn't own property the right to participate in the political process. But embedded in this document was a north star that would guide future generations, a system of representative government, a democracy to which we could better realize our highest ideals. Through civil war and bitter struggles, we improved this constitution to include the voices of those who had once been left out.

And gradually, we made this country more just and more equal and more free. The one constitutional office elected by all of the people is the presidency. So at a minimum, we should expect a president to feel a sense of responsibility for the safety and welfare of all 330 million of us, regardless of what we look like, how we worship, who we love, how much money we have, or who we voted for.

But we should also expect a president to be the custodian of this democracy. We should expect that regardless of ego, ambition or political beliefs the president will preserve, protect and defend the freedoms and ideals that so many Americans marched for, went to jail for, fought for and died for. I have sat in the oval office with both of the men who are running for president. I never expected that my successor would embrace my vision or continue my policies.

I did hope, for the sake of our country, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously. That he might come to feel the weight of the office and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care. But he never did. For close to 4 years now, he has shown no interest in putting in the work. No interest in finding common ground.

No interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends.

No interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves. Donald Trump hasn't grown into the job, because he can't. And the consequences of that failure are severe. One hundred seventy thousand Americans dead.

Millions of jobs gone. While those at the top take in more than ever. Our worst impulses unleashed, our proud reputation around the world badly diminished and our democratic institutions threatened like never before. Now, I know that in times as polarized as these, most of you have already made up your mind. But maybe you're still not sure which candidate you will vote for or whether you will vote at all.

Maybe you are tired of the direction we're headed, but you can't see a better path yet or you just don't know enough about the person who wants to lead us there. So let me tell you about my friend, Joe Biden. Twelve years ago, when I began my search for vice president, I didn't know I would end up finding a brother. Joe and I come from different places, different generations, but what I quickly came to admire about Joe Biden is his resilience, born of too much struggle. His empathy, born of too much grief.

Joe is a man who learned early on to treat every person he meets with respect and dignity, living by the words his parents taught him. No one is better than you, Joe. But you're better than nobody. That empathy, that decency, the belief that everybody counts, that's who Joe is. When he talks with someone who has lost their job, Joe remembers the night his father sat him down to say that he had lost his.

When Joe listens to a parent who is trying to hold it all together right now, he does it as a single dad who took the train back to Wilmington each and every night so he could tuck his kids into bed.

When he meets with military families who have lost their hero, he does it as a kindred spirit, the parent of an American soldier, somebody whose faith has endured the hardest loss there is. For eight years, Joe was the last one in the room whenever I faced a big decision. He made me a better president. And he's got the character and the experience to make us a better country.

And in my friend Kamala Harris, he's chosen an ideal partner who is more than prepared for the job, someone who knows what it's like to overcome barriers and who has made a career fighting to help others live out their own American dream. Along with the experience needed to get things done, Joe and Kamala have concrete policies that will turn their vision of a better, fairer, stronger country into a reality.

They will get this pandemic under control, like Joe did when he helped me manage H1N1 and prevent an Ebola outbreak from reaching our shores. They will expand health care to more Americans like Joe and I did ten years ago when he helped craft the affordable care act and nail down the votes to make it the law. Theyll rescue the economy, like Joe helped me do after the great recession. I asked him to manage the recovery act, which jump-started the longest stretch of job growth in history. And he sees this moment now not as a chance to get back to where we were, but to make long overdue changes so that our economy actually makes life a little easier for everybody, whether it's the waitress trying to raise a kid on her own, or the shift worker always on the edge of getting laid off, or the student figuring out how to pay for next semester's classes.

Joe and Kamala will restore our standing in the world. And as we have learned from this pandemic, that matters. Joe knows the world, and the world knows him. He knows that our true strength comes from setting an example that the world wants to follow, a nation that stands with democracy, not dictators. A nation that can inspire and mobilize others to overcome threats like climate change and terrorism, poverty and disease.

But more than anything, what I know about Joe, what I know about Kamala is that they actually care about every American. And that they care deeply about this democracy. They believe that in a democracy the right to vote is sacred, and we should be making it easier for people to cast their ballots, not harder.

They believe that no one including the president is above the law. And that no public official, including the president, should use their office to enrich themselves or their supporters. They understand that in this democracy, the commander in chief does not use the men and women of our military who are willing to risk everything to protect our nation as political props to deploy against peaceful protesters on our own soil.

They understand that political opponents aren't un-American just because they disagree with you. A free press isn't the enemy but the way we hold officials accountable. That our ability to work together to solve big problems like a pandemic depend on a fidelity to facts and science and logic and not just making stuff up. None of this should be controversial.

These shouldn't be Republican principles or democratic principles. They are American principles. But at this moment, this president and those who enable him have shown they don't believe in these things. Tonight, I'm asking you to believe in Joe and Kamala's ability to lead this country out these dark times and build it back better. But here's the thing. No single American can fix this country alone.

Not even a president. Democracy was never meant to be transactional. You give me your vote, I make everything better. It requires an active and informed citizenry. So ,I'm also asking you to believe in your own ability, to embrace your own responsibility as citizens, to make sure that the basic tenants of our democracy endure.

Because that's whats at stake right now. Our democracy. Look, I understand why a lot of Americans are down on government.

The way the rules have been set up and abused in congress make it easier for special interests to stop progress than to make progress. Believe me, I know it. I understand why a white factory worker who has seen his wages cut or his job shipped overseas might feel like the government no longer looks out for him and why a black mom might feel like it never looked out for her at all. I understand why a new immigrant might look around this country and wonder whether there is still a place for him here.

Why a young person might look at politics right now, the circus of it all, the meanness and the lies and conspiracy theories and think, what is the point? Well, here's the point. This president and those in power, those who benefit from keeping things the way they are, they are counting on your cynicism.

They know they can't win you over with their policies, so they're hoping to make it as hard as possible for you to vote and to convince you that your vote does not matter. That is how they win. That is how they get to keep making decisions that affect your life and the lives of the people you love.

That's how the economy will keep getting skewed to the wealthy and the well connected. How our health systems will let more people fall through the cracks. That's how a democracy withers until it's no democracy at all. And we cannot let that happen. Do not let them take away your power. Do not let them take away your democracy.

Make a plan right now for how you are going to get involved and vote. Do it as early as you can and tell your family and friends how they can vote, too. Do what Americans have done for over two centuries when faced with even tougher times than this. All those quiet heroes who found the courage to keep marching, keep pushing in the face of hardship and injustice.

Last month we lost a giant of American democracy in John Lewis. And some years ago I sat down with John and a few remaining leaders of the early civil rights movement. One of them told me he never imagined he'd walk into the white house and see a president who looked like his grandson. And then he told me that he had looked it up.

And it turned out that on the very day that I was born he was marching into a jail cell trying to end Jim Crow segregation in the south. What we do echoes through generations. Whatever our backgrounds, we are all the children of Americans who fought the good fight. The great grandparents working in fire traps and sweatshops without rights or representation. Farmers losing their dreams to dust. Irish and Italians and Asians and Latinos told, go back where you come from.

Jews and Catholics, Muslims and Sikhs made to feel suspect for the way they worshipped. Black Americans chained and whipped and hanged, spit on for trying to sit at lunch counters, beaten for trying to vote. If anyone had a right to believe that this democracy did not work and could not work, it was those Americans, our ancestors.

They were on the receiving end of a democracy that had fallen short all their lives. They knew how far the daily reality of America strayed from them then. And, yet, instead of giving up, they joined together and they said somehow, some way we are going to make this work.

We are going to bring those words in our founding documents to life. I have seen that same spirit rising these past few years. Folks of every age and background who packed city centers and airports and rural roads so that families wouldn't be separated, so that another classroom wouldn't get shot up, so that our kids won't grow up on an uninhabitable planet.

Americans of all races joining together to declare in the face of injustice and brutality at the hands of the state that black lives matter no more but no less. So that no child in this country feels the continuing sting of racism. To the young people who led us this summer, telling us we need to be better, in so many ways, you are this country's dreams fulfilled. Earlier generations had to be persuaded that everyone has equal worth.

For you it's a given, a conviction. And what I want you to know is that for all its messiness and frustrations, your system of self-government can be harnessed to help you realize those convictions for all of us. You can give our democracy new meaning. You can take it to a better place.

You're the missing ingredient, the ones who will decide whether or not America becomes the country that fully lives up to its creed. That work will continue long after this election. But any chance of success depends entirely on the outcome of this election. This administration has shown it will tear our democracy down if that's what it takes for them to win.

So we have to get busy building it up by pouring all our efforts into these 76 days and by voting like never before for Joe and Kamala and candidates up and down the ticket so that we leave no doubt about what this country that we love stands for today and for all our days to come. Stay safe. God bless.

This report was featured in the Thursday, Aug. 20, 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.

Obama slams 'failure' of Trump presidency during DNC speech originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio - A $600 weekly boost to unemployment checks, an extension of unemployment benefits to 39 weeks, and stimulus checks of $1,200 for individuals (employed or unemployed) were all part of the first round of federal relief in response to the coronavirus early this year.

Todays status for those benefits: done, close to ending, and cashed.
German doctors treating Russian politician and anti-corruption campaigner Alexey Navalny concluded Monday that he was poisoned, Berlins Charite Hospital said.

The hospital said in a statement that Navalny remains in an artificially induced coma but "there is no acute danger to his life."

It did not specify what substance he was poisoned with.

The 44-year-old staunch critic of President Vladimir Putin fell ill Thursday on a flight back to Moscow from the Siberian city of Tomsk, his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said on Twitter. Yarmysh said Navalny drank tea that appeared to have been laced with a toxin.

Russian doctors say there is no evidence of poisoning, and the Kremlin denied the authorities tried to prevent the transfer to Berlin from happening. But Navalny was only allowed to leave Russia after more than 24 hours of wrangling over his condition and treatment.

On Friday, doctors at Omsk Ambulance Hospital No. 1, where the politician was being treated, remained tight-lipped about his diagnosis saying only that they were considering a variety of theories, including poisoning. Local health officials said they found no indication that Navalny had suffered from a heart attack, stroke or the coronavirus.

The hospital in Berlin said it was not sure what the "longer-term effects" to Navalny's health might be, "especially to the nervous system."

He is the effective face of political opposition to Putin and he has been in and out of jail for his activism against Russia's longtime leader.

Last year, Navalny claimed he was poisoned while serving a short jail sentence. Doctors said he had a severe allergic reaction to an unknown substance. He was left partially blind in one eye after a pro-Putin activist attacked him with a chemical in 2017.

Navalny attempted to run against Putin in Russia's 2018 presidential elections but was barred from participating over a fraud conviction he alleged was politically motivated.

Story continues

Putin critics meet tragedy

Many of Putin's opponents  journalists, politicians, former associates  have died in suspicious circumstances.

Britain's top diplomat: Russia's Vladimir Putin ordered ex-spy's poisoning

The British government concluded that Russian military agents were behind the poisoning attack in 2018 in Britain against former Moscow spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Julia, in which Novichok, a highly toxic, military-grade nerve agent, was used.

British authorities concluded that Alexander Litvinenko, another former Russian spy, was poisoned to death at the Kremlin's behest in a London hotel in 2006.

Anna Politkovskaya, an investigative journalist who was a critic of the Kremlin and exposed Russian human rights abuses, was murdered in 2006.

Boris Berezovsky, an oligarch who was once Putin's right-hand man, was found hanged at his mansion outside London in 2013.

Russian opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza, a member of the pro-democracy group Open Russia, said attempts were made to poison him in 2015 and 2017.

On both occasions, Kara-Murza nearly died.

Meet one of Vladimir Putin's top enemies: He's a guy from Chicago

Critic of Russian government poisoned?: It's the latest claim of treachery against Russia.

In 2018, Nikolai Glushkov, a close associate of Berezovsky's whom Moscow accused of embezzling money from Aeroflot, Russia's state airline, was found strangled in his home near London. Glushkov's name was on the top of an extradition list of 51 Russian citizens that Moscow described as "fugitives from justice" but "welcome" in Britain. The list was published by the Russian Embassy in London.

That same year, Pyotr Verzilov, a member of the feminist performance art protest group Pussy Riot, was flown to a hospital in Germany after suffering what doctors said was a near-fatal poisoning by an unknown substance.

Art of dissent: Protesting Russia's Putin with Pussy Riot

Navalny led nationwide protests against Putin, whose administration he described as full of "crooks and thieves" who are "sucking the blood out of Russia."

The Kremlin denies using violence for political ends.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that law enforcement would launch an investigation if the poisoning is confirmed.

"This is Putin. Whether he gave the order or not, the fault lies entirely with him," said Yarmysh, Navalny's spokeswoman.

"Unfortunately, the nature of these things in Russia is that the poisoning could have just as likely been committed by an agent of the state as by some ill-wisher doing what (this person) thinks the state wants without the government ordering or even knowing of the attack," said Anna Arutunyan, author of "The Putin Mystique."

"If the government was not involved, then its inability or lack of will to hold attackers accountable for past poisonings creates a culture where these kinds of things become possible  a culture beyond government control, which is just as bad," she said.

This year, two Russian doctors died and another was seriously injured in mysterious falls from hospital windows after they reportedly came under pressure over working conditions in the coronavirus pandemic.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Putin critic Alexei Navalny was poisoned, German doctors confirm
OTTAWA, ON, Aug. 20, 2020 /CNW/ - In lieu of an in-person update to the media, Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, issued the following statement today:

"There have been 123,490 cases of COVID-19 in Canada, including 9,049 deaths. 89% of people have now recovered. Labs across Canada have tested 4,925,446 people for COVID-19 to date. Over the past week, an average of over 48,700 people were tested daily, with 0.8% testing positive. Over the last several weeks, national daily case counts have ranged from 350 to 500 cases, with just over 390 cases being reported daily during the most recent 7 days.

As public health authorities and Canadians continue with our collective effort to limit the spread of COVID-19, we are closely monitoring disease activity indicators including daily case counts, number of cases hospitalised and the percentage of people testing positive in order to inform, adjust and adapt our actions as needed.

Average daily case counts remain in the range of 350 to 500 new cases being reported daily across the country, indicating that we are currently keeping the infection rate to a manageable level. COVID-19 disease severity indicators, including the number of hospitalisations and deaths, remain at a low level. In recent weeks, younger age groups have represented a larger proportion of COVID-19 cases. Compared to all other age groupings, incidence rates have remained the highest in the 20 to 29 year age group. However, incidence rates appear to be declining in this age group somewhat since a peak incidence in mid-July.

Because COVID-19 in any age group can build a reservoir for the virus, we need to consider where the virus might spread next and continue with efforts to protect individuals and settings at higher risk for severe outcomes. We are closely monitoring for increased incidence in older age groups and possible increases in hospitalisation or critical care admissions that could indicate a shift in transmission patterns.

We all have a role to play in keeping the spread of COVID-19 under control and away from those at high risk of severe outcomes. Understanding the risks, following local public health guidance and taking appropriate precautions will help us make informed decisions to keep us, our families, and our communities safer. You can find additional information and guidance to increase your COVID-19 know how here."

SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada

For further information: Media Relations, Public Health Agency of Canada, 613-957-2983, [email protected]
There may yet be condos, restaurants and shopping options at the site of a former coal-burning DTE power plant in Marysville.

But the property must first be cleaned up to residential standards.

Toward that goal, the St. Clair County Brownfield Development Authority has won a $485 million Renew Michigan grant from the Michigan Department of the Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.

Randy Fernandez, the city manager of Marysville, announced the grant at the July 27 meeting of the city council.

Detroit Edison cut the ribbon on the power plant, known as the Mighty Marysville, in 1922 and it operated into the 21st century. DTE sold the shuttered facility to CDC, St. Louis, in 2014, at which time the firm began removing asbestos and other toxins from the site. The plant was imploded in November 2015.

Until early 2019, the property was tied up in legal battles between CDC and subcontractors. Jeff Katofsky, the developer of the stalled St. Clair Inn project, announced plans to purchase the property in 2019, but his option on the land has apparently expired.

A grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency paid for the assessment and cleanup of the footprint of the old plant to get it to an industrial standard that wouldnt spread the contamination beyond the site, said Geoff Donaldson, director of the countys brownfield authority.

EGLE, then known as the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, placed a no further action order on the property, preventing all but industrial development of the site.

This grant will allow us to determine the extent of the contamination of the entire site from north to south and what would have to be done to clean it up to residential standards, said Donaldson.

The pollution at the site is already fairly well understood.

The primary contaminants of concern are metals, primarily arsenic and lead. The site was filled during its original construction with fill from unknown sources that contained slag, coal, etc., said Donaldson in his grant application. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds remain in the area of the former underground storage tank, but at concentrations below non-residential criteria.

The tank was removed.

Soil in a small area beneath the former footprint of the power plant exhibited concentrations of trichloroethene, the grant said. The source is presumed to be the former basement/maintenance shop. This area presents a vapor intrusion risk for future development Low concentrations of Benzo-a-pyrene were discovered in soil along the oil waste basin transfer piping.

A consultant used frequently by the county, Envirologic Technologies Inc., of Kalamazoo, will conduct the assessment of the property, using techniques ranging from electronic record searches and a review of historical photos to soil borings to assess the contamination of the site. The firm has worked on so-called brownfields related to the hotel project in Marine City, the St. Clair Inn, the old middle school in St. Clair and Port Hurons industrial park, among others.

Envirologic will determine the extent and kinds of remediation necessary to clean up the acreage.

The county and the city will then be in a position to tell future developers of the property exactly what kind of remediation is needed. Economic incentives and liability exemptions are available to developers to clean up brownfield sites that would remain undeveloped without state and federal underwriting.

St. Clair County and the city will work together to market the site and get it ready to go, said Donaldson.

Jim Bloch is a freelance writer. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
A major religious festival is being held this week in Tibets regional capital Lhasa under heavy security, with fewer numbers of Tibetans allowed to attend this year because of official concerns over the possible spread of coronavirus, according to Tibetan sources.



The Shoton, or Yogurt Festival, runs this year from Aug. 19 to 24 and features the unveiling of a large embroidered thangka portrait of the Buddha on a hillside outside Lhasas Drepung monastery, with Tibetan devotees flocking to see the precious relic.



Usually numbering in the thousands, this years crowds are smaller, though, owing to government restrictions on the numbers of people allowed to take part, Tashi Namygyala Tibetan researcher based in Indiatold RFAs Tibetan Service, citing sources in the Lhasa area.



The Chinese strategy of preventing Tibetans from performing their religious rights in the name of controlling COVID-19 is very cynical, Namgyal said. Meanwhile, Chinese tourists and laborers have been pouring into Lhasa in large numbers, raising huge concerns among Tibetans.



Established in the 17th century, the Shoton festival began as an observance in which Tibetans offered yogurt to Buddhist monks who had completed their annual religious retreats, and is based on a tradition dating back centuries earlier to the time of the Buddha, in India. Yogurt made of yak milk remains a Tibetan staple.



Along with religious observances, the festival has traditionally featured performances of traditional Tibetan opera and other cultural exhibitions at the Norbulingka, the summer home in Lhasa of exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.



This year, though, many of the traditional cultural performances have been canceled without explanation and replaced by displays of Chinese state propaganda, Namgyal said.



For example, the performance of opera at the Norbulingka will not be held, and an exhibition of Chinese propaganda photos is being put up in its place, Namgyal said.



Crowds closely watched by police



Tibetan sources in Lhasa and in exile meanwhile said that many Tibetans have not been allowed access to the large thangka portrait of the Buddha traditionally unveiled on the hillside outside Drepung, and that large numbers of police both in uniform and in plain clothes had been deployed to monitor the crowds.



We couldnt even go near the precious relic of the Buddha because there were so many Chinese tourists there," one source in Lhasa said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "We Tibetans were constantly being watched under heavy security,



It is unreasonable to cite concerns over coronavirus to limit the numbers of Tibetans taking part in religious festivals when large numbers of Chinese are freely allowed to enter Lhasa as tourists, another local source said.



Arrivals from China have quadrupled since fears have eased over the spread of COVID-19, the source said, also speaking on condition he not be named and adding that around 4,000 Chinese tourists visit Lhasas Potala Palace, the winter home of exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, every day.



Tibetans living in Tibet are complaining that their culture is becoming a showpiece for Chinese tourists, while the Tibetans themselves are denied the opportunity to preserve and cherish their traditions, he said.



Reported by RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Tenzin Dickyi. Written in English by Richard Finney.
New York, Aug. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Autoimmune Disease Diagnosis Market is forecast to reach USD 7.37 Billion by 2027, according to a new report by Reports and Data. An increase in the awareness of autoimmune diseases through education, research, and advocacy is driving market demand.

An autoimmune disease is a condition wherein ones immune system mistakenly attacks the body itself. Normally, the immune system guards the body against foreign invaders, but in an autoimmune disease, the immune system mistakes a part of the body as foreign and starts attacking healthy cells.

Multiple Sclerosis is a disabling condition of the central nervous system that impairs the flow of information within the brain and between the body and the brain. Increasing research related to the signs and treatments for the disease is expected to drive the market growth. Another challenge faced by the Multiple Sclerosis therapeutics market is the lack of awareness among the people associated with the Multiple Sclerosis condition. The demand for Multiple Sclerosis is expected to increase owing to the new drug developments for treating Multiple Sclerosis, which in turn will drive the demand for the autoimmune disease diagnosis market.

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COVID-19 Impact Analysis:

One of the major impacts of COVID-19 on the market has been elevated demand for point-of-care immunodiagnostic tests. The development of these easy-to-use and rapid devices to support testing outside of laboratory settings has been a response of diagnostic test manufacturers to shortages of laboratory-based molecular testing capacity. The increasing focus on large screen testing for COVID-19 has led to a shortage in the supply for diagnostic kits for autoimmune diseases. Diagnostic companies are under immense pressure to provide reliable point-of-care testing capacities

Further key findings from the report suggest

Consumables and Assay Kits dominated the market for autoimmune disease diagnostic and is forecasted to grow with a CAGR of 8.2% during the forecast period. The segment is driven by an increasing need for rapid diagnosis of autoimmune disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease that affects the joints. The condition worsens over time unless the inflammation is slowed or stopped. The disease rarely goes into remission without treatment. Statistics show that out of every 100,000 people, 41 are diagnosed with RA every year. Women are about 2-3 times more likely to get RA than men. Hormones in both genders may play a role in either preventing or triggering it.

Hospital pharmacies are expected to hold a larger market share owing to an increase in the autoimmune disease consultations in clinics and hospitals. The prolonged use of these medications can lead to drug resistance, which compels the patients to refer to a rheumatologist and follow guided therapies. Moreover, the number of OTC Drugs available for treatment is insufficient, which, in turn, is further propelling the growth of this segment.

The Asia Pacific market is anticipated to witness high growth during the forecast period owing to the increasing healthcare expenditure. Furthermore, the low cost of manufacturing in India and China has resulted in an increase in the production facilities, which attracts pharmaceutical and biotechnological giants to the region.

Key participants include Siemens, Danaher, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Grifols, Abbott, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Werfen, Trinity Biotech, Hycor Biomedical, and Euroimmun, among others.

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For the purpose of this report, Reports and Data has segmented the Global Autoimmune Disease Diagnosis Market on the basis of product, test type, disease, end-user, and region:

Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2017-2027)

Instruments

Consumables and Assay Kits

Test Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2017-2027)

Inflammatory markers

Routine laboratory tests

Autoantibodies and immunologic tests

Others tests

Disease Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2017-2027)

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Thyroiditis

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sjogrens Syndrome

Scleroderma

Others

End-User Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2017-2027)

Hospitals

Clinical Laboratories

Other

To identify the key trends in the industry, click on the link below: https://www.reportsanddata.com/report-detail/autoimmune-disease-diagnosis-market

Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2017-2027)

North America

U.S.

Canada

Europe

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Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (L) and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pose for a picture ahead of a meeting at the New York UN Headquarters in New York City, N.Y., on March 6, 2020. (Johannes Eisele/AFP/Getty Images)

US to Trigger Snapback Sanctions Against Iran

The United States will request a return or snapback of all U.N. sanctions on Iran, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday, after the U.N. Security Council rejected Washingtons bid to extend an arms embargo on the regime.

The U.S. sanction request will be a fully valid, enforceable U.N. Security Council resolution, Pompeo said at a press conference on Wednesday in Washington. We have every expectation that theyll be enforced just like every other U.N. Security Council resolution that is in place.

We are confident that every country will see that it is in their best interest that U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231 is fully enforced as it is a valid, extant, continuing set of obligations, Pompeo said.

The United States will submit a complaint to the 15-member U.N. Security Council about Irans non-compliance with the nuclear deal. The Trump administration withdrew from the accord in 2018 citing non-compliance.

President Donald Trump said at a press briefing on Wednesday: My administration will not allow this Iran nuclear situation to go on.

The embargo on conventional arms sales was imposed on Iran by the U.N. Security Council with Resolution 2231, which also endorsed the Iran nuclear deal signed in 2015, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The snapback sanction mechanism is a provision of the U.N. resolution.

Asked about the impact of snapback sanction against Iran, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said at the joint press conference with Pompeo that Iraq has economic, cultural, and political ties with the neighboring country.

We want to have good relations with our neighbors, provided that nobody interferes in Iraqs affairs and the Iraqi decision will be made by the Iraqis, and we want to protect our alliances and relations with others, including the United States of America, Hussein said.

Over the weekend, Trump told reporters that the United States probably would not participate in a video summit with the remaining parties to the nuclear dealBritain, France, China, Germany, and Iranproposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin after the U.N. disapproved the U.S. request to extend the sanctions indefinitely.

A snapback of U.N. sanctions would extend the 13-year arms embargo on Iran, ban Iran from developing ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, and require that Iran suspend its nuclear program.

The U.N. Security Council will have 30 days to vote on a resolution to continue Irans 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 re-imposed.

Iran began violating the nuclear deal after the United States withdrew from it in 2018 and the Trump administration exerted maximum economic pressure on Iran by cutting off its oil exports and reducing its main revenue source to zero.

Read More Obamas Nuclear Deal Saved Iran From the Sanctions Trump Has Reinstated

Last year, Iran announced that it had developed a new centrifuge that allows it to enrich uranium up to 50 times faster than allowed under the JCPOA. Iran also denied inspectors with the International Atomic Energy Agency access to locations Iran is obligated to provide, Pompeo said.

The Iran deal was promoted by then-President Barack Obama as the best optionthe only way, even temporarily, to keep Iran from wielding nuclear arms.

Yet Iran has been reported to have gone in the opposite direction.

The regime announced a 150 percent increase in its military budgetdeveloping long-range missiles, armed drones, and cyber-war capabilitieswhile putting to use some of the up to $150 billion in assets abroad that had previously been frozen due to sanctions.

The United States lists Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism and has long criticized the Islamic regime for funding terror groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.

Epoch Times reporter Petr Svab and Reuters contributed to this report.
By PTI

NAGPUR: The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Thursday granted an interim stay on the order in which the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) had imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on a private hospital for overcharging patients.

The NMC, on August 14, had imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on the hospital, also a designated COVID-19 facility, for overcharging patients.

The civic body had also asked the hospital to return Rs 6.86 lakh in excess charges. A monitoring team of the NMC had found that the city hospital had allegedly recovered charges in excess of those prescribed by the government from some non-COVID-19 patients.

The hospital moved the High Court challenging the fine order of the NMC. The petition came before a division bench of Justices Sunil Shukre and Anil Kilor for hearing.

On Thursday, the petitioner, though its counsel Shreerang Bhandarkar, contended in the HC whether the NMC was justified in imposing the penalty and directing the hospital to refund the alleged excess amount to non-COVID-19 patients.

Citing some rules governing private health care providers, Bhandarkar claimed the NMC order was "illegal and arbitrary".

The bench issued notices to the Maharashtra government and the NMC, returnable in two weeks, and granted interim stay of the order imposing penalty on the hospital.
During one visit to the schools Harvey location in 2015, a state inspector encountered offices with badly outdated equipment and records of a food program that were either missing or incomplete, according to the FBI filing. The school appeared to have no dedicated food prep area, and an empty classroom where food was being stored was infested with moths.
Mother of Slain Cannon Hinnant Says Sons Killing Not a Race Issue

The mother of the 5-year-old North Carolina boy who was shot and killed by a neighbor last week said the incident had nothing to do with race.

Its just, its devastating, Bonny Waddell said, according to WNCN-TV. This is not a race issue. This was a, I dont even know what it was, she said.

Her son, Cannon Hinnant, was allegedly shot and killed by neighbor Darius Sessoms in Wilson County. Cannon is white and Sessoms is black.

Waddell was responding to claims made on social media that race played a role in the case.

Sessoms, 25, was charged with murder in the case.

He was my neighbor for years  we always spoke when we seen each other. It was, we never, never ever had arguments with each other, Waddell said.

She added that its not clear why the suspect attacked her child.

I dont understand. I cant wrap my head around it, Waddell said. In the interview, she said that she hopes a playground is built in Cannons name.

Cannons father Austin Hinnant also said he was disturbed by social media posts that suggested race factored in.

He told the Wilson Times: This is no racial issue. The father said that he and Sessoms recently ate dinner together.

I have no idea why he did what he did, Hinnant said. It was literally out of nowhere. He puts a gun to my sons head and shoots him.

Meanwhile, the Wilson Police Department issued warnings on social media about false information surrounding the boys slaying.

Sessoms parents told Fox6 they believe their son was under the influence of drugs and having hallucinations in the moments leading up to the shooting.

A GoFundMe page for the boys family has reached more than $800,000.
Young people who look after a loved one have experienced an increased workload and anxiety during Covid-19 restrictions, according to research by the Carers Trust. Linda Stewart reports.

Finn Lynch (15) from Kesh, Co Fermanagh, is a carer for his brother Frank (10), who has ADHD and dyslexia and is on the autistic spectrum. He lives with his mum Sharon (44) and dad Darren (43), who works in the roads industry.

Frank normally goes to a special needs school, but his family say he is struggling to manage his behaviour due to the restrictions of lockdown.

"He would have very, very high levels of anger at the moment, due to lockdown," mum Sharon says.

"About a week into lockdown, he was starting to get more and more agitated. You tried to explain to him about self distancing and not being able to go out and he just didn't really get it.

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"Finn tried to explain to him what was going to happen and it was just very, very stressful because he takes his anger out on everybody.

"He would hit Finn, or hit himself or hit whoever is just in the firing line.

"The windows have been put through and I've basically no doors in the house because he's kicked the doors.

"We've had to get the walls replastered and we're just waiting on a man to come and fix his bedroom window at the moment. He just breaks everything that he can think of."

Although Frank is on medication, he is due to be re-tested and to have his medication reviewed - but everything is on hold due to lockdown.

Sharon says it's hard on Finn at the moment because Frank has broken many of his belongings, including his TV and PlayStation.

"Frank just has really bad anger problems and I know there's going to be a certain amount of rivalry among siblings anyway, but it's just like Finn's afraid because if Frank can get hold of a sharp object he wouldn't think twice about throwing it at you," she says.

"I just think to myself, where's it going to end - because there's not really any help out there at the moment."

The situation is exacting a toll on Finn's mental health, his mum says.

"Finn would have been very outgoing. He likes drama and he likes art and stuff but just due to how the situation is, his confidence has been crushed," she says.

While the family gets four hours' respite care a week, it is not enough to allow Finn to catch up on his schoolwork. He is due to sit GCSEs, but can't keep up with the work due to Frank's constant interruptions and the loss of digital devices that have been broken.

"It's really bad because he has no computer and there are no libraries open," Sharon says. "Finn really needs a laptop and we're trying to get the money together for that, but how long it will last I don't know, because Frank keeps breaking everything."

Finn says his younger brother can be hyper.

"He goes through different kinds of moods," he says. "He can be all right one minute and then just flip the switch.

"I try to calm him down and try to keep him away from mum and dad when he's having a meltdown, but it's hard."

Finn tries to work with Frank but says his brother will often push him away.

"I've been stabbed I don't know how many times - not seriously, but like he's clipped me. I've been boxed, I've been kicked, I had a TV broken, a PlayStation, he's broken two of my phones, he's broken an iPod.

"During lockdown he's got worse and more bad tempered."

Finn was due to do summer tests for GCSEs, but has been unable even to find out what he should be doing.

"I don't even know because whenever I try to do it, he's always in my room," he says.

"I'm constantly trying to and he doesn't let me - he constantly throws meltdowns all the time. I am worried, because I don't really know any of the subjects - Frank won't let me study or anything.

"Frank takes medication, but apart from that, there's really nothing else you can do.

"If we could get more respite - it's good to have him away for the four hours, but four hours of studying isn't that much when you think about it.

"If you're spending half an hour on each subject you're only getting eight subjects done.

"I would just like to say if there are any other young carers reading this, you're not alone. You're not the only ones going through stress at the minute in this lockdown."

Finn is supported by Lisa Corey, a project worker with Barnardos Young Carers Service.

She says: "We aim to give our young carers the opportunity and space to explore being young carers and what that means for them, introduce them to other young carers to have the sense of belonging and that they are not on their own.

"Our work is personalised to suit the individual and we build on resilience and confidence. We achieve that through individual work, group work and peer support."

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I knew hed need my help a lot more

John McCrudden (19), from north Belfast, lives at home with his mum Margaret (57), manager of Newington Day Centre, and his dad John (56), who has myotonic dystrophy, a form of muscular dystrophy which has caused wasting of the muscles in his back.

"He was diagnosed around the age of 36, a year or two after he and my mother first started seeing each other," John says.

"I wasn't born when he was diagnosed. All my life I knew he was going to need help and he would eventually need my help a lot more."

John's caring responsibilities began when he was nine and his dad was hospitalised with swine flu and double pneumonia.

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"That left him afterwards needing the use of oxygen 16 hours a day using a machine that pushes carbon dioxide out of his lungs and keeps oxygen coming in," John says.

"Pretty much when he got home, he needed help to recover and to get back on top a wee bit, but ever since then it's been a slow deterioration of his abilities."

His dad now has a carer who helps him with his needs from Monday to Friday and John receives direct payments for caring for him at other times.

"It's helping him when he wants to get up, getting him dressed, helping him get up, making sure the oxygen is turned on," John says.

"If he needs anything to eat or anything done around the house, I'll do it, and vice versa if he wants to go to bed I'll help him undress and help him into bed, make sure he has his machine on properly, make sure he has his medication."

Prior to lockdown, John was taking a gap year to figure out what he wanted to do and had been volunteering at Newington Day Centre and at Living Youth, the diocesan youth commission. (Based in north Belfast, the Newington Day Centre is using a 326,750 grant from The National Lottery Community Fund to run their Carers' Support Service (CSS) project over the next four years.)

However, during lockdown, John's father's carer has been unable to come, so John has been carrying out many more hours of caring then usual, while no longer having the same social outlets.

He's keen to see more support for young carers and feels all the focus is on the needs of the patient.

"Having all that taken away left me confused and not knowing what to do with myself," he says. "I had no real drive to do anything other than look after my dad.

"With only being able to text my friends or Zoom which, although it has helped a lot of people maintain their sanity, I found it a little bit boring - just five or six guys talking about random stuff. So actually PlayStation helped me a lot, jumping on a group session and jumping on Pro Clubs."

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I was trying to care for my dad and two young sons

Chloe O'Hare (22), from Ardoyne, cared for her late father, taxi driver Louis O'Hare, from his diagnosis with pancreatic cancer in June 2018 until he passed away last month. She lives with her partner Gavin (24) and their two sons PJ (four) and Louis (one).

When Chloe returned from her holidays in May 2018, she noticed that her dad's skin had turned yellow.

"He just kept on thinking he'd just got a tan, but we thought 'No, it's really bad'," she says.

"So then on my birthday in June, I asked him to go into hospital as my birthday wish, and three days later, he found out.

"From then he was in hospital for three months, just because of the jaundice and his condition. Then he got really, badly sick with the chemo, he just took a really bad reaction and his lungs filled up with fluid and he got pneumonia."

Chloe's dad was discharged from hospital a couple of days before she gave birth to her younger son.

"I did literally just everything, day to day - he ended up having really bad diarrhoea, so I had to clean all that up," she says.

But she says he began going downhill after the start of lockdown.

"In the second week he got really sick, and he missed the doctor's appointment, and then I was ringing up everybody one day, just to try and see what help I could possibly get because he needed help," she says.

"But I think the most disappointing thing was they couldn't help on that day because of lockdown. He was throwing up all day and all night - he couldn't get out of bed.

"My daddy was basically in and out of hospital about six times just because the doctor wouldn't call out."

With two young boys to care for as well, Chloe was struggling as her dad deteriorated.

"I was trying my best, I was doing as much as I could," she says. "It was whenever he was being sick throughout the night and I'm in bed and the kids are in bed and I'm trying to go in to clean up and he wants me every 10 minutes and I can't, because of the two boys - it was just so frustrating," she says.

But she pays tribute to Cancer Lifeline for their support, including providing a counsellor.

"He was just a fussy man - I was arguing with him and just getting frustrated with him," Chloe says.

"The counsellor was able to explain to me what was going on in his head as well as helping us to cope with our daily lives." Later, Louis went into the hospice for respite care, but died seven days later.

"He passed on July 1, in the early hours of the morning.

"I was there the whole time and the staff at the hospice were amazing too," Chloe says.

She admits it has been the hardest thing she has ever gone through.

"I was just glad that I was with my daddy," she says.

"I probably would have had loads of more arguments with him if it wasn't for Cancer Lifeline.

"It is very frustrating looking after someone but it's just ... whenever you're thrown into those things, life only gives you what you can handle."

To other young carers, she says: "Honestly there's no right or wrong in what you think you're doing - if you've a bad day, it's okay.

"And no one's perfect, you could get so frustrated and upset - that's okay, because everybody needs a break. You need a break to be able to continue on."

Cancer Lifeline is using 201,998 of National Lottery funding to run their Caring Connections programme over the next four years which is aimed at carers of people with cancer. For more information on the Carers Trust, visit carers.org
Today, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Jonathan Wilkinson, announced that the Government of Canada has purchased a 95-acre property in the Northern Bruce Peninsula. The property, which is mostly vacant forested land bordering a small lake with a provincially rare fen wetland, will be added to Bruce Peninsula National Park, contributing to the completion of the park.

This forested land is home to several species at risk, including the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, Round-leaved Ragwort and Dwarf Lake Iris.

Future plans for the property will be guided by Bruce Peninsula National Park's Management Plan. Parks Canada is currently undertaking a process to renew the park's management plan, and public and Indigenous consultations will be an important part of this process that will help shape the future of the park, including this property. It is through the management planning process that the use of lands is determined.

Through its Budget 2018, the Government of Canada is investing more than $1.3 billion through the Nature Legacy initiative to work with partners to increase Canada's network of protected areas, provide safe havens for wildlife and help respond to the impacts of climate change.

Quote

"Bruce Peninsula National Park is home to many endangered species, offers spectacular opportunities for Canadians to connect with their natural heritage, and holds cultural significance to the Saugeen Ojibway Nation. The acquisition of this property will help Parks Canada continue its important work helping vital ecosystems and contributing to the recovery of species at risk."



The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson,

Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada



Quick Facts

In 2018, the Government of Canada purchased the Driftwood Cove property with a contribution from the Bruce Trail Conservancy, adding 3,272 acres to Bruce Peninsula National Park .

purchased the Driftwood Cove property with a contribution from the Bruce Trail Conservancy, adding 3,272 acres to . Bruce Peninsula National Park is within the traditional territory of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation.

is within the traditional territory of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation. Since the establishment of Bruce Peninsula National Park in 1987, Parks Canada has added over 14,180 acres of land, acquired on a willing seller-willing buyer basis. Located within four hours of several major cities, Bruce Peninsula National Park provides opportunities for many urban and new Canadians to discover and connect with nature. Visitors are asked to plan ahead by checking the Bruce Peninsula National Park website before they travel to find out what is open, what they can expect, and how to prepare for their visit.

in 1987, Parks Canada has added over 14,180 acres of land, acquired on a willing seller-willing buyer basis. Located within four hours of several major cities, provides opportunities for many urban and new Canadians to discover and connect with nature. Visitors are asked to plan ahead by checking the website before they travel to find out what is open, what they can expect, and how to prepare for their visit. Parks Canada protects a vast network of natural and cultural heritage places that include 47 national parks, 171 national historic sites, five national marine conservation areas and one national urban park.

Related Links

SOURCE Parks Canada

For further information: Moira Kelly, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, 819-271-6218, [email protected]; Media Relations, Parks Canada Agency, 855-862-1812, [email protected]

Related Links

www.pc.gc.ca


LAWRENCE, KANSAS -- Between a decline in biodiversity and a series of extinction events, the Late Devonian period was not the most hospitable time on Earth.

And then came one or more supernovae explosions whose resulting ionizing radiation was the final push that spelled the end for armored fish, most trilobites and other life.

In a paper published Aug. 18 in PNAS, three University of Kansas researchers and their colleagues lay out such a scenario for end-Devonian extinctions.

"For more than a decade, my colleagues and I have been interested in the possibility of ionizing radiation events causing extinction events on Earth," said Adrian Melott, professor emeritus of physics & astronomy at the University of Kansas.

Previous findings had pointed to this final extinction event of the Devonian happening in tandem with a drop in ozone in Earth's stratosphere.

"When I heard about the evidence for ozone depletion at the end-Devonian, it triggered thoughts about the possibility of a chain of nearby supernovae," Melott said.

Previous research had pointed to other possible causes for the ozone depletion, such as global warming, but not astrophysical sources like exploding stars.

However, a fellow KU researcher had findings that suggested otherwise. Brian Thomas, an adjunct researcher in physics & astronomy and professor of physics at Washburn University, had shown that atmospheric warming and the resulting injection of water into the lower stratosphere -- suggested as a mechanism to cause the ozone depletion -- were just not tenable.

Moreover, another KU researcher, Bruce Lieberman, had further findings that pointed to an astrophysical cause. Lieberman, a professor of ecology & evolutionary biology, had previously emphasized that the end-Devonian extinctions were part of a long period of diversity decline. This prolonged decline is then followed by evidence of pollen malformations, suggesting ionizing radiation as the cause.

That left a series of supernovae as the only tenable possibility, Melott said.

The researchers estimate the supernovae that triggered these events to be around 60 light years away. For context, Betelgeuse, a future supernova getting a lot of attention for its recent behavior, is about 600 light years away.

The supernovae that triggered end-Devonian extinction would have been close enough to cause some radiation damage on Earth, but not close enough for life-shattering damage.

"The cosmic rays from such a supernova will produce muons in the atmosphere, which are a very penetrating kind of radiation," Melott said. "They could cause internal damage in large animals and in organisms up to a half-mile down in the ocean."

The major ionization of the lower atmosphere may have led to a lot of lightning, he said, which could start fires and change the climate.

###

The KU researchers' collaborators on the paper came from the University of Illinois, King's College London, European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Estonia's National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics and the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Editors note: NJ.com/The Star-Ledger is holding a webcast on police reform and making Black Lives matter on Thursday, Aug. 20 at 1 p.m. at Facebook.com/NJ.com. The live event will feature a keynote by Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and law enforcement and community leaders.

By Lawrence Hamm

The New Jersey State Supreme Court decision denying subpoena power to the Newark police review board was more than disappointing. It was a setback to the movement against police brutality and efforts for police reform.

Police forces evolved out of racist slave patrols. The police historically have been a problem in African American and other communities of color, seen by many as an occupying army engaged in racial oppression, violence and control.

Police brutality and repression and murder of unarmed civilians, use of excessive force, racial profiling, unjust arrest, violation of constitutional rights, abuse of power, corruption and criminal activity have been long-standing, on-going and documented.

As a remedy to this problem people have demanded accountability through civilian oversight of the police by establishing police review boards. After its investigation of the Newark Police Department, the U.S. Justice Department said it should have civilian oversight.

For more than half a century, people in Newark have been demanding, protesting and demonstrating for a police review board. And for almost as many years they have been saying that a police review board must have subpoena power and investigatory power believing that without them they are toothless and ineffective.

The Peoples Organization has demanded this since our organization was founded 38 years ago.

Such a body was created with the establishment of the Newark Civilian Complaint Review Board, first by Executive Order of Mayor Ras Baraka, and then made permanent with the passage of an ordinance by the Newark City Council.

Then the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 12 went into court to block it because like most police organizations it is opposed to civilian oversight. They won in Superior Court but lost in The appellate division.

Unfortunately, whereas the Appeals Court took two steps forward the State Supreme Court took two steps back. This was not just a victory for police, this was a victory for unaccountable policing.

This was a victory for police who see themselves above the law. It was a victory for police officers who engage in brutal acts with impunity and see themselves as judge, jury and executioner.

The role that the police organizations have played in this case shows us that they are not just a paramilitary force, they are a political force and a dangerous one. They use their power to protect and serve themselves.

They work to strengthen the bulwark of laws, policies, contractual provisions, court decisions, and a police culture that gives them a qualified immunity from prosecution that the average citizen does not have.

This is why most police brutality cases do not end with the prosecution of the police involved. It is most unfortunate that the states highest court made this decision and thereby has shown itself to be an impediment to serious police reform.

This set back in the courts compels us to seek legislative remedies. We need legislators with The courage to stand up to police organizations who oppose civilian oversight to sponsor bills that will enable municipalities to establish review boards with subpoena and investigatory powers.

We need enough legislators to pass those bills and we need a governor that will sign them into law. However, more than action by the courts and the legislature we need action by the people. We need people to continue to demand and demonstrate and protest for police review boards.

We need people to keep the pressure on in every way possible not only for the establishment of Newarks police review board with subpoena power but for such boards to be created at the municipal, county and state levels.

We are dismayed but not deterred by the courts decision. We lost this round but the fight is not over. The struggle continues.

Lawrence Hamm is chairman of the Peoples Organization For Progress.

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It's hard to imagine the next few years without Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.

She is, after all, the longest-reigning monarch in British history who is on her 68th year.

A young Princess Elizabeth ascended the throne on February 6, 1952, when she was only 25 years old.

Now, at 94 years old, the monarch and her husband, Prince Philip, are looking back on their lives together as she prepares to step down from the throne.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip have reportedly felt melancholy about their annual visit to Balmoral Estate this year.

Traditionally, Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh have always spent their summer in the Scottish estate during the summer. With both being in the 90s, they are well-aware that the trip to Balmoral could be one of their last summers together.

The couple married in 1947 and have always enjoyed being in forests, farmlands, and the privacy their 50,000-acre Balmoral estate gives them.

It's a place where they put aside royal protocols, disconnect from the world, and the news, dress casually, spend most of their time enjoying themselves whether indoors or outdoors.

Prince Philip just turned 99 in June, and it has been reported that he isn't as active as he used to be, according to Closer.

"He knows his days are numbers and is trying to make the most of the time he has left with the Queen."

In the past, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip spend their summer afternoons in Balmoral with hunting, horseback riding, and fishing adventures. Now, they're just getting themselves busy with more serene, gentle hobbies such as card games, long walks, and talking about memories.

The royal source said that the royal couple always talks about the trips they took together around the world, Queen Elizabeth II's meetings with Winston Churchill, "her favorite prime minister."

In the monarch's private conversations with her husband, it has been revealed that Queen Elizabeth II admitted that she didn't always do everything right as a parent, but she is hoping that she did enough.

The source revealed, "She regrets not being closer to her children when they were younger, but is trying to make up for lost time."

"She's learned to open up to her family about her emotions, and now she speaks to them frequently about their personal and professional lives."

In March, Queen Elizabeth II has already stopped making royal appearances and have been spending quiet time with Prince Philip in Windsor Castle. However, she was seen in a few Zoom meetings in the past couple of months.

The future king, Prince Charles, and his son, Prince William, are taking most of her responsibilities.

"It's nearing the end of the Queen's reign, and she's planning to pass down the crown to Charles sooner than later."

According to the source, Her Majesty believes that Camilla Paker-Bowles made the Duke of Cornwall "so much more self-assured."

"Having a strong woman by his side has helped him to become more confident."

It's unclear if Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince William, and Kate Middleton will be visiting Balmoral Estate due to the coronavirus pandemic. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are high-risk of getting infected.

But what's certain is that Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward are expected to make the trip.

The family visits will undoubtedly be the highlights of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip's last summers at Balmoral together.

READ MORE: British Effect: Meghan Markle Already Ridiculed By California Staff?
YEREVAN.  A group of Armenians living in Russia are again in front of the main building of the government of Armenia on Wednesday.

They demand to reopen the borders so that they can go to Russia to their families and continue working there, as, according to them, they are unable to earn a living and work in Armenia.

These Armenians are protesting against the closed borders, and they have been demanding a meeting with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for a long time, so that this issue can be finally resolved and they can go to their families.
Prime Minister Ludovic Orban said on Thursday that the National Liberal Party (PNL) has taken the decision to start a legal conflict of a constitutional nature between the government and Parliament over the Social Democratic Party (PSD) tabling a motion of censure against his cabinet.

"We have taken the decision to start the legal conflict of a constitutional nature between the government and Parliament regarding the tabling of this motion of censure," Orban said at the Parliament House.He added that a notification to the Constitutional Court (CCR) in this matter would be submitted on Thursday or Friday. A
With Onam around the corner, The Hindu launched a two-pronged campaign to join the people of Kerala gearing up for the occasion.

The first phase began mid-July by actively engaging with marketing and media agencies through digital road shows and a series of communication for the festival, highlighting the brands strength in Kerala. The second phase, launched recently, celebrates the spirit of King Mahabali by appreciating those who make a difference in the lives of others in any little way they can. The campaign, We are Maveli, urges the readers of Kerala to nominate selfless, generous and kind-hearted people they know who are the real life Mavelis of the State.

Speaking about the campaign, Suresh Balakrishna, Chief Revenue Officer, The Hindu Group said, The Hindu has continued its dominant leadership position among English dailies in Kerala. Kerala has always been and continues to be a priority for us, evidenced in our continued operations with no change in editions produced and markets served, even during the pandemic. As the world still navigates through these uncertain times, as a sign of hope and to keep spirits lifted, we are preparing with Kerala for its most-awaited festival of Onam. This campaign is a perfect reflection of the spirit of Kerala and its people, we want the world to hear their stories of resilience and empathy.
WASHINGTON - Congressional Democrats and election watchdogs voiced new suspicions about the U.S. Postal Service on Wednesday, fearing its decision to suspend major changes to mail processing and delivery still stopped short of what was necessary to protect voters who intend to cast their 2020 ballots by mail.

The about-face announced by embattled Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on Tuesday halted a series of cost-cutting measures, including the removal of machines that sort mail and the public boxes that collect it. Under withering political scrutiny, DeJoy said he would resume his work after the November election to "avoid even the appearance of any impact" on the presidential race.

A day later, though, confusion persisted: It's unclear whether Americans actually would receive their ballots on time, or if they'd be able to return them easily. Nor was it clear whether DeJoy would promptly restore the sorting machines he had ordered removed from some postal facilities nationwide, or if the changes he has made across the agency under the watch of President Donald Trump would introduce delays into one of the most consequential elections in U.S. history.

The uncertainty and distrust only emboldened lawmakers on Capitol Hill, as they prepared to grill DeJoy and Robert Duncan, the chairman of the board of governors that oversees USPS, at a series of hearings set to begin Friday. On Wednesday, roughly 90 House Democrats called on the board, which selected DeJoy, to remove him from his post. And House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., publicly blasted the postmaster general after a private call with him, lamenting that his new pause would not "reverse damage already wreaked" on the country.

"The Postal Service is Election Central during the pandemic, and Democrats will not allow the President to force Americans to choose between their health and their vote," Pelosi said in a statement.

David Partenheimer, a spokesman for USPS, stressed in a statement Wednesday the agency has not changed its rules for election mail and intends "to fulfill our role in the electoral process by doing everything we can."

The fierce blowback Wednesday underscored the political maelstrom now facing USPS, once a venerated arm of the U.S. government, under DeJoy, a former logistics executive who became one of the Republican Party's top donors. Since assuming the position earlier this year, DeJoy has sought to remake broad swaths of the agency out of concern for its future finances, fearing that a drop in mail volume is destined to leave the mail service insolvent. But his tactics have carried immediate, vast consequences, slowing down mail processing and delivery nationwide.

Some seniors, veterans and patients, for example, have had a hard time obtaining their mail-order medicine promptly. Postal workers, meanwhile, have griped about severe reductions in staffing as well as overtime pay that have cut deeply into their own finances - and left them unable to deliver an entire day's worth of mail without disruption

The delays have raised the specter of major headaches entering the 2020 election, as millions of Americans opt for mail-in ballots over their local polling places at a time when the deadly coronavirus is sweeping the country. Critics see political motivations in DeJoy's efforts, citing a slew of recent comments from Trump, who continues to claim without evidence that mail-in voting is a vector for massive fraud.

"This is all about suppressing the vote," Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va., said.

On Wednesday, top representatives from postal workers nationwide said they had seen little to no change since DeJoy pumped the brakes on his plan to remake the USPS. They couldn't tell whether machines and other equipment might soon be restored or how, exactly, they would now be able to receive overtime.

"While we take the [postmaster general] at his word, the industry would like to know whether 'suspension' means 'rollback' or 'freeze in place,'" said Art Sackler, a longtime lobbyist for mailers, postal shippers and suppliers.

The uncertainty also frustrated election experts, who feared it could affect vote counting or perhaps deter people from voting by mail in the first place. They also pointed to the USPS's recent warnings to state election officials that last-minute ballots and those mailed out in bulk - a standard practice every cycle - may not arrive in voters' mailboxes on time.

All completed ballots sent to boards of election travel as first-class mail. But unfilled ballots going from local officials to voters are more complicated. Some localities send them first-class, which costs 55 cents per item and takes two and five days to arrive. But many others have long sent ballots as third-class or the "bulk rate" of 20 cents an item with a delivery time of three to 10 days. Historically, postal workers have treated ballots with third-class postage as though they were first-class items.

In recent days, the Postal Service has refused to clarify at the national level whether those norms will be respected in the November election, and letters it sent in July - which warned 46 states that their requirements and deadlines for voters were "incongruous" with mail service - raised concerns that they won't.

Wendy R. Weiser, the vice president for democracy at the Brennan Center for Justice, said the agency's statements so far could have the effect of "vote suppression."

"Either they are going to lead to bad outcomes in terms of mail delivery . . . or they're going to create distrust in the timeliness of mail delivery that's unwarranted, that will cause people to avoid mail voting," she said.

DeJoy offered few new guarantees about ballot delivery. Instead, he commissioned a task force to ensure "election officials and voters are well-informed and fully supported by the Postal Service," according to an agency statement. Partenheimer, the USPS spokesman, said Wednesday they have recommended state election officials use first-class mail "for years" to avoid potential delays.

"For the mail to be successfully used as part of an election, state and local election officials must understand and take into account our operational standards and recommended timelines," he added in a statement, pointing out USPS has "not changed our delivery standards, our rules, or our prices for election mail."

Hoping to address what they fear could become a "glaring hole," House Democrats included in their new $25 billion postal relief bill a requirement that USPS afford election mailings first-class status, Connolly said. Lawmakers including Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., urged members of Congress to take DeJoy's commitments and "make this mandatory, not something to the whims of the president and the postmaster general."

But the fate of Democrats' legislative gambit remains in doubt: The president said last week he was opposed to an emergency bailout for the agency, charging he did not want to facilitate widespread voting by mail in the fall. On Wednesday, the White House expressed only a limited openness for congressional Democrats' push to give the Postal Service a cash infusion.

"We're looking at the post office funding . . . but that must also include money for our hard-working Americans as well," said White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany at her press briefing.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, meanwhile, stood by DeJoy and blasted Democrats for "manipulating information and giving validity to a conspiracy theory." On a private call Wednesday, most Republican members stood united in their view that they should do more - along with the White House - to try to battle back Democrats on the issue, according to people on the call who requested anonymity to speak freely about it.

In the meantime, DeJoy's actions have touched off a flurry of lawsuits. The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law filed court papers late Tuesday in Maryland, accusing the USPS and the postmaster general of intentionally trying to undermine the 2020 election by disrupting mail service and the delivery of absentee ballots.

Dozens of state attorneys general, who had announced plans to sue the USPS earlier this week, said they, too, would remain vigilant. Several said they remain convinced that only through a court order could they ensure USPS doesn't stand in the way Americans' right to vote.

"I took this effectively as an admission that what was happening was indefensible," said Phil Weiser, the Democratic attorney general of Colorado, in response to DeJoy's reversal.

Weiser, however, pointed to a lingering question: "There's damage that's already been done. Is that damage going to be undone?"

- - -

The Washington Post's Amy Gardner, Rachael Bade and Erin Cox contributed to this report.
Gargled water samples may be viable alternative to swabs for detection of Covid-19, enabling easy self-collection and removing the need for trained healthcare workers for sample collection, according to a study published in the ICMRs Indian Journal of Medical Research.

Adoption of gargle lavage for sample collection will have a significant impact as it also leads to substantial cost savings by reducing the need for swabs and personal protective equipment, the study highlighted.

The authors of the study Gargle lavage as a viable alternative to swab for detection of SARS-CoV-2 include Dr Naveet Wig, Dr Manish Soneja, Dr Neeraj Nischal and Dr Ankit Mittal from the department of Medicine at AIIMS, Dr Anjan Trikha and Dr Kapil Dev Soni from the department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care Medicine at AIIMS among others.

Also read| Russia looking for partnership with India to produce Covid vaccine: RDIF CEO

Swab collection has several drawbacks also as it requires training, exposes the healthcare workers to the virus containing aerosols, has poor patient acceptability and is resource intensive.

An alternative sample collection method that could overcome most of these limitations without compromising the yield of the test is the need of the hour, the study underlined.

One such method is the collection of gargle lavage, it mentioned. Although the use of gargle specimens is not new, at present, there is little published information on the suitability of gargle specimens to diagnose SARSCoV-2 infection, the study stated.

This study was, therefore, conducted to assess the performance of gargle lavage in comparison to nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs for the detection of novel coronavirus.

This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the AIIMS, New Delhi over a period of one month (May-June) on 50 confirmed Covid-19 patients.

Paired swab and gargle samples were taken within 72 hours of their diagnosis. Samples were processed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for detection of SARS-CoV-2. Post-sample collection, a 10-point scale was administered to assess the level of discomfort with either of the collection methods, the study said.

Also read: India conducts record number of Covid-19 tests in 24 hours, recoveries near 21 lakh-mark

All gargle samples were positive and comparable to their corresponding swab samples irrespective of the symptoms and duration of illness. The cycle threshold (Ct ) values for gargle samples were slightly higher but comparable to those of swabs. Bland-Altman plot showed good agreement between the two methods, the study said.

Majority (72 per cent) of the patients reported moderate-to-severe discomfort with swab collection in comparison to 24 per cent reporting only mild discomfort with gargle collection. In conclusion, the study highlights the usefulness of gargle lavage as an appropriate respiratory sample collection method. It is a viable alternative to conventional swab collection with several distinct advantages and will have significant clinical and public health impacts in terms of better acceptability, easy self-collection, sparing of healthcare workers and cost-effectiveness, the study said.

The major limitation of this study was its cross-sectional design and it was performed only on a limited number of positive cases. In addition, it would be necessary to evaluate the performance using different viral RNA isolation platforms, the study said.
Youd just have to look at the images of Susan B. Anthony to know she was a formidable woman.

Those whove read and studied her place in history say she was not only intelligent but tactical, zeroed-in on the suffrage cause and willing to go to jail for it.

This week she made news again, 114 years after her death and 100 years after the 19th Amendment guaranteed the right of women to vote. The setting was a White House event in which President Donald Trump announced that he was pardoning her.

Some of the feminists I called Tuesday were watching the second night of the Democratic National Convention and had the same initial reaction to news of her posthumous reprieve.

They laughed. I couldnt help but laugh with them.

A few joked about whether the president knew of her death. They felt confident Anthony would have rejected a pardon from a president known for his misogyny and racism. Anthony was, after all, an abolitionist.

Local feminists bet that if Anthony were around to protest her pardon, the president wouldnt like her.

Not one bit.

He wouldnt have entertained a meeting with her. Had she been on his radar, he might have made crass comments about her intelligence and appearance. He might have called her his favorite word for powerful women who stand up to him.

Nasty.

A White House statement about the pardon said Trump granted Anthony clemency for a wrongful and unjust conviction stemming from the only vote she ever cast in an election.

The statement mentioned she voted straight-ticket Republican in 1872 and that she was denied due process and convicted. She was accessed a fine she never paid but wasnt jailed.

Ellen Riojas Clark, professor emerita of the University of Texas at San Antonio, called the pardon a shameless move to capture the moment away from the Democratic convention and the multitude of Republican women who are not going to vote for him.

The pardon is hypocritical, she said, because the president has publicly debased and insulted women. Given the caliber of people he has pardoned, the gesture has no merit.

Would he have appointed Susan B. Anthony to a Cabinet post? No, she said.

Clearly, this is a politically motivated move, said Coda Rayo-Garza, director of the YWCA of San Antonios newly minted Department of Racial Justice and Gender Equity.

Rayo-Garza, who has taught political science, was troubled by the pardon for another reason altogether: Anthony undermined Black suffragists of her day. That was whitewashed by history.

Graciela Sanchez, who leads the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center, pointed to the juxtaposition of the pardon against Trump and the GOPs longtime work to suppress voting in minority communities and their attempts to use the U.S. Postal Service to taint the November elections.

Trinity University humanities professor Norma Elia Cantu pointed to another complexity in Anthonys story: her stance against abortion.

U.S. history professor Catherine Clinton at UTSA didnt agree on that point. Anthonys stand on abortion is hotly disputed. Clinton said she wasnt altogether displeased by the presidents pardon because of the sudden attention Anthony received.

Anthony wasnt alone when she voted illegally, Clinton added. All over the country, women registered and voted. They wanted to make a federal case of it, she said.

Before her trial, Anthony went around the country arguing for the right of women to vote.

Clinton was far more critical of a conservative group she says has misappropriated Anthony: the Susan B. Anthony List, which raises money for candidates who want to end access to safe, legal abortions. The groups position that Anthony opposed abortion is pure fiction, she said.

What I drew from these San Antonio women was a sense that Anthony wouldnt have valued a pardon from this president.

Its fanciful, for sure, to imagine what shed be doing today.

She might have found a sisterhood among the women, many of them women of color, on the forefront of voter registration and engagement. Shed have had a cool Twitter handle and be speaking out about containing COVID-19, school closures and the pandemics disproportional impact on Black and Latino communities.

Shed be talking about the women most at risk, because theyre on the front lines of the coronavirus, in hospitals, home care, nursing homes, schools and in jobs that cant be done from home.

Most importantly, she would be devoted to a singular cause, one that enveloped her life. It was voter suppression.

Elaine Ayala is a columnist covering San Antonio and Bexar County. To read more from Elaine, become a subscriber. eayala@express-news.net | Twitter: @ElaineAyala
What a classroom would look like at Academia Moderna, a charter school, when the Huntington Park campus is allowed to reopen in person. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

As children begin school in Los Angeles on Thursday, public education is among Americans' top priorities, and most believe students should continue their education through some form of distance learning, a national poll has found.

More than half, 54%, of the 2,200 adults surveyed said public school education should be a top priority for local officials, along with COVID-19, health care, the economy and safety/crime, according to the poll conducted by Morning Consult, a private company that does national political polling.

Nearly the same share of adults, 52%, said they opposed reopening K-12 schools for in-person instruction in fall 2020 amid the pandemic, and close to 80% said they believed hybrid, online-only or home-school instruction would be most beneficial for students.

Notably, some of these respondents wanted to persist with online education despite also saying that parenting had become more stressful because of COVID-19 and that the pandemic had forced them to become more involved in their children's education.

Roughly three-quarters of respondents said the pandemic had exacted tolls on instructional quality in schools and students' access to free or reduced-price meals, mental health counseling, and support with special emotional or learning needs.

The findings mirrored what educators, students and families in Los Angeles and California have described since pandemic-related school closures began in March.

Across southern California, a deep digital divide left some schools scrambling to provide laptops and Internet connections to students, who in some cases received little to no instruction in the spring. In Los Angeles Unified School District, where the majority of students are Black and Latino and eligible to receive free or reduced-price lunch, large numbers of students were absent from online learning last spring or were not in daily contact with their teachers.

Of the 760,000 California children with disabilities, including 64,000 in Los Angeles Unified, many are not receiving the education, services or assessments they need  despite a mandate that school districts continue to provide special education. Parents have described enormous stress over providing adequate services to their children and worry that the gains they've made will be undone.

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At the same time, while parents have expressed angst over the loss of services, inadequacy of Zoom and missed social opportunities for their children, many are simply unwilling to take chances with the safety and health of their children. The risk is compounded for Black and Latino families, who have suffered disproportionately during the pandemic.

"Schools are the heartbeat of these communities  they are the one institution that levels the playing field a tiny bit," civil rights attorney and activist Connie Rice said. "We're not making up for that."

Among the poll's other results, most respondents said they approved of the way their school/school system had responded to the pandemic and had a favorable opinion of their children's teachers last year.

At the national level, nearly 90% of voters identified education as an important issue when considering how they might cast their ballots in the presidential election this fall.

Most also said they did not trust President Trump or the federal government to ensure that schools operate safely this fall  but they did trust teachers to do so. The poll was conducted online from Aug. 4-10 among a national sample of 2,200 adults. The data were weighted to approximate a target sample.

The poll was commissioned by Murmuration, an organization led by Michael Bloombergs daughter.




SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- KT Corp. (KRX: 030200;NYSE: KT), South Korea's largest telecommunications company, is developing a COVID-19 infection risk assessment model, using its artificial intelligence (AI) and Big Data-based digital contact tracing technology, adding to global efforts to tackle the escalating pandemic.

The Korean telecom leader's new pilot project is supported by the Research Investment for Global Health Technology Fund, better known as RIGHT Fund. The global research fund accepted the promising proposal by KT to develop AI-based technology that assesses COVID-19 infection risks.

"KT's new project will help combat the pandemic globally," said Kim Chae-Hee, head of KT's AI/Big Data division. "We at KT will do our best to help prevent COVID-19 from further spreading and raise the efficacy of medical service, using our AI and Big Data technologies for the sake of humanity."

KT plans to use the pilot project results to apply for a larger-scale, RIGHT Fund-supported project in 2021. RIGHT Fund is a global health research funding agency established in 2018 with contributions from Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Korean life science companies to promote global public health.

For the pilot project, KT plans to assess COVID-19 infection risks by using AI and Big Data to analyze data on the movement of smartphone users and those who have been tested positive for COVID-19 and made public by the government.

"KT's project will help developing countries, which are faced with shortages of medical resource, prevent the pandemic from spreading and conduct appropriate examinations and treatments," said Kim Youn-Been, CEO of the RIGHT Fund. "We hope that the project, taking advantage of Korea's advanced expertise in ICT, will be carried out successfully to support developing countries in preventing, treating and managing the COVID-19 pandemic."

Mobile Doctor Corp. is also participating in this project, which is scheduled to end in February 2021. Both KT and Mobile Doctor, a provider of data-based platforms and solutions for health management, are members of a consortium conducting "A Next Generation Surveillance Study for Epidemic Preparedness," a three-year research program financed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

KT expects the assessment model, based on identification of those who have been exposed to carriers of the novel coronavirus directly and indirectly, will help prevent further transmission of the COVID-19 pandemic while minimizing the risk of personal information leakage.

Korea's top telecom company also looks forward to acquiring the capabilities to identify vulnerable high-risk groups in case of a second wave of the pandemic or group infections, and promote an effective use of limited medical resources, such as medical personnel and test kits.

Through the research, KT plans to further upgrade its Global Epidemic Prevention Platform (GEPP), focusing on providing information on infection risks of contagious diseases and digital contact tracing. GEPP uses Big Data and social media to give updates to travelers going to countries hit by epidemics and to track the movement of infected individuals.

At the same time, KT will help reduce the gap in the provision of medical service among different regions and different income groups in underdeveloped countries, using its information communication technology and digital capacity for research and development on health.

Eight South Korean life science companies donated to the RIGHT Fund. The fund is dedicated to addressing inequalities in health between regions and income groups around the world, through research and development for vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics and digital health technologies, taking advantage of Korea's advanced R&D capabilities.

##### End #####

MEDIA CONTACTS

For inquiries, please contact our Foreign Media Relations Team at [email protected]

ABOUT KT CORPORATION (KRX: 030200;NYSE: KT)

KT Corp., Korea's largest telecommunications service provider, reestablished in 1981 under the Telecommunications Business Act, is leading the era of innovations in the world's most connected country. The company is leading the 4th industrial revolution with high speed wire/wireless network and new ICT technology. KT launched the world's first nationwide commercial 5G network on April 3, 2019, after successfully showcasing the world's first trial 5G services at the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games in February 2018. This is another milestone in KT's continuous efforts to deliver essential products and services as it aspires to be the number one ICT Company and People's Company.

For more information, please visit our English website at https://corp.kt.com/eng/

SOURCE KT Corp.

Related Links

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Published: 20 August 2020

Final government R&D funding in the government budget for 2019

In the 2019 state budget, a total of EUR 2,008.9 million were budgeted for research and development, which is EUR 15.0 million more than the funding published in February 2020.

Based on the previously published preliminary data, research funding would have grown from 2019 to 2020 by EUR 68.6 million, but as the funding data for both 2019 and 2020 became revised, the growth for 2020 is estimated to be EUR 1,174.4 million. Government R&D funding will grow significantly in 2020 due to the exceptional situation caused by Covid-19.

As a result of the updates, the appropriations for research and development in the 2020 state budget are estimated to amount to EUR 3,183.3 million, which is a total of EUR 1,120.8 million more than the preliminary data released in February 2020. The anticipated growth is mainly due to the large increase in the appropriations for research and development by Business Finland, which also includes subsidies during the corona stage.

Government R&D funding by organisation in 2015 to 2020

Preliminary data on budget funding for R&D will be published on the basis of the autumns budget proposal. Preliminary data are partly founded on forecasts that are based on the plans and the current year's budget outturn at that moment. The plans and allocation of funding may, however, change and become revised after the publication of preliminary data, and even major changes to final data are possible.

The revised figures for 2019 and 2020 can be found in the database tables.

Source: Government R&D funding in the state budget, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Heidi Pirkola 029 551 3246, tiede.teknologia@stat.fi

Director in charge: Mari Yla-Jarkko

Publication in pdf-format (161.6 kB)

Updated 20.8.2020

Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Government R&D funding in the state budget [e-publication].

ISSN=2489-3250. Final data 2019. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 20.1.2022].

Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/tkker/2019/01/tkker_2019_01_2020-08-20_tie_001_en.html
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-20 17:30:56|Editor: huaxia

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VIENTIANE, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Lao National Regulatory Authority (NRA) for the UXO/Mine Action Sector has set a target to clear and destroy unexploded ordnance (UXO) on over 7,000 hectares of land in 2020.

The target was reported on Tuesday at the UXO Sector Working Group meeting to summarize its activities over the first six months of 2020 and plans for the rest of the year.

The COVID-19 pandemic had impacted UXO operations, especially clearance projects which were suspended, local daily Vientiane Times on Thursday quoted Khampheng as saying.

Head of Office of the NRA, Chomyaeng Phengthongsawath said that for the last six months of 2020 the authority would continue to aim to clear 7,761 hectares and conduct technical surveys to identify confirmed hazardous areas (CHA) on 42,130 hectares.

The NRA reported that during the first six months, 2,239 hectares of land were cleared, 7,870 hectares of CHA were identified, and 310 villages surveyed. Clearance teams destroyed 44,868 items of UXO including 33,521 cluster munitions.

From 2021-2025, the NRA is aiming to clear 50,000 hectares of land, conduct non-technical surveys in 2,776 villages and technical surveys to identify CHA on 250,000 hectares, and undertake mine risk education in 3,000 communities.

According to the National UXO Program (UXO Lao), during the first six months of the year, they were able to clear 966 hectares comprising 965 hectares of farmland and destroy 13,454 UXO items including 12,236 cluster munitions.

In addition, a total of 1,366 hectares, including 1,333 hectares of agricultural land was identified as hazardous.

UXO Lao has set a target to clear 1,423 hectares of land and carry out non-technical surveys in 17 villages and technical surveys on 1,889 hectares.

Laos is the most heavily bombed country in the world per capita. Throughout 1964-1973, over 2 million tons of ordnance were dropped on Laos, of which 30 percent failed to explode.

Over 270 million cluster munitions were dropped from American aircraft, leaving an estimated 80 million live bomblets scattered and buried around the country. Enditem
Rating Action: Moody's affirms Elering's A2 ratings; outlook stable

Global Credit Research - 20 Aug 2020

Frankfurt am Main, August 20, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service (Moody's) has today affirmed the A2 issuer and senior unsecured ratings of Estonian electricity and gas transmission system operator Elering AS (Elering). The rating outlook remains stable.

A full list of affected ratings is provided towards the end of this press release.

RATINGS RATIONALE

The rating affirmation reflects (1) the low business risk profile of Elering's regulated electricity and gas transmission operations, which are underpinned by a flexible and generally supportive regulatory framework; and (2) the company's solid financial profile. While the visibility of Elering's cash flows is lower in comparison to other European regulatory regimes, given that tariff changes may be requested year-on-year, Moody's expects future tariff decisions to continue being supportive of Elering's financial profile.

Elering's rating is constrained by (1) the company's small size; and (2) significant investment requirements over the coming years, mostly on account of the Baltic Synchronization project, which entails some execution risks. Investment risks are somewhat mitigated by the fact that funding needs are mostly covered by non-refundable grants from the European Union's Connecting Europe Facility and by income from congestion fees.

Given the prolonged track record of the regulator, the Estonian Competition Authority, of consistently applying the regulatory framework and of setting tariffs, which adequately reflect costs and reasonable returns, and given Elering's successful operation of the gas transmission network since 2015, Moody's has upgraded the company's baseline credit assessment (BCA), which reflects Elering's standalone credit quality, to a3 from baa1. Elering's A2 rating therefore incorporates one notch of uplift from the BCA under Moody's Government-Related Issuers (GRI) methodology, reflecting Moody's view of very high default dependence with, and the likelihood of high support from, its 100% owner the Government of Estonia (A1 stable), in case of financial distress.

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RATIONALE FOR THE STABLE OUTLOOK

The outlook on Elering's rating is stable, reflecting Moody's expectation that Elering will exhibit a financial profile commensurate with the guidelines for the current rating of funds from operations (FFO)/net debt at least in the high teens in percentage terms and that the company will continue to manage its liquidity prudently.

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

To consider a rating upgrade, Moody's would expect Elering to consistently maintain FFO/net debt of at least 25%, underpinned by the absence of materially adverse changes to the regulatory framework.

The rating could come under downward pressure if FFO/net debt were to decline below the high teens in percentage terms for a sustained period. Downward pressure could also be exerted on the rating as a result of (1) a deterioration in the credit quality of the Government of Estonia; (2) a reduction in the government support assumptions currently incorporated into Moody's credit assessment; or (3) a materially unfavourable change in the regulatory framework, leading to a significant increase in the company's business risk.

The methodologies used in these ratings were Regulated Electric and Gas Networks published in March 2017 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1059225, and Government-Related Issuers Methodology published in February 2020 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1186207. Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of these methodologies.

Headquartered in Tallinn, Elering AS is the monopoly transmission system operator for electricity and gas in Estonia. Elering is 100% owned by the Government of Estonia. For the six months ended 30 June 2020, Elering reported revenues of EUR68.0 million and EBITDA of EUR39.0 million.

LIST OF AFFECTED RATINGS ..Issuer: Elering AS Affirmations:

.... LT Issuer Rating, Affirmed A2

....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture , Affirmed A2

Outlook Actions: ..Issuer: Elering AS ....Outlook, Remains Stable 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.

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Paul Hershberger, who runs his own YouTube channel and blog, both named "Tastes Seoul Good," tries street food at Noryangjin in southern Seoul, in May. / Courtesy of Paul Hershberger



By Jun Ji-hye



Paul Hershberger from the United States, who teaches English at a vocational college in Seoul, has recently become a member of "Hello Korea," a group run by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) to promote the country and its attractions around the world.



The group that was launched Aug. 8, brought together 28 social media influencers from 17 countries including the United States, Britain and Spain, who currently reside in Korea.



The KTO said the members of the group are given opportunities to participate in trips around the country designed by local tourism organizations and tasked with creating content about the nation's tourist attractions to be promoted via their social media accounts.



Hershberger, who runs the YouTube channel and blog, both named "Tastes Seoul Good," decided to join the Hello Korea group so he could focus on creating videos, and leave the logistics and planning to someone else.



"With Hello Korea, I am able to travel to some unique areas and learn about the history and culture of those locations," he said during an interview with The Korea Times. "While there are many interesting places in Korea to visit, many of them have no information in English on social media. By joining Hello Korea, I am able to experience these places for myself and help publicize them as tourist destinations for foreign visitors."



As his YouTube channel and blog mainly focus on discovering new foods in Korea, Hershberger is planning to focus on the food part of the trips.



"When we have free time to explore the area on our own, I will immediately go exploring and try to find some special snacks or delicacies to show in my vlog," he said.



Hershberger, who first arrived in Korea in August 2009, said Korea deserves to be on every traveler's bucket list as it has something for every type of traveler  from beaches to mountains to big cities.



"I always encourage travelers to take a bit of time and explore the rural side of Korea," he said. "With the KTX and other transportation options, it is very simple to explore multiple locations in a short time."



He expects programs such as Hello Korea to contribute to attracting more foreign tourists as social media plays a huge part in helping travelers choose their next destination.



"By allowing vloggers and bloggers to showcase the country, potential travelers can learn about places that interest them and that might encourage them to visit the country," he said.


A 10-year-old girl has begun treatment for an extremely rare bone cancer which was initially dismissed as nothing more than growing pains.

Amelia Spalding, described by her family as having 'a wicked sense of humour and endless optimism', underwent two operations to remove the cancerous bones in her leg during lockdown.

The schoolgirl is now set to continue having chemotherapy for the next 18 weeks in an attempt to rid her body of the cancer, which is called osteoblastic osteosarcoma.

'She's a very outgoing, bright, sparky, clever little lady,' said her heartbroken father Tom Spalding, from Montgomery, Powys, in eastern Wales.

'She's taken everything in her stride, and she's got a wonderful smile which has remained on her face throughout.'

Amelia Spalding, 10, from Montgomery, Powys, in eastern Wales, has begun treatment for an extremely rare bone cancer which was initially dismissed as nothing more than growing pains

Tom said he initially thought Amelia, who loves motocross, had suffered a pulled muscle after falling off her bike at the start of the year.

'She had a new motocross for Christmas, which she was pleased as punch with, but she had a little fall on it just a couple of days later when we took it out for the first time,' he recalled.

'She sprained the inside of her leg a bit. She fell sideways, she wasn't even riding it at the time. She sort of fell and half-tripped whilst astride the bike and we thought she'd pulled a muscle.'

But in the days that followed, Tom said he noticed his daughter walking differently.

He added: 'When we walked to school one morning I noticed that her gait was changing slightly.

'She couldn't weight bear as well on that leg, but she said it didn't hurt at all. So we were watching her closely.'

On April 1, just a couple of weeks into lockdown, Amelia started complaining of being unable to push down on the pedals of her bike.

Amelia was diagnosed with osteoblastic osteosarcoma and underwent two operations to remove the cancerous bones in her leg during lockdown

'It's only a gentle slope on the estate where we live, so this was unusual,' said Tom.

'Around her right knee was quite red. It looked a little bit swollen and angry, so we sent some photos to the local GP. They said it's more than likely growing pains or an aggravated tendon and not to worry.

'But I wasn't very happy with it so I sent it to my mum, who is a nurse, and she mused on it all night.

'She was sat on our doorstep the next morning to say we should get it checked out.'

After calling 111, Amelia and her family were told to visit Royal Shrewsbury Hospital where X-rays were carried out.

Within hours they were transferred to the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, Shropshire, where they sat down with an on-call oncologist.

'He saw me and pulled me to one side. While Amelia got weighed and measured, he said 'I don't need to see anything else. This is childhood cancer'.

'We thought she had a pulled muscle or maybe just needed some physiotherapy. There was nothing visibly different about her leg.

She just couldn't walk in quite the same way. It was pretty horrible news.'

Osteoblastic osteosarcoma affects only around 160 people of all ages per year.

It equates to one in three million people in the UK.

'It's as rare as hen's teeth,' said Tom, a former officer in the Royal Navy.

The schoolgirl is now set to continue having chemotherapy for the next 18 weeks in an attempt to rid her body of the cancer, which is called osteoblastic osteosarcoma

'Based on all the ailments GPs see - and especially not being there in person - it's really, really hard from them to diagnose from pictures. I don't lay any blame at their feet.'

Following a nerve-wracking couple of days after CT and MRI scans were carried out, it was revealed that the cancer had not spread anywhere else.

'That was like a champagne moment; a big moment of relief,' he added.

Two weeks later, Amelia began her chemotherapy which led to her losing her hair and being very sick.

'She doesn't want to eat and she doesn't want to drink, so she's lost a lot of weight,' he added.

'And she doesn't want to talk which is very unlike her.'

During lockdown, Tom said only one parent was allowed into hospital with Amelia during appointments and procedures.

During lockdown, Tom said only one parent was allowed into hospital with Amelia during appointments and procedures

'You're having to make very big decisions through video calls and conferences because you can't both be in attendance,' he said.

'You feel completely left out of the treatment side when you can't be in hospital. That is really challenging.'

During the operations on her leg at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, Middlesex, Tom said he didn't see Amelia for an entire month.

'Myself and my son Sam are a father/son racing team in The Team Green Ninja Cup.

'We went down for a track day at Brands Hatch to give Sam something to look forward to during this awful time.

'We actually called past Stanmore hospital, dropped off some food for Amelia and my wife Nicky. We were not allowed in, so we stood 10 feet away from the window of their hospital room and gave them a wave.'

'That's as close as we got to them in more than a month. It was really sad.'

Amelia's right thighbone, knee and the top part of her shin had to be removed and replaced by a titanium frame.

During lockdown, Tom said only one parent was allowed into hospital with Amelia during appointments and procedures. Pictured: The little girl with her mother Nicky while in hospital at Stanmore, Middlesex, to have some of the bones from her leg removed.

A long road of physiotherapy is now ahead of her, and it remains to be seen whether she will be able to ride her beloved bike again.

'She will never have the same strength in that leg. We will probably not assess whether she can ride again for another two years.'

Tom has now set up a GoFundMe page in a bid to give Amelia a repeat of a 'dream' holiday that family enjoyed in Germany and the Netherlands three years ago. To donate please click here.

'On our itinerary was a trip to [the theme park] Eftling. She was 2cm too short to go on one of Eftling's most daring roller coasters at the time and was mortified when she found out she was too small to go on the ride,' Tom added.

'Three years later, I'm sure she will be tall enough.'

The aim is for Amelia, who is now on a new drug which teaches her immune system to fight the cancer, to be in remission for at least five years.
T he Government has lifted a cap on places in specialist courses like medicine and dentistry, after the U-turn on A-level grades saw many more people meet university offers.

Universities will get extra money to help boost capacity for medical, nursing and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics courses after warnings that space for students who saw their results increase after the turnaround could be limited.

University vice-chancellors and doctors both called for the cap on student numbers in medical schools to be removed.

Monday's dramatic turnaround, which meant A-level results reverted to teachers predictions  came too late for many students who had already chosen universities based on the grades initially awarded by exams regulator Ofqual.

A-level Protests 2020 - In pictures 1 /26 A-level Protests 2020 - In pictures A level students hold placards as they protest outside the Department for Education, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS Students from Codsall Community High School march to the constituency office of their local MP Gavin Williamson, who is also the Education Secretary, as a protest over the continuing issues of last week's A level results which saw some candidates receive lower-than-expected grades after their exams were cancelled as a result of coronavirus. PA An A level student reacts during a protest outside the Department for Education REUTERS An A level student holds a placard during a protest at Parliament Square REUTERS People take part in a protest outside the Department for Education, London, in response to the downgrading of A-level results. PA People take part in a protest outside the Department for Education, London, in response to the downgrading of A-level results PA Olivia Styles, 18, from Basingtoke, sets her A-level results on fire during peaceful protest in Parliament Square PA An A level student holds a placard during a protest at Parliament Square REUTERS A level students hold placards as they protest at Parliament Square REUTERS People take part in a peaceful protest in Parliament Square, London PA People take part in a peaceful protest in Parliament Square, London PA A level students hold placards as they protest outside the Department for Education REUTERS A level students hold placards as they protest outside the Department for Education, REUTERS LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 16: Students take part in an A-Level results protest opposite Downing Street Getty Images Students take part in an A-Level results protest opposite Downing Street Getty Images Getty Images REUTERS Getty Images Getty Images PA

Top universities have warned students who now have higher grades could still have to defer their place for a year if there is no longer space on their preferred course.

Durham is offering a bursary and guaranteed college accommodation to students who volunteer push their studies back a year, with places already filled before the U-turn.

Universities will now get additional teaching grant funding to boost capacity in medical, nursing and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (Stem) subjects.

Universities minister Michelle Donelan said: This has been an incredibly difficult time for students and I want to reassure them that every effort is being made to make sure all those who planned to can move on to higher education.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson / PA

I am delighted that the Government and the higher education sector have agreed that all students who achieved the required grades will be offered a place at their first choice university.

I want universities to do all they can to take them on this year or offer alternative courses or deferred places where required.

Dr Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of the Russell Group of universities, called the decision a very positive step, adding it will help institutions increase capacity and help more students attend higher education.

He said: Russell Group universities are working with Government and will do everything they can to accommodate as many students as possible on their preferred courses this year, and will continue to do so wherever this is practically possible.

Students take part in a peaceful protest in Parliament Square in response to the downgrading of A-level results / PA

Where this isnt possible, our universities will look to offer deferred places or explore places on alternative courses where the student meets the entry requirements.

Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of Universities UK, said: The policy U-turn on A-levels has created significant challenges for universities caused by late movement of students between institutions.

The welcome additional medicine and dentistry places and confirmation of the additional teaching grant for high-costs subjects will help to support capacity.

Government now needs to urgently confirm funding both to ensure the financial stability of institutions suffering from a loss of students and to offer further support to maintain and build capacity where needed.
The Minister for Central Region, Kwamena Duncan has asked former President John Dramani Mahama not to have a headache over the 2020 elections because he is not coming back to power.



Contributing to Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'' on Wednesday, Mr Duncan stated that this year's elections will majorly center on the track record of the Akufo-Addo and Mahama governments.



He stressed that it won't be about promises no more but rather what both governments have achieved to better the lives of Ghanaians and enhance economic progress.



Hon. Kwamena Duncan strongly believes the erstwhile Mahama administration cannot compare its performance to what President Nana Akufo-Addo has achieved in his first term in government, adding that Ghanaians have already tasted the poor governance of John Mahama.



"In this election, it is not President Mahama's promises. It is President Mahama's record. He is not an unknown person. He's not a new person descending from above but someone who we have tested before as Vice President in three and half years, President because we lost a certain President for half a year and then President after he was voted for four-year term. So, we know him very well. It's not he's coming to tell us something new; he's works are already there," he posited.



He therefore called on Ghanaians "not to give an ear to this former President who only seeks to divide our society''.



Watch his full submissions below:





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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Nishikant Dubey has given a breach of privilege notice against the chairperson of the panel Shashi Tharoor and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over Facebook row.

Bhartiya Janata Party MP and a member of Parliamentary Standing Committee for Information Technology (IT) Nishikant Dubey has given a breach of privilege notice against the chairperson of the panel Shashi Tharoor and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over Facebook row.

In a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Dubey alleged that Tharoor has surpassed all limits of decency, ethics and basic tenets of parliamentary procedure and practice and committed a grave breach of privilege as an MP and as chairperson of the standing committee on IT. Dubey said, there were some personal issues with an individual person with Facebook and Whatsapp.

The said incident was also reported in the media. It is needless to say that such incidents occur in our democratic society, which is, in fact, a sign of healthy and vibrant democracy, he said, adding that any individual, in a private capacity, has the right and freedom to express his views freely and without any fear.

Also read: Big win for Sushants family, SC orders CBI probe, asks Maharashtra to provide evidence

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It is learnt from the media reports that on this insignificant incident, the Wall Street Journal made a report that `Facebook top public policy executive in India, citing business reasons, didnt apply hate speeches to at least four individuals and groups linked with the BJP who were flagged internally for promoting or participating in violence,' he said.

Soon thereafter, some renowned political leaders started searching for a political angle for gaining parochial political mileage by defaming the BJP. In this bandwagon, Tharoor suddenly made an entry and issued a public statement that `I will certainly look into the issue and the committee will seek the views of Facebook,' he added.

Dubey said it has also been widely reported in the media that Tharoor has instructed the secretariat of the panel to immediately summon Facebook.

He said Rahul Gandhi also tweeted over the incident. BJP and RSS control of Facebook and WhatsApp in India. They spread fake news and hatred thorough it and use it to influence the electorate, Dubey cited Gandhis tweet in his letter.

He said Tharoor has no powers to summon any entity/organisation without consulting the members of the committee. The agenda of any sitting of the parliamentary committee is decided after due deliberations and consultation with all the members, he said.

Dubey said Tharoor has not only by-passed the other committee members for deciding the aspect of summoning witnesses but also violated the rules of procedure, directions, manual which prohibit summoning the private entities before any parliamentary committee.

It is, therefore, a clear case, of breach of privilege, he said. Dubey alleged that Tharoor has committed a serious breach of privilege of using the parliamentary committee platform not only to serve his political agenda but also to tarnish BJP and sensationalize a small incident by misusing his official powers.

Referring to Rahul Gandhi, he said the Congress leader had levelled unsubstantiated allegations through a tweet against all the Members of Parliament, Lok Sabha, who belong to BJP. The MP said that before spreading such types of canards through media/social media, Rahul Gandhi had no legally tenable documents or papers.

Spreading of rumours against members of parliament who are affiliated to a specific political party is, thus, a breach of privilege, he said.

Also read: Mali President dissolves parliament, announces resignation after arrest reports
MELVILLE, N.Y., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Commercial real estate investors are raising funds to acquire distressed assets, but they face uncertainty about how Covid-19 will affect the retail, office and hospitality sectors, said Doug Greenspan, a managing director at A&G Real Estate Partners, during a recent Turnaround Management Association webinar.

Greenspan: "One scenario is that many people will go into the office for just a couple of days a week. Even if that's just 10 or 15 percent of workers, you're talking about far-reaching effects on the demand for space and, in turn, the value of office assets."

"If you look at office, it does appear that we may see major shifts in how the labor force works," he said. "One scenario is that many people will go into the office for just a couple of days a week. Even if that's just 10 or 15 percent of workers, you're talking about far-reaching effects on the demand for space and, in turn, the value of office assets."

The webinar, which was sponsored by TMA's Central Texas chapter, focused on the effects of Covid-19 on real estate. Greenspan, whose firm is providing real estate services and advice to the likes of DSW, Ruth's Chris, IT'S SUGAR, and Cinepolis, talked at length about retail.

"Underlying issues that were visible in retail pre-Covid really came to a head with the onset of the pandemic," he told the audience. "Retailers that were on everyone's watchlist have since filed for bankruptcy. Our own Chapter 11 client list now includes, among others, GNC, Pier 1, Ascena Retail Group, Tailored Brands, Tuesday Morning, Modell's, Stage Stores and Nieman Marcus."

Before the pandemic, the growth of Internet shopping and declining foot traffic at malls and stores had already affected sales-per-square-foot productivity, even in historically strong retail markets, Greenspan said. "In the fall of 2019, we were seeing retail rents decline in just about every submarket in New York City."

The accelerating shift to ecommerce is now spurring some retailers to speed up the implementation of what were formerly medium- or long-term plans to ramp up their ecommerce platforms, Greenspan noted. "Those that are able to do so successfully are already reaping the dividends," he said. "The trend is so pronounced that it is fueling strong pricing for fulfillment space in the industrial sector."

As Greenspan's recent discussions with restructuring attorneys have made clear, various funds are preparing to acquire distressed real estate assets, not only in retail and office but also in hospitality. "As this drags on, they are ready," he said. "The capital is out there."

While the post-pandemic picture is still characterized by uncertainty, certain outcomes are clear enough for the short term. "To be sure, retailers are going to be closing thousands of locations," Greenspan said. "It's going to be tough. This is not the end. But we will see some winners heresmart operators that optimize their real estate TO cut costs, improve performance and position themselves for the new normal to come."

The New York-based executive, who is co-chair of the TMA's NextGen Committee (New York City Chapter), was joined on the webinar panel by Joel Waxman, Managing Partner at Paramount Specialty Finance, and Kevin White, Chief Investment Officer of Virtus Real Estate Capital. Greg Milligan, Executive Vice President at Harney Partners, moderated.

About A&G Real Estate Partners

A&G is a team of seasoned commercial real estate professionals and subject matter experts that delivers strategies designed to yield the highest possible value for clients' real estate. Key areas of expertise include occupancy cost reductions, lease terminations, dispositions, structured real estate sales, real estate due diligence, valuations, acquisitions, and facilitation of growth opportunities. Utilizing its marketing knowledge, reputation and advanced technology, A&G has advised the nation's most prominent retailers and corporations in both healthy and distressed situations. The firm's team has achieved rent-reduction and occupancy-cost savings approaching $6 billion on behalf of clients in every real estate sector, while selling more than $12 billion of non-core properties and leases. Founded in 2012, A&G is headquartered in Melville, N.Y. and also has an office in Chicago. For more information, please visit: http://www.agrep.com/

NOTE TO MEDIA : Doug Greenspan of A&G Real Estate Partners is available as a resource for articles related to commercial real estate. Please see media.

Media Contacts: At Jaffe Communications, Bill Parness, (732) 673-6852, [email protected], or Elisa Krantz, (908)-789-0700, [email protected].

SOURCE A&G Real Estate Partners

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India and China has agreed to resolve outstanding issues in an expeditious manner asserted the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday on diplomatic talks between the two sides. Addressing a press conference, MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said that both the countries had an in-depth and candid exchange of views on the existing situation in border areas.

He added that both the nations reaffirmed to sincerely work towards the complete disengagement of troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the western sector. Both the nation also acknowledged the need to maintain close communication through diplomatic, and military channels to ensure complete disengagement, added the MEA spokesperson.

"India, China reaffirm to sincerely work towards complete disengagement of troops along LAC in the western sector. India, China had an in-depth, candid exchange of views on the existing situation in border areas India, China acknowledge need to maintain close communication through diplomatic, military channels to ensure complete disengagement. India, China agree that restoration of peace, tranquillity in border areas is essential for the overall development of ties," said the MEA.

The MEA has said that Kulbhushan Jadhav should be represented by an Indian lawyer as Pakistan seeks to implement the International Court of Justice judgment of 2019 to review the case. It added that India is in touch with Pakistan through diplomatic channels as it believes for a free and fair trial in keeping with the letter and spirit of the ICJ judgment in Kulbhushan Jadhav case.

"Kulbhushan Jhadav should be represented by an Indian lawyer. We are in touch with Pakistan through diplomatic channels. We believe for a free & fair trial in keeping with the letter and spirit of ICJ judgment in Kulbhushan Jhadav case. However, it is important that Pakistan needs to address the core issues; these issues involve the provision of relevant documents and providing unimpeded consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav," said the MEA spokesperson.

Speaking on the Kerala gold smuggling case, the MEA said, "The matter is under investigation of NIA (National Investigation Agency). As far as MEA is concerned, we are extending all necessary facilitation."